قُمrise ياO نَديميmy drinking companion أَدِرpass around ماwhat فيin القواريرِthe bottles
قُم يا نَديمي أَدِر ما في القواريرِ
مِنof أدهمٍdark wine مزمنٍaged فيin الدنِّthe wine-jar مخمورِkept covered
مِن أدهمٍ مزمنٍ في الدنِّ مخمورِ
Rise, my drinking companion; pass around what is in the bottles,
Rise, my boon companion, and pour what is in the decanters,
Of dark wine, aged and kept covered in the wine-jar,
Of aged red wine that makes the lowly ecstatic when drunk,
مِنof مزجِa blend صرفٍpure wine كعينِlike the eye of الديكthe rooster صافيةclear
مِن مزجِ صرفٍ كعينِ الديك صافية
مِزاجُهاits blend كانَwas منof مسكٍmusk وكافورِand camphor
مِزاجُها كانَ من مسكٍ وكافورِ
Of a blend of pure wine, clear as a rooster's eye,
Of pure nectar whose complexion is like the cock’s eye,
Its blend was of musk and camphor.
Its blend was of musk and camphor.
وَاِسجدand prostrate yourself لَهاbefore it إِنif بداappears فيin الكأسِthe cup جوهرهاits essence
وَاِسجد لَها إِن بدا في الكأسِ جوهرها
بَينَamid الأغانيthe songs وتغريدand the warbling of المزاميرِthe flutes
بَينَ الأغاني وتغريد المزاميرِ
And prostrate yourself before it if its essence appears in the cup,
And bow to it if its essence appears in the goblet
Amid songs and the warbling of flutes.
Amidst songs and the trilling of pipes,
ضاءَتit shone وضاءَand shone بهاthrough it منهاfrom it الزجاجُthe glass لناfor us
ضاءَت وضاءَ بها منها الزجاجُ لنا
نوراًlight فكانَتso it became لناfor us نوراًlight علىupon نورِlight
نوراً فكانَت لنا نوراً على نورِ
It shone, and through it, from it, the glass shone for us,
It shone and shone in it, the glass made radiant for us
With light; so it became for us light upon light.
A light, so it became for us light upon light.
ماthere بينَamong غُزلانِgazelles أنسٍcompanionship قدalready أَنسنَthey grew familiar بِناwith us
ما بينَ غُزلانِ أنسٍ قد أَنسنَ بِنا
مِنof كلِّevery أَحوىdark-eyed one دقيقِslender الخصرthe waist مخصورِnarrow-waisted
مِن كلِّ أَحوى دقيقِ الخصر مخصورِ
Among companionable gazelles, grown familiar with us,
Among the gazelles of intimacy who have grown intimate with us
Each dark-eyed, slender of waist, narrow-waisted.
Of every tender-waisted and girdled one.
فيon يومِa day of دجنٍgloom ودمعand the tears of العينthe eye منسفحٌstreaming
في يومِ دجنٍ ودمع العين منسفحٌ
والزهرُand the flowers فيin الروضِthe garden يبدوappear كالدنانيرِlike dinars
والزهرُ في الروضِ يبدو كالدنانيرِ
On a gloomy day, while the eye's tears streamed,
On a day of affection while my eye’s tears flow,
And flowers in the garden appeared like dinars.
And the flowers in the garden look like dinars.
إِذاwhen الكريمةthe noble lady غنّتناsang to us سمعتyou heard لهاfrom her
إِذا الكريمة غنّتنا سمعت لها
سَجعاًcadences لهاof hers بينَbetween مرفوعٍlifted ومجرورِand drawn out
سَجعاً لها بينَ مرفوعٍ ومجرورِ
When the noble lady sang to us, you heard from her
When she sang we heard in response to her
Her cadences, between lifted and drawn-out notes.
Rhyming prose amidst nouns raised and declined,
تظلُّshe keeps تشفعُpairing منهاfrom her الصوتthe voice إِنif نشدتshe recites
تظلُّ تشفعُ منها الصوت إِن نشدت
بِصوتِwith the voice of أشعثَa shaggy one بِالأوتارِwith strings موتورِstrung
بِصوتِ أشعثَ بِالأوتارِ موتورِ
She keeps accompanying her voice, if she recites,
The sound of her voice continues to plead if she chants
With the voice of a shaggy one, strung with strings.
In a voice that scratches the strings fretted.
وَهاتناand bring us بأحاديثtales تروقُthat delight لناus
وَهاتنا بأحاديث تروقُ لنا
فيin اللفظِwording مِنof كلّevery منظومٍverse ومنثورِand prose
في اللفظِ مِن كلّ منظومٍ ومنثورِ
And bring us tales that delight us,
And give us talk that pleases us
In their wording, of every kind of verse and prose.
