لِخولةَfor Khawla رسمٌa habitation's trace بالوشيمِat al-Washim دريسُworn away
لِخولةَ رسمٌ بالوشيمِ دريسُ
مَغانيهِits dwelling places قفرٌdesolate ماnot بهنّin them ونيسُa companion
مَغانيهِ قفرٌ ما بهنّ ونيسُ
Khawla has a worn-away trace of habitation at al-Washim.
For Khawla is a symbol of modesty and chastity
Its dwelling places are desolate, with no companion in them.
Her songs are an empty wilderness with no joy
عَفتwere effaced منهُof it آياتٌtraces جدادٌfresh وماand not مضتhad passed
عَفت منهُ آياتٌ جدادٌ وما مضت
لَهُfor it جمعةٌa Friday مِنfrom بعدهاafter it وخميسُand a Thursday
لَهُ جمعةٌ مِن بعدها وخميسُ
Its once-fresh traces have faded, though there has not passed
Signs of nobility and glory have passed from her
a Friday followed by a Thursday.
Though Friday comes after her, and Thursday
بهِat it بكرَتdeparted at dawn يومَthe day النوىof separation منهfrom it بزّلmature camels
بهِ بكرَت يومَ النوى منه بزّل
تَبوعُspan with long strides الفلاthe wilderness فيin سيرِهاtheir journey وتقيسُand measure
تَبوعُ الفلا في سيرِها وتقيسُ
Mature camels departed from it at dawn on the day of separation,
In the first light of dawn love awoke in her
spanning the wilderness with their strides and measuring it.
Following passion though ways twist and wind
وَقَفناwe stood وَقَدand already ذابَتhad melted غديّةon the morning ودّعتshe bade farewell
وَقَفنا وَقَد ذابَت غديّة ودّعت
قلوبٌhearts لَناof ours مِنfrom وجدناour longing ونفوسُand souls
قلوبٌ لَنا مِن وجدنا ونفوسُ
We stood, and on the morning she bade farewell, melted
We stopped, the morning mists had melted away
our hearts and souls from longing.
Leaving hearts grieving over our parting
تَولّتshe turned away وليand I had عينٌan eye تجلجلquivering with عبرةa tear
تَولّت ولي عينٌ تجلجل عبرة
وَبينَand between ضُلوعيmy ribs لوعةٌburning anguish ورسيسُand lingering passion
وَبينَ ضُلوعي لوعةٌ ورسيسُ
She turned away; my eye quivered with a tear,
My eyes overflow with tears of sorrow
and within my ribs were burning anguish and lingering passion.
While between my ribs grief and pain seethe
وَنارُand the fire الجوىof consuming heartache وَالوجدand longing بينbetween أضالعيmy ribs
وَنارُ الجوى وَالوجد بين أضالعي
لَهاfor it القلبُthe heart منّيof mine كالوطيسlike a furnace وطيسُa furnace
لَها القلبُ منّي كالوطيس وطيسُ
The fire of heartache and longing burns between my ribs;
The fires of love and passion flame in my chest
my heart is its furnace, like a blazing kiln.
Of which my heart is the wick aflame, blazing
فَياso, oh حُسنَهاher beauty مِنas غادةٍa tender maiden حينَwhen أَقبلتshe approached
فَيا حُسنَها مِن غادةٍ حينَ أَقبلت
تهزّعshe sways فيin بردِthe mantle الصباof youth وتميسُand walks gracefully
تهزّع في بردِ الصبا وتميسُ
How beautiful she was, a tender maiden, when she approached,
Her beauty, when she came smiling
swaying in youth's mantle and walking with grace.
Swaying gently in the north wind’s chill
عَجبتُI marvelled لَهاat her فيin خلقِهاher form كونthe fact أنّهاthat she is
عَجبتُ لَها في خلقِها كون أنّها
غَزالٌa gazelle لَهُfor whom أسدُlions العرينof the lair فريسُprey
غَزالٌ لَهُ أسدُ العرين فريسُ
I marvelled at her form, at the fact that she is
I marveled, seeing her created as she is
a gazelle whose prey are lions of the lair.
A gazelle, though for her the lion waits, hungry
وَشمسٌand a sun إِذاwhen أَبدتshe revealed سفوراًan unveiled face تخجّلتwere abashed
وَشمسٌ إِذا أَبدت سفوراً تخجّلت
بدورُmoons تمامٍof fullness عندهاin her presence وشموسُand suns
بدورُ تمامٍ عندها وشموسُ
And a sun: when she unveils herself, abashed are
A sun, though when she rises radiant
full moons and suns in her presence.
