أَذهبتyou have removed رونقthe luster of ماءthe water of النُصحِcounsel فيthrough العَذلِreproach
أَذهبت رونق ماء النُصحِ في العَذلِ
فاربَعَso desist فلستَfor you are not بِمَعصومِimmune عَنfrom الزَلَلِerror
فاربَعَ فلستَ بِمَعصومِ عَن الزَلَلِ
You have robbed counsel's water of its luster through reproach.
The luster of sincere advice faded in injustice,
So desist: you are not immune to error.
So be upright, you are not immune from stumbling.
لِكُلِّfor every سَهمٍarrow يَعُدُّprepare الناسpeople سابغةa full coat of mail
لِكُلِّ سَهمٍ يَعُدُّ الناس سابغة
تردُّهrepels it عَنكَfrom you إِلّاexcept أَسهمthe arrows of المُقَلِeyes
تردُّه عَنكَ إِلّا أَسهم المُقَلِ
For every arrow, people prepare a full coat of mail
To every arrow people think is unfailing,
to repel it from you—except the arrows of eyes.
It will be deflected from you, except fate's arrows.
هامَwas love-mad الفُؤادُthe heart بِشَمسٍfor a sun ماnot يُزايلهاleaves her
هامَ الفُؤادُ بِشَمسٍ ما يُزايلها
غَربٌa sunset مِنَfrom البَينِseparation أَوor غيمٌa cloud مِنَfrom الكِلَلِbed-curtains
غَربٌ مِنَ البَينِ أَو غيمٌ مِنَ الكِلَلِ
My heart is love-mad for a sun never free
My heart became infatuated with a sun it never parts from,
of separation's sunset or the cloud of bed-curtains.
Whether it's the setting due to separation or clouds of sleep.
يَنتابُvisits in turn دَمعَthe tears of النَوىparting وَاللَهوand mirth وَجنَتَهاher cheek
يَنتابُ دَمعَ النَوى وَاللَهو وَجنَتَها
فقلَّماso seldom انفَكَhas been free ظهرthe surface of الخَدِّthe cheek مِنof بَلَلِmoisture
فقلَّما انفَكَ ظهر الخَدِّ مِن بَلَلِ
Tears of parting and mirth visit her cheek in turn,
It leaks the tears of yearning and delight and their gardens,
so her cheek's surface is seldom free of moisture.
Rarely has the cheek been free of moisture.
لاno شيءَthing أَكفَرmore ungrateful مِنthan مِسواكَa tooth-stick of إِسحلةan isḥilah tree
لا شيءَ أَكفَر مِن مِسواكَ إِسحلة
يُعلُّهُwaters it repeatedly الريقsaliva لَمdid not يورقput out leaves وَلَمand did not يَطُلِgrow tall
يُعلُّهُ الريق لَم يورق وَلَم يَطُلِ
Nothing is more ungrateful than a tooth-stick of isḥilah wood:
Nothing is more ungrateful than your mischievous flirtation,
saliva waters it repeatedly, yet it neither leafs nor grows tall.
Raising what did not leaf out or lengthen.
يَخفىlies hidden شهابthe flame of الهَوىpassion فيin درِّthe pearls of ريقتهاher saliva
يَخفى شهاب الهَوى في درِّ ريقتها
كَماas استكنَّlay concealed نَقيعan infusion of السُمِّpoison فيin العُسُلِhoney
كَما استكنَّ نَقيع السُمِّ في العُسُلِ
Love's flame lies hidden in the pearls of her saliva,
The embers of passion are hidden in the nectar of her saliva,
as an infusion of poison lies concealed in honey.
As lethal poison hides in honey.
وَفيand at أُصولthe roots of الثَناياthe incisors بارِدa cool draught عَلِلٌoft-sipped
وَفي أُصول الثَنايا بارِد عَلِلٌ
نَفسيmy soul الفِداءthe ransom لِتِلكَfor that البارِدِcool draught العَلِلِoft-sipped
نَفسي الفِداء لِتِلكَ البارِدِ العَلِلِ
At the roots of her incisors is a cool, oft-sipped draught;
And in the roots of her teeth there is numbing disease,
my soul be a ransom for that cool, oft-sipped draught.
