عوجواturn aside فحيّواthen greet مَغانيthe dwellings ربّةthe lady الخالِof the beauty mark
عوجوا فحيّوا مَغاني ربّة الخالِ
وَاِقضواand fulfill مآربكمyour wishes فيin رسمهاher traces الخاليdeserted
وَاِقضوا مآربكم في رسمها الخالي
Turn aside, then greet the dwellings of the lady with the beauty mark.
Tune your strings to sing of the charms of the lovely doe,
And fulfill your wishes amid her deserted traces.
And accomplish your desires in her vacant lineaments.
وَجَلجلواand make resound كلّevery هطّالdownpour بعرصتهاin her courtyard
وَجَلجلوا كلّ هطّال بعرصتها
يغنىsuffices مجلجلهits rumbling عنin place of كلِّevery هطّالِdownpour
يغنى مجلجله عن كلِّ هطّالِ
And make every downpour thunder in her courtyard;
And make every torrent gush forth in her meadow,
Its rumbling suffices in place of every downpour.
Its turbulent flow replaces any torrent.
منازلٌdwellings مِنof حبيبٍa beloved كمhow often ظللتI lingered بهاin them
منازلٌ مِن حبيبٍ كم ظللت بها
أجرُّI trail أذيالَhems تيهٍof pride بعدafter أذيالِhems
أجرُّ أذيالَ تيهٍ بعد أذيالِ
Dwellings of a beloved, where so often I lingered,
How many abodes of a loved one have I visited,
Trailing one proud hem after another.
Dragging along the skirts of one lost in error after error.
أطلالruins حيٍّof a tribe عَهِدناهمwe knew them بهنَّin them وياand oh
أطلال حيٍّ عَهِدناهم بهنَّ ويا
لهنَّfor them مِنof traces أرسمٍlay deserted أقوتand ruins v2: already fused. وأطلالِextra
لهنَّ مِن أرسمٍ أقوت وأطلالِ
Ruins of a tribe we once knew there—and oh,
Ruins of a living man we once knew intimately,
What deserted traces and ruins they are!
To whom pertained fine legacies and ruins.
كأنَّas though أحداجَهمtheir camel litters يومon the day النوىof departure سفنships
كأنَّ أحداجَهم يوم النوى سفن
فيin اليمِّthe sea لمّاwhen طفتthey floated فيin زاخرsurging الآلِthe mirage
في اليمِّ لمّا طفت في زاخر الآلِ
Their camel litters on departure day seemed ships,
As though their party one day at eventide were ships
On the sea, as they floated in a surging mirage.
Sailing in a surging sea with billowing waves.
وَفيand among الظعائنthe women in litters ريمٌa gazelle أحورdark-eyed غنجٌcoquettish
وَفي الظعائن ريمٌ أحور غنجٌ
يرميstrikes القلوبَhearts بطرفٍwith a glance منهfrom her قتّالِdeadly
يرمي القلوبَ بطرفٍ منه قتّالِ
Among the women in litters was a dark-eyed, coquettish gazelle,
Among the sand dunes are gazelles, lively, elegant,
She strikes hearts with her deadly glance.
That slay hearts with a mere glance of their slaying eyes.
خاليslender at الموشّحthe waist ماليfull at الردفthe hips راجحهher weighty part
خالي الموشّح مالي الردف راجحه
ياoh حبّhow dear مَلقاهmeeting her منas خالٍone slender ومنand as مالِone full
يا حبّ مَلقاه من خالٍ ومن مالِ
Slender at the waist, full and weighty at the hips;
My imagination is bare of inventiveness, vacant of intimation,
How dear to meet her, slender and full!
Would that the one I met were of imagination and intimation!
ماwhat بالails روحيَmy soul ماnever همّتintended أميمةUmayma بالتof departure (fragment)
ما بال روحيَ ما همّت أميمة بالت
ترحالِdeparture إلّاexcept وقدand already همّتit resolved بترحالِon departure
ترحالِ إلّا وقد همّت بترحالِ
What ails my soul? No sooner does Umayma consider
What ails my soul that it longs to roam aimlessly,
Departure than it has already resolved to depart.
