رُضابُكَyour saliva راحيmy wine آسُthe myrtle of صُدْغَيْكَyour two temples رَيْحانِيmy basil
رُضابُكَ راحي آسُ صُدْغَيْكَ رَيْحانِي
شَقيقيmy anemone جَنَىthe fruit of خَدَّيْكَyour two cheeks جِيدُكَyour neck سُوسانِيmy lily
شَقيقي جَنَى خَدَّيْكَ جِيدُكَ سُوسانِي
Your saliva is my wine; the myrtle of your temples is my basil.
Your soft cheeks are my comfort, your chin is my basil,
My anemone is the fruit of your cheeks; your neck is my lily.
My jasmine, the apples of your cheeks, your neck is my lily.
وَبَيْنَand between النَّقاthe sand dune وَالْبَدْرِand the full moon تَهْتَزُّsways بانَةٌa moringa tree
وَبَيْنَ النَّقا وَالْبَدْرِ تَهْتَزُّ بانَةٌ
لَهاit has ثَمَرٌfruit مِنْof جُلَّنارِpomegranate blossom وَرُمَّانand pomegranates
لَها ثَمَرٌ مِنْ جُلَّنارِ وَرُمَّان
Between the sand dune and the full moon sways a moringa tree,
Between the star and moon a branch sways,
Bearing fruit of pomegranate blossom and pomegranates.
Bearing pomegranate and quince.
غَزالٌa gazelle رَخيمُgentle الدَّلِّcoquetry يُطْمِعُawakens desire أُنْسُهُhis friendliness
غَزالٌ رَخيمُ الدَّلِّ يُطْمِعُ أُنْسُهُ
ومَاand not صِيدَwas caught إلاّexcept فِيin حَبائِلِthe snares of أَجْفانِيmy eyelids
ومَا صِيدَ إلاّ فِي حَبائِلِ أَجْفانِي
A gazelle of gentle coquetry, whose friendliness awakens desire,
A delicate gazelle with languid eyes that tempt,
And he was caught only in the snares of my eyelids.
Yet snares him only with downcast lids.
مِنfrom among التُّرْكِthe Turks فِيin خَدَّيْهِhis two cheeks لْلحُسْنِfor beauty جَنَّةٌa paradise
مِن التُّرْكِ فِي خَدَّيْهِ لْلحُسْنِ جَنَّةٌ
بِمالِكِهاby its master مَحْروسَةٌguarded لاnot بِرِضوانِby Ridwan
بِمالِكِها مَحْروسَةٌ لا بِرِضوانِ
A Turk, with a paradise of beauty in his cheeks,
On his cheeks the Turks plant a garden of beauty,
Guarded by its master, not by Ridwan.
Guarded for its keeper, not for the Divine.
تُظَنُّare thought رِياضُthe gardens of الخَدِّthe cheek مِنْهُof him مُباحَةًfree for the taking
تُظَنُّ رِياضُ الخَدِّ مِنْهُ مُباحَةً
ونَاظِرُهُand his eye النَّاطورُthe watchman يَجْنيdoes harm عَلىto الجَانيthe fruit-picker
ونَاظِرُهُ النَّاطورُ يَجْني عَلى الجَاني
The gardens of his cheek seem free for the taking,
You’d think his soft cheeks freely accessible,
But his eye, the watchman, wrongs the fruit-picker.
While the watcher there reaps those who encroach.
تَعَمَّمَhe donned a turban بَيْنَamong الشَّرْبِthe drinking companions بِالشَّرْبِin fine linen مُذْهَباًgold-embroidered
تَعَمَّمَ بَيْنَ الشَّرْبِ بِالشَّرْبِ مُذْهَباً
فَلاحَso gleamed لَناfor us بَرْقٌlightning عَلىabove قَمَرِa moon ثَانsecond
فَلاحَ لَنا بَرْقٌ عَلى قَمَرِ ثَان
Among the drinkers he donned a turban of gold-embroidered linen,
He obscured clarity with drink, following excess,
And lightning gleamed for us above a second moon.
No flash lit our moon thereafter.
سَلَبْتَyou stole كَرَىthe sleep of الأَجْفانِthe eyelids ياO سِحْرَthe magic of جَفْنِهِhis eyelid
سَلَبْتَ كَرَى الأَجْفانِ يا سِحْرَ جَفْنِهِ
فَلَسْتَso you are not تُرَىseen مِنfrom بَعْدِهاafter that غَيْرَother than وَسْنانdrowsy
فَلَسْتَ تُرَى مِن بَعْدِها غَيْرَ وَسْنان
You stole the eyelids' sleep, O magic of his eyelid,
You robbed my heart, O magic of his eyes,
Yet since then you are seen only drowsy.
After which none but him could I see.
