فيin الشَيبِgray hair زَجرٌa rebuke لَهُfor him لَوif كانَhe were يَنزَجِرُto heed rebuke
في الشَيبِ زَجرٌ لَهُ لَو كانَ يَنزَجِرُ
وَواعِظٌand an admonisher مِنهُfrom it لَولاwere it not that أَنَّهُhe is حَجَرُstone
وَواعِظٌ مِنهُ لَولا أَنَّهُ حَجَرُ
In gray hair there is a rebuke for him, if he would heed it,
In gray hair a rebuke, if only it would rebuke,
and an admonisher in it, were he not stone.
And a preacher from it, were it not mere stone.
اِبيَضَّturned white ماwhat اِسوَدَّwas black مِنof فَودَيهِhis two temples وَاِرتَجَعَتand reclaimed
اِبيَضَّ ما اِسوَدَّ مِن فَودَيهِ وَاِرتَجَعَت
جَلِيَّةُthe clear light الصُبحِof morning ماwhat قَدalready أَغفَلَoverlooked السَحَرُthe predawn hour
جَلِيَّةُ الصُبحِ ما قَد أَغفَلَ السَحَرُ
The black of his two temples has turned white, and
Clear white never blackened from its temples, and dawn
the morning's clear light has reclaimed what the predawn hour overlooked.
Returned in splendor before the daybreak was obscured.
وَلِلفَتىand for a young man مُهلَةٌa respite فيin الحُبِّlove واسِعَةٌample
وَلِلفَتى مُهلَةٌ في الحُبِّ واسِعَةٌ
ماas long as لَمnot يَمُتdies فيin نَواحيthe regions of رَأسِهِhis head الشَعرُthe hair
ما لَم يَمُت في نَواحي رَأسِهِ الشَعرُ
A young man has ample respite in love,
For the youth there is ample time for love
so long as the hair about his head has not died.
Unless he dies with the hair on his head still black.
قالَتshe said مَشيبٌgray hair وَعِشقٌand passion دُحتَyou wandered بَينَهُماbetween them
قالَت مَشيبٌ وَعِشقٌ دُحتَ بَينَهُما
وَذاكَand that فيamid ذاكَthat ذَنبٌa sin لَيسَnot يُغتَفَرُforgiven
وَذاكَ في ذاكَ ذَنبٌ لَيسَ يُغتَفَرُ
She said, "Gray hair and passion—you have wandered between them;
Grayness and love clashed, so they said,
and the one amid the other is an unforgivable sin."
And that is in that a sin that cannot be pardoned.
وَعَيَّرَتنيand she taunted me سِجالَsuccessive bouts العُدمِof poverty جاهِلَةًignorantly
وَعَيَّرَتني سِجالَ العُدمِ جاهِلَةً
وَالنَبعُand the bow-wood tree عُريانُbare ماnot فيon فَرعِهِits branch ثَمَرُfruit
وَالنَبعُ عُريانُ ما في فَرعِهِ ثَمَرُ
Ignorantly she taunted me for poverty's repeated bouts,
The adversities of fate accused me foolishly,
though the bow-wood tree stands bare, with no fruit on its branch.
While the spring is naked, no fruit on its branch.
وَماand not الفَقيرُthe poor man الَّذيwhom عَيَّرتِyou taunted آوِنَةًat times
وَما الفَقيرُ الَّذي عَيَّرتِ آوِنَةً
بَلِrather الزَمانُtime إِلىof الأَحرارِnoble men مُفتَقِرُin need
بَلِ الزَمانُ إِلى الأَحرارِ مُفتَقِرُ
The poor one is not the man you taunted from time to time;
It was not the poor man whom the guesthouse blamed
rather, time itself stands in need of noble men.
But time itself needs the generous.
عَزّىconsoled عَنِfor lacking الحَظِّgood fortune أَنَّthat العَجزَincapacity يُدرِكُهُattains it
عَزّى عَنِ الحَظِّ أَنَّ العَجزَ يُدرِكُهُ
وَهَوَّنَand made lighter العُسرَhardship عِلميmy knowledge فيin مَنِwhom اليُسُرُprosperity
وَهَوَّنَ العُسرَ عِلمي في مَنِ اليُسُرُ
That even incapacity can attain fortune consoled me for lacking it,
He consoled me about luck, saying old age will overcome me,
and knowing who enjoys prosperity made hardship lighter.
