أَعِدrepeat نَظَراًa glance هَلwhether شارَفَapproached الحَيُّthe tribe ثَهْمَداThahmad
أَعِد نَظَراً هَل شارَفَ الحَيُّ ثَهْمَدا
وَقَدand already وَشَّحَتْgirdled أَرجاؤُهُits outskirts الرَّوضَthe meadow أَغيَداsoft and luxuriant
وَقَد وَشَّحَتْ أَرجاؤُهُ الرَّوضَ أَغيَدا
Look again: has the tribe approached Thahmad?
Reconsider, did the living youth approach decrepitude,
And its outskirts have girdled the meadow, soft and luxuriant.
And did his meadows adorn the garden with fresh greenery?
جَلاrevealed الأُقحوانُthe daisies النَّضرُfresh ثَغراًa mouth مُفَلَّجاًwith spaced teeth
جَلا الأُقحوانُ النَّضرُ ثَغراً مُفَلَّجاً
بِهِin it وَالشَّقيقُand the anemone الغَضُّtender خَدّاًa cheek مُوَرَّداrose-colored
بِهِ وَالشَّقيقُ الغَضُّ خَدّاً مُوَرَّدا
Fresh daisies have unveiled a mouth with well-spaced teeth,
The bright, delicate narcissus smiles with a split mouth,
There, and tender anemones a rosy cheek.
And the tender, pale primrose blushes with reddened cheeks.
إِذاwhen المُزنُthe rainclouds أَذرىscattered دَمعَهُits tears فيهِin it خِلتَهُyou imagined it
إِذا المُزنُ أَذرى دَمعَهُ فيهِ خِلتَهُ
عَلىupon طُرَرِthe fringes of الرَيحانِbasil دُرّاًpearls مُنضَّداarranged in rows
عَلى طُرَرِ الرَيحانِ دُرّاً مُنضَّدا
When rainclouds scatter their tears there, you imagine them
When the clouds weep their tears on it in solitude
Pearls arrayed along the fringes of basil.
Like pearls strewn on the petals of basil.
وَماand not الجِزعُthe bend مِنof واديهِits valley رَبعاًa dwelling أَلفتُهُI knew it
وَما الجِزعُ مِن واديهِ رَبعاً أَلفتُهُ
فَقَدfor indeed كانَwas مَغنىًa dwelling لِلغَوانيfor beautiful women وَمَعهداand a familiar haunt
فَقَد كانَ مَغنىً لِلغَواني وَمَعهدا
And the bend of its valley is no longer the dwelling I knew;
I never found sadness in its valley to be a respite,
For it was a home and haunt of beautiful women.
It had always been a refuge for passions and a place of affection.
تَلوحُappear بِأَيديby the hands of الحادِثاتِcalamities رُسومُهُits traces
تَلوحُ بِأَيدي الحادِثاتِ رُسومُهُ
وُشوماًtattoos فَلاso may not مَدَّتstretch إِلىtoward أَهلِهِits people يَداa hand
وُشوماً فَلا مَدَّت إِلى أَهلِهِ يَدا
Its traces, marked by the hands of calamities, appear
The marks of misfortunes gesture with hands,
Like tattoos—may they never stretch a hand toward its people.
Brands that never extended a hand to its people.
وَلاand may not زالَcease يَسقيwater شِربَهُits allotted drink مِنfrom مَدامِعيmy tears
وَلا زالَ يَسقي شِربَهُ مِن مَدامِعي
شآبيبَshowers تَحكيresemble اللؤلؤَpearls المُتَبَدِّداscattered
شآبيبَ تَحكي اللؤلؤَ المُتَبَدِّدا
And may its share of water always be supplied from my tears,
It continues to water its drink from my tears,
In showers like scattered pearls.
Rivulets that mimic scattered pearls.
وَقَفتُI stood بِهِat it وَالشَّوقُand longing يُرعيmakes attentive مَسامعيmy ears
وَقَفتُ بِهِ وَالشَّوقُ يُرعي مَسامعي
حَنينَthe yearning cries of المَطاياriding camels وَالحَمامَand the doves المُغَرِّداsinging
حَنينَ المَطايا وَالحَمامَ المُغَرِّدا
I stood there, while longing made my ears attend
I stood by it as yearning grazed my hearing,
To the yearning calls of riding camels and the singing doves.
