ذَرِيleave off عَذليreproaching me فَشانُكِfor your concern غَيرُis different from شانيmy concern
ذَرِي عَذلي فَشانُكِ غَيرُ شاني
وَلاand do not تَتَمَلَّكيtake possession of طَرَفَيthe two ends of عِنانيmy reins
وَلا تَتَمَلَّكي طَرَفَي عِناني
Leave off reproaching me: your concern is not mine,
Leave my love be, for your beauty is unparalleled,
And do not seize both ends of my reins.
And cease your teasing glances that make my heart unsettled.
وَرُدِّيand return ياO ابنَةَdaughter of السُلَميِّal-Sulami قَلبيmy heart
وَرُدِّي يا ابنَةَ السُلَميِّ قَلبي
فَقَدfor indeed قارَفتِyou have meddled with قَلبيmy heart ماwhat كَفانيhas sufficed me
فَقَد قارَفتِ قَلبي ما كَفاني
Return my heart, O daughter of al-Sulami,
Return my heart, O daughter of Sulami,
For you have meddled with my heart enough.
For you have filled it with more love than it can handle.
عَصَيتُI disobeyed الحِلمَsound judgment أَيّامَduring the days of التَصابيyouthful folly
عَصَيتُ الحِلمَ أَيّامَ التَصابي
وَماand not أَعصىI disobey النُهىreason لَمّاnow that نَهانيit has restrained me
وَما أَعصى النُهى لَمّا نَهاني
I defied sound judgment in my days of youthful folly,
I disobeyed wisdom in our days of joy,
But I do not defy reason now that it has restrained me.
And never disobeyed the advice when it tried to employ,
تَأَمَّليlook closely at مَفرِقيmy hair's parting تَجِديyou will find سُطُوراًlines
تَأَمَّلي مَفرِقي تَجِدي سُطُوراً
أَجادَتexcelled in مَحوَهُنَّerasing them يَدُthe hand of الزَمانِtime
أَجادَت مَحوَهُنَّ يَدُ الزَمانِ
Look closely at my hair's parting: you will find lines
Look upon my temple - you will find lines
The hand of Time has deftly erased—
Whose erasure was perfected by time’s hands,
سُطوراًlines بَيَّضَتهُنَّwhitened them اللَياليthe nights
سُطوراً بَيَّضَتهُنَّ اللَيالي
وَلَكِنbut سَوَّدَتblackened بِيضَwhite الأَمانيhopes
وَلَكِن سَوَّدَت بِيضَ الأَماني
Lines that the nights have whitened,
Lines whitened by the nights,
Yet they have blackened my white hopes.
But blackened by dashed hopes’ blights.
أُحِبُّI love مِنَamong السَمادِعِthe noble chiefs كُلَّevery نَدبٍgallant man
أُحِبُّ مِنَ السَمادِعِ كُلَّ نَدبٍ
كَريمِnoble in الخِيمِdisposition مَأمُونِtrustworthy of اللِسانِtongue
كَريمِ الخِيمِ مَأمُونِ اللِسانِ
Among noble chiefs, I love every gallant man,
I love all honest men, sheltered and safe of tongue,
Noble in disposition, trustworthy of tongue,
Who pardon sin and exercise patience for all wrong,
يَعِفُّhe refrains عَنِfrom الخَناobscene speech وَيَشفُّand excels حِلماًin forbearance
يَعِفُّ عَنِ الخَنا وَيَشفُّ حِلماً
كَماjust as شَفَّتrose high ذُرىthe summits of عَلَمَيthe two mountains of أَبانِAban
كَما شَفَّت ذُرى عَلَمَي أَبانِ
Who shuns obscenity and towers in forbearance,
And I hate all gossiping, grumbling, mean souls
As the summits of Aban's two mountains tower.
Who love to spread tales while playing their roles.
وَأَمقُتُand I detest كُلَّevery مُغتابٍbackbiter نَمُومٍtalebearer
وَأَمقُتُ كُلَّ مُغتابٍ نَمُومٍ
حَرِيصٍeager بِالنَميمَةِfor malicious gossip غَيرِnot وَانيflagging
حَرِيصٍ بِالنَميمَةِ غَيرِ وَاني
And I detest every backbiter and talebearer,
Oh, what a wretched talk - a talk of lies,
Eager for malicious gossip, never flagging.
That so-and-so narrates from so-and-so, a guise!
أَلاindeed بِئسَvile is الحَديثُthe talk حَديثُthe talk of زُورٍfalsehood
أَلا بِئسَ الحَديثُ حَديثُ زُورٍ
يُبَلِّغُهُhe conveys it فُلانٌso-and-so عَنfrom فُلانِso-and-so
يُبَلِّغُهُ فُلانٌ عَن فُلانِ
Indeed, vile is the talk of falsehood
By night I beat its sides with my belt and clothes,
That so-and-so passes on from so-and-so.
