يَاO رِيْمُgazelle كَمْhow often أَدْنُوI draw near وَأَنْتَand you تَرِيْمُwithdraw
يَا رِيْمُ كَمْ أَدْنُو وَأَنْتَ تَرِيْمُ
وَتَنَامُand you sleep عَنْheedless of لَيْلِيmy night وَلَسْتَand you do not تُنِيْمُlet me sleep
وَتَنَامُ عَنْ لَيْلِي وَلَسْتَ تُنِيْمُ
O gazelle, how often I draw near while you withdraw!
O Rim, how much I approach while you slumber,
And you sleep heedless of my night, but do not let me sleep.
And sleep through my night while you do not keep vigil.
أَخْلَفْتَyou broke مِيْعَادَthe rendezvous النِّدَامِof drinking companions وَقَلَّمَاand seldom
أَخْلَفْتَ مِيْعَادَ النِّدَامِ وَقَلَّمَا
أَلْفَيْتُI found عَهْدَاًa pledge لِلنِّدَامِof drinking companions يَدُومُendures
أَلْفَيْتُ عَهْدَاً لِلنِّدَامِ يَدُومُ
You broke the drinking companions' rendezvous, and seldom
You missed the tryst of reproach, and rarely
have I found a drinking companions' pledge that endures.
Have I made a pledge to reproach that endures.
فَاسْتَأْنِفِso renew العَهْدَthe pledge المُحِيْلَaltered فَإِنَّهُfor it
فَاسْتَأْنِفِ العَهْدَ المُحِيْلَ فَإِنَّهُ
قَدْalready عَادَhas become بَعْدَafter الحَمْدِpraise وَهْوَand it is ذَمِيْمُblameworthy
قَدْ عَادَ بَعْدَ الحَمْدِ وَهْوَ ذَمِيْمُ
So renew the altered pledge, for it
So renew the covenant you invalidated,
has become blameworthy after being praised.
For it has returned, after praise, despised.
قُمْrise غَيْرَnot مَذْمُومِblameworthy القِيَامِin rising فَإِنَّنَاfor we
قُمْ غَيْرَ مَذْمُومِ القِيَامِ فَإِنَّنَا
سَنُقِيْمُwe shall establish سُوقَthe market اللَّهْوِof merriment حِيْنَwhen تَقُومُyou rise
سَنُقِيْمُ سُوقَ اللَّهْوِ حِيْنَ تَقُومُ
Rise, without reproach for rising, for we
Arise, not blamed for rising, for we
shall set up the market of merriment when you rise.
Will establish revelry’s market when you stand.
هَذَاthis الصَّبَاحُdawn فَأَضْحِكِso make smile الإِبْرِيْقَthe ewer عَنْto reveal
هَذَا الصَّبَاحُ فَأَضْحِكِ الإِبْرِيْقَ عَنْ
شَمْسٍa sun تَحُفُّcluster بِهَاaround it لَدَيَّbeside me نُجُومُstars
شَمْسٍ تَحُفُّ بِهَا لَدَيَّ نُجُومُ
Here is dawn; make the ewer smile to reveal
This is the dawn, so make the pitcher laugh
a sun around which stars cluster here beside me.
About a sun I am adorned by its stars around me.
فَأَدَارَهَاso he passed it round وَالصُّبْحُand dawn فِيin حُلَكِthe blackness الدُّجَىof night
فَأَدَارَهَا وَالصُّبْحُ فِي حُلَكِ الدُّجَى
كَالجَيْشِlike an army زِنْجِيّاًof the Zanj غَزَتْهُinvaded it الرُّومُthe Romans
كَالجَيْشِ زِنْجِيّاً غَزَتْهُ الرُّومُ
So he passed it round, while dawn amid the night's blackness
She turned it, and the dawn in the darkness’s throat
was like a Zanj army invaded by the Romans.
Is like an army the Romans invaded while black.
وَالنَّجْمُand the star فِيon أُفُقِthe horizon الغُرُوبِof sunset كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَالنَّجْمُ فِي أُفُقِ الغُرُوبِ كَأَنَّهُ
كَأْسٌa cup عَلَيْهَاupon it لُؤْلُؤٌpearls مَنْظُومُstrung together
كَأْسٌ عَلَيْهَا لُؤْلُؤٌ مَنْظُومُ
And the star on the western horizon seemed
And the star on the horizon’s edge is as though
a cup with strung pearls upon it.
