كنتI would have أسلوكceased loving you ياO جميلةJamila لولاwere it not for
كنت أسلوك يا جميلة لولا
طلعةٌa countenance غضةfresh and youthful وعينand an eye كحيلهْkohl-dark
طلعةٌ غضة وعين كحيلهْ
I would have forgotten you, O beautiful one, were it not for
I would have ceased loving you, O Jamila, were it not for
a fresh young face and a kohl-darkened eye.
A youthful countenance and a kohl-dark eye.
وأناand I منكbecause of you فيin اغتياظanger ولكنbut
وأنا منك في اغتياظ ولكن
نيَI (completing 'but I') لمdid not ألقfind لاغتياظكto provoke your anger حيلهْa means
نيَ لم ألق لاغتياظك حيلهْ
I rejoice in you, yet
And I am angry with you, but
I have found no way to bring you joy.
I have found no way to make you angry.
إنindeed قتليmy killing إياكyou أهونُeasier منthan ميfirst part of 'my lying'
إن قتلي إياك أهونُ من مي
نيcompletion of 'my lying' إذاif قلتI said أنتyou غيرnot جميلهْbeautiful
ني إذا قلت أنت غير جميلهْ
Indeed, killing you would be easier than my false—
Indeed, killing you would be easier than my lying
hood, were I to say, “You are not beautiful.”
If I said, 'You are not beautiful.'
