يا لِلهَوى مِن لِصَبّ لَم يَنَل وطرا

يا لِلهَوى مِن لِصَبّ لَم يَنَل وطرا

عَطفاً عَلى مُستَهام رقَّ واِنحسرا

عَطفاً عَلى مُستَهام رقَّ واِنحسرا

Oh, love! Who will help a lovesick man who has not attained his desire?

O passion, what an unrelenting tormentor

Have compassion on one lost in love, grown frail and wasted away.

Showing no mercy to one who pines and sheds copious tears

عاني المها مُستَهلّ الدَمع هامره

عاني المها مُستَهلّ الدَمع هامره

واهي القوى ما شَكا بُؤساً وَلا ضررا

واهي القوى ما شَكا بُؤساً وَلا ضررا

Captive to the white oryx, his tears welling and pouring forth,

The infatuated one, eyes raining with tears

Weak in strength, he has complained of neither misery nor harm.

And strength fading, though he did not complain of misery or harm

بادي الضَنى ذو غَرام سامهُ شَجَنا

بادي الضَنى ذو غَرام سامهُ شَجَنا

وَافي العَنا مشفقاً مِن بَرحِهِ حذرا

وَافي العَنا مشفقاً مِن بَرحِهِ حذرا

His wasting plain, he bears a passion that has burdened him with grief.

With evident anguish, consumed by love-longing

Suffering to the full, fearful and wary of its torment.

And perfectly faithful, though avoiding the beloved warily

يَهوى الظبا وَهوى الآرام قاهره

يَهوى الظبا وَهوى الآرام قاهره

طول المَدى وَهوَ لا يُصغي لِمَن فشرا

طول المَدى وَهوَ لا يُصغي لِمَن فشرا

He loves the gazelles, and love of the white gazelles overpowers him,

He yearns for the gazelle, though yearning has conquered him

For all time, he pays no heed to anyone who speaks falsely.

For long has he been thus, not heeding those who mock

وَيح العِدا وَاللَواحي حَمّلته عَنا

وَيح العِدا وَاللَواحي حَمّلته عَنا

أَزكى لَظى لاعج مِن وَجدِهِ اِستعرا

أَزكى لَظى لاعج مِن وَجدِهِ اِستعرا

Woe to the foes and reproaching women who have burdened him with anguish.

By heavens, how the enemies burdened him with blame!

It kindled a searing blaze that flared up from his passion.

More honourable than their vilest slander

جَمر الأَسى لَم يَزَل دَوماً يساهره

جَمر الأَسى لَم يَزَل دَوماً يساهره

وَسط الحَشا مصعداً أَنفاسهُ شَررا

وَسط الحَشا مصعداً أَنفاسهُ شَررا

The embers of sorrow have always kept unceasing vigil with him,

The embers of sorrow have ceaselessly kept him awake

Deep in his breast, sending his breaths aloft as sparks.

Amidst the dust, his sighs like sparks from fire

ماذا حَوى وَيح قَلبي ظَلَّ مُرتَهنا

ماذا حَوى وَيح قَلبي ظَلَّ مُرتَهنا

مُضنى الجَوى أتقاوى وَالهَوى قَهَرا

مُضنى الجَوى أتقاوى وَالهَوى قَهَرا

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

What has my poor heart contained, remaining a hostage

Wasted by inward grief, I feign strength, though love has conquered me.

To overwhelming passion, while love triumphed?

يَرجو اللقا وَالظبا تيهاً تغادره

يَرجو اللقا وَالظبا تيهاً تغادره

بَعد النَوى وَعيائي داؤُهُ عسرا

بَعد النَوى وَعيائي داؤُهُ عسرا

He hopes for reunion, but the gazelles leave him in their pride.

He hopes for union, but the gazelle leaves him wandering

After separation, his ailment proved incurable and grievous.

After intimacy, his sickness hard to remedy

كَم مِن رَشا وَغَزال هَزَّ قَدّ قَنا

كَم مِن رَشا وَغَزال هَزَّ قَدّ قَنا

تَحتَ الحلى ذو جَمال زيّن الحبرا

تَحتَ الحلى ذو جَمال زيّن الحبرا

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

How many a graceful gazelle with lovely ornaments

Beneath the ornaments, possessed of beauty that adorns the striped robes.

Beneath the jewels, of beautiful appearance

إِذا رَنا فتنَ الأَلباب ناظره

إِذا رَنا فتنَ الأَلباب ناظره

يَسبي الحجا وَبلبّي طالَما سَخِرا

يَسبي الحجا وَبلبّي طالَما سَخِرا

When he gazes, his eye bewitches minds;

If she glanced, she would tempt all hearts with her gaze

He takes reason captive and has so often mocked my mind.

