عيونُeyes المهىof oryxes قلبيmy heart بنبلكِby your arrows مجروحwounded
عيونُ المهى قلبي بنبلكِ مجروح
ومعنىand the meaning غراميof my passion فيكِfor you بالدمعthrough tears مشروحexplained
ومعنى غرامي فيكِ بالدمع مشروح
O oryx eyes, my heart is wounded by your arrows.
The eyes of desire have wounded my heart with your gaze,
And the meaning of my passion for you is explained by tears.
And the meaning of my passion for you is explained with tears.
فلاso no صدرَbreast إلاَّexcept بالأسىwith grief متضرمٌburning
فلا صدرَ إلاَّ بالأسى متضرمٌ
ولاand no جفنeyelid إلاّexcept بالمدامعwith tears مقروحulcerated
ولا جفن إلاّ بالمدامع مقروح
No breast but burns with grief,
No chest but blazes with sorrow,
No eyelid but is ulcerated by tears.
No eyelid but is wounded with weeping.
وأنكرَand found strange منin دمعيmy tears خليلايَmy two friends أنهُthat they
وأنكرَ من دمعي خليلايَ أنهُ
علىfor نازحٍsomeone far away شطتْgrew distant بهwith him الدارُthe dwelling منزوحdrawn forth
على نازحٍ شطتْ به الدارُ منزوح
My two friends found it strange that my tears
My friend denied that my tears
Are drawn forth for someone far away, whose dwelling lies remote.
Poured over one who left the abode desolated.
فدعنيso leave me إذاwhen اعتلَّتْgrew faint منfrom البانthe bān trees نفخةٌa breath of wind
فدعني إذا اعتلَّتْ من البان نفخةٌ
ففيهاfor in it لآثارof the signs الصبابةof yearning تصحيحconfirmation
ففيها لآثار الصبابة تصحيح
So leave me when a breath from the bān trees grows faint;
So let me, when the inflammation of love kindles,
For it confirms the signs of yearning.
In it correct the vestiges of youth.
وقدand indeed قلتُI said إنَّthat الشوقَlonging ليسis not بجذوةٍan ember
وقد قلتُ إنَّ الشوقَ ليس بجذوةٍ
فماthen what بالهُis wrong with it يذكوit blazes إذاwhen هبَّتِblew الريحthe wind
فما بالهُ يذكو إذا هبَّتِ الريح
I have said that longing is no ember—
And I said that yearning was no ember,
Then why does it blaze when the wind blows?
So why does it flare when the wind blows?
أظلُّI remain إذاwhen صبحتُI gave a morning draught سمعيto my hearing بذكرهمof their mention
أظلُّ إذا صبحتُ سمعي بذكرهم
كأنيas though I بصرsight (unclear here) لبابليةfor Babylonian wine مصبوحserved a morning draught
كأني بصر لبابلية مصبوح
Whenever I give my ears a morning draught of their memory, I remain
I remain when dawn breaks with my hearing primed by their mention,
As though served Babylonian wine at dawn [wording unclear].
As if I am a watchman awake in Babylon.
أجاذبُI tug at عطفthe neck الصبرof patience والصبرُwhile patience جامحٌis unruly
أجاذبُ عطف الصبر والصبرُ جامحٌ
وأكتمُand I conceal ماwhat ألقىI endure وللسقنand for [unclear; perhaps sickness] تصريحopen disclosure
وأكتمُ ما ألقى وللسقن تصريح
I tug at patience's neck, but patience is unruly,
I contend with yielding patience but patience charges ahead,
And conceal what I endure, though [sickness?] discloses it.
And I conceal what I endure though complaining gives vent.
فلاso do not تسألنْask عنabout مضمرٍsomething concealed إنif جهلتهُyou do not know it
فلا تسألنْ عن مضمرٍ إن جهلتهُ
وحسبكand sufficient for you إيماءٌa gesture خفيٌfaint وتلويحand a hint
وحسبك إيماءٌ خفيٌ وتلويح
Do not ask about something hidden if you do not know it;
So ask not about hidden feelings if you're ignorant of them,
A faint gesture and a hint suffice you.
