راحَhe set out يوافيovertakes طِرَادُهhis pursuit طَرَدَهْhis quarry
راحَ يوافي طِرَادُه طَرَدَهْ
فالسُّمْرُfor the brown lances كالسُّمْرِlike brown beauties تَيَّمَتْenslaved with love كَبِدَهُhis liver
فالسُّمْرُ كالسُّمْرِ تَيَّمَتْ كَبِدَهُ
He set out, his pursuit overtaking his quarry;
He set out to meet his fate, so it met and dismissed him,
for the brown lances, like brown beauties, had enthralled his liver.
Like a fasting camel yearning for its evening drink.
هيهاتfar from it َيصطادُهُensnare him الظِّباءُthe gazelles وقَدْand already
هيهات َيصطادُهُ الظِّباءُ وقَدْ
هَيَّجَroused منهin him إِباؤُهhis proud refusal صَيَدَهْhis stiff-necked pride
هَيَّجَ منه إِباؤُه صَيَدَهْ
Far from it—gazelles could not ensnare him, when
Alas! The deer cannot catch him, for
his proud refusal had roused his stiff-necked pride.
His valor has aroused in them great fear.
كأنهas though he منagainst عيونِthe eyes of رامِقِهِhis watcher
كأنه من عيونِ رامِقِهِ
ظاهَرَhe doubled منfrom فوقِabove عِطْفِهِhis side زَرَدَهْhis chain mail
ظاهَرَ من فوقِ عِطْفِهِ زَرَدَهْ
As though, against the eyes of his watcher,
As if from his bright eyes
he had doubled his chain mail over his side.
An emerald shone above his chest.
أَبَتْrefused لهfor him ذاكthat هِمَّةٌan ambition شُغِفَتْwas enamored
أَبَتْ له ذاك هِمَّةٌ شُغِفَتْ
بالجُودِof generosity لوif only ساعَدَتْaided عليهin it جِدَهhis wealth
بالجُودِ لو ساعَدَتْ عليه جِدَه
That was denied him by an ambition enamored
That spirit disdained, though valor aided it,
of generosity—if only his wealth would aid him in it—
To quench its thirst with lowliness.
وعزَّةٌand a dignity حَلاتْهُkept him away عنfrom آجِنstagnant water
وعزَّةٌ حَلاتْهُ عن آجِن
يظمَأُthirsts بالذُّلِّin humiliation فيهin it منwhoever وَرَدَهcame to drink at it
يظمَأُ بالذُّلِّ فيه من وَرَدَه
and by a dignity that kept him from a stagnant pool,
And honor adorned it, keeping it
where whoever comes to drink thirsts through humiliation.
From thirsting in vileness for water.
فلْيَعْجَبِso let him marvel الدَّهْرُTime أَنهthat he is وَلَدٌa son
فلْيَعْجَبِ الدَّهْرُ أَنه وَلَدٌ
لوif كانَthere were للدهرِfor Time والِدٌa father وَلَدَهhe would have begotten it
لو كانَ للدهرِ والِدٌ وَلَدَه
Let Time marvel that he is a son
So let time wonder that he is a child;
who, had Time a father, would have begotten it.
If time had a father, he would be his son!
أَرَىI see اختلافَthe changes of الزَّمانِTime يُوهِمُنِيmakes me think
أَرَى اختلافَ الزَّمانِ يُوهِمُنِي
أَنْthat ماnot دَرَىhas known غَيِّهits error وَلاnor رَشَدَهits right course
أَنْ ما دَرَى غَيِّه وَلا رَشَدَه
I see Time's changes suggesting to me
I see the changing times delude me
that none has known its error or its right course
That he knew not his error or his right way.
منwhoever لَمْhas not يَرِدْcome to drink at ثَمْدَهُits scant water وزاخِرَهُand its abundant water
من لَمْ يَرِدْ ثَمْدَهُ وزاخِرَهُ
ولمand has not يَجُبْcrossed وَعْسَهُits loose sand ولاnor جَدَدَهits firm ground
ولم يَجُبْ وَعْسَهُ ولا جَدَدَه
who has not drunk its scant and surging waters,
He who craved not praise or wealth
nor crossed its loose sand and its firm ground.
