نَمَّتbetrayed بِسِرِّwith the secret of غرامِهِhis passion الأَجْفانُthe eyelids
نَمَّت بِسِرِّ غرامِهِ الأَجْفانُ
لماwhen نَأَتْwent far away بفؤادِهِwith his heart الأَظْعَانُthe departing caravans
لما نَأَتْ بفؤادِهِ الأَظْعَانُ
His eyelids betrayed the secret of his passion
The eyelids bloomed with the secret of his passion,
when the departing caravans carried his heart away.
When sorrows came to his heart.
ماnot زَالceased يُخْفِيهhe hides it ويُظْهرُهُand reveals it البكاweeping
ما زَال يُخْفِيه ويُظْهرُهُ البكا
حتىuntil استوىbecame equal الإِسرارُconcealment والإِعلانُand disclosure
حتى استوى الإِسرارُ والإِعلانُ
He kept concealing it, while weeping revealed it,
He kept hiding it and showing it through weeping,
until concealment and disclosure became one.
Until confiding and declaring became the same.
ولقدand indeed طوىhe folded away صُحُفَthe pages of الصبابَةِyearning كاتِمًاconcealing
ولقد طوى صُحُفَ الصبابَةِ كاتِمًا
فَبَدَاso appeared لهاfor them منfrom دمعِهِhis tears عُنْوانُa title
فَبَدَا لها من دمعِهِ عُنْوانُ
He had indeed folded away the pages of yearning, concealing them,
And he folded the pages of youth concealing,
yet their title appeared in his tears.
So his tears became a title for her.
لاdo not تعذُلِيهreproach him إِنif جَرَتْflowed عَبَرَاتُهhis tears
لا تعذُلِيه إِن جَرَتْ عَبَرَاتُه
فالبَيْنُfor separation جارَacted unjustly عليهtoward him والهِجْرانُand estrangement
فالبَيْنُ جارَ عليه والهِجْرانُ
Do not reproach him if his tears flow,
Do not blame him if his tears flowed,
for separation and estrangement have wronged him.
For separation and abandonment afflicted him.
سارُواthey departed فَهَلاَّwhy then did they not زَوَّدُوهُsupply him بنظرةٍwith a glance
سارُوا فَهَلاَّ زَوَّدُوهُ بنظرةٍ
منهمْfrom them وقدand indeed تَتَلَفَّتُlook back الغِزلانُthe gazelles
منهمْ وقد تَتَلَفَّتُ الغِزلانُ
They departed; why did they not provision him with a glance
They went away, could they not give him a glance,
from them, when even gazelles look back?
While the gazelles scattered around.
إِنْif كانit is يحْسُنُseems fair عندin the eyes of سُكَّانِthe dwellers of الحِمىthe sanctuary
إِنْ كان يحْسُنُ عند سُكَّانِ الحِمى
قتلىmy slaying فأَينthen where الحُسْنُbeauty والإِحسانُand kindness
قتلى فأَين الحُسْنُ والإِحسانُ
If the dwellers of the sanctuary deem it fair
If it is good with the people of the sanctuary
to slay me, where are beauty and kindness?
To kill, then where is goodness and benevolence?
ماnot كنتُI was أَعلَمُknowing قبلbefore تشتيتِthe scattering by النَّوىseparation
ما كنتُ أَعلَمُ قبل تشتيتِ النَّوى
أَنَّthat الهوىlove ياO صاحِبَيَّmy two companions هَوانُhumiliation
أَنَّ الهوى يا صاحِبَيَّ هَوانُ
Before parting scattered us, I did not know
I did not know before the scattering of companions,
that love, O my two companions, is humiliation.
That love - my friend - is humiliation.
بانواthey departed فأَشرَقَتِso shone البدورُthe full moons طوالِعاًrising
بانوا فأَشرَقَتِ البدورُ طوالِعاً
وسرىand flowed النسيمُthe breeze ومادَتِand swayed الأَغصانُthe branches
وسرى النسيمُ ومادَتِ الأَغصانُ
They departed, and full moons shone as they rose;
They appeared and the houses shone like stars rising,
the breeze flowed, and the branches swayed.
The breeze blew and the branches swayed.
