قِفْhalt بالرّكائِبِwith the riding camels أوor سُقْهاdrive them بِتَرْتِيبِin good order
قِفْ بالرّكائِبِ أو سُقْها بِتَرْتِيبِ
عَسىperhaps تَسيرthey will travel إلىto الحيّthe encampment الأعاريبِthe Bedouins
عَسى تَسير إلى الحيّ الأعاريبِ
Halt the riding camels, or drive them in good order,
Stand by the remnants, or drive them in order,
perhaps they will journey to the Bedouin encampment.
Perhaps you may go to the dwellings of Arabs,
وَاسْأَلْand ask نَسيماa breeze ثَنَتْit swayed أَعْطَافَنَاour bodies سَحَراًbefore dawn
وَاسْأَلْ نَسيما ثَنَتْ أَعْطَافَنَا سَحَراً
مِنْfrom أَيْنَwhere جاءَتْit came ففِيهاfor in it نَفْحَةُa waft الطِّيبِperfume
مِنْ أَيْنَ جاءَتْ ففِيها نَفْحَةُ الطِّيبِ
And ask a breeze that swayed our bodies before dawn
And ask the breeze that folded our necks at dawn,
where it came from, for it carries a waft of perfume.
Whence it came, for it holds the scent of musk.
وفيand among الركائبِthe riding camels مَطْوِيٌّone folded inward علىover حُرقٍburning sorrows
وفي الركائبِ مَطْوِيٌّ على حُرقٍ
يَلْحقْنَthey bring مُرْدbeardless youths الهَوىlove العُذْرِيchaste بالشِّيبِto gray hair
يَلْحقْنَ مُرْد الهَوى العُذْرِي بالشِّيبِ
And among the mounts is one folded inward over burning sorrows
And in the remnants is one bent with burning,
that turn the beardless youths of chaste love gray.
Who joins the herd of passionate love in old age,
يَلْقىhe faces الفُرَاقَseparation بِصَبْرٍwith patience غَيْرِnot منْتصرٍvictorious
يَلْقى الفُرَاقَ بِصَبْرٍ غَيْرِ منْتصرٍ
علىover النّوَىseparation وبِوَجْدٍand with longing غيرnot مَغْلوبِovercome
على النّوَى وبِوَجْدٍ غير مَغْلوبِ
He faces parting with patience that cannot prevail
Who meets separation with unrelenting patience,
over separation, and with longing that cannot be conquered.
Over desires, and with unvanquished fervor.
ياO ربّةmistress الهَوْدَجthe howdah المَحْميّguarded جَانبهits side
يا ربّة الهَوْدَج المَحْميّ جَانبه
إِلامَhow long حُبّكَyour love يُغْرينيentices me ويُغْريand incites بيagainst me
إِلامَ حُبّكَ يُغْريني ويُغْري بي
O mistress of the howdah whose side is guarded,
O mistress of the protected litter, her flanks guarded,
how long will your love entice me and incite others against me?
Why does your love tempt me and tempt my father?
ظَنَنْتُI thought إنّthat شَبابِيmy youth فيكَwith you يَشْفَعُintercedes ليfor me
ظَنَنْتُ إنّ شَبابِي فيكَ يَشْفَعُ لي
وإنَّand that جُودَgenerosity يَدِيmy hand يَقْضِيensures بِتَقْرِيبيmy being brought near
وإنَّ جُودَ يَدِي يَقْضِي بِتَقْرِيبي
I thought my youth would intercede with you for me,
I thought my youth would intercede for me,
and that my hand's generosity would win me closeness.
And my open hand would bring me near.
وقعْتِyou ensnared بيme وبآماليand my hopes عَلىin خِدَعٍdeceptions
وقعْتِ بي وبآمالي عَلى خِدَعٍ
مِنَfrom المُنَىwishes بَيْنَbetween تَصْدِيقِbelief وتكْذيبِand disbelief
مِنَ المُنَى بَيْنَ تَصْدِيقِ وتكْذيبِ
You ensnared me and my hopes in the deceits
You played tricks on me and my hopes,
of wishes, between belief and disbelief.
With promises between belief and denial.
