تَناهىhe desisted فاطمأَنَّand so grew content إلىwith العِتابِreproach
تَناهى فاطمأَنَّ إلى العِتابِ
وأحسنَand was gracious للعواذلِto the reproaching women فيin الخِطابِspeech
وأحسنَ للعواذلِ في الخِطابِ
He desisted and grew content with reproach,
and addressed the reproaching women graciously.
وسارَand he went جَنِيبَas companion to غُصْنٍa branch غيرِnot رَطْبٍsupple
وسارَ جَنِيبَ غُصْنٍ غيرِ رَطْبٍ
وكانand he had been جنيبَcompanion to أغصانٍbranches رِطابِsupple
وكان جنيبَ أغصانٍ رِطابِ
He went as companion to a branch no longer supple,
though once he had accompanied supple branches.
خَلَتْwere emptied منهof him ميادينُthe arenas of التَّصابيyouthful dalliance
خَلَتْ منه ميادينُ التَّصابي
وعُرِّيَand were stripped منهof him أفراسُthe horses of الشَّبابِyouth
وعُرِّيَ منه أفراسُ الشَّبابِ
The arenas of youthful dalliance were emptied of him,
and youth's horses were stripped of him.
وزهَّدَهand made him disdain خِضابُthe dyeing of الناسِpeople لمَّاwhen
وزهَّدَه خِضابُ الناسِ لمَّا
تولَّىhe turned away عنهfrom it فيconcerning زُورِthe falsehood of الخِضابِdyeing
تولَّى عنه في زُورِ الخِضابِ
Others' dyeing made him scorn—when
he turned away from it—the falsehood of dye.
وردَّand he sent back كؤوسَهhis cups فيin الحَلْيjewelry تُجلَىdisplayed
وردَّ كؤوسَه في الحَلْي تُجلَى
وكانand he used to يَردُّهاsend them back عُطْلَbare at الرِّقابِthe necks
وكان يَردُّها عُطْلَ الرِّقابِ
He sent back his cups, displayed in jewels,
though once he sent them back with necks unadorned.
وأيقنَand he knew for certain أنهthat it was ظِفرُthe talon of اللَّياليthe nights
وأيقنَ أنه ظِفرُ اللَّيالي
تبيَّنَrevealed itself فيin شَباthe sharp points of ظفْرٍa claw ونابِand a fang
تبيَّنَ في شَبا ظفْرٍ ونابِ
He knew for certain it was the nights' talon,
revealed in the sharp points of claw and fang.
وإنand even if غادرْتَyou left مِصباحاًa lamp ضئيلاًfeeble
وإن غادرْتَ مِصباحاً ضئيلاً
فقدthen indeed ساوَرْنَthey assailed أثقبَbrighter منthan شِهابِa shooting star
فقد ساوَرْنَ أثقبَ من شِهابِ
Even if you have left a feeble lamp,
they have assailed what shone brighter than a shooting star.
رأيتُI saw رِداءَهhis cloak عِبثاًa useless thing عليهupon him
رأيتُ رِداءَه عِبثاً عليه
وسهلَand the smooth ground of طريقِهhis road حَزْنَthe rugged terrain of الشِّعابِravines
وسهلَ طريقِه حَزْنَ الشِّعابِ
I saw his cloak as useless upon him,
and his smooth road as the roughness of ravines.
كأنas though لمnot يُغْنِhe had aided فتيانَthe youths of العواليthe tall lances
كأن لم يُغْنِ فتيانَ العوالي
بنَجدَتِهwith his valor وفتيانَand the youths of التَّصابيyouthful dalliance
بنَجدَتِه وفتيانَ التَّصابي
As though he had never aided the youths of the lances
with his valor, nor the youths of dalliance,
ولمand not يَعْدِلْset right صفاءَthe serenity of العيشِlife فيهمamong them
ولم يَعْدِلْ صفاءَ العيشِ فيهم
وبعضُهُمُand some of them قَذاةٌa mote فيin شَرابِa drink
وبعضُهُمُ قَذاةٌ في شَرابِ
nor kept their life unclouded,
though some of them were motes in a drink.
ورُبَّand many a مُعصْفراتِsaffron-dyed القُمْصِshirts طافَتْwere carried round
ورُبَّ مُعصْفراتِ القُمْصِ طافَتْ
عليهto him بهاwith them مُعَصفرةُa woman saffron-dyed in النِّقابِthe veil
عليه بها مُعَصفرةُ النِّقابِ
Many a cup in a saffron-dyed shirt was carried round
to him by a woman in a saffron-dyed veil.
