طَيفٌan apparition لِعَلوَةَof ʿAlwa ماnot يَنفَكُّceases يَأتينيcomes to me
طَيفٌ لِعَلوَةَ ما يَنفَكُّ يَأتيني
يَصبوyearns إِلَيَّtoward me عَلىacross بُعدٍdistance وَيُصبينيand makes me yearn
يَصبو إِلَيَّ عَلى بُعدٍ وَيُصبيني
An apparition of ʿAlwa never ceases to visit me;
The phantom of Alawah does not cease to come to me
it yearns toward me across the distance and makes me yearn.
Pouring towards me from afar and intoxicating me
تَحِيَّةُa greeting اللَهِof God تُهدىis bestowed وَالسَلامُand peace عَلىupon
تَحِيَّةُ اللَهِ تُهدى وَالسَلامُ عَلى
خَيالِكِyour apparition الزائِريthat visits me وَهناًlate at night يُحَيِّينيgreets me
خَيالِكِ الزائِري وَهناً يُحَيِّيني
May God's greeting and peace be bestowed upon
May the greeting of God be bestowed and peace be upon
your apparition, visiting me late at night to greet me.
Your visiting apparition, which revives me here
إِذاwhen قَرُبتِyou draw near فَهَجرٌthen estrangement مِنكِfrom you يُبعِدُنيdistances me
إِذا قَرُبتِ فَهَجرٌ مِنكِ يُبعِدُني
وَإِنand if بَعُدتِyou grow distant فَوَصلٌthen union مِنكِfrom you يُدنينيbrings me near
وَإِن بَعُدتِ فَوَصلٌ مِنكِ يُدنيني
When you draw near, your estrangement drives me away;
When you are near, your separation distances me
and when you are far, your union brings me near.
And when you are far, your connection brings me nearer
تَصَرَّمَhas passed away الدَهرُtime لاno وَصلٌunion فَيُطمِعُنيso it makes me hope
تَصَرَّمَ الدَهرُ لا وَصلٌ فَيُطمِعُني
فيماin what لَدَيكِis with you وَلاand no يَأسٌdespair فَيُسلينيso it consoles me
فيما لَدَيكِ وَلا يَأسٌ فَيُسليني
Time has slipped away: no union to make me hope
Time has become harsh, neither union gives me hope
for what lies with you, nor despair to console me.
Nor despair consoles me of what is with you
وَلَستُand I do not أَعجَبُmarvel مِنat عِصيانِthe disobedience قَلبِكِof your heart ليto me
وَلَستُ أَعجَبُ مِن عِصيانِ قَلبِكِ لي
عَمداًdeliberately إِذاwhen كانَis قَلبيmy heart فيكِconcerning you يَعصينيdisobeys me
عَمداً إِذا كانَ قَلبي فيكِ يَعصيني
Nor do I marvel that your heart disobeys me
And I am not surprised by the disobedience of your heart towards me
deliberately, when my own heart disobeys me over you.
Intentionally, when my heart disobeys me because of you
أَماindeed وَماby what اِحمَرَّreddened مِنof وَردِthe roses الخُدودِof cheeks ضُحىًat midmorning
أَما وَما اِحمَرَّ مِن وَردِ الخُدودِ ضُحىً
وَاِحوَرَّand showed striking whiteness فيamid دَعَجٍdeep blackness مِنof أَعيُنِthe eyes العينِof wide-eyed women
وَاِحوَرَّ في دَعَجٍ مِن أَعيُنِ العينِ
Ah, by the roses of cheeks reddened at midmorning,
By the redness that flushed in the cheeks at dawn
and the striking white amid the dark in wide-eyed beauties' eyes,
And the languor that fascinated the eyes of the eyes
لَقَدindeed حَبَوتُI bestowed صَفاءَthe purity الوُدِّof affection صائِنَهُone withholding it
لَقَد حَبَوتُ صَفاءَ الوُدِّ صائِنَهُ
عَنّيfrom me وَأَقرَضتُهُand I lent it مَنone who لاnot يُجازينيrepays me
عَنّي وَأَقرَضتُهُ مَن لا يُجازيني
I have indeed bestowed pure affection on one who withholds it
I have deprived the purity of love, betraying it
from me, and lent it to one who does not repay me.
