ألاَLo! حَبَّذَاhow lovely is البَيْتُthe house الذيwhich أنْتَyou هَاجِرُهْare forsaking it
ألاَ حَبَّذَا البَيْتُ الذي أنْتَ هَاجِرُهْ
وَأنْتَand you بِتَلْماحٍwith a fleeting glance منَfrom الطَّرْفِthe eye نَاظِرُهُlooking at it
وَأنْتَ بِتَلْماحٍ منَ الطَّرْفِ نَاظِرُهُ
Ah, how lovely the house that you forsake,
Oh how blessed is the house you emigrate to
while you look at it with a fleeting glance of the eye.
While you glance at it with your eyes
لأنَّكَbecause you مِنْfrom بَيْتٍa house لِعَيْنيَّto my two eyes مُعْجِبٍpleasing
لأنَّكَ مِنْ بَيْتٍ لِعَيْنيَّ مُعْجِبٍ
وأَمْلحُand lovelier فيin عَيْنيmy eye منَthan البَيْتِthe house عَامِرُهْits dweller
وأَمْلحُ في عَيْني منَ البَيْتِ عَامِرُهْ
For you belong to a house that delights my eyes,
For it is a house my eyes find pleasing
and lovelier to my eye than the house is its dweller.
And the resident of the house is more beautiful in my eyes
أَصُدُّI turn away حَياءًout of modesty أنءlest يَلَجَّpress insistently بيَupon me الهَوَىpassion
أَصُدُّ حَياءً أنء يَلَجَّ بيَ الهَوَى
وفِيكَand in you المُنَىhopes لَوْلاَwere it not for عَدوٌّan enemy أُحَاذِرُهْI fear him
وفِيكَ المُنَى لَوْلاَ عَدوٌّ أُحَاذِرُهْ
I turn away in modesty, lest passion press me too hard,
I am too shy for passion to find its way to me
and in you lie my hopes—were it not for an enemy I fear.
Though you are my wish if not for a foe I fear
وَفِيكَand in you حَبيبُthe beloved of النَّفْسِthe soul لَوْif تَسْتَطيعُهُyou could attain him
وَفِيكَ حَبيبُ النَّفْسِ لَوْ تَسْتَطيعُهُ
لَمَاتَwould die الهَوىpassion وَالشَّوْقُand longing حِينَwhen تُجاوِرُهْyou dwell beside him
لَمَاتَ الهَوى وَالشَّوْقُ حِينَ تُجاوِرُهْ
And in you is the soul's beloved; could you attain him,
In you is the beloved of my soul if I could attain you
passion and longing would die when you dwelt beside him.
Passion and longing would die when we are neighbors
وَكانَand was حَبيبُthe beloved of النَّفْسِthe soul للقَلْبِto the heart وَاتراًa wrongdoer
وَكانَ حَبيبُ النَّفْسِ للقَلْبِ وَاتراً
وكيْفand how يُحِبُّcan love القَلْبُthe heart مَنْone who هُوَhe وَاتِرُهْits wrongdoer
وكيْف يُحِبُّ القَلْبُ مَنْ هُوَ وَاتِرُهْ
And the soul's beloved had wronged the heart;
Yet the beloved of my soul was unfaithful to my heart
how can the heart love one who wrongs it?
How could my heart love one who betrays it?
فإنْso if يكُنِit is الأَعْداءُthe enemies أَحْمَوْاthey have forbidden كَلامَهُhis speech
فإنْ يكُنِ الأَعْداءُ أَحْمَوْا كَلامَهُ
عَلَيْنَاto us فَلَنْthen never تَحْمَىbe forbidden عَلَيْنَاto us مَنَاظِرُهْviews of him
عَلَيْنَا فَلَنْ تَحْمَى عَلَيْنَا مَنَاظِرُهْ
If the enemies have forbidden his speech
If enemies discredit his words about us
to us, the sight of him will never be forbidden to us.
Their looks will not discredit us
كأنَّas though سُلَيْمَىSulayma حِينَwhen قَامَتْshe stood فأَشْرَفَتْand then rose into view
كأنَّ سُلَيْمَى حِينَ قَامَتْ فأَشْرَفَتْ
بِوجْمةٍwith a face (unclear spelling) أَسِيلٍsmooth زَيَّنَتْهُadorned it غدَائِرُهْits braids
بِوجْمةٍ أَسِيلٍ زَيَّنَتْهُ غدَائِرُهْ
It was as though Sulayma, when she stood and rose into view,
It is as if Suleima arose and peered out
with a smooth face adorned by its braids,
Adorned with supple, streaming braids
غَزَالٌa gazelle سِوىexcept for الأرْدافِthe buttocks والفَرْعِand the hair والشَّوَىand the limbs
غَزَالٌ سِوى الأرْدافِ والفَرْعِ والشَّوَى
وَلكِنْand yet لِسلْمَىSalma has طَرْفهُits gaze وَمَحاجِرُهْand its eye sockets
وَلكِنْ لِسلْمَى طَرْفهُ وَمَحاجِرُهْ
were a gazelle, except for her buttocks, hair, and limbs;
A gazelle save for hips, branches, and bend
yet Salma has its gaze and eye sockets.
