بكيناwe wept فماbut not أغنىavailed البكاءweeping ولاnor الحزنُsorrow
بكينا فما أغنى البكاء ولا الحزنُ
ونحنand we علىin الوجدgrief المقيمabiding كماjust as نحنُwe are
ونحن على الوجد المقيم كما نحنُ
We wept, but neither weeping nor sorrow availed;
We cried but crying and grief avail naught,
and we remain as we were, in abiding grief.
While we in passionate love still distraught.
تولتsailed away بأحبابيwith my beloved ones الأعزةthe cherished سفنُهمtheir ships
تولت بأحبابي الأعزة سفنُهم
وماand not رجعتreturned يوماًever بأحبابيَwith my beloved ones السفنthe ships
وما رجعت يوماً بأحبابيَ السفن
Their ships sailed away with my cherished beloved ones,
My dearest friends their ships did sail away,
and never did the ships return with my beloved ones.
But ne'er a ship returned unto this day.
فمنso who يحملwill carry الأشواقthe longings منيfrom me إليهمُto them
فمن يحمل الأشواق مني إليهمُ
لعلperhaps مكانيmy place منto مكانهمُtheir place يدنوdraws near
لعل مكاني من مكانهمُ يدنو
Who will carry my longings from me to them,
Who shall convey my love and longing overt,
that perhaps my place may draw nearer theirs?
That perchance our spots may draw somewhat near?
عزيزO beloved الحمىof the homeland الأغلىmost precious ذهبتyou departed شهيدَهُas its martyr
عزيز الحمى الأغلى ذهبت شهيدَهُ
وحولكand around you منfrom among أهلthe people of الحمىthe homeland الجندthe troops والحصنand the fortress
وحولك من أهل الحمى الجند والحصن
Beloved of the dearest homeland, you departed as its martyr,
Thou keeper of the honor dear as gold, a martyr now lies cold,
with the homeland's people around you, its army and fortress.
While round thee in the fort stand men so bold.
طواكswept you away الردىdeath العاتيruthless ولوand had قبلaccepted الردىdeath
طواك الردى العاتي ولو قبل الردى
فداءكyour ransom منهfrom it بالنفوسwith their lives لماwould not have ضنّواthey begrudged
فداءك منه بالنفوس لما ضنّوا
Ruthless death swept you away; and had death accepted
Dire fate assailed thee ere it showed its might,
their lives as your ransom from it, they would not have withheld them.
With souls defending thee they did not fright.
عليهمover them مضىpassed عامa year of الفراقseparation ومرهand its bitterness
عليهم مضى عام الفراق ومره
فماyet not وجدواthey found عنكfor your loss السلوَّconsolation ولاnor ظنّواthey expected
فما وجدوا عنك السلوَّ ولا ظنّوا
A year of separation and its bitterness has passed over them,
A year now passed since we were thus forlorn,
yet they have neither found consolation for your loss nor expected it.
No peace they found, no hope of thy return.
تلاقواthey gathered علىin fidelity to العهدthe pledge الذيwhich لكto you عندهمheld by them
تلاقوا على العهد الذي لك عندهم
وأثنواand they praised ومنand among محتومthe binding part of حقكyour due أنthat يثنواthey praise
وأثنوا ومن محتوم حقك أن يثنوا
They gathered in fidelity to the pledge they owe you,
As one they swore by that which thou hast kept,
and praised you, as praise is your unquestionable due.
And truth acclaimed in all that thou hast stepped.
وجاءواand they brought بأزكىwith the noblest ماwhat رأتهhad seen it وماand what وعتhad retained
وجاءوا بأزكى ما رأته وما وعت
منfrom السيرةthe life-story الخلديةthe immortal العينthe eye والأذنand the ear
من السيرة الخلدية العين والأذن
They brought the noblest things seen and remembered
The best they knew in word and deed sublime,
by eye and ear from your immortal life-story.
Both eye and ear, eternal through all time.
