شكوني إليها انني بت ليلتي

أقامرُ من دوني ويبتزُّ أموالي

They complained about me to her—that I had spent my night

gambling with someone beneath me, who was fleecing me of my money.

فما راعها تضييع مالي وصحتي

كما راعها ملهاي مع غير امثالي

Yet squandering my money and health did not alarm her

as much as my pastime with those who were not my peers.

ولما رأتني رصع الدمع خدها

وذابت لآليه على نحرها الحالي

And when she saw me, tears studded her cheek,

and their pearls melted upon her jeweled throat.

وقالت لقد اسهرتني الليل مثلما

سهرت ولكن أين حالك من حالي

And she said, “You kept me awake all night, just as

you stayed awake—but how different your state was from mine!

لقد مر بي ليلي وهمي مساوري

وانت خليٌ لاعبٌ ناعمُ البالِ

Indeed, my night passed with my worry assailing me,

while you were carefree, at play, and at ease in mind.

بكيتُ دماً لما أتاني مخبرٌ

بان حبيبي جالسٌ بين انذال

I wept blood when a messenger came to me

with news that my beloved was sitting among scoundrels.

فما أنا من تهواك إلا لانها

تراكَ أبيَّ النفس ذا خلق عالِ

For I am a woman who loves you only because

she sees you as proud-spirited, a man of noble character.

يهونُ عليّ المالُ حين تضيعه

قماراً ولكن لا تقامر بآمالي

Money matters little to me when you squander it

in gambling—but do not gamble with my hopes.”