رُنُوُّlingering gaze ذاكَthat الغَزالُthe gazelle أَوor غَيدُهhis supple grace
رُنُوُّ ذاكَ الغَزالُ أَو غَيدُه
مولِعُenamoring ذيone possessed of الوَجدِpassionate longing بِالَّذيof that which يَجِدُهhe feels it
مولِعُ ذي الوَجدِ بِالَّذي يَجِدُه
That gazelle's lingering gaze, or his supple grace,
The soft bleat of that gazelle or its cooing,
makes the lovesick man enamored of what he feels.
The passionate one is infatuated with what he finds.
عِندَكَowed by you عَقلُthe blood-price المُحِبِّof the lover إِنif فَتَكَتstruck fatally
عِندَكَ عَقلُ المُحِبِّ إِن فَتَكَت
بِهِagainst him عُيونُthe eyes الظِباءِof gazelles أَوor قَوَدُهblood-retribution for him
بِهِ عُيونُ الظِباءِ أَو قَوَدُه
The lover's blood-price is yours to pay, if
If the eyes of the wild deer captivate,
gazelles' eyes slay him—or vengeance for him.
The mind of the lover, or fuel his ardour.
دَمعٌtears إِذاwhenever قُلتُI said كَفَّceased هامِلُهُits flowing stream
دَمعٌ إِذا قُلتُ كَفَّ هامِلُهُ
أَجراهُmade it flow هَجرُestrangement الحَبيبُof the beloved أَوor بُعُدُهhis distance
أَجراهُ هَجرُ الحَبيبُ أَو بُعُدُه
Tears—whenever I say their flow has ceased,
A tear, when I say halt its carrier,
the beloved's estrangement or distance makes them run.
The estrangement of the beloved drives it or his distance.
وَلاand not يُؤَدّيbrings إِلىto الحِسانِthe beauties هَوىًlove
وَلا يُؤَدّي إِلى الحِسانِ هَوىً
مَنone who لاnot تَرىyou see أَنَّthat غَيَّهُhis folly رَشَدُهhis sound judgment
مَن لا تَرى أَنَّ غَيَّهُ رَشَدُه
Nor does love bring to the fair
Passion cannot lead to devotion,
one whose folly you do not see as his sound judgment.
One whose delirium you do not see guides him.
أُخَيَّmy dear brother إِنَّindeed الصِباyouth اِستَمَرَّwas carried away بِهِwith it
أُخَيَّ إِنَّ الصِبا اِستَمَرَّ بِهِ
سَيرُthe passage اللَياليof nights فَأَنهَجَتso grew threadbare بُرُدُهits cloaks
سَيرُ اللَيالي فَأَنهَجَت بُرُدُه
My dear brother, youth has been swept away
O brother, youth persisted with it,
by the march of nights, and its cloaks have worn thin.
The passing of nights, so its cold overwhelmed him.
تَصُدُّturns away عَنّيfrom me الحَسناءُthe beautiful woman مُبعِدَةًkeeping distant
تَصُدُّ عَنّي الحَسناءُ مُبعِدَةً
إِذsince أَناI لاnot قُربُهُnear it وَلاnor صَدَدُهin its vicinity
إِذ أَنا لا قُربُهُ وَلا صَدَدُه
The fair woman turns away from me, keeping me distant,
The beautiful one shuns me, distancing herself,
for I am neither close to youth nor in its vicinity.
When I have neither her proximity nor her affection.
شَيبٌgray hair عَلىon المَفرِقَينِboth temples بارِضُهُits first growth
شَيبٌ عَلى المَفرِقَينِ بارِضُهُ
يَكثُرُنيoverwhelms me أَنto أَبينَهُI distinguish it عَدَدُهits number
يَكثُرُني أَن أَبينَهُ عَدَدُه
Gray hairs—their first shoots at either temple—
Grey hair over the temples whose multitude,
are too numerous for me to distinguish and count.
Troubles me when I enumerate it.
تَطلُبُshe seeks عِنديin me الشَبابَyouth ظالِمَةٌunjustly
تَطلُبُ عِندي الشَبابَ ظالِمَةٌ
بُعَيدَshortly after خَمسينَfifty حَيثُwhere لاnot تَجِدُهshe finds it
بُعَيدَ خَمسينَ حَيثُ لا تَجِدُه
Unjustly, she seeks youth in me,
Youth unjustly seeks from me,
just past fifty, where she cannot find it.
