هَبِsuppose الدارَthe dwelling رَدَّتreturned رَجعَthe echo ماwhat أَنتَyou قائِلُهsaying it
هَبِ الدارَ رَدَّت رَجعَ ما أَنتَ قائِلُه
وَأَبدىand revealed الجَوابَthe answer الرَبعُthe campsite عَمّاabout what تُسائِلُهyou ask it
وَأَبدى الجَوابَ الرَبعُ عَمّا تُسائِلُه
Suppose the dwelling returned the echo of what you say,
The house returned what you were saying
And the campsite gave an answer to what you ask it:
And the quarter disclosed what you were asking
أَفيis there in ذاكَthat بُرءٌa cure مِنfrom جَوىًburning anguish أَلهَبَinflamed الحَشاthe breast
أَفي ذاكَ بُرءٌ مِن جَوىً أَلهَبَ الحَشا
تَوَقُّدُهُits burning وَاِستَعزَرَand enlisted الدَمعَthe tears جائِلُهits turmoil
تَوَقُّدُهُ وَاِستَعزَرَ الدَمعَ جائِلُه
Is there in that a cure for anguish that inflamed the breast
Is there in that exoneration from a passion that inflamed ardour
With its burning, and whose turmoil enlisted tears?
Its kindling, imploring the pouring tears for help
هُوَit is الدَمعُthe tears مَوقوفاًreserved عَلىfor كُلِّevery دِمنَةٍruined campsite
هُوَ الدَمعُ مَوقوفاً عَلى كُلِّ دِمنَةٍ
تُعَرِّجُyou pause فيهاat it أَوor خَليطٍcompany تُزايِلُهyou part from it
تُعَرِّجُ فيها أَو خَليطٍ تُزايِلُه
It is tears, reserved for every ruined campsite
It is the held-back tears at every love token
Where you pause, or company from which you part.
In which it meanders, or a commixture that makes it transcend
تَرادَفَهُمfollowed them in succession خَفضُthe ease الزَمانِof time وَلينُهُand its gentleness
تَرادَفَهُم خَفضُ الزَمانِ وَلينُهُ
وَجادَهُمُand watered them طَلُّthe drizzle الرَبيعِof spring وَوابِلُهand its downpour
وَجادَهُمُ طَلُّ الرَبيعِ وَوابِلُه
May time's ease and gentleness follow them in succession,
Vicissitude of time made them alternate, and its lenience
And may spring's drizzle and downpour water them,
And springtime's dangling and its downpour made them succeed each other
وَإِنand even if لَمnot يَكُنthere is فيin عاجِلِthe present الدَهرِof time مِنهُمُfrom them
وَإِن لَم يَكُن في عاجِلِ الدَهرِ مِنهُمُ
نَوالٌa favor وَغَيبٌand hidden مِنof زَمانِكَyour time آجِلُهits future
نَوالٌ وَغَيبٌ مِن زَمانِكَ آجِلُه
Even if, in the present course of time, there is from them
And if the present life does not contain any intimacy and absence from them
No favor—and the future of your days lies hidden.
A deferred one from your time will have them as its consequence
مَضىpassed العامُthe year بِالهِجرانِwith estrangement مِنهُمfrom them وَبِالنَوىand with separation
مَضى العامُ بِالهِجرانِ مِنهُم وَبِالنَوى
فَهَلso will مُقبِلٌapproaching بِالقُربِwith closeness وَالوَصلِand reunion قابِلُهits following year
فَهَل مُقبِلٌ بِالقُربِ وَالوَصلِ قابِلُه
The year passed in estrangement from them and separation;
The year passed with estrangement from them, and with intention
Will its successor bring closeness and reunion?
Is there a forthcoming one with nearness and union to make up for it?
أُرَجِّمُI conjecture فيconcerning لَيلىLayla الظُنونَconjectures وَأَرتَجيand I hope
أُرَجِّمُ في لَيلى الظُنونَ وَأَرتَجي
أَواخِرَthe later stages حُبٍّof a love أَخلَفَتنيdisappointed me أَوائِلُهits beginnings
أَواخِرَ حُبٍّ أَخلَفَتني أَوائِلُه
I hazard guesses concerning Layla, and hope
I ponder in uncertainties about Layla, and I aspire
For the later stages of a love whose beginnings disappointed me.
To later parts of a love whose beginnings allured me
وَلَيلَةَand one night هَوَّمناwe dozed عَلىon العيسِthe pale camels أَرسَلَتshe sent
وَلَيلَةَ هَوَّمنا عَلى العيسِ أَرسَلَت
بِطَيفِwith an apparition خَيالٍa phantom يُشبِهُresembles الحَقَّtruth باطِلُهits illusion
بِطَيفِ خَيالٍ يُشبِهُ الحَقَّ باطِلُه
And one night, as we dozed upon the pale camels, she sent
And a night we fancied by the Pleiades, it sent
A phantom vision whose illusion resembled truth.
