كُفّيcease المَلامَةَthe reproach أَوor دوميpersist عَلىin العَذَلِblame
كُفّي المَلامَةَ أَو دومي عَلى العَذَلِ
ماnot اللَومُreproach أَلثَرُchief (unclear reading) هِمّاتيmy concerns وَلاnor شُغُليmy occupation
ما اللَومُ أَلثَرُ هِمّاتي وَلا شُغُلي
Cease your reproaches, or persist in blame.
Reproach is not my chief concern, nor my occupation.
لَوif ذُقتِyou tasted ماwhat ذُقتُهُI tasted it مِنof حَرِّheat of بَينِهِمِparting from them
لَو ذُقتِ ما ذُقتُهُ مِن حَرِّ بَينِهِمِ
لَكُنتِyou would surely be فيin شُغُلٍpreoccupation عَنّيaway from me وَعَنand from عَذَليreproaching me
لَكُنتِ في شُغُلٍ عَنّي وَعَن عَذَلي
Had you tasted what I tasted of the heat of parting from them,
You would be too preoccupied for me and for reproaching me.
هَذيthese دِيارُهُمُtheir dwellings تُنبيكِtell you أَنَّهُمُthat they
هَذي دِيارُهُمُ تُنبيكِ أَنَّهُمُ
أَيديscattered bands of سَباSaba بَينَbetween مُحتَلٍّone settling وَمُرتَحِلِand one departing
أَيدي سَبا بَينَ مُحتَلٍّ وَمُرتَحِلِ
These are their dwellings, telling you that they
Are scattered like Saba, some settling, others departing.
أَخلَتemptied مَعالِمَهُمtheir landmarks مِنهُمof them نَوىًseparation غَمَرَتflooded
أَخلَت مَعالِمَهُم مِنهُم نَوىً غَمَرَت
حَشايَmy inmost heart مِنwith كَمَدٍgrief آنٍsearing وَمِنand with خَبَلِderangement
حَشايَ مِن كَمَدٍ آنٍ وَمِن خَبَلِ
Separation emptied their landmarks of them, and flooded
My inmost heart with searing grief and derangement.
لَمّاwhen عَفَتthey faded جَدَّدَتthey renewed شَوقيmy longing فَجَدَّدَهاso renewed them
لَمّا عَفَت جَدَّدَت شَوقي فَجَدَّدَها
دَمعٌtears تَرَقرَقَshimmered مِنof جارٍflowing وَمُنهَمِلِand pouring down
دَمعٌ تَرَقرَقَ مِن جارٍ وَمُنهَمِلِ
When they faded, they renewed my longing; they in turn were renewed
By tears that shimmered, streaming and pouring down.
وَماand nothing اِستَدَرَّتdrew milk from جُفونُeyelids of العَينِthe eye إِذwhen بَكَأَتthey ran dry
وَما اِستَدَرَّت جُفونُ العَينِ إِذ بَكَأَت
أَخلافَteats of دِرَّتِهاtheir milk-flow كَالنُؤيِlike the camp-ditch وَالطَلَلِand the ruined dwelling
أَخلافَ دِرَّتِها كَالنُؤيِ وَالطَلَلِ
Nothing makes eyelids, once dry, yield again
The milk of their teats like the camp-ditch and the ruins.
ياO دِمنَةًabandoned campsite أَحدَثَتmade مِنهاof it النَوىseparation دِمَناًruins
يا دِمنَةً أَحدَثَت مِنها النَوى دِمَناً
أَخلَتemptied مَرابِعَهاits spring abodes قَفراًdesolate مِنَof الغَزَلِlove-talk
أَخلَت مَرابِعَها قَفراً مِنَ الغَزَلِ
O campsite, which separation has turned into ruins,
Leaving its spring abodes desolate, emptied of love-talk.
إِنَّindeed الأُلىthose who اِحتَمَلواdeparted أَبقىleft behind اِحتِمالَهُمُtheir departure
إِنَّ الأُلى اِحتَمَلوا أَبقى اِحتِمالَهُمُ
فيin القَلبِthe heart قاطِنَabiding شَوقٍlonging غَيرَnot مُحتَمَلِbearable
في القَلبِ قاطِنَ شَوقٍ غَيرَ مُحتَمَلِ
Indeed, those who departed—their departure has left
Within the heart an abiding longing beyond bearing.