But Suleima has his eyes and eyebrows
وثَغْرٍand a mouth إذاwhen المِسْوَاكُthe tooth-stick مَسَّtouched غُرُوبَهُits teeth's edges
وثَغْرٍ إذا المِسْوَاكُ مَسَّ غُرُوبَهُ
تَعَسَّلَgrew honey-sweet واحْلَوْلَىand grew sweet فَطَابَتْso became pleasant مَكَاسِرُهْits tooth-crevices
تَعَسَّلَ واحْلَوْلَى فَطَابَتْ مَكَاسِرُهْ
And a mouth that, when the tooth-stick touched its tooth-edges,
And a mouth, if kissed, sweetens
grew honeyed and sweet, its tooth-crevices delectable.
And turns delicate its edges
أُحِبُّكِI love you يَاO سَلمَىSalma عَلَىwith غَيْرِno رِيبَةٍsuspicion
أُحِبُّكِ يَا سَلمَى عَلَى غَيْرِ رِيبَةٍ
ولاand no بَأسَharm فيin حُبٍّa love تَعِفُّremain chaste سَرائِرُهْits inward secrets
ولا بَأسَ في حُبٍّ تَعِفُّ سَرائِرُهْ
I love you, Salma, with no cause for suspicion;
I love you, O Suleima, without doubt
there is no harm in love whose inward secrets remain chaste.
And there is no harm in a love whose mysteries are chaste
وَيَاand O عَاذِليmy reproacher لَوْلاَwere it not for نَفَاسَةُthe begrudging of حُبِّهاlove for her
وَيَا عَاذِلي لَوْلاَ نَفَاسَةُ حُبِّها
عَلَيْكَon your part لَمَاwould not بَالَيْتَyou have cared أنَّكَthat you خَابِرُهْknow it
عَلَيْكَ لَمَا بَالَيْتَ أنَّكَ خَابِرُهْ
And, my reproacher, were you not begrudging my love for her,
And oh you who blame me, were it not for her refined love
you would not care that you knew of it.
You would not have busied yourself that you censure me
بِنَفْسيَwith my life مَنْthe one whom لاَبُدَّit is inevitable أَنِّيَthat I هَاجِرُهْam leaving him
بِنَفْسيَ مَنْ لاَبُدَّ أَنِّيَ هَاجِرُهْ
وَمَنْand whom أَنَاI فيin المَيْسُورِease والعُسْرِand hardship ذَاكِرُهْremember him
وَمَنْ أَنَا في المَيْسُورِ والعُسْرِ ذَاكِرُهْ
My life for one whom I must leave,
By my soul, she I cannot but emigrate to
and whom I remember in ease and hardship;
And she I remember in ease and hardship
وَمَنْand whom قَدْalready لَحاهُrebuked him النَّاسُthe people حَتَّىuntil اتَّقَاهُمُhe warded them off
وَمَنْ قَدْ لَحاهُ النَّاسُ حَتَّى اتَّقَاهُمُ
ببْغِضيَby hating me إِلاَّexcept ماwhat تُجِنُّconceal ضَمائِرُهْhis innermost thoughts
ببْغِضيَ إِلاَّ ما تُجِنُّ ضَمائِرُهْ
and one whom people rebuked until he warded them off
And she the people have wronged until they fear her
by hating me—except for what his innermost thoughts conceal;
With my hatred but what her conscience conceals
وَمَنْand one who ضَنَّwas sparing بالتَسْلِيمِwith a greeting يَوْمَon the day of فِرَاقهhis parting
وَمَنْ ضَنَّ بالتَسْلِيمِ يَوْمَ فِرَاقه
عَلَيَّto me ودَمْعُand the tears of العَيْنِthe eye تَجْريflow بَوادِرُهْits first gushes
عَلَيَّ ودَمْعُ العَيْنِ تَجْري بَوادِرُهْ
and one who, on his day of parting, withheld a greeting
And she who scarcely bid farewell when we parted
from me, while the eye's tears streamed in sudden gushes;
While my tears flowed freely
وَمَنْand one who بَانَdeparted مِنَّاfrom us يَوْمَon the day بَانَhe departed وَمَاand did not دَرَىknow
وَمَنْ بَانَ مِنَّا يَوْمَ بَانَ وَمَا دَرَى
أَكُنْتُwhether I was أَنَاI المَوْتُورَthe wronged one أَمْor أَنَاI وَاتِرُهْhis wrongdoer
أَكُنْتُ أَنَا المَوْتُورَ أَمْ أَنَا وَاتِرُهْ
and one who left us the day he departed, not knowing
And she who parted from me one day and knew not
whether I was the wronged one, or the one who wronged him.
