عابُوا هَوَى شادِنٍ في رجله قِصَرٌ

عابُوا هَوَى شادِنٍ في رجله قِصَرٌ

من سُكْرِ ألحَاظِه في مَشْيِه ثَمَلُ

من سُكْرِ ألحَاظِه في مَشْيِه ثَمَلُ

They faulted loving a young gazelle whose leg is short.

They reproach the love of Shadin though he limps a little,

His gait is drunken from the intoxication of his glances.

Intoxicated by her glances as he walks unsteadily.

وما هَوَى خُوطِ بانٍ مَاسَ من هَيَفٍ

وما هَوَى خُوطِ بانٍ مَاسَ من هَيَفٍ

عَيْبٌ وإنْ كان عيباً فهو مُحْتَمَلُ

عَيْبٌ وإنْ كان عيباً فهو مُحْتَمَلُ

And love for a bān-tree shoot that sways in its slenderness

Yet the string of a harp sounds no worse when it is frayed;

Is no fault; and even if it is a fault, it is bearable.

A flaw is still bearable if the flaw can be excused.