لَو كانَ ذو الرِثَّةِ يَرثى لَنا

لَو كانَ ذو الرِثَّةِ يَرثى لَنا

أَمِنتُ مِن قالٍ وَمِن قيلِ

أَمِنتُ مِن قالٍ وَمِن قيلِ

If the shabby one were to take pity on us,

If the wealthy man took pity on us

I would be safe from a hater and from gossip.

I'd be assured of slander and gossip

لَكِنَّهُ أَوحَشُ مِن وَجهِهِ

لَكِنَّهُ أَوحَشُ مِن وَجهِهِ

وَكانَ مَأنوساً بِتَقبيلِ

وَكانَ مَأنوساً بِتَقبيلِ

But he is more forbidding than his face,

But he's more forbidding than his visage

which was once familiar with kisses.

Though once was fond of kissing

فَصارَت العُذّالُ ما بَينَنا

فَصارَت العُذّالُ ما بَينَنا

تَدخُلُ بِالعَرضِ وَبِالطولِ

تَدخُلُ بِالعَرضِ وَبِالطولِ

So the reproachers came between us,

So between us now only the reproachers

intruding crosswise and lengthwise.

Can come and go with their length and breadth