أَلَحْظٌis it a glance? فيin جُفونِكِyour eyelids أمor صَوارمْkeen-edged swords
أَلَحْظٌ في جُفونِكِ أم صَوارمْ
وحَرْبٌand at war ليwith me فؤادُكِyour heart أمor مُسالِمْat peace
وحَرْبٌ لي فؤادُكِ أم مُسالِمْ
Is that a glance within your eyelids, or keen-edged swords?
Are those glances in your eyes swords,
And is your heart at war with me, or at peace?
Or is your heart at war with me, seeking peace?
ولمand did not أَرI see قبلَbefore يومِthe day of البَيْنِparting غِيداًsupple-necked women
ولم أَر قبلَ يومِ البَيْنِ غِيداً
قَواتلَslayers بالجُفونِwith eyelids ولاnor كَوالمwounders
قَواتلَ بالجُفونِ ولا كَوالم
And before the day of parting, I had never seen supple-necked women
Never before the day of parting did I see warriors
who killed with their eyelids or inflicted wounds,
Battling with their eyelids, nor orators.
ولاnor بَطلاًa warrior صوارمُهhis swords لِحاظٌglances
ولا بَطلاً صوارمُه لِحاظٌ
يُجَرِّدُهاhe unsheathes them وجُنَّتُهand his shield مَعاصِمwrists
يُجَرِّدُها وجُنَّتُه مَعاصِم
nor a warrior whose swords were glances,
No hero unsheathing his sword, whose glance
which he unsheathed, with wrists for his shield.
Strips him bare and whose eyelids are shields.
كأنَّas though الخالدِيّةَal-Khalidiyya يومَthe day راحَتْshe departed
كأنَّ الخالدِيّةَ يومَ راحَتْ
تَهادَىshe sways gently بينَamong أترابٍcompanions of her age نَواعمtender
تَهادَى بينَ أترابٍ نَواعم
It was as though, the day al-Khalidiyya departed,
As if the eternal warriors, when they rested,
swaying gently among tender companions of her age,
Were swaying gently between companions.
أَتاكَcame to you مِنَfrom الفلاةِthe wilderness بمُقْلَتيْهاwith her two eyes
أَتاكَ مِنَ الفلاةِ بمُقْلَتيْها
كحيلُkohl-dark الطَّرفِthe eye منamong بقَرِwild cattle الصّرائمthe sandy tracts
كحيلُ الطَّرفِ من بقَرِ الصّرائم
there came to you from the wilderness, bearing her eyes,
They came to you from the wilderness with their eyeliner
a kohl-eyed oryx of the sandy tracts.
Like kohl on the eyelid from the peek of mountain climbers.
مُهَفْهَفةٌslender يَنوطُhangs العِقْدُthe necklace منهاfrom her
مُهَفْهَفةٌ يَنوطُ العِقْدُ منها
بسالفتَيْon two neck-sides طَلاًa fawn منfrom وَحْشِthe wild creatures of جاسِمJasim
بسالفتَيْ طَلاً من وَحْشِ جاسِم
Slender, her necklace hangs
With disheveled hair, whose braids the necklaces adorn
on both sides of the neck of a wild fawn from Jasim,
With two long dark tresses of wild flowing hair.
يُلاعِبُplays with ظِلَّهُits shadow مرَحاًplayfully ويَحْنوand bends tenderly
يُلاعِبُ ظِلَّهُ مرَحاً ويَحْنو
عليهover it منamong ظباءِthe gazelles of القاعِthe plain رائمa tender mother-doe
عليه من ظباءِ القاعِ رائم
that plays merrily with its shadow, while there bends
Its shadow plays with it friskily and stoops over it
over it a tender doe from the gazelles of the plain.
From the gazelles of the plain that ascend the hillocks.
