قُلتُI said لِلّائِمِto the reproacher فيin الحُبِّlove أَفِقcome to your senses
قُلتُ لِلّائِمِ في الحُبِّ أَفِق
لاdo not تُهَوِّنbelittle طَعمَthe taste of شَيءٍsomething لَمnot تَذُقyou tasted
لا تُهَوِّن طَعمَ شَيءٍ لَم تَذُق
I said to the reproacher in love, “Come to your senses.”
Do not belittle the taste of something you have not tasted.
تَبهَشُreaches eagerly النَفسُthe soul إِلىtoward زَورِthe visitors of الكَرىsleep
تَبهَشُ النَفسُ إِلى زَورِ الكَرى
وَمَتاعُand the delight of النَفسِthe soul فيin زَورِthe visitors of الأَرَقsleeplessness
وَمَتاعُ النَفسِ في زَورِ الأَرَق
The soul reaches eagerly for the visitors of sleep,
yet the soul’s delight lies with the visitors of sleeplessness.
صَفوَةُthe choicest blessing of الدَهرِtime إِذاwhen الدَهرُtime صَفاbecame serene
صَفوَةُ الدَهرِ إِذا الدَهرُ صَفا
تَجمَعُreunites الشَملَthe company إِذاwhen الشَملُthe company اِفتَرَقdispersed
تَجمَعُ الشَملَ إِذا الشَملُ اِفتَرَق
Time’s choicest blessing, when time is serene,
reunites the company when it has dispersed.
أَغَريمُdid the debtor of الصَبِّthe passionate lover أَدّىdischarge دَينَهُhis debt
أَغَريمُ الصَبِّ أَدّى دَينَهُ
لَيلَةَon the night of الوَعدِthe promise أَمِor الطَيفُthe dream-phantom طَرَقvisited by night
لَيلَةَ الوَعدِ أَمِ الطَيفُ طَرَق
Did the lover’s debtor discharge his debt
on the promised night, or did a phantom visit?
لاnot يُلَذُّis pleasurable المُلتَقىthe meeting إِنif لَمnot يَكُنis
لا يُلَذُّ المُلتَقى إِن لَم يَكُن
باعِثُthe awakener of الشَوقِlonging لَذيذَsweet المُعتَنَقto embrace
باعِثُ الشَوقِ لَذيذَ المُعتَنَق
Meeting brings no pleasure unless
the one who stirs longing is sweet to embrace.
لَوif أَنالَتshe granted favors كانَthere would be فيin تَنويلِهاher giving
لَو أَنالَت كانَ في تَنويلِها
بُلغَةُsustenance for الثاويthe one staying وَزادُand provisions for المُنطَلِقthe departing one
بُلغَةُ الثاوي وَزادُ المُنطَلِق
If she granted her favors, her giving would contain
sustenance for the one who stays and provisions for the one who departs.
نَظَرَتshe gazed قادِرَةٌable أَنto يَنكَفيturn back
نَظَرَت قادِرَةٌ أَن يَنكَفي
كُلُّevery قَلبٍheart مِنfrom هَواهاlove for her بِعَلَقwith clinging passion
كُلُّ قَلبٍ مِن هَواها بِعَلَق
She gazed, able to send
every heart away with a clinging passion for her.
قالَspoke بُطلاًfalsehood وَأَفالَand weakened الرَأيَjudgment مَنwhoever
قالَ بُطلاً وَأَفالَ الرَأيَ مَن
لَمnot يَقُلsaid إِنَّthat المَناياdeaths فيin الحَدَقthe pupils
لَم يَقُل إِنَّ المَنايا في الحَدَق
He spoke falsely and showed feeble judgment who
did not say that deaths dwell in the pupils of the eyes.
إِنif تَكُنyou are مُحتَسِباًcounting as lost مَنone who قَدhas ثَوىlain still
إِن تَكُن مُحتَسِباً مَن قَد ثَوى
لِحِمامٍthrough death فَاِحتَسِبthen count as lost مَنone who قَدhas عَشِقfallen in love
لِحِمامٍ فَاِحتَسِب مَن قَد عَشِق
If you count as lost one who has lain
in death, then count as lost one who has loved.
