مَاnot لِيfor me بِوُدِّكَwith your friendship بَعْدَafter الْيَوْمِtoday إِلْمَامُany dealings
مَا لِي بِوُدِّكَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ إِلْمَامُ
فَاذْهَبْso go فَأَنْتَfor you لَئِيمُbase الْعَهْدِin pledges نَمَّامُa tale-bearer
فَاذْهَبْ فَأَنْتَ لَئِيمُ الْعَهْدِ نَمَّامُ
After today I will have no further dealings with your friendship.
What use is your love to me after this day, you unfaithful one,
So go: you are base in your pledges and a tale-bearer.
Go away, for you are vile and slanderous!
قَدْindeed كُنْتُI was أَحْسَبُنِيthinking myself أَدْرَكْتُI had attained مَأْرُبَةًa cherished aim
قَدْ كُنْتُ أَحْسَبُنِي أَدْرَكْتُ مَأْرُبَةً
مِنَamong الْمُنَىdesires فَإِذَاbut behold مَاwhat خِلْتُI imagined أَحْلامُdreams
مِنَ الْمُنَى فَإِذَا مَا خِلْتُ أَحْلامُ
I had thought I had attained a cherished aim
I used to think I had attained my heart's desire,
Among my desires—but what I imagined was only dreams.
But it turned out to be mere fantasy.
هَيْهَاتَfar removed مِنِّيfrom me الرِّضَاcontentment مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter تَجْرِبَةٍan experience
هَيْهَاتَ مِنِّي الرِّضَا مِنْ بَعْدِ تَجْرِبَةٍ
إِنَّindeed الْمَوَدَّةَaffection بَيْنَamong النَّاسِpeople أَقْسَامُdifferent kinds
إِنَّ الْمَوَدَّةَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَقْسَامُ
Contentment is far from me after such an experience;
After this experience, I'll never be content again,
Affection among people comes in different kinds.
For affection between people is fickle.
فَاطْلُبْso seek لِنَفْسِكَfor yourself غَيْرِيsomeone other than me إِنَّنِيindeed I رَجُلٌa man
فَاطْلُبْ لِنَفْسِكَ غَيْرِي إِنَّنِي رَجُلٌ
يَأْبَىforbid لِيَfor me الْغَدْرَtreachery أَخْوَالٌmaternal uncles وَأَعْمَامُand paternal uncles
يَأْبَى لِيَ الْغَدْرَ أَخْوَالٌ وَأَعْمَامُ
So seek someone other than me for yourself: I am a man
Look for someone else, I'm not the man for you,
Whose maternal and paternal uncles forbid me treachery.
My kith and kin abhor betrayal.
كُلُّevery امْرِئٍperson تَابِعٌfollowing أَعْرَاقَthe roots of نَبْعَتِهِhis stock
كُلُّ امْرِئٍ تَابِعٌ أَعْرَاقَ نَبْعَتِهِ
وَالْخَيْرُand goodness وَالشَّرُّand evil أَنْسَابٌlineages وَأَرْحَامُand blood relationships
وَالْخَيْرُ وَالشَّرُّ أَنْسَابٌ وَأَرْحَامُ
Every man follows the roots of his own stock,
Everyone follows the traits of his lineage,
And good and evil are lineages and ties of blood.
Both good and evil are pedigree and kinship.
فَانْظُرْso look لفِعْلِat the deed of الْفَتَىthe man تَعْرِفْyou will know مَنَاسِبَهُhis ancestry
فَانْظُرْ لفِعْلِ الْفَتَى تَعْرِفْ مَنَاسِبَهُ
إِنَّindeed الْفِعَالَdeeds لأَصْلِof the origin of الْمَرْءِthe person إِعْلامُan indication
إِنَّ الْفِعَالَ لأَصْلِ الْمَرْءِ إِعْلامُ
So look at a man's deeds, and you will know his ancestry;
Look to a man's actions to know his match,
For deeds disclose a man's origin.
Deeds point plainly to a person's origin.
