بِتُّI spent the night أُبديI reveal وَجداًlonging وَأَكتُمُand I conceal وَجداlonging
بِتُّ أُبدي وَجداً وَأَكتُمُ وَجدا
لِخَيالٍfor an apparition مِنَfrom البَخيلَةِthe withholding beloved يُهدىis offered as a gift
لِخَيالٍ مِنَ البَخيلَةِ يُهدى
I spent the night revealing longing and concealing longing,
I suffer endless passion though I disguise my torment,
for an apparition sent as a gift from the withholding beloved.
for the apparition of a beauty parsimonious with her gifts.
أَقِسمُI divide الظَنَّmy conjecture فيهِabout it أَنّىhow تَخَطّىit crossed الthe
أَقِسمُ الظَنَّ فيهِ أَنّى تَخَطّى ال
رَملَsands مِنof عالِجِʿĀlij وَأَنّىand how تَهَدّىit found its way
رَملَ مِن عالِجِ وَأَنّى تَهَدّى
I weigh my guesses about it: how did it cross the
I swear my doubts that she has scaled the ridges
sands of ʿĀlij, and how did it find its way?
of the dunes or traversed the desert wastes on a night journey.
خَطَأٌchance ماwhat أَزارَناهُbrought it to visit us طُروقاًby night
خَطَأٌ ما أَزارَناهُ طُروقاً
أَمor تَوَخيهِits intention لِلزِيارَةِto visit عَمداdeliberately
أَم تَوَخيهِ لِلزِيارَةِ عَمدا
Was it chance that brought it to visit us by night,
Was it an error that had clothed her in the garments
or its deliberate intent to make the visit?
of intentional visiting or a plan to fulfill her promise?
جاءَit came يَسريtraveling by night فَأَشرَقَتso shone أَرضُthe land of نَجدٍNajd
جاءَ يَسري فَأَشرَقَت أَرضُ نَجدٍ
لِسُراهُat its night journey وَواصَلَand continually visited الغَيثُthe rain نَجداNajd
لِسُراهُ وَواصَلَ الغَيثُ نَجدا
It came traveling by night, and the land of Najd shone
She came easy through the night and the land of Najd shone bright
at its night journey, and rain kept visiting Najd.
at her advent as copious rains irrigated Najd.
لاnot تَخيبُgo wanting البِلادُthe lands تَخطِرُwander فيهاwithin them
لا تَخيبُ البِلادُ تَخطِرُ فيها
رُسُلُmessengers of الشَوقِlonging مِنfrom خَيالاتِthe apparitions of سُعدىSuʿdā
رُسُلُ الشَوقِ مِن خَيالاتِ سُعدى
No land goes wanting where there wander
The regions are not doomed where her likenesses—
longing's messengers, the apparitions of Suʿdā.
missives of longing from the beloved of Saʿdāʾ—alight.
وَعَدَتناshe promised us فَماbut not وَفَتshe fulfilled بِوِصالٍwith union
وَعَدَتنا فَما وَفَت بِوِصالٍ
وَوَفَتand she kept her word حينَwhen أَوعَدَتshe threatened أَنthat تُصَدّاyou be rebuffed
وَوَفَت حينَ أَوعَدَت أَن تُصَدّا
She promised us, but fulfilled no promise of union,
She made us promises she did not keep with union,
yet kept her word when she threatened rejection.
but kept when she swore she would fulfill them.
قَرَّبَbrought near الطَيفُthe apparition مُنتَواهاher dwelling فَأَصبَحand by morning became
قَرَّبَ الطَيفُ مُنتَواها فَأَصبَح
تُI (verb ending) حَديثاًnew بِنافِضِwith the breaker of العَهدِthe pledge عَهداin acquaintance
تُ حَديثاً بِنافِضِ العَهدِ عَهدا
The apparition brought her dwelling near; by morning I was
Her specter brought her dwelling near so that
newly acquainted with the breaker of pledges.
by the shaking hands of the covenant renewal was made.
سَكَنٌa solace ليfor me إِذاwhen دَناdrew near اِزدادَgrew greater in لِيّاevasion (word begins)
سَكَنٌ لي إِذا دَنا اِزدادَ لِيّا
ناًcompletion of 'evasion' وَبُعداًand distance فَاِزدَدتُso I increased بِالقُربِthrough nearness بُعداin distance
ناً وَبُعداً فَاِزدَدتُ بِالقُربِ بُعدا
My solace, whenever drawing near, grew more evasive
When she drew close it meant tranquility for me, but
and distant; so with nearness I grew farther away.
as she retreated, approaching thus increased my distance.
سَأَلَتنيshe asked me عَنِabout الشَبابِyouth كَأَنas though لَمnot
سَأَلَتني عَنِ الشَبابِ كَأَن لَم
تَدرِshe knew أَنَّthat الشَبابَyouth قَرضٌa loan يُؤَدّىis repaid
تَدرِ أَنَّ الشَبابَ قَرضٌ يُؤَدّى
She asked me about youth, as though she did not
She asked me of youth as if she was unaware
know that youth is a loan to be repaid.
that youth is a loan soon to be reclaimed.
