أنْكَرَتْshe denied سُقْمَthe sickness of مُذابِone wasted in الجَسَدِbody
أنْكَرَتْ سُقْمَ مُذابِ الجَسَدِ
وهوَand it is مِنof جِنسِthe kind of عُيونِthe eyes of الخُرُدِmodest maidens
وهوَ مِن جِنسِ عُيونِ الخُرُدِ
She would not acknowledge the sickness of one wasted in body,
though it is akin to the languor of maidens' eyes.
وَبَكَتْand she wept فَالدَّمْعُso the tears فيon وَجنَتِهاher cheek
وَبَكَتْ فَالدَّمْعُ في وَجنَتِها
كَجُمانِlike pearls of الطلِّdew فيon الوردِthe rose النَديdew-fresh
كَجُمانِ الطلِّ في الوردِ النَدي
And she wept; the tears upon her cheek
were like pearls of dew upon a dew-fresh rose.
ماwhat الَّذيthat يُبْكيmakes weep بِحُزنٍin sorrow ظَبيةًa gazelle
ما الَّذي يُبْكي بِحُزنٍ ظَبيةً
فَتَكَتْwreaked slaughter مُقلَتُهاher eye بِالأُسدِupon the lions
فَتَكَتْ مُقلَتُها بِالأُسدِ
What makes a gazelle weep in sorrow,
whose eye has slain lions?
والظباءُand the gazelles الحُورُdark-eyed إِمّاif قَتَلَتْhave killed
والظباءُ الحُورُ إِمّا قَتَلَتْ
لَحَظاتُthe glances of العَينِthe eye مِنهاfrom them لاnot تَدِيpay blood-money
لَحَظاتُ العَينِ مِنها لا تَدِي
And dark-eyed gazelles, when death is dealt
by their glances, pay no blood-money.
غادَةٌa tender maiden إِنif نيطَis fixed مِنهاfrom her مَوعِدٌa promised meeting
غادَةٌ إِن نيطَ مِنها مَوعِدٌ
بِغَدٍfor tomorrow فَرَّit flees إِلىto بَعدِafter غَدِtomorrow
بِغَدٍ فَرَّ إِلى بَعدِ غَدِ
A tender maiden: if a tryst with her is fixed
for tomorrow, it flees to the day after tomorrow.
هَكَذاthus عِنديَwith me يَجريproceeds مَطْلُهَاher procrastination
هَكَذا عِنديَ يَجري مَطْلُهَا
بِخِلافٍwith promise-breaking عندهاon her part مُطَّردِunceasing
بِخِلافٍ عندها مُطَّردِ
Thus her delays proceed with me,
with promise-breaking constant on her part.
وهيَand she مِنout of عُجْبٍself-admiration وَمِنand out of تيهٍhaughtiness لَهاshe has
وهيَ مِن عُجْبٍ وَمِن تيهٍ لَها
كبدٌa liver تُرحمُis pitied منهاbecause of it كبديmy liver
كبدٌ تُرحمُ منها كبدي
Through vanity and her own haughty pride, she has
a liver that makes my own liver an object of pity.
ذَاتُpossessed of عَينٍan eye بِالهَوىwith desire نَابِعَةٌwelling
ذَاتُ عَينٍ بِالهَوى نَابِعَةٌ
ضَلّlost the way فيin الحُبِّlove بِهاthrough it مَنwhoever يَهتَديfinds the way
ضَلّ في الحُبِّ بِها مَن يَهتَدي
She has an eye welling with desire;
through it, even the well-guided lose their way in love.
وهيَand she is نَجلاءُwide-eyed حَكاهاmatched it سِعَةًin breadth
وهيَ نَجلاءُ حَكاها سِعَةً
جُرحُهاher wound فيin كُلِّevery قَلبٍheart مكمَدِgrief-darkened
جُرحُها في كُلِّ قَلبٍ مكمَدِ
She is wide-eyed; matching her eye in breadth
is the wound she leaves in every grief-darkened heart.
لاnot يَذوقُtastes المِيلُthe kohl-stick فيهاin it إِثمداًantimony kohl
لا يَذوقُ المِيلُ فيها إِثمداً
ماwhat لأَحدَاقِfor the eyes of المَهاoryxes والإِثمِدِand antimony kohl
ما لأَحدَاقِ المَها والإِثمِدِ
For her eye, the kohl-stick tastes no antimony;
what have oryx eyes to do with antimony?
