خَبّروهاtell her بِأَنَّهُthat he ماnot تَصَدّىsought
خَبّروها بِأَنَّهُ ما تَصَدّى
لِسلُوٍّto forgetting عَنهاaway from her وَلَوeven if ماتَhe died صَدّاrejection
لِسلُوٍّ عَنها وَلَو ماتَ صَدّا
Tell her that he has never sought
To forget her, even if he dies of her rejection.
وَاِسأَلوهاand ask her فيfor زَورَةٍa visit مِنfrom خَيالٍa phantom
وَاِسأَلوها في زَورَةٍ مِن خَيالٍ
إِنif تَكُنshe has لَمnot تَجِدfound مِنَfrom الهَجرِestrangement بُدّاan escape
إِن تَكُن لَم تَجِد مِنَ الهَجرِ بُدّا
And ask her for a visit from her phantom,
If she has found no alternative to estrangement.
عَنَّفَتshe rebuked طَيفَهاher phantom عَلىon ظَنِّهاher supposition أَنَّthat
عَنَّفَت طَيفَها عَلى ظَنِّها أَنَّ
خَيالاًa vision مِنهاof her إِلَيناto us تَسَدّىmade its way
خَيالاً مِنها إِلَينا تَسَدّى
She rebuked her phantom, supposing that
A vision of her had made its way to us.
كَذَبتهاdeceived her ظُنونُهاher suspicions لاnot الكَرىsleep زارَvisited
كَذَبتها ظُنونُها لا الكَرى زارَ
جُفونيmy eyelids وَلاnor الخَيالُthe phantom تَعَدّىcrossed over
جُفوني وَلا الخَيالُ تَعَدّى
Her suspicions deceived her: neither sleep visited
My eyelids, nor did her phantom cross to me.
ظَبيَةٌa gazelle تُخجِلُshames الغَزالَةَthe sun وَجهاًin face
ظَبيَةٌ تُخجِلُ الغَزالَةَ وَجهاً
وَبَهاءًand radiance وَتَفضَحُand shames الغُصنَthe bough قَدّاin stature
وَبَهاءً وَتَفضَحُ الغُصنَ قَدّا
A gazelle who shames the sun in face
And radiance, and shames the bough in stature.
ذاتُpossessing فِرعٍtresses لَولاhad it not been for الوَلائِدُthe maidservants أَمسَكـheld (continued)
ذاتُ فِرعٍ لَولا الوَلائِدُ أَمسَكـ
ـنَfeminine plural ending of 'held' مُثَنّاهُits folded strands ضَوَّعَperfumed الحَيَّthe encampment نَدّاnadd incense
ـنَ مُثَنّاهُ ضَوَّعَ الحَيَّ نَدّا
Her tresses, had the maidservants not held
Their folded lengths, would have perfumed the encampment with incense.
وَقَفَتshe stood لِلوَداعِfor farewell وَقفَةَthe stance هازٍa mocker
وَقَفَت لِلوَداعِ وَقفَةَ هازٍ
هازِلٍa jester وَالغَرامُand passion بيin me جَدَّbecame earnest جِدّاutterly
هازِلٍ وَالغَرامُ بي جَدَّ جِدّا
She stood for farewell with the air of a mocker,
A jester, while passion in me grew utterly earnest.
وَأَماطَتand she removed لِثامَهاher veil بِأَساريـwith sand-worms (continued)
وَأَماطَت لِثامَها بِأَساريـ
ـعِcompletion of 'sand-worms' حِقافٍsand dunes عَنfrom مُستَنيرٍa radiant face مُفَدّىworthy of ransom
ـعِ حِقافٍ عَن مُستَنيرٍ مُفَدّى
She drew aside her veil with fingers like the worms
Of sand dunes, revealing a radiant face worthy of ransom.
نَثَرَتscattered لَوعَةُthe anguish الفراقِof parting عَلَيهِupon it
نَثَرَت لَوعَةُ الفراقِ عَلَيهِ
دُرَّpearls دَمعٍof tears فَأَنبَتَتso made grow فيهِon it وَرداroses
دُرَّ دَمعٍ فَأَنبَتَت فيهِ وَردا
The anguish of parting scattered upon it
Pearls of tears, and made roses bloom there.