وَأنّand that أبْعدَthe remotest حالاتِstates المحبَّةِlove أنْthat
وَأنّ أبْعدَ حالاتِ المحبَّةِ أنْ
يَلْقىfinds الوَفاءَfidelity مُحِبٌّa lover عِنْدَwith مَحْبُوبِa beloved
يَلْقى الوَفاءَ مُحِبٌّ عِنْدَ مَحْبُوبِ
And love's most unlikely condition is that
That the furthest of love's states is that
a lover finds fidelity in a beloved.
A lover meets loyalty from the beloved.
كَمْhow often قَدْindeed شَقِيتُI suffered بِعُذّاليthrough my reproachers عَلَيكَover you وكَمْand how often
كَمْ قَدْ شَقِيتُ بِعُذّالي عَلَيكَ وكَمْ
شَقواthey suffered بِصَدّيfrom my rebuffs وإعْراضيand my aversion وتَقْطِيبيand my frowning
شَقوا بِصَدّي وإعْراضي وتَقْطِيبي
How often have I suffered through those who reproach me for you, and how often
How I have suffered from your disapproval, and how
have they suffered from my rebuffs, my aversion, and my frowns.
They have suffered from my rejection and frown.
أَسْعىI hasten إِلَيْكَtoward you وَيَسْعَىand hastens بيagainst me مَلامُهُمُtheir reproach
أَسْعى إِلَيْكَ وَيَسْعَى بي مَلامُهُمُ
فَإِنّنيso indeed I بَيْنَbetween تأويبٍjourneying وتأنيبِand rebuke
فَإِنّني بَيْنَ تأويبٍ وتأنيبِ
I hasten toward you, while their reproach pursues me,
I strive toward you as their blame drives me away,
so I am caught between journeying and rebuke.
So I am between apology and rebuke.
صَدَّتْshe turned away بِلاَwithout سَبَبٍa reason عَنّيfrom me فَقُلْتُso I said لَهَاto her
صَدَّتْ بِلاَ سَبَبٍ عَنّي فَقُلْتُ لَهَا
ياO أُخْتَsister يُوسُفَJoseph ماnot لِيI have صَبْرَpatience أَيُّوبِJob
يا أُخْتَ يُوسُفَ ما لِي صَبْرَ أَيُّوبِ
She turned away from me without cause, so I said to her:
She turned from me without cause, so I said:
O sister of Joseph, I do not have Job's patience.
O sister of Joseph, I have not Job's patience.
تَرَحَّليdepart أَوor أَقيميstay أَنْتِyou ليfor me سَكَنٌa refuge
تَرَحَّلي أَو أَقيمي أَنْتِ لي سَكَنٌ
وَأَنْتِand you غايةُthe goal آماليmy hopes ومَطْلوبِيand what I seek
وَأَنْتِ غايةُ آمالي ومَطْلوبِي
Depart or stay: you are my refuge,
Travel or stay, you are my peace,
and you are the goal of my hopes and all I seek.
And you are the aim of my hopes and desire.
شَيْئانِtwo things قَدْindeed أمِنّاare both secure مِنْfrom ثالثٍa third لَهُماfor them both
شَيْئانِ قَدْ أمِنّا مِنْ ثالثٍ لَهُما
وَجْديmy longing عَليكِfor you وإحْسانُand the bounty ابنson of يَعْقوبِYaqub
وَجْدي عَليكِ وإحْسانُ ابن يَعْقوبِ
Two things are safe from a third to rival them:
Two things I am safe from a third,
my longing for you and the bounty of Ibn Yaqub.
My fervor for you, and the kindness of the son of Jacob.
أَغرّradiant لاnot الوَعْدُthe promise مَمْطولٌdelayed لديهِwith him وَلَاnor
أَغرّ لا الوَعْدُ مَمْطولٌ لديهِ وَلَا
أُسْلُوبهhis manner فيin النَّدىgenerosity عَنِّيfrom me بِمَسْلُوبِwithheld
أُسْلُوبه في النَّدى عَنِّي بِمَسْلُوبِ
A radiant man: no promise is delayed with him, nor
Alluring is he whose promise is not drawn out,
is his generous manner withheld from me.
Nor his manner in intimacy taken from me.
إذاwhen سَطاhe attacks قُلْتُI say ياO أُسْدَlions العَرينِthe den قِفيstand still
إذا سَطا قُلْتُ يا أُسْدَ العَرينِ قِفي
وَإنْand if بَدَاhe appears قُلْتُI say يَاO شَمْسَsun الضُّحَىmidmorning غِيبيhide
وَإنْ بَدَا قُلْتُ يَا شَمْسَ الضُّحَى غِيبي
When he attacks, I say, 'O lions of the den, stand still!'
