ثماني حسان ملكن الفؤادْ

ثماني حسان ملكن الفؤادْ

ثماني سنين طوال شدادْ

ثماني سنين طوال شدادْ

Eight beauties possessed my heart

Eight years of joy possessed my heart,

For eight long, harsh years.

Eight long years of hardship and smart.

فبعضاً أطعتُ وبعضاً عصيتُ

فبعضاً أطعتُ وبعضاً عصيتُ

وبعضٌ أضرَّ وبعضٌ أفادْ

وبعضٌ أضرَّ وبعضٌ أفادْ

So some I obeyed, and some I disobeyed;

Some rules I obeyed, some I defied,

And some did harm, and some did good.

Some were harmful, some were my guide.

ولم أستفد غير صبرٍ على ال

ولم أستفد غير صبرٍ على ال

هموم وعلم بها واعتيادْ

هموم وعلم بها واعتيادْ

And I gained nothing but patience with the

I gained only patience for every woe,

Cares, knowledge of them, and familiarity with them.

Knowledge of anguish, and its steady flow.

عرفت الحسان فما بالحسان

عرفت الحسان فما بالحسان

طبائعُ مرجوَّةٌ تستجادْ

طبائعُ مرجوَّةٌ تستجادْ

I have known the beauties; the beauties have no

I learned that joy has a fickle heart;

Qualities one might hope for and admire.

Its nature is not to persevere or last.

لئن خلت الأرض ممن أحبُّ

لئن خلت الأرض ممن أحبُّ

وأرضى فليس لحبي نفادْ

وأرضى فليس لحبي نفادْ

Even if the earth were empty of those I love

Though the earth were emptied of those I love

And approve of, my love has no end.

And cherish, my love would still hold fast.

فمن لي بمن يستحق الهوى

فمن لي بمن يستحق الهوى

وإني له بحياتي جوادْ

وإني له بحياتي جوادْ

Who, then, can bring me one who deserves love?

But who deserves such constant affection?

And I would freely give my life for that one.

For him I would give my life; such is my predilection.