كمhow many دونَbefore مسراكَyour night journey مِنof بيدٍdeserts وأخطارِand dangers
كم دونَ مسراكَ مِن بيدٍ وأخطارِ
ومِنand of أصَمَّsolid-shafted صليبِhard الكعبِthe joint خطّارِswaying
ومِن أصَمَّ صليبِ الكعبِ خطّارِ
How many deserts and dangers lie in the way of your night journey,
How much peril beneath your abode,
And how many solid-shafted, hard-jointed, swaying spears,
And the most deafening clash of Ka'ba's foot.
فيin كفَّthe hand أروعَa fearless man داميbloodied الظُّفْرِthe claw مُنْصَلِتٍrushing forth
في كفَّ أروعَ دامي الظُّفْرِ مُنْصَلِتٍ
رَحْبِbroad الذَّراعِthe arm علىin the face of الأهوالِterrors صبّارِsteadfast
رَحْبِ الذَّراعِ على الأهوالِ صبّارِ
In the hand of a fearless man, bloody-clawed and rushing forth,
In the grasp of the finest of my arms, unsheathing,
Broad-armed, steadfast in the face of terrors,
With broad forearms, steadfast against horrors.
مُشَيَّعٍbold هبواتُswirls النقعِof battle-dust تستُرهveil him
مُشَيَّعٍ هبواتُ النقعِ تستُره
أضحتْhave become لهfor him كعرينِlike the lair الضيغمِof the lion الضاريthe fierce
أضحتْ له كعرينِ الضيغمِ الضاري
Bold, with swirls of battle-dust veiling him;
Attended by gusts of musk, cloaking him,
They have become for him like a fierce lion's lair.
He became like violent southern winds.
حُرًّa noble man يسيرُadvances إلىtoward الحربِwar العوانِrenewed وقدand already
حُرًّ يسيرُ إلى الحربِ العوانِ وقد
أبدتْhas bared نواجذَهاits molars ما(emphasis) بينَamid أحرارِnoble men
أبدتْ نواجذَها ما بينَ أحرارِ
A noble man advances into renewed war, which has
A freeman marching to war and its supporters,
Bared its molars amid noble men,
As their claws emerged among the noble.
حُمْسٍfierce برودُهمُtheir robes الزغَّفُample mail الَّلاصُgleaming اِذاwhen
حُمْسٍ برودُهمُ الزغَّفُ الَّلاصُ اِذا
أمستْhave become برودُthe robes أُناسٍof some people سُحْقَthreadbare أطمارِrags
أمستْ برودُ أُناسٍ سُحْقَ أطمارِ
Fierce men whose robes are ample, gleaming mail, when
Valiant whose coldness is disabling when
Other men's robes have become threadbare rags.
The cold of some became crushed boulders.
يلقىhe meets الأسودَthe lions بآسادٍwith lions غَطارِفَةٍnoble
يلقى الأسودَ بآسادٍ غَطارِفَةٍ
فيin جَحْفَلٍa vast army لَجِبٍclamorous كالسَّيلِlike a torrent جَرّارِvast
في جَحْفَلٍ لَجِبٍ كالسَّيلِ جَرّارِ
He meets lions with noble lions,
He meets the lions with roaring warriors
In a clamorous, vast host like a torrent.
In a lofty, stiff torrent, gushing.
ماnot فيهمُamong them فيin مجالِthe field الكرَّof charging غيرُother than أخيa possessor of
ما فيهمُ في مجالِ الكرَّ غيرُ أخي
بأسٍmight علىon صَهَواتِthe backs الخيلِof horses كرّارِcharging repeatedly
بأسٍ على صَهَواتِ الخيلِ كرّارِ
None among them in the field of charging is anything but a man of
Among them in the field of war, none but my brother,
Might, ever charging on the backs of horses.
With might atop the galloping steeds.
