خَرَجَتْshe went out هِنْدُHind ذَاتَone يَوْمٍday وَفَوْزٌand Fawz
خَرَجَتْ هِنْدُ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَفَوْزٌ
وَسُعَادٌand Suad يَهِمْنَthey wander مِنْfrom غَيْرِwithout قَصدِpurpose
وَسُعَادٌ يَهِمْنَ مِنْ غَيْرِ قَصدِ
One day Hind went out, with Fawz
Hind went out one day with Fawz and Su'ad
And Suad, wandering without a purpose.
Wandering aimlessly, not seeking a destination
يَتَهَادَيْنَthey stroll gracefully فِيin الرِّيَاضِthe gardens أَصِيلاًlate afternoon
يَتَهَادَيْنَ فِي الرِّيَاضِ أَصِيلاً
لاَعِبَاتٍplaying توَارِكاًforsaking كُلَّall جِدِّseriousness
لاَعِبَاتٍ توَارِكاً كُلَّ جِدِّ
They strolled gracefully through the gardens in the late afternoon,
Playing lightheartedly, leaving behind all seriousness
Playing, putting all seriousness aside.
Seeing wonders, as if everything was new
فَرِحَاتٍjoyful يَرَيْنَthey see مَاwhat أَلِفَتْهُwas familiar with it
فَرِحَاتٍ يَرَيْنَ مَا أَلِفَتْهُ
كُلُّevery عيْنٍeye كَحَادِثٍlike a new occurrence مُسْتَجَدِّnewly arisen
كُلُّ عيْنٍ كَحَادِثٍ مُسْتَجَدِّ
Joyfully, they saw what was familiar
It was autumn, the weather at its finest
To every eye as a fresh occurrence.
The sun neither too hot nor too cold
كَانَit was فَصْلُseason الْخَرِيفِautumn وَالوَقْتُand the time أَصْفَىclearest
كَانَ فَصْلُ الْخَرِيفِ وَالوَقْتُ أَصْفَى
مَاas يَكُونُcan be اعْتِدَالُbalance حَرٍّheat وَبَرْدِand cold
مَا يَكُونُ اعْتِدَالُ حَرٍّ وَبَرْدِ
It was autumn, and the weather was as clear
Sometimes it appeared as strokes of splendor
As it could be, with heat and cold in balance.
Other times scattering petals on the horizon
تَبْعَثُsends out الشَّمْسُthe sun بَاهِرَاتِdazzling شِعَاعٍrays
تَبْعَثُ الشَّمْسُ بَاهِرَاتِ شِعَاعٍ
تَغْتَدِيbecome فِيin انْحِدَارِهَاits descent شِبْهَlike رُبْدِdusky-gray shades
تَغْتَدِي فِي انْحِدَارِهَا شِبْهَ رُبْدِ
The sun sent out dazzling rays
And in the branches an intricate weaving
That grew dusky-gray as it descended.
Of vitality, more radiant than emeralds
فَهْيَso it is فِيon الأُفْقِthe horizon تَارَةًsometimes مَسَحَاتٌbrushstrokes
فَهْيَ فِي الأُفْقِ تَارَةً مَسَحَاتٌ
مِنْof بَهَارٍyellow daisies وَتَارَةand sometimes نَثْرُa scattering وَرْدِroses
مِنْ بَهَارٍ وَتَارَة نَثْرُ وَرْدِ
So on the horizon it was now brushstrokes
Hind approached a garden and said
Of yellow daisies, now a scattering of roses;
As she fiddled with the gems of her necklace
وَهْيَand it is بَيْنَbetween الْغُصُونِthe branches نَسْجٌa weave دَقِيقٌdelicate
وَهْيَ بَيْنَ الْغُصُونِ نَسْجٌ دَقِيقٌ
مِنْof نُضَارٍgold يَشِفُّis translucent عَنْrevealing لاَزوَرْدِlapis lazuli
مِنْ نُضَارٍ يَشِفُّ عَنْ لاَزوَرْدِ
And between the branches it was a delicate weave
“Look my friends, doesn’t it seem
Of gold, through which lapis lazuli shone.
Like a home with many roots and children?”
