قالواthey said عساكperhaps you are مرجِّمٌa conjecturer فتبَيَّنِso ascertain
قالوا عساك مرجِّمٌ فتبَيَّنِ
هيهاتfar from it ليسit is not بناظريmy seeing eye إنif غَرَّنيit deceived me
هيهات ليس بناظري إن غَرَّني
They said, 'Perhaps you are guessing; make certain.'
They said, "May you be a translator, so make it clear."
Far from it! My eye is no eye of mine if it deceives me.
Alas! My peers are not like me, if they delude me.
هيit is تلكthat دارُهمُtheir dwelling وذلكand that ماؤهمtheir water
هي تلك دارُهمُ وذلك ماؤهم
فاحبسso halt ورِدْand approach the water وشِرقتَand may you choke إنif لمnot تسقِنيyou give me drink
فاحبس ورِدْ وشِرقتَ إن لم تسقِني
That is their dwelling, and that is their water.
That is their home and their water,
So halt and approach the water—may you choke if you do not give me drink!
So withhold your love and inclination if they do not quench my thirst.
ولقدand indeed أكادI almost أضِلُّlose my way لولاwere it not for عنبرٌambergris
ولقد أكاد أضِلُّ لولا عنبرٌ
فيin التربthe soil منfrom أرَجthe fragrance of الحبائبthe beloved women دلَّنيguided me
في الترب من أرَج الحبائب دلَّني
I would almost lose my way, were it not for ambergris
I almost went astray were it not for ambergris
in the soil, from the beloved women's fragrance, that guided me.
In the soil, from the basil of loved ones that guided me.
فتقواthey blended بهwith it أنفاسَهنtheir breaths لطائماperfume sachets
فتقوا به أنفاسَهن لطائما
وظعنَّand they departed وهيwhile it معwith الثرىthe dust لمnot تظعنِdeparted
وظعنَّ وهي مع الثرى لم تظعنِ
They blended their breaths with it into perfume sachets;
Their breath perfumed it with delicate fragrance,
the women departed, but those breaths did not depart from the dust.
Though it sighed with earth and did not moan.
ياO منزلاdwelling لعبتplayed بهwith it أيديthe hands of الصَّباthe east wind
يا منزلا لعبت به أيدي الصَّبا
لعبَthe play of الشكوكdoubts وقدalthough already بدتthey appeared بتيقُّنيamid my certainty
لعبَ الشكوك وقد بدت بتيقُّني
O dwelling, with which the east wind's hands have played
O dwelling where the hands of youth played around,
as doubts play, though they arose amid my certainty.
Playing doubts while surety appeared to me.
إمَّاif تناشدنيyou adjure me العهودَthe pledges فإنهاthen they
إمَّا تناشدني العهودَ فإنها
حُفِظتwere kept فكانتso they were بئسwretched ذخرُthe treasure of المقتنيthe keeper
حُفِظت فكانت بئس ذخرُ المقتني
If you adjure me by our pledges, they
Whether they call me to uphold the pacts—for they
have been kept—a wretched treasure for their keeper.
Were kept—misery is the treasure of the covetous.
سكنتْكَinhabited you بعدهمafter them الوحوشwild beasts تشبّهاimitating
سكنتْكَ بعدهم الوحوش تشبّها
بهمُlike them وليتكand if only you آنفاbefore لمnot تُسكَنِwere inhabited
بهمُ وليتك آنفا لم تُسكَنِ
After them, wild beasts inhabited you, imitating
After them, beasts dwelled in you resembling them.
them; if only you had not been inhabited before!
Would that you had not been inhabited before.
لعيونهنّfor their eyes علامةٌa mark سحريَةٌmagical
لعيونهنّ علامةٌ سحريَةٌ
عنديknown to me فماso what بالis the matter with الظباءthe gazelles تغُشُّنيdeceive me
عندي فما بال الظباء تغُشُّني
Their eyes have a magical mark
Their eyes have a magical sign for me,
known to me—why, then, do the gazelles deceive me?
So why do gazelles appear to me?
أزْمانَin the days أنفقI spent منfrom شبابيmy youth مسرفاlavishly
أزْمانَ أنفق من شبابي مسرفا
والعيشand life أعمىblind عنto صروفthe reversals of الأزمنِthe ages
والعيش أعمى عن صروف الأزمنِ
In the days when I spent my youth lavishly,
Times through which I lavishly spent my youth,
while life was blind to the reversals of time,
While life, blind to the turns of fate.
