أَرْحليَis it my saddle مَحمولٌborne عَلَىupon العُتُقِthe purebred mounts النُّجْبِthe noble camels
أَرْحليَ مَحمولٌ عَلَى العُتُقِ النُّجْبِ
يَؤْمُّكَmakes for you أَمor سارٍa night-traveler عَلَىupon القُتُمِthe dust-dark ones النُّكبِthe limping ones
يَؤْمُّكَ أَم سارٍ عَلَى القُتُمِ النُّكبِ
Is it my saddle, borne on purebred, noble camels,
that makes for you, or a night-traveler on dust-dark, limping mounts?
يقودُleads بِهَاwith them هادٍa guide إِلَىtoward الأَمْرِthe goal والمُنىand hopes
يقودُ بِهَا هادٍ إِلَى الأَمْرِ والمُنى
ويَحْدوand urges with song بِهَاwith them حادٍa camel-driver عَلَىamid الخوفِfear والرُّعْبِand terror
ويَحْدو بِهَا حادٍ عَلَى الخوفِ والرُّعْبِ
A guide leads them toward the goal and hopes,
and a camel-driver urges them through fear and terror.
غرائبُwonders ممَّاamong what أَغربَmade strange الدهرُtime أَطْلَعَتْraised
غرائبُ ممَّا أَغربَ الدهرُ أَطْلَعَتْ
عَلَيْكَfor you هلالَthe crescent of العلمknowledge منfrom أُفُقِthe horizon of الغرْبِthe west
عَلَيْكَ هلالَ العلم من أُفُقِ الغرْبِ
Wonders, among the wonders time has wrought, have raised
for you the crescent of knowledge from the western horizon.
طوَتْtraversed فَلَوَاتِthe wastes of الأَرْضِthe earth نَحوكَtoward you وانْطَوَتْand dwindled
طوَتْ فَلَوَاتِ الأَرْضِ نَحوكَ وانْطَوَتْ
كَبَدْرٍlike a full moon إِلَىtoward مَحْقٍwaning darkness بشَهرٍwith a month إِلَىtoward عُقْبِits close
كَبَدْرٍ إِلَى مَحْقٍ بشَهرٍ إِلَى عُقْبِ
They traversed earth's wastes toward you and dwindled,
like a full moon waning to darkness as its month draws to its close.
كؤوساًcups تساقَتهاshared them in drinking اللياليthe nights تنادُماًin convivial fellowship
كؤوساً تساقَتها الليالي تنادُماً
فجاءَتكَso they came to you كالأَقداحِlike goblets رُدَّتْwere sent back عنfrom الشُّرْبِdrinking
فجاءَتكَ كالأَقداحِ رُدَّتْ عن الشُّرْبِ
Cups shared by the nights in convivial drinking,
they came to you like goblets sent back from drinking.
تعاوَرَهُنَّtook turns with them البَرُّland والبحرُand sea مثلَماjust as
تعاوَرَهُنَّ البَرُّ والبحرُ مثلَما
تُرَدُّare returned بأيديby the hands of الرُّسلِmessengers أَجوِبَةُreplies to الكتْبِletters
تُرَدُّ بأيدي الرُّسلِ أَجوِبَةُ الكتْبِ
Land and sea took turns with them, just as
replies to letters are returned by messengers' hands.
فَليلٌthen night إِلَىto صُبحٍmorning وصبحٌand morning إِلَىto دُجىًdarkness
فَليلٌ إِلَى صُبحٍ وصبحٌ إِلَى دُجىً
وكَرْبٌand distress إِلَىto رَوْحٍrelief وروحٌand relief إِلَىto كَرْبِdistress
وكَرْبٌ إِلَى رَوْحٍ وروحٌ إِلَى كَرْبِ
Night gives way to morning, and morning to darkness;
distress to relief, and relief to distress;
وسهلٌand level ground إِلَىto حَزْنٍrugged ground وحزنٌand rugged ground إِلَىto فلاًwastes
وسهلٌ إِلَى حَزْنٍ وحزنٌ إِلَى فلاً
وسُهْبٌand open plains إِلَىto بَحرٍsea وبَحرٌand sea إِلَىto سُهْبِopen plains
وسُهْبٌ إِلَى بَحرٍ وبَحرٌ إِلَى سُهْبِ
level ground to rugged ground, and rugged ground to wastes;
open plains to sea, and sea to open plains.