And renewed neither his raiment nor his home,
بَهْرَجَهُdeclared him counterfeit صَيرفthe money-changer of الخطوبcalamities إِذاwhen
بَهْرَجَهُ صَيرف الخطوب إِذا
باشَرَهُhandled him بالمَحَكِّwith the touchstone فَانَتَقَدَهthen assayed him
باشَرَهُ بالمَحَكِّ فَانَتَقَدَه
The money-changer of calamities declares him counterfeit when
Gave his soul no rest but wakefulness
he applies the touchstone to him and assays him.
That wearied his body to comfort his soul.
والبيتand the house قَفْرٌdesolate بِمَنْwith those who أَبَنَّdwelt ولوand even if
والبيت قَفْرٌ بِمَنْ أَبَنَّ ولو
كَثَّرmultiplied بَيْتِيmy house طُرَّاقُهُits night visitors عَمَدَهits pillars
كَثَّر بَيْتِي طُرَّاقُهُ عَمَدَه
The house is desolate despite its dwellers, even if
The envious lessen no generosity,
its night visitors multiply the pillars of my house.
However much its traces multiply their envy.
كمhow many مُفْرَدٍa solitary man لمhas not يَرِمْleft جَمَاعَتُهhis company
كم مُفْرَدٍ لم يَرِمْ جَمَاعَتُه
وكمand how many غريبٍa stranger لمhas not يَجْتَنِبْavoided بَلَدَهhis homeland
وكم غريبٍ لم يَجْتَنِبْ بَلَدَه
How many a solitary man has never left his company,
The sun is a sun, though the dim-sighted
and how many a stranger has never shunned his homeland!
Shun it out of blindness and bleary eyes.
ولمand has not يُرِحْgiven rest to نَفْسَهُhis soul سوىexcept يَقِظٍa vigilant man
ولم يُرِحْ نَفْسَهُ سوى يَقِظٍ
أَتعبwearied فيماًin what يُرِيحُهاgives it rest جَسَدهhis body
أَتعب فيماً يُرِيحُها جَسَده
None has given his soul rest but a vigilant man
How often wholesome food is revolting
who has tired his body in what gives it ease.
To one whose stomach is corrupt!
وماand does not يَحُطُّdiminish الحسودُthe envier منfrom كَرَمٍgenerosity
وما يَحُطُّ الحسودُ من كَرَمٍ
كَثَّرَhe increased منهof it فَكَثَّرَso he increased الحَسَدَهthe enviers
كَثَّرَ منه فَكَثَّرَ الحَسَدَه
The envious cannot diminish a generosity
Why do you offer gems to one
he has increased, thus increasing those who envy him.
Who approves not of generosity nor beauty?
الشمسُthe sun شمسٌa sun وإنand even if تَجَنَّبَهَاshuns it
الشمسُ شمسٌ وإن تَجَنَّبَهَا
بالرَّغْمِunwillingly أَهْلُpeople with النواظرِthe eyes الرَّمِدهinflamed
بالرَّغْمِ أَهْلُ النواظرِ الرَّمِده
The sun is the sun, even if it is shunned
You forbid him to the yearning souls,
against their will by those with inflamed eyes.
But would you give him to the ascetics?
رُبَّmany a طعامٍfood مساغُthe swallowing of طَيِّبِهِits good portion
رُبَّ طعامٍ مساغُ طَيِّبِهِ
مُمْتَنِعٌimpossible عِندfor فاسِدِone with a disordered المَعِدَهstomach
مُمْتَنِعٌ عِند فاسِدِ المَعِدَه
Many a food—the swallowing of its choicest morsels
If the noble silence his praise,
is impossible for someone with a disordered stomach.
God has heard no praise from the praiser.
مالَكَwhat is with you والدُّرَّand pearls تنتقيهِyou select it لمَنْfor one who
مالَكَ والدُّرَّ تنتقيهِ لمَنْ
لاnot يَرْتَضِيapproves of جَوْدَهits excellence ولاnor جَيِدَهits fine specimens
لا يَرْتَضِي جَوْدَه ولا جَيِدَه
Why do you bother with pearls, choosing them for one
How often I said to the loud boaster:
who prizes neither their excellence nor their fine specimens?