ندمانَboon companion of كلِّevery فصيحةِeloquent التأنيثfemininity لوif
ندمانَ كلِّ فصيحةِ التأنيث لو
خطَبَتْshe spoke لتَنعَتَto describe حسنَهاher beauty لمnot تُحسِنِshe did well
خطَبَتْ لتَنعَتَ حسنَها لم تُحسِنِ
companion to every woman eloquent in her femininity who, if
Regretting every feminine utterance, if only
she spoke to describe her beauty, could not do it justice.
It had proposed, its beauty would not have adorned it.
تمشيshe walks قناةًa spear-shaft ثمthen يذكرremembers قدُّهاher figure
تمشي قناةً ثم يذكر قدُّها
أنthat التثنّيَswaying للقضيبbelongs to the branch فينثنيso it sways
أن التثنّيَ للقضيب فينثني
She walks like a spear-shaft; then her figure remembers
It walks erect, then its height is mentioned—
that swaying belongs to the slender branch, and sways.
That duality is for the rod—so it inclines.
للهfor God, in admiration ماwhat تلكthose الغصونboughs لوَif only انهاthey
لله ما تلك الغصون لوَ انها
غيرَother than الخديعةdeceit أثمرتbore fruit للمجتنيfor the gatherer
غيرَ الخديعة أثمرت للمجتني
By God, what boughs those are! If only they
By Allah, what are those branches? If only
bore the gatherer fruit other than deceit.
They produced, apart from deception, fruit for the harvester.
نفضshook off الصِّباyouth أوراقَهits leaves وأعادنيand made me again
نفض الصِّبا أوراقَه وأعادني
خُوطَa tender stalk of اليراعةthe reed-pen كيفhowever يُعجمit is tested ينحنيit bends
خُوطَ اليراعة كيف يُعجم ينحني
Youth shook off its leaves and made me again
Youth shook its leaves and returned me
a reed-pen stalk, bending however it is tested.
To the lines of intellect, so it is obscure and bends.
إنيindeed I لأعلمsurely know قبلbefore فضِّيmy breaking ختمَهits seal
إني لأعلم قبل فضِّي ختمَه
ماwhat فيin كتابٍa book بالمشيبwith gray hair معنونِheaded
ما في كتابٍ بالمشيب معنونِ
I know, before I break its seal,
I know before its seal is opened,
what is in a book headed with gray hair.
What is in a book titled with old age.
ماليwhy am I عنtoward الدنياthe world حلُمتُI have been forbearing ومكرُهاwhile its guile
مالي عن الدنيا حلُمتُ ومكرُها
أنَّىwherever التفتُّI turn مُطالعيconfronting me منfrom مكمنِan ambush
أنَّى التفتُّ مُطالعي من مكمنِ
Why have I been forbearing toward the world, when its guile
I care not for the world. I dreamed of it and it
confronts me from an ambush wherever I turn?
Tricked me. How do I look at my hiding place?
أبداforever رُقاهاits spells تستثيرarouse تذلُّليmy submission
أبدا رُقاها تستثير تذلُّلي
فكأنهاso it is as though it ملسوعةٌstung بتصوّنيby my self-restraint
فكأنها ملسوعةٌ بتصوّني
Its spells forever stir my submission,
Never fully pleased, its coquetry humbles me,
as though my self-restraint had stung it.
As if it is touched to be chaste with me.
حتىuntil لأنسانيsurely made me forget الدجىdarkness ماwhat لونُهاits color
حتى لأنساني الدجى ما لونُها
أوor كادnearly did رَيبُthe vicissitudes of زمانِيَmy time المتلوّنِever-changing
أو كاد رَيبُ زمانِيَ المتلوّنِ
Until I was made to forget what color darkness is—
To the point that I forgot its colour in the darkness,
or nearly so—by the havoc of my ever-changing age.
Or my time’s changing doubt almost deceived me.
قالواthey said مُتاجرُهone who trades with him رهينُbound to خَسارةٍloss
قالوا مُتاجرُه رهينُ خَسارةٍ
إنif صافقتْstruck a bargain يدُهhis hand يديmy hand فليُغبَنِthen let him be cheated
إن صافقتْ يدُه يدي فليُغبَنِ
They said, 'Whoever trades with Time is bound to lose.'
They said its owner is hostage to a loss,
If his hand strikes a bargain with mine, let him be the loser.
