أَقُولُI say اِشتِكاءَin complaint بِالحَرامِin the Sacred Precinct لِصاحِبيto my companion
أَقُولُ اِشتِكاءَ بِالحَرامِ لِصاحِبي
وَذُوand one with البَثِّgrief شَكُوهُcomplaint-prone (unclear form) وَإِنand even if كانَhe was مُقصَداsorely stricken
وَذُو البَثِّ شَكُوهُ وَإِن كانَ مُقصَدا
I speak in complaint to my companion in the Sacred Precinct,
I complain of forbidden love to my companion,
and one burdened with grief is given to complaint, even when sorely stricken.
While he who suffers it should complain, even if intentional.
فَلَمso not أَرَI see مَطرُوقاًone visited by night كَلَيليlike Layla لِحاجَةٍfor a need
فَلَم أَرَ مَطرُوقاً كَلَيلي لِحاجَةٍ
أَضَنَّmore grudging بِهاwith it مِنfrom غَيرِother than فَقرٍpoverty وَأَبعَداand more remote
أَضَنَّ بِها مِن غَيرِ فَقرٍ وَأَبعَدا
So I have seen no one sought by night for a favor like Layla,
I have not seen anyone as sleepless as I am out of need
more grudging with it though not poor, and more remote
That has squeezed him without poverty or distance.
نَوالاًbounty لِمُحتاجٍto one in need يُريدُhe seeks نَوالَهاher bounty
نَوالاً لِمُحتاجٍ يُريدُ نَوالَها
وَأَجدَرُand likelier إِنif حَدَّتshe grew angry بِهِwith him أَنto تُصَرِّداgive scantily
وَأَجدَرُ إِن حَدَّت بِهِ أَن تُصَرِّدا
in bounty to a needy man seeking her bounty,
An allowance for a needy man who wants her allowance,
and likelier, if she grows angry with him, to stint him.
And it is more fitting if hardship befalls him that she be gentle.
تَوَدَّدتُهاI sought her affection قَبلاًbefore فَماyet not لانَsoftened قَلبُهاher heart
تَوَدَّدتُها قَبلاً فَما لانَ قَلبُها
وَأَقسىand most hard-hearted خَليلاًa beloved خِلتَهُI thought him مُتَوَدِّداaffectionate
وَأَقسى خَليلاً خِلتَهُ مُتَوَدِّدا
I sought her affection before, but her heart did not soften;
I courted her before, so why has her heart hardened,
and how hard-hearted a beloved I had thought affectionate!
And made the intimate friend whom she loved spurned?
فَلَوso if كُنتُI were أُرقىcasting charms بِالَّذيwith what قَدalready رَقَيتُهاI charmed her
فَلَو كُنتُ أُرقى بِالَّذي قَد رَقَيتُها
بِهِwith it يابِساًdry صَلداًhard مِنَof الصَخرِrock جَلمَداa solid boulder
بِهِ يابِساً صَلداً مِنَ الصَخرِ جَلمَدا
Had I charmed, with the words I used to charm her,
If I were to attain what I have attained with her
a dry, hard boulder of solid rock,
With the dried, solid rock from the mountain, it would have melted.
اللانَit would have softened لِقَوليto my words أَوor لَعادَوit would have relented وَماand not اِعتَصىresisted
اللانَ لِقَولي أَو لَعادَو وَما اِعتَصى
عَلَيَّagainst me بِعاداًaloofness غِلظَةًharshness وَتَشَدُّداand obstinacy
عَلَيَّ بِعاداً غِلظَةً وَتَشَدُّدا
it would have softened to my words, or relented, and not resisted
It is not my words or enmity that made her disobey,
me through aloofness, harshness, and obstinacy.
Nor has she been harsh and stern with me out of spite.
