جَعَلَتshe placed بينَناbetween us الرَّبَابُal-Rabab النَّموthe tale-bearer (opening fragment) مَاtale-bearer (closing fragment)
جَعَلَت بينَنا الرَّبَابُ النَّمو مَا
فَكَسَتنيso she clothed me وَسَاوِساًmisgivings وهُمُومَاand cares
فَكَسَتني وَسَاوِساً وهُمُومَا
Al-Rabab set a tale-bearer between us,
clothing me in misgivings and cares.
صَدَّقتهُshe believed him وصَادَقَتهُand befriended him فأدمَتso she made bleed
صَدَّقتهُ وصَادَقَتهُ فأدمَت
مِنamong كُلُومِthe wounds of الهَوَىlove الدَّفينِburied كُلُوماwounds
مِن كُلُومِ الهَوَى الدَّفينِ كُلُوما
She believed him and befriended him, making bleed
wounds among the wounds of buried love.
كَلَّمَاwhenever كَلَّمتُهI spoke to him آلَمpained قَلبيmy heart
كَلَّمَا كَلَّمتُه آلَم قَلبي
أنّهُthat he آلَbecame لِلرَّبَابِal-Rabab's كَلِيمَاa confidant
أنّهُ آلَ لِلرَّبَابِ كَلِيمَا
Whenever I spoke to him, it pained my heart
that he had become al-Rabab's confidant.
صَرَمَتنيshe severed ties with me وَمَاصَرَمتُthough I did not sever ties ولاَمَتand she blamed
صَرَمَتني وَمَاصَرَمتُ ولاَمَت
فيfor هَوَاهَاloving her ولَستُand I am not فِيهِin that مَلِيمَاblameworthy
في هَوَاهَا ولَستُ فِيهِ مَلِيمَا
She cut me off, though I had not cut her off, and blamed me
for loving her, though in that I was not to blame.
أسلَمَتنيshe abandoned me لِمَاto what أُعانيI suffer مِنَof البَثanguish (opening fragment)
أسلَمَتني لِمَا أُعاني مِنَ البَث
ثِanguish (closing fragment) وبَرحِand the torment of الجَوَىburning passion فَصِرتُso I became سَلِيمَاone snake-bitten
ثِ وبَرحِ الجَوَى فَصِرتُ سَلِيمَا
She abandoned me to the anguish I suffer
and passion's fierce pangs, leaving me like one bitten.
وحَمَتنيand she barred me from إرتِشَافَsipping عَذبِthe sweetness of لَمَاهَاher dusky lips
وحَمَتني إرتِشَافَ عَذبِ لَمَاهَا
وَسَقَتنيand she gave me to drink بِهthrough it العَذَابَtorment الألِيمَاagonizing
وَسَقَتني بِه العَذَابَ الألِيمَا
She barred me from sipping her dusky lips' sweetness,
and through it gave me agonizing torment to drink.
فَحَسِبتُso I deemed الكَرَىsleep كَراًa curlew طَارَflew عنيaway from me
فَحَسِبتُ الكَرَى كَراً طَارَ عني
واختَشَىand feared الصَّيدَcapture والغرَامَand passion غَرِيمَاa creditor
واختَشَى الصَّيدَ والغرَامَ غَرِيمَا
I deemed sleep a curlew that had flown from me,
fearing capture, and passion a creditor.
لاحappeared لِيto me رَبعُهاher dwelling المَحِيلdesolate فَأذكَتso kindled
لاح لِي رَبعُها المَحِيل فَأذكَت
آيهُits traces فيin الحَشَاthe innermost breast لَظًىa blaze وجَحِيمَاand an inferno
آيهُ في الحَشَا لَظًى وجَحِيمَا
Her desolate dwelling appeared to me, and there were kindled
by its traces a blaze and an inferno in my breast.