Whether I was the wounded or the wounder
وَحَالَand barred the way بَنُوthe sons of العمَّاتِthe paternal aunts والعَمُّand the paternal uncle دُونَهُto him
وَحَالَ بَنُو العمَّاتِ والعَمُّ دُونَهُ
وَنَذْرُand the warning of عَدُوٍّan enemy مَاnot تُغِبُّcease نَذَائِرُهْhis warnings
وَنَذْرُ عَدُوٍّ مَا تُغِبُّ نَذَائِرُهْ
And the sons of paternal aunts and the paternal uncle barred the way to him,
While her paternal and maternal cousins and uncle draw near her
as did an enemy's warning—his warnings never cease.
And the vow of an enemy does not conceal its traces
أَتَهجُرُwill you forsake? بَيْتاًa house بالحجازِin the Hijaz تَكَنَّفَتْsurrounded
أَتَهجُرُ بَيْتاً بالحجازِ تَكَنَّفَتْ
جَوَانِبَهُits sides الأعْداءُthe enemies أَمْor أَنْتَyou زَائِرهْvisiting it
جَوَانِبَهُ الأعْداءُ أَمْ أَنْتَ زَائِرهْ
Will you forsake a house in the Hijaz, surrounded
Do I forsake a house in the Hijaz encircled
on its sides by enemies, or will you visit it?
By enemies or will you visit it?
فإنْfor if آتِهِI visit it لَمdo not أَنْجُI escape إِلاّexcept بِظنَّةٍwith suspicion
فإنْ آتِهِ لَم أَنْجُ إِلاّ بِظنَّةٍ
وَإِنْand if يَأتِهِhe visits it غَيْريsomeone other than me تُنَطْare pinned بيon me جَرَائِرُهْhis offenses
وَإِنْ يَأتِهِ غَيْري تُنَطْ بي جَرَائِرُهْ
For if I visit it, I never escape suspicion;
If I go and do not escape safely it will be by suspicion
and if someone else visits it, his offenses are pinned on me.
And if another goes its shame will cling to me
كَلاَمُكِyour speech يَاO سَلْمَىSalma وإنْand even if قَلَّit is scant نَافِعيbenefiting me
كَلاَمُكِ يَا سَلْمَى وإنْ قَلَّ نَافِعي
ولاand do not تَحْسَبيyou think أنِّيthat I وَإنْand even if قَلَّit is scant حَاقرُهam scorning it
ولا تَحْسَبي أنِّي وَإنْ قَلَّ حَاقرُه
Your speech, Salma, even if scant, benefits me;
Your words, O Suleima, though few, benefit me
and do not think that, though scant, I scorn it.
And do not assume if they are few I disdain them
أُحِبُّكِI love you حُبَّاًwith a love لَنْwill never أُعنِّفَI rebuke بَعْدَهُafter it
أُحِبُّكِ حُبَّاً لَنْ أُعنِّفَ بَعْدَهُ
مُحِبَّاًa lover وَلكِنِّيand yet I إذاwhen لِيمَhe is blamed عَاذِرُهْexcuse him
مُحِبَّاً وَلكِنِّي إذا لِيمَ عَاذِرُهْ
I love you with a love after which I shall never rebuke
I love you with a love I will not rebuke afterward
a lover; instead, when he is blamed, I excuse him.
As a lover, but if miserable I will censure it
وَقَدْand already مَاتَdied قَبْلِيbefore me أوَّلُthe first of الحُبِّlove فَانْقَضَىand was gone
وَقَدْ مَاتَ قَبْلِي أوَّلُ الحُبِّ فَانْقَضَى
وَلَوand if مِتُّI died أضْحَىwould become الحبُّlove قَدْalready مَاتَhad died آخِرُهْits last
وَلَو مِتُّ أضْحَى الحبُّ قَدْ مَاتَ آخِرُهْ
Love's first lover died before me and was gone;
The first of loves died before me and so ended
and were I to die, love's last lover would then be dead.
Had I died, love would have died with its last
فَلَمَّاand when تَنَاهَىreached its limit الحُبُّlove فيin القَلْبِthe heart وَارِداًentering
فَلَمَّا تَنَاهَى الحُبُّ في القَلْبِ وَارِداً
أَقامَit settled وَسُدَّتْand were sealed فيهِwithin it عَنْهُagainst it مَصَادِرُهْits outlets
أَقامَ وَسُدَّتْ فيهِ عَنْهُ مَصَادِرُهْ
And when love flowed into the heart and reached its depths,
So when love flowed into my heart to its limits
it settled there, and its outlets were sealed against it.
