بداappeared الشيبُgray hair إلاexcept ماwhat تُداويtreat المواشطُthe hairdressers
بدا الشيبُ إلا ما تُداوي المواشطُ
وفيand in وضحbrightness of الإصباحdawn للَّيلof the night كاشطُa stripper
وفي وضح الإصباح للَّيل كاشطُ
Gray hair has appeared, save what the hairdressers treat;
Grey hair has crept in, and no oils can cure it,
and dawn's brightness strips the night away.
At dawn, night combs it out strand by strand.
أرىI see خُطَّتَيْtwo choices of كرهٍaversion يُحيطانenclosing بالفتىaround the young man
أرى خُطَّتَيْ كرهٍ يُحيطان بالفتى
إذاif ما(emphasis) تخطَّتْهُpassed him by الحتوفُdeaths العوابطُindiscriminate
إذا ما تخطَّتْهُ الحتوفُ العوابطُ
I see two hateful choices enclosing a young man,
I see two streaks of displeasure surround the youth
if indiscriminate deaths have passed him by.
When the covering locks begin their assault.
لكلِّfor every امرىءٍman منfrom شيبهhis gray hair وخِضابهِand its dye
لكلِّ امرىءٍ من شيبه وخِضابهِ
عناءٌtoil مُعنٍّharassing أوor بغيضٌa hated thing مُرابطُpersisting
عناءٌ مُعنٍّ أو بغيضٌ مُرابطُ
From his gray hair and its dye, every man has
For every man there is effort with his greying and dyeing,
harassing toil or a hated thing that stays.
Whether it be painful drudgery or hated obligation.
مقاساتُهhis enduring التسويدَblackening برحٌagony وإنand if بداappears
مقاساتُه التسويدَ برحٌ وإن بدا
لهto him شيبُهُhis gray hair لمnot تبدُappear منهin him مغابطُenviable blessings
له شيبُهُ لم تبدُ منه مغابطُ
The ordeal of blackening it is agony; and if there appears
He measures out the blackening but if his greying appears
his gray hair, no enviable blessing shows in him.
Its patches cannot be concealed.
وحظُّand the lot of أخيthe possessor of الشيبِgray hair المسوِّدِwho blackens شيبَهُhis gray hair
وحظُّ أخي الشيبِ المسوِّدِ شيبَهُ
مقالةthe verdict of أهلthe people of الرشدِsound judgment غاوٍmisguided مغالطdeceptive
مقالة أهل الرشدِ غاوٍ مغالط
The gray-haired man who blackens his hair receives
My brother was fortunate with his blackening greys,
the wise people's verdict: a misguided deceiver,
The talk of reasonable people, raving nonsense.
مُموِّهa disguiser of زُورٍfalsehood مُبتغٍseeking صيدquarry محرمٍforbidden
مُموِّه زُورٍ مُبتغٍ صيد محرمٍ
جنيبُled by هوىdesire للجهلignorance بالغيِّwith error خالطmingling
جنيبُ هوى للجهل بالغيِّ خالط
a disguiser of falsehood, seeking forbidden quarry,
A cunning adulterer seeking forbidden game,
led by desire, blending ignorance with error.
A shameless lover mixing with ignorance.
يُخادعُhe deceives بالإفْكwith falsehood النساءَwomen عنabout الصِّبىyouth
يُخادعُ بالإفْك النساءَ عن الصِّبى
وهلand is there بينbetween لونthe color of الإفكfalsehood والحقِّand truth غالطُone mistaken
وهل بين لون الإفك والحقِّ غالطُ
He deceives women with lies about his youth;
He deceives women about boys with his lies,
but who mistakes falsehood's color for truth's?
But between the color of lies and truth, no confusion.
فلاso not كُلَفُthe burdens of التسويدblackening تُحذيهgrant him حُظْوةًfavor
فلا كُلَفُ التسويد تُحذيه حُظْوةً
ولاand not مُوَنُthe expenses of التزويرِdeception عنهfrom him سَواقطُfalling away
ولا مُوَنُ التزويرِ عنه سَواقطُ
The burdens of blackening bring him no favor,
Neither the artifice of blackening brings him pride,
nor do the expenses of deception fall away from him.
Nor does the fraud of dyeing spare him humiliation.
لأخسِرْwhat a loser! بهhe is منas عاملٍa laborer قدِرتْwere decreed لهfor him
لأخسِرْ به من عاملٍ قدِرتْ له
معwith السنِّage أعمالٌtasks ثِقالٌheavy حوابطُfruitless
مع السنِّ أعمالٌ ثِقالٌ حوابطُ
What a losing laborer he is, for whom were decreed,
I have lost with him a worker whose appointed lot
with advancing age, heavy, fruitless tasks!
Is hard duties along with old age’s constraints.
إذاwhen أناI لاقيتُmeet الحِسانَbeautiful women موانحيgranting me
إذا أنا لاقيتُ الحِسانَ موانحي
قِلىًaversion فيamid رِضىًapproval ضاقتْbecame narrow عليَّfor me البسائطُthe broad lands
قِلىً في رِضىً ضاقتْ عليَّ البسائطُ
When I meet beautiful women granting me
When I meet beautiful women, scarce is my patience
aversion amid approval, the broad earth closes in on me:
As the outspread mats become too confining.
قلىًaversion لمشيبيto my grayness فيamid رِضاًapproval عنof خليقتيmy character
قلىً لمشيبي في رِضاً عن خليقتي
فهُنّso they دَوانٍare near والقلوبُwhile the hearts شواحِطُare distant
فهُنّ دَوانٍ والقلوبُ شواحِطُ
aversion to my grayness, approval of my character.
Scarce is my patience with my greying, pleased with my nature,
They are near, but their hearts are far away.