وألفاظٍand words لهof his عَذُبَتْgrew sweet فأغَنتْand so served
وألفاظٍ له عَذُبَتْ فأغَنتْ
غِناءَthe purpose of الرَّاحِwine بالنُّطَفِwith drops العِذابِsweet
غِناءَ الرَّاحِ بالنُّطَفِ العِذابِ
And many words of his grew sweet, and served
the purpose of wine through sweet drops.
يكرِّرُهاhe repeats them علىover راووقِthe strainer of فِكْرٍthought
يكرِّرُها على راووقِ فِكْرٍ
فيبعُثهاand so sends them forth كرَقراقِlike the shimmer of السّرابِa mirage
فيبعُثها كرَقراقِ السّرابِ
He runs them repeatedly through thought's strainer,
then sends them forth like a shimmering mirage.
وخَرْقٍand a wilderness طالgrew long فيهin it السَّيرُthe journey حتىuntil
وخَرْقٍ طال فيه السَّيرُ حتى
حَسِبناهwe thought it يسيرُwas moving معwith الرِّكابِthe riding-camels
حَسِبناه يسيرُ مع الرِّكابِ
And many a wilderness where the journey lasted so long
that we thought it traveled with the riding-camels.
صَحِبْناwe kept company with فيهin it تَرْحاتِthe sorrows of التَّنائيseparation
صَحِبْنا فيه تَرْحاتِ التَّنائي
علىwith ثِقَةٍconfidence بِفَرْحاتِin the joys of الإيابِreturn
على ثِقَةٍ بِفَرْحاتِ الإيابِ
There we kept company with separation's sorrows,
confident of the joys of return,
إلىtoward الخِرقِthe generous man الذيwho يَلْقىreceives الأمانيhopes
إلى الخِرقِ الذي يَلْقى الأماني
رحيبَspacious in الصَّدْرِthe bosom منهof his والرِّحابِand the courtyards
رحيبَ الصَّدْرِ منه والرِّحابِ
toward the generous man who welcomes hopes
with his bosom and his courtyards wide.
لقدindeed أضحَتْhave become خِلالُthe virtues of أبيAbu حُصَيْنٍḤuṣayn
لقد أضحَتْ خِلالُ أبي حُصَيْنٍ
حصوناًfortresses فيamid المُلِمَّاتِcalamities الصِّعابِgrievous
حصوناً في المُلِمَّاتِ الصِّعابِ
Indeed, the virtues of Abu Ḥuṣayn have become
fortresses amid grievous calamities.
كسانيhe clothed me in ظِلَّthe shade of نائِلِهhis bounty وآوىand sheltered
كساني ظِلَّ نائِلِه وآوى
غرائبَthe rarities of مَنطِقيmy speech بعدَafter اغترابِexile
غرائبَ مَنطِقي بعدَ اغترابِ
He clothed me in the shade of his bounty, and sheltered
my speech's rare creations after their exile.
فكنتُand so I was كروضَةٍlike a meadow سُقِيتwas watered سَحاباًby clouds
فكنتُ كروضَةٍ سُقِيت سَحاباً
فأَثنتْand so praised بالنَّسيمِwith the breeze علىupon السَّحابِthe clouds
فأَثنتْ بالنَّسيمِ على السَّحابِ
So I was like a meadow watered by clouds,
that praised the clouds with its breeze.
عطاءٌa bounty يَستَهِلُّdawns البِشرُcheerfulness فيهin it
عطاءٌ يَستَهِلُّ البِشرُ فيه
فيبعثُهand so sends it forth انسكاباًin a downpour فيamid التهابِa blaze
فيبعثُه انسكاباً في التهابِ
A bounty in which good cheer flashes forth,
and sends it pouring amid a blaze,
كماas ساَرتْmoved مؤلَّفَةُjoined together in الهَواديthe leading edges
كما ساَرتْ مؤلَّفَةُ الهَوادي
بلَمْعِby the flash of البرقِlightning مُذهَبَةَgilded الرَّبابِthe cloudbanks
بلَمْعِ البرقِ مُذهَبَةَ الرَّبابِ
as clouds with gathered fronts move on,
their banks gilded by lightning's flash.
