مَاذَاwhat عَلَىupon قُرَّةِdelight of الْعَيْنَينِthe two eyes لَوْif صَفَحَتْshe forgave
مَاذَا عَلَى قُرَّةِ الْعَيْنَينِ لَوْ صَفَحَتْ
وعَاوَدَتْand she returned بِوِصالٍwith reunion بَعْدَafter ماthat صَفَحَتْshe turned away
وعَاوَدَتْ بِوِصالٍ بَعْدَ ما صَفَحَتْ
What would it cost my eyes' delight if she forgave
And renewed our union after she had turned away?
بايَعْتُهاI bargained with her الْقَلْبَthe heart إِيجَاباًin assent بِمَاto what وَعَدَتْshe promised
بايَعْتُها الْقَلْبَ إِيجَاباً بِمَا وَعَدَتْ
فَيَاso oh! لَهاfor it صَفْقَةًa bargain فِيin الْحُبِّlove ماnot رَبِحَتْit profited
فَيَا لَها صَفْقَةً فِي الْحُبِّ ما رَبِحَتْ
I bartered my heart to her, assenting to what she promised;
Ah, what a bargain in love—one that brought no gain!
قَدْmay يَزْعُمُclaim النَّاسُpeople أَنَّthat الْبُخْلَstinginess مَقْطَعَةٌa cause of estrangement
قَدْ يَزْعُمُ النَّاسُ أَنَّ الْبُخْلَ مَقْطَعَةٌ
فَمَاthen why لِقَلْبِيَwith my heart يَهْوَاهاit loves her وماthough not سَمَحَتْshe was generous
فَمَا لِقَلْبِيَ يَهْوَاها وما سَمَحَتْ
People may claim that stinginess severs ties;
Then why does my heart love her, though she has granted nothing?
خُوطِيَّةُlike a supple shoot الْقَدِّin figure لوif مَرَّpassed الْحَمَامُthe doves بِهاby her
خُوطِيَّةُ الْقَدِّ لو مَرَّ الْحَمَامُ بِها
لمnot يَشْتَبِهْbe in doubt أَنَّهاthat she مِنْfrom أَيْكِهِtheir grove انْتَزَحَتْshe moved away
لم يَشْتَبِهْ أَنَّها مِنْ أَيْكِهِ انْتَزَحَتْ
A supple shoot in stature—if the doves passed her,
They would not doubt she had strayed from their grove.
خَفَّتْwere light مَعاطِفُهاher body's curves لَكِنْbut رَوادِفُهاher hips
خَفَّتْ مَعاطِفُها لَكِنْ رَوادِفُها
بِمِثْلِwith the like of مَاwhat حَمَّلَتْنيshe made me bear فيin الْهَوىlove رَجَحَتْweighed heavily
بِمِثْلِ مَا حَمَّلَتْني في الْهَوى رَجَحَتْ
Her curves are light, but her hips
Weigh heavy as the burden she made me bear in love.
وَيْلاهُalas for me مِنْfrom لَحْظِهاher glance الْفَتَّاكِthe murderous إِنْif نَظَرَتْshe looked
وَيْلاهُ مِنْ لَحْظِها الْفَتَّاكِ إِنْ نَظَرَتْ
وَآهِand ah! مِنْfrom قَدِّهاher figure الْعَسَّالِthe swaying إِنْif سَنَحَتْshe appeared
وَآهِ مِنْ قَدِّها الْعَسَّالِ إِنْ سَنَحَتْ
Alas for her murderous glance whenever she looks!
And ah, for her swaying figure whenever she appears!
يَمُوتُdies قَلْبِيmy heart ويَحْيَاand lives حَيْرَةًin bewilderment وهُدىًand guidance
يَمُوتُ قَلْبِي ويَحْيَا حَيْرَةً وهُدىً
فِيin عالَمِthe realm of الْوَجْدِpassionate longing إِنْif صَدَّتْshe turned away وإِنْand if جَنَحَتْshe inclined
فِي عالَمِ الْوَجْدِ إِنْ صَدَّتْ وإِنْ جَنَحَتْ
My heart dies and lives, in bewilderment and guidance,
In the realm of passion, when she turns away and when she inclines toward me.