ياO خافقَfluttering القلبِthe heart لمّاwhen شامَit sighted بارقةًa lightning flash
يا خافقَ القلبِ لمّا شامَ بارقةً
فيin حِندسِthe pitch-darkness الليلِof night تبدوappearing ذاتَpossessing أنوارِlights
في حِندسِ الليلِ تبدو ذاتَ أنوارِ
O you whose heart fluttered when it sighted a lightning flash,
O heart that flutters when a lightning flashed
Appearing radiant in the night's pitch-darkness,
In the darkness of night, revealing lights.
لمnot يدرِit knew عنfrom أيَّwhich أرضٍland لاحَshone مومِضُهاits flickering light
لم يدرِ عن أيَّ أرضٍ لاحَ مومِضُها
تحتَbeneath الدُّجُنَّةِthe darkness لمّاwhen لاحَit shone ياO حارِHar
تحتَ الدُّجُنَّةِ لمّا لاحَ يا حارِ
It knew not from what land its flicker shone
It knew not from which land its sparkle gleamed
When it shone beneath the darkness, O Har.
Beneath the gloominess when it shone, O swift one.
شِمْwatch ثغرَthe mouth سُعدىof Su'da فقدfor already حيّاكَhas greeted you بارِقُهُits flash
شِمْ ثغرَ سُعدى فقد حيّاكَ بارِقُهُ
ليلاًby night ودعْand leave عنكَaway from you شَيْمَwatching البارقِthe lightning الساريtraveling by night
ليلاً ودعْ عنكَ شَيْمَ البارقِ الساري
Watch Su'da's mouth: its flash has greeted you
Smell the cheek of Suda, its lightning greeted you
By night; give up watching the night-traveling lightning.
At night, cease your hearing of the flowing lightning.
وعاذلٍand a reproacher قلتُI said لمّاwhen لامنيhe blamed me سَفَهاًfoolishly
وعاذلٍ قلتُ لمّا لامني سَفَهاً
لهto him أتؤثرُdo you seek بالتعنيفِthrough harsh rebuke أِقصاريmy desisting
له أتؤثرُ بالتعنيفِ أِقصاري
And a reproacher—when he foolishly blamed me, I said
And to the blamer when he blamed me foolishly
To him: Do you seek through harsh rebuke to make me desist?
I said: Do you wish by blaming to shorten me?
لاdo not تلْحَنيblame me أنbecause همتْflowed عينايَmy eyes مَنfrom أَسَفٍsorrow
لا تلْحَني أن همتْ عينايَ مَن أَسَفٍ
علىover مرابعِthe springtime haunts أوطانيof my homelands وأوطاريand my desires
على مرابعِ أوطاني وأوطاري
Do not blame me because my eyes streamed with sorrow
Rebuke me not if my eyes grieved
For the springtime haunts of my homeland and my desires.
For the dwellings of my homelands and encampments.
أضحىcame to be الأقاحيُّthe daisies مفتّراًبعرْصَتِهاsmiling in its courtyard
أضحى الأقاحيُّ مفتّراًبعرْصَتِها
لمّاwhen تحدَّرَflowed down فيهاwithin it دمعيَmy tears الجاريstreaming
لمّا تحدَّرَ فيها دمعيَ الجاري
The daisies came to smile in its courtyard
The sides of the valley mocked since my flowing tear
When my streaming tears flowed down within it.
Streamed down within it.
تلكthose الديارُthe dwellings سقىَmay water الوسميُّthe autumn rain ساحتَهاtheir courtyard
تلك الديارُ سقىَ الوسميُّ ساحتَها
مِنfrom جفنِthe eyelid كلَّevery مُلِثَّpersistent القطرِin rain مِدرارِpouring abundantly
مِن جفنِ كلَّ مُلِثَّ القطرِ مِدرارِ
Those dwellings—may the autumn rain water their grounds
That abode which the branded one watered its grounds
From the eyelid of every cloud raining steadily and abundantly.
From the eyelids of every weeping cloud.
