شهدت بعض المخاني

شهدت بعض المخاني

ث والطريف طريفُ

ث والطريف طريفُ

I saw one of the effeminate—

I witnessed some taverns,

—men; and the curious thing was curious indeed.

Full of mirth and merriment.

فقام من جنب عمروٍ

فقام من جنب عمروٍ

وللشقيِّ حفيفُ

وللشقيِّ حفيفُ

He rose from beside ʿAmr,

So from beside Amr arose,

and the wretch made a rustling sound.

A forlorn and hapless gent.

فقلت أنى ولم قم

فقلت أنى ولم قم

ت خائفاً يا سخيف

ت خائفاً يا سخيف

I said, 'Where to, and why did you get—

I said, whence came you, frightened fool?

—up in fear, you fool?'

Why so fearful and upset?

فقال لا تلحينِّي

فقال لا تلحينِّي

فأنف عمرو مخيف

فأنف عمرو مخيف

He said, 'Do not reproach me:

He said, do not mock me,

for ʿAmr's nose is frightening.'

For Amr's nose is violent.

فقلت صحِّف مخيفاً

فقلت صحِّف مخيفاً

فأنف عمرو مجيف

فأنف عمرو مجيف

I said, 'Change the dot in mukhīf, “frightening”:

I said, you mispronounce violent,

for ʿAmr's nose is mujīf, “foul-smelling.”

Amr's nose smells malodorous.

بل أنف عمرو وفوهُ

بل أنف عمرو وفوهُ

بالوعة وكنيف

بالوعة وكنيف

Rather, ʿAmr's nose and mouth

Nay, Amr's nose and mouth

are a drain and a latrine.'

Are burdened and woeful.

فقال رأي قويٌّ

فقال رأي قويٌّ

رآه شيخٌ ضعف

رآه شيخٌ ضعف

He said, 'A strong opinion,

He said, that view is unfounded,

conceived by an old man grown weak!

Seen by a weak elder.

إن كان عمرو رأى مث

إن كان عمرو رأى مث

له فعمرو حنيف

له فعمرو حنيف

If ʿAmr has held a view like—

If Amr saw such a sight,

—it, then ʿAmr is an upright believer.'

Then Amr is rightly guided.