بَدَتappeared لَكَto you شَمسsun الخدرthe secluded chamber مِنfrom فَلَقthe cleft السجفthe curtains
بَدَت لَكَ شَمس الخدر مِن فَلَق السجف
فَأَبدَتso she revealed حلىadornments غُصنٍof a branch وَألوتand turned طلىthe neck خشفِof a fawn
فَأَبدَت حلى غُصنٍ وَألوت طلى خشفِ
The sun of the secluded chamber appeared to you through the curtains' cleft.
Then she displayed a branch's adornments and turned her fawn-like neck.
وَماand nothing رابَنيtroubled me مِنهاfrom her سِوىexcept لَحظthe glance شادنٍof a young gazelle
وَما رابَني مِنها سِوى لَحظ شادنٍ
ضَعيفweak قوىًin strength ماnot زالَceased يَقوىgrows stronger عَلىthrough ضَعفِweakness
ضَعيف قوىً ما زالَ يَقوى عَلى ضَعفِ
Nothing in her troubled me except a young gazelle's glance,
Weak in strength, yet ever gaining strength through weakness.
غَزالَةa gazelle سربٍof a herd يَقنصhunts الأُسدthe lions لَحظهاher glance
غَزالَة سربٍ يَقنص الأُسد لَحظها
عَلىin شركِthe snare الأَهدابthe eyelashes وَالشعرِand the hair الوحفِluxuriant
عَلى شركِ الأَهداب وَالشعرِ الوحفِ
A gazelle of the herd, whose glance hunts lions,
In the snare of eyelashes and luxuriant hair.
وَقفتI dedicated لَهاto her دَمعيmy tears لَأَحظىso I might gain بوقفةa pause
وَقفت لَها دَمعي لَأَحظى بوقفة
فَصَدَّتbut she turned away وَدَمعand the tears العَينof the eye جارٍflowing عَلىunder الوَقفِthe endowment
فَصَدَّت وَدَمع العَين جارٍ عَلى الوَقفِ
I dedicated my tears to her, hoping she would pause;
But she turned away, while my eye's tears flowed on under that endowment.
وَمِنand among عَجَبwonders أَنّيthat I أَميلُincline إِذاwhen رَنَتshe gazes
وَمِن عَجَب أَنّي أَميلُ إِذا رَنَت
لِأَحداقهاtoward her eyes وَهيَand she الَّتيwho جَلَبَتbrought حَتفيmy death
لِأَحداقها وَهيَ الَّتي جَلَبَت حَتفي
It is strange that, whenever she gazes, I incline
Toward her eyes, though she is the one who brought my doom.
وَيَقتُلُنيand kills me وَجديmy passion بِهاfor her وَيَخوننيand betrays me
وَيَقتُلُني وَجدي بِها وَيَخونني
جَميلbeautiful اِصطِباريmy patient endurance وَهوَand it وَاللَهby God مِنamong حلفيmy allies
جَميل اِصطِباري وَهوَ وَاللَه مِن حلفي
And my passion for her kills me, and I am betrayed
By my fair endurance, though, by God, it is among my allies.
مَهاةan oryx كَقَلبيlike my heart قرطهاher earring وَوِشاحهاand her sash
مَهاة كَقَلبي قرطها وَوِشاحها
خَفوقانboth fluttering مِنfrom دَلّcoquetry عَليهاupon her وَمِنand from لَهفِlonging
خَفوقان مِن دَلّ عَليها وَمِن لَهفِ
An oryx: her earring and sash, like my heart,
Flutter—hers from coquetry, mine from longing.
سرتshe moved by night كَوكَباًas a star فيin غَيهَبٍdarkness قَدhad نَماهماnurtured them both
سرت كَوكَباً في غَيهَبٍ قَد نَماهما
صَباحٌa dawn تَجَلّىshone forth فَوقَabove غُصنٍa branch عَلىupon حقفِa curved dune
صَباحٌ تَجَلّى فَوقَ غُصنٍ عَلى حقفِ
She moved by night, a star in darkness; both had been nurtured
By a dawn shining above a branch upon a curved dune.
