عَجِبتُI marveled مِنَat الأَيامِthe days إِنجازَهاtheir fulfilling وَعديmy promise
عَجِبتُ مِنَ الأَيامِ إِنجازَها وَعدي
وَتَقريبَهاand their bringing near ماwhat كانَhad been مِنّيfrom me عَلىat بُعدِa distance
وَتَقريبَها ما كانَ مِنّي عَلى بُعدِ
I marveled at the days fulfilling my promise,
and bringing near what had been far from me.
وَإِنَّand indeed اللَياليthe nights مُذsince لَبِستُI donned رِداءَهاtheir cloak
وَإِنَّ اللَيالي مُذ لَبِستُ رِداءَها
تُحاذِرُfear مِنfrom حَدّيmy edge فَتَزريand so disparage عَلىupon جَدّيmy fortune
تُحاذِرُ مِن حَدّي فَتَزري عَلى جَدّي
And indeed the nights, since I donned their cloak,
fear my edge, and so belittle my fortune.
وَليand I have إِنif يَطُلgrows long عُمريmy life مَعَwith الدَهرِtime وَقفَةٌa stand
وَلي إِن يَطُل عُمري مَعَ الدَهرِ وَقفَةٌ
تُذَلِّلُsubdues أَحداثَthe calamities of الزَمانِtime لِمَنfor those بَعديafter me
تُذَلِّلُ أَحداثَ الزَمانِ لِمَن بَعدي
And, if my life is long, I have a stand to make against time,
that will subdue time's calamities for those after me.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَمُرُّsurely bitter in اليَأسِdespair مُستَرعَفُcalled upon to draw blood with الظُبىsword-edges
وَإِنّي لَمُرُّ اليَأسِ مُستَرعَفُ الظُبى
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَحُلوُsurely sweet in الجودِgenerosity مُستَمطَرُcalled upon to shower الرِفدِgifts
وَإِنّي لَحُلوُ الجودِ مُستَمطَرُ الرِفدِ
And I am bitter in despair, called upon to draw blood with sword-edges,
and sweet in generosity, called upon to rain down gifts.
إِذاwhen بَزَّنيstrips me of ماليmy wealth عَطاءًin giving تَرَكتُهُI relinquish it
إِذا بَزَّني مالي عَطاءً تَرَكتُهُ
حَميداًpraised وَطالَبتُand I demand القَواضِبَthe cleaving swords بِالرَدِّfor repayment
حَميداً وَطالَبتُ القَواضِبَ بِالرَدِّ
When my wealth is wrested from me in giving, I let it go,
praised, and demand its return from the cleaving swords.
وَقَدand indeed عَجَمَتtested مِنّيin me اللَياليthe nights مُذَرَّباًa keen, seasoned man
وَقَد عَجَمَت مِنّي اللَيالي مُذَرَّباً
تَخَلَّلَpassed among أَنيابَthe fangs of الأَساوِدِblack snakes وَالأُسدِand lions
تَخَلَّلَ أَنيابَ الأَساوِدِ وَالأُسدِ
And the nights have tested in me a keen, seasoned man,
who passed among the fangs of black snakes and lions.
إِذاwhen خَبَّraces فيهِwithin him مِلءَfilling حَيزومِهِhis breast الجَوىanguish
إِذا خَبَّ فيهِ مِلءَ حَيزومِهِ الجَوى
تَوَقَّرَhe remains composed يُخفيconcealing مِنهُof it غَيرَother than الَّذيwhat يُبديhe reveals
تَوَقَّرَ يُخفي مِنهُ غَيرَ الَّذي يُبدي
When anguish races within him, filling his breast,
he remains composed, concealing feelings other than those he displays.
وَكُنتُand I was إِذاwhenever الأَيّامُthe days جُلنَroamed بِساحَتيthrough my courtyard
وَكُنتُ إِذا الأَيّامُ جُلنَ بِساحَتي
رَجَعنَthey turned back وَلَمand did not يَبلُغنَreach آخِرَthe limit of ماعِنديwhat I possessed
رَجَعنَ وَلَم يَبلُغنَ آخِرَ ماعِندي
And whenever the days roamed through my courtyard,
they turned back without reaching the limit of what I possessed.
