دَعِleave الحِمىthe protected pasture وَلَياليand the nights الضالِthe wild lote trees وَالعَلَمِand al-'Alam
دَعِ الحِمى وَلَيالي الضالِ وَالعَلَمِ
وَعَدِّand turn aside عَنfrom ذِكرِremembering أَيّامٍdays عَلىbeside إِضَمِIdam
وَعَدِّ عَن ذِكرِ أَيّامٍ عَلى إِضَمِ
Leave the protected pasture, and the nights by the wild lote trees and al-'Alam.
Leave the yearning, the nights of wandering lost, forget
And turn from recalling days beside Idam.
The days gone by, do not dwell on memories past,
وَلاand do not تَقُلsay حَبَّذاhow lovely! نَجدٌNajd وَساكِنُهُand its inhabitant
وَلا تَقُل حَبَّذا نَجدٌ وَساكِنُهُ
وَلاand do not تُعَرِّجturn aside عَلىto سَلمىSalma بِذيat Dhu سَلَمِSalam
وَلا تُعَرِّج عَلى سَلمى بِذي سَلَمِ
Do not say, “How lovely are Najd and its inhabitant!”
Speak not in praise of Nejd and those who dwell there,
And do not turn aside to Salma at Dhu Salam.
Pay no visit to me, in this abode forlorn.
قَدكَenough for you! اِتَّئِبbe measured ماnot بَناتُthe maidens of العُربِthe Arabs إِنeven if زُهِيَتthey are proud
قَدكَ اِتَّئِب ما بَناتُ العُربِ إِن زُهِيَت
بِالحُسنِin beauty مِثلَlike بَناتِthe maidens of التُركِthe Turks وَالعَجَمِand the Persians
بِالحُسنِ مِثلَ بَناتِ التُركِ وَالعَجَمِ
Enough—be measured! Arab maidens, though they glory
The daughters of the Arabs, for all their beauty famed,
in beauty, are no match for the maidens of Turks and Persians.
Are less fair than the daughters of Turks and Persians acclaimed,
مِنamong كُلِّevery مُرتَجَّةِquivering الأَردافِthe buttocks لَيِّنَةِsupple الthe (continued)
مِن كُلِّ مُرتَجَّةِ الأَردافِ لَيِّنَةِ ال
أَعطافِlimbs مَمدوحَةِpraised for الأَخلاقِcharacter وَالشِيَمِand dispositions
أَعطافِ مَمدوحَةِ الأَخلاقِ وَالشِيَمِ
Each with quivering buttocks, supple of
Lovely of figure, gentle in their ways, virtuous in deed,
limb, praised for her character and disposition.
Each a supple sapling, swaying with womanly charm.
تُريكَshe shows you مِنin وَجهِهاher face وَالفَرعِand the tresses حاسِرَةًuncovering
تُريكَ مِن وَجهِها وَالفَرعِ حاسِرَةً
قِناعَهاher veil الشَمسَthe sun فيin داجٍa dark expanse مِنَof الظُّلَمِthe darkness
قِناعَها الشَمسَ في داجٍ مِنَ الظُّلَمِ
In her face and tresses she shows you, lifting
A glimpse of her face or arm through her mantle's folds
her veil, the sun amid deep darkness.
Is like the sun in a tent of darkest night enclosed.
تَهُزُّshe sways منfrom قَدِّهاher stature فيin الحِقفِthe sand dune رُمحَa spear of قَناًreed
تَهُزُّ من قَدِّها في الحِقفِ رُمحَ قَناً
كَمhow much ليfor me بِطَعناتِهِfrom its thrusts فيin القَلبِthe heart مِنof أَلَمِpain
كَم لي بِطَعناتِهِ في القَلبِ مِن أَلَمِ
She sways the reed spear of her figure amid a sand dune;
Her swaying form stirs desire in my heart for love untold,
how much pain its thrusts have brought my heart!
And many the wounds those darting glances have caused my soul.
هيفُslender الخُصورِthe waists نَقِيّاتُclean الثُغورِthe teeth يُطَرthey tint the tips (continued)
هيفُ الخُصورِ نَقِيّاتُ الثُغورِ يُطَر
رِفنَ(completes 'they tint the tips') الأَصابِعَthe fingers بِالعُنّابِwith jujube-red وَالعَنَمِand 'anam-red
رِفنَ الأَصابِعَ بِالعُنّابِ وَالعَنَمِ
Slender-waisted, clean-toothed, they tint
Slender of waist, pure of heart, singing a graceful song,
their fingertips with the red of jujubes and 'anam fruit.