For they are assemblies and hearts have partitions.
لجَجْنthey persisted قِلىًin aversion إنif لجَّpersisted شيبيmy grayness تضاحُكاًin laughing
لجَجْن قِلىً إن لجَّ شيبي تضاحُكاً
كماas لجَّpersisted فيin النَفْرshying المِهارُthe foals الخوارطُbolting
كما لجَّ في النَفْر المِهارُ الخوارطُ
They persist in aversion if my grayness persists in laughing,
My patience ran out as my greying provoked laughter,
as runaway foals persist in shying.
As skill provoked wonderment in the troupe.
مَنعْنَthey refused قضاءَfulfillment of الحاجneeds غيرَwithout عواتبٍreproaching
مَنعْنَ قضاءَ الحاج غيرَ عواتبٍ
علىdespite أنهنtheir being المعْرِضاتُaloof الموائطُaccommodating
على أنهن المعْرِضاتُ الموائطُ
They refuse to satisfy my needs without reproaching me,
They denied fate’s command, without rebuke,
though they are at once aloof and accommodating.
Though they were the defiant, disdainful ones.
وقدand sometimes يتوافىcome together العتبُreproach منهنَّfrom them والهوىand love
وقد يتوافى العتبُ منهنَّ والهوى
فيُعطيننيso they grant me حُكميmy wish وهنّwhile they سواخطare angry
فيُعطينني حُكمي وهنّ سواخط
Sometimes their reproach and love come together,
Rebuke may come from them, and passion,
and they grant my wish while remaining angry.
To give me my just due though they rage.
دعleave المرْدَbeardless youths صَحباًas companions والكواعبَand full-breasted maidens مألفاًas intimates
دع المرْدَ صَحباً والكواعبَ مألفاً
فأخْدانكfor your friends اليوْمَtoday الكهولُare middle-aged men الأشامطgrizzled
فأخْدانك اليوْمَ الكهولُ الأشامط
Leave beardless youths as companions and full-breasted maidens as intimates;
Leave sinful gatherings and singing girls for company,
your friends today are middle-aged, grizzled men.
For your comrades today are old men with beards.
وشرعُكand enough for you منconcerning ذِكرِmention of الغوايةِfolly إنهthat it
وشرعُك من ذِكرِ الغوايةِ إنه
بذيin a possessor of شيبةٍgray hair فرطٌan excess منof الجهلignorance فارطexcessive
بذي شيبةٍ فرطٌ من الجهل فارط
Enough for you, concerning talk of folly, that it is
Your involvement with talk of temptation, for one
in a gray-haired man an excessive excess of ignorance.
Grey-haired, is gross ignorance and transgression.
جرىcame بعدafter إقساطٍjustice قُسوطٌinjustice وهكذاand thus
جرى بعد إقساطٍ قُسوطٌ وهكذا
صُروفُthe vicissitudes of اللياليthe nights مُقسطاتٌare just قواسطand unjust
صُروفُ الليالي مُقسطاتٌ قواسط
Injustice has followed justice; and thus
After portions came further portions, thus
the turns of the nights are both just and unjust.
The nights’ moments pass, allocating shares.
وكلand every امرئٍman لاقىwho met منfrom الدهرِTime رائشاًa feather-giver
وكل امرئٍ لاقى من الدهرِ رائشاً
فسوفwill then يُلاقيهmeet him منfrom الدهرِTime مارِطa feather-plucker
فسوف يُلاقيه من الدهرِ مارِط
Whoever has met Time as a giver of feathers
Every person has met weariness from fate,
will meet it as a plucker of feathers.
And will meet from fate what opposes him.
كفىsuffice المرءَfor the man وعظاًas admonition أربعونforty years تفارطتْgone by
كفى المرءَ وعظاً أربعون تفارطتْ
ولوeven if لمْnot يعظْهadmonish him شيبُهُhis gray hair المتفارطُever-spreading
ولو لمْ يعظْه شيبُهُ المتفارطُ
Forty years gone by suffice to admonish a man,
Let forty years of excess be enough advice for a man,
even if his spreading grayness has not admonished him.
Even if his extensive greying does not counsel him.
وكيفَand how تصابىplays the youth المرءthe man والشيبُwhile grayness شاملٌis all-encompassing
وكيفَ تصابى المرء والشيبُ شاملٌ
وليسand it is not جميلاًseemly منهfrom him والشيبُwhile grayness واخِطُis flecking
وليس جميلاً منه والشيبُ واخِطُ
How can a man play the youth when grayness covers him,
How can a man pride himself when grey hair envelops him,
when it is unbecoming even as grayness first flecks him?
And with greying he lacks beauty, rather evokes hatred.
وماand what عذرُexcuse has ذيa possessor of شيبٍgray hair يلوحُshines سِراجُهits lamp
وما عذرُ ذي شيبٍ يلوحُ سِراجُه
إذاif هوhe أمسىenters evening وهوwhile he فيin الإثمsin وارطُis mired
إذا هو أمسى وهو في الإثم وارطُ
What excuse has a gray-haired man whose lamp shines,
What excuse has a grey-haired one whose lamp is exposed
if evening finds him mired in sin?
If he has fallen into sin and transgression?
أريI see المالwealth أضحىbecome للجوادfor the generous مَراقياًsteps upward
أري المال أضحى للجواد مَراقياً
وتلكand those المراقيsteps upward للبخيلfor the miser مهابطُare descents
وتلك المراقي للبخيل مهابطُ
I see wealth become steps upward for the generous,
I see money has become pasture for the generous,
while those same steps lead downward for the miser.
While such pasture for the miser is a prison.
