خلّleave المتيّمthe love-stricken one فيon نهجthe path of الغواياتِtemptations
خلّ المتيّم في نهج الغواياتِ
يجرّhe drags فيin الحبِّlove أذيالthe trailing skirts of البطالاتِidleness
يجرّ في الحبِّ أذيال البطالاتِ
Leave the love-stricken one on the path of temptations,
The infatuated one wandered the alleys of sin
Dragging through love the trailing skirts of idleness.
Dragging the skirts of futilities in love
لاdo not تلحهِreproach him فيfor الهوىpassion والحبِّand love إنّindeed لهhe has
لا تلحهِ في الهوى والحبِّ إنّ له
قلباًa heart تألّمthat suffered منfrom كثرthe abundance of الملاماتِreproaches
قلباً تألّم من كثر الملاماتِ
Do not reproach him for passion and love, for he has
Do not blame him for love and passion, for he has
A heart made sore by so much blame.
A heart wounded by many reproaches
وَاِعذرهand excuse him فيunder اللومِthe blame إنif صمّتhave gone deaf مسامعهُhis ears
وَاِعذره في اللومِ إن صمّت مسامعهُ
عَنto سمعِhearing ماwhat أنتyou مبدٍexpress منof ملاماتِreproaches
عَن سمعِ ما أنت مبدٍ من ملاماتِ
And excuse him under your blame if his ears have gone deaf
And excuse him from blame if he shuts his ears
To hearing the reproaches you express.
From hearing the reproaches you began reciting
صبّa lovesick man صباyearned فيamid صباباتpassions الّتيwhich عذبتgrew sweet
صبّ صبا في صبابات الّتي عذبت
وَهكذاand thus الصبّthe lovesick lover يستحليfinds sweet الصباباتِthe passions
وَهكذا الصبّ يستحلي الصباباتِ
A lovesick man who yearned amid passions that grew sweet:
He lived his youth intoxicated with the youths that tormented him
So does the lovesick lover find his passions sweet.
Thus the living gets accustomed to living beings
أضحىhe became نفاسunclear as written غداةat the dawn of الحبّlove مفترداًsolitary
أضحى نفاس غداة الحبّ مفترداً
فيهاamid them وماand did not ملّgrow weary منof طولthe length of المقاساتِsuffering
فيها وما ملّ من طول المقاساتِ
He became [word unclear] at love’s dawn, solitary,
The morning after love he wakes up alone
Amid those passions, never weary of prolonged suffering.
In it and is not tired of the length of distances
ياO مُخبريyou who tell me عنabout فريقٍa company لستI am not أطمعhoping أنto
يا مُخبري عن فريقٍ لست أطمع أن
أَحظىbe favored لديهمwith them بتسهيلwith the easing of الزياراتِvisits
أَحظى لديهم بتسهيل الزياراتِ
O you who tell me of a company with whom I do not hope to
O you who inform me about a band, I do not hope
Be favored with easy visits,
To enjoy facilitated visits with them
كرّرrepeat حديثكyour account ليto me عنهمabout them فذكرهُمfor their remembrance
كرّر حديثك لي عنهم فذكرهُم
أَشهىsweeter إِلىto القلبِthe heart منthan عصرthe days of الشباباتِyouth
أَشهى إِلى القلبِ من عصر الشباباتِ
Repeat your account of them to me, for their remembrance is
Repeat your talk about them to me, for remembering them
Sweeter to the heart than the days of youth.
Is more delightful to the heart than the nectar of youth
وَياand O حماماتِdoves باناتbān trees of الرميثةal-Rumaytha لاmay I never
وَيا حماماتِ بانات الرميثة لا
عدمتكنّlose you all نشيدa song منfrom حماماتِdoves
عدمتكنّ نشيد من حماماتِ
And O doves of al-Rumaytha’s bān trees, may I never
And o doves of Rumaythah appearing at night
Be deprived of you and your dove-song.
May your singing never cease, o doves
وَماand by what بكنّis within you منof الوجدِlonging الّذيwhich ظهرتarose
وَما بكنّ من الوجدِ الّذي ظهرت
منfrom حرّهِits heat فيwithin الحشاthe heart نارthe fire of الكآباتِsorrows
من حرّهِ في الحشا نار الكآباتِ
And by the longing within you, from which arose
What burning passion appeared to you at night
Through its heat, within the heart, the fire of sorrows:
That set afire the embers of sorrows in the thickets
لَقدindeed شعلتنّyou all kindled منّيwithin me القلبthe heart إذwhen سمعتheard
لَقد شعلتنّ منّي القلب إذ سمعت
أُذنايmy two ears وقتat the time of الضحىforenoon ترجيعthe trilling of أصواتِvoices
أُذناي وقت الضحى ترجيع أصواتِ
You indeed set my heart aflame when I heard,
You ignited my heart when my ears heard
With my ears at forenoon, the trilling of voices.