يُكَتِّبْنَthey inscribe صَفْحَاتِthe pages of السُّعودِgood fortune نواظِراًwatchful eyes
يُكَتِّبْنَ صَفْحَاتِ السُّعودِ نواظِراً
ويَنفُضنَand they shake out منfrom أَقلامِهِنَّtheir pens عَلَىupon القَلْبِthe heart
ويَنفُضنَ من أَقلامِهِنَّ عَلَى القَلْبِ
They inscribe good fortune's pages with watchful eyes,
and scatter from their pens upon the heart.
ويَقضِمْنَand they gnaw أَطرافَthe tips of الهَشِيمِdry brush تَبلُّغاًfor sustenance
ويَقضِمْنَ أَطرافَ الهَشِيمِ تَبلُّغاً
إِلَىto الرَّوْضَةِthe garden الغنَّاءِthe lush فِيat المَشربِthe watering place العَذْبِthe sweet
إِلَى الرَّوْضَةِ الغنَّاءِ فِي المَشربِ العَذْبِ
They gnaw the tips of dry brush to sustain themselves
until the lush garden at the sweet watering place.
تُنيخُkneel فتُلقيthen lay down فِيamong الصُّخورِthe rocks كلاكِلاًbreasts
تُنيخُ فتُلقي فِي الصُّخورِ كلاكِلاً
تنوءheave upward لأَرضِtoward the land of المِسكِmusk زَهْواًproudly عنfrom التُّرْبِthe dust
تنوء لأَرضِ المِسكِ زَهْواً عن التُّرْبِ
They kneel, laying breasts among the rocks,
that heave proudly from dust toward the land of musk.
ويَفْحَصْنَand they paw فِيamong رَضمِthe piles of الحَصىpebbles بمناسِمٍwith hoof-pads
ويَفْحَصْنَ فِي رَضمِ الحَصى بمناسِمٍ
تهيمyearn إِلَىfor حصباءَgravel منof لُؤْلُؤٍpearls رَطْبِmoist
تهيم إِلَى حصباءَ من لُؤْلُؤٍ رَطْبِ
They paw the piled pebbles with hoof-pads
that yearn for gravel made of moist pearls.
أُنَسِّمُهاI waft to them رَيَّاكَyour fragrance فِيin نفحةِthe breath of الصَّباthe east wind
أُنَسِّمُها رَيَّاكَ فِي نفحةِ الصَّبا
وأَجلوand I reveal لَهَاto them سِيماكَyour features فِيin أَوْجُهِthe faces of الشُّهْبِbright stars
وأَجلو لَهَا سِيماكَ فِي أَوْجُهِ الشُّهْبِ
I let them breathe your fragrance in the east wind's breath,
and reveal your features to them in the faces of bright stars.
وأُسْمِعُهاand I let them hear دَاعيكَyour herald فِيat كُلِّevery مَنْهَلٍwatering place
وأُسْمِعُها دَاعيكَ فِي كُلِّ مَنْهَلٍ
هَلُمَّcome إِلَىto الإِكْرَامِhonor والمنزِلِand the dwelling الرَّحبِthe spacious
هَلُمَّ إِلَى الإِكْرَامِ والمنزِلِ الرَّحبِ
I let them hear your herald at every watering place:
'Come to honor and a spacious dwelling.'
