طَربتُI yearned joyfully إلىtoward رَيْحانةِsweet basil الأنفِthe nose والقلبِand the heart
طَربتُ إلى رَيْحانةِ الأنفِ والقلبِ
وأعمالهاand its effects بينamong العوازفthe musical instruments والشَّرْبِand the drinkers
وأعمالها بين العوازف والشَّرْبِ
I yearned joyfully for the sweet basil of nose and heart,
I yearned for the basil of the soul and heart,
and its effects amid musical instruments and drinking companions.
And its deeds amidst musicians and drink.
ولاand no عيشَlife إلاexcept بينamong أكوابِcups قهوةٍwine
ولا عيشَ إلا بين أكوابِ قهوةٍ
تَوَارَثَهاinherited it successively عَقْبٌa generation منof الفرسthe Persians عنfrom عقبِa generation
تَوَارَثَها عَقْبٌ من الفرس عن عقبِ
There is no life except amid cups of wine,
There is no life but between coffee cups
inherited by one generation of Persians from another.
Inherited from the Persians, generation after generation.
منamong الكُمْتthe dark-red wines قبلbefore المزجmixing صهباءُtawny-red بعدَهُafter it
من الكُمْت قبل المزج صهباءُ بعدَهُ
سليلةُoffspring جُونٍblack grapes غيرnot كُمْتٍdark-red ولاnor صُهبِtawny-red
سليلةُ جُونٍ غير كُمْتٍ ولا صُهبِ
Dark reddish-brown before mixing, tawny-red afterward,
Before brewing, the beans are gray, and after
the offspring of black grapes, neither reddish-brown nor tawny.
A progeny of exquisite coffee, not chaff or gray.
سُلالةextract كرمٍa vine شارفٍaged غيرexcept أنهاthat it is
سُلالة كرمٍ شارفٍ غير أنها
عُلالةُremaining yield عودan old camel منamong دِنانwine jars القُرىthe villages ثِلْبِdecrepit
عُلالةُ عود من دِنان القُرى ثِلْبِ
The extract of an aged vine, though it is
A progeny of generous, lofty palm trees, yet it is
the last yield of a decrepit old camel among the village wine jars.
A potion of village palm trunks, thick and viscous.
تأتَّتْgently undertook أكفُّhands القاطفينthe pickers قِطافَهاits gathering
تأتَّتْ أكفُّ القاطفين قِطافَها
فسالتso it flowed بلاwithout عَصْرٍpressing ودَرَّتand yielded milk بلاwithout عَصْبِbinding
فسالت بلا عَصْرٍ ودَرَّت بلا عَصْبِ
The pickers' hands gently managed its gathering,
The hands of the pickers came and harvested it,
so it flowed without pressing and yielded milk without binding.
So it flowed without pressing, and dripped without straining.
أطافتcircled بهاaround it الأيامُthe days حتىuntil كأنهاas though it were
أطافت بها الأيامُ حتى كأنها
حُشاشةُlast spark نفسof a soul شارفَتْneared منقضىthe ending نحبِof a life's term
حُشاشةُ نفس شارفَتْ منقضى نحبِ
The days circled it until it seemed
The days turned it until it became
the last spark of a soul nearing its appointed end.
Like the soul of one nearing the end of life.
لهاit has منظرٌan appearance فيin العينthe eye يشهدُtestifies حسنُهُits beauty
لها منظرٌ في العين يشهدُ حسنُهُ
علىto مَخْبِرٍinner nature يُهديbrings السرورَjoy إلىto القلبِthe heart
على مَخْبِرٍ يُهدي السرورَ إلى القلبِ
Its appearance to the eye has a beauty that testifies
Its look charms the eye, its beauty bearing
to an inward nature that brings joy to the heart.
Witness to the heart, spreading joy within.
تردُّrestores صفاءclarity العيشof life مثلَlike صفائهاits clarity
تردُّ صفاء العيش مثلَ صفائها
وتكشفُand removes عنfrom ذيone afflicted with الكربdistress غاشيةthe pall الكربِof distress
وتكشفُ عن ذي الكرب غاشية الكربِ
It restores life's clarity to match its own,
It restores the clarity of life, like its own clarity,
and lifts the pall of distress from the distressed.
And unveils the shroud of gloom from the gloomy soul.
