قَدindeed قَنِعناwe have been content مِنin place of وَصلِكُمyour union with us بِالخَيالِwith the phantom
قَد قَنِعنا مِن وَصلِكُم بِالخَيالِ
وَرَضيناand we have been satisfied مِنin place of وَعدِكُمyour promise بِالمِطالِwith procrastination
وَرَضينا مِن وَعدِكُم بِالمِطالِ
We have been content with a phantom in place of your union,
and satisfied with delay in place of your promise.
وَصَبَرناand we have endured عَلىin the face of مِلالِكُمُyour weariness of us الزّاthe surpassing (start)
وَصَبَرنا عَلى مِلالِكُمُ الزّا
ئِدِsurpassing (end) عَنbeyond كُلِّevery مَذهَبٍmanner فيin المِلالِweariness
ئِدِ عَن كُلِّ مَذهَبٍ في المِلالِ
And we endured your weariness of us, surpassing
every manner of weariness.
وَرَأَيناand we saw دِيارَكُمyour dwellings فَعَرَفناand so we recognized
وَرَأَينا دِيارَكُم فَعَرَفنا
كُلَّevery رَسمtrace بالٍworn بِجِسمby a body باليworn away
كُلَّ رَسم بالٍ بِجِسم بالي
We saw your dwellings and recognized
every worn trace by a body worn away.
دارِساتeffaced وَناحِلينَand emaciated فَبماso by what يُفis distinguished (start)
دارِسات وَناحِلينَ فَبما يُف
رَقُdistinguished (end) بَينَbetween العُشّاقِthe lovers وَالأَطلالِand the ruins
رَقُ بَينَ العُشّاقِ وَالأَطلالِ
They are effaced, we emaciated—how can one distinguish
between lovers and ruins?
أَيُّهاO اللائِمونَyou reproachers كُفُّواdesist فَماfor how أغheedless (start)
أَيُّها اللائِمونَ كُفُّوا فَما أغ
فَلَheedless (end) مَنone who نامَsleeps عَنunaware of طولِthe length of اللَّياليthe nights
فَلَ مَن نامَ عَن طولِ اللَّيالي
O reproachers, desist! How heedless
is one who sleeps, unaware how long the nights are!
خَبِّروناtell us عَنِabout الكَرىslumber وَاسمَعواand hear
خَبِّرونا عَنِ الكَرى وَاسمَعوا
مِنّاfrom us حَديثَthe tale of الغَرامِpassion وَالبِلبالِand anguish
مِنّا حَديثَ الغَرامِ وَالبِلبالِ
Tell us about slumber, and hear
from us the tale of passion and anguish.
ماwhat is wrong لأَيّامِناwith our days تَمُرُّthey pass قِصارىshort
ما لأَيّامِنا تَمُرُّ قِصارى
بِلَيالٍwith nights سودِblack الدَّياجيdeep darkness طِوالِlong
بِلَيالٍ سودِ الدَّياجي طِوالِ
Why are our days, as they pass, so short,
with nights so black in their darkness, so long?
أَكَذاis it thus تَصنَعُacts الصَّبابَةُardent longing أَمor عاreturned (start)
أَكَذا تَصنَعُ الصَّبابَةُ أَم عا
دَreturned (end) عَلَيناupon us الصِّيامُfasting فيin شَوّالِShawwal
دَ عَلَينا الصِّيامُ في شَوّالِ
Does longing do this, or has
fasting returned upon us in Shawwal?
أَمor رَماناhas struck us بِبُعدِهِby his absence ناصِرُNasir المُلكِal-Mulk
أَم رَمانا بِبُعدِهِ ناصِرُ المُلكِ
بِبيضِwith the white الظُّباblades وَسُمرِand the brown العَواليlances
بِبيضِ الظُّبا وَسُمرِ العَوالي
Or has Nasir al-Mulk, by his absence, struck us
with white blades and brown lances?
فَفِراقُfor separation from الكِرامthe noble يَفعَلُdoes فيto الأَجthe bodies (start)
فَفِراقُ الكِرام يَفعَلُ في الأَج
سامِbodies (end) ماwhat تَفعَلونَyou do فيto الأَموالِwealth
سامِ ما تَفعَلونَ في الأَموالِ
For parting from the noble does to bodies
what you do to wealth.
حَفِظَmay preserve اللُّهGod مَعشَراًa people ضَيَّعواthey neglected العَهthe covenant (start)
حَفِظَ اللُّه مَعشَراً ضَيَّعوا العَه
دَcovenant (end) وَحالواand they changed فيin سائِرِall الأَحوالِcircumstances
دَ وَحالوا في سائِرِ الأَحوالِ
May God preserve a people who neglected the covenant
and changed in every circumstance.
