أبثُّكَI confide in you ماwhat بيails me أمor كفاكَhas sufficed you نحوليmy wasting
أبثُّكَ ما بي أم كفاكَ نحولي
ففيهfor in it علىconcerning وجديmy passion أتَمُّthe fullest دليلِproof
ففيه على وجدي أتَمُّ دليلِ
Shall I confide what ails me to you, or is my wasting enough for you?
I confide in you what is within me, is that enough for you?
For in it lies the fullest proof of my passion.
In it, to my passion is the clearest proof,
يُخبَّرُis reported عماabout what فيin الضمائرِthe inner hearts صادقاًtruthfully
يُخبَّرُ عما في الضمائرِ صادقاً
بغيرِwithout كلامٍspeech لاnot يُفيدُbenefits طويلِlengthy
بغيرِ كلامٍ لا يُفيدُ طويلِ
What lies in hearts is truthfully reported,
Truthfully informing what is in the consciences,
Without lengthy speech that offers no benefit.
without prolonged words that are of no benefit.
ومذand since نَمَّbetrayed فرطُthe excess السُّقمِof sickness عنهabout him بحالهِof his condition
ومذ نَمَّ فرطُ السُّقمِ عنه بحالهِ
تَرَفَّعَhe rose above عنbeyond واشٍa tale-bearer بهagainst him وعذولِand a reprover
تَرَفَّعَ عن واشٍ به وعذولِ
And since extreme sickness betrayed his condition,
And since the excess of sickness has left him in his state,
He rose above those who inform against him and reproach him.
he has risen above the reproacher and blamer.
فياso, O أهلَpeople of ودَّيmy affection كيفَhow حلَّلتمُdid you deem lawful النوىseparation
فيا أهلَ ودَّي كيفَ حلَّلتمُ النوى
أمِنْwas it from خوفِfear of مالٍwealth (uncertain here) فيin الغرامِlove وقيلِand gossip
أمِنْ خوفِ مالٍ في الغرامِ وقيلِ
O people of my affection, how did you deem separation lawful?
So O people of my affection, how have you found it lawful
Was it for fear of [wealth?] in love, and of gossip?
to sever the bond, out of fear of wealth and it was said out of love?
مللتُمْyou grew weary of هوًىlove ماnot أنat all (emphasis) مللتُdid I tire of عذابَهُits torment
مللتُمْ هوًى ما أن مللتُ عذابَهُ
علىdespite أنthe fact that ماthere is no فيamong الغيدِgraceful beauties غيرُany but ملولِa fickle one
على أن ما في الغيدِ غيرُ ملولِ
You tired of a love whose torment I never tired of,
You have tired of an infatuation that I have not tired of its torment,
Though among graceful beauties there is none but the fickle.
even though there is nothing permanent in love.
وخلَّفتمونيand you left me behind فيin الديارِthe dwellings وبنتمُand you departed
وخلَّفتموني في الديارِ وبنتمُ
بطرفٍwith an eye علىover باليthe worn remains of الديارِthe dwellings هَمولِstreaming with tears
بطرفٍ على بالي الديارِ هَمولِ
And you left me behind in the dwellings and departed,
And you left me in the dwellings and moved on
With an eye streaming over the dwellings' worn remains.
with a glance that stirred up thoughts in my mind.
وتندوand flow دموعيmy tears والدموعُand tears بواعثٌstirrers of
وتندو دموعي والدموعُ بواعثٌ
دواعيthe promptings of الأسىsorrow مِنof زفرةٍa sigh وعويلِand wailing
دواعي الأسى مِن زفرةٍ وعويلِ
My tears flow, and tears awaken
And my tears flow, and tears are the inspirations
The promptings of sorrow—sighs and wailing.
of the causes of sorrow, from sighing and wailing.
وألفىand found شجاعُthe serpent of البينِseparation منّيin me تجلداًsteadfastness
وألفى شجاعُ البينِ منّي تجلداً
بصبرٍwith patience علىunder حكمِthe decree of الغرامِlove ذليلِhumbled
بصبرٍ على حكمِ الغرامِ ذليلِ
And the serpent of separation found steadfastness in me,
And the hardy of separation found endurance in me
In patience humbled beneath love's decree.
with patience upon the decree of humiliating passion.
