سَلاask, you two ظَبيَةَthe gazelle of الوَعساءthe sandy knoll هَلwhether فَقَدَتshe lost خِشفاa fawn
سَلا ظَبيَةَ الوَعساء هَل فَقَدَت خِشفا
فَإِنَّاfor we لَمَحناglimpsed فيin مَراتِعِهاher grazing grounds طَرفاa gaze
فَإِنَّا لَمَحنا في مَراتِعِها طَرفا
Ask, you two, the gazelle of the sandy knoll whether she has lost a fawn.
Ask the forlorn gazelle, has she lost her fawn?
For we glimpsed a gaze in her grazing grounds.
For we glimpsed among her pastures, a gaze.
وَقولاand say, you two لخوطِto the slender shoot of البانِthe ban tree فَليُمسِكِlet it hold back الصَّباthe east wind
وَقولا لخوطِ البانِ فَليُمسِكِ الصَّبا
عَلَيناfor us فَإِنَّاfor we قَدalready عَرَفناrecognized بِهاin it عَرفاa fragrance
عَلَينا فَإِنَّا قَد عَرَفنا بِها عَرفا
And tell the ban-tree shoot to detain the east wind
And say to the makers of camel-hair tents, let the east wind withhold,
For us, for we have recognized a fragrance in it.
For we have recognized her through it, an acquaintance.
سَرَتit traveled by night مِنfrom هِضابِthe uplands of الشّامِal-Sham وَهيَand it مَريضَةٌwas ailing
سَرَت مِن هِضابِ الشّامِ وَهيَ مَريضَةٌ
فَماso not ظَهَرَتit appeared إِلّاexcept وَقَدand already كادَnearly أَنto يَخفىfade from notice
فَما ظَهَرَت إِلّا وَقَد كادَ أَن يَخفى
It came by night from the uplands of al-Sham, ailing,
She journeyed from the highlands of Syria while sick,
And appeared only when that fragrance had nearly faded.
She did not appear until her traces were nearly erased.
عَليلَةُfaint أَنفاسٍof breath يُداوىis cured بِهاwith it الجَوىlove's burning pain
عَليلَةُ أَنفاسٍ يُداوى بِها الجَوى
وَضَعفاًand weakness وَلَكِنَّاand yet we نُرَجّيhope for بِهاthrough it ضَعفاweakness
وَضَعفاً وَلَكِنَّا نُرَجّي بِها ضَعفا
With faint breaths that cure love's burning pain
With breath of an invalid that cures yearning,
And weakness—yet through it we hope for weakness.
And weakness, but we hope through it, for weakness.
وَهاتِفَةٍand a calling bird فيin البانِthe ban tree تُمليdictates غَرامَهاher passion
وَهاتِفَةٍ في البانِ تُملي غَرامَها
عَلَيناto us وَتَتلوand recites مِنfrom صَبابَتِهاher longing صُحفاpages
عَلَينا وَتَتلو مِن صَبابَتِها صُحفا
And a calling bird in the ban tree dictates her passion
Calling in the camel-hair tent, dictating her love
To us, and recites pages of her longing.
To us, and reciting from the parchments of her youth.
عجِبتُI marveled لَهاat her تَشكوshe complains of الفِراقَseparation جَهالَةًignorantly
عجِبتُ لَها تَشكو الفِراقَ جَهالَةً
وَقَدand already جاوَبَتshe answered مِنfrom كُلِّevery ناحِيَةٍdirection إِلفاa mate
وَقَد جاوَبَت مِن كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ إِلفا
I marveled at her ignorantly complaining of separation,
I wondered at her complaining of separation in ignorance,
Though she had answered a mate in every direction.
When she has been answered from every side with intimacy.
وَيُشجيand saddens قُلوبَthe hearts of العاشِقينَlovers غِناؤُهاher song
وَيُشجي قُلوبَ العاشِقينَ غِناؤُها
وَماand not فَهِمواthey understood مِمّاof what تَغَنَّتshe sang بِهِof it حَرفاa letter
وَما فَهِموا مِمّا تَغَنَّت بِهِ حَرفا
And her song saddens lovers' hearts,
Her singing melts the hearts of lovers,
Yet they understood not a letter of what she sang.
And they did not understand anything she sang in a verse.