قَالsaid لِيto me صَاحبيmy companion وعَيبَةُand the repository of سِرِّيmy secret
قَال لِي صَاحبي وعَيبَةُ سِرِّي
ومَنand the one whom اخترتُI chose صَاحِباًas a companion ونَدِيمَاand a boon companion
ومَن اخترتُ صَاحِباً ونَدِيمَا
My companion, the keeper of my secret, said to me—
the one I chose as companion and boon companion:
إنif تَكُنyou are كُلَّمَاwhenever مَررتَyou passed بِدُورٍby dwellings
إن تَكُن كُلَّمَا مَررتَ بِدُورٍ
قَدonce حَوَينَthey housed الرَّبَابَal-Rabab دَهراًfor an age قَدِيمَاlong past
قَد حَوَينَ الرَّبَابَ دَهراً قَدِيمَا
If, whenever you pass by dwellings
that once housed al-Rabab long ago,
عِثنَthey ravaged باللُّبّthe mind واستَبَحنَand violated حِمَىthe sanctuary of الصpatience (opening fragment)
عِثنَ باللُّبّ واستَبَحنَ حِمَى الص
صَبرِpatience (closing fragment) ومَلاَّنَand filled بالزَّفِيرِwith sighs الحَزِيمَاthe breast
صَبرِ ومَلاَّنَ بالزَّفِيرِ الحَزِيمَا
they ravage your mind and violate the sanctuary of
patience, filling your breast with sighs,
وبَثثنَand spread الأسَىsorrow الرَّسِيسَdeep-rooted حَوَالَيaround
وبَثثنَ الأسَى الرَّسِيسَ حَوَالَي
كَyou (suffix) يَتَحَدَّرنَthey cascade لُؤلُؤاًas pearls مَنظُومَاstrung together
كَ يَتَحَدَّرنَ لُؤلُؤاً مَنظُومَا
and spread deep-rooted sorrow all around
you, cascading like strung pearls,
وَنَثَرنَand scattered الدُّموعَtears نَثرَlike the scattering of لآلٍpearls
وَنَثَرنَ الدُّموعَ نَثرَ لآلٍ
يَتَحَدَّرنَthey cascade لُؤلُؤاًas pearls مَنظومَاstrung together
يَتَحَدَّرنَ لُؤلُؤاً مَنظومَا
and scatter tears as pearls are scattered,
cascading like strung pearls—
لاdo not تَمُرَّنَّever pass باللِّوَىby al-Liwa إِنَّindeed فيalong جَنside (opening fragment)
لا تَمُرَّنَّ باللِّوَى إِنَّ في جَن
بِside (closing fragment) اللّوىal-Liwa أربُعاًdwelling sites لَهَاof hers ورَسُومَاand traces
بِ اللّوى أربُعاً لَهَا ورَسُومَا
never pass by al-Liwa, for along
al-Liwa's side are her dwellings and their traces.
ولَهَاand she has عِندَat ذيDhu; possessor of الهُوَىal-Hawa; passion دِمنٌَcampsite traces مِنamong
ولَهَا عِندَ ذي الهُوَى دِمنٌَ مِن
دِمَنِthe traces of اللَّهوِيستلبنَpleasure, which rob الحَلِيماthe prudent man
دِمَنِ اللَّهوِيستلبنَ الحَلِيما
At Dhu al-Hawa she also has vestiges, among
the traces of pleasure that rob the prudent of their wits.
وبِغَورِand in the hollow of الغَدِيرِthe pool فيon جَنبِهِits side الthe (prefix of 'western')
وبِغَورِ الغَدِيرِ في جَنبِهِ ال
غَربيwestern حَيثُwhere العَرَاءُthe open ground عَرَّىlaid bare الصَّرِيمَاthe thicket
غَربي حَيثُ العَرَاءُ عَرَّى الصَّرِيمَا
And in the pool's hollow, on its
western side, where open ground stripped the thicket,
دِمَنٌcampsite traces أسأَرَleft remnants البِلَىdecay مِنfrom بَقايَاthe remains of
دِمَنٌ أسأَرَ البِلَى مِن بَقايَا
هُنَّthem (possessive suffix) وَشياًembroidery مُنَمنَماًfinely patterned وَوُشُومَاand tattoo-marks
هُنَّ وَشياً مُنَمنَماً وَوُشُومَا
are ruins from whose remains decay has left
finely patterned embroidery and tattoo-marks.