شَارَفَتْapproached هِنْدُHind رَوْضَةًa garden ثُمَّthen قَالَتْshe said
شَارَفَتْ هِنْدُ رَوْضَةً ثُمَّ قَالَتْ
وَهْيَand she تَفْتَرsmiles عَنْrevealing جَوَاهِرِjewels عِقْدِa necklace
وَهْيَ تَفْتَر عَنْ جَوَاهِرِ عِقْدِ
Hind approached a garden, then said,
“How lovely are these ripe fruits
Smiling to reveal the jewels of a necklace:
That every child clings to like a breast”
أُنْظُرَاهَاyou two, look at it خَلِيلَتَيَّmy two dear friends أَلَيْسَتْis it not?
أُنْظُرَاهَا خَلِيلَتَيَّ أَلَيْسَتْ
شِبْهَlike بَيْتٍa household كَثِيرِabundant in أَصْلٍforebears وَوُلْدِand offspring
شِبْهَ بَيْتٍ كَثِيرِ أَصْلٍ وَوُلْدِ
“Look at it, my two dear friends—is it not
“And my grandfather is a stubborn old goat
Like a household full of elders and children?
He's always grumbling like my grandfather”
حَبَّذَاhow lovely هَذِهِthese الثَّمَارُthe fruits الرضِيعَاthe suckling infants (partial word)
حَبَّذَا هَذِهِ الثَّمَارُ الرضِيعَا
تُfeminine plural ending تَعَلَّقْنَthey cling كُلُّeach طفِلٍchild بِنَهْدِto a breast
تُ تَعَلَّقْنَ كُلُّ طفِلٍ بِنَهْدِ
How lovely these fruits, these suckling
They laughed at Hind’s words
Babes clinging, each child to a breast!
And swayed away from idle chatter
وَبِجَدِّيand by my grandfather شَيْخٌan old man مِنْamong الدَّوْحِthe great trees صُلْبٌsturdy
وَبِجَدِّي شَيْخٌ مِنْ الدَّوْحِ صُلْبٌ
هُوِhe ثَرْثَارَةٌa chatterbox عَبُوسٌscowling كَجَدِّيlike my grandfather
هُوِ ثَرْثَارَةٌ عَبُوسٌ كَجَدِّي
And by my grandfather, a sturdy elder among the great trees—
“How strange this sight was to the friends
He is a scowling chatterbox, like my grandfather!”
Even though it was so familiar”
فَتَضَاحَكْنَso they laughed together مِنْat مَقَالَةِthe words of هِنْدِHind
فَتَضَاحَكْنَ مِنْ مَقَالَةِ هِنْدِ
وَتَمَايَلْنَand they swayed عَنْaway from أَفَانِينَboughs رَنْدِlaurel
وَتَمَايَلْنَ عَنْ أَفَانِينَ رَنْدِ
They laughed together at Hind's words,
They wandered further left and right
And swayed away from boughs of laurel.
Without feeling any hardship
عَجَباًa wonder كَانَwas لِلصَّوَاحِبِto the companions مَرَأَىthe sight
عَجَباً كَانَ لِلصَّوَاحِبِ مَرَأَى
كُلِّall هَذَاthis وَكَانَand it was مَأْلُوفُfamiliar عَهْدِearlier experience
كُلِّ هَذَا وَكَانَ مَأْلُوفُ عَهْدِ
A wonder to the companions was the sight
Their minds free of every worry
Of all this, though it had long been familiar.
Their hearts empty of all passion
فَتَمَادَيْنَso they continued فِيin المَسِيرِwalking يَمِيناًrightward
فَتَمَادَيْنَ فِي المَسِيرِ يَمِيناً
وَشِمَالاًand leftward وَمَاand not شَعَرْنَthey felt بِكَدِّof fatigue
وَشِمَالاً وَمَا شَعَرْنَ بِكَدِّ
They continued walking, to the right
Fawz glimpsed something that delighted her
And to the left, feeling no fatigue,
And gestured to Su'ad and Hind
صَافِيَاتِclear الأَفْكَارَِthe thoughts مِنْof كُلِّevery هَمٍّcare
صَافِيَاتِ الأَفْكَارَِ مِنْ كُلِّ هَمٍّ
خَالِيَاتِfree الْقُلُوبِthe hearts مِنْof كُلِّevery وَجْدِlonging
خَالِيَاتِ الْقُلُوبِ مِنْ كُلِّ وَجْدِ
Their thoughts clear of every care,
“What do you think those wild fruits are
Their hearts free of every longing.
Like little suns in the distance?”
