ياO خَليلَيَّmy two friends هَلdo تَجيبُanswer الطُلولُthe ruins
يا خَليلَيَّ هَل تَجيبُ الطُلولُ
إِنif سَأَلناwe ask أَينَwhere الخَليطُthe companions نُزولُencamped
إِن سَأَلنا أَينَ الخَليطُ نُزولُ
O my two friends, do the ruins answer
O my friend, do soft winds answer
if we ask, "Where are the companions encamped?"
If we ask where the rain clouds wander?
دِمَنٌcamp ruins مِثلُناlike us يُقَلقِلُهاshakes them الشُوlonging (continued)
دِمَنٌ مِثلُنا يُقَلقِلُها الشُو
قُcompletion of 'longing' وَيَعتادُهاand revisits them الجَوىheartache وَالغَليلand burning thirst
قُ وَيَعتادُها الجَوى وَالغَليل
Camp ruins like us, shaken by longing,
Like us, a soul that weather tattered,
and revisited by heartache and burning thirst.
Heat and thirst have long time shattered.
قَدindeed بَراهاwasted them كَماas بَراناwasted us التَنائِيseparation
قَد بَراها كَما بَرانا التَنائِي
وَعَراهاand overtook them كَماas عَراناovertook us النُحولُgauntness
وَعَراها كَما عَرانا النُحولُ
Distance has wasted them as it has wasted us,
It saw barren wastes spread everywhere;
and gauntness has overtaken them as it has overtaken us.
Naked hills, with beauty laid bare.
باكِياتٍweeping وَماyet no لَهُنَّthey have دُموعٌtears
باكِياتٍ وَما لَهُنَّ دُموعٌ
مُغرَماتٍlove-stricken وَماyet no لَهُنَّthey have عُقولُminds
مُغرَماتٍ وَما لَهُنَّ عُقولُ
Weeping, yet they have no tears;
Weeping, though their eyes know no tear,
love-stricken, yet they have no minds.
Yearning, though no sense stays near.
دَرَسَتهاeffaced them الجنوبُthe south wind وَالشَمأَلُand the north wind الزَعblustering (continued)
دَرَسَتها الجنوبُ وَالشَمأَلُ الزَع
زَعُcompletion of 'blustering' وَاستَأصَلَتand uprooted قُواهاtheir strength القَبولُthe east wind
زَعُ وَاستَأصَلَت قُواها القَبولُ
The south wind and blustering north have effaced them,
South and north winds, fortune's blight,
and the east wind has uprooted their strength.
Sapped their strength and killed their might.
أَسعَدَتناshared our sorrow فيهاamong them المَطاياthe riding camels عَلىat الوَخbrisk trotting (continued)
أَسعَدَتنا فيها المَطايا عَلى الوَخ
دِcompletion of 'brisk trotting' فَظَلّتso remained مِثلَlike المَطاياthe riding camels الخُيولُthe horses
دِ فَظَلّت مِثلَ المَطايا الخُيولُ
The camels shared our sorrow there at their brisk trot,
Happy there we were on horses fleet,
and the horses, too, were like the camels.
Like horses, made the sands our seat.
فَلَناso for us فيin النَوىseparation زَفيرٌsighing وَلِلعِيand for the pale camels (continued)
فَلَنا في النَوى زَفيرٌ وَلِلعِي
سِcompletion of 'pale camels' حَنينٌyearning moans وَلِلجِيادِand for the steeds صَهيلُneighing
سِ حَنينٌ وَلِلجِيادِ صَهيلُ
We have sighs in separation, and the pale camels
For us, the winds sigh their threnody;
a yearning moan, and the steeds their neighing.
For horses, loud neighs their elegy.
ياO خَليلَيَّmy two friends ساعِدانيhelp me, you two عَلىwith الوَجanguish (continued)
يا خَليلَيَّ ساعِداني عَلى الوَج
دِcompletion of 'anguish' كَماas يُسعِدُcomforts الخَليلَthe friend الخَليلُthe friend
دِ كَما يُسعِدُ الخَليلَ الخَليلُ
O my two friends, help me bear my anguish,
O my friend, help me mount again,
as one friend comforts another.
As friends help friends, joy to attain.
وَاِنظُراand look, you two البَرقَthe lightning كَيفَhow تَنزِلُهُdescend upon it الجِنthe jinn (continued)
وَاِنظُرا البَرقَ كَيفَ تَنزِلُهُ الجِن
نُcompletion of 'jinn' كَماas تَنزِلُdescends السُلافُpure vintage wine الشَمولُheady wine
نُ كَما تَنزِلُ السُلافُ الشَمولُ
And look at the lightning, how the jinn descend upon it,
See the lightning, how it descends,
as pure, heady wine descends.
Like a necklace that a girl ends.