فماso what حيلتيis my recourse ماthere is no فيamong الأحبَّةِthe beloved راحمٌmerciful one
فما حيلتي ما في الأحبَّةِ راحمٌ
ولاnor فيamong رجالِthe men of الوجدِpassion غيرُany but جهولِa fool
ولا في رجالِ الوجدِ غيرُ جهولِ
What recourse have I? None among the beloved shows mercy,
So what is my strategy, for there is none among the loved ones who have mercy,
Nor among passion's men is there any but a fool.
nor among the passionate people anyone but the ignorant.
وكمand how many لهمthey have فيin كلَّevery ربعٍdwelling ومنزلٍand abode
وكم لهم في كلَّ ربعٍ ومنزلٍ
حليفَيْtwo allies of هوًىlove مِنconsisting of قاتلٍa slayer وقتيلِand one slain
حليفَيْ هوًى مِن قاتلٍ وقتيلِ
How many they have in every dwelling and abode—
And for them in every land and dwelling,
Pairs bound to love: a slayer and one slain.
they have a confidant of passion, from a killer and a killed one.
ولمّاand when جَزَعناwe crossed الجِزعَthe valley bend قلتُI said لناقتيto my she-camel
ولمّا جَزَعنا الجِزعَ قلتُ لناقتي
الىtoward دارِthe dwelling of ليلىLayla بالأجارعِat al-Ajariʿ (sandy tracts) ميليturn
الى دارِ ليلى بالأجارعِ ميلي
When we crossed the valley bend, I told my she-camel:
And when we despaired, I said to my she-camel,
Turn toward Layla's dwelling at al-Ajariʿ.
"To Layla's abode, turn my side."
تُراحَيْyou may find rest مِنfrom الاراقلِswift trotting (uncertain form) فيthrough كلَّevery مهمهٍtrackless wilderness
تُراحَيْ مِن الاراقلِ في كلَّ مهمهٍ
وهَجْلٍand an open plain إلىtoward سكانِهاits inhabitants وذميلِand brisk pacing
وهَجْلٍ إلى سكانِها وذميلِ
You may rest from swift trotting through every wilderness
She trots lightly over the gravel plains in every undertaking
And open plain; turn to its dwellers, and rest from brisk pacing.
and the neighing to its inhabitants and tribe.
مِنَone of الهوجِthe headlong she-camels لمdid not تغلْsuccumb واِنْeven if كظَّهاoverburdened her السُّرىnight travel
مِنَ الهوجِ لم تغلْ واِنْ كظَّها السُّرى
الىtoward كلَّevery حيًّencampment نازحٍdistant وقبيلِand tribe
الى كلَّ حيًّ نازحٍ وقبيلِ
One of the headlong camels, she never succumbed, though night travel burdened her,
She did not waver from the love even as homesickness burdened her
Toward every distant encampment and tribe.
to every living soul, emigrant and tribe.
اِذاwhen هالَهاappalled her الاِدلاجُnight journeying والخرقُand the vast wilderness لمnot تُرَعْshe was frightened
اِذا هالَها الاِدلاجُ والخرقُ لم تُرَعْ
واِنْeven if سمعتْshe heard للموتِof death كلَّevery أليلِmoan
واِنْ سمعتْ للموتِ كلَّ أليلِ
When night travel and the vast waste appalled her, she did not flinch,
When the darkness and tear overcast her, she was not afraid
Even if she heard death's every moan.
even if she heard the sounds of death and perishing.
تَغُذُّshe hastens بذيwith one possessed of وجدٍpassion براهُwore him away علىamid النوىseparation
تَغُذُّ بذي وجدٍ براهُ على النوى
نوازعُthe urges of شوقٍlonging فيwithin الفؤادِthe heart دخيلِdeep-rooted
نوازعُ شوقٍ في الفؤادِ دخيلِ
She hastens with a lover whom, amid separation,
She feeds upon a love for Layla that is manifest in her moan
The stirrings of longing deep in his heart have wasted.
the pangs of longing in the heart of the afflicted.
