أَمِنIs it for أَجلِthe reason أَنthat أَقوىlay deserted الغُوَيرُal-Ghuwayr فَواسِطُهthen its Wasit
أَمِن أَجلِ أَن أَقوى الغُوَيرُ فَواسِطُه
وَأَقفَرَand became desolate إِلّاexcept for عينُهُits wide-eyed wild cattle وَنَواشِطُهand its roaming beasts
وَأَقفَرَ إِلّا عينُهُ وَنَواشِطُه
Is it because al-Ghuwayr lay deserted, and then its Wasit,
and desolate, save for its wide-eyed wild cattle and roaming beasts,
بَكىwept مُغرَمٌa lovesick man ناطَbound الغَليلَburning anguish بِقَلبِهِto his heart
بَكى مُغرَمٌ ناطَ الغَليلَ بِقَلبِهِ
عَشِيَّةَon the eve of بَينِthe departure of المالِكِيَّةِthe Malikiyya woman نائِطُهthe one who bound it
عَشِيَّةَ بَينِ المالِكِيَّةِ نائِطُه
that a lovesick man wept, anguish bound upon his heart
on the eve of the Malikiyya woman's departure, by the one who bound it?
وَصَلنَthey maintained الغَوانيthe beauties حَبلَهُhis bond وَهوَwhile he ناشِئٌwas young
وَصَلنَ الغَواني حَبلَهُ وَهوَ ناشِئٌ
وَقارَضنَهُand repaid him with الهِجرانَestrangement وَالشَيبُand gray hair واخِطُهwas streaking him
وَقارَضنَهُ الهِجرانَ وَالشَيبُ واخِطُه
The beauties kept their bond with him while he was young,
and repaid him with estrangement as gray hair streaked him.
وَقَدand indeed وَرَدَتhad entered أَهواؤُهُنَّtheir loves فُؤادَهُhis heart
وَقَد وَرَدَت أَهواؤُهُنَّ فُؤادَهُ
وَلاحُبَّand no love إِلّاbut حُبُّlove for عَلوَةَAlwa فارِطُهprecedes it
وَلاحُبَّ إِلّا حُبُّ عَلوَةَ فارِطُه
Their loves had entered his heart,
yet no love came without love for Alwa preceding it.
وَلَمّاand when اِلتَقَيناwe met وَالنَقاand the sand dune مَوعِدٌa meeting place لَناfor us
وَلَمّا اِلتَقَينا وَالنَقا مَوعِدٌ لَنا
تَعَجَّبَmarveled رائيthe beholder of الدُرِّthe pearls حُسناًat their beauty وَلاقِطُهand their gatherer
تَعَجَّبَ رائي الدُرِّ حُسناً وَلاقِطُه
When we met, with the sand dune our meeting place,
both beholder and gatherer of pearls marveled at their beauty:
فَمِنfor some لُؤلُؤٍpearls تَجلوهُshe reveals them عِندَat اِبتِسامِهاher smiling
فَمِن لُؤلُؤٍ تَجلوهُ عِندَ اِبتِسامِها
وَمِنand some لُؤلُؤٍpearls عِندَduring الحَديثِspeech تُساقِطُهshe lets them fall
وَمِن لُؤلُؤٍ عِندَ الحَديثِ تُساقِطُه
for there were pearls she bared when she smiled,
and pearls she scattered as she spoke.
أَشيمُI scan سَحابَthe clouds of الغَربِthe west هَلwhether رُكنُthe flank of جوشَنٍJawshan
أَشيمُ سَحابَ الغَربِ هَل رُكنُ جوشَنٍ
أَوِor المُنكَفاthe descending slope مِنfrom بانَقوساBanaqusa مَهابِطُهtheir places of descent
أَوِ المُنكَفا مِن بانَقوسا مَهابِطُه
I scan the western clouds: is Jawshan's flank
or Banaqusa's downward slope their place of descent,
لِتُسقىso that may be watered وَماthough not السُقياwatering لَدَيَّin my view بِحَقِّهاequal to their due
لِتُسقى وَما السُقيا لَدَيَّ بِحَقِّها
مَحانيthe bends of قُوَيقٍQuwayq رِيُّهاtheir full watering وَبَسائِطُهand its plains
مَحاني قُوَيقٍ رِيُّها وَبَسائِطُه
to water—though rain, to me, falls short of their due—
the bends of Quwayq and its plains to their fill?