فَلَولاbut for سَناهاher radiance ماnot عَرَفتI would have known بِأَنَّهاthat she
فَلَولا سَناها ما عَرَفت بِأَنَّها
نَسيمthe breeze الصباof the east wind إِلّاexcept مِنfrom الطيبperfume وَالعرفِand fragrance
نَسيم الصبا إِلّا مِن الطيب وَالعرفِ
But for her radiance, I would not have known she was
The east breeze, except by perfume and fragrance.
عَرَضتI approached لَهاher يَوماًone day فَوَلَّتso she turned away وَأَعرَضَتand shunned me
عَرَضت لَها يَوماً فَوَلَّت وَأَعرَضَت
فَأولتso she imposed لِعرضيupon my honor فيin الهَوىlove خطّةa fate الخَسفِof humiliation
فَأولت لِعرضي في الهَوى خطّة الخَسفِ
One day I crossed her path; she turned away and shunned me,
And subjected my honor in love to a fate of humiliation.
فَقُلتso I said اِرحميhave mercy on العانيthe captive فَقَدfor indeed عنَّit occurred ليto me بِأَنthat
فَقُلت اِرحمي العاني فَقَد عنَّ لي بِأَن
أعانَbe helped عَلىtoward قَصديmy aim وَأَنand that ترغميyou rub in the dust أَنفيmy nose
أعانَ عَلى قَصدي وَأَن ترغمي أَنفي
I said, 'Pity your captive, for it has occurred to me
That I be helped toward my aim, and that you rub my nose in the dust.
عَلىdespite أَنّthat دائيmy illness لَيسَnot يَخفىis hidden دَواؤُهُits cure
عَلى أَنّ دائي لَيسَ يَخفى دَواؤُهُ
عَلَيكfrom you لأَنbecause أَشفىI recover إِذاif شئتyou wish أَنto تَشفيyou heal
عَلَيك لأَن أَشفى إِذا شئت أَن تَشفي
Yet the cure for my illness is not hidden
From you, for I recover if you choose to heal me.
وَهَلand did خَلقcreate الرَحمَنthe Merciful ثَغرَكyour mouth وَاللَمىand the lips' dark tint
وَهَل خَلق الرَحمَن ثَغرَك وَاللَمى
فَدَيتكmay I ransom you إِلّاexcept وَهوَwhile it is للثمfor kissing وَالرَشفِand sipping
فَدَيتك إِلّا وَهوَ للثم وَالرَشفِ
Did the Merciful create your mouth and its dusky tint—
May I be your ransom—for anything but kissing and sipping?'
فَقالَتso she said لحاكَmay it curse you العشقlove هَلare أَنتَyou مالكيmy master
فَقالَت لحاكَ العشق هَل أَنتَ مالكي
فَقُلتso I said لَهاto her بَلrather خاتمa ring لكfor you فيin الكَفِّthe palm
فَقُلت لَها بَل خاتم لك في الكَفِّ
She said, 'May love curse you! Are you my master?'
I told her, 'Rather, I am a ring for you in your palm.'
تَعطّفتُI inclined إِذwhen جرّتshe trailed ذُيولthe skirts دلالهاof her coquetry
تَعطّفتُ إِذ جرّت ذُيول دلالها
لِعلميbecause I knew بِأَنَّthat الجَرَّdragging يَنشأarises عَنfrom عَطفِinclination
لِعلمي بِأَنَّ الجَرَّ يَنشأ عَن عَطفِ
I inclined toward her as she trailed the skirts of her coquetry,
Knowing that dragging arises from inclination.
وَحَذّرتهاand I warned her مِنof بَأسthe might قَوميof my people وَأَنَّهُمand that they
وَحَذّرتها مِن بَأس قَومي وَأَنَّهُم
عَلىon كُلِّevery نَجديٍّNajdi بَغواthey sought نَجدتيmy rescue طرفِnoble steed
عَلى كُلِّ نَجديٍّ بَغوا نَجدتي طرفِ
I warned her of my people's might, and how they
Sought to rescue me on every noble Najdi steed.
فَقالَتso she said وَهَلand does مِثليone like me يَهابfear مِنof القَناspears
فَقالَت وَهَل مِثلي يَهاب مِن القَنا
وَلَوand if نَظَرتthey saw قَدّيmy stature دَعاهاit would call them إِلىto القَصفِbreaking
وَلَو نَظَرت قَدّي دَعاها إِلى القَصفِ
She said, 'Does one like me fear spears?
