كُلُّevery صَعْبٍhardship سِوَىexcept الْمَذَلَّةِhumiliation سَهْلُeasy
كُلُّ صَعْبٍ سِوَى الْمَذَلَّةِ سَهْلُ
وَحَيَاةُand the life of الْكَرِيمِthe noble man فِيunder الضَّيْمِoppression قَتْلُkilling
وَحَيَاةُ الْكَرِيمِ فِي الضَّيْمِ قَتْلُ
Every hardship except humiliation is easy;
and a noble man's life under oppression is death.
لَيْسَnot يَقْوَىhas strength امْرُؤٌa man عَلَىto bear الذُّلِّabasement مَاso long as لَمْnot
لَيْسَ يَقْوَى امْرُؤٌ عَلَى الذُّلِّ مَا لَمْ
يَكُthere is فِيهِin him مِنْof صِبْغَةِthe dye of اللُّؤْمِbaseness دَخْلُa taint
يَكُ فِيهِ مِنْ صِبْغَةِ اللُّؤْمِ دَخْلُ
No man can bear abasement unless
some taint of baseness's dye lies within him.
إِنَّindeed مُرَّthe bitterness of الْحِمَامِdeath أَعْذَبُsweeter وِرْدَاًas a draught
إِنَّ مُرَّ الْحِمَامِ أَعْذَبُ وِرْدَاً
مِنْthan حَيَاةٍa life فِيهَاin which شَقَاءٌmisery وَذُلُّand humiliation
مِنْ حَيَاةٍ فِيهَا شَقَاءٌ وَذُلُّ
Indeed, bitter death is a sweeter draught
than a life filled with misery and humiliation.
أَنَاI رَاضٍam content بِتَرْكِwith leaving مَالِيmy wealth وَأَهْلِيand my family
أَنَا رَاضٍ بِتَرْكِ مَالِي وَأَهْلِي
فَالْعَفَافُfor integrity الثَّرَاءُwealth وَالنَّاسُand people أَهْلُkin
فَالْعَفَافُ الثَّرَاءُ وَالنَّاسُ أَهْلُ
I am content to leave my wealth and family;
for integrity is wealth, and people are kin.
لاlet not يَلُمْنِيblame me عَلَىfor الْحَفِيظَةِa sense of honor قَوْمٌmen
لا يَلُمْنِي عَلَى الْحَفِيظَةِ قَوْمٌ
غَرَّهُمْdeceived them مَنْظَرُthe outward show of الْحَيَاةِlife فَضَلُّواso they went astray
غَرَّهُمْ مَنْظَرُ الْحَيَاةِ فَضَلُّوا
Let not those men blame me for my sense of honor
whom life's outward show deceived and led astray.
أَلِفُواgrew accustomed to الضَّيْمَoppression خَشْيَةَfor fear of الْمَوْتِdeath وَالضَّيْـand oppression (first part)
أَلِفُوا الضَّيْمَ خَشْيَةَ الْمَوْتِ وَالضَّيْـ
ـمُoppression (completion) لَعَمْرِيby my life فَجْعٌa calamity خَسِيسٌvile وَثُكْلُand bereavement
ـمُ لَعَمْرِي فَجْعٌ خَسِيسٌ وَثُكْلُ
They grew used to oppression for fear of death; yet
oppression, by my life, is a vile calamity and bereavement.
كَيْفَhow لاnot أَنْصُرُdo I champion الرَّشَادَright guidance عَلَىover الْغَيْـerror (first part)
كَيْفَ لا أَنْصُرُ الرَّشَادَ عَلَى الْغَيْـ
ـيِerror (completion) وَعَقْلِيand my reason مَعِيwith me وَفِيand in النَّفْسِthe soul فَضْلُvirtue
ـيِ وَعَقْلِي مَعِي وَفِي النَّفْسِ فَضْلُ
How should I not champion right guidance over
error, with my reason beside me and virtue in my soul?
إِنَّمَاonly الْمَرْءُa man بِاللِّسَانِby the tongue وَبِالْقَلْـand by the heart (first part)
إِنَّمَا الْمَرْءُ بِاللِّسَانِ وَبِالْقَلْـ
ـبِheart (completion) فَإِنْso if خَابَhe fails مِنْهُمَاin both of them فَهْوَthen he is فَسْلُworthless
ـبِ فَإِنْ خَابَ مِنْهُمَا فَهْوَ فَسْلُ
A man is measured only by his tongue and
heart; if he fails in both, he is worthless.