Except that it is inclined towards roaming?
أَسترشدُI seek guidance in الغيَّerror مِنfrom حبّيmy love لهاfor her أبداًalways
أَسترشدُ الغيَّ مِن حبّي لها أبداً
طوراًat times وأستكُّand grow deaf سمعاًin hearing بينَamong عذّالِreproachers
طوراً وأستكُّ سمعاً بينَ عذّالِ
Through my enduring love for her, I seek guidance in error,
I seek guidance from love for her always,
At times, and turn a deaf ear amid reproachers.
Now eastwards, now straining my ears among censors.
إِنif تسلُyou cease to care عنّيabout me وتنسىand forget عهدthe bond ألفتناof our affection
إِن تسلُ عنّي وتنسى عهد ألفتنا
فلستُthen I am not فيin ذاكthat بالناسيforgetful ولاnor السالِone who ceases to love
فلستُ في ذاك بالناسي ولا السالِ
If you cease to care for me and forget our bond of affection,
If she forgets me and forgets our ancient covenant,
I neither forget it nor cease to care.
Then in that I shall not forget or neglect.
غيداءa graceful maiden تهتزّsways فيin بردthe mantle الشبابof youth كماas
غيداء تهتزّ في برد الشباب كما
يهتزُّsways عودa bough النقاof the dune فيin كفِّthe hand مختالِof a swaggerer
يهتزُّ عود النقا في كفِّ مختالِ
A graceful maiden sways in the mantle of youth, as
A slender gazelle quivering in the cold of youth,
A dune-grown bough sways in a swaggerer's hand.
As quivers the bough of the sandalwood in the hand of one who extracts its perfume.
كأنَّas though ريقَتهاher saliva فيin ثغرthe mouth راشفهاof her sipper
كأنَّ ريقَتها في ثغر راشفها
صهباءtawny wine صافيةclear شيبتwas blended بسلسالِwith limpid water
صهباء صافية شيبت بسلسالِ
Her saliva in the mouth of one who sips it seems
As though her spittle in her smiling mouth
Clear tawny wine blended with limpid water.
Were clear white pearls with a chain of pearly teeth.
تقلّshe carries ليلاًnight علىupon بدرِthe moon التمامat fullness علىupon
تقلّ ليلاً على بدرِ التمام على
غصنٍa branch منَof البانthe bān tree فوقabove الدعصthe sand mound ميّالِswaying
غصنٍ منَ البان فوق الدعص ميّالِ
She carries night upon the full moon, upon
She passes the night singing to the full moon rising
A swaying bān-tree bough above a sand mound.
Over a branch of ban wood above the thickets bent sideways.
ماnever آيستdrove to despair مُدنفاًa lovesick man يوماًone day بهجرتهاby her desertion
ما آيست مُدنفاً يوماً بهجرتها
إلّاexcept وقدand already أطمعتshe raised hopes منهin him بإدلالِthrough coyness
إلّا وقد أطمعت منه بإدلالِ
Never has she driven a lovesick man to despair by deserting him,
Never have I despaired of union with her
Without having raised his hopes with her coyness.
But that I hoped for favor and gentleness from her.
تشفيshe heals القلوبَhearts مَتىwhenever شاءتshe wishes وتكلمهاand wounds them
تشفي القلوبَ مَتى شاءت وتكلمها
مِنfrom حيثُwherever شاءَتshe wishes بمعسولٍwith honeyed sweetness وعسّالِand a quivering spear
مِن حيثُ شاءَت بمعسولٍ وعسّالِ
She heals hearts whenever she wishes, and wounds them
She heals hearts whenever she wishes and speaks to them
From wherever she wishes, with honeyed sweetness and a quivering spear.
From wherever she wishes with sweet and bitter words.
