لَبِثتُ عَلى بابِ الأَميرِ مُعَلَّلاً

لَبِثتُ عَلى بابِ الأَميرِ مُعَلَّلاً

بِوَعدٍ أَسيرٍ في سَلاسِلِ مَطلِهِ

بِوَعدٍ أَسيرٍ في سَلاسِلِ مَطلِهِ

I lingered at the prince’s door, kept hopeful

I lingered at the prince's door, fettered

by a promise held captive in the chains of his delay.

By a captive promise in the grip of his caprice.

فَيَأَيَّها الكَهفُ الَّذي قَد رَجَوتُهُ

فَيَأَيَّها الكَهفُ الَّذي قَد رَجَوتُهُ

لَقَد نِمتَ عَنّى مِثلَ نَومِ أَهلِهِ

لَقَد نِمتَ عَنّى مِثلَ نَومِ أَهلِهِ

So, O cave in which I had placed my hope,

O cave, for which I had such hope,

You have indeed slept, heedless of me, as its inhabitants slept.

You have slept away from me like the sleep of its people.