وَذَكتand blazed نارُهُits fire علىupon عَنبَرِthe ambergris الخاthe beauty-mark (continued)
وَذَكت نارُهُ على عَنبَرِ الخا
لِcompletion of 'beauty-mark' فَكانَتso it became لَهُfor it سَلاماًpeace وَبَرداand coolness
لِ فَكانَت لَهُ سَلاماً وَبَردا
And its fire blazed upon the ambergris of her beauty-mark,
Yet became for it peace and coolness.
ثُمَّthen قالَتshe said بَقاءُthe survival مَنof one who يَدَّعيclaims الحُبَّlove
ثُمَّ قالَت بَقاءُ مَن يَدَّعي الحُبَّ
مَحالٌimpossible وَهذِهِwhile these العيسُpale camels تُحدىare urged onward
مَحالٌ وَهذِهِ العيسُ تُحدى
Then she said, "For one who claims love to survive
Is impossible while these pale camels are urged onward."
ماwhat لِعيسيails my camels وَماand what لِعَيشيails my life وَماليand what ails me
ما لِعيسي وَما لِعَيشي وَمالي
كُلَّevery يَومٍday نَلقىwe encounter عَناءًhardship وَكَدّاand toil
كُلَّ يَومٍ نَلقى عَناءً وَكَدّا
What ails my camels, what ails my life, and what ails me,
That every day we meet suffering and toil?
لَيتَwould that سَهمَthe arrow الزَمانِof time أَصمىkilled outright فَكَمfor how often أَظـwounded without killing (continued)
لَيتَ سَهمَ الزَمانِ أَصمى فَكَم أَظـ
ـماcompletion of 'wounded without killing' لَقَدindeed جاوَزَexceeded العَناءُsuffering الحَدّاthe limit
ـما لَقَد جاوَزَ العَناءُ الحَدّا
Would that Time's arrow killed outright—how often it has
Wounded without killing! Suffering has indeed exceeded all bounds.
أَعجَزَتنيdefeated me البُروقُthe lightning flashes شَيماًwatching for rain فَلَوعاso, were I to work (continued)
أَعجَزَتني البُروقُ شَيماً فَلَوعا
لجتُcompletion of 'I worked' بَحراًa sea لأُنبِطَto draw out الماءَwater أَكدىyielded nothing
لجتُ بَحراً لأُنبِطَ الماءَ أَكدى
Lightning has defeated my quest for rain; were I to work
A sea to draw out water, it would yield nothing.
وَلَوand even if انّيI مَرَيتُmilked لَقحَةَa milch camel شَولٍwith scant milk remaining
وَلَو انّي مَرَيتُ لَقحَةَ شَولٍ
جَعَلتهاmade her شَقاوَةُthe misfortune الجَدِّof luck جِلداmilkless
جَعَلتها شَقاوَةُ الجَدِّ جِلدا
Even if I milked a she-camel with a little milk remaining,
My ill fortune would turn her dry.
كَمhow often أَدورُI roam البِلادَthe lands شَرقاًeastward وَغَرباًand westward
كَم أَدورُ البِلادَ شَرقاً وَغَرباً
وَأَرودُand I seek الأَرزاقَsustenance غَوراًin lowlands وَنَجداand uplands
وَأَرودُ الأَرزاقَ غَوراً وَنَجدا
How often I roam the lands eastward and westward,
And seek sustenance through lowlands and uplands!
وَأَياديand the favors المَولىof the lord الوَزيرِthe vizier صَفيSafi الديـal-Din (continued)
وَأَيادي المَولى الوَزيرِ صَفي الديـ
ـنِcompletion of 'al-Din' أَدنىnearer إِلىto غياثيmy relief وَأَندىand more generous
ـنِ أَدنى إِلى غياثي وَأَندى
Yet the favors of my lord, the vizier Safi al-Din,
Are nearer to my relief, and more generous.
أَريَحِيٌّgenerous إِذاwhen هَمَتpoured forth راحَتاهُhis two palms
أَريَحِيٌّ إِذا هَمَت راحَتاهُ
عَلَّمَتthey taught واكِفَthe downpour الحَياof rain كَيفَhow يَندىto shower
عَلَّمَت واكِفَ الحَيا كَيفَ يَندى
A generous man: when his palms pour forth,
They teach the falling rain how to shower its bounty.
دَقَّwas subtle فِكراًin thought فيin المُشكِلاتِdifficult matters فَجَلَّتso were too exalted
دَقَّ فِكراً في المُشكِلاتِ فَجَلَّت
بِمَديحٍby praise أَوصافُهُhis qualities أَنto تُحَدّاbe bounded
بِمَديحٍ أَوصافُهُ أَن تُحَدّا
His thinking is subtle in difficult matters; his qualities are too great
To be bounded by praise.