ماwhat للزمانِails Time يُرينيit shows me منof عجائبهِits wonders
ما للزمانِ يُريني من عجائبهِ
بدائعاًwonders لمnot أكيّفهاI characterized them بأقوالِin words
بدائعاً لم أكيّفها بأقوالِ
What ails Time, showing me among its marvels
Why does time show me of its marvels
Wonders I have not captured in words?
Such amazing things I cannot describe in words?
رضيتُI accepted بالحكمِthe judgment منهfrom it بعدafter معرفتيmy knowing
رضيتُ بالحكمِ منه بعد معرفتي
بهِof it وصاحبتهُand kept its company فيin زيّthe guise جهّالِof the ignorant
بهِ وصاحبتهُ في زيّ جهّالِ
I accepted its judgment after coming to know
I was content with its judgment after knowing it
It, and kept its company in the guise of the ignorant.
And accompanying it in the guise of ignorance.
مَنwhoever يلبسwears الدهرَTime لوeven if طالتlasts long سلامتهُhis well-being
مَن يلبس الدهرَ لو طالت سلامتهُ
لاno بدَّescape يبلىhe wears out وماwhile not الملبوسُthe garment بالباليworn out
لا بدَّ يبلى وما الملبوسُ بالبالي
Whoever wears Time, however long he remains unharmed,
Whoever wears time, though his safety be prolonged,
Must wear out, while what he wears does not.
Must perish while the worn remains unscathed.
ماhow أنعمpleasant العيشlife فيin الدُنياthe world لساكِنهاfor its inhabitant
ما أنعم العيش في الدُنيا لساكِنها
لَولاwere it not for التقلّبُchange منfrom حالٍone state إِلىto حالِanother state
لَولا التقلّبُ من حالٍ إِلى حالِ
How pleasant life in this world would be for its inhabitant,
How pleasant a life for him who settles in the world,
Were it not for the change from state to state!
Were it not for the fluctuation from state to state!
عرفتI became acquainted بالدهرِwith Time حتّىuntil كدتُI almost أعرفknow ماwhat
عرفت بالدهرِ حتّى كدتُ أعرف ما
يَجريunfolds بهin it قبلbefore أنthat يقضىit is fulfilled بأفعالِin deeds
يَجري به قبل أن يقضى بأفعالِ
I came to know Time so well that I almost knew what
I have come to know time until I almost know
Would unfold within it before it came to pass in deeds.
What runs its course before it fulfills in deeds.
وَقَدand already أحطتI comprehended وحكمُand the decree الغيبِof the unseen مُبتدعٌnewly made
وَقَد أحطت وحكمُ الغيبِ مُبتدعٌ
بأوّلِthe first part الحكمِof the decree علماًin knowledge منهfrom it بالتاليof what follows
بأوّلِ الحكمِ علماً منه بالتالي
And I have grasped—though the unseen's decree is newly made—
I have contemplated the rulings of fate - beginning
The decree's beginning, knowing from it what follows.
With prior knowledge of the subsequent ruling.
وَجلتand I roamed فيin جلبةِthe clamor الأفكارِof thoughts مُختبراًprobing
وَجلت في جلبةِ الأفكارِ مُختبراً
بِخاطرٍwith a mind فيin خفيِّthe hidden part الغيبِof the unseen جوّالِroaming
بِخاطرٍ في خفيِّ الغيبِ جوّالِ
And I roamed through the clamor of thoughts, probing,
I roamed in thought's tumult probing
With a mind roaming through the hidden unseen.
With a mind roaming through what is secret and unseen.
ياO أيُّهاyou الناسpeople مَنwho ليfor me أنto يكونbe أخاًa brother
يا أيُّها الناس مَن لي أن يكون أخاً
أَسعىI strive لهfor him سعيَthe striving أبرارof the righteous ويسعىand he strives ليfor me
أَسعى له سعيَ أبرار ويسعى لي
O people, who will be a brother to me,
O people, who is there for me to befriend
For whom I strive as the righteous do, and who strives for me?
As brothers, each striving for the other?