With an apparition resembling truth its falsehood
فَلَولاbut were it not for بَياضُthe whiteness الصُبحِof dawn طالَwas prolonged تَشَبُّثيmy clinging
فَلَولا بَياضُ الصُبحِ طالَ تَشَبُّثي
بِعَطفِيَto the two flanks of غَزالٍa gazelle بِتُّI spent the night وَهناًlate at night أُغازِلُهI woo it
بِعَطفِيَ غَزالٍ بِتُّ وَهناً أُغازِلُه
But for dawn's whiteness, I would have clung longer
So were it not for dawn's whiteness, my clinging
To the flanks of a gazelle I spent the dark hours wooing.
To the shoulder of a gazelle that knelt would have prolonged, as I flirted with her
وَكَمand how many مِنof يَدٍa kindness لِلَّيلِbelonging to the night عِنديfor me حَميدَةٍpraiseworthy
وَكَم مِن يَدٍ لِلَّيلِ عِندي حَميدَةٍ
وَلِلصُبحُand for dawn مِنof خَطبٍa calamity تُذَمُّare condemned غَوائِلُهits harms
وَلِلصُبحُ مِن خَطبٍ تُذَمُّ غَوائِلُه
And how many a praiseworthy kindness the night has shown me,
And how many a night-time hand I have friendly
And how many a calamity dawn brings, its harms condemned!
And how many morning reproofs that censure its intrigues
وَقَدand indeed قُلتُI said لِلمُعليto one lifting إِلىtoward المَجدِglory طَرفَهُhis gaze
وَقَد قُلتُ لِلمُعلي إِلى المَجدِ طَرفَهُ
دَعِleave المَجدَglory فَالفَتحُfor al-Fath بنُson of خاقانَKhaqan شاغِلُهoccupies it
دَعِ المَجدَ فَالفَتحُ بنُ خاقانَ شاغِلُه
I have said to one lifting his gaze toward glory:
And indeed I said to the aspirant to glory, turn your gaze
Leave glory: al-Fath ibn Khaqan occupies it.
Leave glory be, for victory's son Khāqān occupies it
سِنانُthe spear-point أَميرِof the Commander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful وَسَيفُهُand his sword
سِنانُ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ وَسَيفُهُ
وَسَيبُand the bounty أَميرِof the Commander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful وَنائِلُهand his largesse
وَسَيبُ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ وَنائِلُه
The spear-point of the Commander of the Faithful, and his sword,
The sword and teeth of the Commander of the Faithful
And the bounty of the Commander of the Faithful, and his largesse.
And the sword and firer of the Commander of the Faithful and his attainment
تُشَبُّare kindled بِهِthrough him لِلناكِثينَagainst oath-breakers حُروبُهُhis wars
تُشَبُّ بِهِ لِلناكِثينَ حُروبُهُ
وَتَدنوand draw near بِهِthrough him لِلخابِطينَto seekers of bounty نَوافِلُهhis gifts
وَتَدنو بِهِ لِلخابِطينَ نَوافِلُه
Through him his wars are kindled against oath-breakers,
With it he kindles wars against oath-breakers
And through him his gifts come within reach of petitioners.
And with it his supererogations approach the devoted
أَطَلَّhe towered بِنُعماهُthrough his favors فَمَنso who ذاis it that يُطاوِلُهrivals him in height
أَطَلَّ بِنُعماهُ فَمَن ذا يُطاوِلُه
وَعَمَّand embraced all بِجَدواهُwith his bounty فَمَنso who ذاis it that يُساجِلُهcompetes with him
وَعَمَّ بِجَدواهُ فَمَن ذا يُساجِلُه
He towers through his favors—who can rival his height?
He has been bountiful, so who can rival him?
And embraces all with his bounty—who can compete with him?
And his excellence has spread, so who can dispute with him?
ضَمِنتُI vouched عَنِon behalf of الساعينَthe strivers أَنthat يَلحَقواthey catch up بِهِwith him
ضَمِنتُ عَنِ الساعينَ أَن يَلحَقوا بِهِ
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَتare recounted آلاؤُهُhis blessings وَفَواضِلُهand his generous gifts
إِذا ذُكِرَت آلاؤُهُ وَفَواضِلُه
I have vouched on the strivers' behalf that they will catch up with him,
I guaranteed that the strivers can catch up with him
When his blessings and generous gifts are recounted.