وَرِثَhe inherited المَجدَglory وَالمَكارِمَand noble virtues وَالحِلـand forbearance (continued)
وَرِثَ المَجدَ وَالمَكارِمَ وَالحِلـ
ـمَcompletion of 'forbearance' وَطيبَand purity الأَعراقِof lineage جَداًfrom one grandfather فَجَدّاthen another grandfather
ـمَ وَطيبَ الأَعراقِ جَداً فَجَدّا
He inherited glory, noble virtues, and forbearance,
And purity of lineage, grandfather after grandfather.
ظاهِرُmanifest الفَضلِin merit طاهِرُpure الأَصلِin lineage سَبـforemost (continued)
ظاهِرُ الفَضلِ طاهِرُ الأَصلِ سَبـ
ـاقٌcompletion of 'foremost' إِلىtoward المَجدِglory لَيسَnot يَضمِرُhe harbors حِقداrancor
ـاقٌ إِلى المَجدِ لَيسَ يَضمِرُ حِقدا
Manifest in merit, pure in lineage, foremost
In pursuing glory, he harbors no rancor.
وَحَليمٌand forbearing لاnot يَستَخِفُّunsettles لَهُfor him الغَيـanger (continued)
وَحَليمٌ لا يَستَخِفُّ لَهُ الغَيـ
ـظُcompletion of 'anger' أَناةًcomposure إِنif خامَرَpossessed الطَيشُrecklessness أُحداanyone
ـظُ أَناةً إِن خامَرَ الطَيشُ أُحدا
And forbearing: anger cannot unsettle his
Composure, even when recklessness possesses another.
كَعبَةٌa Kaaba لِلسَماحِfor generosity وَالعِلمِand learning فَالحَجُّso pilgrimage
كَعبَةٌ لِلسَماحِ وَالعِلمِ فَالحَجُّ
إِلَيهِto him فَرضٌa duty عَلَيناupon us يُؤَدّىto be fulfilled
إِلَيهِ فَرضٌ عَلَينا يُؤَدّى
A Kaaba of generosity and learning, so pilgrimage
To him is a duty for us to fulfill.
مُتلِفٌa lavish spender مُخلِفٌa replenisher مُفيتٌone who ruins مُفيدٌone who enriches
مُتلِفٌ مُخلِفٌ مُفيتٌ مُفيدٌ
مُعجِزٌone who lets fail مُنجِزٌone who fulfills وَعيداًa threat وَوَعداand a promise
مُعجِزٌ مُنجِزٌ وَعيداً وَوَعدا
He spends and replenishes, ruins and enriches,
Letting threats fall short, yet fulfilling promises.
لَيِّنُgentle العِطفِin bearing لِلمَواليtoward loyal followers وَيَلقىand encounter
لَيِّنُ العِطفِ لِلمَوالي وَيَلقى
مِنهُin him أَهلُthe people العِنادِof obstinacy خَصماًan adversary أَلَدّاrelentless
مِنهُ أَهلُ العِنادِ خَصماً أَلَدّا
Gentle of bearing toward his followers, while
The obstinate find in him a relentless adversary.
فَهوَthus he مِثلُis like الحُسامِthe keen sword فيin حالَتَيهِits two aspects
فَهوَ مِثلُ الحُسامِ في حالَتَيهِ
لَيِّنٌsmooth صَفحَةًalong the flat وَقاسٍand hard حَدّاalong the edge
لَيِّنٌ صَفحَةً وَقاسٍ حَدّا
He is like a keen sword in both its aspects:
Smooth along its flat, and hard along its edge.
راضَhe tamed صَعبَthe unruliness الزَمانِof time بِالعَدلِwith justice حَتّىuntil
راضَ صَعبَ الزَمانِ بِالعَدلِ حَتّى
كادَhe nearly يَأتيbrings بِذاهِبِwhat vanished الأَمسِyesterday رَدّاback
كادَ يَأتي بِذاهِبِ الأَمسِ رَدّا
He tamed unruly Time with justice, until
He almost brought back what vanished yesterday.
