سَقَىmay water دارَthe dwelling of ليلىLayla كلevery مُمْسَىdusk ومُصبحand dawn
سَقَى دارَ ليلى كل مُمْسَى ومُصبح
ضواحكُsmiling rainclouds مماwith what تاقَyearned for دَلْوٌa bucket وَدُلَّجُand water-drawers
ضواحكُ مما تاقَ دَلْوٌ وَدُلَّجُ
May Layla's dwelling be watered every dusk and dawn
He watered the abode of Layla every evening and morning
by smiling rainclouds, bearing what buckets and water-drawers crave.
With buckets full of desire and intense yearning
ولاand never زالَceased نَورُthe blossoms of الأُقْحُوانِthe daisy ونَشرُهُand its fragrance
ولا زالَ نَورُ الأُقْحُوانِ ونَشرُهُ
بِنورِwith the blossoms of الخُزامىlavender والعَرَارِand wild narcissus يُوشَّحُis garlanded
بِنورِ الخُزامى والعَرَارِ يُوشَّحُ
And may the daisy's blossoms and fragrance always
And the light of chandeliers did not cease to shine
be garlanded with lavender and wild narcissus blossoms.
Illuminated by the light of torches and lanterns embellished
فماfor nothing جَلَبَbrought الاحزانَsorrows غيرُexcept حَمامةٍa dove
فما جَلَبَ الاحزانَ غيرُ حَمامةٍ
علىon فننٍa branch منof سِدْرِlote-trees حوملHawmal تَصْدَحُsings
على فننٍ من سِدْرِ حومل تَصْدَحُ
Nothing brought these sorrows but a dove
Nothing brought sorrow except for a dove
singing on a branch of Hawmal's lote-trees.
Cooing sadly on the branches of a wild plum tree
بكتshe mourned قَرْقَريّاًa Qarqari dove فاستجابَso answered لصوتهاher voice
بكت قَرْقَريّاً فاستجابَ لصوتها
حمامٌdoves علىon أغصانهِits branches يترنَّحُsway
حمامٌ على أغصانهِ يترنَّحُ
She mourned a Qarqari dove, and her voice was answered
A ring dove cried mournfully and its call
by doves swaying upon its branches.
Was answered by doves on the branches lamenting
فلاso no زفرةsigh حرىburning تُنَفِّسُrelieves كُربةًanguish
فلا زفرة حرى تُنَفِّسُ كُربةً
ولاnor عَبرةٌa tear تَمرىcoaxes tears from الجفونَthe eyelids فَتمرَحُthen flows freely
ولا عَبرةٌ تَمرى الجفونَ فَتمرَحُ
No burning sigh relieves the anguish,
No sigh of sorrow could relieve distress
nor does a tear coax the eyelids and flow freely.
Nor tears flowing to wet the eyelids provide comfort
حلَفتُI swore بصُغرٍby small camels فيin الأَزمةِthe halters شُمَّلٍswift
حلَفتُ بصُغرٍ في الأَزمةِ شُمَّلٍ
تقيسُmeasure بأيديهاwith their forelegs الفِجَاجthe mountain passes وتَمسَحُand sweep
تقيسُ بأيديها الفِجَاج وتَمسَحُ
I swore by small, swift camels in their halters,
I swore in my youth gripped by passion
measuring and sweeping the mountain passes with their forelegs:
That her hands could smooth the harshest crags
طليحٍworn-out ومَوَّارand swiftly moving الذراعينin the forelegs مُرجِمٍflinging stones
طليحٍ ومَوَّار الذراعين مُرجِمٍ
بهon it ندبٌa scar منfrom كُورهِits saddle ماnot يُرَوَّحُgiven respite
به ندبٌ من كُورهِ ما يُرَوَّحُ
worn-out beasts, and ones with churning forelegs that fling stones,
A slender and soft-armed gazelle whose traces
bearing saddle-scars, never given respite.
