لِبيضِfor white الطُلىnecks وَلِسودِand for black اللِمَمtresses
لِبيضِ الطُلى وَلِسودِ اللِمَم
بِعَقلِيَin my mind مُذsince بِنَّthey departed عَنّيfrom me لَمَمa touch of madness
بِعَقلِيَ مُذ بِنَّ عَنّي لَمَم
Because of white necks and black tresses,
a touch of madness has haunted my mind since they left me.
فَفيso in ناظِريmy eye عَنto رَشادٍright guidance عَمىًblindness
فَفي ناظِري عَن رَشادٍ عَمىً
وَفيand in أُذُنيmy ear عَنto مَلامٍreproach صَمَمdeafness
وَفي أُذُني عَن مَلامٍ صَمَم
So my eye is blind to right guidance,
and my ear is deaf to reproach.
قَضَتdecreed بِشِماسيin favor of my defiance عَلىagainst العاذِلينَthe reproachers
قَضَت بِشِماسي عَلى العاذِلينَ
شُموسٌsuns مُكَلَّلَةٌcrowned بِالظُلَمwith darkness
شُموسٌ مُكَلَّلَةٌ بِالظُلَم
My defiance of the reproachers was decreed
by suns crowned with darkness.
فَماso not سَقِمَتfell sick لَحَظاتُglances العُيوthe eyes (continued)
فَما سَقِمَت لَحَظاتُ العُيو
نِ(completion of 'eyes') إِلّاexcept لِتُغرِيَنيto entice me بِالسَقَمinto sickness
نِ إِلّا لِتُغرِيَني بِالسَقَم
So the eyes' glances fell sick
only to lure me into sickness.
يَلومُblames الخَلِيُّone untroubled by love عَلىfor أَنthat أُجَنَّI go mad
يَلومُ الخَلِيُّ عَلى أَن أُجَنَّ
وَقَدwhile already مَزَجَmingled الشَوقُyearning دَمعيmy tears بدَمwith blood
وَقَد مَزَجَ الشَوقُ دَمعي بدَم
The man untroubled by love blames me for going mad,
while yearning has mingled my tears with blood.
وَماand not ذوone possessing التَذَكُّرِremembrance مِمَّنamong those who يُلامُis blamed
وَما ذو التَذَكُّرِ مِمَّن يُلامُ
وَلاnor كَرَمُnobility العَهدِthe covenant مِمّاamong what يُذَمis censured
وَلا كَرَمُ العَهدِ مِمّا يُذَم
One who remembers is not to be blamed,
nor is fidelity to a covenant to be censured.
وَإِنّيand indeed I أَراحُrejoice إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) الجَنوthe south wind (continued)
وَإِنّي أَراحُ إِذا ما الجَنو
بُ(completion of 'south wind') راحَتcame بِرِيّاwith the scent of جَنوبِthe southern side of العَلَمthe hill
بُ راحَت بِرِيّا جَنوبِ العَلَم
And I rejoice whenever the south wind
comes bearing the scent of the hill's southern side.
وَأَصبوand I yearn لِعِرفانِon recognizing عَرفِthe scent of الصَباthe east wind
وَأَصبو لِعِرفانِ عَرفِ الصَبا
وَأُهديand I offer السَلامَgreetings إِلىto ذيDhu (possessor of) سَلَمSalam
وَأُهدي السَلامَ إِلى ذي سَلَم
And I yearn on recognizing the east wind's scent,
and offer greetings to Dhu Salam.
وَمِنand from طَرَبٍrapture عادَreturned نَحوَtoward البُروthe lightning flashes (continued)
وَمِن طَرَبٍ عادَ نَحوَ البُرو
قِ(completion of 'lightning flashes') أَجهَشتُI burst into tears لِلبَرقِat the lightning حينَwhen اِبتَسَمit smiled
قِ أَجهَشتُ لِلبَرقِ حينَ اِبتَسَم
And in renewed longing for the lightning flashes,
I burst into tears when the lightning smiled.
أَماah وَزَمانٍby a time مَضىpassed عَهدُهُits days
أَما وَزَمانٍ مَضى عَهدُهُ
حَميداًpraiseworthy لَقَدindeed جارَwas unjust لَمّاwhen حَكَمit ruled
حَميداً لَقَد جارَ لَمّا حَكَم
Ah, by a time whose days passed
in honor—it was indeed unjust when it ruled.