It is a cup with threaded pearls upon it.
وَالنَّسْرُand the Eagle فِيin كَبِدِthe heart السَّمَاءِof heaven كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَالنَّسْرُ فِي كَبِدِ السَّمَاءِ كَأَنَّهُ
نَسْرٌan eagle يُحَلِّقُsoars تَارَةًat times وَيَحُومُand circles
نَسْرٌ يُحَلِّقُ تَارَةً وَيَحُومُ
And the Eagle in the heart of heaven seemed
And the eagle in the sky’s liver is as though
an eagle, now soaring, now circling.
It is an eagle that sometimes soars and sometimes hovers.
وَالأُفْقُand the horizon أَبْيَضُwhite وَالهِلاَلُand the crescent كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَالأُفْقُ أَبْيَضُ وَالهِلاَلُ كَأَنَّهُ
خَلْخَالُan anklet سَاقِof a leg خَرِيْدَةٍof a maiden مَفْصُومُbroken
خَلْخَالُ سَاقِ خَرِيْدَةٍ مَفْصُومُ
And the horizon was white; the crescent seemed
The horizon is white, and the crescent is as though
a broken anklet on a maiden's leg.
It is the anklet of a well-formed, delicate female.
وَالجَوُّand the atmosphere مَعْطُورُperfumed الهَوَاءِthe air كَأَنَّهُas though
وَالجَوُّ مَعْطُورُ الهَوَاءِ كَأَنَّهُ
يَأْتِيcomes بِعَرْفِwith the scent المِسْكِof musk مِنْهُfrom it نَسِيْمُa breeze
يَأْتِي بِعَرْفِ المِسْكِ مِنْهُ نَسِيْمُ
And the atmosphere was fragrant, as though
And the air is fragrant, as though it comes
a breeze from it bore the scent of musk.
With the scent of musk, from it a soft breeze.
مُتَتَايِهُaffecting hauteur التَّكْرِيْهِrebuffing يُحْسَبُhe is thought ظَالِماًan oppressor
مُتَتَايِهُ التَّكْرِيْهِ يُحْسَبُ ظَالِماً
فَإِذَاthen when دَنَاhe draws near فَكَأَنَّهُthen as though he were مَظْلومُwronged
فَإِذَا دَنَا فَكَأَنَّهُ مَظْلومُ
Haughty in his rebuffs, he is thought an oppressor;
Roaming to tease, it is thought to be unjust,
yet when he draws near, he seems the wronged one.
But when it draws near, it is as though wronged.
تَمَّتْwas perfected مَلاَحَتُهُhis loveliness وَقَامَand he stood بِقَدَّهِwith his stature
تَمَّتْ مَلاَحَتُهُ وَقَامَ بِقَدَّهِ
فِيin التِّيْهِpride إِنَّindeed الحُسْنَbeauty مِنْهُfrom him يَتِيْمُan orphan
فِي التِّيْهِ إِنَّ الحُسْنَ مِنْهُ يَتِيْمُ
His loveliness was complete; with his stature he stood
Its sailor song is complete, and it stood straight
in proud conceit—his beauty an orphan without peer.
In wandering ― beauty in it is orphaned.
فَشَرِبْتُهَاso I drank it منْfrom طَرْفِهِhis glance وَإِنَاؤُهَاand its vessel
فَشَرِبْتُهَا منْ طَرْفِهِ وَإِنَاؤُهَا
فِيin كَفِّهِhis palm وَرَحِيْقُهَاand its nectar مَخْتُومُsealed
فِي كَفِّهِ وَرَحِيْقُهَا مَخْتُومُ
So I drank it from his glance, while its vessel
So I drank it from its rim, and its cup
lay in his palm, and its nectar was sealed.
In its palm, and its drink is sealed.
