تَعَطَّفُbend kindly عَلَيْنَاtoward us أَيُهَاO الغُصُنُthe branch الغَضُّtender
تَعَطَّفُ عَلَيْنَا أَيُهَا الغُصُنُ الغَضُّ
أَمَاis there not? مِنْكَfrom you شَمٌّa sniff يُسْتَفَادُcan be enjoyed وَلاَnor عَضُّa bite
أَمَا مِنْكَ شَمٌّ يُسْتَفَادُ وَلاَ عَضُّ
Bend kindly toward us, O tender branch.
Is there no sniff of you to enjoy, nor a bite?
جَنَاكَyour fruit جَنىًa harvest فِيْهِin it شِفَاءٌhealing وَصِحَّةٌand health
جَنَاكَ جَنىً فِيْهِ شِفَاءٌ وَصِحَّةٌ
وَلَكِنْbut لَنَاfor us فِيin طَرْفِكَyour gaze السَّقَمُsickness المَحْضُpure
وَلَكِنْ لَنَا فِي طَرْفِكَ السَّقَمُ المَحْضُ
Your fruit is a harvest holding healing and health,
Yet in your gaze there is nothing for us but sickness.
تَرَكْتَyou left طَبِيْبِيmy physician حَائِرَاًbewildered فِيconcerning بَاكِيَاًweeping
تَرَكْتَ طَبِيْبِي حَائِرَاً فِي بَاكِيَاً
عَلَيَّover me بِعَيْنٍwith an eye مَاnot يُصَافِحُهَاclasps it غَمْضُsleep
عَلَيَّ بِعَيْنٍ مَا يُصَافِحُهَا غَمْضُ
You left my physician bewildered about me, weeping
Over me, with an eye that slumber never clasps.
وَيَعْجَبُand he marvels مِنِّيat me أَنْthat أُطِيْقَI can manage جَوَابَهُanswering him
وَيَعْجَبُ مِنِّي أَنْ أُطِيْقَ جَوَابَهُ
وَقَدْthough already كَادَnearly يَخْفَىbecomes imperceptible فِيat مَجَسَّتِيَmy pulse-point النَّبْضُthe pulse
وَقَدْ كَادَ يَخْفَى فِي مَجَسَّتِيَ النَّبْضُ
And he marvels that I can manage to answer him,
Though the pulse at my pulse-point has almost vanished.
فَحَتَّامَthen how long? لاَnot تَشْفِيyou heal العَلِيْلَthe sick one بِزَوْرَةٍwith a visit
فَحَتَّامَ لاَ تَشْفِي العَلِيْلَ بِزَوْرَةٍ
هِيَit الرُّوحُthe life-breath لِلْجِسْمِfor the body الذِيwhich مَالَهُhas no نَخْضُflesh (uncertain reading)
هِيَ الرُّوحُ لِلْجِسْمِ الذِي مَالَهُ نَخْضُ
Then how long will you not heal the sick man with a visit
Which is the life-breath of the body with no flesh left?
بَدَتْshe appeared مَوْهِنَاًlate at night فِيin رَادِعِsaffron-stained اللَّوْنِcolor تَحْتَهُbeneath it
بَدَتْ مَوْهِنَاً فِي رَادِعِ اللَّوْنِ تَحْتَهُ
غَلاَئِلُgauzy robes نُورٍof light حَشْوُهَاtheir filling بَرَدٌhail بَضُّfresh and tender
غَلاَئِلُ نُورٍ حَشْوُهَا بَرَدٌ بَضُّ
She appeared late at night in a saffron-colored robe, beneath which
Lay gauzy robes of light, filled with fresh, tender hail.
وَمَاسَتْand she swayed كَمَيْسِlike the swaying of الخَيْزَرَانَةِthe bamboo stem وَاتَّقَتْand shielded herself
وَمَاسَتْ كَمَيْسِ الخَيْزَرَانَةِ وَاتَّقَتْ
بِأَحْسَنِwith the loveliest مُسْوَدٍّsomething black بَدَاappeared فِيْهِin it مُبْيَضُّsomething white
بِأَحْسَنِ مُسْوَدٍّ بَدَا فِيْهِ مُبْيَضُّ
And she swayed as a bamboo stem sways, and shielded herself
With the loveliest blackness, within which whiteness appeared.
