تصرّمتpassed away الأيامthe days دونwithout وصالكِunion with you
تصرّمت الأيام دون وصالكِ
فمنso who شافعيmy intercessor فيin الحبlove ياO ابنةdaughter of مالكِMalik
فمن شافعي في الحب يا ابنة مالكِ
The days have passed away without union with you.
The days have passed without your company,
So who will intercede for me in love, O daughter of Malik?
So who will intercede for me in love, O daughter of Malik?
فكانfor it used to الكرىsleep يدنيbring near خيالكyour phantom وانقضىand it ended
فكان الكرى يدني خيالك وانقضى
فلاso no منكfrom you تنويلٌbestowal ولاnor منfrom خيالكِyour phantom
فلا منك تنويلٌ ولا من خيالكِ
For sleep once brought your phantom near, but it has ended;
The phantoms drew near and then withdrew,
so no favor comes from you, nor from your phantom.
Neither did you intend, nor did your phantoms.
رويدكbe gentle قدalready أوثقتyou have bound بالهمِّwith grief مهجتيmy heart
رويدك قد أوثقت بالهمِّ مهجتي
عليكover you فماذاso what يُبتغىis sought بملالكthrough your aversion
عليك فماذا يُبتغى بملالك
Be gentle: you have fettered my heart with grief
My innermost being is tightly bound by worries for you -
over you—what is sought through your aversion?
What can be sought from your indifference?
أفيis it in كلّevery يومday ليfor me إليكِto you مطالبٌentreaties
أفي كلّ يوم لي إليكِ مطالبٌ
ولكنهاyet they محفوفةٌare surrounded بمهالكby perils
ولكنها محفوفةٌ بمهالك
Have I entreaties to bring you every day?
Do I make demands of you each day
Yet they are hemmed in by perils.
Yet they are surrounded by your delays?
وغيرانَand a jealous man قدalready مدّdrew الحجبthe veils منof الظباsword blades
وغيرانَ قد مدّ الحجب من الظبا
وقدand indeed كانwas يكفيهsufficient for him حجابُthe veil of دلالكyour coyness
وقد كان يكفيه حجابُ دلالك
And a jealous man has drawn veils of sword blades,
Jealousy has drawn veils from the antelope
though the veil of your coyness would have sufficed him.
And your father's veil would have sufficed, O noble one.
فتنتI was captivated بخالٍby a mole فوقupon خدِّكِyour cheek صانهhe guarded it
فتنت بخالٍ فوق خدِّكِ صانه
أبوكyour father فويليso woe to me منfrom أبيكِyour father وخالكand your mole
أبوك فويلي من أبيكِ وخالك
I was captivated by a mole upon your cheek, guarded
I saw the sun in your cheek, once radiant and once distant
by your father—woe to me from your father and your mole!
How strange of one so reliant on your ropes.
وعاينتand I beheld منكin you الشمسthe sun بعداًin remoteness وبهجةًand splendor
وعاينت منك الشمس بعداً وبهجةً
فياso O عجباًwonder منat واثقٍone who trusts بحبالكin your bonds
فيا عجباً من واثقٍ بحبالك
And I beheld in you the sun, in remoteness and splendor;
You abandoned me, and the lover gained nothing
how astonishing that anyone should trust your bonds!
I ransom you - abandon me after that!
هجرتِyou forsook وماand did not فازwin المحبّthe lover بزورةٍa single visit
هجرتِ وما فاز المحبّ بزورةٍ
فديتكmay I be your ransom زُوريvisit واهجريand forsake بعدafter ذلكthat
فديتك زُوري واهجري بعد ذلك
You forsook me, and your lover won not a single visit.
May God grant you a heart that, whenever it turns
May I be your ransom: visit me, then forsake me afterward.
To beauty, finds a strong bond.