قَذَفَتْshe cast حَبّةَthe kernel of قَلبيmy heart فيinto الهَوىpassion
قَذَفَتْ حَبّةَ قَلبي في الهَوى
هَلquestion marker رَأَيتَyou have seen الجَمرَembers فيin المُفتَأَدِa roasting pit
هَل رَأَيتَ الجَمرَ في المُفتَأَدِ
She cast my heart's kernel into passion;
have you seen embers in a roasting pit?
سِحرُهاher magic وحيٌa revelation بِنَجوىin the whisper of ناظِرٍa gazing eye
سِحرُها وحيٌ بِنَجوى ناظِرٍ
ذُوpossessing نُفاثٍspell-breaths للنُّهىfor reason فيinto عقَدِknots
ذُو نُفاثٍ للنُّهى في عقَدِ
Her magic is a revelation whispered by an eye,
with spells breathed into the knots of reason.
ماno لآسٍfor a physician فيconcerning مُحِبٍّa lover عَمَلٌwork
ما لآسٍ في مُحِبٍّ عَمَلٌ
غيرُother than داءِthe sickness of الروحthe soul داءُthe sickness of الجَسَدِthe body
غيرُ داءِ الروح داءُ الجَسَدِ
A physician has no work to do with a lover;
the body's sickness differs from the soul's.
خَفيَwas hidden البُرءُthe cure علىfrom أَلطافِهِhis subtle treatments
خَفيَ البُرءُ على أَلطافِهِ
وهوُand it is فيin بَعضِsome of ثَناياthe front teeth of العُوّدِthe visitors to the sick
وهوُ في بَعضِ ثَنايا العُوّدِ
The cure eludes his subtle arts,
though it lies in some of the visitors' front teeth.
إِنَّindeed فيin ظَلْمِthe tooth-luster of ظَلُومٍZalum لَجَنىsurely a harvest of
إِنَّ في ظَلْمِ ظَلُومٍ لَجَنى
شُهُدٍhoney واهاًah! لذاكَfor that الشُّهدِhoney
شُهُدٍ واهاً لذاكَ الشُّهدِ
Truly, in the sheen of Zalum's teeth is a harvest
of honey—ah, for that honey!
ذابmelted ليfor me بالراحِin wine منهاfrom her بَرَدٌhail
ذاب لي بالراحِ منها بَرَدٌ
هلquestion marker يكونُcan be الراحُwine ذَوْبَthe meltwater of البَرَدِhail
هل يكونُ الراحُ ذَوْبَ البَرَدِ
Hail from her melted for me in wine;
can wine be the meltwater of hail?
هاتِهاbring it صَفراءَgolden ماnot اختَرتُI chose لَهاfor it
هاتِها صَفراءَ ما اختَرتُ لَها
أُفُقَthe horizon of الشمسِthe sun علىover أُفْقِthe horizon of يَديmy hand
أُفُقَ الشمسِ على أُفْقِ يَدي
Bring it golden; I would not choose for it
the sun's horizon over the horizon of my hand.
خارجٌcoming forth فيin راحتيmy palm مُقْتَنِصٌhunting down
خارجٌ في راحتي مُقْتَنِصٌ
كُلّevery هَمٍّcare كامِنٍlurking فيin خَلَديmy mind
كُلّ هَمٍّ كامِنٍ في خَلَدي
It comes forth in my palm, hunting down
every care lurking in my mind.
جَرّدَbared المَزجُthe mixing عَلَيهاagainst it صارِماًa keen sword
جَرّدَ المَزجُ عَلَيها صارِماً
فَاتَّقَتْهُso it warded it off بِدُموعِwith tears of الزّبَدِfoam
فَاتَّقَتْهُ بِدُموعِ الزّبَدِ
The mixing bared a keen sword against it,
so it warded it off with tears of foam.