وعلىand on الرّكائِبthe riding camels غادةٌa tender maiden سَمَحَتْwas generous بهاwith her
وعلى الرّكائِب غادةٌ سَمَحَتْ بها
عَدَنٌEden ولمand did not يشعًرْbe aware بهاof her رضْوانُRidwan
عَدَنٌ ولم يشعًرْ بها رضْوانُ
On the riding camels was a tender maiden, freely yielded by
On the carriages a beauty smiled,
Eden, without Ridwan knowing of her.
Eden though Redwan was unaware of her.
لماwhen ادَّعَتْclaimed يبرينُYabrin منهاfrom her رِدْفَهاher buttocks
لما ادَّعَتْ يبرينُ منها رِدْفَها
دانَتْsubmitted لِلِينِto the suppleness of قِوَامِهاher figure نَعْمَانُNa'man
دانَتْ لِلِينِ قِوَامِها نَعْمَانُ
When Yabrin claimed her haunches as its own,
When she pretended to carry her train,
Na'man bowed to the suppleness of her figure.
The delicate stature of Na'man submitted.
عَزَّتْshe was exalted فهُنْتُso I was abased ومنand among بَلِيَّاتِthe afflictions of الهوىlove
عَزَّتْ فهُنْتُ ومن بَلِيَّاتِ الهوى
أَنِّيthat I أُعِزُّكِI honor you دائماًalways وأَهانُand I am humiliated
أَنِّي أُعِزُّكِ دائماً وأَهانُ
She was exalted, and I was abased; among love's afflictions
You were honored but now you are disgraced,
is that I always honor you, while I am humiliated.
And from the afflictions of love, I honor and humiliate you.
وعَدَتand passed into شمائِلُهاher graces الشَّمالَthe north wind فكماso as
وعَدَت شمائِلُها الشَّمالَ فكما
هَبَّتْit blew هَفَوْتُI swayed كأَننيas though I نَشْوانُintoxicated
هَبَّتْ هَفَوْتُ كأَنني نَشْوانُ
And her graces passed into the north wind; so when
Her charms brought the north wind, so like
it blew, I swayed as though intoxicated.
A passionate lover I was blown away.
وعَهِدْتُهاand I knew her طَوْعَobedient to الهوىlove إِذْwhen منظريmy appearance
وعَهِدْتُها طَوْعَ الهوى إِذْ منظري
نَضْرٌfresh وغصنُand the branch of شَبِيبَتِيmy youth ريَّانُwell-watered
نَضْرٌ وغصنُ شَبِيبَتِي ريَّانُ
I knew her obedient to love, when my appearance
I knew her to be compliant to love, as my aspect
was fresh, and the branch of my youth was well-watered,
Was fresh and the branch of my youth flourishing.
أَيامَin the days when أَسحبُI trailed فضلَthe excess length of ذَيْلِthe hem of صَبَابتيmy yearning
أَيامَ أَسحبُ فضلَ ذَيْلِ صَبَابتي
تيهاًproudly كماas سُحِبَتْwere trailed لهاfor her أَردانُsleeves
تيهاً كما سُحِبَتْ لها أَردانُ
in days when I trailed the long hem of my yearning,
I drag the train of my youth randomly,
proudly, as sleeves were trailed for her.
As the train was dragged for it.
ياO عَيْشُlife إِنْif تُفْقَدْyou are lost فَحَشْوُthen what fills جوانِحيmy breast
يا عَيْشُ إِنْ تُفْقَدْ فَحَشْوُ جوانِحي
نارٌfire وفيضُand the overflowing of مدامِعيmy tears طُوفانُa deluge
نارٌ وفيضُ مدامِعي طُوفانُ
O life, if you are lost, what fills my breast is
O life, if you are lost, the stuffing of my essence
fire, and my overflowing tears are a deluge.
Is fire and the outpouring of my tears a flood.
ولَّىhas passed الصِّباyouth ولأَحمدِand for Ahmad بنِson of محمدٍMuhammad
ولَّى الصِّبا ولأَحمدِ بنِ محمدٍ
مجدٌglory تقاصَرَfell short دونَهُbeneath it كِيوانُSaturn
مجدٌ تقاصَرَ دونَهُ كِيوانُ
Youth has passed; Ahmad ibn Muhammad has
Time passed and Ahmad bin Muhammad
a glory that Saturn falls short of.
Has glory beyond which Kayan's glory diminishes.