وَلَكِنَّهاbut it is نَفسٌa soul كَماas شِئتُI wished حُرَّةٌfree
وَلَكِنَّها نَفسٌ كَما شِئتُ حُرَّةٌ
تَصولُcharges fiercely وَلَوand even if فيwithin ماضِغِthe jaws of الأَسَدِthe lion الوَردِtawny
تَصولُ وَلَو في ماضِغِ الأَسَدِ الوَردِ
Yet it is a soul, free as I wished,
that charges, even within the jaws of the tawny lion.
وَأَعظَمُand the greatest ماwhat أَلفَيتُI have found شَجواًin grief وَلَوعَةًand burning sorrow
وَأَعظَمُ ما أَلفَيتُ شَجواً وَلَوعَةً
عِتابُthe reproach of أَخٍa brother فَلَّblunted الزَمانُtime بِهِthrough him حَدّيmy edge
عِتابُ أَخٍ فَلَّ الزَمانُ بِهِ حَدّي
And the greatest grief and burning sorrow I have found
is the reproach of a brother through whom time blunted my edge.
أَقيكَI shield you from الرَدىdeath ماnot كانَwas ماwhat كانَhappened عَنfrom قِلىًhatred
أَقيكَ الرَدى ما كانَ ما كانَ عَن قِلىً
وَلَكِنbut هَناتٌsmall faults كِدنَnearly يَلعَبنَmade sport بِالجَلدِwith endurance
وَلَكِن هَناتٌ كِدنَ يَلعَبنَ بِالجَلدِ
May I shield you from death! What happened was not born of hatred,
but small faults nearly made sport of my endurance.
وَلاand do not تَحسَبَنَّsuppose القَلبَthe heart جازَتpassed كُلومُهُits wounds
وَلا تَحسَبَنَّ القَلبَ جازَت كُلومُهُ
إِلىinto القَلبِthe heart إِلّاexcept بَعدَماafter حَزَّit cut فيinto الجِلدِthe skin
إِلى القَلبِ إِلّا بَعدَما حَزَّ في الجِلدِ
And do not suppose the heart's wounds passed
into the heart before a cut was made in the skin.
مَنَحتُكَI granted you ماعِنديwhat I had مِنَof الصَدِّestrangement مُعلِناًopenly
مَنَحتُكَ ماعِندي مِنَ الصَدِّ مُعلِناً
وَعَقدُand the resolve of ضَميريmy inner self أَنto أَدومَremain عَلىin الوُدِّaffection
وَعَقدُ ضَميري أَن أَدومَ عَلى الوُدِّ
I openly gave you what estrangement I had,
while my inward resolve was to remain constant in affection.
وَلَمand I did not أَغدُgo forth مَحلولَunbound اللِحاظِin gaze طَلاقَةًin cheerfulness
وَلَم أَغدُ مَحلولَ اللِحاظِ طَلاقَةً
وَقَلبيwhile my heart مَعقودُwas knotted الجَنانِat its core عَلىin الحِقدِrancor
وَقَلبي مَعقودُ الجَنانِ عَلى الحِقدِ
Nor did I go forth with my gaze unbound in cheerfulness,
while my heart's core was knotted in rancor.
سَجاياcharacter traits رَعَينَgrazed upon المَجدَglory فيamid تَلَعاتِهِits uplands
سَجايا رَعَينَ المَجدَ في تَلَعاتِهِ
وَناقَلنَand ranged فيthrough العَلياءِlofty honor غَوراًlowland إِلىto نَجدِhighland
وَناقَلنَ في العَلياءِ غَوراً إِلى نَجدِ
Traits that grazed on glory amid its uplands,
and ranged through lofty honor from lowland to highland.
