أَمَّاas for الغَرامُpassion بِهاfor her فعادَso it returned كَمَاas بَداit arose
أَمَّا الغَرامُ بِها فعادَ كَمَا بَدا
وهِلاَلُand the crescent وَجْنَتِهاof her cheek أَضَلَّled astray كَماas هَدىit guided
وهِلاَلُ وَجْنَتِها أَضَلَّ كَما هَدى
As for passion for her, it returned as it first arose.
My love for her has returned as it began,
And the crescent of her cheek led astray just as it guided.
And her crescent, like her cheek, misleads as it guides.
عِشقٌa love يُجَدِّدُهrenews it الزَّمانُtime كَحُسْنِهاlike her beauty
عِشقٌ يُجَدِّدُه الزَّمانُ كَحُسْنِها
فكِلاَهُماso both of them أَبَداًforever تَراهُyou see it مُجَدَّداًrenewed
فكِلاَهُما أَبَداً تَراهُ مُجَدَّداً
A love that time renews, like her beauty;
A passion renewed by time like her beauty,
both you forever see renewed.
So both will be seen ever renewed.
ياO طولَthe length of عِشْقِيmy love لِلْحَبيبِfor the beloved مُقَنَّعاًveiled
يا طولَ عِشْقِي لِلْحَبيبِ مُقَنَّعاً
إِذْsince لاَnot يزالُceases يَراهُsees him طَرفِيmy eye أَمْرَدَاbeardless
إِذْ لاَ يزالُ يَراهُ طَرفِي أَمْرَدَا
Oh, how long I have loved the veiled beloved,
Oh long is my concealed love for the beloved!
since my eye still sees him beardless.
For my eyes still see him though he's far.
وحبيبةٍand a beloved woman رقَّsoftened العَدُوُّthe enemy وَقَدwhile indeed قَستْshe grew cruel
وحبيبةٍ رقَّ العَدُوُّ وَقَد قَستْ
ظُلْماًunjustly فأَيُّهمَاso which of the two يُعَدُّis counted مِنamong الْعِدَىthe enemies
ظُلْماً فأَيُّهمَا يُعَدُّ مِن الْعِدَى
And a beloved: the enemy softened, while she grew cruel
A lover whose foe was cruel to a tender love -
unjustly—which of the two should count as an enemy?
Which of them then is guilty of wrong?
نادتcalled out ملاحَتُهاher loveliness عليهاabout her جهرَةًaloud
نادت ملاحَتُها عليها جهرَةً
فأَجابso answered قَلْبيmy heart قَبْلَbefore أَنْthat سَمِعit heard النِّدَاthe call
فأَجاب قَلْبي قَبْلَ أَنْ سَمِع النِّدَا
Her loveliness proclaimed her aloud,
Her eyes called to me loudly,
and my heart answered before it heard the call.
And my heart answered ere my ears heard the call.
كحْلاءُnaturally dark-eyed ماnot كَحَلَتْshe lined with kohl جُفُونِيmy eyelids بالْكَرَىwith sleep
كحْلاءُ ما كَحَلَتْ جُفُونِي بالْكَرَى
فَعَلامَso why تُبْصِرُهَاsee her جُفونِيmy eyelids مِرْوَدَاa kohl-stick
فَعَلامَ تُبْصِرُهَا جُفونِي مِرْوَدَا
Dark-eyed, she never lined my eyelids with sleep;
Like kohl, her eyes lined mine with black -
so why do my eyelids see her as a kohl-stick?
Why then do my eyes still appear darkened?
كُحْلٌkohl عَلىupon كَحَلٍnatural eye-darkness ومَاand not احْتَاجَتْshe needed لَهُof it
كُحْلٌ عَلى كَحَلٍ ومَا احْتَاجَتْ لَهُ
إِلاَّexcept لِتَسْقِينيَto give me drink السُّلافَchoice wine مُوَلَّدَاof mixed origin
إِلاَّ لِتَسْقِينيَ السُّلافَ مُوَلَّدَا
Kohl upon natural darkness—she had no need of it
Kohl above kohl - and she needed it not,
except to give me a blended vintage to drink.
Save to water my heart with passion made new.