وَلَوand if صَدَقَتshe spoke truthfully فيماin what تَقولُshe says مِنَof الأَسىgrief
وَلَو صَدَقَت فيما تَقولُ مِنَ الأَسى
لَماwould not لَبستshe wore طَوقاًa collar وَلاnor خَضَبَتshe dyed كَفّاa palm
لَما لَبست طَوقاً وَلا خَضَبَت كَفّا
If she spoke truthfully of the grief she describes,
Had she been truthful in her expression of sorrow,
She would not have worn a collar or dyed a palm.
She would not have worn a necklace or dyed her palms.
أَجارَتَناO our neighbor أَذكَرتِyou reminded مَنone who كانَwas ناسِياًforgetful
أَجارَتَنا أَذكَرتِ مَن كانَ ناسِياً
وَأَضرَمتِand you kindled ناراًa fire لِلصَّبابَةِfor yearning ماnot تُطفىis extinguished
وَأَضرَمتِ ناراً لِلصَّبابَةِ ما تُطفى
Our neighbor, you have reminded one who had forgotten,
She brought us comfort by mentioning one who had forgotten,
And kindled a fire of yearning that cannot be quenched.
And kindled a fire for youth that will not be extinguished.
وَفيand in جانِبِthe vicinity of الماءthe water الَّذيwhich تَرِدينَهُyou visit for water
وَفي جانِبِ الماء الَّذي تَرِدينَهُ
مَواعيدُpromises ماnot يُنكِرنَthey disavow ليّاًdelay وَلاnor خُلفاbreach of promise
مَواعيدُ ما يُنكِرنَ ليّاً وَلا خُلفا
Beside the water where you come to drink
And by the side of the water she frequents,
Are promises that disavow neither delay nor breach.
Are promises that time will neither deny nor contravene.
وَمَهزوزَةٍand a swaying bough لِلبانِof the ban tree فيهاin it شَمائِلٌgraces
وَمَهزوزَةٍ لِلبانِ فيها شَمائِلٌ
جَعَلنَthey made لَهُfor it فيin كُلِّevery قافِيَةٍrhyme وَصفاa description
جَعَلنَ لَهُ في كُلِّ قافِيَةٍ وَصفا
And a swaying ban bough has graces
Swaying to the camel-hair tent are attributes
That have made it the subject of every rhyme.
That have given, in every rhyme, a description.
لبسناwe donned عَلَيهاbeside it بِالثَّنِيَّةِat the pass لَيلَةًa night
لبسنا عَلَيها بِالثَّنِيَّةِ لَيلَةً
مِنَof السّودِthe black nights لَمdid not يَطوِfold away الصَّباحُthe dawn لَهاfor it سُجفاcurtains
مِنَ السّودِ لَم يَطوِ الصَّباحُ لَها سُجفا
Beside it, at the pass, we donned a night
We donned upon her one night of the blackest dark,
Of the black nights, whose curtains dawn did not fold away.
That morning uncovered no trace.
لَعَمريby my life لَئِنif indeed طالَتit grew long عَلَيناover us فَإِنَّناfor we indeed
لَعَمري لَئِن طالَت عَلَينا فَإِنَّنا
بِحُكمِby the judgment of الثُّرَيّاthe Pleiades قَدalready قَطَعناwe cut off لَهاfor it كَفّاa hand
بِحُكمِ الثُّرَيّا قَد قَطَعنا لَها كَفّا
By my life, though it stretched long over us, we
By my life, if her absence is prolonged from us,
Had cut off its hand by the Pleiades' judgment.
By decree of fate, we have surely severed ties.
رَمَيناwe hurled بِهاit فيinto الغَربِthe west وَهيَand it ذَميمَةٌwas blameworthy
رَمَينا بِها في الغَربِ وَهيَ ذَميمَةٌ
وَلَمand did not تُبقِleave لِلجَوزاءfor Orion عِقداًa necklace وَلاnor شَنفاan earring
وَلَم تُبقِ لِلجَوزاء عِقداً وَلا شَنفا
We cast it into the west, blameworthy as it was,
We cast her into the west while uncherished,
Nor did it leave Orion a necklace or an earring.
Leaving no necklace or earring for Al-Jawzā'.
