رَضِيتُI have accepted مِنَfrom الدُّنْيَاthe world بِمَاwith what لاnot أَوَدُّهُI desire it
رَضِيتُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَا لا أَوَدُّهُ
وَأَيُّand what امْرِئٍman يَقْوَىcan prevail عَلَىagainst الدَّهْرِTime زَنْدُهُhis forearm
وَأَيُّ امْرِئٍ يَقْوَى عَلَى الدَّهْرِ زَنْدُهُ
I have accepted from this world what I do not desire.
And what man's forearm can prevail against Time?
أَحَاوِلُI strive for وَصْلاًunion والصُّدُودُwhile estrangement خَصِيمُهُits adversary
أَحَاوِلُ وَصْلاً والصُّدُودُ خَصِيمُهُ
وَأَبْغِيand I seek وفَاءًfidelity والطَّبِيعَةُwhile nature ضِدُّهُits opposite
وَأَبْغِي وفَاءً والطَّبِيعَةُ ضِدُّهُ
I strive for union, while estrangement is its adversary.
And I seek fidelity, while nature is its opposite.
حَسِبْتُI thought الْهَوَىpassion سَهْلاًeasy وَلَمْand did not أَدْرِI know أَنَّهُthat it
حَسِبْتُ الْهَوَى سَهْلاً وَلَمْ أَدْرِ أَنَّهُ
أَخُوa brother to غَدَرَاتٍbetrayals يَتْبَعُfollows الْهَزْلَjest جِدُّهُits earnestness
أَخُو غَدَرَاتٍ يَتْبَعُ الْهَزْلَ جِدُّهُ
I thought passion easy, not knowing that it
Is a brother to betrayals, its earnestness following jest.
تَخِفُّgrow light لَهُbefore it الأَحْلامُminds وَهْيَthough they رَزِيْنَةٌare sober
تَخِفُّ لَهُ الأَحْلامُ وَهْيَ رَزِيْنَةٌ
وَيَعْنُوand bows لَهُto it مِنْamong كُلِّevery صَعْبٍunyielding thing أَشَدُّهُits toughest
وَيَعْنُو لَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ صَعْبٍ أَشَدُّهُ
Minds grow light before it, though they are sober.
And the toughest of all the unyielding bows before it.
وَمِنْand of عَجَبٍwonder أَنَّthat الْفَتَىthe young man وَهْوَthough he عَاقِلٌis rational
وَمِنْ عَجَبٍ أَنَّ الْفَتَى وَهْوَ عَاقِلٌ
يُطِيعُobeys الْهَوَىpassion فِيمَاin what يُنَافِيهِcontradicts it رُشْدُهُhis sound judgment
يُطِيعُ الْهَوَى فِيمَا يُنَافِيهِ رُشْدُهُ
It is a wonder that a young man, though rational,
Obeys passion in what his sound judgment opposes.
يَفِرُّhe flees مِنَfrom السُّلْوَانِconsolation وَهْوَthough it يُرِيحُهُcomforts him
يَفِرُّ مِنَ السُّلْوَانِ وَهْوَ يُرِيحُهُ
وَيَأْوِيand takes refuge إِلىin الأَشْجَانِsorrows وَهْيَthough they تَكدُّهُwear him down
وَيَأْوِي إِلى الأَشْجَانِ وَهْيَ تَكدُّهُ
He flees consolation, though it brings him rest,
And takes refuge in sorrows, though they wear him down.
وَمَاand not الْحُبُّlove إِلَّاexcept حاكِمٌa ruler غَيْرُnot عَادِلٍjust
وَمَا الْحُبُّ إِلَّا حاكِمٌ غَيْرُ عَادِلٍ
إِذاwhen رامَit seeks أَمْراًa matter لَمnot يَجِدْit finds مَنْanyone who يَصُدُّهُbars it
إِذا رامَ أَمْراً لَم يَجِدْ مَنْ يَصُدُّهُ
Love is nothing but an unjust ruler;
When it seeks a thing, it finds no one to bar it.