Were they to see my figure, it would bid them snap.
وَهَلand has ريعbeen frightened بِالعَضبby the keen sword اليَمانيّYemeni ناظِريmy eye
وَهَل ريع بِالعَضب اليَمانيّ ناظِري
وَأَنتَand you خَبيرٌwell aware أَنَّهُthat it اِستلَّwas drawn مِنfrom طَرفيmy glance
وَأَنتَ خَبيرٌ أَنَّهُ اِستلَّ مِن طَرفي
Has my eye been frightened by a keen Yemeni sword,
When you know it was drawn from my own glance?
وَهَلand is دَولَةُthe dominion المُرّانof ashwood spears تعزىascribed لفاتكٍto a slayer
وَهَل دَولَةُ المُرّان تعزى لفاتكٍ
يَصولcharges بِهاwith them فيamong العاشِقينlovers سِوىother than عطفيmy flank
يَصول بِها في العاشِقين سِوى عطفي
Is the dominion of ashwood spears ascribed to any slayer
Who charges with them among lovers, other than my flank?
وَهَلand are أَنجُمthe stars الجَوزاءِof Orion إِلّاanything but قَلائِديmy necklaces
وَهَل أَنجُم الجَوزاءِ إِلّا قَلائِدي
وَهَلand is there زاعِمٌanyone claiming أَنّthat الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades سِوىother than شنفيmy earring
وَهَل زاعِمٌ أَنّ الثُرَيّا سِوى شنفي
Are Orion's stars anything but my necklaces?
Does anyone claim the Pleiades are anything but my earring?'
فَقُلتso I said لَهاto her ياO منيةَdesire القَلبof the heart إِنّindeed ماwhat
فَقُلت لَها يا منيةَ القَلب إِنّ ما
أَشَرتyou alluded لَهُto it ماno فيهِin it وَاللَهby God مِنany خُلفِfalsehood
أَشَرت لَهُ ما فيهِ وَاللَه مِن خُلفِ
I said to her, 'O heart's desire, indeed, what
You have alluded to contains, by God, no falsehood.
فَمَنso who ذاis it دَعاكِinvited you أنto تحلّيadorn مسامعيmy ears
فَمَن ذا دَعاكِ أن تحلّي مسامعي
بجوهرwith the jewels ماof what حزتyou have gained منof اللطفgrace والظرفِand wit
بجوهر ما حزت من اللطف والظرفِ
So who invited you to adorn my ears
With the jewels of the grace and wit you possess?'
فقالتso she said سماrose عزّthe glory اِفتِخاريof my pride لِأَنَّهُbecause it
فقالت سما عزّ اِفتِخاري لِأَنَّهُ
بِوَصفthrough praising عليٍّAli فيamong الأَنامhumankind عَلاrose وَصفيmy description
بِوَصف عليٍّ في الأَنام عَلا وَصفي
She said, 'The glory of my pride soared, because
Through praising Ali, my own praise rose among humankind.'
تَنبّأَhe became a prophet فَضلاًin excellence حينَwhen أَوحَتinspired لَهُto him النُهىreason
تَنبّأَ فَضلاً حينَ أَوحَت لَهُ النُهى
خُذِembrace العَفوَforgiveness وَأمرand enjoin بِالكَرامةnobility وَالعُرفِand goodness
خُذِ العَفوَ وَأمر بِالكَرامة وَالعُرفِ
He became excellence's prophet when reason inspired him:
'Embrace forgiveness, and enjoin nobility and goodness.'
فَتىًa young man أَلفتembraced أَخلاقُهُhis virtues العزّglory وَالعُلىand greatness
فَتىً أَلفت أَخلاقُهُ العزّ وَالعُلى
كَماjust as أَلفَتembraced حُسنthe beauty التَواضعof humility لِلإِلفِtoward a friend
كَما أَلفَت حُسن التَواضع لِلإِلفِ
A young man whose virtues embrace glory and greatness,
Just as they embrace the beauty of humility toward a friend.
