رَكِبناwe rode وَفِتيانَwith young men صِدقٍof true loyalty ثُبيناin bands
رَكِبنا وَفِتيانَ صِدقٍ ثُبينا
طُخارِيَّةًTokharian horses قُرَّحاًfully mature يَغتَليناthey bound swiftly
طُخارِيَّةً قُرَّحاً يَغتَلينا
We rode with loyal young men in bands,
We rode spirited, sincere youths
On mature Tokharian horses, bounding swiftly.
On a khutariyyah, speckled, that we whipped along,
عَلَيناupon us مِنَfrom الصينِChina قَسِّيَّةٌQassi silk cloth
عَلَينا مِنَ الصينِ قَسِّيَّةٌ
عَلَوناwe mounted بِهاwith it وَاللُبودَand felt saddlecloths المُتوناthe backs
عَلَونا بِها وَاللُبودَ المُتونا
We wore Qassi silks from China;
We had a qasiyya whip from China upon us
Clad in them, with felt saddlecloths, we mounted their backs.
With which we drove them, grunting with exertion as they climbed.
خَرَجناwe went forth شَباباًyoung men ذَويpossessing نَجدَةٍcourage
خَرَجنا شَباباً ذَوي نَجدَةٍ
لِنَلهوto amuse ourselves عَلَيهاupon them بِضَربِby striking الكُريناthe balls
لِنَلهو عَلَيها بِضَربِ الكُرينا
We went forth as young men of courage,
We set out as high-spirited youths,
To sport upon them by striking balls.
To sport with it, striking with little riding-crops.
بَنيsons of سادَةٍlords مِنfrom بَناتِdaughters of المُلوthe kings (continued)
بَني سادَةٍ مِن بَناتِ المُلو
كِ(completes 'kings') قَدhad مَلَكواthey ruled الناسَthe people دَهراًfor an age وَحيناand a span of time
كِ قَد مَلَكوا الناسَ دَهراً وَحينا
Sons of noble lords, born of the daughters of kings—
The scions of noble houses,
Who had ruled the people for an age and a span of time.
Who have ruled the people for ages, for a time.
فَسارَتthen they traveled بِناwith us رُكَّضاًgalloping بِالفَلاthrough the wilderness
فَسارَت بِنا رُكَّضاً بِالفَلا
عِجالاًswiftly وَنَحتَثُّهاand we urged them مُعجِليناhastening them
عِجالاً وَنَحتَثُّها مُعجِلينا
So they bore us galloping through the wilderness,
It galloped with us at full speed,
Swiftly, as we urged them to greater haste.
Hurrying, as we urged it on.
فَهُنَّand they يُنازِعَنَناthey tug against us شُزَّباًlean
فَهُنَّ يُنازِعَنَنا شُزَّباً
وَنَحنُwhile we نُعَطِّفُهاwe turn them كَيفَhowever شيناwe wish
وَنَحنُ نُعَطِّفُها كَيفَ شينا
They tug against us, lean steeds,
As they vied with us for mastery,
While we turn them however we wish.
While we steered them as we wished.
فَلَمّاthen when اِجتَمَعناwe gathered بِمَيدانِناon our playing field
فَلَمّا اِجتَمَعنا بِمَيدانِنا
عَلىaccording to وَفقِthe arrangement of مُفتَرَقِthe division of الراكِبيناthe riders
عَلى وَفقِ مُفتَرَقِ الراكِبينا
When we gathered on our playing field,
When we met in our exercise-ground,
With the riders arranged in their divisions,
On the common way where the riders separate,
وَقَدand already سَدَّدواthey secured عَقدَthe knots of أَذنابِهاtheir tails
وَقَد سَدَّدوا عَقدَ أَذنابِها
فَماand not يَأتَلونَthey slacken وَماand not يَأتَليناthe mares slacken
فَما يَأتَلونَ وَما يَأتَلينا
They had secured the knots in the horses' tails;
They had braided their reins,
Neither the men nor the mares slackened.
Not fumbling about or fumbling them.
وَصِرناand we became فَريقَينِtwo teams فيin مَجمَعٍone gathering
وَصِرنا فَريقَينِ في مَجمَعٍ
فَأَحسِنhow splendid بِهِنَّthey were قَريناًa companion قَريناa companion
فَأَحسِن بِهِنَّ قَريناً قَرينا
And we became two teams in one gathering:
We were two parties in one place.
How splendid they were, matched pair by pair!
Paired off well with each other, pair by pair.
