حسبيenough for me منof المالwealth أَغْرَاهُمْit lured them وَعزَّهُمُand mastered them
حسبي من المال أَغْرَاهُمْ وَعزَّهُمُ
علمٌknowledge تتيهُglory بهin it الأقلامُthe pens والصُّحُفand the pages
علمٌ تتيهُ به الأقلامُ والصُّحُف
Enough for me as wealth—which has lured and mastered them—is
I am content with the delusions of wealth and honor that mislead pens and books.
Knowledge in which pens and pages glory.
Grief comes not but fate bewilders,
والحَزْنُand the rugged ground إلاif not يكنْbe والأمرُand the matter مُسْتَبِهٌunclear
والحَزْنُ إلا يكنْ والأمرُ مُسْتَبِهٌ
فيهin it الغديرُthe pool وفيهُand in it الروضةُthe meadow الأنُفُfresh and untouched
فيه الغديرُ وفيهُ الروضةُ الأنُفُ
And rugged ground, if it lacks—while the matter is unclear—
There is the pond and the verdant garden.
A pool, has within it a fresh, untouched meadow.
The vizier passed away so every woman who enjoyed
آبَreturned الوزيرُthe minister فآبتْand so returned كلُّevery عارفةٍkindness
آبَ الوزيرُ فآبتْ كلُّ عارفةٍ
بهاthrough it ترفُّflutter ظلالُthe shades of الفَخْرِglory أوor تَرِفُspread luxuriantly
بها ترفُّ ظلالُ الفَخْرِ أو تَرِفُ
The minister returned, and every kindness returned,
The shades of pride or affluence has passed away.
Through which the shades of glory flutter or spread.
The Bestower, the Withholder, the fair, gentle one
الواهبُthe giver of الكاعبَthe budding-breasted maiden الحسناءَthe beautiful آنسةًwinsome
الواهبُ الكاعبَ الحسناءَ آنسةً
يُنَافِسُrivals القُضْبَthe slender boughs فيin أعطافهاher body's curves الترفluxuriant softness
يُنَافِسُ القُضْبَ في أعطافها الترف
The giver of the lovely, budding-breasted maiden, winsome,
Whose locks compete with bending branches in delicacy.
In whose curves luxuriant softness rivals slender boughs.
Of every slothful woman except one burdened
منfrom كلِّevery هيفاءَslender-waisted beauty إلاexcept فضلةٌa fullness ثَقُلَتْweighed heavily
من كلِّ هيفاءَ إلا فضلةٌ ثَقُلَتْ
عنbeyond الوِشَاحِthe sash فلمso did not يَنْهَضْrise بهاwith it الهَيَفslenderness
عن الوِشَاحِ فلم يَنْهَضْ بها الهَيَف
Each slender-waisted, save for a fullness weighing heavily
Too heavy for her shift, so her sloth could not carry it.
Beyond the sash, too heavy for her slender waist to lift.
The swimmer displaying her breasts proudly with her rider
والسابحَand the swimming steed النَّهْدَthe sturdy مختالاًstrutting proudly براكبهِwith its rider
والسابحَ النَّهْدَ مختالاً براكبهِ
كأنهas though it بِرِدَاءِin the mantle of الصُّبْحِdawn مُلْتَحِفُis wrapped
كأنه بِرِدَاءِ الصُّبْحِ مُلْتَحِفُ
And the swift-swimming, sturdy steed, proud of its rider,
As if clothed in the robe of dawn she uncovers.
As though wrapped in the mantle of dawn.
Like a truncates trunk until it grew so long,
كالجِذْعِlike a trunk شُذِّبَwas pruned حتىuntil طالَgrew tall ثمthen هَفَاfluttered
كالجِذْعِ شُذِّبَ حتى طالَ ثم هَفَا
ذاكthat السَّبيبflowing mane فقلناso we said إنهit is سَعَفpalm fronds
ذاك السَّبيب فقلنا إنه سَعَف
Like a trunk pruned until tall; then there fluttered
We said that sapling has branches.
That flowing mane, and we said: it is palm fronds.
Passing like a well-aimed arrow
يمرُّpasses كالعارضِlike a raincloud المركومِheaped up مُعْتَرضاًsweeping across
يمرُّ كالعارضِ المركومِ مُعْتَرضاً
حيثwhere المناياdeaths غِمَارٌdeep waters والمُنَىand hopes نُطَفdrops
حيث المنايا غِمَارٌ والمُنَى نُطَف
It sweeps across like a massed raincloud,
Where death is thick and fate is bleeding.