حَبْرٌa learned scholar لناfor us منfrom راحتَيْهِhis two palms وعِلْمِهِand his knowledge
حَبْرٌ لنا من راحتَيْهِ وعِلْمِهِ
غيثانِtwo rains كلٌّeach منهماof them هتَّانُpouring abundantly
غيثانِ كلٌّ منهما هتَّانُ
A scholar, from whose two palms and learning we receive
We have ink from his rest and knowledge,
two rains, each pouring abundantly.
Each like heavy abundant rain.
لَبسَتْclothed itself بهthrough him الإِسكندريَّةُAlexandria بهجةًin splendor
لَبسَتْ به الإِسكندريَّةُ بهجةً
فَعنَتْso bowed لعزِّto the might of جلالهاits majesty بَغْدانُBaghdad
فَعنَتْ لعزِّ جلالها بَغْدانُ
Through him, Alexandria clothed itself in splendor;
Alexandria adorned itself with delight through him,
so Baghdad bowed before its majestic might.
And the height of its glory longed for Baghdan.
وتفاخَرَتْand vied in pride رُتَبُthe ranks of العلاeminence شرفًاin honor بهthrough him
وتفاخَرَتْ رُتَبُ العلا شرفًا به
قُلْsay كيفhow لاnot تتفاخَرُvie in pride البُلْدَانُthe cities
قُلْ كيف لا تتفاخَرُ البُلْدَانُ
The ranks of eminence vied in pride at the honor he brought;
The ranks of supremacy honored him,
say, how could the cities not vie in pride?
Say, how can realms not take pride?
ورَنَتْand gazed إِليهtoward him عينُthe eye of كلevery رئاسةٍhigh office
ورَنَتْ إِليه عينُ كل رئاسةٍ
حُبًّاwith love فكلٌّso each مغرَمٌenamored هَيْمَانُmad with longing
حُبًّا فكلٌّ مغرَمٌ هَيْمَانُ
The eye of every high office gazed toward him
The eye of every leader desired him lovingly,
in love; each is enamored and mad with longing.
Each infatuated and passionate.
ونضَاand stripped away مُحَيَّاهُhis countenance الدياجيَthe dark nights فازْدَهَتْso exulted
ونضَا مُحَيَّاهُ الدياجيَ فازْدَهَتْ
تِيهًاproudly بُغرَّةِin the radiance of وجههhis face الأَزِمانُthe ages
تِيهًا بُغرَّةِ وجهه الأَزِمانُ
His countenance stripped away the dark nights; then exulted
His bright smile delighted, so time shone
the ages, proudly, in the radiance of his face.
Perplexed by the light of his face.
أَوَand ...? ماnot ترىyou see رَمَضَانَRamadan أَقبلَarrived ضاحكاًsmiling
أَوَ ما ترى رَمَضَانَ أَقبلَ ضاحكاً
ومضَىand departed قَرينَaccompanied by تأَسُّفٍregret شعبانُSha'ban
ومضَى قَرينَ تأَسُّفٍ شعبانُ
Do you not see Ramadan arriving with a smile,
Or do you not see Ramadan approaching laughing,
while Sha'ban departed with regret as his companion?
While Sha'ban left regretfully?
وإِذاand when أَحبَّloves اللهGod عبداًa servant لمnot يَزَلْcease
وإِذا أَحبَّ الله عبداً لم يَزَلْ
لِهَواهُfor love of him فيin كُلِّall القلوبِhearts مَكانُa place
لِهَواهُ في كُلِّ القلوبِ مَكانُ
And when God loves a servant, there is always
When God loves a servant, he remains
a place for love of him in every heart.
In all hearts a place for his passion.
فيin كَفِّهhis palm ولسانِهِand his tongue وجنانِهِand his heart
في كَفِّه ولسانِهِ وجنانِهِ
مَنٌّbounty وإِيمانٌand faith لناfor us وأَمانُand security
مَنٌّ وإِيمانٌ لنا وأَمانُ
In his hand, his tongue, and his heart
In his palm, tongue and soul,
are bounty, faith, and security for us.
For us are favor, faith and safety.
وعلىand over رياضِthe gardens of بَنَانِهhis fingertips وبيانِهand his eloquence
وعلى رياضِ بَنَانِه وبيانِه
تتغايَرُare mutually jealous الأَبصارُthe eyes والآذانُand the ears
تتغايَرُ الأَبصارُ والآذانُ
Over the gardens of his fingertips and his eloquence,
On his gardens of rhetoric and eloquence,
eyes and ears are jealous of one another.
