هَبَّتrose تغرِّدwarbles منfrom فوقِabove الأماليدِthe supple boughs
هَبَّت تغرِّد من فوقِ الأماليدِ
تُواصلcontinues السَّجعthe cooing تغريداًwarbling بتغريدِwith warbling
تُواصل السَّجع تغريداً بتغريدِ
She rose to warble above the supple boughs,
She sings gleefully from atop the sand dunes
Keeping up her cooing, warble following warble.
Continuing the rhyme with trill upon trill
مَخضوبةَdyed الكفِّthe palm لمdid not تنفكّcease نائحةًlamenting
مَخضوبةَ الكفِّ لم تنفكّ نائحةً
تُردّدrepeats الصوتthe sound منهاfrom her أَيَّwhat a تَرديدِrepetition
تُردّد الصوت منها أَيَّ تَرديدِ
Her palm dyed, she never ceased lamenting,
Her palms dyed red, she does not cease wailing
Repeating her voice—how insistently!
Echoing a voice of such profound grief
فَأسعَرتso she kindled نارthe fire لوعتهاof her anguish فَبِتُّso I spent the night لهاfor her
فَأسعَرت نار لوعتها فَبِتُّ لها
مُسهَّدsleepless الطرفِthe eye مكحولاًanointed with kohl بتسهيدِwith sleeplessness
مُسهَّد الطرفِ مكحولاً بتسهيدِ
So she kindled the fire of her anguish, and for her I spent the night
That she ignited a fire of sorrow and spent the night
Sleepless-eyed, kohled with sleeplessness.
Resting her eyelids swollen with tears
حتّىuntil تَوهّمتI imagined أنَّthat النارthe fire نارthe fire أوليthe people of الthe
حتّى تَوهّمت أنَّ النار نار أولي ال
أخدودtrench لوif بعدهمafter them أصحابُpeople of أخدودِa trench
أخدود لو بعدهم أصحابُ أخدودِ
Until I imagined the fire was the fire of the people of the
It was as though she thought the fire was the fire of those
Trench—had there been people of a trench after them.
In the trench, though more tormented were the people of the trench
ياO حادِيَdriver of العيسِthe pale camels رفقاًgently إنّهاindeed, they are إبلٌcamels
يا حادِيَ العيسِ رفقاً إنّها إبلٌ
فيin الوجدِlove's anguish رافقةgentle بالخرَّدِtoward the bashful maidens الغيدِthe graceful ones
في الوجدِ رافقة بالخرَّدِ الغيدِ
O driver of the pale camels, gently! They are camels
Oh guide of the camel herd, go gently for they are camels
Gentle in love's anguish toward bashful, graceful maidens.
Accompanying the little ones with bleating cry
وَياand O لَيلتاناour two nights اللاتيwhich سررتُI delighted بهاin them
وَيا لَيلتانا اللاتي سررتُ بها
عوديreturn بماwith what كانwas منof لذَّاتهاtheir pleasures عوديreturn
عودي بما كان من لذَّاتها عودي
And O our two nights, in which I took delight,
Oh nights of mine that brought me joy
Return with the pleasures you once held—return!
Return with what pleasure you held, return
أيّامdays when يَجمعناgathers us الحانوتthe tavern مَشربُناour drink
أيّام يَجمعنا الحانوت مَشربُنا
ماءُwater الغمامof the clouds وأَدماءُand the blood العناقيدِof grape-clusters
ماءُ الغمام وأَدماءُ العناقيدِ
In the days when the tavern gathered us, our drink was
Our days when the tavern was our drink
Water from the clouds and the blood of grape-clusters.
Dewdrops and grape juice were our water
وَالشملُand the company مجتمعٌunited والدهرُand time يُسعدناmakes us happy
وَالشملُ مجتمعٌ والدهرُ يُسعدنا
مِنهُfrom it وَيَمنحُناand grants us صدقَfulfillment المياعيدِof promises
مِنهُ وَيَمنحُنا صدقَ المياعيدِ
And our company was united, and time brought us joy
And company was gathered, time favoring us
From itself, and granted us promises fulfilled.
