ياO دَمعtear إِنif سرّيmy secret تبحyou reveal
يا دَمع إِن سرّي تبح
وَدّعbid farewell to حَياتَكyour life وَاِستَرحand rest
وَدّع حَياتَك وَاِستَرح
O tears, if you divulge my secret,
O tear, if you reveal my secret,
bid farewell to life, and rest.
bid your life farewell and rest.
وَاِعلَمand know بِأَنَّكthat you ياO مصوconcealed (beginning)
وَاِعلَم بِأَنَّك يا مصو
نending of 'concealed' الوَجدpassion منّيthrough me مُفتَضحexposed
ن الوَجد منّي مُفتَضح
And know that you, O guarded...
And know, O you of concealed
...passion, stand exposed through me.
passion, that through me you stand exposed.
إِنif جلَّgrew great شَأنيmy affair حلّis permitted فيin
إِن جلَّ شَأني حلّ في
شَرعthe law الهَوىof love أَنthat يَنسَفحit be shed
شَرع الهَوى أَن يَنسَفح
If the full gravity of my plight falls under...
If my plight grows grave, it is lawful in
...the law of love, then let it pour forth.
love's law for tears to be shed.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَقولI say للائميto my reproacher
وَلَقَد أَقول للائمي
غادرabandon فَسادكyour corruption تَنصلِحyou will be set right
غادر فَسادك تَنصلِح
Indeed, I say to my reproacher:
Indeed, I say to my reproacher:
“Leave your corruption, and you will be set right.”
Abandon your corruption, and be set right.
ياO عاذِليmy reproacher أَنتyou النصوthe earnest counselor (beginning)
يا عاذِلي أَنت النصو
حُending of 'earnest counselor' لَبئسtruly wretched is نصحthe counsel المُنتَصحthe one advised
حُ لَبئس نصح المُنتَصح
O you who blame me, claiming sincere counsel—
O my reproacher, you are the earnest
wretched is the counsel of one who heeds you.
counselor—how wretched the counsel the advised one receives!
ماnot أَنتَyou فيamong أَهلthe people الضَلاof error (beginning)
ما أَنتَ في أَهل الضَلا
لَةending of 'error' عَنfrom هُدايmy guidance بِمُنتَزحat all removed
لَة عَن هُداي بِمُنتَزح
Among the people of error, you are not...
You are not, among the people of
...far removed from the guidance I follow.
error, far removed from my guidance.
كلٌّeach بِماwith what مَلَكَتpossessed يَداtwo hands
كلٌّ بِما مَلَكَت يَدا
هُhis لَدىin the realm of الهَوىlove مِنّاamong us فَرِحis glad
هُ لَدى الهَوى مِنّا فَرِح
Each of us, in what his two hands possess...
Each, with what his two hands possess,
...in love, rejoices.
is glad among us in love.
مِحَنthe trials الهَوىof love منحare gifts لَديto (continued)
مِحَن الهَوى منح لَدي
يَme وَعزّand rare is مِثليlike me مَنone who مُنِحwas granted them
يَ وَعزّ مِثلي مَن مُنِح
Love’s ordeals are gifts to me;
Love's trials are gifts to
rare indeed is one like me upon whom they are bestowed.
me, and rare is one granted them as I am.
خسرlost العَذولthe reproacher وَإِنَّماand only
خسر العَذول وَإِنَّما
أَناI مَنthe one who بِصَفقَتِهِby his bargain ربِحprofited
أَنا مَن بِصَفقَتِهِ ربِح
The reproacher has lost, whereas...
The reproacher has lost; it is only
...I am the one who profited by the bargain.
I who have profited from my bargain.
فَالحُبّfor love خَيرthe best تِجارةٍtrade
فَالحُبّ خَير تِجارةٍ
لِلخَيرfor goodness إِنif تكُyou are تَجتَرِحearning
لِلخَير إِن تكُ تَجتَرِح
For love is the finest trade,
For love is the best trade
if goodness is what you would earn.
in goodness, if you would earn it.
بِأَبيwith my father as ransom أَخاthe brother الرَشَأof the fawn الرَبيthe nurtured (beginning)
بِأَبي أَخا الرَشَأ الرَبي
بending of 'nurtured' وَإِنَّهُand indeed he لَبِهِsurely for him سَمَحgave willingly
ب وَإِنَّهُ لَبِهِ سَمَح
May my father be ransom for the well-nurtured fawn’s peer—
My father be ransom for the brother of the nurtured
and surely the heart gives itself freely to him.
fawn—indeed, he would willingly offer himself for him.
ظبيa gazelle مِنamong الأَتراكthe Turks قَدhas
ظبي مِن الأَتراك قَد
تَركleft الحَرائرfreeborn women تفتضحto be put to shame
تَرك الحَرائر تفتضح
A gazelle among the Turks has...
A gazelle among the Turks who has
...left noblewomen exposed to shame.
left freeborn women put to shame.
