إِذا ما شَكا ليمٌ إِلَيكَ مُصيبَةً

إِذا ما شَكا ليمٌ إِلَيكَ مُصيبَةً

بِها قَلبُهُ وافي الهُمومِ عَميدُ

بِها قَلبُهُ وافي الهُمومِ عَميدُ

If ever a base man complains to you of a misfortune,

When a heartbroken one confides in you

If a sufferer complains to you of his calamity,

that leaves his heart full of sorrows and sorely stricken,

His heart laden with sorrows profound

His heart laden with cares and lovesick agony,

فَقُل مِثلَ ما قالَت بُثَينَةُ إِذ شَكا

فَقُل مِثلَ ما قالَت بُثَينَةُ إِذ شَكا

جَميلٌ إِلَيها الحُبَّ وَهوَ شَديدُ

جَميلٌ إِلَيها الحُبَّ وَهوَ شَديدُ

then say as Buthayna said when

Say what Buthaina said when Jamīl complained

Then speak as Buthayna spoke when Jamil complained

Jamil complained to her of love, fierce as it was:

Of love’s cruel hold, grief abound:

To her of his love, which fiercely reigned:

إِذا قُلتُ ما بي يا بُثَينَةُ قاتِلي

إِذا قُلتُ ما بي يا بُثَينَةُ قاتِلي

مِنَ الحُبِّ قالَت ثابِتٌ وَيَزيدُ

مِنَ الحُبِّ قالَت ثابِتٌ وَيَزيدُ

When I say, 'What I feel, O Buthayna, is killing me—

"My love grows yet more steadfast, more true

"When I said: 'O Buthayna, what I feel is killing me

this love,' she says, 'It endures and grows.'

When you say, 'Buthaina, love kills me'"

Of love,' she replied, 'It is fixed and grows eternally.'"