أَناخَencamped عَليَّupon me الهَمُّworry مِنfrom كُلِّevery جانِبside
أَناخَ عَليَّ الهَمُّ مِن كُلِّ جانِب
بَياضُwhiteness of عَذارىmy cheek-hair فيin سَوادِdarkness of المَطالِبِquests
بَياضُ عَذارى في سَوادِ المَطالِبِ
Worry encamped upon me from every side—
Sorrow besieged me from every side,
the whiteness of my cheek-hair amid the darkness of my quests.
The innocence of virgins amid the darkness of demands,
وَكُنتُand I was أَظُنُّthinking الأَربَعينَforty years تَصُدُّهُwould ward it off
وَكُنتُ أَظُنُّ الأَربَعينَ تَصُدُّهُ
فَماbut not قُبِلَتwas accepted فيهاconcerning it شَهادَةُtestimony of حَاسِبِa reckoner
فَما قُبِلَت فيها شَهادَةُ حَاسِبِ
I had thought that forty would ward it off,
And I thought forty would drive it away,
yet no reckoner's testimony was accepted in this matter.
Yet no testimony of a reckoner was accepted therein,
طَلَبتُI sought الصِّباyouth مِنfrom بَعدِهاafter it فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though
طَلَبتُ الصِّبا مِن بَعدِها فَكَأَنَّما
عَلِقتُI clung بِأَعجازِto the hindparts of النُّجومِthe stars الغَوارِبِsetting
عَلِقتُ بِأَعجازِ النُّجومِ الغَوارِبِ
I sought youth afterward, as though
I sought youth after it yet it was as if
I had clung to the hindparts of setting stars.
I clung to the tails of the disappearing stars,
وَماand not ساءَنيgrieved me فَقدُthe loss of الشَّبابِyouth وَإِنَّماbut only
وَما ساءَني فَقدُ الشَّبابِ وَإِنَّما
بَكَيتُI wept عَلىover شَطرٍhalf مِنَof العُمرِlife ذاهِبِdeparting
بَكَيتُ عَلى شَطرٍ مِنَ العُمرِ ذاهِبِ
The loss of youth did not grieve me; rather,
And it did not sadden me the loss of youth but rather
I wept over half a lifetime departing.
I wept over half a lifetime gone,
وَلاnor راعَنيalarmed me شَيبُthe graying of الذَّوائِبِthe locks بَعدَهُafter it
وَلا راعَني شَيبُ الذَّوائِبِ بَعدَهُ
وَعِنديand I had هُمومٌcares قَبلَbefore خَلقِthe creation of الذَّوائِبِthe locks
وَعِندي هُمومٌ قَبلَ خَلقِ الذَّوائِبِ
Nor did the graying of my locks alarm me afterward,
Nor did the graying of my temples concern me after it
and I had cares before my locks were formed.
For I had worries before the creation of gray temples,
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it وافىarrived وَماand not أَطلَقَloosed الصِّباyouth
وَلَكِنَّهُ وافى وَما أَطلَقَ الصِّبا
عَنانيmy reins وَلاnor قَضّىfulfilled الشَّبابُyouth مَآرِبيmy wishes
عَناني وَلا قَضّى الشَّبابُ مَآرِبي
Yet it arrived before youth had loosed
Yet it came and the youth did not unleash me
my reins, or my young years had fulfilled my wishes.
Nor did adolescence fulfill my wishes,
وَماand not كُنتُI was مِنamong أَصحابِهِits companions غَيرَexcept أَنَّهُthat it
وَما كُنتُ مِن أَصحابِهِ غَيرَ أَنَّهُ
وَفَىwas faithful لِيَto me لَمّاwhen خانَنيbetrayed me كُلُّevery صاحِبِcompanion
وَفَى لِيَ لَمّا خانَني كُلُّ صاحِبِ
I was not among its companions, except that it
And I was not one of its companions except that
kept faith with me when every companion betrayed me.
It was true to me when every friend betrayed,
بَكَىwept over النّاسُthe people أَطلالَthe ruins of الدِّيارِthe dwellings وَلَيتَنيand would that I
بَكَى النّاسُ أَطلالَ الدِّيارِ وَلَيتَني
وَجَدتُhad found دياراًdwellings لِلدُّموعِfor the tears السَّواكِبِstreaming
وَجَدتُ دياراً لِلدُّموعِ السَّواكِبِ
People wept over the ruins of dwellings; would that I
People cried over the ruins of homes, if only
had found dwellings for my streaming tears.