If his hand clasps mine, then he will be duped.
حاشىfar be it طلابيmy quest أنthat أعُمَّI make general بهwith it وقدwhen already
حاشى طلابي أن أعُمَّ به وقد
خُصّwas reserved السماحُgenerosity بموضعٍfor a place متعيِّنِdistinctly appointed
خُصّ السماحُ بموضعٍ متعيِّنِ
Far be it from me to range everywhere in my quest, when
My students avoided that I be accused, and perfect
generosity has been reserved for one unmistakable place.
Generosity is limited to a specific place.
ياO حظُّFortune قمْrise فاهتفِthen call بناحيةِtoward the region of الغنىwealth
يا حظُّ قمْ فاهتفِ بناحيةِ الغنى
فيin الرَّيِّal-Rayy وارحْمand pity كدَّthe toil of منone who لمnot يفطُنِdiscerned
في الرَّيِّ وارحْم كدَّ من لم يفطُنِ
O Fortune, rise and call toward the realm of wealth
O fate, arise and call out in the direction of wealth
in al-Rayy, and pity the toil of one who did not discern it.
During ease, and have mercy on the suffering of the inattentive!
وأعنand help علىwith إدراكهاattaining it فبمثلهاfor by its like
وأعن على إدراكها فبمثلها
فرّقتُI distinguished بينbetween موفَّقone favored by fortune ومحيَّنِand one ill-fated
فرّقتُ بين موفَّق ومحيَّنِ
Help me attain it; by such as this
And help me attain it, for by the likes of it,
I have distinguished the favored from the ill-fated.
You have distinguished between the successful and the appointed.
لمنtoward whom الخليطthe company مشرِّقٌheading east وضمانُهُand his guarantee
لمن الخليط مشرِّقٌ وضمانُهُ
رزقٌsustenance لناfor us فيin غيرهanyone else لمnot يؤذَنِwas permitted
رزقٌ لنا في غيره لم يؤذَنِ
Toward whom does the company head east? His guarantee
For whom is the radiant mixture, whose guarantee
is our sustenance, permitted to us from no other.
Is sustenance for us, while through another, it is not permitted?
اشتقتُI yearned ياO سفُنَships of الفلاةthe desert فأبلغيso convey me
اشتقتُ يا سفُنَ الفلاة فأبلغي
وطربتُand I felt longing ياO حاديdriver of الركابِthe camels فغنِّنيso sing to me
وطربتُ يا حادي الركابِ فغنِّني
I yearn, O ships of the desert: carry me there!
I yearned, O ships of the desert, so convey,
I am stirred with longing, O camel-driver: sing to me!
And I rejoiced, O camel driver, so sing to me!
وانهضْand rise فرحِّلْso saddle up ياO غلامُlad مذلِّلاًsubduing
وانهضْ فرحِّلْ يا غلامُ مذلِّلاً
تتوعَّرgrows rugged البيداءُthe wilderness منهfrom it بمُدمنِwith a tireless mount
تتوعَّر البيداءُ منه بمُدمنِ
Rise, lad, and saddle up, subduing
And rise, saddle up nonchalantly, O boy,
the wilderness's roughness with a tireless mount.
The desert writhes from him in haste.
يرضَىhe is content بشمّwith smelling العُشبthe grass إماif فاتهit eludes him
يرضَى بشمّ العُشب إما فاته
والسيرwhile travel يأكلُconsumes منهfrom him أكلَthe devouring of الممعنِone who persists
والسير يأكلُ منه أكلَ الممعنِ
He is content to smell the grass if it eludes him,
He is pleased with smelling the herbs if he misses them,
while travel consumes him like a relentless eater.
And travel eats him with the eating of the famished.
مرِحfrisky الزمامِbeneath the rein يكادalmost يصعُبُbecomes unruly ظهرُهhis back
مرِح الزمامِ يكاد يصعُبُ ظهرُه
فتصيحُso cries فاغرةgaping الرحالthe saddles بهat him لِنِbe gentle
فتصيحُ فاغرة الرحال به لِنِ
Frisky beneath the rein, his back almost becomes unruly,
The free rein almost weighs down his back,
and the gaping saddles cry to him, 'Be gentle!'
So the saddles scream at him to gently slow down.
