أَفيis it in مثلِهاits like تنبوturn away أَياديكyour favors عنfrom مثليone like me
أَفي مثلِها تنبو أَياديك عن مثلي
وهذِيand these الأمانيhopes فيكin you جامِعةُuniting الشَّمْلِthe company
وهذِي الأماني فيك جامِعةُ الشَّمْلِ
At such a time, do your favors turn away from one like me,
While these hopes gather together in you?
وقدand indeed أَوفتِhas fulfilled الدُّنياthe world بعهدِكَyour covenant واقْتَضَتْand has demanded
وقد أَوفتِ الدُّنيا بعهدِكَ واقْتَضَتْ
وفاءَكyour fidelity أَلاmay you never زِلْتَcease تُعْليraise others وتَسْتَعْلِيand rise high
وفاءَك أَلا زِلْتَ تُعْلي وتَسْتَعْلِي
The world has honored your covenant and demanded
Your fidelity—may you never cease to raise others and rise high.
وَقَدْand indeed أَمَّنَhas made safe المقدارُfate مَاwhat كنتُI used to أَتَّقِيguard against
وَقَدْ أَمَّنَ المقدارُ مَا كنتُ أَتَّقِي
وأَرخَصَتِand have made cheap الأَيَّامُthe days مَاwhat كنتُI used to أَسْتَعْلِيdeem too high
وأَرخَصَتِ الأَيَّامُ مَا كنتُ أَسْتَعْلِي
Fate has made safe what I once feared,
And the days have made cheap what I once deemed beyond reach.
وأَذعَنَand have submitted صرفُthe vicissitudes الدَّهْرِof time سمعاًheeding وطاعةًand obeying
وأَذعَنَ صرفُ الدَّهْرِ سمعاً وطاعةً
لماto what فُهْتَyou uttered منof قولٍspeech وأَمضَيْتَand carried out منof فعلِaction
لما فُهْتَ من قولٍ وأَمضَيْتَ من فعلِ
The vicissitudes of time have submitted, hearing and obeying,
To what you uttered in speech and carried out in deed.
وناديتَand you proclaimed بالإنْعَامِlargesse فِيin الأرضِthe earth فالْتَقَتْso came together
وناديتَ بالإنْعَامِ فِي الأرضِ فالْتَقَتْ
بيمناكat your right hand أَشتاتُthe scattered parts الطَّرَائِقِof the paths والسُّبْلِand the ways
بيمناك أَشتاتُ الطَّرَائِقِ والسُّبْلِ
You proclaimed largesse throughout the earth, and there converged
At your right hand the scattered paths and ways.
وَحَلَّتْand alighted بِكَupon you الآمالُhopes فِيin عَدَدِthe number الدَّبىof young locusts
وَحَلَّتْ بِكَ الآمالُ فِي عَدَدِ الدَّبى
فوافَتso came أَيادٍfavors منكَfrom you فِيin عَدَدِthe number الرَّمْلِof grains of sand
فوافَت أَيادٍ منكَ فِي عَدَدِ الرَّمْلِ
Hopes alighted upon you, as numerous as young locusts,
And favors came from you, as numerous as grains of sand.
وهذاand this مُقاميmy condition منذُsince تِسْعٍnine وأَرْبَعٍand four
وهذا مُقامي منذُ تِسْعٍ وأَرْبَعٍ
رجائِيَmy hope فِيin قيدٍa shackle وَحَظِّيَand my fortune فِيin غُلِّa fetter
رجائِيَ فِي قيدٍ وَحَظِّيَ فِي غُلِّ
Yet this has been my condition for nine years and four:
My hope in shackles, my fortune in a fetter.
