يَزدادُgrows فيin غِيِّthe folly of الصِباyouth وَلَعُهhis infatuation
يَزدادُ في غِيِّ الصِبا وَلَعُه
فَكَأَنَّماso as though يُغريهِspurs him on مَنwhoever يَزَعُهrestrains him
فَكَأَنَّما يُغريهِ مَن يَزَعُه
His infatuation with the folly of youth grows,
His passion grows in youth's wildness
As though whoever restrains him only spurs him on.
As if what lures him onward makes him heedless.
وَإِذاand when تَقولُyou say الصَبرُpatience يَحجُزُهُholds him back
وَإِذا تَقولُ الصَبرُ يَحجُزُهُ
أَلوىmade away بِصَبرِwith the patience of مُتَيَّمٍa love-stricken man جَزَعُهhis anguish
أَلوى بِصَبرِ مُتَيَّمٍ جَزَعُه
And when you say, "Patience will restrain him,"
When patience would restrain him in his course,
His anguish sweeps away a love-stricken man's patience.
He turns impatient at her wise discourse.
وَلَقَدand indeed نَهىwarned لَوif كانَhe were مُنتَهِياًtaking heed
وَلَقَد نَهى لَو كانَ مُنتَهِياً
فَودٌa temple يُنازِعُvies with شَيبَهُits gray hair نَزَعُهits receding hairline
فَودٌ يُنازِعُ شَيبَهُ نَزَعُه
And indeed, he has been warned—if he would take heed—
He had obeyed her, if he were amenable;
By a temple where balding vies with gray hair.
A passion sways that does not hear or heed.
مالُبَثُhow long is the stay of رَيعانِthe bloom of الشَبابِyouth إِذاwhen
مالُبَثُ رَيعانِ الشَبابِ إِذا
نُذُرُthe portents of المَشيبِgray hair تَلاحَقَتcame in succession شُروعُهits onsets
نُذُرُ المَشيبِ تَلاحَقَت شُروعُه
How long can the bloom of youth endure, when
How short youth's summer, and the fruits it bore!
The portents of gray hair emerge in swift succession?
Signs of gray hair pursue him more and more.
وَالخَيبُand disappointment فيهِin it عَلىdespite نَقيضَتِهِits contrary nature
وَالخَيبُ فيهِ عَلى نَقيضَتِهِ
مَسلىthe solace of أَخيone afflicted with بَثٍّsorrow وَمُرتَدَعُهand his restraint
مَسلى أَخي بَثٍّ وَمُرتَدَعُه
Yet disappointment in it, paradoxically,
My solace for misfortune's opposite
Is a sorrowing man's solace and restraint.
Lies in what has afflicted men before,
بَرقٌlightning بِذيat Dhu سَلَمٍSalam يُؤَرِّقُنيkeeps me sleepless
بَرقٌ بِذي سَلَمٍ يُؤَرِّقُني
خَفَقانُهُits flickering وَتَشوقُنيand stir my longing لُمَعُهits flashes
خَفَقانُهُ وَتَشوقُني لُمَعُه
Lightning at Dhu Salam keeps me sleepless
A gleam from slender Salmá's lofty tower
With its flickering; its flashes stir my longing.
That wakes me, fascinates me with its power.
وَلَرُبَّand many a لَهوٍrevel قَدindeed أَشادَspoke in praise بِهِof it
وَلَرُبَّ لَهوٍ قَد أَشادَ بِهِ
مُصطافُthe summering grounds of ذيDhu سَلَمٍSalam وَمُرتَبَعُهand its spring pastures
مُصطافُ ذي سَلَمٍ وَمُرتَبَعُه
And many a revel has been celebrated by
Full many a vain and foolish man has made
Dhu Salam's summering grounds and spring pastures.
Praise of the Salmá tower his endless theme
عَسَتِit may be الإِضافَةُpoverty أَنthat يُنالَbe attained بِهاthrough it
عَسَتِ الإِضافَةُ أَن يُنالَ بِها
جِدَةٌwealth وَنَكَّلَand subdued ضارِياًّa ravenous beast شِبَعُهits satiety
جِدَةٌ وَنَكَّلَ ضارِياًّ شِبَعُه
Poverty may be the means of gaining
And hoped by aid derived from your abode
Wealth; satiety has subdued a ravenous beast.
