أَعَرَفتَdid you learn? مِنfrom عَبقِthe scent of النَّسيمِthe breeze الفائِحِfragrant
أَعَرَفتَ مِن عَبقِ النَّسيمِ الفائِحِ
خَبَرَnews of العُذَيبِal-Udhayb وَبانهand its ban trees المتَناوِحِswaying together
خَبَرَ العُذَيبِ وَبانه المتَناوِحِ
Did you learn, from the scent of the fragrant breeze,
The scent of the gentle breeze revealed
The news of al-Udhayb and its swaying ban trees?
News of the aromatic wood and the sighing branches
وَاقتادَand led طَرفَكَyour gaze بارِقa lightning-flash مَلَكَتtook hold of بِهِthrough it
وَاقتادَ طَرفَكَ بارِق مَلَكَت بِهِ
ريحُthe wind of الجَنوبِthe south عَنانَthe reins of أَشقَرَa chestnut horse رامِحِbucking
ريحُ الجَنوبِ عَنانَ أَشقَرَ رامِحِ
And did a lightning-flash lead your gaze, by which
And your gaze was led by a flash of lightning
The south wind held the reins of a bucking chestnut steed?
That the south wind had released from a blond bow
هَبَّsprang up اختِلاساًfurtively فيin الدُّجاthe darkness وَنُجومُهُand its stars
هَبَّ اختِلاساً في الدُّجا وَنُجومُهُ
يَكرَعنَdrink deeply مِنfrom حَوضِthe basin of الصَّباحِmorning الطَّافِحِoverflowing
يَكرَعنَ مِن حَوضِ الصَّباحِ الطَّافِحِ
It sprang up furtively in the darkness, while its stars
Rising furtively in the darkness with its stars
Drank from the overflowing basin of morning.
Drinking from the basin of the abundant dawn
وَالنَّسرُand the Eagle star فيin أُفُقِthe horizon of المَغارِبِthe western skies رايَةٌa banner
وَالنَّسرُ في أُفُقِ المَغارِبِ رايَةٌ
تَهفوflutters بِعالِيَةِat the summit of السِّماكِal-Simak, a star الرَّامِحِthe Lance-Bearer
تَهفو بِعالِيَةِ السِّماكِ الرَّامِحِ
And the Eagle in the western horizon was a banner
The eagle on the horizon of the west is a flag
Fluttering at the summit of al-Simak the Lance-Bearer.
Yearning with the height of the towering summit
فَطَوىthen folded حَواشِيهِits fringes وَجادَand gave generously بِوَمضِهِwith its flash
فَطَوى حَواشِيهِ وَجادَ بِوَمضِهِ
مِثلَlike الشَّرارَةِthe spark مِنfrom زِنادِthe flints of القادِحِthe fire-striker
مِثلَ الشَّرارَةِ مِن زِنادِ القادِحِ
Then it gathered in its fringes and gave forth its flash,
It folded its edges and shone with its flashes
Like a spark from the flints of one striking fire.
Like sparks from the flint of the kindling fire
دَقَّتwas too fine عَلىfor لَمحِthe glance of العُيونِthe eyes وَماand did not خَبَتdie out
دَقَّت عَلى لَمحِ العُيونِ وَما خَبَت
حَتّىuntil تَضَرَّمَblazed فيwithin حَشاthe inward parts وَجَوانِحِand ribs
حَتّى تَضَرَّمَ في حَشا وَجَوانِحِ
Too fine for the eyes to catch, it did not die
Beating upon the glances of the eyes without fading
Until it blazed within the heart and ribs.
Until it crashed into cheeks and temples
بَعَثَsent forth الغَرامُlove المُدلِجينَthe night-travelers تَوَسَّدواthey used as pillows
بَعَثَ الغَرامُ المُدلِجينَ تَوَسَّدوا
أَكوارَsaddles of عُوجٍbent camels كَالقِسِيِّlike bows طَلائِحِexhausted
أَكوارَ عُوجٍ كَالقِسِيِّ طَلائِحِ
Love sent the night-travelers forth; they pillowed their heads
Love awakened the slumbering ones who rested
On saddles of bow-bent, exhausted camels.
