أَلِماis there for what فاتَwas missed مِنof تَلاقٍmeeting تَلافٍredress
أَلِما فاتَ مِن تَلاقٍ تَلافٍ
أَمor لِشاكٍfor one complaining مِنَof الصَبابَةِpassionate longing شافِa healer
أَم لِشاكٍ مِنَ الصَبابَةِ شافِ
Is there redress for encounters missed,
or a healer for one who complains of passionate longing?
أَمor هُوَit الدَمعُthe tears عَنfrom جَوىburning anguish الحُبِّlove بادٍvisible
أَم هُوَ الدَمعُ عَن جَوى الحُبِّ بادٍ
وَالجَوىand the anguish فيin جَوانِحِthe ribs of الصَدرِthe breast خافِhidden
وَالجَوى في جَوانِحِ الصَدرِ خافِ
Or are tears the visible sign of love's burning anguish,
while the anguish lies hidden within the ribs of the breast?
وَوُقوفٌand standing عَلىat الدِيارِthe dwellings فَمِنso, from مُرspring encampment (start)
وَوُقوفٌ عَلى الدِيارِ فَمِن مُر
تَبِعٍspring encampment (completion) شائِقٍstirring longing وَمِنand from مُصطافِsummer encampment
تَبِعٍ شائِقٍ وَمِن مُصطافِ
And standing at the dwellings—whether a spring
encampment that stirs longing or a summer encampment—
عِوَضٌa substitute مِنهُمُfor them خَسيسٌpaltry وَقَدand already حَلthey settled (start)
عِوَضٌ مِنهُمُ خَسيسٌ وَقَد حَل
لواthey settled (completion) اللِوىal-Liwa مَنزِلٌa dwelling بِوَجرَةَin Wajra عافِeffaced
لوا اللِوى مَنزِلٌ بِوَجرَةَ عافِ
is a paltry substitute for them, now that they have settled
at al-Liwa. A faded dwelling in Wajra—
لَمdid not تَدَعleave فيهِin it مُبلِياتُthe ravagers of اللَياليthe nights
لَم تَدَع فيهِ مُبلِياتُ اللَيالي
غَيرَexcept نُؤيٍa tent-trench تَسفيscatter sand عَلَيهِover it السَوافيthe sand-bearing winds
غَيرَ نُؤيٍ تَسفي عَلَيهِ السَوافي
the ravaging nights have left in it
only a tent-trench swept by sand-bearing winds,
وَأَثافٍand hearthstones أَتَتhave passed لَهاover them حِجَجٌyears دوwithout (start)
وَأَثافٍ أَتَت لَها حِجَجٌ دو
نَwithout (completion) لَظىthe blaze of النارِthe fire مُثَّلَstanding upright كَالأَثافيlike hearthstones
نَ لَظى النارِ مُثَّلَ كَالأَثافي
and hearthstones over which years have passed without
the fire's blaze, standing upright like hearthstones.
قَمَرٌa moon فيin دُجُنَّةِthe darkness of اللَيلِthe night يوفيrising high
قَمَرٌ في دُجُنَّةِ اللَيلِ يوفي
أَمor خَيالٌa phantom مِنfrom عِندِthe presence of سُعدىSu'da يُوافيarrives
أَم خَيالٌ مِن عِندِ سُعدى يُوافي
Is it a moon rising in the darkness of night,
or a phantom arriving from Su'da,
مُسعِفٌgranting help بِالَّذيwith what مَتىwhenever سُئِلتَهُshe was asked for it
مُسعِفٌ بِالَّذي مَتى سُئِلتَهُ
عَدِمَتshe lacked حَظَّهاher share مِنَof الإِسعافِgranting help
عَدِمَت حَظَّها مِنَ الإِسعافِ
granting what, whenever she was asked for it,
she had no share in granting?