A furtive gesture suffices, and a wave of the hand.
أحبُّI love الحمىthe sanctuary وجداًin yearning ببردfor the coolness نسيمهof its breeze
أحبُّ الحمى وجداً ببرد نسيمه
وماand not بردهُits coolness إلاَّexcept ولوعٌinfatuation وتبريحand torment
وما بردهُ إلاَّ ولوعٌ وتبريح
I love the sanctuary, yearning for its breeze's coolness,
I love ardour and passion with the coolness of its breeze,
Yet its coolness is only infatuation and torment.
And its coolness is but anguish and consolation.
ويضرمand kindles وجديmy longing شيحهُits wormwood وثمامهُand its thumām grass
ويضرم وجدي شيحهُ وثمامهُ
وأيةand what نارٍfire ليسdoes not يضرمهاkindle it الشيحwormwood
وأية نارٍ ليس يضرمها الشيح
Its wormwood and thumām grass kindle my longing—
And my fervour is fanned by its flames and heat,
And what fire is not kindled by wormwood?
What fire is not sparked by swinging brands?
لَهانsurely mattered little علىto لمياءَLamyā يومَon the day سويقةٍof Suwayqa
لَهان على لمياءَ يومَ سويقةٍ
وقدwhen she had أعرضتturned away قلبٌa heart بلمياءَin Lamyā متروحseeking relief
وقد أعرضت قلبٌ بلمياءَ متروح
On the day at Suwayqa, of little account to Lamyā was,
It was easy to forget on the day of parting at Suwayqah,
After she turned away, a heart that sought relief in Lamyā.
Though a heart had turned, desolate, from forgetfulness.
عشيةَon the evening قلبيmy heart موثقbound فيamong رحالهاher baggage
عشيةَ قلبي موثق في رحالها
لسيرٌfor a journey كماas شاءَتshe wished وللدمعand for tears تسريحrelease
لسيرٌ كما شاءَت وللدمع تسريح
That evening, my heart was bound among her baggage,
One evening my heart was tied to the saddlebags,
For a journey as she wished, while tears were set free.
Free to journey as it pleased, released to tears.
إذاif ماindeed عداناkept us away البينُseparation عنهاfrom her بصرفهthrough its reversals
إذا ما عدانا البينُ عنها بصرفه
فلاthen may not جادهاrain upon her جونٌa dark cloud علىupon السَّفحthe slope مسفوحpouring forth
فلا جادها جونٌ على السَّفح مسفوح
If separation, with its reversals, has kept us from her,
When separation denied us seeing her,
May no dark raincloud pour itself upon the slope for her,
No stream flowed on the slopes, no pasture greened for the grazing beasts,
ولاand may not أخضرَّgrow green منfrom أذيالهاher trailing skirts تلكمُthose الربَّىhills
ولا أخضرَّ من أذيالها تلكمُ الربَّى
ولاand may not طالبَseek منfrom أنفاسهاher breaths ذلكthat اللوحbare expanse
ولا طالبَ من أنفاسها ذلك اللوح
Nor those hills grow green from her trailing skirts,
No seeker found in her breaths that tablet,
Nor that bare expanse seek anything from her breath.
Why do my tears not pay their due
وماand what بالُis wrong with دمعيmy tears لاnot يؤديpay خراجهُtheir tribute
وما بالُ دمعي لا يؤدي خراجهُ
لسنةto the aspect وجهٍof a face بالقسامةwith beauty ممسوحanointed
لسنة وجهٍ بالقسامة ممسوح
And why do my tears not pay their tribute
To a cheek smoothed by the fine razor?
To the aspect of a face anointed with beauty?
What marvel is that beauty whose Lord
ومنand among معجزthe wonders الحسنof beauty الذيwhich هيَshe ربُّهُcommands
ومن معجز الحسن الذي هيَ ربُّهُ
تصرفُmovement جسمٍof a body فيin هواهاher love ولاand no روحsoul
تصرفُ جسمٍ في هواها ولا روح
Among the wonders of the beauty she commands
Turns a body to desire yet leaves no soul?
Is a body moving in her love, yet without a soul.