فَلَماso when بَداit became clear ليto me أَنَّهاthat she مُستَفِزَّةٌwas provoked
فَلَما بَدا لي أَنَّها مُستَفِزَّةٌ
قَدalready اضرَمَهاhe inflamed her الواشيthe slanderer عَلَيَّagainst me وَأَوقَداand kindled
قَد اضرَمَها الواشي عَلَيَّ وَأَوقَدا
When it became clear to me that she had been provoked,
So when it seemed to me she was provoked
that the slanderer had inflamed her against me and kindled her anger,
By the slanderer against me, instigating her rage,
أَقُولُI say لَهاto her وَالعَينُand the eye قَدhas فاضَoverflowed دَمعُهاits tears
أَقُولُ لَها وَالعَينُ قَد فاضَ دَمعُها
وَقَدand already كانَhad been فيهاwithin it دَمعُهاits tears قَدalready تَرَدَّداwavering
وَقَد كانَ فيها دَمعُها قَد تَرَدَّدا
I say to her, as my eye overflows with tears,
I said to her while her eyes overflowed with tears
after its tears had wavered within it:
That were flowing in them, repeatedly streaming,
أَسَلّاكِhas it made you forget? عَنّيabout me النَأيُdistance أَمor عاقَكِheld you back العِدىthe enemies
أَسَلّاكِ عَنّي النَأيُ أَم عاقَكِ العِدى
بِماby what اِقتَرَفواthey committed أَمor جِئتِyou came صَرمىcutting me off تَعَمُّداdeliberately
بِما اِقتَرَفوا أَم جِئتِ صَرمى تَعَمُّدا
'Has distance made you forget me, or have enemies held you back
Did distance from me make you avoid me, or your chastity
by what they did, or have you deliberately come to break with me?
Prevent you for what they did, or did you come, intending to refuse me?
أَلمdid not? أَكُI was أَعصيdisobeying فيكِfor your sake أَهلthe people of قَرابَتيmy kin
أَلم أَكُ أَعصي فيكِ أَهل قَرابَتي
وَأُرغِمُand I humble فيكِfor your sake الكاشِحَthe spiteful foe المُتَهَدِّداthe threatening one
وَأُرغِمُ فيكِ الكاشِحَ المُتَهَدِّدا
Did I not defy my own kin for your sake,
Did I not oppose my family for your sake
and humble the threatening enemy for your sake,
And subdue the threatening admonisher for you?
وَأَمتَهِنُand I wear out الوَردَthe rose-colored horse الأَغَرَّthe white-blazed one إِلَيكُمto you all
وَأَمتَهِنُ الوَردَ الأَغَرَّ إِلَيكُم
مِنfor أَجلِكِyour sake حَتّىuntil لَحمُهُhis flesh قَدhad تَخَدَّداgrown furrowed
مِن أَجلِكِ حَتّى لَحمُهُ قَد تَخَدَّدا
and wear out the rose-colored, white-blazed horse riding to you all,
And I frequented the flowers most inclined to you
for your sake, till his flesh grew furrowed?'
For your sake, until their flesh faded away.
فَقالَتso she said مَنَنتَyou boasted of a favor الوَصلِthe union مِنكَfrom you وَلَلَّذيand indeed what
فَقالَت مَنَنتَ الوَصلِ مِنكَ وَلَلَّذي
أَتَيتَyou brought إِلَيناto us كانَwas أَدنىlesser وَأَزهَداand more paltry
أَتَيتَ إِلَينا كانَ أَدنى وَأَزهَدا
She said, 'You count your love as a favor; yet what
So she said, “You have boasted of connection with me and made
you brought us was less and more paltry
The least and most trivial of what I found in you too much to enumerate.
مِنَthan أَشياءَthings قَدalready لاقَيتُهاI endured them فيكَon your account لَمnot يَكُنwould be
مِنَ أَشياءَ قَد لاقَيتُها فيكَ لَم يَكُن
لِيُحصيهاto count them مَنone who مَنَّboasted of favors وَصلاًa union وَعَدَّداand tallied
لِيُحصيها مَن مَنَّ وَصلاً وَعَدَّدا
than things I have endured for you, which no one
Do not think the estrangement of a friend is chivalry,
who boasts of love and tallies favors could count.