لكfor you اللهGod قلباًO heart كلماwhenever جرّdrew طرفهits gaze
لك الله قلباً كلما جرّ طرفه
إلىtoward الحسنbeauty ألقىcast aside عروةthe handhold of المتماسكsteadfastness
إلى الحسن ألقى عروة المتماسك
God be your aid, O heart! Whenever it turns its gaze
That wards off evil and bends away
toward beauty, it casts away the handhold of steadfastness.
From the harm of love - wayward and crooked.
تأبطtucked beneath its arm شراًevil منfrom أذىthe pain of الوجدpassion وانثنىand turned aside
تأبط شراً من أذى الوجد وانثنى
كثيرabundant in الهوىpassion شتىmanifold النوىpartings والمسالكand paths
كثير الهوى شتى النوى والمسالك
It tucked evil beneath its arm through love's torment and turned aside,
Stop and watch for him suffering in the terrible darkness
full of passion, its partings and paths manifold.
Following your path, or else in the ashes of your abode.
قفيstop تنظريهyou will see it فيin لظىthe blaze of البيدthe deserts تابعاًfollowing
قفي تنظريه في لظى البيد تابعاً
سراكyour night journey وإلاand otherwise فيin رمادthe ashes of دياركyour dwellings
سراك وإلا في رماد ديارك
Stop and see it in the deserts' blaze, following
May God water the sides of the abode with bright flowers
your night journey—or else amid the ashes of your dwellings.
In which flowers laughs open-mouthed.
سقىmay water اللهGod أكنافthe environs of الديارthe dwellings هوامعاًpouring rains
سقى الله أكناف الديار هوامعاً
تبيتspend the night بهاin them الأزهارthe flowers غرّgleaming المضاحكsmiling mouths
تبيت بها الأزهار غرّ المضاحك
May God water the environs of those dwellings with downpours,
As if the dew of the Glorious King made them flourish
where the flowers spend the night with gleaming smiles.
And the blossoms of the open country burst into bloom.
كأنَّas though ندىthe bounty of الملكthe king المؤيدal-Mu'ayyad جادهاshowered upon them
كأنَّ ندى الملك المؤيد جادها
فأسفرso lifted the veil نوَّارthe blossoms of الربىthe hills عنfrom سبائكingots
فأسفر نوَّار الربى عن سبائك
As though the bounty of King al-Mu'ayyad had rained upon them,
A king whose wishes outstrip his gifts
and the hill blossoms unveiled golden ingots.
Racing the pilgrims towards the sacred rites.
مليكٌa king إلىtoward مغناهhis abode تستبقrace one another المنىwishes
مليكٌ إلى مغناه تستبق المنى
مسابقةthe racing of الحجاجthe pilgrims نحوtoward المناسكthe ritual sites
مسابقة الحجاج نحو المناسك
A king toward whose abode wishes race,
He has a nature that counts praise of him
as pilgrims race toward the places of ritual.
If you count the interwoven flowers of the stars.
لهhe has شيمٌvirtues تحصيenumerate المدائحpanegyrics وصفهاtheir description
له شيمٌ تحصي المدائح وصفها
إذاif أحصيتare counted زهرthe bright ones of النجومthe stars الشوابكthe interwoven ones
إذا أحصيت زهر النجوم الشوابك
He has virtues that panegyrics could describe in full
On earth are news and traces of him
if the bright, interwoven stars could be counted.
Flying through the heavens amidst the angels.
وفيand throughout الأرضthe earth أخبارreports لهof him ومآثرٌand glorious deeds
وفي الأرض أخبار له ومآثرٌ
تسيرtravel سرَىthe night passage of الأسماءnames بينamong الملائكthe angels
تسير سرَى الأسماء بين الملائك
And throughout the earth are reports of him and glorious deeds
His views and swords protected the earth
that travel as names pass by night among the angels.
With every shining point in the gloom of battles.
حمىprotected الأرضthe land منfrom آرائهhis counsels وسيوفهand his swords
حمى الأرض من آرائه وسيوفه
بكلwith every مضيءٍshining one فيin دجىthe darkness of الخطبcalamity فاتكdeadly
بكل مضيءٍ في دجى الخطب فاتك
He guarded the land with his counsels and his swords,
And he calmed it, so that if he wished, no hand would touch
each gleaming and deadly in calamity's darkness.