منازلٌdwellings كنتُI was أحيانَduring the days الشبابِof youth بهاin them
منازلٌ كنتُ أحيانَ الشبابِ بها
أختالُI strut بينَamong قَماريًّturtledoves وأقمارِand moons
أختالُ بينَ قَماريًّ وأقمارِ
Dwellings where, in the days of youth, I used
Dwellings which I strutted in my youth's days
To strut among turtledoves and moons.
Promenading between gamblers and moons.
أجرُّI trail فضلَthe excess length ذيولِof hems اللهوِof merriment مِنout of مرحٍexuberance
أجرُّ فضلَ ذيولِ اللهوِ مِن مرحٍ
فيin روضةٍa garden أُنُفٍfresh and untouched غَنّاَءlush مِعْطارِfragrant
في روضةٍ أُنُفٍ غَنّاَء مِعْطارِ
Trailing the ample hems of merriment in my exuberance
I dragged the train of frivolity playfully
In a fresh, lush, fragrant garden.
In a grove, melodious, fragrant.
تأرجتْbecame fragrant برياحِwith breezes الوصلِof union ساحتُهاits grounds
تأرجتْ برياحِ الوصلِ ساحتُها
كأنَّماas though فُتَّwas crushed فيهاwithin it فأْرُmusk-pods عطّارِof a perfumer
كأنَّما فُتَّ فيها فأْرُ عطّارِ
Its grounds grew fragrant with the breezes of union,
Its grounds were scented by the winds of union
As though a perfumer's musk-pods had been crushed there.
As if unlocked within it were a perfumer's vase.
فمَنْso who يعيدُwill restore لياليَّmy nights التيwhich سَلَفَتْhave passed
فمَنْ يعيدُ لياليَّ التي سَلَفَتْ
لذيذةًsweet بأُصيحابيwith my dear friends وسُماريand my evening companions
لذيذةً بأُصيحابي وسُماري
Who, then, will restore my nights gone by,
Who will restore for me those bygone nights
Sweet with my dear friends and my evening companions?
That went by delightful with my friends and vigil?
أعدْrepeat حديثَthe tale الهوىof love ياO مَنْyou who يحدَّثُنيtells me
أعدْ حديثَ الهوى يا مَنْ يحدَّثُني
عنهof it ألذَّthe sweetest أحاديثٍtales وأسمارِand evening conversations
عنه ألذَّ أحاديثٍ وأسمارِ
Repeat the tale of love, O you who tell me
Relate to me the tale of love, O you who relates to me
Of it in the sweetest tales and evening conversations.
The sweetest tales and evenings.
ماnot كنتُI was لولاwere it not for نوىseparation الأحبابِof loved ones
ما كنتُ لولا نوى الأحبابِ
ذاhaving شَرَقٍchoking بالدمعِon tears جوّابَa roamer of آفاقٍhorizons وأمصارِand cities
ذا شَرَقٍ بالدمعِ جوّابَ آفاقٍ وأمصارِ
Were it not for the separation of loved ones, I would not be
I would not, were it not for the intent of loved ones,
Choking on tears, roaming horizons and cities.
Have an east with tears responding to horizons and towns.
أحثُّI urge on كلَّevery عَفَرناةٍsturdy she-camel هَمَلَّعَةٍswift
أحثُّ كلَّ عَفَرناةٍ هَمَلَّعَةٍ
مَوّارةٍswaying swiftly وأمونِand reliable السيرِin gait مَوّارِswift-moving
مَوّارةٍ وأمونِ السيرِ مَوّارِ
I urge on every sturdy, swift she-camel,
I spur every fattened, pampered,
Swaying swiftly, and every sure-gaited, swift-moving mount.
Tamed camel, easy to control.
فيin مهمهٍa wilderness قَذَفٍfar-stretching أُمسيI pass evening وأُصبحُand I pass morning فيin
في مهمهٍ قَذَفٍ أُمسي وأُصبحُ في
أرجائِهits reaches حِلْفَan inseparable companion of أقتادٍsaddle-frames وأكوارِand camel-saddles
أرجائِه حِلْفَ أقتادٍ وأكوارِ
In a far-stretching wilderness, I pass evening and morning within
In an endeavor I spend my mornings and evenings wherein
Its reaches, an inseparable companion of saddle-frames and camel-saddles.
