لَمdid not أَصحُI sober up مِنfrom لَذَّةٍpleasure لاno لاno وَلاnor طَرَبٍrapture
لَم أَصحُ مِن لَذَّةٍ لا لا وَلا طَرَبٍ
وَكَيفَand how يَصحُgrow sober قَرينُthe companion of اللَهوِamusement وَاللَعِبِand play
وَكَيفَ يَصحُ قَرينُ اللَهوِ وَاللَعِبِ
I have not sobered from pleasure—no, no—nor from rapture,
I woke not from pleasure or play, nor from joy or delight,
and how could the companion of amusement and play grow sober?
How could one awake sane from frivolity and fun?
نَفسيmy soul تُنازِعُنيurges me toward اللَذّاتَpleasures دائِبَةًunceasingly
نَفسي تُنازِعُني اللَذّاتَ دائِبَةً
وَإِنَّماand indeed اللَهوُamusement وَاللَذّاتُand pleasures مِنamong أَرَبيmy desires
وَإِنَّما اللَهوُ وَاللَذّاتُ مِن أَرَبي
My soul ceaselessly urges me toward pleasures,
My soul contends with me about pleasures constantly,
and amusement and pleasures are indeed among my desires.
Yet frivolity and pleasures are the work of my soul's whim.
كَمhow many لَيلَةٍa night بِتُّI spent the night مَسروراًhappy وَمُغتَبِطاًand delighted
كَم لَيلَةٍ بِتُّ مَسروراً وَمُغتَبِطاً
جَذلانَrejoicing مُنغَمِساًimmersed فيin اللَهوِamusement وَالطَرَبِand rapture
جَذلانَ مُنغَمِساً في اللَهوِ وَالطَرَبِ
How many a night have I spent happy and delighted,
How many a night did I spend happy and delighted,
rejoicing, immersed in amusement and rapture.
Immersed in frivolity and joy like one bewitched!
إِذاwhen دُعيتُI am invited إِلىto لَهوٍamusement أَجَبتُI answer وَإِنand if
إِذا دُعيتُ إِلى لَهوٍ أَجَبتُ وَإِن
لَمnot أُدعَI am invited لِلَّهوِto amusement وَاللَذاتِand pleasures لَمnot أُجِبِI answer
لَم أُدعَ لِلَّهوِ وَاللَذاتِ لَم أُجِبِ
When I am invited to amusement, I answer; and if
When called to frivolity, I answer, and if not called
I am not invited to amusement and pleasures, I do not answer.
To play and pleasures on my own, I do not answer.
وَشادِنٍand a young gazelle قالَhe said هاكَhere, take it الكَأسَthe cup قُلتُI said لَهُto him
وَشادِنٍ قالَ هاكَ الكَأسَ قُلتُ لَهُ
هاتِbring it اِسقِنيgive me to drink مِنof نِتاجِthe offspring of الماءِwater وَالعِنَبِand grapes
هاتِ اِسقِني مِن نِتاجِ الماءِ وَالعِنَبِ
And a young gazelle said, 'Take the cup'; I told him:
Once, Shadin said "Here is your cup," I said, "Give me
'Bring it; give me the offspring of water and grapes to drink.'
A drink from the produce of water and grapes."
فَقامَthen he rose يَسعىhurrying إِلىto دَنٍّa wine jar فَسَلَّلَهاthen drew it out
فَقامَ يَسعى إِلى دَنٍّ فَسَلَّلَها
حَمراءَred بِكراًvirginal لَهاit has عَشرٌten مِنَof الحِقَبِthe ages
حَمراءَ بِكراً لَها عَشرٌ مِنَ الحِقَبِ
Then he rose and hurried to a wine jar, and drew it out,
He went to a jar, one unpierced, red, ten years old,
red and virginal, ten ages old.
Concealed from people's eyes, of the family of Sasan.
مَحجوبَةًveiled عَنfrom عُيونِthe eyes of الناسِpeople لَيسَthere is not لَهاfor it
مَحجوبَةً عَن عُيونِ الناسِ لَيسَ لَها
فيin غَيرِother than بَيتِthe house of بَنيthe sons of ساسانَSasan مِنany نَسَبِlineage
في غَيرِ بَيتِ بَني ساسانَ مِن نَسَبِ
Veiled from people's eyes, it has no
As if it were the dripping of water pearls knocked
lineage beyond the house of the sons of Sasan.