The branches of the mimosa beneath the pounding winds.
وسكّنهاand he stilled it حتىto the point that لوif اختارhe chose لمnot تمسsway
وسكّنها حتى لو اختار لم تمس
غصونthe branches of النقاthe dunes تحتbeneath الرياحthe winds السواهكthe scouring ones
غصون النقا تحت الرياح السواهك
He stilled it so completely that, had he wished, there would not sway
And when the Glorious King made his view prevail
the branches on the dunes beneath the scouring winds.
His far-reaching shadow and the light of realms prevailed.
ولماand when جلاrevealed الملكthe king المؤيدal-Mu'ayyad رأيهhis judgment
ولما جلا الملك المؤيد رأيه
جلاdispelled ظلهhis shade الممدودthe outspread وهجthe scorching heat of الممالكthe kingdoms
جلا ظله الممدود وهج الممالك
And when King al-Mu'ayyad revealed his judgment,
August in rule, munificent in gift, outpacing the lofty,
his outspread shade dispelled the kingdoms' scorching heat.
Resplendent in state, revealing the night of battles.
مهيبawe-inspiring السطاonslaught هاميpouring forth العطاbounty سابقforemost in العلىgreatness
مهيب السطا هامي العطا سابق العلى
جليّradiant الحلاgraces كشَّافdispeller of ليلthe night of المعاركbattles
جليّ الحلا كشَّاف ليل المعارك
Awe-inspiring in onslaught, pouring forth bounty, foremost in greatness,
He assumed control when the greatest rulers were helpless
radiant in graces, dispelling the night of battles.
And he was generous, so we said: Shame on the platforms!
تولىhe assumed rule فياso O عجزthe weakness of الأكاسرةthe Chosroes الأولىof old
تولى فيا عجز الأكاسرة الأولى
وجادَand he gave freely فقلناso we said ياO حياءthe shame of البرامكthe Barmakids
وجادَ فقلنا يا حياء البرامك
He assumed rule—how feeble the Chosroes of old!
Al-ʿĀfūn shared his wealth with him
And he gave freely, so we said: how abashed the Barmakids!
Yet has no share in his glory or partnership.
وشاركهand shared with him العافونthose seeking gifts فيin ذاتthe very substance of مالهhis wealth
وشاركه العافون في ذات ماله
وليسand there is not لهfor him فيin مجدِهhis glory منany مشاركpartner
وليس له في مجدِه من مشارك
And those seeking gifts shared in his very wealth,
Noble, he is ashamed of words and deeds
yet no one shares in his glory.
And accepts only genuine, untarnished pearls.
كريمٌa generous man يجيلturns over الرأيjudgment فعلاًin deed ومنطقاًand in speech
كريمٌ يجيل الرأي فعلاً ومنطقاً
فلاso not يرتضيhe accepts غيرother than الدراريthe brilliant stars السوامكthe lofty ones
فلا يرتضي غير الدراري السوامك
A generous man who exercises judgment in deed and speech,
The heels of the bows are a wonder in his presence
so he accepts nothing but the lofty, brilliant stars.
Watered by his bounty's dew above your stature.
كعوبO joints of القناspears عجباًwhat wonder براحتهat his palm التيwhich
كعوب القنا عجباً براحته التي
يروِّيwaters نداهاits dew مشرعاتleveled طوالكdark spears
يروِّي نداها مشرعات طوالك
O joints of spears, marvel at his palm, whose
When the King shakes a cultivated heel amongst them
dew waters dark, leveled spears.
What a heel to be blessed!
إذاwhen هزَّbrandishes منهاfrom them الملكthe king كعباًa shaft-joint مثقفاًstraightened
إذا هزَّ منها الملك كعباً مثقفاً
فياthen O لكfor you منsuch a كعبٍshaft-joint عليهfor him مباركblessed
فيا لك من كعبٍ عليه مبارك
When the king brandishes a straightened joint from among them,
And when he hauls their heads towards the frontiers
what a joint, blessed for him!
