سُقيتِmay you be watered الغَواديthe morning rainclouds مِنof طُلولٍruins وَأَربُعِand dwelling grounds
سُقيتِ الغَوادي مِن طُلولٍ وَأَربُعِ
وَحُيِّتِand may you be greeted مِنas دارٍa dwelling لِأَسماءَbelonging to Asma بَلقَعdesolate
وَحُيِّتِ مِن دارٍ لِأَسماءَ بَلقَع
May morning rainclouds water you, O ruins and dwelling grounds,
The valleys were watered from early dawn and the fourth hour,
and may you be greeted, O Asma's desolate abode.
And I was greeted from a house for Asma in Balqa.
وَإِنand although كُنتُI am لاnot مَوعودُthe promise of أَسماءَAsma راجِعيrepaying me
وَإِن كُنتُ لا مَوعودُ أَسماءَ راجِعي
بِنُجحٍwith fulfillment وَلاnor تَسويفُthe postponement of أَسماءَAsma مُقنِعيsatisfying me
بِنُجحٍ وَلا تَسويفُ أَسماءَ مُقنِعي
Though I am one whom Asma's promise does not repay
Though I am not one whom Asma hopes will return
with fulfillment, nor does Asma's delay satisfy me,
Successfully, nor does putting off Asma convince me.
وَلاnor نافِعيbenefiting me سَكبُthe pouring of الدُموعِthe tears الَّتيthat جَرَتflowed
وَلا نافِعي سَكبُ الدُموعِ الَّتي جَرَت
لَدَيهاin her presence وَلاnor فَرطُthe excess of الحَنينِlonging المُرَجَّعِrepeated in echoes
لَدَيها وَلا فَرطُ الحَنينِ المُرَجَّعِ
nor does the pouring of tears that flowed avail me
Neither my pouring forth tears that flowed before her,
in her presence, nor the fervor of repeatedly echoed longing.
Nor my abundant yearning brings me back together with her.
فَلاso no وَصلَunion إِلّاexcept أَنthat يُطيفَvisits خَيالُهاher phantom
فَلا وَصلَ إِلّا أَن يُطيفَ خَيالُها
بِناaround us تَحتَbeneath جُؤشوشٍa breast; dark mass مِنَof اللَيلِthe night أَسفَعِdusky
بِنا تَحتَ جُؤشوشٍ مِنَ اللَيلِ أَسفَعِ
There is no union, then, except when her phantom visits
So there is no union unless her image comes upon us
us beneath the dusky breast of night.
Beneath a canopy of the darkest night.
أَلَمَّتshe visited بِناus بَعدَafter الهُدُوِّthe stillness فَسامَحَتand then she granted
أَلَمَّت بِنا بَعدَ الهُدُوِّ فَسامَحَت
بِوَصلٍwith union مَتىwhenever نَطلُبهُwe seek it فيin الجِدِّearnest تَمنَعِshe withholds
بِوَصلٍ مَتى نَطلُبهُ في الجِدِّ تَمنَعِ
She visited us after all was still, and granted
She blamed me after cordiality, then permitted
a union she withholds whenever we seek it in earnest.
A union I seek seriously but she refuses.
وَماand not بَرَحَتshe departed حَطّىuntil (apparently حتّى) مَضىpassed اللَيلُthe night فَانقَضىand then it ended
وَما بَرَحَت حَطّى مَضى اللَيلُ فَانقَضى
وَأَعجَلَهاand hurried her away داعيthe herald of الصَباحِthe morning المُلَمَّعِstreaked with light
وَأَعجَلَها داعي الصَباحِ المُلَمَّعِ
She did not leave until the night passed and ended,
She did not move until the night passed and went away,
and the herald of dawn, streaked with light, hurried her away.
And the caller to dawn, adorned with light, hastened her.
فَوَلَّتthen she turned away كَأَنَّas though البَينَseparation يَخلُجُwrenched شَخصَهاher form
فَوَلَّت كَأَنَّ البَينَ يَخلُجُ شَخصَها
أَوانَat the time تَوَلَّتshe turned away مِنfrom حَشايَmy inmost heart وَأَضلُعيand my ribs
أَوانَ تَوَلَّت مِن حَشايَ وَأَضلُعي
Then she turned away, as though separation were wrenching her form
She turned away as if parting convulsed her being
from my heart and ribs at the moment she departed.