كأَنِّيَas though I لَمْdid not أَحْلُلْalight ذَرَاكَyour shelter وَلَمْand did not أُقِمْmake camp
كأَنِّيَ لَمْ أَحْلُلْ ذَرَاكَ وَلَمْ أُقِمْ
مُناخَthe encampment العطاياof gifts فيكwith you مُرْتَهَنَheld in pledge الرَّحْلِthe saddle
مُناخَ العطايا فيك مُرْتَهَنَ الرَّحْلِ
As though I had not alighted in your shelter, nor made my camp
Where gifts alight with you, my saddle held in pledge;
وأُغْضِand lower my gaze عنfrom البرقthe lightning الَّذِيthat شِيمَwas watched لِلحياfor rain
وأُغْضِ عن البرق الَّذِي شِيمَ لِلحيا
وأَعقِدْand tie بِحَبْلٍto a rope منكَfrom you بَيْنَamong الورىmankind حَبْليmy rope
وأَعقِدْ بِحَبْلٍ منكَ بَيْنَ الورى حَبْلي
Nor looked away from the lightning watched for rain,
Nor tied my rope, among mankind, to a rope from you;
ولمand did not أدَّخِرْstore up منfrom راحَتَيْكَyour two palms وسائلاًmeans of approach
ولم أدَّخِرْ من راحَتَيْكَ وسائلاً
رضيتُI was content بِهَاwith them كُفءاًas an equivalent عنfor المالِwealth والأَهْلِand family
رضيتُ بِهَا كُفءاً عن المالِ والأَهْلِ
Nor stored up from your two palms means of approach
That I accepted in place of wealth and family;
ولمand did not تُصْفِنيbestow on me خُلقاًa disposition أَرَقَّgentler منthan الهوىlove
ولم تُصْفِني خُلقاً أَرَقَّ من الهوى
وَلَمْand did not تُولِنيgrant me نُعْمىa blessing أَلَذَّsweeter منthan الوَصْلِunion
وَلَمْ تُولِني نُعْمى أَلَذَّ من الوَصْلِ
Nor had you shown me a disposition gentler than love,
Nor granted me a blessing sweeter than union;
ولمand did not تَثْنِturn aside عنِّيfrom me فِيon مواطِنَoccasions جَمَّةٍnumerous
ولم تَثْنِ عنِّي فِي مواطِنَ جَمَّةٍ
سُيوفاًswords حِدَاداًsharp قَدْalready سُلِلْنَwere unsheathed عَلَىfor قَتْليkilling me
سُيوفاً حِدَاداً قَدْ سُلِلْنَ عَلَى قَتْلي
Nor turned aside from me, on many occasions,
Sharp swords already drawn to kill me;
ولمand did not أَطْوِpass through سِنَّthe age الاكْتِهَالِof middle life مُحاكِماًseeking judgment
ولم أَطْوِ سِنَّ الاكْتِهَالِ مُحاكِماً
إليكto you خُطُوباًcalamities شَيَّبَتْthat turned gray مَفْرِقَthe parting الطفلِof a child
إليك خُطُوباً شَيَّبَتْ مَفْرِقَ الطفلِ
Nor had I passed through middle age, bringing for judgment
To you calamities that turned a child's parting gray.
وكُنتَand you were ومِفْتاحُwhile the key الرغائبِto desires ضائِعٌwas lost
وكُنتَ ومِفْتاحُ الرغائبِ ضائِعٌ
ملاذيmy refuge فهذاyet here is بابُهاtheir door ضائعُmissing القُفْلِthe lock
ملاذي فهذا بابُها ضائعُ القُفْلِ
You were, when the key to my desires was lost,
My refuge—yet here is their door, its lock missing.
وكمand how many مُرْتَقىًan ascent وعرٍrugged جَذَبْتَyou pulled بساعِديby my forearm
وكم مُرْتَقىً وعرٍ جَذَبْتَ بساعِدي
إِلَيْهِtoward it فقدso indeed أَفْسَحْتَyou have made room بالأَفْيَحِon the broad ground السَّهْلِlevel
إِلَيْهِ فقد أَفْسَحْتَ بالأَفْيَحِ السَّهْلِ
How many a rugged ascent you pulled me by the forearm
Toward—yet now you have made room on the broad, level ground.
وأَنهارِand rivers راحٍof wine فِيin رياضٍgardens أَنِيقَةٍbeautiful
وأَنهارِ راحٍ فِي رياضٍ أَنِيقَةٍ
مُوَطَّأَةِsmoothed الأَكْنَافِat the banks للنَّهْلِfor a first draught والعَلِّand a second draught
مُوَطَّأَةِ الأَكْنَافِ للنَّهْلِ والعَلِّ
And rivers of wine in beautiful gardens,
Their banks smoothed for a first draught and a second,
حَرَامٍforbidden عَلَىto وِرْدِيmy drinking حِمىًa protected preserve دونَbarring مَرتَعيmy grazing
حَرَامٍ عَلَى وِرْدِي حِمىً دونَ مَرتَعي
وَقَدْand indeed بَرَّحَتْhave openly proclaimed فِيamong الناسthe people بالطَّيِّبِthe wholesome الحِلِّlawful
وَقَدْ بَرَّحَتْ فِي الناس بالطَّيِّبِ الحِلِّ
Forbidden to my drinking, a preserve barring my grazing,
Though among the people they openly proclaim wholesome, lawful pleasure.
