خَلَعْتُ فِي حُبِّ غِزْلانِ الْحِمَى رَسَنِي

خَلَعْتُ فِي حُبِّ غِزْلانِ الْحِمَى رَسَنِي

وَبِعْتُ بِالسُّهْدِ فِي لَيْلِ الْهَوَى وَسَنِي

وَبِعْتُ بِالسُّهْدِ فِي لَيْلِ الْهَوَى وَسَنِي

I cast off my halter for love of the gazelles of the preserve.

I fell passionately in love with the gazelles of ardour which emaciated me,

And I sold my drowsiness for sleeplessness in the night of love.

And I spent the night awake in the madness of passion which exhausted me,

وَأَعْجَبَتْنِي عَلَى ذَمِّ الْعَذُولِ لَهَا

وَأَعْجَبَتْنِي عَلَى ذَمِّ الْعَذُولِ لَهَا

صَبَابَةٌ نَقَلَتْ سِرِّي إِلَى الْعَلَنِ

صَبَابَةٌ نَقَلَتْ سِرِّي إِلَى الْعَلَنِ

And I was charmed, despite the reproacher's censure of it, by

And I was amazed that she reproached me for my aloofness,

a yearning that carried my secret into the open.

While a young girl conveyed my secret into the open,

فَلْيَبْلُغِ الْعَذْلُ مِنِّي مَا أَرَادَ فَقَدْ

فَلْيَبْلُغِ الْعَذْلُ مِنِّي مَا أَرَادَ فَقَدْ

أَسْلَمْتُ لِلشَّوْقِ رُوحِي وَالضَّنَى بَدَنِي

أَسْلَمْتُ لِلشَّوْقِ رُوحِي وَالضَّنَى بَدَنِي

So let reproach do to me what it will, for

Let censure reach me as much as it wants, for I have

I have surrendered my soul to longing, and my body to wasting sickness.

Surrendered my soul to longing and my body to sorrow,

تِلْكَ الْحَمَائِمُ لَوْ تَدْرِي بِمَا لَقِيَتْ

تِلْكَ الْحَمَائِمُ لَوْ تَدْرِي بِمَا لَقِيَتْ

أَهْلُ الْمَحَبَّةِ لَمْ تَسْجَعْ عَلَى فَنَنِ

أَهْلُ الْمَحَبَّةِ لَمْ تَسْجَعْ عَلَى فَنَنِ

Those doves, if they knew what has befallen

If only those censurers knew what the lovers have suffered,

the people of love, would not coo upon a bough.

They would not slumber in their disdain,

يَا رَبَّةَ الْخِدْرِ قُومِي فَانْظُرِي عَجَباً

يَا رَبَّةَ الْخِدْرِ قُومِي فَانْظُرِي عَجَباً

إِلَى غَرَائِبَ لَمْ تُقْدَرْ وَلَمْ تَكُنِ

إِلَى غَرَائِبَ لَمْ تُقْدَرْ وَلَمْ تَكُنِ

O lady of the curtained chamber, rise and look in wonder

O beauty asleep, arise and wonder at the strange things,

at marvels never foreseen and never before in existence.

The likes of which have never been destined or existed before,

هَذِي يَدِي جَسَّهَا الآسِي وَخَامَرَهُ

هَذِي يَدِي جَسَّهَا الآسِي وَخَامَرَهُ

يَأْسٌ فَغَادَرَهَا صَرْعَى مِنَ الْوَهَنِ

يَأْسٌ فَغَادَرَهَا صَرْعَى مِنَ الْوَهَنِ

This is my hand: the physician felt it, and he was seized

By despair, till it lies crippled with feebleness,

by despair, then left it prostrate from weakness.

And he said: “Do not hide anything from me, for I know

وَقَالَ لا تَكْتُمَنْ أَمْرَاً عَلَيَّ فَقَدْ

وَقَالَ لا تَكْتُمَنْ أَمْرَاً عَلَيَّ فَقَدْ

عَلِمْتُ مَا بِكَ مِنْ بَادٍ وَمُكْتَمِنِ

عَلِمْتُ مَا بِكَ مِنْ بَادٍ وَمُكْتَمِنِ

And he said: "Hide nothing from me, for

What you conceal and hide,”

I know what ails you, both apparent and concealed."

But I gave no answer except that tears flowed from my breast

فَلَمْ أُجِبْ غَيْرَ أَنَّ الدَّمْعَ نَمَّ عَلَى

فَلَمْ أُجِبْ غَيْرَ أَنَّ الدَّمْعَ نَمَّ عَلَى

وَجْدِي وَدَلَّتْهُ أَنْفَاسِي عَلَى شَجَنِي

وَجْدِي وَدَلَّتْهُ أَنْفَاسِي عَلَى شَجَنِي

I gave no answer, except that the tears betrayed

And my sighs led them down my cheek,

my passion, and my sighs pointed him to my grief.

