حياةٌa life أَسرَّmost pleasing العَيشliving فيهاin it مَذمَّمblameworthy
حياةٌ أَسرَّ العَيش فيها مَذمَّم
وَناسٌand people بِهاby them قَلبُthe heart الخليِّof the carefree one متيَّمُenthralled
وَناسٌ بِها قَلبُ الخليِّ متيَّمُ
A life in which the happiest living is blameworthy,
A life whose living is miserable,
And people by whom the carefree heart is enthralled.
And people in it whose hearts are sad.
سَقَتgave to drink كُلَّevery قَلبِheart كُلّevery يَومٍday مَشارِباًdraughts
سَقَت كُلَّ قَلبِ كُلّ يَومٍ مَشارِباً
توهَّمَimagined فيهاin them لَذةًpleasure وَهِيَthough they are عَلقَمُbitter colocynth
توهَّمَ فيها لَذةً وَهِيَ عَلقَمُ
It gave every heart, each day, draughts
Every day it gives each heart drinks
In which it imagined pleasure, though they were bitter colocynth.
In which it imagines pleasure, but they are bitter.
تَشاغَلَتِbecame engrossed الأَلبابُthe minds فيهاin it مِنfrom الصِّبىchildhood
تَشاغَلَتِ الأَلبابُ فيها مِن الصِّبى
وَلَمand not تَكُwere أَدنىless صَبوةًinfatuation حينَwhen تحلمُthey mature
وَلَم تَكُ أَدنى صَبوةً حينَ تحلمُ
Minds were engrossed in it from childhood,
Hearts were busy with youthful passions
And were no less infatuated when they matured.
And were not chaste even for a moment when they came of age.
تَبطَّلَidled كُلٌeveryone بالأَمانيwith wishful hopes وَلَمand did not يَزَلcease
تَبطَّلَ كُلٌ بالأَماني وَلَم يَزَل
يَروحُgoes out in the evening وَيَغدوand goes out in the morning وَهوَwhile he is لِلمَوتِfor death مَغنَمُa prize
يَروحُ وَيَغدو وَهوَ لِلمَوتِ مَغنَمُ
Everyone idled in wishful hopes, and never ceased
Everyone was heedless with wishes and never stopped
Going out evening and morning, a prize for death.
Going and coming while death was a gain for him.
وَماand not الأَرضُthe earth إِلّاexcept قَفرةٌa wilderness زَأَرَتْroared بِهاin it
وَما الأَرضُ إِلّا قَفرةٌ زَأَرَتْ بِها
أَسودُlions المَناياof death حَولناaround us وَهِيَwhile they are حوَّمُcircling
أَسودُ المَنايا حَولنا وَهِيَ حوَّمُ
And earth is only a wilderness in which roared
The earth is nothing but a howling wasteland
The lions of death around us, circling.
Where the black deaths prowl around us growling.
لَهاit has كُلّevery يَومِday بَينناamong us كُلّevery مُنذِرٍwarning herald
لَها كُلّ يَومِ بَيننا كُلّ مُنذِرٍ
يُناديcalls out عَليناto us مُسمِعاًmaking us hear وَهوَthough he is أَبكمُmute
يُنادي عَلينا مُسمِعاً وَهوَ أَبكمُ
Each day among us, death has many a warning herald,
Each day it has among us every warner
Calling out to us, making us hear, though mute.
Calling out to us, hearing yet mute.
تَنَبِّهُناrouses us بَعضاًsome بِبَعضٍthrough others فَنَنثَنيthen we turn back
تَنَبِّهُنا بَعضاً بِبَعضٍ فَنَنثَني
وَأَجفانُناand our eyelids فيin غَفلةِthe heedlessness اللَهوof amusement نوَّمُasleep
وَأَجفانُنا في غَفلةِ اللَهو نوَّمُ
It rouses us, one through another, yet we turn back,
We awaken each other then slumber again
While our eyelids slumber in heedless amusement.
While our eyelids in the intoxication of frivolity doze.