By a pearl coming down a golden wire.
كَأَنَّهاas though it were وَصَبيبُand the poured stream of الماءِwater يَقرُعُهاstrikes it
كَأَنَّها وَصَبيبُ الماءِ يَقرُعُها
دُرٌّpearls تَحَدَّرَdescended مِنfrom سِلكٍa string عَلىonto ذَهَبِgold
دُرٌّ تَحَدَّرَ مِن سِلكٍ عَلى ذَهَبِ
As poured water strikes it, it seems
Its seller did not feed it the summer's heat
like pearls cascading from a string onto gold.
Nor nourished it with the sun's heat and flames.
لَمdid not يَغذُهاnurture it بِمَصيَفِin the summer season of القَيظِscorching heat بائِعُهاits seller
لَم يَغذُها بِمَصيَفِ القَيظِ بائِعُها
وَلاnor غَذاهاnurtured it بِحَرِّwith the heat of الشَمسِthe sun وَاللَهَبِand flame
وَلا غَذاها بِحَرِّ الشَمسِ وَاللَهَبِ
Its seller did not nurture it in scorching summer,
It was the treasure of a farmer who was stingy with it,
nor nourish it with the sun's heat and flame.
Earned from lawful means, not ill-gotten.
كانَتit was ذَخيرَةَthe treasure of دِهقانٍa landowner يَضِنُّis stingy بِهاwith it
كانَت ذَخيرَةَ دِهقانٍ يَضِنُّ بِها
مَكسوبَةًobtained مِنfrom حَلالٍlawful means غَيرَnot مُكتَسَبِearned
مَكسوبَةً مِن حَلالٍ غَيرَ مُكتَسَبِ
It was the treasure of a landowner who jealously guarded it,
It was called its father, who fed it, what a wonder,
obtained from lawful, unearned means.
That a daughter they made the food of her father!
يُدعىhe is called أَباهاits father وَيُغذاهاand is fed it فَياso, oh عَجَباwonder
يُدعى أَباها وَيُغذاها فَيا عَجَبا
مِنat اِبنَةٍa daughter صَيَّروهاthey made her غَذيَةًnourishment لِأَبِfor a father
مِن اِبنَةٍ صَيَّروها غَذيَةً لِأَبِ
He is called its father and is fed it—what a wonder
As if musk were hidden in it, perfuming it,
at a daughter they have made nourishment for a father!
Or the Indian ambergris, or perfume from amounts.
كَأَنَّماas though ضُمِّنَتit was filled with مِسكاًmusk يَفوحُgives off fragrance بِهِwith it
كَأَنَّما ضُمِّنَت مِسكاً يَفوحُ بِهِ
أَوor عَنبَرَambergris of الهِندِIndia أَوor طيباًperfume مِنَfrom السَخَبِscented necklaces
أَو عَنبَرَ الهِندِ أَو طيباً مِنَ السَخَبِ
As though filled with musk that wafts its fragrance,
It nearly disappears whenever it is mixed
or Indian ambergris, or perfume from scented necklaces.
In the cup, were it not for the wind's traces and dust.
يَكادُit nearly أَنto تَتَلاشىvanish كُلَّماwhenever مُزِجَتit is mixed
يَكادُ أَن تَتَلاشى كُلَّما مُزِجَت
فيin الكَأسِthe cup لَولاwere it not for بَقاياremnants of الريحِthe scent وَالهَبَبِand liveliness
في الكَأسِ لَولا بَقايا الريحِ وَالهَبَبِ
It almost vanishes whenever it is mixed
Fatal to the heart's worries, reviving
in the cup, but for its lingering scent and liveliness.
To mortals, dispelling of thought and melancholy.
مُميتَةٌdeath-dealing لِهُمومِto the cares of القَلبِthe heart مُحيِيَةٌlife-giving
مُميتَةٌ لِهُمومِ القَلبِ مُحيِيَةٌ
لِلبِشرِto cheerfulness نافِيَةٌbanishing لِلفِكرِof brooding وَالوَصبِand pain
لِلبِشرِ نافِيَةٌ لِلفِكرِ وَالوَصبِ
It kills the heart's cares and gives life
The snatcher of minds runs with it, accomplished,
to cheerfulness, banishing brooding and pain.
Perfect in composition and manners.
