تَمَنّىwished رِجالٌmen نَيلَهاattaining her وَهيَwhile she is شامِسُuntamed
تَمَنّى رِجالٌ نَيلَها وَهيَ شامِسُ
وَأَينَand where مِنَin relation to النَجمِthe star الأَكُفُّthe palms اللَوامِسُreaching to touch
وَأَينَ مِنَ النَجمِ الأَكُفُّ اللَوامِسُ
Men have wished to attain her, though she is untamed.
A man wished to attain it, while it was unreachable
And how can hands that reach to touch reach the star?
And where is the palm compared to the distant star?
وَإِنَّand indeed المَعاليlofty honors عَنfrom رِجالٍmen طَلائِقٌunbound; divorced
وَإِنَّ المَعالي عَن رِجالٍ طَلائِقٌ
وَهُنَّand they عَلىto بَعضِsome الرِجالِthe men حَبائِسُbound; kept close
وَهُنَّ عَلى بَعضِ الرِجالِ حَبائِسُ
Lofty honors are parted from some men,
Indeed glory is beyond some men’s grasp
while held fast by certain others.
While for others it remains confined
وَلَمand did not أَرَI see كَالعَلياءِlike lofty honor تُرضىis accepted عَلىdespite الأَذىthe harm
وَلَم أَرَ كَالعَلياءِ تُرضى عَلى الأَذى
وَتُهوىand is loved عَلىdespite عِلّاتِهاher flaws وَهيَthough she is عانِسَan aging maiden
وَتُهوى عَلى عِلّاتِها وَهيَ عانِسَ
I have seen nothing like high honor, welcomed despite the harm,
Never have I seen the exalted pleased with harm
and loved despite her flaws, though she is an aging maiden.
Or attracted to her equals, while she is aloof
فَقُلso say لِلحَسودِto the envious man اليَومَtoday أَغضِclose your eye عَلىupon القَذىthe mote
فَقُل لِلحَسودِ اليَومَ أَغضِ عَلى القَذى
فَماfor not كُلَّevery نارٍfire أوقِدَتwas kindled أَنتَyou قابِسُa firebrand-taker
فَما كُلَّ نارٍ أوقِدَت أَنتَ قابِسُ
So tell the envious man today: close your eye upon the mote;
So say to the envious today: overlook the motes
not every kindled fire is yours to take a brand from.
Not every lit fire have you kindled as torchbearer
وَماand what لَكَhave you وَالإِقدامَand charging بِالخَيلِwith horses وَالقَناand spears
وَما لَكَ وَالإِقدامَ بِالخَيلِ وَالقَنا
وَحَظُّكَwhile your fortune عَنfrom نَيلِattaining العُلىlofty honor مُتَقاعِسُlagging behind
وَحَظُّكَ عَن نَيلِ العُلى مُتَقاعِسُ
What have you to do with charging with horses and spears,
Why bother with daring horsemanship and spears
when your fortune lags behind the attainment of lofty honor?
When your lot is to miss attaining the heights, complacent
وَهَلand is it نافِعٌof use يَوماًever وَجَدُّكَwhile your fortune راجِلٌon foot
وَهَل نافِعٌ يَوماً وَجَدُّكَ راجِلٌ
إِذاif قَيلَit is said يَومَon the day of الرَوعِterror إِنَّكَthat you are فارِسُa horseman
إِذا قَيلَ يَومَ الرَوعِ إِنَّكَ فارِسُ
Can it ever help, while your fortune goes on foot,
Of what use one day is your fervor as a footman
to be called a horseman on the day of terror?
When the heat of battle comes, and you’re called horseman?
فَطِبso be content عَنto forgo بُلوغِattaining العِزِّglory نَفساًin soul لَئيمَةًbase
فَطِب عَن بُلوغِ العِزِّ نَفساً لَئيمَةً
فَماfor there is not لِلعُلىfor lofty honor إِلّاexcept النُفوسُthe souls النَفائِسُprecious
فَما لِلعُلى إِلّا النُفوسُ النَفائِسُ
So resign your base soul to forgoing the attainment of glory;
Despair of an ignoble soul attaining glory
for high honor is only for precious souls.
