أَخَذَseized الْكَرَىslumber بِمَعَاقِدِat the fastenings of الأَجْفَانِthe eyelids
أَخَذَ الْكَرَى بِمَعَاقِدِ الأَجْفَانِ
وَهَفَاand swayed السُّرَىnight travel بِأَعِنَّةِwith the reins of الْفُرْسَانِthe horsemen
وَهَفَا السُّرَى بِأَعِنَّةِ الْفُرْسَانِ
Slumber seized the fastenings of the eyelids,
And night travel set the horsemen's reins swaying.
وَاللَّيْلُand the night مَنْشُورُspread الذَّوَائِبِthe tresses ضَارِبٌlaying down
وَاللَّيْلُ مَنْشُورُ الذَّوَائِبِ ضَارِبٌ
فَوْقَabove الْمَتَالِعِthe heights وَالرُّبَىand the hills بِجِرَانِwith its neck
فَوْقَ الْمَتَالِعِ وَالرُّبَى بِجِرَانِ
And night, its tresses spread, was laying
Its neck upon the heights and hills.
لاnot تَسْتَبِينُdiscerns الْعَيْنُthe eye فِيin ظَلمَائِهِits darkness
لا تَسْتَبِينُ الْعَيْنُ فِي ظَلمَائِهِ
إِلَّاexcept اشْتِعَالَthe blazing of أَسِنَّةِthe spearheads of الْمُرَّانِthe ashwood lances
إِلَّا اشْتِعَالَ أَسِنَّةِ الْمُرَّانِ
In its darkness the eye could discern nothing
But the blaze of ashwood spearheads.
نَسْرِيwe travel by night بِهِthrough it مَا(emphatic particle) بَيْنَamid لُجَّةِa deep sea of فِتْنَةٍstrife
نَسْرِي بِهِ مَا بَيْنَ لُجَّةِ فِتْنَةٍ
تَسْمُوrise غَوَارِبُهَاits wave-crests عَلَىabove الطُّوفَانِthe deluge
تَسْمُو غَوَارِبُهَا عَلَى الطُّوفَانِ
We rode through it amid a sea of strife
Whose crests towered above the deluge.
فِيat كُلِّevery مَرْبَأَةٍlookout وَكُلِّand every ثَنِيَّةٍmountain pass
فِي كُلِّ مَرْبَأَةٍ وَكُلِّ ثَنِيَّةٍ
تَهْدَارُthe clamor of سَامِرَةٍnight companions وَعَزْفُand the music of قِيَانِsinging girls
تَهْدَارُ سَامِرَةٍ وَعَزْفُ قِيَانِ
At every lookout and every mountain pass
Were the clamor of night gatherings and the music of singing girls.
تَسْتَنُّgallops عَادِيَةٌa cavalry troop وَيَصْهَلُand neighs أَجْرَدٌa sleek horse
تَسْتَنُّ عَادِيَةٌ وَيَصْهَلُ أَجْرَدٌ
وَتَصِيحُand shout أَحْرَاسٌguards وَيَهْتِفُand cries out عَانِيa captive
وَتَصِيحُ أَحْرَاسٌ وَيَهْتِفُ عَانِي
Cavalry galloped, and a sleek steed neighed,
And guards shouted, and a captive cried.
قَوْمٌa people أَبَىrefused الشَّيْطَانُSatan إِلَّاanything but نَزْغَهُمْinciting them
قَوْمٌ أَبَى الشَّيْطَانُ إِلَّا نَزْغَهُمْ
فَتَسَلَّلُواso they slipped away مِنْfrom طَاعَةِobedience to السُّلْطَانِthe ruler
فَتَسَلَّلُوا مِنْ طَاعَةِ السُّلْطَانِ
A people Satan insisted on inciting,
So they slipped free of obedience to the ruler.
