أمنكِis it from you? خيالٌan apparition ضوَّعstirred الركبَthe caravan مُوْهِناlate at night
أمنكِ خيالٌ ضوَّع الركبَ مُوْهِنا
وقدand already قيَّدhad fettered التأويبُthe day's march سُوقاlegs وأجفناand eyelids
وقد قيَّد التأويبُ سُوقا وأجفنا
Was it an apparition from you that stirred the caravan late at night,
A figment of your imagination made the caravan halt submissively,
when a day's marching had fettered legs and eyelids?
While fate had yoked the land and parched us.
توغَّلَit ventured deep منfrom غربيِّthe western side of وجرةَWajra راكباriding
توغَّلَ من غربيِّ وجرةَ راكبا
قُنِيَّspears العداof the foes حتىuntil أنافit rose high علىabove قنَاQana
قُنِيَّ العدا حتى أناف على قنَا
It ventured deep from west of Wajra, riding
He penetrated from the west with his waterskin as a rider,
the spears of foes, until it rose above Qana.
He led his enemies all the way to the springs of Qunayy.
ألمَّit visited بمخدوعينthose cheated عنof كلevery راحةٍrest
ألمَّ بمخدوعين عن كل راحةٍ
بماbecause طلبواthey sought العُلياeminence مُناخاwhen encamped ومظعَناand when travelling
بما طلبوا العُليا مُناخا ومظعَنا
It visited men cheated of every rest
He afflicted the deceived, depriving them of all comfort,
by their pursuit of eminence, encamped or travelling.
Because they had sought the heights, pitching their tents arrogantly.
إذاwhen هدمواthey wore down الأشخاصtheir bodies لمnot ينتقصهُمُdiminish them
إذا هدموا الأشخاص لم ينتقصهُمُ
ضؤولٌdwindling لهاof them منfrom حيثwhere ماever المجدُglory يبتنَىis built
ضؤولٌ لها من حيث ما المجدُ يبتنَى
When they wore down their bodies, they were not diminished
When they demolished reputations, they were not diminished,
by their dwindling, wherever glory is built.
For each has a parody sung when glory is attained.
فحيَّاthen it greeted فبلَّand slaked الوجدlonging بلrather شبَّit kindled نارَهits fire
فحيَّا فبلَّ الوجد بل شبَّ نارَه
فللهso, to God منهfrom it ماwhat أساءit did badly وأحسناand did well
فلله منه ما أساء وأحسنا
It greeted them and slaked their longing—no, kindled its fire;
So greetings to him who inspires passion or who prohibits it.
to God belong the harm and kindness it bestowed!
To God belongs both his misdeeds and virtues.
عجبتُI marvelled لهat it كيفhow اقترىit explored الجوَّthe open country نافضاscouting
عجبتُ له كيف اقترى الجوَّ نافضا
وكيفand how طوىit traversed واديthe valley of الغضاal-Ghada متبطَّناfollowing its bed
وكيف طوى وادي الغضا متبطَّنا
I marvelled at it: how it explored the open country, scouting,
I wondered how he crossed the atmosphere, shedding all ties,
and how it crossed Wadi al-Ghada, following its bed,
And how he traversed the valley of Ghada secretly.
شجاعاboldly وفيand in أمثالهاplaces like it كانwas مثلَهone like it
شجاعا وفي أمثالها كان مثلَه
جريُّbold الفؤادof heart أنto يخورَfalter ويجبُناand grow cowardly
جريُّ الفؤاد أن يخورَ ويجبُنا
so boldly, when in such places even one like it,
Valiant amid such deeds, his like behaved similarly,
bold of heart, might falter and turn coward.
With hearts racing wildly, though at times becalmed.
أرتناshe showed us بهthrough it ظمياءُZamya وصلاa union مموّهاcounterfeit
أرتنا به ظمياءُ وصلا مموّها
علىupon سفهِthe folly of المسرَىthe night journey وزُوراًand a falsehood مميَّناdeceitful
على سفهِ المسرَى وزُوراً مميَّنا
Through it, Zamya showed us a counterfeit union,
Through him we saw a long friendship made obscure
founded on a foolish night journey, and a deceitful falsehood:
By the vanity of delight and artful hypocrisy.
