ياO بانَBan ضاقَhas narrowed المَذهَبُthe way
يا بانَ ضاقَ المَذهَبُ
وَطَريدُand the outcast أَهلِكِof your people أَجنَبُa stranger
وَطَريدُ أَهلِكِ أَجنَبُ
O Ban, the way has narrowed,
O Bana, the path has become straitened,
and your people's outcast is a stranger.
And your tribesmen have become strangers.
وَذَهَبتُand I went فيin غَيرِother than السَبيthe path (first part)
وَذَهَبتُ في غَيرِ السَبي
لِcompletion of 'the path' لِكُلِّfor every غاوٍwayward person مَذهَبُa way
لِ لِكُلِّ غاوٍ مَذهَبُ
And I went off the path;
I went astray from the right path,
every wayward person has a way.
For every misguided one has a path.
لاdo not تَخشَfear قَتليkilling me حينَwhen شِبI grew gray (first part)
لا تَخشَ قَتلي حينَ شِب
تُcompletion of 'I grew gray' وَهَلand is ...? يُخافُfeared الأَشيَبُthe gray-haired man
تُ وَهَل يُخافُ الأَشيَبُ
Do not fear killing me now that I have grown
Do not fear my death when I grow old,
gray—can the gray-haired inspire fear?
Do the aged fear growing white of hair?
هَيهاتَfar from it! أَفرَخَhas subsided رَوعُthe fear of باBana (first part)
هَيهاتَ أَفرَخَ رَوعُ با
نَةَcompletion of 'Bana' لاnot يَحولُturns aside المُغرِبُthe wanderer
نَةَ لا يَحولُ المُغرِبُ
Far from it! Bana's fear has subsided;
Alas! The fledglings of alarm took fright.
the wanderer does not turn aside.
The west wind does not change its course.
ماnot زُلتُI turned away عَنكِfrom you وَقَدand indeed أَرىI see
ما زُلتُ عَنكِ وَقَد أَرى
أَنَّthat القُلوبَhearts تَقَلَّبُchange
أَنَّ القُلوبَ تَقَلَّبُ
I have never turned away from you, though I see
I have not turned away from you though I see
that hearts change.
That hearts are apt to waver.
أَيّامَthe days when أَطعَمُI taste كُلَّevery ماswaying woman (first part)
أَيّامَ أَطعَمُ كُلَّ ما
ئِلَةِcompletion of 'swaying woman' الحَمانِof al-Haman وَأَشرَبُand I drink
ئِلَةِ الحَمانِ وَأَشرَبُ
In the days when I savored every swaying
Days when I eat whatever is served by
beauty of al-Haman, and drank.
The protectors of the sanctuary and drink.
ثُمَّthen اِنقَضىended ذاكَthat الزَماtime (first part)
ثُمَّ اِنقَضى ذاكَ الزَما
نُcompletion of 'time' وَغابَand vanished دَهرٌan age أَنكَبُill-starred
نُ وَغابَ دَهرٌ أَنكَبُ
Then that time came to an end,
Then that time passed away and an era went by,
and an ill-starred age vanished.
More bowed than the curve of a bow.
ياO بانَBan طَبُّكِyour healer لاnot يَناsleeps (first part)
يا بانَ طَبُّكِ لا يَنا
مُcompletion of 'sleeps' وَقَدand sometimes يَنامُsleeps القُطرُبُthe qutrub, a restless creature
مُ وَقَد يَنامُ القُطرُبُ
O Ban, your healer does not sleep,
O Bana, your presence cannot be faulted,
though even the restless qutrub may sleep.
Though the lutanist may fall asleep.
عوديreturn عَلَيَّto me فَإِنَّهاfor it is
عودي عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّها
نَفسٌa soul تُسيءُdoes wrong وَتُعتِبُand makes amends
نَفسٌ تُسيءُ وَتُعتِبُ
Return to me, for this is
Return to me, for she is a soul
a soul that wrongs and makes amends.
That does evil and then blames.
