دعُوهاlet them ترِدْcome to water بعدafter خمسٍfive days شُروعاwading in
دعُوها ترِدْ بعد خمسٍ شُروعا
وراخواand loosen علائقَهاtheir tethers والنُّسوعاand the leather straps
وراخوا علائقَها والنُّسوعا
Let them come to water after five days, wading in,
Let her come back after five has commenced
and loosen their tethers and leather straps.
And leave her ties and whimperings
ولاand do not تحبسواrestrain خُطْمَهاtheir muzzles أنfrom تطولreaching الthe
ولا تحبسوا خُطْمَها أن تطول ال
حِياضَwatering pools وأيديَهاand their forelegs أنfrom تبوعاstriding
حِياضَ وأيديَها أن تبوعا
Do not keep their muzzles from reaching the
And do not restrain her mouth from prolonging
watering pools, or their forelegs from striding.
The fences, and her hands from dispersing
وقولواand say دعاءًa prayer لهاfor them لاmay you not عُقِرتِbe hamstrung
وقولوا دعاءً لها لا عُقِرتِ
ولاand may not امتدَّextend دهرُكyour lifetime إلاexcept ربيعاas spring
ولا امتدَّ دهرُك إلا ربيعا
Pray for them: "May you never be hamstrung,
And say a prayer for her, she was not hurt
and may your lifetime stretch through nothing but spring!"
Nor did your time extend except in spring
فقدfor indeed حملَتْthey carried ونجتand brought to safety أنفساًsouls
فقد حملَتْ ونجت أنفساً
كرائمَnoble جبنَthey traversed الأمانيthe hopes سريعاswiftly
كرائمَ جبنَ الأماني سريعا
For they have carried and brought to safety souls
She carried and saved noble souls
noble, who swiftly traversed their hopes.
Who dared the wishes' anxiety swiftly
حملنَthey carried نشاوَىdrunken men بكأسon the cup of الغراlove (continued)
حملنَ نشاوَى بكأس الغرا
مcompletion of 'love' كلٌّeach غداbecame لأخيهto his brother رضيعاa fellow nursling
م كلٌّ غدا لأخيه رضيعا
They bore men drunk on the cup of love,
They carried pleasures in the cup of respect Each tomorrow to his brother an infant
each becoming his brother's fellow nursling.
They loved individually but they
أحبُّواthey loved فُرادىsingly ولكنَّهمbut they
أحبُّوا فُرادى ولكنَّهم
علىat صيحةthe cry of البينparting ماتواthey died جميعاall together
على صيحة البين ماتوا جميعا
They loved singly, but
Died together at the cry of separation
at the cry of parting they all died.
They protected the comfort of sleep their eyelids
حمواthey denied راحةَthe rest of النومsleep أجفانَهمtheir eyelids
حموا راحةَ النوم أجفانَهم
وشدّواand they bound علىaround الزفراتِthe sighs الضلوعاthe ribs
وشدّوا على الزفراتِ الضلوعا
They denied their eyelids the rest of sleep
And tightened over their ribs the bandages
and bound their ribs around their sighs.
And spent the night with their hands propping
وباتواand they spent the night بأيديهِمُwith their hands يسندوpropping (continued)
وباتوا بأيديهِمُ يسندو
نcompletion of 'propping' فوقupon الرحالthe saddles جُنوباًsides وُقوعاcollapsing
ن فوق الرحال جُنوباً وُقوعا
They spent the night propping with their hands
Over the saddlebags, keeling and leaning
their collapsing sides upon the saddles.
And in the caravan, if they join belated
وفيand in الركبِthe caravan إنif وصلواthey arrived لاحقينjoining
وفي الركبِ إن وصلوا لاحقين
عقائلُnoble ladies يشعَبنَthey mend تلكthose الصُّدوعاrifts
عقائلُ يشعَبنَ تلك الصُّدوعا
And in the caravan, if they arrive to join you,
The she-camels of that cleft kneel
are noble ladies who mend those rifts,
Dancers of the hearts' love so that the forbearing becomes the obscene
منamong الراقصاتِthe dancers بحَبِّwith the kernels of القلوhearts (continued)
من الراقصاتِ بحَبِّ القلو
بcompletion of 'hearts' حتىuntil يكونbecomes الحليمُthe sober man الخليعاthe wanton one
ب حتى يكون الحليمُ الخليعا
dancers bearing the kernels of
Poems not dyed with water
hearts, until the sober man becomes wanton:
Nor rubbed with grazes out of hunger
قصائدُpoems لمdid not يصطبغنthey take as a sauce المياهَwater
قصائدُ لم يصطبغن المياهَ
ولمand did not يحترشنَthey hunt by luring out اليرابيعَthe jerboas جُوعاfrom hunger
ولم يحترشنَ اليرابيعَ جُوعا
poems that never used water as a sauce
When lineage takes care in a gown
nor hunted jerboas out of hunger.