أَلِشَيءٍis it for something تَسَخَّطَتهُshe resented it فَأَستَفso I do my utmost (start)
أَلِشَيءٍ تَسَخَّطَتهُ فَأَستَف
رِغُI do my utmost (completion) قَصريmy refraining عَنfrom سُخطِهاher displeasure وَاِنصِرافيand my withdrawal
رِغُ قَصري عَن سُخطِها وَاِنصِرافي
Is it for something she resented? Then I shall do my utmost
to keep clear of her displeasure and turn away,
وَاِعتِرافيand my confession بِماof what اِقتَرَفتُI committed فَكَمfor how often قَدindeed
وَاِعتِرافي بِما اِقتَرَفتُ فَكَم قَد
ذَهَبَdid away الاِعتِرافُconfession بِالاِقتِرافِwith wrongdoing
ذَهَبَ الاِعتِرافُ بِالاِقتِرافِ
and confess what I have committed; for how often
has confession done away with wrongdoing!
عَجِبَmarveled الناسُthe people لِاِعتِزاليat my seclusion وَفيand in الأَطthe outlying regions (start)
عَجِبَ الناسُ لِاِعتِزالي وَفي الأَط
رافِthe outlying regions (completion) تُغشىare visited مَنازِلُthe homes of الأَشرافِthe nobles
رافِ تُغشى مَنازِلُ الأَشرافِ
People marveled at my seclusion, while in the outlying
regions the homes of nobles are visited,
وَجُلوسيand my staying put عَنِinstead of التَصَرُّفِroaming وَالأَرand the earth (start)
وَجُلوسي عَنِ التَصَرُّفِ وَالأَر
ضُthe earth (completion) لِمِثليfor one like me رَحيبَةُspacious الأَكنافِthe reaches
ضُ لِمِثلي رَحيبَةُ الأَكنافِ
and at my staying put instead of roaming, though the earth
has wide expanses for one like me.
لَيسَit is not عَنbecause of ثَروَةٍwealth بَلَغتُI reached مَداهاits utmost extent
لَيسَ عَن ثَروَةٍ بَلَغتُ مَداها
غَيرِexcept أَنّيthat I am اِمرُؤٌa man كَفانيsufficed me كَفافيmy sufficiency
غَيرِ أَنّي اِمرُؤٌ كَفاني كَفافي
It is not because I have attained the height of wealth,
but I am a man for whom enough suffices.
قَدindeed رَأىhas seen الأَصيَدُthe stiff-necked, haughty man المُنكَّبُwho turns away عَنّيfrom me
قَد رَأى الأَصيَدُ المُنكَّبُ عَنّي
صَيديmy proud aversion عَنfrom فِنائِهِhis courtyard وَاِنحِرافيand my turning aside
صَيدي عَن فِنائِهِ وَاِنحِرافي
The stiff-necked man who turns away from me has seen
my proud aversion to his courtyard and my withdrawal.
وَغَبيand the fool of الأَقوامِthe peoples مَنone who باتَspends the night يَرجوhopes
وَغَبي الأَقوامِ مَن باتَ يَرجو
فَضلَthe bounty of مَنone who لاdoes not يَجودُgive generously بِالإِنصافِwith fairness
فَضلَ مَن لا يَجودُ بِالإِنصافِ
And the fool among men is one who spends the night hoping
for bounty from one who will not grant fairness.
إِنif تَنَلyou attain قُدرَةًpower فَقَدthen indeed نِلتُI have attained صَوناًself-respect
إِن تَنَل قُدرَةً فَقَد نِلتُ صَوناً
وَالتَغانيand mutual independence بَينَbetween الرِجالِmen تَكافِequality
وَالتَغاني بَينَ الرِجالِ تَكافِ
If you have gained power, I have gained self-respect;
and mutual independence among men is equality.
صافِbefriend sincerely أَمثالَthe likes of أَحمَدَAhmad اِبنِson of عَلِيٍّAli
صافِ أَمثالَ أَحمَدَ اِبنِ عَلِيٍّ
تَعتَرِفyou will acknowledge فَضلَهُhis superiority عَلىover مَنthose whom تُصافيyou befriend
تَعتَرِف فَضلَهُ عَلى مَن تُصافي
Befriend the likes of Ahmad ibn Ali;
you will acknowledge his superiority to those you befriend.