وقدand indeed شَفَّنيhas wasted me رَشْفُsipping الثِّمارِthe fruits أَوَاجِناًstagnant
وقد شَفَّني رَشْفُ الثِّمارِ أَوَاجِناً
وأَنْضىand has exhausted رِكابيmy mounts مجْذِبُthe barren ground المرتَعof the pasture المَحْلِdrought-stricken
وأَنْضى رِكابي مجْذِبُ المرتَع المَحْلِ
Sipping stagnant fruit-juice has wasted me,
And the barren, drought-stricken pasture has worn out my mounts.
وإِنَّand indeed عَجيباًstrange أَنَّthat عِزَّكَyour might مَوْئِلِيis my refuge
وإِنَّ عَجيباً أَنَّ عِزَّكَ مَوْئِلِي
وأَكْظِمُyet I stifle أَنْفاسيmy breaths عَلَىamid غُصَصِthe choking pangs الذُّلِّof humiliation
وأَكْظِمُ أَنْفاسي عَلَى غُصَصِ الذُّلِّ
Strange indeed that your might is my refuge,
Yet I stifle my breaths amid humiliation's choking pangs;
وأَنِّيَand that I منfrom ظُلمِيthe wrong done me بِعَدْلِكَthrough your justice عَائِدٌam returning
وأَنِّيَ من ظُلمِي بِعَدْلِكَ عَائِدٌ
وكمand how many مطلبٍa request أَسلمتَهُyou surrendered it فِيinto يَديْthe two hands عَدْلِ'Adl (idiom for ruin)
وكم مطلبٍ أَسلمتَهُ فِي يَديْ عَدْلِ
And that, wronged, I return to your justice,
Yet how many a request you surrendered into the hands of 'Adl!
وأَنِّيَand that I فِيin أَفياءِthe cool shades ظِلِّكَof your shadow أَشْتَكِيlament
وأَنِّيَ فِي أَفياءِ ظِلِّكَ أَشْتَكِي
شَكِيَّةَthe lament مُوسىof Moses إِذْwhen تولَّىhe withdrew إِلَىto الظِّلِّthe shade
شَكِيَّةَ مُوسى إِذْ تولَّى إِلَى الظِّلِّ
And that in the cool shades of your shadow I lament
The lament of Moses when he withdrew to the shade.
ففيfor under حُكمِكَyour judgment الماضيbinding وَسُلْطَانِكَand your authority العَدْلِjust
ففي حُكمِكَ الماضي وَسُلْطَانِكَ العَدْلِ
تُمِرُّturns bitter لِيَfor me الدنياthe world وطَعْمِيwhile my flavor لَهَاto it مُحْلِis sweet
تُمِرُّ لِيَ الدنيا وطَعْمِي لَهَا مُحْلِ
For under your binding judgment and your just authority,
The world turns bitter to me, though my flavor to it is sweet.
وتقلِبُand turns ليto me ظهرَthe back المِجَنِّof the shield تَجَنِّياًin malice
وتقلِبُ لي ظهرَ المِجَنِّ تَجَنِّياً
فَمَوْتِيso my death بماby what يُحييgives life ومَوْتِيand my death بماby what يُسْلِيconsoles
فَمَوْتِي بما يُحيي ومَوْتِي بما يُسْلِي
It turns the back of its shield to me in malice,
So I die by what gives life, and die by what consoles.
أَلَمْdid you not تَرَنِيsee me يومَon the day الرِّهَانِof the contest مُبَرِّزاًexcelling
أَلَمْ تَرَنِي يومَ الرِّهَانِ مُبَرِّزاً
أَمامَahead of الأُلىthose who جاؤواcame إِلَىto الحَظِّgood fortune مِنْfrom قَبْلِيbefore me
أَمامَ الأُلى جاؤوا إِلَى الحَظِّ مِنْ قَبْلِي
Did you not see me on the day of the contest, excelling
Ahead of those who came to good fortune before me?
