أَهاجَتكَdid they stir you? أَطلالُruins الكَثيبِthe sand dune الدَوارِسُweathered
أَهاجَتكَ أَطلالُ الكَثيبِ الدَوارِسُ
فَهِجنَكَso they roused you أَمor تِلكَthose الظِباءُthe gazelles الكَوانِسsheltering in coverts
فَهِجنَكَ أَم تِلكَ الظِباءُ الكَوانِس
Did the weathered ruins of the dune stir you,
Ruins of the hillock stirred you, the whirling sands,
And rouse you—or those gazelles sheltering in their coverts?
Or was it those light gazelles, the delicate does?
وَماand ... not هاجَstirred هَذاthis الشَوقَlonging إِلّاexcept مَنازِلٌdwellings
وَما هاجَ هَذا الشَوقَ إِلّا مَنازِلٌ
لِسَلمىbelonging to Salma بِصَحراءِin the desert of العَقيقِal-Aqiq دَوارِسُeffaced
لِسَلمى بِصَحراءِ العَقيقِ دَوارِسُ
And nothing stirred this longing but dwellings
Naught but the abodes incited this yearning -
Of Salma, worn away in the desert of al-Aqiq.
Abodes of Salma in Al-'Aqiq’s desert whirls.
عَفَتthey faded away مُنذُsince أَعوامٍyears تَقَضَّتpassed away ثَلاثَةٍthree
عَفَت مُنذُ أَعوامٍ تَقَضَّت ثَلاثَةٍ
وَرابِعُهاand their fourth الماضيthe past one وَذاand this العامُyear خامِسُthe fifth
وَرابِعُها الماضي وَذا العامُ خامِسُ
They have lain effaced for years: three passed away,
They lie neglected these five years gone,
And their fourth was last year, and this year is the fifth.
Three passed, plus this year, four makes the fifth.
وَلَمand did not يَبقَremain مِنهاof them غَيرُother than نُؤىa tent-trench كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَلَم يَبقَ مِنها غَيرُ نُؤى كَأَنَّهُ
مَجالٌa riding-ground أَدارَsent circling الرَكضَthe gallop حَولَيهِaround it فارِسُa horseman
مَجالٌ أَدارَ الرَكضَ حَولَيهِ فارِسُ
Nothing remained of them but a tent-trench, as though it were
Naught remains of them but traces, as though
A riding-ground around which a horseman wheeled at a gallop,
A horse had galloped his course round about them.
وَشُعثٍand rough stones كَهاماتِlike the heads of القسوسِthe priests رَواكِدٍmotionless
وَشُعثٍ كَهاماتِ القسوسِ رَواكِدٍ
لَهاfor them مِنfrom مَياجينِwashing mallets الإِماءِthe slave women نَواقِسُbells
لَها مِن مَياجينِ الإِماءِ نَواقِسُ
And rough, motionless stones like priests' heads,
Dishevelled locks like the plumage of an ostrich,
With slave women's washing mallets for their bells.
With slave-girls to adorn them, singing black-eyes.
كَأَنَّas though الأَثافيthe hearthstones السُفعَsoot-darkened فيin عَرَصاتِهاtheir courtyards
كَأَنَّ الأَثافي السُفعَ في عَرَصاتِها
حَمائِمُdoves وُرقٌgray يَومَon a day of قرٍّcold شَوامِسُbasking in the sun
حَمائِمُ وُرقٌ يَومَ قرٍّ شَوامِسُ
As though the soot-darkened hearthstones in their courtyards
The bare interiors seem amidst their courtyards
Were gray doves basking in the sun on a cold day.
Like the writ leaves the day they were seized.
أَواعِسُsoft sandy tracts يُوطيهاtrample them الرِكابُriding camels وَطالَماand how often
أَواعِسُ يُوطيها الرِكابُ وَطالَما
تُقَبَّلُare kissed بِالأَفواهِwith mouths تِلكَthose الأَواعِسُsandy tracts
تُقَبَّلُ بِالأَفواهِ تِلكَ الأَواعِسُ
Sandy stretches trodden by riding camels—how often
Sanctuaries kissed by lips though prostrations long -
Those sandy stretches were kissed by lips!
Those sanctuaries - and nooks where lovers once met.
فَياso, ah! حَبَّذاhow lovely فيهِنَّamong them عَصرٌa time لَهَوتُهُI spent it in pleasure
فَيا حَبَّذا فيهِنَّ عَصرٌ لَهَوتُهُ
وَأَيّامُناand our days فيهاin them الهِجانُpure and bright الأَوانِسُcompanionable
وَأَيّامُنا فيها الهِجانُ الأَوانِسُ
Ah, how lovely was a time I spent in pleasure among them,
Happy the days when in them was dalliance,
And our bright, companionable days there!
