بَعضَsome of هَذاthis العِتابِthe reproach وَالتَفنيدِand fault-finding
بَعضَ هَذا العِتابِ وَالتَفنيدِ
لَيسَis not ذَمُّblaming الوَفاءِfaithfulness بِالمَحمودِpraiseworthy
لَيسَ ذَمُّ الوَفاءِ بِالمَحمودِ
Less of this reproach and fault-finding!
Blaming faithfulness is not praiseworthy.
ماnot بَكَيناwe wept عَلىfor زَرودَZarud وَلَكِنbut
ما بَكَينا عَلى زَرودَ وَلَكِن
ناwe (suffix) بَكَيناwe wept أَيّامَناour days فيin زَرودِZarud
نا بَكَينا أَيّامَنا في زَرودِ
We did not weep for Zarud, but
we wept for our days in Zarud.
وَدُموعُand the tears المُحِبِّof the lover إِنeven if عَصَتِthey disobey العذُthe reproachers (start)
وَدُموعُ المُحِبِّ إِن عَصَتِ العذُ
ذالَreproachers (end) كانَتthey were طَوعَobedient to النَوىseparation وَالصُدودِand rejection
ذالَ كانَت طَوعَ النَوى وَالصُدودِ
And a lover's tears, though they defy the reproachers,
obey separation and rejection.
ياO لِخُضرٍfor green doves يَنُحنَthey lament فيamong القُضُبِthe boughs الخُضthe green (start)
يا لِخُضرٍ يَنُحنَ في القُضُبِ الخُض
رِgreen (end) عَلىfor كُلِّevery صاحِبٍcompanion مَفقودِlost
رِ عَلى كُلِّ صاحِبٍ مَفقودِ
Ah, the green doves lamenting amid green boughs,
for every lost companion!
عاطِلاتٍunadorned بَلrather حالِياتِadorned يُرَدِّدthey repeat (start)
عاطِلاتٍ بَل حالِياتِ يُرَدِّد
نَthey repeat (end) الشَجىgrief فيin قَلائِدٍcollars وَعُقودِand necklaces
نَ الشَجى في قَلائِدٍ وَعُقودِ
Unadorned—no, adorned—they repeat
their grief, in collars and necklaces.
زِدنَنيthey increased me in صَبوَةًyearning وَذَكَّرنَنيand reminded me of عَهa pledge (start)
زِدنَني صَبوَةً وَذَكَّرنَني عَه
داًpledge (end) قَديماًold مِنfrom ناقِضٍa breaker لِلعُهودِof pledges
داً قَديماً مِن ناقِضٍ لِلعُهودِ
They deepened my longing and recalled to me a pledge
of old, from one who breaks pledges.
ماwhat يُريدُwant الحَمامُthe doves فيin كُلِّevery وادٍvalley
ما يُريدُ الحَمامُ في كُلِّ وادٍ
مِنfrom عَميدٍone stricken with love صَبٍّenamored بِغَيرِof one not عَميدِstricken with love
مِن عَميدٍ صَبٍّ بِغَيرِ عَميدِ
What do the doves in every valley want
from a lovesick man enamored of one not lovesick?
كُلَّماwhenever أُخمِدَتis quenched لَهُfor him نارُthe fire of شَوقٍlonging
كُلَّما أُخمِدَت لَهُ نارُ شَوقٍ
هِجنَهاthey rekindle it بِالبُكاءِwith weeping وَالتَغريدِand warbling
هِجنَها بِالبُكاءِ وَالتَغريدِ
Whenever the fire of his longing is quenched,
they rekindle it with weeping and warbling.
ياO نَديمَيَّmy two drinking companions بِالسَواجيرِat al-Sawajir مِنof وُدWudd (start)
يا نَديمَيَّ بِالسَواجيرِ مِن وُد
دَWudd (end) اِبنِibn (son of) مَعنٍMa'n وَبُحتُرِand Buhtur اِبنِibn (son of) عَتودِ'Atud
دَ اِبنِ مَعنٍ وَبُحتُرِ اِبنِ عَتودِ
O my two drinking companions at al-Sawajir, of Wudd
ibn Ma'n and Buhtur ibn 'Atud,
أُطلِباseek, you two ثالِثاًa third سِوايَother than me فَإِنّيfor I
أُطلِبا ثالِثاً سِوايَ فَإِنّي
رابِعُthe fourth companion of العيسِthe pale camels وَالدُجىand night-darkness وَالبيدِand the deserts
رابِعُ العيسِ وَالدُجى وَالبيدِ
seek a third other than me, for I
am the fourth companion of pale camels, night, and deserts.
