ألاbehold عظةٌa warning إنَّindeed الزمانَtime خؤونُtreacherous
ألا عظةٌ إنَّ الزمانَ خؤونُ
وإنَّand indeed ملمَّاتِcalamities الزمانِof time فنونُvarious kinds
وإنَّ ملمَّاتِ الزمانِ فنونُ
Take heed: time is treacherous,
Alas! Time’s treacheries confound,
and time's calamities are of many kinds.
And time’s calamities astound.
لقدindeed آنit is time أنthat تُجلىbe unveiled الخطوبُcalamities عنfrom العمىblindness
لقد آن أن تُجلى الخطوبُ عن العمى
وتُلْفىand be found شكوكٌdoubts للمنىabout hopes وظنونand suspicions
وتُلْفى شكوكٌ للمنى وظنون
It is time for calamities to emerge from obscurity,
Now clarity must lift the veil,
and for hopes to meet with doubts and suspicions.
And end illusions that assail.
فكمso how many قدindeed مَضَتْhave passed منof أُمَّةٍa nation إثْرَafter أُمَّةٍa nation
فكم قد مَضَتْ من أُمَّةٍ إثْرَ أُمَّةٍ
وقَرْنٌand a generation يليهfollows it بعدafter ذاكthat قرونgenerations
وقَرْنٌ يليه بعد ذاك قرون
How many a nation has passed, one after another,
How many a nation’s passed away,
and one generation is followed thereafter by generations.
Succeeded by its future day.
وقدand indeed أبصرَتْhas seen عينيmy eye وأَصغتْand listened مسامعيmy ears
وقد أبصرَتْ عيني وأَصغتْ مسامعي
لوif only انَّthat صفاةًa hard stone للفؤادِof the heart تلينwould soften
لو انَّ صفاةً للفؤادِ تلين
My eye has seen, and my ears have listened—
With watchful eyes and listening ears,
if only the heart's hard stone would soften.
If only they were free of fears.
فلمso did not أرَI see إلاَّexcept وافداًan arriving traveler قدalready تحللتhad come undone
فلم أرَ إلاَّ وافداً قد تحللت
عُرىties رَحْلِهِof his saddle حتَّىuntil يُقالَhe is called ظعينa departing traveler
عُرى رَحْلِهِ حتَّى يُقالَ ظعين
I have seen only a newcomer who had scarcely loosened
I’ve seen but one who's left his place,
his saddle-straps before being called a departing traveler.
His belongings in disgrace,
ولاnor غابراًone remaining إلاexcept علىin إثْرِthe wake of سالفٍone gone before
ولا غابراً إلا على إثْرِ سالفٍ
أَوائِلُهُمْtheir earliest ones للآخرينَfor the later ones رُهونpledges
أَوائِلُهُمْ للآخرينَ رُهون
Nor anyone remaining except in the wake of one gone before;
Saying he is most forlorn,
their predecessors are pledges for their successors.
While those before smile in scorn.
ولاnor فرحاًanyone joyful إلاexcept وأَعقبَand followed يَوْمَهُhis day
ولا فرحاً إلا وأَعقبَ يَوْمَهُ
منfrom الدهرtime نَوْحٌlamentation دائمٌunceasing وشجونand sorrows
من الدهر نَوْحٌ دائمٌ وشجون
Nor anyone joyful but his day was followed
And none rejoice except the day
by time's unceasing lamentation and sorrows.
Is followed by grief’s endless sway.
فَبُؤْسَىso woe لصرفِto the turns of الدهرtime كمhow much مرَّhas passed عندهin its presence
فَبُؤْسَى لصرفِ الدهر كم مرَّ عنده
تراثٌan inheritance لناfor us لاnot ينقضيcomes to an end وديونand debts
تراثٌ لنا لا ينقضي وديون
Woe to time's vicissitudes! How much has passed before it:
How evil is time’s endless march,
an unending inheritance for us, and debts.
With debt and ruin in its arch.
وقدand indeed كانit had been يُنْبيconveying عنabout نصيحةِthe counsel of مُشْفقٍone concerned
وقد كان يُنْبي عن نصيحةِ مُشْفقٍ
عليناfor us ولكنَّbut النصيحَthe counselor ظنينdistrusted
علينا ولكنَّ النصيحَ ظنين
It had conveyed the counsel of one concerned
Not heeding counsel though sincere,
for us; but the counselor was distrusted.
But deeming good advice unclear.
وبالأمسِand yesterday قدindeed رُوِّعتُI was terrified ملءَto the full extent of جوانحيmy breast
وبالأمسِ قد رُوِّعتُ ملءَ جوانحي
بنعيٍby news of death يَسُدُّfills الأفْقَthe horizon منهfrom it طنينa ringing
بنعيٍ يَسُدُّ الأفْقَ منه طنين
And yesterday terror filled my breast
My heart was shaken yesterday,
with news of death whose ringing filled the horizon.
By tidings echoing dismay.