تَجرَّدَhe devoted himself للجِهادِto holy war فكانand so was عَضباًa keen sword
تَجرَّدَ للجِهادِ فكان عَضباً
حديدَsharp الحَدِّof edge فيهin it غيرَnot نابِيglancing off
حديدَ الحَدِّ فيه غيرَ نابِي
He devoted himself to holy war and was a keen blade,
sharp-edged in it, never glancing off.
ينازلُhe engages foes مُصلَتاًwith sword drawn منfrom كلِّevery أوبٍquarter
ينازلُ مُصلَتاً من كلِّ أوبٍ
ويدخُلُand enters مُعلَماًbearing a battle-mark منthrough كلِّevery بابِgate
ويدخُلُ مُعلَماً من كلِّ بابِ
He engages foes, sword drawn, from every quarter,
and enters, bearing his battle-mark, through every gate.
وأشيبَand a gray-haired man عاينَbeheld العلياءَhigh glory طِفْلاًas a child
وأشيبَ عاينَ العلياءَ طِفْلاً
فقارعَand so fought قبلbefore تقريعِthe chastisement of العِتابِreproach
فقارعَ قبل تقريعِ العِتابِ
And a gray-haired man beheld high glory as a child,
and fought before rebuke could chastise him.
وحرَّمَand forbade مِسْمَعَيْهِhis two ears علىto المَلاهيamusements
وحرَّمَ مِسْمَعَيْهِ على المَلاهي
وهُدَّابَand the fringe of الإزارِthe waist-wrapper علىto التُّرابِthe dust
وهُدَّابَ الإزارِ على التُّرابِ
He barred his ears from diversions,
and his robe's fringe from the dust.
يروعُكَhe awes you وهوwhile he is مصقولُpolished in السَّجاياcharacter
يروعُكَ وهو مصقولُ السَّجايا
إذاwhen ماemphasis هَزَّhe brandishes مصقولَa blade polished at الذُّبابِthe tip
إذا ما هَزَّ مصقولَ الذُّبابِ
He awes you, his character polished,
whenever he brandishes a blade with polished tip.
وقدand indeed شَغَلتْhave occupied كعوبُthe joints of الرمحِthe spear منهof him
وقد شَغَلتْ كعوبُ الرمحِ منه
يَديهِhis two hands عنfrom مُلامَسَةِtouching الكِعابِnubile maidens
يَديهِ عن مُلامَسَةِ الكِعابِ
The spear's joints have occupied
his hands, keeping them from touching nubile maidens.
وخفَّand grew light عليهupon him ثِقْلُthe weight of الدِّرعِthe mail حتىso that
وخفَّ عليه ثِقْلُ الدِّرعِ حتى
كأنَّas though دروعَهhis coats of mail سَرَقُsilks of الثِّيابِgarments
كأنَّ دروعَه سَرَقُ الثِّيابِ
The mail's weight grew so light upon him
that his coats of mail seemed silken garments.
وكمand how often خرَقَhe pierced الحِجابَthe veil إلىto مَقامٍa station
وكم خرَقَ الحِجابَ إلى مَقامٍ
توارَىhid itself الشَّمسُthe sun فيهin it بالحِجابِbehind a veil
توارَى الشَّمسُ فيه بالحِجابِ
How often he rent the veil to reach a place
where the sun hid itself behind a veil.
إذاwhen شُنَّتْwere launched بهwith him الغاراتُthe raids كانتbecame
إذا شُنَّتْ به الغاراتُ كانت
نفوسُthe lives of المُعلَمينَwarriors bearing battle-marks منamong النِّهابِthe spoils
نفوسُ المُعلَمينَ من النِّهابِ
When raids are launched with him,
the lives of warriors bearing battle-marks become spoils.
كأنَّas though سيوفَهhis swords بينَamong العواليthe tall lances
كأنَّ سيوفَه بينَ العوالي
جداولُstreams يطَّرِدْنَflow steadily خِلالَthrough غابِa forest
جداولُ يطَّرِدْنَ خِلالَ غابِ
As though his swords among the tall lances
were streams flowing through a forest.
