أَياO بَيْنُseparation ماnot سُلِّطْتَyou were unleashed إلاّexcept عَلَىupon ظُلْمِيwronging me
أَيا بَيْنُ ما سُلِّطْتَ إلاّ عَلَى ظُلْمِي
وَياand O حُبُّlove ماnot أَبْقَيْتَyou left مِنِّيof me سِوىexcept الْوَهْمِa phantom
وَيا حُبُّ ما أَبْقَيْتَ مِنِّي سِوى الْوَهْمِ
O separation, you were unleashed only to wrong me.
O love, you left nothing of me but a phantom.
فِراقٌparting أَتىcame فِيin إثْرِthe wake of هَجْرٍestrangement وَماand no أَذىًhurt
فِراقٌ أَتى فِي إثْرِ هَجْرٍ وَما أَذىً
بِأَوْجَعَmore painful مِنْthan كَلْمٍa wound أَصابَstruck عَلَىupon كَلْمِa wound
بِأَوْجَعَ مِنْ كَلْمٍ أَصابَ عَلَى كَلْمِ
Parting came in the wake of estrangement, and no hurt
is more painful than a wound striking upon a wound.
لَقَدْindeed كانَthere was ليfor me فِيin الْوَجْدِardent longing ماwhat يُقْنِعُsatisfies الضَّنىwasting sickness
لَقَدْ كانَ لي فِي الْوَجْدِ ما يُقْنِعُ الضَّنى
وَفِيand in الْهَجْرِestrangement ماwhat يَغْنِيsuffices بِهِthrough it الْبَيْنُseparation عَنْinstead of غَشْمِيoppressing me
وَفِي الْهَجْرِ ما يَغْنِي بِهِ الْبَيْنُ عَنْ غَشْمِي
In longing I already had enough to satisfy wasting sickness,
and in estrangement enough for separation to forgo oppressing me.
وَلَكِنَّbut دَهْراًtime أَثَخَنَتْنِيgrievously wounded me جِراحُهُits wounds
وَلَكِنَّ دَهْراً أَثَخَنَتْنِي جِراحُهُ
إذاwhen حَزَّit cut فِيinto جِلْدِيmy skin أَلَحَّpersisted عَلَىagainst عَظْمِيmy bones
إذا حَزَّ فِي جِلْدِي أَلَحَّ عَلَى عَظْمِي
Yet time, whose wounds have grievously weakened me,
whenever it cuts my skin, presses on against my bones.
وَإنْand though كُنْتُI am مِمَّنْamong those who لاnot يَذُمُّblame سِوىexcept النَّوىdistance
وَإنْ كُنْتُ مِمَّنْ لا يَذُمُّ سِوى النَّوى
فإِنَّthen indeed القِلىhatred وَالصَّدَّand rejection أَجْدَرُmore deserving بِالذَّمِّof blame
فإِنَّ القِلى وَالصَّدَّ أَجْدَرُ بِالذَّمِّ
Though I am among those who blame only distance,
hatred and rejection are more deserving of blame.
وَماand not مَنْone who رَمىshot مِنْwith غَيْرِno عَمْدٍintent فَأَقْصَدَتْso they struck dead
وَما مَنْ رَمى مِنْ غَيْرِ عَمْدٍ فَأَقْصَدَتْ
نَوافِذُهُhis piercing shafts كَمَنْlike one who تَعَمَّدَdeliberately intended أَنْto يَرْمِيshoot
نَوافِذُهُ كَمَنْ تَعَمَّدَ أَنْ يَرْمِي
One who shoots without intent and strikes dead
with his piercing shafts is not like one who shoots deliberately.
فَياso O قَلْبُheart كَمْhow often تَشْفىyou seek healing بِدانٍfrom one nearby وَنازِحٍand one far away
فَيا قَلْبُ كَمْ تَشْفى بِدانٍ وَنازِحٍ
فَشاكٍso complaining إِلىto خَصْمٍan adversary وَباكٍand weeping عَلَىover رَسْمِa trace
فَشاكٍ إِلى خَصْمٍ وَباكٍ عَلَى رَسْمِ
O heart, how often you seek healing from one near and one far,
complaining to an adversary and weeping over a trace.
وَحَتّامَand how long أَسْتَشْفِيI seek healing مِنَfrom النّاسِpeople مَنْone who بِهِin whom
وَحَتّامَ أَسْتَشْفِي مِنَ النّاسِ مَنْ بِهِ
سَقامِيmy sickness وَأسْتَرْوِيand I seek to quench thirst مِنَfrom الدَّمْعِtears ماwhat يُظْمِيmakes thirsty
سَقامِي وَأسْتَرْوِي مِنَ الدَّمْعِ ما يُظْمِي
And how long shall I seek healing from one among people in whom lies
my sickness, and seek to slake my thirst with tears that make me thirst?
غَرِيمِيmy debtor بِدَيْنِfor the debt of الْحُبِّlove هَلْwill أَنْتَyou مُقْتضىًbe made to pay
غَرِيمِي بِدَيْنِ الْحُبِّ هَلْ أَنْتَ مُقْتضىً
وَهَلْand is there لِفُؤادٍfor a heart أَتْلَفَdestroyed الْحُبُّlove مِنْany غُرْمِcompensation
وَهَلْ لِفُؤادٍ أَتْلَفَ الْحُبُّ مِنْ غُرْمِ
My debtor for love's debt, will payment be exacted from you?