أتانيit came to me فلمso did not يُمْهِلْgive respite لأفزعَfor me to seek refuge عندهat its coming
أتاني فلم يُمْهِلْ لأفزعَ عنده
إلىin كذبٍfalsehood حتىbefore استفاضَspread widely يقينcertainty
إلى كذبٍ حتى استفاضَ يقين
It came to me, giving me no respite to take refuge
Unhesitating, leaving no room for lies,
in disbelief before certainty spread far and wide.
The truth appeared before my eyes.
ووافىand arrived كمثلِlike الصبحِthe dawn عُرْيانbare كلَّماwhenever
ووافى كمثلِ الصبحِ عُرْيان كلَّما
تُكذِّبهdeclares it false عينُthe eye البصيرِof the discerning يَبينit becomes clear
تُكذِّبه عينُ البصيرِ يَبين
And it came, naked as the dawn: whenever
Alas the dearness and the home are gone,
the discerning eye denied it, it grew clearer.
And the cave of the lion lonesome and wan.
فياso oh حسرتاmy sorrow أنthat مالَhe turned للبينtoward parting والنوىand distance
فيا حسرتا أن مالَ للبين والنوى
وأقفرَand lay deserted منof ليثِthe lion of المجالِthe field عرينa den
وأقفرَ من ليثِ المجالِ عرين
Ah, my sorrow, that he turned toward parting and distance,
A blossoming branch of glory is laid low,
and the den stood empty of the lion of the field.
Stronger than a lofty palace in its blow.
وصوَّحَand withered غصنٌa branch منfrom ذرىthe heights of المجدِglory ناضرٌverdant
وصوَّحَ غصنٌ من ذرى المجدِ ناضرٌ
وأَقوىand lay empty منof القصرِthe palace الرفيعlofty مكينone of high standing
وأَقوى من القصرِ الرفيع مكين
And a verdant branch from glory's heights withered,
Why do the meadows not pour out their flowers?
and the lofty palace stood empty of a man of standing.
Their buds and branches are not ours.
فماso what is wrong للرُّبىwith the hills لاmay not جادهاwater them generously بارقُthe lightning الحياof rain
فما للرُّبى لا جادها بارقُ الحيا
ترفُّflutter أزاهيرٌblossoms لهاof theirs وغصونand branches
ترفُّ أزاهيرٌ لها وغصون
What ails the hills—may rain's lightning never water them—
Why do the stubborn hills not crack in pain?
that their blossoms and branches flutter?
Why is the blossom still again?
وماand what is wrong للجبالِwith the mountains الصمِّsolid لمdid not تنصدعْsplit أَسىًin grief
وما للجبالِ الصمِّ لم تنصدعْ أَسىً
وللزهرِand for the blossoms خَفْقٌfluttering بَعْدَهُafter him وسكونand stillness
وللزهرِ خَفْقٌ بَعْدَهُ وسكون
And what ails the solid mountains, that they did not split with grief,
Why do the oryx not pitch their tents?
while blossoms flutter and rest after his passing?
Why are the nightingales not rent?
وماand what is wrong للظُّباwith the blades لمdid not تنبُfail to cut منهاof them مضاربٌcutting edges
وما للظُّبا لم تنبُ منها مضاربٌ
وللسمرِand with the brown spears لمwere not تُقْصَفْbroken لهنَّof theirs متونshafts
وللسمرِ لم تُقْصَفْ لهنَّ متون
And what ails the sword-blades, that their cutting edges did not fail,
Thus the bright moon is eclipsed fulfilling its round,
and the brown spears, that their shafts did not break?
Thus the bright dawn is followed by night profound
كذاthus يُكْسَفُis eclipsed البدرُthe full moon المنيرُradiant متمماًfully complete
كذا يُكْسَفُ البدرُ المنيرُ متمماً
كذاthus يَعْقُبُfollows الصبحَthe dawn المنيرَradiant دُجونdarkness
كذا يَعْقُبُ الصبحَ المنيرَ دُجون
Thus the radiant full moon is eclipsed at its fullness;
Thus glory is slighted though hymned and graced,
thus darkness follows the radiant dawn.
Thus the pillar is scorned though firm its base.
كذاthus يُسْتَضامُis wronged المجدُglory وهوthough it is مؤثَّلٌfirmly founded
كذا يُسْتَضامُ المجدُ وهو مؤثَّلٌ
كذاthus يُسْتَخَفُّis held lightly الطَّوْدُthe great mountain وهوthough it is رصينsteadfast
كذا يُسْتَخَفُّ الطَّوْدُ وهو رصين
Thus glory is wronged, though firmly founded;
Thus generosity pure is cast away,
thus the great mountain is held lightly, though steadfast.
As intentions fly on wings garlanded and gay.
كذاthus يذهبُdeparts الجودgenerosity الحَلالُlawful وترتميand casts away
كذا يذهبُ الجود الحَلالُ وترتمي
نوىًseparation بالسجاياwith the virtues العاطراتِfragrant شَطونُfar-off
نوىً بالسجايا العاطراتِ شَطونُ
Thus lawful generosity departs, and far away are flung
Were not those swords obedient yesterday,
fragrant virtues by far-off separation.