When she turned from my pride and ribs.
وَرُبَّand many a لِقاءٍmeeting لَمnot يُؤَمَّلwas hoped for وَفُرقَةٍand a parting
وَرُبَّ لِقاءٍ لَم يُؤَمَّل وَفُرقَةٍ
لِأَسماءَfrom Asma لَمnot تُحذَرwas feared وَلَمand not تُتَوَقَّعِwas expected
لِأَسماءَ لَم تُحذَر وَلَم تُتَوَقَّعِ
Many a meeting was never hoped for, and many a parting
How often there is a meeting not hoped for and a separation
from Asma was neither feared nor foreseen.
From Asma not feared nor expected.
أَرانِيَI see myself لاnot أَنفَكُّI cease فيin كُلِّevery لَيلَةٍnight
أَرانِيَ لا أَنفَكُّ في كُلِّ لَيلَةٍ
تُعاوِدُrevisits فيهاduring it المالِكِيَّةُthe Malikite woman مَضجَعيmy bed
تُعاوِدُ فيها المالِكِيَّةُ مَضجَعي
I find myself ever, on every night
Do you see me cease every night
when the Malikite woman revisits my bed,
When the Pleiades return to my resting place,
أُسَدُّI am gladdened (apparently أُسَرُّ) بِقُربٍby nearness مِنto مُلِمٍّa visitor مُسَلِّمِoffering greetings
أُسَدُّ بِقُربٍ مِن مُلِمٍّ مُسَلِّمِ
وَأَشجىand I am saddened بِبَينٍby separation مِنfrom حَبيبٍa beloved مُوَدِّعِbidding farewell
وَأَشجى بِبَينٍ مِن حَبيبٍ مُوَدِّعِ
gladdened by the nearness of a visitor offering greetings,
Lying down close by an intimate companion
and saddened by separation from a beloved bidding farewell.
Yet more lovelorn for a beloved who has bid farewell?
فَكائِنso how many لَناfor us بَعدَafter النَوىseparation مِنof تَفَرُّقٍa parting
فَكائِن لَنا بَعدَ النَوى مِن تَفَرُّقٍ
تُزَجّيهِcarry it along أَحلامُdreams of الكَرىsleep وَتَجَمُّعِand reunion
تُزَجّيهِ أَحلامُ الكَرى وَتَجَمُّعِ
How many a parting is ours after separation,
So what will happen to us after resolve is separation
carried along by dreams of sleep—and how many a reunion!
Agitated by dreams of fate and gathering.
وَمِنand of لَوعَةٍa pang تَعتادُreturns فيin إِثرِthe wake of لَوعَةٍa pang
وَمِن لَوعَةٍ تَعتادُ في إِثرِ لَوعَةٍ
وَمِنand of أَدمُعٍtears تَرفَضُّstream forth فيin إِثرِthe wake of أَدمُعِtears
وَمِن أَدمُعٍ تَرفَضُّ في إِثرِ أَدمُعِ
And how many a pang returns in the wake of another,
And a torment that follows upon torment
and how many tears stream forth in the wake of tears!
And tears pouring after tears.
فَهَلّاwhy, then, not جَزىrepaid أَهلُthe people of الحِمىthe protected grounds فَيضَthe flood of عَبرَتيmy weeping
فَهَلّا جَزى أَهلُ الحِمى فَيضَ عَبرَتي
وَشَوقيand my longing إِلىfor أَهلِthe people of الحِمىthe protected grounds وَتَطَلُّعيand my yearning gaze
وَشَوقي إِلى أَهلِ الحِمى وَتَطَلُّعي
Why have the people of the protected grounds not repaid my streaming tears,
Why can't the people of the sanctuary reward my flowing tears
my longing for the people of the protected grounds, and my yearning gaze?
And my longing for the people of sanctity and my aspiration?
