تَصَابَيْتُI acted youthfully بَعْدَafter الْحِلْمِsober restraint وَاعْتَادَنِيand revisited me شَجْوِيmy sorrow
تَصَابَيْتُ بَعْدَ الْحِلْمِ وَاعْتَادَنِي شَجْوِي
وَأَصْبَحْتُand I became قَدْalready بَدَّلْتُI exchanged نُسْكِيَmy piety بِاللَّهْوِfor revelry
وَأَصْبَحْتُ قَدْ بَدَّلْتُ نُسْكِيَ بِاللَّهْوِ
I played the youth after sober restraint, and my sorrow returned to me;
And I have exchanged my piety for revelry.
فَقُمْso rise عَاطِنِيهَاpass it to me قَبْلَbefore أَنْthat يَحْكُمَrules النُّهَىreason
فَقُمْ عَاطِنِيهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَحْكُمَ النُّهَى
عَلَيَّover me وَيَسْتَهْوِيand brings down الزَّمَانُtime عَلَىupon زَهْوِيmy pride
عَلَيَّ وَيَسْتَهْوِي الزَّمَانُ عَلَى زَهْوِي
So rise and pass it to me before reason rules
Over me, and time brings down my pride.
فَمَاfor ... is nothing الدَّهْرُtime إِلَّاbut نَابِلٌan archer ذُوpossessed of مَكِيدَةٍguile
فَمَا الدَّهْرُ إِلَّا نَابِلٌ ذُو مَكِيدَةٍ
إِذَاwhen نَزَعَتْdraw back كَفَّاهُhis two hands فِيin الْقَوْسِthe bow لَمْdoes not يُشْوِmiss the vital spot
إِذَا نَزَعَتْ كَفَّاهُ فِي الْقَوْسِ لَمْ يُشْوِ
For time is nothing but an archer possessed of guile;
When his two hands draw the bow, he never misses the vital spot.
فَخُذْso take مَاwhat صَفَاis pure مِنْof وُدِّهِits affection قَبْلَbefore فَوْتِهِits loss
فَخُذْ مَا صَفَا مِنْ وُدِّهِ قَبْلَ فَوْتِهِ
فَلَيْسَfor it is not بِبَاقٍlasting فِيin الْوِدَادِaffection عَلَىin a state of الصَّفْوِpurity
فَلَيْسَ بِبَاقٍ فِي الْوِدَادِ عَلَى الصَّفْوِ
So take what is pure in its affection before it is lost,
For it will not keep its friendship unclouded.
أَلاtake heed إِنَّماَonly الأَيَّامُthe days دُولابُa waterwheel خُدْعَةٍdeceit
أَلا إِنَّماَ الأَيَّامُ دُولابُ خُدْعَةٍ
تَدُورُit revolves عَلَىdespite أَنْthe fact that لَيْسَnot مِنْany ظَمَإٍthirst تُرْوِيit quenches
تَدُورُ عَلَى أَنْ لَيْسَ مِنْ ظَمَإٍ تُرْوِي
Take heed: the days are but a waterwheel of deceit,
Revolving, yet quenching no thirst.
فَبَيْنَاfor while تُرَىit is seen تَعْلُوit rises عَلَىabove النَّجْمِthe star رِفْعَةًin height
فَبَيْنَا تُرَى تَعْلُو عَلَى النَّجْمِ رِفْعَةً
بِمَنْwith whoever كَانَwas يَهْوَاهَاloving it إِذِwhen suddenly انْقَلَبَتْit overturned تَهْوِيit plunges
بِمَنْ كَانَ يَهْوَاهَا إِذِ انْقَلَبَتْ تَهْوِي
For while it is seen soaring above the stars in height,
With whoever loved it, suddenly it overturns and plunges.