ماnot كُلُّevery زَلَّةِmisstep of صاحِبٍa friend
ما كُلُّ زَلَّةِ صاحِبٍ
أَغدوI rise لَهاbecause of it أَتَوَثَّبُI pounce
أَغدو لَها أَتَوَثَّبُ
Not at every friend's misstep
Not every slip of a companion
do I rise and pounce.
Makes me get up and stamp my feet.
حِلميmy forbearance أَصَمُّdeaf وَراحَتيand my palm
حِلمي أَصَمُّ وَراحَتي
لِلطّالِبينَfor those who ask تَحَلَّبُflows with milk
لِلطّالِبينَ تَحَلَّبُ
My forbearance is deaf, and my palm
My patience is deaf and my calmness
flows with milk for those who ask.
To petitioners is sticky like glue.
ضَعضَعتُI shook جَنَّةَthe shield of خالِدٍKhalid
ضَعضَعتُ جَنَّةَ خالِدٍ
بِعَزيمَةٍwith a resolve لاnot تُقرَبُis approached
بِعَزيمَةٍ لا تُقرَبُ
I shook Khalid's shield
I shook the garden of Khalid
with a resolve none dare approach.
With determination that cannot be approached.
وَأَطَرتُand I sent flying جَنَّةَthe shield of عَجرَدٍAjrad
وَأَطَرتُ جَنَّةَ عَجرَدٍ
وَأَناand I am المُغَنُّthe nasal-voiced one المِشغَبُthe troublemaker
وَأَنا المُغَنُّ المِشغَبُ
And I sent Ajrad's shield flying;
And I encompassed the garden of 'Ajrad,
and I am the nasal-voiced troublemaker.
While I am the singing rascal.
يَخشىfear الأُسودُthe lions عَرامَتيmy fierceness
يَخشى الأُسودُ عَرامَتي
وَيَبولُand urinates مِنّيbecause of me التَولَبُthe ass's foal
وَيَبولُ مِنّي التَولَبُ
Lions fear my fierceness,
The lions fear my courage,
and the ass's foal wets itself because of me.
And the fox urinates because of me.
وَلَقَدand indeed وَضَعتُI placed عَلىupon سُهَيSuhayl (first part)
وَلَقَد وَضَعتُ عَلى سُهَي
لٍcompletion of 'Suhayl' ميسَماًa brand لاnot يَذهَبُfades
لٍ ميسَماً لا يَذهَبُ
I have indeed placed upon Suhayl
And indeed I placed on the neck of Suhayl
a brand that will never fade.
A brand that does not disappear.
وَإِذاand when هَرَبتُI flee مِنَfrom الصَباpassionate longing (first part)
وَإِذا هَرَبتُ مِنَ الصَبا
بَةِcompletion of 'passionate longing' لَمnot يَكُنthere was ليfor me مَهرَبُan escape
بَةِ لَم يَكُن لي مَهرَبُ
And whenever I flee from love's longing,
And if I fled from the youths,
there is no escape for me.
I would have no escape.
ياO بانَBan كَدَّرتِyou clouded النَعيdelight (first part)
يا بانَ كَدَّرتِ النَعي
مَcompletion of 'delight' فَلاso not أَلَذُّI take pleasure وَأَلعَبُand I play
مَ فَلا أَلَذُّ وَأَلعَبُ
O Ban, you have clouded my joy,
O Bana, you troubled pleasure,
so I neither delight nor play.
So there is no joy and no play.
ياO بانَBan ليI have نَفسٌa soul عَلَيfor you (first part)
يا بانَ لي نَفسٌ عَلَي
كِcompletion of 'for you' إِذاwhen ذُكِرتِyou are mentioned تَصَبَّبُmelts with longing
كِ إِذا ذُكِرتِ تَصَبَّبُ
O Ban, my soul is set on you;
O Bana, I have a soul that
whenever you are mentioned, it melts with longing.
Melts for you when you are remembered.