فكَمْso how often باتَspent the night هَذَاthis الملكُking منّيthrough me مُعرِّساًas a bridegroom
فكَمْ باتَ هَذَا الملكُ منّي مُعرِّساً
بِفَتّاَنَةٍwith a bewitching one بكْرٍa virgin وبتُّand I spent the night عَلَىin الثُّكْلِbereavement
بِفَتّاَنَةٍ بكْرٍ وبتُّ عَلَى الثُّكْلِ
How often has this king, through me, spent the night wedded
To a bewitching virgin, while I spent mine bereaved.
وأَثقَلْتُand I weighted أوتارَthe cords الرِّكابِof the mounts جَوَاهِراًwith jewels
وأَثقَلْتُ أوتارَ الرِّكابِ جَوَاهِراً
عَلَىfor ثَمنٍa price يَعْدُوruns off بِهِwith it مُحْوِلُa year-old one النَّمْلِof the ants
عَلَى ثَمنٍ يَعْدُو بِهِ مُحْوِلُ النَّمْلِ
I weighted the mounts' cords with jewels,
For a price a year-old ant could scurry off with.
وهاand behold أَنذَاhere I am مَاnot إِنْindeed أَموتI die منof الأسىsorrow
وها أَنذَا مَا إِنْ أَموت من الأسى
بوَقْرٍunder a load عَلَىupon وَقْرِa load وثِقْلٍand a weight عَلَىupon ثقْلِa weight
بوَقْرٍ عَلَى وَقْرِ وثِقْلٍ عَلَى ثقْلِ
And here I am, not dying of sorrow,
Under load upon load, and weight upon weight.
وَليَّO patron of النَّدىgenerosity أَصْبَحتُI have become فِيin دَوْلَةِthe reign النَّدىof generosity
وَليَّ النَّدى أَصْبَحتُ فِي دَوْلَةِ النَّدى
كَأَنِّيas though I عَدُوُّan enemy البخلof miserliness فِيin دَوْلَةِthe reign البُخْلِof miserliness
كَأَنِّي عَدُوُّ البخل فِي دَوْلَةِ البُخْلِ
O patron of generosity, under generosity's reign I have become
Like an enemy of miserliness under miserliness's reign.
يُقَتِّلُslaughters أَخْفىthe most hidden اليَأْسِdespair أَحْيىthe liveliest مَطالِبيof my aspirations
يُقَتِّلُ أَخْفى اليَأْسِ أَحْيى مَطالِبي
لَيَالِيَon nights جلَّwas exalted الْوَعْدُthe promise عنabove ريبةِsuspicion المَطْلِof delay
لَيَالِيَ جلَّ الْوَعْدُ عن ريبةِ المَطْلِ
The most hidden despair slaughters my liveliest hopes
On nights when the promise stands above suspicion of delay.
وأُبْديand I expose لِلَسْعِto the sting الدَّبْرof wasps وَجْهيmy face مُنازعاًstruggling
وأُبْدي لِلَسْعِ الدَّبْر وَجْهي مُنازعاً
وَقَدْwhile indeed فازَhas gained غيريsomeone other than me سالِماًunharmed بجنىthe harvest النَّحْلِof bees
وَقَدْ فازَ غيري سالِماً بجنى النَّحْلِ
I expose my face to wasps' stings, struggling,
While others safely win the harvest of bees.
ومَولىًand a lord يَجِرُّtrails البأْسُvalor والحَمْدُand praise ساجداًprostrate
ومَولىً يَجِرُّ البأْسُ والحَمْدُ ساجداً
إِلَىto سيفِهِhis sword الماضيkeen ونائلِهِand his bounty الجَزْلِabundant
إِلَى سيفِهِ الماضي ونائلِهِ الجَزْلِ
And a lord—valor and praise trail in prostration
To his keen sword and his abundant bounty,
سَريعswift إِلَىtoward داعيthe caller النَّدىof generosity وشَفِيعِهِand its intercessor
سَريع إِلَى داعي النَّدى وشَفِيعِهِ
وبَحْرُand the sea عطاياهُof his gifts أَصمُّis deaf عنto العَذْلِreproach
وبَحْرُ عطاياهُ أَصمُّ عن العَذْلِ
Swift to generosity's caller and its intercessor,
The sea of his gifts deaf to reproach—
تَذكَّرنيremembered me فِيin ساعةthe hour العلمof learning والنُّهىand reason
تَذكَّرني فِي ساعة العلم والنُّهى
وأُنْسِيَنيand was made to forget me فِيin ساعةthe hour الجودof generosity والبَذْلِand giving
وأُنْسِيَني فِي ساعة الجود والبَذْلِ
Remembered me in the hour of learning and reason,
Yet was made to forget me in the hour of generosity and giving.