لمdid not تصدئrust الأَيَّامُthe days سيفَthe sword of لِحَاظِهاher glances
لم تصدئ الأَيَّامُ سيفَ لِحَاظِها
لكِنْbut عَلَىupon الشَّفَتَينthe two lips أَبْصَرْتُI saw الصَّداrust
لكِنْ عَلَى الشَّفَتَين أَبْصَرْتُ الصَّدا
Time did not rust the sword of her glances,
Time has not rusted her sword of allure -
but upon her lips I saw rust.
But on her lips I saw the tatters.
ماwhat لِلنِّسَاءِfor women وللسِّلاحِand for weapons وَحَمْلِهِand bearing them
ما لِلنِّسَاءِ وللسِّلاحِ وَحَمْلِهِ
أَوَمَاand have not? جُفونُكِyour eyelids قَدْalready حَمَلْنَthey bore مُهَنَّدَاan Indian-steel sword
أَوَمَا جُفونُكِ قَدْ حَمَلْنَ مُهَنَّدَا
What have women to do with weapons and bearing them?
What have women to do with bearing arms?
Have your eyelids not already borne an Indian sword?
Or have your lashes borne the litter?
وإِذاand if حَمَلْنَthey bear مُهَنَّداًan Indian-steel sword فِيamid فِتْنَةٍseduction
وإِذا حَمَلْنَ مُهَنَّداً فِي فِتْنَةٍ
فَمِنَso from الضَّرورَةِnecessity أَنْthat يَكُونit be مُجَرَّداunsheathed
فَمِنَ الضَّرورَةِ أَنْ يَكُون مُجَرَّدا
And if they bear an Indian sword amid seduction,
And if they've borne the litter in sedition,
it must, of necessity, be unsheathed.
It's only right they should go forth unsaddled!
عَهْدِيmy recollection بطيفِكof your phantom بَعْدَafter بُعْدِكِyour departure قَاضِياًdischarging
عَهْدِي بطيفِك بَعْدَ بُعْدِكِ قَاضِياً
حقِّيmy due عليكِowed by you فَماso what عَداhas changed فِيماin what بَداappeared
حقِّي عليكِ فَما عَدا فِيما بَدا
I knew your phantom, after your departure, to discharge
My pledge, after your distance, binds me still
your debt to me—what has changed in what once appeared?
To my claim on you - let the rest fall as it may.
رفعwas withdrawn الجميلُkindness وكانthough he was مبتدئاًbeginning بهwith it
رفع الجميلُ وكان مبتدئاً به
أَوَand is it لَيْسَnot قَدْindeed أَمَرُواthey ordered بِرَفْعِto raise المُبْتَداthe grammatical subject
أَوَ لَيْسَ قَدْ أَمَرُوا بِرَفْعِ المُبْتَدا
Kindness was withdrawn, though he had begun with it;
"Raise the beautiful!" - and it began with her;
have they not ordered the grammatical subject to be 'raised'?
Or isn't one commanded to begin with beauty?
عَلِمَknew الزَّمانُTime عَنِfrom الجِناسِpunning تَرَفُّعِيmy aloofness
عَلِمَ الزَّمانُ عَنِ الجِناسِ تَرَفُّعِي
فَلِذَاكَso for that reason مَاnot جَمعit joined الجِدَايةَthe gazelle-fawn والجَدَىand bounty
فَلِذَاكَ مَا جَمع الجِدَايةَ والجَدَى
Time knew that I held myself above punning,
Time knew my disdain for punning,
so it never joined the gazelle-fawn with bounty.
And so refused to pair scimitar and kindness.
ياO عاذِلينreproachers وَكَومْand how many يبيتُspend the night مفنِّداcensuring
يا عاذِلين وَكَومْ يبيتُ مفنِّدا
بِكُمُat your urging ويُبْصِرُهاand sees her فَيُصْبِحthen becomes by morning مُسعِدَاsupportive
بِكُمُ ويُبْصِرُها فَيُصْبِح مُسعِدَا
O reproachers, how many spend the night censuring me
Oh you fault-finders, through whom would one sleep troubled
at your urging, then see her and by morning lend me aid!
By you, and wake happy your love to see?
