بَريقٌa gleam بِأعلىat the heights of الأبرقينِal-Abraqayn تألّقاflashed
بَريقٌ بِأعلى الأبرقينِ تألّقا
فَهاجَso it stirred الجَوىheartache بالقلبin the heart منّيof mine وأغلقاand locked it shut
فَهاجَ الجَوى بالقلب منّي وأغلقا
A gleam flashed on the heights of al-Abraqayn.
A flash gleamed at the top of the lightning bolts
It stirred heartache in my heart and locked it shut.
So my heart was stirred with passion and closed
أضاءَit shone لناfor us وهناlate at night فَأسعرَso it kindled ومضهُits flash
أضاءَ لنا وهنا فَأسعرَ ومضهُ
ضرامَa blaze جوىًof longing بينbetween الأضالعِthe ribs مُحرقاscorching
ضرامَ جوىً بين الأضالعِ مُحرقا
It shone for us late at night, and its flash kindled
It illuminated for us and here its glare kindled
a scorching blaze of longing between my ribs.
A burning passion in my ribs, scorching
فآهاًso, ah! لهُfor it منsuch a ضاحكlaughing one متبسّمٍsmiling
فآهاً لهُ من ضاحك متبسّمٍ
أطارَit drove away الكرىsleep منfrom جفِنthe eyelid of عينيmy eye وأرّقاand caused sleeplessness
أطارَ الكرى من جفِن عيني وأرّقا
Ah for it, that laughing, smiling one,
Alas for him, the smiling and cheerful laugher
which drove sleep from my eyelid and kept me awake.
Who made worries fly from my eyes and deprived me of sleep
يجدّدit renews ليfor me شوقاًa longing قديماًold وهكذاand thus الthe (continued)
يجدّد لي شوقاً قديماً وهكذا ال
مَسوقُone driven onward إِذاwhen شامَhe sighted البروقthe lightning flashes تشوّقاhe yearned
مَسوقُ إِذا شامَ البروق تشوّقا
It renews an old longing in me; and thus the
He renews an old longing for me, and so never
driven one, on sighting lightning, yearns.
When lightning flashes is a shepherd unstirred with yearning
أرانيI see myself وأَسماand Asma كلّماwhenever اِزددتُI increased in لوعةًanguish
أراني وأَسما كلّما اِزددتُ لوعةً
تقطّعbroke apart منّيfrom me وصلهاher bond وتمزّقاand was torn
تقطّع منّي وصلها وتمزّقا
I see myself and Asma: whenever my anguish deepens,
He makes me see her whenever my torment grows
her bond with me breaks and is torn apart.
And severs my bond with her and tears it apart
دَعانيcalled me إِلَيهاto her حُسنُهاher loveliness وجمالُهاand her beauty
دَعاني إِلَيها حُسنُها وجمالُها
فَكنتُso I was مجيباًanswering بِالمسامعِwith the ears مُطرقاhead bowed
فَكنتُ مجيباً بِالمسامعِ مُطرقا
Her loveliness and beauty called me to her,
Her beauty and grace called me to her
and I answered, bowing my head to listen.
And I was a respondent with attentive ears, head bowed
أَباrefused القلبthe heart لمّاwhen عجتهI turned it لِودادهاfor love of her
أَبا القلب لمّا عجته لِودادها
إلىtoward الصبرِpatience إِلّاexcept أَنto يودّlove ويعشقاand adore
إلى الصبرِ إِلّا أَن يودّ ويعشقا
My heart refused, when for love of her I turned it
My heart refused, what with its passion for her,
toward patience, anything but loving and adoring.
To show patience, unless it should love and desire
تَعلّقهاit clung to her حبّاًin love وشوقاًand yearning ولَمand did not يزلcease
تَعلّقها حبّاً وشوقاً ولَم يزل
معَwith الوصلِunion والفرقاand separation بهاto her مُتعلّقاattached
معَ الوصلِ والفرقا بها مُتعلّقا
It clung to her in love and yearning, never ceasing
Clinging to her in love, longing, and ceaselessly
to remain attached to her in union and separation.
