أَحرىmost deserving الخُطوبِcalamities بَأَنto يَكونَbe عَظيماًgreat
أَحرى الخُطوبِ بَأَن يَكونَ عَظيماً
قَولُthe saying of الجَهولِthe fool أَلاwill you not تَكونُbe حَليماforbearing
قَولُ الجَهولِ أَلا تَكونُ حَليما
The calamity most deserving to be deemed grave
The greatest sorrows best become the great;
Is the fool's saying, 'Will you not be forbearing?'
A fool says, "Bear them not with patience!"
قَبَّحتَyou condemned مِنin جَزَعِthe anguish of الشَجِيِّthe sorrowful one مُحَسَّناًwhat was admirable
قَبَّحتَ مِن جَزَعِ الشَجِيِّ مُحَسَّناً
وَمَدَحتَand you praised مِنin صَبرِthe patience of الخَلِيِّthe untroubled one ذَميماwhat was blameworthy
وَمَدَحتَ مِن صَبرِ الخَلِيِّ ذَميما
You condemned what was admirable in the sorrowful one's anguish,
You cried that constant mourning was but meet,
And praised what was blameworthy in the untroubled one's patience.
And blame a calm endurance in the meek.
وَمَقيلُand the resting place of عَذلِكَyour reproach فيin جَوانِحِthe ribs of مُغرَمٍa lovesick man
وَمَقيلُ عَذلِكَ في جَوانِحِ مُغرَمٍ
وَجَدَfound السُهولَthe plains مِنَof الغَرامِpassion هُزوماravines
وَجَدَ السُهولَ مِنَ الغَرامِ هُزوما
And your reproach rests within the breast of a lover
Yet such is the true lover's heart, for he
Who found passion's level plains to be ravines.
Finds grief in severance easy to defeat.
راضٍcontent مِنَinstead of الهَجرِestrangement المُبَرِّحِagonizing بِالنَوىwith separation
راضٍ مِنَ الهَجرِ المُبَرِّحِ بِالنَوى
وَمِنَand instead of الصَبابَةِardent longing أَنto يَبيتَspend the night سَليماunharmed
وَمِنَ الصَبابَةِ أَن يَبيتَ سَليما
Content with distance instead of agonizing estrangement,
He who wins love should bear himself discreet,
And, instead of longing, to spend the night unharmed.
Not in wild joy his secret soul betray.
لَيتَif only المَنازِلَthe dwellings سِرنَthey departed يَومَon the day of مُتالِعٍMutali'
لَيتَ المَنازِلَ سِرنَ يَومَ مُتالِعٍ
إِذwhen لَمnot يَكُنbe أُنسُthe fellowship of الخَليطِthe companions مُقيماremaining
إِذ لَم يَكُن أُنسُ الخَليطِ مُقيما
Would that the dwellings had departed on the day of Mutali',
Would that the days when first we met could know
When the companions' fellowship did not remain.
Renewal! - but no friend lasts for aye.
فَلَرُبَّماfor indeed often أَروَتfilled to overflowing دُموعاًtears مِنof دَمٍblood
فَلَرُبَّما أَروَت دُموعاً مِن دَمٍ
فيهاwithin them وَأَظمَتand made thirsty لائِماًa blamer وَمَلوماand one blamed
فيها وَأَظمَت لائِماً وَمَلوما
For often they have made tears of blood brim over
Full oft these eyes have rained blood for your sake,
Within them, yet left both blamer and blamed athirst.
As my heart flamed and my face grew pale.
وَلَقَدand indeed مَنَعتَyou withheld الدارَthe dwelling إِعلانَthe proclamation of الهَوىlove
وَلَقَد مَنَعتَ الدارَ إِعلانَ الهَوى
وَطَويتَand you concealed عَنهاfrom it سِرَّكَyour secret المَكتوماhidden
وَطَويتَ عَنها سِرَّكَ المَكتوما
You indeed withheld from the dwelling the proclamation of love,
For you the house has hid love's agony
And concealed from it your hidden secret.