وَقَدْyet indeed نَقَضَتْshe broke عَهْدَthe pledge الصَّفَاءِof sincere affection كَأَنَّهَاas though she were
وَقَدْ نَقَضَتْ عَهْدَ الصَّفَاءِ كَأَنَّهَا
أُنَاسٌpeople هَوَاهُمْtheir desire فِيin عُهُودِهِمْtheir pledges النَّقْضُbreaking
أُنَاسٌ هَوَاهُمْ فِي عُهُودِهِمْ النَّقْضُ
Yet she broke the pledge of sincere affection, as though she were
People whose desire is to break their pledges.
لِئَامٌbase people إِذَاwhen مَاever (emphasis) غِبْتُI am absent عَنْهُمْfrom them تَجَمَّعُواthey gather
لِئَامٌ إِذَا مَا غِبْتُ عَنْهُمْ تَجَمَّعُوا
عَلَىover غَيْرِother than مَاwhat أَهْوَىI desire فَإنْbut if أَبْدُI appear يَنْفَضُّواthey disperse
عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا أَهْوَى فَإنْ أَبْدُ يَنْفَضُّوا
Base men who, whenever I am absent, gather together
For ends I do not desire; but if I appear, they scatter.
أُفَرِّقُهُمْI scatter them عِنْدَat انْقِضَاضِيmy swooping عَلَيْهِمُupon them
أُفَرِّقُهُمْ عِنْدَ انْقِضَاضِي عَلَيْهِمُ
كَمَاjust as طَفِقَbegan البَازِيthe goshawk عَلَىupon الطَّيْرِthe birds يَنْقَضُّswoops
كَمَا طَفِقَ البَازِي عَلَى الطَّيْرِ يَنْقَضُّ
I scatter them when I swoop upon them,
As the goshawk begins to swoop upon the birds.
يَعُدُّونَthey count إِحْسَانَkindness الصَّدِيْقِof the friend إِسَاءَةًan offense
يَعُدُّونَ إِحْسَانَ الصَّدِيْقِ إِسَاءَةً
وَيَهوَونَand they desire أَنْto يَرْضَواbe pleased وَيَأَبَوْنَand they refuse أَنْto يُرْضُواplease others
وَيَهوَونَ أَنْ يَرْضَوا وَيَأَبَوْنَ أَنْ يُرْضُوا
They count a friend's kindness as an offense,
And wish to be pleased, yet refuse to please.
وَقَدْand indeed أَكْسَبَتْنِيhas earned me نِعْمَةُthe favor اللَّهِof God بُغْضَهُمْtheir hatred
وَقَدْ أَكْسَبَتْنِي نِعْمَةُ اللَّهِ بُغْضَهُمْ
فَلاَso may not زَالَتِcease النُّعْمَىthe blessing وَلاَnor بَرِحَdepart البُغْضُthe hatred
فَلاَ زَالَتِ النُّعْمَى وَلاَ بَرِحَ البُغْضُ
And God's favor has earned me their hatred,
So may the blessing never cease, nor the hatred depart.
وَكُنْتُand I used to إِذَاwhen مَاever (emphasis) عَابَنِيfound fault with me ذُوone possessing دَنَاءَةِbaseness
وَكُنْتُ إِذَا مَا عَابَنِي ذُو دَنَاءَةِ
يُكَابِدُstruggling with ضِغْناًa grudge فِيin حَشَاهُhis breast لَهُit has مَضُّa sting
يُكَابِدُ ضِغْناً فِي حَشَاهُ لَهُ مَضُّ
And whenever a base man found fault with me,
Tormented by a grudge that stung within his breast,
أبِيْتُI refused لِمَجْدِيfor my glory أَنْto أُسَاجِلَvie with مِثْلَهُhis like
أبِيْتُ لِمَجْدِي أَنْ أُسَاجِلَ مِثْلَهُ
وَحَاشَىand far be it سَمَاءًsky أَنْthat يُشَاكِلَهَاmatch it أَرْضُearth
وَحَاشَى سَمَاءً أَنْ يُشَاكِلَهَا أَرْضُ
I would refuse, for my glory's sake, to vie with his like;
And far be it for earth to match the sky.