جلاهاcleansed it منof الأطباعimpurities طولُthe length ثَوائهاof its repose
جلاها من الأطباع طولُ ثَوائها
وإمرارُهاand its passing through الأحقابَthe ages حِقباًan age إلىto حقبِan age
وإمرارُها الأحقابَ حِقباً إلى حقبِ
Its long repose cleansed it of impurities,
Its long storage removed its coarseness,
as did its passage through the ages, age upon age.
As it passed through epochs, from epoch unto epoch.
فلوso if رُفعتْit were raised فيon رأسthe summit علياءَa height لاهتدىwould be guided
فلو رُفعتْ في رأس علياءَ لاهتدى
بكوكبهاby its star السارونَnight travelers فيin الشرقthe east والغربِand the west
بكوكبها السارونَ في الشرق والغربِ
Were it raised upon the summit of a height,
If lifted atop a tall minaret, it would guide
night travelers in east and west would be guided by its star.
Travelers in East and West with its bright star.
غَنِيٌّfree of need عنfor الريحانbasil مجلسُthe gathering شَرْبهاof its drinkers
غَنِيٌّ عن الريحان مجلسُ شَرْبها
بنشرٍwith a fragrance كنشرlike the scent المسكof musk فيin مُحتوىًa store نهبِplundered
بنشرٍ كنشر المسك في مُحتوىً نهبِ
Its drinkers' gathering has no need of basil,
A gathering with its drink needs no basil,
with fragrance like musk's in a plundered store.
With fragrance like musk in a perfumed wrap.
ولمand never ترَyou saw موموقاًanything beloved إلىto النفسthe soul مثلهاlike it
ولم ترَ موموقاً إلى النفس مثلها
تُشَمُّis smelled فتُلقىthen is met بالعبوسwith scowling وبالقَطْبِand with knitted brows
تُشَمُّ فتُلقى بالعبوس وبالقَطْبِ
Nor have you seen anything beloved of the soul like it,
Never did I see anything so delightful to the soul,
which, when smelled, is met with scowls and knitted brows.
Inhaled with a frown or a sullen face.
يناضلfights عنهاon its behalf الماءthe water حينwhen يَشُجُّهاit wounds it
يناضل عنها الماء حين يَشُجُّها
نفِيٌّa spray لهاof its own مثلُlike الدَّباyoung locusts لجَّpersisted فيin الوَثْبِleaping
نفِيٌّ لها مثلُ الدَّبا لجَّ في الوَثْبِ
It is defended against the water, when that wounds it,
When it boils, water contends with it,
by its own spray, like young locusts leaping relentlessly.
Shunning it as gazelles shun a hungry wolf.
لهاit has مَكْرعٌa drinking-place سهلٌeasy يخبِّرindicates أنهاthat it is
لها مَكْرعٌ سهلٌ يخبِّر أنها
ذَلولdocile وفيهاand in it سَورةُthe fury الجامحof the headstrong steed الصعبِthe untamable
ذَلول وفيها سَورةُ الجامح الصعبِ
Its drinking-place is easy of approach, suggesting it is
It has a smooth and easy flowing juice, indicating
docile, though it holds the fury of a headstrong, untamable steed.
That it is gentle, though it originated from the wild palm.
سأَعصِيI shall defy إليهاto reach it اللَّومَreproach فيin بطنِthe heart روضةٍof a meadow
سأَعصِي إليها اللَّومَ في بطنِ روضةٍ
كساهاclothed it الحياthe rain نَوْراًwith blossoms كأرديةِlike robes العَصْبِof striped cloth
كساها الحيا نَوْراً كأرديةِ العَصْبِ
To reach it I shall defy reproach, in the heart of a meadow
In a garden blooming with flowers like a cloak,
that rain has clothed with blossoms like robes of striped cloth.
I will disobey the blamers and drink it,
وكمand how many مثلهاlike it منof بنتِa daughter كرمٍof the vine جلوتُهاI unveiled it
وكم مثلها من بنتِ كرمٍ جلوتُها
علىbefore كلِّevery خِرقgenerous nobleman ماجدnoble الجَدِّin ancestry منamong صحبيmy companions
على كلِّ خِرق ماجد الجَدِّ من صحبي
How many daughters of the vine like it have I unveiled
And many a daughter of generous palms have I reveled with,
before each generous, nobly descended man among my companions!
Above any companion of glorious ancestry from my people.