My soul is sacrificed for that numbing disease.
كأَنَّas though ريقتهاher saliva بعدafter الكَرىsleep عَسَلٌhoney
كأَنَّ ريقتها بعد الكَرى عَسَلٌ
أَستغفرI seek forgiveness from اللَهَGod بَلrather أَحلىsweeter مِنَthan العَسَلِhoney
أَستغفر اللَهَ بَل أَحلى مِنَ العَسَلِ
Her saliva after sleep seems like honey—
I seek God's forgiveness, no, her saliva is sweeter than honey
I ask God's forgiveness! Rather, sweeter than honey.
after bitterness.
إِيّاكَbeware إِيّاكَbeware تَطريفاًdyeing the tips بأَنمُلِهاon her fingers
إِيّاكَ إِيّاكَ تَطريفاً بأَنمُلِها
فَهيَfor they are الأَسِنَّةُthe spearheads فيon العَسّالَةِquivering lances الذَبلِslender
فَهيَ الأَسِنَّةُ في العَسّالَةِ الذَبلِ
Beware, beware the dye upon her fingertips:
Beware, beware her naughty fingering,
for they are spearheads on quivering, slender lances.
For it is the combs in neglected beehives.
ماwhat بالُails طرفكyour gaze لاnot تنميdies out of sight رَميَّتهits stricken quarry
ما بالُ طرفك لا تنمي رَميَّته
كَأَنَّماas though هوَit were رامan archer مِنfrom بَنيthe sons of ثُعَلِThuʿal
كَأَنَّما هوَ رام مِن بَني ثُعَلِ
What ails your gaze, whose quarry never dies out of sight,
Why doesn't your gaze loose its arrows?
as though it were an archer from Banu Thuʿal?
As if it were shooting arrows from the clan of Tha'labah.
صَدَّتshe turned away بِنَجدٍin Najd وَزارَتand visited فيin طَرابُلُسٍTripoli
صَدَّت بِنَجدٍ وَزارَت في طَرابُلُسٍ
وَبَينَناand between us عَنَقٌswift travel لِلسُّفنof ships وَالإِبِلِand camels
وَبَينَنا عَنَقٌ لِلسُّفن وَالإِبِلِ
She shunned me in Najd and visited me in Tripoli,
She visited Najd and dwelled in Tripoli,
and between us lay swift journeys by ships and camels.
While between us is a neck for ships and camels.
فيamong خرَّدbashful maidens نُهَّدٍfull-breasted يعكسنَturn back أَعيُنناour eyes
في خرَّد نُهَّدٍ يعكسنَ أَعيُننا
لِضَوئِهِنَّbecause of their radiance كَعَكسlike the turning back by الشَمسِthe sun للمُقلِof eyes
لِضَوئِهِنَّ كَعَكس الشَمسِ للمُقلِ
Among bashful, full-breasted maidens who turn our eyes away
In her tent's folds that reflect our eyes
with their radiance, as the sun turns eyes away.
With their glow like the sun's reflection on water.
تَنقادُyield نَحوَtoward هَواهُنَّlove of them القُلوبhearts كَماjust as اِنقادتyielded
تَنقادُ نَحوَ هَواهُنَّ القُلوب كَما اِنقادت
إِلىto هِبَةِHibat (gift of) اللَهِAllah (God) العلىthe heights of glory ابنson of عليAli
إِلى هِبَةِ اللَهِ العلى ابن علي
Hearts yield to love of them, just as did
Hearts are led to love them as they were led
the heights of glory to Hibat Allah, son of Ali.
To Allah's gift, the noble son of Ali.
