لاdo not تُكثِراyou two overdo فيin اللَومِreproach مِنof تفنيدهِrebuking him
لا تُكثِرا في اللَومِ مِن تفنيدهِ
وَدعاهُand let him be, you two يسلكُtread a path منthrough رضاthe approval of مودودهِhis beloved
وَدعاهُ يسلكُ من رضا مودودهِ
Do not, you two, overdo your blame and rebuke of him.
Do not blame him much or argue with him,
And let him tread the path of his beloved's approval.
And let him follow the path of his beloved.
فَاللومُfor reproach وَالتفنيدُand rebuke ليسdoes not يزيدهُincrease him
فَاللومُ وَالتفنيدُ ليس يزيدهُ
إلّاexcept غراماًpassion مسعراًset ablaze بوقودهِby its fuel
إلّا غراماً مسعراً بوقودهِ
For reproach and rebuke do not increase him
Blame and argument only increase
Except in passion, set ablaze by its fuel.
His burning passion and its kindling.
إِنif كُنتماyou two were لَمnot تَعلماyou two know بغرامهِof his passion
إِن كُنتما لَم تَعلما بغرامهِ
فَالدمعُfor the tears منهfrom him منamong أبرِّthe truest of شهودهِhis witnesses
فَالدمعُ منه من أبرِّ شهودهِ
If you two have not learned of his passion,
If you did not know about his passion,
His tears are among his truest witnesses.
His tears bear the truest of witness.
وَمرتجand swaying الأملودِthe supple figure لاno أملودtender branch منfrom
وَمرتج الأملودِ لا أملود من
بانِbān trees النقاthe dune يحكيresembles إلىcompared with أملودهِhis supple figure
بانِ النقا يحكي إلى أملودهِ
And one with a swaying, supple form—no tender branch from
The warbler sings not but to his beloved,
The dune's bān trees can compare with his supple figure.
Telling his tale only to her.
مَلَكَhe captured القلوبَthe hearts مِنَof الرجالِmen بحسنهِwith his beauty
مَلَكَ القلوبَ مِنَ الرجالِ بحسنهِ
حتّىuntil غَدتbecame أحرارهhis free men كعبيدهِlike his slaves
حتّى غَدت أحراره كعبيدهِ
His beauty has captured the hearts of men,
He has won the hearts of men with his beauty,
Until his free men became like his slaves.
Until his free men became like slaves to him.
ظَبيٌa gazelle إذاwhen رعتِgrazed الظباءُthe gazelles رياضهاtheir meadows
ظَبيٌ إذا رعتِ الظباءُ رياضها
لاnot يَرتعيgrazes إلّاexcept قلوبَthe hearts of أسودهِhis lions
لا يَرتعي إلّا قلوبَ أسودهِ
A gazelle: when the gazelles graze their meadows,
A gazelle, when the does graze,
He grazes only on the hearts of his lions.
Grazes only the hearts of lions.
غنجٌcoquettish رخيمُsoft النطقِof speech نغمةthe melody of صوتهِhis voice
غنجٌ رخيمُ النطقِ نغمة صوتهِ
يزريputs to shame بسجعِcompared with the cooing of الورقgray doves فيin تغريدهِhis singing
يزري بسجعِ الورق في تغريدهِ
Coquettish, soft of speech—the melody of his voice
A singing bird, melodious his voice,
Puts the doves' cooing to shame in his singing.
Trills with the murmur of leaves in song.
فَالسحرُso magic فيin لحظاتهِhis glances وجفونهِand his eyelids
فَالسحرُ في لحظاتهِ وجفونهِ
وَالوردُand roses فيin وجناتهhis cheeks وزرودهِand his mail-rings
وَالوردُ في وجناته وزرودهِ
Magic is in his glances and his eyelids,
The magic is in his glances and eyelids,
And roses in his cheeks and his mail-rings.
The roses in his cheeks and blooms.
وَعنِand concerning الأبيرقِal-Ubayriq هلhas? سقاهwatered it مجلجلٌa rumbling cloud
وَعنِ الأبيرقِ هل سقاه مجلجلٌ
متواترٌfollowing in succession ببروقهِwith its lightning flashes ورعودهِand its thunderclaps
متواترٌ ببروقهِ ورعودهِ
And al-Ubayriq—has a rumbling cloud watered it,
As for lightning from thick clouds,
With lightning flashes and thunderclaps in succession?
Does it not water the land, flashing and rumbling?
رَبعٌa dwelling عَفتwere effaced أطلالهُits ruins وتنكّرتand became unrecognizable
رَبعٌ عَفت أطلالهُ وتنكّرت
إلّاexcept بقيّةthe remains of نؤيهِits encircling trench ونضيدهِand its piled stones
إلّا بقيّة نؤيهِ ونضيدهِ
A dwelling whose ruins have faded and grown unrecognizable,
An abode whose traces are gone,
Except for what remains of its trench and piled stones.
Save some ruins and scaffolding.