وَمَالِيَand why should I أَخْشَىI fear حَاسِدَاًan envious person أَوْمُعَانِدَاًor an adversary
وَمَالِيَ أَخْشَى حَاسِدَاً أَوْمُعَانِدَاً
وَلَيْسَand there is not لَهُfor him بَسْطٌpower to grant عَلَيَّover me وَلاَnor قَبْضُpower to withhold
وَلَيْسَ لَهُ بَسْطٌ عَلَيَّ وَلاَ قَبْضُ
And why should I fear an envier or an adversary,
When he has no sway over me, to grant or withhold?
نِبَالِيَmy arrows أَقْلاَمِيmy pens وَسَيْفِيَand my sword مِقْوَلِيmy tongue
نِبَالِيَ أَقْلاَمِي وَسَيْفِيَ مِقْوَلِي
بِهِwith it الدَّهْرَalways أَبْكَارَthe virgins البَلاَغَةِof eloquence أَفْتَضُّI deflower
بِهِ الدَّهْرَ أَبْكَارَ البَلاَغَةِ أَفْتَضُّ
My arrows are my pens, and my sword is my tongue;
With it I ever deflower the virgins of eloquence.
تُرِيْكَthey show you وُجُوهَthe faces المَكْرُمَاتِof noble deeds ضَوَاحِكَاًsmiling
تُرِيْكَ وُجُوهَ المَكْرُمَاتِ ضَوَاحِكَاً
وَتُوضِحُand clarify مُسْوَدَّthe darkened part الأُمُورِof affairs فَتَبْيَضُّso they turn white
وَتُوضِحُ مُسْوَدَّ الأُمُورِ فَتَبْيَضُّ
They show you the smiling faces of noble deeds,
And clarify darkened affairs, so they turn white.
وَكَمْand how often حَقَّقَit established as true الأَمْرَthe matter الذِيwhich هُوَit بَاطِلٌfalse
وَكَمْ حَقَّقَ الأَمْرَ الذِي هُوَ بَاطِلٌ
وَكَمْand how often دَحَضَit refuted الحَقَّthe truth الَّذِيwhich مَالَهُhas no دَحْضُrefutation
وَكَمْ دَحَضَ الحَقَّ الَّذِي مَالَهُ دَحْضُ
And how often it has established as true a matter that is false,
And how often it has refuted truth that admits no refutation.
وَمَاand whatever شِئْتَyou wish مِنْof نَفْسٍa soul عَزُوفٍabstinent ومَذْهَبٍand a way
وَمَا شِئْتَ مِنْ نَفْسٍ عَزُوفٍ ومَذْهَبٍ
شَرِيْفٍnoble وَتَرْكِيْبٍand a nature حَكَىmirrored بَعْضَهُone part of it بَعْضُanother part
شَرِيْفٍ وَتَرْكِيْبٍ حَكَى بَعْضَهُ بَعْضُ
And all you could wish for: a self-restrained soul, a way
That is noble, and a nature whose parts mirror one another.
وَإِلاَّand otherwise بَكَىwept عُرْفٌkindness كَثِيْرٌabundant كَثِيْرٌabundant مَنَعْتُهُI withheld it
وَإِلاَّ بَكَى عُرْفٌ كَثِيْرٌ كَثِيْرٌ مَنَعْتُهُ
فَعِنْدِيthen I have عَلَيْهِfor it الهَزُّstirring والحَثُّand urging والحَضُّand encouragement
فَعِنْدِي عَلَيْهِ الهَزُّ والحَثُّ والحَضُّ
Otherwise, much, much kindness I withheld would weep;
Then I have for it stirring, urging, and encouragement.
