ماnothing عَلَيهاupon them أَوانَwhen تَطويthey traverse الفَيافيthe deserts
ما عَلَيها أَوانَ تَطوي الفَيافي
غَيرُexcept حَثِّquickening الذَميلِthe amble وَالإيجافِand the gallop
غَيرُ حَثِّ الذَميلِ وَالإيجافِ
They have, as they traverse the deserts,
No passage of time makes the hills subside,
only to quicken their amble and gallop.
Save the constant plodding of feet and the hardship of wayfarers,
غَيرَexcept أَنَّthat المَرءَthe man اللَجوجَpersistent دَعاهاsummoned them
غَيرَ أَنَّ المَرءَ اللَجوجَ دَعاها
فَاِعتَسَفنَso they struck blindly through الفَلاةَthe wilderness أَيَّwhat a اِعتِسافِheadlong crossing
فَاِعتَسَفنَ الفَلاةَ أَيَّ اِعتِسافِ
Yet the persistent man summoned them,
Save when the obstinate mortal summoned them,
and they plunged headlong across the wilderness.
Then crossing the wasteland was extremely arduous!
أَنكَرَتthey disowned شَدقَماًShadqam وَأَلغَتand dismissed جَديلاًJadil
أَنكَرَت شَدقَماً وَأَلغَت جَديلاً
مُعرِباتٍspeaking عَنِfor الرِياحِthe winds السَوافيdust-scattering
مُعرِباتٍ عَنِ الرِياحِ السَوافي
They disowned Shadqam and dismissed Jadil,
They negated the water-skin and the leather bucket,
speaking for the dust-scattering winds.
Carriers of the errant winds.
فَاِنبَرَتthen they sprang forth كَالقِسِيِّlike bows بَلrather كَسِهامٍlike arrows
فَاِنبَرَت كَالقِسِيِّ بَل كَسِهامٍ
وَصَلَتهاbrought them القِسِيُّthe bows بِالأَهدافِto the targets
وَصَلَتها القِسِيُّ بِالأَهدافِ
They sprang forth like bows—rather, like arrows
So they set out like the bow or even like arrows,
that bows had brought to their targets.
And the bowsman reached his target.
حَيثُwhere لاnot تُدرِكُreach السَنابِكُthe hooves رَكضاًat a gallop
حَيثُ لا تُدرِكُ السَنابِكُ رَكضاً
بَعدَafter ماthat أَدرَكَتهُthey reached it بِالأَخفافِon padded feet
بَعدَ ما أَدرَكَتهُ بِالأَخفافِ
Where hooves cannot reach at a gallop,
Where the water-skins cannot keep up when running,
after they have reached it on padded feet.
After they had kept up with the light runners.
فاعِلاتٌworking بِهِنَّupon them سَبعُseven لَيالٍnights
فاعِلاتٌ بِهِنَّ سَبعُ لَيالٍ
فِعلَthe work of سَبعٍseven مِنَof السِنينَyears عِجافِlean
فِعلَ سَبعٍ مِنَ السِنينَ عِجافِ
Seven nights had wrought upon them
In seven nights they performed the deeds of seven lean years,
what seven lean years would do.
And reached the Nile of Egypt before the arrival of carriers and slaves.
وَرَدَتthey reached the water بَعدَafter ظِمئِهاtheir thirst نيلَthe Nile of مِصرٍEgypt
وَرَدَت بَعدَ ظِمئِها نيلَ مِصرٍ
قَبلَbefore وِردِthe arrival at water of الفُرّاطِthe water-scouts وَالسُلّافِand the forerunners
قَبلَ وِردِ الفُرّاطِ وَالسُلّافِ
After their thirst they reached Egypt's Nile,
When they marched in the fertile meadow,
before the scouts and forerunners reached the water.
The pasture of Anemones and goats,
حينَwhen ذَمَّتthey scorned فيin مَرتَعِthe pasture of العِزِّhonor وَالثَرand wealth (partial)
حينَ ذَمَّت في مَرتَعِ العِزِّ وَالثَر
وَةِcompletes 'wealth' مَرعىthe grazing of التَنّومِtannum plants وَالخِذرافِand khidhraf plants
وَةِ مَرعى التَنّومِ وَالخِذرافِ
When, in the pasture of honor and wealth, they scorned
And descended comfortably in a state,
the grazing of tannum and khidhraf.