"Your outstretched hands lengthen not your arm!"
أَنتyou علىfrom الراغِبينَthose who desire it تَمْنَعُهyou withhold it
أَنت على الراغِبينَ تَمْنَعُه
فهَلْthen would تَرَىyou consider بَذْلَهُoffering it علىto الزَّهَدَهthe uninterested
فهَلْ تَرَى بَذْلَهُ على الزَّهَدَه
You withhold them from those who desire them;
Leave him and his cockleshells, in the early dawn
would you then offer them to those who disdain them?
Blowing froth, casting foam.
لوif حَجَبَwithheld الحَمْدَpraise عنهfrom himself ذوone possessing شَرَفhonor
لو حَجَبَ الحَمْدَ عنه ذو شَرَف
ماwould not سَمِعَhear اللهُGod حَمْدَthe praise of مَنْanyone who حَمِدهpraised Him
ما سَمِعَ اللهُ حَمْدَ مَنْ حَمِده
If one of honor barred praise from himself,
He gives you to drink of his plenty and rain,
God would hear no praise from anyone who praised Him.
For the youth's generosity is from what he has found.
كمhow many مُعْجَبٍone amazed منby نداهُhis bounty قلتُI said لهto him
كم مُعْجَبٍ من نداهُ قلتُ له
طولُthe length of أَيادِيهhis favors لاnot يُطِيلُlengthens يَدَهhis hand
طولُ أَيادِيه لا يُطِيلُ يَدَه
To many a man amazed by his bounty I have said:
When the preferred one shone forth
‘The length of his favors does not lengthen his hand.’
From the canopy of theforearm, fulfilling its glories,
دَعْهُleave him وأَصْدَافَهُand his shells بمُلْتَطِمٍin a crashing sea
دَعْهُ وأَصْدَافَهُ بمُلْتَطِمٍ
أَصْبحbecame بالشَّيْبwith gray hair قاذِفاًcasting forth زَبَدَهits foam
أَصْبح بالشَّيْب قاذِفاً زَبَدَه
Leave him and his shells amid a crashing sea,
The fertile stream and the blossoming meadow which
grown white-haired, casting forth its foam.
The singing maidens beautify and the easy life -
يسقيكَgives you drink منfrom طَلَّهhis drizzle ووابِلِهِand his downpour
يسقيكَ من طَلَّه ووابِلِهِ
إِنَّindeed الفتىthe young man جَودُهُhis generosity بماaccording to what وَجَدَهhe found it
إِنَّ الفتى جَودُهُ بما وَجَدَه
He gives you to drink of his drizzle and his downpour;
How envied, when yesterday he glanced
indeed, a young man's generosity lies in what he possesses.
At his beauty and extended his hand!
حتىuntil إِذاwhen أَشْرَقshone forth المُفَضَّلal-Mufaddal مِنْfrom
حتى إِذا أَشْرَق المُفَضَّل مِنْ
سُرادِقِthe pavilion of الدَّسْتِthe throne مالِئاًfilling سُدَدَهits entrances
سُرادِقِ الدَّسْتِ مالِئاً سُدَدَه
Until, when al-Mufaddal shone forth from
To what high place did he aspire and ascend
the throne's pavilion, filling its entrances,
Raising to him its ladder though it elevated him not?
فالمَنْهَلُthen the watering-place المستَمَدُّdrawn upon for sustenance والروضةُand the garden الthe
فالمَنْهَلُ المستَمَدُّ والروضةُ ال
غنَّاءُlush تزوهوflourishes والعيشَةُand the life الرَّغِدهof ease
غنَّاءُ تزوهو والعيشَةُ الرَّغِده
he was the spring to draw from, and the garden,
In war, like the yellow flash when it closely
lush and flourishing, and the life of ease.