وَاللَهِby God رَبِّLord of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
وَاللَهِ رَبِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
إِنّيindeed I بِبانَةَwith Bana مُعجَبُam enamored
إِنّي بِبانَةَ مُعجَبُ
By God, Muhammad's Lord,
By Allah, the Lord of Muhammad,
I am enamored of Bana.
I am enamored with Bana.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَتانيreached me أَنَّهاthat she
وَلَقَد أَتاني أَنَّها
باتَتshe spent the night عَلَيَّagainst me تَلَهَّبُblazing
باتَت عَلَيَّ تَلَهَّبُ
Word has indeed reached me that she
And it came to me that she
spent the night blazing with anger at me.
Spent the night burning with passion for me.
قالَتshe said أَتَركَبُdo you ride? تارِكاًabandoning
قالَت أَتَركَبُ تارِكاً
أَمريmy bidding وَماand what لَكَis the matter with you تَركَبُyou ride
أَمري وَما لَكَ تَركَبُ
She said, 'Do you ride away, abandoning
She said, "Do you ride off leaving
my bidding? What makes you ride?'
My affairs when you have no reason to ride?"
قَولُthe talk of النِساءِthe women عَلاrose بِهاwith her
قَولُ النِساءِ عَلا بِها
وَلِكُلِّand for every فَجٍّmountain pass عَقرَبُa scorpion
وَلِكُلِّ فَجٍّ عَقرَبُ
The women's talk has swept her up,
The words of women rose within her,
and every mountain pass has its scorpion.
And every crevice has a pass.
ياO بانَBan بَعضُsome of اللاطِفاthe flattering women (first part)
يا بانَ بَعضُ اللاطِفا
تِcompletion of 'the flattering women' مِنَthan الحَواسِدِthe envious women أَكذَبُmore deceitful
تِ مِنَ الحَواسِدِ أَكذَبُ
O Ban, some of the flattering women
O Bana, some of the gentle ones
are more deceitful than the envious.
Of the envious women are the most lying.
يَغرُرنَthey deceive مَنwhoever أَصغىlistens لَهُنto them (first part)
يَغرُرنَ مَن أَصغى لَهُن
نcompletion of 'to them' كَماjust as يَغُرُّdeceives المَذهَبُgilded metal
ن كَما يَغُرُّ المَذهَبُ
They deceive whoever listens to them,
They delude whoever listens to them
just as gilded metal deceives.
As doctrine deludes the follower.
فيamong الناسِpeople عائِلَةٌa hostile faction عَلَيagainst you (first part)
في الناسِ عائِلَةٌ عَلَي
كِcompletion of 'against you' وَبَعضُand some of أَهلِكِyour people يُثرِبُreproach
كِ وَبَعضُ أَهلِكِ يُثرِبُ
Among the people are some who wrong you,
Among the people is a family against you,
and some of your own people reproach.
And some of your tribe backbite.
إِنif كانَwas حَقّاًtrue ماwhat زَعَمthey claimed (first part)
إِن كانَ حَقّاً ما زَعَم
نَcompletion of 'they claimed' فَلاthen may not صَفاbe clear ليfor me مَشرَبُa draught
نَ فَلا صَفا لي مَشرَبُ
If what they have claimed is true,
If what they claimed is true,
then may my drinking-water never be clear.
Then I have no pure drink.
أَبرَأتِyou healed صَدرَكِyour heart إِنَّنيindeed I
أَبرَأتِ صَدرَكِ إِنَّني
قَلِقٌanxious بِسُخطِكِat your displeasure مُتعَبُexhausted
قَلِقٌ بِسُخطِكِ مُتعَبُ
You have eased your heart; I
I pardoned your breast. Truly I
am anxious, worn out by your displeasure.
Am troubled by your anger, exhausted.
ياO بانَBan إِنّيindeed I بِالرِضىfor approval
يا بانَ إِنّي بِالرِضى
أَبلىI wear out إِلَيكِfor you وَأَنصَبُand grow weary
أَبلى إِلَيكِ وَأَنصَبُ
O Ban, seeking your approval, I
O Bana I wear out to you in consent
wear myself out for you and grow weary.
And exert myself.
