عَسَتmay دِمَنٌdwelling-traces بِالأَبرَقَينِat al-Abraqayn خَوالِdeserted
عَسَت دِمَنٌ بِالأَبرَقَينِ خَوالِ
تَرُدُّreturn سَلاميmy greeting أَوor تُجيبُanswer سُؤاليmy question
تَرُدُّ سَلامي أَو تُجيبُ سُؤالي
May the deserted dwelling-traces at al-Abraqayn
return my greeting or answer my question.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَأَيّاhalts الرَكبُthe caravan فيهاthere تَبَيَّنواthey discern
إِذا ما تَأَيّا الرَكبُ فيها تَبَيَّنوا
ضَمانَةَthe affliction of مَتبولٍa lovesick man وَصِحَّةَand the health of سالِone free of love
ضَمانَةَ مَتبولٍ وَصِحَّةَ سالِ
When the caravan halts there, they discern
the lovesick man's affliction and the untroubled man's health.
خَليليَّmy two friends مالِلرامِساتِwhat ails the effacing winds وَماand what لَهاfor them
خَليليَّ مالِلرامِساتِ وَما لَها
وَماand what لِلشُجونِfor the sorrows المُبرِحاتِtormenting وَماand what ليfor me
وَما لِلشُجونِ المُبرِحاتِ وَما لي
My two friends, what ails the effacing winds, what ails them,
and what ails these tormenting sorrows, and what ails me?
صَباgrew lovesick بَعدَafter ماخَلّىthe withdrawal of لِداتيmy age-mates عَنِfrom الصِباyouthful passion
صَبا بَعدَ ماخَلّى لِداتي عَنِ الصِبا
وَنَفَّرَand drove away وَحشَthe wild creatures of البِيضِfair women شَيبُthe gray hair of قَذاليmy nape
وَنَفَّرَ وَحشَ البِيضِ شَيبُ قَذالي
Love stirred after my age-mates had forsaken youthful passion,
and the gray at my nape drove off the wild creatures among fair women.
وَتَرتُI deprived الهَوىlove إِلّاexcept لَجاجَthe persistence of مُعَذِّلٍa reproacher
وَتَرتُ الهَوى إِلّا لَجاجَ مُعَذِّلٍ
وَمُعطيand the giver of الهَوىlove إِلّاexcept طُروقَa night visit by خَيالِa phantom
وَمُعطي الهَوى إِلّا طُروقَ خَيالِ
I stripped love of all but a reproacher's persistence;
and love's giver offers only a phantom's night visit.
وَإِنّيand indeed I وَذاتَand the woman with الخالِthe beauty mark فيin حالِthe state of مُغرَمٍa lover
وَإِنّي وَذاتَ الخالِ في حالِ مُغرَمٍ
يَزيدُgrows غَراماًin passion مِنfrom جَوانِحِthe breast of خالِone free of love
يَزيدُ غَراماً مِن جَوانِحِ خالِ
And with the beauty-marked woman, I am a lover
whose passion grows from a breast untouched by love.
وَلَوand if ثابَreturned لَيto me رَأيٌsound judgment لَكانَتthen there would be صَريمَةٌa firm resolve
وَلَو ثابَ لَي رَأيٌ لَكانَت صَريمَةٌ
أُوامِقُI love مُختاراًby choice بِهاthrough it وَأُقاليand I hate
أُوامِقُ مُختاراً بِها وَأُقالي
If sound judgment returned to me, there would be a firm resolve
by which I could love and hate as I choose.
أَبَتrefused أَنto تُبَقّيleave رَغبَةًaffection عِندَwith صاحِبيmy companion
أَبَت أَن تُبَقّي رَغبَةً عِندَ صاحِبي
لَيالٍnights يُرينيshows me الدَهرُtime بَعدَafter لَيالِnights
لَيالٍ يُريني الدَهرُ بَعدَ لَيالِ
They have refused to leave affection in my companion—
the nights time shows me, night after night.
