1. Youth has returned after the graying of the temples,
And jest has given way to seriousness,
١. رَدَّ الْصِّبَا بَعْدَ شَيْبِ اللِّمَّةِ الْغَزَلُ
وَرَاحَ بِالْجِدِّ مَا يَأْتِي بِهِ الْهَزَلُ
2. What was once patience has turned to impatience,
After dignity, when the days of youth change.
٢. وَعَادَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ صَبْرٍ إِلَى جَزَعٍ
بَعْدَ الإِبَاءِ وَأَيَّامُ الْفَتَى دُوَلُ
3. So let him who blames me turn the blame from me,
For nothing occupies the heart but love.
٣. فَلْيَصْرِفِ اللَّوْمَ عَنِّي مَنْ بَرِمْتُ بِهِ
فَلَيْسَ لِلْقَلْبِ فِي غَيْرِ الْهَوَى شُغُلُ
4. How can I control myself after she left
Taking away light when the caravan departed?
٤. وَكَيْفَ أَمْلِكُ نَفْسِي بَعْدَ مَا ذَهَبَتْ
يَوْمَ الْفِرَاقِ شَعَاعاً إِثْرَ مَنْ رَحَلُوا
5. After they left, sorrow has split me in two,
No letters or messengers come from them.
٥. تَقَسَّمَتْنِي النَّوَى مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ وَعَدَتْ
عَنْهُمْ عَوَادٍ فَلا كُتْبٌ وَلا رُسُلُ
6. Patience has failed me, tears keep flowing,
Reason is confused, while the heart is occupied.
٦. فَالصَّبْرُ مُنْخَذِلٌ وَالدَّمْعُ مُنْهَمِلٌ
وَالعَقْلُ مُخْتَبِلٌ وَالْقَلْبُ مُشْتَغِلُ
7. I find rest if a breeze passes by chance,
Bearing their sweet scent of ambergris.
٧. أَرْتَاحُ إِنْ مَرَّ مِنْ تِلْقَائِهِمْ نَسَمٌ
تَسْرِي بِهِ فِي أَرِيجِ الْعَنْبَرِ الأُصُلُ
8. They left, and my eyes took no substitute for them
Except fantasy, and that is enough for me.
٨. سَارُوا فَمَا اتَّخَذَتْ عَيْنِي بِهِمْ بَدَلاً
إِلا الْخَيَالَ وَحَسْبِي ذَلِكَ الْبَدَلُ
9. Spare me your blame, O reproacher, for illnesses
Have made my heart weak with frailty.
٩. فَخَلِّ عَنْكَ مَلامِي يَا عَذُولُ فَقَدْ
سَرَّتْ فُؤَادِي عَلَى ضَعْفٍ بِهِ الْعِلَلُ
10. Do not think love is easy, for its easiest part
Is a grave matter, if you examine it carefully.
١٠. لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الْهَوَى سَهْلاً فَأَيْسَرُهُ
خَطْبٌ لَعَمْرُكَ لَوْ مَيَّزْتَهُ جَلَلُ
11. It brings down kings from their highest thrones,
And makes the plebeian equal to the hero.
١١. يَسْتَنْزِلُ الْمَلْكَ مِنْ أَعْلَى مَنَابِرِهِ
وَيَسْتَوِي عِنْدَهُ الرِّعْدِيدُ وَالْبَطَلُ
12. How can I protect myself, when she already knows
That I have no strength to resist love?
١٢. فَكَيْفَ أَدْرَأُ عَنْ نَفْسِي وَقَدْ عَلِمَتْ
أَنْ لَيْسَ لِي بِمُنَاوَاةِ الْهَوَى قِبَلُ
13. Had I been able to accomplish anything in love, I would have,
But it was fate, ordained by eternity.
١٣. فَلَوْ قَدَرْتُ عَلَى شَيءٍ هَمَمْتُ بِهِ
فِي الْحُبِّ لَكِنْ قَضَاءٌ خَطَّهُ الأَزَلُ
14. Those before me have set a precedent in love,
And I follow those who have passed on.
