أردِّدُI turn back and forth الظّنَّconjecture بينَbetween اليأسِdespair والأملِand hope
أردِّدُ الظّنَّ بينَ اليأسِ والأملِ
وأعْذِرُand I excuse الحبَّlove يُفْضيleads بيwith me إِلىto العَذَلِreproach
وأعْذِرُ الحبَّ يُفْضي بي إِلى العَذَلِ
I turn conjecture back and forth between despair and hope,
I waver between despair and hope
and excuse love as it leads me to reproach.
And forgive love though it leads me to reproach
وأسْألُand I ask الطّيْفَthe dream-phantom عنْabout سَلْمىSalma إذاwhen قُبِلَتْis accepted
وأسْألُ الطّيْفَ عنْ سَلْمى إذا قُبِلَتْ
شَفاعَةُthe intercession النّوْمِof sleep للسّاريfor the night-visitor إِلىto المُقَلِthe eyes
شَفاعَةُ النّوْمِ للسّاري إِلى المُقَلِ
I ask the dream-phantom about Salma, when accepted is
I ask the specter about Salma if
sleep's intercession for the night-visitor to the eyes.
The intercession of sleep avails the insomniac
وماand not أظُنُّI think عُهودَpledges الرّمْلِof the sands باقِيَةًenduring
وما أظُنُّ عُهودَ الرّمْلِ باقِيَةً
وأيُّand which عَهْدِكِyour pledge ياO ظَمْياءُZamya لمhas not يَحُلِchanged
وأيُّ عَهْدِكِ يا ظَمْياءُ لم يَحُلِ
I do not think the pledges of the sands endure,
I don’t think the promises of the sand dunes last
and which pledge of yours, O Zamya, has not changed?
What promise of yours, O obscure night, has come true?
للهِto God ماwhat صَنَعَتْdid أيْديthe forelegs الرِّكابِthe riding-camels بِناto us
للهِ ما صَنَعَتْ أيْدي الرِّكابِ بِنا
عَشيّةَon the evening اسْتَتَرَhid الأقْمارُthe moons بالكِلَلِbehind the curtains
عَشيّةَ اسْتَتَرَ الأقْمارُ بالكِلَلِ
By God, what the riding-camels' forelegs did to us,
What the hands of fate did to us
the evening when the moons hid behind curtains!
The evening the moons donned their veils
إذاwhen ابْتَسَمْنَthey smiled سَلَبْنَthey robbed البَرْقَthe lightning رَوْعَتَهُits splendor
إذا ابْتَسَمْنَ سَلَبْنَ البَرْقَ رَوْعَتَهُ
وإنْand if نَظَرْنَthey gazed فجَعْنَthey bereaved الظّبْيَthe gazelle بالكَحَلِof kohl-darkness
وإنْ نَظَرْنَ فجَعْنَ الظّبْيَ بالكَحَلِ
When they smiled, they stole the lightning's splendor,
When they smile they rob lightning of its ferocity
and if they gazed, they bereaved the gazelle of its kohl-dark beauty.
And when they glance they seduce the gazelle with kohl
مِنْof كُلِّevery بَيْضاءَa fair-skinned woman مَصقولٍpolished تَرائِبُهاher upper breast
مِنْ كُلِّ بَيْضاءَ مَصقولٍ تَرائِبُها
مَقسومَةِdivided العَهْدِthe pledge بينَbetween الغَدْرِtreachery والمَلَلِand weariness
مَقسومَةِ العَهْدِ بينَ الغَدْرِ والمَلَلِ
Each a fair-skinned woman with a burnished upper breast,
Of every polished white forearm its bracelets
her pledge divided between treachery and weariness.
Divide loyalty between betrayal and boredom
تَسُلُّshe draws منْfrom مُقْلَتَيْهاher two eyes صارِماًa keen blade أخَذَتْtook
تَسُلُّ منْ مُقْلَتَيْها صارِماً أخَذَتْ
مِنْfrom حَدِّهits edge وَجْنَتاهاher two cheeks حُمْرَةَthe redness الخَجَلِof bashfulness
مِنْ حَدِّه وَجْنَتاها حُمْرَةَ الخَجَلِ
She draws from her two eyes a keen blade; borrowed
From her eyelashes it unsheathed a sharp sword that took
from its edge by her cheeks was the blush of bashfulness.
From its edge and her cheeks the redness of shyness
طَرَقْتُهاI visited her by night والدُّجىand the darkness شابَتْhad grayed ذَوائِبُهُits locks
طَرَقْتُها والدُّجى شابَتْ ذَوائِبُهُ
والفَجْرُand dawn مُقْتَبِلٌyouthful فيin زِيِّthe garb مُكْتَهِلِa middle-aged man
والفَجْرُ مُقْتَبِلٌ في زِيِّ مُكْتَهِلِ
I visited her by night, while darkness's locks had grayed,
I came to her while the darkness was still thick
and dawn was youthful in a middle-aged man's garb.