I found a home for the pouring tears,
وَقالواand they said زِيادٌZiyad راحَwent forth عازِبَfree of هِمَّةٍcare
وَقالوا زِيادٌ راحَ عازِبَ هِمَّةٍ
وَمَنand who لِفُؤاديfor my heart بِالهُمومِwith cares العَوازِبِthat depart
وَمَن لِفُؤادي بِالهُمومِ العَوازِبِ
They said, 'Ziyad went forth free of care';
And they said Ziyad left dejected and determined
but who can grant my heart cares that depart?
And who will care for my heart with unremitting worries,
أَأَحبابَناO our loved ones هَلdo تَسمَعونَyou hear عَلىacross النَّوىthe distance
أَأَحبابَنا هَل تَسمَعونَ عَلى النَّوى
تَحِيَّةَa greeting of عانa captive أَوor شَكِيَّةَa complaint of عاتِبِone who reproaches
تَحِيَّةَ عان أَو شَكِيَّةَ عاتِبِ
O our loved ones, do you hear across the distance
O loved ones, do you hear over the remains
a captive's greeting, or a reproacher's complaint?
A greeting of intimacy or complaint of reproach
وَلَوand if حَمَلَتcarried ريحُthe wind of الشَّمالِthe north إِلَيكُمُto you
وَلَو حَمَلَت ريحُ الشَّمالِ إِلَيكُمُ
سَلاماًa greeting طَلَبناwe would seek مِثلَهُits like فيin الجَنائِبِthe south winds
سَلاماً طَلَبنا مِثلَهُ في الجَنائِبِ
And if the north wind carried to you
And if the north wind carried to you
a greeting, we would seek its like in the south winds.
Greetings we would seek its like in the south winds,
ذَكَرتُكُمُI remembered you مِنfrom بَعدِafter عِشرينَtwenty حِجَّةًyears
ذَكَرتُكُمُ مِن بَعدِ عِشرينَ حِجَّةً
لَقَدindeed دَرَسَتhad faded أَسرارُكُمyour secrets فيin التَّرائِبِthe breastbones
لَقَد دَرَسَت أَسرارُكُم في التَّرائِبِ
I remembered you after twenty years;
I remembered you after twenty pilgrimages
your secrets had indeed faded within my breast.
Time has erased your secrets among the nomads,
وَماand not أَدَّعيI claim أَنّيthat I أَحِنُّyearn إِلَيكُمُfor you
وَما أَدَّعي أَنّي أَحِنُّ إِلَيكُمُ
وَيَمنَعُنيand hinder me الأَعداءthe enemies مِنfrom كُلِّevery جانِبِside
وَيَمنَعُني الأَعداء مِن كُلِّ جانِبِ
I do not claim that I yearn for you
And I do not claim I yearn for you
while enemies bar my way on every side.
As enemies surround me from every side,
وَلاnor أَناI بِالمُشتاقِone who longs إِنif قُلتُI say بَينَناbetween us
وَلا أَنا بِالمُشتاقِ إِن قُلتُ بَينَنا
طِوالُlong العَواليlances أَوor طِوالُlong السَّباسِبِbarren plains
طِوالُ العَوالي أَو طِوالُ السَّباسِبِ
Nor am I truly longing if I say that between us lie
Nor am I longing if I say between us
long lances, or long stretches of barren plains.
Are high plateaus or long twisting paths,
فَماfor there is no لِقُلوبِfor the hearts of العاشِقينَthe lovers مَزِيَّةٌa distinction
فَما لِقُلوبِ العاشِقينَ مَزِيَّةٌ
إِذاif نَظَرَتconsidered أَفكارُهاtheir thoughts فيin العَواقِبِthe consequences
إِذا نَظَرَت أَفكارُها في العَواقِبِ
For lovers' hearts have no distinction
For lovers’ hearts have no advantage
if their thoughts consider the consequences.