رَاحَاًwine كَأَنَّas though نَسِيْمَهَاits fragrance مُتَوَلَّدٌborn
رَاحَاً كَأَنَّ نَسِيْمَهَا مُتَوَلَّدٌ
مِنْfrom نَشْرِهِhis scent وَمِزَجُهَاand its admixture تَسْنِيْمُTasnim
مِنْ نَشْرِهِ وَمِزَجُهَا تَسْنِيْمُ
A wine whose fragrance seemed born
Comfortable, as though its breeze was generated
of his scent, its admixture Tasnim.
From its diffusion, and its mix is gentle.
شِبْهَانِtwo counterparts تَنْحَسِرُrecede الهُمُومُcares إِذَاwhen هُمَاthe two of them
شِبْهَانِ تَنْحَسِرُ الهُمُومُ إِذَا هُمَا
حَضَرَاare present وَيَحْسُنُand seems fair فِيْهِمَاwith the two of them التَّآْثِيْمُsinning
حَضَرَا وَيَحْسُنُ فِيْهِمَا التَّآْثِيْمُ
Two counterparts: cares recede when they
Two likenesses: worries recede when they
are present, and sinning with them seems fair.
Are present, and sinning becomes good through them.
جَاءَتْshe came بِنَكْهَتِهِwith his breath's scent وَجَاءَand he came بِلَوْنِهَاwith her color
جَاءَتْ بِنَكْهَتِهِ وَجَاءَ بِلَوْنِهَا
فِيupon خَدِّهِhis cheek فَصَبَاso yearned إِلَيْهِfor him حَلِيْمُa prudent man
فِي خَدِّهِ فَصَبَا إِلَيْهِ حَلِيْمُ
She came with his breath's scent, and he with her color
It came with its delicacy, and he came with its color
upon his cheek; so a prudent man yearned for him.
In his cheek, so the forbearing one inclined toward him.
وَسَقَىand he gave drink بِهَاwith her سَقْيَاًa pouring وَأَثْمَلَand intoxicated مُثْمَلاًone already drunk
وَسَقَى بِهَا سَقْيَاً وَأَثْمَلَ مُثْمَلاً
وَتَظَلَّمَتْand complained مِنْهُof him إِلَيَّto me ظَلُومُZalum
وَتَظَلَّمَتْ مِنْهُ إِلَيَّ ظَلُومُ
And he served her as drink, and intoxicated one already drunk;
And he quenched thirst with it, and fulfilled a fulfilling,
and Zalum complained of him to me.
And the darknesses complained about him to me.
وَشَدَاand he sang لَنَاfor us فَنَعَىso announced the death of الأَسَىgrief بِمُخَفَّفٍto a light measure
وَشَدَا لَنَا فَنَعَى الأَسَى بِمُخَفَّفٍ
إِيْقَاعُهُits beat المَحْضُورُthe Mahdur rhythm وَالمَزْمُومُand the Mazmum rhythm
إِيْقَاعُهُ المَحْضُورُ وَالمَزْمُومُ
And he sang for us, announcing grief's death, to a light measure
And he played softly for us, so he consoled sorrow with something light―
whose beat was Mahdur and Mazmum.
Its complex rhythm and its metered one.
تَتَجَاوَبُanswer one another الأَوْتَارُthe strings فِيin نَغَمَاتِهِhis melodies
تَتَجَاوَبُ الأَوْتَارُ فِي نَغَمَاتِهِ
خَنَثٌlanguor وَفِيand in أَلْفَاظِهِhis words تَرْخِيْمُsoftening
خَنَثٌ وَفِي أَلْفَاظِهِ تَرْخِيْمُ
The strings answer one another; in his melodies
The strings converse in its melodies―
is languor, and in his words a mellow softness.
Effeminate, and in its words a gentle murmuring.
مُتَوسِّدٌpillowed يُسْرَىthe left يَدَيْهِof his two hands مُمَهِّدٌmaking a resting place
مُتَوسِّدٌ يُسْرَى يَدَيْهِ مُمَهِّدٌ
كَالطِّفْلِlike a child إِلاَّexcept أَنَّهُthat it is مَفْطُومُweaned
كَالطِّفْلِ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ مَفْطُومُ
Pillowed on his left hand, settling comfortably,
Lying down, stretching his hands, reclining
like a child, except that it is weaned.
Like a child, except that he is weaned.