سَيَحمِلُwill carry هَمّيmy care عَنin قَريبِنa short while وَهِمَّتيand my ambition
سَيَحمِلُ هَمّي عَن قَريبِن وَهِمَّتي
قَراthe back of كُلِّevery ذَيّالٍlong-tailed camel جُلالٍhuge جَلَنفَعِmassive
قَرا كُلِّ ذَيّالٍ جُلالٍ جَلَنفَعِ
Soon my care and my ambition will be carried
Soon it will carry my concerns on its neighing
on the back of every long-tailed, huge, mighty camel.
To every magnificent, glorious, splendid knight.
يُناهِبنَthey vie in plundering أَجوازَthe midsections of الفَيافيthe deserts بِأَرجُلٍwith legs
يُناهِبنَ أَجوازَ الفَيافي بِأَرجُلٍ
عِجالٍswift إِلىto طَيِّfolding up الفَيافيthe deserts وَأَذرُعِand forelegs
عِجالٍ إِلى طَيِّ الفَيافي وَأَذرُعِ
They vie in plundering the hearts of the deserts with legs
It will raid the open deserts on legs
swift to fold up the deserts, and with forelegs.
Quick to the open desert and forearms.
مَتىwhen تَبلُغُyou reach الفَتحَal-Fath بنَson of خاقانَKhaqan لاnot تُنَحbe made to kneel (likely تُنَخ)
مَتى تَبلُغُ الفَتحَ بنَ خاقانَ لا تُنَح
بِضَنكٍin hardship وَلاnor تَفزَعyou seek refuge إِلىtoward غَيرِother than مَفزَعِa refuge
بِضَنكٍ وَلا تَفزَع إِلى غَيرِ مَفزَعِ
When you reach al-Fath ibn Khaqan, you will not be made to kneel
When you attain victory by the grace of Chosroes, do not waver
in hardship, nor seek refuge where there is no refuge.
In distress nor panic without a refuge.
حَليفُan ally of نَداًgenerosity إِنif سيلَhe is asked فاضَتoverflow حِياضُهُhis pools
حَليفُ نَداً إِن سيلَ فاضَت حِياضُهُ
وَذوand possessed of كَرَمٍbounty إِلّاif not يُسَلhe is asked يَتَبَرَّعِhe gives freely
وَذو كَرَمٍ إِلّا يُسَل يَتَبَرَّعِ
An ally of generosity: if asked, his pools overflow;
An ally of help when his torrents overflow
a man of bounty: if not asked, he gives freely.
And one noble only when asked gives generously.
تُؤَمَّلُis hoped for نُعماهُhis favor وَيُرجىand is expected نَوالُهُhis bounty
تُؤَمَّلُ نُعماهُ وَيُرجى نَوالُهُ
لِعانٍfor a captive ضَريكٍwretched أَوor لِعافٍfor a petitioner مُدَقَّعِdestitute
لِعانٍ ضَريكٍ أَو لِعافٍ مُدَقَّعِ
His favors are hoped for, his bounty expected,
His favors are hoped for and his bounty sought
for a wretched captive or a destitute petitioner.
By one emaciated or another well-fed.
وَيَبتَدِرُand hasten الراءونَthose who see مِنهُfrom him إِذاwhen بَداhe appears
وَيَبتَدِرُ الراءونَ مِنهُ إِذا بَدا
سَناthe radiance of قَمَرٍa moon مِنfrom سُدَّةِthe threshold of المُلكُkingship مُطلَعيrising (apparently مُطْلِع)
سَنا قَمَرٍ مِن سُدَّةِ المُلكُ مُطلَعي
Those who see him hasten, when he appears, toward
And the onlookers seek from him when there appears
the radiance of a moon rising from the royal threshold.
The splendor of full moons from the veil of kingship rising.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis مَشىhe walks بَينَbetween الصُفوفِthe ranks تَقاصَرَتgrow shorter
إِذا ما مَشى بَينَ الصُفوفِ تَقاصَرَت
رُؤوسُthe heads of الرِجالِthe men عَنcompared with طِوالٍa towering man سَميدَعِa noble lord
رُؤوسُ الرِجالِ عَن طِوالٍ سَميدَعِ
When he walks between the ranks, dwarfed are
When he walks between ranks, the heads of men
the heads of men beside that towering, noble lord.
Bow down before the tall and towering.