يعيدونthey renew فيكconcerning you اليومtoday ذكرىthe remembrance of مصابهمtheir loss
يعيدون فيك اليوم ذكرى مصابهم
فتأسىso they grieve وتهتزand are shaken الحواضرthe great towns والمدنand the cities
فتأسى وتهتز الحواضر والمدن
Today they renew the remembrance of losing you,
Recalling now their loss in thee today,
so the great towns and cities grieve and are shaken.
All cities mourn in sorrow and dismay.
ويقضونand they fulfill فرضthe duty to الملكthe king فيهin his regard رعايةwith due care
ويقضون فرض الملك فيه رعاية
وماand what شرعوهthey prescribed it منof خلالٍvirtues وماand what سنّواthey established
وما شرعوه من خلالٍ وما سنّوا
They fulfill their duty to the king, faithfully observing
Our king's behest fulfilled in thee, their care,
the virtues they have prescribed and the customs they have established.
All rules and laws made just for all to share.
تواصواthey urged one another بماconcerning what أديتهyou discharged it منof أمانةa trust
تواصوا بما أديته من أمانة
وكلهمُand each of them عونٌa helper لصاحبهto his companion خدنa close friend
وكلهمُ عونٌ لصاحبه خدن
They urged one another to honor the trust you discharged,
In trust thou hast fulfilled thy mission grand,
each a helper and close friend to his fellow.
Each man a friend lent others a helping hand.
وكلand every صنيعgood deed أنتyou فيin مصرEgypt صانعperforming
وكل صنيع أنت في مصر صانع
لكyou have الدهرforever بينamong الأولينthe foremost أخa brother وابنand a son
لك الدهر بين الأولين أخ وابن
For every good deed you would perform in Egypt,
In Egypt thou didst every good create,
you have forever a brother and a son among the foremost.
Through all the years, as brother, son, and mate.
ومنand whoever كانwas فيin الدنياthis world أساسthe foundation of بنائهhis building
ومن كان في الدنيا أساس بنائه
أساسكyour foundation فيin الأخرىthe next world لهfor him ثبتstands firm الركنthe pillar
أساسك في الأخرى له ثبت الركن
And he whose building in this world has its foundation
Whose life is built on sure foundation sound,
in yours will have a steadfast pillar in the next.
Thy base in heaven firm place has found.
وماand not العمرlife والسنُّand age الزمانtime وإنماbut rather
وما العمر والسنُّ الزمان وإنما
أياديthe benefactions of الفتىa man فيهwithin it هيthey are العمرُlife والسنُّand age
أيادي الفتى فيه هي العمرُ والسنُّ
Life and age are not mere time; rather,
Not years or age, but deeds of youth create,
a man's benefactions in it are his life and age.
The lifelong merit and the worthy state.
خرجتyou departed منfrom الدنياthis world وليسand there is not بموضعin any place
خرجت من الدنيا وليس بموضع
منbecause of الهولterror فيin الدنياthe world متاعcomfort ولاnor أمنsecurity
من الهول في الدنيا متاع ولا أمن
You left this world, and nowhere
Thou left this world, no safety could be found,
amid this world's terrors is there comfort or security.
No joy nor comfort in this earthly round.
فليتكif only you فيat هذيthis القيامةapocalypse شاهدa witness
فليتك في هذي القيامة شاهد
وفيand in قلبكyour heart النجوىprivate counsel وفيand in يدكyour hand الشأنcommand
وفي قلبك النجوى وفي يدك الشأن
Would that you were a witness to this apocalypse,
Would that in resurrection thou appear,
with counsel in your heart and command in your hand.
With triumph in thy hand and counsels near.
إذاwhen الحربwar بينamong الناسpeople للبغيfor oppression سُعِّرتis kindled
إذا الحرب بين الناس للبغي سُعِّرت
فسيانthen alike فيin الحربwar الشجاعةcourage والجبنand cowardice
فسيان في الحرب الشجاعة والجبن
When war is kindled among people for oppression,
When men in senseless strife destruction wake,
courage and cowardice are alike in war.
In such turmoil the brave and coward quake.
