ماnever صَمَّمَstood firm صَبٌّa lovesick lover علىin المَحبّةِlove أَوor تابْrepented
ما صَمَّمَ صَبٌّ على المَحبّةِ أَو تابْ
إِلّاexcept وَغَراميand my passion عَلىfor الصّبابَةِardent yearning قَدhas indeed طابْgrown sweet
إِلّا وَغَرامي عَلى الصّبابَةِ قَد طابْ
Whenever my patience steels itself in love, or tries to repent,
No lovesick lover has stood firm in love or repented
my passion for longing only grows sweeter.
Without my passion for yearning growing sweeter.
يَزدادُincreases غَراميmy passion عَلىwith النّوىseparation وَهياميand my infatuation
يَزدادُ غَرامي عَلى النّوى وَهيامي
هَيهاتَfar beyond reach سلوّيmy solace وَلَوeven if فُؤاديَmy heart قَدhas ذابmelted
هَيهاتَ سلوّي وَلَو فُؤاديَ قَد ذاب
My passion swells with separation, and so does my infatuation;
My passion and infatuation grow with separation.
far, far from me is solace, though my heart has melted away.
Far beyond reach is my solace, even if my heart has melted.
العِشقُpassionate love جُنونٌmadness فَلاso no بَراءَةrecovery منهُfrom it
العِشقُ جُنونٌ فَلا بَراءَة منهُ
مَنwhoever ظَنَّimagines شِفاءًa cure مِنَfrom الجُنونِmadness فَكَذَّابis therefore a liar
مَن ظَنَّ شِفاءً مِنَ الجُنونِ فَكَذَّاب
Love is madness, and there is no release from it;
Love is madness; there is no recovery from it.
whoever imagines a cure for madness is a liar.
Whoever imagines a cure for madness is a liar.
قَدalready شبتI have grown gray بِعِشقيin my love وَماand not تَناقَصَdiminished وَجديmy ardor
قَد شبت بِعِشقي وَما تَناقَصَ وَجدي
دَعleave عَنكَaway from you مَلاميreproaching me فَماfor no المَلامُreproach لِمَنfor whoever شَابhas grown gray
دَع عَنكَ مَلامي فَما المَلامُ لِمَن شَاب
I have grown gray in my love, yet my ardor has not waned.
I have grown gray in love, yet my ardor has not waned.
Spare me your reproach: what blame can touch one grown gray?
Leave off reproaching me: reproach is not for one grown gray.
عَلقتI fell in love with غَزالاًa gazelle لهُfor him المَحاسِنthe graces رَبَّتreared
عَلقت غَزالاً لهُ المَحاسِن رَبَّت
فيin حُضنِthe embrace كَمالٍof perfection عَلىon بَدايِعِwonders آدابof manners
في حُضنِ كَمالٍ عَلى بَدايِعِ آداب
I fell for a gazelle in whom every beauty flourished,
I fell in love with a gazelle whom the graces reared
reared in perfection’s embrace upon wondrous graces.
In perfection's embrace, on exquisite manners.
مَولودan offspring جمالٍof beauty لَقَدindeed تَرَعرَعَhe flourished طفلاًas a child
مَولود جمالٍ لَقَد تَرَعرَعَ طفلاً
فيin مَهدِa cradle دَلالٍof coquetry بِهِthrough him المَلاحةُloveliness تَنسابflows
في مَهدِ دَلالٍ بِهِ المَلاحةُ تَنساب
A child born of beauty, who grew from infancy
Beauty's offspring, he flourished as a child
in a cradle of dalliance, grace streaming through him.
In a cradle of coquetry, loveliness flowing through him.
ماnever شَمسُthe sun مُحيّاهُof his face أَشرَقَتshone ليupon me إلاexcept
ما شَمسُ مُحيّاهُ أَشرَقَت لي إلا
وَالبدرُand the full moon تَردَّىdonned رِداthe cloak الخسوفِof eclipse وَقَدand already غابdisappeared
وَالبدرُ تَردَّى رِدا الخسوفِ وَقَد غاب
Never did the sun of his face rise upon me
Whenever the sun of his face shone upon me,
but the full moon donned eclipse’s cloak and vanished.
The full moon donned eclipse's cloak and disappeared.
شَمسٌa sun بِضِياءٍwith radiance عَلىover مَشارِقِeastern reaches حسنٍof beauty
شَمسٌ بِضِياءٍ عَلى مَشارِقِ حسنٍ
فيin أُفقِa horizon بَهاءٍof splendor عَلىupon المَحاسِنِthe graces صَبّابpouring profusely
في أُفقِ بَهاءٍ عَلى المَحاسِنِ صَبّاب
A sun shedding radiance over beauty’s horizons,
A sun, radiant over beauty's eastern reaches,
in a firmament of splendor, pouring light upon every charm.
