لَيالِيَناour nights بَينَbetween اللِوىal-Liwa فُمَحَجِّرِand Mahajjar
لَيالِيَنا بَينَ اللِوى فُمَحَجِّرِ
سُقيتِmay you be watered الحَياrain مِنfrom صَيِّبِa downpour المُزنِthe clouds مُمطِرِpouring
سُقيتِ الحَيا مِن صَيِّبِ المُزنِ مُمطِرِ
Our nights between al-Liwa and Mahajjar—
may you be watered by rain from the pouring clouds.
مَضىpassed بِكِwith you وَصلُand the company الغانِياتِof beauties وَنَشوَةُand the rapture الthe, attached to the next line
مَضى بِكِ وَصلُ الغانِياتِ وَنَشوَةُ ال
شَبابِyouth وَمَعروفُand the familiar الهَوىlove المُتَنَكِّرِturned strange
شَبابِ وَمَعروفُ الهَوى المُتَنَكِّرِ
With you passed the company of beauties and the rapture of
youth, and the familiar love that turned strange.
فَإِنso if أَتَذَكَّرI remember حُسنَthe beauty ماof what فاتَpassed لاnot أَجِدI find
فَإِن أَتَذَكَّر حُسنَ ما فاتَ لا أَجِد
رُجوعاًa return لِماto what فارَقتُهُI left behind بِالتَذَكُّرِthrough remembering
رُجوعاً لِما فارَقتُهُ بِالتَذَكُّرِ
Though I recall the beauty of what has passed, I find no
return to what I left behind through remembering.
نَضَوتُI cast off الأَسىsorrow عَنّيfrom me اِصطِباراًthrough patience وَرُبَّماand sometimes
نَضَوتُ الأَسى عَنّي اِصطِباراً وَرُبَّما
أَسيتُI grieved فَلَمand did not أَصبِرendure وَلَمnor أَتَصَبَّرِfeign endurance
أَسيتُ فَلَم أَصبِر وَلَم أَتَصَبَّرِ
I cast sorrow from myself through patience, yet sometimes
I grieved and could neither endure nor feign endurance.
أَياO صاحِبيmy friend إِمّاif أَرَدتَyou wish صِحابَتيmy companionship
أَيا صاحِبي إِمّا أَرَدتَ صِحابَتي
فَكُنthen be مُقصِراًrestrained أَوor مُغرَماًlovestruck مِثلَlike مُقصِرِone restrained
فَكُن مُقصِراً أَو مُغرَماً مِثلَ مُقصِرِ
My friend, if you wish for my companionship,
be restrained, or be lovestruck like one restrained.
فَإِنِّيَfor I إِنif أُزمِعresolve غُدُوّاًa morning departure لِطِيَّةٍon a journey
فَإِنِّيَ إِن أُزمِع غُدُوّاً لِطِيَّةٍ
أُغُلِّسI leave before dawn وَإِنand if أُجمِعdecide on رَواحاًan evening departure أُهَجَّرِI depart at midday
أُغُلِّس وَإِن أُجمِع رَواحاً أُهَجَّرِ
For if I resolve to set out on a journey in the morning,
I leave before dawn; and if I plan an evening departure, I leave at midday.
وَماand does not يَقرَبُcome near الطَيفُthe phantom المُلِمُّthat visits رَكائِبيmy mounts
وَما يَقرَبُ الطَيفُ المُلِمُّ رَكائِبي
وَلاnor يَعتَرينيovertakes me الشَوقُlonging مِنfrom حَيثُwhere يَعتَريit once overtook
وَلا يَعتَريني الشَوقُ مِن حَيثُ يَعتَري
The visiting phantom no longer comes near my mounts,
nor does longing overtake me where it once did.
سُقيناwe were given to drink جَنىthe fruit السُلوانِof forgetfulness أَمor شَغَلَhas occupied الهَوىlove
سُقينا جَنى السُلوانِ أَم شَغَلَ الهَوى
عَلَيناus بَنوthe sons العِشرينَof twenty مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَعشَرِclan
عَلَينا بَنو العِشرينَ مِن كُلِّ مَعشَرِ
Have we been given the fruit of forgetfulness, or has love
occupied us with twenty-year-olds from every clan?
