تجلَّدتsteeled themselves (also: became leather-bound) كتبbooks التاريخhistory ثمَّthen شكتcomplained
تجلَّدت كتب التاريخ ثمَّ شكت
منof خجلةshame خيرthe finest تاريخٍchronicle لخيرfor the finest وَليpatron
من خجلة خير تاريخٍ لخير وَلي
The history books steeled themselves, then complained
The books of history were bound, then complained
of shame before the finest chronicle for the finest patron.
Of the shame from the best history of the best saint
تكادُare close to إنif نظرتْthey behold هذيthese المحاسنbeauties أنto
تكادُ إن نظرتْ هذي المحاسن أن
تموتdie فيwithin جلدِهاtheir leather bindings منfrom شدَّةintensity الخجلshame
تموت في جلدِها من شدَّة الخجل
If they behold these beauties, they are close to
If you look upon these beauties, they almost
dying within their leather bindings from intense shame.
Die of extreme shyness within their covers