And made hardship lighter, knowing ease is coming.
لَمnot يَبقَremains مِنof جُلِّthe greater part of هَذاthese الناسِpeople باقِيَةًanything remaining
لَم يَبقَ مِن جُلِّ هَذا الناسِ باقِيَةً
يَنالُهاcan grasp it الوَهمُimagination إِلّاexcept هَذِهِthese الصُوَرُforms
يَنالُها الوَهمُ إِلّا هَذِهِ الصُوَرُ
Nothing remains of the greater part of these people
Of all these people nothing lasting remains
that imagination can grasp, save these outward forms.
That fancy can attain but these images.
بُخلٌstinginess وَجَهلٌand ignorance وَحَسبُand enough for المَرءِa man واحِدَةٌone
بُخلٌ وَجَهلٌ وَحَسبُ المَرءِ واحِدَةٌ
مِنof تينِthose two حَتّىso that يُعَفّىis erased خَلفَهُbehind him الأَثَرُthe trace
مِن تينِ حَتّى يُعَفّى خَلفَهُ الأَثَرُ
Stinginess and ignorance—a man needs but one
Stinginess, ignorance, and pride in one’s lineage, all one -
of those two for every trace behind him to be erased.
From fig to fig the track passes by.
إِذاif مَحاسِنِيَmy virtues اللاتيwhich أُدِلُّI pride myself بِهاon them
إِذا مَحاسِنِيَ اللاتي أُدِلُّ بِها
كانَتare ذُنوبيmy sins فَقُلthen tell ليme كَيفَhow أَعتَذِرُI excuse myself
كانَت ذُنوبي فَقُل لي كَيفَ أَعتَذِرُ
If the virtues on which I pride myself
When my charms that I display
are my sins, tell me how I can excuse myself.
Are my sins, say to me how I can make excuses.
أَهُزُّI rouse بِالشِعرِwith poetry أَقواماًpeople ذَويpossessed of وَسَنٍdrowsiness
أَهُزُّ بِالشِعرِ أَقواماً ذَوي وَسَنٍ
فيin الجَهلِignorance لَوif ضُرِبواthey were struck بِالسَيفِwith the sword ماnot شَعَرواthey would feel
في الجَهلِ لَو ضُرِبوا بِالسَيفِ ما شَعَروا
With poetry I rouse people sunk in drowsiness
I shake men of great age with poetry
in ignorance; if struck with the sword, they would not feel it.
Who in ignorance, if struck with swords, would not feel it.
عَلَيَّincumbent on me نَحتُhewing القَوافيrhymes مِنfrom مَقاطِعِهاtheir quarries
عَلَيَّ نَحتُ القَوافي مِن مَقاطِعِها
وَماand not عَلَيَّincumbent on me لَهُمfor them أَنthat تَفهَمَunderstand البَقَرُcattle
وَما عَلَيَّ لَهُم أَن تَفهَمَ البَقَرُ
My task is to hew rhymes from their quarries,
It is for me to mint rhymes from their elements,
not, for their sake, to make cattle understand.
And not for them if cows understand.
لَأَرحَلَنَّI shall surely depart وَآماليand my hopes مُطَرَّحَةٌcast aside
لَأَرحَلَنَّ وَآمالي مُطَرَّحَةٌ
بِسُرَّin Surr ('was delighted') مَنMan ('whoever') راءَRa'a ('saw') مُستَبطاًdeemed slow لَهاfor them القَدَرُfate
بِسُرَّ مَن راءَ مُستَبطاً لَها القَدَرُ
I shall surely depart, while my hopes lie cast aside
I will travel though my hopes are scattered
in Surr Man Ra'a, with fate deemed slow to fulfill them.
By the secret of him who determined their fate.
أَبَعدَafter? عِشرينَtwenty شَهراًmonths لاno جَدىًreward فَيُرىso there might be seen
أَبَعدَ عِشرينَ شَهراً لا جَدىً فَيُرى
بِهِwith it اِنصِرافٌdeparture وَلاand no وَعدٌpromise فَيُنتَظَرُso it might be awaited
بِهِ اِنصِرافٌ وَلا وَعدٌ فَيُنتَظَرُ
After twenty months—is there no reward to allow
After twenty fruitless months, so it seems,
departure with it, nor any promise to await?