Follows in the air its lightning and its roar,
مُحَسَّدٌmuch envied يَوْمُهُhis day ثَنَىturned نَظَرَthe gaze of الthe
مُحَسَّدٌ يَوْمُهُ ثَنَى نَظَرَ ال
أَمْسِyesterday إِلىtoward حُسْنِهِits beauty ومدَّand stretched forth يَدَهits hand
أَمْسِ إِلى حُسْنِهِ ومدَّ يَدَه
His day is much envied; it turned the gaze of
He plunged into the depths of the lances and then
yesterday toward its beauty and drew forth its hand.
The swords made reappear whom they had concealed.
أَيُّwhat مَحَلٍّstation سمىrose high فمَدَّso he extended لهtoward it
أَيُّ مَحَلٍّ سمى فمَدَّ له
علاءَهhis eminence سُلَّماًas a ladder وماyet did not صَعِدَهclimb it
علاءَه سُلَّماً وما صَعِدَه
What lofty station rose, that he stretched toward it
HeCharged on till the jackals howled at him
his eminence as a ladder, yet did not climb it?
And charged till thelions roared over him.
بالجَيْشwith the army كالعارِضِlike a storm-cloud الأَحَمِّblack إِذاwhen
بالجَيْش كالعارِضِ الأَحَمِّ إِذا
أَتْبَعَmade follow فيin الجَوِّthe sky بَرْقَهits lightning بَرَدَهits hail
أَتْبَعَ في الجَوِّ بَرْقَه بَرَدَه
With an army like a black storm-cloud, when
In the battles novelty which kindled his
it sends its hail through the sky after its lightning.
Quick wit he made blaze continually.
غابَvanished بغابِin a thicket of القناlances فأَطْلَعَهُthen revealed him
غابَ بغابِ القنا فأَطْلَعَهُ
فَتْكُthe deadly stroke of حسامa keen sword يغيبُmakes disappear منwhoever شَهِدهwitnesses it
فَتْكُ حسام يغيبُ من شَهِده
He vanished in a thicket of lances, then was revealed by
If rest had multiplied his tremors
a sword's deadly stroke that makes its witnesses vanish.
It would have multiplied from his foe the thunderbolts.
وراغَand he dodged حتَّىuntil دَعَوْهُthey called him ثَعْلَبَهُits fox
وراغَ حتَّى دَعَوْهُ ثَعْلَبَهُ
وراعَand he terrified حتىuntil دَعَواthey called بهِfor him أَسَدهits lion
وراعَ حتى دَعَوا بهِ أَسَده
He dodged until they called him its fox,
A star shone high but then hastened to
and struck terror until they called on him as its lion.
Put out, through its light, the eyes of the deniers.
بَدائِعٌmarvels فِيin الحروبِwars ولَّدَهاhe engendered them
بَدائِعٌ فِي الحروبِ ولَّدَها
منfrom فِطَنٍinsights لاnot تزالُcease مُتَّقِدَهablaze
من فِطَنٍ لا تزالُ مُتَّقِدَه
Marvels in warfare, which he engendered
The sharp edge of his blade above his saddle
from insights that never cease to blaze.
Runs with the water of the firn-land ever-flowing.
لوif كَثَّرincreased الإِرتياحُdelight هِزَّتَهُhis stirring
لو كَثَّر الإِرتياحُ هِزَّتَهُ
لَكَثَّرَتْit would surely increase منfrom عَدُوِّهِhis enemy رِعَدَهhis tremors
لَكَثَّرَتْ من عَدُوِّهِ رِعَدَه
If delight increased his stirring,
He who killed fate and led it by the nose
it would surely multiply his enemy's tremors.
Made it a bridge for him over his destruction.
نَجْمٌa star علاrose high نورُهits light فَأَوشَكَso it came close أَنْto
نَجْمٌ علا نورُه فَأَوشَكَ أَنْ
يَفْقَأَput out بالضوءِwith light عَيْنَthe eye of منwhoever جَحَدَهdenies it
يَفْقَأَ بالضوءِ عَيْنَ من جَحَدَه
A star whose light rose high, coming close to
Ask of him whom its caprices deluded,
putting out, with its radiance, the eye of anyone who denies it.
So he died of fear though it unsheathed him not.
