ليلnight المحبينthe lovers مطويّfolded up جوانبهits sides
ليل المحبين مطويّ جوانبه
مشمرtucked up الذيلthe hem منسوبascribed الىto القصرِbrevity
مشمر الذيل منسوب الى القصرِ
The lovers' night has its sides folded up,
The night of lovers has folded up its edges,
Its hem tucked up, it is reckoned brief.
Like a robe tucked up revealing the ankles.
إذاwhen الحبيبانthe two lovers باتاthey both spent the night تحتbeneath جانبهits side
إذا الحبيبان باتا تحت جانبه
غابتvanished أوائلهits beginnings فيin آخرthe end of السحرِthe predawn hours
غابت أوائله في آخر السحرِ
When the two lovers spend the night beneath its side,
When two lovers spend the night together,
Its beginnings vanish into the last hours before dawn.
Its early hours vanish at dawn's first light.
ماnot ذاكthat إلاexcept لانbecause الصبحdawn نمَّinformed بناagainst us
ما ذاك إلا لان الصبح نمَّ بنا
فأطلعand it made rise الشمسthe sun منout of غيظanger علىat القمرِthe moon
فأطلع الشمس من غيظ على القمرِ
That is only because dawn informed against us,
The morning awoke while we were still asleep,
And made the sun rise out of anger at the moon.
So the sun rose jealous of the moon's bright light.