تَطاوَلُdrag on أَيّاميmy days وَلَيليand my night أَطوَلُlonger
تَطاوَلُ أَيّامي وَلَيلي أَطوَلُ
وَلامَand blamed عَلىfor حُبِّيmy love for عُثَيَمةَʿUthayma عُذَّلُreproachers
وَلامَ عَلى حُبِّي عُثَيَمةَ عُذَّلُ
My days drag on, and my night is longer still.
My days grow long, and my nights longer still,
And reproachers blamed me for my love of ʿUthayma.
Alas for my love of Uthaimah, now undone!
يَلُومُونَthey blame صَبّاًa lovesick man أَنحَلَwasted الحُبُّlove جِسمَهُhis body
يَلُومُونَ صَبّاً أَنحَلَ الحُبُّ جِسمَهُ
وَماand what ضَرَّهُمharmed them لَوif لَمdid not يَلُومُواblame وَأَجمَلُواand acted graciously
وَما ضَرَّهُم لَو لَم يَلُومُوا وَأَجمَلُوا
They blame a lovesick man whose body love has wasted.
They blame neglect that love is now unstrung,
What harm would it have done them to refrain from blame and act graciously?
Why blame, not bless what's done, and hold their peace?
أَلمdid they not يَعلَمُواknow لاmay not بُرِكُواthey be blessed أَنَّthat قَلبَهُhis heart
أَلم يَعلَمُوا لا بُرِكُوا أَنَّ قَلبَهُ
عَصىdefied قَبلَهُمbefore them فيهاconcerning her العِدىthe enemies فَهُوَso it is مُبهَلُleft unrestrained
عَصى قَبلَهُم فيها العِدى فَهُوَ مُبهَلُ
Did they not know—may they never be blessed—that his heart
Knew they not that his heart its troth had sung
had defied enemies over her before them, and is left unrestrained?
Ere their blame, and is by love's spell held?
وَقالَand said أُناسٌsome people إِنَّهُindeed he لِيُحِبُّهاsurely loves her
وَقالَ أُناسٌ إِنَّهُ لِيُحِبُّها
ضَلالاًin folly لَماsurely what لَمdid not يَعلَمِknow الناسُpeople أَفضَلُis better
ضَلالاً لَما لَم يَعلَمِ الناسُ أَفضَلُ
And some people said, 'He surely loves her
Yet men said he loved her not aright,
in folly'; what people do not know is finer still.
Not wisely, since to them she seemed not one
فَلَمّاso when بَرانيwore me down الهَمُّcare وَالحُزنُand sorrow حِقبَةًa long while
فَلَمّا بَراني الهَمُّ وَالحُزنُ حِقبَةً
وَأَشفَقتُand I grew afraid مِنfrom خَوفِfear of الَّذيthat which كُنتُI had been آمَلُhoping for
وَأَشفَقتُ مِن خَوفِ الَّذي كُنتُ آمَلُ
When care and sorrow had worn me down for a long while,
To love. Long was I sad and sorrowed quite,
and I grew afraid of what I had hoped for,
Fearing what I hoped for would not be won.
وَأَبصَرتُand I saw دَهراًan age لاnot يَقُومُholds steady لِأَهلِهِfor its people
وَأَبصَرتُ دَهراً لا يَقُومُ لِأَهلِهِ
عَلىin ماwhat أَحَبُّواthey loved فاسِدٌcorrupt يَتَحَوَّلُever-changing
عَلى ما أَحَبُّوا فاسِدٌ يَتَحَوَّلُ
and saw an age that would not hold steady for its people
I saw time ruin all that man holds dear,
in what they loved, corrupt and ever-changing,
Ever shifting, changing, fleeting on.
تَوَكَّلتُI placed my trust وَاِستَحدَثتُand devised رَأياًa plan مُبارَكاًblessed
تَوَكَّلتُ وَاِستَحدَثتُ رَأياً مُبارَكاً
وَأَحزَمُand the most prudent of هَذاthese الناسِpeople مَنwhoever يَتَوَكَّلُplaces his trust
وَأَحزَمُ هَذا الناسِ مَن يَتَوَكَّلُ
I trusted, and devised a blessed plan;
So I put my trust in God, and made good cheer,
and the most prudent of these people is the one who trusts.
Safest so, though men my wisdom shun.
