ظَهَرَ الخَفاءُ فَقُلتُ إِن عاتَبتُها

ظَهَرَ الخَفاءُ فَقُلتُ إِن عاتَبتُها

كانَ العِتابُ لِوُدِّنا اِستِهلاكا

كانَ العِتابُ لِوُدِّنا اِستِهلاكا

What was hidden came to light, and I said: if I reproached her,

The fault appeared so I said, were I to chide her

reproach would be the ruin of our love.

'twould be but to squander our love's provision.

وَطَمِعتُ أَن تَبقى المَوَدَّةٌ بَينَنا

وَطَمِعتُ أَن تَبقى المَوَدَّةٌ بَينَنا

مَوصولَةً فَتَرَكتُ ذاكَ لِذاكا

مَوصولَةً فَتَرَكتُ ذاكَ لِذاكا

And I hoped that the affection between us would remain

And I hoped that affection might still linger between us

unbroken, so I gave up the former for the latter.

unbroken, and so left well alone.