كَأَنَّas though الدُّجىthe darkness لَمّاwhen تَوَلَّتwithdrew نُجومُهُits stars
كَأَنَّ الدُّجى لَمّا تَوَلَّت نُجومُهُ
مُدَبِّرُa commander of حَربٍwar قَدalready هَزَمناwe routed لَهُof his صَفّاa battle line
مُدَبِّرُ حَربٍ قَد هَزَمنا لَهُ صَفّا
As though the darkness, when its stars withdrew,
As if when its stars retreated, the night
Were a war commander whose battle line we had routed.
Was an army commander we had routed, rank by rank.
كَأَنَّas though عَلَيهِupon it لِلمَجَرَّةِof the Milky Way رَوضَةًa garden
كَأَنَّ عَلَيهِ لِلمَجَرَّةِ رَوضَةً
مُفَتَّحَةَwith opened الأَنوارِblossoms أَوor نَثرَةa coat of mail زَعفاsupple mail
مُفَتَّحَةَ الأَنوارِ أَو نَثرَة زَعفا
As though the Milky Way were a garden upon it,
As if upon it, the galaxy was a garden
With open blossoms, or a coat of supple mail.
For it, blossoming with stars, or scattering sprays.
كَأَنّاas though we وَقَدand already أُلقيwas cast إِلَيناto us هِلالُهُits crescent
كَأَنّا وَقَد أُلقي إِلَينا هِلالُهُ
سَلَبناهُwe stripped it of تاجاًa crown أَوor فَصَمناwe cracked لَهُfor it وَقفاa bracelet
سَلَبناهُ تاجاً أَو فَصَمنا لَهُ وَقفا
As though we, when its crescent was cast to us,
As if we were thrown its crescent, so we
Had stripped it of a crown or cracked its bracelet.
Robbed it of its crown, or cut off its crescent.
كَأَنَّas though السُّهاal-Suha إِنسانُthe pupil of عَينٍan eye غَريقَةٍdrowned
كَأَنَّ السُّها إِنسانُ عَينٍ غَريقَةٍ
مِنَin الدَّمعِtears تَبدوit appears كُلَّماwhenever ذَرَفَتit shed tears ذَرفاa shedding
مِنَ الدَّمعِ تَبدو كُلَّما ذَرَفَت ذَرفا
As though al-Suha were the pupil of an eye drowned
As if Suhayl was a human with drowned eyes
In tears, appearing whenever the eye sheds them.
That seemed to shed a tear each time it set.
كَأَنَّas though سُهَيلاًSuhayl فارِسٌa horseman عايَنَsaw الوَغىbattle
كَأَنَّ سُهَيلاً فارِسٌ عايَنَ الوَغى
فَفَرَّso he fled وَلَمand did not يَشهَدwitness طِراداًcavalry combat وَلاnor زَحفاan advance
فَفَرَّ وَلَم يَشهَد طِراداً وَلا زَحفا
As though Suhayl were a horseman who saw battle,
As if Suhayl was a knight who witnessed strife
Then fled, witnessing neither cavalry combat nor an advance.
Then fled without attending a raid or battle.
كَأَنَّas though سَناthe radiance of المَرّيخِMars شُعلَةُa flame of قابِسٍa fire-seeker
كَأَنَّ سَنا المَرّيخِ شُعلَةُ قابِسٍ
تَخَطَّفَهاsnatched it عَجلانُa hurried man يَقذِفُهاhe hurls it قَذفاwith a hurl
تَخَطَّفَها عَجلانُ يَقذِفُها قَذفا
As though Mars's glow were a fire-seeker's flame,
As if the spearpoint of Mars was an ember
Snatched by a hurried man who hurls it forcefully.
Snatched by meteors hurtling it onward.
كَأَنَّas though أفولَthe setting of النَّسرِal-Nasr طَرفan eye تَعَلَّقَتclung
كَأَنَّ أفولَ النَّسرِ طَرف تَعَلَّقَت
بِهِto it سِنَةٌdrowsiness ماnot هَبَّit roused مِنهاfrom it وَلاnor أَغفىit fell asleep
بِهِ سِنَةٌ ما هَبَّ مِنها وَلا أَغفى
As though al-Nasr's setting were an eye caught
As if the setting of the eagle was a gaze that
In drowsiness, neither rousing from it nor falling asleep.
Clung to it, neither blinking nor slumbering.
