سرىhe traveled by night فياso, O أهلاwelcome بمسراهto his night journey
سرى فيا أهلا بمسراه
طيفa phantom خيالa vision بتI spent the night ارعاهwatching over him
طيف خيال بت ارعاه
He came by night—how welcome his night journey!
In you I find welcome, O companion of delight,
A phantom vision I spent the night watching over.
An apparition I tend to with loving care.
خاضcrossed دجىthe darkness الليلof the night علىin a state of رقبةwatchful caution
خاض دجى الليل على رقبة
تهديهguide him انوارthe lights محياهof his face
تهديه انوار محياه
He crossed the darkness of night on his guard,
Traversing the darkness of night on its neck,
guided by the lights of his face.
Your radiant life lighting its way.
حياhe greeted فاحيانيand revived me بتسليمةwith a salutation
حيا فاحياني بتسليمة
قبلتI kissed منout of وجديmy rapture بهاat it فاهhis mouth
قبلت من وجدي بها فاه
He greeted me, reviving me with a salutation;
Revive me with your greetings,
in my rapture at it, I kissed his mouth.
I met them with yearning lips.
كمhow many منof جميلa kindness حسنpleasing وقعهits effect
كم من جميل حسن وقعه
طيفa phantom جميلlovely الوجهin face اسداهbestowed it
طيف جميل الوجه اسداه
How many a kindness, delightful in its effect,
What beauty did that lovely vision impart,
a fair-faced phantom bestowed!
Adorning me with its graceful face.
اهيفslender-waisted قدindeed عانقتI embraced منfrom قدهhis figure
اهيف قد عانقت من قده
غصناًa bough يقلbears البدرthe full moon اعلاهits crown
غصناً يقل البدر اعلاه
Slender-waisted, from his figure I embraced
I clung to its slender waist as a branch
a bough whose crown bears the full moon.
That makes the full moon seem subservient.
حلوsweet التثنيin swaying بتI spent the night طولthe length الدجىof the darkness
حلو التثني بت طول الدجى
نشوانintoxicated منby خمرthe wine ثناياهof his front teeth
نشوان من خمر ثناياه
Sweet in his swaying, I spent the whole dark night
Sweet is lingering in its embrace through the night,
drunk on the wine of his front teeth.
Intoxicated with the wine of its bosom.
يبسمhe smiles عنrevealing ذيone possessing اشرserrated teeth باردcool
يبسم عن ذي اشر بارد
قدindeed مازجhas mingled with الشهدhoney حمياهits intoxicating savor
قد مازج الشهد حمياه
He smiles, revealing a cool mouth with serrated teeth,
It smiles gently, cooling ardour,
its heady savor mingled with honey.
Blending honey into passion’s wine.
منعمpampered يجلوreveals لعشاقهto his lovers
منعم يجلو لعشاقه
شقائقanemones النعمانal-Nu'man (flower-name component) خداهhis two cheeks
شقائق النعمان خداه
Pampered, he displays to his lovers
Bestowing favours upon its lovers,
anemones upon his cheeks.
Adorning them with gardenia’s white.
فيin الشمسthe sun والبدرand the full moon وريمand a gazelle النقاof the sand dunes
في الشمس والبدر وريم النقا
نظائرcounterparts منهof him واشباهand likenesses
نظائر منه واشباه
In the sun, the full moon, and the gazelle of the sand dunes
In sun, moon, and garden flowers
are his counterparts and likenesses.
Are found its match and likeness.
قدindeed صاغهfashioned him الحسنbeauty كماas يشتهيit wishes
قد صاغه الحسن كما يشتهي
فماso how احيلاهsweet he is وابهاهand splendid he is
فما احيلاه وابهاه
Beauty fashioned him just as it wished;
Beauty fashioned it to its fancy,
how sweet and splendid he is!
None can change or alter its mould.
واسودand black الخالthe mole إذاwhen لاحappears ليto me
واسود الخال إذا لاح لي
فداهransoms it قلبيmy heart بسويدانwith its dark core (text uncertain)
فداه قلبي بسويدان
And when his black mole appears to me,
The black tresses, when in view,
my heart ransoms it with its dark core.
My heart ransoms with all its fortune.
ريمa gazelle إذاwhen سددhe aims الحاظهhis glances للرميto shoot
ريم إذا سدد الحاظه للرمي
لاdo not تخطيmiss رماياهhis shots
لا تخطي رماياه
A gazelle—when he aims his glances to shoot,
his shots never miss.
When the gazelle takes aim straightly,
ياO قلبheart كمhow long هذاthis التصابيyouthful dalliance أماdoes not
يا قلب كم هذا التصابي أما
يهاكdeter you (text uncertain) عنهfrom it طولthe length بلواهof its affliction
يهاك عنه طول بلواه
O heart, how long this youthful dalliance? Does not
None can evade its sure arrows.
its long affliction deter you from it?
