هَلْhave? أذْكَرَتْكَreminded you العَهْدَthe old bond بَعدَafter تَنَاسِيfeigned forgetting
هَلْ أذْكَرَتْكَ العَهْدَ بَعدَ تَنَاسِي
دِمنٌdwelling traces تَقَادَمَgrew old عَهدُهَاtheir acquaintance بِالناسِwith people
دِمنٌ تَقَادَمَ عَهدُهَا بِالناسِ
Have you been reminded of the old bond, after feigned forgetting,
by dwelling traces whose time with people is long past?
إنْif كَنْتَyou were تَجْحَدُyou deny مَاwhat لَقِيتَyou suffered فَإنَّنيthen indeed I
إنْ كَنْتَ تَجْحَدُ مَا لَقِيتَ فَإنَّني
رَهْنُa captive of الأسَىgrief أوْor كُلِّevery قَلبٍheart قَاسِيhard
رَهْنُ الأسَى أوْ كُلِّ قَلبٍ قَاسِي
If you deny what you have suffered, I
am captive to grief—or to every hard heart.
وَلَئِنْand even if نَسِيتَyou forgot الظَّاعِنِينَthose departing وَقَدْwhen already مَضَوْاthey had gone
وَلَئِنْ نَسِيتَ الظَّاعِنِينَ وَقَدْ مَضَوْا
يَومَthe day of النَّوَىseparation فَرَقاًin dread فَلَسْتُthen I am not بِناسِيforgetful
يَومَ النَّوَى فَرَقاً فَلَسْتُ بِناسِي
And if you have forgotten those who departed, when they went
on the day of separation, in dread, I have not forgotten.
هَذيthese المَنَازِلُdwellings أقفَرَتْbecame deserted مِنْfrom بَعدِهِمْafter them
هَذي المَنَازِلُ أقفَرَتْ مِنْ بَعدِهِمْ
وَلَطَالَمَاand how often مُلِئَتْthey were filled مِنَwith الإينَاسِcompanionship
وَلَطَالَمَا مُلِئَتْ مِنَ الإينَاسِ
These dwellings have grown desolate after them,
though so often they were filled with companionship.
كَانُواthey were الضّيَاءَthe light لَهَاfor them وَلَمَّاand when أدلَجُواthey journeyed by night
كَانُوا الضّيَاءَ لَهَا وَلَمَّا أدلَجُوا
طَلَعَrose الظَّلامُdarkness لغَيْبَةِbecause of the absence of النِّبرَاسِthe lamp
طَلَعَ الظَّلامُ لغَيْبَةِ النِّبرَاسِ
They were the dwellings' light; when they journeyed by night,
darkness rose at the lamp's absence.
يَجِدُfeels الجَمَادُlifeless matter عَلَىfor العَشِيرِthe companion كَآبَةًsorrow
يَجِدُ الجَمَادُ عَلَى العَشِيرِ كَآبَةً
غُلِبَwas overcome المَشُوقُthe yearning one فَكَيْفَthen what بِالحَسّاَسِof the keenly sensitive
غُلِبَ المَشُوقُ فَكَيْفَ بِالحَسّاَسِ
Even lifeless things feel sorrow for a companion;
the yearning one is overcome—what, then, of the keenly sensitive?
مَنْwho مُخْبِرِيmy informant عَنْabout سَيرِهِمْtheir journey أوسَوْمِهِمْor their roaming
مَنْ مُخْبِرِي عَنْ سَيرِهِمْ أوسَوْمِهِمْ
فِيin أيّwhich نَاحِيَةٍregion وَأيّand what مَواَسِconsoler
فِي أيّ نَاحِيَةٍ وَأيّ مَواَسِ
Who will tell me of their journey or their roaming,
in what region—and who will bring solace?
وَمَتَىand when يَكُونُwill be إيَابُهُمْtheir return وَأظُنُّهُمْand I think they
وَمَتَى يَكُونُ إيَابُهُمْ وَأظُنُّهُمْ
لاَnot يَرجِعُونَwill return لآخِرِuntil the last of الأحْرَاسِthe ages
لاَ يَرجِعُونَ لآخِرِ الأحْرَاسِ
And when will they return? Yet I think they
will not return until the end of the ages.