كانَwas شَمليmy unity بِهِمwith them جَميعاًwhole وَلَكِنbut
كانَ شَملي بِهِم جَميعاً وَلَكِن
فَرَّقَتseparated بَينَناbetween us صُروفُthe vicissitudes of اللَّياليthe nights
فَرَّقَت بَينَنا صُروفُ اللَّيالي
My life with them was whole, but
the vicissitudes of the nights parted us.
قيلَit was said ليto me لِمwhy بَعُدتَhave you kept away عَنهُمfrom them وَهَلand is it يُصfitting (start)
قيلَ لي لِم بَعُدتَ عَنهُم وَهَل يُص
لِحُfitting (end) أَنthat تَترُكَshould abandon العَبيدُthe slaves المَواليthe masters
لِحُ أَن تَترُكَ العَبيدُ المَوالي
I was asked: Why stay away from them? Is it fitting
for slaves to abandon their masters?
قُلتُI said لاdo not تَعجَلواbe hasty عَليَّwith me فَلَوfor if سِرwent (stem)
قُلتُ لا تَعجَلوا عَليَّ فَلَو سِر
تُI (verb ending) لَكانَتit would have been نِهايَةُthe utmost الإِخلالِdereliction
تُ لَكانَت نِهايَةُ الإِخلالِ
I said: Do not be hasty with me; had I gone,
that would have been the height of dereliction.
أَيُّwhat شَيءthing إِليَّis up to me مِنof أَمرِهِمtheir affairs حَتso that (start)
أَيُّ شَيء إِليَّ مِن أَمرِهِم حَت
تَىso that (end) يَكونَshould be إِرتِحالُهُمtheir departure بِارتِحاليdependent on my departure
تَى يَكونَ إِرتِحالُهُم بِارتِحالي
What part of their affairs is mine,
that their departure should depend on my departure?
أَتُريدونَdo you want أَنthat يَقولَshould say ليَto me البَتal-Batti (start)
أَتُريدونَ أَن يَقولَ ليَ البَت
تَيّal-Batti (end) ماwhat قالَهُhe said it لِنَجمto Najm المَعاليal-Ma'ali
تَيّ ما قالَهُ لِنَجم المَعالي
Do you want al-Batti to say to me
what he said to Najm al-Ma'ali?
حاشَfar be it لِلَّهِbefore God لَيسَis not فَشتَكَةُostentation الأَتthe followers (start)
حاشَ لِلَّهِ لَيسَ فَشتَكَةُ الأَت
باعِfollowers (end) مِنamong شِيمَتيmy traits وَلاnor أَعماليmy deeds
باعِ مِن شِيمَتي وَلا أَعمالي
God forbid! The ostentation of
followers is neither my way nor my practice.
رَأسُthe principal of ماليmy wealth تَركُleaving الفُضولِmeddling وَماand not أَتI abandon (start)
رَأسُ مالي تَركُ الفُضولِ وَما أَت
رُكُabandon (end) مِنfor أَجلِthe sake of حُبِّكُمlove of you رَأسَthe principal of ماليmy wealth
رُكُ مِن أَجلِ حُبِّكُم رَأسَ مالي
My capital is avoiding meddling; I will not
abandon my capital for love of you.
وَمِنَand among السُّخفِfoolishness وَالرَّقاعَةِand boorishness تَطفيmy intruding (start)
وَمِنَ السُّخفِ وَالرَّقاعَةِ تَطفي
ليmy intruding (end) عَلَيهِمupon them يَومَon the day of الوَغاbattle فيin القِتالِcombat
لي عَلَيهِم يَومَ الوَغا في القِتالِ
It is foolish and boorish for me to intrude
upon them on the day of battle, in combat,
وَمَسيريand my setting out أَذُبُّI fend off فيon ظَهرِthe back of عَجفاa gaunt she-camel (start)
وَمَسيري أَذُبُّ في ظَهرِ عَجفا
ءgaunt she-camel (end) تُباريshe rivals أَعضاءَهاher own limbs بِالهُزالِin leanness
ء تُباري أَعضاءَها بِالهُزالِ
and to ride, fending off attacks, on the back of a gaunt she-camel
that vies with her own limbs in leanness,
عاطِلاًunprovided مِنwith none of جَميعall ماwhat يَصحَبُaccompanies النّاthe people (start)
عاطِلاً مِن جَميع ما يَصحَبُ النّا
سَpeople (end) وَياyet oh رُبَّmany a عاطِلٍunadorned man وَهوَwhile he is حاليadorned
سَ وَيا رُبَّ عاطِلٍ وَهوَ حالي
bereft of everything that accompanies
people—yet many an unadorned man is adorned.
