مِثالُكِyour image مِنfrom طَيفِa phantom الخَيالِthe dream-vision المُعاوِدِever-returning
مِثالُكِ مِن طَيفِ الخَيالِ المُعاوِدِ
أَلَمَّvisited بِناto us مِنfrom أُفقِهِits horizon المُتَباعِدِfar-off
أَلَمَّ بِنا مِن أُفقِهِ المُتَباعِدِ
Your image, from the ever-returning dream-phantom,
Your likeness recurs from the horizon of my fanciful thoughts
visited us from its far-off horizon.
Afflicting me from its distant horizons
يُحَيِّgreets هُجوداًsleepers مُنتَشينَintoxicated مِنَfrom الكَرىslumber
يُحَيِّ هُجوداً مُنتَشينَ مِنَ الكَرى
وَماand what نَفعُuse إِهداءِoffering السَلامِpeace لَهاجِدِto a sleeper
وَما نَفعُ إِهداءِ السَلامِ لَهاجِدِ
It greets sleepers intoxicated with slumber—
It revives ardent yearnings from the nominations of fate
but what use is offering peace to one asleep?
And no use in greeting those who kneel in prayer
إِذاwhen هِيَshe مالَتleans لِلعِناقِto embrace تَعَطَّفَتshe bends
إِذا هِيَ مالَت لِلعِناقِ تَعَطَّفَت
تَعَطُّفَthe bending of أُملودٍa supple shoot مِنَof البانِthe ban-tree مائِدِswaying
تَعَطُّفَ أُملودٍ مِنَ البانِ مائِدِ
When she leans toward an embrace, she bends
When she leans for an embrace, she shows affection
like a swaying, supple shoot of the ban-tree.
The affection of a graceful gazelle at a well-spread repast
إِذاif وَصَلَتناshe joins us لَمnot تَصِلshe joins عَنout of تَعَمُّدٍdeliberate intent
إِذا وَصَلَتنا لَم تَصِل عَن تَعَمُّدٍ
وَإِنand if هَجَرَتshe forsakes أَبدَتshe shows لَناto us هَجرَthe forsaking of عامِدِone acting deliberately
وَإِن هَجَرَت أَبدَت لَنا هَجرَ عامِدِ
If she joins us, she does not do so deliberately;
When she reaches us, she does not arrive deliberately
and if she forsakes us, she shows us deliberate estrangement.
And when she deserts, she shows us intended desertion
تُقَلِّبُshe stirs قَلباًa heart ماnot يَلينُsoftens إِلىtoward الصِباyouthful passion
تُقَلِّبُ قَلباً ما يَلينُ إِلى الصِبا
وَمَنزورَand scant دَمعٍtears عَنin response to جَوىthe anguish of الحُبِّlove جامِدِunflowing
وَمَنزورَ دَمعٍ عَن جَوى الحُبِّ جامِدِ
She stirs a heart that will not soften toward youthful passion,
She turns a heart that does not soften to youth
and scant tears that will not flow for love's anguish.
And tears that do not flow from the bosom of ardent love
تَمادىpersisted بِهاfor her وَجديmy yearning وَمُلِّكَand was granted وَصلَهاunion with her
تَمادى بِها وَجدي وَمُلِّكَ وَصلَها
خَلِيُّfree of passion الحَشاthe heart فيin وَصلِهاunion with her جِدُّutterly زاهِدِindifferent
خَلِيُّ الحَشا في وَصلِها جِدُّ زاهِدِ
My yearning for her persisted, while union with her was granted
My passion and possession went to her extremities
to one free of passion, utterly indifferent to union with her.
While the horseman in reaching her is an ascetic monk
وَماand not الناسُpeople إِلّاexcept واجِدٍone who yearns غَيرُnot مالِكٍa possessor
وَما الناسُ إِلّا واجِدٍ غَيرُ مالِكٍ
لِماof what يَبتَغيhe seeks أَوor مالِكٌa possessor غَيرُnot واجِدِone who yearns
لِما يَبتَغي أَو مالِكٌ غَيرُ واجِدِ
People are only those who yearn without possessing
People are either desirous without possession
what they seek, or possess without yearning.