وفاءًfaithfulness بأضغاثِin tangled dreams of الكرىsleep وخيانةًand betrayal
وفاءً بأضغاثِ الكرى وخيانةً
متىwhenever ذُكِرتshe was reminded يقظَىawake بناof us وتلوُّناand fickleness
متى ذُكِرت يقظَى بنا وتلوُّنا
faithfulness amid sleep's tangled dreams, but betrayal
And loyalty to meaningless pledges and treachery
whenever, awake, she was reminded of us—and fickleness.
Whenever he is recalled, wakeful, changing colors.
تسائلshe questions وفدَthe visitors of النومsleep عنّاabout us حفيَّةeagerly
تسائل وفدَ النوم عنّا حفيَّة
ولاbut does not تسألask الركبانَthe travellers منfrom أرضناour land بناabout us
ولا تسأل الركبانَ من أرضنا بنا
She eagerly questions sleep's visitors about us,
The caravan of sleep asks about us curiously
yet asks no travellers from our land about us.
And does not ask the travelers from our land about us.
سقىmay He water اللهGod أياماdays نصلنَthey reached علىamid مِنىًwishes
سقى الله أياما نصلنَ على مِنىً
حياًa tribe يستردّrenewing العيشlife's pleasures بالخيفat al-Khayf منin مِنىMina
حياً يستردّ العيش بالخيف من مِنى
May God water days that brought us, with wishes fulfilled, to
May God water the days when we arrive at Mina,
a tribe renewing life's pleasures at al-Khayf in Mina.
Alive to regain life with the unkempt hair of Mina.
وحيّاand may He bless الغصونَthe branches والمَهَاand the oryxes ماwhenever حكتthey evoked لناfor us
وحيّا الغصونَ والمَهَا ما حكت لنا
قدوداslender figures علىby واديthe valley of الجِمارal-Jimar وأعيناand eyes
قدودا على وادي الجِمار وأعينا
And bless the branches and oryxes whenever they evoke for us
And greet the branches and valleys which recounted to us
slender figures and eyes along the Valley of al-Jimar.
The ridges above the valley of pebbles and springs.
فكمand how many منa فؤادٍheart طاحfell فيamong ذلكthose الحصاpebbles
فكم من فؤادٍ طاح في ذلك الحصا
بدائدَin scattered pieces لوif فتَّشتَyou searched عنهfor it تبيّناit would appear
بدائدَ لو فتَّشتَ عنه تبيّنا
How many a heart fell among those pebbles,
For many hearts fell in that enclosure,
scattered in pieces—if you searched for it, it would appear!
Were you to search for them, they would become clear.
ومنand how many a حاجةٍdesire تُقضَىis fulfilled وليسand it is not بمَنسَكٍa sacred rite
ومن حاجةٍ تُقضَى وليس بمَنسَكٍ
عُنيناwe concerned ourselves بهاwith it فيduring الحجthe pilgrimage ماby, in an oath اللهGod ماnot عناHe intended
عُنينا بها في الحج ما الله ما عنا
And how many a desire is fulfilled, though it is no sacred rite,
And needs fulfilled though not for pilgrimage
that we pursued on pilgrimage—by God, not what He intended!
We were preoccupied with them in Mecca, but God did not preoccupy us.
أَلِكْنِىcarry my message إلىto الأيامthe days علَّperhaps صروفَهاtheir vicissitudes
أَلِكْنِى إلى الأيام علَّ صروفَها
يُخفَّفنَmay lighten عنfrom ظهريmy back وقدthough indeed كنّthey were وُزَّناheavy
يُخفَّفنَ عن ظهري وقد كنّ وُزَّنا
Carry my message to the days: perhaps their vicissitudes
Return me to the days with their changing fortunes,
may ease their weight upon my back, having been so heavy.
Lightening my burden which has weighed heavily upon me.
