أراكَO arak trees الحمىof the sanctuary هلwhether قبَّلتكَkissed you ثُغورهاher lips
أراكَ الحمى هل قبَّلتكَ ثُغورها
فمَالتْso swayed بأعطافِwith the curves الغُصونِof the boughs خُمُورًهاher wines
فمَالتْ بأعطافِ الغُصونِ خُمُورًها
O arak trees of the sanctuary, have her lips kissed you,
I saw you had fever, did its flames kiss you,
so that her wines set the curving boughs swaying,
So it leaned to the branches of willows intoxicated,
وحنَّتand yearned إلىfor سَجَعِthe cooing الحَمامِof doves كأنَّهas though it were
وحنَّت إلى سَجَعِ الحَمامِ كأنَّه
رنينُthe ringing الحُلىof jewelry إذwhen لاعبتْهاplayed with it صُدورهاher breasts
رنينُ الحُلى إذ لاعبتْها صُدورها
and they yearned for the doves' cooing, as though it were
And cooed to the turtledoves' song as if
the chime of jewels as her breasts played with them?
It were the tinkle of anklets when bosoms toyed with them.
عذيْرِيَّmy defender منagainst تَلكَthat الحبيبةِbeloved ماwhat لهاails her
عذيْرِيَّ من تَلكَ الحبيبةِ ما لها
تقولُshe says عُذيريmy defender والمًحِبُّand the lover عذيرهاher defender
تقولُ عُذيري والمًحِبُّ عذيرها
Who will defend me against that beloved? Why does she
My excuse, from that sweetheart, what ails her?
say, 'Who will defend me?' when her lover is her defender?
She says "my excuse" while the lover is her excuse.
يقلِّبُturns عينيهhis two eyes إليهاtoward her ضَميرهُhis heart
يقلِّبُ عينيه إليها ضَميرهُ
ويلفِتُand turns عينيهاher two eyes إليهِtoward him ضَميرُهاher heart
ويلفِتُ عينيها إليهِ ضَميرُها
His heart keeps turning his eyes toward her,
He turns his eyes to her, his conscience,
and her heart turns her eyes toward him.
And turns her eyes to him, her conscience.
وماand not كلُّeverything ماthat يخشاهhe fears it منهاfrom her يضيرُهُharms him
وما كلُّ ما يخشاه منها يضيرُهُ
ولاnor كلُّeverything ماthat تخشاهُshe fears it منهُfrom him يُضيرهاharms her
ولا كلُّ ما تخشاهُ منهُ يُضيرها
Not everything he fears from her harms him,
Not all that he fears of her harms him,
nor does everything she fears from him harm her.
Nor all that she fears of him harms her.
وقامand came forward إليَّtoward me العاذلاتُthe reproaching women يلمْنَنِيthey blame me
وقام إليَّ العاذلاتُ يلمْنَنِي
فقلنَso they said ألاwill you not تَنْفكَّbreak free قُلتُI said أسيرُهاher captive
فقلنَ ألا تَنْفكَّ قُلتُ أسيرُها
The reproaching women came forward, blaming me;
The censurers rose against me and blamed me,
they said, 'Will you not break free?' I said, 'I am her captive.'
I said "I'm her captive," they said "Do you not relent?"
لئِنif indeed لمdid not يكُنexist للظبيِfor the gazelle سِحرُthe enchantment عيونهاof her eyes
لئِن لم يكُن للظبيِ سِحرُ عيونها
فماthen not شيمةُthe nature الغزلانِof gazelles إلاexcept نُفورهاher skittishness
فما شيمةُ الغزلانِ إلا نُفورها
If the gazelle lacks the enchantment of her eyes,
If the gazelle's eyes have no magic,
the nature of gazelles is nothing but her skittishness.
Then what is the trait of gazelles but shyness?
وماand nothing شفنيwasted me إلاexcept النَّسيمthe breeze وتيهُهُand its pride
وما شفني إلا النَّسيم وتيهُهُ
عليَّover me إذاwhen ماever لاعبتُهtoyed with it خُدُوروهاher curtained chambers
عليَّ إذا ما لاعبتُه خُدُوروها
Nothing has wasted me but the breeze and its pride
Nothing cured me but the breeze and its wanderings
over me whenever her curtained chambers toyed with it.
Upon me when her necklaces toyed with it.
