بنفسيwith my soul as ransom مكحُولkohl-darkened الجفونthe eyelids رمانيshot me
بنفسي مكحُول الجفون رماني
بسهمينwith two arrows فيover الألبابminds يحتكمانboth hold sway
بسهمين في الألباب يحتكمان
My soul be ransom for the kohl-lidded one who shot me
With heavy eyelids I've been made drunk,
With two arrows that hold sway over minds.
Pierced by two arrows in my heart competing,
ورقرقنand they made shimmer ليfor me فيin السقمsickness عينيْthe two eyes of جَدايةٍa young gazelle
ورقرقن لي في السقم عينيْ جَدايةٍ
بقلبيin my heart وجسميand my body منهماfrom them both سقَمانtwo ailments
بقلبي وجسمي منهما سقَمان
And they made a young gazelle's two eyes shimmer for me in sickness;
And my sick eyes have sparkled for me morning stars,
From them come two ailments, in my heart and body.
While my heart and body both are sickened.
وأبدرنَand they made shine full بدراًa full moon تحتbeneath ليلa night ذوائبtresses
وأبدرنَ بدراً تحت ليل ذوائب
لستِof six ليالnights بعدهنafter them ثمانeight
لستِ ليال بعدهن ثمان
And they made a full moon shine beneath a night of tresses,
They shone like a full moon beneath a night of flowing darkness,
Of six nights followed by eight more.
No nights will be for me after them again.
واسفرنand they unveiled عنfrom خدينtwo cheeks حازاboth won عبادتيmy worship
واسفرن عن خدين حازا عبادتي
كأنهماas though they both were ليfor me فيin الهَوىlove صَنَمانtwo idols
كأنهما لي في الهَوى صَنَمان
And they unveiled two cheeks that won my worship,
They revealed from blushed cheeks my devotion won
As though they were two idols for me in love.
As if for me in passion they're idols twain.
واوضحنand they showed ليto me منfrom بينamid بَرقَa gleam of عوارضside teeth
واوضحن لي من بين بَرقَ عوارض
لَهاتاthe two palates of فمٍa mouth ريقاهماthe saliva of both شَبِمانboth cool
لَهاتا فمٍ ريقاهما شَبِمان
And they showed me, amid the gleam of side teeth,
And they made clear to me from amidst lightning cheeks
The mouth's two palates, their saliva cool.
For these, a mouth whose spittle they gather.
وهزَّand he swayed قضيباًa bough فيin مروطrobes يقلّهاhe holds them aloft
وهزَّ قضيباً في مروط يقلّها
بدْعصيwith two mounds of نقيfine sand زانتهماadorned them both قدمانtwo feet
بدْعصي نقي زانتهما قدمان
And he swayed a bough in robes he held aloft
And it shook a twig among curled tresses,
With two mounds of fine sand, adorned by two feet.
With a pliant wand which adorned them legs twain.
يخيلhe struts بحسناهُin his beauty علىdespite فَرطِthe excess of حُسنهhis beauty
يخيل بحسناهُ على فَرطِ حُسنه
يُماطلhe delays payment فيin دينthe debt of الهوىlove ويمانيand offers vain promises
يُماطل في دين الهوى ويماني
He struts in his loveliness; despite his surpassing beauty,
You’d think in his beauty, for his excessive beauty,
He stalls over love's debt and offers vain promises.
He plays coy in passion’s faith, and toys with me,
وليلand a night طويلlong بتّهُI spent it بصبابةٍin yearning
وليل طويل بتّهُ بصبابةٍ
وفكرٍand thought عنfrom النومsleep الَّلذيذsweet حَمانيkept me
وفكرٍ عن النوم الَّلذيذ حَماني
And a long night I spent in yearning,
And a long night insulted me with mischief
And thought that kept me from sweet sleep,
And thoughts from peaceful sleep that saddened me.
وعينينand two eyes منهbecause of him اعتلَّتاboth grew ill فاستهلَّتاthen both welled up
وعينين منه اعتلَّتا فاستهلَّتا
بدَمعتينwith two tears فيon الخدينthe two cheeks ينسجمانِboth stream
بدَمعتين في الخدين ينسجمانِ
And two eyes that grew sick because of him, then welled
And eyes by it wearied, so they swelled
With two tears flowing down my cheeks.
With two tears on my cheeks congealing.
أرىI see الليَّلnight فيهin it والنهارَand day تعاوناboth conspired
أرى الليَّل فيه والنهارَ تعاونا
عليّagainst me بطولwith prolonged الهمsorrow فاقتسمانيso both divided me
عليّ بطول الهم فاقتسماني
I see night and day, within it, conspiring
I see the night in it, and day cooperating
Against me with prolonged grief, dividing me between them.