And is there recompense for a heart that love has destroyed?
أَحِنُّI yearn إلىfor سُقْمِيmy sickness لَعَلَّكَperhaps you عائِديmy visitor
أَحِنُّ إلى سُقْمِي لَعَلَّكَ عائِدي
وَمِنْand from كَلَفٍinfatuation أَنِّيthat I أَحِنُّyearn إلىfor السُّقْمِsickness
وَمِنْ كَلَفٍ أَنِّي أَحِنُّ إلى السُّقْمِ
I yearn for my sickness, hoping you will visit me,
and it is infatuation that makes me yearn for sickness.
وَبِيand in me مِنْكَfrom you ماwhat يُرْدِيdestroys الْجَلِيدَthe stout-hearted وَإِنَّماand only
وَبِي مِنْكَ ما يُرْدِي الْجَلِيدَ وَإِنَّما
لِحُبِّكَfor love of you أَهْوىI desire أَنْthat يَزِيدَit increase وَأَنْand that يَنْمِيit grow
لِحُبِّكَ أَهْوى أَنْ يَزِيدَ وَأَنْ يَنْمِي
I suffer from you what would destroy the stout-hearted; yet
for love of you, I desire only that it increase and grow.
وَياand O لائمِيmy reproacher أَنْbecause باتَhas come to يُزْرِيdebase بِيَme الْهَوىpassion
وَيا لائمِي أَنْ باتَ يُزْرِي بِيَ الْهَوى
عَلَىَّupon me سَفاهِيmy folly لاnot عَلَيْكَupon you وَلِيand mine حِلْمِيmy good sense
عَلَىَّ سَفاهِي لا عَلَيْكَ وَلِي حِلْمِي
O you who blame me because passion has come to debase me,
my folly is my burden, not yours, and my good sense is mine.
أَقَلْبُكَis it your heart أَمْor قَلْبِيmy heart يُصَدَّعُis shattered بِالنَّوىby distance
أَقَلْبُكَ أَمْ قَلْبِي يُصَدَّعُ بِالنَّوى
وَجِسْمُكَand your body يَضْنىwastes away بِالْقَطيعَةِfrom severance أَمْor جِسْمِيmy body
وَجِسْمُكَ يَضْنى بِالْقَطيعَةِ أَمْ جِسْمِي
Is it your heart or mine that is shattered by distance?
And is your body wasted by severance, or mine?
وَلاand no غَرْوَwonder أَنْthat أَصْبَحْتَyou have become غُفْلاًunmarked مِنَby الْهَوىlove
وَلا غَرْوَ أَنْ أَصْبَحْتَ غُفْلاً مِنَ الْهَوى
فَأَنْكَرْتَso you denied ماwhat بِيupon me لِلصَّبابَةِfrom passionate longing مِنْof رَسْمِa trace
فَأَنْكَرْتَ ما بِي لِلصَّبابَةِ مِنْ رَسْمِ
No wonder: you are unmarked by love,
so you deny the trace of yearning upon me.
نُدُوبٌscars بِخَدِّيon my cheek لِلدُّمُوعِfrom tears كَأَنَّهاas though they were
نُدُوبٌ بِخَدِّي لِلدُّمُوعِ كَأَنَّها
فُلُولٌnotches بِقَلْبِيin my heart مِنْfrom مُقارَعَةِclashing with الْهَمِّgrief
فُلُولٌ بِقَلْبِي مِنْ مُقارَعَةِ الْهَمِّ
Scars of tears upon my cheek, as though they were
notches in my heart from clashing with grief.
وَعائِبَتِيand my female reproacher أَنَّbecause الْخُطُوبَhardships بَرَيْنَنِيhave worn me thin
وَعائِبَتِي أَنَّ الْخُطُوبَ بَرَيْنَنِي
وَرُبَّand many a نَحِيفِslender الْجِسْمِin body ذُوpossessed of سُؤْدَدٍnobility ضَخْمِmighty
وَرُبَّ نَحِيفِ الْجِسْمِ ذُو سُؤْدَدٍ ضَخْمِ
And you who fault me because hardships have worn me thin—
yet many a slender-bodied man possesses mighty nobility.
رَأَتْshe saw أَثَراًa trace لِلنّائِباتِof calamities كَماas بَداappeared
رَأَتْ أَثَراً لِلنّائِباتِ كَما بَدا
مِنَon الْعَضْبِthe sharp sword ماwhat أَبْقىleft بِهِon it الضَّرْبُstriking مِنْof ثَلْمِnotching
مِنَ الْعَضْبِ ما أَبْقى بِهِ الضَّرْبُ مِنْ ثَلْمِ
She saw the trace of calamities, like what appears
on a sharp sword: the notches that striking has left upon it.