قَسَمswore الغَرَامُpassion بِهاby her وَكُنْتُمwhile you were غُيَّباًabsent
قَسَم الغَرَامُ بِها وَكُنْتُم غُيَّباً
فيin العَذلِreproach والعشَّاقِand the lovers كَانُواwere شُهَّداًwitnesses
في العَذلِ والعشَّاقِ كَانُوا شُهَّداً
Passion swore by her while you were absent
Passion swore by her while you were absent
in the matter of reproach, and the lovers were witnesses.
In censure - and the lovers bore witness!
حبسٌreserved عليكمُfor you عدْلُكمyour rectitude لكنَّهمْbut they
حبسٌ عليكمُ عدْلُكم لكنَّهمْ
بَاعُوهthey sold it واشْتَروُاand bought الضَّلالةَerror بِالْهُدىwith guidance
بَاعُوه واشْتَروُا الضَّلالةَ بِالْهُدى
Your rectitude is reserved for you, but they
Your fairness imprisons you - yet they
sold it, buying error with guidance.
Sold it, and bought error with guidance.
لاnot يَرْجعُturns back الكَلِفُthe lovesick one المشوقُthe yearning one عَنِfrom الْهَوىlove
لا يَرْجعُ الكَلِفُ المشوقُ عَنِ الْهَوى
أَوunless يَرْجعُturns back الملكُthe king العَزِيزُal-ʿAzīz عَنِfrom النَّدَىbounty
أَو يَرْجعُ الملكُ العَزِيزُ عَنِ النَّدَى
The lovesick, yearning lover will not turn away from love
The ardent king does not turn back from passion,
unless King al-ʿAzīz turns away from bounty.
Nor the mighty king retract the promise.
هيهَاتَfar be it يَرْجعُhe turn back عَنْfrom سَجِيِّةِthe innate disposition of خَلْقِهhis natural makeup
هيهَاتَ يَرْجعُ عَنْ سَجِيِّةِ خَلْقِه
أَعْلَىthe loftiest الملوكِof kings سَماًin elevation وأَنْداهُمand the most generous of them يَداًin hand
أَعْلَى الملوكِ سَماً وأَنْداهُم يَداً
Far be it that he abandon his inborn nature,
Never will he go against his nature -
the loftiest of kings in eminence, the most generous of hand.
The loftiest of kings, highest in rank and most generous.
مَلكُking الملوكِof kings وإِنand even if سمعتَyou hear بِغَيْرِهof another
مَلكُ الملوكِ وإِن سمعتَ بِغَيْرِه
خُذْtake مَاwhat تَرَاهُyou see وعَدَّand reckon قَدْalready عَداhas passed
خُذْ مَا تَرَاهُ وعَدَّ قَدْ عَدا
King of kings—even if you hear of another,
King of kings - though you hear another claimed,
take what you see, and reckon all else as past.
Take what you see and reckon him passed.
وإِذاand if وصلْتَyou reach إِلىto السَّحائِبthe clouds قَبْلَهbefore him
وإِذا وصلْتَ إِلى السَّحائِب قَبْلَه
فاعْلَمthen know بِأَنَّكthat you ماnot نَقَعْتَquenched بِهاwith them صَدَىthirst
فاعْلَم بِأَنَّك ما نَقَعْتَ بِها صَدَى
And if you reach the clouds before reaching him,
And if you reach the clouds before him,
know that you have quenched no thirst with them.
Know you've not attained his lofty heights.
تعنُوbow الملوكُthe kings لِوجْهِهِbefore his face بوجُوهِهاwith their faces
تعنُو الملوكُ لِوجْهِهِ بوجُوهِها
وتَظَلُّand remain سادَتُهاtheir lords لَديْهbefore him أَعْبُداslaves
وتَظَلُّ سادَتُها لَديْه أَعْبُدا
Kings bow their faces before his face,
Kings worship his face with their faces,
and their lords remain slaves in his presence.
And their grandees abase themselves before him.
وإِلَيْهand to him تَأْتِيthey come حِينwhen تَأْتِيthey come خُشَّعاًhumbly bowed
وإِلَيْه تَأْتِي حِين تَأْتِي خُشَّعاً
وعلَيْهand into his presence تَدْخُلthey enter حِينَwhen تَدْخُلthey enter سُجَّداprostrate
وعلَيْه تَدْخُل حِينَ تَدْخُل سُجَّدا
To him they come, whenever they come, humbly bowed;
To him they come in meekness when they come meekly,
into his presence they enter, whenever they enter, prostrate.