It settled and its channels closed to it
وَقَدْand indeed كانَwas قَلبيmy heart فيwithin حِجَابٍa veil يُكِنُّهُshelters it
وَقَدْ كانَ قَلبي في حِجَابٍ يُكِنُّهُ
بِحُبِّكَwith your love مِنْfrom دُونِbeneath الحِجابِthe veil مُبَاشِرُهْwhat touches it directly
بِحُبِّكَ مِنْ دُونِ الحِجابِ مُبَاشِرُهْ
My heart had been within a veil that sheltered it,
My heart had been veiled from you though you dwell in it
yet your love touched it directly beneath the veil.
Loving you beyond the veil directly
وأَيُّand what طَبِيبٍphysician يُبْرِىءُcan cure الدَّاءَthe illness بَعْدَمَاafter
وأَيُّ طَبِيبٍ يُبْرِىءُ الدَّاءَ بَعْدَمَا
تَشَرَّبَهُhas absorbed it بَطْنُthe inside of الفُؤادِthe heart وَظَاهِرُهْand its outside
تَشَرَّبَهُ بَطْنُ الفُؤادِ وَظَاهِرُهْ
And what physician can cure the illness once
What physician can cure the disease after
the heart's inner depths and outer surface have drunk it in?
The heart's interior and exterior have soaked it in?
ألاَLo! لاَnot أُباليI care أَيَّwhich حيٍّtribe تَحَمَّلواthey packed up and left
ألاَ لاَ أُبالي أَيَّ حيٍّ تَحَمَّلوا
إذَاso long as ثَمَدُthe shallow waterhole of البَرْقَاءِal-Barqa' لَمْhave not يَجْلُdeparted حَاضِرُهْits resident people
إذَا ثَمَدُ البَرْقَاءِ لَمْ يَجْلُ حَاضِرُهْ
Lo, I care not which tribe has packed up and gone,
Oh, I care not which lively tribe takes
so long as the dwellers at the shallow pool of al-Barqa' have not departed.
The plateau if, when lightning flickers, its witness does not remain
وبالبَرْقِand at al-Barq أَطْلاَلٌruins كأنَّas though رُسُومَهاtheir traces
وبالبَرْقِ أَطْلاَلٌ كأنَّ رُسُومَها
قَراطِيسُsheets of paper خَطّtraced الحِبْرَthe ink فيهنon them سَاطِرُهْits scribe
قَراطِيسُ خَطّ الحِبْرَ فيهن سَاطِرُهْ
And at al-Barq are ruins whose traces seem
At the plateau are ruins as if their features
like sheets upon which a scribe has traced ink.
Are scrolls on which its lines are inscribed
أَبَتْrefused سَرْحَةُthe spreading tree of الأَثْمادِal-Athmad إِلاَّanything but مَلاَحةًbeauty
أَبَتْ سَرْحَةُ الأَثْمادِ إِلاَّ مَلاَحةً
وطِيباًand fragrance إذاwhen ماemphatic particle نَبْتُهاits growth اهْتَزَّswayed ناضِرُهْits fresh green part
وطِيباً إذا ما نَبْتُها اهْتَزَّ ناضِرُهْ
The spreading tree of al-Athmad yields nothing but beauty
The meadows of Athmad refused but sweet blooms
and fragrance, when its fresh green growth sways.
And fragrance when their growth sways
وكُنْتُand I would إذاwhen اسْتُودِعْتُI was entrusted سِرّاًwith a secret طَوَيْتُهُfold it away
وكُنْتُ إذا اسْتُودِعْتُ سِرّاً طَوَيْتُهُ
بِحْفِظٍin safekeeping إذاwhen مَاemphatic particle ضَيَّعَlet slip السِّرَّthe secret نَاشِرُهْits divulger
بِحْفِظٍ إذا مَا ضَيَّعَ السِّرَّ نَاشِرُهْ
Whenever I was entrusted with a secret, I folded it away
When entrusted with a secret I would fold it away
in safekeeping, when its divulger let the secret slip.
With a care that if the secret were lost its spreader lacks
وإنِّيand I indeed لأَرْعَىsurely honor بالمَغِيبةِduring absence صَاحبيmy companion
وإنِّي لأَرْعَى بالمَغِيبةِ صَاحبي
حَياءًout of modesty كماjust as أَرْعاهُI honor him حِينَwhen أُحَاضِرُهْI am with him
حَياءً كما أَرْعاهُ حِينَ أُحَاضِرُهْ
And I surely honor my friend in his absence,
And I take care, when absent, of my companion
out of modesty, just as I honor him when I am with him.
Out of propriety as I would if he were present
Sol 6.1