جنوهاthey brought it about بلاwithout أمرthe command of الزمانTime وإذنهand its permission
جنوها بلا أمر الزمان وإذنه
وهلand is it so? يعوزis lacking to الأمرcommand الضواريَbeasts of prey والأذنand permission
وهل يعوز الأمر الضواريَ والأذن
They brought it on without Time's command or leave;
Unbidden war on time and fate they thrust,
and do beasts of prey ever lack command or leave?
As though marauders war could be so just.
وعلماًand a science وفنّاًand an art أصبحhas become القتلkilling بينهمamong them
وعلماً وفنّاً أصبح القتل بينهم
وماyet not العلمscience إلاexcept للحياةfor life ولاnor الفنart
وما العلم إلا للحياة ولا الفن
Among them, killing has become a science and an art,
Now slaughter skills between these hosts prevail,
yet science and art are meant for life alone.
Not life but death do science now and art entail.
زلازلearthquakes منfrom أيديهمُtheir hands وصواعقand thunderbolts
زلازل من أيديهمُ وصواعق
بهاwith them اليومtoday صارhas become الضربstriking فيon الأرضthe earth والطعنand stabbing
بها اليوم صار الضرب في الأرض والطعن
Earthquakes and thunderbolts spring from their hands;
Their hands like earthquake and like lightning smite,
with these, blows and thrusts are now dealt across the earth.
They ruin earth and pierce with hateful spite.
أجنّاًwith jinn? عليهاupon it بدّلreplaced الدهرTime ناسهاits people
أجنّاً عليها بدّل الدهر ناسها
فقدfor indeed فعلواthey have done ماwhat ليسnot يفعلهdoes it الجنthe jinn
فقد فعلوا ما ليس يفعله الجن
Has Time replaced the earth's people with jinn?
Vile demons now replace the race of yore,
For they have done what even jinn do not do.
Foul deeds they dare as demons dared before.
يريدونهاthey want it غنماًas spoils وهمwhile they يهدمونهاdemolish it
يريدونها غنماً وهم يهدمونها
فهلso, have they? عقلواthey acted sensibly فيماin what أرادوهthey desired it أمor جنواthey went mad
فهل عقلوا فيما أرادوه أم جنوا
They want it as their spoils, even as they tear it down;
They treat this land as prey and seek its fall,
are they sane in what they seek, or have they gone mad?
Have they in madness dreamed to ruin all?
وإنand if يبقَremains حيٌّanyone alive منهمُof them لبنائهاto rebuild it
وإن يبقَ حيٌّ منهمُ لبنائها
فهلthen, can they? يقدرbe able الجرحىthe wounded المهازيلthe emaciated أنto يبنواbuild
فهل يقدر الجرحى المهازيل أن يبنوا
And if any of them survives to rebuild it,
And should a wounded few survive this fray,
can the wounded and emaciated build?
Could cripples rise to build its walls one day?
وإنand if ينجsurvives منهاof it جانبa part لجناتهاfor its ravagers
وإن ينج منها جانب لجناتها
فماthen not هوit إلاexcept للجناةfor the criminals غداًtomorrow سجنa prison
فما هو إلا للجناة غداً سجن
And if some part of it survives for those who ravaged it,
And if some corner from the wreck be spared,
it will be nothing but a prison for those criminals tomorrow.
‘Twill be a prison for the guilty scared.
تقطعتwere severed الأسبابthe ties والسبلand the routes بينهمbetween them
تقطعت الأسباب والسبل بينهم
فماso not النقلtransport إلاexcept للدمارfor destruction ولاnor الشحنshipping
فما النقل إلا للدمار ولا الشحن
The ties and roads between them have been severed;
Between them means and roads asunder torn,
transport and shipping serve destruction alone.
Naught moves but havoc, hatred, rage, and scorn.
وعزتand grew scarce ضروراتthe necessities of الحياةlife عليهمُfor them
وعزت ضرورات الحياة عليهمُ
فكادso it nearly يقامis instituted الكيلmeasuring للريحfor the wind والوزنand weighing
فكاد يقام الكيل للريح والوزن
Life's necessities have become scarce for them,
Stern life necessity weighs on all this wrong,
so that even the wind might almost be measured and weighed.
