لَقَدindeed أَودَعُوهُthey lodged in him لَوعَةًburning grief حينَwhen وَدَّعاhe bade farewell
لَقَد أَودَعُوهُ لَوعَةً حينَ وَدَّعا
تَكادُalmost بِهاbecause of it أَحشاؤُهُhis entrails أَنto تَقَطّعاtear apart
تَكادُ بِها أَحشاؤُهُ أَن تَقَطّعا
Indeed, they left him burning anguish when he bade farewell,
They left him with sorrow when they bid farewell,
With it, his entrails almost tore apart.
His intestines almost torn apart by it.
وَمُذand since نَزَلواthey settled مِنfrom أَجرَعِthe sandy rise of الخَبتِal-Khabt مَنزِلاًa dwelling
وَمُذ نَزَلوا مِن أَجرَعِ الخَبتِ مَنزِلاً
تَجَرَّعَhe gulped down سُمّاًpoison مِنfrom نَوىseparation from الحَيِّthe clan مُنقَعاsteeped
تَجَرَّعَ سُمّاً مِن نَوى الحَيِّ مُنقَعا
And since they settled in a dwelling on al-Khabt's sandy rise,
And since they descended from rugged mountains,
He gulped poison steeped in separation from the clan.
He drank poison from the sap of the snake tree.
وَأَبكاهُand made him weep شَحطُthe remoteness of البَينِseparation لَمّاwhen تَحَمَّلُواthey departed
وَأَبكاهُ شَحطُ البَينِ لَمّا تَحَمَّلُوا
دَماًblood حينَwhen لَمnot يَترُكleft لَهُfor him البَينُseparation أَدمُعاtears
دَماً حينَ لَم يَترُك لَهُ البَينُ أَدمُعا
And separation's remoteness made him weep, when they departed,
And the desolation of separation made him weep
Blood, since separation had left him no tears.
Blood, when separation left no tears for him.
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends عُوجاturn aside, you two نَبكِlet us weep رَبعاًa campsite وَمَنزِلاand a dwelling
خَلِيلَيَّ عُوجا نَبكِ رَبعاً وَمَنزِلا
لِهِندٍof Hind خَلاwas empty مِنهاof her مَصِيفاًa summer abode وَمَربَعاand a spring abode
لِهِندٍ خَلا مِنها مَصِيفاً وَمَربَعا
My two friends, turn aside; let us weep over a campsite and a dwelling,
My friend, mourn a quarter and a halt
Hind's, empty of her—a summer and a springtime home.
For an India devoid of summer homes and squares.
فَقَدfor indeed طالَماso often قَرَّتwas delighted بِهِby it العَينُthe eye مَنظَراًas a sight
فَقَد طالَما قَرَّت بِهِ العَينُ مَنظَراً
وَلَذَّتand took delight بِنَجوىin the intimate talk of أَهلِهِits people الأُذنُthe ear مَسمَعاin hearing
وَلَذَّت بِنَجوى أَهلِهِ الأُذنُ مَسمَعا
For how often the eye rejoiced at its sight,
For long has the eye delighted in seeing him
And the ear delighted in hearing its people's intimate talk.
And the ear enjoyed the whispers of his people.
زَمانٌa time عَهِدناwe knew مُظلِمَthe dark of العَيشِlife نَيّراًradiant
زَمانٌ عَهِدنا مُظلِمَ العَيشِ نَيّراً
بِهِin it وَقَضَيناand we enjoyed اللَهوَpleasure رَيّانَwell-watered مَونِعاripe
بِهِ وَقَضَينا اللَهوَ رَيّانَ مَونِعا
A time when we knew life's gloom to be radiant
A time when we knew life to be darkly miserable
In it, and savored pleasure, lush and ripe;
With him, and passed pleasurable, abundant days.