كَالْبَدْرِlike the full moon إِنْif سَفَرَتْshe unveiled وَالظَّبِيِand the gazelle إِنْif نَظَرَتْshe looked
كَالْبَدْرِ إِنْ سَفَرَتْ وَالظَّبِيِ إِنْ نَظَرَتْ
والْغُصْنِand the bough إِنْif خَطَرَتْshe swayed والزَّهْرِand the blossoms إِنْif نَفَحَتْshe wafted fragrance
والْغُصْنِ إِنْ خَطَرَتْ والزَّهْرِ إِنْ نَفَحَتْ
Like the full moon when she unveils, and a gazelle when she looks;
And a bough when she sways, and blossoms when she wafts fragrance.
واoh! خَجْلَةَthe shame of الْبَدْرِthe full moon إِنْif لاحَتْshone أَسِرَّتُهَاher features
وا خَجْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ إِنْ لاحَتْ أَسِرَّتُهَا
وَحَيْرَةَand the bewilderment of الرَّشَإِthe fawn الْوَسْنَانِthe drowsy إِنْif لَمَحَتْshe glanced
وَحَيْرَةَ الرَّشَإِ الْوَسْنَانِ إِنْ لَمَحَتْ
Oh, how the full moon is shamed when her features shine!
And how the drowsy fawn is bewildered when she glances!
لَهاshe has رَوَابِطُbonds لاnever تَنْفَكُّcease آخِذَةًholding fast
لَها رَوَابِطُ لا تَنْفَكُّ آخِذَةً
بِعُرْوَةِon the handle of الْقَلْبِthe heart إِنْif جَدَّتْshe was earnest وَإِنْand if مَزَحَتْshe jested
بِعُرْوَةِ الْقَلْبِ إِنْ جَدَّتْ وَإِنْ مَزَحَتْ
Her bonds never loosen their hold
On the heart's handle, whether she is earnest or jesting.
ياO سَرْحَةَspreading tree of الأَمَلِhope الْمَمْنُوعِforbidden جَانِبُهُits side
يا سَرْحَةَ الأَمَلِ الْمَمْنُوعِ جَانِبُهُ
وياand O غَزَالَةَgazelle of وادِيthe valley of الْحُسْنِbeauty إِنْif سَرَحَتْshe roamed
ويا غَزَالَةَ وادِي الْحُسْنِ إِنْ سَرَحَتْ
O spreading tree of hope, forbidden to approach,
And O gazelle of beauty's valley when she roams!
تَرَفَّقِيbe gentle بِفُؤَادٍwith a heart أَنْتِyou مُنْيَتُهُits desire
تَرَفَّقِي بِفُؤَادٍ أَنْتِ مُنْيَتُهُ
ومُقْلَةٍand an eye لِسِوَىfor other than مَرْآكِthe sight of you ماnot طَمَحَتْit aspired
ومُقْلَةٍ لِسِوَى مَرْآكِ ما طَمَحَتْ
Be gentle with a heart whose desire you are,
And an eye that has never sought anything but the sight of you.
حَاشَاكِfar be it from you أَنْto تَسْمَعِيyou hear قَوْلَthe words of الْوُشَاةِthe slanderers بِنَاabout us
حَاشَاكِ أَنْ تَسْمَعِي قَوْلَ الْوُشَاةِ بِنَا
فَإِنَّهاfor they رُبَّمَاperhaps غَشَّتْthey deceived إِذَاwhen نَصَحَتْthey advised
فَإِنَّها رُبَّمَا غَشَّتْ إِذَا نَصَحَتْ
Far be it from you to heed the slanderers' words about us;
For they may deceive when they offer counsel.