١٤. وَلِلْمَحَبَّةِ قَبْلِي سُنَّةٌ سَلَفَتْ
فِي الذَّاهِبِينَ وَلِي فِيمَنْ مَضَى مَثَلُ
15. If my soul argues its false case with me
And reveals to me its hidden agonies,
١٥. فَإِنْ تَكُنْ نَازَعَتْنِي النَّفْسُ بَاطِلَهَا
وَأَطْلَعَتْنِي عَلَى أَسْرَارِهَا الْكِلَلُ
16. I walk erect before the people, my face glowing,
While the air is aflame with lightning bolts.
١٦. فَقَدْ أَسِيرُ أَمَامَ الْقَوْمِ ضَاحِيَةً
وَالْجَوُّ بِالْبَاتِرَاتِ الْبِيضِ مُشْتَعِلُ
17. The legs of every blond horse are adorned
With anklets - though not the right hind leg.
١٧. بِكُلِّ أَشْقَرَ قَدْ زَانَتْ قَوَائِمَهُ
حُجُولُهُ غَيْرَ يُمْنَى زَانَهَا الْعَطَلُ
18. It is as though it waded through the river of dawn,
Splashing dewdrops on its shoulders.
١٨. كَأَنَّهُ خَاضَ نَهْرَ الصُّبْحِ فَانْتَبَذَتْ
يُمْنَاهُ وَانْبَثَّ فِي أَعْطَافِهِ الطَّفَلُ
19. Its hooves are blue, its eyes are black,
Its neckbands are green by nature.
١٩. زُرْقٌ حَوَافِرُهُ سُودٌ نَوَاظِرُهُ
خُضْرٌ جَحَافِلُهُ فِي خَلْقِهِ مَيَلُ
20. It is as though it has a nun's bell in its throat,
Moved by a singing vagrant or thunder.
٢٠. كَأَنَّ فِي حَلْقِهِ نَاقُوسَ رَاهِبَةٍ
بَاتَتْ تُحَرِّكُهُ أَوْ رَاعِدٌ زَجِلُ
21. It passes by wild beasts in their lairs
And they do not dare attack it.
٢١. يَمُرُّ بِالْوَحْشِ صَرْعَى فِي مَكَامِنِهَا
فَمَا تَبِينُ لَهُ شَدّاً فَتَنْخَذِلُ
22. It understands a sign with mere inspiration
And obeys a distant shout.
٢٢. يَرَى الإِشَارَةَ فِي وَحْيٍ فَيَفْهَمُهَا
وَيَسْمَعُ الزَّجْرَ مِنْ بُعْدٍ فَيَمْتَثِلُ
23. Its rider cannot control a quick glance
Until it passes by the horse's flanks to be received.
٢٣. لا يَمْلِكُ النَّظْرَةَ الْعَجْلاءَ صَاحِبُهَا
حَتَّى تَمُرَّ بِعِطْفَيْهِ فَتُحْتَبَلُ
24. If it passes by people, they loosen their depression,
Faces brighten and gaze up at it.
٢٤. إِنْ مَرَّ بِالْقَوْمِ حَلُّوا عَقْدَ حَبْوَتِهِمْ
وَاسْتَشْرَفَتْ نَحْوَهُ الأَلْبَابُ وَالْمُقَلُ
25. A fifteen-year-old girl leads it, and it follows her,
Shying if a man startles it.
٢٥. تَقُودُهُ بِنْتُ خَمْسٍ فَهُوَ يَتْبَعُهَا
وَيَسْتَشِيطُ إِذَا هَاهَى بِهِ الرَّجُلُ
26. I take it boldly through dangers, and it accompanies me,
A seasoned raider when disasters loom.
٢٦. أُمْضِي بِهِ الْهَوْلَ مِقْدَامَاً وَيَصْحَبُنِي
مَاضِي الْغِرَارِ إِذَا مَا اسْتَفْحَلَ الْوَهَلُ
27. It passes by precipices like lightning in a hurry
At the moment of striking, heedless of peril.