وَهِنداًand Hind تُرِيناshe shows us البَدرَthe full moon فيin فاحِمِcoal-black الدُجىdarkness
وَهِنداً تُرِينا البَدرَ في فاحِمِ الدُجى
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle استَتَمَّcompleted البَدرُthe full moon عَشراًten وَأَربَعاand four
إِذا ما استَتَمَّ البَدرُ عَشراً وَأَربَعا
And Hind showed us the full moon in coal-black darkness,
And an India where the full moon showed us
When the full moon had completed ten nights and four.
A brightness when the full moon had completed fourteen nights.
وَقائِلَةٍand a woman saying أَذهَبتَyou squandered مالَكَyour wealth ضائِعاًwasted
وَقائِلَةٍ أَذهَبتَ مالَكَ ضائِعاً
فَقُلتُso I said وَقَدand indeed أَذهَبتِyou wasted لَومَكِyour reproach أَضيَعاmore vainly
فَقُلتُ وَقَد أَذهَبتِ لَومَكِ أَضيَعا
And a woman said: You have let your wealth go to waste.
A woman said: “You have wasted your wealth.”
So I said: You have, indeed, wasted your reproach still more.
I said: “You have wasted your blame, I have wasted more.”
أَقِلّيlessen your blame فَماfor not يَحظىwins بِحَمدٍpraise مُجَمَّعٍunanimous
أَقِلّي فَما يَحظى بِحَمدٍ مُجَمَّعٍ
مِنَfrom الناسِpeople مَنone who لَمnot يَذرُscatters مالاًwealth مُجَمَّعاamassed
مِنَ الناسِ مَن لَم يَذرُ مالاً مُجَمَّعا
Spare me; no one wins unanimous praise
Reprimand me less, for no one is praised unanimously
From people unless he scatters amassed wealth.
Who has not amassed wealth and kept it amassed.
وَماand not ضِقتُI was distressed بِالإِقلالِby poverty ذَرعاًin endurance لِأَنَّنيbecause I
وَما ضِقتُ بِالإِقلالِ ذَرعاً لِأَنَّني
أَرىI see الشَيءَa thing مَهماhowever much اِزدادَit increases ضِيقاًin constriction تَوَسّعاit opens out
أَرى الشَيءَ مَهما اِزدادَ ضِيقاً تَوَسّعا
Nor have I lost heart over poverty, because I
I am not vexed by thrift, for I see
See a matter open out, however straitened it becomes.
That no matter how constricted, a thing expands.
لَكِfor you الخَيرُgood fortune لاnot أَبقىI remain مِنَof الخَيرِbounty مُعدِماًdestitute
لَكِ الخَيرُ لا أَبقى مِنَ الخَيرِ مُعدِماً
إِذاif أَناI لَمnot أَعدَمlack نَخِيّاًa generous man سَمَيدَعاa noble chief
إِذا أَنا لَم أَعدَم نَخِيّاً سَمَيدَعا
May good be yours! I shall not remain bereft of bounty
Goodness be yours; I do not remain bereft of goodness
If I do not lack a generous, noble chief:
If I have not lacked a boon companion or cups.
فَتىًa young man مِنfrom بَنيthe sons of الشَدّادِal-Shaddad لَوif مَسَّtouched كَفُّهhis palm
فَتىً مِن بَني الشَدّادِ لَو مَسَّ كَفُّه
صَفاsmooth rock الصَلدِhard stone أَجرىhe would make flow فيin الصَفاthe smooth rock مِنهُfrom it يَنبُعاa spring
صَفا الصَلدِ أَجرى في الصَفا مِنهُ يَنبُعا
A young man of the sons of al-Shaddad: if his palm touched
A youth of the Shaddad clan, if his palm
Smooth, solid rock, he would make a spring flow from within it.
Touched pure rock, water would flow from the rock.