كَأَنَّas though نَصيرَNasir المُلكِal-Mulk سَلَّdrew حُسامَهُhis sword
كَأَنَّ نَصيرَ المُلكِ سَلَّ حُسامَهُ
عَلىagainst اللَّيلِthe night فانصاعَتso scattered كَواكِبُهُits stars كَسفاin fragments
عَلى اللَّيلِ فانصاعَت كَواكِبُهُ كَسفا
As though Nasir al-Mulk had drawn his sword
As if the sword of the sovereign of realms
Against the night, so its stars scattered in fragments.
Had been drawn against the night, so its stars bowed down.
رَعىmay protect اللَّهُGod غَيماًa cloud طَبَّقَcovered الأَرضَthe earth جودُهُits bounty
رَعى اللَّهُ غَيماً طَبَّقَ الأَرضَ جودُهُ
فَلَمso did not يُخلِleave bare سَهلاًa plain مِنof نَداهُits dew وَلاnor نَعفاa hillside
فَلَم يُخلِ سَهلاً مِن نَداهُ وَلا نَعفا
May God guard a cloud whose bounty covered the earth,
May God water a cloud whose rain inundated the land,
Leaving neither plain nor hillside without its dew.
Not sparing a plain from its moisture or plants.
وَحَيّاand may He bless عَلىin رَغمِspite of اللَّياليthe nights خَلائِقاًvirtues
وَحَيّا عَلى رَغمِ اللَّيالي خَلائِقاً
لوif انتَحَلَتهاthey adopted them ماnot ذَمَمناwe blamed لَهاtheir صَرفاturns of fortune
لو انتَحَلَتها ما ذَمَمنا لَها صَرفا
And bless, despite the nights, those virtues:
And revived creations in spite of the nights,
Had the nights adopted them, we would not have blamed their turns.
Had they claimed them we would not have denied them a drink.
وَأَبلَجَand a radiant man أَحياrevived دارِسَthe faded traces of العَدلِjustice بَعدَماafter
وَأَبلَجَ أَحيا دارِسَ العَدلِ بَعدَما
ثَوىlay fallen وَشَقىand afflicted (uncertain reading) المَعروفَbeneficence مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat أَشفىneared death
ثَوى وَشَقى المَعروفَ مِن بَعدِ ما أَشفى
And a radiant man who revived the faded traces of justice after
And brought to life the abode of the just ruler, after
It lay fallen, and afflicted beneficence [uncertain wording] after it had neared death.
He had perished and suffered estrangement from good he once healed.
لَهُhe has نَشوَةintoxication فيin الجودِgenerosity حَتّىso much that كَأَنَّماas though
لَهُ نَشوَة في الجودِ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
يُديرُserves round لَهُto him العافيthe supplicant مُعَتَّقَةًaged wine صِرفاunmixed
يُديرُ لَهُ العافي مُعَتَّقَةً صِرفا
He is so intoxicated with generosity that it is as though
He has such delight in giving until it seems
The supplicant were pouring him aged, unmixed wine.
Fortune revolves around him, purified ore.
خَفِيَّhidden مَرامِthe designs of الكَيدِguile تَفريcleave شَباتُهُhis keen edges
خَفِيَّ مَرامِ الكَيدِ تَفري شَباتُهُ
وَماand not مالَhe deviated عَنfrom نَهجِthe path of الوَقارِdignity وَلاnor خَفّاgrew frivolous
وَما مالَ عَن نَهجِ الوَقارِ وَلا خَفّا
His keen edges cleave the hidden designs of guile,
Hidden are the aims of the sly, his youth
And he has neither strayed from dignity's path nor grown frivolous.
Never deviated from the path of dignity or recoiled.
تَفَرَّدَhe stood apart عَنfrom أَهلِthe people of الزَّمانِthe age بِمَذهَبby a way
تَفَرَّدَ عَن أَهلِ الزَّمانِ بِمَذهَب
يَزيدُhe increases بِهِthrough it مَستورَthe concealed لُؤمِهِمُtheir baseness كَشفاexposure
يَزيدُ بِهِ مَستورَ لُؤمِهِمُ كَشفا
He stood apart from the people of his age by a way
He is singular among the people of this time in his creed
Through which he exposes their hidden baseness still more.
Which adds to the shame of their villainy, exposure.