فَتىًa youth عَنaway from السُمرِdusky women بِالسُمرِwith brown spears الكُعوبِjointed وَعَنand away from
فَتىً عَن السُمرِ بِالسُمرِ الكُعوبِ وَعَن
بيضِfair الوجوهِfaces بِبيضِwith white swords of الهندIndia فيin شُغلِpreoccupation
بيضِ الوجوهِ بِبيضِ الهند في شُغلِ
A youth busy with brown, jointed spears, not dusky beauties, and with
A young man who adorns the state when it is ruled,
white Indian swords, not fair faces.
As kingdoms are adorned when they rule.
يُزَيِّنُadorns الدَولَةthe state الغَرّاءresplendent مَوضِعهhis position
يُزَيِّنُ الدَولَة الغَرّاء مَوضِعه
إِذاwhen تَزَيَّنَتadorn themselves الأَملاكُkings بِالدُوَلِwith realms
إِذا تَزَيَّنَت الأَملاكُ بِالدُوَلِ
His position adorns the resplendent state
His smile never ceases to blossom,
when kings adorn themselves with their realms.
And rain indicates which clouds pour forth.
يُنبيtells تَبسُّمهhis smile عَنof نَشرِهِhis fragrance أَبَداًalways
يُنبي تَبسُّمه عَن نَشرِهِ أَبَداً
وَالغَيثand rain آيَةa sign of صَوبِthe downpour of الوابِلheavy rain الهَطلِpouring freely
وَالغَيث آيَة صَوبِ الوابِل الهَطلِ
His smile always tells of his fragrance,
He adorns it beyond how it adorned him, so through it
and rain heralds the fall of a heavy, pouring shower.
He is in splendor while he is above splendors.
يزينهاhe adorns it فَوقَbeyond ماwhat زانتهit adorned him فَهوَso he is بِهاthrough it
يزينها فَوقَ ما زانته فَهوَ بِها
فيin حُلَّةٍa robe وَهوَwhile he is منfrom عَلياهhis eminence فيin حُلَلِrobes
في حُلَّةٍ وَهوَ من عَلياه في حُلَلِ
He adorns it more than it adorned him: through it he is
He bids the delegation welcome until it leaves
in one robe, while through his own eminence he wears many.
While the confederate bids it farewell by delaying death.
يَبُشُّhe beams بِالوَفدat the delegation حَتّىuntil خلتI thought وآفدهhis visitor
يَبُشُّ بِالوَفد حَتّى خلت وآفده
وَآفيone who has come يُهنِّيهto congratulate him بِالتأخيرon the postponement فيof الأَجَلِthe appointed term of life
وَآفي يُهنِّيه بِالتأخير في الأَجَلِ
He beams on the delegation until I imagine his visitor
Exalted, wealth does not settle in his hand,
has come to congratulate him on his life's extension.
How can he hold what is like a mountain's canal?
عَلاhe rose high فلاso not يَستَقِرُّstays المالُwealth فيin يَدِهِhis hand
عَلا فلا يَستَقِرُّ المالُ في يَدِهِ
وَكَيفَand how يُمسِكُcan stay ماwhat is فيon قَنَّةthe summit of الجَبَلِthe mountain
وَكَيفَ يُمسِكُ ما في قَنَّة الجَبَلِ
He has risen so high that wealth cannot stay in his hand,
He judges with wisdom in predicaments as
and how could anything stay on a mountain's summit?
The arbitrator rules at the moment of confusion.
يَقضيhe judges بِحُكمِby the rule of الهُدىright guidance فيin المُشكِلاتِdifficult matters كَماjust as
يَقضي بِحُكمِ الهُدى في المُشكِلاتِ كَما
يَقضيhe judges بِحُكمِby the rule of الظُبيِsword-edges فيin ساعَةِthe hour of الوَهلِterror
يَقضي بِحُكمِ الظُبيِ في ساعَةِ الوَهلِ
He judges difficult matters by the rule of right guidance, just as
He has allied with justice in his rulings forever,
he judges by the rule of sword-edges in the hour of terror.
And justice is the best provision for a heroic knight.