لهhe has خُلقٌa character عذبُsweet المذاقto the taste ولنand never ترىwill you see
له خُلقٌ عذبُ المذاق ولن ترى
مِزاجa blend كؤوسfor cups الراحof wine كالخُلُقlike character العذبِthe sweet
مِزاج كؤوس الراح كالخُلُق العذبِ
He has a character sweet to the taste, and you will never find
My brother of charming morals, you will never see
a blend for cups of wine like a sweet character.
Moods in cups of wine like a charming mood.
يسرُّكdelights you فيin السراءgood times حُلوٌsweet نِدَامُهُhis convivial company
يسرُّك في السراء حُلوٌ نِدَامُهُ
وأنجَدُand more helpful فيin العَزَّاءِhardship منthan صارمa cutting sword عضبِkeen
وأنجَدُ في العَزَّاءِ من صارم عضبِ
He delights you in good times, sweet in his convivial company,
Your friendship delights in prosperity, sweetly regretted;
and is more helpful in hardship than a keen, cutting sword.
And most helpful in adversity, unlike a stern foe.
بمُونِقةin a meadow delighting الرُّوادpasture-seekers حُوٍّdark green تِلاعُهاits slopes
بمُونِقة الرُّواد حُوٍّ تِلاعُها
تُراعيkeep watch بهاin it الأُدمانُthe pale gazelles آمنَةَsafe السَّربِin their haunts
تُراعي بها الأُدمانُ آمنَةَ السَّربِ
In a meadow delighting pasture-seekers, its slopes dark green,
With a wink for regulars, alluring and softly alluring,
pale gazelles keep watch, safe in their haunts.
Safely drawing addicts in, unafraid of the spy.
صففناwe lined up أَباريقewers اللُّجينof silver حِيالهاopposite them
صففنا أَباريق اللُّجين حِيالها
فمثَّلْنَso they resembled سِرباًa herd مُشرئباًcraning its neck إلىtoward سرْبِa herd
فمثَّلْنَ سِرباً مُشرئباً إلى سرْبِ
We lined up silver ewers opposite them,
We lined up jugs of clay near it,
and they resembled a herd craning its neck toward another herd.
Forming a cluster of jars inclined toward a jar.
تظلkeep تُرانيهاgazing at them الظباءُthe gazelles تخالُهاimagining them
تظل تُرانيها الظباءُ تخالُها
ظِباءًgazelles وتدنوand draw near فهْيso they are مناto us علىin قُربِproximity
ظِباءً وتدنو فهْي منا على قُربِ
The gazelles keep gazing at them, imagining them
The doe still mistakes it for a doe, draws near
gazelles too, and draw near, coming close to us.
Thinking it a doe, though we are nearer.
إذاwhen نحنwe شئناwish عَلَّلتناentertain us صوادحٌsongbirds
إذا نحن شئنا عَلَّلتنا صوادحٌ
منamong الطيرthe birds جمَّاتِrich in الأهازيجmelodies والنَّصْبِand chants
من الطير جمَّاتِ الأهازيج والنَّصْبِ
Whenever we wish, songbirds entertain us,
When we desire, quails on the thickets serenade us
birds rich in lilting melodies and chants.
With melodies of love and passion.
فذاكso that نَصيبُthe share السَّلمof peace عنديwith me ولمand not أكنْI was
فذاك نَصيبُ السَّلم عندي ولم أكنْ
لأنسىone to forget نصيبَthe share الحربof war فيin نُوُبthe ordeals الحربِof war
لأنسى نصيبَ الحرب في نُوُب الحربِ
Such is my share of peace; I would not
Such is my share of peace, though I never forget
forget my share of war when war's ordeals come.
My share of war and its turmoils in times of war.
أخيmy brother دونabove إخوانيmy brothers إذاwhen الحربُwar شمَّرتgirded itself
أخي دون إخواني إذا الحربُ شمَّرت
حسامٌa cutting sword بحدَّيهon its two edges فُلولٌnotches منfrom الضربِstriking
حسامٌ بحدَّيه فُلولٌ من الضربِ
My brother above my other brothers, when war girds itself,
My brother, foremost among brothers when war dons
is a sword with both edges notched by blows.
Its raiment, outstanding among the striking horsemen.