وَأوَدُّand I wish لَوْthat سَمِعُواthey would hear حَدِيثاًwords دَارَturned فِيwithin
وَأوَدُّ لَوْ سَمِعُوا حَدِيثاً دَارَ فِي
خَلَدِيmy mind بَخُلْتُI was sparing بِهِwith them عَنِtoward الجُلاَّسِthe companions
خَلَدِي بَخُلْتُ بِهِ عَنِ الجُلاَّسِ
I wish they could hear words that turned within
my mind, which I withheld from my companions.
مَاwhat لِيis with me أغَالِطُI deceive myself بِالسُّلُوّwith forgetting وَقَلَّمَاand seldom
مَا لِي أغَالِطُ بِالسُّلُوّ وَقَلَّمَا
وَقَفَstood firm العَلِيلُthe ailing one لِصَكَّةِagainst the stroke of المِقْيَاسِthe gauge
وَقَفَ العَلِيلُ لِصَكَّةِ المِقْيَاسِ
Why do I deceive myself with forgetting, when seldom
does the ailing man withstand the gauge's stroke?
وَالهَمُّand grief يَغْلِبُovercomes مَنْwhoever يُحَاوِلُtries سَتْرَهُto conceal it
وَالهَمُّ يَغْلِبُ مَنْ يُحَاوِلُ سَتْرَهُ
حَتَّىuntil يُغَيِّبَهُit removes him عَنْfrom الإحْسَاسِawareness
حَتَّى يُغَيِّبَهُ عَنْ الإحْسَاسِ
Grief overcomes the one who tries to hide it,
until it removes him from awareness.
وَمَنِand whoever اٍسْتَمَالَinclined إلَىtoward اللَّيَالِيthe nights آمِناًfeeling secure
وَمَنِ اٍسْتَمَالَ إلَى اللَّيَالِي آمِناً
ضَرَبَتْthey reckoned لَهُfor him الأخمَاسَthe fives لِلأسْدَاسِagainst the sixes
ضَرَبَتْ لَهُ الأخمَاسَ لِلأسْدَاسِ
Whoever leans upon the nights, feeling secure,
finds them plotting against him, reckoning fives against sixes.
وَالحَيُّand the living عُرْضَةُa target for كُلّevery سَهْمٍarrow صَائِبِunerring
وَالحَيُّ عُرْضَةُ كُلّ سَهْمٍ صَائِبِ
وَمَصَائِبُand the calamities of الدُّنيَاthe world عَلَىare of أجْنَاسِvarious kinds
وَمَصَائِبُ الدُّنيَا عَلَى أجْنَاسِ
The living are targets for every unerring arrow,
and the world's calamities are of many kinds.
وأنَاand I الذِيam the one who عَايَنْتُwitnessed مِنْsome of أوجَاعِهَاits pains
وأنَا الذِي عَايَنْتُ مِنْ أوجَاعِهَا
فَطَعِمْتُand so I tasted مِنهَاfrom it لَدغَةَthe bite of الدَّسَّاسِthe burrowing serpent
فَطَعِمْتُ مِنهَا لَدغَةَ الدَّسَّاسِ
I am one who has witnessed its pains
and tasted from it the burrowing serpent's bite.
وَالشَّيءُand a thing يُخْبِرُspeaks عَنْabout حَقيقَةِthe truth of أمرِهِits nature
وَالشَّيءُ يُخْبِرُ عَنْ حَقيقَةِ أمرِهِ
مَنone who ذاقَهُhas tasted it نَصاًdirectly بِغَيْرِwithout قِياسِanalogy
مَن ذاقَهُ نَصاً بِغَيْرِ قِياسِ
Of a thing's true nature, the one who speaks
is he who has tasted it—directly, without analogy.
وَهْيَand they are الدَّواَهِيcalamities مُرَّةٌbitter وَأمْرُّهَاand their bitterest
وَهْيَ الدَّواَهِي مُرَّةٌ وَأمْرُّهَا
مَوتُthe death of الشَّقِيقِthe brother الطَّيِّبِsweet of الأنفَاسِbreath
مَوتُ الشَّقِيقِ الطَّيِّبِ الأنفَاسِ
Calamities are bitter, and the bitterest of them
is the death of a brother sweet of breath.