From me and loaned it to one who does not reward me
هَوىًlove عَلىin الهونِabasement أُعطيهِI give it وَأَعهَدُنيand I remember myself
هَوىً عَلى الهونِ أُعطيهِ وَأَعهَدُني
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore حُبّيكَmy loving you لاnot أُعطيI give عَلىin الهونِabasement
مِن قَبلِ حُبّيكَ لا أُعطي عَلى الهونِ
I give love in abasement, though I remember myself
I give infatuation over degradation and it indebted me
before loving you, giving nothing in abasement.
Due to my love for you - I do not give over degradation
ماwhat ليfor me يُخَوِّفُنيthreatens me مَنone who لَيسَis not يَعرِفُنيknows me
ما لي يُخَوِّفُني مَن لَيسَ يَعرِفُني
بِالناسِwith people وَالناسُand the people أَحرىhave more cause أَنto يَخافونيthey fear me
بِالناسِ وَالناسُ أَحرى أَن يَخافوني
Why does one who does not know me threaten me
Why does one who does not know me frighten me
with people, when they have more cause to fear me?
With the people while the people are more deserving to fear me
إِذاif عَقَدتُI fasten عَلىupon قَومٍa people مُشَنِّعَةًa damning satire
إِذا عَقَدتُ عَلى قَومٍ مُشَنِّعَةً
فَليُكثِرواthen let them multiply القَولَspeech فيin عَيبيfaulting me وَتَهجينيand disparaging me
فَليُكثِروا القَولَ في عَيبي وَتَهجيني
If I fasten a damning satire upon a people,
If I have accused a people of wickedness
let them speak at length to fault and vilify me.
Then let them speak much about my fault and defame me
وَقَدand indeed بَرِئتُI declared myself free إِلىto العَريضِal-ʿArīḍ مِنof فِكَرٍthoughts
وَقَد بَرِئتُ إِلى العَريضِ مِن فِكَرٍ
مُبيرَةٍdestructive وَلِسانٍand a tongue غَيرِnot مَضمونِguaranteed safe
مُبيرَةٍ وَلِسانٍ غَيرِ مَضمونِ
I have disavowed before al-ʿArīḍ thoughts
And I am cleared, to the open-minded, of
that bring ruin, and a tongue whose restraint is not assured.
Senile thoughts and a tongue not to be trusted
وَلَستُand I am not مُنبَرِياًone rushing forward بِالجَهلِwith recklessness أَجعَلُهُI make it
وَلَستُ مُنبَرِياً بِالجَهلِ أَجعَلُهُ
صِناعَةًa trade ماas long as وَجَدتُI find الحِلمَforbearance يَكفينيsuffices me
صِناعَةً ما وَجَدتُ الحِلمَ يَكفيني
Nor do I rush into recklessness, making it
And I am not a platformer boasting ignorance
my trade, so long as I find forbearance enough for me.
Making it a craft - I have not found wisdom enough for me
إِنّيindeed I وَإِنand even though كُنتُI am مَرهوباًfeared لِعادِيَةٍfor an onslaught
إِنّي وَإِن كُنتُ مَرهوباً لِعادِيَةٍ
أَرميI strike عَدُوّيmy enemy بِهاwith it فيat الفَرطِintervals وَالحينِand times
أَرمي عَدُوّي بِها في الفَرطِ وَالحينِ
Indeed, though I am feared for an onslaught
Although I am intimidated by an enemy
with which I strike my enemy from time to time,
I strike my foe with it in havoc and at once
لَذوsurely possessed of وَفاءٍloyalty لِأَهلِfor the people of الوُدِّaffection مُدَّخَرٍstored up
لَذو وَفاءٍ لِأَهلِ الوُدِّ مُدَّخَرٍ
عِنديwith me وَغَيبٍand unseen conduct عَلىtoward الإِخوانِthe brothers مَأمونِtrustworthy
عِندي وَغَيبٍ عَلى الإِخوانِ مَأمونِ
I possess loyalty stored up for those I love
I have in store loyalty to the people of love, concealed
within me, and conduct in their absence my brothers can trust.