And before him they fall prostrate when they prostrate.
فترىso you see مَواهِبَهاtheir gifts بِنَائِلِهbeside his largesse هَبَاdust
فترى مَواهِبَها بِنَائِلِه هَبَا
وَتَرىand you see سِيَادَتَهاtheir lordship بِسؤْدُدِهbeside his nobility سُدَىworthless
وَتَرى سِيَادَتَها بِسؤْدُدِه سُدَى
You see their gifts as dust beside his bounty,
Thus you see their gifts brought by his glory,
and their lordship as nothing beside his nobility.
And their power eclipsed by his power.
يأْتونَهthey come to him طَوْعاًwillingly وَكَرْهاًand unwillingly طائعٌan obedient one
يأْتونَه طَوْعاً وَكَرْهاً طائعٌ
ورَدَreached الغِنَىwealth أَوْor كَارِهٌan unwilling one وَرَدَreached الرَّدَىdoom
ورَدَ الغِنَى أَوْ كَارِهٌ وَرَدَ الرَّدَى
They come to him willingly and unwillingly: the willing one
Willingly or not they come, obedient,
reaches wealth, or the unwilling one reaches doom.
Whether wealthy or destitute.
ويُنيلُand he grants طائعَهاtheir obedient one البلادَlands تكرُّماgenerously
ويُنيلُ طائعَها البلادَ تكرُّما
لَمَّاsince ترفَّعhe disdained أَنْto يُنيلَbestow العَسْجَداgold
لَمَّا ترفَّع أَنْ يُنيلَ العَسْجَدا
He grants lands to their obedient one out of generosity,
He gives the lands of the obedient generously
since he disdains to bestow gold.
Since he is too lofty to be meanly giv'n.
وَيُذيقُand he makes taste عاصيَةthe rebellious one العذابَtorment لأَنَّهbecause he
وَيُذيقُ عاصيَة العذابَ لأَنَّه
للخلقِtoward mankind عَادَىshowed hostility أَوor عَلىagainst الخلقِmankind اعْتَدَىcommitted aggression
للخلقِ عَادَى أَو عَلى الخلقِ اعْتَدَى
And he makes the rebellious taste torment, because he
And he makes the defiant taste punishment, for he
has shown enmity to mankind or assaulted them.
Has wronged creation or transgressed against it.
ولرُبّand many an جانoffender قدindeed جَنَىoffended مُتَعَمِّداًdeliberately
ولرُبّ جان قد جَنَى مُتَعَمِّداً
فَتَراهُyet you see him عَنْهُconcerning him قدindeed عَفَاpardoned مُتَعَمِّداًdeliberately
فَتَراهُ عَنْهُ قد عَفَا مُتَعَمِّداً
Many an offender has committed his crime deliberately,
And for many a wilful rebel
yet you see him pardon that offender deliberately.
He forgives, though intending fully to punish.
ملكَhe mastered الأَعَادِيthe enemies هيبةًthrough awe ومحبَّةًand through affection
ملكَ الأَعَادِي هيبةً ومحبَّةً
حتىuntil تودَّthey wish بأَنْthat تكونَthey be لهfor him الفِدَاthe ransom
حتى تودَّ بأَنْ تكونَ له الفِدَا
He mastered his enemies through awe and affection,
The king of foes - revered and beloved!
until they wished to be his ransom.
Until you wish to be sacrificed for his sake.
نَجْمٌa star علاَrose بَدْرٌa full moon بداappeared سيفٌa sword سَطاstruck
نَجْمٌ علاَ بَدْرٌ بدا سيفٌ سَطا
بَحْرa sea طَمَاswelled غيثٌrain هَمَىpoured لَيْثٌa lion عَدَاcharged
بَحْر طَمَا غيثٌ هَمَى لَيْثٌ عَدَا
A star that rose, a full moon that appeared, a sword that struck;
A star rose; a full moon appeared; a sword flashed;
a sea that swelled, rain that poured, a lion that charged.
