أَلاَAh ياO صَاحِmy friend مَنْwho للمَجْدِfor glory صَاحٍawake
أَلاَ يا صَاحِ مَنْ للمَجْدِ صَاحٍ
ونَخْوَةِand pride طامحِaspiring العينينِthe two eyes طَاحِcarried away
ونَخْوَةِ طامحِ العينينِ طَاحِ
Ah, my friend, who is awake to glory,
Oh you who calls for glory, who voices
and swept away by pride, his eyes aspiring?
The tenderness of one whose eyes yearn -
كأَنَّas though الدهرَTime تفضحُهdisgrace it ذُنوبيmy sins
كأَنَّ الدهرَ تفضحُه ذُنوبي
فليسso there is nothing سِوىexcept بِعَاديmy banishment واطرّاحيand my rejection
فليس سِوى بِعَادي واطرّاحي
As though my sins disgrace Time,
As if my sins have shamed the ages -
so it does nothing but banish and cast me aside.
I have but my caprice and mischief.
وغايةُand the end هذهthis الدُّنياworld فَسَادٌruin
وغايةُ هذه الدُّنيا فَسَادٌ
فكيفَso how نكونُwe are منهاfrom it فيin صَلاحِwell-being
فكيفَ نكونُ منها في صَلاحِ
And this world's end is ruin,
The goal of worldly life is corruption.
so how can we find well-being in it?
How can we within it find righteousness?
هيit الخَرقَاءُthe foolish woman تَنْقضُunravels بعدَafter نَسْجٍweaving
هي الخَرقَاءُ تَنْقضُ بعدَ نَسْجٍ
فماso there is no فيهاin it لحيٍّfor a living being منany فَلاَحِsuccess
فما فيها لحيٍّ من فَلاَحِ
It is the foolish woman who unravels what she has woven,
This dilapidated world unravels what is woven.
so no living being finds success in it.
No living soul succeeds through it.
يَؤولُleads eventually بهwith him الشَّبابُyouth الىto مَشِيبٍgray hair
يَؤولُ به الشَّبابُ الى مَشِيبٍ
ويسْلِمُهُand hands him over الغُدُوُّmorning الىto الرَّواحِevening
ويسْلِمُهُ الغُدُوُّ الى الرَّواحِ
Youth leads him to gray hair,
Youth leads to aging which leads to the grave,
and morning hands him over to evening.
And the morn hands him over to the winds.
وقدand indeed فتِنَwas beguiled الأَنامُhumankind بهاby it وغُرُّواand were deceived
وقد فتِنَ الأَنامُ بها وغُرُّوا
كماas يُغْتَرُّone is deceived بالحَدَقِby the pupils المِلاحِbeautiful
كما يُغْتَرُّ بالحَدَقِ المِلاحِ
And humankind has been beguiled by it and deceived,
The people are tempted by it and fooled
as one is deceived by beautiful eyes.
As the mirage fools the saline terrain.
وتأخذُand take away منfrom جَوانبناour sides اللياليthe nights
وتأخذُ من جَوانبنا الليالي
كماas أَخذَhas taken المَسَاءُevening منfrom الصَّباحِmorning
كما أَخذَ المَسَاءُ من الصَّباحِ
And the nights wear away our sides,
The nights take from our sides
as evening has taken from morning.
As the evening takes from the morn.
أَمَاis there no فيamong أَهْلِهَاits people رَجُلٌa man لَبِيبٌdiscerning
أَمَا في أَهْلِهَا رَجُلٌ لَبِيبٌ
يحسُّfeels فيَشْتكِيthen complains أَلمَthe pain الجِرَاحِof wounds
يحسُّ فيَشْتكِي أَلمَ الجِرَاحِ
Is there no discerning man among its people
Is there not among its people a reasonable man
who feels, then complains of the pain of wounds?
Who feels and complains of the pain of wounds?
أَرىI see التَّشْميرَexertion فيهاin it كالتَّوانيlike idleness
أَرى التَّشْميرَ فيها كالتَّواني
وحِرْمَانَand deprivation العَطِيَّةِof a gift كالنَّجاحِlike success
وحِرْمَانَ العَطِيَّةِ كالنَّجاحِ
I see exertion in it as no different from idleness,
I see reluctance in it to be haste
and being denied a gift as no different from success.
And deprivation as attainment.
وَمَنْand whoever لبسَwore التُّرابَearth كمنْlike whoever علاهstands above it
وَمَنْ لبسَ التُّرابَ كمنْ علاه
فلاso let not تَغْرُرْكَdeceive you أنفاسُthe breaths الرِّيَاحِof the winds
فلا تَغْرُرْكَ أنفاسُ الرِّيَاحِ
And one clothed in earth is like one who stands above it;
He who wears dust is as he who wore it.
so let not the breaths of the winds deceive you.
Do not be fooled by breaths of wind.