At dawn the echoes of your voices
ماnot كنتI was أحسبthinking أَنّthat القلبthe heart يصدعهwould split it
ما كنت أحسب أَنّ القلب يصدعه
نوحthe lament of الحمامdoves بأصواتwith voices شجيّاتِsorrowful
نوح الحمام بأصوات شجيّاتِ
I never thought the heart could be rent
I did not expect that the doves' weeping
By doves’ lament in sorrow-laden voices.
Would shatter the heart with their woeful voices
وَياand O لئيلاتdear little nights وصلof union with العامريةal-Amiriyya ماhow
وَيا لئيلات وصل العامرية ما
أحلاكsweet you are بالوصلin union فيناto us منamong لئيلاتِlittle nights
أحلاك بالوصل فينا من لئيلاتِ
And O dear little nights of union with al-Amiriyya, how
And o nights of union in Al-Aamiriyah
Sweet you were to us in union, among all little nights!
How beautiful your union is to us, o nights
إذwhen للزمانِthe days had غضاراتٌflourishing ease ونحنand we بهin them
إذ للزمانِ غضاراتٌ ونحن به
نُمسيpass the evening ونصبحand pass the morning فيon دستthe throne of المسرّاتِdelights
نُمسي ونصبح في دست المسرّاتِ
When the days were full of ease, and in them we
As time has deceptions, and we in it
Passed evening and morning on the throne of delights.
Spend the night and morn under auspices
أيّامin days when تسمحgrants ليto me هندٌHind بماwhat طلبتsought
أيّام تسمح لي هندٌ بما طلبت
نفسيmy soul وتمنحنيand grants me صفوthe purity of المودّاتِaffections
نفسي وتمنحني صفو المودّاتِ
In days when Hind granted me what was sought
Days that allow me, o Hind, what I desired for my soul
By my soul, and gave me pure affection.
And grant me the essence of affection
أُمسيI pass the evening وأُصبحand pass the morning خذلاناin abandonment هنالكthere محbe- (word begins here)
أُمسي وأُصبح خذلانا هنالك مح
بوبloved (word ends here) الشمائلِin disposition مسموعheeded الأماراتِthe signals
بوب الشمائلِ مسموع الأماراتِ
I pass evening and morning forsaken there, be-
I spend the night and morn disappointed there, deprived
Loved in disposition, my signals heeded.
Of the beloved traits, though famous for tokens
لاnot تلقنيmeets me قطّever فيماin what بينناis between us أبداًat any time
لا تلقني قطّ فيما بيننا أبداً
فيin ذاكَthat إلّاexcept بأخلاقٍwith manners لطيفاتِgentle
في ذاكَ إلّا بأخلاقٍ لطيفاتِ
She never, ever meets me, in what lies between us,
Never prompt between us anything but
In all that, save with gentle manners.
With good manners, subtle ways
غيداءa gracefully swaying woman راجحةheavy الأردافِof hips بهكنةsoft and full-bodied
غيداء راجحة الأردافِ بهكنة
ظمأىthirsty الحشاwithin ذاتpossessing أعطافflanks نديّاتِdewy
ظمأى الحشا ذات أعطاف نديّاتِ
A swaying beauty, heavy of hips, soft and full-bodied,
Swaying in her wide hips, thirsty at night
Thirsty within, with dewy flanks.
With compliant sides and soft traits
تُبديshe displays لناto us المزحَplayful banter إذلالاًto humble وتسفرand unveils عنrevealing
تُبدي لنا المزحَ إذلالاً وتسفر عن
محاسنٍbeauties قمريّاتٍmoonlike بديهاتِplainly apparent
محاسنٍ قمريّاتٍ بديهاتِ
She offers us playful banter to humble us, and reveals
She jokes with us humbly and reveals
Moonlike beauties, plain to see.
