وربand many a جبّانcheesemonger (evoking ‘coward’) كبدرlike the full moon الدجىthe darkness
ورب جبّان كبدر الدجى
نعشقهwe love him passionately وهوwhile he لناtoward us يقلىhe hates
نعشقه وهو لنا يقلى
And many a cheesemonger, like the full moon of the dark night,
By the Lord, a coward like the murky night
We love him, yet he hates us.
We love him yet he scorns us
واعجباًand how strange! منهat him كريمgenerous; noble غداhe has become
واعجباً منه كريم غدا
يجمعhe combines بينbetween الجبنcowardice; also cheese (a pun) والبخلand miserliness
يجمع بين الجبن والبخل
How strange that he, a generous man, has come
How strange that he seems generous one day
To combine cowardice with miserliness.
Yet combines cowardice and stinginess
Sol 6.1