ناهيكَenough for you مِنof حَرقٍburning anguish أَبيتُI spend the night أَقاسيI endure
ناهيكَ مِن حَرقٍ أَبيتُ أَقاسي
وَجُروحِand wounds of حُبٍّlove ماnot لَهُنَّfor them أَواسِhealers
وَجُروحِ حُبٍّ ما لَهُنَّ أَواسِ
What burning anguish I endure all night,
Beyond all burning I have endured,
and wounds of love with none to heal them!
And wounds of love that know no balm,
إِمّاwhenever لَحَظتِyou glance فَأَنتِthen you are جُؤذُرُa wild-ox calf رَملَةٍa sand dune
إِمّا لَحَظتِ فَأَنتِ جُؤذُرُ رَملَةٍ
وَإِذاand when صَدَدتِyou turn away فَأَنتِthen you are ظَبيُa gazelle كِناسِa thicket shelter
وَإِذا صَدَدتِ فَأَنتِ ظَبيُ كِناسِ
Whenever you glance, you are a wild-ox calf on a dune;
If you glance my way, you’re piercing as a grain of sand,
and when you turn away, you are a gazelle in its covert.
And if aloof, a piercing bramble thorn.
قَدindeed كانَwas مِنّيfrom me الحُزنُsorrow غِبَّafter تَذَكُّرٍremembrance
قَد كانَ مِنّي الحُزنُ غِبَّ تَذَكُّرٍ
إِذwhile كانَwas مِنكِfrom you الصَبرُpatience غِبَّafter تَناسِfeigned forgetting
إِذ كانَ مِنكِ الصَبرُ غِبَّ تَناسِ
Indeed, sorrow was mine after remembering,
My sadness has exceeded all recall
while composure was yours after feigned forgetting.
While your composure exceeds all forgetting.
تَجريflow دُموعيmy tears حينَwhile دَمعُكِyour tears جامِدٌfrozen
تَجري دُموعي حينَ دَمعُكِ جامِدٌ
وَيَلينُand softens قَلبيmy heart حينَwhile قَلبُكِyour heart قاسِhard
وَيَلينُ قَلبي حينَ قَلبُكِ قاسِ
My tears flow while your tears are frozen,
My tears flow while your tears stay frozen,
and my heart softens while your heart is hard.
My heart grows tender while your heart stays harsh.
أَسَمِعتُhave I heard? عاذِلَةًa reproachful woman فَهَلthen did? طاوَعتُهاI obeyed her
أَسَمِعتُ عاذِلَةً فَهَل طاوَعتُها
وَرَأَيتُand I saw شانِئَةًa woman who hates فَهَلthen is there? مِنany باسِharm
وَرَأَيتُ شانِئَةً فَهَل مِن باسِ
Have I heard a woman reproach me—and did I obey her?
Have I obeyed the blamer? Never!
And I have seen a woman who hates me—is there any harm?
Have I regarded the detractor? Not a jot!
ماnot قُلتُI said لِلطَيفِto the dream-visitor المُسَلِّمِoffering greetings لاdo not تَعُدreturn
ما قُلتُ لِلطَيفِ المُسَلِّمِ لا تَعُد
تَغشىyou visit وَلاnor كَفكَفتُI held back حامِلَa bearer of كاسِa cup
تَغشى وَلا كَفكَفتُ حامِلَ كاسِ
I never told the dream-visitor who greeted me not to return
I never told the gentle breeze, “Do not blow,”
to visit, nor did I hold back a cupbearer.
Or stayed the hand that lifts the wineglass.
ياO بَرقُlightning أَسفِرshine forth عَنupon قُوَيقِthe Quwayq فَطُرَّتىthen the two outskirts of
يا بَرقُ أَسفِر عَن قُوَيقِ فَطُرَّتى
حَلَبٍAleppo فَأَعلىthen the top of القَصرِthe palace مِنat بِطياسِBityas
حَلَبٍ فَأَعلى القَصرِ مِن بِطياسِ
O lightning, shine upon the Quwayq, then the two outskirts
O dawn, unveil my darling’s tent—
of Aleppo, then the top of the palace at Bityas,
A milk-white dome above the palace.
