رَدَّrestored الْصِّبَاyouth بَعْدَafter شَيْبِthe graying of اللِّمَّةِthe locks الْغَزَلُamorous dalliance
رَدَّ الْصِّبَا بَعْدَ شَيْبِ اللِّمَّةِ الْغَزَلُ
وَرَاحَand went away بِالْجِدِّwith earnestness مَاwhat يَأْتِيbrings بِهِit الْهَزَلُjest
وَرَاحَ بِالْجِدِّ مَا يَأْتِي بِهِ الْهَزَلُ
Dalliance restored youth after my locks had grayed,
And what jest brings swept earnestness away.
وَعَادَand turned مَاwhat كَانَhad been مِنْof صَبْرٍpatience إِلَىto جَزَعٍanguish
وَعَادَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ صَبْرٍ إِلَى جَزَعٍ
بَعْدَafter الإِبَاءِproud resistance وَأَيَّامُand the days of الْفَتَىa young man دُوَلُturns of fortune
بَعْدَ الإِبَاءِ وَأَيَّامُ الْفَتَى دُوَلُ
What had been patience turned to anguish
After proud resistance; a young man's days are turns of fortune.
فَلْيَصْرِفِso let him turn away اللَّوْمَblame عَنِّيfrom me مَنْwhoever بَرِمْتُI have tired بِهِof him
فَلْيَصْرِفِ اللَّوْمَ عَنِّي مَنْ بَرِمْتُ بِهِ
فَلَيْسَfor there is no لِلْقَلْبِfor the heart فِيin غَيْرِanything other than الْهَوَىlove شُغُلُoccupation
فَلَيْسَ لِلْقَلْبِ فِي غَيْرِ الْهَوَى شُغُلُ
Let the one I have tired of turn blame away from me,
For the heart has no occupation apart from love.
وَكَيْفَand how أَمْلِكُcan I master نَفْسِيmy soul بَعْدَafter مَاthat ذَهَبَتْit departed
وَكَيْفَ أَمْلِكُ نَفْسِي بَعْدَ مَا ذَهَبَتْ
يَوْمَon the day of الْفِرَاقِparting شَعَاعاًscattered إِثْرَafter مَنْthose who رَحَلُواdeparted
يَوْمَ الْفِرَاقِ شَعَاعاً إِثْرَ مَنْ رَحَلُوا
And how can I master my soul, after it flew away
Scattered on parting-day, after those who departed?
تَقَسَّمَتْنِيtore me apart النَّوَىseparation مِنْfrom بَعْدِهِمْafter them وَعَدَتْand kept me away
تَقَسَّمَتْنِي النَّوَى مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ وَعَدَتْ
عَنْهُمْfrom them عَوَادٍhindrances فَلاso no كُتْبٌletters وَلاand no رُسُلُmessengers
عَنْهُمْ عَوَادٍ فَلا كُتْبٌ وَلا رُسُلُ
Separation tore me apart after they left, and I was kept
From them by hindrances: no letters and no messengers.
فَالصَّبْرُso patience مُنْخَذِلٌis defeated وَالدَّمْعُand tears مُنْهَمِلٌpour down
فَالصَّبْرُ مُنْخَذِلٌ وَالدَّمْعُ مُنْهَمِلٌ
وَالعَقْلُand reason مُخْتَبِلٌis deranged وَالْقَلْبُand the heart مُشْتَغِلُis engrossed
وَالعَقْلُ مُخْتَبِلٌ وَالْقَلْبُ مُشْتَغِلُ
Patience is defeated, and tears pour down;
Reason is deranged, and the heart engrossed.
أَرْتَاحُI am cheered إِنْif مَرَّpasses مِنْfrom تِلْقَائِهِمْtheir direction نَسَمٌa breeze
أَرْتَاحُ إِنْ مَرَّ مِنْ تِلْقَائِهِمْ نَسَمٌ
تَسْرِيcarry along بِهِit فِيthrough أَرِيجِthe fragrance of الْعَنْبَرِambergris الأُصُلُlate afternoons
تَسْرِي بِهِ فِي أَرِيجِ الْعَنْبَرِ الأُصُلُ
I am cheered if a breeze passes from their direction,
Which the late afternoons waft through ambergris's fragrance.
