الوِرْدُthe watering place يَبْسِمُsmiles والرَّكائِبُand the riding camels حُوَّمُcircling
الوِرْدُ يَبْسِمُ والرَّكائِبُ حُوَّمُ
والسَّيفُand the sword يَلمَعُgleams والصَّدىand thirst يَتضَرَّمُblazes
والسَّيفُ يَلمَعُ والصَّدى يَتضَرَّمُ
The watering place smiles, and the riding camels circle;
The roses smile and the caravans hover,
the sword gleams, and thirst blazes.
The sword gleams and the echo murmurs,
بَخِلَbegrudged الغَيُورُthe jealous man بِماءِthe water of لِينَةَLinah فاحْتَمىso sought shelter
بَخِلَ الغَيُورُ بِماءِ لِينَةَ فاحْتَمى
بِشَباbehind the points of أسِنِّتِهِhis spearheads الغَديرُthe pool المُفْعَمُbrimming
بِشَبا أسِنِّتِهِ الغَديرُ المُفْعَمُ
The jealous man begrudged Linah's water; so shelter was sought
The jealous one was stingy with the soft water of Laynah, so he perished,
behind the points of his spears by the brimming pool.
The copious pond was choked by the spittle of his harsh tongues,
والرَّوضُand the meadow ألبَسَهُclothed it الرَّبيعُspring وشَائِعاًwoven robes
والرَّوضُ ألبَسَهُ الرَّبيعُ وشَائِعاً
عُنِيَtook care السِّماكُal-Simak بِوَشْيِهاof their embroidery والمِرْزَمُand al-Mirzam
عُنِيَ السِّماكُ بِوَشْيِها والمِرْزَمُ
Spring has clothed the meadow in woven robes
Spring adorned the garden with finery and it became brilliant,
whose embroidery al-Simak and al-Mirzam tended.
The bulbul was busy with its warbling and trilling,
تُثْنيpraise رُباهُits hills علىto الغَمامِthe cloud إذاwhen غَداcomes forth
تُثْني رُباهُ على الغَمامِ إذا غَدا
عافِيthe visiting النَّسيمِbreeze بِسِرِّهاof their secret يتكَلَّمُspeaks
عافِي النَّسيمِ بِسِرِّها يتكَلَّمُ
Its hills praise the cloud whenever there comes
The branches sway with it and the morning breeze is enamored,
a visiting breeze speaking of their secret.
The doves coo softly with their lament,
حَيْثُwhere الغُصونُthe branches هَفاset swaying بِهاthem ولَعُthe ardor of الصَّباthe east wind
حَيْثُ الغُصونُ هَفا بِها ولَعُ الصَّبا
وخَلاand was alone الحَمامُthe dove بِشَجْوِهِwith its sorrow يترَنَّمُsinging
وخَلا الحَمامُ بِشَجْوِهِ يترَنَّمُ
There the branches sway with the east wind's ardor,
I listen enraptured to them complaining of their burning,
and the dove sings alone with its sorrow.
But the lover wept without shedding a tear,
وأُميلُand I turn مِنْfrom طَرَبٍrapture إلَيهِtoward it مَسامِعاًears
وأُميلُ مِنْ طَرَبٍ إلَيهِ مَسامِعاً
يَشكوcomplain of لَجاجَتَهاtheir persistence إليَّto me اللُّوَّمُthe reproachers
يَشكو لَجاجَتَها إليَّ اللُّوَّمُ
And in rapture I turn toward it my ears,
Does the passionate one begrudge tears like this?
whose persistence the reproachers complain of to me.
I have wept, and if you saw my tears,
فَبكىso it wept ولَمand did not أرَI see عَبْرَةًa tear مَسْفوحَةًshed
فَبكى ولَم أرَ عَبْرَةً مَسْفوحَةً
أكذاكَis it like this? يَبْخَلُbegrudges بالدُّموعِtears المُغْرَمُthe lovesick one
أكذاكَ يَبْخَلُ بالدُّموعِ المُغْرَمُ
It wept, yet I saw no tear shed:
You would know which of us two is the afflicted one,
does the lovesick one begrudge his tears like this?
Far apart is my passion and the yearning of a dove,
ولَقَدand indeed بَكَيْتُI wept فلَوso if رأيتَyou saw مَدامِعيmy tears
ولَقَد بَكَيْتُ فلَو رأيتَ مَدامِعي
لعَلِمْتَyou would have known أيُّwhich of الباكِيَيْنِthe two weepers مُتَيَّمُenslaved by love
لعَلِمْتَ أيُّ الباكِيَيْنِ مُتَيَّمُ
Indeed I have wept; had you seen my tears,
Who shows its infatuation openly while I conceal mine,
you would have known which of the two weepers was enslaved by love.
