كَمhow many شجٍa sorrowful one آلَمَهُpained him لَومُthe reproach of الخَلِيِّthe carefree one
كَم شجٍ آلَمَهُ لَومُ الخَلِيِّ
فَأَبىso he refused الإِصغاءَto listen بِالسَمعِwith the ear الأَبِيِّunyielding
فَأَبى الإِصغاءَ بِالسَمعِ الأَبِيِّ
How many a heartsick lover has been pained by the carefree one’s blame,
How many a grieving lover was pained by the carefree one's reproach,
yet proudly refused to lend an ear.
yet refused to listen with his unyielding ear.
وَالهَوىand love العُذرِيُّchaste (Udhrite) مَنwhoever عُلِّقَهُwas bound to it
وَالهَوى العُذرِيُّ مَن عُلِّقَهُ
لَمnot يَعُدturns away عَنfrom عُذرِهِexcusing him غَيرُanyone but الغَبِيِّthe fool
لَم يَعُد عَن عُذرِهِ غَيرُ الغَبِيِّ
As for chaste ʿUdhrī love—whoever is caught by it,
And chaste love—whoever is bound by it,
none but a fool would reject his excuse.
none but a fool would refuse to excuse him.
ماdo you not تَرىsee دَمعيmy tears عَقيقيّاًagate-red لِماbecause of what
ما تَرى دَمعي عَقيقيّاً لِما
شِمتُهُI glimpsed it مِنof بَرقِthe lightning of ثَغرٍa mouth لُؤلُؤِيِّpearly
شِمتُهُ مِن بَرقِ ثَغرٍ لُؤلُؤِيِّ
Do you not see my tears turned agate-red because of
Do you not see my tears, agate-red, at what
the lightning I glimpsed in a pearly mouth?
I glimpsed of lightning from a pearly mouth?
لَيتَهُif only he جادَbestowed freely بِوَسميِّwith the first rain of اللَمىdusky lips
لَيتَهُ جادَ بِوَسميِّ اللَمى
ليto me وَثَنَّتهُand followed it up الثَناياthe incisors بِالوَلِيِّwith later rain
لي وَثَنَّتهُ الثَنايا بِالوَلِيِّ
Would that his dark lips granted me their first rain,
Would that he bestowed the first rain of his dusky lips
and his incisors followed it with another shower.
on me, and his incisors followed it with later rain.
ثَغرُهُhis mouth ثَغرٌa frontier حَماهُprotected it لَحظُهُhis glance
ثَغرُهُ ثَغرٌ حَماهُ لَحظُهُ
بِشَباwith the edge of سَيفٍa sword جُرازٍkeen-cutting مَشرَفِيِّMashrafi
بِشَبا سَيفٍ جُرازٍ مَشرَفِيِّ
His mouth is a frontier fortress guarded by his glance
His mouth is a frontier defended by his glance
with the keen edge of a cleaving Mashrafī sword.
with the edge of a keen Mashrafi sword.
مُتَشَكٍّcomplaining خَصرُهُhis waist مِنof رِدفِهِhis hips
مُتَشَكٍّ خَصرُهُ مِن رِدفِهِ
ماwhat تَشَكّاهُcomplained of him ضَعيفa weak one مِنof قَوِيِّa strong one
ما تَشَكّاهُ ضَعيف مِن قَوِيِّ
His waist complains beneath his haunches,
His waist complains of his hips,
as the weak complain of the strong.
as a weak one complains of a strong one.
ماnot رَناgazed إِلاexcept رَمىshot at الأَلبابَthe minds مِنfrom
ما رَنا إِلا رَمى الأَلبابَ مِن
لَحظِthe glance of عَينيهِhis two eyes بِسِحرٍwith magic بابِلِيِّBabylonian
لَحظِ عَينيهِ بِسِحرٍ بابِلِيِّ
Whenever he looks, he strikes all minds with
He never gazes without assailing minds
the Babylonian magic in his eyes’ glance.
with Babylonian magic from his eyes' glance.