فَلاso do not تُنْكِريyou disown ماwhat أَحْدَثَcaused الدَّهْرٌtime إِنَّماnothing but
فَلا تُنْكِري ما أَحْدَثَ الدَّهْرٌ إِنَّما
نَوائِبُهُits calamities أَقْرانُopponents كُلِّevery فَتىًyoung man قَرْمِa noble champion
نَوائِبُهُ أَقْرانُ كُلِّ فَتىً قَرْمِ
So do not disown what time has wrought; its
calamities are but the opponents of every noble champion.
وَلاand no بُدَّescape مِنْfrom وَصْلٍreunion تُسَهِّلُmakes easy وَعْرَهُits ruggedness
وَلا بُدَّ مِنْ وَصْلٍ تُسَهِّلُ وَعْرَهُ
وَعىًbattle تَنْتَمِيtrace their lineage فِيهاin it السُّيُوفُthe swords إلىto عَزْمِيmy resolve
وَعىً تَنْتَمِي فِيها السُّيُوفُ إلى عَزْمِي
There must be a reunion, its rugged way made smooth
by battle, in which swords claim kinship with my resolve.
فَرُبَّfor many a مَرامٍgoal قَدْindeed تَعاطَيْتُI sought وِرْدَهُits draught
فَرُبَّ مَرامٍ قَدْ تَعاطَيْتُ وِرْدَهُ
فَماso not ساغَwent down easily لِيfor me حَتّىuntil أَمَرَّgrew bitter لَهُto it طَعْمِيmy taste
فَما ساغَ لِي حَتّى أَمَرَّ لَهُ طَعْمِي
For many a goal whose draught I sought
would not go down easily until my own taste grew bitter to it.
وَخَيْلٍand steeds تَمَطَّتْstretched out بِيbearing me وَلَيْلٍand a night كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَخَيْلٍ تَمَطَّتْ بِي وَلَيْلٍ كَأَنَّهُ
تَرادُفُsuccessive arrival وَفْدِthe envoys of الْهَمِّgrief أَوْor زاخِرُthe surge of الْيمِّthe sea
تَرادُفُ وَفْدِ الْهَمِّ أَوْ زاخِرُ الْيمِّ
And steeds that stretched out bearing me, and a night as though it were
the successive arrival of grief's envoys, or a surging sea.
شَقَقْتُI cleaved دُجاهُits darkness وَالنُّجُومُand the stars كَأَنَّهاas though they were
شَقَقْتُ دُجاهُ وَالنُّجُومُ كَأَنَّها
قَلائدُnecklaces نَظْمِيof my verse أَوْor مساعِيthe achievements of أَبِيAbu (Father of) النَّجْمِal-Najm (the Star)
قَلائدُ نَظْمِي أَوْ مساعِي أَبِي النَّجْمِ
I cleaved its darkness, while the stars seemed
the necklaces of my verse, or the achievements of Abu al-Najm.
إِليْكَtoward you يَمِينَYamin (Right Hand) الْمُلْكِal-Mulk (of Kingship) واصَلْتُI continued شَدَّهاtheir pressing onward
إِليْكَ يَمِينَ الْمُلْكِ واصَلْتُ شَدَّها
مُقَلْقَلةَrattling الأَغْلاقِthe fastenings جائِلَةَshifting الْحُزْمِthe girths
مُقَلْقَلةَ الأَغْلاقِ جائِلَةَ الْحُزْمِ
Toward you, Yamin al-Mulk, I kept them pressing onward,
their fastenings rattling, their girths shifting.
غُوارِبُhigh backs أَحْياناًat times طَوالِعُrising كُلَّماwhenever
غُوارِبُ أَحْياناً طَوالِعُ كُلَّما
هَبَطْنَthey descended فَضاthe expanse of سَهْلٍa plain عَلَوْنَthey climbed مَطاthe back of حَزْمِa ridge
هَبَطْنَ فَضا سَهْلٍ عَلَوْنَ مَطا حَزْمِ
High backs rising at times; whenever
they descended into a plain's expanse, they climbed a ridge's back.
تَمِيلُturn aside بِهاthem الآمالُhopes عَنْfrom كُلِّevery مَطْمَعٍambition
تَمِيلُ بِها الآمالُ عَنْ كُلِّ مَطْمَعٍ
دَنِيءٍbase وَتَسْمُوand rise لِلطِّلابِtoward the pursuit الَّذِيthat يُسْمِيelevates
دَنِيءٍ وَتَسْمُو لِلطِّلابِ الَّذِي يُسْمِي
Hopes turn them aside from every ambition
that is base, and lift them toward the pursuit that elevates.
تَزُورُthey visit امْرَأًa man لاnot يُجْتنَىis harvested ثَمَرُthe fruit of الْغِنىwealth
تَزُورُ امْرَأً لا يُجْتنَى ثَمَرُ الْغِنى
بِمْثِلِwith the like of نَداهُhis generosity الْغَمْرِoverflowing وَالنَّائِلِand gifts الْجَمِّabundant
بِمْثِلِ نَداهُ الْغَمْرِ وَالنَّائِلِ الْجَمِّ
They visit a man: nowhere are the fruits of wealth gathered
as through his overflowing generosity and abundant gifts.
