أَتانيhe came to me أَخٌa brother مِنfrom غَيبَةٍan absence كانَhe had غابَهاhe spent it away
أَتاني أَخٌ مِن غَيبَةٍ كانَ غابَها
وَكُنتُand I was إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle غابَhe was away أَنشُدُهُI ask after him رَكباa band of riders
وَكُنتُ إِذا ما غابَ أَنشُدُهُ رَكبا
A brother came to me after a time he had spent away.
A brother came to me after a long absence
And whenever he was away, I would ask travelers about him.
When he was away, I would recite his name in verse
فَجاءَso he came بِمَعروفٍwith bounty كَثيرٍmuch فَدَسَّهُthen he hid it
فَجاءَ بِمَعروفٍ كَثيرٍ فَدَسَّهُ
كَماjust as دَسَّhe hid راعيa shepherd السَوءِof evil فيin حِضنِهِhis bosom الوَطَباthe milk-skin
كَما دَسَّ راعي السَوءِ في حِضنِهِ الوَطَبا
So he came bearing much bounty, then hid it,
He came with plentiful kindness and hid it
As a bad shepherd hid a milk-skin in his bosom.
As a shepherd hides thorns in the fold's midst
فَقُلتُso I said لَهُto him هَلquestion marker جِئتَنيyou brought me بِهِدِيَّةٍwith a gift
فَقُلتُ لَهُ هَل جِئتَني بِهِدِيَّةٍ
فَقالَso he said بِنَفسيwith myself قُلتُI said أَتحِفgive as a gift بِهاwith it الكَلباthe dog
فَقالَ بِنَفسي قُلتُ أَتحِف بِها الكَلبا
So I said to him, “Have you brought me a gift?”
I said "Have you brought me a gift?"
He said, “Myself.” I said, “Give it as a gift to the dog.”
He said "It's myself," I said "Would I give a cur praise?"
هِيَit النَفسُthe soul لاnot أَرثيI pity لَهاfor it مِنbecause of بَلِيَّةٍan affliction
هِيَ النَفسُ لا أَرثي لَها مِن بَلِيَّةٍ
وَلاand not أَتَمَنّىI wish أَنthat رَأَيتُI saw لَهاfor it قُرباnearness
وَلا أَتَمَنّى أَن رَأَيتُ لَها قُربا
That is a soul I would not pity in any affliction,
It's the self, I wouldn't mourn it if it came to harm
Nor do I wish to see it near me.
Nor wish I'd seen any blessing brought its way
Sol 6.1