A sea raged; a cloud threatened; a lion charged -
لِلهto God عَزْمَتُهhis resolve الَّتِيwhich لاَnot تَرْتَوِيdrinks its fill
لِله عَزْمَتُه الَّتِي لاَ تَرْتَوِي
حَتَّىuntil تكُونَbecomes لهاfor it المَجَرَّةُthe Milky Way مَوْرِدَاa watering place
حَتَّى تكُونَ لها المَجَرَّةُ مَوْرِدَا
God be praised for his resolve, which will not drink its fill
By his resolve that will not be sated
until the Milky Way becomes its watering place.
Until the galaxy is its watering hole.
ولقدand indeed أَقامraised الدينَthe faith بَعْدafter قُعودِهits sitting down
ولقد أَقام الدينَ بَعْد قُعودِه
عَزْمٌa resolve أَقَامmade rise الدَّهرَTime منهbecause of it واَقْعَداand made sit
عَزْمٌ أَقَام الدَّهرَ منه واَقْعَدا
And faith was indeed raised after it had sunk down
And indeed he established religion after its decline
by a resolve that made Time stand up and sit down.
Through resolve that made the age rise and sit.
ضربَhe struck الرِّقابَnecks وسيفُهwhile his sword فيin غِمْدِهits sheath
ضربَ الرِّقابَ وسيفُه في غِمْدِه
بأْساًby sheer might فكَيْفso how تَظُنُّهdo you imagine him لوif جَرَّدَاhe unsheathed it
بأْساً فكَيْف تَظُنُّه لو جَرَّدَا
He struck necks while his sword remained in its sheath,
His sword struck heads while sheathed -
by sheer might—what would you think of him if he drew it?
Imagine then how it would be if he drew it bare!
إِيَّاكَbeware فَاحْذَرْso beware مِنْهof him إِمَّاwhether فيin الحديـthe iron (continued)
إِيَّاكَ فَاحْذَرْ مِنْه إِمَّا في الحديـ
ـدِcompletion of 'iron' إِذَاwhen اجْتَبىhe chooses أَوْor بِالْحُسامwith the sword إِذَاwhen ارْتَدىhe clothes himself
ـدِ إِذَا اجْتَبى أَوْ بِالْحُسام إِذَا ارْتَدى
Take heed! Beware of him, whether in iron—
Beware of him whether selecting by merit
—when he chooses it, or with the sword when he clothes himself.
Or donning the swords for justice.
شهِدhe took part in الحروبَwars فكانَand was أَشْجَعbravest خَاطِراًin spirit
شهِد الحروبَ فكانَ أَشْجَع خَاطِراً
وأَشَدَّand stoutest عَارضَةًin resolve وأَكرَمَand noblest مَشْهَدَاin presence
وأَشَدَّ عَارضَةً وأَكرَمَ مَشْهَدَا
He took part in wars and proved the bravest in spirit,
He witnessed wars, of stoutest heart,
the stoutest in resolve and the noblest in presence.
Fiercest in onslaught, and noblest in aspect.
يهوَىhe loves الحُسَامَthe sword منfrom الضرابstriking مغلجاًnotched
يهوَى الحُسَامَ من الضراب مغلجاً
ويراهand he sees it خداًa cheek بالدماءwith blood مورداmade rosy
ويراه خداً بالدماء موردا
He loves the sword when blows have notched it,
Passionately he wields the sword in fray
and sees it as a cheek made rosy with blood.
And sees it as a cheek stained with blood.
يعفرhe casts into dust الشجعانthe brave warriors فيon يومِthe day of الوَغَىbattle
يعفر الشجعان في يومِ الوَغَى
بمُهَنَّدٍwith an Indian-steel sword يَذَرُleaves الشُّجَاعَthe brave warrior مُقَدَّدَاcut into strips
بمُهَنَّدٍ يَذَرُ الشُّجَاعَ مُقَدَّدَا
He casts brave warriors into dust on the day of battle
In the day of battle he kneads the brave
with an Indian blade that leaves the brave man cut into strips.
With a burnished sword that hews the valiant.
ضربٌa stroke يَقُدُّhe cleaves بِهwith it الكميَّthe armored warrior ودِرْعَهand his armor
ضربٌ يَقُدُّ بِه الكميَّ ودِرْعَه
وبِدَادَهand his saddle-pads وجَوادَهُand his steed وَالْجَلْمَداand hard rock
وبِدَادَه وجَوادَهُ وَالْجَلْمَدا
A stroke with which he cleaves the armored warrior and his armor,
A blow that drives through armour and mail
his saddle-pads, his steed, and hard rock.