لَستُI am not بِالواهِنِa weakling المُقيمِwho stays put وَلاnor القاone who says (start)
لَستُ بِالواهِنِ المُقيمِ وَلا القا
ئِلِone who says (end) يَوماًever إِنَّthat الغِنىwealth بِالجُدودِthrough luck
ئِلِ يَوماً إِنَّ الغِنى بِالجُدودِ
I am no weakling who stays put, nor one
who ever says, 'Wealth comes by luck.'
وَإِذاand when اِستَصعَبَتproves difficult مَقادَةُthe guiding of أَمرٍan affair
وَإِذا اِستَصعَبَت مَقادَةُ أَمرٍ
سَهَلَّتهاmade it easy أَيديthe forelegs of المَهارىthe Mahri camels القودِthe long-necked
سَهَلَّتها أَيدي المَهارى القودِ
And when an affair proves difficult to manage,
the forelegs of long-necked Mahri camels make it easy,
حامِلاتٍbearing وَفدَa delegation of الثَناءِpraise إِلىto أَبa radiant man (start)
حامِلاتٍ وَفدَ الثَناءِ إِلى أَب
لَجَradiant (end) صَبٍّenamored إِلىof ثَناءِthe praise of الوُفودِdelegations
لَجَ صَبٍّ إِلى ثَناءِ الوُفودِ
bearing a delegation of praise to a radiant man,
enamored of the praise of delegations.
عَلِقواthey grasped مِنin مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad خَيرَthe best حَبلٍrope
عَلِقوا مِن مُحَمَّدٍ خَيرَ حَبلٍ
لِرُواقِfor the pavilion of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate المَمديدِthe outstretched
لِرُواقِ الخِلافَةِ المَمديدِ
In Muhammad they have grasped the finest rope
of the caliphate's far-spreading pavilion.
لَمnot يَخُنbetray رَبَّهاits lord وَلَمand not يُعمِلِput to work التَدplanning (start)
لَم يَخُن رَبَّها وَلَم يُعمِلِ التَد
بيرِplanning (end) فيin حَلِّundoing تاجِهاits crown المَعقودِthe fastened
بيرِ في حَلِّ تاجِها المَعقودِ
He never betrayed its lord, nor devised a plan
to undo its firmly fastened crown,
مُصلِتاًunsheathing بَينَهاbetween it وَبَينَand between الأَعاديthe enemies
مُصلِتاً بَينَها وَبَينَ الأَعادي
حَدَّthe edge of رَأيٍjudgment يَفُلُّthat blunts حَدَّthe edge of الحَديدِiron
حَدَّ رَأيٍ يَفُلُّ حَدَّ الحَديدِ
unsheathing between it and its enemies
the edge of judgment that blunts the edge of iron.
فَهِيَthus it مِنthrough عَزمِthe resolve of رَأيِهِhis judgment فيamid جُنودٍarmies
فَهِيَ مِن عَزمِ رَأيِهِ في جُنودٍ
قُمنَthey stood مِنfrom حَولِهاaround it مَقامَin the place of الجُنودِarmies
قُمنَ مِن حَولِها مَقامَ الجُنودِ
Thus, through his resolute judgment, it is amid forces
that stand around it in the place of armies.
كابَدَتهُgrappled with him الأُمورُaffairs فيهاwithin it فَلاقَتand so found
كابَدَتهُ الأُمورُ فيها فَلاقَت
قُلَّبِيَّone resourceful in التَصويبِbringing low وَالتَصعيدِand raising high
قُلَّبِيَّ التَصويبِ وَالتَصعيدِ
Affairs within it grappled with him, and found
a master of every downward and upward turn,
صارِمَunyielding in العَزمِresolve حاضِرَready in الحَزمِprudence ساريranging by night in الthe
صارِمَ العَزمِ حاضِرَ الحَزمِ ساري ال
فِكرِthought ثَبتَfirm in المَقامِstance صُلبَsturdy in العودِframe (literally, timber)
فِكرِ ثَبتَ المَقامِ صُلبَ العودِ
firm in resolve, ready in prudence, far-ranging
in thought, firm of stance, and sturdy of frame.