ولاحَand shone لَهَاbefore them البَرْقُthe lightning الَّذِيthat أَغدَقَdrenched الثَّرَىthe soil
ولاحَ لَهَا البَرْقُ الَّذِي أَغدَقَ الثَّرَى
فَهُنَّso they إليهtoward it مُوفِضاتٌrushing إِلَىtoward نُصبِa standing marker
فَهُنَّ إليه مُوفِضاتٌ إِلَى نُصبِ
The lightning that drenched the soil shone before them,
and they rush toward it as toward a standing marker.
مُوفَّرَةٌprovided abundantly مِنِّيfrom me إِليكَto you وسائِلاًmeans of approach
مُوفَّرَةٌ مِنِّي إِليكَ وسائِلاً
تفوحُwaft fragrance لأَنفاسِto the breaths of الركائِبِthe mounts والرَّكْبِand the riders
تفوحُ لأَنفاسِ الركائِبِ والرَّكْبِ
Furnished abundantly by me as means of approach to you,
they waft fragrance into the breaths of mounts and riders.
ولوand if عَجَزَتْthey proved unequal عنto هِمَّتِيmy resolve لتبلَّغَتْthey would make their way
ولو عَجَزَتْ عن هِمَّتِي لتبلَّغَتْ
بذيwith one possessing قَدَمٍa foot تصبوyearning إِلَىfor ذيone possessing يدٍa hand تُصبيthat enchants
بذي قَدَمٍ تصبو إِلَى ذي يدٍ تُصبي
Were they unequal to my resolve, they would still make their way
with one whose foot yearns for one whose hand enchants.
فَقَلَّso it proved little لِمَنْfor the one who عاذَsought refuge الهُدىguidance بسيوفِهِin his swords
فَقَلَّ لِمَنْ عاذَ الهُدى بسيوفِهِ
ودارتْand revolved نجومُthe stars of المُلكِsovereignty منهfrom him عَلَىaround قُطبِan axis
ودارتْ نجومُ المُلكِ منه عَلَى قُطبِ
Yet this is little for him whose swords sheltered guidance,
and around whose axis the stars of sovereignty revolve.
وضاءَand shone بنُورِwith the light of الحقِّtruth غرّةُthe bright brow of وجهِهِhis face
وضاءَ بنُورِ الحقِّ غرّةُ وجهِهِ
فأطفأَso he extinguished نيرانَthe fires of الضَّغائِنِrancor والشَّغْبِand unrest
فأطفأَ نيرانَ الضَّغائِنِ والشَّغْبِ
His brow shone with the light of truth,
and so extinguished the fires of rancor and unrest.
أخوa brother to الكَهْلِthe mature man وابنٌand a son للكبيرِto the elderly ووالِدٌand a father
أخو الكَهْلِ وابنٌ للكبيرِ ووالِدٌ
لأَبنائِهِمْto their sons فِيin مُعتَرىًone sought out غيرwithout ذِيhaving تِرْبِa peer
لأَبنائِهِمْ فِي مُعتَرىً غير ذِي تِرْبِ
A brother to the mature, a son to the old, and a father
to their sons, all in one whom people seek, without a peer.
عطاءٌgiving بلاwithout مَنٍّreminders of favors وحكمٌand judgment بلاwithout هَوىًwhim
عطاءٌ بلا مَنٍّ وحكمٌ بلا هَوىً
وملكٌand kingship بلاwithout كِبْرٍarrogance وعزٌّand might بلاwithout عُجبِconceit
وملكٌ بلا كِبْرٍ وعزٌّ بلا عُجبِ
Giving without reproach, judgment without whim,
kingship without arrogance, might without conceit;
ومَولىًand a patron كماjust as تجلوilluminate المصابيحُlamps فِيin الدُّجىthe darkness
ومَولىً كما تجلو المصابيحُ فِي الدُّجى
ورأْيٌand counsel كماjust as يشفيheals الهِناءُmedicinal tar مِنَof النُّقبِmange sores
ورأْيٌ كما يشفي الهِناءُ مِنَ النُّقبِ
and a patron like lamps that brighten the dark,
and counsel that cures as tar cures mange sores.