The stars and suns are shamed and vanish
وَلَمand not أرَI saw شمساًa sun قبلbefore رؤيتهاseeing her لهاthat has
وَلَم أرَ شمساً قبل رؤيتها لها
طلوعٌa rising نجافاlintels (uncertain reading) للخباfor the tents وجنوسُand a setting (uncertain)
طلوعٌ نجافا للخبا وجنوسُ
Before seeing her, I had never seen a sun that had
Before I saw her, I never saw a sun whose dawn
a rising at the tent's lintels and a setting [reading uncertain].
Was so bright, driving away gloom and darkness
وَفيand in ثَغرِهاher mouth كالخمرِlike wine خمرٌwine معتَّقٌaged
وَفي ثَغرِها كالخمرِ خمرٌ معتَّقٌ
ودرٌّand pearls حَكىresembled الدرَّthe pearls النفيسprecious نفيسُprecious
ودرٌّ حَكى الدرَّ النفيس نفيسُ
In her mouth is aged wine, like wine itself,
On her lips, wine, well-aged wine
and precious pearls resembling precious pearls.
And a pearl telling of pearls of great price
تَراهاyou see her ذلولاًdocile فيin تذلّلهاher submission وإنand though
تَراها ذلولاً في تذلّلها وإن
محبّتهاher love للوصلِfor union فهيyet she is شموسُrestive
محبّتها للوصلِ فهي شموسُ
You see her docile in her submission; and though
You see her gentle in her gentleness, though her
she loves union, she is restive.
Love of union makes her brilliant as the sun
تصعّدتshe heaved أنفاساًsighs وإِنّىand I لهاfor her لماfor what
تصعّدت أنفاساً وإِنّى لها لما
أُحاولI seek فيماin what lies بينناbetween us ونفوسُand souls
أُحاول فيما بيننا ونفوسُ
She heaved sighs; and I, for her, for what
I breathed in her breaths, and when for her
I seek between us—and souls [wording unclear].
I sought union, passion stirred in my soul
تصدّتshe appeared فَأَورتso she kindled فيin حشاشةِthe last living spark مُهجتيof my heart
تصدّت فَأَورت في حشاشةِ مُهجتي
سَعيراًa blaze لهاfor her تحتَbeneath الضلوعthe ribs حسيسُa faint crackling
سَعيراً لها تحتَ الضلوع حسيسُ
She appeared and kindled in my heart's last living spark
She turned away, and ignited in my love-sick heart
a blaze for her, crackling beneath my ribs.
Fires that flare beneath my ribs and sting
وَكَيفand how يرجّاcan be hoped for وَصلُهاunion with her وهيwhile she is غادةٌa maiden
وَكَيف يرجّا وَصلُها وهي غادةٌ
حَصانٌchaste لهاfor her عينُthe eye الرقيبof the watcher حروسُvigilantly guarding
حَصانٌ لها عينُ الرقيب حروسُ
How can union with her be hoped for, when she is a maiden
How can I hope for union with her, when she
chaste, with the watcher's eye guarding her?
Is unreachable, guarded well, watched always?
أَياO مُشتكيyou complaining of عسرَthe hardship الزمانِof time وبؤسهُand its misery
أَيا مُشتكي عسرَ الزمانِ وبؤسهُ
وَفيand in العسرِhardship ضرٌّharm للرجالِfor men وبوسُand wretchedness
وَفي العسرِ ضرٌّ للرجالِ وبوسُ
O you who complain of time's hardship and misery,
Oh you who complain of the misery of time
hardship holds harm and wretchedness for men.
In hardship is harm for men, and shame
تيمّمseek out خميساًKhamis إِنّماindeed جودهhis generosity علىagainst
تيمّم خميساً إِنّما جوده على
خميسِthe host اللياليof nights جحفلٌa mighty army وخميسُand an army
خميسِ الليالي جحفلٌ وخميسُ
Seek Khamis: his generosity, against
Seek from Thursday favors, though its generosity
the host of nights, is a mighty host and an army.