Are hosts of friends and comrades.
اِذاwhenever قطعتُI cross بهاon her يَهْماءَa trackless waste مُقْفِرَةٍdesolate
اِذا قطعتُ بها يَهْماءَ مُقْفِرَةٍ
بدتْappear لديَّbefore me موامٍwildernesses ذاتُpossessing أقفارِbarren expanses
بدتْ لديَّ موامٍ ذاتُ أقفارِ
Whenever I cross a desolate, trackless waste on her,
When I crossed with them a desolate wilderness
Wildernesses full of barren expanses appear before me.
It seemed inhabited to me with ruins.
تثنيshe bends الجرانَthe neck's underside إلىtoward المشتاقِthe yearning one شاكيةًcomplaining
تثني الجرانَ إلى المشتاقِ شاكيةً
مُرَدَّداًtorn بينَbetween اِخفاءconcealment واِظهارِand disclosure
مُرَدَّداً بينَ اِخفاء واِظهارِ
She bends her neck toward the yearning rider, complaining,
The sands incline to the longing lover complaining,
Torn between concealment and disclosure.
Concealing and revealing me in turns.
تختبُّshe trots فيهنَّthrough them بيcarrying me كالهَيْقِlike a male ostrich معنِقةًspeeding with outstretched neck
تختبُّ فيهنَّ بي كالهَيْقِ معنِقةً
مِنfrom فوقِهاabove her نضوُone worn thin أزماعٍresolves وأسفارِand journeys
مِن فوقِها نضوُ أزماعٍ وأسفارِ
She trots with me through them, speeding like a male ostrich;
Within them it doubted me like an ailing camel,
On her back rides one worn thin by resolves and journeys.
Above it the descent of integrals and journeys.
مرَّتْshe passed بهwith him فيin عُبابِthe surge الآلِof the mirage سابحةًswimming
مرَّتْ به في عُبابِ الآلِ سابحةً
كأنَّهاas though she منهof it فيin لُجًّdeep waters وتيّارِand a current
كأنَّها منه في لُجًّ وتيّارِ
She carried him onward, swimming in the surge of the mirage,
Past it sailed in the prime of kin, swimming
As though she were in its deep waters and current.
As if it were amidst it in a whirlpool and current.
تنحوshe heads toward الأحبَّةَthe loved ones لمّاwhen أن(emphasis) نأتْwent far away بهمُcarrying them
تنحو الأحبَّةَ لمّا أن نأتْ بهمُ
نُجْبٌfine-bred camels تسابقُshe races منهاamong them كلَّevery طيّارِfleet one
نُجْبٌ تسابقُ منها كلَّ طيّارِ
She heads toward the loved ones, after they were carried far away
It heads towards loved ones when I come with them
By fine-bred camels; she races every fleet one among them.
A flock competing, every flier of them.
نأواthey went far away فلولاso were it not for المنىhopes ماnot عشتُI lived بعدَهمُafter them
نأوا فلولا المنى ما عشتُ بعدَهمُ
وكمand how long أعيشُI live علىon وعدٍa promise وانظارِand postponement
وكم أعيشُ على وعدٍ وانظارِ
They went far away; without hopes, I would not have lived after them.
They went away, and had it not been for wishes I would not have lived after them
And how long shall I live on a promise and postponement?
And how long will I live on a promise and awaiting?
وماand never تدرَّعتُI clad myself أدراعاًcoats of armor مضاعفةًdoubled
وما تدرَّعتُ أدراعاً مضاعفةً
للصبرِfor patience إلاexcept وعفّاهنَّand wore them away تَذكاريmy remembrance
للصبرِ إلا وعفّاهنَّ تَذكاري
Never have I donned doubled coats of armor
I did not arm myself with layered armaments
For patience without my remembrance wearing them away.