مَتىwhenever جِئْتَهُyou come to him وَالْمُعْتَفُونَand petitioners بِبابِهِat his door
مَتى جِئْتَهُ وَالْمُعْتَفُونَ بِبابِهِ
شَهِدَتْwitnessed بِنُعْمىthrough the blessing of كَفِّهِhis hand مَصْرَعَthe downfall of الْعُدْمِpoverty
شَهِدَتْ بِنُعْمى كَفِّهِ مَصْرَعَ الْعُدْمِ
Whenever you come to him, with petitioners at his door,
you witness poverty's downfall through the blessing of his hand.
إلىto مُسْتَبِدٍّone unrivaled بِالْفضائِلin virtues قاسِمٍassigning
إلى مُسْتَبِدٍّ بِالْفضائِل قاسِمٍ
لِهِمَّتِهِto his ambition مِنْfrom نَفْسِهِhimself أَوْفَرَthe fullest الْقِسْمِshare
لِهِمَّتِهِ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ أَوْفَرَ الْقِسْمِ
To one unrivaled in virtues, assigning
to his ambition the richest share of himself.
تُعَدُّis counted عُلاهُhis eminence مِنْamong مَناقِبِthe merits of دَهْرِهhis age
تُعَدُّ عُلاهُ مِنْ مَناقِبِ دَهْرِه
كَعَدِّكَas you count فَضْلَthe merit of اللَّيْلِnight بِالقَمَرِthrough the moon التِّمِّfull
كَعَدِّكَ فَضْلَ اللَّيْلِ بِالقَمَرِ التِّمِّ
His eminence is counted among the merits of his age,
as you count the night's merit by its full moon.
وَكَرَّمَهُand ennobled him عَنْbeyond أَنْthat يُسَبَّbe reviled بِمِثْلِهِbecause of his like الزَّtime (first part)
وَكَرَّمَهُ عَنْ أَنْ يُسَبَّ بِمِثْلِهِ الزَّ
مانُtime (completion) كَمالٌperfection زَيَّنَadorned الجَدَّgood fortune بِالْفَهْمِwith understanding
مانُ كَمالٌ زَيَّنَ الجَدَّ بِالْفَهْمِ
And he is too noble for time to be cursed through one like him—
—through perfection that adorns good fortune with understanding,
وَجُودٌand generosity عَلَىtoward الْعافِيthe petitioner وَذَبٌّand defense عَنِof الْعُلىeminence
وَجُودٌ عَلَى الْعافِي وَذَبٌّ عَنِ الْعُلى
وَصَدٌّand turning away عَنِfrom الْواشِيthe slanderer وَصَفْحٌand forgiveness عَنِfor الْجُرْمِwrongdoing
وَصَدٌّ عَنِ الْواشِي وَصَفْحٌ عَنِ الْجُرْمِ
and generosity to the petitioner, and defense of eminence,
and rejection of the slanderer, and forgiveness of wrongdoing,
وَرُتْبَةُand the rank of مَنْone who لَمْdid not يجْعَلِmake الْحَظَّluck وَحْدَهُalone
وَرُتْبَةُ مَنْ لَمْ يجْعَلِ الْحَظَّ وَحْدَهُ
طَرِيقاًa path إِلىto الْعالِيthe highest مِنَof الرُّتَبِthe ranks الشُّمِّlofty
طَرِيقاً إِلى الْعالِي مِنَ الرُّتَبِ الشُّمِّ
and the rank of one who did not make luck alone
a path to the highest of the lofty ranks.
تَناوَلَهاattained it اسْتِحْقاقُهُhis merit قَبْلَbefore حَظِّهِhis luck
تَناوَلَها اسْتِحْقاقُهُ قَبْلَ حَظِّهِ
وَحامىand defended عَلَيْهاit وَالْمقادِرُwhile destinies لَمْdid not تَحْمِprotect
وَحامى عَلَيْها وَالْمقادِرُ لَمْ تَحْمِ
His merit attained that rank before his luck,
and guarded it when destiny did not.
وَغَيْرُand not بَدِيعِa marvel مِنْfrom بَدِيعِBadi' مُشَيِّدٌa builder
وَغَيْرُ بَدِيعِ مِنْ بَدِيعِ مُشَيِّدٌ
لِماof what شادَهُhe built وَالْفَرْعُand the branch يُنْمىis traced إِلىto الجِذْمِthe root
لِما شادَهُ وَالْفَرْعُ يُنْمى إِلى الجِذْمِ
It is no marvel that from Badi' comes a builder
of what he built: the branch is traced to the root.
سَقىmay water اللهُGod عَصْراًan age حافَظَsafeguarded ابْنَIbn (son of) مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
سَقى اللهُ عَصْراً حافَظَ ابْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ
بِماwith what فِيin ثُغُورِthe mouths of الْغانِياتِbeautiful women مِنَof الظَّلْمِlustrous tooth-moisture
بِما فِي ثُغُورِ الْغانِياتِ مِنَ الظَّلْمِ
May God water an age that safeguarded Ibn Muhammad
with the lustrous moisture in beautiful women's mouths.