وكلand every مديحeulogy لمnot يكنbe فيabout ابنthe son of صاعدٍṢāʿid
وكل مديح لم يكن في ابن صاعدٍ
ولاnor فيabout أبيهhis father صاعدٍṢāʿid فهوthen it حابطُis wasted
ولا في أبيه صاعدٍ فهو حابطُ
Every eulogy not devoted to the son of Ṣāʿid,
Any praise not addressed to Ibn Sa’id
nor to his father Ṣāʿid, is wasted.
Or his father Sa’id is futile.
وكلand every مُوالٍally of صاعداًṢāʿid فهوthen he صاعدٌis rising
وكل مُوالٍ صاعداً فهو صاعدٌ
وكلand every معادٍenemy of صاعداًṢāʿid فهوthen he هابطُis falling
وكل معادٍ صاعداً فهو هابطُ
Everyone who befriends Ṣāʿid rises,
Every ally of Sa’id is an ally of his,
and everyone who opposes Ṣāʿid falls.
And every enemy of Sa’id is debased.
تحمَّلhe shouldered أثقالَthe burdens of الموفَّقal-Muwaffaq ناصحاًloyally
تحمَّل أثقالَ الموفَّق ناصحاً
مكارِهُthe hardships of ماwhat يلقىhe encounters لديهto him مناشِطُare pleasures
مكارِهُ ما يلقى لديه مناشِطُ
He loyally shouldered al-Muwaffaq's burdens;
Bearing the burdens of al-Muwaffaq loyally,
the hardships he encounters are pleasures to him.
However many troubles he faces from him.
هوhe الكاتبُis the secretary النِّحريرُthe consummate expert والمِدرهُand the spokesman الذيwho
هو الكاتبُ النِّحريرُ والمِدرهُ الذي
بهthrough him انفرجتْwere lifted عنّاfrom us الخطوبُafflictions الضواغطُcrushing
به انفرجتْ عنّا الخطوبُ الضواغطُ
He is the consummate secretary and the spokesman
He is the writer, the draftsman, the guide
through whom crushing afflictions were lifted from us.
Through whom hardships upon us were relieved.
لهhe has قلمa pen فيin السِّلمpeace كافٍsufficient وربماand sometimes
له قلم في السِّلم كافٍ وربما
تحوَّلbecomes رُمحاًa spear حينwhen تَحمَىgrow hot المآقطُbattles
تحوَّل رُمحاً حين تَحمَى المآقطُ
He has a pen sufficient in peace, which sometimes
His pen in peace suffices, and at times
becomes a spear when battles grow hot.
It turns to a spear when battlefields flare up.
يدرُّit pours forth لهfor him طوراًat times خراجاًrevenue وتارةًand at other times
يدرُّ له طوراً خراجاً وتارةً
تسيلُflow لهfor him منهfrom it الدماءblood العبائطُfreshly shed
تسيلُ له منه الدماء العبائطُ
At times it pours forth revenue for him, and at others
Now he pours out land taxes for him, another time,
freshly shed blood flows from it for him.
Blood flows for him from it in streams.
ويقْلسُand it regurgitates أريَthe honey of النحلbees للمستميحهِfor one seeking his bounty
ويقْلسُ أريَ النحل للمستميحهِ
وللمتعدِّيand for the aggressor ماwhat تمجُّspit الأراقطspeckled serpents
وللمتعدِّي ما تمجُّ الأراقط
It regurgitates the bees' honey for one seeking his bounty,
He skims the bee honey for the compliant one
and for the aggressor, what speckled serpents spit.
And for the transgressor, however much the combs fill up.
وأمَّاand as for أبوAbū عيسىʿĪsā فينجمُrises رأيُهُhis counsel
وأمَّا أبو عيسى فينجمُ رأيُهُ
معwith الحقِّtruth والآراءُwhile other counsels عُشْيٌare dim-eyed خوابِطstumbling blindly
مع الحقِّ والآراءُ عُشْيٌ خوابِط
As for Abū ʿĪsā, his counsel rises
As for Abu ‘Isa, his opinion shines
with truth, while other counsels stumble dim-eyed.
With truth, while other views are blurred darkness.
لوالدهِfor his father منهfrom him إذاwhen غابَhe is absent خالفٌa successor
لوالدهِ منه إذا غابَ خالفٌ
ضليعٌstrong إذاwhen ما(emphasis) اسْتُكفِيَentrusted with الأمرَthe task ضابطmasterful
ضليعٌ إذا ما اسْتُكفِيَ الأمرَ ضابط
His father has in him, when absent, a successor,
When his father is absent he has an adept stand-in;
strong and capable, mastering any task entrusted to him.
When entrusted with command, an able governor.
حكيمٌwise عليمٌlearned يغمرُenvelops الناسَpeople حِلمُهُhis forbearance
حكيمٌ عليمٌ يغمرُ الناسَ حِلمُهُ
إذاwhen فَرَطتْspring forth منfrom جهلthe ignorance of قومa people فوارطُrash acts
إذا فَرَطتْ من جهل قوم فوارطُ
Wise and learned, his forbearance envelops people
A wise and learned man whose gentleness inundates people
when rash acts spring from a people's ignorance.
When the ignorance of some crosses into excess.
علىdespite أنهhis being ممَّنamong those whom يهابُfears عدوُّهُhis enemy
على أنه ممَّن يهابُ عدوُّهُ
شذاهhis sting كماas هابَfeared القتادةَthe thorn-tree خارِطُa thorn-stripper
شذاه كما هابَ القتادةَ خارِطُ
Yet he is one whose enemy fears
He is feared by his enemy,
his sting as a thorn-stripper fears the thorn-tree.
As al-Qitada feared the Kharijites.
