أَيُّwhat a مَرعىa pasture عينٍan eye وَواديand a valley نَسيبِlove verse
أَيُّ مَرعى عينٍ وَوادي نَسيبِ
لَحَبَتهُwore it away الأَيّامُthe days فيin مَلحوبِMalḥūb
لَحَبَتهُ الأَيّامُ في مَلحوبِ
What a pasture for the eye, what a valley of love verse
What meadow of spring or valley of my kindred
the days have worn away at Malḥūb!
Have the days made desolate in utter ruin?
مَلَكَتهُtook possession of it الصَباthe east wind الوَلوعُthe ardently attached فَأَلفَتso it found
مَلَكَتهُ الصَبا الوَلوعُ فَأَلفَت
هُit قَعودَa young riding camel البِلىdecay وَسُؤرَand the leavings الخُطوبِof calamities
هُ قَعودَ البِلى وَسُؤرَ الخُطوبِ
The devoted east wind took possession of it and found
Passion of youth possessed it; then it learned
it a riding camel for decay, and the leavings of calamities.
To await the sentence of decay and change.
نَدَّfled عَنكَfrom you العَزاءُconsolation فيهِover it وَقادَand led الthe (prefix to 'tears')
نَدَّ عَنكَ العَزاءُ فيهِ وَقادَ ال
دَمعَtears مِنfrom مُقلَتَيكَyour two eyes قَودَthe leading of الجَنيبِa beast led alongside
دَمعَ مِن مُقلَتَيكَ قَودَ الجَنيبِ
Consolation fled from you over it and drew
Solace forsook it, and the tear descends
tears from your eyes like a beast led alongside.
From my eyelid, as fire kindling the sigh
صَحِبَتaccompanied وَجدَكَyour yearning المَدامِعُthe weeping eyes فيهِover it
صَحِبَت وَجدَكَ المَدامِعُ فيهِ
بِنَجيعٍwith fresh blood بِعَبرَةٍwith a tear مَصحوبِaccompanied
بِنَجيعٍ بِعَبرَةٍ مَصحوبِ
Your weeping eyes accompanied your yearning over it,
Of longing. My tears accompanied its woe
with fresh blood mingled with tears—
With tender grief and passionate regret,
بِمُلِّثٍwith one ever-persistent عَلىover الفِراقِthe separation مُرِبٍّabiding
بِمُلِّثٍ عَلى الفِراقِ مُرِبٍّ
وَلِشَأوِand for the goal الهَوىof love البَعيدِthe distant طَلوبِever-seeking
وَلِشَأوِ الهَوى البَعيدِ طَلوبِ
unceasing, lingering over separation,
Heaping reproach upon the turns of fortune
and pursuing love's far-off goal.
And chance of love and happy days gone by.
أَخلَبَتflashed without rain بَعدَهُafter it بُروقٌlightnings مِنَof اللَهdiversion (word begins)
أَخلَبَت بَعدَهُ بُروقٌ مِنَ اللَه
وِcompletion of 'diversion' وَجَفَّتand dried up غُدرٌpools مِنَof التَشبيبِlove poetry
وِ وَجَفَّت غُدرٌ مِنَ التَشبيبِ
After it, the lightnings flashed rainlessly—lightnings of
Perchance, I may behold it flowering still,
diversion; and the pools of love verse dried up.
Rich in all sweets and melodies of joy.
رُبَّماmany a time قَدindeed أَراهُI used to see it رَيّانَwell-watered مَكسُوclothed (word begins)
رُبَّما قَد أَراهُ رَيّانَ مَكسُو
وَcompletion of 'clothed' المَغانيthe dwelling places مِنwith كُلِّevery حُسنٍbeauty وَطيبِand fragrance
وَ المَغاني مِن كُلِّ حُسنٍ وَطيبِ
Many a time I saw it lush, its dwelling places clothed
Yet seeming not the same, with glance estranged,
in every beauty and fragrance,
And mien unlike what once enchanted me.
