يا لِلهَوى من لِصَبّ لَم يَنَل أَملا

يا لِلهَوى من لِصَبّ لَم يَنَل أَملا

عَطفاً عَلى مُستَهام رقَّ وَاِنتَحَلا

عَطفاً عَلى مُستَهام رقَّ وَاِنتَحَلا

O you who blame him for a lovesick man whose hope went unfulfilled,

Alas for love! Who will aid a lovesick man whose hope is unfulfilled?

Have pity on him—a love-distraught man grown frail and wasted away;

Have pity on one distraught with love, grown frail and wasted away.

عاني المها مُستَهلّ الدَمع هاطله

عاني المها مُستَهلّ الدَمع هاطله

واهي القوى ما شَكا بُؤساً وَلا ثقلا

واهي القوى ما شَكا بُؤساً وَلا ثقلا

A captive of the oryx-eyed beauties, his streaming tears pouring down,

Captive to the oryxes, shedding tears and pouring them forth,

His strength is spent, yet he has complained of neither misery nor burden.

Feeble in strength, he has complained of neither misery nor burden.

بادي الضَنى ذو غَرام سامهُ شَجَنا

بادي الضَنى ذو غَرام سامهُ شَجَنا

وَافي العَنا مشفقاً مِن برحِهِ وَجلا

وَافي العَنا مشفقاً مِن برحِهِ وَجلا

The signs of wasting show upon him, possessed by a passion that has dealt him grief;

His wasting plain to see, he bears a passion that has brought him sorrow,

He has encountered suffering, apprehensive and fearful of its torment.

Steeped in suffering, apprehensive and afraid of its torment.

يَهوى الظبا وَهوى الآرام قاتله

يَهوى الظبا وَهوى الآرام قاتله

طول المَدى وَهوَ لا يُصغي لِمَن عَذلا

طول المَدى وَهوَ لا يُصغي لِمَن عَذلا

He loves the gazelles and falls—the white antelopes are his slayers—

He loves the gazelles, and love of the white gazelles is his slayer,

All his life, while he heeds no one who reproaches him.

All the while, he heeds no one who reproaches him.

وَيح العِدا وَاللَواحي حَمّلته عَنا

وَيح العِدا وَاللَواحي حَمّلته عَنا

أَزكى لَظى لاعج مِن وَجدِهِ اِشتَعَلا

أَزكى لَظى لاعج مِن وَجدِهِ اِشتَعَلا

Woe to the foes and censurers: I made him bear suffering,

Woe to the enemies and reproachers! They have burdened him with suffering,

The fiercest blaze of burning anguish, kindled by his passion.

Which kindled a searing flame that blazed from his yearning.

جَمر الأَسى لَم يَزَل دَوماً يواصله

جَمر الأَسى لَم يَزَل دَوماً يواصله

وَسط الحَشا مصعداً أَنفاسهُ شعلا

وَسط الحَشا مصعداً أَنفاسهُ شعلا

The embers of sorrow have never ceased assailing him,

The embers of sorrow have never ceased to keep him company,

Deep within his breast, sending his sighs upward like flames.

Within his breast, sending his breaths upward as flames.

ماذا حَوى وَيح قَلبي ظَلَّ مُرتَهنا

ماذا حَوى وَيح قَلبي ظَلَّ مُرتَهنا

مُضنى الجَوى أتقاوى وَالهَوى قَتلا

مُضنى الجَوى أتقاوى وَالهَوى قَتلا

What has my heart held? Woe is me—it has remained captive in pledge,

What has it gained? Alas for my heart, still held captive,

Wasted by consuming passion; I struggle to be strong, though love has killed me.

Wasted by longing—do I feign strength when love has slain me?

يَرجو اللِقا وَالظبا تيهاً تُماطله

يَرجو اللِقا وَالظبا تيهاً تُماطله

بَعد النَوى وَعيائي داؤُهُ عضلا

بَعد النَوى وَعيائي داؤُهُ عضلا

He hopes for union, while the gazelle, in haughty pride, keeps delaying him;

It hopes for a meeting, while the gazelles proudly keep it waiting,

After separation and my suffering, his malady has become incurable.

After separation—and I am helpless—its sickness has grown incurable.

كَم مِن رَشا وَغَزال هَزَّ قَدّ قَنا

كَم مِن رَشا وَغَزال هَزَّ قَدّ قَنا

تَحتَ الحلى ذو جَمال زيّن الحُللا

تَحتَ الحلى ذو جَمال زيّن الحُللا

How many a fawn or gazelle, whose lance-like figure has stirred him!

How many a fawn and gazelle has swayed a spear-slender figure,

Beneath the jewels, a beauty endowed with loveliness adorns the robes.

Beneath the jewels, endowed with beauty that adorns the robes.

إِذا رَنا فتن الأَلباب ناحله

إِذا رَنا فتن الأَلباب ناحله

يَسبي الحجا وَبلبّي طالَما هزلا

يَسبي الحجا وَبلبّي طالَما هزلا

When he gazes, his languid glance bewitches minds;

When he gazes, his slender form enchants the minds,

It captures reason and has long made sport of my own mind.