ألِفَتهَاI knew them intimately فَغَيَّرَتهَاthen transformed them اللَّيَالِىthe nights
ألِفَتهَا فَغَيَّرَتهَا اللَّيَالِى
وعَفَتهَاand erased them الرِّيَاحُthe winds نُكباًoblique وقُومَاand straight-blowing
وعَفَتهَا الرِّيَاحُ نُكباً وقُومَا
I knew them well; then the nights transformed them,
and winds erased them, crosswinds and straight-blowing winds.
فَإِذَاso when مَاindeed (emphasis) أتَيتَهاyou visited them هِمتَyou became entranced فِيهَاin them
فَإِذَا مَا أتَيتَها هِمتَ فِيهَا
وحَرٍand fitting إِنif أتَيتَهاyou visit them أنthat تَهِيمَاyou become love-dazed
وحَرٍ إِن أتَيتَها أن تَهِيمَا
When you visit them, you lose yourself in them,
and rightly, if you visit them, should you be love-dazed.
لَذَّwas delightful فِيهَاthere الصِّباyouth وطَابَand was sweet التَّصابيyouthful dalliance
لَذَّ فِيهَا الصِّبا وطَابَ التَّصابي
وجَنَينَاهُand we harvested it بُسرةًas an unripe date وحَمِيمَاand as a ripe date
وجَنَينَاهُ بُسرةً وحَمِيمَا
Youth was sweet there, and youthful dalliance delightful;
we harvested it as unripe dates and ripe fruit.
وأرَتنَاand she showed us الرَّبَابُal-Rabab فِيهِنَّin those places مِنهاof herself
وأرَتنَا الرَّبَابُ فِيهِنَّ مِنها
قَمَراًa moon نَيِّراًradiant ولَيلاًand a night بَهِيمَاpitch-black
قَمَراً نَيِّراً ولَيلاً بَهِيمَا
And in those places al-Rabab showed us, in herself,
a radiant moon and a pitch-black night,
وَكَثِيباًand a sandhill وبَانَةًand a ben-tree وقَنَاةًand a spear-shaft
وَكَثِيباً وبَانَةً وقَنَاةً
ومَهَاةًand an oryx وخَيرُand bamboo (unclear opening fragment) زَاناًbamboo (closing fragment) وَرِيمَاand a gazelle
ومَهَاةً وخَيرُ زَاناً وَرِيمَا
a sandhill, a ben-tree, and a spear-shaft,
an oryx, bamboo, and a gazelle,
وَسَدُوساًand a dark-green mantle وَأُقحُوانَاًand a chrysanthemum وَرُمَّاand a pomegranate (opening fragment)
وَسَدُوساً وَأُقحُوانَاً وَرُمَّا
ناًpomegranate (closing fragment) وَكَشحاًand a waist مِنَof الحَريرِsilk هَضيمَاslender
ناً وَكَشحاً مِنَ الحَريرِ هَضيمَا
a dark-green mantle, a chrysanthemum, and
a pomegranate, and a slender waist of silk,
وَجُماناًand pearls أُدِيرَarranged in a circle فَوقَabove جُمَانٍpearls
وَجُماناً أُدِيرَ فَوقَ جُمَانٍ
وَرَحِيقاًand pure wine مُشَعشَعاًdiluted to sparkle مَختُومَاsealed
وَرَحِيقاً مُشَعشَعاً مَختُومَا
pearls set in a circle above pearls,
pure wine, sparklingly diluted and sealed,
ولَمًىand lip-darkness إِثمُداًantimony kohl وشَوكَand thorns of سَيَالٍsayal acacia
ولَمًى إِثمُداً وشَوكَ سَيَالٍ
وبُرُوقاًand lightning flashes وَرِقَّةًand tenderness ونَعِيمَاand delight
وبُرُوقاً وَرِقَّةً ونَعِيمَا
lips dark as antimony, and sayal-acacia thorns,
lightning flashes, tenderness, and delight,
وَسَقِيماًand a sick person مِنَby اللِّحَاظِglances صَحِيحاًmade well
وَسَقِيماً مِنَ اللِّحَاظِ صَحِيحاً
وصَحِيحاًand a healthy person مِنَby الجُفُونِeyelids سَقِيمَاmade sick
وصَحِيحاً مِنَ الجُفُونِ سَقِيمَا
one sick, made well by her glances,
and one well, made sick by her eyelids,
وكَلاَماًand speech أشَدَّmore forceful فيin القَلبِthe heart وَقعاًin impact
وكَلاَماً أشَدَّ في القَلبِ وَقعاً
مِنthan رِقَاقِslender shafts of القَنَاspears أغَنَّresonant رَخِيمَاsoft and melodious
مِن رِقَاقِ القَنَا أغَنَّ رَخِيمَا
and speech that struck the heart more keenly
than slender spears, resonant and melodious.