رَمَيناwe struck بِمُتَّصِلٍwith unbroken continuity حَرزُهاits securing
رَمَينا بِمُتَّصِلٍ حَرزُها
تَلَوَّنَvaried their ways فيin حَرزِهاsecuring it الحارِزوناthose securing it
تَلَوَّنَ في حَرزِها الحارِزونا
We struck the ball, the contest to secure it unbroken;
We shot at them continuously; they dodged about, protectively
Those securing it varied their ways.
Changing colour in their self-protection.
إِذاwhenever رَفَعوهاthey raised it بِعودِwith a stick of الخِلافِwillow
إِذا رَفَعوها بِعودِ الخِلافِ
رَفَعناwe raised جَميعاًall together إِلَيهاtoward it العُيوناthe eyes
رَفَعنا جَميعاً إِلَيها العُيونا
Whenever they lofted it with a willow stick,
When they raised them with the stick for the turn,
We all raised our eyes toward it.
Together we turned our eyes up to it.
فَمِنand among them راكِضٍone galloping مائِلٍleaning نَحوَهاtoward it
فَمِن راكِضٍ مائِلٍ نَحوَها
وَأَصحابُهُand his companions نَحوَهاtoward it راكِضوناgalloping
وَأَصحابُهُ نَحوَها راكِضونا
One gallops, leaning toward it,
Some urged their mounts slantingly towards it
His companions galloping toward it too.
While their companions urged theirs towards it.
وَمِنand among them واقِفٍone standing still راكِبٍmounted on فارِهاًa fine steed
وَمِن واقِفٍ راكِبٍ فارِهاً
لِيَمضيto ride onward عَلَيهِupon it فَريداًalone مَكيناfirmly seated
لِيَمضي عَلَيهِ فَريداً مَكينا
Another stands still, mounted on a fine steed,
Some stood, mounted, spurring her on alone
To ride onward upon it, alone and secure.
That he might get past on his own rein held firm.
وَمِنand among them مُخطِئٍone missing حينَwhen طابَتit lay favorably لَهُfor him
وَمِن مُخطِئٍ حينَ طابَت لَهُ
فَظَلَّso he remained لِماover what فاتَwas missed مِنهاof it حَزيناsad
فَظَلَّ لِما فاتَ مِنها حَزينا
Another misses when it lies favorably for him,
Some erred as he got his chance; but he grieved
And remains sad over the chance he missed.
For missing what had got by him.
تَرىyou see بَعضَناsome of us راكِباًriding مُدبِراًturning away
تَرى بَعضَنا راكِباً مُدبِراً
وَبَعضاًand others إِلىtoward ضَربِهاstriking it مُقبِليناadvancing
وَبَعضاً إِلى ضَربِها مُقبِلينا
You see some of us riding away,
You could see some of us ride back,
And others advancing to strike it.
And some advance upon its blows.
وَماand not المُدبِرونَthose turning away مِنَamong المُقبِلينَthose advancing
وَما المُدبِرونَ مِنَ المُقبِلينَ
وَماand not المُقبِلونَthose advancing مِنَamong المُدبِريناthose turning away
وَما المُقبِلونَ مِنَ المُدبِرينا
Those riding away are not among those advancing,
Those advancing were not in retreat,
Nor those advancing among those riding away.
Nor were those retreating advancing.
تَخالُهُمُyou suppose them قَصَدواthey headed لِلّقاfor an encounter (continued)
تَخالُهُمُ قَصَدوا لِلّقا
ءِ(completes 'encounter') وَماyet not يَرتَمونَthey exchange missiles ماnot يَطعَنوناthey thrust
ءِ وَما يَرتَمونَ ما يَطعَنونا
You would think they were heading for combat—
You would fancy they intended to meet,
Yet they shoot no arrows and thrust no spears.
But they do not expect what they thrust they will hit.
يَخوضونَthey plunge in بِالقُمرِon pale steeds إِنif سَبَّقواthey race ahead
يَخوضونَ بِالقُمرِ إِن سَبَّقوا
وَكُلٌّand everyone يَخالُهُمُsupposes them لاعِبيناplayers
وَكُلٌّ يَخالُهُمُ لاعِبينا
They plunge in on pale steeds if they race ahead,
They get involved with the sack when they are ahead
And everyone thinks them players.
While each fancies the others mere players.
تَراناyou see us نَصيحُwe shout بِطَيّارَةٍat a flying steed
تَرانا نَصيحُ بِطَيّارَةٍ
أَمِنّاwe felt safe قَوائِمَهاits legs أَنthat تَخوناthey might fail
أَمِنّا قَوائِمَها أَن تَخونا
You see us urging a flying steed with cries,
You see us sincere, shouting advice about a lively
Trusting that its legs will never fail us.