Against me, with prolonging worries dividing me.
لحسرةfrom the anguish of يوميmy day منهbecause of him معtogether with طولthe length of ليلتيmy night
لحسرة يومي منه مع طول ليلتي
لهيبانِtwo flames فيin الأحشاءthe entrails يَضطْرمانِboth blaze
لهيبانِ في الأحشاء يَضطْرمانِ
From my day's anguish over him and the length of my night,
Woe to my days for it, and my night's length,
Two flames blaze in my entrails.
Two flames in my entrails kindling!
ولمand I did not أرَsee منamong خليَّmy two friends فيin الحبّlove مُسعداًa helper
ولم أرَ من خليَّ في الحبّ مُسعداً
علىwith بعضِsome of ماwhat ألقىI suffer فقدfor indeed ظلَمانيboth wronged me
على بعضِ ما ألقى فقد ظلَماني
Nor have I found among my two friends a helper in love
And I haven’t seen a boon companion in love made happy
In any part of what I suffer; both have wronged me.
With some of what I have met, so he has wronged me.
يلومانِboth reproach فيin ناديthe assembly of الهَوىlove ولوyet if أَننيthat I
يلومانِ في نادي الهَوى ولو أَنني
أبثُّهماI confide to them both سرَّthe secret of الهَوىlove كتمانيboth withheld from me
أبثُّهما سرَّ الهَوى كتماني
They reproach me in love's assembly; yet if I
Blaming me in the club of love, though had I
Confided love's secret to them, they would keep me in the dark.
Confided passion’s secret, it would hide me.
كتمتُI concealed سقاميَّmy two ailments الّلذينthe two which إذاwhen بداappears
كتمتُ سقاميَّ الّلذين إذا بدا
نحولٌwasting ودمعٌand tears ليسare not يكتتمانِboth concealed
نحولٌ ودمعٌ ليس يكتتمانِ
I hid my two afflictions, which, whenever there appear
I concealed my sickness which if appeared
Wasting and tears, cannot remain hidden.
Emaciation and tears cannot conceal me.
كماjust as ليسnot نخفيwe hide فضلthe excellence of ذهلDhuhl ويعربٍand Ya'rub
كما ليس نخفي فضل ذهل ويعربٍ
وذانكمand those two before you المجدانthe two glories والكرمانِand the two generosities
وذانكم المجدان والكرمانِ
Just as we do not hide the excellence of Dhuhl and Ya'rub,
Just as excellence of Dhahal and Ya'arub is not hidden,
And those are the two glories, the two paragons of generosity.
And your two glories and noblenesses,
جوادانِtwo generous men معلومانboth renowned بالفضلfor excellence والنّهيَand wisdom
جوادانِ معلومان بالفضل والنّهيَ
كأنهماas though they both were بينamong الورىhumankind عَلَمَانِtwo landmarks
كأنهما بين الورى عَلَمَانِ
Two generous men renowned for excellence and wisdom,
Two generous steeds well known for merit and grace
As though they were two landmarks among mankind.
As if between all creation signs ye twain.
ترىyou see فيin سَنىthe radiance of وجهيهماtheir two faces منfrom بشاشةٍcheerfulness
ترى في سَنى وجهيهما من بشاشةٍ
مزيدَadded بهاءsplendor حينwhen يبتسمانِboth smile
مزيدَ بهاء حين يبتسمانِ
In the radiance of their faces you see, from their cheer,
You see in the splendor of their two faces from joy
Added splendor when they smile.
Additional beauty when they smile.
مُجدّانboth diligent فيin كَسبَwinning المكارمnoble virtues والعُلىand lofty rank
مُجدّان في كَسبَ المكارم والعُلى
علىupon شرفthe nobility of الأخلاقcharacter مُعتزمانِboth resolute
على شرف الأخلاق مُعتزمانِ
Earnest in winning noble virtues and high rank,
Two honored in acquiring virtues and ascendance,
Resolute in the nobility of their character.
Upholding the glory of character fully intent.
كأَنهماas though they both were فيon كلevery يومday of كريهةٍbattle
كأَنهما في كل يوم كريهةٍ
لدىamid الرّوعterror ليثاtwo lions of غابةِa forest لحمانِboth hungry for flesh
لدى الرّوع ليثا غابةِ لحمانِ
As though, on every day of battle,
As if on every dreadful day before adversity
Amid terror, they were two forest lions hungry for flesh.
Like lions roaring in thickets they’re found.