Whether joined or parted, clinging to her
فَماso never غرّبتshe went west إلّاexcept وغرّبَand it went west عندهاbeside her
فَما غرّبت إلّا وغرّبَ عندها
وَلاnor شرّقتshe went east إلّاexcept وكانَand it was المشرِّقاthe eastward traveler
وَلا شرّقت إلّا وكانَ المشرِّقا
She never went west without its going west beside her,
I have never sunset but with sunset he was at her side
nor east without its going east.
Nor sunrise but with sunrise he was there
منَamong البيضِthe fair women ماnever لاثتshe wrapped بفضلِwith the surplus of إزارهاher wrap
منَ البيضِ ما لاثت بفضلِ إزارها
علىover ردفهاher rump المركومheaped up إلّاexcept تَفتّقاit split open
على ردفها المركوم إلّا تَفتّقا
One of the fair: never did she wind her surplus wrap
Of her wrapper, nothing gleamed white on her hips
over her heaped-up rump without its splitting open.
Except what her anklet, held in place, had rubbed off
تحكّمheld sway فيover خلخالهاher anklet كعبُthe ankle of ساقِهاher leg
تحكّم في خلخالها كعبُ ساقِها
وَجادَتand she bestowed بِهاwith it تحتَbeneath الإزارِthe wrap المنطّقاthe girdle
وَجادَت بِها تحتَ الإزارِ المنطّقا
The ankle of her leg held sway over her anklet,
Her anklet controls the stirring of her leg
and with it she bestowed the girdle beneath her wrap [wording unclear].
And she walked gracefully beneath her belted robe
دجىًdarkness مدلهمٌّpitch-black تحتهُbeneath it البدرُthe full moon بازغٌrising
دجىً مدلهمٌّ تحتهُ البدرُ بازغٌ
عَلىon غصنِa branch of بانٍa ban tree فوقَabove دعصٍa hillock منof النقاsand
عَلى غصنِ بانٍ فوقَ دعصٍ من النقا
Pitch-black darkness, beneath it a rising full moon,
A dark night whose moon is rising
on a ban-tree branch above a hillock of sand.
On a lofty branch above a cluster of gum trees
حَكىresembled ريقهاher saliva فيin الطعمِtaste ماءwater from غمامةٍa cloud
حَكى ريقها في الطعمِ ماء غمامةٍ
يُمازجُmingling with كافوراًcamphor وخمراًand wine مُعتّقاaged
يُمازجُ كافوراً وخمراً مُعتّقا
Her saliva tasted like water from a cloud,
Her saliva described the taste of a raincloud’s water
mingling with camphor and aged wine.
Mixed with camphor and aged wine
وَأورقand a gray dove تَشدوit sings غدوةًat dawn وَمَدامعيand my tears
وَأورق تَشدو غدوةً وَمَدامعي
تَظلّpersist منَbecause of الأطلالthe ruins يوماًall day وأورقاand a gray dove (unclear here)
تَظلّ منَ الأطلال يوماً وأورقا
And a gray dove sings at dawn, while my tears
She was verdant and caroled at dawn while my tears
persist all day because of the ruins [ending unclear].
Remained by the ruins one day and were verdant
تَنوحُit laments ومرّand the gust of الريحthe wind يَجريblows فكلّماso whenever
تَنوحُ ومرّ الريح يَجري فكلّما
تَعلّاrose بهِwith it الغصنُthe branch القويمupright تخفّقاit fluttered
تَعلّا بهِ الغصنُ القويم تخفّقا
It laments as the gust of wind blows; whenever
She laments while the zephyr blows, and whenever
the upright branch rises with it, it flutters.
The waving branch rose up, it would flap
بَكىit wept فَأسالso it made flow الدمعَthe tears مِنfrom مَدمعيmy eye فماso never
بَكى فَأسال الدمعَ مِن مَدمعي فما
كَففتI checked مسيلَthe flow of الدمعِthe tears إلّاexcept تدفّقاit gushed
كَففت مسيلَ الدمعِ إلّا تدفّقا
It wept and drew tears from my eye; never
He wept, so I poured tears from my tear ducts without
did I check the flow of tears but it gushed anew.