وَلاand do not يَغُرَنَّكَlet deceive you وَجْهٌa face رَاقَpleased مَنْظَرُهُits appearance
وَلا يَغُرَنَّكَ وَجْهٌ رَاقَ مَنْظَرُهُ
فَالنَّصْلُfor the blade فِيهِwithin it الْمَنَايَاdeaths وَهْوَthough it is بَسَّامُever smiling
فَالنَّصْلُ فِيهِ الْمَنَايَا وَهْوَ بَسَّامُ
And let no face whose appearance pleases deceive you:
Let not a radiant face deceive you,
For the blade harbors death, though it smiles.
For in it lie death and decay, though it smiles.
مَاnot كُلُّevery ذِيpossessor of مِنْسَرٍa raptor's beak فَتْخَاءَa broad-winged eagle كَاسِرةًprey-taking
مَا كُلُّ ذِي مِنْسَرٍ فَتْخَاءَ كَاسِرةً
كَلَّاno indeed وَلاnor كُلُّevery ذِيpossessor of نَابَيْنِtwo fangs ضِرْغَامُa lion
كَلَّا وَلا كُلُّ ذِي نَابَيْنِ ضِرْغَامُ
Not every beaked creature is a broad-winged eagle that hunts;
Not every braggart is truly courageous,
No, nor is every creature with two fangs a lion.
No, nor is every growler a lion.
فَإِنْso if يَكُنْit is غرَّنِيdeceived me حِلْمِيmy forbearance فَلاthen no عَجَبٌwonder
فَإِنْ يَكُنْ غرَّنِي حِلْمِي فَلا عَجَبٌ
إِنَّindeed الْحُسَامَthe keen sword لَيَنْبُواmay indeed glance off وَهْوَthough it is صَمْصَامُa trenchant blade
إِنَّ الْحُسَامَ لَيَنْبُوا وَهْوَ صَمْصَامُ
So if my forbearance deceived me, it is no wonder:
If my forbearance has emboldened you, no wonder,
Even a keen sword may glance off, though it is a trenchant blade.
For even sheathed swords will rust.
ظَنَنْتُI expected خَيْراًgood وَلَمْand did not أُدْرِكْperceive عَوَاقِبَهُits consequences
ظَنَنْتُ خَيْراً وَلَمْ أُدْرِكْ عَوَاقِبَهُ
فَكَانَbut it was شَرّاًevil وَبَعْضُand some of الظَّنِّsupposition آثَامُsins
فَكَانَ شَرّاً وَبَعْضُ الظَّنِّ آثَامُ
I expected good, without perceiving its consequences;
I hoped for good, but did not foresee the outcome,
But it proved evil, and some suppositions are sins.
So it turned to evil, and hopes can be sinful.
فَيَاso oh لَهَاfor it ضِلَّةًan error مَاnot إِنْat all (emphasis) أَبَهْتُI paid heed لَهَاto it
فَيَا لَهَا ضِلَّةً مَا إِنْ أَبَهْتُ لَهَا
حَتَّىuntil تَرَدَّتْplunged بِهَاthrough it فِيinto الشَّرِّevil أَقْدَامُfeet
حَتَّى تَرَدَّتْ بِهَا فِي الشَّرِّ أَقْدَامُ
Oh, what an error! I paid it no heed
Alas for the blindness that would not heed
Until, through it, feet plunged into evil.
Until I stumbled into evil because of it!
آلَيْتُI swore أَكْذِبُI lie to نَفْسِيmyself بَعْدَهَاafter it سَفَهَاًin folly
آلَيْتُ أَكْذِبُ نَفْسِي بَعْدَهَا سَفَهَاً
إِنَّindeed الْمُنَىwishes عِنْدَwhen صِدْقِthe truthfulness of النَّفْسِthe soul أَوْهَامُillusions
إِنَّ الْمُنَى عِنْدَ صِدْقِ النَّفْسِ أَوْهَامُ
I swore that afterward I would never foolishly lie to myself;
I wronged myself, lying to myself in my foolishness,
For wishes are illusions when the soul is truthful.
For at the hour of death, fancies are vanity.
