فديتكَmay I be your ransom منas a ملكٍking يكاتبwrites to عبدَهُhis slave
فديتكَ من ملكٍ يكاتب عبدَهُ
بأحرفهwith his letters اللاَّتيwhich حكتْهاimitated them الكواكبthe stars
بأحرفه اللاَّتي حكتْها الكواكب
May I be your ransom—what a king, who writes to his servant
May I be your ransom—a king who writes to his slave
with letters that the stars themselves have imitated!
with his letters, which the stars have imitated.
ملكتَyou took possession of بهاthrough them رقِّيmy servitude وأنْحلنيand wasted me away الأسىsorrow
ملكتَ بها رقِّي وأنْحلني الأسى
فهاso behold أناI ذاthis one عبدٌa slave رقيقٌfrail (also, enslaved) مكاتبwritten to (also, contracted for emancipation)
فها أنا ذا عبدٌ رقيقٌ مكاتب
Through them you took possession of my bondage, while sorrow wasted me away;
Through them you won my servitude, and sorrow wasted me away;
and here I stand: a tender, indentured slave.
so here I am: a frail slave, one you correspond with.
