ألا ليتني حمّلت ما بك من ضنا

ألا ليتني حمّلت ما بك من ضنا

على أنَّ لي منهُ الأذى ولك الأجر

على أنَّ لي منهُ الأذى ولك الأجر

Ah, would that I were made to bear the wasting illness you suffer,

Oh, would that I could bear what troubles you,

on condition that its pain were mine and its reward yours.

Though I suffer the harm and you reap the reward.

فأقسم لولا أنتَ ما أعتب الرجا

فأقسم لولا أنتَ ما أعتب الرجا

لمستعتبٍ منَّا ولا سكت الدهر

لمستعتبٍ منَّا ولا سكت الدهر

So I swear: but for you, hope would offer no redress

By God, were it not for you, hope would not blame,

to any of us seeking it, nor would Time fall silent.

Neither complainer nor time would be silent.

أحاشيك من ضرٍّ ألمَّ وإنما

أحاشيك من ضرٍّ ألمَّ وإنما

بطلعتك الغرَّاء يستدفع الضرّ

بطلعتك الغرَّاء يستدفع الضرّ

I would spare you the harm that has struck; and only

May no harm touch you that pains, for only

through your radiant countenance is harm warded off.

Your radiant visage wards off harm.

وما زدت بالأدواء إلاَّ محاسناً

وما زدت بالأدواء إلاَّ محاسناً

كما اعتلَّ فازْدادت محاسنه النشر

كما اعتلَّ فازْدادت محاسنه النشر

And ailments have only added to your charms,

With sickness you increased nothing but beauty,

as fragrance, when afflicted, grows more lovely.

As the full moon gains but splendor in its waxing.

فلا تخشَ ممَّا يوجب الصبرَ مرَّةً

فلا تخشَ ممَّا يوجب الصبرَ مرَّةً

كأنَّك بالنعمى وقد وجب الشكر

كأنَّك بالنعمى وقد وجب الشكر

So do not fear, even once, what calls for patience;

So fear not what makes endurance bitter,

it is as though you already enjoyed well-being, with gratitude now due.

As though enjoying bounty that requires thanksgiving.

وحقّك لا خابَ الدعاءُ ولا دجى

وحقّك لا خابَ الدعاءُ ولا دجى

سنا النصف إلا زنت ما يشرق البدر

سنا النصف إلا زنت ما يشرق البدر

And by your honor, prayer has not failed, nor has darkness fallen

Your due right has not failed of prayer, nor has

on midmonth's radiance, save that you lend beauty as long as the full moon shines.

The full moon risen but in your weight and measure.