Or possessed without desire
سَقىmay water الغَيثُrain أَكنافَthe environs الحِمىthe protected pasture مِنfrom مَحَلَّةٍan encampment
سَقى الغَيثُ أَكنافَ الحِمى مِن مَحَلَّةٍ
إِلىto الحِقفِthe curved dune مِنof رَملِthe sands اللِوىal-Liwa المُتَقاوِدِextending in succession
إِلى الحِقفِ مِن رَملِ اللِوى المُتَقاوِدِ
May rain water the environs of the protected pasture, from the encampment
The rain watered the environs of the sanctuary
to the curved dune of al-Liwa's linked stretches of sand.
From the sands of twisting sands to the still sands
وَلازالَand may there ever be مُخضَرٌّgreen growth مِنَof الرَوضِthe meadow يانِعٌlush
وَلازالَ مُخضَرٌّ مِنَ الرَوضِ يانِعٌ
عَلَيهِupon it بِمُحمَرٍّwith red growth مِنَof النورِthe blossoms جاسِدِblood-red
عَلَيهِ بِمُحمَرٍّ مِنَ النورِ جاسِدِ
And may lush green meadow-growth remain forever
Ever verdant from the meadows, lush
upon it, with deep blood-red blossoms,
With redness of light upon it penetrating
يُذَكِّرُناreminds us رَيّاthe fragrance of الأَحِبَّةِloved ones كُلَّماwhenever
يُذَكِّرُنا رَيّا الأَحِبَّةِ كُلَّما
تَنَفَّسَit breathes فيin جُنحٍthe darkness مِنَof اللَيلِthe night بارِدِcool
تَنَفَّسَ في جُنحٍ مِنَ اللَيلِ بارِدِ
reminding us of our loved ones' fragrance whenever
The scent of the loved ones reminds us whenever
it breathes in the darkness of a cool night.
It blows through wings of the cold night
شَقائِقُanemones يَحمِلنَbear النَدىthe dew فَكَأَنَّهُso, as though it were
شَقائِقُ يَحمِلنَ النَدى فَكَأَنَّهُ
دُموعُtears التَصابيyouthful dalliance فيon خُدودِthe cheeks الخَرائِدِshy maidens
دُموعُ التَصابي في خُدودِ الخَرائِدِ
Anemones bear the dew, as though it were
Anemones carrying dew as though they are
tears of youthful dalliance on the cheeks of shy maidens.
Tears of the Pleiades on the cheeks of the maidens
وَمِنand of لُؤلُؤٍpearls فيin الأُقحُوانِthe daisies مُنَظَّمٍarrayed
وَمِن لُؤلُؤٍ في الأُقحُوانِ مُنَظَّمٍ
عَلىupon نُكَتٍspecks مُصفَرَّةٍyellow كَالفَرائِدِlike necklace gems
عَلى نُكَتٍ مُصفَرَّةٍ كَالفَرائِدِ
And pearls are strung among the daisies,
As though the produce of the apples in the brilliance of morning
on yellow flecks, like precious necklace gems.
Are golden coins from Tibet and far off lands
كَأَنَّas though جَنىthe blossoms of الحَوذانِbuttercups فيin رَونَقِthe brilliance of الضُحىmidmorning
كَأَنَّ جَنى الحَوذانِ في رَونَقِ الضُحى
دَنانيرُdinars تِبرٍgold bullion مِنof تُؤامِنpaired ones وَفارِدِand single ones
دَنانيرُ تِبرٍ مِن تُؤامِن وَفارِدِ
The buttercups' blossoms in the brilliance of midmorning seem
Encampments scattered in the gardens flourishing
dinars of gold, some paired and some single.
With every sweet new water from pure springs
رِباعٌdwelling-grounds تَرَدَّتrobed themselves بِالرِياضِin gardens مَجودَةًabundantly rained upon
رِباعٌ تَرَدَّت بِالرِياضِ مَجودَةً
بِكُلِّwith every جَديدِfresh الماءِwater عَذبِsweet المَوارِدِwater-sources
بِكُلِّ جَديدِ الماءِ عَذبِ المَوارِدِ
Dwelling-grounds, robed in gardens, richly drenched
When a nice wind blows upon them, it reveals for it
with every fresh flow of water, sweet at its sources.
