أَتَرومُdo you seek تَغطِيَةto conceal الهَوىpassion بِجُحودِهِby denying it
أَتَرومُ تَغطِيَة الهَوى بِجُحودِهِ
وَنحولand the wasting جِسمِكَof your body مِنamong أَدَلِّthe most revealing شُهودِهِof its witnesses
وَنحول جِسمِكَ مِن أَدَلِّ شُهودِهِ
Do you seek to hide your passion by denying it,
When your body's wasting is among its clearest witnesses?
هَيهاتَfar from possible تَستُرyou conceal مِنهُof it فَجراًa dawn واضِحاًclear
هَيهاتَ تَستُر مِنهُ فَجراً واضِحاً
مِنfrom بَعدَماafter صدعsplit الدُجىthe darkness بِعَمودِهِwith its shaft
مِن بَعدَما صدع الدُجى بِعَمودِهِ
Impossible to conceal its clear dawn
After it has split the darkness with its shaft.
قَدalready قُلتَyou said إِيّاكَbeware الحِجازَthe Hijaz فَإِنَّهُfor it
قَد قُلتَ إِيّاكَ الحِجازَ فَإِنَّهُ
ضريتhave grown practiced جآذرهits fawns بِصَيدat hunting أُسودِهِits lions
ضريت جآذره بِصَيد أُسودِهِ
You had said: Beware the Hijaz, for
Its fawns have grown adept at hunting its lions.
وَأَرَدتُand I sought صَيدto hunt مَهاthe oryx الحِجازof the Hijaz وَلَمbut not يُساaid (first fragment)
وَأَرَدتُ صَيد مَها الحِجاز وَلَم يُسا
عِدُكَaid you (final fragment) القَضاءfate فَصِرتَso you became بَعضone of صيودِهِits quarry
عِدُكَ القَضاء فَصِرتَ بَعض صيودِهِ
And I sought to hunt the oryx of the Hijaz, but you were not
Aided by fate, and became one of its quarry.
ياO سائِليyou who ask me عَمَّنabout whom هَوَيتَyou loved وَحالَتيand my condition
يا سائِلي عَمَّن هَوَيتَ وَحالَتي
ماwhat حالthe state مَفقودone bereft الفُؤادof the heart عَميدِهِstricken by it
ما حال مَفقود الفُؤاد عَميدِهِ
O you who ask me about whom you loved and my condition:
How fares one bereft of his heart, stricken by it?
قَدindeed كانَused to يَرجِفُtremble فيin لَياليthe nights وَصلِهِof union with him
قَد كانَ يَرجِفُ في لَيالي وَصلِهِ
قَلبيmy heart فَكَيفَso how يَكونُwould it be عِندَat صُدودِهِhis turning away
قَلبي فَكَيفَ يَكونُ عِندَ صُدودِهِ
It used to tremble on nights of union with him—
My heart; how, then, would it fare when he turns away?
قَلبa heart يَزيدincreases بِماءwith the water جِفنيof my eyelid نارِهِits fire
قَلب يَزيد بِماء جِفني نارِهِ
وَهجاًin burning heat فَكَيفَso how الرَأيthe counsel فيfor تَبريدِهِcooling it
وَهجاً فَكَيفَ الرَأي في تَبريدِهِ
A heart whose fire my eyelid's water feeds
To fiercer heat—what counsel, then, could cool it?
لَمnot تَرضَwere content فيin قَتليkilling me سِهامthe arrows لِحاظِهِof his glances
لَم تَرضَ في قَتلي سِهام لِحاظِهِ
عَدواًin enmity فَأتبَعهاso he followed them with رِماحthe spears نُهودِهِof his breasts
عَدواً فَأتبَعها رِماح نُهودِهِ
The arrows of his glances were not content with killing me
In enmity, so he followed them with the spears of his breasts.