Until their breath and steps alike are weighed and long.
أيغنيcan it suffice? عنin place of الزادprovisions السلاحweapons وغيرهand what is besides them
أيغني عن الزاد السلاح وغيره
وهلand can it? يستقيمstand straight الظهرthe back إنif فرغis empty البطنthe belly
وهل يستقيم الظهر إن فرغ البطن
Can weapons and other things take the place of food?
Can weapons more than food man's strength supply?
And can the back stand straight if the belly is empty?
Or back stand straight though stomachs empty cry?
ومنand whoever يتخذmakes for himself فيamid أزمةthe crisis of العالمthe world الغنىwealth
ومن يتخذ في أزمة العالم الغنى
فأولىthen more fitting لهfor him منthan ربحهhis profit الآثمsinful الغبنloss
فأولى له من ربحه الآثم الغبن
Whoever makes himself rich amid the world's crisis
Whoso in world crisis hoards of wealth would gain,
deserves loss rather than his sinful profit.
His profits curse, while upright men disdain.
أيلتمسdo they seek? القوتsustenance الجياعthe hungry منfrom الثرىthe dust
أيلتمس القوت الجياع من الثرى
ويأبونwhile they refuse إلاanything but أنthat يخالطهmix with it السمنghee
ويأبون إلا أن يخالطه السمن
Do the hungry seek their sustenance from the dust,
Shall hungry men dig sustenance from earth,
while they insist it must be mixed with ghee?
And scorn to mix their flour, while round them surges dearth?
ويغضبهمand it angers them خلطthe mixing of الدقيقflour وحولهمwhile around them
ويغضبهم خلط الدقيق وحولهم
منfrom الحربwar فيin أبدانthe bodies of غيرهمُpeople other than them الطحنgrinding
من الحرب في أبدان غيرهمُ الطحن
They are angered by adulterated flour, while all around them
The bread and wheat cannot make people glad,
war grinds the bodies of others.
If war leaves none secure or undefiledly clad.
وإنand if لمdo not يجدfind منin خلقهtheir own character الشعبthe people مشبعاًsomething sustaining
وإن لم يجد من خلقه الشعب مشبعاً
فلاthen neither القمحwheat يغنيsuffices الشعبthe people يوماًever ولاnor القطنcotton
فلا القمح يغني الشعب يوماً ولا القطن
And if the people find no sustenance in their own character,
Mere safety is today an ample feast,
neither wheat nor cotton will ever suffice the people.
If one escape starvation as a distinguished guest.
كفىsuffices بالكفافwith bare subsistence اليومtoday فيهin it مؤونةas a burden
كفى بالكفاف اليوم فيه مؤونة
لمنfor one who فاتهescaped him للضيقfor hard times فيin السعةplenty الخزنstoring
لمن فاته للضيق في السعة الخزن
Securing bare subsistence is burden enough today
What food consoles the sorrowing man forlorn,
for one who failed, in plenty, to store for times of want.
Though honeyed cakes and manna grace his board?
وأيand what طعامfood فيin الأسىsorrow لاnot أعافهI loathe it
وأي طعام في الأسى لا أعافه
وإنeven if كانتwere السلوىquails أماميَbefore me والمنُّand manna
وإن كانت السلوى أماميَ والمنُّ
What food could I fail to loathe in sorrow,
Can boughs delight the birds when fruit is gone,
even were quails and manna set before me?
And only leafless branches glare thereon?
أفيis it in? الغصنthe branch يوماًever يرغبdesire الطيرbirds إنif خلاis bare
أفي الغصن يوماً يرغب الطير إن خلا
منof الثمرfruit المنضدودclosely clustered والورقand leaves الغصنthe branch
من الثمر المنضدود والورق الغصن
Would birds ever desire a branch, if
When minds are dazed can wisdom see the way,
that branch were bare of clustered fruit and leaves?
