أياO ليلَnight of جوٍّJaww مَنْwho بشيرُكyour herald بالصبحِof dawn
أيا ليلَ جوٍّ مَنْ بشيرُك بالصبحِ
وهلand is there مِنany مَقيلٍmidday resting place بعدُstill فيin ظُلَلthe shades of الطَّلحِthe acacias
وهل مِن مَقيلٍ بعدُ في ظُلَل الطَّلحِ
O night of Jaww, who is your herald of dawn?
O night of tender air, who brings you the morn’s good tidings,
And is there still a midday resting place in the acacias' shade?
And where can rest be found amid the myrtle’s shade?
وماؤكمand your water استشفيتُI sought healing زمزمَZamzam بعدهafter it
وماؤكم استشفيتُ زمزمَ بعده
فماyet not بَرَدَتْit cooled لُوحِيmy burning thirst ولاnor رفَدتْit tended جُرحيmy wound
فما بَرَدَتْ لُوحِي ولا رفَدتْ جُرحي
After your water, I sought healing in Zamzam,
I tasted your water, then Zemzem, but it slaked me not,
yet it cooled neither my burning thirst nor tended my wound.
Nor cooled my tablet nor assuaged my wounds.
سَرقتُI stole علىfrom سؤرِthe leavings of البخيلةthe grudging woman نهلةًa draught
سَرقتُ على سؤرِ البخيلة نهلةً
بهاwith it لمnot أكنI was أدرىknowing أتُسكرwhether it intoxicates أمor تُصحيit sobers
بها لم أكن أدرى أتُسكر أم تُصحي
I stole a draught from the grudging woman's leavings,
I stole a draught from a miser’s pool by stealth one night
not knowing whether it would intoxicate me or sober me.
Not knowing if ’twould make me drunk or bring me to.
قضتshe spent ساعةًan hour بالجوّat Jaww أنthat ليسis not عائداًreturning
قضت ساعةً بالجوّ أن ليس عائداً
بهاwith it الدهرُtime فيon يومٍa day بخيلٍgrudging ولاnor سَمحِgenerous
بها الدهرُ في يومٍ بخيلٍ ولا سَمحِ
She spent an hour at Jaww that time will not bring back,
I spent an hour with the zephyr, who’ll no more return
whether on a grudging day or a generous one.
With a day of bounty or of clemency.
فماso nothing لكَfor you منهاof it غيرُexcept لفتةِa glance of ذاكرٍone remembering
فما لكَ منها غيرُ لفتةِ ذاكرٍ
إذاwhenever قلتُI said بَلَّتْit slaked thirst أوقدتْit kindled لوعةَthe burning anguish of البَرْحِsevere torment
إذا قلتُ بَلَّتْ أوقدتْ لوعةَ البَرْحِ
You have nothing of it but a remembering glance;
You’ve naught of it but a remembering companion’s glance—
whenever I say it has slaked my thirst, it kindles torment's anguish.
Say but the word and it rekindles the live coal’s glow;
أياO صاحِfriend والماشيand one who walks بخيرwith goodwill موفَّقٌgranted success
أيا صاحِ والماشي بخير موفَّقٌ
ترنَّمsing بلَيلَىof Layla إنif مررتَyou pass علىalong السفحِthe hillside
ترنَّم بلَيلَى إن مررتَ على السفحِ
O friend—and whoever goes with goodwill is granted success—
Hail to him who fares by night with blessings laden!
sing of Layla if you pass along the hillside.
Trill Layla’s name as you pass by the hill.
وقامرْand gamble بعينِيwith my eye فيamong الخليطthe company مخاطراًtaking a risk
وقامرْ بعينِي في الخليط مخاطراً
عستperhaps نظرةٌa glance منهاfrom her يفوزwins بهاthrough it قِدحيmy lot-arrow
عست نظرةٌ منها يفوز بها قِدحي
And gamble with my eye among the company, taking a risk;
Stake my eyes as the dice you cast in fate’s game—
perhaps my lot-arrow will win a glance from her.