On the bends of crooked wood like upright spears
فَتَرَنَّحواso they swayed فَوقَabove الرِّحالِthe saddles كَأَنَّماas though
فَتَرَنَّحوا فَوقَ الرِّحالِ كَأَنَّما
هَزَّتset swaying قُدودَهُمُtheir bodies سُلافَةُthe finest wine of صابِحِa morning-drinker
هَزَّت قُدودَهُمُ سُلافَةُ صابِحِ
They swayed atop their saddles, as though
They sighed upon the saddles as if
A morning-drinker's finest wine had set their bodies swaying.
Their necks were shaken by the rider at dawn
دَبَّcrept الكَرىdrowsiness فيهِمthrough them فَمَوَّةَand veiled (text unclear) زَورَةa visit
دَبَّ الكَرى فيهِم فَمَوَّةَ زَورَة
خَفِيَتwas hidden عَلَىfrom نَظَرِthe gaze of الرَّقيبِthe watcher الكاشِحِspiteful
خَفِيَت عَلَى نَظَرِ الرَّقيبِ الكاشِحِ
Drowsiness crept through them and veiled a visit
Lust crept into them so the visiting one
Hidden from the gaze of the spiteful watcher.
Was hidden from the sight of the vigilant guard
طَيفٌa phantom تَضُوعُwaft fragrance بِهِthrough it الرِّياضُthe gardens وَيَدَّعيand claims
طَيفٌ تَضُوعُ بِهِ الرِّياضُ وَيَدَّعي
خَطَراتِهِits fleeting movements لَمعُthe gleam of الصَّباحِmorning اللاَّئِحِappearing
خَطَراتِهِ لَمعُ الصَّباحِ اللاَّئِحِ
A phantom whose presence makes gardens fragrant, and
A specter the gardens flourish with
The gleam of breaking dawn claims its fleeting movements.
Claiming its dangers are the shining morning’s beams
كَيفَhow اِهتَدَيتَdid you find your way وَدونَناand between us مَجهولَةٌan unknown waste
كَيفَ اِهتَدَيتَ وَدونَنا مَجهولَةٌ
بَهماءtrackless تَهزَأmocks مِنat جَناحِthe wing of السَّارِحِthe roaming bird
بَهماء تَهزَأ مِن جَناحِ السَّارِحِ
How did you find your way, with an unknown waste between us,
How did you find your way while we are lost
A trackless expanse that mocks the roaming bird's wing,
In meaningless confusion mocking the wings of the retreating one
وَالحَرَّتانِand the two lava-fields وَجَمرَةand a battle-blaze مَضروبَةarrayed
وَالحَرَّتانِ وَجَمرَة مَضروبَة
مَشبوبَةٌkindled بِذَوابِلٍwith slender spears وَصَفائِحِand broad sword-blades
مَشبوبَةٌ بِذَوابِلٍ وَصَفائِحِ
And the two lava-fields, and an arrayed blaze of battle,
The heated sands and scattered embers
Kindled with slender spears and broad sword-blades,
And rising smoke and glistening white tents
وَمُثارand a swirl of قَسطَلَةٍbattle-dust وَبيضُand bright صَوارِمٍkeen swords
وَمُثار قَسطَلَةٍ وَبيضُ صَوارِمٍ
وَدِلاصُand smooth mail سابِغَةٍfull-length وَجُردُand sleek horses سَوابِحِswimming in their gallop
وَدِلاصُ سابِغَةٍ وَجُردُ سَوابِحِ
And swirling battle-dust, and bright, cutting swords,
And the stirred partridges and swords’ blades
And smooth, ample mail, and sleek, swimming steeds?