مَلأُواthey filled الْفَضَاءَthe open space فَمَاso nothing يَبِينُappears لِنَاظِرٍto an onlooker
مَلأُوا الْفَضَاءَ فَمَا يَبِينُ لِنَاظِرٍ
غَيْرُother than الْتِمَاعِthe flashing of الْبِيضِbright swords وَالْخُرْصَانِand spears
غَيْرُ الْتِمَاعِ الْبِيضِ وَالْخُرْصَانِ
They filled the open space; an onlooker could see nothing
But the glitter of bright swords and spears.
فَالْبَدْرُso the full moon أَكْدَرُmurky وَالسَّمَاءُand the sky مَرِيضَةٌailing
فَالْبَدْرُ أَكْدَرُ وَالسَّمَاءُ مَرِيضَةٌ
وَالْبَحْرُand the sea أَشْكَلُtinged with red وَالرِّمَاحُand the spears دَوَانِيnear at hand
وَالْبَحْرُ أَشْكَلُ وَالرِّمَاحُ دَوَانِي
The full moon was murky, the sky ailing,
The sea tinged with red, the spears close at hand.
وَالْخَيْلُand the horses وَاقِفَةٌstanding عَلَىat أَرْسَانِهَاtheir halters
وَالْخَيْلُ وَاقِفَةٌ عَلَى أَرْسَانِهَا
لِطِرَادِfor the charges of يَوْمِa day of كَرِيهَةٍbattle وَرِهَانِand racing
لِطِرَادِ يَوْمِ كَرِيهَةٍ وَرِهَانِ
The horses stood held by their halters,
For charging on a day of battle, and for racing.
وَضَعُواthey laid down السِّلاحَthe weapons إِلَىuntil الصَّبَاحِmorning وَأَقْبَلُواand began
وَضَعُوا السِّلاحَ إِلَى الصَّبَاحِ وَأَقْبَلُوا
يَتَكَلَّمُونَthey speak بِأَلْسُنِwith the tongues of النِّيرَانِfires
يَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسُنِ النِّيرَانِ
They laid their weapons down till dawn and began
To speak with tongues of fire.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen مَا(emphatic particle) الصُّبْحُdawn أَسْفَرَshone forth وَارْتَمَتْand darted
حَتَّى إِذَا مَا الصُّبْحُ أَسْفَرَ وَارْتَمَتْ
عَيْنَايَmy two eyes بَيْنَamong رُبَىًhills وَبَيْنَand among مَحَانِيwinding hollows
عَيْنَايَ بَيْنَ رُبَىً وَبَيْنَ مَحَانِي
Until, when dawn shone forth and there darted
My eyes among hills and winding hollows—
فَإِذَاthen behold الْجِبَالُthe mountains أَسِنَّةٌspearheads وَإِذَاand behold الْوِهَاthe hollows (partial word)
فَإِذَا الْجِبَالُ أَسِنَّةٌ وَإِذَا الْوِهَا
دُ(completes 'hollows') أَعِنَّةٌreins وَالْمَاءُand the water أَحْمَرُred قَانِيdeep crimson
دُ أَعِنَّةٌ وَالْمَاءُ أَحْمَرُ قَانِي
Behold, the mountains were spearheads, and behold, the hollows
Were reins, and the water was deep crimson.
فَتَوَجَّسَتْthen grew apprehensive فَرَطُthe foremost of الرِّكَابِthe riding-camels وَلَمْand had not تَكُنْbeen
فَتَوَجَّسَتْ فَرَطُ الرِّكَابِ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ
لِتَهَابَto fear فَامْتَنَعَتْso she balked عَلَىagainst الأَرْسَانِthe halters
لِتَهَابَ فَامْتَنَعَتْ عَلَى الأَرْسَانِ
Then the leading riding-camel grew alarmed, though she had never
Been timid; she balked against the halters.