From me, and absence from the brothers, trusted
هَلِwhether اِبنُson of حَمدونَḤamdūn مَردودٌbrought back إِلىto كَرَمٍgenerosity
هَلِ اِبنُ حَمدونَ مَردودٌ إِلى كَرَمٍ
عَهِدتُهُI knew it مَرَّةًonce عِندَin اِبنِson of حَمدونِḤamdūn
عَهِدتُهُ مَرَّةً عِندَ اِبنِ حَمدونِ
Will Ibn Ḥamdūn be brought back to the generosity
Has the son of Hamdun returned to generosity
I once knew in Ibn Ḥamdūn?
I once knew with the son of Hamdun?
أَخٌa brother شَكَرتُI thanked لَهُhim نُعمىbounty أَخيof a brother ثِقَةٍof trust
أَخٌ شَكَرتُ لَهُ نُعمى أَخي ثِقَةٍ
زَكَتflourished لَدَيَّwith me وَمَنّاand favor غَيرَnot مَمنونِtainted by reminders
زَكَت لَدَيَّ وَمَنّا غَيرَ مَمنونِ
A brother I thanked for a trusted brother's bounty,
A brother I thanked for blessing me, a faithful brother
which flourished for me, and for favors without reproach.
Purified for me and bestowed without fatigue
طافَcircled الوُشاةُthe slanderers بِهِaround him بَعديafter me وَغَيَّرَهُand changed him
طافَ الوُشاةُ بِهِ بَعدي وَغَيَّرَهُ
مَعاشِرٌgroups of people كُلُّهُمevery one of them بِالسوءِwith malice يَعنينيtargets me
مَعاشِرٌ كُلُّهُم بِالسوءِ يَعنيني
Slanderers circled him after I left, and he was changed
The wicked circulated around him after me and changed him
by groups of people, every one directing malice at me.
A company, all of whom plot against me
أَصبَحتُI have come to أَرفَعُهُI raise him حَمداًwith praise وَيَخفِضُنيand he lowers me
أَصبَحتُ أَرفَعُهُ حَمداً وَيَخفِضُني
ذَمّاًwith disparagement وَأَمدَحُهُand I praise him طَوراًat times وَيَهجونيand he satirizes me
ذَمّاً وَأَمدَحُهُ طَوراً وَيَهجوني
I have come to exalt him with praise, while he debases me
I have come to praise him and he demeans me
with disparagement; I praise him at times, while he satirizes me.
And laud him at times and he vilifies me
وَعادَand he became مُحتَفِلاًintent بِالسوءِon malice يَهدِمُنيtears me down
وَعادَ مُحتَفِلاً بِالسوءِ يَهدِمُني
وَكانَand he was مِنfrom قَبلُbefore بِالإِحسانِwith kindness يَبنينيbuilds me up
وَكانَ مِن قَبلُ بِالإِحسانِ يَبنيني
And he has turned, bent on malice, to tearing me down,
And he returned celebrating wickedness, destroying me
though formerly he built me up with kindness.
While before he used to build me with benevolence
تَدعوyou summon اللِئامَthe ignoble إِلىto شَتميinsulting me وَمَنقَصَتيand belittling me
تَدعو اللِئامَ إِلى شَتمي وَمَنقَصَتي
بِئسَwretched is الحِباءُthe gift عَلىfor مَدحيكَmy praise of you تَحبونيyou give me
بِئسَ الحِباءُ عَلى مَدحيكَ تَحبوني
You summon the base to insult and belittle me;
You invite the wicked to insult and belittle me
what a wretched gift you give me for my praise of you!