I stood weeping at that spring,
وقفتُI stood علىat تلكthose المواردwatering places باكياًweeping
وقفتُ على تلك الموارد باكياً
فلاso no عذبَsweet water إلاَّexcept بالمدامعwith tears مملوحُsalted
فلا عذبَ إلاَّ بالمدامع مملوحُ
I stood weeping at those watering places,
Finding only bitterness in waters mixed with tears,
And no sweet water remained but was salted with tears.
Every door but Abū Muʿizz ibn Yūsuf’s
ولاand no بابَgate إلاَّexcept بالمعزّthrough al-Muʿizz بنson of يوسفٍYūsuf
ولا بابَ إلاَّ بالمعزّ بن يوسفٍ
إلىto كلevery خيرٍgood أغلقclosed الدهرُtime مفتوحopened
إلى كل خيرٍ أغلق الدهرُ مفتوح
Every gate, through al-Muʿizz ibn Yūsuf alone,
Leading to all good, closed by fate yet left open,
Opens toward all good, though time had shut it.
He is the impoverished one bountifully bestowing, his habit of giving
هوhe المفقرُthe impoverisher المغنيthe enricher فعاداتُso the habits جودهِof his generosity
هو المفقرُ المغني فعاداتُ جودهِ
تزينُadorn وغاداتand the maidens الغواديof morning rainclouds مفاضيحdisgraced
تزينُ وغادات الغوادي مفاضيح
He impoverishes and enriches: his habits of generosity
Adorning the excellences, exposing the defects.
Adorn him, while the maidens of the morning clouds are put to shame.
He is the slender-waisted one, lofty of shoulders,
هوhe الخصرِthe waist (unclear here) النُّعمىbounty علىupon كبدthe heart/center العُلىof high glory
هو الخصرِ النُّعمى على كبد العُلى
لدىthere حيثwhere وجهthe face اليومof day بالماءِwith water منضوحsprinkled
لدى حيث وجه اليوم بالماءِ منضوح
He is the [unclear] of bounty at the heart of high glory,
When faced with days of thirst, pouring water.
There, where the face of day is sprinkled with water.
In every fear and crisis he is the refuge,
يلاذrefuge is sought بهwith him فيin كلّevery خوفٍfear وأزمةٍand crisis
يلاذ به في كلّ خوفٍ وأزمةٍ
فلاso no الجارُneighbor مهضومٌwronged ولاand no الضيَّفguest منبوحbarked at
فلا الجارُ مهضومٌ ولا الضيَّف منبوح
Refuge is sought with him in every fear and crisis;
Neither neighbor cheated nor guest betrayed.
No neighbor is wronged, no guest barked at.
His pastures are like safety, cool, his provisions
مواردهُhis watering places كالأمنِlike safety برداًin coolness وزادهُand his provision
مواردهُ كالأمنِ برداً وزادهُ
كطيبlike the sweetness الكرىof sleep طلقٌfreely available لمنto whoever شاءwishes ممنوحgranted
كطيب الكرى طلقٌ لمن شاء ممنوح
His watering places are cool as safety, and his provision,
Like sweet basil, freely offered to whomever desired.
Like the sweetness of sleep, is freely granted to whoever wishes.
He brings intellects to life, infusing them with purity and wisdom,
ندّىgenerous يهبُgives الأذهانَminds صفواًclarity وحكمةًand wisdom
ندّى يهبُ الأذهانَ صفواً وحكمةً
وفيهand in him اجتلابٌdrawing forth للمعانيof meanings وتنقيحand refinement
وفيه اجتلابٌ للمعاني وتنقيح
Generous, he gives minds clarity and wisdom,
Selecting meanings, refining and correcting.
And in him are the drawing forth and refining of meanings.
So his prose is beautifully eloquent and delightful,
فللنثرso for prose إحسانexcellence يروقُdelights وبهجةٌand radiance
فللنثر إحسان يروقُ وبهجةٌ
وللنظمand for verse توشيعٌwoven embellishment يروقُdelights وتوشيحand embroidered ornament
وللنظم توشيعٌ يروقُ وتوشيح
His prose has excellence that delights, and radiance;
His verse melodiously eloquent and embellished.