وكيفَand how يكِدُexhausts مُهْجَتَهُhis soul حَريصٌan eager man
وكيفَ يكِدُ مُهْجَتَهُ حَريصٌ
يَرىsees الارزاقَlivelihoods فيin ضَربِcasting القِداحlot-arrows
يَرى الارزاقَ في ضَربِ القِداح
And how can an eager man wear out his soul,
How can one who seeks his ruin tire himself
who sees sustenance in the casting of lot-arrows?
When he sees that fate is cast?
لعَمْرُby the life أَبيof my father لمَمتَعِضٌsurely an indignant man حَريُصٌeager
لعَمْرُ أَبي لمَمتَعِضٌ حَريُصٌ
الىtoward العلياءِthe heights مُنْخرِطrushing headlong الجِمَاحِunbridled ardor
الى العلياءِ مُنْخرِط الجِمَاحِ
By my father's life, an indignant man, eager
By my father I am a weary, greedy man
for the heights, unbridled in his charge,
Stretching his wings to reach the heights.
كَصَدْرِlike the point الذابلِof the slender spear الخطّيّKhatti أَهدَىoffered
كَصَدْرِ الذابلِ الخطّيّ أَهدَى
اليهِto him المَجْدُglory شُكْريmy thanks وامتدَاحِيand my praise
اليهِ المَجْدُ شُكْري وامتدَاحِي
like the point of a slender Khatti spear—
Like the breast of a fading horse, my glory
to whom glory has offered my thanks and praise—
And praise are for you, most generous.
أَحَبُّdearer اليَّto me مِنْthan بَذْلِbestowing العَطاياgifts
أَحَبُّ اليَّ مِنْ بَذْلِ العَطايا
وجُردِand sleek الخَيلِhorses والنعْمِand livestock المُراحِdriven home
وجُردِ الخَيلِ والنعْمِ المُراحِ
is dearer to me than the bestowal of gifts,
I love more than gifts, horses, and possessions
and sleek horses and livestock brought home,
Praise protected, not freely permitted.
وأَجدرand worthier أنْthat يُتَاحَbe granted لهto him ثَنَاءٌpraise
وأَجدر أنْ يُتَاحَ له ثَنَاءٌ
مَصُونٌguarded غيرnot متبذلٍcheapened مُباحِfreely available
مَصُونٌ غير متبذلٍ مُباحِ
and worthier of having praise granted to him,
A man gives you deeds discreetly
kept inviolate, not cheapened or made common.
And no words vainly uttered.
فتىa young man يُعْطيكَgives you فِعْلاًaction فيin حَياءٍmodesty
فتى يُعْطيكَ فِعْلاً في حَياءٍ
ولاand does not يُعطيكَgive you قولاًwords فيin ارتَياحِglad enthusiasm
ولا يُعطيكَ قولاً في ارتَياحِ
A young man who gives you deeds with modesty,
As though in my plight, I complained
and does not give you words in glad enthusiasm.
To a submissive man, restless in worry;
كأَنيas though I اذْwhen شكوتُcomplained شكوتُcomplained مابيwhat ails me
كأَني اذْ شكوتُ شكوتُ مابي
الىto مُتَذَللٍa submissive one قَلِقِloose-hanging الوِشَاحِthe sash
الى مُتَذَللٍ قَلِقِ الوِشَاحِ
As though, when I complained, I complained of my plight
A loathing eye and passion
to a yielding one whose sash hangs loose.
Rushing to scorn my disgrace.
يَصُدُّturns away بوجههِwith his face وَهَواهُand his desire عينٌan eye
يَصُدُّ بوجههِ وَهَواهُ عينٌ
علىupon هينيَّmy meekness (unclear reading) عارِمَةُfierce الطمَاحِstraining gaze
على هينيَّ عارِمَةُ الطمَاحِ
He turns his face away, while his desire is an eye
And a bold man set to noble deeds
upon my meekness, fierce in its straining gaze.
Transcending wine and while being sober.
وَشَمَّرَand girded himself للمكارمِfor noble deeds شَمَّرِيُّa resolute man
وَشَمَّرَ للمكارمِ شَمَّرِيُّ
تَخَالُyou would imagine بهin him المُدامةَwine وهوthough he is صَاحِsober
تَخَالُ به المُدامةَ وهو صَاحِ
And a resolute man girded himself for noble deeds—
High of purpose, his comfort rises
you would think him drunk with wine, though he is sober.
To the nobility of courage and generosity.
رفيعُlofty الهمِin aspiration تنهضrise راحتاهُhis two palms
رفيعُ الهمِ تنهض راحتاهُ
الىtoward شَرفِthe nobility الشَّجَاعَةِof courage والسَّمَاحِand generosity
الى شَرفِ الشَّجَاعَةِ والسَّمَاحِ
Lofty in aspiration, his two palms rise
He surprised them, a wealthy man, when he met
to the nobility of courage and generosity.
The present might discarding weapons.