لَيسَthere is not غَيرَother than المُقامِstaying أَستُرُI conceal بِالجُدbehind the walls (start)
لَيسَ غَيرَ المُقامِ أَستُرُ بِالجُد
رانِwalls (end) ماwhat يَعلَمونَthey know مِنof سوءِthe wretchedness of حاليmy state
رانِ ما يَعلَمونَ مِن سوءِ حالي
There is only staying put: I hide behind
walls what they know of my wretched state.
وَلَعَمريby my life لوif أَنصَفونيthey treated me fairly لَماI would not have قَصfallen short (start)
وَلَعَمري لو أَنصَفوني لَما قَص
صَرتُI fell short (end) عَنin نَفعِهِمhelping them عَلىin كُلِّevery حالِcircumstance
صَرتُ عَن نَفعِهِم عَلى كُلِّ حالِ
By my life, had they treated me fairly, I would not have fallen short
in helping them, whatever the circumstances.
قَدindeed رَأواthey saw يُمنَthe good fortune of طائِريmy bird حينَwhen أَقبَلcame (stem)
قَد رَأوا يُمنَ طائِري حينَ أَقبَل
تُI (verb ending) عَلَيهِمto them بِالسَّعدِwith good fortune وَالأَقبالِand prosperity
تُ عَلَيهِم بِالسَّعدِ وَالأَقبالِ
They saw the good omen of my bird when I came
to them with good fortune and prosperity.
كانَwas حَدّيmy edge مِثلَlike اسمthe name of جَدّيmy grandfather قالاthe two said
كانَ حَدّي مِثلَ اسم جَدّي قالا
تَرَكونيthey abandoned me بِرَسمaccording to the custom of زَجرِdivining الفالِthe omen
تَرَكوني بِرَسم زَجرِ الفالِ
My edge was like my grandfather's name, the two said;
they left me to the practice of reading omens.
أَحمَدُI praise اللَّهَGod ماnot كَساديmy lack of demand سِوىanything but الرُّخcheapness (start)
أَحمَدُ اللَّهَ ما كَسادي سِوى الرُّخ
صِcheapness (end) فَإِنَّfor indeed النِّفاقَbrisk sales فيin كُلِّeverything غالِcostly
صِ فَإِنَّ النِّفاقَ في كُلِّ غالِ
I praise God: my lack of a market comes only from low price,
for everything costly sells well.
ياO خَليلَيَّmy two friends عَرِّضاyou two, allude بيto me فَماfor not أَعI know (start)
يا خَليلَيَّ عَرِّضا بي فَما أَع
لَمُI know (end) أَنّيthat I خَطَرتُhave crossed مِنهُمamong them بِبالِa mind
لَمُ أَنّي خَطَرتُ مِنهُم بِبالِ
O my two friends, allude to me; I do not know
that I have crossed the mind of any of them.
وَانشُداand you two, seek دارِسَthe effaced الرُّسومtraces كَماas يَنis sought (start)
وَانشُدا دارِسَ الرُّسوم كَما يَن
شُدُis sought (end) رَبعٌa dwelling مِنَamong الرُّسومthe traces الخَواليlong deserted
شُدُ رَبعٌ مِنَ الرُّسوم الخَوالي
And seek the effaced remnant, as
a dwelling is sought among the traces of old.
ثُمَّthen قولاyou two, say عَنّيon my behalf لِمَولايَto my lord إِنif آyou two discern (start)
ثُمَّ قولا عَنّي لِمَولايَ إِن آ
نَستُماyou two discern (end) مِنهُin him سامِعاًone who will listen لِمَقاليto my words
نَستُما مِنهُ سامِعاً لِمَقالي
Then speak on my behalf to my lord, if
you find him willing to listen to my words:
ياO أَجَلَّmost illustrious of المُلوكِkings عَمّاًin paternal uncles وَخالاًand in maternal uncles
يا أَجَلَّ المُلوكِ عَمّاً وَخالاً
عِندَwhen ذِكرِmentioning الأَعمامِpaternal uncles وَالأَخوالِand maternal uncles
عِندَ ذِكرِ الأَعمامِ وَالأَخوالِ
O noblest of kings in paternal and maternal uncles,
when paternal and maternal uncles are named;
وَمُثيرَand kindler of الحَربِwar العَوانِrenewed مِنَfrom المَهal-Mahdi (start)
وَمُثيرَ الحَربِ العَوانِ مِنَ المَه
دِيِّal-Mahdi (end) إِلىuntil يَومthe day of وَقعَةِthe battle of الدَّجَّالِal-Dajjal
دِيِّ إِلى يَوم وَقعَةِ الدَّجَّالِ
And kindler of war renewed, from al-Mahdi
until the day of the battle of al-Dajjal;
وَالَّذيand you who لَمhas not يَزَلceased تَجودُgive generously يَدَيهِhis two hands
وَالَّذي لَم يَزَل تَجودُ يَدَيهِ
مُزنَةًa raincloud تَستَهِلُّpours rain قَبلَbefore السُّؤالِthe request
مُزنَةً تَستَهِلُّ قَبلَ السُّؤالِ
And you whose two hands have never ceased giving,
a raincloud pouring before anyone asks;
لَيتَif only شِعريmy knowing بِأَيِّwith what فَيءspoils أداريI placate
لَيتَ شِعري بِأَيِّ فَيء أداري
كَyou فَقَدfor already قَلَّhas dwindled فيin رِضاكَyour pleasure احتِياليmy resourcefulness
كَ فَقَد قَلَّ في رِضاكَ احتِيالي
If only I knew with what spoils I might placate
you; my means of winning your favor have dwindled.