قَضىdecreed بِالصَبابَةِardent longing ثُمَّthen اِنقَضىpassed away
قَضى بِالصَبابَةِ ثُمَّ اِنقَضى
وَماand not اِتَّصَلَwas joined الأُنسُcompanionship حَتّىuntil اِنصَرَمwas severed
وَما اِتَّصَلَ الأُنسُ حَتّى اِنصَرَم
It decreed ardent longing, then passed away;
scarcely had companionship begun before it was cut short.
لَياليnights نامَتslept عَيونُthe eyes of الوُشاthe tale-bearers (continued)
لَيالي نامَت عَيونُ الوُشا
ةِ(completion of 'tale-bearers') عَنّاaway from us وَعَينُand the eye of الرِضىcontentment لَمdid not تَنَمsleep
ةِ عَنّا وَعَينُ الرِضى لَم تَنَم
Nights when the tale-bearers' eyes slept,
heedless of us, while contentment's eye never slept.
وَمالَتand inclined عَلَيناover us غُصونُthe boughs of الهَوىlove
وَمالَت عَلَينا غُصونُ الهَوى
فَأَجنَتso bore ثِمارَthe fruits of المُنىdesire مِنfrom أَمَمclose at hand
فَأَجنَت ثِمارَ المُنى مِن أَمَم
And the boughs of love inclined over us,
and bore the fruits of desire close at hand.
وَأَيّامُناand our days مُذهَباتِgilded البُرودِrobes
وَأَيّامُنا مُذهَباتِ البُرودِ
رِقاقُdelicate الحَواشيthe hems صَوافيpure الأَدَمthe surfaces
رِقاقُ الحَواشي صَوافي الأَدَم
And our days wore gilded robes,
with delicate hems and unblemished surfaces.
كَأَنَّas if أَباAbu بَكرٍBakr الأَسلَمِيَّal-Aslami
كَأَنَّ أَبا بَكرٍ الأَسلَمِيَّ
أَجرىspread عَلَيهاover them فِرَندَthe damask pattern of الكَرَمgenerosity
أَجرى عَلَيها فِرَندَ الكَرَم
As though Abu Bakr al-Aslami
had spread over them generosity's damask pattern,
وَوَشَّحَand adorned زَهرَةَthe bloom of ذاكَthat الزَمانِage
وَوَشَّحَ زَهرَةَ ذاكَ الزَمانِ
بِماwith what حازَhe possessed مِنof زُهرِradiant ones تِلكَthose الشِيَمvirtues
بِما حازَ مِن زُهرِ تِلكَ الشِيَم
and adorned the bloom of that age
with the shining virtues he possessed.
هُوَhe الحاجِبُthe chamberlain المُعتَليascending لِلعُلاtoward glory
هُوَ الحاجِبُ المُعتَلي لِلعُلا
شَماريخَpinnacles كُلِّevery مُنيفٍlofty أَشَمproudly towering
شَماريخَ كُلِّ مُنيفٍ أَشَم
He is the chamberlain who, for glory, ascends
the pinnacles of every lofty, towering mountain.
مَليكٌa king إِذاwhen سابَقَتهُraced him المُلوكُthe kings
مَليكٌ إِذا سابَقَتهُ المُلوكُ
حَوىsecured الخَصلَthe prize أَوor ساهَمَتهُdrew lots with him سَهَمwon the draw
حَوى الخَصلَ أَو ساهَمَتهُ سَهَم
A king who, when other kings race him,
wins the prize; or, if they draw lots with him, wins the draw.
فَأَطوَلُهُمso the longest of them بِالأَياديin benefactions يَداًhand
فَأَطوَلُهُم بِالأَيادي يَداً
وَأَثبَتُهُمand the firmest of them فيin المَعاليhigh honors قَدَمfooting
وَأَثبَتُهُم في المَعالي قَدَم
Of them, his hand reaches farthest in bounty,
and his foot stands firmest in lofty attainments.
وَأَروَعُand a majestic man لامُعتَفيno seeker of رِفدِهِhis bounty
وَأَروَعُ لامُعتَفي رِفدِهِ
يَخيبُis disappointed وَلاnor جارُهُhis neighbor يُهتَضَمis wronged
يَخيبُ وَلا جارُهُ يُهتَضَم
And a majestic man: no seeker of his bounty
is disappointed, nor is his neighbor wronged.
