أَماmark this وَعِتاقِby the noble الْعِيسِpale camels لَوْif وَجَدَتْthey felt وَجْدِيmy anguish
أَما وَعِتاقِ الْعِيسِ لَوْ وَجَدَتْ وَجْدِي
لَقَيَّدَwould surely fetter أَيْدِيforelegs الْواخِداتِof the swift-striders عَنِfrom الْوَخْدِstriding
لَقَيَّدَ أَيْدِي الْواخِداتِ عَنِ الْوَخْدِ
By the noble pale camels! If they felt my anguish,
Were the collar of 'Ees to find my ecstasy
It would surely fetter the swift-striders' forelegs and halt their stride.
It would bind the hands of those embracing from embracing
إِذاًthen عَلِمَتْthey would know أَنَّthat الْوَجىfoot soreness لَيْسَis not كَالْجَوىlike heartsickness
إِذاً عَلِمَتْ أَنَّ الْوَجى لَيْسَ كَالْجَوى
وَحَبَّبَand would endear ماwhat يُنْضِيexhausts إِلَيْهاto them الَّذِيthat which يُرْدِيkills
وَحَبَّبَ ما يُنْضِي إِلَيْها الَّذِي يُرْدِي
Then they would know that sore feet are not like heartsickness,
So it would know that grief is not like love
And what kills would endear to them what merely exhausts.
And what leads to annihilation is made pleasing to it
دَعاهاcalled them نَسِيمُthe breeze الْبانِof ban-trees وَالرَّنْدِand laurels بِالْحِمىin the protected grounds
دَعاها نَسِيمُ الْبانِ وَالرَّنْدِ بِالْحِمى
وَهَيْهاتَand far away مِنْهاfrom them مَنْبِتُthe growing place الْبانِof ban-trees وَالرَّنْدِand laurels
وَهَيْهاتَ مِنْها مَنْبِتُ الْبانِ وَالرَّنْدِ
The breeze of ban-trees and laurels in the protected grounds called them,
The wind of youth and pleasure called it to passion
Yet far from them is where the ban-trees and laurels grow.
Yet far from it are the places of youth and pleasure
يَطِيرُflies بِهاwith them لُبّاًin heart عَلَىthrough الْقُرْبِnearness وَالنَّوىand distance
يَطِيرُ بِها لُبّاً عَلَى الْقُرْبِ وَالنَّوى
وَيَحْمِلُهاand carries them شَوْقاًin longing عَلَىalong الْجَوْرِwinding courses وَالْقَصْدِand straight courses
وَيَحْمِلُها شَوْقاً عَلَى الْجَوْرِ وَالْقَصْدِ
It makes their hearts fly, through nearness and distance,
Flitting about, a heart that longs for nearness and intent
And carries them in longing, along winding courses and straight.
Borne by yearning to tyranny and purpose
وَلَوْلاand were it not for الْهَوىlove لَمْdid not تَرْضَthey accept بِالْجِزْعِat the valley bend حاجِراًHajir
وَلَوْلا الْهَوى لَمْ تَرْضَ بِالْجِزْعِ حاجِراً
وَلَمْand did not تَهْجُرِthey forsake الْغَمْرَabundant water النَّمِيرَsweet and wholesome إِلىfor الثَّمْدِscant water
وَلَمْ تَهْجُرِ الْغَمْرَ النَّمِيرَ إِلى الثَّمْدِ
But for love, they would not have chosen Hajir at the valley bend,
Were it not for love it would not accept dry wood as fuel
Nor forsaken abundant, wholesome water for a scant pool.
Nor abandon the soft sand for the hard
أَجِدَّكَare you in earnest? ماnot تَنْفَكُّyou cease بِالْغَوْرِin al-Ghawr ناشِداًseeking
أَجِدَّكَ ما تَنْفَكُّ بِالْغَوْرِ ناشِداً
فُؤادَاًa heart بِنَجْدٍin Najd ياalas لِقَلْبِكَfor your heart مِنْbecause of نَجْدِNajd
فُؤادَاً بِنَجْدٍ يا لِقَلْبِكَ مِنْ نَجْدِ
Are you in earnest? In al-Ghawr you never cease seeking
How you persist in reciting poetry tearfully
A heart in Najd—alas for your heart because of Najd!
A heart in al-Najd, oh how tender your heart is!
وَإِنِّيand indeed I لَتُصْمِينِيsurely kill me سِهامُthe arrows ادِّكارِكُمْof remembering you
وَإِنِّي لَتُصْمِينِي سِهامُ ادِّكارِكُمْ
وَإِنْand even if كانَis رامِيthe archer الشَّوْقِof longing مِنِّيfrom me عَلَىat بُعْدِa distance
وَإِنْ كانَ رامِي الشَّوْقِ مِنِّي عَلَى بُعْدِ
Indeed, the arrows of remembering you strike me dead,
Though the arrows of your thoughts pierce me
Though longing's archer is far from me.