Of plumpness do not diminish with caress
دَرَعنَthey traversed بساطَthe carpet of الدوِّthe desert واطردتْand stretched continuously لهاbefore them
دَرَعنَ بساطَ الدوِّ واطردتْ لها
حَزَاوِهُits hillocks تطفوfloat فيin السرابِthe mirage وتسبحُand swim
حَزَاوِهُ تطفو في السرابِ وتسبحُ
They traversed the desert's carpet, while before them stretched
She donned a dress of thin silk and her dutiful companions
its hillocks, floating and swimming in the mirage.
Floated around her in a mirage swimming playfully
هداهاguided them الىto البطحاءِal-Batha منfrom رملِthe sands of عالجٍAlij
هداها الى البطحاءِ من رملِ عالجٍ
حسيرُthe exhausted ones الرذاياabandoned weak camels والسريحُand the saddle-girth المطرّحُdiscarded
حسيرُ الرذايا والسريحُ المطرّحُ
From the sands of Alij to al-Batha they were guided by
Passion led her to the plain covered in fine sand
exhausted, abandoned camels and discarded saddle-girths.
Where the alarmed herd bolts and the winds blow freely
لقدindeed رابنيtroubled me منabout رافعٍRafi' أَنَّthat ضِغنهhis rancor
لقد رابني من رافعٍ أَنَّ ضِغنه
يبوحُreveals بنجوىthe secrets of جِدّهِhis seriousness حينwhen يَمزحُhe jokes
يبوحُ بنجوى جِدّهِ حين يَمزحُ
What troubled me about Rafi' was that his rancor
I was amazed by the pride of an arrogant man
reveals his earnest inner thoughts whenever he jests.
Whose murmurs betray the arrogance of his ancestors when he jokes
اذاwhen قلتُI said حالَintervened العلمُknowledge بينىbetween me وبينَهand him
اذا قلتُ حالَ العلمُ بينى وبينَه
يَميلُhe sways كماjust as مالَswayed النزيفُthe drunkard المُرنّحُreeling
يَميلُ كما مالَ النزيفُ المُرنّحُ
When I say that knowledge has come between him and me,
When I said knowledge prevents me from him
he sways as a reeling drunkard sways.
He leans away as a bleeding wound leans away uncomforted
لهhe has كَلِمُwords لاnot يكلمُwounds الجلدَthe skin عضُّهُtheir bite
له كَلِمُ لا يكلمُ الجلدَ عضُّهُ
ويُسرعُand hastens فيinto عِرضِthe honor of الكريمِthe noble man فَيجْرحُthen wounds
ويُسرعُ في عِرضِ الكريمِ فَيجْرحُ
He has words whose bite does not wound the skin,
His words do not appeal to the honorable soul
yet swiftly cuts into a noble man's honor.
And he is quick to slander the virtuous and wound
اذاif راقنىpleases me غَفرُthe downy coat of العِشارِpregnant she-camels يروقُهpleases him
اذا راقنى غَفرُ العِشارِ يروقُه
لعاعٌtender herbage لهاfor them بالرقمتينat al-Raqmatayn يُرَشّحُsprouting
لعاعٌ لها بالرقمتين يُرَشّحُ
If the pregnant camels' downy coat pleases me, he is pleased
When the payment of tithes does not please him
by tender herbage sprouting for them at al-Raqmatayn.
A trifling matter irritates him that he exaggerates and inflates
نشدتكماI adjure you both ياO ابنيtwo sons of روَاحةَRawaha بالعُلاby noble deeds
نشدتكما يا ابني روَاحةَ بالعُلا
وللصِدقُand surely truth أَزكىpurer فيin الامورِaffairs وأَلجحُand more conclusive
وللصِدقُ أَزكى في الامورِ وأَلجحُ
I adjure you both, sons of Rawaha, by noble deeds—
O my two sons I wish you the joy of high status
for truth is purer in affairs and more conclusive—
And sincerity is the most honest in matters and the soundest
أَمنis it one who عفَّabstained عنfrom مالwealth يجودُgives generously بفضلهِof his surplus
أَمن عفَّ عن مال يجودُ بفضلهِ
ومنand one who هوhe يَسعىstrives فيfor الحقوقِdue rights ويكدَحand toils
ومن هو يَسعى في الحقوقِ ويكدَح
the man who shuns wealth and gives freely of his surplus,
Who is more generous with their wealth
and the man who strives and labors to uphold rights:
And who strives hardest for rights and toils?