لَمّاwhen رأىhe saw لحظاتthe glances طَرفيof my eye رُتَّعاًgrazing freely
لَمّا رأى لحظات طَرفي رُتَّعاً
تَجنىgathering شَقيقاًanemones مِنfrom رِياضthe gardens خُدودِهِof his cheeks
تَجنى شَقيقاً مِن رِياض خُدودِهِ
When he saw the glances of my eye grazing freely,
Gathering anemones from the gardens of his cheeks,
قفلhe closed اللِثامَthe face veil وَصَدَّand turned away عَنّيfrom me شارِداًfleeing
قفل اللِثامَ وَصَدَّ عَنّي شارِداً
وَنأىand withdrew فاسهَرso kept awake مُقلَتيmy eye بِشُرودِهِwith his flight
وَنأى فاسهَر مُقلَتي بِشُرودِهِ
He closed his face veil and turned away from me, fleeing,
And withdrew, keeping my eye awake with his flight.
لاno حَظَّshare ليfor me فيin قُربِهِhis nearness وَبِعادِهِand his distance
لا حَظَّ لي في قُربِهِ وَبِعادِهِ
عدمabsence البَخيلof the miser وَفَقدِهِand losing him كَوجودِهِlike his presence
عدم البَخيل وَفَقدِهِ كَوجودِهِ
I have no share in either his nearness or his distance;
The miser's absence and loss are like his presence.
قطعbroke التنفسthe breathing عِقدَهُhis necklace مِنfrom غصةٍa choking pang
قطع التنفس عِقدَهُ مِن غصةٍ
ظَلَّتit kept تردَّدُrecurring فيwithin سوارِthe circlet وَريدِهِof his jugular vein
ظَلَّت تردَّدُ في سوارِ وَريدِهِ
His breathing broke his necklace from a choking pang
That kept recurring within the circlet about his neck.
وَبَكىand he wept لِفرقَتِناat our parting فَواقاًfor a moment فالتقىthen met
وَبَكى لِفرقَتِنا فَواقاً فالتقى
درانtwo sets of pearls درthe pearls دُموعِهِof his tears وَعُقودِهِand his necklaces
دران در دُموعِهِ وَعُقودِهِ
And he wept at our parting a moment; then met
Two kinds of pearls: those of his tears and his necklaces.
وَجَلاand he shone كَمِثلِlike البَدرِthe full moon فيin تَدويرِهِits roundness
وَجَلا كَمِثلِ البَدرِ في تَدويرِهِ
وَضِيائِهِand its radiance وَالفَجرand the dawn فيin تَوريدِهِits rosy flush
وَضِيائِهِ وَالفَجر في تَوريدِهِ
And he shone like the full moon in its roundness
And its radiance, and like dawn in its rosy flush.
ياoh لَيتَهُif only he جَعَلَmade القَطيعَةestrangement مَوعِداًa promise
يا لَيتَهُ جَعَلَ القَطيعَة مَوعِداً
مِنهُfrom him فَيُخلِفُهاso he would break it كَخُلفِlike the breaking عُهودِهِof his pledges
مِنهُ فَيُخلِفُها كَخُلفِ عُهودِهِ
Would that he had made estrangement a promise
Of his, and broken it as he breaks his pledges.
أَخفيI conceal هَواهُmy love for him وَهوَwhile it is نارٌa fire مِثلَماjust as
أَخفي هَواهُ وَهوَ نارٌ مِثلَما
يَخفيconceals الزِنادthe firestick ضِرامهits blaze فيin عودِهِits wood
يَخفي الزِناد ضِرامه في عودِهِ
I hide my love for him—a fire—just as
The firestick hides its blaze within its wood.
أَبصَرتهI saw him فيamid ربربa herd of gazelles مِنfrom جَيشِهِhis host
أَبصَرته في ربرب مِن جَيشِهِ
مِنof كلevery مضطمرslender الحَشاin waist املودِهِhis supple branch
مِن كل مضطمر الحَشا املودِهِ
I saw him amid a herd of gazelles from his host,
Each slender-waisted and supple as a tender branch.
يَلتَفintertwines نوَرَthe blossoms الأَقحوانof chrysanthemums بِمِثلِهِwith their like
يَلتَف نوَرَ الأَقحوان بِمِثلِهِ
فيin ريحِهِits fragrance وَبَياضِهِand its whiteness وَقدودِهِand its forms
في ريحِهِ وَبَياضِهِ وَقدودِهِ
Chrysanthemum blossoms mingle with their like
In fragrance, whiteness, and graceful forms.