And polished spears and swimming gray coats
مِنfrom كُلِّevery شارِدَةٍunruly mare كَأَنَّas though عِنانَهاits rein
مِن كُلِّ شارِدَةٍ كَأَنَّ عِنانَها
يُعطيكَoffers you سالِفَةَthe neck-side of الغَزالِthe gazelle السَّانِحِpassing to the right
يُعطيكَ سالِفَةَ الغَزالِ السَّانِحِ
Each an unruly mare whose rein seems
From every startled one as if its reins
To offer you the neck of a gazelle passing to the right.
Would give you the predecessor of the nimble gazelle
يَنفِرنَthey shy away عَنfrom عَذبِsweet النُّمَيرِpure water وَلَوyet if جَرىflowed
يَنفِرنَ عَن عَذبِ النُّمَيرِ وَلَو جَرى
بِدَمِwith the blood of الطِّعانِspear-fighting وَرَدنَthey would come to drink غَيرَnot قَوامِحِraising their heads in refusal
بِدَمِ الطِّعانِ وَرَدنَ غَيرَ قَوامِحِ
They shy from sweet, pure water; yet were it to flow
They shy away from the sweet stream though it flowed
With the blood of spear-thrusts, they would drink without lifting their heads in refusal.
With spears’ blood unless it was turbid and roiling
ماnot كُنتَyou were تَبذُلُoffering لِلغَريبِto a stranger تَحِيَّةًa greeting
ما كُنتَ تَبذُلُ لِلغَريبِ تَحِيَّةً
بُخلاًout of stinginess فَكَيفَso how سَرَيتَdid you travel by night نَحوَtoward النَّازِحِthe far-off one
بُخلاً فَكَيفَ سَرَيتَ نَحوَ النَّازِحِ
You would not offer a stranger a greeting,
You would not bestow greetings on the stranger
From stinginess—how then did you journey by night to the far-off one?
So how did you go towards the fleeing one
وَلَعَلَّand perhaps عَطفَكَyour tenderness أَنthat يَعودَreturns بِمِثلِهاwith one like it
وَلَعَلَّ عَطفَكَ أَن يَعودَ بِمِثلِها
بَعدَafter الرُّقادِsleep فَرُبَّfor many a يَومٍday صالِحِfortunate
بَعدَ الرُّقادِ فَرُبَّ يَومٍ صالِحِ
Perhaps your tenderness will return with another such visit
Perhaps your kindness will return the like
After sleep—for many a fortunate day
After slumber, for many days can be wholesome
قَدindeed أَصحَبُmade tractable الدَّهرَtime الأَبِيَّrecalcitrant قِيادُهُits reins
قَد أَصحَبُ الدَّهرَ الأَبِيَّ قِيادُهُ
قَسراًby force وَفَرَّجَand relieved كُلَّevery خَطبٍcalamity فادِحِgrievous
قَسراً وَفَرَّجَ كُلَّ خَطبٍ فادِحِ
Has tamed time, stubborn in its reins,
Fate has forced its cruel leader
By force, and dispelled every grievous calamity.
And relieved every grave affliction
وَهَمىand rained down بَنانُthe fingers of أَبيAbu المُتَوَّجِal-Mutawwaj بَعدَماafter
وَهَمى بَنانُ أَبي المُتَوَّجِ بَعدَما
نَسَخَeffaced السَّماحَgenerosity وَعَزَّand grew scarce صِدقَthe truthfulness of المادِحِthe panegyrist
نَسَخَ السَّماحَ وَعَزَّ صِدقَ المادِحِ
And the fingers of Abu al-Mutawwaj rained bounty, after
After erasing benevolence and rare became the sincere praiser
Generosity had been effaced and truthful praise grown scarce.
The resolves of my father the crowned one ambitiously strove
يوفِيrises عَلَىabove طَلَبِthe requests of العُفاةِpetitioners نَوالُهُhis bounty
يوفِي عَلَى طَلَبِ العُفاةِ نَوالُهُ
كَالبَحرِlike the sea يَغرَقُis drowned فيهِin it قَعبُthe wooden bowl of المانِحِthe giver
كَالبَحرِ يَغرَقُ فيهِ قَعبُ المانِحِ
His bounty exceeds the petitioners' requests,
His generosity fulfills the destitute’s requests
Like a sea in which a giver's wooden bowl is drowned.
