دَعِLeave aside الذَميلَthe brisk amble إِلىtoward الغاياتِthe goals وَالرَتَكاand the trot
دَعِ الذَميلَ إِلى الغاياتِ وَالرَتَكا
ماذاwhat الطِلابُthe pursuit أَتَرجوdo you hope بَعدَهاafter it دَرَكاattainment
ماذا الطِلابُ أَتَرجو بَعدَها دَرَكا
Leave aside the brisk amble toward the goals, and the trot.
What is this pursuit for? Do you hope for attainment after it?
ماwhat ليfor me أُكَلِّفُهاI make her endure التَهجيرَmidday travel دائِبَةًtoiling ceaselessly
ما لي أُكَلِّفُها التَهجيرَ دائِبَةً
عَلىdespite الوَجىsore hooves وَقِوامُwhile the mainstay الدينِof religion قَدalready هَلَكاhas perished
عَلى الوَجى وَقِوامُ الدينِ قَد هَلَكا
Why do I make her endure midday travel, toiling ceaselessly,
despite sore hooves, when the mainstay of religion has perished?
حُلَّLoosen الغُروضَthe girths فَلاfor there is no دارٌabode مُلائِمَةٌcongenial
حُلَّ الغُروضَ فَلا دارٌ مُلائِمَةٌ
وَلاnor مَزورٌsomeone visited إِذاwhen لاقَيتَهُyou meet him ضَحِكاhe smiles
وَلا مَزورٌ إِذا لاقَيتَهُ ضَحِكا
Loosen the girths: no abode is congenial,
nor is there anyone to visit who smiles when you meet him.
أَمسىhe has come to يُقَوِّضُdismantle عَنّاfrom us العِزَّthe honor خَلَّفَهُhe left it behind
أَمسى يُقَوِّضُ عَنّا العِزَّ خَلَّفَهُ
وَثَوَّرَand roused المَجدَglory عَنّاaway from us بَعدَماafter بَرَكاit had knelt
وَثَوَّرَ المَجدَ عَنّا بَعدَما بَرَكا
He now uproots from us the honor he left behind,
and roused glory away from us after it had knelt.
اليَومَtoday صَرَّحَتِbecame manifest الجُلّىthe great calamity وَقَدand already تَرَكَتit has left
اليَومَ صَرَّحَتِ الجُلّى وَقَد تَرَكَت
بَينَbetween الرَجاءِhope وَبَينَand between اليَأسِdespair مُعتَرَكاa battleground
بَينَ الرَجاءِ وَبَينَ اليَأسِ مُعتَرَكا
Today the great calamity has revealed itself, having left
a battleground between hope and despair.
تَمَثَّلَappeared الخَطبُthe calamity مَظنوناًconjectured لِتالِفِهِto its doomed victim
تَمَثَّلَ الخَطبُ مَظنوناً لِتالِفِهِ
فَسَوفَso will نَلقاهُwe meet it مَوجوداًreal وَمُدَّرَكاand apprehended
فَسَوفَ نَلقاهُ مَوجوداً وَمُدَّرَكا
The calamity appeared as a conjecture to its doomed victim;
so we shall meet it as real and fully apprehended.
رَزيئَةٌa calamity لَمdid not تَدَعspare شَمساًa sun وَلاnor قَمَراًa moon
رَزيئَةٌ لَم تَدَع شَمساً وَلا قَمَراً
وَلاnor غَماماًa cloud وَلاnor نَجماًa star وَلاnor فَلَكاa celestial sphere
وَلا غَماماً وَلا نَجماً وَلا فَلَكا
A calamity that spared neither sun nor moon,
nor cloud, nor star, nor celestial sphere.
لَوif كانَit were يُقبَلُaccepted مِنfor مَفقودِهاits lost one عِوَضٌa substitute
لَو كانَ يُقبَلُ مِن مَفقودِها عِوَضٌ
لَأَنفَقَwould have spent المَجدُglory فيهاon it كُلَّall ماthat مَلَكاit possessed
لَأَنفَقَ المَجدُ فيها كُلَّ ما مَلَكا
Had a substitute for the one it took been acceptable,
glory would have spent on it all it possessed.
