دَعِleave الرَبعَthe campsite ماnot لِلرَبعِfor the campsite فيكَin you نَصيبُa share
دَعِ الرَبعَ ما لِلرَبعِ فيكَ نَصيبُ
وَماand not إِنemphatic particle سَبَتنيcaptivated me زَينَبٌZaynab وَكَعوبُand Kaʿub
وَما إِن سَبَتني زَينَبٌ وَكَعوبُ
Leave the campsite; the campsite has no claim on you.
Leave the tavern be, it has no place in you,
Leave the ruins behind; in ruins you have no share,
And neither Zaynab nor Kaʿub has captivated me.
And neither has Zainab enchanted me, nor Ka'b.
Neither Zaynab nor Ka'ub has held my heart in care.
وَلَكِنand yet سَبَتنيcaptivated me البابِلِيَّةُthe Babylonian wine إِنَّهاindeed she
وَلَكِن سَبَتني البابِلِيَّةُ إِنَّها
لَمِثلِيَindeed, for someone like me فيin طولِthe length of الزَمانِtime سَلوبُa ravisher
لَمِثلِيَ في طولِ الزَمانِ سَلوبُ
But Babylonian wine has captivated me; indeed, she
Rather, it was Babylon that captivated me,
Instead, the Babylonian vintage has enslaved my soul,
is forever a ravisher of someone like me.
For she is, like me, accustomed to nights of wakefulness.
For she has plundered men like me while ages roll.
جَفاkept away الماءُthe water عَنهاfrom her فيin المِزاجِthe mixing لِأَنَّهاbecause she
جَفا الماءُ عَنها في المِزاجِ لِأَنَّها
خَيالٌa phantom لَهاshe has بَينَbetween العِظامِthe bones دَبيبُa creeping movement
خَيالٌ لَها بَينَ العِظامِ دَبيبُ
Water kept apart from her in the mixing, for she
The water has dried up within her, for she is
Water shuns her mixture, refusing to dilute,
is a phantom that creeps between the bones.
A fantasy that stirs between bones.
For she is a phantom spirit, creeping to the root.
إِذاwhen ذاقَهاtastes her مَنwhoever ذاقَهاtastes her حَلَّقَتsoared بِهِwith him
إِذا ذاقَها مَن ذاقَها حَلَّقَت بِهِ
فَلَيسَso there is no لَهُfor him عَقلٌreason يُعَدُّis deemed أَديبُcultivated
فَلَيسَ لَهُ عَقلٌ يُعَدُّ أَديبُ
When anyone tastes her, she carries him aloft,
When one tastes her, she ensnares him,
When the taster sips her, she takes flight with his mind,
and he has no mind that can be deemed cultivated.
Rendering him senseless, unable to be called cultured.
Leaving him bereft of reason, all wit left behind.
وَلَيلَةِand on a night دَجنٍclouded gloom قَدindeed سَرَيتُI traveled by night بِفِتيَةٍwith young men
وَلَيلَةِ دَجنٍ قَد سَرَيتُ بِفِتيَةٍ
تُنازِعُهاtug at them نَحوَtoward المُدامِaged wine قُلوبُhearts
تُنازِعُها نَحوَ المُدامِ قُلوبُ
And on a night of clouded gloom, I traveled with young men
On a starless night, I walked with some youths
On many a gloomy night I journeyed with a band,
whose hearts tugged them toward aged wine,
Whose hearts competed as they strode toward the tavern.
With hearts yearning for the wine, crossing the land.
إِلىto بَيتِthe house of خَمّارٍa wine-seller وَدونَand before مَحَلِّهِhis dwelling
إِلى بَيتِ خَمّارٍ وَدونَ مَحَلِّهِ
قُصورٌpalaces مُنيفاتٌlofty لَناfor us وَدُروبُand lanes
قُصورٌ مُنيفاتٌ لَنا وَدُروبُ
to a wine-seller's house; short of his dwelling,
Toward a wine-seller's house, and below it
To the tavern-keeper’s door, though guarding his retreat
lofty palaces and lanes lay in our path.
Were lofty mansions with paths leading to them.
Were towering palaces and the winding street.
