نبهتُهُI roused him فقامand he rose مشبوحَoutspread العَضُدْthe upper arm
نبهتُهُ فقام مشبوحَ العَضُدْ
أغلبُmighty, thick-necked لوسِيمif he were subjected to الهوانَhumiliation ماnot رَقدْhe slept
أغلبُ لوسِيم الهوانَ ما رَقدْ
I roused him, and he rose, broad-armed:
I alerted him, so he rose with outstretched arms,
a mighty one who would not rest if subjected to humiliation.
The handsome victor over disgrace whenever he reposed.
فيin يدهhis hand مذروبةٌa sharpened blade مَزيدةٌlengthened
في يده مذروبةٌ مَزيدةٌ
ودِرعهُand his armor سابغةٌfull-length منof اللَّبَدِmatted hair
ودِرعهُ سابغةٌ من اللَّبَدِ
In his hand was a sharpened, lengthened blade,
In his hand a polished, augmented sword,
and his armor was a full coat of matted hair.
And his coat of mail fully extending to the anklets.
إذاwhen غداhe set out by day لمnot يَحتشِمْhe shrank from هاجرةًmidday heat
إذا غدا لم يَحتشِمْ هاجرةً
وإنand if سَرىhe traveled by night لمnot يخشhe feared منfrom ليلٍa night بَرَدْcold
وإن سَرى لم يخش من ليلٍ بَرَدْ
When he set out by day, he did not shrink from midday heat;
Whenever he marched forth he did not spare a fugitive,
when he traveled by night, he feared no cold.
And whenever he traveled he did not fear a frigid night.
إنif همّhe resolved لمnot يُحبَسْhe was detained علىfor مَشْوَرَةٍconsultation
إن همّ لم يُحبَسْ على مَشْوَرَةٍ
وإنand if غَدَاhe departed لسفرٍon a journey لمnot يستعِدْhe prepared
وإن غَدَا لسفرٍ لم يستعِدْ
When he resolved, consultation did not detain him;
If cares did not detain him in consultation,
when he departed on a journey, he needed no preparation.
And if he marched forth on a journey, he did not prepare.
لكلّfor every بغايseeker of قَنصٍgame طريدةٌa quarry
لكلّ بغاي قَنصٍ طريدةٌ
تنفُرflees منهfrom him ولهand his is كلُّall الطَّرَدْpursuit
تنفُر منه وله كلُّ الطَّرَدْ
Every seeker of game has a quarry
For every seeker of forbidden game a hunted quarry
that flees before him; all pursuit is his.
Fleeing him, though to him belong all the prey.
هبَّhe sprang up بلَّبيكwith 'at your service!' وقدwhen already دعوتهI had called him
هبَّ بلَّبيك وقد دعوته
مكتفياًcontent بقولهwith his saying إلىuntil الأَبدْeternity
مكتفياً بقوله إلى الأَبدْ
He sprang up saying, 'At your service!' when I called,
He answered my calling of “At your service,”
content with that word for all eternity.
Content with his saying for all time.
وخيرُand the best منof those who ساندَsupported ظهريmy back أسَدٌa lion
وخيرُ من ساندَ ظهري أسَدٌ
أوor رجلٌa man فيin صدرهhis breast قلبُthe heart of أسدْa lion
أو رجلٌ في صدره قلبُ أسدْ
The best support for my back is a lion,
Better than one who supported my back are a lion,
or a man with a lion's heart in his breast.
Or a man with the heart of a lion in his breast.
وقالand he said فيinto لهَاةِthe throat of أيّwhich خطرٍperil
وقال في لهَاةِ أيّ خطرٍ
تقذِفُyou cast بيme وعَرِضand the expanse of ماever أيِّwhich بلدْland
تقذِفُ بي وعَرِض ما أيِّ بلدْ
He said, 'Into the throat of what peril
And he said about the recklessness of any danger,
will you cast me, and across what land's expanse?
“It tosses me about, so what land can restrain me?”
وماand what الذيis it that رابكtroubled you قلتُI said حاجةٌa need
وما الذي رابك قلتُ حاجةٌ
فيon أفُقِthe horizon of المجدِglory فقامand he rose فصَعِدْand climbed
في أفُقِ المجدِ فقام فصَعِدْ
What has troubled you?' I said, 'A need
When I said, “A need,” he stood up and climbed
on glory's horizon'; he rose and climbed.
To precede me in my quest, until he attained for me what I had not intended.
يسبِقنيhe outstrips me سعياًin pursuit لماof what أُريدهI want
يسبِقني سعياً لما أُريده
حتىuntil لقدindeed أدركhe attained بيwith me ماwhat لمnot أُرِدْI sought
حتى لقد أدرك بي ما لم أُرِدْ
He outstripped me in pursuing what I wanted,
We returned, save two blades sheathed, embracing,
until he brought me even to what I had not sought.
And two withered roses—where did they bud?
فرديْنtwo alone إلاّexcept صارمينtwo keen swords اعتنقاembracing
فرديْن إلاّ صارمين اعتنقا
وضامرينْand two lean steeds وردَاthe two encountered أينweariness قَدَدْrending (uncertain)
وضامرينْ وردَا أين قَدَدْ
We were two alone, save two keen swords embracing
The innards of the coats of mail and corselets
and two lean steeds encountering rending weariness.
Conceal two bodies in one body.
تُضمِرُconceal أحشاءُthe bellies of الدياجيdark nights والفلاand wastelands
تُضمِرُ أحشاءُ الدياجي والفلا
منّيfrom me ومنهand from him جسدينtwo bodies بجسدْwithin one body
منّي ومنه جسدين بجسدْ
The bellies of dark nights and wastelands concealed
As if our two traces when they marched forth at dawn
from him and me two bodies within one body.