لَهُit has مِنْfrom لَفِيفِa throng الْغِيدِgraceful women جَيْشُan army مَلاحَةٍbeauty
لَهُ مِنْ لَفِيفِ الْغِيدِ جَيْشُ مَلاحَةٍ
تُغِيرُraid عَلىupon مَثْوىthe dwelling الضَّمائِرِof hidden thoughts جُنْدُهُits troops
تُغِيرُ عَلى مَثْوى الضَّمائِرِ جُنْدُهُ
It has an army of beauty drawn from a throng of graceful women;
Its troops raid the dwelling of hidden thoughts.
ذَوَابِلُهُits slender lances قَامَاتُهُits tall figures وسُيُوفُهُand its swords
ذَوَابِلُهُ قَامَاتُهُ وسُيُوفُهُ
لِحَاظُthe glances الْعَذَارَىof maidens والْقَلائِدُand necklaces سَرْدُهُits chain mail
لِحَاظُ الْعَذَارَى والْقَلائِدُ سَرْدُهُ
Its lances are their tall figures, and its swords
Are maidens' glances, and necklaces its chain mail.
إِذَاwhen مَاجَit surges بِالْهِيفِwith slender women الْحِسَانِthe beautiful تَأَرَّجَتْgrow fragrant
إِذَا مَاجَ بِالْهِيفِ الْحِسَانِ تَأَرَّجَتْ
مَسَالِكُهُits paths واشْتَقَّand cleaves فِيin الْجَوِّthe air نَدُّهُits incense
مَسَالِكُهُ واشْتَقَّ فِي الْجَوِّ نَدُّهُ
When it surges with slender beauties, fragrance spreads
Along its paths, and its incense cleaves the air.
فَأَيُّthen what فُؤادٍheart لاnot تَذُوبُmelts حَصاتُهُits reason
فَأَيُّ فُؤادٍ لا تَذُوبُ حَصاتُهُ
غَرَاماًwith passion وَطَرْفٍand an eye لَيْسَis not يُقْذِيهِirritates it سُهْدُهُits sleeplessness
غَرَاماً وَطَرْفٍ لَيْسَ يُقْذِيهِ سُهْدُهُ
What heart, then, does not have its reason melt
With passion, and what eye is not stung by its sleeplessness?
بَلَوْتُI tested الْهَوَىpassion حَتَّىuntil اعْتَرَفْتُI became aware بِكُلِّof all مَاthat
بَلَوْتُ الْهَوَى حَتَّى اعْتَرَفْتُ بِكُلِّ مَا
جَهِلْتُI did not know فَلاso do not يَغْرُرْكَlet it deceive you فالصَّابُfor bitter sap شَهْدُهُits honey
جَهِلْتُ فَلا يَغْرُرْكَ فالصَّابُ شَهْدُهُ
I have tested passion till I acknowledged all that
I had not known; let it not deceive you, for its honey is bitter sap.
ظَلُومٌutterly unjust لَهُit has فيin كُلِّevery حَيٍّliving being جَرِيرَةٌa crime
ظَلُومٌ لَهُ في كُلِّ حَيٍّ جَرِيرَةٌ
يَضِجُّcries out لَهَاover it غَوْرُthe lowlands الْفَضَاءِof open land وَنَجْدُهُand its highlands
يَضِجُّ لَهَا غَوْرُ الْفَضَاءِ وَنَجْدُهُ
Tyrannical, it has a crime against every living soul,
Over which the open land's lowlands and highlands cry out.
إِذَاwhen احْتَلَّit occupies قَلْباًa heart مُطْمَئِنَّاًtranquil تَحَرَّكَتْstir
إِذَا احْتَلَّ قَلْباً مُطْمَئِنَّاً تَحَرَّكَتْ
وَسَاوِسُهُits whisperings فيin الصَّدْرِthe breast واخْتَلَّand is unsettled وَكْدُهُits resolve
وَسَاوِسُهُ في الصَّدْرِ واخْتَلَّ وَكْدُهُ
When it occupies a tranquil heart, there stir
Its whisperings in the breast, and the heart's resolve falters.