Rills of a torrent flowing over them with purpose
إِذاwhen راوَحَتهاvisits them in the evening مُزنَةٌa raincloud بَكَرَتcomes at dawn لَهّاto them
إِذا راوَحَتها مُزنَةٌ بَكَرَت لَهّا
خَآبيبُswift showers مُجتازٍone passing عَلَيهاover them وَقاصِدِand one heading straight
خَآبيبُ مُجتازٍ عَلَيها وَقاصِدِ
When a raincloud visits them by evening, at dawn come to them
As though the hand of victory of the Khagan came
swift showers, some passing over, others making for them.
With those lightning bolts flashing
كَأَنَّas though يَدَthe hand of الفَتحِal-Fath بنِibn خاقانَKhaqan أَقبَلَتhad come
كَأَنَّ يَدَ الفَتحِ بنِ خاقانَ أَقبَلَت
تَليهاtending them بِتِلكَwith those البارِقاتِlightning-flashing clouds الرَواعِدِthundering
تَليها بِتِلكَ البارِقاتِ الرَواعِدِ
As though the hand of al-Fath ibn Khaqan had come
Bestowing freely when he initiates grace
to tend them with those lightning-flashing, thundering clouds.
With the first of gifts recurring
مَلِيّاًfully able إِذاwhen ماemphasis كانَhe is بادِئَinitiating نِعمَةٍa favor
مَلِيّاً إِذا ما كانَ بادِئَ نِعمَةٍ
بِكَرِّby repeating العَطاياgifts البادِئاتِfirst-bestowed العَوائِدِrenewed
بِكَرِّ العَطايا البادِئاتِ العَوائِدِ
Fully able, whenever he first grants a favor,
I saw the dew become a confidante conforming
to repeat his gifts, both first-bestowed and renewed.
To its nature without a pact
رَأَيتُI saw النَدىgenerosity أَمسىbecome شَقيقاًa brother مُناسِباًrelated by blood
رَأَيتُ النَدى أَمسى شَقيقاً مُناسِباً
لِأَخلاقِهِto his character دونَrather than الحَليفِan ally المُعاقِدِbound by pact
لِأَخلاقِهِ دونَ الحَليفِ المُعاقِدِ
I have seen generosity become a brother, truly kin
It wrapped itself above those standing so they
to his character, rather than an ally bound by a pact.
Yearned expectantly for the visiting delegation
تَلَفَّتَhe looked around فَوقَabove القائِمينَthose standing فَطالَهُمand towered over them
تَلَفَّتَ فَوقَ القائِمينَ فَطالَهُم
تَشَوُّفُthe upward gaze of بَسّامٍa smiling man إِلىtoward الوَفدِthe delegation قاعِدِseated
تَشَوُّفُ بَسّامٍ إِلى الوَفدِ قاعِدِ
He looked above those standing, and towered over them
The loud voice makes people lower before him
with a smiling gaze toward the delegation, though seated.
Vessels of words like gentle winds
جَهيرُclear and strong الخِطابِin speech يَخفِضُlower القَومُthe people عِندَهُin his presence
جَهيرُ الخِطابِ يَخفِضُ القَومُ عِندَهُ
مَعاريضَveiled expressions قَولٍof speech كَالرِياحِlike the winds الرَواكِدِstilled
مَعاريضَ قَولٍ كَالرِياحِ الرَواكِدِ
His speech is clear and strong; in his presence people lower
They wade in veneration, the tallest extend their hands
their veiled speech, like winds grown still.
And the most dignified reveal themselves in the spectacles
يَخُضّونَthey single out (probable reading) بِالتَبجيلِfor reverence أَطوَلَهُمthe longest-reaching of them يَداًin hand
يَخُضّونَ بِالتَبجيلِ أَطوَلَهُم يَداً
وَأَظهَرَهُمand the most manifest of them أُكرومَةًin noble deeds فيin المَشاهِدِpublic gatherings
وَأَظهَرَهُم أُكرومَةً في المَشاهِدِ
They single out for reverence the most generous-handed among them,
And I did not see the like of men compete
and the one most manifest in noble deeds at public gatherings.
To excellence until a thousand counted as one
وَلَمand not أَرَI have seen أَمثالَpeers of الرِجالِmen تَفاوَتَتdiffered
وَلَم أَرَ أَمثالَ الرِجالِ تَفاوَتَت
إِلىin الفَضلِexcellence حَتّىuntil عُدَّwas reckoned أَلفٌa thousand بِواحِدِas one
إِلى الفَضلِ حَتّى عُدَّ أَلفٌ بِواحِدِ
Never had I seen peers among men differ so greatly
No fault in his manners except he
in excellence, until a thousand were reckoned equal to one.
