طَرَقَتْshe came by night علىamid عِللfitful spells الكرىslumber أَسماءُAsmāʾ
طَرَقَتْ على عِلل الكرى أَسماءُ
وَهْنَاًlate at night وماand not شَعَرَتْbecame aware بهاof her الرُّقَباءُthe watchers
وَهْنَاً وما شَعَرَتْ بها الرُّقَباءُ
Asmāʾ came by night amid fitful spells of slumber,
The names have wandered the regions of glory
Late at night, unnoticed by the watchers.
Unsteadily, though the necks perceived them not
سَكْرَىdrunk ترنَّحswayed عِطفُهاher flank فتعلمتْso learned
سَكْرَى ترنَّح عِطفُها فتعلمتْ
مِنْfrom معطفيهاher two flanks البانةُthe bān tree الغنَّاءُluxuriantly leafy
مِنْ معطفيها البانةُ الغنَّاءُ
Drunk, her flank swayed, so a lesson was learned
A drunken beauty sways in her cloak and so
From her two flanks by the luxuriant bān tree.
The singer learned coquetry from her attire
يَثْنِيbends الصِّباyouthful ardor والرّاحُand wine قامَتهاher stature كماjust as
يَثْنِي الصِّبا والرّاحُ قامَتها كما
تثنيbends الأراكةَthe arāk tree زعْزعٌa fierce gust نكباءُcross-blowing
تثني الأراكةَ زعْزعٌ نكباءُ
Youthful ardor and wine bend her stature, as
The morning breeze bends her shape as it would
A fierce crosswind bends the arāk tree.
Bend a swinging branch, a passing storm
زارَتْshe visited علىdespite شَحْطِthe great distance المزارِof the journey متيَّماًa love-stricken man
زارَتْ على شَحْطِ المزارِ متيَّماً
بالرّقْمَتيْنِat al-Raqmatayn وَدارُهاand her dwelling تَيماءُTaymāʾ
بالرّقْمَتيْنِ وَدارُها تَيماءُ
Despite the distant journey, she visited a love-stricken man
She visited a loved one’s tomb, marked with pebbles,
At al-Raqmatayn, though her dwelling was Taymāʾ.
Her abode being far in Tayma’s land
فيin ليلةٍa night كَشَفَتْshe uncovered ذوائبَهاher locks بهاduring it
في ليلةٍ كَشَفَتْ ذوائبَها بها
فتَضاعفتْso doubled بعَقاصِهاwith her braids الظَّلْماءُthe darkness
فتَضاعفتْ بعَقاصِها الظَّلْماءُ
On a night in which she uncovered her locks,
In a night when she unveiled her tresses therein
So the darkness doubled with her braids.
Did the darkness redouble round her person
والطيفُand the phantom يخفيhides فيin الظلامِthe darkness كماjust as اختفىhid
والطيفُ يخفي في الظلامِ كما اختفى
فيin وجنةthe cheek الزَّنجيِّof the Zanj man منهfrom him حَياءُa blush of modesty
في وجنة الزَّنجيِّ منه حَياءُ
Her phantom hides within the dark, just as there hides
And her phantom hides in the gloom as though
In a Zanj man's cheek his blush of modesty.
Ashamed before the black slave’s cheek
ماnot زالceased يُمتِعُنيdelighting me الخيالُthe dream-vision بوَصْلِهاwith union with her
ما زال يُمتِعُني الخيالُ بوَصْلِها
حتىuntil انزوىwithdrew عنfrom مُقْلتيmy eye الإغفاءُslumber
حتى انزوى عن مُقْلتي الإغفاءُ
The vision kept delighting me with union with her,
Imagination would regale me with her presence
Until slumber withdrew from my eye.
Till slumber shunned the corner of mine eye
بَرَدَgrew cold الحُليّthe jewelry فنافرتْso she shunned عَضُديmy upper arm وقدand already
بَرَدَ الحُليّ فنافرتْ عَضُدي وقد
هبَّawoke الصباحُthe dawn ونامَتِand slept الجَوْزاءُal-Jawzāʾ
هبَّ الصباحُ ونامَتِ الجَوْزاءُ
The jewelry grew cold; she shunned my arm, while
The ornaments chilled so my shoulder shunned them
Dawn awoke and al-Jawzāʾ fell asleep.