مُسْتَعِجْمٌinarticulate لاَnot يَسْتَبِيْنُis intelligible كَلاَمُهُits speech
مُسْتَعِجْمٌ لاَ يَسْتَبِيْنُ كَلاَمُهُ
حَتِّىuntil يُرَىare seen فِيin الصَّدْرِthe breast مِنْهُfrom it كُلُومُwounds
حَتِّى يُرَى فِي الصَّدْرِ مِنْهُ كُلُومُ
Inarticulate, its speech cannot be understood
Speaking a foreign language, his speech is not
until wounds from it are seen in the breast.
Understood until heaviness from it is seen in the chest.
لاَnot يَفْهَمُit understands النَّجْوَىwhispered talk إِذَاwhen خَاطَبْتَهُyou address it
لاَ يَفْهَمُ النَّجْوَى إِذَا خَاطَبْتَهُ
وَحَدِيْثُهُand its discourse مُسْتَحْسَنٌpleasing مَفْهُومُintelligible
وَحَدِيْثُهُ مُسْتَحْسَنٌ مَفْهُومُ
It does not understand whispers when you address it,
He does not understand intimate talk if you address him,
yet its discourse is pleasing and intelligible.
Yet his conversation is considered well understood.
فَكَأَنَّso it is as though كِسْرَىKisra فِيin الزُّجَاجَةِthe flask سَابحٌswimming
فَكَأَنَّ كِسْرَى فِي الزُّجَاجَةِ سَابحٌ
فِيin المَاءِthe water يَغْرَقُhe sinks تَارَةًat times وَيَعُومُand floats
فِي المَاءِ يَغْرَقُ تَارَةً وَيَعُومُ
So Kisra seemed to swim within the flask,
So it is as though an earring in a bottle is swimming
in the water, now sinking, now floating.
In the water, sinking at times and floating at others.
أُسْقىI am given drink عَلَىover تِمْثَالِهِhis likeness بِرَحِيْقِهِwith his nectar
أُسْقى عَلَى تِمْثَالِهِ بِرَحِيْقِهِ
فَكَأَنَّهُso it is as though he were لِيto me صَاحِبٌa companion وَنَدِيْمُand a drinking partner
فَكَأَنَّهُ لِي صَاحِبٌ وَنَدِيْمُ
I am given his nectar to drink above his likeness,
I pour its drink upon its statue, so it is as though
as though he were my companion and drinking partner.
It is a friend and cup-companion to me.
فِيin مَجْلِسٍa gathering حَجَبَhas hidden الزَّمَانُTime صُرُوفَهُits vicissitudes
فِي مَجْلِسٍ حَجَبَ الزَّمَانُ صُرُوفَهُ
عَنَّاfrom us فَظِلُّso the shade العَيْشِof life فِيْهِin it مُقِيْمُabiding
عَنَّا فَظِلُّ العَيْشِ فِيْهِ مُقِيْمُ
In a gathering where Time has hidden its vicissitudes
In a sitting, time secluded its good fortunes
from us, and life's shade abides there—
From us, so the shadow of life in it remains.
لَوْif only لَمْnot يُكَدِّرْcloud صَفْوَهُits serenity بِمَغِيْبِهِby his absence
لَوْ لَمْ يُكَدِّرْ صَفْوَهُ بِمَغِيْبِهِ
عَنِّيfrom me أَبُوfather of إِسْحَاقَIshaq إِبْرَاهِيْمُIbrahim
عَنِّي أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ إِبْرَاهِيْمُ
if only its serenity were not clouded by the absence
If Abu Ishaq Ibrahim had not saddened its purity
from me of Abu Ishaq Ibrahim.
By being absent from me.
يَاO بَدْرَfull moon هَاشِمٍof Hashim الَّذِيwho مِنْfrom بِيْنِهِمءamong them
يَا بَدْرَ هَاشِمٍ الَّذِي مِنْ بِيْنِهِمء
أَضْحَىhas come to be لَهُfor him التَّفْضِيْلُdistinction وَالتَّقْدِيْمُand precedence
أَضْحَى لَهُ التَّفْضِيْلُ وَالتَّقْدِيْمُ
O full moon of Hashim, who among them
O Badr of Hashim, from whom
has come to enjoy distinction and precedence!