Upon the ground were the trail of a spear or a plow.
كأنّas though إِثريْناour two tracks إذاwhen ماindeed أصبحاthey greeted morning
كأنّ إِثريْنا إذا ما أصبحا
علىupon الثرىthe earth مسحبُthe drag-mark of رمحa spear أوor مَسدْa twisted rope
على الثرى مسحبُ رمح أو مَسدْ
Our two tracks, when morning revealed them, seemed
Until I reached with him the racecourse of glory
upon the earth the drag-mark of a spear or twisted rope.
At the start of the first lap and the nearest point.
حتىuntil بلغتُI reached مسرحَthe open ground of العزّhonor بهthrough him
حتى بلغتُ مسرحَ العزّ به
بأوّلat the beginning of الشوطthe course وأقربand the nearest الأمدْlimit
بأوّل الشوط وأقرب الأمدْ
Through him I reached the open ground of honor
And how often did a firm resolve mount its she-camel
at the first stretch of the course, in the shortest time.
But it flagged that I be wronged and persecuted.
وربَّand many a عزمٍresolve قبلهاbefore it ركبتهُI mounted
وربَّ عزمٍ قبلها ركبتهُ
ففتُّand I escaped أنbeing أُظلمَwronged وأنand being أُضطهَدْoppressed
ففتُّ أن أُظلمَ وأن أُضطهَدْ
Many a resolve before this had I mounted,
And a raid of eloquence I launched
escaping both injustice and oppression.
Against the vile—every consistent thrust.
وغارةٍand a raid منof الكلامِwords شنَّهاlaunched it
وغارةٍ من الكلامِ شنَّها
علىagainst اللئامِthe base كلُّevery معنىًmeaning مطَّرِدْunfaltering
على اللئامِ كلُّ معنىً مطَّرِدْ
And many a raid of words was launched
I witnessed it as one who dares, though without
against the base by every unfaltering meaning.
Urging it on while absent, as one who attended.
شهدتُهاI witnessed it مغامراًdaringly وكنتand I was بالthrough the
شهدتُها مغامراً وكنت بال
حضّurging عليهاof it غائباًabsent كمنlike one who شهِدْwas present
حضّ عليها غائباً كمن شهِدْ
I witnessed it daringly; and, through
And a pleasure I turned my face from out of nobility
urging it on, though absent, was as one present.
And abstained from it, though one who renounces yearns for it.
ولذةٍand a pleasure صرفتُI turned وجهيmy face كَرَماًnobly
ولذةٍ صرفتُ وجهي كَرَماً
عنهاaway from it وفيهاthough in it رغبةٌdesire لمنfor one who زَهَدْabstained
عنها وفيها رغبةٌ لمن زَهَدْ
And many a pleasure I nobly turned my face
Its fetters did not bind me,
away from, though even an abstainer might desire it.
Its shame did not touch me, it did not almost undo me.
لمnot يعتلقنيentangled me بأثامٍin sins حبلُهاits cord
لم يعتلقني بأثامٍ حبلُها
ولمand not ينلنيtouched me عارُهاits shame ولمand not يَكَدْnearly did
ولم ينلني عارُها ولم يَكَدْ
Its cord did not entangle me in sins;
And an adornment whose verses I locked out
its shame did not touch me, nor nearly so.
As a gate, elevating its lintel as a pillar.
وحَلَّةٍand an encampment طرقتُI visited by night منamong أبياتهاits dwellings
وحَلَّةٍ طرقتُ من أبياتها
أمنعَهاits most impregnable باباًin doorway وأعلاهاand its loftiest عَمَدْin tent-poles
أمنعَها باباً وأعلاها عَمَدْ
And many an encampment I visited by night, choosing
For the living are either shirkers or attenders—
its best-defended doorway and loftiest tent-poles.
The thread of fate lies tied in their eyelids.
والحيّand the tribe إماeither خالفٌabsent أوor حاضرٌpresent
والحيّ إما خالفٌ أو حاضرٌ
خَيْطُthe thread of الكرىsleep بجفنِهupon his eyelid قدalready انعقَدْwas knotted
خَيْطُ الكرى بجفنِه قد انعقَدْ
The tribe were either absent or present with
And they have no guardians save for the barking
the thread of sleep knotted upon their eyelids.
Of dogs, or else the vigilance of kindled fire.
وليسand there were not إلاexcept بالنُّباحthrough barking حَرَسٌguards
وليس إلا بالنُّباح حَرَسٌ
لهمfor them وإلاand except مقلةthe eye of النارِthe fire رَصَدْa watch
لهم وإلا مقلة النارِ رَصَدْ
They had no guards except barking,
So I remained still, conversing only with him,
and no watch except the eye of the fire.
While all others—had it not been for chastity—I would have prepared for.
فبتُّso I spent the night أَستقرِيseeking الحديثَconversation وحدَهalone
فبتُّ أَستقرِي الحديثَ وحدَه
وغيرُهُand other than it لولاbut for العفافُchastity ليfor me مُعَدْprepared
وغيرُهُ لولا العفافُ لي مُعَدْ
I passed the night seeking nothing but conversation,
And were it not for my intimidation, a firm limit
though other pleasures awaited me, but for chastity.
I embraced, and wise words from it sobered me.