Like a sea in which the diver’s palms are overwhelmed
لَوif راضhe tamed نافِرَةَskittish القُلوبِhearts بِرَأيِهِwith his judgment
لَو راض نافِرَةَ القُلوبِ بِرَأيِهِ
سَكَنَwould rest easy البُغاثُweak birds إِلىat هَوِيِّthe swoop of الجارِحِthe bird of prey
سَكَنَ البُغاثُ إِلى هَوِيِّ الجارِحِ
Were he to tame skittish hearts with his judgment,
If he pleased the hearts averse with his opinion
Weak birds would rest easy at a bird of prey's swoop.
The predators would settle to the lair of the wounding one
ماnot جارَstrayed عَنfrom سَنَنِthe path of العُفاةِpetitioners نَوالُهُhis bounty
ما جارَ عَن سَنَنِ العُفاةِ نَوالُهُ
حَتّىso that يَدُلَّguides عَلَيهِto it صَوتُthe sound of النّابِحِthe barking dog
حَتّى يَدُلَّ عَلَيهِ صَوتُ النّابِحِ
His bounty never strays from the petitioners' path
His generosity to the destitute never deviated
So far that a barking dog's voice must point it out.
Until the wailing voices proclaim it
مَغنىًa dwelling إِذاwhen وَرَدَarrive الضُّيوفُthe guests فِناءَهُits courtyard
مَغنىً إِذا وَرَدَ الضُّيوفُ فِناءَهُ
وَجَدواthey find قِرىhospitality for الثّاويthe guest who stays وَزادَand provisions for الرّائِحِthe departing traveler
وَجَدوا قِرى الثّاوي وَزادَ الرّائِحِ
A dwelling where, when guests enter its courtyard,
A haven if guests come to his abode
They find food for the guest who stays and provisions for the one departing.
They find the hospitality of the sedentary and provision of the wind
حَلَبَhe milked العِشارَpregnant she-camels مِنَfrom النُّحورِthe throats وَزادَand exceeded عَنbeyond
حَلَبَ العِشارَ مِنَ النُّحورِ وَزادَ عَن
أَلبانِهاtheir milk دَرَّthe flow of النَّجيعِfreshly shed blood السّافِحِpouring forth
أَلبانِها دَرَّ النَّجيعِ السّافِحِ
He milked the pregnant she-camels from their throats, and greater than
He milked the camels’ udders and beyond
Their milk was the flow of gushing blood.
Their milk, the valleys’ descending honey overflowed
مُتَوَقِّدُblazing العَزَماتِresolves فَيّاضُoverflowing النَّدىgenerosity
مُتَوَقِّدُ العَزَماتِ فَيّاضُ النَّدى
جَذلانُjoyful يَبسِمُsmiles فيin الزَّمانِtime الكالِحِgrim-faced
جَذلانُ يَبسِمُ في الزَّمانِ الكالِحِ
Aflame with resolve, overflowing with bounty,
Kindling resolutions, abundant in bounty
Joyful, he smiles in grim-faced times.
Flowing open-handed in the arid times
فَرَعَتscaled بِهِthrough him عَوفُAwf بنُibn, son of مُرَّةَMurra هَضبَةًa peak
فَرَعَت بِهِ عَوفُ بنُ مُرَّةَ هَضبَةً
فيin المَجدِglory تَحسِرُexhausts كُلَّevery طَرفٍgaze طامِحِupward-striving
في المَجدِ تَحسِرُ كُلَّ طَرفٍ طامِحِ
Through him, Awf ibn Murra scaled a peak
Auf, son of Murrah, prized him with nobility
In glory that exhausts every upward-striving gaze.