يَقومونَthey rise مِنfrom بُعدٍafar إِذاwhen بَصُرواthey catch sight بِهِof him
يَقومونَ مِن بُعدٍ إِذا بَصُروا بِهِ
لِأَبلَجَfor a bright-browed man مَوفورِabundant in الجَلالَةِmajesty أَروَعِawe-inspiring
لِأَبلَجَ مَوفورِ الجَلالَةِ أَروَعِ
They rise from afar when they catch sight of him,
They stand from afar when they catch sight of him
for a bright-browed, awe-inspiring man of abundant majesty.
For the shining full moons of majesty most radiant.
وَيَدعونَand they call out بِالأَسماءِby names مَثنىًin pairs وَمَوحَداًand singly
وَيَدعونَ بِالأَسماءِ مَثنىً وَمَوحَداً
إِذاwhen حَضَرواthey attend بابَthe gate of الرُواقِthe portico المُرَفَّعِraised high
إِذا حَضَروا بابَ الرُواقِ المُرَفَّعِ
And names are called out, in pairs and singly,
And they call him in plural and singular
when they come to the gate of the lofty portico.
When they approach the door of the lofty porch.
إِذاwhen سارَhe proceeds كُفَّis restrained اللَحظُthe gaze عَنfrom كُلِّevery مَنظَرٍsight
إِذا سارَ كُفَّ اللَحظُ عَن كُلِّ مَنظَرٍ
سِواهُother than him وَغُضَّand is lowered الصَوتُthe voice عَنfrom كُلِّevery مَسمَعِhearing
سِواهُ وَغُضَّ الصَوتُ عَن كُلِّ مَسمَعِ
When he proceeds, the gaze is kept from every sight
When movement of glances stops from everything else
but him, and voices are hushed beyond all hearing.
And voices hush from all hearing,
فَلَستَso you do not تَرىsee إِلّاexcept إِفاضَةَa streaming throng of شاخِصٍone staring
فَلَستَ تَرى إِلّا إِفاضَةَ شاخِصٍ
إِلَيهِtoward him بِعَينٍwith an eye أَوor مُشيرٍone pointing بِإِصبَعِwith a finger
إِلَيهِ بِعَينٍ أَو مُشيرٍ بِإِصبَعِ
Then you see only a stream of people staring
You see only the outpouring of upturned eyes
at him with their eyes, or pointing with a finger.
To him or fingers pointing to him.
مُراعٍwatchful لِأَوقاتِfor the moments of المَعاليexalted achievements مَتىwhenever يَلُحappears
مُراعٍ لِأَوقاتِ المَعالي مَتى يَلُح
لَهُto him شَرَفٌglory يوجَفhe speeds إِلَيهِtoward it فَيوضِعِand then gallops
لَهُ شَرَفٌ يوجَف إِلَيهِ فَيوضِعِ
Watchful for moments of high achievement, whenever glory appears
Heeding the times of glory when an honor befits him
before him, he speeds toward it and gallops on.
At which he rushes so it may be placed before him.
عَفُوٌّforgiving عَنِtoward الجانينَoffenders حَتّىuntil يَرُدُّهُمhe brings them back
عَفُوٌّ عَنِ الجانينَ حَتّى يَرُدُّهُم
إِلَيهِto him وَإِلّاand if not يَعفُhe pardons يَأخُذhe seizes فَيُسرِعِand then hastens
إِلَيهِ وَإِلّا يَعفُ يَأخُذ فَيُسرِعِ
He forgives offenders until he brings them back
Forgiving of sinners until he returns them
to him; if he does not forgive, he seizes and acts swiftly.
To himself, otherwise he pardons, seizes and hurries.
عَليمٌwell versed بِتَصريفِin the turns of اللَياليthe nights كَأَنَّهُas though he
عَليمٌ بِتَصريفِ اللَيالي كَأَنَّهُ
يُعانيhe experiences صُروفَthe vicissitudes of الدَهرِtime مِنsince عَهدِthe age of تُبَّعِTubba'
يُعاني صُروفَ الدَهرِ مِن عَهدِ تُبَّعِ
He knows the turns of the nights, as though
Knowledgeable of the course of nights as if
he had faced time's vicissitudes since the age of Tubba'.