Till its shape is obscured by the darkness that grows.
وَلَيلٍand many a night بِتُّI spent the night أَخبِطُI traverse جانِبَيهِits two sides
وَلَيلٍ بِتُّ أَخبِطُ جانِبَيهِ
بِدامِيَةِon a she-camel bleeding at الحِزامَةِthe girth وَالبِطانِand the bellyband
بِدامِيَةِ الحِزامَةِ وَالبِطانِ
And many a night I spent ranging from end to end,
Sweat pours from its skin, the color of smoke,
On a she-camel bleeding beneath her girth and bellyband.
From the cracks amidst the smoldering cloak.
يُخَيِّفُwears down شَخصَهاher frame التَأوِيبُdaylong travel حَتّىuntil
يُخَيِّفُ شَخصَها التَأوِيبُ حَتّى
لَكادَتindeed she almost أَنto تَدِقَّgrow too slight عَنِfor العِيانِsight
لَكادَت أَن تَدِقَّ عَنِ العِيانِ
Daylong travel wears down her frame until
I say to lads who sneak out at night while Layla sleeps,
She almost grows too slight to be seen.
As they head out on adventures while neighborhood silence keeps:
وَسالَand streamed حَجاجُهاher brow عَرَقاًwith sweat بَهيماًpitch-black
وَسالَ حَجاجُها عَرَقاً بَهيماً
كَلَونِlike the color of الوَكفِdripping water مِنfrom خَلَلِthe gaps in الدُخانِsmoke
كَلَونِ الوَكفِ مِن خَلَلِ الدُخانِ
And her brow streamed with pitch-black sweat,
“Your necks droop and you lean on soft pillows,
Like the color of water dripping through smoke.
Now rouse, and to Abu Ulwan let your camels bellows!
أَقُولُI say لِفِتيَةٍto young men لَغِبُواwho grew weary وَلَيلىand my night
أَقُولُ لِفِتيَةٍ لَغِبُوا وَلَيلى
وَلَيلُهُمُand their night مُكِبٌّlying prostrate لِلجِرانِupon its neck
وَلَيلُهُمُ مُكِبٌّ لِلجِرانِ
I say to youths grown weary, while my night
Mount your decorated steeds, make haste!
And theirs lay prostrate, its neck pressed down,
Cut through the dusty winding waste,
وَقَدand already مالَتhad drooped رِقابَهُمُtheir necks وَلانُواand they became pliant
وَقَد مالَت رِقابَهُمُ وَلانُوا
عَلىover الأَكوارِthe camel saddles لِينَwith the suppleness of الخَيزُرانِbamboo
عَلى الأَكوارِ لِينَ الخَيزُرانِ
Their necks had drooped and they had bent
Till you reach Aleppo; there pause and rest,
Over the saddles, pliant as bamboo:
Savoring the most delicious and joyous fest.”
أَبُوAbu (father of) العُلوانِal-Ulwan مَقصِدُكُمyour destination فَهُزُّواso shake
أَبُو العُلوانِ مَقصِدُكُم فَهُزُّوا
إِلَيهِtoward him عَرائِكَthe humps of البُزلِthe full-grown camels الهِجانِthe white, purebred ones
إِلَيهِ عَرائِكَ البُزلِ الهِجانِ
Abu al-Ulwan is your destination; urge onward
On camels whose skin resemble shades of dye,
Toward him the humps of your full-grown white camels.
As though pieces of leather stitched side by side.
فَسارُواso they journeyed يَقطَعُونَcrossing إِلىtoward نَداهُhis bounty
فَسارُوا يَقطَعُونَ إِلى نَداهُ
تَنائِفِthe deserts of كُلِّevery أَغبَرَdust-gray صَحصَحانِwide, level plain
تَنائِفِ كُلِّ أَغبَرَ صَحصَحانِ
So they journeyed, crossing toward his bounty
They saw trees of virtue fruitfully bear,
The deserts of every dust-gray, spacious plain.
And boughs of bliss - the greenest welfare,
فَلَمّاand when قابَلُواthey came within sight of حَلَباًAleppo وَحَلُّواand alighted
فَلَمّا قابَلُوا حَلَباً وَحَلُّوا
بِأَخصَبِin the most fertile ماthat which يُحَلُّis settled in مِنَamong المَغانيdwelling places
بِأَخصَبِ ما يُحَلُّ مِنَ المَغاني
When they came within sight of Aleppo and alighted
My two friends! Look here - an old man who stands,
In the most fertile of all dwelling places,
Whose feet the seas and mountains kiss as they expand,
عَلىupon مِثلِthe likeness of الأَهِلَّةِcrescent moons مُبرَياتٍworn thin
عَلى مِثلِ الأَهِلَّةِ مُبرَياتٍ
كَأَنَّas though جَلُودَهاtheir hides قِطَعُpieces of الشِنانِworn-out waterskins
كَأَنَّ جَلُودَها قِطَعُ الشِنانِ
Upon mounts worn thin like crescent moons,
Peerless in his generosity - nowhere else exists,
Their hides like pieces of worn-out waterskins,
One with greater virtue or noble traits persists.