As dawn awakened while winter slept
وَدَعَتْand she summoned برحلتهاwith her departure النَّوىseparation فتحمَّلتْso set out
وَدَعَتْ برحلتها النَّوى فتحمَّلتْ
فيin الرّكبِthe caravan منهاfrom her ظبيةa gazelle أدماءُwhite-coated
في الرّكبِ منها ظبية أدماءُ
Her departure summoned separation, and there set out
When she departed, she left the cooking-stones so the doe
With the caravan a white gazelle in her form.
Among the riders bore her swarthy affliction
ماتتdied بدفتهاat her side الشمائلthe north winds والصباand the east wind
ماتت بدفتها الشمائل والصبا
ومدامعيand my tears والمزنةand the rain cloud الوطفاءthick and drooping
ومدامعي والمزنة الوطفاء
The north winds and the east wind died at her side,
The hours of her charm died, and morning,
As did my tears and the thick, drooping rain cloud.
My tears, my misery and longing for her
فلَتؤخذَنَّso let surely be held answerable بمُهجتيfor my lifeblood لحَظَاتُهاher glances
فلَتؤخذَنَّ بمُهجتي لحَظَاتُها
وَبِعَرْصَتَيْهاand for her two courtyards الريحُthe wind والأنواءُand the seasonal rains
وَبِعَرْصَتَيْها الريحُ والأنواءُ
Let her glances surely answer for my lifeblood,
So let the breezes capture with mine anguish
And the wind and seasonal rains for her two courtyards.
Moments of her, the plains and the winds
طَلَعَتshe rose بحيثُwhere الباتراتُthe cutting swords بوارقٌlightning flashes
طَلَعَت بحيثُ الباتراتُ بوارقٌ
والرزقand sustenance شهبshooting stars والقتامand the dust سماءa sky
والرزق شهب والقتام سماء
She rose where the cutting swords are lightning flashes,
The rain stars rose out of the grim horizon
And sustenance is shooting stars, and dust a sky.
Sustenance being falling stars, and darkness the sky
فيin كلمةa word (reading uncertain) حمراءred يخفقflutters دونهاbefore it
في كلمة حمراء يخفق دونها
بينَbetween الفوارسthe horsemen رايةٌa banner حمراءُred
بينَ الفوارس رايةٌ حمراءُ
In a red 'word' [uncertain reading], before which flutters
Above a red standard the horsemen shout
Among the horsemen a red banner.
And the firmament is dressed in layered armor
والجوُّand the air لابسُclothed in قسطلٍdust مُتراكِمٍpiled up
والجوُّ لابسُ قسطلٍ مُتراكِمٍ
فلهُso it has منof النَّقْعِthe battle dust الأحمِّblack رداءُa cloak
فلهُ من النَّقْعِ الأحمِّ رداءُ
The air is clothed in piled-up dust,
From out the dust there emerged a she-camel, burdened, and turned
Wearing a cloak of black battle dust.
The greens to gray because of what she carried
سَطَعَتْrose منfrom الغبراءِthe gray earth فيهwithin it عَجاجةٌa dust cloud
سَطَعَتْ من الغبراءِ فيه عَجاجةٌ
مركومةٌheaped up فاغبرَّتِso grew gray with dust الخضراءُthe green sky
مركومةٌ فاغبرَّتِ الخضراءُ
A dust cloud rose within it from the gray earth,
Leave the roe of Waeesa be, and heed
Heaped high, turning the green sky gray.
This one, for every land has had its roe
دَعْleave ظبيةَthe gazelle الوعساءِof the sandy tract واعنِand attend لهذهto this one
دَعْ ظبيةَ الوعساءِ واعنِ لهذه
فلكلِّso for every أَرضٍland يَمَّمَتْshe headed toward وَعْساءُa sandy tract
فلكلِّ أَرضٍ يَمَّمَتْ وَعْساءُ
Leave the gazelle of the sandy tract, and attend to this one,
With it they severed the hands of riders in vengeance
For every land she headed toward has a sandy tract.
