أَتَرىdo you see سفيناًships فيin البحارِthe seas سوائراًsailing
أَتَرى سفيناً في البحارِ سوائراً
يَقطعنَthey cut through مِنfrom لججِdepths of البحارِthe seas زَواخِراsurging waters
يَقطعنَ مِن لججِ البحارِ زَواخِرا
Do you see ships sailing upon the seas,
Do you see a ship sailing the seas,
cutting through the seas' surging depths?
Crossing the tumultuous waves?
أَمor هنَّthey فيin لججِdepths of السرابِthe mirage هوادجٌhowdahs
أَم هنَّ في لججِ السرابِ هوادجٌ
مُتضمّناتbearing غزلةgazelles وجآذراand wild-cow calves
مُتضمّنات غزلة وجآذرا
Or are they howdahs in the depths of the mirage,
Or are they mirages in the heat haze of the desert,
bearing gazelles and wild-cow calves?
Bearing lovesick gazelles and does?
ظَلناwe kept نودّعهمbidding them farewell وفيضُand the outpouring of دُموعناour tears
ظَلنا نودّعهم وفيضُ دُموعنا
تُبديreveals هناكَthere منَfrom القلوبِthe hearts سَرائراsecrets
تُبدي هناكَ منَ القلوبِ سَرائرا
We kept bidding them farewell, and our tears' outpouring
We kept saying farewell as our tears poured out,
revealed there the hearts' secrets.
Revealing the inner secrets of our hearts.
وَمريضةُand languid الألحاظِglances ماnever نَظرتshe looked بهاwith them
وَمريضةُ الألحاظِ ما نَظرت بها
إلّاexcept وَأَهدتand she bestowed لِلقلوبِupon the hearts بَواتراcleaving swords
إلّا وَأَهدت لِلقلوبِ بَواترا
And she of languid glances never looked with them
Whenever that languid-eyed beauty gazed at me,
without gifting hearts with cleaving swords.
She dealt deadly blows to my heart.
ياoh حُسنَهاher beauty يومَon the day of الوداعِfarewell وقَدand already جرىran
يا حُسنَها يومَ الوداعِ وقَد جرى
ذرُّa spray of الدموعِtears بخدِّهاon her cheek متناثراscattered
ذرُّ الدموعِ بخدِّها متناثرا
How lovely she was on farewell day, as
Oh, her beauty on the day we parted,
a spray of tears ran scattered down her cheek!
With tears streaming down her cheek!
ماnever إِنindeed تَباعَدناwe grew apart جسوماًin body مرّةًonce
ما إِن تَباعَدنا جسوماً مرّةً
إلّاexcept اِلتَقيناwe met أَنفساًsouls وخواطراand thoughts
إلّا اِلتَقينا أَنفساً وخواطرا
Never once did we grow distant in body
No sooner had we physically parted
without meeting in soul and thought.
Than we met in spirit and thoughts.
شَمسٌa sun حَكَتresembled شمسَthe sun of الضحىthe forenoon وجهاًin face وقدand already
شَمسٌ حَكَت شمسَ الضحى وجهاً وقد
ضاقَتwere tight هناكَthere خلاخلاًanklets وأساوراand bracelets
ضاقَت هناكَ خلاخلاً وأساورا
A sun whose face matched the forenoon sun, while
A sun that rivaled the radiance of dawn,
her anklets and bracelets fitted tightly there.
Her bracelets barely fitting, confining her wrists.
حالَتshifted وشاحاًa sash فيin موشّحهاher girdled waist وقدand already
حالَت وشاحاً في موشّحها وقد
ضاقَتwere tight هناكَthere خلاخلاًanklets وأساوراand bracelets
ضاقَت هناكَ خلاخلاً وأساورا
Her sash shifted about her waist, while
She wore a scarf on her garment,
her anklets and bracelets fitted tightly there.
Her bracelets barely fitting, confining her wrists.