سَارُواthey departed فَمَاso not اتَّخَذَتْhas taken عَيْنِيmy eye بِهِمْin their place بَدَلاًa substitute
سَارُوا فَمَا اتَّخَذَتْ عَيْنِي بِهِمْ بَدَلاً
إِلاexcept الْخَيَالَthe phantom وَحَسْبِيand sufficient for me is ذَلِكَthat الْبَدَلُsubstitute
إِلا الْخَيَالَ وَحَسْبِي ذَلِكَ الْبَدَلُ
They departed; my eye found no substitute for them
Except the phantom, and that substitute suffices me.
فَخَلِّso leave off عَنْكَaway from you مَلامِيblaming me يَاO عَذُولُreproacher فَقَدْfor indeed
فَخَلِّ عَنْكَ مَلامِي يَا عَذُولُ فَقَدْ
سَرَّتْhave gladdened فُؤَادِيmy heart عَلَىdespite ضَعْفٍweakness بِهِin it الْعِلَلُailments
سَرَّتْ فُؤَادِي عَلَى ضَعْفٍ بِهِ الْعِلَلُ
So leave off reproaching me, O censurer, for
Ailments have gladdened my heart despite its weakness.
لاdo not تَحْسَبَنَّever think الْهَوَىlove سَهْلاًeasy فَأَيْسَرُهُfor its slightest part
لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الْهَوَى سَهْلاً فَأَيْسَرُهُ
خَطْبٌan ordeal لَعَمْرُكَby your life لَوْif مَيَّزْتَهُyou discerned it جَلَلُgrave
خَطْبٌ لَعَمْرُكَ لَوْ مَيَّزْتَهُ جَلَلُ
Do not think love easy; even its slightest part
Is, by your life, a grave ordeal, if you discern it.
يَسْتَنْزِلُbrings down الْمَلْكَthe king مِنْfrom أَعْلَىthe highest of مَنَابِرِهِhis pulpits
يَسْتَنْزِلُ الْمَلْكَ مِنْ أَعْلَى مَنَابِرِهِ
وَيَسْتَوِيand are equal عِنْدَهُbefore it الرِّعْدِيدُthe coward وَالْبَطَلُand the hero
وَيَسْتَوِي عِنْدَهُ الرِّعْدِيدُ وَالْبَطَلُ
It brings the king down from his highest pulpits,
And before it the coward and the hero are equal.
فَكَيْفَso how أَدْرَأُcan I fend off عَنْfrom نَفْسِيmy soul وَقَدْwhen indeed عَلِمَتْit has learned
فَكَيْفَ أَدْرَأُ عَنْ نَفْسِي وَقَدْ عَلِمَتْ
أَنْthat لَيْسَthere is no لِيfor me بِمُنَاوَاةِfor combating الْهَوَىlove قِبَلُstrength
أَنْ لَيْسَ لِي بِمُنَاوَاةِ الْهَوَى قِبَلُ
How can I fend it off from my soul, when it knows
That I have no strength to combat love?
فَلَوْif only قَدَرْتُI had power عَلَىover شَيءٍsomething هَمَمْتُI intended بِهِto do it
فَلَوْ قَدَرْتُ عَلَى شَيءٍ هَمَمْتُ بِهِ
فِيin الْحُبِّlove لَكِنْbut قَضَاءٌa decree خَطَّهُinscribed it الأَزَلُeternity
فِي الْحُبِّ لَكِنْ قَضَاءٌ خَطَّهُ الأَزَلُ
If only I could do something I intended
In love—but it is a decree that eternity inscribed.