سَماrose high فاشْتَرىand purchased مَثنىtwofold الوزارةِthe vizierate سابقاًoutstripping others
سَما فاشْتَرى مَثنى الوزارةِ سابقاً
بمثنىwith twofold الأَيادِيfavors البِيضِwhite والخُلُقُand character النَّدْبِgenerous
بمثنى الأَيادِي البِيضِ والخُلُقُ النَّدْبِ
He rose and purchased the twofold vizierate before all others,
with twofold white-handed favors and a generous nature.
وحازَand seized عنانَthe reins of الدهرِtime سَمْعاًlistening وطاعةًand obedience
وحازَ عنانَ الدهرِ سَمْعاً وطاعةً
بِكشفِby lifting قِناعِthe veil of الصبرِpatience والسُّمْرِand tawny spears والقُضْبِand sharp swords
بِكشفِ قِناعِ الصبرِ والسُّمْرِ والقُضْبِ
He seized time's reins, making it listen and obey,
by lifting the veil of patience, tawny spears, and sharp blades.
غمامٌa cloud أَظَلَّshaded الأرضَthe earth وانهلَّand poured بالحَياwith life-giving rain
غمامٌ أَظَلَّ الأرضَ وانهلَّ بالحَيا
ضَمانٌa guarantee عَلَىof النُّعمىblessings أَمَانٌsecurity منَfrom الجَدْبِdrought
ضَمانٌ عَلَى النُّعمى أَمَانٌ منَ الجَدْبِ
A cloud that shaded the earth and poured life-giving rain,
a guarantee of blessings, a safeguard against drought.
تفجَّرgushed forth للأَيامِfor the days بالجودِwith generosity والنَّدىand bounty
تفجَّر للأَيامِ بالجودِ والنَّدى
وأَثمرَand bore fruit للإِسْلامِfor Islam بالحزْمِwith resolve واللُّبِّand understanding
وأَثمرَ للإِسْلامِ بالحزْمِ واللُّبِّ
He gushed forth generosity and bounty for the days,
and bore fruit for Islam through resolve and understanding.
فتىa youth يتلقَّىmeets الرَّوْعَterror بالبيضwith bright swords والقَناand lances
فتى يتلقَّى الرَّوْعَ بالبيض والقَنا
ومُعتفيَand bounty-seeking الأَضيافِguests بالأَهْلِwith welcome والرَّحبِand ample room
ومُعتفيَ الأَضيافِ بالأَهْلِ والرَّحبِ
A youth who meets terror with bright swords and lances,
and guests seeking bounty with welcome and ample room.
مُسَمَّىًnamed بفَتحِfor the conquest of اللهِGod أَرْضَthe land of العِدىthe enemies بِهِthrough him
مُسَمَّىً بفَتحِ اللهِ أَرْضَ العِدى بِهِ
مُكَنَّىgiven an honorific بنَصرِfor the victory of اللهِGod والدِّينِand the faith والرَّبِّand the Lord
مُكَنَّى بنَصرِ اللهِ والدِّينِ والرَّبِّ
Named for God's conquest of the enemy's land through him,
given an honorific for the victory of God, the faith, and the Lord.
وأَيُّand what a وليدٍnewborn للمكارِمِof noble deeds والعُلاand high glory
وأَيُّ وليدٍ للمكارِمِ والعُلا
وأَيُّand what a رضيعٍnursling للوقائِعof battles والحَرْبِand war
وأَيُّ رضيعٍ للوقائِع والحَرْبِ
And what a newborn of noble deeds and glory!
And what a nursling of battles and war!
وأَيُّand what a فَتىًyouth فِيin مَشْهَدِthe arena of الرَّأْيِcounsel والنُّهىand intellect
وأَيُّ فَتىً فِي مَشْهَدِ الرَّأْيِ والنُّهى
وأَيُّand what a فتىyouth فِيin موقِعthe place of الطعنِthrusting والضربِand striking
وأَيُّ فتى فِي موقِع الطعنِ والضربِ
And what a youth in the arena of counsel and intellect!