Lovely moon-like traits openly
خوطيةtwig-slender القدّin stature مكسالlanguid يرنّحُهاmakes her sway
خوطية القدّ مكسال يرنّحُها
سكرُthe intoxication of التغنّجcoquetry لاnot سكرُthe intoxication of المداماتِwines
سكرُ التغنّج لا سكرُ المداماتِ
Twig-slender in stature, languid, she is made to sway by
The lazy one with ankles that bend
The intoxication of coquetry, not the intoxication of wines.
From the intoxication of coquetry, not of wine
تُصميshe slays القلوبَthe hearts بألحاظٍwith glances إِذاwhen نَظرتshe looks
تُصمي القلوبَ بألحاظٍ إِذا نَظرت
مفتّراتlanguid مريضاتailing صحيحاتِsound
مفتّرات مريضات صحيحاتِ
She slays hearts with glances, when she looks,
She captivates hearts with glances, when she looks
Languid, ailing, yet sound.
Coy, sickly, healthy
لَهفيmy yearning علىfor رشفاتٍsips منfrom مُقبّلهاher kissable lips
لَهفي على رشفاتٍ من مُقبّلها
فيin الرشفِsipping مثلlike جناthe harvest of الماذيwhite honey شهيّاتِdelicious
في الرشفِ مثل جنا الماذي شهيّاتِ
How I long for sips from her lips,
My craving for sips from her kissing
Delicious to sip, like a harvest of white honey.
Like the Father of Grace, delicious and delightful
لوif بعتهاI sold her الروحthe soul منّيof mine والتليدand ancestral wealth معاًtogether
لو بعتها الروح منّي والتليد معاً
بقبلةٍfor a kiss لمwould not أخفI fear كونَthe occurrence of الخساراتِlosses
بقبلةٍ لم أخف كونَ الخساراتِ
If I sold her my soul and ancestral wealth together
If I sold it my soul and embrace together
For a kiss, I would not fear any loss.
For a kiss, I would not mind the losses
ياO فوزthe good fortune of عودthe twig of الآراكthe arāk tree الغضّfresh حينwhen جرىit passed
يا فوز عود الآراك الغضّ حين جرى
علىover النواجذِthe molars منهاof hers والثنيّاتِand the incisors
على النواجذِ منها والثنيّاتِ
O the good fortune of the fresh arāk twig, when it passed
O joy of the tender fresh boughs of the arar tree
Over her molars and incisors!
Flowing over the soft cheeks and curves
ياO حبّهاmy love for her حينwhen قامتshe rose للوداعfor farewell ضحىًat forenoon
يا حبّها حين قامت للوداع ضحىً
وَالعيسُand the pale camels للبينِfor departure شدّتwere fitted بالحنيّاتِwith curved saddle frames
وَالعيسُ للبينِ شدّت بالحنيّاتِ
How I loved her when she rose for farewell at forenoon,
O love for her when she got up at dawn to bid farewell
And the pale camels were fitted with curved saddle frames for departure.
And separation tightened its grip with sorrow
قامَتshe stood ولاذتand nestled close بأعطافٍat the sides مودّعةbidding farewell
قامَت ولاذت بأعطافٍ مودّعة
حيناًfor a while وقدand had صافحتنيclasped my hand بالبناناتِwith fingertips
حيناً وقد صافحتني بالبناناتِ
She stood and nestled close, bidding farewell
She got up and sought haven in the shoulders bidding farewell
For a while, having clasped my hand with her fingertips,
At times after she shook my hand with her fingers
حتّىuntil تداعتshe gave way وَقدand had أَذرتshed مدامعهاher tear-ducts
حتّى تداعت وَقد أَذرت مدامعها
بِأدمعwith tears واكفاتٍstreaming مستهلّاتِpouring
بِأدمع واكفاتٍ مستهلّاتِ
Until she gave way, her tear-ducts having shed
Until she wavered and her tears flowed
Streaming, pouring tears.
With copious lamenting tears
وَذراعاتand long-striding she-camels الفلاof the deserts فتلoutward-turned مرافقهاtheir elbows
وَذراعات الفلا فتل مرافقها
كمhow often قدindeed قطعناwe crossed بهاupon them عرضthe breadth of المسافاتِdistances
كم قد قطعنا بها عرض المسافاتِ
And the desert-striding camels, their elbows turned outward—
And the arms of separation severed her companion
How often we crossed vast distances upon them!
