تُريكَshe shows you الَّذيwhat حُدِّثتَyou were told عَنهُabout it مِنَof السِحرِmagic
تُريكَ الَّذي حُدِّثتَ عَنهُ مِنَ السِحرِ
بِطَرفٍwith an eye عَليلِlanguid اللَحظِthe glance مُستَغرَبِastonishing الفَترِlanguor
بِطَرفٍ عَليلِ اللَحظِ مُستَغرَبِ الفَترِ
She shows you the magic you have been told of,
You show me the one whose magic you told me of
with an eye of languid glance and wondrous languor.
With a glance of ailing, wondering eyes
وَتَضحَكُand she smiles عَنrevealing نَظمٍa string مِنَof اللُؤلُؤِpearls الَّذيthat
وَتَضحَكُ عَن نَظمٍ مِنَ اللُؤلُؤِ الَّذي
أَراكَhas shown you دُموعَthe tears of الصَبِّthe lovelorn one كَاللُؤلُؤِlike pearls النَثرِscattered
أَراكَ دُموعَ الصَبِّ كَاللُؤلُؤِ النَثرِ
And she smiles, revealing a string of pearls that
And you laugh at a string of pearls
shows you the lovelorn one's tears like scattered pearls.
I see your tears of youth like scattered pearls
أَفيis there in الخَمرِwine بَعضٌsome مِنof تَعَصفُرِthe safflower-red hue of خَدِّهاher cheek
أَفي الخَمرِ بَعضٌ مِن تَعَصفُرِ خَدِّها
أَمِor اِلتَهَبَتhas flared فيin خَدِّهاher cheek نَشوَةُthe intoxication of الخَمرِwine
أَمِ اِلتَهَبَت في خَدِّها نَشوَةُ الخَمرِ
Does wine contain some of her cheek's safflower-red glow,
Is there some saffron on her cheek from the wine
or has wine's intoxication flared up in her cheek?
Or has the intoxication of wine ignited her cheek?
أَقامَتshe persisted عَلىin الهِجرانِestrangement ماnot إِنat all (emphatic) تَجوزُهُshe goes beyond it
أَقامَت عَلى الهِجرانِ ما إِن تَجوزُهُ
وَخالَفَهاand defied her بِالوَصلِby granting union طَيفٌan apparition لَهاof her يَسريroams by night
وَخالَفَها بِالوَصلِ طَيفٌ لَها يَسري
She persists in estrangement, never going beyond it,
She lingered in estrangement, though it surpassed her
yet a night-roaming vision of her defies her by granting union.
And a specter of her went to meet her with ease
فَكَمso how many فيin الدُجىthe darkness مِنof فَرحَةٍa joy بِلِقائِهاat meeting her
فَكَم في الدُجى مِن فَرحَةٍ بِلِقائِها
وَمِنand of تَرحَةٍa sorrow بِالبَينِat separation مِنهاfrom her لَدىat الفَجرِdawn
وَمِن تَرحَةٍ بِالبَينِ مِنها لَدى الفَجرِ
How many a joy in the darkness at meeting her,
So much joy in the darkness at meeting her
and how many a sorrow at parting from her at dawn!
And sadness at being far from her at dawn
إِذاwhen اللَيلُnight أَعطاناgives us مِنَof الوَصلِunion بُلغَةٍa scant provision
إِذا اللَيلُ أَعطانا مِنَ الوَصلِ بُلغَةٍ
ثَنَتناturned us back تَباشيرُthe first signs of النَهارِday إِلىto الهَجرِestrangement
ثَنَتنا تَباشيرُ النَهارِ إِلى الهَجرِ
When night gives us a scant provision of union,
When the night gives us some union
the first signs of day return us to estrangement.
The harbingers of dawn incline us to separation
وَلَمand did not أَنسَI forget إِسعافَthe aid of الكَرىsleep بِدُنُوِّهاin her drawing near
وَلَم أَنسَ إِسعافَ الكَرى بِدُنُوِّها
وَزَورَتَهاand her visit بَعدَafter الهُدُوِّthe stillness وَماwhile not تَدريshe knows
وَزَورَتَها بَعدَ الهُدُوِّ وَما تَدري
Nor have I forgotten how sleep helped bring her near,
I do not forget how worries draw near
and her visit after all grew still, though she knew nothing of it,
And visit after calm, though she knows not
وَأَخذيand my grasping بِعِطفَيهاby her two flanks وَقَدwhile already مالَinclined رِدفُهاher hips
وَأَخذي بِعِطفَيها وَقَد مالَ رِدفُها
بِلَيِّنَةِwith one supple in العِطفَينِthe two flanks مَهضومَةِdeprived of الحَقِّthe right or due
بِلَيِّنَةِ العِطفَينِ مَهضومَةِ الحَقِّ
and my clasping her sides, as her hips swayed—
I take her by the arms and her side inclines
she, supple of flank and deprived of her due.