At which every ambitious gaze falls short
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen رُفِعَis raised الصَّريخُthe alarm لِغارَةٍfor a raid
قَومٌ إِذا رُفِعَ الصَّريخُ لِغارَةٍ
سَبَقَتpreceded إِجابَتُهُمtheir response نِداءthe call of الصّائِحِthe caller
سَبَقَت إِجابَتُهُم نِداء الصّائِحِ
A people who, when the alarm is raised for a raid,
A people, if the battle cry is raised
Respond before the caller's cry.
Their response precedes the screaming summons
وَإِذاand when رَبيعُthe spring of العامِthe year صَوَّحَwithered نَبتُهُits vegetation
وَإِذا رَبيعُ العامِ صَوَّحَ نَبتُهُ
وَجَرَتand swept رِياحُwinds of القَرِّcold غَيرَnot لَواقِحِrain-bearing
وَجَرَت رِياحُ القَرِّ غَيرَ لَواقِحِ
And when the year's spring has withered in its growth,
And if the spring of the year whistled with vegetation
And cold winds blow without bringing rain,
And the rains of autumn fell without impregnating
وَخَبَتand died out بَوارِقُهُits lightning-flashes وَحَرَّمَand forbade جَدبُهُits drought
وَخَبَت بَوارِقُهُ وَحَرَّمَ جَدبُهُ
بَذلَthe offering of القِرىguest-meals وَأَباحَand permitted عَقرَthe slaughter of النّاصِحِthe well-wisher
بَذلَ القِرى وَأَباحَ عَقرَ النّاصِحِ
And its lightning dies, and its drought forbids
Its lightning faded and its barrenness deprived
The giving of guest-meals and permits the slaughter of the well-wisher,
Homes of generosity and permitted betraying the advisor
نَصبواthey set up العِماقَdeep cauldrons الرّاسِياتِfirmly planted وَأَعجَلواand hastened
نَصبوا العِماقَ الرّاسِياتِ وَأَعجَلوا
نِيرانَهاtheir fires بِعَقائِرٍwith slain camels وَذَبائِحِand slaughtered beasts
نِيرانَها بِعَقائِرٍ وَذَبائِحِ
They set up deep, firmly planted cauldrons and hasten
They set up lofty pillars and hurried
Their fires with slain camels and slaughtered beasts.
Their fires with religious dues and sacrifices
كَرمgenerosity تَوارَثَهُinherited it successively الأَكُفُّthe hands وَحلبَةٌand a race
كَرم تَوارَثَهُ الأَكُفُّ وَحلبَةٌ
فيin الفَضلِexcellence يُقرَنُis matched مُهرُهاits colt بِالقارِحِwith the mature steed
في الفَضلِ يُقرَنُ مُهرُها بِالقارِحِ
A generosity inherited from hand to hand, and a race
A nobility inherited by the open-handed, and an arena
In excellence where its colt is matched with the mature steed.
In virtue its charging steed contends with the warrior
يَهفوflutters بِأَعطافِthrough the limbs of الوَليدِthe child مِراحُهُhis exuberance
يَهفو بِأَعطافِ الوَليدِ مِراحُهُ
فَإِذاbut when اِحتَبىhe sits clasping his knees فَالهَضبُthen the hills لَيسَare not بِراجِحِheavier
فَإِذا اِحتَبى فَالهَضبُ لَيسَ بِراجِحِ
The child's exuberance flutters through his limbs,
Panting for the turns of Al-Walid, if he inclines
But when he sits clasping his knees, the hills cannot outweigh him.
The nobility cannot outweigh his preference
سَبَقَoutstripped الكِرامَthe noble مُقَلَّدٌMuqallad فيin غايَةٍa goal
سَبَقَ الكِرامَ مُقَلَّدٌ في غايَةٍ
جُهدُthe utmost effort of الجَوادِthe courser بِهاat it كَعَفوِlike the easy pace of الرّازِحِthe exhausted beast
جُهدُ الجَوادِ بِها كَعَفوِ الرّازِحِ
Muqallad outstripped the noble in a race
He surpassed the generous wearing an unmatched achievement
Where a courser's utmost effort is like a weary beast's easy pace.
