بِنَفسيَwith my soul as ransom هَيفاءُslender المَعاطفِthe bodily contours ناهدُhigh-breasted
بِنَفسيَ هَيفاءُ المَعاطفِ ناهدُ
أراودُهاI seek to seduce her عَنaway from نَفسهاherself وَتُراوِدُand she seeks to seduce
أراودُها عَن نَفسها وَتُراوِدُ
My soul for a slender-figured, high-breasted beauty!
With my soul is the graceful Hayfa
I seek to seduce her, and she seeks to seduce me.
I entice her from herself and she entices me
وَقَدand indeed عذلَتهاhad reproached her العاذِلاتُthe female reproachers وإنَّماbut only
وَقَد عذلَتها العاذِلاتُ وإنَّما
عواذِلُthe reproachers of ذاتِthe woman with الخالthe beauty mark فيَّover me حواسِدُenvious women
عواذِلُ ذاتِ الخال فيَّ حواسِدُ
Her female reproachers had rebuked her, but in truth
The slanderers have blamed her, but
the mole-marked beauty’s reproachers were only jealous over me.
The jealous ones with moles are my enemies
شُغفتُI was smitten بهاwith her حبّاًwith love وَرُمتُand I sought وِصالَهاunion with her
شُغفتُ بها حبّاً وَرُمتُ وِصالَها
وَرامَتand she sought وِصاليunion with me والقُلوبُand the hearts شواهدُwitnesses
وَرامَت وِصالي والقُلوبُ شواهدُ
I was passionately in love with her and sought union with her;
I was passionate about her in love and sought union
she sought union with me, and our hearts bore witness.
She sought my union and hearts bare witness
إِلىuntil أَنthat خَلَوناwe were alone لِلعناقfor an embrace وقدand already دَناdrew near
إِلى أَن خَلَونا لِلعناق وقد دَنا
محبٌّa lover لهاof hers فيin قُربهhis nearness مُتباعِدٌkeeping distant
محبٌّ لها في قُربه مُتباعِدٌ
Until we were alone to embrace, and there drew near
Until we were alone embracing, a lover
a lover of hers, distant even in his nearness.
Nearby keeping his distance
وَقَدand indeed سكنتgrew quiet عَنّاabout us الوشاةُthe talebearers وأَبلَسَتand fell mute
وَقَد سكنت عَنّا الوشاةُ وأَبلَسَت
كماjust as سكنَتdwelt in بطنَthe belly of التُرابِthe earth الأَساودُthe black serpents
كما سكنَت بطنَ التُرابِ الأَساودُ
The talebearers had grown quiet about us and fallen mute,
The gossips about us fell silent as though
as black serpents settle in the belly of the earth.
They sank into dark soil
شَرَعتُI leveled لهاat her رُمحاًa spear أَصَمَّsolid مقوَّماًstraightened
شَرَعتُ لها رُمحاً أَصَمَّ مقوَّماً
تخرُّfall down لهbefore it عندduring الطِعانthe thrusting الوَلائِدُthe maidens
تخرُّ له عند الطِعان الوَلائِدُ
I leveled at her a solid, straightened spear,
I readied for her a sturdy straightened lance
before which maidens fall during the thrusting.
That the pregnant women would kneel to
فَلَمّاso when رأَتهshe saw it اِستعظمتهshe deemed it enormous وكبَّرتand proclaimed God’s greatness
فَلَمّا رأَته اِستعظمته وكبَّرت
وَقالَتand she said وقدthough indeed هانَتbecame slight عليهاto her الشَدائدُhardships
وَقالَت وقد هانَت عليها الشَدائدُ
When she saw it, she deemed it enormous and proclaimed God’s greatness,
When she saw it she was awed and exclaimed
and said, though hardships were as nothing to her:
Difficulties diminished for her
لَعَمريby my life هوit المَطلوبُthe thing desired لوif only أَنَّthat غادَةًa graceful young woman
لَعَمري هو المَطلوبُ لو أَنَّ غادَةً
تُساعدُنيwould help me فيin حَملهbearing it وأُساعدُand I help
تُساعدُني في حَمله وأُساعدُ
“By my life, this is what I want—if only a graceful woman
By my life it’s what’s desired! If only Ghadah
would help me bear it, and I could help her in turn!”