Preference and priority over them became.
يَاO رَوْضَةَgarden الأَخْلاَفِof posterity وَالأَدَبِand refinement الَّذِيwhich
يَا رَوْضَةَ الأَخْلاَفِ وَالأَدَبِ الَّذِي
فِيْهَاin it حُلُومٌwisdom جَمَّةٌabundant وَعُلُومُand knowledge
فِيْهَا حُلُومٌ جَمَّةٌ وَعُلُومُ
O garden of posterity and refinement, wherein
O garden of descendants and etiquette in which
are abundant wisdom and knowledge!
There are collected wholesomeness and sciences.
مَهْلاًgently أَبَاfather of إِسْحَاقَIshaq إِنَّكَindeed you مَاجِدٌillustrious
مَهْلاً أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ إِنَّكَ مَاجِدٌ
نَدْبٌgallant وَمَنْتَخَبُand the choicest الفُرُوعِof branches كَرِيْمُgenerous
نَدْبٌ وَمَنْتَخَبُ الفُرُوعِ كَرِيْمُ
Gently, Abu Ishaq: you are illustrious,
Wait, Abu Ishaq. You are outstanding―
gallant, the choicest of branches, and generous.
A model, and the choice of the noble branches.
وَتَوَاضُعُand the humility الكُبَرَاءِof the great فِيin أَخْلاَقِهِمْtheir character
وَتَوَاضُعُ الكُبَرَاءِ فِي أَخْلاَقِهِمْ
شَرَفٌhonor كَمَاjust as أَنَّthat التَّكَبُّرَarrogance لُومُbaseness
شَرَفٌ كَمَا أَنَّ التَّكَبُّرَ لُومُ
Humility in the character of the great
And the humility of the great in their morals
is honor, just as arrogance is baseness.
Is a nobility, just as arrogance is blame.
والبَدْرُand the full moon يُخْلَطُis mixed بِالْعَبِيْرِwith perfume وَفَضْلُهُand its excellence
والبَدْرُ يُخْلَطُ بِالْعَبِيْرِ وَفَضْلُهُ
فِيin طِيْبِهِits fragrance مُتَعَارَفٌacknowledged مَعْلُومُknown
فِي طِيْبِهِ مُتَعَارَفٌ مَعْلُومُ
And the full moon is mingled with perfume, though its excellence
The full moon is mixed with fragrance, and its virtue
in fragrance is acknowledged and known.
In its goodness is agreed upon and known.
لَمَّاwhen سَمَتْrose هِمَمِيmy aspirations إِلَيْكَtoward you رَدَدْتُهَاI turned them back
لَمَّا سَمَتْ هِمَمِي إِلَيْكَ رَدَدْتُهَا
بِالْهَمِّwith sorrow وَالهِمَمُand aspirations الكِبَارُgreat هُمُومُsorrows
بِالْهَمِّ وَالهِمَمُ الكِبَارُ هُمُومُ
When my aspirations rose toward you, I turned them back
When my aspirations set out to you, I repelled them
with sorrow; great aspirations are sorrows.
With anxiety, and lofty aspirations are worries.
وَالظَّرْفُand refinement يَأْبَىrefuses لِلظَّرِيْفِfor a refined man قَطِيْعَتِيcutting ties with me
وَالظَّرْفُ يَأْبَى لِلظَّرِيْفِ قَطِيْعَتِي
وَالمَجْدُand glory لاَnot يَرْضَىapproves بَهَاof it وَالخِيْمُand character
وَالمَجْدُ لاَ يَرْضَى بَهَا وَالخِيْمُ
Refinement forbids a refined man to sever ties with me,
And propriety refuses to cut ties with the proper,
and neither glory nor character approves it.
And glory is not content with them, and the insignificant.
بِأَبِيwith my father as ransom وَأُمِّيand my mother أَنْتَyou مِنْwhat a مُتَتَايِهٍhaughty one
بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي أَنْتَ مِنْ مُتَتَايِهٍ
لَمْnot يُثْنِهِsway him التَّبْجِيْلُreverence وَالتَّعْظِيْمُand exaltation
لَمْ يُثْنِهِ التَّبْجِيْلُ وَالتَّعْظِيْمُ
My father and mother be your ransom—what a haughty one you are,
By my father and mother, you are from one wandering—
whom reverence and exaltation have not swayed!