ودونand guarding against إرهابِيَmy intimidation حدٌّan edge صارمٌkeen
ودون إرهابِيَ حدٌّ صارمٌ
عانقتُهI clasped it ومِقوَلٌand a tongue منهthan it أحدْkeener
عانقتُه ومِقوَلٌ منه أحدْ
Guarding me from intimidation was a keen blade
And how many loathsome female camels among the sandy dunes,
I clasped, and a tongue keener than it.
Without the anklets of youth, went unimpeded.
وكمand how many بذاتِin Dhat الرملal-Raml منof نافرةٍa shy doe
وكم بذاتِ الرمل من نافرةٍ
بغيرwithout أَشراكthe snares of الشبابِyouth لمnot تُصَدْwas caught
بغير أَشراك الشبابِ لم تُصَدْ
Many a shy doe in Dhat al-Raml
Fairer than lavishing his love on her is preventing him from her,
could be caught only in the snares of youth.
And than union with singing girls is one who spurns.
أحسنُfairer منthan بذلِgiving هواهاher love منعُهاher withholding
أحسنُ من بذلِ هواها منعُها
ومنand than وصالِunion with الغانياتِthe beauties ماwhat تَصُدْshe refuses
ومن وصالِ الغانياتِ ما تَصُدْ
Her withholding love is fairer than her giving it,
My sleep is protected if I visit her,
and her refusal fairer than union with other beauties.
And my place, if I am absent from it, is inquired about.
نومِيَmy sleep محفوظٌprotected إذاwhen ماindeed زرتُهاI visit her
نومِيَ محفوظٌ إذا ما زرتُها
وموضعيand my place إنif غبتُI am absent عنهfrom it مفتَقَدْmissed
وموضعي إن غبتُ عنه مفتَقَدْ
My sleep is protected when I visit her,
My heart is delighted by her face, for so long
and my place is missed when I am absent.
Has the thirst for her tossed me about and driven me back.
يُعجِبُdelights قلبيmy heart مطلُهاher delay لطولbecause so often ماindeed
يُعجِبُ قلبي مطلُها لطول ما
يكُرُّturns back بيwith me المطلُdelay إليهاto her ويَرُدْand returns
يكُرُّ بي المطلُ إليها ويَرُدْ
Her delays delight my heart, so often
God has beloveds, and for them
does delay turn me back to her and bring me again.
I have faithfully carried out their rights to anguish and concealment.
للّهBy God! أحبابٌloved ones وفيتُI kept faith لهُمُwith them
للّه أحبابٌ وفيتُ لهُمُ
بماwith what استحقُّواthey deserved منof أسىًsorrow ومنand of كمدْanguish
بما استحقُّوا من أسىً ومن كمدْ
O God, the loved ones to whom I kept faith
After them, my streaming tears did not suffice,
with their due of sorrow and anguish!
Until they sought the aid of weeping and wakefulness by night.
لمnot يَكفِهمsufficed them شِقوةُthe misery of عينيmy eye بعدهمafter them
لم يَكفِهم شِقوةُ عيني بعدهم
حتىuntil استعانواthey enlisted بالدموعtears والسَّهَدْand sleeplessness
حتى استعانوا بالدموع والسَّهَدْ
My eye's misery after their departure did not suffice them;
They went away with the crowds of life along with them,
they enlisted tears and sleeplessness as well.
Entrusting my lips, in their absence, to wither.
مضواthey departed بجمّاتwith the brimming pools of الحياةlife مَعَهُمwith them
مضوا بجمّات الحياة مَعَهُم
وعوَّلواand made dependent بشفَتيmy lips علىupon الثَّمَدْscant water
وعوَّلوا بشفَتي على الثَّمَدْ
They took life's brimming pools away with them
I accompanied a people after them whose covenants
and left my lips dependent on scant water.
Were feeble, shackles slack and pacts fragile.
صحبتُI accompanied قوماًpeople بعدهمafter them حبالُهمtheir cords
صحبتُ قوماً بعدهم حبالُهم
سحيلةُsingle-stranded الفتلin twist رخيَّاتloose العُقَدْin knots
سحيلةُ الفتل رخيَّات العُقَدْ
After them I accompanied people whose cords
He who is parched by the burning thirst is not harmed
were lightly twisted, their knots loose.
By impure fetid water, once he attains it and drinks.
وماand no blame علىupon مَنone whom كَدَّهُwore him down حَرُّthe heat of الظماthirst
وما على مَن كَدَّهُ حَرُّ الظما
إذاif رأىhe sees الماءَwater الأُجاجَbitter فوَردْand drinks
إذا رأى الماءَ الأُجاجَ فوَردْ
No blame falls on one worn down by burning thirst
A people strike the faces of my camels
if he sees bitter water and drinks.
Though it sufficed them that the camels turned away from them.
يضرِبُstrike قومٌpeople فيin وجوهِthe faces of إبلِيmy camels
يضرِبُ قومٌ في وجوهِ إبلِي
وقدthough already كفاهمsufficed them أنهاthat they عنهمfrom them حِيَدْturn aside
وقد كفاهم أنها عنهم حِيَدْ
Some people strike my camels in their faces,
Do not drive the sheep too quickly to their fold
though it should suffice that they turn away from them.
For they are pestered by you even when left alone.
لاdo not تُعجِلhasten الكُومَthe high-humped camels إلىtoward ذيادهاdriving them away
لا تُعجِل الكُومَ إلى ذيادها
فهيfor they قِماحٌhold their heads aloof عنكُمُfrom you لوeven if لمnot تُذَدْdriven away
فهي قِماحٌ عنكُمُ لو لم تُذَدْ
Do not hasten to drive the high-humped camels away:
Why does the miser avoid being beside me
they hold their heads aloof from you even without being driven.
When he sees me dwelling on minted coins?