I visit when the throng starts milling in the dwellings,
شَتّانَfar apart are ماindeed وَجْديmy passion ووَجْدُand the passion of حَمامَةٍa dove
شَتّانَ ما وَجْدي ووَجْدُ حَمامَةٍ
تُبْديreveals الصَّبابَةَlonging فيin الحَنينِthe plaintive cooing وأكْتُمُand I conceal
تُبْدي الصَّبابَةَ في الحَنينِ وأكْتُمُ
How far apart are my passion and a dove's:
Which, like me, the bees have populated and settled,
it reveals its longing in its plaint, while I conceal mine.
How often I paused in my travels when longing,
وأزورُand I visit إذْwhen ظَعَنَdeparted الخَليطُthe companions مَنازِلاًdwellings
وأزورُ إذْ ظَعَنَ الخَليطُ مَنازِلاً
نَحِلَتْwasted away بِهِنَّin them كماas نَحِلْتُI wasted away الأرْسُمُthe outlines
نَحِلَتْ بِهِنَّ كما نَحِلْتُ الأرْسُمُ
After the companions departed, I visit dwellings
For an abandoned abode in Ramah gripped me,
whose outlines have wasted away, as I have.
Our caravan turned towards its yard,
كَمْhow many وَقْفَةٍa halt مَيْلاءَleaning فيwithin أثْنائِهاits midst
كَمْ وَقْفَةٍ مَيْلاءَ في أثْنائِها
شَوْقٌyearning إِلىfor طَلَلٍa ruined dwelling بِرامَةَat Ramah يُرْزِمُmurmurs softly
شَوْقٌ إِلى طَلَلٍ بِرامَةَ يُرْزِمُ
How many a leaning halt, within which
And followed its known route to the little garden,
yearning for a ruin at Ramah murmurs softly!
I recalled a time whose steps hastened,
عَطَفَتْturned رَكائِبُناour riding camels إِلىtoward عَرَصاتِهِits open grounds
عَطَفَتْ رَكائِبُنا إِلى عَرَصاتِهِ
وعلىand across الجُنَينَةِal-Junaynah نَهْجُهُنَّtheir path المُعْلَمُwell-marked
وعلى الجُنَينَةِ نَهْجُهُنَّ المُعْلَمُ
Our camels turned toward its open grounds,
When life was green and events were lulled,
and across al-Junaynah lay their marked trail.
I wished that my youth had bid me farewell,
وذَكَرْتُand I recalled عَصْراًan age أسْرَعَتْhastened خُطُواتُهُits footsteps
وذَكَرْتُ عَصْراً أسْرَعَتْ خُطُواتُهُ
والعَيْشُand life أخْضَرُgreen والحَوادِثُand calamities نُوَّمُasleep
والعَيْشُ أخْضَرُ والحَوادِثُ نُوَّمُ
I recalled an age whose footsteps hastened past,
And that time remained unchanged and unruined,
when life was green and calamities asleep.
The homeland disgorged our loved ones, so it became empty,
فَوَدِدْتُso I wished أنَّthat شَبيبتيmy youth ودَّعْتُهاI had bidden it farewell
فَوَدِدْتُ أنَّ شَبيبتي ودَّعْتُها
وأقامَand remained ذاكَthat العَصْرُage لاnot يتَصَرَّمُpassing away
وأقامَ ذاكَ العَصْرُ لا يتَصَرَّمُ
I wished I had bidden my youth farewell,
Its sorrows and ill omens crushing their wings,
while that age remained, never passing away.
Zuheir, your brother is seeking glory,
لفَظَتْspat out أحِبَّتَناour loved ones البلادُthe lands فَمُعْرِقٌso one bound for Iraq
لفَظَتْ أحِبَّتَنا البلادُ فَمُعْرِقٌ
تُدميmake bleed جَوانحَهُhis inner ribs الهُمومُcares ومُشْئِمُand one bound for Syria
تُدمي جَوانحَهُ الهُمومُ ومُشْئِمُ
The lands spat out our loved ones: one bound for Iraq,
The closest of his companions is the polished sword,
whose ribs are bloodied by cares, and one bound for Syria.
It has immersed him into the coasts of deserts and darkness,
أزُهَيرُO Zuhayr إنَّindeed أخاكَyour brother فيin طلَبِpursuit of العُلاhigh renown
أزُهَيرُ إنَّ أخاكَ في طلَبِ العُلا
أدْنىthe closest of صَحابَتِهِhis companions الحُسامُthe cutting sword المِخْذَمُkeen-edged
أدْنى صَحابَتِهِ الحُسامُ المِخْذَمُ
O Zuhayr, in your brother's pursuit of high renown,
Destriers he raised on barley and chickpeas,
his closest companion is the keen, cleaving sword.