عَجباًhow wondrous لِناظرهاat her eye حساماًa sharp sword فيwithin الحشاthe breast
عَجباً لِناظرها حساماً في الحشا
ويَلوحُand it appears للأبصارِto the eyes لحظاًas a glance فاتراlanguid
ويَلوحُ للأبصارِ لحظاً فاترا
How wondrous: her eye is a sword within the breast,
Wondrous is she, a sword flashing in the night,
yet appears to the eyes as a languid glance.
Glimpsed by eyes for a fading moment.
لَحظٌa glance منَfrom السحرِsorcery الحرامِforbidden مبرّؤٌfree
لَحظٌ منَ السحرِ الحرامِ مبرّؤٌ
لكنّهُbut it فيin الحسنِbeauty يُدعىis called ساحراa sorcerer
لكنّهُ في الحسنِ يُدعى ساحرا
A glance free of forbidden sorcery,
An enchanting glance of forbidden magic—
yet in beauty it is called a sorcerer.
And yet in her beauty she is called a sorceress.
وَلربَّماand often طَرقتshe visited at night وساديmy pillow ليلةًone night
وَلربَّما طَرقت وسادي ليلةً
مِنfrom بعدafter ماthat غشيenveloped الهجوعslumber السامراthe night-time talker
مِن بعد ما غشي الهجوع السامرا
And many a night she came to my pillow,
And perhaps she crept into my bed one night
after slumber had enveloped the night-time talker.
After the revelers had dispersed.
فَعففتُso I refrained عَنهاfrom her شيمةًas a trait منّيof mine لَهاtoward her
فَعففتُ عَنها شيمةً منّي لَها
ولربّماand often فيماin what أحاولI attempt ناظراwatchful
ولربّما فيما أحاول ناظرا
So I refrained from her, as was my way with her,
I restrained myself, to preserve her honor,
and often watchful in what I attempt.
Although I struggled as I gazed at her.
فَعَففتُso I refrained عنهاfrom her شيمةًas a trait منّيof mine لَهاtoward her
فَعَففتُ عنها شيمةً منّي لَها
أحللI loosen هناكَthere غلائلاًundergarments ومآزراand waist-wraps
أحلل هناكَ غلائلاً ومآزرا
So I refrained from her, as was my way with her.
I restrained myself, to preserve her honor,
I loosen undergarments and waist-wraps there.
Although I yearned to unleash my passion.
إنّيindeed I اِمرؤٌa man لبسَdonned العفافَchastity وَلَمand has not يَزلceased
إنّي اِمرؤٌ لبسَ العفافَ وَلَم يَزل
ثوبُthe robe of التعفّفself-restraint والتُقىand piety ليfor me ساتراa covering
ثوبُ التعفّف والتُقى لي ساترا
I am a man who donned chastity, and always
I am a man who wears the cloak of chastity
the robe of self-restraint and piety has covered me.
Which has always been my protecting garb.
ياO مَعشراًa company فيin العيشِlife أصبحَhas become باعهُits reach
يا مَعشراً في العيشِ أصبحَ باعهُ
عمّاfrom what يريدُit desires منَamong المطالبِgoals قاصراfalling short
عمّا يريدُ منَ المطالبِ قاصرا
O company whose reach in life has become
O people adrift in life, whose wares
too short for the goals it desires,
Fall short of what they crave!
حاوِلseek منَamong الأرزاقِprovisions ماwhat تنفيyou banish بهwith it
حاوِل منَ الأرزاقِ ما تنفي به
فيin العيشِlife ضنكَthe hardship of معيشةٍliving ومفاقراand privations
في العيشِ ضنكَ معيشةٍ ومفاقرا
seek such sustenance as will let you banish
Seek what sustenance you need
from life the hardship of living and privations.
To relieve the bitterness of want.
لاdo not تقعدنّremain علىamid الضرورةِneed والجفاand harshness
لا تقعدنّ على الضرورةِ والجفا
ليقالَso it may be said حرُّnoble النفسِof soul أصبحَhas become صابراpatient
ليقالَ حرُّ النفسِ أصبحَ صابرا
Do not remain amid need and harshness
Do not sit in helpless poverty
so people may say, 'A noble soul has become patient.'
