ماwhat بالُcondition قلبكَyour heart زادincreased فيin ولوالهِits wailing
ما بالُ قلبكَ زاد في ولوالهِ
فتراهُso you see it لاnot يصغيheeds إِلىto عذّالهِits reproachers
فتراهُ لا يصغي إِلى عذّالهِ
What ails your heart, that its wailing has grown,
Why has your heart grown fonder, though it spurns the blame?
so that you see it heed none of its reproachers?
It heeds no chiding, though reproached by many a dame.
أشجاهُgrieved it حادثُa calamity دهرهِof its days أمor هاجهُstirred it
أشجاهُ حادثُ دهرهِ أم هاجهُ
رسمٌa ruined trace عفاbecame deserted مغناهُits dwelling-place منof نزّالهِits dwellers
رسمٌ عفا مغناهُ من نزّالهِ
Has a calamity of its days grieved it, or has it been stirred
Did Time afflict it, or did it take this course,
by a ruined trace whose dwelling-place its dwellers have deserted?
When from its guidance strayed the songs it used to frame?
ومعصفرُand a safflower-tinted one الخدّينِthe two cheeks ماnever لاحظتهI glanced at him
ومعصفرُ الخدّينِ ما لاحظته
إلّاexcept رَمانيhe shot at me راشقاًshooting بنبالهِwith his arrows
إلّا رَماني راشقاً بنبالهِ
And a safflower-cheeked one—never have I glanced at him
Those rosy cheeks betray no trace of all their tears,
without his shooting me, loosing his arrows.
Save only when my glances strike them, in their shame.
غنجcoquettish أسيلُsmooth الخدِّof cheek ريقةُmoisture ثغرهِof his mouth
غنج أسيلُ الخدِّ ريقةُ ثغرهِ
كالشهدِlike honey شيبَwas mingled مزاجهُits mixture بزلالهِwith his limpid water
كالشهدِ شيبَ مزاجهُ بزلالهِ
Coquettish and smooth-cheeked, his mouth's moisture
Smooth as pure honey is that chin’s coquettish bow,
is like honey blended with his limpid water.
As though its dimples sugar crystallized became.
ياO عذَّليmy reproachers فيfor حبِّهloving him ماwhat الفكرthought فيin
يا عذَّلي في حبِّه ما الفكر في
عينٍan eye مسهّدةٍkept sleepless وقلبand a heart والهِdistraught with love
عينٍ مسهّدةٍ وقلب والهِ
O my reproachers for loving him, what thought is there in
O critic, chide me not for loving him, since love
a sleepless eye and a love-distraught heart?
Allows no thought but of the idol it acclaim.
ظبيٌa gazelle مراعيهِhis pastures رياضُgardens قلوبناof our hearts
ظبيٌ مراعيهِ رياضُ قلوبنا
لاnot الروضthe meadow منof نبتِthe growth العرارof ʿarār flowers وضالهِand its wild lote trees
لا الروض من نبتِ العرار وضالهِ
A gazelle whose pastures are the gardens of our hearts,
A gazelle whose pasture is our hearts, not the wild,
not meadows of ʿarār flowers and wild lote trees.
With tangled growths of lotus flowers and artemisia rife.
كَمُلتbecame complete بدائعُmarvels حسنهof his beauty فكأنّهso he seems
كَمُلت بدائعُ حسنه فكأنّه
بدرُthe full moon السماof heaven فيin حسنهِhis beauty وكمالهِand his perfection
بدرُ السما في حسنهِ وكمالهِ
The marvels of his beauty are complete, so he seems
So perfected are beauty’s charms in him, you’d say
heaven's full moon in his beauty and perfection.
He is the moon of heaven in his fair shape and life.
نارfire السعيرِof Hell وجنَّةand the garden الفردوسof Paradise ليfor me
نار السعيرِ وجنَّة الفردوس لي
مَضمونتانboth assured بهجرهِthrough his estrangement ووصالهِand his union
مَضمونتان بهجرهِ ووصالهِ
Hellfire and the garden of Paradise are for me
For me, Hell’s raging fires and Paradise’s joys
assured through his estrangement and his union.
Are pledged in him, as in his union and his strife.
فالليلُfor the night تحتَbeneath قناعهhis veil والشمسand the sun تحunder (first fragment)
فالليلُ تحتَ قناعه والشمس تح
تَunder (completion) لِثامهhis face-covering والدعصand the sand-dune فيin سربالهِhis robe
تَ لِثامه والدعص في سربالهِ
For night is beneath his veil, and the sun is be-
The night’s beneath his collar, while the sun’s beneath
neath his face-covering, and a sand-dune lies within his robe.
