أَلّاif only شَعَرتُI had known بِرِحلَةِof the departure الأَظعانِthe camel-litters
أَلّا شَعَرتُ بِرِحلَةِ الأَظعانِ
فَيَكونَso that it might be شَأنُهُمُtheir lot بِرامَةِat Rama شانيmy lot
فَيَكونَ شَأنُهُمُ بِرامَةِ شاني
If only I had known of the camel-litters' departure,
I wish I knew the path of the night travelers,
so their lot at Rama might have been mine.
So I could follow and reach my beloved.
ماذاwhat عَلىupon الرَشَأِthe gazelle fawn الغَريرِguileless لَوَif انَّهُthat it
ماذا عَلى الرَشَأِ الغَريرِ لَوَ انَّهُ
رَوّىquenched جَوىburning anguish المُتَلَدِّدِthe restless one الحَرّانِthe parched one
رَوّى جَوى المُتَلَدِّدِ الحَرّانِ
What would it cost the guileless fawn if it
What if the slim crescent, shining bright,
quenched the burning anguish of one restless and parched?
Quenched my burning thirst like sweet morning dew?
سَكَنٌa beloved يُنازِعُنيopposes me الصُدودَrejection وَكاشِحٌand a spiteful foe
سَكَنٌ يُنازِعُني الصُدودَ وَكاشِحٌ
يَسعىworks عَليَّagainst me وَعاذِلٌand a reproacher يَلحانيrebukes me
يَسعى عَليَّ وَعاذِلٌ يَلحاني
A beloved opposes me with rejection, and a spiteful foe
The jealous reproach and the spy pursue me,
works against me, and a reproacher rebukes me.
While my love remains fixed and true.
وَلَعَلَّand perhaps مامَلَكَhas not mastered العَذولُthe reproacher مَقادَتيmy reins
وَلَعَلَّ مامَلَكَ العَذولُ مَقادَتي
فيin الحُبِّlove أَوor حَبَسَheld back المَشيبُgray hair عِنانيmy bridle
في الحُبِّ أَو حَبَسَ المَشيبُ عِناني
And perhaps the reproacher has not mastered my reins
Has fate made me unfit for love,
in love, nor has gray hair checked my bridle.
Or has old age chained my passions?
لاlet not يَذهَبَنَّever escape عَلَيكِyour notice فَرطُthe excess of صَبابَتيmy yearning
لا يَذهَبَنَّ عَلَيكِ فَرطُ صَبابَتي
وَتَرادُفُand the succession of الكَمَدِgrief الَّذيthat أَبلانيwore me down
وَتَرادُفُ الكَمَدِ الَّذي أَبلاني
Let the excess of my yearning not escape you,
Let not my fervent youth make you doubt,
and the succession of grief that has worn me down.
Neither my perseverance that has tried me.
وَتَعَلَّميand know أَنَّthat اعتِلاقيmy clinging to حَبلَكُمyour cord
وَتَعَلَّمي أَنَّ اعتِلاقي حَبلَكُم
ذُلّيmy abasement وَأَنَّand that هَوايَmy love فيكِfor you هَوانيmy humiliation
ذُلّي وَأَنَّ هَوايَ فيكِ هَواني
And know that my clinging to your cord
Know that my bond to you has humbled me,
is my abasement, and that my love for you is my humiliation.
And that my passion for you brings me low.
إِمّاif أَقَمتُI stay فَإِنَّthen indeed لُبّيmy mind ظاعِنٌdeparting
إِمّا أَقَمتُ فَإِنَّ لُبّي ظاعِنٌ
أَوسِرتُor I travel مُنطَلِقاًfreely فَقَلبِيَthen my heart عانِcaptive
أَوسِرتُ مُنطَلِقاً فَقَلبِيَ عانِ
If I stay, my mind is departing;
If I stay, my heart is torn with sadness;
or if I journey freely, my heart is captive.
If I go, grief leaves me no peace.
سُقِيَتmay be watered مَعاهِدُكِyour haunts اللَواتيwhich شُقنَنيmade me yearn
سُقِيَت مَعاهِدُكِ اللَواتي شُقنَني
وَمَحَلُّand the site مَنزِلِكِof your dwelling الَّذيthat استَبكانيmade me weep
وَمَحَلُّ مَنزِلِكِ الَّذي استَبكاني
May your haunts that stirred my longing be watered,
Those who blamed our love now pity me,
and the site of your dwelling that made me weep.