فَإِنْso if كُنْتَyou are ذَاpossessed of لُبٍّreason فَلاthen do not تَقْرَبَنَّهُever approach it
فَإِنْ كُنْتَ ذَا لُبٍّ فَلا تَقْرَبَنَّهُ
فَغَيْرُfor not بَعيدٍfar-fetched أَنْthat يُصِيبَكَshould strike you حَدُّهُits edge
فَغَيْرُ بَعيدٍ أَنْ يُصِيبَكَ حَدُّهُ
So if you possess reason, never come near it;
For it is not unlikely that its edge will strike you.
وَقَدْand indeed كُنْتَyou were أَوْلَىmore deserving بِالنَّصِيحَةِof counsel لَوْif صَغَاlistened
وَقَدْ كُنْتَ أَوْلَى بِالنَّصِيحَةِ لَوْ صَغَا
فُؤَادِيmy heart وَلَكِنْand yet خَالَفَopposed الْحَزْمَprudence قَصْدُهُits purpose
فُؤَادِي وَلَكِنْ خَالَفَ الْحَزْمَ قَصْدُهُ
Yet you had greater need of counsel, had
My heart listened; but its purpose defied prudence.
إِذَاif لَمْnot يَكُنْthere is لِلْمَرْءِfor a man عَقْلٌreason يَقُودُهُguides him
إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْمَرْءِ عَقْلٌ يَقُودُهُ
فَيُوشِكُthen he is likely أَنْto يَلْقَىmeet حُسَاماًa sharp sword يَقُدُّهُcleaves him
فَيُوشِكُ أَنْ يَلْقَى حُسَاماً يَقُدُّهُ
If a man has no reason to guide him,
He may soon meet a sword that cleaves him.
لَعَمْرِيby my life لَقَدْindeed وَلَّىdeparted الشَّبَابُyouth وَحَلَّand befell بِيme
لَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ وَلَّى الشَّبَابُ وَحَلَّ بِي
مِنَfrom الشَّيْبِgray hair خَطْبٌa calamity لاnot يُطَاقُcan be managed مَرَدُّهُits repulsion
مِنَ الشَّيْبِ خَطْبٌ لا يُطَاقُ مَرَدُّهُ
By my life, youth has gone, and there has befallen me
A calamity of gray hair that cannot be repelled.
فَأَيُّthen what نَعِيمٍbliss فِيin الزَّمَانِtime أَرُومُهُI seek it
فَأَيُّ نَعِيمٍ فِي الزَّمَانِ أَرُومُهُ
وَأَيُّand what خَلِيلٍintimate friend لِلْوَفَاءِfor loyalty أُعِدُّهُI count on him
وَأَيُّ خَلِيلٍ لِلْوَفَاءِ أُعِدُّهُ
What pleasure in this age, then, shall I seek?
And what intimate friend can I count on for loyalty?
وَكَيْفَand how أَلُومُcan I blame النَّاسَpeople فِيfor الْغَدْرِbetrayal بَعْدَمَاafter
وَكَيْفَ أَلُومُ النَّاسَ فِي الْغَدْرِ بَعْدَمَا
رَأَيْتُI saw شَبابِيmy youth قَدْindeed تَغَيَّرَchanged عَهْدُهُits pledge
رَأَيْتُ شَبابِي قَدْ تَغَيَّرَ عَهْدُهُ
And how can I blame people for betrayal after
I saw that my youth had changed its pledge?
وَأَبْعَدُand most irretrievable مَفْقُودٍa lost thing شَبَابٌyouth رَمَتْhurled بِهِit
وَأَبْعَدُ مَفْقُودٍ شَبَابٌ رَمَتْ بِهِ
صُرُوفُthe vicissitudes اللَّيَالِيof nights عِنْدَin the keeping of مَنْone who لاnot يَرُدُّهُreturns it
صُرُوفُ اللَّيَالِي عِنْدَ مَنْ لا يَرُدُّهُ
And the most irretrievable loss is youth, hurled
By the turns of nights to one who will not return it.