Have mercy on me, I do not ask of you anything

عَطْفاً عَلَيَّ فَلَمْ أَطْلُبْ إِلَيْكِ سِوَى

عَطْفاً عَلَيَّ فَلَمْ أَطْلُبْ إِلَيْكِ سِوَى

أَنْ أُمْتِعَ الْعَيْنَ مِنْ تِمْثَالِكِ الْحَسَنِ

أَنْ أُمْتِعَ الْعَيْنَ مِنْ تِمْثَالِكِ الْحَسَنِ

Have pity on me, for I have asked of you nothing but

Except to delight my eyes with your beautiful image,

to delight my eye with your beautiful form.

What reason did the critic have to note my passion

مَا لِلْعَذُولِ رَأَى وَجْدِي فَأَحْفَظَهُ

مَا لِلْعَذُولِ رَأَى وَجْدِي فَأَحْفَظَهُ

حَتَّى أَتَاكُمْ بِقَوْلٍ مِنْ هَنٍ وَهَنِ

حَتَّى أَتَاكُمْ بِقَوْلٍ مِنْ هَنٍ وَهَنِ

What ails the reproacher? He saw my passion, and it enraged him,

And preserve it until he brought you idle talk?

until he came to you with talk of this and that.

Do not accept criticism of one like me, for every noble-natured youth

لا تَقْبَلِي الْعَذْلَ فِي مِثْلِي فَكُلُّ فَتَىً

لا تَقْبَلِي الْعَذْلَ فِي مِثْلِي فَكُلُّ فَتَىً

حُرِّ الشَّمَائِلِ مَحْسُودٌ عَلَى الْفِطَنِ

حُرِّ الشَّمَائِلِ مَحْسُودٌ عَلَى الْفِطَنِ

Do not accept reproach against one like me, for every young man

Is envied for his refined traits and slandered,

of noble character is envied for his discernment.

And people are the enemies of men of merit ever since

وَالنَّاسُ أَعْدَاءُ أَهْلِ الْفَضْلِ مُذْ خُلِقُوا

وَالنَّاسُ أَعْدَاءُ أَهْلِ الْفَضْلِ مُذْ خُلِقُوا

مِنْ عَهْدِ آدَمَ سَبَّاقُونَ فِي الإِحَنِ

مِنْ عَهْدِ آدَمَ سَبَّاقُونَ فِي الإِحَنِ

And people have been enemies of the worthy since they were created,

They were created, hastening to find fault from the start,

since Adam's time, eager to outdo one another in rancor.

So there is no true friend who agrees on affection,

فَلا صَدِيقَ عَلَى وُدٍّ بِمُتَّفِقٍ

فَلا صَدِيقَ عَلَى وُدٍّ بِمُتَّفِقٍ

وَلا خَلِيلَ عَلَى سِرٍّ بِمُؤْتَمَنِ

وَلا خَلِيلَ عَلَى سِرٍّ بِمُؤْتَمَنِ

So no friend is of one mind in affection,

Nor trusted confidante who guards a secret,

and no intimate can be trusted with a secret.

Would that my soul’s caprices were a deceitful

فَلَيْتَ لِي وَدَوَاعِي النَّفْسِ كَاذِبَةٌ

فَلَيْتَ لِي وَدَوَاعِي النَّفْسِ كَاذِبَةٌ

خِلاً يَكُونُ سُرُورَ الْعَيْنِ وَالأُذُنِ

خِلاً يَكُونُ سُرُورَ الْعَيْنِ وَالأُذُنِ

Would that I had—though the soul's urgings are false—

Friend who could cheer my eye and ear!

a friend who would delight the eye and ear.

I would purify my love for him and let passion dictate to him,

أُصْفِيهِ وُدِّي وَأُمْلِيهِ الْهَوَى وَأَرَى

أُصْفِيهِ وُدِّي وَأُمْلِيهِ الْهَوَى وَأَرَى

مِنْهُ الصَوَابَ وَأَرْجُوهُ عَلَى الزَّمَنِ

مِنْهُ الصَوَابَ وَأَرْجُوهُ عَلَى الزَّمَنِ

I would give him my pure affection, confide my love to him, and find

And expect what is right from him and hope he will last,

sound judgment in him, and look to him for help against time.