And the place of our trysts fills me with pain.
وَأَرىand I see خَيالَكِyour phantom لايَزالُever remains مَعَwith الكَرىslumber
وَأَرى خَيالَكِ لايَزالُ مَعَ الكَرى
مُتَعَرِّضاًpresenting itself أَلقاهُI meet it أَوor يَلقانيit meets me
مُتَعَرِّضاً أَلقاهُ أَو يَلقاني
And I see your phantom, ever amid slumber,
Your phantom is always there taunting me,
appearing before me: I meet it, or it meets me.
Whether I see it or my eyes play tricks.
يُدنيbrings near إِلَيَّto me مِنَof الوِصالِunion شَبيهَthe like of ماwhat
يُدني إِلَيَّ مِنَ الوِصالِ شَبيهَ ما
تُدنينَهُyou bring it near أَبَداًalways مِنَof الهِجرانِestrangement
تُدنينَهُ أَبَداً مِنَ الهِجرانِ
It brings me a union akin to
It seems to offer the union I crave,
the estrangement you always bring me.
While you refuse to end this separation.
عَصَبِيَّتيmy loyalty لِلشامِto Syria تُضرِمُinflames لَوعَتيmy anguish
عَصَبِيَّتي لِلشامِ تُضرِمُ لَوعَتي
وَتَزيدُand increases فيin كَلَفيmy passion وَفيand in أَشجانيmy sorrows
وَتَزيدُ في كَلَفي وَفي أَشجاني
My loyalty to Syria inflames my anguish,
My Syrian blood fires my agony
and deepens my passion and my sorrows.
And adds to my suffering and torment.
كانَتit was بِعَبدِthrough Abd اللَهِAllah أَحظىmost favored خُطَّةًa region
كانَت بِعَبدِ اللَهِ أَحظى خُطَّةً
بِنَوافِلِwith bounties of الإِفضالِgenerosity وَالإِحسانِand kindness
بِنَوافِلِ الإِفضالِ وَالإِحسانِ
Through Abd Allah, it was the most favored region
With Abdullah fate was kinder before,
with bounties of generosity and kindness,
Giving freely, not denying or preventing.
حَتّىuntil تَرَحَّلَhe departed سائِراًjourneying فَتَبَدَّلَتand it received instead
حَتّى تَرَحَّلَ سائِراً فَتَبَدَّلَت
بَعدَafter العَطاءِbounty غَضاضَةَthe indignity of الحِرمانِdeprivation
بَعدَ العَطاءِ غَضاضَةَ الحِرمانِ
until he departed on his journey, and it received instead,
But then his gifts were replaced
after bounty, the indignity of deprivation.
By deprivation, testing my patience.
إِنif تَكتَئِبgrieves حَلَبٌAleppo فَقَدthen indeed غَلَبَتhas been deprived عَلىof
إِن تَكتَئِب حَلَبٌ فَقَد غَلَبَت عَلى
حَلَبِmilk الغَمامِof the cloud وَصَوبِهِand its downpour التَهتانِunceasing
حَلَبِ الغَمامِ وَصَوبِهِ التَهتانِ
If Aleppo grieves, it has been deprived of
If Aleppo now grieves, it has defeated
the cloud's milk and its unceasing downpour,
Other famed cities in their glory and pride.
وَعَلىand of أَنيقِthe lovely الرَوضِmeadow يُزهِرُblooms بَينَهُamid it
وَعَلى أَنيقِ الرَوضِ يُزهِرُ بَينَهُ
أَفوافُstriped fabrics نَورٍof blossoms مُعجِبِdelightful الأَلوانِthe colors
أَفوافُ نَورٍ مُعجِبِ الأَلوانِ
and of the lovely meadow, where bloom
Yet in its beautiful gardens, flowers bloom
striped fabrics of blossoms in delightful colors:
In a rainbow of wondrous colors bright.
مِنof واضِحٍgleaming يَقَقٍpure white وَأَصفَرَand yellow فاقِعٍvivid
مِن واضِحٍ يَقَقٍ وَأَصفَرَ فاقِعٍ
وَمُضَرَّجٍand dyed red جَسِدٍblood-red وَأَحمَرَand red قانِdeep crimson
وَمُضَرَّجٍ جَسِدٍ وَأَحمَرَ قانِ
of gleaming, pure white and vivid yellow,
A rain cloud traveled from the west
and dyed blood-red, and deep crimson.