Nor will you attain what you live by estrangement forever.”
وَلاand do not تَحسَبَنever suppose صَرمَsevering الصَدِيقِthe friend مُرُوءَةًnoble conduct
وَلا تَحسَبَن صَرمَ الصَدِيقِ مُرُوءَةً
وَلاnor نائِلاًattaining ماas long as عِشتَyou live بِالصَرمِby estrangement سُؤدَداeminence
وَلا نائِلاً ما عِشتَ بِالصَرمِ سُؤدَدا
Do not think breaking with a friend is nobility,
“Indeed, you have found affection with me
nor that estrangement will win you eminence while you live.
Of love that only grows and renews.”
وَإِنَّكَand indeed you قَدhave أَلفَيتَfound عِنديwith me مَوَدَّةًaffection
وَإِنَّكَ قَد أَلفَيتَ عِندي مَوَدَّةً
مِنَof الحُبِّlove ماnot تَزدادُit increases إِلّاexcept تَجَدُّداrenewal
مِنَ الحُبِّ ما تَزدادُ إِلّا تَجَدُّدا
You have indeed found in me an affection,
“So be harsh to him who abandons you and gentle to him
a love that only grows ever renewed.
Who visits you rarely and make him who is accustomed, accustomed.”
فَلِنso be gentle لِلَّذيto the one who يَهواكَloves you وَاغلُظand be harsh عَلىtoward الَّذيthe one who
فَلِن لِلَّذي يَهواكَ وَاغلُظ عَلى الَّذي
قَلاكَhated you وَعَوِّدهُand accustom him الَّذيwhat قَدalready تَعَوَّداhe grew used to
قَلاكَ وَعَوِّدهُ الَّذي قَد تَعَوَّدا
So be gentle to the one who loves you, and harsh to the one
“And appoint for me a tryst and do not fail me
who hates you; give him the treatment he is used to.
At the station of lovers, if you desire an appointment.”
وَمِلآنَand now فاضرِبso arrange ليfor me وَلاand do not تَخلُفَّننيever fail me
وَمِلآنَ فاضرِب لي وَلا تَخلُفَّنني
لَدىby شُعبَةِthe ravine of الأصغاءِal-Asgha إِنif شِئتَyou wish مَوعِداa rendezvous
لَدى شُعبَةِ الأصغاءِ إِن شِئتَ مَوعِدا
And now arrange for me—and do not fail me—
So I said to her, “We will meet calmly in four nights,
a tryst by the ravine of al-Asgha, if you wish.'
When the people of the neighborhood have gone to sleep.”
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her فيin أَربَعٍfour nights سَوفَwill نَلتَقيwe meet
فَقُلتُ لَها في أَربَعٍ سَوفَ نَلتَقي
هُدُوءاًin stillness إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle سامِرُthe night-talkers الحَيِّof the clan رَقَّداfell asleep
هُدُوءاً إِذا ما سامِرُ الحَيِّ رَقَّدا
I told her, 'In four nights we shall meet,
When four nights passed, I said, “Bring me
in stillness, when the clan's night-talkers have fallen asleep.'
My steed and adorn it with a bridle and whip.”
فَلَمَّاso when تَقَضَّتhad passed أَربَعٌfour nights قُلتُI said هاتِياbring, you two
فَلَمَّا تَقَضَّت أَربَعٌ قُلتُ هاتِيا
جَواديmy steed وَقَلِّدهُand fit him with لِجاماًa bridle وَمِقوَداand a lead-rein
جَوادي وَقَلِّدهُ لِجاماً وَمِقوَدا
When four nights had passed, I said, 'You two, bring
The servants brought it at night as if
my steed, and fit him with a bridle and a lead-rein.'
They were leading an untamed colt when first saddled.