His verse has delightful woven embellishment and embroidered ornament.
His prayer has guided to us the bestowal of gifts
فسيقتْso were brought لناto us سوقَas the bringing المهورof dowries صلاتهُhis gifts
فسيقتْ لنا سوقَ المهور صلاتهُ
وزفتْand were led as brides لهُto him زفَّas the bridal leading الحسانof beautiful women الأماديحpraises
وزفتْ لهُ زفَّ الحسان الأماديح
His gifts were brought to us as bridal dowries are brought,
And brought to him the presentation of the finest praises.
And praises were led to him as lovely brides are led.
When you attend upon his fire’s hearths
كأنكas though you إذwhen تغشىapproach مواقدَthe hearths نارهِof his fire
كأنك إذ تغشى مواقدَ نارهِ
يضوعspreads fragrantly أريجthe scent البانof bān والملكْand kingship (perhaps 'musk') منفوحwafted
يضوع أريج البان والملكْ منفوح
It is as though, when you approach the hearths of his fire,
The fragrance of aloeswood disperses, the place perfumed.
The fragrance of bān rises, and [musk?] is wafted.
If the night concealed its gatherings in homes,
فلوso if كتّمconcealed completely الليلُthe night التمامُfull-length بيوتهُhis houses
فلو كتّم الليلُ التمامُ بيوتهُ
لدلَّwould point out عليهاthem نشرهُhis spreading scent والأراييحand fragrances
لدلَّ عليها نشرهُ والأراييح
Even if the long night completely concealed his houses,
His wide renown and the winds would point to them.
His spreading scent and fragrances would point them out.
A bearer of tribulations’ burdens, were he to hurl
حمولٌa great bearer لأعباءِof the burdens الملَّماتof calamities لوif رمتstruck
حمولٌ لأعباءِ الملَّمات لو رمت
ثبيراًThabīr لأضحىit would become وعنهُand from it وهوwhile it is مفدوحheavily burdened
ثبيراً لأضحى وعنهُ وهو مفدوح
He bears the burdens of calamities; were they to strike
A mountain, it would be reduced to pebbles at his touch.
Thabīr, it would become [unclear], heavily burdened.
If he had the patience of those now gone
ولوand if كانthere were للماضينfor those gone before قوَّةthe strength صبرهِof his endurance
ولو كان للماضين قوَّة صبرهِ
لماwould not ناحwail منfrom ثكلٍbereavement علىover هالكٍone who died نوحNoah
لما ناح من ثكلٍ على هالكٍ نوح
If those gone before had the strength of his endurance,
No lamenting Noah would grieve for a drowned people.
Noah would never have wailed in bereavement over one who died.
Repeat his description, pleasing God by mentioning him,
أعدْrepeat وصفهُhis description ترضِyou will please الالهَGod بذكرهِby mentioning him
أعدْ وصفهُ ترضِ الالهَ بذكرهِ
ففيfor in كلّevery part منهُof him للهof God تسبيحglorification
ففي كلّ منهُ لله تسبيح
Repeat his description: you please God by mentioning him,
In all of him glorifying God.
For everything about him glorifies God.
It was he who sated an army with the cups of his dove-house,
وكائنْand how many سقىgave to drink جيشاًan army كؤوسcups حمامهِof the death he deals
وكائنْ سقى جيشاً كؤوس حمامهِ
دهاقاًbrimming وأطرافَand the tips العواليof tall spears مجاديحstirrers
دهاقاً وأطرافَ العوالي مجاديح
Many an army he has served cups of the death he deals,
Poured hastily as the cavalry charged.
Brimming, with the tips of tall spears as stirrers.
O you whose sword harvested equity in the heights,
فياso O سيفهُhis sword حزتَyou attained العدالةuprightness فيin العلىglory
فيا سيفهُ حزتَ العدالة في العلى
وماand no شاهدٌwitness إلاَّexcept لهُfor him بكthrough you تجريحdiscrediting/wounding
وما شاهدٌ إلاَّ لهُ بك تجريح
O his sword, you have won upright standing in glory,
No witness but by you was wounded!