They wiped its trails and twigs
إذاwhen الحسبُnoble lineage اعتنَّpresented itself فيamong خِنْدِفٍKhindif
إذا الحسبُ اعتنَّ في خِنْدِفٍ
مسحنَthey stroked ذوائبَهits forelocks والفروعاand the branches
مسحنَ ذوائبَه والفروعا
When noble lineage loomed among Khindif,
They tore souls for us in devotion
they stroked its forelocks and its branches.
They made the eyes fall upon them
خرقنthey pierced نفوساًsouls لناof ours فيwithin السجوفthe curtains
خرقن نفوساً لنا في السجوف
جعلنthey made العيونَthe eyes عليهاupon them وُقوعاalighting
جعلن العيونَ عليها وُقوعا
They pierced our souls behind the curtains
And shook our hands with the carpets of building
and made eyes alight upon them.
Their palms bleed the tears
وصافَحْنَناand they shook our hands بسباطwith smooth البناfingers (continued)
وصافَحْنَنا بسباط البنا
نcompletion of 'fingers' تخضبُstains حنّاؤهنّtheir henna الدموعاthe tears
ن تخضبُ حنّاؤهنّ الدموعا
They shook our hands with smooth fingers,
An infatuation to you from a sight if it lasts
their henna staining our tears.
And from one who commands wishes if obeyed
هوىًlonging لكfor you منfrom منظرٍa sight لوif only يدومit endured
هوىً لك من منظرٍ لو يدوم
ومنand from آمرa commander بالمنىof hopes لوif only أطيعاhe were obeyed
ومن آمر بالمنى لو أطيعا
Longing for you, from a sight—if only it endured—
They descended troubled so the chaste thought
and from a commander of hopes—if only he were obeyed.
That fervor had left no return
هبطنthey alighted أُشَيَّUshayy فظنّand thought العذولthe reproacher
هبطن أُشَيَّ فظنّ العذول
وقدwhen already ذهبhad departed الوجدُpassion أنthat لاno رجوعاreturn
وقد ذهب الوجدُ أن لا رجوعا
They alighted at Ushayy, and the reproacher thought,
And your love the daughter of Nahshal
since passion had departed, it would not return.
Did not increase in distance except agony
ولاno وهواكِby my love for you ابنةَdaughter of النَّهشَليal-Nahshali (continued)
ولا وهواكِ ابنةَ النَّهشَلي
يِcompletion of 'al-Nahshali' ماnot زادincreased فيin البعدdistance إلاexcept ولوعاin ardor
يِ ما زاد في البعد إلا ولوعا
No! By my love for you, daughter of al-Nahshali,
The death of Murriwayh quenched my thirst
distance has only made it more ardent.
And revived your plains for me, plains
سقاكِmay he water you مهاةُO oryx مروِّيthe quencher of العطاشِthe thirsty
سقاكِ مهاةُ مروِّي العطاشِ
وحيَّاand may he greet ربوعَكِyour dwellings عنّيon my behalf ربوعاdwelling-places
وحيَّا ربوعَكِ عنّي ربوعا
May the quencher of the thirsty water you, O oryx,
I blamed them yet did not make them
and greet your dwellings for me, dwelling by dwelling.
A frightened heart and a weeping eye
ضمنتُI pledged لهنّto them فلمand did not آلهنI stint them (continued)
ضمنتُ لهنّ فلم آلهن
نَcompletion of 'I stint them' قلباًa heart مروعاًfrightened وعيناًand an eye دَموعاtearful
نَ قلباً مروعاً وعيناً دَموعا
I pledged to them, and did not stint them
And I stood reciting the covenants
a frightened heart and a tearful eye.