فَجاءَso came بِهِwith him العَبدانِthe two slaves لَيلاًby night كَأَنَّماas though
فَجاءَ بِهِ العَبدانِ لَيلاً كَأَنَّما
يَقُودانِthey both lead قَرماًa mighty male beast ضارِياًsavage حِينَwhen أُلبِداhe was crouched low
يَقُودانِ قَرماً ضارِياً حِينَ أُلبِدا
The two slaves brought him by night, as though
They tightened the saddle straps, then I mounted it
they led a mighty, savage beast as it crouched low.
Like a pile of wood when struck by the whip it rages.
فَشَدّاso the two tightened عَلَيهِon him السَرحَthe saddle ثُمَّthen عَلَوتُهُI mounted him
فَشَدّا عَلَيهِ السَرحَ ثُمَّ عَلَوتُهُ
كُمَيتاًa dark bay إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle مَسَّهُtouched him السَوطُthe whip أَهمَداhe sped on
كُمَيتاً إِذا ما مَسَّهُ السَوطُ أَهمَدا
They tightened the saddle on him; then I mounted him,
It steps with the gait of a well-trained racer; whenever
a dark bay that sped on whenever the whip touched him.
It recovers from one bout of frenzy it goes into another.
خَبُوبَa swift trotter الخَبارِthe soft ground يَركَبُhe traverses الوَعثَthe loose sand كُلَّماwhenever
خَبُوبَ الخَبارِ يَركَبُ الوَعثَ كُلَّما
تَسَلَّمَhe emerged safely مِنfrom وَعثٍloose sand إِلىto غَيرِهِother than it عَداhe ran
تَسَلَّمَ مِن وَعثٍ إِلى غَيرِهِ عَدا
A swift trotter on soft ground, he tackles loose sand; whenever
It surges ahead when the bridle chafes its lip
he clears one stretch of sand, he races on to another.
And bites the bit with its teeth, frothing.
يَزيدُhe quickens إِذاwhen قاسَpressed اللِجامُthe bridle شَجاًa choking pain بِهِin him
يَزيدُ إِذا قاسَ اللِجامُ شَجاً بِهِ
وَعَضَّand he bit بِنابَيهِwith his two fangs الشَكيمَthe bit فَأَزبَداso he foamed
وَعَضَّ بِنابَيهِ الشَكيمَ فَأَزبَدا
He quickens when the bridle gives him a choking pain,
It brought me from afar as if it could see
and bites the bit with his two fangs, foaming.
The rugged, impregnable mountain, so it bounded.
فَقَرَّبَنيso he brought me near مِنfrom بَعدِafter بُعدٍdistance كَأَنَّماas though
فَقَرَّبَني مِن بَعدِ بُعدٍ كَأَنَّما
يَرىhe sees الجَبَلَthe mountain الوَعرَrugged المُمَنَّعَinaccessible فَدفَداa level plain
يَرى الجَبَلَ الوَعرَ المُمَنَّعَ فَدفَدا
He brought me near after that distance, as though
When we reached the side of the tryst I had
he saw the rugged, inaccessible mountain as a level plain.
Been promised, I almost hesitated to be evasive.
فَلَمّاso when بَلَغناwe reached جانِبَthe edge of المَوعِدِthe meeting place الَّذيwhich
فَلَمّا بَلَغنا جانِبَ المَوعِدِ الَّذي
وُعِدتُI was promised بِهِit أَقَللتُI did little أَنto أَتَلَدَّداlook anxiously about
وُعِدتُ بِهِ أَقَللتُ أَن أَتَلَدَّدا
When we reached the edge of the meeting place that
I waited a little while, then I was about to see
I had been promised, I did little anxious looking about.
What I had hoped for- and how prolonged a lad’s wait seems!