فَزِعَتْshe took fright فَرَجَّعَتِthen repeated الْحَنِينَthe yearning cry وَإِنَّمَاand only
فَزِعَتْ فَرَجَّعَتِ الْحَنِينَ وَإِنَّمَا
تَحْنَانُهَاher plaintive moaning شَجَنٌa sorrow مِنَamong الأَشْجَانِthe sorrows
تَحْنَانُهَا شَجَنٌ مِنَ الأَشْجَانِ
She started and repeated her yearning cry; in truth,
Her moaning was but one sorrow among sorrows.
ذَكَرَتْshe remembered مَوَارِدَهَاher watering places بِمِصْرَin Egypt وَأَيْنَand how far مِنْfrom
ذَكَرَتْ مَوَارِدَهَا بِمِصْرَ وَأَيْنَ مِنْ
مَاءٍwater بِمِصْرَin Egypt مَنَازِلُthe abodes of الرُّومَانِthe Romans
مَاءٍ بِمِصْرَ مَنَازِلُ الرُّومَانِ
She recalled her watering places in Egypt; how far from
Water in Egypt were the Romans' abodes!
وَالنَّفْسُand the soul مُولَعَةٌdevoted وَإِنْand even if هِيَit صَادَفَتْfound
وَالنَّفْسُ مُولَعَةٌ وَإِنْ هِيَ صَادَفَتْ
خَلَفَاًa replacement بِأَوَّلِto the first صَاحِبٍcompanion وَمَكَانِand place
خَلَفَاً بِأَوَّلِ صَاحِبٍ وَمَكَانِ
And the soul stays devoted—even if it finds
A replacement—to its first companion and place.
فَسَقَىso may ... water السِّمَاكُal-Simāk مَحَلَّةًa dwelling وَمَقَامَةًand an abode
فَسَقَى السِّمَاكُ مَحَلَّةً وَمَقَامَةً
فِيin مِصْرَEgypt كُلَّevery رَوِيَّةٍrain-laden cloud مِرْنَانِthunderous
فِي مِصْرَ كُلَّ رَوِيَّةٍ مِرْنَانِ
So may al-Simāk water a dwelling and abode
In Egypt with every rain-laden, thunderous cloud,
حَتَّىuntil تَعُودَbecomes again الأَرْضُthe earth بَعْدَafter مُحُولِهَاits barrenness
حَتَّى تَعُودَ الأَرْضُ بَعْدَ مُحُولِهَا
شَتَّىvaried in النَّمَاءِgrowth كَثِيرَةَabundant in الأَلْوَانِcolors
شَتَّى النَّمَاءِ كَثِيرَةَ الأَلْوَانِ
Until the earth, after its barrenness, becomes
Varied in growth and rich in colors.
بَلَدٌa land خَلَعْتُI cast off بِهَاin it عِذَارَthe bridle of شَبِيبَتِيmy youth
بَلَدٌ خَلَعْتُ بِهَا عِذَارَ شَبِيبَتِي
وَطَرَحْتُand I cast فِيinto يُمْنَىthe right hand of الْغَرَامِlove عِنَانِيmy reins
وَطَرَحْتُ فِي يُمْنَى الْغَرَامِ عِنَانِي
A land where I cast off the bridle of my youth,
And cast my reins into love's right hand.
فَصَعِيدُهَاso its soil أَحْوَىdark green in النَّبَاتِvegetation وَسَرْحُهَاand its trees
فَصَعِيدُهَا أَحْوَى النَّبَاتِ وَسَرْحُهَا
أَلْمَىdusky in الظِّلالِshade وَزَهْرُهَاand its blossoms مُتَدَانِيclose together
أَلْمَى الظِّلالِ وَزَهْرُهَا مُتَدَانِي
Its soil is dark with verdure, and its trees
Have dusky shade, and its flowers cluster close.
فَارَقْتُهَاI left it طَلَباًin pursuit لِمَاof what هُوَit كَائِنٌwas to be
فَارَقْتُهَا طَلَباً لِمَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ
وَالْمَرْءُand man طَوْعُsubject to تَقَلُّبِthe changes of الأَزْمَانِthe times
وَالْمَرْءُ طَوْعُ تَقَلُّبِ الأَزْمَانِ
I left it, seeking what was to be;
And man is subject to the changing times.