حملتُI bore إلىuntil أنthat جُبّwas cut away ظهرٌa back وغاربٌand withers
حملتُ إلى أن جُبّ ظهرٌ وغاربٌ
وجلَّتand grew too great قُروفsores أنto تسدَّدbe patched up بالهِناwith tar
وجلَّت قُروف أن تسدَّد بالهِنا
I bore them until back and withers were worn away,
I carried it until my back was bent and my strength faded,
and sores grew too great to be patched up with tar.
And the vertebrae refused to be fortified.
وعاتبتهاand I reproached them حُلوَthe sweet part of العتابreproach ومرَّهand its bitterness
وعاتبتها حُلوَ العتاب ومرَّه
فلمbut not أرI saw منهاamong them واعياone attentive متأذِّناwilling to listen
فلم أر منها واعيا متأذِّنا
I reproached them with reproaches sweet and bitter,
I reproached them gently and bitterly,
but found none among them attentive or willing to listen.
But saw no one awake and listening among them.
فلماso when رأيتُI saw العتبَreproach يَذهبُwas lost صعبُهits harshness
فلما رأيتُ العتبَ يَذهبُ صعبُه
بأسماعهاon their ears أصبحتُI became بالذنبabout the offence مُهوِناmaking light
بأسماعها أصبحتُ بالذنب مُهوِنا
When I saw that even harsh reproach was lost
When I saw reproach make difficult matters easy,
on their ears, I began to make light of the offence.
I became submissive, guilty of negligence.
وألجأتُand I sheltered ظهريmy back مسنَداsupported بمعاشرamong a people
وألجأتُ ظهري مسنَدا بمعاشر
حَمواthey guarded منfrom هُناthis side أطرافَthe edges of سرحيmy grazing herds ومنand from هُناthat side
حَموا من هُنا أطرافَ سرحي ومن هُنا
I sought support for my back among a people
I rested my back, supported by companions,
who guarded the edges of my grazing herds on either side.
Who here protected the edges of my carpet, and there,
إلىto أُسرةٍa family لاnot يأكلdevours الضيمُoppression جارَهمtheir protected neighbour
إلى أُسرةٍ لا يأكل الضيمُ جارَهم
وإنand even if هوhe أثرىgrows wealthy فيin ذَراهمtheir shelter وأسمناand grows well fed
وإن هو أثرى في ذَراهم وأسمنا
A family whose protected neighbour oppression cannot devour,
Upon a family where injustice does not prey upon a neighbor,
even when he grows wealthy and well fed in their shelter.
Even if among their seeds he is richer and fatter.
كأنّas though الغريبَthe stranger الدارِthe abode يسكنdwells فيهُمُamong them
كأنّ الغريبَ الدارِ يسكن فيهُمُ
تخيّرhad chosen بينbetween النَّسرthe Eagle والنَّسرand the Eagle مسكناa dwelling
تخيّر بين النَّسر والنَّسر مسكنا
It is as though the stranger dwelling among them
It is as though the stranger lodges among them,
had chosen his home between the two Eagles.
Having chosen between eagles and eagles as a dwelling.
تعلَّقhe clung منto أذيالهمtheir hems ووفائهمand their fidelity
تعلَّق من أذيالهم ووفائهم
بِذروةto the summit of ممطولِstretched high الشماريخthe pinnacles أرعناa rugged mountain
بِذروة ممطولِ الشماريخ أرعنا
He clings to their hems and their fidelity,
I clung to the hem of their garment and loyalty
to the summit of a rugged mountain with towering pinnacles.
At the pinnacle of a towering palm tree made secure.
يحبّhe loves الحياmodesty للحلمfor forbearance والزادَand provisions للقِرىfor hospitality
يحبّ الحيا للحلم والزادَ للقِرى
وكسبَand winning العلاeminence للخلدfor lasting renown والمالَand wealth للفناto be spent away
وكسبَ العلا للخلد والمالَ للفنا
He loves modesty for forbearance, provisions for hospitality,
They love prudence in character and provision for homes
winning eminence for lasting fame, and wealth to be spent away.
And acquiring knowledge for eternity and wealth for loss.