Bestowing sincerity upon us
يَهُزّناstirs us بينَamong أقمارِthe moons الدُّجىof darkness طرباًto rapture
يَهُزّنا بينَ أقمارِ الدُّجى طرباً
مِنfrom نغمةِthe melody اللَّحنof the tune أوor منfrom رنَّةthe ringing العودِof the lute
مِن نغمةِ اللَّحن أو من رنَّة العودِ
It stirred us to rapture amid the moons of darkness,
Swaying us amidst the moons of dusk in rapture
Through the melody of song or the ringing of the lute,
To the tune’s melody or the lute’s ring
مِنfrom كُلِّevery واضحةِbright الخدَّينof both cheeks بهكنةa tender, full-figured maiden
مِن كُلِّ واضحةِ الخدَّين بهكنة
تشابهresembles الظَّبيَthe gazelle بِالألحاظِin gaze والجيدِand neck
تشابه الظَّبيَ بِالألحاظِ والجيدِ
From every bright-cheeked, full-figured maiden
From every rosy-cheeked gazelle’s coquetry
Resembling the gazelle in her glances and neck.
Resembling the gazelle in glance and neck
وَقدand already تَغنّىsang مُغنيناour singer بمدحِin praise of سليSulay- (name begins)
وَقد تَغنّى مُغنينا بمدحِ سلي
مانَ-man (completes Sulayman) المتوَّجthe crowned ربّlord of الناسthe people والجودِand generosity
مانَ المتوَّج ربّ الناس والجودِ
And our singer had sung the praises of Sulay-
Our minstrel sang in praise of Sulaiman
man, the crowned, lord of the people and generosity.
Crowned lord of mankind and generosity
مُمجَّدglorified شادَraised بيتاًa house لاnot يزالceases مدىthroughout الthe
مُمجَّد شادَ بيتاً لا يزال مدى ال
أيّامِdays مُحتذياًtaken as a model منهfrom it بتشييدِin building
أيّامِ مُحتذياً منه بتشييدِ
An exalted man who raised a house that remains, through the
Who built a home which will last as long as
Days, a model to be followed in building.
Days continue, modeling himself on the act of building
ياO أيّهاyou الأصيدُthe proud lord القرمthe noble chief الهمامُthe valiant one وَمَنand one who
يا أيّها الأصيدُ القرم الهمامُ وَمَن
تَأرَّثinherited المجدَglory عنfrom آبائهhis forefathers الصيدِthe proud ones
تَأرَّث المجدَ عن آبائه الصيدِ
O proud lord, noble chief, valiant one, and you who
Oh you, brave knight, seeker of glory, you who
Inherited glory from your proud forefathers,
Inherit glory from your forefathers, the hunters
خُذtake منfrom هباءthe dust اللَّياليof nights ماwhatever اِصطفيتyou chose وقدand already
خُذ من هباء اللَّيالي ما اِصطفيت وقد
أَلقتcast down لكَto you اليومtoday أطواقُthe rings المقاليدِof the keys
أَلقت لكَ اليوم أطواقُ المقاليدِ
Take from the dust of nights whatever you choose; already
Take from the haze of nights what you have chosen, for
The rings of keys have been cast before you today.
Today collars of pearls have been cast to you
بيتٌa house يُشادis raised بكسبِby earning الحمدِpraise سامكهits builder
بيتٌ يُشاد بكسبِ الحمدِ سامكه
وبالثَّناand with acclaim لاnot بآجُرٍّwith bricks وجلمودِand solid rock
وبالثَّنا لا بآجُرٍّ وجلمودِ
A house whose builder raises it by earning praise
A home built with earnings of praise, its pillars
And acclaim, not with bricks and solid rock.
