ياO زيدُZayd ماnot عاشرتَyou kept company with عَمْراًAmr سدىin vain
يا زيدُ ما عاشرتَ عَمْراً سدى
لكنْbut طواشيهِhis eunuch صبيحٌfair-faced مليحْhandsome
لكنْ طواشيهِ صبيحٌ مليحْ
O Zayd, you did not keep company with Amr for nothing.
O Zaid, you have not lived a worthless life
But his eunuch is fair-faced and handsome.
But your mornings are still beautiful
مولاهُhis master قيدٌa fetter لكَfor you عنْfrom وصلِهِunion with him
مولاهُ قيدٌ لكَ عنْ وصلِهِ
والقيدُand the fetter باقٍremaining والطواشيand the eunuch صبيحْfair-faced
والقيدُ باقٍ والطواشي صبيحْ
His master is a fetter keeping you from union with him.
His friendship is a shackle for you
And the fetter remains, and the eunuch is fair-faced.
The shackle remains while mornings are still beautiful