O heart! Why do you insist on these passions?
تطربyou are delighted للربعby the dwelling إذاwhen ماemphatic particle سرتpasses
تطرب للربع إذا ما سرت
ريحwind الصباthe east breeze وهناًlate at night برياهwith its fragrance
ريح الصبا وهناً برياه
You thrill to the dwelling when there passes
Have you not had your fill of torment?
the east wind, late at night, bearing its scent.
Take delight when the morning breeze blows,
وتذكرand you remember الالفthe beloved companion فتبكيso you weep أسىin sorrow
وتذكر الالف فتبكي أسى
وآفةand the bane المغرمof the lover ذكراهremembering him
وآفة المغرم ذكراه
You remember the beloved and weep in sorrow;
Stirring the meadows and groves.
the lover's bane is remembering him.
Recall those you knew before and weep in sorrow -
لاneither عروةUrwah لاقىexperienced بعفرائهfor his Afra
لا عروة لاقى بعفرائه
وجديmy passionate longing ولاnor قيسQays بليلاهfor his Layla
وجدي ولا قيس بليلاه
Neither Urwah, for his Afra, ever felt
For the lover, remembering is agony.
my passion, nor Qays for his Layla.
No solace is found in its abandonment,
سقاكmay it water you ياO عهدera الحمىof the protected grounds عارضa rain cloud
سقاك يا عهد الحمى عارض
يروىwaters مغانيكyour dwellings بسقياهwith its rain
يروى مغانيك بسقياه
May a rain cloud water you, O days of the protected grounds,
No peace without the beloved's presence.
drenching your dwellings with its rain.
You fed me, O love, from your hand,
كمhow many لذةa pleasure فيكin you نعمناwe delighted بهاin it
كم لذة فيك نعمنا بها
وطيبand sweetness عيشof life قدindeed خلسناهwe stole it away
وطيب عيش قد خلسناه
How many pleasures we enjoyed in you,
Quenching my songs with your wine.
and how much sweet living we stole away!
What bliss I found in you! Our life was sweet,
عصرan age بهin it نلناwe attained المنىour wishes وانقضىand it passed
عصر به نلنا المنى وانقضى
فجهدناso our utmost انto نتمناهwish for it
فجهدنا ان نتمناه
An age in which we gained our wishes, then it passed;
Though now that dream has faded.
now all we can do is long for it.
An era in which we attained our wishes, now gone -
انif لمdid not تدمlast أيامthe days لذاتهof its pleasures
ان لم تدم أيام لذاته
الاexcept كطيفlike a phantom جدhastened مسراهits night journey
الا كطيف جد مسراه
If its days of pleasure endured
Leaving us to yearn for its return.
only like a phantom hastening on its night journey,
If not for days with lasting joy,
فقدthen indeed سعدناwe were fortunate بزمانin an age بهin it
فقد سعدنا بزمان به
سلطانa sultan عدلof justice نتولاهwe are loyal to him
سلطان عدل نتولاه
we were still blessed in a time when there was
It was but a fleeting vision of delight.
a just sultan to whom we are loyal.
Yet we were blessed with a time
عبدAbd (servant) الحميدal-Hamid (the Praiseworthy) الملكthe king المرتديclad in
عبد الحميد الملك المرتدي
علاglory بهfor him خصصهاreserved it اللهGod
علا به خصصها الله
Abd al-Hamid, the king clad in
Ruled by the just Sultan we follow.
glory God reserved for him alone.
Abdul Hamid the revered King,
خليفةa caliph يشرقshines نورthe light الهدىof guidance
خليفة يشرق نور الهدى
للناسfor the people منfrom ضوءthe radiance محياهof his face
للناس من ضوء محياه
A caliph—the light of guidance shines
Exalted by God with special favour.
for the people from the radiance of his face.
A Caliph spreading guidance’ light,
فاقsurpassed ملوكthe kings الأرضof the earth طراًall فهمand they
فاق ملوك الأرض طراً فهم
لاnot انصفواdealt justly with بعضsome of رعاياهhis subjects
لا انصفوا بعض رعاياه
He surpassed all the kings of the earth, and they
His life radiating to all people.
have not done justice even to some of his subjects.
Surpassing earth’s kings in judgment and care,
حمىguarded عرينthe lion's den الملكof kingship فيin بأسهhis might
حمى عرين الملك في بأسه
فكلso every ليثlion يتحاماهavoids him
فكل ليث يتحاماه
In his might he guarded the lion's den of kingship,
They cannot match his treatment of subjects.
so every lion keeps clear of him.