Of renown, not brick and stone
وَاِنعَمand delight بِذاin this العُرسwedding إنّindeed العُرسthe wedding منamong نعمthe blessings الدthe (word continues)
وَاِنعَم بِذا العُرس إنّ العُرس من نعم الد
دُنياworld فَخُذso take مِنهfrom it حظّاًa share غيرَnot محدودِlimited
دُنيا فَخُذ مِنه حظّاً غيرَ محدودِ
Delight in this wedding, for a wedding is among the blessings of the
Rejoice in this wedding, for a wedding is a blessing
World, so take from it a share without limit.
So partake of it, limitlessly so
وَاِنظرand look إِلىat ربَّةthe lady of الخلخالthe anklet نظرةَa gaze ذيof one with
وَاِنظر إِلى ربَّة الخلخال نظرةَ ذي
ودٍّlove إليهاtoward her كئيبsorrowful القلبِof heart معمودِstricken
ودٍّ إليها كئيب القلبِ معمودِ
And look at the lady of the anklet with the gaze of one
And look upon the wearer of anklets with a loving
Who loves her, sorrowful-hearted and stricken.
Gaze, o heavy-hearted and devoted one
فَإنّهاfor she is كفؤٌa fitting match أَضحتhas become لوجهكfor your person ياO
فَإنّها كفؤٌ أَضحت لوجهك يا
منone whom خصَّهsingled him out اللَهGod فيin الدُنياthe world بتمجيدِwith honor
من خصَّه اللَه في الدُنيا بتمجيدِ
For she has become a fitting match for you, O
She came to you from a grove of fine growth
One whom God has singled out in this world for honor.
Fruits and crops and soft sands between
جاءتكَshe came to you مِنfrom دوحةٍa spreading tree طابتwere wholesome منابتُهاits places of growth
جاءتكَ مِن دوحةٍ طابت منابتُها
ماwhat lies بِينbetween عرقٍa root وأثمارٍand fruits وأملودِand a supple bough
ما بِين عرقٍ وأثمارٍ وأملودِ
She came to you from a spreading tree whose growth was wholesome,
She came and her rising star was one of fortune
From root to fruit and supple bough.
Blessed, auspicious and blest again
جاءَتshe came فكانَتso she was علىupon الإقبالِgood fortune قادمةًarriving
جاءَت فكانَت على الإقبالِ قادمةً
بطالعٍunder an ascendant star مقبلٍfavorable بالسَّعدwith good fortune مسعودِblessed
بطالعٍ مقبلٍ بالسَّعد مسعودِ
She came, arriving with good fortune,
Until she settled in this abode by
Under an auspicious star, blessed with good fortune.
A crowned king noble in his charity
حتّىuntil اِستقرّbecame settled بهاwith her هذاthis المقامُabode لدىbeside
حتّى اِستقرّ بها هذا المقامُ لدى
متوَّجٍa crowned one ماجدِnoble in الإِحسانbeneficence مصمودِsought after
متوَّجٍ ماجدِ الإِحسان مصمودِ
Until this place became her settled home beside
When she saw you enthroned
A crowned lord, noble in beneficence, to whom people turn.
At a scene evidencing the glory of kingship
لمّاwhen رأتكَshe saw you علىupon الكرسيِّthe throne مقتعداًseated
لمّا رأتكَ على الكرسيِّ مقتعداً
فيin مَشهدٍa gathering بتخوتِamid the thrones الملكِof kingship مشهودِwitnessed
في مَشهدٍ بتخوتِ الملكِ مشهودِ
When she saw you seated upon the throne,
You were newly come into youth, she saw
In a gathering witnessed amid the thrones of kingship,
Locks flowing like tendrils from you
وَأنتand you مقتبلin the prime غضُّfresh الشبابof youth ترىone sees
وَأنت مقتبل غضُّ الشباب ترى
مِنكof you الذوائبَthe tresses تهفوflutter كالعناقيدِlike grape-clusters
مِنك الذوائبَ تهفو كالعناقيدِ
And you in the fresh prime of youth—one could see
In your right hand the knot of kingship tied
Your tresses fluttering like grape-clusters.
