أماIndeed وَبَياضِby the whiteness of مَبْسِمِكَyour smiling mouth التَّقيِّthe chaste
أما وَبَياضِ مَبْسِمِكَ التَّقيِّ
وَسُمْرَةِand by the dusky hue of مِسْكَةِa morsel of musk اللَّعَسِthe lips' dark hue الشَّهِيِّthe delectable
وَسُمْرَةِ مِسْكَةِ اللَّعَسِ الشَّهِيِّ
Indeed, by the whiteness of your chaste smile,
By the whiteness of your smiling dawn,
and by the dusky, musky hue of delectable lips,
And the darkness of your lively gazelle's eye,
وَرُمَّانٍand by pomegranates مِنَof الْكافورِcamphor تَعْلُوrise
وَرُمَّانٍ مِنَ الْكافورِ تَعْلُو
عَلَيْهِupon it طَوابِعُthe imprints of النَّدِّnadd perfume النَّدِيِّthe dewy
عَلَيْهِ طَوابِعُ النَّدِّ النَّدِيِّ
and by pomegranates of camphor—there rise
Your cheeks are roses sprinkled with camphor,
upon them the imprints of dewy nadd perfume;
Adorned by the softness of velvet.
وَقَدِّand by a figure كالْقَضِيبِlike a slender branch إِذْاwhen تَثَنَّىit swayed
وَقَدِّ كالْقَضِيبِ إِذْا تَثَنَّى
خَشِيتُI feared عَلَيْهِfor it مِنbecause of ثِقْلِthe weight of الْحُلِيِّthe jewels
خَشِيتُ عَلَيْهِ مِن ثِقْلِ الْحُلِيِّ
and by a figure like a slender branch: when it swayed,
Your figure is slender as a rod when bent,
I feared for it beneath the weight of jewels.
I fear its fragility under the weight of jewelry.
لَقَدْIndeed أَسْقَمْتِyou sickened بِالْهِجْرانِthrough estrangement جِسْميmy body
لَقَدْ أَسْقَمْتِ بِالْهِجْرانِ جِسْمي
وَأَعْطَشَنيand made me thirsty وِصالُكِunion with you بَعْدَafter رِيِّquenching thirst
وَأَعْطَشَني وِصالُكِ بَعْدَ رِيِّ
Indeed, you sickened my body through estrangement,
Yearning has made my body sick,
and union with you made me thirst after I had drunk my fill.
And your union has quenched my thirst after being far away.
إِلىfor كَمْhow long أكْتُمُshall I conceal الْبَلْوَىthe affliction وَدَمْعيwhile my tears
إِلى كَمْ أكْتُمُ الْبَلْوَى وَدَمْعي
يَبُوحُspeak openly بِمُضْمَرْof what is concealed in السِّرِّthe secret الْخَفِيِّthe hidden
يَبُوحُ بِمُضْمَرْ السِّرِّ الْخَفِيِّ
How long shall I conceal my affliction, while my tears
How long can I hide my torment and tears,
betray the concealed contents of my hidden secret?
When my secret heart pours out its hidden sorrows?
وَكَمْand how often أشْكوI lament لِلاهِيَةٍto a carefree woman غَراميmy passion
وَكَمْ أشْكو لِلاهِيَةٍ غَرامي
فَوَيْلٌso woe لِلشَّجِيِّto the lovesick مِنَfrom الْخَليِّthe heart-free
فَوَيْلٌ لِلشَّجِيِّ مِنَ الْخَليِّ
And how often I lament my passion to a carefree woman!
How often do I complain of my love-madness to the negligent one,
Woe to the lovesick at the hands of the heart-free!
Woe to the ardent lover from the heedless beloved!
مُمَنَّعَةٌinaccessible لَهاshe has جَفْنٌan eyelid سَقيمُlanguid
مُمَنَّعَةٌ لَها جَفْنٌ سَقيمُ
شَديدُfierce الأخْذِin seizing لِلْقَلْبِthe heart الْبَرِيِّthe innocent
شَديدُ الأخْذِ لِلْقَلْبِ الْبَرِيِّ
Unapproachable, she has a languid eyelid,
Her languid eyelids are firmly closed,
fierce in seizing the innocent heart.