Would help carry it and I would help!
فَقُلتُso I said لهاto her مَهلاًgently فَدَيتُكmay I ransom you إِنَّهindeed it
فَقُلتُ لها مَهلاً فَدَيتُك إِنَّه
إذاwhen عظُمis great المَطلوبُthe thing sought قلَّis scarce المساعدُthe helper
إذا عظُم المَطلوبُ قلَّ المساعدُ
I told her, “Easy! My soul ransom you! For
So I said, gently, it’s too big
when the thing desired is huge, helpers are few.
When sought is great, aid is little
ولكنbut إذاif ما(emphasis) شئتyou wish أَولجتُI will insert بعضَهpart of it
ولكن إذا ما شئت أَولجتُ بعضَه
وَرأَيُكand your judgment فيon إِيلاجinserting ماwhat هوit زائِدُadditional
وَرأَيُك في إِيلاج ما هو زائِدُ
But if you wish, I will insert part of it,
But if you wish I could insert some
and inserting what remains is for you to decide.”
Seeing what's extra as forbidden
فَقالَthen he said علىin اسمthe name of اللَهGod أولجهُinsert it إنَّنيindeed I
فَقالَ على اسم اللَه أولجهُ إنَّني
سأَجهدُI shall strive فيin صَبريmy endurance لهof it وأُجاهِدُand struggle
سأَجهدُ في صَبري له وأُجاهِدُ
Then he said, “In God’s name, insert it; I
She said, “In God’s name, insert it!
shall strive to endure it and struggle on.”
I will be patient and endure it!”
فأَضجعتُهاso I laid her down وَاللَيلُwhile the night قدalready مدَّhad drawn سجفَهits curtain
فأَضجعتُها وَاللَيلُ قد مدَّ سجفَه
وإنَّand indeed ضَجيعَthe bedfellow of الخَودِthe beautiful young woman منّيin me لماجدُtruly noble
وإنَّ ضَجيعَ الخَودِ منّي لماجدُ
So I laid her down, while night had drawn its curtain,
I laid her down, night having spread its cloak
and the beauty had in me a truly noble bedfellow.
My cheek’s companion brought splendor
فَماand nothing راعَهاstartled her إِلّاexcept وقدwhen already خاضhad plunged into جَوفَهاher depths
فَما راعَها إِلّا وقد خاض جَوفَها
قُمُدٌّa stout, hard shaft لهit has عندduring الطِعانِthe thrusting مَكايدُstratagems
قُمُدٌّ له عند الطِعانِ مَكايدُ
Before she knew it, into her depths had plunged
I'd barely roused her before it pierced her depths
a stout shaft, full of stratagems during the thrusting.
A wave at each thrust with guile
وَلَمand did not يَحمهاprotect her منfrom فَتكتيmy onslaught عندduring طَعِنهاthrusting into her
وَلَم يَحمها من فَتكتي عند طَعِنها
لَمىthe dusky tint of شَفتَيهاher two lips والثُديّand the breasts النواهِدُthe upstanding ones
لَمى شَفتَيها والثُديّ النواهِدُ
Neither shielded her from my onslaught as I thrust into her:
Nor did it spare her in ravaging her
the dusky tint of her lips nor her upstanding breasts.
I squeezed her lips, her high breasts
فَأَنّتthen she moaned وَرَنَّتand cried out واِرجحنَّتand swayed heavily وأَجهشَتand burst into sobs
فَأَنّت وَرَنَّت واِرجحنَّت وأَجهشَت
وَقَدand indeed بُلَّwere soaked منwith فيضthe outpouring of الدِماءِblood المجاسِدُthe undergarments
وَقَد بُلَّ من فيض الدِماءِ المجاسِدُ
She moaned, cried out, swayed heavily, and burst into sobs,
She moaned, rang, swayed, and whimpered
and the undergarments were soaked with the outpouring of blood.