Filly—
إِذاwhenever ماever (emphasis) أَرَدناwe wanted بِهاwith it مَعطِفاًa turn
إِذا ما أَرَدنا بِها مَعطِفاً
وَجَدناwe found بِهاin it طَوعَobedience in عَطفٍturning وَليناand suppleness
وَجَدنا بِها طَوعَ عَطفٍ وَلينا
Whenever we wish to wheel it around,
Have we secured firmness in her legs that she not tumble us?
We find it obedient in turning and supple.
When we tried to turn her, we found her biddable,
تَكادُthey nearly إِذاwhenever ماever (emphasis) عَطَفناwe wheeled بِهِwith them (continued)
تَكادُ إِذا ما عَطَفنا بِهِ
نَّ(completes 'with them') أَنto يَنثَنينَthey bend double وَماyet not يَنثَنيناthey bend double
نَّ أَن يَنثَنينَ وَما يَنثَنينا
They nearly, whenever we wheel them,
Responding to pressure of the rein, and pliant.
Fold double—yet never fold.
If we put pressure on the rein she would
فَلَمّاthen when لَعِبناwe played وَطابَتand it was pleasing لَناto us
فَلَمّا لَعِبنا وَطابَت لَنا
وَفازَand won بِأَطيَبِهاthe best of it الغالِبوناthe victors
وَفازَ بِأَطيَبِها الغالِبونا
When we had played and found it pleasant,
Almost bend double, but does not bend double.
And the victors had won the best of it,
When we had sported and the victors won the finest of them,
عَطَفناwe turned إِلىtoward مَنزِلٍa dwelling حاضِرٍclose at hand
عَطَفنا إِلى مَنزِلٍ حاضِرٍ
كَثيرِabundant in اللَذاذَةِpleasure مُستَبشِريناrejoicing
كَثيرِ اللَذاذَةِ مُستَبشِرينا
We turned toward a dwelling close at hand,
We turned to a prepared residence which delighted the eyes in prospect.
Rich in delights, rejoicing.
They set up the instruments in order,
وَقَدand already أَحكَمواthey perfected جَمعَthe assembling of آلاتِهِits furnishings
وَقَد أَحكَموا جَمعَ آلاتِهِ
وَكُنّاand we were بِأَحكامِهِfor its proper preparation الآمِريناthose giving orders
وَكُنّا بِأَحكامِهِ الآمِرينا
They had carefully assembled its furnishings,
While we commanded the perfect order.
And we had given the orders for its preparation.
When we came to it, as we had yearned for it, all together yearningly,
فَلَمّاthen when اِنتَهَيناwe arrived إِلَيهِat it وَقَدand already
فَلَمّا اِنتَهَينا إِلَيهِ وَقَد
حَنَنّاwe yearned إِلَيهِfor it جَميعاًall together حَنيناlongingly
حَنَنّا إِلَيهِ جَميعاً حَنينا
When we reached it, having
We stayed because we considered it a blessing at which the beholder's eye is pleased.
All yearned for it with longing,
We bumped down and alighted like battle heroes whose heads are not weighed down with aches from the fight.
أَقَمناwe settled عَلىon the understanding أَنَّهاthat it was نِعمَةٌa blessing
أَقَمنا عَلى أَنَّها نِعمَةٌ
تَقَرُّare gladdened بِهاby it أَعيُنُthe eyes of الناظِريناthose looking on
تَقَرُّ بِها أَعيُنُ الناظِرينا
We settled there, knowing it was a blessing
We gestured around the group with the cups yielded ungrudgingly to them,
That gladdened the eyes of those who looked on.
Ever bowing down to their goblets, bowing much, though they bow not.
نَكُبُّwe tip وَنَبزُلُand we tap مِثلَone like الغَزاthe gazelle (continued)
نَكُبُّ وَنَبزُلُ مِثلَ الغَزا
لِ(completes 'gazelle') لَمdid not تَحمِلِbear الرَأسُthe head مِنهُof it قُروناhorns
لِ لَم تَحمِلِ الرَأسُ مِنهُ قُرونا
We tip and tap one like a gazelle—
They pass round goblets of silver continuously, unflagging and unresting.
Whose head has never borne horns.
So the pourers' hands were paralyzed with that
نُديرُwe pass around عَلىamong القَومِthe company مُستَبذَلاًone put to service
نُديرُ عَلى القَومِ مُستَبذَلاً
لَهُمfor them بِالشَرابِfor the wine كَفيلاًa guarantor ضَميناa surety
لَهُم بِالشَرابِ كَفيلاً ضَمينا
We pass among the company one put to service,
While the drinkers' selves delighted in it.