لَعَمرُكَBy your life مافيthere is not in شيرَزادَShirzad وَلاnor اِبنِهِhis son
لَعَمرُكَ مافي شيرَزادَ وَلا اِبنِهِ
مَكانٌa place تُدانيهِapproaches it العُلاnobility أَوor تُخالِطُهmingles with it
مَكانٌ تُدانيهِ العُلا أَو تُخالِطُه
By your life, neither in Shirzad nor in his son
is there a place that nobility approaches or mingles with.
حَمَتهُbarred him from الدَهاقينُthe landed gentry الرُبىthe heights وَتَسافَلَتand sank low
حَمَتهُ الدَهاقينُ الرُبى وَتَسافَلَت
بِقُطرُبُّلٍat Qutrabbul أَعلاجُهُhis non-Arab boors وَأَنابِطُهand his Nabataeans
بِقُطرُبُّلٍ أَعلاجُهُ وَأَنابِطُه
The landed gentry barred him from the heights, and low sank
his boors and Nabataeans at Qutrabbul.
مَظِنَّةُa haunt of خَمّارينَwine-sellers تُمسيbecome لَئيمَةًignoble
مَظِنَّةُ خَمّارينَ تُمسي لَئيمَةً
أُقَيوامُهُhis petty clans فيamong أَهلِهاits people وَأَراهِطُهand his little bands
أُقَيوامُهُ في أَهلِها وَأَراهِطُه
A haunt of wine-sellers, where ignoble are
his petty clans and little bands among its people.
وَأَحجِand how fitting بِحَجّامِfor the cupper of الدَساكِرِthe hamlets أَنthat يُرىbe seen
وَأَحجِ بِحَجّامِ الدَساكِرِ أَن يُرى
لَهُhe has اِبنُa son ضَلالٍof unknown paternity نازِحُfar from الخَيرِgoodness شاحِطُهremote from it
لَهُ اِبنُ ضَلالٍ نازِحُ الخَيرِ شاحِطُه
How fitting that the hamlets' cupper should be found
to have a bastard son, far, far removed from goodness!
إِذاwhen قُلتُI say قَدindeed أَلقىhas extended يَداًa hand لِصَنيعَةٍfor a kindness
إِذا قُلتُ قَد أَلقى يَداً لِصَنيعَةٍ
أَباهاrefused it أَبوعِمرانِهِhis Abu Imran وَمَشارِطُهand his lancets
أَباها أَبوعِمرانِهِ وَمَشارِطُه
When I say, 'He has offered a hand for a kindness,'
his Abu Imran and his lancets refuse it.
يَبيتُhe spends the night مُعَنّىtormented النَفسِin soul مِنthrough لُؤمِthe baseness of أَصلِهِhis origins
يَبيتُ مُعَنّى النَفسِ مِن لُؤمِ أَصلِهِ
بِأَنintent on يَقبِضَwithholding الرِزقَthe sustenance الَّذيwhich اللَهُGod باسِطُهspreads it abroad
بِأَن يَقبِضَ الرِزقَ الَّذي اللَهُ باسِطُه
He spends the night tormented in soul, through his base origins,
intent on withholding the sustenance that God spreads abroad.
وَيَغدوand he goes out at dawn وَيَعقُبُand follows اِبنُهُhis son مُتَرَسِّلٌunhurried
وَيَغدو وَيَعقُبُ اِبنُهُ مُتَرَسِّلٌ
يُزانيهِfornicates with him فيamong أَولادِهِhis children وَيُلاوِطُهand sodomizes him
يُزانيهِ في أَولادِهِ وَيُلاوِطُه
He goes out at dawn, and his son follows, unhurried,
joining him in fornication among his children, and sodomizing him.
فَأَيُّso which خِلالِtraits of اللُؤمِbaseness لَمnot يَعتَصِبhas he wrapped himself بِهاin them
فَأَيُّ خِلالِ اللُؤمِ لَم يَعتَصِب بِها
رَكوبُa habitual rider of الدَناياvile deeds حارِضُruined in القَدرِstanding ساقِطُهfallen in it
رَكوبُ الدَنايا حارِضُ القَدرِ ساقِطُه
What trait of baseness has he not wrapped himself in—
this rider of vile deeds, ruined and fallen in standing?
زَعيمٌa guarantor بِخِدنِof a companion in السوءِevil يوجَدُis found عِندَهُwith him
زَعيمٌ بِخِدنِ السوءِ يوجَدُ عِندَهُ
إِذاwhen ماindeed اِبنُthe son of مَيمونٍMaymun أَتاهُcomes to him يُضارِطُهtrades farts with him
إِذا ما اِبنُ مَيمونٍ أَتاهُ يُضارِطُه
He is sure to have a wicked companion beside him
whenever Ibn Maymun comes to trade farts with him.