Only the pure souls reach such lofty heights
وَإِنَّand indeed قِوامَQiwam (upholder) الدينِal-Din (of the faith) مِنfrom دونِin front of ثَغرِهاher gateway
وَإِنَّ قِوامَ الدينِ مِن دونِ ثَغرِها
لَهُhe has ناظِرٌa watching eye يَقظانُwakeful وَالنَجمُwhile the star ناعِسُdrowsy
لَهُ ناظِرٌ يَقظانُ وَالنَجمُ ناعِسُ
And Qiwam al-Din, before her gateway,
Without her vigilance, the faith’s pillars
has a wakeful eye while the star is drowsy.
Would have overseers sleeping, while the stars keep watch
رَعاهاhe guarded her بِهَمٍّwith concern لاnot يَمَلُّwearies وَهِمَّةٍand determination
رَعاها بِهَمٍّ لا يَمَلُّ وَهِمَّةٍ
إِذاwhen نامَslept عَنهاheedless of her حارِسٌa guardian قامَrose حارِسُa guardian
إِذا نامَ عَنها حارِسٌ قامَ حارِسُ
He guarded her with tireless care and determination:
She watched over it, tirelessly and dutiful
when one guardian slept heedless of her, another rose.
If one guardian slept, another stood guard
أَخوa brother of الحَربِwar ذاقَtasted الرائِعاتِterrifying ordeals وَذُقنَهُand they tasted him
أَخو الحَربِ ذاقَ الرائِعاتِ وَذُقنَهُ
وَنالَand he assailed وَنالَتهُand assailed him القَناthe spears وَالفَوارِسُand the horsemen
وَنالَ وَنالَتهُ القَنا وَالفَوارِسُ
A brother to war, he tasted its terrors, and they tasted him;
War's brother endured raids and their bitterness
he assailed spears and horsemen, and they assailed him.
And spear points reached him, as did horsemen's charge
يُغاديكَhe visits you at dawn يَومَon the day of السَلمِpeace طَلقاًcheerful وَفِكرُهُwhile his mind
يُغاديكَ يَومَ السَلمِ طَلقاً وَفِكرُهُ
يُمارِسُgrapples with حَدَّthe edge of الرَوعِterror فيماin what يُمارِسُundertakes
يُمارِسُ حَدَّ الرَوعِ فيما يُمارِسُ
He visits you at dawn in peacetime, cheerful, while his mind
In peace he may dismiss you graciously, but his thoughts
grapples with terror's edge in whatever it undertakes.
Practice war's heat while he makes casual chat
كَأَنَّas though مُلوكَthe kings of الأَرضِthe earth حَولَaround سَريرِهِhis throne
كَأَنَّ مُلوكَ الأَرضِ حَولَ سَريرِهِ
بُغاثٌweak birds وُقوفٌstanding وَالقَطامِيُّand the falcon جالِسُseated
بُغاثٌ وُقوفٌ وَالقَطامِيُّ جالِسُ
As though the kings of the earth around his throne
As though earth's kings stand around his throne
were weak birds standing, while the falcon sits.
Parthians, Khazars, and the Qatamite sits
إِذاwhen رَمَقوهُthey gaze at him وَالجُفونُwhile the eyelids كَواسِرٌlowered
إِذا رَمَقوهُ وَالجُفونُ كَواسِرٌ
عَلىin غَيرِthe absence of داءٍillness وَالرِقابُand the necks نَواكِسُbowed
عَلى غَيرِ داءٍ وَالرِقابُ نَواكِسُ
When they gaze upon him with eyelids lowered,
When they look on him, stoic despite the pain
though no sickness ails them, and with necks bowed,
With no illness, yet heads bowed down
يُحَيّونَthey salute وَضَاحاًa radiant man كَأَنَّas though جَبينَهُhis brow
يُحَيّونَ وَضَاحاً كَأَنَّ جَبينَهُ
سَناthe radiance of قَمَرٍa moon ماnot غَيَّرَتهُaltered it الحَنادِسُthe darkest nights
سَنا قَمَرٍ ما غَيَّرَتهُ الحَنادِسُ
they salute a radiant man, whose brow is like
They greet Al-Wahhāb radiant, as if his brow
a moon's radiance that the darkest nights have not altered.
