لو كان أبخلَ في الورى من مادرٍ

لو كان أبخلَ في الورى من مادرٍ

صارَ الكريمَ الأريحِىَّ الواهِبَا

صارَ الكريمَ الأريحِىَّ الواهِبَا

Were he more miserly among humankind than Mādir,

If the stingiest in the world was less generous than Madar

he would become a generous, open-handed giver.

The generous, pleasing, giving one would become

أو كان أعيى في الورى من باقلٍ

أو كان أعيى في الورى من باقلٍ

صارَ الفصيحَ اللَّوْذَعِيَّ الكاتبَا

صارَ الفصيحَ اللَّوْذَعِيَّ الكاتبَا

Or were he more tongue-tied among humankind than Bāqil,

Or if the blindest in the world was less seeing than Baqil

he would become an eloquent, quick-witted writer.

The eloquent, able, writing one would become

أو كان أجبن في الوَغَى من أرنبٍ

أو كان أجبن في الوَغَى من أرنبٍ

كان الشجاع السمهريَّ الضاربَا

كان الشجاع السمهريَّ الضاربَا

Or were he more cowardly in battle than a hare,

Or if the most cowardly in the war was more fearful than a rabbit

he would be a brave, spear-stout fighter.

The courageous, intrepid, striking one would become

ويلى على لُقياك من شخص فلم

ويلى على لُقياك من شخص فلم

أجحد نوالك حاضراً أو غائبَا

أجحد نوالك حاضراً أو غائبَا

Woe is me at meeting you—what a person you are! And I have not

Woe to me for meeting a person whom I have not

denied your bounty, whether present or absent.

Denied your gifts whether present or absent

ويلٌ لمن فارَقْتَه وجفَوْتَه

ويلٌ لمن فارَقْتَه وجفَوْتَه

والفوزُ للراحى وصالك راغِبَا

والفوزُ للراحى وصالك راغِبَا

Woe to the one you have left and shunned,

Woe to one whom you have abandoned and spurned

and triumph to the hopeful one, desiring union with you.

And success belongs to one who rests, seeking your union