وَبَوَّأَنِيand lodged me فِيin قَصْرِهِhis palace أَعْلَthe highest مَنْزِلٍstation
وَبَوَّأَنِي فِي قَصْرِهِ أَعْلَ مَنْزِلٍ
وَحَظِّيَwhile my fortune مُلقىًlies cast down يسْتغيثُcries for help منfrom السُّفْلِbelow
وَحَظِّيَ مُلقىً يسْتغيثُ من السُّفْلِ
He lodged me in the highest station in his palace,
While my fortune lay cast down, crying for help from below.
فَأَكْسُوso I clothe لَهُfor him الأَيَّامَthe days مِنْfrom حُرِّthe finest مَاof what أَشِيI embroider
فَأَكْسُو لَهُ الأَيَّامَ مِنْ حُرِّ مَا أَشِي
وَأَمْلأُand I fill سَمْعَthe hearing الدهرِof time منwith سِحْرِthe enchantment مَاof what أُملِيI dictate
وَأَمْلأُ سَمْعَ الدهرِ من سِحْرِ مَا أُملِي
So I clothe the days for him in the finest patterns I embroider,
And fill time's hearing with the magic I dictate.
أُوَاصِلُI join آناءَthe hours الأَصائِلِof late afternoon بالضُّحىwith the forenoon
أُوَاصِلُ آناءَ الأَصائِلِ بالضُّحى
وزادِيَand my provisions منfrom جُهدِيmy exertion وراحِلَتيand my mount رِجْليmy foot
وزادِيَ من جُهدِي وراحِلَتي رِجْلي
I join the hours of late afternoon to the forenoon,
My provisions my exertion, and my mount my foot.
إِذاwhen أَحْفَتِwear hoof-bare الفُرْسانُthe horsemen غُرَّthe white-blazed ones جِيادِهِof his steeds
إِذا أَحْفَتِ الفُرْسانُ غُرَّ جِيادِهِ
خَصَفْتُI patched بوجهيwith my face مَاwhat تَمزَّقَwas torn منfrom نَعْلِيmy sandal
خَصَفْتُ بوجهي مَا تَمزَّقَ من نَعْلِي
When the horsemen wear his white-blazed steeds hoof-bare,
I patch with my face what has torn from my sandal.
وإِنْand if أَقْبَلُواthey arrive والمِسْكُwhile musk يندىglistens عَلَيْهِمُupon them
وإِنْ أَقْبَلُوا والمِسْكُ يندى عَلَيْهِمُ
أَتَيْتُI came وَقَدْand already ضُمِّخْتُI was smeared مِسْكاًwith musk منfrom الوحْلِmud
أَتَيْتُ وَقَدْ ضُمِّخْتُ مِسْكاً من الوحْلِ
If they arrive with musk glistening upon them,
I arrive smeared with musk made of mud.
وإِنْand if شُغِلواthey are occupied لَهْواًin amusement بأَنْعُمِby the blessings كفِّهِof his palm
وإِنْ شُغِلوا لَهْواً بأَنْعُمِ كفِّهِ
فخِدْمَتُهthen his service لَهْويmy amusement وطَاعَتُهُand obedience to him شُغْليmy work
فخِدْمَتُه لَهْوي وطَاعَتُهُ شُغْلي
If they are busied with the pleasures of his hand's blessings,
His service is my pleasure, and obedience to him my work.
أُقِرُّI delight عيونَthe eyes الشامِتينَof the gloaters ولَيتَنِيand would that I
أُقِرُّ عيونَ الشامِتينَ ولَيتَنِي
أُبَرِّدُmight cool مَاwhat تطويenfold الضلوعthe ribs منof الغِلِّrancor
أُبَرِّدُ مَا تطوي الضلوع من الغِلِّ
I delight the eyes of those who gloat—would that I
Could cool the rancor my ribs enfold.