And every witness is discredited by you on his behalf.
A young man whose resolve equated a battalion,
فتىa youth عزمهُhis resolve كفءُa worthy match الكتيبةfor the battalion خاطباas a suitor
فتى عزمهُ كفءُ الكتيبة خاطبا
وانand even if ردَّwas turned away مفتولُsinewy الذراعينin both arms مشبوحbroad-limbed
وان ردَّ مفتولُ الذراعين مشبوح
A youth whose resolve, as a suitor, is a worthy match for a battalion,
Though his arm weakened from being severed at the joint.
Even if a broad-built man with corded arms is turned away.
No life but is devoted to the battle-trained steeds,
ولاand no عمرَlife إلاَّexcept بالحمامby death مطلقٌdivorced
ولا عمرَ إلاَّ بالحمام مطلقٌ
ولاand no قلبheart َ إلاَّexcept بالأسنةby spearpoints منكوحwedded/penetrated
ولا قلب َ إلاَّ بالأسنة منكوح
No life but is divorced by death,
No heart but is wedded to the blades.
No heart but is wedded to spearpoints.
Gazing upon the enemy from every side,
مطلٌّlooking down علىupon الأعداءِthe enemies منfrom كلّevery وجهةٍdirection
مطلٌّ على الأعداءِ من كلّ وجهةٍ
وانand even if كثرتgrew numerous عنaway from ساحتيهِhis two courts المنازيحfar distances
وان كثرت عن ساحتيهِ المنازيح
He looks down upon enemies from every direction,
Though many armored knights circled his arena.
Even when the distances from his two courts are great.
They are mountains, their armor sheathed yet light in movement,
فطودٌso a mountain رفيعٌlofty بالسوابحby swimming steeds مرتقىscaled
فطودٌ رفيعٌ بالسوابح مرتقى
وشهبٌand meteors (perhaps 'a plain') فسيحٌspacious بالجماجمwith skulls مسطوحpaved
وشهبٌ فسيحٌ بالجماجم مسطوح
A lofty mountain scaled by swimming steeds,
Muzain's cavalry flesh yet spectral in their charge.
And a broad [plain?] carpeted with skulls.
When they chanced upon a brook they did not brawl,
لهُhe has شهبٌmeteors بالبيضwith bright swords فيin سدفthe darkness الوغىof battle
لهُ شهبٌ بالبيض في سدف الوغى
وبالسُّمرand with dark spears فيin ضيقthe crush الوقائعof battles تفسيحmaking space
وبالسُّمر في ضيق الوقائع تفسيح
He has meteors of bright blades in battle's darkness,
When they marched at night no owl hooted.
And with dark spears makes space in the crush of battle.
Green robes, laughing with dew
وفيand in الجوِthe air عينُthe eye الشمسof the sun رمداًwith soreness كحيلةٌkohled
وفي الجوِ عينُ الشمس رمداً كحيلةٌ
ووجهُand the face الصفاof smooth rock فيon الأرضthe earth بالركضby galloping مكدوحscarred
ووجهُ الصفا في الأرض بالركض مكدوح
In the air, the sun's eye is kohled with soreness,
When the banner swayed and the anthems roared.
And on earth smooth rock's face is scarred by galloping.
They love the white of honorable deeds and gazelles,
منof القومthe people ليسواthey are not بالمجازيعamong the fainthearted إنwhen سطاassailed
من القوم ليسوا بالمجازيع إن سطا
زمانٌtime ولاand not إنwhen جادgave generously دهرٌfortune مفاريحexcessively jubilant
زمانٌ ولا إن جاد دهرٌ مفاريح
He is of a people who do not despair when assailed
The people love whiteness and pale gazelles.
By time, nor rejoice excessively when fortune is generous.
Obeyed whether clear or obscured in the fray,
سيوفهمُtheir swords للشاغراتfor the gaping ones مفالغٌcleavers
سيوفهمُ للشاغرات مفالغٌ
وهنَّand they لأغرقto the deepest البلادof the lands مفاتيحkeys
وهنَّ لأغرق البلاد مفاتيح
Their swords are cleavers of what lies open,
Trustees in the hard years of dearth, igniting the darkness,
And keys to the deepest reaches of the lands.