قَدalready أُدهِشَwas stunned المُلكُsovereignty قَبلَbefore اليَومِtoday مِنfrom حَذَرٍdread
قَد أُدهِشَ المُلكُ قَبلَ اليَومِ مِن حَذَرٍ
وَإِنَّماbut only اليَومَtoday أَذرىit shed دَمعَهُits tears وَبَكىand wept
وَإِنَّما اليَومَ أَذرى دَمعَهُ وَبَكى
Sovereignty was stunned before today by dread,
but only today did it shed its tears and weep.
أَمسىit has become بِهاthrough it عاطِلاًunadorned مِنfrom بَعدِafter حِليَتِهِits adornment
أَمسى بِها عاطِلاً مِن بَعدِ حِليَتِهِ
وَهادِماًand demolishing مِنfrom بِناءِthe edifice المَجدِof glory ماwhat سَمَكاit raised high
وَهادِماً مِن بِناءِ المَجدِ ما سَمَكا
It now stands stripped by it of its former adornment,
and demolishes what it raised of glory's edifice.
مَنwho لِلجِيادِfor the steeds مَراعيهاtheir pastures شَكائِمُهاtheir bits
مَن لِلجِيادِ مَراعيها شَكائِمُها
يَحمِلنَthey carry شَوكَthe thorns القَناof spears اللَذّاعَstinging وَالشَكَكاand armor
يَحمِلنَ شَوكَ القَنا اللَذّاعَ وَالشَكَكا
Who now for the steeds whose pastures are their bits,
bearing the stinging thorns of spears and armor,
يَطاhe treads بِهاwith them تَحتَbeneath أَطرافِthe tips القَناof spears زَلِقاًslippery ground
يَطا بِها تَحتَ أَطرافِ القَنا زَلِقاً
مِنَwith الدِماءِblood وَمِنand of هامِthe heads العِداof foes نَبَكاmounds
مِنَ الدِماءِ وَمِن هامِ العِدا نَبَكا
to tread with them beneath spearpoints over ground slippery
with blood, and over mounds of enemy heads?
مَنwho لِلظُبىfor the blades يَختَليmows زَرعَthe crop الرِقابِof necks بِهاwith them
مَن لِلظُبى يَختَلي زَرعَ الرِقابِ بِها
حُكمَby the judgment القَصاقِصِof mighty lions لاno عَقلٌblood-money لِماfor what سَفَكاhe spilled
حُكمَ القَصاقِصِ لا عَقلٌ لِما سَفَكا
Who will wield the blades to mow with them the crop of necks,
by the judgment of mighty lions—no blood-price for what he sheds?
مَنwho لِلقَناfor the spears جَعَلَتmade أَيديthe hands فَوارِسِهِof his horsemen
مَن لِلقَنا جَعَلَت أَيدي فَوارِسِهِ
مِنَfrom القُلوبِhearts لَهاfor them الأَطواقَnecklaces وَالمَسَكاand bracelets
مِنَ القُلوبِ لَها الأَطواقَ وَالمَسَكا
Who now for the spears, for which his horsemen's hands made
necklaces and bracelets from hearts?
مَنwho لِلأُسودِfor the lions نَهاهاrestrained them عَنfrom مَطاعِمِهاtheir prey
مَن لِلأُسودِ نَهاها عَن مَطاعِمِها
فَكَمand how often رَدَدناwe reclaimed فَريساًa victim بَعدَماafter اِنتُهِكاit was ravaged
فَكَم رَدَدنا فَريساً بَعدَما اِنتُهِكا
Who will restrain the lions from their prey?
How often we reclaimed a victim after it had been ravaged!
مَنwho لِلعَزائِمِfor resolves وَالآراءِand counsels يُطلِعُهاraises them
مَن لِلعَزائِمِ وَالآراءِ يُطلِعُها
مَطالِعَrising-places البيضِof bright swords يَجلوdispels ضَوءُهاtheir light الحَلَكاthe darkness
مَطالِعَ البيضِ يَجلو ضَوءُها الحَلَكا
Who now for resolves and counsels, to raise them
where bright swords rise, their light dispelling darkness?