وصارِمُand a keen sword الحدِّof edge فوقَover صفحتِهِits surface
وصارِمُ الحدِّ فوقَ صفحتِهِ
تجرِيflow مياهُthe waters of الفِرِنْدِthe damask pattern مُطَّرِدهcontinuously
تجرِي مياهُ الفِرِنْدِ مُطَّرِده
And a sharp-edged sword, over whose surface
Did not planets that took counsel
the waters of the damask pattern flow unbroken.
To destroy his deceitful magic stone him?
منwhoever قَتَلَslew الدهرَTime واسْتقادَand sought blood-requital بهagainst it
من قَتَلَ الدهرَ واسْتقادَ به
مَلَّكهmade it master منfrom حَيَاتِهhis life قَوَدَهits blood-requital
مَلَّكه من حَيَاتِه قَوَدَه
Whoever slew Time and sought vengeance against it
So make him climb the mountain of punishment for
gave it the right to exact vengeance upon his life.
In it, in his ignorance, he brought down his leap.
سائِلْask بهabout it منthe one نَضَتْهunsheathed it غرّتهhis delusion
سائِلْ به من نَضَتْه غرّته
فماتَso he died منfrom خَوْفِهِfear of it وماand did not غَمَدَهsheathe it
فماتَ من خَوْفِهِ وما غَمَدَه
Ask about it the man whose delusion unsheathed it:
Finally the rule came to its protector
he died of fear of it, and never sheathed it.
So God prolonged with him its duration,
أَلمdid not تَزُرْهُvisit him كواكِبٌstars ضَمِنَتْpledged
أَلم تَزُرْهُ كواكِبٌ ضَمِنَتْ
رَجْمَthe stoning of شياطِينِthe devils of كَيْدِهِhis plotting المَرَدَهrebellious
رَجْمَ شياطِينِ كَيْدِهِ المَرَدَه
Did not stars visit him, pledging
And the Imam Saud became, through it,
to stone the rebellious devils of his plotting?
Its strengthening pillar in a state strengthened.
فابتَزْهُthen he wrested from him ذِرْوَةَthe summit of العُقابِal-Uqab (the Eagle) وقدand already
فابتَزْهُ ذِرْوَةَ العُقابِ وقد
أنْزَلَstationed فيهاthere بِجَهْلِهِin his ignorance ردَدَهhis reinforcements
أنْزَلَ فيها بِجَهْلِهِ ردَدَه
Then he wrested from him the summit of al-Uqab, though
And the countenance smiled through the preferred one
he had ignorantly stationed his reinforcements there.
At what God had chosen for his seriousness and affection.
حتىuntil انتهىcame to rest المُلْكُsovereignty عندَwith ناصِرِهits champion
حتى انتهى المُلْكُ عندَ ناصِرِه
فطوَّلَso may He prolong اللهGod عندهwith him أَمدَهits span
فطوَّلَ الله عنده أَمدَه
Until sovereignty came to rest with its champion,
So he practiced justice in his culture
so may God prolong its span in his keeping!
Until he strengthened and straightened its pegs.
وأَصبحand came to be العاضِدُal-Adid الإِمامُthe Imam بهthrough him
وأَصبح العاضِدُ الإِمامُ به
فيin دولةٍa realm بالسعودِby good fortune مُعْتَضِدَهbuttressed
في دولةٍ بالسعودِ مُعْتَضِدَه
And through him the Imam al-Adid came to be
And he faced the Feast as was his custom
in a realm buttressed by good fortune.
With the great number, bearing its burdens.
واستضحكand smiled الثغرُthe frontier عنrevealing مُفَضَّلهِits Mufaddal
واستضحك الثغرُ عن مُفَضَّلهِ
بماbecause ارْتَضَىapproved اللهُGod جِدَّهُhis earnestness ودَدَهand his play
بما ارْتَضَى اللهُ جِدَّهُ ودَدَه
And the frontier smiled, revealing its Mufaddal,
The air is covered, its sides
because God approved his earnestness and his play.
With the barking of dogs, and the horsemen ready.
فاستْعَمَلso he employed العَدْلَjustice فِيin ثَقَافتِهits correction
فاستْعَمَل العَدْلَ فِي ثَقَافتِه
بحيثُso that قَوَّتْit strengthened وقَوَّمَتْand it straightened أَوَدَهits crookedness
بحيثُ قَوَّتْ وقَوَّمَتْ أَوَدَه
He put justice to work in setting it straight,
And the eggs are opened, their coverings
so that it was strengthened and its crookedness corrected.