Kindling in grim nights a fire with many flames
جبالmountains حُبىّknee-bindings ترسوstand anchored وفيand in الحلمforbearance خفًّةٌlightness
جبال حُبىّ ترسو وفي الحلم خفًّةٌ
ومزنٌand rainclouds حياًlife-giving rain تهميpour وللبنتand for the daughter (perhaps 'plants') تصويحwithering
ومزنٌ حياً تهمي وللبنت تصويح
Mountains of men with knees clasped stand firm, yet their forbearance has lightness,
Both its tongues in the dark like lamps.
And clouds pour life-giving rain, while [the plants?] wither.
They are the steeds of pulpits and the fray altogether,
إذاif أصدفواturned away نيلاgiving فلاthen may not سمحgive generously الحياthe rain
إذا أصدفوا نيلا فلا سمح الحيا
وانand if سفرواunveiled themselves ليلاًat night فلاthen may not طلعتrise يُوحYūḥ (the sun)
وان سفروا ليلاً فلا طلعت يُوح
If they turn away from giving, may the rain give nothing,
And the stoutest in conflict, swinging with the tents.
And if they unveil themselves by night, may Yūḥ never rise.
Among the people you find none resembling them,
فأرديةٌso mantles خضرٌgreen ضواحكُsmiling بالندَّىwith dew/bounty
فأرديةٌ خضرٌ ضواحكُ بالندَّى
إذاwhen قطبfrowned السَّاريthe night-traveler وأنديةand meeting halls فيحspacious
إذا قطب السَّاري وأندية فيح
Green mantles smiling with dew and bounty,
Nor on earth, but crying out in their glory.
When the night-traveler frowns, and spacious meeting halls.
Times were illuminated by you and the sun is redundant,
همُthey عاشقواlovers of بيضthe bright المكارمnoble deeds والظبيand the gazelle (perhaps 'sword-edges')
همُ عاشقوا بيض المكارم والظبي
وللناسand for people بالبيضfor the fair الظباءِgazelles تباريحtorments
وللناس بالبيض الظباءِ تباريح
They love bright noble deeds and [sword-edges?],
No spark flashing from the hooves struck forth.
While people suffer torments for fair gazelles.
It's excusable one who dreads you, like the lead beast
مطاعونobeyed فيin الجَّلىgreat crises مطاعينُmighty spear-thrusters فيin الوغىbattle
مطاعون في الجَّلى مطاعينُ في الوغى
مطاعيمُfeeders of many فيin الجدبdrought المخوفِfeared مساميحgenerous men
مطاعيمُ في الجدب المخوفِ مساميح
Obeyed in great crises, they are mighty spear-thrusters in battle,
Of a vanquished troop, its horn broken, prone.
They feed many in dreaded drought, generous-handed.
Iron only prospers when it resembles you,
يضيئونthey light فيin اللأواءِhardship ناراًa fire وأوجههاًand its faces (wording unclear)
يضيئون في اللأواءِ ناراً وأوجههاً
كِلاboth of سنتيهاits two aspects فيin الظلامthe darkness مصابيحlamps
كِلا سنتيها في الظلام مصابيح
In hardship they light a fire and its faces [wording unclear],
How many a sword has been refined by your edge!
Both its aspects are lamps in the darkness.
While you remain, neither can the lawless mob in the wasteland sleep safe
أولئكthose فرسانknights المنابرof pulpits والوغىand battle
أولئك فرسان المنابر والوغى
جميعاًall together وأطودand mountains الحلومof judgment المراجيحweighty
جميعاً وأطود الحلوم المراجيح
These are knights of pulpits and of battle,
Nor their night fireless, their water undrunk.
In both alike, and mountains of weighty judgment.
