أَحسِنhow lovely! بِأَيّامِwith the days of العَقيقِal-Aqiq وَأَطيِبِand how delightful!
أَحسِن بِأَيّامِ العَقيقِ وَأَطيِبِ
وَالعَيشِand life فيin أَظلالِهِنَّtheir shades المُعجِبِenchanting
وَالعَيشِ في أَظلالِهِنَّ المُعجِبِ
How lovely are the days of al-Aqiq, how delightful,
The days of youth are joyful days, blissful days
and the enchanting life beneath their shade!
To live beneath their wonder-working shade
وَمَصيفِهِنَّand their summer retreat المُستَظِلِّtaking shade بِظِلِّهِin its shade
وَمَصيفِهِنَّ المُستَظِلِّ بِظِلِّهِ
سِربُa herd of المَهاoryx وَرَبيعِهِنَّand their spring الصَيِّبِrain-laden
سِربُ المَها وَرَبيعِهِنَّ الصَيِّبِ
And their summer retreat, beneath whose shade shelters
And feel the zephyr of their gentle gales,
a herd of oryx, and their rain-laden spring.
Which with the breath of musk the morning scents,
أُصُلٌlate afternoons كَبُردِlike a mantle of العَصبِtie-dyed cloth نيطَwas fastened إِلىto ضُحىًmidmorning
أُصُلٌ كَبُردِ العَصبِ نيطَ إِلى ضُحىً
عَبِقٍfragrant بِرَيحانِwith sweet basil of الرِياضِthe gardens مُطَيَّبِperfumed
عَبِقٍ بِرَيحانِ الرِياضِ مُطَيَّبِ
Late afternoons like a tie-dyed mantle, joined to midmorning,
And see the lightning-flashes of their dawns
fragrant with the gardens' sweet basil, perfumed.
Sport with their gowns out-blushing all the rose.
وَظِلالِهِنَّand their shades المُشرِقاتِradiant بِخُرَّدٍwith bashful maidens
وَظِلالِهِنَّ المُشرِقاتِ بِخُرَّدٍ
بيضٍfair-skinned كَواعِبَbudding-breasted غامِضاتِwith concealed الأَكعُبِankles
بيضٍ كَواعِبَ غامِضاتِ الأَكعُبِ
And their shades, radiant with bashful maidens,
The mead is rippled by the pearly hail
fair, budding-breasted, with ankles hidden in flesh.
And clad in saffron blooms the joyous Spring.
وَأَغَنَّand a soft-voiced one مِنamong دُعجِthe dark-eyed الظِباءِgazelles مُرَبَّبٍhand-reared
وَأَغَنَّ مِن دُعجِ الظِباءِ مُرَبَّبٍ
بُدِّلنَthey were given a substitute مِنهُin its stead أَغَنَّa soft-voiced one غَيرَnot مُرَبَّبِhand-reared
بُدِّلنَ مِنهُ أَغَنَّ غَيرَ مُرَبَّبِ
And a soft-voiced, hand-reared one among the dark-eyed gazelles,
We passed a night whose first was bright as moon-lit pearls,
in whose stead they were given a soft-voiced one not hand-reared.
A night too fleet for all our joy of it,
لِلَّهِto God لَيلَتُناour night وَكانَتand it was لَيلَةًa night
لِلَّهِ لَيلَتُنا وَكانَت لَيلَةً
ذُخِرَتwas stored up لَناfor us بَينَbetween اللِوىal-Liwa فَالشُربُبِand al-Shurbub
ذُخِرَت لَنا بَينَ اللِوى فَالشُربُبِ
God be praised for our night! It was a night
When a slim maiden on my wrist alit,
stored up for us between al-Liwa and al-Shurbub.