If his favours and superiority are mentioned
أَيَبلُغُهُcan they match him بِالبَذلِthrough giving قَومٌa people وَقَدand indeed سَعَواthey strove
أَيَبلُغُهُ بِالبَذلِ قَومٌ وَقَد سَعَوا
فَماyet not بَلَغواthey attained شُكرَgratitude الَّذيthat which هُوَhe باذِلُهbestowing it
فَما بَلَغوا شُكرَ الَّذي هُوَ باذِلُه
Can any people match his giving, when they have striven
Can a people reach, despite their effort, thanking Him who is
Yet have not offered thanks worthy of what he bestows?
Bestowing them?
رَمىhe struck كَلَبِthe rabid fury الأَعداءِof the enemies عَنfrom حَدِّthe edge نَجدَةٍof valor
رَمى كَلَبِ الأَعداءِ عَن حَدِّ نَجدَةٍ
بِهاwith it قَطَعَتcut تَحتَbeneath العَجاجِthe battle-dust مَناصِلُهhis blades
بِها قَطَعَت تَحتَ العَجاجِ مَناصِلُه
He struck at the enemies' frenzy from valor's sharp edge,
He shot the dog of enemies beyond the limit of deliverance
With which his blades cut beneath the battle-dust.
With it he cut off its joints beneath the stone
وَماand not السَيفُthe sword إِلّاexcept بَزُّattire غادٍof one setting out at dawn لِزينَةٍfor adornment
وَما السَيفُ إِلّا بَزُّ غادٍ لِزينَةٍ
إِذاif لَمnot يَكُنis أَمضىkeener مِنَthan السَيفِthe sword حامِلُهits bearer
إِذا لَم يَكُن أَمضى مِنَ السَيفِ حامِلُه
And a sword is merely finery for one setting out at dawn,
And a sword is but an idle ornament
If its bearer is not keener than the sword.
Unless its wielder is more effective than the blade
بَدانيhe first favored me بِمَعروفٍwith a kindness هُوَit is الغَيثُthe rain فيin الثَرىthe soil
بَداني بِمَعروفٍ هُوَ الغَيثُ في الثَرى
تَوالىcame in succession نَداهُits dew وَاِستَنارَتand shone خَمائِلُهits thickets
تَوالى نَداهُ وَاِستَنارَت خَمائِلُه
He first bestowed on me a kindness: rain upon the soil,
My intimate with his bounty is the rain in soil
Its dew came in succession, and its thickets shone.
Its benefaction succeeded continuously and its fields glistened
أَمِنتُI became safe from بِهِthrough him الدَهرَtime الَّذيwhich كُنتُI used to أَتَّقيI guard against
أَمِنتُ بِهِ الدَهرَ الَّذي كُنتُ أَتَّقي
وَنِلتُand I attained بِهِthrough him القَدرَthe rank الَّذيthat كُنتُI used to آمُلُهI hope for it
وَنِلتُ بِهِ القَدرَ الَّذي كُنتُ آمُلُه
Through him I was safe from time, which I used to fear,
With him I felt assured about fate, which I used to fear
And through him I gained the rank I had hoped for.
And with him I attained the foreordained which I was hoping for
وَلَمّاand when حَضَرناwe arrived at سُدَّةَthe threshold الإِذنِof admission أُخِّرَتwere held back
وَلَمّا حَضَرنا سُدَّةَ الإِذنِ أُخِّرَت
رِجالٌmen عَنِfrom البابِthe door الَّذيwhich أَناI داخِلُهentering it
رِجالٌ عَنِ البابِ الَّذي أَنا داخِلُه
And when we reached the threshold of admission, held back were
And when we came to the court’s threshold, men were held back
Men from the door through which I was entering.
From the gate which I am entering
فَأَفضَيتُthen I gained access مِنfrom قُربٍnearness إِلىto ذيone possessed of مَهابَةٍmajesty
فَأَفضَيتُ مِن قُربٍ إِلى ذي مَهابَةٍ
أُقابِلُI face بَدرَthe full moon الأُفقِof the horizon حينَwhen أُقابِلُهI face him
أُقابِلُ بَدرَ الأُفقِ حينَ أُقابِلُه
Then I gained close access to a man of majesty:
So I came from nearness to one of awe
I face the horizon's full moon whenever I face him.
I meet the full moon of horizons when I meet him
إِلىto مُسرِفٍone extravagant فيin الجودِgenerosity لَوif أَنَّthat حاتِماًHatim
إِلى مُسرِفٍ في الجودِ لَو أَنَّ حاتِماً
لَدَيهِwith him لَأَمسىhe would become حاتِمٌHatim وَهوَand he عاذِلُهhis reprover
لَدَيهِ لَأَمسى حاتِمٌ وَهوَ عاذِلُه
To one so extravagant in giving that, were Hatim
To a spendthrift, if Hātim were in his presence
Beside him, Hatim would become his reprover.