Gripping the eager heart tightly.
تُغازِلُنيshe flirts with me وَتَزْوِرنيand visits me حاجِبَيْهاher two brows
تُغازِلُني وَتَزْوِرني حاجِبَيْها
كمَاas انْبَرَتِsprang forth السِّهامُthe arrows عَنِfrom الْقسِيِّthe bows
كمَا انْبَرَتِ السِّهامُ عَنِ الْقسِيِّ
She flirts with me, and her two brows come to visit me,
Her eyebrows tease and flirt with me,
as arrows spring from bows.
Like arrows released from a strong bow.
وَتَخْتَرِقُand she pierces الصُّفوفَthe ranks برَوْقِwith the pure essence of فِيهاher mouth
وَتَخْتَرِقُ الصُّفوفَ برَوْقِ فِيها
وَهَلْand can يَخْفىbe hidden شَذىthe fragrance of الْمِسْكِthe musk الذَّكِيَّthe pungent
وَهَلْ يَخْفى شَذى الْمِسْكِ الذَّكِيَّ
And she pierces the ranks with the pure nectar of her mouth;
They penetrate the ranks with their lightning,
and can the scent of pungent musk be hidden?
Can the scent of fine musk be concealed?
وِشاجاهاher two sashes عَلىupon خَصْرٍa waist عَديمٍall but absent
وِشاجاها عَلى خَصْرٍ عَديمٍ
وَمِئْزَرُهاand her waist-wrap عَلىupon رِدْفٍa rump مَلِيِّfull
وَمِئْزَرُها عَلى رِدْفٍ مَلِيِّ
Her two sashes rest upon an all-but-absent waist,
Her cheeks on a slender waist,
and her waist-wrap upon a full rump;
And her apron on a plump hip,
وَمِعْجَرُهاand her headcloth عَلىupon لَيْلِa night بَهِيْمٍpitch-black
وَمِعْجَرُها عَلى لَيْلِ بَهِيْمٍ
وَبُرْقُعُهاand her face-veil عَلىupon قَمَرٍa moon سَنِيِّradiant
وَبُرْقُعُها عَلى قَمَرٍ سَنِيِّ
and her headcloth upon a pitch-black night,
Her curls on a dark night,
and her face-veil upon a radiant moon.
And her face veil on a brilliant moon.
يَذودُwards off شَباthe points of القَناthe lances عَنْfrom وَجْنَتَيْهاher two cheeks
يَذودُ شَبا القَنا عَنْ وَجْنَتَيْها
كَمَنْعِlike the protection by الشَّوْكِthe thorns لِلْوَرْدِof the rose الْجَنِيِّthe fresh
كَمَنْعِ الشَّوْكِ لِلْوَرْدِ الْجَنِيِّ
The points of lances guard her two cheeks,
The thorns of henna ward off gray hair from her cheeks,
as thorns protect the fresh rose.
Like thorns protecting a delicate rose.
إِذْاwhen ماfor emphasis رُمْتُI sought أقْطِفُهُto pluck it بِعَيْنيْwith my eye
إِذْا ما رُمْتُ أقْطِفُهُ بِعَيْنيْ
يَقولُit says حَذارِbeware مِنْof مَرْعىًa pasture وَبِيِّpestilential
يَقولُ حَذارِ مِنْ مَرْعىً وَبِيِّ
Whenever I seek to pluck it with my eye,
When I try to pluck it with my eyes,
it says, 'Beware a pestilential pasture.'
It says "Beware of forbidden pasture!"