Guarding the empire’s dignity in his might,
إذاwhen انتضىhe unsheathes بيضthe white الضباblades اصبحتthey become
إذا انتضى بيض الضبا اصبحت
محمرةreddened منwith دمthe blood اعداهof his enemies
محمرة من دم اعداه
When he draws the white blades, they become
Each lion in awe of his prowess.
red with the blood of his enemies.
When the white swords clash, they turn red
والدهرand time منقادsubmissive لأحكامهto his decrees
والدهر منقاد لأحكامه
يأمرهhe commands it طوراat times وينهاهand forbids it
يأمره طورا وينهاه
Time submits to his decrees;
Dyed with the blood of defeated foes.
now he commands it, now forbids it.
Fate is bent to his will,
يعطىhe gives فتجنىso are harvested ثمراتthe fruits العلاof glory
يعطى فتجنى ثمرات العلا
واليسرand prosperity منfrom روضthe garden عطاياهof his gifts
واليسر من روض عطاياه
He gives, and the fruits of glory are gathered,
His command restrains and spurs its tide.
and of prosperity, from the garden of his gifts.
Bestowing bounty, orchards bear fruit,
ياO منyou who يهزshakes المجدGlory اعطافهits shoulders
يا من يهز المجد اعطافه
تيهاًproudly إذاwhen نحنwe نسبناهwe recount his lineage
تيهاً إذا نحن نسبناه
O you for whom Glory sways its shoulders
Comfort and ease from his gardens spread.
in pride whenever we recount your lineage!
O you who shake the glory of empire,
قدindeed طلعhas risen السعدgood fortune بأفقon the horizon الهناof joy
قد طلع السعد بأفق الهنا
ملتمعاًgleaming حتىuntil اجتليناهwe beheld it
ملتمعاً حتى اجتليناه
Good fortune rose on the horizon of joy,
Leaving us confused in our praises of you!
gleaming until we beheld it,
With your rise our fortune dawned,
برتبةin a rank شماءlofty قدindeed اهديتwas bestowed
برتبة شماء قد اهديت
منby ملكa king جلتare magnificent هداياهhis gifts
من ملك جلت هداياه
in a lofty rank bestowed
Your greatness evident till we acknowledged it.
by a king whose gifts are magnificent.
Honoured by your gift, like an aloof beauty
خريدةa secluded maiden عذراءa virgin لمnot تلقhas met منany
خريدة عذراء لم تلق من
كفوa worthy match لهاfor her غيركother than you ترضاهshe accepts him
كفو لها غيرك ترضاه
A virgin maiden who has found no
None could match you as worthy of her.
worthy match she accepts but you.
She accepted as yearning pulled her
فاقبلتso she came والشوقwhile longing يهفوcarries along بهاwith her
فاقبلت والشوق يهفو بها
إلىtoward فتىa young man تحمدshe praises لقياهmeeting him
إلى فتى تحمد لقياه
So she came, longing carrying her along,
To a man whose company was treasured.
to a young man whose meeting she prizes.
Finding peace when reminded of him,
ترتاحshe delights انif عنoccurs لهاto her ذكرهmention of him
ترتاح ان عن لها ذكره
كانهاas though she منfrom قبلbefore تهواهloves him
كانها من قبل تهواه
She delights whenever mention of him occurs to her,
As if she had long loved him before.
as though she had loved him before.
Staying by his side she blossomed,
حتىuntil إذاwhen حلتshe settled بهwith him آنستshe perceived
حتى إذا حلت به آنست
ازهرa radiant man يحوىcontains العزglory برداهhis two mantles
ازهر يحوى العز برداه
Until, when she settled with him, she perceived
The glory of royalty adorning her neck.
a radiant man whose two mantles enclose glory.
Refined, delighting in his words,
مهذبa refined man تلتذtake pleasure in اخبارهhis stories
مهذب تلتذ اخباره
بالنقلin retelling اسماعears وافواهand mouths
بالنقل اسماع وافواه
A refined man whose stories delight
Her ears and mouth conveying them.
ears and mouths in their retelling.
Of luminous Hashimite ancestry,
ابيضfair فيat الذروةthe summit منof هاشمHashim
ابيض في الذروة من هاشم
بيضwhite منيراتradiant سجاياهhis qualities
بيض منيرات سجاياه
Fair, at the pinnacle of Hashim's line,
Gleaming like brilliant stars.
his qualities are white and radiant.
Pure seed of the victorious ruler,
زكاflourished لهfor him منfrom غالبGhalib محتدancestral stock
زكا له من غالب محتد
رفrose علىabove الجوزاءOrion فراهits heights (text uncertain)
رف على الجوزاء فراه
A noble stock from Ghalib flourished in him,
Carried high on the shoulders of Al-Jawza.
its heights soaring above Orion.