اذاif احتكماthe two contend فيin الجودِgenerosity أَيهماwhich of the two الفتىthe noble man
اذا احتكما في الجودِ أَيهما الفتى
وأَيهماand which of the two فيin متجرِthe commerce of الحمدِpraise أربحُmore profitable
وأَيهما في متجرِ الحمدِ أربحُ
if they contend in generosity, which is the noble man,
If you compete in generosity, who is the nobler
and which profits more in the commerce of praise?
And who profits most from the trade of praise?
أقِلاَّdesist, both of you فماfor there is no دونbelow المجرَّةِthe Milky Way مطلبٌgoal
أقِلاَّ فما دون المجرَّةِ مطلبٌ
ولاnor خلفَbeyond فخرFakhr الملكِal-Mulk للظنِّfor conjecture مَطرَحُscope
ولا خلفَ فخر الملكِ للظنِّ مَطرَحُ
Desist, you two: there is no worthy goal below the Milky Way,
Ask little, for what is beyond reach is not sought
nor beyond Fakhr al-Mulk any scope for conjecture.
And no shame in falling short of perfect power
منamong القومِthe people ماضٍresolute لاnot يُلوَّنُchanges لونَهhis color
من القومِ ماضٍ لا يُلوَّنُ لونَه
عبيطٌfresh blood باعطافِupon the curves of المناصلِsword-blades أَصبَحُbright red
عبيطٌ باعطافِ المناصلِ أَصبَحُ
Among his people is a resolute man whose color is not changed
Among the people one whose character does not change
by fresh, bright-red blood upon the curves of sword-blades,
Simple, straightforward, bare of guile or deception
ولاnor ذاتُone bearing خالٍa dark spot فيin المناظرِthe field of vision نجمةa star
ولا ذاتُ خالٍ في المناظرِ نجمة
ترشنُis shot بأَوتارِwith the bowstrings of القسيِّbows ويَنضَحُand spurts
ترشنُ بأَوتارِ القسيِّ ويَنضَحُ
nor by a spotted, star-bright shaft before the eyes,
A star of unblemished beauty in appearance
shot from bowstrings and scattering its spray.
Whose strings of pearls shine as she smiles
اذاwhen سارhe sets out أَعدتهaided him علىagainst البيدِthe deserts والعِدىand the foes
اذا سار أَعدته على البيدِ والعِدى
شَوادنُgazelle-like colts منfrom آلِthe lineage of الوجيهِal-Wajih وقُرَّحُand mature steeds
شَوادنُ من آلِ الوجيهِ وقُرَّحُ
When he sets out, against deserts and foes he is aided by
When he marched his enemies with enmity and injustice
gazelle-like colts of al-Wajih's stock and mature steeds.
The notables of his tribe surrounded him as comrades
حوافرُهاtheir hooves منamong راعفٍbleeding ones ومثلَّمٍand chipped ones
حوافرُها من راعفٍ ومثلَّمٍ
يُرَصُّis packed firm بهاby them الصخرُthe rock الاصمُّdeaf ويفلَحُand is split
يُرَصُّ بها الصخرُ الاصمُّ ويفلَحُ
Their hooves, some bleeding and some chipped,
Their hooves hard as rock trample the silent boulders
pack the deaf rock firm and cleave it.
Until their shoes slipped and their faces were marked with scratches
ركبنthey climbed جبالَthe mountains of البَذِّal-Badh حتىuntil تواضَعَتْbowed
ركبن جبالَ البَذِّ حتى تواضَعَتْ
غواربُهاtheir crests والقُرُّand the cold فيinto الوجهِthe face يكَلحُscowls
غواربُها والقُرُّ في الوجهِ يكَلحُ
They climbed the mountains of al-Badh until bowed
They sported and frolicked on the mountainsides and cliffs
their crests, while the cold scowled into the face.
Roving around as the decorated horseman roams
لعبنَthey gambolled علىover الواذِهاtheir sheltered flanks وصفوحِهاand their slopes
لعبنَ على الواذِها وصفوحِها
وجُلنَand they wheeled كماjust as جالwheeled الرقيبُthe Raqib casting-lot الممنَّحُoften lent out
وجُلنَ كما جال الرقيبُ الممنَّحُ
They gambolled over their sheltered flanks and slopes,
Indeed, they have left but old age remains
and wheeled like the much-lent Raqib casting-lot.