The neighing of steeds and the singing of doves.
وَأَبكيand I weep وَفيand in الإِعوالlamentation لِلصَبِّfor the lovesick راحَةٌrelief
وَأَبكي وَفي الإِعوال لِلصَبِّ راحَةٌ
فَأُطفىءُso I quench ماwhat كانَhad التَجَلُّدُstoic restraint أَوقَداkindled
فَأُطفىءُ ما كانَ التَجَلُّدُ أَوقَدا
And I weep; in lamentation the lovesick find relief,
I weep and in crying the young find comfort,
So I quench what stoic restraint had kindled.
I extinguish what composure had kindled.
وَيَعذِلُنيand reproaches me صَحبيmy companions وَيَعذُرُنيand excuses me الهَوىlove
وَيَعذِلُني صَحبي وَيَعذُرُني الهَوى
وَهَلand whether يَستَطيعُcan الصَبُّthe lovesick one أَنto يَتَجَلَّداremain steadfast
وَهَل يَستَطيعُ الصَبُّ أَن يَتَجَلَّدا
My companions reproach me, while love excuses me;
My companions blame me and passion excuses me,
Can the lovesick remain steadfast?
Can the young man ever have composure?
وَشَرُّand the worse of خَليليَّmy two friends الَّذيthe one who إِنif دَعَوتُهُI called him
وَشَرُّ خَليليَّ الَّذي إِن دَعَوتُهُ
لِيَدفَعَto ward off عَنِّيfrom me طارِفَnewly arisen الهَمِّsorrow فَنَّداcalled me foolish
لِيَدفَعَ عَنِّي طارِفَ الهَمِّ فَنَّدا
And the worse of my two friends is he who, if I call him
The worst of my friends, if I called on him
To ward off my latest sorrow, calls me foolish.
To ward off the delights of worries, refused.
وَلَولاand were it not for تَباريحُtorments الصَبابَةِpassionate love لَمnot أَقِفْI would have stood
وَلَولا تَباريحُ الصَبابَةِ لَم أَقِفْ
عَلىat مَنزِلٍa dwelling بالأَبرَقينِin al-Abraqayn تأَبَّداgrown desolate
عَلى مَنزِلٍ بالأَبرَقينِ تأَبَّدا
Were it not for the torments of passionate love, I would not have stood
If it weren’t for the gatherings of youth, I wouldn’t have stood
At a dwelling in al-Abraqayn, grown desolate.
At a dwelling in al-Abraqayn that lasted.
ذَكَرتُI recalled بِهِat it عَيشاًa life خَلَعتُI cast off رداءَهُits cloak
ذَكَرتُ بِهِ عَيشاً خَلَعتُ رداءَهُ
وَجاذَبنيهِand struggled with me for it الدَّهرُtime إِذwhen جارَacted unjustly واِعتَدىand transgressed
وَجاذَبنيهِ الدَّهرُ إِذ جارَ واِعتَدى
There I recalled a life whose cloak I had cast off,
I remembered through it a life whose garb I shed,
And time had wrestled me for it, acting unjustly and transgressing.
As fate pulled me as it transgressed and tyrannized.
وَقَدand already خاضَwaded through صُبحُthe dawn of الشَّيبِgray hair لَيلَthe night of شَبيبَةٍyouth
وَقَد خاضَ صُبحُ الشَّيبِ لَيلَ شَبيبَةٍ
تَحَسَّرَreceded عَنّيfrom me وَالشَّبابُand youth لَهُfor it مَدىa limit
تَحَسَّرَ عَنّي وَالشَّبابُ لَهُ مَدى
The dawn of gray hair had waded through the night of youth,
The morning of old age crossed the night of my youth
Which receded from me; youth has its limit.
Which has evaded me while my youth still has scope.
وَبَثَّand spread ضياءًlight كادَalmost مِنfrom فَرَقيmy dread لَهُof it
وَبَثَّ ضياءً كادَ مِن فَرَقي لَهُ
يَضِلُّgoes astray بِهِthrough it لُبِّيmy mind وَبالنُّورِand by light يُهتَدىone is guided
يَضِلُّ بِهِ لُبِّي وَبالنُّورِ يُهتَدى
And spread a light that, in my dread of it, almost
It shone a light that almost led my heart astray
Led my mind astray—though light is what guides.
