ياoh للحبيبfor the beloved (exclamation) المفدَّىworth giving one's life for
يا للحبيب المفدَّى
غداةَthe morning when زارhe visited وسلَّمand offered greetings
غداةَ زار وسلَّم
Oh, the beloved for whom I'd give my life,
O beloved savior
the morning he visited and offered greetings,
Who visited and bid farewell
مستَحيياًbashful والهوىwhile love فيin
مستَحيياً والهوى في
ركابهhis retinue يتضرَّمblazes
ركابه يتضرَّم
bashful, while love in
Shyly, while passion
his train blazed;
Writhed at his feet-
وصامتاًand silent وهوthough he أيكٌa grove
وصامتاً وهو أيكٌ
بألفwith a thousand شدوٍsong ترنَّمsang melodiously
بألف شدوٍ ترنَّم
and silent, though he was a grove
Silent, though he was
that sang a thousand songs.
A melody of a thousand songs-
ناداهcalled to him قلبيmy heart وناجاand communed with
ناداه قلبي وناجا
هhim خاطريmy thoughts وهوwhile he يعلَمknows
ه خاطري وهو يعلَم
My heart called to him, and communing
My heart called him, my soul whispered to him
with him were my thoughts, though he knows:
And he knew-
ياO مطلعَdawning-place السحرmagic والنوand the light (opening fragment)
يا مطلعَ السحر والنو
رcompletion of 'light' والجمالand beauty تَكَلَّمspeak
ر والجمال تَكَلَّم
O dawn of magic and
O dawn of sorcery, light and beauty-speak!
light and beauty, speak!
Else aid my shredded heart and have mercy-
أبِنspeak plainly وإلاand if not أعنhelp قلheart (opening fragment)
أبِن وإلا أعن قل
بيmy (completing 'my heart') الممزَّقthe torn وارحَمand have mercy
بي الممزَّق وارحَم
Speak plainly, or else help
O conqueror who strikes the heart, though it be a shattered fortress
my torn heart, and have mercy.
Since you rose above it, doubting and bidding farewell
ياO غازياًinvader يضربstrikes القلthe heart (opening fragment)
يا غازياً يضرب القل
بcompletion of 'heart' وهوthough it حصنٌa fortress مُحَطَّمshattered
ب وهو حصنٌ مُحَطَّم
O invader who strikes the
O allure swaying by
heart, though it is a shattered fortress:
And mercy smiling-
لمَّاwhen طلعتyou rose عليهupon it
لمَّا طلعت عليه
وهَىgrew weak وأنّand moaned وسلَّمand surrendered
وهَى وأنّ وسلَّم
when you rose over it,
If hope is not for me
it grew weak, moaned, and surrendered.
Nor my share of fortune,
ياO فتنةenchantment تتهادىglides gracefully
يا فتنة تتهادى
ورحمةand mercy تتبسَّمsmiles
ورحمة تتبسَّم
O enchantment, gliding gracefully,
Or if my portion is lost
and mercy, smiling:
Let me dream of your beauty.
إنif لمnot يكنbe ليfor me رجاءٌhope
إن لم يكن لي رجاءٌ
ولاand no لحظيَfor my lot مغنمspoils
ولا لحظيَ مغنم
if I have no hope,
nor any spoils fall to my lot,
أوor لَمnot يعُدremains ليfor me نصيبٌa share
أو لَم يعُد لي نصيبٌ
دعنيlet me بحسنكof your beauty أحلمdream
دعني بحسنك أحلم
or no share remains for me,
let me dream of your beauty.
Partial English translation: 18 of 22 Arabic lines translated.