وَذيand many a man of مَلَّةٍweariness أَوشَكتُI hastened عَنهُfrom him تَرَحُّليmy departure
وَذي مَلَّةٍ أَوشَكتُ عَنهُ تَرَحُّلي
فَلَمso not يُحذِهِgranted him الدَهرُtime الطَويلُlong مِثاليmy like
فَلَم يُحذِهِ الدَهرُ الطَويلُ مِثالي
From many a weary companion I hastened my departure,
yet the long years never gave him another like me.
وَأَكثَرُand most فِتيانِyoung men of الزَمانِthe age أَراذِلٌare base
وَأَكثَرُ فِتيانِ الزَمانِ أَراذِلٌ
مَوازينُهُمtheir scales فيin السَروِnobility غَيرُnot ثِقالِheavy
مَوازينُهُم في السَروِ غَيرُ ثِقالِ
Most young men of this age are base;
their scales in nobility are not heavy.
إِذاwhen كُلِّفواthey are tasked لِلمَجدِfor glory حَسوَةَa sip of طائِرٍa bird
إِذا كُلِّفوا لِلمَجدِ حَسوَةَ طائِرٍ
أَطالواthey prolong الوَنىsloth مِنfrom سَأمَةٍboredom وَكَلالِand fatigue
أَطالوا الوَنى مِن سَأمَةٍ وَكَلالِ
When charged, for glory, with even a bird's sip,
they prolong their sloth from boredom and fatigue.
وَماand not آفَتيmy affliction فيin خَلَّتيmy poverty وَبُدُوِّهاand its exposure
وَما آفَتي في خَلَّتي وَبُدُوِّها
سِوىexcept خُلَلٍfriendships لَمnot تُعطَwere granted فَضلَthe excellence of خِلالِcharacter traits
سِوى خُلَلٍ لَم تُعطَ فَضلَ خِلالِ
And my affliction in my poverty and its exposure
is nothing but friendships granted no noble qualities.
تَواكَلَنيleft me to one another الإِخوانُthe friends حَتّىuntil تَضَعضَعَتweakened
تَواكَلَني الإِخوانُ حَتّى تَضَعضَعَت
قُوايَmy strength وَخافَand feared المُشفِقونَthose who cared وِكاليmy faltering
قُوايَ وَخافَ المُشفِقونَ وِكالي
My friends left me to one another, until
my strength weakened and those who cared feared my faltering.
وَمازالَand never ceased خَذلُthe desertion of الدَهرِtime حَتّىuntil تَوَقَّعَتanticipated
وَمازالَ خَذلُ الدَهرِ حَتّى تَوَقَّعَت
يَمينيmy right hand غَداةَon the morning of النَصرِvictory خَذلَthe desertion of شِماليmy left hand
يَميني غَداةَ النَصرِ خَذلَ شِمالي
And time's desertion went on until
my right hand expected my left's desertion on victory's morning.
عَلىdespite أَنَّthat لَيI have سُلطانَthe sway of رُغبٍdesire وَرَهبَةٍand fear
عَلى أَنَّ لَي سُلطانَ رُغبٍ وَرَهبَةٍ
أَصولُI charge بِهِwith it فيin العِزِّmight كُلَّevery مَصالِfray
أَصولُ بِهِ في العِزِّ كُلَّ مَصالِ
Yet I wield the sway of desire and fear,
with which I charge, in might, into every fray.
وَأَغفَلَand left untouched صَرفُthe vicissitudes of الدَهرِtime عِنديin my keeping سَوائِراًwidely circulating verses
وَأَغفَلَ صَرفُ الدَهرِ عِندي سَوائِراً
لِوَضعِto abase مُعادٍan enemy أَوor لِرَفعِto exalt مُوالِan ally
لِوَضعِ مُعادٍ أَو لِرَفعِ مُوالِ
And time's vicissitudes spared the far-traveling verses I hold,
to abase an enemy or exalt an ally.