إِذاwhen أَفقَرواthey impoverish أَغنىhe enriches وَإِنand if هَدَمواthey demolish بَنىhe builds
إِذا أَفقَروا أَغنى وَإِن هَدَموا بَنى
وَإِنand if بَخلواthey withhold أَعطىhe gives وَإِنand if غَدرواthey betray أَوفىhe keeps faith
وَإِن بَخلوا أَعطى وَإِن غَدروا أَوفى
When they impoverish, he enriches; if they demolish, he builds.
If they grow poor, he enriches; if they destroy, he builds;
And if they withhold, he gives; if they betray, he keeps faith.
If they are miserly, he gives; if they betray, he is loyal.
جَرىhe raced سابِقاًahead فيin حَلبَةِthe racecourse of الجودِgenerosity وَحدَهُalone
جَرى سابِقاً في حَلبَةِ الجودِ وَحدَهُ
وَقالَand said العِدىthe enemies كانَwere السَّحابُthe clouds لَهُfor him رِدفاa rear rider
وَقالَ العِدى كانَ السَّحابُ لَهُ رِدفا
He raced alone in the lead on generosity's course,
He surged ahead alone in the arena of generosity,
And his foes said the clouds rode behind him.
And the enemy said, “The clouds were his reinforcements.”
جَمَعتَyou gathered عَلىaround المَعروفِbenevolence شَملَthe company of فَزارَةٍFazarah
جَمَعتَ عَلى المَعروفِ شَملَ فَزارَةٍ
وَثَقَّفتand you straightened بالإِحسانِwith kindness خَيلَهُمُtheir horses الخُنفاthe crooked-gaited
وَثَقَّفت بالإِحسانِ خَيلَهُمُ الخُنفا
You united Fazarah around benevolence,
You have united the family of excellence through benevolence
And with kindness you straightened their crooked-gaited horses.
And made their steeds familiar with kindness and cordiality.
وَقُدَّتand you led إِلَيهِمto them جُلَّةَa distinguished company يَمَنِيَّةًYemeni
وَقُدَّت إِلَيهِم جُلَّةَ يَمَنِيَّةً
فَقَدfor indeed حَمَدواthey praised تِلكَthat المَوَدَّةَaffection وَالحِلفاand alliance
فَقَد حَمَدوا تِلكَ المَوَدَّةَ وَالحِلفا
And you led a distinguished Yemeni company to them;
And you have guided to them the elite of Al-Yaman
For they praised that affection and alliance.
For they have praised that affection and pact.
وَلَوand if كُنتَyou had been فيon يَومthe day of الهباءَةِal-Haba'ah شاهِداًpresent
وَلَو كُنتَ في يَوم الهباءَةِ شاهِداً
لَطالَit would have taken long عَلىfor نَفسِthe soul of الجَذيميِّal-Jadhimi أَنto يَشفىfind relief
لَطالَ عَلى نَفسِ الجَذيميِّ أَن يَشفى
And had you been present on the day of al-Haba'ah,
Had you witnessed the Day of the Elephant,
Al-Jadhimi's soul would have waited long to find relief.
The wound of the confederates would have lingered unhealed.
وَقَدand already أَسنَدَتentrusted كَلبٌKalb إِلَيكَto you أُمورَهاits affairs
وَقَد أَسنَدَت كَلبٌ إِلَيكَ أُمورَها
فَماso not فَقَدتit lacked نَصراًsupport وَلاnor عَدِمَتit was without عُرفاkindness
فَما فَقَدت نَصراً وَلا عَدِمَت عُرفا
Kalb has entrusted its affairs to you,
And a contemptible dog has entrusted its affairs to you,
And has lacked neither support nor kindness.
Never lacking aid or the norm of decency.
وَكَمand how many لَكَyou have فيهِمamong them مِنof يَدٍa benefaction مُلهَمِيَّةٍMulhami
وَكَم لَكَ فيهِم مِن يَدٍ مُلهَمِيَّةٍ
إِذاwhenever انتَجَعَتit seeks pasture أَرخَتit lets down سَحائِبَهاits clouds الوطفاrain-heavy
إِذا انتَجَعَت أَرخَت سَحائِبَها الوطفا
And how many a Mulhami benefaction you have bestowed among them:
How many able hands you have among them,
Whenever it seeks pasture, it lets down its rain-heavy clouds.
