رُبَّ لَيلٍ أَمَدَّ مِن نَفَسِ العا

رُبَّ لَيلٍ أَمَدَّ مِن نَفَسِ العا

شِقِ طولاً قطعَتهُ بِاِنتِحابِ

شِقِ طولاً قطعَتهُ بِاِنتِحابِ

Many a night, longer than the breath of the lov-

Many a night whose length my soul, though sad, made long

er in duration, I spent in sobbing;

With tears o’erflowing, I made yet more long with ardent song,

وَنَعيمٍ أَلَذَّ مِن وَصلِ مَعشو

وَنَعيمٍ أَلَذَّ مِن وَصلِ مَعشو

قٍ تَبَدَّلتُهُ بِبُؤسِ العِتابِ

قٍ تَبَدَّلتُهُ بِبُؤسِ العِتابِ

And bliss sweeter than union with a belov-

While happiness seemed ever to live, though far away,

ed, I exchanged for the misery of reproach.

In the lamenting wail of my voice while I weep and pray.