يَملَأُfills الواشيthe tale-bearer جَنانيmy heart ذُعراًwith terror
يَملَأُ الواشي جَناني ذُعراً
وَيَعنينيand troubles me الحَديثُthe tale المُختَلَقfabricated
وَيَعنيني الحَديثُ المُختَلَق
The tale-bearer fills my heart with terror,
and the fabricated tale troubles me.
حُبَّهاlove of her أَوor أَوor فَرقاًfear مِنof هَجرِهاher abandonment
حُبَّها أَو أَو فَرقاً مِن هَجرِها
وَصَريحُand outright الذُلِّabasement حُبٌّlove أَوor فَرَقfear
وَصَريحُ الذُلِّ حُبٌّ أَو فَرَق
For love of her—or, or for fear of her abandonment;
and outright abasement is love or fear.
أَدَعُI leave alone الصاحِبَthe companion لاnot أَعذُلُهُI reproach him
أَدَعُ الصاحِبَ لا أَعذُلُهُ
لاnot يُسَمَّىhe is called بِعُقوقِdisloyal فَيَعُقُand becomes disloyal
لا يُسَمَّى بِعُقوقِ فَيَعُقُ
I leave the companion be, without reproaching him,
lest he be called disloyal and become disloyal.
وَأَرىand I consider الإِملاقَpoverty أَحجىmore fitting بِالفَتىfor the young man
وَأَرى الإِملاقَ أَحجى بِالفَتى
مِنthan ثَراءٍwealth يَطَّبيهِthat lures him قالَhe said اِحتَرَقburned up
مِن ثَراءٍ يَطَّبيهِ قالَ اِحتَرَق
I find poverty more fitting for a young man
than wealth that lures him; he said, “Burned up.”
لَيسَthere is not فيهِin him غَيرُanything except ماwhat يُغريincites بِهِagainst him
لَيسَ فيهِ غَيرُ ما يُغري بِهِ
فَإِذاso whenever قُلتُI said اِنشَوىwas roasted قالَhe said اِحتَرَقburned up
فَإِذا قُلتُ اِنشَوى قالَ اِحتَرَق
There is nothing in him but what incites others against him;
whenever I said, “Roasted,” he said, “Burned up.”
أَكثَرُmost الإِشفاقِsolicitude يُرجىis hoped for نَفعُهُits benefit
أَكثَرُ الإِشفاقِ يُرجى نَفعُهُ
بَعدَafter أَنthat تَطرِحَyou cast aside الخِلَّthe friend الشَفَقanxious
بَعدَ أَن تَطرِحَ الخِلَّ الشَفَق
Most solicitude is expected to help
once you cast aside the anxious friend.
هُبِلَmay he perish الجَحشُthe donkey’s foal فَماhow أَوتَحَpaltry ماwhat
هُبِلَ الجَحشُ فَما أَوتَحَ ما
يَقتَنيهِhe possesses مِنof قُبولٍcharm أَوor لَبَقtact
يَقتَنيهِ مِن قُبولٍ أَو لَبَق
May the donkey’s foal perish! How paltry is what
he possesses of charm or tact,
وَإِخاءٍand brotherhood مِنهُfrom him لَوif يُعرَضُit were offered لِلfor the
وَإِخاءٍ مِنهُ لَو يُعرَضُ لِل
بَيعِsale فيin سوقِthe market of الثَلاثاTuesday ماnot نَفَقit sold
بَيعِ في سوقِ الثَلاثا ما نَفَق
and his brotherhood: if it were offered for
sale in the Tuesday market, it would find no buyer.
وَكَأَنَّand as though الفَصلَal-Fasl يَأتيdoes ماwhat أَتىhe did
وَكَأَنَّ الفَصلَ يَأتي ما أَتى
مِنof قَبيحٍfoulness فيin رِهانٍa wager أَوor سَبَقa race
مِن قَبيحٍ في رِهانٍ أَو سَبَق
It is as though al-Fasl does whatever he does
of foulness for a wager or a race.