Quoth she, 'An whit of pleasure thou wouldst win,
قالَتshe said وَقَدand already أَعلَقتُI had linked كَفّيmy palm كَفَّهاher palm
قالَت وَقَد أَعلَقتُ كَفّي كَفَّها
حِلّاًlet go! وَماand not كُلُّall الحَلالِwhat is lawful بِطَيِّبِpleasant
حِلّاً وَما كُلُّ الحَلالِ بِطَيِّبِ
She said, when I had linked my palm to hers,
Not every way of joy is lawful. Beware!'
'Let go!'—and not all that is lawful is pleasant.
Thus dearly with forbidding she began,
فَنَعِمتُso I delighted مِنin شَمسٍa sun إِذاwhen حُجِبَتit was veiled بَدَتit appeared
فَنَعِمتُ مِن شَمسٍ إِذا حُجِبَت بَدَت
مِنfrom نورِهاits light فَكَأَنَّهاso as though it لَمnot تُحجَبِhad been veiled
مِن نورِها فَكَأَنَّها لَم تُحجَبِ
So I delighted in a sun that, when veiled, still appeared
Yet showed me suns could rise unsullied still,
through its light, as though it had not been veiled.
Though late they seemed to mortals' purblind eyes
وَإِذاand when رَنَتshe gazed خِلتَyou would think الظِباءَthe gazelles وَلَدنَهاhad borne her
وَإِذا رَنَت خِلتَ الظِباءَ وَلَدنَها
رِبعِيَّةًspring-born وَاِستُرضِعَتand she was wet-nursed فيamong الرَبرَبِthe wild herd
رِبعِيَّةً وَاِستُرضِعَت في الرَبرَبِ
And when she gazed, you would think the gazelles had borne her,
Dipped in the darkness of the nightly sea.
spring-born, and nursed among the wild herd.
Her tribe all gaze upon this sun of mine;
إِنسِيَّةٌhuman إِنif حُصِّلَتare traced أَنسابُهاher lineages
إِنسِيَّةٌ إِن حُصِّلَت أَنسابُها
جِنِّيَّةُjinn-born الأَبَوَينِof both parents ماso long as لَمnot تُنسَبِher lineage is traced
جِنِّيَّةُ الأَبَوَينِ ما لَم تُنسَبِ
Human, if her lineages are traced;
Humble their birth yet nobly bred are they,
jinn-born on both sides, so long as her lineage remains untraced.
Of human kind, but of an elfin strain
قَدindeed قُلتُI said لِلزَبّاءِto al-Zabba لَمّاwhen أَصبَحَتit had become
قَد قُلتُ لِلزَبّاءِ لَمّا أَصبَحَت
فيat حَدِّthe edge of نابٍa fang لِلزَمانِof time وَمِخلَبِand a claw
في حَدِّ نابٍ لِلزَمانِ وَمِخلَبِ
I said to al-Zabba, when it had come to be
From both the parents. When the war-clouds rise
at the edge of time's fang and claw—
Thick-piled, then I address the warriors thus:
لِمَدينَةٍto a city عَجماءَspeechless قَدalready أَمسىhad become البِلىdecay
لِمَدينَةٍ عَجماءَ قَد أَمسى البِلى
فيهاin it خَطيباًan orator بِاللِسانِwith the tongue المُعرِبِeloquent
فيها خَطيباً بِاللِسانِ المُعرِبِ
to a speechless city, where decay had become
'Ye, that have followed in my wandering steps,
an orator speaking in an eloquent tongue:
Unto a land whose tongue is foreign to mine ears,
فَكَأَنَّماso as though سَكَنَhad settled الفَناءُannihilation عِراصَهاin its courts
فَكَأَنَّما سَكَنَ الفَناءُ عِراصَها
أَوor صالَassailed فيهاin it الدَهرُtime صَولَةَwith the assault of مُغضِبِan angry one
أَو صالَ فيها الدَهرُ صَولَةَ مُغضِبِ
as though annihilation had settled in its courts,
Where I became the spokesman of Arabish lore.
or time had assailed it with an angry one's assault.
