1. ما هَوىً إِلّا لَهُ سَبَبُ

    يَبتَدي مِنهُ وَيَنشَعِبُ

    There is no love without a cause,

    From which it begins and branches out.

  2. فَتَنَت قَلبي مُحَجَّبَةٌ

    وَجهُها بِالحُسنِ مُنتَقِبُ

    A veiled woman bewitched my heart,

    Her face veiled in beauty.

  3. حَلِيَت وَالحُسنُ تَأخُذُهُ

    تَنتَقي مِنهُ وَتَنتَخِبُ

    She was adorned, taking beauty,

    Selecting from it and choosing.

  4. فَاِكتَسَت مِنهُ طَرائِفَهُ

    وَاِستَزادَت فَضلَ ما تَهِبُ

    So she clothed herself in its choicest charms,

    And sought still more, beyond what she bestows.

  5. فَهيَ لَو صَيَّرَت فيهِ لَها

    عَودَةً لَم يَثنِها أَرَبُ

    So, if she were to arrange for herself in it

    A return, no need would turn her back.

  6. صارَ جِدّاً ما مَزَحتُ بِهِ

    رُبَّ جِدٍّ جَرَّهُ اللَعِبُ

    What I jested about became serious;

    Many a serious matter was brought about by play.