أَعَلِمْتَdid you know أَنَّthat مِنَof الصُّدودِaversion خُدورَاcurtained chambers
أَعَلِمْتَ أَنَّ مِنَ الصُّدودِ خُدورَا
أَسَمِعْتَhave you heard أَنَّthat مِنَamong القُلُوبِhearts بُدُوراfull moons
أَسَمِعْتَ أَنَّ مِنَ القُلُوبِ بُدُورا
Did you know that aversion has its curtained chambers?
Do you know that from repulsions come affections?
Have you heard that hearts hold full moons?
Have you heard that from hearts come adorations?
وَرَأَيْتَand have you seen قَبْلَbefore وُجُوهِهِمْtheir faces وشُعُورِهِمْand their hair
وَرَأَيْتَ قَبْلَ وُجُوهِهِمْ وشُعُورِهِمْ
صُبْحاًa dawn يَمُدُّspreads بفَرْعِهِwith its tresses دَيْجُوراdeep darkness
صُبْحاً يَمُدُّ بفَرْعِهِ دَيْجُورا
And before their faces and their hair, had you ever seen
You saw their faces and hair one morning,
a dawn that spreads deep darkness with its tresses?
A willow stretching out with its branches an udum.
سَفَرُواthey unveiled themselves شُمُوساًas suns فيin القِبابِthe pavilions مُضِيئَةًshining
سَفَرُوا شُمُوساً في القِبابِ مُضِيئَةً
وَرَنَوْاand they gazed ظِبَاءًas gazelles فيin الهوادجِthe howdahs حُوراwide, dark-eyed
وَرَنَوْا ظِبَاءً في الهوادجِ حُورا
They unveiled themselves as shining suns within the pavilions,
They traveled suns in domes radiant,
and gazed as wide, dark-eyed gazelles inside the howdahs.
And gazed gazelles in litters fair.
وكأنَّهُمْand as though they إذwhen أَعْرَضُواturned away وَتَعَرَّضُواand came into view
وكأنَّهُمْ إذ أَعْرَضُوا وَتَعَرَّضُوا
كانُواthey were لناfor us حَزَناًgrief فَعَادَthen it became سُروراjoy
كانُوا لنا حَزَناً فَعَادَ سُرورا
And when they turned away, then offered themselves to view, it was as though
As if when they turned away and acted indifferently
they had been our grief, now turned to joy.
They were to us sorrow then became joy again.
صادُواthey hunted وَقَدْand already نَفَرُواthey fled فَقُلْتُso I said لِصَاحِبِيto my companion
صادُوا وَقَدْ نَفَرُوا فَقُلْتُ لِصَاحِبِي
هَلْhave كُنْتَyou ever تَعْتَرِفُknown الصَّيودthe keen hunter نَفُوراskittish
هَلْ كُنْتَ تَعْتَرِفُ الصَّيود نَفُورا
They hunted, although they fled; so I said to my companion,
They were averse and turned away so I said to my friend,
Have you ever known a keen hunter to be so skittish?
“Were you wont to acknowledge the repulsion of the beloved?”
سَكَنُواthey inhabited الفُؤَادَthe heart وَإنْand though نَأَواthey went far away فَعَجَبْتُso I marveled مِنْat
سَكَنُوا الفُؤَادَ وَإنْ نَأَوا فَعَجَبْتُ مِنْ
قَلْبٍa heart أَقَامَremained مُواصِلاًmaintaining its bonds مَهْجُوراforsaken
قَلْبٍ أَقَامَ مُواصِلاً مَهْجُورا
They dwelt in the heart, though far away; I marveled at
They gave rest to the heart though they departed, so I wondered at
a heart that kept its bonds, though forsaken.
A heart that remained intimate though abandoned.
نَزَلَalighted الفِراقُseparation بِهِمْamong them فَفَاجَأَthen surprised حَيَّهُمْtheir encampment
نَزَلَ الفِراقُ بِهِمْ فَفَاجَأَ حَيَّهُمْ
لَيْلاًby night ففاتَso eluded مُرَاقِباًa watcher وَغَيُوراand a jealous lover
لَيْلاً ففاتَ مُرَاقِباً وَغَيُورا
Separation alighted among them and surprised their encampment
Separation befell them and surprised their neighborhood
by night, eluding the watcher and the jealous lover.
