زعمواthey claimed الغزالthe gazelle حكاهresembled him قلتI said لهمto them نعمyes
زعموا الغزال حكاه قلت لهم نعم
فيin صدهhis turning away عنfrom عاشقيهhis lovers وهجرهand his forsaking
في صده عن عاشقيه وهجره
They claimed the gazelle resembled him. I told them, “Yes—”
They claimed the gazelle resembled him; I told them, “Yes—
in turning away from his lovers and forsaking them.”
in turning away from his lovers and forsaking them.”
قالواthey said الهلالthe crescent شبيههhis likeness فأجبتهمso I answered them
قالوا الهلال شبيهه فأجبتهم
إنif كانit was قيسcompared إلىto قلامةa clipping ظفرهhis fingernail
إن كان قيس إلى قلامة ظفره
They said, “The crescent moon is his likeness.” I replied:
They said the crescent was his likeness; I answered them:
“Only if it were measured against a paring of his fingernail.”
“If it is compared to a clipping of his fingernail.”
وكذاand likewise يقولونthey say المدامwine كريقهlike his saliva
وكذا يقولون المدام كريقه
ياO ربLord لاmay … not علمواthey know مذاقةthe taste ثغرهhis mouth
يا رب لا علموا مذاقة ثغره
And likewise they say that wine is like his saliva—
Likewise, they say wine is like his saliva;
O Lord, may they never know the taste of his lips!
O Lord, may they never know the taste of his mouth!