فَمَنْso who لِيfor me بِخِلٍّwith a friend صَادِقٍtrue أَسْتَعِينُهُI seek his help
فَمَنْ لِي بِخِلٍّ صَادِقٍ أَسْتَعِينُهُ
عَلَىtoward أَمَلِيmy hope أَوْor نَاصِرٍa supporter أَسْتَمِدُّهُI seek his aid
عَلَى أَمَلِي أَوْ نَاصِرٍ أَسْتَمِدُّهُ
Who, then, will find me a true friend whose help I can seek
In pursuing my hope, or a champion whose aid I can draw upon?
صَحِبْتُI accompanied بَنِيthe sons الدُّنْياof the world طَوِيلاًlong فَلَمbut did not أَجِدْfind
صَحِبْتُ بَنِي الدُّنْيا طَوِيلاً فَلَم أَجِدْ
خَلِيلاًa close friend فَهَلْso is there مِنْany صَاحِبٍcompanion أَسْتَجِدُّهُI may newly gain
خَلِيلاً فَهَلْ مِنْ صَاحِبٍ أَسْتَجِدُّهُ
I have long accompanied the sons of this world, but found no
Close friend; is there a companion I might newly gain?
فَأَكْثَرُfor most مَنْof those whom لاقَيْتُI met لَمْnot يَصْفُwas pure قَلْبُهُhis heart
فَأَكْثَرُ مَنْ لاقَيْتُ لَمْ يَصْفُ قَلْبُهُ
وَأَصْدَقُand the truest مَنْof those whom وَالَيْتُI befriended لَمْnot يُغْنِavailed وُدُّهُhis affection
وَأَصْدَقُ مَنْ وَالَيْتُ لَمْ يُغْنِ وُدُّهُ
Most whom I met had hearts that were not pure,
And the truest I befriended had affection that availed nothing.
أُطَالِبُI press أَيَّامِيmy days بِماfor what لَيْسَis not عِنْدَهاwith them
أُطَالِبُ أَيَّامِي بِما لَيْسَ عِنْدَها
وَمَنْand whoever طَلَبَseeks الْمَعْدُومَthe nonexistent أَعْيَاهُexhausted him وجْدُهُfinding it
وَمَنْ طَلَبَ الْمَعْدُومَ أَعْيَاهُ وجْدُهُ
I demand of my days what they do not possess,
And whoever seeks the nonexistent is worn out trying to find it.
فَمَاfor not كُلُّevery حَيٍّliving person يَنْصُرُsupports الْقَوْلَthe words فِعْلُهُhis deeds
فَمَا كُلُّ حَيٍّ يَنْصُرُ الْقَوْلَ فِعْلُهُ
وَلاnor كُلُّevery خِلٍّfriend يَصْدُقُis true to النَّفْسَthe soul وَعْدُهُhis promise
وَلا كُلُّ خِلٍّ يَصْدُقُ النَّفْسَ وَعْدُهُ
Not every man's deeds uphold his words,
Nor does every friend's promise prove true to the soul.
وَأَصْعَبُand the hardest مَاthat which يَلْقَىmeets الْفَتَىthe young man فِيin زَمَانِهِhis time
وَأَصْعَبُ مَا يَلْقَى الْفَتَى فِي زَمَانِهِ
صَحَابَةُthe company مَنْof one whose يَشْفِيcures مِنَfrom الدَّاءِthe ailment فَقْدُهُhis absence
صَحَابَةُ مَنْ يَشْفِي مِنَ الدَّاءِ فَقْدُهُ
And the hardest thing a young man meets in his time
Is the company of one whose absence cures the disease.
وَلِلنُّجْحِand for success أَسْبَابٌmeans إِذَاif لَمْnot يَفُزْhe wins بِهاthem
وَلِلنُّجْحِ أَسْبَابٌ إِذَا لَمْ يَفُزْ بِها
لَبِيبٌa discerning man مِنَamong الْفِتْيَانِthe youths لمnot يُورِgives a spark زَنْدُهُhis fire-stick
لَبِيبٌ مِنَ الْفِتْيَانِ لم يُورِ زَنْدُهُ
And success has its means; if they are not attained
By a discerning youth, his fire-stick gives no spark.
