ظبيٌa gazelle إذاwhen ماever (emphatic) رناhe gazes منهُin fear of him الأسودthe lions ترتهبtremble
ظبيٌ إذا ما رنا منهُ الأسود ترتهب
لجسومناto our bodies السقمsickness جفناهُhis two eyelids الفواترlanguid تهبbestow
لجسومنا السقم جفناهُ الفواتر تهب
A gazelle—when he gazes, lions tremble in fear of him.
A gazelle, when the fierce lion approaches, trembles in fear.
His languid eyelids bestow sickness upon our bodies.
So too do our frail bodies quiver, as the wings of time sweep by.
لهُhe has وجنةa cheek للعقولfor the minds بحسنهاwith its beauty تنتهبplunders
لهُ وجنة للعقول بحسنها تنتهب
يخضرgrows green فيهاupon it العذارthe cheek-down ونارهاand its fire تلتهبblazes
يخضر فيها العذار ونارها تلتهب
He has a cheek that plunders minds with its beauty.
With his beauty he plunders hearts, robbing intellect of reason.
The cheek-down grows green upon it, while its fire blazes.
Where the myrtle grows lush, though its fire continues to burn.