And the archer of my passion is far away
تَمادِيthe persistence غَرامٍof passion لَيْسَdoes not يَجْرِيrun إِلىtoward مَدىًan end
تَمادِي غَرامٍ لَيْسَ يَجْرِي إِلى مَدىً
وَفَرْطُand an excess سَقامٍof illness لاnot يُقِيمُstays عَلَىwithin حَدِّa limit
وَفَرْطُ سَقامٍ لا يُقِيمُ عَلَى حَدِّ
A relentless passion that runs toward no end,
Enduring love that does not end
And an excess of sickness that keeps to no bounds.
And excessive sickness that does not settle
وَماand whatever أَنْسَI forget لاnot أَنْسَI forget الْحِمىthe protected grounds وَأَهِلَّةًand crescent moons
وَما أَنْسَ لا أَنْسَ الْحِمى وَأَهِلَّةً
تُضِلُّlead astray وَمِنْand among حَقِّthe duties الأَهِلَّةِof crescent moons أَنْto تَهْدِيguide
تُضِلُّ وَمِنْ حَقِّ الأَهِلَّةِ أَنْ تَهْدِي
Whatever I forget, I do not forget the protected grounds and crescent moons
I have no intimacy but with passion and a loved one
That lead astray, though crescent moons ought to guide.
Who leads astray, though it is the loved one’s right to guide
زَمانٌa time إِخالُI thought الْجَهْلَignorance فِيهِin it مِنَas part of النُّهىwisdom
زَمانٌ إِخالُ الْجَهْلَ فِيهِ مِنَ النُّهى
وَحَبٌّand a love أَعُدُّI count الْغَيَّerror فِيهِin it مِنَas part of الرُّشْدِright guidance
وَحَبٌّ أَعُدُّ الْغَيَّ فِيهِ مِنَ الرُّشْدِ
A time when I thought ignorance a form of wisdom,
A time when ignorance mixed with prohibition
And a love in which I counted error as right guidance.
And a love I count as more astray than righteousness
غَنِينَthey dwelt وَماand not نَوَّلْنَthey bestowed نَيْلاًa gift سِوىexcept الْجَوَىheartsickness
غَنِينَ وَما نَوَّلْنَ نَيْلاً سِوى الْجَوَى
وَبِنَّand they departed وَماand not زَوَّدْنَthey supplied زاداًprovisions سِوىexcept الْوَجْدِyearning
وَبِنَّ وَما زَوَّدْنَ زاداً سِوى الْوَجْدِ
They dwelt there, granting nothing but heartsickness,
We sing but we have gained nothing but love
And departed, leaving no provision but yearning.
We built but prepared no provision but ecstasy
عَواطِفُيmy swaying beauties يُعْيِيbaffles عَطْفُهاtheir bending كُلَّevery رائِضٍtrainer
عَواطِفُي يُعْيِي عَطْفُها كُلَّ رائِضٍ
ضَعائِفُfrail women يُوهِيweakens ضَعْفُهاtheir weakness قُوَّةَthe strength الْجَلْدِof the hardy
ضَعائِفُ يُوهِي ضَعْفُها قُوَّةَ الْجَلْدِ
My swaying beauties, whose bending defeats every trainer,
My passions will fatigue every rider
Frail ones, whose weakness saps the strength of the hardy.
My weaknesses will topple the strength of any hero
إِذاwhen نَظَرَتْthey gaze بَزَّتْthey rob قُلُوباًhearts أَعِزَّةًproud
إِذا نَظَرَتْ بَزَّتْ قُلُوباً أَعِزَّةً
وَإِنْand if خَطَرَتْthey strut هَزَّتْthey sway قُدُودَfigures قَناًlike spears مُلْدِsupple
وَإِنْ خَطَرَتْ هَزَّتْ قُدُودَ قَناً مُلْدِ
When they gaze, they rob proud hearts,
When she glances, she captivates proud hearts
And when they strut, they sway figures like supple spears.
If she appears, she shakes slender waists
غَوالِبُconquerors فَتْكٍin slaying لَمْdid not يَصُلْنَthey attack بِقُوَّةٍby force
غَوالِبُ فَتْكٍ لَمْ يَصُلْنَ بِقُوَّةٍ
طَوالِبُseekers ثَأْرٍof vengeance لَمْdid not يَبِتْنَthey spend the night عَلَىwith حِقْدِrancor
طَوالِبُ ثَأْرٍ لَمْ يَبِتْنَ عَلَى حِقْدِ
Conquerors in slaying, yet never attacking by force,
Raiders of destruction who never gained power
Seekers of vengeance, yet never spending a night in rancor.
Seekers of vengeance who never harbored hatred
مِنَamong الْمُصِبِياتِthe enthralling women الْمُحْيِياتِthose who revive بِدَلِّهاwith their coquetry
مِنَ الْمُصِبِياتِ الْمُحْيِياتِ بِدَلِّها
عَلَىby خَطَإٍaccident وَالْقاتِلاتِand those who kill عَلَىwith عَمْدِintent
عَلَى خَطَإٍ وَالْقاتِلاتِ عَلَى عَمْدِ
Among those who enthrall, who revive with their coquetry
Of the inadvertent killers asking for forgiveness
Unwittingly, and kill deliberately.