جرّبتI tested دهريmy time وماand not غادرتُI left تجربةًan experience
جرّبت دهري وما غادرتُ تجربةً
إلّاexcept وَأَدخلتُهاand I included it فيin بعضsome أمثاليof my proverbs
إلّا وَأَدخلتُها في بعض أمثالي
I have tested my time, and left no experience
I have tested my time without omitting a test
Without including it in some of my proverbs.
Except I included it in one of my examples.
فَكَمand how many عَليَّagainst me بماthrough what يجريunfolds القضاءfate بهwith it
فَكَم عَليَّ بما يجري القضاء به
مِنof نعجةٍa ewe فتكتstruck down قسراًby force برئبالِagainst a lion
مِن نعجةٍ فتكت قسراً برئبالِ
How often, to my harm, through what fate decrees,
How many events has fate decreed for me
Has a ewe slain a lion by force!
Like a she-wolf suddenly attacking lambs!
إنّيindeed I ومِنand by Him who خلقcreated الإنسانman منfrom حمأٍdark mud
إنّي ومِن خلق الإنسان من حمأٍ
وَأوصلand joined العصرTime أبكاراًmornings بآصالِto evenings
وَأوصل العصر أبكاراً بآصالِ
Indeed, I swear by Him who created man from dark mud,
Yet from the creation of man from fermented clay
And joined Time's mornings to its evenings:
I continued till old age capped the newborns.
لاnot تقضينّshall surely fulfill مراميmy aims كلّevery ماريةٍwhite oryx
لا تقضينّ مرامي كلّ ماريةٍ
إِنif قدّرordains اللّهGod ليfor me سؤليmy wish وآماليand my hopes
إِن قدّر اللّه لي سؤلي وآمالي
Not every white oryx shall fulfill my aims,
Do not determine, O passerby, all my hopes -
If God grants me my wish and my hopes.
If God has ordained my request and hopes.
يَسموrises الفتىthe young man فيin معاليهhis lofty ranks بهمّتهِthrough his resolve
يَسمو الفتى في معاليه بهمّتهِ
وَسعيهand his striving لاnot بسعيِthrough the striving العمِّof the paternal uncle والخالِand the maternal uncle
وَسعيه لا بسعيِ العمِّ والخالِ
A young man rises to lofty rank through his own resolve
The youth rises in his glories by his resolve
And endeavor, not his paternal or maternal uncle's striving.
And effort - not through another's effort and maternal uncle.
ليI have عزمةٌa resolve دونهاbefore it ينبوrecoils الحسامthe keen sword وليand I have
لي عزمةٌ دونها ينبو الحسام ولي
نفسٌa soul منزّهةfree عنfrom كلّevery بطّالِidler
نفسٌ منزّهة عن كلّ بطّالِ
I have a resolve before which the keen sword recoils, and I have
I have a firm resolve by which swords are unsheathed and I have a spirit
A soul aloof from every idler.
Unblemished by any futile pastime.
لَولاwere it not for المتوّجthe crowned one كهلانKahlan بنson of حافظHafiz ماnot
لَولا المتوّج كهلان بن حافظ ما
عقبتI exchanged منfor حليةthe adornment الميدانof the arena أشكالِfetters
عقبت من حلية الميدان أشكالِ
Were it not for the crowned Kahlan ibn Hafiz, I would not
Had it not been for Ibn Hafiz,
Have exchanged fetters for the arena's adornment.
None would have inherited the forms of fine horsemanship.
وَلاand not بلغتI reached إلىto ماwhat قدindeed حظيتُI gained بهِit
وَلا بلغت إلى ما قد حظيتُ بهِ
منَof المحلِّthe station المنيفeminent السامكِtowering العاليlofty
منَ المحلِّ المنيف السامكِ العالي
Nor reached what I have attained
Nor would I have attained the rank
Of eminent, towering, lofty station.
I have attained - eminent, sublime and high.
