كانَت عُيَينَةُ فينا وَهيَ عاطِلَةٌ

كانَت عُيَينَةُ فينا وَهيَ عاطِلَةٌ

بَينَ الجَواري فَحَلّاها أَبو الحَكَمِ

بَينَ الجَواري فَحَلّاها أَبو الحَكَمِ

ʿUyaynah was among us, unadorned,

Her eyes were idle among us

Among the maidens; then Abū al-Ḥakam adorned her.

When Abu Al-Hakam adorned her.

فَمَن لَحانا عَلى حُسنِ المَقالِ لَهُ

فَمَن لَحانا عَلى حُسنِ المَقالِ لَهُ

كانَ المُليم وَكُنّا نَحنُ لَم نُلِمِ

كانَ المُليم وَكُنّا نَحنُ لَم نُلِمِ

So whoever reproached us for speaking well of him

Whoever competes with us in eloquence

Was the one to blame, while we ourselves had done nothing blameworthy.

Will be hurt, while we are unhurt.