وَفيand in الأَكِلَّةِthe canopies مِنfrom تَحتِbeneath الأَجِلَّةِthe coverings أَمlikenesses (first fragment)
وَفي الأَكِلَّةِ مِن تَحتِ الأَجِلَّةِ أَم
ثالُlikenesses (final fragment) الأَهِلَّةِthe crescents بَينَbetween السَجفِthe drape وَالكِلَلِand the curtains
ثالُ الأَهِلَّةِ بَينَ السَجفِ وَالكِلَلِ
And within the canopies, beneath the coverings, are
Likenesses of crescents, between drapery and curtains.
أُدمٌpale antelopes أَوانِسُgentle; companionable كَالأُدمِlike pale antelopes الكَوانِسِsheltering in coverts أَوor
أُدمٌ أَوانِسُ كَالأُدمِ الكَوانِسِ أَو
دُمىstatues of الكَنائِسِchurches لَكِنbut لَسنَthey are not بِالعُطُلِunadorned
دُمى الكَنائِسِ لَكِن لَسنَ بِالعُطُلِ
Pale, gentle antelopes, like pale antelopes in their coverts, or
Statues in churches—yet they are not unadorned.
أَشبَهنَthey resembled مِنهُنَّof them أَعطافاًflanks وَأَجيِدَةًand necks
أَشبَهنَ مِنهُنَّ أَعطافاً وَأَجيِدَةً
وَالرَبرَبَand wild-cattle herds العينَwide-eyed فيin الأَحداقِthe pupils وَالكَحَلِand dark eye-rims
وَالرَبرَبَ العينَ في الأَحداقِ وَالكَحَلِ
They resemble those figures in flanks and necks,
And wide-eyed herds of wild cattle in pupils and dark eye-rims.
إِذاwhen السُجوفُthe curtains اِنفَرَتparted عَنfrom بيضِهاtheir fair women اِنحَسَرَتwere unveiled
إِذا السُجوفُ اِنفَرَت عَن بيضِها اِنحَسَرَت
مِنَfrom السُجوفِthe curtains حُتوفُdeaths dealt by اللَحظِglances وَالمُقَلِand eyes
مِنَ السُجوفِ حُتوفُ اللَحظِ وَالمُقَلِ
When the curtains part from their fair women, there emerge
From the curtains the deaths dealt by glances and eyes.
ماnot اِرتادَsought out مُرتادُthe scout of رَيبِcalamities of الدَهرِtime مِنany سَبَبٍmeans
ما اِرتادَ مُرتادُ رَيبِ الدَهرِ مِن سَبَبٍ
إِلىto النُفوسِsouls بِمِثلِlike الأَعيُنِthe eyes النُجُلِwide
إِلى النُفوسِ بِمِثلِ الأَعيُنِ النُجُلِ
No scout of Time's calamities has found a way
To souls like those wide eyes.
زينَتwas adorned بِخالِدٍby Khalid الدُنياthe world وَزينَتُهاand its adornment
زينَت بِخالِدٍ الدُنيا وَزينَتُها
وَأَبسَمَand smiled المُلكُsovereignty عَنwith عِزٍّglory وَعَنand with جَذَلِgladness
وَأَبسَمَ المُلكُ عَن عِزٍّ وَعَن جَذَلِ
The world and its adornment are adorned by Khalid,
And sovereignty smiles with glory and delight.
سَيفٌa sword مِنَfrom اللَهِGod لَمnot يُهزَزwas brandished لِمُعضِلَةٍagainst a difficulty
سَيفٌ مِنَ اللَهِ لَم يُهزَز لِمُعضِلَةٍ
إِلّاexcept that اِنفَرَتit split apart قِطَعاًin pieces عَنaway from أَنهُجِclear courses of السُبُلِthe paths
إِلّا اِنفَرَت قِطَعاً عَن أَنهُجِ السُبُلِ
A sword from God, never brandished against a crisis
But the crisis broke into pieces, leaving the paths clear.