Fired as it was by heat of noonday
قطعتْcrossed بهاwith her أيديthe forefeet الركابof the riding camels تنوفةa trackless wilderness
قطعتْ بها أيدي الركاب تنوفة
قدalready أُلهبتwas set ablaze فيin جوِّهاits air الرَّمضاءُthe sun-scorched ground
قد أُلهبت في جوِّها الرَّمضاءُ
The riding camels' forefeet carried her across a wilderness
Will a breeze convey unto the warriors greeting?
In whose air the sun-scorched ground had been set ablaze.
A wind blows gentle with the night sojourner
هلwill تُبلغنَّsurely convey الظاعنينَthe departing travelers تحيةًa greeting
هل تُبلغنَّ الظاعنينَ تحيةً
ريحٌa breeze تهبُّblows معwith الأصيلِlate afternoon رُخاءُgentle
ريحٌ تهبُّ مع الأصيلِ رُخاءُ
Will a greeting be borne to the departing travelers
It drags its skirt upon the meadow as though
By a gentle breeze blowing in late afternoon?
The meadow were a robe and itatype of cloak
كَسْلَىlanguid تجرُّshe drags علىover الحديقةِthe garden ذَيْلَهاher train
كَسْلَى تجرُّ على الحديقةِ ذَيْلَها
فالعَرْفُso the fragrance منهاfrom her مَنْدَلٌaloeswood وَكبَاءُand incense
فالعَرْفُ منها مَنْدَلٌ وَكبَاءُ
Languid, she trails her train across the garden;
Does Abu Abdelmelik find solace in you or you
Her fragrance is aloeswood and incense.
Find solace in his ascension and renown?
تُعْزىis attributed أباO Abū (father of) عبدِʿAbd (servant of) المليكِal-Malīk (the Sovereign) إليكَto you أوor
تُعْزى أبا عبدِ المليكِ إليكَ أو
يُعزَىis attributed إليهاto her منfrom عُلاكَyour eminence ثناءُpraise
يُعزَى إليها من عُلاكَ ثناءُ
She is attributed to you, Abū ʿAbd al-Malīk, or
O star effacing other stars in radiance
To her is attributed praise drawn from your eminence.
Erasing the gloom of celestial bodies with its light
ياO كوكباstar بهرَdazzled الكواكبَthe stars نورُهُits light
يا كوكبا بهرَ الكواكبَ نورُهُ
ومحاand erased دُجىthe darkness الجرمانthe two orbs (reading uncertain) منهfrom it ضياءُradiance
ومحا دُجى الجرمان منه ضياءُ
O star whose light has dazzled the stars,
You have a towering ambition, a generous nature
And whose radiance erased the gloom of the two orbs [uncertain reading].
And a charming submissiveness, gentle and sweet
لكَyou have همةٌan ambition علويةٌlofty كرميَّةٌgenerous
لكَ همةٌ علويةٌ كرميَّةٌ
وسجيةٌand a disposition معسولةٌhoney-sweet لَمْيَاءُdark-lipped
وسجيةٌ معسولةٌ لَمْيَاءُ
You have a lofty, generous ambition,
You have attained in glory a station you furnished
And a honey-sweet, dark-lipped disposition.
With your supremacy, which people had left bare
ومكانةٌand a station فيin المجدِglory أنتَyou عَمَرْتَهاyou inhabited it
ومكانةٌ في المجدِ أنتَ عَمَرْتَها
بعُلاكَwith your eminence وهيَand it منof الأنامِmankind خَلاءُempty
بعُلاكَ وهيَ من الأنامِ خَلاءُ
And a station in glory that you have inhabited
You have donned the sleeves of eloquence, warning ‘gainst
With your eminence, though empty of mankind.
A wisdom no sage before you was granted
فَتَّقْتَyou split open أكمامَthe bud-sheaths البلاغةِeloquence والنُّهىand intellect
فَتَّقْتَ أكمامَ البلاغةِ والنُّهى
عنto reveal حكمةٍwisdom لمnot تُؤْتَهاwere granted it الحُكَماءُthe sages
عن حكمةٍ لم تُؤْتَها الحُكَماءُ
You split open the bud-sheaths of eloquence and intellect
And perhaps your resolve foams or rage
To reveal a wisdom the sages were never granted.