Alas! I seek a thing no living man can attain,

هَيْهَاتَ أَطْلُبُ أَمْرَاً لَيْسَ يَبْلُغُهُ

هَيْهَاتَ أَطْلُبُ أَمْرَاً لَيْسَ يَبْلُغُهُ

حَيٌّ وَلَوْ سَارَ مِنْ هِنْدٍ إِلَى يَمَنِ

حَيٌّ وَلَوْ سَارَ مِنْ هِنْدٍ إِلَى يَمَنِ

Far beyond reach! I seek a thing unattainable

Even if he travelled from India to Yemen,

by any living soul, even one who journeyed from India to Yemen.

Gently, o ignorant brother! Let not what your eyes have seen

مَهْلاً أَخَا الْجَهْلِ لا يُغْوِيكَ مَا نَظَرَتْ

مَهْلاً أَخَا الْجَهْلِ لا يُغْوِيكَ مَا نَظَرَتْ

عَيْنَاكَ فِي هذِهِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْفِتَنِ

عَيْنَاكَ فِي هذِهِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْفِتَنِ

Slow down, brother of ignorance; do not be beguiled by what has been seen

In this world of temptations lead you astray!

by your eyes among this world's temptations.

Consider this wilderness, and if you find in it anything

هذِي الْبَرِيَّةُ فَانْظُرْ إِنْ وَجَدْتَ بِهَا

هذِي الْبَرِيَّةُ فَانْظُرْ إِنْ وَجَدْتَ بِهَا

غَيْرَ الَّذِي قُلْتُ فَاهْجُرْنِي وَلا تَرَنِي

غَيْرَ الَّذِي قُلْتُ فَاهْجُرْنِي وَلا تَرَنِي

Here is mankind: look; if you find among them

Other than what I have said, shun me and do not see me again!

anything other than what I have said, forsake me and see me no more.

I am the one who has learned of the days and had

أَنَا الَّذِي عَرَفَ الأَيَّامَ وَانْكَشَفَتْ

أَنَا الَّذِي عَرَفَ الأَيَّامَ وَانْكَشَفَتْ

لَهُ سَرَائِرُهَا مِنْ كُلِّ مُخْتَزَنِ

لَهُ سَرَائِرُهَا مِنْ كُلِّ مُخْتَزَنِ

I am he who has known the days, and there were revealed

Their secrets unfolded before me from every hidden place,

to him their secrets from every hidden store.

I have wandered the lands and tested mankind but have never

طُفْتُ الْبِلادَ وَجَرَّبْتُ الْعِبَادَ فَلَمْ

طُفْتُ الْبِلادَ وَجَرَّبْتُ الْعِبَادَ فَلَمْ

أَرْكَنْ لِخِلٍّ وَلَمْ أَجْنَحْ إِلَى سَكَنِ

أَرْكَنْ لِخِلٍّ وَلَمْ أَجْنَحْ إِلَى سَكَنِ

I have roamed the lands and tested people, yet have not

Rested my hopes on a friend nor inclined toward rest,

relied on a friend, nor inclined toward a source of solace.

I was born free and am unsuited to behave humbly

خُلِقْتُ حُرّاً فَلا قَدْرِي بِمُتَّضِعٍ

خُلِقْتُ حُرّاً فَلا قَدْرِي بِمُتَّضِعٍ

عِنْدَ الْمُلُوكِ وَلا عِرْضِي بِمُمْتَهَنِ

عِنْدَ الْمُلُوكِ وَلا عِرْضِي بِمُمْتَهَنِ

I was created free: my worth is not lowered

Before kings or sell my honor for money,

before kings, nor is my honor debased.

I have no fault but that I have complained of

لا عَيْبَ فِيَّ سِوَى أَنِّي عَتَبْتُ عَلَى

لا عَيْبَ فِيَّ سِوَى أَنِّي عَتَبْتُ عَلَى

دَهْرِي فَقَدَّمَ مَنْ دُونِي وَأَخَّرَنِي

دَهْرِي فَقَدَّمَ مَنْ دُونِي وَأَخَّرَنِي

I have no fault, except that I reproached

My fate, which advanced others before me and held me back,

my age; it then advanced those beneath me and set me back.

And such is the way of the world! How strange

وَهَذِهِ شِيمَةُ الدُّنْيَا وَمِنْ عَجَبٍ

وَهَذِهِ شِيمَةُ الدُّنْيَا وَمِنْ عَجَبٍ

أَنِّي أَرَى مِحْنَتِي فِيهَا وَتُعْجِبُنِي

أَنِّي أَرَى مِحْنَتِي فِيهَا وَتُعْجِبُنِي

And this is the world's nature, and it is a wonder

That I should see my torment in it and yet it pleases me,

that I see my ordeal in it, yet it delights me.