لَمَحَتْshe glimpsed فَوْزُFawz لَمْحَةًa glimpse أَعْجَبَتْهَاdelighted her
لَمَحَتْ فَوْزُ لَمْحَةً أَعْجَبَتْهَا
فَأَشَارَتْthen she gestured إِلَىto سُعَادَSuad وَهِنْدَand Hind
فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَى سُعَادَ وَهِنْدَ
Fawz caught a glimpse that delighted her,
“They're like oranges but without the peel
Then gestured to Suad and Hind:
That she offers to her beloved as a rose”
مَاwhat تُرَىI wonder هَذِهِthese الثِّمَارُthe fruits الْبَوادِيvisible
مَا تُرَى هَذِهِ الثِّمَارُ الْبَوادِي
كَشُمُوسٍlike suns صَغِيرَةٍsmall عَنْfrom بُعْدِa distance
كَشُمُوسٍ صَغِيرَةٍ عَنْ بُعْدِ
“What, I wonder, are these fruits that appear
“We don’t know,” they said. “Help us
Like little suns from afar?
If you know what I desire”
هِيَthey كَالْبُرْتُقَالِlike oranges لَوْلاَwere it not for شِفَاهٌlips
هِيَ كَالْبُرْتُقَالِ لَوْلاَ شِفَاهٌ
قدَّمَتْهَاoffered them لِلْعُودِto the branch بُغْيَةَseeking وَردِa drink
قدَّمَتْهَا لِلْعُودِ بُغْيَةَ وَردِ
They are like oranges, but for lips
“How wicked if we stole some for ourselves
They have offered to the branch, seeking a drink.”
I'm afraid to do it alone”
قَالَتَاthey both said لاَnot نَدْرِيwe know فَقَالَتْthen she said أَعَوْناًsome help?
قَالَتَا لاَ نَدْرِي فَقَالَتْ أَعَوْناً
مِنْكُمَاfrom you two إِنْif عَلِمْتُمَاyou two knew مَاwhat بِوِدِّيI wish for
مِنْكُمَا إِنْ عَلِمْتُمَا مَا بِوِدِّي
The two said, “We do not know.” She said, “Some help
Just then a guard appeared unexpectedly
From you both, if you knew what I wish?
Like the devil disguised as a servant
حَبَّذَاhow delightful الإِثْمُthe sin لَوْif لَطُفْنَاwe crept gently إِلَيْهَاtoward them
حَبَّذَا الإِثْمُ لَوْ لَطُفْنَا إِلَيْهَا
سَارِقَاتٍas thieves أَخَافُI fear أَفْعَلُto do it وَحْدِيby myself
سَارِقَاتٍ أَخَافُ أَفْعَلُ وَحْدِي
How delightful the sin, if we crept up to them
They shied away but he greeted them kindly
As thieves! I am afraid to do it alone.”
Though misery shone from his dark complexion
وَإِذَاand suddenly حَارِسa guard بَدَاappeared مِنْfrom خَفُاءٍhiding
وَإِذَا حَارِس بَدَا مِنْ خَفُاءٍ
كَتَرَائِيlike the apparition of الشَّيْطَانِSatan فِيin شَكْلِthe form of عَبْدِa slave
كَتَرَائِي الشَّيْطَانِ فِي شَكْلِ عَبْدِ
And suddenly a guard appeared from hiding,
“Sir guard, tell us who owns this house
Like Satan appearing in the form of a slave.
It seems a home of glory”
فَتَهَيَّبْنَهُso they feared him فَحَيَّاthen he greeted بَشُوشاًcheerfully
فَتَهَيَّبْنَهُ فَحَيَّا بَشُوشاً
عَنْrevealing وَمِيضٍa gleam فِيin حَالِكٍpitch-dark مُسْوَدِّblackened
عَنْ وَمِيضٍ فِي حَالِكٍ مُسْوَدِّ
They feared him; then he greeted them cheerfully,
“It's Prince Yusuf’s house,” said the Negro
Revealing a gleam in pitch-black darkness.
And they praised him excellently
قُلْنَthey said يَاO حَارِسَkeeper of المَكَانِthe place أَفِدْنَاinform us
قُلْنَ يَا حَارِسَ المَكَانِ أَفِدْنَا
لَمِنِwhose الْبَيْتُthe house إِنَّهُindeed, it is بَيْتُa house of مَجْدِgrandeur
لَمِنِ الْبَيْتُ إِنَّهُ بَيْتُ مَجْدِ
They said, “O keeper of the place, tell us:
They drew back silently, awe-struck
Whose is the house? It is a house of grandeur.”