وَلِلْمَحَبَّةِand for love قَبْلِيbefore me سُنَّةٌa custom سَلَفَتْhas preceded
وَلِلْمَحَبَّةِ قَبْلِي سُنَّةٌ سَلَفَتْ
فِيamong الذَّاهِبِينَthose gone وَلِيand for me فِيمَنْamong those who مَضَىpassed away مَثَلُan example
فِي الذَّاهِبِينَ وَلِي فِيمَنْ مَضَى مَثَلُ
Love had a custom before me, long observed
Among those gone; in those who passed I have an example.
فَإِنْso if تَكُنْhas نَازَعَتْنِيdrawn me toward النَّفْسُthe soul بَاطِلَهَاits vanities
فَإِنْ تَكُنْ نَازَعَتْنِي النَّفْسُ بَاطِلَهَا
وَأَطْلَعَتْنِيand have admitted me عَلَىto أَسْرَارِهَاtheir secrets الْكِلَلُthe canopies
وَأَطْلَعَتْنِي عَلَى أَسْرَارِهَا الْكِلَلُ
If my soul has drawn me toward its vanities,
And canopies have disclosed their secrets to me,
فَقَدْyet sometimes أَسِيرُI ride أَمَامَbefore الْقَوْمِthe company ضَاحِيَةًin the open
فَقَدْ أَسِيرُ أَمَامَ الْقَوْمِ ضَاحِيَةً
وَالْجَوُّand the air بِالْبَاتِرَاتِwith severing swords الْبِيضِbright مُشْتَعِلُis ablaze
وَالْجَوُّ بِالْبَاتِرَاتِ الْبِيضِ مُشْتَعِلُ
Yet I sometimes ride before the company in the open,
While the air is ablaze with bright, severing blades,
بِكُلِّon every أَشْقَرَchestnut steed قَدْindeed زَانَتْhave adorned قَوَائِمَهُits legs
بِكُلِّ أَشْقَرَ قَدْ زَانَتْ قَوَائِمَهُ
حُجُولُهُits white stockings غَيْرَexcept يُمْنَىa right foreleg زَانَهَاadorned it الْعَطَلُunadornment
حُجُولُهُ غَيْرَ يُمْنَى زَانَهَا الْعَطَلُ
Upon many a chestnut steed whose legs are adorned
By white stockings, save a right foreleg graced by its bareness.
كَأَنَّهُas though it خَاضَwaded through نَهْرَthe river of الصُّبْحِdawn فَانْتَبَذَتْand stayed apart
كَأَنَّهُ خَاضَ نَهْرَ الصُّبْحِ فَانْتَبَذَتْ
يُمْنَاهُits right foreleg وَانْبَثَّand spread فِيthrough أَعْطَافِهِits flanks الطَّفَلُtwilight's glow
يُمْنَاهُ وَانْبَثَّ فِي أَعْطَافِهِ الطَّفَلُ
As though it had waded through dawn's river, except for
Its right foreleg; and twilight's glow spread through its flanks.
زُرْقٌblue حَوَافِرُهُits hooves سُودٌblack نَوَاظِرُهُits eyes
زُرْقٌ حَوَافِرُهُ سُودٌ نَوَاظِرُهُ
خُضْرٌgreen جَحَافِلُهُits lips فِيin خَلْقِهِits build مَيَلُa curve
خُضْرٌ جَحَافِلُهُ فِي خَلْقِهِ مَيَلُ
Blue are its hooves, black are its eyes;
Green are its lips; its build has a curve.
كَأَنَّas though فِيin حَلْقِهِits throat نَاقُوسَthe bell of رَاهِبَةٍa nun
كَأَنَّ فِي حَلْقِهِ نَاقُوسَ رَاهِبَةٍ
بَاتَتْshe spent the night تُحَرِّكُهُringing it أَوْor رَاعِدٌa thundercloud زَجِلُresounding
بَاتَتْ تُحَرِّكُهُ أَوْ رَاعِدٌ زَجِلُ
As though in its throat were the bell of a nun
Who spent the night ringing it—or a resounding thundercloud.