Where deaths are deep waters and hopes mere drops.
Mares prancing or gathering like a herd
جذلانَexultant والدَّمُand the blood فيin أعْطَافِهِits flanks دُفَعٌsurging bursts
جذلانَ والدَّمُ في أعْطَافِهِ دُفَعٌ
وثائرُand the rising النَّقْعِdust منfrom أرْجَائِهits surroundings كِسَفcloud-fragments
وثائرُ النَّقْعِ من أرْجَائِه كِسَف
Exultant, with blood in its flanks surging in bursts,
Branches colliding then twisting away.
And rising dust from all around it forming cloud-fragments.
The Indian sword the vanquisher fulfills with it the desires of the desperate
والخيلُand the horses تَمْزَعُdart أوor تلتفُّcrowd together كالحةًbaring their teeth
والخيلُ تَمْزَعُ أو تلتفُّ كالحةً
مثلَlike الغُصُونِthe boughs تَلاقَىmeet ثمthen تَنْعَطِفbend aside
مثلَ الغُصُونِ تَلاقَى ثم تَنْعَطِف
And horses dart or crowd together, baring their teeth,
It is lightning snatched for destructive madness.
Like boughs that meet and then bend aside.
The spear adorns it out of wonder and awe
والصارمُand the cutting sword العَضْبُthe keen يَقْضِيdeals death المستميتُthe death-defying fighter بهwith it
والصارمُ العَضْبُ يَقْضِي المستميتُ به
بَرْقٌlightning ولكنهbut it للهامat heads مُخْتَطِفُsnatches
بَرْقٌ ولكنه للهام مُخْتَطِفُ
And the keen, cutting sword, with which the death-defying fighter deals death,
Does it not know it has a pliant nature?
Is lightning, but lightning that snatches heads.
It sways like a bough not from flexibility or bending point
يُزْهىglories بهin it الرمحُthe spear منfrom عُجْبٍpride ومنand from عَجبٍwonder
يُزْهى به الرمحُ من عُجْبٍ ومن عَجبٍ
أماhas it not درىknown أنهthat it is ذوpossessing مَلّةٍboredom طَرِفfickle
أما درى أنه ذو مَلّةٍ طَرِف
The spear glories in it, from pride and from wonder:
You would think it aromatic but it is extinguishing.
Does it not know that it is fickle, quickly bored?
It heals the crushing injustice and you'd reckon it
يهتزُّquivers كالغُصْنِlike a bough لاnot منfrom لينِthe softness of مُنْعَطَفٍa bend
يهتزُّ كالغُصْنِ لا من لينِ مُنْعَطَفٍ
تخالهُyou deem it أريحيّاًgenerous-hearted وهوwhile it is مُلْتَهِفanguished
تخالهُ أريحيّاً وهو مُلْتَهِف
It quivers like a bough, not from pliancy at a bend;
Crushed until the injustice healed it.
You take it for generous-hearted, though it is anguished.
The dark skinned tender one with ten and one
يشفيcures منof الدَّنَفِthe sickness المُضنيdebilitating وَتحْسِبُهُand you think it
يشفي من الدَّنَفِ المُضني وَتحْسِبُهُ
مُضْنىًan invalid تَخامَلَgrew languid حتىuntil شَفَّهُwore it thin الدَّنَفُthe sickness
مُضْنىً تَخامَلَ حتى شَفَّهُ الدَّنَفُ
It cures debilitating sickness, yet you think it
Between the two moustaches, no substitute or severing.
An invalid grown languid until sickness has worn it thin.
The harshest thing on hips it erodes them
والأسمرُand the tawny spear اللدنُthe supple ذاpossessing عَشْرٍten وواحدةٍand one
والأسمرُ اللدنُ ذا عَشْرٍ وواحدةٍ
بينbetween السبيلينthe two ways لاnot عَبْلٌthick ولاand not قَضِفُfrail
بين السبيلين لا عَبْلٌ ولا قَضِفُ
And the supple, tawny spear, ten and one in length,
When he loved until he almost melted them away.
Between the two ways, neither thick nor frail,
Not at all, you gave without favor and without blame
أشدُّthe harshest شيءٍthing علىupon الأصلابthe backbones يَقصِفهاshatters them
أشدُّ شيءٍ على الأصلاب يَقصِفها
وقدand already تأَوَّدhas bent حتىuntil كادalmost يضنْقَصِفsnaps
وقد تأَوَّد حتى كاد يضنْقَصِف
The harshest thing upon backbones, which it shatters,
Without feebleness, bending, swerving or injustice.