أَغَرُّradiant إِذاwhen ماever الْخَطْبُcalamity أَعْشىblinded ظَلامُهُits darkness
أَغَرُّ إِذا ما الْخَطْبُ أَعْشى ظَلامُهُ
تَبَلَّجَhe shone forth طَلْقَunclouded الرَّأْيin judgment فِيamid الحادِثِthe event الْجَهْمِgrim
تَبَلَّجَ طَلْقَ الرَّأْي فِي الحادِثِ الْجَهْمِ
A radiant man: when calamity's darkness blinds,
he shines forth with unclouded judgment amid the grim event.
تَرِقُّgrow tender حَواشِيthe edges of الدَّهْرِtime فِيin ظِلِّthe shade of مَجْدِهِhis glory
تَرِقُّ حَواشِي الدَّهْرِ فِي ظِلِّ مَجْدِهِ
وَتَظْرُفُand grows refined مِنْهُthrough him شِيمَةُthe character of الزَّمَنtime الْفَدْمِuncouth
وَتَظْرُفُ مِنْهُ شِيمَةُ الزَّمَن الْفَدْمِ
Time's edges grow tender in the shade of his glory,
and through him the character of uncouth time grows refined.
وَيَكْبُرُand is too great قَدْراًin stature أَنْto يُرىbe seen مُتكبرَّاًarrogant
وَيَكْبُرُ قَدْراً أَنْ يُرى مُتكبرَّاً
وَيَعْظُمُand is too lofty مَجْداًin glory أَنْto يَتيِهَstrut مَعَwith العُظْمِgreatness
وَيَعْظُمُ مَجْداً أَنْ يَتيِهَ مَعَ العُظْمِ
He is too great in stature to be seen as arrogant,
and too lofty in glory to strut in his greatness,
وَيَكْرُمُand is too noble عَدْلاًin justice أَنْfor يَميلَto sway بهِhim الهَوىdesire
وَيَكْرُمُ عَدْلاً أَنْ يَميلَ بهِ الهَوى
وَبَشْرُفُand is too noble نَفْساًin soul أَنْto يَلَذَّtake pleasure مَعَwith الإِثمِsin
وَبَشْرُفُ نَفْساً أَنْ يَلَذَّ مَعَ الإِثمِ
and too noble in justice for desire to sway him,
and too noble in soul to take pleasure in sin.
وَيُورِدُand leads in عَنْfrom فَضْلٍexcellence وَيُصْدِرُand leads out عَنْfrom نُهىًwisdom
وَيُورِدُ عَنْ فَضْلٍ وَيُصْدِرُ عَنْ نُهىً
وَيَصْمُتُand is silent عَنْfrom حِلْمٍforbearance وَيَنْطِقُand speaks عَنْfrom عِلْمِknowledge
وَيَصْمُتُ عَنْ حِلْمٍ وَيَنْطِقُ عَنْ عِلْمِ
He leads in through excellence and leads out through wisdom,
is silent through forbearance and speaks through knowledge.
بَدِيهَهُspontaneity رَأْيٍof judgment فِيwithin رَوِيَّةِthe deliberation of سُؤْدَدِnobility
بَدِيهَهُ رَأْيٍ فِي رَوِيَّةِ سُؤْدَدِ
وَإِقْدامُand boldness عَزْمٍof resolve فِيwithin تَأَيُّدِthe restraint of ذِيone possessing حَزْمِprudence
وَإِقْدامُ عَزْمٍ فِي تَأَيُّدِ ذِي حَزْمِ
Spontaneous judgment within the deliberation of nobility,
and bold resolve within a prudent man's measured restraint.
خَلائِقُqualities إِنْif تَحْوِencompass الثَّناءَpraise بِأَسْرِهِin its entirety
خَلائِقُ إِنْ تَحْوِ الثَّناءَ بِأَسْرِهِ
فَماthen not الفَخْرُpride إِلاَّexcept نُهْبَةُthe spoils of الشَّرَفِnobility الْفَخْمmajestic
فَما الفَخْرُ إِلاَّ نُهْبَةُ الشَّرَفِ الْفَخْم
Qualities that, if they encompass all praise,
make pride but the spoils of majestic nobility.
أَبَرُّmore beneficent عَلَىto الأَقْوامِpeoples مِنْthan شَيْبَةِthe white locks of الْحَياrain
أَبَرُّ عَلَى الأَقْوامِ مِنْ شَيْبَةِ الْحَيا
وَأَشْهَرُand more renowned فِيamong الأَيّامِthe days مِنْthan شَيْبَةِthe white hairs of الدُّهْمِblack steeds
وَأَشْهَرُ فِي الأَيّامِ مِنْ شَيْبَةِ الدُّهْمِ
More beneficent to peoples than the white locks of rain,
and more renowned through the days than white hairs on black steeds.
أَضاءَتْshone بِكَthrough you الأَوْقاتُthe hours وَالشَّمْسُand the sun لَمْdid not تُنِرْgive light
أَضاءَتْ بِكَ الأَوْقاتُ وَالشَّمْسُ لَمْ تُنِرْ
وَرُوِّضَتِand became gardens السّاحاتُthe open grounds وَالْغَيْثُand the rain لَمْdid not يَهْمِpour
وَرُوِّضَتِ السّاحاتُ وَالْغَيْثُ لَمْ يَهْمِ
The hours shone through you though the sun gave no light,
and the open grounds became gardens though no rain poured.