Where they say the free have grown patient.
خلّleave الإقامةَstaying put لِلمنازلِto dwellings واِرتَحلand set out
خلّ الإقامةَ لِلمنازلِ واِرتَحل
عوجاًcrook-necked camels تنسّبare traced back to شدقماًShadqam أوor ذاعراDhāʿir
عوجاً تنسّب شدقماً أو ذاعرا
Leave staying put to dwellings, and set out
Leave your homes and wander—
on crook-necked camels tracing their descent to Shadqam or Dhāʿir.
Crooked roads make straight riders swerve.
تَهويit hurtles بِراكبهاwith its rider فتحسبهاso you reckon it إذاwhen
تَهوي بِراكبها فتحسبها إذا
مرّتit passed بِراكِبهاwith its rider عقاباًan eagle كاسراswooping
مرّت بِراكِبها عقاباً كاسرا
It hurtles with its rider; you would think it, when
Ships that swoop with their riders
it passes with its rider, a swooping eagle.
Are believed to plummet and crush.
وَإِذاand when نظمتyou compose غرائبَmarvels of الأشعارِpoetry لاdo not
وَإِذا نظمت غرائبَ الأشعارِ لا
تَقصِدaim بِهاwith them إِلّاexcept المتوّجthe crowned one عامراʿĀmir
تَقصِد بِها إِلّا المتوّج عامرا
And when you compose marvels of poetry, do not
When you compose exotic verse,
address them to anyone but the crowned ʿĀmir.
Seek only the prosperous overlord.
وإِذاكand then أَنتَyou أَتيتَcame to هالةthe halo of دستهِhis throne
وإِذاك أَنتَ أَتيتَ هالة دستهِ
وَرأيتهand you saw him كالبدرِlike the full moon فيهاwithin it بادراemerging
وَرأيته كالبدرِ فيها بادرا
And then you come into the halo of his throne,
Then you will come haloed by his sanctuary
and see him within it, emerging like the full moon,
And find him radiant like the full moon.
فيin مجلسٍa gathering يحويcontaining هُماماًa valiant lord أكبراًmost eminent
في مجلسٍ يحوي هُماماً أكبراً
فيin رُتبةِthe rank of العلياthe highest يسودُhe rules أكابراgrandees
في رُتبةِ العليا يسودُ أكابرا
in an assembly holding a most eminent, valiant lord,
In a council filled with the greatest nobles,
who in the highest rank presides over grandees.
Lofty in rank, the elite of the elite.
فَاِسجُدthen prostrate yourself لغرّةِbefore the radiance of وَجههhis face فهناكfor there قدmay
فَاِسجُد لغرّةِ وَجهه فهناك قد
تَلقىyou meet أميراًa prince بِالمكارمِto noble deeds آمراcommanding
تَلقى أميراً بِالمكارمِ آمرا
Then prostrate yourself before his radiant face, for there you may
Bow down to his proud visage—
meet a prince who commands noble deeds.
There you will find a prince commanding generosity.
وَاِنشدand recite بمفخرةwith pride وقلّدand adorn مجدهُhis glory
وَاِنشد بمفخرة وقلّد مجدهُ
فيin النظمِverse مِنfrom حليِthe ornaments of الثناءِpraise جواهراjewels
في النظمِ مِن حليِ الثناءِ جواهرا
And recite proudly, and bedeck his glory
Extol his glories in verse, bedecking his fame
in verse with jewels from the ornaments of praise.
With the jewelries of praise.
فَمنfor among السعادةِgood fortune أَنthat يقالَit be said لشاعرٍof a poet
فَمن السعادةِ أَن يقالَ لشاعرٍ
أَضحىhas become فلانso-and-so لابنfor the son of شايقShāyiq شاعراa poet
أَضحى فلان لابن شايق شاعرا
For it is good fortune that one may say of a poet:
What blessing, for a poet to say
'So-and-so has become Ibn Shāyiq's poet.'