Though it has bent until it almost snaps.
Those virtues while covenants are determined
كلاَّall بذلتَyou bestowed ولاand no مَنٌّreproach for favours ولاand no مَذَلٌregret for giving
كلاَّ بذلتَ ولا مَنٌّ ولا مَذَلٌ
ولاand no اعتلالٌexcuse ولاand no ليٌّdelay ولاand no جَنَفunfairness
ولا اعتلالٌ ولا ليٌّ ولا جَنَف
All these you gave, without reproach or regret,
And the pact with you is binding without variance.
Without excuse, delay, or unfairness.
Who preceded what you gave of generosity and aid
تلكthat العلاeminence وهيand it is آمادٌreaches مُقَدَّرةٌappointed
تلك العلا وهي آمادٌ مُقَدَّرةٌ
وعَهْدُهاand its covenant بكwith you يُسْتَوفَىis fulfilled ويؤتنفُand begun anew
وعَهْدُها بك يُسْتَوفَى ويؤتنفُ
Such is eminence, with its appointed reaches,
Then the Zuhair clan did precede you.
And its covenant with you is fulfilled and begun anew.
The victors over what others missed
منْwhoever كانhas أسْلفَpreviously bestowed ماwhat أسْلَفْتَyou previously bestowed مِنْin كَرَمٍgenerosity
منْ كان أسْلفَ ما أسْلَفْتَ مِنْ كَرَمٍ
ونجدةٍand valour فَبنُوthen the sons of زُهْرٍZuhr لهfor him سَلَفpredecessors
ونجدةٍ فَبنُو زُهْرٍ له سَلَف
Whoever has given what you have given in generosity
None shall precede them if they halt.
And valour has Banu Zuhr for predecessors.
The benevolent beyond the rights of their neighbor
الغالبونthose who prevail علىover ماwhat فاتَeluded غَيرَهُمُothers besides them
الغالبون على ما فاتَ غَيرَهُمُ
لاnot يُسبقُونare outstripped إلىto شيءٍanything وإنeven if وَقَفُواthey stand still
لا يُسبقُون إلى شيءٍ وإن وَقَفُوا
Those who gain what others have missed,
Even if rancor and hatred grow.
None outstrips them in anything, even when they stand still.
A people death's redness protects
والمُؤْثِرُونَand those who give preference علىdespite ماwhatever حاقَbefell جارَهُمُtheir neighbor
والمُؤْثِرُونَ على ما حاقَ جارَهُمُ
وإنeven if تكاثرتِmultiplied الشَّنْآنُhatred والشَّنَفُand loathing
وإن تكاثرتِ الشَّنْآنُ والشَّنَفُ
And those who put their neighbor first, whatever befalls,
When they attack and when they march.
Even when hatred and loathing multiply.
The excellent in prolonged description, the horsemen of eloquence
قومٌa people تُحاميdefend المناياthe deaths الحمرُthe red دونهمin their defense
قومٌ تُحامي المنايا الحمرُ دونهم
إذاwhen احْتَبَوْاthey sit with knees drawn up وَتَحامَاهمْand shun them إذاwhen زَحَفُواthey advance
إذا احْتَبَوْا وَتَحامَاهمْ إذا زَحَفُوا
A people whom red deaths defend
The stalwarts of heroism, no isolation and no disclosure.
When they sit with knees drawn up, yet shun when they advance.
Fate cannot hope to abandon those they supported
هُضْبُmountains الإطالةِof ampleness فُرْسَانُknights المقالةِof speech
هُضْبُ الإطالةِ فُرْسَانُ المقالةِ
جِنَّانُjinn البَسَالةِof valour لاnot عُزْلٌunarmed ولاand not كُشُفُshieldless
جِنَّانُ البَسَالةِ لا عُزْلٌ ولا كُشُفُ
Mountains of expansive bounty, knights of speech,
Nor can it deny what they made known.
Jinn of valour, neither unarmed nor shieldless.
And a night the dawn cannot make up for its loss
لاnot يطمعُhopes الدهرُtime فيfor خِذلانِthe abandonment of مَنْthose whom نصرواthey supported
لا يطمعُ الدهرُ في خِذلانِ مَنْ نصروا
ولاand not يجوزُis permissible لهfor it إنكارُdenial of ماwhat عَرَفواthey acknowledged
ولا يجوزُ له إنكارُ ما عَرَفوا
Time cannot hope to forsake those they support,
When grey hair and senility became clear in it.