ذَلولُtractable الدَماثَةِgentleness صَعبُunyielding الإِباءproud refusal
ذَلولُ الدَماثَةِ صَعبُ الإِباء
ثَقيفُfirm العَزيمِresolve إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) اِعتَزَمhe resolved
ثَقيفُ العَزيمِ إِذا ما اِعتَزَم
Gentle in manner, unyielding in dignity,
steadfast in purpose whenever he resolves.
سَماrose لِلمَجِرِّةِto the Milky Way فيin أُفقِهاits horizon
سَما لِلمَجِرِّةِ في أُفقِها
فَجَرَّso he dragged عَلَيهاover it ذُيولَtrailing skirts الهِمَمhigh aspirations
فَجَرَّ عَلَيها ذُيولَ الهِمَم
He rose to the Milky Way in its horizon,
and dragged across it the trailing skirts of aspiration.
وَناصَتand rivaled مَساعيهِhis endeavors زُهرَbright النُجومِthe stars
وَناصَت مَساعيهِ زُهرَ النُجومِ
وَبارَتand vied with عَطاياهُhis gifts وُطفَrain-laden clouds الدِيَمsteady rains
وَبارَت عَطاياهُ وُطفَ الدِيَم
His endeavors rivaled the brilliant stars,
and his gifts vied with rain-laden clouds of steady showers.
نَهيكٌa valiant man إِذاwhen جَنَّdescended لَيلُthe night of العَجاجِbattle-dust
نَهيكٌ إِذا جَنَّ لَيلُ العَجاجِ
سَرىjourneyed by night مِنهُfrom him فيthrough جُنحِهِits darkness بَدرُa full moon تِمّperfectly full
سَرى مِنهُ في جُنحِهِ بَدرُ تِمّ
A valiant man: when the night of battle-dust descends,
from him a full moon passes through its gloom.
فَشامَso sheathed السُيوفَthe swords بِهامِin the heads of الكُماةِarmored warriors
فَشامَ السُيوفَ بِهامِ الكُماةِ
وَرَوّىand slaked القَناthe spears فيin نُحورِthe throats of البُهَمdauntless warriors
وَرَوّى القَنا في نُحورِ البُهَم
He sheathed swords in the heads of armored warriors,
and quenched the spears' thirst in the throats of dauntless fighters.
جَوادٌa generous man ذَراهُhis shelter مَطافُthe circling-place of العُفاةِpetitioners
جَوادٌ ذَراهُ مَطافُ العُفاةِ
وَيُمناهُand his right hand رُكنُthe corner of النَدىbounty المُستَلَمtouched in reverence
وَيُمناهُ رُكنُ النَدى المُستَلَم
A generous man, whose shelter is the petitioners' circling-place,
and whose right hand is bounty's corner, touched in reverence.
يَهيجُrouses النِزالُcombat بِهِin him وَالسُؤاand supplication (continued)
يَهيجُ النِزالُ بِهِ وَالسُؤا
لُ(completion of 'supplication') لَيثاًa lion هَصوراًravening وَبَحراًand a sea خِضَمّvast
لُ لَيثاً هَصوراً وَبَحراً خِضَمّ
Combat and supplication rouse in him
a ravening lion and a vast sea.
شَهِدناwe testify لَأوتِيَhe was indeed granted فَصلَdecisiveness الخِطابِspeech
شَهِدنا لَأوتِيَ فَصلَ الخِطابِ
وَخُصَّand was singled out بِفَضلِfor excellence of النُهىintellect وَالحِكَمand wisdom
وَخُصَّ بِفَضلِ النُهى وَالحِكَم
We testify: he was indeed granted decisive speech,
and distinguished with excellence of intellect and wisdom.
وَهَلand has فاتَeluded شَيءٌanything مِنَof المَكرُماتِnoble deeds
وَهَل فاتَ شَيءٌ مِنَ المَكرُماتِ
جَرىraced السَيفُthe sword يَطلُبُهُseeking it وَالقَلَمand the pen
جَرى السَيفُ يَطلُبُهُ وَالقَلَم
Has any noble deed eluded him,
when sword and pen have raced to seek it?
وَمُستَحمَدٍand one earning praise بِكَريمِthrough noble الفِعاdeeds (continued)
وَمُستَحمَدٍ بِكَريمِ الفِعا
لِ(completion of 'deeds') عَفُوّاًforgiving إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) اللَئيمُthe base man اِستَذَمincurs blame
لِ عَفُوّاً إِذا ما اللَئيمُ اِستَذَم
And one who earns praise through noble deeds,
forgiving when the base man incurs blame.