قَدindeed حالَفَhas allied with العَدلَjustice فيin أَحكامِهِhis judgments أَبَداًalways
قَد حالَفَ العَدلَ في أَحكامِهِ أَبَداً
وَالعَدلُand justice خَيرُthe best اقتِناءpossession of الفارِسِthe horseman البَطَلِheroic
وَالعَدلُ خَيرُ اقتِناء الفارِسِ البَطَلِ
He has always allied himself with justice in his judgments,
Injustice always fears the open-handed one's chest,
and justice is the finest possession of the heroic horseman.
As injustice thought it a chest without armor.
تَخشىfear العِدىthe enemies أَبَداًalways صَدرَthe breast of الجَوادِthe steed فَقَدfor indeed
تَخشى العِدى أَبَداً صَدرَ الجَوادِ فَقَد
ظَنَّhave thought العِدىthe enemies أَنَّهthat it is صَدرٌa breast بِلاwithout كَفَلِhindquarters
ظَنَّ العِدى أَنَّه صَدرٌ بِلا كَفَلِ
The enemy forever fears his charger's breast, for
In the ruggedness of the mountain, were it not for his tolerance,
the enemy thinks it a breast with no hindquarters.
Emptiness would have left it barren from frequent fires.
فيin جَحفَلِa great army لَجبٍclamorous لَولاwere it not for تبسّطهits spreading out
في جَحفَلِ لَجبٍ لَولا تبسّطه
لخلتهI would think it شهباًshooting stars منfrom كَثرَةِthe multitude of الأُسُلِspears
لخلته شهباً من كَثرَةِ الأُسُلِ
Amid a clamorous host—were it not spread out,
It is as if the red camels are wine beneath them
I would take it for shooting stars, so numerous are the spears.
While their white ones are seeds floating atop mountains.
كَأَنَّas though حُمَرthe red المذاكيseasoned warhorses الخمرwine تَحتَهمbeneath them
كَأَنَّ حُمَر المذاكي الخمر تَحتَهم
وَبيضُهمand their helmets حبَبٌbubbles يَطفوfloat عَلىon القُلَلِjars
وَبيضُهم حبَبٌ يَطفو عَلى القُلَلِ
The red, seasoned steeds beneath them seem to be wine,
I imagined that, knowing he is a singular man,
and their helmets are bubbles floating atop the jars.
So I saw all people through one man.
أَمَّلتُI hoped for ذلكthat عِلماًknowing أَنَّهُthat he was رَجُلa man
أَمَّلتُ ذلك عِلماً أَنَّهُ رَجُل
فَردٌone alone فأبصرتthen I beheld كلall الناسmankind فيin رَجُلِa man
فَردٌ فأبصرت كل الناس في رَجُلِ
I hoped for that, knowing he was a man
He lends an ear to those asking his capable hands as
one alone—then I beheld all mankind in a single man.
A lover lends an ear to singing and amorousness.
يُصغيhe listens إِلىto سائِليthose asking for جَدوىthe bounty of يَديهhis hands كَماjust as
يُصغي إِلى سائِلي جَدوى يَديه كَما
يُصغيlistens المُحِبُّthe lover إِلىto التَغريدِsinging وَالغَزَلِand love-poetry
يُصغي المُحِبُّ إِلى التَغريدِ وَالغَزَلِ
He listens to those seeking the bounty of his hands, as
If he wished he could have said without lying in his information,
a lover listens to singing and love-poetry.
About every merit he sees, that it belongs to me.
لَوif شاءَhe wished قالَhe could say وَلَمand would not يَكذِبlie بِمَخبَرِهِin his account
لَو شاءَ قالَ وَلَم يَكذِب بِمَخبَرِهِ
عَنof كُلِّevery فَضلٍexcellence أَراهُI see it أَنَّthat ذَلِكَthat ليis mine
عَن كُلِّ فَضلٍ أَراهُ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ لي
If he wished, he could say—truthfully in his account—
For he discovered remarkable feats long ago
of every excellence I see: "That is mine."
While the rest of mankind are reciters and plagiarizers.