ياO أَيُّهاyou الفتانthe enchanter فَتslayer (beginning)
يا أَيُّها الفتان فَت
تاكending of 'slayer' الفُؤادof the heart المُقتَرحthe wounded
تاك الفُؤاد المُقتَرح
O spellbinder, ravager...
O captivating one, slayer
...of the kindled heart!
of the wounded heart,
أَزحremove القِناعthe veil وَقلبand the heart ذاof this الthe
أَزح القِناع وَقلب ذا ال
عانيcaptive القَنوعthe contented بِهِthrough it أَرِحgive rest to
عاني القَنوع بِهِ أَرِح
Draw aside the veil, and bring the heart of this...
Lift the veil, and the heart of this
...contented sufferer ease.
contented captive—soothe it thereby.
وَاِمرحand frolic لَدىat هزّthe swaying القَناof the spears
وَاِمرح لَدى هزّ القَنا
تيهاًproudly بِقدّكof your stature وَاِمترِحand rejoice
تيهاً بِقدّك وَاِمترِح
Prance where the lances sway;
And frolic as the spears sway,
flaunt your stature proudly and exult.
proud of your stature, and rejoice.
وَاِعطفand show kindness عَلَيَّto me بِنَظرةwith a glance
وَاِعطف عَلَيَّ بِنَظرة
كَيماso that أُسرّI may be gladdened وَأنشرِحand I may feel at ease
كَيما أُسرّ وَأنشرِح
Turn kindly toward these two ailing eyes with a glance,
And favor me with a glance,
that I may rejoice and open into gladness.
that I may be gladdened and cheered.
وَاِمنَحand favor محبّكyour lover قائِلاًsaying
وَاِمنَح محبّك قائِلاً
صبّحserve at dawn صَبوحكyour morning draught وَاِصطَبِحand drink at dawn
صبّح صَبوحك وَاِصطَبِح
And grant your lover this, saying:
And favor your lover, saying:
“Take your morning draught—drink at dawn.”
Serve your morning draught, and drink at dawn.
عادلتI compared قَدّكyour stature بِالغُصوwith the boughs (beginning)
عادلت قَدّك بِالغُصو
نِending of 'boughs' فَكانَso it had رجحoutweighed them
نِ فَكانَ رجح
I matched your stature against the...
I weighed your stature against the boughs,
...branch; yours proved weightier.
and yours tipped the balance.
ياO بُلبلnightingale الأَشواقof yearnings منfrom
يا بُلبل الأَشواق من
قَلبيmy heart عَلىupon ذاthis الغُصنbough صِحcry out
قَلبي عَلى ذا الغُصن صِح
O nightingale of longing, from...
O nightingale of yearning, from
...my heart, sing out upon this branch.
my heart cry out upon this bough.
وَاِنشدand recite مَدائحpraises منof the one who بِهِthrough him
وَاِنشد مَدائح من بِهِ
غررthe finest المَدائحpanegyrics اِمتَدِحwas extolled
غرر المَدائح اِمتَدِح
Chant the praises of the one through whom...
And sing the praises of him through whom
...the choicest panegyrics themselves are praised.
the finest panegyrics themselves win praise.
أَعنيI mean بِهِby him حسنHasan المَودthe affections (beginning)
أَعني بِهِ حسن المَود
داتِending of 'affections' الَّتيthat لَمnever تَنطَرِحwere cast aside
داتِ الَّتي لَم تَنطَرِح
I mean the one whose affections are fair—
By him I mean Hasan, whose affections
affections that have never been cast aside—
have never been cast aside,
المُرتَقيthe one ascending فَلكthe celestial sphere المَعاof knowledge (beginning)
المُرتَقي فَلك المَعا
رفending of 'knowledge' لِلمَغالقof locked matters مُفتتِحan opener
رف لِلمَغالق مُفتتِح
the one ascending the sphere of...
who ascends the celestial sphere of
...knowledge, opener of all that is locked.
knowledge, opening all that is locked.
كَالنجمlike a star ثاقبpiercing رَأيهhis judgment
كَالنجم ثاقب رَأيه
أَوor كَالزِنادlike a firestick المُقتدحstruck to kindle fire
أَو كَالزِناد المُقتدح
His judgment pierces like a star,
His judgment is piercing as a star,
or like fire kindled from steel.
or as a firestick struck to kindle flame.
هُوَhe مفحمone who silences البلغاthe eloquent برقwith delicacy (beginning)
هُوَ مفحم البلغا برق
قةِending of 'delicacy' شِعرهِof his poetry السَلسthe smooth السَرِحthe free-flowing
قةِ شِعرهِ السَلس السَرِح
He silences the eloquent through the delicacy...
He silences the eloquent with the delicate
...of his smooth, free-flowing verse.
grace of his smooth, free-flowing verse.
وَمَديدand enduring وافرabundant حلمهhis forbearance
وَمَديد وافر حلمه
بِبَسيطwith broad علمknowledge مُنسَرِحfreely flowing
بِبَسيط علم مُنسَرِح
Far-reaching and abundant is his forbearance;
And long-lasting, abundant is his forbearance,
his knowledge spreads across a broad expanse.
with broad, freely flowing knowledge.
