وَلَمّا أَبى إِلّا جِماحاً فُؤادُهُ

وَلَمّا أَبى إِلّا جِماحاً فُؤادُهُ

وَلَم يَسلُ عَن لَيلى بِمالٍ وَلا أَهلِ

وَلَم يَسلُ عَن لَيلى بِمالٍ وَلا أَهلِ

And when his heart insisted on running wild,

When his heart insisted on fluttering,

and neither wealth nor family could make him forget Layla,

And he did not ask after Layla with wealth or family,

تَسَلّى بِأُخرى غَيرَها فَإِذا الَّتي

تَسَلّى بِأُخرى غَيرَها فَإِذا الَّتي

تَسَلّى بِها تُغري بِلَيلى وَلا تُسلي

تَسَلّى بِها تُغري بِلَيلى وَلا تُسلي

he sought solace in another woman, not her—but behold, the woman

He consoled himself with another besides her, but behold! The one

he sought solace in stirred his longing for Layla and gave no solace.

With whom he consoled himself reminded him of Layla and did not console.