لَسانُthe tongue of السَّيْفِthe sword مِنْamong أَدْنىthe nearest of وُشاتِيmy tale-bearers
لَسانُ السَّيْفِ مِنْ أَدْنى وُشاتِي
وَمِنْand among رُقَبايَmy watchers طَرْفُthe tip of السَّمْهَرِيِّthe Samhari lance
وَمِنْ رُقَبايَ طَرْفُ السَّمْهَرِيِّ
The sword's tongue is among my nearest tale-bearers,
My tongue is a sword from my sheath
and the Samhari lance's tip among my watchers.
And my glances are the strike of a brave warrior,
كَأَنَّas though لِجَفْنِهاfor her eyelid فِيin كُلِّevery قَلْبٍheart
كَأَنَّ لِجَفْنِها فِي كُلِّ قَلْبٍ
فِعالَthe deeds of الْمَشْرَفِيِّthe Mashrafi sword الأَشْرَفِيِّof al-Ashraf
فِعالَ الْمَشْرَفِيِّ الأَشْرَفِيِّ
As though her eyelid had, in every heart,
As if her eyelids hold in every heart,
the force of the Mashrafi sword of al-Ashraf.
The power of the mighty holy one.
حُسامٌa keen sword جاءَcame مُنْتَقِلاًhanded down لَهُto him عَنfrom
حُسامٌ جاءَ مُنْتَقِلاً لَهُ عَن
أميرِthe Commander of الْمُؤمِنينَthe Faithful عَنِfrom النَّبيِّthe Prophet
أميرِ الْمُؤمِنينَ عَنِ النَّبيِّ
A keen sword that came to him, handed down from
A sword that came to him passed down,
the Commander of the Faithful, from the Prophet.
From the Prince of the Faithful, from the Prophet,
سَنَسْمَعُwe shall hear عَنْهُماof the two of them ماwhat قَدْalready سَمِعْناwe have heard
سَنَسْمَعُ عَنْهُما ما قَدْ سَمِعْنا
بِهِof it عَنabout ذِيDhu (possessor of) الْفَقارِal-Fiqar وَعَنand about عَلِيِّAli
بِهِ عَن ذِي الْفَقارِ وَعَن عَلِيِّ
We shall hear of the two what we have already heard
We will hear about them what we have heard,
told of Dhu al-Fiqar and Ali.
Of the Owner of the Trenchant Sword and Ali.
إِذْاwhen يَدُهُhis hand الْكَرِيمَةُthe generous صافَحَتْهُclasps it
إِذْا يَدُهُ الْكَرِيمَةُ صافَحَتْهُ
فَقُلْthen speak فِيof لاَمِعٍa gleaming one أوor أَلْمَعيِّa keen-witted one
فَقُلْ فِي لاَمِعٍ أو أَلْمَعيِّ
When his generous hand clasps it,
When his noble hand shakes theirs,
then speak of gleaming steel—or a brilliant man.
Say which of the two shines brighter!
يَقولُsay النَّاسُthe people أَيُّهُماwhich of the two حُسامٌa keen sword
يَقولُ النَّاسُ أَيُّهُما حُسامٌ
إِذْاwhen اسْتَبَقْقاthe two race إلىtoward هامِthe heads of الْكَمِيِّthe armored warrior
إِذْا اسْتَبَقْقا إلى هامِ الْكَمِيِّ
People ask, 'Which of the two is the sword?'
People will argue who is the actual sword,
when they race toward the heads of armored warriors.
When they compete to reach the summit.
تَخَيَّرَهُhe chose it وَعافَand spurned سِواهُanything besides it خُبْراًfrom experience
تَخَيَّرَهُ وَعافَ سِواهُ خُبْراً
بِأَخْذِin taking الْجَيْدِthe good أَوor رَدِّrejecting الرَّدِيِّthe inferior
بِأَخْذِ الْجَيْدِ أَو رَدِّ الرَّدِيِّ
He chose it and spurned all others, well versed
He chose the finest and ignored the rest,
in taking the good or rejecting the inferior.
By taking what is best or rejecting what is worthless.
