ماnot أَنتَyou لِلكَلِفِfor the lovesick man المَشوقِyearning بِصاحِبِa companion
ما أَنتَ لِلكَلِفِ المَشوقِ بِصاحِبِ
فَاِذهَبso go عَلىat مَهَلٍease فَلَيسَfor he is not بِذاهِبِleaving
فَاِذهَب عَلى مَهَلٍ فَلَيسَ بِذاهِبِ
You are no companion to the yearning, lovesick man.
Go, then, at your ease, for he will not leave.
عَرَفَhe recognized الدِيارَthe dwellings وَقَدwhen already سَئِمنَthey had wearied مِنَof البِلىdecay
عَرَفَ الدِيارَ وَقَد سَئِمنَ مِنَ البِلى
وَمَلَلنَand they tired مِنof سُقياthe watering of السَحابِthe clouds الصائِبِpouring
وَمَلَلنَ مِن سُقيا السَحابِ الصائِبِ
He recognized the dwellings, already weary of decay,
and tired of the pouring clouds' watering.
فَأَراكَso he showed you جَهلَthe folly of الشَوقِlonging بَينَamong مَعالِمٍlandmarks
فَأَراكَ جَهلَ الشَوقِ بَينَ مَعالِمٍ
مِنهاof them وَجِدَّand the earnestness of الدَمعِtears بَينَamong مَلاعِبِplaying grounds
مِنها وَجِدَّ الدَمعِ بَينَ مَلاعِبِ
He showed you longing's folly among their landmarks,
and tears' earnestness among their playing grounds.
وَيَزيدُهُand increases his وَحشاًloneliness تَقارُضُthe exchange by وَحشِهاtheir wild beasts
وَيَزيدُهُ وَحشاً تَقارُضُ وَحشِها
وَصلَينِtwo bonds of affection بَينَbetween أَحِبَّةٍlovers وَحَبائِبِand beloveds
وَصلَينِ بَينَ أَحِبَّةٍ وَحَبائِبِ
And lonelier still he grows as their wild beasts exchange
two bonds of affection between lovers and beloveds.
تَرعىthey graze السُهُلَةَthe level ground وَالحُزونُand the rugged hills يَقينَهاprotect them
تَرعى السُهُلَةَ وَالحُزونُ يَقينَها
حَدَّينِtwo sharp edges بَينَbetween أَظافِرٍclaws وَمَخالِبِand talons
حَدَّينِ بَينَ أَظافِرٍ وَمَخالِبِ
They graze the level ground, while rugged hills shield them
from two sharp edges: claws and talons.
لَمnot يَمشِwalked واشٍa slanderer بَينَهُنَّamong them وَلاnor دَعاcalled for
لَم يَمشِ واشٍ بَينَهُنَّ وَلا دَعا
بَيناًseparation لَهُنَّfor them صَدىthe echo of الغُرابِthe raven الناعِبِcroaking
بَيناً لَهُنَّ صَدى الغُرابِ الناعِبِ
No slanderer has walked among them, nor has
a croaking raven's echo summoned their parting.
ماhow كانَit would have been أَحسَنَlovely هَذِهِthis مِنas وَقفَةٍa pause
ما كانَ أَحسَنَ هَذِهِ مِن وَقفَةٍ
لَوif كانَhad been ذاكَthat السِربُherd سِربَa band of كَواعِبِbudding-breasted maidens
لَو كانَ ذاكَ السِربُ سِربَ كَواعِبِ
How lovely this pause would have been,
had that herd been a bevy of budding-breasted maidens.
هَلwould…? كُنتَyou have been لَولاbut for بَينُهُمtheir parting مُتَوَحِّماًimagining
هَل كُنتَ لَولا بَينُهُم مُتَوَحِّماً
أَنَّthat اِمرَأًa man يُشجيهِgrieves him بَينُparting from مُحارِبِMuharib
أَنَّ اِمرَأً يُشجيهِ بَينُ مُحارِبِ
But for their parting, would you have imagined
that parting from Muharib could sadden a man?
عَمريby my life لَقَدindeed ظَلَمَتshe wronged ظَلومُZalum وَلَمand did not تَجُدgrant generously
عَمري لَقَد ظَلَمَت ظَلومُ وَلَم تَجُد
لِمُعَذَّلٍto one reproached فيهاfor loving her بِوَعدٍwith a promise كاذِبِfalse
لِمُعَذَّلٍ فيها بِوَعدٍ كاذِبِ
By my life, Zalum has wronged me, and would not grant
even a false promise to one reproached for loving her.