To bring water to the east cities parched.
غَيثٌa raincloud تَحَمَّلَhas departed عَنهُمُfrom them مُتَوَجِّهاًheading
غَيثٌ تَحَمَّلَ عَنهُمُ مُتَوَجِّهاً
مِنfrom غَربِهِمtheir west لِمَشارِقِtoward the eastern parts البُلدانِof the lands
مِن غَربِهِم لِمَشارِقِ البُلدانِ
A raincloud has departed from them, heading
If it waters Persia, after the thirst
from their west toward the lands of the east.
Of the Harran quarter here is quenched,
إِنif أُسقِيَتهُis watered with him فارِسٌFars فَبِعَقبِthen after ماthe time when
إِن أُسقِيَتهُ فارِسٌ فَبِعَقبِ ما
ظَمِأَتhave thirsted جَوانِبُthe reaches رَبعِهاof its abode الحَرّانِparched
ظَمِأَت جَوانِبُ رَبعِها الحَرّانِ
If Fars is watered by him, it is after
Or if it reaches Euphrates folk, they will say
the reaches of its parched abode have thirsted.
Another Euphrates came to help.
أَوor عاجَhe turned aside فيamong أَهلِthe people of الفُراتِthe Euphrates فَإِنَّهُthen indeed it
أَو عاجَ في أَهلِ الفُراتِ فَإِنَّهُ
سَيُقالُit will be said جاءَهُمُhas come to them فُراتٌa Euphrates ثانِsecond
سَيُقالُ جاءَهُمُ فُراتٌ ثانِ
Or if he stops among the people of the Euphrates, then
A King whose rule has eased our life
it will be said: 'A second Euphrates has come to them.'
With justice both gentle and wise.
مَلِكٌa king هَصَرناwe bent down العَيشَlife فيin جَنَباتِهِhis precincts
مَلِكٌ هَصَرنا العَيشَ في جَنَباتِهِ
غَضَّtender المَكاسِرِat the breaking points لَيِّنَsupple الأَفنانِin the branches
غَضَّ المَكاسِرِ لَيِّنَ الأَفنانِ
A king in whose precincts we bent life's boughs,
He rules the people with fairness and care,
tender at their breaking points, supple in their branches.
In public and private likewise.
أَعطىhe granted الرَعِيَّةَthe subjects حُكمَهاtheir due مِنfrom عَدلِهِhis justice
أَعطى الرَعِيَّةَ حُكمَها مِن عَدلِهِ
فيin السِرِّprivate مُجتَهِداًstriving earnestly وَفيand in الإِعلانِpublic
في السِرِّ مُجتَهِداً وَفي الإِعلانِ
He granted his subjects their due through his justice,
Not like the tyrant who imposes his power
striving earnestly in private and in public.
Or the weak man no one relies.
غَيرُnot العَنوفِharsh الفَظِّcoarse حينَwhen يَجُدُّhe works diligently فيat
غَيرُ العَنوفِ الفَظِّ حينَ يَجُدُّ في
جَمعِcollecting الخَراجِthe land tax وَلاnor الضَعيفِweak الوانيslack
جَمعِ الخَراجِ وَلا الضَعيفِ الواني
Neither harsh nor coarse when he works at
Such politics have long been known
collecting the land tax, nor weak and slack.
To masters from the house of Khaqan.
وَهيَand it is السِياسَةُstatecraft لَمhas not تَزَلceased to be مَعروفَةًknown
وَهيَ السِياسَةُ لَم تَزَل مَعروفَةً
لِذَويto those skilled in السِياسَةِstatecraft مِنamong بَنيthe sons of خاقانِKhaqan
لِذَوي السِياسَةِ مِن بَني خاقانِ
And this is the statecraft that has always been known
Those who revere God and fear His wrath,
to the statesmen among the sons of Khaqan:
And counsel sincerity to the Sultan,
المُعلِنينَthose openly professing تُقىreverence for الإِلَهِGod وَخَوفَهُand fear of Him
المُعلِنينَ تُقى الإِلَهِ وَخَوفَهُ
وَالمُؤثِرينَand those prioritizing نَصيحَةَsincere loyalty السُلطانِto the sovereign
وَالمُؤثِرينَ نَصيحَةَ السُلطانِ
those openly professing reverence for God and fear of Him,
And who build glory never seen before
and putting loyalty to the sovereign first,
To boast on the day all stand to be judged.