He traverses the shrouds of darkness fearlessly,
خاضَتْplunged through بهِwith him ثُغَرَthe gaps of الفَيافيthe deserts والدُّجَىand darkness
خاضَتْ بهِ ثُغَرَ الفَيافي والدُّجَى
خُوصٌnarrow-eyed camels نَماهُنَّsired them الجَديلُal-Jadil وشَدْقَمُand Shadqam
خُوصٌ نَماهُنَّ الجَديلُ وشَدْقَمُ
Through the gaps of wastes and darkness he was borne by
While his steed forgets to neigh in its gloom,
narrow-eyed camels descended from al-Jadil and Shadqam.
The gallant horse laments that it cannot unveil,
يَجْتابُcleaves أرْدِيَةَthe robes of الظّلامِdarkness بِمَهْمَهٍin a trackless waste
يَجْتابُ أرْدِيَةَ الظّلامِ بِمَهْمَهٍ
يَنْسىforgets الصَّهيلَneighing بهِin it الحِصانُthe stallion الأدْهَمُblack
يَنْسى الصَّهيلَ بهِ الحِصانُ الأدْهَمُ
He cleaves the robes of darkness in a trackless waste
A night whose fringes are sewn together by the dawn,
where the black stallion forgets to neigh.
He turns to the west with sadness,
ويَضيقُand grows narrow ذَرْعُthe patience of المُهْرِthe colt أنthat لاnot يَنْجَليclears away
ويَضيقُ ذَرْعُ المُهْرِ أن لا يَنْجَلي
لَيلٌa night بأذْيالِin the trailing hems of الصَّباحِdawn يُلَثَّمُis veiled
لَيلٌ بأذْيالِ الصَّباحِ يُلَثَّمُ
And the colt grows impatient because it will not lift—
As the memory of it makes his tears flow profusely,
the night veiled in the trailing hems of dawn.
It is as if with a wink of his eye lid,
ولَهُand he has إِلىtoward الغَرْبِthe west التِفاتَةُa turning glance of وامِقٍa lover
ولَهُ إِلى الغَرْبِ التِفاتَةُ وامِقٍ
يُمْريdraws forth تَذَكُّرُهُhis recollection الدُّموعَtears فتَسْجُمُso they stream
يُمْري تَذَكُّرُهُ الدُّموعَ فتَسْجُمُ
He turns toward the west with a lover's glance;
He bids farewell to the west and its stars,
his recollection draws forth tears, and they stream.
Worries have wrapped me in an unending night,
وكأنَّهُand as though he مِمَّاfrom how يُميلُturns بِطَرْفِهِwith his gaze
وكأنَّهُ مِمَّا يُميلُ بِطَرْفِهِ
قِبَلَtoward المَغارِبِthe western horizons بالثُّريَّاby the Pleiades مُلْجَمُbridled
قِبَلَ المَغارِبِ بالثُّريَّا مُلْجَمُ
And it is as though, from the way he turns his gaze
In the battleground of the stars that hover above me,
toward the western horizons, he were bridled by the Pleiades.
And the night subjugates the grieving one,
عَتَقَتْhas grown old علَيَّbinding upon me ألِيَّةٌan oath سَيُبِرُّهاwill fulfill it
عَتَقَتْ علَيَّ ألِيَّةٌ سَيُبِرُّها
هَمٌّa resolve بِمُعْتَرَكِin the battleground of النُّجومِthe stars مُخَيِّمُencamped
هَمٌّ بِمُعْتَرَكِ النُّجومِ مُخَيِّمُ
An oath has long bound me; it shall be fulfilled by
With hands that clench like that of the Deliverer,
a resolve encamped in the stars' battleground.
Soon shall I bid farewell to the sand dunes, their riders,
والليلُand night يوطِئُmakes lay down مَنone whom تُؤرِّقُهُkeep him awake المُنىhopes
والليلُ يوطِئُ مَن تُؤرِّقُهُ المُنى
خَدّاًa cheek بأيديby the forefeet of الأرْحَبِيَّةِArhabi camels يُلطَمُis struck
خَدّاً بأيدي الأرْحَبِيَّةِ يُلطَمُ
And night makes one whom hopes keep awake lay down
Their arrows, the most acute of all arrows,
a cheek struck by the forefeet of Arhabi camels.
And leave a band of men from Amer,
لَتُشارِفَنَّshall surely rise over بيَwith me المَواميthe trackless wastes أيْنُقٌshe-camels
لَتُشارِفَنَّ بيَ المَوامي أيْنُقٌ
هُنَّthey الحَنِيُّthe bows ورَكْبُهُنَّand their riders الأسْهُمُthe arrows
هُنَّ الحَنِيُّ ورَكْبُهُنَّ الأسْهُمُ
She-camels shall surely bear me over the wastes:
In whose company the generous becomes sick and frail,
they are bows, and their riders are arrows.