When their thoughts look to the consequences,
وَلاnor الشَّوقُlonging إِلَّاexcept فيin صُدورٍbreasts تَعَوَّدَتbecame accustomed
وَلا الشَّوقُ إِلَّا في صُدورٍ تَعَوَّدَت
لِقاءmeeting الأَعاديenemies فيin لِقاءmeeting الحَبائِبِloved ones
لِقاء الأَعادي في لِقاء الحَبائِبِ
Nor does longing dwell except in breasts accustomed
And longing is only in breasts accustomed
to meeting enemies when meeting loved ones.
To meeting enemies at the meeting of loved ones,
جَزىmay reward اللَّهُGod عَنّاon our behalf العِيسَthe pale camels خَيراًwith good فَطالَماfor often
جَزى اللَّهُ عَنّا العِيسَ خَيراً فَطالَما
فَرَقتُI separated بِهاby them بَينيbetween myself وَبَينَand between النَّوائِبِcalamities
فَرَقتُ بِها بَيني وَبَينَ النَّوائِبِ
May God reward the pale camels well on our behalf, for often
May God reward the staff well, for it has often
I have put distance, through them, between myself and calamities.
Parted me from tribulations with its help,
كَفَتناthey spared us ثَقيلَthe heavy burden of الهَمِّcare حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
كَفَتنا ثَقيلَ الهَمِّ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
رَمَيناwe cast بِهِit فَوقَabove الذُرىthe humps وَالغَوارِبِand the withers
رَمَينا بِهِ فَوقَ الذُرى وَالغَوارِبِ
They spared us heavy care, until it was as though
It relieved us of heavy worries until it was as if
we had cast it upon their humps and withers.
We cast it above the atoms and the clouds,
وَإِنand if صَدَقَتcame true فيin ناصِرِNasir الدَّولَةِal-Dawla المُنىhopes
وَإِن صَدَقَت في ناصِرِ الدَّولَةِ المُنى
فَماthen not هِيَthey إِلَّاexcept مِنfrom أَياديfavors of الرَّكائِبِthe mounts
فَما هِيَ إِلَّا مِن أَيادي الرَّكائِبِ
And if hopes in Nasir al-Dawla prove true,
If death spoke true about al-Nasir
they are only favors bestowed by the mounts.
It is but from the hands of fate,
فَتىa young man حارَتِwere bewildered الأَقدارُthe fates مِنby عَزَماتِهِhis resolves
فَتى حارَتِ الأَقدارُ مِن عَزَماتِهِ
عَلىdespite أَنَّهاtheir being مَعرُوفَةٌknown بِالعَجائِبِfor wonders
عَلى أَنَّها مَعرُوفَةٌ بِالعَجائِبِ
A young man whose resolves bewildered the fates,
A young man whose determination bewildered fate
although they are renowned for wonders.
Though it is known for wonders,
وَأَدرَكَand he grasped أَعقابَthe outcomes of الأُمورِaffairs بِفِكرِهِwith his thought
وَأَدرَكَ أَعقابَ الأُمورِ بِفِكرِهِ
كَأَنَّas though لَهاit had عَيناًan eye عَلىupon كُلِّevery غائِبِhidden thing
كَأَنَّ لَها عَيناً عَلى كُلِّ غائِبِ
And with his thought he grasped the outcomes of affairs,
He grasped the outcomes of affairs with his mind
as though it had an eye upon every hidden thing.
As if he had an eye upon every absent one,
لَهُhe has نَسَبٌa lineage كَالشَّمسِlike the sun أَشرَقَshone نورُهُits light
لَهُ نَسَبٌ كَالشَّمسِ أَشرَقَ نورُهُ
عَلىthrough طولِthe length of أَيّامِthe days of السِّنينِthe years الذَّواهِبِpassing
عَلى طولِ أَيّامِ السِّنينِ الذَّواهِبِ
His lineage is like the sun: its light has shone
He has a lineage shining like the sun, its light
through the long days of passing years.
Across the length of fleeting days,
إِذاwhen دَجَتِgrew dark الأَحسابُlineages لاحَتshone forth نُجومُهُits stars
إِذا دَجَتِ الأَحسابُ لاحَت نُجومُهُ
ثَواقِبَpiercingly bright مِنfrom قَبلِbefore النُّجومِthe stars الثَّواقِبِpiercingly bright
ثَواقِبَ مِن قَبلِ النُّجومِ الثَّواقِبِ
When lineages darken, its stars shine forth,
When calculations grow dark, his stars shine
piercingly bright, before the piercing stars.