Far, at fifty, where it cannot find it.
لاno عَجَبٌwonder إِنif مَلِلتِyou have wearied خُلَّتَناour intimacy
لا عَجَبٌ إِن مَلِلتِ خُلَّتَنا
فَاِفتَقَدَand so found missing الوَصلِunion مِنكِfrom you مُفتَقِدُهthe one seeking it
فَاِفتَقَدَ الوَصلِ مِنكِ مُفتَقِدُه
No wonder if you have wearied of our intimacy,
No wonder if you were bored with our companionship,
and one seeking union with you has found it missing.
When its pursuer from you misses it.
مَنwhoever يَتَجاوَزpasses عَنbeyond مُطاوَلَةِa long duration العَيlife (first part of العيش)
مَن يَتَجاوَز عَن مُطاوَلَةِ العَي
شِlife (completion of العيش) تَقَعقَعrattle مِنfrom مَلَّةٍweariness عَمَدُهhis pillars
شِ تَقَعقَع مِن مَلَّةٍ عَمَدُه
Whoever lives beyond a long span of life—
Whoever transcends indulging time,
his pillars rattle with weariness.
His purpose from doctrine strengthens him.
عادَbrought back بِحُسنِwith the beauty الدُنياof the world وَبَهجَتِهاand its splendor
عادَ بِحُسنِ الدُنيا وَبَهجَتِها
خَليفَةُthe caliph اللَهِof God مُرتَجيhoped for صَفَدُهhis bounty
خَليفَةُ اللَهِ مُرتَجي صَفَدُه
The world's beauty and splendor are restored
The Caliph of Allah has returned with,
by God's caliph, whose bounty is hoped for.
The beauty of the world and its splendor hoping for its shackles.
مُنخَرِقُrent open الكَفِّthe palm بِالعَطاءِwith giving مَكيslow (first part of مكيث)
مُنخَرِقُ الكَفِّ بِالعَطاءِ مَكي
ثُslow (completion of مكيث) السَطوِin striking دونَbefore الجانينَoffenders مُتَّئِدُهdeliberate in it
ثُ السَطوِ دونَ الجانينَ مُتَّئِدُه
His palm is rent with giving; he is slow
With hands torn by generosity, abounding in,
to strike, deliberate in dealing with offenders.
Power without equals enjoying its feast.
فَخمٌmajestic إِذاwhen حَطَّتِalighted الوُفودُthe delegations إِلىat
فَخمٌ إِذا حَطَّتِ الوُفودُ إِلى
فِنائِهِhis courtyard لَمnot يَضِقbecame cramped بِهاwith them بَلَدُهhis land
فِنائِهِ لَم يَضِق بِها بَلَدُه
Majestic: when delegations alight at
A mouth into which delegations descend,
his courtyard, his land does not grow cramped with them.
His country is not too narrow for them.
رِدءُa support لِأَهلِfor the people of الإِسلامِIslam أَينَwherever عَنَواthey suffered
رِدءُ لِأَهلِ الإِسلامِ أَينَ عَنَوا
مُتَّصِلٌunceasing مِنfrom وَرائِهِمbehind them مَدَدُهhis reinforcement
مُتَّصِلٌ مِن وَرائِهِم مَدَدُه
A support to the people of Islam wherever they suffer,
A refuge for the people of Islam wherever,
his reinforcement reaches them unceasingly from behind.
Its aid continuous behind them supports them.
تَكلَؤُهُمguards them عَينُهُhis eye وَتَرجُفُand trembles مِنat
تَكلَؤُهُم عَينُهُ وَتَرجُفُ مِن
نَقيصَةٍharm أَنthat تَنالَهُمit touches them كَبِدُهhis liver
نَقيصَةٍ أَن تَنالَهُم كَبِدُه
His eye guards them, and his liver trembles
His eye worries over them and trembles from,
lest some harm befall them.
Any harm that might afflict their livers.
كَأَنَّهُas though he والِدٌa father يَرِفُّflutters بِهِin him
كَأَنَّهُ والِدٌ يَرِفُّ بِهِ
مُفرِطُexcessive إِشفاقِهِhis tender concern وَهُمand they وَلَدُهhis children
مُفرِطُ إِشفاقِهِ وَهُم وَلَدُه
As though he were a father in whom there flutters
As if he were a father feeling compassion for,
boundless tenderness, and they his children.
His prodigal sons while they are his children.