Evil is affection over praising you - you make me love
أَينَwhere الوِدادُthe affection الَّذيthat قَدindeed كُنتَyou used to تَمنَحُنيgrant me
أَينَ الوِدادُ الَّذي قَد كُنتَ تَمنَحُني
أَينَwhere الصَفاءُthe sincerity الَّذيthat قَدindeed كُنتَyou used to تُصفينيgive me pure affection
أَينَ الصَفاءُ الَّذي قَد كُنتَ تُصفيني
Where is the affection you once granted me?
Where is the affection you used to bestow on me?
Where is the pure devotion you once bestowed on me?
Where is the sincerity you used to clarify me with?
إِنif كانَthere was ذَنبٌan offense فَأَهلُthen one given to الصَفحِpardon أَنتَyou وَإِنand if
إِن كانَ ذَنبٌ فَأَهلُ الصَفحِ أَنتَ وَإِن
لَمdid not آتِI commit ذَنباًan offense فَفيمَthen for what reason اللَومُblame يَعرونيassails me
لَم آتِ ذَنباً فَفيمَ اللَومُ يَعروني
If there was an offense, you are one to pardon; and if
If it was a sin, then you are the people of forgiveness and if
I committed no offense, why does blame assail me?
I did not sin, why does blame prey on me?
بَنيsons of زُراراءَZurārāʾ ماnot أَزرىbrought disgrace بِكُمupon you حَسَبٌancestral standing
بَني زُراراءَ ما أَزرى بِكُم حَسَبٌ
دونٌlowly وَماand not الحَسَبُancestral standing العادِيُّancient بِالدونِat all lowly
دونٌ وَما الحَسَبُ العادِيُّ بِالدونِ
Sons of Zurārāʾ, you have not been debased by lineage
Oh Bani Zurara what lineage do I envy in you
of low rank; ancient lineage is not lowly.
What is the lowly lineage by the lowly?
تِلكَthose الأَعاجِمُthe non-Arabs تَنميكُمtrace your descent أَوائِلُهاtheir forebears
تِلكَ الأَعاجِمُ تَنميكُم أَوائِلُها
إِلىto الذَوائِبِthe crests (nobles) مِنهاamong them وَالعَرانينِand the noses (chiefs)
إِلى الذَوائِبِ مِنها وَالعَرانينِ
Those non-Arabs: their forebears trace your descent
Those non-Arabs raise you, their beginnings
to their crests and noses—their foremost nobles.
To the ends and the naked ones among them
فَخرُthe glory الدَهاقينِof the dehqans (landed nobles) مَأثورٌhanded down وَفَخرُكُمُand your glory
فَخرُ الدَهاقينِ مَأثورٌ وَفَخرُكُمُ
مِنfrom قَبلُbefore دَهقَنَmade dehqans of آباءَthe fathers الدَهاقينِof the dehqans
مِن قَبلُ دَهقَنَ آباءَ الدَهاقينِ
The dehqans' glory is handed down, while your glory
The pride of the cooks is proverbial, and your pride
long ago made dehqans of the dehqans' fathers.
Previously cooked the fathers of the cooks
إِنّيindeed I أَعُدُّكُمُI count you رَهطيmy clan وَأَجعَلُكُمand I deem you
إِنّي أَعُدُّكُمُ رَهطي وَأَجعَلُكُم
أَحَقَّmore worthy بِالصَونِof safeguarding مِنthan عِرضيmy honor وَمِنand than دينيmy religion
أَحَقَّ بِالصَونِ مِن عِرضي وَمِن ديني
Indeed, I count you as my clan, and deem you
I count you my comrades and make you
more worthy of safeguarding than my honor and my religion.
More worthy of protection than my honor and my faith
Sol 6.1