When he is harsh I say, “O lion of the den, stop!”
And when he appears, I say, 'O sun of morning, hide!'
And when he appears I say, “O sun of the morn, hide!”
يَبيتُspends the night بِالبأسِamid might مِنْهُfrom him البِشْرُgood cheer مُبتسماًsmiling
يَبيتُ بِالبأسِ مِنْهُ البِشْرُ مُبتسماً
والسّيْفُand the sword غَيْرُnot صَقيلٍpolished غَيْرُnot مَرْهوبِfeared
والسّيْفُ غَيْرُ صَقيلٍ غَيْرُ مَرْهوبِ
Amid his might, his good cheer passes the night smiling,
He sleeps with might that makes mortals smile,
and the sword, when unpolished, is not feared.
And the sword is bare, neither burnished nor dreaded.
صُمّintractable المسائِلquestions فِيon يَوْمِthe day الجِدالِdebate لَهُfor him
صُمّ المسائِل فِي يَوْمِ الجِدالِ لَهُ
أَمْضىkeener وأنفذand more piercing مِنْthan صُمّsolid الأَنَابِيبِspear-shafts
أَمْضى وأنفذ مِنْ صُمّ الأَنَابِيبِ
For him, knotty questions on the day of debate
He is deafer to questions on debate day than
are keener and more piercing than solid spear-shafts.
The deafness of pipes is more decisive and penetrating.
يَاO مَنْyou who لَهُfor him الودّlove مِنْfrom سِرّيmy private self وَمِنْand from عَلَنيmy public self
يَا مَنْ لَهُ الودّ مِنْ سِرّي وَمِنْ عَلَني
وَمَنْand you who إِلىto بابِهِhis door شدّيmy journeying وتَقْرِيبيand my approach
وَمَنْ إِلى بابِهِ شدّي وتَقْرِيبي
O you who have my love in secret and in public,
O you who possesses my secret and public affection,
and you to whose door I journey and draw near,
And whom my devotion and proximity is bound to.
كَمْhow often رُمْتُI wished لَوْلاَbut for اشْتياقيmy longing إنthat تُباعِدنيyou keep me distant
كَمْ رُمْتُ لَوْلاَ اشْتياقي إن تُباعِدني
لِكيso that تَرىyou see صِدْقَthe sincerity ودّيmy love بَعْدafter تجريبيtesting me
لِكي تَرى صِدْقَ ودّي بَعْد تجريبي
how often, but for my yearning, I would have wished you to keep me distant,
How often, if not for my longing, I'd distance myself
so you might see my love's sincerity after testing me.
So you may see the truth of my affection after testing me.
بِكَthrough you انْتصرْتُI triumphed عَلىover الأَيَّامthe days مُقْتَدِراًempowered
بِكَ انْتصرْتُ عَلى الأَيَّام مُقْتَدِراً
فَبِتْنَso they spent the night مِنِّيfrom me بحدٍّwith an edge جِدّvery مَرْهُوبِfeared
فَبِتْنَ مِنِّي بحدٍّ جِدّ مَرْهُوبِ
Through you I triumphed over the days, empowered,
Through you I gained victory over the days, prevailing,
so they passed the night before my greatly dreaded edge.
So beware my limit, stern, dreaded.
وَأَنْتَand you أَتْقَنْتَperfected بالإِحْسانِthrough kindness تَرْبِيتيmy upbringing
وَأَنْتَ أَتْقَنْتَ بالإِحْسانِ تَرْبِيتي
وأَنْتَand you أَحْسَنْتَmade excellent بالإِتْقانِthrough precision تأديبيmy instruction
وأَنْتَ أَحْسَنْتَ بالإِتْقانِ تأديبي
And you perfected my upbringing through kindness,
You perfected my upbringing with benevolence,
and you made my instruction excellent through precision.
And you perfected my discipline with precision.
وأَنْتَand you أكْسَبتنيgave me رأياًjudgment غَنيتُI was freed بِهِby it
وأَنْتَ أكْسَبتني رأياً غَنيتُ بِهِ
عَنْfrom أَنhaving to أُكَابِدَendure مِنْfrom هَوْلِthe terror التّجاريبtrials
عَنْ أَن أُكَابِدَ مِنْ هَوْلِ التّجاريب
And you endowed me with judgment that freed me
And you granted me an opinion that enriched me,
from having to endure the horrors of trials.