لهit has حينwhen يعلوrises above قَوْنَسَthe helmet-crown القِرنof the opponent هَبَّةٌa swooping strike
له حين يعلو قَوْنَسَ القِرن هَبَّةٌ
تُواصلُconnects ماwhat lies بينbetween الذؤابةthe forelock والعَجْبِand the tailbone
تُواصلُ ما بين الذؤابة والعَجْبِ
When it rises above an adversary's helmet-crown, it has a swooping strike
When the battle grows fierce he charges likes lightning,
that joins forelock to tailbone.
Striking awe between the brave knight and the fearless hero.
إذاwhen شيمis glimpsed فيهin it بارقُlightning الموتof death أوor مَضْتflashed past
إذا شيم فيه بارقُ الموت أو مَضْت
بهon it صفحةٌa blade-face مثلُlike العقيقةa lightning-streak فيin الجلبِthe clouds
به صفحةٌ مثلُ العقيقة في الجلبِ
When death's lightning is glimpsed in it, or there flashes
When the light of death flashes in him, or a page turns
a blade-face like a lightning-streak amid the clouds.
In him like carnelian on a necklace,
ومُطَّردٌand a straight spear مثلlike الرِّشاءa well-rope تهزهmake it quiver
ومُطَّردٌ مثل الرِّشاء تهزه
كعوبٌjoints تدانتgrew close together فيهalong it مثلَlike نوىstones القَسْبِof dry dates
كعوبٌ تدانت فيه مثلَ نوى القَسْبِ
And a straight spear like a well-rope, made to quiver by
Or he is pierced by spears shaken
joints close-set along it, like the stones of dry dates.
By hooves that strike his side like the knots of twigs,
عليهon it سِنانٌa spearhead يَرْعُفُstreams الموتَdeath لهذمٌbroad and sharp
عليه سِنانٌ يَرْعُفُ الموتَ لهذمٌ
قليلُlittle given to التخفِّيhiding بالجوانحamong the ribs والجنبِand the flank
قليلُ التخفِّي بالجوانح والجنبِ
Upon it is a broad, keen spearhead that streams death,
On him is a blade that makes death tremble, destructive
scarcely concealed among the ribs and flank.
Though light, sparing the chest and side.
وكلّand every ابنson ريحٍof wind يسبِقُoutstrips الطرفَthe eye مَعْجُهits darting flight
وكلّ ابن ريحٍ يسبِقُ الطرفَ مَعْجُه
تُطَوِّحُهhurls it عَطْوَىa long-armed bow منوعاًwithholding لدىduring الجدبِdrought
تُطَوِّحُه عَطْوَى منوعاً لدى الجدبِ
And every son of the wind, whose darting flight outruns the eye,
His coat of mail is like an impenetrable pool
hurled by a long-armed bow, withholding in drought,
Repelling the blades of the angry, lethal sword.
صنيعٌwell-fashioned مَريشٌfeathered قوَّمstraightened القَيْنُthe craftsman متنَهits shaft
صنيعٌ مَريشٌ قوَّم القَيْنُ متنَه
فجاءso it emerged كماas though سُلَّwere drawn out النخاعthe marrow منfrom الصُّلْبِthe spine
فجاء كما سُلَّ النخاع من الصُّلْبِ
well-fashioned and feathered, its shaft straightened by the craftsman,
This is my horse over a smooth desert,
it emerged as though marrow had been drawn from a spine.
Letting the panting of the gallop flow from its wide nostrils,
يُغلغلُهُdrives it deep فيthrough الدرعthe armor نصلٌan arrowhead كأنهas though it were
يُغلغلُهُ في الدرع نصلٌ كأنه
لسانُthe tongue شجاعof a serpent مُخرَجٌthrust out همَّpoised باللَّسْبِto bite
لسانُ شجاع مُخرَجٌ همَّ باللَّسْبِ
An arrowhead drives it deep through armor, like
With a tail touching the ground when relaxed,
the thrust-out tongue of a serpent poised to bite.
Concealing its rear with abundant hair.
ومَوْضُونَةٌand a woven mail-coat مثلlike الغديرthe pool حصينةٌprotective
ومَوْضُونَةٌ مثل الغدير حصينةٌ
تفُلُّblunts شباةَthe sharp edge السيفِof the sword ذيpossessing المضربa striking edge العضبِkeen
تفُلُّ شباةَ السيفِ ذي المضرب العضبِ
And a close-woven coat of mail, strong as a pool,
When the hunt enters the fray, it has
that blunts the edge of a keen-striking sword.
A guaranteed withdrawal, achieving the goal.