مَنwho لِلرَقاقِfor the frail إِذاwhen أَشفَتthey verge عَلىon عَطَبٍruin
مَن لِلرَقاقِ إِذا أَشفَت عَلى عَطَبٍ
يَغدوcomes forth لَهاto them بُلَغاًsustenance بِالطَولِthrough bounty أَوor مُسَكاsupport
يَغدو لَها بُلَغاً بِالطَولِ أَو مُسَكا
Who now for the frail when they verge on ruin,
to bring them sustenance through bounty, or support?
مَنwho لِلخُطوبِfor calamities يُنَجّيrescues مِنfrom مَخالِبِهاtheir claws
مَن لِلخُطوبِ يُنَجّي مِن مَخالِبِها
وَيَنزِعُand wrenches out الظُفرَthe talon مِنهاfrom them كُلَّماwhenever سَدِكاit fastens
وَيَنزِعُ الظُفرَ مِنها كُلَّما سَدِكا
Who now for calamities, to rescue us from their claws,
and wrench out their talon whenever it fastens?
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa people أَخَذواthey claimed الفُضلىthe highest excellence فَماand did not تَرَكواleave
مِن مَعشَرٍ أَخَذوا الفُضلى فَما تَرَكوا
مِنهاof it لِمَنfor whoever يَطلُبُseeks العَلياءَthe heights مُتَّرَكاanything left
مِنها لِمَن يَطلُبُ العَلياءَ مُتَّرَكا
From a people who claimed the highest excellence, leaving
no share of it for anyone aspiring to the heights.
قَدّواfashioned مِنَfrom البيضِbright swords خَلقاًin physique وَالحَياand rain خُلُقاًin character
قَدّوا مِنَ البيضِ خَلقاً وَالحَيا خُلُقاً
عيصاًa thicket أَلَفَّdense بِعيصِwith the thicket المَجدِof glory فَاِشتَبَكاand so intertwined
عيصاً أَلَفَّ بِعيصِ المَجدِ فَاِشتَبَكا
Hewn from bright swords in physique, and from rain in character,
a dense thicket joined to glory's thicket and intertwined.
لَوif أَنَّهُمthat they طُبِعواwere cast لَمwould not تَرضَbe content with أَوجُهُهُمtheir faces
لَو أَنَّهُم طُبِعوا لَم تَرضَ أَوجُهُهُم
دَرارِيَthe brilliant stars اللَيلِof night لَوeven if كانَتthey were لَهاfor them سِلَكاstrands
دَرارِيَ اللَيلِ لَو كانَت لَها سِلَكا
Were they cast, their faces would not be content with
night's brilliant stars, even if these were strands for them.
هُمthey أَبدَعواoriginated المَجدَglory لاnot أَنthat كانَwas أَوَّلُهُمtheir forefather
هُم أَبدَعوا المَجدَ لا أَن كانَ أَوَّلُهُم
رَأىsaw مِنَof الجِدِّearnest striving فِعلاًa deed قَبلَهُbefore him فَحَكىand copied it
رَأى مِنَ الجِدِّ فِعلاً قَبلَهُ فَحَكى
They originated glory; it was not that their forefather
had seen a deed of earnest striving before him and copied it.
الراكِبينَthe riders ظُهوراًbacks قَلَّماrarely رُكِبَتwere ridden
الراكِبينَ ظُهوراً قَلَّما رُكِبَت
وَالمالِكينَand the masters عِناناًa rein قَلَّماrarely مُلِكاwas mastered
وَالمالِكينَ عِناناً قَلَّما مُلِكا
Riders on backs that were seldom ridden,
and masters of a rein seldom mastered.
هَيهاتَfar from it لاno longer أُلبِسَbe fitted الأَعداءُthe enemies بَعدَهُمُafter them
هَيهاتَ لا أُلبِسَ الأَعداءُ بَعدَهُمُ
يَومَon the day الجِراءِof contest لِجاماًa bridle يَقرَعُstrikes الحَنَكاthe palate
يَومَ الجِراءِ لِجاماً يَقرَعُ الحَنَكا
Alas! After them, the enemies will no longer be fitted,
on the day of contest, with a bridle that strikes the palate.