And dawn approaching in golden raiment
وللرّقيبِand for the watcher خُشوعٌsubdued stillness فيin لَواحِظِهِhis glances
وللرّقيبِ خُشوعٌ في لَواحِظِهِ
يُعيرُهاlends them نَظراتِthe glances الشّارِبِof the drinker الثّمِلِdrunken
يُعيرُها نَظراتِ الشّارِبِ الثّمِلِ
The watcher's glances held a subdued stillness,
And the spy has humility in his glances
lending them the looks of a drunken drinker.
That mock her with the looks of a drunken reveler
فردَّso turned back دونَshort of وِشاحَيْهاher two sashes العَفافُchastity يَداًa hand
فردَّ دونَ وِشاحَيْها العَفافُ يَداً
تَبُزُّplunders فيin الرّوْعِbattle's terror دِرْعَthe armor الفارِسِthe horseman البَطَلِvaliant
تَبُزُّ في الرّوْعِ دِرْعَ الفارِسِ البَطَلِ
So chastity turned back, short of her two sashes, a hand
So virtue drove back beneath her sleeves a hand
that, in battle's terror, plunders the valiant horseman's armor.
That triumphs in panic like the valiant knight’s armor
ثمّthen انْصَرَفْتُI departed وقَلْباناand our two hearts كأنّهُماas though they both were
ثمّ انْصَرَفْتُ وقَلْبانا كأنّهُما
عِندَat الوَداعfarewell جَناحاthe two wings طائرٍa bird وَجِلِfrightened
عِندَ الوَداع جَناحا طائرٍ وَجِلِ
Then I departed, our two hearts like
Then I left while our hearts were like
the two wings of a frightened bird at farewell.
A bird’s wings folded in farewell
وفيand in مَباسِمِهاher smiling lips ليfor me ماwhat يُتابِعُهُrepeats it
وفي مَباسِمِها لي ما يُتابِعُهُ
بِراحَتَيْكَon your two palms المُلوكُthe kings الصِّيدُproud مِنْof قُبَلِkisses
بِراحَتَيْكَ المُلوكُ الصِّيدُ مِنْ قُبَلِ
On her smiling lips I have what is lavished
In her smiles for me what kings pursue
on your two palms by proud kings—kisses.
With your approval the hunt of old
للهِto God دَرُّكَyour excellence منْas قَرمٍa mighty chief كمِhow often اخْتَضَبَتْwere dyed
للهِ دَرُّكَ منْ قَرمٍ كمِ اخْتَضَبَتْ
إليهِtoward him بالدّمِwith blood أيْديthe forelegs الخَيْلِof horses والإبِلِand camels
إليهِ بالدّمِ أيْدي الخَيْلِ والإبِلِ
God be praised for you, mighty chief! How often were stained
God reward you for a ruin whose soil
on the way to him, with blood, the forelegs of horses and camels!
Was reddened for Him by horses and camels’ blood
سَهْلِeasy of access الشّريعَةِthe watering-place سَبّاقٍracing ahead إِلىto أمدٍa goal
سَهْلِ الشّريعَةِ سَبّاقٍ إِلى أمدٍ
تَسْريtravel by night الرّياحُthe winds بهِthrough it حَسْرىexhausted علىat مَهَلِa slow pace
تَسْري الرّياحُ بهِ حَسْرى على مَهَلِ
His watering-place is easy to reach; he races ahead toward a goal
On the plain of Shari’ah a racer to glory
where the winds journey by night, exhausted and slow.
Whose winds blow sadly at a walking pace
ومُستَبِدٍّand self-reliant برأيٍin judgment لاnot يُتَعْتِعُهُshakes it
ومُستَبِدٍّ برأيٍ لا يُتَعْتِعُهُ
خَطْبٌa calamity يُشيرُgives counsel علىto الآراءِjudgments بالزَّلَلِto err
خَطْبٌ يُشيرُ على الآراءِ بالزَّلَلِ
He is self-reliant in a judgment that is not shaken
And a despot in judgment whom no argument
by a calamity that counsels judgments to err.
Can sway, gesturing at opinions with error
يَنْضوهُhe unsheathes it للأمْرِfor the affair قدalready سُدَّتْhave been blocked مَطالِعُهُits approaches
يَنْضوهُ للأمْرِ قد سُدَّتْ مَطالِعُهُ
وضاقَand narrowed فيat طَرَفَيْهِits two ends مَسْلَكُthe path الحِيَلِof stratagems
وضاقَ في طَرَفَيْهِ مَسْلَكُ الحِيَلِ
He unsheathes it for an affair whose approaches have already been blocked,
Resolute for command though its paths are blocked to him
and at both its ends the path of stratagems has narrowed.