Were a full moon that scimitars didn't mar
تُصَرَّفُare turned أَعناقُthe necks of المُلوكِthe kings لِأَمرِهِat his command
تُصَرَّفُ أَعناقُ المُلوكِ لِأَمرِهِ
وَتُستَخدَمُand are put to service الأَعضاءُthe limbs وَالرَأسُwhile the head رائِسُruling
وَتُستَخدَمُ الأَعضاءُ وَالرَأسُ رائِسُ
The necks of kings are turned at his command;
The necks of kings obey his command
the limbs are made to serve, while the head rules.
And the members and head obey, preeminent
مِنَfrom القَومِthe people حَلّواthey settled بِالرُبىon the heights وَأَمَدَّهُمand sustained them
مِنَ القَومِ حَلّوا بِالرُبى وَأَمَدَّهُم
قَديمُancient المَساعيachievements وَالعَلاءُand eminence القَدامِسُmighty
قَديمُ المَساعي وَالعَلاءُ القَدامِسُ
He is of a people who settled on the heights, sustained by
Among the people some came with their goods
ancient achievements and mighty eminence.
Brought by efforts of old and recent
تُحِلُّهُمُlodge them in دارَthe abode of العَدُوِّthe enemy شِفارُهُمtheir blades
تُحِلُّهُمُ دارَ العَدُوِّ شِفارُهُم
وَتُرعيهِمُand let them graze الأَرضَthe earth القُنِيُّthe spears المَداعِسُthrusting
وَتُرعيهِمُ الأَرضَ القُنِيُّ المَداعِسُ
Their blades lodge them in the enemy's abode,
Their swords give them passage to enemy lands
and their thrusting spears make the earth their pasture.
And shepherd them on the soft meadows
بَهاليلُnoble lords أَزوالٌremarkable men بِكُلِّin every قَبيلَةٍtribe
بَهاليلُ أَزوالٌ بِكُلِّ قَبيلَةٍ
مَلاذِعُscorchings مِنfrom نيرانِهِمtheir fires وَمَقابِسُand firebrands
مَلاذِعُ مِن نيرانِهِم وَمَقابِسُ
Noble, remarkable men—in every tribe
Flaming meteors in every tribe
are scorchings from their fires and firebrands.
Striking with their fires, tending the hearths
وَماand not جالَسواthey kept company with إِلّاexcept السُيوفَthe swords مُعَدَّةًmade ready
وَما جالَسوا إِلّا السُيوفَ مُعَدَّةً
لِيَومِfor the day of الوَغىbattle وَالمَرءُand a man مِمَّنis of those whom يُجالِسُhe keeps company with
لِيَومِ الوَغى وَالمَرءُ مِمَّن يُجالِسُ
They have kept company only with swords made ready
They only gathered with swords at the ready
for battle day—and a man is of the company he keeps.
For days of calamity, while a man keeps his company
إِذاif أَخطَأواthey miss مَرمىًa target مِنَof المَجدِglory أَجهَشواthey burst into cries
إِذا أَخطَأوا مَرمىً مِنَ المَجدِ أَجهَشوا
زَئيرَthe roar of الضَواريpredators أَفلَتَتهاescaped them الفَرائِسُthe prey
زَئيرَ الضَواري أَفلَتَتها الفَرائِسُ
If they miss a target of glory, they cry out
If they miss a path to glory, they roar
with the roar of predators whose prey has escaped them.
Like predators slipped loose from the huntsman's bonds
فَمِنso among them خائِضٍone plunging into غَمرَthe depths of الرَدىdeath غَيرَnot ناكِصٍretreating
فَمِن خائِضٍ غَمرَ الرَدى غَيرَ ناكِصٍ
وَمِنand among them صافِقٍone striking a bargain يَومَon the day of النَدىgenerosity لاnot يُماكِسُhaggles
وَمِن صافِقٍ يَومَ النَدى لا يُماكِسُ
Among them is one who plunges into death's depths, never retreating,
One plunges deep into the fray, never retreating
and one who strikes hands on the day of bounty, never haggling.