يُغاليbids high بِهاfor them ذوa man of الطَولِample means وَهيَthough they are رَخيصَةٌcheap
يُغالي بِها ذو الطَولِ وَهيَ رَخيصَةٌ
وَيُرخِصُهاand devalues them ذوa man of النَقصِlittle worth وَهيَthough they are غَوالِprecious
وَيُرخِصُها ذو النَقصِ وَهيَ غَوالِ
A man of means bids high for them, though they are cheap,
and a man of little worth cheapens them, though they are precious.
مَتىwhenever أَعتَصِمI seek refuge فيamong آلِthe house of مُرٍّMurr أَجِدهُمُI find them
مَتى أَعتَصِم في آلِ مُرٍّ أَجِدهُمُ
حُصونيmy fortresses كَفَتhave repelled كَيدَthe plots of العِدىthe foes وَجِباليand my mountains
حُصوني كَفَت كَيدَ العِدى وَجِبالي
Whenever I seek refuge with the house of Murr, I find them
my fortresses that thwart my foes' plots, and my mountains.
وَكَمand how often خَسَأواthey humbled الحُسّادَthe envious وَاِستَحدَثواand brought about لَهُمfor them
وَكَم خَسَأوا الحُسّادَ وَاِستَحدَثوا لَهُم
خَساسَةَa lowliness of حالٍcondition مِنfrom نَباهَةِan eminence of حالِcondition
خَساسَةَ حالٍ مِن نَباهَةِ حالِ
How often they have humbled the envious and brought them
a lowly state in place of an eminent one.
إِذاwhen سِرتُI travel عَنهُمaway from them لَيلَةًfor a night أَوتَلِيَّهاor the night following it
إِذا سِرتُ عَنهُم لَيلَةً أَوتَلِيَّها
عَرَفتُI recognize اِغتِرابيmy exile فيin حَنينِthe yearning cries of جِماليmy camels
عَرَفتُ اِغتِرابي في حَنينِ جِمالي
When I travel away from them for a night or the next,
I recognize my exile in the yearning cries of my camels.
وَكَيفَand how التَخَلّيto withdraw عَنهُمُfrom them وَحِبالُهُمwhile their cords
وَكَيفَ التَخَلّي عَنهُمُ وَحِبالُهُم
إِذاwhen اِنتَسَبواthey trace their lineage مَعقودَةٌare tied بِحِباليto my cords
إِذا اِنتَسَبوا مَعقودَةٌ بِحِبالي
How can I leave them, when their cords,
when they trace their lineage, are knotted to mine?
وَقَفناwe fixed النُفوسَthe souls مِنout of رَجاءِhope for اِبنِson of مُسلِمٍMuslim
وَقَفنا النُفوسَ مِن رَجاءِ اِبنِ مُسلِمٍ
عَلىupon الدِيمَتَينِthe two steady rains مِنof جَداًbounty وَنَوالِand gifts
عَلى الدِيمَتَينِ مِن جَداً وَنَوالِ
We have fixed our souls, in hope of Ibn Muslim,
upon the twin steady rains of bounty and gifts.
فَتىthe young champion of العَرَبِthe Arabs المُغرىintent بِتَثبيتِon securing عِزِّهاtheir glory
فَتى العَرَبِ المُغرى بِتَثبيتِ عِزِّها
وَقَدand already أَذِنَتhad given warning أَركانُهُits pillars بِزَوالِof collapse
وَقَد أَذِنَت أَركانُهُ بِزَوالِ
The Arabs' young champion, intent on securing their glory,
though its pillars had already signaled collapse.
لَهُhe has جَوهَرٌan essence فيin الجودِgenerosity يُبديهِreveals it بِشرُهُhis cheerful face
لَهُ جَوهَرٌ في الجودِ يُبديهِ بِشرُهُ
كَذاjust so السَيفُthe sword يَبدوshows أَثرُهُits markings بِصِقالِthrough polishing
كَذا السَيفُ يَبدو أَثرُهُ بِصِقالِ
He has a core of generosity that his cheerful face reveals,
just as a sword's markings emerge through polishing.
