مَاذَا عَلَى قُرَّةِ الْعَيْنَينِ لَوْ صَفَحَتْ

مَاذَا عَلَى قُرَّةِ الْعَيْنَينِ لَوْ صَفَحَتْ

وعَاوَدَتْ بِوِصالٍ بَعْدَ ما صَفَحَتْ

وعَاوَدَتْ بِوِصالٍ بَعْدَ ما صَفَحَتْ

What would it cost my eyes' delight if she forgave

And renewed our union after she had turned away?

بايَعْتُها الْقَلْبَ إِيجَاباً بِمَا وَعَدَتْ

بايَعْتُها الْقَلْبَ إِيجَاباً بِمَا وَعَدَتْ

فَيَا لَها صَفْقَةً فِي الْحُبِّ ما رَبِحَتْ

فَيَا لَها صَفْقَةً فِي الْحُبِّ ما رَبِحَتْ

I bartered my heart to her, assenting to what she promised;

Ah, what a bargain in love—one that brought no gain!

قَدْ يَزْعُمُ النَّاسُ أَنَّ الْبُخْلَ مَقْطَعَةٌ

قَدْ يَزْعُمُ النَّاسُ أَنَّ الْبُخْلَ مَقْطَعَةٌ

فَمَا لِقَلْبِيَ يَهْوَاها وما سَمَحَتْ

فَمَا لِقَلْبِيَ يَهْوَاها وما سَمَحَتْ

People may claim that stinginess severs ties;

Then why does my heart love her, though she has granted nothing?

خُوطِيَّةُ الْقَدِّ لو مَرَّ الْحَمَامُ بِها

خُوطِيَّةُ الْقَدِّ لو مَرَّ الْحَمَامُ بِها

لم يَشْتَبِهْ أَنَّها مِنْ أَيْكِهِ انْتَزَحَتْ

لم يَشْتَبِهْ أَنَّها مِنْ أَيْكِهِ انْتَزَحَتْ

A supple shoot in stature—if the doves passed her,

They would not doubt she had strayed from their grove.

خَفَّتْ مَعاطِفُها لَكِنْ رَوادِفُها

خَفَّتْ مَعاطِفُها لَكِنْ رَوادِفُها

بِمِثْلِ مَا حَمَّلَتْني في الْهَوى رَجَحَتْ

بِمِثْلِ مَا حَمَّلَتْني في الْهَوى رَجَحَتْ

Her curves are light, but her hips

Weigh heavy as the burden she made me bear in love.

وَيْلاهُ مِنْ لَحْظِها الْفَتَّاكِ إِنْ نَظَرَتْ

وَيْلاهُ مِنْ لَحْظِها الْفَتَّاكِ إِنْ نَظَرَتْ

وَآهِ مِنْ قَدِّها الْعَسَّالِ إِنْ سَنَحَتْ

وَآهِ مِنْ قَدِّها الْعَسَّالِ إِنْ سَنَحَتْ

Alas for her murderous glance whenever she looks!

And ah, for her swaying figure whenever she appears!

يَمُوتُ قَلْبِي ويَحْيَا حَيْرَةً وهُدىً

يَمُوتُ قَلْبِي ويَحْيَا حَيْرَةً وهُدىً

فِي عالَمِ الْوَجْدِ إِنْ صَدَّتْ وإِنْ جَنَحَتْ

فِي عالَمِ الْوَجْدِ إِنْ صَدَّتْ وإِنْ جَنَحَتْ

My heart dies and lives, in bewilderment and guidance,

In the realm of passion, when she turns away and when she inclines toward me.

كَالْبَدْرِ إِنْ سَفَرَتْ وَالظَّبِيِ إِنْ نَظَرَتْ

كَالْبَدْرِ إِنْ سَفَرَتْ وَالظَّبِيِ إِنْ نَظَرَتْ

والْغُصْنِ إِنْ خَطَرَتْ والزَّهْرِ إِنْ نَفَحَتْ

والْغُصْنِ إِنْ خَطَرَتْ والزَّهْرِ إِنْ نَفَحَتْ

Like the full moon when she unveils, and a gazelle when she looks;

And a bough when she sways, and blossoms when she wafts fragrance.