فَيَاso O بْنَson of مَنْone whom تَزْدَرِيهِdespises him النَّفْسُthe soul مِنْbecause of ضَعَةٍlowliness
فَيَا بْنَ مَنْ تَزْدَرِيهِ النَّفْسُ مِنْ ضَعَةٍ
فَمَاso not يُحَسُّis noticed لَهُfor him وَجْدٌwealth وَإِعْدَامُand destitution
فَمَا يُحَسُّ لَهُ وَجْدٌ وَإِعْدَامُ
So, O son of one the soul despises for his lowliness,
O you who scorn the abject soul for its lowliness,
Whose wealth and poverty alike go unnoticed!
Feeling no grief or despair for it!
دَعِleave off الْفَخَارَboasting وَخُذْand take up فِيماwhat خُلِقْتَyou were created لَهُfor it
دَعِ الْفَخَارَ وَخُذْ فِيما خُلِقْتَ لَهُ
مِنَof الصَّغَارِabasement فَإِنَّfor indeed الطَّبْعَinnate nature إِلْزَامُcompulsion
مِنَ الصَّغَارِ فَإِنَّ الطَّبْعَ إِلْزَامُ
Leave off boasting, and take up what you were created for:
Leave off boasting, and keep to what you were created for,
Abasement, for nature is binding.
For nature compels conformity.
وَاذْكُرْand remember مَكَانَكَyour place مِنْwith عَبَّاسَAbbas حَيْثُwhere مَضَتْpassed
وَاذْكُرْ مَكَانَكَ مِنْ عَبَّاسَ حَيْثُ مَضَتْ
عَلَيْكَover you فِيin الدَّارِthe house أَعْوَامٌyears وَأَعْوَامُand years
عَلَيْكَ فِي الدَّارِ أَعْوَامٌ وَأَعْوَامُ
And remember your place with Abbas, where there passed
Remember your station with Abbas where you have spent
Over you, in the house, year after year.
Years upon years in the abode.
تَبِيتُyou spend the night مُرْتَفِعَاًraised up فِيin ظِلِّthe shade of دَسْكَرَةٍa pleasure-house
تَبِيتُ مُرْتَفِعَاً فِي ظِلِّ دَسْكَرَةٍ
لِكُلِّfor every بَاغٍseeker بِهَاthere وجْدٌpassion وَتَهْيَامُand lovesick longing
لِكُلِّ بَاغٍ بِهَا وجْدٌ وَتَهْيَامُ
You spend the night raised up in the shade of a pleasure-house,
You lie drunk in the shade of a vine arbor,
Where every seeker feels passion and lovesick longing.
In every garden are rapture and passion.
وَفَوْقَand above ظَهْرِكَyour back لِلأَنْفَاسِfor breaths مُعْتَرَكٌa battlefield
وَفَوْقَ ظَهْرِكَ لِلأَنْفَاسِ مُعْتَرَكٌ
وَفِيand in حَشَاكَyour innards لِنَارِfor the fire of الْفِسْقِdebauchery إِضْرَامُkindling
وَفِي حَشَاكَ لِنَارِ الْفِسْقِ إِضْرَامُ
And above your back is a battlefield of breaths,
On your back are the marks of bowing in prayer,
And in your innards the fire of debauchery is kindled.
And in your breast the embers of sin burn bright.
وَيْلُمِّهَاwoe to its mother خَزْيَةa disgrace طارَتْflew بِشُنْعَتِهاwith its infamy
وَيْلُمِّهَا خَزْيَة طارَتْ بِشُنْعَتِها
صَحَائِفٌpages وَجَرَتْand ran بِالذَّمِّwith condemnation أَقْلامُpens
صَحَائِفٌ وَجَرَتْ بِالذَّمِّ أَقْلامُ
What a disgrace! Its infamy was borne abroad
Woe to you! Annals of your disgrace have circulated,
By pages, and pens ran with condemnation.
Scandalizing pages flowed from the writers' pens.