وَقَدand indeed ساءَنيit pained me أَنthat لَمnot يَهِجstir مِنof my longing صَبابَتيthe gleam
وَقَد ساءَني أَن لَم يَهِج مِن صَبابَتي
سَناof lightning البَرقِin فيthe darkness جِنحٍof مِنَthe night اللَيلِgreen-darkened أَخضَرِof the lightning
سَنا البَرقِ في جِنحٍ مِنَ اللَيلِ أَخضَرِ
It pained me that the gleam of lightning did not stir
my longing in the green darkness of night.
وَإِنِّيَand I هَجرٌone who forsakes لِلمُدامِwine وَقَدthough جَلاhas revealed
وَإِنِّيَ هَجرٌ لِلمُدامِ وَقَد جَلا
لَناto us الصُبحَthe morning مِنfrom قُطرُبُّلٍQutrubbul وَبَلَشكَرِand Balashkar
لَنا الصُبحَ مِن قُطرُبُّلٍ وَبَلَشكَرِ
I have forsaken wine, though dawn has shone
for us over Qutrubbul and Balashkar.
وَكَيفَand how تَعاطيthe pursuit اللَهوِof pleasure وَالرَأسُwhile the head مُخلِسٌis turning white
وَكَيفَ تَعاطي اللَهوِ وَالرَأسُ مُخلِسٌ
مَشيباًwith grey hair وَشُربُand drinking الراحِwine مِنfrom بَعدِafter جَعفَرِJa’far
مَشيباً وَشُربُ الراحِ مِن بَعدِ جَعفَرِ
How can one pursue pleasure when the head is turning
white, or drink wine after Ja'far?
قَنِعتُI was content وَجانَبتُand I shunned المَطامِعَambitions لابِساًwearing
قَنِعتُ وَجانَبتُ المَطامِعَ لابِساً
لِباسَthe garb مُحِبِّof one who loves لِلبَراءَةِinnocence مُؤثِرِpreferring it
لِباسَ مُحِبِّ لِلبَراءَةِ مُؤثِرِ
I was content and shunned ambition, wearing
the garb of one who loves innocence and chooses it.
وَآنَسَنيand comforted me عِلميmy knowledge بِأَنthat لاnot تَقَدُّميmy advancement
وَآنَسَني عِلمي بِأَن لا تَقَدُّمي
مُفيديwould benefit me وَلاnor مُزرٍwould diminish بِحَظّيmy lot تَأَخُّريmy delay
مُفيدي وَلا مُزرٍ بِحَظّي تَأَخُّري
I took comfort in knowing that my advancement
would not benefit me, nor my delay diminish my lot.
وَلَوand if فاتَنيescaped me المَقدورُwhat was decreed مِمّاof what أَرومُهُI seek
وَلَو فاتَني المَقدورُ مِمّا أَرومُهُ
بِسَعيٍthrough striving لَأَدرَكتُI would attain الَّذيwhat لَمnot يُقَدَّرِwas decreed
بِسَعيٍ لَأَدرَكتُ الَّذي لَم يُقَدَّرِ
If what I seek was fated to elude me
despite my striving, I would attain what was never decreed!