وَشُدَّتْand were secured أَواخِيthe stakes of الْمُلْكِkingship مِنْكَthrough you بِأَوْحَدٍwith a peerless man
وَشُدَّتْ أَواخِي الْمُلْكِ مِنْكَ بِأَوْحَدٍ
بَعِيدِfar عُرىthe bonds of الْعَقْدِthe knot الْوَكِيدِfirm مِنَfrom الفَصْمِbreaking
بَعِيدِ عُرى الْعَقْدِ الْوَكِيدِ مِنَ الفَصْمِ
Kingship's stakes were secured through you, a peerless man,
whose firm knot's ties are far from breaking.
فَتىًa young man لاnot تُصافِيbefriends طَرْفَهُhis eye لَذَّةُthe pleasure of الْكَرىslumber
فَتىً لا تُصافِي طَرْفَهُ لَذَّةُ الْكَرى
وَلاand not تَطَّبِيlure أَجْفانَهُhis eyelids خُدَعُthe deceits of الحُلْمِdreams
وَلا تَطَّبِي أَجْفانَهُ خُدَعُ الحُلْمِ
A young man whose eye is not befriended by the pleasure of slumber,
and whose eyelids are not lured by the deceits of dreams.
يُسَهِّدُهُkeeps him wakeful تَشْيِيدُهُhis building of الْمَجْدَglory وَالْعُلىand eminence
يُسَهِّدُهُ تَشْيِيدُهُ الْمَجْدَ وَالْعُلى
وَتَفْرِيجُand relieving غَمّاءِthe gloom of الْحَوادِثِcalamities وَالْغَمِّand grief
وَتَفْرِيجُ غَمّاءِ الْحَوادِثِ وَالْغَمِّ
Building glory and eminence keeps him wakeful,
as does relieving the gloom of calamities and grief.
وَغَيْرُand other than النُّجُومِthe stars الزُّهْرِbright يَأْلَفُهاbefriends them الْكَرىsleep
وَغَيْرُ النُّجُومِ الزُّهْرِ يَأْلَفُها الْكَرى
وَيَعْدَمُهاand deserts them الإِشْراقُradiance فِيin الظُّلَمِdarknesses الْعُسّمِimpenetrable
وَيَعْدَمُها الإِشْراقُ فِي الظُّلَمِ الْعُسّمِ
Sleep befriends things other than the shining stars,
and radiance deserts them in impenetrable darkness.
لقَدْindeed شَرَّفَhonored الأَقْلامَthe pens مَسُّthe touch of أَنامِلٍfingertips
لقَدْ شَرَّفَ الأَقْلامَ مَسُّ أَنامِلٍ
بِكَفِّكَon your hand لاnot تَخْلُوis devoid مِنَof الْجُودِgenerosity وَاللَّثْمِand kisses
بِكَفِّكَ لا تَخْلُو مِنَ الْجُودِ وَاللَّثْمِ
The pens were indeed ennobled by the touch of fingertips
on your hand, never without generosity and kisses.
فَكُلُّso every نُحُولِthinness فِيin الظُّبِىsword blades حَسَدٌenvy لَهاof them
فَكُلُّ نُحُولِ فِي الظُّبِى حَسَدٌ لَها
وَكُلُّand every ذُبُولٍwithering غَيْرَهُother than it بِالْقَناin spears الصُّمِّsolid
وَكُلُّ ذُبُولٍ غَيْرَهُ بِالْقَنا الصُّمِّ
All thinness in sword blades is envy of them,
as is every other withering in the solid spears.
وَكُنْتَand you were إِذاwhen طالَبْتَyou sought أَمْراًan objective مُمَنَّعاًstrongly defended
وَكُنْتَ إِذا طالَبْتَ أَمْراً مُمَنَّعاً
أَفَدْتَyou gained بِهاthrough them ماwhat يُعْجِزُis beyond الْحَرْبَwar فِيin السِّلْمِpeace
أَفَدْتَ بِها ما يُعْجِزُ الْحَرْبَ فِي السِّلْمِ
Whenever you sought a strongly defended objective,
you gained through them in peace what war cannot achieve.
كَفَيْتَyou spared الْحُسامَthe sword الْعَضْبَsharp فَلَّthe blunting of غِرارِهِits edges
كَفَيْتَ الْحُسامَ الْعَضْبَ فَلَّ غِرارِهِ
وَآمَنْتَand safeguarded صَدْرَthe breast of السَّمْهرِيِّthe hard spear مِنَfrom الْحَطْمِshattering
وَآمَنْتَ صَدْرَ السَّمْهرِيِّ مِنَ الْحَطْمِ
You spared the sharp sword the blunting of its edges,
and kept the hard spear's breast safe from shattering.