لأَنَّهbecause he اختَرَعَinvented العَلياءlofty glory سالفةlong ago
لأَنَّه اختَرَعَ العَلياء سالفة
وَسائرُand the rest of الناسِmankind منamong تالٍa follower وَمُنتَحِلِand an appropriator
وَسائرُ الناسِ من تالٍ وَمُنتَحِلِ
For he invented lofty glory long ago,
The ruler al-Mansur fortified his state
while all other men are followers or appropriators.
Through the Banu Haydarah in plains and mountains.
قَدindeed أَحكمhas secured الحاكِمal-Hakim (the ruler) المَنصورal-Mansur (the victorious) دولَتَهُhis realm
قَد أَحكم الحاكِم المَنصور دولَتَهُ
بآلَthrough the house of حَيدَرَةٍHaydara فيon السَهلِthe plain وَالجَبَلِand the mountain
بآلَ حَيدَرَةٍ في السَهلِ وَالجَبَلِ
Al-Hakim al-Mansur has firmly secured his realm
Their writings have satisfied his furthest battalions
through the house of Haydara, on plain and mountain.
Against increasing enemies and locking them out.
وَرَفَّهتand have spared كتبهمtheir letters أَقصىthe farthest of كَتائِبِهِhis battalions
وَرَفَّهت كتبهم أَقصى كَتائِبِهِ
عَنfrom الزِيادَةincrease للأَعداءِagainst the enemies وَالقفلِand the return march
عَن الزِيادَة للأَعداءِ وَالقفلِ
And their letters have spared his farthest battalions
Coats of mail and shields are pleased with them
from further reinforcement against enemies and the march back.
As are turtle shells, chests of mail, and horse armor.
تَرضىare pleased الدَراريعُthe robes عنهمwith them وَالدُروعُand the coats of mail
تَرضى الدَراريعُ عنهم وَالدُروعُ
وَأَصدافُand the shells of القناspear-shafts وَصُدورand the breasts of البيضِwhite swords والأُسُلِand lances
وَأَصدافُ القنا وَصُدور البيضِ والأُسُلِ
Robes and coats of mail are pleased with them,
The Islamic state wandered lost without them and steadied
as are the shells of spear-shafts and the breasts of swords and lances.
With their resolve as the sun steadies itself in Aries.
تاهَتtook pride بِهِمin them دولةthe state of الإِسلامِIslam واِعتَدَلَتand stood balanced
تاهَت بِهِم دولة الإِسلامِ واِعتَدَلَت
بِعَزمِهِمthrough their resolve كاِعتِدالِlike the poise of الشَمسِthe sun فيin الحَمَلِAries
بِعَزمِهِم كاِعتِدالِ الشَمسِ في الحَمَلِ
The state of Islam took pride in them and stood balanced
They have supported and ruled with the generosity they build upon,
through their resolve, as the sun stands balanced in Aries.
Its firm eternal foundation is their glory.
شادواthey built high وَسادواand became lords بِماthrough what يَبنونَthey build مِنfrom كَرَمٍgenerosity
شادوا وَسادوا بِما يَبنونَ مِن كَرَمٍ
أَساسُthe foundation of مجدهمtheir glory المُستَحكِمfirmly established الأَزليeternal
أَساسُ مجدهم المُستَحكِم الأَزلي
They built high and won mastery by building from generosity
They resemble each other despite differences in their time
the firm, eternal foundation of their glory.
In obedience, prohibition, words, and deeds.
تَشابَهواthey resembled one another فيamid اِختِلافِdifferences منin زَمانِهِمُtheir times
تَشابَهوا في اِختِلافِ من زَمانِهِمُ
عِندَin respect of اللَهىlargesse وَالنُهىand wisdom وَالقَولِand speech وَالعَمَلِand action
عِندَ اللَهى وَالنُهى وَالقَولِ وَالعَمَلِ
They were alike despite the differences of their times,
Like a spear whose front aids its back
in gifts and wisdom, in speech and deed.
And the back of a spear aids its front.