أَفْسَدْتُI ruined فِيin حُبِّكُمْlove for you نَفْسِيmy soul جَوىًlovesickness وَأَسىًand sorrow
أَفْسَدْتُ فِي حُبِّكُمْ نَفْسِي جَوىً وَأَسىً
والنَّفْسُand the soul فيin الْحُبِّlove مَهْمَاhowever أُفْسِدَتْit was ruined صَلَحَتْit became sound
والنَّفْسُ في الْحُبِّ مَهْمَا أُفْسِدَتْ صَلَحَتْ
I ruined my soul in loving you, with lovesickness and sorrow;
And the soul, however ruined in love, is made whole.
مَاnot زِلْتُI ceased أَسْحَرُهاI enchant her بالشِّعْرِwith poetry تَسْمَعُهُshe hears it
مَا زِلْتُ أَسْحَرُها بالشِّعْرِ تَسْمَعُهُ
مِنْfrom ذاتِa woman possessing فَهْمٍunderstanding تُجِيدُshe excels at الْقَوْلَspeech إِنْif شَرَحَتْshe explained
مِنْ ذاتِ فَهْمٍ تُجِيدُ الْقَوْلَ إِنْ شَرَحَتْ
I kept enchanting her with poetry she heard
From a discerning woman, eloquent when she explained.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen عَلِمَتْshe learned مَاwhat حَلَّbefell بِيupon me ورَأَتْand she saw
حَتَّى إِذَا عَلِمَتْ مَا حَلَّ بِي ورَأَتْ
سُقْمِيmy sickness وخَافَتْand she feared عَلَىfor نَفْسٍa soul بِهَاbecause of her افْتَضَحَتْit was disgraced
سُقْمِي وخَافَتْ عَلَى نَفْسٍ بِهَا افْتَضَحَتْ
Until, when she learned what had befallen me and saw
My sickness, and feared for a soul disgraced on her account,
حَنَّتْshe yearned رَثَتْshe pitied عَطَفَتْshe showed tenderness مالَتْshe inclined صَبَتْshe grew enamored عَزَمَتْshe resolved
حَنَّتْ رَثَتْ عَطَفَتْ مالَتْ صَبَتْ عَزَمَتْ
هَمَّتْshe intended to act سَرَتْshe traveled by night وَصَلَتْshe joined me عَادَتْshe returned دَنَتْshe drew near مَنَحَتْshe gave
هَمَّتْ سَرَتْ وَصَلَتْ عَادَتْ دَنَتْ مَنَحَتْ
She yearned, pitied, showed tenderness, inclined, grew enamored, resolved;
She planned, traveled by night, joined me, returned, drew near, gave.
فَبِتُّso I spent the night مِنْthrough وَصْلِهَاunion with her فِيin نِعْمَةbliss عَظُمَتْgrew great
فَبِتُّ مِنْ وَصْلِهَا فِي نِعْمَة عَظُمَتْ
ماas much as شِئْتُI wished أَوْor جَنَّةٍa paradise أَبْوابُهاits gates فُتِحَتْwere opened
ما شِئْتُ أَوْ جَنَّةٍ أَبْوابُها فُتِحَتْ
So, through union with her, I spent the night in bliss as great
As I could wish, or in a paradise whose gates were opened.
أَنَالُI gain مِنْfrom ثَغْرِهَاher mouth الدُّرِّيِّthe pearly ماwhatever سَأَلَتْit asked for
أَنَالُ مِنْ ثَغْرِهَا الدُّرِّيِّ ما سَأَلَتْ
نَفْسِيmy soul وَمِنْand from خَدِّهَاher cheek الْوَرْدِيِّthe rosy مَاwhatever اقْتَرَحَتْit wished for
نَفْسِي وَمِنْ خَدِّهَا الْوَرْدِيِّ مَا اقْتَرَحَتْ
From her pearly mouth I gain whatever was asked for
By my soul, and from her rosy cheek whatever it desired.