To reach ambitions that were high extreme,
وَالفَسلُand the weak-willed man يَسلُبُهُrobs him of عَزيمَتَهُhis resolve
وَالفَسلُ يَسلُبُهُ عَزيمَتَهُ
أَدنىthe slightest وُجودِavailability of كِفايَةٍsufficient provision تَسَعُهsustains him
أَدنى وُجودِ كِفايَةٍ تَسَعُه
And the weak-willed man is robbed of his resolve
While Fortune robbed him of the power to climb-
By the least provision sufficient to sustain him.
He turned from lofty heights before his prime.
لايَلبَثُdoes not delay المَمنوعُwhat is withheld تَطلُبَهُyou seek it
لايَلبَثُ المَمنوعُ تَطلُبَهُ
حَتّىuntil يَثوبَreturns إِلَيكَto you مُمتَنِعُهits withheld portion
حَتّى يَثوبَ إِلَيكَ مُمتَنِعُه
When you seek what is withheld, it will not be long
Forbidden pleasures tempt him soon or late
Before what was withheld of it returns to you.
Who has been hindered but will not forget.
وَالنَيلُand bounty دَينٌa debt يُستَرَقُّone is enslaved بِهِby it
وَالنَيلُ دَينٌ يُستَرَقُّ بِهِ
فَاِطلُبso seek لِرِقِّكَfor your servitude عِندَwith مَنwhom تَدَعُهyou leave it
فَاِطلُب لِرِقِّكَ عِندَ مَن تَدَعُه
And bounty is a debt by which one is enslaved;
Attain your wish by those whom you entreat
So choose to whom you entrust your servitude.
If you would steal what you are forbidden yet!
وَأَرىand I see المَطاياthe mounts لاقُصورَno failing بِهاin them
وَأَرى المَطايا لاقُصورَ بِها
عَنfor لَيلِthe night of سامَرّاءَSamarra تَدَّرِعُهthey don it as armor
عَن لَيلِ سامَرّاءَ تَدَّرِعُه
And I see no lack of strength in the mounts
I see steeds racing to the bower of Laylá
For Samarra's night, which they don as armor.
In Nejd, the cloaks of warriors flowing free.
يَطلُبنَthey seek عِندَfrom فَتىthe young man of رَبيعَةَRabi'a ماwhat
يَطلُبنَ عِندَ فَتى رَبيعَةَ ما
عِندَwith الرَبيعِspring تَخايَلَتdisplayed their splendor بُقَعُهits fields
عِندَ الرَبيعِ تَخايَلَت بُقَعُه
They seek from the young man of Rabi'a what
They seek in Laylá's tribe and pastures green
Spring possesses, when its fields display their splendor.
What fills with graceful hoofprints every scene.
وَالخِضرُand greenery مِلءُfilling يَدَيكَyour two hands مِنfrom كَرَمٍgenerosity
وَالخِضرُ مِلءُ يَدَيكَ مِن كَرَمٍ
يُبديهِhe displays it إِفضالاًas bounty وَيَبتَدِعُهand originates it
يُبديهِ إِفضالاً وَيَبتَدِعُه
And greenery fills both your hands, from a generosity
Your hands hold gifts of generosity
He displays as bounty and brings into being.
Which you begin, creating precedent.
ذَهَبَتwent إِلىtoward الخَطّابِal-Khattab شيمَتُهُhis character
ذَهَبَت إِلى الخَطّابِ شيمَتُهُ
فَغَداso he began يُهيبُcalling out بِهاto it وَيَتَّبِعُهand follows him
فَغَدا يُهيبُ بِها وَيَتَّبِعُه
His character has made for al-Khattab,
The traits of meanness left Chemr alone;
So he urges it onward and follows him.
He holds to nobleness, and it has grown.
يَدَعُleaves aside اِختِياراتِthe choices of البَخيلِthe miser وَمِنand out of
يَدَعُ اِختِياراتِ البَخيلِ وَمِن
حُبِّlove of العُلاhigh honor يَدَعُrelinquishes الَّذيwhat يَدَعُهhe relinquishes it
حُبِّ العُلا يَدَعُ الَّذي يَدَعُه
He rejects the miser's choices, and out of
Letting conceits guide him, he left aside
Love of high honor, he relinquishes what he relinquishes.
High thoughts, and what is excellent beside.
أَدَّتfulfilled مَخايِلُهُhis promising signs حَقيقَتُهُhis true nature
أَدَّت مَخايِلُهُ حَقيقَتُهُ
سَومَthe offering of الخَريفِautumn أَراكَهُshowed it to you قَزَعُهits scattered clouds
سَومَ الخَريفِ أَراكَهُ قَزَعُه
His true nature has borne out his promising signs,
He judges men exactly as they seem;
Like autumn's offering, shown to you by its scattered clouds.