Restraining the outpouring of my tears at all
أَرىI see غيمَthe cloud of آماليmy hopes دنَتdrew near وتَرَاكمتand gathered
أَرى غيمَ آمالي دنَت وتَرَاكمت
أراعيلهits ranks واِنفضّand it dispersed عنّيaway from me وماand did not سقىgive rain
أراعيله واِنفضّ عنّي وما سقى
I see the cloud of my hopes draw near and gather,
I see the cloud of my hopes approach and gather
rank upon rank, then scatter from me without giving rain.
Over me, then burst and not water me
فَكمso how many عارضٍa rain cloud مِنof غيثهِits rain أنتyou خائبdisappointed
فَكم عارضٍ مِن غيثهِ أنت خائب
وَإِنeven though شمتهyou sighted it ليfor me مرعدthundering المزنِthe rain clouds مُبرقاflashing lightning
وَإِن شمته لي مرعد المزنِ مُبرقا
How many a cloud leaves you disappointed of its rain,
How often its showers have disappointed me
though you sight it for me, its clouds thundering and flashing.
And though its lightning flashed around me, forked
فَماso never رمتI sought يوماًone day فتحَopening بابa door to مطالبٍdesires
فَما رمت يوماً فتحَ باب مطالبٍ
وَعالجتهand I worked at it للفتحِto open it إلّاexcept تغلّقاit locked shut
وَعالجته للفتحِ إلّا تغلّقا
Never did I seek one day to open a door to my desires,
I have never sought to open any door of requests
and labor to open it, but it locked shut.
And worked to open it except that it remained shut
ندمتُI regretted عَلىover الغيّthe folly الّذيwhich فيin اِرتكابهِpursuing it
ندمتُ عَلى الغيّ الّذي في اِرتكابهِ
وصبّحتهand I greeted it at dawn قدalready كنتI was للعمرِof my life مُنفقاspending
وصبّحته قد كنت للعمرِ مُنفقا
I regretted the folly: in pursuing it,
I regretted the sin whose committing
and greeting it at dawn, I had spent my life.
I stayed up nights for, squandering my life
وأصبحتُand I became مذsince ولّىdeparted الشبابُyouth وشرخهand its prime
وأصبحتُ مذ ولّى الشبابُ وشرخه
لبكرfrom the maiden of الملاهيdiversions واِتّصاليand my attachment مُطلّقاdivorced
لبكر الملاهي واِتّصالي مُطلّقا
And since youth and its prime departed, I have become
Since youth turned its back and parted from me
divorced from the maiden of diversions and my ties to her.
Releasing me to revels and freeing my bonds
حَبانيhe granted me بماwhat أمّلتهI hoped for منof رغائبٍcherished gifts
حَباني بما أمّلته من رغائبٍ
وَأسمنand fattened آماليmy hopes إِليهِtoward him وأصدقاand made them true
وَأسمن آمالي إِليهِ وأصدقا
He granted me the cherished gifts I had hoped for,
It indulged me with all the wishes I harbored
and fattened my hopes in him and made them true.
And fattened my hopes toward it and poured them out sincerely
وَلولاand were it not for الفَتىthe young man الزاكيvirtuous فلاحFalah لماwould not غَداpass the morning
وَلولا الفَتى الزاكي فلاح لما غَدا
وَلاnor راحpass the evening يوسيmy misery (uncertain reading) شملهits gathering متفرّقاdispersed
وَلا راح يوسي شمله متفرّقا
Were it not for the virtuous youth Falah, neither morning
And were it not for the noble youth who succeeded
nor evening would find my misery with its ranks dispersed [reading uncertain].