Roils o’er a sea enemies have frequented
ولربَّماand often جاشَsurged اعتزامُكَyour resolve أوor طمىoverflowed
ولربَّما جاشَ اعتزامُكَ أو طمى
عنfrom أَبْحُرٍseas شَرِقَتْchoked بهاon them الأعداءُthe enemies
عن أَبْحُرٍ شَرِقَتْ بها الأعداءُ
Often your resolve surged or overflowed
Still does eloquence gush from him like a whetted
From seas on which your enemies choked.
Sword, with determination and illumination
ماnot زالَceased يَفْرِيcleaving الخطبَcalamity منهfrom him مهنَّدٌan Indian-forged sword
ما زالَ يَفْرِي الخطبَ منه مهنَّدٌ
للعزمِfor resolve منهfrom it صولةٌan onslaught ومضاءُand sharpness
للعزمِ منه صولةٌ ومضاءُ
An Indian-forged blade of his keeps cleaving calamity;
His talent was honed and refined in manner
From it, resolve has an onslaught and a cutting edge.
That I cannot tell if it were iron or water
شُبَّتْwas kindled قريحتُهُhis innate genius وهُذِّبand was refined خَلْقُهhis form
شُبَّتْ قريحتُهُ وهُذِّب خَلْقُه
فلمso not أَدْرِI knew هلwhether هوhe جَذْوَةٌan ember أمor ماءُwater
فلم أَدْرِ هل هو جَذْوَةٌ أم ماءُ
His genius was kindled and his form refined;
Sagacity flows in the fingers of his right hand
So I could not tell: was he an ember or water?
As if it, swarthy, were a Abyssinian slave-girl
تجريruns اليراعةُthe reed pen فيin بنانِthe fingers يمينهِof his right hand
تجري اليراعةُ في بنانِ يمينهِ
وكأنهاand as though it were يَزَنِيَّةٌa Yazanī spear سمراءُbrown
وكأنها يَزَنِيَّةٌ سمراءُ
The reed pen runs among the fingers of his right hand,
And the summit of his vision surpasses the stars, as though
As though it were a brown Yazanī spear.
It were a heaven above the celestial sphere
ويفوقُand surpasses محتدُهُhis lineage الكواكبَthe stars مرتقىًin height
ويفوقُ محتدُهُ الكواكبَ مرتقىً
فكأنَّهُso as though it were فوقَabove السماءِthe sky سماءُa sky
فكأنَّهُ فوقَ السماءِ سماءُ
His lineage surpasses the stars in height,
When his speech pours forth tongues are struck
As though it were a sky above the sky.
Dumb by his spellbinding eloquence
ذَرِبُkeen اللسانِof tongue إذاwhen تدفَّقَpours forth نُطْقُهُhis speech
ذَرِبُ اللسانِ إذا تدفَّقَ نُطْقُهُ
خَرِسَتْwere struck mute بسحرِthrough the magic of خِطابهِhis address الخُطَباءُthe orators
خَرِسَتْ بسحرِ خِطابهِ الخُطَباءُ
Keen of tongue—when his speech pours forth,
If he were to sleep, none could take his place
The orators fall mute at the magic of his address.
In his alerts save the precious ruby
لوif نابَstood in عنهfor him سواهُsomeone other than him فيin يَقَظاتِهِhis wakeful moments
لو نابَ عنه سواهُ في يَقَظاتِهِ
نابَتْwould take منابَthe place of الجَوْهَرِjewels الحصباءُpebbles
نابَتْ منابَ الجَوْهَرِ الحصباءُ
If another took his place in his watchfulness,
By him mankind takes resort in the Almighty
Pebbles would be taking the place of jewels.
Whose like among the mighty is unmatched
ركنَleaned الأنامُmankind بهthrough him إلىupon ذيone possessing عزَّةٍmight
ركنَ الأنامُ به إلى ذي عزَّةٍ
قعساءَunassailable ليسnot كمثلِهاlike it قعساءُan unassailable might
قعساءَ ليس كمثلِها قعساءُ
Through him, mankind found refuge with one whose might
When they singled him out with gratitude, it was
Is unassailable, with none like it.