As the latecomers among the early stars,
جِيادُكَyour steeds يَومَon the day of النِّيلِthe Nile ذَكَّرنَthey reminded أَهلَهُits people
جِيادُكَ يَومَ النِّيلِ ذَكَّرنَ أَهلَهُ
بِماof what صَنَعَتthey did أَمَّلتُهاI hoped for them فيat قُباقِبِQubaqib
بِما صَنَعَت أَمَّلتُها في قُباقِبِ
Your steeds, on the day of the Nile, reminded its people
Your steeds on the day of victory reminded its people
of what they did—as I had hoped they would—at Qubaqib.
Of what you wrought, I wished for them in reprisals,
سَقَتdrenched تِلكَthose أَكنافَthe regions of المَشارِقِthe East وابِلَa downpour of
سَقَت تِلكَ أَكنافَ المَشارِقِ وابِلَ
الدِّماءِblood وَجادَتand rained abundantly هَذِهِthese فيin المَغارِبِthe West
الدِّماءِ وَجادَت هَذِهِ في المَغارِبِ
Those drenched the regions of the East with a downpour
One group watered the flanks of the east with
of blood, and these rained it down in the West.
Blood rain while the other was generous in the west,
تَرَكنَthey left دِياراًdwellings لاnot تَبينare discernible لِعارِفto one familiar
تَرَكنَ دِياراً لا تَبين لِعارِف
وَخُضنَand they waded through بِحاراًseas لاnot تَحِلُّare lawful لِشارِبِfor a drinker
وَخُضنَ بِحاراً لا تَحِلُّ لِشارِبِ
They left dwellings unrecognizable to those who knew them,
They left a land no knowledgeable one can discern
and waded through seas forbidden to any drinker.
And plunged into a sea no drinker can stand,
وَقَدand already سَمِعواthey heard أَخبارَهاaccounts of them فيconcerning سِواهُمُothers than themselves
وَقَد سَمِعوا أَخبارَها في سِواهُمُ
فَماbut not قَنِعواwere satisfied إِلَّاexcept بِبَعضِwith some التَّجارِبِtrials
فَما قَنِعوا إِلَّا بِبَعضِ التَّجارِبِ
They had heard accounts of their deeds against others,
And they had heard its news from others
yet nothing satisfied them but some firsthand experience.
Yet were not content without some trials,
إِذاif كانَwas عَقلُthe reason of المَرءِa person أَدنىthe least of خِلالِهِhis qualities
إِذا كانَ عَقلُ المَرءِ أَدنى خِلالِهِ
فَماthen not هوَhe إِلَّاexcept ثَغرَةan opening لِلمَصائِبِfor calamities
فَما هوَ إِلَّا ثَغرَة لِلمَصائِبِ
If a man's reason is the least of his qualities,
When the mind of a man is the basest of his traits
he is nothing but an opening for calamities.
Then it is but a loophole for disasters,
وَكَمand how often حَبَسَimprisoned القُمرِيَّthe ringdove حُسنُthe beauty of غِنائِهِits singing
وَكَم حَبَسَ القُمرِيَّ حُسنُ غِنائِهِ
وَقَيَّدَتِand fettered البازِيَّthe hawk حُجنُthe hooks of المَخالِبِthe talons
وَقَيَّدَتِ البازِيَّ حُجنُ المَخالِبِ
And how often the beauty of its song has imprisoned the ringdove,
And how the singer's beauty has captured his singing
and hooked talons have fettered the hawk.
And the falconer's fists imprisoned the claws,
طَلَعتَyou appeared عَلَيهِمupon them وَالسُّيوفُand the swords كَأَنَّهاas though they
طَلَعتَ عَلَيهِم وَالسُّيوفُ كَأَنَّها
ضَرائِبُiron fragments مِمّاfrom what كَسَّرَتthey shattered فيamong الضَّرائِبِthe struck targets
ضَرائِبُ مِمّا كَسَّرَت في الضَّرائِبِ
You came upon them, the swords seeming
You came upon them and the swords were as if
like iron fragments from all their shattering blows against their targets.