Time has gone rotten, so the people of dignity are not safe from its injustice,
وأُفارِقَنَّand I shall surely leave عِصابَةًa band مِنْof عامِرٍAmir
وأُفارِقَنَّ عِصابَةً مِنْ عامِرٍ
يَضْوَىwastes away بِصُحبَتِهاin its company الكَريمُthe noble man ويَسْقَمُand sickens
يَضْوَى بِصُحبَتِها الكَريمُ ويَسْقَمُ
And I shall surely leave a band of Amir,
Nor are their children, who are darker than it,
in whose company the noble man wastes away and sickens.
Where did you turn and see their faces,
فسَدَhas grown corrupt الزَّمانُthe age فليسَso does not يأمَنُfeel safe from ظُلْمَهُits injustice
فسَدَ الزَّمانُ فليسَ يأمَنُ ظُلْمَهُ
أهْلُpeople of النُّهىreason وبَنوهُand its sons مِنهُthan it أظْلَمُmore unjust
أهْلُ النُّهى وبَنوهُ مِنهُ أظْلَمُ
The age is corrupt; no longer safe from its injustice are
At which the gazer frowns in dismay?
men of reason, and its sons are more unjust than it.
The most harmful to you when events trouble a man,
أينَwherever التَفَتَّyou turn رأيتَyou see مِنهُمْamong them أوْجُهاًfaces
أينَ التَفَتَّ رأيتَ مِنهُمْ أوْجُهاً
يشقىis tormented بهنَّby them النّاظِرُthe observer المُتَوسِّمُdiscerning
يشقى بهنَّ النّاظِرُ المُتَوسِّمُ
Wherever you turn, you see among them faces
Is one who in friendship is the oldest,
that torment the discerning observer.
When you wronged them and tested them,
وأضَرُّهُمْand their most harmful لكَto you حينَwhen يُعضِلُproves grievous حادِثٌa calamity
وأضَرُّهُمْ لكَ حينَ يُعضِلُ حادِثٌ
بالمَرْءِto a man مَنْthe one who هوَis فيin الصّداقَةِfriendship أقْدَمُlongest-standing
بالمَرْءِ مَنْ هوَ في الصّداقَةِ أقْدَمُ
And most harmful to you, when a calamity proves grievous
You found them reconciled after the wrong, not regretful,
to a man, is the one longest established in friendship.
They discarded loyalty and modesty,
ومَتىand whenever أسَأْتَyou wronged إليهِمُthem وخَبِرتَهُمْand tested them
ومَتى أسَأْتَ إليهِمُ وخَبِرتَهُمْ
أُلْفِيتَyou are found بعدَafter إساءَةٍwrongdoing لاnot تَندَمُregretting
أُلْفِيتَ بعدَ إساءَةٍ لا تَندَمُ
Whenever you wrong them and have tested them,
And are now where this coin is,
after doing wrong, you find yourself without regret.
I have excused every adversary whom I outdid,
نَبَذواthey cast الوَفاءَloyalty معَalong with الحَياءِmodesty وراءَهُمْbehind them
نَبَذوا الوَفاءَ معَ الحَياءِ وراءَهُمْ
فهُمُso they بِحَيْثُwherever يَكونُis هذاthis الدِّرْهَمُdirham
فهُمُ بِحَيْثُ يَكونُ هذا الدِّرْهَمُ
They cast loyalty and modesty behind them;
But my affliction is greater than those I befriended,
they are wherever this dirham is.
The taste of friendship—its face is radiant,
وعَذَرْتُand I excused كُلَّevery مُكاشِحٍcovert foe أُبْلَىI am afflicted بِهِwith him
وعَذَرْتُ كُلَّ مُكاشِحٍ أُبْلَى بِهِ
فبَليَّتيfor my affliction مِمَّنْfrom those whom أُصاحِبُI befriend أعْظَمُis greater
فبَليَّتي مِمَّنْ أُصاحِبُ أعْظَمُ
I have excused every covert foe I am afflicted with,
With guile, while its conscience frowns,
for my affliction through those I befriend is greater.
It shows affection and is elated when chances,
مَذِقُinsincere in الوِدادِaffection فَوَجْهُهُso his face مُتَهلِّلٌbeaming
مَذِقُ الوِدادِ فَوَجْهُهُ مُتَهلِّلٌ
لِمكيدَةٍfor a scheme وضَميرُهُand his inner self مُتَجَهِّمُscowling
لِمكيدَةٍ وضَميرُهُ مُتَجَهِّمُ
Insincere in affection, his face beams
Present themselves to harm me like a snake,
for a scheme, while his inner self scowls.