Plucking the strings of the lute, fingers dancing along,
إِنَّindeed العُيونَthe eyes الَّتيwhose ضاقَتare narrow مَحاجِرُهاtheir sockets
إِنَّ العُيونَ الَّتي ضاقَت مَحاجِرُها
أَمضىmore piercing مِنَthan النُجلِthe wide eyes فيin قَتليkilling me وَسَفكِand shedding دَميmy blood
أَمضى مِنَ النُجلِ في قَتلي وَسَفكِ دَمي
The eyes whose sockets are narrow
Eyes whose lids are narrow have slain me without remorse,
are deadlier than wide ones in slaying me and shedding my blood.
And nothing so surely will bring about my death before its course.
وَلِلأَغالِقِand for slender shafts حُكمٌa power فيin التَغَلغُلِdeep penetration لاnot
وَلِلأَغالِقِ حُكمٌ في التَغَلغُلِ لا
يَنالُهُattains it ناسِجٌa broad weapon (sense uncertain) بِالعَرضِwith breadth وَالعِظَمِand bulk
يَنالُهُ ناسِجٌ بِالعَرضِ وَالعِظَمِ
And slender shafts have a power of penetration that
Lips whose movements are hard to decipher or understand
no broad, massive weapon can attain.
Surpass in judgment the ablest writer's pen or hand,
لاdo not تَبكِweep فيin الحَيِّthe encampment إِثرَafter الظاعِنينَthose moving away أَسىًin grief
لا تَبكِ في الحَيِّ إِثرَ الظاعِنينَ أَسىً
بِعَرصَةٍin a clearing دُمِنَتwas dung-soiled بِالشاءِby sheep وَالنَعَمِand livestock
بِعَرصَةٍ دُمِنَت بِالشاءِ وَالنَعَمِ
Do not weep in the encampment, grieving after those who moved away,
Shed no tears for me amongst the living when I am gone,
in a clearing dung-soiled by sheep and livestock.
At a campsite with sheep and goats bleating all day long.
وَقِفand reserve عَلىبانياسَfor Baniyas الشُكرَgratitude إِنَّindeed بِهاin it
وَقِف عَلىبانياسَ الشُكرَ إِنَّ بِها
مَسعوداًMas'ud بنَson of حُسامِHusam (sword) الدينِal-Din (the Faith) ذاpossessed of الكَرَمِgenerosity
مَسعوداً بنَ حُسامِ الدينِ ذا الكَرَمِ
Reserve your thanks for Baniyas, for there is
Make for the towers of thankfulness, if there you stand,
Mas'ud, son of Husam al-Din, the generous.
Mas'ud ibn Husam ad-Din, generous of hand,
مِنهُfrom him بِهاin it كَعبَةُa Kaaba of الإِحسانِbenevolence طافَcircled بِهاaround it الthe (continued)
مِنهُ بِها كَعبَةُ الإِحسانِ طافَ بِها ال
عُفاةُseekers of bounty تطوافَthe circling of وَفدِpilgrims to البَيتِthe House وَالحَرَمِand the Sanctuary
عُفاةُ تطوافَ وَفدِ البَيتِ وَالحَرَمِ
Through him, a Kaaba of benevolence stands there, circled by
A sanctuary of kindness it is, where noble guests throng,
seekers of bounty as pilgrims circle the House and Sanctuary.
Like pilgrims circling the Kaaba, beloved and sanctified.
لاِبنِfor Ibn (son of) البِشارَةِal-Bishara (glad tidings) سَعدِSa'd (good fortune) الدينِal-Din (the Faith) فَيضُan overflow of نَدىًbounty
لاِبنِ البِشارَةِ سَعدِ الدينِ فَيضُ نَدىً
بِهِwith it يَمُدُّhe extends يَداًa hand تُغنيmakes one independent عَنِof الدِيَمِthe steady rains
بِهِ يَمُدُّ يَداً تُغني عَنِ الدِيَمِ
Ibn al-Bishara, Sa'd al-Din, has a flood of bounty;
For Sa'd ad-Din, Ibn al-Bishara, may his glory spread,
with it he extends a hand that makes steady rains needless.