وَأَكْرَمْتُand I honored أَعْرَاضِيmy reputations بِمَالِيwith my wealth فَصُنْتُهَاso I safeguarded them
وَأَكْرَمْتُ أَعْرَاضِي بِمَالِي فَصُنْتُهَا
وَمَنْand whoever جَادَgives generously لَمْnot يَدْنَسْbecomes stained لَهُfor him أَبْدَاًever عِرْضُhonor
وَمَنْ جَادَ لَمْ يَدْنَسْ لَهُ أَبْدَاً عِرْضُ
And I honored my reputation with my wealth, thus safeguarding it;
And whoever gives freely never has his honor stained.
وَحُمِّلْتُand I was burdened أَعْبَاءَthe burdens الدُّيُونِof debts وَإِنَّمَاand indeed
وَحُمِّلْتُ أَعْبَاءَ الدُّيُونِ وَإِنَّمَا
أَمَارَةُthe sign جُودِof generosity المَرْءِof a person أَنْthat يَكْثُرَis abundant القَرْضُborrowing
أَمَارَةُ جُودِ المَرْءِ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ القَرْضُ
And I was made to bear the burdens of debt; indeed,
The sign of a man's generosity is that borrowing abounds.
وحَصَلَّتُand I secured أَسْرَارَthe secrets الصَّدِيْقِof the friend بِمُحْرَزٍin a stronghold
وحَصَلَّتُ أَسْرَارَ الصَّدِيْقِ بِمُحْرَزٍ
مِنَof الحِفْظِsafekeeping عِنْدِيin my care مَاno لِخَاتَمِهِfor its seal فَضُّbreaking
مِنَ الحِفْظِ عِنْدِي مَا لِخَاتَمِهِ فَضُّ
And I secured a friend's secrets in a stronghold
Of safekeeping in my care, whose seal is never broken.
أَبَاO Abu بَكرٍBakr اسْلَمْremain safe لِلْمَوَدَّةِfor friendship والصَّفَاand sincerity
أَبَا بَكرٍ اسْلَمْ لِلْمَوَدَّةِ والصَّفَا
فَوُدُّكَfor your affection بَاقٍenduring لاnot يَحُولُchanges وَلاَnor يَنْضُوwears thin
فَوُدُّكَ بَاقٍ لا يَحُولُ وَلاَ يَنْضُو
O Abu Bakr, remain well for friendship and sincerity;
For your affection endures, neither changing nor wearing thin.
مُنِيْنَاwe were afflicted بِمَنْwith those whom نُغْضِيwe turn a blind eye لَهُمْfor them عَنْto عِثَارِهِمْtheir missteps
مُنِيْنَا بِمَنْ نُغْضِي لَهُمْ عَنْ عِثَارِهِمْ
وَهِمَّتُهُمْand their aim فِيْنَاtoward us التَّنَقُّصُdisparagement وَالغَضُّand belittling
وَهِمَّتُهُمْ فِيْنَا التَّنَقُّصُ وَالغَضُّ
We have been afflicted with people whose missteps we overlook,
While their aim is to disparage and belittle us.
وَأَنْتَand you امرُؤٌa man تَصْفُوare clear إِذَاwhen كَدُرَgrows turbid الوَرَىhumankind
وَأَنْتَ امرُؤٌ تَصْفُو إِذَا كَدُرَ الوَرَى
وَتَحْلُوand you are sweet إِذَاwhen مَاever (emphasis) شَابَtaints وَدَّهُمُtheir affection حَمْضُsourness
وَتَحْلُو إِذَا مَا شَابَ وَدَّهُمُ حَمْضُ
And you are a man who stays clear when others grow turbid,
And stays sweet when sourness taints their affection.
مَتَىwhenever يَشْقَsuffers خِلُّa friend بِالتَّغَيُّرِfrom a change of heart مِنْon the part of أَخٍa brother
مَتَى يَشْقَ خِلُّ بِالتَّغَيُّرِ مِنْ أَخٍ
خَؤُونٍtreacherous فَحَظِّيthen my share مِنْof مَوَدَّتِكَyour affection الخَفْضُease
خَؤُونٍ فَحَظِّي مِنْ مَوَدَّتِكَ الخَفْضُ
Whenever a friend suffers from the change of a brother
Who is treacherous, my share of your affection is ease.
Sol 6.1