نَدامايَmy drinking companions هَيّاcome بيwith me إِلىto الرَوضةthe garden الغَنّاlush
نَدامايَ هَيّا بي إِلى الرَوضة الغَنّا
فَياand oh حَبَّذاhow lovely سَجعthe cooing of الحَمامthe doves إِذاwhen غَنّىthey sing
فَيا حَبَّذا سَجع الحَمام إِذا غَنّى
My drinking companions, come with me to the lush garden.
Oh, how lovely the doves' cooing when they sing!
فَقَدfor indeed راقَhas grown sweet أُنسيmy delight وَالصَفاand serenity وَقتهُits hour صَفاhas grown clear
فَقَد راقَ أُنسي وَالصَفا وَقتهُ صَفا
فَللّهso, God be praised for عَيشيmy life ماhow أَلذّsweet وماand how أَهنىblissful
فَللّه عَيشي ما أَلذّ وما أَهنى
For my delight is sweet, and serenity's hour is serene.
God be praised for my life—how sweet, how blissful!
كَأَنّas though الرُبىthe hills خودٌa tender maiden وَقَدand indeed جادَهاwatered her generously الحَياthe rain
كَأَنّ الرُبى خودٌ وَقَد جادَها الحَيا
فَزادَso increased بِهاin her تَوريدthe rosy flush of وَجنتهاher cheek حُسناbeauty
فَزادَ بِها تَوريد وَجنتها حُسنا
The hills seem a tender maiden, generously watered by rain,
and the rose-flush of her cheek has increased her beauty.
إِذاwhen صافَحتclasp أَيديthe hands of النَسيمthe breeze أَكفّهاher palms
إِذا صافَحت أَيدي النَسيم أَكفّها
تَرنّحُshe sways مِنamong أَعطافِthe supple curves of باناتِهاher ban-trees غُصناas a bough
تَرنّحُ مِن أَعطافِ باناتِها غُصنا
When the breeze's hands clasp her palms,
she sways as a bough among her ban-trees' supple curves.
يَجُرُّtrails الصباthe east wind أذيالهُits skirts بَينَamong وَردِهاher roses
يَجُرُّ الصبا أذيالهُ بَينَ وَردِها
فَتَرفَعso she lifts مِنهُof it فَوقَabove هامَتهاher head رُدناa sleeve
فَتَرفَع مِنهُ فَوقَ هامَتها رُدنا
The east wind trails its skirts among her roses,
so she lifts a sleeve of it above her head.
وَصَهباءَand golden-red wine فيin المِعصارthe winepress مِنsince عَصرthe age of آدمٍAdam
وَصَهباءَ في المِعصار مِن عَصر آدمٍ
كَأَنَّas though فُؤادthe heart of البَدرthe full moon كانَhad been لَهاfor it دنّاa cask
كَأَنَّ فُؤاد البَدر كانَ لَها دنّا
And golden-red wine, in the winepress since Adam's time,
as though the full moon's heart had been its cask.
إِذاwhen جُليتis unveiled عِندَbeside المِصباحthe lamp صبوحهاits morning draught
إِذا جُليت عِندَ المِصباح صبوحها
تَولّىtakes مَقامthe place of الشَمسthe sun مَطلَعهاits rising الأَسنىmost radiant
تَولّى مَقام الشَمس مَطلَعها الأَسنى
When its morning draught is unveiled beside the lamp,
its most radiant rising takes the sun's place.
يَطوفcirculates بِهاwith it ظَبيa gazelle تَكادit almost إِذاwhen رَناhe gazes
يَطوف بِها ظَبي تَكاد إِذا رَنا
تعربدُruns riot مِنfrom سُكرٍintoxication بِمُقلتهِfrom his eye الوَسناdrowsy
تعربدُ مِن سُكرٍ بِمُقلتهِ الوَسنا
A gazelle bears it round; when he gazes, it almost
runs riot, intoxicated by his drowsy eye.