May one glance of hers I love bring me the lucky throw!
وسلْand ask ظبيةَthe gazelle of الواديthe valley أأنتِis it you أمor التيthe one who
وسلْ ظبيةَ الوادي أأنتِ أم التي
حكتكِshe resembled you علىagainst قلبيmy heart بلحظتهاwith her glance تُنحيshe aims
حكتكِ على قلبي بلحظتها تُنحي
And ask the valley's gazelle: Is it you, or the one
Ask the doe in the valley, “Is it you or she
who resembles you, that aims her glance at my heart?
Whose gaze engraved upon my heart a wound?”
رَمتْshe shot فجَنتthen she did wrong واستصفحتْand she asked pardon هيshe عامدٌacting deliberately
رَمتْ فجَنت واستصفحتْ هي عامدٌ
ألاah أينwhere جُرمthe guilt of العامدينdeliberate offenders منfrom الصفحِpardon
ألا أين جُرم العامدين من الصفحِ
She shot, did wrong, and asked pardon, though she acted deliberately.
She shied, then flared in rage—such temper for a doe!
Ah, how far deliberate offenders' guilt is from pardon!
But where’s the blame in those who flare enraged?
وليلٍand many a night لبسناهwe wore it بقربكِin your nearness ناعمٍِsoft
وليلٍ لبسناه بقربكِ ناعمٍِ
بطائنَlinings ماwhat lies بينbetween القلائدthe necklaces والوُشحِand the jeweled sashes
بطائنَ ما بين القلائد والوُشحِ
And a tender night we wore beside you,
A night whose gentle advent beside you we wore
as linings for the space between necklaces and jeweled sashes.
Like the lining between necklace and breast.
ويُضحيand is there in the morning ويُمسيand is there in the evening ضوءُthe light of وجهكِyour face بينناamong us
ويُضحي ويُمسي ضوءُ وجهكِ بيننا
سراجاًas a lamp وضوءُand the light of البدرthe full moon يُمسيis there in the evening ولاbut not يُضحيis there in the morning
سراجاً وضوءُ البدر يُمسي ولا يُضحي
Morning and evening, the light of your face is among us
Dawn comes and goes but your face’s light stays with us,
a lamp; the full moon's light appears at evening, not morning.
A lamp, while the moon’s glow wanes and does not dawn.
ولماand when استوىwas equal قسمُthe share of الملاحةِbeauty فيكماin you both
ولما استوى قسمُ الملاحةِ فيكما
تكلّمتِyou spoke حتىuntil بانbecame clear فضلُكyour superiority بالمِلْحِthrough wit
تكلّمتِ حتى بان فضلُك بالمِلْحِ
And when beauty's share was equal in you both,
When the sailing metaphors vying in you both
you spoke, and your superiority became clear through wit.
Were done, you spoke till your wit shone superior.
تذمُّshe blames اطراحيmy casting aside وُدَّaffection for قومٍa people ومدحهَمand praising them
تذمُّ اطراحي وُدَّ قومٍ ومدحهَم
وماyet not مسَّهاit touched her حمليmy bearing الهوانَhumiliation ولاnor طرحيmy casting it off
وما مسَّها حملي الهوانَ ولا طرحي
She blames me for casting aside love for a people and praise of them,
You blame my verse, yet praise that tribe, untouched
yet neither my bearing humiliation nor casting it off has touched her.
By my load of humiliation or jests.
تعاوتhowled together علىover سَرحthe flock of القريضpoetry تقصُّهُtracking it
تعاوت على سَرح القريض تقصُّهُ
ذئابٌwolves لهاfor them منthrough عجزهاtheir weakness نَقَدُthe small sheep of السَّرحِthe flock
ذئابٌ لها من عجزها نَقَدُ السَّرحِ
Over poetry's flock they howled together, tracking it—
On the palfrey of song wild she-wolves closed to rend
wolves whose weakness leaves them the flock's small sheep.
What his weakness left them of neck and withers.