فَتىًa young man ماnot اللُيوثُthe lions المُخدِراتُlair-dwelling عَلىin الطَوىhunger
فَتىً ما اللُيوثُ المُخدِراتُ عَلى الطَوى
خِماصاًhollow-bellied كَماas أَمرَرتَyou twisted tight قِدّاًa leather thong مُرَصَّعاstudded
خِماصاً كَما أَمرَرتَ قِدّاً مُرَصَّعا
A young man: not even lions lurking in their lairs, hungry,
A youth, not feeble lions over hilltops
Hollow-bellied, like a studded leather thong you have twisted tight,
Debilitated, as you have adorned a spear.
تَضَوَّرنَthey writhed with hunger حَتّىuntil كِدنَthey almost يَسفَعنَthey seize ماثِلاًsomething rising
تَضَوَّرنَ حَتّى كِدنَ يَسفَعنَ ماثِلاً
مِنَfrom التُربِthe dust مِنbecause of إِفراطِthe excess of ماthe fact that بِتنَthey spent the night جُوَّعاstarving
مِنَ التُربِ مِن إِفراطِ ما بِتنَ جُوَّعا
Writhing until they nearly snatched at anything rising
They have become emaciated until they almost
From the dust, so ravenously hungry were they all night—
Die, from the soil’s excess, though they have not starved.
بِأَمنَعَmore unassailable مِنهُthan he جانِباًin flank حينَwhen يَغتَديhe goes forth at dawn
بِأَمنَعَ مِنهُ جانِباً حينَ يَغتَدي
إِلىto الحَربِwar إِمّاwhether حاسِراًunarmored أَوor مُدَرَّعاclad in mail
إِلى الحَربِ إِمّا حاسِراً أَو مُدَرَّعا
Are more unassailable than he when he goes forth at dawn
With his unassailable side when he wages
To war, whether unarmored or clad in mail.
War, either losing or mailed and emblazoned.
وَلاnor مُرهَفُsharpened الحَدّينِthe two edges ماضٍkeen كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَلا مُرهَفُ الحَدّينِ ماضٍ كَأَنَّهُ
عَقيقَةُa streak of بَرقٍlightning فيin طَخىًmurk ماnot تَقَشَّعاdispersed
عَقيقَةُ بَرقٍ في طَخىً ما تَقَشَّعا
Nor is a keen blade, sharpened on both edges—as though it were
Not blunt are his sharp edges, passing as if
A streak of lightning in murk that has not lifted—
A ruby flash in muddy water disperses.
بِأَقطَعَmore cutting مِنthan عَزمِthe resolve of المُعِزِّal-Mu'izz بِنِson of صالِحٍSalih
بِأَقطَعَ مِن عَزمِ المُعِزِّ بِنِ صالِحٍ
لِخَطبٍagainst a calamity إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle كُلُّevery قَلبٍheart تَقَطَّعاwas torn apart
لِخَطبٍ إِذا ما كُلُّ قَلبٍ تَقَطَّعا
More cutting than the resolve of al-Mu'izz ibn Salih
With firmer resolve than al-Mu’izz ibn Salih’s
Against calamity, when every heart is torn apart.
For ordeals, when all hearts are torn apart.
وَلاnor الرَوضَةُthe garden الغَنّاءُlush فاحَwafted أَريجُهاits fragrance
وَلا الرَوضَةُ الغَنّاءُ فاحَ أَريجُها
مَعَwith اللَيلِthe night فيin دَيمُومَةٍa vast wilderness فَتَضَوَّعاso it spread its scent
مَعَ اللَيلِ في دَيمُومَةٍ فَتَضَوَّعا
Nor is a lush garden, its fragrance wafting
Nor does the melodious garden, redolent at night
At night in a vast wilderness, spreading its perfume—
With unending, lingering, mingled scents.
بِأَطيَبَsweeter مِنهُthan he بَينَbetween شَرقٍeast وَمَغرِبِand west
بِأَطيَبَ مِنهُ بَينَ شَرقٍ وَمَغرِبِ
حَديثاًin reputation بِأَفواهِon the lips of الرُواةِthe narrators مُشَيَّعاspread abroad
حَديثاً بِأَفواهِ الرُواةِ مُشَيَّعا
Sweeter than he, between east and west,
Diffuse, between East and West, a sweeter
In the renown spread abroad on the lips of narrators.