سَدَّتshe barred the way مُجانِبَةًshunning وَخَلَّفَنيand held me back الهَوىlove
سَدَّت مُجانِبَةً وَخَلَّفَني الهَوى
عَنfrom هَجرِهاabandoning her فَوَصَلتُso I maintained the bond غَيرَnot مُجانِبِshunning
عَن هَجرِها فَوَصَلتُ غَيرَ مُجانِبِ
She barred me out, shunning me; love held me back
from abandoning her, so I kept the bond, never shunning.
وَإِذاand whenever رَجَوتُI hoped ثَنَتturned back رَجائِيmy hope سَكتَةٌa silence
وَإِذا رَجَوتُ ثَنَت رَجائِي سَكتَةٌ
مِنfrom عاتِبٍone aggrieved فيin الحُبِّlove غَيرَwithout مُعاتِبِvoicing reproach
مِن عاتِبٍ في الحُبِّ غَيرَ مُعاتِبِ
Whenever I hoped, a silence turned my hope aside,
from one aggrieved in love, but voicing no reproach.
لَوif كانَwere ذَنبيmy sin غَيرِother than حُبِّكِloving you إِنَّهُindeed it is
لَو كانَ ذَنبي غَيرِ حُبِّكِ إِنَّهُ
ذَنبيmy sin إِلَيكِagainst you لَكُنتُI would surely be أَوَّلَthe first تائِبِto repent
ذَنبي إِلَيكِ لَكُنتُ أَوَّلَ تائِبِ
If my sin were other than loving you—indeed, that is
my sin against you—I would be the first to repent.
سَأَروضُI shall train قَلبيmy heart أَنto يَروحَbecome مُباعِداًkeeping distant
سَأَروضُ قَلبي أَن يَروحَ مُباعِداً
لِمُباعِدٍfrom one who keeps away وَمُقارِباًand drawing near لِمُقارِبِto one who draws near
لِمُباعِدٍ وَمُقارِباً لِمُقارِبِ
I shall train my heart to keep its distance
from those who keep away, and draw near to those who draw near.
وَإِذاand when رَأَيتُI see الهَجرَestrangement ضَربَةَa stroke لازِبٍinescapable
وَإِذا رَأَيتُ الهَجرَ ضَربَةَ لازِبٍ
أَبَداًalways رَأَيتُI see الصَبرَpatience ضَربَةَa stroke لازِبِinescapable
أَبَداً رَأَيتُ الصَبرَ ضَربَةَ لازِبِ
When I find estrangement an inescapable necessity,
I always find patience an inescapable necessity.
وَشَمائِلُand the qualities of الحَسَنَal-Hasan بنِson of وَهبٍWahb إِنَّهاindeed they
وَشَمائِلُ الحَسَنَ بنِ وَهبٍ إِنَّها
فيin المَجدِglory ذاتُpossessing شَمائِلٍnorth winds وَجَنائِبِand south winds
في المَجدِ ذاتُ شَمائِلٍ وَجَنائِبِ
And al-Hasan ibn Wahb's qualities—indeed, they
possess north and south winds in the realm of glory—
لَيُقَصِّرَنَّwill surely curb لَجاجَthe persistence of شَوقٍlonging غالِبٍoverpowering
لَيُقَصِّرَنَّ لَجاجَ شَوقٍ غالِبٍ
وَليَقصُرَنَّand will surely cease لَجاجُthe persistence of دَمعٍtears ساكِبِstreaming
وَليَقصُرَنَّ لَجاجُ دَمعٍ ساكِبِ
will surely curb the persistence of overpowering longing,
and the persistence of streaming tears shall surely cease.
فَالعَزمُfor resolve يَقتُلُkills كُلَّevery سُقمٍsickness قاتِلٍdeadly
فَالعَزمُ يَقتُلُ كُلَّ سُقمٍ قاتِلٍ
وَالبُعدُand distance يَغلِبُovercomes كُلَّevery وَجدٍpassion غالِبِoverpowering
وَالبُعدُ يَغلِبُ كُلَّ وَجدٍ غالِبِ
For resolve kills every deadly sickness,
and distance conquers every conquering passion.
