لعمرُby the life of أبيهاher father ماnot نكثتُI broke لهاto her عهداa pledge
لعمرُ أبيها ما نكثتُ لها عهدا
ولاnor فارقتْforsook عينيmy eye لفرقتهاbecause of parting from her السهداsleeplessness
ولا فارقتْ عيني لفرقتها السهدا
By her father's life, I never broke a pledge to her.
By the life of her father she never broke a promise with me
Nor did my eye relinquish sleeplessness at parting from her.
Nor did my eyes part from her, though parting rends the neck veins
أتأمرنيdoes she command me? سُعْدىSu'da بأنْto أهْجُرَI forsake الكرىslumber
أتأمرني سُعْدى بأنْ أهْجُرَ الكرى
وأعصيand I disobey علىdespite طَوْعيmy willing obedience لأجفانهاto her eyelids سعدىSu'da
وأعصي على طَوْعي لأجفانها سعدى
Does Su'da command me to forsake slumber,
Does Sa'd bid me desert the pretty doe
And should I disobey Su'da, though willingly obedient to her eyelids?
And disobey, though my inclination is to obey her behests?
برئْتُI am quit إذاًthen منْof صحبةِcompanionship of الركبِthe caravan والسُّرىand night travel
برئْتُ إذاً منْ صحبةِ الركبِ والسُّرى
ولاand may not عرَفَتْknow إِبْليmy camels ذميلاًa smooth trot ولاnor وَخْداa swift stride
ولا عرَفَتْ إِبْلي ذميلاً ولا وَخْدا
Then may I be quit of the caravan's company and night travel,
If so, then am I free of compact with caravan and night-journey;
And may my camels know neither a smooth trot nor a swift stride.
Nor shall my camel know a hobble or saddle cloth;
وليلٍand a night طرقتI visited by night الخدرthe secluded chamber فيهin it وللدجىand the darkness had
وليلٍ طرقت الخدر فيه وللدجى
عُبابٌa surging tide تراهyou see it بالكواكبِwith the stars مُزْبِداfoaming
عُبابٌ تراه بالكواكبِ مُزْبِدا
And on a night I visited her bower, while the darkness had
And night I spent in the camp - while for dawn there remained
A surging tide you saw foaming with stars.
Only a little when on the stars I saw morning-break;
أُجاذِبُI tug at عِطْفَthe side of المالكيَّةِthe Malikiyya woman تحتهbeneath it
أُجاذِبُ عِطْفَ المالكيَّةِ تحته
وأسحبُand I trail منfrom ضافيample العفافِchastity لهfor it بُرْداa cloak
وأسحبُ من ضافي العفافِ له بُرْدا
I tugged at the Malikiyya's side beneath it,
I would accost the fair-faced girls under it
And drew over it a cloak of ample chastity.
And grasp the hems of their robes of chastity.
نعِمْتُI delighted بهاin her والليلُwhile the night أسودُblack فاحمٌcoal-black
نعِمْتُ بها والليلُ أسودُ فاحمٌ
يغازلflirts with منهاof hers الأسودَthe black hair الفاحمَcoal-black الجعداcurly
يغازل منها الأسودَ الفاحمَ الجعدا
I delighted in her while the night, black as coal,
I had joy of her while the night was black with clouds
Flirted with her coal-black curls.
That made sport with the blackness that mantled the darkness.
فلمand did not أرَI see أشهىmore delectable منthan لَماهاher dusky lips مُدامَةًwine
فلم أرَ أشهى من لَماها مُدامَةً
ولمand did not أرَI see أذكىmore fragrant منthan تنفُّسهاher breathing ندَّاaromatic incense
ولم أرَ أذكى من تنفُّسها ندَّا
And I saw no wine more delectable than her dusky lips,
Never saw I the like of her wit in cups
Nor incense more fragrant than her breath.