And buried deep for you the tales I could tell.
فَكَأَنَّماso, as though الواشونَthe tale-bearers كانواthey were أَربُعاًencampments
فَكَأَنَّما الواشونَ كانوا أَربُعاً
مَمحُوَّةًeffaced لِعِراصِهاas to their courtyards وَرُسوماand traces
مَمحُوَّةً لِعِراصِها وَرُسوما
So it was as though the tale-bearers were encampments,
As though its walls were but a stream bed dried
Their courtyards effaced, and mere traces.
Where flood water rushed and left no trace as well.
وَسَليand ask مُحيلَthe weathered الرَبعِcampsite هَلwhether أَبثَثتُهُI confided to it
وَسَلي مُحيلَ الرَبعِ هَل أَبثَثتُهُ
إِلّاexcept الوُقوفَstanding عَلَيهِover it وَالتَسليماand greeting
إِلّا الوُقوفَ عَلَيهِ وَالتَسليما
And ask the weathered campsite whether I confided to it
Ask my heart if it has been bent by sickness,
Anything but standing over it and greeting it.
Or if my body's pain has made it frail.
لَمnot أَشكُI complained of حُبَّكِlove for you بِالنُحولِthrough wasting away وَلَمand not أُرِدI intended
لَم أَشكُ حُبَّكِ بِالنُحولِ وَلَم أُرِد
بِسَقامِthrough the illness of جِسميmy body أَنto أَكونَbe سَقيماill
بِسَقامِ جِسمي أَن أَكونَ سَقيما
I did not complain of loving you through my wasting, nor intend
Before the spy my tears break forth in flood
By my body's sickness to be ill.
When I am lonely and may freely wail.
وَتَفيضُand overflow مِنfrom حَذَرِfear of الوُشاةِthe tale-bearers مَدامِعِtear ducts
وَتَفيضُ مِن حَذَرِ الوُشاةِ مَدامِعِ
فَإِذاand when خَلَوتُI am alone أَفَضتُهُنَّI let them overflow سُجوماin streams
فَإِذا خَلَوتُ أَفَضتُهُنَّ سُجوما
And my tear ducts overflow from fear of the tale-bearers;
Misfortunes to your door came thick and fast,
When alone, I let them pour in streams.
Forewritten destinies you could not veil,
سُقِيَتmay be watered رُباكِyour hills بِكُلِّby every نَوءٍrainstorm عاجِلٍhastening
سُقِيَت رُباكِ بِكُلِّ نَوءٍ عاجِلٍ
مِنfrom وَبلِهِits downpour حَقّاًa due share لَهاfor them مَعلومَappointed
مِن وَبلِهِ حَقّاً لَها مَعلومَ
May your hills be watered by every rainstorm that hastens
And would that I might find my heart's desire
To grant them their appointed share of its downpour.
And pour them from the hollow of my hand like hail,
فَلَوَso if انَّنيthat I أُعطيتُI was granted فيهِنَّconcerning them المُنىwishes
فَلَوَ انَّني أُعطيتُ فيهِنَّ المُنى
لَسَقيتُهُنَّI would surely water them بِكَفِّwith the palm of إِبراهيمَIbrahim
لَسَقيتُهُنَّ بِكَفِّ إِبراهيمَ
And if I were granted my wishes for them,
From thunderclouds that break to spread their load
I would water them with Ibrahim's palm,
When the hot summer promised drought and fail.
بِسَحابَةٍwith a cloud غَرّاءَradiant مُتإِمَةٍtwin-bearing إِذاwhen
بِسَحابَةٍ غَرّاءَ مُتإِمَةٍ إِذا
كانَwere الجَهامُthe rainless ones مِنَamong السَحابِthe clouds عَقيماbarren
كانَ الجَهامُ مِنَ السَحابِ عَقيما
With a radiant, twin-bearing cloud, when
Greatly I trust in al-Faḍl ibn Sahl's grace;
The rainless ones among the clouds were barren.