Fragments from what was broken in calamities,
بَقِيَّةُthe remainder of آثارِthe traces of اللِّقانِal-Liqan وَآلِسٌand Alis
بَقِيَّةُ آثارِ اللِّقانِ وَآلِسٌ
وَفَضلَةُand a remnant of أَيّامِthe days of الحِمَىal-Hima وَالذَّنائِبِand al-Dhana'ib
وَفَضلَةُ أَيّامِ الحِمَى وَالذَّنائِبِ
Surviving relics of al-Liqan and Alis,
Remains of the worn and old traces
and remnants of the days of al-Hima and al-Dhana'ib.
And remnants of the days of protection and disasters,
تُحَدِّثُtell عَنof تِلكَthose المَناياdeaths فُلولُهاtheir notches
تُحَدِّثُ عَن تِلكَ المَنايا فُلولُها
وَقَدand indeed كُتِبَتwere written أَخبارهاtheir accounts فيin الكَتائِبِthe battalions
وَقَد كُتِبَت أَخبارها في الكَتائِبِ
Their notches tell of those deaths,
Their scattered remnants tell of those deaths
and their stories have been inscribed among the battalions.
And their chronicles are written in books,
قَواضِبُcutting swords إِلَّاexcept أَنَّهاthat they فيin أَنامِلٍfingers
قَواضِبُ إِلَّا أَنَّها في أَنامِلٍ
تَكادُalmost تَقُدُّcleave الهامَheads قَبلَbefore القَواضِبِthe cutting swords
تَكادُ تَقُدُّ الهامَ قَبلَ القَواضِبِ
Cutting blades—yet they are in fingers
Archers except that in their fingers
that almost cleave heads before the cutting blades.
They almost guide the arrow before the archers,
حَمَيتَyou protected بِهاwith them سِربَthe flock of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate بَعدَafter ماthat
حَمَيتَ بِها سِربَ الخِلافَةِ بَعدَ ما
تَرامَتtossed back and forth بِهِit أيديthe hands of العَبيدِthe slaves اللَّواعِبِplayful
تَرامَت بِهِ أيدي العَبيدِ اللَّواعِبِ
You protected with them the caliphate's flock, after
You defended with them the flock of the caliphate after
the playful hands of slaves had tossed it about.
The hands of the impetuous slaves had tossed it around,
وَأَبعَدتَand you removed عَنfrom تَدبيرِهاits governance كُلَّevery مائِقٍfool
وَأَبعَدتَ عَن تَدبيرِها كُلَّ مائِقٍ
حَديثُtalk of المُنىhopes فيهاconcerning it حَديثُthe talk of المُناسِبِone claiming kinship
حَديثُ المُنى فيها حَديثُ المُناسِبِ
And you removed from its governance every fool
And you kept away from its administration all who crave
whose talk of hopes for it was the talk of one claiming kinship.
Fresh wishes, for it is talk of suitability,
وَكُنتَand you were إِذاwhenever أَشرَعتَyou leveled رَأيَكَyour judgment فيat العِدىthe foes
وَكُنتَ إِذا أَشرَعتَ رَأيَكَ في العِدى
طَعَنتَyou thrust بِهِwith it قَبلَbefore الرِّماحِthe spears السَّوالِبِdespoiling
طَعَنتَ بِهِ قَبلَ الرِّماحِ السَّوالِبِ
And whenever you leveled your judgment at the foes,
When you set forth your view regarding the enemies
you thrust with it before the despoiling spears.
You stabbed them before the reaching spears,
وَقَدand perhaps يُبصِرُdiscerns الرَّأيَthe right course الفَتىthe young man وَهوَwhile he عاجِزٌpowerless
وَقَد يُبصِرُ الرَّأيَ الفَتى وَهوَ عاجِزٌ
وَرُبَّand many a حُسامkeen sword سَلَّهُdrew it غَيرُone who is not ضارِبِa striker
وَرُبَّ حُسام سَلَّهُ غَيرُ ضارِبِ
A young man may see the right course yet be helpless,
And a young man may discern the view though helpless
and many a keen sword has been drawn by one who does not strike.