Whom praising and venerating did not straighten.
لَوْif أَعْرَضَتْturned away مَعْشُوقَةٌa beloved woman عَنْfrom عَاشِقٍa lover
لَوْ أَعْرَضَتْ مَعْشُوقَةٌ عَنْ عَاشِقٍ
إِعْرَاضَهُhis turning away عَنِّيfrom me لَكَانَhe would يَهِيْمُwander distraught
إِعْرَاضَهُ عَنِّي لَكَانَ يَهِيْمُ
If a beloved woman turned away from a lover
If a beloved turned away from a lover
as he has turned from me, that lover would wander distraught.
With the turning away from me, he would wander.
كَثَّرْتَyou multiplied حُسَّادِيthose who envy me فَحِيْنَthen when هَجَرْتِنِيyou deserted me
كَثَّرْتَ حُسَّادِي فَحِيْنَ هَجَرْتِنِي
غَادَرْتَنِيyou left me وَكَأَنَّنِيand as though I were المَحْمُومُfever-stricken
غَادَرْتَنِي وَكَأَنَّنِي المَحْمُومُ
You multiplied my enviers; then, when you deserted me,
You multiplied my enviers, so when you shunned me,
you left me as though fever-stricken.
You left me as though I am stricken with illness.
وَحَرَمْتَنِيand you denied me أُنْسَthe fellowship النِّدَامِof drinking companions وَإِنَّمَاand only
وَحَرَمْتَنِي أُنْسَ النِّدَامِ وَإِنَّمَا
يَحْظَىenjoys بِهِit المَرْزُوقُthe fortunate لاَnot المَحْرُومُthe deprived
يَحْظَى بِهِ المَرْزُوقُ لاَ المَحْرُومُ
And you denied me drinking companions' fellowship, which only
And you deprived me of the intimacy of reproach, and indeed
the fortunate enjoy, not the deprived.
Only the fortunate, not the deprived, attains it.
فَاسْلَمْso be safe ظَلِلْتَmay you remain بِنِعْمَةٍin a blessing مَحْرُوسَةٍprotected
فَاسْلَمْ ظَلِلْتَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مَحْرُوسَةٍ
تَبْقَىmay you endure وَطَرْفُand the eye الدَّهْرِof Time عَنْكَheedless of you نَؤُومُslumbering
تَبْقَى وَطَرْفُ الدَّهْرِ عَنْكَ نَؤُومُ
So be safe; may you remain in a protected blessing,
Be safe―you have been shaded with a protected blessing
may you endure, while Time's eye sleeps, heedless of you.
That remains, while the days glance askance at you.
وَاعْلَمْand know بِأَنَّكَthat you مَاas long as أَقَمْتَpersist عَلَىin الَّتِيthat which
وَاعْلَمْ بِأَنَّكَ مَا أَقَمْتَ عَلَى الَّتِي
فِيَّtoward me اسْتَجَرْتَyou took refuge مِنَof العُقُوقِdisloyalty مُلِيْمُblameworthy
فِيَّ اسْتَجَرْتَ مِنَ العُقُوقِ مُلِيْمُ
And know that, so long as you persist in that
And know that you have not remained upon that
disloyalty toward me in which you took refuge, you are blameworthy.
Disobedience against me you incurred, grim.
لَكِنَّنِيbut I سَأَزُورُshall visit إِنْif صَارَمْتَنِيyou sever ties with me
لَكِنَّنِي سَأَزُورُ إِنْ صَارَمْتَنِي
وَعَلَىand in الصَّفَاءِclarity وَإِنْand even if كَدُرْتَyou grow turbid أَدُومُI shall abide
وَعَلَى الصَّفَاءِ وَإِنْ كَدُرْتَ أَدُومُ
Yet I shall visit, even if you sever ties with me,
But I will visit if you oppose me,
and abide in clarity, though you grow turbid.
And I will always visit you in good and in bad.
Sol 6.1