ألاcome now فاعذلواso reproach قدalready مرَّhas passed ماwhat كنتُI was حاذراًfearing
ألا فاعذلوا قد مرَّ ما كنتُ حاذراً
وعادتْand became again لياليthe nights الدَّهرِof time يحلوgrows sweet مرورُهاtheir passing
وعادتْ ليالي الدَّهرِ يحلو مرورُها
Come, reproach me then! What I feared has passed,
Come now, refrain, what I had feared has passed
and the nights of time are sweet again in their passing.
And the nights of fate became sweet when they passed.
وأصبحتِand has become الدنياthe world تضاحكُexchanges smiles with أهلهاits people
وأصبحتِ الدنيا تضاحكُ أهلها
ويُبْسُمُand smiles فيهمamong them بِشْرُهاits gladness وبَشيرُهاand its herald
ويُبْسُمُ فيهم بِشْرُها وبَشيرُها
The world now exchanges smiles with its people,
The world smiled at its people in the morning
and its gladness and its herald smile among them.
And its good news and herald smiled at them.
وتتيهُand glories بأعيادِin the festivals الملوكِof kings وكيفَand how لاnot
وتتيهُ بأعيادِ الملوكِ وكيفَ لا
وعيدُand the festival أميرِof the Commander المُؤمنينَof the Faithful أميرُهاtheir prince
وعيدُ أميرِ المُؤمنينَ أميرُها
It glories in kings' festivals—and why should it not,
It wandered at the feasts of kings, and how could it not
when the Commander of the Faithful's festival is their prince?
When the feast of the Commander of the Faithful is its feast?
أعادَrestored بهِthrough him روحَthe spirit الخلافةِof the caliphate ربُّهاits Lord
أعادَ بهِ روحَ الخلافةِ ربُّها
وجاءتْand came لهاfor it بالنَصْرِwith victory فيهthrough him نصيرهاits champion
وجاءتْ لها بالنَصْرِ فيه نصيرها
Through him, its Lord restored the spirit of the caliphate,
With it, its Lord restored the spirit of the Caliphate,
and its champion brought it victory through him.
And its victory came to it with Him as its champion.
فراعتْso terrified صناديدُthe mightiest الملوكِof kings وماand none سوىexcept
فراعتْ صناديدُ الملوكِ وما سوى
مليكِthe Sovereign البراياof creation قدindeed أقلَّbore سريرهاits throne
مليكِ البرايا قد أقلَّ سريرها
It struck fear into the mightiest kings; and none but
The lords of nations were confounded, and nothing besides
the Sovereign of creation has borne its throne.
The King of the Wilds whose throne has grown small.
وجارَand wronged عليهاagainst it الدهرtime شعثاًdisheveled خُطوبُهits calamities
وجارَ عليها الدهر شعثاً خُطوبُه
فهبَّso rose لهاfor it عبدAbd (servant) الحميدِal-Hamid (the Praiseworthy) يُجيرُهاprotecting it
فهبَّ لها عبد الحميدِ يُجيرُها
Time wronged it with its disheveled calamities,
Fate assaulted it tattered in its afflictions
so Abd al-Hamid rose to grant it protection.
So Abdülhamid came to its aid and gave it refuge.
بَصيرٌclear-sighted بنورِby the light اللهِof God فيin كلِّevery أزمةِcrisis
بَصيرٌ بنورِ اللهِ في كلِّ أزمةِ
تردُّturn back عيونَthe eyes الصَّيدِof proud lords حسرىweary ستورهاits veils
تردُّ عيونَ الصَّيدِ حسرى ستورها
He sees by God's light in every crisis
--With the light of God discerning in every crisis,
whose veils turn back the eyes of proud lords, weary.
The eyes of the hunted creatures glance woefully behind its veil.
وطارَand soared بهاwith it لاnot يَرتَضيis content with النَّجمَthe stars غايةًas a goal
وطارَ بها لا يَرتَضي النَّجمَ غايةً
تمدُّspread جناحَيهَاtheir two wings عليهِover him طُيورُهاits birds
تمدُّ جناحَيهَا عليهِ طُيورُها
He soared with it, not content to make the stars his goal;
And it flew with him, not content with the stars as its limit,
its birds spread their wings over him.
Spreading its wings over him as its birds.
