ما ضَرّ من صدَّني لو زارني كرماً

ما ضَرّ من صدَّني لو زارني كرماً

وهل عليه إذا ما زار من باسِ

وهل عليه إذا ما زار من باسِ

What harm would befall the one who spurned me if he visited me out of generosity?

It would not harm me if he who was gracious visited me,

And would any harm befall him if he visited?

And is it really his fault if when he visited he was aloof?

حلو الشمائلِ مُرّ الهجر معتدلِ

حلو الشمائلِ مُرّ الهجر معتدلِ

رطْب المعاطف لكنْ قلبُه قاسِي

رطْب المعاطف لكنْ قلبُه قاسِي

Sweet in disposition, bitter in estrangement, well-proportioned;

Sweet of features, bitter of estrangement, moderate,

Supple of frame, yet his heart is hard.

Moist of cloak, but his heart is harsh,

معذِّبٌ مهجتي والقلبُ في يدهِ

معذِّبٌ مهجتي والقلبُ في يدهِ

يا قلبُ إن لم يزر مرَّ الهوى قاسِ

يا قلبُ إن لم يزر مرَّ الهوى قاسِ

He torments my soul, and my heart is in his hand.

Tormenting my love while my heart is in his hands.

O heart, if he does not visit, endure the bitterness of love.

O heart, if bitter love does not visit, be aloof,

دع عنك هذا الجفا وأرحم فؤاد شجٍ

دع عنك هذا الجفا وأرحم فؤاد شجٍ

ولا تُطع مَن وشى يا أحسنُ الناسِ

ولا تُطع مَن وشى يا أحسنُ الناسِ

Set aside this coldness, and pity the heart of one who grieves,

Leave this aloofness and have mercy on a broken heart,

And do not heed the slanderer, O fairest of people.

And do not obey the slanderer, O best of people.