لَمnot يَبِنit departed عَنout of زَهادَةٍdisdain مِنهُon its part لَكِنbut
لَم يَبِن عَن زَهادَةٍ مِنهُ لَكِن
آنَthe time came لِلمُستَعارِfor what was borrowed أَنto يُستَرَدّاbe reclaimed
آنَ لِلمُستَعارِ أَن يُستَرَدّا
It did not depart out of disdain on its part; rather,
No austerity of his indicated it, yet now was the time
it was time for what was borrowed to be reclaimed.
for the borrower to restore what he had borrowed.
ماnot ذَخَرتُI saved الدُموعَthe tears أَبكيهِto mourn it إِلّاexcept
ما ذَخَرتُ الدُموعَ أَبكيهِ إِلّا
لِفِراقِfor a parting مُواشِكٍimminent إِنif أَجَدّاcomes in earnest
لِفِراقِ مُواشِكٍ إِن أَجَدّا
I saved my tears to mourn it only
I hoarded tears only to weep the imminent
for an imminent parting, should it come in earnest.
parting of one soon to depart, if he should depart.
إِنَّنيindeed I ماnot حَلَلتُI settled فيin الأَرضِthe earth إِلّاexcept that
إِنَّني ما حَلَلتُ في الأَرضِ إِلّا
كُنتُI was فيamong أَهلِهاits people المُجَلَّthe revered one المُفَدّىthe one they would ransom
كُنتُ في أَهلِها المُجَلَّ المُفَدّى
Indeed, wherever on earth I settled,
On earth I have not settled in a land except
I was revered among its people, one they would ransom.
that I was the stranger there, the ransomed one.
وَإِذاand if القَومُthe people لَمnot يَراحواfeel glad لِقُربيat my nearness
وَإِذا القَومُ لَم يَراحوا لِقُربي
كانَthere was ليfor me عَنهُمُaway from them مَراحٌan evening departure وَمَغدىand a morning departure
كانَ لي عَنهُمُ مَراحٌ وَمَغدى
And if the people felt no joy at my nearness,
When people felt no intimacy toward me,
I had ways away from them, evening and morning.
I found distance from them and a resting place.
مَنwho مُعينيmy helper مِنكُمamong you عَلىagainst اِبنِIbn (son of) فُراتٍFurāt
مَن مُعيني مِنكُم عَلى اِبنِ فُراتٍ
وَمُجازاةِand repayment of ماwhat أَنالُI receive وَأُسدىand am granted
وَمُجازاةِ ما أَنالُ وَأُسدى
Who among you will help me contend with Ibn Furāt,
Who will help me against the son of the Euphrates
and repay what I receive and am granted?
and reward me for my injuries and help given?
يَعجَزُfalls short الشِعرُpoetry عَنof مُجازاةِrepayment of خِرقٍa magnanimous man
يَعجَزُ الشِعرُ عَن مُجازاةِ خِرقٍ
أَريَحِيٍّopen-handed إِذاwhen اِجتَدَيناهُwe sought his bounty أَجدىhe gave generously
أَريَحِيٍّ إِذا اِجتَدَيناهُ أَجدى
Poetry cannot repay a magnanimous man,
Poetry falls short of repaying the rending by
open-handed: whenever we seek his bounty, he gives.
an Urayḥite when we vie with him in generosity.
كُلَّماwhenever قُلتُI said أَعتَقَfreed المَدحُpraise رِقّيmy bondage
كُلَّما قُلتُ أَعتَقَ المَدحُ رِقّي
رَجَعَتنيreturned me لَهُto him أَياديهِhis favors عَبداas a slave
رَجَعَتني لَهُ أَياديهِ عَبدا
Whenever I say, “Praise has freed me from bondage,”
Whenever I say: “Praise has freed my neck”
his favors return me to him as a slave.
his hands return me to him as a slave.
إِنif لَقيناwe faced بِهِwith him الخُطوبَcalamities مُشيحاًresolute in combat
إِن لَقينا بِهِ الخُطوبَ مُشيحاً
كانَhe was خَصماًan adversary عَلىagainst الخُطوبِcalamities أَلَدّاunyielding
كانَ خَصماً عَلى الخُطوبِ أَلَدّا
If we face calamities with him ready for combat,
If in him we meet disasters looming,
he is a relentless adversary to calamities.
he opposes disasters most resolutely.
لَوif تَعاطىattempted السَحابُthe clouds إِدراكَattaining ماwhat تَبreach (verb begins)
لَو تَعاطى السَحابُ إِدراكَ ما تَب
لُغُcompletion of 'reach' آلاؤُهُhis favors لَقُلناwe would surely say تَعَدّىit overstepped
لُغُ آلاؤُهُ لَقُلنا تَعَدّى
If the clouds attempted to attain what
If the clouds attempted to attain his perfections
his favors reach, we would say, “They have overreached.”
in full, we would say: “They have exceeded due bounds.”