وَضَمَّنتُand entrusted حاجاتيmy wishes إِلَيهاto her رَفِيقَةًa woman companion
وَضَمَّنتُ حاجاتي إِلَيها رَفِيقَةً
بِهاin them طَبَّةًskilled مَيمُونَةًauspicious حِينَwhen تُرسَلُshe is sent
بِها طَبَّةً مَيمُونَةً حِينَ تُرسَلُ
I entrusted my wishes concerning her to a woman companion,
To bear my wants I chose a mate who brings
skilled in them and auspicious whenever she was sent,
Comfort and blessing, come what may anon.
مِنَone of البَربَرِيّاتِthe Berber women اللَواتيwhose وُجُوهُهاtheir faces
مِنَ البَربَرِيّاتِ اللَواتي وُجُوهُها
بِكُلِّat every فَعالٍdeed صالِحٍworthy تَتَهلَّلُbeam
بِكُلِّ فَعالٍ صالِحٍ تَتَهلَّلُ
one of the Berber women whose faces
A Barbary woman, joy in all good things,
beam at every worthy deed.
Lit with smiles for every kindly deed.
وَزيرٌa minister لَهاfor her إِبلِيسُIblis فيin كُلِّevery حاجَةٍundertaking
وَزيرٌ لَها إِبلِيسُ في كُلِّ حاجَةٍ
لَهاof hers عِندَماwhenever تَهويshe yearns لَهُfor him يَتَمَثَّلُhe takes visible form
لَها عِندَما تَهوي لَهُ يَتَمَثَّلُ
Iblis is her minister in every undertaking
Iblis serves her in each desire that springs
of hers; whenever she longs for him, he takes visible form.
Within her, and makes haste to help her need.
رَآهاhe found her نِعمَexcellent is الخَدينُthe companion فَلَمand did not يَزَلcease
رَآها نِعمَ الخَدينُ فَلَم يَزَل
لِحاجاتِهاfor her needs ماso long as لَمdid not تَحُلshe change يَتَحَمَّلُhe shoulders responsibility
لِحاجاتِها ما لَم تَحُل يَتَحَمَّلُ
He found her an excellent companion, and never ceased
He saw she fain would love, nor did he cease
to shoulder her needs, so long as she did not change.
To grant her every wish. So love was freed.
تَخِفُّshe hastens لَماfor what نَهوىwe desire مِراراًrepeatedly وَإِنَّهاbut indeed she
تَخِفُّ لَما نَهوى مِراراً وَإِنَّها
عَنfrom أَشياءَthings لَيسَتare not مِنamong هَواناour desires سَتَثقُلُshe will hang back
عَن أَشياءَ لَيسَت مِن هَوانا سَتَثقُلُ
She hastens repeatedly to what we desire, but she
Yet she feared our ardor, and found no peace
will hang back from things that are not to our liking.
In what seemed unlawful, and so withdrew.
فَقالَتso she said فَلاso do not تَعجَلhurry كَفَيتُكَI will handle it for you مَرَحباًwelcome
فَقالَت فَلا تَعجَل كَفَيتُكَ مَرَحباً
وَلِلسِّرِّand for the secret عِنديwith me فَاعلَمَنso know well ذاكَthat مَحمِلُa keeping-place
وَلِلسِّرِّ عِندي فَاعلَمَن ذاكَ مَحمِلُ
She said, 'Do not hurry; I will handle it for you. Welcome!
Then gently pleaded I my longing's release,
And with me a secret has a place to be kept—know that well.'
And wooed with song, as lovers use to do.
تَغُشَّتshe cloaked herself in ثِيابَthe garments of اللَيلِnight ثُمَّthen تَأَطَّرَتshe swayed
تَغُشَّت ثِيابَ اللَيلِ ثُمَّ تَأَطَّرَت
كَماas اِهتَزَّquivered عِرقٌa shoot مِنof قَناًreeds مُتَذَلِّلُpliant
كَما اِهتَزَّ عِرقٌ مِن قَناً مُتَذَلِّلُ
She cloaked herself in the garments of night, then swayed,
Scarce five days had passed when came the friend, no lie,
as a pliant shoot of reed quivers.
I hoped for, making no more dull ado.
فَجاءَتso she came to بَواراًelusive one (probably نواراً; source unclear) طالَماfor so long قَدhad تَعَلّلَتshe made excuses
فَجاءَت بَواراً طالَما قَد تَعَلّلَت
مِنَamong الوَحشِwild creatures ماnot يَسطِيعُهاcan win her المُتَحيِّلُthe schemer
مِنَ الوَحشِ ما يَسطِيعُها المُتَحيِّلُ
Then she came to an elusive one [reading uncertain], long given to excuses,
To say we're here, will you let us by
one of the wild creatures no schemer could win.