Where dwelling sufficed the perfect host.
وَأَناخَتand they knelt بِدَولَةٍin a realm عَزَّhe grew mighty فيهاwithin it
وَأَناخَت بِدَولَةٍ عَزَّ فيها
فَكَفاهاand he shielded them from المُلِمَّcalamity نِعمَexcellent is الكافيthe protector
فَكَفاها المُلِمَّ نِعمَ الكافي
And they knelt in a realm where one rose to might
So its pride and son of its pride are the essence of sovereignty,
and shielded them from calamity—an excellent protector!—
The lord of highness brought up in chastity.
فَخرُهاits pride وَاِبنُand son of فَخرِهاits pride مَعدِنُsource of السُؤnobility (partial)
فَخرُها وَاِبنُ فَخرِها مَعدِنُ السُؤ
دُدِcompletes 'nobility' رَبُّlord of العَلاءِeminence تِربُage-mate of العَفافِchastity
دُدِ رَبُّ العَلاءِ تِربُ العَفافِ
its pride and the son of its pride, the wellspring of nobility,
The noblest lineage, soul and ambition,
lord of eminence, lifelong companion of chastity.
And the most generous character and traits.
الشَريفُnoble in الأَعراقِancestry وَالنَفسُand soul وَالهِمand resolve (partial)
الشَريفُ الأَعراقِ وَالنَفسُ وَالهِم
مَةِcompletes 'resolve' وَالمَكرُماتِand noble deeds وَالأَوصافِand qualities
مَةِ وَالمَكرُماتِ وَالأَوصافِ
Noble in ancestry, soul, and resolve,
Of radiant visage that eyelids refuse shelter,
in generous deeds and qualities.
And dwelling in open space not in pages.
ذوpossessor of صِفاحٍbroad blades تَأبىthat refuse الجُفونَscabbards مَقَرّاًas a resting place
ذو صِفاحٍ تَأبى الجُفونَ مَقَرّاً
وَقِرىًand guest-feasts فيin الجِفانِgreat bowls لاnot فيin الصِحافِsmall dishes
وَقِرىً في الجِفانِ لا في الصِحافِ
Possessor of broad blades that refuse scabbards as a resting place,
So I sought refuge from all types of disgrace,
and guest-feasts in great bowls, not small dishes.
Since I sought refuge with the noblest of nobles.
فَأُعيذَتthus were sheltered مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَينٍfalsehood ظُنونيmy expectations
فَأُعيذَت مِن كُلِّ مَينٍ ظُنوني
مُنذُsince عاذَتthey sought refuge بِأَشرَفِwith the noblest of الأَشرافِthe nobles
مُنذُ عاذَت بِأَشرَفِ الأَشرافِ
Thus my expectations were sheltered from every falsehood,
And I praised the times in the presence of glories,
since they sought refuge with the noblest of nobles.
Unequalled throughout thousands of halcyon days.
وَحَمِدتُand I praised الزَمانَthe age عِندَbeside هُمامٍa magnanimous lord
وَحَمِدتُ الزَمانَ عِندَ هُمامٍ
غَيرُnot عافٍdeserted ذَراهُhis precincts مِنof أَلفِa thousand عافِpetitioners
غَيرُ عافٍ ذَراهُ مِن أَلفِ عافِ
And I praised the age beside a magnanimous lord
They did not condemn living in a refuge, mansion or resort,
whose court never lacks a thousand petitioners.
So I forgot every fair patron,
لَمdid not يَذُمّواthey fault بِظِلِّهِbeneath his shade العَيشَlife فيin مَشwinter quarters (partial)
لَم يَذُمّوا بِظِلِّهِ العَيشَ في مَش
تىًcompletes 'winter quarters' وَلاnor مَربَعٍspring quarters وَلاnor مُصطافِsummer quarters
تىً وَلا مَربَعٍ وَلا مُصطافِ
They never faulted life beneath his shade in winter quarters,
In the presence of a patron with folded sleeves,
nor in spring quarters, nor in summer quarters.
Seeking his glory, hoping his hopes, whose hospitality is hospitable.