Yusuf would not have been brought together after separation
وَأَعلىand he raised محلّيmy standing فيamong الأنامِmankind ورَاشَنيand feathered me
وَأَعلى محلّي في الأنامِ ورَاشَني
بِنائلهِwith his bounty مِنfrom بعدafter ماwhen كنتI was كاللّقاlike a castoff
بِنائلهِ مِن بعد ما كنت كاللّقا
And he raised my standing among mankind and feathered me
It elevated my status among all people and sprinkled me
with his bounty, after I had been like a castoff.
With its attainments after I was destitute as beggars
فَذاكso that is الّذيthe one who دونrather than البريّةall mankind أَلتجيI seek refuge
فَذاك الّذي دون البريّة أَلتجي
إليهِto him إِذاwhen فحلُthe bull camel of النوائبِcalamities شقشقاbellowed
إليهِ إِذا فحلُ النوائبِ شقشقا
He is the one, above all others, in whom I seek refuge
It is the one I seek refuge with in the wide wilderness
when the bull camel of calamities bellows.
Whenever the claws of tribulation tear violently
مليكٌa king بحكمِthrough the rule of العدلِjustice منهfrom him علىover الورىmankind
مليكٌ بحكمِ العدلِ منه على الورى
تُدارُare steered بكفّيهby his two hands السعادةhappiness والشقاand misery
تُدارُ بكفّيه السعادة والشقا
A king: through his just rule over mankind,
A king ruling justly, so that through his hands
happiness and misery are steered by his two hands.
Good fortune and calamity are dealt out in the land
فَماso never حلّhe attained مِنamong رتبِthe ranks of المراتبِthe stations رتبةًa rank
فَما حلّ مِن رتبِ المراتبِ رتبةً
وَأَشهرand more renowned مِنthan شمسِthe sun of النهارِday وأشرقاand more radiant
وَأَشهر مِن شمسِ النهارِ وأشرقا
No rank among all ranks has he attained
No rank of all ranks has been reached
without being more renowned and radiant than the sun of day.
More famous than the sun at noon and more brilliant
وَلاnor رامَhe sought مِنamong صعبِthe difficult المطالبِgoals مطلباًa goal
وَلا رامَ مِن صعبِ المطالبِ مطلباً
وَحاولهand he attempted it إلّاexcept وكانَand he was الموفّقاgranted success
وَحاوله إلّا وكانَ الموفّقا
Nor has he sought any difficult goal
No difficult goal of goals has it sought
and striven for it without being granted success.
And attempted without being the successful one
يدينُbows لهto him عمروAmr بنson of هندHind وتبّعand Tubbaʿ
يدينُ له عمرو بن هند وتبّع
وَقَيصرand Caesar فيin العلياhigh estate وكسرىand Kisra بنson of أرتقاArtaqa
وَقَيصر في العليا وكسرى بن أرتقا
Amr ibn Hind and Tubbaʿ bow to him,
‘Amr ibn HInd and Tubba‘ submit to it
as do Caesar in high estate and Kisra ibn Artaqa.
As do Caesars in their grandeur and the Kasras of royal lineage
تراهُyou see him منthan المرّيخMars أرفعhigher رتبةًin rank
تراهُ من المرّيخ أرفع رتبةً
وَأشهرُand more renowned مِنthan شمسِthe sun of النهارday وأشرقاand more radiant
وَأشهرُ مِن شمسِ النهار وأشرقا
You see him higher in rank than Mars,
You see it from Mars loftier in rank
and more renowned and radiant than the sun of day.
Than the sun at noon, more brilliant and luminous
كفيلٌa guarantor برزقِof the provision of اللَّهGod مِنfrom بيتِthe treasury of مالهِhis wealth
كفيلٌ برزقِ اللَّه مِن بيتِ مالهِ
ليسألهُso he may ask him منwhoever جاءهُcomes to him مترزّقاseeking sustenance
ليسألهُ من جاءهُ مترزّقا
A guarantor of God's provision from his treasury,
A guarantor of God’s provision from its public treasury
so whoever comes to him seeking sustenance may ask him.