مِنهُin him أَهوىI love مَلَكاًan angel قَدindeed عادَhas become ليto me
مِنهُ أَهوى مَلَكاً قَد عادَ لي
عاذِليmy reproacher فيهِover him بِشَيطانinto a devil غَوِيِّwayward
عاذِلي فيهِ بِشَيطان غَوِيِّ
In him I adore an angel, while to me
In him I love an angel; yet, to me,
my censor over him has become a wayward devil.
my reproacher over him has become a wayward devil.
فَإِلىso to أَينَwhere مُضيّيmy going عَنaway from هَوىlove for
فَإِلى أَينَ مُضيّي عَن هَوى
ذيone with مُحَيّاa face مُخجِلِputting to shame البَدرِthe full moon المُضِيِّshining
ذي مُحَيّا مُخجِلِ البَدرِ المُضِيِّ
Where, then, can I go, fleeing a passion
Where, then, can I go to escape love for
for one whose radiant face puts the shining moon to shame?
one whose face shames the shining full moon?
غَيرُno بِدعٍwonder ذُلُّthe humiliation of شَهمٍa gallant man باسلٍvaliant
غَيرُ بِدعٍ ذُلُّ شَهمٍ باسلٍ
بَعدafter عزٍhonor فهوَfor he is صَبُّenamored بِصَبِيِّof a youth
بَعد عزٍ فهوَ صَبُّ بِصَبِيِّ
No wonder a bold and valiant man is humbled
It is no wonder that a gallant, valiant man is humbled
after honor: he is madly in love with a youth.
after honor, for he is lovesick for a youth.
أَناI يَعقوبِيُّJacob-like حُزنٍin sorrow فيin هَوىlove with
أَنا يَعقوبِيُّ حُزنٍ في هَوى
رَشَأٍa young gazelle يَسطوoverwhelms بِحُسنٍwith beauty يوسُفِيِّJoseph-like
رَشَأٍ يَسطو بِحُسنٍ يوسُفِيِّ
I am Jacob-like in grief, in love
I am Jacob-like in sorrow, in love with
with a gazelle fawn who attacks with Joseph-like beauty.
a young gazelle who overwhelms with Joseph-like beauty.
صَدَّturned away عَنّيfrom me إِذwhen رَآنيhe saw me مُقتَراًimpoverished
صَدَّ عَنّي إِذ رَآني مُقتَراً
قالَhe said لاnot أَرغَبُI desire إِلاexcept فيin غنيِّa rich man
قالَ لا أَرغَبُ إِلا في غنيِّ
He turned away from me when he saw me destitute,
He turned away from me when he saw me impoverished;
saying, “I desire none but a rich man.”
he said, 'I desire only a rich man.'
فَأَجِرنيso shelter me مُنقِذاًrescuing مِنfrom جورِهِhis tyranny
فَأَجِرني مُنقِذاً مِن جورِهِ
ياO أَباAbu (father of) القاسِمِal-Qasim ياO ابنson of التِنَّبِيِّal-Tinnabi
يا أَبا القاسِمِ يا ابن التِنَّبِيِّ
Grant me refuge—rescue me from his injustice,
So shelter me, rescuing me from his tyranny,
O Abu al-Qasim, O son of al-Tinnabi!
O Abu al-Qasim, O son of al-Tinnabi.
ياO أَباAbu (father of) القاسِمِal-Qasim شَمسِShams (sun of) الدينِal-Din (the faith) ياO
يا أَبا القاسِمِ شَمسِ الدينِ يا
ذاpossessor of الحَياrain الهاميpouring down عَنfrom الوَجهِthe face الحَيِيِّmodest
ذا الحَيا الهامي عَن الوَجهِ الحَيِيِّ
O Abu al-Qasim, Shams al-Din, O
O Abu al-Qasim, Shams al-Din, O
you whose rainlike bounty pours from a modest face!
possessor of rain pouring from a modest face.
لَمnot يَكُنwas فيin الدَهرِall time يَوماًon any day بِالَّذيas one who
لَم يَكُن في الدَهرِ يَوماً بِالَّذي
يَجبَهُrebuffs السُؤّالَthe petitioners بِاللَفظِwith speech البَذِيِّfoul
يَجبَهُ السُؤّالَ بِاللَفظِ البَذِيِّ
Never, for a single day, has he been one
Never, on any day throughout time, was he one who
to confront petitioners with coarse speech.
rebuffed petitioners with foul speech.