ذَهَبَhas departed الأمِيرُthe emir مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad وكَأنَّهُand as though he
ذَهَبَ الأمِيرُ مُحَمَّدٌ وكَأنَّهُ
لَمْhad not يَعْلُrisen فَوقَabove مَرَاتِبٍranks وَكَرَاسِيand thrones
لَمْ يَعْلُ فَوقَ مَرَاتِبٍ وَكَرَاسِي
The emir Muhammad has gone, as though he
had never risen above ranks and thrones,
أوor أنَّهُthat he لَمhad not يَسْمُsoared فِيin طَلَبِpursuit of العُلَىgreatness
أو أنَّهُ لَم يَسْمُ فِي طَلَبِ العُلَى
حَتَّىuntil ألاَنَhe tamed الصَّعْبَthe unruly بَعْدَafter شِمَاسِdefiance
حَتَّى ألاَنَ الصَّعْبَ بَعْدَ شِمَاسِ
or had never soared in pursuit of greatness
until he tamed the unruly after its defiance.
مِنْfrom أينَwhere أدرَكَهُovertook him الحِمَامُdeath وَدُونَهُwhile before him
مِنْ أينَ أدرَكَهُ الحِمَامُ وَدُونَهُ
حَرَمُthe sanctuary of السِّلاحِweapons وَحَوْمَةُand the ring of الحُرَّاسِthe guards
حَرَمُ السِّلاحِ وَحَوْمَةُ الحُرَّاسِ
From where did death overtake him, when before him stood
a sanctuary of weapons and a ring of guards?
أتَغَافَلَdid he feign heedlessness البَوَّابُthe doorkeeper أمْor سَبِقَتْhad preceded لَهُfor it
أتَغَافَلَ البَوَّابُ أمْ سَبِقَتْ لَهُ
قَبلَbefore الهُجُومِthe assault يَدٌa favor مَعَwith العَسَّاسِthe night-watchmen
قَبلَ الهُجُومِ يَدٌ مَعَ العَسَّاسِ
Did the doorkeeper look away, or had death earned
a favor with the night-watchmen before its assault?
جَهِلَwas ignorant الزَّمَانُtime وَلَوand had it دَرَىknown بِمَقَامِهِof his station
جَهِلَ الزَّمَانُ وَلَو دَرَى بِمَقَامِهِ
مَاnot سَاقَهُwould have driven him قَسْراًforcibly إلَىto الأرمَاسِthe graves
مَا سَاقَهُ قَسْراً إلَى الأرمَاسِ
Time was ignorant; had it known his station,
it would not have driven him forcibly to the graves.
صَعْبٌhard عَلَىfor الأيَّامِthe days أنthat يُرأىbe seen لَهَاin their midst
صَعْبٌ عَلَى الأيَّامِ أن يُرأى لَهَا
جَبَلٌa mountain مِنَof الحِلمِforbearance المُقَدَّسِhallowed رَاسِيfirmly rooted
جَبَلٌ مِنَ الحِلمِ المُقَدَّسِ رَاسِي
It is hard for the days to behold in their midst
a firmly rooted mountain of hallowed forbearance.
قَدْindeed كَانَhe was طَلاَّعَa climber of الثَّنَايَاmountain passes خَيِّراًbenevolent
قَدْ كَانَ طَلاَّعَ الثَّنَايَا خَيِّراً
عَوناًa help علىagainst الأزَمَاتِcrises خَيرَthe best مُواسِيcomforter
عَوناً على الأزَمَاتِ خَيرَ مُواسِي
He was a climber of mountain passes, benevolent,
a help in crises, the best of comforters.
حَرِداًwrathful عَلَىtoward الوَاشِينَslanderers لَيسَnot يَهُزُّهُsways him
حَرِداً عَلَى الوَاشِينَ لَيسَ يَهُزُّهُ
لِلمُوبِقَاتِtoward deadly sins مَكَايِدُthe schemes of الوَسْواسِthe whispering tempter
لِلمُوبِقَاتِ مَكَايِدُ الوَسْواسِ
Wrathful toward slanderers, he was not swayed
toward deadly sins by the whispering tempter's schemes.