If they can speak coherently
وقمتُand I rose أناشدُهنَّadjuring them العهوthe vows (continued)
وقمتُ أناشدُهنَّ العهو
دَcompletion of 'vows' لوif only يستطعنَthey could الكلامَspeech الرجيعاin reply
دَ لو يستطعنَ الكلامَ الرجيعا
I rose to adjure them by the vows—
Settle, oh Ramah, is there any villages
if only they could speak in reply.
For night has sent a content guest
أسكّانO dwellers of رامةَRama هلis there منany قِرىًhospitality
أسكّان رامةَ هل من قِرىً
فقدfor indeed دفعbrought الليلُthe night ضيفاًa guest قَنوعاeasily satisfied
فقد دفع الليلُ ضيفاً قَنوعا
O dwellers of Rama, is there any hospitality?
It suffices him of provision that you paved
Night has brought a guest who asks for little.
For him a sight and ample talk
كَفاهsuffices him منof الزادprovisions أنthat تَمهَدواyou provide
كَفاه من الزاد أن تَمهَدوا
لهfor him نظراًa glance وحديثاًand conversation وسيعاample
له نظراً وحديثاً وسيعا
Enough provision for him is that you offer
And another, woe to her mother if
him a glance and ample conversation,
Youth in it were to you intercessors
وأُخرَىand another favor وويلُand woe to امّهاits mother لوif only يكوthere were (continued)
وأُخرَى وويلُ امّها لو يكو
نcompletion of 'there were' فيهاfor it الشبابُyouth إليكمwith you شفيعاan intercessor
ن فيها الشبابُ إليكم شفيعا
and another favor—woe to its mother!—if only
Do not blame, oh my friend, and leave
youth could intercede with you for it.
Every beauty startled
ألاcome لاdo not تلُمْreproach أنتyou ياO صاحبيmy companion
ألا لا تلُمْ أنت يا صاحبي
ودَعْand let كلَّevery رائعةdazzling beauty أنto تروعاdazzle
ودَعْ كلَّ رائعة أن تروعا
Come, do not reproach me, my companion;
And spare us for this aging the dispute
let every dazzling beauty dazzle.
Not about roast and obey the craving
وهبناwe surrendered لهذاto this المشيبِgray hair النزاlonging (continued)
وهبنا لهذا المشيبِ النزا
عَcompletion of 'longing' لاnot عنout of قلىًaversion وأطعناand we obeyed النزوعاrenunciation
عَ لا عن قلىً وأطعنا النزوعا
We surrendered longing to this gray hair,
And time has shown us of its stretch
not from aversion, and obeyed renunciation.
The night of boyhood, a bright dawn
وأورىand kindled لناfor us الدهرُtime منfrom مدلهمpitch-black (continued)
وأورى لنا الدهرُ من مدلهم
مِcompletion of 'pitch-black' ليلthe night of الصبابةpassion فجراًa dawn صديعاcleaving
مِ ليل الصبابة فجراً صديعا
Time kindled for us, from the pitch-black
If only my whiteness corrupts fortunes
night of passion, a dawn that cleaved it.
And changes its blackness into cheerful to me
فليتand would that بياضِيَmy whiteness أعدىinfected الحظوظَthe fortunes
فليت بياضِيَ أعدى الحظوظَ
فبدَّلand changed أسودَهاtheir blackness ليfor me نصيعاto bright white
فبدَّل أسودَها لي نصيعا
Would that my whiteness infected my fortunes
I swore by them like the cleavage of a bow
and turned their blackness bright white for me!