لذيذdelicious علىupon الأفواهmouths مُرٌّbitter مساغهُswallowing him
لذيذ على الأفواه مُرٌّ مساغهُ
إذاwhen هوhe رامتْهُis attempted الحلوقُby throats السوارطُdevouring
إذا هو رامتْهُ الحلوقُ السوارطُ
Delicious upon the lips, he is bitter to swallow
Sweet upon mouths, bitter is its taste,
when devouring throats attempt him.
When throats yearn for it ardently.
متىwhenever ذِيقَtasted لمnot يلفظهُspits him out منfrom فيهِhis mouth ذائقٌa taster
متى ذِيقَ لم يلفظهُ من فيهِ ذائقٌ
وعزَّand he is mighty فلمso not يسْرطهswallows him إذat ذاكthat time سارطa swallower
وعزَّ فلم يسْرطه إذ ذاك سارط
Whenever tasted, no taster spits him from his mouth;
Once tasted, no taster spits it out,
yet he is too mighty for any swallower to swallow then.
And it is difficult to gullet down, undiluted.
ضعيفweak علىtoward المرءthe man الضعيفwho is weak وإنهyet he
ضعيف على المرء الضعيف وإنه
لأشوسُis indeed fierce عدَّاءٍan assailant علىagainst الدهرِTime قاسطdomineering
لأشوسُ عدَّاءٍ على الدهرِ قاسط
He is weak toward the weak man, yet he is
Weak against the weak man, and yet
a fierce assailant, domineering over Time.
He is firmer than any foe with the times.
تنوبُassail أباهhis father النائباتُmisfortunes فلاand not ينيhe slackens
تنوبُ أباه النائباتُ فلا يني
يُكانفُهُhe supports him فيin أمرهِhis affairs ويُحاوطand guards
يُكانفُهُ في أمرهِ ويُحاوط
Misfortunes assail his father, and he never slackens
His father’s deputies take his place so he lacks nothing,
in supporting him in his affairs and guarding him.
Measuring his affairs without excess or scanting.
لهfor him منهfrom him رأيcounsel عندat كلevery مُلمّةٍcalamity
له منه رأي عند كل مُلمّةٍ
متَىwhenever يُمضِهِhe acts on it يشرطْmay pledge لهto him الفلجَvictory شارطa pledger
متَى يُمضِهِ يشرطْ له الفلجَ شارط
His father receives counsel from him at every calamity;
From him he has an opinion for every dilemma,
once he acts on it, anyone can pledge him victory.
Dictating the course when ways are straitened.
إذاwhen ما(emphasis) توالتْarrive in succession بالمشاوِرِto the consulter كُتْبُهhis letters
إذا ما توالتْ بالمشاوِرِ كُتْبُه
توالتْarrive in succession إليهto him بالفتوحbearing victories الخرائطdispatch-pouches
توالتْ إليه بالفتوح الخرائط
Whenever his letters reach the one seeking his counsel in succession,
When his writings come in succession with deliberating,
dispatch-pouches bearing victories reach him in succession.
Successes come to him in steady streams.
متَىwhenever حُسِبتْare counted أحسابُكُمyour ancestral honors آلَhouse of مخلدٍMukhallad
متَى حُسِبتْ أحسابُكُم آلَ مخلدٍ
أبتrefuse ضبطَهاtheir enumeration أيديthe hands of الحسابreckoners الضوابطprecise
أبت ضبطَها أيدي الحساب الضوابط
Whenever your ancestral honors are counted, house of Mukhallad,
When the sums of you Banu Makhlad are counted,
the skilled hands of reckoners cannot encompass them.
The hands of calculators cannot compute them.
وأنتمand you أُناسٌare a people تاجُthe crown of قحطانَQaḥṭān فيكُمُis among you
وأنتم أُناسٌ تاجُ قحطانَ فيكُمُ
وداركُمُand your home دارis the home of المقاولroyal chieftains ناعطNāʿiṭ
وداركُمُ دار المقاول ناعط
You are a people among whom is Qaḥṭān's crown;
You are people, the crown of Qahtan among whom,
your home is Nāʿiṭ, the home of royal chieftains.
And your abode is the abode of settled encampment.
يمانُونYemenites ميمونُوauspicious in النقائبcharacter لمnot يزلceased
يمانُون ميمونُو النقائب لم يزل
لكمfor you نَسبٌa lineage فيin محتدِthe ancestral stock of القومthe people واسِطcentral
لكم نَسبٌ في محتدِ القوم واسِط
Yemenites, auspicious in character, you have always had
Right-guided blessed leaders, you have always
a lineage at the heart of your people's ancestral stock.
Had lineage in the tribe’s nobility.
وأمَّاand as for بواديكمyour desert-dwellers فقدindeed ملأhas filled الملاthe open country
وأمَّا بواديكم فقد ملأ الملا
عديدٌnumbers لهمthey have دثرٌabundant وعزٌّand honor عُلابطmighty
عديدٌ لهم دثرٌ وعزٌّ عُلابط
As for your desert-dwellers, they have filled the open country
As for your valley, soldiers have filled it,
with abundant numbers and mighty honor.
Having provisions, honor, and fine steeds.
منازلُdwellings فيهاin them للرماحfor lances مغارسٌplanting places
منازلُ فيها للرماح مغارسٌ
قديماًfrom ancient times وللخيلand for horses العِرابArab-bred مَرابِطtethering places
قديماً وللخيل العِراب مَرابِط
Dwellings where lances have their planting places,
It has dwellings in which spears were planted long ago
from ancient times, and Arab-bred horses their tethering places;
And high above, cooking pots bubble.
ونادٍand an assembly بهيٍّsplendid لاnot يزالceases حديثُهُits conversation
ونادٍ بهيٍّ لا يزال حديثُهُ
حديثاًa tale لأقوامٍfor peoples وللدرِّand of pearls لاقطُa gatherer
حديثاً لأقوامٍ وللدرِّ لاقطُ
and a splendid assembly whose conversation remains
You see every cistern stagnant as if
a tale people tell, and a gatherer of pearls.
