سَقَوْهُthey gave him to drink كَأْسَa cup فُرْقَتِهِمْof their parting دِهَاقاbrimming
سَقَوْهُ كَأْسَ فُرْقَتِهِمْ دِهَاقا
وَأَسْكَرَهُand intoxicated him الْوَدَاعُfarewell فَماso not أَفَاقاhe sobered up
وَأَسْكَرَهُ الْوَدَاعُ فَما أَفَاقا
They gave him a brimming cup of their parting,
They made him drink the chalice of their parting in deep draughts,
and farewell intoxicated him, so he never sobered.
And farewell intoxicated him, so he did not recover.
إِذاif ماan emphatic particle الْكَأْسُthe cup لَمْnot تَكُbe كَأْسَa cup بَيْنٍof separation
إِذا ما الْكَأْسُ لَمْ تَكُ كَأْسَ بَيْنٍ
فَلَيْسَتْthen it is not بِالْحَمِيمِscalding water وَلاَnor الْغَسَاقاfoul ichor
فَلَيْسَتْ بِالْحَمِيمِ وَلاَ الْغَسَاقا
If a cup is not a cup of separation,
When the cup is no longer a cup of communion,
it is neither scalding water nor foul ichor.
It is neither cordial nor full.
أَبىwould accept nothing إِلاَّexcept افْتِرَاقاdispersal شَمْلُthe gathered unity صَبْرِيof my patience
أَبى إِلاَّ افْتِرَاقا شَمْلُ صَبْرِي
وَدَمْعِيand my tears إِذْwhen نَأَوْاthey went far away إِلاَّexcept افْتِراقاdispersal
وَدَمْعِي إِذْ نَأَوْا إِلاَّ افْتِراقا
My gathered patience could do nothing but scatter,
Only separation would my patience's unity consent to,
and my tears, when they went far away, could only scatter too.
And my tears when they turned away consented only to separation.
رِفَاقٌcompanions مَاnot ارْتَضَواthey accepted فيin السِّيْرِtravel إِلاَّexcept
رِفَاقٌ مَا ارْتَضَوا في السِّيْرِ إِلاَّ
قُلُوبَthe hearts الْعاشِقينَof lovers لَهُمْfor themselves رِفَاقاas companions
قُلُوبَ الْعاشِقينَ لَهُمْ رِفَاقا
Companions who, on their journey, would accept none
Companions who in their journey desired nothing
but lovers' hearts as their companions.
But the hearts of lovers - they were their companions.
أَرائِقَةَO enchanting one الْجَمَالِin beauty وَلاَand not جَميلٌbeautiful
أَرائِقَةَ الْجَمَالِ وَلاَ جَميلٌ
أَرَاقَكِdid it please you أَنْthat جَعَلْتِyou made دَمِيmy blood مُرَاقاspilled
أَرَاقَكِ أَنْ جَعَلْتِ دَمِي مُرَاقا
O you of enchanting beauty—though this is no lovely deed—
Charmer of beauty, no beauty charmed you
did it please you to make my blood spill?
To make my blood forbidden.
وَسِرْتِand you departed فَلِمْthen why أَسَرْتِdid you capture فُؤَادَthe heart حُرٍّof a free man
وَسِرْتِ فَلِمْ أَسَرْتِ فُؤَادَ حُرٍّ
حَلَلْتِyou alighted وَمَاand did not حَلَلْتِyou untied لَهُfor him وَثَاقاa bond
حَلَلْتِ وَمَا حَلَلْتِ لَهُ وَثَاقا
You departed; then why did you capture a free man's heart?
You travelled in secrecy, so why did you steal
You alighted, yet untied no bond for him.
The heart of a free man without making it lawful?
تُعَيِّرُنِيyou taunt me بأَحْداثِwith the calamities الْلَّيالِيof the nights
تُعَيِّرُنِي بأَحْداثِ الْلَّيالِي
وَكَيْفَand how يُدافِعُcan ward off الْبَدْرُthe full moon الْمِحاقاcomplete waning
وَكَيْفَ يُدافِعُ الْبَدْرُ الْمِحاقا
You taunt me with the ravages of the nights;
You taunt me with the nights' events,
and how can the full moon ward off its complete waning?
And how can the full moon defend the disappearing crescent?
شَبابٌyouth كانَwas مُعْتَلاًّailing فَوَلىَّthen departed
شَبابٌ كانَ مُعْتَلاًّ فَوَلىَّ
وَصَدْرٌand a breast كانَwas مُتَّسِعاًspacious فضَاقاthen narrowed
وَصَدْرٌ كانَ مُتَّسِعاً فضَاقا
Youth was ailing, and then departed,
A youth that was exalted is now humbled,
and a breast once spacious has grown cramped.