أَقولُI say لِذيto the man of البِشرِcheer البَكيءِscant الَّذيwhose نَبَتhave grown harsh
أَقولُ لِذي البِشرِ البَكيءِ الَّذي نَبَت
خَلائِقُهُhis manners وَالنائِلِand whose gifts المُتَعَذِّرِare hard to obtain
خَلائِقُهُ وَالنائِلِ المُتَعَذِّرِ
I say to the man of scant smiles, whose
manners are harsh and whose gifts are hard to obtain:
لِمَنto one whose رِفدُهُbounty بَيضُthe eggs الأَنوقِof the anūq وَعِرضُهُand whose honor
لِمَن رِفدُهُ بَيضُ الأَنوقِ وَعِرضُهُ
إِذاwhen أَكثَبَdraws near الراميthe archer صَفاةُthe rock المُشَقَّرِof al-Mushaqqar
إِذا أَكثَبَ الرامي صَفاةُ المُشَقَّرِ
to one whose bounty is as rare as an anūq’s eggs, and whose honor,
when the archer draws near, is like al-Mushaqqar’s rock:
كَفاكَenough for you العُلاlofty rank مَنone whom لَستَyou are not فيهاin it بِبالِغٍreaching
كَفاكَ العُلا مَن لَستَ فيها بِبالِغٍ
مَداهُhis extent وَلاnor مُغنٍhelping لَهُhim يَومَon a day مَفخَرِof pride
مَداهُ وَلا مُغنٍ لَهُ يَومَ مَفخَرِ
Enough of lofty claims before one whose reach you cannot
match, and whom you cannot aid on a day of pride;
وَمَنand one whom لَوif تَرىyou saw فيin مِلكِهِhis possession عُدتَyou would count نائِلاًa giver
وَمَن لَو تَرى في مِلكِهِ عُدتَ نائِلاً
لَأَوَّلِto the first عافٍseeker مِنamong مُرَجّيهِthose hoping from him مُقتِرِimpoverished
لَأَوَّلِ عافٍ مِن مُرَجّيهِ مُقتِرِ
one whom, if you saw his possessions, you would count generous
to the first needy seeker among his impoverished petitioners.
لَقَدindeed حيطَhas been guarded فَيءُthe public revenues المُسلِمينَof the Muslims بِحازِمٍby a resolute man
لَقَد حيطَ فَيءُ المُسلِمينَ بِحازِمٍ
كَلوءٍa watchful guardian لِفَيءِof the revenues المُسلِمينَof the Muslims مُوَفِّرِincreasing them
كَلوءٍ لِفَيءِ المُسلِمينَ مُوَفِّرِ
The Muslims’ public revenues have been placed under a resolute
guardian, watchful over those revenues and increasing them.
مَلِيٍّcapable بِإِذلالِof humbling العَزيزِthe powerful إِذاwhen اِلتَوىhe resists
مَلِيٍّ بِإِذلالِ العَزيزِ إِذا اِلتَوى
عَلَيهِhim وَقَسرِand of subduing الأَبلَجِthe bright-faced man المُتَكَبِّرِthe arrogant
عَلَيهِ وَقَسرِ الأَبلَجِ المُتَكَبِّرِ
He can humble the powerful man when he resists
him, and subdue the bright-faced arrogant man.
أَذاقَhe made taste الخَصيبِيّينَthe Khasibis عُقبىthe consequence فِعالِهِمof their deeds
أَذاقَ الخَصيبِيّينَ عُقبى فِعالِهِم
عَلىat حينِa time بَأوٍof pride مِنهُمُamong them وَتَكَبُّرِand arrogance
عَلى حينِ بَأوٍ مِنهُمُ وَتَكَبُّرِ
He made the Khasibis taste the consequence of their deeds
while they were still full of pride and arrogance.
وَكانواand they were مَتىwhenever ماthey يُسأَلواwere asked النَصفَfor fairness يَشمَخواthey held high
وَكانوا مَتى ما يُسأَلوا النَصفَ يَشمَخوا
بِآنُفِwith noses شُرّادٍof fugitives عَنِfrom الحَقِّthe truth نُفَّرِrecoiling
بِآنُفِ شُرّادٍ عَنِ الحَقِّ نُفَّرِ
Whenever they were asked to be fair, they held their heads high
with the noses of men who flee and recoil from the truth.
نَماهُمhe traced their descent أَبوAbu المَغراءِal-Maghra’ فيin جِذمِthe stock لُؤمِهِof his baseness
نَماهُم أَبو المَغراءِ في جِذمِ لُؤمِهِ
إِلىto كُلِّevery عِلجٍcoarse man مِنamong بَنيthe sons التالِof al-Tal أَمغَرِruddy
إِلى كُلِّ عِلجٍ مِن بَني التالِ أَمغَرِ
Abu al-Maghra’ traced their base lineage
to every coarse man among the ruddy Banu al-Tal.