To his command on the field of fray?
كأنas though لمnot تكنْhad been تلكthose الصوارمُkeen swords والقناand spears
كأن لم تكنْ تلك الصوارمُ والقنا
بطاعتِهِin obedience to him يومَon the day of الهياجِbattle تدينsubmit
بطاعتِهِ يومَ الهياجِ تدين
As though those keen swords and spears had never
Was there no desperate clasp of fate,
obeyed his command on the day of battle.
Those days adorned that we celebrate?
كأنْas though لمnot يكنْhe had been للدهرِfor time عِلْقَa prized treasure مَضِنَّةٍjealous keeping
كأنْ لم يكنْ للدهرِ عِلْقَ مَضِنَّةٍ
تَحَلَّىadorned themselves بهwith him أيامُهُits days فيَزينso he lends beauty
تَحَلَّى به أيامُهُ فيَزين
As though he had never been time's cherished treasure,
Was there no death in the tip of his lance?
adorning its days and lending them beauty.
No foe brought down as the ranks advance?
كأنْas though لكfor you يكنْthere were فيin رمحِهِhis lance وسنانِهِand his spearhead
كأنْ لك يكنْ في رمحِهِ وسنانِهِ
مناياthe deaths of العداthe enemies تدنوdraw near بهthrough him وتحينand come due
منايا العدا تدنو به وتحين
As though, for you, his lance and spearhead held
Are not the knights abashed at his bane,
the enemies' deaths, drawing near through him and coming due.
Though arrayed in order, their effort in vain?
أماwere they not خجلتْashamed منat كرِّهِhis charges وجِلادِهand his swordplay
أما خجلتْ من كرِّهِ وجِلادِه
فوارسُhorsemen كَفَّتْheld back عنهfrom him وهيwhile they were صُفُونstanding motionless
فوارسُ كَفَّتْ عنه وهي صُفُون
Were they not shamed by his charges and swordplay—
And glory and courage and height, are they not stirred,
horsemen who held back from him, standing motionless?
Though the keen blades have not stirred?
ألمdid they not تكترثْcare للمجدِfor glory والجودِand generosity والعلاand exalted honor
ألم تكترثْ للمجدِ والجودِ والعلا
صوارمُkeen swords ماnot اهتزَّتْstirred بهنَّwith them يمينa right hand
صوارمُ ما اهتزَّتْ بهنَّ يمين
Did they not care for glory, generosity, and exalted honor—
Was he not protected in the swirling throng,
swords that no right hand set in motion?
Like the pupil of the eye from wrong?
وقدand indeed كانhe had been بالسمرby brown spears الذوابلِslender فيin الوغىbattle
وقد كان بالسمر الذوابلِ في الوغى
مصوناًprotected كماas صانَprotected العيونthe eyes جفونُeyelids
مصوناً كما صانَ العيون جفونُ
And in battle, by slender brown spears, he had been
When he plunged into the deepest melee,
protected, as eyelids protect the eyes.
The wings of his brave ranks to repay?
فهلاَّso why not وقدwhile indeed خاضَhe plunged into المكارةَhardships لُجَّةًa deep sea
فهلاَّ وقد خاضَ المكارةَ لُجَّةً
وقاهُshielded him منamong الجُرْدِsleek steeds العِتاقِthoroughbred صَفينa poised steed
وقاهُ من الجُرْدِ العِتاقِ صَفين
Why then, when he plunged into hardships as into a deep sea,
Since he scorned escape from the worst that might be,
did a poised steed among the sleek thoroughbreds not shield him?
Was he not shielded by steadfast might?
وإذand since كانhe was لاnot يهوىhe desired الفرارflight منfrom الردىdeath
وإذ كان لا يهوى الفرار من الردى
حماهُprotected him منof المجدِglory الأثيلِdeep-rooted مكينa stronghold
حماهُ من المجدِ الأثيلِ مكين
And since he had no wish to flee from death,
Why did time begrudge us this precious boon?
why did no stronghold of deep-rooted glory protect him?
Where can his equal be found too soon?
وهلاَّand why not بهwith him ضنَّbe sparing الزمانُtime فإنَّهfor indeed it
وهلاَّ به ضنَّ الزمانُ فإنَّه
علىin أنْthat يريناit shows us مثلَهُhis like لضنينيsurely miserly toward me
على أنْ يرينا مثلَهُ لضنيني
And why did time not spare him? For it
If he has gone, good fortune was his share,
is surely miserly toward me in showing us his like.
God securing his abundant welfare.
فإنso if يكُhe be قدalready ولَّىhas departed حميداًpraiseworthy فإنماthen only
فإن يكُ قد ولَّى حميداً فإنما
لهfor him اللهُGod بالذخرِof the treasure in store الجسيمِimmense ضمينa guarantor
له اللهُ بالذخرِ الجسيمِ ضمين
So if he has departed worthy of praise, then
God alone guarantees him an immense treasure in store.
Partial English translation: 58 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1