مَكَثتُI stayed قَلِيلاًa little ثُمَّthen أَوشَكتُI was soon about أَنto أَرىI see
مَكَثتُ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ أَوشَكتُ أَن أَرى
وَماand how أَطوَلَlong المُكثَthe waiting الغُلامَthe boy المُوَلَّداhome-born
وَما أَطوَلَ المُكثَ الغُلامَ المُوَلَّدا
I waited a little, then soon came to see—
It gave a whistling sound, then neighed with what I deserved,
how long the wait seemed!—the home-born boy.
I was delighted by it and fortune dealt me the best cards.
فَأَزجاso he advanced فَأَنباthen reported بِالَّذيabout what كُنتُI was أَهلَهُworthy of it
فَأَزجا فَأَنبا بِالَّذي كُنتُ أَهلَهُ
سُرِرتُI rejoiced بِهِat it مِنهُfrom him وَلاقَيتُand I met أَسعُداgood fortunes
سُرِرتُ بِهِ مِنهُ وَلاقَيتُ أَسعُدا
He approached and told me what befitted me;
Behind it a yellowish, dusty-cloaked woman
I rejoiced in his news and met with good fortune.
Sauntered nearby, sauntering affectionately.
وَمِنand from خَلفِهِbehind him صَفراءُa golden-skinned woman غَرثٌhungry وِشاحُهاher sash
وَمِن خَلفِهِ صَفراءُ غَرثٌ وِشاحُها
تَأَوَّدُshe sways فيin المَمشىthe walk القَريبِshort-stepped تَأَوُّداa swaying
تَأَوَّدُ في المَمشى القَريبِ تَأَوُّدا
Behind him came a golden-skinned woman, her sash hungry,
She walked like a wild cow passing through Dhu Ghusa
swaying sinuously in her short-stepped walk.
Meandering through the arid plain, bedding down.
تَمُورُshe sways كَماas مارَتswayed مَهاةٌan oryx cow بِذيat Dhu الغُضاal-Ghada
تَمُورُ كَما مارَت مَهاةٌ بِذي الغُضا
تُزَجّىurging onward بِبَطحاءِacross the gravelly flat of القَسِيَّةِal-Qasiyya فَرقَداa calf
تُزَجّى بِبَطحاءِ القَسِيَّةِ فَرقَدا
She sways as an oryx cow swayed at Dhu al-Ghada,
When we met, she smiled and showed gladness,
urging a calf along the gravelly flat of al-Qasiyya.
Both of us inclining toward the one each loved more.
فَلَمّاso when التَقَيناwe met رَحبَّتshe welcomed وَتَهَلَّلَتand beamed
فَلَمّا التَقَينا رَحبَّت وَتَهَلَّلَت
كِلاناboth of us إِلىtoward ذيthe possessor of وُدِّهِhis affection كانَwas أَقوَداmore yielding
كِلانا إِلى ذي وُدِّهِ كانَ أَقوَدا
When we met, she welcomed me and beamed;
Both of us whispering privately in the darkness to his beloved,
each of us yielded most readily to the one we loved.
Purity, affection- as long as we remained immortal.
كِلاناeach of us يُمَنّىoffers hopes to فيin الخَلاءِseclusion جَليسَهُhis companion
كِلانا يُمَنّى في الخَلاءِ جَليسَهُ
صَفاءًsincerity وَوُدّاًand affection ماas long as بَقيناwe remain مُخَلَّداlasting forever
صَفاءً وَوُدّاً ما بَقينا مُخَلَّدا
Each of us, in seclusion, filled the other with hopes
And my steed spent the night, its leg the leg of Talha,
of sincerity and love, lasting as long as we lived.
At Abhar, belonging to my Mawla, the shooting star of dew.
وَباتَand spent the night جَوادِيmy steed غُلُّهُhis fetter ساقُthe trunk of طَلحَةٍan acacia
وَباتَ جَوادِي غُلُّهُ ساقُ طَلحَةٍ
بِأَبهَرَat Abhar مَولِيِّrain-watered الرُباthe knolls ساقِطِfalling النَدىthe dew
بِأَبهَرَ مَولِيِّ الرُبا ساقِطِ النَدى
My steed spent the night, an acacia trunk his fetter,
It paws, so Ali turns it aside,
at Abhar, with rain-watered knolls and falling dew.