And a breast that was capacious is now straitened.
يُكَلِّفُنِيburdens me with الزَّمَانُtime مَدِيحَpraise of قَوْمٍpeople
يُكَلِّفُنِي الزَّمَانُ مَدِيحَ قَوْمٍ
يَرَوْنَthey consider كَسادَthe poor market for ذِكْرِهِمُtheir name نَفَاقاbrisk demand
يَرَوْنَ كَسادَ ذِكْرِهِمُ نَفَاقا
Time burdens me with praising people
Time charges me to praise a people
who deem their name's poor market a brisk one.
Who see the decline of their mention as hypocrisy.
وَمَنْand whoever يَرْجُوhopes for مِنَfrom النَّارِfire ارْتِواءًquenching thirst
وَمَنْ يَرْجُو مِنَ النَّارِ ارْتِواءً
كَمَنْlike one who يَخْشىfears مِنَfrom الْمآءِwater احْتِراقاbeing burned
كَمَنْ يَخْشى مِنَ الْمآءِ احْتِراقا
And whoever hopes to quench his thirst with fire
And who hopes for quenching from fire
is like one who fears being burned by water.
Like one who fears being set ablaze by water?
وَلَوْand if أَنَّthat الزَّمانَtime أَرادَwished حَمْلَto bear الbeginning of 'which'
وَلَوْ أَنَّ الزَّمانَ أَرادَ حَمْلَ ال
مunclear fragment ذِيremainder of 'which' حُمِّلْتُI was made to bear مِنْهُfrom it مَاnot أَطَاقاit could manage
م ذِي حُمِّلْتُ مِنْهُ مَا أَطَاقا
And had Time wished to bear
Had time wanted to load me with what
what I was made to bear from it, it could not have done so.
I am not strong enough to bear.
وَليand I have عَزْمٌa resolve أَنَالُI attain بِهِthrough it انْفِتاحاًan opening
وَلي عَزْمٌ أَنَالُ بِهِ انْفِتاحاً
لِبابِfor the gate الْمَجْدِof glory إِنْif خِفْتُI feared انْغِلاقاa closing
لِبابِ الْمَجْدِ إِنْ خِفْتُ انْغِلاقا
And I have a resolve by which I gain an opening
Yet I have a will by which to attain
for glory's gate, if I fear it closing.
The unlocking of the door of glory, if I fear its closing.
بَعَثْتُI sent forth بِهِwith it النِّياقthe she-camels وَقَدْand perhaps يُرَجِّيhopes for
بَعَثْتُ بِهِ النِّياق وَقَدْ يُرَجِّي
أَنِيقَthe delightfulness الْعَيْشِof life مَنْone who بَعَثَsent forth النِّياقاthe she-camels
أَنِيقَ الْعَيْشِ مَنْ بَعَثَ النِّياقا
With it I sent the she-camels forth; there may be hope
By it I sent messengers, and it may give hope
of a delightful life for one who sends the she-camels forth.
Of a refined life to one who sent messengers.
سَريْتُI traveled by night بِهاon them وَحَظِّيand my fortune ذُوpossessed of سُبَاتٍslumber
سَريْتُ بِها وَحَظِّي ذُو سُبَاتٍ
وجئتand I came to أباAbu (father of) الفوارسal-Fawaris (the horsemen) فاستفاقاso it awoke
وجئت أبا الفوارس فاستفاقا
I traveled by night on them while my fortune slept,
I set forth with it while my luck slumbered.
and came to Abu al-Fawaris, and it awoke.
So I came to Abu'l-Fawaris and he awoke.
سعىhe strove وسعىand strove الملوكthe kings فكانso he was
سعى وسعى الملوك فكان
مَدىًin reach وَأَشَدَّand more vigorous فيin السَّعْيِstriving انْطِلاَقاin onward movement
مَدىً وَأَشَدَّ في السَّعْيِ انْطِلاَقا
He strove, and kings strove; he was [...]
Kings strove and strove. But he
in reach, and more vigorous in his onward striving,
Excelled them in exertion and outdid in endeavor.