قَدindeed خَصَمَvanquished الدَهرُTime مِنon behalf of مِقِلِّهِمtheir needy
قَد خَصَمَ الدَهرُ مِن مِقِلِّهِم
بِالجودِwith generosity وَالدَهرُand Time بَيِّنٌplain لِدَدُهits obstinacy
بِالجودِ وَالدَهرُ بَيِّنٌ لِدَدُه
He has vanquished Time on behalf of their needy
Time has disputed with him over his few,
with generosity, though Time's obstinacy is plain.
And time is evident in its hostility.
مُعتَمِدٌrelying فيهِمِconcerning them عَلىupon اللَهِGod تَنقاyou yield (first part of تنقاد)
مُعتَمِدٌ فيهِمِ عَلى اللَهِ تَنقا
دُyou yield (completion of تنقاد) إِلىto سَيبِهِhis bounty فَتَعتَمِدُهand so you rely on him
دُ إِلى سَيبِهِ فَتَعتَمِدُه
He relies on God in their affairs; you yield
Relying on Allah in them, charging,
to his bounty and place your trust in him.
Against its swords so it supports him.
لاnot تَقرَبَنever approach سُخطُهُhis wrath فَإِنَّfor indeed لَهُit has
لا تَقرَبَن سُخطُهُ فَإِنَّ لَهُ
مُستَنقَعاًa stagnant pool يَجتَويهِfinds it foul مَنwhoever يَرِدُهcomes to it
مُستَنقَعاً يَجتَويهِ مَن يَرِدُه
Do not approach his wrath, for it has
Do not let his wrath approach you, for it has,
a stagnant pool that whoever enters finds foul.
A quagmire that engulfs whoever desires it.
مُظَفَّرٌvictorious ماnot تَكادُnearly تَسريtravel by night مِنَfrom الآthe horizons (first part of الآفاق)
مُظَفَّرٌ ما تَكادُ تَسري مِنَ الآ
فاقِhorizons (completion of الآفاق) إِلّاexcept بِمُفرِحٍwith gladdening news بُرُدُهhis couriers
فاقِ إِلّا بِمُفرِحٍ بُرُدُه
Victorious: his couriers scarcely travel by night from the
Victorious, scarce does any joy spread,
horizons without some gladdening news.
From horizons except with good news its cold reaches him.
أَرسالُsuccessive troops خَيلٍhorses إِذاwhen أَطَلَّhe looms بِهاwith them
أَرسالُ خَيلٍ إِذا أَطَلَّ بِها
عَلىover أَقاصيthe farthest reaches دَهرٍan age دَناdraws near أَمَدُهits end
عَلى أَقاصي دَهرٍ دَنا أَمَدُه
Troops of horses—when he looms with them
Cavalry charges when he unleashes them,
over an age's farthest reaches, its end draws near.
On the ends of time, its support approaches.
إِنif رُفِعَتare raised لِلعِدىagainst the foes قَساطِلُهاtheir dust clouds
إِن رُفِعَت لِلعِدى قَساطِلُها
أَنجَزَfulfilled صَرفُthe vicissitude الزَمانِof Time ماwhat يَعِدُهpromises it
أَنجَزَ صَرفُ الزَمانِ ما يَعِدُه
If their dust clouds are raised against the foes,
If its swords are raised against the enemy,
Time's vicissitude fulfills what it promises.
The passage of time fulfills what it promises him.
واقَعنَthey engaged in battle جَمعَthe host الشُراةِof the Shurat مُحتَفِلاًmassed in strength
واقَعنَ جَمعَ الشُراةِ مُحتَفِلاً
بِالزابِat the Zab وَالصُبحُand dawn ساطِعٌshining وَقَدُهits blaze
بِالزابِ وَالصُبحُ ساطِعٌ وَقَدُه
They engaged the massed host of the Shurat
He attacked the horde of evildoers celebrating,
at the Zab, while dawn's blaze shone bright.
With the morning draught while dawn kindles its flames.
غَداةَon the morning يَومٍof a day أَعياwas impossible عَلىfor عُصَبٍbands
غَداةَ يَومٍ أَعيا عَلى عُصَبٍ
مِنَof المُحِلّينَthe profaners أَنthat يُكَرَّreturn غَدُهits morrow
مِنَ المُحِلّينَ أَن يُكَرَّ غَدُه
On the morning of a day that made it impossible for bands
On a day the locals despaired would,
of profaners to see its morrow return.
