عَهدَO time of السُرورِjoy وَرَيعانَand the prime of الهَوىlove النَضِرfresh and blooming
عَهدَ السُرورِ وَرَيعانَ الهَوى النَضِر
سَقاكَmay it water you عَهدُthe season of الحَياlife-giving rain رَقراقَlimpid water مُنحَدرِflowing downward
سَقاكَ عَهدُ الحَيا رَقراقَ مُنحَدرِ
O time of joy and the fresh prime of love,
The days of joy and blossoming passions,
may the season of rain water you with a limpid downpour!
Youth has given you to drink, fresh and cascading.
وَجادَand may it drench رَبعَكyour dwelling وَسميٌّearly autumn rain تُكَركِرُهُdrives it about
وَجادَ رَبعَك وَسميٌّ تُكَركِرُهُ
رِيحُthe wind الصَباthe east wind بَينَbetween مُنهلٍّshowering وَمُنهَمِرِand pouring
رِيحُ الصَبا بَينَ مُنهلٍّ وَمُنهَمِرِ
And may early autumn rain drench your dwelling, driven about
Your spring was generous, fragrant and murmuring,
by the east wind, now showering, now pouring.
The morning breeze between a watering hole and rain shower.
وَغَرَّدتand warbled فيon رباكَyour hills الوُرقُthe gray doves وَاِبتَكَرَتand rose early
وَغَرَّدت في رباكَ الوُرقُ وَاِبتَكَرَت
بِلَحنِwith the melody of مَعبدَMaʿbad تَتلُوreciting أَطيبَthe sweetest الخَبَرِtidings
بِلَحنِ مَعبدَ تَتلُو أَطيبَ الخَبَرِ
May gray doves warble on your hills and rise at dawn,
The leaves sang joyously around you, celebrating
singing Maʿbad's melody, reciting the sweetest tidings.
In tunes echoing the most beautiful news.
وَلاand never بَرحتَmay you cease to be مُعاناa dwelling لِلحِسانِfor beautiful women وَلاnor
وَلا بَرحتَ مُعانا لِلحِسانِ وَلا
رَمتكَstrike you أَيديthe hands of النَوىseparation بِالحادثwith calamity الغَررِperilous
رَمتكَ أَيدي النَوى بِالحادث الغَررِ
May you ever remain a dwelling for beautiful women, and may
You have not ceased delighting in beauty,
the hands of separation never strike you with perilous calamity.
Nor have the hands of fate cast you with hateful events.
وَلاand never أَغبَتكَvisit you only intermittently أَرواحُthe breaths of النَسيمِthe breeze وَلاnor
وَلا أَغبَتكَ أَرواحُ النَسيمِ وَلا
عَدتpass by مَغانيكyour haunts أَخلافٌteats مِنَof المَطرِrain
عَدت مَغانيك أَخلافٌ مِنَ المَطرِ
May the breaths of the breeze never forsake you, nor
Neither have the spirits of the breeze made you nonexistent,
the udders of rain pass your haunts by.
Nor have your singing meadows turned into past showers.
كَمhow many ليfor me بِهاin it وَشَبابيwhile my youth الغَضّtender مُقتَبِلٌin its first bloom
كَم لي بِها وَشَبابي الغَضّ مُقتَبِلٌ
مِنof مَنزلٍa dwelling آهلٍpeopled بِالشَوقِwith longing وَالذِكرِand remembrance
مِن مَنزلٍ آهلٍ بِالشَوقِ وَالذِكرِ
How many were mine there, when my tender youth was dawning—
How much delight they gave me, while my blossoming youth
homes peopled with longing and remembrance!
Moved from an abode filled with longing and remembrance.
كَمِhow many اِجتَلَيتُI beheld بُدوراًfull moons مِنfrom مَطالِعِهاtheir rising places
كَمِ اِجتَلَيتُ بُدوراً مِن مَطالِعِها
كَمhow much نيلwas gained تَحتَbeneath سَناهاtheir radiance مِنof سَناthe light of قَمرِa moon
كَم نيل تَحتَ سَناها مِن سَنا قَمرِ
How many full moons I watched rise from their horizons;
How often I glimpsed horizons at their rising,
how much moonlight was won beneath their radiance!