When it flows, it is a bursting stallion.
يجدُّit is serious ففيهand in it حِكمةٌis wisdom مستفادةٌto be learned
يجدُّ ففيه حِكمةٌ مستفادةٌ
ويفكَهُand it jokes أحياناًsometimes وماand not فيهin it لاغطُa clamorous chatterer
ويفكَهُ أحياناً وما فيه لاغطُ
When serious, it offers wisdom to be learned;
It has camels for pious endowment, subsisting on
at times it jokes, yet no clamorous chatterer is there.
Pastures not on fodder.
كَراكرthrongs فيupon هامthe summits of الروابيhills محلُّهاtheir dwelling
كَراكر في هام الروابي محلُّها
علىdespite أنهits being so لمnot يخلwas empty منهنof them غائِطa hollow
على أنه لم يخل منهن غائِط
Throngs dwell upon the hilltops,
Protected by sorcerers, its people,
though no hollow is empty of them.
Who, when truth is absent, weave their spells.
خِلالَamong الروابيthe hills للجيادِfor the horses صواهلٌwhinnies
خِلالَ الروابي للجيادِ صواهلٌ
وفوقand above الروابيthe hills للقدورِfor the cauldrons غطاغِطgurgles
وفوق الروابي للقدورِ غطاغِط
Among the hills are the horses' whinnies,
Captives whose flesh cannot be ransomed by guests,
and above the hills, the cauldrons' gurgling.
Milk which flows from their udders copiously for them.
ترىyou see كلevery مِرزامٍthunderous pot ركودٍsettled كأنهاas though it
ترى كل مِرزامٍ ركودٍ كأنها
إذاwhen هدرتْit roars فحلٌa stallion منof البُختِBactrian camels طائطbellowing
إذا هدرتْ فحلٌ من البُختِ طائط
You see each thunderous, settled cauldron as though,
When their milk flows after their blood,
when it roars, it were a bellowing Bactrian stallion.
Their ever-gashing swords refuse that breach.
لهاfor it إبلٌcamels وقْفٌreserved عَليهاfor it ولمand not تزلْceased
لها إبلٌ وقْفٌ عَليها ولم تزلْ
تقوتُsupply الرواعيthe grazing beasts ضبْغهاits fare لاnot العوافطthe bleaters
تقوتُ الرواعي ضبْغها لا العوافط
Camels are reserved for it, and always
Every day it has in the herd an old she-camel
the grazers supply its fare, not the bleaters.
That grows fat as an ear droops over its eye.
منamong اللاتيthose that يحميهاprotect them from الأباطيلَfalse claims أهلُهاtheir owners
من اللاتي يحميها الأباطيلَ أهلُها
وهنّwhile they إذاwhen ما(emphasis) نابَarises حقٌّa rightful claim شوابطgo swiftly
وهنّ إذا ما نابَ حقٌّ شوابط
Their owners protect them from false claims,
When people aim for your pursuits, your ancestors hinder them,
yet they go swiftly when a rightful claim arises.
Worthless ancestors or revered ancestors.
حبائسُreserved beasts لاnot يُفدىis ransomed منfrom الضيفthe guest لحمهاtheir flesh
حبائسُ لا يُفدى من الضيف لحمها
حليبٌfresh milk لهfor him منfrom درهاtheir milk-yield وعُجالِطُand curds
حليبٌ له من درها وعُجالِطُ
Reserved beasts whose flesh is not ransomed from the guest
You have from your endeavors necklaces of gems,
with fresh milk from their udders or curds.
My endeavors for Abu ‘Isa are the settings.
إذاif دفعتْwarded off ألبانُهاtheir milk عنfrom their bloodshed دمائِهاtheir blood
إذا دفعتْ ألبانُها عن دمائِها
أبىrefuses ذاكthat خِرقa generous man سيفُهُhis sword الدهرَforever عابِطُslaughtering sound beasts
أبى ذاك خِرق سيفُهُ الدهرَ عابِطُ
If their milk should avert the shedding of their blood,
A youth whose palms were created by nature for generosity,
a generous man refuses it, his sword forever slaughtering sound beasts.
So they were set free when ties were loosened.
لهhe has كلَّevery يومday فيamong السوامgrazing herds عقيرةٌa slaughtered beast
له كلَّ يوم في السوام عقيرةٌ
تكوسُsinks on its legs وقرنٌand a foe فيهin him نُجْلٌgaping wounds نواحطgurgling
تكوسُ وقرنٌ فيه نُجْلٌ نواحط
Every day he has a slaughtered beast among the grazing herds,
We found Abu ‘Isa al-‘Ala ibn Sa’id
sinking on its legs, and a foe with gaping, gurgling wounds.
A glittering elegant spring without swampy pools.
إذاif القومُthe people رامواattempt سعيكمyour achievements خلَّفتْهمُleft them behind
إذا القومُ راموا سعيكم خلَّفتْهمُ
جدودٌforebears لئامignoble أوor جدودٌfortunes هوابطdeclining
جدودٌ لئام أو جدودٌ هوابط
When others attempt your achievements, they are left behind
When our vessels are placed in his courtyard,
by ignoble forebears or declining fortunes.
The difficult years are lifted from us.
لكمfor you منfrom مساعيكمyour achievements قلائدُnecklaces of جوهرٍjewels
لكم من مساعيكم قلائدُ جوهرٍ
مساعيthe achievements of أبيAbū عيسىʿĪsā لهنfor them وسائطcenterpieces
مساعي أبي عيسى لهن وسائط
Your achievements form necklaces of jewels;
The works of a blended art have called me to
Abū ʿĪsā's achievements are their centerpieces.