Of patience, but reminiscing softened them.
تذكُّراًin remembrance لزمانٍof a time فاتَpassed away فارطُهits earlier days
تذكُّراً لزمانٍ فاتَ فارطُه
وطيبِand the sweetness أوقاتِof the times آصاليof my late afternoons وأسحاريand my predawn hours
وطيبِ أوقاتِ آصالي وأسحاري
Remembering a time whose earlier days have passed,
Remembering a time that went, departing,
And the sweetness of my late afternoons and predawn hours.
And the goodness of my roots and dawns.
قدindeed كانَthere was فيهنَّin them لوif دامتْhad endured بشاشتُهاtheir cheerfulness
قد كانَ فيهنَّ لو دامتْ بشاشتُها
للصبَّfor the lover لذَّةُdelight أسماعٍof hearing وأبصارِand sight
للصبَّ لذَّةُ أسماعٍ وأبصارِ
In them there was—had their cheerfulness endured—
In them, had their vitality persisted,
Delight for the lover's ears and eyes.
The ear would have delighted in sights and visions.
وقفتُI stood فيin الدارِthe dwelling مِنfrom بعدِafter الخليطِthe companions وقدand already
وقفتُ في الدارِ مِن بعدِ الخليطِ وقد
أقوتْwere deserted معاهِدُهاits familiar haunts مِنof ساكنيthe inhabitants الدارِof the dwelling
أقوتْ معاهِدُها مِن ساكني الدارِ
I stood in the dwelling after the companions had left, when
I stood in the abode after the mixed company and its
Its familiar haunts lay empty of the dwelling's inhabitants.
Covenants with its dwellers had perished.
أكفكِفُI hold back الدمعَthe tears خوفَfor fear of الكاشحينَthe ill-wishers علىover
أكفكِفُ الدمعَ خوفَ الكاشحينَ على
مواطنٍhaunts أقفرتْwere emptied منهمْof them وآثارِand traces
مواطنٍ أقفرتْ منهمْ وآثارِ
I hold back tears, for fear of ill-wishers, over
I restrain my tears fearing the perceivers
Haunts emptied of them, and their traces.
In places they evacuated, without marks and traces.
دعنيleave me منfrom اللومِblame ياO مَنْyou who لامنيblamed me سفهاًfoolishly
دعني من اللومِ يا مَنْ لامني سفهاً
فماso what يفيدُكَbenefits you تعنيفيrebuking me وانذاريand warning me
فما يفيدُكَ تعنيفي وانذاري
Leave me free of blame, you who foolishly reproach me;
Leave me from blame, O you who blamed me foolishly
What do rebuking and warning me gain you?
For what benefits you to rebuke and warn me?
الدارُthe dwelling دارُthe dwelling of أحبائيmy loved ones الذينwho مَضَواdeparted
الدارُ دارُ أحبائي الذين مَضَوا
والوجدُand the longing وجديَmy longing والأفكارُand the thoughts أفكاريmy thoughts
والوجدُ وجديَ والأفكارُ أفكاري
The dwelling is the dwelling of my loved ones who have gone;
The abode is that of my loved ones who went away
The longing is mine, and the thoughts are mine.
And my fervor is my fervor, and thoughts my thoughts.
فماso not الوقوفُthe standing إذاwhen استثبتُّI have recognized معلمهاits landmark
فما الوقوفُ إذا استثبتُّ معلمها
عليَّupon me فيat رسمِهاits traces العاريbare مِنَof العارِdisgrace
عليَّ في رسمِها العاري مِنَ العارِ
So standing, once I have recognized its landmark,
So what is this standing when its landmarks that
Amid its bare traces is no disgrace to me.
Bared me of coverings remained upon me?