Captivating minds, she has long sported and mocked

نَجم هَوى بِأَبي مِنهُ بَديع سَنا

نَجم هَوى بِأَبي مِنهُ بَديع سَنا

بَدر أَضا لا نَأى عَنّي وَلا هَجَرا

بَدر أَضا لا نَأى عَنّي وَلا هَجَرا

A star of love—my father be his ransom—with wondrous radiance shining from him.

A star of love, with a radiant beauty

A radiant full moon—may he never go far from me or forsake me.

A full moon that does not turn away from me or spurn

تَحتَ الدُجى قَمر تَزهو مظاهره

تَحتَ الدُجى قَمر تَزهو مظاهره

باهي السَنا لَو رَآهُ البَدر لاستترا

باهي السَنا لَو رَآهُ البَدر لاستترا

Beneath night's darkness, a moon whose features shine,

Under the clouds, a moon whose brilliance shines

Splendid in radiance: if the full moon saw him, it would surely hide.

A beautiful crescent - if the full moon saw her, it would hide

ذاكي الشَذا خَدّهُ الوَردي طاب جَنى

ذاكي الشَذا خَدّهُ الوَردي طاب جَنى

حازَ البها وَسُقي ماء الحَيا خَفرا

حازَ البها وَسُقي ماء الحَيا خَفرا

Strongly fragrant, his rosy cheek is sweet fruit for the picking.

Of brilliant cheeks, her rosy face so pure

It gained beauty and was watered, bashfully, with the water of modesty.

She has obtained splendor and was watered with the water of life

بَينَ المَلا جَلّ عَن رَيب يجاوره

بَينَ المَلا جَلّ عَن رَيب يجاوره

حَتّى زَها فَغَدا حالي بِهِ عِبَرا

حَتّى زَها فَغَدا حالي بِهِ عِبَرا

Among the people, he is exalted above any suspicion that draws near him.

She kept company with the king, above any doubt

Until he shone, and through him my plight became a source of lessons.

Until she became the cause of my dire condition

يا طالَما صُنت عَمَّن لامَني أذنا

يا طالَما صُنت عَمَّن لامَني أذنا

بَينَ الوَرى كَم حَسود ناصح مَكَرا

بَينَ الوَرى كَم حَسود ناصح مَكَرا

Oh, how often I guarded my ear from those who blamed me!

O how often I was careful of those whose ears accused me

Among mankind, how many an envious adviser has schemed!

Among the people - what a deceitful advisor they supposed!

رمت القلى رَيثَما أنّي أحاذره

رمت القلى رَيثَما أنّي أحاذره

لا لِلغوى مَسمَعي عَن نُصحه نَفَرا

لا لِلغوى مَسمَعي عَن نُصحه نَفَرا

I sought estrangement while keeping on my guard against him;

I avoided the hearts whenever I feared them

Not out of folly did my ear recoil from his advice.

Deaf to their advice, loathing even to hear it

هَل مِن لَحا وَمدام الثَغر كَأس هَنا

هَل مِن لَحا وَمدام الثَغر كَأس هَنا

عَذب اللَمى هات يا مَن مِنهُ قَد سَكِرا

عَذب اللَمى هات يا مَن مِنهُ قَد سَكِرا

Is there anyone to reproach me, when the mouth's wine is a cup of bliss?

Is there any wine and red lips in a cup here

Sweet, dusky-lipped one, bring it—you on whom he has grown drunk!

Sweet nectar - give it, you who have become intoxicated by it!

يا ذا النهى أتُرى نِدّاً يناظره

يا ذا النهى أتُرى نِدّاً يناظره

بَينَ المَلا سكراً أرشفت أَم سَكَرا

بَينَ المَلا سكراً أرشفت أَم سَكَرا

O man of reason, do you see an equal to rival him?

O you of high resolve, do you see a companion to gaze upon

Among the people, did you sip sugar or intoxicating wine?

Among the sovereigns - did you drink till drunk or merely sip?

ما إِن أَرى غَير ما أَملت فيهِ مُنى

ما إِن أَرى غَير ما أَملت فيهِ مُنى

ورداً حَلا مِن جدى آلاء مَن غَمَرا

ورداً حَلا مِن جدى آلاء مَن غَمَرا

I see only the wishes I had hoped for in him,

I do not see other than what I hoped for from him

A sweet draught from the bounty of blessings of one who lavished them.

Roses and favors from my master overwhelming me

إِلّا النَدى وأمين المَجد ناشره

إِلّا النَدى وأمين المَجد ناشره

مروي الظما ذو المَعالي سَيّد الأُمَرا

مروي الظما ذو المَعالي سَيّد الأُمَرا

Only generosity and glory's faithful guardian, its herald,

Except generosity and the trusted guardian spreading it

The quencher of thirst, possessor of lofty honors, lord of princes.