وَارتَشَفنَاand we sipped الرُّضَابَsweet saliva بَعدَafter الكَرَىsleep رَاwine (opening fragment)
وَارتَشَفنَا الرُّضَابَ بَعدَ الكَرَى رَا
حاًwine (closing fragment) ومِسكاًand musk مَذَاقَةًin taste وشَمِيمَاand in fragrance
حاً ومِسكاً مَذَاقَةً وشَمِيمَا
After sleep we sipped her sweet saliva—
wine in flavor and musk in fragrance.
يَاO ظَلاَمَdarkness الزَّوَالِof noon قَدindeed خِلتَyou thought ظُلمِىwronging me
يَا ظَلاَمَ الزَّوَالِ قَد خِلتَ ظُلمِى
هَيِّناًeasy لاَnot أَرُدُّI repel عنيfrom me الظَّلُومَاthe oppressor
هَيِّناً لاَ أَرُدُّ عني الظَّلُومَا
O darkness at noon, you thought wronging me
easy, as though I would not fend off the oppressor.
وَتَعرَّضتَand you interposed yourself دُونَbefore شَيخِكَyour shaykh تَحprotect him (opening fragment)
وَتَعرَّضتَ دُونَ شَيخِكَ تَح
ميهِprotect him (closing fragment) ومَاand not إِنat all (negative emphasis) حَمَىprotected اللِّئِيمُthe base man لَئِيمَاa base man
ميهِ ومَا إِن حَمَى اللِّئِيمُ لَئِيمَا
You interposed yourself before your shaykh to
protect him; but no base man ever protected another.
زِدتَهُyou increased his فيamong الأنامِpeople هُوناًhumiliation فَمَاso you did not أَغbenefit (opening fragment)
زِدتَهُ في الأنامِ هُوناً فَمَا أَغ
نَيتَyou benefited (closing fragment) عَنهُhim ومَاand you did not كَفَفتَrepel أرِيمَاanyone
نَيتَ عَنهُ ومَا كَفَفتَ أرِيمَا
You increased his humiliation among people; you did not
benefit him, nor did you repel anyone.
وَدَعَوهُand they called him الجُهولَthe ignoramus مَاnot زِدتَهُyou surpassed him أَنyou (opening fragment)
وَدَعَوهُ الجُهولَ مَا زِدتَهُ أَن
تَyou (closing fragment) ولَمand did not تَعلَمِyou know العُلُومَthe sciences عُلُومَاtrue knowledge
تَ ولَم تَعلَمِ العُلُومَ عُلُومَا
They called him the ignoramus; you have not surpassed him,
you who have never truly learned the sciences.
وأُبِيحَand was violated الحَرِيمُthe sanctuary مِنهُof his ومَاand you did not دَاdefend (opening fragment)
وأُبِيحَ الحَرِيمُ مِنهُ ومَا دَا
فَعتَyou defended (closing fragment) عَنهُfrom him الذيthe one who أبَاحَviolated الحَرِيمَاthe sanctuary
فَعتَ عَنهُ الذي أبَاحَ الحَرِيمَا
His sanctuary was violated, and you did not
repel from him the one who violated that sanctuary.
وغَدَاand became عِرضُهhis honor قَسِيماًapportioned مُذَالاًdebased
وغَدَا عِرضُه قَسِيماً مُذَالاً
أحَمَيتَdid you protect المُذَالَthe debased مِنهُof it القَسِيمَاthe apportioned
أحَمَيتَ المُذَالَ مِنهُ القَسِيمَا
His honor became apportioned and debased;
did you protect that apportioned, debased honor?