فَصَنَعنَso they bestowed عِنديon me مِنَّةa favor فَجَحدتهاbut I denied it
فَصَنَعنَ عِندي مِنَّة فَجَحدتها
نيلa favor الغَوانيfrom the beauties شكرهthanking for it كَجُحودِهِlike denying it
نيل الغَواني شكره كَجُحودِهِ
They bestowed a favor on me, but I denied it;
A favor from beauties—thanking them for it is like denying it.
يَحفِفنَthey surround أَغيدa supple youth يَغتَديwho goes forth at dawn داءَthe affliction الهَوىof love
يَحفِفنَ أَغيد يَغتَدي داءَ الهَوى
وَيَروحand goes at dusk بَينَamid مَروطهِhis mantles وَبُرودِهِand his striped robes
وَيَروح بَينَ مَروطهِ وَبُرودِهِ
They surround a supple youth, love's bane as he goes at dawn
And at dusk amid his mantles and striped robes.
حَسَنُlovely الشَمائِلِin his qualities أَوحداًunrivaled فيin حُسنِهِhis beauty
حَسَنُ الشَمائِلِ أَوحداً في حُسنِهِ
كَمُحَمَدٍlike Muhammad بِنson of سَلامَةSalama فيin جودِهِhis generosity
كَمُحَمَدٍ بِن سَلامَة في جودِهِ
Lovely in his qualities, unequaled in his beauty,
Like Muhammad ibn Salama in his generosity.
البَحرُthe sea بَعضُpart حُدودِهِof his bounds وَالفَضلand excellence بعpart (first fragment)
البَحرُ بَعضُ حُدودِهِ وَالفَضل بع
ضُpart (final fragment) شهودهof his witnesses وَالنَصرُand victory بعضpart جُنودِهِof his troops
ضُ شهوده وَالنَصرُ بعض جُنودِهِ
The sea is part of his bounds, and excellence one
Of his witnesses, and victory part of his troops.
تَبدوappear أماراتthe signs الكَريمof the generous man بِوَجهِهِon his face
تَبدو أمارات الكَريم بِوَجهِهِ
مِنin بِشرِهِhis cheerfulness وَحَيائِهِand his modesty وَسُجودِهِand his prostration
مِن بِشرِهِ وَحَيائِهِ وَسُجودِهِ
The generous man's signs appear upon his face,
In his cheerfulness, modesty, and prostration.
أَضحىhe has become قَريبreadily accessible الجودin generosity مُنبَعِثflowing forth الجَداin bounty
أَضحى قَريب الجود مُنبَعِث الجَدا
نَفسيmy soul فِداءa ransom قَريبِهِfor those near him وَبَعيدِهِand those far from him
نَفسي فِداء قَريبِهِ وَبَعيدِهِ
He has become readily generous, his bounty springing forth;
My soul be ransom for those near him and those far away.
وَمُكَرِّماًand honor-giving لِلوافِدينَto arriving guests وَمالِهِwhile his wealth
وَمُكَرِّماً لِلوافِدينَ وَمالِهِ
وَفدٌa guest وَلَيسَbut is not مكرمًhonored كَوفودِهِlike his guests
وَفدٌ وَلَيسَ مكرمً كَوفودِهِ
And he honors arriving guests, while his wealth
Is a guest, yet is not honored like his guests.
وَإِذاand when أَرادَhe wishes أَثابَhe rewards فيin طَلَبِpursuing العُلىeminence
وَإِذا أَرادَ أَثابَ في طَلَبِ العُلى
وَالحالand his state عِندَin مَضيِّهِhis past وَعَتيدِهِand his present
وَالحال عِندَ مَضيِّهِ وَعَتيدِهِ
And when he wishes, he rewards in pursuit of eminence;
Such is his state in his past and his present.