Feels stranger's woe among them, with little aid
وَلاand no عَيبَfault فيin أَخلاقِهِhis character غَيرَexcept أَنَّهُthat he
وَلا عَيبَ في أَخلاقِهِ غَيرَ أَنَّهُ
غَريبُunmatched الأُسىpeers in example فيهاin them قَليلُfew المُساعِدِsupporters
غَريبُ الأُسى فيها قَليلُ المُساعِدِ
There is no fault in his character, save that he is
The generosity of these manners, anger slept its sleep
without peers in these qualities, with few to stand beside him.
In the breast of the envious plotter
مَكارِمُnoble qualities هُنَّthey are الغَيظُrage باتَspent the night غَليلُهُits burning heat
مَكارِمُ هُنَّ الغَيظُ باتَ غَليلُهُ
يُضَرَّمُis kindled فيin صَدرِthe breast الحَسودِthe envier المُكايِدِscheming
يُضَرَّمُ في صَدرِ الحَسودِ المُكايِدِ
Noble virtues that are rage itself: all night its burning heat
And you will not discern in fate a place of grace
is kindled in the scheming envier's breast.
If you do not guide yourself to it with an envier
وَلَنand never will تَستَبينَyou discern الدَهرَever مَوضِعَthe place of نِعمَةٍa blessing
وَلَن تَستَبينَ الدَهرَ مَوضِعَ نِعمَةٍ
إِذاif أَنتَyou لَمnot تُدلَلare directed عَلَيهاto it بِحاسِدِby an envier
إِذا أَنتَ لَم تُدلَل عَلَيها بِحاسِدِ
You will never discern, in all time, where a blessing lies
His outstanding view and his affability suffice
unless an envier directs you to it.
To a reliance on deficient poetry
كَفىsufficed رَأيُهُhis judgment الجُلّىthe gravest calamity وَأَلقىand bestowed سَماحُهُhis generosity
كَفى رَأيُهُ الجُلّى وَأَلقى سَماحُهُ
نَفاقاًa ready market عَلىupon عِلقٍa precious treasure مِنَof الشِعرِpoetry كاسِدِunsold
نَفاقاً عَلى عِلقٍ مِنَ الشِعرِ كاسِدِ
His judgment met the gravest crisis, and his generosity brought
My abode where hardship pitches its tent
a ready market for a precious piece of verse that had lain unsold.
Informs of the understanding of generous heroes
وَإِنَّand indeed مُقاميmy stay حَيثُwhere خَيَّمتُI pitched my tent مِحنَةٌa trial
وَإِنَّ مُقامي حَيثُ خَيَّمتُ مِحنَةٌ
تُخَبِّرُtells عَنof فَهمِthe discernment الكِرامِthe noble الأَجاوِدِthe generous
تُخَبِّرُ عَن فَهمِ الكِرامِ الأَجاوِدِ
And my stay where I pitched my tent is a trial
And something of my craft is happening in my field
that reveals the discernment of noble, generous men.
With which I capture the minds of wandering ode
وَكائِنand how many لَهُhe has فيin ساحَتيmy courtyard مِنof صَنيعَةٍa kindness
وَكائِن لَهُ في ساحَتي مِن صَنيعَةٍ
قَطَعتُI cut بِهاwith it عُقلَthe hobbles القَوافيthe rhymes الشَوارِدِrunaway
قَطَعتُ بِها عُقلَ القَوافي الشَوارِدِ
And many a kindness has he bestowed in my courtyard,
And I rightfully deserve his public notice not to disregard me
with which I cut the hobbles of runaway rhymes.
When I address him lengthily with poems
وَإِنّيand I لَمَحقوقٌsurely duty-bound بِأَلّاto ensure that not يَطولَنيoutstrip me
وَإِنّي لَمَحقوقٌ بِأَلّا يَطولَني
نَداهُhis bounty إِذاwhen طاوَلتُهُI rival him بِالقَصائِدِwith odes
نَداهُ إِذا طاوَلتُهُ بِالقَصائِدِ
And I am surely duty-bound not to be outstripped
I compose for him bracelets of ice as ornament
by his bounty, when I vie with him in odes.