With the softness of arms, truth worn away
عِناقٌan embrace يُرَوّيquenches غُلَّتيmy thirst وَهوَthough it باطِلٌunreal
عِناقٌ يُرَوّي غُلَّتي وَهوَ باطِلٌ
وَلَوand if أَنَّهُit حَقٌّreal شَفىwould cure لَوعَةَthe anguish of الصَدرِthe breast
وَلَو أَنَّهُ حَقٌّ شَفى لَوعَةَ الصَدرِ
An embrace that quenches my thirst, though unreal;
An embrace that slakes my passion, and it is false
had it been real, it would have cured the burning in my breast.
If it were true, it would heal the heartache
حَنَتكَhas cared tenderly for you أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful كِفايَةٌa protection
حَنَتكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ كِفايَةٌ
مِنَfrom اللَهِGod فيagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies نابِهَةُdistinguished الذِكرِrenown
مِنَ اللَهِ في الأَعداءِ نابِهَةُ الذِكرِ
A protection has tenderly guarded you, Commander of the Faithful,
Your care, O Commander of the Faithful, suffices
from God against your enemies, a protection of high renown.
Against enemies as a sign of remembrance
أَتاكَhas come to you هِلالُthe crescent of الشَهرِthe month سَعداًauspiciously فَبورِكَso may it be blessed
أَتاكَ هِلالُ الشَهرِ سَعداً فَبورِكَ
عَلىin كُلِّevery حالٍstate مِنas هِلالٍa crescent وَمِنand as شَهرِa month
عَلى كُلِّ حالٍ مِن هِلالٍ وَمِن شَهرِ
The month's crescent has come to you auspiciously—blessed be it,
The crescent came to you auspiciously, so blessings upon you
in every state, both crescent and month.
In every state, of crescent or month
أَتاكَhas come to you بِفَتحَيwith the two victories of مَولَيَيكَyour two retainers مُبَشِّراًbringing glad tidings
أَتاكَ بِفَتحَي مَولَيَيكَ مُبَشِّراً
بِأَكثَرِwith the greatest نُعمىblessing أَوجَبَتthat required أَكثَرَthe greatest الشُكرِthanks
بِأَكثَرِ نُعمى أَوجَبَت أَكثَرَ الشُكرِ
It has brought glad tidings of your two retainers' victories,
It came to you, by the openings granted your patron, heralding
with the greatest bounty, calling for the greatest thanks:
The greatest blessings that compelled the greatest thanks
بِماof what كانَoccurred فيin الماهاتِal-Mahat مِنof سَطوِthe assault of مُفلِحٍMuflih
بِما كانَ في الماهاتِ مِن سَطوِ مُفلِحٍ
وَماand what فَعَلَتaccomplished خَيلُthe cavalry of اِبنِIbn (son of) خاقانَKhaqan فيin مِصرِEgypt
وَما فَعَلَت خَيلُ اِبنِ خاقانَ في مِصرِ
of Muflih's assault in al-Mahat,
By what the months held of victorious authority
and what Ibn Khaqan's cavalry accomplished in Egypt,
And what the horses of the son of the Khagan did in Egypt
وَإِدبارِand the retreat of عُبدوسٍAbdus وَقَدwhile عَصَفَتbattered بِهِagainst him
وَإِدبارِ عُبدوسٍ وَقَد عَصَفَت بِهِ
صُدورُthe points of سُيوفِthe swords of الهِندِIndia وَالأَسَلِand spears السُمرِdusky
صُدورُ سُيوفِ الهِندِ وَالأَسَلِ السُمرِ
and of Abdus's retreat, when he was battered
And the retreat of ‘Abdus when the Indian swords
by the points of Indian swords and dusky spears.