بِهِthrough him اِستَقَرَّstood firm عِمادُthe pillar of الدينِreligion وَاِنكَشَفَتand lifted
بِهِ اِستَقَرَّ عِمادُ الدينِ وَاِنكَشَفَت
عَنهُfrom it الدُجىthe darkness وَهيَwhile it بَينَbetween الدَحضِslipping وَالزَلَلِand stumbling
عَنهُ الدُجى وَهيَ بَينَ الدَحضِ وَالزَلَلِ
Through him religion's pillar stood firm, and darkness fled
From it, amid slipping and stumbling.
إِذاwhen اِكتَسىclothed himself المَلِكُthe king الجَبّارُtyrannical أُبَّهَةًpomp
إِذا اِكتَسى المَلِكُ الجَبّارُ أُبَّهَةً
غَشّاهُhe clothed him بِالسَيفِwith the sword ثَوبَa robe of الذُلِّhumiliation وَالخَمَلِand obscurity
غَشّاهُ بِالسَيفِ ثَوبَ الذُلِّ وَالخَمَلِ
When a tyrannical king clothes himself in pomp,
With the sword he clothes him in a robe of humiliation and obscurity.
كَمhow many مارِقٍa rebel مَرَقَتpierced فيهِthrough him أَسِنَّتُهُhis spearheads
كَم مارِقٍ مَرَقَت فيهِ أَسِنَّتُهُ
وَالمَوتُwhile death يَصدُرُreturns from drinking عَنfrom عِلٍّa second draught وَعَنand from نَهَلِa first draught
وَالمَوتُ يَصدُرُ عَن عِلٍّ وَعَن نَهَلِ
How many a rebel his spearheads have pierced,
While death returns from drinking, once and again.
وَناكِثٍand an oath-breaker نَكَثَتbroke away فيover الدينِthe faith أُسرَتُهُhis clan
وَناكِثٍ نَكَثَت في الدينِ أُسرَتُهُ
عَنهُfrom him وَقَدwhile already نَشِبَتhad lodged فيهِin him شَباpoints of الأَسَلِthe lances
عَنهُ وَقَد نَشِبَت فيهِ شَبا الأَسَلِ
And many an oath-breaker whose clan, over the faith, broke away
From him, when spearpoints had already lodged in him.
لَمّاwhen رَأىhe saw خيلَهُhis cavalry تُزجيdriving along سَحابَa cloud of رَدىًdeath
لَمّا رَأى خيلَهُ تُزجي سَحابَ رَدىً
يَنهَلُّpours down هَيدَبُهاits trailing fringe بِالصَيِّبِwith the downpour الخَضِلِdrenching
يَنهَلُّ هَيدَبُها بِالصَيِّبِ الخَضِلِ
When he saw his cavalry driving a cloud of death,
Its fringes streaming with drenching rain,
فيin مَوضِعٍa place ضَنِكٍconstricted تُمسيbecome مَعاقِلُهُhis strongholds
في مَوضِعٍ ضَنِكٍ تُمسي مَعاقِلُهُ
إِذاwhen اِسبَطَرَّstretched out شِهابُthe meteor of المَوتِdeath كَالعُقُلِlike fetters
إِذا اِسبَطَرَّ شِهابُ المَوتِ كَالعُقُلِ
In a narrow place where his strongholds become,
When death's meteor streaks out, like fetters.
تَغدوgo forth at dawn أَسِنَّتُهُhis spearheads زُرقاًblue فَيَكحَلُهاand he kohls them
تَغدو أَسِنَّتُهُ زُرقاً فَيَكحَلُها
يَومَon the day of الكَريهَةِbattle فيin اءَحداقِpupils (irregular spelling) وَالكَحَلِand kohl
يَومَ الكَريهَةِ في اءَحداقِ وَالكَحَلِ
His spearheads go forth blue; he paints them with kohl
On battle's day, amid pupils and kohl [wording unclear].
إِذاwhen اِنتَضىhe unsheathed السَيفَthe sword يَومَon the day of الرَوعِterror أَغمَدَهُhe sheathed it
إِذا اِنتَضى السَيفَ يَومَ الرَوعِ أَغمَدَهُ
مُخَضَّباًdyed مِنwith دَمِblood of الأَعداءِthe enemies فيin القُلَلِheads
مُخَضَّباً مِن دَمِ الأَعداءِ في القُلَلِ
When he draws the sword on terror's day, he sheathes it
Dyed with the blood of enemies, in their heads.