A guarantor and surety of wine for them.
We, in our fine manners,
يَظَلُّit keeps لِأَكؤُسِهِمbefore their cups راكِعاًbowing
يَظَلُّ لِأَكؤُسِهِم راكِعاً
كَثيرَfrequent in السُجودِprostration وَماwhile not يَركَعوناthey bow
كَثيرَ السُجودِ وَما يَركَعونا
It keeps bowing before their cups,
Passed the goblets around to the right.
Often prostrating, while they do not bow.
When they were ordered on the first of the drinkers,
يُديرونَthey pass around أَكؤُسَcups مِنof فِضَّةٍsilver
يُديرونَ أَكؤُسَ مِن فِضَّةٍ
وَماand not يَفتُرونَthey flag وَماand not يَمتَروناthey doubt
وَما يَفتُرونَ وَما يَمتَرونا
They pass around cups of silver,
They came to the last of them.
Never flagging and never doubting.
The cup did not cease from the bitterness of her imposed round;
فَخَفَّتthen grew nimble عَلىat ذاكَthat أَيديthe hands of السُقاةِthe cupbearers
فَخَفَّت عَلى ذاكَ أَيدي السُقاةِ
وَطابَتand were gladdened بِهِby it أَنفُسُthe spirits of الشارِبيناthe drinkers
وَطابَت بِهِ أَنفُسُ الشارِبينا
The cupbearers' hands grew nimble at this,
Nor did we fail to relish drinking it.
And the drinkers' spirits were delighted by it.
When she got her grip on some one of us she provoked him to eructation or made him bump his forehead.
وَنَحنُand we عَلىobserving حُسنِthe excellence of آدابِناour manners
وَنَحنُ عَلى حُسنِ آدابِنا
نُديرُwe pass around الكُؤوسَthe cups عَلَيناamong ourselves يَميناto the right
نُديرُ الكُؤوسَ عَلَينا يَمينا
And we, observing our good manners,
We did not leave her in debt to us by postponing drinking her.
Pass the cups among ourselves to the right.
We were saluted with her and all drank together. We followed her with roses and jasmine.
إِذاwhenever ماever (emphasis) أُمِرَّتthey are passed عَلىamong أَوَّلينَthe first
إِذا ما أُمِرَّت عَلى أَوَّلينَ
مِنَof الشارِبينَthe drinkers أَتَتthey reach آخِريناthe last
مِنَ الشارِبينَ أَتَت آخِرينا
When they are passed among the first
The eyes of the slave girls sang to us with her.
Of the drinkers, they reach the last.
We took amusement at them and they at us.
فَلاand not هِيَthey تَفتُرُgrow weary مِنfrom مَرِّهاtheir passing
فَلا هِيَ تَفتُرُ مِن مَرِّها
وَلاnor نَحنُwe مِنfrom شُربِهاdrinking them فاتِروناweary
وَلا نَحنُ مِن شُربِها فاتِرونا
Neither do they tire of going round,
Beauty of faces, largeness of bodies, like roe-gazelles pasturing.
Nor do we tire of drinking from them.
As the minstrel leads, they all but swoon over us and we over them.
إِذاwhenever أَمكَنَتit comes within reach of بَعضَناone of us لَمnot يَزَلhe ceases
إِذا أَمكَنَت بَعضَنا لَم يَزَل
يُرَفِّعُهاhe raises it repeatedly أَوor يَصُكُّhe slaps الجَبيناthe forehead
يُرَفِّعُها أَو يَصُكُّ الجَبينا
When one comes within reach of one of us, he keeps
We consented to them for our delight:
Raising it repeatedly, or slapping his brow.
They with us, we with them delighted.
وَلَسناand we do not نُؤَخِّرُpostpone مِنany of شُربِهاdrinking it
وَلَسنا نُؤَخِّرُ مِن شُربِها
فَنَجعَلَand so make مِنهاof it عَلَيناupon us دُيوناdebts
فَنَجعَلَ مِنها عَلَينا دُيونا
We do not defer any of its drinking,
When the flute echoes their voices,
Lest we turn it into debts upon ourselves.