Noble he stays if kin by blood assail.
وَأَغَرُّand a radiant man لِلفَضلِfor al-Fadl بنِson of سَهلِSahl عِندَهُwith him
وَأَغَرُّ لِلفَضلِ بنِ سَهلِ عِندَهُ
كَرَمٌhonor إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle العَمُّthe paternal uncle وَرَّثَbequeathed لوماblame
كَرَمٌ إِذا ما العَمُّ وَرَّثَ لوما
And a radiant man who brings al-Fadl ibn Sahl
A king whom men of proud descent disdain
Honor, even when an uncle bequeaths disgrace.
As base-born miscreants the throne to veil.
مَلِكٌa king إِذاwhen اِفتَخَرَboasts الشَريفُthe nobleman بِسوقَةٍof commoners
مَلِكٌ إِذا اِفتَخَرَ الشَريفُ بِسوقَةٍ
عَدَّhe counts المُلوكَkings خُؤولَةًmaternal uncles عَعُموماpaternal uncles (corrupt spelling)
عَدَّ المُلوكَ خُؤولَةً عَعُموما
A king: when a nobleman boasts of commoners,
Whose mighty forbears, when they gained their power,
He counts kings as his maternal and paternal uncles.
Crushed the proud tribes and ground them like grain.
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa people لَحِقَتreached أَوائِلُthe beginnings of مُلكِهِمtheir kingship
مِن مَعشَرٍ لَحِقَت أَوائِلُ مُلكِهِم
شَلفَforebears (apparent typo) القَبائِلِthe tribes جُرهُماًJurhum وَأَميماand Amim
شَلفَ القَبائِلِ جُرهُماً وَأَميما
From a people whose kingship's beginnings reached
Who left the land of flowers and abandoned it
The ancestors of the tribes—Jurhum and Amim.
For a bald desert fit but to entail
نَزَلواthey settled بِأَرضِin the land of الزَعفَرانِsaffron وَغادَرواand they left
نَزَلوا بِأَرضِ الزَعفَرانِ وَغادَروا
أَرضاًa land تَرُبُّnurtures الشيحَwormwood وَالقَيصوماand qaysum (a desert herb)
أَرضاً تَرُبُّ الشيحَ وَالقَيصوما
They settled in the land of saffron, and left
The wormwood's growth and bitter colocynth.
A land that nurtures wormwood and qaysum.
They were bold lions save when heroes prevailed,
كانواthey were أُسوداًlions يَقرِمونَthey hungered إِلىfor العِدىthe foes
كانوا أُسوداً يَقرِمونَ إِلى العِدى
نَهَماًravenously إِذاwhen كانَwere الرِجالُthe men قُروماbull camels (figuratively, chiefs)
نَهَماً إِذا كانَ الرِجالُ قُروما
They were lions hungering for their enemies,
And public wealth they seized with greedy hands.
Ravenously, when other men were lordly bull camels.
The son who reunited what they split
وَاِبنُand son الَّذيof him who ضَمَّunited الطَوائِفَthe factions بَعدَماafter اِفbeginning of 'split apart'
وَاِبنُ الَّذي ضَمَّ الطَوائِفَ بَعدَما اِف
تَرَقَتcompletion of 'split apart' فَعادَتand so they became جَوهَراًjewels مَنظوماstrung together
تَرَقَت فَعادَت جَوهَراً مَنظوما
And son of him who united the factions after they had
And made one jewel of scattered fragments -
Split apart, so they became jewels strung together.
He received men's hearts, of hatred rid.
غَشَمَravaged العَدُوَّthe enemy وَلَنand will not يُقالَbe said غَشَمشَمٌferocious
غَشَمَ العَدُوَّ وَلَن يُقالَ غَشَمشَمٌ
لِلَّيثِof a lion إِلّاunless أَنthat يَكونَit is غَشوماruthless
لِلَّيثِ إِلّا أَن يَكونَ غَشوما
He ravaged the foe; 'ferocious' is never said
He drove Ibn 'Amr to the frontier's limit
Of a lion unless it is ruthless.