فَرَاقِبْso watch for بِجِدٍّdiligently سَهْوَةَa lapse الدَّهْرِof time وَالْتَمِسْand seek
فَرَاقِبْ بِجِدٍّ سَهْوَةَ الدَّهْرِ وَالْتَمِسْ
مُنَاكَyour wishes فَمَاfor it does not يُعْطِيكَgive you إِلَّاexcept عَلَىin السَّهْوِheedlessness
مُنَاكَ فَمَا يُعْطِيكَ إِلَّا عَلَى السَّهْوِ
So watch diligently for time's moment of distraction, and seek
Your wishes, for it grants you nothing except when off guard.
وَلاand let not يَزَعَنْكَever restrain you الصَّبْرُpatience عَنْfrom نَيْلِattaining لَذَّةٍa pleasure
وَلا يَزَعَنْكَ الصَّبْرُ عَنْ نَيْلِ لَذَّةٍ
فَعَمَّاfor after قَلِيلٍa short while يَسْلُبُtakes away الشَّيْبُgray hair مَاwhat تَحْوِيyou possess
فَعَمَّا قَلِيلٍ يَسْلُبُ الشَّيْبُ مَا تَحْوِي
And never let patience restrain you from attaining pleasure;
For very soon gray hair will strip away what you possess.
أَلاah رُبَّmany a لَيْلٍnight قَصَّرَshortened اللَّهْوُrevelry طُولَهُits length
أَلا رُبَّ لَيْلٍ قَصَّرَ اللَّهْوُ طُولَهُ
بِهَيْفَاءَwith a slender-waisted woman مِثْلِlike الْغُصْنِthe bough بَيِّنَةِclearly displaying السَّرْوِnobility
بِهَيْفَاءَ مِثْلِ الْغُصْنِ بَيِّنَةِ السَّرْوِ
Ah, many a night had its length shortened by revelry,
With a slender-waisted woman like a bough, of evident nobility.
فَتَاةٌa maiden تُرِيكَshows you الْبَدْرَthe full moon تَحْتَbeneath قِنَاعِهَاher veil
فَتَاةٌ تُرِيكَ الْبَدْرَ تَحْتَ قِنَاعِهَا
إِذَاwhen سَفَرَتْshe unveils وَالْغُصْنَand the bough فِيin مَلْعَبِplayful movement الْحَقْوِthe waist
إِذَا سَفَرَتْ وَالْغُصْنَ فِي مَلْعَبِ الْحَقْوِ
A maiden who shows you the full moon beneath her veil,
When she unveils, and a bough in the play of her waist.
إِذَاwhen انْفَتَلَتْshe turns بِالْكَأْسِwith the cup خِلْتَyou imagined بَنَانَهَاher fingers
إِذَا انْفَتَلَتْ بِالْكَأْسِ خِلْتَ بَنَانَهَا
يُصَرِّفُturns نَجْمَاًa star زَلَّslipped عَنْfrom دَارَةِthe circle of الْجَوِّthe sky
يُصَرِّفُ نَجْمَاً زَلَّ عَنْ دَارَةِ الْجَوِّ
When she turns with the cup, you imagine her fingers
Turning a star that slipped from the circle of the sky.
وَإِنْand if خَطَرَتْshe walks gracefully بَيْنَamong النَّدَامَىthe drinking companions تَأَوَّدَتْshe sways
وَإِنْ خَطَرَتْ بَيْنَ النَّدَامَى تَأَوَّدَتْ
كَأَنْas though لَيْسَnot عُضْوٌa limb فِيin الْقَوَامِthe figure عَلَىupon عُضْوِa limb
كَأَنْ لَيْسَ عُضْوٌ فِي الْقَوَامِ عَلَى عُضْوِ
And if she glides among the drinking companions, she sways,
As though no limb in her frame rested upon another.