You have encompassed us with security, neither wealth
ففيso among الناسpeople إلاَّexcept أنthat تراهمyou see them مشابهٌpeers
ففي الناس إلاَّ أن تراهم مشابهٌ
وفيand on الأرضearth إلاَّexcept عنaway from نداهمtheir bounty مناديحample spaces
وفي الأرض إلاَّ عن نداهم مناديح
Among people there are peers—except these men, once you see them;
Nor delights but in your protection left untouched.
And there is room on earth—but none beyond their bounty.
How often have I been given a bride by you with a generous dowry,
أنارتshone بكthrough you الأوقاتthe times والشمسُand the sun فضلةٌsomething superfluous
أنارت بك الأوقات والشمسُ فضلةٌ
فلاَّso no زندَfire-stick تلاَّunclear; perhaps 'except' بالحوافرby hooves مقدوحstruck for fire
فلاَّ زندَ تلاَّ بالحوافر مقدوح
Through you the times shine; the sun is superfluous,
So I'm neither cheated nor you shamed!
No fire-stick is struck [except?] by hooves.
Her sweetness provokes envy but I have not found one envying you
وعذرٌand an excuse لمنfor whoever يخشاكfears you كبشُa ram/champion كتيبةof a battalion
وعذرٌ لمن يخشاك كبشُ كتيبة
يعودreturns كسيراًbroken قرنهُits horn وهوwhile it is منطوحbutted
يعود كسيراً قرنهُ وهو منطوح
Anyone who fears you has an excuse: a battalion's ram
Stabbed by honey as with a poisoned blade.
Returns with its horn shattered, itself butted down.
She is the composer of sublime verses
وماand not يفلحُis split الفولاذsteel إلاًّexcept يمثلهwhat matches it (wording uncertain)
وما يفلحُ الفولاذ إلاًّ يمثله
فكمand how many ردَّwere sent back منa سيفٍsword بحدكby your edge مفلوحnotched
فكم ردَّ من سيفٍ بحدك مفلوح
Steel is split only by what matches it;
For which you provide a novel and well-weighted arrangement.
How many swords your edge has sent back notched!
One whose generosity rivals yours is fortunate in love
وماand as long as دمتَyou remain لاnot ظلُّthe shade العفاةِof supplicants بقالصٍshrinking
وما دمتَ لا ظلُّ العفاةِ بقالصٍ
ولاand not عشيهمtheir evening (perhaps 'grass') ذاوٍwithered ولاand not الماءُthe water ممنوحgranted (unclear here)
ولا عشيهم ذاوٍ ولا الماءُ ممنوح
As long as you remain, the supplicants' shade does not shrink,
While another whose greed rivals yours is banished.
Nor is their [grass?] withered, nor is the water granted [wording unclear].
The wares of glory, their market never ceases
عممتهمُyou encompassed them منَّاfavors وأمناًand safety فماso neither اللُّهىgreat gifts
عممتهمُ منَّا وأمناً فما اللُّهى
ولاnor المالُwealth إلاَّexcept فيin جنابكyour domain مسروحlet roam freely
ولا المالُ إلاَّ في جنابك مسروح
You have enfolded them in favor and safety; great gifts
When you appear but your munificence proclaimed.
And wealth roam free only within your precincts.
The people are only either one you have rewarded
وكمand how many ليّof mine منa عذراءَvirgin maiden أجزلتyou made lavish مهرهاher dowry
وكم ليّ من عذراءَ أجزلت مهرها
فلاso not أناI مغبونٌcheated ولاand not أنتyou مفضوحdisgraced
فلا أنا مغبونٌ ولا أنت مفضوح
How many a maiden of mine have you endowed with a lavish dowry,
For my sake, or one pardoned despite his crimes.
So neither am I cheated nor are you disgraced.
You continue seizing the fields for their rightful owners,
حلاوتهاher sweetness تشجيgrieves الحسودَthe envier ولمand not أجدْI find
حلاوتها تشجي الحسودَ ولم أجدْ
كمثلlike حسودٍan envier فيكon your account بالشَّهدwith honey مذبوحslaughtered
كمثل حسودٍ فيك بالشَّهد مذبوح
Her sweetness grieves the envier, and I have never found
And the oppressor lies vanquished by your resolve, prone.
The like of an envier on your account, slaughtered with honey.