فَاِستَقَرَّتso became firm قَواعِدُthe foundations الملكِof royal power وَاِزداand increased (continued)
فَاِستَقَرَّت قَواعِدُ الملكِ وَاِزدا
دَتcompletion of 'increased' بِهِthrough him سُدَّةُthe seat الوَزارَةِof the vizierate مَجداin glory
دَت بِهِ سُدَّةُ الوَزارَةِ مَجدا
Thus the foundations of royal power stood firm, and
Through him the seat of the vizierate grew in glory.
وَغَداand became رَأيُهُhis judgment أَحَدَّkeener سِلاحاًas a weapon
وَغَدا رَأيُهُ أَحَدَّ سِلاحاً
فيin لِقاءِfacing العِدىfoes وَأَنصَرَand more victory-bringing جُنداas an army
في لِقاءِ العِدى وَأَنصَرَ جُندا
His judgment became the keenest weapon
In facing foes, and the host most sure to bring victory.
فَإِذاthen whenever ضاقَwas overwhelmed ذَرعُthe capacity كُلِّof every همامٍresolute man
فَإِذا ضاقَ ذَرعُ كُلِّ همامٍ
بِمُهِمٍّby a grave matter كانَhe was الأَشَدَّthe strongest الأَسَدّاthe most judicious
بِمُهِمٍّ كانَ الأَشَدَّ الأَسَدّا
Whenever every resolute man is overwhelmed
By a grave affair, he is the strongest and most judicious.
وَإِذاand when شَحَّتِwithheld السَحائِبُthe clouds سَحَّتpoured down
وَإِذا شَحَّتِ السَحائِبُ سَحَّت
راحَتاهُhis two palms فَعَمَّتِso covered الأَرضَthe earth رِقداbounty (uncertain reading)
راحَتاهُ فَعَمَّتِ الأَرضَ رِقدا
And when the clouds withhold rain, showers pour from
His palms, covering the earth with bounty.
فِعلُthe act; the verb إِحسانِهِof his beneficence بِغَيرِcontrary to قِياسٍgrammatical analogy
فِعلُ إِحسانِهِ بِغَيرِ قِياسٍ
لازِمٌconstant; intransitive وَهوَyet it عامِلٌan agent يَتَعَدّىacts transitively; reaches others
لازِمٌ وَهوَ عامِلٌ يَتَعَدّى
The verb of his beneficence, defying grammatical rule,
Is "intransitive"—ever-present—yet acts transitively.
رامَsought قَومٌsome people إِحصاءto enumerate غُرّthe illustrious مَساعيـdeeds (continued)
رامَ قَومٌ إِحصاء غُرّ مَساعيـ
ـهِhis وَهَلand (question) تَستَطيعُcan you لِلنَجمِof the stars عَدّاa count
ـهِ وَهَل تَستَطيعُ لِلنَجمِ عَدّا
Some people sought to count his illustrious deeds—
But can you count the stars?
وَتَعاطىand attempted المُلوكُthe kings نَيلَattaining مَعاليـlofty honors (continued)
وَتَعاطى المُلوكُ نَيلَ مَعاليـ
ـهِhis فَنالواso they gained مِنfrom دونِshort of ذلِكَthat جَهداtoil
ـهِ فَنالوا مِن دونِ ذلِكَ جَهدا
And kings attempted to attain his lofty honors,
But short of that they found only toil.
هَلَكواthey perished دونَshort of نَيلِattaining ماwhat أَمَّلوهُthey hoped to attain it
هَلَكوا دونَ نَيلِ ما أَمَّلوهُ
مَنwhoever يَطِرflies فَوقَabove طَورِهِhis station يَتَرَدّىfalls headlong
مَن يَطِر فَوقَ طَورِهِ يَتَرَدّى
They perished before attaining what they hoped for:
Whoever flies beyond his own station falls headlong.
عالِمٌlearned عامِلٌactive سَعىhe strove لِلمَعاليfor lofty honors
عالِمٌ عامِلٌ سَعى لِلمَعالي
سَعيَthe striving آبائِهِof his forefathers الكِرامِthe noble الأَشِدّاthe stalwart
سَعيَ آبائِهِ الكِرامِ الأَشِدّا
A learned man of action, he pursued high honors
As did his noble, stalwart forefathers.
أُسرَةٌa family كُلَّماwhenever تَرَعرَعَgrew up مِنهُمamong them
أُسرَةٌ كُلَّما تَرَعرَعَ مِنهُم
ناشيءٌa youth سادَbecame a lord فيin الزَمانِthe age وَسَدّاand led
ناشيءٌ سادَ في الزَمانِ وَسَدّا
A family: whenever there grows up among them
A youth, he becomes his age's lord and leader.