عَنupon مَنبِتِthe growing-place of الوَردِroses المُعَصفَرِsafflower-dyed صِبغُهُits hue
عَن مَنبِتِ الوَردِ المُعَصفَرِ صِبغُهُ
فيin كُلِّevery ضاحِيَةٍopen tract وَمَجنىand the gathering-place of الآسِmyrtle
في كُلِّ ضاحِيَةٍ وَمَجنى الآسِ
upon the ground where roses grow, their hue safflower-dyed,
Reveal the rose gardens all dyed
in every open tract, and the gathering-place of myrtle.
In every valley and secluded hollow.
أَرضٌa land إِذاwhen اِستَوحَشتُI grew lonely ثُمَّthen أَتَيتُهاI came to it
أَرضٌ إِذا اِستَوحَشتُ ثُمَّ أَتَيتُها
حَشَدَتit gathered عَلَيَّaround me فَأَكثَرَتand so increased إيناسيcomforting me
حَشَدَت عَلَيَّ فَأَكثَرَت إيناسي
A land that, when I grow lonely and then come to it,
A land—when I grow lonesome and then seek it—
gathers round me, giving me abundant companionship.
Swarms around me, with gazelles aplenty.
اليَومَtoday حَوَّلَنيhas turned me المَشيبُgray hair إِلىtoward النُهىreason
اليَومَ حَوَّلَني المَشيبُ إِلى النُهى
وَذَلَلتُand I yielded لِلعُذّالِto the reproachers بَعدَafter شِماسِunruliness
وَذَلَلتُ لِلعُذّالِ بَعدَ شِماسِ
Today gray hair has turned me toward wisdom,
Today gray hairs have turned me toward abstinence
and I have yielded to my reproachers after defiance.
And I obey the critic after wilfulness.
وَرَفَعتُand I raised مِنof نَظَريmy gaze إِلىtoward أَهلِpeople of الحِجىunderstanding
وَرَفَعتُ مِن نَظَري إِلى أَهلِ الحِجى
وَلَوَيتُand I turned عَنaway from أَهلِpeople of الغَوايَةِwaywardness راسيmy head
وَلَوَيتُ عَن أَهلِ الغَوايَةِ راسي
And I have raised my gaze toward people of understanding,
I raise my eyes to people of virtue
and turned my head away from the wayward.
And turn away from wanton ways.
وَرَضيتُand I was content مِنfrom عَودِrepeated action of البَخيلِthe miser وَبَدئِهِand his first action
وَرَضيتُ مِن عَودِ البَخيلِ وَبَدئِهِ
بِاليَأسِwith despair لَوif نَفَعَwere of use الرِضاacceptance بِالياسِwith despair
بِاليَأسِ لَو نَفَعَ الرِضا بِالياسِ
And I have resigned myself, for all the miser does and does again,
I accept the miser’s meager gift, his stinginess,
to despair—if resignation to despair were of any use.
Hoping, vainly, acceptance may refine the graceless.
مَهماwhatever نَسيتُI forget فَلَستُyet I am not لِلحَسَنِof the kindness الَّذيthat
مَهما نَسيتُ فَلَستُ لِلحَسَنِ الَّذي
أَولَيتَyou bestowed فيin قِدَمِthe antiquity of الزَمانِtime بِناسِforgetful
أَولَيتَ في قِدَمِ الزَمانِ بِناسِ
Whatever I forget, I shall not forget the kindness
However much I may forget, still I recall
you bestowed in days long past.
The kindness you showed me in days of yore.
أَبلِغtell أَباAbu (father of) الحَسَنِal-Hasan الَّذيwho لَبِسَdonned النَدىgenerosity
أَبلِغ أَبا الحَسَنِ الَّذي لَبِسَ النَدى
لِلخابِطينَfor those groping for aid فَكانَso it was خَيرَthe finest لِباسِgarment
لِلخابِطينَ فَكانَ خَيرَ لِباسِ
Tell Abu al-Hasan, who donned generosity
Give to Abul Hasan, who wore the cloak
for those groping for aid—and it was the finest garment:
Of dew, my best regards—an excellent garment!
وَلَئِنand though أَطَلتُI prolonged البُعدَthe absence عَنكَfrom you فَلَمyet has not تَزَلceased
وَلَئِن أَطَلتُ البُعدَ عَنكَ فَلَم تَزَل
نَفسيmy soul إِلَيكَtoward you كَثيرَةَabundant in الأَنفاسِsighs
نَفسي إِلَيكَ كَثيرَةَ الأَنفاسِ
And though I have prolonged my absence from you, still
Though I stay far away from you, yet my soul
my soul breathes many sighs toward you.