And their strings quaver a melodious plaint,
نُحَيّاwe are saluted بِهاwith it وَنُسَقّىand we are given drink مَعاًtogether
نُحَيّا بِها وَنُسَقّى مَعاً
وُنُتبِعُهاand we follow it with الوَردَroses وَالياسَميناand jasmine
وُنُتبِعُها الوَردَ وَالياسَمينا
We are saluted with it and served it together,
Roused by the cockcrow you would ransom yourselves for us, every one of you ransom the others.
And follow it with roses and jasmine.
For that we are like swords drawn against them.
وَعَينُand the choicest of الجَواريthe maidens يُغَنّينَناsing to us
وَعَينُ الجَواري يُغَنّينَنا
بِهاwith it نَتَلَهّىwe amuse ourselves وَماwhile not يَلتَهيناthey become distracted
بِها نَتَلَهّى وَما يَلتَهينا
And the choicest maidens sing to us;
We love music, revel in it,
With it we amuse ourselves, while they are not distracted.
And drink our drink fearlessly.
حِسانُbeautiful of الوُجوهِface عِظامُlarge of الجُسومِbody
حِسانُ الوُجوهِ عِظامُ الجُسومِ
كَغِزلانِlike gazelles بَرِّيَّةٍof the wilderness يَرتَعيناthey graze
كَغِزلانِ بَرِّيَّةٍ يَرتَعينا
Fair of face, large of body,
In that we expend our wealth
Like gazelles grazing in the wilderness.
And quaff it without cease so long as we live.
يَكَدنthey nearly إِذاwhen هُنَّthey غَنّينَناsing to us
يَكَدن إِذا هُنَّ غَنّينَنا
لَناfor us يَلتَوينَthey sway وَماyet not يَلتَويناthey sway
لَنا يَلتَوينَ وَما يَلتَوينا
They nearly, whenever they sing to us,
For months on end and through the days
Sway for us—yet never sway.
We remain in that same state and for years.
رَضيناwe were content بِهِنَّwith them لِلَذّاتِناfor our pleasures
رَضينا بِهِنَّ لِلَذّاتِنا
هُناكَthere وَهُنَّand they بِناwith us قَدindeed رَضيناwere content
هُناكَ وَهُنَّ بِنا قَد رَضينا
We were content with them for our pleasures
There, and they too were content with us.
إِذاwhen النايُthe flute جاوَبَanswered أَصواتَهُنَّtheir voices
إِذا النايُ جاوَبَ أَصواتَهُنَّ
وَأَوتارَهُنَّand their strings فَرَنَّتthen they rang رَنيناresoundingly
وَأَوتارَهُنَّ فَرَنَّت رَنينا
When the flute answered their voices
And their strings, which then rang resoundingly,
وَرُوِّعنَand they were startled بِالصُبحِby dawn أَبصَرتَناyou saw us
وَرُوِّعنَ بِالصُبحِ أَبصَرتَنا
نُفَدّيwe offer in ransom بِأَنفُسِناour own selves أَجمَعيناall of us
نُفَدّي بِأَنفُسِنا أَجمَعينا
And they were startled by dawn, you would see us
All offering our own lives as ransom.
فَنَحنُso we عَلىin تِلكَthat مِنof حالِناour condition
فَنَحنُ عَلى تِلكَ مِن حالِنا
كَأَنّاas though we سُيوفٌwere swords لِذاكَfor that اِنتُضيناwe were unsheathed
كَأَنّا سُيوفٌ لِذاكَ اِنتُضينا
So we remain in that state of ours,
As though we were swords drawn for that purpose.
نُحِبُّwe love السَماعَmusic وَنَلتَذُّهُand we delight in it
نُحِبُّ السَماعَ وَنَلتَذُّهُ
وَنَشرَبُand we drink ماwhat عِندَناwe have آمِنيناin safety
وَنَشرَبُ ما عِندَنا آمِنينا
We love music and delight in it,
And drink what we have in safety.
وَفيand on تِلكَthose pleasures نُنفِقُwe spend أَموالَناour wealth
وَفي تِلكَ نُنفِقُ أَموالَنا
وَنَشرَبُهاand we drink it أَبَداًalways ماas long as بَقيناwe remain alive
وَنَشرَبُها أَبَداً ما بَقينا
On those pleasures we spend our wealth,
And drink it always, for as long as we live.
نَظَلُّwe remain الشُهورَthrough the months وَأَيّامَهاand their days
نَظَلُّ الشُهورَ وَأَيّامَها
عَلىin مِثلِthe like of ذاكَthat وَطولَand through the length of السِنيناthe years
عَلى مِثلِ ذاكَ وَطولَ السِنينا
We remain, through the months and their days,
In such a state, through the length of the years.
Partial English translation: 80 of 94 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1