مِنwho? حاتِمٌHatim جوداًin generosity إِذاwhen ذكرis mentioned النَدىbounty
مِن حاتِمٌ جوداً إِذا ذكر النَدى
حَتّىthat أَشبَههI should liken him بِبَعضto one of عَبيدِهِhis slaves
حَتّى أَشبَهه بِبَعض عَبيدِهِ
Who is Hatim in generosity, when bounty is named,
That I should liken him even to one of his slaves?
يربيsurpasses عَلىbeyond جهدthe utmost effort الكرامof the generous كثيرهhis abundance
يربي عَلى جهد الكرام كثيره
وَيَزيدand exceeds فَوقَabove كثيرهمtheir abundance بِزَهيدِهِwith his little
وَيَزيد فَوقَ كثيرهم بِزَهيدِهِ
His abundance surpasses the generous men's utmost exertion,
And with his little he exceeds their plenty.
أَبواعهمtheir armspans فيin المَجدِglory مِثلَlike ذِراعِهِhis cubit
أَبواعهم في المَجدِ مِثلَ ذِراعِهِ
وَقيامِهِمand their standing فيin الفَضلِexcellence مِثلَlike قُعودِهِhis sitting
وَقيامِهِم في الفَضلِ مِثلَ قُعودِهِ
Their armspans in glory are like his cubit,
And their standing in excellence is like his sitting.
وَعَلىand according to مَقاديرthe stature الرِجالِof men فِعالِهِمare their deeds
وَعَلى مَقادير الرِجالِ فِعالِهِم
قَطعthe cutting المُهَنَّدِof the Indian sword تابِعٌdepends لِحَديدِهِon its iron
قَطع المُهَنَّدِ تابِعٌ لِحَديدِهِ
Men's deeds are in proportion to their stature;
The Indian sword's cutting depends upon its iron.
وَإِذاand when ارتأىhe deliberates فيon كُلِّany أَمرmatter حلةhe unties it (probable reading)
وَإِذا ارتأى في كُلِّ أَمر حلة
وَلَوeven if أَنَّindeed أَهلthe people الأَرضِof the earth فيare engaged in تَحقيدِهِknotting it (probable reading)
وَلَو أَنَّ أَهل الأَرضِ في تَحقيدِهِ
And when he weighs any matter, he unravels it,
Even if all earth's people are intent on knotting it.
وَإِذاand when رأىhe decides on إِبرامbinding fast أَمرa matter لَمnot يُطِقcan
وَإِذا رأى إِبرام أَمر لَم يُطِق
أَحَدanyone يَحِلُّundo الأَمرthe matter مِنbecause of تَوكيدِهِhis securing it
أَحَد يَحِلُّ الأَمر مِن تَوكيدِهِ
And when he chooses to bind a matter fast, no
One can undo it, so firmly does he secure it.
وَإِذاand when أَفاتhe deprives أَفادhe grants فيin طَلَبِpursuit العُلىof eminence
وَإِذا أَفات أَفاد في طَلَبِ العُلى
فَالفَضلُso excellence بَينَlies between يَقينِهِhis certainty وَمفيدهand his benefactor (unclear here)
فَالفَضلُ بَينَ يَقينِهِ وَمفيده
And when he deprives, he also grants in pursuit of eminence;
Thus excellence lies between his certainty and his benefactor.
قَدindeed هَذَّبَتhave refined إِقليمهhis realm أَقلامِهِhis pens
قَد هَذَّبَت إِقليمه أَقلامِهِ
وانقادand submitted سيدهits master انقيادwith the submission مسودِهِof its subject
وانقاد سيده انقياد مسودِهِ
His pens have refined his realm,
And its master submitted as did its subject.
قِطُّthe severing العِدىof enemies فيis in قَطِّهِits nib-cut وَمِدادِهاand their ink
قِطُّ العِدى في قَطِّهِ وَمِدادِها
مدthe prolonging الحَياةof life لخلِّهِfor his friend وَوديدِهِand his beloved
مد الحَياة لخلِّهِ وَوديدِهِ
The severing of foes lies in its cut nib, while their ink
Prolongs life for his friend and his beloved.