Quenching thirst - he, the master of commands

بَدر التُقى مَن إِذا أَتلو لَديهِ ثَنا

بَدر التُقى مَن إِذا أَتلو لَديهِ ثَنا

شَمس الهُدى مَدحهُ يَتلو الثَنا سُوَرا

شَمس الهُدى مَدحهُ يَتلو الثَنا سُوَرا

The full moon of piety, before whom, whenever I recite praise,

Full moon of piety - when I recite poetry to him

The sun of guidance—his eulogy recites chapters of praise.

The sun of guidance - praising him comes after praising God

سامي الذرى رَتّلت مَدحي مآثره

سامي الذرى رَتّلت مَدحي مآثره

بِلا مرا مَن رَأى تَرتيله اِفتَخَرا

بِلا مرا مَن رَأى تَرتيله اِفتَخَرا

Lofty of summit, his noble deeds have chanted my praise of him.

Lofty star, however much I chant his glories in verse

Beyond dispute, whoever witnessed its chanting took pride.

Unceasingly - whoever hears my chant glories in it

وافي السَخا أَريحيّ كَم حَبا مننا

وافي السَخا أَريحيّ كَم حَبا مننا

عالي الثَنا غَير مَغبون بِما اِبتَدَرا

عالي الثَنا غَير مَغبون بِما اِبتَدَرا

Unstinting in generosity, openhanded—how many favors he has bestowed!

Bountiful and generous, Arrahee, how much affection he gave us

Exalted in praise, not shortchanged for what he hastened to undertake.

Sublime of praise, not cheated of what he was owed

سَحّ العَطا مِن نَدى جادَت بواكره

سَحّ العَطا مِن نَدى جادَت بواكره

سَحّ الحَيا لَم يَسمه بَذله ضَجَرا

سَحّ الحَيا لَم يَسمه بَذله ضَجَرا

Pouring gifts from a bounty whose first offerings flowed freely,

He swept with a flood of generosity in its first outpourings

Pouring like rain, he has never been wearied by his giving.

He swept with vitality, his giving caused him no annoyance

شَهم سَما كُلّ مَعنى حازَهُ حَسنا

شَهم سَما كُلّ مَعنى حازَهُ حَسنا

حازَ العُلى حين عَمّا دونَهُ كبُرا

حازَ العُلى حين عَمّا دونَهُ كبُرا

A noble man risen high; every quality he possesses is good.

Of resolute character, embodying every fine quality

He attained the heights when he rose above all that lay beneath him.

Embodying the sublime, when transcending what is beneath him

حَتّى رَقى عِندَما باهَت مفاخره

حَتّى رَقى عِندَما باهَت مفاخره

عِزّاً نَما طاوَلت عَلياؤُهُ القَمَرا

عِزّاً نَما طاوَلت عَلياؤُهُ القَمَرا

Until he ascended, while his glories vied in pride,

Until, when his glories shone forth, he attained

He grew in glory; his lofty eminence rivaled the moon.

Honor flourishing, his supremacy towering to the moon

لا يختَشى فَهوَ غَيث البرّ إِن هَتَنا

لا يختَشى فَهوَ غَيث البرّ إِن هَتَنا

بَل يرتَجى وَهوَ لَيث الغاب إِن زَأَرا

بَل يرتَجى وَهوَ لَيث الغاب إِن زَأَرا

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

He is not to be feared, so he is the rain of righteousness if we waver

Rather, he is looked to with hope, though he is the forest's lion when he roars.

Rather, he is to be hoped for, though a lion if he roars

إِذا سَطا لَمَعَت بَطشاً بواتره

إِذا سَطا لَمَعَت بَطشاً بواتره

يَوم الوَغى لِترى مِنهُ العِدا خَطَرا

يَوم الوَغى لِترى مِنهُ العِدا خَطَرا

When he strikes, his keen-edged swords flash with force,

When his sharp swords flashed, in the fury of battle

On the day of battle, that the foes may see danger from him.

For the enemy to see, they portended danger

نال المُنى لا اِنبَرى يَلقى هَنا وَمُنى

نال المُنى لا اِنبَرى يَلقى هَنا وَمُنى

طول المَدى لَم يَزَل بِاللَهِ مُقتَدِرا

طول المَدى لَم يَزَل بِاللَهِ مُقتَدِرا

He attained his wishes—may he never be worn down—finding bliss and fulfillment.

He attained his wishes, did not flag from pursuing

For all time, he has remained powerful through God,

By God’s empowerment, any goal, however remote

حَتّى حَوى ظافِراً فيما يبادره

حَتّى حَوى ظافِراً فيما يبادره

عَون القَضا غَير مَعصيّ بِما أَمَرا

عَون القَضا غَير مَعصيّ بِما أَمَرا

Until, triumphant in whatever he hastens to undertake, he won

Until, striving, he encompassed, triumphing in all he took on

The aid of destiny, with no command of his disobeyed.

With destiny’s support, not disobeying any command