مَلاfilled صَدرَهُhis breast مِنwith حكمَةٍwisdom وَمَعارفٍand learning
مَلا صَدرَهُ مِن حكمَةٍ وَمَعارفٍ
عَليمٌone who knows بِماwhat تبديreveal الصُدورhearts وَماand what تُخفيthey conceal
عَليمٌ بِما تبدي الصُدور وَما تُخفي
His breast was filled with wisdom and learning
By one who knows what hearts disclose and what they conceal.
شَمائِلُthe qualities شَهمof a noble man أَعرَبَتproclaimed بِكمالِهاthrough their perfection
شَمائِلُ شَهم أَعرَبَت بِكمالِها
مَناقبهاtheir virtues الغَرّاradiant عَنof الكَرَمgenerosity الصرفِunalloyed
مَناقبها الغَرّا عَن الكَرَم الصرفِ
A noble man's qualities proclaimed, in their perfection,
Through their radiant virtues, unalloyed generosity.
فَلَوfor if لَمnot يَكُنbe أَمسىbecome بِهاlike them مُتشَبِّهاًresembling
فَلَو لَم يَكُن أَمسى بِها مُتشَبِّهاً
نَسيمthe breeze الصباof the east wind ماnot كانَwould be يوصفdescribed بِاللُطفِas gentle
نَسيم الصبا ما كانَ يوصف بِاللُطفِ
If it had not come to resemble those qualities,
The east breeze would not have been called gentle.
هُمامٌa hero لَهُhe has فيin الخَطبcrisis همّةthe determination حازمٍof a resolute man
هُمامٌ لَهُ في الخَطب همّة حازمٍ
عَنwithout الجُندtroops تَستَغنيit is independent وَبِالعَزمand with resolve تَستَكفيit finds sufficiency
عَن الجُند تَستَغني وَبِالعَزم تَستَكفي
A hero, with a resolute man's determination in crisis,
Needing no troops, and finding firm resolve sufficient.
حَوىhe attained مِنamong صُنوفthe branches العلمof learning وَالرُتبand ranks العلىlofty
حَوى مِن صُنوف العلم وَالرُتب العلى
مَقاماًa station لَهُfor him أولىforemost المَراتبin rank وَالصنفِand class
مَقاماً لَهُ أولى المَراتب وَالصنفِ
He attained, among the branches of learning and lofty ranks,
A station holding first place in rank and class.
أَرىI see الناسpeople أَفواجاًin crowds إِلىtoward كَهفthe refuge فَضلهof his bounty
أَرى الناس أَفواجاً إِلى كَهف فَضله
فَأَذكُرso I recall ماwhat قَدindeed فازَattained فيهِwithin it ذُووthe people الكَهفِof the Cave
فَأَذكُر ما قَد فازَ فيهِ ذُوو الكَهفِ
I see people in crowds heading toward the refuge of his bounty,
And recall what the People of the Cave attained there.
وَأَنظُرand I look at أَلفاًa thousand مِنof أوليthose possessing الحلمforbearance لاnot أَرىI see
وَأَنظُر أَلفاً مِن أولي الحلم لا أَرى
بِهمamong them واحِداًa single one يَحكيهِmatching him فيin ذَلِكَthat الوَصفِquality
بِهم واحِداً يَحكيهِ في ذَلِكَ الوَصفِ
I look at a thousand men of forbearance, but do not see
A single one among them who matches him in that quality.
تَنزَّهhe is exalted عَنbeyond مثلan equal فَلَيسَfor is not أَخوa man of التُقىpiety
تَنزَّه عَن مثل فَلَيسَ أَخو التُقى
كَمَنlike one who يَعبُدworships اللَهGod القَديرthe Almighty عَلىon حَرفِan edge
كَمَن يَعبُد اللَه القَدير عَلى حَرفِ
He is beyond compare; a man of piety is not
Like one who worships Almighty God on an edge.
وَزانand he adorned المَعاليnoble deeds وَالأَمانيand hopes بِمنطِقwith speech
وَزان المَعالي وَالأَماني بِمنطِق
بلاغتهits eloquence تَستَغرقencompasses القَولall speech فيin حَرفِa letter
بلاغته تَستَغرق القَول في حَرفِ
He adorned noble deeds and hopes with speech
Whose eloquence encompasses all speech in one letter.