By God's will, a marvelous creation
وَفيand in يمينكyour right hand عقدthe knot الملكof kingship منعقدٌsecured
وَفي يمينك عقد الملك منعقدٌ
بِقدرةِby the power of اللَهGod خلقاًby creation غيرnot معقودِknotted
بِقدرةِ اللَه خلقاً غير معقودِ
And in your right hand the knot of kingship was secured,
She said, "Is this Solomon, scion of
By God's power, created rather than knotted.
Al-Mansur or is this Solomon son of David?"
قالَتshe said أهذاis this سليمانSulayman سليلُscion of أبيAbu (father of) الal- (the)
قالَت أهذا سليمان سليلُ أبي ال
منصورِMansur أمor ذاthis سليمانSulayman بنson of داودِDawud
منصورِ أم ذا سليمان بن داودِ
She said, 'Is this Sulayman, scion of Abu al-
And she magnified you, saying far from it!
Mansur, or is this Sulayman son of Dawud?'
What creature of creation is this counted as human?
وَأكبَرَتكand she held you in awe وَقالتand she said حاشfar be ذلكthat ماnot
وَأكبَرَتك وَقالت حاش ذلك ما
ذاthis one كانwas منamong بشرٍmortals فيin الخَلقِcreation معدودِcounted
ذا كان من بشرٍ في الخَلقِ معدودِ
And she held you in awe and said, 'Far be that! Not
She swore without doubt that this is a king
Among mortals in creation was this one counted.'
Aided by the Creator in victory and support
وَأَقسمتand she swore مِنfrom غيرwithout شكٍّdoubt أنّthat ذاthis one ملكan angel
وَأَقسمت مِن غير شكٍّ أنّ ذا ملك
يَسعىgoes forth بنصرٍwith aid منfrom الباريthe Creator وتأييدِand support
يَسعى بنصرٍ من الباري وتأييدِ
And she swore without a doubt that this was an angel,
Gaze upon her with a glance not of
Going forth with the Creator's help and support.
An ascetic or one detached towards her
وَاِنظرand look إِليهاat her بطرفٍwith an eye ليسis not ناظرهُits pupil
وَاِنظر إِليها بطرفٍ ليس ناظرهُ
بِزاهدٍindifferent لاno ولاnor فيهاtoward her بمزهودِdisdained
بِزاهدٍ لا ولا فيها بمزهودِ
And look upon her with an eye whose pupil is not
Delight in her and in the honor you possess
Indifferent—no!—nor is she one to be disdained.
And majesty, success and preparation
وَاِنعَمand delight بِهاin her وَبماand in what أُوتيتyou were given منof شرفٍhonor
وَاِنعَم بِها وَبما أُوتيت من شرفٍ
وَمِنand of جلالٍmajesty وتوفيقٍand success وتمهيدِand secure establishment
وَمِن جلالٍ وتوفيقٍ وتمهيدِ
And delight in her and in the honor you have been given,
You are unique, singular in this age, none other
And in majesty, success, and secure establishment.
Resembles you or can resemble you
أَنتَyou الوحيدُthe peerless one وحيدُthe unique one العصرِof the age ماnot لكfor you منany
أَنتَ الوحيدُ وحيدُ العصرِ ما لك من
شكلan equal وشكلُكَand your like فيناamong us غيرnot موجودِfound
شكل وشكلُكَ فينا غير موجودِ
You are the peerless one, peerless in this age; you have no
Not every polished sword is Dhulfiqar
Equal, and your like is not found among us.
Nor is the fire of Musa like the fire of Nimrod
ماnot كلُّevery سيفٍsword صقيلٍpolished ذوDhu (name element) الفقارِal-Fiqar (sword-name element) ولاnor
ما كلُّ سيفٍ صقيلٍ ذو الفقارِ ولا
فيin فضلهاits excellence نارُthe fire of موسىMoses نارthe fire of نمرودِNimrod
في فضلها نارُ موسى نار نمرودِ
Not every polished sword is Dhu al-Fiqar, nor
Does Nimrod's fire match Moses' fire in excellence.
Partial English translation: 60 of 62 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1