وقدand indeed أمنfound safety المهوفُthe frightened one فيin عرصتيهماtheir two courtyards
وقد أمن المهوفُ في عرصتيهما
كأنهماas though they both were منthrough منعةprotective strength حَرَمانِtwo sanctuaries
كأنهما من منعة حَرَمانِ
And the frightened man has found safety in their courtyards,
And the frightened has safety in their enclosure
As though their protective might made them two sanctuaries.
As if they are a refuge inviolate.
وقدand indeed الفاboth grew accustomed to بسطextending اليدينthe two hands كأنّماas though
وقد الفا بسط اليدين كأنّما
أُقيماboth were appointed لأرزاقfor the sustenance of الورىhumankind بضمانِwith a guarantee
أُقيما لأرزاق الورى بضمانِ
And they are accustomed to extending their hands, as though
And they have clasped the palm as if they are
They were appointed guarantors of humankind's sustenance.
Established for sustenance to people guaranteed.
لنفسيهماfor their two souls فيin فعلperforming كلevery فضيلةٍvirtue
لنفسيهما في فعل كل فضيلةٍ
ضميراtwo inner intentions of وفاءfidelity ليسare not يُتَّهمانِboth suspected
ضميرا وفاء ليس يُتَّهمانِ
Within their two souls, in doing every virtuous deed,
For themselves in doing every virtue
Are two faithful intentions beyond suspicion.
A conscience of loyalty no blame they sustain.
لكفيهماfor their two palms التّقبيلُkissing منfrom كلevery ناطقٍspeaker
لكفيهما التّقبيلُ من كل ناطقٍ
كأنّهماas though they both were رُكنانtwo sacred corners مُستَلمانِboth ritually touched
كأنّهما رُكنان مُستَلمانِ
Their two palms receive kisses from every speaker,
For their palms the kissing of every speaker
As though they were two sacred corners ritually touched.
As if two pillars revered.
وسيفانand two swords فيon يومa day يثجانboth gush منwith دمٍblood
وسيفان في يوم يثجان من دمٍ
ويومand a day يمجّانboth spout النّدىgenerosity قلَمانِtwo pens
ويوم يمجّان النّدى قلَمانِ
And two swords that one day pour forth blood,
And two swords on a day they gush blood
And another day, two pens that gush generosity.
Another day to the thirsty, pens they contain
بهذينwith these two طوراat times ينعمانboth bestow favors وتارةًand at another time
بهذين طورا ينعمان وتارةً
بذينكwith those two بالأعداءupon the enemies ينتقمانِboth take vengeance
بذينك بالأعداء ينتقمانِ
With these, at times, they bestow favors; and at other times
With two boons from Dhahal and Ya’arub exalted
With those, they take vengeance on their enemies.
Above every Egypt, the bounty of Oman.
بفضلينthrough two excellences منfrom ذهلDhuhl ويعربand Ya'rub قدindeed علاrose
بفضلين من ذهل ويعرب قد علا
علىabove كلevery مصرٍland فضلthe excellence of مصرthe land of عُمانِOman
على كل مصرٍ فضل مصر عُمانِ
Through the two excellences of Dhuhl and Ya'rub has risen
A time in which Dhahal and Ya’arub
The excellence of Oman's land above every land.
Are the lords of its people, the best of times.
وإنَّand indeed زماناًan age فيهin it ذهلDhuhl ويعربand Ya'rub
وإنَّ زماناً فيه ذهل ويعرب
هماthey both سيّداthe two lords of أهليهits people خيرُthe best زمانِage
هما سيّدا أهليه خيرُ زمانِ
And an age in which Dhuhl and Ya'rub
They have allied in the glory of ‘Amr ibn ‘Amer
Are the two lords of its people is the best of ages.
At my two houses lofty, no ruin sustaining,
قدindeed احتبياboth sat with knees drawn up فيin مجدthe glory of عمرو'Amr بنson of عامرٍ'Amir
قد احتبيا في مجد عمرو بن عامرٍ
ببيتيin two houses of علاءeminence ليسare not ينهدمانِboth demolished
ببيتي علاء ليس ينهدمانِ
They have seated themselves in the glory of 'Amr ibn 'Amir,
A pledge to Dhahal and pledge to Ya’arub
In two houses of eminence that cannot fall.
And they are of one allied, two oaths maintaining.
يميناًan oath بذهلby Dhuhl معtogether with يمينan oath بيعربِby Ya'rub
يميناً بذهل مع يمين بيعربِ
وانهماand indeed they both منfrom حالفٍone who swears قسمانِtwo oaths
وانهما من حالفٍ قسمانِ
An oath by Dhuhl, together with an oath by Ya'rub—
They have necessitated love for me and endeared
And these, from one who swears, are two oaths:
To me all the lords of Yemen.