And our days amidst them, thronged with gentle girls.
عَشِيَّةَon the evening when أَثوابُthe garments of الهَوىlove مُستَجِدَّةٌfresh and new
عَشِيَّةَ أَثوابُ الهَوى مُستَجِدَّةٌ
وَعَصرُand the season of التَصابيyouthful dalliance مورِقُleafy العُودِof bough نابِسُbudding
وَعَصرُ التَصابي مورِقُ العُودِ نابِسُ
On the evening when love's garments were fresh and new,
At even the robes of love are new stitched,
And youthful dalliance's season was leafy of bough and budding.
And the mid-morn airs laden with ambergris scent.
وَماand what use is ذِكرُكَyour recalling الشَيءَthe thing الَّذيthat لَيسَis not راجِعاًreturning
وَما ذِكرُكَ الشَيءَ الَّذي لَيسَ راجِعاً
إِذاwhen اِختَلَسَتهُhave snatched it مِنfrom يَدَيكَyour two hands الخَوالِسُthe snatchers
إِذا اِختَلَسَتهُ مِن يَدَيكَ الخَوالِسُ
And what use is recalling something that will not return,
Remembrance cannot snatch what is beyond reach
Once the snatchers have snatched it from your hands?
When the spying eyes have snatched it from your hand.
وَعيِسٌand pale camels حَراجيجٌlean عَسَفناwe crossed tracklessly بِهاon them الفَلاthe wilderness
وَعيِسٌ حَراجيجٌ عَسَفنا بِها الفَلا
وَجُنحُwhile the wing of الدُجىdarkness وَحفُthick-feathered الجَناحَينِthe two wings دامِسُpitch-dark
وَجُنحُ الدُجى وَحفُ الجَناحَينِ دامِسُ
And on pale, lean camels we crossed the trackless wilderness,
A wailing owl, whose outcry we learned through the nights,
While night's darkness was thick-feathered in both wings and pitch-black.
Wings of darkness, the hush of feathers alighting.
إِذاwhen أَرقَلَتthey trotted swiftly لَمdid not يَدرِknow مَنwhoever مَدَّextended طَرفَهُhis gaze
إِذا أَرقَلَت لَم يَدرِ مَن مَدَّ طَرفَهُ
أَعِقبانُare they eagles? دُجنٍdark تَحتَناbeneath us أَمor عَرامِسُsturdy she-camels
أَعِقبانُ دُجنٍ تَحتَنا أَم عَرامِسُ
When they sped at a trot, whoever looked out could not tell
When she blinked we knew not if 'neath us were
Whether beneath us were dark eagles or sturdy she-camels.
The trailing skirts of slumber or a demon's wings.
وَرَدناwe came to water بِهاwith them بَحرَthe sea of السَماحِgenerosity ابنَson of صالِحٍSalih
وَرَدنا بِها بَحرَ السَماحِ ابنَ صالِحٍ
وَهُنَّwhile they were مِنَfrom الإِيجافِswift galloping هِيمٌthirst-crazed خَوامِسُdue for fifth-day watering
وَهُنَّ مِنَ الإِيجافِ هِيمٌ خَوامِسُ
We came with them to generosity's sea, Ibn Salih,
We reached, with her, the sea of noble descent,
While they were thirst-crazed from galloping, due for fifth-day watering.
Though from famine emaciated, skin and bones.
فَعُدنَso they returned رِواءًwell-watered تَرتَويdrink their fill تَحتَbeneath وَطئِناour tread
فَعُدنَ رِواءً تَرتَوي تَحتَ وَطئِنا
عِطاشُthe thirsty parts of الفَيافيthe deserts وَالقِفارُand the barren plains الأَمالِسُsmooth
عِطاشُ الفَيافي وَالقِفارُ الأَمالِسُ
So they returned well-watered, and beneath our tread were quenched
They came back sated, drinking beneath our steps,
The thirsty wastes and the smooth, barren plains.
Thirst of wastes and barrens and mirage-haunted vales.
فَتىًa youth أَعجَزَhas baffled المُدّاحَthe praise-poets نَظمُthe versifying of صِفاتِهِhis qualities
فَتىً أَعجَزَ المُدّاحَ نَظمُ صِفاتِهِ
فَقَدfor already فَنِيَتare exhausted أَقلامُناour pens وَالقَراطِسُand the sheets of paper
فَقَد فَنِيَت أَقلامُنا وَالقَراطِسُ
A youth whose qualities defy his eulogists' verse—
A prince who wearied the panegyrist's verse -
For our pens and sheets of paper are already spent.