'Its empty courts and chambers presently
لَكِنbut بَنوthe sons of طَوقٍTawq وَطَوقٌand Tawq قَبلَهُمbefore them
لَكِن بَنو طَوقٍ وَطَوقٌ قَبلَهُم
شادواthey built المَعاليlofty glories بِالثَناءِwith praise الأَغلَبِall-prevailing
شادوا المَعالي بِالثَناءِ الأَغلَبِ
Yet the sons of Tawq, and Tawq before them,
Shall teem again-this desolation of the tombs
built towering glories with all-prevailing praise.
Shall yet give place unto a living throng.'
فَسَتَخرَبُso will fall to ruin الدُنياthe world وَأَبنِيَةُand the edifices of العُلىglory
فَسَتَخرَبُ الدُنيا وَأَبنِيَةُ العُلى
وَقِبابُهاand its domes جُدُدٌnew بِهاwithin it لَمnot تَخرَبِhave fallen to ruin
وَقِبابُها جُدُدٌ بِها لَم تَخرَبِ
The world will fall to ruin, while the edifices of glory
High13 raised their glories, preying wide renown
and its domes remain new within it, untouched by ruin.
With lavish honour and with conquests won.
رُفِعَتwere raised بِأَيّامِby days of الطِعانِspear-fighting وَغُشِّيَتand were overlaid
رُفِعَت بِأَيّامِ الطِعانِ وَغُشِّيَت
رِقراقَshimmering لَونٍcolor لِلسَماحَةِof generosity مُذهَبِgilded
رِقراقَ لَونٍ لِلسَماحَةِ مُذهَبِ
Raised by days of spear-fighting, and overlaid
Thou that to-day wouldst ride the self-same road,
with a shimmering, gilded hue of generosity.
How vain for thee to dream their dust could fail
ياO طالِباًseeker of مَسعاتَهُمtheir achievement لِيَنالَهاto attain it
يا طالِباً مَسعاتَهُم لِيَنالَها
هَيهاتَfar beyond reach! مِنكَfrom you غُبارُthe dust of ذاكَthat المَوكِبِcavalcade
هَيهاتَ مِنكَ غُبارُ ذاكَ المَوكِبِ
O seeker of their achievement, hoping to attain it,
From off the moving pageant's glorious train!
far beyond your reach lies the dust of that cavalcade!
Nay, thou vain trifler with a foolish love,
أَنتَyou المُعَنّىthe tormented one بِالغَوانيby beauties تَبتَغيseek
أَنتَ المُعَنّى بِالغَواني تَبتَغي
أَقصىthe utmost of مَوَدَّتِهاtheir affection بِرَأسٍwith a head أَشيَبِgray-haired
أَقصى مَوَدَّتِها بِرَأسٍ أَشيَبِ
You are the man tormented by beauties, seeking
'Tis not for thee to win the mistress' heart.
their utmost love with a gray-haired head.
Grey hairs wax finest in such fantasies.
وَطِئَhe trampled الخُطوبَcalamities وَكَفَّand checked مِنsome of غُلَوائِهاtheir fury
وَطِئَ الخُطوبَ وَكَفَّ مِن غُلَوائِها
عُمَرُUmar بنُson of طَوقٍTawq نَجمُstar of أَهلِthe people of المَغرِبِthe West
عُمَرُ بنُ طَوقٍ نَجمُ أَهلِ المَغرِبِ
He trampled calamities and checked their fury—
Prince Omar rules and guides his people's needs,
Umar ibn Tawq, star of the people of the West.
Restraining hurts. Meet is it he be named
مُلتَفُّintertwined أَعراقِthe roots of الوَشيجِinterwoven kinship إِذاwhen اِنتَمىhe declares his lineage
مُلتَفُّ أَعراقِ الوَشيجِ إِذا اِنتَمى
يَومَon the day of الفَخارِboasting ثَرِيُّfertile تَربِthe soil of المَنصِبِnoble origin
يَومَ الفَخارِ ثَرِيُّ تَربِ المَنصِبِ
His roots thickly intertwined when he declares his lineage,
Chiefest of Ghassan's children and her star.
on the day of boasting, his ancestral soil is fertile.