أَعلىhe raised محلّيmy standing فيamong العبادِpeople وأَنزلنيand lodged me
أَعلى محلّي في العبادِ وأَنزلني
مَنازلاًstations ماnot سَمتrose قَبليbefore me بنزّالِwith an occupant
مَنازلاً ما سَمت قَبلي بنزّالِ
He raised my standing among people and lodged me
He raised me to the most eminent station among worshippers
In ranks no occupant before me had attained.
And lowered me to degrees none had lowered me before.
ممجّدglorified قَدindeed أحاطتsurrounded فيin ممالكهِhis realms
ممجّد قَد أحاطت في ممالكهِ
بِهِaround him سرداقa pavilion منof فخرٍglory وإِجلالِand reverence
بِهِ سرداق من فخرٍ وإِجلالِ
Glorified, within his realms he is surrounded
Glorified - His dominion encompasses him
By a pavilion of glory and reverence.
With a pavilion of pride and majesty.
يشقُّhe cleaves جيشُthe army الأعاديof enemies غيرnot مدّرعarmored
يشقُّ جيشُ الأعادي غير مدّرع
بكلِّon every أجردsleek steed ساميhigh الجيدof neck صهّالِmuch-neighing
بكلِّ أجرد سامي الجيد صهّالِ
He cleaves the enemy army without armor,
The army of enemies breaks against him without armor
On every sleek, high-necked, loudly neighing steed.
With every polished sword and long-necked steed.
ياO خيرbest مَنof those أرقلتsped يوماًone day بِراكبهاwith her rider
يا خير مَن أرقلت يوماً بِراكبها
إليهِtoward him كلّevery أمونsure الظهرof back مرقالِswift-trotting
إليهِ كلّ أمون الظهر مرقالِ
O best of those to whom, one day, bearing her rider,
O best of those carried one day by her mount -
Every sure-backed, swift-trotting she-camel sped!
To whom every safe bare hill flowed easily!
وَمنand one who تخطّرwalked proudly مُذsince جاءbrought الزمانُTime بهhim forth
وَمن تخطّر مُذ جاء الزمانُ به
منَof المحامدِpraiseworthy deeds فيin بردٍa mantle وسربالِand a tunic
منَ المحامدِ في بردٍ وسربالِ
And who, since Time brought him forth, has walked proudly
And whom time has always boasted of
In a mantle and tunic of praiseworthy deeds.
With praise in prose and verse.
هذاthis is أخوكَyour brother أبوAbu دهمانDahman خيرthe best أخٍbrother
هذا أخوكَ أبو دهمان خير أخٍ
ندبvaliant أخوpossessor of ثقةٍtrust حمّالbearing أثقالِburdens
ندب أخو ثقةٍ حمّال أثقالِ
Here is your brother Abu Dahman, the finest brother,
This is your brother Abu Duhaman, the best brother,
Valiant, trustworthy, a bearer of heavy burdens.
Called upon by a brother shouldering burdens.
يَصبوhe yearns إِلىfor المجدِglory والعلياand loftiness ورغبتهand his desire
يَصبو إِلى المجدِ والعليا ورغبته
فيfor طارفِnewly acquired المجدِglory لاnot فيfor طارفnewly acquired المالِwealth
في طارفِ المجدِ لا في طارف المالِ
He yearns for glory and loftiness, and his desire is
His desire rising to glory and the heights - his inclination
For newly won glory, not newly acquired wealth.
Is to the edge of glory, not to the edge of wealth.
وَقائلand a speaker فاعلdoing ماwhat قالhe said محتسباًseeking God's reward
وَقائل فاعل ما قال محتسباً
فاِحمدهso praise him منas قائلٍa speaker فيamong الناسpeople فعّالِa doer
فاِحمده من قائلٍ في الناس فعّالِ
And a speaker who does what he says, seeking God's reward;
A speaker, a doer of what he says with good intention -
So praise him as a speaker among men who truly acts.
So praise him for being among men both speaker and doer.