لَمnot تَكُنyou were شَاعِراًa poet تُقَدَّمُput forward لِلشfor poetry (opening fragment)
لَم تَكُن شَاعِراً تُقَدَّمُ لِلش
شِعرِpoetry (closing fragment) إِذَاwhen صَمَّمَpressed home الهجاءُsatire الهُجُومَاthe attack
شِعرِ إِذَا صَمَّمَ الهجاءُ الهُجُومَا
You were no poet fit to be put forward for
poetry when satire pressed home its attack.
غَيرَexcept أنَّthat البِلادَlands إِنif صَوَّحَwithered النَّبvegetation (opening fragment)
غَيرَ أنَّ البِلادَ إِن صَوَّحَ النَّب
تَvegetation (closing fragment) بِهاin them تَرتَعِىgraze upon المَوَاشِىthe livestock الهَشِيمَاdry stalks
تَ بِها تَرتَعِى المَوَاشِى الهَشِيمَا
Yet in a land where vegetation has withered,
livestock graze on dry stalks.
إِنَّindeed لِيI have فيin مَقَاصِدِthe aims of الهَجوِsatire أرقَاthe highest
إِنَّ لِي في مَقَاصِدِ الهَجوِ أرقَا
سُلَّمٍladder إِنif وَجَدتُI find عِرضاًhonor سَلِيمَاunblemished
سُلَّمٍ إِن وَجَدتُ عِرضاً سَلِيمَا
In the pursuits of satire I have the highest
ladder, if I find unblemished honor,
أوor وَجَدتُI find امرَءاًa man بَصِيراًdiscerning بِمَعنًىof a meaning
أو وَجَدتُ امرَءاً بَصِيراً بِمَعنًى
حَسَنٍbeautiful فيin سلاَسَةِthe fluency of اللَّفظِwording رِيمَاa gazelle
حَسَنٍ في سلاَسَةِ اللَّفظِ رِيمَا
or find a man discerning a meaning
beautiful—a gazelle in the fluency of words.
إِنif رَصَدتُI lay in wait for البَدِيعَrhetorical ornament فيin قَترِhunting blinds of الthe (prefix of 'watchposts')
إِن رَصَدتُ البَدِيعَ في قَترِ ال
أَرصادِwatchposts واصطَدتُand I captured مَعنًىa meaning جَسِيمَاsubstantial
أَرصادِ واصطَدتُ مَعنًى جَسِيمَا
If I stalk rhetorical beauty in the hunting blinds of
the watchposts, and capture a weighty meaning,
أوor تَأنَّستُI found solace بالجِنَاسِin wordplay عنaway from الجِنhumankind (opening fragment)
أو تَأنَّستُ بالجِنَاسِ عن الجِن
سِhumankind (closing fragment) ونَظَمتُand I strung مِنهُfrom it دُرَّاa pearl يَتِيمَاpeerless
سِ ونَظَمتُ مِنهُ دُرَّا يَتِيمَا
or find solace in wordplay, away from human
kind, and from it string a peerless pearl,
لَذَّit delighted فيin طَبعِهِhis natural taste وكَانَand he was مُعَنًّىconcerned
لَذَّ في طَبعِهِ وكَانَ مُعَنًّى
بِالمَعَانيwith meanings وبِالبَيَانِand in eloquence عَلِيمَاknowledgeable
بِالمَعَاني وبِالبَيَانِ عَلِيمَا
it delights his natural taste, for he is concerned
with meanings and versed in eloquence,
ثَاقِبُpenetrating الذِّهنِof mind فيin العَوِيصِdifficult matters مُضِىءُilluminating
ثَاقِبُ الذِّهنِ في العَوِيصِ مُضِىءُ
لَيلِهِits night الدَّاجِىgloomy الدَّجُونِdark البَهِيمَاpitch-black
لَيلِهِ الدَّاجِى الدَّجُونِ البَهِيمَا
keen of mind in difficult matters, illuminating
their gloomy, dark, pitch-black night.