They think their ribs are bandages
حلفتI swore بهاby them كشقاقlike split staves of القسيbows (continued)
حلفت بها كشقاق القسي
يِcompletion of 'bows' تحسَبُyou would reckon أعناقَهنّtheir necks الضّلوعاthe ribs
يِ تحسَبُ أعناقَهنّ الضّلوعا
I swore by them, like split staves of bows:
We continue from the furthest reaches of their superiority
you would take their necks for ribs,
A trimmed mustache and a plucked side
نَواصلُshedding their hair منfrom بَزِّstripping أوبارهاtheir wool
نَواصلُ من بَزِّ أوبارها
سناماًa hump حليقاًshaved وجنباًand a flank قريعاbare
سناماً حليقاً وجنباً قريعا
shedding, their wool stripped away,
Seashores where the flock insisted
their humps shaved and their flanks bare;
Upon them so they became a flock
نواحلemaciated كلِّeach نجاةٍswift she-camel ألحّpressed relentlessly
نواحل كلِّ نجاةٍ ألحّ
عليهاupon her القطيعُthe whip فصارتand she became قطيعاa torn remnant
عليها القطيعُ فصارت قطيعا
emaciated—each swift she-camel beset
They bark the chants overtly in amity
by the whip until she became a torn remnant.
Lofty and necks bowed
يُبحنthey yield to السُّرىnight travel أظهراًbacks فيamid الحباthe ropes (continued)
يُبحن السُّرى أظهراً في الحبا
لcompletion of 'ropes' شامخةًhigh-rising ورقاباًand necks خضوعاbowed
ل شامخةً ورقاباً خضوعا
They yield to night travel backs amid the ropes,
They stretched out the distances in the bellies of love
high-rising, and necks bent low.
Until they reached, lowered, raised
أسلنthey made flow الرُّبَىthe hills فيinto بطونthe hollows of الوهاvalleys (continued)
أسلن الرُّبَى في بطون الوها
دِcompletion of 'valleys' حتىuntil وصلنَthey joined خُفوضاًlow ground رُفوعاhigh ground
دِ حتى وصلنَ خُفوضاً رُفوعا
They made hills flow into the hollows of valleys,
Upon them is the paleness of delicate skins
until they joined low ground to high.
They were changed with whiteness into lofty
عليهنَّupon them شحبٌpale men رقاقthin الجلوof skin (continued)
عليهنَّ شحبٌ رقاق الجلو
دِcompletion of 'skin' قدalready بُدِّلواthey were given in exchange بالبياضِfor whiteness السُّفوعاdusky hues
دِ قد بُدِّلوا بالبياضِ السُّفوعا
Upon them are pale men, thin of skin,
You see them on the slopes of mountains
their whiteness exchanged for dusky hues.
Bowing before kneeling, a group kneeling
تراهمyou see them علىon شعفاتِthe peaks of الجباmountains (continued)
تراهم على شعفاتِ الجبا
لcompletion of 'mountains' قبلَbefore الركوعbowing بجَمعat Jam' ركوعاbowed
ل قبلَ الركوع بجَمع ركوعا
You see them upon the mountain peaks,
They shepherded the dryness of living or multiplied
bowed before their bowing at Jam'.
Upon the ritual of fear those multitudes
رعَواthey grazed on يَبَسthe dryness of العيشlife أوor كثَّرواthey increased
رعَوا يَبَس العيش أو كثَّروا
علىat منسَكthe sanctuary of الخيفal-Khayf تلكthose الجموعاcrowds
على منسَك الخيف تلك الجموعا
They grazed on life's dryness, or swelled
The effort of the chief of the able
those throngs at the sanctuary of al-Khayf.
Tired the walk of the guiding star or strayed from it, refusing
لأتعبَsurely wearied سعيُthe striving of عميد'Amid الكفاةal-Kufat
لأتعبَ سعيُ عميد الكفاة
سُرىthe night journey of النجمthe star أوor عادit returned عنهfrom him ظليعاlimping
سُرى النجم أو عاد عنه ظليعا
Surely the striving of 'Amid al-Kufat has wearied
The young man of war, where did you find the afflictions
the star's night journey—or it returned from him limping.
With his opinions, he evaded them, returning
فتىchampion of الحربwar أينwherever لقيتَyou meet الخطوبَcalamities
فتى الحرب أين لقيتَ الخطوبَ
بآرائهthrough his counsels انصعنthey turned away عنهfrom him رُجوعاin retreat
بآرائه انصعن عنه رُجوعا
A champion of war: wherever you meet calamities,
Steel of heart and ample of arm
his counsels send them recoiling from him.