Bringing no decision, no promise to wait for.
لَولاwere it not for عَلِيُّAli بنَson of مُرٍّMurr لَاِستَمَرَّwould have persisted بِناwith us
لَولا عَلِيُّ بنَ مُرٍّ لَاِستَمَرَّ بِنا
خِلفٌa wretched lot مِنَof العَيشِlife فيهِin it الصابُbitter sap وَالصَبِرُand aloes
خِلفٌ مِنَ العَيشِ فيهِ الصابُ وَالصَبِرُ
Were it not for Ali ibn Murr, we would still endure
Were it not for Ali son of Murr lasting for us
a wretched lot in life, filled with bitter sap and aloes.
A succession of life in it - misfortune and patience!
عُذناwe sought refuge بِأَروَعَin an awe-inspiring man أَقصىthe farthest نَيلِهِof his bounty كَثَبٌnear
عُذنا بِأَروَعَ أَقصى نَيلِهِ كَثَبٌ
عَلىto العُفاةِpetitioners وَأَدنىand the slightest سَعيِهِof his endeavor سَفَرُa journey
عَلى العُفاةِ وَأَدنى سَعيِهِ سَفَرُ
We sought refuge in an awe-inspiring man whose farthest bounty is near
He carried us to the most splendid heights attainable
to petitioners, while his slightest endeavor is a journey.
By leaping upon the heedless, and the least effort of his journeying.
أَلَحَّhe persisted جوداًin generosity وَلَمand did not تَضرُرharm سَحائِبُهُhis clouds
أَلَحَّ جوداً وَلَم تَضرُر سَحائِبُهُ
وَرُبَّماand sometimes ضَرَّharms فيthrough إِلحاحِهِits persistence المَطَرُrain
وَرُبَّما ضَرَّ في إِلحاحِهِ المَطَرُ
He persisted in generosity, yet his clouds did no harm,
He was lavish in his generosity and his clouds did no harm,
though rain sometimes harms through its persistence.
Though sometimes his importunity harmed the rain.
لاnot يُتعِبُwearies النائِلُbounty المَبذولُlavished هِمَّتَهُhis resolve
لا يُتعِبُ النائِلُ المَبذولُ هِمَّتَهُ
وَكَيفَand how يُتعِبُcould weary عَينَthe eye الناظِرِof the beholder النَظَرُlooking
وَكَيفَ يُتعِبُ عَينَ الناظِرِ النَظَرُ
The bounty he lavishes does not weary his resolve;
The attainer is not wearied by exhausting his endeavor,
how could looking weary the eye of the beholder?
And how should gazing tire the eye that looks?
بَدَتappeared عَلىupon البَدوِdesert folk نُعمىa blessing مِنهُfrom him سابِغَةٌample
بَدَت عَلى البَدوِ نُعمى مِنهُ سابِغَةٌ
وَفراءُabundant يَحضُرُwitness أُخرىanother مِثلَهاlike it الحَضَرُtownsfolk
وَفراءُ يَحضُرُ أُخرى مِثلَها الحَضَرُ
An ample blessing from him appeared among the desert folk,
Upon the Bedouin appeared blessings from him abundant,
abundant; the townsfolk witness another like it.
And a fresh coat the like of which town dwellers also gained.
مَواهِبٌgifts ماnot تَجَشَّمناwe undertook the hardship السُؤالَof asking لَهاfor them
مَواهِبٌ ما تَجَشَّمنا السُؤالَ لَها
إِنَّindeed الغَمامَthe rain-cloud قَليبٌa well لَيسَnot يُحتَقَرُis scorned
إِنَّ الغَمامَ قَليبٌ لَيسَ يُحتَقَرُ
Gifts for which we never bore the hardship of asking:
Gifts we did not trouble to ask for,
indeed, the rain-cloud is a well beyond disdain.
Since the cloud is fickle, not to be scorned.