خَلَتlay empty دونَهاbefore it شُمُّlofty الحُصونfortresses فَلَمso not تَكُنwere
خَلَت دونَها شُمُّ الحُصون فَلَم تَكُن
لِساكِنهاfor their dweller مِنfrom غارةِthe raid البينِof separation تعصمُprotect
لِساكِنها مِن غارةِ البينِ تعصمُ
Lofty fortresses lay empty before it; they could not
Impregnable fortresses crumbled before it
Shield their dwellers from separation's raid.
And could not protect their inhabitants from separation.
وَأَصبَحَand became مَنone who قَدalready كانَwas يُرهَبُis feared بَأسُهُhis might
وَأَصبَحَ مَن قَد كانَ يُرهَبُ بَأسُهُ
يُناحُis mourned عَلَيهِover him بَعدَafter حينٍa time وَيُرحَمُand is pitied
يُناحُ عَلَيهِ بَعدَ حينٍ وَيُرحَمُ
And he whose might had once been feared became
One whose might was feared became, after a time,
Mourned after a time, and pitied.
One wept for and pitied when he perished.
تُرابٌdust مِنَfrom الأَرضthe earth اِستوىtook shape تَحتَbeneath صورةٍa form
تُرابٌ مِنَ الأَرض اِستوى تَحتَ صورةٍ
تَلوحُappears عَلَيهاupon it مُدةًfor a time ثُمthen تهدمُis destroyed
تَلوحُ عَلَيها مُدةً ثُم تهدمُ
Dust from the earth, taking shape beneath a form
He was dust made equal beneath an image
That appears upon it for a time, then is destroyed.
That shone for a while, then crumbled.
أَحبَّتَناour beloved ones ماhow أَعذَبَsweet الهَجرَestrangement بَينَناbetween us
أَحبَّتَنا ما أَعذَبَ الهَجرَ بَينَنا
إِذاif كانَis حَبلُthe cord الوَصلِof union لاno بُدَّescape يَفصمُsnaps
إِذا كانَ حَبلُ الوَصلِ لا بُدَّ يَفصمُ
Our beloved ones, how sweet is estrangement between us,
Our loved ones, how sweet is separation between us
If the cord of union must inevitably snap.
When the cord of union must inevitably be severed!
أَنِسناwe took comfort بِطيبِin the sweetness الوَصلِof union فيon الأَرضِthe earth مُدةًfor a time
أَنِسنا بِطيبِ الوَصلِ في الأَرضِ مُدةً
وَماand what طيبُsweetness وَصلٍof union بِالتَفرُّقِby parting يَشؤمُbecomes ill-omened
وَما طيبُ وَصلٍ بِالتَفرُّقِ يَشؤمُ
For a time on earth, we took comfort in the sweetness of union,
We enjoyed the sweetness of union on earth for a time,
And what sweetness is there in union blighted by parting?
Yet nothing corrupts union like parting.
سَلامٌpeace عَلىupon قَبرٍa grave تَوسَّدَtook as a pillow تربَهُits dust
سَلامٌ عَلى قَبرٍ تَوسَّدَ تربَهُ
حَبيبٌa beloved عَلَيهِto him مِنfrom بَعيدٍafar أَسلِّمُI send greetings
حَبيبٌ عَلَيهِ مِن بَعيدٍ أَسلِّمُ
Peace upon a grave whose dust serves as a pillow
Greetings to a grave in whose soil rests
To a beloved whom I greet from afar.
A beloved, to whom from afar I bid peace.
وَماnor كانَwould يُجديavail لَوif تَدانىhe drew near وَدونَهُand between us and him
وَما كانَ يُجدي لَو تَدانى وَدونَهُ
مِنof الرَمسِthe grave قَدalready أَمسىhas become حِجابٌa veil مُخيِّمُenveloping
مِن الرَمسِ قَد أَمسى حِجابٌ مُخيِّمُ
Nor would it help if he were nearer, for between us
It would not have helped had he drawn near, with
An enveloping veil of the grave has settled.
An impenetrable barrier of burial soil covering him.
لَئنeven if لَمnot تُصِبreach عَينِيmy eye ثَراهُhis dust فَإِنَّthen indeed ليI have
لَئن لَم تُصِب عَينِي ثَراهُ فَإِنَّ لي
هُنالكthere قَلباًa heart مِنهُfrom it قَدalready قَطرdripped الدَّمُblood
هُنالك قَلباً مِنهُ قَد قَطر الدَّمُ
Though my eye has not reached his dust, I have
If my eyes do not behold his tomb, still
A heart there from which blood has dripped.