Removed, and the tied flags unfurled.
واستقبلand welcomed العِيدَthe feast مِثْلَas عادَتِهhis custom
واستقبل العِيدَ مِثْلَ عادَتِه
بالعَدَدِwith numbers الجَمِّvast حامِلاًcarrying عُدَدَهhis battle gear
بالعَدَدِ الجَمِّ حامِلاً عُدَدَه
He welcomed the feast, as was his custom,
He tires eyes with his beauty
with vast numbers, bearing his battle gear.
While they by his beauty are oppressed.
فالجَوُّso the air مكسُوَّةٌcloaked جَوانِبُهُits sides
فالجَوُّ مكسُوَّةٌ جَوانِبُهُ
بالنَّقْعِin dust والجُرْدُand the sleek steeds فيهin it مُنْجَرِدَهracing
بالنَّقْعِ والجُرْدُ فيه مُنْجَرِدَه
So the air has its sides cloaked
Until, when fair praise sprang up and ceased not
in dust, and sleek steeds race through it.
To reap new harvests in ears,
والبِيضُand the gleaming swords مُنْحَلَّةٌunfastened أَزِرَّتُهاtheir clasps
والبِيضُ مُنْحَلَّةٌ أَزِرَّتُها
وخافِقاتُand the fluttering ones of البُنودِthe banners مُنْعَقِدَهtied fast
وخافِقاتُ البُنودِ مُنْعَقِدَه
The gleaming swords have their clasps unfastened,
And found the goal of his grandeur
and the fluttering standards are knotted fast.
The height of his hopes, so he lost it not,
وهوand he يَكُدُّstrains العيونَthe eyes منظَرُهُhis appearance
وهو يَكُدُّ العيونَ منظَرُهُ
وهْيَand they بذاكَby that الجمالِbeauty مُضْطَهَدَهoverwhelmed
وهْيَ بذاكَ الجمالِ مُضْطَهَدَه
And his appearance strains the eyes,
Men fell down before him prostrate even if
and they are overwhelmed by that beauty.
You numbered the stars in their prostrations.
حتىuntil إِذاwhen استَنْبَتَmade sprout الثناءَpraise ولَمْand did not
حتى إِذا استَنْبَتَ الثناءَ ولَمْ
يَأُلُfall short جديداًfresh بالسَّمْعِwith hearing أَنto حَصَدَهharvest it
يَأُلُ جديداً بالسَّمْعِ أَن حَصَدَه
Until, when he had made praise sprout and did not
Slaying of enviers attends his sacrifice even if
fail to harvest it fresh with his hearing,
He flees from it and worships it.
وأَوجَدَand gave الدِّسْتَthe throne منfrom جلالَتِهhis majesty
وأَوجَدَ الدِّسْتَ من جلالَتِه
غايَةthe utmost of آمالِهِits hopes فلاso may it not فَقَدَهْlose him
غايَة آمالِهِ فلا فَقَدَهْ
and had given the throne, through his majesty,
the utmost of its hopes—may it never lose him—
خَرَّfell down لهbefore him الناسُthe people ساجِدينَprostrating ولوand if
خَرَّ له الناسُ ساجِدينَ ولو
شِئْتَyou wished عَدَدْتَyou counted النجومَthe stars فيamong السَّجَدَهْthose prostrating
شِئْتَ عَدَدْتَ النجومَ في السَّجَدَهْ
the people fell prostrate before him; and if
you wished, you could count the stars among those prostrate.
لاmay never زَايَلleave النَّحْرُslaughter حاسِدِيهhis enviers وإِنْand even if
لا زَايَل النَّحْرُ حاسِدِيه وإِنْ
عداturned away عنهfrom him وإِنْand even if عَبَدَهْworshipped him
عدا عنه وإِنْ عَبَدَهْ
May slaughter never leave those who envy him, even if
one turns away from him, and even if one worships him.
Partial English translation: 90 of 96 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1