So it could misguide it while it’s guided by light.
تَوَسَّدَmade a pillow of فَوْديmy temples وَفدُهُits delegation قَبلَbefore حينِهِits time
تَوَسَّدَ فَوْدي وَفدُهُ قَبلَ حينِهِ
وَذَلِكَand that زَورٌa visitor لَيسَdoes not يُخلِفُmiss مَوعِداan appointment
وَذَلِكَ زَورٌ لَيسَ يُخلِفُ مَوعِدا
Its delegation made my temples its pillow before its time;
It pillowed my bosom before its time,
And that is a visitor who never misses an appointment.
An untruth that does not break its promise.
وَأَخلَقَand wore out سِربالُthe robe of الصِّباyouth فَأَظَلَّنيso sheltered me
وَأَخلَقَ سِربالُ الصِّبا فَأَظَلَّني
نَوالُthe bounty of غياثِGhiyath الدَّينِal-Din حَتىّuntil تَجَدَّداit was renewed
نَوالُ غياثِ الدَّينِ حَتىّ تَجَدَّدا
The robe of youth wore out; then I was sheltered
The cloak of youth shaded me
By the bounty of Ghiyath al-Din, until it was renewed.
With the blessings of divine aid until they were renewed.
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI was لاnot أَرضىcontent وَإِنand even if بِتُّI spent the night صادياًthirsty
وَقَد كُنتُ لا أَرضى وَإِن بِتُّ صادياً
بِرِىٍّwith quenched thirst وَلَوand even if كانَwere المَجَرَّةُthe Milky Way مَورِداa watering place
بِرِىٍّ وَلَو كانَ المَجَرَّةُ مَورِدا
I would not be content, even if I spent the night thirsty,
I would not be pleased, even if I owned property,
With a draught, even were the Milky Way my watering place.
With anything less than a stellar meadow.
وَيأبىand refuses أُوامىmy burning thirst أَنthat يَبُلَّquench غَليلَهُits burning thirst
وَيأبى أُوامى أَن يَبُلَّ غَليلَهُ
سِوىexcept مَلِكٍa king فاقَsurpassed البَريَّةَmankind سؤدَداin nobility
سِوى مَلِكٍ فاقَ البَريَّةَ سؤدَدا
And my thirst will let none quench its burning
My determination refuses to wet its thirst
But a king who surpasses all mankind in nobility.
With anything other than a supreme king who surpassed humanity in generosity.
فَيَمَّمتُso I sought خَيرَthe best of النَّاسِpeople إِلّاexcept مُحَمَّداMuhammad
فَيَمَّمتُ خَيرَ النَّاسِ إِلّا مُحَمَّدا
قَسيمَpartner of أَميرِthe Commander of المؤمنينَthe Faithful مُحَمَّداMuhammad
قَسيمَ أَميرِ المؤمنينَ مُحَمَّدا
So I sought the best of men, except Muhammad:
So I headed towards the best of people, besides Muḥammad,
Muhammad, partner of the Commander of the Faithful.
The partner of the Prince of Believers, Muḥammad.
وَقَدand already خَلفَتْsupplanted صَوبَthe downpour of الغَمامِrainclouds شِمالُهُhis left hand
وَقَد خَلفَتْ صَوبَ الغَمامِ شِمالُهُ
وَلَولاهُماand but for them both لَمnot يُعرَفِwould be known البأسُvalor وَالنَّدىand generosity
وَلَولاهُما لَم يُعرَفِ البأسُ وَالنَّدى
His left hand has supplanted the rainclouds' downpour;
His left side lingers behind the clouds,
And without those two, valor and bounty would be unknown.
Without them the valor and force would not have been known.
يَنامُsleep الرَّعاياthe subjects وَهوَand he فيماin what يَحوطُهُمguards them
يَنامُ الرَّعايا وَهوَ فيما يَحوطُهُم
يُراقِبُwatches أَسرابَthe flocks of النُّجومِstars مُسَهَّداsleepless
يُراقِبُ أَسرابَ النُّجومِ مُسَهَّدا
His subjects sleep, while he, guarding them,
The subjects sleep while he surveils
Watches the flocks of stars, sleepless.