How much did we conquer with them the expanse of distances
حتّىuntil قدمتthey arrived بناwith us بعدafter الكلالexhaustion علىat
حتّى قدمت بنا بعد الكلال على
متوّجٍa crowned ruler مالكٍmaster of عقدthe knot of الرياساتِleadership
متوّجٍ مالكٍ عقد الرياساتِ
Until, after exhaustion, they brought us to
Until it took us, after weariness, to
A crowned ruler, master of the knot of leadership;
A crowned sovereign, holding the necklaces of leadership
عَلىto المليكthe king فلاحFalah خيرthe best of منthose بُعثتwere sent
عَلى المليك فلاح خير من بُعثت
لهto him منَof الشعرpoetry أنواعthe kinds of الصناعاتِcrafts
له منَ الشعر أنواع الصناعاتِ
To King Falah, the best of those to whom were sent
To the most glorious and proud king, protector of
The varied crafts of poetry.
Islam and the religion, indeed best of leaders
الأفخرthe most illustrious الأمجدthe most glorious البسطoutspread البنانin fingers حمىprotector of الthe
الأفخر الأمجد البسط البنان حمى ال
إسلامIslam والدينand the faith بلindeed كفوworthy of الزعاماتِleadership
إسلام والدين بل كفو الزعاماتِ
The most illustrious, most glorious, open-handed, protector of
His pens encompass the region wherever
Islam and the faith—indeed, worthy of leadership.
They flowed with justice in the kingdom, to the subjects
تحيطُencompass أقلامهhis pens الإقليمthe province حيثwherever جرتthey run
تحيطُ أقلامه الإقليم حيث جرت
بالعدلِwith justice فيin الملكthe realm منهfrom him للرعيّاتِfor the subjects
بالعدلِ في الملك منه للرعيّاتِ
His pens embrace the province wherever they run
He who spent what his palm contained from bounty
With justice in the realm, from him to his subjects.
Is forgiving to those who committed sins
بذّالa lavish giver of ماwhat قَدalready حوتhave gathered كفاهhis two hands منof سبدpossessions
بذّال ما قَد حوت كفاه من سبد
غفّارa ready forgiver of ماwhat قدalready جنتhave committed أهلthe people of الجناياتِoffenses
غفّار ما قد جنت أهل الجناياتِ
Lavish with all the possessions his two hands have gathered,
Guardian of the sanctuary of the kingdom, bearer of ordeals
Ever forgiving the wrongs that offenders have committed.
Hoped for plains, extractor
حاميguardian of حمىthe protected territory of الملكthe realm حمّالbearer of المغارمfinancial burdens مصsought- (word begins here)
حامي حمى الملك حمّال المغارم مص
مودout (word ends here) المرابعthe encampments مأمولlooked to with hope المساحاتِthe broad grounds
مود المرابع مأمول المساحاتِ
Guardian of the realm, bearer of financial burdens, sought-
Of the purest spirit from the horsemen
Out in his encampments, his wide grounds a source of hope.
He runs and is braver than the lion of the lair, and if
وَالطاعنُand he who thrusts الطعنةthe thrust النجلاءwide-gaping منتزعاًwrenching away
وَالطاعنُ الطعنة النجلاء منتزعاً
منَfrom الفوارسِthe horsemen أَنفاسthe breaths of الحشاشاتِlingering lives
منَ الفوارسِ أَنفاس الحشاشاتِ
And he who strikes the gaping spear-thrust, wrenching
The lions sought a lion in battles
From horsemen the very breath of life.
If he shakes his fox in the fray of valor
أَجرىswifter وأشجعand braver منthan أسدthe lion of العرينthe lair وإنand if
أَجرى وأشجع من أسد العرين وإن
طلبhe pursues الأسودthe lions أسودmore masterful فيin الحراباتِbattles
طلب الأسود أسود في الحراباتِ
Swifter and braver than the lion in its lair; and if
He waters the lions of glory a cup of purpose
He pursues lions, he surpasses them in battle.
You see kings in the kingdom submissive to him
إنif هزّhe brandishes فيin حومةِthe thick of الهيجاءbattle ثعلبهُhis spear-shaft
إن هزّ في حومةِ الهيجاء ثعلبهُ
سَقىhe makes drink ليوثthe lions of السرىnight travel كأسthe cup of المنيّاتِdeaths
سَقى ليوث السرى كأس المنيّاتِ
If he brandishes his spear in the thick of battle,
Receiving him with humility and tribute
He gives the lions of the night-march the cup of death to drink.