مُستَطيراًflashing far and wide لَهُit has عَلىalong جانِبِthe edge of الغَوthe lowland (continued)
مُستَطيراً لَهُ عَلى جانِبِ الغَو
رِcompletion of 'lowland' طُلوعٌrising مُرَدَّدٌrepeated وَأُفُولُand setting
رِ طُلوعٌ مُرَدَّدٌ وَأُفُولُ
Flashing far and wide along the lowland's edge,
Its undulations have the lover's throes -
with repeated rising and setting.
Pallor, wasting, tubercular woes.
فيهِin it ماwhat فيin المُتيَّمينَthe love-stricken مِنَfrom العِشقِpassion
فيهِ ما في المُتيَّمينَ مِنَ العِشقِ
خُفوقٌfluttering وَصُفرَةٌand yellow pallor وَنُحولُand thinness
خُفوقٌ وَصُفرَةٌ وَنُحولُ
It has what passion brings to the love-stricken:
Behind, our horses leapt up to pace
fluttering, yellow pallor, and thinness.
Through the gloom to it at full race.
لاحَflashed مِنfrom خَلفِناbehind us وَسِرناand we travelled وَأَعناand the necks (continued)
لاحَ مِن خَلفِنا وَسِرنا وَأَعنا
قُcompletion of 'necks' المَطاياthe mounts إِلَيهِtoward it فيin الجَوِّthe air مِيلُinclined
قُ المَطايا إِلَيهِ في الجَوِّ مِيلُ
It flashed behind us as we travelled, the necks
On that dim night, hillocks in the dark
of the mounts tilted toward it in the air.
Were like roaming beasts, confused, stark.
فيin ظَلامٍdarkness تَساوَتbecame alike الهَضَباتُthe hills الشمُlofty (continued)
في ظَلامٍ تَساوَت الهَضَباتُ الشمُ
مُcompletion of 'lofty' فيهِwithin it وَالغامِضاتُand the low-lying الهُجولُbroad hollows
مُ فيهِ وَالغامِضاتُ الهُجولُ
In darkness, the lofty hills became indistinguishable
Their hoofs struck fire bright and red
within it from the low-lying, broad hollows.
Till the grooms, in panic, fled.
خَبَطَتهُpounded it مَناسِمُfootpads العِيسِthe pale camels حَتّىuntil
خَبَطَتهُ مَناسِمُ العِيسِ حَتّى
طارَflew فيهاamong them عَنِaway from الخِدامِthe ankle-straps النَقيلُthe leather sole-patches
طارَ فيها عَنِ الخِدامِ النَقيلُ
The pale camels' footpads pounded it until
Shapes loomed like the Pleiades cluster
among them, the sole-patches flew from their ankle-straps.
When the chains make the captive fluster.
بِشُخوصٍwith figures كَأَنَّهاas though they were صُرَدُshrikes اللَيthe night (continued)
بِشُخوصٍ كَأَنَّها صُرَدُ اللَي
لِcompletion of 'night' كَماas ضَمَّتِclasped الأَسيرَthe captive الكُبولُfetters
لِ كَما ضَمَّتِ الأَسيرَ الكُبولُ
With figures like the night's shrikes,
Dust of deserts made their hue fade;
as fetters clasp a captive.
Rags and misery on them weighed.
أَشحَبَتهُمmade them ashen غُبرُdust-grey tracts الفَيافيthe wildernesses وَأَزرَتand wore down
أَشحَبَتهُم غُبرُ الفَيافي وَأَزرَت
شُقَّةُvast stretch البِيدِthe deserts عِيسَهُمtheir pale camels وَالذَميلُand trotting
شُقَّةُ البِيدِ عِيسَهُم وَالذَميلُ
The dusty wastes made them ashen; exhausted
Better though it was they stayed to rest
by the desert's vastness and trotting were their pale camels.
With a host whose comforts are best.
أَوor أَناخُواthey made the camels kneel بِخَيرِwith the best مَنof those who باتَwas لِلوَفfor the delegations (continued)
أَو أَناخُوا بِخَيرِ مَن باتَ لِلوَف
دِcompletion of 'delegations' لَدَيهِin his presence إِناخَةٌhalting وَرَحيلُand departure
دِ لَدَيهِ إِناخَةٌ وَرَحيلُ
Or they made camp with the best of men, where delegations
A king of kings, of fearsome might,
halt in his presence and then depart.
Whose awe struck the valiant with fright.
مَلِكٌa king مِنfrom بَنيsons of المُلوكِkings وَقَيلٌand a sovereign
مَلِكٌ مِن بَني المُلوكِ وَقَيلٌ
رَهِبَتهُfeared him فيin الخافِقينِthe east and west القُيولُsovereigns
رَهِبَتهُ في الخافِقينِ القُيولُ
A king descended from kings, a sovereign
He inherited glory from his father
whom sovereigns in the east and west have feared.