وَلَقَدand indeed بَعَثتُI sent forth العيسَthe pale camels تَحمِلُbearing كِمَّةًa cap; unclear in context
وَلَقَد بَعَثتُ العيسَ تَحمِلُ كِمَّةً
أَنضَتexhausted عَزائِمَthe resolves of أَركُبٍbands of riders وَأَكائِبِand companies
أَنضَت عَزائِمَ أَركُبٍ وَأَكائِبِ
I sent the pale camels forth bearing a cap [reading unclear],
that exhausted the resolve of rider-bands and companies.
يُشرِقنَthey head east بِاللَيلِthrough the night التَمامِat its longest طَوالِعاًrising
يُشرِقنَ بِاللَيلِ التَمامِ طَوالِعاً
مِنهُout of it عَلىtoward نَجمِthe star of العِراقِIraq الثاقِبِpiercingly bright
مِنهُ عَلى نَجمِ العِراقِ الثاقِبِ
They head east through the longest night, rising
out of it toward Iraq's piercing star.
يَمتُتنَthey claim a bond بِالقُربىthrough kinship إِلَيهِwith him وَعِندَهُand with him
يَمتُتنَ بِالقُربى إِلَيهِ وَعِندَهُ
فِعلُthe conduct of القَريبِa kinsman وَهُنَّalthough they غَيرُare not قَرائِبِkinsfolk
فِعلُ القَريبِ وَهُنَّ غَيرُ قَرائِبِ
They claim kinship with him; in him they find
a kinsman's conduct, although they are no kin.
وَإِذاand when رَأَيتُI behold أَباAbu; father of عَلِيٍّAli فَالعُلاthen glory
وَإِذا رَأَيتُ أَبا عَلِيٍّ فَالعُلا
لِمَشارِقٍto eastern lands مِنfrom سَيبِهِhis bounty وَمَغارِبِand western lands
لِمَشارِقٍ مِن سَيبِهِ وَمَغارِبِ
When I behold Abu Ali, glory belongs
to the eastern and western lands his bounty reaches.
يَبدوhe appears فَيُعرِبُand reveals آخِرٌthe later عَنabout أَوَّلٍthe earlier
يَبدو فَيُعرِبُ آخِرٌ عَن أَوَّلٍ
مِنهُof him وَيُخبِرُand tells شاهِدٌwhat is seen عَنof غائِبِwhat is unseen
مِنهُ وَيُخبِرُ شاهِدٌ عَن غائِبِ
He appears, and the later reveals the earlier
in him; what is seen tells of what is unseen.
بِطَرائِقٍwith ways كَطَرائِقٍlike ways وَخَلائِقٍand qualities
بِطَرائِقٍ كَطَرائِقٍ وَخَلائِقٍ
كَخَلائِقٍlike qualities وَضَرائِبٍand dispositions كَضَرائِبِlike dispositions
كَخَلائِقٍ وَضَرائِبٍ كَضَرائِبِ
With ways like ways, and qualities
like qualities, and dispositions like dispositions,
وَمَواهِبٍand gifts كَعبِيَّةٍof Ka'b وَهبِيَّةٍof Wahb
وَمَواهِبٍ كَعبِيَّةٍ وَهبِيَّةٍ
يُجِبنَthey answer فيin الإِفضالِgenerosity فَوقَbeyond الواجِبِwhat is required
يُجِبنَ في الإِفضالِ فَوقَ الواجِبِ
and gifts in the manner of Ka'b and Wahb,
answering calls for bounty beyond what is required.
يَعلوhe rises عَلىabove عُلَةٍʿUlah بِوَفدِwith a procession of أُبُوَّةٍforefathers
يَعلو عَلى عُلَةٍ بِوَفدِ أُبُوَّةٍ
يُتَوَهَّمونَthey are taken for هُناكَthere وَفدَa procession of كَواكِبِstars
يُتَوَهَّمونَ هُناكَ وَفدَ كَواكِبِ
He rises above ʿUlah with a procession of forefathers,
who are taken there for a procession of stars.
كانواthey were بِذاكَin that عِصابَةًa band كَعَصائِبٍlike bands
كانوا بِذاكَ عِصابَةً كَعَصائِبٍ
فيin مَذحِجٍMadhhij وَذُؤابَةًand a crest كَذَوائِبِlike crests
في مَذحِجٍ وَذُؤابَةً كَذَوائِبِ
In this they were one band to match many bands
in Madhhij, and one crest to match many crests.