بِسَقيمِwith one languid الجُفونِof eyelids غَيرِnot سَقيمٍill
بِسَقيمِ الجُفونِ غَيرِ سَقيمٍ
وَمُريبِand one arousing suspicion الأَلحاظِin glances غَيرِnot مُريبِsuspect
وَمُريبِ الأَلحاظِ غَيرِ مُريبِ
with one whose eyelids were languid, yet who was not ill,
As when in spring-time, kind and bountiful,
and whose glances roused suspicion, yet who was not suspect;
Or when in autumn, prudent and discreet,
فيin أَوانٍa season مِنَof الرَبيعِspring كَريمٍbountiful
في أَوانٍ مِنَ الرَبيعِ كَريمٍ
وَزَمانٍand a time مِنَof الخَريفِautumn حَسيبِnoble
وَزَمانٍ مِنَ الخَريفِ حَسيبِ
in a generous season of spring,
Peace unto it! I share not with the ruins
and a noble time of autumn.
My grief, nor with the plaint my agony.
فَعَلَيهِso upon it السَلامُpeace لاnot أُشرِكُI make partners الأَطthe ruins (word begins)
فَعَلَيهِ السَلامُ لا أُشرِكُ الأَط
لالَcompletion of 'ruins' فيin لَوعَتيmy burning grief وَلاnor فيin نَحيبيmy sobbing
لالَ في لَوعَتي وَلا في نَحيبي
So peace be upon it; I will not let the ruins share
Alike is my response to call or silence;
in my burning grief, nor in my sobbing.
Strange is the charm of pleasure and of song
فَسَواءٌso alike إِجابَتيmy answering غَيرَone who is not داعٍa caller
فَسَواءٌ إِجابَتي غَيرَ داعٍ
وَدُعائيand my calling بِالقَفرِin the wasteland غَيرَone who does not مُجيبِanswer
وَدُعائي بِالقَفرِ غَيرَ مُجيبِ
For answering one who does not call is no different
Mingled with melancholy and dismay,
from calling in the waste to one who does not answer.
Ask then the bright encampment what it knows,
رُبَّmany a خَفضٍcomfort تَحتَbeneath السُرىnight travel وَغَناءٍand wealth
رُبَّ خَفضٍ تَحتَ السُرى وَغَناءٍ
مِنfrom عَناءٍtoil وَنَضرَةٍand bloom مِنfrom شُحوبِpallor
مِن عَناءٍ وَنَضرَةٍ مِن شُحوبِ
Many a comfort lies beneath night travel, and wealth
And make its forms and wilds thy confidence.
comes from toil, and bloom from pallor.
Deem not thy trouble greater than can bear
فَاِسأَلِso ask العيسَthe pale camels ماwhat لَدَيهاthey have وَأَلِّفand bring together
فَاِسأَلِ العيسَ ما لَدَيها وَأَلِّف
بَينَbetween أَشخاصِهاtheir bodies وَبَينَand between السُهوبِthe wide plains
بَينَ أَشخاصِها وَبَينَ السُهوبِ
So ask the pale camels what they have to offer, and bring
The patient strength of one so sorely tried.
their forms and the wide plains together.
No task upon the dauntless and devout
لاnot تُذيلَنever belittle صَغيرَthe smallness of هَمِّكَyour ambition وَاِنظُرand look
لا تُذيلَن صَغيرَ هَمِّكَ وَاِنظُر
كَمhow many بِذيat Dhū الأَثلِal-Athl ('tamarisk') دَوحَةًa spreading tree مِنfrom قَضيبِa twig
كَم بِذي الأَثلِ دَوحَةً مِن قَضيبِ
Do not belittle your small ambition; look
To walk the fiery trail the righteous trod.
how many spreading trees at Dhū al-Athl sprang from a twig.
Not all unseemly is the stated praise
ماno عَلىupon الوُسَّجِthe trotting camels الرَواتِكِthe swiftly striding مِنany عَتblame (word begins)
ما عَلى الوُسَّجِ الرَواتِكِ مِن عَت
بٍcompletion of 'blame' إِذاif ماemphatic particle أَتَتthey reach أَباAbū أَيّوبِAyyūb
بٍ إِذا ما أَتَت أَبا أَيّوبِ
The trotting, swiftly striding camels deserve no
Of one who offers nothing to the mob;
blame if they reach Abū Ayyūb.
When the praised passes, men of worth will say,
حُوَّلٌresourceful لاnot فَعالُهُhis deeds مَرتَعُa pasture الذَمblame (word begins)
حُوَّلٌ لا فَعالُهُ مَرتَعُ الذَم
مِcompletion of 'blame' وَلاnor عِرضُهُhis honor مَراحُa resting fold العُيوبِfaults
مِ وَلا عِرضُهُ مَراحُ العُيوبِ
Resourceful: his deeds are no pasture for
Whose was that mantle fringed with honor's robe?
blame, nor is his honor a resting place for faults.
