ياO لِلهَوىfor love! منwho لِصَبّfor a lovesick lover لَمdid not يَنَلattain أَرَباa desire
يا لِلهَوى من لِصَبّ لَم يَنَل أَرَبا
عَطفاًcompassion عَلىupon مُستَهامone crazed with love رقَّgrew frail وَاِنتَحَباand sobbed
عَطفاً عَلى مُستَهام رقَّ وَاِنتَحَبا
Alas for love! Who will help a lover who has not attained his desire?
O passion, what a persistent love whose ardour was never quenched,
Show compassion to one crazed with love, who grew frail and sobbed.
Having pity on one tearful, lamenting, pouring out tears.
عانيcaptive of المهاthe oryxes مُستَهلّwelling up الدَمعtears ساكبهshedding them
عاني المها مُستَهلّ الدَمع ساكبه
واهيfeeble القوىin strength ماnever شَكاcomplained of بُؤساًmisery وَلاnor وَصَباillness
واهي القوى ما شَكا بُؤساً وَلا وَصَبا
A captive of the oryxes, his tears welling up and pouring forth,
O weak in strength! He never complained of misery or distress.
Feeble in strength, he has complained of neither misery nor illness.
Manifesting sorrow, one impassioned whom longing has made frail.
باديshowing plainly الضَنىwasting sickness ذوpossessed of غَرامpassionate love سامَهُafflicted him with شَجَناsorrow
بادي الضَنى ذو غَرام سامَهُ شَجَنا
وَافيfull of العَناsuffering مشفقاًfearful مِنof بَرحِهِits severity رَهباin dread
وَافي العَنا مشفقاً مِن بَرحِهِ رَهبا
Visibly wasted, possessed of a passion that afflicted him with sorrow,
Bringing distress, compassionate toward his beloved though far removed,
Laden with suffering, fearful of its severity and filled with dread.
He loves the gazelles but passionate love makes him its prisoner,
يَهوىloves الظباthe gazelles وَهوىand love of الآرامthe white gazelles غالبهoverpowers him
يَهوى الظبا وَهوى الآرام غالبه
طولthroughout المَدىtime وَهوَand he لاdoes not يُصغيlisten لِمَنto whoever عَتباreproached him
طول المَدى وَهوَ لا يُصغي لِمَن عَتبا
He loves the gazelles, and love of the white gazelles overpowers him,
The long duration of separation but he heeds not the reproachers.
Throughout time, he does not listen to anyone who reproaches him.
Woe betide estrangement! Separation has burdened him with grief.
وَيحwoe to العِداthe foes وَاللواحيand the reproachers حَمّلتهburdened him with عَناsuffering
وَيح العِدا وَاللواحي حَمّلته عَنا
أَزكىkindled لَظىa blaze لاعجsearing مِنfrom وَجدِهِhis passionate longing اِلتَهَباflared up
أَزكى لَظى لاعج مِن وَجدِهِ اِلتَهَبا
Woe to the foes and reproachers! They have burdened him with suffering,
More ardent than flaming fires, his fervent love ever burns within.
Kindling a searing blaze that flared up from his longing.
Amidst the brushwood, his breath rising like a flame.
جَمرembers الأَسىof sorrow لَمhas not يَزَلceased دَوماalways يُصاحبهaccompanying him
جَمر الأَسى لَم يَزَل دَوما يُصاحبه
وَسطwithin الحَشاthe breast مصعداًsending upward أَنفاسهُhis breaths لَهَباas flame
وَسط الحَشا مصعداً أَنفاسهُ لَهَبا
Sorrow’s embers have always kept him company,
What has my poor heart contained? Remaining enthralled,
Within his breast, sending his breaths upward as flame.
The strength of my spirit subdued, passion prevailing.
ماذاwhat حَوىgained وَيحalas for قَلبيmy heart ظَلَّremained مُرتَهناheld captive
ماذا حَوى وَيح قَلبي ظَلَّ مُرتَهنا
مُضنىworn down by الجَوىlove’s anguish أتقاوىI try to be strong وَالهَوىbut love غَلَباprevailed
مُضنى الجَوى أتقاوى وَالهَوى غَلَبا
What has it gained? Alas for my heart, which remains captive,
He hopes for reunion though the gazelle leads him astray,
Worn down by love’s anguish, I try to be strong, but love has prevailed.
After intention and weary toil, his sickness has become severe.