نبلarrows إِذاwhen ماindeed راشهاhe feathers them بِبَنانِهِwith his fingers
نبل إِذا ما راشها بِبَنانِهِ
وَرَمىand shoots أَصابَhe strikes صَميمthe very core قَلبof the heart حُسودِهِof his envier
وَرَمى أَصابَ صَميم قَلب حُسودِهِ
Arrows: when he feathers them with his fingers
And shoots, he strikes the very core of his envier's heart.
بيضُwhite الأَمانيhopes فيin بَياضِthe white كِتابِهِof his writing
بيضُ الأَماني في بَياضِ كِتابِهِ
وَكَذاand likewise المَناياdeaths سُودُهاtheir blackness فيin سِودِهِits blackness
وَكَذا المَنايا سُودُها في سِودِهِ
White hopes lie in the white of his writing,
And likewise black deaths in its black.
فَإِذاso when استَمَدَّhe draws more ink فَقَدhe has indeed أَمَدَّsent reinforcements بِعَسكَرٍwith an army
فَإِذا استَمَدَّ فَقَد أَمَدَّ بِعَسكَرٍ
لَجِبٍclamorous يَسيرُmarches النَصرvictory تَحتَbeneath بُنودِهِits banners
لَجِبٍ يَسيرُ النَصر تَحتَ بُنودِهِ
When he draws more ink, he supplies reinforcements—an army,
Clamorous, with victory marching beneath its banners.
وَعجِبتُand I marveled مِنat قَلَمٍa pen بِيُمناهُin his right hand أَلَمhas not
وَعجِبتُ مِن قَلَمٍ بِيُمناهُ أَلَم
يُغرِقهdrowned it بَحرُthe sea بَنانهof his fingers بِمُدودِهِwith its rising tides
يُغرِقه بَحرُ بَنانه بِمُدودِهِ
And I marveled at a pen in his right hand: has not
The sea of his fingers drowned it with its rising tides?
لَمnot يَقتَنِعwas content بِالمَجدِwith glory عَنfrom آبائِهِhis fathers
لَم يَقتَنِع بِالمَجدِ عَن آبائِهِ
وَهُمُand they فَماnor اقتَنَعواwere content بِمَجدِwith the glory جُدودِهِof his grandfathers
وَهُمُ فَما اقتَنَعوا بِمَجدِ جُدودِهِ
He was not content with glory inherited from his fathers,
Nor were they content with his grandfathers' glory.
حَسُنَتgrew fair بيَfor me الأَيامُthe days بِالحَسَنِthrough al-Hasan الَّذيwho
حَسُنَت بيَ الأَيامُ بِالحَسَنِ الَّذي
أَروىquenched the thirst of النَدىbounty بِطَريفِهِwith his new wealth وَتليدِهِand his inherited wealth
أَروى النَدى بِطَريفِهِ وَتليدِهِ
My days grew fair through al-Hasan, who
Quenched bounty's thirst with his new and inherited wealth.
أَعطىhe gave وَجادَand was generous وَزادَand increased فيin طَلَبِpursuit العُلىof eminence
أَعطى وَجادَ وَزادَ في طَلَبِ العُلى
حَتّىuntil نَماhe grew فيin الجودِgenerosity فَوقَbeyond مَديدِهِhis farthest reach
حَتّى نَما في الجودِ فَوقَ مَديدِهِ
He gave, was generous, and increased in pursuit of eminence,
Until in generosity he grew beyond his own farthest reach.
أَولىmost worthy البَريَّةِamong creation أَنto يُسَمّىbe called ماجِداًglorious
أَولى البَريَّةِ أَن يُسَمّى ماجِداً
مَنhe who كانَhas طارِفthe newly won part مَجدِهِof his glory كتليدِهِlike his inherited glory
مَن كانَ طارِف مَجدِهِ كتليدِهِ
Most worthy among creation to be called glorious
Is he whose newly won glory matches his inherited glory.