Her flowing blood soaking the bed
وَقالَتand she said بِهَذاwith this الرمحspear تفتضُّyou deflower طِفلةًa tender maiden
وَقالَت بِهَذا الرمح تفتضُّ طِفلةً
وقدthough indeed عجزتproved unable عنهto bear it النِساءُthe women القَواعدُpast childbearing
وقد عجزت عنه النِساءُ القَواعدُ
She said, “With this spear you deflower a tender maiden,
Saying, “With this lance a girl could bear a child
though even women past childbearing have proved unequal to it!”
While the sitting women couldn’t handle it!”
فَقُلتُso I said فدتكِmay it ransom you النَفسُthe soul صَبراًpatience فإنَّهاfor they are
فَقُلتُ فدتكِ النَفسُ صَبراً فإنَّها
مواردُwatering places لاnot يُصدِرنَlet depart منwhoever لاdoes not يجالدُfight
مواردُ لا يُصدِرنَ من لا يجالدُ
I said, “My soul ransom you! Patience, for these
I said, “Patience, darling soul, she meets
are watering places that release no one who will not battle.”
What the non-contender doesn’t face.”
فَقالَتthen she said وَهَلand is there صَبرٌpatience عدمتُكmay I lose you فاتِكاًyou ravager
فَقالَت وَهَل صَبرٌ عدمتُك فاتِكاً
علىunder طعنةٍa thrust تنقدُّsnap apart منهاfrom it القَلائِدُthe necklaces
على طعنةٍ تنقدُّ منها القَلائِدُ
She said, “Can there be patience—may I be rid of you, ravager!—
She said, “And did you lack patience, ravager?
under a thrust that snaps necklaces apart?
At a stab that loosens pendants?”
وَرمحكand your spear هَذاthis فيamong الرماحspears بليَّةٌa calamity
وَرمحك هَذا في الرماح بليَّةٌ
تَضيقُare too narrow بهfor it أَوقاتُهits times وَالمَقاصدُand the targets
تَضيقُ به أَوقاتُه وَالمَقاصدُ
This spear of yours is a scourge among spears;
“This lance of yours is awful among lances
its times and its targets are too narrow for it.”
Tightening moments and aims.”
فَقُلتُso I said اِحمليهِbear it ساعةًa while وَتحمّليand endure
فَقُلتُ اِحمليهِ ساعةً وَتحمّلي
فَلاso no بأسَharm إِنif ضاقَتare too narrow عليهfor it المَوارِدُthe watering places
فَلا بأسَ إِن ضاقَت عليه المَوارِدُ
I said, “Bear it a while, and endure;
I said, “Bear it awhile, withstand it,
there is no harm if the watering places are too narrow for it.”
No matter if it strains the channels.”
فَقالَتthen she said إِذَاًthen لاdo not تُكثرincrease الدَفعthe thrusting واِتَّئدand go slowly
فَقالَت إِذَاً لا تُكثر الدَفع واِتَّئد
وَدَعنيand leave me قَليلاًa little while أَتَّقيto ward off ماwhat أُكابدُI suffer
وَدَعني قَليلاً أَتَّقي ما أُكابدُ
She said, “Then do not thrust so much; go slowly,
She said, “Then don’t overdo the thrusting, slow down
and leave me a little while to ward off what I suffer.
Leave me be a little while to endure.”
فانَّfor indeed قَليلَa little الحُبِّlove فيin العقلreason صالحٌsound
فانَّ قَليلَ الحُبِّ في العقل صالحٌ
وإنَّand indeed كثيرmuch الحُبِّlove بالجهلthrough folly فاسِدُcorrupt
وإنَّ كثير الحُبِّ بالجهل فاسِدُ
For a little love is sound in reason’s eyes,
“A little love-play's fine when wise
while much love, through folly, is ruinous.”
But too much love-play's foolish sin.”