Nor may it deny what they acknowledge.
When deficiency touches it even slightly
وليلةٍand a night لاnot يرومُattempts الصبحُdawn سَقْطَتَهاits overthrow
وليلةٍ لا يرومُ الصبحُ سَقْطَتَها
وقدand already تَبَيَّنَbecame evident فيهاwithin it الشيبُgrey hair والخَرَفand senility
وقد تَبَيَّنَ فيها الشيبُ والخَرَف
And a night whose overthrow dawn does not attempt,
It touches you with a quarter you cannot endure.
And within it grey hair and senility had become plain.
I visited it while the stars the blossoms standing still
إذاwhen تخوَّنهاeroded it النقصانُshortening منfrom طَرَفٍan edge
إذا تخوَّنها النقصانُ من طَرَفٍ
تَخَوَّنَتْهُit eroded it بِرَبْعٍwith an expanse ماnot لهit has طرفan edge
تَخَوَّنَتْهُ بِرَبْعٍ ما له طرف
When shortening eroded it from one edge,
As if veiled in the night's darkness.
It eroded that loss with an expanse that had no edge.
Until dawn appeared confused and some gloom remained
سريتُهاI traversed it by night والنجومُand the stars الزهرُthe bright واقفةٌmotionless
سريتُها والنجومُ الزهرُ واقفةٌ
كأنهاas though they بسوادِin the blackness of الليلِnight تُكْتَنَفُare enveloped
كأنها بسوادِ الليلِ تُكْتَنَفُ
I journeyed through it by night, while the bright stars stood still,
From the mantle of grandeur the lofty pavilions.
As though enveloped in the blackness of night,
I camped beneath the portico of glory guarded by
حتىuntil بداappeared الصبحُdawn مرتاباًhesitant وقدand still بَقِيَتْremained
حتى بدا الصبحُ مرتاباً وقد بَقِيَتْ
منfrom الدُّجَىthe darkness لتعلاتِfor the diversions of السُّرىnight travel نُتَفُscraps
من الدُّجَى لتعلاتِ السُّرى نُتَفُ
Until dawn appeared, hesitant, while there remained
The young lions and the sublime carved enclosure.
Scraps of darkness for the diversions of night travel.
Where resolve is inviolable and the seeker of refuge is generous
أَنخْتُI made my camel kneel تحتَbeneath رُواقِthe portico of العزِّglory تَكْنُفُهُsurround it
أَنخْتُ تحتَ رُواقِ العزِّ تَكْنُفُهُ
ألسادةُthe lords الغُرُّthe radiant والمقْوَرَّةُand the lean steeds الشُّيُفwatchful (uncertain epithet)
ألسادةُ الغُرُّ والمقْوَرَّةُ الشُّيُف
I made my camel kneel beneath glory's portico, surrounded by
And the kingdom is flawless, neither bent nor deficient.
Radiant lords and lean, watchful steeds.
You omitted nothing from your beauty that is without diminishment
حيثwhere الحِمَىthe protected domain حَرَمٌa sanctuary والمنتمىand lineage كَرَمٌnobility
حيث الحِمَى حَرَمٌ والمنتمى كَرَمٌ
والمُلْكُand sovereignty لاno أوَدٌcrookedness فيهin it ولاand no وَكَفflaw
والمُلْكُ لا أوَدٌ فيه ولا وَكَف
Where the protected domain is sacred, and lineage is noble,
Do not lie for the sun is eclipsed.
And sovereignty has neither crookedness nor flaw.
I take from my bosom for she who touched my bosom
أَخِلْتَdid you suppose حُسنَكَyour beauty شيئاًsomething لاno انتقاصَdiminution لهto it
أَخِلْتَ حُسنَكَ شيئاً لا انتقاصَ له
لاdo not تكذبنَّlie فإنfor indeed الشمسَthe sun تَنْكَسِفis eclipsed
لا تكذبنَّ فإن الشمسَ تَنْكَسِف
Did you think your beauty something beyond diminution?
While the free man is angered at times and avenges himself.
Do not lie: even the sun is eclipsed.
How many brothers I intended it but deprivation prevented us
إنيindeed I لآخذُsurely take منfrom وجديmy passion لموجدتيfor my resentment
إني لآخذُ من وجدي لموجدتي
والحرُّand the free man يَغْضبُgets angry أحياناًsometimes فينتصفand so obtains redress
والحرُّ يَغْضبُ أحياناً فينتصف
I surely draw from my passion to feed my resentment,
When the path is difficult if you turn against it, it will not stand still.
