إِذا ضَنَّ إِلفٌ على إِلْفِه

إِذا ضَنَّ إِلفٌ على إِلْفِه

فإِلفي ضَنينٌ بأَن لا تَهَب

فإِلفي ضَنينٌ بأَن لا تَهَب

If a lover is miserly toward his beloved,

When a beloved is grudging of his kiss,

then my beloved begrudges even the words, 'Do not fear.'

Then my very soul is afire that he should not be so miserly.

تَطَلَّبْتُ من ثَغْرِه قُبْلةً

تَطَلَّبْتُ من ثَغْرِه قُبْلةً

فضنَّ عليَّ بِذَاكَ الشَّنَب

فضنَّ عليَّ بِذَاكَ الشَّنَب

I sought a kiss from his mouth,

I begged of his lips a kiss,

but he begrudged me that sweet coolness of his teeth.

But he was grudging even of that favor.

وقال أَلا دُونَه وَجنتي

وقال أَلا دُونَه وَجنتي

فصانَ اللُّجينَ وأَعْطَى الذَّهبْ

فصانَ اللُّجينَ وأَعْطَى الذَّهبْ

And he said, 'Look—my cheek instead!'

And he said, “Nay, leave my cheeks alone,

So he safeguarded the silver and gave the gold.

So I hid my face, and he gave me gold instead.”