With open hand that enriches and leaves no soul unfed.
يَدٌa hand أَنامِلُهاits fingertips تُهديbestow الفَخارَglory إِلىupon الthe (continued)
يَدٌ أَنامِلُها تُهدي الفَخارَ إِلى ال
عِنانِreins وَالسَيفِand the sword وَالقِرطاسِand the paper وَالقَلَمِand the pen
عِنانِ وَالسَيفِ وَالقِرطاسِ وَالقَلَمِ
A hand whose fingers bestow glory upon
His fingers can make swords, reins, paper and pens obey,
the reins, the sword, the paper, and the pen.
As warrior his standards are raised where armies clash in bloody fray.
ماnot زالَceased فيin الحَربِwar مَعقوداًfastened لَهُfor him عَلَمٌa banner
ما زالَ في الحَربِ مَعقوداً لَهُ عَلَمٌ
وَالنَصرُand victory يَخدِمُهُserves him فيat مَعقَدِthe fastening-place of العَلَمِthe banner
وَالنَصرُ يَخدِمُهُ في مَعقَدِ العَلَمِ
In war, a banner has ever been fastened for him,
Raids against the foe in multitudes he has led,
and victory serves him where the banner is fastened.
Putting many to the sword, making captives of women and babes instead,
كَمhow many غارَةٍa raid فيagainst الأَعاديthe enemies شَنَّهاhe launched it فَدَهَتand it devastated
كَم غارَةٍ في الأَعادي شَنَّها فَدَهَت
بِالقَتلِwith slaughter وَالسَبيِand captivity وَالأَطفالِand the children وَالحُرَمِand the womenfolk
بِالقَتلِ وَالسَبيِ وَالأَطفالِ وَالحُرَمِ
How many raids he has launched against his foes, striking
If he met a lion in battle, midst the raging attack,
with slaughter and captivity, children and women alike!
The lion would turn and flee, showing him only its back.
لَوif بارَزَhe dueled with اللَيثَthe lion فيon يَومِthe day of الهياجِbattle لَوَلit would surely flee (continued)
لَو بارَزَ اللَيثَ في يَومِ الهياجِ لَوَل
لَى(completes 'flee') اللَيثُthe lion يَمنَحُهُshowing him أَكتافَthe shoulders of مُنهَزِمِone defeated
لَى اللَيثُ يَمنَحُهُ أَكتافَ مُنهَزِمِ
If he dueled with a lion on the day of battle, then
A true lion in might, the sun reflects his armor's sheen,
the lion would flee, showing him a defeated foe's back.
A star gives him courage, his sword like a flame is keen.
لَيثٌa lion تَريكَتُهُhis helmet شَمسٌa sun وَلَهذَمُهُand his sharp spear
لَيثٌ تَريكَتُهُ شَمسٌ وَلَهذَمُهُ
نَجمٌa star وَصارِمُهُand his cutting sword نارٌa fire عَلىupon عَلَمِa hilltop
نَجمٌ وَصارِمُهُ نارٌ عَلى عَلَمِ
A lion: his helmet is a sun, and his spear
His coat of mail like locusts' wings all aquiver does gleam,
a star; his cutting sword, a fire upon a hilltop.
His blade like the rising star falls heavy, its edge is supreme.
وَدِرعُهُand his coat of mail مِثلُlike أَحداقِthe eyes of الجَرادِlocusts عُيوits eyelets (continued)
وَدِرعُهُ مِثلُ أَحداقِ الجَرادِ عُيو
نُها(completes 'its eyelets') تَرَقرَقُshimmer ماءًwith water غَيرَnot مُنسَجِمِflowing
نُها تَرَقرَقُ ماءً غَيرَ مُنسَجِمِ
His coat of mail is like locusts' eyes; its
When I stumbled, he lifted me up from the fall I feared,
eyelets shimmer with water that never flows.
Never would he cast me down, though disaster seemed near.
وَطِرفُهُand his steed أَعوَجِيٌّof A'waj's stock لَوif تُسابِقُهُwere to race him
وَطِرفُهُ أَعوَجِيٌّ لَو تُسابِقُهُ
ريحُthe wind of الجَنوبِthe south كَبتwould stumble كَالظالِعِlike a lame one الحَطِمِbroken-down
ريحُ الجَنوبِ كَبت كَالظالِعِ الحَطِمِ
His steed is of A'waj's stock; were he raced by
I thank him, my gratitude flows like Zuhair did extol,
the south wind, it would stumble like a lame, broken beast.