كَمhow often جاءَhe brought بِالحِكمِwith wise maxims الَّتيthat
كَم جاءَ بِالحِكمِ الَّتي
متنthe text العُقولof minds بِهاthrough them شرحhe explained
متن العُقول بِها شرح
How many wise sayings he has brought, through which...
How often he has brought wise maxims
...the depths of minds are laid bare.
with which he expounded the text of minds!
صرفتwere directed لِنَحوtoward بَيانelucidation منspeech (beginning)
صرفت لِنَحو بَيان من
طقهِending of 'his speech' المَعانيthe meanings تَتَّضحbecome clear
طقهِ المَعاني تَتَّضح
I turn to the eloquence of...
Directed toward the elucidation of his
...his speech, in which meanings grow clear.
speech, meanings become clear.
ياO أَيُّهاyou الخلُّthe friend الوَفيthe loyal (beginning)
يا أَيُّها الخلُّ الوَفي
يُending of 'loyal' الصاحبthe companion الودّthe affectionate الصَرحthe sincere
يُ الصاحب الودّ الصَرح
O faithful intimate friend—
O loyal friend,
companion of frank and pure affection—
affectionate, sincere companion,
هَلhas غَيرany but قَلبيmy heart لِلنَوىthrough separation
هَل غَير قَلبي لِلنَوى
بِسِهامby the arrows بعدكof your absence قَدalready جرِحbeen wounded
بِسِهام بعدك قَد جرِح
has any heart but mine been wounded by calamities...
Has any but my heart, at parting,
...with the arrows of your distance?
been wounded by the arrows of your absence?
أَوّاهalas مِنfor أَلَمthe pain النَوىof separation
أَوّاه مِن أَلَم النَوى
أَوّاهalas مِنfor أَمرan ordeal فَدحthat weighed heavily
أَوّاه مِن أَمر فَدح
Alas for the pain of separation!
Alas for the pain of separation!
Alas for so crushing a matter!
Alas for a crushing ordeal!
أَسَفاًalas لِبعدكfor your absence فيin يَدthe grip الthe
أَسَفاً لِبعدك في يَد ال
برحاءanguish خِلّكَyour friend ماhas not بَرحceased to be
برحاء خِلّكَ ما بَرح
What grief: since you went far away, in the grip of...
Alas for your distance! In the grip of
...torment your friend has remained.
anguish your friend still remains.
آهاًah عَلىfor زَمَنa time مَضىthat passed
آهاً عَلى زَمَن مَضى
بِاللَهوwith diversion وَالعَيشand life السنحthe pleasant
بِاللَهو وَالعَيش السنح
Ah, for a time gone by,
Ah, for a time gone by,
amid diversion and an easy life.
with diversion and a pleasant life!
قَدindeed كانَwas دَهريmy fate غافِلاًheedless
قَد كانَ دَهري غافِلاً
وَالأنسand delight ناظِرهits gaze طمحrose eagerly
وَالأنس ناظِره طمح
My days once knew no care,
My fate was once heedless,
while companionship’s gaze aspired high.
and its gaze reached eagerly toward delight.
ماnot كُلّeveryone مُجتَرئٍwho dares عَلىto
ما كُلّ مُجتَرئٍ عَلى
نَيلthe attainment الأَمانيof wishes مُجتَرحone who achieves
نَيل الأَماني مُجتَرح
Not everyone who ventures toward...
Not everyone who dares to
...the winning of desires attains them,
attain his wishes can win them.
إِلّاexcept إِذاwhen أَمَرgives command اللبَيthe discerning man (beginning)
إِلّا إِذا أَمَر اللبَي
بending of 'discerning man' بِماfor what يُؤمّلهُhe hopes for نَجحhe succeeds
ب بِما يُؤمّلهُ نَجح
unless God commands it—
Only when the discerning man gives command
...then he succeeds in what he hopes.
for what he hopes for does he succeed.
ياO غائِباًabsent one وَجَميلand the beauty صَبpatience (beginning)
يا غائِباً وَجَميل صَب
ريending of 'my patience' بَعدafter فرقتهِhis departure قبحgrew ugly
ري بَعد فرقتهِ قبح
O absent one, the lovely patience...
O absent one, my once fair patience
...I bore after your parting has turned ugly.
has grown ugly after his departure.
وَاللَهby God إِنّيindeed I لَمnot أَكُنI have been
وَاللَه إِنّي لَم أَكُن
لِوَثيقof the firm عَهدكyour covenant مطَّرِحone who discards
لِوَثيق عَهدك مطَّرِح
By God, I was never...
By God, I have never been
...one to cast off your binding covenant.
one to cast aside your firm covenant.
لَكنbut مَقاديرthe decrees القَضاof fate (beginning)
لَكن مَقادير القَضا
ءِending of 'fate' تحكّمgive dominion to الدَهرtime الوتحthe wretched
ءِ تحكّم الدَهر الوتح
But the decrees of fate...
But the decrees of fate
...govern this wretched age.
make wretched time the arbiter.
Sol 6.1