فِيin رَوْضَةٍa garden بَسَمَتْsmiled أَزْهَارُهاits flowers ونَمَتْand grew
فِي رَوْضَةٍ بَسَمَتْ أَزْهَارُها ونَمَتْ
أَفْنَانُهَاits boughs وسَجَتْand grew still أَظْلالُهَاits shadows وَضَحَتْand basked in sunlight
أَفْنَانُهَا وسَجَتْ أَظْلالُهَا وَضَحَتْ
In a garden whose flowers smiled, and where there grew
Its boughs; its shadows lay still, and it basked in sunlight.
تَكَلَّلَتْit crowned itself بِجُمَانِwith pearls of الْقَطْرِrain وَاتَّزَرَتْand girded itself
تَكَلَّلَتْ بِجُمَانِ الْقَطْرِ وَاتَّزَرَتْ
بِسنْدُسِwith fine silk of النَّبْتِvegetation والرَّيْحَانِand basil واتَّشَحَتْand draped itself
بِسنْدُسِ النَّبْتِ والرَّيْحَانِ واتَّشَحَتْ
It crowned itself with pearls of rain and girded itself
With the fine silk of plants and basil, and draped itself in them.
تَرَنَّحَswayed الْغُصْنُthe bough مِنْfrom أَشْوَاقِهِits longings طَرَباًin rapture
تَرَنَّحَ الْغُصْنُ مِنْ أَشْوَاقِهِ طَرَباً
لَمَّاwhen رَأَىit saw الطَّيْرَthe birds فيin أَوْكَارِهَاtheir nests صَدَحَتْthey sang out
لَمَّا رَأَى الطَّيْرَ في أَوْكَارِهَا صَدَحَتْ
The bough swayed rapturously with its longing
When it saw the birds sing out in their nests.
صَحَّgrew well النَّسِيمُthe breeze بِهاin it وَهْوَthough it was الْعَلِيلُailing وَقَدْand already
صَحَّ النَّسِيمُ بِها وَهْوَ الْعَلِيلُ وَقَدْ
مَالَتْswayed بِخَمْرِwith the wine of النَّدَىdew أَغْصَانُهاits branches وَصَحَتْand sobered
مَالَتْ بِخَمْرِ النَّدَى أَغْصَانُها وَصَحَتْ
The breeze grew well there, though it was ailing, and
Its boughs had swayed with dew's wine and sobered.
وَلَيْلَةٍand a night سَالَflowed فيin أَعْقَابِهَاits wake شَفَقٌa crimson glow
وَلَيْلَةٍ سَالَ في أَعْقَابِهَا شَفَقٌ
كَأَنَّهَاas though it بِحُسَامِby the sword of الْفَجْرِdawn قَدْhad ذُبِحَتْbeen slaughtered
كَأَنَّهَا بِحُسَامِ الْفَجْرِ قَدْ ذُبِحَتْ
And a night in whose wake a crimson glow streamed,
As though it had been slaughtered by dawn's sword.
طَالَتْwas long وَقَصَّرَهَاand shortened it لَهْوِيmy dalliance بِغَانِيَةٍwith a beauty
طَالَتْ وَقَصَّرَهَا لَهْوِي بِغَانِيَةٍ
إِنْif أَعْرَضَتْshe turned away قَتَلَتْshe killed أَوْor أَقْبَلَتْshe approached فَضَحَتْshe shamed
إِنْ أَعْرَضَتْ قَتَلَتْ أَوْ أَقْبَلَتْ فَضَحَتْ
It was long, but my dalliance with a beauty shortened it,
Who killed me if she turned away, or shamed me if she drew near.
هَيْفَاءُslender-waisted إِنْif نَطَقَتْshe spoke غَنَّتْshe sang وإِنْand if خَطَرَتْshe swayed
هَيْفَاءُ إِنْ نَطَقَتْ غَنَّتْ وإِنْ خَطَرَتْ
رَنَّتْshe chimed وإِنْand if فَوَّقَتْshe nocked أَلْحَاظَهَاher glances جَرَحَتْshe wounded
رَنَّتْ وإِنْ فَوَّقَتْ أَلْحَاظَهَا جَرَحَتْ
Slender-waisted: when she spoke, she sang, and when she swayed,
She chimed; and when she nocked her glances, she wounded.