If zeal of serving grasp the outheld robe,
سُرُحٌuntrammeled قَولُهُhis speech إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِستَمَرَّتtightened firmly
سُرُحٌ قَولُهُ إِذا ما اِستَمَرَّت
عُقدَةُthe knot of العِيِّinarticulacy فيon لِسانِthe tongue of الخَطيبِthe orator
عُقدَةُ العِيِّ في لِسانِ الخَطيبِ
His speech flows freely when
Forthwith its folds sweep outward free as air.
the knot of faltering tightens on an orator's tongue.
Why linger, loose-robed eloquence? Flung down,
وَمُصيبٌand unerring شَواكِلُthe aspects الأَمرِof the matter فيهِin it
وَمُصيبٌ شَواكِلُ الأَمرِ فيهِ
مُشكِلاتٌperplexities يُلكِنَّmake stammer لُبَّthe mind of لَبيبِa discerning person
مُشكِلاتٌ يُلكِنَّ لُبَّ لَبيبِ
And he is unerring in a matter whose aspects
Thy beauties shame the rose with blushing red.
are puzzles that leave a discerning mind tongue-tied.
True inspiration knows no taint or fault,
لاnot مُعَنّىpreoccupied بِكُلِّwith every شَيءٍthing وَلاnor كُلevery (word begins)
لا مُعَنّى بِكُلِّ شَيءٍ وَلا كُل
لُcompletion of 'every' عَجيبٍa marvel فيin عَينِهِhis eye بِعَجيبِat all wondrous
لُ عَجيبٍ في عَينِهِ بِعَجيبِ
He is not preoccupied with everything, nor is every
Its nature baffles age and time's decay;
marvel a marvel in his eyes.
Profound yet simple, intricate yet clear,
سَدِكُclinging الكَفِّthe hand بِالنَدىto generosity عائِرُroving السَمhearing (word begins)
سَدِكُ الكَفِّ بِالنَدى عائِرُ السَم
عِcompletion of 'hearing' إِلىtoward حَيثُwhere صَرخَةُthe cry of المَكروبِthe distressed person
عِ إِلى حَيثُ صَرخَةُ المَكروبِ
His hand clings to generosity; his hearing roves
What lock may bar its truth to willing hearts?
to wherever the cry of the distressed is heard.
Wisdom in everything, naught strange in aught,
لَيسَnot يَعرىhe goes bare مِنof حُلَّةٍa robe مِنof طِرازِembroidery الthe (prefix to 'praise')
لَيسَ يَعرى مِن حُلَّةٍ مِن طِرازِ ال
مَدحِpraise مِنfrom تاجِرٍa trader بِهاin it مُستَثيبِseeking recompense
مَدحِ مِن تاجِرٍ بِها مُستَثيبِ
He never goes bare of a robe embroidered with
To eyes that pierce life's surface and its depth.
praise, from a trader seeking recompense for it.
Speed, hand, with cooling water to the place
فَإِذاso when مَرَّpasses لابِسُthe wearer of الحَمدِpraise قالَsaid الthe (prefix to 'people')
فَإِذا مَرَّ لابِسُ الحَمدِ قالَ ال
قَومُpeople مَنwho صاحِبُthe wearer of الرِداءِthe cloak القَشيبِthe fresh, fine
قَومُ مَن صاحِبُ الرِداءِ القَشيبِ
So when the wearer of praise passes by,
Where agony has cried its secret pain.
the people say, 'Who wears that fresh, fine cloak?'
None but the worthy can array in praise,
وَإِذاand when كَفُّthe hand of راغِبِa petitioner سَلَبَتهُstripped him
وَإِذا كَفُّ راغِبِ سَلَبَتهُ
راحَhe went طَلقاًcheerful كَالكَوكَبِlike the star المَشبوبِthe blazing
راحَ طَلقاً كَالكَوكَبِ المَشبوبِ
And when a petitioner's hand strips him,
No trafficker in flattery knows the way.
he goes smiling, like a blazing star.