فَإِنand if تَأَوَّدَتِbent الأَرماحُthe lances ثَقَّفَهاhe straightened them
فَإِن تَأَوَّدَتِ الأَرماحُ ثَقَّفَها
بِكاهِلٍagainst a shoulder بَطَلٍstalwart مِنof فارِسٍa horseman بَطَلِvaliant
بِكاهِلٍ بَطَلٍ مِن فارِسٍ بَطَلِ
And if the lances bend, he straightens them
Against the stalwart shoulder of a valiant horseman.
إِذاwhen اِغتَدىhe went forth at dawn اِغتَدَتِwent forth at dawn الآمالُthe hopes تَقدُمُهُpreceding him
إِذا اِغتَدى اِغتَدَتِ الآمالُ تَقدُمُهُ
إِلىtoward نُفوسِsouls of العِدىthe foes بِالخَبلِwith ruin وَالوَجَلِand dread
إِلى نُفوسِ العِدى بِالخَبلِ وَالوَجَلِ
When he goes forth at dawn, hopes go forth before him
Toward his enemies' souls, bringing ruin and dread.
إِذاwhen اِرتَدىwore بِنِجادِthe baldric of السَيفِthe sword عاتِقُهُhis shoulder
إِذا اِرتَدى بِنِجادِ السَيفِ عاتِقُهُ
قُلتَyou would say الحَمائِلُthe sword-straps قَدindeed نيطَتwere hung عَلىupon جَبَلِa mountain
قُلتَ الحَمائِلُ قَد نيطَت عَلى جَبَلِ
When his shoulder wears the sword's baldric,
You would say the straps were hung upon a mountain.
تَندىdrip مَناصِلُهُhis blades حَتفاًdeath وَراحَتُهُand his palm
تَندى مَناصِلُهُ حَتفاً وَراحَتُهُ
عُرفاًbounty يَفيضُflows كَفيضِlike the outpouring of امُسبِلِrain-shedding (unclear form) الوَبَلِheavy rain
عُرفاً يَفيضُ كَفيضِ امُسبِلِ الوَبَلِ
His blades drip death, and his palm
Bounty, pouring like a cloud shedding heavy rain.
تَبيتُspend the night أَعداؤُهُhis enemies تُطوىfolded up عَلىaround وَجَلٍfear
تَبيتُ أَعداؤُهُ تُطوى عَلى وَجَلٍ
مِنهُof him وَأَموالُهُand his riches تُطوىfolded up عَلىaround وَجَلِfear
مِنهُ وَأَموالُهُ تُطوى عَلى وَجَلِ
His enemies pass the night folded about fear
Of him; his riches too are folded about fear.
غَيثُrain for العُفاةِthe petitioners وَفَكّاكُand liberator of العُناةِthe captives وَقَتand slayer (first fragment)
غَيثُ العُفاةِ وَفَكّاكُ العُناةِ وَقَت
تالُslayer (final fragment) العُداةِthe enemies غَداةَon the morning of الرَوعِterror وَالوَهَلِand alarm
تالُ العُداةِ غَداةَ الرَوعِ وَالوَهَلِ
Rain for petitioners, liberator of captives, and
Slayer of foes on the morning of terror and alarm.
أَغَرُّradiant لَيسَthere is not لَهُfor him فيin البَأسِvalor مِنany مَثَلٍequal
أَغَرُّ لَيسَ لَهُ في البَأسِ مِن مَثَلٍ
وَلاnor لَهُfor him فيin النَدىgenerosity وَالجودِand bounty مِنany مَثَلِequal
وَلا لَهُ في النَدى وَالجودِ مِن مَثَلِ
Radiant, with no equal in valor,
Nor any equal in generosity and bounty.
بِسَيفِهِby his sword أَصبَحَhas become الإِسلامُIslam وَهوَwhile it is حِمىًa protected sanctuary
بِسَيفِهِ أَصبَحَ الإِسلامُ وَهوَ حِمىً
راضٍcontent عَنِwith المُلكِkingship وَالإِسلامِand Islam وَالدُوَلِand the dynasties
راضٍ عَنِ المُلكِ وَالإِسلامِ وَالدُوَلِ
By his sword Islam, itself a guarded sanctuary, has become
Content with kingship, Islam, and the dynasties.