And struck the bane of Tamim a mortal hit.
وَرَدَhe came to العِراقَIraq وَمُلكُهاand its dominion أَيديhands سَباSaba
وَرَدَ العِراقَ وَمُلكُها أَيدي سَبا
فَاِستارَand followed سيرَةَthe way of أَزدَشيرَAzdashir قَديماof old
فَاِستارَ سيرَةَ أَزدَشيرَ قَديما
He entered Iraq, its realm scattered like the hands of Saba;
Far swept his squadrons, but in their retreat
And followed the ancient way of Azdashir.
By mightier forces they were scattered and split.
جَمَعَhe united القُلوبَhearts وَكانَand were كُلُّall بَنيsons of أَبٍa father
جَمَعَ القُلوبَ وَكانَ كُلُّ بَني أَبٍ
عَرَباًArabs لِشَحناءِthrough the rancor of القُلوبِhearts وُروماand Romans
عَرَباً لِشَحناءِ القُلوبِ وُروما
He united hearts, though the sons of every father
He promised the House of al-Hasan ibn Sahl
Were Arabs and Romans through the rancor of their hearts.
Valiant Persians, noble, generously bred.
وَرَمىand hurled بِنَبهانَwith Nabhan بنِson of عَمرٍAmr مُبعِداًfar afield
وَرَمى بِنَبهانَ بنِ عَمرٍ مُبعِداً
فَأَصابَand so he struck فيin أَقصىthe farthest reaches of البِلادِthe lands تَميماTamim
فَأَصابَ في أَقصى البِلادِ تَميما
And, hurling Nabhan ibn Amr far afield,
Do not remind this scion of noble race
He struck Tamim in the most distant lands.
Of benefits, as though his birth you led.
وَمَضَتand advanced سَراياdetachments of خَيلِهِhis cavalry فَتَراجَعَتthen they returned
وَمَضَت سَرايا خَيلِهِ فَتَراجَعَت
بِأَبيwith Abu السَراياal-Saraya خائِباًthwarted مَذموماreviled
بِأَبي السَرايا خائِباً مَذموما
And his cavalry detachments advanced, then returned
Virtues he shows, and talents every one,
With Abu al-Saraya, thwarted and reviled.
Transcending all, of generous stock indeed.
أَفتىmost gallant of بَنيthe sons of الحَسَنِal-Hasan بنِson of سَهلٍSahl إِنَّهُمindeed they
أَفتى بَني الحَسَنِ بنِ سَهلٍ إِنَّهُم
فِتيانُyoung heroes of فارِسِPersia نَجدَةٍvalor وَحُلوماand wisdom
فِتيانُ فارِسِ نَجدَةٍ وَحُلوما
O most gallant of al-Hasan ibn Sahl's sons! They
While from the rest divided gifts are thrown,
Are Persia's young heroes in valor and wisdom.
Only in him all excellences succeed.
لاdo not توجِبَنattribute لِكَريمِto the nobility of أَصلِكَyour lineage مِنَّةًa claim to gratitude
لا توجِبَن لِكَريمِ أَصلِكَ مِنَّةً
لَوif كُنتَyou were مِنfrom عُكلٍ'Ukl لَكُنتَyou would be كَريماnoble
لَو كُنتَ مِن عُكلٍ لَكُنتَ كَريما
Do not give your noble lineage the credit;
The lion in his wilds wins but a part:
Had you been of 'Ukl, you would still have been noble.
He browses on men's souls, are savage-led.
فَلَكَso yours are الفَضائِلُthe virtues مِنof فُنونِvarieties of مَحاسِنٍbeauty
فَلَكَ الفَضائِلُ مِن فُنونِ مَحاسِنٍ
بيضاًwhite لِإِفراطِthrough the extremity of الخِلافِdifference وَشيماand dark-flecked
بيضاً لِإِفراطِ الخِلافِ وَشيما
So yours are the virtues, in varied kinds of beauty,
You matched his prowess, and excelled his fame
White and dark-flecked in their extreme diversity.