Eyes and ears marvel.
ماذاwhat أَقولُshall I say وقدand indeed أَبانَhe has revealed فضائلاًvirtues
ماذا أَقولُ وقد أَبانَ فضائلاً
جَلَّتْwere exalted فلمso did not يَفْخَرْboast بهاof them إِنسانُany human
جَلَّتْ فلم يَفْخَرْ بها إِنسانُ
What can I say, when he has revealed virtues
What can I say, and he has shown virtues,
so exalted that no mortal has boasted of them?
That exalted, of which no human can boast?
إِنif قلتُI say مثلُlike البدرthe full moon بهجَةَin the splendor of منظرٍappearance
إِن قلتُ مثلُ البدر بهجَةَ منظرٍ
فالبدرُthen the full moon قدmay يُودِيbring ruin بهupon it النُّقْصانُwaning
فالبدرُ قد يُودِي به النُّقْصانُ
If I say he is like the full moon in splendid appearance,
If I say, like the full moon in beauty of sight,
then waning may bring the full moon to ruin.
The moon itself can be diminished by flaws.
لوif قلتُI were to say تحكيهresemble him الغَمامُthe clouds سماحةًin generosity
لو قلتُ تحكيه الغَمامُ سماحةً
فنوالُهyet his bounty طولَthroughout المدىall time عِقْيانُpure gold
فنوالُه طولَ المدى عِقْيانُ
If I were to say the clouds resemble him in generosity,
If I say, the clouds tell of his generosity,
still his bounty is pure gold for all time.
Yet their downpour is limited.
ياO حافِظَguardian of الدينِthe faith استمِعْlisten to مَدْحاًpraise بِهِwith it
يا حافِظَ الدينِ استمِعْ مَدْحاً بِهِ
شَدَتِsang القِيانُthe singing girls وسارَتِand traveled الرُّكْبانُthe riders
شَدَتِ القِيانُ وسارَتِ الرُّكْبانُ
O guardian of the faith, hear praise which
O guardian of the faith, hear praise of him,
singing girls have sung and riders have borne on their journeys.
That strengthened pillars and set caravans moving.
فَلأَنْتَfor you indeed فيon وجهِthe face of المكارِمِnoble deeds مَبْسِمٌa smiling mouth
فَلأَنْتَ في وجهِ المكارِمِ مَبْسِمٌ
خَصِرٌcool وفيand in عينthe eye of العلاeminence إِنسانُa pupil
خَصِرٌ وفي عين العلا إِنسانُ
For you indeed are a smiling mouth on the face of noble deeds,
For you are smiling in the face of virtues,
cool, and the pupil in the eye of eminence.
Slender in waist and human in the eye of supremacy.
عوضتنيyou recompensed me منfrom بعدِafter هَوْنٍhumiliation عِزَّةًhonor
عوضتني من بعدِ هَوْنٍ عِزَّةً
والمرءُand a person يُكرمis honored تارةًsometimes ويُهانُand is humiliated
والمرءُ يُكرم تارةً ويُهانُ
You recompensed me with honor after humiliation;
You restored me from humiliation to honor,
a person is sometimes honored and sometimes humiliated.
And man is honored at times and disgraced at others.
ولقدand indeed ينوِّلِنَيmay give to me سواكَsomeone other than you وإِنماand yet
ولقد ينوِّلِنَي سواكَ وإِنما
ماnot كُلُّevery مرعًىpasture مُخْصِبfertile سَعْدانُsa'dan (a fodder plant)
ما كُلُّ مرعًى مُخْصِب سَعْدانُ
Another may indeed give to me, and yet
Time makes me incline toward others, and yet
not every fertile pasture is sa'dan.
Not every pasture is fertile Sa'dan.
أَقْرَرْتُI acknowledge أَنِّيthat I عاجِزٌunable عنto شكرgive thanks for ماwhat
أَقْرَرْتُ أَنِّي عاجِزٌ عن شكر ما
أَوْليتَنيyou bestowed on me ولوانَّنيand even if I were سَحْبانُSahban
أَوْليتَني ولوانَّني سَحْبانُ
I acknowledge that I cannot give thanks for what
I admit I am incapable
you have bestowed on me, even were I Sahban.
Of thanking you for what you have given me, and clouds have watered me.
Sol 6.1