يَبكِيweeps لَهُfor him الأدَبُliterary art القَرِيضُverse وَأهلُهُand its people
يَبكِي لَهُ الأدَبُ القَرِيضُ وَأهلُهُ
وَعَوَامِلُand the wielders الأقلامof pens وَالقِرطَاسِand paper
وَعَوَامِلُ الأقلام وَالقِرطَاسِ
The art of verse and its people weep for him,
as do the wielders of pens and paper.
وَالسَّيْفُand the sword مُلتَفِتٌturning إلَىtoward إيضَائِهِhis making it shine
وَالسَّيْفُ مُلتَفِتٌ إلَى إيضَائِهِ
وَالخَيْلُand the horses تَائِقَةٌyearning إلَىfor الأحْلاَسِthe saddlecloths
وَالخَيْلُ تَائِقَةٌ إلَى الأحْلاَسِ
And the sword looks to him to make it shine,
while horses yearn for their saddlecloths.
كَادَتْalmost عُرَىthe bonds of الإسلاَمِIslam تُنقَصِwere diminished بَعدَهُafter him
كَادَتْ عُرَى الإسلاَمِ تُنقَصِ بَعدَهُ
لَولاَbut for مُقِيمُthe upholder of الدَّينِthe faith بِالقِسطَاسِwith the scales of justice
لَولاَ مُقِيمُ الدَّينِ بِالقِسطَاسِ
The bonds of Islam almost weakened after him,
but for the upholder of the faith with the scales of justice:
خَيرُthe best of الخَلائِقِcreatures صِنْوُهُhis brother وَقَسِيمُهُand his partner
خَيرُ الخَلائِقِ صِنْوُهُ وَقَسِيمُهُ
وَقْتَin times of الرَّخَاءِease وَضِيقِِand the straits of حَرّthe heat of البَاسِbattle
وَقْتَ الرَّخَاءِ وَضِيقِِ حَرّ البَاسِ
the best of creatures, his brother and his partner
in times of ease and the straits of battle's heat.
مَاhow أخلَقَfitting المُلْكَkingship العَلِيَّlofty عِمَادُهُits pillar
مَا أخلَقَ المُلْكَ العَلِيَّ عِمَادُهُ
بِعَلِيٍّfor Ali الشَّهْمِthe gallant النَّزِيهِunstained in البَاسِvalor
بِعَلِيٍّ الشَّهْمِ النَّزِيهِ البَاسِ
How well kingship, lofty in its pillar, befits
Ali, the gallant, unstained in valor!
نَاهٍforbidding عَنِagainst اتيَانِcommitting المَنَاكِرِwrongs آمرٌcommanding
نَاهٍ عَنِ اتيَانِ المَنَاكِرِ آمرٌ
بِالعُرْفِwhat is right لاَnot سَاهٍheedless ولاَnor نَعَّاسdrowsy
بِالعُرْفِ لاَ سَاهٍ ولاَ نَعَّاس
He forbids the committing of wrongs and commands
what is right, neither heedless nor drowsy.
المُلْكُkingship يَعْلَمُknows أنَّهُthat it بِعِنَايَةٍthrough care
المُلْكُ يَعْلَمُ أنَّهُ بِعِنَايَةٍ
يُمْسِيit reaches evening وَيَصبِحُand reaches morning فِيin أعَزّthe most honored لِبَاسِgarb
يُمْسِي وَيَصبِحُ فِي أعَزّ لِبَاسِ
Kingship knows that, through his care,
it meets evening and morning in its noblest garb.
يَاO مَنْyou who يَعْزُّit is grievous عَلَىto المَعَاليgreatness أنْto يُرَىbe seen
يَا مَنْ يَعْزُّ عَلَى المَعَالي أنْ يُرَى
قَلِقاًtroubled منَby الزَّمَنِtime المُسِيءِthe hurtful الجَاسِيthe unyielding
قَلِقاً منَ الزَّمَنِ المُسِيءِ الجَاسِي
O you whom greatness finds it grievous to see
troubled by cruel, unyielding time,
مَاnot مَاتَhas died مَنْhe whose كُنتَyou were الخَلِيفَةَthe successor بَعدَهُafter him
مَا مَاتَ مَنْ كُنتَ الخَلِيفَةَ بَعدَهُ
مُحيِيreviver of الحَيَاthe rain بِالأرْبُعِamong the dwelling-sites الأدْرَاسِthe effaced
مُحيِي الحَيَا بِالأرْبُعِ الأدْرَاسِ
he has not died whose successor you became,
you who revive the rain amid effaced dwelling-sites.