Freeing me from the horrors of trials.
فاسألْso ask مَعانيكَyour qualities عَنِّيabout me فَهْيَfor they تَخْبرُنيknow me
فاسألْ مَعانيكَ عَنِّي فَهْيَ تَخْبرُني
تُخْبِرُكَthey tell you عَنْof كَرمٍgenerosity مِنْهُنَّfrom them مَوْهُوبِbestowed
تُخْبِرُكَ عَنْ كَرمٍ مِنْهُنَّ مَوْهُوبِ
Ask your virtues about me, for they know me;
So ask your meanings about me, for they will tell you,
they will tell you of generosity bestowed by them.
And tell you of generosity in them unasked.
مَنْhe who سَيَّرsent forth الشُهبَthe shooting stars مِنْfrom نَظْميmy verse الشُّموسَthe suns ضُحىًat midmorning
مَنْ سَيَّر الشُهبَ مِنْ نَظْمي الشُّموسَ ضُحىً
أَضاءَlit up ماwhat بَيْنَbetween تَشْريقٍthe eastward direction وَتَغْريبِand the westward direction
أَضاءَ ما بَيْنَ تَشْريقٍ وَتَغْريبِ
He who sent the shooting stars of my verse forth as morning suns
He who made my poetry's stars shine at dawn,
lit all between east and west.
Illuminated what’s between sunrise and sunset.
قَدْindeed جَرَّدhe unsheathed البِيضَthe white swords مِنْfrom ذِهْنيmy mind ومِنْand from هِمَميmy ambitions
قَدْ جَرَّد البِيضَ مِنْ ذِهْني ومِنْ هِمَمي
وقُلِّدَand was girded with البيضَwhite swords مِنْfrom مَدْحِيmy praise وَتَشْبيبيand my love-poetry
وقُلِّدَ البيضَ مِنْ مَدْحِي وَتَشْبيبي
He has unsheathed white swords from my mind and my ambitions,
He stripped nonsense from my mind and resolve,
and been girded with white swords from my praise and love-poetry.
And nonsense was collared by my praise and poetry.
وَمِنْand from مُحَمَّدMuhammad إِقْداميmy boldness وَمِعْرفَتيand my knowledge
وَمِنْ مُحَمَّد إِقْدامي وَمِعْرفَتي
وَمِنْand from مُحمَّدَMuhammad إِعْراميmy fierceness وتهذيبيand my refinement
وَمِنْ مُحمَّدَ إِعْرامي وتهذيبي
And from Muhammad come my boldness and my knowledge,
And from Muhammad is my resolve and knowledge,
and from Muhammad my fierceness and my refinement.
And from Muhammad my confidence and discipline.
لاno رأيinclination ليfor me فيtoward جيادِfine-bred الخيلِhorses أَرْكَبُهاI ride them
لا رأي لي في جيادِ الخيلِ أَرْكَبُها
إذاwhen نَهضْتُI rise فَعَزْميthen my resolve خَيْرُthe best مَرْكُوبِmount
إذا نَهضْتُ فَعَزْمي خَيْرُ مَرْكُوبِ
I have no inclination to ride fine-bred horses;
I have no opinion in choosing steeds to mount,
when I rise, my resolve is the finest mount.
For when I set out, my will is the best mount.
أَعاذَكَmay protect you اللَّهGod مِنْfrom هَمٍّa sorrow أُكابِدُهُI endure it
أَعاذَكَ اللَّه مِنْ هَمٍّ أُكابِدُهُ
أَقولُI say كَرْهاًunwillingly لأحْشائِيto my innards بِهِbecause of it ذُوبيmelt away
أَقولُ كَرْهاً لأحْشائِي بِهِ ذُوبي
May God protect you from a sorrow I endure,
May God protect you from a care I suffer,
for which I tell my innards, unwillingly, 'Melt away!'
That bitterly I say melts my innards.
مُلئتَyou were filled بالدّهرabout Time عِلْماًwith knowledge وَهُوَwhile it يَمْلأُfills بِيabout me
مُلئتَ بالدّهر عِلْماً وَهُوَ يَمْلأُ بِي
جَهْلاًwith ignorance وَيَحْسَبُand reckons مِنِّيof me غيرnot مَحْسُوبِreckoned
جَهْلاً وَيَحْسَبُ مِنِّي غير مَحْسُوبِ
You are filled with knowledge of Time, while it fills itself with
You have filled lifetimes with knowledge, while it
ignorance of me, and counts me as one of no account.
