أُمُّthe mother of اِبنِthe son of الاَعمَشِal-A‘mash فَاِعلَموهاso know her فَرتَناFartana
أُمُّ اِبنِ الاَعمَشِ فَاِعلَموها فَرتَنا
ماhow أَسهَلَeasy المَعروفَkindness ثَمَّthere وَأَمكَناand readily available
ما أَسهَلَ المَعروفَ ثَمَّ وَأَمكَنا
Ibn al-A‘mash’s mother—know her for a whore:
The mother of Ibn al-A‘mash—so know her—is Fartana.
how easy a favor is there, how readily within reach!
How easy kindness is there, and how readily available!
عَجزاءُa broad-rumped woman يُحسِنُit is fitting إِنif أَتاهاcame to her خائِفٌa frightened man
عَجزاءُ يُحسِنُ إِن أَتاها خائِفٌ
وَقَدِand has اِستَجارَsought refuge بِصَدعِهاin her cleft أَنthat تُحسِناshe show kindness
وَقَدِ اِستَجارَ بِصَدعِها أَن تُحسِنا
Great-rumped—if a frightened man comes to her, it is fitting
A broad-rumped woman: it is fitting, if a frightened man comes to her,
that she treat him kindly once he has sought refuge in her rump’s cleft.
and has sought refuge in her cleft, that she show him kindness.
لَوif أَنَّthat غُلمَتَهاher lust اِستَحارَتturned into فِضَّةًsilver
لَو أَنَّ غُلمَتَها اِستَحارَت فِضَّةً
تُمتارُis gathered أَوor ذَهَباًgold لَكانَتthen she would be مَعدِناa mine
تُمتارُ أَو ذَهَباً لَكانَت مَعدِنا
Were her lust transformed into silver
If her lust turned into silver
to be drawn forth—or into gold—she would be a mine.
to be gathered, or into gold, she would be a mine.
لاdo not تَحسَبَنever think أَنّيthat I اِفتَرَيتُI fabricated lies عَلىagainst الَّتيthe woman who
لا تَحسَبَن أَنّي اِفتَرَيتُ عَلى الَّتي
وَلَدَتكَbore you لَكِنّيbut I اِفتَرَيتُI fabricated lies عَلىagainst الزِناfornication
وَلَدَتكَ لَكِنّي اِفتَرَيتُ عَلى الزِنا
Do not think that I have forged lies against the woman
Do not think I have slandered the woman who
who bore you; rather, it is fornication I have slandered.
bore you; rather, I have slandered fornication.