الرزقُsustenance والإنصافُand justice قدindeed فُقداboth were lost فلُذْso seek refuge
الرزقُ والإنصافُ قد فُقدا فلُذْ
بالريّin al-Rayy واستخرجهماand extract them both منfrom معدِنِa mine
بالريّ واستخرجهما من معدِنِ
Livelihood and justice have both vanished; seek refuge
Sustenance and justice are lost, so take
in al-Rayy, and extract them from their mine.
To travel and extract them from the mine.
وإلىand toward أبيfather of العباسal-Abbas حافظِguardian of ملكِهاits kingdom
وإلى أبي العباس حافظِ ملكِها
سهُلَbecame easy الأشدُّthe hardest ولانand softened خُبثُthe harshness of الأخشنِthe roughest
سهُلَ الأشدُّ ولان خُبثُ الأخشنِ
Toward Abu al-Abbas, guardian of its kingdom,
And to Abu Al-'Abbas, protector of its kingdom,
the hardest became easy, and the roughest harshness softened.
Smooth is the most severe and the malicious is submissive.
ياO موحَداpeerless one عدِمlacking النظيرَan equal كنايةًas an indirect address
يا موحَدا عدِم النظيرَ كنايةً
إنيindeed I متىwhenever أذكْركmention you باسمكby your name أجبُنِgrow afraid
إني متى أذكْرك باسمك أجبُنِ
O peerless one, lacking an equal—so I address you indirectly,
O singular one, without peer, intending
for whenever I utter your name, I grow afraid.
That when I mention you by name, I curve in submission.
لاينسَينْlet not forget ملكٌa kingdom ضمنتَyou guaranteed بقاءهits survival
لاينسَينْ ملكٌ ضمنتَ بقاءه
بالأمسyesterday غَمْدَكyour sheathing منهfrom it سيفَthe sword of المقتنيthe possessor
بالأمس غَمْدَك منه سيفَ المقتني
Let the realm whose survival you guaranteed never forget
Lest a king forget the survival you guaranteed him
your sheathing, yesterday, of its possessor's sword.
Yesterday by sheathing his sword of vengeance.
كانتit was جحيماan inferno وهيwhile it تُحسبُwas deemed جَمرةًan ember
كانت جحيما وهي تُحسبُ جَمرةً
حتىuntil غضبتَyou grew angry فقالso said موقدُهاits kindler اسكُنيbe still
حتى غضبتَ فقال موقدُها اسكُني
It was an inferno, though it was reckoned a mere ember,
It was Hell, though deemed embers,
until you grew angry, and its kindler said, 'Be still!'
Until you were angry and its kindler said, "Calm down!"
جاءوكthey came to you جمعَunited الصوتin voice حولَaround مرجمa conjecturer
جاءوك جمعَ الصوت حولَ مرجم
لمnot تخترقpierced سمعيهhis two ears زجرةُan augural warning أيمَنِauspicious
لم تخترق سمعيه زجرةُ أيمَنِ
They came to you, their voices united around a conjecturer
A group with combined voices gathered around a translator—
whose ears no favorable augury had pierced.
His ears were not penetrated by the roar of Ayman.
عدَّhe counted الكثيرَthe multitude ولمand did not يطِرْtake flight بحسابهwith his reckoning
عدَّ الكثيرَ ولم يطِرْ بحسابه
ماwhat lies بينbetween موثوقٍtrusted بهin him ومخوَّنِand suspected of betrayal
ما بين موثوقٍ به ومخوَّنِ
He counted the multitude, yet his reckoning never ranged
He counted the many and was not perturbed by his account,
between the trusted and those suspected of betrayal.
Between trusted and suspect.
وأطاعand he obeyed رأياa judgment جاهليّاsteeped in ignorance لوif رأىhe saw
وأطاع رأيا جاهليّا لو رأى
آياتِthe signs of غيركanyone but you حجّةًas proof لمnot يوقِنِhe believed with certainty
آياتِ غيرك حجّةً لم يوقِنِ
He obeyed a judgment steeped in ignorance; had he seen
And he obeyed an ignorant opinion. Had he seen
another's signs as proof, he would not have believed.
Signs other than yours as proof, he would not have been certain.
حتىuntil طلعتَyou rose فكنتَso you were شمساa sun مزَّقتْtore apart
حتى طلعتَ فكنتَ شمسا مزَّقتْ
بيدwith the hand of الشَّمالthe north wind ضبابَthe mist of يومٍa day مُدجنِovercast
بيد الشَّمال ضبابَ يومٍ مُدجنِ
Until you rose, a sun that tore apart
Until you rose like a sun that tore with
the mist of an overcast day with the north wind's hand.