On splendor's horizon, pouring light upon the graces.
فيin وَجنَتِهِhis cheek الوردthe rose وَالخُدودand the cheeks سَقَتهُwatered it
في وَجنَتِهِ الورد وَالخُدود سَقَتهُ
مِنfrom ماءِwater سَناءٍof radiance عَلىupon النّضارَةِfreshness سَكّابpouring abundantly
مِن ماءِ سَناءٍ عَلى النّضارَةِ سَكّاب
In his cheek is the rose, watered by his cheeks
The rose is in his cheek; the cheeks have watered it
with the water of brilliance, lavishly poured over their freshness.
With water of radiance, poured abundantly upon freshness.
وَالخدُّand the cheek عَلَيهِupon it العذارُfacial down أَصبَحَhas begun يَعلوto rise
وَالخدُّ عَلَيهِ العذارُ أَصبَحَ يَعلو
ماhow أَبدَعَwondrous آساًmyrtle عَلىabove الورودِthe roses هوَit is الرابthe growing one
ما أَبدَعَ آساً عَلى الورودِ هوَ الراب
Upon the cheek, his first down has begun to rise:
And the down has begun to rise upon his cheek.
how marvelous the myrtle towering above the roses!
How wondrous the myrtle growing above the roses!
ماhow أَجمَلهُbeautiful it is مِنof زُمرّدemerald يَتَلالىglittering
ما أَجمَلهُ مِن زُمرّد يَتَلالى
مِنfrom فَوقِabove نَضارَتهِits freshness الجمالُbeauty قَدِhas اِنسابflowed
مِن فَوقِ نَضارَتهِ الجمالُ قَدِ اِنساب
How beautiful it is—an emerald glittering,
How beautiful it is, a glittering emerald!
while beauty streams down over its freshness.
Over its freshness, beauty has flowed.
قَدhas indeed حَطّsettled بَناناًfingertips عَلىupon الخُدودِthe cheeks تَبدّىappeared
قَد حَطّ بَناناً عَلى الخُدودِ تَبدّى
ماnot فيهِin it أَضَرَّتharmed لَظىthe blaze الخدودِof the cheeks وَلاand not ذابmelted
ما فيهِ أَضَرَّت لَظى الخدودِ وَلا ذاب
It lays fingers across the cheeks and comes into view,
It settled like fingertips upon the cheeks, coming into view.
yet the cheeks’ flame neither harms nor melts it.
The cheeks' blaze neither harmed it nor made it melt.
بَلrather يَنفُحُwafts طيباًperfume بِهِthrough it تَطيبُare delighted نفوسٌsouls
بَل يَنفُحُ طيباً بِهِ تَطيبُ نفوسٌ
ماhow أَطيبfragrant مِسكاًa musk بِهِthrough it لِروحيَfor my soul تَطيابsolace
ما أَطيب مِسكاً بِهِ لِروحيَ تَطياب
Rather, it breathes perfume, making souls fragrant.
Rather, it wafts perfume that delights souls.
How sweet the musk by which my spirit is perfumed!
How fragrant a musk, bringing solace to my soul!
وَالثّغرُand the teeth كَذرّlike tiny grains شفاههِhis lips كَعقيقٍlike carnelian
وَالثّغرُ كَذرّ شفاههِ كَعقيقٍ
ياO فَخرَpride عَقيقٍof carnelian غَداhas become لِذلِكto that صَحّابa close companion
يا فَخرَ عَقيقٍ غَدا لِذلِك صَحّاب
His mouth is like pearls, his lips like carnelian;
And his teeth are like tiny grains, his lips like carnelian.
O pride of carnelian, now companion to pearls!
What pride for carnelian to become their close companion!
وَالرّيقةُand the saliva فيهِwithin it هِيَit is الزّلالpure water وَشهدand honey
وَالرّيقةُ فيهِ هِيَ الزّلال وَشهد
بَلrather تِلكَthat لَعَمريby my life هيَit is المدامَةُwine وَالطابand sweet nectar
بَل تِلكَ لَعَمري هيَ المدامَةُ وَالطاب
The moisture in it is pure water and honey—
And the saliva within it is pure water and honey.
no, by my life, it is wine and fragrant musk.
Rather, by my life, it is wine and sweet nectar.