فَتَناسَيتُso I forgot كُلَّevery موليbestower of جَميلٍkindness
فَتَناسَيتُ كُلَّ مولي جَميلٍ
عِندَbeside مَولىًa lord مَوُطَّإِsmooth of الأَكنافِapproaches
عِندَ مَولىً مَوُطَّإِ الأَكنافِ
So I forgot every bestower of kindness
Prejudiced in obstinacy the course of persistence, prejudice of the horrific prejudice.
beside a lord whose approaches are smooth.
While awake, he is not devoid of dew, and when asleep, the visitor reaches him.
مُجتَديهِhis petitioner مُجدٍa benefactor وَراجيهِand one hoping in him مَرجُوhoped in (partial)
مُجتَديهِ مُجدٍ وَراجيهِ مَرجُو
وٌcompletes 'hoped in' وَأَضيافُهُand his guests ذَووpossessors of أَضيافِguests
وٌ وَأَضيافُهُ ذَوو أَضيافِ
His petitioner is a benefactor; his hopeful a source of hope,
A benefactor whom calumnies are distant from,
and his guests have guests of their own.
As distant as his appointment was from betrayal.
مُجحِفٌexhausting بِالتِلادِancestral wealth فيin سَنَنِthe path of الإِحearning praise (partial)
مُجحِفٌ بِالتِلادِ في سَنَنِ الإِح
مادِcompletes 'earning praise' إِجحافَwith the devastation of وَقعَةِthe onslaught of الجَحّافِal-Jahhaf
مادِ إِجحافَ وَقعَةِ الجَحّافِ
He exhausts ancestral wealth in the pursuit of praise,
O few helpers in the ranks of glory, peerless and granter of thousands!
with the devastation of al-Jahhaf's onslaught.
How many a brother in time surpassed his brother,
لَيسَnot يَخلوhe is free مِنَof النَدىgenerosity وَهوَwhile he is يَقظاawake (partial)
لَيسَ يَخلو مِنَ النَدى وَهوَ يَقظا
نُcompletes 'awake' وَيَغشاهُand it visits him طارِقاًas a night visitor وَهوَwhile he is غافِasleep
نُ وَيَغشاهُ طارِقاً وَهوَ غافِ
He is never free of generosity while awake,
By a deed that reveals the contrasts!
and it visits him by night while he sleeps.
Just as the praise of ‘Abd Shams surpassed
مُنعِمٌa benefactor تَبعُدُare distant المَذَمّاتُreproaches عَنهُfrom him
مُنعِمٌ تَبعُدُ المَذَمّاتُ عَنهُ
بُعدَas far as ميعادِهِhis promise مِنَfrom الإِخلافِbeing broken
بُعدَ ميعادِهِ مِنَ الإِخلافِ
A benefactor, from whom reproaches stand as distant
That which Hashim the son of ‘Abd Manāf attained
as his promise stands from breach.
By a deed that made him eponymous and forgettable the mention of ‘Amr,
ياO قَليلَfew in الأُلّافِcompanions فيin رُتَبِthe ranks of المَجglory (partial)
يا قَليلَ الأُلّافِ في رُتَبِ المَج
دِcompletes 'glory' اِنفِراداًin peerless solitude وَواهِبَand giver of الآلافِthousands
دِ اِنفِراداً وَواهِبَ الآلافِ
O you with few peers in glory's ranks,
And ‘Amr is no faintheart.
so peerless, and giver of thousands!
All came making pilgrimage at your abode hoping for
كَمhow many أَخٍa brother فيin الزَمانِtime فاقَsurpassed أَخاهُhis brother
كَم أَخٍ في الزَمانِ فاقَ أَخاهُ
بِفَعالٍthrough deeds بِهِthrough which يَبينُbecomes clear التَنافيthe disparity
بِفَعالٍ بِهِ يَبينُ التَنافي
How many a brother in this world surpassed his brother
That which the pilgrims hope for during circumambulation.
through deeds that make their disparity plain!
