وَقَىmay shield اللّهGod الجوانحَthe breast حرّheat of نارٍa fire
وَقَى اللّه الجوانحَ حرّ نارٍ
مِنَfrom اللّحظِthe gaze المؤيّدstrengthened باِنكسارِby languor
مِنَ اللّحظِ المؤيّد باِنكسارِ
May God shield the breast from a fire's heat,
May God protect the hearts from fiery passion,
Kindled by a gaze made potent by its languor.
From the fateful glance accompanied by surrender.
أُصبتُI was struck غداةَthe morning when راقَcharmed الحسنُbeauty طرفيmy eye
أُصبتُ غداةَ راقَ الحسنُ طرفي
وَعلّمنيand taught me الهوىpassion خلعَcasting off العذارِthe bridle strap
وَعلّمني الهوى خلعَ العذارِ
I was struck the morning beauty charmed my eye,
My eyes feasted on beauty one morning,
And passion taught me to cast off the bridle.
And desire taught me to cast off restraint.
رَعاكَmay guard you اللّهGod ياO رشأyoung gazelle رَمانيshot me
رَعاكَ اللّه يا رشأ رَماني
فَلاso do not تُثلجcool فَديتكmay I be your ransom حرّheat of ناريmy fire
فَلا تُثلج فَديتك حرّ ناري
May God guard you, O young gazelle who shot me;
May God watch over you, O twig of pomegranate,
So do not cool—may I be your ransom—my fire's heat.
Do not cool my burning passion with your chill.
وَلاand do not تَعجَبmarvel لِوَجهكat your face إِنif طَفاهاextinguishes it
وَلا تَعجَب لِوَجهك إِن طَفاها
فَماfor what is المِصباحُthe lamp فيin كبدِthe heart of النهارِthe day
فَما المِصباحُ في كبدِ النهارِ
And do not marvel if your face extinguishes it:
Do not wonder that your face dims the lamp,
For what is a lamp in the heart of day?
For no lamp can shine in the light of day.
رَضيتُI have accepted هَواكَlove for you وَاِستَعذبتُand found sweet وَجديmy longing
رَضيتُ هَواكَ وَاِستَعذبتُ وَجدي
وَلستُand I am not بِقائلٍone to say عيلَis exhausted اِصطباريmy patience
وَلستُ بِقائلٍ عيلَ اِصطباري
I have accepted my love for you and found my longing sweet;
I accepted your love and savored my torment,
And I am not one to say, 'My patience is exhausted.'
I shall make no complaint of enduring my desire.
وَكَمand how many فيamong الناسِpeople مِنof حسنٍa beautiful person وَلَكنand yet
وَكَم في الناسِ مِن حسنٍ وَلَكن
عَليكَon you لِشقوتيto my misery وقَعَfell اِختياريmy choice
عَليكَ لِشقوتي وقَعَ اِختياري
And how many beauties there are among people, yet
Many are fair in this world, yet for my misfortune,
My choice fell on you, to my misery.
My choice fell upon you alone.