أَمُرُّI pass بِهِمْby them أَلقىI face الثَّرىthe dust وكأنَّمَاand as though
أَمُرُّ بِهِمْ أَلقى الثَّرى وكأنَّمَا
فؤادِيَmy heart منfrom أحداقِهِمْtheir pupils غَرَضُa target النَّبلِfor arrows
فؤادِيَ من أحداقِهِمْ غَرَضُ النَّبلِ
I pass them, facing the dust, as though
My heart were a target for arrows from their eyes.
إِذاwhen الأَسدthe lion الضِّرغامُthe fierce lion أَنْفَذَpierces مقتَليmy mortal spot
إِذا الأَسد الضِّرغامُ أَنْفَذَ مقتَلي
فماthen not فَزَعِيmy flight for refuge إِلّاexcept إِلَىto الأَرْقَمِthe speckled snake الصّلِّthe deadly asp
فما فَزَعِي إِلّا إِلَى الأَرْقَمِ الصّلِّ
When the fierce lion pierces my mortal spot,
My only refuge is the speckled, deadly asp.
وإِنand if ذابَmelts حُرُّthe noble part الوجْهِof the face منfrom حَرِّthe heat نارِهِمْof their fire
وإِن ذابَ حُرُّ الوجْهِ من حَرِّ نارِهِمْ
فماthen not مُسْتَغَاثِيmy appeal for relief منهُfrom it إِلّاexcept إِلَىto المُهْلِmolten metal
فما مُسْتَغَاثِي منهُ إِلّا إِلَى المُهْلِ
If my noble face melts in the heat of their fire,
My only appeal for relief from it is to molten metal.
ومنand among شيمةthe traits الماءof water القراحpure وإنand even if صفاit is clear
ومن شيمة الماء القراح وإن صفا
إذاwhen اضطرمتblazes منfrom تحتهbeneath it النارthe fire أنthat يغليit boils
إذا اضطرمت من تحته النار أن يغلي
It is the nature of pure water, however clear,
To boil when the fire beneath it blazes.
ولاand no وَزَرٌrefuge إِلّاexcept وزيرٌa vizier لَهُwho has يدٌa hand
ولا وَزَرٌ إِلّا وزيرٌ لَهُ يدٌ
تُمِلُّdictates عَلَىto أَيْدِيthe hands الربيعof spring فيَسْتَمْلِيso it takes dictation
تُمِلُّ عَلَى أَيْدِي الربيع فيَسْتَمْلِي
There is no refuge but a vizier whose hand
Dictates to spring's hands, and spring takes dictation.
أَباO Abu الأصبَغal-Asbagh المَعْنيَّthe one addressed هلwill أَنتyou مُصْرِخِيbe my rescuer
أَبا الأصبَغ المَعْنيَّ هل أَنت مُصْرِخِي
وهلْand will أَنتَyou ليfor me مُغْنٍbe an enricher وهلand will أَنتَyou ليfor me مُعْلِbe one who elevates
وهلْ أَنتَ لي مُغْنٍ وهل أَنتَ لي مُعْلِ
O Abu al-Asbagh, whom I address, will you answer my cry?
Will you enrich me, and will you raise me high?
وهلand will مَلِكُthe king الإِنعامِof beneficence والجودِand generosity عائدٌreturn
وهل مَلِكُ الإِنعامِ والجودِ عائدٌ
بإِحسانِwith the kindness مَاof what يُوليhe grants عَلَىin return for حُسْنِthe excellence مَاof what أُبْليI perform in service
بإِحسانِ مَا يُولي عَلَى حُسْنِ مَا أُبْلي
Will the king of favor and generosity return
His gracious gifts for the excellence of my service?
وهلand is there لرياضfor the gardens الملكof the king فيin me نفحةthe breath الصباof the east wind
وهل لرياض الملك في نفحة الصبا
وهلand is there لسماءfor the sky المجدof glory فيin me كوكبa star النُّبلِof nobility
وهل لسماء المجد في كوكب النُّبلِ
Do the king's gardens find in me the east wind's breath?
Does the sky of glory find in me a star of nobility?