دَقَّwas subtle فَهماًin understanding وَجَلَّand great عِلماًin knowledge فَأَرضىand thus pleased اللَGod (start)
دَقَّ فَهماً وَجَلَّ عِلماً فَأَرضى اللَ
هَGod (end) فيناamong us وَالواثِقَand al-Wathiq إِبنَson of الرَشيدِal-Rashid
هَ فينا وَالواثِقَ إِبنَ الرَشيدِ
Subtle in understanding, great in knowledge, he has pleased God
and al-Wathiq, son of al-Rashid, in his dealings with us.
وَجَّهَhe directed الحَقَّjustice بَينَbetween أَخذٍtaking وَإِعطاand giving (start)
وَجَّهَ الحَقَّ بَينَ أَخذٍ وَإِعطا
ءٍgiving (end) وَقَصدٍand moderation فيin الجَمعِgathering وَالتَبديدِand dispersing
ءٍ وَقَصدٍ في الجَمعِ وَالتَبديدِ
He upheld justice in taking and giving,
and moderation in gathering and dispersing.
وَاِستَوىand became equal الناسُthe people فَالقَريبُso the near قَريبٌnear
وَاِستَوى الناسُ فَالقَريبُ قَريبٌ
عِندَهُto him وَالبَعيدُand the distant غَيرُnot بَعيدِdistant
عِندَهُ وَالبَعيدُ غَيرُ بَعيدِ
All people are equal: the near are near
to him, and the distant are not distant.
لاnot يَميلُsways الهَوىpassion بِهِhim حينَwhen يُمضيhe decides الthe
لا يَميلُ الهَوى بِهِ حينَ يُمضي ال
أَمرَmatter بَينَbetween المَقلِيِّthe hated وَالمَودودِand the beloved
أَمرَ بَينَ المَقلِيِّ وَالمَودودِ
Passion does not sway him when he passes
judgment between the hated and the beloved.
وَسَواءٌand equal لَدَيهِbefore him أَبناءُthe sons of إِبراAbraham (start)
وَسَواءٌ لَدَيهِ أَبناءُ إِبرا
هيمَAbraham (end) فيin حُكمِهِhis judgment وَأَبناءُand the sons of هودِHud
هيمَ في حُكمِهِ وَأَبناءُ هودِ
Equal before him are the sons of Abraham
and the sons of Hud, in his judgment.
مُستَريحُat rest in الأَحشاءِthe inward parts مِنfrom كُلِّevery ضِغنٍrancor
مُستَريحُ الأَحشاءِ مِن كُلِّ ضِغنٍ
بارِدُcool in الصَدرِthe breast مِنfrom غَليلِthe burning heat of الحُقودِgrudges
بارِدُ الصَدرِ مِن غَليلِ الحُقودِ
His inmost being rests free of every rancor,
his breast cool, free of hatred's burning heat.
وَكَأَّنَّand as though اِهتِزازَهُhis eager swaying لِلعَطاياat giving gifts
وَكَأَّنَّ اِهتِزازَهُ لِلعَطايا
مِنfrom قَضيبِa branch of الأُراكَةِthe arak tree الأُملودِthe supple
مِن قَضيبِ الأُراكَةِ الأُملودِ
And his eager swaying at giving seems to come
from a supple branch of the arak tree.
وَكَأَنَّand as though السُؤالَrequests يَنثُرُscatter وَردَthe roses of الرَوthe garden (start)
وَكَأَنَّ السُؤالَ يَنثُرُ وَردَ الرَو
ضِgarden (end) فيin وَجهِهِhis face وَوَردَand the roses of الخُدودِcheeks
ضِ في وَجهِهِ وَوَردَ الخُدودِ
And petitions seem to strew the roses of gardens
across his face, and the rosy bloom of cheeks.
ياO اِبنَson of عَبدِ'Abd المَليكِal-Malik مَلَّكَكَhas made you master of الحَمpraise (start)
يا اِبنَ عَبدِ المَليكِ مَلَّكَكَ الحَم
دَpraise (end) وُقوفٌa standing بَينَbetween النَدىgenerosity وَالجودِand bounty
دَ وُقوفٌ بَينَ النَدى وَالجودِ
O son of 'Abd al-Malik, praise has become yours
through your stand between generosity and bounty.