For our reed-pens failed, and the paper sheets.
نفِيسٌa noble man حَوىwon العَلياءَhigh glory طِفلاًas a child وَيافِعاًand as a youth
نفِيسٌ حَوى العَلياءَ طِفلاً وَيافِعاً
فَلَيسَso there is no لَهُfor him فيin العالَمينَall the worlds مُنافِسُrival
فَلَيسَ لَهُ في العالَمينَ مُنافِسُ
A noble man who won high glory as a child and as a youth,
Choice soul, who encompassed the noble ideals
So he has no rival in all the worlds.
Of childhood, and manhood - peerless in both worlds.
تَفيضُoverflow يَداهُhis two hands بِالعَطاءِwith gifts كَأَنَّماas though
تَفيضُ يَداهُ بِالعَطاءِ كَأَنَّما
أَنامِلُthe fingers of كَفَّيهِhis two hands غُيوثٌrainclouds رَواجِسُthundering
أَنامِلُ كَفَّيهِ غُيوثٌ رَواجِسُ
His two hands overflow with gifts, as though
His hands pour forth bounty, as if his fingers
The fingers of his hands were thundering rainclouds.
Were clouds raining relief, in perpetual charity.
وَتَندىand grows dewy مِنَwith الإِحسانِbeneficence راحَةُthe palm of كَفِّهِhis hand
وَتَندى مِنَ الإِحسانِ راحَةُ كَفِّهِ
فَيَخضَرُّso turns green مِنهاfrom it كُلُّeverything ماthat هُوَhe لامِسُtouches
فَيَخضَرُّ مِنها كُلُّ ما هُوَ لامِسُ
And his palm grows dewy with beneficence,
The palm of his hand is refreshed by his kindness
So everything he touches turns green from it.
And everything it touches comes to life and greens.
فَلَوso if لامَسَtouched الذَاويthe withered part مِنَof العُودِthe branch كَفُّهُhis hand
فَلَو لامَسَ الذَاوي مِنَ العُودِ كَفُّهُ
لَأَورَقَit would surely leaf out مِنهاfrom it وَهوَthough it is أَغبَرُdust-gray يابِسُdry
لَأَورَقَ مِنها وَهوَ أَغبَرُ يابِسُ
If his hand but touched a withered branch,
If it touched withered wood, that wood would leaf
It would put forth leaves from his touch, though dust-gray and dry.
Though it were greying ashes and dead timber.
كَريمٌgenerous يَفوحُwafts الطَيبُfragrance مِنfrom طيبِthe sweetness of ذِكرِهِhis renown
كَريمٌ يَفوحُ الطَيبُ مِن طيبِ ذِكرِهِ
فَتَعبَقُso grow fragrant عَنّيfrom me مِنfrom ثَناهُpraise of him المَجالسُthe gatherings
فَتَعبَقُ عَنّي مِن ثَناهُ المَجالسُ
A generous man—fragrance wafts from his sweet renown,
A generous man whose fame's aroma is hospitality,
So gatherings grow fragrant from the praise of him I utter.
And the atmosphere around me scents from his praise.
طَليقُcheerful المُحَيّاof countenance بِالسَماحَةِwith generosity وَالنَدىand bounty
طَليقُ المُحَيّا بِالسَماحَةِ وَالنَدى
عَلَيناtoward us وَوَجهُwhile the face of الدَهرِtime بالبُخلِwith miserliness عابِسُscowling
عَلَينا وَوَجهُ الدَهرِ بالبُخلِ عابِسُ
Bright of face with generosity and bounty
Easy of manner, refined, excellent, hospitable,
Toward us, while time's face scowls with miserliness.
When the times greet us reproachfully and frown.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle بَداhe appears أَغضىlowers مُعاديهِhis enemy طَرفَهُhis gaze
إِذا ما بَدا أَغضى مُعاديهِ طَرفَهُ
كَماjust as غَضَّlowers مِنof أَجفانِthe eyelids of عَينَيهِhis two eyes ناعِسُa drowsy man
كَما غَضَّ مِن أَجفانِ عَينَيهِ ناعِسُ
Whenever he appears, his enemy lowers his gaze,
If he glimpsed a foe, he veiled his eyes,
As a drowsy man lets his eyelids droop.
As the sleepy veil their eyes when slumber calls.