وا خَجْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ إِنْ لاحَتْ أَسِرَّتُهَا

وا خَجْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ إِنْ لاحَتْ أَسِرَّتُهَا

وَحَيْرَةَ الرَّشَإِ الْوَسْنَانِ إِنْ لَمَحَتْ

وَحَيْرَةَ الرَّشَإِ الْوَسْنَانِ إِنْ لَمَحَتْ

Oh, how the full moon is shamed when her features shine!

And how the drowsy fawn is bewildered when she glances!

لَها رَوَابِطُ لا تَنْفَكُّ آخِذَةً

لَها رَوَابِطُ لا تَنْفَكُّ آخِذَةً

بِعُرْوَةِ الْقَلْبِ إِنْ جَدَّتْ وَإِنْ مَزَحَتْ

بِعُرْوَةِ الْقَلْبِ إِنْ جَدَّتْ وَإِنْ مَزَحَتْ

Her bonds never loosen their hold

On the heart's handle, whether she is earnest or jesting.

يا سَرْحَةَ الأَمَلِ الْمَمْنُوعِ جَانِبُهُ

يا سَرْحَةَ الأَمَلِ الْمَمْنُوعِ جَانِبُهُ

ويا غَزَالَةَ وادِي الْحُسْنِ إِنْ سَرَحَتْ

ويا غَزَالَةَ وادِي الْحُسْنِ إِنْ سَرَحَتْ

O spreading tree of hope, forbidden to approach,

And O gazelle of beauty's valley when she roams!

تَرَفَّقِي بِفُؤَادٍ أَنْتِ مُنْيَتُهُ

تَرَفَّقِي بِفُؤَادٍ أَنْتِ مُنْيَتُهُ

ومُقْلَةٍ لِسِوَى مَرْآكِ ما طَمَحَتْ

ومُقْلَةٍ لِسِوَى مَرْآكِ ما طَمَحَتْ

Be gentle with a heart whose desire you are,

And an eye that has never sought anything but the sight of you.

حَاشَاكِ أَنْ تَسْمَعِي قَوْلَ الْوُشَاةِ بِنَا

حَاشَاكِ أَنْ تَسْمَعِي قَوْلَ الْوُشَاةِ بِنَا

فَإِنَّها رُبَّمَا غَشَّتْ إِذَا نَصَحَتْ

فَإِنَّها رُبَّمَا غَشَّتْ إِذَا نَصَحَتْ

Far be it from you to heed the slanderers' words about us;

For they may deceive when they offer counsel.

أَفْسَدْتُ فِي حُبِّكُمْ نَفْسِي جَوىً وَأَسىً

أَفْسَدْتُ فِي حُبِّكُمْ نَفْسِي جَوىً وَأَسىً

والنَّفْسُ في الْحُبِّ مَهْمَا أُفْسِدَتْ صَلَحَتْ

والنَّفْسُ في الْحُبِّ مَهْمَا أُفْسِدَتْ صَلَحَتْ

I ruined my soul in loving you, with lovesickness and sorrow;

And the soul, however ruined in love, is made whole.

مَا زِلْتُ أَسْحَرُها بالشِّعْرِ تَسْمَعُهُ

مَا زِلْتُ أَسْحَرُها بالشِّعْرِ تَسْمَعُهُ

مِنْ ذاتِ فَهْمٍ تُجِيدُ الْقَوْلَ إِنْ شَرَحَتْ

مِنْ ذاتِ فَهْمٍ تُجِيدُ الْقَوْلَ إِنْ شَرَحَتْ

I kept enchanting her with poetry she heard

From a discerning woman, eloquent when she explained.

حَتَّى إِذَا عَلِمَتْ مَا حَلَّ بِي ورَأَتْ

حَتَّى إِذَا عَلِمَتْ مَا حَلَّ بِي ورَأَتْ

سُقْمِي وخَافَتْ عَلَى نَفْسٍ بِهَا افْتَضَحَتْ

سُقْمِي وخَافَتْ عَلَى نَفْسٍ بِهَا افْتَضَحَتْ

Until, when she learned what had befallen me and saw

My sickness, and feared for a soul disgraced on her account,

حَنَّتْ رَثَتْ عَطَفَتْ مالَتْ صَبَتْ عَزَمَتْ

حَنَّتْ رَثَتْ عَطَفَتْ مالَتْ صَبَتْ عَزَمَتْ

هَمَّتْ سَرَتْ وَصَلَتْ عَادَتْ دَنَتْ مَنَحَتْ

هَمَّتْ سَرَتْ وَصَلَتْ عَادَتْ دَنَتْ مَنَحَتْ

She yearned, pitied, showed tenderness, inclined, grew enamored, resolved;

She planned, traveled by night, joined me, returned, drew near, gave.