"So-and-so has become Ibn Shaddad’s poet"?
صَمدٌa lord sought in need يبيتُspends the night الليلthe night ناظرهhis eye علىin
صَمدٌ يبيتُ الليل ناظره على
طلبِthe pursuit of المَعاليhigh honors والمفاخرِand glories ساهراwakeful
طلبِ المَعالي والمفاخرِ ساهرا
A lord sought in need: his eye spends the night
A steadfast king who spends the night contemplating
awake in pursuit of high honors and glories.
Sublimity, triumphs and glories while awake.
وَرثَhe inherited ابنthe son of أحنفَAḥnaf فيin الوقارdignity وفيand in النداgenerosity
وَرثَ ابن أحنفَ في الوقار وفي الندا
كعباًKaʿb وفيand in العلمِknowledge المجمهرِamassed باقراBāqir
كعباً وفي العلمِ المجمهرِ باقرا
He inherited Ibn Aḥnaf's dignity; in generosity,
He inherited from Ibn Ahnaf
Kaʿb's; and in amassed learning, Bāqir's.
Dignity, munificence and abundant knowledge.
لَمdid not تعدُcharge عاديةa raiding troop لهof his فيin معركٍbattle
لَم تعدُ عادية له في معركٍ
إلّاexcept وكانَand was لهاfor it المهيمنthe Guardian ناصراa helper
إلّا وكانَ لها المهيمن ناصرا
Never did a raiding troop of his charge in battle
He never entered a fray
without the Guardian aiding it.
Without emerging its champion and defender.
تَهناmay it rejoice عميرٌʿUmayr أنّthat بيتthe house of فخارهاits glory
تَهنا عميرٌ أنّ بيت فخارها
أَضحىhas become لهfor it المفضالُthe generous one عامرُʿĀmir عامراa builder
أَضحى له المفضالُ عامرُ عامرا
May ʿUmayr rejoice that the house of its glory
Umair exults: his house of splendor
now has generous ʿĀmir as its builder.
Has become most prosperous of the prosperous.
ياO مَنyou who علاascended رُتبَthe ranks of العلاeminence ومنand who اِكتسىdonned
يا مَن علا رُتبَ العلا ومن اِكتسى
برداًa mantle يفوقُsurpassing محامداًpraiseworthy qualities ومفاخراand glories
برداً يفوقُ محامداً ومفاخرا
O you who climbed the ranks of eminence, and who donned
O you who ascended the ranks of ascendance
a mantle surpassing praiseworthy qualities and glories,
And donned a cloak that outshines eulogies!
ماnot كانَwas رأيكyour judgment بالعقيمِbarren إصابةaccuracy
ما كانَ رأيك بالعقيمِ إصابة
أَبداًever وأمُّand the mother of نداكَyour bounty لمhas not تكُbeen عاقراbarren
أَبداً وأمُّ نداكَ لم تكُ عاقرا
your judgment has never been barren of sound decisions,
What think you of barrenness ever striking
and the mother of your bounty has never been barren.
The likes of you—no, your mother bore no fruitless child!
عمّتencompassed فضائلكَyour virtues الخلائلqualities كلّall منwho
عمّت فضائلكَ الخلائل كلّ من
فوقَupon البسيطةٍthe earth بادياًa nomad أوor حاضراa town-dweller
فوقَ البسيطةٍ بادياً أو حاضرا
Your virtuous qualities have embraced everyone
Your virtues have encompassed all,
upon the earth, nomad or town-dweller,
Both Bedouin and city dweller, present and absent,
حتّىuntil دَعاكَcalled you الناسُthe people عدلاًjust مُقسطاًequitable
حتّى دَعاكَ الناسُ عدلاً مُقسطاً
وَدَعاكَand called you بيتthe house of المالmoney فضّاًa disperser جابراa restorer
وَدَعاكَ بيت المال فضّاً جابرا
until the people called you just and equitable,
Until people called you just and fair
and the treasury called you a disperser and a restorer.
And the public treasury called you open-handed.
Sol 6.1