In diction, everything composed and in prose,
وَاِذكرand recall لَناfor us جيرةًneighbors كنّاwe used to نُفاكِههمjest with them
وَاِذكر لَنا جيرةً كنّا نُفاكِههم
نظمcomposing الغرائبrare verses فيin ظلِّthe shade of المقاصيرِthe pavilions
نظم الغرائب في ظلِّ المقاصيرِ
And recall for us neighbors with whom we once jested,
And mention for us a neighbor we used to visit
Composing rare verses in the shade of the pavilions.
To recount wonders in the shade of cottages,
وَغنّناand sing to us بسعادof Su'ad علَّperhaps ذكرتهاher remembrance
وَغنّنا بسعاد علَّ ذكرتها
تُهديbrings الحياةَlife لميتٍto a dead man غيرnot مقبورِburied
تُهدي الحياةَ لميتٍ غير مقبورِ
And sing to us of Su'ad; perhaps her remembrance
And sing to us of Saad, if she reminded you,
Will bring life to a dead man not yet buried.
Who gives life to the dead not yet buried,
حَوراءa dark-eyed beauty زانَتbecame lovely وَزادتand surpassed فيin محاسِنهاher charms
حَوراء زانَت وَزادت في محاسِنها
حُسناًin beauty علىbeyond البهكناتِthe soft, full-bodied women الخرّدِthe shy maidens الجورِthe cruel ones
حُسناً على البهكناتِ الخرّدِ الجورِ
A dark-eyed beauty, lovely, surpassing in her charms
A houri whose beauty and charms increased
In beauty the soft, shy, cruel maidens.
A beauty over the pretty and lovely young girls,
غصنa bough منَof البانِthe ban-tree ناشَrose فوقَabove دعصa sand mound نقاa dune
غصن منَ البانِ ناشَ فوقَ دعص نقا
مِنfrom فوقهِabove it الشمسُthe sun لاحتshone تحتbeneath ديجورِdeep darkness
مِن فوقهِ الشمسُ لاحت تحت ديجورِ
A bough of the ban-tree, rising above a mound of dune-sand,
A sprig of acacia blooming over the slender stalk
Above it the sun shone beneath deep darkness.
Above which the sun shone under a parasol,
كأنّماas though تحتَbeneath عقدthe fastening of الجيبِthe neckline قدhad حملتshe carried
كأنّما تحتَ عقد الجيبِ قد حملت
حقّاًa casket منَof العاجِivory ملصوقاًaffixed ببلّورِto crystal
حقّاً منَ العاجِ ملصوقاً ببلّورِ
As though beneath the fastening of her neckline she bore
As if beneath the necklace’s clasp she bore
An ivory casket affixed to crystal.
True ivory inlaid with crystal,
أناI الأسيرُthe captive وَحاشاand far be it ماas long as بقيremains رمقيmy spark of life
أنا الأسيرُ وَحاشا ما بقي رمقي
مِنfrom أَنthat أَكونَI should be لديهاwith her غيرother than مأسورِcaptive
مِن أَن أَكونَ لديها غير مأسورِ
I am the captive; far be it, while life remains in me,
I am the captive, far from me remains any vigor
That I should be with her anything but captive.
That I would be for her anything but enchained,
وَاللّهby God ماas long as عشتI lived منfrom (unclear here) هاويتهاI loved her أبداًever
وَاللّه ما عشت من هاويتها أبداً
إلّاexcept بقلبٍwith a heart بسحرِby the magic of الحسِّthe senses مسحورِbewitched
إلّا بقلبٍ بسحرِ الحسِّ مسحورِ
By God, throughout my life I have never loved her
By God, I have not lived since falling for her
Except with a heart bewitched by the magic of the senses.
Except with a heart enchanted by love’s sorcery,
لمّاwhen رَأتshe saw سوادthe blackness of الشعرthe hair منin لمميmy locks
لمّا رَأت سواد الشعر من لممي
يَعلوrises above بِسطرwith a line of بياضٍwhiteness فيهwithin it مسطورِinscribed
يَعلو بِسطر بياضٍ فيه مسطورِ
When she saw the blackness of the hair in my locks
When she saw the blackness of my hair at my temple
Overlaid with a streak of white inscribed within it,
Ascending above a line of whiteness inscribed,
غَدرتshe betrayed فيin قطعِsevering وَصليmy bond والجفاءand estrangement معاًtogether
غَدرت في قطعِ وَصلي والجفاء معاً
مَنshe who كانwas فيin قطعِsevering وصليmy bond غيرnot معذورِexcused
مَن كان في قطعِ وصلي غير معذورِ
She betrayed me, both severing our bond and turning cold—
She betrayed both my bond and estrangement
She who had no excuse for severing our bond.