When glory beckons on the day of strife,
فيin مَعدِنِthe mine of الشَرَفِnobility الَّذيwhich مِنfrom حَليِهِits ornaments
في مَعدِنِ الشَرَفِ الَّذي مِن حَليِهِ
سُبِكَتwere cast مَكارِمُthe noble qualities of تَغلِبَTaghlib اِبنَةِdaughter of تَغلِبِTaghlib
سُبِكَت مَكارِمُ تَغلِبَ اِبنَةِ تَغلِبِ
In the mine of nobility, from whose ornaments
Noble and free born of a princely line,
the noble qualities of Taghlib, daughter of Taghlib, were cast.
Tracing from that Tadmur whence springs thy race,
قَدindeed قُلتُI said فيin غَلَسِthe predawn gloom of الدُجىnight لِعِصابَةٍto a band
قَد قُلتُ في غَلَسِ الدُجى لِعِصابَةٍ
طَلَبَتthat sought أَباAbu (father of) حَفصٍHafs مُناخَthe alighting-place of الأَركُبِriding parties
طَلَبَت أَبا حَفصٍ مُناخَ الأَركُبِ
I said in the predawn gloom of night to a band
Whose fame no minstrel of the past let die.
seeking Abu Hafs, the camping-place of caravans:
Once in the gloom, to horsemen questioning
الكَوكَبُthe star الجُشَمِيُّof Jusham نَصبَbefore عُيونِكُمyour eyes
الكَوكَبُ الجُشَمِيُّ نَصبَ عُيونِكُم
فَاِستَوضِحواso seek illumination إيضاءَthe radiance of ذاكَthat الكَوكَبِstar
فَاِستَوضِحوا إيضاءَ ذاكَ الكَوكَبِ
The Jushami star stands before your eyes;
Of Abu Hafs, wont to rein the wild steed's pride,
so seek illumination in that star's radiance.
I thus made answer, 'Yon bright planet see!
يُعطيhe gives عَطاءَthe bounty of المُحسِنِthe benefactor الخَضِلِdrenched النَدىgenerosity's dew
يُعطي عَطاءَ المُحسِنِ الخَضِلِ النَدى
عَفواًfreely وَيَعتَذِرُand he apologizes اِعتِذارَwith the apology of المُذنِبِthe guilty
عَفواً وَيَعتَذِرُ اِعتِذارَ المُذنِبِ
He gives like a benefactor drenched in generosity's dew,
Seek ye the morning beams it scattereth wide.
freely, and apologizes like a guilty man.
With kindly gifts it greets the penitent,
وَمُرَحِّبٍand a welcomer بِالزائِرينَof visitors وَبِشرُهُand his cheerfulness
وَمُرَحِّبٍ بِالزائِرينَ وَبِشرُهُ
يُغنيكَsuffices for you عَنinstead of أَهلٍ'Be at home' لَدَيهِin his presence وَمَرحَبِand 'Welcome'
يُغنيكَ عَن أَهلٍ لَدَيهِ وَمَرحَبِ
And a welcomer of visitors, whose cheerfulness
Pardoning faults with sweet forgiveness' grace.
makes 'Be at home' and 'Welcome' needless in his presence.