When people narrowed chests and dispersing
حديدُkeen الفؤادof heart وسيعُwide الذراعof arm
حديدُ الفؤاد وسيعُ الذراع
إذاwhen الناسpeople ضاقواbecame narrow صدوراًin breast وبوعاand in reach
إذا الناس ضاقوا صدوراً وبوعا
Keen of heart and broad of arm
Generous of fatherhood, forbearing of youth
when others are narrow in breast and reach;
Taken with glory, its fount an infant
كريمnoble الإباءin defiance حليمforbearing الصِّباin youth
كريم الإباء حليم الصِّبا
تمطَّقsavored بالمجدglory فوهhis mouth رضيعاas a nursling
تمطَّق بالمجد فوه رضيعا
noble in defiance, forbearing in youth,
Deaf to the ugly talk
his mouth savored glory while still a nursling.
When the ignoble were to it listening
أصمّdeaf عنto الكلمwords المقذعاتfoul and abusive
أصمّ عن الكلم المقذعات
إذاwhen الغِمرthe callow man كانwas إليهاto them سميعاattentive
إذا الغِمر كان إليها سميعا
Deaf to foul, abusive words
He protected the comfort of sleep his eyelids
when the callow man lends them his ear.
Lest they enjoy without completing the glories, desiring
حمىbarred النومَsleep أجفانَهhis eyelids أنfrom تلَذtaking pleasure (continued)
حمى النومَ أجفانَه أن تلَذ
ذَcompletion of 'taking pleasure' دونbefore انتهاءattaining المعاليlofty honors هُجوعاslumber
ذَ دون انتهاء المعالي هُجوعا
He barred sleep from his eyelids, lest they savor
And he was assigned the greatest efforts so he
slumber before attaining the heights of honor.
Carried them before being able
وكُلِّفَand he was charged with كبرَىthe greatest of المساعيendeavors فقاand he rose (continued)
وكُلِّفَ كبرَى المساعي فقا
مcompletion of 'he rose' يحملهاbearing them قبلَbefore أنhe يستطيعاcould
م يحملها قبلَ أن يستطيعا
Charged with the greatest endeavors, he rose
His hand pulled a chain in the friend
to bear them before he could.
Gentle, and between the enemies, growling
جرتflowed يدهُhis hand سلسلاًas limpid water فيtoward الصديa friend (continued)
جرت يدهُ سلسلاً في الصدي
قcompletion of 'friend' عذباًsweet وبينand among الأعاديthe enemies نجيعاfresh blood
ق عذباً وبين الأعادي نجيعا
His hand flowed as a limpid stream toward a friend,
He gave and was jealous over his honor
sweet, and as fresh blood among enemies.
Thus reckoned while donated varied
وأعطىand he gave وغارand guarded jealously علىover عرضهhis honor
وأعطى وغار على عرضه
فعُدَّand was reckoned بذاكfor that وهوباًlavish منوعاwithholding
فعُدَّ بذاك وهوباً منوعا
He gave freely and jealously guarded his honor,
Of the white hyenas, the stars walk
and so was reckoned lavish and withholding.
Confused if they faced their rising
منof النَفرthe company البيضradiant تمشيmove النجوthe stars (continued)
من النَفر البيض تمشي النجو
مُcompletion of 'stars' حيرىbewildered إذاwhen واجهوهاthey face them طلوعاrising
مُ حيرى إذا واجهوها طلوعا
Of the radiant band: the stars move
Sirius they intercept the years
bewildered when these men face them rising.
Arid, they spill in it the misfortunes
ميامينauspicious men يعترضونthey confront السنينthe years
ميامين يعترضون السنين
عجافاًlean يدرّونthey make yield milk فيهاduring them الضُّروعاthe udders
عجافاً يدرّون فيها الضُّروعا
Blessed men who confront the years
If they became barren, their barrenness scourged them
in their leanness, making udders flow with milk.
And if fertile, it was a wicked fertility
إذاwhen أجدبواthey suffer drought خصَّهمaffected only them جدبهمtheir drought
إذا أجدبوا خصَّهم جدبهم
وإنand if أخصبواthey prosper كانit is خِصباًabundance مَريعاluxuriant
وإن أخصبوا كان خِصباً مَريعا
When they suffer drought, their drought is theirs alone;
Long of forearms, sharp of swords
when they prosper, it is luxuriant abundance.