My heart there drops blood for him.
وَماand not جَفَّdried دَمعيmy tears بَعدَهُafter him غَيرَexcept أَنَّهُthat they
وَما جَفَّ دَمعي بَعدَهُ غَيرَ أَنَّهُ
يُدبِّجُembroiders خَضراءَthe green الرُبَىof the hills حينَwhen يَسجمُstreams
يُدبِّجُ خَضراءَ الرُبَى حينَ يَسجمُ
Nor have my tears dried since his passing, save that they
My tears have not dried since he left, though they
Embroider the green hills whenever they flow.
Adorn the green plants when they pour down.
نَعاهُannounced his death لَناto us الناعِيthe death-herald فَفِيso in كُلevery مِسمَعٍear
نَعاهُ لَنا الناعِي فَفِي كُل مِسمَعٍ
كَلامٌwords وَلَكنand yet فيin الأَضالعِthe ribs أَسهُمُarrows
كَلامٌ وَلَكن في الأَضالعِ أَسهُمُ
The death-herald announced his death to us: in every ear
The announcer announced his death, so every ear
Words, but arrows within the ribs.
Hears words, but in the chests are arrows.
تَنوحُlament عَلىover فَقَدِthe loss الأَميرِof the emir مُحَمدٍMuhammad
تَنوحُ عَلى فَقَدِ الأَميرِ مُحَمدٍ
رِجالٌmen عَلَيهِfor him بِالدِّماwith blood تَتَلَثَّمُveil their faces
رِجالٌ عَلَيهِ بِالدِّما تَتَلَثَّمُ
Lamenting the loss of Emir Muhammad are
Men weep for the loss of Prince Muhammad,
Men who veil their faces with blood for him.
Their beards dripping with blood as they mourn.
عَزيزٌcherished لَهُfor him فيin كُلِّevery عَينٍeye مَدامِعٌtears
عَزيزٌ لَهُ في كُلِّ عَينٍ مَدامِعٌ
وَفيand in كُلِّevery قَلبٍheart جَمرةٌan ember تَتَضَرَّمُblazes
وَفي كُلِّ قَلبٍ جَمرةٌ تَتَضَرَّمُ
A cherished one, with tears for him in every eye,
Dear to every eye are tears for him,
And in every heart an ember that blazes.
And in each heart an ember smoldering.
وَكَمand how many مِنof جُيوبٍgarment necklines بَلnay قُلوبٌhearts تَشَقَّقَتwere rent
وَكَم مِن جُيوبٍ بَل قُلوبٌ تَشَقَّقَت
عَلَيهِfor him وَكَمand how many مِنof أَوجُهٍfaces فيهِon his account تُلطَمُare slapped
عَلَيهِ وَكَم مِن أَوجُهٍ فيهِ تُلطَمُ
How many collars—nay, hearts—were rent
How many breasts, nay hearts, split open for him,
For him, and how many faces are slapped for his sake.
How many faces are wounded for him!
وَلمَّاand when نَعىhis death was announced فيin أَرضِthe land لُبنانَof Lebanon أَوشَكَتalmost
وَلمَّا نَعى في أَرضِ لُبنانَ أَوشَكَت
جَنادِلُهُits boulders مِنfrom حَسرةٍgrief تَتَألَّمُache
جَنادِلُهُ مِن حَسرةٍ تَتَألَّمُ
And when his death was announced in the land of Lebanon, it almost made
When he died in the land of Lebanon, his troops
Its boulders ache with grief.
Nearly perished from anguish and pain.
كَريمٌnoble لَهُhe has مِنfrom آلِthe house of رَسلانَRaslan مَحتِدٌancestry
كَريمٌ لَهُ مِن آلِ رَسلانَ مَحتِدٌ
وَمِنand from نَفسِهِhimself مَجدٌglory سَنيٌّradiant مُعَظَّمُexalted
وَمِن نَفسِهِ مَجدٌ سَنيٌّ مُعَظَّمُ
A noble man, with lineage from the house of Raslan,
Noble, with a lineage from the House of Raslan
And from himself, radiant, exalted glory.