A trace that does not disappear from their dwelling
فقدnow indeed برحتthey departed والسنّyet the crag سنُّthe crag of سميرةٍSamira
فقد برحت والسنّ سنُّ سميرةٍ
بهon it أثرٌa trace منof وطئهاtheir trampling ليسَdoes not يَبرحُdepart
به أثرٌ من وطئها ليسَ يَبرحُ
They have departed, yet the crag—the crag of Samira—
The heroes gained nothing from their assembly
still bears a mark of their trampling that does not depart.
Except striking with swords and earnest conversation
وماand none تاجرَbargained with الابطالَthe champions يومَon the day تجالسواthey sat together
وما تاجرَ الابطالَ يومَ تجالسوا
نفوسهمtheir souls الاَّexcept الضرابُthe blows المصرِّحُspeaking openly
نفوسهم الاَّ الضرابُ المصرِّحُ
When the champions sat face to face, none bargained with them
A guardian of the glorious days of knights
for their souls save the blows that spoke openly.
As he chronicles their footsteps and examines
وحازٍand one versed بأَيامِin the battle-days of الفوارسِhorsemen حافظٌremembering
وحازٍ بأَيامِ الفوارسِ حافظٌ
لماof what كانoccurred منof اقدامِهاtheir bold advances يَتصفَّحُhe reviews
لما كان من اقدامِها يَتصفَّحُ
And one versed in the horsemen's battle-days, remembering
A man of strong resolve when the army returns
what occurred in their bold advances, which he reviews:
With whom the ranks are reformed and problems solved
هُمامٌa valiant man لهhe has فيupon عودةِthe return of الجيشِthe army نظرةٌa glance
هُمامٌ له في عودةِ الجيشِ نظرةٌ
يُقامُis straightened بهاby it ريغُthe crookedness of الصفوفِthe ranks وَتَنْصَحُand they are set right
يُقامُ بها ريغُ الصفوفِ وَتَنْصَحُ
a valiant man whose glance, when the army returns,
As though a swooping eagle viewing prey
straightens the ranks' crookedness and sets them right.
Glancing sharply over the heads it will strike
كأَنَّas though عقاباًan eagle بالمَحَارَةِat al-Mahara طاوياًhungry
كأَنَّ عقاباً بالمَحَارَةِ طاوياً
أَنافَrose high علىabove مِزنَاتِهِits rainclouds يَتَلمَّحُpeering
أَنافَ على مِزنَاتِهِ يَتَلمَّحُ
As though a hungry eagle at al-Mahara
Sustenance passes him by unnoticed
rose above its rainclouds, peering keenly.
As he overlooks its faults and pardons
تمرُّpass بهby him الرزقُthe blue-gray birds العِتاقُthe noble ones سوانحاًcrossing from left to right
تمرُّ به الرزقُ العِتاقُ سوانحاً
فَيُعْرضُso he turns away عنfrom زلاتهنَّtheir slips ويصفَحُand pardons
فَيُعْرضُ عن زلاتهنَّ ويصفَحُ
Noble blue-gray birds pass him, crossing from left to right;
He rests from the toil of leadership
he overlooks their slips and pardons them.
When the crowd from the council disperses
لهhe has فيin مرادthe grazing range of الاخدريةِthe Akhdari wild asses نجعةٌa quest for pasture
له في مراد الاخدريةِ نجعةٌ
اذاwhen جعلتbegan سوقُthe trunks of العضاةِthorn trees تُروّحُto put out leaves
اذا جعلت سوقُ العضاةِ تُروّحُ
He seeks pasture in the ranges of the Akhdari wild asses
It would be better if the rain withheld its drops
when the trunks of thorn trees begin to put out leaves.