يَمُرُّit passes بِالْوَحْشِby wild beasts صَرْعَىfallen فِيin مَكَامِنِهَاtheir lairs
يَمُرُّ بِالْوَحْشِ صَرْعَى فِي مَكَامِنِهَا
فَمَاso not تَبِينُshow لَهُto it شَدّاًswift running فَتَنْخَذِلُand so falter
فَمَا تَبِينُ لَهُ شَدّاً فَتَنْخَذِلُ
It races past wild beasts, fallen in their lairs;
They show it no swift running, and so falter.
يَرَىit sees الإِشَارَةَthe gesture فِيin وَحْيٍa swift hint فَيَفْهَمُهَاand understands it
يَرَى الإِشَارَةَ فِي وَحْيٍ فَيَفْهَمُهَا
وَيَسْمَعُand hears الزَّجْرَthe urging cry مِنْfrom بُعْدٍafar فَيَمْتَثِلُand obeys
وَيَسْمَعُ الزَّجْرَ مِنْ بُعْدٍ فَيَمْتَثِلُ
It sees a gesture in a swift hint and understands it,
And hears the urging cry from afar and obeys.
لاnot يَمْلِكُcontrols النَّظْرَةَthe glance الْعَجْلاءَfleeting صَاحِبُهَاits owner
لا يَمْلِكُ النَّظْرَةَ الْعَجْلاءَ صَاحِبُهَا
حَتَّىuntil تَمُرَّit passes بِعِطْفَيْهِalong its two flanks فَتُحْتَبَلُand is ensnared
حَتَّى تَمُرَّ بِعِطْفَيْهِ فَتُحْتَبَلُ
No owner controls his fleeting glance
Until it passes along the horse's flanks and is ensnared.
إِنْif مَرَّit passes بِالْقَوْمِby the company حَلُّواthey undo عَقْدَthe knot of حَبْوَتِهِمْtheir knee-wraps
إِنْ مَرَّ بِالْقَوْمِ حَلُّوا عَقْدَ حَبْوَتِهِمْ
وَاسْتَشْرَفَتْand look up eagerly نَحْوَهُtoward it الأَلْبَابُminds وَالْمُقَلُand eyes
وَاسْتَشْرَفَتْ نَحْوَهُ الأَلْبَابُ وَالْمُقَلُ
If it passes a company, they undo the knot of their knee-wraps,
And minds and eyes look eagerly up toward it.
تَقُودُهُleads it بِنْتُa girl of خَمْسٍfive years فَهُوَso it يَتْبَعُهَاfollows her
تَقُودُهُ بِنْتُ خَمْسٍ فَهُوَ يَتْبَعُهَا
وَيَسْتَشِيطُand flares up إِذَاwhen هَاهَىcries 'ha, ha!' بِهِat it الرَّجُلُa man
وَيَسْتَشِيطُ إِذَا هَاهَى بِهِ الرَّجُلُ
A girl of five leads it, and it follows her;
It flares up when a man cries 'ha, ha!' at it.
أُمْضِيI pass through بِهِon it الْهَوْلَterror مِقْدَامَاًboldly وَيَصْحَبُنِيand accompanies me
أُمْضِي بِهِ الْهَوْلَ مِقْدَامَاً وَيَصْحَبُنِي
مَاضِيkeen الْغِرَارِof cutting edge إِذَاwhen مَاever اسْتَفْحَلَgrows fierce الْوَهَلُdread
مَاضِي الْغِرَارِ إِذَا مَا اسْتَفْحَلَ الْوَهَلُ
I ride it boldly through terror, and I am accompanied by
A keen-edged blade whenever dread grows fierce.
يَمُرُّit sweeps بِالْهَامِthrough heads مَرَّlike the passage of الْبَرْقِlightning فِيin عَجَلٍhaste
يَمُرُّ بِالْهَامِ مَرَّ الْبَرْقِ فِي عَجَلٍ
وَقْتَat the time of الضِّرَابِswordplay وَلَمْand has not يَعْلَقْclung بِهِto it بَلَلُwetness
وَقْتَ الضِّرَابِ وَلَمْ يَعْلَقْ بِهِ بَلَلُ
It sweeps through heads like lightning in haste
At the time of swordplay, with no wetness clinging to it.