And the deliberate murderers out of animosity
فَوَدَّعْنَّso they bade farewell بَلْrather أَوْدَعْنَthey deposited قَلْبِيin my heart حَزازَةًa burning ache
فَوَدَّعْنَّ بَلْ أَوْدَعْنَ قَلْبِي حَزازَةً
وَخَلَّفْنَand left فَرْدَthe lonely one الشَّوْقِin longing بِالْعَلَمِat the landmark الْفَرْدِthe solitary
وَخَلَّفْنَ فَرْدَ الشَّوْقِ بِالْعَلَمِ الْفَرْدِ
They bade farewell—rather, lodged a burning ache in my heart,
So they bid farewell, nay deposited in my heart misery
And left me alone in longing at the solitary landmark.
And left behind in me the agony of loneliness
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends ماhow أَحْلىsweet الْحَياةَlife لَوَانَّهاif only it
خَلِيلَيَّ ما أَحْلى الْحَياةَ لَوَانَّها
لِطاعِمِهاfor its taster لَمْdid not تَخْلِطِmix الصّابِbitter sap بِالشُّهْدِwith honey
لِطاعِمِها لَمْ تَخْلِطِ الصّابِ بِالشُّهْدِ
My two friends, how sweet life would be, if only it
My friend, how sweet is life were it not
Did not mix bitter sap with honey for those who taste it!
That its taster never mingles honey with aloes
لَقَدْindeed حالَتِhave changed الأَيّامُthe days عَنْfrom حالِthe state عَهْدِهاof their former time
لَقَدْ حالَتِ الأَيّامُ عَنْ حالِ عَهْدِها
وَمَنْand who لِيfor me بأَيامٍcan bring days تَدُومُthat endure عَلَىin الْعَهْدِfaithfulness
وَمَنْ لِي بأَيامٍ تَدُومُ عَلَى الْعَهْدِ
The days have changed from the state I once knew,
Days have strayed from the state of old
And who will give me days that stay faithful to their pledge?
Who do I have with days lasting as they once did?
سَلَبْنَthey stripped جَمالِيmy beauty مِنْof شَبابٍyouth وَثَرْوَةٍand wealth
سَلَبْنَ جَمالِي مِنْ شَبابٍ وَثَرْوَةٍ
وَوَفَّرْنَand increased حَظِّيmy share مِنْof فِراقٍparting وَمِنْand of صَدِّrejection
وَوَفَّرْنَ حَظِّي مِنْ فِراقٍ وَمِنْ صَدِّ
They stripped me of my beauty—youth and wealth,
They stripped me of my youth and wealth
And increased my portion of parting and rejection.
And depleted my share of separation and estrangement
وَأَنْحَيْنَand assailed حَتّىuntil ماnot تَرَكْنَthey left بَوارِياًremnants
وَأَنْحَيْنَ حَتّى ما تَرَكْنَ بَوارِياً
عَلَىupon الْعَظْمِthe bone منْof نَحْضٍflesh لِبارٍfor a whittler وَلاnor جلْدِskin
عَلَى الْعَظْمِ منْ نَحْضٍ لِبارٍ وَلا جلْدِ
And assailed me until they left no remnants
They bent until they left me with naught
Upon the bone—neither flesh for a whittler nor skin.
Upon the bone neither flesh, nor skin nor cover
وَماand what شاقَنِيpains me أَنْis that لَسْتُI am not مُسْتَعْدِياًseeking a champion عَلَىagainst
وَما شاقَنِي أَنْ لَسْتُ مُسْتَعْدِياً عَلَى
نَوائِبِهاits calamities إِلاّexcept لِقِلَّةِbecause of the scarcity مَنْof those who يُعْدِيgive aid
نَوائِبِها إِلاّ لِقِلَّةِ مَنْ يُعْدِي
What pains me is that I seek no champion against
I am not troubled that I was unprepared
Its calamities, solely because so few would champion me.
For its afflictions, except by few who prepare
وَلاand no بُدَّalternative أَنْbut that أَدْعُوI call لِدَفْعِto repel خُطُوبِهاits disasters
وَلا بُدَّ أَنْ أَدْعُو لِدَفْعِ خُطُوبِها
كَرِيماًa generous man فَإِنْand if كانَhe is ابْنَIbn سَعْدٍSa'd فَياthen oh سَعْدِيmy good fortune
كَرِيماً فَإِنْ كانَ ابْنَ سَعْدٍ فَيا سَعْدِي
Yet I must call, to repel its disasters,
I must call to fend off its tribulations
On a generous man; if he is Ibn Sa'd, how fortunate I am!
A generous one, and if he is Ibn Sa'd, then my bliss!
فَماfor there is no عَنْapart from كَمالِKamal الدِّينِal-Din فِيon الأَرْضِearth مَذْهَبٌplace to turn
فَما عَنْ كَمالِ الدِّينِ فِي الأَرْضِ مَذْهَبٌ
لِحُرٍّfor a free man أَحاجَتْهُhave made him needy الْخُطُوبُcalamities وَلاnor عَبْدِa slave
لِحُرٍّ أَحاجَتْهُ الْخُطُوبُ وَلا عَبْدِ
For on earth there is no resort but Kamal al-Din
There is no path to perfection of religion in the land
For a free man driven to need by calamities, or a slave.