ملوكٌkings يَعدّونwho count النجومَthe stars أباًa father أباًafter a father
ملوكٌ يَعدّون النجومَ أباً أباً
وإنand though فضَلوهاthey surpass them الجودَin generosity والمجدَand glory والسناand radiance
وإن فضَلوها الجودَ والمجدَ والسنا
Kings who count the stars as ancestors, father after father,
Kings who count the stars, one by one,
though they surpass them in generosity, glory, and radiance.
Even if they surpassed them in generosity, glory, and loftiness.
لهمthey have دوحةٌa great tree عبدُAbd الرحيمal-Rahim قضيبهاits branch الthe, continued on the next line
لهم دوحةٌ عبدُ الرحيم قضيبها ال
رطيبfresh إذاwhen اخضرّتit grows green وأبناؤهاand its sons الجنَىthe fruit
رطيب إذا اخضرّت وأبناؤها الجنَى
They have a great tree; Abd al-Rahim is its branch,
For them is an oasis, Abdul Rahim its shepherd,
fresh when it grows green, and its sons are the fruit.
Fresh when green, and its sons are a ripe harvest.
حلَواthey grew sweet وزكَواand flourished منfrom أصلهمtheir root وتزيّدواand grew greater
حلَوا وزكَوا من أصلهم وتزيّدوا
بأنفسهمby themselves تزيُّدَas increases البُوعthe arm's reach بالقناwith spears
بأنفسهم تزيُّدَ البُوع بالقنا
They grew sweet and flourished from their root, and grew greater
They have settled and grown from their origin and increased
by their own powers, as spears extend an arm's reach.
Through their own efforts - the increase of springs from the canal.
وبذّواand they outstripped القرومَthe camel-stallions البزلfully mature نشطاin vigour ونهضةand rising strength
وبذّوا القرومَ البزل نشطا ونهضة
وسنّهمُand their age بينbetween الجِذاعyoung camels إلىup to الثِّناtwo-toothed camels
وسنّهمُ بين الجِذاع إلى الثِّنا
They outstripped mature camel-stallions in vigour and rising strength,
They have repelled creeping vines with activity and vitality
though their age lies between youth and the two-toothed stage.
And steered their course among the trunks toward fruiting.
قضىfulfilled اللهGod فيهمin them كلَّevery نذرِvow of مُزاحمٍa contender
قضى الله فيهم كلَّ نذرِ مُزاحمٍ
علىfor مجلسthe seat of العلياءhighest rank حتىuntil تمكناhe held it firmly
على مجلس العلياء حتى تمكنا
In them God fulfilled every vow of a contender
May God destroy in them every rival
for the seat of highest rank, until he held it firmly.
At the council of nobles until we are assured.
إذاwhen قالتasks الغَمّاءdire trouble منwho فيكُمُamong you فتىًis a brave man
إذا قالت الغَمّاء من فيكُمُ فتىً
يفرِّجنيwill relieve me إنif ضقتُI press hard قالhe says لهاto her أناI
يفرِّجني إن ضقتُ قال لها أنا
When dire trouble asks, 'Who among you is a brave man
If the cloud said "Who among you is a young man
to relieve me if I press hard?' he answers her, 'I am.'
To relieve me when I am straitened?" He said to it "I!"
همthey الأنملاتthe fingertips الخمسfive راحةthe palm of جودهمtheir generosity
هم الأنملات الخمس راحة جودهم
غدتbecame ليسthere is no عنwithout كُبرَىthe greatest وصُغرَىand the smallest لهاfor it غنَىself-sufficiency
غدت ليس عن كُبرَى وصُغرَى لها غنَى
They are the five fingertips; the palm of their generosity
They are the five fingers, the palm of their generosity
can dispense with neither the greatest nor the smallest.
Has become in no need of little or much.
قضَواthey paid كلّevery دَينdebt للمعاليto high achievements ووفّرواand reserved
قضَوا كلّ دَين للمعالي ووفّروا
نصيباa share علىfor عينthe foremost of الكفاةthe capable تعيَّناspecifically assigned
نصيبا على عين الكفاة تعيَّنا
They paid every debt to high endeavour, and reserved
They have paid every debt to the eminent
a share expressly assigned to the foremost of capable men.
And allotted a share to the eye of sufficiency.