Their secret thoughts are like cool waters' gleam.
فَردٌpeerless وَإِنand even though أَثرَتgrew rich عَشيرَتُهُhis clan
فَردٌ وَإِن أَثرَت عَشيرَتُهُ
مِنin عُدَّةٍresources وَتَناصَرَتand aided one another شِيَعُهhis supporters
مِن عُدَّةٍ وَتَناصَرَت شِيَعُه
He is peerless, though his clan is rich
Though his tribe help him, alone he is weak;
In resources, and his supporters aid one another.
His people's aid he counts on to protect.
تُخشىare feared الأَعِنَّةُthe reins حَيثُwhere يَجمَعُهاhe gathers them
تُخشى الأَعِنَّةُ حَيثُ يَجمَعُها
وَالسَيلُand the torrent يُخشىis feared حَيثُwhere مُجتَمَعُهits gathering place
وَالسَيلُ يُخشى حَيثُ مُجتَمَعُه
The reins are feared where he musters them,
Where spears collect is danger, and as well
And the torrent is feared where it gathers.
Where floods are gathered, fear the flood's effect!
فَتَرىso you see الأَعاديthe enemies مالَهُمthey have no شُغُلٌoccupation
فَتَرى الأَعادي مالَهُم شُغُلٌ
إِلّاexcept تَوَهُّمُimagining مَوقِعٍa place يَقَعُهhe strikes it
إِلّا تَوَهُّمُ مَوقِعٍ يَقَعُه
So you see the enemies, occupied with nothing
You see his enemies have time for naught
But guessing the place he will strike.
Save places vantageless where he is caught.
وَأَغَرَّand a radiant nobleman يَرفَعُهُexalts him أَبوهُhis father وَكَمand how many
وَأَغَرَّ يَرفَعُهُ أَبوهُ وَكَم
لِكَريمِfor a nobleman of قَومٍa people مِنof أَبٍa father يَضَعُهdebases him
لِكَريمِ قَومٍ مِن أَبٍ يَضَعُه
And a radiant noble is exalted by his father—how often
The noble youth by whom his sire is graced
A noble among his people has a father who debases him!
Is often by an abject father debased.
إِنif سَرَّكَit pleases you اِستيفاءُfully grasping سُؤدِدِهِhis eminence
إِن سَرَّكَ اِستيفاءُ سُؤدِدِهِ
بِالرَأيِby reason تَبحَثُهُyou probe it وَتَنتَزِعُهand draw it out
بِالرَأيِ تَبحَثُهُ وَتَنتَزِعُه
If it pleases you to grasp his eminence in full,
If you would take his gifts, by counsel try
By reason, probing it and drawing it out,
To win them; force will naught but breed hate thereby.
فَاِطلُبthen seek بِعَينِكَwith your eye أَيَّةًwhichever لَحِقَتreaches
فَاِطلُب بِعَينِكَ أَيَّةً لَحِقَت
ضَوءَthe light of الغَزالَةِthe sun أَينَwhere مُنقَطَعُهits endpoint
ضَوءَ الغَزالَةِ أَينَ مُنقَطَعُه
Then seek with your eye—whichever reaches
Seek out the stars once shining in her brow
The sun's light—where that light ends.
Whose loveliness is now no longer clear.
شادَتbuilt up أَراقِمُهُhis Araqim لَهُfor him شَرَفاًlofty honor
شادَت أَراقِمُهُ لَهُ شَرَفاً
يَعلوrises فَماso never يَنحَطُّsinks مُرتَفِعُهits summit
يَعلو فَما يَنحَطُّ مُرتَفِعُه
His Araqim have built him lofty honor,
Upright, his marks of glory raise him high;
That rises, its summit never sinking.
High station never undervalued here!
وَالسَيفُand the sword إِنif نَقِيَتwas pure حَديدَتُهُits iron
وَالسَيفُ إِن نَقِيَت حَديدَتُهُ
فيin الطَبعِforging طابَproved sound وَلَمand not يُخَفwas feared طَبَعُهits rust
في الطَبعِ طابَ وَلَم يُخَف طَبَعُه
And a sword, if its iron is pure
If pure ore makes the sword, its edge is bright.
When forged, proves sound, with no fear of its rusting.
It keeps its temper and its flawless might.
وَيُشيرُand points مُتَّبِعُone who follows الرِجالِmen إِلىtoward
وَيُشيرُ مُتَّبِعُ الرِجالِ إِلى
قَمَرٍa moon كَثيرٍmany مِنهُمُof them تَبَعُهhis followers
قَمَرٍ كَثيرٍ مِنهُمُ تَبَعُه
And one who follows men points toward
The critic points toward many a man of fame
A moon with many of them in his train.