دَارَتْwent round عَلَيْنَاamong us بهاwith her الْكَاسَاتُthe cups مُتْرَعَةًbrimful
دَارَتْ عَلَيْنَا بها الْكَاسَاتُ مُتْرَعَةً
بِخَمْرَةٍwith wine لَوْif بَدَتْit appeared فيin ظُلْمَةٍdarkness قَدَحَتْit struck fire
بِخَمْرَةٍ لَوْ بَدَتْ في ظُلْمَةٍ قَدَحَتْ
In her company, the cups went round among us, brimming
With wine that would strike fire if it appeared in darkness.
حَمْرَاءَred سَلْسَلَهَاpoured it in a stream الإِبْرِيقُthe ewer فِيinto قَدَحٍa goblet
حَمْرَاءَ سَلْسَلَهَا الإِبْرِيقُ فِي قَدَحٍ
كَشُعْلَةٍlike a flame لَفَحَتْblazed فيin ثَلْجَةٍa piece of ice نَصَحَتْwas clear
كَشُعْلَةٍ لَفَحَتْ في ثَلْجَةٍ نَصَحَتْ
Red wine poured in a stream by the ewer into a goblet,
Like a flame blazing inside a clear piece of ice.
رُوحٌa spirit إِذَاif سَلَكَتْit entered فِيinto هَامِدٍa lifeless body نَبَضَتْthrobbed
رُوحٌ إِذَا سَلَكَتْ فِي هَامِدٍ نَبَضَتْ
عُرُوقُهُits veins أَوْor دَنَتْit drew near مِنْto صَخْرَةٍa rock رَشَحَتْit oozed
عُرُوقُهُ أَوْ دَنَتْ مِنْ صَخْرَةٍ رَشَحَتْ
A spirit that, if it entered a lifeless body, would set throbbing
Its veins; or if it neared a rock, the rock would ooze.
طَارَتْit flew away بِأَلْبَابِنَاwith our minds سُكْراًin drunkenness وَلاand no عَجَبٌwonder
طَارَتْ بِأَلْبَابِنَا سُكْراً وَلا عَجَبٌ
وهْيَand it is الْكُمَيْتُthe bay steed إِذَاwhen فيin حَلْبَةٍa racecourse جَمَحَتْit bolted
وهْيَ الْكُمَيْتُ إِذَا في حَلْبَةٍ جَمَحَتْ
It carried our minds away in drunkenness—no wonder,
For it is the bay steed when it bolts on the racecourse.
حَتَّىuntil بَدَاappeared الْفَجْرُdawn مِنْfrom أَطْرَافِthe edges of ظُلْمَتِهَاits darkness
حَتَّى بَدَا الْفَجْرُ مِنْ أَطْرَافِ ظُلْمَتِهَا
كَغُرَّةٍlike a white forehead-blaze فِيon جَوَادٍa steed أَدْهَمjet-black وَضَحَتْshone
كَغُرَّةٍ فِي جَوَادٍ أَدْهَم وَضَحَتْ
Until dawn emerged from the edges of its darkness,
Like a white blaze shining on a jet-black steed.
فَيَاso oh! لَهَاfor it لَيْلَةًa night ماhow كانَwas أَحْسَنَهاlovely it was
فَيَا لَهَا لَيْلَةً ما كانَ أَحْسَنَها
لَوْif أَنَّهاthat it لَبِثَتْhad stayed حَوْلاًa year وَمَاand not بَرِحَتْhad departed
لَوْ أَنَّها لَبِثَتْ حَوْلاً وَمَا بَرِحَتْ
Oh, what a night—how lovely it would have been
Had it stayed a year and never departed!
Sol 6.1