Nor aught more rational than her breathing in union;
تبسَّمُshe smiles عماrevealing what قُلِّدتهُshe was adorned with it فأجتليand so I behold
تبسَّمُ عما قُلِّدتهُ فأجتلي
بمبسمهاin her smiling mouth عِقْداًa necklace وَلَبَّتهاand her throat عقداa necklace
بمبسمها عِقْداً وَلَبَّتها عقدا
She smiles, revealing what adorns her, and I behold
She smiles at the necklace she is strung on, so that
A necklace in her smiling mouth, and one at her throat.
Her necklace and neck seem in her smile but one.
ويعبقُand wafts fragrantly ريَّاهاher scent إذاwhen هبَّتِblows الصَّباthe east wind
ويعبقُ ريَّاها إذا هبَّتِ الصَّبا
فيحملُand so carries عنهاfrom her نشرُهاher spreading scent العنبرَambergris الورداrose-hued
فيحملُ عنها نشرُها العنبرَ الوردا
Her fragrance wafts when the east wind blows,
And when the zephyr blows o’er her the perfume wafts from her
And her spreading scent bears rose-hued ambergris from her.
As though she bears aloft her scarf of rose and myrtle.
سلِask الريحَthe wind عنabout نجدٍNajd تخبّركit will tell you أنهاthat it
سلِ الريحَ عن نجدٍ تخبّرك أنها
مُعطرةُperfumed الأنفاسof breath مذْsince سكنتْshe settled نجداNajd
مُعطرةُ الأنفاس مذْ سكنتْ نجدا
Ask the wind about Najd: it will tell you that it
Ask the zephyr of Nejd about her, and it will inform thee
Has perfumed breath ever since she settled in Najd.
That the breaths, since she dwelt in Nejd, are perfumed.
وأنَّand that الغَضاghada trees والسِّدرand lote trees مذsince جاورتهماshe dwelt beside them both
وأنَّ الغَضا والسِّدر مذ جاورتهما
لطيبbecause of the sweetness of شذاهاher fragrance أَشبهاthey both resembled الغارَlaurel والرِّنداand rand (aromatic trees)
لطيب شذاها أَشبها الغارَ والرِّندا
And that the ghada and lote trees, since she dwelt beside them,
That the branches and myrtle, since she neighbored them,
Have, through her sweet fragrance, come to resemble laurel and rand.
Are like the weed called ghar, or the reeds called rind.
وأدهمَand a black steed ماnot عارضتُI rivaled شُعلةَthe flame of بارقٍlightning
وأدهمَ ما عارضتُ شُعلةَ بارقٍ
بسيفيَwith my sword إلاّexcept عارضَhe rivaled الليلَthe night مسودّاpitch-black
بسيفيَ إلاّ عارضَ الليلَ مسودّا
And a black steed—whenever I rivaled a lightning-flash
Never have I opposed a flashing blade in fight
With my sword, he rivaled the night in blackness.
But I made night attack the blackness of night.
رقعتُI patched بهwith him الظَّلماءَthe darkness لمّاwhen تمزَّقَتْwere torn
رقعتُ به الظَّلماءَ لمّا تمزَّقَتْ
سرابيلُهاits robes وانقدَّand was ripped مُطرَفهاits bordered cloak قدّاclean apart
سرابيلُها وانقدَّ مُطرَفها قدّا
I patched the darkness with him when it was rent,
With it I rent the canopy of gloom when tattered
Its robes in tatters, its bordered cloak ripped apart.
Were its skirts, and its lightsome moons waned wan.
وقدand already برقتْflashed للصبحfor dawn فيهاwithin it مَخْيَلَةٌa rain-promising cloud
وقد برقتْ للصبح فيها مَخْيَلَةٌ
تُقلِّصُshrinks ظِلاًّa shadow للحنادسِof deep darkness ممتداoutstretched
تُقلِّصُ ظِلاًّ للحنادسِ ممتدا
And already a cloud heralding dawn had flashed within it,
And there had gleamed in it from morn a phantom
Shrinking the outstretched shadow of the deep darkness.
That made less the shadows of the cranes, outspread.