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI used to أَبغيseek رُتبَةًa rank بَعدَafter رُتبَةٍanother rank
وَقَد كُنتُ أَبغي رُتبَةً بَعدَ رُتبَةٍ
فَآنَفُand so I disdain ليfor myself مِنat أَنto أَفوزَsucceed بِهاin gaining it وَحديalone
فَآنَفُ لي مِن أَن أَفوزَ بِها وَحدي
And I used to seek rank after rank,
yet disdained to win it alone,
حِفاظاًout of regard عَلىfor القُربىkinship الرَؤومِtender وَغَيرَةًand jealous concern
حِفاظاً عَلى القُربى الرَؤومِ وَغَيرَةً
عَلىfor الحَسَبِancestral honor الدانيclosely shared وَبُقياand care عَلىfor المَجدِglory
عَلى الحَسَبِ الداني وَبُقيا عَلى المَجدِ
out of regard for tender kinship, and jealous concern
for our closely shared ancestral honor, and care for glory.
وَلِمand why لاnot وَنَحنُand we are الراجِعانِthe two returning مِنَfrom العُلىeminence
وَلِم لا وَنَحنُ الراجِعانِ مِنَ العُلى
إِلىto المَغرَسِthe planting-ground الرَيّانِwell-watered وَالسُؤدُدِand nobility الرَغدِabundant
إِلى المَغرَسِ الرَيّانِ وَالسُؤدُدِ الرَغدِ
And why not, when we are the two who return from eminence
to well-watered roots and abundant nobility,
مِنَfrom القَومِthe people أَشباهُlikenesses of المَكارِمِnoble virtues فيهِمُamong them
مِنَ القَومِ أَشباهُ المَكارِمِ فيهِمُ
وَعِرقُand the root of المَعاليhigh honors الغُرِّradiant وَالحَسَبِand ancestral honor العِدِّever-flowing
وَعِرقُ المَعالي الغُرِّ وَالحَسَبِ العِدِّ
from a people in whom are the likenesses of noble virtues,
and the root of radiant honors and ever-flowing ancestral worth.
حَسَدتُI envied عَليكَover you الأَجنَبينَthe strangers مَحَبَّةًout of love
حَسَدتُ عَليكَ الأَجنَبينَ مَحَبَّةً
وَنافَستُand I vied فيكَfor you الأَبعَدينَthe more distant عَلىfor الوُدِّaffection
وَنافَستُ فيكَ الأَبعَدينَ عَلى الوُدِّ
Out of love, I was jealous of strangers over you,
and vied with those more distant for your affection.
وَقَدand indeed كانَthere was لَذعٌa sting فَاِتَّقيتُso I guarded against شَباتَهits sharp point
وَقَد كانَ لَذعٌ فَاِتَّقيتُ شَباتَه
بِقَلبٍwith a heart عَلىin الضَرّاءِadversity كَالحَجَرِlike stone الصُلدِsolid
بِقَلبٍ عَلى الضَرّاءِ كَالحَجَرِ الصُلدِ
And there was a sting, so I guarded against its sharp point
with a heart, in adversity, like solid stone.
تَجَلَّدتُI steeled myself حَتّىuntil لَمdid not يَجِدfind فيَّin me مُغمَزاًa vulnerable spot
تَجَلَّدتُ حَتّى لَم يَجِد فيَّ مُغمَزاً
وَعُدتُand I returned كَماas عادَreturned الجُرازُthe cleaving sword إِلىto الغِمدِthe sheath
وَعُدتُ كَما عادَ الجُرازُ إِلى الغِمدِ
I steeled myself until it found no vulnerable spot in me,
and returned as the cleaving sword returns to its sheath.
وَهاand here أَناI am عُريانُbare الجَنانِof heart مِنَof الَّتيthat which
وَها أَنا عُريانُ الجَنانِ مِنَ الَّتي
تَسوءُcauses hurt وَمَنفوضُand shaken free الضُلوعِin the ribs مِنَof الوَجدِanguish
تَسوءُ وَمَنفوضُ الضُلوعِ مِنَ الوَجدِ
And here I am, my heart bare of anything that
causes hurt, and my ribs shaken free of anguish.