وِإذَاand if لَمnot أجِدهُI find him لَستُI am not مُجِيدَاmasterly
وِإذَا لَم أجِدهُ لَستُ مُجِيدَا
لاَno ولَمand I do not أُبرِزِbring forth النَّظِيمَfinely strung verse الصَّمِيمَاgenuine
لاَ ولَم أُبرِزِ النَّظِيمَ الصَّمِيمَا
But if I do not find him, I do not excel—
no, nor do I produce genuine, finely strung verse.
غَيرَexcept أنيthat I إِذَاwhen صَبرتُI restrained myself عَنِfrom الal- (prefix of 'al-Misbah')
غَيرَ أني إِذَا صَبرتُ عَنِ ال
مِصباحِMisbah; lamp ظَنُّوهُthey thought him لَوذَعِيَّاquick-witted كَرِيمَاnoble
مِصباحِ ظَنُّوهُ لَوذَعِيَّا كَرِيمَا
Yet when I hold back from
al-Misbah, they imagine him quick-witted and noble.
يَاO بَلِيدَdullard of الزَّمَانِthe age يَاO غَيبَةَabsence (obscure epithet) السبabuse (opening fragment)
يَا بَلِيدَ الزَّمَانِ يَا غَيبَةَ السب
بِabuse (closing fragment) أَلَستَare you not الدَّوِيَّthe sickly الحَلِيفَally الذَّميمَاdespicable
بِ أَلَستَ الدَّوِيَّ الحَلِيفَ الذَّميمَا
O dullard of the age, O absence of invective,
are you not the sickly, despicable ally?
سَأُحَلِّيكَI will adorn you مِنwith لآلِىِpearls of القَوافيrhyme
سَأُحَلِّيكَ مِن لآلِىِ القَوافي
سُبَّةًan insult تُفسِدُthat ruins الحِجَاthe intellect والأدِيمَاand the skin
سُبَّةً تُفسِدُ الحِجَا والأدِيمَا
I shall adorn you, from the pearls of rhyme,
with an insult that ruins mind and skin.
إنif تَفَكَّرتَyou ponder فيon الأسَالِيبِthe styles مِنهَاwithin it
إن تَفَكَّرتَ في الأسَالِيبِ مِنهَا
حَرتَyou were bewildered فيby حُسنِهَاits beauty وصِرتَand you became كَظِيمَاchoked with suppressed rage
حَرتَ في حُسنِهَا وصِرتَ كَظِيمَا
If you ponder the styles within it,
you will be bewildered by its beauty and choked with rage.
وِإذَاand if رُمتَyou sought مِثلَهاits like لَمnot يُطَاوِعit yields
وِإذَا رُمتَ مِثلَها لَم يُطَاوِع
وعَسِيرٌand it is hard عَلَيكَfor you أنto لاَتَرُومَاnot attempt
وعَسِيرٌ عَلَيكَ أن لاَتَرُومَا
If you seek its like, it will not come,
yet it is hard for you not to try.
وإِذَاand if رُمتَyou sought أنto تَرِيمَleave كَسَتهَاclothed it
وإِذَا رُمتَ أن تَرِيمَ كَسَتهَا
جَودَةُthe excellence of الذِّهنِthe intellect جِدَّةًfreshness لَنnever will تَرِيمَاdepart
جَودَةُ الذِّهنِ جِدَّةً لَن تَرِيمَا
And if you wish to leave it, it has been clothed
by a fine mind in a freshness that will never fade.
يُستَلَذُis savored المَرُومُthe target فِيهَاin it إِذَاwhen مَاindeed (emphasis)
يُستَلَذُ المَرُومُ فِيهَا إِذَا مَا
أُنشِدَتit was recited حُسنهَاits beauty فَيَنسَىso he forgets المَرُومَاthe intended aim
أُنشِدَت حُسنهَا فَيَنسَى المَرُومَا
The target delights in it whenever
its beauty is recited, forgetting what was intended.
لاdo not تُجِبنيanswer me بِمَاwith what يَزِيدُكَincreases your ذُلاًّhumiliation
لا تُجِبني بِمَا يَزِيدُكَ ذُلاًّ
ومَلاماًand blame أَلَستَare you not حبراًa scholar زَعِيمَاa leader
ومَلاماً أَلَستَ حبراً زَعِيمَا
Do not answer me with what increases your humiliation
and blame—are you not a leading scholar?