ماwhy للبخيلdoes the miser يتحامىavoid جانبيmy side
ما للبخيل يتحامى جانبي
متىwhenever رآنيhe sees me عاكفاًabsorbed علىin النَّقَدْappraisal
متى رآني عاكفاً على النَّقَدْ
Why does the miser avoid my side
He hides from me the empty cup if in it
whenever he sees me absorbed in judging worth?
There was a sip, after he had drunk up the sweetness.
يسترُhe hides عنّيfrom me القعبَthe wooden bowl دافَhe mixed حنظلاًcolocynth
يسترُ عنّي القعبَ دافَ حنظلاً
فيهin it وقدand already أمرَّmade bitter فيin فيَّmy mouth الشُّهُدْhoney
فيه وقد أمرَّ في فيَّ الشُّهُدْ
He hides the wooden bowl from me, having mixed colocynth
The days did not see what I desired
in it, and already made honey bitter in my mouth.
Even if regarding me branches were being split open.
ماhow أبصرَperceptive is الدهرَTime بماof what أريدهI want
ما أبصرَ الدهرَ بما أريده
لوif only كانit were فيin الحمunclear; perhaps 'judgment' عليّtoward me يفتصِدْlets blood; perhaps 'moderates'
لو كان في الحم عليّ يفتصِدْ
How keenly Time perceives what I want—
He made my station among wealth and poverty
if only it were moderate in judging me [uncertain text].
One He did not stint on, nor was openhanded with me.
أنزلنيit placed me منزلةًin a station بينbetween الغنىwealth
أنزلني منزلةً بين الغنى
والفقرِand poverty لمnot يبخلْwas miserly بهاwith it ولمand not يَجُدْwas generous
والفقرِ لم يبخلْ بها ولم يَجُدْ
It placed me in a station between wealth
And the worst of Your decrees is a middling fortune—
and poverty, neither miserly nor generous in doing so.
Capricious, with which I do not become familiar nor satisfied.
وشرُّand the worst أقسامكof your allotments حظٌّa share وسَطٌmiddling
وشرُّ أقسامك حظٌّ وسَطٌ
أرعنُill-judged لمnot تَخمُلyou became obscure بهthrough it ولمand not تَسُدْyou became supreme
أرعنُ لم تَخمُل به ولم تَسُدْ
The worst of your allotments is a middling share,
The nights deluded me that I know
ill-judged: it leaves you neither obscure nor supreme.
Their easy ways and bitterness full well.
أغرَىincited اللياليthe nights بِيَagainst me أنّيthat I عارفٌknow
أغرَى الليالي بِيَ أنّي عارفٌ
بالسهلof the ease منin أخلاقهنَّtheir ways والنَّكدْand the harshness
بالسهل من أخلاقهنَّ والنَّكدْ
What sets the nights upon me is my knowledge
And that in their ups and downs I stir up
of the ease in their ways and their harshness,
With a will that illuminates my path however far.
وأننيand that I أقدحُstrike sparks فيamid صروفهاtheir vicissitudes
وأنني أقدحُ في صروفها
بعزمةٍwith resolve تُضيءlights ليfor me علىover البُعُدْthe distance
بعزمةٍ تُضيء لي على البُعُدْ
and that I strike sparks amid their changes
My suspicions inform me of the weather to come
with resolve that lights my way far into the distance.
As if my day tells me the secret of tomorrow.
تُطلعنيreveals to me علىabout القينيunclear; perhaps 'certainty' ظنَّتيmy surmise
تُطلعني على القيني ظنَّتي
كأنّas though يوميmy today مُخبِريinforms me بسرِّof the secret of غدْtomorrow
كأنّ يومي مُخبِري بسرِّ غدْ
My surmise reveals certainty to me [uncertain reading],
O You who made me cheaply sell myself,
as though my today told me tomorrow's secret.
Soon will one who takes me for less praise me.
ياO بائعيyou who sell me مرتخِصاًundervaluing بثمنيmy price
يا بائعي مرتخِصاً بثمني
سوفwill يذُمّcondemn مستعيضٌone taking a substitute ماwhat حمِدْhe praised
سوف يذُمّ مستعيضٌ ما حمِدْ
O you who sold me, reckoning my price cheaply,
One like me in bloom, the fists begrudged him,
one who takes a substitute will condemn what he once praised.
Had there been among the people an appraiser.
مثليone like me نُضاراًpure gold ضنّتwas sparing الكفُّthe hand بهwith it
مثلي نُضاراً ضنّت الكفُّ به
لوif كانthere were فيamong الناسpeople بصيرٌa discerning one ينتقِدْwho assays
لو كان في الناس بصيرٌ ينتقِدْ
One like me, pure gold, the hand would hoard,
Her glances were cognizant of my worth,
if among people there were a discerning assayer.
And my eyes saw clear the misguidance and the right course.
قدalready فطِنتْrecognized لحظِّهاtheir rightful share مَطالبيmy aspirations
قد فطِنتْ لحظِّها مَطالبي
وأبصرتْand discerned عينيmy eye الضلالَerror والرَّشَدْand right guidance
وأبصرتْ عيني الضلالَ والرَّشَدْ
My aspirations have recognized their rightful share,
And I knew which lightning I should make my mount,
and my eye has discerned error and right guidance.
I gauged its reins, and which sea I should draw from.
وقدand already علمتُI knew أيَّwhich برقlightning أمتريI milk rain from
وقد علمتُ أيَّ برق أمتري
مُزنتَهits raincloud وأيَّand which بحرٍsea أستمدْI draw from
مُزنتَه وأيَّ بحرٍ أستمدْ
I know of which lightning I should milk
And You expanded for me the hands of the Ayyubids,
the raincloud, and from which sea I should draw.