For liberality, while he kills and shreds.
جُمِعَتthey were gathered عَلَيكَin you وَلِلأَنامِand for mankind مُفَرِّقٌan apportioner
جُمِعَت عَلَيكَ وَلِلأَنامِ مُفَرِّقٌ
مِنهاof them فَأَفراداًso singly قُسِمنَthey were allotted وَتوماand as twins
مِنها فَأَفراداً قُسِمنَ وَتوما
They were gathered in you; for mankind there is an apportioner
You scorn to vilify on an evil day,
Of them, and so they were allotted singly and in pairs.
But nobly you forgive if one misled
ماnot نالَgained لَيثُthe lion of الغابِthe forest إِلّاexcept بَعضَهاsome of them
ما نالَ لَيثُ الغابِ إِلّا بَعضَها
حَتّىuntil رَعىfed on مُهَجَthe heart-blood of النُفوسِsouls حَميماhot
حَتّى رَعى مُهَجَ النُفوسِ حَميما
The forest lion gained only some of them,
Should speak in insult. While if he attains
Until it fed on the hot heart-blood of souls.
Advantage, he shows a mean and envious head.
شارَكتَهُyou matched it فيin البَأسِmight شُمَّthen (apparent typo) فَضَلتَهُyou surpassed it
شارَكتَهُ في البَأسِ شُمَّ فَضَلتَهُ
بِالجودِin generosity مَحقوقَنrightfully deserving (corrupt spelling) بِذاكَof that زَعيماa leader
بِالجودِ مَحقوقَن بِذاكَ زَعيما
You matched it in might, then surpassed it
I saw the day your gifts spread joy around,
In generosity, rightly deserving to be its leader.
Movement and happiness filled all, and sped
وَتَعِزُّand you are too proud أَنto تَلتاثَhesitate يَومَon a day of كَريهَةٍbattle
وَتَعِزُّ أَن تَلتاثَ يَومَ كَريهَةٍ
عَنهاfrom it وَتَكرُمُand you are too noble أَنto تَكونَbe شَتيماfoul-faced
عَنها وَتَكرُمُ أَن تَكونَ شَتيما
You are too proud, on a day of battle, to shrink
The winds that stir men's souls. And the day of rain -
From it, and too noble to be foul-faced.
How bright the lightning flashed, the thunder dread!
وَإِذاand when ظَفِرتَyou triumph عَفَوتَyou pardon وَهوَbut it إِذاwhen رَأىsees
وَإِذا ظَفِرتَ عَفَوتَ وَهوَ إِذا رَأى
ظَفَراًvictory عَلىover الأَقرانِrivals كانَis لَئيماignoble
ظَفَراً عَلى الأَقرانِ كانَ لَئيما
And when you triumph, you pardon; but when it sees
It flooded here, but missed a stretch of plain,
Victory over its rivals, it is ignoble.
While your rain clouds are free to all men spread.
وَرَأَيتُand I saw يَومَthe day of نَداكَyour bounty رَشرَقَshone (apparent typo) بَهجَةًwith joy
وَرَأَيتُ يَومَ نَداكَ رَشرَقَ بَهجَةً
وَاِهتَزَّand quivered أَطرافاًin its limbs وَرَقَّand grew gentle نَسيماin its breeze
وَاِهتَزَّ أَطرافاً وَرَقَّ نَسيما
And I saw the day of your bounty shine with joy,
Why do fools attack you here and there?
Its limbs swaying, its breeze grown gentle.
In what do the false likeners liken, said?
وَشَهِدتُand I witnessed يَومَthe day of الغَيثِrain فيin هَطَلانِهِits downpour
وَشَهِدتُ يَومَ الغَيثِ في هَطَلانِهِ
جَهماًgrim مُحَيّاهُits face أَغَمَّovercast بَهيماpitch-dark
جَهماً مُحَيّاهُ أَغَمَّ بَهيما
And I witnessed the day of rain amid its downpour,
I praised you trusting one whom you befriended
Grim-faced, overcast, and pitch-dark.