كَمhow often بعدَafter ساكنهits inhabitant ندبتI lamented رسومهُits traces
كَم بعدَ ساكنه ندبت رسومهُ
وَهرقتand I poured ماءَthe water of اللحظthe eyes فوقover صعيدهِits bare ground
وَهرقت ماءَ اللحظ فوق صعيدهِ
How often, after its inhabitant left, I lamented its traces,
How many, after its dwellers lamented its forms,
And poured the water of my eyes over its bare ground.
And shed tears of sorrow upon its sands!
وَبعيدand far-reaching فسحِbroad الفجّthe pass أقفرdesolate لمnot تَزلyou cease
وَبعيد فسحِ الفجّ أقفر لم تَزل
تَدعوyou call upon وتعرفand you recognize جنّةًjinn فيin بيدهِits desert wastes
تَدعو وتعرف جنّةً في بيدهِ
And a distant, broad, desolate pass—you never cease
Far into the empty expanse of desert,
Calling upon and recognizing jinn in its wastes.
You still call out, knowing a paradise in his hand.
جاوَزتI crossed غايتهits farthest extent فيon متناسبِwell-matched الthe
جاوَزت غايته في متناسبِ ال
أَعراقِlineages مِنfrom بينbetween الحديلِal-Hadil وعيدهِand his ʿId
أَعراقِ مِن بين الحديلِ وعيدهِ
I crossed its farthest reaches on a mount of well-matched
He surpassed all in his perfect proportions,
Lineage, from al-Hadil and his ʿId.
Not of mixed ancestries or hybrid lineage.
نضوa worn-out mount ترىyou see فيon بطنهِits belly وسنامهِand its hump الthe
نضو ترى في بطنهِ وسنامهِ ال
آثارmarks منfrom أنساعهits girth-straps وقتودهِand its saddle frames
آثار من أنساعه وقتودهِ
A worn-out mount: on its belly and hump you see the
Pure of breed you see in his forehead and traits,
Marks of its girths and saddle frames.
No vestiges of baseness or brand.
متوجّهاًheading toward ربعَthe dwelling of المتوّجthe crowned one حميرHimyar
متوجّهاً ربعَ المتوّج حمير
عَلَمُthe great exemplar of الزمانِthe age وفردهand its singular one ووحيدهِand its unique one
عَلَمُ الزمانِ وفرده ووحيدهِ
Heading toward the dwelling of Himyar, the crowned one,
Heading towards the best of lands, Najd,
The age's great exemplar, its peerless and unique one.
The exemplar of eras, unique and peerless.
ملكٌa king مَتىwhenever تنسبهُyou trace his lineage تلقىyou find عرفهُhis eminence
ملكٌ مَتى تنسبهُ تلقى عرفهُ
مِنfrom عرقthe ancestral stock of قحطانQahtan يؤولtraces back وهودهِand his Hud
مِن عرق قحطان يؤول وهودهِ
A king: trace his lineage and you find his eminence
A king - if you trace his line, you find
Going back to the stock of Qahtan and his Hud.
A stock of Qahtan leading to Jurhum.
وَرِثَhe inherited العلاhigh rank والمجدَand glory عنfrom نبهانهِhis Nabhan
وَرِثَ العلا والمجدَ عن نبهانهِ
فيماamong what تأرّثهhe inherited it وعنand from أخلودهِhis Akhlud
فيما تأرّثه وعن أخلودهِ
He inherited high rank and glory from his Nabhan,
He inherited glory and honor from his ancestors,
Among what he inherited, and from his Akhlud.
What he bequeathed, and for eternity.
عمّlavish النداgenerosity حلوsweet الشمائلin disposition مصدقٌa fulfiller
عمّ الندا حلو الشمائل مصدقٌ
للوعدof promises منهfrom him ومخلفand a breaker لوعيدهِof his threats
للوعد منه ومخلف لوعيدهِ
Lavish in bounty, sweet-natured, faithful
Sweet of traits, he fulfilled the promise,
To the promises he makes, but not to his threats.
And carried out the threats as well.
هوhe أكثمٌAktham فيin حلمهhis forbearance هوhe عامرٌAmir
هو أكثمٌ في حلمه هو عامرٌ
فيin بَأسهِhis valor هوhe حاتمHatim فيin جودهِhis generosity
في بَأسهِ هو حاتم في جودهِ
He is Aktham in his forbearance, he is Amir
He is forbearing in his clemency, firm
In his valor; he is Hatim in his generosity.
In his might, unmatched in his munificence.
ياO مَنyou who لهُto him خضَعتbowed رقابُthe necks of ملوكهِhis kings
يا مَن لهُ خضَعت رقابُ ملوكهِ
وَعنَتand submitted لِسطوتهto his might أكابرthe greatest of صيدهِhis proud lords
وَعنَت لِسطوته أكابر صيدهِ
O you before whom the necks of your kings have bowed,
O you to whom the necks of kings submit,
And the greatest of your proud lords have yielded to your might,
And the great ones of the earth bow down!
خُذtake مُلكَthe kingdom of جدّكyour grandfather معwith أبيكyour father معاًtogether وزدand add
خُذ مُلكَ جدّك مع أبيك معاً وزد
ماwhatever اِسطاعcan attain باعكyour reach منof بلوغreaching مزيدهِits increase
ما اِسطاع باعك من بلوغ مزيدهِ
Take your grandfather's kingdom together with your father's, and add
Take your grandfatherʼs kingdom, and your fatherʼs,
Whatever increase your reach can attain.