Fills me with ignorance, and counts me unreckoned.
إِحْدَىone الأَعاجيبِthe marvels عِنْدِيin my eyes مِنْهُfrom it لوif وُصِفَتْwere described
إِحْدَى الأَعاجيبِ عِنْدِي مِنْهُ لو وُصِفَتْ
لَكَانَthen would be وَصْفيmy description لَهَاof it إِحْدىone الأَعاجِيبِthe marvels
لَكَانَ وَصْفي لَهَا إِحْدى الأَعاجِيبِ
One marvel I have from it, if described,
One of the wonders in my eyes, if described,
would make my description of it a marvel too.
My description of it would be one of the wonders.
لاnot يَسْتَقِرُّhe rests بِوَجْهٍwith a face غَيْرnot مُبْتَذِلٍdebased
لا يَسْتَقِرُّ بِوَجْهٍ غَيْر مُبْتَذِلٍ
ولاnor يَسيرُhe goes about بِعرْضٍwith an honor غَيرnot مَثْلُوبِdefamed
ولا يَسيرُ بِعرْضٍ غَير مَثْلُوبِ
He never rests with his face unshamed,
He does not settle for an uncustomary dignity,
nor goes about with his honor unsullied.
Nor walk with undeserved distinction.
ولاnor يبيتُspends the night لهof his جارٌa neighbor بلاwithout فَرقٍfear
ولا يبيتُ له جارٌ بلا فَرقٍ
ولاnor يُسَرُّis gladdened لَهُof his ضَيْفٌa guest بِتَرْحَيبby a welcome
ولا يُسَرُّ لَهُ ضَيْفٌ بِتَرْحَيب
No neighbor of his spends the night without fear,
He has no neighbor without distinction,
and no guest of his is gladdened by a welcome.
Nor a guest made happy by his welcoming.
يَصدّhe turns away عَنِّيfrom me إذاwhen قابلتُهI meet him غَضباًin anger
يَصدّ عَنِّي إذا قابلتُه غَضباً
ككافرٍlike an unbeliever صَدّwho turned away عَنْfrom بَعْضِsome المحارِيبِprayer-niches
ككافرٍ صَدّ عَنْ بَعْضِ المحارِيبِ
He turns from me in anger when I meet him,
He deflects my encounter if it is with anger,
like an unbeliever who turns from certain prayer-niches.
Like an infidel deflected from some shrines.
وَلَوْand if ضَربتُI applied بأدنىwith the slightest الفِكْرِthought قُلْتُI would say لَهُto him
وَلَوْ ضَربتُ بأدنى الفِكْرِ قُلْتُ لَهُ
قَتَلْتَyou slew فيin شرّthe worst ضَرْبٍblow شَرّthe worst مَضْرُوبِone struck
قَتَلْتَ في شرّ ضَرْبٍ شَرّ مَضْرُوبِ
And if I applied even the slightest thought, I would say to him:
And if I strike with the slightest thought I would say,
You have slain, with the worst blow, the worst victim.
“You have killed, with the worst of blows, the worst of beaten.”
فِداa ransom for نِعالِكَyour sandals ماwhatever ضَمَّتcontained أَسرّتُهُhis beds
فِدا نِعالِكَ ما ضَمَّت أَسرّتُهُ
وَإِنْeven if فُدِينَthey were ransomed بِمَمْقُوتٍwith someone loathed ومَسْبُوبِand reviled
وَإِنْ فُدِينَ بِمَمْقُوتٍ ومَسْبُوبِ
May all that his beds contain be ransom for your sandals,
His shoes that trod are worth sacrificing for,
even though their ransom be someone hated and reviled.
Even if ransomed by reviled and outcast.
إِنindeed المعاليlofty honors بَراءٌinnocent مِنْof تَجَشُّمِهاstriving to attain them
إِن المعالي بَراءٌ مِنْ تَجَشُّمِها
تَلبَّسَclothed itself المَجْدُglory فِيهاin them بالأَكاذِيبِwith falsehoods
تَلبَّسَ المَجْدُ فِيها بالأَكاذِيبِ
High honors are innocent of his straining to attain them;
Glories are innocent of undertaking them,
glory has clothed itself there in falsehoods.