فكمso how often سكبتُI poured علىupon الأطلالِthe ruins مِنout of كَمَدٍgrief
فكم سكبتُ على الأطلالِ مِن كَمَدٍ
دمعاًtears ألثَّfell incessantly علىupon تربٍdust وأحجارِand stones
دمعاً ألثَّ على تربٍ وأحجارِ
How often, out of grief, have I poured upon the ruins
So how much flowing tears did I pour on the ruins
Tears that fell unceasingly on dust and stones!
Weeping abundantly on soil and pebbles!
وبتُّand I spent the night أرتاحُrejoicing أنthat هبَّتْarose يمانيةٌa Yemeni breeze
وبتُّ أرتاحُ أن هبَّتْ يمانيةٌ
تسريtraveling by night مِنَthrough الليلِthe night فيin بحرٍa sea مِنَof القارِpitch
تسري مِنَ الليلِ في بحرٍ مِنَ القارِ
And I spent the night rejoicing that a Yemeni breeze had risen,
I wished to find rest if a southern wind blew
Moving through the night in a sea of pitch,
Traveling the night in a sea of tar.
لعلَّهاperhaps it عنهمُabout them بالقربِof nearness تُخبِرُنيwill tell me
لعلَّها عنهمُ بالقربِ تُخبِرُني
وأنْand that تُسِرَّgladden بذكرِwith mention of الوصلِreunion أسراريmy inner thoughts
وأنْ تُسِرَّ بذكرِ الوصلِ أسراري
Perhaps telling me that they are near,
Perhaps it may inform me of news of them
And gladdening my inner thoughts with mention of reunion.
And delight me with mentioning the union of my secrets.
آثرتُI preferred عودَهمُtheir return مِنfrom بعدِafter ماthat ذهبواthey departed
آثرتُ عودَهمُ مِن بعدِ ما ذهبوا
ياO بُعدَremoteness مَطْرَحِof the object أهوائيof my desires واِيثاريand my choice
يا بُعدَ مَطْرَحِ أهوائي واِيثاري
I desired their return after they had departed;
I preferred their visitation after they went away
How distant the object of my desires and my choice!
O remoteness from where my passions and preferences lie!
لمnot يبقَremained بعدَafter رحيلِthe departure الحيَّof the tribe مِنof اِضَمٍIdam
لم يبقَ بعدَ رحيلِ الحيَّ مِن اِضَمٍ
اِلاexcept تذكُّرُrecollection أنباءٍof tidings وأخبارِand accounts
اِلا تذكُّرُ أنباءٍ وأخبارِ
After the tribe's departure, nothing remained of Idam
After the living left, nothing remained of longing
Except remembrance of tidings and accounts.
Except remembering news and reports.
مذْsince بانَhe departed بانتْdeparted لذاذاتيmy pleasures وهذَّبَنيand chastened me
مذْ بانَ بانتْ لذاذاتي وهذَّبَني
دهريmy fate وقدَّمتُand I offered دونَinstead of اللهوِmerriment أعذاريmy excuses
دهري وقدَّمتُ دونَ اللهوِ أعذاري
Since he departed, my pleasures departed, and I was chastened
Since they were gone, gone were my bliss and refinement
By my fate; I offered my excuses instead of merriment.
My fate disciplined me, and I presented excuses for amusement.
فليسso there is no ليfor me موئلٌrefuge أنif شفَّنيhas worn me thin وَلَهٌardent longing
فليس لي موئلٌ أن شفَّني وَلَهٌ
اِلاّexcept ترنُّمُthe chanting أغزاليof my love lyrics وأشعاريand my poems
اِلاّ ترنُّمُ أغزالي وأشعاري
I have no refuge, when longing wears me thin,
I have no haven that healed my affliction and worry
Except the chanting of my love lyrics and my verses.
Except the singing of my gazelles and poems.
اذاwhen تناشدَهاrecite them to one another الركبانُthe riders أثملَهمْintoxicates them
اذا تناشدَها الركبانُ أثملَهمْ
لفظٌdiction لأبرعِof the most skillful نظّامٍcomposer of verse ونثّارِand prose-writer
لفظٌ لأبرعِ نظّامٍ ونثّارِ
When riders recite them to one another, they are intoxicated
When the caravan vied in reciting them, the words
By the diction of the most skillful composer of verse and prose.