That when gripped, pour down their clouds insistently.
أَصابَreceived سِنانSinan دَرَّهاits milk وَهوَand it حافِلٌwas brimming
أَصابَ سِنان دَرَّها وَهوَ حافِلٌ
وَخَلَّفَand left لِلهِرماسِfor al-Hirmas مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him خِلفاa teat
وَخَلَّفَ لِلهِرماسِ مِن بَعدِهِ خِلفا
Sinan received its milk while it brimmed,
Good fortune met its destiny while abundant
And left a teat for al-Hirmas after him.
And left behind for old age a successor.
مَواهِبُgifts فيamong قَيسٍQays وَقَحطانَand Qahtan لَمnot تَدَعthey left
مَواهِبُ في قَيسٍ وَقَحطانَ لَم تَدَع
لَهاfor them حافِراًa hoof يَطويtraversing البِلادَthe lands وَلاnor خُفّاa camel-foot
لَها حافِراً يَطوي البِلادَ وَلا خُفّا
Gifts among Qays and Qahtan have left
Endowments in Qays and Qahtan did not leave
Neither hoof nor camel-foot of theirs traversing the lands.
For it a hoof to traverse lands or a foot to tread.
أَقامَتthey remained عَلىin الأَوطانِthe homelands تَشرَبُdrinking ماءَهاtheir water
أَقامَت عَلى الأَوطانِ تَشرَبُ ماءَها
نَميراًsweet and wholesome وتَرعىand grazing رَوضَهاtheir meadows خَضِلاًlush وَحفاdense
نَميراً وتَرعى رَوضَها خَضِلاً وَحفا
They remained in their homelands, drinking their water
It inhabited the lands, drinking their water
Sweet and wholesome, and grazing their meadows, lush and dense.
Lush and grazing its meadows, fresh and mowed.
وَقَدand already بَدَرَتburst forth فيagainst بُحتُرٍBuhtur لَكof yours غَضبَةٌan outburst of anger
وَقَد بَدَرَت في بُحتُرٍ لَك غَضبَةٌ
مَنَحتَهُمُyou gave them فيهاin it القَساوَةَharshness وَالعُنفاand violence
مَنَحتَهُمُ فيها القَساوَةَ وَالعُنفا
An outburst of your anger has struck Buhtur;
A thunderbolt sparked for you in Buhturi
In it you dealt them harshness and violence.
In which you unleashed upon them severity and violence.
فَدانواso they submitted لأَطرافِto the points of الأَسِنَّةِthe spearheads عُنوَةby force
فَدانوا لأَطرافِ الأَسِنَّةِ عُنوَة
وَكانواand they were لِقاحاًunruled مارَضواthey did not accept خُطَّةًa condition خَسفاof abasement
وَكانوا لِقاحاً مارَضوا خُطَّةً خَسفا
So they submitted by force to the points of spears,
They were subdued by the edges of sharp swords,
Though they had been unruled, accepting no condition of abasement.
And were plunder, never consenting to injury or defeat.
إِذاwhen نَظَرواthey saw خِصبَthe fertility of السَّوادِthe countryside وَدونَهُand before it
إِذا نَظَروا خِصبَ السَّوادِ وَدونَهُ
سُيوفُكَyour swords حارواthey were bewildered لاneither أَماماًforward وَلاnor خَلفاbackward
سُيوفُكَ حاروا لا أَماماً وَلا خَلفا
When they saw the fertile countryside, guarded by
When they looked upon the fertility of the land and beneath it
Your swords, they stood bewildered, neither forward nor back.
Your swords, they recoiled, neither forward nor backward.
وَماand not حَلَبُAleppo الوَرهاءthe foolish إِلّاexcept خَريدَةa maiden
وَما حَلَبُ الوَرهاء إِلّا خَريدَة
عَطَفتَyou showed affection عَلَيهاtoward her ثُمَّthen طَلَّقتَهاyou divorced her أَلفاa thousand times
عَطَفتَ عَلَيها ثُمَّ طَلَّقتَها أَلفا
Foolish Aleppo is nothing but a maiden:
The milking of the camel was nothing but a peddled trinket
You showed her affection, then divorced her a thousand times.
You were charitable to it, then released it, a thousand-fold.