Hail to the guest! For who draws nigh shall find
يَغدوbecomes مُؤَمِّلُهُone who hopes in him إِذاwhen ماever حَطَّhe sets down فيwithin
يَغدو مُؤَمِّلُهُ إِذا ما حَطَّ في
أَكنافِهِhis precincts رَحلَthe saddle of المُكِلِّthe weary المُلغِبِthe exhausted
أَكنافِهِ رَحلَ المُكِلِّ المُلغِبِ
His hopeful petitioner becomes, once he sets down within
A home as though mid long tried brethren born.
his precincts the saddle of a weary, exhausted traveler,
A refuge for the outcast wretch its courts,
سَلِسَeasy in اللُبانَةِneed وَالرَجاءِand hope بِبابِهِat his door
سَلِسَ اللُبانَةِ وَالرَجاءِ بِبابِهِ
كَثَبَnear to المُنىwishes مُمتَدَّoutspread ظِلِّthe shade of المَطلَبِthe quest
كَثَبَ المُنى مُمتَدَّ ظِلِّ المَطلَبِ
one whose need and hope are eased at his door,
Weighed down with woes from which he could not flee.'
whose wishes are near, his quest's shade spread wide.
Smooth its approach, that who hath need may hope,
الجِدُّearnestness شيمَتُهُhis nature وَفيهِand in him فُكاهَةٌhumor
الجِدُّ شيمَتُهُ وَفيهِ فُكاهَةٌ
سُجُحٌgentle and easy وَلاand no جِدٌّearnestness لِمَنfor one who لَمnot يَلعَبِhas played
سُجُحٌ وَلا جِدٌّ لِمَن لَم يَلعَبِ
Earnestness is his nature, yet he has humor,
Though far from hope he be!
gentle and easy; no one is earnest who never plays.
Stern is its law; yet knows it how to jest.
شَرِسٌfierce وَيُتبَعُand is followed by ذاكَthat لينَgentleness of خَليقَةٍnature
شَرِسٌ وَيُتبَعُ ذاكَ لينَ خَليقَةٍ
لاno خَيرَgood فيin الصَهباءِtawny wine ماso long as لَمnot تُقطَبِit is blended
لا خَيرَ في الصَهباءِ ما لَم تُقطَبِ
He is fierce, and that is followed by gentleness of nature;
No profit in the colt that will not frolic.
there is no good in tawny wine unless it is blended.
Hard, if the times bring ills; soft if they end.
صَلبٌfirm إِذاwhen اِعوَجَّturns crooked الزَمانُtime وَلَمand not يَكُنbe
صَلبٌ إِذا اِعوَجَّ الزَمانُ وَلَم يَكُن
لِيُلينَto soften صُلبَthe hardness of الخَطبِcalamity مَنone who لَمnot يَصلُبِis firm
لِيُلينَ صُلبَ الخَطبِ مَن لَم يَصلُبِ
Firm when time turns crooked; never could
Weak, if it bend not to misfortune's shock.
one who was not firm soften calamity's hardness.
Love hath it for its kin, but its own tribes
الوُدُّaffection لِلقُربىfor kin وَلَكِنand yet عُرفُهُhis beneficence
الوُدُّ لِلقُربى وَلَكِن عُرفُهُ
لِلأَبعَدِfor the farthest الأَوطانِhomelands دونَrather than الأَقرَبِthe nearest
لِلأَبعَدِ الأَوطانِ دونَ الأَقرَبِ
Affection belongs to kin, but his beneficence
Are dearest; strangers next gain its regard.
goes to the farthest lands rather than the nearest.
So with Attab's children now; behold
وَكَذاكَand likewise عَتّابُAttab بنُson of سَعدٍSa'd أَصبَحواthey have become
وَكَذاكَ عَتّابُ بنُ سَعدٍ أَصبَحوا
وَهُمُand they زِمامُthe reins of زَمانِناour age المُتَقَلِّبِever-changing
وَهُمُ زِمامُ زَمانِنا المُتَقَلِّبِ
And so it is now with Attab ibn Sa'd's people:
Their tribe is as the footing of the age.
they are the reins of our ever-changing age.