Be reversed on the morrow.
أَينَwherever نَجَواthey escaped هارِبينَfleeing عارَضَهُمconfronted them
أَينَ نَجَوا هارِبينَ عارَضَهُم
باغٍa pursuer مِنَfrom المَوتِDeath مُشرِفُoverlooking رَصَدُهhis watch
باغٍ مِنَ المَوتِ مُشرِفُ رَصَدُه
Wherever they escaped in flight, they were met
Where did the fugitives fleeing its perils escape,
by a pursuer from Death, his watch looming above.
When death's snare overlooking its prey enclosed them?
باتواthey spent the night وَباتَand spent the night الخَطِّيُّthe Khatti spear آوِنَةًfor stretches of time
باتوا وَباتَ الخَطِّيُّ آوِنَةً
مُنشَبَةًembedded فيin صُدورِهِمtheir breasts قِصَدُهits fragments
مُنشَبَةً في صُدورِهِم قِصَدُه
They lay through the night, and for stretches the Khatti spear lay,
They spent the night and the swordsman spent it,
its fragments lodged in their breasts.
With determined stabs implanted in their chests.
يَختَلِطُmingles الزابُthe Zab فيwith دِمائِهِمِtheir blood
يَختَلِطُ الزابُ في دِمائِهِمِ
حَتّىuntil غَداbecame الزابُthe Zab مُشرَباًsuffused زَبَدُهits foam
حَتّى غَدا الزابُ مُشرَباً زَبَدُه
The Zab mingles with their blood,
The blood mingles in their blood,
until the Zab's foam becomes suffused with it.
Until the blood became saturated with its foam.
أَرضىpleased المَواليthe patrons نُصحٌloyal counsel يَظَلُّcontinues عُبَيدُUbayd الAllah (first part of الله)
أَرضى المَوالي نُصحٌ يَظَلُّ عُبَيدُ ال
لَهِAllah (completion of الله) يَغلوgoes to great lengths فيهِمfor them وَيَجتَهِدُهand strives at it
لَهِ يَغلو فيهِم وَيَجتَهِدُه
Loyal counsel pleases the patrons; 'Ubayd Allah continues
Satisfying the loyal is honest advice; slaves of,
to go to great lengths for them and labor at it.
God whose devotion in them abounds and who strive.
يَجريproceeds عَلىaccording to مَذهَبِthe course الإِمامِof the Imam لَهُمfor them
يَجري عَلى مَذهَبِ الإِمامِ لَهُم
وَيَحتَذيand emulates رَأيَهُhis judgment فَيَعتَقِدُهand so adopts it
وَيَحتَذي رَأيَهُ فَيَعتَقِدُه
He follows the Imam's course for them,
They follow the imam's doctrine for them,
and models himself on his judgment, adopting it.
And emulate his view so believe it.
وَيَغتَديand goes out at dawn فيfor صَلاحِthe welfare شَأنِهِمِof their affairs
وَيَغتَدي في صَلاحِ شَأنِهِمِ
لِسانُهُhis tongue المُكتَفىdeemed sufficient بِهِby it وَيَدُهand his hand
لِسانُهُ المُكتَفى بِهِ وَيَدُه
And each morning, to set their affairs aright, go
And exceed in improving their affairs,
his tongue, sufficient for the task, and his hand.
Their tongues suffice them and their hands.
يَستَثقِلُgrow heavy in sleep النائِمونَthe sleepers مِنfrom وَسَنٍdrowsiness
يَستَثقِلُ النائِمونَ مِن وَسَنٍ
وَهُوَwhile he طَويلٌlong فيover شَأنِهِمtheir affairs سُهدُهhis sleeplessness
وَهُوَ طَويلٌ في شَأنِهِم سُهدُه
Sleepers grow heavy with drowsiness,
The sleeping loathe the one who is tireless in,
while long is his sleepless vigil over their affairs.
Their affairs his vigilance alert.
تَرَفُّقاًwith care فيin اِطِّلابِseeking مالِهِمِtheir wealth
تَرَفُّقاً في اِطِّلابِ مالِهِمِ
وَجَمعِهِand collecting it أَوor يَعُمُّهُمencompasses them بَدَدُهits distribution
وَجَمعِهِ أَو يَعُمُّهُم بَدَدُه
With care in securing their wealth
Gentle in seeking their wealth,
and gathering it, or distributing it among them all,
And gathering it or its division spreads among them.