None of them repeated or explained
قَالَhe said بَيْتُthe house of الأَمِيرِthe emir يُوسُفَYusuf هَذَاthis
قَالَ بَيْتُ الأَمِيرِ يُوسُفَ هَذَا
فَحَمِدْنَthen they thanked الزُّنْجِيَّthe Black man أَحْسَنَthe finest حَمْدِthanks
فَحَمِدْنَ الزُّنْجِيَّ أَحْسَنَ حَمْدِ
He said, “This is the house of Emir Yusuf.”
Sad for their missed chance, longing
Then they thanked the Black man most warmly,
Fawz left frustrated and opposed
وَتَرَاجَعْنَand they withdrew هَيْبَةٌawe صَامِتَاتٍsilent
وَتَرَاجَعْنَ هَيْبَةٌ صَامِتَاتٍ
لَيْسَthere is not مِنْهُنَّamong them مَنْanyone who تُعِيدُspeaks again وَتُبْدِيand begins anew
لَيْسَ مِنْهُنَّ مَنْ تُعِيدُ وَتُبْدِي
And drew back in awe, silent;
Gazing at the setting suns that
Not one of them spoke again or began anew.
Sank away from them like sleepy eyes
آسِفَاتٍregretful عَلَىover مُنىًwishes شَائِقَاتٍalluring
آسِفَاتٍ عَلَى مُنىً شَائِقَاتٍ
فُزْنَthey won مِنْهَاfrom them بِخَيْبَةٍwith disappointment وَبِصَدِّand with rebuff
فُزْنَ مِنْهَا بِخَيْبَةٍ وَبِصَدِّ
Regretting enticing wishes,
Imagining their scent, sweet drink, and taste
From which they had won disappointment and rebuff,
Like perfume, honeyed water, syrup
نَاظِرَاتٍgazing إِلَىat الشُّمُوسِthe suns اللَّوَاتِيwhich
نَاظِرَاتٍ إِلَى الشُّمُوسِ اللَّوَاتِي
ُدْنَunclear fragment; perhaps 'turned away' عَنْهَاfrom them بِمِثْلِwith the like of أَعْيُنِeyes رُمْدِinflamed
ُدْنَ عَنْهَا بِمِثْلِ أَعْيُنِ رُمْدِ
Gazing at the suns from which
This was their concern - could there still
They had [turned away], with eyes as though inflamed;
Be in this state, a chance of happiness?
يَتَصَوَّرْنَهَاthey imagine them عَبِيراًa fragrance ذَكِيّاًheady
يَتَصَوَّرْنَهَا عَبِيراً ذَكِيّاً
وَشَرَاباًand a drink عَذْباًsweet وَطَعْمَاًand a taste كَشُهْدِlike honeycomb
وَشَرَاباً عَذْباً وَطَعْمَاً كَشُهْدِ
They imagined them as a heady fragrance,
That time was so good before ignorance
And a sweet drink, and a taste like honeycomb.
Ruined its most beautiful era
كَانَwas هَذَاthis لَهُنَّfor them هَماًa worry وَهَلْand is there? فِيin
كَانَ هَذَا لَهُنَّ هَماً وَهَلْ فِي
حَالَةٍa state بَعْدَهُafter it مَظِنَّةُa prospect of سَعْدِhappiness
حَالَةٍ بَعْدَهُ مَظِنَّةُ سَعْدِ
This was their worry; and is there, in
That day, those fruits were the finest thing
Any later state, a prospect of happiness?
And the prince himself was their lord
نِعْمَhow fine ذَاكَthat الزَّمَانٌthe time كَانَwas عَلَىdespite مَاwhat
نِعْمَ ذَاكَ الزَّمَانٌ كَانَ عَلَى مَا
أَفسَدَspoiled الجَّهلُignorance فِيهِin it أَطيَبَsweetest عَهْدِage
أَفسَدَ الجَّهلُ فِيهِ أَطيَبَ عَهْدِ
How fine that time was! Despite what
Ignorance spoiled in it, it was the sweetest age,
يَومَwhen تِلكَthose الثِّمارُthe fruits أَنفَسَmost precious شَيءٍthing
يَومَ تِلكَ الثِّمارُ أَنفَسَ شَيءٍ
عِندَهُمto them وَالأميرُand the emir فِيهِمamong them أَفَندِيan effendi (gentleman)
عِندَهُم وَالأميرُ فِيهِم أَفَندِي
When those fruits were the most precious thing
To them, and the emir among them was an effendi.
Partial English translation: 58 of 62 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1