The benefits of his hands and standing.
فتىa youth خُلقتْwere created كفَاهhis two hands للجودِfor generosity آلةًas instruments
فتى خُلقتْ كفَاه للجودِ آلةً
فأُطلقتاso both were released مذwhen أطلقتْهُreleased him القوامطthe swaddling bands
فأُطلقتا مذ أطلقتْهُ القوامط
A youth whose hands were created as instruments of generosity,
The access of Abu ‘Isa is near, and whoever desires
and were set free when his swaddling bands released him.
The access of Abu ‘Isa, his courtyard adjoins it.
وجدناwe found أباAbū عيسىʿĪsā العلاءal-ʿAlāʾ بنson of صاعدٍṢāʿid
وجدنا أبا عيسى العلاء بن صاعدٍ
ربيعاًa spring مريعاًfruitful ليسnot فيهin it خطائِطُrainless patches
ربيعاً مريعاً ليس فيه خطائِطُ
We found Abū ʿĪsā, al-ʿAlāʾ ibn Ṣāʿid,
It has transcended those who rise high, and was generous with his sword,
a fruitful spring with no rainless patches.
So it leaned away while beneficence clings to it.
إذاwhen وُضعتْwere laid أكوارُناour camel-saddles بفنائهِin his courtyard
إذا وُضعتْ أكوارُنا بفنائهِ
فقدthen indeed رُفعتْwere lifted عناfrom us السنونَthe years القواحِطُdrought-stricken
فقد رُفعتْ عنا السنونَ القواحِطُ
When our camel-saddles are laid in his courtyard,
It is the tallest palm tree, out of reach of hands,
the drought-stricken years are lifted from us.
Though what falls from it on the ground is plucked.
دعتْsummoned طالبيseekers of جدوىthe bounty of يديهhis hands وشأوِهِand his stature
دعتْ طالبي جدوى يديه وشأوِهِ
صنائعُbenefactions معْلُوطٍbranded بهنby them المعالطُthe challenger
صنائعُ معْلُوطٍ بهن المعالطُ
Those seeking his hands' bounty and his stature are summoned
I was amazed that when the hand of al-‘Ala relaxes,
by benefactions that brand the challenger.
The complainant, how can he despair utterly?
نوالthe bounty of أبيAbū عيسىʿĪsā قريبٌis near ومنand whoever بغىseeks
نوال أبي عيسى قريبٌ ومن بغى
منالَthe attainment of أبيAbū عيسىʿĪsā فأدناهeven its nearest point شاحِطُis remote
منالَ أبي عيسى فأدناه شاحِطُ
Abū ʿĪsā's bounty is near; but whoever seeks
Through him we are safe from the king’s wrath, for he has not
Abū ʿĪsā's stature finds even its nearest point remote.
Been like the pouring rain to us while God is angry.
سماhe rose فوقabove منwhoever يسموrises وجادَand gave freely بسيبهof his bounty
سما فوق من يسمو وجادَ بسيبه
فزايلَso he stood apart والمعروفُwhile kindness منهfrom him مُخالِطُmingles
فزايلَ والمعروفُ منه مُخالِطُ
He towers above all who rise and gives his bounty freely;
And aiding a people I had neglected to aid,
he stands apart, yet his kindness mingles with us.
Though hands stretch out to you in need.
هوhe النخلةُis the palm الطُّولىthe tallest أبتrefused أنthat تنالهاreach it
هو النخلةُ الطُّولى أبت أن تنالها
يدانِtwo hands ولكنbut ينْعُهاits ripe fruit مُتساقطُfalls freely
يدانِ ولكن ينْعُها مُتساقطُ
He is the tallest palm, refusing to be reached
A hand seeking familiarity, another secretly,
by two hands, yet its ripe fruit falls freely.
When tents pitch with people's fantasies.
أوor المزنthe raincloud ينأىis too distant أنto يُمسَّbe touched وماand not ينيslackens
أو المزن ينأى أن يُمسَّ وما يني
علىupon الأرضthe earth منهfrom it وابلٌa downpour أوor قطاقِطdroplets
على الأرض منه وابلٌ أو قطاقِط
Or a raincloud too distant to touch, which never ceases
So I said to her, turn away from me in disgrace,
to send down torrents or droplets upon the earth.
For you will not look upon the brilliant radiance.
عجبتُI marveled إذاwhen كفُّthe hand of العلاءal-ʿAlāʾ تهلَّلتْbeamed
عجبتُ إذا كفُّ العلاء تهلَّلتْ
علىupon مُستميحٍa petitioner كيفhow يقنطُdespairs قانطone despairing
على مُستميحٍ كيف يقنطُ قانط
I marvel, when al-ʿAlāʾ's hand beams
Do you not know that al-‘Ala is guided
upon a petitioner, how anyone can despair.
When the wandering camels of the empty quarter go astray?
لنأمنْlet us feel safe بهthrough him سُخطfrom the wrath of المليكِthe Sovereign فلمfor not يكنwould be
لنأمنْ به سُخط المليكِ فلم يكن
يَليناgovern us نظيرُa counterpart of الغيثrain واللَّهُwhile God ساخطis angry
يَلينا نظيرُ الغيث واللَّهُ ساخط
Let us feel safe through him from the Sovereign's wrath: never would
And that my fortune with his like is not lost
one like the rain govern us while God was angry.
Nor is his fortune lost from praise like mine?
وإرفادand the giving of قومٍpeople قدindeed تركتُI abandoned لرفدِهِfor his bounty
وإرفاد قومٍ قد تركتُ لرفدِهِ
وعندand upon ورودreaching اليمِّthe sea تُنسىare forgotten المطائطsmall pools
وعند ورود اليمِّ تُنسى المطائط
I have abandoned other people's giving for his bounty;
He plans for me and God before him
when the sea is reached, small pools are forgotten.