رَأَواthey saw شَجَرَthe trees of المَكارِمِnoble deeds مُثمِراتٍbearing fruit
رَأَوا شَجَرَ المَكارِمِ مُثمِراتٍ
وَأَغصانَand the branches of النَدىgenerosity خُضرَgreen at المَجانيthe fruit-gathering places
وَأَغصانَ النَدى خُضرَ المَجاني
They saw the trees of noble deeds bearing fruit,
The blessed feast has passed while I was gone,
And bounty's branches, green where their fruit is gathered.
And people have, ahead of me, their congratulations won.
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends انظُراlook, you two فيon الدَستِthe throne قَرماًa noble chief
خَلِيلَيَّ انظُرا في الدَستِ قَرماً
يُداسُare trodden بِأَخمَصَيهِby his two soles الفَرقَدانِthe two Farqad stars
يُداسُ بِأَخمَصَيهِ الفَرقَدانِ
My two friends, behold upon the throne a lord
Why don’t the poets act nicely in my absence
Beneath whose soles the two Farqad stars are trodden.
And cease their blaming tongues from such nonsense?
تَفَرَّدَhe stood alone بِالسَماحِin generosity فَلَيسَso not يُلفىis found
تَفَرَّدَ بِالسَماحِ فَلَيسَ يُلفى
لِفَخرِto Fakhr (Glory of) المُلكِal-Mulk (the Realm) فيin الآفاقِthe horizons ثانيa second
لِفَخرِ المُلكِ في الآفاقِ ثاني
He stands alone in generosity; nowhere is found
They came but did not change their usual ways,
An equal to Fakhr al-Mulk across the horizons.
And though numerous, did not fill my place,
مَضىpassed العِيدُthe Eid السَعِيدُthe joyous وَغِبتُand I was absent عَنهُfrom it
مَضى العِيدُ السَعِيدُ وَغِبتُ عَنهُ
وَفازَand won الناسُthe people قَبلِيbefore me بِالتَهانيwith congratulations
وَفازَ الناسُ قَبلِي بِالتَهاني
The joyous Eid has passed, and I was absent from it,
How they tried to catch up! But their minds never led
And others won the chance to offer congratulations before me.
To anything resembling what I’ve said.
فَهَلّاso why did not أَحسَنَtreat well الشُعَراءُthe poets غَيبِيmy absence
فَهَلّا أَحسَنَ الشُعَراءُ غَيبِي
وَكَفُّواand restrain عَنfrom عِتابِهِمُreproaching them لِسانيmy tongue
وَكَفُّوا عَن عِتابِهِمُ لِساني
Why did the poets not treat me well in my absence
They blamed me for poverty, criticized my situation,
And restrain my tongue from reproaching them?
Mocked my beauty from a biased estimation.
فَقَدfor indeed حَضَرُواthey attended فَماyet not نابُواthey stood in مَنابِيmy stead
فَقَد حَضَرُوا فَما نابُوا مَنابِي
وَلاand not سَدُّواthey filled وَإِنand even though كَثُرُواthey were numerous مَكانيmy place
وَلا سَدُّوا وَإِن كَثُرُوا مَكاني
They were present, yet they did not stand in my stead,
But Abu Mani’, though he keeps in touch,
Nor fill my place, though they were many.
Is not like one who has been graced as such.
وَكَمand how often طَلَبُواthey sought اللَحاقَto catch up وَماyet not تَهَدَّتfound their way
وَكَم طَلَبُوا اللَحاقَ وَما تَهَدَّت
قَرائِحُهُمtheir poetic gifts إِلىto هَذيthese المَعانيmeanings
قَرائِحُهُم إِلى هَذي المَعاني
How often they sought to catch up! Yet never were
The two kings adored me, but beauty lies
Their poetic gifts guided to these meanings.
In he who sees me with his own eyes.
أَعابُونيdid they reproach me? بِقَرواشٍfor Qarwash وَعَيبيyet my fault
أَعابُوني بِقَرواشٍ وَعَيبي
بِقَرواشٍfor Qarwash جَماليmy adornment فيin زَمانيmy time
بِقَرواشٍ جَمالي في زَماني
Did they fault me for Qarwash? Yet my fault
Had I been tested with a member of Hashim,
For Qarwash is my adornment in my time.