For a free man whose tribulations try him, nor a slave
وَإِنَّand indeed اعْتِصامِيmy seeking refuge بِالْوَزِيرِwith the vizier وَظِلِّهِand his shade
وَإِنَّ اعْتِصامِي بِالْوَزِيرِ وَظِلِّهِ
يَدٌa favor لِلنَّدىof generosity ماnot مِثْلُهاits equal مِنْany يَدٍfavor عِنْدِيwith me
يَدٌ لِلنَّدى ما مِثْلُها مِنْ يَدٍ عِنْدِي
And my taking refuge with the vizier and beneath his shade
My adherence to the minister and his shade
Is a favor of generosity unlike any other I have received.
Is a hand for bounty, none like it I possess
وَأَيُّand what مَرامٍgoal أَبْتَغِيdo I seek بَعْدَafter جُودِهِhis generosity
وَأَيُّ مَرامٍ أَبْتَغِي بَعْدَ جُودِهِ
كَفىsuffices الْغَيْثُthe rain مَنْwhoever يُجْدىgifts are bestowed عَلَيْهِupon him وَمَنْand whoever يُجْدِيgives
كَفى الْغَيْثُ مَنْ يُجْدى عَلَيْهِ وَمَنْ يُجْدِي
What further goal should I seek after his generosity?
What more can I seek after his generosity?
The rain suffices for both the receiver of gifts and the giver.
The rain suffices one it pours upon and one providing it
وَهاand here أَناI am قَدْalready أَلْقَيْتُhave set down رَحْلِيmy saddle بِرَبْعِهِin his abode
وَها أَنا قَدْ أَلْقَيْتُ رَحْلِي بِرَبْعِهِ
إِلىto السُّؤدُدُِlordship الْعادِيِّage-old والكَرَمِand generosity الْعِدِّinexhaustible
إِلى السُّؤدُدُِ الْعادِيِّ والكَرَمِ الْعِدِّ
Here I am: I have set down my saddle in his abode,
To accustomed hospitality and repeated generosity
Coming to age-old lordship and inexhaustible generosity,
To a barren plateau lofty over mankind
إِلىto هَضْبَةٍa crag شَمّاءَlofty عَزَّتْproved unattainable عَلَىto الذُّرىthe summits
إِلى هَضْبَةٍ شَمّاءَ عَزَّتْ عَلَى الذُّرى
وَفِيand in جُنَّةٍprotective armor حَصْداءَclosely woven جَلَّتْtoo great عَنِfor السَّرْدِmail-weaving
وَفِي جُنَّةٍ حَصْداءَ جَلَّتْ عَنِ السَّرْدِ
To a towering crag beyond the reach of summits,
And a reaped garden plentiful beyond count
And into dense protective armor beyond the craft of mail-weaving.
To the One God whom I gift praise alone
إِلىto أَوْحَدٍa peerless man أُهْدِيI offer لَهُto him الْحَمْدَpraise وَحْدَهُhim alone
إِلى أَوْحَدٍ أُهْدِي لَهُ الْحَمْدَ وَحْدَهُ
بَحَقٍّrightfully وَand لاnot يُهْدِيhe bestows إِلَيَّon me الْغِنىwealth وَحْدِيme alone
بَحَقٍّ وَ لا يُهْدِي إِلَيَّ الْغِنى وَحْدِي
To a peerless man, to whom alone I offer praise
For truth, none guide me to bounty but my own effort
Rightfully, though he does not bestow wealth on me alone.
The least of his gifts is ascendance to the lofty
أَقَلُّthe least عَطاياهُof his gifts التَّوَقُّلُclimbing فِيinto الْعُلىthe heights
أَقَلُّ عَطاياهُ التَّوَقُّلُ فِي الْعُلى
وَأَدْنىand the least سَجاياهُof his traits التَّفَرُّدُbeing unrivaled بِالْمَجْدِin glory
وَأَدْنى سَجاياهُ التَّفَرُّدُ بِالْمَجْدِ
The least of his gifts is ascent to the heights,
And the lowest of his traits exclusivity to glory
And the lowliest of his traits is unrivaled glory.
Vanquisher of enemies by might yet no transgressor
مُبِيدُannihilator الْعِدىof enemies قَهْراًby force وَلَيْسَand is not بِمُعْتَدٍa transgressor
مُبِيدُ الْعِدى قَهْراً وَلَيْسَ بِمُعْتَدٍ
وَمُحْيِيand reviver الْوَرىof mankind بَذْلاًby giving وَلَيْسَand is not بِمُعْتَدِّone who counts favors
وَمُحْيِي الْوَرى بَذْلاً وَلَيْسَ بِمُعْتَدِّ
He annihilates enemies by force, yet is no aggressor,
Life-giver of mankind by grace yet no aggressor
And revives mankind by giving, yet counts no favors.