وَأَطْوَلَهُمْand the longest of them لَدىtoward الْعلْياءِeminence باعاًin arm's reach
وَأَطْوَلَهُمْ لَدى الْعلْياءِ باعاً
وَأَثْبَتَهُمْand the firmest of them لَدىamid الْهَيْجآءِbattle سَاقاin footing
وَأَثْبَتَهُمْ لَدى الْهَيْجآءِ سَاقا
and longest of reach among them toward eminence,
The longest of them in status with the Sublime,
and firmest of footing among them amid battle.
The firmest of them in position with the passionate.
يُطَبِّقُblankets غَيْثُهُhis rain أَرْضَthe land الأَمَانيof wishes
يُطَبِّقُ غَيْثُهُ أَرْضَ الأَمَاني
وَيَسْموand rises above سَعْدُهُhis good fortune السَّبْعَthe seven الطِّباقاlayered heavens
وَيَسْمو سَعْدُهُ السَّبْعَ الطِّباقا
His rain blankets the land of wishes,
His rain pours upon the land of hopes
and his good fortune rises above the seven layered heavens.
And his good fortune transcends the seven spheres.
وَيَسْبِقُand outruns عَزْمُهُhis resolve كَلْمَthe wounding اللَّيالِيof the nights
وَيَسْبِقُ عَزْمُهُ كَلْمَ اللَّيالِي
فَكَيْفَso how يُحاوِلُونَdo they attempt لَهُagainst him سِباقاa race
فَكَيْفَ يُحاوِلُونَ لَهُ سِباقا
And his resolve outruns the wounds of the nights;
His resolve outstrips the word of nights.
so how can they attempt to race against him?
So how can they attempt to outstrip him?
وَمَنْand whoever يطْلُبْseeks لِلَمْعِfor the flash الْبَرْقِof lightning شَأْواًa matching racing pace
وَمَنْ يطْلُبْ لِلَمْعِ الْبَرْقِ شَأْواً
يَجِدْهُfinds it أَعزَّthe hardest مَطْلُوبٍthing sought لَحاقاto catch
يَجِدْهُ أَعزَّ مَطْلُوبٍ لَحاقا
And whoever seeks to match lightning's flash
And whoever seeks a flashing lightning bolt's illumination
finds it the hardest thing to catch.
Will find it the most inaccessible sought thing to attain.
وَمَاand not بِالْجَدِّthrough luck فَاقَhe surpassed النَّاسَpeople صِيتاًin renown
وَمَا بِالْجَدِّ فَاقَ النَّاسَ صِيتاً
وَلكِنْbut بِالنَّدىthrough generosity وَالْبَأْسِand valor فَاقاhe surpassed
وَلكِنْ بِالنَّدى وَالْبَأْسِ فَاقا
It was not through luck that he surpassed people in renown,
Not by wealth did he surpass people in repute,
but through generosity and valor he surpassed them.
But by munificence and prowess he surpassed.
وَمَنْand whoever خَطَبَwooed الْمَعالِيَhigh honors بِالْعوَالِيwith lofty spears
وَمَنْ خَطَبَ الْمَعالِيَ بِالْعوَالِي
وَبِالْجَدْوىand with bounty فَقدْthen indeed أَرْبىhe increased الصِّدَاقاthe bridal dower
وَبِالْجَدْوى فَقدْ أَرْبى الصِّدَاقا
And whoever woos high honors with lofty spears
Whoever woos the heights with heights
and with bounty has greatly increased the bridal dower.
And with bounty, has indeed profited his friends.
وإنand if طرقhe raided by night العدىthe foes لمdid not يرضaccept منهمfrom them
وإن طرق العدى لم يرض منهم
سوىother than هامthe skulls الملوكof kings لهfor himself طراقاas sandal-soles
سوى هام الملوك له طراقا
And if he raids his foes by night, he accepts from them
And if the way of enemies importuned him
nothing but kings' skulls for his sandal-soles.
The bent necks of kings alone pleased him.
وَقَدْand indeed كَرِهَhas hated التَّلاَقِيَmeeting كُلُّevery صَبٍّlovesick man
وَقَدْ كَرِهَ التَّلاَقِيَ كُلُّ صَبٍّ
كَأَنَّas though إِليfor الفِراقِparting بِهِwithin him اشْتِيَاقاa yearning
كَأَنَّ إِلي الفِراقِ بِهِ اشْتِيَاقا
And every lovesick man has come to hate meeting,
Every ardent lover disliked meeting
as though he harbored a longing for parting.
As if longing for separation attracted him.