It hopes to gain favors while refusing,
يُبديdisplays الهَوىlove ويَسُورُand lunges إنْif عَرَضَتْarise لهُfor him
يُبدي الهَوى ويَسُورُ إنْ عَرَضَتْ لهُ
فُرَصٌopportunities عليَّagainst me كَماas يَسورُlunges الأرْقَمُthe speckled serpent
فُرَصٌ عليَّ كَما يَسورُ الأرْقَمُ
He displays love, yet lunges if there arise for him
To help me when I slipped and stumbled,
opportunities against me, as the speckled serpent lunges.
So I rebuked those who brought the steeds to a brink,
ويَرومُand seeks نَيلَattainment of المَكْرُماتِnoble deeds ودونَهاand before them
ويَرومُ نَيلَ المَكْرُماتِ ودونَها
أمَدٌa distance بهِover it انْتَعَلَput on as a sandal النَّجيعَfresh blood المَنْسِمُthe camel's foot
أمَدٌ بهِ انْتَعَلَ النَّجيعَ المَنْسِمُ
He seeks noble deeds, though before them lies
Which a man despoiled of his family yearns for,
a distance over which the camel's foot is shod in fresh blood.
I had mercy on every usurped virtue,
فزَجَرْتُso I rebuked مَنwhoever جَلَبَbrought الجِيادَthe noble steeds إِلىto مَدًىa course
فزَجَرْتُ مَن جَلَبَ الجِيادَ إِلى مَدًى
يَعْنوbows لِحاسِرِto the unarmored of أهْلِهِits people المُسْتَلئِمُthe armored man
يَعْنو لِحاسِرِ أهْلِهِ المُسْتَلئِمُ
So I rebuked whoever brought noble steeds to a course
Even the ode when claimed by the fraud,
where the armored bow to its unarmored men.
If I could, I would return those who live,
ورَحِمْتُand I pitied كُلَّevery فَضيلَةٍvirtue مَغْصوبَةٍusurped
ورَحِمْتُ كُلَّ فَضيلَةٍ مَغْصوبَةٍ
حتّىeven القَريضَverse إذاwhen ادَّعاهُhe claims it المُفْحَمُone unable to compose verse
حتّى القَريضَ إذا ادَّعاهُ المُفْحَمُ
I pitied every usurped virtue,
Safe from fear that it may convulse them, tongue-tied,
even verse, when claimed by one incapable of composing it.
Do not devote yourself to a friend, for he,
ولَوِand if اسْتَطَعْتُI could رَدَدْتُI would turn back مَنwhoever يَعْيَىis baffled بهِby it
ولَوِ اسْتَطَعْتُ رَدَدْتُ مَن يَعْيَى بهِ
عنهُaway from it مَخافَةَfor fear أنْthat يُلَجْلِجَهُshould garble it فَمُa mouth
عنهُ مَخافَةَ أنْ يُلَجْلِجَهُ فَمُ
If I could, I would turn anyone baffled by it
Knows more than your enemy of how to harm you,
away from it, for fear a mouth should garble it.
He meets you while the purest honey is extracted,
لاdo not تُخْلِدَنَّever repose your trust إِلىin الصّديقِthe friend فإنّهُfor he
لا تُخْلِدَنَّ إِلى الصّديقِ فإنّهُ
بِكَabout you مِنْthan عَدوِّكَyour enemy فيin المَضَرَّةِharm أعْلَمُknows better
بِكَ مِنْ عَدوِّكَ في المَضَرَّةِ أعْلَمُ
Never repose your trust in a friend, for he
From his words, and the vilest substances from his deeds,
knows better than your enemy how to harm you.
Added to this, many a foe clings to him,
يَلقاكَmeets you والعسَلُand honey المُصَفَّىpurified يُجْتَنَىis gathered
يَلقاكَ والعسَلُ المُصَفَّى يُجْتَنَى
مِنfrom قَولِهِhis speech ومنَand from الفَعالِdeeds العَلْقَمُbitter colocynth
مِن قَولِهِ ومنَ الفَعالِ العَلْقَمُ
He meets you, and pure honey can be gathered
Whose latent hatreds are kindled by misdeeds,
from his speech, and bitter colocynth from his deeds.
So I was forbearing with him while he drank his rage,
هذاthis ورُبَّand many a مُشاحِنٍrancorous foe عَلِقَتْhas clung بهِto him
هذا ورُبَّ مُشاحِنٍ عَلِقَتْ بهِ
شَمْطاءُa gray-haired feud تُلْقِحُهاimpregnate it الضَّغائِنُgrudges مُتْئِمُbearing twins
شَمْطاءُ تُلْقِحُها الضَّغائِنُ مُتْئِمُ
This is so; and many a rancorous foe has been seized by
In one gulp, choking on his snarling and wrath,
a gray-haired feud, impregnated by grudges, bearing twins.