Who rose like moon but into dark did wane.
يَبهىshines عَلىbefore أَلحاظِthe glances of أَعيُنِهِمtheir eyes
يَبهى عَلى أَلحاظِ أَعيُنِهِم
مَرأىًas a sight يَزيدُexceeds عَلَيهِbeyond it مُستَمَعُهwhat is heard of him
مَرأىً يَزيدُ عَلَيهِ مُستَمَعُه
He shines before the gazes of their eyes,
Their glances fascinate the throng around
A sight surpassed by what is heard of him.
While most who listen cannot understand.
تَتلواfollow مَناجِحُهُhis successes مَواعِدَهُhis promises
تَتلوا مَناجِحُهُ مَواعِدَهُ
كَالشَهرِlike the month يَتلوfollow بَيضَهُits white nights دُرَعُهits dark-opening nights
كَالشَهرِ يَتلو بَيضَهُ دُرَعُه
His successes follow his promises,
Star follows star across his skyey field
As the month's dark-opening nights follow its white ones.
As crescent moons swell into discs concealed.
أَأَخافُshould I fear فيover أَلفٍa thousand تَلَكُّؤَhesitation مَنone who
أَأَخافُ في أَلفٍ تَلَكُّؤَ مَن
حَمَلَbore الأُلوفَthousands فَلَمso not يُخَفwas feared ظَلَعُهhis lameness
حَمَلَ الأُلوفَ فَلَم يُخَف ظَلَعُه
Should I fear hesitation over a thousand from one
Shall I fear one who hesitates in war,
Who bore thousands, and whose lameness was never feared?
Yet thousands carried till they feared no scar?
وَسِواكَand someone other than you ياِبنَO son of الأَكرَمينَthe noblest عُلاًin honor
وَسِواكَ ياِبنَ الأَكرَمينَ عُلاً
وَهَبَgave النَوالَbounty وَكَرَّand turned back يَرتَجِعُهreclaims it
وَهَبَ النَوالَ وَكَرَّ يَرتَجِعُه
And someone other than you, O son of the noblest in honor,
But you, best two in merit and renown,
Gave bounty, then turned back to reclaim it.
Give gifts, and gifts received with thanks endow!
لافَضلُكَnot your bounty المَرجوُّhoped-for مِنهُfrom him وَلاnor
لافَضلُكَ المَرجوُّ مِنهُ وَلا
مَعروفُكَyour kindness المَعروفُwell-known يَصطَنِعُهhe bestows it
مَعروفُكَ المَعروفُ يَصطَنِعُه
Your bounty is not to be hoped for from him, nor
Not your expected favor that I choose,
Is your renowned kindness bestowed by
Nor your usual kindness that I use.
لِحزٌa miser يُقيمُregards المالَthe money يُرزَؤُهُhe is deprived of it
لِحزٌ يُقيمُ المالَ يُرزَؤُهُ
رِفداًas a gift مَقامَin the place of الضِرسِa molar tooth يَقتَلِعُهhe pulls it out
رِفداً مَقامَ الضِرسِ يَقتَلِعُه
A miser who sees the money he parts with
The mean delight in wealth, and are laid low.
In giving as a molar tooth he pulls out.
You are a lofty crag they cannot throw.
مُثرٍwealthy وَقَلَّand little is غَناءُthe usefulness of ثَروَتِهِhis wealth
مُثرٍ وَقَلَّ غَناءُ ثَروَتِهِ
عَنto عامِدٍone heading لِجَداهُfor his bounty يَنتَجِعُهseeking him for aid
عَن عامِدٍ لِجَداهُ يَنتَجِعُه
Wealthy, yet his riches are of little use
Scant is the glory wealth inspires in song.
To one who makes for his bounty, seeking him out.
Not like the noble deeds that to you belong!
وَالبَحرُand the sea تَمنَعُهُprevents it مَرارَتُهُits bitterness
وَالبَحرُ تَمنَعُهُ مَرارَتُهُ
مِنfrom أَنthat تَسوغَgo down easily لِشارِبٍfor a drinker جُرَعُهits draughts
مِن أَن تَسوغَ لِشارِبٍ جُرَعُه
And the sea is barred by its bitterness
The bitterness of ocean makes men shirk
From having its draughts be palatable to a drinker.
Drinking a draught of it to ease their thirst.
Sol 6.1