وَشَدَّدand tightened بِالْخِناقِthe noose عَلَىupon الأَعَادِيthe enemies
وَشَدَّد بِالْخِناقِ عَلَى الأَعَادِي
فَتىًa youth رَاخِىwho loosened بِنَائِلِهِwith his gifts الْخِنَاقاthe noose
فَتىً رَاخِى بِنَائِلِهِ الْخِنَاقا
And he tightened the noose on his enemies—
With the noose he tightened his grip on enemies -
a youth who loosened the noose with his gifts.
A youth relaxed with his choking noose.
تَلاَقَتْconverged عِنْدَكَin your presence الآمالُhopes حَتّىuntil
تَلاَقَتْ عِنْدَكَ الآمالُ حَتّى
أَبىrefused إِسْرَافُthe lavishness جُودِكَof your generosity أَنْto يُلاَقاbe matched
أَبى إِسْرَافُ جُودِكَ أَنْ يُلاَقا
Hopes converged upon you, until
Hopes converged upon you until
the lavishness of your bounty refused to be matched.
Your limitless munificence refused convergence.
وَأَقْبَلَand came بِالْهَنَاءِwith gladness عَلَيْكَto you عِيدٌa festival
وَأَقْبَلَ بِالْهَنَاءِ عَلَيْكَ عِيدٌ
حَدَاهُurged it on with song إِلَيْكَtoward you إِقْبالٌgood fortune وَسَاقاand drove it on
حَدَاهُ إِلَيْكَ إِقْبالٌ وَسَاقا
And a festival came to you with gladness;
And a feast came to you in delight
good fortune urged it toward you with song, and drove it on.
Its procession to you impelled it.
فَسَرَّكَso it gladdened you وَهْوَwhile it منْكَthan you أَسَرُّwas more joyful قَلْباًat heart
فَسَرَّكَ وَهْوَ منْكَ أَسَرُّ قَلْباً
وَلاَand no عَجَبٌwonder إِنif الْمُشْتَاقُthe yearning one شَاقاinspired yearning
وَلاَ عَجَبٌ إِن الْمُشْتَاقُ شَاقا
It gladdened you, though its heart was gladder than yours,
It delighted you, and its being delighted with you
and no wonder if one who yearns inspires yearning.
Is more delightful - no wonder, the longing one complains!
وَمِثْلُكَand one like you يَاO مُحَّمدُMuhammad سَاقَled جَيْشاًan army
وَمِثْلُكَ يَا مُحَّمدُ سَاقَ جَيْشاً
يُكَلِّفُforces to undergo نَفْسَthe soul رَائِيهِof its beholder السِّيَاقاdeath's throes
يُكَلِّفُ نَفْسَ رَائِيهِ السِّيَاقا
And one such as you, O Muhammad, led an army
And the like of you, O Muhammad, marched an army
that forces its beholder's soul into death's throes.
That tasks its happy marcher’s energy.
إذاif الْخَيْلُthe horses الْعِتَاقُthe thoroughbred ones حَملْنَcarry هَمّاًan ambition
إذا الْخَيْلُ الْعِتَاقُ حَملْنَ هَمّاً
فَهَمُّكَthen your ambition يَحْملُcarries الْخَيْلَthe horses الْعِتَاقاthe thoroughbred ones
فَهَمُّكَ يَحْملُ الْخَيْلَ الْعِتَاقا
If thoroughbred horses bear ambition,
When the noble steeds shouldered anxiety,
then your ambition bears the thoroughbred horses.
Your anxiety shoulders the noble steeds.
وَمَنْand whoever عَشِقَloved passionately الدِّقاقَthe slender ones السُّمْرَthe dusky ones يَوْماًever
وَمَنْ عَشِقَ الدِّقاقَ السُّمْرَ يَوْماً
فإِنَّكَthen indeed you تَعْشَقُlove passionately السُّمْرَthe dusky spears الْدَّقَاقاthe slender ones
فإِنَّكَ تَعْشَقُ السُّمْرَ الْدَّقَاقا
And if anyone has ever loved slender, dusky women,
Whoever loved the slender, dark-lipped one day
you love dusky, slender spears.
You love the dark-lipped and slender forever.
وَتَخْتَرِمُand you cut down الْمُلُوكَkings بِهاwith them اخْتِرَاماًutterly
وَتَخْتَرِمُ الْمُلُوكَ بِها اخْتِرَاماً
وَتَخْتَرِقُand you pierce الْعَجَاجَthe swirling dust بِهاwith them اخْتِرَاقاstraight through
وَتَخْتَرِقُ الْعَجَاجَ بِها اخْتِرَاقا
And with them you cut kings down utterly,
With it you trample kings, trampling them,
and with them you pierce the swirling dust straight through.