يَرجوhopes for اللقاthe meeting وَالظباwhile the gazelles تيهاin haughty pride تُعاقبهpunish it
يَرجو اللقا وَالظبا تيها تُعاقبه
بعدafter النَوىseparation وَعيائيand my weariness داؤُهُits ailment صَعباgrew severe
بعد النَوى وَعيائي داؤُهُ صَعبا
It hopes for a meeting, while the gazelles punish it in their pride,
How many a roebuck and young gazelle beneath the ornaments
After separation, my weariness—its ailment—grew severe.
With beauty has adorned its collar, lovely in mantle.
كَمhow many مِنof رَشاa gazelle fawn وَغَزالand a gazelle هَزَّswayed قَدّa figure قَناspear-shafts
كَم مِن رَشا وَغَزال هَزَّ قَدّ قَنا
تَحتَbeneath الحلىthe ornaments ذوpossessed of جَمالbeauty زيّنadorned النقباthe veils
تَحتَ الحلى ذو جَمال زيّن النقبا
How many a fawn and gazelle has swayed a figure slender as a spear,
When it glances, seducing hearts with its eyebrows,
Beneath the ornaments, a beautiful one who adorned the veils.
It captures minds and for long has captivated with coquetry.
إِذاwhen رَناgazed فتنَbewitched الأَلبابminds حاجبهُhis eyebrow
إِذا رَنا فتنَ الأَلباب حاجبهُ
يَسبيcaptivates الحِجاreason وَبلبّيand with my mind طالَماso often لَعِباplayed
يَسبي الحِجا وَبلبّي طالَما لَعِبا
When he gazed, his eyebrow bewitched minds.
A star of love - my father - excelling in beauty,
It captivates reason and has so often toyed with my mind.
A rising moon whose light never leaves me nor sets.
نَجمa star هَوىof love بِأَبيmy father be his ransom مِنهُfrom him بَديعwondrous سَناradiance
نَجم هَوى بِأَبي مِنهُ بَديع سَنا
بَدرa full moon أَضاshone لاmay he not نَأىgo far away عَنّيfrom me وَلاnor غَرباset
بَدر أَضا لا نَأى عَنّي وَلا غَربا
A star of love—my father be his ransom!—from him comes wondrous radiance.
Beneath the darkness, a moon whose retinue is resplendent,
A full moon that shone—may he never recede from me or set.
Dazzling in brilliance - if the full moon saw it, it would veil itself.
تَحتَbeneath الدُجىthe night’s darkness قَمرa moon تَزهوshine splendidly مَواكبهhis retinues
تَحتَ الدُجى قَمر تَزهو مَواكبه
باهيsplendid السَناin radiance لَوif رَآهُsaw him البَدرthe full moon لاِحتَجَباwould veil itself
باهي السَنا لَو رَآهُ البَدر لاِحتَجَبا
Beneath the night’s darkness, a moon whose retinues are resplendent,
Freshly blooming, his rosy cheek, the flowers thrive in profusion,
Splendid in radiance; if the full moon saw him, it would veil itself.
Attaining splendor and watered with the wine of manners.
ذاكيintense الشَذاin fragrance خَدّهُhis cheek الوَرديّrosy طابwas sweet جَنىfruit
ذاكي الشَذا خَدّهُ الوَرديّ طاب جَنى
حازَattained البهاbeauty وَسُقيand was watered with ماءwater الحَياof modesty أَدَباin courtesy
حازَ البها وَسُقي ماء الحَيا أَدَبا
Rich in fragrance, his rosy cheek was sweet as fruit.
Conspicuous among the nobility, free of doubts surrounding him
He attained beauty, and modesty’s water nourished his courtesy.
Until he shone radiantly and my state with him is wondrous.
بَينَamong المَلاthe assembly جَلّwas exalted عَنabove رَيبsuspicion يُقاربهapproaching him
بَينَ المَلا جَلّ عَن رَيب يُقاربه
حَتّىuntil زَهاshone فَغَداand so became حاليmy state بِهِbecause of him عَجَباa marvel
حَتّى زَها فَغَدا حالي بِهِ عَجَبا
Among the assembly, he was too exalted for suspicion to approach him,
O how often I have guarded against those who blamed me,
Until he shone, and my state because of him became a marvel.
Among mankind, how many envious counsellors with calumny!
ياO طالَماso often صُنتI guarded عَمَّنagainst whoever لامَنيreproached me أذناan ear
يا طالَما صُنت عَمَّن لامَني أذنا
بَينَamong الوَرىmankind كَمhow many حَسودan envious person ناصحan adviser خلباdeceived
بَينَ الوَرى كَم حَسود ناصح خلبا
Oh, how often I guarded my ear against whoever reproached me!