While many a sword is drawn by another striker,
كَأَنَّas though المَدىthe goal فيin كُلِّevery شَيءthing طَلَبتَهُyou sought it
كَأَنَّ المَدى في كُلِّ شَيء طَلَبتَهُ
دَناdrew near لَكَto you حَتَّىuntil نِلتَهُyou attained it غَيرَwithout being طالِبِa seeker
دَنا لَكَ حَتَّى نِلتَهُ غَيرَ طالِبِ
It is as though the goal in everything you sought
As if everything you sought to attain drew near
drew near to you, until you gained it without seeking.
Until you attained it without seeking,
يَظُنُّthink العِدىthe foes أَنِّيthat I مَدَحتُكَpraised you لِلغِنىfor wealth
يَظُنُّ العِدى أَنِّي مَدَحتُكَ لِلغِنى
وَماand not الشِّعرُpoetry عِنديin my view مِنamong كَريمthe noble المَكاسِبِmeans of earning
وَما الشِّعرُ عِندي مِن كَريم المَكاسِبِ
Your foes think that I praised you for wealth,
The enemy thinks I praised you for wealth
but poetry is not, to me, an honorable means of earning.
Yet poetry is not gain for me from generous profits,
وَماand not شِئتُI wished إِلَّاexcept أَنthat تَتِمَّbe complete صِفاتُهُits qualities
وَما شِئتُ إِلَّا أَن تَتِمَّ صِفاتُهُ
وَلِلدُّرِّand pearls have مَعنىًmeaning فيupon نَحورِthe necks of الكَواعِبِmaidens with budding breasts
وَلِلدُّرِّ مَعنىً في نَحورِ الكَواعِبِ
I wished only that its qualities be complete,
I only wished his attributes be perfected
and pearls have meaning upon the necks of budding maidens.
As pearls have meaning in the necks of wild cows,
كَأَنِّيas though I إِذاwhenever أَنشَدتُI recited فيكَabout you قَصيدَةa poem
كَأَنِّي إِذا أَنشَدتُ فيكَ قَصيدَة
نَثَرتُI scattered عَلَيهِمover them طالِعاتِthe rising الكَواكِبِstars
نَثَرتُ عَلَيهِم طالِعاتِ الكَواكِبِ
Whenever I recite a poem about you, it is as though I
It is as if when I recite a poem about you
scatter rising stars over them.
I strewed upon them the risings of stars,
وَلَكِنَّهاbut it مَنسِيَّةُforgotten الذِّكرِremembrance فيكُمُamong you
وَلَكِنَّها مَنسِيَّةُ الذِّكرِ فيكُمُ
تُسائِلُit questions عَنabout أَحسابِكُمyour noble lineages كُلَّevery راكِبِrider
تُسائِلُ عَن أَحسابِكُم كُلَّ راكِبِ
Yet mention of it is forgotten among you;
But it is the forgotten mention among you
it questions every rider about your noble ancestry.
That asks about your days every rider,
وَوَاللَّهِand by God ماnot صِدقُsincerity of الثَّناءِpraise بِضائعwasted
وَوَاللَّهِ ما صِدقُ الثَّناءِ بِضائع
عَلَيكَupon you وَلاnor حُسنُthe goodness of الرَّجاءِhope بِخائِبِdisappointed
عَلَيكَ وَلا حُسنُ الرَّجاءِ بِخائِبِ
And by God, sincere praise is not wasted
By God, honesty of praise is no merchandise
upon you, nor is fair hope disappointed.
To you, nor good hope disappointed,
وَفيكُمand about you رَوىrecited النَّاسُthe people المَديحَpraise وَمِنكُمُand from you
وَفيكُم رَوى النَّاسُ المَديحَ وَمِنكُمُ
تَعَلَّمَlearned فيهِfor it القَومُthe folk بَذلَbestowing الرَّغائِبِcoveted gifts
تَعَلَّمَ فيهِ القَومُ بَذلَ الرَّغائِبِ
Of you the people have recited praise, and from you
And though the people reported praise of you
the folk have learned to lavish coveted gifts for it.
From you they learned to give precious gifts,
أَعِنِّيhelp me عَلىto نَيلِattain الكَواكِبِthe stars فيin العُلاloftiness
أَعِنِّي عَلى نَيلِ الكَواكِبِ في العُلا
فَأَنتَfor you are الَّذيthe one who صَيَّرتَهاplaced them فيamong مَطالِبيmy aims
فَأَنتَ الَّذي صَيَّرتَها في مَطالِبي
Help me reach the stars in glory,
Help me attain the stars on high
for you are the one who placed them among my aims.