وَأَتوبُand I repent مِمّاof what تَعلَميyou know (first part)
وَأَتوبُ مِمّا تَعلَمي
نَcompletion of 'you know' كَماjust as يَتوبُrepents المُذنِبُthe guilty one
نَ كَما يَتوبُ المُذنِبُ
And I repent of what you know,
And I repent of what you know
as the guilty one repents.
As the sinner repents.
أَنتِyou الأَميرَةُthe princess فيin الهَوىlove
أَنتِ الأَميرَةُ في الهَوى
وَأَناand I am المُسيءُthe wrongdoer المُذنِبُthe guilty one
وَأَنا المُسيءُ المُذنِبُ
You are the princess in love,
You are the princess in passion,
and I am the wrongdoer, the guilty one.
While I am the transgressor, the sinner.
وَلَقَدand indeed وَضَعتُI placed عَلىupon سُهَيSuhayl (first part)
وَلَقَد وَضَعتُ عَلى سُهَي
لٍcompletion of 'Suhayl' ميسَماًa brand لاnot يَذهَبُfades
لٍ ميسَماً لا يَذهَبُ
I have indeed placed upon Suhayl
And indeed I placed on the neck of Suhayl
a brand that will never fade.
A brand that does not disappear.
وَإِذاand when هَرَبتُI flee مِنَfrom الصَباpassionate longing (first part)
وَإِذا هَرَبتُ مِنَ الصَبا
بَةِcompletion of 'passionate longing' لَمnot يَكُنthere was ليfor me مَهرَبُan escape
بَةِ لَم يَكُن لي مَهرَبُ
And whenever I flee from love's longing,
And if I fled from the youths,
there is no escape for me.
I would have no escape.
ياO بانَBan كَدَّرتِyou clouded النَعيdelight (first part)
يا بانَ كَدَّرتِ النَعي
مَcompletion of 'delight' فَلاso not أَلَذُّI take pleasure وَأَلعَبُand I play
مَ فَلا أَلَذُّ وَأَلعَبُ
O Ban, you have clouded my joy,
O Bana, you troubled pleasure,
so I neither delight nor play.
So there is no joy and no play.
ياO بانَBan ليI have نَفسٌa soul عَلَيfor you (first part)
يا بانَ لي نَفسٌ عَلَي
كِcompletion of 'for you' إِذاwhen ذُكِرتِyou are mentioned تَصَبَّبُmelts with longing
كِ إِذا ذُكِرتِ تَصَبَّبُ
O Ban, my soul is set on you;
O Bana, I have a soul that
whenever you are mentioned, it melts with longing.
Melts for you when you are remembered.
وَاللَهِby God رَبِّLord of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
وَاللَهِ رَبِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
إِنّيindeed I بِبانَةَwith Bana مُعجَبُam enamored
إِنّي بِبانَةَ مُعجَبُ
By God, Muhammad's Lord,
By Allah, the Lord of Muhammad,
I am enamored of Bana.
I am enamored with Bana.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَتانيreached me أَنَّهاthat she
وَلَقَد أَتاني أَنَّها
باتَتshe spent the night عَلَيَّagainst me تَلَهَّبُblazing
باتَت عَلَيَّ تَلَهَّبُ
Word has indeed reached me that she
And it came to me that she
spent the night blazing with anger at me.
Spent the night burning with passion for me.
قالَتshe said أَتَركَبُdo you ride? تارِكاًabandoning
قالَت أَتَركَبُ تارِكاً
أَمريmy bidding وَماand what لَكَis the matter with you تَركَبُyou ride
أَمري وَما لَكَ تَركَبُ
She said, 'Do you ride away, abandoning
She said, "Do you ride off leaving
my bidding? What makes you ride?'
My affairs when you have no reason to ride?"
قَولُthe talk of النِساءِthe women عَلاrose بِهاwith her
قَولُ النِساءِ عَلا بِها
وَلِكُلِّand for every فَجٍّmountain pass عَقرَبُa scorpion
وَلِكُلِّ فَجٍّ عَقرَبُ
The women's talk has swept her up,
The words of women rose within her,
and every mountain pass has its scorpion.