The north wind the clouds of a gloomy day.
نحلوكthey bestowed on you سابقةa swift mare بلهوةwith a gift مثلهاlike her
نحلوك سابقة بلهوة مثلها
طافencircled الأمانsafety بمعقلthe stronghold of المتحصنone taking refuge
طاف الأمان بمعقل المتحصن
They bestowed on you a swift mare; with a gift like her,
They endowed you with unprecedented cunning, so
safety encircled the stronghold of one sheltered within.
Security orbited the fortress of the defended.
بهماءَsolid-colored إلاexcept نقطةٌa spot فكأنماso as though
بهماءَ إلا نقطةٌ فكأنما
نُبِلتْshe was shot بسهمٍwith an arrow فيin الجبينthe forehead مقطَّنِcotton-tipped
نُبِلتْ بسهمٍ في الجبين مقطَّنِ
Of one color, save a spot, as though she
With delusion but a dot, as if
had been shot in the forehead with a cotton-tipped arrow.
It was pierced by an arrow in the forehead with holes.
عوّدتهاyou accustomed her خوضَwading through الدماءblood فإنso if تَدُسْshe treads
عوّدتها خوضَ الدماء فإن تَدُسْ
يَبسَthe dry ground of الترابِthe soil ولمand did not تقُمshe rise بكwith you تَصْفِنِshe stands with one forehoof poised
يَبسَ الترابِ ولم تقُم بك تَصْفِنِ
You taught her to wade through blood; if she treads
You made it used to wading into blood, so if it buts,
dry earth when not bearing you, she stands with one forehoof poised.
The soil dries though it does not stand with you piled up.
لماwhen رأَوكthey saw you تفرّقتscattered أرواحُهمtheir souls
لما رأَوك تفرّقت أرواحُهم
فكأنماso as though عرفتكthey recognized you قبلَbefore الأعينِthe eyes
فكأنما عرفتك قبلَ الأعينِ
When they saw you, their souls scattered,
When they saw you, their souls dispersed,
as though they had recognized you before their eyes did.
As if they had known you before the eyes.
ألقِlay down السلاحَweapons فقدfor already غَنيتyou have no need سعادةًthrough good fortune
ألقِ السلاحَ فقد غَنيت سعادةً
عنof حملهcarrying them واضربْand strike بجَدِّكwith your luck واطعنِand thrust
عن حمله واضربْ بجَدِّك واطعنِ
Lay down your weapons: good fortune has spared you
Discard the weapons, for you have been enriched with bliss
their burden; strike and thrust with your luck.
Beyond carrying them. Strike with your excellence and stab!
فإذاso if هممتَyou intend بأنto تفُلَّshatter كتيبةًa battalion
فإذا هممتَ بأن تفُلَّ كتيبةً
لاقيتهاyou meet it فتسمَّthen name yourself فيهاwithin it واكتنِand state your byname
لاقيتها فتسمَّ فيها واكتنِ
If you intend to shatter a battalion,
And if you intend to rout a battalion,
meet it and declare your name and byname in its midst.
You will meet it smiling within it, so pitch a tent.
وقفَreserved الجمالُbeauty عليكfor you كلَّevery فضيلةٍvirtue
وقفَ الجمالُ عليك كلَّ فضيلةٍ
قادتled لكto you الأهواءَdesires قيدَthe leading of الأرسُنِhalters
قادت لك الأهواءَ قيدَ الأرسُنِ
Beauty has reserved for you every virtue
Every merit stopped at you that led for you
that led desires to you as halters lead.
Passions bound in chains of service.
وعُدِدتَand you were reckoned وحدَكyou alone سيِّداa lord فمتىso whenever تزدْyou add
وعُدِدتَ وحدَك سيِّدا فمتى تزدْ
فيin اللفظthe wording تثنيةًa dual form لهto it لاnot ينثنيit becomes two
في اللفظ تثنيةً له لا ينثني
You alone were reckoned a lord; whenever you add
You alone were counted supreme. So when will you add
a dual ending to the word, it cannot be doubled.
In speech, a dual for it? It will not dualize.
لاlet not يُنكرنَّdeny حسودُone envious of ملككyour kingship ماwhat رأىhe saw
لا يُنكرنَّ حسودُ ملكك ما رأى
فاللهُfor God أعلمُknows best ماwhat اجتبَىHe chose وبمنand whom عُنيHe favored
فاللهُ أعلمُ ما اجتبَى وبمن عُني
Let no one envious of your kingship deny what he has seen:
The jealous of your kingship do not deny what they saw.