Not as their sires-they walk otherwhere-
هُمthey رَهطُthe clan of مَنone whose أَمسىhas become بَعيداًdistant رَهطُهُhis clan
هُم رَهطُ مَن أَمسى بَعيداً رَهطُهُ
وَبَنوand sons of أَبيthe father of رَجُلٍa man بِغَيرِwithout بَنيsons of أَبِa father
وَبَنو أَبي رَجُلٍ بِغَيرِ بَني أَبِ
They are the clan of one whose clan is far away,
Strange sons sprung from a strange unfathered root.
and a man's paternal brothers when he has none.
Nor may Prince Omar meet among his peers
وَمُنافِسٍand a rival of عُمَرَUmar بنَson of طَوقٍTawq ماnot لَهُhe has
وَمُنافِسٍ عُمَرَ بنَ طَوقٍ ما لَهُ
مِنfrom ضِغنِهِhis rancor غَبرُother than الحَصىpebbles وَالأَثلَبِand dust
مِن ضِغنِهِ غَبرُ الحَصى وَالأَثلَبِ
And a rival of Umar ibn Tawq has nothing
One who shall match his proud preeminence.
from his rancor but pebbles and dust.
Honour comes slow to him who never toils,
تَعِبُtoiling in الخَلائِقِvirtues وَالنَوالِand bounty وَلَمand not يَكُنis
تَعِبُ الخَلائِقِ وَالنَوالِ وَلَم يَكُن
بِالمُستَريحِat ease العِرضِin honor مَنone who لَمnot يَتعَبِhas toiled
بِالمُستَريحِ العِرضِ مَن لَم يَتعَبِ
He toils in virtues and bounty; never does
Whose pillow is not moist with sweat of pain.
one who does not toil have honor at rest.
Bright glows the face made shining through endeavour.
بِشُحوبِهِthrough his pallor فيin المَجدِglory أَشرَقَgrew radiant وَجهُهُhis face
بِشُحوبِهِ في المَجدِ أَشرَقَ وَجهُهُ
لاnot يَستَنيرُshine فَعالَthe deeds of مَنone who لَمnot يَشحُبِhas grown pale
لا يَستَنيرُ فَعالَ مَن لَم يَشحُبِ
Through his pallor in pursuit of glory his face grew radiant;
No merit comes by sloth. No gain without labour.
the deeds of one who has not grown pale do not shine.
A sea it is that surges over simple folk,
بَحرٌa sea يَطِمُّoverflows عَلىupon العُفاةِseekers of gifts وَإِنand if تَهِجstirs
بَحرٌ يَطِمُّ عَلى العُفاةِ وَإِن تَهِج
ريحُthe wind of السُؤالِasking بِمَوجِهِthrough its waves يَغلَولِبِsurges mightily
ريحُ السُؤالِ بِمَوجِهِ يَغلَولِبِ
A sea that overflows upon seekers of gifts; and if
Whene'er the winds of question stir its waves.
the wind of asking stirs its waves, it surges mightily.
Filled are its udders till the milk gush forth.
وَالشَولُand low-milk she-camels ماwhenever حُلِبَتare milked تَدَفَّقَpours forth رِسلُهاtheir milk
وَالشَولُ ما حُلِبَت تَدَفَّقَ رِسلُها
وَتَجِفُّand dries up دِرَّتُهاtheir milk flow إِذاwhen لَمnot تُحلَبِare milked
وَتَجِفُّ دِرَّتُها إِذا لَم تُحلَبِ
And camels whose milk is scant pour it forth when milked;
Barren and dry they turn when milked no more.
their milk flow dries when they are not milked.
Ye scions of the house of Ghassan! Can ye hope
ياO عَقبَdescendants of طَوقٍTawq أَيُّwhat splendid عَقبِdescendants of عَشيرَةٍa clan
يا عَقبَ طَوقٍ أَيُّ عَقبِ عَشيرَةٍ
أَنتُمyou are وَرُبَّتَand many a مُعقِبٍprogenitor لَمnot يُعقِبِhas left offspring
أَنتُم وَرُبَّتَ مُعقِبٍ لَم يُعقِبِ
O descendants of Tawq, what splendid heirs of a clan
For followers like unto your father's found?
you are! Many a father has left no true heirs.