يَدَّعيhe claims أَنَّthat لُواطاًsodomy راهِناًfirmly established
يَدَّعي أَنَّ لُواطاً راهِناً
وَالفَتىand the fellow أَحلَقُmore foolish مِنthan ذاتِthe wearer of الحَلَقrings
وَالفَتى أَحلَقُ مِن ذاتِ الحَلَق
He claims that sodomy is a settled matter,
and the fellow is more foolish than the wearer of rings.
مِنamong زِياداتِthe increases of النَقيصاتِfaults لَهُfor him
مِن زِياداتِ النَقيصاتِ لَهُ
طَبَقٌa stage يَركَبُهُhe mounts it بَعدَafter طَبَقa stage
طَبَقٌ يَركَبُهُ بَعدَ طَبَق
Among his ever-increasing faults is
one stage he mounts after another.
كانَwas قُبحُthe ugliness of الوَجهِthe face يُجزيناenough for us فَقَدbut indeed
كانَ قُبحُ الوَجهِ يُجزينا فَقَد
زادَناhe added for us مَلعوناًaccursed قُبحَthe ugliness of الخُلُقcharacter
زادَنا مَلعوناً قُبحَ الخُلُق
His ugly face would have been enough for us, but
the accursed one added an ugly character for us.
عَلَمٌa standard-bearer فيin الإِفكِfalsehood لَوif قالَhe said لَناto us
عَلَمٌ في الإِفكِ لَو قالَ لَنا
كِلمَةَthe declaration of الإِخلاصِpure faith ماnot خِلناwe thought صَدَقhe spoke truth
كِلمَةَ الإِخلاصِ ما خِلنا صَدَق
A standard-bearer of falsehood: if he spoke to us
the declaration of faith, we would not think him truthful.
غِلَظٌbulk فيin جِرمِهِhis body يَشفَعُهُis paired with it
غِلَظٌ في جِرمِهِ يَشفَعُهُ
حَسَبٌancestral honor أُهزِلَmade lean بِاللُؤمِby baseness فَدَقand grew thin
حَسَبٌ أُهزِلَ بِاللُؤمِ فَدَق
Bulk in his body is paired with
ancestral honor starved by baseness until it grew thin.
فَرخُa fledgling of مَجهولاتِunknown طَيرٍbirds كُلُّهاall of them
فَرخُ مَجهولاتِ طَيرٍ كُلُّها
قَدhave رَعىgrazed فيin مَسرَحِthe pasture of الذَمِّblame وَزَقand fed by beak
قَد رَعى في مَسرَحِ الذَمِّ وَزَق
A fledgling of unknown birds, all of which
have grazed in the pasture of blame and fed him by beak.
نَسَبٌa pedigree فيamong القُفصِthe Qufs أَوor حاناتِهاtheir taverns
نَسَبٌ في القُفصِ أَو حاناتِها
مُستَعيرٌborrowing رُقعَةًa patch مِنfrom كُلِّevery زِقwineskin
مُستَعيرٌ رُقعَةً مِن كُلِّ زِق
A pedigree among the Qufs, or in their taverns,
borrowing a patch from every wineskin.
وَإِذاand when خالَفَdiffers from أَصلاًa root فَرعُهُits branch
وَإِذا خالَفَ أَصلاً فَرعُهُ
كانَit was شَنّاًa worn-out waterskin لَمnot يُوافِقهُmatched it طَبَقa cover
كانَ شَنّاً لَم يُوافِقهُ طَبَق
And when a branch differs from its root,
it is a worn-out waterskin with no matching cover.
سائِخٌsinking فيin الأَرضِthe earth لاnot تَرفَعُهُraises him
سائِخٌ في الأَرضِ لا تَرفَعُهُ
خَصلَةٌa trait يَخثُرُhe grows coarse فيهاin it أَوor يَرِقgrows delicate
خَصلَةٌ يَخثُرُ فيها أَو يَرِق
Sunk in the earth, he is not raised by
any trait, whether coarse in it or delicate.
مُدبِرُturning away from الخَيراتِgood things وَلّىdeparted نَفعُهُhis usefulness
مُدبِرُ الخَيراتِ وَلّى نَفعُهُ
فَتَقَضّىand passed away مِثلَlike ماوَلّىas it faded الشَفَقthe twilight
فَتَقَضّى مِثلَ ماوَلّى الشَفَق
Turning away from good things, his usefulness has fled,
and passed away just as twilight faded.