وَماand none مِنهُماof the two إِلّاbut زُنَيديقُa petty heretic قَريَةٍof a village
وَما مِنهُما إِلّا زُنَيديقُ قَريَةٍ
يُلاكِنُbabbles at مانيMani حُمقُهُhis folly وَيُعافِطُهand snorts at him
يُلاكِنُ ماني حُمقُهُ وَيُعافِطُه
Each is nothing but a petty village heretic,
whose folly babbles at Mani and snorts at him.
مَتىwhenever أَتَعَلَّقI take hold of مِنfrom أَبيAbu الصَقرِal-Saqr ذِمَّةًa pledge of protection
مَتى أَتَعَلَّق مِن أَبي الصَقرِ ذِمَّةً
يَذُدhe wards off عَنfrom حَريميmy sanctuary وافِرُfull of الجَأشِcourage رابِطُهsteadfast in it
يَذُد عَن حَريمي وافِرُ الجَأشِ رابِطُه
Whenever I take a pledge of protection from Abu al-Saqr,
he defends my sanctuary, stout-hearted and steadfast.
أَخٌa brother لِيَto me لاnot يُدنيbrings close الَّذيthe one whom أَناI مُبعِدٌkeep away
أَخٌ لِيَ لا يُدني الَّذي أَنا مُبعِدٌ
لِشَيءٍfor any reason وَلاnor يَرضىapproves of الَّذيwhat أَناI ساخِطُهresent it
لِشَيءٍ وَلا يَرضى الَّذي أَنا ساخِطُه
A brother to me, who will not favor one I shun
for any reason, nor approve of what I resent.
لِمَصقَلَةَto Masqala البَكرِيِّal-Bakri يَنميhe traces his descent وَمَنand whoever يَكُنis
لِمَصقَلَةَ البَكرِيِّ يَنمي وَمَن يَكُن
لِمَصقَلَةَof Masqala البَكرِيِّal-Bakri تَشرُفare illustrious فَوارِطُهhis forebears
لِمَصقَلَةَ البَكرِيِّ تَشرُف فَوارِطُه
He traces his descent to Masqala al-Bakri; and whoever belongs
to Masqala al-Bakri has illustrious forebears.
مَعالٍlofty deeds بَناهاbuilt them صَعبُهُhis Sa'b وَعَلِيُّهُand his Ali
مَعالٍ بَناها صَعبُهُ وَعَلِيُّهُ
وَوائِلُهُand his Wa'il وَيلُthe bane of العَدوِّthe enemy وَقاسِطُهand his Qasit
وَوائِلُهُ وَيلُ العَدوِّ وَقاسِطُه
Lofty deeds built by his Sa'b and his Ali,
and his Wa'il, the enemy's bane, and his Qasit:
بَهاnoble chiefs (first fragment) ليلُnoble chiefs (second fragment) يَومِon the day of الجودِgenerosity تَجريflow شِعابُهُits ravines
بَها ليلُ يَومِ الجودِ تَجري شِعابُهُ
وَآسادُand lions يَومِon the day of الحَربِwar يَحمَرُّreddens ماقِطُهits battlefield
وَآسادُ يَومِ الحَربِ يَحمَرُّ ماقِطُه
noble chiefs on generosity's day, its ravines flowing,
and lions on battle's day, its battlefield reddening.
مَتىwhenever تَغشَهُyou seek him لِلنائِلِfor bounty الرَغبِabundant تَندَفِعyou rush
مَتى تَغشَهُ لِلنائِلِ الرَغبِ تَندَفِع
إِلىinto وَرَقٍfoliage لاnot يَرهَبُfears العُدمَdestitution خابِطُهone who beats it for leaves
إِلى وَرَقٍ لا يَرهَبُ العُدمَ خابِطُه
Whenever you seek him for abundant bounty, you rush
into foliage whose beater never fears want.
وَماand not رَشَّحَتcaused to trickle شَيبانُShayban فَضلَthe abundance of عَطائِهِhis giving
وَما رَشَّحَت شَيبانُ فَضلَ عَطائِهِ
بَلِrather البَحرُthe sea غَطّىcovered الراسِياتِthe rooted mountains غُطامِطُهits roaring surges
بَلِ البَحرُ غَطّى الراسِياتِ غُطامِطُه
His lavish gifts were no mere trickle from Shayban,
but a sea whose roaring surges submerged the rooted mountains.
وَقَدand indeed وَلِيَhas assumed التَدبيرَgovernance أَشوَسُa fierce-eyed man عِندَهُhe possesses
وَقَد وَلِيَ التَدبيرَ أَشوَسُ عِندَهُ
خِلالُthe qualities of السَدادِsound judgment كُلُّهاall of them وَشَرائِطُهand its requisites
خِلالُ السَدادِ كُلُّها وَشَرائِطُه
A fierce-eyed man has taken charge of governance, possessing
all the qualities and requisites of sound judgment.