حَيّاكَmay He greet you منthe One who أَحياrevived العُلىeminence بِكَthrough you مِثلَماjust as
حَيّاكَ من أَحيا العُلى بِكَ مِثلَما
نَشرَresurrected النَدىbounty بِكَthrough you وَهوَwhile it was بَينَamong لُحودِهِits graves
نَشرَ النَدى بِكَ وَهوَ بَينَ لُحودِهِ
May the One who revived eminence through you greet you, just as
He resurrected bounty through you while it lay amid its graves.
لَوif كانَwere هَذاthis الدَهرage شَخصاًa person ناطِقاًspeaking
لَو كانَ هَذا الدَهر شَخصاً ناطِقاً
أَشنىwould praise (probable reading) عَلَيكَyou بِنَثرِهِin its prose وَقَصيدِهِand its verse
أَشنى عَلَيكَ بِنَثرِهِ وَقَصيدِهِ
Were this age a speaking person,
It would praise you in its prose and its verse.
أَوor كُنتwere you لَيلاًa night كُنتَyou would be لَيلَةَthe Night قَدرِهِof its Decree
أَو كُنت لَيلاً كُنتَ لَيلَةَ قَدرِهِ
أَوor كُنتَwere you يَوماًa day كُنتَyou would be يَوميthe two days عيدِهِof its festival
أَو كُنتَ يَوماً كُنتَ يَومي عيدِهِ
Or were you a night, you would be its Night of Decree;
Or were you a day, you would be its two feast days.
يُنبيforetell سَلامكyour greeting وابتسامكand your smile عَنof نَدىًbounty
يُنبي سَلامك وابتسامك عَن نَدىً
وَكَذاand likewise الغِمامُthe clouds بِبَرقِهِwith their lightning وَرعودِهِand their thunder
وَكَذا الغِمامُ بِبَرقِهِ وَرعودِهِ
Your greeting and your smile foretell bounty,
As clouds do with their lightning and thunder.
ماnot زالَceased هَذاthis الذهرage بَينَamid مَناحِسill omens
ما زالَ هَذا الذهر بَينَ مَناحِس
حَتّىuntil طلعتyou rose فَكنتand became سعدthe good fortune سعودِهِof its lucky stars
حَتّى طلعت فَكنت سعد سعودِهِ
This age remained amid ill omens
Until you rose and became the luckiest of its lucky stars.
ثِقtrust بالإِلَهin God فَكُلُّfor every أَمرٍundertaking أَنتَyou فيare engaged in
ثِق بالإِلَه فَكُلُّ أَمرٍ أَنتَ في
تأسيسِهِfounding it فَاللَهُthen God فيis engaged in تَشييدِهِraising it
تأسيسِهِ فَاللَهُ في تَشييدِهِ
Trust in God: every undertaking you are
Founding, God is building up.
قَدalready كانَwas فضلكyour excellence موهِماًsuggestive لِعَطائِهِof His bounty
قَد كانَ فضلك موهِماً لِعَطائِهِ
فالانso now بِشرُكَyour cheerful face موقِنgives assurance بِمَزيدِهِof its increase
فالان بِشرُكَ موقِن بِمَزيدِهِ
Your excellence had suggested His bounty;
Now your cheerful face gives assurance of its increase.
فأسلمso stay safe وَدمand endure فيin غِبطَةٍhappiness مكلوةٍprotected
فأسلم وَدم في غِبطَةٍ مكلوةٍ
مِنfrom رَيبِthe vicissitudes دهركof your age ذاthis وَمِنand from تَنكيدِهِits vexations
مِن رَيبِ دهرك ذا وَمِن تَنكيدِهِ
So remain safe, and endure in happiness, protected
From the vicissitudes of this age of yours and its vexations,
ماas long as أَسفرbrighten الأَصباحthe dawns واعتكرand gathers الدُجىthe darkness
ما أَسفر الأَصباح واعتكر الدُجى
وَشَجىand sing plaintively حَمامُthe doves الأيكِof the thickets فيin تَغريدِهِtheir song
وَشَجى حَمامُ الأيكِ في تَغريدِهِ
As long as dawns brighten and darkness gathers,
And the grove's doves sing plaintively in their song.
Sol 6.1