ألا رُبَّ مَولى غرَّني في عُهودِهِ

ألا رُبَّ مَولى غرَّني في عُهودِهِ

يَمينٌ عليها صَافحتني يَمينُهُ

يَمينٌ عليها صَافحتني يَمينُهُ

Ah, many a friend has deceived me in his pledges—

Alas, many a friend has deceived me in his pledge,

An oath upon which his right hand clasped mine.

His right hand shaking mine in false oaths.

أكابد منه ضِدَّ ما أستخِفُّه

أكابد منه ضِدَّ ما أستخِفُّه

فأصدُقُ في وُدِّي له ويَميِنُ هُو

فأصدُقُ في وُدِّي له ويَميِنُ هُو

From him I endure what is anything but easy to bear;

I bear from him the opposite of what I hoped,

So I am sincere in my affection for him, while he lies.

Yet remain true in my affection though he has lied.

عِجبت لخلاق اللئام كأنهُم

عِجبت لخلاق اللئام كأنهُم

عن الكَرمِ الَمعجونِ في شيمَتي نُهُوا

عن الكَرمِ الَمعجونِ في شيمَتي نُهُوا

I marveled at the character of the ignoble, as though they

I wonder at the morals of the vile, as though

Were forbidden the generosity kneaded into my nature.

They were warned against the generosity ingrained in my nature.