فذاكso that عَتاديis my equipment فوقupon أجردَa sleek horse سابحٍswimming in its gallop
فذاك عَتادي فوق أجردَ سابحٍ
يُريحُvents زفيرَthe panting الجريof running منfrom منْخَرٍa nostril رحبِwide
يُريحُ زفيرَ الجري من منْخَرٍ رحبِ
Such is my equipment, upon a sleek, swimming steed
It points to the battle's blindness with hooves
that vents the panting of its gallop through a broad nostril:
Of mares given safety from the raid.
ذَنوبٍlong-tailed يمسtouches الأرضthe earth عندwhen صيامهit stands still
ذَنوبٍ يمس الأرض عند صيامه
بضافٍwith a full tail يواريconceals فرجَهُits privates سَبِطstraight الهُلْبِin tail-hair
بضافٍ يواري فرجَهُ سَبِط الهُلْبِ
long-tailed, touching the earth when it stands still
So when the mill of war spins one day,
with a full, straight-haired tail that conceals its privates.
I stand firm like the central pole star.
لهit has عندwhen إيغالthe deep plunging الطريدةof the quarry فيinto الوغىthe battle
له عند إيغال الطريدة في الوغى
أَجاريُّbursts of speed مضمونٌguaranteed لهاto them دَرَكُfulfillment الطَّلْبِof the pursuit
أَجاريُّ مضمونٌ لها دَرَكُ الطَّلْبِ
When the quarry plunges deep into the battle,
If the coward's saddle is delayed, you will find me
it has bursts of speed guaranteed to succeed in pursuit.
Plunging into the fray of stabbing and striking.
يُدِلُّtreads confidently علىupon صُمِّthe hard الصفاstone بحوافرwith hooves
يُدِلُّ على صُمِّ الصفا بحوافر
منamong اللائيthose which أُعطينwere granted الأمانsafety منfrom النَّكبِinjury
من اللائي أُعطين الأمان من النَّكبِ
It treads confidently on solid rock with hooves
When my spears meet me, their points
among those granted immunity from injury.
On a blow or a jab are like scissors snipping.
بذلكwith that إنif دارتturned رحَىthe millstone الحربof war مرةًonce
بذلك إن دارت رحَى الحرب مرةً
ثبتُّI stood firm ثباتَwith the firmness القطبof the axle فيin مركزthe socket القطبِof the axle
ثبتُّ ثباتَ القطب في مركز القطبِ
With that, if war's millstone should turn once,
I am forebearing and reckless behind it,
I stand firm as the axle in the axle's socket.
So forbearance for the forbearing, recklessness for the reckless one.
إذاwhen أُخِّرتْis held back سرجُthe saddle الجبانof the coward وجدتَنيand you find me
إذا أُخِّرتْ سرجُ الجبان وجدتَني
أغامسهاplunging into it فيinto حومةthe thick الطعنof thrusting والضربِand striking
أغامسها في حومة الطعن والضربِ
When the coward's saddle is held back, you find me
I sniff and track down the trail like a hound,
plunging into war, in the thick of thrusting and striking.
My poems descending on the encampments like rain.
متىwhenever يَلقنيmeets me قِرْنِيmy opponent فإنّthen indeed قُصارَهُhis final lot
متى يَلقني قِرْنِي فإنّ قُصارَهُ
علىcomes down to ضَربةٍa blow أوor طعنةa thrust ثَرَّةِcopious in الشَّخبِgushing blood
على ضَربةٍ أو طعنة ثَرَّةِ الشَّخبِ
Whenever my opponent meets me, his final lot comes down
When the pastures of Ishaar rebel, I milk them
to a blow or a thrust gushing copious blood.
With blood and feet - such are my milkings.
وإنيand I indeed لذوsurely possess حلمٍforbearance وشَغْبٍand belligerence وراءهbehind it
وإني لذو حلمٍ وشَغْبٍ وراءه
فحلمٌso forbearance لذيfor one possessing حلمٍforbearance وشغبand belligerence لذيfor one possessing شغبِbelligerence
فحلمٌ لذي حلمٍ وشغب لذي شغبِ
I have forbearance, and belligerence behind it:
I return the branded camels, their eyes
forbearance for the forbearing, belligerence for the belligerent.
Sunk like a flask in the well.
