قدindeed رقgrew refined بابنthrough the son of شبيبShabib كأسthe cup تشبيبيmy love poetry
قد رق بابن شبيب كأس تشبيبي
حتىuntil مزجتI mingled هوىpassion الشبانyoung men بالشيبwith gray hair
حتى مزجت هوى الشبان بالشيب
Through Ibn Shabib, the cup of my love poetry grew refined,
The cup of youth has intoxicated Ibn Shubaib,
until I mingled young men's passion with gray hair.
So that the passion of youths is mixed with grey hair.
كمhow many بيضwhitened الشعرpoetry منfrom فوديهhis two temples ناصيةًa forelock
كم بيض الشعر من فوديه ناصيةً
شابتgrew gray باغيدfor a graceful youth داجيdark الشعرof hair غربيبraven-black
شابت باغيد داجي الشعر غربيب
How many a forelock poetry has whitened at his temples,
How much white hair has sprouted from his temple,
grown gray for a graceful youth with raven-black hair!
While the black hair on his forehead is still lush.
وشبand kindled فيهwithin him زهيراًZuhayr فيin صناعتهhis craft
وشب فيه زهيراً في صناعته
ككوكبlike a star شرقٍradiant فيin الأفقthe horizon مشبوبablaze
ككوكب شرقٍ في الأفق مشبوب
And in his craft it kindled a Zuhayr within him,
In it has grown a Zuhair in his craft,
like a radiant star, ablaze on the horizon.
Like the shining star in the clear horizon.
يحدوhe drives with song بسرحwith a grazing herd قوافيهhis rhymes مرجعةresounding
يحدو بسرح قوافيه مرجعة
حدوthe chanting of المرهفةthe slender العيشlife (probably 'white camels') المطاريبthe song-stirred
حدو المرهفة العيش المطاريب
He chants his grazing herd of rhymes onward, their notes resounding,
He flows spontaneously with his eloquent verses,
as one chants to slender, song-stirred [white camels].
Flowing like the delicate, enjoyable life.
منfrom كلevery حرفletter كحرفlike a lean she-camel هاضcrushed جانبهاher flank
من كل حرف كحرف هاض جانبها
منfrom خلفbehind طرفa noble steed طموحlofty الطرفof gaze مجنوبled alongside
من خلف طرف طموح الطرف مجنوب
From every letter, like a lean she-camel whose flank was crushed
From every letter, a burning desire from its side,
from behind by a high-gazing steed led alongside.
From behind a flirtatious eye, the eye is amorous.
قدindeed أنجبتbore noble offspring فيهin him فيamong الأعرابthe Bedouin منجبةa mother of noble sons
قد أنجبت فيه في الأعراب منجبة
أصلاًby descent فأعربso he expressed عنabout طبعthe nature الأعاريبthe desert Arabs
أصلاً فأعرب عن طبع الأعاريب
A noble mother among the Bedouin bore him,
It has brought forth in the nomads a real genius,
of noble stock; so he voiced the desert Arabs' nature.
Whose nature expressed the ways of nomads.
غذتهnourished him منfrom لبنthe milk الحيينthe two camps رغوتهits froth
غذته من لبن الحيين رغوته
حيthe camp of اللقاحmilk-giving she-camels وحيand the camp of المنزلthe dwelling الموبيpestilential
حي اللقاح وحي المنزل الموبي
The froth of the two camps' milk nourished him:
It was nourished on the milk of the virtuous, its nourishment
the milk-camel camp and the camp of the pestilential dwelling.
Full of life and home of the beloved abode.
الغيcast aside الحضارةcity life إذwhen حنتyearned بداوتهhis Bedouin nature
الغي الحضارة إذ حنت بداوته
فهلso, have...? سمعتyou heard لشعرfrom poetry حنةthe yearning cry النيبold she-camels
فهل سمعت لشعر حنة النيب
He cast aside city life when his desert nature yearned;
It ignored civilization when it leaned to simple life,
have you heard poetry give the yearning cry of old she-camels?
Did you ever hear poetry with charm like a prophet?
ينسلhe slips forth مختطفاًsnatching أقصىthe furthest شواردهhis wandering fancies
ينسل مختطفاً أقصى شوارده
مثلlike انسلالthe slipping forth of رصيدthe watcher of الثلةthe flock الذيبthe wolf
مثل انسلال رصيد الثلة الذيب
He slips forth, snatching his furthest wandering fancies,
It flows smoothly, capturing its farthest ideas,
like a wolf slipping out, lying in wait for the flock.
Like the flowing of a flock of deer.