And better if the winds calmed and ceased
فأَولىso better لهfor him لوif أَمسكwithheld الغيثُthe rain قطرهits drops
فأَولى له لو أَمسك الغيثُ قطره
وأولىand better لهfor him لوif تطمئنthey rested quietly فتسرحُthen grazed
وأولى له لو تطمئن فتسرحُ
Better for him had the rain withheld its drops,
He saw a hedgehog curling as the iron armor
and better had the herd rested quietly, then grazed.
And clashing heads he fiercely clubbed
رأىhe saw زَرَدَاًchainmail يثنىturns aside الحديدَiron حديدهits iron
رأى زَرَدَاً يثنى الحديدَ حديده
ومعتركاًand a battlefield فيهin which الرؤوسheads تُطوَّحُare hurled away
ومعتركاً فيه الرؤوس تُطوَّحُ
He saw mail whose iron turned iron aside,
So he plunged until he reached the depth of its chest
and a battlefield where heads were hurled away.
A young man between the sword blade and spear point slaughtered
فغَامسَso he plunged in حتىuntil بلquenched غُلَّةَthe burning thirst of صدرهِhis breast
فغَامسَ حتى بل غُلَّةَ صدرهِ
فتىًa young man بينbetween نصلِthe blade of السيفِthe sword والرمحِand the spear يُمتَحُis struck
فتىً بين نصلِ السيفِ والرمحِ يُمتَحُ
So he plunged in until he quenched his breast's burning thirst—
A noble spirited horse its flanks a fountain
a young man struck between sword-blade and spear.
Its belly curved, its veins extended, long-necked
نبيلُnobly formed مشاشِat the bone-heads of المنكبينِthe shoulders مصدرٌbroad-chested
نبيلُ مشاشِ المنكبينِ مصدرٌ
طَوُّىlean البطنِof belly ممتدٌّlong الانابيبِof limb-bones شَرمحُtall and slender
طَوُّى البطنِ ممتدٌّ الانابيبِ شَرمحُ
Nobly formed at the shoulder joints, broad of chest,
It welcomes the roses of death on its deathbed
lean-bellied, long of limb, tall and slender.
And refuses to drink bitter medicine in disgust
يَعَافُabhors ورودَmeeting الموتِdeath فوقَupon فِراشهhis bed
يَعَافُ ورودَ الموتِ فوقَ فِراشه
ويَرغَبand turns away عنfrom شربِdrinking الدواءِmedicine فَيقمَحُso raises his head in refusal
ويَرغَب عن شربِ الدواءِ فَيقمَحُ
He abhors meeting death upon his bed
If in illness and pain the warrior loses hope
and disdains drinking medicine, raising his head in refusal.
Death by the sword is more soothing than life
اذاif كانlies فيin طولِthe length of السَقامِillness وجهدِهِand its torment
اذا كان في طولِ السَقامِ وجهدِهِ
حِمامthe doom of الفتىthe young man فالقتلthen death بالسيفِby the sword أَروحُmore restful
حِمام الفتى فالقتل بالسيفِ أَروحُ
If in long illness and its torment lies
A bay mare whose stallions destruction unleashed
a young man's doom, then death by the sword is easier.
Kicking up earth with their hooves in rage
وهادرةٍand a roaring host هدرَwith the roaring of الفحولِstallions رعالُهاits squadrons
وهادرةٍ هدرَ الفحولِ رعالُها
تُشَلُّis driven on بأَطرافِby the points of الرماحِspears وتَلقَحُand conceives
تُشَلُّ بأَطرافِ الرماحِ وتَلقَحُ
And many a roaring host, its squadrons roaring like stallions,
The fire of their massacre sparked fiercely
driven on by spear-points and made pregnant:
And the fire of battle at al-Musharrafah ignited
تَجَشbelches هلاكdestruction نارهاits fire بأَلالَةٍwith a broad-headed spear
تَجَش هلاك نارها بأَلالَةٍ
ونارُand the fire of الوَغىbattle بالمشرفيةِwith Mashrafi swords تَقدَحُis struck alight
ونارُ الوَغى بالمشرفيةِ تَقدَحُ
its fire belches destruction through a broad-headed spear,
A young man whose paleness did not diminish his valor
while battle's fire is struck with Mashrafi swords.