وَإِنِّيand indeed I مِنَof الْقَوْمِthe people الَّذِينَwho إِذَاwhen انْتَوَوْاthey resolved upon
وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ إِذَا انْتَوَوْا
مَهُولاًsomething fearsome مِنَamong الأَخْطَارِthe dangers بَاؤُواthey returned عَلَىwith بَأْوِpride
مَهُولاً مِنَ الأَخْطَارِ بَاؤُوا عَلَى بَأْوِ
And I am of the people who, when they resolve upon
A fearsome peril, return with pride.
أُنَاسٌmen إِذَاwhen مَاfor emphasis أَجْمَعُواthey resolved upon الأَمْرَthe matter أَصْبَحُواthey entered the morning
أُنَاسٌ إِذَا مَا أَجْمَعُوا الأَمْرَ أَصْبَحُوا
وَمَاand not هُمْthey بِنَظَّارِينَconstant watchers لِلْغَيْمِfor the clouds وَالْصَّحْوِand clear skies
وَمَا هُمْ بِنَظَّارِينَ لِلْغَيْمِ وَالْصَّحْوِ
Men who, once they decide upon a matter, greet the morning,
And do not keep watch for cloud or clear skies.
إِذَاwhen غَضِبُواthey grew angry رَدُّواthey restored الأُمُورَthe affairs لأَصْلِهَاto their origin
إِذَا غَضِبُوا رَدُّوا الأُمُورَ لأَصْلِهَا
كَمَاjust as بَدَأَتْthey began وَاسْتَفْتَحُواand they conquered الأَرْضَthe land بِالْغَزْوِby invasion
كَمَا بَدَأَتْ وَاسْتَفْتَحُوا الأَرْضَ بِالْغَزْوِ
When angered, they restore affairs to their origins,
As they began, and conquer the land by invasion.
وَإِنْand if حَارَتِwere bewildered الأَبْصَارُthe eyes فِيin مُدْلَهِمَّةٍa pitch-dark difficulty
وَإِنْ حَارَتِ الأَبْصَارُ فِي مُدْلَهِمَّةٍ
مِنَof الأَمْرِthe affair جَاؤُواthey came بِالإِنَارَةِwith illumination وَالضَّحْوِand daylight
مِنَ الأَمْرِ جَاؤُوا بِالإِنَارَةِ وَالضَّحْوِ
And if eyes are bewildered in the thick darkness
Of an affair, they bring illumination and daylight.
شَدَدْتُI strengthened بِهِمْthrough them أَزْرِيmy back وَحَكَّمْتُand gave authority to شِرَّتِيmy ardor
شَدَدْتُ بِهِمْ أَزْرِي وَحَكَّمْتُ شِرَّتِي
وَأَطْلَقْتُand let loose مِنْfrom حَبْلِيmy tether وَأَبْعَدْتُand went far فِيalong شَأْوِيmy course
وَأَطْلَقْتُ مِنْ حَبْلِي وَأَبْعَدْتُ فِي شَأْوِي
Through them I strengthened my back and let my ardor rule;
And loosened my tether and went far along my course.
وَأَصْبَحْتُand I became مَرْهُوبَfeared for اللِّسَانِthe tongue كَأَنَّنِيas though I
وَأَصْبَحْتُ مَرْهُوبَ اللِّسَانِ كَأَنَّنِي
سَعَرْتُI kindled لَظَىًa blaze بَيْنَamong الْحَضَارَةِsettled society وَالْبَدْوِand nomads
سَعَرْتُ لَظَىً بَيْنَ الْحَضَارَةِ وَالْبَدْوِ
And I became feared for my tongue, as though I
Had kindled a blaze among townsfolk and nomads.
فَيَاoh, then عَجَبَاwhat a wonder لِلْقَوْمِat the people يَبْغُونَthey seek خُطَّتِيmy station
فَيَا عَجَبَا لِلْقَوْمِ يَبْغُونَ خُطَّتِي
وَمَاand ... is not شَأْوُهُمْtheir reach شَأْوِيmy reach وَلاnor عَدْوُهُمْtheir running عَدْوِيmy running
وَمَا شَأْوُهُمْ شَأْوِي وَلا عَدْوُهُمْ عَدْوِي
How astonishing these people who seek my station,
Yet their reach is not my reach, nor their pace my pace.