فَاخْسَأْso begone فَمَاfor not الْكَلْبُthe dog أَدْنَىlower مِنْكَthan you مَنْزِلَةًin station
فَاخْسَأْ فَمَا الْكَلْبُ أَدْنَى مِنْكَ مَنْزِلَةً
وَاخْسَأْand 'begone' لِمِثْلِكَfor one like you إِعْزَازٌhonor وَإِكْرَامُand esteem
وَاخْسَأْ لِمِثْلِكَ إِعْزَازٌ وَإِكْرَامُ
So begone: a dog is no lower than you in station;
Cower in shame, for a dog is above you in rank,
And 'Begone!' is honor and esteem for one like you.
Mean creatures like you are honored and esteemed!
هَذَاthis الَّذِيthe one whose تَكْرَهُdetest الأَبْصَارُeyes طَلْعَتَهُhis appearance
هَذَا الَّذِي تَكْرَهُ الأَبْصَارُ طَلْعَتَهُ
فَحَظُّهاso their share مِنْهُfrom him إِيذَاءٌhurt وَإِيلامُand pain
فَحَظُّها مِنْهُ إِيذَاءٌ وَإِيلامُ
This is the man whose appearance eyes detest;
This one whom all eyes shun meeting,
So their portion from him is hurt and pain.
Whose look brings them harm and pain,
فِيon وَجْهِهِhis face سِمَةٌa mark لِلْغَدْرِof treachery بَيِّنَةٌclear
فِي وَجْهِهِ سِمَةٌ لِلْغَدْرِ بَيِّنَةٌ
وَبَيْنَand between جَنْبَيْهِhis two sides أَحْقَادٌgrudges وَأَوْغامُand rancors
وَبَيْنَ جَنْبَيْهِ أَحْقَادٌ وَأَوْغامُ
On his face is a clear mark of treachery,
On his face is the brand of treachery,
And between his ribs are grudges and rancors.
And between his sides are grudges and sins,
لَهُhe has عَلَىin الشَّرِّevil إِقْدَامٌboldness وَلَيْسَand not لَهُhe has
لَهُ عَلَى الشَّرِّ إِقْدَامٌ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ
إِلَّاexcept عَنِfrom الْخَيْرِgoodness وَالْمَعْرُوفِand kindness إِحْجَامُshrinking back
إِلَّا عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَالْمَعْرُوفِ إِحْجَامُ
He is bold in evil, and he has
He boldly approaches evil but recoils
Nothing but reluctance toward goodness and kindness.
From all good and kindness.
كَأَنَّمَاas though أَنْفُهُhis nose مِنْfrom طُولِthe length of سَجْدَتِهِhis prostration
كَأَنَّمَا أَنْفُهُ مِنْ طُولِ سَجْدَتِهِ
فِيin حَانَةِthe tavern of اللَّهْوِrevelry حَرْفٌa letter فِيهِin it إِدْغَامُconsonantal assimilation
فِي حَانَةِ اللَّهْوِ حَرْفٌ فِيهِ إِدْغَامُ
As though his nose, from his long prostration
His nosrils seemingly flattened from prolonged
In the tavern of revelry, were a letter merged into another.
Prostration in the taverns of frivolity,
كَعَقْرَبِlike a scorpion of الْمَاءِthe water يَمْشِيhe walks مِشْيَةًa gait صدَداًsideways
كَعَقْرَبِ الْمَاءِ يَمْشِي مِشْيَةً صدَداً
فَخَلْفُهُso his retreat عِنْدَwhen جِدِّthe seriousness of الأَمْرِthe matter إِقْدَامُadvance
فَخَلْفُهُ عِنْدَ جِدِّ الأَمْرِ إِقْدَامُ
Like a water scorpion, he walks with a sidelong gait;
He moves sideways like a water scorpion,
So when the matter is grave, his retreat is his advance.
But shrinks back in times of adversity.
أَبْدَىrevealed بِعَاتِقِهِon his shoulder الْمنْدِيلُthe napkin سِيمتَهُhis distinguishing mark
أَبْدَى بِعَاتِقِهِ الْمنْدِيلُ سِيمتَهُ
وَحتَّand wore away مَوْضِعَهُits place مِنْfrom كَفِّهِhis palm الْجَامُthe goblet
وَحتَّ مَوْضِعَهُ مِنْ كَفِّهِ الْجَامُ
The napkin on his shoulder revealed his character,
His kerchief betrays his traits
And the goblet wore away its resting place in his palm.