ماnot فَقَدناwe lost الإِعدامَpoverty حَتّىuntil مَدَدناwe stretched out
ما فَقَدنا الإِعدامَ حَتّى مَدَدنا
سَبَباًa cord نَحوَtoward سيبِكَyour bounty المَمدودِthe outstretched
سَبَباً نَحوَ سيبِكَ المَمدودِ
We did not escape poverty until we stretched
a cord toward your outstretched bounty.
سُؤدُدٌnobility يُرَجّىto be hoped for وَنَيلٌand bounty يُرَجّىto be hoped for
سُؤدُدٌ يُرَجّى وَنَيلٌ يُرَجّى
وَثَناءٌand praise يَحياlives وَمالٌand wealth يوديperishes
وَثَناءٌ يَحيا وَمالٌ يودي
Greatness to hope for, and bounty to hope for,
and praise that lives, while wealth passes away.
لَتَفَنَّنتَyou have indeed shown versatility فيin الكِتابَةِwriting حَتّىuntil
لَتَفَنَّنتَ في الكِتابَةِ حَتّى
عَطَّلَset aside الناسُthe people فَنَّthe art of عَبدِ'Abd الحَميدِal-Hamid
عَطَّلَ الناسُ فَنَّ عَبدِ الحَميدِ
You have shown such versatility in writing
that people have set aside the art of 'Abd al-Hamid,
فيin نِظامٍa composition مِنَof البَلاغَةِeloquence ماnot
في نِظامٍ مِنَ البَلاغَةِ ما
شَكَّdoubted إِمرُؤٌany man أَنَّهُthat it is نِظامُthe composition of مَريدِa rebellious demon
شَكَّ إِمرُؤٌ أَنَّهُ نِظامُ مَريدِ
in eloquent composition that no one
doubted was a rebellious demon's work,
وَبَديعٍand wondrous artistry كَأَنَّهُas though it were الزَهرُthe flowers الضاlaughing (start)
وَبَديعٍ كَأَنَّهُ الزَهرُ الضا
حِكُlaughing (end) فيin رَونَقٍthe splendor of الرَبيعِspring الجَديدِthe new
حِكُ في رَونَقٍ الرَبيعِ الجَديدِ
and wondrous artistry, like laughing flowers
in the splendor of the new spring,
مُشَرِّقٌradiant فيin جَوانِبِthe reaches of السَمعِhearing ماnot يُخwears it out (start)
مُشَرِّقٌ في جَوانِبِ السَمعِ ما يُخ
لِقُهُwears it out (end) عَودُهُits return عَلىfor المُستَعيدِone asking to hear it again
لِقُهُ عَودُهُ عَلى المُستَعيدِ
radiant in the reaches of hearing, never worn out
by repetition for one who asks to hear it again.
ماwhat أُعيرَتwas lent مِنهُof it بُطونُthe bellies of القَراطيpaper sheets (start)
ما أُعيرَت مِنهُ بُطونُ القَراطي
سِpaper sheets (end) وَماand what حُمِّلَتwas loaded onto ظُهورُthe backs of البَريدِpostal mounts
سِ وَما حُمِّلَت ظُهورُ البَريدِ
Whatever of it is lent to the bellies of pages,
and whatever is laden on the backs of postal mounts,
مُستَميلُdrawing away سَمعَthe ear of الطُروبِthe enraptured المُعَنّىthe love-tormented
مُستَميلُ سَمعَ الطُروبِ المُعَنّى
عَنfrom أَغانِيِّthe songs of زُرزُرٍZurzur وَعَقيدِand 'Aqid
عَن أَغانِيِّ زُرزُرٍ وَعَقيدِ
draws the ear of the enraptured, love-tormented listener
away from the songs of Zurzur and 'Aqid.