The clusters of stars lying down.
وَقَدand already خَضَعَتbowed صيدُthe proud ones among المُلوكِkings مَهابَةًin awe
وَقَد خَضَعَت صيدُ المُلوكِ مَهابَةً
لِأَروَعَto an imposing man مِنamong أَبناءِthe descendants of سَلجوقَSeljuq أَصيَداproud
لِأَروَعَ مِن أَبناءِ سَلجوقَ أَصيَدا
And proud kings have bowed in awe
The prey of kings surrendered in awe
Before an imposing, proud descendant of Seljuq.
To the most wondrous of the children of the Saljūq hunters.
إِذاwhen رُفِعَتare raised عَنهُfrom him السُّجوفُthe curtains وَأَشرَقَتْand shine forth
إِذا رُفِعَت عَنهُ السُّجوفُ وَأَشرَقَتْ
أَسِرَّتُهُthe lines of his brow خَرَّfell السَلاطينُthe sultans سُجَّداprostrate
أَسِرَّتُهُ خَرَّ السَلاطينُ سُجَّدا
When the curtains are drawn back from him and there shine
When the veil is lifted from him and his secret appears,
The lines of his brow, the sultans fall prostrate.
The kings would bow down in prostration.
يُحَيُّونَthey salute أَوفاهُمtheir most faithful ذِماماًin pledged protection لِجارِهِto his neighbor
يُحَيُّونَ أَوفاهُم ذِماماً لِجارِهِ
وَأَكرَمَهُمand their noblest أَعراقَin lineage صِدقٍof true honor وَأَمجداand most glorious
وَأَكرَمَهُم أَعراقَ صِدقٍ وَأَمجدا
They salute the one most faithful to his neighbor's bond,
They lead their obeyed bridles to his neighbor,
And their noblest in honorable lineage, and most glorious.
The most generous of pure and glorious lineages.
لَئِنْif indeed أَسَّسوهُthey founded it فَهوَthen he أَعلىraised مَنارَهُits beacon
لَئِنْ أَسَّسوهُ فَهوَ أَعلى مَنارَهُ
وَزادَand added عَلىto ماwhat أَثَّلوهُthey established it وَشَيَّداand built high
وَزادَ عَلى ما أَثَّلوهُ وَشَيَّدا
If they laid its foundations, he raised its beacon high,
If they establish him then he is higher than his tower,
And added to what they established, building it higher.
And surpasses what they instated and built.
وَيُعشيand dazzles عُيونَthe eyes of النَّاظِرينَonlookers وَكُلُّهُمand each of them
وَيُعشي عُيونَ النَّاظِرينَ وَكُلُّهُم
يُقَلِّبُturns فيamid أَنوارِهِhis radiance لَحظَthe gaze of أَرمَداone with sore eyes
يُقَلِّبُ في أَنوارِهِ لَحظَ أَرمَدا
He dazzles the eyes of onlookers, and each of them
He dazzles the eyes of onlookers while they all
Turns a sore-eyed gaze amid his radiance.
Flip through his lights with a bleary glance.
وَيُوقِظُand awakens أَقطارَthe reaches of البِلادِthe land كَتائِباًbattalions
وَيُوقِظُ أَقطارَ البِلادِ كَتائِباً
يَجُرُّونَthey drag فيin الرَوعِbattle's terror الوَشيجَspear shafts المُمَدَّداoutstretched
يَجُرُّونَ في الرَوعِ الوَشيجَ المُمَدَّدا
And he rouses battalions across the country's reaches,
He alerts the lands’ battalions
Who drag outstretched spears through battle's terror.
Who drag the lengthy, outspread armor.
وَماand not واصَلَتembraced إِلّاexcept النُّحورَthroats رِماحُهُمtheir spears
وَما واصَلَت إِلّا النُّحورَ رِماحُهُم
وَلاand not فارَقَتْhave left أَسيافُهُمtheir swords قِمَمَthe tops of العِداthe enemies
وَلا فارَقَتْ أَسيافُهُم قِمَمَ العِدا
And their spears have embraced nothing but throats,
Their spears only detach from the throats,
Nor have their swords left the crowns of their enemies' heads.
And their swords only separate from the mountain peaks.