فَفُزِّعَso he was startled مِنby إِدلاجِناour night journey بَعدَafter هَجعَةٍa spell of sleep
فَفُزِّعَ مِن إِدلاجِنا بَعدَ هَجعَةٍ
وَلَيسَand there was no سِوىexcept ذيthe possessor of الكِبرِياءِmajesty رَقيبُwatcher
وَلَيسَ سِوى ذي الكِبرِياءِ رَقيبُ
He was startled by our coming at night, after a spell of sleep,
Startled by our late-night approach after slumber,
Startled by our night-arrival after he had slept,
and no watcher was there but the Lord of Majesty.
With none present save the arrogant watcher,
With no watcher to fear but the Lord whom secrets kept.
تَناوَمَhe feigned sleep خَوفاًin fear أَنthat تَكونَthere might be سِعايَةٌa denunciation
تَناوَمَ خَوفاً أَن تَكونَ سِعايَةٌ
وَعاوَدَهُand returned to him بَعدَafter الرِقادِsleep وَجيبُheart-pounding
وَعاوَدَهُ بَعدَ الرِقادِ وَجيبُ
He feigned sleep, afraid there might be a denunciation,
He tossed apprehensively, fearing it was a raid,
He feigned slumber, dreading a raid by the patrol,
and after sleep, heart-pounding returned to him.
And his anxiety returned after his rest.
As a trembling panic seized his very soul.
وَلَمّاand when دَعَوناwe called بِاسمِهِby his name طارَflew away ذُعرُهُhis terror
وَلَمّا دَعَونا بِاسمِهِ طارَ ذُعرُهُ
وَأَيقَنَand he knew for certain أَنَّthat الرَحلَthe dwelling مِنهُfrom it خَصيبُprosperous
وَأَيقَنَ أَنَّ الرَحلَ مِنهُ خَصيبُ
And when we called him by name, his terror flew away,
When we called his name, terror gripped him,
But when we called him by name, his terror took flight,
and he knew that his dwelling would prosper from this.
And he knew the travelers would profit from him.
Certain now that his saddlebag would profit from the night.
وَبادَرَand hastened نَحوَtoward البابِthe door سَعياًat a run مُلَبِّياًanswering the call
وَبادَرَ نَحوَ البابِ سَعياً مُلَبِّياً
لَهُhe had طَرَبٌdelight بِالزائِرينَat the visitors عَجيبُastonishing
لَهُ طَرَبٌ بِالزائِرينَ عَجيبُ
He hastened toward the door, running to answer the call,
He hurried to the door, eager to welcome
He hastened to the door, answering our call with zeal,
his delight in the visitors astonishing.
The visitors ‒ strange is his joy in them!
Filled with a wondrous joy that he could not conceal.
فَأَطلَقَso he uncovered عَنfrom نابَيهِhis two canine teeth وَانكَبَّand fell forward ساجِداًprostrate
فَأَطلَقَ عَن نابَيهِ وَانكَبَّ ساجِداً
لَناto us وَهوَand he فيماin what قَدindeed يَظُنُّhe supposes مُصيبُcorrect
لَنا وَهوَ فيما قَد يَظُنُّ مُصيبُ
Then he bared his two fangs and fell prostrate
He bared his teeth and fell prostrate before us,
He smiled broadly and fell prostrate on the floor,
before us—and he was right in what he supposed.
Thinking himself, in this, perspicacious.
Before us, correct in the profit he foresaw.
وَقالَand he said اِدخُلواenter حُيِّيتُمُmay you be greeted مِنas عِصابَةٍa company
وَقالَ اِدخُلوا حُيِّيتُمُ مِن عِصابَةٍ
فَمَنزِلُكُمfor your lodging سَهلٌcomfortable لَدَيَّwith me رَحيبُspacious
فَمَنزِلُكُم سَهلٌ لَدَيَّ رَحيبُ
And he said, 'Enter! Welcome, you company!
"Welcome," he said. "Your arrival gladdens
Saying, "Enter! May you be greeted, noble company,"
For your lodging with me is comfortable and spacious.'
A company, and with me you have ample lodging."
"For my home is yours, spacious and free."
وَجاءَand he came بِمِصباحٍwith a lamp لَهُof his فَأَنارَهُthen he lit it
وَجاءَ بِمِصباحٍ لَهُ فَأَنارَهُ
وَكُلُّand all الَّذيthat which يَبغيone seeks لَدَيهِwith him قَريبُnear at hand
وَكُلُّ الَّذي يَبغي لَدَيهِ قَريبُ
And he brought a lamp of his and lit it,
He brought a lantern and lit it,
He brought forth his lamp and kindled its flame,
and all that one sought was close at hand with him.