And brown spears roared against him
لَئِنif indeed كانَhe was مُستَغوىthe misguided one of ثَمودَThamud لَقَدindeed غَدَتthere came
لَئِن كانَ مُستَغوى ثَمودَ لَقَد غَدَت
عَلىupon قَومِهِhis people بِالأَمسِyesterday راغِيَةُthe bellowing of البَكرِthe young camel
عَلى قَومِهِ بِالأَمسِ راغِيَةُ البَكرِ
If indeed he was Thamud's misguided one, then there came
If the abode of Thamud was a refuge, then to his people
upon his people yesterday the young camel's bellow—
It became like an unmarriageable girl yesterday
بِطَعنٍwith thrusts دِراكٍin quick succession فيinto النُحورِthroats يَحُطُّهُمbringing them down
بِطَعنٍ دِراكٍ في النُحورِ يَحُطُّهُم
نَشاوىas though drunken وَضَربٍand blows فيupon جَماجِمِهِمtheir skulls هَبرُcleaving
نَشاوى وَضَربٍ في جَماجِمِهِم هَبرُ
with thrusts in quick succession into throats, felling them
With a piercing, deadly stab in the throats
as though drunk, and cleaving blows upon their skulls.
Dropping them violently with blows to the head
فَلَستَso you do not تَرىsee إِلّاexcept رُؤُوساًheads مُطاحَةًtoppled
فَلَستَ تَرى إِلّا رُؤُوساً مُطاحَةً
يُجيدُperforms skillfully المَواليthe retainers نَحرَهاslaughtering them أَوor دَماًblood يَجريflowing
يُجيدُ المَوالي نَحرَها أَو دَماً يَجري
You see nothing but toppled heads,
You see only severed heads
the retainers skillfully slaughtering them—or flowing blood.
Severed neatly by the loyal followers or blood flowing
وَلَمand did not تُحرِزِprotect المَلعونَthe accursed man قَلعَتُهُhis fortress الَّتيwhich
وَلَم تُحرِزِ المَلعونَ قَلعَتُهُ الَّتي
رَأىhe considered أَنَّهاthat it حِرزٌa refuge عَلىagainst نُوَبِthe calamities of الدَهرِtime
رَأى أَنَّها حِرزٌ عَلى نُوَبِ الدَهرِ
The accursed man was not protected by his fortress, which
Nor did the accursed one’s fortress, which
he had considered a refuge against time's calamities.
He thought a shelter from the blows of fate, protect him
مَضىhe departed فيinto سَوادِthe blackness of اللَيلِnight وَالخَيلُwith the cavalry خَلفَهُbehind him
مَضى في سَوادِ اللَيلِ وَالخَيلُ خَلفَهُ
كَراديسُsquadrons مِنin شَفعٍeven numbers مُغِذٍّhurrying وَمِنand in وَترِodd numbers
كَراديسُ مِن شَفعٍ مُغِذٍّ وَمِن وَترِ
He departed into the blackness of night, the cavalry behind him,
He went in the dark night, the horses behind him
squadrons hurrying on, in even numbers and odd.
Like the pleats of a lined and corded quiver
قَضىfulfilled ماwhat عَلَيهِwas incumbent upon him مُفلِحٌMuflih مِنin طِلابِهِpursuing him
قَضى ما عَلَيهِ مُفلِحٌ مِن طِلابِهِ
فَلَمso did not يَبقَremain إِلّاexcept ماwhat عَلَيَّis incumbent upon me مِنَof الشِعرِpoetry
فَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا ما عَلَيَّ مِنَ الشِعرِ
Muflih has discharged his duty of pursuing him,
Al-Mufllih accomplished his pursuit
so only my own obligation of poetry remains.
Leaving me only to accomplish this poetry
سَيَأتيwill bring بِهِhim مُستَأسَراًtaken captive أَوor بِرَأسِهِwith his head
سَيَأتي بِهِ مُستَأسَراً أَو بِرَأسِهِ
بَنوthe sons of الحَربِwar وَالغَلونَand those pressing onward فيin طَلَبِpursuit of الوِترِvengeance
بَنو الحَربِ وَالغَلونَ في طَلَبِ الوِترِ
They will bring him captive, or bring his head—
The people of war and injustice will bring him
the sons of war, and those pressing deep in pursuit of vengeance.
Captive or his head, in relentless pursuit
سَراةُthe foremost of رِجالٍmen مِنamong مَواليكَyour retainers أَكَّدواthey strengthened
سَراةُ رِجالٍ مِن مَواليكَ أَكَّدوا
عُرىthe bonds of الدينِreligion إِحكاماًfirmly وَبَتّواand severed قُوىthe cords of الكُفرِunbelief
عُرى الدينِ إِحكاماً وَبَتّوا قُوى الكُفرِ
Foremost men among your retainers have strengthened
Valiant men from among your loyalists
religion's bonds firmly, and severed the cords of unbelief.