فقامso he undertook بماwhat ولَّوْهthey entrusted to him لاnot متعذراpleading inability
فقام بما ولَّوْه لا متعذرا
حَصوراconstrained ولاnor رِخوslack of العروقsinews مهجَّناignoble
حَصورا ولا رِخو العروق مهجَّنا
He discharged what they entrusted to him, not pleading inability,
So he carried out what they made his responsibility,
not constrained, nor weak of sinew and ignoble.
Without frustration, or weakness of determination.
فتىًa young man وسِعتembraced أخلاقُهhis character الناسَall people قادراwhile powerful
فتىً وسِعت أخلاقُه الناسَ قادرا
وأصبحand became فيunder سلطانهاits sway الفظّthe harsh man ليِّناgentle
وأصبح في سلطانها الفظّ ليِّنا
A young man whose character embraced all people, even in power,
A young man whose manners encompass all people, able
and under its sway the harshest man grew gentle.
To make the rugged temperament gentle.
وملّكهand made him lord of البِشْرُcheerful welcome القلوبَhearts فماso not ترىyou see
وملّكه البِشْرُ القلوبَ فما ترى
فؤادthe heart of امرىءa person لمnot يتخذhe made فيهin it موطِناa home
فؤاد امرىء لم يتخذ فيه موطِنا
His cheerful welcome made him lord of hearts: you will see
Generosity has bestowed upon him people's hearts, so you never see
no person's heart in which he has not made a home.
The heart of any man that has not made him its home.
فلوeven if لمnot يحزhe won بالمالthrough wealth حمداpraise لأحرزتwould surely have secured
فلو لم يحز بالمال حمدا لأحرزت
كرامُthe noble سجاياهqualities of his لهfor him الحمدَpraise والثناand acclaim
كرامُ سجاياه له الحمدَ والثنا
Had he won no praise through wealth, it would still be secured
If he had not won praise through wealth, the nobility
by his noble qualities: praise and acclaim for him.
Of his sublime traits would have won him praise and commendation.
حمولٌa patient bearer لأعباءof the burdens of الرياسةleadership ناهضٌrising
حمولٌ لأعباء الرياسة ناهضٌ
بأثقالهاwith its heavy loads إنif قصّرfalls short الغمرُthe inexperienced man أوor ونىflags
بأثقالها إن قصّر الغمرُ أو ونى
He patiently bears the burdens of leadership, rising
He bears the burdens of leadership, undertaking
under their weight when the inexperienced fall short or flag.
Its weights if the generous fall short or become distracted.
سليمُsound in الوفاءِloyalty أبيضُpure-white in الودّaffection كلّماwhenever
سليمُ الوفاءِ أبيضُ الودّ كلّما
ذممتَyou condemn الفتىthe man ذاwith صِبغتينtwo colours مُلوَّناever changing
ذممتَ الفتى ذا صِبغتين مُلوَّنا
Sound in loyalty, pure-white in affection, whenever
Loyal, sincere, the more you censure the fickle fellow,
you condemn the two-coloured, ever-changing man.
The more he gives equally to the poor and the wealthy.
ويعطيand he gives بلاwithout مَنٍّboasting of favours مُقِلَّاًone with little ومكثراًand one with much
ويعطي بلا مَنٍّ مُقِلَّاً ومكثراً
بكفٍّwith a hand سواءٍequal عندهاto which الفقرُpoverty والغنىand wealth
بكفٍّ سواءٍ عندها الفقرُ والغنى
He gives without boasting of favours, to those with little and those with much,
The horsemen of sufficiency have slipped away and departed,
with a hand to which poverty and wealth are equal.
While he passed by its smooth and rough terrain.
تقطَّرَwere thrown فِرسانُthe horsemen of الكفايةcompetence وارتدوْاand turned back
تقطَّرَ فِرسانُ الكفاية وارتدوْا
ومرّand he passed علىalong سِيسائهاits backbone متمرِّناwell practised
ومرّ على سِيسائها متمرِّنا
The horsemen of competence were thrown and turned back,
Its discerning eye looked to him when they were blind,
while he passed along its backbone, well practised.
And they complained of its winding ways, and we were assured.