And from himself an elevated, venerated glory.
وَمِنand from ذكرِهِhis remembrance ماwhat يَعجَزُis unable الدَهرُtime سَلبَهُto strip it away
وَمِن ذكرِهِ ما يَعجَزُ الدَهرُ سَلبَهُ
وَمِنand from شُكرهِpraise for him فيin كُلِّevery ذيone with مَنطقٍspeech فَمُa mouth
وَمِن شُكرهِ في كُلِّ ذي مَنطقٍ فَمُ
And in his memory, what time cannot strip away,
Of his mention time cannot rob him,
And to praise him, a mouth in every being who speaks.
And gratitude for him is on every eloquent tongue.
أَياO مَنyou who قَضىdied فيin غَربةِforeignness الدارِof the land نازِحاًfar from home
أَيا مَن قَضى في غَربةِ الدارِ نازِحاً
فَكُلُّso every فُؤادٍheart نازحٍfar away مُتَصَرِّمُtorn apart
فَكُلُّ فُؤادٍ نازحٍ مُتَصَرِّمُ
O you who died in a foreign land, far from home,
O you who passed away in exile from your homeland,
So every distant heart is torn apart.
Every exiled heart is desolate and bereaved.
رُوَيدَكَwait a little ماnot لِلصَبرpatience has بَعدَكafter you مِنany يَدٍstrength
رُوَيدَكَ ما لِلصَبر بَعدَك مِن يَدٍ
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِقتَضىdemands الصَبرَpatience المُصابُthe calamity العرمَرَمُoverwhelming
إِذا ما اِقتَضى الصَبرَ المُصابُ العرمَرَمُ
Wait a little! Patience has no strength after you,
Gently, my friend! Without you, patience has no power
When overwhelming calamity demands patience.
When calamity makes even patience collapse.
تَرَحَّلتَyou departed فيin شَرخِthe prime الشَبابِof youth مُغادِراًleaving
تَرَحَّلتَ في شَرخِ الشَبابِ مُغادِراً
مِنَof الحُزنِgrief ماwhat يُوديdestroys الشَبابَyouth وَيَهرمُand ages
مِنَ الحُزنِ ما يُودي الشَبابَ وَيَهرمُ
You departed in the prime of youth, leaving
You journeyed away in the prime of youth,
A sorrow that destroys youth and brings old age.
Leaving behind sorrow that destroys youth and makes it decay.
وَمِثلَكَand one like you مَنone who حُقَّis justified التَأسُّفُmourning بَعدَهُafter him
وَمِثلَكَ مَن حُقَّ التَأسُّفُ بَعدَهُ
وَغَيركَand others than you مَخلوفٌreplaceable وَمِثلكَbut your like يُعدمُcannot be found
وَغَيركَ مَخلوفٌ وَمِثلكَ يُعدمُ
And one like you is rightly mourned after his passing;
And the like of you—who deserves to be mourned after—
Others are replaceable, but your like cannot be found.
Is rare, while the like of you is nonexistent.
تَنوحُlament القَوافيthe rhymes بَعدafter يَومِكَyour day حَسرةًin grief
تَنوحُ القَوافي بَعد يَومِكَ حَسرةً
فنُوشِكُso we almost نَخشىfear نَثرَهاtheir scattering حينَwhen تُنظَمُthey are strung
فنُوشِكُ نَخشى نَثرَها حينَ تُنظَمُ
The rhymes lament in grief after your final day,
The rhymes weep in sorrow after your day,
So we almost fear their scattering as they are strung.
So we fear their scattering when they are composed.
وَتَندُبكَand mourn you الأَقلامُthe pens مِنfrom حَيثُwhere رَدَّدَتechoed
وَتَندُبكَ الأَقلامُ مِن حَيثُ رَدَّدَت
حَنيناًa yearning cry وَأَجرَتand shed عَبرةًa tear حينَwhen ترقمُthey write
حَنيناً وَأَجرَت عَبرةً حينَ ترقمُ
And pens mourn you wherever they echo
The pens eulogize you wherever they flowing
A yearning cry, and shed a tear as they write.