لقدindeed أوجباboth made obligatory حباًlove عليَّupon me وحبَّباand both endeared
لقد أوجبا حباً عليَّ وحبَّبا
إليto me منamong السّاداتthe lords كُلَّevery يمانيYemeni
إلي من السّادات كُلَّ يماني
They have made love binding upon me, and endeared
They spared me my hardship and assumed
To me every Yemeni among the lords.
For my sustenance from its lack, securely containing,
هماthey both كَفيانيboth spared me عُسرتيmy hardship وتكفلاand both guaranteed
هما كَفياني عُسرتي وتكفلا
لرزقيfor my livelihood منagainst اقتارهits scarcity بأمانِwith security
لرزقي من اقتاره بأمانِ
They have relieved my hardship and guaranteed
How often I tended to them hoping
Security for my livelihood against scarcity.
Yet they did not reduce my share or deprive me.
وكمand how often يمَّمْتI directed نفسيmy soul رجاءin hope اليهماtoward them both
وكم يمَّمْت نفسي رجاء اليهما
فماso not بخساboth diminished حظّيmy share ولاnor حرمانيboth deprived me
فما بخسا حظّي ولا حرماني
And how often I turned my soul toward them in hope,
And I neglected my duties yet they did not care,
Yet they neither diminished my share nor deprived me.
And I fell behind in my needs, yet they did not weary of me.
واكثرتand I multiplied زلاّتيmy lapses فماyet not اكترثاboth cared بهاabout them
واكثرت زلاّتي فما اكترثا بها
واترتI brought in succession حاجاتيmy needs فماyet not سئمانيboth tired of me
واترت حاجاتي فما سئماني
And I multiplied my lapses, but they paid them no heed;
They are my two lords, may I not lack their pleasure,
I brought my needs in succession, but they never tired of me.
And please them, if I say, may I not lack them.
هماthey both سيدايَmy two lords لاعدمتmay I never lack رضاهماtheir approval
هما سيدايَ لاعدمت رضاهما
وأرضيهماand I please them both إنif قلتI say لاعدمانيmay they both never lack me
وأرضيهما إن قلت لاعدماني
They are my two lords; may I never lose their favor,
For I am enriched by the merit of their ascendance,
And I please them if I say: may they never lose me.
And they are for praise opportune twain.
لأنّيbecause I أناI المثنيthe one extolling بفضلfor the excellence of عُلاهماtheir lofty rank
لأنّي أنا المثني بفضل عُلاهما
وانهماand indeed they both للحمدfor praise مغتنمانِtwo prized opportunities
وانهما للحمد مغتنمانِ
For I am the one who extols their lofty excellence,
So you two have lived long, my lords, and I have lived
And they are two prized subjects for praise.
And your protection in glory aligning.
فعمّرتماso may you both be long-lived منas سيدينtwo lords وعشتماand may you both live
فعمّرتما من سيدين وعشتما
وشملاكماand your two households بالعزّin honor ملتئمانِboth united
وشملاكما بالعزّ ملتئمانِ
So may you, two lords, live long and flourish,
And you remain in bliss and wellbeing
And may both your households remain united in honor.
And good fortunes and attaining wishes.
ولاand may you never زلتماcease, you two فيin غبطةhappiness وسلامةٍand safety
ولا زلتما في غبطة وسلامةٍ
وحسنand fine سعاداتgood fortunes ونيلand attainment of أَمانيwishes
وحسن سعادات ونيل أَماني
And may you always remain in happiness and safety,
I call them for ascendance a necklace
With fair fortunes and wishes fulfilled.
Detailed with topaz and pearls refining.
ودونكماهاand take it, you two للمعاليfor noble achievements قلادةًa necklace
ودونكماها للمعالي قلادةً
مفصلةset in separate sections منof عسجدgold وجُمانِand pearls
مفصلة من عسجد وجُمانِ
And take this, you two, as a necklace for noble achievements,
You see each line of its meter and verse
Set with gold and pearls.
As if two threaded strings aligning.
ترىyou see كلevery مصراعيْtwo hemistichs عَروضa first hemistich's closing foot وضَربهاand its second hemistich's closing foot
ترى كل مصراعيْ عَروض وضَربها
كأنّهماas though they both were عقدانtwo necklaces منتظمانِboth neatly strung
كأنّهما عقدان منتظمانِ
You see each pair of hemistichs, their first and second endings,
As though they were two necklaces, neatly strung.
Partial English translation: 76 of 78 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1