رَأَيتُ الفَضلَ مُكتَإِباً

رَأَيتُ الفَضلَ مُكتَإِباً

يُناغي الخُبزَ وَالسَمَكا

يُناغي الخُبزَ وَالسَمَكا

I saw al-Fadl looking downcast,

I saw Al-Fadl despondent

I saw Al-Fadl deep in gloomy spirits,

cooing to the bread and the fish.

harassing bread and fish.

Cooing fondly to the bread and fish.

فَقَطَّبَ حينَ أَبصَرَني

فَقَطَّبَ حينَ أَبصَرَني

وَنَكَّسَ رَأسَهُ وَبَكى

وَنَكَّسَ رَأسَهُ وَبَكى

Then he frowned when he saw me,

He frowned when he saw me,

He scowled the moment that he caught my eye,

and lowered his head and wept.

bowed his head and wept.

Then hung his head and started to weep.

فَلَمّا أَن حَلَفتُ لَهُ

فَلَمّا أَن حَلَفتُ لَهُ

بِأَنّي صائِمٌ ضَحِكا

بِأَنّي صائِمٌ ضَحِكا

But when I swore to him

But when I swore to him

But when I swore to him a solemn oath

that I was fasting, he laughed.

that I was fasting, he laughed.

That I was fasting, he broke out in laughter.