أَلاcome now ياO ندامىdrinking companions of الحانthe tavern حَيّhasten عَلىto الطلاthe wine
أَلا يا ندامى الحان حَيّ عَلى الطلا
فَمنشدةfor the singer of الأَلحانmelodies غانيةa lovely maiden حَسناfair
فَمنشدة الأَلحان غانية حَسنا
Come, tavern companions, hasten to the wine!
For the singer of melodies is a fair maiden.
مَتىwhenever أَسفَرَتshe unveils her face تَحتَbeneath الغَدائرthe braids فيin الضُحىthe forenoon
مَتى أَسفَرَت تَحتَ الغَدائر في الضُحى
أَرَتكshe shows you ضِياءthe radiance of الشَمسthe sun فيin اللَيلةthe night الدكناdark
أَرَتك ضِياء الشَمس في اللَيلة الدكنا
Whenever she unveils beneath her braids in the forenoon,
she shows you sunlight in the dark night.
وَإِنand if جستshe touches الأَوتارthe strings تصلحto set right شَأنهاtheir condition
وَإِن جست الأَوتار تصلح شَأنها
سَمعتyou hear لَهاfrom them صَوتthe voice of العَليلthe ailing one إِذاwhen أَنّاhe moans
سَمعت لَها صَوت العَليل إِذا أَنّا
And if she touches the strings to tune them,
you hear their voice, like an ailing man's when he moans.
فَتعربso they express عَمّاwhat lies فيin الضَميرthe heart وَإِنَّماand indeed
فَتعرب عَمّا في الضَمير وَإِنَّما
يَكادalmost لَهاfor her قَلبيmy heart عَلىupon الكَسرbrokenness أَنto يُبنىbe built
يَكاد لَها قَلبي عَلى الكَسر أَن يُبنى
Thus they express what lies within the heart, and indeed
my heart, for her, is almost built upon brokenness.
أَلاah خَلّيانيleave me, you two ياO خَليليَّmy two friends وَالجَفاwith estrangement
أَلا خَلّياني يا خَليليَّ وَالجَفا
فَياfor, oh رُبَّmany a واشٍslanderer ساءَjudged ill ماwhat بَينناlies between us ظَنّاin his thinking
فَيا رُبَّ واشٍ ساءَ ما بَيننا ظَنّا
Ah, my two friends, leave me alone with estrangement,
for many a slanderer has thought ill of the bond between us.
وَماand not أَناI مِمَّنone of those who خانَbetrayed عَهدthe pledge of أُوليthose possessed of الوَفاfidelity
وَما أَنا مِمَّن خانَ عَهد أُولي الوَفا
عَلىdespite أَنَّنيthat I أَودَعتhave deposited قَلبيmy heart لَهاwith her رَهناas a pledge
عَلى أَنَّني أَودَعت قَلبي لَها رَهنا
I am not one who betrays the pledge of the faithful,
though I have lodged my heart with her as a pledge.
فَلاso do not تعتبانيreproach me, you two فيfor مصابيَmy affliction بِالهَوىwith love
فَلا تعتباني في مصابيَ بِالهَوى
فَماfor not بِعتdid I sell روحيmy soul فيهِin it مُحتَملاًaccepting غبناa loss
فَما بِعت روحي فيهِ مُحتَملاً غبنا
So do not reproach me, you two, for my affliction with love,
for I have not sold my soul in it at a loss.
فَمَنso whoever لَمdoes not يجُدgive generously بالنفسِwith one's life فيin طلبِpursuing المُنىdesires
فَمَن لَم يجُد بالنفسِ في طلبِ المُنى
فأنّىthen how لهfor him طلبُseeking النفيسthe precious وقدwhile he has ظنّاheld back (probably ضنّا)
فأنّى له طلبُ النفيس وقد ظنّا
Whoever will not give his life in pursuit of his desires,
how can he seek the precious when he has held back?
ومنand whoever لَمdoes not يَجُدexcel at مَدحpraising الأَماجدthe noble وَالثَناand extolling
ومن لَم يَجُد مَدح الأَماجد وَالثَنا
فَإِنّاfor we لَدَيناin our estimation لاdo not نُقيمaccord لَهُto him وَزناweight
فَإِنّا لَدَينا لا نُقيم لَهُ وَزنا
Whoever does not excel in praising and extolling the noble,
we, for our part, accord him no weight.