رَمَىhe shot at أعْداءَهُhis enemies مِنْهُfrom it بِسَهْمٍwith an arrow
رَمَى أعْداءَهُ مِنْهُ بِسَهْمٍ
يُصِيبُthat strikes نِهايَةَthe farthest point of الْغَرَضِthe target الْقَصِيِّthe distant
يُصِيبُ نِهايَةَ الْغَرَضِ الْقَصِيِّ
From it he shot at his enemies an arrow
He struck his enemies with an arrow from it,
that strikes the farthest point of the distant mark.
Hitting the farthest intended target.
أبَاO Abu الْفَتْحِal-Fath افْتَخِرtake pride وَابْدَأand begin بِنَفْسٍwith a soul
أبَا الْفَتْحِ افْتَخِر وَابْدَأ بِنَفْسٍ
لَهاit has شَرَفٌnobility عَلىabove الفَلَكِthe celestial sphere الْعَلِيِّthe lofty
لَها شَرَفٌ عَلى الفَلَكِ الْعَلِيِّ
O Abu al-Fath, take pride, beginning with your own soul,
Abu al-Fath, boast and begin with a soul,
whose nobility rises above the lofty celestial sphere.
Nobler than the highest celestial sphere!
لَكَyours is الْكَرَمُthe generosity الّذيthat فَضَحَshamed الْغَواديthe morning rainclouds
لَكَ الْكَرَمُ الّذي فَضَحَ الْغَوادي
فَحُمْرَةُso the redness of بَرْقِهاits lightning خَجَلُthe blush of الدَّعِيِّthe pretender
فَحُمْرَةُ بَرْقِها خَجَلُ الدَّعِيِّ
Yours is generosity that has shamed the morning rainclouds;
For you is the generosity which outshines valleys,
so the redness of their lightning is the pretender's blush.
So its red flash humbles the pretentious.
تُخصُّit singles out بِمائِهاwith its water فِيat الْحِينِa time أَرْضاًa land
تُخصُّ بِمائِها فِي الْحِينِ أَرْضاً
وَمالُكَand your wealth لِلْفَقيرِfor the poor وَلِلْغَنيِّand for the rich
وَمالُكَ لِلْفَقيرِ وَلِلْغَنيِّ
They favor one land at a time with their water,
Its water irrigates a specific land at times,
while your wealth is for the poor and the rich.
While you provide for poor and rich alike.
لَكَyours is الْجَيْشُthe army الّذيthat إنif جاسَranges through أرْضاًa land
لَكَ الْجَيْشُ الّذي إن جاسَ أرْضاً
دَحاsweeps away الهَضَباتِthe hills كالسَّيْلِlike the flood الأتيِّthe oncoming
دَحا الهَضَباتِ كالسَّيْلِ الأتيِّ
Yours is the army that, if it ranges through a land,
You have an army which, if it marched on land,
sweeps away the hills like an oncoming flood.
Would flatten the hills like a roaring flood.
تَحُفُّgather بِهِaround him الْمُلوكُthe kings الصِّيدُthe proud فِيهِwithin it
تَحُفُّ بِهِ الْمُلوكُ الصِّيدُ فِيهِ
إِحاطَةَthe encircling of هالَةِthe halo of الْقَمَرِthe moon السَّنِيِّthe radiant
إِحاطَةَ هالَةِ الْقَمَرِ السَّنِيِّ
Proud kings surround him within its ranks,
Kings seek refuge in it while hunting,
as a halo encircles the radiant moon.
Like the encircling halo around the brilliant moon.
إِذْاif عَطِشَتْgrow thirsty جِيادْthe fine steeds of الْخَيْلِthe horses فِيهِin it
إِذْا عَطِشَتْ جِيادْ الْخَيْلِ فِيهِ
سَقاهاhe gives them drink مِنْfrom دَمِthe blood of البَطَلِthe champion الأبِيِّthe defiant
سَقاها مِنْ دَمِ البَطَلِ الأبِيِّ
If the noble steeds within it grow thirsty,
When its horse galloped and grew thirsty,
he gives them the defiant champion's blood to drink.
It quenched their thirst with the blood of the valiant hero.