And string together his conversation in a threading of necklaces
يُحَكنَthey are woven لَهُfor him حَوكَthe weaving of البُرودِstriped mantles لِزينَةٍfor adornment
يُحَكنَ لَهُ حَوكَ البُرودِ لِزينَةٍ
وَيُنظَمنَand they are strung عَنin return for جَدواهُhis bounty نَظمَthe stringing of القَلائِدِnecklaces
وَيُنظَمنَ عَن جَدواهُ نَظمَ القَلائِدِ
They are woven for him like striped mantles, for adornment,
It suffices my blessed brother as reward when he mounts
and strung in return for his bounty like necklaces.
Coursers of poetry above fate everlasting
وَحَسبُand enough for أَخيa man of النَعمىbounty جَزاءًas reward إِذاwhen اِمتَطىhe mounts
وَحَسبُ أَخي النَعمى جَزاءً إِذا اِمتَطى
سَوائِرَfar-traveling verses مِنof شِعرٍpoetry عَلىthroughout الدَهرِtime خالِدِeverlasting
سَوائِرَ مِن شِعرٍ عَلى الدَهرِ خالِدِ
And reward enough for a man of bounty is to ride
I possessed by it sympathy for foes and it created for me
far-traveling verses of poetry, everlasting through time.
Bonds of kinship in distant men
مَلَكتُI won بِهِthrough him وُدَّthe affection العِدىof enemies وَأَجَدَّand renewed ليfor me
مَلَكتُ بِهِ وُدَّ العِدى وَأَجَدَّ لي
أَواصِرَbonds قُربىof kinship فيamong الرِجالِmen الأَباعِدِfar removed
أَواصِرَ قُربى في الرِجالِ الأَباعِدِ
Through him I won my enemies' affection, and he renewed for me
The beauty of nights in your survival so may
bonds of kinship among men far removed.
Your survival in a lifetime upon them endure
جَمالُthe beauty اللَياليof nights فيin بَقائِكَyour continued life فَليَدُمso may it endure
جَمالُ اللَيالي في بَقائِكَ فَليَدُم
بَقاؤُكَyour continued life فيin عُمرٍa lifespan عَلَيهِنَّbeyond them زائِدِexceeding
بَقاؤُكَ في عُمرٍ عَلَيهِنَّ زائِدِ
The beauty of nights lies in your life; may it endure—
And you have filled a life from my father victory he
your life, in a lifespan longer than theirs.
Is of glorious lineage and slumbering forefathers
وَمُلّيتَand may you long enjoy عَيشاًlife مِنthrough أَبيAbu الفَتحِal-Fath إِنَّهُfor he
وَمُلّيتَ عَيشاً مِن أَبي الفَتحِ إِنَّهُ
سَليلُa scion العُلاof eminence وَالسُؤدُدِand nobility المُتَراقِدِpiled high
سَليلُ العُلا وَالسُؤدُدِ المُتَراقِدِ
And may you long enjoy life through Abu al-Fath, for he is
When he braces himself for glory, he braces himself with resolve
a scion of eminence and nobility piled tier upon tier.
In which a glorious one succeeding glorious subsides
مَتىwhenever ماemphasis يَشِدhe builds مَجداًglory يَشِدهُhe builds it بِهِمَّةٍwith ambition
مَتى ما يَشِد مَجداً يَشِدهُ بِهِمَّةٍ
تَقَيَّلَhe has emulated فيهاin it ماجِداًa noble man بَعدَafter ماجِدِa noble man
تَقَيَّلَ فيها ماجِداً بَعدَ ماجِدِ
Whenever he builds glory, he builds it with an ambition
And if he seeks far-reaching pursuits of glory
in which he has emulated noble man after noble man.
He attains it with sincere and fatherly exertion
وَإِنand if يَطَّلِبhe seeks مَسعاةَa pursuit مَجدٍof glory بَعيدَةٍfar-off
وَإِن يَطَّلِب مَسعاةَ مَجدٍ بَعيدَةٍ
يَنَلهاhe attains it بِجَدٍّthrough a grandfather أَريَحِيٍّgenerous وَوالِدِand a father
يَنَلها بِجَدٍّ أَريَحِيٍّ وَوالِدِ
And if he seeks a far-off pursuit of glory,
As the palm of the giving hand extended
he attains it through a generous grandfather and father.