كُلَّماwhenever أَنهَجَتbecame threadbare مَلابِسُthe robes مَجدٍof glory
كُلَّما أَنهَجَت مَلابِسُ مَجدٍ
لَهُمُfor them قامَarose ماجِدٌa noble man فَاِستَجَدّاso renewed them
لَهُمُ قامَ ماجِدٌ فَاِستَجَدّا
Whenever their robes of glory become threadbare,
A noble man arises for them and renews them.
لَمnot يَقِفhe stopped دونَهُمshort of them وَلَوand if كانَhe were يَلقىto find
لَم يَقِف دونَهُم وَلَو كانَ يَلقى
رُتبَةًa rank مِنfrom وَرائِهِمbeyond them لَتَعَدّىhe would go beyond
رُتبَةً مِن وَرائِهِم لَتَعَدّى
He never stopped short of them; had he found
A rank beyond them, he would have surpassed it.
مَلَأَتfilled وَفدُكَyour delegations الفِجاجَthe mountain passes فَأَنّىso wherever
مَلَأَت وَفدُكَ الفِجاجَ فَأَنّى
سارَjourneyed وَفدٌa delegation مِنهُمamong them تَلَقَّيتَyou received وَفداa delegation
سارَ وَفدٌ مِنهُم تَلَقَّيتَ وَفدا
Your visiting delegations fill the mountain passes; wherever
One delegation journeys, you receive another.
رُبَّmany a عانٍcaptive أَطلَقتَهُyou freed him بَعدَafter ماthat كاwas (continued)
رُبَّ عانٍ أَطلَقتَهُ بَعدَ ما كا
نَcompletion of 'was' يُعانيhe suffered فيin الأَسرِcaptivity قَيداًchains وَقِدّاand leather thongs
نَ يُعاني في الأَسرِ قَيداً وَقِدّا
Many a captive you have freed, after he had
Suffered in bondage under chains and leather thongs.
وَيَتيمٍand an orphan رَأىfound لَهُfor himself مِنfrom أَياديـfavors (continued)
وَيَتيمٍ رَأى لَهُ مِن أَياديـ
ـكَyour أَباًa father مُشفِقاًcompassionate وَأُماًand a mother وَمَهداand a cradle
ـكَ أَباً مُشفِقاً وَأُماً وَمَهدا
And many an orphan has found for himself in your favors
A compassionate father, a mother, and a cradle.
أَعتَبتنيmade amends to me صُروفُthe vicissitudes دَهريof my time فَشُكراًso thanks
أَعتَبتني صُروفُ دَهري فَشُكراً
لِزَمانٍto a time إِلىto جَنابِكَyour presence أَهدىguided me
لِزَمانٍ إِلى جَنابِكَ أَهدى
The turns of my fate have made amends to me; so thanks
To the time that guided me to your presence.
وَحَقيقٌand deserving بِالذَمِّof blame مَنwhoever ذَمَّblamed عَصراًan age
وَحَقيقٌ بِالذَمِّ مَن ذَمَّ عَصراً
أَلبَسَتهُclothed it خِلالُكَyour virtues الغُرُّthe radiant حَمداin praise
أَلبَسَتهُ خِلالُكَ الغُرُّ حَمدا
And worthy of blame is whoever blames an age
That your radiant virtues have clothed in praise.
أَناI مُهدٍoffer إِلَيكَto you مدحَةِthe praise عَبدٍof a servant
أَنا مُهدٍ إِلَيكَ مدحَةِ عَبدٍ
مُخلِصٍsincere وَالمَديحُand praise أَفضَلthe finest مُهدىgift
مُخلِصٍ وَالمَديحُ أَفضَل مُهدى
I offer you the praise of a servant
Sincere—and praise is the finest gift—
بالِغٍexerting جُهدَهُhis utmost وَمَنand whoever بَلَغَexpends الجُهـthe utmost (continued)
بالِغٍ جُهدَهُ وَمَن بَلَغَ الجُهـ
ـدَcompletion of 'utmost' وَإِنand even if لَمnot يُصِبhe hits the mark فَماthen not ضَلَّhe strayed قَصداin intent
ـدَ وَإِن لَم يُصِب فَما ضَلَّ قَصدا
Who does his utmost; whoever expends his
Utmost, though he misses the mark, has not strayed in purpose.
Sol 6.1