تَرَىyou see الرِّجَالmen وُقُوفَاًstanding بَعْدَafter فَتْكَتِهِits deadly stroke
تَرَى الرِّجَال وُقُوفَاً بَعْدَ فَتْكَتِهِ
بِهِمْagainst them يُظَنُّونَthey are thought أَحْيَاءًalive وَقَدْthough already قُتِلُواthey have been slain
بِهِمْ يُظَنُّونَ أَحْيَاءً وَقَدْ قُتِلُوا
You see men standing after its deadly stroke
Against them, thought alive, though they have been slain.
كَأَنَّهُas though it شُعْلَةٌa flame فِيin الْكَفِّthe hand قَائِمَةٌupright
كَأَنَّهُ شُعْلَةٌ فِي الْكَفِّ قَائِمَةٌ
تَهْفُوsways بِهَاit الرِّيحُthe wind أَحْياناًat times وَتَعْتَدِلُand it straightens
تَهْفُو بِهَا الرِّيحُ أَحْياناً وَتَعْتَدِلُ
As though it were a flame standing upright in the hand,
Which the wind sways at times, and which straightens again.
لَوْلاwere it not for الدِّمَاءُthe blood الَّتِيwhich يُسْقَىit is given to drink بِهَاwith it نَهَلاًa first draught
لَوْلا الدِّمَاءُ الَّتِي يُسْقَى بِهَا نَهَلاً
لَكَادَit would almost مِنْfrom شِدَّةِthe intensity of اللأْلاءِbrilliance يَشْتَعِلُblaze
لَكَادَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ اللأْلاءِ يَشْتَعِلُ
Were it not for the blood it is given to drink in draughts,
It would almost blaze from the intensity of its brilliance.
يَفُلُّit nicks مَاas long as بَقِيَتْremains فِيin الْكَفِّthe hand قَبْضَتُهُits hilt
يَفُلُّ مَا بَقِيَتْ فِي الْكَفِّ قَبْضَتُهُ
كُلَّall الْحَدِيدِiron وَلَمْand has not يَثْأَرْtaken revenge بِهِupon it فَلَلُa notch
كُلَّ الْحَدِيدِ وَلَمْ يَثْأَرْ بِهِ فَلَلُ
It nicks, as long as its hilt remains in the hand,
All iron, yet no notch has taken revenge upon it.
بَلْindeed رُبَّmany a سَارِيَةٍnight-cloud هَطْلاءَpouring rain دَانِيَةٍlow-hanging
بَلْ رُبَّ سَارِيَةٍ هَطْلاءَ دَانِيَةٍ
تَنْمُوgrow السَّوَامُgrazing herds بِهَاby it وَالنَّبْتُand plants يَكْتَهِلُmature
تَنْمُو السَّوَامُ بِهَا وَالنَّبْتُ يَكْتَهِلُ
Indeed, many a low-hanging night-cloud, pouring rain,
By which grazing herds grow and plants mature,
كَأَنَّas though آثَارَهَاits traces فِيin كُلِّevery نَاحِيَةٍdirection
كَأَنَّ آثَارَهَا فِي كُلِّ نَاحِيَةٍ
رَيْطٌcloths مُنَشَّرَةٌspread out فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth أَوْor حُلَلُrobes
رَيْطٌ مُنَشَّرَةٌ فِي الأَرْضِ أَوْ حُلَلُ
As though its traces on every side
Were cloths spread over the earth, or robes,
يَمَّمْتُهَاI sought it out بِرِفَاقٍwith companions إِنْif دَعَوْتُI call بِهِمْfor them
يَمَّمْتُهَا بِرِفَاقٍ إِنْ دَعَوْتُ بِهِمْ
لَبُّواthey answer سِرَاعَاswiftly وَإِنْand if أَنْزِلْI dismount بِهِمْwith them نَزَلُواthey dismount