And abusive threats do not make the honorable flinch
فتىًa young man لمdid not يضرهharm him لونُهُhis complexion وشحوبُهand his pallor
فتىً لم يضره لونُهُ وشحوبُه
وقدand indeed يَصدُقmay prove true الباسَin valor الشتيمُthe ugly-faced man الملوِحُthe weather-worn one
وقد يَصدُق الباسَ الشتيمُ الملوِحُ
A young man whom his complexion and pallor did not weaken—
A sworn ally biting the handle of his axe fiercely
for an ugly, weather-worn man may prove truly valiant.
Could not save him from his fate and rescue
فلمyet did not يُنجهِsave him منfrom حَنيهِhis doom متمطِرٌa racing steed
فلم يُنجهِ من حَنيهِ متمطِرٌ
يعضّbiting علىon فأسِthe crosspiece of الشكيمِthe bit فيجمحُthen bolts
يعضّ على فأسِ الشكيمِ فيجمحُ
Yet no racing steed saved him from his doom,
Nor could a shower of spears ward off his demise
biting on the bit's crosspiece and bolting.
Overflowing over fingers in multitude
ولمnor did تحجبkeep away الارماحthe spears عنfrom حجباتهhis vital parts
ولم تحجب الارماح عن حجباته
مضاعفةًdoubled mail فوقَbeyond الاناملِthe fingertips تَطفَحُoverflowing
مضاعفةً فوقَ الاناملِ تَطفَحُ
Nor were the spears kept from his vital parts
Whoever does not risk himself in battle
by doubled mail that spilled beyond his fingertips.
Will have no escape on the day of judgement
وَمَنْand whoever لمdoes not يُخاطرrisk فيin الحروبِwars بنفسهِhis own life
وَمَنْ لم يُخاطر في الحروبِ بنفسهِ
فليسَstill there is not لهfor him عنfrom يومهِhis appointed day متزحْزَحُan escape
فليسَ له عن يومهِ متزحْزَحُ
Whoever does not risk himself in battle
The young men had no peer like Muthaqqaf
still has no escape from his appointed day.
Who softened hearts and was generous and kind
وماand never استصحبَtook as companion الفتيانُyoung warriors مثلthe like of مثقفٍa straightened spear
وما استصحبَ الفتيانُ مثل مثقفٍ
يُماجُis churned بهwith it ماءُthe water of القلوبِhearts ويُمنَحُand is given forth
يُماجُ به ماءُ القلوبِ ويُمنَحُ
Young warriors have never taken a companion like a straightened spear,
No one like Murta'a the wavering as if he were
with which the water of hearts is churned and poured forth,
A flashing meteor vanishing in an instant
ولاnor مثلَthe like of مرتاعone trembling المَهَزِّat brandishing كأَنَّهas though it were
ولا مثلَ مرتاع المَهَزِّ كأَنَّه
عقيقةُa streak برقٍof lightning يستطيرُflashes abroad ويلمَحُand gleams
عقيقةُ برقٍ يستطيرُ ويلمَحُ
nor like a blade quivering when brandished, as though
The night was erased by a smiling face
it were a streak of lightning, darting and gleaming.
Whose radiance outshone the light of dawn
مَحاeffaced الليلَthe night بسامٌa smiling man صفيحةُthe broad surface of وجهِهِhis face
مَحا الليلَ بسامٌ صفيحةُ وجهِهِ
يُضامُis diminished لهاbeside it ضوءُthe light of الصباحِdawn ويُفضَحُand is put to shame
يُضامُ لها ضوءُ الصباحِ ويُفضَحُ
A smiling man effaced the night; the broad surface of his face
He scorns gifts and honors his dignity
diminishes the light of dawn and puts it to shame.
And profits from earning the highest virtues
يُهينُholds cheap عطاياهُhis gifts ويكرمُand honors عِرضَهhis good name
يُهينُ عطاياهُ ويكرمُ عِرضَه
ويتجرand trades فيin كسبِgaining المعالىlofty honors فيربَحُso profits
ويتجر في كسبِ المعالى فيربَحُ
He holds his gifts cheap and his honor dear;
A leader who on the day of reckoning
he trades in gaining lofty honors, and profits.