Who could be excused for breaking a bond?
إنّindeed البياضَthe whiteness بياضُthe whiteness of الشَعرِthe hair منin لمميmy locks
إنّ البياضَ بياضُ الشَعرِ من لممي
يعلوrises above بِسطرِwith a line of بياضٍwhiteness فيهwithin it مسطورِinscribed
يعلو بِسطرِ بياضٍ فيه مسطورِ
Indeed, the whiteness is the whiteness of the hair in my locks,
The whiteness of my temple hair ascending
Overlaid with a streak of white inscribed within it.
Above a line of whiteness inscribed,
الرزقُlivelihood يجريruns علىaccording to الأقدارِdestinies ليسnot علىaccording to
الرزقُ يجري على الأقدارِ ليس على
فضائلthe merits of المرءِa person مِنof عقلٍintellect وتدبيرِand good judgment
فضائل المرءِ مِن عقلٍ وتدبيرِ
Livelihood runs according to fate, not according to
Sustenance flows according to fate, not
A person's merits of intellect and good judgment.
A man’s merits, of mind and management,
كَمhow many جاهلٍan ignoramus أحمقٍfoolish طالتhas lasted long جهالتهُhis ignorance
كَم جاهلٍ أحمقٍ طالت جهالتهُ
وَالرزقُand livelihood يَسعىseeks إليهhim غيرnot منذورِpledged
وَالرزقُ يَسعى إليه غير منذورِ
How many a foolish ignoramus, whose ignorance has lasted long,
How many a foolish, ignorant dolt
And livelihood seeks him out, though never pledged!
Whose ignorance was prolonged, with sustenance seeking him unsought!
وَكَمand how many أديبٍa cultured man أريبٍdiscerning حاذقٍskillful فطنٍperceptive
وَكَم أديبٍ أريبٍ حاذقٍ فطنٍ
قَدindeed عاقهُhindered him دونهُfrom it حكمُthe decree of المقاديرِdestinies
قَد عاقهُ دونهُ حكمُ المقاديرِ
And how many a cultured, discerning, skillful, perceptive man
And how many an intelligent, keen, discerning, sagacious scholar
Has the decree of fate held back from it!
Whom it evaded, by the decree of fate!
وَضخمةُand a large one المتنِin the back حرفa lean she-camel كَمhow often قطعتI crossed بهاon her
وَضخمةُ المتنِ حرف كَم قطعت بها
عَرضَthe breadth of الفَيافيthe deserts بِتأويبٍby daylong travel وتهجيرِand midday travel
عَرضَ الفَيافي بِتأويبٍ وتهجيرِ
And on a broad-backed, lean she-camel, how often I crossed
Profoundly wise poetry, how many glories cut short
The breadth of the deserts, traveling by day and at noon.
The repute of chiefs by questioning and censure!
أرجوI hope for بضايعَwares ملءfilling الكونِthe universe بهجتهاtheir splendor
أرجو بضايعَ ملء الكونِ بهجتها
مطويّةfolded فيin كتابٍa book غيرnot منشورِunfolded
مطويّة في كتابٍ غير منشورِ
I hope for wares whose splendor fills the universe,
I hope for the merchandise that fills the universe, in joy
Folded in a book not yet unfolded.
Folded in an unpublished book,
تَناجياwhisperings منfrom بناتِthe daughters of الفكرِthought محكمةwell-crafted
تَناجيا من بناتِ الفكرِ محكمة
فيin النظمِversification ماwhat بينَbetween تقديمٍplacing first وتأخيرِand placing later
في النظمِ ما بينَ تقديمٍ وتأخيرِ
Whisperings from the daughters of thought, skillfully wrought,
Conversing, of the mind’s pure daughters, composed
In verse, through arranging what comes first and last.