وَلَكِنْbut إِذَاif لمnot يُسْعِدِaids الْمَرءَthe man جَدُّهُhis good fortune
وَلَكِنْ إِذَا لم يُسْعِدِ الْمَرءَ جَدُّهُ
عَلَىin سَعْيِهِhis striving لَمْnot يَبْلُغreaches السُّؤْلَthe wish جِدُّهُhis earnest effort
عَلَى سَعْيِهِ لَمْ يَبْلُغ السُّؤْلَ جِدُّهُ
But if a man's good fortune does not aid him
In his striving, his earnest effort will not attain his wish.
وَمَاand not أَنَاI بِالْمَغْلُوبِone defeated دُونَshort of مَرامِهِhis goal
وَمَا أَنَا بِالْمَغْلُوبِ دُونَ مَرامِهِ
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it is that قَدْsometimes يَخْذُلُfails الْمَرْءَthe man جَهْدُهُhis effort
وَلَكِنَّهُ قَدْ يَخْذُلُ الْمَرْءَ جَهْدُهُ
I am not one to be defeated short of his goal,
Yet a man's effort may fail him.
ومَاand not أُبْتُI returned بِالْحِرْمَانِwith deprivation إِلَّاexcept لأَنَّنِيbecause I
ومَا أُبْتُ بِالْحِرْمَانِ إِلَّا لأَنَّنِي
أَوَدُّI desire مِنَfrom الأَيَّامِthe days مَاwhat لاnot تَوَدُّهُthey desire it
أَوَدُّ مِنَ الأَيَّامِ مَا لا تَوَدُّهُ
And I returned empty-handed only because
I want of the days what they do not want.
فَإِنْso if يَكُit be فَارَقْتُI have left الرِّضَاcontentment فَلَبَعْدَمَاthen indeed after
فَإِنْ يَكُ فَارَقْتُ الرِّضَا فَلَبَعْدَمَا
صَحِبْتُI lived with زَماناًan age يُغْضِبُenrages الْحُرَّthe free man عَبْدُهُits slave
صَحِبْتُ زَماناً يُغْضِبُ الْحُرَّ عَبْدُهُ
If I have parted with contentment, it was only after
Keeping company with an age whose slave enrages the free man.
أَبَىrefused الدَّهْرُTime إِلَّاexcept أَنْthat يَسُودَshould rule وَضِيعُهُits base man
أَبَى الدَّهْرُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَسُودَ وَضِيعُهُ
وَيَمْلِكَand holds أَعْنَاقَthe necks الْمَطَالِبِof aspirations وَغْدُهُits scoundrel
وَيَمْلِكَ أَعْنَاقَ الْمَطَالِبِ وَغْدُهُ
Time insists that its base man alone should rule,
And its scoundrel hold aspirations by the neck.
تَدَاعَتْsummoned one another لِدَرْكِto obtain الثَّأْرِvengeance فِينَاagainst us ثُعَالُهُits foxes
تَدَاعَتْ لِدَرْكِ الثَّأْرِ فِينَا ثُعَالُهُ
وَنَامَتْand slept عَلىdespite طُولِthe length الْوَتِيرَةِof the unavenged wrong أُسْدُهُits lions
وَنَامَتْ عَلى طُولِ الْوَتِيرَةِ أُسْدُهُ
Its foxes summon one another to take vengeance on us,
While its lions sleep despite the long-unavenged wrong.
فَحَتَّامَthen how long نَسْرِيwe journey by night فِيin دَيَاجِيرthe deep darkness مِحْنَةٍof an ordeal
فَحَتَّامَ نَسْرِي فِي دَيَاجِير مِحْنَةٍ
يَضِيقُgrows too narrow بِهَاin it عَنْfor صُحْبَةِthe company السَّيْفِof the sword غِمْدُهُits scabbard
يَضِيقُ بِهَا عَنْ صُحْبَةِ السَّيْفِ غِمْدُهُ
How long, then, shall we journey through an ordeal's deep darkness,
In which the sword's scabbard grows too cramped to keep it company?