For you are the one who made them my pursuit,
وَدَعنيand leave me وَصِدقُand the truthfulness of القَولِspeech فيكَabout you لَعَلَّهُperhaps it
وَدَعني وَصِدقُ القَولِ فيكَ لَعَلَّهُ
يُكَفِّرُatones عَنfor تِلكَthose القَوافيrhymes الكَواذِبِlying
يُكَفِّرُ عَن تِلكَ القَوافي الكَواذِبِ
And leave me to speak truthfully of you; perhaps it
And leave me, truthful speech about you may
will atone for those lying rhymes.
Atone for those rhymes that lie,
غَرائِبُstrange forms of مَينٍfalsehood فيabout سِواكَothers than you كَثيرَةmany
غَرائِبُ مَينٍ في سِواكَ كَثيرَة
وَلَكِنَّنيbut I مِنهُنَّof them أَوَّلُthe first تائِبِto repent
وَلَكِنَّني مِنهُنَّ أَوَّلُ تائِبِ
Strange lies about others than you abound,
Wondrous acts of refusal from me are many
but I am the first to repent of them.
Yet I am the first penitent of them,
وَماand not كُنتُI was لَمّاwhen أَعرَضspread out البَحرُthe sea زاخِراًbrimming
وَما كُنتُ لَمّا أَعرَض البَحرُ زاخِراً
أقلبُI turn طَرفيmy gaze فيtoward جَهامrainless masses of السَّحائِبِclouds
أقلبُ طَرفي في جَهام السَّحائِبِ
Nor, when the sea spread before me brimming, did I
I would not when the sea surged abundantly
turn my gaze toward rainless clouds.
Turn my gaze to the clouds of mist,
طَوَيتُI passed over إِلَيكَon my way to you الباخِلينَthe misers كَأَنَّماas though
طَوَيتُ إِلَيكَ الباخِلينَ كَأَنَّما
سَرَيتُI journeyed by night إِلىtoward شَمسِthe sun of الضُّحىforenoon فيin الغَياهِبِdeep darkness
سَرَيتُ إِلى شَمسِ الضُّحى في الغَياهِبِ
I passed the misers by on my way to you, as though
I came to you though the misers were twisted as if
I journeyed by night toward the forenoon sun through deep darkness.
I walked to the morning sun through the darkest gloom,
وَكانَand was سَبيلُthe path of الجودِgenerosity فيon الأَرضِthe earth واحِداًone
وَكانَ سَبيلُ الجودِ في الأَرضِ واحِداً
فَماso not عَرَفَknew النَّاسُthe people اِختِلافَthe divergence of المَذاهِبِpaths
فَما عَرَفَ النَّاسُ اِختِلافَ المَذاهِبِ
The path of generosity on earth was one,
The path of generosity on earth was one
so people knew no divergence of paths.
So people knew not differing creeds,
وَشَرَّفَنيand ennobled me قَصديmy seeking إِلَيكَyou وَإِنَّماand only
وَشَرَّفَني قَصدي إِلَيكَ وَإِنَّما
يُبَينُbecomes clear بِقَصدِby seeking البَيتِthe House فَضلُthe merit of المُحارِبِthe warrior
يُبَينُ بِقَصدِ البَيتِ فَضلُ المُحارِبِ
My seeking you has ennobled me; it is only
My seeking you ennobled me, and yet
by seeking the House that a warrior's worth is revealed.
The intention for the house shows the warrior’s merit,
فَمَنso whoever كانَwas يَبغيseeks فيthrough المَديحِpraise مَواهِباًgifts
فَمَن كانَ يَبغي في المَديحِ مَواهِباً
فَإِنَّthen indeed مَديحيmy praise فيكَof you بَعضُpart of المَواهِبِthe gifts
فَإِنَّ مَديحي فيكَ بَعضُ المَواهِبِ
So if someone seeks gifts through praise,
Whoever desires gifts through praise
my praise of you is itself one of the gifts.
Then my praise of you is some of the gifts,
Sol 6.1