Conversation, carried by the mouths of transmitters.
أَخُوa man of كَرَمٍgenerosity أَبدَعتُI worked wonders فيin حُسنِthe beauty of ذِكرِهِhis praise
أَخُو كَرَمٍ أَبدَعتُ في حُسنِ ذِكرِهِ
فَأَحسَنَso he excelled فيin الفِعلِthe deed الجَميلِnoble وَأَبدَعاand worked wonders
فَأَحسَنَ في الفِعلِ الجَميلِ وَأَبدَعا
A generous man: I worked wonders in fine praise of him,
Brother of Munificence, I created the best mention of him
So he excelled in noble deeds and worked wonders.
So he acted in the finest, most wondrous deed.
يُذَكِّرُنيreminds me إِحسانُهُhis kindness الجَمُّabundant جَعفَراًJa'far
يُذَكِّرُني إِحسانُهُ الجَمُّ جَعفَراً
وَيُذكِرُهُand reminds him إِحسانيmy excellence in القَولَspeech أَشجَعاAshja'
وَيُذكِرُهُ إِحساني القَولَ أَشجَعا
His abundant kindness reminds me of Ja'far,
His kindness reminds me of the valiant Ja’far
And my excellence in speech reminds him of Ashja'.
And my kindness reminds him of the eloquent speech.
تَرىyou see كُلَّevery فَضلٍfavor مِنهُfrom him سَهلاًeasy مُيَسّراًreadily available
تَرى كُلَّ فَضلٍ مِنهُ سَهلاً مُيَسّراً
وَتَلقاهُand you find it صَعباًdifficult مِنfrom سِواهُanyone besides him مُمَنَّعاwithheld
وَتَلقاهُ صَعباً مِن سِواهُ مُمَنَّعا
You find every favor from him easy and readily available,
You see, every merit from him is smooth and facilitated
Yet find it difficult and withheld from anyone else.
And from other than him, you find it rough and inaccessible.
وَأَليَقُand most fitting ماwhen كانَis السَماحُgenerosity بِأَهلِهِfor its people
وَأَليَقُ ما كانَ السَماحُ بِأَهلِهِ
إِذاwhen كانَit is طَبعاًinnate nature فيهِمُin them لاnot تَطَبُّعاaffectation
إِذا كانَ طَبعاً فيهِمُ لا تَطَبُّعا
And generosity most befits those who practice it
And most befitting is open-handedness towards its people
When it is their nature, not an affectation.
If it is innate in them, not pretended.
وَلَمand not أَرَI have seen مِثلَlike البُخلِmiserliness أَشنَعَuglier بِالفَتىin a young man
وَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ البُخلِ أَشنَعَ بِالفَتى
وَإِنand although كانَis بَعضُsome المَنِّreproachful reminders بِالفَضلِwith favors أَشنَعاuglier
وَإِن كانَ بَعضُ المَنِّ بِالفَضلِ أَشنَعا
Nor have I seen anything uglier in a young man than miserliness,
I have not seen the like of stinginess as ugly in a youth
Though some taunting with favors is uglier still.
Though some favor is uglier than some stinginess.
وَمَنand whoever يَجعَلِmakes الفِعلَthe deed الجَميلَnoble قِناعَهُhis veil
وَمَن يَجعَلِ الفِعلَ الجَميلَ قِناعَهُ
فَلَيسَthen does not يُباليcare بَعدَهُafter it ماwith what تَقَنَّعاhe veils himself
فَلَيسَ يُبالي بَعدَهُ ما تَقَنَّعا
And whoever makes noble deeds his veil
He who makes a fine deed his mask
Cares not thereafter what other veil he wears.