Bent is its branch, until it almost broke.
يَتُوقُhe strains to go فَيَثنيهِso it restrains him عَلِيٌّa tall one مُقَوَّمٌupright
يَتُوقُ فَيَثنيهِ عَلِيٌّ مُقَوَّمٌ
نَماgrew فَرعُهُits bough وَاخضَلَّand grew lush حَتّىuntil تَخَضَّداit bent low
نَما فَرعُهُ وَاخضَلَّ حَتّى تَخَضَّدا
He strains to go, but a tall, upright trunk holds him back,
The veins of the earth have been gouged out by it, so it encountered
its bough grown lush and green until it bent low.
At the side of a depression in the soil, soft and thick.
وَساخَتand sank عُروقroots الأَرضthe earth مِنهُfrom it فَصادَفَتthen found
وَساخَت عُروق الأَرض مِنهُ فَصادَفَت
بِجانِبِat one side خَوّارٍsoft and yielding مِنof التُربِthe soil رَغَّداplentiful
بِجانِبِ خَوّارٍ مِن التُربِ رَغَّدا
Its roots sank into the earth and found,
It is prevented from settling down by the fact
at one side, soft earth in abundance.
That it remembers a beautiful woman, so it remained saddled.
وَيَمنَعُهُand prevents him أَنfrom يَطمَئِنَّsettling calmly بِأَنَّهُbecause he
وَيَمنَعُهُ أَن يَطمَئِنَّ بِأَنَّهُ
تَذَكَرَhe remembered جُلّاًa horsecloth فَازدهاهُso it carried him away وَمِقوَداand a lead-rein
تَذَكَرَ جُلّاً فَازدهاهُ وَمِقوَدا
He is kept from settling calmly because he
And a home that protects it from heat in every summer,
remembers a horsecloth and a lead-rein, and is carried away,
And the place of filtered, cool water if it is cold.
وَبَيتاًand a shelter يَقِيهِshielding him from الحَرَّthe heat فيin كُلِّevery صَيفَةٍsummer
وَبَيتاً يَقِيهِ الحَرَّ في كُلِّ صَيفَةٍ
وَمَصعَand the lash of ضَرِيبِthe frost of القَرِّcold إِنif هُوَhe أَبرَداgrew cold
وَمَصعَ ضَرِيبِ القَرِّ إِن هُوَ أَبرَدا
and a shelter shielding him from heat every summer,
It did not recover from the intoxication of love between us,
and from the lash of biting frost when the cold sets in.
An intoxication it has had for a long time, ever renewed,
فَلَمso not يَستَفِقhe sobered up مِنfrom سَكرَةِthe intoxication of الحُبِّlove بَينَناbetween us
فَلَم يَستَفِق مِن سَكرَةِ الحُبِّ بَينَنا
لَهُhe had سَكرَةٌan intoxication كانَتwas قَدِيماًof old تَعَدُّداrecurring (unclear syntax)
لَهُ سَكرَةٌ كانَت قَدِيماً تَعَدُّدا
He did not sober from the love-drunkenness between us—
Until the light of the dawn column appeared as if
his was an intoxication that had long kept recurring—
The column of dawn on a day had been stripped bare.
بِضَوءِby the light of عَمُودِthe pillar of الصُبحِdawn حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
بِضَوءِ عَمُودِ الصُبحِ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
تَجَلّىshone forth عَمُودُthe pillar of الصُبحِdawn يَوماًa day مُوَرَّداrose-tinted
تَجَلّى عَمُودُ الصُبحِ يَوماً مُوَرَّدا
by the light of dawn's pillar, until it seemed
dawn's pillar shone forth as a rose-tinted day.
Partial English translation: 74 of 76 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1