وَكَمand how often سَخَطٍanger أَمسىbecame دَليلاًa guide إِلىto رِضىًcontentment
وَكَم سَخَطٍ أَمسى دَليلاً إِلى رِضىً
وَكَمand how often خَطَإٍerror أَضحىbecame طَريقاًa path إِلىto عَمدِdeliberate purpose
وَكَم خَطَإٍ أَضحى طَريقاً إِلى عَمدِ
And how often has anger become a guide to contentment,
and how often has error become a path to deliberate purpose.
أُقَلَّبُI turn عَيناًan eye فيtoward الإِخاءِbrotherhood صَحيحَةًhealthy
أُقَلَّبُ عَيناً في الإِخاءِ صَحيحَةً
إِذاwhen اِرتَمَتِexchanged shots الأَعداءُthe enemies بِالأَعيُنِwith eyes الرُمدِinflamed
إِذا اِرتَمَتِ الأَعداءُ بِالأَعيُنِ الرُمدِ
I turn a healthy eye upon brotherhood,
when enemies exchange shots with inflamed eyes.
وَإِنِّيَand indeed I مُذsince عادَreturned التَوَدُّدُaffection بَينَناbetween us
وَإِنِّيَ مُذ عادَ التَوَدُّدُ بَينَنا
تَجَلّىlifted الدُجىthe darkness عَنfrom ناظِريmy sight وَوَرىand sparked زَنديmy fire-stick
تَجَلّى الدُجى عَن ناظِري وَوَرى زَندي
And for me, since affection returned between us,
darkness has lifted from my sight, and my fire-stick has sparked.
وَعادَand returned زَمانيmy time بَعدَماafter غاضَebbed away حُسنُهُits beauty
وَعادَ زَماني بَعدَما غاضَ حُسنُهُ
أَنيقاًsplendid كَبُردِlike a mantle of العَصبِtie-dyed cloth أَوor زَمَنِthe season of الوَردِroses
أَنيقاً كَبُردِ العَصبِ أَو زَمَنِ الوَردِ
And my time, after its beauty had ebbed away, returned
splendid as a tie-dyed mantle or the season of roses.
وَكُنتُand I was سَليبَbereft الكَفِّin hand مِنof كُلِall ثَروَةٍwealth
وَكُنتُ سَليبَ الكَفِّ مِن كُلِ ثَروَةٍ
فَأَصبَحتُso I have become مِنof نَيلِattaining الأَمانيwishes عَلىupon وَعدِa promise
فَأَصبَحتُ مِن نَيلِ الأَماني عَلى وَعدِ
And I had been empty-handed, robbed of all wealth,
so now I have a promise of attaining my wishes.
وَفارَقتُand I left ضيقَthe tightness of الصَدرِthe breast عَنكَconcerning you إِلىfor الرَضىcontentment
وَفارَقتُ ضيقَ الصَدرِ عَنكَ إِلى الرَضى
كَماas نَشَطَbroke free المَأسورِthe captive مِنfrom حَلَقِthe loops of القِدِّleather thongs
كَما نَشَطَ المَأسورِ مِن حَلَقِ القِدِّ
And I left the tightness in my breast toward you for contentment,
as a captive breaks free of the loops of leather thongs.
وَقَدand indeed ضَمَّنيjoined me مَحضُthe pure essence of الصَفاءِgoodwill وَصِدقُهand its sincerity
وَقَد ضَمَّني مَحضُ الصَفاءِ وَصِدقُه
إِلَيكَto you كَماas ضُمَّتwas joined ذِراعٌa forearm إِلىto عَضدِan upper arm
إِلَيكَ كَما ضُمَّت ذِراعٌ إِلى عَضدِ
And unalloyed, sincere goodwill has joined me
to you, as a forearm is joined to an upper arm.
وَكُنتُand I was عَلىdespite ماwhat بَينَناlay between us مِنof عِيابَةٍfault-finding
وَكُنتُ عَلى ما بَينَنا مِن عِيابَةٍ
أَعِدُّكَI count you جَدّيmy good fortune حينَwhen أَسطوI assail عَلىagainst ضِدّيmy adversary
أَعِدُّكَ جَدّي حينَ أَسطو عَلى ضِدّي
And despite the fault-finding between us, I would
count you my good fortune when I assailed my adversary.
Sol 6.1