As bounty blanketed them all
لمnot يَخْصُصوهthey singled him out بشكرهمwith their thanks إلاexcept وقدand already
لم يَخْصُصوه بشكرهم إلا وقد
عمَّتencompassed جميعَهُمُall of them بهthrough him النَّعماءُbounty
عمَّت جميعَهُمُ به النَّعماءُ
They singled him out for their thanks only when
If their tongues denied his benefaction
Bounty, through him, had embraced them all.
Their limbs would speak of it openly
لوif أنَّindeed ألسُنَهُمtheir tongues جَحَدْنَdenied صنيعهُhis beneficence
لو أنَّ ألسُنَهُم جَحَدْنَ صنيعهُ
نَطَقَتْwould speak بذاكof that عليهمُagainst them الأعضاءُthe limbs
نَطَقَتْ بذاك عليهمُ الأعضاءُ
Had their tongues denied his beneficence,
Numerous are his generous hands, so number
Their limbs would have spoken of it against them.
Itself is overwhelmed enumerating his breaths
كثُرتْmultiplied أياديهhis favors الجسامُimmense فآخذٌso drawing
كثُرتْ أياديه الجسامُ فآخذٌ
منon قبلهاtheir account أنفاسَهُits breath الإحصاءُreckoning
من قبلها أنفاسَهُ الإحصاءُ
His mighty favors multiplied, so that reckoning
By his laudations the world is sweetened like sweet scent And dawn and dusk are perfumed
Catches its breath on their account.
Son of the most generous scion bred
طابgrew sweet الزمانُtime بهاthrough them كطيبِlike the sweetness of ثنائِهِpraise of him
طاب الزمانُ بها كطيبِ ثنائِهِ
وتضوَّعَand wafted fragrance الإصباحُmorning والإمساءُand evening
وتضوَّعَ الإصباحُ والإمساءُ
Time grew sweet through them, as sweet as praise of him,
Among Abdulaziz’s generous company
And morning and evening wafted fragrance.
Those who kindle fires for latecomers
بأغرَّthrough a radiant man ذيpossessing كرمٍgenerosity نَمَتْهbrought him forth منfrom بنيthe sons of
بأغرَّ ذي كرمٍ نَمَتْه من بني
عبدِʿAbd (servant of) العزيزِal-ʿAzīz (the Mighty) عصابةٌa band كُرَماءُgenerous
عبدِ العزيزِ عصابةٌ كُرَماءُ
Through a radiant, generous man, sprung from the sons of
When the travelers turn in for the night
ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, a company of generous men.
Those who fill bowls when hardship strikes them
الموقدونthose who kindle علىupon الثَّنيَّةِthe mountain pass نارَهُمْtheir fire
الموقدون على الثَّنيَّةِ نارَهُمْ
للطارقينfor night visitors إذاwhen وَنَىَgrew weary السُّفَراءُthe wayfarers
للطارقين إذا وَنَىَ السُّفَراءُ
Those who kindle their fire upon the mountain pass
As catastrophes befall the tribes
For night visitors when the wayfarers grow weary;
A people whose glory is the eternity of their souls
والمالئونand those who fill منwith السَّديفِcamel-hump fat جفانَهُمْtheir large bowls
والمالئون من السَّديفِ جفانَهُمْ
لهُمُfor them إذاwhen شملتهُمُenveloped them اللأْواءُhardship
لهُمُ إذا شملتهُمُ اللأْواءُ
And fill their great bowls with camel-hump fat
And underground with the decayed they live
For them when hardship envelops them.
Were clouds to fail the rain they would rejoice
قومٌa people ثناؤهمُtheir praise خلودُthe immortality of نفوسِهُمْtheir souls
قومٌ ثناؤهمُ خلودُ نفوسِهُمْ
ومنَand among الهَوامدِthe lifeless فيin الثرىthe earth أَحياءُliving ones
ومنَ الهَوامدِ في الثرى أَحياءُ
A people whose praise is their souls' immortality,
Or darkest events of time illuminate their way
And among the lifeless in the earth are the living.