كالرُمُlike a spear أَوَّلَهits first part عَونٌa support لآخِرِهِfor its last part
كالرُمُ أَوَّلَه عَونٌ لآخِرِهِ
وَآخرand the last part of الرُمحِthe spear عونa support for الأَكعبِthe joints الأُوَلِthe first
وَآخر الرُمحِ عون الأَكعبِ الأُوَلِ
Like a spear: its first part supports its last,
You followed your father in generosity and nobility and did not
and the spear's last part supports its foremost joints.
Lie as al-Wasmi followed the rightful one.
تبعتَyou followed فيin الجودِgenerosity وَالعَلياand eminence أَباكyour father وَلَمand did not
تبعتَ في الجودِ وَالعَليا أَباك وَلَم
تَكذِبfall short كَماjust as تبعَfollowed الوَسميّthe first autumn rain صَوبَthe downpour of وَليa follow-up rain
تَكذِب كَما تبعَ الوَسميّ صَوبَ وَلي
You followed your father in generosity and eminence, and did not
Two rains whose hands were generous wherever they poured
fall short, as a later shower followed the first autumn rain.
In a land that flourished with wealth and cavalry.
غَيثانِtwo rain-showers أَيّهماwhichever of the two جادَتgave generously أَناملهhis fingers
غَيثانِ أَيّهما جادَت أَنامله
فيin بَلدَةٍa town نَبَتَتit sprouted بِالمالِwith wealth وَالخَولِand retainers
في بَلدَةٍ نَبَتَت بِالمالِ وَالخَولِ
Two rain-showers—whichever one's fingers give generously
You two adorned religion and life with your might
in a town, it sprouts wealth and retainers.
Which the Merciful will never annul.
حَلَّيتماyou two adorned الدِينreligion وَالدُنياand the world بعزِّكماwith your combined might
حَلَّيتما الدِين وَالدُنيا بعزِّكما
فَلاso may not أَزالهُماhe displace them both الرَحمنthe Merciful بِالعَطَلِinto bareness
فَلا أَزالهُما الرَحمن بِالعَطَلِ
You two have adorned religion and the world with your might;
Our eyes have never seen in our time's afflictions
so may the Merciful never leave them bereft of adornment.
Anyone like you two who are kohl in its infections.
وَلاand may not رَأَيناwe see بِعَينيin the two eyes of دَهرِناour age مَرَهاًlack of kohl
وَلا رَأَينا بِعَيني دَهرِنا مَرَهاً
فَأَنتُماfor you two are فيin مآقيهِits eye-corners منamong الكُحُلِkohl
فَأَنتُما في مآقيهِ من الكُحُلِ
And may we never see our age's two eyes without kohl,
You two lived eternally in the shade of a kingdom
for you two are kohl in the corners of its eyes.
That sought refuge from change and dynasties.
وَعشتُماand may you both live أَبَداًforever فيin ظِلِّthe shade of مَملَكَةٍa kingdom
وَعشتُما أَبَداً في ظِلِّ مَملَكَةٍ
قَدalready اِستَعاذَتhas sought refuge مِنَfrom التَغييرchange وَالدُوَلِand reversals of fortune
قَد اِستَعاذَت مِنَ التَغيير وَالدُوَلِ
And may you both live forever in the shade of a kingdom
The Pleiades have not sprinkled their tears over the land
that has sought refuge from change and reversals of fortune,
And no one yearned on the day of departure.
ماas long as رَقرَقَmakes shimmer المزنُthe rainclouds فَوقَabove الأَرضِthe earth أَدمعهits tears
ما رَقرَقَ المزنُ فَوقَ الأَرضِ أَدمعه
وَحَنَّand yearns ذوone possessed of شَجَنٍsorrow يَوماًone day لمرتَحِلِfor someone departed
وَحَنَّ ذو شَجَنٍ يَوماً لمرتَحِلِ
as long as rainclouds make their tears shimmer above the earth,
and a grieving soul ever longs for one who has departed.
Partial English translation: 80 of 82 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1