He suffers the turns of fate since ancient Tubba.
حَليمٌforbearing فَإِنthen if يُبلَis tried الجَهولُthe fool بِحِقدِهِby his rancor
حَليمٌ فَإِن يُبلَ الجَهولُ بِحِقدِهِ
يَبِتhe spends the night جارَa neighbor of رَأسِthe head of الحَيَّةِthe serpent المُتَطَلِّعِupraised
يَبِت جارَ رَأسِ الحَيَّةِ المُتَطَلِّعِ
He is forbearing; but if a fool is tried by his rancor,
Forbearing, so if an ignorant one vents his spite,
he passes the night beside the serpent's upraised head.
He passes the night with his head at the asp's path.
وَلاand not يَبتَديhe begins بِالحَربِwith war أَوuntil يُبتَديit is begun بِهاwith it
وَلا يَبتَدي بِالحَربِ أَو يُبتَدي بِها
وَقورُdignified الأَناةِin deliberation أَريَحِيُّgenerous-spirited التَسَرُّعِin swift action
وَقورُ الأَناةِ أَريَحِيُّ التَسَرُّعِ
He does not begin war until it is begun against him,
He neither starts war nor starts it with him
dignified in deliberation, generous-spirited in swift action.
Dignified, slow to anger, hastily advancing.
وَقَدand already آيَسَhas made despair الأَعداءَthe enemies مَحكُthe obstinacy of مُضاجيرٍan impatient man
وَقَد آيَسَ الأَعداءَ مَحكُ مُضاجيرٍ
لَجوجٍtenacious مَتىwhenever يَحزُزhe hacks بِكَفَّيهِwith both his hands يَقطَعِhe cuts through
لَجوجٍ مَتى يَحزُز بِكَفَّيهِ يَقطَعِ
His impatient obstinacy has made his enemies despair;
He has despaired enemies with his twisted grimace
tenacious, he cuts through whenever he hacks with both hands.
When he frowns with his palms, he cuts them off.
طَلوبٌrelentlessly seeking لِأَقصىthe farthest reach of الأَمرِthe affair حَتّىuntil يَنالُهُhe attains it
طَلوبٌ لِأَقصى الأَمرِ حَتّى يَنالُهُ
وَمُغرىًand captivated بِغاياتِby the utmost limits of الحَقائِقِrealities مولَعِpassionately devoted
وَمُغرىً بِغاياتِ الحَقائِقِ مولَعِ
He pursues an affair's farthest end until he attains it,
Seeking the farthest extent of command until he attains it
and is enthralled, passionately devoted to the ultimate truths.
And tempted by the limits of truths, obsessed.
وَقُلتُand I said لِمَغرورٍto one deluded بِهِabout him حانَwhose doom came وَاِرتَمَتand hurled
وَقُلتُ لِمَغرورٍ بِهِ حانَ وَاِرتَمَت
بِهِwith him مُطمِعاتُthe temptations of الحَينِdoom فيinto غَيرِother than مَطمَعِa hopeful prospect
بِهِ مُطمِعاتُ الحَينِ في غَيرِ مَطمَعِ
I said to one deluded about him, whose doom had come, and whom
And I said to one deluded with him, the hopes
doom's temptations had hurled where no hope lay:
Of the opportune moment in other than hopes have faded for him.
تَرَكتَyou abandoned اِقتِبالَaccepting العَفوِpardon وَالعَفوُwhile pardon مُعرِضٌwas offered
تَرَكتَ اِقتِبالَ العَفوِ وَالعَفوُ مُعرِضٌ
إِذِwhen السِلمُpeace باقٍremained وَالقُوىand the bonds لَمnot تَقَطَّعِhad come apart
إِذِ السِلمُ باقٍ وَالقُوى لَم تَقَطَّعِ
You forsook accepting pardon while pardon was offered,
You have neglected seeking pardon though pardon turns away
when peace remained and the bonds had not been severed.
Since peace remains and strength is not yet cut off.