يظنُّthink عِداهُhis enemies أنَّthat فيamong النَّاسpeople مثلهُhis equal
يظنُّ عِداهُ أنَّ في النَّاس مثلهُ
فياso O وَيْحَهُمwoe to them شمسُthe sun الضُّحىof morning ماwhat نَظيرهاis its equal
فيا وَيْحَهُم شمسُ الضُّحى ما نَظيرها
His enemies think there is his equal among people;
His enemies think there are others like him among the people--
so woe to them! What equal has the morning sun?
Woe to them! The sun at dawn has no equal.
وغرَّand deceived فرنساFrance أنthat ترىit sees الليثَthe lion باسمِاًsmiling
وغرَّ فرنسا أن ترى الليثَ باسمِاً
فلمso did not تدرِknow حتّىuntil لجَّpersisted stubbornly فيهاin it سفيرهاits ambassador
فلم تدرِ حتّى لجَّ فيها سفيرها
France was deceived by seeing the lion smile,
France was deluded to see the lion with a fleabite
and did not realize until its ambassador persisted in the matter.
And knew not until its envoy plunged into it.
أيجلوكَcan it polish you? ياO عضبَkeen blade الشباof sharp edges ماwhat هذتit babbled بهِabout it
أيجلوكَ يا عضبَ الشبا ما هذت بهِ
وقبلكَand before you ماnot ضرَِّharmed النبيُّthe Prophet هريرهاits snarling
وقبلكَ ما ضرَِّ النبيُّ هريرها
Can its babbling polish you, O keen-edged blade?
Would that you live long, O lion cub! It did not quiver
Before you, its snarling did not harm the Prophet.
From what the Prophet scolded its zeal.
وكمand how many دولةٍa state جالتmade a sortie أمامكَbefore you جولةًa sortie
وكم دولةٍ جالت أمامكَ جولةً
وسيقَتand was driven كماas ساقَdrove الشياهُthe sheep غرورهاtheir delusion
وسيقَت كما ساقَ الشياهُ غرورها
How many a state has ventured a sortie before you,
How many a state marched before you in its prime
and was driven like sheep led on by their delusion!
And was led like the stars in their orbits their pride!
ملأتَyou filled عليهاagainst it الأرضthe earth أُسْداًwith lions عوابِساًscowling
ملأتَ عليها الأرض أُسْداً عوابِساً
يردِّدُechoes بينَbetween الخَافِقَينِEast and West زئيرهاtheir roar
يردِّدُ بينَ الخَافِقَينِ زئيرها
You filled the earth against it with scowling lions;
You have filled the earth against them with angry lions
their roar echoes between East and West.
Who echo their roar between the two hills.
فمالتْso swayed بهمbeneath them إنif شئتَyou wished يوماًone day قِفارُهاits deserts
فمالتْ بهم إن شئتَ يوماً قِفارُها
وماجتْand surged بهمwith them إنif شئتَyou wished يوماًone day بُحورهاits seas
وماجتْ بهم إن شئتَ يوماً بُحورها
Then, if one day you wish, its deserts sway beneath them,
At your gesture it leaned with its wastes,
and, if one day you wish, its seas surge with them.
And at your gesture it surged with its seas.
وقدand indeed صفتِformed ranks الآجالُthe appointed deaths فيin حومةِthe thick الوغىof battle
وقد صفتِ الآجالُ في حومةِ الوغى
وحامتْand circled علىabove القومِthe host العُداةِof enemies نُسورُهاtheir vultures
وحامتْ على القومِ العُداةِ نُسورُها
Destined deaths have formed ranks in the thick of battle,
When the emissaries of death were arrayed in the fury of battle,
and their vultures circle above the enemy host.
Their armies faltered and their graves made haste for them.
إذاwhen انتضلتْvied in shooting رُسلُthe messengers المنيَّاتِof death أحجمتْrecoiled
إذا انتضلتْ رُسلُ المنيَّاتِ أحجمتْ
جيوشُهمtheir armies فاستعجلتْهاso hurried them on قبورُهاtheir graves
جيوشُهم فاستعجلتْها قبورُها
When death's messengers vie in shooting, back recoil
The swords of the Turks--how little their enemies know them!
their armies, and their graves hurry them on.
When their necks knew them well before that day.