ماnot صوبhe lowered الفكرthought إلاexcept ريثthe time it takes صعدهhe raised it
ما صوب الفكر إلا ريث صعده
فالفكرso thought منهfrom him بتصعيدthrough ascent وتصويبand descent
فالفكر منه بتصعيد وتصويب
He lowers thought only long enough to raise it;
Thought only ascends straight,
so his thought moves through ascent and descent.
For thought with him is by elevation and correction.
يفيضhe overflows بالثاقبwith penetrating الرأيjudgment المصيبunerring ذكاbrilliance
يفيض بالثاقب الرأي المصيب ذكا
حتىuntil يصوبhe rains down بدرwith pearls غيرnot مثقوبpierced
حتى يصوب بدر غير مثقوب
He brims with brilliance and penetrating, unerring judgment,
It overflows with accurate, penetrating intellect,
until he rains down pearls never pierced.
Until it hits the target flawlessly.
منمنمan embroiderer of زهرthe flowers of الألفاظwords يرقمهاhe patterns them
منمنم زهر الألفاظ يرقمها
رقمthe patterning of الخميلةa lush grove فيin طرزdesign وترتيبand arrangement
رقم الخميلة في طرز وترتيب
An embroiderer of word-flowers, he patterns them
It hums the flowers of words, arranging them
like a lush grove's patterning, in design and order.
In the style of al-Khalil in composition and order.
للشعرfor poetry حسنانtwo beauties لاnot تعدوهماgoes beyond them both جهةany aspect
للشعر حسنان لا تعدوهما جهة
حسنbeauty بمعنىin meaning وحسنand beauty بالأساليبin styles
حسن بمعنى وحسن بالأساليب
Poetry has two beauties; no aspect goes beyond them:
Poetry has two beauties, no aspect exceeds them:
beauty in meaning and beauty in style.
Beauty in meaning and beauty in style.
مقوضstriking the tent of الهمcare والحوباand the soul مطنبةfirmly pitched
مقوض الهم والحوبا مطنبة
فلاso not يزالdoes he cease بتقويضwith striking tents وتطنيبand pitching tents
فلا يزال بتقويض وتطنيب
He strikes the tent of care, while the soul's tent stands pitched;
It destroys anxiety and is stronglyImpactful,
ever striking tents and pitching them.
It never stops destroying and impacting.
سلسpliant القيادto the rein وفيهand in him بعدstill عجرفةhaughtiness
سلس القياد وفيه بعد عجرفة
لاnot يسهلtames الصعبthe unruly إلاexcept بالمصاعيبby the unyielding
لا يسهل الصعب إلا بالمصاعيب
He yields easily to the rein, yet still has a haughty streak;
Smooth in leadership, yet still bold,
only the unyielding can tame the unruly.
Only hardship can make the difficult easy.
قدmay يخشنgrow rough المرءa man بعدafter اللينgentleness جانبهhis manner
قد يخشن المرء بعد اللين جانبه
فالمرءfor a man ليسis not بمأكولsomething eaten ومشوربnor something drunk
فالمرء ليس بمأكول ومشورب
A man's manner may grow rough after gentleness,
One may coarsen after gentleness his side,
for a man is not something to be eaten or drunk.
For man is not edible or potable.
يفترhe smiles to reveal عنrevealing خلقa character ذاكthat يفوهspeaks بهof it
يفتر عن خلق ذاك يفوه به
طيبfragrant النسيمthe breeze كماءlike water of الوردroses مسكوبpoured out
طيب النسيم كماء الورد مسكوب
His smile reveals that character, given voice by
He slackens from creating then inspires with it,
a fragrant breeze, like rosewater poured out.
Like the scent of roses poured out.
قدindeed حملhas carried الطيبperfume طيباًfragrance منfrom خلائقهhis virtues
قد حمل الطيب طيباً من خلائقه
فرحتso I went on أنشقinhaling طيباًa fragrance منهfrom him فيin الطيبperfume
فرحت أنشق طيباً منه في الطيب
Perfume has taken on fragrance from his virtues;
He carried fragrance from his traits,
so I went on inhaling his fragrance in perfume.
I was delighted to pluck fragrance from his fragrance.
زينthe adornment of الأخلاءfriends إنif جادواthey give generously وإنand if بخلواthey are miserly
زين الأخلاء إن جادوا وإن بخلوا
محبa lover صدقsincere تزياdressed himself زيَّin the garb of محبوبa beloved
محب صدق تزيا زيَّ محبوب
The adornment of friends, whether they give generously or withhold,
He adorns companions whether generous or stingy,
a true lover dressed in a beloved's guise.
A lover of truth, his adornment befits the beloved.