أَريحِيٌّmagnanimous إِمّاeither يُوافِقُhe agrees with ماwhat تَهyou desire (start)
أَريحِيٌّ إِمّا يُوافِقُ ما تَه
وىyou desire (completion) وَإِمّاor else يَكفيكَhe spares you حَربَthe war of الخِلافِdisagreement
وى وَإِمّا يَكفيكَ حَربَ الخِلافِ
A magnanimous man: either he agrees with what you
desire, or he spares you the war of disagreement.
أَيُّwhat an excellent باديinitiator of أُكرومَةٍa noble deed أَوor مَرَوٍّdeliberator
أَيُّ بادي أُكرومَةٍ أَو مَرَوٍّ
بَينَbetween رَأيَينِtwo opinions أَوor حَصاةِa pebble قِذافِfor hurling
بَينَ رَأيَينِ أَو حَصاةِ قِذافِ
What an initiator of noble deeds, or a deliberator
between two opinions, or a pebble for hurling!
إِنif أَخَفَّmakes lighter الكُتّابُthe scribes فيin الوَزنِthe weighing غَدرٌtreachery
إِن أَخَفَّ الكُتّابُ في الوَزنِ غَدرٌ
رَجَحَتgrew heavier كِفَّةُthe scale-pan of الوَفِيِّthe faithful man الوافيthe fully worthy
رَجَحَت كِفَّةُ الوَفِيِّ الوافي
If treachery makes scribes weigh lightly in the balance,
the faithful, fully worthy man's scale-pan weighs heavier.
نِعمَhow excellent مَولىa steward of كِفايَةٍcompetence مِنas أَمينٍa trustworthy man
نِعمَ مَولى كِفايَةٍ مِن أَمينٍ
أَوor مُؤَدّيa fulfiller of أَمانَةٍa trust مِنas كافِa capable man
أَو مُؤَدّي أَمانَةٍ مِن كافِ
How fine a trustworthy steward of affairs,
or a capable fulfiller of a trust!
ماwhat تُراهُyou see in him وَعَفَّand he stayed upright فيin زَمَنِan age of الخَوtreachery (start)
ما تُراهُ وَعَفَّ في زَمَنِ الخَو
نِtreachery (completion) يُرىis seen مِنهُin him فيin زَمانِan age of العَفافِintegrity
نِ يُرى مِنهُ في زَمانِ العَفافِ
What you see in him, upright in an age of
treachery, is seen in him in an age of integrity.
هِمَّةٌhigh aspiration تَرذُلُdisdains الدَناياbase deeds وَنَفسٌand a soul
هِمَّةٌ تَرذُلُ الدَنايا وَنَفسٌ
شَرُفَتwas too noble أَنto تَهُمَّcontemplate بِالإِشرافِcovetous longing
شَرُفَت أَن تَهُمَّ بِالإِشرافِ
High aspiration that scorns base deeds, and a soul
too noble even to contemplate covetousness.
وَعُلاًand eminence فيamong الصَبَهبَذينَthe Ispahbadhs وَدِدناwe wished
وَعُلاً في الصَبَهبَذينَ وَدِدنا
أَنَّهاthat it فيamong الزُيودِthe Zayds وَالأَعوافِand the Awfs
أَنَّها في الزُيودِ وَالأَعوافِ
And eminence among the Ispahbadhs that we wished
were among the Zayds and the Awfs.
قَدَّمَتهُadvanced him قَوادِمُthe foremost feathers of الريشِthe plumage مِنهُمamong them
قَدَّمَتهُ قَوادِمُ الريشِ مِنهُم
حينَwhen خاسَتproved treacherous بِآخَرينَto others الخَوافيthe hidden wing-feathers
حينَ خاسَت بِآخَرينَ الخَوافي
The foremost feathers among them advanced him,
when the hidden feathers betrayed others.