قَريبُnear المَدىin reach حَتّىuntil يَكونَit is إِلىtoward النَدىgenerosity
قَريبُ المَدى حَتّى يَكونَ إِلى النَدى
عَدوُّan enemy of البُنىbuildings حَتّىuntil تَكونَthey are مَعاليlofty honors
عَدوُّ البُنى حَتّى تَكونَ مَعالي
Close at hand—until it comes to generosity;
an enemy of buildings—until they are heights of honor.
وَماand not تَرَكَleft اِستِحقاقُهُhis deserts دونَbelow حَظِّهِhis share
وَما تَرَكَ اِستِحقاقُهُ دونَ حَظِّهِ
وَإِنeven if نالَhe attains أَعلىthe highest مُرتَقىًascent وَمَنالِand attainment
وَإِن نالَ أَعلى مُرتَقىً وَمَنالِ
His merit has never fallen below his share,
even if he gains the highest ascent and attainment.
مِنَamong القَومِthe people مَرجوٌّone looked to لِماfor what الغَيثُrain دونَهُfalls short of
مِنَ القَومِ مَرجوٌّ لِما الغَيثُ دونَهُ
وَفيand among القَومِthe people مَنone who لاnot يُرتَجىis hoped upon لِبِلالِfor a little moisture
وَفي القَومِ مَن لا يُرتَجى لِبِلالِ
Among the people, he is looked to for what rain cannot match,
while some among them are not looked to for even a drop.
أَشَدُّهُمُthe strongest of them لِلحَربِfor war إِتقانَin perfecting عُدَّةٍequipment
أَشَدُّهُمُ لِلحَربِ إِتقانَ عُدَّةٍ
وَأَثقَبُهُمand the brightest of them فيهاin it اِشتِعالَin the burning of ذُبالِwicks
وَأَثقَبُهُم فيها اِشتِعالَ ذُبالِ
He is foremost among them in perfecting the gear of war,
and the brightest there in the blaze of wicks.
كَراديسُsquadrons of خَيلٍhorses بَعدَafter خَيلٍhorses تَؤُمُّهاlead them
كَراديسُ خَيلٍ بَعدَ خَيلٍ تَؤُمُّها
عَوالٍtall lances تَسومُinflict الطَعنَspear-thrusts بَعدَafter عَوالِtall lances
عَوالٍ تَسومُ الطَعنَ بَعدَ عَوالِ
Squadrons of horse, following horse, led by
tall lances dealing thrusts, lance after lance.
قَطَعنَthey broke عَلىby النَهرَينِthe two rivers كُلَّevery قَرينَةٍband
قَطَعنَ عَلى النَهرَينِ كُلَّ قَرينَةٍ
وَجُلنَand they ranged عَلىby النَهرَينِthe two rivers كُلَّevery مَجالِfield
وَجُلنَ عَلى النَهرَينِ كُلَّ مَجالِ
They broke every band by the two rivers,
and ranged over every field by the two rivers.
وَنَقَّبنَand they scoured عَنalong جَنبَيthe two flanks of هَراةَHerat تَحَرِّياًin search
وَنَقَّبنَ عَن جَنبَي هَراةَ تَحَرِّياً
لِقَتلٍfor killing عَلىat أَبوابِهاits gates وَقِتالِand battle
لِقَتلٍ عَلى أَبوابِها وَقِتالِ
And they scoured both flanks of Herat in quest
of killing and combat at its gates.
وَعَجَّلنَand they hastened قَتلَthe killing of النازِكِيِّal-Naziki بِضَربَةٍwith a blow
وَعَجَّلنَ قَتلَ النازِكِيِّ بِضَربَةٍ
أَرَتهُshowed him المَناياdeaths وَهيَwhile they were جِدَّexceedingly عِجالِswift
أَرَتهُ المَنايا وَهيَ جِدَّ عِجالِ
And they hastened al-Naziki's death with a blow
that showed him death in headlong haste.