إِذاif اعوَجَّbends مِنهاof them ذابِلٌa slender spear فيin تَريبَةٍa breastbone
إِذا اعوَجَّ مِنها ذابِلٌ في تَريبَةٍ
أَقامواthey straighten بِهِمagainst them مِنfrom قِرنِهمtheir opponent ماwhat تأَوَّداhas bent
أَقاموا بِهِم مِن قِرنِهم ما تأَوَّدا
If a slender spear of theirs bends within a breastbone,
If one of them falters in a mishap,
They straighten against their foes whatever their opponent has bent.
They straighten him with someone from their regiments as they desire.
وَإِنand if لَمnot يُجِنَّconceals المَشرَفيَّthe Mashrafi sword قِرابُهُits scabbard
وَإِن لَم يُجِنَّ المَشرَفيَّ قِرابُهُ
غَداit becomes فيin الطلىnecks أَوor فيin الجَماجِمِskulls مغمداsheathed
غَدا في الطلى أَو في الجَماجِمِ مغمدا
And if its scabbard does not conceal the Mashrafi blade,
If the noble descendant does not defend his kin,
It becomes sheathed in necks or in skulls.
He becomes shrouded the next day in a shroud or skulls.
وَلِلَّهِand to God belongs دَرُّthe excellence of السَيفِthe sword يَجلوdispels بَياضُهُits whiteness
وَلِلَّهِ دَرُّ السَيفِ يَجلو بَياضُهُ
غَياهِبَdeep darkness يَومٍof a day قاتِمِdust-dark الجَوِّthe atmosphere أَربَداdusky gray
غَياهِبَ يَومٍ قاتِمِ الجَوِّ أَربَدا
God bless the sword! Its whiteness dispels
By God, the sword’s essence clears its whiteness
The deep gloom of a day with dust-dark, gray skies.
Of the gloom of a dark day intensely cold.
بِمُعتَرَكٍon a battlefield يُلقيlays down بِهِin it المَوتُDeath بَركَهُhis breast
بِمُعتَرَكٍ يُلقي بِهِ المَوتُ بَركَهُ
يُسَلُّis drawn لَجَيناًsilver ثُمَّthen يُغمَدُis sheathed عَسجَداgold
يُسَلُّ لَجَيناً ثُمَّ يُغمَدُ عَسجَدا
On a battlefield where Death lays down his breast,
With a battle in which death casts its blessing,
It is drawn as silver, then sheathed as gold.
It draws smoothly then is sheathed restfully.
هُمُthey الأُسدُthe lions يَلقَونَmeet الوقائِعَbattles حُسَّراunarmored
هُمُ الأُسدُ يَلقَونَ الوقائِعَ حُسَّرا
وَهَلand whether يَلبَسُwear الأُسدُlions الدِّلاصَgleaming armor المُسَرَّداclosely linked
وَهَل يَلبَسُ الأُسدُ الدِّلاصَ المُسَرَّدا
They are lions, meeting battles unarmored;
They are the lions who meet tribulations elatedly,
And do lions wear gleaming, closely linked mail?
Does the lion wear the ragged garment?
تَعَوَّدَgrew accustomed أَنto يَلقَىmeet القَناspears بِلبانِهِwith his breast
تَعَوَّدَ أَن يَلقَى القَنا بِلبانِهِ
وَخاضَand plunged into غِمارَthe depths of المَوتِdeath حَتىّuntil تَجَدَّداwas renewed
وَخاضَ غِمارَ المَوتِ حَتىّ تَجَدَّدا
He has grown accustomed to meeting spears with his breast,
It grew accustomed to encountering spears with its incense
And plunged into death's depths until renewed
And traversing the unknown of death until it was renewed.
عَلَيهِupon him رِداءُthe robe of النَّقعِdust يُغسَلُis washed مِنof دَمٍblood
عَلَيهِ رِداءُ النَّقعِ يُغسَلُ مِن دَمٍ
كَماas تَصنَعُdoes with الخَودُthe young maiden المُلاءَthe wraps المُعَضَّداstriped
كَما تَصنَعُ الخَودُ المُلاءَ المُعَضَّدا
Upon him was the robe of dust, washed free of blood,
The cloak of battle which washes off blood stains him
As a young maiden washes striped wraps.