عُتّقَتْwas aged ماnot عتقتwas freed فيin خَزَفٍearthenware
عُتّقَتْ ما عتقت في خَزَفٍ
بِرِداءِin a robe of القارِpitch فيهِin it تَرتَديit clothes itself
بِرِداءِ القارِ فيهِ تَرتَدي
Aged, yet never freed, within earthenware,
it wears there a robe of pitch,
حَيثُwhere أَبلىwore away جِسمَهاits body لاnot روحَهاits spirit
حَيثُ أَبلى جِسمَها لا روحَها
مُرُّthe bitterness of أَيّامِthe days of الزّمانِtime الجُدُدِever-new
مُرُّ أَيّامِ الزّمانِ الجُدُدِ
where its body, but not its spirit, was worn away
by the bitterness of time's ever-renewed days.
ماnot أَطاقَcould الدَّهرُtime أَنْto يَسلِبَهاstrip it
ما أَطاقَ الدَّهرُ أَنْ يَسلِبَها
أرَجَthe fragrance of المِسكِmusk ولَونَand the color of العَسجَدِgold
أرَجَ المِسكِ ولَونَ العَسجَدِ
Time could not strip it
of musk's fragrance and gold's hue.
فاقْضِso fulfill أوطارَthe desires for اللذاذاتِpleasures علىto the accompaniment of
فاقْضِ أوطارَ اللذاذاتِ على
نَقْرِthe plucking of أوتارِthe strings of الغَزالِthe gazelle الغرِدِmelodious
نَقْرِ أوتارِ الغَزالِ الغرِدِ
So fulfill your desires for pleasure to
the plucking of the singing gazelle's strings.
فَلُحونُfor the melodies of العودِthe oud والكاسُand the cup لَناare ours
فَلُحونُ العودِ والكاسُ لَنا
والندىand bounty وَالبَأسُand valor لِلمُعتَمَدِbelong to al-Mu'tamid
والندى وَالبَأسُ لِلمُعتَمَدِ
The oud's melodies and the cup are ours,
and bounty and valor belong to al-Mu'tamid.
مَلِكٌa king إِنif بَدَأَbegins الحمدُpraise بِهِwith him
مَلِكٌ إِن بَدَأَ الحمدُ بِهِ
خَتَمَends الفخرُglory بهwith him ماwhatever يَبتَديit begins
خَتَمَ الفخرُ به ما يَبتَدي
A king: if praise begins with him,
glory ends with him whatever it begins.
مُعرِقٌdeep-rooted فيin المُلكِkingship مَوصولاًjoined بِهِto him
مُعرِقٌ في المُلكِ مَوصولاً بِهِ
شَرَفُthe honor of المَجدِglory ومَحضُand the pure essence of السُؤدُدِnobility
شَرَفُ المَجدِ ومَحضُ السُؤدُدِ
Deep-rooted in kingship, with him are joined
the honor of glory and unalloyed nobility.
مَنhe who غَداhas become فيin كُلِّevery فَضلٍexcellence أَوحَداًpeerless
مَن غَدا في كُلِّ فَضلٍ أَوحَداً
ذَلِكَthat الأَوحَدُpeerless one كلّall العَدَدِnumber
ذَلِكَ الأَوحَدُ كلّ العَدَدِ
He who has become peerless in every excellence:
that peerless one is all numbers in one.
مَنhe who حَمىprotected الإِسلامَIslam مِنfrom طاغِيةٍa tyrant
مَن حَمى الإِسلامَ مِن طاغِيةٍ
كانَit was مِنهُbecause of him فيin المُقيمِwhat makes one rise المُقعَدِwhat makes one sit
كانَ مِنهُ في المُقيمِ المُقعَدِ
He who protected Islam from a tyrant
who gave it no peace, standing or sitting.
وكَستْand clothed أسيافُهُhis swords عاريةًas a borrowed garment
وكَستْ أسيافُهُ عاريةً
ذُلّthe abasement of أهْلِthe people of السبتِthe Sabbath أهلَthe people of الأَحَدِSunday
ذُلّ أهْلِ السبتِ أهلَ الأَحَدِ
And his swords draped, like borrowed clothing,
the Sabbath people's abasement over the people of Sunday.
