عَشِقتُ العُلا لا أَبتغي بَدَلاً لها

عَشِقتُ العُلا لا أَبتغي بَدَلاً لها

ولا عوضاً والعاشقون ضروبُ

ولا عوضاً والعاشقون ضروبُ

I fell in love with lofty glory; I seek no substitute for it,

I fell in love with the heights, desiring no substitute,

Nor any replacement; lovers are of many kinds.

Nor compensation, though lovers are of different kinds.

فَما لي بِغَيرِ المأثُرَات صَبابةٌ

فَما لي بِغَيرِ المأثُرَات صَبابةٌ

وما لِيَ إلّا المَأثراتُ حبيبُ

وما لِيَ إلّا المَأثراتُ حبيبُ

So I have no longing for anything but noble deeds,

I care not for the common sort, youths of no merit;

And I have no beloved but noble deeds.

I care only for the outstanding, who are my beloved.

وَأَخطأتُ لمّا أن جَعلتكَ صاحِبي

وَأَخطأتُ لمّا أن جَعلتكَ صاحِبي

وَذو الحَزمِ يُخطِي مرّةً ويصيبُ

وَذو الحَزمِ يُخطِي مرّةً ويصيبُ

And I erred when I made you my companion,

I erred when I made you my companion,

And even a prudent man errs once, and also judges rightly.

Though the wise err once, as well as hit the mark.

وَأَنتَ بَعيدٌ مِن مَكانِ مَودّتي

وَأَنتَ بَعيدٌ مِن مَكانِ مَودّتي

وَإِنَّ مَزاراً بَينَنا لَقَريبُ

وَإِنَّ مَزاراً بَينَنا لَقَريبُ

And you are far from the dwelling-place of my affection,

You are far from the place of my affection,

Though a visit between us is indeed within easy reach.

Though between us there lies an easy road.

وَما هيَ إلّا زَلّةٌ أنَا بَعدها

وَما هيَ إلّا زَلّةٌ أنَا بَعدها

أَعوجُ عَلَيها نادِماً فَأَتوبُ

أَعوجُ عَلَيها نادِماً فَأَتوبُ

And it is only a misstep, after which I

It was but a slip, and after it I walk bent over,

Look back on it in remorse, and repent.

Regretful and repentant, turning myself right.

فَيا مَنْ لِعَينِي كلَّ يومٍ وليلةٍ

فَيا مَنْ لِعَينِي كلَّ يومٍ وليلةٍ

قَذاةٌ بِها أَو لِلفُؤادِ كروبُ

قَذاةٌ بِها أَو لِلفُؤادِ كروبُ

So, O you who, every day and night, are to my eye

O you, who are, to my eyes each day and night,

A mote within it, or sorrows to my heart—

Either a mote, or else grief to my heart!

وَلَولاهُ ما كانَت لِدَهري جِنايَةٌ

وَلَولاهُ ما كانَت لِدَهري جِنايَةٌ

عَليَّ وَلا منه إليّ ذنوبُ

عَليَّ وَلا منه إليّ ذنوبُ

And but for him, my fate would have committed no wrong

But for you, Time would have against me no cause for blame,

Against me, nor would any offenses have come from it to me;

No guilt for which from Time I would earn rebuke.

وَلا مَزّقتْ جلدي الغداة أظافرٌ

وَلا مَزّقتْ جلدي الغداة أظافرٌ

وَلا خَرَقْتهُ للزّمان نيوبُ

وَلا خَرَقْتهُ للزّمان نيوبُ

Nor would claws have torn my skin this morning,

No claws in the dawn would tear my skin,

Nor would Time's fangs have pierced it.

No fangs of Time gouge me in their jaws.

أَجبْتُك لَمّا أَن دَعوتَ اِغترارةً

أَجبْتُك لَمّا أَن دَعوتَ اِغترارةً

وهيهات أُدعى بعدها فأُجيبُ

وهيهات أُدعى بعدها فأُجيبُ

I answered you when you called, out of gullibility,

I answered you when you called out foolishly,

And never again, when called, will I answer.

But after that, alas! I will not so respond.