هُندِمَتwere shut tight كَفّاهُhis two hands مِنagainst دونِwhat الَّذيwhich
هُندِمَت كَفّاهُ مِن دونِ الَّذي
يُبتَغىis sought هَندَمَةَthe shutting of البابِthe door اِنصَفَقslammed closed
يُبتَغى هَندَمَةَ البابِ اِنصَفَق
His hands were shut against what
is sought, like the shutting of a door slammed closed.
لَوif طَلَبناwe sought بَلَّةًa drop of moisture مِنfrom ريقِهِhis saliva
لَو طَلَبنا بَلَّةً مِن ريقِهِ
وُجِدَتit would be found أَعمَقَdeeper مِنthan بِئرِthe well of العُمَقal-ʿUmaq
وُجِدَت أَعمَقَ مِن بِئرِ العُمَق
If we sought a drop of moisture from his saliva,
it would be found deeper than the well of al-ʿUmaq.
لَمnot نُصادِفwe encountered خَلَّةًa trait نَحمَدُهاwe praise
لَم نُصادِف خَلَّةً نَحمَدُها
عُندَهُin him غَيرَexcept هِداياتِdirections along الطُرُقthe roads
عُندَهُ غَيرَ هِداياتِ الطُرُق
We found no trait to praise
in him except giving directions along the roads.
لاdo not تَعَجَّبmarvel أَنthat تَرىyou see خاتَمَهُhis signet ring
لا تَعَجَّب أَن تَرى خاتَمَهُ
وَعَلَيهِand on it الجَحشُthe donkey’s foal بِاللَهِin God يَثِقtrusts
وَعَلَيهِ الجَحشُ بِاللَهِ يَثِق
Do not marvel when you see his signet ring,
and on it: “The donkey’s foal trusts in God.”
لَوif صَفَرناwe whistled عَبَّhe gulped فيin الماءِthe water وَلَوand if
لَو صَفَرنا عَبَّ في الماءِ وَلَو
مَرَّhe passed مُجتازاًpassing by عَلىby الأُتنِthe she-asses نَهَقhe brayed
مَرَّ مُجتازاً عَلى الأُتنِ نَهَق
If we whistled, he would gulp water; and if
he passed by she-asses, he would bray.
إِنif مَشىhe walked هَملَجَhe ambled أَوor صاحَcalled إِلىto
إِن مَشى هَملَجَ أَو صاحَ إِلى
صاحِبٍa companion عَشَّرَhe brayed ten times أَوor ماتَdied نَفَقperished like a beast
صاحِبٍ عَشَّرَ أَو ماتَ نَفَق
If he walked, he would amble; if he called to
a companion, he would bray ten times; if he died, he would perish like a beast.
موثَقُstrongly built الأَسرِin physique ضَليعٌbroad-ribbed أَشرَفَتjutted out
موثَقُ الأَسرِ ضَليعٌ أَشرَفَت
جَبهَةٌa forehead مِنهُof his وَرَأسٌand a head وَعُنُقand a neck
جَبهَةٌ مِنهُ وَرَأسٌ وَعُنُق
Solidly built, broad-ribbed; jutting out are
his forehead, his head, and his neck.
لاnot وَظيفُthe shank of العَيرِthe ass مَرقومٌmarked وَلاand not الthe
لا وَظيفُ العَيرِ مَرقومٌ وَلا ال
عَجَبُtail-root مَهضومٌcrushed وَلاand not الوَجهُthe face خَلِقworn
عَجَبُ مَهضومٌ وَلا الوَجهُ خَلِق
Neither is the ass’s shank marked, nor the
tail-root crushed, nor the face worn.
وَصَحيحٌand sound لَمnot يَقُمstood up نَخّاسُهُhis dealer
وَصَحيحٌ لَم يَقُم نَخّاسُهُ
وَتَبَرّاand disclaimed liability مِنfor عَشاًnight blindness أَوor مِنfor سَرَقleg weakness
وَتَبَرّا مِن عَشاً أَو مِن سَرَق
And sound: his dealer has never stood up
and disclaimed liability for night blindness or leg weakness.