Good of origins and tall of branches
طِوالlong السواعدof forearm شمّhigh الأنوof nose (continued)
طِوال السواعد شمّ الأنو
فcompletion of 'nose' طابواthey were good أصولاًin roots وطالواand they were lofty فروعاin branches
ف طابوا أصولاً وطالوا فروعا
Long of forearm, high of nose,
Slender, so if they sought revenge concealed
good in their roots and lofty in their branches.
You saw them fill the armors
رشاقٌslender فإنbut if ثأرواthey avenge themselves مختفينconcealed
رشاقٌ فإن ثأروا مختفين
رأيتهمُyou see them يملأونfilling الدروعاthe coats of mail
رأيتهمُ يملأون الدروعا
Slender, yet when they avenge themselves, concealed,
The king built for them above the summit
you see them filling their coats of mail.
At the start of time a lofty house
بنىَbuilt لهمfor them الملكُsovereignty فوقabove السِّماكal-Simak
بنىَ لهم الملكُ فوق السِّماك
علىat أوّلthe beginning of الدهرtime بيتاًa house رفيعاlofty
على أوّل الدهر بيتاً رفيعا
Sovereignty built for them above al-Simak,
Smooth you see the lurkers of defects
at time's beginning, a lofty house,
And if they lurked, they did not fall from it
زليقاًslippery ترىyou see حائماتِthe circling العُيوبflaws
زليقاً ترى حائماتِ العُيوب
ولوeven if طرنthey fly ماas much as شئنthey wish عنهaway from it وقوعاfalling
ولو طرن ما شئن عنه وقوعا
so slippery that you see the circling flaws,
Ardashir built it on his crown
however much they fly, falling away from it.
A swift neighbor and a robust neighbor
بناهhe built it علىupon تاجهhis crown أردشيرArdashir
بناه على تاجه أردشير
جناباًa precinct مَريعاًlush وجاراًand a neighbor منيعاunassailable
جناباً مَريعاً وجاراً منيعا
Ardashir built it upon his crown,
And Abd al-Rahim came so he saw
a lush precinct and an unassailable neighbor.
Its fewness and his children rising
وجاءand came فأشرفand ascended عبدُ'Abd الرحيal-Rahim (continued)
وجاء فأشرف عبدُ الرحي
مcompletion of 'al-Rahim' قُلَّتهits summit وبنُوهand his sons طلوعاascending
م قُلَّته وبنُوه طلوعا
Then 'Abd al-Rahim came and ascended
Your sacrifice is all the most loyal loyalty
its summit, his sons rising.
When the mirage of light was delusory
فداؤكmay be your ransom كلُّevery أشلِّone crippled الوفاءin loyalty
فداؤك كلُّ أشلِّ الوفاء
إذاwhen كانhe was منّىhe promised السرابَthe mirage اللموعاglittering
إذا كان منّى السرابَ اللموعا
May every man crippled in loyalty be your ransom,
Arrival upon the hardship of his time
who, whenever he promises, offers a glittering mirage:
For if good fortune handshake, he turned away, cut off
وَصولٌmaintaining ties علىin العسرhardship منof دهرهhis time
وَصولٌ على العسر من دهره
فإنbut if صافحhe clasped اليسرَease ولَّىhe turned away قَطوعاsevering ties
فإن صافح اليسرَ ولَّى قَطوعا
faithful in his time of hardship,
And every affliction upon malice in you
but if he clasps ease, he turns away, severing ties;
A concealed heart and a public face
وكلُّand every مصيبٍone possessing علىwith الغِلِّmalice فيagainst (continued)
وكلُّ مصيبٍ على الغِلِّ في
كyou قلباًa heart كتوماًconcealing ووجهاًand a face مذيعاrevealing
ك قلباً كتوماً ووجهاً مذيعا
and every man bearing malice against you, with
He hid from you out of envy in his thoughts
a heart that conceals and a face that divulges.
A viper so it did not die except wretched
خبَىhe concealed لكfor you منout of حسدٍenvy فيwithin حشاa breast (continued)
خبَى لك من حسدٍ في حشا
هhis أفعىa viper فلاso may he not ماتdie إلاexcept لسيعاsnakebitten
ه أفعى فلا مات إلا لسيعا
He hid, out of envy of you, within his breast
You carried the glories in the age of youth
a viper—may he die only of its bite!