That the exertion of the steed cannot match like the trotting camel
وَجَرىand raced فَقَصَّرَso fell short طالِبُوهُhis pursuers وَإِنَّماand merely
وَجَرى فَقَصَّرَ طالِبُوهُ وَإِنَّما
ضَلُّواlost their way عَلىalong أَثَرِthe track of الطَّريقِthe road الواضِحِclear
ضَلُّوا عَلى أَثَرِ الطَّريقِ الواضِحِ
He raced, and his pursuers fell short; they merely
They fell short in pursuing him, though they only
Lost their way along the track of the clear road.
Strayed on the path that was evident
ياO جامِعَgatherer of الآمالِhopes وَهيَwhile they are بَدائِدٌscattered
يا جامِعَ الآمالِ وَهيَ بَدائِدٌ
شَتّىfar apart وَرائِضُand tamer of كُلِّevery صَعبٍunruly steed جامِحِbolting
شَتّى وَرائِضُ كُلِّ صَعبٍ جامِحِ
O gatherer of hopes, though they are scattered
O gatherer of hopes while they are scattered
Far apart, and tamer of every unruly, bolting steed,
Far and wide, the yearnings of every arduous endeavor
شَرَّفتyou conferred honor مِنthrough أَيديthe hands of عُلاكَyour greatness وَإِنَّماand indeed only
شَرَّفت مِن أَيدي عُلاكَ وَإِنَّما
عَبقُthe fragrance of اللَّطيمَةِthe perfume-casket مِنfrom بَنانِthe fingers of الفاتِحِthe opener
عَبقُ اللَّطيمَةِ مِن بَنانِ الفاتِحِ
You conferred honor through the hands of your greatness; indeed,
You were ennobled at the hands of your ascent, for only
A perfume-casket's scent comes from its opener's fingers.
The lasting scent is from the youth of the conqueror
وَحَبَوتَand you endowed أَلقابthe titles of الإِمامthe Imam نَباهَةًdistinction
وَحَبَوتَ أَلقاب الإِمام نَباهَةً
وَسِواكَand another than you طَوَّقَهاgarlanded them بِعارٍwith disgrace فاضِحِflagrant
وَسِواكَ طَوَّقَها بِعارٍ فاضِحِ
And you endowed the Imam's titles with distinction,
You assumed the titles of the Imam with splendor
While another garlanded them with flagrant disgrace.
While none but you adorned them without disgrace
لَوif ماثَلواthey compared اللَّفظَينِthe two names كُنتَyou would be بِرَغمِهِto his chagrin
لَو ماثَلوا اللَّفظَينِ كُنتَ بِرَغمِهِ
سَعدَSa'd, fortune السُّعودِal-Su'ud, fortunes وَكانَand he would be سَعدَSa'd, fortune الذَّابِحِal-Dhabih, the Slaughterer
سَعدَ السُّعودِ وَكانَ سَعدَ الذَّابِحِ
Were they to compare the two names, you would be, to his chagrin,
Had they paralleled the two terms, you would have despite him
Sa'd al-Su'ud, while he would be Sa'd al-Dhabih.
Been Saad the Fortunate, while he was Saad the Slaughterer
ماnot طالَrose قَدرُكَyour worth عَنbeyond مَداهُits reach وَإِنَّماand merely
ما طالَ قَدرُكَ عَن مَداهُ وَإِنَّما
هَزّواthey shook قَناتَكَyour lance بِاللِّواءِwith the banner الطّائِحِdrooping
هَزّوا قَناتَكَ بِاللِّواءِ الطّائِحِ
Your worth was not raised beyond its own reach; they merely
Your esteem was not beyond its extent, but rather
Shook your lance with a drooping banner.