And his spears made his glory further.
وَرِثَinherited الفَخرَglory عَنfrom أَبيهِhis father وَأَعطَتهُand gave him
وَرِثَ الفَخرَ عَن أَبيهِ وَأَعطَتهُ
المَعاليhigh honors رِماحُهُhis spears وَالنُصولُand blades
المَعالي رِماحُهُ وَالنُصولُ
He inherited glory from his father, and was granted
The star descended from its height,
high honors by his spears and blades.
In the sky halting, no more in flight.
نَزلَdescended النَجمُthe star عَنbelow مَعاليهِhis lofty rank فَالعَيّوقُso Capella
نَزلَ النَجمُ عَن مَعاليهِ فَالعَيّوقُ
فيin الجَوِّthe sky نازِلٌlow لاnot يَزولُshifts
في الجَوِّ نازِلٌ لا يَزولُ
The star falls short of his lofty rank; Capella
From the spring of glory and grace he drew,
remains low in the sky, never shifting.
And his branches and roots virtue knew.
شَبَّgrew مِنfrom نَبعَةِthe tree of المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالمَجدِand glory
شَبَّ مِن نَبعَةِ المَكارِمِ وَالمَجدِ
وَطابَتand were noble فُروعُهُhis branches وَالأُصولُand roots
وَطابَت فُروعُهُ وَالأُصولُ
He grew from the tree of noble deeds and glory,
The family of Saleh are pearls rare;
and noble were his branches and roots.
The best that the lands anywhere bear.
إِنَّماindeed آلُthe house of صالِحٍSalih غُرَرُforehead blazes الدَهthe age (continued)
إِنَّما آلُ صالِحٍ غُرَرُ الدَه
رِcompletion of 'age' وَماand those فيamong الوَرىhumankind الشَوىlimbs وَالحُجولُand white leg-markings
رِ وَما في الوَرى الشَوى وَالحُجولُ
The house of Salih are the age's forehead blazes,
In virtues and glory they outpaced all,
and the rest of humankind its limbs and white leg-markings.
As guides do, trav'llers to enthrall.
سَبَقُواoutstripped الناسَmankind بِالمَكارِمِin noble deeds وَالفَخand glory (continued)
سَبَقُوا الناسَ بِالمَكارِمِ وَالفَخ
رِcompletion of 'glory' كَماas يَسبِقُgoes ahead of الصِحابَthe companions الدَليلُthe guide
رِ كَما يَسبِقُ الصِحابَ الدَليلُ
They outstripped mankind in noble deeds and glory,
Almuizz restored their lost renown
as a guide goes ahead of his companions.
When sloth their spirit had beaten down.
وَاستَعادَand reclaimed المُعِزّal-Muʿizz عِزّهُمُtheir might الذاvanished (continued)
وَاستَعادَ المُعِزّ عِزّهُمُ الذا
هِبَcompletion of 'vanished' مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماwhen اِعتَراهُovertook it الخُمولُobscurity
هِبَ مِن بَعدِ ما اِعتَراهُ الخُمولُ
Al-Muʿizz reclaimed their vanished might,
After he had broken the spears in the field
after obscurity had overtaken it.
And turned the white swords that refuse to yield.
بَعدَafter أَنthat حَطَّمَshattered الرِماحَthe spears وَرَدَّand brought back الthe (article continued)
بَعدَ أَن حَطَّمَ الرِماحَ وَرَدَّ ال
بِيضَbright swords قَدindeed خَرَّبَتruined ظُباهاtheir edges الفُلولُnotches
بِيضَ قَد خَرَّبَت ظُباها الفُلولُ
After he shattered the spears and brought back the
A charger whose neigh filled the air,
bright swords, their edges ruined by notches.
Whose scent made the stallions despair.
ولُهامٌand a vast army يَسُدُّblocks عِثيَرُهُits raised dust الجَوَّthe sky
ولُهامٌ يَسُدُّ عِثيَرُهُ الجَوَّ
وَيَخفىand is hidden عَنِfrom الرَعيلِthe detachment الرَعيلُthe detachment
وَيَخفى عَنِ الرَعيلِ الرَعيلُ
And a vast army, whose dust blocks the sky,
The spear in his hand struck with clang and clamor,
one detachment hidden from another.
Putting war horses to flight in tremor.
صَحَّproved sound فيهِwithin it القَناthe spears وَظَلَّand continued عَلىabove هاheads (continued)
صَحَّ فيهِ القَنا وَظَلَّ عَلى ها
مِcompletion of 'heads' الأَعاديthe enemies لِلمُرهَفاتِfor the keen swords صَليلُringing
مِ الأَعادي لِلمُرهَفاتِ صَليلُ
In it the spears proved sound, and above the heads
O glorious one, whose glory no more would fit,
of enemies the keen swords kept ringing.