ذوpossessing يدٍa hand حَمراءَred مِنfrom قَتلهِمُslaying them
ذو يدٍ حَمراءَ مِن قَتلهِمُ
وهيَand it is عِندَbefore اللَّهGod بَيضاءُwhite of اليَدِhand
وهيَ عِندَ اللَّه بَيضاءُ اليَدِ
His hand is red from slaying them,
yet in God's sight his hand is white.
تَقتَديtake example الأَملاكُkings فيin العَدلِjustice بِهِfrom him
تَقتَدي الأَملاكُ في العَدلِ بِهِ
وهوَand he فيهِin it بِأَبيهِfrom his father يَقتَديtakes example
وهوَ فيهِ بِأَبيهِ يَقتَدي
Kings follow him in justice,
and in it he follows his father.
كَيفَhow لاnot يُمْليdictates عَلىto الناسِthe people العُلىgreatness
كَيفَ لا يُمْلي عَلى الناسِ العُلى
مُسْتَمِدٌّdrawing support منfrom عُلاthe greatness of المُعتَضِدِal-Mu'tadid
مُسْتَمِدٌّ من عُلا المُعتَضِدِ
How could he fail to dictate greatness to men,
drawing strength from al-Mu'tadid's greatness?
عارِضٌa rain-cloud يَنهلُّpours down بالوَبلِin heavy rain إِذاwhen
عارِضٌ يَنهلُّ بالوَبلِ إِذا
كانthere was للعارضِfor the rain-cloud كفَّa palm of الجَلمَدِsolid rock
كان للعارضِ كفَّ الجَلمَدِ
A rain-cloud pouring in torrents when
the rain-cloud has a palm of solid stone.
وهَصورٌand a fierce lion يَفرِسُtears apart القِرْنُthe rival إِذاwhen
وهَصورٌ يَفرِسُ القِرْنُ إِذا
جَرّدَhe bares المُرهفَthe keen blade فَوقَupon الأَجرَدِthe sleek steed
جَرّدَ المُرهفَ فَوقَ الأَجرَدِ
And a lion who rends his rival when
he bares his keen blade upon his sleek steed.
قَوّمَتْstraightened عَزمَتُهُhis resolve عنout of نِيَّةٍintention
قَوّمَتْ عَزمَتُهُ عن نِيَّةٍ
مِنof مَنارِthe beacon of الدينِthe faith مَيْلَthe leaning of العَمَدِthe pillars
مِن مَنارِ الدينِ مَيْلَ العَمَدِ
His resolve, with deliberate purpose, straightened
the leaning pillars of the beacon of faith.
لاnot تَلُمْهُreproach him فيfor عَطاياهُhis gifts الَّتيwhich
لا تَلُمْهُ في عَطاياهُ الَّتي
إنif تَرُمْyou seek مِنهُنَّfrom them نَقصاًa decrease تَزدَدِthey increase
إن تَرُمْ مِنهُنَّ نَقصاً تَزدَدِ
Do not reproach him for his gifts, which,
if you seek to diminish them, only increase.
فَنداهُfor his bounty البَحرُthe sea والبَحرُand the sea مَتىwhenever
فَنداهُ البَحرُ والبَحرُ مَتى
تعصفِblows fiercely الرّيحُthe wind عليهover it يُزْبدِfoams
تعصفِ الرّيحُ عليه يُزْبدِ
For his bounty is the sea, and the sea, whenever
the wind blows fiercely over it, foams.
ومحالٌand impossible نَقْلُكَyour changing الطبعَthe nature الَّذيwhich
ومحالٌ نَقْلُكَ الطبعَ الَّذي
كَانَwas مِنهُin him فيat كَريمِnoble المَولِدِbirth
كَانَ مِنهُ في كَريمِ المَولِدِ
And you cannot change the nature
that was his from his noble birth.
كمhow many لُهامٍa vast army جَرّhe dragged فيat أوّلِهِits head
كم لُهامٍ جَرّ في أوّلِهِ
رُمحَهُhis spear فَهوَso it was لَهُfor it كَالمِقوَدِlike a leading rein
رُمحَهُ فَهوَ لَهُ كَالمِقوَدِ
How many a vast army, at whose head he dragged
his spear as though it were its leading rein!