تَجانَفُthey turn aside عنfrom حُلوِthe sweetness of الكلامspeech وصفوِهand its purity
تَجانَفُ عن حُلوِ الكلام وصفوِه
إذاwhen ولِعتthey become obsessed جهلاًin ignorance وتكرعُand lap فيin المِلحِbrine
إذا ولِعت جهلاً وتكرعُ في المِلحِ
They turn away from speech's sweetness and purity,
They refuse the euphony of verse and its beauty
when they grow obsessed in ignorance, and lap at brine.
When folly-drunk they plunge in every halting line.
إذاwhen كانit is للتقبيلfor kissing والشمِّand smelling أصبحتthey begin
إذا كان للتقبيل والشمِّ أصبحت
تماضغهthey chew it ماthe space بينbetween أنيابهاtheir fangs القُلْحِyellowed
تماضغه ما بين أنيابها القُلْحِ
When it is fit for kissing and smelling, they begin
For kissing and smelling when day breaks they become
chewing it between their yellowed fangs.
Chewers of it between their crooked fangs.
ترىyou see كلَّevery علجlout يحسبُwho reckons المجدَglory جَفنةًa large bowl
ترى كلَّ علج يحسبُ المجدَ جَفنةً
تُرَاوحُpassed around أوor قَعْباًa wooden cup يخمَّرُkept covered للصَّبحِfor the morning
تُرَاوحُ أو قَعْباً يخمَّرُ للصَّبحِ
You see every lout reckon glory a great bowl
Each dullard fancies glory a bleary-eyed jade
passed around, or a wooden cup covered for the morning draught.
Blinking awake at dawn or skull upturned to drink.
إذاwhen رشحَتsweat منfrom بَهْرِهhis panting وانتفاخهand his puffing up
إذا رشحَت من بَهْرِه وانتفاخه
أياطلهُhis flanks ظنَّhe thinks الفصاحةَeloquence فيin الرشحِsweat
أياطلهُ ظنَّ الفصاحةَ في الرشحِ
When, from his panting and puffing,
When his baying swells in conceit and wind
his flanks sweat, he imagines eloquence lies in sweat.
His mirage-lakes are eloquence to him.
إذاwhen معجزاتُthe marvels of الشعرpoetry عارضنconfront فهمَهhis understanding
إذا معجزاتُ الشعر عارضن فهمَه
حَلبنَthey milk بكيئاًa scant-milking animal لاnot تدرُّit gives milk علىupon المسحِstroking
حَلبنَ بكيئاً لا تدرُّ على المسحِ
When poetry's marvels confront his understanding,
For each outlandish freak in his heart enraged
they milk a scant-yielding beast that gives no milk when stroked.
The vengeance of malice is whetting its blade.
لكلِّfor every غريبٍunusual thing نادرٍrare فيin فؤادهhis heart
لكلِّ غريبٍ نادرٍ في فؤاده
وأحقادِهِand his grudges فعلُthe effect of النكايةinflicting harm فيon القَرْحِa wound
وأحقادِهِ فعلُ النكاية في القَرْحِ
Every rare, remarkable verse has upon his heart
If bile or boorishness bar him from praise
and his grudges the effect of injury upon a wound.
He primps in dispraise and disparagement.
إذاif الغيظُanger أوor جهلُignorance of الفضيلةexcellence عاقهhinders him
إذا الغيظُ أو جهلُ الفضيلة عاقه
عنfrom المدحpraise فيconcerning شيءsomething تجمّلَhe adorns himself بالقَدحِwith disparagement
عن المدح في شيء تجمّلَ بالقَدحِ
If anger, or ignorance of excellence, keeps him
Beneath the wing of a dark night how many
from praising something, he adorns himself with disparagement.
Whose only light was the beaker I upraised!