And all that we desired was near for him.
And all that we desired was there to claim.
فَقُلناso we said أَرِحناgive us relief هاتِbring it إِنif كُنتَyou are بائِعاًa seller
فَقُلنا أَرِحنا هاتِ إِن كُنتَ بائِعاً
فَإِنَّfor indeed الدُجىthe darkness عَنfrom مُلكِهِits kingdom سَيَغيبُwill vanish
فَإِنَّ الدُجى عَن مُلكِهِ سَيَغيبُ
So we said, 'Give us relief! Bring it, if you are selling,
We said, "Give us rest. Sell to us, if selling
We said, "Bring us relief! Fetch the wine if you sell,"
for the darkness will vanish from its kingdom.'
Is your trade, for darkness is vanishing from its dominion."
"For the darkness is fading and breaking its spell."
فَأَبدىso he revealed لَناto us صَهباءَtawny wine تَمَّreached fullness شَبابُهاher youth
فَأَبدى لَنا صَهباءَ تَمَّ شَبابُها
لَهاshe had مَرَحٌmerriment فيin كَأسِهاher cup وَوُثوبُand leaping
لَها مَرَحٌ في كَأسِها وَوُثوبُ
Then he revealed to us tawny wine, her youth at its prime;
He presented to us a pale honey-colored one,
He revealed a golden vintage, aged to perfection,
she frolicked and leapt within her cup.
Full of gaiety in her cup and clothing.
Possessing a lively joy leaping in the cup's reflection.
فَلَمّاso when جَلاهاhe unveiled her لِلنَدامىto the drinking companions بَداappeared لَهاfor her
فَلَمّا جَلاها لِلنَدامى بَدا لَها
نَسيمُa waft عَبيرٍperfume ساطِعٍspreading وَلَحيبُand a blaze
نَسيمُ عَبيرٍ ساطِعٍ وَلَحيبُ
When he unveiled her to the drinking companions, she gave forth
When he poured her out to the boon companions,
When he unveiled it to the boon companions, it revealed
a waft of spreading perfume and a blaze.
The scent of delicate fragrant air was manifest to her.
A rising fragrance of ambergris, a light unsealed.
وَجاءَand came بِهاwith her تَحدوsings to lead بِهاwith her ذاتُa woman with مُزهِرٍa lute
وَجاءَ بِها تَحدو بِها ذاتُ مُزهِرٍ
يَتوقُyearn إِلَيهاfor her الناظِرونَthe onlookers رَبيبُa pampered youth
يَتوقُ إِلَيها الناظِرونَ رَبيبُ
And with her came, as a woman with a lute sang her onward,
She came swaying with a blossoming figure.
It was brought forth by a lutanist urging the round,
a pampered youth; the onlookers yearned for her.
The onlookers desire her as she sways gently.
A sheltered beauty in whom desire is found.
كَثيبٌa sand dune عَلاهُsurmounted it غُصنُa bough بانٍa bān tree إِذاwhen مَشىhe walked
كَثيبٌ عَلاهُ غُصنُ بانٍ إِذا مَشى
تَكادُalmost لَهُto him صُمُّunyielding الجِبالِthe mountains تُنيبُbow in submission
تَكادُ لَهُ صُمُّ الجِبالِ تُنيبُ
A sand dune crowned with a bough of the bān tree; when he walked,
She is a dune on which there grows a bending bough.
A sand dune topped by a willow branch; when she walks,
the unyielding mountains would almost bow to him.
If she walks, the stone cliffs appear to sway with her.
Even the solid mountains nearly bow as she talks.
وَأَقبَلَand approached مَحمودُpraised الجَمالِbeauty مُقَرطَقٌclad in a short tunic
وَأَقبَلَ مَحمودُ الجَمالِ مُقَرطَقٌ
إِلىtoward كَأسِهاher cup لاno عَيبَflaw فيهِin him أَريبُdiscerning
إِلى كَأسِها لا عَيبَ فيهِ أَريبُ
And one praised for beauty approached, clad in a short tunic,
The beauty Mahmud approached, sparkling,
Then approached a tunicked youth of praised grace,
toward her cup—flawless and discerning.