His veil; his turban is the darkness and the light.
وكأنَّand as though فاعمplump ساقهِhis calf برديّةa papyrus stalk
وكأنَّ فاعم ساقهِ برديّة
إِذas فاضَswelled مُندمجاًsmooth and rounded علىover خلخالهِhis anklet
إِذ فاضَ مُندمجاً على خلخالهِ
And his plump calf seems a papyrus stalk,
His leg, as he walks proud, is like a branching palm,
as it swells, smooth and rounded, over his anklet.
When it emerges draped in anklets ringing bright.
وَتَرىand you see علىon خدّيهِhis two cheeks سلسالa limpid stream الحياof rain
وَتَرى على خدّيهِ سلسال الحيا
يَجريflows فواعطشيso, oh my thirst! إلىfor سلسالهِhis limpid stream
يَجري فواعطشي إلى سلسالهِ
And on his cheeks you see the limpid stream of rain
You see upon his cheeks a chain of life that flows,
flowing—oh, my thirst for his limpid stream!
So give me drink from off that chain, its draught is sweet.
بدرٌa full moon إِذاwhen ماever (emphatic) دارhe circles كانis مدارهُhis orbit
بدرٌ إِذا ما دار كان مدارهُ
ماthe space بينَbetween أربعهِhis dwellings وبينand between حجالهِhis curtained chambers
ما بينَ أربعهِ وبين حجالهِ
A full moon: whenever he circles, his orbit lies
The moon in its phases, wheeling high to low,
between his dwellings and his curtained chambers.
Runs its appointed course, from four to incompleteness.
أجدُI find الرَدىdeath أبداًalways بهجرتهthrough his abandonment وقدand I may
أجدُ الرَدى أبداً بهجرته وقد
أَحياI revive إِذاwhen قبّلتI kiss عقربthe scorpion خالهِof his beauty-mark
أَحيا إِذا قبّلت عقرب خالهِ
I always find death in his abandonment, yet I may
Estrangement kills me, while a kiss upon the mole
revive when I kiss the scorpion of his beauty-mark.
Restores me, when his crescent happens to increase.
ماnot جادَhe gave generously ليto me منof وصلهِhis union بقليلهِwith a little of it
ما جادَ لي من وصلهِ بقليلهِ
وكثيرهِand much of it وحرامهand its forbidden share وحلالهِand its lawful share
وكثيرهِ وحرامه وحلالهِ
He has granted me neither a little of his union
Scant is the joy he grants from union with him, though
nor much, neither its forbidden nor its lawful share.
Its states are many - forbidden, lawful, purest.
ماnever إِنemphasis after negation تصدّىhe presented himself بالدلالwith coquetry تعرّضاmaking a display
ما إِن تصدّى بالدلال تعرّضا
إلّاexcept سَبىtook captive قَلبيmy heart بحسنwith the beauty دلالهِof his coquetry
إلّا سَبى قَلبي بحسن دلالهِ
Never has he shown himself, making a coy display,
No sooner does he walk, exposing leg and flank,
without capturing my heart with his lovely coquetry.
Than hearts are made his captives by such tempting sleights.
وَلَقدand indeed قطعتُI crossed المهلكاتdeadly wastes بأعيسon a pale camel
وَلَقد قطعتُ المهلكات بأعيس
نضوworn lean تُباريrivaling الريحَthe wind فيin إرقالهِits swift trot
نضو تُباري الريحَ في إرقالهِ
And I have indeed crossed deadly wastes on a pale camel,
Many a roving camel have I brought to kneel,
worn lean, rivaling the wind in its swift trot.
Whose speed could match the racing winds in their caprice.
جوّابa rover عرضthe breadth قفارهِof its deserts متواشكswift-stepping
جوّاب عرض قفارهِ متواشك
فيin وخدهِits brisk stride خوّاضplunging through لجّةِthe deep sea آلهِof its mirage
في وخدهِ خوّاض لجّةِ آلهِ
A rover across the breadth of its deserts, swift
An army on the march, whose squadrons shake the ground,
in its stride, plunging through the deep sea of their mirage.
Assailing stubborn mountain heights and battlemented keeps.
فأظلُّso I spend the day فيin تلكَthose المهامهِtrackless wastes ناشداًreciting
فأظلُّ في تلكَ المهامهِ ناشداً
بِغرائبِwith marvels الأشعارِof poetry فوقupon رحالهِits saddle-gear
بِغرائبِ الأشعارِ فوق رحالهِ
So I spend the day in those trackless wastes reciting
And I remain there, challenging with subtle verse,
wondrous poems upon its saddle.