قَدكِenough for you يَاO نَفْسُsoul فَالتَّصَبُّرُfor patient endurance إِلَّاexcept
قَدكِ يَا نَفْسُ فَالتَّصَبُّرُ إِلَّا
فِيin لِقَاءِfacing الْحُرُوبِwars غَبْنٌloss وَجَهْلُand folly
فِي لِقَاءِ الْحُرُوبِ غَبْنٌ وَجَهْلُ
Enough, my soul! For patient endurance, except
in the face of war, is loss and folly.
فَابْعَثِيهَاso unleash it شَعْوَاءَraging unchecked يَحْكُمُrules فِيهَاin it
فَابْعَثِيهَا شَعْوَاءَ يَحْكُمُ فِيهَا
مُنْصُلٌa sword صَارِمٌkeen وَرُمْحٌand a spear مِتَلُّthat fells men
مُنْصُلٌ صَارِمٌ وَرُمْحٌ مِتَلُّ
So unleash a raging war, in which
a keen sword and a man-felling spear shall rule.
هوit is إِمَّاeither الْحِمَامُdeath أَوْor عِيشَةٌa life خَضْـgreen (first part)
هو إِمَّا الْحِمَامُ أَوْ عِيشَةٌ خَضْـ
ـرَاءُgreen (completion) فِيهَاin which لِمَنْfor whoever تَفَيَّأَseeks shade ظِلُّshade
ـرَاءُ فِيهَا لِمَنْ تَفَيَّأَ ظِلُّ
It is either death, or a life
green, with shade for whoever seeks shelter.
إِنَّindeed مُلْكَاًa kingdom فِيهِin which فُلانٌso-and-so وَزِيراًa minister
إِنَّ مُلْكَاً فِيهِ فُلانٌ وَزِيراً
لَمُبَاحsurely open prey لِلْخَائِنِينَfor traitors وَبِلُّand free for the taking
لَمُبَاح لِلْخَائِنِينَ وَبِلُّ
Indeed, a kingdom where so-and-so is minister
is surely open to traitors, theirs for the taking.
أَهْوَجٌreckless أَحْمَقٌfoolish شَتِيمٌugly لَئِيمٌbase
أَهْوَجٌ أَحْمَقٌ شَتِيمٌ لَئِيمٌ
أَغْتَمٌinarticulate أَبْلَهٌwitless زَنيمٌbaseborn عُتُلُّbrutish
أَغْتَمٌ أَبْلَهٌ زَنيمٌ عُتُلُّ
Reckless, foolish, ugly, and base,
thick-tongued, witless, baseborn, and brutish.
صَغُرَتْwas small رَأْسُهُhis head وَأَفْرَطَand was excessive فِيin الطُّولِlength
صَغُرَتْ رَأْسُهُ وَأَفْرَطَ فِي الطُّولِ
شَوَاهُhis limbs وَعُنْقُهُand his neck فَهْوَso he is صَعْلُsmall-headed and long-necked
شَوَاهُ وَعُنْقُهُ فَهْوَ صَعْلُ
His head is small, while excessively long
are his limbs and neck: a lanky pinhead.
أَبْرَزَتْbrought forth قُدْرَةُthe power of الطَّبِيعَةِnature مِنْهُfrom him
أَبْرَزَتْ قُدْرَةُ الطَّبِيعَةِ مِنْهُ
شَكْلَthe form of لُؤْمٍbaseness إِنْif كَانthere is لِلُّؤمِfor baseness شَكْلُa form
شَكْلَ لُؤْمٍ إِنْ كَان لِلُّؤمِ شَكْلُ
Nature's power has brought forth in him
the form of baseness, if baseness has a form.
هَدَفٌa target لِلْعُيُوبِfor faults فِيin كُلِّevery عُضْوٍlimb
هَدَفٌ لِلْعُيُوبِ فِي كُلِّ عُضْوٍ
مِنْهُof him سَهْمٌan arrow لِلطَّاعِنِينَfor detractors وَنَصْلُand a blade
مِنْهُ سَهْمٌ لِلطَّاعِنِينَ وَنَصْلُ
A target for faults: in every limb
of his is an arrow and a blade for detractors.