إِذَاif المَرءُa man لَمْnot يَدْفَعْrepels يَدَthe hand الجَوْرِof injustice إِنْwhen سَطَتْit assails
إِذَا المَرءُ لَمْ يَدْفَعْ يَدَ الجَوْرِ إِنْ سَطَتْ
عَلَيْهِagainst him فَلاthen let him not يَأْسَفْlament إِذَاif ضَاعَis lost مَجْدُهُhis glory
عَلَيْهِ فَلا يَأْسَفْ إِذَا ضَاعَ مَجْدُهُ
If a man does not repel the hand of injustice when it assails
Him, let him not lament when his glory is lost.
وَمَنْand whoever ذَلَّsubmits خَوْفfor fear of الْمَوْتِdeath كَانَتْbecomes حَيَاتُهُhis life
وَمَنْ ذَلَّ خَوْف الْمَوْتِ كَانَتْ حَيَاتُهُ
أَضَرَّmore harmful عَلَيْهِto him مِنْthan حِمَامٍa death يَؤُدُّهُcrushhes him
أَضَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ حِمَامٍ يَؤُدُّهُ
Whoever submits in fear of death finds his life
More harmful to him than a death that crushes him.
وَأَقْتَلُand the deadliest دَاءٍailment رُؤْيَةُseeing العَيْنِthe eye ظَالِماًa tyrant
وَأَقْتَلُ دَاءٍ رُؤْيَةُ العَيْنِ ظَالِماً
يُسِيءُdoes wrong وَيُتْلَىand is recited فيin الْمَحَافِلِassemblies حَمْدُهُhis praise
يُسِيءُ وَيُتْلَى في الْمَحَافِلِ حَمْدُهُ
And the deadliest ailment is for the eye to see a tyrant
Do wrong while his praises are recited in assemblies.
عَلامَwhy يَعِيشُlives الْمَرءُa man فِيin الدَّهْرِTime خَامِلاًwithout distinction
عَلامَ يَعِيشُ الْمَرءُ فِي الدَّهْرِ خَامِلاً
أَيَفْرَحُdoes he rejoice فِيin الدُّنْيَاthe world بِيَوْمٍat a day يَعُدُّهُhe counts it
أَيَفْرَحُ فِي الدُّنْيَا بِيَوْمٍ يَعُدُّهُ
Why should a man live in this world without distinction?
Should he rejoice in this world at a day he counts?
يَرَىhe sees الضَّيْمَhumiliation يَغْشَاهُovertaking him فَيَلْتَذُّand then savors وَقْعَهُits impact
يَرَى الضَّيْمَ يَغْشَاهُ فَيَلْتَذُّ وَقْعَهُ
كَذِيlike one with جَرَبٍscabies يَلْتَذُّdelights بِالْحَكِّin scratching جِلْدُهُhis skin
كَذِي جَرَبٍ يَلْتَذُّ بِالْحَكِّ جِلْدُهُ
He sees humiliation overtake him and savors its impact,
Like one with scabies whose skin delights in scratching.
إِذَاif الْمَرءُa man لاقَىmeets السَّيْلَthe torrent ثُمَّتَthen لَمْnot يَعُجْturns aside
إِذَا الْمَرءُ لاقَى السَّيْلَ ثُمَّتَ لَمْ يَعُجْ
إِلَىtoward وَزَرٍa refuge يَحْمِيهِprotects him أَرْدَاهُdestroys him مَدُّهُits surge
إِلَى وَزَرٍ يَحْمِيهِ أَرْدَاهُ مَدُّهُ
If a man meets the torrent and then does not turn
To a refuge that protects him, its surge destroys him.
عَفَاءٌruin عَلَىupon الدُّنْيَاthe world إِذَاif الْمَرْءُa man لَمْnot يَعِشْlives
عَفَاءٌ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يَعِشْ
بِهَاin it بَطَلاًas a hero يَحْمِيdefends الْحَقِيقَةَwhat is sacred شَدُّهُhis onslaught
بِهَا بَطَلاً يَحْمِي الْحَقِيقَةَ شَدُّهُ
Ruin upon this world if a man does not live
In it as a hero whose onslaught defends what is sacred.