Where the pastureland of glory is not extending
مِثلَماjust as فاتَeluded عَبدَAbd شَمسٍShams ثَناءٌpraise
مِثلَما فاتَ عَبدَ شَمسٍ ثَناءٌ
حازَهُhe won it هاشِمُHashim اِبنُson of عَبدِAbd مَنافِManaf
حازَهُ هاشِمُ اِبنُ عَبدِ مَنافِ
Just as Abd Shams missed the praise
And the hopes of wishes are not sound.
won by Hashim, son of Abd Manaf,
You are the protection of mankind, even if
بِفَعالٍthrough deeds بِهِby which تَسَمّىhe was named فَأَنسىand so made forgotten
بِفَعالٍ بِهِ تَسَمّى فَأَنسى
ذِكرَthe name of عَمروٍAmr وَلَيسَand was not عَمروٌAmr بِخافِobscure
ذِكرَ عَمروٍ وَلَيسَ عَمروٌ بِخافِ
through deeds that gave him his name, eclipsing
Youbuilt them, still they would crumble without accord.
the name of Amr, though Amr was not obscure.
Did the bird ever arrive with news
طافَcircled كُلٌّeveryone بِبابِaround the door of دارِكَyour house يَرجوhoping for
طافَ كُلٌّ بِبابِ دارِكَ يَرجو
ماwhat يُرَجّيhope for الحَجيجُthe pilgrims عِندَduring الطَوافِthe circumambulation
ما يُرَجّي الحَجيجُ عِندَ الطَوافِ
Everyone circled the door of your house, hoping
Except exposing the failing of the rest?
for what pilgrims hope for during their circumambulation.
For the Lord of worship from you are swords
حَيثُwhere لاnot مَرتَعُthe pasture of المَواعيدِpromises مِجداbarren (partial)
حَيثُ لا مَرتَعُ المَواعيدِ مِجدا
بٌcompletes 'barren' وَلاnor مَربَعُthe spring meadow of الأَمانِيِّwishes عافِdesolate
بٌ وَلا مَربَعُ الأَمانِيِّ عافِ
Where the pasture of promises is not barren,
That need no sharpening.
nor the spring meadow of wishes desolate.
You protected religion with rapprochement and dignity
أَنتُمُyou عِصمَةُthe protection of الأَنامِmankind وَلَوand if بِنyou departed (partial)
أَنتُمُ عِصمَةُ الأَنامِ وَلَو بِن
تُمcompletes 'you departed' وَكَلّاbut never! رُدّواthey would be repulsed بِغَيرِwithout خِلافِdispute
تُم وَكَلّا رُدّوا بِغَيرِ خِلافِ
You are mankind's protection; if you departed—
While it was vulnerable to rapprochement.
never!—they would be repulsed, beyond dispute.
And steadfastness to warring with enemies,
هَلhas خَلاbeen stripped قَطُّever مِنof قَوادِمِهِits primary feathers الطَاthe bird (partial)
هَل خَلا قَطُّ مِن قَوادِمِهِ الطَا
ئِرُcompletes 'the bird' إِلّاexcept وَبانَand became clear عَجزُthe weakness of الخَوافيthe secondary feathers
ئِرُ إِلّا وَبانَ عَجزُ الخَوافي
Has a bird ever lost its primary feathers
And steadfastness under the pounding catapult.
without the weakness of its secondary feathers becoming clear?
And tomorrow mankind will know them by their mark,
وَلِرَبِّand for the Lord of العِبادِmankind مِنكُمfrom among you سُيوفٌswords
وَلِرَبِّ العِبادِ مِنكُم سُيوفٌ
غَيرُnot مُحتاجَةٍin need إِلىof إِرهافِsharpening
غَيرُ مُحتاجَةٍ إِلى إِرهافِ
And the Lord of mankind has swords among you
Men from you on the Heights.
that have no need of sharpening.
You have unlocked the chests of the proud
حَمَتِthey protected الدينَthe faith بِالتَلافيthrough rescue وَبِالقَهand through force (partial)
حَمَتِ الدينَ بِالتَلافي وَبِالقَه
رِcompletes 'force' وَقَدwhen already كانَit had been عُرضَةًexposed لِلتَلافِto destruction
رِ وَقَد كانَ عُرضَةً لِلتَلافِ
They guarded the faith through rescue and force,
And the pride of the generous suffices.
when it had stood exposed to destruction.
And if praise circulates among people one day,
وَثَباتٌcharges إِلىinto قِراعِcombat with الأَعاديthe enemies
وَثَباتٌ إِلى قِراعِ الأَعادي
وَثَباتٌand steadfastness تَحتَbeneath القَناthe spears الرَعّافِblood-streaming
وَثَباتٌ تَحتَ القَنا الرَعّافِ
Leaps into combat with enemies,
You will exclusively obtain the share and favor.
and steadfastness beneath blood-streaming spears.