نَسَلَتْهُbore him مِنِfrom استِهَاher anus أُمُّa mother of سُوءٍevil
نَسَلَتْهُ مِنِ استِهَا أُمُّ سُوءٍ
مَاnot لَهَاdoes she have غَيْرَother than طَائِفِa prowler of اللَّيْلِthe night بَعْلُa husband
مَا لَهَا غَيْرَ طَائِفِ اللَّيْلِ بَعْلُ
A vile mother bore him from her arse;
she has no husband but a prowler of the night.
كُنْbe كَمَاas شِئْتَyou wish يَاO فُلانُso-and-so وَمَاand as شَاwished (first part)
كُنْ كَمَا شِئْتَ يَا فُلانُ وَمَا شَا
ءَتْwished (completion) رِجَالٌmen فَأَنْتَfor you are لِلُّؤْمِfor baseness أَهْلُfit
ءَتْ رِجَالٌ فَأَنْتَ لِلُّؤْمِ أَهْلُ
Be as you wish, so-and-so, and as
men have wished; you are fit for baseness.
لَيْسَnot تُغْنِيsubstitute الأَلْقَابُtitles عَنْfor كَرَمِnobility of الأَصْlineage (first part)
لَيْسَ تُغْنِي الأَلْقَابُ عَنْ كَرَمِ الأَصْ
لِlineage (completion) فَمَجْدُfor the glory of الْفَتَىa young man عَفَافٌintegrity وَعَقْلُand reason
لِ فَمَجْدُ الْفَتَى عَفَافٌ وَعَقْلُ
Titles cannot replace nobility of
lineage; a young man's glory is integrity and reason.
أَنْتَyou مِنْare of عُنْصُرٍstock لَوِif اتَّكَأَleaned الذَّرْtiny ants (first part)
أَنْتَ مِنْ عُنْصُرٍ لَوِ اتَّكَأَ الذَّرْ
رُtiny ants (completion) عَلَيْهِupon it لآدَهُwould weigh it down مِنْهُfrom it حِمْلُa burden
رُ عَلَيْهِ لآدَهُ مِنْهُ حِمْلُ
You come from stock that, were tiny ants to lean
upon it, their weight would overburden it.
نَازَعَتْكَlaid claim to you الْيَهُودُthe Jews وَاخْتَلَفَتْand disagreed فِيـabout
نَازَعَتْكَ الْيَهُودُ وَاخْتَلَفَتْ فِيـ
ـكَyou النَّصَارَىthe Christians فَأَنْتَso you are لاno شَكَّdoubt بَغْلُa mule
ـكَ النَّصَارَى فَأَنْتَ لا شَكَّ بَغْلُ
The Jews have laid claim to you, and
the Christians dispute over you; no doubt you are a mule.
إِنَّindeed بَيْتَthe house of الْوَزَّانِal-Wazzan لَمْnot يَزِنُواthey weighed شَيْـa thing (first part)
إِنَّ بَيْتَ الْوَزَّانِ لَمْ يَزِنُوا شَيْـ
ـئاًa thing (completion) وَلَكِنَّand yet فِيهِمْin them عَلَىdespite ذَاكَthat ثِقْلُheaviness
ـئاً وَلَكِنَّ فِيهِمْ عَلَى ذَاكَ ثِقْلُ
Indeed, the house of al-Wazzan weighs not
a thing, yet for all that they are ponderous.
كَثُرُواthey grew numerous عِدَّةًin number وَلَوْand had أَحْصَنَfortified الْبَاthe door (first part)
كَثُرُوا عِدَّةً وَلَوْ أَحْصَنَ الْبَا
بَdoor (completion) أَبُوهُمْtheir father عَنِagainst الزُّنَاةِadulterers لَقَلُّواthey would have been few
بَ أَبُوهُمْ عَنِ الزُّنَاةِ لَقَلُّوا
They grew numerous; had the door been barred
by their father against adulterers, they would have been few.
لَوْif عَزَوْنَاwe traced كُلَّevery امْرِئٍman لأَبِيهِto his father
لَوْ عَزَوْنَا كُلَّ امْرِئٍ لأَبِيهِ
مِنْamong فرَاخِthe chicks of الْوَزَّانِal-Wazzan لَمْnot يَبْقَwould remain نَسْلُoffspring
مِنْ فرَاخِ الْوَزَّانِ لَمْ يَبْقَ نَسْلُ
If we traced each man back to his father
among al-Wazzan's brood, no offspring would remain.