Most inviolable sanctuary for one under his patronage
أَغَزُّmost secure حِمىًin refuge مَنْwhoever فازَobtains مِنْهُfrom him بِذِمَّةٍa covenant of protection
أَغَزُّ حِمىً مَنْ فازَ مِنْهُ بِذِمَّةٍ
وَأوْفَىand fullest غِنىًin wealth مَنْwhoever باتَspends the night مِنْهُfrom him عَلَىrelying on وَعْدِa promise
وَأوْفَى غِنىً مَنْ باتَ مِنْهُ عَلَى وَعْدِ
Most secure in refuge is whoever wins his protection,
Truest wealth for one spending the night under his promise
And richest is whoever rests upon his promise.
A young man whose concern is for righteousness and piety
فَتىًa man هَمُّهُhis concern ماwhatever كانَis لِلْبِرِّfor goodness وَالتُّقىand piety
فَتىً هَمُّهُ ما كانَ لِلْبِرِّ وَالتُّقى
وَمَغْنَمُهُand his gain ماwhatever كانَis لِلأجْرِfor reward وَالْحَمْدِand praise
وَمَغْنَمُهُ ما كانَ لِلأجْرِ وَالْحَمْدِ
A man whose concern is whatever serves goodness and piety,
Whose gain is for reward and praise
And whose gain is whatever brings reward and praise.
Of the sincere critics binding together against rancor
مِنَamong النّاقِدِينَthe discerning الْعاقِدِينَthose tying عَنِagainst الْخَناlewdness
مِنَ النّاقِدِينَ الْعاقِدِينَ عَنِ الْخَنا
مَآزِرَهُمْtheir waist-wraps وَالسّالِمِينَand those unblemished عَلَىunder النَّقْدِscrutiny
مَآزِرَهُمْ وَالسّالِمِينَ عَلَى النَّقْدِ
One of the discerning, who fasten against lewdness
Their refuge, and greeters of sound criticism
Their waist-wraps, and emerge unblemished from scrutiny.
Their neighbor at times of fear, a stronghold for a neighbor
مُجاوِرُهُمْtheir neighbor فِيin الْخَوْفِfear لِلْجارِfor his neighbor مَعْقِلٌa fortress
مُجاوِرُهُمْ فِي الْخَوْفِ لِلْجارِ مَعْقِلٌ
وَوَفْدُهُمُand their guests تفِيin الْمَحْلِdrought مُنْتَجَعُa place of sustenance الْوَفْدِfor guests
وَوَفْدُهُمُ تفِي الْمَحْلِ مُنْتَجَعُ الْوَفْدِ
Their neighbor, in times of fear, is a fortress for his neighbor,
Their delegation filling the abode, a returning delegation
And their visitors, in drought, are a source of sustenance for other visitors.
When the rain declines, their generosity brings about
إِذاwhen الْغَيثُthe rain أَكْدىfails أَنْشَأَتْbring forth مَكْرُماتُهُمْtheir noble deeds
إِذا الْغَيثُ أَكْدى أَنْشَأَتْ مَكْرُماتُهُمْ
مَواطِرَdownpours غَيْثٍof rain لاnot يُغِبُّlets up وَلاand not يُكْدِيfails
مَواطِرَ غَيْثٍ لا يُغِبُّ وَلا يُكْدِي
When the rain fails, their noble deeds bring forth
Downpours of rain that neither fail nor diminish
Downpours that never let up and never fail.
And if the season of blossoms ends, with them are
وإِنْand if زَمَنُthe season الْوَرْدِof roses انْقَضىends كانَthere are عِنْدَهُمْwith them
وإِنْ زَمَنُ الْوَرْدِ انْقَضى كانَ عِنْدَهُمْ
مَواهِبُgifts يُلْغىis disregarded عِنْدَهاbeside them زَمَنُthe season الْوَرْدِof roses
مَواهِبُ يُلْغى عِنْدَها زَمَنُ الْوَرْدِ
And when the season of roses ends, they have
Gifts erasing the season of blossoms
Gifts beside which the season of roses counts for nothing.
For the eternal-crowned, all those remembered
لَهُمْthey have مِنْamong ذَوِيthe possessors التِّيجانِof crowns كُلُّevery مُخَلَّدٍimmortalized man
لَهُمْ مِنْ ذَوِي التِّيجانِ كُلُّ مُخَلَّدٍ
عَلَىdespite فَقْدِهِhis passing إِنَّindeed الثَّناءَpraise مِنَis part of الْخُلْدِimmortality
عَلَى فَقْدِهِ إِنَّ الثَّناءَ مِنَ الْخُلْدِ
Among the wearers of crowns, every man of theirs is immortalized
For their loss, praise for eternity in exchange
Despite his passing; indeed, praise is a kind of immortality.