And it was not a burden for it, able
حملتَyou bore المعاليlofty honors بسِنّat the age of الفتىa youth
حملتَ المعالي بسِنّ الفتى
ولمand not يكhe was حملاًbearing لهاthem مستطيعاcapable
ولم يك حملاً لها مستطيعا
You bore lofty honors at the age of youth,
If the scale of pride tilted in him
though youth was not yet able to bear them.
You weighed its weights or all its measures
إذاwhen شالrose فيin الفخرglory ميزانهُhis scale
إذا شال في الفخر ميزانهُ
وزنتَyou weighed مثاقيلَmithqals أوor كلتَyou measured صوعاsa' measures
وزنتَ مثاقيلَ أو كلتَ صوعا
When his scale rises in the balance of glory,
You crowded the era's chest with your generosity
you weigh in mithqals or measure in sa's.
Upon the weakness of my ribs so it fell dead
زحمتَyou pressed against بجودكwith your bounty صدرَthe chest of الزمانtime
زحمتَ بجودك صدرَ الزمان
علىdespite ضعفthe weakness of جنبيmy sides فأقعىand it crouched صريعاstruck down
على ضعف جنبي فأقعى صريعا
With your bounty you pressed against Time's chest,
And I took refuge in your name, my excellent luck
despite my frail sides, and it crouched, felled.
The free
وعوَّذتُand I invoked protection over باسمكwith your name حظّيmy fortune الأبيَّdefiant الthe
وعوَّذتُ باسمك حظّي الأبيَّ ال
حرونَstubborn فأصحَبَand it became tractable سهلاًgentle مطيعاobedient
حرونَ فأصحَبَ سهلاً مطيعا
I invoked your name to protect my defiant,
So it accompanied easy, obedient
stubborn fortune; it became gentle and obedient.
You sufficed the assignment of my need
كفَيتَyou met المهمّةthe urgent matter منamong حاجتيmy needs
كفَيتَ المهمّة من حاجتي
وأعذرتنيand you gave me grounds أنto أداريcoax القُنوعاcontentment
وأعذرتني أن أداري القُنوعا
You met the urgent part of my need
And pardoned me to pursue the content
and gave me grounds to coax contentment.
And you guided most of my inclinations
وسدَّدتَand you filled أكثرmost of خَلّاتِيَmy needs الthe
وسدَّدتَ أكثر خَلّاتِيَ ال
رِغابgreat فلوso if only قدindeed سددتyou filled الجميعاall
رِغاب فلو قد سددت الجميعا
You filled most of my great
If only you had guided them all
needs—if only you had filled them all!
You may spare me from a course
لعلكperhaps you مُغنِيَّwill free me عنfrom موردٍa watering-place
لعلك مُغنِيَّ عن موردٍ
أرىI deem ماءهits water الطَّرْقfouled سمّاًpoison نقيعاdeadly
أرى ماءه الطَّرْق سمّاً نقيعا
Perhaps you will free me from a watering-place
I see its water the roads lethal acid
whose fouled water I deem deadly poison:
A humble side I dragged the hemline
جنابٌa precinct ذليلlowly سحبتُI dragged الخموobscurity (continued)
جنابٌ ذليل سحبتُ الخمو
لَcompletion of 'obscurity' عمراًa lifetime بهthere وارتديتُand I clothed myself in الخضوعاsubmission
لَ عمراً به وارتديتُ الخضوعا
a lowly precinct where I dragged obscurity
An age through it and wore submissiveness
all my life, and clothed myself in submission.
And sheathed my superiority in it and you
وأغمدتُand I sheathed فضليَmy excellence فيهin it وكنand I was (continued)
وأغمدتُ فضليَ فيه وكن
تُcompletion of 'I was' أُشهرُI unsheathe منهfrom it حساماًa sword صنيعاfinely wrought
تُ أُشهرُ منه حساماً صنيعا
I sheathed my excellence there, though I used
Were more publicizing from it a sword artful
to draw from it a finely wrought sword.