At night, so it escaped vigilant and jealous.
رَفَعُواthey lifted ذُيُولَthe trailing skirts of النَّومِsleep عَنْfrom أَجْفَانِهمْtheir eyelids
رَفَعُوا ذُيُولَ النَّومِ عَنْ أَجْفَانِهمْ
وَاسْتَنْشَطُواand roused لَحْظاًa gaze عَلَيْهupon it عَثُوراquick to discover
وَاسْتَنْشَطُوا لَحْظاً عَلَيْه عَثُورا
They lifted sleep's trailing skirts from their eyelids,
They raised the trains of slumber from their eyelids,
and roused a gaze quick to discover it.
And freshened a glance upon it mulled.
ومُعَطَّلِand a bare throat لَوْلاَwere it not for عُقودُnecklaces of مَدَامِعٍtears
ومُعَطَّلِ لَوْلاَ عُقودُ مَدَامِعٍ
حُلَّتْwere unstrung فَحلَّتْthen adorned فيwith الجُمانِpearls نُحُوراthroats
حُلَّتْ فَحلَّتْ في الجُمانِ نُحُورا
And many a throat would be bare, but for necklaces of tears,
As if, were it not for the knots of tears,
unstrung, then decking throats in pearls.
Collars would have dissolved in bosoms fair.
وَبِنَفْسِيَand with my life as ransom القَمَرُthe moon الَّذِيwhom مَلَّكْتُهُI gave him ownership
وَبِنَفْسِيَ القَمَرُ الَّذِي مَلَّكْتُهُ
قًلبِيmy heart فَأَصْبَحَso it became عِنْدَهُwith him مَقْمُوراwon at gambling
قًلبِي فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَهُ مَقْمُورا
And may my life ransom the moon to whom I gave
And, by my soul, the moon I governed,
my heart, now in his keeping, won in a wager.
My heart, so it became with him captive.
مَنَعَbarred التَّوَصُّلَattainment والتَّوَسّلَand entreaty لِلْمُنَىfor wishes
مَنَعَ التَّوَصُّلَ والتَّوَسّلَ لِلْمُنَى
بَيْنٌseparation بَنَىbuilt مِنْfrom دُونِbefore ذَلِكَthat سُوراa wall
بَيْنٌ بَنَى مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ سُورا
Attainment, and entreaty for my wishes, were barred
It hindered access and supplication to the beloved,
by separation, which built a wall in their way.
A separation built without that a fence.
فَفَكَكْتُso I freed طَرْفِيmy gaze مِنْfrom عِقَالِthe fetter of جَمَالِهhis beauty
فَفَكَكْتُ طَرْفِي مِنْ عِقَالِ جَمَالِه
وَتَرَكْتُand I left قَلْبِيmy heart عِنْدَهُwith him مَأْسُوراcaptive
وَتَرَكْتُ قَلْبِي عِنْدَهُ مَأْسُورا
So I freed my gaze from the fetter of his beauty,
So I released my gaze from the fetter of his beauty,
and left my heart captive in his keeping.
And left my heart with him captive.
وَلَقَدْand indeed يَعُودُنِيَvisits me الخيالُthe phantom فَيَنْثَنِيthen turns back
وَلَقَدْ يَعُودُنِيَ الخيالُ فَيَنْثَنِي
دُونَshort of اللقاءِthe meeting مُذَمَّماًreproached مَدْحُوراdriven away
دُونَ اللقاءِ مُذَمَّماً مَدْحُورا
And indeed, his phantom visits me, then turns back
Imagination returns to me and bends me
before we meet, reproached and driven away.
Without meeting, dejected and repelled.
لاmay not طافَcome round بِيto me الطَّيْفُthe phantom المُلِمَّthe visiting فإنَّنيfor indeed I
لا طافَ بِي الطَّيْفُ المُلِمَّ فإنَّني
قدindeed كُنْتُI was لاnot أَهْوَىloving الزِّيارَةَthe visit زُوراfalsely
قد كُنْتُ لا أَهْوَى الزِّيارَةَ زُورا
May the visiting phantom never come round me, for I
No ghost bent round me, for I
have never loved a sham visit.