لَبُّوا سِرَاعَا وَإِنْ أَنْزِلْ بِهِمْ نَزَلُوا
I have sought out with companions who, if I call for them,
Answer swiftly, and if I dismount with them, dismount too,
قَصْداًaiming إِلَىfor الصَّيْدِthe hunt لاnot نَبْغِيwe seek بِهِin its place بَدَلاًa substitute
قَصْداً إِلَى الصَّيْدِ لا نَبْغِي بِهِ بَدَلاً
وَكُلُّand every نَفْسٍsoul لَهَاfor it فِيin شَأْنِهَاits own concern عَمَلُwork
وَكُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَهَا فِي شَأْنِهَا عَمَلُ
Intent on hunting, wishing for no substitute,
And every soul has work in its own concerns.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen أَلْمَعَsignaled الرُّوَّادُthe scouts مِنْfrom بعْدafar
حَتَّى إِذَا أَلْمَعَ الرُّوَّادُ مِنْ بعْد
وَجَاءَand came فَارِطُهُمْtheir advance scout يَعْلُوrising وَيَسْتَفِلُand descending
وَجَاءَ فَارِطُهُمْ يَعْلُو وَيَسْتَفِلُ
Until, when the scouts signaled from afar
And their advance scout came, climbing and descending,
تَغَاوَتِroused one another الْخَيْلُthe horses حَتَّىuntil كِدْنَthey nearly مِنْfrom مَرَحٍexuberance
تَغَاوَتِ الْخَيْلُ حَتَّى كِدْنَ مِنْ مَرَحٍ
يَذْهَبْنَrace away فِيacross الأَرْضِthe land لَوْلاwere it not for اللُّجْمُthe bridles وَالشُّكُلُand fetters
يَذْهَبْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ لَوْلا اللُّجْمُ وَالشُّكُلُ
The horses roused one another till, in their exuberance, they nearly
Raced away across the land, but for the bridles and fetters.
فَمَاso not مَضَتْhad passed سَاعَةٌan hour أَوْor بَعْضُpart of ثَانِيَةٍa second hour
فَمَا مَضَتْ سَاعَةٌ أَوْ بَعْضُ ثَانِيَةٍ
إِلاexcept وَلِلصَّيْدِand for the quarry فِيin سَاحَاتِنَاour courtyards نُزُلُlodging
إِلا وَلِلصَّيْدِ فِي سَاحَاتِنَا نُزُلُ
An hour, or part of another, had scarcely passed
Before the quarry found lodging in our courtyards.
فَكَانَso it was يَوْماًa day قَضَيْناwe fulfilled فِيهِin it لَذَّتَنَاour pleasure
فَكَانَ يَوْماً قَضَيْنا فِيهِ لَذَّتَنَا
كَمَاas اشْتَهَيْنَاwe desired فَلاso no غِشٌّdeceit وَلاand no دَغَلُrancor
كَمَا اشْتَهَيْنَا فَلا غِشٌّ وَلا دَغَلُ
So it was a day on which we had our fill of pleasure,
As we desired, with neither deceit nor rancor.
هَذَاthis هُوَis الْعَيْشُlife لاnot لَغْوُthe idle chatter of الْحَدِيثِspeech وَلاnor
هَذَا هُوَ الْعَيْشُ لا لَغْوُ الْحَدِيثِ وَلا
مَاwhat يَسْتَغِيرُincites hostility بِهِwith it ذوthe possessor of الإِفْكَةِfalsehood النَّمِلُthe tale-bearer
مَا يَسْتَغِيرُ بِهِ ذو الإِفْكَةِ النَّمِلُ
This is life—not idle talk, nor
What a lying tale-bearer uses to incite hostility.