God knows best what He chose and whom He favored.
And Allah knows best what He chooses and grants victory.
صلَّتprayed blessings عليكupon you وقدwhen already ذُكرتَyou were mentioned مدائحيmy praises
صلَّت عليك وقد ذُكرتَ مدائحي
والناسُwhile people بينbetween مذمَّمٍone much reviled وملعَّنِand one much cursed
والناسُ بين مذمَّمٍ وملعَّنِ
When you were mentioned, my praises prayed blessings upon you,
Peace be upon you, mentioned in my praises,
while people were either much reviled or much cursed.
While people are between dispraised and brilliant.
اقرأread علىdespite بُعدthe distance of المسافةthe space بينناbetween us
اقرأ على بُعد المسافة بيننا
ولوand if استطعتُI could القربَdraw near قلتُI would say لكto you أئذنِgrant leave
ولو استطعتُ القربَ قلتُ لك أئذنِ
Read, despite the distance between us—
Read from a distance between us,
though, if I could draw near, I would say, 'Grant me leave'—
And if I could get near, I would say to grant me permission.
قولاًwords يُقِرُّacknowledges الحقَّthe truth منهwithin them مقرّهits acknowledger
قولاً يُقِرُّ الحقَّ منه مقرّه
ويرُدّهand rejects it ماwhatever لمnot يكنis بمبرهَنِproven
ويرُدّه ما لم يكن بمبرهَنِ
words whose truth is affirmed by whoever acknowledges truth,
Words that acknowledge the truth from it acknowledging,
and who rejects whatever is not supported by proof.
And return it if it were not with proof.
مماamong what أبثُّكI confide to you أنناthat we فيin أرضناour land
مما أبثُّك أننا في أرضنا
لاnot يُذكَرُis mentioned الإحسانُkindness غيرَexcept as مؤَبَّنِlamented as dead
لا يُذكَرُ الإحسانُ غيرَ مؤَبَّنِ
Among the things I confide to you: in our land,
Of what I inform you, that we are in our land,
kindness is mentioned only in funeral eulogy.
Where benefaction other than obligated is not mentioned.
فيamong معشرٍa people إنif جادgave generously قولةَa saying مُظهرٍone showing outwardly
في معشرٍ إن جاد قولةَ مُظهرٍ
منهمfrom among them فتىًa young man لامتهreproached him نيّةُthe intention of مُبطِنِone concealing inwardly
منهم فتىً لامته نيّةُ مُبطِنِ
Among a people where, if a generous word is spoken openly
Among a people, if the words of a pretentious one
by a young man among them, his inward intention reproaches him.
Give away one of them, his intention blames.
خشُنَتْgrew rough جِعادُclenched أكفِّهمtheir hands فكأنماso as though
خشُنَتْ جِعادُ أكفِّهم فكأنما
فيin اللؤمmeanness صيغتwere molded منfrom طباعthe nature of الأزمنِthe ages
في اللؤم صيغت من طباع الأزمنِ
Their clenched hands have grown harsh, as though
The palms of their hands became rough, as if
in meanness they were molded from the nature of the ages.
In vileness, molded by the nature of fate.
لمnot يبقremains غيرُكanyone but you منone who يُقالُis called مؤمَّلٌa hope
لم يبق غيرُك من يُقالُ مؤمَّلٌ
أوor يُتبَعُis followed الداعيthe supplicant لهfor him بمؤمِّنِby one saying Amen
أو يُتبَعُ الداعي له بمؤمِّنِ
None but you remains whom one may call a hope,
None remains but you of whom it is said expectantly,
or for whom a prayer is echoed with 'Amen.'
Or the caller to him is followed with belief.
كرمٌgenerosity شمَلتَyou encompassed بهwith it وعدلُand the justice of سحابةٍa raincloud
كرمٌ شمَلتَ به وعدلُ سحابةٍ
سوَّىmade equal الأجمَّthe hornless بنانُهاits fingers بالأقرنِto the horned
سوَّى الأجمَّ بنانُها بالأقرنِ
A generosity you spread over all, and the fairness of a raincloud
Bounty you encompassed, and justice of a cloud
whose fingers make the hornless equal to the horned.
That leveled the rugged with its showers equally.