وَلُيوثٍand lions صالَhe charged فيهِمamong them فانثَنَوْاso they retreated
وَلُيوثٍ صالَ فيهِم فانثَنَوْا
وضَواريهمand their beasts of prey لهto him كالنّقَدِlike little sheep
وضَواريهم له كالنّقَدِ
And how many lions he charged among, who retreated,
and their beasts of prey were like little sheep before him!
بِحُسامwith a keen sword مُطفئٍquenching أرواحهُمْtheir souls
بِحُسام مُطفئٍ أرواحهُمْ
بِشواظِwith the flame of البارِقِthe lightning المُتَّقِدِblazing
بِشواظِ البارِقِ المُتَّقِدِ
With a sword that quenches their souls
with the flame of blazing lightning.
لِغِرَارَيْهِfor its two edges علىupon هاماتِهِمtheir skulls
لِغِرَارَيْهِ على هاماتِهِم
مِنof شِرارِthe sparks of القَدحِfire-striking ماwhat فيin الزنَدِthe fire-stick
مِن شِرارِ القَدحِ ما في الزنَدِ
Its twin edges upon their skulls
strike sparks like those of a fire-stick.
كَمhow often تَغَنّىsang بِالمَناياof death فيin الطلاthroats
كَم تَغَنّى بِالمَنايا في الطلا
ظَبتاهُits two edges عَنinstead of أَغانيthe songs of مَعبَدِMa'bad
ظَبتاهُ عَن أَغاني مَعبَدِ
How often, in throats, death was sung
by its twin edges, instead of Ma'bad's songs!
وَسِنانand a spearhead مشرعٌleveled فيon صَعْدَةٍa straight shaft
وَسِنان مشرعٌ في صَعْدَةٍ
كَلِسانٍlike a tongue فيin فَمِthe mouth of الأَيمِthe serpent الصَديthirsty
كَلِسانٍ في فَمِ الأَيمِ الصَدي
And a spearhead leveled on a straight shaft,
like a tongue in the mouth of a thirsty serpent.
فيin سَماءِthe sky of النقعِbattle-dust مِنهُfrom it كَوكَبٌa star
في سَماءِ النقعِ مِنهُ كَوكَبٌ
طالعٌrising فيon يَزَنِيٍّa Yazanite spear أَملَدِsupple
طالعٌ في يَزَنِيٍّ أَملَدِ
From it, in the sky of battle-dust, a star
rises upon a supple Yazanite shaft.
أَبَداًforever يَدعوit calls إلىto مأدبةٍa banquet
أَبَداً يَدعو إلى مأدبةٍ
حُوّمُthe circling ones of الوَحشِwild beasts عَلَيهاat it تَغتَديfeed in the morning
حُوّمُ الوَحشِ عَلَيها تَغتَدي
It forever calls to a banquet
at which circling wild beasts breakfast.
ياO بَنيsons of البَأسِvalor مَنِwho الذِّمْرُthe brave warrior الَّذيwho
يا بَني البَأسِ مَنِ الذِّمْرُ الَّذي
جاءَcame فيon كاهلِthe shoulder of عَزْمresolve أيّدِmighty
جاءَ في كاهلِ عَزْم أيّدِ
O sons of valor, who is the brave warrior
who came on the shoulders of mighty resolve?
شَيَّبَmade gray-haired الحَربَwar اقتِحاماًby charging بَعدَماafter
شَيَّبَ الحَربَ اقتِحاماً بَعدَما
رَبِيَتْwas reared فيin حِجرِهِhis lap كَالوَلَدِlike a child
رَبِيَتْ في حِجرِهِ كَالوَلَدِ
He made war grow gray by charging into it, after
it had been reared in his lap like a child.
يَرعَفُbleeds from the nose اللَهذَمُthe keen spear فيin راحَتِهِhis palm
يَرعَفُ اللَهذَمُ في راحَتِهِ
كُلَّماwhenever شَمَّit scents قُلوبَthe hearts of الأُسُدِlions
كُلَّما شَمَّ قُلوبَ الأُسُدِ
The keen spear bleeds in his palm
whenever it scents the hearts of lions.