A pure glory protecting them from shortchanging
وَمَجْدٌand a glory حَماهُمْhas protected them طاهِرٌpure أَنْfrom يُقَصِّرُواfalling short
وَمَجْدٌ حَماهُمْ طاهِرٌ أَنْ يُقَصِّرُوا
بِهِin it عَنْof أَبٍa father حازَwho attained الْمَكارِمَnoble virtues أَوْor جَدِّa grandfather
بِهِ عَنْ أَبٍ حازَ الْمَكارِمَ أَوْ جَدِّ
And pure glory has protected them from falling short
A father who attained glory, or ancestor
In it, of a father who won noble virtues, or a grandfather.
Most noble when he gives - benefits; when he extends -
أَغَرُّradiant إِذاwhen أَعْطىhe gives أَفادَhe enriches وَإِنْand if سَطاhe strikes
أَغَرُّ إِذا أَعْطى أَفادَ وَإِنْ سَطا
أَبادَhe annihilates وَإِنْand if أَبْدىhe offers أَعادَhe repeats الَّذِيwhat يُبْدِيhe offers
أَبادَ وَإِنْ أَبْدى أَعادَ الَّذِي يُبْدِي
A radiant man: when he gives, he enriches; when he strikes,
Obliterates; when he shows kindness - restores that which brings destruction
He destroys; whatever he offers, he offers again.
With lofty minarets, as though extending
مُنِيفٌtowering عَلَىabove هامِthe heads الْمُسامِيof a rival كَأَنَّماas though
مُنِيفٌ عَلَى هامِ الْمُسامِي كَأَنَّما
أطَلَّhe looks down مِنَfrom النَّشْزِhigh ground الْعَلِيِّlofty عَلَىupon وَهْدِa hollow
أطَلَّ مِنَ النَّشْزِ الْعَلِيِّ عَلَى وَهْدِ
He towers above the head of any rival, as though
From sublime towers over calm waters
Looking down from lofty ground upon a hollow.
Showing you the stars in its veil swaggering through him
يُرِيكَshows you اهْتِزازاًquivering فِيin الأَسِرَّةِthrones فَخْرُهاtheir pride
يُرِيكَ اهْتِزازاً فِي الأَسِرَّةِ فَخْرُها
بِهِin him واخْتِيالاًand strutting فِيamong الْمُطَهَّمَةِsplendidly built horses الْجُرْدِsleek
بِهِ واخْتِيالاً فِي الْمُطَهَّمَةِ الْجُرْدِ
You see thrones quivering with pride
And the Pleiades gesture proudly through its cloak
In him, and splendid sleek horses strutting.
And virtues are attributed to him though it is not
وَتُعْزىand are attributed إِلَيْهِto him الْمَكْرُماتُnoble deeds وَلَيْسَand it is not لِلْfor the
وَتُعْزى إِلَيْهِ الْمَكْرُماتُ وَلَيْسَ لِلْ
كَواكِبِstars أَنْto تُنْفىbe disassociated عَنِfrom الْقَمَرِthe moon السَّعْدِauspicious
كَواكِبِ أَنْ تُنْفى عَنِ الْقَمَرِ السَّعْدِ
Noble deeds are attributed to him; nor may the
For the planets to deny the fortunate moon
Stars be severed from the auspicious moon.
Worthy for his gracious opinion to reveal to him
جَدِيرٌworthy بِأَنْthat يُبْدِيshould reveal لَهُto him عَفْوُthe spontaneity رَأْيِهِof his judgment
جَدِيرٌ بِأَنْ يُبْدِي لَهُ عَفْوُ رَأْيِهِ
خَفِيَّةَthe hidden aspect ماof what يُعْيِيbaffles الرِّجالَmen مَعَdespite الْجَهْدِeffort
خَفِيَّةَ ما يُعْيِي الرِّجالَ مَعَ الْجَهْدِ
It befits him that his effortless judgment disclose to him
In secret that which exhausts men despite effort
The hidden matters that baffle men despite their toil,
And to facilitate the matter which distressed
وَأَنْand that يَسَعَhe encompass الأَمْرَthe matter الَّذِيwhich حَرِجَتْwere constricted بِهِby it
وَأَنْ يَسَعَ الأَمْرَ الَّذِي حَرِجَتْ بِهِ
مَذاهِبُthe courses خَطِيِّof Khatt-made الْقَناspears وَظُبىand the edges الْهِنْدِof Indian swords
مَذاهِبُ خَطِيِّ الْقَنا وَظُبى الْهِنْدِ
And that he encompass a matter that has cramped
The ways of the misguided and beasts of India
The courses of Khatt spears and the edges of Indian swords.
You removed the irritation from the eye of religion after
جَلَوْتَyou cleared الْقَذىthe mote عَنْfrom ناظِرِthe eye الدِّينِof the faith بَعْدَafter ماthat
جَلَوْتَ الْقَذى عَنْ ناظِرِ الدِّينِ بَعْدَ ما
أَتاكَit came to you بِعَيْنِwith the very الشَّمْسِsun فيamong الأَعْيُنِeyes الرُّمْدِinflamed
أَتاكَ بِعَيْنِ الشَّمْسِ في الأَعْيُنِ الرُّمْدِ
You cleared the mote from the eye of the faith, after
It came to you with the vision of a sun in sleepy eyes
It came to you bearing the sun itself amid inflamed eyes.