٢٧. يَمُرُّ بِالْهَامِ مَرَّ الْبَرْقِ فِي عَجَلٍ
وَقْتَ الضِّرَابِ وَلَمْ يَعْلَقْ بِهِ بَلَلُ
28. You see the men standing after its devastation,
You would think them alive though they are killed.
٢٨. تَرَى الرِّجَال وُقُوفَاً بَعْدَ فَتْكَتِهِ
بِهِمْ يُظَنُّونَ أَحْيَاءً وَقَدْ قُتِلُوا
29. It is like a flame brandished in the hand
Swayed by the wind, flaring up at times.
٢٩. كَأَنَّهُ شُعْلَةٌ فِي الْكَفِّ قَائِمَةٌ
تَهْفُو بِهَا الرِّيحُ أَحْياناً وَتَعْتَدِلُ
30. Were it not for the blood it sheds in streams,
Its brilliance would almost set it ablaze.
٣٠. لَوْلا الدِّمَاءُ الَّتِي يُسْقَى بِهَا نَهَلاً
لَكَادَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ اللأْلاءِ يَشْتَعِلُ
31. What remains in its grip crushes all the iron
Yet it is not sated with vengeance.
٣١. يَفُلُّ مَا بَقِيَتْ فِي الْكَفِّ قَبْضَتُهُ
كُلَّ الْحَدِيدِ وَلَمْ يَثْأَرْ بِهِ فَلَلُ
32. Rather, many a slippery, spreading bloodstain
Where plants grow and beasts fatten.
٣٢. بَلْ رُبَّ سَارِيَةٍ هَطْلاءَ دَانِيَةٍ
تَنْمُو السَّوَامُ بِهَا وَالنَّبْتُ يَكْتَهِلُ
33. Its tracks in every region are like
Cloaks spread upon the ground, or carpets.
٣٣. كَأَنَّ آثَارَهَا فِي كُلِّ نَاحِيَةٍ
رَيْطٌ مُنَشَّرَةٌ فِي الأَرْضِ أَوْ حُلَلُ
34. I rallied companions, if I called they came eagerly,
If I camped, they camped with me.
٣٤. يَمَّمْتُهَا بِرِفَاقٍ إِنْ دَعَوْتُ بِهِمْ
لَبُّوا سِرَاعَا وَإِنْ أَنْزِلْ بِهِمْ نَزَلُوا
35. Heading for the hunt, with no thought of gain,
Each soul busy with its own task,
٣٥. قَصْداً إِلَى الصَّيْدِ لا نَبْغِي بِهِ بَدَلاً
وَكُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَهَا فِي شَأْنِهَا عَمَلُ
36. Until the latecomers appeared in the distance,
Rushing up and down.
٣٦. حَتَّى إِذَا أَلْمَعَ الرُّوَّادُ مِنْ بعْد
وَجَاءَ فَارِطُهُمْ يَعْلُو وَيَسْتَفِلُ
37. The horses frolicked until, out of joy,
They almost vanished into the earth, were it not for tethering.
٣٧. تَغَاوَتِ الْخَيْلُ حَتَّى كِدْنَ مِنْ مَرَحٍ
يَذْهَبْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ لَوْلا اللُّجْمُ وَالشُّكُلُ
38. Not an hour or part of one passed
Before our plains were filled with game.
٣٨. فَمَا مَضَتْ سَاعَةٌ أَوْ بَعْضُ ثَانِيَةٍ
إِلا وَلِلصَّيْدِ فِي سَاحَاتِنَا نُزُلُ
39. Thus we spent a day fulfilling our pleasure
As we wished, no cheating or guile.
٣٩. فَكَانَ يَوْماً قَضَيْنا فِيهِ لَذَّتَنَا
كَمَا اشْتَهَيْنَا فَلا غِشٌّ وَلا دَغَلُ
40. This is the life, not empty chatter
Or backbiting, which ants resent!
٤٠. هَذَا هُوَ الْعَيْشُ لا لَغْوُ الْحَدِيثِ وَلا
مَا يَسْتَغِيرُ بِهِ ذو الإِفْكَةِ النَّمِلُ
41. For slander and loose tongues kindle
A scorching fire with endless flames.