فمَنْso who لأخِfor the brother of الوجدِpassion العليلِthe ailing one علىamid النوىseparation
فمَنْ لأخِ الوجدِ العليلِ على النوى
بقربِwith the nearness of مزارٍa visit أوor بِبَلَّwith the quenching of غليلِburning thirst
بقربِ مزارٍ أو بِبَلَّ غليلِ
Who, then, will aid passion's ailing brother amid separation,
So who is there for the sickly lover's brother
With a visit close at hand, or the quenching of his burning thirst?
near the sanctuary or with some medicine?
معنًّىtormented بأغصانِby the branches of القدودِthe figures رشيقةًslender
معنًّى بأغصانِ القدودِ رشيقةً
كبانِlike the bān trees of الحِمىthe protected grounds فيin دِقَّةٍslenderness وذبولِand drooping
كبانِ الحِمى في دِقَّةٍ وذبولِ
Tormented by the slender branches of their figures,
Engrossed am I with the delicate tree branches
Like bān trees in the protected grounds, slender and drooping.
like the cheeks of the beloved in frailty and withering.
يُرنَّحُهاrocks them سكرُthe intoxication of الصَّباthe east wind فيُميلُهاand sways them
يُرنَّحُها سكرُ الصَّبا فيُميلُها
دلالاًcoquettishly علىdespite العلاّتِshortcomings كلَّevery مَمِيلِinclination
دلالاً على العلاّتِ كلَّ مَمِيلِ
The east wind's drunkenness rocks and sways them,
The drunkenness of the morning breeze makes it sway
Coyly, despite all faults, in every direction.
bending gently as evidence of the malady of every bending branch.
ولمّاand when وقفناwe stood للوَداعِfor farewell اِشارةًa signal
ولمّا وقفنا للوَداعِ اِشارةً
بطرفٍwith an eye مِنَfrom السَّجفِthe curtain الخفيَّhidden كحيلِkohl-darkened
بطرفٍ مِنَ السَّجفِ الخفيَّ كحيلِ
And when we stood to bid farewell, signaling
And when we stopped for farewell, with a glance
With a kohl-darkened eye from behind the hidden curtain,
of the eyelids, furtive like kohl.
وقدand already عنَّappeared مِنfrom سربِthe flock of الغوانيbeauties ربابٌgazelles
وقد عنَّ مِن سربِ الغواني ربابٌ
سنحنَthey crossed from left to right لناbefore us فيin مَرْبَعٍa spring pasture ومَقيلِand a midday resting-place
سنحنَ لنا في مَرْبَعٍ ومَقيلِ
And gazelles had appeared from the flock of beauties,
There came from a flock of gazelles a wild one
Crossing to our right in spring pasture and midday resting-place,
that gave us opportunity in the meadow and rest stop.
وقفتُI stood فلمbut did not أملِكْrestrain بوادرَthe first rush of عبرةٍa tear
وقفتُ فلم أملِكْ بوادرَ عبرةٍ
تَسُحُّpouring علىover ربعٍa dwelling لهنَّof theirs مَحيلِdesolate
تَسُحُّ على ربعٍ لهنَّ مَحيلِ
I stood, unable to restrain the first rush of tears
I stood but could not hold back the onset of tears
Pouring over their desolate dwelling.
that flow over a cheek that has for them a tilting place.
وماand not الدمعُtears إلاexcept للفراقِfor parting فيهاthere بأهلِهاwith its people
وما الدمعُ إلا للفراقِ فيها بأهلِها
وعهدَand the days of الصَّباyouth فيin بُكْرَةٍearly morning وأصيلِand late afternoon
وعهدَ الصَّبا في بُكْرَةٍ وأصيلِ
The tears are only for parting there with its people,
And tears are only for parting with them in it and its people
And for youth's bygone days, morning and late afternoon.
and the era of youth at dawn and evening.