رَمانيhe shot me بِسَهْمِwith the arrow of اللَّحْظِthe glance عَنfrom قَوْسِthe bow of حاجِبٍan eyebrow
رَماني بِسَهْمِ اللَّحْظِ عَن قَوْسِ حاجِبٍ
فَهَلْso did حاجِبٌan eyebrow مِنfrom بَيْنِbetween عَيْنَيْهِhis two eyes أَصْمانيstrike me dead
فَهَلْ حاجِبٌ مِن بَيْنِ عَيْنَيْهِ أَصْماني
He shot me with the arrow of his glance from an eyebrow's bow;
His brow’s bow shot me with a glance,
Did an eyebrow from between his eyes strike me dead?
What barrier his brows, when his eyes slay me?
أَغارُI am jealous عَلىover عَيْنَيْهِhis two eyes لِلْغَيْرِtoward another أَنْthat تَرىsee
أَغارُ عَلى عَيْنَيْهِ لِلْغَيْرِ أَنْ تَرى
فَيَقْتُلُنيso he kills me إنْif صابَhe hits أَوْor هُوَhe أَخْطانيmisses me
فَيَقْتُلُني إنْ صابَ أَوْ هُوَ أَخْطاني
I am jealous lest his eyes look on another,
I fear others beholding his eyes will kill me,
So he kills me whether he hits or misses me.
Whether their arrows strike or miss their mark.
بِحَقِّby the sanctity of الهَوىlove ياO طَيْفُphantom إِلاَّdo حَمَلْتَنيcarry me
بِحَقِّ الهَوى يا طَيْفُ إِلاَّ حَمَلْتَني
فَجِسْميfor my body مِنَfrom الْبَلْوَىaffliction وَجِسْمُكَand your body سِيَّانare alike
فَجِسْمي مِنَ الْبَلْوَى وَجِسْمُكَ سِيَّان
By the sanctity of love, O phantom, do carry me!
I swear by passion, unless you bear me,
For my body, worn by affliction, and yours are alike.
Both our bodies will suffer equally.
أُعانِقُI embrace جِسْماًa body أَشْبَهَresembled المَاءَwater رِقَّةًin delicacy
أُعانِقُ جِسْماً أَشْبَهَ المَاءَ رِقَّةً
وَأَطْفِيand I quench بِبَرْدِwith the coolness of الثَّغْرِthe mouth حُرْقَةَthe burning of أَشْجانِيmy sorrows
وَأَطْفِي بِبَرْدِ الثَّغْرِ حُرْقَةَ أَشْجانِي
I embrace a body as delicate as water,
I hold a body soft as water and quench
And quench the burning of my sorrows with the coolness of his mouth.
The fires of my torment with the cool of his lips.
عَسَىmay قَلْبُهُhis heart يُعْدِيهِinfect it قَلْبيmy heart بِرِقَّةٍwith tenderness
عَسَى قَلْبُهُ يُعْدِيهِ قَلْبي بِرِقَّةٍ
كَماjust as جَفْنُهُhis eyelid الْفتَّانُthe bewitching بِالسُّقْمِwith sickness أَعْدانيinfected me
كَما جَفْنُهُ الْفتَّانُ بِالسُّقْمِ أَعْداني
May my heart infect his heart with tenderness,
If only his heart would pity mine,
As his bewitching eyelid infected me with sickness.
As his sweet eyes have made me suffer!
لَئِنْif indeed كَانَhe was يَنْسىforgetting عَقْدَthe bond of عَهْدِthe pledge of مَوَدَّتيmy love
لَئِنْ كَانَ يَنْسى عَقْدَ عَهْدِ مَوَدَّتي
فَلِيthen I have مَلِكٌa king مِنout of فَضْلِهِhis generosity لَيْسَdoes not يَنْسانيforget me
فَلِي مَلِكٌ مِن فَضْلِهِ لَيْسَ يَنْساني
If he should forget the binding pledge of my love,
If he forgets our love, his nobility
Then I have a king who, in his generosity, does not forget me:
Guarantees I’ll not be forgotten.
أَبوfather of الْفَتْحِvictory موسىMusa الأَشْرَفُal-Ashraf (the most noble) الْمَلِكُthe king الذيwho
أَبو الْفَتْحِ موسى الأَشْرَفُ الْمَلِكُ الذي
يَلُوحُshines كَبَدْرِlike the full moon of التَّمِّfullness بَيْنَamong القَناthe spears القَانيcrimson
يَلُوحُ كَبَدْرِ التَّمِّ بَيْنَ القَنا القَاني
Abu al-Fath Musa, al-Ashraf, the king who
Abu al-Fath Musa, al-Ashraf, the King whose light
Shines like the full moon amid crimson spears.