فَأنتَfor you أنتyou وإيّاهand him كأنّكماas though you two
فَأنتَ أنت وإيّاه كأنّكما
موسىMoses وهارونand Aaron فيin سعيٍendeavor وآمالِand hopes
موسى وهارون في سعيٍ وآمالِ
For you—you and he—are as though you were
You are you and he is he, as though both of you
Moses and Aaron in endeavor and hopes.
Were Moses and Aaron in effort and hope.
قَدindeed صِرتُماyou two have become فيin اِشتباهresemblance منthrough جلالكماyour majesty
قَد صِرتُما في اِشتباه من جلالكما
بينَamong الورىmankind كاِشتباهlike the resemblance الدالof dāl والذالِand dhāl
بينَ الورى كاِشتباه الدال والذالِ
You two have become so alike in your majesty
You have become - due to your majesty - confused
Among mankind, as dāl and dhāl resemble each other.
Among people like confusing dal and dhal.
وَلتهنَand may you rejoice فيat عيدكyour feast الأضحىof Sacrifice فإنّfor indeed بهِin it
وَلتهنَ في عيدك الأضحى فإنّ بهِ
شَوقاًlonging إِليكfor you فصلهso meet it ناعمtranquil البالِof mind
شَوقاً إِليك فصله ناعم البالِ
And may you rejoice on your Feast of Sacrifice, for it holds
May you have joy on the feast day of al adha
Longing for you; meet it with a tranquil mind.
For longing for you has clad it in fine garb.
وَلمand not يزلcease كلّevery علمbanner ماas long as الزمانTime بقىremains
وَلم يزل كلّ علم ما الزمان بقى
يأتbrings الزمانُTime بإسعادٍwith happiness وإقبالِand good fortune
يأت الزمانُ بإسعادٍ وإقبالِ
And may every banner endure as long as Time remains,
And every science has always accompanied time
With Time bringing happiness and good fortune.
With time coming in good fortune and prosperity.
واِنعَمand enjoy بدولةِa reign عزٍّof glory قدindeed حويتyou gained بهاthrough it
واِنعَم بدولةِ عزٍّ قد حويت بها
ملكاًkingship وافقتyou encountered فيهاin it أيمنthe most auspicious الفالِomen
ملكاً وافقت فيها أيمن الفالِ
And enjoy a reign of glory, through which you have gained
And enjoy a state of honor you have encompassed
Kingship, finding in it the most auspicious omen.
Wherein you have attained leadership and auspicious omen.
واِغفرand forgive ليَme الذنبthe fault فيin تقصيرfalling short مدحكماof praising you both
واِغفر ليَ الذنب في تقصير مدحكما
منone who ليسnot يلهوis distracted عنfrom العلياlofty aims بأشغالِby concerns
من ليس يلهو عن العليا بأشغالِ
And forgive my fault in falling short of praising you both,
And forgive me the sin of falling short in praising you
You who are not distracted from lofty aims by other concerns.
For one whose thoughts are not diverted from the heights by chores!
فَماthen what مَقاليare my words وماand what الموصوفthe one described متّصفis endowed with
فَما مَقالي وما الموصوف متّصف
جلّتare exalted معاليكyour lofty merits عنbeyond قيلٍit was said وعنand beyond قالِhe said
جلّت معاليك عن قيلٍ وعن قالِ
What are my words beside the qualities of the man I describe?
So neither are my words nor is the one described attributed -
Your lofty merits transcend all saying and telling.
Your glories are too lofty for saying and speaking.
قَدindeed جازhas surpassed شأوُكyour reach غاياتthe limits العلاof loftiness وعلاand risen
قَد جاز شأوُك غايات العلا وعلا
فوقَabove المديحِpraise فماso what قولare the words ابنof Ibn شوّالِShawwal
فوقَ المديحِ فما قول ابن شوّالِ
Your reach has passed the furthest bounds of loftiness and risen
Your repute has surpassed the limits of the heights and risen
Above praise—so what are Ibn Shawwal's words?
Beyond praise - so what can the words of Ibn Shawwal avail?
Sol 6.1