Never loved the false visit.
ولَرُبَّand many a رَبَّةِmistress of حانَةٍa tavern حَنَّتْyearned إلىfor
ولَرُبَّ رَبَّةِ حانَةٍ حَنَّتْ إلى
أَدَبِيmy literary art وَكانَand it was كماas تَرَىyou see مَشْهُورَاwell known
أَدَبِي وَكانَ كما تَرَى مَشْهُورَا
And many a tavern mistress yearned for
And many a keeper of a tavern inclined to
my literary art, which, as you see, was well known.
My courtesy and was, as you see, famed.
بَعَثَتْshe sent مِنَfrom الصَّهبَاءِthe tawny wine لِيto me يَاقُوتَةًa ruby
بَعَثَتْ مِنَ الصَّهبَاءِ لِي يَاقُوتَةً
قَدْalready كَلَّلَتْهَاshe crowned it لُؤْلُؤاًwith pearls مَنْثُوراscattered
قَدْ كَلَّلَتْهَا لُؤْلُؤاً مَنْثُورا
She sent me a ruby of tawny wine,
She sent me from blondness a ruby
which she had crowned with scattered pearls.
Collared with scattered pearl.
فَقَبَسْتُهاso I took it ناراًas fire يُضِيءُshines لَهيبٌهاits blaze
فَقَبَسْتُها ناراً يُضِيءُ لَهيبٌها
بِيَدِby the hand of المِزاجِthe mixing-water عَلَىupon الزُّجَاجَةِthe glass نُوراlight
بِيَدِ المِزاجِ عَلَى الزُّجَاجَةِ نُورا
So I took it as fire, whose blaze sheds
So I took it as a fire whose flame in
light upon the glass through mixing-water's hand.
The palm of mischief lights the bottle a light.
بَلْrather رُبَّmany a خِرْقٍwasteland جُبْتُهُI traversed it بِأَجادِلٍon falcons
بَلْ رُبَّ خِرْقٍ جُبْتُهُ بِأَجادِلٍ
يَحْمِلْنَthey carry مِنْfrom أَكْوَارِهِنَّtheir camel-saddles وُكُوراnests
يَحْمِلْنَ مِنْ أَكْوَارِهِنَّ وُكُورا
Rather, many a wasteland have I crossed on falcons,
Nay, how many a rent I mended with patches
bearing nests made of their camel-saddles.
Bearing from their jars saffron and ambergris.
نائِيfar-reaching مَجَالِthe range of الطَّرْفِthe gaze قَدْalready أَنِسَتْgrew accustomed بِهِto it
نائِي مَجَالِ الطَّرْفِ قَدْ أَنِسَتْ بِهِ
رِيحَانِtwo winds تنسفهscour it صَباًan east wind وَدَبُوراand a west wind
رِيحَانِ تنسفه صَباً وَدَبُورا
Far-reaching to the eye, it had become familiar to
Wandering from the range of eyes she made me love
two winds that scour it, the east wind and the west.
The basil the dawn and zephyr blow and scatter.
أَذْكَتْstoked عَلَيْهِupon it الشَّمْسُthe sun جَمْرَةَthe ember of حَرِّهاits heat
أَذْكَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ جَمْرَةَ حَرِّها
لَمَّاwhen هَفَاfluttered بِسَرَابِهِwith its mirage مَقْرُوراchilled
لَمَّا هَفَا بِسَرَابِهِ مَقْرُورا
The sun stoked its heat's ember upon it,
The sun kindled on it the ember of her heat
when it fluttered with its mirage, shivering with cold.
When it shook out its mirage barred.
وَسَأَلْتُand I asked فِيهِwithin it الفَجْرَthe dawn عَنْabout سِرْحانِهits wolf
وَسَأَلْتُ فِيهِ الفَجْرَ عَنْ سِرْحانِه
جَهْلاًin ignorance وكُنْتُand I was أَظُنُّهُthinking it اليَعْفُوراthe young gazelle
جَهْلاً وكُنْتُ أَظُنُّهُ اليَعْفُورا
And there I asked dawn about its wolf,
And I asked about its place of pasture in the dawn
in ignorance, for I had thought it a young gazelle.