And if luck were fair, I would not please it
ولوand if أنصفdealt fairly الحظُّfortune لمnot أرضَهI would accept it
ولو أنصف الحظُّ لم أرضَه
نصيباًas a portion ولاnor قادit led مثليone like me تبيعاas a follower
نصيباً ولا قاد مثلي تبيعا
If fortune dealt justly, I would not accept it
With a share or lead the likes of me for sale
as my portion, nor would it lead one like me as a follower.
And in your hands to be jealous over me
وفيand in يدكمyour power أنto تغارواguard jealously عليَّover me
وفي يدكم أن تغاروا عليَّ
وأنand to تحفظواpreserve فيَّin me حقّاًa right أُضيعاsquandered
وأن تحفظوا فيَّ حقّاً أُضيعا
It is in your power to guard me jealously
And to preserve in me a right I waste
and preserve in me a right that has been squandered.
I won the right of purpose in you
ظفِرتُI won بحقّthe reality of المنىhopes فيكُمُin you
ظفِرتُ بحقّ المنى فيكُمُ
فماso why ليَshould I أرعىtend الخيالَthe phantom الخَدوعاdeceiving
فما ليَ أرعى الخيالَ الخَدوعا
I have found the reality of my hopes in you;
So I do not shepherd the delusory imagination
why, then, should I tend a deceiving phantom?
And I made people of my time precious through you
وغاليتُand I outbid أهلَthe people of زمانيmy time بكمthrough you
وغاليتُ أهلَ زماني بكم
فلاso do not تُرخصواcheapen ببيانيwith my eloquence البيوعاthe bargains
فلا تُرخصوا ببياني البيوعا
I have outbid the people of my age through you;
So do not make my rhetoric cheap in sales
do not cheapen the bargains made with my eloquence.
And gather my near ones into your herd
وضمّواand join قَلوصِيmy young she-camel إلىto سَرحكمyour grazing herd
وضمّوا قَلوصِي إلى سَرحكم
وضُنُّواand withhold علىfrom الدهرtime بيme أنlest أَضيعاI be lost
وضُنُّوا على الدهر بي أن أَضيعا
Join my young she-camel to your grazing herd,
And reckon upon time that I not be wasted
and withhold me from Time, lest I be lost.
For the cloud of your prosperity
فإنّfor indeed سحابةَthe cloud of إقبالكمyour favor
فإنّ سحابةَ إقبالكم
تعيدُrestores إلىto جدبthe barrenness of أرضيmy land الربيعاspring
تعيدُ إلى جدب أرضي الربيعا
For the cloud of your favor
Returns to the drought of my land the spring
restores spring to my land's barrenness.
And you were to it a blessing
وكنand be أنتَyou واليَهاits guardian نعمةًin beneficence
وكن أنتَ واليَها نعمةً
ومبتدئاًand initiating غَرسَهاits planting والصنيعاand kindness
ومبتدئاً غَرسَها والصنيعا
Be yourself its guardian in beneficence,
And first planted it and the artful
the first to plant it and confer kindness.
For glory witnessed but similar
فقدfor indeed شهِدwitnessed المجدُglory إلاonly شبيهاًa likeness
فقد شهِد المجدُ إلا شبيهاً
لفضلكof your excellence فيهمamong them وإلاor only قريعاa peer
لفضلك فيهم وإلا قريعا
For glory has witnessed only a likeness
To your merit in them and if not, blaming
of your excellence among them, or its peer.
And take from your time how it suggested
وخذand take منfrom زمانكyour time كيفhowever اقترحyou wish (continued)
وخذ من زمانك كيف اقترح
تَcompletion of 'you wish' عمراًa lifespan بطيئاًslow-passing وحظّاًand a fortune سريعاswift
تَ عمراً بطيئاً وحظّاً سريعا
Take from your time, however you wish,
A slow age and fortune swift
a slow-passing life and a swift-coming fortune.
And live for congratulations and glories
وعشand live للتهانيfor congratulations وللمأثُراand for glorious deeds (continued)
وعش للتهاني وللمأثُرا
تِcompletion of 'glorious deeds' ماas long as ولدgave birth to الليلُnight فجراًa dawn صديعاcleaving
تِ ما ولد الليلُ فجراً صديعا
Live for congratulations and glorious deeds,
The night did not give birth to a bright dawn
as long as night gives birth to a cleaving dawn.
Partial English translation: 151 of 152 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1