I struggle for wealth that obstacles prevent me from,
هيthey are السائراتُfar-traveling السابغاتُample قوافياًin rhymes
هي السائراتُ السابغاتُ قوافياً
لهاfor them بكthrough you ترجيعٌrefrains بديعٌmarvelous وترجيحand preeminence
لها بك ترجيعٌ بديعٌ وترجيح
They are far-traveling verses, ample in their rhymes,
Like one seeking water while sandstorms rage.
Through you they gain wondrous refrains and preeminence.
How often have you revived me with gracious gifts
فمثلكso one like you مغدورbetrayed (unclear here) السماحgenerosity بحبّهاthrough loving them
فمثلك مغدور السماح بحبّها
وغيريَand anyone but me معضولrestrained الطماعةgreed منصوحadmonished
وغيريَ معضول الطماعة منصوح
So one like you is betrayed in generosity through loving them [wording unclear],
To blessed and prosperous outcomes despite the times!
While others have their greed restrained and are admonished.
So I returned with eyes delighted by your company
بضاعةُmerchandise مجدٍof glory ليسnot ينفكُّdisperses سوقهاits market
بضاعةُ مجدٍ ليس ينفكُّ سوقها
إذاwhen جليتwas displayed إلاَّexcept وجودكand your generosity مربوحgained as profit
إذا جليت إلاَّ وجودك مربوح
Merchandise of glory, whose market never disperses
And my breast expanded by such noble gifts.
When it is displayed, without your bounty being won.
You have adorned the world and lived praised,
وماand not الناسُpeople إلاَّexcept محسنٌa doer of good قدalready أجزتهُyou rewarded him
وما الناسُ إلاَّ محسنٌ قد أجزتهُ
بحسنىwith kindness وإلاَّor else مذنبٌan offender عنهfor him مصفوحpardoned
بحسنى وإلاَّ مذنبٌ عنه مصفوح
People are only either a doer of good whom you have rewarded
Peerless, for none on earth rivals you in praise.
With kindness, or an offender whom you have pardoned.
وماand not زلتَyou have ceased أخاذa persistent reclaimer الحقولthe fields لأهلهاfor their owners
وما زلتَ أخاذ الحقول لأهلها
وذوand the perpetrator of الظلمwrongdoing مسيوفٌstruck by a sword بعزمكthrough your resolve مرموحpierced by a spear
وذو الظلم مسيوفٌ بعزمك مرموح
You have always reclaimed the fields for their owners,
While the oppressor is sword-struck and speared by your resolve.
أحاولُI seek مالاًmoney حيلَa barrier was set بينيbetween me وبينهُand it
أحاولُ مالاً حيلَ بيني وبينهُ
كمنlike one who يبتغيseeks ماءًwater حمتهُguarded it التماسيحcrocodiles
كمن يبتغي ماءً حمتهُ التماسيح
I pursue money that has been barred from me,
Like one seeking water guarded by crocodiles.
وكمand how often بعثتsent بيme forth منكfrom you محسنةmade fair المنىhopes
وكم بعثت بي منك محسنة المنى
إلىto خيرthe best مصحوبcompanion وللدهرand for time تقبيحcondemnation
إلى خير مصحوب وللدهر تقبيح
How often fair hopes from you have sent me
To the best of companions, while time met condemnation.
فعدتُso I returned وعينيand my eye منfrom نداكyour bounty قريرةٌsoothed
فعدتُ وعيني من نداك قريرةٌ
وصدريand my breast بهاتيكby those المواهبgifts مشروحgladdened
وصدري بهاتيك المواهب مشروح
I returned, my eye soothed by your bounty,
And my breast gladdened by those gifts.
فزينتْso was adorned بكby you الدنياthe world وعشتَand may you live ممدَّحاًmuch praised
فزينتْ بك الدنيا وعشتَ ممدَّحاً
وحيداًunique فماfor no فيon الأرضearth غيركanyone but you ممدوحpraised
وحيداً فما في الأرض غيرك ممدوح
May the world be adorned by you, and may you live much praised,
Peerless: on earth none but you is praised.
Partial English translation: 117 of 128 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1