وَلاnor أُريحَتbe brought home at evening عَلىto العَلياءِthe heights حافِلَةٌa full-uddered she-camel
وَلا أُريحَت عَلى العَلياءِ حافِلَةٌ
لَهاshe has سَنامٌa hump مِنَfrom الإِجمامِrest قَدalready تَمَكاgrown tall
لَها سَنامٌ مِنَ الإِجمامِ قَد تَمَكا
Nor will a full-uddered she-camel be brought home to the heights,
whose hump has grown tall through rest.
ياO صَفقَةًa bargain مِنfrom بَياعٍa seller كُلُّهاall of it غَرَرٌrisk
يا صَفقَةً مِن بَياعٍ كُلُّها غَرَرٌ
مِنwho ضامِنٍa guarantor لِلعُلىfor glory مِنfrom بَعدِهاafter it الدَرَكاrecovery
مِن ضامِنٍ لِلعُلى مِن بَعدِها الدَرَكا
O bargain struck by a seller, wholly fraught with risk!
Who will guarantee glory its recovery after it?
خَلاwas left alone لَهاthrough it كُلُّevery ذِئبٍwolf مَعwith أَكيلَتِهِits prey
خَلا لَها كُلُّ ذِئبٍ مَع أَكيلَتِهِ
مِنof واقِعٍa fallen one طارَflew أَوor مِنof عاجِزٍa helpless one فَتَكاslaughtered
مِن واقِعٍ طارَ أَو مِن عاجِزٍ فَتَكا
Through it, every wolf has been left alone with its prey,
whether one fallen that now flies, or one once helpless that now slays.
المَوتُdeath أَخبَثُmore wicked مِنthan أَنto يَرتَضيaccept أَبَداًever
المَوتُ أَخبَثُ مِن أَن يَرتَضي أَبَداً
لاneither سوقَةًa commoner بَدَلاًas a substitute مِنهُfor him وَلاnor مَلِكاa king
لا سوقَةً بَدَلاً مِنهُ وَلا مَلِكا
Death is too wicked ever to accept
either a commoner in his stead or a king.
كَالعِلقِlike a treasure وَالعِلقِand a treasure لَوif خُيِّرتَyou were given a choice بَينَهُماbetween them
كَالعِلقِ وَالعِلقِ لَو خُيِّرتَ بَينَهُما
لَمwould not تَرضَbe content بِالدونِwith the lesser يَوماًever أَنthat يَكونَit be لَكاyours
لَم تَرضَ بِالدونِ يَوماً أَن يَكونَ لَكا
Like one treasure and another—were you given a choice between them,
you would never consent to have the lesser as yours.
راقٍone who ascends تَفَرَّدَwas peerless بِالإِحسانِin beneficence يَفرَعُهاscales its summit
راقٍ تَفَرَّدَ بِالإِحسانِ يَفرَعُها
وَزايَدَand vied with النَجمَthe star فيin العَلياءِloftiness وَاِشتَرَكاand both shared
وَزايَدَ النَجمَ في العَلياءِ وَاِشتَرَكا
One who ascends, peerless in beneficence, surmounting the heights,
and vied with the star in loftiness, which the two shared.
اللَينُgentleness يُمطيكَgives you mounts مِنfrom أَخلاقِهِhis character ذُلُلاًdocile ones
اللَينُ يُمطيكَ مِن أَخلاقِهِ ذُلُلاً
وَالضَيمُand oppression يُخرِجُbrings out مِنهُfrom him الآبِيَthe defiant المَعِكاthe obstinate
وَالضَيمُ يُخرِجُ مِنهُ الآبِيَ المَعِكا
Gentleness gives you docile mounts among his traits,
and oppression brings out in him the defiant, unyielding one.
غَمرُlavish العَطِيَّةِin giving لاnot يُبقيspares عَلىupon نَشَبٍwealth
غَمرُ العَطِيَّةِ لا يُبقي عَلى نَشَبٍ
وَإِنand even if رَأىhe sees قُلَّبِيَّresourceful الرَأيِin judgment مُحتَنِكاseasoned
وَإِن رَأى قُلَّبِيَّ الرَأيِ مُحتَنِكا
Lavish in giving, he spares none of his wealth,
even if he sees a shrewd, seasoned thinker.