Drawn to her cup in which no defect is evident.
Tending the cup with skill, no flaw in his face.
يَشُمُّbreathe in النَدامىthe drinking companions الوَردَthe roses مِنfrom وَجَناتِهِhis cheeks
يَشُمُّ النَدامى الوَردَ مِن وَجَناتِهِ
فَلَيسَfor there is no بِهِin him غَيرُother than المِلاحَةِbeauty طيبُfragrance
فَلَيسَ بِهِ غَيرُ المِلاحَةِ طيبُ
The drinking companions breathed in roses from his cheeks,
The revelers inhale the rose's fragrance from his cheeks ‒
The drinkers breathe the scent of roses from his cheek,
for he had no fragrance but his beauty.
Nothing in it but pleasant redolence.
For he wears no perfume but the comeliness they seek.
فَمازالَso he kept on يَسقيناgiving us drink بِكَأسٍwith a cup مُجِدَّةٍtireless
فَمازالَ يَسقينا بِكَأسٍ مُجِدَّةٍ
تُوَلّيgoes away وَأُخرىand another بَعدَafter ذاكَthat تَؤوبُreturns
تُوَلّي وَأُخرى بَعدَ ذاكَ تَؤوبُ
So he kept serving us with a tireless cup:
He continued serving us with brimming cups,
He ceased not serving us with a diligent cup,
one went away, and another came back after it.
One disappears as another after it returns.
One round departing as another was filled up.
وَغَنّىand he sang لَناfor us صَوتاًa song بِلَحنٍto a melody مُرَجَّعٍtrilled
وَغَنّى لَنا صَوتاً بِلَحنٍ مُرَجَّعٍ
سَرىcoursed by night البَرقُthe lightning غَربِيّاًwestward فَحَنَّso yearned غَريبُone far from home
سَرى البَرقُ غَربِيّاً فَحَنَّ غَريبُ
And he sang us a song to a trilling melody:
He sang for us in a trilling, modulated voice.
And he sang to us a verse with a trilling tone:
'Lightning coursed westward by night, and one far from home yearned.'
Lightning flashed westerly, and a stranger wept.
"Lightning flashed in the west, and the stranger wept alone."
فَمَنso whoever كانَwas مِنّاamong us عاشِقاًin love فاضَoverflowed دَمعُهُhis tears
فَمَن كانَ مِنّا عاشِقاً فاضَ دَمعُهُ
وَعاوَدَهُand returned to him بَعدَafter السُرورِjoy نَحيبُsobbing
وَعاوَدَهُ بَعدَ السُرورِ نَحيبُ
Then the tears of every lover among us overflowed,
Whoever among us was a lover, his tears flowed,
Then he among us who was a lover let his tears flow,
and after joy, sobbing returned to him.
And after joy, his laments returned.
And sobbing seized him after the joy began to go.
فَمِنso from بَينِamong مَسرورٍone rejoicing وَباكٍand one weeping مِنَfrom الهَوىlove
فَمِن بَينِ مَسرورٍ وَباكٍ مِنَ الهَوى
وَقَدand already لاحَappeared مِنfrom ثَوبِthe robe of الظَلامِdarkness غُيوبُfading
وَقَد لاحَ مِن ثَوبِ الظَلامِ غُيوبُ
So some were joyful, and some were weeping from love,
Among the joyous, the weeping lovers,
So we remained, between delight and weeping for love,
while the robe of darkness showed signs of fading.
As the garments of darkness revealed hidden things...
Until rifts appeared in the garment of night above.
وَقَدand already غابَتِhad set الشِعرىSirius العَبورُthe Crossing Star وَأَقبَلَتand approached
وَقَد غابَتِ الشِعرى العَبورُ وَأَقبَلَت
نُجومُthe stars الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades بِالصَباحِwith the morning تَثوبُreturn
نُجومُ الثُرَيّا بِالصَباحِ تَثوبُ
And Sirius, the Crossing Star, had set, and there came
The Pleiades have set, and the Thurayya
Sirius the Crosser had set, and the sight
the stars of the Pleiades, returning with the morning.
With the dawn, begins to rise.
Of the Pleiades returning signaled the morning light.
Sol 6.1