إِنَّindeed النَّمِيمَةَtale-bearing وَالأَفْوَاهُand mouths تُضْرِمُهَاkindle it
إِنَّ النَّمِيمَةَ وَالأَفْوَاهُ تُضْرِمُهَا
نَارٌa fire مُحَرِّقَةٌconsuming لَيْسَتْthere are not لَهَاfor it شُعَلُflames
نَارٌ مُحَرِّقَةٌ لَيْسَتْ لَهَا شُعَلُ
Indeed, tale-bearing, which mouths kindle,
Is a consuming fire that has no flames.
فَاتْبَعْso follow هَوَاكَyour desire وَدَعْand leave مَاwhat يُسْتَرَابُis doubted بِهِabout it
فَاتْبَعْ هَوَاكَ وَدَعْ مَا يُسْتَرَابُ بِهِ
فَأَكْثَرُfor most of النَّاسِpeople إِنْif جَرَّبْتَهُمْyou test them هَمَلُuntended cattle
فَأَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ إِنْ جَرَّبْتَهُمْ هَمَلُ
So follow your desire, and leave whatever arouses suspicion,
For most people, if you test them, are untended cattle.
وَاحْذَرْand beware عَدُوَّكَyour enemy تَسْلَمْyou will be safe مِنْfrom خَدِيعَتِهِhis deceit
وَاحْذَرْ عَدُوَّكَ تَسْلَمْ مِنْ خَدِيعَتِهِ
إِنَّindeed الْعَدَاوَةَenmity جُرْحٌa wound لَيْسَdoes not يَنْدَمِلُheal
إِنَّ الْعَدَاوَةَ جُرْحٌ لَيْسَ يَنْدَمِلُ
Beware your enemy, and you will be safe from his deceit:
Enmity is a wound that does not heal.
وَعَالِجِand tend السِّرَّthe secret بِالْكِتْمَانِwith concealment تَحْمَدُهُyou will commend it
وَعَالِجِ السِّرَّ بِالْكِتْمَانِ تَحْمَدُهُ
فَرُبَّمَاfor perhaps كَانَthere is فِيin إِفْشَائِهِdisclosing it الزَّلَلُa slip
فَرُبَّمَا كَانَ فِي إِفْشَائِهِ الزَّلَلُ
Guard your secret with concealment; you will be glad of it,
For a slip may lie in disclosing it.
وَلاand do not تَكُنْbe مُسْرِفَاًextravagant غِرّاًnaive وَلاnor بَخِلاًmiserly
وَلا تَكُنْ مُسْرِفَاً غِرّاً وَلا بَخِلاً
فَبِئْسَتِfor vile is الْخَلَّةُthe trait الإِسْرَافُextravagance وَالْبَخَلُand stinginess
فَبِئْسَتِ الْخَلَّةُ الإِسْرَافُ وَالْبَخَلُ
Be neither a foolish spendthrift nor a miser,
For extravagance and stinginess are vile traits.
وَلاand do not يَهُمَّنْكَtrouble you بَعْضُsome of الأَمْرِthe business تَسْأَمُهُyou tire of it
وَلا يَهُمَّنْكَ بَعْضُ الأَمْرِ تَسْأَمُهُ
لاnot يَنْتَهِيends الشُّغْلُwork حَتَّىuntil يَنْتَهِيends الأَجَلُthe allotted lifespan
لا يَنْتَهِي الشُّغْلُ حَتَّى يَنْتَهِي الأَجَلُ
Do not let a task you tire of trouble you:
Work does not end until life ends.
وَاعْرِفْand know مَوَاضِعَthe proper occasions of مَاwhat تَأْتِيهِyou undertake it مِنْof عَمَلٍwork
وَاعْرِفْ مَوَاضِعَ مَا تَأْتِيهِ مِنْ عَمَلٍ
فَلَيْسَfor not فِيat كُلِّevery حِينٍtime يَحْسُنُis fitting الْعَمَلُwork
فَلَيْسَ فِي كُلِّ حِينٍ يَحْسُنُ الْعَمَلُ
Know the proper occasions for the work you undertake,
For work is not fitting at every time.
