مَلكَtook possession of الثلاثُthe three الآنساتُcharming maidens عِنَانيmy reins
مَلكَ الثلاثُ الآنساتُ عِنَاني
وحَلَلْنَand they settled منof قَلْبيmy heart بِكُلِّin every مَكَانِplace
وحَلَلْنَ من قَلْبي بِكُلِّ مَكَانِ
The three charming maidens have taken hold of my reins,
and settled in every part of my heart.
ماwhat ليwith me تطاوِعُنيobeys me البَرِيّةُcreation كُلُّهاall of it
ما لي تطاوِعُني البَرِيّةُ كُلُّها
وأُطِيعُهُنّand I obey them وهُنَّwhile they فيin عِصْيانيdefiance of me
وأُطِيعُهُنّ وهُنَّ في عِصْياني
How is it that all creation obeys me,
yet I obey them while they defy me?
ماnot ذاكَthat إِلاَّexcept أَنَّthat سُلْطانthe power الهَوىof love
ما ذاكَ إِلاَّ أَنَّ سُلْطان الهَوى
وَبِهِand through it عَزَزْنَthey grew mighty أعَزُّmightier منthan سُلْطانيmy power
وَبِهِ عَزَزْنَ أعَزُّ من سُلْطاني
That is only because the power of love—
through which they grew mighty—is mightier than my own.