The sullen ones are clan of Abdulmadan.
وَلَيسَand is not أَبُوAbu (father of) المَنيعِal-Mani' (the impregnable) وَإِنand even though تَوالَتcame in succession
وَلَيسَ أَبُو المَنيعِ وَإِن تَوالَت
إِلَيَّto me صِلاتُهُhis gifts كَمَنِlike the one who اِصطَفانيchose me
إِلَيَّ صِلاتُهُ كَمَنِ اِصطَفاني
And Abu al-Mani' is not—though continually
He would have triumphed over me, though he bore
His gifts reach me—like the one who chose me.
What I gave him, but look at whom I was forced before!
كِلاboth المَلِكَينِkings أَولانِيbestowed upon me جَميلاًkindness
كِلا المَلِكَينِ أَولانِي جَميلاً
وَلَكِنَّbut الجَميلَthe credit for kindness لمِنbelongs to the one who بَدانيfirst favored me
وَلَكِنَّ الجَميلَ لمِن بَداني
Both kings have bestowed kindness upon me,
I taught him archery, day after day,
But the credit for kindness is his who favored me first.
Until his arm grew strong, and he drove me away.
وَلَوand if أَنّيthat I بُلِيتُwere afflicted بِهاشِميّwith a Hashimite
وَلَو أَنّي بُلِيتُ بِهاشِميّ
خُؤلَتُهُhis maternal uncles بَنُوthe sons of عَبدِAbd (servant of) المَدانِal-Madan
خُؤلَتُهُ بَنُو عَبدِ المَدانِ
Had I been afflicted with a Hashimite
Live long, O Pride of Kings, for I
Whose maternal uncles were Banu Abd al-Madan,
Through your life, am safe from time sailing by.
لَهانَwould be easy عَلَيَّfor me ماwhat أَلقىI suffer وَلَكِنbut
لَهانَ عَلَيَّ ما أَلقى وَلَكِن
تَعاليcome فَانظُريthen look بِمَنِwith whom اِبتَلانيhe has afflicted me
تَعالي فَانظُري بِمَنِ اِبتَلاني
What I suffer would be easier to bear; but
With you I fear no trials, for it matters not
Come, and see with whom I have been afflicted.
If all abandon me, as long as you have not.
أَعَلِّمُهُI teach him الرِمايَةِarchery كُلَّevery يَومٍday
أَعَلِّمُهُ الرِمايَةِ كُلَّ يَومٍ
فَلَمّاthen when اشتَدَّgrew strong ساعِدُهُhis forearm رَمانيhe shot at me
فَلَمّا اشتَدَّ ساعِدُهُ رَماني
I teach him archery every day,
It will be known these words will stay
But when his forearm grew strong, he shot at me.
Beyond all rhythm within lays.
أَفَخرَO Fakhr (Glory of) المُلكِal-Mulk (the Realm) عِشlive أَبَداًforever فَإِنّيfor I
أَفَخرَ المُلكِ عِش أَبَداً فَإِنّي
بِعَيشِكَthrough your life مِنfrom زَمانيmy times فيin أَمانِsafety
بِعَيشِكَ مِن زَماني في أَمانِ
O Fakhr al-Mulk, live forever, for I
So live - if your fame lasts, so lasts mine,
Through your life am safe from my times.
And if your stature grows, so grows mine.
أَمِنتُI am safe from بِكَthrough you الخُطُوبَcalamities فَماso not أُبالِيI care
أَمِنتُ بِكَ الخُطُوبَ فَما أُبالِي
إِذاwhen أَبصَرتُI see وَجهَكَyour face مَنwho جَفانيhas shunned me
إِذا أَبصَرتُ وَجهَكَ مَن جَفاني
Through you I am safe from calamities, so I care not,
When I see your face, who has shunned me.
سَيُعلَمُit will be known أَنَّthat هَذاthis القَولَutterance أَبقىmore enduring
سَيُعلَمُ أَنَّ هَذا القَولَ أَبقى
عَلىthrough الأَيّامِthe days مِنthan نَغَمِthe melodies of القِيانِthe singing slave women
عَلى الأَيّامِ مِن نَغَمِ القِيانِ
It will be known that these words endure longer
Through the ages than the melodies of singing slave women.
فَعِشso live إِنif طالَlasts long ذِكرُكَyour remembrance طالَlasts long ذِكريmy remembrance
فَعِش إِن طالَ ذِكرُكَ طالَ ذِكري
وَإِمّاand if زادَincreases شانُكَyour standing زادَincreases شانيmy standing
وَإِمّا زادَ شانُكَ زادَ شاني
So live: if your remembrance lasts, mine lasts,
And if your standing grows, mine grows.
Partial English translation: 64 of 70 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1