وَأَبدىand brought forth الخُجُستانِيُّal-Khujistani أَمراًan affair تَكَشَّفَتunfolded
وَأَبدى الخُجُستانِيُّ أَمراً تَكَشَّفَت
عَواقِبُهُits consequences عَنrevealing عِبرَةٍa lesson وَنَكالِand exemplary punishment
عَواقِبُهُ عَن عِبرَةٍ وَنَكالِ
And al-Khujistani brought forth an affair whose
consequences revealed a lesson and exemplary punishment.
فُتوحٌvictories عَلىfor السُلطانِthe sovereign لَمnot تُبقِleft مُبتَغىًsomething to seek
فُتوحٌ عَلى السُلطانِ لَم تُبقِ مُبتَغىً
لِشَرٍّfor evil وَلاnor مُستَنهِضاًan inciter لِضَلالِto error
لِشَرٍّ وَلا مُستَنهِضاً لِضَلالِ
Victories bestowed on the sovereign left no avenue
for evil, nor any inciter to error.
لَقيناكَwe met you يَومَon the day of البَأسِbattle رِئبالَa lion of غابَةٍa forest
لَقيناكَ يَومَ البَأسِ رِئبالَ غابَةٍ
وَشِمناكَand watched you يَومَon the day of الجودِgenerosity بارِقَthe lightning of خالِa raincloud
وَشِمناكَ يَومَ الجودِ بارِقَ خالِ
We met you on the day of battle, a lion of the forest,
and watched you on the day of generosity, lightning in a raincloud.
كَفاكَmet your needs بَشيرٌBashir ماwhat كَفاكَmet your needs وَقَدand indeed تَرىyou see
كَفاكَ بَشيرٌ ما كَفاكَ وَقَد تَرى
مَكانَthe standing of أَدانيthe nearest members of أُسرَةٍa family وَمَوالِand clients
مَكانَ أَداني أُسرَةٍ وَمَوالِ
Bashir has served you as he has, and you can see
the standing of your nearest kin and clients.
يَغُضّونَthey rein in عَنهُfrom him السَعيَtheir striving لاnot يَبلُغونَهُthey reach him
يَغُضّونَ عَنهُ السَعيَ لا يَبلُغونَهُ
بِقَولٍwith speech إِذاwhen أَجرَواthey compete وَلاnor بِفِعالِwith deeds
بِقَولٍ إِذا أَجرَوا وَلا بِفِعالِ
They rein in their striving before him; they cannot match him
in words when they vie, nor in deeds.
رِضاكَyour approval مِنِthrough اِستِعلاءِthe loftiness of رَأيٍjudgment وَحُجَّةٍand argument
رِضاكَ مِنِ اِستِعلاءِ رَأيٍ وَحُجَّةٍ
وَإِخلاصِand the sincerity of نُصحٍcounsel دونَto the exclusion of غَيرِكَanyone but you غالِis precious
وَإِخلاصِ نُصحٍ دونَ غَيرِكَ غالِ
Your approval, won through lofty judgment and argument,
and sincere counsel reserved for you alone, is precious.
يَرىhe deems خَيرَthe better of حَظَّيهِhis two fortunes الَّذيthat which بانَbecame clear عائِداًreturning
يَرى خَيرَ حَظَّيهِ الَّذي بانَ عائِداً
عَلَيكَto you بِهِwith it مِنof زينَةٍadornment وَجَمالِand beauty
عَلَيكَ بِهِ مِن زينَةٍ وَجَمالِ
He deems the better of his two fortunes the one plainly returning
to you with adornment and beauty.
فَإِنand if تَتَقَدَّمcomes first مِنكَfrom you فيهِconcerning him عُقوبَةٌa punishment
فَإِن تَتَقَدَّم مِنكَ فيهِ عُقوبَةٌ
فَإِنَّكَthen indeed you قَدhave أَعقَبتَهاfollowed it بِنَوالِwith bounty
فَإِنَّكَ قَد أَعقَبتَها بِنَوالِ
If a punishment from you came first in his case,
you have indeed followed it with bounty.