Another on the day of trial, never ducking the blow
إِذاwhen ماindeed اِجتَداهُasked his bounty المُجتَدونَthe bounty-seekers عَلىin الطَوىhunger
إِذا ما اِجتَداهُ المُجتَدونَ عَلى الطَوى
يَبيتُhe spends the night رَطيبَmoist الكَفِّof palm وَالبَطنُwhile the belly يابِسُdry
يَبيتُ رَطيبَ الكَفِّ وَالبَطنُ يابِسُ
When seekers ask his bounty while he goes hungry,
When the energetic ones come upon him on the hill
he spends the night with palm moist and belly dry.
His hand is gentle, while his belly remains empty
لَهُhe has فيamong الأَعاديthe enemies كُلُّevery شَوهاءَhideous wound يَهتَديfinds the way
لَهُ في الأَعادي كُلُّ شَوهاءَ يَهتَدي
بِتَهدارِهاby its roaring طُلسُdusky الذِئابِthe wolves اللَعاوِسُravenous
بِتَهدارِها طُلسُ الذِئابِ اللَعاوِسُ
He leaves in his foes many a hideous wound; guided
Among the enemy, every disgrace finds its way
by its roaring are the dusky, ravenous wolves.
To his threshold, like ravenous wolves guided
وَنَشاجَةٌand a gurgling wound تَحتَunder الضُلوعِthe ribs مُرِشَّةٌspraying
وَنَشاجَةٌ تَحتَ الضُلوعِ مُرِشَّةٌ
كَماas هاعَheaved; vomited مَملوءٌone filled مِنَwith الخَمرِwine قالِسُvomiting
كَما هاعَ مَملوءٌ مِنَ الخَمرِ قالِسُ
And a gurgling wound beneath the ribs, spraying,
And in his chest, a sagacity imbued
as a man full of wine heaves and vomits.
Like a filled wineskin, well aged
مُطَرَّقَةُlayered; doubled الجالَينِat both edges هَطلىpouring كَأَنَّماas though
مُطَرَّقَةُ الجالَينِ هَطلى كَأَنَّما
إِزارُthe waistcloth of الفَتىthe young man فيهاin it مِنَwith الدَمِّblood وارِسُwars-dyed (yellow-stained)
إِزارُ الفَتى فيها مِنَ الدَمِّ وارِسُ
Layered at both edges and streaming, as though
The legs of his swift steed, gift of the Majestic
the youth's waistcloth there were dyed with blood as with wars.
As if the warrior's robe were dyed crimson in blood
أَلاah رُبَّmany a حَيٍّtribe مِنof رِجالٍmen أَعِزَّةٍmighty
أَلا رُبَّ حَيٍّ مِن رِجالٍ أَعِزَّةٍ
أَسالَتcaused to flow بِهِمwith them مِنكَfrom you الغَمامُthe clouds الرَواجِسُrumbling
أَسالَت بِهِم مِنكَ الغَمامُ الرَواجِسُ
Ah, many a tribe of mighty men
Oh how many valiant men fierce enemies
has been swept away by your rumbling clouds.
Had hopes of, which passing clouds disappointed!
أَرادوكَthey sought to strike you بِالأَمرِwith the design الجَليلِmighty فَرَدَّهُمbut drove them back
أَرادوكَ بِالأَمرِ الجَليلِ فَرَدَّهُم
عَلىonto عِوَجِthe crookedness of الأَعقابِthe heels جِدٌّearnest resolve مُمارِسُseasoned
عَلى عِوَجِ الأَعقابِ جِدٌّ مُمارِسُ
They sought to strike you with a mighty design, but were driven back
They wanted you for the great cause, but serious will
on their twisted heels by earnest, seasoned resolve.
Turned them back, feet stumbling away
تُطاعِنُهُمjoust against them عَنكَon your behalf السُعودُthe auspicious stars بِجَدِّهاwith their good fortune
تُطاعِنُهُم عَنكَ السُعودُ بِجَدِّها
وَلاand not يَتَّقيwards off طَعنَthe thrust of المَقاديرِfate's decrees تارِسُa shield-bearer
وَلا يَتَّقي طَعنَ المَقاديرِ تارِسُ
The auspicious stars joust against them for you with their good fortune;
Good fortune's blades turn away from you
no shield-bearer can ward off the thrusts of fate.
