رَأىhe saw البَرقَthe lightning مُجتازاًpassing by فَباتَso he spent the night بِلاwithout لُبٍّreason
رَأى البَرقَ مُجتازاً فَباتَ بِلا لُبٍّ
وَأَصباهُand enraptured him مِنfrom ذِكرِremembrance of البَخيلَةِthe withholding beloved ماwhat يُصبيawakens longing
وَأَصباهُ مِن ذِكرِ البَخيلَةِ ما يُصبي
He saw the lightning passing and spent the night bereft of reason.
He saw the lightning flashing by, so he spent the night sleepless,
And memories of the withholding beloved awakened his longing.
And the thought of the miserly one filled him with sorrow.
وَقَدand already عاجَturned aside فيamong أَطلالِهاher ruins غَيرَnot مُمسِكٍrestraining
وَقَد عاجَ في أَطلالِها غَيرَ مُمسِكٍ
لِدَمعٍof tears وَلاnor مُصغٍheeding إِلىto عَذَلِthe reproaches of الرَكبِthe riders
لِدَمعٍ وَلا مُصغٍ إِلى عَذَلِ الرَكبِ
And he had turned aside among her ruins, not restraining
He lingered in her ruins, unconsoled,
His tears, nor heeding the riders' reproaches.
Neither shedding a tear, nor heeding the caravan's rebuke.
وَكُنتُand I was جَديراًdeserving حينَwhen أَعرِفُI recognize مَنزِلاًa dwelling
وَكُنتُ جَديراً حينَ أَعرِفُ مَنزِلاً
لِآلِof the kin of سُلَيمىSulayma أَنthat يُعَنِّفَنيthey rebuke me صَحبيmy companions
لِآلِ سُلَيمى أَن يُعَنِّفَني صَحبي
And I deserved, whenever I recognized a dwelling
When I recognized her abode,
Of Sulayma's kin, to be rebuked by my companions.
I deserved that my friends reproach me,
عَدَتناkept us away عَواديthe hardships of البُعدِdistance عَنهاfrom her وَزادَناand increased us
عَدَتنا عَوادي البُعدِ عَنها وَزادَنا
بِهاfor her كَلَفاًpassion أَنَّthat الوَداعَthe farewell عَلىamid عَتبِreproach
بِها كَلَفاً أَنَّ الوَداعَ عَلى عَتبِ
Distance's hardships kept us from her, and deepened
Our frequent journeys away from her increased
Our passion for her, since our farewell was tinged with reproach.
The burden of leave-taking upon the threshold.
وَلَمand did not أَكتَسِبI commit ذَنباًa fault فَتَجزِيَنيso she might punish me بِهِfor it
وَلَم أَكتَسِب ذَنباً فَتَجزِيَني بِهِ
وَلَمand did not أَجتَرِمI perpetrate جُرماًan offense فَتُعتَبَso she might receive redress مِنfor ذَنبِa fault
وَلَم أَجتَرِم جُرماً فَتُعتَبَ مِن ذَنبِ
I had committed no fault for her to punish me for,
I committed no crime that you should punish me for it,
Nor committed an offense for which she might receive redress.
Nor did I sin, that you should blame me.
وَبيand in me ظَمَأٌa thirst لاnot يَملِكُcan الماءُthe water دَفعَهُdispelling it
وَبي ظَمَأٌ لا يَملِكُ الماءُ دَفعَهُ
إِلىfor نَهلَةٍa draught مِنof ريقِهاher saliva الخَصِرِcool العَذبِsweet
إِلى نَهلَةٍ مِن ريقِها الخَصِرِ العَذبِ
And I have a thirst that water cannot quench,
I suffer from thirst that only the water of her mouth could quench
For a draught of her cool, sweet saliva.
At the pool of her slender waist’s sweet draft.
تَزَوَّدتَyou provisioned yourself مِنهاfrom her نَظرَةًa glance لَمdid not تَجُدshe was generous بِهاwith it
تَزَوَّدتَ مِنها نَظرَةً لَم تَجُد بِها
وَقَدand sometimes يُؤخَذُis taken العِلقُthe treasure المُمَنَّعُwell-guarded بِالغَصبِby force
وَقَد يُؤخَذُ العِلقُ المُمَنَّعُ بِالغَصبِ
You provisioned yourself with a glimpse of her that she did not grant,
You have provisioned yourself with a glance that did not sate you,
And a well-guarded treasure may be seized by force.