Heedlessly, and he rendered benefits instead.
وَيَخُصُّand singles out أَرضاًone land دونَrather than أَرضِanother land جَودِهِits bounty
وَيَخُصُّ أَرضاً دونَ أَرضِ جَودِهِ
وَسَحابُand the cloud of جودِكَyour bounty فيamong العُفاةِpetitioners عُموماall-encompassing
وَسَحابُ جودِكَ في العُفاةِ عُموما
Its bounty favors one land over another,
I thank you for your far-famed gifts, but lo,
While your bounty's cloud embraces all petitioners.
If they showed plain, as stars they would be read.
فَعَلامَso why خَبَّهَكَlikened you (apparent typo) الجَهولُthe fool بِذاto this وَذاand that
فَعَلامَ خَبَّهَكَ الجَهولُ بِذا وَذا
بَلrather فيمَin what شَبَّهَكَlikened you المُشَبِّهُthe comparer فيماin what
بَل فيمَ شَبَّهَكَ المُشَبِّهُ فيما
Why, then, did the fool liken you to this and that?
And promises - if visible they were,
Rather, in what did the comparer find you like them—in what?
Before men's eyes like clouds they would be spread.
أُثنيI praise عَلَيكَupon you ثَناءَthe praise of مَنone whom أَلفَيتَهُyou found him
أُثني عَلَيكَ ثَناءَ مَن أَلفَيتَهُ
غُفلاًunbranded فَعادَthen returned بِنِعمَةٍwith a blessing مَوسوماbranded
غُفلاً فَعادَ بِنِعمَةٍ مَوسوما
I praise you with the praise of one you found
I have encountered envy fearlessly,
Unbranded, who returned branded with a blessing.
As though before I never had misled
وَشَكَرتُand I gave thanks مِنكَfrom you مَواهِباًgifts مَشهورَةًrenowned
وَشَكَرتُ مِنكَ مَواهِباً مَشهورَةً
لَوif سِرنَthey traveled فيin فَلَكٍa celestial sphere لَكُنَّthey would be نُجوماstars
لَو سِرنَ في فَلَكٍ لَكُنَّ نُجوما
And I gave thanks for renowned gifts from you:
A foe. Your gifts streamed forth in constant flow,
Had they traveled in a celestial sphere, they would have been stars.
While yours to the unworthy much you shed.
وَمَواعِداًand promises لَوif كُنَّthey were شَيئاًsomething ظاهِراًvisible
وَمَواعِداً لَو كُنَّ شَيئاً ظاهِراً
تُفضيcould reach إِلَيهِto it العَينُthe eye كُنَّthey would be غُيوماclouds
تُفضي إِلَيهِ العَينُ كُنَّ غُيوما
And for promises which, were they something visible
That the eye could reach, would be clouds.
أَلقىI meet الحَسودَthe envious man إِذاwhen أَرَدتُI wish كَأَنَّنيas though I
أَلقى الحَسودَ إِذا أَرَدتُ كَأَنَّني
مِنfrom قَبلُbefore لَمnot أَلقَI met العَدُوَّthe enemy رَحيماmerciful
مِن قَبلُ لَم أَلقَ العَدُوَّ رَحيما
I meet the envious man whenever I wish, as though I
Had never before met a merciful enemy.
كانَwas اِبتِداؤُكَyour taking the initiative بِالعَطاءِin giving عَطِيَّةًa gift
كانَ اِبتِداؤُكَ بِالعَطاءِ عَطِيَّةً
أُخرىanother وَبَذلُكَand your giving لِلجَسيمِof great things جَسيماgreat
أُخرى وَبَذلُكَ لِلجَسيمِ جَسيما
Your taking the initiative in giving was a gift
In itself; and your giving great things was itself great.
Partial English translation: 78 of 84 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1