يَسعىhurries بِهاwith it مُخطَفُslender in الأَحشاءِthe belly مُختَلَقٌwell-formed
يَسعى بِها مُخطَفُ الأَحشاءِ مُختَلَقٌ
قَدalready تَمَّhas attained perfection فيin حُسنِbeauty of تَركيبٍform وَفيand in أَدَبِrefinement
قَد تَمَّ في حُسنِ تَركيبٍ وَفي أَدَبِ
A slender-waisted, well-formed youth hurries with it,
There is nothing better than it when we drink it
perfected in beauty of form and in refinement.
Straight and then after drinking start with snacks.
لاno شَيءَthing أَحسَنُfiner مِنهاthan it حينَwhen نَشرَبُهاwe drink it
لا شَيءَ أَحسَنُ مِنها حينَ نَشرَبُها
صِرفاًunmixed وَنَبدَأُand we begin بَعدَafter الشُربِdrinking بِالنُخَبِwith toasts
صِرفاً وَنَبدَأُ بَعدَ الشُربِ بِالنُخَبِ
Nothing is finer than it when we drink it
Do not be lied to, there is no generosity or nobility
unmixed, and after drinking begin the toasts.
Except at your hands, O basil of the Arabs!
لاdo not تُكذَبَنَّbe lied to فَلاfor there is no جودٌgenerosity وَلاnor كَرَمٌbounty
لا تُكذَبَنَّ فَلا جودٌ وَلا كَرَمٌ
إِلّاexcept بِكَفَّيكَin your two palms ياO رَيحانَةَsweet basil of العَرَبِthe Arabs
إِلّا بِكَفَّيكَ يا رَيحانَةَ العَرَبِ
Do not be deceived: there is no generosity or bounty
How many favors you have that do not cease
except in your two hands, O sweet basil of the Arabs.
To incur gratitude, and from favors you did not fall short.
كَمhow many نِعمَةٍa favor لَكَof yours لاnot تَنفَكُّceases مُوَجِبَةًrequiring
كَم نِعمَةٍ لَكَ لا تَنفَكُّ مُوَجِبَةً
شُكراًthanks وَمِنand among نِعمَةٍa favor لَمdid not تَنجُescape مِنfrom عَطَبِruin
شُكراً وَمِن نِعمَةٍ لَم تَنجُ مِن عَطَبِ
How many favors of yours never cease to require
When enemies kindled a fire for their tribulation,
thanks; and some favor has not escaped ruin.
You extinguished it with glass and wood.
إِذاwhen العِداthe enemies أَوقَدواthey kindled ناراًa fire لِفِتنَتِهِمfor their strife
إِذا العِدا أَوقَدوا ناراً لِفِتنَتِهِم
أَطفَأتَهاyou extinguished it بِزُجاجِwith the spear-ferrules of الخَطِّal-Khatt وَالقُضُبِand keen swords
أَطفَأتَها بِزُجاجِ الخَطِّ وَالقُضُبِ
When enemies kindle a fire for their strife,
So whoever wants you for war will gain harm
you quench it with al-Khatt spear-ferrules and keen swords.
And whoever came to you for chivalry did not lose out.
فَمَنso whoever يُرِدكَseeks you لِحَربٍfor war يَجتَنَreaps عَطَباًruin
فَمَن يُرِدكَ لِحَربٍ يَجتَنَ عَطَباً
وَمَنand whoever أَتاكَcame to you لِبَذلِfor the bestowal of العُرفِkindness لَمdid not يَخِبِfail
وَمَن أَتاكَ لِبَذلِ العُرفِ لَم يَخِبِ
So whoever seeks you for war reaps ruin,
Seeking help, seeking aid, you brought them together,
and whoever comes to you seeking kindness is not disappointed.
A man called on them, not forked out.
مُستَذعِنينَsubmitting وَمُستَنجِدينَand seeking aid يَجمَعُهُمunites them
مُستَذعِنينَ وَمُستَنجِدينَ يَجمَعُهُم
رَجاًa hope إِلَيكَto you دَعاهُمcalled them غَيرُnot مُنشَعِبِdivided
رَجاً إِلَيكَ دَعاهُم غَيرُ مُنشَعِبِ
Those submitting and those seeking aid are united by
You sent generosity and grace amongst them, so it passed
an undivided hope that summoned them to you.
Leaving no hardship remaining for the grieved one.