Giving them the fullness of desire, wealth, and love.
ووسَّعتand broadened أيديthe hands of بنيthe sons of أيوبَAyyub ليfor me
ووسَّعت أيدي بني أيوبَ لي
وبشرُهمand their cheerful welcome ملءthe full measure of المنىwishes مالاًin wealth ووُدْand love
وبشرُهم ملء المنى مالاً ووُدْ
The hands of the sons of Ayyub have given me abundance,
So why should I care, they being lasting for me—
their welcome too—a full measure of wishes, wealth, and love.
Who among men lasts or can keep lasting?
فماso not أباليI care وهُمwhile they الباقونremain ليmine
فما أبالي وهُم الباقون لي
مَنwho ذاis it فَنِيhas perished فيamong الناسpeople أوor مَنwho ذاis it نفِدْhas run out
مَن ذا فَنِي في الناس أو مَن ذا نفِدْ
With them remaining mine, I do not care
I do not intend sustenance apart from them,
who among people perishes or exhausts his resources.
But rather I seek it from wherever I find it.
ولاand not أرومI seek الرزقَlivelihood منfrom غيرهمُothers than them
ولا أروم الرزقَ من غيرهمُ
وإنماand only أطلبُI seek منfrom حيثwhere أجِدْI find
وإنما أطلبُ من حيث أجِدْ
I seek no livelihood from anyone else;
They who bring safety through neighborliness and protection,
I seek only where I find.
And rise with troops and military supplies,
المانعونthose who protect بالجوارthrough neighborly shelter والحمىand sanctuary
المانعون بالجوار والحمى
والناهضونand those who rise بالعديدwith numerous men والعُدَدْand equipment
والناهضون بالعديد والعُدَدْ
Protectors through neighborly shelter and sanctuary,
And who gamble their generous hands that melted
rising with men in numbers and equipment;
In every clenched fist throughout years frozen,
والغامرونand those who flood المَحْلَdrought منfrom جودهمُtheir generosity
والغامرون المَحْلَ من جودهمُ
بكلّwith every كفٍّpalm ذابthawed فيin عامٍa year جَمَدْfrozen
بكلّ كفٍّ ذاب في عامٍ جَمَدْ
flooding drought from their generosity,
And who strike in the thickets and groves
with every palm thawed in a frozen year;
When the houses of degradation seek shelter in bushes,
والضاربونand those who pitch tents فيon اليفاعhigh ground والذُّرَىand summits
والضاربون في اليفاع والذُّرَى
إذاwhen بيوتُthe houses of الذلِّhumiliation عاذتْsought shelter بالوُهُدْin hollows
إذا بيوتُ الذلِّ عاذتْ بالوُهُدْ
pitching their tents on heights and summits
Their accounts shine for their guest beneath the night
when houses of humiliation seek shelter in hollows.
If the eyebrow of the kindled fire dies down.
تضيءshine تحتunder الليلnight أحسابُهُمُtheir ancestral honors
تضيء تحت الليل أحسابُهُمُ
لضيفهمfor their guest إنif حاجبُthe brow of النارthe fire خمدْdied down
لضيفهم إن حاجبُ النار خمدْ
Their ancestral honors shine through the night
From their tongues to needs they extended
for their guest, if the fire's brow has gone dark.
Ducts, ever since they became upright, never flagging,
مدُّواthey stretched إلىtoward الحاجاتneeds منfrom ألسنهمtheir tongues
مدُّوا إلى الحاجات من ألسنهم
ذوابلاًslender spears منذsince استقامتthey straightened لمnot تَمِدْthey swayed
ذوابلاً منذ استقامت لم تَمِدْ
They have stretched toward needs, from their tongues,
Neither avoided by a pardoned crime,
slender spears that, once straightened, have never swayed.
Nor avoided by the coat of mail and breastplate.
لاnot تتّقيهاwards them off هامةٌa head بِمغفَرٍwith a helmet
لا تتّقيها هامةٌ بِمغفَرٍ
ولاnor يداريهاfends them off عنfrom الجسمthe body الزَّردْchain mail
ولا يداريها عن الجسم الزَّردْ
No head wards them off with a helmet;
They dazzle the hearing of every charlatan
no chain mail keeps them from the body.
Once the spurt of wounds flowed forth and burst.
تبهَرoutdo فيin الأسماعthe ears كلَّevery جائفٍdeep-piercing wound
تبهَر في الأسماع كلَّ جائفٍ
إذاwhen استقامتis restored لُحمةthe flesh of الجُرحthe wound فسدْthen it closes
إذا استقامت لُحمة الجُرح فسدْ
They overwhelm the ears beyond any deep wound;
They were recognized by glory until their news traveled
once a wound's flesh is restored, it closes.
Fragrantly while they sat still at home.
تعرَّفواthey became known بالمجدthrough glory حتىuntil سافرتtraveled
تعرَّفوا بالمجد حتى سافرت
أخبارُهمtheir reports بطيبهِwith its fragrance وهمwhile they قُعُدْsat at home
أخبارُهم بطيبهِ وهم قُعُدْ
They became known through glory, until
And they differed—no wish erring in its aim
their reports traveled with its fragrance while they sat at home.
At their splendor relied upon missed its mark.
واختلفواand they differ لاmay not أخطأتْmiss بسهمهاwith its arrow
واختلفوا لا أخطأتْ بسهمها
أمنيَّةٌa wish صوبَtoward نداهمtheir bounty تعتمِدْaims
أمنيَّةٌ صوبَ نداهم تعتمِدْ
They differ—may the arrow never miss
They corrupted the world for its people
of a wish that aims toward their bounty!