I cast aside the hearts until I shunned his advice,
Among mankind, how many an envious adviser has deceived!
My hearing closed to empty words, evading his counsel.
رمتI sought القلىaversion رَيثَماwhile أنّيthat I أُجانبهkeep away from him
رمت القلى رَيثَما أنّي أُجانبه
لاnot لِلغوىout of waywardness مَسمَعيmy ear عَنfrom نُصحهhis counsel اِجتَنَباturned away
لا لِلغوى مَسمَعي عَن نُصحه اِجتَنَبا
I sought aversion while I kept away from him,
Is there any sweet wine? Let a cup with ruby lips be present,
Not out of waywardness did my ear turn away from his counsel.
Sweet in taste - come! For you have already drunk of it.
هَلis there منanyone who لَحاreproached وَمدامwhile the wine of الثَغرthe mouth كَأسa cup of هَناbliss
هَل من لَحا وَمدام الثَغر كَأس هَنا
عَذبsweet اللَمىthe lips’ dark hue هاتbring it ياO مَنyou who مِنهُfrom it قَدalready شَرِباdrunk
عَذب اللَمى هات يا مَن مِنهُ قَد شَرِبا
Who would reproach, when the wine of the mouth is a cup of bliss?
O you of lofty manner, do you see an equal befitting him
Sweet is the lips’ dark hue; bring it, O you who have already drunk from it!
Among the nobility, intoxicated with drink or sober?
ياO ذاpossessor of النهىreason أتُرىdo you see نِدّاًa peer يُناسبهmatches him
يا ذا النهى أتُرى نِدّاً يُناسبه
بَينَamong المَلاthe assembly سكراًsugar أرشفتdid you sip أَمor ضَرباwhite honey
بَينَ المَلا سكراً أرشفت أَم ضَربا
O possessor of reason, do you see a peer who matches him
I see none but the beloved wishes I hoped for,
Among the assembly? Was it sugar you sipped, or white honey?
A shower of bounty from my endeavor that the Bestower has granted,
ماnot إِنindeed أَرىI see غَيرother than ماwhat أمّلتI hoped for فيهِin him مُنىwishes
ما إِن أَرى غَير ما أمّلت فيهِ مُنى
ورداًa draught حَلاgrew sweet مِنfrom جدىthe bounty of آلاءfavors مَنthe one who وَهَباgave
ورداً حَلا مِن جدى آلاء مَن وَهَبا
I see only the wishes I had hoped for in him,
Except the beloved, trustee of glory, its granter,
A draught that grew sweet from the bounty of the giver’s favors,
Quencher of thirsts, the most noble of the noble.
إِلّاexcept النَدىgenerosity وأمينand the guardian of المَجدglory واهبهits bestower
إِلّا النَدى وأمين المَجد واهبه
مرويquencher of الظماthirst ذوpossessor of المَعاليlofty virtues سَيّدmaster of النجباthe noble
مروي الظما ذو المَعالي سَيّد النجبا
Save generosity and the guardian of glory, its bestower,
The full moon of piety - when I recite poetry to him,
Quencher of thirst, possessor of lofty virtues, master of the noble.
The sun of guidance recites poetry in his praise in reply.
بَدرfull moon التُقىof piety مَنthe one who إِذاwhen أَتلوI recite لَديهِbefore him ثَناpraise
بَدر التُقى مَن إِذا أَتلو لَديهِ ثَنا
شَمسsun الهُدىof guidance مَدحَهُpraise of him يَتلوfollows الثَناpraise كتباbooks
شَمس الهُدى مَدحَهُ يَتلو الثَنا كتبا
The full moon of piety, whom I praise when I recite before him,
Sublime in lineage - I intoned eulogies of his virtues,
The sun of guidance, praise of him following praise in books.
Wondrously, with no pretense - whoever witnesses my intonation is astonished.
ساميlofty الذرىin summits رَتّلتintoned مَدحيmy praise مَناقبهhis virtues
سامي الذرى رَتّلت مَدحي مَناقبه
بِلاwithout مراdispute مَنwhoever رَأىsaw تَرتيلهits recitation اِعتَجَباmarveled
بِلا مرا مَن رَأى تَرتيله اِعتَجَبا
Lofty in his heights, his virtues intoned my praise,
Bountiful and most generous, how much affection he has shown us!
Without dispute, whoever witnessed its recitation marveled.
Exalted in praise, not shortchanged for what he has earned.