قطعتُI crossed علىat مَِّunclear in the supplied text الصباحmorning خمائلاًleafy groves
قطعتُ على مَِّ الصباح خمائلاً
مؤزَّرةًgirdled بالنَّورwith blossoms أعطافهاtheir flanks تنْدىare dewy
مؤزَّرةً بالنَّور أعطافها تنْدى
I crossed leafy groves at the [unclear word] of morning,
I traversed the meadows on an eve, while the steeds
Girdled with blossoms, their flanks wet with dew.
Decked with the light went with streaming neck-bands.
تُجيبُanswer صهيلَneighing of الخيلِthe horses فيهاin them حمائمٌdoves
تُجيبُ صهيلَ الخيلِ فيها حمائمٌ
أُطارحُهاI exchange with them الشوقَlonging المبرِّحtormenting والوجداand passion
أُطارحُها الشوقَ المبرِّح والوجدا
Doves there answered the horses' neighing,
Wild pigeons answered the neighing of the chargers therein;
With them I shared tormenting longing and passion.
I hurl them along in yearning and ecstasy combined.
ألاcome! فاركضوهاthen spur them on أوor ذَرُوهاleave them فإنَّنيfor I
ألا فاركضوها أو ذَرُوها فإنَّني
أُبَلِّغُI drive طِرفيmy noble steed فيin طلابِpursuit of العلاeminence الجهداutmost effort
أُبَلِّغُ طِرفي في طلابِ العلا الجهدا
Come, spur them on or leave them—for I
Up, and drive them on, or leave them, for I
Drive my steed to the utmost in pursuit of eminence.
Will impart unto my heart's care effort without toil.
لأهجُرَso I may leave أرضيmy land واصلاًlinking دَرَجَstages of السُّرىnight travel
لأهجُرَ أرضي واصلاً دَرَجَ السُّرى
إلىto أرضِthe land of قومٍa people تُنْبِتُgrows العزَّhonor والمجداand glory
إلى أرضِ قومٍ تُنْبِتُ العزَّ والمجدا
That I may leave my land, linking the stages of night travel,
I will abandon my land and turn from the camp,
To a people's land, where honor and glory grow.
Making for a land whose people know honor and glory.
إذاif لمnot تبلِّغْكَcarry you الجيادُfine steeds إلىto العلاeminence
إذا لم تبلِّغْكَ الجيادُ إلى العلا
فلاthen may not حفظَpreserve اللهُGod المطهَّمةَthe well-built horses الجُرْداsleek-coated
فلا حفظَ اللهُ المطهَّمةَ الجُرْدا
If fine steeds do not carry you to eminence,
If the steeds bring thee not to the perilous heights,
Then may God not preserve those well-built, sleek-coated horses.
May God not preserve the glossy coats aught of help!
ستجعلُyou will place بينbetween الحادثاتِcalamities إذاwhen دَجَتْthey darken
ستجعلُ بين الحادثاتِ إذا دَجَتْ
وبينand between أُسودٍlions منfrom بنيthe sons of أَسَدٍAsad سَدّاa barrier
وبين أُسودٍ من بني أَسَدٍ سَدّا
You will set, between calamities when they darken,
Between troubles, if gloom falls, I will make
And the lions of Banu Asad, a barrier.
A barricade of an aswad lion of the asad.
كفىsuffices بأبيwith Abu بكرٍBakr لمنfor whoever رامَseeks نُصْرَةًaid
كفى بأبي بكرٍ لمن رامَ نُصْرَةً
علىagainst الدَّهرfate أوْor مَنْwhoever ضَلَّlost his way فيin خَطْبهhis distress رشداguidance
على الدَّهر أوْ مَنْ ضَلَّ في خَطْبه رشدا
Abu Bakr suffices for whoever seeks aid
Abu Bakr suffices one who seeks succor
Against fate—or, for one lost in his distress, guidance.
Against Time, or wanders lost in his efforts.
