قَد قُلتُ قَولاً فَاِسمَعي ذاكُمُ

قَد قُلتُ قَولاً فَاِسمَعي ذاكُمُ

مِنّي وَرُدّي مِثلَهُ يا عَنان

مِنّي وَرُدّي مِثلَهُ يا عَنان

I have said something; listen to it

I have spoken words, so listen to them,

I have spoken my piece, so listen to this,

From me, and answer in kind, O ʿAnān.

From me, and give me back the like, O Anan!

From me, and answer in kind, O Inan:

إِنّي لَأَهواكِ وَإِنّي جَبان

إِنّي لَأَهواكِ وَإِنّي جَبان

أَفرَقُ مِن عِلمي بِغَدرِ القِيان

أَفرَقُ مِن عِلمي بِغَدرِ القِيان

I truly love you, and I am a coward.

I do indeed love you, though I am a coward,

Truly I desire you, yet truly I am a coward,

I am frightened by my knowledge of singing slave-girls’ treachery.

Afraid, because of what I know, of the guile of maidens.

Terrified by what I know of the treachery of singing-girls.

يَصِلنَ مَن واصَلنَهُ خُدعَةً

يَصِلنَ مَن واصَلنَهُ خُدعَةً

بِكَسرَةِ الأَتفِ وَمَزحِ اللِسان

بِكَسرَةِ الأَتفِ وَمَزحِ اللِسان

They consort with their lovers as a ruse,

Whoever hopes for union with one who has tricked him

They grant favors to those they court only as a ruse,

With a tilt of the [unclear noun] and a playful tongue.

With laughing eyes and teasing tongue,

With languid gestures and the jesting of the tongue.

لَستُ أَرى وَصلَكِ أَو تَحلِفي

لَستُ أَرى وَصلَكِ أَو تَحلِفي

أَلّا تَخوني وَتَفي بِالضَمان

أَلّا تَخوني وَتَفي بِالضَمان

I do not envisage union with you unless you swear

I do not expect union with you, or that you swear

I see no way to your love unless you swear an oath

Not to betray me, and to honor your pledge.

You will not betray me, or keep true to your word,

That you will not betray, but will honor the pledge.

أَو فَذَريني وَصِلي جاهِلاً

أَو فَذَريني وَصِلي جاهِلاً

يَلقى مِنَ الغَيرَةِ فيكِ الهَوان

يَلقى مِنَ الغَيرَةِ فيكِ الهَوان

Or else leave me, and be with an ignorant man

Or leave me, and join another in ignorance,

Otherwise, leave me be and unite with a fool,

Who suffers humiliation through jealousy over you.

Who will be disgraced by jealousy for you.

Who will suffer humiliation for your sake through jealousy.