You guaranteed the land’s fertility,
قدindeed ضمنتguaranteed ريfull watering الثرىof the soil كفهhis palm
قد ضمنت ري الثرى كفه
فاخضرتso became green الأرضthe earth بجدواهthrough his bounty
فاخضرت الأرض بجدواه
His palm guaranteed the soil its fill of water,
Your rain making the earth verdant.
so the earth grew green through his bounty.
The garden bloomed with flowers
واطلعand brought forth الروضthe garden ازاهيرهits blossoms
واطلع الروض ازاهيره
باسمةsmiling تشكرthanking نعماهhis favors
باسمة تشكر نعماه
And the garden brought forth its blossoms,
Thanking you for your blessings.
smiling in thanks for his favors.
The coursing floods are shamed by your munificence,
يخجلshames جاريthe running السيلtorrent منthrough جودهhis generosity
يخجل جاري السيل من جوده
خجلةthe shame منof whoever فيin المجدglory جاراهrivaled him
خجلة من في المجد جاراه
His bounty shames the rushing flood,
Abashed by your unmatched generosity.
as it shames whoever vies with him in glory.
If your days had preceded Hatim’s
لوhad سبقتpreceded أيامهhis days حاتماًHatim
لو سبقت أيامه حاتماً
ولوeven if بيومby one day ماnot ذكرناهwe would have mentioned him
ولو بيوم ما ذكرناه
Had his days preceded Hatim's,
His famed generosity would be but a day compared.
even by one day, we would never have mentioned him.
Passionate for good works when unable
أولعdevoted بالمعروفto kindness إذاif لمdoes not يجدfind
أولع بالمعروف إذا لم يجد
مالمmoney; does not (apparently fused) يجدfind طعماًa savor لدنياهin his worldly life
مالم يجد طعماً لدنياه
Devoted to kindness, if he finds no
To taste any sweetness from this life.
money, he finds no savor in his worldly life.
When fate complained, we hailed you,
إذاwhen نباturns hostile دهرtime هتفناwe called بهto him
إذا نبا دهر هتفنا به
أوor نابناbefell us خطبa calamity دعوناهwe called on him
أو نابنا خطب دعوناه
When time turns harsh, we call out to him,
When it turned, we sought you for relief.
or when a calamity befalls us, we summon him.
We call upon you openly, so call upon
ندعوهwe call on him للجلىfor grave calamity فندعوand thus call on فتىa youth
ندعوه للجلى فندعو فتى
تسهرstay awake للراقدfor the sleeper عيناهhis two eyes
تسهر للراقد عيناه
We call on him in dire trouble, calling on a youth
A man whose eyes are awake when people sleep.
whose eyes keep vigil for the sleeping.
O moon of gatherings, sun of exaltation,
ياO قمرmoon الناديof the gathering وشمسand sun العلاof glory
يا قمر النادي وشمس العلا
وكوكبand star الساريof the night traveler ومأواهand his refuge
وكوكب الساري ومأواه
O moon of the gathering and sun of glory,
Star of destiny, and its refuge.
star of the night traveler and his refuge,
Had I joined the ranks of poets,
لوif كنتI were فيon سلكthe thread الثناof praise ناظماstringing
لو كنت في سلك الثنا ناظما
دراريthe brilliant stars الأفقof the horizon وجوزاهand its Orion
دراري الأفق وجوزاه
were I to string on the thread of praise
Pearls of sky and pairing stars,
the horizon's brilliant stars and its Orion,
I could not fully thank your gift,
ماnot كنتI would be فيin اهدائهoffering it بالغاًattaining
ما كنت في اهدائه بالغاً
منof شكرgratitude احسانكfor your kindness ادناهits least
من شكر احسانك ادناه
I would not, in offering it, attain
Or the kindness your gentle manner brought me.
even the least thanks owed for your kindness.
My good opinion of you, my lord,
وحسنand the goodness ظنيof my opinion بكof you ياO سيديmy master
وحسن ظني بك يا سيدي
بوجهwith a face لطفof kindness تتلقاهyou receive it
بوجه لطف تتلقاه
And my good opinion of you, O my master,
Is for the warmth with which you receive it.
you meet with a gracious face.
Let not your care, after ardour's time,
ولاand not يكنlet be عهدكyour pledge بعدafter الحمىthe protected grounds
ولا يكن عهدك بعد الحمى
عهدa pledge هوىof love كناwe had عهدناهknown it
عهد هوى كنا عهدناه
And let not your pledge, after the protected grounds,
Be like the love whose ways we knew.
be a pledge of love like one we once knew.
Partial English translation: 98 of 100 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1