فَبِتُّ مِنْ وَصْلِهَا فِي نِعْمَة عَظُمَتْ

فَبِتُّ مِنْ وَصْلِهَا فِي نِعْمَة عَظُمَتْ

ما شِئْتُ أَوْ جَنَّةٍ أَبْوابُها فُتِحَتْ

ما شِئْتُ أَوْ جَنَّةٍ أَبْوابُها فُتِحَتْ

So, through union with her, I spent the night in bliss as great

As I could wish, or in a paradise whose gates were opened.

أَنَالُ مِنْ ثَغْرِهَا الدُّرِّيِّ ما سَأَلَتْ

أَنَالُ مِنْ ثَغْرِهَا الدُّرِّيِّ ما سَأَلَتْ

نَفْسِي وَمِنْ خَدِّهَا الْوَرْدِيِّ مَا اقْتَرَحَتْ

نَفْسِي وَمِنْ خَدِّهَا الْوَرْدِيِّ مَا اقْتَرَحَتْ

From her pearly mouth I gain whatever was asked for

By my soul, and from her rosy cheek whatever it desired.

فِي رَوْضَةٍ بَسَمَتْ أَزْهَارُها ونَمَتْ

فِي رَوْضَةٍ بَسَمَتْ أَزْهَارُها ونَمَتْ

أَفْنَانُهَا وسَجَتْ أَظْلالُهَا وَضَحَتْ

أَفْنَانُهَا وسَجَتْ أَظْلالُهَا وَضَحَتْ

In a garden whose flowers smiled, and where there grew

Its boughs; its shadows lay still, and it basked in sunlight.

تَكَلَّلَتْ بِجُمَانِ الْقَطْرِ وَاتَّزَرَتْ

تَكَلَّلَتْ بِجُمَانِ الْقَطْرِ وَاتَّزَرَتْ

بِسنْدُسِ النَّبْتِ والرَّيْحَانِ واتَّشَحَتْ

بِسنْدُسِ النَّبْتِ والرَّيْحَانِ واتَّشَحَتْ

It crowned itself with pearls of rain and girded itself

With the fine silk of plants and basil, and draped itself in them.

تَرَنَّحَ الْغُصْنُ مِنْ أَشْوَاقِهِ طَرَباً

تَرَنَّحَ الْغُصْنُ مِنْ أَشْوَاقِهِ طَرَباً

لَمَّا رَأَى الطَّيْرَ في أَوْكَارِهَا صَدَحَتْ

لَمَّا رَأَى الطَّيْرَ في أَوْكَارِهَا صَدَحَتْ

The bough swayed rapturously with its longing

When it saw the birds sing out in their nests.

صَحَّ النَّسِيمُ بِها وَهْوَ الْعَلِيلُ وَقَدْ

صَحَّ النَّسِيمُ بِها وَهْوَ الْعَلِيلُ وَقَدْ

مَالَتْ بِخَمْرِ النَّدَى أَغْصَانُها وَصَحَتْ

مَالَتْ بِخَمْرِ النَّدَى أَغْصَانُها وَصَحَتْ

The breeze grew well there, though it was ailing, and

Its boughs had swayed with dew's wine and sobered.

وَلَيْلَةٍ سَالَ في أَعْقَابِهَا شَفَقٌ

وَلَيْلَةٍ سَالَ في أَعْقَابِهَا شَفَقٌ

كَأَنَّهَا بِحُسَامِ الْفَجْرِ قَدْ ذُبِحَتْ

كَأَنَّهَا بِحُسَامِ الْفَجْرِ قَدْ ذُبِحَتْ

And a night in whose wake a crimson glow streamed,

As though it had been slaughtered by dawn's sword.

