قلتI said للغادةto the maiden التيwho حننsoftened اللَGod (word begins here)
قلت للغادة التي حنن اللَ
هcompletion of “God” عليناtoward us فؤادهاher heart الرئباليlion-like
ه علينا فؤادها الرئبالي
I said to the maiden—God had softened
I said to the gazelle who softened her heart for us,
her lion-like heart toward us:
"O desire of fever and sun of yearnings,
ياO مهاةfemale oryx الحمىthe protected pasture وشمسand sun الغوانيbeautiful women
يا مهاة الحمى وشمس الغواني
طابwas pleasant شربdrinking الصبوحthe morning wine بعدafter الوصالunion with the beloved
طاب شرب الصبوح بعد الوصال
“O oryx of the preserve and sun of beauties,
How pleasant is the drink of dawn after union.
how sweet to drink morning wine after union!”
So she bent and sang, and from her cheek rose
فتثنتthen she swayed وأنشدتand she recited وعلىand upon الياthe ruby (word begins here)
فتثنت وأنشدت وعلى اليا
قوتcompletion of “ruby” منof خدهاher cheek حميمsweat اللآليpearls
قوت من خدها حميم اللآلي
Then she swayed and recited; upon the ruby
The redolence of intimacy in the night."
of her cheek lay pearl-like sweat:
The wind abated and loss befell the wine cup.
قَلَّتِdwindled الراحthe wine واعترىand befell الكاسthe cup نقصٌa shortfall
قَلَّتِ الراح واعترى الكاس نقصٌ
أفترضىso will you be content? ببعضهاwith some of it ياO غزاليmy gazelle
أفترضى ببعضها يا غزالي
“The wine has run low, and the cup is less than full;
Do you wish that I make up with some of it, O my gazelle?
so will you be content with some of it, O my gazelle?”
I said, "O my wish and destination of my desire,
قُلتُI said ياO منيتيmy desire وغايةand the ultimate goal قصديof my pursuit
قُلتُ يا منيتي وغاية قصدي
ثلثاهاtwo-thirds of it يزيلdispels كلall وباليmy misery
ثلثاها يزيل كل وبالي
I said, “O my desire and the goal of my pursuit,
Two thirds of it would remove all my troubles."
two-thirds of it will dispel all my misery.”
Partial English translation: 9 of 10 Arabic lines translated.