With casuals the date palms and orchards are erased and forgotten
وَغَداًand tomorrow يَعرِفُwill recognize الأَنامَmankind بِسيماby the marks of
وَغَداً يَعرِفُ الأَنامَ بِسيما
هُمthem رِجالٌmen مِنكُمfrom among you عَلىupon الأَعرافِthe Heights
هُم رِجالٌ مِنكُم عَلى الأَعرافِ
And tomorrow mankind will be recognized by their marks
Better than one bought by usury.
by men from among you upon the Heights.
Of it for you are multiples of what the deluge takes
قَدindeed حَلَلتُمyou have occupied صُدورَthe foremost seats of أَندِيَةِthe assemblies of الفَخpride (partial)
قَد حَلَلتُم صُدورَ أَندِيَةِ الفَخ
رِcompletes 'pride' وَحَسبُand sufficient for الكِرامِthe noble بِالأَطرافِare the edges
رِ وَحَسبُ الكِرامِ بِالأَطرافِ
You have taken the foremost seats in pride's assemblies,
After insistence and depletion.
while the fringes suffice the noble.
And for them parts equal to what the thief leaves
وَإِذاand when الحَمدُpraise ذاعَspreads فيamong الناسِpeople يَوماًone day
وَإِذا الحَمدُ ذاعَ في الناسِ يَوماً
فُزتَyou win مِنto دونِهِمtheir exclusion بِحَظٍّa share وافِample
فُزتَ مِن دونِهِم بِحَظٍّ وافِ
And whenever praise spreads among people,
After admission to the witness.
you alone win an ample share.
Or how your gifts surpassed
بِالنَساياthrough deferred gifts تُلغىthat are canceled وَتُنسىand forgotten كَسَروٍlike a nobleman
بِالنَسايا تُلغى وَتُنسى كَسَروٍ
أَفضَلٍmore generous يَشتَريهِwho buys it بِالإِسلافِby giving in advance
أَفضَلٍ يَشتَريهِ بِالإِسلافِ
Could one offering deferred gifts, canceled and forgotten, match a noble
Your surplus when censured with extravagance.
and more generous man who buys praise with gifts in advance?
Then take exclusive exaltation, O son of Abī Ya‘lā
لَكَyours is مِنهُof it أَضعافُmany times ماwhat تَسلُبُseizes الغاthe raid (partial)
لَكَ مِنهُ أَضعافُ ما تَسلُبُ الغا
رَةُcompletes 'the raid' بَعدَafter الإِلحاحِpersistence وَالإِلحافِand importunity
رَةُ بَعدَ الإِلحاحِ وَالإِلحافِ
Yours of it is many times what a raid seizes
Like the exclusivity of heavens in elevation!
after relentless persistence and importunity.
Not like a people who long asked
وَلَهُمand theirs is مِنهُof it مِثلُas much as ماwhat يَترُكُleaves الساthe thief (partial)
وَلَهُم مِنهُ مِثلُ ما يَترُكُ السا
رِقُcompletes 'the thief' بَعدَafter الإِعرافِconfession لِلعَرّافِfor the diviner
رِقُ بَعدَ الإِعرافِ لِلعَرّافِ
And theirs of it is what the thief leaves
Then referred to their ancestors.
for the diviner after confession.
They chronicled in papers of pride
أَوor كَماas much as غادَرَتleft عَطاياكَyour gifts مِنof وَفwealth (partial)
أَو كَما غادَرَت عَطاياكَ مِن وَف
رِكَyour (completes 'wealth') لَمّاwhen نُعِتَّyou were described بِالمِتلافِas the spendthrift
رِكَ لَمّا نُعِتَّ بِالمِتلافِ
Or what your gifts left of your wealth
An account that sinks into decadence.
when you were called the spendthrift.
Whoever had his home in al-Thurayyā
فَاِنفَرِدso stand alone بِالعَلاءِin eminence ياO اِبنَson of أَبيAbu يَعYa'la (partial)
فَاِنفَرِد بِالعَلاءِ يا اِبنَ أَبي يَع
لىcompletes 'Ya'la' اِنفِرادَas uniquely as السَماءِthe sky بِالإِشرافِin towering above
لى اِنفِرادَ السَماءِ بِالإِشرافِ
So stand alone in eminence, son of Abu Ya'la,
And with it became a swimmer without fatigue,
as the sky stands alone in its height.