You were reform for the times, so you never ceased
وَكُنْتَand you were ثِقافاًa spear-straightener لِلْزَّمانِfor time فَلَمْand did not تَزَلْyou cease
وَكُنْتَ ثِقافاً لِلْزَّمانِ فَلَمْ تَزَلْ
تُقَوِّمُstraightening مِنْهُof it كُلَّevery أَعْوَجَcrooked thing مُنْأَدِّbent
تُقَوِّمُ مِنْهُ كُلَّ أَعْوَجَ مُنْأَدِّ
You were a spear-straightener for time, and have never ceased
To straighten every bent devious one
To straighten every crooked, bending part of it.
So you did not spare a pasture whose shepherd
فَلَمْand did not تُخْلِyou deprive سَرْحاًa grazing herd ذَلَّwas humbled راعِيهِits shepherd مِنْof حِمىًprotection
فَلَمْ تُخْلِ سَرْحاً ذَلَّ راعِيهِ مِنْ حِمىً
وَلَمْand did not تُخْلِyou deprive ثَغْراًa frontier قَلَّwere few حامِيهِits defenders مِنْof سَدِّa barrier
وَلَمْ تُخْلِ ثَغْراً قَلَّ حامِيهِ مِنْ سَدِّ
You left no herd with a humbled shepherd without protection,
Complained of an inviolable sanctuary lacking a fence
Nor any frontier with few defenders without a barrier.
Nor a gap whose protector complained of lacking a barricade
أَخائِذُseized spoils دَيْنٍa debt باتَbecame يُمْنُكَyour good fortune كافِلاًa guarantor
أَخائِذُ دَيْنٍ باتَ يُمْنُكَ كافِلاً
لَهُfor it يَوْمَon the day أَمْضِيْتَyou carried through اعْتزامَكَyour resolve بالرَّدِّto return
لَهُ يَوْمَ أَمْضِيْتَ اعْتزامَكَ بالرَّدِّ
Seized spoils were a debt your good fortune guaranteed,
A grasping one of religion whom you supported
On the day you carried through your resolve to return them.
As its champion the day you resolved to rebuff
وَلَيْسَand it is not بِبِدْعٍsomething unprecedented مِنْكَfrom you حَدُّthe sharpness صَرِيمَةٍof resolve
وَلَيْسَ بِبِدْعٍ مِنْكَ حَدُّ صَرِيمَةٍ
ثَنَتْit turned back نُوَبَthe calamities الأَيّامِof the days مَفْلُولَةَblunted الْحَدِّin edge
ثَنَتْ نُوَبَ الأَيّامِ مَفْلُولَةَ الْحَدِّ
Nor is it new in you—a keen-edged resolve
It is no surprise from you to curb
That turned back the days' calamities with their edges blunted.
A defiant one whose molars fate made blunt
وَفِيand in أَيِّwhat خَطْبٍcrisis لَمْnot تَكُنْwere you قاضِبَcutting الشَّباof edge
وَفِي أَيِّ خَطْبٍ لَمْ تَكُنْ قاضِبَ الشَّبا
وَفِيand in أَيِّwhat فَضْلٍexcellence لَمْnot تَكُنْwere you ثاقِبَkindling الزَّنْدِthe firestick
وَفِي أَيِّ فَضْلٍ لَمْ تَكُنْ ثاقِبَ الزَّنْدِ
In what crisis have you not had a cutting edge?
In what discourse were you not piercing to the core?
And in what noble deed have you not struck fire from the firestick?
In what merit were you not penetrating as a spearhead?
كَأَنَّكَas though you مَجْبُورٌare compelled عَلَىto الْفَضْلِexcellence وَحْدَهُalone
كَأَنَّكَ مَجْبُورٌ عَلَى الْفَضْلِ وَحْدَهُ
فَمالَكَso you have no مِنْfrom أَنْthat تُدْرِكَyou attain الْفَضْلَexcellence مِنْany بُدِّescape
فَمالَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْفَضْلَ مِنْ بُدِّ
It is as though you are compelled to excellence alone,
As if you are compelled to virtue alone
So you have no choice but to attain excellence.
So what stops you from attaining virtue from the start?
إِلَيْكَto you زَفَفْناwe led as brides كُلَّevery حَسْناءَbeauty لَوْif عَدَتْshe passed beyond
إِلَيْكَ زَفَفْنا كُلَّ حَسْناءَ لَوْ عَدَتْ
عُلاكَyour heights لَعادَتْshe would return غَيْرَnot مَلْثُومَةِkissed الْخَدِّon the cheek
عُلاكَ لَعادَتْ غَيْرَ مَلْثُومَةِ الْخَدِّ
To you we have led every beauty as a bride; had she passed beyond
To you we brought every beautiful one, if
Your heights, she would have returned with her cheek unkissed.