His fame and renown in verse and song of old.
هُوَhe الَّذيwho اِنتاشَنيrescued me مِنfrom عَثرَةٍa stumble كَرَبَتnearly
هُوَ الَّذي اِنتاشَني مِن عَثرَةٍ كَرَبَت
حاشاهُfar be it from him! يَصرَعُنيfells me مِنthrough زلَّةِa slip of القَدَمِthe foot
حاشاهُ يَصرَعُني مِن زلَّةِ القَدَمِ
He is the one who lifted me from a stumble that nearly
Ever aspiring to glory, delivering the helpless in their need,
—far be it from him!—felled me through a slip of the foot.
Rescuing from oblivion, this is his way and creed.
كَأَنَّنيas though I وَهوَand he فيin شُكريmy thanking مَواهِبَهُhis gifts
كَأَنَّني وَهوَ في شُكري مَواهِبَهُ
عِنديin my view زُهَيرٌZuhayr وَقَدand had أَثنىpraised عَلىupon هَرِمِHarim
عِندي زُهَيرٌ وَقَد أَثنى عَلى هَرِمِ
As I thank him for his gifts, he and I seem
The mention of his father's name brings a smile to his face,
to me like Zuhayr when he praised Harim.
Without him, but for God, I'd be weak and abased.
مُنافِسٌa rival فيin اِكتِسابِacquiring المَجدِglory دَيدَنُهُhis habitual practice
مُنافِسٌ في اِكتِسابِ المَجدِ دَيدَنُهُ
فَكاكُfreeing عانٍa captive وَإِنقاذٌand rescuing مِنَfrom العَدَمِdestitution
فَكاكُ عانٍ وَإِنقاذٌ مِنَ العَدَمِ
A rival in the pursuit of glory, his constant practice is
Long may he live in power, honor, joy and health,
freeing captives and rescuing people from destitution.
Blessed with bounty and grace, comfort and wealth.
مِنfrom بِشرِهِhis good cheer يَتَلَقّىhe receives بِاِسمِin the name of والِدِهِhis father
مِن بِشرِهِ يَتَلَقّى بِاِسمِ والِدِهِ
مَنwhoever يَعتَفيهseeks his bounty بِثَغرٍwith a mouth مِنهُof his مُبتَسِمِsmiling
مَن يَعتَفيه بِثَغرٍ مِنهُ مُبتَسِمِ
In his good cheer, bearing out his father's name, he greets
The best of gifts he sends me, ten camels proud and fine,
whoever seeks his bounty with smiling lips.
Their sculpted saddles a marvel, embroidered with artful design.
لَولاwere it not for أَياديهِhis favors بَعدَafter اللهِGod تدرِكُنيreaching me
لَولا أَياديهِ بَعدَ اللهِ تدرِكُني
لَكُنتُI would have been مُستَضعَفاًdefenseless لَحماًflesh عَلَىupon وَضَمِa meat-board
لَكُنتُ مُستَضعَفاً لَحماً عَلَى وَضَمِ
Had his favors not reached me, after God's aid,
I would have been defenseless flesh upon a butcher's board.
فَعاشَso may he live ماas long as شاءَhe wishes فيin عِزٍّhonor وَمَقدِرَةٍand power
فَعاشَ ما شاءَ في عِزٍّ وَمَقدِرَةٍ
وَغِبطَةٍand happiness وَسُرورٍand joy دائِمِenduring in النِّعَمِblessings
وَغِبطَةٍ وَسُرورٍ دائِمِ النِّعَمِ
So may he live as long as he wishes in honor and power,
in happiness and joy, with enduring blessings.
وافانِيَcame to me البِرُّgoodness وَهوَand it is البُرُّwheat يَحمِلُهُcarrying it
وافانِيَ البِرُّ وَهوَ البُرُّ يَحمِلُهُ
عَشرٌten مِنَof الإِبِلِthe camels الوَخّادَةِlong-striding الرُسُمِswift-trotting
عَشرٌ مِنَ الإِبِلِ الوَخّادَةِ الرُسُمِ
Goodness reached me—and it was wheat, carried by
ten long-striding, swift-trotting camels.
Partial English translation: 48 of 54 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1