In rhyme, amid advancing and delaying,
أَهديتُهاI offered them مِنfrom بضاعاتيmy wares إلىto كفؤa worthy peer
أَهديتُها مِن بضاعاتي إلى كفؤ
إِلىto همامٍa noble hero بنصرِwith the aid of العزّhonor منصورِgranted victory
إِلى همامٍ بنصرِ العزّ منصورِ
I offered them, from my wares, to a worthy peer,
I gifted it from my wares to a peer
To a noble hero, granted victory by honor's aid,
To a noble in victory’s help victorious,
إِلىto فتىًa youth مِنof بنيthe sons of ماءِwater السماءِheaven بماfor what
إِلى فتىً مِن بني ماءِ السماءِ بما
أوتيhe was granted منَof الفخرِglory والإجلالِand reverence مشهورِrenowned
أوتي منَ الفخرِ والإجلالِ مشهورِ
To a youth of the sons of Ma' al-Sama', whose gifts
To a youth from the House of Heaven’s Water, with what
Of glory and reverence have made him renowned,
Renown and veneration he was granted,
إِلىto فلاحFalah سليلِscion of المحسنal-Muhsin الملكthe king الthe (continued next line)
إِلى فلاح سليلِ المحسن الملك ال
مَعروفِknown بالجودِfor generosity فيin عسرٍhardship وميسورِand prosperity
مَعروفِ بالجودِ في عسرٍ وميسورِ
To Falah, scion of al-Muhsin, the king
To a horseman, scion of the benefactor, the undefeated king
Known for generosity in hardship and prosperity.
Known for munificence in hardship and comfort,
مطهّرpurified العرضِin honor لمhas not يشهدattended محافلهhis assemblies
مطهّر العرضِ لم يشهد محافله
إلّاexcept بعرضٍwith honor نقيِّpure العرضِin honor موفورِundiminished
إلّا بعرضٍ نقيِّ العرضِ موفورِ
Pure in honor: none has attended his assemblies
He cleansed honor, his gatherings were not witnessed
Except with honor unstained and undiminished.
Save by untainted, abundant honor,
وَلاand not ترحّلdeparted عنهfrom him الوفدthe delegation ماnot (emphatic) أبداًever
وَلا ترحّل عنه الوفد ما أبداً
إلّاexcept بقلبٍwith a heart لماat what فاجأهsurprised it مسرورُdelighted
إلّا بقلبٍ لما فاجأه مسرورُ
And no delegation has ever departed from him
The delegations never departed him, ever,
Except with a heart delighted by what had surprised it.
Save with hearts gladdened by what delighted them.
أَدهىmore astute وأَحكمand wiser مِنthan قيسQays بنson of عاصم'Asim فيin
أَدهى وأَحكم مِن قيس بن عاصم في
ماwhat قالَhe said فيin كلّevery دستٍcouncil منهof his محضورِattended
ما قالَ في كلّ دستٍ منه محضورِ
More astute and wiser than Qays ibn 'Asim in
More passionate and wise than Qays ibn ‘Asim in all
What he said at each of his well-attended councils.
That he said in every session of his attended,
يَكفيكَsuffices you إنif خفتyou feared ممّنsomeone whom أنتyou خائفهfear him
يَكفيكَ إن خفت ممّن أنت خائفه
حماهُhis protection عنinstead of خندقٍa trench يوماًany day ولاor any سورِwall
حماهُ عن خندقٍ يوماً ولا سورِ
If you fear one whom you dread, enough for you is
It suffices you, if you fear those you fear,
His protection, any day, instead of a trench or wall.
His protection, without trench or wall one day,
ماnot عانَقتembraced قطّever أقلاماًpens أناملهُhis fingertips
ما عانَقت قطّ أقلاماً أناملهُ
إِلّاexcept علىaccording to قدرٍa decree فيin الحكمِjudgment مقدورِordained
إِلّا على قدرٍ في الحكمِ مقدورِ
His fingertips have never embraced pens
His fingers have never embraced pens
Except in accord with a decree ordained in judgment.
Save commensurate to wisdom’s measure,
دانَتsubmitted عُمانOman لهto him بعدafter العرامةdefiance منfrom
دانَت عُمان له بعد العرامة من
قلهاتQalhat حتّىas far as تولّاهاhe took charge of it إلىto الصيرِal-Sir
قلهات حتّى تولّاها إلى الصيرِ
Oman submitted to him after its defiance, from
Oman bowed to him after contention
Qalhat to al-Sir, as he took it under his rule.
From fortresses until he restored it to prosperity,
كأنّماas though الشمسُthe sun منfrom أنوارِthe lights of غرّتهاher brow
كأنّما الشمسُ من أنوارِ غرّتها
ونورand the light of غرّتهhis brow شيبتِwas mingled بإكسيرِwith an elixir
ونور غرّته شيبتِ بإكسيرِ
As though the sun, with the lights of her brow,
As if the sun borrowed its rays
And the light of his brow had been blended with an elixir.