أوَand is it لَستَyou are not البَلِيغَthe eloquent one فيin الشِّعرِpoetry مُولَىawarded
أوَ لَستَ البَلِيغَ في الشِّعرِ مُولَى
قَصَبَthe reed of السَّبقِvictory مَنthe one who يُجزِrequites الخَصِيمَاthe adversary
قَصَبَ السَّبقِ مَن يُجزِ الخَصِيمَا
Are you not eloquent in poetry, awarded
the victor's reed, the one who requites his adversary?
أوَand is it لَستَyou are not الفَتَىthe youth المَجَلَّىthe first-place racer فيin السَّبقِthe race
أوَ لَستَ الفَتَى المَجَلَّى في السَّبقِ
فَلاَso do not تَرضَconsent أنto تَكُونَbe لَطِيمَاa ninth-place racer
فَلاَ تَرضَ أن تَكُونَ لَطِيمَا
Are you not the youth who takes first place in the race?
Then do not consent to be the ninth-place runner.
لاَdo not تَكُنbe بَاعِثاًsending out قَرِيضاًverse مَرِيضاًsickly
لاَ تَكُن بَاعِثاً قَرِيضاً مَرِيضاً
شِيبَwas mixed لَحناًwith solecisms وشِينَand marred لَفظاًin wording وضِيمَاand maltreated
شِيبَ لَحناً وشِينَ لَفظاً وضِيمَا
Do not send forth sickly verse,
mixed with solecisms, marred in wording, and maltreated.
فِيهِin it سيمَاa mark of كَزَازَةِstiffness of الطَّبعِthe poetic nature تَبدُوappears
فِيهِ سيمَا كَزَازَةِ الطَّبعِ تَبدُو
وعَلَيهِand on it مِنَof التَّعَسُّفِstrained expression سِيمَاa mark
وعَلَيهِ مِنَ التَّعَسُّفِ سِيمَا
In it appear the marks of a cramped poetic nature,
and upon it are the marks of strained expression.
ضَعُفَتgrew weak صَولَةُthe force of القَرِيحَةِpoetic inspiration عَنهُfor it
ضَعُفَت صَولَةُ القَرِيحَةِ عَنهُ
فَأبَىso refused الوَزنُthe meter مِنهُof it أنto يَستَقِيمَاbe regular
فَأبَى الوَزنُ مِنهُ أن يَستَقِيمَا
The force of poetic inspiration fell short of it,
so its meter refused to run straight.
وَدَعتهُand summoned it إِلىtoward اختِلاَلِthe disorder of المَعَانيmeanings
وَدَعتهُ إِلى اختِلاَلِ المَعَاني
شِيَّمٌtraits بَرقُهُنَّtheir lightning فيin العقلِthe intellect شِيمَاwas observed
شِيَّمٌ بَرقُهُنَّ في العقلِ شِيمَا
And it was drawn toward disordered meanings
by traits whose lightning was glimpsed in the mind.
لَمnot يجِدcould find مَنthe one who أرَادَsought مَعنًىa meaning قَوِيماًsound
لَم يجِد مَن أرَادَ مَعنًى قَوِيماً
مِنamong مَعَانِيهِits meanings فِيهِin it مَعنًىa meaning قَوِيمَاsound
مِن مَعَانِيهِ فِيهِ مَعنًى قَوِيمَا
Whoever sought a sound meaning could not find,
among its meanings, any sound meaning in it.
خَبُثتَyou were foul سعياًin conduct وقدand indeed غَدَوتَyou became لِمَرءٍto a man
خَبُثتَ سعياً وقد غَدَوتَ لِمَرءٍ
كَانَhe was مِنamong قَاتِلِىthe killers of أبِيكَyour father خَدِيمَاa servant
كَانَ مِن قَاتِلِى أبِيكَ خَدِيمَا
Foul was your conduct; you became servant to a man
who was among your father's killers.
رُمتَyou sought مِنfrom شَيخِthe shaykh of الرَّجِيمِthe accursed one وُصُولاًspiritual attainment
رُمتَ مِن شَيخِ الرَّجِيمِ وُصُولاً
وَرُجُوعاًand retreat عَنِfrom الخَنَاobscenity وَوُجُومَاand solemn silence
وَرُجُوعاً عَنِ الخَنَا وَوُجُومَا
You sought attainment from the accursed one's shaykh,
and a retreat from obscenity, and grave silence.