أَفَالآنَis it then now حاوَلتَyou sought الرِضاapproval بَعدَماafter مَضَتhad gone forth
أَفَالآنَ حاوَلتَ الرِضا بَعدَما مَضَت
عَزيمَةُthe resolve of غَضبانٍan angry man عَلىto الشَرِّharm مُجمِعِdetermined
عَزيمَةُ غَضبانٍ عَلى الشَرِّ مُجمِعِ
Is it only now you seek approval, after there has gone forth
Have you now tried acceptance after the resolve
the resolve of an angry man determined on harm?
Of an angry one intent on evil has passed?
إِذاwhen بَدَرَتissued مِنهُfrom him العَزيمَةُthe resolve لَمnot يَقِفhe halted
إِذا بَدَرَت مِنهُ العَزيمَةُ لَم يَقِف
وَإِنand if جازَpassed عَنهُbeyond him الأَمرُthe affair لَمnot يَتَتَبَّعِhe pursued it
وَإِن جازَ عَنهُ الأَمرُ لَم يَتَتَبَّعِ
When resolve springs from him, he does not halt;
When resolve appears from him, he does not stand still
and if a matter passes him by, he does not pursue it.
And if the matter goes beyond him, he does not pursue.
هَجومٌcharging fiercely عَلىagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies مِنfrom كُلِّevery وِجهَةٍdirection
هَجومٌ عَلى الأَعداءِ مِن كُلِّ وِجهَةٍ
رِذاwhen (apparently إِذا) هَجهَجواthey shouted to drive off فيin وَجهِهِhis face لَمnot يُرَوَّعِhe was frightened
رِذا هَجهَجوا في وَجهِهِ لَم يُرَوَّعِ
He charges his enemies from every direction;
Charging the enemies from every direction,
when they shout in his face, he is not daunted.
Roaring if they roar in his face, unafraid.
أَمينُthe trusted keeper of بَنيthe sons of العَبّاسِal-Abbas فيin سِرِّthe secrets of أَمرِهِمtheir affairs
أَمينُ بَني العَبّاسِ في سِرِّ أَمرِهِم
وَعُدَّتُهُمand their resource لِلخالِعِagainst the rebel المُتَمَنِّعِwho resists
وَعُدَّتُهُم لِلخالِعِ المُتَمَنِّعِ
He is the trusted man of the sons of al-Abbas in their secret affairs,
Trustworthy of the Abbasids in the secret of their affair
and their resource against the rebel who resists.
And their equipment for the defiant apostate.
فَماso not هُوَhe بِالسَهلِeasy in الشَكيمَةِbridle دونَهُمin their defense
فَما هُوَ بِالسَهلِ الشَكيمَةِ دونَهُم
وَلاnor فيهِمِamong them بِالمُدهِنِa dissembling flatterer المُتَصَنِّعِaffected
وَلا فيهِمِ بِالمُدهِنِ المُتَصَنِّعِ
He is not easy to bridle when shielding them,
He is not lowly among them nor
nor among them an affected, dissembling flatterer.
A sycophant or pretender among them.
وَيُرضيكَand pleases you مِنin واليthe holder of الأَعِنَّةِthe reins كَرُّهُhis charge
وَيُرضيكَ مِن والي الأَعِنَّةِ كَرُّهُ
وَإِقدامُهُand his bold advance فيin المَأزِقِthe strait المُتَشَنِّعِdreadful
وَإِقدامُهُ في المَأزِقِ المُتَشَنِّعِ
In the master of the reins, his charge delights you,
And the hatred of the governor of scoundrels pleases you
and his bold advance in a dreadful strait.
As does his daring in the snarled and tangled.
لَهُhis is الأَثَرُthe mark المَحمودُpraiseworthy فيin كُلِّevery مَوقِفٍsituation
لَهُ الأَثَرُ المَحمودُ في كُلِّ مَوقِفٍ
وَفَصلُand the decisiveness of الخِطابِspeech الثَبتُfirm فيin كُلِّevery مَوضِعِplace
وَفَصلُ الخِطابِ الثَبتُ في كُلِّ مَوضِعِ
He leaves a praiseworthy mark in every situation,
He has the praised effect in every stance
and gives firm, decisive judgment in every setting.
And the decisive word in every position.