He captures reason, and has so often toyed with my mind.

نَجم هَوى بِأَبي مِنهُ بَديع سَنا

نَجم هَوى بِأَبي مِنهُ بَديع سَنا

بَدر أَضا لا نَأى عَنّي وَلا أَفلا

بَدر أَضا لا نَأى عَنّي وَلا أَفلا

A star of love—may my father be his ransom—wondrous in radiance,

A star of love—my father be his ransom!—from him comes wondrous radiance,

A full moon that shone, neither drawing far from me nor setting;

A full moon that shone—may he never leave me or set.

تَحتَ الدُجى قَمر تَزهو منازله

تَحتَ الدُجى قَمر تَزهو منازله

باهي السَنا لَو رَآهُ البَدر لاِنخجَلا

باهي السَنا لَو رَآهُ البَدر لاِنخجَلا

Beneath the darkness, a moon whose stations gleam proudly,

Beneath the darkness, a moon whose stations gleam in splendor,

Resplendent in radiance—if the full moon saw him, it would blush.

Splendid in radiance—if the full moon saw him, it would blush.

ذاكي الشَذا خَدّهُ الوَردي طاب جَنى

ذاكي الشَذا خَدّهُ الوَردي طاب جَنى

حازَ البها وَسُقي ماء الحَيا خَجَلا

حازَ البها وَسُقي ماء الحَيا خَجَلا

Richly fragrant; his cheek is the rose, and sweet is its fruit;

Intensely fragrant, his rosy cheek yields a sweet harvest,

He has gathered all beauty and, blushing, was watered with the rain’s water.

It has gained beauty and, blushing, been watered with modesty's water.

بَينَ المَلا جَلّ عَن رَيب ينازله

بَينَ المَلا جَلّ عَن رَيب ينازله

حَتّى زَها فَغَدا حالي بِهِ مَثَلا

حَتّى زَها فَغَدا حالي بِهِ مَثَلا

Among the throng he rose beyond any doubt that might challenge him,

Amid the gathering, he is above any doubt that might assail him,

Until he grew proud, and through him my plight became proverbial.

Until he shone in splendor, and my plight because of him became proverbial.

يا طالَما صُنت عَمَّن لامَني أذنا

يا طالَما صُنت عَمَّن لامَني أذنا

بَينَ الوَرى كَم حَسود ناصح خَتلا

بَينَ الوَرى كَم حَسود ناصح خَتلا

O how long I guarded my ear against anyone who blamed me;

Ah, how often I have kept my ear from those who reproached me!

Among mankind, how many an envious man deceitfully posed as an adviser!

Among mankind, how many an envious adviser has practiced deceit!

رمت القَلى رَيثَما أنّي أُجانبه

رمت القَلى رَيثَما أنّي أُجانبه

لا لِلغوى مَسمَعي عَن نُصحه اِعتَزَلا

لا لِلغوى مَسمَعي عَن نُصحه اِعتَزَلا

I sought estrangement for a time, that I might avoid him—

I sought aversion while keeping apart from him;

My ear did not turn aside from his counsel as idle talk.

Not out of folly did my ear withdraw from his counsel.

هَل من لحا وَمدام الثَغر كَأس هَنا

هَل من لحا وَمدام الثَغر كَأس هَنا

عَذب اللَمى هات يا مَن مِنهُ قَد نَهلا

عَذب اللَمى هات يا مَن مِنهُ قَد نَهلا

Can anyone blame me, when the wine of his lips is a cup of bliss?

Is there one who blames, when the lips' wine is a cup of bliss?

Sweet are his dusky lips—bring that cup, O you who have already drunk deeply from him!

Sweet are the dusky lips; bring it, you who have drunk of it!

يا ذا النهى أتُرى نِدّاً يماثلهُ

يا ذا النهى أتُرى نِدّاً يماثلهُ

بَينَ المَلا سكراً أرشفت أَم عَسلا

بَينَ المَلا سكراً أرشفت أَم عَسلا

O possessor of reason, do you see any equal who matches him?

O possessor of reason, do you see a peer who matches him,

Among the throng, was it wine I sipped, or honey?

Amid the gathering, have you sipped sugar or honey?

ما إِن أَرى غَير ما أمّلت فيهِ مُنى

ما إِن أَرى غَير ما أمّلت فيهِ مُنى

وَرداً حَلا مِن جدى آلاء مَن بَدَلا

وَرداً حَلا مِن جدى آلاء مَن بَدَلا

I see in him nothing but the wishes I had hoped to find:

I see nothing but the wishes I hoped for in him,

A sweet watering place of bounty—who would exchange such favors?

A rose grown sweet from the bountiful favors of one who gave,

إِلّا النَدى وأمين المَجد باذله

إِلّا النَدى وأمين المَجد باذله

مروي الظما ذو المَعالي سَيّد النبلا

مروي الظما ذو المَعالي سَيّد النبلا

Nothing but generosity, with glory’s faithful guardian as its bestower,

Except bounty and Amin, glory's trustee, its bestower,

A quencher of thirst, possessed of high honors, lord of the noble.

The quencher of thirst, possessor of lofty honors, lord of the nobles.