يَعُدّونَthey count سوخَرّاءَSukharra’ جَدّاًan ancestor بِزَعمِهِمas they claim
يَعُدّونَ سوخَرّاءَ جَدّاً بِزَعمِهِم
فَقَدand thus أَحرَزواthey secured شُؤمَthe ill omen اِسمِهِof his name فيin التَطَيَّرِsuperstition
فَقَد أَحرَزوا شُؤمَ اِسمِهِ في التَطَيَّرِ
They claim Sukharra’ as an ancestor;
thus, in their superstitions, they have secured the ill omen of his name.
وَنُبِّئتُهُمand I was told of them تَحتَunder العِصِيِّthe rods وَقَدand indeed بَدَتappeared
وَنُبِّئتُهُم تَحتَ العِصِيِّ وَقَد بَدَت
خَزاياdisgraced ones مُقِرٍّa confessor مِنهُمُamong them وَمُقَرِّرِand a questioner
خَزايا مُقِرٍّ مِنهُمُ وَمُقَرِّرِ
I was told of them beneath the rods, when there appeared
the disgraced faces of those confessing and those questioning:
لِحاًbeards نُتِفَتwere plucked حَتّىuntil أُطيرَwere torn away سِبالُهاtheir mustaches
لِحاً نُتِفَت حَتّى أُطيرَ سِبالُها
وَأَقفاءُand necks مَصفوعينَof men slapped فيin كُلِّevery مَحضَرِgathering
وَأَقفاءُ مَصفوعينَ في كُلِّ مَحضَرِ
beards plucked until their mustaches were torn away,
and necks slapped before every gathering.
حَداكُمdrove you onward صَليبُa firm man العَزمِof resolve لَيسَnot بِواهِنٍweak
حَداكُم صَليبُ العَزمِ لَيسَ بِواهِنٍ
وَلاnor غُمُرٍinexperienced فيin المُشكِلاتِdifficult matters مُغَمَّرِoverwhelmed
وَلا غُمُرٍ في المُشكِلاتِ مُغَمَّرِ
A man of firm resolve drove you on, neither weak
nor inexperienced when difficulties overwhelm others.
قَليلُrarely اِحتِجابِhiding الوَجهِhis face يَغدوhe goes forth بِمَسمَعٍwithin hearing
قَليلُ اِحتِجابِ الوَجهِ يَغدو بِمَسمَعٍ
مِنَof الأَمرِthe affair حَتّىuntil يَستَثيبَhe seeks reward وَمَنظَرِand sight
مِنَ الأَمرِ حَتّى يَستَثيبَ وَمَنظَرِ
He seldom hides his face; he approaches within hearing
and sight of affairs until he can seek their reward.
مُعَنّىًtaking pains بِإِعجالِto hurry البَطيءِthe slow man إِذاwhen اِحتَبىhe sits idle
مُعَنّىً بِإِعجالِ البَطيءِ إِذا اِحتَبى
وَصَبَّand eager بِتَقديمِto advance المُزَجّىthe one urged along المُؤَخَّرِheld back
وَصَبَّ بِتَقديمِ المُزَجّى المُؤَخَّرِ
He takes pains to hurry the slow man when he sits idle
and is eager to advance the laggard held back.
إِذاif طَلَبواthey seek مِنهُfrom him الهَوادَةَleniency طالَهُمrises before them
إِذا طَلَبوا مِنهُ الهَوادَةَ طالَهُم
قَراa summit جَبَلٍof a mountain مِنin دونِهِمtheir way مُتَوَعِّرِrugged
قَرا جَبَلٍ مِن دونِهِم مُتَوَعِّرِ
If they ask him for leniency, there rises before them
the rugged summit of a mountain.
وَإِنand if سَأَلواthey ask أَينَwhere الدَنيئَةُbaseness أَعوَزَتit cannot be found
وَإِن سَأَلوا أَينَ الدَنيئَةُ أَعوَزَت
لَدىwith أَحوَزِيٍّa capable man لِلدَنيئَةِof baseness مُنكِرِrejecting it
لَدى أَحوَزِيٍّ لِلدَنيئَةِ مُنكِرِ
And if they ask where baseness is, it cannot be found
in a capable man who rejects baseness.