Yet the forbidden temptation may be seized by force.
وَماand not كانَwas حَظُّthe share of العَينِthe eye فيin ذاكَthat مَذهَبيmy aim
وَما كانَ حَظُّ العَينِ في ذاكَ مَذهَبي
وَلَكِنand yet رَأَيتُI saw العَينَthe eye باباًa doorway إِلىto القَلبِthe heart
وَلَكِن رَأَيتُ العَينَ باباً إِلى القَلبِ
And the eye's pleasure was not my aim in that;
It was not my intention, but I saw the eye as a gateway to the heart.
Rather, I saw the eye as a doorway to the heart.
I implore you not to complain of a youth’s passion,
أُعيدُكِI would protect you (apparently أُعيذكِ) أَنlest تُمنىyou be afflicted بِشَكوِwith the complaint of صَبابَةٍyearning
أُعيدُكِ أَن تُمنى بِشَكوِ صَبابَةٍ
وَإِنand even if أَكسَبَتناit won us مِنكِfrom you عَطفاًsympathy عَلىfor الصَبِّthe lovesick lover
وَإِن أَكسَبَتنا مِنكِ عَطفاً عَلى الصَبِّ
I would spare you the affliction of longing's complaint,
Even if your kindness towards my passion gives me life.
Even if it won us your tenderness toward the lovesick lover.
It saddens me that you recognize love through coquetry,
وَيُحزِنُنيand saddens me أَنthat تَعرِفيyou know الحُبَّlove بِالجَوىthrough anguish
وَيُحزِنُني أَن تَعرِفي الحُبَّ بِالجَوى
وَإِنand even if نَفَعَتناit benefited us مِنكِfrom you مَعرِفَةُknowledge of الحُبِّlove
وَإِن نَفَعَتنا مِنكِ مَعرِفَةُ الحُبِّ
And it saddens me that you should know love through anguish,
Even if your knowing love benefits me.
Even if your knowledge of love were to benefit us.
I refuse to humble myself before my brethren
أَبَيتُI refused عَلىtoward الإِخوانِfriends إِلّاanything but تَحَنِّياًtenderness
أَبَيتُ عَلى الإِخوانِ إِلّا تَحَنِّياً
يَلينُgrows gentle لَهُمtoward them عِطفيmy side وَيَصفوand becomes clear لَهُمfor them شِربيmy drink
يَلينُ لَهُم عِطفي وَيَصفو لَهُم شِربي
Toward my friends I have insisted on tenderness alone;
Except with a humility that gentles my compassion for them.
My side is gentle toward them, and my drink is clear for them.
When my friends find fault with me, I keep them close,
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَأَستَبقيsurely preserve الصَديقَthe friend إِذاwhen نَباturns harsh
وَإِنّي لَأَستَبقي الصَديقَ إِذا نَبا
عَلَيَّagainst me وَأَهنواand I salve (unclear form) مِنamong خَلائِقِهِhis traits الجُربِthe mangy ones
عَلَيَّ وَأَهنوا مِن خَلائِقِهِ الجُربِ
And I do keep my friend, even when he turns harshly
And I overlook their reprehensible traits.
Against me, and salve his mangy traits.
Who will inform the miser that I have given up hope
فَمَنso who مُبلِغٌwill convey عَنّيon my behalf البَخيلَto the miser بِأَنَّنيthat I
فَمَن مُبلِغٌ عَنّي البَخيلَ بِأَنَّني
حَطَطتُI lowered رَجائيmy hope مِنهُfrom him عَنoff مَركَبٍa mount صَعبِunruly
حَطَطتُ رَجائي مِنهُ عَن مَركَبٍ صَعبِ
Who will tell the miser on my behalf that I
Of boarding his unassailable ship?
Have brought down my hope in him from an unruly mount,
The son of a dinar has turned my aspirations
وَأَنَّand that اِبنَIbn (son of) دينارٍDinar ثَنىturned وَجهَthe face of هِمَّتيmy ambition
وَأَنَّ اِبنَ دينارٍ ثَنى وَجهَ هِمَّتي
إِلىtoward الخُلُقِcharacter الفَضفاضِexpansive وَالنائِلِand bounty النَهبِfree for the taking
إِلى الخُلُقِ الفَضفاضِ وَالنائِلِ النَهبِ
And that Ibn Dinar turned the face of my ambition
To loose morals and plunder.