بَدر التُقى مَن إِذا أَتلو لَديهِ ثَنا

بَدر التُقى مَن إِذا أَتلو لَديهِ ثَنا

شَمس الهُدى مَدحهُ يَتلو الثَنا نُزُلا

شَمس الهُدى مَدحهُ يَتلو الثَنا نُزُلا

A full moon of piety—one before whom, when I recite praise,

The full moon of piety—when I recite praise before him,

The sun of guidance, praise of him follows praise like a feast laid out.

A sun of guidance, his praise follows praise as a welcoming gift.

سامي الذرى رَتّلت مَدحي شمائله

سامي الذرى رَتّلت مَدحي شمائله

بِلا مرا مَن رَأى تَرتيله اِنذَهَلا

بِلا مرا مَن رَأى تَرتيله اِنذَهَلا

Lofty of summit, his virtues themselves have chanted my encomium;

Lofty of summit, his virtues have chanted my panegyric,

Without dispute, whoever witnesses its recitation is astonished.

Without doubt, whoever witnessed its recitation stood amazed.

وافي السَخا أَريحيّ كَم حَبا مننا

وافي السَخا أَريحيّ كَم حَبا مننا

عالي الثَنا غَير مَغبون بِما اِبتَذَلا

عالي الثَنا غَير مَغبون بِما اِبتَذَلا

Perfect in generosity, magnanimous—how many favors he has bestowed on us!

Generous to the full and openhanded—how many favors he has bestowed!

Lofty in renown, never diminished by anything he freely gives away.

Exalted in praise, he suffers no loss through what he has freely given.

سَحّ العَطا مِن نَدى جادَت هواطله

سَحّ العَطا مِن نَدى جادَت هواطله

سَحّ الحَيا لَم يَسمه بَذله مَللا

سَحّ الحَيا لَم يَسمه بَذله مَللا

His gifts pour forth; from his generosity its torrents flow,

A downpour of gifts, from generosity whose showers poured liberally,

A downpour of life-giving rain—his lavish giving has never wearied him.

A downpour of rain—his giving has never marked him with weariness.

شَهمٌ سَما كُلّ مَعنى حازَهُ حَسَنا

شَهمٌ سَما كُلّ مَعنى حازَهُ حَسَنا

حازَ العُلى حين عَمّا دونَهُ عَدلا

حازَ العُلى حين عَمّا دونَهُ عَدلا

A high-minded noble who rose aloft, possessing every virtue beautifully;

A noble man who rose high; every quality he attained was beautiful.

He attained the heights when he turned aside from all that lay beneath them.

He attained eminence when he turned away from what was beneath him.

حَتّى رَقى عِندَما باهَت فضائله

حَتّى رَقى عِندَما باهَت فضائله

عِزّاً نَما طاوَلت عَلياؤُهُ زُحلا

عِزّاً نَما طاوَلت عَلياؤُهُ زُحلا

His ascent became assured when his virtues vied with one another,

Until he rose, as his virtues vied in splendor,

A glory that grew until his loftiness rivaled Saturn.

He grew in glory; his eminence rivaled Saturn in height.

لا يختشى فَهوَ غَيث البرّ إِن هَتَنا

لا يختشى فَهوَ غَيث البرّ إِن هَتَنا

بَل يُرتَجى وَهوَ لَيث الغاب إِن حملا

بَل يُرتَجى وَهوَ لَيث الغاب إِن حملا

He fears nothing, for he is the raincloud of goodness when it pours;

He is not feared, for he is the rain of kindness when it pours,

Rather, he is the one in whom hope is placed—and the forest lion when he charges.

Rather, he is looked to with hope, and is the forest's lion when he charges.

إِذا سَطا لَمَعَت بَطشاً عوامله

إِذا سَطا لَمَعَت بَطشاً عوامله

يَوم الوَغى لِتَرى مِنهُ العِدا خجلا

يَوم الوَغى لِتَرى مِنهُ العِدا خجلا

When he attacks, his spearheads flash with might;

When he strikes, his spearheads flash with violent force,

On the day of battle, you will surely see the enemy abashed before him.

On battle's day, so you may see the enemies shamed by him.

نال المُنى لا اِنبَرى يَلقى هَنا وَمُنى

نال المُنى لا اِنبَرى يَلقى هَنا وَمُنى

طول المَدى لَم يَزَل بِاللَهِ مُتَّكِلا

طول المَدى لَم يَزَل بِاللَهِ مُتَّكِلا

He attained his wishes; he never sets forth without meeting bliss and fulfilled desires,

He attained his wishes—may he never waste away—finding bliss and hopes fulfilled,

Throughout all time, never ceasing to place his trust in God,

Throughout time, he has never ceased to rely on God,

حَتّى حَوى ظافِراً فيما يحاوله

حَتّى حَوى ظافِراً فيما يحاوله

عَون القَضا غَير مَعصيّ بِما سألا

عَون القَضا غَير مَعصيّ بِما سألا

Until, victorious, he wins whatever he undertakes,

Until he gained, victorious in what he undertakes,

Aided by destiny, never denied whatever he asks.

The aid of destiny, denied nothing he asked for.