قصرت عليك النفس حتى توهمت

قصرت عليك النفس حتى توهمت

بل استيقنت أن ليس غيرك مطلبا

بل استيقنت أن ليس غيرك مطلبا

I confined my soul to you until it supposed—

I was so intent on you that I imagined,

rather, became certain—that there was no goal but you.

Nay, I was certain none but you was sought.

فرامت بديلاً منك لما جفوتها

فرامت بديلاً منك لما جفوتها

فحارت كأن لم يخلق اللَه منجبا

فحارت كأن لم يخلق اللَه منجبا

So it sought someone in your place when you spurned it,

Yet when you turned from me, it tried another,

and was bewildered, as though God had created no worthy man.

And wandered lost, as though God made none else.

فإن تتفكر في انصرافي خائباً

فإن تتفكر في انصرافي خائباً

وغدرك تعلم أينا عاد أخيبا

وغدرك تعلم أينا عاد أخيبا

If you reflect on my departing empty-handed

If you reflect how I depart a failure,

and on your treachery, you will know which of us came away worse off.

And your betrayal - say, which gained the less?

كسبت ملاماً واكتسبت بصيرة

كسبت ملاماً واكتسبت بصيرة

بأمرك فانظر أينا عاد مكسبا

بأمرك فانظر أينا عاد مكسبا

You earned reproach, while I gained insight

I earned reproach, but knowledge was my profit

into your character; so see which of us came away the richer.

In your command - so tell me, which won more?

سأشكر ذنب الدهر فيك ولم أكن

سأشكر ذنب الدهر فيك ولم أكن

على غير الأيام أشكر مذنبا

على غير الأيام أشكر مذنبا

I shall give thanks for time's offense concerning you, though I had never

I'll thank time's sin in you, who would have thought

thanked a wrongdoer for the days' vicissitudes.

I'd thank days for a crime? Yet now I do.