Is ever bound to you by countless sighs.
إِنif تُكسِyou are clothed مِنin وَشيِthe brocade of المَديحِpraise فَإِنَّهُthen indeed it
إِن تُكسِ مِن وَشيِ المَديحِ فَإِنَّهُ
مِنin ضَوءِthe radiance of سَيبِكَyour bounty فيin المَحافِلِassemblies كاسِclothed
مِن ضَوءِ سَيبِكَ في المَحافِلِ كاسِ
If you are clad in the brocade of praise, that praise
If you clothe yourself in the garment of my praise,
is clad, in assemblies, in the radiance of your bounty.
It is from the radiance your righteous deeds emit.
وَكَأَنَّكَand you are like العَبّاسُal-Abbas نُبلَnobility of خَليقَةٍcharacter
وَكَأَنَّكَ العَبّاسُ نُبلَ خَليقَةٍ
وَعُلُوَّand loftiness of هَمٍّaspiration فيamong بَنيthe sons of العَبّاسِal-Abbas
وَعُلُوَّ هَمٍّ في بَني العَبّاسِ
And you are like al-Abbas in nobility of character
You are the Abbasid noble prince
and lofty ambition, among the sons of al-Abbas.
Exalted in spirit among the Abbasids.
وَتَفاضُلُand relative excellence of الأَخلاقِcharacter traits إِنif حَصَّلتَهاyou assess them
وَتَفاضُلُ الأَخلاقِ إِن حَصَّلتَها
فيamong الناسِpeople حَسبَaccording to تَفاضُلِrelative excellence of الأَجناسِlineages
في الناسِ حَسبَ تَفاضُلِ الأَجناسِ
And degrees of excellence in character, if you assess them,
If people were to gain good traits,
among people accord with degrees of excellence in lineage.
Their traits would differ as their lineages differ.
لَوif جَلَّwere too great خَلقٌa mortal قَطُّever عَنfor أُكرومَةٍa noble quality
لَو جَلَّ خَلقٌ قَطُّ عَن أُكرومَةٍ
تُثنىthat is praised جَلَلتَyou would be too great عَنِfor النَدىgenerosity وَالباسِand valor
تُثنى جَلَلتَ عَنِ النَدى وَالباسِ
If any mortal were ever above a noble quality
If all people shunned noble deeds,
that wins praise, you would be above generosity and valor.
You would still shun frivolity and don the cloak of virtue.
وَأَبيand by the father of أَبيكَyour father لَقَدindeed تَقَصّىhe reached غايَةًan utmost limit
وَأَبي أَبيكَ لَقَد تَقَصّى غايَةً
فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds قَليلَةَwith few الأُنّاسِpeople
في المَكرُماتِ قَليلَةَ الأُنّاسِ
By your father's father, he indeed reached a height
Your father aspired to the greatest
in noble deeds, where few men stand.
Generosity, though few men aspire thus.
فَإِذاso when بَنىbuild غُفلُthe undistinguished among الرِجالِmen بُناًstructures عَلىon
فَإِذا بَنى غُفلُ الرِجالِ بُناً عَلى
جَدَدٍlevel ground بَنَيتَyou built عَلىupon ذُراًheights وَأَساسِand foundations
جَدَدٍ بَنَيتَ عَلى ذُراً وَأَساسِ
So when undistinguished men build structures on
When oblivious men build on bygone deeds,
level ground, you build upon heights and foundations.
You build on sand and foundation stones.
وَإِنِand if اِستِطاعَتهُit overpowered him المَنونُDeath فَبَعدَthen after ماthat
وَإِنِ اِستِطاعَتهُ المَنونُ فَبَعدَ ما
دَخَلَتit entered عَلىupon الآسادِthe lions فيin الأَخياسِthicket lairs
دَخَلَت عَلى الآسادِ في الأَخياسِ
And if Death overcame him, it was after
And if the Destroyer takes him, it is after
it had come upon lions in their thicket lairs.
He penetrated the lions’ lairs and terrified them.