And what a youth where thrusts and blows fall!
وأَيَّand what a عَرُوسٍbride بالسِّيادَةِin sovereignty لمnot يَسُقْhe brings
وأَيَّ عَرُوسٍ بالسِّيادَةِ لم يَسُقْ
سويother than السيفِthe sword منas مَهرٍa dowry إِليهاto her وَلاnor خَطبِcourtship
سوي السيفِ من مَهرٍ إِليها وَلا خَطبِ
And what a bride of sovereignty! He brought her nothing
as dowry but the sword, nor any courtship.
وأَيُّand what رَجاءٍhope قادَled رَحْليmy saddle إِليكُماto you both
وأَيُّ رَجاءٍ قادَ رَحْلي إِليكُما
وَقَدْand already أَصعَقَتْنيstruck me senseless مثلُthe like of رَاغِيَةِa bellow الصَّقْبِthe camel calf
وَقَدْ أَصعَقَتْني مثلُ رَاغِيَةِ الصَّقْبِ
And what hope led my saddle to you both,
when a cry like the camel calf's bellow had struck me senseless?
بعيدٌfar away مِنَfrom الأَوْطَانِthe homelands مُسْتَشعِرُinwardly sensing العِدىenemies
بعيدٌ مِنَ الأَوْطَانِ مُسْتَشعِرُ العِدى
غَريبٌa stranger عَلَىat الأَمْوَاهِthe waters مُتَّهَمُheld suspect الصَّحبِcompanions
غَريبٌ عَلَى الأَمْوَاهِ مُتَّهَمُ الصَّحبِ
Far from my homelands, sensing enemies,
a stranger at the waters, with suspect companions;
أَقَلُّfewer منthan الرِّئْبَالِthe lion فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth آلِفاًin companions
أَقَلُّ من الرِّئْبَالِ فِي الأَرْضِ آلِفاً
وإِنْeven though كَانَwas لَحْمِيmy flesh للحسودِfor the envious ولِلخِبِّand for the trickster
وإِنْ كَانَ لَحْمِي للحسودِ ولِلخِبِّ
with fewer companions on earth than a lion,
though my flesh belongs to the envious and the crafty.
وأَعْظمُand greater تأْنيساًin comforting لدَهْرِيto my age منَthan المُنىhopes
وأَعْظمُ تأْنيساً لدَهْرِي منَ المُنى
وأَوْحَشُand more estranged مِنهُfrom it منthan فتىthe youth of الجُبِّthe well فِيin الجُبِّthe well
وأَوْحَشُ مِنهُ من فتى الجُبِّ فِي الجُبِّ
Bringing my age more comfort than hopes do,
yet more estranged from it than the youth of the well within the well.
وَللهِand to God منwhat a عَزْمٍresolve إِليكَtoward you اسْتقادَنيled me
وَللهِ من عَزْمٍ إِليكَ اسْتقادَني
فأَفْرَطَand went too far فِيin بُعدٍdistance وَفَرَّطَand fell short فِيin قُرْبِnearness
فأَفْرَطَ فِي بُعدٍ وَفَرَّطَ فِي قُرْبِ
God, what resolve drew me toward you,
going too far in distance, falling short in nearness!
