شَكَوتُ إِلى رَفيقَيَّ الَّذي بي

شَكَوتُ إِلى رَفيقَيَّ الَّذي بي

فَجاءاني وَقَد جَمَعا دَواءَ

فَجاءاني وَقَد جَمَعا دَواءَ

I complained to my two companions of what afflicted me.

I complained of my pain to a friend of mine

So they both came to me, having gathered medicine.

He and another came bringing remedies

وَجاءا بِالطَبيبِ لِيَكوِياني

وَجاءا بِالطَبيبِ لِيَكوِياني

وَما أَبغي عَدَمتُهُما اِكتِواءَ

وَما أَبغي عَدَمتُهُما اِكتِواءَ

And they brought the physician so that they both might cauterize me.

And brought with them a doctor to heal me

But I seek no cauterization—may I be bereft of them both!

Yet I had no wish to be healed so soon

فَلَو ذَهَبا إِلى لَيلى فَشاءَت

فَلَو ذَهَبا إِلى لَيلى فَشاءَت

لَأَهدَت لي مِنَ السَقمِ الشِفاءَ

لَأَهدَت لي مِنَ السَقمِ الشِفاءَ

For had they gone to Layla, and had she wished,

If only they had gone to Layla and asked

she would have granted me healing from sickness.

She’d have sent me a cure for all my pain

تَقولُ نَعَم سَأَقضي ثُمَّ تَلوي

تَقولُ نَعَم سَأَقضي ثُمَّ تَلوي

وَلا تَنوي وَإِن قَدِرَت قَضاءَ

وَلا تَنوي وَإِن قَدِرَت قَضاءَ

She says, "Yes, I shall fulfill it," then puts me off,

She says “yes”, then prevaricates and turns away

and has no intention of fulfilling it, even if she can.

Not intending what she seems to consent

أَصارِمَةٌ حِبالَ الوَصلِ لَيلى

أَصارِمَةٌ حِبالَ الوَصلِ لَيلى

لِأَخضَعَ يَدَّعي دوني وَلاءَ

لِأَخضَعَ يَدَّعي دوني وَلاءَ

Is Layla severing the cords of union

Layla binds fast the ropes of union

for a submissive man who claims affection in my place?

To subdue those who claim loyalty to me

وَمُؤثِرَةُ الرِجالِ عَليَّ لَيلى

وَمُؤثِرَةُ الرِجالِ عَليَّ لَيلى

وَلَم أوثِر عَلى لَيلى النِساءَ

وَلَم أوثِر عَلى لَيلى النِساءَ

And does Layla prefer men to me,

And prefers men over me, does Layla

when I have not preferred women to Layla?

While I Never preferred women over Layla

وَلَو كانَت تَسوسُ البَحرَ لَيلى

وَلَو كانَت تَسوسُ البَحرَ لَيلى

صَدَرنا عَن شَرائِعِهِ ظَماءَ

صَدَرنا عَن شَرائِعِهِ ظَماءَ

And were Layla to govern the sea,

If Layla were to steer the ocean

we would leave its watering places thirsty.

Our hearts would surge restlessly like waves

فَمُرّا صاحِبَيَّ بِدارِ لَيلى

فَمُرّا صاحِبَيَّ بِدارِ لَيلى

جُعِلتُ لَها وَإِن بَخُلَت فِداءَ

جُعِلتُ لَها وَإِن بَخُلَت فِداءَ

So pass by Layla's dwelling, my two companions;

So pass by Layla’s house, my friend

may I be her ransom, even if she is miserly.

And I will be sacrificed to her, even if she’s miserly

أَرَيتَكَ إِن مَنَعتَ كَلامَ لَيلى

أَرَيتَكَ إِن مَنَعتَ كَلامَ لَيلى

أَتَمنَعَني عَلى لَيلى البُكاءَ

أَتَمنَعَني عَلى لَيلى البُكاءَ

Tell me: if you forbid me to speak to Layla,

You see, if you forbid Layla’s words to me

will you forbid me to weep for Layla?

Can you also prevent me from crying for Layla?