وكانand he was لهاfor it العينَthe eye البصيرةَclear-sighted إذwhen عَمُواthey were blind
وكان لها العينَ البصيرةَ إذ عَمُوا
فشكّواso they doubted علىover عَوصائهاits difficulties وتيقَّناand he was certain
فشكّوا على عَوصائها وتيقَّنا
He was its seeing eye when they were blind;
A boy like the sharp blade of a sword - he was shaken but did not bend,
they doubted over its difficulties, while he was certain.
And the firm chest of a spear was extended but did not fold.
غلامٌa youth كنصلlike the blade of السيفa sword هُزَّbrandished فماand did not نباfail to strike
غلامٌ كنصل السيف هُزَّ فما نبا
مضاءًin keenness وصدرِand the forepart of الرمحa spear شُدَّdriven hard فماand did not انثنىbend
مضاءً وصدرِ الرمح شُدَّ فما انثنى
A youth like a sword-blade brandished without failing
The mother of success reared him alone,
in keenness, and a spear-point driven hard without bending.
It was long for her before he had a companion or mate.
تمطّتstretched herself بهthrough him أمُّthe mother of النجابةnoble excellence واحداunique
تمطّت به أمُّ النجابة واحدا
يطولis too great a task عليهاfor her أنto يُؤاخَىbe given a brother ويُقرَناand be paired
يطول عليها أن يُؤاخَى ويُقرَنا
The mother of noble excellence stretched herself to bear him, unique,
Sacrifice for Ali! Greedy for his place of glory,
finding it too hard to give him a brother or a peer.
Deceitful fate did not believe him.
فداءُa ransom for عليٍّAli طامعٌone coveting فيin مكانهhis place
فداءُ عليٍّ طامعٌ في مكانه
منin المجدglory لمnot تصدُقهproved true to him خادعةُthe deceitful lure of المنىhopes
من المجد لم تصدُقه خادعةُ المنى
Let any man who covets Ali's place be his ransom
He wanted but did not attain, so he died of rage,
in glory—one whose deceitful hopes have not proved true.
And not every death is to be shrouded and buried.
أرادhe aspired فلمbut did not يبلغattain فماتso died بغيظهof his rage
أراد فلم يبلغ فمات بغيظه
وماand not كلّevery موتdeath أنis to يُوارَىbe hidden away فيُدفَناand then buried
وما كلّ موت أن يُوارَى فيُدفَنا
He aspired but did not attain it, and died of his rage;
You were created with a nature stubborn to your enemies
not every death means being hidden away and buried.
And kind to your Master - so be compassionate.
خُلقتمyou were created علىaccording to قدْرٍdecree شجاًa thorn in the throat لعدوِّكمfor your enemy
خُلقتم على قدْرٍ شجاً لعدوِّكم
وعَطفاand tenderness علىtoward مولاكُمُyour patron وتحنُّناand compassion
وعَطفا على مولاكُمُ وتحنُّنا
You were created by decree as a thorn in your enemy's throat,
You were to him a comrade of the spearhead and handful
and tenderness and compassion toward your patron.
Of the reins, aiding the sword with your right hand.
وكنتَand you were لهto him وُسطىthe middlemost of البنانthe fingers وقَبضةَand the grip of الthe, continued on the next line
وكنتَ له وُسطى البنان وقَبضةَ ال
عِنانreins وباعاand an arm ينصُرsupporting السيفthe sword أََيْمَناright
عِنان وباعا ينصُر السيف أََيْمَنا
You were to him the middle finger and the grasp of
I have dedicated you as faithful and forbidden
the reins, and a right arm that supports the sword.
To treachery, protected and fortified.
عَلِقتُكI clung to you ممسودَfirmly braided in الوفاءloyalty محرَّماinaccessible
عَلِقتُك ممسودَ الوفاء محرَّما
علىto الغدرtreachery محميَّguarded in الحِفاظhonour محصَّناfortified
على الغدر محميَّ الحِفاظ محصَّنا
I clung to you, your loyalty tightly braided, barred
And you have brought me down from the abode of seclusion
from treachery, your honour guarded and fortified.
To a place which disciplines my resolve to wander.