كَرَمٌgenerosity أَعجَلَhastened المَواعيدَthe promised times حَتّىuntil
كَرَمٌ أَعجَلَ المَواعيدَ حَتّى
رَدَّturned فيناfor us نَسيئَةَdeferred payment of النيلِbounty نَقداinto ready cash
رَدَّ فينا نَسيئَةَ النيلِ نَقدا
A generosity that outran the promised times, until
Bounty whose trysts were swift until
it turned deferred bounty into ready cash for us.
he returned the delay of the Nile flood in ready cash.
يَستَضيمُoverpowers الأَنواءَthe rain-bearing stars جودُthe bounty of كَريمٍa generous man
يَستَضيمُ الأَنواءَ جودُ كَريمٍ
راحَتاهُhis two palms أَطَلُّricher in drizzle مِنهُthan it وَأَندىand richer in dew
راحَتاهُ أَطَلُّ مِنهُ وَأَندى
A generous man's bounty puts the rain-bearing stars to shame;
The breadth of a generous man’s munificence
his two palms shed more drizzle and dew than their rain.
makes the gusts of storms seem niggardly.
لاdo not تَلُمهُblame him عَلىfor الفَعالِnoble deeds إِنِif اِستَأreserves exclusively (verb begins)
لا تَلُمهُ عَلى الفَعالِ إِنِ اِستَأ
ثَرَcompletion of 'reserves exclusively' شُحّاًout of jealousy بِسُروِهِfor his nobility وَاِستَبَدّاand stood alone
ثَرَ شُحّاً بِسُروِهِ وَاِستَبَدّا
Do not blame him for his deeds if he reserves
Do not blame him for prioritizing if he preferred
his nobility jealously for himself and stands alone.
to be stingy with his cypresses and domineering.
هِمَّةٌhigh ambition أَنزَلَتهُplaced him مَنزِلَةَin the station of الموفيone towering
هِمَّةٌ أَنزَلَتهُ مَنزِلَةَ الموفي
عَلىabove النَجمِthe star مَأثُراتٍin noble deeds وَمَجداand glory
عَلى النَجمِ مَأثُراتٍ وَمَجدا
High ambition placed him in the station of one towering
An resolve brought him to the rank of the trustworthy
above the stars in noble deeds and glory.
star in thrilling glories and honor.
لَيسَis not بِالمُصرِمِa destitute man المُقِلِّthe needy one الَّذيwho يوis found (verb begins)
لَيسَ بِالمُصرِمِ المُقِلِّ الَّذي يو
جَدُcompletion of 'is found' رَبُّpossessor of اِثنَتَيtwo مَساعٍnoble endeavors وَإِحدىand one more
جَدُ رَبُّ اِثنَتَي مَساعٍ وَإِحدى
No destitute pauper is the man who is found
He is no weak, petty man who finds
possessed of two noble endeavors and a third.
sufficiency in two goat-hair tents and one more.
وَشَريفَand the nobleman of الأَقوامِthe peoples إِنif عُدَّis counted فَضلٌmerit
وَشَريفَ الأَقوامِ إِن عُدَّ فَضلٌ
كَثُرَتare too numerous مَأثُراتُهُhis noble deeds أَنto تُعَدّاbe counted
كَثُرَت مَأثُراتُهُ أَن تُعَدّا
And the nobleman among peoples, if merit is reckoned,
The nobility of folk, if you count their superiority,
has noble deeds too numerous to count.
is that their glorious deeds be beyond count.
كَمhow many لَهُhe has مِنof أَبٍan ancestor يَتيهُstruts proudly بِأَثواin garments (word begins)
كَم لَهُ مِن أَبٍ يَتيهُ بِأَثوا
بِcompletion of 'garments' المَعاليhigh honors مُؤَزَّراًgirded in them أَوor مُرَدّىcloaked in them
بِ المَعالي مُؤَزَّراً أَو مُرَدّى
How many forefathers he has, strutting in the garments
How many a father does he have robed
of high honor, girded in them or cloaked!
in the mantles of grandeur or clad in mail!
نَحَلَتهُbestowed on him العِراقُIraq ماwhat كانَwas نُحلاًa gift
نَحَلَتهُ العِراقُ ما كانَ نُحلاً
مِنfrom عُمانٍOman وَمُلكِهاand its kingdom لِلجُلَندىto al-Julandā
مِن عُمانٍ وَمُلكِها لِلجُلَندى
Iraq bestowed on him what had been a gift
‘Irāq endowed him gifts that were no endowment
from Oman and its kingdom to al-Julandā.
from ‘Umān or its rule for the Jalandah.
Sol 6.1