Through the little gate, none else being near?
بَدَتهاshe first addressed her بِقَولٍwith speech لَيِّنٍgentle وَتَمَثَّلَتand quoted verses
بَدَتها بِقَولٍ لَيِّنٍ وَتَمَثَّلَت
مِنَfrom الشِعرِpoetry ماwhat يَرقيcasts a charm بِهِwith it المُتَمَثِّلُthe verse-quoter
مِنَ الشِعرِ ما يَرقي بِهِ المُتَمَثِّلُ
She first addressed her gently, and quoted
Only, one's at the door, beware her eye,
verses with which the reciter casts a charm.
O heed it not, whatever you hear!
فَماand not كانَit was إِلّاexcept فَرطَa span of خَمسٍfive حَسِبتُهُI reckoned it
فَما كانَ إِلّا فَرطَ خَمسٍ حَسِبتُهُ
مِنَof time الدَهرِuntil حَتّىcame جاءَnot لاmaking excuses يَتَعَلَّلُhe
مِنَ الدَهرِ حَتّى جاءَ لا يَتَعَلَّلُ
Only a span of five, I reckoned,
Then softly she stole forth in the dark,
had elapsed before there came, without excuses,
As a frightened lamb that knows no fear.
بَشِيرٌa bearer of good news بِأَنّاthat we قضدalready (apparently قد) أَتَيناhave arrived فَهَلso is there لَناfor us
بَشِيرٌ بِأَنّا قضد أَتَينا فَهَل لَنا
مِنthrough الخوخةthe wicket الصُغرىthe smaller سِوىother than البابthe gate مَدخَلُan entrance
مِن الخوخة الصُغرى سِوى الباب مَدخَلُ
a bearer of glad tidings: 'We have arrived; is there for us
Yet I feared each eye that might see and mark
a way in through the small wicket, rather than the gate?
Our meeting when all should be asleep.
فَإِنَّfor indeed بِبَابِat the door of الدارِthe house عَيناًan eye or watcher وَإِنand if تَزُغyou turn aside
فَإِنَّ بِبَابِ الدارِ عَيناً وَإِن تَزُغ
حِذاراًout of caution لِتِلكَof that العَينِeye أَهياmore fitting (apparently أهيأ) وَأَمثَلُand better
حِذاراً لِتِلكَ العَينِ أَهيا وَأَمثَلُ
For there is an eye at the house's door; and if you turn aside,
Now she walked apace, now lingered, a spark
wary of that eye, it is more fitting and better.'
Blown here and there, restless as waves that leap.
فَجاءَتthen she came بِهاwith her تَمشيwalking عِشاءًat evening وَسامَحَتand she yielded willingly
فَجاءَت بِها تَمشي عِشاءً وَسامَحَت
كَماas اِنقادَwas led بِالحَبلِby the rope الجَوادُthe noble steed المُجَلَّلُcaparisoned
كَما اِنقادَ بِالحَبلِ الجَوادُ المُجَلَّلُ
Then she brought her walking at evening, and she yielded willingly,
Her gentle speech, when we met, betrayed no sign
as a caparisoned steed is led by a rope.
Of sorrow, though far sundered we must keep.
تُحَذِّرُهاshe warns her of فيduring مَشيهاher walking الأَعيُنَthe eyes الَّتيthat
تُحَذِّرُها في مَشيها الأَعيُنَ الَّتي
بِهاthrough her إِنif رَأَتهاthey saw her عِندَwith ذيone possessing الضَغنِspite تَجمُلُgain favor
بِها إِن رَأَتها عِندَ ذي الضَغنِ تَجمُلُ
She warns her, as she walks, of the eyes that
You'll come, she said, in summer days that shine
would gain favor with a spiteful man if they caught sight of her.
Bring sweet flowers, as you were wont to do!
فَتُسرِعُso she hurries أَحياناًsometimes إِذاwhen هِيَshe لَمdoes not تَخَفfear
فَتُسرِعُ أَحياناً إِذا هِيَ لَم تَخَف
وَتَخشىand she fears عُيُوناًeyes حَولَهاaround her فَتَمَيَّلُso she sways
وَتَخشى عُيُوناً حَولَها فَتَمَيَّلُ
She hurries at times when she has no fear,
Not if I'm dead, I said, or power divine
and fears eyes around her, so she sways,
Prevent; Fate brings to pass what man can't construe.