وكمand how many دونbefore حُرّnoble القولِspeech منof جِنحa dark wing of ليلةٍa night
وكم دون حُرّ القولِ من جِنح ليلةٍ
إذاwhen أظلمتْit darkens لمnot يورِkindles fire فيهاwithin it سوىexcept قَدحيmy striking sparks
إذا أظلمتْ لم يورِ فيها سوى قَدحي
And how many a night's dark wing stands before noble speech,
A rhyme arose warring with its Lord
when it darkens, nothing lights it but the sparks I strike!
So I fought it a little, and it sued for peace.
وقافيةٍand many a rhyme باتتspent the night تحاربfighting ربَّهاits master
وقافيةٍ باتت تحارب ربَّها
فنازلتُهاso I fought it شيئاًfor a while فألقتthen it offered يدَthe hand of الصلحِpeace
فنازلتُها شيئاً فألقت يدَ الصلحِ
And many a rhyme spent the night fighting its master;
I attained it, though pipes were clamoring round it,
I fought it awhile, and it offered the hand of peace.
When I was the lofty spear none could cut down.
وصلتُI reached إليهاto it والأنابيبُwhile the spear-shafts حولهاaround it
وصلتُ إليها والأنابيبُ حولها
تَكسَّرُwere breaking لمّاsince كنتُI was عاليةَthe upper part of الرمحِthe spear
تَكسَّرُ لمّا كنتُ عاليةَ الرمحِ
I reached it while the spear-shafts around it
If you’d test a man to see his worth
were shattering, for I was the spear's upper part.
Then hear his backbiting or see his wounds.
إذاif شئتَyou wish أنto تبلوtest امرأًa man أينwhere فضلُهُhis excellence
إذا شئتَ أن تبلو امرأً أين فضلُهُ
منagainst النقصِdeficiency فاسمعthen hear منهfrom him إطرايَlavish praise of me أوor جَرحيdisparagement of me
من النقصِ فاسمع منه إطرايَ أو جَرحي
If you wish to test a man, to see where his excellence stands
How many kings, had I but left my verse flaunt
against his deficiency, hear his lavish praise of me or his attacks on me.
My triumph, my conquest with his victory!
وكمand how many ملكٍa king لوif قدindeed سمحتُI had consented أريتُهI would show him
وكم ملكٍ لو قد سمحتُ أريتُه
بوجهِin the face of قريضيmy poetry طلعةَthe visage of النصرvictory والفتحِand conquest
بوجهِ قريضي طلعةَ النصر والفتحِ
How many a king, had I consented, I could have shown
When lofty wishes roamed, seeking but him,
in my poetry's face the visage of victory and conquest!
Far off, he yearned for my star’s rising glow.
إذاwhen ماever ترامتcarry far عالياتُthe lofty heights of المنىambitions بهwith him
إذا ما ترامت عالياتُ المنى به
بعيداًfar away تمنَّىhe desires موضعَthe station of النجمa star أوor مدحيpraise from me
بعيداً تمنَّى موضعَ النجم أو مدحي
When lofty ambitions carry him
A boon friend came from the quarter of gentleness, kind,
far away, he longs for a star's station—or my praise.
So I bent my withes and softened my twigs for him.
وخِلٍّand a friend أتىcame منfrom جانبthe side of اللينgentleness عاطفاًaffectionate
وخِلٍّ أتى من جانب اللين عاطفاً
فياسرهso it treated him gently عُوديmy wood ولانَand softened لهfor him كَشحيmy flank
فياسره عُودي ولانَ له كَشحي
And a friend came affectionately, from the side of gentleness;
I made him a share that clothed him and fed him
my wood yielded to him, and my flank softened for him.
But spendthrift ways led him hankering for more.
وفَرتُI supplied in full لهto him قِسماًa share كفَاهthat sufficed him وزادَهand gave him more
وفَرتُ له قِسماً كفَاه وزادَه
فمالَso swayed بهhim الإسفافُbaseness فيin طلبpursuit of الرِّبحِgain
فمالَ به الإسفافُ في طلب الرِّبحِ
I gave him a full share, enough for him and more,
He haggled with others, marketing praise,
but baseness led him astray in pursuit of gain.