أشكوI complain of ظَمايَmy thirst وليسand there is not غيرُكanyone but you ساقياa giver of drink
أشكو ظَمايَ وليس غيرُك ساقيا
فامددso stretch out يديكyour two hands علىacross البعادِthe distance فروّنيso quench my thirst
فامدد يديك على البعادِ فروّني
I complain of thirst, and none but you gives drink;
I complain of my thirst, and none but you are my water-bearer.
stretch out your hands across the distance and quench me.
So extend your hands from afar and water me!
واسمعand listen فإنfor if عَزَبَتْit was unfamiliar فلمand did not تسمَعyou hear لهاfor it
واسمع فإن عَزَبَتْ فلم تسمَع لها
أختاًa sister لهاto it فيamong مادحيكyour panegyrists عرفتنيyou recognized me
أختاً لها في مادحيك عرفتني
And listen: if it is unfamiliar, and you have heard no
And listen, for if it is missed, then it has no
sister to it among your panegyrists, you will recognize me.
Sister for it among those who praise you that know me.
هيit is قِبلةٌa direction of prayer صلَّىprayed القريضُpoetry لهاtoward it فمنso whoever
هي قِبلةٌ صلَّى القريضُ لها فمن
لمnot يَعْنُbows منهamong it لَهاto it فليسthen is not بمؤمنِa believer
لم يَعْنُ منه لَها فليس بمؤمنِ
It is a qibla toward which poetry prays; whoever
It is an aim for which the poet prayed. So whoever
among poets does not bow to it is no believer.
Does not assist it, is no true believer.
لولاwere it not for ثناؤكpraise of you ماnot امتننتI claimed a favor بوصلهاby giving it
لولا ثناؤك ما امتننت بوصلها
والمرءُand a person يقدحُstrikes sparks فيfrom صَفاةthe flint of المحسنِthe benefactor
والمرءُ يقدحُ في صَفاة المحسنِ
Were it not in praise of you, I would not offer it as a favor;
Were it not for your praise, I would not have been pleased by attaining it,
and a man strikes sparks from the benefactor's flint.
For man sparks against the flint of the benefactor.
ثمِّنْvalue بهاby it الأرباحَprofits فهيfor it is بضاعةٌmerchandise
ثمِّنْ بها الأرباحَ فهي بضاعةٌ
مازلتُI have always أذخَرُهsaved it لعلقٍfor a precious object مثمَنِhighly valued
مازلتُ أذخَرُه لعلقٍ مثمَنِ
Measure your profits by it: it is merchandise
Value through it the profits, for it is merchandise
I have long kept for a treasure of great price.
I have continued hoarding for a costly buyer.
كانwas الزمانُTime لأنthat I أشافِهَspeak face-to-face ضامناguaranteeing
كان الزمانُ لأن أشافِهَ ضامنا
فأعاضَso he compensated منهin its place بأخرسٍwith a mute thing متضمّنِholding the contents
فأعاضَ منه بأخرسٍ متضمّنِ
Time had guaranteed that I would speak to you face to face,
Fate was about to guarantee it for me,
then gave me instead a silent bearer of my words.
But it swerved from it for a mute insinuator.
ولئنand if indeed أُعنتُI am aided لأتلُوَنْهُI shall surely follow it مصلِّياas the second racer
ولئن أُعنتُ لأتلُوَنْهُ مصلِّيا
ولأطلَعنَّand I shall surely appear عليكbefore you إنif أنهضتنيyou set me on my feet
ولأطلَعنَّ عليك إن أنهضتني
If I am helped, I shall surely follow it as the second racer,
And if aided, I would recite it praying
and surely appear before you if you set me on my feet.
And inform you if you make me stand.
ماno بالأديبfor a man of letters إذاwhen تغرَّبَhe goes abroad ذِلَّةٌhumiliation
ما بالأديب إذا تغرَّبَ ذِلَّةٌ
إنindeed الخَصاصةَpoverty غُربةٌestrangement فيin الموطنِthe homeland
إن الخَصاصةَ غُربةٌ في الموطنِ
No disgrace befalls a man of letters when he goes abroad;
What is wrong with the writer when lowliness befalls him?
poverty is estrangement even in one's homeland.
For deprivation is exile in the homeland.
قعدheld back الغنىwealth عنّيfrom me فقمso rise بيin support of me مُرغِماrubbing into dust
قعد الغنى عنّي فقم بي مُرغِما
أنفَthe nose of الزمانTime وأَغْننيand enrich me تتملَّنيyou will possess me
أنفَ الزمان وأَغْنني تتملَّني
Wealth has held back from me; lift me up, rubbing
Wealth avoided me, so stand with me forcing
Time's nose in the dust; enrich me and you will own me.