أَزرَقُblue العَينِof eye وَمِنand among إِبداعِهِhis marvels
أَزرَقُ العَينِ وَمِن إِبداعِهِ
أَنthat يُرىis seen فيin أَعيُنِthe eyes of الحُمرِasses زَرَقblueness
أَن يُرى في أَعيُنِ الحُمرِ زَرَق
Blue-eyed—and among his marvels
is that blue should be seen in the eyes of asses.
تُسرِجُyou saddle الحائِطَthe wall أَوor توكِفُهُfit it with a pack-saddle
تُسرِجُ الحائِطَ أَو توكِفُهُ
وَنيَةٌsluggishness مِنfrom بَلدَةٍdullness ماas long as لَمnot يُسَقhe is driven
وَنيَةٌ مِن بَلدَةٍ ما لَم يُسَق
You saddle a wall, or fit it with a pack-saddle:
sluggishness born of dullness, unless he is driven.
وَإِذاand when أَسرىhe travels by night فاحِشَةًfor a lewd deed
وَإِذا أَسرى فاحِشَةً
أَخَذَhe took المَرفوعَthe high-stepping gait أَوor سارَwent at العَنَقthe long-striding pace
أَخَذَ المَرفوعَ أَو سارَ العَنَق
And when he travels by night for a lewd deed,
he takes a high-stepping gait or goes at a long-striding pace.
لاdo not تَتَّبِعpursue فائِتاًsomething lost مِنof خَيرِهِhis good
لا تَتَّبِع فائِتاً مِن خَيرِهِ
آيَسَhas dashed hope الرَهنُthe pledge فَدَعهُso leave it إِذsince غَلِقit became forfeit
آيَسَ الرَهنُ فَدَعهُ إِذ غَلِق
Do not pursue any lost good from him.
The pledge has dashed hope; leave it, since it is forfeit.
عُدُّهُreckon him كانَhe was أَجيراًa hired man فَاِنقَضىand expired
عُدُّهُ كانَ أَجيراً فَاِنقَضى
شَهرُهُhis month أَوor كانَhe was عَبداًa slave فَأَبَقand ran away
شَهرُهُ أَو كانَ عَبداً فَأَبَق
Suppose he was a hired man, and there expired
his month; or he was a slave and ran away.
لَوif حَسَبناwe reckoned ماwhat عَلَيهِhe owes وَلَهُand is owed him
لَو حَسَبنا ما عَلَيهِ وَلَهُ
لَكَفَرناwe would lose faith أَنbecause حُرِمناwe were denied وَرُزِقand he was provided for
لَكَفَرنا أَن حُرِمنا وَرُزِق
If we reckoned what he owed and what was owed him,
we would lose faith, since we were denied and he was provided for.
تُخطِئُmisjudges الدُنياthe world المَقاديرَthe measures فَفيso in الthe
تُخطِئُ الدُنيا المَقاديرَ فَفي ال
جَوِّair مَنone who لَمnot يَكُwas فيin قَعرُthe bottom of النَفَقthe tunnel
جَوِّ مَن لَم يَكُ في قَعرُ النَفَق
The world misjudges ranks: up in the
air is one who was not in the depths of the tunnel.
كانَcould have يُحيِrevived مَيِّتاًone dead مِنof ظَمَإٍthirst
كانَ يُحيِ مَيِّتاً مِن ظَمَإٍ
فَضلُthe surplus of ماwhat أَوبَقَdestroyed مَيتاًone dead مِنthrough غَرَقdrowning
فَضلُ ما أَوبَقَ مَيتاً مِن غَرَق
One dead of thirst could have been revived
by the surplus of what killed another by drowning.
فَلَجيmy triumph لَوif أَنَّthat فَقراًpoverty أَوor غِنىًwealth
فَلَجي لَو أَنَّ فَقراً أَو غِنىً
يُستَدامانِare maintained بِكيسٍthrough wit أَوor حُمُقfolly
يُستَدامانِ بِكيسٍ أَو حُمُق
Mine would be the triumph, if poverty or wealth
could be maintained through wit or folly.
