ولماand when اكثرspoke at length الحسادthe envious فيهabout him
ولما اكثر الحساد فيه
وقالواand they said قدalready تغضنّتhave become wrinkled الخدودthe cheeks
وقالوا قد تغضنّت الخدود
And when the envious spoke at length about him,
And said, “His cheeks have grown wrinkled,”
أجابanswered الفضلexcellence عنهon his behalf حاسديهhis enviers
أجاب الفضل عنه حاسديه
لأمرfor a reason ماsome يسودleads منwhoever يسودleads
لأمر ما يسود من يسود
His excellence answered his enviers on his behalf:
“There is a reason why leaders lead.”
بوديI wish لوthat رأىhad seen كنفيهhis two sheltering wings يوماًone day
بودي لو رأى كنفيه يوماً
ومنand those who قدalready عاشlived تحتهماbeneath them both لبيدLabīd
ومن قد عاش تحتهما لبيد
I wish his two sheltering wings had once been seen—
Along with those who lived beneath them—by Labīd.
ولوand if أنthat الوليدal-Walīd رآهhad seen him يوماًone day
ولو أن الوليد رآه يوماً
غداhe would have risen ورجاؤهwith his hope غضٌّfresh وليدُnewborn
غدا ورجاؤه غضٌّ وليدُ
And had al-Walīd seen him one day,
He would have risen, his hope fresh and newborn,
وحلَّand he would have untied عُرىthe bonds الزماعresolve to depart ولمand would not have يردِّدrepeated
وحلَّ عُرى الزماع ولم يردِّد
أشرِّقshall I go east أمor أغرِّبshall I go west ياO سعيدSaʿīd
أشرِّق أم أغرِّب يا سعيد
And undone the bonds of his resolve to depart, never repeating:
“Shall I go east or west, O Saʿīd?”
Sol 6.1