حَمَلَlaid الزَّمَانُTime عَلَيَّupon me مَاwhat لَمْhad not أَجْنِهِI committed it
حَمَلَ الزَّمَانُ عَلَيَّ مَا لَمْ أَجْنِهِ
إِنَّindeed الأَمَاثِلَthe noblest عُرْضَةُtargets of الْحِدْثَانِcalamities
إِنَّ الأَمَاثِلَ عُرْضَةُ الْحِدْثَانِ
Time charged me with what I had not done;
The noblest are exposed to calamities.
نَقَمُواthey resented عَلَيَّin me وَقَدْthough already فَتَكْتُI had struck fiercely شَجَاعَتِيmy courage
نَقَمُوا عَلَيَّ وَقَدْ فَتَكْتُ شَجَاعَتِي
إِنَّindeed الشَّجَاعَةَcourage حِلْيَةُthe adornment of الفِتْيَانِyoung men
إِنَّ الشَّجَاعَةَ حِلْيَةُ الفِتْيَانِ
They held my courage against me, though I had struck fiercely;
Indeed, courage is the adornment of young men.
فَلْيَهْنَإِso let ... rejoice الدَّهْرُTime الْغَيُورُthe jealous بِرِحْلَتِيat my departure
فَلْيَهْنَإِ الدَّهْرُ الْغَيُورُ بِرِحْلَتِي
عَنْfrom مِصْرَEgypt وَلْتَهْدَأْand let ... subside صُرُوفُthe reversals of زَمَانِيmy time
عَنْ مِصْرَ وَلْتَهْدَأْ صُرُوفُ زَمَانِي
So let jealous Time rejoice at my departure
From Egypt, and let the reversals of my days subside.
فَلَئِنْfor if indeed رَجعْتُI return وَسَوْفَand shall أَرْجِعُI return وَاثِقَاًtrusting
فَلَئِنْ رَجعْتُ وَسَوْفَ أَرْجِعُ وَاثِقَاً
بِاللَّهِin God أَعْلَمْتُI shall show الزَّمَانَTime مَكَانِيmy standing
بِاللَّهِ أَعْلَمْتُ الزَّمَانَ مَكَانِي
For if I return—and I shall return, trusting
In God—I shall make Time know my standing.
صَادَقْتُI befriended بَعْضَone of الْقَوْمِthe people حَتَّىuntil خَانَنِيhe betrayed me
صَادَقْتُ بَعْضَ الْقَوْمِ حَتَّى خَانَنِي
وَحَفِظْتُand I safeguarded مِنْهُconcerning him مَغِيبَهُhis honor in his absence فَرَمَانِيyet he assailed me
وَحَفِظْتُ مِنْهُ مَغِيبَهُ فَرَمَانِي
I befriended one of those people, until he betrayed me;
And I guarded his honor in his absence, but he assailed me.
زَعَمَhe deemed النَّصِيحَةَsincere counsel بَعْدَafter أَنْthat بَلَغَتْit had advanced بِهِwith him
زَعَمَ النَّصِيحَةَ بَعْدَ أَنْ بَلَغَتْ بِهِ
غِشّاًdeceit وَجَازَىand repaid الْحَقَّtruth بِالْبُهْتَانِwith slander
غِشّاً وَجَازَى الْحَقَّ بِالْبُهْتَانِ
He deemed sincere counsel—after it had advanced him—
Deceit, and repaid truth with slander.
فَلْيَجْرِso let him run بَعْدُhenceforth كَمَاas أَرَادَhe wished بِنَفْسِهِby himself
فَلْيَجْرِ بَعْدُ كَمَا أَرَادَ بِنَفْسِهِ
إِنّindeed الشَّقِيَّthe wretched man مَطِيَّةُthe mount of الشَّيْطَانِSatan
إِنّ الشَّقِيَّ مَطِيَّةُ الشَّيْطَانِ
So let him run henceforth as he wishes, on his own;
The wretched man is Satan's mount.
