وماجنٍ معشوقٍ إذا اجتمعت

وماجنٍ معشوقٍ إذا اجتمعت

الحانُهُ وهيَ شتى نَبّهت قَلقي

الحانُهُ وهيَ شتى نَبّهت قَلقي

And a beloved rogue—when there come together

The melody of a beautiful beloved, when heard

his melodies, varied as they are, they stir my disquiet.

Her diverse tones awakened my anxiety

كأنّ نغصَ عذاريهِ إلى فمهِ

كأنّ نغصَ عذاريهِ إلى فمهِ

كأسٌ مُفتّحةٌ من خالِص الوَرِقِ

كأسٌ مُفتّحةٌ من خالِص الوَرِقِ

As though the [unclear feature] of his cheeks, down to his mouth,

As if the nectar of her lips to her mouth

were an open goblet of pure silver.

Was a blossoming cup of pure silver

كأنّ عينيهِ من ياقوتتين إذا

كأنّ عينيهِ من ياقوتتين إذا

ما كانتا في صَفا ماءٍ إلى الزَّرَقِ

ما كانتا في صَفا ماءٍ إلى الزَّرَقِ

As though his eyes were made of two rubies, when

As if her two eyes were of ruby

both lay in limpid water shading toward blue.

When clear in water, to the blue inclined

كأنّما سَرجُهُ في ظهرِ كاسرةٍ

كأنّما سَرجُهُ في ظهرِ كاسرةٍ

أو حاصبٍ يتوقى برق مُنبعقِ

أو حاصبٍ يتوقى برق مُنبعقِ

As though his saddle were on the back of a bird of prey,

As if his saddle on a fallow mare

or a stone-flinging gale evading a bursting flash of lightning.

Or a gray steed fearing flashing lightning

كأنّما هو محمولٌ على أدب

كأنّما هو محمولٌ على أدب

فليس يُلحقُ في ساقٍ ولا عُنُقِ

فليس يُلحقُ في ساقٍ ولا عُنُقِ

As though he were borne along on good breeding,

As if he was carried on good manners

so he cannot be overtaken, in either leg or neck.

Neither overtaking a leg nor a neck