وإنيand I indeed لنَحَّارsurely slaughter lavishly لدىduring الأَزْبِhardship لاnot يَنيslackens
وإني لنَحَّار لدى الأَزْبِ لا يَني
قِرايَmy hospitality منfrom الكُومhigh-humped camels المقاصيدthe well-fleshed كالهَضْبِlike hills
قِرايَ من الكُوم المقاصيد كالهَضْبِ
And I slaughter lavishly in hardship; never slackens
I folded their guts like a cloak after
my hospitality of high-humped, well-fleshed camels like hills.
Folding the plains with them unto plain after plain.
إذاwhen حاردتْcease yielding milk خورُplentiful-milked العِشارheavy-pregnant camels حلبتهاI milk them
إذا حاردتْ خورُ العِشار حلبتها
دماءًblood وقدْماًand long ago كانwas ذلكthat منof حلبيmy milking
دماءً وقدْماً كان ذلك من حلبي
When the milk-rich, heavy-pregnant camels run dry, I milk them
I am the son of Sha'hab, warrior lion, exalted,
for blood; that has long been part of my milking.
No boast, for boasting is a branch of vanity.
وقدand sometimes يَرْجعُreduces الوجناءَthe sturdy she-camel سيريmy traveling وعينُهاand her eye
وقد يَرْجعُ الوجناءَ سيري وعينُها
مُهَوَّكةٌsunken مثلُlike الصُّبابةthe last water فيin الوَقْبِa hollow
مُهَوَّكةٌ مثلُ الصُّبابة في الوَقْبِ
My traveling may leave a sturdy she-camel with her eye
I have many a glorious father and glorious son
sunken like a little water left in a hollow.
Whose nobility nurtures nobility.
طويتُI folded حشاهاher belly طيّةَlike the fold البُردof a cloak بعدماafter
طويتُ حشاها طيّةَ البُرد بعدما
طويتُI folded away بهاon her سهباًa wilderness عريضاًwide إلىto سهبِa wilderness
طويتُ بها سهباً عريضاً إلى سهبِ
I folded her belly as a cloak is folded, after
If his palms rain generosity, he lights up
folding away, on her back, wide wilderness after wilderness.
The land, and its expanse shakes with fertility.
أناI ابنam the son شهابِof the meteor الحربof war يونانYunan ذيpossessing العلاeminence
أنا ابن شهابِ الحرب يونان ذي العلا
ولاand no فَخرboasting إنfor indeed الفخرboasting فرعٌa branch منof العُجْبِself-conceit
ولا فَخر إن الفخر فرعٌ من العُجْبِ
I am the son of Yunan, the meteor of war, lord of eminence;
If enemies attempt their scheming one day,
I make no boast, for boasting is a branch of self-conceit.
I ruin them with a sweeping flood.
وكمand how many منof أبٍan ancestor ليof mine ماجدnoble وابنand a son ماجدof a nobleman
وكم من أبٍ لي ماجد وابن ماجد
لهhe has شرفhonor يُرْبيsurpasses علىabove الشرفhonor المُرْبيthe towering
له شرف يُرْبي على الشرف المُرْبي
How many an ancestor of mine was noble, a nobleman's son,
I have many a free, unsaddled colt
his honor surpassing even towering honor!
Who says when performing a deed of honor, “Enough!”
إذاwhen مَطرتْrained كفّاهُhis two hands بالبذلwith generosity نَوَّرتْbloomed
إذا مَطرتْ كفّاهُ بالبذل نَوَّرتْ
لهfor him الأرضُthe earth واهتزتand stirred رُباهاits hills منfrom الخصْبfertility
له الأرضُ واهتزت رُباها من الخصْب
When his two hands rained generosity, there bloomed
My trusted brother - if all the people
for him the earth, and its hills stirred with fertility.
Became one party against me, he would be my party.
وإنand if حاولattempted الأعداءُthe enemies يوماًone day بكيدِهby scheming against him
وإن حاول الأعداءُ يوماً بكيدِه
أحلَّbrought down بمنupon whoever عاداهopposed him راغيةَthe bellowing السَّقبِof the camel-calf
أحلَّ بمن عاداه راغيةَ السَّقبِ
And if enemies ever tried to scheme against him,
I confide in him whether pleased or angry,
he brought the camel-calf's bellow upon whoever opposed him.
Counting him a tongue and sword in talk and in speech.