Hātim would be the one seeking his generosity
بَداhe appeared لِيَto me مَحمودَpraiseworthy السَجِيَّةِin nature شُمِّرَتwere tucked up
بَدا لِيَ مَحمودَ السَجِيَّةِ شُمِّرَت
سَرابيلُهُhis robes عَنهوfrom him وَطالَتand were long حَمائِلُهhis sword-belts
سَرابيلُهُ عَنهو وَطالَت حَمائِلُه
He appeared before me, praiseworthy in nature; tucked up were
The honored one’s pants appeared rolled up
His robes about him, and his sword-belts hung long.
As his sleeves lengthened and his burdens increased
كَماjust as اِنتَصَبَstood upright الرُمحُthe spear الرُدَينِيُّRudayni ثُقِّفَتwere straightened
كَما اِنتَصَبَ الرُمحُ الرُدَينِيُّ ثُقِّفَت
أَنابيبُهُits segments لِلطَعنِfor thrusting وَاِهتَزَّand quivered عامِلُهits upper shaft
أَنابيبُهُ لِلطَعنِ وَاِهتَزَّ عامِلُه
Like a Rudayni spear standing upright, straightened are
As the well-balanced Rumhi lance stood erect
Its segments for thrusting, and its upper shaft quivers.
Its spears were sharpened for stabbing and its wielder shook
وَكَالبَدرِand like the full moon وافَتهُmet it لِتِمٍّat fullness سُعودُهُits lucky stars
وَكَالبَدرِ وافَتهُ لِتِمٍّ سُعودُهُ
وَتَمَّand became complete سَناهُits radiance وَاِستَقَلَّتand rose high مَنازِلُهits stations
وَتَمَّ سَناهُ وَاِستَقَلَّت مَنازِلُه
And like the full moon, attended at fullness by its lucky stars,
And it attained the fullness of its good fortune like the full moon
Its radiance complete, its stations risen high.
Its stages were completed and its positions stabilized
فَسَلَّمتُthen I greeted وَاعتاقَتand detained جَنانِيَmy heart هَيبَةٌawe
فَسَلَّمتُ وَاعتاقَت جَنانِيَ هَيبَةٌ
تُنازِعنِيَcontends with me for القَولَthe words الَّذيwhich أَناI قائِلُهsaying it
تُنازِعنِيَ القَولَ الَّذي أَنا قائِلُه
Then I greeted him, and awe held my heart captive,
So I greeted, and awe overcame my soul
Contending with me for the words I meant to say.
Contesting with me the words which I am saying
فَلَمّاbut when تَأَمَّلتُI contemplated الطَلاقَةَthe affability وَانثَنىand turned
فَلَمّا تَأَمَّلتُ الطَلاقَةَ وَانثَنى
إِلَيَّtoward me بِبِشرٍwith cheerfulness آنَسَتنيput me at ease مَخايِلُهits signs
إِلَيَّ بِبِشرٍ آنَسَتني مَخايِلُه
But when I beheld his affability, and he turned
But when I considered the fluency, and he leaned
Toward me with cheer whose signs put me at ease,
Toward me with a glad tiding, his gestures calmed me
دَنَوتُI drew near فَقَبَّلتُthen I kissed النَدىgenerosity فيin يَدِthe hand امرِءٍof a man
دَنَوتُ فَقَبَّلتُ النَدى في يَدِ امرِءٍ
جَميلٍhandsome مُحَيّاهُhis face سِباطٍlong and supple أَنامِلُهhis fingers
جَميلٍ مُحَيّاهُ سِباطٍ أَنامِلُه
I drew near and kissed generosity in the hand of a man
So I approached and kissed the dew in the hand of a
Whose face was handsome and whose fingers were long and supple.
Good-looking man, fine-looking, whose fingers were delicate
صَفَتwere pure مِثلَماjust as تَصفوgrows clear المُدامُwine خِلالُهُhis virtues
صَفَت مِثلَما تَصفو المُدامُ خِلالُهُ
وَرَقَّتand were gentle كَماas رَقَّwas gentle النَسيمُthe breeze شَمائِلُهhis manners
وَرَقَّت كَما رَقَّ النَسيمُ شَمائِلُه
His virtues were pure as wine grows clear,
Arranged like wine when it clears, and soft
And his manners were gentle as the breeze is gentle.
Like the breeze when its features become gentle
Sol 6.1