ما مُستَزيرُكَ في وُدٍّ رَأى خَلَلاً

ما مُستَزيرُكَ في وُدٍّ رَأى خَلَلاً

في مَوضِعِ الأُنسِ أَهلاً مِنكَ لِلغَضَبِ

في مَوضِعِ الأُنسِ أَهلاً مِنكَ لِلغَضَبِ

He who invites you to visit, seeing a breach in affection, is not

How could you turn away a friend who saw a flaw

deserving of your anger where companionship should be.

In a place of intimacy, yet greeted you with anger?

قَد كُنتَ توجِبُ لي حَقّاً وَتَعرِفُ لي

قَد كُنتَ توجِبُ لي حَقّاً وَتَعرِفُ لي

قَدري وَتَحفَظُ مِنّي حُرمَةَ الأَدَبِ

قَدري وَتَحفَظُ مِنّي حُرمَةَ الأَدَبِ

You once acknowledged my due and recognized

You used to grant me my rights and know

my worth, and upheld the respect due to my learning.

My worth, preserving the courtesy of manners.

ثُمَّ اِنحَرَفتَ إِلى الأُخرى فَأَحشَمَني

ثُمَّ اِنحَرَفتَ إِلى الأُخرى فَأَحشَمَني

ما كانَ مِنكَ بِلا جُرمٍ وَلا سَبَبِ

ما كانَ مِنكَ بِلا جُرمٍ وَلا سَبَبِ

Then you turned the other way, and I was mortified

Then you turned to another, shaming me

by what came from you, without offense or cause.

Without crime or cause from you.

وَإِنَّ أَدنى الَّذي عِندي مُسامَحَةٌ

وَإِنَّ أَدنى الَّذي عِندي مُسامَحَةٌ

في حاجَتي بَعدَ أَن أَعذَرتَ في الطَلَبِ

في حاجَتي بَعدَ أَن أَعذَرتَ في الطَلَبِ

And indeed, the least I can offer is forbearance

Yet the least in me is forgiveness

concerning my request, after you have done your utmost to fulfill it.

For my need, after you pled your case.

فَاِختَر فَعِندي مِن ثِنتَينِ واحِدَةٌ

فَاِختَر فَعِندي مِن ثِنتَينِ واحِدَةٌ

عُذرٌ جَميلٌ وَشُكرٌ لَيسَ بِاللَعِبِ

عُذرٌ جَميلٌ وَشُكرٌ لَيسَ بِاللَعِبِ

So choose: I have one of two things to offer—

So choose, for I have two options:

a gracious excuse, or gratitude that is no mere jest.

A fair excuse, or thanks without jest.

فَإِن تَجُد فَكَما قَد كُنتَ تَفعَلُهُ

فَإِن تَجُد فَكَما قَد كُنتَ تَفعَلُهُ

وَإِن أَخِب فَبِما قَد خُطَّ في الكُتُبِ

وَإِن أَخِب فَبِما قَد خُطَّ في الكُتُبِ

So if you give generously, it is as you have done before;

If you find the former, as you used to act,

and if I am disappointed, it is by what has already been inscribed in the books.

And if not, then by what was written in the books.