وَجاراكَand raced you مَنْone who لاno فَضْلَmerit يُنْجِدُaids سَعْيَهُhis effort
وَجاراكَ مَنْ لا فَضْلَ يُنْجِدُ سَعْيَهُ
وَأَيُّand what امْرِيءٍman يَبْغِيseeks النِّضالَan archery contest بِلاwithout سَهْمِan arrow
وَأَيُّ امْرِيءٍ يَبْغِي النِّضالَ بِلا سَهْمِ
One whose effort no merit aided tried to race you,
but what man seeks an archery contest without an arrow?
لَكَyours is الذِّرْوَةُthe summit الْعَلْياءِhighest مِنْof كُلِّevery مَفْخرٍsource of pride
لَكَ الذِّرْوَةُ الْعَلْياءِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَفْخرٍ
سَنِيٍّsplendid وَماand not لِلْحاسِدِينَfor the envious سِوىexcept الرُّغْمِhumiliation
سَنِيٍّ وَما لِلْحاسِدِينَ سِوى الرُّغْمِ
Yours is the highest summit of every source of pride
that is splendid; the envious have nothing but humiliation.
وَكَيْفَand how يُرَجِّيhopes for نَيْلَattaining مَجْدِكَyour glory طالِبٌan aspirant
وَكَيْفَ يُرَجِّي نَيْلَ مَجْدِكَ طالِبٌ
وَبَيْنَهُماwhile between the two ماwhat بَيْنَbetween عِرْضِكَyour honor وَالْوَصْمِand blemish
وَبَيْنَهُما ما بَيْنَ عِرْضِكَ وَالْوَصْمِ
How can an aspirant hope to attain your glory,
when the gulf between them is that between your honor and a stain?
لَئِنْeven if أَوْحَدَتْنِيleft me alone النّائِباتُcalamities فَإِنَّنِيthen indeed I
لَئِنْ أَوْحَدَتْنِي النّائِباتُ فَإِنَّنِي
لَمِنْsurely through سَيْبِكَyour bounty الْفَيّاضِoverflowing فِيin عَسْكَرٍan army دَهْمِdark and numerous
لَمِنْ سَيْبِكَ الْفَيّاضِ فِي عَسْكَرٍ دَهْمِ
Even if calamities have left me alone, I
am, through your overflowing bounty, amid a dark, multitudinous host.
وَإِنْand if لَمْnot أُفِدْI gain غُنْماًprofit فَقُرْبُكَthen your nearness كافِلٌguarantees
وَإِنْ لَمْ أُفِدْ غُنْماً فَقُرْبُكَ كافِلٌ
بِأَضْعِافِهِmany times its amount حَسْبيenough for me لِقاؤُكَmeeting you مِنْas غُنْمِgain
بِأَضْعِافِهِ حَسْبي لِقاؤُكَ مِنْ غُنْمِ
And if I gain no profit, your nearness guarantees
many times as much; meeting you is profit enough for me.
هَجَرْتُI forsook إِلَيْكَfor you الْعالَمِينَall peoples مَحَبَّةًout of love
هَجَرْتُ إِلَيْكَ الْعالَمِينَ مَحَبَّةً
وَمِثْلُكَand one like you مَنْone who يُبْتاعُis bought بِالْعُرْبِwith Arabs وَالْعُجْمِand non-Arabs
وَمِثْلُكَ مَنْ يُبْتاعُ بِالْعُرْبِ وَالْعُجْمِ
I forsook all peoples for you out of love,
and one like you is bought with Arabs and non-Arabs.
وَماand not قَلَّare few مَنْthose whose تَرْتاحُdelight in مَدْحِيmy praise صِفاتُهُhis qualities
وَما قَلَّ مَنْ تَرْتاحُ مَدْحِي صِفاتُهُ
وَلكِنْbut رَأَيْتُI deemed الدُّرَّpearls أَلْيَقَmore fitting بِالنِّظْمِfor stringing
وَلكِنْ رَأَيْتُ الدُّرَّ أَلْيَقَ بِالنِّظْمِ
Not few are those whose qualities delight in my praise,
but I deemed pearls more fitting to be strung.
أَرىI see نَيْلَthe gifts of أَقْوامٍpeople وَآبيand refuse امْتِنانَهُمْtheir reminders of favor
أَرى نَيْلَ أَقْوامٍ وَآبي امْتِنانَهُمْ
وَلَيْسَand not تَفِيcompensates لِيfor me لَذَّةُthe sweetness of الشُّهْدِhoney بِالسُّمِّfor poison
وَلَيْسَ تَفِي لِي لَذَّةُ الشُّهْدِ بِالسُّمِّ
I see other men's gifts but refuse their reminders of favor,
for honey's sweetness does not compensate me for poison.
فَهلْso will لَكَyou أَنْto تَنْتاشَنِيrescue me بِصَنِيعَةٍwith a favor
فَهلْ لَكَ أَنْ تَنْتاشَنِي بِصَنِيعَةٍ
يَلِينُgrows soft بِهاthrough it عُودُthe wood of الزَّمانِtime عَلَىunder عُجْمِيmy testing bite
يَلِينُ بِها عُودُ الزَّمانِ عَلَى عُجْمِي
Will you rescue me with a favor
through which time's wood grows soft beneath my testing bite?