كُلُّevery وَغْدٍknave أَهْدَىbetter guided إِلَىtoward اللُّؤْمِbaseness مِنْthan بَاa falcon (first part)
كُلُّ وَغْدٍ أَهْدَى إِلَى اللُّؤْمِ مِنْ بَا
زِfalcon (completion) وَلَكِنْand yet مِنَthan الْحِمَارِa donkey أَضَلُّmore astray
زِ وَلَكِنْ مِنَ الْحِمَارِ أَضَلُّ
Every knave is better guided toward baseness than a
falcon, yet more astray than a donkey.
قَدْindeed تَغَذَّىhe was nourished بِاللُّؤْمِon baseness إِذْwhen هُوَhe was طِفْلٌa child
قَدْ تَغَذَّى بِاللُّؤْمِ إِذْ هُوَ طِفْلٌ
وَتَمَادَىand persisted فِيin الْغَيِّerror إِذْwhen هُوَhe was كَهْلُa middle-aged man
وَتَمَادَى فِي الْغَيِّ إِذْ هُوَ كَهْلُ
He was nourished on baseness when still a child,
and persisted in error in his middle age.
لَيْسَnot فِيهِمْamong them مَنْanyone whose تَحْمَدُpraises الْعَيْنُthe eye رُؤْيَاthe sight of
لَيْسَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ تَحْمَدُ الْعَيْنُ رُؤْيَا
هُhim وَلاnor مِنْهُمْamong them إِلَىto النَّفْسِthe soul خِلُّa friend
هُ وَلا مِنْهُمْ إِلَى النَّفْسِ خِلُّ
There is none among them whose sight the eye would praise,
nor any among them who is a friend to the soul.
أَدْرَكُواthey attained فِيin الْعُيُوبِfaults أَبْعَدَthe farthest خَصْلٍa winning shot
أَدْرَكُوا فِي الْعُيُوبِ أَبْعَدَ خَصْلٍ
كُلُّevery حَيٍّliving being لَهُit has بِمَاin what شَاءَit chooses خَصْلُa winning shot
كُلُّ حَيٍّ لَهُ بِمَا شَاءَ خَصْلُ
They have hit the farthest mark in faults;
every living being scores in what it chooses.
كَيْفَhow لاnot تَشْمَلُencompasses الدَّنَاءَةُbaseness قَوْمَاًa people
كَيْفَ لا تَشْمَلُ الدَّنَاءَةُ قَوْمَاً
نَشَأُواthey grew up فِيin الصَّغَارِabasement حِينَwhen اسْتَهَلُّواthey first cried at birth
نَشَأُوا فِي الصَّغَارِ حِينَ اسْتَهَلُّوا
How should baseness not encompass a people
who grew up in abasement from their first cry?
هُمْthey لَعَمْرِيby my life أَذَلُّmore abject مِنْthan قَدَمِthe sole of الْنَّعْـthe sandal (first part)
هُمْ لَعَمْرِي أَذَلُّ مِنْ قَدَمِ الْنَّعْـ
ـلِsandal (completion) نُفُوساًin spirit وَالنَّعْلُand the sandal مِنْهُمْthan them أَجَلُّnobler
ـلِ نُفُوساً وَالنَّعْلُ مِنْهُمْ أَجَلُّ
They are, by my life, more abject than a sandal's
sole in spirit; the sandal is nobler than they.
كُنْتُI used to لاnot أُحْسِنُbe skilled in الْهِجَاءَsatire وَلَكِنْand yet
كُنْتُ لا أُحْسِنُ الْهِجَاءَ وَلَكِنْ
عَلَّمَتْنِيtaught me صِفَاتُهُمْtheir traits كَيْفَhow أَتْلُوto recite
عَلَّمَتْنِي صِفَاتُهُمْ كَيْفَ أَتْلُو
I used not to be skilled in satire, but
their traits taught me how to recite.
كُلُّevery شَيءٍthing يَفْنَىperishes وَلَكِنْand yet هِجَائِيmy satire
كُلُّ شَيءٍ يَفْنَى وَلَكِنْ هِجَائِي
فِيكَagainst you بَاقٍendures مَاas long as عَاقَبَfollows in turn السَّيْفَthe sword صَقْلُpolishing
فِيكَ بَاقٍ مَا عَاقَبَ السَّيْفَ صَقْلُ
Everything perishes, yet my satire
against you will endure as long as swords are polished.
Sol 6.1