وخَيْلٍand horses قادَهاhe led them فيin جنْحthe cover of ليلٍnight
وخَيْلٍ قادَها في جنْح ليلٍ
تَطيرُsend flying بِوَطْئِهاwith their tread نارَthe fire of الضِّرابِcombat
تَطيرُ بِوَطْئِها نارَ الضِّرابِ
And horses he led under cover of night,
their tread sending the fire of battle flying.
إذاwhen مرَقَتْthey darted out منfrom الظَّلماءِthe darkness أذكَتْthey kindled
إذا مرَقَتْ من الظَّلماءِ أذكَتْ
علىagainst المُرَّاقِthe renegades ثائرةَthe raging fury of العَذابِtorment
على المُرَّاقِ ثائرةَ العَذابِ
When they darted from the darkness, they kindled
a raging torment against the renegades.
وقِرْنٍand an opponent شامَhe eyed صفحتَهhis flank فعادَىthen pitted against it
وقِرْنٍ شامَ صفحتَه فعادَى
صفيحةَthe broad blade of سيفِهhis sword عندَduring الضِّرابِcombat
صفيحةَ سيفِه عندَ الضِّرابِ
And many a foe whose flank he eyed, then pitted
his sword's broad blade against it in the clash.
وقدand indeed وضحَتْbecame clear سطورُthe lines of البيضِbright swords فيهon him
وقد وضحَتْ سطورُ البيضِ فيه
كماas وَضَحتْbecame clear سطورٌlines فيin كِتابِa book
كما وَضَحتْ سطورٌ في كِتابِ
The lines of bright swords were clear upon him,
as lines are clear within a book.
مناقبُvirtues تملأُfill الحُسَّادَthe envious غَيْظاًwith rage
مناقبُ تملأُ الحُسَّادَ غَيْظاً
وتُغْنيand spare الطَّالبينَpetitioners عنfrom الطِّلابِpetitioning
وتُغْني الطَّالبينَ عن الطِّلابِ
Virtues that fill the envious with rage,
and spare petitioners the need to petition.
وحُكمٌand a judgment يَفْرُقُfear الأعداءُenemies منهof it
وحُكمٌ يَفْرُقُ الأعداءُ منه
كأنكas though you were فيهin it فاروقُal-Faruq الصَّحَابيthe Companion
كأنك فيه فاروقُ الصَّحَابي
And a judgment that enemies fear,
as though in it you were al-Faruq, the Companion.
يَوَدُّكَloves you فيهfor it مَنْwhoever تَقضيyou judge عليهagainst him
يَوَدُّكَ فيه مَنْ تَقضي عليه
لشافيfor healing الحُكمِjudgment أوor كافيsufficient الصَّوابِrightness
لشافي الحُكمِ أو كافي الصَّوابِ
Whoever you judge against loves you for it,
for judgment that heals, or rightness that suffices.
إليكَto you زَففتُهاI led her as a bride عذراءَa virgin تأويseeking shelter in
إليكَ زَففتُها عذراءَ تأوي
حِجابَthe veil of القلبِthe heart لاnot حُجُبَthe veils of النِّقابِthe face-covering
حِجابَ القلبِ لا حُجُبَ النِّقابِ
To you I led her as a virgin bride, seeking
the heart's veil, not the veils of a face-covering.
أذَبْتُI melted لِصَوْغِهاto fashion her ذَهَبَthe gold of القوافيrhymes
أذَبْتُ لِصَوْغِها ذَهَبَ القوافي
فأَدَّتْand so conveyed رونقَthe luster of الذَّهَبِgold المُذابِmolten
فأَدَّتْ رونقَ الذَّهَبِ المُذابِ
I melted the gold of rhymes to fashion her,
and she conveyed the luster of molten gold.
تهاداهاexchanged her as a gift الملوكُkings كماas تَهادَتْexchanged as gifts
تهاداها الملوكُ كما تَهادَتْ
أكفُّthe hands of البيضِfair women منظومَstrung السَّخابِscented necklaces
أكفُّ البيضِ منظومَ السَّخابِ
Kings exchanged her as a gift, as
fair women's hands exchanged strung scented necklaces.
تروقُكshe delights you وهيwhile she is ناجمةُunfolding in المعانيmeanings
تروقُك وهي ناجمةُ المعاني
كماas راقَتْكَdelighted you نَاجِمةُwith rising الحَبابِbubbles
كما راقَتْكَ نَاجِمةُ الحَبابِ
She delights you, her meanings rising,
as wine with rising bubbles delighted you.
Sol 6.1