تَحُلُّit takes مَحَلّthe place of الْماءِwater عِنْدِيfor me مِنَin relation to الثَّرىsoil
تَحُلُّ مَحَلّ الْماءِ عِنْدِي مِنَ الثَّرى
وَأَشْكُرُهاand I thank it شُكْرَas thank الرِّياضِgardens يَدَthe hand of الْوسْمِيthe first autumn rain
وَأَشْكُرُها شُكْرَ الرِّياضِ يَدَ الْوسْمِي
It would be to me as water is to soil,
and I would thank it as gardens thank the hand of the first autumn rain.
أَقَّرَّacknowledged ذَوُوthose possessing الآدابِliterary cultivation طُرّاًall لِمَنْطِقِيmy eloquence
أَقَّرَّ ذَوُو الآدابِ طُرّاً لِمَنْطِقِي
وَغَيْرُهُمُand others besides them فِيماin what حَكىhe related كاذِبُfalse الزَّعْمِin claim
وَغَيْرُهُمُ فِيما حَكى كاذِبُ الزَّعْمِ
All men of letters have acknowledged my eloquence,
and others are false in the claims they report.
فَلَسْتُso I am not بِمُحتاجin need عَلَىregarding ماwhat ادَّعَيْتُهُI claimed
فَلَسْتُ بِمُحتاج عَلَى ما ادَّعَيْتُهُ
إِلىof شاهِدٍa witness بَعْدَafter اعْتِرافٍan admission مِنَfrom الْخَصْمِthe adversary
إِلى شاهِدٍ بَعْدَ اعْتِرافٍ مِنَ الْخَصْمِ
So I have no need, concerning what I have claimed,
of a witness after an admission by the adversary.
تُطِيعُobey الْقَوافِيthe rhymes الآبِياتُdefiant قَرائِحيmy poetic gifts
تُطِيعُ الْقَوافِي الآبِياتُ قَرائِحي
وَيَنْزِلُand submits فِيهِنَّwithin them الْكَلامُspeech عَلَىto حُكْمِيmy rule
وَيَنْزِلُ فِيهِنَّ الْكَلامُ عَلَى حُكْمِي
Defiant rhymes obey my poetic gifts,
and within them words submit to my rule.
وَسيّارَةِand a far-traveling poem بِكْرٍa maiden قَصَرْتُI shortened عِنانَهاits rein
وَسيّارَةِ بِكْرٍ قَصَرْتُ عِنانَها
فَطالَتْso it rose tall بِهِthrough it والْخَيْلُand horses تُمْرَحُare made to frisk فِيin اللُّجْمِbridles
فَطالَتْ بِهِ والْخَيْلُ تُمْرَحُ فِي اللُّجْمِ
And a far-traveling maiden poem—I shortened its rein,
and it rose tall thereby; horses are made to frisk within bridles.
نَمىgrew ذكْرُهاits renown قَبْلَbefore اللِّقاءِthe meeting وَإِنَّماand only
نَمى ذكْرُها قَبْلَ اللِّقاءِ وَإِنَّما
يَسُرُّكَpleases you بَوْحِيmy disclosure بِالْمَحامِدِof praises لاnot كَتْمِيmy concealment
يَسُرُّكَ بَوْحِي بِالْمَحامِدِ لا كَتْمِي
Its renown grew before the meeting; it is only
my revealing praises that pleases you, not my concealing them.
كَمَخْتُومَةِlike a sealed flask الدّارِيِّthe perfumer نَمَّtold بِفَضْلهِاof its excellence
كَمَخْتُومَةِ الدّارِيِّ نَمَّ بِفَضْلهِا
إِلَيْكَto you شَذاهاits fragrance قَبْلَbefore فَضِّكَyour breaking لِلْخَتْمِof the seal
إِلَيْكَ شَذاها قَبْلَ فَضِّكَ لِلْخَتْمِ
Like a perfumer's sealed flask: its excellence is revealed
to you by its fragrance before you break the seal.
حَدِيثَهُnewborn عَصْرٍto an age كَلَّماwhenever امْتَدَّlengthened دَهْرُهاits lifetime
حَدِيثَهُ عَصْرٍ كَلَّما امْتَدَّ دَهْرُها
سَماrose فَخْرُهاits distinction حَتّىuntil تَطُولَit surpasses عَلَىover الْقُدْمِthe old ones
سَما فَخْرُها حَتّى تَطُولَ عَلَى الْقُدْمِ
Newborn to its age, the longer its lifetime,
the higher its distinction rises, until it surpasses the older ones.
وَماand not فَضْلُthe virtue of بِنْتِthe daughter of الْكَرْمِthe grapevine يَوْماًever ببَيِّنٍplain
وَما فَضْلُ بِنْتِ الْكَرْمِ يَوْماً ببَيِّنٍ
إِذاif لَمْnot يَطُلْgrows long عَهْدُthe interval since acquaintance ابْنَةِthe daughter of الْكَرْمِthe grapevine بِالْكَرْمِwith the grapevine
إِذا لَمْ يَطُلْ عَهْدُ ابْنَةِ الْكَرْمِ بِالْكَرْمِ
The merit of the vine's daughter is never plain
unless a long time has passed since that daughter knew the vine.
Sol 6.1