ليَهْنِكِmay it delight you ياO ابنةَdaughter of الأقوامِthe clans أَنّيthat I
ليَهْنِكِ يا ابنةَ الأقوامِ أَنّي
بحُبّكِwith love for you لوif only جَزيْتِyou rewarded الصَّبَّthe lovesick lover هائمdistraught with love
بحُبّكِ لو جَزيْتِ الصَّبَّ هائم
May it delight you, daughter of the clans, that I
To make you relent, O daughter of the people! I swear
am lost in love for you—if only you would reward the lovesick lover.
With your love, if I paid the raging passion its due.
وكمand how many منof حاسدٍan envier يَثْنيturns back عِنانيmy reins
وكم من حاسدٍ يَثْني عِناني
يُعالِجُstruggles with فيكِfor you وَجْداًlonging وهْوwhile he is لائمreproaching
يُعالِجُ فيكِ وَجْداً وهْو لائم
How many an envier turns back my reins,
How many enviers curb my rein, treating with disdain
struggling with longing for you, even while he reproaches me.
The passion for you, while the blamer blames.
لقدindeed فَتنَتْbewitched لحاظُكِyour glances كُلَّevery قلبٍheart
لقد فَتنَتْ لحاظُكِ كُلَّ قلبٍ
فماso not فيamong النّاسِpeople منfrom عَينَيْكِyour two eyes سالمunharmed
فما في النّاسِ من عَينَيْكِ سالم
Your glances have indeed bewitched every heart;
Your glances have seduced every heart,
none among mankind is unscathed by your eyes.
So none are safe from your eyes.
أقولُI say وقدwhile already تَلوَّيتُI writhed ادِّكاراًin remembrance
أقولُ وقد تَلوَّيتُ ادِّكاراً
ولمand did not أملِكْI control منfrom الطَّرَبِemotional agitation الحيازمthe chests
ولم أملِكْ من الطَّرَبِ الحيازم
I say, as I writhe in remembrance,
I say, while twisting with recollection,
unable, in my agitation, to hold my breast still:
And I cannot control the terrible anxiety,
سقَىmay water دَمْعيmy tears وإنْeven though لمnot يَصْفُrun clear وجْداًfrom longing
سقَى دَمْعي وإنْ لم يَصْفُ وجْداً
مَنازلَdwellings بينَbetween وَجْرةَWajra فالأَناعِمand al-Ana'im
مَنازلَ بينَ وَجْرةَ فالأَناعِم
May my tears, though clouded by longing, water
My tears watered, even if they do not describe passion,
the dwellings between Wajra and al-Ana'im.
The resting places between ridge and gentle plain.
وماand not ملَّhas tired of البكاءَweeping عليكِover you طَرْفيmy eye
وما ملَّ البكاءَ عليكِ طَرْفي
فتَحتاجَso would need الطُّلولُthe ruined campsites إلىfor الغَمائمrainclouds
فتَحتاجَ الطُّلولُ إلى الغَمائم
And my eye has not tired of weeping over you,
Crying for you has not tired my eyes,
so the ruined camps need no rainclouds.
So the long nights need no clouds.
وجائلةُand shifting النُّسوعِthe girth-straps تَخالُyou would imagine منهاamong them
وجائلةُ النُّسوعِ تَخالُ منها
رواسيَimmovable mountains فيin الفلاthe wilderness وَهِيَthough they are الرَّواسمswift-striding camels
رواسيَ في الفلا وَهِيَ الرَّواسم
And camels with shifting girths—you would take them for
The girl's bracelets clink on her,
immovable mountains in the wilderness, though they stride swiftly.
Like peals of thunder in the desolate wilderness.
كَمرِّlike the passage of البَرقِlightning يَطْلَعْنَthey ascend الثّناياthe mountain passes
كَمرِّ البَرقِ يَطْلَعْنَ الثّنايا
مُشمِّرةًhastening ويَهْوِينَand they plunge down المَخارمthe mountain gaps
مُشمِّرةً ويَهْوِينَ المَخارم
Like lightning's passage, they climb the mountain passes,
They emerge from the slopes like flashes of lightning,
hastening onward, and plunge down the mountain gaps.
Girded up, plunging into the fray.