يُهابُis held in awe فيناamong us وَماand no فيin لَحظِهِhis glance شَرَرٌsparks
يُهابُ فينا وَما في لَحظِهِ شَرَرٌ
وَسطَamid النَدِيِّthe assembly وَلاand no فيin خَدِّهِhis cheek صَعَرُarrogant turning
وَسطَ النَدِيِّ وَلا في خَدِّهِ صَعَرُ
He is held in awe among us, though no sparks are in his glance
He is feared among us yet in his glance no spark,
amid the assembly, nor is his cheek turned in pride.
Amid the flowing stream, no twist in his cheek.
بَردُcoolness اَحَشاof the entrails وَهَجيرُwhile the noonday heat الرَوعِof terror مُحتَفِلٌswells
بَردُ اَحَشا وَهَجيرُ الرَوعِ مُحتَفِلٌ
وَمَسعَرٌand a fire-kindler وَشَهابُwhile the flame الحَربِof war مُستَعِرُis ablaze
وَمَسعَرٌ وَشَهابُ الحَربِ مُستَعِرُ
A coolness to hearts when terror's noonday heat swells,
The chill of terror, the shudder of fright gathered,
and a fire-kindler when war's flame is ablaze.
Glowing yet cool, the meteors of war blazing.
إِذاwhen اِرتَقىhe ascends فيto أَعاليthe heights الرَأيِof thought لاحَappears لَهُto him
إِذا اِرتَقى في أَعالي الرَأيِ لاحَ لَهُ
ماwhat فيin الغُيوبِthe mysteries الَّتيthat تَخفىare hidden فَتَستَتِرُand become concealed
ما في الغُيوبِ الَّتي تَخفى فَتَستَتِرُ
When he climbs to the heights of thought, there shines before him
When he rose to the heights of insight there flashed for him
what lies in mysteries that are hidden and veiled.
What is in mysteries that hide and so are veiled.
تَوَسَّطَhe reached the middle of الدَهرَlife أَحوالاًin years فَلاso no صِغَرٌyouth
تَوَسَّطَ الدَهرَ أَحوالاً فَلا صِغَرٌ
عَنِfor الخُطوبِthe calamities الَّتيthat تَعروbefall وَلاnor كِبَرُold age
عَنِ الخُطوبِ الَّتي تَعرو وَلا كِبَرُ
He has reached life's middle years: neither too young
He experienced life’s vicissitudes and there was no littleness
for the calamities that befall him, nor too old.
In the disasters that came naked or greatness.
كَالرُمحِlike a spear أَذرُعُهُits cubits عَشرٌten وَواحِدَةٌand one
كَالرُمحِ أَذرُعُهُ عَشرٌ وَواحِدَةٌ
فَلَيسَso not يُزرىdetracts بِهِfrom him طولٌlength وَلاnor قِصَرُshortness
فَلَيسَ يُزرى بِهِ طولٌ وَلا قِصَرُ
Like a spear, ten cubits long and one more,
His stature was like a spear, ten and one arm’s lengths,
he is diminished by neither length nor shortness.
So neither height nor shortness can be reproached in it.
مُجَرِّبٌexperienced طالَماoften أَشجَتhave vexed عَزائِمُهُhis firm resolves
مُجَرِّبٌ طالَما أَشجَت عَزائِمُهُ
ذَويthose possessed of الحِجىwisdom وَهوَwhile he غِرٌّnaive بَينَهُمamong them غُمُرُinexperienced
ذَوي الحِجى وَهوَ غِرٌّ بَينَهُم غُمُرُ
A man of experience, whose firm resolves have often vexed
He was long tested, and his firm resolves
men of wisdom, even when he was naive and untried among them.
Made stern the people of repute while he was a lad among them.
آراؤُهُhis judgments اليَومَtoday أَسيافٌswords مُهَنَّدَةٌof Indian steel
آراؤُهُ اليَومَ أَسيافٌ مُهَنَّدَةٌ
وَكانَand he was كَالسَيفِlike a sword إِذwhen آراؤُهُhis judgments زُبَرُiron lumps
وَكانَ كَالسَيفِ إِذ آراؤُهُ زُبَرُ
Today his judgments are swords of Indian steel,
His views today are Indian swords unsheathed
and he was already like a sword when his judgments were iron lumps.
While once his views were mere sticks.