And every crevice has a pass.
ياO بانَBan بَعضُsome of اللاطِفاthe flattering women (first part)
يا بانَ بَعضُ اللاطِفا
تِcompletion of 'the flattering women' مِنَthan الحَواسِدِthe envious women أَكذَبُmore deceitful
تِ مِنَ الحَواسِدِ أَكذَبُ
O Ban, some of the flattering women
O Bana, some of the gentle ones
are more deceitful than the envious.
Of the envious women are the most lying.
يَغرُرنَthey deceive مَنwhoever أَصغىlistens لَهُنto them (first part)
يَغرُرنَ مَن أَصغى لَهُن
نcompletion of 'to them' كَماjust as يَغُرُّdeceives المَذهَبُgilded metal
ن كَما يَغُرُّ المَذهَبُ
They deceive whoever listens to them,
They delude whoever listens to them
just as gilded metal deceives.
As doctrine deludes the follower.
فيamong الناسِpeople عائِلَةٌa hostile faction عَلَيagainst you (first part)
في الناسِ عائِلَةٌ عَلَي
كِcompletion of 'against you' وَبَعضُand some of أَهلِكِyour people يُثرِبُreproach
كِ وَبَعضُ أَهلِكِ يُثرِبُ
Among the people are some who wrong you,
Among the people is a family against you,
and some of your own people reproach.
And some of your tribe backbite.
إِنif كانَwas حَقّاًtrue ماwhat زَعَمthey claimed (first part)
إِن كانَ حَقّاً ما زَعَم
نَcompletion of 'they claimed' فَلاthen may not صَفاbe clear ليfor me مَشرَبُa draught
نَ فَلا صَفا لي مَشرَبُ
If what they have claimed is true,
If what they claimed is true,
then may my drinking-water never be clear.
Then I have no pure drink.
أَبرَأتِyou healed صَدرَكِyour heart إِنَّنيindeed I
أَبرَأتِ صَدرَكِ إِنَّني
قَلِقٌanxious بِسُخطِكِat your displeasure مُتعَبُexhausted
قَلِقٌ بِسُخطِكِ مُتعَبُ
You have eased your heart; I
I pardoned your breast. Truly I
am anxious, worn out by your displeasure.
Am troubled by your anger, exhausted.
ياO بانَBan إِنّيindeed I بِالرِضىfor approval
يا بانَ إِنّي بِالرِضى
أَبلىI wear out إِلَيكِfor you وَأَنصَبُand grow weary
أَبلى إِلَيكِ وَأَنصَبُ
O Ban, seeking your approval, I
O Bana I wear out to you in consent
wear myself out for you and grow weary.
And exert myself.
وَأَتوبُand I repent مِمّاof what تَعلَميyou know (first part)
وَأَتوبُ مِمّا تَعلَمي
نَcompletion of 'you know' كَماjust as يَتوبُrepents المُذنِبُthe guilty one
نَ كَما يَتوبُ المُذنِبُ
And I repent of what you know,
And I repent of what you know
as the guilty one repents.
As the sinner repents.
أَنتِyou الأَميرَةُthe princess فيin الهَوىlove
أَنتِ الأَميرَةُ في الهَوى
وَأَناand I am المُسيءُthe wrongdoer المُذنِبُthe guilty one
وَأَنا المُسيءُ المُذنِبُ
You are the princess in love,
You are the princess in passion,
and I am the wrongdoer, the guilty one.
While I am the transgressor, the sinner.
يَكفيكِit suffices you أَنّيthat I لاnot أَعوI return (first part)
يَكفيكِ أَنّي لا أَعو
دُcompletion of 'I return' وَهَلand is there ...? وَراءَكِbeyond you مَطلَبُanything to seek
دُ وَهَل وَراءَكِ مَطلَبُ
Let it suffice you that I shall not do it again;
It is enough for you that I do not
and is there anything to seek beyond you?
Return, and is there anything beyond you I desire?
Sol 6.1