The skulls of the enemies are stripped bare.
وإنand if جرَّdraws فيin صوبِthe direction of الثغورthe frontiers رؤوسهاtheir heads
وإن جرَّ في صوبِ الثغور رؤوسها
جلتscour away قلحthe tooth-stains of الأعداthe enemies جلاءlike the polishing of المساوكtooth-cleaning sticks
جلت قلح الأعدا جلاء المساوك
And if he draws their heads toward the frontiers,
By his hand are pens of knowledge
they scour the foes' tooth-stains like tooth-cleaning sticks.
That unravel the minds of men, unraveling you.
وللهand to God منsuch أقلامpens علمٍof learning بكفِّهin his hand
ولله من أقلام علمٍ بكفِّه
سوالبstealing ألبابthe minds of الرجالmen سوَالكtraveling onward
سوالب ألباب الرجال سوَالك
And wondrous, by God, are the pens of learning in his hand,
As if their meanings were coquettish girls
stealing men's wits as they travel onward.
Frolicking over the embroidery above your couch.
كأنَّas though معانيهاtheir meanings كواعبfull-breasted maidens تنجليare unveiled
كأنَّ معانيها كواعب تنجلي
علىon حبكِthe weave of الإدراجthe scrolls فوقupon آرائكcouches
على حبكِ الإدراج فوق آرائك
As though their meanings were full-breasted maidens unveiled
As if the whiteness of the pages amidst their lines
on the weave of scrolls, upon couches.
Were his hands in the folding up of the passing years.
كأنَّas though بياضthe whiteness of الطرسthe page بينbetween سطورهاtheir lines
كأنَّ بياض الطرس بين سطورها
أياديهhis favors فيin طيِّthe folds of السنينthe years الحوالكthe dark ones
أياديه في طيِّ السنين الحوالك
As though the whiteness of the page between their lines
O you whose white hands are bestowed with triumph
were his favors in the folds of dark years.
Over you, despite the passage of time.
أمسديO bestower of الأياديfavors البيضthe bright ones دعوةa prayer ظافرof one triumphant
أمسدي الأيادي البيض دعوة ظافر
لديكin your presence علىin رغمdefiance of الزمانTime المماحكthe contentious
لديك على رغم الزمان المماحك
O bestower of bright favors, here is a victor's prayer
You looked upon my state with the glance of one departing
before you, despite contentious Time.
In which time had extended its respite towards you.
عطفتyou showed compassion علىfor حاليmy condition بنظرةwith the glance of سائرٍone passing by
عطفت على حالي بنظرة سائرٍ
وقدand already مدَّstretched out فيهاover it الدهرTime راحةthe palm of هاتكa ravager
وقد مدَّ فيها الدهر راحة هاتك
You showed compassion for my state with a passerby's glance,
So without you my eulogy is inadequate
while Time had stretched a ravager's palm over it.
Making up for its deficiencies, just for you.
فدونكso take this منfrom مدحِيmy praise اجتهادthe striving of مقصرone who falls short
فدونك من مدحِي اجتهاد مقصر
تداركتyou salvaged منfrom أحوالهhis fortunes شلوَهاtheir torn remnant لكfor you
تداركت من أحواله شلوَها لك
So take from my praise the striving of one who falls short;
Worry, dismissed for a while, possesses him
you salvaged the torn remnant of his fortunes for yourself.
Until the approval of the Owner erases the anguish of loss.
تملكهpossessed him الهمّgrief المبرحthe tormenting برهةًfor a while
تملكه الهمّ المبرح برهةً
إلىuntil أنthat محىeffaced رضوانRidwan صولةthe onslaught of مالكMalik
إلى أن محى رضوان صولة مالك
Tormenting grief possessed him for a while,
until Ridwan effaced Malik's onslaught.
Partial English translation: 64 of 66 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1