Its fingers to a shoulder in munificence and aid
كَماas مُدَّتِwas extended الكَفُّthe hand المُضافُjoined بَنانُهاits fingers
كَما مُدَّتِ الكَفُّ المُضافُ بَنانُها
إِلىto عَضُدٍan upper arm فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds وَساعِدِand a forearm
إِلى عَضُدٍ في المَكرُماتِ وَساعِدِ
Like an outstretched hand whose fingers are joined
It pleases you in guidance going toward rectitude
to an upper arm and forearm in noble deeds.
And satisfies you in anxiety rising to glory
يَسُرُّكَhe delights you فيwith هَديٍconduct إِلىtoward الرُشدِsound judgment ذاهِبٍtending
يَسُرُّكَ في هَديٍ إِلى الرُشدِ ذاهِبٍ
وَيُرضيكَand he pleases you فيwith هَمٍّan aspiration إِلىtoward المَجدِglory صاعِدِascending
وَيُرضيكَ في هَمٍّ إِلى المَجدِ صاعِدِ
He delights you with conduct tending toward sound judgment,
He has movements necessitating that he
and pleases you with an ambition ascending toward glory.
Will ascend as high as the full moon among those lying still
لَهُhe has حَرَكاتٌactions موجِباتٌassuring بِأَنَّهُthat he
لَهُ حَرَكاتٌ موجِباتٌ بِأَنَّهُ
سَيَعلوhe will rise عُلُوَّthe rising of البَدرِthe full moon بَينَamong الفَراقِدِthe Farqad stars
سَيَعلو عُلُوَّ البَدرِ بَينَ الفَراقِدِ
His actions give assurance that he
Appointments to days within him and my desire
will rise like the full moon among the Farqad stars.
To God in fulfilling those appointments
مَواعِدُpromises لِلأَيّامِfor the days فيهِin him وَرَغبَتيand my prayer
مَواعِدُ لِلأَيّامِ فيهِ وَرَغبَتي
إِلىto اللَهِGod فيfor إِنجازِthe fulfillment of تِلكَthose المَواعِدِpromises
إِلى اللَهِ في إِنجازِ تِلكَ المَواعِدِ
In him are promises for the days ahead, and my prayer
Could I be ungrateful for blessings openly manifest?
is to God for those promises to be fulfilled.
I am not one to deny hidden righteous deeds
أَأَجحَدُكَwould I deny you النَعماءَbounty وَهيَwhile it is جَلِيَّةٌevident
أَأَجحَدُكَ النَعماءَ وَهيَ جَلِيَّةٌ
وَماand not أَناI لِلبِرِّof kindness الخَفِيِّhidden بِجاحِدِa denier at all
وَما أَنا لِلبِرِّ الخَفِيِّ بِجاحِدِ
Would I deny your bounty, when it is plain,
Whenever I travel the countries on my she-camels
when I do not deny even hidden kindness?
I find my driver plunging to you and my guide
مَتىwhenever ماemphasis أُسَيِّرI send forth فيthrough البِلادِthe lands رَكائِبيmy riding-camels
مَتى ما أُسَيِّر في البِلادِ رَكائِبي
أَجِدI find سائِقيmy camel-driver يَهويhastening إِلَيكَtoward you وَقائِديand my guide
أَجِد سائِقي يَهوي إِلَيكَ وَقائِدي
Whenever I send my riding-camels through the lands,
The best of my store is your good opinion it
I find my driver hastening toward you, and my guide as well.
Is my lifeline to which I repair and renew
وَأَكرَمُand most precious ذُخريmy treasure حُسنُgoodness رَأيِكَyour opinion إِنَّهُfor it
وَأَكرَمُ ذُخري حُسنُ رَأيِكَ إِنَّهُ
طَريفيmy newly gained wealth الَّذيwhich آويI seek refuge إِلَيهِto it وَتالِديand my inherited wealth
طَريفي الَّذي آوي إِلَيهِ وَتالِدي
And my noblest treasure is your good opinion; it is
my new-won wealth, to which I turn for refuge, and my inherited wealth.
Partial English translation: 84 of 86 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1