When intellects are darkened, trace the ray?
وهلand can they? يدركreach الوجدانfeeling والذهنand intellect غايةa goal
وهل يدرك الوجدان والذهن غاية
إذاif اضطربis disturbed الوجدانfeeling واختلطand is confused الذهنintellect
إذا اضطرب الوجدان واختلط الذهن
Can feeling and intellect ever reach a goal
What ease can sheep and cattle hope to find,
when feeling is distraught and intellect confused?
When pastures fail, what comfort for their kind?
ومنand from أينwhere يلقىfinds أوor يرىsees الضأنsheep مترفa man of luxury
ومن أين يلقى أو يرى الضأن مترف
إذاif فقدhave lost المرعىpasture لدىin the keeping of المترفthe man of luxury الضأنthe sheep
إذا فقد المرعى لدى المترف الضأن
Where could a man of luxury find or see sheep
I call on wealthy Hatim's name no more,
if the sheep in his care have lost their pasture?
Where can one live today so free of yore?
وأنيand indeed I لأدعوtruly call upon للعفاةon behalf of those seeking aid سراتهمtheir nobles
وأني لأدعو للعفاة سراتهم
غنىthe wealth of حاتمHatim فيamong أمةthe people of اليومtoday أوor معنMa'n
غنى حاتم في أمة اليوم أو معن
Indeed, I appeal to their nobles for those seeking aid,
Men's thoughts today are turned to urgent needs,
for the wealth of Hatim or Ma'n among today's people.
None cares for others, no one hears or heeds.
وقدand indeed شغلتhave preoccupied أهلَthe people of الزمانthe age صروفُهits vicissitudes
وقد شغلت أهلَ الزمان صروفُه
فلمso no longer يبقremains فيهin it منanyone who يحنُّfeels tenderness ومنand anyone who يحنوshows kindness
فلم يبق فيه من يحنُّ ومن يحنو
The turns of time have so preoccupied its people
Myself I'd sell into slavery, if I could,
that none remains who feels compassion or shows kindness.
To aid their cause, if legal were that road.
وإنيand indeed I لأرضىwould gladly accept بيعselling نفسيmyself ورهنهاand pledging it
وإني لأرضى بيع نفسي ورهنها
لنجدتهمto rescue them لوif أمكنwere possible البيعselling والرهنand pledging
لنجدتهم لو أمكن البيع والرهن
I would gladly sell myself or pledge myself
Who for his people bears the heavy load,
to rescue them, if sale and pledge were possible.
Will restless spend each hour upon that goad.
ومنand whoever يحتملbears عنon behalf of قومهhis people العبءthe burden لمdoes not يفقrecover
ومن يحتمل عن قومه العبء لم يفق
لهfor him ساعةًfor a moment بالٌa mind ولمand does not يسترحrest جفنan eyelid
له ساعةً بالٌ ولم يسترح جفن
Whoever bears his people's burden for them has
Who for the fiery waste has mercy yet,
no moment's ease of mind, nor rest for his eyelids.
With kindness may the burning flame beset.
فمنso who للهيبfor the blaze of الأرضthe earth بالمزنwith rain clouds رحمةin mercy
فمن للهيب الأرض بالمزن رحمة
ورفقاًand in kindness عسىperhaps أنthat تطفئmay extinguish اللهبthe flames المزنthe rain clouds
ورفقاً عسى أن تطفئ اللهب المزن
Who will bring rain clouds to earth's blaze, in mercy
And who will grant me after peace one day,
and kindness, that the clouds may quench the flames?
The rising and the fallen then to say?
ومنand who ليَfor me بعدafter الصلحpeace فيهاin it بساعةٍwith an hour
ومن ليَ بعد الصلح فيها بساعةٍ
لأشهدso I may witness منwho يعلوrises وأعرفand know منwho يعنوsubmits
لأشهد من يعلو وأعرف من يعنو
And who will grant me an hour here after peace,
to witness who rises and learn who submits?
Partial English translation: 82 of 84 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1