When one in virtue's garment passes by,
ماnot مَهاةُa white oryx الحِجالِthe curtained chambers مَسلوبَةًstripped bare أَظmore graceful (word begins)
ما مَهاةُ الحِجالِ مَسلوبَةً أَظ
رَفَcompletion of 'more graceful' حُسناًin beauty مِنthan ماجِدٍa noble, generous man مَسلوبِstripped of wealth
رَفَ حُسناً مِن ماجِدٍ مَسلوبِ
No white oryx of the curtained chambers, stripped bare, is more
Men say, who goes there robed in righteous deeds?
graceful in beauty than a noble man stripped of wealth.
And when ambition doffs that empty cloak,
واجِدٌfeeling anguish بِالخَليلِfor a friend مِنof بُرَحاءِthe burning torment of الthe (prefix to 'longing')
واجِدٌ بِالخَليلِ مِن بُرَحاءِ ال
شَوقِlonging وِجدانَthe feeling of غَيرِهِanother besides him بِالحَبيبِfor the beloved
شَوقِ وِجدانَ غَيرِهِ بِالحَبيبِ
He feels for a friend the burning torment of
Forthwith it drifts abandoned, shamed and bare.
longing that another feels for a beloved.
O peerless plunder, eloquence despoiled!
آمِنُtrustworthy الجَيبِthe breast وَالضُلوعِand the ribs إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle
آمِنُ الجَيبِ وَالضُلوعِ إِذا ما
أَصبَحَhas become الغِشُّdeceit وَهوَand it is دِرعُthe armor of القُلوبِhearts
أَصبَحَ الغِشُّ وَهوَ دِرعُ القُلوبِ
His breast and ribs are safe to trust, even when
More fair thy beauty than the star-shaped pearl.
deceit has become the armor of hearts.
Safer than they who cultivate accord
لاnot كَمُصفيهِمُlike one sincere toward them إِذاwhen حَضَرواthey are present الوُدaffection (word begins)
لا كَمُصفيهِمُ إِذا حَضَروا الوُد
دَcompletion of 'affection' وَلاحٍand a bark-stripper قُضبانَهُمtheir branches بِالمَغيبِin their absence
دَ وَلاحٍ قُضبانَهُم بِالمَغيبِ
Not like one who offers them pure affection when present,
Art thou unguarded, for distrust they nurse;
yet strips the bark from their branches when absent.
They hide themselves, yet age stamps on their cheek
يَتَغَطّىhe conceals himself عَنهُمfrom them وَلَكِنَّهُbut he تَنemerge (verb begins)
يَتَغَطّى عَنهُم وَلَكِنَّهُ تَن
صُلُcompletion of 'emerge' أَخلاقُهُhis character traits نُصولَthe emergence of المَشيبِgray hair
صُلُ أَخلاقُهُ نُصولَ المَشيبِ
He hides himself from them, but
The creeping lines of envy and backbiting.
his character shows through like graying hair.
Thy every byway is a path my feet
كُلُّevery شِعبٍvalley كُنتُمyou have dwelt بِهِin it آلَO family of وَهبٍWahb
كُلُّ شِعبٍ كُنتُم بِهِ آلَ وَهبٍ
فَهوَso it is شِعبيِmy valley وَشِعبُand the valley of كُلِّevery أَديبِman of letters
فَهوَ شِعبيِ وَشِعبُ كُلِّ أَديبِ
Every valley you inhabit, O house of Wahb,
Have pressed, leading to revered abodes of men.
is my valley and the valley of every man of letters.
Chill hearted have I been since first I drained
لَمnot (past negation) أَزَلI cease بارِدَcool الجَوانِحِthe inner ribs مُذsince خَضI stirred (verb begins)
لَم أَزَل بارِدَ الجَوانِحِ مُذ خَض
خَضتُcompletion of 'I stirred' دَلويmy bucket فيin ماءِthe water of ذاكَthat القَليبِwell
خَضتُ دَلوي في ماءِ ذاكَ القَليبِ
My breast has stayed cool ever since I stirred
The draft that wrung my soul with cruel pain.
my bucket in the water of that well.