زانَكَadorned you الخالِقُthe Creator بِالخُلقِwith character الرَضِيِّpleasing
زانَكَ الخالِقُ بِالخُلقِ الرَضِيِّ
وَبِخَلقٍand with a form بَهَرَdazzled الخَلقَcreation وَضِيِّradiant
وَبِخَلقٍ بَهَرَ الخَلقَ وَضِيِّ
The Creator adorned you with pleasing character,
The Creator adorned you with pleasing character,
and with a radiant form that dazzles all creation;
and with a radiant form that dazzled creation,
وَاِعتِقادٍand a belief سَرَّdelighted صَحبَthe companions of المُصطَفىthe Chosen One
وَاِعتِقادٍ سَرَّ صَحبَ المُصطَفى
وَعَلِيّاًand Ali حَسبُهُenough for him أَيّwhat an عَلِيِّexalted one
وَعَلِيّاً حَسبُهُ أَيّ عَلِيِّ
and with a creed that gladdens the Chosen One’s Companions,
and a belief that delighted the Chosen One's companions
and ʿAli—enough for him that he is ʿAli.
and Ali—he is enough; what an exalted one!
ياoh لَهاfor it مِنof هِمَّةٍaspiration شَمسِيَّةٍsunlike
يا لَها مِن هِمَّةٍ شَمسِيَّةٍ
أَحرَزَتattained أَقصىthe farthest مَدىreach of المَجدِglory القَصِيِّdistant
أَحرَزَت أَقصى مَدى المَجدِ القَصِيِّ
What a sunlike aspiration it is,
What a sunlike aspiration,
attaining the remotest limit of far-reaching glory!
that attained the farthest reach of distant glory!
رَفَعَتraised مِنكَfrom you رَئيساًa leader ماجِداًnoble
رَفَعَت مِنكَ رَئيساً ماجِداً
فيon ذُرىthe peaks of العَلياeminence إِلىto الأُفُقِthe horizon العليِّlofty
في ذُرى العَليا إِلى الأُفُقِ العليِّ
It raised you up as a glorious chief
It raised in you a noble leader
upon sublimity’s peaks, toward the highest horizon.
on the peaks of eminence, up to the lofty horizon.
فَهوَso he يَدعوinvites الجَفلىeveryone to the feast مُحتَفِلاًcelebrating
فَهوَ يَدعو الجَفلى مُحتَفِلاً
جامِعاًbringing together ماwhat بَينَbetween دانٍone near وَقَصِيِّand one far
جامِعاً ما بَينَ دانٍ وَقَصِيِّ
He summons all to an open feast, celebrating,
So he calls everyone to feast, in celebration,
gathering alike the near and the far.
bringing together the near and the far.
مَنwhoever يَرُمseeks إِحصاءَenumeration of ماwhat فيهِin him مِنَof الthe-
مَن يَرُم إِحصاءَ ما فيهِ مِنَ ال
مَجدِglory يُلجَمُis bridled منby يَدِthe hand of العَجزِhelplessness بِعِيِّwith speechlessness
مَجدِ يُلجَمُ من يَدِ العَجزِ بِعِيِّ
Whoever would reckon all the
Whoever seeks to count what is in him of
glory in him is bridled by helplessness into silence.
glory is bridled with speechlessness by helplessness's hand.
عَطَسَتsneezed غيرتُهُhis protective zeal عَنforth from أَنَفِthe disdain of اللَيthe lion (first part)
عَطَسَت غيرتُهُ عَن أَنَفِ اللَي
ثِ(completion of 'lion') مِنfrom أَرنَبَةِthe tip of الأَنفِthe nose الحَمِيِّfiercely proud
ثِ مِن أَرنَبَةِ الأَنفِ الحَمِيِّ
His proud ardor bursts from the nose
His protective zeal sneezed forth a lion's disdain
of a lion—from the tip of that fiercely haughty nose.
from the tip of his fiercely proud nose.