Theirs are nomad’s houses wherein no landmarks remain
لاnot كَقَومٍlike a people كَمhow often طولِبواthey were asked بِالمَساعيfor worthy deeds
لا كَقَومٍ كَم طولِبوا بِالمَساعي
فَأَحالواbut they referred بِهاthe matter عَلىto الأَسلافِthe ancestors
فَأَحالوا بِها عَلى الأَسلافِ
Unlike folk so often called upon for worthy deeds,
Save the funnels and pegs.
who referred the matter to their ancestors.
One day they sense no blame.
سَطَّرواthey inscribed مُبطِلينَfalsely فيin صُحُفِthe pages of الفَخpride (partial)
سَطَّروا مُبطِلينَ في صُحُفِ الفَخ
رِcompletes 'pride' حِساباًa reckoning يَنحَطُّthat declines بِالأَخلافِwith descendants
رِ حِساباً يَنحَطُّ بِالأَخلافِ
They falsely inscribed in the pages of pride
Can the cicada feel the pinch of the blacksmith’s tongs?
a reckoning that declines with their descendants.
Creation was misguided, and you were guided,
كُلُّeveryone مَنwho كانَwas بَيتُهُhis house فيamong الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades
كُلُّ مَن كانَ بَيتُهُ في الثُرَيّا
وَبِهِand through him صارَit became سابِحاًswimming غَيرَnot طافِafloat
وَبِهِ صارَ سابِحاً غَيرَ طافِ
Whoever had his house among the Pleiades,
So your effects among the noble deeds are unequalled.
yet through him it came to swim, not stay afloat—
Those who hope in you did not accept
فَهوَthen it is بَيتُthe dwelling of الأَعرابِthe Bedouins لَمnot يَبقَremains فيهِin it
فَهوَ بَيتُ الأَعرابِ لَم يَبقَ فيهِ
مَعلَمٌa landmark غَيرَexcept نُؤيِهِits encircling trench وَالأَثافيand the hearthstones
مَعلَمٌ غَيرَ نُؤيِهِ وَالأَثافي
it is a Bedouin dwelling, with no remaining
In the arena of purpose, or accept sufficiency.
landmark except its trench and hearthstones.
Noble deeds wherein you were ascribed aggression
لاnot يُحِسّونَthey feel بِالمَذَمَّةِdisgrace يَوماًever
لا يُحِسّونَ بِالمَذَمَّةِ يَوماً
هَلdoes يُحِسُّfeel الوَشيجُspear-wood عَضَّthe bite of الثِقافِthe straightening clamp
هَل يُحِسُّ الوَشيجُ عَضَّ الثِقافِ
They never feel disgrace;
While you are the essence of integrity.
does spear-wood feel the straightening clamp's bite?
I used to hope from one in whom hope could not be placed,
ضَلَّstrayed ذاthese الخَلقُpeople فَاِهتَدَيتَbut you found guidance فَآثاso traces (partial)
ضَلَّ ذا الخَلقُ فَاِهتَدَيتَ فَآثا
رُكَyour (completes 'traces') فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds غَيرُnot قَوافِfollowers
رُكَ في المَكرُماتِ غَيرُ قَوافِ
These people strayed, but you found the way; your tracks
Thus time tries and grants wellbeing.
in noble deeds follow no others.
Thus have I told greediness, “Away with you!”
لَمdid not تَرُضyou train آمِليكَthose hoping in you فيin حَلبَةِthe racecourse of المَطdelay (partial)
لَم تَرُض آمِليكَ في حَلبَةِ المَط
لِcompletes 'delay' وَلَمand did not تَرضَyou accept لِلمُنىfor wishes بِالكَفافِmere sufficiency
لِ وَلَم تَرضَ لِلمُنى بِالكَفافِ
You never trained your hopefuls on delay's racecourse,
And when times bring hardship, then wellbeing!
nor accepted bare sufficiency for their wishes.