٤١. إِنَّ النَّمِيمَةَ وَالأَفْوَاهُ تُضْرِمُهَا
نَارٌ مُحَرِّقَةٌ لَيْسَتْ لَهَا شُعَلُ
42. Follow your desire, leave what is suspicious,
For most people, if tested, will fail you.
٤٢. فَاتْبَعْ هَوَاكَ وَدَعْ مَا يُسْتَرَابُ بِهِ
فَأَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ إِنْ جَرَّبْتَهُمْ هَمَلُ
43. Beware your enemy, be safe from his deception,
Enmity is a wound that does not heal.
٤٣. وَاحْذَرْ عَدُوَّكَ تَسْلَمْ مِنْ خَدِيعَتِهِ
إِنَّ الْعَدَاوَةَ جُرْحٌ لَيْسَ يَنْدَمِلُ
44. Treat secrets with silence, you will be praised,
For often there is misstep in divulging.
٤٤. وَعَالِجِ السِّرَّ بِالْكِتْمَانِ تَحْمَدُهُ
فَرُبَّمَا كَانَ فِي إِفْشَائِهِ الزَّلَلُ
45. Be neither wasteful nor stingy,
For excess and stinginess are both poor traits.
٤٥. وَلا تَكُنْ مُسْرِفَاً غِرّاً وَلا بَخِلاً
فَبِئْسَتِ الْخَلَّةُ الإِسْرَافُ وَالْبَخَلُ
46. Let no part of work dishearten you,
Duties do not end until life ends.
٤٦. وَلا يَهُمَّنْكَ بَعْضُ الأَمْرِ تَسْأَمُهُ
لا يَنْتَهِي الشُّغْلُ حَتَّى يَنْتَهِي الأَجَلُ
47. Know the place for everything you do,
For not every time is right for every deed.
٤٧. وَاعْرِفْ مَوَاضِعَ مَا تَأْتِيهِ مِنْ عَمَلٍ
فَلَيْسَ فِي كُلِّ حِينٍ يَحْسُنُ الْعَمَلُ
48. Patience is praised in some matters, just as
Haste is approved in some situations.
٤٨. فَالرَّيْثُ يُحْمَدُ فِي بَعْضِ الأُمُورِ كَمَا
فِي بَعْضِ حَالاتِهِ يُسْتَحْسَنُ الْعَجَلُ
49. This is the lore of tradition, so take it
As knowledge for yourself, for morals are passed on,
٤٩. هَذَا هُوَ الأَدَبُ الْمَأْثُورُ فَارْضَ بِهِ
عِلْماً لِنَفْسِكَ فَالأَخْلاقُ تَنْتَقِلُ
50. From every house where poetry flows freely,
Unhindered by plains or mountains.
٥٠. مِنْ كُلِّ بَيْتٍ إِذَا الإِنْشَادُ سَيَّرَهُ
فَلَيْسَ يَمْنَعُهُ سَهْلٌ وَلا جَبَلُ
51. No verse in it contradicts another,
The lines differ but the meanings are consistent.
٥١. لَمْ تُبْنَ قَافِيَةٌ فِيهِ عَلَى خَلَلٍ
كَلَّا وَلَمْ تَخْتَلِفْ فِي رَصْفِهَا الْجُمَلُ
52. No flaws in syntax, padding, chaos,
lapses, errors, or defects.
٥٢. فَلا سِنَادٌ وَلا حَشْوٌ وَلا قَلَقٌ
وَلا سُقُوطٌ وَلا سَهْوٌ وَلا عِلَلُ
53. Ears and hearts found it captivating,
Every reciter an eloquent orator.
٥٣. تَغَايَرَتْ فِيهِ أَسْمَاعٌ وَأَفْئِدَةٌ
فَكُلُّ نَادٍ عُكَاظٌ حِينَ يُرْتَجَلُ
54. The lovely singer does not deny its eloquence,
It is not repeated to a group and met with scorn.
٥٤. لا تُنْكِرُ الْكَاعِبُ الْحَسْنَاءُ مَنْطِقَهُ
وَلا يُعَادُ عَلَى قَوْمٍ فَيُبْتَذَلُ