Will make fruitful for me what the buds have fruited.
وقائلةٍand a woman saying هلّاwhy not وأنتwhile you وليُّهare his friend
وقائلةٍ هلّا وأنت وليُّه
غدوتَgo forth وللأيديand for hands إليكtoward you مباسطoutstretchings
غدوتَ وللأيدي إليك مباسط
A woman said, 'Why do you not, being his friend,
And whoever bears the delay of trees in bearing,
go forth with hands outstretched toward you—
Will provide him with fertility though the year is dry.
يدٌone hand تبتغيseeks عُرفاًkindness وأخرىand another خفاءةًa covering
يدٌ تبتغي عُرفاً وأخرى خفاءةً
إذاwhen ضافتbefell الناسَpeople الهناتُcalamities البطائِطimmense
إذا ضافت الناسَ الهناتُ البطائِط
one hand seeking kindness, another a covering—
He will rain upon my branches and I will thrive,
when immense calamities befall people?'
And for the despairing, in my leaves, handholds.
فقلتُso I said لهاto her فيئيreturn إليكِto yourself ذميمةًblameworthy
فقلتُ لها فيئي إليكِ ذميمةً
فلنfor never تُبصرwill see النورَthe light الجليَّclear الوطاوطbats
فلن تُبصر النورَ الجليَّ الوطاوط
I told her, 'Draw back into yourself, deserving blame;
I am not, though remoteness came between us,
bats will never see the clear light.
With any resentment; his gifts mediate between us.
ألمْdid you not تعلميknow أنَّthat العلاءَal-ʿAlāʾ علىfollows الهُدىguidance
ألمْ تعلمي أنَّ العلاءَ على الهُدى
إذاwhen ضلّlose their way ثيرانُthe wild bulls of الفلاةِthe wilderness النواشطُroaming
إذا ضلّ ثيرانُ الفلاةِ النواشطُ
Do you not know that al-ʿAlāʾ follows guidance
Gifts that visit the outstretched hand, and if
when the roaming wild bulls of the wilderness lose their way?
The Pleiades became the lowest of his houses.
وأنْand that ليسis not حظيmy share ساقطاًlost عندwith مِثلهِone like him
وأنْ ليس حظي ساقطاً عند مِثلهِ
ولاnor حَظُّهhis share عنof حمدِthe praise of مثليَone like me ساقِطُlost
ولا حَظُّه عن حمدِ مثليَ ساقِطُ
And that my share is not lost with one like him,
So I have shown only patience and forbearance,
nor is his claim to the praise of one like me lost?
Even if hardship of livelihood oppresses me.
لهhe has فيَّfor me تدبيرٌa plan وللَّهِand God has قبلَهُbefore him
له فيَّ تدبيرٌ وللَّهِ قبلَهُ
سيثمرُit will bear fruit ليfor me ماas long as أثمرproduces الطلعَdate-blossoms حائطُan orchard
سيثمرُ لي ما أثمر الطلعَ حائطُ
He has a plan for me, and God before him;
When it appears that I am humble in prohibition,
it will bear fruit for me as long as an orchard produces date-blossoms.
It becomes clear that I am silent in generosity.
ومنand whoever يحتملendures مطلَthe delay of الغِراسthe plantings بحملِهاin their fruit-bearing
ومن يحتمل مطلَ الغِراس بحملِها
يُمتِّعنهthey will let him enjoy بالخِصبabundance والعامُwhile the year قاحِطُis drought-stricken
يُمتِّعنه بالخِصب والعامُ قاحِطُ
Whoever endures the plantings' delay in bearing fruit
Observe him with hands extended in his favor,
will enjoy their abundance even in a drought-stricken year.
For it is God's hand that he extends.
سيُمطرwill rain upon عيدانيmy branches جَداهُhis bounty فأغتديso I go forth in the morning
سيُمطر عيداني جَداهُ فأغتدي
وفيand in ورقيmy foliage للخابطينfor leaf-beaters مخابطplaces to strike
وفي ورقي للخابطين مخابط
His bounty will rain upon my branches, and I shall go forth in the morning
Thoughts of praise came about him as if
with foliage offering places for those who beat down leaves.
Conditions were set upon them by rhyming.
ولستُand I am not وإنeven if غالتهُcarried him away عنّيَfrom me واسطٌWāsiṭ
ولستُ وإن غالتهُ عنّيَ واسطٌ
بغائلةٍstealing away عنىfrom me عطاياهُhis gifts واسطWāsiṭ
بغائلةٍ عنى عطاياهُ واسط
I am not—though Wāsiṭ has carried him away from me—
And poetry was inspired until it was as if
one from whom Wāsiṭ can steal away his gifts.
Female singers responded, vying.
عطاياgifts تزورُthat visit المستنيلَthe seeker of bounty ولوeven if غداbecame
عطايا تزورُ المستنيلَ ولو غدا
سرنديبُSarandīb أدنىthe nearest part of دارهhis home وشلاهِطand Shalāhiṭ
سرنديبُ أدنى داره وشلاهِط
Gifts that visit the seeker, even if
No rain increased in the breeze of his qualities with praise,
Sarandīb and Shalāhiṭ were his nearest abode.
But only the musk was stirred by the air.
فليسso not يرىhe sees منيfrom me سِوىexcept الصَّبرpatience شيمةًas a trait
فليس يرى مني سِوى الصَّبر شيمةً
ولوeven if مسَّنيtouched me جهدٌhardship منin العيشlife ضاغطcrushing
ولو مسَّني جهدٌ من العيش ضاغط
He will see no trait in me but patience,
So say, O praiser, al-‘Ala ibn Sa’id,
even if crushing hardship in life should touch me.