وَكَيْفَand how ثَبَتَّyou stood firm طَوْداًa mountain مُشْمَخِرّاًtowering
وَكَيْفَ ثَبَتَّ طَوْداً مُشْمَخِرّاً
وَأنتَwhile you أَخَفُّare nimbler مِنthan أَسَدٍa lion جَرِيِّbold
وَأنتَ أَخَفُّ مِن أَسَدٍ جَرِيِّ
And how did you stand firm, a towering mountain,
How can a trembling pillar stand firm,
while you are nimbler than a bold lion?
When you are lighter than a running lion?
وفِيand in تِلْكَthat اليَدِhand الْبَيْضاءِthe white عَضْبٌa keen sword
وفِي تِلْكَ اليَدِ الْبَيْضاءِ عَضْبٌ
يُحَقِّقُmakes real كُلَّevery فِعْلٍdeed موسَوِيِّof Moses
يُحَقِّقُ كُلَّ فِعْلٍ موسَوِيِّ
And in that white hand is a keen-edged sword
In that white hand is a stick,
that brings every deed of Moses to life.
Which accomplishes every deed like Moses.
إِذْاwhen اشْتَجَرَintertwine الْقَناthe lances أَفْناهُit annihilates them حَطْماًby shattering
إِذْا اشْتَجَرَ الْقَنا أَفْناهُ حَطْماً
كَمَلْتَقِفِlike the devourer of الْحِبالِthe ropes مَعَalong with الْعِصِيَّthe staffs
كَمَلْتَقِفِ الْحِبالِ مَعَ الْعِصِيَّ
When lances intertwine, it shatters them to nothing,
When spears tangled, it destroyed them,
like the devourer of ropes along with staffs.
Like rope entwined around sticks.
سُلَيْمانِيُّSolomonic in مُلْكٍkingship لاَnot يُضاهَىrivaled
سُلَيْمانِيُّ مُلْكٍ لاَ يُضاهَى
تزَيَّنَadorned himself بِالْجَمالِwith the beauty الْيُوسُفِيِّof Joseph
تزَيَّنَ بِالْجَمالِ الْيُوسُفِيِّ
Solomonic in kingship, beyond compare,
The Solomon-like kingdom is unparalleled,
adorned with the beauty of Joseph.
Adorned with Yusuf-like beauty.
قَهَرْتَyou vanquished بِهِthrough it الْجَبابِرَةَthe tyrants اقْتِداراًwith might
قَهَرْتَ بِهِ الْجَبابِرَةَ اقْتِداراً
وَأَنْصَفْتَand granted justice to الضَّعيفَthe weak مِنَagainst القَوِيِّthe strong
وَأَنْصَفْتَ الضَّعيفَ مِنَ القَوِيِّ
Through it you vanquished the tyrants with your might,
With it you overpowered tyrants by force,
and granted the weak justice against the strong.
And gave the weak justice from the strong.
فَإِنْfor if تَكُyou are كالْجَحيمِlike Hell عَلىto عَدُوٍan enemy
فَإِنْ تَكُ كالْجَحيمِ عَلى عَدُوٍ
فَإِنَّكَthen indeed you كالْجِنانِare like Paradise's gardens عَلىto الْوَلِيِّthe ally
فَإِنَّكَ كالْجِنانِ عَلى الْوَلِيِّ
For if you are like Hell to an enemy,
If you are like hell to an enemy,
then you are like the gardens of Paradise to an ally.
You are like heaven to a friend.
بَقِيتَmay you remain لِهذِهِfor this الدُّنْياworld جَمالاًan adornment
بَقِيتَ لِهذِهِ الدُّنْيا جَمالاً
سَعيدَhappy in الْجَدِّfortune فِيin عُمُرٍa lifetime هَنِيِّpleasant
سَعيدَ الْجَدِّ فِي عُمُرٍ هَنِيِّ
May you remain an adornment to this world,
You remain for this world a beauty,
with good fortune throughout a happy life.
Happy fate in a pleasant lifetime.
Sol 6.1