My soaring thoughts were trained by Omar's soul
قَيَّدتُI tethered مِنin عُمَرَUmar بنِson of طَوقٍTawq هِمَّتيmy ambition
قَيَّدتُ مِن عُمَرَ بنِ طَوقٍ هِمَّتي
بِالحُوَّلِto the resourceful one الثَبتِsteadfast الجَنانِof heart القُلَّبِversatile
بِالحُوَّلِ الثَبتِ الجَنانِ القُلَّبِ
I tethered my ambition to Umar ibn Tawq,
To fixedness of purpose and sure flight.
the resourceful, steadfast-hearted, versatile man.
Lavish of praise, his noble name I decked
نَفَقَfound a market المَديحُpraise بِبابِهِat his door فَكَسَوتُهُso I clothed him
نَفَقَ المَديحُ بِبابِهِ فَكَسَوتُهُ
عِقداًa necklace مِنَof الياقوتِrubies غَيرَnot مُثَقَّبِpierced
عِقداً مِنَ الياقوتِ غَيرَ مُثَقَّبِ
Praise found a ready market at his door, so I clothed him
With gems of verse that cannot choose but glitter.
in a necklace of unpierced rubies.
Good is the praise that wisely orders speech.
أَولىmost deserving المَديحِpraise بِأَنthat يَكونَit be مُهَذَّباًrefined
أَولى المَديحِ بِأَن يَكونَ مُهَذَّباً
ماthat which كانَis مِنهُof it فيabout أَغَرَّa radiant one مُهَذَّبِrefined
ما كانَ مِنهُ في أَغَرَّ مُهَذَّبِ
The praise most deserving of being refined
Yet how much finer is the well-wrought line!
is that spoken of a radiant, refined man.
Strange seemed the virtues that in him I found.
غَرُبَتwere extraordinary خَلائِقُهُhis qualities وَأَغرَبَand spoke extraordinarily شاعرٌa poet
غَرُبَت خَلائِقُهُ وَأَغرَبَ شاعرٌ
فيهِabout him فَأَحسَنَso excelled مُغرِبٌan inventive poet فيin مُغرِبِan extraordinary man
فيهِ فَأَحسَنَ مُغرِبٌ في مُغرِبِ
His qualities were extraordinary, and a poet spoke extraordinarily
Strange must the poet be who would praise aright.
of him: an inventive poet excelled in praising an extraordinary man.
When thou wert generous I was justified,
لَمّاsince كَرُمتَyou were noble نَطَقتُI spoke فيكَof you بِمَنطِقٍwith words
لَمّا كَرُمتَ نَطَقتُ فيكَ بِمَنطِقٍ
حَقٍّtrue فَلَمso not آثَمI sinned وَلَمand not أَتَحَوَّبِI felt scruples
حَقٍّ فَلَم آثَم وَلَم أَتَحَوَّبِ
Since you were noble, I spoke of you in words
And spoke my true thought blameless and sincere.
of truth; I neither sinned nor felt any scruple.
But if for others I essayed like praise,
وَمَتىand whenever اِمتَدَحتُI praised سِواكَsomeone other than you كُنتُI would مَتىwhenever يَضِقfalls short
وَمَتى اِمتَدَحتُ سِواكَ كُنتُ مَتى يَضِق
عَنّيfor me لَهُabout him صِدقُtruthfulness of المَقالَةِspeech أَكذِبِI lie
عَنّي لَهُ صِدقُ المَقالَةِ أَكذِبِ
And whenever I praised someone other than you, I would, whenever
'Twere but to wrong truth's self, and I lied.
truthful speech about him failed me, lie.
Partial English translation: 89 of 90 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1