غَداhe has become وَهوَwhile he is واقيthe protector of المُلكِthe realm مِمّاfrom what يَغُضُّهُdiminishes it
غَدا وَهوَ واقي المُلكِ مِمّا يَغُضُّهُ
وَكافيهِand sparing it تِلكَthose المُعضِلاتِintractable troubles وَحائِطُهand its guardian
وَكافيهِ تِلكَ المُعضِلاتِ وَحائِطُه
He has become the realm's protector against whatever diminishes it,
sparing it those intractable troubles and guarding it.
مُقَوِّمُone who straightens رَأسِthe head of الخَطبِcalamity حَتّىuntil يَرُدَّهُhe drives it back
مُقَوِّمُ رَأسِ الخَطبِ حَتّى يَرُدَّهُ
إِذاwhen الخَطبُcalamity أَربىswells شَغبُهُits turmoil وَتَخامُطُهand its arrogant fury
إِذا الخَطبُ أَربى شَغبُهُ وَتَخامُطُه
He sets calamity's head straight until he drives it back,
when its turmoil and arrogant fury swell.
جَزَتكَmay repay you جَوازيthe rewards of الخَيرِgoodness عَنon behalf of مُتَهَضِّمٍone wronged
جَزَتكَ جَوازي الخَيرِ عَن مُتَهَضِّمٍ
تَكَفّاbore down عَلَيهِupon him جائِرُone unjust in الحُكمِjudgment قاسِطُهinequitable in it
تَكَفّا عَلَيهِ جائِرُ الحُكمِ قاسِطُه
May good rewards repay you on behalf of a wronged man,
upon whom an unjust, tyrannical judge had borne down.
وَلَمّاand when أَتاهُcame to him الغَوثُrelief مِنfrom عَدلِكَyour justice اِنثَنىhe departed
وَلَمّا أَتاهُ الغَوثُ مِن عَدلِكَ اِنثَنى
وَراحِمُهُand one who pitied him مِنbecause of ذَلِكَthat الجَورِinjustice غابِطُهenvied his good fortune
وَراحِمُهُ مِن ذَلِكَ الجَورِ غابِطُه
When relief came to him through your justice, he went away,
and whoever had pitied him for that injustice now envied him.
تَلافَيتَyou rescued حَظّيmy fortune بَعدَafter ماكانَit had been واقِعاًfallen
تَلافَيتَ حَظّي بَعدَ ماكانَ واقِعاً
وَأَدرَكتَand you recovered حَقّيmy right بَعدَماafter شاطَhad burned it away شائِطُهits destroyer
وَأَدرَكتَ حَقّي بَعدَما شاطَ شائِطُه
You rescued my fortune after it had fallen,
and recovered my right after its destroyer had burned it away.
وَماكُنتَand you were not بِالمَخسوسِa base fellow روشِيَwas offered a bribe فَارتَشىso he took the bribe
وَماكُنتَ بِالمَخسوسِ روشِيَ فَارتَشى
وَلابِالغَبِيِّnor a fool اِقتادَهُled him along مَنsomeone who يُغالِطُهmisleads him
وَلابِالغَبِيِّ اِقتادَهُ مَن يُغالِطُه
You were no base fellow who took a bribe when offered one,
nor a fool led along by someone deceiving him.
وَلاnor كانَwas خَصميmy adversary يَومَon the day طَأطَأتَyou humbled ظُلمَهُhis injustice
وَلا كانَ خَصمي يَومَ طَأطَأتَ ظُلمَهُ
بِنافِعِهِof benefit to him إِسرافُهُhis excesses وَتَحالُطُهand his angry bluster
بِنافِعِهِ إِسرافُهُ وَتَحالُطُه
Nor was my adversary, the day you humbled his injustice,
helped by his excesses or his angry bluster.
فَإِنso if أُثنِI praise لاnot أَبلُغI reach the full measure وَإِنand if أُلفَI am found غامِطاًungrateful
فَإِن أُثنِ لا أَبلُغ وَإِن أُلفَ غامِطاً
لِطَولِكَfor your bounty لايَسعَدdoes not prosper بِطَولِكَthrough your bounty غامِطُهone ungrateful for it
لِطَولِكَ لايَسعَد بِطَولِكَ غامِطُه
If I praise you, I fall short; and if I am found ungrateful
for your bounty, no ingrate prospers through your bounty.
Sol 6.1