Even if his enviers’ rage against him grows.
متىwhenever لاحَit appears أنيthat I حينwhen أحرمُam deprived جازعٌam impatient
متى لاحَ أني حين أحرمُ جازعٌ
فقدthen indeed بانَit is clear أنيthat I حينwhen أكرمُam honored غامطُam ungrateful
فقد بانَ أني حين أكرمُ غامطُ
If it appears that I am impatient when deprived,
You have spoken truth, eloquence assisted him,
it shows that I am ungrateful when honored.
While among people one errs even with guidance.
تأملهcontemplate him مبسوطَoutstretched اليدينboth hands بفضلهِin his generosity
تأمله مبسوطَ اليدين بفضلهِ
فثَمَّthere then يدُis the hand of اللَّهِGod التيwhich هوhe باسطُextends
فثَمَّ يدُ اللَّهِ التي هو باسطُ
Contemplate him with both hands outstretched in generosity:
It is no wonder that speech obeyed you,
there is the hand of God, which he extends.
For the one you have glorified is an ocean overflowing.
تأتَّتْcame readily معانيthe meanings of المدحpraise فيهin him كأنماas though
تأتَّتْ معاني المدح فيه كأنما
عليهاupon them بإسعافِto assist القوافيthe rhymes شرائطstipulations
عليها بإسعافِ القوافي شرائط
The meanings of praise come readily in him, as though
You adorned the ocean with pearls and its pearls
bound by stipulations to accommodate the rhymes.
Are ready, so the oyster beds were not far for you.
وأطربَand sang delightedly فيهof him الشعرُpoetry حتىuntil كأنماas though
وأطربَ فيه الشعرُ حتى كأنما
تجاوبَanswered one another قيناتٌsinging women بهthrough it وبرابطand lutes
تجاوبَ قيناتٌ به وبرابط
Poetry sings delightedly of him, as though
You strung for him there a necklace to adorn him,
singing women and lutes answered one another through it.
And crafted for him the best ever crafted by a stringer.
وماand not زادَadded مُطرٍa panegyrist فيِto نسيمthe fragrance of خلالِهhis virtues
وما زادَ مُطرٍ فيِ نسيم خلالِه
بمدحٍby praise ولكنbut حرَّكstirred المسكَthe musk سائطُa stirrer
بمدحٍ ولكن حرَّك المسكَ سائطُ
No panegyrist adds to the fragrance of his virtues
You did not bargain for payment, so your reward is due,
by praising; rather, a stirrer has stirred the musk.
And most obligatory reward is for one who does not stipulate.
فقلso speak أيهاO المُطريpanegyrist of العلاءَal-ʿAlāʾ بنson of صاعدٍṢāʿid
فقل أيها المُطري العلاءَ بن صاعدٍ
وإنeven if كَثُرتْbecame many منfrom حاسديهhis enviers المساخِطُresentments
وإن كَثُرتْ من حاسديه المساخِطُ
So speak, O panegyrist of al-ʿAlāʾ ibn Ṣāʿid,
So trust in what you hope for and feel safe from what
though his enviers' resentments be many.
You fear; the missed targets have avoided you.
نطقْتَyou spoke بحقtruth ساعدتهsupported it بلاغةٌeloquence
نطقْتَ بحق ساعدته بلاغةٌ
وفيand among الناسpeople هادٍone knowing the way حينwhen يسريtraveling by night وخابِطُand one stumbling
وفي الناس هادٍ حين يسري وخابِطُ
You have spoken truth supported by eloquence;
among people, one knows his way by night, another stumbles.
وغيرُand not عجيبastonishing أنthat أطاعكَobeyed you منطقٌspeech
وغيرُ عجيب أن أطاعكَ منطقٌ
لأنbecause الذيthe one whom مجَّدْتَyou glorified بحرٌis a sea غطامِطroaring
لأن الذي مجَّدْتَ بحرٌ غطامِط
It is no wonder that speech obeyed you,
for the man you glorified is a roaring sea.
طفِقْتyou began تُحلِّيadorning البحرthe sea درّاًwith pearls ودرُّهُwhile its pearls
طفِقْت تُحلِّي البحر درّاً ودرُّهُ
عتيدٌwere ready فلمso not تبعدwere distant عليكَfrom you الملاقطgathering places
عتيدٌ فلم تبعد عليكَ الملاقط
You began adorning the sea with pearls, while its pearls
lay ready, so their gathering places were not far from you.
نظمتَyou strung لهfor him منهfrom him حُلِيّاًornaments تزينُهُadorning him
نظمتَ له منه حُلِيّاً تزينُهُ
ونُطتَand you hung عليهupon him خيرthe finest ماthat ناطever hung نائطa hanger
ونُطتَ عليه خير ما ناط نائط
You strung ornaments for him from himself, adorning him,
and hung upon him the finest thing anyone ever hung.
ولمand not تشترطyou stipulated أجراًa reward فأجركso your reward واجبٌis due
ولم تشترط أجراً فأجرك واجبٌ
وأوجبُand most deserved أجرٍreward أجرُis the reward of منone who لاdoes not يشارطُbargain
وأوجبُ أجرٍ أجرُ من لا يشارطُ
You stipulated no reward, yet your reward is due;
the most deserved reward belongs to one who does not bargain.
فثِقْso trust بالذيin what ترجوهyou hope for وأْمَنْand feel safe منfrom الذيwhat
فثِقْ بالذي ترجوه وأْمَنْ من الذي
تُحاذرُهُyou fear قدalready أخطأتاكhave both missed you الموارطُthe perils
تُحاذرُهُ قد أخطأتاك الموارطُ
So trust in what you hope for, and feel safe from what
you fear: both perils have missed you.'
Partial English translation: 168 of 180 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1