وحتَّىand until مَتىwhen أُعْطِيshall I give الزمانَtime مقادَتِيmy reins
وحتَّى مَتى أُعْطِي الزمانَ مقادَتِي
وَقَدْwhile indeed قَبَضَتْhas grasped كَفّيmy palm عَلَىupon قائِمِthe hilt النَّصلِof the blade
وَقَدْ قَبَضَتْ كَفّي عَلَى قائِمِ النَّصلِ
How long shall I give time my reins,
When my hand has grasped the sword's hilt,
ونادَيْتُand I called منfrom عُلْياthe heights الوزارَةِof the vizierate ناصِراًa champion
ونادَيْتُ من عُلْيا الوزارَةِ ناصِراً
يَرىwho sees خاطفاتِthe flashing ones الشُّهْبِof the meteors تمشيmoving عَلَىat رِسْلِan easy pace
يَرى خاطفاتِ الشُّهْبِ تمشي عَلَى رِسْلِ
And I have called from the heights of the vizierate for a champion
Who sees flashing meteors move at an easy pace?
فلاso let not يَغْبِطِdelight الأَعداءَthe enemies مَاwhat طُلَّwas shed unavenged منof دَميmy blood
فلا يَغْبِطِ الأَعداءَ مَا طُلَّ من دَمي
ولاand let not يَهْنئِgladden الأَيَّامَthe days مَاwhat فاتَwas lost منof ذَحْليmy vengeance
ولا يَهْنئِ الأَيَّامَ مَا فاتَ من ذَحْلي
Let my blood shed unavenged bring the enemies no joy,
Nor let the days rejoice in the vengeance I have missed.
عسىmay مجدُthe glory عيسىof Isa أَنthat ينوءَrise ببارِقٍwith a lightning-bearing cloud
عسى مجدُ عيسى أَن ينوءَ ببارِقٍ
يُسِحُّpours in torrents حَياthe rain الإِفضالِof generosity فِيinto روضةِthe garden الفَضْلِof excellence
يُسِحُّ حَيا الإِفضالِ فِي روضةِ الفَضْلِ
May Isa's glory rise with a lightning-bearing cloud
Pouring generosity's rain into excellence's garden.
فياso O ابْنَson of سعيدٍSa'id هلis there لِسَعْدِكَfor your good fortune كَرَّةٌa return
فيا ابْنَ سعيدٍ هل لِسَعْدِكَ كَرَّةٌ
عَلَىupon الهِمَّةِthe aspiration العَلْياءِlofty فِيin الأُفُقِthe horizon الغُفْلِunmarked
عَلَى الهِمَّةِ العَلْياءِ فِي الأُفُقِ الغُفْلِ
O son of Sa'id, will your good fortune turn once more
Toward the lofty aspiration in the unmarked horizon?
طَوَتْhas folded away زَفَراتِthe sighs البَثِّof anguish حَتَّىuntil لقدindeed أَنىthe time has come
طَوَتْ زَفَراتِ البَثِّ حَتَّى لقد أَنى
لذاتfor one undergoing مَخاضٍlabor أَنto تُطَرِّقَbegin delivering بالحَمْلِher burden
لذات مَخاضٍ أَن تُطَرِّقَ بالحَمْلِ
It has folded away sighs of anguish, until now the time has come
For one in labor to begin bringing forth her burden.
مطالبُclaims أبقىhas left الدهرُtime منهاof them مَظالِماًgrievances
مطالبُ أبقى الدهرُ منها مَظالِماً
تُنادِيكَcall you بالشكْوىin complaint وتدعُوكand summon you للفَضْلِto generosity
تُنادِيكَ بالشكْوى وتدعُوك للفَضْلِ
Claims of which time has left only grievances
Call to you in complaint and summon you to generosity.
وكُلٌّand everyone عليهاconcerning them شاهِدٌa witness غيرُnot شاهِدٍa witness
وكُلٌّ عليها شاهِدٌ غيرُ شاهِدٍ
وَلَيْسَand there is not لَهَاfor them حاشاكَexcept you منany حَكَمٍjudge عَدْلِjust
وَلَيْسَ لَهَا حاشاكَ من حَكَمٍ عَدْلِ
Everyone is a witness to them, yet no witness,
And they have no just judge save you.