So you see no one like them among those born.
وأفسدواand they spoiled الدنياthe world علىfor أبنائهاits sons
وأفسدوا الدنيا على أبنائها
فماand so not ترىyou see مثلَهُمُtheir like فيمنamong those it تلدْbears
فما ترى مثلَهُمُ فيمن تلدْ
They have spoiled the world for its sons:
They are what they are, originally, and of their branches
you see none like them among those it bears.
Is the whitest, swiftest lightning across the hills.
هُمْthey ماhow هُمُremarkable they are أصلاًin their roots ومِنand among فروعهمtheir branches
هُمْ ما هُمُ أصلاً ومِن فروعهم
أبلجُa radiant man أَرْبَىsurpassed طارِفاًin acquired glory علىover التَّلَدْinherited glory
أبلجُ أَرْبَى طارِفاً على التَّلَدْ
How remarkable they are in their roots! Among their branches
Muhammad fulfilled his people’s glory
is a radiant man whose acquired glory surpasses the inherited.
So he blessed them, while children at times betray their ancestry.
وفَىfulfilled بمجدِthe glory of قومِهِhis people محمدٌMuhammad
وفَى بمجدِ قومِهِ محمدٌ
فبرَّهمand honored them وربّماand sometimes عَقَّis unfilial الولَدْthe son
فبرَّهم وربّما عَقَّ الولَدْ
Muhammad fulfilled his people's glory,
And there shone among them with a resolve
honoring them, though a son may prove unfilial.
That closes every gap a breach may open.
وبانَand stood apart منfrom بينهمُamong them بهمّةٍthrough lofty resolve
وبانَ من بينهمُ بهمّةٍ
خَلَّةُthe gap of كلّevery سؤددٍlordly greatness منهاfrom it تُسَدْis filled
خَلَّةُ كلّ سؤددٍ منها تُسَدْ
He stood apart among them through a lofty resolve
It was completed, yet the full moon after it
that fills every gap in lordly greatness.
Is incomplete, and the endless sea did not gain.
تمَّhe became perfect وبدرُwhile the moon of التمِّfullness بعدُstill ناقصٌis deficient
تمَّ وبدرُ التمِّ بعدُ ناقصٌ
وزادand grew greater والبحرُwhile the sea المحيطُencompassing لمnot يزِدْgrew
وزاد والبحرُ المحيطُ لم يزِدْ
He attained perfection; the full moon is still deficient.
He managed the world with one opinion
He grew greater, while the encompassing sea did not.
Scornful that any share it with him.
ودبَّرand governed الدنياthe world برأيwith a judgment واحدٍsingle
ودبَّر الدنيا برأي واحدٍ
يأنَفُdisdains أنthat يَشركَهshare with him فيهاin it أحدْanyone
يأنَفُ أن يَشركَه فيها أحدْ
He governed the world with a single judgment,
You see him as one with all, unique,
disdaining that anyone should share it with him.
While the moon among the array of stars solitary.
تراهyou see him وهوwhile he فيamong الجميعeveryone واحداًis unique
تراه وهو في الجميع واحداً
والبدرُand the full moon فيamid حَفْلِthe gathering of النجومstars منفرِدْstands alone
والبدرُ في حَفْلِ النجوم منفرِدْ
You see him unique among the multitude;
When consulted, he increased no insight,
the full moon stands alone amid the gathering stars.
Nor does his opinion blame him when he seizes it firmly.
إذاif استشارhe consults لمnot يزدhe gains بصيرةًinsight
إذا استشار لم يزد بصيرةً
ولاand not يلومhe blames رأيَهhis judgment إذاwhen استبدْhe acts alone
ولا يلوم رأيَه إذا استبدْ
Consultation adds nothing to his insight,
Until by his oneness he became
nor does he blame his judgment when he acts alone.
The orphan of time and the unique one of the age.
حتىuntil لقدindeed أصبحhe became باتحادهthrough his uniqueness
حتى لقد أصبح باتحاده
يتيمةَthe peerless jewel of الدهرTime وبَيضةَand the cherished egg of البلدْthe land
يتيمةَ الدهر وبَيضةَ البلدْ
Indeed, through his uniqueness he has become
He stood up and attained noble deeds with toil
Time's peerless jewel, the land's cherished egg.
And won relaxation diminished, sitting down.
قامhe rose فنالand attained المكرماتِnoble honors متعبَاًwearied
قام فنال المكرماتِ متعبَاً
وفازand won بالراحةrest مخفوضٌan easy-living man قعدْwho sat
وفاز بالراحة مخفوضٌ قعدْ
He rose and attained noble honors, wearied,
A group declined to carry rights
while an easy-living man who sat still won rest.
So their carrying did not caution them, nor did they repay.
وخامَand recoiled عنfrom حملbearing الحقوقobligations معشرٌa group
وخامَ عن حمل الحقوق معشرٌ
فلمand not يرعْهfrightened him حملُهاbearing them ولمand not يؤدْweighed him down
فلم يرعْه حملُها ولم يؤدْ
Others recoiled from bearing obligations;
Had the sleeper known which step
bearing them neither frightened him nor weighed him down.
The watchman protects, he would yearn for wakefulness by night.
ولوand if درىknew النائمُthe sleeper أيَّwhat قَدَمٍprecedence
ولو درى النائمُ أيَّ قَدَمٍ
يُحرزهاhe gains it الساهرthe wakeful لاشتاقwould long for السَّهَدْsleeplessness
يُحرزها الساهر لاشتاق السَّهَدْ
If the sleeper knew what precedence
And perhaps the eyes would delight in respite
the wakeful gains, he would long for sleeplessness.