Ignorant and supposed it the rufous deer.
حَتَّىuntil شَقَقْتُI split اللَّيْلَthe night عَنْto reveal إصْبَاحِهِits dawn
حَتَّى شَقَقْتُ اللَّيْلَ عَنْ إصْبَاحِهِ
وَطَوَيْتُand I folded ذَيْلَthe hem of ظَلامِهِits darkness المَجْروراdragging
وَطَوَيْتُ ذَيْلَ ظَلامِهِ المَجْرورا
until I split the night to reveal its dawn,
Until I cleft the night into its dawn
and folded the dragging hem of its darkness.
And folded the train of its darkness dragged.
نازَلْتُهُI fought it بِسَنَاwith the radiance of أَبيAbu الْحَسَنِal-Hasan الَّذِيwhich
نازَلْتُهُ بِسَنَا أَبي الْحَسَنِ الَّذِي
مَلأَfilled المَلاَthe expanse فَتَرَكْتُهُso I left it مَقْهُوراvanquished
مَلأَ المَلاَ فَتَرَكْتُهُ مَقْهُورا
I fought it with Abu al-Hasan's radiance, which
I reproached it with the tooth of my father Abu-l-Hasan who
filled the expanse; so I left it vanquished.
Filled high places and I left it suppressed.
بِعَلِيٍّthrough Ali السَّامِيthe exalted عَلَوْتُI rose وَصَارَand became لِيmine
بِعَلِيٍّ السَّامِي عَلَوْتُ وَصَارَ لِي
قَدْرٌa rank يكادُalmost يُدَافِعُcontests المَقْدوراdecreed fate
قَدْرٌ يكادُ يُدَافِعُ المَقْدورا
Through exalted Ali I rose, and gained
With Ali the lofty I transcended and there became for me
a rank that almost challenges fate.
A decree that almost contests the foreordained.
خَلَفٌa worthy heir يَمُدُّtraces إلىto خُلَيْفٍKhulayf نِسْبَةًa lineage
خَلَفٌ يَمُدُّ إلى خُلَيْفٍ نِسْبَةً
بَدَرَتْemerged فكادَتْso it almost أَنْto تَكُونَbecome بُدوراfull moons
بَدَرَتْ فكادَتْ أَنْ تَكُونَ بُدورا
A worthy heir, he traces his lineage to Khulayf,
A caliph extending back to a caliph, a lineage
which emerged and almost became full moons.
That radiated till almost cycles.
مُتَنَاسِبُharmonious in الأَوْصَافِqualities جانِبُthe extent of باعِهِhis reach
مُتَنَاسِبُ الأَوْصَافِ جانِبُ باعِهِ
ودِفاعهand his protection قَصَرَاboth shortened يَدِيmy hand مَقْصُوراconfined
ودِفاعه قَصَرَا يَدِي مَقْصُورا
Harmonious in his qualities, the scope of his reach
Balanced qualities, a flank supplementing its defender,
and his protection have checked my hand, leaving me confined.
Its defense fell short, my hand confined.
وافَىhe came يَزِيدُincreasing الشكرَgratitude منfrom أَشعارِناour poems
وافَى يَزِيدُ الشكرَ من أَشعارِنا
مثلاًan exemplar بِنَشْرِby spreading صفاتِهِhis qualities مَنْشوراspread abroad
مثلاً بِنَشْرِ صفاتِهِ مَنْشورا
He came to increase the thanks arising from our poems,
Yazid requited our poetry with spreading
an exemplar spread abroad by proclaiming his qualities.
Its traits published as an example.
بِشَمَائِلٍwith traits كادَتْalmost تَرِفُّflutter أَزاهِراًas blossoms
بِشَمَائِلٍ كادَتْ تَرِفُّ أَزاهِراً
وخلائِقٍand dispositions كادَتْalmost تُزَفُّare borne in procession خُمُوراas wines
وخلائِقٍ كادَتْ تُزَفُّ خُمُورا
with traits that almost flutter as blossoms,
With traits that almost bloom as flowers
and dispositions almost borne in procession as wines.
And natures that almost stream good wine.