And a free man sometimes grows angry and claims his due.
After many days passed between us
كمhow many منof أخٍa brother رامهاsought it منيfrom me فَمَانَعَهbut resisted him
كم من أخٍ رامها مني فَمَانَعَه
صَعْبُhard القيادِto rein in إذاwhen جاراكhe races you لاnot يَقِفُstops
صَعْبُ القيادِ إذا جاراك لا يَقِفُ
How many a brother sought it from me, but was resisted by
Estrangement from him and kindness and gentleness from me.
One hard to rein in, who, when he races you, never stops.
Sometimes he pastures so I say he drew near
منfrom بعدafter ماthat طالتِgrew long الأيامthe days بيfor me وبهand for him
من بعد ما طالتِ الأيام بي وبه
منهُfrom him الجفاءُestrangement ومنيand from me البرُّkindness واللُّطُفُand gentleness
منهُ الجفاءُ ومني البرُّ واللُّطُفُ
After the days had stretched long for me and him,
Out of love or turned away from me.
From him came estrangement; from me, kindness and gentleness.
Until when those conditions changed with him
وتارةًand at times يَرْعَوِيrelents حتىuntil أقولُI say دناdrew near
وتارةً يَرْعَوِي حتى أقولُ دنا
بهwith him هوىًlove أوor تأتَّىbecame possible منهfrom him مُنْصَرَفُa turning back
به هوىً أو تأتَّى منه مُنْصَرَفُ
At times he relents, till I say: he has drawn near
And all that unites one day will differ.
Through love, or found a way to turn back.
If only during my estrangement I had said to him
حتىuntil إذاwhen اختلفتْvaried تلكthose الشؤونُstates بهwithin him
حتى إذا اختلفتْ تلك الشؤونُ به
وكلُّand every مُتَّفِقٍharmonious thing يوماًone day سَيَخْتَلفُwill fall into discord
وكلُّ مُتَّفِقٍ يوماً سَيَخْتَلفُ
Until, when those states varied within him—
Today do you know watcher how to admit?
And all that is harmonious will one day fall into discord—
Turn away wherever you wish for I am a gazelle
وليتهI directed at him ذاتthe very essence of هجريmy estrangement ثمthen قلتI said لهto him
وليته ذات هجري ثم قلت له
أليومtoday تعرفyou will know ناظرconsider كيفhow تعترفyou acknowledge
أليوم تعرف ناظر كيف تعترف
I turned my full estrangement upon him, then said to him:
And abandon me wherever you wish for I am rugged.
Today you will know; consider how you will acknowledge it.
In me whenever good fortune turns away or tranquility becomes distant
منfrom حيثُwherever شئتَyou wish فْذَرْنيthen leave me إننيindeed I am زَمِرٌof little account
من حيثُ شئتَ فْذَرْني إنني زَمِرٌ
وحيثُand however شئتَyou wish فَكِلْنيthen measure me إننيindeed I am حَشَفshrivelled dates
وحيثُ شئتَ فَكِلْني إنني حَشَف
From wherever you wish, leave me; I am of little account.
A soul despondent and a nose filled with pride.
And however you wish, measure me; I am shrivelled dates.
And an ambition whenever it inclines to honor
بيwithin me كُلَّماwhenever نابَstruck خَطْبٌa calamity أوor نأَيَdeparted سكنٌa beloved
بي كُلَّما نابَ خَطْبٌ أو نأَيَ سكنٌ
نَفْسٌa soul عزَوفٌaloof وأَنْفand a nose كلهall of it أَنَفproud disdain
نَفْسٌ عزَوفٌ وأَنْف كله أَنَف
Within me, whenever calamity strikes or a beloved departs,
It hopes so I hope from its ambition the highest.
Is a soul that turns away, and a nose made wholly of pride,
وهمةٌand an ambition كلماwhenever أفْضَتْadvanced إلىto شرفٍa height
وهمةٌ كلما أفْضَتْ إلى شرفٍ
طالتْgrew higher فعنَّand so appeared لهاto it منْfrom همتهاits ambition شضرَفa lofty peak (unclear form)
طالتْ فعنَّ لها منْ همتها شضرَف
And an ambition that, whenever it reaches a height,
Grows higher, and its own striving brings another summit into view.
Partial English translation: 77 of 80 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1