While I am full of what checks his audacity,
فحَلُمْتُso I was forbearing عنهُtoward him وباتَand spent the night يَشْرَبُdrinking غَيظَهُhis rage
فحَلُمْتُ عنهُ وباتَ يَشْرَبُ غَيظَهُ
جُرَعاًin gulps ولُزَّand was pressed بمِنخَرَيهِagainst his nostrils المَرْغَمُhumbling dust
جُرَعاً ولُزَّ بمِنخَرَيهِ المَرْغَمُ
I bore with him, while he spent the night drinking his rage
And repels the ignorance of the savage, untaught one,
in gulps, with humbling dust pressed against his nostrils.
I accompanied Ozeir son of Mohallem,
وأناand I المَليءُfully capable بِماwith what يَكُفُّcurbs جِماحَهُhis unruliness
وأنا المَليءُ بِما يَكُفُّ جِماحَهُ
ويَرُدُّand turns back غَرْبَthe edge of الجَهلِfolly وهْوَwhile it is مُثَلَّمُnotched
ويَرُدُّ غَرْبَ الجَهلِ وهْوَ مُثَلَّمُ
And I am well equipped with what curbs his unruliness
Where swords shed their sheaths of blood,
and turns back folly's edge, leaving it notched.
The horses disheveled, the spears devastated,
فلقدfor indeed صَحِبْتُI accompanied أُزَيهِرَUzayhir بنَson of مُحَلِّمٍMuhallim
فلقد صَحِبْتُ أُزَيهِرَ بنَ مُحَلِّمٍ
حيثُwhere السّيوفُthe swords يَبُلُّquenches غُلَّتَهاtheir thirst الدَّمُblood
حيثُ السّيوفُ يَبُلُّ غُلَّتَها الدَّمُ
For I have accompanied Uzayhir ibn Muhallim
The mail coats muddy, the swords Thursday-stained,
where blood quenches the swords' thirst,
I saw him treat the enemies with forgiveness,
والخَيْلُand the horses شُعْثٌdisheveled والرِّماحُand the spears شوارِعٌleveled
والخَيْلُ شُعْثٌ والرِّماحُ شوارِعٌ
والنّقْعُand the dust أكْدَرُmurky والخَميسُand the army عَرَمْرَمُvast
والنّقْعُ أكْدَرُ والخَميسُ عَرَمْرَمُ
the horses disheveled and the spears leveled,
As his power makes him clement towards them,
the dust murky and the army vast.
Each innocent man of a people wishes,
فرأيتُهُso I saw him يَسَعُembrace العُداةَthe enemies بِعَفْوِهِwith his pardon
فرأيتُهُ يَسَعُ العُداةَ بِعَفْوِهِ
وتُجيرُand grants protection قُدْرَتُهُhis power عَليهِagainst him فَيَحْلُمُso he forbears
وتُجيرُ قُدْرَتُهُ عَليهِ فَيَحْلُمُ
I saw his pardon embrace his enemies;
To be counted among those he confers favors upon,
his power shields them from him, so he forbears.
I gained from his morals and gift-bestowal,
ويَوَدُّand wishes كلُّevery بَريءِinnocent member of قَومٍa people أنَّهُthat he
ويَوَدُّ كلُّ بَريءِ قَومٍ أنَّهُ
مِمّاbecause of what يَمُنُّhe bestows بهِwith it عليْهِمْupon them مُجرِمُa wrongdoer
مِمّا يَمُنُّ بهِ عليْهِمْ مُجرِمُ
Every innocent man among the people wishes he were
Favors that even the pouring clouds begrudge,
a wrongdoer, for the favors he bestows upon them.
When matters become obscure, the sun of morning,
وأفَدْتُand I gained مِنْfrom أخلاقِهِhis character ونَوالِهِand his bounty
وأفَدْتُ مِنْ أخلاقِهِ ونَوالِهِ
مِنَحاًgifts يَضِنُّbegrudges بهاthem السَّحابُthe cloud المُرْهِمُdrizzling
مِنَحاً يَضِنُّ بها السَّحابُ المُرْهِمُ
From his character and bounty I gained
Illuminates them, pouring its scattering light upon them,
gifts the drizzling cloud would begrudge.
You have elucidated the paths to glory though they were obscure,
وإذاand when أغامَclouds over الخَطْبُcalamity جابَcleaves ضَبابَهُits fog
وإذا أغامَ الخَطْبُ جابَ ضَبابَهُ
شَمْسُthe sun of الضُّحىforenoon وسَطاand assails عَليهِit الضَّيْغَمُthe lion
شَمْسُ الضُّحى وسَطا عَليهِ الضَّيْغَمُ
When calamity clouds over, its fog is cleft by
So that the seeker sees the confusing way clearly,
the forenoon sun, and the lion assails it.