Have strengthened the bonds of religion and refuted the powers of unbelief
إِذاwhenever اِفتَتَحواthey conquer أَرضاًa land أَعَضّواthey set biting لِمِثلِهاupon another like it
إِذا اِفتَتَحوا أَرضاً أَعَضّوا لِمِثلِها
كَتائِبَbattalions تَفريthat cleave مِنamong أَعاديكَyour enemies ماwhat تَفريthey cleave
كَتائِبَ تَفري مِن أَعاديكَ ما تَفري
When they conquer a land, they make another like it feel the bite of
When they conquer a land, they ready
battalions that cleave through your enemies as they will.
Battalions that rout your enemies in rout
فَفيso in الشَرقِthe east إِفلاهٌsuccess لِموسىfor Musa وَمُفلِحٍand Muflih
فَفي الشَرقِ إِفلاهٌ لِموسى وَمُفلِحٍ
وَفيand in الغَربِthe west نَصرٌvictory يُرتَجىis hoped for لِأَبيfor Abu نَصرِNasr
وَفي الغَربِ نَصرٌ يُرتَجى لِأَبي نَصرِ
In the east, then, success is Musa's and Muflih's,
In the East success for Musa and al-Mufllih
and in the west, victory is hoped for Abu Nasr.
In the West, aid hoped for Abu Nasr
لَقَدindeed زَلزَلَhas shaken الشامَSyria العَريضَةَvast ذِكرُهُmention of him
لَقَد زَلزَلَ الشامَ العَريضَةَ ذِكرُهُ
وَأَقلَقَand alarmed صُكّانَthe inhabitants of الجَزيرَةِal-Jazira بِالذُعرِwith terror
وَأَقلَقَ صُكّانَ الجَزيرَةِ بِالذُعرِ
Mention of him has shaken broad Syria,
Indeed, the mention of him shook spacious Syria
and troubled al-Jazira's inhabitants with terror.
And disturbed the inhabitants of the peninsula with dread
عَمِرَتmay you live long أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful بِنِعمَةٍin a blessing
عَمِرَت أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ بِنِعمَةٍ
تُضاعِفُthat doubles ماwhat مُكِّنتَyou were granted فيهِin it مِنَof العُمرِlife
تُضاعِفُ ما مُكِّنتَ فيهِ مِنَ العُمرِ
May you live long, Commander of the Faithful, in a blessing
May the Commander of the Faithful live blessed with a blessing
that doubles the span of life you have been granted.
That redoubles what empowered you in your life
وَمُلّيتَand may you long enjoy عَبدَAbd (servant of) اللَهِAllah (God) إِنَّindeed سَماحَهُhis generosity
وَمُلّيتَ عَبدَ اللَهِ إِنَّ سَماحَهُ
هُوَit is القَطرُrain فيin إِسبالِهِits pouring down وَأَخوand the brother of القَطرِrain
هُوَ القَطرُ في إِسبالِهِ وَأَخو القَطرِ
And may you long enjoy Abd Allah; his generosity
And you have filled Abd Allah, truly his generosity
is rain in its downpour, and rain's own brother.
Is the pouring rain in its abundance, and the brother of rain
إِذاwhen ماever (emphatic) بَعَثناwe send forth الشِعرَpoetry فيهِabout him تَزايَدَتincrease
إِذا ما بَعَثنا الشِعرَ فيهِ تَزايَدَت
لَهُfor him مَكرُماتٌnoble deeds مُربِياتٌsurpassing عَلىabove الشِعرِpoetry
لَهُ مَكرُماتٌ مُربِياتٌ عَلى الشِعرِ
Whenever we send forth poetry about him, there increase
When we send him poetry, his noble acts
noble deeds of his that surpass the poetry.
Nurturing to poetry, are multiplied
مَتَتُّI claimed connection بِأَسبابٍthrough ties إِلَيهِwith him كَثيرَةٍmany
مَتَتُّ بِأَسبابٍ إِلَيهِ كَثيرَةٍ
وَقَدthough indeed تُدرِكُare attained الحاجاتُneeds بِالسَبَبِthrough a tie النَزرِslender
وَقَد تُدرِكُ الحاجاتُ بِالسَبَبِ النَزرِ
I have claimed connection with him through many ties,
Things accrue to him through many means
though needs may be fulfilled through a slender tie.