يَبسُطُextends الكَفَّthe hand الَّتيthat تَهميpours down سَخاءًgenerosity
يَبسُطُ الكَفَّ الَّتي تَهمي سَخاءً
إِنif كَباfalters زَندُthe fire-stick of يَدِthe hand of الغَيمِthe cloud السَخِيِّgenerous
إِن كَبا زَندُ يَدِ الغَيمِ السَخِيِّ
He spreads the hand that pours down generosity
He extends the hand that rains generosity
when the generous cloud’s own giving arm falters.
if the fire-stick in the generous cloud's hand falters.
لَكَyou have ذِكرٌrenown طابَbecame sweet فيin العالَمِthe world نَشراًin spreading
لَكَ ذِكرٌ طابَ في العالَمِ نَشراً
فَهوَso it is فيin الناديthe assembly كَعَرفِlike the scent of المَندَلِيِّMandali aloeswood
فَهوَ في النادي كَعَرفِ المَندَلِيِّ
Your fragrant renown has spread sweetly through the world;
Your renown spreads sweetly through the world,
in every gathering it is like the perfume of Mandal aloe.
and in the assembly it is like the scent of Mandali aloeswood.
بِكَthrough you سُكّانُthe inhabitants of دِمَشقَDamascus اِفتَخَرواtook pride
بِكَ سُكّانُ دِمَشقَ اِفتَخَروا
فَخرَwith the pride of عَدنانَAdnan قَديماًlong ago بِالنَبِيِّin the Prophet
فَخرَ عَدنانَ قَديماً بِالنَبِيِّ
Through you the people of Damascus take pride,
Through you the inhabitants of Damascus took pride,
as Adnan anciently took pride in the Prophet.
as Adnan of old took pride in the Prophet.
فُزتَyou won فيin الدَهرِthis life بِمَجدٍwith glory دُنيَوِيِّworldly
فُزتَ في الدَهرِ بِمَجدٍ دُنيَوِيِّ
وَلَدَىand at الحَشرِthe Resurrection gathering بِسَعدٍwith happiness أُخرَوِيِّotherworldly
وَلَدَى الحَشرِ بِسَعدٍ أُخرَوِيِّ
You have won worldly glory in this life,
You have won worldly glory in this life,
and otherworldly happiness at the Resurrection.
and, at the Resurrection, happiness in the hereafter.
فيكَconcerning you هَزَّstirred المَدحُpraise أَعطافَthe flanks of العُلىeminence
فيكَ هَزَّ المَدحُ أَعطافَ العُلى
فَاِشرَأَبَّتso it craned its neck لِكَريمٍtoward a noble man أَريَحِيِّopenhanded
فَاِشرَأَبَّت لِكَريمٍ أَريَحِيِّ
In you, praise made the shoulders of sublimity sway,
Praise of you stirred the flanks of eminence,
and they craned toward a noble, openhanded man.
so it craned its neck toward a noble, openhanded man.
وَالسَلاطينُand the sultans مَنوطٌentrusted أَمرُهاtheir affairs
وَالسَلاطينُ مَنوطٌ أَمرُها
فيكَin you بِالنَدبِto the gallant man الذَكِيِّintelligent الأَلمَعِيِّkeenly discerning
فيكَ بِالنَدبِ الذَكِيِّ الأَلمَعِيِّ
The affairs of sultans are entrusted, in you,
And the sultans' affairs depend
to a resourceful, intelligent, brilliant man.
on you—the gallant, intelligent, discerning man.
هَذِهِthis العَلياءُeminence لاnot مَنone who لَقِيَmeets الGod (first part)
هَذِهِ العَلياءُ لا مَن لَقِيَ ال
لَهَ(completion of 'God') يَومَthe day of الحَشرِthe Resurrection gathering بِالمَسعىwith striving الشَقِيِّwretched
لَهَ يَومَ الحَشرِ بِالمَسعى الشَقِيِّ
This is true loftiness—not that of one who meets
This is eminence, not that of one who meets
God on Resurrection Day after a wretched course.
God on Resurrection Day with wretched striving.