لَكَmay you have الخَيرُgood إِنّيindeed I لاحِقٌam coming to join بِكَyou فَاتَئِدso be patient
لَكَ الخَيرُ إِنّي لاحِقٌ بِكَ فَاتَئِد
عَلَيَّwith me وَإِنّيand indeed I قائِلٌam speaking لَكَto you فَاسمَعِso listen
عَلَيَّ وَإِنّي قائِلٌ لَكَ فَاسمَعِ
May good be yours! I am coming to join you, so be patient
Goodness to you, I will follow you so be
with me; I have words for you, so listen.
Forewarned about me, and I am saying to you, so listen.
مَكانِيَmy place مِنin نُعماكَyour favor غَيرُnot مُؤَخَّرٍset back
مَكانِيَ مِن نُعماكَ غَيرُ مُؤَخَّرٍ
وَحَظِّيَand my share مِنin جَدواكَyour bounty غَيرُnot مُضَيَّعِneglected
وَحَظِّيَ مِن جَدواكَ غَيرُ مُضَيَّعِ
My place in your favor is not pushed back,
My position from your favors is not delayed
and my share of your bounty is not neglected.
And my share from your endeavors not wasted.
وَإِنّيand indeed I وَإِنeven though بَلَّغتَنيyou have raised me to شَرَفَthe nobility of العُلاhigh rank
وَإِنّي وَإِن بَلَّغتَني شَرَفَ العُلا
وَأَعتَقتَand you have freed مِنfrom ذُلِّthe humiliation of المَطالِعِexpectant gazing أَخدَعيmy neck-vein
وَأَعتَقتَ مِن ذُلِّ المَطالِعِ أَخدَعي
And I, though you have raised me to the honor of lofty rank
And even if you have raised me to the honor of elevation
and freed my neck from the humiliation of expectant gazing,
And freed me from the disgrace of low horizons,
فَماso not أَناI بِالمَغضوضِdiminished فيماin what أَتَيتَهُyou have bestowed it
فَما أَنا بِالمَغضوضِ فيما أَتَيتَهُ
إِلَيَّto me وَلاnor المَوضوعِone placed فيin غَيرِother than مَوضِعيmy place
إِلَيَّ وَلا المَوضوعِ في غَيرِ مَوضِعي
am not beneath what you have bestowed
I am not sullen about what you have brought
upon me, nor set in a place that is not my own.
To me nor misplaced in other than my position.
وَقَدand already نافَسَتنيhas competed with me عُصبَةٌa band مِنof مُقَصِّرٍone falling short
وَقَد نافَسَتني عُصبَةٌ مِن مُقَصِّرٍ
وَمُنتَحِلٍand one appropriating مالَمwhat ... not يَقُلهُhe said it وَمُدَّعِand a pretender
وَمُنتَحِلٍ مالَم يَقُلهُ وَمُدَّعِ
A band has rivaled me, made up of one who falls short,
And a group of failing and falsely laying claim
one appropriating words he never spoke, and a pretender.
To what was not said have competed with me.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis اِبتَدَرناwe race toward غايَةًa goal جِئتُI arrive سابِقاًfirst
إِذا ما اِبتَدَرنا غايَةً جِئتُ سابِقاً
وَجاءواand they arrive عَلىin آثَرِthe wake حَسريexhausted (apparently حَسْرى) وَظُلَّعِand limping
وَجاءوا عَلى آثَرِ حَسري وَظُلَّعِ
Whenever we race toward a goal, I arrive first,
When we vie for a goal, I come first
and they arrive in my wake, exhausted and limping.
And they follow in the tracks of my misfortune and shade.
فَلاso do not تُلحِقَنever place alongside بيme مَعشَراًa company لَمnot يُؤَمِّلواthey hoped
فَلا تُلحِقَن بي مَعشَراً لَم يُؤَمِّلوا
لَحاقيto catch me وَلَمand not يَجرواthey ran إِلىtoward أَمَدٍa finish مَعيwith me
لَحاقي وَلَم يَجروا إِلى أَمَدٍ مَعي
So do not place beside me a company that never hoped
Do not liken me to a group who did not hope
to catch me, nor raced with me toward a finish.
To catch up to me nor race with me to any goal.
Sol 6.1