وحسبand sufficient جعفرJa'far; also, river تلقيباًas a title وتسميةand as a name
وحسب جعفر تلقيباً وتسمية
لمnot يحوهاencompass it البحرthe sea باسمin a name أوor بتلقيبin a title
لم يحوها البحر باسم أو بتلقيب
And Ja'far suffices as title and name—
Sufficient for Jaafar is the name and title,
what the sea has never held in name or title.
The sea did not contain it in name or title.
اللابسclad in النثرةthe coat of mail الحصداtightly woven منof الزردlinked mail النthe... (fragment)
اللابس النثرة الحصدا من الزرد الن
نثرprose المشردfree-ranging والنظمand verse والأساريبand styles
نثر المشرد والنظم والأساريب
Clad in a tightly woven coat of linked mail—
Wearing prose and harvesting poetry from gems,
free-ranging prose, verse, and varied styles.
Scattering rhymed prose, poetry, and meters.
إذاwhen اعتلىhe mounted صهوةthe back of الادابliterature مزدهياًresplendent
إذا اعتلى صهوة الاداب مزدهياً
بذَّhe surpassed التخايلproud prancing بالخيلon steeds السراحيبlong-striding
بذَّ التخايل بالخيل السراحيب
When he mounts the back of literature, resplendent,
When he rode high on the horse of literature boastfully,
he surpasses proud prancing on long-striding steeds.
He drove it with imaginings and steeds.
يصيحhe cries فيin سرجهاher saddle هبrise! كلماwhenever انقعطتshe speeds off
يصيح في سرجها هب كلما انقعطت
حتىuntil يواصلhe joins الهوباًa galloping burst بألهوبwith a galloping burst
حتى يواصل الهوباً بألهوب
From her saddle he cries, 'Up!' whenever she speeds off,
He yells urging whenever it slows,
until he joins one galloping burst to another.
Until he connects yells with flames.
جاريhe raced alongside جوادJawad; a noble steed فجداso both strove فيin السباقthe race معاtogether
جاري جواد فجدا في السباق معا
عنقاًneck لعنقto neck وعرقوباًand hock لعرقوبto hock
عنقاً لعنق وعرقوباً لعرقوب
He raced Jawad; together they strove in the race,
Racing his spirited steed, excelling in the race,
neck to neck and hock to hock.
Neck to neck and heel to heel.
إنif لمnot يجزallows لهماfor them both فيin الحالthis case نصبهماtheir elevation / accusative case
إن لم يجز لهما في الحال نصبهما
قاضٍa judge قضىhe ruled عنتاًunjustly فيin خفضlowering / genitive case منصوبraised / accusative
قاضٍ قضى عنتاً في خفض منصوب
If their elevation in this case is not allowed
If the two together do not achieve their goal there,
by a judge, he rules unjustly by lowering what stands raised.
A judge has judged a delay in lowering the upright.
لاnot يعدمloses الضرمfiery البازيthe falcon شيمتهits nature
لا يعدم الضرم البازي شيمته
فوقabove المراقيبthe lookout heights أوor دونbelow المراقيبthe lookout heights
فوق المراقيب أو دون المراقيب
The fiery falcon does not lose its nature,
The shining white horse never lacks his merit,
above the lookout heights or beneath them.
Above or below the platforms.
إنif كانit was قدindeed اصحبانيthey both befriended me بعضsome of ودهماtheir affection
إن كان قد اصحباني بعض ودهما
أنيbecause I اصطفيتهماchose them both منfrom among كلevery مصحوبcompanion
أني اصطفيتهما من كل مصحوب
If they have accorded me some of their affection,
If they have accompanied me with some affection,
it is because I chose them out of all companions.
I have chosen them over all company.
أوor كنتُI was أطلبseeking شيئاًsomething دونless than ماwhat أربيmy desire
أو كنتُ أطلب شيئاً دون ما أربي
فقدthen indeed ظفرتI obtained بشيءwith something فوقabove مطولبيwhat I sought
فقد ظفرت بشيء فوق مطولبي
Or if I sought something short of my desire,
Or I was seeking something less than I yearned,
then I have gained something beyond what I sought.
Yet I obtained something beyond my request.
ماnot كلeveryone منwho صحبkept company with الإخوانfriends جربهاtested it
ما كل من صحب الإخوان جربها
لاnot يعرفis known الخلthe close friend إلّاexcept بالتجاريبthrough trials
لا يعرف الخل إلّا بالتجاريب
Not everyone who keeps company with friends has tested that friendship;
Not all who tasted companionship experienced it,
a close friend is known only through trials.
One knows vinegar only through experience.
أوor كلeveryone منwho طلبsought لآدابfor literary arts أحرزهاattained them
أو كل من طلب لآداب أحرزها
إنindeed الأديبthe man of letters لمشروطis surely conditioned بتأديبby proper cultivation
إن الأديب لمشروط بتأديب
Or has everyone who aspired to literary arts attained them?