اِذاwhen بَعُدَare far الأحبابُthe loved ones عنّيfrom me ولمand do not أجدْI find
اِذا بَعُدَ الأحبابُ عنّي ولم أجدْ
رسولاًa messenger اليهمْto them فالنسيمُthen the breeze رسوليis my messenger
رسولاً اليهمْ فالنسيمُ رسولي
When my loved ones are far from me and I find no
When friends are far from me and I do not find
Messenger to them, the breeze is my messenger.
a messenger to them, so the breeze is my messenger.
أسائلُI inquire عنهمْabout them كلَّevery ريحٍwind تنسَّمتْthat breathed gently
أسائلُ عنهمْ كلَّ ريحٍ تنسَّمتْ
عليَّupon me ضُحًىat midmorning مِنfrom شمأَلٍa north wind وقَبُولِand an east wind
عليَّ ضُحًى مِن شمأَلٍ وقَبُولِ
For news of them I question every wind that breathes
I ask about them every wind that blows
Upon me at midmorning, north wind or east wind.
upon me at dawn from the north and south.
فياso, O حبذاhow lovely ذاكَthat الزمانُtime الذيwhich مضىhas passed
فيا حبذا ذاكَ الزمانُ الذي مضى
حميداًpraiseworthy باِلْفٍwith a beloved companion يُرتضىwho is pleasing وخليلِand an intimate friend
حميداً باِلْفٍ يُرتضى وخليلِ
How lovely was that time that passed,
Oh, excellent is that time now gone
Praiseworthy, with a cherished companion and intimate friend.
commendably with a harmony to be approved and a friend.
زماناًa time تقضَّىthat passed away ماnot رأيناهُdid we see it سامناit dealt us
زماناً تقضَّى ما رأيناهُ سامنا
علىdespite ولَعٍardent attachment فيin الدهرِthe world غيرَanything but جميلِgood
على ولَعٍ في الدهرِ غيرَ جميلِ
A time gone by—we never saw it deal us,
A time we spent in happiness not seeing
Despite ardent passion in this world, anything but kindness.
the capriciousness of fate as ugly.
صَحِبْناwe accompanied بهduring it تلكَthose الغوانيbeauties أوانساًcompanionable
صَحِبْنا به تلكَ الغواني أوانساً
الىinto ظِلَّthe shade of عيشٍlife للشبابِof youth ظليلِdeeply shaded
الى ظِلَّ عيشٍ للشبابِ ظليلِ
In it we accompanied those companionable beauties
We accompanied those gazelles as companions
Into the deep, sheltering shade of youthful life.
to the shade of a life for the youth shaded.
سأمدحُI shall praise ذيّاكَthat very الزمانَtime بمِقْولٍwith a tongue
سأمدحُ ذيّاكَ الزمانَ بمِقْولٍ
يُريكَshows you لسانَthe tongue of الشعرِpoetry غيرَnot كليلِblunted
يُريكَ لسانَ الشعرِ غيرَ كليلِ
I shall praise that very time with a tongue
I will praise that time of yours with words
That shows you poetry's tongue is not blunted,
that show poetry's tongue to be unfailing.
بمدحٍwith praise إذاwhen فاهَutter الرواةُthe reciters بهit غداًtomorrow
بمدحٍ إذا فاهَ الرواةُ به غداً
قليلٌlittle مديحيis my praise وهوyet it is غيرُnot قليلِlittle
قليلٌ مديحي وهو غيرُ قليلِ
With praise that, when reciters voice it tomorrow,
With praise, if narrators relate it tomorrow,
Is little, this praise of mine—yet it is not little.
little will be my praise yet it is no little thing.
علىdespite أنthe fact that أهلَthe practitioners of الشَّعرِpoetry امْسَواbecame by evening وأصبحواand became by morning
على أن أهلَ الشَّعرِ امْسَوا وأصبحوا
كثيراًnumerous وماand not فيamong الأكثرينَthe many عديليis my equal
كثيراً وما في الأكثرينَ عديلي
Though the poets have become, by night and by day,
Even though the people of poetry have become
Numerous, none among the many is my equal.
many, and among the many there is no equivalent.
Sol 6.1