No shield can stop the stab of destiny's spears
إِذاif أَفلَتواthey escape طَعنَthe thrust of الرِماحِthe spears رَمَتهُمُstruck them
إِذا أَفلَتوا طَعنَ الرِماحِ رَمَتهُمُ
بِطَعنِwith the thrusts of عَواليهاtheir spearpoints النُجومُthe stars الأَناحِسُill-omened
بِطَعنِ عَواليها النُجومُ الأَناحِسُ
If they escape the thrusts of spears, they are struck
When they evade the spear points, the stars
by ill-omened stars with the thrusts of their spearpoints.
Impale them with their inauspicious piercing rays
سَلَبتَهُمُyou stripped them of عِزَّthe might of الثَراءِwealth فَلَمand did not تَدَعleave
سَلَبتَهُمُ عِزَّ الثَراءِ فَلَم تَدَع
لَهُمfor them ماanything that يَرىsees مِنهُof it العَدوُّthe enemy المُنافِسُrival
لَهُم ما يَرى مِنهُ العَدوُّ المُنافِسُ
You stripped them of wealth's might, and left
You stripped them of wealth’s glory, leaving
them nothing for a rival enemy to see.
Nothing for their rival’s eyes to envy
فَماso not لَهُمُthey have غَيرَexcept الشُعورِhair عَمائِمٌturbans
فَما لَهُمُ غَيرَ الشُعورِ عَمائِمٌ
وَلاand not لَهُمُthey have غَيرَexcept الجُلودِskins مَلابِسُclothes
وَلا لَهُمُ غَيرَ الجُلودِ مَلابِسُ
So they have no turbans but their hair,
They have naught but head-cloths
and no clothes but their skins.
No robes for their bodies
وَعَمَّتهُمُand engulfed them مِنfrom حَدِّthe edge of بَأسِكَyour might سَطوَةٌan onslaught
وَعَمَّتهُمُ مِن حَدِّ بَأسِكَ سَطوَةٌ
بِهاby it اِجتُدِعَتwere lopped off أَعناقُهُمtheir necks لاnot المَعاطِسُthe noses
بِها اِجتُدِعَت أَعناقُهُم لا المَعاطِسُ
An onslaught from the edge of your might engulfed them,
The might of your assault overwhelmed them
lopping off their necks, not their noses.
Bringing together necks, beyond coughs or sneezes
فَماso not جازَهاpassed beyond it فيon ذُروَةِthe summit of النيقِthe mountain صاعِدٌa climber
فَما جازَها في ذُروَةِ النيقِ صاعِدٌ
وَلاand not فاتَهاescaped it فيin لُجَّةِthe depths of الماءِthe water قامِسُa diver
وَلا فاتَها في لُجَّةِ الماءِ قامِسُ
No climber on the mountain's summit has passed beyond it,
None climbing the peak of glory escapes it
nor has a diver in the depths of the water escaped it.
Nor one diving deep in the water's recess
وَلاand no ناطِقٌspeaker لِلخَوفِout of fear إِلّاexcept مُخافِتٌwhispering
وَلا ناطِقٌ لِلخَوفِ إِلّا مُخافِتٌ
وَلاand no ناظِرٌone looking لِلذُلِّout of humiliation إِلّاexcept مُخالِسُstealing glances
وَلا ناظِرٌ لِلذُلِّ إِلّا مُخالِسُ
None speaks, for fear, except in whispers,
None can speak of fear but in hushed tones
and none looks, in humiliation, except with stolen glances.
None behold humiliation but abject
تَرىyou see الأَبَthe father يَنبوshuns عَنaway from بَنيهِhis sons وَيَتَّقيand fears
تَرى الأَبَ يَنبو عَن بَنيهِ وَيَتَّقي
أَخاهُhis brother الفَتىthe young man وَهوَthough he is القَريبُthe close kinsman المُؤانِسُthe comforting companion
أَخاهُ الفَتى وَهوَ القَريبُ المُؤانِسُ
You see a father shun his sons; a young man fears
You see the father deny his sons and avoid
his brother, though he is a close, comforting companion.
Even his own dear brother, once intimate
وَليسَand not يُحَيّاis greeted مِنهُمُof them اليَومَtoday طالِعٌone appearing
وَليسَ يُحَيّا مِنهُمُ اليَومَ طالِعٌ
هَواناًout of contempt وَلاand not يُجديfinds relief إِذاwhen اِعتامَcraves milk بائِسُa wretch
هَواناً وَلا يُجدي إِذا اِعتامَ بائِسُ
None of them who appears today is greeted,
Today none greets with humiliation, once exalted
so despised are they; no wretch craving milk finds relief.