While o’er the hills my camel climbs and does not cease.
شعرٌverse أَتىcame بالمدحِwith praise فيfor علياthe exalted station أبيof Abu
شعرٌ أَتى بالمدحِ في عليا أبي
سلطانSultan كالديباجlike brocade فيin هلهالهِits delicate weave
سلطان كالديباج في هلهالهِ
Verse bearing praise for the exalted station of Abu
A poem have I wrought to praise this noble king,
Sultan, like brocade in its delicate weave.
As brocades beautify the throne they decorate.
ملكٌa king إِذاwhen الأمطارُrains عزّbecame scarce نزولهاtheir falling
ملكٌ إِذا الأمطارُ عزّ نزولها
أَغنىrendered needless عنِthe need for الأمطارrain فيضthe flood نوالهِof his bounty
أَغنى عنِ الأمطار فيض نوالهِ
A king: when rainfall becomes scarce,
When rains refrain, his gifts enrich the land no less
the flood of his bounty makes rain needless.
Than showers, and beyond all hopes his bounty runs increase.
نسخَerased الزمانُTime بعدلهthrough his justice إِدبارهits decline
نسخَ الزمانُ بعدله إِدباره
بطوالعِwith rising signs الإقبالof prosperity منfrom إقبالهِhis advent
بطوالعِ الإقبال من إقبالهِ
Through his justice, Time has erased its decline
By his fair deeds of justice Time itself turned back
with rising signs of prosperity brought by his advent.
In its revolving course and travelled to what was before.
وَتَرىand you see عليهِabove him سرادقاًa canopy مضروبةًpitched
وَتَرى عليهِ سرادقاً مضروبةً
منof قدرهِhis stature وفخارهand his glory وجلالهِand his majesty
من قدرهِ وفخاره وجلالهِ
And you see a canopy pitched above him,
Above his head you see a tent of honour reared,
made of his stature, his glory, and his majesty.
Made from his quality, nobility and worth.
وَتكادُand almost عينُthe orb الشمسِof the sun منfrom أفلاكهاits heavenly spheres
وَتكادُ عينُ الشمسِ من أفلاكها
تهويswoops down إِلىto تقبيلِkissing تربthe dust نعالهِof his sandals
تهوي إِلى تقبيلِ ترب نعالهِ
And the sun's orb, from its heavenly spheres, all but
The sun itself in heaven might wish that it could swoop
swoops down to kiss the dust upon his sandals.
To kiss the dust his slippers press upon the floor.
سمحgave generously الزمانُTime بهِby granting him وماand never منfrom قبلهbefore him
سمح الزمانُ بهِ وما من قبله
سمحَgave generously الزمانُTime منamong الورىhumankind بمثالهِwith his equal
سمحَ الزمانُ من الورى بمثالهِ
Time has granted him generously, and never before him
Time relented for his sake as never it relented
has Time granted his equal among humankind.
For all mankind together in the days of yore.
ماnever جئتهُI came to him مُستمحياًseeking a gift أوor وافداًas a visitor
ما جئتهُ مُستمحياً أو وافداً
إلّاexcept وجادَand he gave generously بجاههwith his influence وبمالهِand with his wealth
إلّا وجادَ بجاهه وبمالهِ
Never have I come to him seeking bounty or as a visitor
When suppliants seek his aid, his gifts go without count,
without his freely offering his influence and his wealth.
And when the time comes to punish criminals, his blows are sure.
يُقريhe feeds as guests سباعَbeasts of prey البيدof the wastes منfrom أعدائهِhis enemies
يُقري سباعَ البيد من أعدائهِ
فَكأنّهنّso, as though they لديهwith him بعضsome of عيالهِhis dependents
فَكأنّهنّ لديه بعض عيالهِ
He feeds the desert's beasts of prey with his enemies,
A lion raking enemies with piercing claws,
as though they were some of his own dependents.
Yet sheltering his cubs with a protective gentleness.
فيin معجزاتِwondrous feats المجدِof glory فيamong كبّارهِits great ones
في معجزاتِ المجدِ في كبّارهِ
فيin موجباتِthe obligations الدينof religion منamong أبدالهِits saintly elect
في موجباتِ الدين من أبدالهِ
In glory's wondrous feats, he is among its greatest;
In feats of glory and in greatness he is peerless,
in religion's obligations, among its saintly elect.