إنَّindeed المَنَايَاdeath's decrees لاَnot تَرِقٌّtake pity لِجَازِعٍon one distraught
إنَّ المَنَايَا لاَ تَرِقٌّ لِجَازِعٍ
فَتَرُدُّso as to restore فَائِتَهُhis lost one عَقِيبَafter اليَاسِdespair
فَتَرُدُّ فَائِتَهُ عَقِيبَ اليَاسِ
Death's decrees do not soften for one distraught,
so as to restore his lost one after despair.
فَهْيَfor it is الَّتِيthat which مَرَدَتْhas rebelled عَلَىagainst حُكَامِهَاits judges
فَهْيَ الَّتِي مَرَدَتْ عَلَى حُكَامِهَا
مِنْfrom among كُلِّevery ذِيbearer of قَلَمٍa pen وَذِيand bearer of قِرطاسِpaper
مِنْ كُلِّ ذِي قَلَمٍ وَذِي قِرطاسِ
For death is that which has defied its judges,
all who wield a pen and paper.
فَجَعَتْit bereaved مُتَمِّماًMutammim الأسِيفَthe sorrowful بِمَالِكٍof Malik
فَجَعَتْ مُتَمِّماً الأسِيفَ بِمَالِكٍ
وَنَعَتْand announced death بِصَخْرٍof Sakhr مَرَّةًonce لِخُنَاسِto Khunas
وَنَعَتْ بِصَخْرٍ مَرَّةً لِخُنَاسِ
It bereaved sorrowful Mutammim of Malik,
and once brought Khunas the news of Sakhr's death.
وَأذاقَتْand made taste النُّعمَانَal-Nu'man سُمَأpoison نَاقِعاًdeadly
وَأذاقَتْ النُّعمَانَ سُمَأ نَاقِعاً
وَسَقَتْand gave drink to كُلَيباًKulayb مِنْfrom يَدَيْthe hands of جِسَّاسِJassas
وَسَقَتْ كُلَيباً مِنْ يَدَيْ جِسَّاسِ
It made al-Nu'man taste deadly poison,
and gave Kulayb drink from the hands of Jassas.
وَتَتَابَعَتْand came in succession فِيupon تُبَّعٍTubba وَسَطَتْand attacked عَلَىagainst
وَتَتَابَعَتْ فِي تُبَّعٍ وَسَطَتْ عَلَى
سَيفِSayf ابنِson of ذِيDhi يَزَنٍYazan وَذِيand Dhu نُوَّاسِNuwas
سَيفِ ابنِ ذِي يَزَنٍ وَذِي نُوَّاسِ
It struck Tubba repeatedly, and fell upon
Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan and Dhu Nuwas.
وَشَجَتْand grieved أمَيَّةَUmayya فيthrough بَنيِهِhis sons وَعَبَّسَتْand frowned
وَشَجَتْ أمَيَّةَ في بَنيِهِ وَعَبَّسَتْ
لأولِيupon those of النَّباهَةeminence مِنْamong بَنِيthe sons of العَباسِal-Abbas
لأولِي النَّباهَة مِنْ بَنِي العَباسِ
It grieved Umayya through his sons, and frowned
upon the eminent among the sons of al-Abbas.
وَلآلِand for the house of أغلَبَAghlab مَاnot رَعَتْit showed regard وَتَرَصَّدَتْand lay in wait
وَلآلِ أغلَبَ مَا رَعَتْ وَتَرَصَّدَتْ
لِبَنِيfor the sons of عُبَيدٍUbayd سَاعَةَat the hour of الإبْلاَسِdespair
لِبَنِي عُبَيدٍ سَاعَةَ الإبْلاَسِ
It showed no regard for the house of Aghlab, and lay in wait
for the sons of Ubayd at their hour of despair.