أَيَحْتَقِبُdo they carry as baggage الركبانُthe riders شرقاًeastward ومغرِباًand westward
أَيَحْتَقِبُ الركبانُ شرقاً ومغرِباً
غرائِبَthe marvels أَنفاسيof my breaths وأَلقاكَwhile I meet you فِيamong الرَّجْلِthose on foot
غرائِبَ أَنفاسي وأَلقاكَ فِي الرَّجْلِ
Do riders carry, eastward and westward,
The marvels of my breaths, while I meet you on foot?
ويَنْتَقِلُand snack upon الشَّرْبُthe drinkers الندامىthe companions بدائِعيmy marvels
ويَنْتَقِلُ الشَّرْبُ الندامى بدائِعي
وهَيهَاتَand far away ليfor me منfrom لَذَّةِthe pleasure الشُّرْبِof drinking والنُّقْلِand the wine-morsels
وهَيهَاتَ لي من لَذَّةِ الشُّرْبِ والنُّقْلِ
Do drinking companions snack upon my marvels,
While the pleasure of drinking and its morsels lies far beyond my reach?
وضَيفٌand a guest بحيثُwhere الطَّيْرُthe birds تُدْعىare invited إِلَىto القِرىhospitality
وضَيفٌ بحيثُ الطَّيْرُ تُدْعى إِلَى القِرى
يضيقُbecomes narrow بِهِfor him رَحْبُthe spaciousness المَباءةِof the lodging والنُّزْلِand accommodation
يضيقُ بِهِ رَحْبُ المَباءةِ والنُّزْلِ
A guest, where even birds are invited to hospitality,
Finds the spacious lodging and accommodation too narrow;
طَوٍhungry وَوُجُوهُwhile the expanses الأَرْضِof the earth خِصْبٌare fertility ومَطْعَمٌand food
طَوٍ وَوُجُوهُ الأَرْضِ خِصْبٌ ومَطْعَمٌ
وعيمانُand craving milk والجُلمُودُwhile the hard rock يَفَهَقُoverflows بالرِّسْلِwith milk
وعيمانُ والجُلمُودُ يَفَهَقُ بالرِّسْلِ
Hungry, though the earth's expanses are fertility and food,
Craving milk, though the hard rock overflows with milk;
وحَرَّانُand thirst-parched أَوْفىhaving completed ظِمءَa thirst تِسْعٍof nine وأَرْبعٍand four
وحَرَّانُ أَوْفى ظِمءَ تِسْعٍ وأَرْبعٍ
بحيثُwhere تَلاقىmeet دافِقُthe torrent البحرِof the sea والوَبْلِand the downpour
بحيثُ تَلاقى دافِقُ البحرِ والوَبْلِ
Thirst-parched, having endured nine years and four of thirst,
Where the sea's torrent and the downpour meet;
وسَيفٌand a sword يقُدُّcleaves البَيْضَhelmets والزَّغْفand mail مقدِماًadvancing
وسَيفٌ يقُدُّ البَيْضَ والزَّغْف مقدِماً
يروحُgoes at evening بلاwithout غِمْدٍa sheath ويغدُوand goes at morning بلاwithout صَقلِpolish
يروحُ بلا غِمْدٍ ويغدُو بلا صَقلِ
A sword that cleaves helmets and mail as it advances,
Goes at evening without a sheath, and at morning without polish;
وذُوand one with غُرَّةٍa white blaze معروفَةِknown for السبقprecedence فِيin المدىthe course
وذُو غُرَّةٍ معروفَةِ السبق فِي المدى
وَقَدْand indeed قَرِحَhas grown sore التَّحجيلُthe white leg-markings منfrom حَلَقِthe rings الشُّكْلِof hobbles
وَقَدْ قَرِحَ التَّحجيلُ من حَلَقِ الشُّكْلِ
One with a white blaze, famed for leading the race,
Yet its white stockings are rubbed sore by the rings of hobbles;
ودَوحَةُand a great tree عِلمٍof learning فِيin السماءِthe sky غُصُونُهاare its branches
ودَوحَةُ عِلمٍ فِي السماءِ غُصُونُها
تَرفُّflutter بلاwithout سُقْياwatering سوىexcept بَغَشthe fine sprinkling الطَّلِّof dew
تَرفُّ بلا سُقْيا سوى بَغَش الطَّلِّ
A great tree of learning, its branches in the sky,
Fluttering without watering, save dew's fine spray.
Sol 6.1