ذاتُ ملكٍ طغتْ بها عزةُ المل

ذاتُ ملكٍ طغتْ بها عزةُ المل

كِ فلم ترعَ في هواها العبيدا

كِ فلم ترعَ في هواها العبيدا

A lady of dominion, driven to tyranny by the pride of kingship,

The arrogance of kingship possessed her,

who cared nothing for her slaves in her love.

Yet she did not care for her slaves.

ظلمتهم وجاهدوا علمَ الل

ظلمتهم وجاهدوا علمَ الل

هُ فمن ماتَ راَ فيها شريدا

هُ فمن ماتَ راَ فيها شريدا

She oppressed them, and they struggled—God knows;

She oppressed them, though they strove to be just.

so whoever died [unclear word] in her love, an outcast.

So he who died under her rule died wretched.

هي غصنُ الرياضِ والزهرِ والور

هي غصنُ الرياضِ والزهرِ والور

دِ قواماً ونفحةً وخدودا

دِ قواماً ونفحةً وخدودا

She is the gardens’ bough, their flowers, and their roses,

She is a branch of gardens, of flowers and roses,

in stature, fragrance, and cheeks.

Upright, fragrant, with blushing cheeks.

وهي شمسُ السماءِ والظبيةُ الغي

وهي شمسُ السماءِ والظبيةُ الغي

داءُ وجهاً ومقلتينِ وجيدا

داءُ وجهاً ومقلتينِ وجيدا

And she is the sun of heaven and the graceful gazelle,

She is the sun of the sky, the gazelle of the valley,

in face, in her two eyes, and in neck.

With a face, eyelashes, and smooth neck.

ولها النهيُ في الهوى ولها الأم

ولها النهيُ في الهوى ولها الأم

ر وما كان موعداً ووعيدا

ر وما كان موعداً ووعيدا

Hers is prohibition in love, and hers is command,

She has authority in love, she holds command

and all that is promise and threat.

In what was promised and threatened alike.

ليس في الحبِّ أن تشاءَ ولا في

ليس في الحبِّ أن تشاءَ ولا في

قدرِ الحبِّ والقضا أن تريدا

قدرِ الحبِّ والقضا أن تريدا

In love it is not yours to choose, nor in

In love there is no choice, nor in the fate of love;

love’s destiny and decree is it yours to will.

Destiny allows no desire.

إنهُ في الرقابِ مسكنةُ الده

إنهُ في الرقابِ مسكنةُ الده

رِ كما طوقَ الهوانُ اليهودا

رِ كما طوقَ الهوانُ اليهودا

It is time’s abasement upon necks,

For in necks is the abode of humiliation,

just as humiliation has collared the Jews.

As shackles once graced the Jews.