حُجَجٌarguments تُخرِسُsilence الأَلَدَّthe fiercest disputant بِأَلفاwith words (start)
حُجَجٌ تُخرِسُ الأَلَدَّ بِأَلفا
ظٍwords (end) فُرادىsingly كَالجَوهَرِlike jewels المَعدودِcounted
ظٍ فُرادى كَالجَوهَرِ المَعدودِ
Arguments that silence the stubborn disputant with words
each distinct, like jewels counted one by one;
وَمَعانٍand meanings لَوif فَصَّلَتهاarrayed them القَوافيthe rhymes
وَمَعانٍ لَو فَصَّلَتها القَوافي
هَجَّنَتwould shame شِعرَthe poetry of جَروَلٍJarwal وَلَبيدِand Labid
هَجَّنَت شِعرَ جَروَلٍ وَلَبيدِ
and meanings which, if rhymes arrayed them,
would shame the poetry of Jarwal and Labid.
حُزنَthey took possession of مُستَعمَلَcommonly used الكَلامٍspeech اِختِياراًby choice
حُزنَ مُستَعمَلَ الكَلامٍ اِختِياراً
وَتَجَنَّبنَand they shunned ظُلمَةَthe darkness of التَعقيدِtangled expression
وَتَجَنَّبنَ ظُلمَةَ التَعقيدِ
They chose for themselves the language in common use
and shunned the darkness of tangled expression.
وَرَكِبنَand they rode اللَفظَthe wording القَريبَclose at hand فَأَدرَكand so they attained (start)
وَرَكِبنَ اللَفظَ القَريبَ فَأَدرَك
نَthey attained (end) بِهِthrough it غايَةَthe utmost point of المُرادِthe intended aim البَعيدِthe distant
نَ بِهِ غايَةَ المُرادِ البَعيدِ
They rode on words close at hand, and reached
through them the distant goal they sought,
كَالعَذارىlike maidens غَدَونَthey went forth فيin الحُلَلِthe robes الصُفyellow (start)
كَالعَذارى غَدَونَ في الحُلَلِ الصُف
رِyellow (end) إِذاwhen رُحنَthey passed along فيin الخُطوطِthe lines of script السودِthe black
رِ إِذا رُحنَ في الخُطوطِ السودِ
like maidens going forth in yellow robes
when they pass along in black lines of script.
قَدindeed تَلَقَّيتَyou have met كُلَّevery يَومٍday جَديدٍnew
قَد تَلَقَّيتَ كُلَّ يَومٍ جَديدٍ
ياO أَباAbu جَعفَرٍJa'far بِمَجدٍwith glory جَديدِnew
يا أَبا جَعفَرٍ بِمَجدٍ جَديدِ
You have greeted every new day,
O Abu Ja'far, with fresh glory.
يَائِسَhave despaired الحاسِدونَthe enviers مِنكَof you وَماand not مَجyour glory (start)
يَائِسَ الحاسِدونَ مِنكَ وَما مَج
دُكَyour glory (end) مِمّاamong what يَرجوهُhopes for it ظَنُّthe conjecture of الحَسودِthe envious man
دُكَ مِمّا يَرجوهُ ظَنُّ الحَسودِ
Your enviers have despaired of you; your glory
is not what an envier's wishful thinking hopes for.
وَإِذاand when اِسطُرفَتis deemed novel سِيادَةُthe lordship of قَومٍa people
وَإِذا اِسطُرفَت سِيادَةُ قَومٍ
بِنتَyou stand apart بِالسُؤدُدِin nobility الطَريفِthe newly acquired التَليدِthe ancestral
بِنتَ بِالسُؤدُدِ الطَريفِ التَليدِ
And when a people's lordship is deemed a novelty,
you stand apart in nobility both new and ancestral.
وَأَرىand I see الناسَthe people مُجمِعينَunanimous عَلىon فَضyour excellence (start)
وَأَرى الناسَ مُجمِعينَ عَلى فَض
لِكَyour excellence (end) مِنfrom بَينِamong سَيِّدٍa lord وَمَسودِand a subject
لِكَ مِن بَينِ سَيِّدٍ وَمَسودِ
And I see all people agreed on your excellence,
lord and subject alike.
عَرَفَrecognized العالِمونَthe learned فَضلَكَyour excellence بِالعِلthrough knowledge (start)
عَرَفَ العالِمونَ فَضلَكَ بِالعِل
مِknowledge (end) وَقالَand affirmed الجُهّالُthe ignorant بِالتَقليدِby imitation
مِ وَقالَ الجُهّالُ بِالتَقليدِ
The learned recognize your excellence through knowledge,
and the ignorant affirm it by imitation.
Sol 6.1