وحسبيand enough for me بهin him دونَinstead of الذخائرِhoarded treasures عُدَّةًa resource
وحسبي به دونَ الذخائرِ عُدَّةً
إذاwhen الصِّيدُnoble lords عُدُّواare counted كانhe is أوَّلَthe first of منthose عُدّاcounted
إذا الصِّيدُ عُدُّوا كان أوَّلَ من عُدّا
And he, rather than hoarded treasures, is provision enough for me;
He suffices me, apart from treasures, as equip¬ment,
When noble lords are counted, he is the first counted.
If the game be enemies, he was first to equip.
فهمَّتهُfor his ambition تَسْتَسْفِلُdeems low النجمَthe stars رُتْبَةًin rank
فهمَّتهُ تَسْتَسْفِلُ النجمَ رُتْبَةً
وَعَزْمَتُهُand his resolve تستنبعُdraws springs from الحجَرstone الصَّلْداsolid
وَعَزْمَتُهُ تستنبعُ الحجَر الصَّلْدا
For his ambition deems the stars low in rank,
His purpose makes the star of un ¬wavering course sink lowly,
And his resolve draws springs from solid stone.
His resolve draws from the rock the runnels of water.
إذاif شْتَyou wish أنthat تعياprove impossible عليكَfor you مطالبٌquests
إذا شْتَ أن تعيا عليكَ مطالبٌ
علىdespite كثرةِthe abundance of الإيجادcreation فاطلبْthen seek لهfor him نِدّاan equal
على كثرةِ الإيجاد فاطلبْ له نِدّا
If you wish your quests to prove beyond your powers,
If clients' hopes on thee are centered, seek for him a peer;
Despite creation's abundance, then seek his equal.
Plenteous in bounty, though gifts transcend the desert sands.
جزيلُlavish in النَّدىbounty أدنىthe least of مواهِبِهِhis gifts الدُّناworlds
جزيلُ النَّدى أدنى مواهِبِهِ الدُّنا
وقدand indeed كانhe would يُعطيgive الخلدَimmortality لوif ملَكَhe possessed الخلداimmortality
وقد كان يُعطي الخلدَ لو ملَكَ الخلدا
Lavish in bounty, his least gifts are worlds,
The dew of his palms is baser than bounty's torrent;
And he would give immortality if he possessed immortality.
Though he could command eternity, owned he eternity.
إذاwhen خانتِbetray الأيامُthe days كانhe is نقيضهاtheir opposite
إذا خانتِ الأيامُ كان نقيضها
وإنand if غدَرact treacherously الأقوامُpeoples كانhe is لهمto them ضِدّاan opposite
وإن غدَر الأقوامُ كان لهم ضِدّا
When the days betray, he is their opposite,
When days play false he opposed their fickleness;
And if peoples act treacherously, he is their contrary.
When mankind were untrue he opposed them too.
يبادرُoutstrips بالإحسانِin kindness كلَّevery مُؤَمَّلٍone looked to with hope
يبادرُ بالإحسانِ كلَّ مُؤَمَّلٍ
وتلقىand greets بِنورِwith the light of البشرِcheerfulness غُرَّتهُhis bright brow الوفداthe delegations
وتلقى بِنورِ البشرِ غُرَّتهُ الوفدا
He outstrips in kindness everyone looked to with hope,
Generously he bestowed favors, and heroically withheld them;
And his brow greets delegations with the light of cheer.
Gifts he gave, and gifts he took away.
أبىrefuses العدلُjustice إلاّanything but أنto يلائمَaccord with حُكْمَهhis judgment
أبى العدلُ إلاّ أن يلائمَ حُكْمَه
أبىrefuses الجورُinjustice إلاّanything but أنto يكونbecome بهthrough him قَصْداfairness
أبى الجورُ إلاّ أن يكون به قَصْدا
Justice insists on agreeing with his judgment;
Brighter than flames I've seen his smiles shine forth in the night,
Injustice insists on becoming fairness through him.
Kindling their spark like fire-sticks briskly rubbed.
أبتrefuses كفُّهُhis hand إلاّanything but السماحةَliberality والنَّدىand bounty
أبت كفُّهُ إلاّ السماحةَ والنَّدى
وهمَّتهand his ambition إلاّanything but المكارمَnoble deeds والمجداand glory
وهمَّته إلاّ المكارمَ والمجدا
His hand admits nothing but liberality and bounty,
When writers writ 'twixt his fingers, lo!