Ye built by hate beneath me, till I grew
بِنتُمُyou kept apart بِالمَكروهِwith the unwelcome دونيexcluding me وَأَصبَحand became (verb continues)
بِنتُمُ بِالمَكروهِ دوني وَأَصبَح
تُI (verb suffix) الشَريكَthe partner المُختارَthe chosen فيin المَحبوبِwhat is welcome
تُ الشَريكَ المُختارَ في المَحبوبِ
You kept hardship to yourselves, sparing me, and I became
Content, despised to be the elect of love.
the chosen partner in what was welcome.
Reproved or praised, to me alike it came,
ثُمَّthen لَمnot (past negation) أُدعَI was summoned مِنfrom بَعيدٍfar away لَدىupon الإِذpermission (word begins)
ثُمَّ لَم أُدعَ مِن بَعيدٍ لَدى الإِذ
نِcompletion of 'permission' وَلَمand not أُثنِI was turned away عَنكُمُfrom you مِنfrom قَريبِnearby
نِ وَلَم أُثنِ عَنكُمُ مِن قَريبِ
Then, when leave was granted, I was not called from afar,
In yours or strange hands was the bitter cup.
nor was I turned away from you when near.
Daily ye grace my dish with courtesies
كُلَّevery يَومٍday تُزَخرِفونَyou adorn فِنائيmy courtyard
كُلَّ يَومٍ تُزَخرِفونَ فِنائي
بِحِباءٍwith a gift فَردٍmatchless وَبِرٍّand kindness غَريبِrare
بِحِباءٍ فَردٍ وَبِرٍّ غَريبِ
Every day you adorn my courtyard
Both rare and new, heart-warmed yet insincere.
with a matchless gift and rare kindness.
My heart to you is as the burning coal,
إِنَّindeed قَلبيmy heart لَكُمfor you لَكالكَبِدِsurely like the liver الحَرthe parched (word begins)
إِنَّ قَلبي لَكُم لَكالكَبِدِ الحَر
رىcompletion of 'parched' وَقَلبيand my heart لِغَيرِكُمfor those other than you كَالقُلوبِlike hearts
رى وَقَلبي لِغَيرِكُم كَالقُلوبِ
Indeed, my heart for you is like a liver
To others, as the inmost hearts of men.
parched with thirst; for others, my heart is like other hearts.
No gift of favor do I here request,
لَستُI am not أُدليI invoke بِحُرمَةٍa claim to regard مُستَزيداًseeking an increase
لَستُ أُدلي بِحُرمَةٍ مُستَزيداً
فيin وِدادٍaffection مِنكُمfrom you وَلاnor فيin نَصيبِa share
في وِدادٍ مِنكُم وَلا في نَصيبِ
I do not plead a claim to your regard, seeking more
No share of love, no fortune do I seek;
of your affection or of my share.
Rebuke from friends cannot the spirit break
لاnot تُصيبُstrikes الصَديقَthe friend قارِعَةُthe blow of التَأrebuke (word begins)
لا تُصيبُ الصَديقَ قارِعَةُ التَأ
نيبِcompletion of 'rebuke' إِلّاexcept مِنَfrom الصَديقِthe friend الرَغيبِeager for more
نيبِ إِلّا مِنَ الصَديقِ الرَغيبِ
No friend is struck by the blow of
Save when it springs from one we hold too dear.
rebuke except from a friend eager for more.
Yet blame not sickness in the suffering man,
غَيرَhowever أَنَّthat العَليلَthe sick person لَيسَis not بِمَذموat all blameworthy (word begins)
غَيرَ أَنَّ العَليلَ لَيسَ بِمَذمو
مٍcompletion of 'blameworthy' عَلىfor شَرحِexplaining ماwhat بِهِails him لِلطَبيبِto the physician
مٍ عَلى شَرحِ ما بِهِ لِلطَبيبِ
Yet the sick man is not to be blamed
For he at length must bare his wound to heal.
for explaining his condition to the physician.
Had we deemed choking grief good discipline,
لَوif رَأَيناwe deemed التَوكيدَemphasis خُطَّةَa tactic عَجزٍweakness
لَو رَأَينا التَوكيدَ خُطَّةَ عَجزٍ
ماnot شَفَعناwe supplemented الآذانَthe ears (intended: the call to prayer) بِالتَثويبِwith a repeated summons to prayer
ما شَفَعنا الآذانَ بِالتَثويبِ
If we deemed emphasis a tactic of weakness,
Our ears had been content with whips and goads.
we would not supplement the call to prayer with a repeated summons.
Partial English translation: 75 of 76 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1