Nor everyone who sought knowledge obtained it,
A man of letters must indeed be cultivated in proper conduct.
The learned is conditioned by discipline.
لمnot يبقhas left حقّاًa rightful claim وراءbehind الظهرthe back باطنهhis inner self
لم يبق حقّاً وراء الظهر باطنه
ولمand not يلذtaken pleasure بينamong تليقbefits (unclear here) الأكاذيبlies
ولم يلذ بين تليق الأكاذيب
His inner self has left no rightful claim behind its back,
No truth remains behind his back inwardly,
nor has he taken pleasure amid lies [wording unclear].
He enjoys no lies between what is proper.
شعارهhis watchword الصدقtruth فيin جدearnestness وفيand in هزلjest
شعاره الصدق في جد وفي هزل
فيin وصفdescribing كلevery نقيunblemished الخدof cheek رعبيبa tender beauty
في وصف كل نقي الخد رعبيب
Truth is his watchword in earnest and in jest,
His motto is honesty both in serious and jest,
when describing every tender beauty of unblemished cheek.
In describing the immaculate, holy cheek.
يعومfloats فيin جدوليthe two channels of ماءينtwo waters زورقهhis skiff
يعوم في جدولي ماءين زورقه
ماءthe water of الشبابyouth بماءwith the water of الحسنbeauty مقطوبmixed
ماء الشباب بماء الحسن مقطوب
His skiff floats in the channels of two waters:
His boat sails in my two streams,
the water of youth mixed with the water of beauty.
The water of youth and the water of beauty combined.
لمnot يحتجبhas hidden itself منهfrom him وجهa face بالجمالin beauty بداappeared
لم يحتجب منه وجه بالجمال بدا
وربand many a وجهface لقبحbecause of ugliness فيهin it محجوبveiled
ورب وجه لقبح فيه محجوب
No face revealed in beauty has hidden itself from him,
No face was veiled from him by beauty, his appears
though many a face is veiled for the ugliness within it.
While many a face is veiled for ugliness.
تحلَّunties عقدةthe knot of صدرthe breast of الصبthe lover لبتهthe hollow of his throat
تحلَّ عقدة صدر الصب لبته
إنwhen حلhe unfastens أزرارthe buttons of أطرافthe edges of الجلابيبthe robes
إن حل أزرار أطراف الجلابيب
The hollow of his throat unties the knot in the lover's breast,
The knot in the young man's chest dissolves for him,
when he unfastens the buttons at the edges of his robes.
If the buttons of robes are unbuttoned.
يقودنيleads me غنجthe coquetry of عينيهhis two eyes بلاwithout قرنa binding cord
يقودني غنج عينيه بلا قرن
ذاكthat الغزيلlittle gazelle مقرونjoined الحواجيبeyebrows
ذاك الغزيل مقرون الحواجيب
The coquetry of his eyes leads me without a binding cord—
The bend of his eyes leads me without blinking,
that little gazelle with joined eyebrows.
Like that gazelle paired with eyelids.
يشيرhe gestures إماeither بعينwith an eye أوor بحاجبهاwith its eyebrow
يشير إما بعين أو بحاجبها
إليَّtoward me أوor ببنانwith fingertips منهof his مخضوبdyed
إليَّ أو ببنان منه مخضوب
He gestures with an eye, or with its eyebrow,
It gestures to me either with an eye or its brow,
toward me, or with his dyed fingertips.
Or with its dyed fingers toward me.
يشوبhe mingles بالعذبwith sweetness تعذيبيmy torment وديدنهand his habit
يشوب بالعذب تعذيبي وديدنه
يشوبhe mingles بالعذبwith sweetness عذبsweet الريقof saliva تعذيبيmy torment
يشوب بالعذب عذب الريق تعذيبي
He mingles sweetness with my torment; his constant habit is—
He flavors my torment with sweetness, and his way,
he of sweet saliva mingles sweetness with my torment.
To flavor sweetness with the sweetness of saliva, my torment.
ياO يوسفYusuf نفحتنيwafted to me بعدafter غيبتهhis absence
يا يوسف نفحتني بعد غيبته
ريحthe scent of القميصthe shirt سرتtraveled by night وهناlate at night ليعقوبto Ya'qub
ريح القميص سرت وهنا ليعقوب
O Yusuf, after his absence there wafted to me
O Yusuf, after his absence his shirt's scent blew,
the shirt's scent, which traveled late at night to Ya'qub.
It flowed and reached me like the wind brought Ya’qoub.
Sol 6.1