بَزَّتprevailed بِالمُخلَدِيِّنَover the Mukhalladis لُهىًgifts of largesse
بَزَّت بِالمُخلَدِيِّنَ لُهىً
كَجِمامِlike the full waters of البَحرِthe sea باتَتspent the night تَصطَفِقsurging together
كَجِمامِ البَحرِ باتَت تَصطَفِق
Gifts prevailed over the Mukhalladis,
like the sea’s full waters, surging through the night.
لَوif نُوَفّيwe render in full ماwhat لَناwe have فيin صاعِدٍṢāʿid
لَو نُوَفّي ما لَنا في صاعِدٍ
لَصَعَدناwe would ascend مِنfrom عُلُوٍّheight فيinto الأُفُقthe horizon
لَصَعَدنا مِن عُلُوٍّ في الأُفُق
If we did full justice to what we have in Ṣāʿid,
we would rise high into the horizon.
قَدرُهُhis worth مُرتَفِعٌelevated عَنabove حَظِّهِhis fortune
قَدرُهُ مُرتَفِعٌ عَن حَظِّهِ
لاdo not يَرُعكَlet awe you الحَظُّfortune لَمnot يُؤخَذwas gained بِحَقby right
لا يَرُعكَ الحَظُّ لَم يُؤخَذ بِحَق
His worth stands higher than his fortune.
Let fortune not awe you: it was not gained by right.
يُعجِلُbrings forward المَوعِدَthe promised time أَوor يَسبِقُهُprecedes it
يُعجِلُ المَوعِدَ أَو يَسبِقُهُ
نائِلٌa bounty لَوif سابَقَit raced السَيفَthe sword سَبَقit would outstrip
نائِلٌ لَو سابَقَ السَيفَ سَبَق
It brings the promised time forward, or precedes it—
a bounty that would outstrip a sword if it raced it.
هَزَّswayed عِطفَيهِhis two sides النَدىgenerosity مُكتَسِياًclothing himself
هَزَّ عِطفَيهِ النَدى مُكتَسِياً
وَرَقَthe leaves of الحَمدِpraise أَثيثاًlush يَأتَلِقgleaming
وَرَقَ الحَمدِ أَثيثاً يَأتَلِق
Generosity swayed his two sides as he donned
lush, gleaming leaves of praise.
لَستُI am not أَرضىpleased with هِزَّةًa sway يَأتيproduces بِهاit
لَستُ أَرضى هِزَّةً يَأتي بِها
غُصُنٌa branch إِنif لَمnot يَكُنis غَضَّfresh الوَرَقin leaf
غُصُنٌ إِن لَم يَكُن غَضَّ الوَرَق
I am not pleased by a sway performed by
a branch unless its leaves are fresh.
حازِمٌresolute يَجمَعُgathers فيin تَدبيرِهِhis governance
حازِمٌ يَجمَعُ في تَدبيرِهِ
بَدَدَthe scattered parts of المُلكِthe realm إِذاwhen طارَit flew apart شِقَقin pieces
بَدَدَ المُلكِ إِذا طارَ شِقَق
Resolute, he gathers through his governance
the realm’s scattered parts when they fly to pieces.
لِمُلوكٍfor kings فيupon الذُرىthe heights مِنfrom مَذحِجٍMadhhij
لِمُلوكٍ في الذُرى مِن مَذحِجٍ
وَقَعَتwere situated مُبعِدَةًkeeping far away عَنهاfrom them السُوَقthe common folk
وَقَعَت مُبعِدَةً عَنها السُوَق
For kings of Madhhij upon the heights,
set far away from the common folk.
أَغزَرَmade abundant العِزُّglory قِرىthe fare of أَضيافِهِمtheir guests
أَغزَرَ العِزُّ قِرى أَضيافِهِم
وَفِياقُand milkings of النَيلِbounty يُغزِرنَmake abundant الفِيَقthe milk-yields
وَفِياقُ النَيلِ يُغزِرنَ الفِيَق
Glory made their guests’ fare abundant,
and bounty’s milkings make its milk-yields plentiful.