رُمتَyou sought مِنfrom فَاسِقٍa sinner مُدِيمَpersisting in المَعَاصِىsins
رُمتَ مِن فَاسِقٍ مُدِيمَ المَعَاصِى
جَاهِلٍan ignoramus مَلأَfilled النَّوَادِىassemblies شُومَاwith ill omen
جَاهِلٍ مَلأَ النَّوَادِى شُومَا
You sought it from a sinner who persisted in sin,
an ignoramus who filled assemblies with ill omen,
جَاعِلٍsetting الزَّيغَdeviation نُصبَbefore عَينَيهِhis eyes دَاconstantly (opening fragment)
جَاعِلٍ الزَّيغَ نُصبَ عَينَيهِ دَا
باًconstantly (closing fragment) صحةَthe soundness of الدينِreligion فَارتَكَبتَso you committed عَظِيمَاa grave wrong
باً صحةَ الدينِ فَارتَكَبتَ عَظِيمَا
one who set deviation before his eyes, ever
as sound religion; so you committed a grievous wrong.
وتَسرَّعتَand you rushed فيinto الضلالِerror وزَاحَمتَand jostled forward
وتَسرَّعتَ في الضلالِ وزَاحَمتَ
إِلىuntil أنthat رَعَيتَyou grazed مَرعىًa pasture وَخِيمَاnoxious
إِلى أن رَعَيتَ مَرعىً وَخِيمَا
You hurried into error and jostled forward,
until you grazed in a noxious pasture.
دُونَbefore نَيلِattaining الوُصُولًspiritual arrival أنthat تَتَفَصَّىyou escape
دُونَ نَيلِ الوُصُولً أن تَتَفَصَّى
مِنfrom يَدِthe grip of الجَهلِignorance أوor تَمَسَّyou touch النُّجُومَاthe stars
مِن يَدِ الجَهلِ أو تَمَسَّ النُّجُومَا
Before reaching attainment, you would have to escape
ignorance's grip—or touch the stars—
أوor تُقِيمَyou establish الصَّلاةَprayer خَلفَbehind إمَامٍan imam
أو تُقِيمَ الصَّلاةَ خَلفَ إمَامٍ
عَالِمٍknowing بَعضَsome of حُكمِهَاits rules أَوor تَصُومَاyou fast
عَالِمٍ بَعضَ حُكمِهَا أَو تَصُومَا
or establish prayer behind an imam
who knows some of its rules, or fast,
أوor تَلُومَyou reproach المُضِلَّthe misleader فيabout شَأنِthe matter of دَعوَاclaim (opening fragment)
أو تَلُومَ المُضِلَّ في شَأنِ دَعوَا
هُhis (suffix) وإنيand I إخَالُthink أنthat لاَnot تَلُومَاyou reproach
هُ وإني إخَالُ أن لاَ تَلُومَا
or reproach the misleader concerning the claim
of his—and I think you will not reproach him.
ساكَهَاhe rubbed it (unclear in context) أُكلَةَa morsel of طَعَامٍfood of أثِيمٍa sinner
ساكَهَا أُكلَةَ طَعَامٍ أثِيمٍ
ولَقَدand indeed كُنتَyou were مُذsince نَشَأَتَyou grew up أَثِيمَاsinful
ولَقَد كُنتَ مُذ نَشَأَتَ أَثِيمَا
He rubbed it [wording unclear]—a morsel of a sinner's food;
indeed, you have been sinful since you grew up,
مطرِقاًwith head bowed فيin النَّدِّىthe assembly عَلاَّa scrawny old wretch عُتِّلاًّa brutal lout
مطرِقاً في النَّدِّى عَلاَّ عُتِّلاًّ
بَعدَafter هَدَاthis وبَعدَand after ذَاكَthat زِنِيمَاa bastard
بَعدَ هَدَا وبَعدَ ذَاكَ زِنِيمَا
head bowed in the assembly, a shriveled wretch, a brutal lout,
and after this and that, a bastard.
Sol 6.1