رَهطُthe clan of سابورَSabur ذيpossessor of الجُنودِthe armies وَطُلّاand seekers (start)
رَهطُ سابورَ ذي الجُنودِ وَطُلّا
بُseekers (completion) مَساعيthe exploits of سابورَSabur ذيpossessor of الأَكتافِthe shoulders
بُ مَساعي سابورَ ذي الأَكتافِ
The clan of Sabur of the Armies, and seekers
of the exploits of Sabur of the Shoulders.
عَمِرواthey lived on يُخلِفونَthey belie باطِلَthe falsehood of ماwhat ظَنsupposed (start)
عَمِروا يُخلِفونَ باطِلَ ما ظَن
نَsupposed (completion) العِدىthe enemies بِالوِقافِby standing firm ثُمَّthen الثِقافِfencing
نَ العِدى بِالوِقافِ ثُمَّ الثِقافِ
They lived on, belying the false things
their foes supposed, by standing firm and then by fencing.
ياO أَباAbu (father of) عَبدِAbd (servant of) اللَهِGod مَدَّmay He extend لَكَfor you اللَGod (start)
يا أَبا عَبدِ اللَهِ مَدَّ لَكَ اللَ
هُGod (completion) بِناءَthe edifice of العَلياءِlofty glory مَدَّthe stretching of الطِرافِthe leather tent
هُ بِناءَ العَلياءِ مَدَّ الطِرافِ
O Abu Abd Allah, may God extend for you
the edifice of glory as a leather tent is stretched.
لَنwill not يَفوتَpass by الرَبيعُspring إِسكافَIskaf ماas long as أَبyou dwell (start)
لَن يَفوتَ الرَبيعُ إِسكافَ ما أَب
نَنتَyou dwell (completion) وَالنَهرَوانَand al-Nahrawan فيin إِسكافِIskaf
نَنتَ وَالنَهرَوانَ في إِسكافِ
Spring will not pass Iskaf by so long as you
dwell with al-Nahrawan in Iskaf.
وُلِيَتit was favored مِنكُماfrom you both بِنَيلٍwith bounty دِراكٍsuccessive
وُلِيَت مِنكُما بِنَيلٍ دِراكٍ
مُغدِقٍcopious وَبلُهُits downpour وَسَيلٍand a torrent جُحافِsweeping away
مُغدِقٍ وَبلُهُ وَسَيلٍ جُحافِ
It was favored by you both with successive bounty,
copious in its downpour, and a sweeping torrent.
إِنif بَلَوناكَwe test you كُنتَyou prove to be واحِدَone of آحاpeerless individuals (start)
إِن بَلَوناكَ كُنتَ واحِدَ آحا
دٍpeerless individuals (completion) لَهُمthey have كَثرَةٌa multitude عَلىover الآلافِthousands
دٍ لَهُم كَثرَةٌ عَلى الآلافِ
If we test you, you are one of those peerless
few who count for more than thousands.
تَتَقَصّىyou pursue to the utmost الغاياتِthe goals لاnot تَنصُفُcovers half الريthe wind (start)
تَتَقَصّى الغاياتِ لا تَنصُفُ الري
حُthe wind (completion) مَسافاتِهاtheir distances مِنَfrom الإِزحافِexhaustion
حُ مَسافاتِها مِنَ الإِزحافِ
You pursue the utmost goals; not even the wind
can cover half their distances, from exhaustion.
وَاِجتِماعُand the union of الأَضدادِopposites فيماin what تُواليyou bestow successively
وَاِجتِماعُ الأَضدادِ فيما تُوالي
مِنof أَيادٍfavors فيناupon us ثِقالٍweighty خِفافِlight
مِن أَيادٍ فينا ثِقالٍ خِفافِ
And opposites unite in what you continually bestow—
favors upon us, weighty yet light.
شُهِرَتthey became renowned شُهرَةَwith the fame of النُجومِthe stars وَسارَand traveled الthe
شُهِرَت شُهرَةَ النُجومِ وَسارَ ال
ذِكرُrenown مِنهاfrom them فيamong الناسِthe people سَيرَlike the travel of القَوافيrhymes
ذِكرُ مِنها في الناسِ سَيرَ القَوافي
They gained the fame of stars, and
their renown traveled among people as rhymes travel.
Sol 6.1