وَمِصعِدٌand one ascending فيamong هِضابِthe hills المَجدِof glory يَطلَعُهاhe climbs them
وَمِصعِدٌ في هِضابِ المَجدِ يَطلَعُها
كَأَنَّهُas though he لِسِكونِbecause of the calm الجَأشِof his heart مُنحَدِرُwere descending
كَأَنَّهُ لِسِكونِ الجَأشِ مُنحَدِرُ
He climbs the hills of glory, ascending them
He is a stairway on the hillsides of glory climbing them,
as though, so tranquil is his heart, he were descending.
As if to rest from the struggle he descended.
مازالَhe kept يَسبِقُoutstripping حَتّىuntil قالَsaid حاسِدُهُhis envier
مازالَ يَسبِقُ حَتّى قالَ حاسِدُهُ
لَهُhe has طَريقٌa path إِلىto العَلياءِthe heights of glory مُختَصَرُshortened
لَهُ طَريقٌ إِلى العَلياءِ مُختَصَرُ
He kept outstripping others until his envier said,
He continued to excel until his envier said
"He has a shortcut to the heights of glory."
He has a shortcut to supremacy.
حُلوٌsweet حَميتٌa butter-skin مَتىwhenever تَجنِyou reap الرَضاgoodwill خُلُقاًas a disposition
حُلوٌ حَميتٌ مَتى تَجنِ الرَضا خُلُقاً
مِنهُfrom him وَمُرٌّand bitter إِذاif أَحفَظتَهُyou anger him مَقِرُaloes
مِنهُ وَمُرٌّ إِذا أَحفَظتَهُ مَقِرُ
Sweet as a butter-filled skin when you reap a kindly temper
Sweet his zeal if you gain satisfaction from it,
from him, but bitter as aloes if you anger him.
And bitter if you keep it suppressed.
نَهَيتُI forbade حُسّادَهُhis enviers عَنهُaway from him وَقُلتُand I said لَهُمto them
نَهَيتُ حُسّادَهُ عَنهُ وَقُلتُ لَهُم
السَيلُa torrent بِاللَيلِby night لاnot يُبقيspares وَلاand not يَذَرُleaves
السَيلُ بِاللَيلِ لا يُبقي وَلا يَذَرُ
I warned his enviers away from him and told them:
I warned his enviers away from him and said to them:
"A torrent by night spares nothing and leaves nothing.
The torrent by night leaves nothing remaining or ruins it.
كُفّواdesist وَإِلّاor else كَفَفتُمyou will desist مُضمِريharboring أَسَفٍregret
كُفّوا وَإِلّا كَفَفتُم مُضمِري أَسَفٍ
إِذاwhen تَنَمَّرَturns savage فيin إِقدامِهِhis charge النَمِرُthe tiger
إِذا تَنَمَّرَ في إِقدامِهِ النَمِرُ
Desist, or you will desist with regret hidden within,
Cease, or else you who harbor secret rancor
when the tiger turns savage in his charge.
Will be ruined when the tiger displays his daring.
أَلوىunyielding إِذاwhen شابَكَhe grapples with الأَعداءَenemies كَدَّهُمُhe wears them down
أَلوى إِذا شابَكَ الأَعداءَ كَدَّهُمُ
حَتّىuntil يَروحُhe returns وَفيand in أَظفارِهِhis claws الظَفَرُvictory
حَتّى يَروحُ وَفي أَظفارِهِ الظَفَرُ
Unyielding, when he grapples with foes he wears them down,
He twists them when he grapples enemies, bending them,
until he returns with victory in his claws.
Until he goes his way, and the claws hold victory.
وَاللَومُand the fault أَنthat تَدخُلواyou enter فيwithin حَدِّthe bounds سَخطَتِهِof his wrath
وَاللَومُ أَن تَدخُلوا في حَدِّ سَخطَتِهِ
عِلماًknowing بِأَنof the fact that سَوفَwill يَعفوhe pardons حينَwhen يَقتَدِرُhe has power
عِلماً بِأَن سَوفَ يَعفو حينَ يَقتَدِرُ
The fault lies in your entering the bounds of his wrath,
Blameworthy it is if you enter into the range of his anger,
knowing that he will pardon you once he has the power."
Knowing that when able he will forgive.