وَأَرىand I consider التَكَرُّمَnobility فيamong الرِجالِmen تَكارُماًaffected nobility
وَأَرى التَكَرُّمَ في الرِجالِ تَكارُماً
ماso long as لَمnot يَكُنit is بِمُناسِبٍgrounded in ancestry وَمَناصِبِand ranks
ما لَم يَكُن بِمُناسِبٍ وَمَناصِبِ
I deem men's displays of nobility mere pretension,
unless rooted in ancestry and rank.
يَرميhe casts العَواذِلَthe reproachful women فيconcerning النَدىgenerosity مِنfrom جانِبٍone side
يَرمي العَواذِلَ في النَدى مِن جانِبٍ
عَنهُaway from him وَيَرميهِand assails him النَدىgenerosity عَنfrom جانِبِanother side
عَنهُ وَيَرميهِ النَدى عَن جانِبِ
He casts the women who reproach his bounty to one side,
away from him, while bounty assails him from another,
حَتّىuntil يَروحَhe goes مُتارِكاًdisengaged كَمُعارِكٍlike a fighter
حَتّى يَروحَ مُتارِكاً كَمُعارِكٍ
بِجَميعِهِwith all his being وَمُسالِماًand at peace كَمُحارِبِlike one at war
بِجَميعِهِ وَمُسالِماً كَمُحارِبِ
until he goes his way, disengaged yet like one fighting
with all his being, at peace yet like a man at war.
قَهَرَhe mastered الأُمورَaffairs بَديهَةًby instant judgment كَرَوِيَّةٍlike deliberation
قَهَرَ الأُمورَ بَديهَةً كَرَوِيَّةٍ
مِنfrom حازِمٍa prudent man وَقَريحَةًand by native genius كَتَجارِبِlike experience
مِن حازِمٍ وَقَريحَةً كَتَجارِبِ
He mastered affairs with instant judgment like the deliberation
of a prudent man, and native genius like tried experience.
فَلَّhe blunted الخُطوبَcalamities وَقَدwhen they had خَطَبنَcourted لِقائَهُmeeting him
فَلَّ الخُطوبَ وَقَد خَطَبنَ لِقائَهُ
فَرَجَعنَso they returned فيin إِخفاقِthe frustration of ظَنٍّan expectation خايِبِdisappointed
فَرَجَعنَ في إِخفاقِ ظَنٍّ خايِبِ
He blunted calamities when they courted an encounter with him;
they turned back, their expectations thwarted and disappointed.
هُتِكَتwas torn غَيابَتُهاtheir shrouding darkness بِأَبيَضَby a fair man ماجِدٍnoble
هُتِكَت غَيابَتُها بِأَبيَضَ ماجِدٍ
فَكَأَنَّماas though هُتِكَتit was torn بِأَبيَضَby a bright blade قاضِبِcleaving
فَكَأَنَّما هُتِكَت بِأَبيَضَ قاضِبِ
Their shrouding darkness was rent by a fair, noble man,
as though rent by a bright, cleaving sword.
فَهمٌunderstanding أَرَقُّfiner مِنَthan الشَآبِunclear reading وَفِطنَةٌand acumen
فَهمٌ أَرَقُّ مِنَ الشَآبِ وَفِطنَةٌ
رَدَّتbrought back أَقاصيthe farthest reaches of الغَيبِthe unseen رَدَّas one returns الهارِبِa fugitive
رَدَّت أَقاصي الغَيبِ رَدَّ الهارِبِ
An understanding finer than [unclear word], and an acumen
that brought the farthest unseen back as one brings back a fugitive.
وَمَكارِمٌand noble virtues مَعمورَةٌfilled بِصَنائِعٍwith benefactions
وَمَكارِمٌ مَعمورَةٌ بِصَنائِعٍ
فَكَأَنَّهاas though they مَمطورَةٌwere rained upon بِسَحائِبِby clouds
فَكَأَنَّها مَمطورَةٌ بِسَحائِبِ
And noble virtues filled with benefactions,
as though clouds had rained upon them.