And in his eyes the way of tricks has narrowed
والسّيْفُand the sword يَنْفَعُbenefits يومَon the day الرّوعِof terror حامِلَهُits bearer
والسّيْفُ يَنْفَعُ يومَ الرّوعِ حامِلَهُ
إذاwhen تبدَّلَtakes in exchange يُمْناهُhis right hand منَin place of الخَلَلِthe sheath
إذا تبدَّلَ يُمْناهُ منَ الخَلَلِ
The sword benefits its bearer on the day of terror,
The sword profits its bearer on the day of panic
when it exchanges its sheath for his right hand.
If its edge is keener than the flaws within
فزادَهُso granted him more المُقْتَديal-Muqtadi باللهِof God (bi-llah) تَكْرِمَةًhonor
فزادَهُ المُقْتَدي باللهِ تَكْرِمَةً
كَسَتْهُclothed him بُرْدَthe mantle الشّبابِof youth الناضِرِblooming الخَضِلِdewy
كَسَتْهُ بُرْدَ الشّبابِ الناضِرِ الخَضِلِ
So al-Muqtadi bi-llah granted him further honor,
So the follower of God increased him in bounty
which clothed him in the mantle of blooming, dewy youth.
Cloaking him in the verdant garb of youth renewed
وعادَand returned رَيْعانُthe bloom عُمْرٍof a life بانَhad departed رَيِّقُهُits first freshness
وعادَ رَيْعانُ عُمْرٍ بانَ رَيِّقُهُ
فراجَعَso revisited البيضَthe bright ones منْamong أيّامِهِhis days الأُوَلِearliest
فراجَعَ البيضَ منْ أيّامِهِ الأُوَلِ
Life's bloom returned, though its first freshness had departed,
And the vigor of bygone days returned to him
so he revisited the bright ones among his earliest days.
When he revisited the first whiteness of his days
يُزْهَىtake pride بهِin him الخِلَعُthe robes of honor المَيْمونُauspicious طائِرُهاtheir omen
يُزْهَى بهِ الخِلَعُ المَيْمونُ طائِرُها
زَهْوَthe pride الخَرائِدِof shy maidens بالمكْحولَةِin kohl-dark eyes النُّجُلِwide
زَهْوَ الخَرائِدِ بالمكْحولَةِ النُّجُلِ
The robes of honor, auspicious in omen, glory in him,
The propitious robes make their wearer radiant
as shy maidens glory in wide, kohl-dark eyes.
With the brilliance of the star Canopus unleashed
هُنّthey الرّياضُgardens لهاfor them مِنْfrom خُلْقِهِhis character زَهَرٌflowers
هُنّ الرّياضُ لها مِنْ خُلْقِهِ زَهَرٌ
ومِنْand from أيادِيهِhis benefactions صَوْبُthe downpour العارِضِthe raincloud الهَطِلِpouring
ومِنْ أيادِيهِ صَوْبُ العارِضِ الهَطِلِ
They are gardens, with flowers from his character,
And whose pouring rain is his hands’ tilt
and from his benefactions, the downpour of a pouring cloud.
Whoever dons the mantle of pride
ومَنْand whoever غَداbecomes بِرِداءِin the mantle الفَخْرِof glory مُشْتَمِلاًwrapped
ومَنْ غَدا بِرِداءِ الفَخْرِ مُشْتَمِلاً
أضْحىbecomes بِماabout what يَكْتَسيهِhe wears it غيرَnot مُحتَفِلِconcerned
أضْحى بِما يَكْتَسيهِ غيرَ مُحتَفِلِ
Whoever becomes wrapped in the mantle of glory
Becomes heedless in what clothes him
comes to care little for what he wears.
And fate and foes came to him in a swoon
وجاءَهُand came to him الطِّرْفُthe noble steed والأعْداءُand the enemies فيin كَمَدٍanguish
وجاءَهُ الطِّرْفُ والأعْداءُ في كَمَدٍ
يُدْميmakes bleed الجَوانِحَthe ribs والإخْوانُand the brethren فيin جَذَلِjoy
يُدْمي الجَوانِحَ والإخْوانُ في جَذَلِ
The noble steed came to him, his enemies in anguish
Drenching intimates and brothers in their blood
that makes their ribs bleed, while his brethren rejoice.