حياءًout of shame منَat الحالِthe condition الَّتِيwhich أَنْتَyou عَالِمٌknow
حياءً منَ الحالِ الَّتِي أَنْتَ عَالِمٌ
بِهَاof it كيْفَhow عَاثَتْravaged فِيin سناهاits radiance يَدُthe hand of الخَطْبِcalamity
بِهَا كيْفَ عَاثَتْ فِي سناها يَدُ الخَطْبِ
Out of shame for the condition you know,
how calamity's hand ravaged its radiance;
وتَسويفَand postponing يومٍa day بعدَafter يومٍa day تَخَوُّفاًin fear
وتَسويفَ يومٍ بعدَ يومٍ تَخَوُّفاً
لَعَلِّيَperhaps I لاdo not ألقاكmeet you مُنشرِحَopen القلبِof heart
لَعَلِّيَ لا ألقاك مُنشرِحَ القلبِ
and postponing day after day in fear
that I might not find you open-hearted;
وَشُحّاًand sparing بباقيwith the remainder of ماءِthe water of وَجْهٍa face بذلتُهI had spent it
وَشُحّاً بباقي ماءِ وَجْهٍ بذلتُه
لَعلِّيَperhaps I أَقضيfulfill قبلَbefore إِنفادِهِexhausting it نَحْبِيmy appointed end
لَعلِّيَ أَقضي قبلَ إِنفادِهِ نَحْبِي
and guarding the remnant of my face's water, which I had spent,
hoping to meet my end before exhausting it;
وَتأْخِيرَand drawing back رِجْلٍa foot بعدَafter تقديمِadvancing أُختِهاits sister
وَتأْخِيرَ رِجْلٍ بعدَ تقديمِ أُختِها
حِذاراًin dread لدهرٍof an age لاnot يُغْمِّضُcloses its eyes عنto حَربيwar against me
حِذاراً لدهرٍ لا يُغْمِّضُ عن حَربي
and drawing back one foot after advancing its sister,
in dread of an age that never closes its eyes to warring against me.
كماas مَسَّنِيtouched me الشيطانُSatan نحوَكَtoward you ساعِياًhastening
كما مَسَّنِي الشيطانُ نحوَكَ ساعِياً
بطائِفِwith a visitation سُقْمٍof sickness مِنof عذابٍtorment وَمنand of نَصبِweariness
بطائِفِ سُقْمٍ مِن عذابٍ وَمن نَصبِ
As Satan touched me while I hastened toward you,
with a visitation of sickness, torment, and weariness,
وَبارِقَةٍand a lightning flash منْfrom مُقْلَتيْthe two eyes of أُمِّUmm (mother of) مِلْدَمٍMildam
وَبارِقَةٍ منْ مُقْلَتيْ أُمِّ مِلْدَمٍ
ثَنَتْنِيfelled me صريعاًfallen لليَدَيْنِupon both hands وللجَنْبِand upon the side
ثَنَتْنِي صريعاً لليَدَيْنِ وللجَنْبِ
a flash from the two eyes of Umm Mildam
threw me down upon my hands and side.
مُحجَّبةٍveiled لاnot تُتَّقىwarded off بشباwith the points of القناlances
مُحجَّبةٍ لا تُتَّقى بشبا القنا
ولاnor يُخْتَفَىcan one hide منهاfrom her ببابٍbehind a door ولاnor حُجْبِcurtains
ولا يُخْتَفَى منها ببابٍ ولا حُجْبِ
Veiled, yet not warded off by the points of lances,
nor can one hide from her behind a door or curtains.
يَدِقُّis too subtle عنfor القَلْبِthe heart المُؤَنِّبِthe reproaching قدْرُهاher measure
يَدِقُّ عن القَلْبِ المُؤَنِّبِ قدْرُها
وَقَدْand indeed جَلَّgrew too great مَاwhat لاقَيتI endured منهاfrom her عنfor العَتْبِreproach
وَقَدْ جَلَّ مَا لاقَيت منها عن العَتْبِ
Her measure eludes the reproaching heart,
while what I endured from her exceeds all reproach.
طَوَتtraversed ظِمْءَa thirst-interval of عشرٍten days بعدَafter عشرٍten days وأَوْرَدَتْand came to drink
طَوَت ظِمْءَ عشرٍ بعدَ عشرٍ وأَوْرَدَتْ
عَلَىat النَّفسthe soul لاnot تَرْضىaccepts عنinstead of الرِّفْهِdaily drinking بِالغِبِّwith alternate-day drinking
عَلَى النَّفس لا تَرْضى عن الرِّفْهِ بِالغِبِّ
She passed ten days of thirst, then ten more, and came to drink
at my soul, unwilling to trade daily drinking for alternate days.