And his ambition, nothing but noble deeds and glory.
The fangs of the white wolf their slave you'd deem them.
وكمand how many مِنْحَةٍa gift أهدىhe bestowed وكمand how many مِحْنَةٍan ordeal عداhe overcame
وكم مِنْحَةٍ أهدى وكم مِحْنَةٍ عدا
وكمand how many حاسدٍan envier أردىhe brought low وكمand how many نعمةٍa favor أسْدىhe conferred
وكم حاسدٍ أردى وكم نعمةٍ أسْدى
How many gifts he has bestowed, how many ordeals he has overcome,
Of my verse I made for him a necklace and wound
How many enviers he has brought low, how many favors he has conferred.
Round it thoughts and the pearls of fair deeds strung.
أغرُّradiant تراءَىappeared فيin الدجىthe darkness منfrom طلوعِهِhis rising
أغرُّ تراءَى في الدجى من طلوعِهِ
سنَاthe glow of قَبَسٍa firebrand تذكوblazes شرارتُهits spark وَقْداablaze
سنَا قَبَسٍ تذكو شرارتُه وَقْدا
Radiant: from his rising in the dark appeared
By thee, O pillar of the judges, far from blame,
The glow of a firebrand whose spark blazes fiercely.
A mind's offspring, which enchants the foolish and the wise!
إذاwhen صرَّتِsqueak الأقلامُthe pens بينbetween بنانِهِhis fingers
إذا صرَّتِ الأقلامُ بين بنانِهِ
رأيتَyou see سِنانَthe point of السَّمْهريِّthe Samhari spear لهاto them عبْداa slave
رأيتَ سِنانَ السَّمْهريِّ لها عبْدا
When the pens squeak between his fingers,
She came to thee from afar that she might set
You see the Samhari spear's point become their slave.
Between her affairs and the strokes of fortune, distance.
جعلتُI placed عليهupon him منfrom نظاميmy verse قلادةًa necklace
جعلتُ عليه من نظامي قلادةً
حَبَوْتُI honored بهاwith it الأحلامَwisdom والحسبَand lineage العِدَّاancient
حَبَوْتُ بها الأحلامَ والحسبَ العِدَّا
I have placed upon him a necklace of my verse,
And I promised her garments that I would attain glory by thee,
With it I have honored wisdom and ancient lineage.
While she guaranteed to fulfill for thee the promise.
فدونكَso take ياO طَوْدmountain of القضاةِjudges منَfrom النهىintellect
فدونكَ يا طَوْد القضاةِ منَ النهى
ربيبةَa foster-daughter of فكرٍthought تسحرُenchants الخُرّدshy maidens النُّهْداswelling-breasted
ربيبةَ فكرٍ تسحرُ الخُرّد النُّهْدا
So take, O mountain of judges, from intellect,
A foster-daughter of thought, enchanting shy, swelling-breasted maidens.
أتتكَit came to you علىfrom بُعْدٍafar لتجعلَso you may place بينهاbetween it
أتتكَ على بُعْدٍ لتجعلَ بينها
وبينَand between الخطوبِcalamities النازلاتdescending بناupon us بُعداdistance
وبينَ الخطوبِ النازلات بنا بُعدا
It has come to you from afar, that you may set between it
And the calamities descending upon us a distance.
وعدتُI promised حُلاهاits jewels أنthat أنالَI would reach بكَthrough you السُّهىSuha (a star)
وعدتُ حُلاها أن أنالَ بكَ السُّهى
وقدand indeed ضَمِنَتْhas guaranteed عَلياكَyour eminence أنthat أُنْجِزَI fulfill الوَعداthe promise
وقد ضَمِنَتْ عَلياكَ أن أُنْجِزَ الوَعدا
I promised its jewels that through you I would reach Suha,
And your eminence has guaranteed that I shall fulfill the promise.
Partial English translation: 66 of 72 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1