And you pierce the enemy lines, piercing them.
يَسُرُّكَit delights you أَنْto تُسَاقِيshare a drink with الْجَيْشَthe army كَأْساًa cup
يَسُرُّكَ أَنْ تُسَاقِي الْجَيْشَ كَأْساً
مِنَof الْحَرْبِwar اصْطِباحاًas a morning draught وَاغْتِبَاقاand an evening draught
مِنَ الْحَرْبِ اصْطِباحاً وَاغْتِبَاقا
It delights you to share with the army a cup
You delight to give the army a draught
of war, in morning and evening draughts.
Of war at dawn, engaging it.
وَأَشْجَعُand the bravest مَنْof those whom رَأَيْنَاهُwe have seen him شُجَاعٌa brave man
وَأَشْجَعُ مَنْ رَأَيْنَاهُ شُجَاعٌ
يُلاقِيهِmeets him السُّرُورُjoy بِأَنْbecause يُلاَقِيhe meets in battle
يُلاقِيهِ السُّرُورُ بِأَنْ يُلاَقِي
And the bravest we have seen is a brave man
The most courageous we saw was brave,
whom joy greets at meeting the foe.
But joy met him in his bravery.
وَمَاand not مَاءٌwater لِذِيfor one with ظَمَإٍthirst زُلاَلٌpure and sweet
وَمَا مَاءٌ لِذِي ظَمَإٍ زُلاَلٌ
بِأَعْذَبsweeter مِنْthan خَلاَئِقِهِhis character traits مَذاقاin taste
بِأَعْذَب مِنْ خَلاَئِقِهِ مَذاقا
Nor is pure water to a thirsty man
No fresher water for a thirsty one
sweeter to taste than his character.
Than the taste of his creation.
حَبَانِيbestowed on me جُودُهُhis generosity عَيْشاًa life كَأَنِّيas though I
حَبَانِي جُودُهُ عَيْشاً كَأَنِّي
ظَفِرْتُhad won بِهِit مِنَfrom الدَّهْرِtime استِرَاقاby stealth
ظَفِرْتُ بِهِ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ استِرَاقا
His generosity bestowed on me a life, as though I
His munificence granted me a life as though
had won it from Time by stealth.
I had stealthily seized it from fate.
فَأَيَّامِيso my days بِهِthrough him بِيضٌare white يِقَاقٌbrilliantly white
فَأَيَّامِي بِهِ بِيضٌ يِقَاقٌ
وَكَانَتْand they were قَبْلَهُbefore him سُوداًblack صِفَاقاdensely dark
وَكَانَتْ قَبْلَهُ سُوداً صِفَاقا
So through him my days are white, brilliantly white,
So my days through it are shining white
and before him they were black, densely dark.
While before it they were murky black.
وطَوَّقَنِيand put a collar on me ابْنُIbn (son of) مَالِكَMalik طَوْقَa collar مَنٍّof favor
وطَوَّقَنِي ابْنُ مَالِكَ طَوْقَ مَنٍّ
فَصُغْتُso I fashioned مِنَfrom الثَّناءِpraise لَهُfor him نِطَاقاa girdle
فَصُغْتُ مِنَ الثَّناءِ لَهُ نِطَاقا
And Ibn Malik put a collar of favor around my neck,
And the son of Malik collared me with a collar of bounty,
so I fashioned for him a girdle of praise.
So I was loquacious in praise of him.
أَرَىI see الأَيَّامَthe days لاَnot تُعْطِيgrant كَرِيماًa noble man
أَرَى الأَيَّامَ لاَ تُعْطِي كَرِيماً
بُلُوغَattainment مُرَادِهِof his desire إِلاَّexcept فَوَاقاfor a brief moment
بُلُوغَ مُرَادِهِ إِلاَّ فَوَاقا
I see the days do not grant a noble man
I see the days do not give a generous one
his wish's fulfillment except for a fleeting moment.
Attainment of his desire except transcending.
فَلاَso may they not عَاقَتْكَhinder you عَنْfrom طَلَبِseeking الْمَعَالِيhigh honors
فَلاَ عَاقَتْكَ عَنْ طَلَبِ الْمَعَالِي
إِذاwhen الأَيَّامُthe days كَادَتْalmost أَنْto تُعَاقاbe hindered
إِذا الأَيَّامُ كَادَتْ أَنْ تُعَاقا
So may they not obstruct your quest for high honors,
So may the days not prevent you
when the days themselves are almost held back.
From seeking the heights, should they almost prevent you.
Sol 6.1