وَغَرائِبٌand marvels فيin الجودِgenerosity تَعلَمُyou know أَنَّهاthat they
وَغَرائِبٌ في الجودِ تَعلَمُ أَنَّها
مِنfrom عالِمٍa scholar أَوor شاعِرٍa poet أَوor كاتِبِa scribe
مِن عالِمٍ أَو شاعِرٍ أَو كاتِبِ
And marvels of generosity that you know to come
from a scholar, a poet, or a scribe.
لِلَّهِto God أَنتَyou وَأَنتَwhile you تُحرِزُsecure واحِباًunclear reading
لِلَّهِ أَنتَ وَأَنتَ تُحرِزُ واحِباً
سَبقَينِtwo first places سَبقَprecedence in مَحاسِنٍvirtues وَمَواهِبِand gifts
سَبقَينِ سَبقَ مَحاسِنٍ وَمَواهِبِ
God bless you, as you secure [unclear qualifier]
two first places: in virtues and in gifts,
فيin تَوبَةٍrepentance مِنfrom تائِبٍone repentant أَوor رَهبَةٍfear
في تَوبَةٍ مِن تائِبٍ أَو رَهبَةٍ
مِنfrom راهِبٍone who fears أَوor رَغبَةٍdesire مِنfrom راغِبِone who desires
مِن راهِبٍ أَو رَغبَةٍ مِن راغِبِ
in a penitent's repentance, or the fear
of one afraid, or the longing of one who longs.
أَعطَيتَyou granted سائِلَكَyour petitioner المُحَسَّدَenvied سُؤلَهُhis request
أَعطَيتَ سائِلَكَ المُحَسَّدَ سُؤلَهُ
وَطَلَبتَand sought out بِالمَعروفِwith kindness غَيرَother than الطالِبِthe petitioner
وَطَلَبتَ بِالمَعروفِ غَيرَ الطالِبِ
You granted your envied petitioner his wish,
and sought out, with kindness, one who did not ask.
عَلَّمتَنيyou taught me الطَلَبَseeking الشَريفَnoble وَرُبَّماand often
عَلَّمتَني الطَلَبَ الشَريفَ وَرُبَّما
كُنتُI had been الوَضيعَthe lowly one مِنbecause of اِتِّضاعِthe lowliness of مَطالِبيmy requests
كُنتُ الوَضيعَ مِن اِتِّضاعِ مَطالِبي
You taught me to seek nobly; often
I had been debased by the lowliness of my requests.
وَأَرَيتَنيand showed me أَنَّthat السُؤالَasking مَحَلَّةٌan encampment
وَأَرَيتَني أَنَّ السُؤالَ مَحَلَّةٌ
فيهاwithin it اِختِلافُdifferences of مَنازِلٍabodes وَمَراتِبِand ranks
فيها اِختِلافُ مَنازِلٍ وَمَراتِبِ
You showed me that asking is an encampment
with different abodes and ranks within.
وَبَسَطتَand extended ليto me قَبلَbefore النَوالِgiving عِنايَةًcare
وَبَسَطتَ لي قَبلَ النَوالِ عِنايَةً
بَسَطَتthat widened مَسافَةَthe range of لَحظِيَmy gaze المُتَقارِبِshort-reaching
بَسَطَت مَسافَةَ لَحظِيَ المُتَقارِبِ
Before giving, you extended care to me
that widened the range of my short-reaching gaze.
وَعَرَفتُand I recognized وُدَّكَyour affection فيin تَعَصُّبِthe partisan zeal of شيعَتيmy supporters
وَعَرَفتُ وُدَّكَ في تَعَصُّبِ شيعَتي
وَوجوهِand the faces of إِخوانيmy brethren وَعَطفِand the affection of أَقارِبيmy kinsfolk
وَوجوهِ إِخواني وَعَطفِ أَقارِبي
I recognized your affection in my supporters' loyalty,
and my brethren's faces, and my kinsfolk's tenderness.
فَلَئِنand even if شَكَرتُكَI thank you إِنَّنيindeed I لَمُعَذِّرٌam surely remiss
فَلَئِن شَكَرتُكَ إِنَّني لَمُعَذِّرٌ
فيin واجِبٍa duty وَمُقَصِّرٌand falling short عَنof واجِبِa duty
في واجِبٍ وَمُقَصِّرٌ عَن واجِبِ
Even if I thank you, I am still remiss
in my duty, and falling short of my duty.
Sol 6.1