فَفَاجَأَهُمْthen he surprised them غنيٌّself-sufficient حينwhen يَلْقَىhe meets
فَفَاجَأَهُمْ غنيٌّ حين يَلْقَى
بحاضرِwith the readiness شوكتيهِof his two powers عنwithout needing السِّلاحِweapons
بحاضرِ شوكتيهِ عن السِّلاحِ
Then he surprised them, needing at the encounter
Carefree, advancing assured
no weapons, thanks to his two ready powers.
To the edge of blades and armor.
رَخيُّeasy البَالِin mind يُقْدِمُadvances مُطْمَئِنّاًserenely
رَخيُّ البَالِ يُقْدِمُ مُطْمَئِنّاً
علىagainst حَدِّthe edge الأَسِنَّةِof spearheads والصِّفَاحِand sword blades
على حَدِّ الأَسِنَّةِ والصِّفَاحِ
Untroubled in mind, he advances serenely
The horses' chests were struck by his
upon the points of spears and the edges of sword blades.
Unstoppable cries and shouts.
وقدand indeed رُميتْwere assailed صُدورُthe breasts الخَيْلِof horses منهُfrom him
وقد رُميتْ صُدورُ الخَيْلِ منهُ
بمَاضٍwith a resolute man لاnot يُهَدُّis broken منby الصِّيَاحِshouting
بمَاضٍ لا يُهَدُّ من الصِّيَاحِ
And the horses' breasts were assailed by him,
The nimble-footed horse refuses cunning
a resolute warrior whom no shouting can break.
Jabbing at the tips of spears.
جَريُّbold الوثبin leaping يَرْغَبُturns away عنfrom مكَرٍّa charge
جَريُّ الوثب يَرْغَبُ عن مكَرٍّ
يُعَاسِلdodges فيهtherein أطرافَthe points الرِّمَاحِof spears
يُعَاسِل فيه أطرافَ الرِّمَاحِ
Bold in his leaps, he disdains a charge
He relieved their distress and lit their darkness,
where he dodges the points of spears.
The wise of will defies every villain.
فَفَرجَso he relieved كَربَهاits anguish وَجَلاand dispelled عَمَاهَاits blindness
فَفَرجَ كَربَها وَجَلا عَمَاهَا
ذلوقُkeen العَزمِin resolve يعْصيdefies كلَّevery لاحِreproacher
ذلوقُ العَزمِ يعْصي كلَّ لاحِ
So he relieved its anguish and dispelled its blindness,
He did not consider the nights' cycles
keen in resolve, defying every reproacher.
Or the hopes of blissful outcomes.
ولمand did not يَرقُبْawait بهاin it دولَthe turns الليالىof the nights
ولم يَرقُبْ بها دولَ الليالى
ولاnor عدةَthe promise الأَمانىof hopes بالفَلاحِof success
ولا عدةَ الأَمانى بالفَلاحِ
And he did not await in it the turns of the nights,
Through him, the palms of my hands have attained
nor the promise of hopes for success.
Success preceding my steps forward.
بهthrough him نالتْattained بنانُthe fingertips يَدىof my hand وطالتْand grew long
به نالتْ بنانُ يَدى وطالتْ
أَمامَahead of الزَّفِthe down feathers قَادِمَتَاthe two leading feathers جَنَاحيof my wing
أَمامَ الزَّفِ قَادِمَتَا جَنَاحي
Through him my fingertips found success, and there grew long
I was not the first to see him,
ahead of the down the two leading feathers of my wing.
Smooth of skin, prosperous of regions.
وَمَاand not وُدِّىmy affection لأولfor the first منwhom تَرَاهُyou see
وَمَا وُدِّى لأول من تَرَاهُ
صقيلgleaming البشْرin cheerful countenance مَعْمُورَprosperous النَّواحيin his surroundings
صقيل البشْر مَعْمُورَ النَّواحي
And my affection is not for the first man you see
Deeds have preceded him in my eyes,
with a gleaming smile and prosperous surroundings.
Clarifying his frank generosity.
وقدand already سَبقتْhave preceded لهof his عندىwith me أَيادٍfavors
وقد سَبقتْ له عندى أَيادٍ
مُبيناتٌevident منof الكرمgenerosity الصُّرَاحِunalloyed
مُبيناتٌ من الكرم الصُّرَاحِ
He has already done me favors,
Those traits, O son of Nasr,
plain manifestations of unalloyed generosity.
Cannot be erased by time.
وتلكand those علىupon السَّوالفِthe sides of the neck ياO بنَson of نَصْرٍNasr
وتلك على السَّوالفِ يا بنَ نَصْرٍ
سِمَاتٌmarks ليسnot يَمْحُوهُنَّerases them مَاحِan eraser
سِمَاتٌ ليس يَمْحُوهُنَّ مَاحِ
And those, on the sides of the neck, O son of Nasr,
are marks no eraser can efface.
Partial English translation: 58 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1