How much I attained at their beauty as if plucking a radiant moon.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery رُعبُوبةٍtender beauty تَهفوcarries away بِمُصطَبريmy self-restraint
مِن كُلِّ رُعبُوبةٍ تَهفو بِمُصطَبري
قَدindeed زانَهاadorned her الحُسنُbeauty بَينَbetween الدَلِّcoquetry وَالحوَرِand dark, wide eyes
قَد زانَها الحُسنُ بَينَ الدَلِّ وَالحوَرِ
Each a tender beauty who sweeps away my self-restraint,
Each gazelle glancing with languor,
whom beauty has adorned with coquetry and wide, dark eyes.
Adorned with beauty between gracefulness and wide-eyed charm.
رُودٌdelicate كَسَتهاclothed her يَدُthe hand of الأَيّامthe days ثَوبَa garment of صباyouth
رُودٌ كَسَتها يَدُ الأَيّام ثَوبَ صبا
وَصَيّرتهاand made her اللَياليthe nights فِتنةَan enchantment to البَشَرِhumankind
وَصَيّرتها اللَيالي فِتنةَ البَشَرِ
A delicate maiden, whom the hand of days clothed in youth,
Time's hand clothes their forms in the garb of youth,
and whom the nights made an enchantment to humankind.
And the nights make them the temptation of mortals.
هَيفاءَslender-waisted صَبَّpoured الصِباyouth ماءَthe water of الشَبابyoung life عَلىupon
هَيفاءَ صَبَّ الصِبا ماءَ الشَباب عَلى
أَعطافِهاher curves وَكَساهاand clothed her حُلّةa robe of الخَفَرِmodesty
أَعطافِها وَكَساها حُلّة الخَفَرِ
Slender-waisted, youth poured the water of young life upon
Smooth are those upon whom morning poured the water of youth,
her curves and clothed her in a robe of modesty.
And clothed them in the raiment of brilliance.
قامَتshe rose تُعانِقُنيembracing me يَومَon the day of الوَداعparting وَقَدwhen already
قامَت تُعانِقُني يَومَ الوَداع وَقَد
قَلَّدتُهاI adorned her neck مِنfrom دُموعيmy tears رائقَlimpid الوُرَرِpearls (reading uncertain)
قَلَّدتُها مِن دُموعي رائقَ الوُرَرِ
She rose to embrace me on the day of parting, when I had
She stood embracing me the day we parted,
strung about her neck limpid pearls from my tears.
And I garlanded her with the finest pearls of my tears.
تَقولُshe says وَالبينُwhile separation تَغشاهاenvelop her رَكائِبهits riding beasts
تَقولُ وَالبينُ تَغشاها رَكائِبه
وَالدَمعand tears يَقطرdrip فَوقَupon الخَدِّthe cheek مِنfrom حَذَرِfear
وَالدَمع يَقطر فَوقَ الخَدِّ مِن حَذَرِ
She says, as the mounts of separation close about her,
She speaks while distance shrouds her,
and tears drip upon her cheek in fear:
With tears flowing down her cheek in caution:
لاdo not تَعتَبِreproach الدَهرَTime إِنif حالَتchange خَلائِقُهُits ways
لا تَعتَبِ الدَهرَ إِن حالَت خَلائِقُهُ
فَصَفوfor the clarity of رَونَقهits luster لَمhas not يَخلُbeen free مِنof كَدَرِmurk
فَصَفو رَونَقه لَم يَخلُ مِن كَدَرِ
Do not reproach Time if its ways change,
"Do not blame fate if the smoothness of its aspects
for its clear luster has never been free of murk.
Were not devoid of bitterness and distress.
وَإِنand if تُرِدyou wish تَتَّقيto guard yourself مِنfrom صَرفهِits vicissitudes نُوَباًcalamities
وَإِن تُرِد تَتَّقي مِن صَرفهِ نُوَباً
فَالجأthen seek refuge لِظلin the shade of عِمادِʿImad الدينِal-Din تَستَترِyou will be sheltered
فَالجأ لِظل عِمادِ الدينِ تَستَترِ
And if you wish to escape the blows of its vicissitudes,
And if you seek to avoid its sudden hardships,
seek refuge in ʿImad al-Din's shade, and find shelter.