تَهُزُّrock معاشراًcompanies of men كالبِيضِlike polished swords بيضاًwhite
تَهُزُّ معاشراً كالبِيضِ بيضاً
قَوائمُهاtheir legs العِجالُthe swift لهاfor them القَوائمthe hilts
قَوائمُها العِجالُ لها القَوائم
Companies of men, white as polished swords, are rocked
They shake the foe as the eggs shake the eggs,
by the camels' swift legs, which serve those swords as hilts.
Their forelegs are their pillars.
نَشاوَىdrunk منfrom كؤوسِcups of كرىًslumber وسَيْرٍand travel
نَشاوَى من كؤوسِ كرىً وسَيْرٍ
فهمْso they are غِيدُswaying الطُّلَىthe necks مِيلُtilted العَمائمthe turbans
فهمْ غِيدُ الطُّلَى مِيلُ العَمائم
Drunk from cups of slumber and travel,
They drank from cups of wine and traveled on
their necks sway and their turbans tilt.
The songs of the vanguards incline the turbans.
يقولُsays دَليلُهمْtheir guide وقدِwhile already اسْتمَرَّتْpressed onward
يقولُ دَليلُهمْ وقدِ اسْتمَرَّتْ
إلىtoward قَصْدِthe pursuit of العُلاeminence بهمُbearing them العزائمthe resolves
إلى قَصْدِ العُلا بهمُ العزائم
Their guide says, as onward press
Their guide said, as their determination
the resolves bearing them toward the quest for eminence:
To reach the heights continued to drive them:
إذاwhen بَلغَتْhave arrived بأرحُلِناwith our saddles المَهارىthe Mahri camels
إذا بَلغَتْ بأرحُلِنا المَهارى
وألقَتْهاand set them down إلىat بابِthe gate of ابنِson of غانمGhanim
وألقَتْها إلى بابِ ابنِ غانم
When the Mahri camels arrive bearing our saddles
“When our she-camels bring us to the skilled warriors
and set them down at Ibn Ghanim's gate,
And carry us to the son of Ghanim's door,
لثَمْناwe shall kiss ثَمَّthere أيديthe forelegs of العيسِthe pale camels شُكْراًin gratitude
لثَمْنا ثَمَّ أيدي العيسِ شُكْراً
وألْصَقْناand we shall press المباسِمَthe smiling mouths بالمناسمto the padded feet
وألْصَقْنا المباسِمَ بالمناسم
there we shall kiss the pale camels' forelegs in gratitude,
We will pay the stallions their price and then
and press our smiling mouths to their padded feet.
Press our smiling mouths to their smiling mouths.
وكيفand how جُحودُdenial of ماwhat صنَعhave done المطاياthe mounts
وكيف جُحودُ ما صنَع المطايا
وقدwhen indeed حَجّتْmade a pilgrimage بناwith us حَرَمَthe sanctuary of المكارمnoble virtues
وقد حَجّتْ بنا حَرَمَ المكارم
How could we deny what the mounts have done,
How can we deny what the mares have done
when they have borne us in pilgrimage to the sanctuary of noble virtues?
When they brought us to the sacred precincts?
جَنابُthe domain of فتىًa young man تُرَىare seen للفضلِfor excellence فيهin it
جَنابُ فتىً تُرَى للفضلِ فيه
وللإفضالِand for bounty والعُلْياand eminence مَواسمfestive gatherings
وللإفضالِ والعُلْيا مَواسم
A young man's domain, where one sees, for excellence
The company of a youth in whom
and for bounty and eminence, festive gatherings.
Are seasons for merit, charity and sublimity.
إمامٌa master كلّماwhenever فَكّرتَyou think فيهof him
إمامٌ كلّما فَكّرتَ فيه
بداappears لكto you عالَمٌa world فيin ثَوبِthe robe of عالِمa scholar
بدا لك عالَمٌ في ثَوبِ عالِم
A master: whenever you think of him,
A leader, whenever you think of him,
a world appears to you in a scholar's robe.
He seems to you a learned man in the garb of a scholar.