شَمائِلُqualities تُهجَرُis forsaken عَنهاon their account الشَمولُwine
شَمائِلُ تُهجَرُ عَنها الشَمولُ
وَتُجفىand are shunned لَهاfor their sake مُشجِياتُstirring strains of النَغَمmelody
وَتُجفى لَها مُشجِياتُ النَغَم
Qualities for whose sake wine is forsaken,
and stirring melodies are shunned.
عَلىupon الرَوضِthe garden مِنهاfrom them رُواءٌfresh splendor يَروقُthat delights
عَلى الرَوضِ مِنها رُواءٌ يَروقُ
وَفيand in المِسكِmusk طيبُsweetness of أَريجٍa fragrance يُشَمّthat is inhaled
وَفي المِسكِ طيبُ أَريجٍ يُشَمّ
From them the garden takes a splendor that delights,
and musk a sweet fragrance to be inhaled.
أَبوهُhis father الَّذيwho فَلَّblunted غَربَthe edge of الضَلالِerror
أَبوهُ الَّذي فَلَّ غَربَ الضَلالِ
وَلاءَمَand mended شَعبَthe rift of الهُدىguidance فَاِلتَأَمso it healed
وَلاءَمَ شَعبَ الهُدى فَاِلتَأَم
His father is he who blunted error's edge
and mended guidance's rift until it healed.
وَلاذَand sought refuge بِهِin him الدينُreligion مُستَعصِماًseeking protection
وَلاذَ بِهِ الدينُ مُستَعصِماً
بِذِمَّةِunder the protection of أَبلَجَa radiant man وافيtrue to الذِمَمcovenants
بِذِمَّةِ أَبلَجَ وافي الذِمَم
Religion sought refuge in him, seeking protection
under the protection of a radiant man, true to his covenants.
وَجاهَدَand strove فيfor اللَهِGod حَقَّwith due الجِهاstriving (continued)
وَجاهَدَ في اللَهِ حَقَّ الجِها
دِ(completion of 'striving') مَنwhoever دانَworshipped مِنfrom دونِهِother than Him بِالصَنَمan idol
دِ مَن دانَ مِن دونِهِ بِالصَنَم
And he strove for God with all due striving
against whoever worshipped an idol instead of Him.
فَلاso no سامِيَhaughty الطَرفِgaze إِلّاexcept أَذَلُّhumbled
فَلا سامِيَ الطَرفِ إِلّا أَذَلُّ
وَلاnor شامِخَupturned الأَنفِnose إِلّاexcept رَغَمrubbed in dust
وَلا شامِخَ الأَنفِ إِلّا رَغَم
So every haughty gaze was humbled,
and every upturned nose was rubbed in dust.
تَقَيَّلَemulated فيin العِزِّglory مِنfrom حِميَرٍHimyar
تَقَيَّلَ في العِزِّ مِن حِميَرٍ
مَقاوِلَkings عَزّواsurpassed جَميعَall الأُمَمnations
مَقاوِلَ عَزّوا جَميعَ الأُمَم
In glory he emulated, from Himyar,
kings who prevailed over all nations.
هُمُthey نَعَشواraised المُلكَkingship حَتّىuntil اِستَقَلَّstood firm
هُمُ نَعَشوا المُلكَ حَتّى اِستَقَلَّ
وَهُمand they أَظلَمواoppressed الخَطبَadversity حَتّىuntil اِظّلَمsubmitted to oppression
وَهُم أَظلَموا الخَطبَ حَتّى اِظّلَم
They raised kingship until it stood firm,
and oppressed adversity until it submitted.
نُجومُstars of هُدىًguidance وَالمَعاليand high honors بُروجٌcelestial mansions
نُجومُ هُدىً وَالمَعالي بُروجٌ
وَأُسدُand lions of وَغىًbattle وَالعَواليand tall spears أَجَمthickets
وَأُسدُ وَغىً وَالعَوالي أَجَم
Stars of guidance, with noble heights as their celestial mansions,
and lions of battle, with tall spears as their thickets.
أَباAbu بَكرٍBakr اِسلَمstay safe عَلىagainst الحادِثاتِcalamities
أَبا بَكرٍ اِسلَم عَلى الحادِثاتِ
وَلاand never زِلتَcease to be مِنfrom رَيبِهاtheir perils فيin حَرَمa sanctuary
وَلا زِلتَ مِن رَيبِها في حَرَم
Abu Bakr, be safe against life's calamities,
and may you always dwell in sanctuary from their perils.