No use in crying when fate darkens, anguished
تَمَلَّسُslip away أَعوادُthe shafts of القَناthe spears مِنfrom أَكُفِّهِمtheir palms
تَمَلَّسُ أَعوادُ القَنا مِن أَكُفِّهِم
وَيَنفُضُهُمand shake them off مِنfrom عَنoff قَطاهاtheir croups العَوانِسُthe tall, strong mounts
وَيَنفُضُهُم مِن عَن قَطاها العَوانِسُ
Spear-shafts slip from their palms,
Palm branches slip from their incapable hands
and tall, strong mounts shake them off their croups.
And the little girls shake them off in disgust
يَكونُbecomes مَزَرُّthe collar fastening of المَرءِthe man غُلّاًa fetter لِعُنقِهِfor his neck
يَكونُ مَزَرُّ المَرءِ غُلّاً لِعُنقِهِ
مِنَfrom الخَوفِfear حَتّىuntil يَنزِعَtakes off الثَوبَthe garment لابِسُa wearer
مِنَ الخَوفِ حَتّى يَنزِعَ الثَوبَ لابِسُ
A man's collar fastening becomes a fetter for his neck,
A man's food becomes a noose around his neck
from fear, until the wearer pulls off his garment.
From fear, until the garment is cast off
إِذاif ضَرَبواthey journey فيthrough الأَرضِthe land فَهيَthen it is مَهالِكٌplaces of destruction
إِذا ضَرَبوا في الأَرضِ فَهيَ مَهالِكٌ
وَإِنand if أَوطَنواthey settle in الأَبياتِthe dwellings فَهيَthen they are مَحابِسُprisons
وَإِن أَوطَنوا الأَبياتِ فَهيَ مَحابِسُ
If they journey through the land, it is a place of destruction;
If they travel the land, it destroys them
and if they settle in their dwellings, those are prisons.
If they settle the abodes, then those become prisons
وَعاطِسُهُمand their sneezer فيin الحَفلِthe gathering غَيرُnot مُشَمَّتٍblessed for sneezing
وَعاطِسُهُم في الحَفلِ غَيرُ مُشَمَّتٍ
فَكَالنابِحِso like a barking dog العاويhowling مِنَamong القَومِthe people عاطِسُa sneezer
فَكَالنابِحِ العاوي مِنَ القَومِ عاطِسُ
Their sneezer in the gathering receives no blessing;
A sneeze in their company elicits no blessing
among the people a sneezer is like a barking, howling dog.
Like a howl in the night from the tribe, a sneeze
وَأَطرَقَand lowered his head شَيطانُthe demon of الغَوايَةِmisguidance مِنهُمُamong them
وَأَطرَقَ شَيطانُ الغَوايَةِ مِنهُمُ
فَلَمso not يَبقَremains مِنamong نَعّابَةِthe croaking band of الغَيِّerror نابِسُone uttering a word
فَلَم يَبقَ مِن نَعّابَةِ الغَيِّ نابِسُ
Their demon of misguidance has lowered its head,
And Satan, the misguider, bowed away from them
and not one of error's croakers remains to utter a word.
No crooked deception of sin left standing
وَعِندَand with طَبيبِthe physician of المُعضِلاتِintractable ills شِفاؤُهُمtheir cure
وَعِندَ طَبيبِ المُعضِلاتِ شِفاؤُهُم
إِذاwhen عادَreturns مِنfrom داءِthe disease of العَداوَةِenmity ناكِسُone relapsing
إِذا عادَ مِن داءِ العَداوَةِ ناكِسُ
Their cure lies with the physician of intractable ills,
When the healer of quandaries is sought, their cure is:
whenever one relapses into the disease of enmity.
Once the disease of enmity goes into remission
فَيَوماهُso his two days يَومٌa day بِالمَواهِبِwith gifts غائِمٌcloudy
فَيَوماهُ يَومٌ بِالمَواهِبِ غائِمٌ
عَلَيناover us وَيَومٌand a day بِالقَواضِبِwith cleaving swords شامِسُsunny
عَلَينا وَيَومٌ بِالقَواضِبِ شامِسُ
His two days are these: one cloudy with gifts
A day of bounty laden with gifts is his
over us, and one sunny with cleaving swords.