And needs are met by the most modest means
وَماand what نِلتُI received مِنof جَدوىthe bounty of أَبيهِhis father وَجَدِّهِand his grandfather
وَما نِلتُ مِن جَدوى أَبيهِ وَجَدِّهِ
وَماand what رَفَعاthey both raised ليfor me مِنof سَناءٍsplendor وَمِنand of ذِكرِrenown
وَما رَفَعا لي مِن سَناءٍ وَمِن ذِكرِ
And the bounty I received from his father and grandfather,
I gained nothing from the excellence of his father and grandfather
and the splendor and renown they raised for me.
And what they raised for me of glory and mention
وَجاوَرَand neighbored رَبعيmy dwelling بِالشَآمِin Syria رِباعَهُhis dwellings
وَجاوَرَ رَبعي بِالشَآمِ رِباعَهُ
وَلَيسَand is not الغِنىwealth إِلّاexcept مُجاوَرَةُdwelling beside البَحرِthe sea
وَلَيسَ الغِنى إِلّا مُجاوَرَةُ البَحرِ
And my dwelling in Syria stood beside his dwellings,
And my homeland in Syria adjoined his
and wealth is nothing but dwelling beside the sea.
For wealth is naught but adjoining the sea
وَليand I have حَجَةٌa plea لَمdid not آلَI neglect فيهاin it وَسيلَةًa means of access
وَلي حَجَةٌ لَم آلَ فيها وَسيلَةً
إِلىto القَمَرِthe moon الوَضّاحِradiant وَالصَيِّدِand the proud nobleman الغَمرِlavishly generous
إِلى القَمَرِ الوَضّاحِ وَالصَيِّدِ الغَمرِ
I have a plea, and for it I have left no means unused
I have an undefeated argument in which I found
of reaching the radiant moon, that proud and lavish lord.
No way to the brilliant moon and the deep-diving hunter
شَفَعتُI sought intercession إِلَيهِwith him بِالإِمامِthrough the Imam وَإِنَّماand in truth
شَفَعتُ إِلَيهِ بِالإِمامِ وَإِنَّما
تَشَفَّعتُI sought intercession بِالشَمسِthrough the sun اِقتِضاءًclaiming a due إِلىto البَدرِthe full moon
تَشَفَّعتُ بِالشَمسِ اِقتِضاءً إِلى البَدرِ
I sought intercession with him through the Imam; in truth,
I appealed to him through the Imam, but truly
I sought the sun's intercession, seeking my due from the full moon.
I appealed through the sun, hoping for the moon
فَلَمso never أَرَI have seen مَشفوعاًone petitioned إِلَيهِto him وَشافِعاًand an intercessor
فَلَم أَرَ مَشفوعاً إِلَيهِ وَشافِعاً
يُدانيهُماapproaches them both فيin مُنتَهىthe utmost المَجدِglory وَالفَخرِand pride
يُدانيهُما في مُنتَهى المَجدِ وَالفَخرِ
Never have I seen a patron petitioned and an intercessor
I saw no one appealed to him, nor an intercessor,
to rival these two in the utmost glory and pride:
To match them in the utmost glory and pride
فَعالَthe deeds of كَريمِone noble in الفِعلِaction مُطَّلَّبِsought for الجَداbounty
فَعالَ كَريمِ الفِعلِ مُطَّلَّبِ الجَدا
وَقَولَand the speech of مُطاعِone obeyed in القَولِspeech مُتَّبَعِfollowed in الأَمرِcommand
وَقَولَ مُطاعِ القَولِ مُتَّبَعِ الأَمرِ
the deeds of one noble in action, whose bounty is sought,
So he acted with the generosity of the noble
and the words of one obeyed in speech, whose command is followed.
And spoke with the authority of the obeyed
فَعِشso live سالِماًsafe أُخرىthe last of اللَياليnights إِذاwhen اِنقَضَتhave ended
فَعِش سالِماً أُخرى اللَيالي إِذا اِنقَضَت
أَواخِرُthe closing days of عَصرٍan age عاوَداmay both return to مُبتَداthe beginning of العَصرِthe age
أَواخِرُ عَصرٍ عاوَدا مُبتَدا العَصرِ
So live in safety to the last of nights; whenever there pass
Live in safety however many nights pass
an age's closing days, may you both return to the age's beginning.
As the late hours of an age recur in a new age
Sol 6.1