وماand what لسيوفِails the swords التُركِof the Turks يجهَلُهاfails to know them العِدىthe enemies
وما لسيوفِ التُركِ يجهَلُها العِدى
وقدand already عَرَفتهاhave known them قبلَbefore ذاكthat نُحورُهاtheir throats
وقد عَرَفتها قبلَ ذاك نُحورُها
Why should enemies fail to recognize the swords of the Turks,
Their gleam shakes the Muslims toward you
though their throats have known them before that?
Though the wall of China joins their ranks.
يهزُّstirs إليكَtoward you المسلمينَthe Muslims صليلُهاtheir clang
يهزُّ إليكَ المسلمينَ صليلُها
وإنْand even if ضمَّenclosed منهمْsome of them جانِبُat the edge الصِينِof China سُورُهاits wall
وإنْ ضمَّ منهمْ جانِبُ الصِينِ سُورُها
Their clang stirs the Muslims toward you,
May the Caliph be honored dwelling on his throne
even if, at China's edge, its wall encloses some of them.
And the wilderness delighted in its joys!
ليهنَmay it gladden أميرthe Commander المؤمنينof the Faithful جلوسهhis taking his seat
ليهنَ أمير المؤمنين جلوسه
علىon العرشthe throne وليهنَand may it gladden البراياall creation سرورهاits joy
على العرش وليهنَ البرايا سرورها
May the Commander of the Faithful rejoice in taking his seat
The Bosphorus sends up fireworks in tribute to Egypt
on the throne, and may all creation rejoice in its happiness.
And its palaces shine on both shores.
فقدfor indeed طارحexchanged البوسفورُthe Bosphorus مصرwith Egypt تحيةًa greeting
فقد طارح البوسفورُ مصر تحيةً
أضاءتْshone لهاfor it فيon جانبَيهاboth her sides قصورهاher palaces
أضاءتْ لها في جانبَيها قصورها
For the Bosphorus has exchanged a greeting with Egypt,
Its people saw His light in the horizon
for which her palaces shone on both her sides.
And for His family His light rose from the horizon.
وشاهدَand saw أهلهاher people منfrom الأفقِthe horizon نورهُhis light
وشاهدَ أهلها من الأفقِ نورهُ
ولاحَand appeared لأهليهِto his people منَfrom الأفقِthe horizon نُورهاher light
ولاحَ لأهليهِ منَ الأفقِ نُورها
Her people saw his light from the horizon,
Its gallant youth speaks, the paper fluttering with his verse,
and her light appeared to his people from the horizon.
And he gestures to it, roaring his ode,
وقامَand rose فتاهاher young man ينطقُgives voice to الورقَthe gray doves سَجْعهُhis cooing
وقامَ فتاها ينطقُ الورقَ سَجْعهُ
وقدand already هزَّstirred عِطفيهِhis two shoulders إليهاtoward her هَديرُهاher cooing
وقد هزَّ عِطفيهِ إليها هَديرُها
Her young man rose, his cooing giving voice to the gray doves,
With a voice that enchants none but them,
and her cooing had stirred his shoulders toward her,
And am I for poetry but its puppet?
بصادحةِwith a warbling ode لاnot يُطربُdelights القومَthe people غيرُهاanything other than it
بصادحةِ لا يُطربُ القومَ غيرُها
وهلand whether أناI للأشعارِto poetry إلاexcept جَريرُهاits Jarir
وهل أنا للأشعارِ إلا جَريرُها
with a warbling ode—no other delights the people.
When its rhymes draw near they are coy
And am I to poetry anything but its Jarir?
And its meanings parade to you in its lines.
ترفُّflutter قوافيهاits rhymes إذاwhen هيَit أقبَلتْapproaches
ترفُّ قوافيها إذا هيَ أقبَلتْ
تزفُّusher in bridal procession معانِيهاits meanings إليكَto you سُطورُهاits lines
تزفُّ معانِيها إليكَ سُطورُها
Its rhymes flutter when it approaches;
No time of those past surpassed when their time
its lines bear its meanings to you in bridal procession.
Excelled if its steeds were left behind in the dust.
وماand not قدمَgave precedence to الماضينَthe ancients أنthat زمانهمtheir age
وما قدمَ الماضينَ أن زمانهم
تقدَّمcame earlier إنْif بذَّoutstripped الجيادَthe steeds أخيرهاthe last of them
تقدَّم إنْ بذَّ الجيادَ أخيرها
The ancients gain no precedence because their age
came earlier, if the last of the steeds outstrips the rest.
Partial English translation: 64 of 66 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1