Toward an expansive character and bounty free for the taking?
I hoped only for generosity from him,
فَلَمso did not أَملَI fill إِلّاexcept مِنfrom مَوَدَّتِهِhis affection يَديmy hand
فَلَم أَملَ إِلّا مِن مَوَدَّتِهِ يَدي
وَلاand did not قُلتُI say إِلّاexcept مِنof مَواهِبِهِhis gifts حَسبيenough for me
وَلا قُلتُ إِلّا مِن مَواهِبِهِ حَسبي
So I filled my hand with nothing but his affection,
And claimed no merit but his bounty.
And only of his gifts have I said, 'Enough for me.'
I encountered the limits of time in him, so I rejected him,
لَقيتُI confronted بِهِwith him حَدَّthe edge of الزَمانِtime فَفَلَّهُso he blunted it
لَقيتُ بِهِ حَدَّ الزَمانِ فَفَلَّهُ
وَقَدand sometimes يَثلِمُcuts a notch العَضبُthe keen sword المُهَنَّدُIndian-forged فيin العَضبِthe keen sword
وَقَد يَثلِمُ العَضبُ المُهَنَّدُ في العَضبِ
I met the edge of time with him, and he blunted it;
For rancor may fester even in the tolerant.
And a keen, Indian-forged sword may notch another keen sword.
A noble one, when the vile crowd in,
كَريمُgenerous إِذاwhen ضاقَgrew narrow-hearted اللِئامُthe base فَإِنَّهُthen indeed he
كَريمُ إِذا ضاقَ اللِئامُ فَإِنَّهُ
يَضيقُis cramped الفَضاءُthe expanse الرَحبُwide فيin صَدرِهِhis breast الرَحبِspacious
يَضيقُ الفَضاءُ الرَحبُ في صَدرِهِ الرَحبِ
A generous man: when the base grow narrow-hearted,
Finds the spacious heavens too cramped for his expansive heart.
Even the wide expanse is cramped within his spacious breast.
When the rabble weigh down the saddle of his steed,
إِذاwhen أَثقَلَweighed down الهِلباجُthe hulking fool أَحناءَthe curves of سَرجِهِhis saddle
إِذا أَثقَلَ الهِلباجُ أَحناءَ سَرجِهِ
غَداwent forth طِرفُهُhis noble steed يَختالُprances proudly بِالمُرهَفِwith the slender one الضَربِlean
غَدا طِرفُهُ يَختالُ بِالمُرهَفِ الضَربِ
When a hulking fool weighs down the curves of his saddle,
His glance begins to dart with the quick-drawn sword.
The generous man's steed prances beneath its slender, lean rider.
The eastern folk warned each other about his feats of valor,
تَناذَرَwarned one another أَهلُthe people of الشَرقِthe East مِنهُfrom him وَقائِعاًbattles
تَناذَرَ أَهلُ الشَرقِ مِنهُ وَقائِعاً
أَطاعَsubmitted لَهاbefore them العاصونَthe rebels فيin بَلَدِthe land of الغَربِthe West
أَطاعَ لَها العاصونَ في بَلَدِ الغَربِ
The people of the East warned one another of his battles,
And even the rebels in western lands obeyed.
Before which rebels in the western land submitted.
He unsheathed the blade of his sword until the bloodied crowds
لَجَرَّدَhe indeed bared نَصلَthe blade of السَيفِthe sword حَتّىuntil تَفَرَّقَتthey scattered
لَجَرَّدَ نَصلَ السَيفِ حَتّى تَفَرَّقَت
عَنِaway from السَيفِthe sword مَخضوباًblood-stained جُموعُthe hosts of أَبيAbu (father of) حَربِHarb
عَنِ السَيفِ مَخضوباً جُموعُ أَبي حَربِ
He indeed bared the sword's blade until they scattered—
Fled from the sword of my fearless father.
Abu Harb's hosts—from the blood-stained sword.