Take refuge in the shadow of the pillar of faith."
مَولىًa lord حِماهُhis sanctuary غَداhas become أَمنthe safety of المَرُوعِthe terrified كَذاlikewise
مَولىً حِماهُ غَدا أَمن المَرُوعِ كَذا
جَنابُهُhis precinct الرَحبُspacious مَأوىa refuge for الخائِفِthe fearful الحَذرِwary
جَنابُهُ الرَحبُ مَأوى الخائِفِ الحَذرِ
A lord whose sanctuary has become safety for the terrified; likewise,
A master whom tomorrow's security was indebted,
his spacious precinct is a refuge for the fearful and wary.
His open arms being sanctuary for the wary and cautious.
لاnever زالَceased يَسموhe rises إِلىtoward العَلياءِthe heights مُرتَقِياًascending
لا زالَ يَسمو إِلى العَلياءِ مُرتَقِياً
بِسُؤددٍwith a nobility مَجدهُits glory سامٍis lofty عَلىabove الزُهرِthe bright stars
بِسُؤددٍ مَجدهُ سامٍ عَلى الزُهرِ
He never ceased soaring toward the heights, ascending
He kept rising to the heights,
with a nobility whose glory towers above the stars,
With glory elevating him high above the flowers.
حَتّىuntil اِمتَطىhe mounted صَهواتِthe saddlebacks of المَجدِglory سامِيَةًlofty
حَتّى اِمتَطى صَهواتِ المَجدِ سامِيَةً
يَختالُhe struts فيin حُللrobes of الأَوضاعcompositions وَالغُرَرِand masterpieces
يَختالُ في حُلل الأَوضاع وَالغُرَرِ
until he mounted the lofty saddlebacks of glory,
Until he reached the most exalted summits of glory,
strutting in robes of scholarly works and masterpieces.
Strutting in the garments of horizons and meadows.
بِهِمّةٍwith an ambition تُجتلىis beheld كَاللَيثِlike the lion ذيpossessing أَشَرٍexuberant pride
بِهِمّةٍ تُجتلى كَاللَيثِ ذي أَشَرٍ
وَعَزمةٍand a resolve كَمضاءِlike the cutting power of الصارمthe sharp sword الذَكَرِhard-tempered
وَعَزمةٍ كَمضاءِ الصارم الذَكَرِ
With ambition manifest as a lion in its pride,
With the resolve of a fierce lion,
and resolve like the keenness of a hard-tempered sword.
And the determination of a polished sword.
ماno فاضلٌlearned man قَطُّever جاراهraced him إِلىto أَمَدٍa goal
ما فاضلٌ قَطُّ جاراه إِلى أَمَدٍ
فيin البَحثِdebate إِلّاexcept that اِنثَنىhe turned back بِالعِيِّwith inarticulacy وَالحَصَرِand speechlessness
في البَحثِ إِلّا اِنثَنى بِالعِيِّ وَالحَصَرِ
No learned man ever raced him to a goal
No eminent person ever surpassed him,
in debate without retreating tongue-tied and speechless.
Except he bent with shame and frustration.
أَقلامُهُhis pens السُمرdusky فيon بيضِthe white surfaces of الطُروسthe pages إِذاwhen
أَقلامُهُ السُمر في بيضِ الطُروس إِذا
مَشَتthey move أَرتكَthey show you فِعالthe deeds of البيضِbright swords السُمرِdusky spears
مَشَت أَرتكَ فِعال البيضِ السُمرِ
His dusky pens upon the white pages, when
His brilliant pens upon the white paper
they move, show you the deeds of bright swords and dusky spears.
Left lines like the spreading of a flowery meadow.
لَهُhe has سَجاياvirtues كَنَشرِlike the fragrance of الرَوضِa garden ذيpossessing الزَهَرِflowers
لَهُ سَجايا كَنَشرِ الرَوضِ ذي الزَهَرِ
وَقَدwhile already تَوَشَّحَit has girded itself بِالأَنهارِwith rivers وَالغُدُرِand pools
وَقَد تَوَشَّحَ بِالأَنهارِ وَالغُدُرِ
He has virtues like the fragrance of a flowering garden,
He is adorned with rivers and basins,
when it has girded itself with rivers and pools.