Will be excused for his generous pardons
رئيسٌa chief عليهwith a claim upon him فيto البقاءِsurvival عَذِيرَةٌa soul
رئيسٌ عليه في البقاءِ عَذِيرَةٌ
يجودُgives generously بهاit يومَon the day of اللقاءِencounter ويَسمَحُand gives freely
يجودُ بها يومَ اللقاءِ ويَسمَحُ
A chief whose soul has a claim on him for survival,
He fears not the destined misery
yet he freely gives it away on the day of encounter.
Nor rejoices at the granted blessings
فلاso neither هوhe للشرِof evil المقدَّرِdecreed خائِفٌafraid
فلا هو للشرِ المقدَّرِ خائِفٌ
ولاnor هوhe بالخيرِin good fortune الميسَّرِmade easy يَفْرَحُrejoices
ولا هو بالخيرِ الميسَّرِ يَفْرَحُ
He fears no evil decreed,
If you go beyond the bounds of deeds and honesty
nor rejoices in good fortune made easy.
A naked liar is more vile and repulsive
اذاif غبتَyou are absent عنfrom حدِّthe sharp edge of الفعالِdeeds وصدقِهِand their truth
اذا غبتَ عن حدِّ الفعالِ وصدقِهِ
وصرَّحَand stands openly revealed عريانٌa naked one منof الشرِّevil أَجلَحُbald
وصرَّحَ عريانٌ من الشرِّ أَجلَحُ
If you are absent from the sharp edge of deeds and their truth,
So who can mend the distant rift
and a naked, bald form of evil stands openly revealed,
And who can close the gaping holes that open
فمَنْthen who يرأَبْmends الصدعَthe rift البعيدَfar-reaching ومنand who بهِthrough him
فمَنْ يرأَبْ الصدعَ البعيدَ ومن بهِ
تُسدُّare closed الثغورfrontier gaps الشاغراتُgaping وتُفتَحُand opened
تُسدُّ الثغور الشاغراتُ وتُفتَحُ
who will mend the far-reaching rift, and through whom
Who can replace the star on a black night when it is absent
will the gaping frontiers be closed and opened?
And replace the dawn when the awakening winds blow
ومَنْand who لسوادِfor the blackness of الليلِnight انif غابvanishes نجمُهits star
ومَنْ لسوادِ الليلِ ان غاب نجمُه
وللصبحِand for dawn انْif ريعis alarmed السوامُthe grazing herd المصّبحُout at dawn
وللصبحِ انْ ريع السوامُ المصّبحُ
Who is there for the darkness of night if its star vanishes,
After your generosity what stallion could be chosen
and for dawn if the morning-grazing herds are frightened?
To whom poems are gifted and praises composed
وأَىُّand which جوادٍgenerous man بعدafter جودِكَyour generosity يُصطفىis chosen
وأَىُّ جوادٍ بعد جودِكَ يُصطفى
لهfor him المدحpraise أَوor يُهدىis offered القريضُverse المتقحُpolished
له المدح أَو يُهدى القريضُ المتقحُ
What generous man, after your generosity, can be chosen
Missing you one is anxious with wishes
to receive praise or finely polished verse?
A longing remains in his heart that does not leave
فداكَmay ransom you ضنينٌa miser بالمُنىwith hopes متربصٌwaiting his chance
فداكَ ضنينٌ بالمُنى متربصٌ
لهhe has حاجةٌa need فيin صدرهِhis breast ليسdoes not تَبرَحُdepart
له حاجةٌ في صدرهِ ليس تَبرَحُ
May a man stingy with hopes, waiting his chance, be your ransom,
He blends sincere reproach into his criticism
with a need within his breast that never leaves.
While the early morning draft is the sweetest and purest drink
يشوبُadulterates لكfor you العذرَthe excuse الصريحَplain بِمَذْقِهِwith his dilution
يشوبُ لك العذرَ الصريحَ بِمَذْقِهِ
وشرand the worse شَرَابَيكَof your two drinks الصبوحُthe morning draught المصَبَّحُwatered at dawn
وشر شَرَابَيكَ الصبوحُ المصَبَّحُ
He waters down his plain excuse to you with his admixture,
and the worse of your two drinks is a watered morning draught.
Partial English translation: 106 of 108 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1