لَولاwere it not for نَداهُhis bounty وَلَولاand were it not for سَيفُthe sword of نِقمَتِهِhis vengeance
لَولا نَداهُ وَلَولا سَيفُ نِقمَتِهِ
دارَتwould turn رَحىthe mill of الدينِreligion وَالدُنياand the world عَلىupon ثَكَلِbereavement
دارَت رَحى الدينِ وَالدُنيا عَلى ثَكَلِ
Were it not for his bounty and the sword of his vengeance,
The mill of faith and the world would turn upon bereavement.
وَلاand no تُمَدُّis stretched يَدٌa hand يَوماًever إِلىtoward طَمَعٍhope
وَلا تُمَدُّ يَدٌ يَوماً إِلى طَمَعٍ
وَلاnor ثَنَتهاbent it back أَكُفُّthe hands of اليَأسِdespair بِالشَلَلِwith paralysis
وَلا ثَنَتها أَكُفُّ اليَأسِ بِالشَلَلِ
And no hand is ever stretched toward hope,
Nor have despair's hands bent it back with paralysis.
إِذاwhen تَصَعَّبَتِgrew unruly الأَيّامُthe days قَلَّدَهاhe collared them
إِذا تَصَعَّبَتِ الأَيّامُ قَلَّدَها
رَأياًwith judgment يَرُدُّturns back شَباsharp points of الأَيّامِthe days عَنin a state of فَلَلِblunting; defeat
رَأياً يَرُدُّ شَبا الأَيّامِ عَن فَلَلِ
When the days grow unruly, he collars them
With judgment that sends back the days' sharp points blunted.
تَبيتُspend the night أَعيُنُthe eyes of صَرفِvicissitudes of الدَهرِtime قاذِيَةًmote-filled
تَبيتُ أَعيُنُ صَرفِ الدَهرِ قاذِيَةً
بِالعِزِّby might مِنfrom دونِهِbefore him تُغضيlower their gaze عَلىwith قَبَلِa squint
بِالعِزِّ مِن دونِهِ تُغضي عَلى قَبَلِ
The eyes of Time's vicissitudes spend the night mote-filled
By his might, downcast before him and squinting.
مازالَhas always يَملِكُpossessed وَفراًabundant wealth غَيرَnot مُدَّخِرٍhoarded
مازالَ يَملِكُ وَفراً غَيرَ مُدَّخِرٍ
عَنِfrom العُفاةِthe petitioners وَعِرضاًand honor غَيرَnot مُبتَذَلِdebased
عَنِ العُفاةِ وَعِرضاً غَيرَ مُبتَذَلِ
He has ever possessed abundant wealth, not withheld
From petitioners, and honor never debased.
يَكادُalmost يَعلَمُhe knows ماwhat تُخفيconceal الصُدورُbreasts مِنَof الthe (word fragment)
يَكادُ يَعلَمُ ما تُخفي الصُدورُ مِنَ ال
آمالِhopes حَتّىso much so that لَقَدindeed أَجدىhe bestowed gifts وَلَمand was not يُسَلِasked
آمالِ حَتّى لَقَد أَجدى وَلَم يُسَلِ
He almost knows what breasts conceal of
Hopes—indeed, he has given without being asked.
إِذاwhen رَأَيتَyou see عَطاياهُhis gifts وَنائِلَهُand his largesse
إِذا رَأَيتَ عَطاياهُ وَنائِلَهُ
خِلتَyou would think السَماحَةَgenerosity لَمhas not تُفقَدbeen lost وَلَمand has not تُزَلِbeen removed
خِلتَ السَماحَةَ لَم تُفقَد وَلَم تُزَلِ
When you see his gifts and his largesse,
You think generosity has never been lost or swept away.
إِذاwhen الخُطوبُcalamities اِمتَرَتmilked أَخلافَthe teats of دِرَّتِهِhis milk-flow
إِذا الخُطوبُ اِمتَرَت أَخلافَ دِرَّتِهِ
دَرَّتthey flowed بِخِلفَينِthrough two teats مِنof شَريٍcolocynth وَمِنand of عَسَلِhoney
دَرَّت بِخِلفَينِ مِن شَريٍ وَمِن عَسَلِ
When calamities milk the teats of his flow,
They flow through two teats, with colocynth and honey.