وَشَرَّفتَهُand you honored him حَتّىuntil عَلاrose above النَجمَthe star قَدرُهُhis rank
وَشَرَّفتَهُ حَتّى عَلا النَجمَ قَدرُهُ
بِأَوسَعِwith the amplest جاهٍprestige يُستَعارُthat can be borrowed وَمالِand wealth
بِأَوسَعِ جاهٍ يُستَعارُ وَمالِ
And you honored him until his rank rose above the stars,
with the amplest prestige that can be borrowed, and wealth.
أَباO father of طَلحَةَTalha اِستَعلَتrose high يَداكَyour two hands وَلَمand not تَزَلceased
أَبا طَلحَةَ اِستَعلَت يَداكَ وَلَم تَزَل
تُعانُyou are aided بِحَدٍّby a sharp edge فيin حُروبِكَyour wars عالِlofty
تُعانُ بِحَدٍّ في حُروبِكَ عالِ
Abu Talha, your two hands have risen high, and you have always
been aided in your wars by a lofty blade.
فَماand not اِختارَكَchose you السُلطانُthe sovereign إِلّاexcept اِستِنامَةًout of trust
فَما اِختارَكَ السُلطانُ إِلّا اِستِنامَةً
إِلىin رَجُلٍa man يُغنيwho suffices غَناءَthe service of رِجالِmen
إِلى رَجُلٍ يُغني غَناءَ رِجالِ
The sovereign chose you only to place his trust
in a man who does the work of many men.
وَوَلّاكَand he appointed you عَنout of عِلمٍknowledge بِأَنَّكَthat you دونَهُمto their exclusion
وَوَلّاكَ عَن عِلمٍ بِأَنَّكَ دونَهُم
وَلِيٌّa guardian لِتِلكَof those المَكرُماتِnoble deeds وَوالِand a governor
وَلِيٌّ لِتِلكَ المَكرُماتِ وَوالِ
And appointed you, knowing that you, rather than they,
are guardian of those noble deeds and their governor.
غَداةَon the morning تَوَرَّدتَyou entered العَلاءَglory فَماso not عَلاrose
غَداةَ تَوَرَّدتَ العَلاءَ فَما عَلا
بِجَدٍّby good fortune عَلىabove ذاكَthat التَوَرُّدِentry عالِone who rises
بِجَدٍّ عَلى ذاكَ التَوَرُّدِ عالِ
On the morning you entered glory, none rose
by fortune above that ascent, however high he climbed.
وَقَدand already حَشَدَتthey had massed حَولَaround المَراغَةِal-Maragha مُدَّةًfor a time
وَقَد حَشَدَت حَولَ المَراغَةِ مُدَّةً
لِقَتلٍfor killing عَلىat أَبوابِهاits gates وَقِتالِand battle
لِقَتلٍ عَلى أَبوابِها وَقِتالِ
And they had massed around al-Maragha for a time,
for killing and combat at its gates.
وَماand not تَرَكَتthey left فيin أَردَبِيلَArdabil لُبانَةًa wish
وَما تَرَكَت في أَردَبِيلَ لُبانَةً
لِطُلّابِfor seekers of ذَحلٍvengeance فيin الدِماءِblood نِهالِdrinking their fill
لِطُلّابِ ذَحلٍ في الدِماءِ نِهالِ
And left no wish in Ardabil unsatisfied
for seekers of revenge, drinking their fill of blood.
وَيُبهِجُنيand it delights me أَلّاthat not تُخِلَّyou fall short بِثَروَةِin wealth
وَيُبهِجُني أَلّا تُخِلَّ بِثَروَةِ
وَماand not ذاكَthat إِلّاexcept أَنَّbecause مالَكَyour wealth ماليmy wealth
وَما ذاكَ إِلّا أَنَّ مالَكَ مالي
And it gladdens me that you never lack wealth,
and that is only because your wealth is mine.
Sol 6.1