مَتىwhenever اِختَلَفَdisagree الكُتّابُthe scribes فيabout الحُكمِthe ruling أَجمَعواthey agree
مَتى اِختَلَفَ الكُتّابُ في الحُكمِ أَجمَعوا
عَلىon رَأيِthe judgment ثَبتٍof a steadfast man فيin النَدِيِّthe council مُوَقَّرِhonored
عَلى رَأيِ ثَبتٍ في النَدِيِّ مُوَقَّرِ
Whenever the scribes disagree over a ruling, they agree
on the judgment of a steadfast man honored in the council.
وَإِنand if حارَis bewildered ساريthe people’s guide القَومِin فيa grave matter الخَطبِsucceeds through it the following insight أَنجَحَتthe people
وَإِن حارَ ساري القَومِ في الخَطبِ أَنجَحَت
بَصيرَةُthe insight هادٍof a guide لِلمَحَجَّةِto the clear path مُبصِرِseeing clearly
بَصيرَةُ هادٍ لِلمَحَجَّةِ مُبصِرِ
And if the people’s guide is bewildered by a grave matter, there succeeds
the insight of a guide who sees the clear path.
كِلواentrust الغايَةَthe goal القُصوىthe highest إِلىto مَنone who يَفوتُكُمoutstrips you
كِلوا الغايَةَ القُصوى إِلى مَن يَفوتُكُم
بِهاin it وَدَعواand leave التَدبيرَthe planning لِاِبنِto the son المُدَبِّرِof the planner
بِها وَدَعوا التَدبيرَ لِاِبنِ المُدَبِّرِ
Entrust the highest goal to one who outstrips you
in it, and leave the planning to the son of the planner.
فِداءُa ransom أَبيfor Abu إِسحاقَIshaq نَفسيmy soul وَأُسرَتيand my family
فِداءُ أَبي إِسحاقَ نَفسي وَأُسرَتي
وَقَلَّتand too little لَهُfor him نَفسيmy soul فِداءًas ransom وَمَعشَريand my kin
وَقَلَّت لَهُ نَفسي فِداءً وَمَعشَري
May my soul and family ransom Abu Ishaq;
my soul and kin are too little a ransom for him.
لَبِستُI wore لَهُthrough him النُعمىthe blessing الَّتيwhose لاnot بَدِيُّهاits beginning
لَبِستُ لَهُ النُعمى الَّتي لا بَدِيُّها
حَديثَrecent وَلاnor مَعروفُهاits favor بِمُكَدِّرِspoiled
حَديثَ وَلا مَعروفُها بِمُكَدِّرِ
Through him I have worn a blessing whose beginnings
are no recent thing and whose favor is not spoiled.
أَطَبتَyou were gracious وَأَكثَرتَand gave abundantly العَطاءَthe gifts مُسَمِّحاًfreely
أَطَبتَ وَأَكثَرتَ العَطاءَ مُسَمِّحاً
فَطِبso thrive نامِياًgrowing فيin نَضرَةِthe freshness العَيشِof life وَاِكثُرِand increase
فَطِب نامِياً في نَضرَةِ العَيشِ وَاِكثُرِ
You have been gracious and lavish in giving, freely;
so thrive, growing amid life’s freshness, and increase.
وَأَدَّيتَand you paid مِنfrom بادورِياءَBaduraya وَمَسكِنٍand Maskin
وَأَدَّيتَ مِن بادورِياءَ وَمَسكِنٍ
خَراجِيَmy two land taxes فيon جَنبَيthe two sides كِنابٍof Kinab وَتَعمِرِand Ta’mir
خَراجِيَ في جَنبَي كِنابٍ وَتَعمِرِ
And you paid from Baduraya and Maskin
my two land taxes on either side of Kinab and Ta’mir.
فَإِنso if قَصَّرَتfell short تِلكَthose الوُلاةُgovernors فَقَدthen indeed رَمىaimed
فَإِن قَصَّرَت تِلكَ الوُلاةُ فَقَد رَمى
إِلىtoward المَجدِglory واليa governor سُؤدَدٍof noble rank لَمnot يُقَصِّرِfell short
إِلى المَجدِ والي سُؤدَدٍ لَم يُقَصِّرِ
If those governors fell short, then a governor
of noble rank who never fell short has aimed for glory.
Sol 6