كَماas مالَbent غُصنٌa branch مِنof أَراكِarāk trees بَرِيرَةٍBarīra (possibly a place-name)
كَما مالَ غُصنٌ مِن أَراكِ بَرِيرَةٍ
تُحَرِّكُهُstirs it رِيحٌa breeze مِنَfrom الماءِwater مُخضَلُdrenched
تُحَرِّكُهُ رِيحٌ مِنَ الماءِ مُخضَلُ
like a bending branch of Barīra's arāk,
You mocking me, I answered with some heat,
stirred by a breeze, drenched with water.
Is salt poured on my wounds by one untrue!
فَلاso I do not أَنسَforget فِيماamong what قَدhave لَقِيتُI experienced مَقالَهاher words
فَلا أَنسَ فِيما قَد لَقِيتُ مَقالَها
عَلىin رِقبةٍwary apprehension وَالعِيسُwhile the pale camels لِلبَينِfor parting تُرحَلُare saddled
عَلى رِقبةٍ وَالعِيسُ لِلبَينِ تُرحَلُ
I shall never forget, among all I have experienced, her words
Yet I loosed my heart from hate's strangling sheet,
in wary apprehension, while the pale camels were saddled for parting:
Being somewhat assuaged of grief and care.
تُراكَwill you be seen لَئِنif indeed عِشناwe live إِلىuntil صَيفِsummer قابِلٍcoming
تُراكَ لَئِن عِشنا إِلى صَيفِ قابِلٍ
مُلِمّاًpaying a visit بِنازوراًto us for a visit كَماas كُنتَyou used to تَفعَلُdo
مُلِمّاً بِنازوراً كَما كُنتَ تَفعَلُ
'Shall we see you, if we live until next summer,
Restore, I cried, restore before we meet
paying us a visit, as you used to do?'
The tears erst flowing free, lest I despair!
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her إِنif لَمnot أَمُتI die أَوor تَعُوقُنيhinder me
فَقُلتُ لَها إِن لَم أَمُت أَو تَعُوقُني
مَقادِيرُfate's decrees عَمّاfrom what تَشتَهيdesires النَفسُthe soul تَعدِلُdeviate
مَقادِيرُ عَمّا تَشتَهي النَفسُ تَعدِلُ
I said to her, 'Unless I die or am held back
I fear God's punishment for a believer's blood
by decrees that diverge from what the soul desires,
Causelessly shed; he dies not who slays, but the slayer.
تَزُورُكِvisit you عِيسٌpale camels يَعتَسِفنَcross tracklessly بيcarrying me المَلاthe open wastes
تَزُورُكِ عِيسٌ يَعتَسِفنَ بي المَلا
عَلأىdespite (apparently على) الأَينِfatigue أَطلاحٌworn-out camels تَنصُّhasten وَتَذملُand trot
عَلأى الأَينِ أَطلاحٌ تَنصُّ وَتَذملُ
pale camels will visit you, carrying me across the wastes,
worn-out beasts that, despite fatigue, hasten and trot.'
فَراخىso loosen (apparently فراخي) وِثاقاًa bond عَنfrom فُؤادٍa heart أَسَرتِهِyou captured it
فَراخى وِثاقاً عَن فُؤادٍ أَسَرتِهِ
قَليلاًa little لَعَلِيّperhaps I may لِلعِدىbefore the enemies أَتَجَمَّلُappear composed
قَليلاً لَعَلِيّ لِلعِدى أَتَجَمَّلُ
So slacken the bonds on a heart you have captured,
a little, so that I may seem composed before my enemies.
وَبِاللَهِand by God رُدّيturn back دَمعَthe tears of عَينَيَّmy two eyes فِيهِماinto them both
وَبِاللَهِ رُدّي دَمعَ عَينَيَّ فِيهِما
إِلىuntil أَيِّwhat دَهرٍtime دَمعُthe tears of عَينَيَّmy two eyes يَهمِلثflow (apparently يهمل)
إِلى أَيِّ دَهرٍ دَمعُ عَينَيَّ يَهمِلث
And by God, turn my eyes' tears back into them;
how long will the tears of my eyes keep flowing?
فَخافيso fear عِقابَthe punishment of اللَهِGod فيfor قَتلِkilling مُسلِمٍa Muslim
فَخافي عِقابَ اللَهِ في قَتلِ مُسلِمٍ
بَرِيءٍinnocent وضلمand has not (apparently ولم) يَقتُلkill قَتيلاًa victim فَيُقتَلُand thus be killed
بَرِيءٍ وضلم يَقتُل قَتيلاً فَيُقتَلُ
So fear God's punishment for killing a Muslim,
an innocent who has slain no one to be slain in return.
Partial English translation: 52 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1