She returned from you, surely not one bruised of cheek
مِنَamong الْحالِياتِthe adorned الْعالِياتِthe lofty مَناصِباًin rank
مِنَ الْحالِياتِ الْعالِياتِ مَناصِباً
تُماثِلُthey rival مِنْthose قَبْلِيbefore me وَتَفْضُلُand surpass مَنْthose بَعْدِيafter me
تُماثِلُ مِنْ قَبْلِي وَتَفْضُلُ مَنْ بَعْدِي
Among the adorned beauties, lofty in station,
Of the lofty, elevated in position, ones
They rival those before me and surpass those after me.
Matching my precedence and excelling my successors
تُظَنُّare thought مُقِيماتٍstationary وَهُنَّwhile they سَوائِرٌare traveling
تُظَنُّ مُقِيماتٍ وَهُنَّ سَوائِرٌ
مُخَيِّمَةًencamped تَسْرِيthey travel by night مُعَقَّلَةًhobbled تَخْدِيthey stride
مُخَيِّمَةً تَسْرِي مُعَقَّلَةً تَخْدِي
They seem to stay in place, yet they travel,
You assume residents, but they are travelers
Encamped, they journey by night; hobbled, they stride.
Camping, traversing, seeking refuge, searching
رِواءٌwell-watered وَسَجدْفُand the curtain الْغَيْمِof clouds لَيْسَis not بِمُسْبَلٍlowered
رِواءٌ وَسَجدْفُ الْغَيْمِ لَيْسَ بِمُسْبَلٍ
ضَواحٍsunlit وَجَيْبُand the collar اللَّيْلِof night لَيْسَis not بمُنْقَدِّtorn open
ضَواحٍ وَجَيْبُ اللَّيْلِ لَيْسَ بمُنْقَدِّ
Well-watered, though the cloud's curtain is not lowered,
A quencher - and the pouring rain is no deluge
Sunlit, though night's collar has not been torn open.
Provisions - and the pocket of night no lack
تَمُتُّthey appeal بِآمالٍwith hopes إِلَيْكَto you كَأَنَّهاas though they
تَمُتُّ بِآمالٍ إِلَيْكَ كَأَنَّها
رِقابُnecks صَوادٍof thirsty camels يَعْتَرِكْنَjostling عَلَىat وِرْدِa watering place
رِقابُ صَوادٍ يَعْتَرِكْنَ عَلَى وِرْدِ
They reach out to you with hopes, as though they were
They die from hopes in you as though they are
The necks of thirsty camels jostling at a watering place.
Necks of hunters wrestling over quarry
وَماand not زِلْتَhave you ceased لَبّاساًwearing مِنَof الْحَمْدِpraise فَخْرَهُits glory
وَما زِلْتَ لَبّاساً مِنَ الْحَمْدِ فَخْرَهُ
وَلكِنَّbut غَيْرَother than السَّيْفِthe sword يَفْخَرُtakes pride بِالغِمْدِin the sheath
وَلكِنَّ غَيْرَ السَّيْفِ يَفْخَرُ بِالغِمْدِ
You have always worn praise in its glory,
You remain clothed in praise, though not the sword
Yet it is something other than the sword that boasts of its sheath.
That boasts of the scabbard
إِذاif زَيَّنَadorns الْحَسْناءَthe beauty عِقْدٌa necklace بِجِيدِهاon her neck
إِذا زَيَّنَ الْحَسْناءَ عِقْدٌ بِجِيدِها
فَأَحْسَنُthen lovelier مِنُْthan زِينَةًas an adornment موْضِعُthe place الْعِقْدِof the necklace
فَأَحْسَنُ مِنُْ زِينَةً موْضِعُ الْعِقْدِ
If a necklace adorns a beauty's neck,
If a necklace adorns the beauty in her neck
The place where it rests is a lovelier adornment than the necklace.
More beautiful than adornment is the placing of the necklace
أَتَيْتُكَI came to you لِلْعَلْياfor high distinction فَإِنْand if كُنْتَyou are مُنْعِماًgranting favor
أَتَيْتُكَ لِلْعَلْيا فَإِنْ كُنْتَ مُنْعِماً
فَبِالْعِزَّةِthen with honor الْقَعْساءِunassailable لاnot الْعِيشَةِa life الرَّغْدِof ease
فَبِالْعِزَّةِ الْقَعْساءِ لا الْعِيشَةِ الرَّغْدِ
I came to you for high distinction; if you grant me favor,
I came to you for the lofty, so if you are bestowing
Let it be unassailable honor, not a life of ease.
Then by compelling honor, not comfortable life
إِذاif نائِلٌa gift لَمْnot يَحْبُنِيbestows on me الْفَخْرَhonor نَيْلُهُits receipt
إِذا نائِلٌ لَمْ يَحْبُنِي الْفَخْرَ نَيْلُهُ
فَإِنَّthen indeed انْقِطاعَthe cessation الرَّفْدِof bounty فِيهِin that case مِنَis part of الرِّفْدِbounty
فَإِنَّ انْقِطاعَ الرَّفْدِ فِيهِ مِنَ الرِّفْدِ
If receiving a gift does not bestow honor on me,
If an attainer does not make me boastful of his attainment
Then, in that case, ending the bounty is itself bounty.
Then cessation of gifts is a form of giving
Sol 6.1