إِذاwhen كَرَعَتْshe bent to drink فِيin حَوْضthe basin of نفسيَmy soul خَضخَضتْshe churned
إِذا كَرَعَتْ فِي حَوْض نفسيَ خَضخَضتْ
ففاضتso overflowed نواحيهِits sides بمُنْهَمِرٍwith a streaming سَكبِdownpour
ففاضت نواحيهِ بمُنْهَمِرٍ سَكبِ
When she bends to drink in the basin of my soul, she churns it,
and its sides overflow in a pouring torrent.
فمطعَمُهاso her food لحميmy flesh وَمَشْرَبُهاand her drink دَميmy blood
فمطعَمُها لحمي وَمَشْرَبُها دَمي
وتَرْتَعُand she grazes فِيin جِسْميmy body وتَأْويand takes shelter إِلَىin قلبيmy heart
وتَرْتَعُ فِي جِسْمي وتَأْوي إِلَى قلبي
Her food is my flesh, her drink my blood;
she grazes in my body and makes her home in my heart.
كَأَنَّas though لَهَاshe has عنديwithin me مَخارِيفَfruit groves جِنَّةٍparadise
كَأَنَّ لَهَا عندي مَخارِيفَ جِنَّةٍ
وأَصلىand I burn بِهَاthrough her نارَthe fire of المُعَذَّبِone punished بالذَّنْبِfor sin
وأَصلى بِهَا نارَ المُعَذَّبِ بالذَّنْبِ
As though she had paradise's fruit groves within me,
while through her I burn in the fire of one punished for sin.
إِذاwhen أَوْقدَتْshe kindled جِسميmy body هَجيراًinto noonday heat تظلَّلتshe sought shade
إِذا أَوْقدَتْ جِسمي هَجيراً تظلَّلت
فَحلَّتْand she settled كِناساًin a lair منwithin شَغافِيَmy heart's sheath أَوْor خِلبيmy liver's membrane
فَحلَّتْ كِناساً من شَغافِيَ أَوْ خِلبي
When she turns my body into blazing noon, she seeks shade,
settling in a lair in my heart's sheath or my liver's membrane.
تَحَمَّلْتُهاI bore her فِيin حرِّthe heat of صَدْرِيmy chest وأَضْلُعِيand my ribs
تَحَمَّلْتُها فِي حرِّ صَدْرِي وأَضْلُعِي
وتَحمِلُand she carries أَحشائيmy entrails عَلَىupon المركَبِthe mount الصَّعبِthe restive
وتَحمِلُ أَحشائي عَلَى المركَبِ الصَّعبِ
I carry her in the heat of my chest and ribs,
while she sets my entrails upon a restive mount.
أُلاوِذُI seek refuge عنهاfrom her قلبَin the heart of مكتئِبٍone depressed شَجٍّgrief-stricken
أُلاوِذُ عنها قلبَ مكتئِبٍ شَجٍّ
وتَحْفزُand she drives نَحويtoward me قلبَthe heart of ذيone with لَوْعةٍburning anguish صبِّlovesick
وتَحْفزُ نَحوي قلبَ ذي لَوْعةٍ صبِّ
I seek refuge from her in a sorrowful, grief-stricken heart,
while she drives toward me the heart of a burning, lovesick one.
وتَكذِبُنيand deceive me عنهاabout her الأمانيhopes وإِنَّهَاand indeed she
وتَكذِبُني عنها الأماني وإِنَّهَا
إِلَيَّtoward me لأَهدىsurely better guided منthan قطاةٍa sandgrouse إِلَىto شِرْبِwater
إِلَيَّ لأَهدى من قطاةٍ إِلَى شِرْبِ
Hopes deceive me about her, though she
knows her way to me better than a sandgrouse to its drink.