If the cave-dwellers ever think again
فَإِنand if هَمَّcontemplated أَهلُthe people of الغَورِthe lowlands يَوماًone day بِعَودَةٍreturning
فَإِن هَمَّ أَهلُ الغَورِ يَوماً بِعَودَةٍ
إِلىto الغَيِّwaywardness مِنout of طُغيانِهِمtheir arrogance فَهوَthen he بِالقُربِis nearby
إِلى الغَيِّ مِن طُغيانِهِم فَهوَ بِالقُربِ
And if the people of the lowlands one day think of returning
Of returning to their oppression, ruin is near.
To waywardness in their arrogance, he is close at hand.
I swear the enemies submitted and the blades
حَلَفتُI swore لَقَدcertainly دانَsubmitted الأَبِيُّthe defiant one وَأُغمِدَتand was sheathed
حَلَفتُ لَقَد دانَ الأَبِيُّ وَأُغمِدَت
شَذاةُthe galley of عَظيمِthe ruler of الرومِthe Romans مِنbecause of عِظَمِthe gravity of الخَطبِthe crisis
شَذاةُ عَظيمِ الرومِ مِن عِظَمِ الخَطبِ
I swear: the defiant submitted, and into its sheath went
Of Rome’s mighty were sheathed, faced with dire straits.
The Roman ruler's galley, so grave was the crisis.
I will compel them to take the right path, dreading
وَأَلزَمُهُمand compelled them قَصدَthe straight course of السَبيلِthe path حِذارُهُمtheir fear
وَأَلزَمُهُم قَصدَ السَبيلِ حِذارُهُم
لِتِلكَof those السَوافيdust-driving winds مِنfrom زَعازِعِهِhis storm-winds النُكبِcross-blowing
لِتِلكَ السَوافي مِن زَعازِعِهِ النُكبِ
And their fear compelled them to keep the straight path—
Those calamities and the possibility of their doom.
Fear of those dust-driving blasts from his stormy crosswinds.
A director of wars who never wavers when war flares up,
مُدَبِّرُa strategist of حَربٍwar لَمnever يَبِتspent the night عِندَin غِرَّةٍheedlessness
مُدَبِّرُ حَربٍ لَم يَبِت عِندَ غِرَّةٍ
وَلَمand did not يَسرِcreep فيthrough أَحشائِهِhis entrails وَهَلُthe alarm of الرُعبِterror
وَلَم يَسرِ في أَحشائِهِ وَهَلُ الرُعبِ
A strategist of war who never spent a night off guard,
And never feels fear stir in his heart.
Nor did terror's alarm creep through his entrails.
He is restless with yearning for the battle,
وَيُقلِقُهُand unsettles him شَوقٌlonging إِلىfor القِرنِthe opponent مُعجِلٌurgent
وَيُقلِقُهُ شَوقٌ إِلى القِرنِ مُعجِلٌ
لَدىduring الطَعنِspear-thrusting حَتّىuntil يَستَريحَhe finds relief إِلىin الضَربِsword-strokes
لَدى الطَعنِ حَتّى يَستَريحَ إِلى الضَربِ
And an urgent longing for his opponent keeps him restless
Until he finds peace in the fury of striking.
Amid spear-thrusts, until he finds relief in sword-strokes.
Through him, the world shone light for us after darkness,
أَضاءَتshone بِهِthrough him الدُنياthe world لَناfor us بَعدَafter ظُلمَةٍdarkness
أَضاءَت بِهِ الدُنيا لَنا بَعدَ ظُلمَةٍ
وَأَجلَتand unveiled لَناfor us الأَيّامُthe days عَنfrom خُلُقٍa disposition رَطبِtender
وَأَجلَت لَنا الأَيّامُ عَن خُلُقٍ رَطبِ
Through him the world shone for us after darkness,
And the days yielded to us from unripe habits.
And the days revealed to us a tender disposition.
Abdullah continues to be clothed in fine qualities,
وَمازالَand has continued عَبدُAbd (servant of) اللَهِAllah يُكسىto be clothed in شَمائِلاًqualities
وَمازالَ عَبدُ اللَهِ يُكسى شَمائِلاً
يَقُمنَthey occupy مَقامَthe place of النَورِblossoms فيin ناضِرِfresh العُشبِgrass
يَقُمنَ مَقامَ النَورِ في ناضِرِ العُشبِ
And Abd Allah has ever been clothed in qualities
That stand in for light in the verdant meadows.
That take the place of blossoms amid fresh green grass.