فَهاكَthen take أَمينtrustee of اللَهGod فيin أَمرthe affairs of خَلقِهِHis creatures
فَهاكَ أَمين اللَه في أَمر خَلقِهِ
وَمُخلصهاand their sincere adviser نُصحاًin counsel وَمُصلِحهاand their reformer شَأناin affairs
وَمُخلصها نُصحاً وَمُصلِحها شَأنا
Take then, O God's trustee over His creatures' affairs,
and their sincere counselor, who sets their affairs right,
خَريدةa maiden of فكرthought لَمhas not تَرمsought مِنكَfrom you مَهرهاher dowry
خَريدة فكر لَم تَرم مِنكَ مَهرها
عَلىdespite الأَمَلthe hope الأَقصىutmost سِوىexcept المَنزلthe dwelling الأَدنىnearest
عَلى الأَمَل الأَقصى سِوى المَنزل الأَدنى
a maiden of thought that seeks no dowry from you,
despite her utmost hopes, save the nearest dwelling.
أَرىI see كُلّevery مَجدٍglory أَنتَyou are ذروةthe summit of مَجدِهِits glory
أَرى كُلّ مَجدٍ أَنتَ ذروة مَجدِهِ
عَلىwhile أَنَّهُit is لَفظa word وَكُنتand you have been لَهُfor it مَعنىmeaning
عَلى أَنَّهُ لَفظ وَكُنت لَهُ مَعنى
I see you as the summit of every glory,
while it is a mere word, and you are its meaning.
أَميرemir of بَنيBanu (sons of) رَسلانRaslan مَنwho سادَbecame lord of قَومهاtheir people
أَمير بَني رَسلان مَن سادَ قَومها
وَشادَand built لَهاfor them مِنfrom شامِخاتthe soaring heights of العُلىglory رُكناa pillar
وَشادَ لَها مِن شامِخات العُلى رُكنا
Emir of Banu Raslan, who became his people's lord,
and raised for them a pillar of towering glory.
فَتىًa young man فيfor رضاءthe pleasure of اللَهGod أَنفقspent مالَهُhis wealth
فَتىً في رضاء اللَه أَنفق مالَهُ
فَآثرso he preferred ماwhat يَبقىendures عَلىover كُلّall ماthat يَفنىperishes
فَآثر ما يَبقى عَلى كُلّ ما يَفنى
A young man who spent his wealth to win God's pleasure,
preferring what endures to everything that perishes.
تَطوفcircle المَعاليhigh honors حَولaround كَعبةthe Kaaba of مَجدِهِhis glory
تَطوف المَعالي حَول كَعبة مَجدِهِ
كَأَنَّas though لَهاfor them فيat بابِهِhis gate حَرَماًa sanctuary أَمناsafe
كَأَنَّ لَها في بابِهِ حَرَماً أَمنا
High honors circle the Kaaba of his glory,
as though at his gate they had a safe sanctuary.
همامa high-souled man تَرىyou see الحسّادthe envious تَذكرrecounting فَضلهُhis merit
همام تَرى الحسّاد تَذكر فَضلهُ
بِأَفئِدَةٍwith hearts مِنfrom كَيدِهاtheir malice مُلِئَتfilled ضِغناwith rancor
بِأَفئِدَةٍ مِن كَيدِها مُلِئَت ضِغنا
A high-souled man: you see the envious recount his merit,
with hearts their own malice has filled with rancor.
لَهُhe has همّةambition تَسموrises above السماكal-Simak فَلوand if أَتىhe brought
لَهُ همّة تَسمو السماك فَلو أَتى
بِهاwith it الفلكthe celestial sphere الدوّارrevolving أَوهنهhe would weaken it متناin the back
بِها الفلك الدوّار أَوهنه متنا
His ambition soars above al-Simak; were he to bring
it to the turning sphere, he would weaken its back.