Is only on Thursday nights, mean and lacking
وَسلهand ask him for العطاgifts فالحكمُfor the decree مِنfrom فيضِthe overflowing bounty كفّهof his palm
وَسله العطا فالحكمُ مِن فيضِ كفّه
لحكمِto the decree خطوبthe calamities النائباتof misfortunes عكوسُa reversal
لحكمِ خطوب النائبات عكوسُ
Ask him for gifts: the decree flowing from his palm
Ask from him bounty, for the wisdom of his palm’s rain
reverses the verdict of disastrous calamities.
Overcomes the rulings of his deputies, contrary
فتىًa young man وفدهُhis delegation للوفدِto visiting delegations يُبديdisplays محاسناًvirtues
فتىً وفدهُ للوفدِ يُبدي محاسناً
عَلىto مَنwhoever تلقّاهmeets him وحسنand beauty مكوسُtolls (context unclear)
عَلى مَن تلقّاه وحسن مكوسُ
A youth whose delegation displays virtues to visiting delegations,
A youth whose gifts to guests display his virtues
to whoever meets him; and beauty—tolls [wording unclear].
To all who meet him, of noble giving
فَتىًa young man فاقَsurpassed جملthe entirety of الناسthe people نطقاًin speech ومجلساًand in council
فَتىً فاقَ جمل الناس نطقاً ومجلساً
وَقَدand indeed فاقَهمhe surpassed them بالفضلِin excellence وليسand is not عبوسُa scowler
وَقَد فاقَهم بالفضلِ وليس عبوسُ
A youth who surpassed all people in speech and in council,
A youth who excels all people in speech and company
surpassed them in excellence, and is no scowler.
And who excels them in merit, not sullen
فتىًa young man وجههُhis face للوفدِto visitors يبديshows بشاشةًa cheerful welcome
فتىً وجههُ للوفدِ يبدي بشاشةً
وَبشراًand gladness وفيand in وجهِthe face الزمانِof time عبوسُa frown
وَبشراً وفي وجهِ الزمانِ عبوسُ
A youth whose face offers visitors a cheerful welcome
A youth whose face shows joy to guests
and gladness, though the face of time wears a frown.
Cheer and good news, though the times are gloomy
بَنىhe built شَرفاًglory فيamong آلِthe family of دهمشDahmash شمسهits sun
بَنى شَرفاً في آلِ دهمش شمسه
لِنورِagainst the light شموسِof the suns المُعتدينof the aggressors طموسُan extinguisher
لِنورِ شموسِ المُعتدين طموسُ
He built glory among the family of Dahmash; its sun
He built a nobility in the house of Duhmosh, its sun
extinguishes the light of aggressors' suns.
Outshining the lights of the proudest stars
إِذاwhen ماemphasis تجلّىhe appears فيin الدسوتِthe seats of honor تطأطأتbowed down
إِذا ما تجلّى في الدسوتِ تطأطأت
رِقابٌnecks لهto him مُنقادةٌsubmissive ورؤوسُand heads
رِقابٌ له مُنقادةٌ ورؤوسُ
Whenever he appears in the seats of honor, bow
When he appears at councils, necks bow down
necks and heads, submissive to him.
Obediently to him, and heads
وَإِنand if مشقتwrote swiftly أقلامهُhis pens اِنبعثَتwere dispatched لهاat their behest
وَإِن مشقت أقلامهُ اِنبعثَت لها
لِنفعٍfor benefit وضرٍّand harm للعبادِfor mankind طروسُwritten sheets
لِنفعٍ وضرٍّ للعبادِ طروسُ
When his pens write swiftly, there issue from them
If his pens decree harm or benefit for people
written sheets bringing people benefit and harm.
For them appear symbols of help or harm
هِزبرٌa lion لهُhe has مِنfrom فضلةِthe excess الدرعِof the armor لبدةٌa mane
هِزبرٌ لهُ مِن فضلةِ الدرعِ لبدةٌ
وَمنand from رأيjudgment عيابsacks العواسلِof the wolves عيسُpale camels
وَمن رأي عياب العواسلِ عيسُ
A lion whose mane is made from his armor's excess,
His coat of mail has panels from excess steel
and [the wording about judgment, wolves' sacks, and pale camels is unclear].
One who saw the weapons of warriors would despair
لَهُhe has طلعةٌa countenance مسعودةٌauspicious طلعتrose بهاwith it
لَهُ طلعةٌ مسعودةٌ طلعت بها
سعودٌlucky stars وَمالَتand inclined للمغيبtoward setting نحوسُunlucky stars
سعودٌ وَمالَت للمغيب نحوسُ
He has an auspicious countenance, with which have risen
His fortune dawns auspiciously; through it dawns
lucky stars, while unlucky stars sink toward setting.