طَالَتْ وَقَصَّرَهَا لَهْوِي بِغَانِيَةٍ

طَالَتْ وَقَصَّرَهَا لَهْوِي بِغَانِيَةٍ

إِنْ أَعْرَضَتْ قَتَلَتْ أَوْ أَقْبَلَتْ فَضَحَتْ

إِنْ أَعْرَضَتْ قَتَلَتْ أَوْ أَقْبَلَتْ فَضَحَتْ

It was long, but my dalliance with a beauty shortened it,

Who killed me if she turned away, or shamed me if she drew near.

هَيْفَاءُ إِنْ نَطَقَتْ غَنَّتْ وإِنْ خَطَرَتْ

هَيْفَاءُ إِنْ نَطَقَتْ غَنَّتْ وإِنْ خَطَرَتْ

رَنَّتْ وإِنْ فَوَّقَتْ أَلْحَاظَهَا جَرَحَتْ

رَنَّتْ وإِنْ فَوَّقَتْ أَلْحَاظَهَا جَرَحَتْ

Slender-waisted: when she spoke, she sang, and when she swayed,

She chimed; and when she nocked her glances, she wounded.

دَارَتْ عَلَيْنَا بها الْكَاسَاتُ مُتْرَعَةً

دَارَتْ عَلَيْنَا بها الْكَاسَاتُ مُتْرَعَةً

بِخَمْرَةٍ لَوْ بَدَتْ في ظُلْمَةٍ قَدَحَتْ

بِخَمْرَةٍ لَوْ بَدَتْ في ظُلْمَةٍ قَدَحَتْ

In her company, the cups went round among us, brimming

With wine that would strike fire if it appeared in darkness.

حَمْرَاءَ سَلْسَلَهَا الإِبْرِيقُ فِي قَدَحٍ

حَمْرَاءَ سَلْسَلَهَا الإِبْرِيقُ فِي قَدَحٍ

كَشُعْلَةٍ لَفَحَتْ في ثَلْجَةٍ نَصَحَتْ

كَشُعْلَةٍ لَفَحَتْ في ثَلْجَةٍ نَصَحَتْ

Red wine poured in a stream by the ewer into a goblet,

Like a flame blazing inside a clear piece of ice.

رُوحٌ إِذَا سَلَكَتْ فِي هَامِدٍ نَبَضَتْ

رُوحٌ إِذَا سَلَكَتْ فِي هَامِدٍ نَبَضَتْ

عُرُوقُهُ أَوْ دَنَتْ مِنْ صَخْرَةٍ رَشَحَتْ

عُرُوقُهُ أَوْ دَنَتْ مِنْ صَخْرَةٍ رَشَحَتْ

A spirit that, if it entered a lifeless body, would set throbbing

Its veins; or if it neared a rock, the rock would ooze.

طَارَتْ بِأَلْبَابِنَا سُكْراً وَلا عَجَبٌ

طَارَتْ بِأَلْبَابِنَا سُكْراً وَلا عَجَبٌ

وهْيَ الْكُمَيْتُ إِذَا في حَلْبَةٍ جَمَحَتْ

وهْيَ الْكُمَيْتُ إِذَا في حَلْبَةٍ جَمَحَتْ

It carried our minds away in drunkenness—no wonder,

For it is the bay steed when it bolts on the racecourse.

حَتَّى بَدَا الْفَجْرُ مِنْ أَطْرَافِ ظُلْمَتِهَا

حَتَّى بَدَا الْفَجْرُ مِنْ أَطْرَافِ ظُلْمَتِهَا

كَغُرَّةٍ فِي جَوَادٍ أَدْهَم وَضَحَتْ

كَغُرَّةٍ فِي جَوَادٍ أَدْهَم وَضَحَتْ

Until dawn emerged from the edges of its darkness,

Like a white blaze shining on a jet-black steed.

فَيَا لَهَا لَيْلَةً ما كانَ أَحْسَنَها

فَيَا لَهَا لَيْلَةً ما كانَ أَحْسَنَها

لَوْ أَنَّها لَبِثَتْ حَوْلاً وَمَا بَرِحَتْ

لَوْ أَنَّها لَبِثَتْ حَوْلاً وَمَا بَرِحَتْ

Oh, what a night—how lovely it would have been

Had it stayed a year and never departed!