And splits saddle, steed and man.
عجزَproved unable الملوكُthe kings بماat what نهضتَyou rose بحمْلهِto carry it
عجزَ الملوكُ بما نهضتَ بحمْلهِ
وسهرتَand you kept vigil فيهover it حِينَwhile باتُواthey spent the night هُجَّداasleep
وسهرتَ فيه حِينَ باتُوا هُجَّدا
Kings proved unequal to what you rose to carry,
Kings fell short of what you carried,
and you kept vigil over it while they lay asleep.
And what through night vigil you perfected.
أَرضيتَyou pleased رَبَّكَyour Lord فيin حِرَاسَةِguarding دينهِHis religion
أَرضيتَ رَبَّكَ في حِرَاسَةِ دينهِ
وسَرَرْتَand you gladdened عِيسىJesus إِذْwhen نَصَرْتَyou supported مُحَمَّداMuhammad
وسَرَرْتَ عِيسى إِذْ نَصَرْتَ مُحَمَّدا
You pleased your Lord in guarding His religion,
You satisfied your Lord in guarding his religion,
and gladdened Jesus when you supported Muhammad.
And gladdened Jesus when you supported Muhammad.
ماnot نالَتattained الأَملاكُthe kings ماwhat قدindeed نلتَyou attained فيin
ما نالَت الأَملاكُ ما قد نلتَ في
عصرِthe season of الشَّبابِyouth وبَعْدمَاand after بَعُدgrew long المَدَىthe span
عصرِ الشَّبابِ وبَعْدمَا بَعُد المَدَى
Kings have not gained what you gained in
No kingdoms attained what you attained
youth—even after their course had run far.
In the prime of youth, after the length of days.
كلٌّeach يَغُضُّlowers الطرفَthe gaze عنكَfrom you مَهابَةًin awe
كلٌّ يَغُضُّ الطرفَ عنكَ مَهابَةً
كالشَّمسِlike the sun يُبصرهاhe sees it بِعَيْنَيْwith the two eyes of أَرْمَداa sore-eyed person
كالشَّمسِ يُبصرها بِعَيْنَيْ أَرْمَدا
Each lowers his gaze from you in awe,
All avert their gaze from you in awe
as one with inflamed eyes looks upon the sun.
As from the sun whose glare the sightless bear.
آثارُthe traces of عدلِكyour justice فيamong البَرِيَّةِhumankind تُقْتَفَىare followed
آثارُ عدلِك في البَرِيَّةِ تُقْتَفَى
وَبِدِينand by the creed of فَضْلِكَyour virtue فيin السياسةgovernance يقتديone takes example
وَبِدِين فَضْلِكَ في السياسة يقتدي
The traces of your justice are followed among humankind,
The traces of your justice in the land are followed,
and in governance your virtue's creed is followed.
And your excellent governance is emulated.
منwhoever رامsought شأوthe height of علاكyour eminence ماتdied مفصصاًdismembered
من رام شأو علاك مات مفصصاً
إنif ماتhe dies أَوْor إِنْif عَاشَhe lives عَاشَhe lives مُنَكَّدَاwretched
إن مات أَوْ إِنْ عَاشَ عَاشَ مُنَكَّدَا
Whoever seeks to reach your height dies dismembered,
He who sought to rival your glory died frustrated,
if he dies; or, if he lives, he lives in misery.
Whether he died or lived on embittered.
البحرُthe sea أَنْتَyou وأَنتَand you أَنْدىmore generous رَاحَةًof hand
البحرُ أَنْتَ وأَنتَ أَنْدى رَاحَةً
والدَّهرُand Time أَنْتَyou وأَنْتَand you أَشرفُnobler مَحَتِدَاin lineage
والدَّهرُ أَنْتَ وأَنْتَ أَشرفُ مَحَتِدَا
You are the sea, yet more bountiful of hand;
You are the sea, most excellent in calm waters,
and you are Time, yet nobler in lineage.
You are time, most noble in aiming high.
Sol 6.1