He almost knows and learns from his mind what
تَرىyou see الملوكَthe kings فيin الملكthe realm خاضعةًsubmissive
تَرى الملوكَ في الملك خاضعةً
تلقاهُthey meet him بالذلّwith abasement منهاon their part والمداراتِand deference
تلقاهُ بالذلّ منها والمداراتِ
You see kings submissive in his realm,
The nights conceal of hidden mysteries
Meeting him with abasement and deferential tact.
O pillar of the religion, O light of kingdoms, O
يَكادُhe almost منthrough ذهنهhis intellect يدريknows ويعلمand understands ماwhat
يَكادُ من ذهنه يدري ويعلم ما
تُخفيconceal لياليهhis nights منof سرّthe secret of الخفيّاتِhidden things
تُخفي لياليه من سرّ الخفيّاتِ
Through his intellect he almost knows and perceives what
Sun of glories, O rain of the righteous
His nights conceal of the secrets of hidden things.
How you aspired, O treasure of bounties, to the
ياO صمتةَunclear epithet as written الدينthe faith ياO نورَlight of الممالكthe kingdoms ياO
يا صمتةَ الدين يا نورَ الممالك يا
شمسsun of المفاخرglories ياO غيثrain for البريّاتِall creation
شمس المفاخر يا غيث البريّاتِ
O [unclear epithet] of the faith, O light of kingdoms, O
Lofty heights of glories, high and magnificent
Sun of glories, O rain for all creation!
And how much rain of generosity poured from you
كمhow often قدindeed توقّلتyou have climbed ياO خدنَcompanion of المكارمnoble deeds فيamong
كم قد توقّلت يا خدنَ المكارم في
شوامخlofty peaks للمعاليof exalted rank مشمخرّاتِtowering
شوامخ للمعالي مشمخرّاتِ
How often you have climbed, O companion of noble deeds, among
From open-handed, generous, honorable hands
Lofty, towering peaks of exalted rank!
You resembled the wise Akeem in composure and you
وَكمand how often همىhas poured منكfrom you غيثthe rain of الجودgenerosity مُنسكباًstreaming
وَكم همى منك غيث الجود مُنسكباً
عَنfrom أنملٍfingers حاتميّاتHatim-like سجيّاتِinborn dispositions
عَن أنملٍ حاتميّات سجيّاتِ
And how often the rain of generosity has streamed from you, pouring
Resembled the chaste Jassaas in protecting probity
From fingers with Hatim-like dispositions!
No king disobeys you in his kingdoms
أشبهتyou resemble أكيمAkim فيin الحلمforbearance الرزينsteadfast وقدand indeed
أشبهت أكيم في الحلم الرزين وقد
أَشبهتyou resemble جسّاسJassas بكرٍof Bakr فيin الحميّاتِzeal for honor
أَشبهت جسّاس بكرٍ في الحميّاتِ
You resemble Akim in steadfast forbearance, and indeed
Except he stumbles and harvests the fruits of regret
You resemble Jassas of Bakr in zeal for honor.
None who seeks refuge from you in the world, even if
ماnot إِنindeed عصاكَdisobeyed you مليكٌa king فيin ممالكهhis kingdoms
ما إِن عصاكَ مليكٌ في ممالكه
إِلّاexcept that اِرعوىhe came to his senses وجنىand reaped ثمرthe fruit of النداماتِregrets
إِلّا اِرعوى وجنى ثمر النداماتِ
No king has disobeyed you in his kingdoms
He climbed the steps of the heavens
Without coming to his senses and reaping the fruit of regrets.
You remain at the highest rank, singularly
لاthere is no ملجأrefuge عنكfrom you فيin الدنياthe world لملتجئٍfor a refuge-seeker
لا ملجأ عنك في الدنيا لملتجئٍ
ولوand even if رقىhe ascended فيin معاريجthe stairways of السماواتِthe heavens
ولو رقى في معاريج السماواتِ
No refuge-seeker has any refuge from you in the world,
Praised, occurring to minds with majesty
Even if he ascends the stairways of the heavens.
لاmay not زلتَyou cease فيin رتبةthe rank العلياthe highest ومنفرداًand unrivaled
لا زلتَ في رتبة العليا ومنفرداً
بالحمدin praise تخطرyou stride proudly فيin بردthe cloak of الجلالاتِmajesty
بالحمد تخطر في برد الجلالاتِ
May you ever remain in the highest rank, unrivaled
In praise, striding proudly in the cloak of majesty.
Partial English translation: 87 of 90 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1