إِذَاwhen مَاfor emphasis رَأَوْنِيthey saw me مُقْبِلاًapproaching أَوْحَدُواthey singled out لَهُمْfor themselves
إِذَا مَا رَأَوْنِي مُقْبِلاً أَوْحَدُوا لَهُمْ
شَكَاةًa complaint فَلاso may not زَالُواthey cease عَلَىin ذَلِكَthat الشَّكْوِcomplaining
شَكَاةً فَلا زَالُوا عَلَى ذَلِكَ الشَّكْوِ
Whenever they see me approaching, they single out for themselves
A grievance—may they never cease that complaining!
يَرُومُونَthey aspire to مَسْعَاتِيmy achievement وَدُونَand short of مَنَالِهَاattaining it
يَرُومُونَ مَسْعَاتِي وَدُونَ مَنَالِهَا
مَرَاقٍascents تَظَلُّkeep on الطَّيْرُthe birds مِنْbecause of بُعْدِهَاtheir remoteness تَهْوِيplunging down
مَرَاقٍ تَظَلُّ الطَّيْرُ مِنْ بُعْدِهَا تَهْوِي
They aspire to my achievement, but before they can reach it lie
Ascents so long that birds keep plunging down.
وَلاand no وَأَبِيby my father مَاnot النَّصْلُthe blade فِيin الْفِعْلِaction كَالْعَصَاlike the staff
وَلا وَأَبِي مَا النَّصْلُ فِي الْفِعْلِ كَالْعَصَا
وَلاnor الْقَوْسُthe bow مَلآنَfull الْحَقِيبَةِthe quiver كَالْخِلْوِlike the empty one
وَلا الْقَوْسُ مَلآنَ الْحَقِيبَةِ كَالْخِلْوِ
No, by my father! A blade is not like a staff in action,
Nor a bow with a full quiver like one with an empty quiver.
لَقُلْتُindeed I spoke وَقَالُواand they spoke فَاعْتَلَوْتُso I rose high وَخَفَّضُواand lowered themselves
لَقُلْتُ وَقَالُوا فَاعْتَلَوْتُ وَخَفَّضُوا
وَلَيْسَand ... is not أَخُوa man of صِدْقٍtruth كَمَنْlike one who جَاءَcame بِاللَّغْوِwith idle talk
وَلَيْسَ أَخُو صِدْقٍ كَمَنْ جَاءَ بِاللَّغْوِ
Indeed I spoke, and they spoke; I rose high, while they sank low.
And a man of truth is not like one who brings idle talk.
وَماَand ... is not ذَاكَthat إِلَّاexcept أَنَّنِيthat I بِتُّI spent the night سَاهِراًawake
وَماَ ذَاكَ إِلَّا أَنَّنِي بِتُّ سَاهِراً
وَنَامُواand they slept وَمَاand ... is not عُقْبَىthe outcome of التَّيَقُّظِwakefulness كَالْغَفْوِlike dozing
وَنَامُوا وَمَا عُقْبَى التَّيَقُّظِ كَالْغَفْوِ
And that is only because I spent the night awake,
While they slept; the outcome of wakefulness is unlike that of dozing.
فَأَصْبَحْتُso I became مَشْبُوبَablaze with الزَّئِيرِroaring وَأَصْبَحَتْand they became
فَأَصْبَحْتُ مَشْبُوبَ الزَّئِيرِ وَأَصْبَحَتْ
لَوَاطِئَcrouching creatures فِيمَاin the space بَيْنَbetween دَارَاتِهَاtheir enclosures تَعْوِيhowling
لَوَاطِئَ فِيمَا بَيْنَ دَارَاتِهَا تَعْوِي
So I became fiery in my roaring, while they became
Crouching creatures, howling among their enclosures.
Sol 6.1