شِعْرٌpoetry لَوِif اسْتَمَعَlistened الغَوَانِيthe beauties لَحْنَهُits melody
شِعْرٌ لَوِ اسْتَمَعَ الغَوَانِي لَحْنَهُ
أَلْقَيْنَthey would cast منْfrom طَرَبٍrapture عَلَيْهِover it شُعُوراtresses
أَلْقَيْنَ منْ طَرَبٍ عَلَيْهِ شُعُورا
Verse—if the beauties listened to its melody,
Poetry whose melody, were the singers to hear it,
they would cast their tresses over it in rapture.
From rapture over it would loose their hair.
وَلَوَand if انَّهthat it فيماin what تَقَدَّمَpreceded كائِنٌexisting
وَلَوَ انَّه فيما تَقَدَّمَ كائِنٌ
لغَدَاthen would have been جَرِيرٌJarir خَلْفَهُbehind it مَجْروراdragged along
لغَدَا جَرِيرٌ خَلْفَهُ مَجْرورا
and had it existed in bygone times,
And if it were existent in times passed
Jarir would have trailed behind it, dragged along.
Jarir would trail behind it dragged.
وكتَابَةٌand handwriting لاnot تَرْتَضِىaccepts نَهْرَthe river of الصَّفَاpurity
وكتَابَةٌ لا تَرْتَضِى نَهْرَ الصَّفَا
رَقًّاas parchment ولاnor زَهْرَthe blossoms of البِطاحِthe broad valleys سُطُوراas written lines
رَقًّا ولا زَهْرَ البِطاحِ سُطُورا
And handwriting that would not accept the limpid river
And a script that the rill of limpidity does not please
as parchment, nor the broad valleys' blossoms as lines.
As parchment, nor the meadow’s flower as lines.
لوif عايَنَتْهَاhad beheld it لاِبْنِof Ibn مُقْلَةَMuqla مُقْلَةٌan eye
لو عايَنَتْهَا لاِبْنِ مُقْلَةَ مُقْلَةٌ
رَجَعَتْwould return تَرَىseeing حُورَthe fair-eyed beauties of الطَّرَائِقthe styles عُوراone-eyed
رَجَعَتْ تَرَى حُورَ الطَّرَائِق عُورا
If an eye of Ibn Muqla had beheld it,
If the son of Mukla saw it, the lobes
it would return seeing fair-eyed scripts as one-eyed.
Would return seeing the free maids defective.
وَتَوَقُّدٌand brilliance فيin المُشْكِلاَتِdifficult problems بِفِطْنَةٍwith discernment
وَتَوَقُّدٌ في المُشْكِلاَتِ بِفِطْنَةٍ
تُدْلِيlowers a bucket وَرُبَّتَمَاand at times تَفِيضُpours forth بُحُوراseas
تُدْلِي وَرُبَّتَمَا تَفِيضُ بُحُورا
And brilliance in difficult problems, with a discernment
And an inference in problems with an acumen
that lowers its bucket and at times pours forth seas.
That transcends and from which oceans pour.
أَلْفَىhe found أَبَاهُhis father علىon طرائِقِpaths of سُؤْدُدٍeminence
أَلْفَى أَبَاهُ على طرائِقِ سُؤْدُدٍ
فَجَرَىso he raced لَهُنَّalong them مُمَدَّحاmuch praised مَشْكُوراthanked
فَجَرَى لَهُنَّ مُمَدَّحا مَشْكُورا
He found his father on the paths of eminence,
He found his father traversing ways of righteousness
and raced along them, much praised and thanked.
So he coursed them lauded and thanked.
ذَاكَthat الصُّعُودُascent إلىto السُّعُودِgood fortune مُبَلَّغاًbrought to reach
ذَاكَ الصُّعُودُ إلى السُّعُودِ مُبَلَّغاً
شَأْوَthe utmost reach of العُلَىglory تَرَكَmade الصُّعُودَascent حُدُوراdescent
شَأْوَ العُلَى تَرَكَ الصُّعُودَ حُدُورا
That ascent to good fortune, brought to
That ascent to good fortune conveyed,
the farthest height of glory, left other ascents as descents.
The ascent sublime left ascent in circles.