With yearning and shedding copious tears as they write.
وَبَينَand among المَذاكيsteeds in their prime وَالسُيوفِand swords مَناحةٌlamentation
وَبَينَ المَذاكي وَالسُيوفِ مَناحةٌ
وَبَينَand among الحِجىintellect وَالعلمِand learning وَالمَجدِand glory مَأتَمُa mourning assembly
وَبَينَ الحِجى وَالعلمِ وَالمَجدِ مَأتَمُ
Among steeds in their prime and swords is lamentation,
Between swords and bookcases, anguish,
And among intellect, learning, and glory, a mourning assembly.
Between dignity, knowledge, and glory, bereavement.
إِلاtake heed ياO بَنيsons of رَسلانَRaslan صَبراًpatience لِفَقدِهِfor his loss
إِلا يا بَني رَسلانَ صَبراً لِفَقدِهِ
فَذَلِكَfor that مِمَّاof what يَقتَضيهِrequires it التَكَرُّمُnobility
فَذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَقتَضيهِ التَكَرُّمُ
Take heed, O sons of Raslan: patience in his loss!
Except—O House of Raslan—show patience for his loss.
For that is what nobility requires.
That is what nobility requires.
إِذاif ماemphatic particle دَفَعناwe were thrust لِلبَليَّةِinto calamity مَرةًonce
إِذا ما دَفَعنا لِلبَليَّةِ مَرةً
وَلَمand do not نَنتَفعbenefit بِالحُزنِfrom grief فَالصَبرُthen patience أَحزمُmore prudent
وَلَم نَنتَفع بِالحُزنِ فَالصَبرُ أَحزمُ
When once we are thrust into calamity,
When we hand misfortune over once,
And gain nothing from grief, patience is more prudent.
And do not benefit from grief, patience is wiser.
جَرىtook its course قَدرُthe decree المَولَىof the Lord بِماaccording to what شاءَHe willed وَاِستَوىand were equal
جَرى قَدرُ المَولَى بِما شاءَ وَاِستَوى
لَدَيهِbefore Him جَزوعٌone distraught فيin الأَسىgrief وَمُسلِّمُand one resigned
لَدَيهِ جَزوعٌ في الأَسى وَمُسلِّمُ
The Lord's decree took its course as He willed; equal are
The decree of the Master has run its course as He willed,
Before Him, the distraught in grief and the resigned.
Resignation in sorrow is equal before Him.
وَلَيسَand there is not لَناfor us مِنany مَطمَعٍhope فاتَescaped نَيلُهُits attainment
وَلَيسَ لَنا مِن مَطمَعٍ فاتَ نَيلُهُ
إِذاif كانَis ماwhat نَبغيهِwe seek it ماthat which لَيسَis not يَغنَمُgained
إِذا كانَ ما نَبغيهِ ما لَيسَ يَغنَمُ
Nor has the fulfillment of any hope escaped us,
We have no hope of attaining what is gone;
If what we seek is something that cannot be won.
What we desire is what does not profit.
وَماand not كانَis ماwhat لاno بُدَّescape مِنهُfrom it مُؤخَّراًdelayed
وَما كانَ ما لا بُدَّ مِنهُ مُؤخَّراً
يَهونُgrows lighter لَدَيهِbeside it الرزءُthe bereavement وَهوَwhile it is مُقدَّمُbrought forward
يَهونُ لَدَيهِ الرزءُ وَهوَ مُقدَّمُ
Nor does what is inevitable, though deferred,
What cannot be avoided if deferred
Make an earlier bereavement lighter by comparison.
Is easier for him, while it is brought forward.
وَماand not الفَرقُthe difference فيbetween الحالَينِthe two cases إِلاexcept هُنَيهَةٌa brief moment
وَما الفَرقُ في الحالَينِ إِلا هُنَيهَةٌ
تَمرّpasses سَريعاًswiftly وَالقَضاand fate مُتَحَتَّمُinevitable
تَمرّ سَريعاً وَالقَضا مُتَحَتَّمُ
And the difference between the two cases is only a moment
The difference in the two cases is but a fleeting
That passes swiftly, while fate is inevitable.
Moment, while the decree is inescapable.
Sol 6.1