With your generosity you have immersed kings until each one,
ومَتىand whenever بَداhe appears واللّيلُand night ألْمَىdark-lipped رَدَّهُhe transforms it
ومَتى بَدا واللّيلُ ألْمَى رَدَّهُ
بِالبِشْرِwith cheerful brightness فهْوَso it إذاwhen تبلَّجَbrightens أرْثَمُwhite-lipped
بِالبِشْرِ فهْوَ إذا تبلَّجَ أرْثَمُ
Whenever he appears while night is dark-lipped, he transforms it
When you gave him the call of generosity, became generous,
with his bright smile: as it dawns, it is white-lipped.
You have extended a palm with plentiful gifts,
مَلِكٌa king يُكِلُّwearies غَداةَon the morning when يُطلَبُis pursued شَأوُهُhis reach
مَلِكٌ يُكِلُّ غَداةَ يُطلَبُ شَأوُهُ
مُقَلاًeyes يُصافِحُهاgreets them العَجاجُthe swirling dust الأقتَمُdusky
مُقَلاً يُصافِحُها العَجاجُ الأقتَمُ
A king who, the morning others seek to match his reach, wearies
So the wealthy man rivals it with his sword, and the pauper,
eyes greeted by dusky, swirling dust.
You have extended for the weak a vast shade,
بشَمائِلٍwith qualities مُزِجَwas blended الشِّماسُdefiance بِلينِهاwith their gentleness
بشَمائِلٍ مُزِجَ الشِّماسُ بِلينِها
كالماءِlike water أُشْرِبَهُwas made to drink it السِّنانُthe spearhead اللَّهْذَمُkeen
كالماءِ أُشْرِبَهُ السِّنانُ اللَّهْذَمُ
With qualities whose gentleness is blended with defiance,
Which the radiant and the gloomy wrap themselves in,
like water the keen spearhead was made to drink;
Every virtue is attained through your qualities,
ومَناقِبٍand virtues لاnot تُرتَقَىare climbed هَضَباتُهاtheir heights
ومَناقِبٍ لا تُرتَقَى هَضَباتُها
نَطَقَspoke الفَصيحُthe eloquent بفَضْلِهاof their excellence والأعْجَمُand the inarticulate
نَطَقَ الفَصيحُ بفَضْلِها والأعْجَمُ
and virtues whose heights cannot be scaled,
And with you is collected its essence and its match,
whose excellence the eloquent and the inarticulate proclaim.
For the like of these I have composed every ode,
إنْif لُحْنَthey appear والشُّهْبُand the bright stars الثّواقِبُpiercing فيin الدُّجىdarkness
إنْ لُحْنَ والشُّهْبُ الثّواقِبُ في الدُّجى
لمْdid not يَدْرِknow سارٍa night traveler أيُّهُنَّwhich of them الأنْجُمُthe stars
لمْ يَدْرِ سارٍ أيُّهُنَّ الأنْجُمُ
Should they appear beside the piercing stars in the dark,
Which the generous courser sensed and befriended,
no night traveler could tell which of them were the stars.
Poetry is difficult to climb and many times,
ياO بْنَson of الإِلىthose who سَحَبواtrailed الرِّماحَthe spears إِلىinto الوغَىbattle
يا بْنَ الإِلى سَحَبوا الرِّماحَ إِلى الوغَى
ولدَيْهِand there يَغْدرُbetrays بالبَنانِthe fingers المِعْصَمُthe wrist
ولدَيْهِ يَغْدرُ بالبَنانِ المِعْصَمُ
O son of those who trailed their spears into battle,
The unwilling one smelled the scent of the impregnable,
where the wrist betrays the fingers!
Eulogy comes easily thanks to your towering character,
يتَسرَّعونَthey rush إِلىto الوغَىbattle فجِيادُهُمْso their noble steeds
يتَسرَّعونَ إِلى الوغَى فجِيادُهُمْ
تُزْجَىare urged onward عَوابِسَgrim-faced والسُّيوفُand the swords تَبَسُّمُsmile
تُزْجَى عَوابِسَ والسُّيوفُ تَبَسُّمُ
They rush to battle, and their noble steeds
As your magnanimity dictates it to me and I compose it,
are urged on grim-faced, while the swords smile.
Sometimes, the sequoia hides even when the,
وإذاand when الزَّمانُthe age دَجاdarkens أضاؤواthey shine فاكْتَسىso clothed itself
وإذا الزَّمانُ دَجا أضاؤوا فاكْتَسى
فضَلاتِin the surplus of نُورِهِمُtheir light الزّمانُthe age المُظلِمُdarkened
فضَلاتِ نُورِهِمُ الزّمانُ المُظلِمُ
When the age grows dark, they shine, and it clothes itself
Phoenix raised its splendor and the star aspected it,
in the surplus of their light—the darkened age.
