يَقولونَ طولُ البُعدِ يُسلي أَخا الهَوى

يَقولونَ طولُ البُعدِ يُسلي أَخا الهَوى

فَقُلتُ أَجَل عَن صِحَّةِ الجِسمِ وَالقَلبِ

فَقُلتُ أَجَل عَن صِحَّةِ الجِسمِ وَالقَلبِ

They say long separation makes the lover forget;

They say that distance consoles the lover

So I said, “Yes—forget the health of body and heart.”

I said yes, as for health of body and heart

وَلَو أَنَّ طولَ البُعدِ يُحدِثُ سَلوَةً

وَلَو أَنَّ طولَ البُعدِ يُحدِثُ سَلوَةً

لَما رَغِبَ العُشّاقُ يَوماً إِلى القُربِ

لَما رَغِبَ العُشّاقُ يَوماً إِلى القُربِ

And if long separation brought forgetfulness,

And if distance brought tranquility

Lovers would never yearn for nearness.

Lovers would never yearn for nearness

وَلَكِنَّهُم ظَنّوا التَجَلُّدَ سَلوَةً

وَلَكِنَّهُم ظَنّوا التَجَلُّدَ سَلوَةً

وَما عَلِموا ما في الفُؤادِ مِنَ الكَربِ

وَما عَلِموا ما في الفُؤادِ مِنَ الكَربِ

But they mistook fortitude for forgetfulness,

But they thought endurance was tranquility

And did not know what anguish lay within the heart.

Not knowing the anguish in the heart

وَقَد يَصبُرُ المَغلوبُ رَغماً عَلى الأَذى

وَقَد يَصبُرُ المَغلوبُ رَغماً عَلى الأَذى

كَما يَئِسَ الظَمآنُ مِن لَذَّةِ الشُربِ

كَما يَئِسَ الظَمآنُ مِن لَذَّةِ الشُربِ

And the defeated may endure harm against his will,

The vanquished may show patience despite injury

As the thirsty man has lost hope of the pleasure of drinking.

As the thirsty abandon the joy of drinking