وَالرافِعينَand those raising بِناءَan edifice مَجدٍof glory لَمnot يَكُنcould
وَالرافِعينَ بِناءَ مَجدٍ لَم يَكُن
لِيَطولَهُto reach it يَومَon the day of التَفاخُرِboasting بانِa builder
لِيَطولَهُ يَومَ التَفاخُرِ بانِ
and raising an edifice of glory that no
The court and councils are filled with dignitaries
builder could reach on the day of boasting.
Walking proudly in their stately stride.
تَبهىgrow splendid المَواكِبُthe processions وَالمَجالِسُand the assemblies مِنهُمُfrom among them
تَبهى المَواكِبُ وَالمَجالِسُ مِنهُمُ
بِمُبَجَّلينَwith revered men عَلىin الوَقارِdignity رِزانِsteadfast
بِمُبَجَّلينَ عَلى الوَقارِ رِزانِ
Processions and assemblies grow splendid through them,
My soul is ransom for my uncle Muhammad
with revered men, steadfast in dignity.
Whose nobility I extol with pride.
نَفسيmy soul فِداءُransom for أَبيAbu مُحَمَّدٍِMuhammad الَّذيwho
نَفسي فِداءُ أَبي مُحَمَّدٍِ الَّذي
مازِلتُI have always أَحمَدُpraised فيin ذَراهُhis shelter مَكانيmy place
مازِلتُ أَحمَدُ في ذَراهُ مَكاني
May my soul be ransom for Abu Muhammad, in whose
A brother who enriched me beyond
shelter I have always praised my place.
What other brothers provide.
خِلٌّa friend بَلَغتُI attained بِرَأيِهِthrough his counsel شَرَفَthe heights of العُلاeminence
خِلٌّ بَلَغتُ بِرَأيِهِ شَرَفَ العُلا
وَأَخٌand a brother غَنيتُI had no need بِهِthrough him عَنِfor الإِخوانِthe brothers
وَأَخٌ غَنيتُ بِهِ عَنِ الإِخوانِ
A friend through whose counsel I reached the heights of eminence,
May God reward you for what
and a brother through whom I needed no other brothers.
My thanks cannot quantify.
اللَهُGod يَجزيكَrewards you الَّذيthat which لَمdid not يَجزِهِrepay it
اللَهُ يَجزيكَ الَّذي لَم يَجزِهِ
شُكريmy thanks وَلَمand did not يَبلُغreach مَداهُits extent لِسانيmy tongue
شُكري وَلَم يَبلُغ مَداهُ لِساني
May God reward you for what was not repaid by
I hold your honor beyond any luxury
my thanks, and whose extent my tongue could not reach.
Or days of joy or times so sublime.
أَعتَدُّI count عِزَّكَyour honor مِنas part of وُفورِthe prosperity of مَذاهِبيmy pursuits
أَعتَدُّ عِزَّكَ مِن وُفورِ مَذاهِبي
وَسُعودِand the good fortune of أَيّاميmy days وَحُسنِand the happiness of زَمانيmy time
وَسُعودِ أَيّامي وَحُسنِ زَماني
I count your honor as part of the prosperity of my pursuits,
Though the road to Jaʿfar is now denied me,
and the good fortune of my days and the happiness of my time.
You remain always near.
وَإِذاand if المَسافَةُthe distance دونَbefore reaching نائِلِthe bounty of جَعفَرٍJa'far
وَإِذا المَسافَةُ دونَ نائِلِ جَعفَرٍ
بَعُدَتgrows long عَلَيَّfor me فَإِنَّthen indeed نَيلَكَyour bounty دانِnear
بَعُدَت عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّ نَيلَكَ دانِ
And if the distance separating me from Ja'far's bounty
Whenever I count on you to help one in need,
grows long for me, then your bounty is near.
I pledge myself and my guarantee.
وَمَتىand whenever ضَمِنتُI pledge عَلَيكَon your behalf حاجَةَthe need of طالِبٍa petitioner
وَمَتى ضَمِنتُ عَلَيكَ حاجَةَ طالِبٍ
كَفَلَتstand surety يَداكَyour two hands بِذِمَّتيfor my pledge وَضَمانيand my guarantee
كَفَلَت يَداكَ بِذِمَّتي وَضَماني
And whenever I pledge that you will meet a petitioner's need,
your two hands stand surety for my pledge and my guarantee.
Partial English translation: 62 of 64 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1