أعادrestored النّحْوَgrammar مَعْمورَflourishing النّواحيthe regions
أعاد النّحْوَ مَعْمورَ النّواحي
ورَدَّand restored العلْمَlearning مَشْهورَrenowned المَعالمthe landmarks
ورَدَّ العلْمَ مَشْهورَ المَعالم
He restored grammar, flourishing in all its regions,
He restored grammar to prosperous regions
and brought learning back, its landmarks renowned.
And returned science to famed landmarks.
أخوa man of ثقةٍtrust يَهُزُّbrandishes المرءُa man منهfrom him
أخو ثقةٍ يَهُزُّ المرءُ منه
حُساماًa keen sword فيin المُلِمّاتِcalamities العَظائمthe great
حُساماً في المُلِمّاتِ العَظائم
A trusted ally, whom a man may brandish as
A brother of Trust whom a man would shake
a keen sword amid mighty calamities.
A sword at in the most serious adversities.
لهhe has يدُthe hand of واهبٍa giver ومقالُand the word of وافٍa faithful man
له يدُ واهبٍ ومقالُ وافٍ
وَقلْبُand the heart of مُشيَّعٍa dauntless man وفَعالُand the deeds of حازمa resolute man
وَقلْبُ مُشيَّعٍ وفَعالُ حازم
He has a giver's hand and a faithful man's word,
He has a bestowing hand, fulfilling words,
and a dauntless man's heart and a resolute man's deeds,
An accompanying heart, and prudent deeds.
ومنطقُand the eloquence of خالدٍKhalid ودهاءُand the shrewdness of عَمْروٍAmr
ومنطقُ خالدٍ ودهاءُ عَمْروٍ
ونجدةُand the valor of عامرٍAmir وسَخاءُand the generosity of حاتِمHatim
ونجدةُ عامرٍ وسَخاءُ حاتِم
and Khalid's eloquence and Amr's shrewdness,
His speech is immortal, his cunning is ‘Amr’s
and Amir's valor and Hatim's generosity.
His succor is ‘Amir’s, his generosity Hatim’s.
فإنْfor if جُبِلَتْwere fashioned علىfor كَرَمٍgenerosity يَداهُhis two hands
فإنْ جُبِلَتْ على كَرَمٍ يَداهُ
فمِنthen from أخلاقِthe traits of آباءٍforefathers أَكارمnoble
فمِن أخلاقِ آباءٍ أَكارم
For if his hands were fashioned for generosity,
If his hands are naturally generous,
that springs from the traits of noble forefathers.
It is from the morals of generous forefathers.
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle جئْتَهُyou come to him لاقاكَmeets you خِرْقٌa generous man
إذا ما جئْتَهُ لاقاكَ خِرْقٌ
منamong الفِتْيانِthe young men طَلْقُcheerful الوجهِof face باسمsmiling
من الفِتْيانِ طَلْقُ الوجهِ باسم
Whenever you come to him, a generous man greets you,
When you come to him, you will meet a tear
one of the young men, open-faced and smiling.
Of youths, fair of face, cheerful.
وإنْand if جَرَّدْتَهyou unsheathe him فيin وجهِthe face of خطْبٍa calamity
وإنْ جَرَّدْتَه في وجهِ خطْبٍ
تَجرَّدَis bared باترُcutting الحَدَّيْنِwith both edges صارمa keen sword
تَجرَّدَ باترُ الحَدَّيْنِ صارم
And if you unsheathe him in the face of a calamity,
If you seek his aid in some serious matter,
a keen sword is bared, cutting with both edges.
The keenest two-edged sword will be unsheathed.
فلاso may never عَدِمَتْlack شَمائلَهhis virtues المَعاليlofty honors
فلا عَدِمَتْ شَمائلَه المَعالي
ولاand may never زالcease to be الحسودُthe envier بهِنَّby them راغمhumbled
ولا زال الحسودُ بهِنَّ راغم
So may lofty honors never lack his virtues,
His noble qualities will never be absent,
and may the envier always be humbled by them.
While the envier continues to choke with rage about him."
Sol 6.1