قَدindeed قُلتُI said لِلرامينَto those shooting at مَجدَكَyour glory بِالمُنىwith wishes
قَد قُلتُ لِلرامينَ مَجدَكَ بِالمُنى
وَلِحاسِديكَand to your enviers الرُذَّلِvile الأَنكاسِignoble
وَلِحاسِديكَ الرُذَّلِ الأَنكاسِ
I have told those who shoot at your glory with wishes,
I have told those who wish you well, “Exalt his glory!”
and your vile, ignoble enviers:
And told your worthless, debased detractors:
رودواroam بِأَفنِيَةِin the forecourts of الظِرابِthe hillocks وَنَكِّبواand turn aside
رودوا بِأَفنِيَةِ الظِرابِ وَنَكِّبوا
عَنfrom ذَلِكَthat الجَبَلِmountain الأَشَمِّlofty الراسيfirmly rooted
عَن ذَلِكَ الجَبَلِ الأَشَمِّ الراسي
Roam in the forecourts of the hillocks, and turn aside
“Go back to rat holes and hang your heads,
from that lofty, firmly rooted mountain.
Leave that lofty, firm mountain be!”
فَهُناكَfor there أَروَعُan imposing man مِنfrom أَرومَةِthe stock of هاشِمٍHashim
فَهُناكَ أَروَعُ مِن أَرومَةِ هاشِمٍ
رَحبُspacious in النَدِيِّthe assembly hall مُوَفَّرُabundant in الجُلّاسِseated guests
رَحبُ النَدِيِّ مُوَفَّرُ الجُلّاسِ
For there is an imposing man of the stock of Hashim,
For there is a nobler man than Hashim,
with a spacious assembly hall and guests in abundance.
Capacious of hospitality, thronged with gatherings.
ساحَتflowed forth مَواهِبُهُhis gifts فَلَمand did not تُحوِجcause need إِلىfor
ساحَت مَواهِبُهُ فَلَم تُحوِج إِلى
جَذبِhauling up الدِلاءِbuckets تُمَدُّlet down بِالأَمراسِby ropes
جَذبِ الدِلاءِ تُمَدُّ بِالأَمراسِ
His gifts stream forth, leaving no need for
His talents are so abundant
hauling up buckets let down on ropes.
They need no coaxing gifts held out by poles.
لاnot مُطلِقٌone who lets loose هَجرُfoulness of الحَديثِspeech إِذاwhen اِحتَبىhe sits clasping his knees
لا مُطلِقٌ هَجرُ الحَديثِ إِذا اِحتَبى
فيهِمamong them وَلاnor شَرِسُharsh السَجِيَّةِin temperament جاسِhardhearted
فيهِم وَلا شَرِسُ السَجِيَّةِ جاسِ
He lets no foul talk loose when he sits clasping his knees
None shuns discourse when speech is seemly,
among them, nor is he harsh-tempered or hardhearted.
Nor any shy and sensitive soul avoids it.
حَيثُwhere السَجاياnatures الباذِلاتُgenerous ضَواحِكٌsmiling
حَيثُ السَجايا الباذِلاتُ ضَواحِكٌ
زُهرٌradiant وَحَيثُand where العاذِلاتُreproachful women خَواسيrebuffed
زُهرٌ وَحَيثُ العاذِلاتُ خَواسي
Where generous natures smile,
Where the sunny dispositions are, there smiles blossom,
radiant, and where reproachful women are rebuffed.
While the sullen dispositions engender gloom.
لاnot مِنfrom طَريفٍnewly acquired wealth جَمَّعَتهُamassed it خِيانَةٌtreachery
لا مِن طَريفٍ جَمَّعَتهُ خِيانَةٌ
ماwhat مِنهُfrom it يَبذُلُhe gives جاهِداًstriving وَيُواسيand shares with others
ما مِنهُ يَبذُلُ جاهِداً وَيُواسي
Not from newly acquired wealth amassed by treachery
No perfidy has made him gather wealth
does he give earnestly and share with others.
To squander freely or console the stricken.
لَيسَnot الَّذيone who يُعطيكَgives you تالِدَthe inherited portion of مالِهِhis wealth
لَيسَ الَّذي يُعطيكَ تالِدَ مالِهِ
مِثلَlike الَّذيone who يُعطيكَgives you مالَthe wealth of الناسِpeople
مِثلَ الَّذي يُعطيكَ مالَ الناسِ
He who gives you his inherited wealth is not
Not equal is the giver of inherited wealth
like him who gives you other people's wealth.
And the giver who shares the wealth of men.
Sol 6.1