The happiness which time brings is not equal

لَيْسَ السُّرُورُ الَّذِي يَأْتِي الزَّمَانُ بِهِ

لَيْسَ السُّرُورُ الَّذِي يَأْتِي الزَّمَانُ بِهِ

يَفِي بِقَدْرِ الَّذِي يَمْضِي مِنَ الْحَزَنِ

يَفِي بِقَدْرِ الَّذِي يَمْضِي مِنَ الْحَزَنِ

The joy that time brings does not

To the sadness that passes away,

match the measure of sorrow that passes.

Set out ahead of yourself if you are wise,

فَاسْتَبْقِ نَفْسَكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ امْرَأً فَطِناً

فَاسْتَبْقِ نَفْسَكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ امْرَأً فَطِناً

وَاقْنَعْ بِعَيْشِكَ فِي سِرْبَالِكَ الْخَشِنِ

وَاقْنَعْ بِعَيْشِكَ فِي سِرْبَالِكَ الْخَشِنِ

So preserve yourself, if you are a discerning man,

And be content with your living in your rough cloak,

and be content with your life in your coarse garment.

Do not babble of selfish wants for in them lies

وَلا تَفُهْ بِحَدِيثِ النَّفْسِ إِنَّ بِهِ

وَلا تَفُهْ بِحَدِيثِ النَّفْسِ إِنَّ بِهِ

شَرَّ الْحَيَاةِ وَسَعْيَ الْحَاسِدِ الأَفِنِ

شَرَّ الْحَيَاةِ وَسَعْيَ الْحَاسِدِ الأَفِنِ

And do not voice the soul's thoughts, for in them lie

The evil of life and the efforts of envious destroyers,

life's evil and the scheming of the foolish envier.

And do not seek anyone's help in expectation

وَلا تَسَلْ أَحَداً عَوْناً عَلَى أَمَلٍ

وَلا تَسَلْ أَحَداً عَوْناً عَلَى أَمَلٍ

حَتَّى تَكُونَ أَسِيرَ الشُّكْرِ وَالْمِنَنِ

حَتَّى تَكُونَ أَسِيرَ الشُّكْرِ وَالْمِنَنِ

And ask no one for help in pursuing a hope,

Until you are a prisoner of gratitude and obligation,

lest you become a captive of gratitude and favors.

The best kind of life is one lived with ease,

خَيْرُ الْمَعِيشَةِ مَا كَانَتْ مُذَلَّلَةً

خَيْرُ الْمَعِيشَةِ مَا كَانَتْ مُذَلَّلَةً

هَوْناً وَثَوْبُكَ مَعْصُومٌ مِنَ الدَّرَنِ

هَوْناً وَثَوْبُكَ مَعْصُومٌ مِنَ الدَّرَنِ

The best livelihood is one made easy,

Your clothes guarded from tatters,

without strain, while your garment is protected from grime.

And treat people with kindness, so if an injury occurs

وَعَاشِرِ النَّاسَ بِالْحُسْنَى فَإِنْ عَرَضَتْ

وَعَاشِرِ النَّاسَ بِالْحُسْنَى فَإِنْ عَرَضَتْ

إِسَاءَةٌ فَتَغَمَّدْهَا عَلَى الظِّنَنِ

إِسَاءَةٌ فَتَغَمَّدْهَا عَلَى الظِّنَنِ

And deal kindly with people; if there occurs

Wrap it in good thoughts,

an offense, overlook it despite suspicions.

For forgiving some of the wrongs a noble man endures

فَالصَّفْحُ عَنْ بَعْضِ مَا يُمْنَى الْكَرِيمُ بِهِ

فَالصَّفْحُ عَنْ بَعْضِ مَا يُمْنَى الْكَرِيمُ بِهِ

فَضْلٌ يَطِيرُ بِهِ شُكْرٌ بِلا ثَمَنِ

فَضْلٌ يَطِيرُ بِهِ شُكْرٌ بِلا ثَمَنِ

For pardoning some of what afflicts a noble man

Is a virtue that sends thanks winging without price,

is a virtue for which praise takes wing at no cost.

This is the path, so if you stray from its law

هَذَا الطَّرِيقُ فَإِنْ أَخْطَأْتَ شِرْعَتَهُ

هَذَا الطَّرِيقُ فَإِنْ أَخْطَأْتَ شِرْعَتَهُ

أَضَعْتَ نَفْسَكَ بَيْنَ الْحَوْضِ وَالْعَطَنِ

أَضَعْتَ نَفْسَكَ بَيْنَ الْحَوْضِ وَالْعَطَنِ

This is the path; if you miss its course,

You will lose yourself between pool and dung-heap,

you will lose yourself between the watering trough and the camels' resting ground.