ما بالُ قَلبِكَ عادَهُ أَطرابُهُ

ما بالُ قَلبِكَ عادَهُ أَطرابُهُ

وَلِدَمعِ عَينِكَ مُخضِلاً تَسكابُهُ

وَلِدَمعِ عَينِكَ مُخضِلاً تَسكابُهُ

What ails your heart, that its yearnings have returned,

What ails your heart, so restless and disturbed,

and your eye's tears, whose outpouring drenches you?

And why do tears from your eyes pouring down?

ذِكرى تَذَكَّرَها الرَبابُ وَهَمُّهُ

ذِكرى تَذَكَّرَها الرَبابُ وَهَمُّهُ

حَتّى يُغَيَّبَ في التُرابِ رَبابُهُ

حَتّى يُغَيَّبَ في التُرابِ رَبابُهُ

A memory he recalled—al-Rabab, his concern—

Memories remembered by the wood and fret,

until his Rabab is buried in the dust.

Until it hides in the soil and decays.

قالَت لِنائِلَةَ اِذهَبي قولي لَهُ

قالَت لِنائِلَةَ اِذهَبي قولي لَهُ

إِن كانَ أَجمَعَ رِحلَةً أَصحابُهُ

إِن كانَ أَجمَعَ رِحلَةً أَصحابُهُ

She said to Na'ila, "Go, tell him:

She said to the messenger, “Go, tell him,

if his companions have resolved to depart,

If he journeys with all his friends,

فَليَبقَ بَعدَهُمُ لَدَينا لَيلَةً

فَليَبقَ بَعدَهُمُ لَدَينا لَيلَةً

فَلَهُ عَلَيَّ بِأَن يُجادَ ثَوابُهُ

فَلَهُ عَلَيَّ بِأَن يُجادَ ثَوابُهُ

let him stay one night with us after them;

Then let him stay with me one night,

I pledge him a generous reward."

For he will be rewarded by me.”

قُلتُ اِذهَبي قولي لَها قَد طالَ ما

قُلتُ اِذهَبي قولي لَها قَد طالَ ما

حُبِسَت لَدَيكِ عَلى الكَلالِ رِكابُهُ

حُبِسَت لَدَيكِ عَلى الكَلالِ رِكابُهُ

I said, "Go, tell her: long indeed

I said, “Go, tell her my stay

have his riding camels been detained with you, despite their weariness."

Has been long in your abode and carriage.

بِتنا بِأَنعَمِ لَيلَةٍ وَأَلَذِّها

بِتنا بِأَنعَمِ لَيلَةٍ وَأَلَذِّها

لِلنَفسِ ما سَتَرَ الصَباحَ حِجابُهُ

لِلنَفسِ ما سَتَرَ الصَباحَ حِجابُهُ

We spent the most blissful night, the sweetest

We spent the most delightful night,

to the soul, as long as dawn lay hidden behind its veil,

Concealing it from dawn with its veil.

حَتّى إِذا ما الصُبحُ أَشرَقَ ضَوءُهُ

حَتّى إِذا ما الصُبحُ أَشرَقَ ضَوءُهُ

عَن لَونِ أَشقَرَ واضِحٍ أَقرابُهُ

عَن لَونِ أَشقَرَ واضِحٍ أَقرابُهُ

until, when morning's light shone forth

Until the morning shone its light,

with the hue of a bright-flanked chestnut steed,

Revealing his fair and glowing complexion.

قالَت مُوَكَّلَةٌ بِحِفظِ كَلامِها

قالَت مُوَكَّلَةٌ بِحِفظِ كَلامِها

لِمُعَلَّمٍ حاطَ النَعيمَ شَبابُهُ

لِمُعَلَّمٍ حاطَ النَعيمَ شَبابُهُ

she spoke, intent on guarding her words,

The guard entrusted with her words said,

to a distinguished man whose youth embraced delight:

To the learned youth enjoying life,

أَخشى عَلَيهِ العَينَ إِن بَصُرَت بِهِ

أَخشى عَلَيهِ العَينَ إِن بَصُرَت بِهِ

وَتَرى صَبابَتَنا بِهِ فَتَهابُهُ

وَتَرى صَبابَتَنا بِهِ فَتَهابُهُ

"I fear the evil eye for him, should it catch sight of him

“I fear the evil eye if it sees him,

and see our longing for him, then stand in awe of him.

And finds our youth alluring.

إِنَّ النَهارَ وَذاكَ حَقٌّ واضِحٌ

إِنَّ النَهارَ وَذاكَ حَقٌّ واضِحٌ

وَاللَيلُ يَخفى بِالظَلامِ رِكابُهُ

وَاللَيلُ يَخفى بِالظَلامِ رِكابُهُ

Indeed, the day is bright—and that is true—

The day reveals things clearly,

while at night his riding camels are hidden in darkness."

While night hides them in its darkness.”