Fate’s nose, and enrich me, gradually training me.
وإنand if اجتديتُI seek bounty سواكfrom anyone but you بعدُafterward فجازنيthen repay me الthe
وإن اجتديتُ سواك بعدُ فجازني ال
حرمانَdeprivation إنّindeed القتلَexecution حدُّthe penalty for المحصَنِone lawfully married
حرمانَ إنّ القتلَ حدُّ المحصَنِ
If afterward I seek bounty from anyone but you, repay me with
And if I plead with another after you, may the unlawful-
deprivation: death is the penalty for the married adulterer.
Ness of murder, the limit of inviolability, punish me.
عاقتhindered خواطرِيَmy thoughts الهمومُcares وخالفتْand opposed
عاقت خواطرِيَ الهمومُ وخالفتْ
نوبٌsuccessive calamities علىagainst الفكرthe mind الغزيرِfertile عَصَيننيdefied me
نوبٌ على الفكر الغزيرِ عَصَينني
Cares have hindered my thoughts; they are opposed
Worries preoccupied my thoughts and
by calamities that beset my fertile mind and defy me.
Misfortunes opposed the plentiful consideration, disobeying me.
فلوso if اتبعتُI pursued لغيرfor other than مدحكpraise of you لفظةًa word
فلو اتبعتُ لغير مدحك لفظةً
عنهاabout it أقرِّرI press for an answer خاطريmy mind لمnot يُذعنِit submits
عنها أقرِّر خاطري لم يُذعنِ
If I pursued a single word for anything but your praise,
So had I pursued a word other than your praise,
pressing my mind for it, it would not comply.
From it my conscience would not have obeyed.
قبضَheld back الجلوسُsitting idle يديّmy two hands عنfrom أمنيَّتيmy wish
قبضَ الجلوسُ يديّ عن أمنيَّتي
إنindeed الظُّباsword-edges مأسورةٌcaptive فيin الأجفنِthe scabbards
إن الظُّبا مأسورةٌ في الأجفنِ
Sitting idle has held back my hands from my desire:
Sitting confined my hands from my desire.
indeed, sword-edges are captive in their scabbards.
For the gazelle is imprisoned in the eyelids.
وإذاand when قلوبٌhearts قارعتclashed with أحزانَهاtheir sorrows
وإذا قلوبٌ قارعت أحزانَها
ظهرَappeared الفلولُnotches علىon غُروبthe keen edges of الألسنِtongues
ظهرَ الفلولُ على غُروب الألسنِ
When hearts clash with their sorrows,
And when hearts were battered by sorrows,
notches appear on the keen edges of tongues.
The remnants appeared at the setting of tongues.
ماnot فاتescaped حظّيmy fortune أنّthat مثليone like me ممكنٌavailable
ما فات حظّي أنّ مثلي ممكنٌ
لكنbut كثُرتُI was too much علىfor الزمانTime فملَّنيso it tired of me
لكن كثُرتُ على الزمان فملَّني
It did not escape my fortune that one like me was available,
What missed me is that the likes of me can be enabled,
but I was too much for Time, and it grew weary of me.
But I wearied fate, so it spurned me.
ياO منone who رآنيsaw me قبلَbefore أحمدَAhmad سائلاasking
يا من رآني قبلَ أحمدَ سائلا
قوماًa people يقولsays جوادُهمtheir generous man ليto me عُدَّنيcount me
قوماً يقول جوادُهم لي عُدَّني
O you who saw me, before Ahmad, asking
O You before whom I saw a people, when I asked
a people whose generous man would tell me, 'Count me in,'
A generous people who told me, "Count me!"
كبرُgrew الرجاءُhope اليومَtoday عنbeyond أقدارهمtheir capacities
كبرُ الرجاءُ اليومَ عن أقدارهم
فطغىso it exceeded bounds وأبزلَand reached maturity بعدَكafter you الأملُhope الثَّنِيthe young camel
فطغى وأبزلَ بعدَك الأملُ الثَّنِي
today my hope has grown beyond their capacities;
Great hope today surpasses their capacities,
so, after you, the young camel of hope has surged and matured.
So it prevailed, and after you hope, the duplicitous, perished.
Sol 6.1