أوْضَحْتَyou made plain طُرْقَthe paths of المَجْدِglory وهْيَwhile they were خَفِيّةٌhidden
أوْضَحْتَ طُرْقَ المَجْدِ وهْيَ خَفِيّةٌ
فبَداso appeared لِطالِبهِto its seeker الطَّريقُthe road المُبهَمُobscure
فبَدا لِطالِبهِ الطَّريقُ المُبهَمُ
You made plain the paths of glory, once hidden,
and the obscure road appeared to its seeker.
وغَمَرْتَand you flooded بالكَرَمِwith generosity المُلوكَthe kings فكُلُّهُمْso every one of them
وغَمَرْتَ بالكَرَمِ المُلوكَ فكُلُّهُمْ
لمّاwhen شَرَعْتَyou prescribed لهُfor him الندىًgenerosity يتكرَّمُacts generously
لمّا شَرَعْتَ لهُ الندىً يتكرَّمُ
You flooded the kings with generosity, so every one of them,
now that you have prescribed generosity for him, acts generously.
وبَسَطْتَand you stretched out كفّاًa hand بالمَواهِبِwith gifts ثَرَّةًoverflowing
وبَسَطْتَ كفّاً بالمَواهِبِ ثَرَّةً
سَدِكَclung الغَنيُّthe wealthy man بِسَيْبِهاto its bounty والمُعْدَمُand the destitute man
سَدِكَ الغَنيُّ بِسَيْبِها والمُعْدَمُ
You stretched out a hand overflowing with gifts;
the wealthy and the destitute clung to its bounty.
ومَدَدْتَand you extended لِلعافينَfor seekers of gifts ظِلاًa shade وارِفاًample
ومَدَدْتَ لِلعافينَ ظِلاً وارِفاً
يتوشَّحُwraps himself الضّاحِيthe sun-exposed man بهِin it والمُعتِمُand the man in darkness
يتوشَّحُ الضّاحِي بهِ والمُعتِمُ
You spread ample shade for those who seek gifts,
in which those in sunlight and those in darkness wrap themselves.
كلُّall الفَضائِلِvirtues مِنfrom خِلالِكَyour qualities يُقْتَنىare acquired
كلُّ الفَضائِلِ مِن خِلالِكَ يُقْتَنى
ولدَيْكَand with you يُجْمَعُare gathered فَذُّهاtheir single ones والتَّوأَمُand their twins
ولدَيْكَ يُجْمَعُ فَذُّها والتَّوأَمُ
All virtues are acquired from your qualities;
with you their single ones and their twins are gathered.
ولِمِثْلِهاand for the likes of them أعْدَدْتُI readied كُلَّevery قصيدَةٍode
ولِمِثْلِها أعْدَدْتُ كُلَّ قصيدَةٍ
نَفَرَتْshied away فَآنَسَهاthen reassured it الجَوادُthe generous man المُنعِمُthe benefactor
نَفَرَتْ فَآنَسَها الجَوادُ المُنعِمُ
For virtues like these I readied every ode
that shied away, then was soothed by the generous benefactor.
والشِّعْرُand poetry صَعْبٌdifficult مُرتَقاهُits ascent وطالَماand many a time
والشِّعْرُ صَعْبٌ مُرتَقاهُ وطالَما
شمَّsniffed الإباءَdefiance بِمارِنٍwith a nose tip لاnot يُخْطَمُis haltered
شمَّ الإباءَ بِمارِنٍ لا يُخْطَمُ
Poetry is difficult to scale, and many a time
has sniffed defiance with a nose that will not be haltered.
والمَدْحُand praise يَسهُلُis easy فيin عُلاكَyour high renown مَرامُهُits goal
والمَدْحُ يَسهُلُ في عُلاكَ مَرامُهُ
فنَداكَso your bounty يُمْليهِdictates it عليَّto me وأنْظِمُand I compose verse
فنَداكَ يُمْليهِ عليَّ وأنْظِمُ
In your high renown, praise easily reaches its goal;
your bounty dictates it to me, and I set it in verse.
ولَرُبَّماand often غَطَّgrunted البِكارُthe young camels وإنّماbut only
ولَرُبَّما غَطَّ البِكارُ وإنّما
رفَعَraised الهَديرَthe roar بهِthrough it الفَنيقُthe pampered bull-camel المُقْرَمُreserved for breeding
رفَعَ الهَديرَ بهِ الفَنيقُ المُقْرَمُ
Often the young camels grunt, yet it is only
the pampered breeding bull-camel that thereby raises the roar.
Partial English translation: 111 of 130 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1