And a day of canopies streaming daylight
سَجِيَّةُthe nature of بَسّامٍone often smiling يَقولُsays عَدُوُّهُhis enemy
سَجِيَّةُ بَسّامٍ يَقولُ عَدُوُّهُ
أَهَذاis this الَّذيthe one who يَلقىfaces الوَغىbattle وَهوَwhile he is عابِسُscowling
أَهَذا الَّذي يَلقى الوَغى وَهوَ عابِسُ
Such is a smiling man's nature; his enemy asks:
The smile of a cheerful man - his enemies say:
Is this the one who faces battle scowling?
"Is this the one who meets calamity with a frown?"
نُذادُwe are driven away وَيَروىand are quenched الأَبعَدونَthe more distant بِمائِكُمwith your water
نُذادُ وَيَروى الأَبعَدونَ بِمائِكُم
وَنَحنُwhile we عَلىon العِردِthe hard ground الظِماءُthe thirsty الخَوامِسُfifth-day-thirsting camels
وَنَحنُ عَلى العِردِ الظِماءُ الخَوامِسُ
We are driven away, while the more distant drink their fill of your water,
We pine while the distant ones enjoy your waters
while we on the hard ground are thirsty camels awaiting the fifth day's drink.
And we are the ones thirsty, drinking little sips
وَتَندىand shed moisture لِقَومٍupon a people آخَرينَother سَحابُكُمyour clouds
وَتَندى لِقَومٍ آخَرينَ سَحابُكُم
وَنَحنُwhile we مَناشيthe native growths of أَرضِكُمyour land وَالغَرائِسُand the plantings
وَنَحنُ مَناشي أَرضِكُم وَالغَرائِسُ
And your clouds rain upon other people,
Your clouds give others shade, while we
while we are your land's native shoots and plantings.
Are the sheep grazing your land, mere beasts
رَجَوتُكَI hoped in you وَالعُشرونَwhile the twenty ماnot تَمَّwas complete عِقدُهاits necklace
رَجَوتُكَ وَالعُشرونَ ما تَمَّ عِقدُها
فَلِمso why أَناI مِنfrom بَعدِafter الثَلاثينَthirty آيسُdespairing
فَلِم أَنا مِن بَعدِ الثَلاثينَ آيسُ
I hoped in you before twenty's necklace was complete;
I hoped for twenty that would be fulfilled
so why, now past thirty, do I despair?
So why am I the one losing hope after thirty?
وَليand I have خِدمَةٌservice قَدَّمتُهاI offered it لِتُعِزَّنيso you might honor me
وَلي خِدمَةٌ قَدَّمتُها لِتُعِزَّني
وَلَولاand were it not for الجَنىthe fruit ماnot رَجَّبَpropped up الفَرعَthe branch غارِسُa planter
وَلَولا الجَنى ما رَجَّبَ الفَرعَ غارِسُ
I have service I offered so that you might honor me,
I had rendered a service to elevate me
and but for the fruit, no planter would prop a branch.
Without any yield, no farmer plants a seed
وَماand not هِمَّتيmy ambition إِلّاexcept المَعاليlofty honors وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
وَما هِمَّتي إِلّا المَعالي وَإِنَّني
عَلىagainst المَرءِa man بِالعَلياءِin lofty honor لاnot المالِwealth نافِسُa rival
عَلى المَرءِ بِالعَلياءِ لا المالِ نافِسُ
My ambition is nothing but high honors, and I
My only ambition is glory - and for a man, I rival
compete with men for lofty rank, not wealth.
In greatness, not wealth or possessions
وَقَدand indeed غارَbolted حَظٌّfortune أَنتَyou ثانيone who turns back جِماحِهِits bolting
وَقَد غارَ حَظٌّ أَنتَ ثاني جِماحِهِ
وَتُقدَعُand are curbed مِنfrom بَعدِafter الجِماحِbolting الشَوامِسُthe restive mares
وَتُقدَعُ مِن بَعدِ الجِماحِ الشَوامِسُ
Fortune has bolted; you are the one to curb its wildness,
But a rival reaped the harvest of your bounty
and restive mares are curbed after bolting.