Though relaxation were a disease of the body.
وربّماand sometimes برَّحtormented بالعينthe eye الكرىsleep
وربّما برَّح بالعين الكرى
وكانتand was الراحةrest داءًa disease للجسدْfor the body
وكانت الراحة داءً للجسدْ
Sometimes sleep torments the eye,
His character was safe from grit—
and rest becomes a disease of the body.
While water is made gritty by jug and froth.
تسلَّمتْwere kept free منfrom القذىspecks أخلاقُهُhis character
تسلَّمتْ من القذى أخلاقُهُ
والماءُwhile water يَقذَىgathers specks بالسِّقاءfrom the waterskin والزَّبَدْand foam
والماءُ يَقذَى بالسِّقاء والزَّبَدْ
His character was kept free of specks,
And longing for his affection organized hearts—
while water gathers specks from the waterskin and foam.
No lover or friend is seen but loves and adores.
وانتظمand strung together القلوبَhearts سِلكُthe thread of ودّهhis love
وانتظم القلوبَ سِلكُ ودّه
فماand so not يَرَىhe sees منanyone who لاnot يُحبّloves ويَوَدْand cherishes
فما يَرَى من لا يُحبّ ويَوَدْ
The thread of his love strung hearts together;
Anger makes no allowances for a guarded heart
he sees no one who does not love and cherish him.
Against you, if poetry does not deem it faithful.
لاmay not رفَقَspare الغيظُrage بقلبٍa heart محفَظٍembittered
لا رفَقَ الغيظُ بقلبٍ محفَظٍ
عليكagainst you إنif لمnot يقلutters الشِّعرَpoetry اعتقدْinwardly conceives it
عليك إن لم يقل الشِّعرَ اعتقدْ
May rage never spare a heart embittered
Your peer hopes to succeed you,
against you: if it utters no verse, it conceives one.
Though the hour of misery has passed for him to be seized.
جاراكhe competed with you يرجوhoping أنto يكونbe لاحقاًcatching up
جاراك يرجو أن يكون لاحقاً
سومُseeking السَّحوقthe towering palm فاتis beyond أنbeing يُجنَىplucked بيدْby hand
سومُ السَّحوق فات أن يُجنَى بيدْ
He competed with you, hoping to catch up:
He is led into abasement, voluntarily, due to ancestry,
seeking a towering palm's fruit, beyond picking by hand.
Perplexed in ancestry, blind, not guided.
ينقادsubmits للذِّلّةto abasement طوعَobedient to نسبٍlineage
ينقاد للذِّلّة طوعَ نسبٍ
حيرانَbewildered فيamong الأحسابpedigrees أعمىblind لمnot يُقَدْguided
حيرانَ في الأحساب أعمى لم يُقَدْ
He submits to abasement, obedient to his lineage,
He is avaricious when asked, so if
bewildered among pedigrees, blind and unguided.
One day he misses a gift, he will not repeat it.
يدينprofesses بالبخلstinginess إذاwhen سِيلَasked فإنthen if
يدين بالبخل إذا سِيلَ فإن
أخطأhe erred يوماًone day بنوالٍwith a gift لمnot يَعُدْhe repeated it
أخطأ يوماً بنوالٍ لم يَعُدْ
He professes stinginess when asked; if
He stretched out the rope of his evil, so its causes snapped
he errs one day with a gift, he does not repeat it.
And you stretch out goodness—ever extending.
مدّhe stretched بحبلِthe cord of شرِّهhis evil فانفصمتso snapped
مدّ بحبلِ شرِّه فانفصمت
أسبابهُhis cords وأنتwhile you بالخيرwith goodness تَمُدْextend
أسبابهُ وأنت بالخير تَمُدْ
He stretched the cord of his evil, and snapped
So whenever he surpassed a span, you surpassed him
his own cords, while you extend goodness.
Drawing near to glory from however far.
فكلّماso whenever جازhe traversed مدىًa distance جاوزتهyou surpassed him
فكلّما جاز مدىً جاوزته
مقارباًdrawing near للمجدto glory منfrom حيثwhere بَعُدْhe was far
مقارباً للمجد من حيث بَعُدْ
Whenever he traversed a distance, you surpassed him,
Through you my hand, once neglected, clung
drawing near to glory where he remained far away.
And my intimacy, once dispersed, he gathered.
بكto you اعتلقتُI clung ويدِيwhile my hand وحشيَّةٌwas untamed
بك اعتلقتُ ويدِي وحشيَّةٌ
وضمّand gathered أنسيmy fellowship شملَهits scattered company وهوwhile it was بَدَدْdispersed
وضمّ أنسي شملَه وهو بَدَدْ
I clung to you, my hand still untamed,
A character, once unyielding, consented to me for you
and my fellowship gathered its scattered company.
Not knowing before what gift-giving and redemption were.
وارتاضand was tamed منّيin me لكfor you خُلْقٌa temperament قامصٌrearing
وارتاض منّي لك خُلْقٌ قامصٌ
لمnot يدرknew قبلُbefore ماwhat العطاءُgiving والصَّفَدْand largesse
لم يدر قبلُ ما العطاءُ والصَّفَدْ
For you, a rearing temperament in me was tamed,
You won my heart forthrightly, so my patience
one that formerly knew neither giving nor largesse.
And fortitude did not match my passion for you.