أُناديكَI call to you عَنout of مِقَةٍaffection عَهدُهاits bond
أُناديكَ عَن مِقَةٍ عَهدُها
كَماas وَشَتِembroidered الرَوضَthe garden أَيديthe hands of الرِهَمgentle rains
كَما وَشَتِ الرَوضَ أَيدي الرِهَم
I call to you out of affection whose bond
is like the garden embroidered by the hands of gentle rains.
وَإِنand if يَعدُنيkeeps me away عَنكَfrom you شَحطُthe distance of النَوىseparation
وَإِن يَعدُني عَنكَ شَحطُ النَوى
فَحَظّيthen my lot أَخَسَّit diminished وَنَفسيand my soul ظَلَمit wronged
فَحَظّي أَخَسَّ وَنَفسي ظَلَم
And if the distance of separation keeps me from you,
then it has diminished my lot and wronged my soul.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَأُصفيكَtruly devote to you مَحضَunmixed الهَوىlove
وَإِنّي لَأُصفيكَ مَحضَ الهَوى
وَأُخفيand I hide لِبُعدِكَbecause of your distance بَرحَthe severity of الأَلَمpain
وَأُخفي لِبُعدِكَ بَرحَ الأَلَم
And I truly devote to you unalloyed love,
and hide the anguish caused by your distance.
وَغَيرُكَand someone other than you أَخفَرَbetrayed عَهدَthe covenant of الذِمامِprotection
وَغَيرُكَ أَخفَرَ عَهدَ الذِمامِ
إِذاwhen حُسنُthe goodness of ظَنّيmy opinion عَلَيهِfor him أَذَمّstood surety
إِذا حُسنُ ظَنّي عَلَيهِ أَذَمّ
And someone other than you betrayed the bond of protection,
when my good opinion vouched for him.
وَمُستَشفِعٍand one seeking intercession بِيَthrough me بَشَّرتَهُyou gave him good tidings
وَمُستَشفِعٍ بِيَ بَشَّرتَهُ
عَلىwith ثِقَةٍconfidence بِالنَجاحِin success الأَتَمّmost complete
عَلى ثِقَةٍ بِالنَجاحِ الأَتَمّ
And one seeking my intercession—you gave him good tidings,
with confidence in the fullest success.
وَقِدماًand long ago أَقَلتَyou pardoned المُسيءَthe wrongdoer العِثارَstumbling
وَقِدماً أَقَلتَ المُسيءَ العِثارَ
وَأَحسَنتَand you did good بِالصَفحِby overlooking عَمّاconcerning what اِجتَرَمhe committed
وَأَحسَنتَ بِالصَفحِ عَمّا اِجتَرَم
And long ago you pardoned the offender his stumble,
and did good by overlooking what he had committed.
وَعِنديand I have لِشُكرِكَto thank you نَظمُthe stringing of العُقودِnecklaces
وَعِندي لِشُكرِكَ نَظمُ العُقودِ
تَناسَقُfall into harmony فيهاin them اللَآليthe pearls التُؤَمpaired
تَناسَقُ فيها اللَآلي التُؤَم
And I have necklaces strung in thanks to you,
in which paired pearls fall into harmony.
تُجِدُّrenew لِفَخرِكَfor your glory بُردَthe mantle of الشَبابِyouth
تُجِدُّ لِفَخرِكَ بُردَ الشَبابِ
إِذاwhen لَبِسَput on الدَهرُTime بُرَدَthe robes of الهَرَمold age
إِذا لَبِسَ الدَهرُ بُرَدَ الهَرَم
They renew for your glory the mantle of youth,
when Time puts on the robes of old age.
فَعِشso live مُعصَماًprotected بِيَفاعِon the heights of السُعودِgood fortune
فَعِش مُعصَماً بِيَفاعِ السُعودِ
وَدُمand remain ناعِماًat ease فيin ظِلالِthe shade of النِعَمblessings
وَدُم ناعِماً في ظِلالِ النِعَم
So live protected on the heights of good fortune,
and remain at ease in the shade of blessings.
وَلاand never يَزَلِceases الدَهرُTime أَيّامُهُits days
وَلا يَزَلِ الدَهرُ أَيّامُهُ
لَكُمfor you حَشَمٌa retinue وَاللَياليand the nights خَدَمservants
لَكُم حَشَمٌ وَاللَيالي خَدَم
And may Time's days forever be
your retinue, and its nights your servants.
Sol 6.1