وَقَضَتْand decreed doom عَلَىupon لَمْتُونَةLamtuna وَتَقَلَّبَتْand turned
وَقَضَتْ عَلَى لَمْتُونَة وَتَقَلَّبَتْ
بِقَبِيلِagainst the clan of عَبدِAbd المُؤمِنِal-Mu'min الهِرمَاسِthe fierce lion
بِقَبِيلِ عَبدِ المُؤمِنِ الهِرمَاسِ
It doomed Lamtuna, and turned against
the clan of Abd al-Mu'min, the fierce lion.
وَلَقَىand suffered بَنوthe sons of زَيَّانَZayyan مِنْfrom أوصَابِهَاits afflictions
وَلَقَى بَنو زَيَّانَ مِنْ أوصَابِهَا
وَبَنُوand the sons of مَرِينٍMarin شِدَّةَhardship فِيamid بَأسِstrife
وَبَنُو مَرِينٍ شِدَّةَ فِي بَأسِ
The sons of Zayyan suffered from its afflictions,
and the sons of Marin, hardship amid strife.
وَهَوَتْand plunged بِأملاكِwith the kings of الطَّوائِفِthe factions بَعْدَمَاafter
وَهَوَتْ بِأملاكِ الطَّوائِفِ بَعْدَمَا
سَقَطَfell الخَلاَئِفُthe caliphs فيin فضَاthe expanse of البُرْناسal-Burnas
سَقَطَ الخَلاَئِفُ في فضَا البُرْناس
It hurled down the kings of the factions, after
the caliphs fell in the expanse of al-Burnas.
وَرَمَتْand struck بَنِيthe sons of حَفْصٍHafs بِكُلّwith every رَزِيَّةٍcalamity
وَرَمَتْ بَنِي حَفْصٍ بِكُلّ رَزِيَّةٍ
ذَهَبَتْit went بِهِمْwith them فِيinto دَامِرِa desolate expanse of الأمْلاَسlevel wastes
ذَهَبَتْ بِهِمْ فِي دَامِرِ الأمْلاَس
It struck the sons of Hafs with every calamity
that swept them into desolate, level wastes.
وَهَلُمَّand so جَرَاonward لَمْnot يَصُنْprotect مِنْfrom بَكْتِهَاits blows
وَهَلُمَّ جَرَا لَمْ يَصُنْ مِنْ بَكْتِهَا
حِصْنُthe fortress of السُّيُوفِswords وَلاَnor حِمَىthe shelter of الأتْرَاسِshields
حِصْنُ السُّيُوفِ وَلاَ حِمَى الأتْرَاسِ
And so on: no protection against its blows was given
by a fortress of swords or the shelter of shields.
وَلأنْتَand surely you أفْضَلُthe finest مُذْعِنٍone who heeds لِمَقَالَةٍa saying
وَلأنْتَ أفْضَلُ مُذْعِنٍ لِمَقَالَةٍ
جَاءَتْcame بِهَاwith it تَعزِيَّةُthe consolation of الأكْيَاسِthe wise
جَاءَتْ بِهَا تَعزِيَّةُ الأكْيَاسِ
And you are surely the finest to heed a saying
brought by the consolation of the wise:
اصبِرbe patient نَكُنْwe shall be بِكَthrough you صَابِرِينَpatient فَإنَّمَاfor only
اصبِر نَكُنْ بِكَ صَابِرِينَ فَإنَّمَا
صَبْرُthe patience of الرَّعِيةِthe subjects عِنْدَwith صَبْرِthe patience of الرَّاسِthe leader
صَبْرُ الرَّعِيةِ عِنْدَ صَبْرِ الرَّاسِ
Be patient, and through you we shall be patient; for
the subjects' patience comes only with their leader's patience.
خَيْرٌbetter مِنَthan العْبَّاسِal-Abbas أجْرُكَyour reward بَعدَهُafter him
خَيْرٌ مِنَ العْبَّاسِ أجْرُكَ بَعدَهُ
وَاللهُand God خَيْرٌbetter مِنْكَthan you لِلْعَبَّاسِfor al-Abbas
وَاللهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْكَ لِلْعَبَّاسِ
Your reward after him is better than al-Abbas,
and God is better for al-Abbas than you.
Sol 6.1