لاdo not تَتبَعواfollow فيin المَساعيendeavors غَيرَany but أَخمَصِهِhis sole
لا تَتبَعوا في المَساعي غَيرَ أَخمَصِهِ
فَأَخصَرُfor the shortest الطُرقِof paths فيto العَلياءِthe heights ماwhat سَلَكاhe took
فَأَخصَرُ الطُرقِ في العَلياءِ ما سَلَكا
In your endeavors, follow no footprint but his,
for the shortest route to the heights is the one he took.
ماnot مِثلُthe like of قَبرِكَyour grave يُستَسقىis entreated for rain الغَمامُthe cloud لَهُfor it
ما مِثلُ قَبرِكَ يُستَسقى الغَمامُ لَهُ
وَكَيفَand how يَسقيwaters القُطارُrain النازِلَfalling الفَلَكاthe celestial sphere
وَكَيفَ يَسقي القُطارُ النازِلَ الفَلَكا
No cloud is asked to rain upon a grave like yours;
and how can falling rain water the celestial sphere?
لاmay not يُبعِدِsend far away اللَهُGod أَقواماًa people رُزِئتُهُمُI was bereaved of them
لا يُبعِدِ اللَهُ أَقواماً رُزِئتُهُمُ
لَوif ثَلَّمواchipped away مِنfrom جُنوبِthe flanks الطَودِof the mountain لَاِنتُهِكاit would be shattered
لَو ثَلَّموا مِن جُنوبِ الطَودِ لَاِنتُهِكا
May God not send far away the people I have lost;
had they been chipped from a mountain's flanks, it would have been shattered.
فَقَدتُهُمI lost them مِثلَlike فَقدِthe loss العَينِof the eye ناظِرَهاits pupil
فَقَدتُهُم مِثلَ فَقدِ العَينِ ناظِرَها
يُبكىis wept for عَلَيهاfor it بِهاwith it ياO طولَthe length ذاكَthat بُكاweeping
يُبكى عَلَيها بِها يا طولَ ذاكَ بُكا
I lost them as the eye loses its pupil;
it is wept for with itself—O how long that weeping lasts!
إِذاwhenever رَجاhopes القَلبُthe heart أَنthat يُنسيهِmakes it forget غُصَّتَهُits choking grief
إِذا رَجا القَلبُ أَن يُنسيهِ غُصَّتَهُ
ماwhat يُحدِثُbrings about الدَهرُtime أَدمىbloodies قَرحَهُits wound وَنَكاand aggravates it
ما يُحدِثُ الدَهرُ أَدمى قَرحَهُ وَنَكا
Whenever the heart hopes to be made to forget its choking grief by
what time brings, that bloodies its wound and deepens the hurt.
إِنif يَأخُذِtakes المَوتُdeath مِنّاfrom us مَنthose whom نَضَنُّwe are loath to part بِهِwith him
إِن يَأخُذِ المَوتُ مِنّا مَن نَضَنُّ بِهِ
فَماso not نُباليwe care بِمَنabout whom بَقّىit spared وَمَنand whom تَرَكاit left behind
فَما نُبالي بِمَن بَقّى وَمَن تَرَكا
If death takes from us those we cannot bear to lose,
we care not whom it spares or whom it leaves behind.
إِنّيindeed I أَرىsee القَلبَthe heart يَنزوleaping لِاِدَّكارِهِمُat remembering them
إِنّي أَرى القَلبَ يَنزو لِاِدَّكارِهِمُ
نَزوَthe leap القَطاطَةِof a sandgrouse مَدّواthey spread فَوقَهاabove her الشَرَكاthe snare
نَزوَ القَطاطَةِ مَدّوا فَوقَها الشَرَكا
Indeed, I see the heart leap at their remembrance,
like a sandgrouse leaping as they spread the snare above her.
لاnot تُبصِرُyou see الدَهرَtime بَعدَafter اليَومِtoday مُبتَسِماًsmiling
لا تُبصِرُ الدَهرَ بَعدَ اليَومِ مُبتَسِماً
إِنَّindeed اللَيالِيَthe nights أَنسَتmade forget بَعدَهُafter him الضَحِكاlaughter
إِنَّ اللَيالِيَ أَنسَت بَعدَهُ الضَحِكا
You will not see time smiling after today;
indeed, the nights have made us forget laughter after him.
Sol 6.1