And increase what your arms can achieve and grasp.
فَلَقدfor indeed علاrose higher ملكاًin kingship وطالand surpassed زيادةin added greatness
فَلَقد علا ملكاً وطال زيادة
قدماlong ago سليمانSolomon علىabove داودهِhis David
قدما سليمان على داودهِ
For higher in kingship, and greater still,
For he attained a kingdom and lasting increase,
Was Solomon long ago than his David.
Advancing, like Solomon, beyond David.
ماnot أَنتَyou والأعداءand the enemies قدalready أَنذَرتهمyou warned them
ما أَنتَ والأعداء قد أَنذَرتهم
إلّاexcept كصالحlike Salih منذرa warner لثمودهِto his Thamud
إلّا كصالح منذر لثمودهِ
To the enemies you have warned, you are
You and the enemies you have warned
Just like Salih, warning his Thamud.
Are but as Salih warning the Thamud.
صبّحتهمyou attacked them at dawn جيشاًwith an army تضلّgo astray قلوبهمtheir hearts
صبّحتهم جيشاً تضلّ قلوبهم
للخوفِfrom fear خافقةًfluttering كخفقِlike the flutter of بنودهِits banners
للخوفِ خافقةً كخفقِ بنودهِ
You assailed them at dawn with an army; their hearts reel,
You routed them an army whose hearts
Beating with fear like the flutter of its banners.
Flutter in fear, like the waving of flags.
جيشٌan army يريكَshows you الليلthe night غيهبthe pitch-darkness of نقعهِits dust-cloud
جيشٌ يريكَ الليل غيهب نقعهِ
وَيزيدand increases ضوءَthe light of الصبحdawn لمعthe gleam of جديدهِits new armor
وَيزيد ضوءَ الصبح لمع جديدهِ
An army whose pitch-dark dust-cloud shows you night,
A host who shows you the darkness of night,
And the gleam of its new armor adds to dawn's light.
And adds to the light of dawn a renewed brilliance.
فَغَدتso became جباههمtheir foreheads هناكَthere مَساجداًplaces of prostration
فَغَدت جباههم هناكَ مَساجداً
وَالسيفand the sword فيهاwithin them ناصبwearied بسجودهِby its prostration
وَالسيف فيها ناصب بسجودهِ
So their foreheads there became places of prostration,
Their foreheads there became places of prostration,
And the sword within them is wearied by its prostration.
With the sword standing over them as they bowed.
وَإِليكَand take for yourself برداًa mantle نسجهُits weave متهلهلٌloosely woven
وَإِليكَ برداً نسجهُ متهلهلٌ
يزريputs to shame بنسجِcompared with the weaving of جريرهhis Jarir ولبيدهِand his Labid
يزري بنسجِ جريره ولبيدهِ
And take a mantle whose weave is loose,
And to you, coolness woven by a soft breeze,
Putting Jarir's and Labid's weaving to shame.
Murmuring with the verse of Jarir and Labid.
لاnot أَستطيعُI can لكَtoward you الجحودَingratitude لأنّنيbecause I
لا أَستطيعُ لكَ الجحودَ لأنّني
عبدٌa slave لِفضلكto your bounty موثقbound بقيودهِby its chains
عبدٌ لِفضلك موثق بقيودهِ
I cannot be ungrateful to you, for I
I cannot deny you favor, for I
Am a slave to your bounty, bound by its chains.
Am your slave, bound by your debts.
أَطلَقتَنيyou set me free فيin بيتِthe house of مالكyour wealth كلّهall of it
أَطلَقتَني في بيتِ مالك كلّه
وَحَبوتنيand you gifted me بطريفهِwith its newly acquired wealth وتليدهِand its inherited wealth
وَحَبوتني بطريفهِ وتليدهِ
You gave me free rein in your whole treasury,
You freed me in your house entire,
And gifted me its newly acquired and inherited riches.
And endowed me with its fresh blooms.
وَأَنلتنيand you granted me ماwhat نالهhe obtained it قدماlong ago أبوAbu
وَأَنلتني ما ناله قدما أبو
تمّامهhis Tammam معwith خالدKhalid بنson of يزيدهِhis Yazid
تمّامه مع خالد بن يزيدهِ
And granted me what, long ago, Abu
You granted me what past ones attained,
Tammam received with Khalid ibn Yazid.
Abu Tammam and Khalid ibn Yazid.
وَغدوتُand I became أرفعhigher منthan زهيرٍZuhayr رتبةًin rank
وَغدوتُ أرفع من زهيرٍ رتبةً
بالمدحِthrough praise فيكof you ومزرياand putting to shame بوليدهِcompared with his son
بالمدحِ فيك ومزريا بوليدهِ
And I rose higher than Zuhayr in rank,
I am raised higher than Zuhayr in rank,
Through praising you, putting his son to shame.
By praising you, and like Mutanabbi with his ode to Sayf al-Dawla.
Sol 6.1