وافيfull of السَخاgenerosity أَريحيّopen-handed كَمhow many حَباbestowed منناfavors
وافي السَخا أَريحيّ كَم حَبا مننا
عاليexalted الثَناin praise غَيرnot مَغبونshortchanged بِماin what اِكتَسَباhe earned
عالي الثَنا غَير مَغبون بِما اِكتَسَبا
Full of generosity, open-handed—how many favors he has bestowed!
He poured from clouds of benevolence abundant rains,
Exalted in praise, not shortchanged in what he has earned.
He poured life - his munificence did not burden him.
سَحّpoured forth العَطاgifts مِنfrom نَدىًbounty جادَتgave generously سَحائبهhis clouds
سَحّ العَطا مِن نَدىً جادَت سَحائبه
سَحّpoured down الحَياrain لَمdid not يَسمهafflict him with بَذلهhis giving كرباdistress
سَحّ الحَيا لَم يَسمه بَذله كربا
Gifts poured forth from the bounty his clouds lavished,
Valorous and lofty - every excellent meaning he possessed
Rain poured down; his giving caused him no distress.
He attained supremacy when he surpassed those below him in aspiration.
شَهمa noble man سَماrose high كُلّevery مَعنىquality حازَهُhe possessed it حَسناbeautiful
شَهم سَما كُلّ مَعنى حازَهُ حَسنا
حازَattained العُلىthe heights حينwhen عَمّاfrom what دونَهُlay beneath him رَغِباturned away
حازَ العُلى حين عَمّا دونَهُ رَغِبا
A noble man who rose high; every quality he possessed was beautiful.
Until he rose, when his positions became resplendent,
He attained the heights when he turned away from what lay beneath him.
With honor he grew as his venerable age increased.
حَتّىuntil رَقىascended عِندَماwhen باهَتvied in glory مَراتبهُhis ranks
حَتّى رَقى عِندَما باهَت مَراتبهُ
عِزّاًin glory نَماgrew طاوَلتrivaled in height عَلياؤُهُhis eminence الشُهُباthe shooting stars
عِزّاً نَما طاوَلت عَلياؤُهُ الشُهُبا
Until he ascended, as his ranks vied in glory,
He is not to be feared for he is the rain of righteousness if we are tried,
He grew in glory; his eminence rivaled the shooting stars in height.
But he is to be hoped for, the lion of the jungle if aroused.
لاnot يختشىis feared فَهوَfor he is غَيثrain البرّof kindness إِنwhen هَتَناpours
لا يختشى فَهوَ غَيث البرّ إِن هَتَنا
بَلrather يرتَجىis hoped for وَهوَthough he is لَيثa lion الغابof the forest إِنwhen وَثَباleaps
بَل يرتَجى وَهوَ لَيث الغاب إِن وَثَبا
He is not feared, for he is a rain of kindness when it pours,
When he unsheathes, his swords flash
Rather, he is looked to with hope, though he is a forest lion when he leaps.
On the day of battle - you would see his enemies filled with dread.
إِذاwhen سَطاattacks لَمَعَتflashed بَطشاًwith force قَواضبهhis keen swords
إِذا سَطا لَمَعَت بَطشاً قَواضبه
يَومthe day of الوَغىbattle لِتَرىso that they may see مِنهُfrom him العِداthe foes رُعباterror
يَوم الوَغى لِتَرى مِنهُ العِدا رُعبا
When he attacks, his keen swords flash with force,
He attained his wishes - he did not flag but found pleasure here,
On the day of battle, so his foes may witness terror from him.
Throughout his life, he always placed his trust in God.
نالattained المُنىhis wishes لاmay he not اِنبَرىbe worn down يَلقىfinds هَناbliss وَمُنىand wishes
نال المُنى لا اِنبَرى يَلقى هَنا وَمُنى
طُولthroughout المَدىtime لَمhas not يَزَلceased بِاللَهِin God مُحتَسِباseeking reward
طُول المَدى لَم يَزَل بِاللَهِ مُحتَسِبا
He attained his wishes—may he never be worn down—finding bliss and fulfilled desires,
Until he embraced success in what he carefully maintained,
Throughout time, he has remained seeking his reward from God,
The aid of destiny, not disobeying what he was commanded.
حَتّىuntil حَوىgained ظافِراًtriumphant فيماin what يُراقبهhe watches for it
حَتّى حَوى ظافِراً فيما يُراقبه
عَونthe aid of القَضاfate غَيرnot مَعصيّdisobeyed بِماin what طَلَباhe requested
عَون القَضا غَير مَعصيّ بِما طَلَبا
Until, triumphant in what he watched for, he gained
The aid of fate, not refused what he requested.
Partial English translation: 58 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1