يُحسَبُis reckoned الواحِدُthe one مِنهُمamong them فِأَةًa company
يُحسَبُ الواحِدُ مِنهُم فِأَةً
جَمَّةًnumerous وَالعَينُand gold أَثمانُthe values of الوَرِقsilver
جَمَّةً وَالعَينُ أَثمانُ الوَرِق
One of them is reckoned a company,
a great host; gold is worth many pieces of silver.
يَتبَعُhe follows النَهجَthe path الأَشَطَّfarthest المُنتَوىin its goal
يَتبَعُ النَهجَ الأَشَطَّ المُنتَوى
فيin مَعاليthe heights of الأَمرِaffairs وَالفِعلِand the deed الأَشَقhardest
في مَعالي الأَمرِ وَالفِعلِ الأَشَق
He follows the path with the farthest goal
in lofty affairs and the hardest deeds.
يَتَوَلّىhe undertakes دونَin front of خَفّاقِthe fluttering الحَشاheart
يَتَوَلّى دونَ خَفّاقِ الحَشا
صَدمَةَthe onrush of الراياتِthe banners زوراًslanting تَختَفِقfluttering
صَدمَةَ الراياتِ زوراً تَختَفِق
He takes on, in front of the faint-hearted,
the onrush of banners, slanting as they flutter.
لاnot يُحِبُّhe loves الخُرقrecklessness إِلّاexcept فيin الوَغىbattle
لا يُحِبُّ الخُرق إِلّا في الوَغى
إِنَّindeed بَذلَthe surrender of النَفسِlife لِلمَوتِto death خُرُقrecklessness
إِنَّ بَذلَ النَفسِ لِلمَوتِ خُرُق
He loves recklessness only in battle;
indeed, surrendering one’s life to death is recklessness.
يُعمِلُhe wields الهِندِيَّthe Indian sword مُحمَرَّred الظُباin its edges
يُعمِلُ الهِندِيَّ مُحمَرَّ الظُبا
فيهِin it وَالخَطِّيَّand the Khatt-made spear مُصفَرَّyellow الخِرَقin its cloth strips
فيهِ وَالخَطِّيَّ مُصفَرَّ الخِرَق
He wields the Indian sword, its edges red,
there, and the Khatt-made spear, its pennons yellow.
حَصَرَconfined الأَعداءَthe enemies فيwithin قُدرَتِهِhis power
حَصَرَ الأَعداءَ في قُدرَتِهِ
ظَفَرٌa victory لَوif زاوَلَit pursued النَجمَthe star لَحِقit would catch up
ظَفَرٌ لَو زاوَلَ النَجمَ لَحِق
The enemies are confined within his power by
a victory that would catch a star if it pursued it.
أَعَبدٌslaves تُعتَقُare freed فيthrough إِنعامِهِhis bounty
أَعَبدٌ تُعتَقُ في إِنعامِهِ
مِنهُمُamong them الدَهرَforever وَحورٌّand a free man (uncertain) يُستَرَقis enslaved
مِنهُمُ الدَهرَ وَحورٌّ يُستَرَق
Slaves are freed through his bounty,
among them, forever; and a free man [word unclear] is enslaved.
يُرتَجىhe is hoped for لِلصَفحِfor pardon مَوتوراًthough wronged وَلاand not
يُرتَجى لِلصَفحِ مَوتوراً وَلا
يَهَبُhe yields السُؤدُدَnobility فيهِin that لِلحَنَقto wrath
يَهَبُ السُؤدُدَ فيهِ لِلحَنَق
Though wronged, he is looked to for pardon, and does not
yield his nobility in that to wrath.
مُتبِعٌfollowing كُلَّevery مَضيقٍstrait فَرجَةًwith an opening
مُتبِعٌ كُلَّ مَضيقٍ فَرجَةً
مُمسِكٌholding مِنfrom كُلِّevery نَفسٍsoul بِرَمَقby a last breath
مُمسِكٌ مِن كُلِّ نَفسٍ بِرَمَق
Following every strait with an opening,
holding every soul by its last breath.
Sol 6.1