لكلfor every امرئٍperson ضيفٌa guest يسرis gladdened بقربهby his nearness
لكل امرئٍ ضيفٌ يسر بقربه
وماand not ليfor me سوىother than الأحزانthe sorrows والهمand the worry منany (emphasizing negation) ضيفguest
وما لي سوى الأحزان والهم من ضيف
Everyone has a guest whose nearness brings him joy.
Every man has a guest who is pleased by his nearness
Yet I have no guest but sorrows and worry.
And I have naught but griefs and cares for a guest
لهhe has مقلةٌan eye ترميshoots at القلوبthe hearts بأسهمwith arrows
له مقلةٌ ترمي القلوب بأسهم
أشدmore severe منthan الضربthe blows المداركsuccessive بالسيفwith the sword
أشد من الضرب المدارك بالسيف
He has an eye that shoots arrows at hearts,
One whose glances pierce hearts with arrows
More severe than blows struck in succession with a sword.
Keener than blades that smite souls with the sword
يقولsays خليليmy beloved كيفhow صبركyour patience بعدناin our absence
يقول خليلي كيف صبرك بعدنا
فقلتso I said وهلand is there صبرpatience فأسألthat I should be asked عنabout كيفhow
فقلت وهل صبر فأسأل عن كيف
My beloved says, 'How fares your patience in our absence?'
My friend said: “How can you have patience without us?”
So I said, 'Is there any patience, that I should be asked how it fares?'
I said: “What patience have I? Ask not how.”
Sol 6.1