وَلَيلand a night كَقَلبlike the heart of السامريِّal-Samiri سَرىhe traveled by night بِهِthrough it
وَلَيل كَقَلب السامريِّ سَرى بِهِ
يَجوبtraversing الفَيافيthe wastelands وَهوَwhile he مُعتَقلis gripping لدناa supple lance
يَجوب الفَيافي وَهوَ مُعتَقل لدنا
And through a night like al-Samiri's heart he journeyed,
traversing the wastes with a supple lance in his grip,
بِأَدهمَon a black steed ذيpossessing سَبقٍracing speed أَغرَّwhite-blazed محجّلٍwhite-socked
بِأَدهمَ ذي سَبقٍ أَغرَّ محجّلٍ
لَعوبٍplayful لَدىamid الهَيجاءbattle مُضطَربtwitching أُذناin the ear
لَعوبٍ لَدى الهَيجاء مُضطَرب أُذنا
on a black, race-winning steed, white-blazed and white-socked,
playful amid battle, its ears twitching,
سَبوحa gliding runner رَقيقfine of الخَدّcheek أَوجنَhigh-cheekboned صافنٍstanding with one forehoof raised
سَبوح رَقيق الخَدّ أَوجنَ صافنٍ
إِذاwhen جنَّcloses in لَيلthe night of النَقعdust مِنfrom رَكضِهِhis gallop جُنّاhe goes wild
إِذا جنَّ لَيل النَقع مِن رَكضِهِ جُنّا
a gliding runner, fine-cheeked, high-cheekboned, one forehoof poised.
When the dust's night closes in from his gallop, he runs wild.
فَيَعدوso he outruns وَميضthe flash of البَرقlightning سَبقاًin a race وَإِنَّماand he only
فَيَعدو وَميض البَرق سَبقاً وَإِنَّما
يَمرُّpasses مُرورas the passing of الطَيفa phantom فيthrough المُقلةِthe eye الوَسناdrowsy
يَمرُّ مُرور الطَيف في المُقلةِ الوَسنا
He outruns lightning's flash in the race; he does no more than
pass like a phantom through a drowsy eye.
فَكَمand how many a رفعةhigh station قَدindeed نالَهاhe has attained it غَيرwithout جاهِدٍstriving
فَكَم رفعة قَد نالَها غَير جاهِدٍ
فَأَكسَبَهاthen he endowed it with عزّاًglory وَكانَand he was لَهاfor it حِصناa fortress
فَأَكسَبَها عزّاً وَكانَ لَها حِصنا
How many a high station he has gained without striving,
endowing it with glory and serving as its fortress!
فَياso, O صاحfriend يَمّمmake for رحبthe spaciousness of ساحةthe courtyard of فَضلِهِhis bounty
فَيا صاح يَمّم رحب ساحة فَضلِهِ
تَرَyou will see اليُسرease فيin يُسراهhis left hand وَاليمنand good fortune فيin اليمنىthe right hand
تَرَ اليُسر في يُسراه وَاليمن في اليمنى
So, friend, make for the spacious courtyard of his bounty:
you will see ease in his left hand and good fortune in his right.
وحيِّand greet حِماهhis domain بِالتَهانيwith congratulations مُهنِّئاًoffering good wishes
وحيِّ حِماه بِالتَهاني مُهنِّئاً
بِعيدٍon a feast لَهُfor him مِنهُfrom him بِهِthrough him العائدthe return الأَهناmost joyous
بِعيدٍ لَهُ مِنهُ بِهِ العائد الأَهنا
And greet his domain with congratulations, offering good wishes
on a feast whose happiest return is his, from him and through him,
مَدىthroughout الدَهرall time ماso long as غَنّىsing الحَمامthe doves مُغَرِّداًwarbling
مَدى الدَهر ما غَنّى الحَمام مُغَرِّداً
ندامايَmy drinking companions هَيّاcome بيwith me إِلىto الرَوضةthe garden الغَنّاlush
ندامايَ هَيّا بي إِلى الرَوضة الغَنّا
for all time, so long as the doves sing melodiously:
My drinking companions, come with me to the lush garden.
Sol 6.1