إِنّيindeed I وَشَذاهاby its fragrance أُريدwish to أَشربdrink منهاof it
إِنّي وَشَذاها أُريد أَشرب منها
فَالشّربَةfor a draught مِنهاof it بِهاin it الشّفاءُthe cure لِأَوصابfor ailments
فَالشّربَة مِنها بِها الشّفاءُ لِأَوصاب
I long to drink from it and from its fragrance;
Indeed, by its fragrance, I wish to drink of it,
a single draught holds healing for all ailments.
For a draught of it holds the cure for ailments.
وَاللّحظُand the glance حُسامٌa sword وَإِنّهُalthough it لَضَعيفٌis truly weak
وَاللّحظُ حُسامٌ وَإِنّهُ لَضَعيفٌ
إِنّindeed فتكَdeadly assault فيهِin it يَكونُbecomes أَقطعَkeenest-cutting قرضابa cleaving blade
إِنّ فتكَ فيهِ يَكونُ أَقطعَ قرضاب
His glance is a sword, though it seems frail;
And his glance is a sword, though it is so languid;
when it strikes, it cuts keener than a qirdāb blade.
Indeed, in its deadly assault it becomes the keenest cleaving blade.
وَالسحرُand the magic بِهِthrough it مِنَfrom العقولِminds تسارىcoursed
وَالسحرُ بِهِ مِنَ العقولِ تسارى
إِذsince أَصبَحَbegan يَجريto flow مِنَfrom الجُفونِthe eyelids وَأَهدابand eyelashes
إِذ أَصبَحَ يَجري مِنَ الجُفونِ وَأَهداب
Its sorcery steals secretly through the mind,
And the magic in it has coursed through minds,
since it flows from eyelids and lashes.
Since it began flowing from eyelids and lashes.
ماnever حَلّlodged بِعَقلٍin a mind وَقَدand already عَداهُpassed beyond it بِقلبٍto a heart
ما حَلّ بِعَقلٍ وَقَد عَداهُ بِقلبٍ
إِلّاexcept وَلَهُand to it كانَit was بِالسّليقَةِby nature سَلّابa ravisher
إِلّا وَلَهُ كانَ بِالسّليقَةِ سَلّاب
It never settles in a mind without passing into the heart,
Never has it lodged in a mind and reached beyond it to a heart
only to become, by instinct, its ravisher.
Without, by its nature, stealing it away.
وَالجَفنُand the eyelid بِسَهمٍwith an arrow إِلىtoward الأَضالِعِthe ribs يَرميshoots
وَالجَفنُ بِسَهمٍ إِلى الأَضالِعِ يَرمي
ماnot شِمتI saw مِثالاًan equal لَهُto it بِرَميَةِin a shot نَشّابan archer
ما شِمت مِثالاً لَهُ بِرَميَةِ نَشّاب
His eyelid shoots an arrow at the noblest men;
And the eyelid shoots an arrow toward the ribs;
no archer ever aimed such a shaft.
I have seen no match for it in an archer's shot.
وَالقَدُّand the figure كَرُمحٍlike a spear يميدُsways خوطَةَa tender shoot بانٍof a bān tree
وَالقَدُّ كَرُمحٍ يميدُ خوطَةَ بانٍ
كَمhow many أَخجَلَput to shame غُصناًa branch لَدىduring تَمايسُswaying إِعجابself-admiration
كَم أَخجَلَ غُصناً لَدى تَمايسُ إِعجاب
His stature is a lance, revealed as he lengthens his stride;
And his figure, like a spear, sways like a bān shoot.
how many a branch it has shamed by swaying proudly!
How many a branch he has shamed when swaying proudly!
وَالميسand the swaying سِنانa spearhead لَهُof his بِلينَةwith a gentle عطفٍbend
وَالميس سِنان لَهُ بِلينَة عطفٍ
فيin طَعنِpiercing فُؤاديmy heart قَساgrew hard قَساوةَthe hardness ضرّابof a fierce striker
في طَعنِ فُؤادي قَسا قَساوةَ ضرّاب
That swaying is its spearhead, with a supple bend;
And his sway is a spearhead, supple in its bending;
in piercing my heart, it has the hardness of a warrior.
In piercing my heart, it was as ruthless as a fierce striker.
ياO روحَsoul حَياتيof my life وَياand O حَياةَlife فُؤاديof my heart
يا روحَ حَياتي وَيا حَياةَ فُؤادي
ياO بَهجةَjoy قَلبيof my heart فَعَنso from عيونِيَmy eyes لاmay not غابbe absent
يا بَهجةَ قَلبي فَعَن عيونِيَ لا غاب
O spirit of my life, O life of my heart,
O soul of my life, and O life of my heart,
O joy of my heart—may you never vanish from my eyes!