A youth made lofty through humility, struggling
وَفَتىًand a young man يَتَعالىrises high بِالتَواضُعِthrough humility جاهِداًstriving
وَفَتىً يَتَعالى بِالتَواضُعِ جاهِداً
وَيَعجَبُand marvels مِنat أَهلِpeople of المَخيلَةِarrogance وَالعُجبِand conceit
وَيَعجَبُ مِن أَهلِ المَخيلَةِ وَالعُجبِ
And a young man who strives to rise through humility,
And astonished at ostentatious, proud men.
And marvels at the people of arrogance and conceit.
He has ancestors from the house of Firuz who subdued
لَهُhe has سَلَفٌforebears مِنfrom آلِthe house of فَيروزَFayruz بَرَّزواthey excelled
لَهُ سَلَفٌ مِن آلِ فَيروزَ بَرَّزوا
عَلىabove العُجمِthe non-Arabs وَاِنقادَتand submitted لَهُمto them حَفلَةُthe throng of العُربِthe Arabs
عَلى العُجمِ وَاِنقادَت لَهُم حَفلَةُ العُربِ
He has forebears from the house of Fayruz who surpassed
The non-Arabs, and the throngs of Arabs submitted to them.
The non-Arabs, and the Arab throng submitted to them.
The guardians of the royal throne, who with it
مَرازِبَةُmarzbans (Persian governors) المُلكِof the kingdom الَّتيwho نَصَبَتerected بِهاthrough them
مَرازِبَةُ المُلكِ الَّتي نَصَبَت بِها
مَنابِرَهُits pulpits العُظمىgreat جَبابِرَةُthe titans of الحَربِwar
مَنابِرَهُ العُظمى جَبابِرَةُ الحَربِ
The kingdom's marzbans, through whom were raised
Erected their highest seats, titans of war.
Its mighty pulpits by the titans of war.
They thrust down from their towers with spears
يُكِبّونَthey bend down مِنfrom فَوقِabove القَرابيسِthe saddle-bows بِالقَناwith lances
يُكِبّونَ مِن فَوقِ القَرابيسِ بِالقَنا
وَبِالبيضِand with bright swords تَلقاهُمyou meet them قِياماًstanding عَلىon الرُكبِthe stirrups
وَبِالبيضِ تَلقاهُم قِياماً عَلى الرُكبِ
They lean down from above the saddle-bows with lances,
And they met them standing firmly in the saddles.
And with bright swords you meet them standing in their stirrups.
For them the palace of the ivory throne was built in Hormuz’s time,
لَهُمfor them بُنِيَwas built الإيوانُthe vaulted hall مِنfrom عَهدِthe time of هُرمُزٍHurmuz
لَهُم بُنِيَ الإيوانُ مِن عَهدِ هُرمُزٍ
وَأُحكِمَand was perfected طَبعُthe forging of الخُسرُوانِيَّةِKhosrowian القُضبِblades
وَأُحكِمَ طَبعُ الخُسرُوانِيَّةِ القُضبِ
For them the vaulted hall was built as early as Hurmuz's time,
And the stamp of the Khosrawanian dynasty was fortified.
And the forging of the Khosrowian blades was perfected.
The Sassanians challenged them in vain,
وَدارَتand revolved بَنوthe sons of ساسانَSasan طُرّاًall عَلَيهِمِaround them
وَدارَت بَنو ساسانَ طُرّاً عَلَيهِمِ
مَدارَlike the orbit of النُجومِthe stars السائِراتِmoving عَلىaround القُطبِthe pole
مَدارَ النُجومِ السائِراتِ عَلى القُطبِ
And all the sons of Sasan revolved around them,
Like the circuit of the stars around the celestial pole.
As the moving stars revolve around the pole.
They advanced with white banners, whiter than serpents’ bellies
مَضَواthey passed on بِالأَكُفِّwith palms البيضِwhite أَندىmoister مِنَthan الحَياrain
مَضَوا بِالأَكُفِّ البيضِ أَندى مِنَ الحَيا
بَلالاًin moisture وَبِالأَحلامِand with judgment أَوفىmore ample مِنَthan الهَضبِthe hills
بَلالاً وَبِالأَحلامِ أَوفى مِنَ الهَضبِ
They passed on with white palms, surpassing rain
And more loyal than mountain pacts.
In moisture, and with judgment more ample than the hills.
Partial English translation: 67 of 68 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1