Meeting you cheerful and smiling,
يَلقاكَhe meets you طَلقopen المُحَيّاof countenance وَهوَwhile he مُبتَسِمٌsmiles
يَلقاكَ طَلق المُحَيّا وَهوَ مُبتَسِمٌ
بِمَنطقٍwith speech وِردُهُits draught أَحلىis sweeter مِنthan الصَدَرِdeparture from water
بِمَنطقٍ وِردُهُ أَحلى مِن الصَدَرِ
He meets you open-faced and smiling,
With speech whose flowers are sweeter than nectar.
with speech sweeter to drink from than to leave.
The meadow never yielded its blossoms at dawn,
ماno الرَوضُgarden جادَتlavished rain لَهُupon it الأَنواءthe rain-stars بِالبُكرat dawn
ما الرَوضُ جادَت لَهُ الأَنواء بِالبُكر
وَكَلَّلتand crowned دَوحَهُits great trees المُخَضَلّrain-drenched بِالزَهرِwith blossoms
وَكَلَّلت دَوحَهُ المُخَضَلّ بِالزَهرِ
No garden—the rain-stars watered it at dawn
Or crowned its plains with intertwined flowers,
and crowned its drenched great trees with blossoms;
Except it poured out its secrets in showers for him,
جادَwas generous الغَمامُthe cloud لَهُto it سِرّاًin secret بِوابِلهِwith its downpour
جادَ الغَمامُ لَهُ سِرّاً بِوابِلهِ
وَأَكسَبَتهُand gave it الصَباthe east wind مِنsome of رِقّةِthe softness of السَحَرِpredawn
وَأَكسَبَتهُ الصَبا مِن رِقّةِ السَحَرِ
clouds secretly lavished their downpour upon it,
And morning gifted him the most tender magic.
and the east wind lent it the softness of predawn;
He shone with light despite being far from home,
فَاِزدانَso it was adorned بِالنورِwith blossoms غِبَّafter القَطرthe rain فَهوَso it is علىon
فَاِزدانَ بِالنورِ غِبَّ القَطر فَهوَ على
نَهرِthe river of الأُبُلَّةِal-Ubulla حُسناًin beauty راقَit delighted لِلنَظَرِthe eye
نَهرِ الأُبُلَّةِ حُسناً راقَ لِلنَظَرِ
so it decked itself in blossoms after rain, there upon
Like the Aboolis river, beautiful to behold.
the river of al-Ubulla, a beauty delightful to the eye;
You'd think the flowers of his nooks were
تَخالُyou would imagine زَهرَthe blossoms of الأَقاحيdaisies فيin خَمائِلِهِits thickets
تَخالُ زَهرَ الأَقاحي في خَمائِلِهِ
زَهرَthe blossoms of المَجَرَّةthe Milky Way صِينَتpreserved عَنfrom يَدِthe hand of الغِيَرِchange
زَهرَ المَجَرَّة صِينَت عَن يَدِ الغِيَرِ
you would take the daisies blooming in its thickets
Blossoms carefully protected from other hands.
for the Milky Way's blossoms, untouched by the hand of change;
The doves sing at his branches in enchantment,
تَشدُوsing الحَمامُthe doves عَلىupon أَغصانِهِits branches سَحَراًbefore dawn
تَشدُو الحَمامُ عَلى أَغصانِهِ سَحَراً
فَتَبعَثُand so arouse الشَوقَlonging فيin أَحشاءِthe depths of مُستَعِرِone ablaze
فَتَبعَثُ الشَوقَ في أَحشاءِ مُستَعِرِ
doves sing upon its branches before dawn,
Igniting yearning in ardent hearts.
stirring longing in a heart already aflame—
One day presenting the best vision,
يَوماًever بِأَحسَنmore beautiful مَرأىًin appearance مِنthan شَمائِلِهِhis virtues
يَوماً بِأَحسَن مَرأىً مِن شَمائِلِهِ
وَلاnor بَأذكىmore potent شَذاًin fragrance مِنthan نَشرِهاtheir perfume العَطِرِsweet-smelling
وَلا بَأذكى شَذاً مِن نَشرِها العَطِرِ
was ever lovelier to behold than his virtues,
With the sweetest fragrance spreading from him.
nor more fragrant than their sweet perfume.