يَتَّقيfears اللَهGod وَهَلand can يَظفَرُwin بِالwith the-
يَتَّقي اللَه وَهَل يَظفَرُ بِال
أمنِsafety منfrom حَرّthe heat of لَظىًblazing fire غَيرُanyone but التَقِيِّthe pious one
أمنِ من حَرّ لَظىً غَيرُ التَقِيِّ
He fears God—and who can ever gain
He fears God; and can anyone attain
safety from the Blaze’s heat but the God-fearing?
safety from the heat of blazing fire but the pious?
كَبَتَhe humbled الأَعداءthe enemies ياO مَنyou who كَبَتَhumbled الthe-
كَبَتَ الأَعداء يا مَن كَبَتَ ال
حاسِدَenvier المَرمِيَّstricken بِالداءِwith the disease الدَوِيِّgrievous
حاسِدَ المَرمِيَّ بِالداءِ الدَوِيِّ
You have abased the enemies, O you who abased the
He humbled the enemies—O you who humbled
envier struck by a grievous, wasting disease.
the envier, afflicted with a grievous disease.
رَحمَةُthe mercy of اللَهِGod عَلىupon قَبرِthe grave of أَبٍa father
رَحمَةُ اللَهِ عَلى قَبرِ أَبٍ
أَنتَyou مِنهُfrom him وَلَهُand for him خَيرُthe best وَصِيِّexecutor
أَنتَ مِنهُ وَلَهُ خَيرُ وَصِيِّ
God’s mercy be upon the grave of a father
God's mercy upon the grave of a father
from whom you spring and whose finest successor you are.
from whom you spring, and whose finest executor you are.
فَلَقَدfor indeed خَلَّفَhe left behind سَمحاًa generous man ماجِداًnoble
فَلَقَد خَلَّفَ سَمحاً ماجِداً
نَحوَهُtoward him تُضرَبُare struck آباطُthe armpits of المَطِيِّthe mounts
نَحوَهُ تُضرَبُ آباطُ المَطِيِّ
For he left behind a generous man of glory
For he left behind a generous, noble man
toward whom the camels are driven hard.
toward whom mounts are urged by blows beneath their forelegs.
هاكَهاtake her بِكراًa virgin عَروساًa bride حُلِّيَتshe was adorned
هاكَها بِكراً عَروساً حُلِّيَت
مِنfrom مَعاليكَyour noble qualities بِأَصنافِwith varieties of الحُلِيِّjewelry
مِن مَعاليكَ بِأَصنافِ الحُلِيِّ
Here—take her, a virgin bride adorned
Take her, a virgin bride, adorned
with every kind of jewel drawn from your lofty qualities.
with every sort of jewelry from your noble qualities.
لَمnot تَكُنwas فيin النَسجِthe weaving ديباجَتُهاher brocade
لَم تَكُن في النَسجِ ديباجَتُها
دونَinferior to ديباجَةِthe brocade of وَشيthe embroidery of البُحترِيِّal-Buhturi
دونَ ديباجَةِ وَشي البُحترِيِّ
In its weaving, her brocade was not
In its weaving, her brocade was not
inferior to the brocade of al-Buhturi’s embroidery.
inferior to the brocade of al-Buhturi's embroidery.
فَاِبقَso live on ماas long as شِئتَyou wish مُبيداًa destroyer لِعَدُوٍّof an enemy
فَاِبقَ ما شِئتَ مُبيداً لِعَدُوٍّ
وَحَسودٍand an envier وَمُفيداًand a benefactor لِوَلِيِّto a friend
وَحَسودٍ وَمُفيداً لِوَلِيِّ
Remain as long as you wish, annihilating every foe
So live on as long as you wish, destroying an enemy
and envier, and bringing benefit to every loyal friend:
and an envier, and benefiting a friend;
نَحرَslaughter of أَعداءٍenemies وَقلبَand the heart of المَوكِبِthe procession الthe-
نَحرَ أَعداءٍ وَقلبَ المَوكِبِ ال
سائِرِmarching الأَسنىmost splendid وَصَدراًand a foremost man لِلنَدِيِّof the assembly
سائِرِ الأَسنى وَصَدراً لِلنَدِيِّ
the breast confronting enemies, the heart of the radiant advancing
the slayer of foes, the heart of the procession
procession, and the foremost of the assembly.
marching in highest splendor, and the foremost man of the assembly.
Sol 6.1