Nor cloaked me his stinginess, mine my tight fist.
وساومَand he bargained غيريwith others than me المدحَfor praise يُرخِصcheapening عرضَهُhis honor
وساومَ غيري المدحَ يُرخِص عرضَهُ
فلمso not يُغننيdid it avail me بخليmy withholding عليهfrom him ولاnor شُحّيmy miserliness
فلم يُغنني بخلي عليه ولا شُحّي
He bargained with others for praise, cheapening his honor,
So I became like a white hen provoked by
so neither my withholding from him nor my miserliness availed me.
A black hen, while the meek one envied the dominant.
فأصبحتُso I became كالبيضاءlike a fair-skinned woman ضرّتgiven a co-wife فغاظهاand angered her
فأصبحتُ كالبيضاء ضرّت فغاظها
بسوداءَwith a black-skinned woman والعجزاءِand a full-hipped woman غارتgrew jealous منof الرُّسْحِflat-bottomed women
بسوداءَ والعجزاءِ غارت من الرُّسْحِ
So I became like a fair-skinned wife enraged at a co-wife
But Sarjis never turns from truth’s path
who is black, or a full-hipped woman jealous of the flat-bottomed.
Though easy nature lure him to jest.
ولكنّbut ماسرجيسَMasarjis منone whom لاnot تردُّهturns him back
ولكنّ ماسرجيسَ من لا تردُّه
عنfrom الجِدِّearnestness حنَّاتُthe yearnings of الطباعِtemperaments إلىtoward المزحِjest
عن الجِدِّ حنَّاتُ الطباعِ إلى المزحِ
But Masarjis is one not turned
Nor is the long rope of the right shortened by him;
from earnestness by nature's yearnings toward jest.
Equity’s not won by toil and moil.
ولاand not تُقتضَىis exacted ممطولةُa claim kept waiting الحقِّfor its due عندهwith him
ولا تُقتضَى ممطولةُ الحقِّ عنده
ولاnor يُكسَبُis won الإنصافfairness بالكدِّby toil والكدحِand hard labor
ولا يُكسَبُ الإنصاف بالكدِّ والكدحِ
No overdue claim needs to be pressed with him,
When the eggs of the sandgrouse come his way unstinted
nor must fairness be won by toil and hard labor.
Her nest is not decried as the bustard’s.
إذاwhen نالhe obtains بيضاتِthe eggs of الأَنوقِthe vulture ميسَّراًmade accessible
إذا نال بيضاتِ الأَنوقِ ميسَّراً
لهto him وَكرُهاits nest لمnot تَسبِهcaptivate him بَيضةُan egg الأُدحيof an ostrich's ground-nest
له وَكرُها لم تَسبِه بَيضةُ الأُدحي
When he wins the vulture's eggs, with ready access
True of loyalty, pure of repute, he whose repute
to their nest, no egg from an ostrich nest beguiles him.
The tainted reputations address with censure.
كريمُnoble in الوفاءloyalty أملسُunblemished in العرضhonor طاهرٌpure
كريمُ الوفاء أملسُ العرض طاهرٌ
إذاwhen دَنَسُthe stain of الأعراضِreputations عولجis treated بالرَّضحِby pounding
إذا دَنَسُ الأعراضِ عولج بالرَّضحِ
Noble in loyalty, unblemished in honor, pure,
Spirits are vexed by woes, while his remains
when the stains of honor are treated by pounding.
Capacious, with latitudes of mercy.
تضيقُgrow cramped صدورٌbreasts بالخطوبwith calamities وصدرُهُand his breast
تضيقُ صدورٌ بالخطوب وصدرُهُ
إلىtoward فُرُجاتٍopen spaces منin خلائقهhis character traits فُسْحِspacious
إلى فُرُجاتٍ من خلائقه فُسْحِ
Breasts grow cramped with calamities, but his breast
By the lesser of his two words one is content
opens to wide spaces in his character.
Though the sword point’s buzzing cuts with a breath.