While his glory borrowed whiteness from elixir,
ياO مَنone who لَهhas فيin معاليهِhis lofty deeds ومفخرهِand his proud distinction
يا مَن لَه في معاليهِ ومفخرهِ
تَأثيرُthe impress of مجدٍglory علاrose عنabove كلّevery تأثيرِimpress
تَأثيرُ مجدٍ علا عن كلّ تأثيرِ
O you, in whose lofty deeds and proud distinction lies
O you whose glory and pride has impact
The impress of a glory surpassing every other impress.
Of a glory that transcends all impact,
نوديتَyou were called أَنthat قمrise لعقدِto bind الملكkingship فيin عجلٍhaste
نوديتَ أَن قم لعقدِ الملك في عجلٍ
نداءَthe call of ربِّكyour Lord موسىMoses جانبbeside الطورِal-Tur
نداءَ ربِّك موسى جانب الطورِ
You were called: 'Rise swiftly to bind the knot of kingship,'
You were called to assume kingship in haste
Like your Lord's call to Moses beside al-Tur.
Like your Lord called Moses from the Mount,
فَقمتَso you rose بالعدلِwith justice أمّاراًa constant enjoiner تحاولyou strive for ماwhat
فَقمتَ بالعدلِ أمّاراً تحاول ما
يُرضيpleases الإلهَGod ويجزيand requites كلّevery مدحورِoutcast
يُرضي الإلهَ ويجزي كلّ مدحورِ
So you rose, enjoining justice, striving for what
So you stood for justice, striving for what
Pleases God and requites every outcast.
Pleased God and rewarded all the wretched,
حتّىuntil أبحتَyou unleashed إلىupon الأعداءِthe enemies صاعقةًa thunderbolt
حتّى أبحتَ إلى الأعداءِ صاعقةً
تصبُّyou pour منهاfrom it عليهمupon them كلَّevery محذورِdreaded thing
تصبُّ منها عليهم كلَّ محذورِ
Until you unleashed upon the enemies a thunderbolt,
Until you openly terrified the enemies
Pouring from it upon them everything they dread.
Pouring upon them all they dread,
أَرسلتَyou sent منكَfrom you عليهمagainst them كلَّevery غاديةٍmorning cloud
أَرسلتَ منكَ عليهم كلَّ غاديةٍ
تَرميهمhurling at them بالمصاليتِbold warriors المساعيرِthe war-kindlers
تَرميهم بالمصاليتِ المساعيرِ
You sent forth from yourself against them every morning cloud,
You launched at them every charging warrior
Hurling at them bold warriors, kindlers of war.
Stoning them with drawn swords,
كَمhow often زَلزلتyou shook أرضَهمtheir land لمّاwhen بطشتَyou struck violently بهمagainst them
كَم زَلزلت أرضَهم لمّا بطشتَ بهم
كأنَّas though بَطشَكyour onslaught فيهمupon them نفخةthe blast of الصورِthe Trumpet
كأنَّ بَطشَك فيهم نفخة الصورِ
How often you shook their land when you struck them,
How you made their earth quake when you crushed them
As if your onslaught upon them were the Trumpet's blast!
As if your crushing were the Trumpet’s blast!
إِذاwhen ذُكرتَyou are mentioned لَهمto them ضلّتlost their way قُلوبُهمtheir hearts
إِذا ذُكرتَ لَهم ضلّت قُلوبُهم
خفَاقةfluttering مثلَlike أعضاءِthe limbs of العصافيرِsparrows
خفَاقة مثلَ أعضاءِ العصافيرِ
When you are mentioned to them, their hearts lose their way,
When you were mentioned their hearts fluttered
Fluttering like the limbs of sparrows.
Palpitating like small birds,
وَهاكand take ياO بدرَfull moon of قحطانQahtan وكوكبهاand its star
وَهاك يا بدرَ قحطان وكوكبها
برداًa mantle منَof الحمدِpraise لَمnot ينسجwas woven علىupon نيرِa loom's heddle
برداً منَ الحمدِ لَم ينسج على نيرِ
And take, O full moon of Qahtan and its star,
And here, O Badr, is Qahtan’s cool poetry
A mantle of praise, woven on no loom.
That was not spun on a string,
يصغيlistens attentively إِلىto أَلفاظِهاits words فيin الدستthe court إنif نُشدتit is recited
يصغي إِلى أَلفاظِها في الدست إن نُشدت
بينَamid الملاthe gathering كلُّevery صافيclear العقلin mind نحريرِmaster
بينَ الملا كلُّ صافي العقل نحريرِ
Its words are listened to in court, when it is recited,
All of pure mind listens spellbound to its diction if chanted
Amid the gathering, by every clear-minded master.
Among the eminent, every eloquent soul.
Sol 6.1