While glory dressed itself in lies through them.
فَلَيْتَso would that كُلّevery مُريبٍsuspect غابَwas absent عاتِبُهُhis reprover
فَلَيْتَ كُلّ مُريبٍ غابَ عاتِبُهُ
فِداءa ransom for كلّevery بريءblameless العِرْضِhonor مَعْتُوبِreproached
فِداء كلّ بريء العِرْضِ مَعْتُوبِ
So would that every suspect whose reprover is absent
Would that each doubtful critic's reproach depart,
were ransom for every reproached man of blameless honor.
Ransoming each innocent of accused honor.
وَلَيْتَand would that أَنّيI لَمْnot أُدْفَعُwas thrust إِلىinto زَمنٍan age
وَلَيْتَ أَنّي لَمْ أُدْفَعُ إِلى زَمنٍ
ألقىI find الأسُودَthe lions بِهِin it طَوْعَobedient to الأَرانيبِthe rabbits
ألقى الأسُودَ بِهِ طَوْعَ الأَرانيبِ
And would that I had not been thrust into an age
Would that I were not pushed to a time,
where I find lions obedient to rabbits.
Where the lions obey the weakest of rabbits.
إنif يحْجِبِbars الأَضْعَفُthe weaker الأَقْوَىthe stronger فَلاَthen no عَجَبٌwonder
إن يحْجِبِ الأَضْعَفُ الأَقْوَى فَلاَ عَجَبٌ
فَرُبَّfor many a عَقْلٍmind بِسَتْرِby a veil الوَهْمِdelusion مَحْجُوبِveiled
فَرُبَّ عَقْلٍ بِسَتْرِ الوَهْمِ مَحْجُوبِ
If the weaker bars the stronger, it is no wonder,
If the weaker can veil the stronger, no wonder,
for many a mind is veiled by the covering of delusion.
For many a mind is veiled by fancy's curtain.
والدّهْرُand Time لَيْسٍis not بِمأمونٍto be trusted علىwith بَشرٍa human
والدّهْرُ لَيْسٍ بِمأمونٍ على بَشرٍ
يُديرهُit turns him بَيْنَbetween تنعيمٍease وَتَعْذيبِand torment
يُديرهُ بَيْنَ تنعيمٍ وَتَعْذيبِ
And Time is not to be trusted with any human;
Time is unsafe for any mortal,
it turns him between ease and torment.
Whom it turns between bliss and torment.
فلاso let not يَرُقْplease مَسْكَنٌa dwelling فيهِin it لِساكِنِهits inhabitant
فلا يَرُقْ مَسْكَنٌ فيهِ لِساكِنِه
ولاand let not يَثقْtrust صاحِبٌa companion فيهِin it بِمَصْحُوبِin one accompanied
ولا يَثقْ صاحِبٌ فيهِ بِمَصْحُوبِ
So let no dwelling in it please its inhabitant,
No dwelling in it settles its dweller,
and let no companion in it trust the one he accompanies.
Nor does a companion trust in it his fellow.
وَإِنَّماand merely الناسُpeople إِلّاexcept أَنْتَyou فيin سِنَةٍa slumber
وَإِنَّما الناسُ إِلّا أَنْتَ في سِنَةٍ
مُعلّلينkept distracted بِتَرْغيبٍby enticement وتَرْهيبِand intimidation
مُعلّلين بِتَرْغيبٍ وتَرْهيبِ
And people, all except you, are merely in a slumber,
For people are only you in an era,
kept distracted by enticement and intimidation.
Swayed by intimidation and enticement.
أَلَسْتَare you not مِنْof نَفَرٍa company لَمْnot يُثْنَwas turned back دُونَهُمُfrom before them
أَلَسْتَ مِنْ نَفَرٍ لَمْ يُثْنَ دُونَهُمُ
عادٍan aggressor بِنَجْحٍwith success ولاnor عافٍa petitioner بتَخْييبِwith disappointment
عادٍ بِنَجْحٍ ولا عافٍ بتَخْييبِ
Are you not of a company from whose presence no
Are you not of a band before whom
aggressor returned successful, nor petitioner disappointed?
Neither ‘Aad with success nor Aaf with failure bowed?