O son of him whose merit Ma’add learned
إنif أخلفَتْfailed their promise غرُّthe bright ones of السحابِthe clouds تهللواthey beamed
إن أخلفَتْ غرُّ السحابِ تهللوا
أوor جَنَّfell dark ليلُthe night الحادثاتِof misfortunes أضاءواthey shone
أو جَنَّ ليلُ الحادثاتِ أضاءوا
If the bright clouds fail their promise, their faces beam;
And Ma’add among them being of same repute
Or if the night of misfortunes darkens, they shine.
And son of him who in his rule
ياO ابْنَson of الذيthe one who علمَتْknew مَعَدٌّMaʿadd فضلَهُhis merit
يا ابْنَ الذي علمَتْ مَعَدٌّ فضلَهُ
وسِوىand those beyond مَعَدٍّMaʿadd فيهِconcerning him وهيand they سَواءُequal
وسِوى مَعَدٍّ فيهِ وهي سَواءُ
O son of him whose merit Maʿadd has known,
Made the frail equal to the able
And those beyond Maʿadd, equally aware of it.
With imperfect rhymes and clumsy style
وابْنَand son of الذيthe one who قدalready أُلحِقَتْwere joined فيin حُكمهhis rule
وابْنَ الذي قد أُلحِقَتْ في حُكمه
منthrough عدلهhis justice بأُوليto those possessing القُوىstrength الضُّعَفاءُthe weak
من عدله بأُولي القُوى الضُّعَفاءُ
And son of him under whose rule were joined,
Comes this poem to you from my abode
Through his justice, the weak to those of strength.
So without the aid of noble intermediaries
هذيthese القصائدُpoems قدalready أَتتكَcame to you برُودُهاtheir striped mantles
هذي القصائدُ قد أَتتكَ برُودُها
موشيةًembroidered وقريحتيand my poetic genius صنعاءُṢanʿāʾ
موشيةً وقريحتي صنعاءُ
These poems have come to you in their striped mantles,
Catch with might what the noble miss
Embroidered—and my poetic genius is Ṣanʿāʾ.
It hopes for favor from your grace, though unlike
فإليكَso here to you منهاfrom them شُرَّداًuntamed ones تصطادُهاcapture them
فإليكَ منها شُرَّداً تصطادُها
بالعزِّthrough honor لاnot بالنائلِthrough gifts الكرماءُthe noble
بالعزِّ لا بالنائلِ الكرماءُ
Here, then, are their untamed verses, hunted
What unimportant souls aspire to gain
By the noble through honor, not through gifts.
So indulge, Abu Abdelmelik, and reunite it, for you
ترجوthey seek نصيباًa share منof عُلاكَyour eminence وماand not لهاfor them
ترجو نصيباً من عُلاكَ وما لها
فيماin what تُرَجِّيهِhope for it العُفاةُthe gift-seekers رجاءُhope
فيما تُرَجِّيهِ العُفاةُ رجاءُ
They seek a share of your eminence, and have
Are the equal, and this the beautiful one
No hope in what the gift-seekers hope for.
And praise of your like is praise of the praiser
فانْعَمْso enjoy أَباO Abū (father of) عبدِʿAbd (servant of) المليكِal-Malīk (the Sovereign) بوصلهاin union with her
فانْعَمْ أَبا عبدِ المليكِ بوصلها
أنتَyou الكِفاءُthe worthy match وهذهand this الحسناءُthe beautiful woman
أنتَ الكِفاءُ وهذه الحسناءُ
So enjoy union with her, Abū ʿAbd al-Malīk;
And sometimes those whom the poets praise
You are the fitting match, and this is the fair one.
ومديحُand praise of مثلِكَone like you مادحيmy praiser ولربماand often
ومديحُ مثلِكَ مادحي ولربما
مُدحَتْare praised بمنthrough those whom تَتَمَدَّحُthey extol الشعراءُthe poets
مُدحَتْ بمن تَتَمَدَّحُ الشعراءُ
Praise of one like you praises me; and often
Poets are praised through those they extol.
Partial English translation: 93 of 96 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1