Fortune, while misfortune inclines to the west
بِهthrough him زانتِbecame adorned الدنياthe world وأَضحتand became كأنّهاas though it were
بِه زانتِ الدنيا وأَضحت كأنّها
مِنَfrom الحسنِbeauty مقلاقmaking sway الوشاحthe sash عروسُa bride
مِنَ الحسنِ مقلاق الوشاح عروسُ
Through him the world is adorned, and has become as though
Through his merit, the world is adorned
in beauty, it were a bride with a loose-hanging sash.
As if with beauty, a cloak’s rich brocade, a bride
عَلقتُI attached myself بهِto him حتّىuntil تعاظمتُI grew great فيamong الورىhumankind
عَلقتُ بهِ حتّى تعاظمتُ في الورى
وَصرتُand I became كأنّيas though I were فيamong الأنامmankind رئيسُa leader
وَصرتُ كأنّي في الأنام رئيسُ
I attached myself to him until I grew great among men,
I have clung to him until I have become great in the world
and became as though I were a leader among mankind.
As if to all people I was lord, chief
وَجالستهُand I sat with him فاِزددتُso I gained جاهاًprestige ورفعةًand elevation
وَجالستهُ فاِزددتُ جاهاً ورفعةً
كأنّيas though I were لِقعقاعto Qa'qa' بنson of سورSur جليسُa companion
كأنّي لِقعقاع بن سور جليسُ
I sat with him and gained prestige and elevation,
In sitting with him my station and honor increased
as though I were a companion of Qa'qa' ibn Sur.
As if I were Ka’b ibn Zuhayr, boon companion
وَدونَكماand take this, you two يستقبسُdraws a flame العقلُthe mind نورَهاits light
وَدونَكما يستقبسُ العقلُ نورَها
بِإِشراقهاthrough its radiance وجهthe face الزمانof time قبيسُa firebrand
بِإِشراقها وجه الزمان قبيسُ
Here it is for you both: the mind draws fire from its light;
Without you two, intellect welcomes your light
its radiance makes the face of time a firebrand.
As your rising illuminates the face of time
بِفضلكَby your generosity فيناtoward us وهيَand it is منّىfrom me إليّةan oath
بِفضلكَ فينا وهيَ منّى إليّة
منَof البرّrighteousness لَيستit is not كالغموسِlike a perjurious oath غموسُsin-plunging
منَ البرّ لَيست كالغموسِ غموسُ
By your generosity toward us—this is an oath from me,
Through your merit you have wished us well
a righteous oath, not a perjurious, sin-plunging oath:
Not stingily like a miser, but generously
لأنتَindeed you الأميرُthe prince الأمجدُmost glorious الأصيدُproudly majestic الّذيwho
لأنتَ الأميرُ الأمجدُ الأصيدُ الّذي
لَهto him تخضعُsubmits الدُنياthe world لهfor him وتشوشُand rejoices
لَه تخضعُ الدُنيا له وتشوشُ
indeed, you are the most glorious, majestic prince to whom
You are the most glorious, most lauded, most noble prince
the world submits, and for whom it rejoices.
To whom the world bows down, tumultuous
فَإنso if يدّعيclaims ماwhat نلتهُyou attained it مدَّعٍa claimant فقدthen indeed
فَإن يدّعي ما نلتهُ مدَّعٍ فقد
تمنّتwished for يهودٌJews فوزهاtheir triumph ومجوسُand Magians
تمنّت يهودٌ فوزها ومجوسُ
If a claimant claims what you have attained, then
If some pretender claims what I have attained
Jews and Magians, too, have wished for their triumph.
Jews have wished for their success, and Magians
وَلاand may you never زلتَcease to be محروسَprotected الجنابِin your domain متوّجاًcrowned
وَلا زلتَ محروسَ الجنابِ متوّجاً
تَسودُyou rule البراياcreation جملةًaltogether وتشوسُand gaze proudly
تَسودُ البرايا جملةً وتشوسُ
May you ever remain protected in your domain and crowned,
You remain guarded, crowned with glory
ruling all creation and gazing with proud authority.
Lording over the wilds, conquering utterly
Sol 6.1