Shines like the full moon between bow and arrows,
فَتَخُضَرُّso they grow green طَوْراًat times مِنfrom نَدىthe dew of بَطْنِthe hollow of كَفِّهِhis palm
فَتَخُضَرُّ طَوْراً مِن نَدى بَطْنِ كَفِّهِ
وَتَذْبِلُand they wither طَوْراًat times مِنfrom سُطاهُhis might بِنيرَانin flames
وَتَذْبِلُ طَوْراً مِن سُطاهُ بِنيرَان
So at times they grow green from the dew in the hollow of his palm,
And at times they wither in the fires of his might.
Bringing at times with his palm’s moisture verdure,
يُلاعِبُplays with عِطْفَيْهِhis two flanks مِنَfrom التَّيهِpride طَرْفُهُhis steed
يُلاعِبُ عِطْفَيْهِ مِنَ التَّيهِ طَرْفُهُ
وَيَمْشِيِand it walks بِهِwith him مِنfrom عُجْبِهِits conceit مَشْيِthe gait of سَكْرانa drunkard
وَيَمْشِيِ بِهِ مِن عُجْبِهِ مَشْيِ سَكْران
His steed, in its pride, playfully sways his flanks,
At others with his flames causes to wither,
And carries him, in its conceit, with a drunkard's gait.
His eyes flirt with distraction, he walks intoxicated,
قَوائِمُهُits legs مِثْلُlike الْقَوَادِمِthe primary flight feathers إِنْif جَرىit runs
قَوائِمُهُ مِثْلُ الْقَوَادِمِ إِنْ جَرى
وَهَلْand is there راكِبٌa rider لِلرِّيحِof the wind غَيْرَother than سُلَيمانSolomon
وَهَلْ راكِبٌ لِلرِّيحِ غَيْرَ سُلَيمان
Its legs are like flight feathers when it runs;
His steps like the steps of a rider at full gallop.
And who rides the wind but Solomon?
Who but Solomon could ride the wind?
وَمَنْand whoever كانَwas نَصْلُthe blade of السَّيْفِthe sword خاتَمَthe seal of مُلْكِهِhis kingship
وَمَنْ كانَ نَصْلُ السَّيْفِ خاتَمَ مُلْكِهِ
أَيَنْزِعُهُcan it wrest it away? مِنْfrom كَفَّهِhis palm خَطْفُthe snatching of شَيْطانa devil
أَيَنْزِعُهُ مِنْ كَفَّهِ خَطْفُ شَيْطان
And one whose sword-blade is the seal of his kingship—
When the sword seals a kingdom,
Can a devil's snatching wrest it from his hand?
What demon could wrench it from his hand?
كَريمٌgenerous أَماhas not اسْتَحْيَىfelt shame الحَياthe rain مِنbefore يَمِينهِhis right hand
كَريمٌ أَما اسْتَحْيَى الحَيا مِن يَمِينهِ
يَضِنُّis stingy بِماءٍwith water وَهْوَwhile he يَسْخُوis generous بِعِقْيانwith pure gold
يَضِنُّ بِماءٍ وَهْوَ يَسْخُو بِعِقْيان
Generous is he—has the rain no shame before his right hand?
Noble, though too shy to live by his sword,
It grudges water, while he lavishes pure gold.
He scorns to give water, yet drinks wine liberally!
وَلَيْسَand is not الْتِطامُthe crashing of الْبَحْرِthe sea إلاَّexcept فَضِيحةًa disgrace
وَلَيْسَ الْتِطامُ الْبَحْرِ إلاَّ فَضِيحةً
إِذْاif مِلْحُهُits brine لَمْdid not يُرْوِquench غُلَّةَthe burning thirst of ظَمْآنa thirsty person
إِذْا مِلْحُهُ لَمْ يُرْوِ غُلَّةَ ظَمْآن
And the sea's crashing is nothing but a disgrace
The sea’s fury brings only disgrace
If its brine does not slake a thirsty man's thirst.
If its salt does not quench thirst.
مَليكٌa king مُلُوكُthe kings of الأرْضِthe earth تَحْتَbeneath لِوائِهِhis banner
مَليكٌ مُلُوكُ الأرْضِ تَحْتَ لِوائِهِ
فَكُلُّهُمُfor all of them عانٍcaptive وَكُلٌّand each لَهُto him عانsubmissive
فَكُلُّهُمُ عانٍ وَكُلٌّ لَهُ عان
A king beneath whose banner are the kings of the earth;
A king ruling kings beneath his banner,
For they are all captives, and each is submissive to him.
All glorious, each with a host unfurled.
فَكِسْرىfor Kisra بِإيوانٍwith an iwan (vaulted hall) تَعاظَمَgrew great مُلْكُهُhis kingdom
فَكِسْرى بِإيوانٍ تَعاظَمَ مُلْكُهُ
وَشاهَand the shah of ارْمَنٍArmenia مِنamong بَعْضِsome of أَسْراهُhis captives إِيوانيIwani
وَشاهَ ارْمَنٍ مِن بَعْضِ أَسْراهُ إِيواني
For Kisra's kingdom grew great with an iwan,
Khosrow’s palace vaunted the reach of his reign,
While Iwani, shah of Armenia, is among his captives.