O eminent one, how novel were the first fruits of your thoughts,
ياO فاضِلاًscholar كَمhow often جَلَتunveiled أَبكارُthe maidens of فِكرَتِهِhis thought
يا فاضِلاً كَم جَلَت أَبكارُ فِكرَتِهِ
غُرَّthe choicest المَعانيmeanings لَناfor us فيin أَحسَنِthe finest الصُورِforms
غُرَّ المَعاني لَنا في أَحسَنِ الصُورِ
O scholar, whose maiden thoughts have so often unveiled
Which charmed us with most excellent forms.
the choicest meanings for us in the fairest forms!
And O son of nobles, who strengthened with their resolve
وَاِبنَand son of الكِرامthe noble وَمَنand those who شادواbuilt high بِعَزمِهمthrough their resolve
وَاِبنَ الكِرام وَمَن شادوا بِعَزمِهم
رُكنَthe pillar of العُلاhigh honor سامِياًlofty فيin سالِفِbygone العُصُرِages
رُكنَ العُلا سامِياً في سالِفِ العُصُرِ
And son of the noble, and of those whose resolve raised
The pillar of sublimity in ages past.
the pillar of high honor aloft in ages past;
O pillar of the house of excellence, lifting it
وَياand O عِماداًpillar لِبَيتِfor the house of الفَضلِexcellence يَرفَعُهُraising it
وَيا عِماداً لِبَيتِ الفَضلِ يَرفَعُهُ
وَكانَand it had been مِنbecause of ضَعفِهِits weakness يلفىfound عَلىin خَطرِperil
وَكانَ مِن ضَعفِهِ يلفى عَلى خَطرِ
and O pillar of the house of excellence, holding it high,
From its weakness, so it avoids peril.
when in its weakness it was found in peril.
To you this poem came, so welcome it
إِلىto ذُراكyour heights أَتَتit has come فَاِقبلso accept عَلىdespite دَخَلٍa flaw
إِلى ذُراك أَتَت فَاِقبل عَلى دَخَلٍ
نَسيجَهاits weave ياO رَئيسchief of البَدوِthe nomads وَالحَضَرِand townsfolk
نَسيجَها يا رَئيس البَدوِ وَالحَضَرِ
To your shelter it has come; accept, despite its flaws,
As a creation woven for you, chief of nomad and city dweller.
its woven fabric, O chief of nomads and townsfolk.
You remain in bounties still rising
لاnever زِلتَmay you cease to be فيamid نِعَمٍblessings تَسمُوyou rise بِسُؤددِهاthrough their glory
لا زِلتَ في نِعَمٍ تَسمُو بِسُؤددِها
هامَthe heads of السِماكَينthe two Simaks حَيثُwhere النَسرُthe Eagle لَمhas not يَطرِflown
هامَ السِماكَين حَيثُ النَسرُ لَم يَطرِ
May you ever abide in blessings, rising through their glory above
Beyond the two seas, where eagles have not flown.
the crowns of the two Simaks, where the Eagle has never flown,
My voice never lamented with "Alas!" over you,
ماas long as ناحَlaments بِالأَيكin the thickets قُمريa turtledove وَماand as long as سَجعتcoo
ما ناحَ بِالأَيك قُمري وَما سَجعت
وُرقُgray الحَمائمdoves بالآصالِin the evenings وَالبُكرِand at dawn
وُرقُ الحَمائم بالآصالِ وَالبُكرِ
as long as a turtledove laments in the thickets, and
Nor have the doves' branches rustled with separation and dawn.
gray doves coo in the evenings and at dawn,
Neither has the darkness of night been illuminated by lightning,
وَماand as long as وَشىembroiders الطِرسَthe page تَنميقُthe artistry of اليَراعthe reed-pen بِماwith what
وَما وَشى الطِرسَ تَنميقُ اليَراع بِما
يُزريputs to shame بِوَشيthe embroidery of الرُباthe hills بِسّامةsmiling الزَهرِwith blossoms
يُزري بِوَشي الرُبا بِسّامة الزَهرِ
and as long as the reed-pen's artistry embroiders the page with what
With brilliance rivaling the beauty of flowers.
puts to shame the brocade of hills smiling with blossoms.
Partial English translation: 69 of 70 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1