فَإِنso if ظَهَرَتappeared فيهاin her عيوبfaults كَثيرَةmany
فَإِن ظَهَرَت فيها عيوب كَثيرَة
فَماthen not عَدِمَتshe lacked وَجداًlonging عَلَيكَfor you وَلاnor لَهفاanguished regret
فَما عَدِمَت وَجداً عَلَيكَ وَلا لَهفا
If many faults have appeared in her,
If many flaws appeared in it, it never lacked
She has not lacked longing for you or anguished regret.
Affection from you, fervor, or eagerness.
وَإِنand if كَفَرَتshe denied آياتُthe signs of جودِكyour generosity ضَلَّةًin error
وَإِن كَفَرَت آياتُ جودِك ضَلَّةً
فَماthen not طَلَبَتshe sought إِلّاexcept الصَّواعِقَthunderbolts وَالخَسفاand engulfment by the earth
فَما طَلَبَت إِلّا الصَّواعِقَ وَالخَسفا
And if, in error, she denied the signs of your generosity,
And if its signs of generosity went astray,
She sought only thunderbolts and to be swallowed by the earth.
It only sought thunderbolts and tremors.
وَقَدand already عَرَّسَتcamped فيهاin her الخُطوبُcalamities مُقيمَةًremaining
وَقَد عَرَّسَت فيها الخُطوبُ مُقيمَةً
فَلاso may not عَدِمَتshe lack مِنfrom بَعدِكَafter you الجورَinjustice وَالعَسفاand oppression
فَلا عَدِمَت مِن بَعدِكَ الجورَ وَالعَسفا
Calamities have camped within her to stay;
In it, enduring marriages have settled,
May she never be spared injustice and oppression after you.
Never lacking after you injustice or tyranny.
لَكَto you الخَيرُgood fortune قَدalready وَفَّيتَyou fulfilled جودَكَyour generosity فَرضَهُits due
لَكَ الخَيرُ قَد وَفَّيتَ جودَكَ فَرضَهُ
وَمَنand whoever بَذَلَexpended المَجهودَthe utmost effort فيin شُكرِهِgratitude for it وَفّىfulfilled his duty
وَمَن بَذَلَ المَجهودَ في شُكرِهِ وَفّى
Good be yours: you have paid your generosity its due,
Goodness belongs to you, for you have fulfilled your duty of generosity,
And whoever gives his utmost in thanks for it has paid his due.
And one who makes the effort to show gratitude has been loyal.
وَليand I have فيكَin your praise مِنof غُرِّthe radiant القَوافيrhymes فَضائِلٌexcellences
وَلي فيكَ مِن غُرِّ القَوافي فَضائِلٌ
تُقَبَّلُare kissed أَفواهُthe mouths of الرُّواةِreciters لَهاfor them رَشفاin sips
تُقَبَّلُ أَفواهُ الرُّواةِ لَها رَشفا
And in your praise I have excellences of radiant rhyme,
Mine are, in you, from the precious rhymes, virtues
For which reciters' mouths are kissed, sip by sip.
That make the mouths of transmitters kiss them, sipping.
يَنِمُّreveals بِهاthem طيبُthe fragrance of النَّسيمِthe breeze إِذاwhen هَفاit wafts
يَنِمُّ بِها طيبُ النَّسيمِ إِذا هَفا
وَيَنشُرُهاand spreads them نُورُblossoms الرِّياضِof the gardens إِذاwhen رَفاthey sway
وَيَنشُرُها نُورُ الرِّياضِ إِذا رَفا
The breeze's fragrance reveals them as it wafts,
With it the fragrance of the breeze exhales, when it stirs,
And garden blossoms spread them when they sway.
And the light of the gardens disseminates it, when it eases.
وَماand not ادّعىI claim دُرَّpearls الكَلامِof speech لأَنَّهُbecause they are
وَما ادّعى دُرَّ الكَلامِ لأَنَّهُ
صِفاتُكَyour attributes إِلّاexcept أَنَّنيthat I أحسِنُdo well الرَّصفاthe arrangement
صِفاتُكَ إِلّا أَنَّني أحسِنُ الرَّصفا
I do not claim the pearls of speech as mine, for they are
The pearls of poetry never claimed to be
Your attributes; I only arrange them well.
Your attributes, except that I excel in stringing them.
Sol 6.1