Burdened them, of the most eloquent composer and strewer.
فمَنْso who يساجِلُنيwill rival me فيهاin them وأينَand whence لهfor him
فمَنْ يساجِلُني فيها وأينَ له
منهاfrom them عذوبةُthe sweetness اِبراديmy dispatching واِصداريand my sending forth
منها عذوبةُ اِبرادي واِصداري
Who, then, will rival me in them, and whence could he gain
So who rivals me in them? Where is for him in them
Their sweetness as I dispatch and send them forth?
The sweetness of my writing and reciting?
فكمso how many خناذيذِthoroughbreds أشعارٍof poetry سبقتُهمُI outstripped them
فكم خناذيذِ أشعارٍ سبقتُهمُ
سبقَthe outstripping الجوادِof a noble steed بهاwith them فيin كلَّevery مضمارِracecourse
سبقَ الجوادِ بها في كلَّ مضمارِ
How many thoroughbreds of verse have I outstripped,
So how many songbirds of poetry I preceded,
With these poems, as a noble steed leads on every racecourse!
Preceding them in it in every field.
بارَواthey vied with قريضيmy verse فبارُواso they were ruined بالذيthrough what نظمتْcomposed
بارَوا قريضي فبارُوا بالذي نظمتْ
قرائحيmy poetic gifts مِنof كلامٍspeech غيرِnot خوّارِfeeble
قرائحي مِن كلامٍ غيرِ خوّارِ
They rivaled my verse, but were ruined by what was composed
They probed my rhymed prose so they probed what
By my poetic gifts: language free of weakness.
My instinct composed of peerless speech.
ذابواthey melted لديهِbefore it كماas ذابmelted الرَّصاصُlead اِذاwhen
ذابوا لديهِ كما ذاب الرَّصاصُ اِذا
رفَّعتَهyou raised it حينَwhen تبلوهyou assay it علىover النارِthe fire
رفَّعتَه حينَ تبلوه على النارِ
They melted before it, just as lead melts when
They melted before it as lead melts when
You raise it above the fire to assay it.
You raise it when you test it over the fire.
مِنfrom أينَwhere للغابطِيْfor those envying فضليmy excellence واِنْeven if كَثُرواthey are numerous
مِن أينَ للغابطِيْ فضلي واِنْ كَثُروا
كمثلِthe like of عُونيmy matrons إذاwhen تُجلىare unveiled وأبكاريand my virgins
كمثلِ عُوني إذا تُجلى وأبكاري
Whence could those who envy my excellence, however numerous,
Whence is the excellence of the ignorant over me, numerous as they are,
Find the like of my matrons, when unveiled, and my virgins?
Like my help when it appears and dawns?
تُجلىare unveiled فتشغِفُهْمso enthrall them منهاof them بدائعُهاtheir marvels
تُجلى فتشغِفُهْم منها بدائعُها
حسناًin beauty واِنْand even if جَهِلواthey are ignorant of علميmy learning ومقداريand my worth
حسناً واِنْ جَهِلوا علمي ومقداري
They are unveiled, and their marvels enthrall those men
It appears and their souls crave its wonders,
With their beauty, though they know neither my learning nor my worth.
Beauteous even if they know not my knowledge and worth.
فُيذعِنونَso they submit إذاwhen ما(emphasis) هزَّهمstirs them غزليmy love verse
فُيذعِنونَ إذا ما هزَّهم غزلي
هزَّthe stirring النسيمِof the breeze فروعَthe branches البانِof moringa والغارِand laurel
هزَّ النسيمِ فروعَ البانِ والغارِ
So they submit whenever my love verse stirs them,
They acquiesce when my love verse shakes them
As the breeze stirs the branches of moringa and laurel.
As the breeze shakes the branches of acacia and caves.
Sol 6.1