وإِنْand although كَانَhas أَضْنَىwasted الحُبُّlove فالعقلُthen reason حاكِمٌis judge
وإِنْ كَانَ أَضْنَى الحُبُّ فالعقلُ حاكِمٌ
بأَنَّthat ضنىthe wasting of الشَّنآنِhatred فَوْقَexceeds ضنىthe wasting of الحُبِّlove
بأَنَّ ضنى الشَّنآنِ فَوْقَ ضنى الحُبِّ
And though love brings wasting, reason judges
that the wasting of hatred surpasses the wasting of love.
وفيand in راحَتَيْthe two palms of عبدِʿAbd (servant of) الفعيلِal-Faʿīl بنِson of فاعِلِFāʿil
وفي راحَتَيْ عبدِ الفعيلِ بنِ فاعِلِ
شِفائيmy cure وَفِيand in نُعمىthe blessing of مكارِمِهِhis noble deeds طِبِّيmy remedy
شِفائي وَفِي نُعمى مكارِمِهِ طِبِّي
In the palms of ʿAbd al-Faʿīl ibn Fāʿil
is my cure, and in the blessing of his noble deeds my remedy.
دَعَوْتُI called فلبَّانِيand he answered me وآوىand sheltered تَغَرُّبِيmy exile
دَعَوْتُ فلبَّانِي وآوى تَغَرُّبِي
إِلَىinto كَرَمٍgenerosity لِلعِزِّfor glory ذيpossessing مُرْتَقىًan ascent صَعبِsteep
إِلَى كَرَمٍ لِلعِزِّ ذي مُرْتَقىً صَعبِ
I called, and he answered me and sheltered my exile
in generosity with a steep ascent to glory.
وجَلَّىand dispelled هُمُومِيmy worries منْfrom سَناهُhis radiance ببارِقٍwith a flash
وجَلَّى هُمُومِي منْ سَناهُ ببارِقٍ
أَضَاءَhe illuminated بِهِwith it مَاwhat بَيْنَlies between شرْقٍeast إِلَىto غَرْبِwest
أَضَاءَ بِهِ مَا بَيْنَ شرْقٍ إِلَى غَرْبِ
He cleared my cares with a flash from his radiance,
by which he lit all that lies from east to west.
وأَسْبلَand spread ليfor me منfrom سِترهhis shelter فَوْقَover سِتَّةٍsix
وأَسْبلَ لي من سِتره فَوْقَ سِتَّةٍ
أَهِيمُI wander بهمْwith them فِيin الأَرضِthe earth مِثلَlike القطاsandgrouse الزُّغبِthe downy ones
أَهِيمُ بهمْ فِي الأَرضِ مِثلَ القطا الزُّغبِ
He spread his shelter for me over six
with whom I wander the earth like downy sandgrouse.
فأَصبحْتُso I became فِيthrough إِكْرامِهِhis honoring مانِعَa defender of الحِمىthe sanctuary
فأَصبحْتُ فِي إِكْرامِهِ مانِعَ الحِمى
وأَمْسيتُand I became فِيunder سلطانِهِhis authority آمِنَsecure السِّرْبِthe household
وأَمْسيتُ فِي سلطانِهِ آمِنَ السِّرْبِ
So through his honoring me I became a defender of my sanctuary,
and under his rule I came to dwell secure.
وحَمْداًand praise لمَنْto the one who هدَّىguided لسانِيmy tongue لحَمدِهِto praise him
وحَمْداً لمَنْ هدَّى لسانِي لحَمدِهِ
وحَسبيand sufficient for me لَهُfor him مَنْthe one who قَدْhas indeed قَضىdecreed أَنَّهُthat he حَسبيsuffices me
وحَسبي لَهُ مَنْ قَدْ قَضى أَنَّهُ حَسبي
And praise to Him who guided my tongue to praise him;
and sufficient for me on his behalf is He who decreed that He suffices me.
Sol 6.1