متيلدُMathilde ياO بنتَdaughter عمّيmy paternal uncle
متيلدُ يا بنتَ عمّي
حزنيmy sorrow عظيمٌgreat وغمّيand my anguish
حزني عظيمٌ وغمّي
Mathilde, O daughter of my uncle,
Mathilde, my cousin,
Great is my sorrow and anguish.
My sorrow is great, and so is my anguish.
أبيmy father قضىdecreed بزواجيmy marriage
أبي قضى بزواجي
منto غيرnot كفءa suitable match برغميagainst my will
من غير كفء برغمي
My father has decreed my marriage
My father has decreed my marriage
to an unsuitable man, against my will.
To an unsuitable match, against my will.
وكيفand how أقبلI accept فظّاًa coarse man
وكيف أقبل فظّاً
إلفاًa companion لروحيto my soul وجسميand my body
إلفاً لروحي وجسمي
How could I accept a harsh man
And how can I accept a coarse man
as companion to my soul and body?
As a companion to my soul and body?
هلquestion marker ساذجsimple الطبعtemperament يحظىwin
هل ساذج الطبع يحظى
بذاتwith a woman possessing حسنbeauty وعلمand learning
بذات حسن وعلم
Can one so artless by nature win
Can a man of simple nature win
a woman of beauty and learning?
A woman of beauty and learning?
أمor بعدafter باريسParis أرضىI am content
أم بعد باريس أرضى
فيin قريةa village كلall همworry
في قرية كل هم
Or, after Paris, could I be content
Or, after Paris, can I be content
in a village filled with nothing but care?
In a village that is nothing but worry?
إنif لمnot يرقنيَplease me بعليmy husband
إن لم يرقنيَ بعلي
فإننيthen indeed I am شرthe worst أمِّmother
فإنني شر أمِّ
If my husband does not please me,
If my husband does not please me,
then I shall be the worst of mothers.
Then I am the worst of mothers.