And fortunes fade after the initial shock
عَسىmay مَلِكُthe king of الأَملاكِkings يَنتاشُrescue أَعظُماًbones
عَسى مَلِكُ الأَملاكِ يَنتاشُ أَعظُماً
بَرَتهُنَّwore them down ذُؤبانُthe wolves of اللَياليthe nights النَواهِسُgnawing
بَرَتهُنَّ ذُؤبانُ اللَيالي النَواهِسُ
May the King of Kings rescue bones
Perhaps the King of Kings may grant greater fortune
worn down by the gnawing wolves of the nights.
Stripped bare by nights' ravenous wolves
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI had شِمتُespied lightning العِزَّglory مِنكَfrom you وَجادَنيand drenched me
وَقَد كُنتُ شِمتُ العِزَّ مِنكَ وَجادَني
بِغَيظِto the fury of الأَعاديthe enemies ماطِرٌa raincloud مِنهُfrom it راجِسُrumbling
بِغَيظِ الأَعادي ماطِرٌ مِنهُ راجِسُ
I once saw glory's lightning flash from you, and was drenched,
I used to envy the glory you bestowed, but then
to my enemies' fury, by its thundering raincloud.
The enemies' hatred rained on me heavily
فَباعَدَنيthen kept me away مِنfrom صَوبِthe downpour of مُزنِكَyour rainclouds حاسِدٌan envious man
فَباعَدَني مِن صَوبِ مُزنِكَ حاسِدٌ
يُضاحِكُhe exchanges smiles with ثَغريmy lips وَالجَنانُwhile the heart مُعابِسُscowling
يُضاحِكُ ثَغري وَالجَنانُ مُعابِسُ
Then an envious man kept me from your rainclouds' downpour,
An envier pushed me from your palace gates
exchanging smiles with my lips, while his heart scowls.
Smiling at my face, while both our souls resented
يُرينيhe shows me حَناناًtenderness وَهوَwhile he يُضمِرُconceals بَغضَةًhatred
يُريني حَناناً وَهوَ يُضمِرُ بَغضَةً
كِلاboth ناظِرَيناour two eyes مِنfrom قِلىًhatred مُتَشاوِسُlooking askance
كِلا ناظِرَينا مِن قِلىً مُتَشاوِسُ
He shows me tenderness while concealing hatred;
He feigns affection, while hiding hatred
both our eyes look askance with loathing.
Both our gazes wary, exchanging accusations
فَجَدِّدso renew يَداًa favor عِنديfor me يُرَفُّgleams لِباسُهاits garment
فَجَدِّد يَداً عِندي يُرَفُّ لِباسُها
فَقَدfor indeed أَخلَقَتgrew threadbare تِلكَthose الأَياديfavors اللَبائِسُworn as garments
فَقَد أَخلَقَت تِلكَ الأَيادي اللَبائِسُ
So renew a favor for me, that its robe may shine;
So renew a hand that ennobles me again
for those favors worn as garments have grown threadbare.
Those hands once adorned me, now make me indigent
وَبابُكَand your door أَولىhas greater claim بيupon me مِنَthan الأَرضِthe earth كُلِّهاall of it
وَبابُكَ أَولى بي مِنَ الأَرضِ كُلِّها
فَحَتّامَso until when ليfor me عَنfrom قَرعِknocking at بابِكَyour door حابِسُa barrier
فَحَتّامَ لي عَن قَرعِ بابِكَ حابِسُ
Your door has more claim upon me than all the earth;
Your door suits me more than all the lands
so how long will a barrier keep me from knocking at your door?
A doorman bars me from knocking at your door
وَأُقسِمُand I swear لَولاwere it not أَنَّthat دارَكَyour abode فارِسٌFars
وَأُقسِمُ لَولا أَنَّ دارَكَ فارِسٌ
لَماwould not اِنتَصَفَتobtained redress مِنfrom أَرضِthe land of بَغدادَBaghdad فارِسُFars
لَما اِنتَصَفَت مِن أَرضِ بَغدادَ فارِسُ
I swear, were your abode not in Fars,
I swear - if not for you valiantly guarding
Fars would not have won redress from the land of Baghdad.
No vengeance would be sought for Baghdad's people
Sol 6.1