مِنَof الْعَارِshame أَنْthat يَرْضَىis content الفَتَىthe young man بِمَذَلَّةٍwith abasement
مِنَ الْعَارِ أَنْ يَرْضَى الفَتَى بِمَذَلَّةٍ
وَفِيwhile in السَّيْفِthe sword ماwhat يَكْفِيsuffices لأَمْرٍfor a task يُعِدُّهُhe prepares it
وَفِي السَّيْفِ ما يَكْفِي لأَمْرٍ يُعِدُّهُ
It is shameful for a young man to accept abasement
While the sword suffices for the task he prepares.
وَإِنِّيand indeed I امْرُؤٌam a man لاnot أَسْتَكِينُsubmit لِصَوْلَةٍto an assault
وَإِنِّي امْرُؤٌ لا أَسْتَكِينُ لِصَوْلَةٍ
وإِنْeven if شَدَّbinds سَاقِيmy leg دُونَshort of مَسْعَايَmy goal قِدُّهُits leather thong
وإِنْ شَدَّ سَاقِي دُونَ مَسْعَايَ قِدُّهُ
I am a man who will not yield to an assault,
Even if its leather thong binds my leg short of my goal.
أَبَتْrefused لِيَfor me حَمْلَbearing الضَّيْمِhumiliation نَفْسٌa soul أَبِيَّةٌproud
أَبَتْ لِيَ حَمْلَ الضَّيْمِ نَفْسٌ أَبِيَّةٌ
وقَلْبٌand a heart إِذَاwhen سِيمَis subjected to الأَذَىinjury شَبَّblazes up وَقْدُهُits flame
وقَلْبٌ إِذَا سِيمَ الأَذَى شَبَّ وَقْدُهُ
A proud soul has forbidden me to bear humiliation,
And a heart whose flame flares when subjected to injury.
نَمَانِيraised me إِلَىto الْعَلْيَاءِthe heights فَرْعٌa branch تَأَثَّلَتْbecame rooted
نَمَانِي إِلَى الْعَلْيَاءِ فَرْعٌ تَأَثَّلَتْ
أَرُومَتُهُits root فِيin الْمَجْدِglory وافْتَرَّand smiled سَعْدُهُits good fortune
أَرُومَتُهُ فِي الْمَجْدِ وافْتَرَّ سَعْدُهُ
A branch raised me to the heights; firmly rooted
In glory was its stock, and its good fortune smiled.
وَحَسْبُand sufficient for الْفَتَىthe young man مَجْداًas glory إِذَاif طالَبَhe seeks الْعُلاthe heights
وَحَسْبُ الْفَتَى مَجْداً إِذَا طالَبَ الْعُلا
بِمَاby what كَانَhad أَوْصَاهُenjoined upon him أَبُوهُhis father وَجدُّهُand his grandfather
بِمَا كَانَ أَوْصَاهُ أَبُوهُ وَجدُّهُ
A young man has glory enough if he pursues the heights
By what his father and grandfather enjoined upon him.
إِذَاwhen وُلِدَis born الْمَوْلُودُa child مِنَّاamong us فَدَرُّهُthen his milk
إِذَا وُلِدَ الْمَوْلُودُ مِنَّا فَدَرُّهُ
دَمُthe blood الصِّيدِof proud kings والْجُرْدُand sleek horses الْعَنَاجِيجُthe noble steeds مَهْدُهُhis cradle
دَمُ الصِّيدِ والْجُرْدُ الْعَنَاجِيجُ مَهْدُهُ
When a child is born among us, his milk is
The blood of proud kings, and sleek, noble steeds his cradle.
فَإِنْthen if عاشَhe lives فَالْبِيدُthen the deserts الدَّيَامِيمُthe trackless wastes دَارُهُhis home
فَإِنْ عاشَ فَالْبِيدُ الدَّيَامِيمُ دَارُهُ
وإِنْand if مَاتَhe dies فَالطَّيْرُthen the birds الأَضَامِيمُin clustered flocks لَحْدُهُhis grave
وإِنْ مَاتَ فَالطَّيْرُ الأَضَامِيمُ لَحْدُهُ
If he lives, the vast trackless deserts are his home;
And if he dies, birds massed in flocks are his grave.