يُشيرhe signals بصغَرىwith the shorter of قولتيهِhis two utterances فيُكتَفَىso one is content
يُشير بصغَرى قولتيهِ فيُكتَفَى
بهاwith it وذُبابُand the edge of السيفِthe sword يَقطعُcuts بالنفحِwith a light sweep
بها وذُبابُ السيفِ يَقطعُ بالنفحِ
He signals with the shorter of his two utterances, and one is content
When his mind draws full on eloquence’s waters
with it; a sword's edge cuts with a mere sweep.
He irrigates with a pool envy cannot muddy.
غزيرabundant إذاwhen استملىseeks dictation from البلاغةَeloquence فكرُهُhis thought
غزير إذا استملى البلاغةَ فكرُهُ
سقىhe gives drink بقليبٍfrom a well لاnot يُغوَّرُis depleted بالنزحِby drawing water
سقى بقليبٍ لا يُغوَّرُ بالنزحِ
Bountiful: when his thought seeks eloquence's dictation,
He secured through the ministry’s gate a yard
he gives drink from a well no drawing can exhaust.
Already his by precedence of wounds.
تدبَّرَhe took charge of منof بيتthe house of الوزارةthe vizierate باحةًa courtyard
تدبَّرَ من بيت الوزارة باحةً
لهfor him السبقthe lead فيهاin it والجِذاعَand the young steeds منamong القُرْحِthe full-grown steeds
له السبق فيها والجِذاعَ من القُرْحِ
He took charge of a courtyard in the house of the vizierate,
If feet slip one day on a patch of ice
where his is the lead, with young steeds among the full-grown.
He walks erect, disdaining to crawl.
إذاwhen زلِقتْit causes slipping يوماًone day بأقدامِbeneath the feet of معشرٍa company
إذا زلِقتْ يوماً بأقدامِ معشرٍ
فمالتand they tilted مَشىhe walks فيهاin it قويماًupright علىupon الصَّرحِthe paved floor
فمالت مَشى فيها قويماً على الصَّرحِ
When it makes a company's feet slip one day,
Old hatreds held you, their fuel rancor,
and they sway, he walks there upright upon the paved floor.
Your flesh their food, and their blaze wrath’s sparks.
أُخِذتمyou were beset بأحقادٍby grudges قديمٍancient وَقُودُهاtheir fuel
أُخِذتم بأحقادٍ قديمٍ وَقُودُها
علكيمagainst you ونارُand the fire of الضِّغنrancor تُحرِقburns باللفحِwith a scorching blast
علكيم ونارُ الضِّغن تُحرِق باللفحِ
You are beset by grudges long kindled
Galled by enviers, their fangs were bared
against you; rancor's fire burns with its scorching blast.
To scare timorous deer no advice can tame.
وغاظتand enraged علاكمyour eminence حاسديكمyour enviers فنفَّرتْthen inflamed
وغاظت علاكم حاسديكم فنفَّرتْ
فُتوقَrents in كُبودlivers لاnot تُعالجَcan be treated بالنَّصْحِby stitching
فُتوقَ كُبود لا تُعالجَ بالنَّصْحِ
Your eminence enraged your enviers and inflamed
Faces smiling to you, while underneath
rents in their livers that no stitching can repair.
Frowns of ill intent like the nightshade’s gloom;
وجوهٌfaces إليكمtoward you ضاحكاتٌsmiling وتحتهاand beneath them
وجوهٌ إليكم ضاحكاتٌ وتحتها
دخائلُthe hidden recesses of نِيّاتٍintentions معبَّسةٍfrowning كُلْحِgrim
دخائلُ نِيّاتٍ معبَّسةٍ كُلْحِ
Faces smile toward you, while beneath them
You I wished well, hoarding no grain of passion
lie hidden intentions, frowning and grim.
But went spreading my heart, greeting dawn.