لَيسَdoes not يُغنىavail جِدّيmy earnestness وَلاnor يَنفَعُbenefit الهَزjesting (start)
لَيسَ يُغنى جِدّي وَلا يَنفَعُ الهَز
لُjesting (end) سِوىexcept أَنthat أَعَدَّI be counted فيamong الجُهّالِthe ignorant
لُ سِوى أَن أَعَدَّ في الجُهّالِ
My earnestness avails nothing, nor does jesting help,
except to have me counted among the ignorant.
ثَقَّلَmade heavy النّاسُpeople فيin الطِّلابِasking وَخَفَّفand lightened (stem)
ثَقَّلَ النّاسُ في الطِّلابِ وَخَفَّف
تُI (verb ending) بِجُهديwith all my effort عَلَيكَupon you مِنsome of أَثقاليmy burdens
تُ بِجُهدي عَلَيكَ مِن أَثقالي
People pressed heavily in their requests, while I lightened,
with all my effort, my burdens upon you.
وَأَرانيand I see myself فيon كُلِّevery يَومday إِلىtoward خَلbackward (start)
وَأَراني في كُلِّ يَوم إِلى خَل
فٍbackward (end) كَأَنّيas though I خَرَجتُturned out فيlike الحبّالِthe rope-maker
فٍ كَأَنّي خَرَجتُ في الحبّالِ
And I see myself moving backward every day,
as though I took after a rope-maker.
ماwhat is wrong لِمِخلاتيwith my feedbag الصَّغيرَةِlittle لاnot تَدenters (start)
ما لِمِخلاتي الصَّغيرَةِ لا تَد
خُلُenters (end) مَعَكُمwith you فيamong جُملَةِthe whole of الأَعدالِthe bales
خُلُ مَعَكُم في جُملَةِ الأَعدالِ
Why does my little feedbag not go
with you among the bales?
أَتُرانيdo you think I أَرضىwill be content بِهَذاwith this وَفيwhile in الدُّنthe world (start)
أَتُراني أَرضى بِهَذا وَفي الدُّن
ياworld (end) ظُهورُthe backs of الفَلاthe deserts وَأَيديand the hands of الحِبالِthe ropes
يا ظُهورُ الفَلا وَأَيدي الحِبالِ
Do you think I will accept this, while the world holds
the backs of deserts and the hands of ropes?
لاno وَنُعماكَby your bounty ماnot مُقاميmy remaining عَلىamid التَّقneglect (start)
لا وَنُعماكَ ما مُقامي عَلى التَّق
صيرِneglect (end) إِلّاexcept مِنof حَديثِthe talk of المِحالِthe impossible
صيرِ إِلّا مِن حَديثِ المِحالِ
No, by your bounty! My staying on amid
neglect is nothing but a tale of the impossible.
افتَحواclear دونيbefore me الطَّريقَthe road وَرُدّواand return
افتَحوا دوني الطَّريقَ وَرُدّوا
ليfor me إِلىto عَسقَلانَAscalon بَدرَBadr الجِمالِal-Jamal
لي إِلى عَسقَلانَ بَدرَ الجِمالِ
Clear the road before me, and return
Badr al-Jamal to Ascalon for me.
وَدَعونيand let me أَصيحُcry out عِندَbefore ابنِIbn حَمداHamdan (start)
وَدَعوني أَصيحُ عِندَ ابنِ حَمدا
نَHamdan (end) صِياحاًa cry يَشُقُّthat cleaves حُلوَsmooth in السُّلالِunsheathing
نَ صِياحاً يَشُقُّ حُلوَ السُّلالِ
And let me cry out before Ibn Hamdan,
a cry that cleaves the smoothly unsheathed blade.
ماnot اتفقناwe agreed إِلّاexcept عَلىon صُحبَةِcompanionship for الدَّهall time (start)
ما اتفقنا إِلّا عَلى صُحبَةِ الدَّه
رِall time (end) وَلَكِنbut بَداa new thought occurred لَكُمto you فَبَداso a new thought occurred ليto me
رِ وَلَكِن بَدا لَكُم فَبَدا لي
We agreed on nothing but lifelong companionship;
but you changed your minds, and so did I.
Sol 6.1