Yet one of his porticoes became my reign’s hall.
أَعانَhe aided أخاهُhis brother بِاْسمِهِwith his name وَبِجَيْشِهِand with his army
أَعانَ أخاهُ بِاْسمِهِ وَبِجَيْشِهِ
وَلاand not تَنْفُذُtake effect الأقْدارُthe decrees of fate إلاexcept بِسُلْطانthrough sovereign power
وَلا تَنْفُذُ الأقْدارُ إلا بِسُلْطان
He aided his brother with his name and his army;
He aided his brother with name and with army,
And the decrees of fate take effect only through sovereign power.
Fates yield only to rulers’ decrees.
وَلَيْسَand is not الَّذيthe one who يَبْنيbuilds الْحِجارَstones عَلىupon الثَّرىthe earth
وَلَيْسَ الَّذي يَبْني الْحِجارَ عَلى الثَّرى
كَبانِيlike the builder of رَواسيthe steadfast mountains of مَجْدِهِhis glory فَوُقَabove كِيوانSaturn
كَبانِي رَواسي مَجْدِهِ فَوُقَ كِيوان
He who builds stone upon the earth is not
Not who stacks stone upon earth
Like one who builds the steadfast mountains of his glory above Saturn.
Built the foundation of his glory atop Keywan’s peak.
تَرَحَّلَhe departed عَنfrom مافارقيْنَMafariqin بِرَغُمِهاagainst its will
تَرَحَّلَ عَن مافارقيْنَ بِرَغُمِها
وَمالَand inclined بِهِwith him فَرْطُthe excess of الحُنِّوtenderness عَلىtoward حانِيHani
وَمالَ بِهِ فَرْطُ الحُنِّو عَلى حانِي
He departed from Mafariqin against its will,
He parted from Maafirkin against its will
And boundless tenderness drew him toward Hani.
And it inclined to him out of passionate zeal.
وَعاجَand turned aside بِذِيat the possessor of الْقَرْنَيْنِthe two horns مُنْخَرِطاًhastening إلىto
وَعاجَ بِذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ مُنْخَرِطاً إلى
جَبَلْجُورَJabaljur حِصْنٍa fortress ماnot بَنىbuilt مِثْلَهُits like بانa builder
جَبَلْجُورَ حِصْنٍ ما بَنى مِثْلَهُ بان
And he turned aside at Dhu al-Qarnayn, hastening to
He came to Zulqarnayn’s realm bent thither
Jabaljur, a fortress whose like no builder has built.
To Jibaljur, a fortress none ever did build.
قِلاعٌfortresses عَلىupon النَّسْرِيْنِthe two Vulture stars خُطَّwas traced أَساسُهاtheir foundation
قِلاعٌ عَلى النَّسْرِيْنِ خُطَّ أَساسُها
عُلُوّاًin height فَقَرْنُso the horn of الشَّمْسِthe sun مِنfrom دُونِهاbeneath them دانnear
عُلُوّاً فَقَرْنُ الشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِها دان
Fortresses whose foundations were traced upon the two Vultures,
Citadels on the eagles’ necks, their foundations
So high that the sun's horn lies close beneath them.
Towering so high the sun’s horn bows before them.
مَنازِلُmansions لِلْبَدْرِfor the full moon الْمُنيرِthe radiant يَحِلُّهاhe dwells in them
مَنازِلُ لِلْبَدْرِ الْمُنيرِ يَحِلُّها
بِطالِعِwith an ascendant of سَعْدٍgood fortune لاnot بِمَحْقٍwith lunar darkening وَنُقْصانand waning
بِطالِعِ سَعْدٍ لا بِمَحْقٍ وَنُقْصان
Mansions for the radiant full moon, where he dwells,
Manors fit for the shining moon he occupies
With an auspicious ascendant, not with darkness and waning.
With auspicious rising, not lowly setting.
سَيَمْلِكُhe will possess قُسْطَنْطِينَةَConstantinople الرُّومِof the Romans عَنْوَةًby force
سَيَمْلِكُ قُسْطَنْطِينَةَ الرُّومِ عَنْوَةً
وَيُخطَبُand a sermon will be preached عَنafter قُرْبٍa short time لَهُin his name فِيin خُراسانKhurasan
وَيُخطَبُ عَن قُرْبٍ لَهُ فِي خُراسان
He will take the Romans' Constantinople by force,
He will conquer Qustantiniyya by force
And soon the sermon will be preached in his name in Khurasan.
And demand the allegiance of Khurasan.
Partial English translation: 57 of 58 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1