ودِدتُكَI loved you لمnot أذخرI withheld هواكَlove for you نصيحةًsincere devotion
ودِدتُكَ لم أذخر هواكَ نصيحةً
أروحI go at evening بهاwith it ملءfilling الفؤادِthe heart كماjust as أُضحيI go in the morning
أروح بها ملء الفؤادِ كما أُضحي
I loved you, withholding no sincere devotion from that love;
I loved you in safety and rise to smite
I go at evening with it filling my heart, just as in the morning.
With a blade the napes of those my speech disowns.
حببتُكَI loved you منfrom سَلمِيmy peace وأغدوand I go forth بشفرةٍwith a blade
حببتُكَ من سَلمِي وأغدو بشفرةٍ
علىagainst عُنْقِthe neck of مَنwhoever أبغضتُI hated مِنfrom مَنطقيmy speech أُنحيI aim
على عُنْقِ مَن أبغضتُ مِن مَنطقي أُنحي
I have loved you in peace, and I go forth with a blade
How many a maiden whose soul I gave you
of my speech, which I aim at the neck of whoever I hate.
Freely, though lofty, no gift asked from you.
وكمand how many منof فتاةٍa maiden قدindeed منحتُكI have given you رقَّهاher bondage
وكم من فتاةٍ قد منحتُك رقَّها
علىdespite العزِّher dignity لمnot أمننْI claimed credit عليكover you بهاfor her مَنحيmy gift
على العزِّ لم أمننْ عليك بها مَنحي
And many a maiden I have given you in bondage,
For her between holidays you made assignations,
despite her dignity, never holding my gift over you.
And between fasts, at Easter had trysts.
لهاshe has بينbetween يومthe day of المهرجانMihrjan مواقفٌappearances
لها بين يوم المهرجان مواقفٌ
لديكbefore you وبينand between الصومthe fast عندكwith you والفِصْحِand Easter
لديك وبين الصوم عندك والفِصْحِ
She has her appearances between the day of Mihrjan
One reveals beauty, it shows unconcealed,
before you, and your fast and Easter.
While another from modesty hides her defects.
أدلَّتshe grew confident بحسنٍin beauty فهيso she تبرُزُcomes forth سافراًunveiled
أدلَّت بحسنٍ فهي تبرُزُ سافراً
إذاwhen اختَمرتْveiled herself أخرىanother حياءًout of shame منat القُبحِugliness
إذا اختَمرتْ أخرى حياءً من القُبحِ
Confident in her beauty, she comes forth unveiled,
When the singers stand chanting of her
when another veils herself, ashamed of ugliness.
Turtle-doves echo, woodpigeons moan.
إذاwhen المنشدُthe reciter الراويthe transmitter بهاwith her قامstands خِلتهُyou would think him
إذا المنشدُ الراوي بها قام خِلتهُ
يناوبُtaking turns with ترجيعَthe cooing of الحَمامةthe dove بالسَّجحِin gentle tones
يناوبُ ترجيعَ الحَمامة بالسَّجحِ
When her reciter and transmitter rises, you would think him
And if a year she was absent from your sky
taking turns with a dove's cooing in gentle tones.
Still with you her leavings of billowy curves.
وإنand if أبطأتْis delayed عاماًfor a year عليكtoward you سماؤهاher sky
وإن أبطأتْ عاماً عليك سماؤها
فعندكthen you have سَلْفٌan advance منfrom مَرازمهاher thundering clouds الدُّلْحِheavy with rain
فعندك سَلْفٌ من مَرازمها الدُّلْحِ
And if her sky delays a year over you,
I've no fault if destiny left me sterile,
you already have an advance from her heavy, thundering clouds.
Robbed of virility, semen denied.
ولاand no ذنبَfault ليof mine إنif أعقمتنيmake me barren عوائقٌhindrances
ولا ذنبَ لي إن أعقمتني عوائقٌ
منfrom الدهرtime يوماًone day أنso that يُقصِّرfalls short بيfor me لَقحيmy fertility
من الدهر يوماً أن يُقصِّر بي لَقحي
And I am not to blame if I am made barren by hindrances
of time one day, so that my fertility fails me.
Partial English translation: 100 of 102 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1