And no more paths to glory were lit,
أَيُّهاO الماجِدُnoble one الَّذيwho ضاقَgrew narrow بِالمَجthrough glory (continued)
أَيُّها الماجِدُ الَّذي ضاقَ بِالمَج
دِcompletion of 'glory' إِلىtoward غَيرِهِother than him الهُدىguidance وَالسَبيلُand the road
دِ إِلى غَيرِهِ الهُدى وَالسَبيلُ
O noble one, whose glory has narrowed
You're a blessing we thank God for, and our nation's bar,
the guidance and road toward anyone else.
An honor that never would set or mar.
إِنَّماindeed أَنتَyou نِعمَةٌa blessing نَشكُرُwe thank اللَGod (continued)
إِنَّما أَنتَ نِعمَةٌ نَشكُرُ اللَ
هَcompletion of 'God' عَلَيهاfor it وَعِصمَةٌand a safeguard لاnot تَزولُceases
هَ عَلَيها وَعِصمَةٌ لا تَزولُ
You are indeed a blessing; we thank God
None like you are found in our band;
for it—and you are a safeguard that never ceases.
While you live, blessings fill our land.
لاmay not خَلاbe bereft مِنكَof you مَعشَرٌa community أَنتَyou بالخَيwith goodness (continued)
لا خَلا مِنكَ مَعشَرٌ أَنتَ بالخَي
رِcompletion of 'goodness' لَهُمto them ماas long as حَيِيتَyou live بَرٌّkindhearted وَصُولُsteadfast in affection
رِ لَهُم ما حَيِيتَ بَرٌّ وَصُولُ
May no community be without you, for in goodness
Last night, of a noble youth I spoke
you are kind and devoted to them as long as you live.
Who was virtuous, though far he broke.
بِنتُI parted بِالأَمسِyesterday عَنfrom فَتىًa youth طالَماso often باpassed the night (continued)
بِنتُ بِالأَمسِ عَن فَتىً طالَما با
تَcompletion of 'passed the night' بِخَيرٍin well-being وَالغائِبونَand those absent قَليلُfew
تَ بِخَيرٍ وَالغائِبونَ قَليلُ
I parted yesterday from a youth who so often passed the night
From you he drew fair deeds; and you gracefully bore
in well-being, while those absent were few.
What faults Abu Mani' had before.
حامِلٌbearing مِنكُمُfrom you (plural) الجَميلَkindness وَماand no ضاwas wasted (continued)
حامِلٌ مِنكُمُ الجَميلَ وَما ضا
عَcompletion of 'was wasted' لَكُمof yours فيon أَبيAbu المَنيعِal-Maniʿ جَميلُa favor
عَ لَكُم في أَبي المَنيعِ جَميلُ
Bearing kindness from you, and no favor
If his burden you bore, so too will you carry
of yours has been wasted on Abu al-Maniʿ.
Our burdens; strong, patient, unwary.
إِنif تَحَمَّلتَyou shoulder ثِقَلهُhis burden فَكَذاso it is أَنyou (continued)
إِن تَحَمَّلتَ ثِقَلهُ فَكَذا أَن
تَcompletion of 'you' لِأَثقالِناwith our burdens صَبورٌpatient حَمولُable to bear burdens
تَ لِأَثقالِنا صَبورٌ حَمولُ
If you shoulder his burden, that is just how you are:
You're brothers in candor, as were ʿAli and Jaʿfar, ʿAqil true.
patient with our burdens, able to bear them.
May you never desert us; we'll ne'er desert you.
أَنتُمُyou (plural) إِخوَةُbrothers الصَفاءِpure affection كَماas كاwere (continued)
أَنتُمُ إِخوَةُ الصَفاءِ كَما كا
نَcompletion of 'were' عَلِيٌّʿAli وَجَعفَرٌand Jaʿfar وَعَقيلُand ʿAqil
نَ عَلِيٌّ وَجَعفَرٌ وَعَقيلُ
You are brothers in pure affection, as were
No absence of yours the good would impair,
ʿAli, Jaʿfar, and ʿAqil.
Nor will time make you less generous and fair.
لاmay not عَدِمناكُمُwe lose you فَماfor not نَعدَمُwe lack الخَيgoodness (continued)
لا عَدِمناكُمُ فَما نَعدَمُ الخَي
رَcompletion of 'goodness' وَلاand may not غالَكُمdestroy you مِنَof الدَهرِtime غُولُa ghoul
رَ وَلا غالَكُم مِنَ الدَهرِ غُولُ
May we never lose you, for then we lack no goodness,
and may no ghoul of time destroy you.
Partial English translation: 68 of 70 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1