فعامَلتُهاso I treated her بالرِفقwith gentleness والرفقُand gentleness مذهبيmy way
فعامَلتُها بالرِفق والرفقُ مذهبي
ولكنَّbut indeed طبعَthe nature of النَفسthe soul للنَفسِfor the soul قائدُa guide
ولكنَّ طبعَ النَفس للنَفسِ قائدُ
So I treated her gently, and gentleness is my way;
I treated her gently - gentleness being my way
but the soul’s own nature guides the soul.
But the soul's nature leads the soul.
فطوراًso at times أراضيهاI appease her وطوراًand at times أَروضُهاI tame her
فطوراً أراضيها وطوراً أَروضُها
وَطوراًand at times أدانيهاI draw close to her وطوراًand at times أُباعدُI draw away
وَطوراً أدانيها وطوراً أُباعدُ
Now I would appease her, now I would tame her,
Sometimes I pleased her, sometimes I trained her
now draw close to her, now draw away,
Sometimes I drew near, sometimes pulled away
إِلىuntil أَنthat تَسنّىbecame easy أَمرُهاher affair وتسهَّلتand became smooth
إِلى أَن تَسنّى أَمرُها وتسهَّلت
مسالكُهاher passages واِلتفَّand entwined جيدٌa neck وَساعدُand an arm
مسالكُها واِلتفَّ جيدٌ وَساعدُ
until matters with her eased, and smoother became
Until things fell in place, her paths smoothed
her passages, while neck and arm entwined.
Necks entwined, cheeks side by side
فَباتَتso she spent the night تجيدُdoing skillfully الرَهزthe coital movements تحتيbeneath me وَقَدand indeed غدتshe became
فَباتَت تجيدُ الرَهز تحتي وَقَد غدت
تصادمshe clashes with رمحاًa spear تتَّقيهshun it الجلامدُthe solid rocks
تصادم رمحاً تتَّقيه الجلامدُ
She spent the night thrusting skillfully beneath me, and came to
She proceeded extolling me below while becoming
clash with a spear that solid rocks would shun.
An opponent to a lance that solid blades avoid
وَتُسعدُنيand she helps me فيthrough غمرةٍan engulfing surge بعدafter غمرَةٍan engulfing surge
وَتُسعدُني في غمرةٍ بعد غمرَةٍ
سَبوحٌa strong swimmer لهاshe has منهاfrom herself عليهاagainst herself شَواهدُwitnesses
سَبوحٌ لها منها عليها شَواهدُ
She helped me through one engulfing surge after another,
Bringing me bliss in a rapture after rapture
a strong swimmer, with witnesses from herself against herself.
Eulogies to and for her evident
تَثَنّىshe sways علىaccording to قَدرthe measure of الطِعانthe thrusting كَأَنَّماas though
تَثَنّى على قَدر الطِعان كَأَنَّما
مفاصلُهاher joints تحتbeneath الرِماحthe spears مَراودُswivel-pins
مفاصلُها تحت الرِماح مَراودُ
She swayed in measure with the thrusting, as though
Bending to the thrusts as though
her joints beneath the spears were swivel-pins.
Her joints under lances were tempted
وَقالَتand she said جُزيتَmay you be rewarded الخَيرَwith goodness هَل(question marker) أَنتَyou عالِمٌaware
وَقالَت جُزيتَ الخَيرَ هَل أَنتَ عالِمٌ
بأَنَّكthat you فيin قَلبيmy heart لعمريَby my life خالِدُeverlasting
بأَنَّك في قَلبي لعمريَ خالِدُ
She said, “May you be rewarded with good! Do you know
And she said, “So much good you have brought me
that, by my life, you are forever in my heart,
Know you’ll always live in my heart
وإنَّand indeed دَماًblood أَجريتَهyou made it flow بكَin you فاخِرٌtaking pride
وإنَّ دَماً أَجريتَه بكَ فاخِرٌ
وإنَّand indeed فؤاداًa heart رُعتهyou frightened it لكto you حامِدُgrateful
وإنَّ فؤاداً رُعته لك حامِدُ
and that the blood you made flow takes pride in you,
A blood you spilled in me proud
and that a heart you frightened is grateful to you?”
A heart you roused to you burning
Sol 6.1