وأنزلتَنيand you lodged me منin دارِthe house of أنسكyour companionship منزلاa dwelling
وأنزلتَني من دارِ أنسك منزلا
يُربِّبُholds in check عزميmy resolve أنto أروحdepart فأظعناand then travel away
يُربِّبُ عزمي أن أروح فأظعنا
You lodged me in the house of your companionship, in a dwelling
Trustworthy and noble, the shadows of your favor
that holds in check my resolve to depart and journey onward.
Suddenly engulfed me before I knew how they came to be.
أميناsecure فسيحاspacious فاجأتنيsurprised me ظلالُهits shades
أمينا فسيحا فاجأتني ظلالُه
فحاطتso they surrounded me ولمand not أشعرI knew بهاof them كيفhow تُبتنَىthey were built
فحاطت ولم أشعر بها كيف تُبتنَى
Safe and spacious; its shade surprised me,
I have pledged to you my spirit, not expecting it back, out of love,
and surrounded me before I knew how it was built.
And it was precious to be sold or pledged.
رهنتُكI pledged to you رِقِّيmy servitude عنهbecause of it حبّاًout of love ومهجتيand my lifeblood
رهنتُك رِقِّي عنه حبّاً ومهجتي
وكانand it was عزيزاdifficult أنfor يباعاboth to be sold ويُرهناand both pledged
وكان عزيزا أن يباعا ويُرهنا
Out of love for it, I pledged you my servitude and my lifeblood,
I was no fool in my deal with your hand, which
though it had been hard for both to be sold or pledged.
Negotiated my praise and love lest I should lose.
ولمand not أكwas I فيin صفقِيmy bargain-striking علىupon يدكyour hand التيwith which
ولم أك في صفقِي على يدك التي
خطبتyou sought بهاwith it مدحيmy praise وودّيand my affection لأُغبَناto be cheated
خطبت بها مدحي وودّي لأُغبَنا
Nor, when I struck my bargain upon your hand, with which
It was a shortcoming, the debt of sin I incurred,
you sought my praise and affection, was I to be cheated.
So here I am, erasing it, regretful and submissive.
وقدand indeed كانthere was تقصيرٌa failing تسلَّفتُI incurred beforehand ذَنبَهُits guilt
وقد كان تقصيرٌ تسلَّفتُ ذَنبَهُ
فهاso here أناI am أمحوهerasing it منيباًrepentant ومذعِناand submissive
فها أنا أمحوه منيباً ومذعِنا
There had been a failing, whose guilt I incurred beforehand;
I turned my face from you for a time, and you were to me,
here I am erasing it, repentant and submissive.
Though your paths diverged, saddening.
صددتُI turned away بوجهيwith my face عنكfrom you حيناfor a time وكنتَand you were ليto me
صددتُ بوجهي عنك حينا وكنتَ لي
بوجهكwith your face مصدودَclosed off in المذاهبِapproaches مُحزناcausing grief
بوجهك مصدودَ المذاهبِ مُحزنا
I turned my face away from you for a time, while you were to me,
We both gathered fruit, so pardon and neglect the past
your face barring every approach and causing grief.
Behind us, otherwise divide the reproach between us.
كلاناboth of us جنىoffended فاصفحso pardon ودعand leave ذكرَthe memory of ماwhat مضىhas passed
كلانا جنى فاصفح ودع ذكرَ ما مضى
وراءًbehind وإلاand otherwise فاقسمthen divide العتبَthe blame بينَناbetween us
وراءً وإلا فاقسم العتبَ بينَنا
We have both offended: pardon me and leave the memory of what has passed
And grant my tongue the slip of silence, for tomorrow
behind; otherwise, divide the blame between us.
It will, describing your virtues, become untiring tongues.
وهبْand forgive للسانيfor my tongue زَلَّةthe lapse of الصمتِsilence إنهindeed it
وهبْ للساني زَلَّة الصمتِ إنه
يكونwill be غداًtomorrow فيin وصفdescribing فضلكyour excellence ألسُناmany tongues
يكون غداً في وصف فضلك ألسُنا
Forgive my tongue its lapse into silence; it
You will hear them put the poetic forms to shame with their congestion,
will become many tongues tomorrow in describing your excellence.