ملكتَyou possessed قلبيmy heart شعَفاًwith passion فماand not وَفَىsufficed
ملكتَ قلبي شعَفاً فما وَفَى
بقدرِto the measure of وجديmy longing بكfor you صبريmy patience والجلَدْand endurance
بقدرِ وجدي بك صبري والجلَدْ
You possessed my heart with passion, and neither
Until cares surrounded me, first and foremost,
my patience nor endurance equaled my longing for you.
While one first among a thousand in counting.
حتّىuntil حوانيit possessed me أوّلاًone part فأوّلاًthen another
حتّى حواني أوّلاً فأوّلاً
وواحدٌand one أوّلُthe beginning of ألفٍa thousand فيin العددْcounting
وواحدٌ أوّلُ ألفٍ في العددْ
Until it possessed me, little by little;
How many groves your generosity grew for me
one is the beginning of a thousand in counting.
Whose blessed abundance the water irrigates!
كمhow many أيكةٍa grove أنْبتَهاgrew it جودُكyour generosity ليfor me
كم أيكةٍ أنْبتَها جودُك لي
تُربُthe soil of ثراهاits earth طيِّبٌgood والماءُand the water عِدْinexhaustible
تُربُ ثراها طيِّبٌ والماءُ عِدْ
How many groves your generosity has grown for me,
And whenever a bough sang out from them,
their soil good, their water inexhaustible!
Your generosity returned to me other fresh ones.
وكلماand whenever صَوَّحwithered منهاof it غُصُنٌa branch
وكلما صَوَّح منها غُصُنٌ
عادَreturned بهاwith it جودُكyour generosity غضّاتٍtender shoots جُدَدْnew
عادَ بها جودُك غضّاتٍ جُدَدْ
Whenever a branch of them withered,
Their fruits filled my containers, so I almost
your bounty brought back fresh, tender shoots.
Lost you when the torrents of the flood drove them away.
قدindeed ملأتْfilled أوعيَتيmy vessels ثمارُهاits fruits
قد ملأتْ أوعيَتي ثمارُها
فقَدْكso, enough from you إنif ردَّchecks عبابَthe surge of السيلِthe torrent قَدْ'enough'
فقَدْك إن ردَّ عبابَ السيلِ قَدْ
Their fruits have filled my vessels:
No gap remains in me that would bar them,
enough from you—if 'enough' could stem the torrent's surge!
For gaps are only blocked with wealth.
لمnot تبقremains فيَّin me خَلّةٌa need تسدُّهاyou fill it
لم تبق فيَّ خَلّةٌ تسدُّها
وإنماand only الخَلّةُneed بالمالwith wealth تُسَدْis filled
وإنما الخَلّةُ بالمال تُسَدْ
No need remains in me for you to fill;
In you, for all I lose there is replacement—
only through wealth is need filled.
So farewell, I am not harmed by those I lose.
ليfor me فيكin you منfor كلّevery فقيدٍlost one خَلفٌa replacement
لي فيك من كلّ فقيدٍ خَلفٌ
فابقَso remain فماand not يضرُّنيharms me مَنْwhoever أَفتقِدْI lose
فابقَ فما يضرُّني مَنْ أَفتقِدْ
In you I have a replacement for everyone lost:
If my teeth are perfect, though the rest
remain, and whoever I lose cannot harm me.
Decay, let the front ones continue their course!
إذاif السنانُthe spearhead سَلِمتْremains intact طريرةًkeen
إذا السنانُ سَلِمتْ طريرةً
عُلياهُits upper edge فلْتمضِthen let go الأنابيبُthe shaft-sections قِصَدْas splinters
عُلياهُ فلْتمضِ الأنابيبُ قِصَدْ
If the spearhead's upper edge remains
And shoot with a successful arrow through the heights
sound and keen, let the shaft-sections go to splinters.
From the hand of a successful lifetime that wastes not.
واضربand take بسهمٍa share فيin العلاءloftiness فائزٍwinning
واضرب بسهمٍ في العلاء فائزٍ
منfrom يدِthe hand of عُمرٍa lifetime فائزٍtriumphant لاnot يُقتَصَدْcut short
من يدِ عُمرٍ فائزٍ لا يُقتَصَدْ
And draw a winning share in loftiness
Misfortunes are dusted from you in streams
from the hand of a triumphant life that cannot be cut short.
Where congratulations throng and gather.
تُنفَضُare shaken away عنكfrom you الحادثاتُcalamities شُعَباًin fragments
تُنفَضُ عنك الحادثاتُ شُعَباً
حيثwhere التهانيcongratulations حافلاتٌin multitudes تحتشدْgather
حيث التهاني حافلاتٌ تحتشدْ
Calamities are shaken from you in fragments
Every dawn, your ascending sun rises
where congratulations gather in throngs.
Infatuated, like the sun of perpetuity.
كلّevery صباحٍmorning شمسُthe sun of إقبالكyour good fortune فيin
كلّ صباحٍ شمسُ إقبالك في
فُتوقهِits dawn-openings مفتنةٌbewitching شمسَthe sun of الأبدْeternity
فُتوقهِ مفتنةٌ شمسَ الأبدْ
Each morning, the sun of your good fortune, in
Prancing between praiser and envier
its dawn-openings, enchants the eternal sun.
So the causes of praise make envy deserved.
جذلانَjubilant بينbetween مادحٍa praiser وحاسدٍand an envier
جذلانَ بين مادحٍ وحاسدٍ
فموجباتُso the causes of المدحpraise يوجبنcause الحسدْenvy
فموجباتُ المدح يوجبن الحسدْ
Jubilant between a praiser and an envier:
the things that warrant praise also cause envy.
Partial English translation: 186 of 188 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1