O joy of my heart, may you never vanish from my eyes.
ياO شَمسَsun جَمالٍof beauty وَياand O كَمالَperfection كَمالٍof perfection
يا شَمسَ جَمالٍ وَيا كَمالَ كَمالٍ
أَنعِمِbestow بِوِصالٍunion لِصبِّكon your lovesick lover الوَلِهِdistraught with love الصابyearning
أَنعِمِ بِوِصالٍ لِصبِّك الوَلِهِ الصاب
O sun of my beauty, O perfection of my perfection,
O sun of beauty, and O perfection of perfection,
bless with your union this lovesick, yearning youth.
Grant union to your lovesick lover, distraught and yearning.
أَيقِنbe certain بِغَراميof my passion وَلَوعَتيand my anguish وَهياميand my infatuation
أَيقِن بِغَرامي وَلَوعَتي وَهيامي
لاdo not تُبدُappear حَبيبيmy beloved بِعِشقِof the love صَبِّكof your lovesick lover مُرتابdoubtful
لا تُبدُ حَبيبي بِعِشقِ صَبِّك مُرتاب
Be certain of my passion, anguish, and infatuation;
Be certain of my passion, my anguish, and my infatuation.
do not, beloved, seem doubtful of your lover’s love.
Do not seem doubtful, my beloved, of your lovesick lover's love.
وَاِنظُرand look لِنحوليat my wasting وَدَعand leave مَقالَthe words عَذوليof my reproacher
وَاِنظُر لِنحولي وَدَع مَقالَ عَذولي
ماnot العاذِلُthe reproacher إِلّاexcept عَلىagainst المُتَيَّمِthe love-enthralled كَذّابa liar
ما العاذِلُ إِلّا عَلى المُتَيَّمِ كَذّاب
Look at my wasting frame and disregard my words, my censor:
And look at my wasting, and disregard my reproacher's words.
the censor, against one love-maddened, is nothing but a liar.
The reproacher is nothing but a liar against the love-enthralled.
يَسعىhe strives بِفَسادٍfor mischief فَلاso may he not اِحتَظىsucceed بِمُرادٍin his aim
يَسعى بِفَسادٍ فَلا اِحتَظى بِمُرادٍ
إِذsince شَأنُthe way عَذوليof my reproacher بِأَنis to ينمّspread slander وَيَغتابand backbite
إِذ شَأنُ عَذولي بِأَن ينمّ وَيَغتاب
He strives to sow corruption—may he never prevail over my desire,
He strives for mischief; may he never attain his desire!
for my censor’s way is to carry tales and backbite.
For my reproacher's way is to spread slander and backbite.
حاشاكَfar be it from you حَبيبيmy beloved مِنَfrom القبولِaccepting بِصبٍّconcerning a lovesick lover
حاشاكَ حَبيبي مِنَ القبولِ بِصبٍّ
يَهواكَloves you وَلَوeven if عادَturned back مِنfrom هَواكَlove for you فَماyet not تابrepented
يَهواكَ وَلَو عادَ مِن هَواكَ فَما تاب
Far be it from you, beloved, to heed companions:
Far be it from you, my beloved, to believe such talk about a lover
one loves you, and though he turns back from your love, he has not repented.
Who loves you, and even were he to turn from love for you, would never repent.
وَاِسلَمand be safe وَدُمِand continue الدَّهرَforever فيin المَحاسِنthe graces تَرقىto rise
وَاِسلَم وَدُمِ الدَّهرَ في المَحاسِن تَرقى
فيin عِزِّthe glory جَمالٍof beauty لَهُfor it الكياسَةُdiscernment جلبابa cloak
في عِزِّ جَمالٍ لَهُ الكياسَةُ جلباب
Peace be upon you; for all time, keep ascending in beauty,
And be safe, and forever keep rising in beauty,
in the glory of a beauty whose cloak is refinement,
In beauty's glory, with discernment as its cloak.
ماas long as دامَcontinues مُحبٌّa lover بِمَنby the one whom يُحِبُّhe loves مُعنّىًtormented
ما دامَ مُحبٌّ بِمَن يُحِبُّ مُعنّىً
ماas long as رَقَّgrows tender قَريضٌverse وَبِالتغزُّلِand through love's praise قَدhas طابgrown sweet
ما رَقَّ قَريضٌ وَبِالتغزُّلِ قَد طاب
as long as a lover is tormented by the one he loves,
As long as a lover is tormented by the one he loves,
and verse grows tender and is sweetened by love-song.
As long as verse grows tender and is sweetened by love's praise.
Sol 6.1