As it wraps his clenching fist.
وَكَيْفَand how يَصْلُحُcan prosper أَمْرُthe affairs of النَّاسِthe people فِيin بَلَدٍa land
وَكَيْفَ يَصْلُحُ أَمْرُ النَّاسِ فِي بَلَدٍ
حُكَّامُهُits rulers لِبناتِfor the daughters of اللَّهْوِrevelry خُدَّامُservants
حُكَّامُهُ لِبناتِ اللَّهْوِ خُدَّامُ
And how can people's affairs prosper in a land
How can the affairs of a land prosper
Whose rulers serve the daughters of revelry?
When its rulers are servants to loose women!
قَدْindeed يَمَّمَتْهُhave sought him out الْمَخَازِيdisgraces فَهْيَso they نَازِلَةٌlodging
قَدْ يَمَّمَتْهُ الْمَخَازِي فَهْيَ نَازِلَةٌ
مِنْهُof him بِحَيْثُwhere تَلاقىmeet اللُّؤْمُbaseness وَالذَّامُand blame
مِنْهُ بِحَيْثُ تَلاقى اللُّؤْمُ وَالذَّامُ
Disgraces have sought him out, and now they lodge
Brothels have made their home in him, they descend
In him, where baseness and blame meet.
Where vileness and notoriety converge.
مَاnot إِنْat all (emphasis) أَصَبْتُI found لَهُin him خُلْقاًa character trait فَأَحْمَدهُthat I might praise it
مَا إِنْ أَصَبْتُ لَهُ خُلْقاً فَأَحْمَدهُ
فَكُلُّfor all أَخْلاقِهِhis traits لِلنَّفْسِfor the soul آلامُpains
فَكُلُّ أَخْلاقِهِ لِلنَّفْسِ آلامُ
I have found no trait in him to praise;
I do not praise his character,
For every trait of his pains the soul.
For all his morals torment the soul.
فَظٌّrude غَلِيظٌcoarse مِقيتٌhateful سَاقِطٌdebased وَجِمٌsullen
فَظٌّ غَلِيظٌ مِقيتٌ سَاقِطٌ وَجِمٌ
وَغْدٌa scoundrel لَئِيمٌvile ثَقِيلُheavy الظِّلِّin manner (literally, shadow) حَجَّامُa bloodletter
وَغْدٌ لَئِيمٌ ثَقِيلُ الظِّلِّ حَجَّامُ
Rude, coarse, hateful, debased, sullen,
Rude, coarse, hateful, fallen - a grim
A scoundrel, vile, tiresome, a bloodletter.
And vile lout made heavier by the shade of ignorance,
جَاءَتْbrought forth بِهِhim عَجُزٌa rump لَيْسَتْnot بِطَاهِرَةٍpure
جَاءَتْ بِهِ عَجُزٌ لَيْسَتْ بِطَاهِرَةٍ
لَهَاit has بِمَدْرَجَةِon the path of الْفَحْشَاءِobscenity أَزْلامُdivining arrows
لَهَا بِمَدْرَجَةِ الْفَحْشَاءِ أَزْلامُ
An unclean rump brought him forth;
Sired by a mother of ill repute,
Its divining arrows lie along the path of obscenity.
Her steps planted in the path of corruption,
مُسْتَيْقِظٌawake لِلْمَخَازِيto disgraces غَيْرَexcept أَنَّthat لَهُhe has
مُسْتَيْقِظٌ لِلْمَخَازِي غَيْرَ أَنَّ لَهُ
طَرْفاًan eye عَنِheedless of الْعِرْضِhonor وَالأَوْتَارِand wrongs to avenge نَوَّامُever asleep
طَرْفاً عَنِ الْعِرْضِ وَالأَوْتَارِ نَوَّامُ
Alert to disgraces, yet he has
Awake for immorality, though he has
An eye asleep to honor and wrongs to avenge.