تَرَفُّقَthe care المَرءِof a man فيwith ذَخيرَتِهِhis treasure
تَرَفُّقَ المَرءِ في ذَخيرَتِهِ
آذاهُharmed him ضيقُthe straits الزَمانِof Time أَوor صَلَدُهits barrenness
آذاهُ ضيقُ الزَمانِ أَو صَلَدُه
as a man cares for his treasure
A man's gentleness in his provisions,
when Time's straits or barrenness have harmed him.
Are hurt by hard times or its stinginess.
وَزيرُa minister مُلكٍof the realm تَمَّتbecame complete كِفايَتُهُhis competence
وَزيرُ مُلكٍ تَمَّت كِفايَتُهُ
فَلَمso did not يَهِنweaken حَزمُهُhis resolve وَلاnor جَلَدُهhis fortitude
فَلَم يَهِن حَزمُهُ وَلا جَلَدُه
A minister of the realm, perfect in competence,
Minister of a king whose competence is complete,
so neither his resolve nor his fortitude has weakened.
So neither his wisdom nor poise embarrass him.
مَأخوذَةٌmade ready لِلأُمورِfor affairs أُهبَتُهُhis preparedness
مَأخوذَةٌ لِلأُمورِ أُهبَتُهُ
تَسبِقُهاprecede them قَبلَbefore وَقتِهاtheir time عُدَدُهhis provisions
تَسبِقُها قَبلَ وَقتِها عُدَدُه
His preparations for affairs are made;
Grasping of matters, his talents,
his provisions precede them before their time.
Precede them before their time enumerates them.
لاnot تَهضِمُdulls الراحُwine حَدَّهُhis edge أُصُلاًin the late afternoons
لا تَهضِمُ الراحُ حَدَّهُ أُصُلاً
وَلاnor تَبيتُspend the night الأَوتارُthe strings تَضطَهِدُهoverpowering him
وَلا تَبيتُ الأَوتارُ تَضطَهِدُه
Wine does not blunt his edge in the late afternoons,
Rest does not diminish his limit at all,
nor do strings hold him in thrall through the night.
Nor do crises spend the night oppressing him.
لاnot يَصِلُreaches الصاحِبُthe companion الأَخَصُّthe most intimate إِلىto
لا يَصِلُ الصاحِبُ الأَخَصُّ إِلى
مَطوِيِّfolded-away سِرٍّa secret أَجَنَّهُconcealed it خَلَدُهhis mind
مَطوِيِّ سِرٍّ أَجَنَّهُ خَلَدُه
The most intimate companion cannot reach
An intimate friend does not attain,
a secret folded away and hidden in his mind.
The fold of a secret its eternity conceals from him.
إِنif غَلَّسَset out before dawn المُدهِنونَthe dissemblers فيin خَمَرٍconcealing cover
إِن غَلَّسَ المُدهِنونَ في خَمَرٍ
أَضحىbecame in daylight عَلىupon الحَقِّthe truth ظاهِراًplainly visible جَدَدُهhis level path
أَضحى عَلى الحَقِّ ظاهِراً جَدَدُه
If dissemblers set out before dawn under cover,
If the flatterers are steeped in wine,
his level path upon the truth stands clear in daylight.
Truth appears to him renewing its preservation.
أَوor عالَجَhe tackled الأَمرَthe affair وَهُوَwhile it مُمتَنِعٌintractable
أَو عالَجَ الأَمرَ وَهُوَ مُمتَنِعٌ
تَيَسَّرَتbecame easy لِاِنحِلالِهِfor its unraveling عُقَدُهits knots
تَيَسَّرَت لِاِنحِلالِهِ عُقَدُه
Or, when he tackles an intractable affair,
Or if he tackles an impossible matter,
its knots become easy to undo.
Its knots untangle yielding to him.
قَوَّمَstraightened مَيلَthe leaning الزَمانِof Time فَاِطَّأَدَتso became firm
قَوَّمَ مَيلَ الزَمانِ فَاِطَّأَدَت
لَناfor us أَواخيهِits tethers وَاِستَوىand became straight أَوَدُهits crookedness
لَنا أَواخيهِ وَاِستَوى أَوَدُه
He straightened Time's leaning; firmly anchored
He straightened the inclination of time so,
for us were its tethers, and its crookedness grew straight.
Its valleys leveled out and its affection equaled.
Sol 6.1