As kohl perfectly lines the eyelid.
وَتَلطِمُand slap خَدَّthe cheek of الأَرضِthe earth مِنهُfrom him حَوافِرٌhooves
وَتَلطِمُ خَدَّ الأَرضِ مِنهُ حَوافِرٌ
تُعانِقُembrace مِنهُنَّamong them الجَلامِدُthe boulders جَلمَداa boulder
تُعانِقُ مِنهُنَّ الجَلامِدُ جَلمَدا
And his hooves slap the cheek of the earth;
Beneath him hooves stamp the earth’s cheek
The boulders embrace a boulder among those hooves.
Embracing the solidified, frozen ground.
يُطيعونَthey obey مَيمونَone blessed النَّقيبَةِin nature أَصبَحَتhas become
يُطيعونَ مَيمونَ النَّقيبَةِ أَصبَحَت
لَهُfor him الأَرضُthe earth داراa home وَالبَريَّةُand mankind أَعْبُداslaves
لَهُ الأَرضُ دارا وَالبَريَّةُ أَعْبُدا
They obey one of blessed nature; now
They obey the auspicious guide whose leadership made
The earth is his home, and all mankind his slaves.
The land his abode and the desert his worshipper.
أَياO خَيرَthe best of مَنthe one who يُهدىare offered إِلَيهِto him مَدائِحٌodes of praise
أَيا خَيرَ مَن يُهدى إِلَيهِ مَدائِحٌ
يَضُمُّcontain قوافيهاtheir rhymes الثَّناءَpraise المُخَلَّداmade eternal
يَضُمُّ قوافيها الثَّناءَ المُخَلَّدا
O best of those to whom odes of praise are offered,
O best of those who praises are dedicated,
Whose rhymes contain immortal praise.
Whose rhymes combine the perpetual glory.
جَذَبتَyou pulled بِضَبعيby my upper arm فاِمتطىso mounted الشُّهبَthe bright stars أَخمَصِيmy foot's arch
جَذَبتَ بِضَبعي فاِمتطى الشُّهبَ أَخمَصِي
فَلَمso not أَنتَعِلI wore sandals إِلّاexcept جُدَيّاًJudayy وَفَرقَداand Farqad
فَلَم أَنتَعِل إِلّا جُدَيّاً وَفَرقَدا
You pulled me up by the arm, and my foot's arch rode the stars;
You pulled me by my forelock so I mounted the gray hair,
So I wore no sandals but Judayy and Farqad.
I did not wear shoes but only sandals and socks.
وَأَدنَيتَنيand brought me close حَتىuntil اِنطَوىharbored النَّاسُpeople كُلُّهُمall of them
وَأَدنَيتَني حَتى اِنطَوى النَّاسُ كُلُّهُم
عَلىupon حَنَقٍrancor ليtoward me غائظينَvexing me وَحُسَّداand envious
عَلى حَنَقٍ لي غائظينَ وَحُسَّدا
And you brought me close, till all men nursed
You brought me close until all the people folded
Rancor against me, spiteful and envious.
Into resentful, envious rage toward me.
وَهَذاand this الَّذيwhich أَدرَكتُهُI attained it اليومَtoday لَمnot يَكُنwas
وَهَذا الَّذي أَدرَكتُهُ اليومَ لَم يَكُن
ليَبلُغَto reach ماwhat أَحظىI am favored بإِدراكِهِin attaining it مَدىin extent
ليَبلُغَ ما أَحظى بإِدراكِهِ مَدى
And what I have attained today could not
That which I attained today would not have reached
Reach the extent of what I am favored to attain.
The scope to attain what it attained.
وَباعُكَand your reach مَبسوطٌoutstretched وَأَمرُكَand your command نافِذٌeffective
وَباعُكَ مَبسوطٌ وَأَمرُكَ نافِذٌ
وَسَيفُكَand your sword لاnot يَنبوglances off وَسَيبُكَand your bounty يُجتَدىis sought
وَسَيفُكَ لا يَنبو وَسَيبُكَ يُجتَدى
Your reach is broad, and your command prevails;
Your grip is triumphant and your rule prevalent,
And your sword never glances off, while your bounty is sought.
Your sword sparkling and your authority pursued.
Sol 6.1