ياO ابْنَson of الَّذِيhim who تَتَضَوَّعُgrows fragrant الدُّنْيَاthe world إذاwhen
يا ابْنَ الَّذِي تَتَضَوَّعُ الدُّنْيَا إذا
ذَكّرُواthey recalled عُلاَهَhis glory وَلَمْand never يَزَلْceased to be مَذْكُوراmentioned
ذَكّرُوا عُلاَهَ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ مَذْكُورا
O son of him for whom the world grows fragrant when
O son of him at whose mention the world overflows when
they recall his glory—and he never ceases to be mentioned—
They remember his eminence which remains famed,
حتَّىuntil كَأَنَّas though الشُّكْرَgratitude كانَwas نَسِيمُهُits breeze
حتَّى كَأَنَّ الشُّكْرَ كانَ نَسِيمُهُ
يَهْوىswoops عَلَىover عُرْفِthe scent of العَبِيرِperfume عُبُوراin passing
يَهْوى عَلَى عُرْفِ العَبِيرِ عُبُورا
until it seemed that gratitude's breeze
So that gratitude was as if its breeze
swooped in passing over perfume's fragrance.
Glided over the meadows’ perfume wafted.
ولَقَدْand indeed ظَنَنْتُI thought الشِّعْرَpoetry أَصْبَحَbecame نِقْسُهُits ink
ولَقَدْ ظَنَنْتُ الشِّعْرَ أَصْبَحَ نِقْسُهُ
مِسْكاًmusk وأَمْسَىand became طِرْسُهits parchment كافُوراcamphor
مِسْكاً وأَمْسَى طِرْسُه كافُورا
And indeed, I thought that poetry's ink had become
And indeed I thought poetry’s art and skill
musk, and its parchment had turned to camphor.
Became musk while its composition camphor.
فانْظُرْso look لاطرَائِيat my praise وإطْرَابِيand my rousing of delight تَجِدْyou will find
فانْظُرْ لاطرَائِي وإطْرَابِي تَجِدْ
دَاوُدَDavid يَتْلُوreciting فيconcerning عُلاَكَyour glory زَبُوراa psalm
دَاوُدَ يَتْلُو في عُلاَكَ زَبُورا
So look at my praise and the rapture I stir; you will find
So look at my agitations and perturbations you will find
David reciting a psalm of your glory.
David chanting through your eminence psalms.
وَتَخَيَّلِand imagine الأّبْيَاتَthe verses دّوْحاًas great trees ناضِراًverdant
وَتَخَيَّلِ الأّبْيَاتَ دّوْحاً ناضِراً
تَجِدِyou will find الْمَعَانِيthe meanings قَدْalready صَدَحْنَhave warbled طُيُوراas birds
تَجِدِ الْمَعَانِي قَدْ صَدَحْنَ طُيُورا
And imagine the verses as verdant, spreading trees;
And imagine the verses a meadow blossoming
you will find their meanings already warbling as birds.
You will find meanings ringing birds.
واهْنَأْand rejoice بِعِيدِin the festival of الفِطْرِfast-breaking إنَّكَindeed you عِيدُهُits festival
واهْنَأْ بِعِيدِ الفِطْرِ إنَّكَ عِيدُهُ
وَمُعِيدُهُand its renewer مُتَهَلِّلاًbeaming مَسْروراjoyful
وَمُعِيدُهُ مُتَهَلِّلاً مَسْرورا
And rejoice in Eid al-Fitr: you are its own festival,
Delight in the Feast of Fast-Breaking, you are its feast,
and its renewer, beaming and delighted.
And its celebrator exultant and joyous.
والتَفَّand wrap yourself فيin حِبَرِthe brocades of المَدَائِحِpraises لاقِياًfinding
والتَفَّ في حِبَرِ المَدَائِحِ لاقِياً
ماas long as عِشْتَyou live فيin ذاكَthat الحَبيرِbrocade حُبُوراdelight
ما عِشْتَ في ذاكَ الحَبيرِ حُبُورا
And wrap yourself in the brocades of praise, finding,
So turn in the ink of eulogies meeting
as long as you live, delight within that brocade.
What you lived in that ink enamored.
Sol 6.1