بَعَثتَyou sent جوداًgenerosity وَفَضلاًand bounty فيهِمُamong them فَمَضىthen it went forth
بَعَثتَ جوداً وَفَضلاً فيهِمُ فَمَضى
لَمdid not يَترُكاthe two leave كُربَةًdistress تَبقىremaining لِذَيfor one with كُرَبِafflictions
لَم يَترُكا كُربَةً تَبقى لِذَي كُرَبِ
You sent generosity and bounty among them, and it went forth;
And against their enemy a sword that judges them,
they left no distress lingering for one afflicted.
Thus you destroyed them, with killing and flight.
وَفيand against عَدُوِّهِمُtheir enemy سَيفاًa sword يُحاكِمُهُمthat judges them
وَفي عَدُوِّهِمُ سَيفاً يُحاكِمُهُم
فَقَدso indeed أَبَدتَهُمُyou annihilated them بِالقَتلِthrough killing وَالهَرَبِand flight
فَقَد أَبَدتَهُمُ بِالقَتلِ وَالهَرَبِ
And against their enemy, a sword to judge them;
You are the Trustworthy one whose virtues
so you have annihilated them through killing and flight.
Encompassed whoever settled on earth, non-Arab and Arab.
أَنتَyou are الأَمينُal-Amin الَّذيwho عَمَّتencompassed مَكارِمُهُhis noble deeds
أَنتَ الأَمينُ الَّذي عَمَّت مَكارِمُهُ
مَنthose who حَلَّdwelled فيin الأَرضِthe earth مِنof عُجمٍnon-Arabs وَمِنand of عَرَبِArabs
مَن حَلَّ في الأَرضِ مِن عُجمٍ وَمِن عَرَبِ
You are al-Amin, whose noble deeds have embraced
So live long, preserving yourself from tribulations,
all who dwell on earth, non-Arabs and Arabs alike.
Secluded from suspicions for days and eras.
فَاِسلَمso remain safe عَلىthrough الدَهرِtime وَالأَيّامِand the days مُحتَفِظاًprotected
فَاِسلَم عَلى الدَهرِ وَالأَيّامِ مُحتَفِظاً
مِنَfrom الكَريهاتِmisfortunes مَحجوباًshielded مِنَfrom الرَيبِthe turns of fate
مِنَ الكَريهاتِ مَحجوباً مِنَ الرَيبِ
So live safe through time and the days, protected
O adornment of Qusay’s house and his master’s son,
from misfortunes, shielded from the turns of fate.
God’s Caliph, O son of the prime masters.
ياO زَينَornament of آلِthe house of قُصَيٍّQusayy وَاِبنَand son of سَيِّدِهِمtheir lord
يا زَينَ آلِ قُصَيٍّ وَاِبنَ سَيِّدِهِم
خَليفَةَcaliph of اللَهِGod ياO اِبنَson of السادَةِthe lords النُجُبِthe noble
خَليفَةَ اللَهِ يا اِبنَ السادَةِ النُجُبِ
O ornament of the house of Qusayy, and son of their lord,
I am the advisor expressing his advice,
God's caliph, O son of noble lords!
Never immature in advice or lying.
إِنّيindeed I أَناI الناصِحُthe sincere adviser المُبديwho makes plain نَصيحَتَهُhis counsel
إِنّي أَنا الناصِحُ المُبدي نَصيحَتَهُ
ماnot شُبتُI mixed نُصحاًcounsel بِإِبطالٍwith falsehood وَلاnor كَذِبِlies
ما شُبتُ نُصحاً بِإِبطالٍ وَلا كَذِبِ
Indeed, I am the sincere adviser who makes his counsel plain;
So accept my praise of them and listen to a strand
I have not mixed counsel with falsehood or lies.
In describing the best of handpicked poems.
فَاِقبَلso accept مَديحِيَmy praise فيهِمof them وَاِستَمِعand listen to نَسَقاًa sequence
فَاِقبَل مَديحِيَ فيهِم وَاِستَمِع نَسَقاً
فيin وَصفِdescription of أَغلَبَa lion مِنfrom أَشعارِthe poems of مُنتَخِبِa discerning selector
في وَصفِ أَغلَبَ مِن أَشعارِ مُنتَخِبِ
So accept my praise of them, and hear a sequence
None like your nephew in advice or manners
describing a lion, from a discerning poet's verses.