وحُرٍّand a freeborn man منamong الفتيانyoung men ليسnot being بقُعْدُدٍa laggard
وحُرٍّ من الفتيان ليس بقُعْدُدٍ
ولاnor قائلٍone saying منafter فعلِperforming مكرمةٍa noble deed حَسْبيenough for me
ولا قائلٍ من فعلِ مكرمةٍ حَسْبي
And many a freeborn young man, no laggard,
I made his heart privy to my protected bond,
nor one who says after a noble deed, 'Enough for me!'
Admitting none but him to my plains and wide lands,
أخيa brother of ثقةٍtrust لوif أصبحbecame الناسُpeople كلهمall of them
أخي ثقةٍ لو أصبح الناسُ كلهم
عليَّagainst me معاًtogether حِزباًa party لأصبحhe would become منof حزبيmy party
عليَّ معاً حِزباً لأصبح من حزبي
A trusted brother: were all people to become
When comrades share drink, my soul's love for him
one united party against me, he would be of my party.
Remains sincere, not shared with drinking friends.
أنوءُI shoulder burdens بهwith him فيماin whatever عراbefell وأعدُّهُand count him
أنوءُ به فيما عرا وأعدُّهُ
لساناًa tongue وسيفاًand a sword فيin الخطابspeech وفيand in الخَطْبِcrisis
لساناً وسيفاً في الخطاب وفي الخَطْبِ
With him I shoulder whatever befalls, and reckon him
Those who envied tried to make mischief between us
a tongue and a sword, in speech and in crisis.
But failed, whether in deceit or enmity.
أبحتُI opened حمىthe sanctuary قلبيof my heart لهto him دونexcluding غيرهanyone else
أبحتُ حمى قلبي له دون غيره
وأنزلتُهُand lodged him فيin السهلthe level ground منهof it وفيand in الرَّحْبِthe spacious part
وأنزلتُهُ في السهل منه وفي الرَّحْبِ
I opened the sanctuary of my heart to him, excluding all others,
Except that they signaled their disaffection,
and lodged him in its level ground and spacious reaches.
Which pleased us despite the reproach.
إذاwhen اشتركَshare الورَّادُthe water-seekers فيin الشِّربthe draught أخلصتْreserved exclusively
إذا اشتركَ الورَّادُ في الشِّرب أخلصتْ
لهfor him النفسُthe soul وُدّاًlove غيرَnot مشتركِshared الشِّربِin its draught
له النفسُ وُدّاً غيرَ مشتركِ الشِّربِ
When water-seekers share their draught, there is reserved
They were hostile so we recognized bitterness in estrangement
for him my soul's love, a draught no other shares.
And pardoned them all their misdeeds.
وقدand indeed حاولattempted الواشونthe slanderers إفسادspoiling بينناour bond
وقد حاول الواشون إفساد بيننا
فأعيىbut it proved impossible علىfor ذيthe one possessing المكرِcunning منهمamong them وذيand the one possessing الإربِshrewdness
فأعيى على ذي المكرِ منهم وذي الإربِ
The slanderers tried to spoil what was between us,
Then we reconciled, pleased by
but it baffled their schemers and their cunning men,
Reunion, while they barked like dogs in the distance.
سوىexcept أنهمthat they قدindeed آذنوناmade us aware بجفوةٍof estrangement
سوى أنهم قد آذنونا بجفوةٍ
أدالتgave victory to رضاناour contentment ماas long as حَييناwe live منover العَتْبِreproach
أدالت رضانا ما حَيينا من العَتْبِ
save that they acquainted us with estrangement,
which gave our contentment victory over reproach for all our lives.
وَشَوْاthey slandered فعرَفناso we learned للتجافيof estrangement مرارةًbitterness
وَشَوْا فعرَفنا للتجافي مرارةً
وهبناwe forgave لهاfor its sake مهماwhatever أتيناهwe had committed it منof ذنبِa fault
وهبنا لها مهما أتيناه من ذنبِ
They slandered us, and we learned estrangement's bitterness;
for its sake we forgave whatever faults we had committed.
فعُدناso we returned وأصبحناand we became بحيثwhere يسرُّناit delights us
فعُدنا وأصبحنا بحيث يسرُّنا
منof الوصلِreunion والواشونwhile the slanderers فيin مَزْجَرthe place of rebuff الكلبِof the dog
من الوصلِ والواشون في مَزْجَر الكلبِ
So we returned, and found ourselves in the joy
of reunion, while the slanderers stand where a dog is driven off.
Partial English translation: 108 of 114 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1