وَكَذاand so too اللَّئِيمُthe base man إِذَاwhen أَصَابَhe gains كَرَامَةًdistinction
وَكَذا اللَّئِيمُ إِذَا أَصَابَ كَرَامَةً
عَادَىhe opposed الصَّدِيقَthe friend وَمَالَand turned بِالإِخْوَانِagainst his brothers
عَادَى الصَّدِيقَ وَمَالَ بِالإِخْوَانِ
So too the base man, when he gains distinction,
Turns against his friend and wrongs his brothers.
كُلُّevery امْرِئٍperson يَجْرِيruns عَلَىaccording to أَعْرَاقِهِhis roots
كُلُّ امْرِئٍ يَجْرِي عَلَى أَعْرَاقِهِ
وَالطَّبْعُand innate nature لَيْسَdoes not يَحُولُchange فِيin الإِنْسَانِa human being
وَالطَّبْعُ لَيْسَ يَحُولُ فِي الإِنْسَانِ
Every man runs true to his stock,
And human nature does not change.
فَعَلامَthen why يَلْتَمِسُseeks الْعَدُوُّthe enemy مَسَاءَتِيharming me
فَعَلامَ يَلْتَمِسُ الْعَدُوُّ مَسَاءَتِي
مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter مَاthat عَرَفَknew الْخَلائِقُthe people شَانِيmy standing
مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا عَرَفَ الْخَلائِقُ شَانِي
Then why does the enemy seek to hurt me,
After people have come to know my standing?
أَنَاI لاdo not أَذِلُّsubmit to humiliation وَإِنَّمَاand only يَزَعُrestrains الْفَتَىa young man
أَنَا لا أَذِلُّ وَإِنَّمَا يَزَعُ الْفَتَى
فَقْدُloss of الرَّجَاءِhope وَقِلَّةُand scarcity of الأَعْوَانِhelpers
فَقْدُ الرَّجَاءِ وَقِلَّةُ الأَعْوَانِ
I do not yield; what holds a man back is only
Loss of hope and lack of helpers.
فَلْيَعْلَمَنَّso let him surely know أَخُوthe man of الْجَهَالَةِignorance قَصْرَهُhis falling short
فَلْيَعْلَمَنَّ أَخُو الْجَهَالَةِ قَصْرَهُ
عَنِّيof me وَإِنْand even if سَبَقَتْraced ahead بِهِwith him قَدَمَانِtwo feet
عَنِّي وَإِنْ سَبَقَتْ بِهِ قَدَمَانِ
Let the ignorant man know how far he falls short
Of me, though two feet have carried him ahead.
فَلَرُبَّمَاfor often رَجَحَoutweighs الْخَسِيسُthe lowliest مِنَof الْحَصَىthe pebbles
فَلَرُبَّمَا رَجَحَ الْخَسِيسُ مِنَ الْحَصَى
بِالدُّرِّagainst pearls عِنْدَat تَمَاثُلِthe evenness of الْمِيزَانِthe balance
بِالدُّرِّ عِنْدَ تَمَاثُلِ الْمِيزَانِ
For often the lowliest of pebbles outweighs
Pearls when the balance is evenly poised.
شَرَفٌan honor خُصِصْتُI was singled out بِهِfor it وَأَخْطَأَand failed حَاسِدٌan envier
شَرَفٌ خُصِصْتُ بِهِ وَأَخْطَأَ حَاسِدٌ
مَسْعَاتَهُhis quest فَهَذَىso he raved بِهِabout it وَقَلانِيand hated me
مَسْعَاتَهُ فَهَذَى بِهِ وَقَلانِي
An honor I was singled out for; an envier failed
In his quest, then raved about it and hated me.
Sol 6.1