Of those related to you or distant.
ماnone كَاِبنِlike the son of عَمِّكَyour paternal uncle فيin نُصحٍsincere counsel وَلاnor أَدَبٍrefinement
ما كَاِبنِ عَمِّكَ في نُصحٍ وَلا أَدَبٍ
مِنamong ذيone possessing قَرابَتِكُمkinship with you أَوor غَيرَone not مُقتَرِبِclosely related
مِن ذي قَرابَتِكُم أَو غَيرَ مُقتَرِبِ
None equals your cousin in counsel or refinement,
He loves your love so whatever you hate is discarded
among your kinsmen or those not closely related.
To where the reeds grow.
يَهوىhe loves هَواكَwhat you love فَماso whatever تَكرَهyou hate فَمُطَّرَحٌis then cast aside
يَهوى هَواكَ فَما تَكرَه فَمُطَّرَحٌ
ماwhatever قَدalready كَرِهتَyou have hated إِلىinto مُستَنبَتِthe growing place of القَصَبِreeds
ما قَد كَرِهتَ إِلى مُستَنبَتِ القَصَبِ
He loves what you love; whatever you hate is discarded—
A young man, if he is advised will have for him
whatever you have hated—into the reed beds.
The sincerity of intention in what was the cause.
فَتىًa young man إِذاwhen هُزَّhe is stirred فيin نُصحٍcounsel أُصيبَis found لَهُfor him
فَتىً إِذا هُزَّ في نُصحٍ أُصيبَ لَهُ
صِدقُsincerity of السَريرَةِthe inner heart فيماin whatever كانَwas مِنof سَبَبِa matter
صِدقُ السَريرَةِ فيما كانَ مِن سَبَبِ
A youth who, when stirred to counsel, is found to possess
If you increase him in position, he seeks your increase
sincerity of heart, whatever the matter may be.
In advice, he gave you ten positions.
إِنif زِدتَهُyou raise him رُتبَةًa rank تَبغيseeking زِيادَتَهُhis increase
إِن زِدتَهُ رُتبَةً تَبغي زِيادَتَهُ
فيin النُصحِsincere counsel أَعطاكُمُhe gives you عَشراًten مِنَof الرُتَبِthe ranks
في النُصحِ أَعطاكُمُ عَشراً مِنَ الرُتَبِ
If you raise him one rank, seeking more from him
If his loyalty could be bought or sold
in counsel, he gives you ten ranks.
The Ma'mun would have bought it out of desire.
لَوif كانَit were تُبتاعُbought أَوor تُشرىpurchased مَوَدَّتُهُhis affection
لَو كانَ تُبتاعُ أَو تُشرى مَوَدَّتُهُ
لَاِبتاعَهاhe would surely buy it مِنكُمُfrom you المَأمونُal-Ma'mun بِالرَغَبِwith eagerness
لَاِبتاعَها مِنكُمُ المَأمونُ بِالرَغَبِ
If his affection could be bought or purchased,
So strengthen the Hashimi grasp, their virtues
al-Ma'mun would eagerly buy it from you.
Are like the Daruri pearls over Manzurat al-Halab.
فَاِشدُدso strengthen بِهاشِمَwith Hashim كَفّاًa hand إِنَّindeed فَضلَهُمُtheir superiority
فَاِشدُد بِهاشِمَ كَفّاً إِنَّ فَضلَهُمُ
فَضلُthe superiority of الدَرورِa copious milk-giver عَلىover مَنزورَةِone scant in الحَلَبِmilk yield
فَضلُ الدَرورِ عَلى مَنزورَةِ الحَلَبِ
So strengthen your hand with Hashim, for their superiority
None are like them amongst all the people,
is that of a copious milk-giver over one yielding scant milk.
Absolutely not, how can the head be like the tail?
ماnone مِثلُهُمlike them فيamong جَميعِall of الناسِthe people كُلِّهِمِall of them
ما مِثلُهُم في جَميعِ الناسِ كُلِّهِمِ
لاno لاno وَكَيفَand how يَكونُcan be الرَأسُthe head كَالذَنَبِlike the tail
لا لا وَكَيفَ يَكونُ الرَأسُ كَالذَنَبِ
None are like them among all people, every one of them—
no, no—and how can the head be like the tail?
Partial English translation: 68 of 70 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1