لَقَد كُنتُ أُنهي النَفسَ جَهدي لَعَلَّها

لَقَد كُنتُ أُنهي النَفسَ جَهدي لَعَلَّها

إِذا ما اِستَطبتُ الهَجرَ عَنكِ تَطيبُ

إِذا ما اِستَطبتُ الهَجرَ عَنكِ تَطيبُ

Indeed, I did my utmost to restrain my soul, hoping it

I used to force my soul and weary it, hoping

would be content if I found separation from you sweet.

That if ever I could bear to part from you, it would be happy.

وَغالَبتُها حَتّى عَصَتني إِلى الَّذي

وَغالَبتُها حَتّى عَصَتني إِلى الَّذي

تُريدُ وَلي نَفسٌ بَذاكَ غَلوبُ

تُريدُ وَلي نَفسٌ بَذاكَ غَلوبُ

And I struggled against it until it defied me, turning toward what

But I overcame it until it disobeyed me, moving

it desires; and in this my soul is ever the victor.

Towards what it desires, while I have a soul defeated by that.