Becoming a creation for the transmitters and chronicles.
ستسمعهاyou will hear them يُفنيexhausts الطروسَthe pages ازدحامُهاtheir throng
ستسمعها يُفني الطروسَ ازدحامُها
وتُصبحand they become خُلْقاa habit للرُّواةfor reciters وديدَناand a constant refrain
وتُصبح خُلْقا للرُّواة وديدَنا
You will hear them: their throng will exhaust the pages,
From the stored words, its secret has slumbered
and they will become the reciters' habit and constant refrain.
To you and become manifest through you.
منfrom الكلِمwords المخزونِstored away نَمَّbetrayed itself خفيُّهtheir hidden part
من الكلِم المخزونِ نَمَّ خفيُّه
إليكto you وأضحىand became سرهُّits secret فيكabout you معلَناproclaimed
إليك وأضحى سرهُّ فيك معلَنا
Words from a hidden store, whose concealed part betrayed itself
Surpassing poems from sheets
to you, its secret now proclaimed openly about you.
Like the beekeeper has uncovered his bees' harvest.
سوافرunveiling منthrough أوصافكمyour qualities عنfrom over مَراشفٍlips
سوافر من أوصافكم عن مَراشفٍ
كماas كشَفuncovered المشتارُthe honey-gatherer عنfrom نحلهhis bees الجنىthe honey-harvest
كما كشَف المشتارُ عن نحله الجنى
Unveiling lips through descriptions of your qualities,
When the identifier marks their foreheads
as the honey-gatherer uncovers his bees' harvest.
With "Father of Hasan," they return more beautiful by your mention.
إذاwhen وسمbrands التعريفُidentification فوقupon جباههاtheir foreheads
إذا وسم التعريفُ فوق جباهها
أباAbu, father of حَسنٍHasan عادتthey become بذكركthrough your mention أحسناmore beautiful
أبا حَسنٍ عادت بذكرك أحسنا
When the identifying mark is stamped upon their foreheads:
Like the diver's jewel, it was unique
'Abu Hasan,' they grow lovelier through your name.
In its touching and turning, the most precious and expensive.
كجوهرةlike the jewel of الغوّاصthe diver كانتit was يتيمةًpeerless
كجوهرة الغوّاص كانت يتيمةً
علىwith اللمسtouching والتقليبِand turning أغلىdearer وأثمناand more valuable
على اللمس والتقليبِ أغلى وأثمنا
Like the diver's pearl, peerless and alone,
The festivals visit you adorned with it
dearer and more valuable when touched and turned.
As a headband, necklace, and jewelry made beautiful.
يزوركvisits you منهاwith some of them المِهرجَانMihrjan مقلَّداwearing adornments
يزورك منها المِهرجَان مقلَّدا
وشاحاًas a sash وطوقاًand a necklace حَلَّياهthe two adorned it وزيَّناand embellished it
وشاحاً وطوقاً حَلَّياه وزيَّنا
Mihrjan visits you adorned with these verses,
Cloaks - the day has not spun over you -
as a sash and necklace that have adorned and embellished it.
Of fine wool, wrapped around the houses.
ربائطtethered steeds ماas long as كرّreturns النهارُday عليكُمُupon you
ربائط ما كرّ النهارُ عليكُمُ
صواهلَneighing منfrom حولaround البيوتthe houses وصُفَّناand standing poised
صواهلَ من حول البيوت وصُفَّنا
Tethered steeds, as long as day returns to you,
When the worshippers supplicate, their prayer is:
neighing around the houses, and standing poised.
“O descendants of Abdul Rahim, submit to us!”
إذاwhen ابتهلpray earnestly الداعونَthe supplicants كانis دُعَاؤهاtheir prayer
إذا ابتهل الداعونَ كان دُعَاؤها
ألاheed! ياO بنيsons of عبدAbd الرحيمal-Rahim اسلمواremain safe لناfor us
ألا يا بني عبد الرحيم اسلموا لنا
When supplicants pray earnestly, their prayer is:
'O sons of Abd al-Rahim, remain safe for us!'
Partial English translation: 124 of 126 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1