So that whoever comes to it seeking sustenance will be provided for
حسامٌa keen sword سدادa defense against الحادثاتِcalamities ذبابهُits point
حسامٌ سداد الحادثاتِ ذبابهُ
أقامَestablished لهُfor him التهذيبrefinement حدّاًan edge وَأطلقاand unleashed him
أقامَ لهُ التهذيب حدّاً وَأطلقا
A keen sword whose point wards off calamities;
A sword whose edge makes straight the slanting blows of events
refinement gave him an edge and unleashed him.
Has set for it a limit, rectifying and loosening
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) القضاfate أرمىcasts بهِhim فيinto ملمّةٍa crisis
إِذا ما القضا أرمى بهِ في ملمّةٍ
سَطاhe assailed فيin صدورِthe breasts of المُشكلاتِdifficulties وأطبقاand closed in
سَطا في صدورِ المُشكلاتِ وأطبقا
Whenever fate casts him into a crisis,
Whenever fate casts it into perilous straits
he assails the breasts of difficulties and closes in upon them.
It unsheathes itself in the breasts of knotty problems and cuts through
فَلاso do not تحكينcompare يوماًever إِليهto him اِمرءاًa man وهلand can
فَلا تحكين يوماً إِليه اِمرءاً وهل
مسفٌّa low flier يُباريrival فيin العلوِّloftiness المحلّقاthe soaring one
مسفٌّ يُباري في العلوِّ المحلّقا
Never compare any man to him; can
So never count as its equal a worthless man, but is there
a low flier rival one soaring high?
A fly to contend with the towering falcon?
أأشرفO noblest مَنof those who فاهتspoke بهِof him السنّtongues (uncertain reading) ومنand one who
أأشرف مَن فاهت بهِ السنّ ومن
بهِfor his sake قطّعتI traversed قبلbefore المرافقِcomforts سملقاa barren plain
بهِ قطّعت قبل المرافقِ سملقا
O noblest of those tongues have spoken of, and one
Is one ennobled whom old age has struck down or one
for whose sake I traversed a barren plain before reaching comfort.
Whose bonds were cut by death before his prime?
أمنّاwe felt safe from بكَthrough you الأيّامthe days حتّىuntil كأنّناas though we
أمنّا بكَ الأيّام حتّى كأنّنا
أَخذناhad taken منَfrom الأيّامthe days عهداًa pledge وموثقاand a binding covenant
أَخذنا منَ الأيّام عهداً وموثقا
Through you we are safe from the days, as though we
Or did the days swear to you until it was as if
had taken a pledge and binding covenant from them.
We had taken a binding oath from the days?
وَإنّيand indeed I لأثنيtruly praise حيثُwherever سارَتtraveled ركائبيmy riding camels
وَإنّي لأثني حيثُ سارَت ركائبي
عليكyou وإنeven though لامَreproached الحسودُthe envious man ولقلقاand babbled
عليك وإن لامَ الحسودُ ولقلقا
Indeed, wherever my riding camels travel, I lavish praise
When my mounts have sped forth I praise you
upon you, though the envious man reproaches and babbles.
Even if the envious blame me and babble
وَأشكرُand I thank نُعماكyour blessings الّتيwhich كادَnearly حاسديmy envier
وَأشكرُ نُعماك الّتي كادَ حاسدي
علىat نيلهاreceiving them بالريقِon saliva أنto يتشرّقاchoke
على نيلها بالريقِ أن يتشرّقا
And I thank you for the blessings that nearly made my envier
I thank you for your blessings which my enviers
choke on his saliva at my receiving them.
Nearly burned up with jealousy at my attaining them
وَدُمand live on دامmay endure ماwhat ملّكتهyou were given to rule منof ممالكٍkingdoms
وَدُم دام ما ملّكته من ممالكٍ
وَدامتand may endure لكfor you الدُنياthe world ودامَand may endure لكَfor you البقاlasting life
وَدامت لك الدُنيا ودامَ لكَ البقا
And live on; may the kingdoms you were given to rule endure,
May what you possess of kingdoms endure
and may the world endure for you, and lasting life be yours.
May the world endure for you and eternal survival endure for you
Sol 6.1