سَمهَريٌّa Samharian spear أَحرَقَتْburned شُعْلَتُهُits flame
سَمهَريٌّ أَحرَقَتْ شُعْلَتُهُ
كُلَّevery رُوحٍsoul فيin غَديرِa pool of الزّرَدِchainmail
كُلَّ رُوحٍ في غَديرِ الزّرَدِ
A Samharian spear whose flame has burned
every soul within a pool of chainmail.
أَنتَyou ذاكَthat الأَسَدُlion الوَرْدُtawny فَهَلْso, is...?
أَنتَ ذاكَ الأَسَدُ الوَرْدُ فَهَلْ
كانَwas فيin رمحكyour spear سَمّthe venom of الأسْوَدِthe black serpent
كانَ في رمحك سَمّ الأسْوَدِ
You are that tawny lion; was there, then,
a black serpent's venom in your spear?
أعِناقُthe necks of البُهَمِthe armored champions استَحسَنتَهُfound it pleasing
أعِناقُ البُهَمِ استَحسَنتَهُ
وهوand it is بَرْدٌcold أمor عِتاقُthe noble steeds of الجُرُدِthe sleek horses
وهو بَرْدٌ أم عِتاقُ الجُرُدِ
Was it warriors' necks that found it pleasing,
cold as it was, or the noble sleek steeds?
دُمتَmay you endure فيin المُلكِkingship لِمَعنَىas a theme for مادِحٍa panegyrist
دُمتَ في المُلكِ لِمَعنَى مادِحٍ
يَنظِمُweaves الفَخرَglory وَجَدوىand bounty for مُجتَدِa suppliant
يَنظِمُ الفَخرَ وَجَدوى مُجتَدِ
May you endure in kingship, a theme for a panegyrist
weaving glory, and a bounty for a suppliant.
وَبَناتٌand daughters مِنfrom فَصيحan eloquent poet مُفْلِقٍmasterful
وَبَناتٌ مِن فَصيح مُفْلِقٍ
يَشْهَدُbears witness الفضْلُexcellence لهfor him فيin المَشهَدِthe assembly
يَشْهَدُ الفضْلُ له في المَشهَدِ
And daughters born of an eloquent, masterful poet,
for whom excellence bears witness in the assembly.
فَهوَso he بِالإِحسانِthrough artistry فيin أَلفاظِهاtheir words
فَهوَ بِالإِحسانِ في أَلفاظِها
مُحسِنٌskilled at صَيْدَhunting المَعانيmeanings الشّرَّدِfugitive
مُحسِنٌ صَيْدَ المَعاني الشّرَّدِ
Through the artistry of their words, he
is adept at hunting fugitive meanings.
فيin بُيوتٍverses أَذِنَتhas permitted فيهاwithin them العُلىhigh glory
في بُيوتٍ أَذِنَت فيها العُلى
لَكَfor you بِالتَقريظِwith eulogy فيin كُلِّevery نَدِassembly
لَكَ بِالتَقريظِ في كُلِّ نَدِ
In verses where high glory has sanctioned
your eulogy in every gathering.
قَدindeed تَناهىhas reached perfection فيin عَرُوضٍprosody فهيَso they لاnot
قَد تَناهى في عَرُوضٍ فهيَ لا
يَعرِضُbefalls الهَدْمُdemolition لَهاthem فيin المُسْنَدِthe supported structure
يَعرِضُ الهَدْمُ لَها في المُسْنَدِ
He has reached perfection in meter; no
collapse can befall their buttressed structure.
فَإِذاso when أَثْنَتْthey extol عَلَيكُمyou فَتَقَتthey unseal
فَإِذا أَثْنَتْ عَلَيكُم فَتَقَت
لكمُfor you مِسْكَthe musk of الثّناءِpraise الأَبديeverlasting
لكمُ مِسْكَ الثّناءِ الأَبدي
And when they praise you, they unseal
for you the musk of everlasting praise.
وَإِذاand when استَحْيَتْthey grow shy مِنَbefore المَجدِglory أتَىcomes
وَإِذا استَحْيَتْ مِنَ المَجدِ أتَى
مُعْرِباًgiving expression عَنهاon their behalf لِسانُthe tongue of المُنشِدِthe reciter
مُعْرِباً عَنها لِسانُ المُنشِدِ
And when they grow shy before glory, there comes
the reciter's tongue to speak on their behalf.
Sol 6.1