حَلَّتunfastened رِكابُthe camels of العُلاhigh rank وَالمَجدِand glory أَرحُلَهاtheir saddles
حَلَّت رِكابُ العُلا وَالمَجدِ أَرحُلَها
بِهِwith him وَشالَتand departed رِكابُthe camels of البُخلِmiserliness بِالبَخَلِbearing miserliness
بِهِ وَشالَت رِكابُ البُخلِ بِالبَخَلِ
The camels of high rank and glory have unfastened their saddles
At his side, while miserliness's camels depart bearing miserliness.
فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday لَهُhe has وَعدٌa promise يُحَقِّقُهُhe fulfills it
في كُلِّ يَومٍ لَهُ وَعدٌ يُحَقِّقُهُ
حَتّىuntil يُقَطِّعَhe tears apart قَلبَthe heart of المَطلِdelay وَالعِلَلِand excuses
حَتّى يُقَطِّعَ قَلبَ المَطلِ وَالعِلَلِ
Each day he has a promise he fulfills,
Until he tears apart the heart of delay and excuses.
لِخالِدِfor Khalid بنِson of يَزيدٍYazid بِكرُa maiden مَكرُمَةٍdeed of honor
لِخالِدِ بنِ يَزيدٍ بِكرُ مَكرُمَةٍ
لَوif رامَsought هادِيَهُhis guide العَيّوقَal-ʿAyyuq لَمnot يَنَلِhe would attain
لَو رامَ هادِيَهُ العَيّوقَ لَم يَنَلِ
Khalid ibn Yazid possesses a maiden deed of honor,
Were his guide to seek al-ʿAyyuq, he would not attain it.
أَرسىset firm قَواعِدَهُhis foundations مَعنُMaʿn بنُson of زائِدَةٍZaʾida
أَرسى قَواعِدَهُ مَعنُ بنُ زائِدَةٍ
فيin باذِخٍa towering مِنfrom شَواةِthe crown of النَجمِthe star مُحتَلَلِdwelling
في باذِخٍ مِن شَواةِ النَجمِ مُحتَلَلِ
Maʿn ibn Zaʾida set his foundations firm
In a towering dwelling at the star's crown.
إِذاwhen سَراياthe squadrons of عَطاياهُhis gifts سَرَتmarched by night أَسرَتthey captured
إِذا سَرايا عَطاياهُ سَرَت أَسرَت
يَدَthe hand of المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَاِستَغنَتand dispensed عَنِwith العُقُلِfetters
يَدَ المَكارِمِ وَاِستَغنَت عَنِ العُقُلِ
When the squadrons of his gifts march by night, they capture
The hand of noble deeds, and have no need of fetters.
لَمnot يَغزُhas raided ساحَتَهُhis courtyard راجٍone hoping for سَماحَتَهُhis generosity
لَم يَغزُ ساحَتَهُ راجٍ سَماحَتَهُ
يَوماًon any day فَيَرجِعُand returned إِلّاexcept غانِمِladen with spoils القَفَلِthe homeward journey
يَوماً فَيَرجِعُ إِلّا غانِمِ القَفَلِ
No seeker of his bounty has raided his courtyard
On any day and returned, save laden with homeward spoils.
كَأَنَّهُas though he وَبَنوand the sons of شَيبانَShayban تَكنُفُهُsurrounding him
كَأَنَّهُ وَبَنو شَيبانَ تَكنُفُهُ
بَدرٌa full moon بَداappeared فيamong نُجومِstars of السَعدِgood fortune بِالكَمَلِin full array
بَدرٌ بَدا في نُجومِ السَعدِ بِالكَمَلِ
As though he, with Banu Shayban surrounding him,
Were a full moon risen among auspicious stars in full array.
أَحياrevived يَزيدَYazid بِعُرفٍthrough bounty مِنamong مَآثِرِهِhis glorious deeds
أَحيا يَزيدَ بِعُرفٍ مِن مَآثِرِهِ
أَحيَتrevived مَآثِرَthe glories مِنof آبائِهِhis forefathers الأُوَلُthe earliest
أَحيَت مَآثِرَ مِن آبائِهِ الأُوَلُ
He revived Yazid through bounty among his glorious deeds,
Which revived the glories of his forefathers of old.
Sol 6.1