جافيshunning المَضاجِعِbeds لاnot يَنفَكُّhe ceases فيamid لَجَبٍa clamorous host
جافي المَضاجِعِ لا يَنفَكُّ في لَجَبٍ
يَكادُalmost يُقمِرُbecomes moonlit مَنfrom لَآلائِهِits glitter القَمَرُthe moon
يَكادُ يُقمِرُ مَن لَآلائِهِ القَمَرُ
Shunning his bed, he is ever amid a clamorous host;
He deprives sleepers of repose, does not cease stoking
the moon itself almost takes its light from that host's glitter.
Almost eclipsing those the moon illumines.
إِذاwhen خُطامَةُKhutamah سارَتmarches فيهِwithin it آخِذَةٌgrasping
إِذا خُطامَةُ سارَت فيهِ آخِذَةٌ
خِطامَthe bridle نَبهانَof Nabhan وَهيَand she is الشَوكُthe thorn وَالشَجَرُand the tree
خِطامَ نَبهانَ وَهيَ الشَوكُ وَالشَجَرُ
When Khutamah marches within it, grasping
When the Pleiades rose over it, taking
Nabhan's bridle, she is both thorn and tree,
The reins of Aldebaran, which are the thorns and trees.
رَأَيتَyou see مَجداًglory عِياناًwith your own eyes فيamong بَنيthe sons of أُدَدٍUdad
رَأَيتَ مَجداً عِياناً في بَني أُدَدٍ
إِذwhereas مَجدُthe glory كُلِّof every قَبيلٍtribe دونَهُمbeside them خَبَرُhearsay
إِذ مَجدُ كُلِّ قَبيلٍ دونَهُم خَبَرُ
you see glory with your own eyes among the sons of Udad,
You saw manifest glory among the tribe of Udadh,
while every other tribe's glory is mere hearsay beside theirs.
Since the glory of every tribe apart from them is news.
أَحسِنbe gracious أَباO father of حَسَنٍHasan بِالشِعرِto poetry إِذsince جَعَلَتhave begun
أَحسِن أَبا حَسَنٍ بِالشِعرِ إِذ جَعَلَت
عَلَيكَupon you أَنجُمُهُits stars بِالمَدحِwith praise تَنتَثِرُto scatter
عَلَيكَ أَنجُمُهُ بِالمَدحِ تَنتَثِرُ
Be gracious to poetry, Abu Hasan, now that
Do good to Abu Hasan with poetry since its stars
its stars have begun to scatter praise upon you.
Scattering praise on you have obliged you.
فَقَدfor indeed أَتَتكَhave come to you القَوافيthe rhymes غِبَّafter فائِدَةٍa gift
فَقَد أَتَتكَ القَوافي غِبَّ فائِدَةٍ
كَماjust as تَفَتَّحُopen غِبَّafter الوابِلِa downpour الزَهَرُflowers
كَما تَفَتَّحُ غِبَّ الوابِلِ الزَهَرُ
For rhymes have come to you in the wake of a gift,
So rhymes have come to you void of any use
as flowers open after a downpour.
As blossoms open void of the soaking rain.
فيهاin them العَقائِقُagates وَالعِقيانُand pure gold إِنif لُبِسَتthey are worn
فيها العَقائِقُ وَالعِقيانُ إِن لُبِسَت
يَومَon the day التَباهيof boasting وَفيهاand in them الوَشيُbrocade وَالحِبَرُand striped fabrics
يَومَ التَباهي وَفيها الوَشيُ وَالحِبَرُ
In them are agates and pure gold, if they are worn
In it carnelians and wild roses, if worn,
on the day of boasting; in them are brocade and striped fabrics.
On the day of boasting, and in it tatters and ink.
وَمَنand whoever يَكُنis فاخِراًproud بِالشِعرِof poetry يُمدَحُis praised فيwithin
وَمَن يَكُن فاخِراً بِالشِعرِ يُمدَحُ في
أَضعافِهِits folds فَبِكَbut in you الأَشعارُpoems تَفتَخِرُtake pride
أَضعافِهِ فَبِكَ الأَشعارُ تَفتَخِرُ
A man may take pride in poetry that praises him within
He who praises himself with poetry will be praised in
its folds; but poems themselves take pride in you.
Its multiples, so by poems he glories.
Sol 6.1