They shook your spear with the hovering banners
فَاسلَمso remain safe لِمُلكٍfor a kingdom أَنتَyou غَربُthe edge of حُسامِهِits sword الthe (continued next line)
فَاسلَم لِمُلكٍ أَنتَ غَربُ حُسامِهِ ال
ماضيkeen وَعبقَةُand the fragrance of رَوضِهِits garden المُتَفاوِحِsweetly scented
ماضي وَعبقَةُ رَوضِهِ المُتَفاوِحِ
So live safe for a kingdom whose sword-edge you are—
So make peace with a rule whose swords you are the setting sun
Keen—and the fragrance of its sweetly scented garden.
With no yesterday, and the aroma of its garden still lingers
وَفِداكَand may he be your ransom مُغتَصِبُusurper of الثَّراءِwealth جَديدُهُa newcomer to it
وَفِداكَ مُغتَصِبُ الثَّراءِ جَديدُهُ
أَخَذَhe took الرِّياسَةَleadership فَلتَةًby chance مِنfrom مازِحِone jesting
أَخَذَ الرِّياسَةَ فَلتَةً مِن مازِحِ
And may the usurper of wealth, newly rich, be your ransom:
For your sake, usurper of the wealth, its newness
He took leadership by a stroke of chance from someone jesting.
Seized leadership jokingly from the humorous one
نَسَبٌa lineage كَماjust as جَنَّenveloped الظَّلامُdarkness فَلَمso did not يَلُحgleam
نَسَبٌ كَما جَنَّ الظَّلامُ فَلَم يَلُح
لِلمُدلِجينَfor night-travelers بِهِwithin it ضِياءthe light of مَصابِحِlamps
لِلمُدلِجينَ بِهِ ضِياء مَصابِحِ
A lineage like enveloping darkness, with no glimmer
A lineage as the darkness beget darkness without gleaming
Of lamplight within it for those who travel by night.
With the lamps for the sleepers from it
نَبَذَتهُcast him off دَولَتُهُhis rule وَكانَتand it had been رَوضَةًa garden
نَبَذَتهُ دَولَتُهُ وَكانَت رَوضَةً
يَخلوis alone الذُّبابُflies بِهاwithin it وَلَيسَand is not بِبارِحِdeparting
يَخلو الذُّبابُ بِها وَلَيسَ بِبارِحِ
His rule cast him off, though it had been a garden
His state discarded him, and it was a meadow
Where flies had the place to themselves and would not leave.
Wherein only flies roamed without a roamer
وَتملّand enjoy long ماwhat أَهدىoffered إِلَيكَto you فَإِنَّهاfor it is
وَتملّ ما أَهدى إِلَيكَ فَإِنَّها
نَظمُa garland of الشَّقِيقِanemones وَنَبتُand the growth of فِكرِthe thought of النّاصِحِthe well-wisher
نَظمُ الشَّقِيقِ وَنَبتُ فِكرِ النّاصِحِ
And enjoy long what is offered to you, for it is
And overlook what was bestowed upon you, for it is
A garland of anemones, the growth of a well-wisher's thought,
The prose of the loyal and thoughts of the advisor
وَسَميرَةُand the evening companion of النّاديthe gathering وَمُطلَقَةُand brightening الجباbrows (text apparently truncated)
وَسَميرَةُ النّادي وَمُطلَقَةُ الجبا
وَزَميلَةُand the companion of السّاريthe night-traveler وَأُنسُand the solace of الصّادِحِthe singer
وَزَميلَةُ السّاري وَأُنسُ الصّادِحِ
And the gathering's evening companion, brightening brows,
And the confidante of the club, releaser of worries
And the night-traveler's companion, and the singer's solace,
And companion of the caravan, and friend of the chanter
وَالباقِياتُand the enduring ones الصّالِحاتُthe good ones وَرُبَّماand sometimes
وَالباقِياتُ الصّالِحاتُ وَرُبَّما
كانَتwere بَواقيthe remnants of القَولِspeech غَيرَnot صَوالِحِgood
كانَت بَواقي القَولِ غَيرَ صَوالِحِ
And enduring good works—though sometimes
And lasting good deeds, though perhaps
The words that remain are not good ones.
The remainder of words may not be wholesome
Sol 6.1