Borne by his guide though necks bow down
يَسْموrises high بهادِيهِwith its neck والأعناقُand the necks خاضِعَةٌbowed
يَسْمو بهادِيهِ والأعناقُ خاضِعَةٌ
لِحافِرٍto a hoof بعُيونِwith the eyes القَوْمِof the people مُنْتَعِلِshod
لِحافِرٍ بعُيونِ القَوْمِ مُنْتَعِلِ
It raises its neck high, while necks bow
To a hoof the people’s eyes regard as defiled
before a hoof shod with the people's eyes.
O Saad how many blessings have you attained
ياO سَعْدُSa'd كَمْhow many لكَof yours منْof نَعْماءَa blessing جُدْتَyou bestowed generously بِهاwith it
يا سَعْدُ كَمْ لكَ منْ نَعْماءَ جُدْتَ بِها
حتّىuntil تَرَكْتَyou left الحَياrain يُعْزىis ascribed إِلىto البَخَلِstinginess
حتّى تَرَكْتَ الحَيا يُعْزى إِلى البَخَلِ
O Sa'd, how many a blessing of yours you have lavished,
Leaving the living to be envied for their stinginess!
until you left the rain accused of stinginess!
Are these the reeds of rule you wield
أهذِهِare these قَصَباتُthe reed pens المُلْكِof kingship تُعْمِلُهاyou put them to work
أهذِهِ قَصَباتُ المُلْكِ تُعْمِلُها
أمِor الضّرائِرُthe rival wives للخَطّيّةِto the Khatti spears الذُّبُلِslender
أمِ الضّرائِرُ للخَطّيّةِ الذُّبُلِ
Are these the reed-pens of kingship you put to work,
Or the adversities of sins withered?
or rival wives to the slender Khatti spears?
You have attained by them what was hard to seek
فقدfor indeed بلَغْتَyou attained بِهاwith them ماwhat عَزَّwas hard مَطْلَبُهُits attainment
فقد بلَغْتَ بِها ما عَزَّ مَطْلَبُهُ
علىfor ظُباthe blade-edges الهِنْدof India وانِيّاتِflagging والأسَلِand spears
على ظُبا الهِنْد وانِيّاتِ والأسَلِ
For with them you have attained what was hard to win
Beyond Indian onagers and does of the slopes
for the flagging blades of India and for spears.
Indeed the battalions are books issued from you
إنّindeed الكَتائِبَthe battalions كُتْبٌletters عَنْكَfrom you صادِرَةٌissuing
إنّ الكَتائِبَ كُتْبٌ عَنْكَ صادِرَةٌ
فاسْدُدْso block بِهاwith them لَهَواتِthe throats السّهْلِof the plain والجَبَلِand the mountain
فاسْدُدْ بِها لَهَواتِ السّهْلِ والجَبَلِ
Indeed, the battalions are letters issuing from you;
So fortify by them the whims of flat and rugged ground
so block with them the throats of plain and mountain.
And pride yourself on the glory you have bound
وافْخَرْand take pride بِماin what شِدْتَyou built مِنْof مَجْدٍglory يُؤثِّلُهُroots it firmly
وافْخَرْ بِما شِدْتَ مِنْ مَجْدٍ يُؤثِّلُهُ
ندىًgenerosity يَروحُgoes forth at evening ويَغْدوand goes forth at morning غايَةَthe pinnacle المَثَلِof example
ندىً يَروحُ ويَغْدو غايَةَ المَثَلِ
Take pride in the glory you built, firmly rooted
Whose dew comes and goes the epitome of ideals
by generosity that goes forth evening and morning as the supreme exemplar.
Though the noble ways are multifarious
إنّindeed المَكارِمَnoble virtues شتّىdiverse فيin طَرائِقِهاtheir paths
إنّ المَكارِمَ شتّى في طَرائِقِها
وأنتَand you تَنْزِلُdwell منهاamong them مُلْتَقىthe meeting-place السُّبُلِof the roads
وأنتَ تَنْزِلُ منها مُلْتَقى السُّبُلِ
Noble virtues are indeed diverse in their paths,
You are the convergence of their paths
and among them you dwell at the meeting of the roads.
May the assemblage of glories continue constant from you
لاmay not زالَcease شَمْلُthe company المَعاليof lofty virtues منكَin you مُنتَظِماًunited
لا زالَ شَمْلُ المَعالي منكَ مُنتَظِماً
ودامَand may remain صَرْفُthe vicissitudes اللّياليof the nights عنْكَaway from you فيin شُغُلِpreoccupation
ودامَ صَرْفُ اللّيالي عنْكَ في شُغُلِ
May the company of lofty virtues never cease to be united in you,
And the passing of nights keep you busy
and may the nights' vicissitudes stay busy elsewhere.
Partial English translation: 61 of 62 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1