أَصُدُّI turn away عَنِfrom الْمَرْمَىthe target الْقَريبِnearby تَرَفُّعَاًout of pride
أَصُدُّ عَنِ الْمَرْمَى الْقَريبِ تَرَفُّعَاً
وأَطْلُبُand I seek أَمْرَاًa goal يُعْجِزُdefeats الطَّيْرَbirds بُعْدُهُits distance
وأَطْلُبُ أَمْرَاً يُعْجِزُ الطَّيْرَ بُعْدُهُ
I turn away from a nearby target out of lofty pride,
And seek a goal whose distance defeats the birds.
وَلاand no بُدَّescape مِنْfrom يَوْمٍa day تَلاعَبُsport بِالْقَنَاwith lances
وَلا بُدَّ مِنْ يَوْمٍ تَلاعَبُ بِالْقَنَا
أُسُودُthe lions الْوَغَىof battle فيهِin it وتَمْرَحُand prance جُرْدُهُits sleek steeds
أُسُودُ الْوَغَى فيهِ وتَمْرَحُ جُرْدُهُ
And a day must come when lances are playthings
For the lions of war, and its sleek steeds prance.
يُمَزِّقُrends أَسْتَارَthe veils النَّواظِرِof eyes بَرْقُهُits lightning
يُمَزِّقُ أَسْتَارَ النَّواظِرِ بَرْقُهُ
وَيَقْرَعُand strikes أَصْدَافَthe shells الْمَسَامِعِof ears رَعْدُهُits thunder
وَيَقْرَعُ أَصْدَافَ الْمَسَامِعِ رَعْدُهُ
Its lightning rends the veils of eyes,
And its thunder beats upon the shells of ears.
تُدَبِّرُdirect أَحْكَامَthe rules الطِّعَانِof spear-fighting كُهُولُهُits seasoned men
تُدَبِّرُ أَحْكَامَ الطِّعَانِ كُهُولُهُ
وَتَمْلِكُand control تَصْرِيفَthe turning الأَعِنَّةِof reins مُرْدُهُits beardless youths
وَتَمْلِكُ تَصْرِيفَ الأَعِنَّةِ مُرْدُهُ
Its seasoned men direct the rules of spear-fighting,
And its beardless youths control the turning of the reins.
قُلُوبُthe hearts الرِّجَالِof men الْمُسْتَبِدَّةِself-willed أَكْلُهُits food
قُلُوبُ الرِّجَالِ الْمُسْتَبِدَّةِ أَكْلُهُ
وَفَيْضُand the flood الدِّماءِof blood الْمُسْتَهِلَّةِpouring forth وِرْدُهُits drink
وَفَيْضُ الدِّماءِ الْمُسْتَهِلَّةِ وِرْدُهُ
Men's self-willed hearts are its food,
And the flood of streaming blood its drink.
أُحَمِّلُI load صَدْرَthe breast النَّصْلِof the blade فِيهِin it سَرِيرَةًa secret
أُحَمِّلُ صَدْرَ النَّصْلِ فِيهِ سَرِيرَةً
تُعَدُّis prepared لأَمْرٍfor a purpose لاnot يُحَاوَلُis attempted رَدُّهُits repelling
تُعَدُّ لأَمْرٍ لا يُحَاوَلُ رَدُّهُ
I charge the blade's breast that day with a secret,
Prepared for a purpose no one attempts to thwart.
فإِمَّاthen either حَيَاةٌa life مِثْلُlike ماwhat تَشْتَهِيdesires الْعُلاhigh honor
فإِمَّا حَيَاةٌ مِثْلُ ما تَشْتَهِي الْعُلا
وإِمَّاor else رَدىًdeath يَشْفِيcures مِنَof الدّاءِthe ailment وَفْدُهُits coming
وإِمَّا رَدىً يَشْفِي مِنَ الدّاءِ وَفْدُهُ
Then either a life such as high honor desires,
Or a death whose coming cures the affliction.
Sol 6.1