فَالرَّيْثُfor taking time يُحْمَدُis praised فِيin بَعْضِsome الأُمُورِaffairs كَمَاjust as
فَالرَّيْثُ يُحْمَدُ فِي بَعْضِ الأُمُورِ كَمَا
فِيin بَعْضِsome حَالاتِهِits circumstances يُسْتَحْسَنُis favored الْعَجَلُhaste
فِي بَعْضِ حَالاتِهِ يُسْتَحْسَنُ الْعَجَلُ
Taking one's time is praised in some affairs, just as
Haste is favored in some of its circumstances.
هَذَاthis هُوَis الأَدَبُwisdom الْمَأْثُورُhanded down فَارْضَso be content بِهِwith it
هَذَا هُوَ الأَدَبُ الْمَأْثُورُ فَارْضَ بِهِ
عِلْماًas knowledge لِنَفْسِكَfor yourself فَالأَخْلاقُfor morals تَنْتَقِلُtravel
عِلْماً لِنَفْسِكَ فَالأَخْلاقُ تَنْتَقِلُ
This is handed-down wisdom; accept it
As knowledge for yourself, for morals travel
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery بَيْتٍverse إِذَاwhen الإِنْشَادُrecitation سَيَّرَهُsends it forth
مِنْ كُلِّ بَيْتٍ إِذَا الإِنْشَادُ سَيَّرَهُ
فَلَيْسَso not يَمْنَعُهُholds it back سَهْلٌa plain وَلاnor جَبَلُa mountain
فَلَيْسَ يَمْنَعُهُ سَهْلٌ وَلا جَبَلُ
From every verse, when recitation sends it forth;
Neither plain nor mountain can hold it back.
لَمْnot تُبْنَhas been built قَافِيَةٌa rhyme فِيهِin it عَلَىupon خَلَلٍa flaw
لَمْ تُبْنَ قَافِيَةٌ فِيهِ عَلَى خَلَلٍ
كَلَّاnot at all وَلَمْand have not تَخْتَلِفْclashed فِيin رَصْفِهَاtheir arrangement الْجُمَلُthe clauses
كَلَّا وَلَمْ تَخْتَلِفْ فِي رَصْفِهَا الْجُمَلُ
No rhyme in it is built upon a flaw,
No indeed; its clauses have not clashed in their arrangement.
فَلاso no سِنَادٌpre-rhyme inconsistency وَلاand no حَشْوٌpadding وَلاand no قَلَقٌawkwardness
فَلا سِنَادٌ وَلا حَشْوٌ وَلا قَلَقٌ
وَلاand no سُقُوطٌweakness وَلاand no سَهْوٌoversight وَلاand no عِلَلُdefects
وَلا سُقُوطٌ وَلا سَهْوٌ وَلا عِلَلُ
There is no rhyme inconsistency, no padding, no awkwardness,
No weakness, no oversight, no defects.
تَغَايَرَتْhave vied jealously فِيهِover it أَسْمَاعٌears وَأَفْئِدَةٌand hearts
تَغَايَرَتْ فِيهِ أَسْمَاعٌ وَأَفْئِدَةٌ
فَكُلُّso every نَادٍgathering عُكَاظٌUkaz حِينَwhen يُرْتَجَلُit is improvised
فَكُلُّ نَادٍ عُكَاظٌ حِينَ يُرْتَجَلُ
Ears and hearts have vied jealously for it,
So every gathering is Ukaz when it is improvised.
لاnot تُنْكِرُrejects الْكَاعِبُthe budding-breasted maiden الْحَسْنَاءُbeautiful مَنْطِقَهُits words
لا تُنْكِرُ الْكَاعِبُ الْحَسْنَاءُ مَنْطِقَهُ
وَلاnor يُعَادُis it repeated عَلَىto قَوْمٍa company فَيُبْتَذَلُand so made trite
وَلا يُعَادُ عَلَى قَوْمٍ فَيُبْتَذَلُ
The beautiful, budding-breasted maiden does not reject its words,
Nor is it repeated to a company until it becomes trite.
Sol 6.1