وَإِنَّand indeed مُعِزَّMu‘izz (glorifier of) الدَولَةِal-Dawla (the state) القَيلَthe ruler عِصمَةٌa refuge
وَإِنَّ مُعِزَّ الدَولَةِ القَيلَ عِصمَةٌ
لِمَنfor whoever نَهَسَتهُhave bitten him النائِباتُcalamities النَواهِسُbiting
لِمَن نَهَسَتهُ النائِباتُ النَواهِسُ
And indeed Mu‘izz al-Dawla, the ruler, is a refuge
The protector of the state, his justice a refuge,
For anyone bitten by biting calamities.
For those the roving fortunes had wronged.
إِذاwhen حَبَسَwithholds الإِحسانَkindness فيamong الناسِpeople مَعشَرٌa group
إِذا حَبَسَ الإِحسانَ في الناسِ مَعشَرٌ
فَلَيسَthen there is no لَهُfor it مِنamong آلِthe house of مِرداسِMirdas حابِسُwithholder
فَلَيسَ لَهُ مِن آلِ مِرداسِ حابِسُ
When some people withhold kindness from mankind,
When some hoard kindness from men, no guardian
None of the house of Mirdas withholds it.
Stays their hands, not a soul of the House of Mirdas.
كَأَنَّهُمُas though they were فَوقَupon الدُسوتِthe thrones أَهِلَّةٌcrescents
كَأَنَّهُمُ فَوقَ الدُسوتِ أَهِلَّةٌ
وَفَوقَand upon سُروجُthe saddles of الخَيلِthe horses أُسدٌlions عَوابِسُscowling
وَفَوقَ سُروجُ الخَيلِ أُسدٌ عَوابِسُ
As though upon their thrones they were crescents,
As if they were steeds atop plaited saddlebags
And upon the horses' saddles, scowling lions.
And lions over saddle-cloths, fangs bared.
إِذاwhen شَنَّتِlaunch الفُرسانُthe horsemen لِلحَربِfor war غارَةًa raid
إِذا شَنَّتِ الفُرسانُ لِلحَربِ غارَةً
فَإِنَّهُمُthen indeed they فيهاin it لَنِعمَare truly excellent الفَوارِسُhorsemen
فَإِنَّهُمُ فيها لَنِعمَ الفَوارِسُ
When horsemen launch a raid in war,
When the knights unleash for battle, how excellent
Then in it they are splendid horsemen indeed.
Knights they are, and skilled, accomplished horsemen.
وَجَرُّواand they brought عَلىupon أَعدائِهِمtheir enemies بِائتِلافِهِمthrough their unity
وَجَرُّوا عَلى أَعدائِهِم بِائتِلافِهِم
مِنَof الحَربِwar وَالإِتلافِand destruction ماwhat جَرَّbrought داحِسُDahis
مِنَ الحَربِ وَالإِتلافِ ما جَرَّ داحِسُ
And through their unity they brought upon their enemies
Due to their accord, against their enemy
Such war and destruction as Dahis brought.
They have wreaked such war and such harmony.
حَمىprotected بَعضُهُمsome of them بَعضاًothers وَلاand no شَكَّdoubt فيهِمِamong them
حَمى بَعضُهُم بَعضاً وَلا شَكَّ فيهِمِ
إِذاwhen الشَكُّdoubt رَدَّتهُbring it back الظُنونُsuspicions اللَوابِسُconfusing
إِذا الشَكُّ رَدَّتهُ الظُنونُ اللَوابِسُ
They protected one another, with no doubt among them,
They guard each other - no doubt in them -
When confusing suspicions bring doubt back.
When doubts are dispelled by well-informed minds.
فَلاso ... not يَفقِدُlacks العَلياءَhigh glory فيماin what يَرومُهُhe seeks it
فَلا يَفقِدُ العَلياءَ فيما يَرومُهُ
وَلاnor يَعدَمُlacks التَوفيقَsuccess فيماin what يُمارِسُhe undertakes
وَلا يَعدَمُ التَوفيقَ فيما يُمارِسُ
So he never lacks high glory in what he seeks,
So the distinguished, in their endeavours, will lack
Nor lacks success in whatever he undertakes.
No fair fortune, no share of accomplishment.
فَماfor ... not أَلبَسَhas clothed اللَهُGod أَمرأًa man فَوقَover جِسمِهِhis body
فَما أَلبَسَ اللَهُ أَمرأً فَوقَ جِسمِهِ
مِنَin الفَخرِglory إِلّاexcept دونَless than ماwhat أَنتَyou لابِسُwearing
مِنَ الفَخرِ إِلّا دونَ ما أَنتَ لابِسُ
For God has clothed no man, over his body,
God has clothed no man, despite his frame,
In glory save what falls short of what you wear.
In pride like yours, sublimely adorned.
Sol 6.1