عَالِينَlofty فيin رُتَبٍranks عافينَrefraining عَنْfrom رِيبِsuspicions
عَالِينَ في رُتَبٍ عافينَ عَنْ رِيبِ
دانينَclose مِنْto شَرَفٍhonor نائينَfar عنfrom حُوبِsin
دانينَ مِنْ شَرَفٍ نائينَ عن حُوبِ
Lofty in rank, aloof from suspicion,
Exalted in station, abstaining from blemish,
close to honor, far from sin.
Near in nobility, distant from shame.
كَريمٌnoble ماwhat أَظْهرُوهthey revealed مِنْof شَمائلهمtheir qualities
كَريمٌ ما أَظْهرُوه مِنْ شَمائلهم
كريمٌnoble ماwhat سَترُوهthey concealed فيin الجلابيبِthe outer robes
كريمٌ ما سَترُوه في الجلابيبِ
Noble is what they show of their character,
Noble is their outward qualities,
and noble what they conceal beneath their robes.
Noble what they concealed in robes.
صَاغَتْfashioned عِبارتُهُمْtheir expression حُسْنَthe beauty البديعrhetorical art بهاwithin it
صَاغَتْ عِبارتُهُمْ حُسْنَ البديع بها
مِنَfrom البلاغَةِeloquence فيin أَسْنىthe most splendid القَوالِيبِmolds
مِنَ البلاغَةِ في أَسْنى القَوالِيبِ
Their expression has molded within itself the beauty of rhetorical art
Their phrases wrought elegance's beauty through them,
out of eloquence, in the most splendid molds.
Of eloquence, in the sublimity of execution.
مِنْof كلّevery مُنْتَهِجٍone pursuing جُوْداًgenerosity ومُبْتَهِجٍand rejoicing
مِنْ كلّ مُنْتَهِجٍ جُوْداً ومُبْتَهِجٍ
بِشْراًgood cheer إِلىto حَلَبِAleppo الفَيْحَاءِthe spacious مَنْسُوبِaffiliated
بِشْراً إِلى حَلَبِ الفَيْحَاءِ مَنْسُوبِ
Each follows generosity's path and rejoices
From every well-treading path of munificence and felicity,
in good cheer, a man of spacious Aleppo.
Descended from the milking of Fayhaan's udder.
عَفٌّchaste كريمُnoble in السّجاياcharacter مُحْسِنٌbeneficent عَلَمٌa banner
عَفٌّ كريمُ السّجايا مُحْسِنٌ عَلَمٌ
مِنَof الهُدَىguidance فيon سَبيلthe path اللَّهGod مَنْصُوبِraised
مِنَ الهُدَى في سَبيل اللَّه مَنْصُوبِ
Chaste, noble in character, beneficent—a banner
Chaste, noble in nature, bestower of good, a flag
of guidance raised on the path of God.
Planted for God in the path of guidance.
فيهمamong them لِكلّfor every فتىًyoung man يَغْشاهُمُwho visits them أَبداًalways
فيهم لِكلّ فتىً يَغْشاهُمُ أَبداً
إِنْصافُfair treatment مَعْدلةequity فيin كُلّevery أُسْلوبِmanner
إِنْصافُ مَعْدلة في كُلّ أُسْلوبِ
Among them, for every youth who ever visits them,
In them, for every young man who comes upon them,
there is equitable treatment in every manner.
Is the justice of a balanced approach in every manner.
لكلِّfor every ذيone of كِبَرٍold age إِكبارُesteem تَكْرُمةٍhonor
لكلِّ ذي كِبَرٍ إِكبارُ تَكْرُمةٍ
وكلِّand every ذِيone of صِغَرyouth تَصْغيرdiminutives تَحْبيبِaffection
وكلِّ ذِي صِغَر تَصْغير تَحْبيبِ
Every elder receives the esteem of respect,
For every venerable elder, veneration of honor,
and every youngster endearing diminutives.
And every smaller one, belittlement of endearment.
فاهنأso rejoice بذاin this العيدِfeast ياO عيداًa feast تُقلّلهُyou make it small
فاهنأ بذا العيدِ يا عيداً تُقلّلهُ
وابْشِرِand rejoice بِسَعْدٍin good fortune وأجرand reward فيهin it مَجْلوبِbrought
وابْشِرِ بِسَعْدٍ وأجر فيه مَجْلوبِ
So rejoice in this feast, O feast that dwarfs it,
So delight in this feast, O feast that you reduce,
and rejoice in good fortune and reward brought with it.