An eye that sleeps to honor and virtue.
أَسْتَغْفِرُI ask forgiveness of اللَّهَGod إِلَّاexcept مِنْfor عَدَاوَتِهِenmity toward him
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ إِلَّا مِنْ عَدَاوَتِهِ
فَإِنَّهَاfor it لِجَلالِfor the majesty of اللَّهِGod إِعْظَامُreverence
فَإِنَّهَا لِجَلالِ اللَّهِ إِعْظَامُ
I ask God's forgiveness, except for my enmity toward him,
I seek God's forgiveness, except for hating him,
For that is reverence for God's majesty.
For that is glorifying God.
فَاذْهَبْso go كَمَاas ذَهَبَdeparted الطَّاعُونُthe plague مِنْfrom بَلَدٍa town
فَاذْهَبْ كَمَا ذَهَبَ الطَّاعُونُ مِنْ بَلَدٍ
تَقْفُوهُpursue it بِاللَّعْنِwith curses أَرْوَاحٌsouls وَأَجْسَامُand bodies
تَقْفُوهُ بِاللَّعْنِ أَرْوَاحٌ وَأَجْسَامُ
So go, as the plague departs from a town,
Begone like plague from a land,
Pursued with curses by souls and bodies.
Cursed by spirits and bodies!
وَهَاكَand take مَاwhat أَنْتَyou أَهْلٌdeserving فِيin الْهِجَاءِsatire لَهُof it
وَهَاكَ مَا أَنْتَ أَهْلٌ فِي الْهِجَاءِ لَهُ
فَالْهَجْوُfor satire فِيكَagainst you لِنَقْضِfor the unraveling of الْحَقِّright إِبْرَامُa firm binding
فَالْهَجْوُ فِيكَ لِنَقْضِ الْحَقِّ إِبْرَامُ
And take the satire you deserve,
For satire of you confirms truth.
For satire against you rebinds what has been unraveled of right.
Every verse in the land with a rhyme
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery قَافِيَةٍrhyme فِيthroughout الأَرْضِthe earth سَائِرَةٍcirculating
مِنْ كُلِّ قَافِيَةٍ فِي الأَرْضِ سَائِرَةٍ
لَهَاit has بِعِرْضِكَagainst your honor إِنْجَادٌa journey into Najd وَإِتْهَامُand a journey into Tihama
لَهَا بِعِرْضِكَ إِنْجَادٌ وَإِتْهَامُ
From every rhyme that travels through the land,
Finds in insulting you, flow and theme.
Ranging through Najd and Tihama against your honor.
Poetry to the whore's face, pouring from it,
شِعْرٌpoetry لِوَجْهِagainst the face of الْمَخَازِيdisgraces مِنْهُfrom it سَافِيَةٌa sweeping wind
شِعْرٌ لِوَجْهِ الْمَخَازِي مِنْهُ سَافِيَةٌ
بِحَاصِبٍwith a stone-pelting storm وَلأَنْفِand for the nose of الْجَهْلِignorance إِرْغَامُrubbing in dust
بِحَاصِبٍ وَلأَنْفِ الْجَهْلِ إِرْغَامُ
Poetry from which a sweeping wind strikes the face of disgrace
With fleeting pleasure and lasting ignorance.
With a storm of stones, and rubs ignorance's nose in the dust.
Bones decay, but his mention remains forever,
تَبْلَىdecay الْعِظَامُthe bones وَيَبْقَىand remains ذِكْرُهُits remembrance أَبَدَاًforever
تَبْلَى الْعِظَامُ وَيَبْقَى ذِكْرُهُ أَبَدَاً
فِيin كُلِّevery عَصْرٍage لَهُit has سَجْعٌrhyme وَتَرْنَامُand chanting
فِي كُلِّ عَصْرٍ لَهُ سَجْعٌ وَتَرْنَامُ
Bones decay, but its remembrance endures forever;
Echoed in verse and tune in every age.
In every age it has rhyme and song.
Partial English translation: 73 of 74 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1