In faith’s strict duties and observance without flaw.
ماno فيin المَعاليhigh attainments مثلهhis equal خلقa mortal ولاnor
ما في المَعالي مثله خلق ولا
آلٌa family تفرّدstood alone بالفخارِin glory كآلهِlike his family
آلٌ تفرّد بالفخارِ كآلهِ
No mortal equals him in high attainments, nor
None in the heights of honour can compare with him,
does any family stand alone in glory like his family.
No house was ever sole inheritor of worth so pure.
يُعطيhe gives ويمنعand he protects جارهhis neighbor ووفودهand his delegations
يُعطي ويمنع جاره ووفوده
ويكرُّand he charges يومَon the day الطعنof spear-thrusts فيamong أبدالهِhis chosen men
ويكرُّ يومَ الطعن في أبدالهِ
He gives to and protects his neighbor and his delegations,
Giving or withholding, he respects his neighbour’s rights,
and charges on the day of spear-thrusts among his chosen men.
But woe betide who would malign him or rebel.
كاللّيثِlike a lion ينشبsinks فيinto القميصِthe shirt مخالباًclaws
كاللّيثِ ينشب في القميصِ مخالباً
وَيظلّand he remains مُحتمياًon guard إِلىbeside أشبالهِhis cubs
وَيظلّ مُحتمياً إِلى أشبالهِ
Like a lion sinking claws into a shirt,
Like lions ravening, or clouds in thunder bursting,
he remains on guard beside his cubs.
Or Time itself, wreaking vengeance with might secure.
كالشمسِlike the sun فيin إجلالهِthe reverence he commands كالغيثِlike rain فيin
كالشمسِ في إجلالهِ كالغيثِ في
إِسبالهhis outpouring كالدهرlike Time فيin إمهالهِhis granting respite
إِسباله كالدهر في إمهالهِ
Like the sun in the reverence he commands, like rain in
Were East and West weighed with him in the scales
his outpouring, like Time in his granting respite.
They could not match the value of his little finger.
لوif وازنَhe weighed against الدنياthe world وَساكنهاand its inhabitants معاًtogether
لو وازنَ الدنيا وَساكنها معاً
ماnot وازنواthey would equal فيin القدرِworth ظفرa fingernail شمالهِof his left hand
ما وازنوا في القدرِ ظفر شمالهِ
Were he weighed against the world and its dwellers together,
O moon, whose auspicious fortunes are controlled by none,
they would not equal in worth a fingernail of his left hand.
You pass your phases guided by no law of loss or gain.
ياO أيُّهاyou (vocative) البدرthe full moon الّذيwho فيin سعدهِhis good fortune
يا أيُّها البدر الّذي في سعدهِ
لَمdid not تقتضيdecree أفلاكهُhis heavenly spheres بزوالهِfor his setting
لَم تقتضي أفلاكهُ بزوالهِ
O full moon, so auspicious in your fortune,
This is your constant circuit round the mansions
your spheres have never decreed your setting.
Of honour, higher than the sun or crescent plain.
هَذاthis مدارُorbit بروجِof the constellations مجدكof your glory قدindeed علاhas risen
هَذا مدارُ بروجِ مجدك قد علا
أَعلىthe highest منازلstations شمسهof its sun وهلالهِand its crescent
أَعلى منازل شمسه وهلالهِ
This orbit of your glory's constellations has risen
By trials you were schooled in wisdom and refined
to the highest stations of its sun and crescent.
As swords rubbed and ground until no flaws remain.
إنَّindeed التجاربexperiences هذّبتكَrefined you بحكمهاthrough their judgment
إنَّ التجارب هذّبتكَ بحكمها
كالسيفِlike a sword أطلقunleashed حدّهits edge بصقالهِby its polishing
كالسيفِ أطلق حدّه بصقالهِ
Indeed, experiences have refined you through their judgment,
To you, O ancient pillar, marvellous reports
like a sword whose edge is unleashed by its polishing.
Are brought from exile by the experimentally wise.
وَإِليكand to you ياO شمسَsun العتيقof al-ʿAtiq غريبةًa rare ode
وَإِليك يا شمسَ العتيق غريبةً
تنسيmakes one forget شداthe song غيلانof Ghaylan عندbefore بلالهِhis Bilal
تنسي شدا غيلان عند بلالهِ
And to you, O sun of al-ʿAtiq, I offer a rare ode
that makes one forget Ghaylan's song before his Bilal.
Partial English translation: 70 of 72 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1