And rejoice in fortune and abundant reward.
وَاسْلَمْand remain safe علىdespite ماwhat بِهذيin these الناسِpeople مِنof عَطَبٍharm
وَاسْلَمْ على ما بِهذي الناسِ مِن عَطَبٍ
فيin العلمِknowledge أوor فيin الحَجَىreason أَوor فيin التَّراتيبِarrangements
في العلمِ أو في الحَجَى أَو في التَّراتيبِ
And remain safe, despite the harm among these people
And submit to the faults these people have
in learning, reason, or the ordering of things.
In knowledge, logic, or systems.
فَلَيْسَfor is not مَجْدُكَyour glory فيwithin مَجْدٍany glory بِمُحْتَجَبٍobscured
فَلَيْسَ مَجْدُكَ في مَجْدٍ بِمُحْتَجَبٍ
وَلَيْسَand is not مَدْحُكَyour praise فيwithin مَدْحٍany praise بمكذوبِbelied
وَلَيْسَ مَدْحُكَ في مَدْحٍ بمكذوبِ
Your glory is not obscured by any glory,
For your glory is not in hidden glory,
nor is your praise belied by any praise.
Nor your praise in unreliable praise.
وَلَيْسand not تَلقىyou meet اللّياليthe nights غيرwithout مُنْصَرفٍa way out
وَلَيْس تَلقى اللّيالي غير مُنْصَرفٍ
وليسand not تَرْقىyou ascend المعاليlofty honors غَيْرَwithout being مَخْطوبِsought
وليس تَرْقى المعالي غَيْرَ مَخْطوبِ
Nor do you face the nights without a way out,
You do not meet nights without progressing,
nor ascend to high honors without being sought.
Nor attain heights without being gifted them.
دَعْنيleave me وشِعْريand my verse ومَنْand whoever فيin جَفْنِهِhis eyelid مَرضٌsickness
دَعْني وشِعْري ومَنْ في جَفْنِهِ مَرضٌ
دُونيbeneath me يُزلْwill remove مَرضَthe sickness الأَجْفانthe eyelids تطبيبيmy treatment
دُوني يُزلْ مَرضَ الأَجْفان تطبيبي
Leave me with my verse and anyone with a diseased eyelid
Leave me and my poetry, for he who is diseased in his lids,
beneath me; my treatment will cure the eyelids' sickness.
My healing of eyelids’ illness refutes me.
وَخُذْand take شَواهِدthe proofs ماof what أَمْليتُI dictated مِنْof فِكَرٍthoughts
وَخُذْ شَواهِد ما أَمْليتُ مِنْ فِكَرٍ
تُثْنيthey extol عَليكَyou بِمَلْفُوظٍin spoken words وَمَكْتُوبِand written words
تُثْني عَليكَ بِمَلْفُوظٍ وَمَكْتُوبِ
And take the proofs of the thoughts I have dictated:
And take examples of what thoughts I expressed,
they extol you in spoken and written words.
That compliment you in both word and script.
فَالدرُّfor pearls يحْسُنُare beautiful مَثْقُوباًpierced لِناظِمِهِfor their stringer
فَالدرُّ يحْسُنُ مَثْقُوباً لِناظِمِهِ
وَحُسْنُand the beauty لَفْظيmy wording دَرّpearls غَيْرُnot مَثْقُوبِpierced
وَحُسْنُ لَفْظي دَرّ غَيْرُ مَثْقُوبِ
For pearls are beautiful when pierced for the one who strings them,
For the pearl looks finer pierced for its stringer,
and the beauty of my wording is an unpierced pearl.
And the beauty of my words is an unpierced pearl.
وكُلَّماand whenever قِيلَwas spoken شِعْرٌverse أَوor يُقالُis spoken فماthen not
وكُلَّما قِيلَ شِعْرٌ أَو يُقالُ فما
أَراهI see it إِلّاexcept رَذاذاًdrizzle مِنْfrom شَآبيبيmy downpours
أَراه إِلّا رَذاذاً مِنْ شَآبيبي
And whenever verse was spoken or is spoken, I do not
And whenever poetry is spoken or recited, I do not
see it except as drizzle from my downpours.
See it as anything but sprinkles of my showers.
Sol 6.1