Does not care, after it, what masks he dons.
أَياO دافِعَone who repels البَأساءِhardship عَنfrom كُلِّevery مُرمِلٍdestitute person
أَيا دافِعَ البَأساءِ عَن كُلِّ مُرمِلٍ
مِنَamong الناسِpeople لاnot يَسطِيعُcan manage لِلبُؤسِagainst misery مَدفَعاa defense
مِنَ الناسِ لا يَسطِيعُ لِلبُؤسِ مَدفَعا
O you who ward off hardship from every destitute man
O fender of adversities from all who stumble,
Among the people, unable to fend off misery,
Of people who cannot withstand misery.
وَياand O خَيرَthe best of مَنthose نُصَّتwere driven fast إِلَيهِtoward him رَكائِبٌriding camels
وَيا خَيرَ مَن نُصَّت إِلَيهِ رَكائِبٌ
وَجينَthey grew footsore إِلىuntil أَنthat جِينَthey arrived حَسرىexhausted وَضُلَّعاand limping
وَجينَ إِلى أَن جِينَ حَسرى وَضُلَّعا
And O best of those toward whom riding camels were driven swiftly,
O best one, to whom the riding beasts were led
Growing footsore until they arrived, exhausted and limping,
And he yielded, until he yielded sighing and stumbling.
بِكُلِّcarrying every نَجيبٍnoble rider لَمnot يَدَعleft فيin نَجِيبَةٍa thoroughbred she-camel
بِكُلِّ نَجيبٍ لَم يَدَع في نَجِيبَةٍ
دَوامُthe continuance of السُرىnight travel إِلّاexcept فِقاراًvertebrae وَأَضلُعاand ribs
دَوامُ السُرى إِلّا فِقاراً وَأَضلُعا
Bearing every noble rider; in a fine she-camel, nothing was left
To every noble one, the abode of bliss did not leave
By ceaseless night travel except vertebrae and ribs.
In blessedness, save scarred and stumbling.
أَباO father of صالِحٍSalih لاnot زِلتَyou cease to be لِلعيدِfor the festival بَهجَةًa joy
أَبا صالِحٍ لا زِلتَ لِلعيدِ بَهجَةً
وَنُوراًand a light وِللعافِينَand for seekers of bounty رَبعاًa dwelling وَمَنجَعاand a pasture
وَنُوراً وِللعافِينَ رَبعاً وَمَنجَعا
Abu Salih, may you ever be the festival's joy
Father of Rectitude, you have remained, for Eid, a delight,
And light, and a dwelling and pasture for seekers of bounty,
A light, and for the healthy, a meadow and resort
لِغُرٍّfor radiant verses تَجُوبُtraverse الأَرضَthe earth فَوقَupon مَطِيَّةٍa mount
لِغُرٍّ تَجُوبُ الأَرضَ فَوقَ مَطِيَّةٍ
مِنَof الطِرسِparchment لَمnever تَعرِفit knew وَضِيناًa woven saddle girth وَأَنسُعاand saddle straps
مِنَ الطِرسِ لَم تَعرِف وَضِيناً وَأَنسُعا
For radiant verses that traverse the earth upon a mount
For a wild cow roaming the land above a
Of parchment, which has known neither a girth nor saddle straps.
Tirsa camel, knowing no timer nor fetters.
إِذاwhen أُنشِدَتthey are recited فيin مَجمَعِthe assembly of القَومِthe people صَيَّرَتthey accord
إِذا أُنشِدَت في مَجمَعِ القَومِ صَيَّرَت
عَلىover كُلِّevery مَخلُوقٍcreated being لَكَto you الفَضلَpreeminence أَجمَعاall of it
عَلى كُلِّ مَخلُوقٍ لَكَ الفَضلَ أَجمَعا
When recited in the people's assembly, they accord
When you recite in an assembly of people, you make
You complete preeminence over every created being.
For you all of creation’s favor unanimous.
Sol 6.1