And my admission of ignorance is an excuse and a basis;
مَكرُماتٌgenerous deeds نُسِبتَyou were accused فيهاin which إِلىof الجَوinjustice (partial)
مَكرُماتٌ نُسِبتَ فيها إِلى الجَو
رِcompletes 'injustice' وَإِنalthough كُنتَyou are مَعدِنَthe source of الإِنصافِfairness
رِ وَإِن كُنتَ مَعدِنَ الإِنصافِ
Generous deeds for which you were accused of injustice,
Transgression is obliterated by admission.
though you are the wellspring of fairness.
My hopes in you came to fruition,
كُنتُI used to أَرجوhope in مِنfrom قَبلُbefore مَنone who لَيسَis not يُرجىto be hoped in
كُنتُ أَرجو مِن قَبلُ مَن لَيسَ يُرجى
وَكَذاand thus الدَهرُtime يَبتَليafflicts وَيُعافيand grants relief
وَكَذا الدَهرُ يَبتَلي وَيُعافي
I once hoped in one from whom no hope could come;
While the days tired me out in contrast.
and thus time afflicts and grants relief.
Just as death attains the ghoul,
وَكَذاand so قُلتُI said لِلمَطامِعِto my desires عِفّيbe restrained
وَكَذا قُلتُ لِلمَطامِعِ عِفّي
وَإِذاand when أَعوَزَgrows poor الزَمانُtime فَعافيthen turn away
وَإِذا أَعوَزَ الزَمانُ فَعافي
And so I told my desires, 'Be restrained;
Not health to the invalid.
when time grows poor, turn away.'
And you were kind in acquiring my praise
وَاِعتِرافيand my admission بِالجَهلِof ignorance عُذرٌan excuse وَقِدماًand long ago
وَاِعتِرافي بِالجَهلِ عُذرٌ وَقِدماً
مُحِيَwas erased الإِقتِرافُwrongdoing بِالإِعتِرافِby confession
مُحِيَ الإِقتِرافُ بِالإِعتِرافِ
And my admission of ignorance is an excuse; long ago
With frequent gentleness and favours.
wrongdoing was effaced by confession.
Between consideration, by which the swordsman’s hand is adorned,
ظَفِرَتattained بِالمُرادِthe desired goal عِندَكَwith you آماhopes (partial)
ظَفِرَت بِالمُرادِ عِندَكَ آما
ليmy (completes 'hopes') وَأَعياand proved too hard عَلىfor الزَمانِtime خِلافيthwarting me
لي وَأَعيا عَلى الزَمانِ خِلافي
My hopes have attained their desire with you,
And consideration to the dart-thrower of slices.
and time has found itself unable to thwart me.
You gave me without asking and conferred kindness upon kindness.
مِثلَماjust as يَظفَرُgains hold المُماتُdeath بِمُحيٍof a giver of life
مِثلَما يَظفَرُ المُماتُ بِمُحيٍ
لاnot كَماas يَظفَرُfinds العَليلُthe sick man بِشافِa healer
لا كَما يَظفَرُ العَليلُ بِشافِ
Just as death gains hold of a giver of life,
not as a sick man finds a healer.
وَتَلَطَّفتَand you acted graciously فيin اِقتِناءِacquiring ثَنائيmy praise
وَتَلَطَّفتَ في اِقتِناءِ ثَنائي
بِهِباتٍthrough gifts كَثيرَةِabundant in الأَلطافِkindnesses
بِهِباتٍ كَثيرَةِ الأَلطافِ
And you graciously acquired my praise
through gifts abundant in kindness,
بَينَbetween عُرفٍbounty يَدُthe hand of المُسيفِthe penniless man بِهِwith it مَلfull (partial)
بَينَ عُرفٍ يَدُ المُسيفِ بِهِ مَل
أىcompletes 'full' وَعَرفٍand fragrance لِمارِنِfor the nose-tip of المُستافِthe one who scents
أى وَعَرفٍ لِمارِنِ المُستافِ
ranging from bounty that fills the penniless man's hand
to fragrance for the nose-tip of the one who scents it.
بَدَأَتنيthey reached me first قَبلَbefore السُؤالِasking وَوالَتand followed in succession
بَدَأَتني قَبلَ السُؤالِ وَوالَت
بِجَميلٍwith kindness إِلىupon جَميلٍkindness مُضافِadded
بِجَميلٍ إِلى جَميلٍ مُضافِ
They reached me before I asked, and followed in succession,
with kindness added to kindness.
Partial English translation: 102 of 110 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1