قَلائدُnecklaces مِنof سحرthe magic البَيانof eloquence لَوَif اِنَّهاthat they
قَلائدُ مِن سحر البَيان لَوَ اِنَّها
بِناupon us نَفَثَتbreathed أَغنَتwould make unnecessary عَنwith النَحوsyntax وَالصَرفِand morphology
بِنا نَفَثَت أَغنَت عَن النَحو وَالصَرفِ
Necklaces of the magic of eloquence—if they
Breathed upon us, they would spare us syntax and morphology.
فَماso how أَشبَهresemble الأَقلامthe pens بَينbetween بنانِهِhis fingertips
فَما أَشبَه الأَقلام بَين بنانِهِ
بخطّيّةٍlike Khatt spears زُعفٍdeadly وَهنديّةand Indian swords رُعفِdripping blood
بخطّيّةٍ زُعفٍ وَهنديّة رُعفِ
How closely the pens between his fingertips resemble
Deadly Khatt spears and blood-dripping Indian swords!
تَضيقare too narrow بِحَصرwithin the confines الفكرof thought عَنto حَصرencompass وَصفِهِhis description
تَضيق بِحَصر الفكر عَن حَصر وَصفِهِ
مَجالاًin scope مَيادينthe fields القَراطيسof papers وَالصُحفِand pages
مَجالاً مَيادين القَراطيس وَالصُحفِ
Too narrow, within thought's limits, to encompass his description
Are, in scope, the fields of paper and pages.
وَيَقصرand falls short عَنهُof him كُلُّevery مَدحٍpraise فَيَكتفيso he is content
وَيَقصر عَنهُ كُلُّ مَدحٍ فَيَكتفي
بِمعشارهwith its tenth المثنىthe one praised عَلَيهِupon him أَوor النصفِhalf
بِمعشاره المثنى عَلَيهِ أَو النصفِ
Every praise falls short of him, so he is content
With a tenth of it or half—the man being praised.
إِلَيكَto you عَليَّAli المَجدof glory منّيfrom me حَديقَةًa garden
إِلَيكَ عَليَّ المَجد منّي حَديقَةً
مِنof الحَمدpraise بِالريحانwith basil تَزهوflourishing وَبِالعَصفِand with leafy stalks
مِن الحَمد بِالريحان تَزهو وَبِالعَصفِ
To you, Ali of glory, a garden from me,
Of praise, flourishing with basil and leafy stalks.
سَقَتهاwatered it يَنابيعsprings المَحامدof praise والثناand acclaim
سَقَتها يَنابيع المَحامد والثنا
يَدُthe hand الفكرِof thought فَاِستغنتso it dispensed عَنwith الديمthe steady rains الوُطفِheavy
يَدُ الفكرِ فَاِستغنت عَن الديم الوُطفِ
It was watered with springs of praise and acclaim
By thought's hand, and needed no heavy, steady rain.
فَنَزّهso delight بِهاwithin it طَرفَthe eye الحجاof intellect فَهيَfor it is جنّةٌa garden
فَنَزّه بِها طَرفَ الحجا فَهيَ جنّةٌ
قُطوفُthe fruits مَعانيهاof its meanings تَسامَتrise high عَنbeyond القَطفِplucking
قُطوفُ مَعانيها تَسامَت عَن القَطفِ
So let your mind's eye roam within it, for it is a garden
Whose fruits of meaning rise beyond the reach of plucking.
بِمقدمكَat your arrival المَقرونaccompanied بِالخَيرby goodness أَعرَبَتgave expression
بِمقدمكَ المَقرون بِالخَير أَعرَبَت
مَبانيexpressions سُرورٍof joy بادرhastened الهمَّsorrow بِالحَذفِby erasing
مَباني سُرورٍ بادر الهمَّ بِالحَذفِ
At your arrival, accompanied by goodness, there spoke
Expressions of joy that hastened to erase sorrow.
فَدَعso leave ماwhat سِواهاis other than it فَهيَfor it is فَذلَكةthe sum الثَناof praise
فَدَع ما سِواها فَهيَ فَذلَكة الثَنا
وَإِنand if شئتَyou wish لَبّتكَwill answer you القَوافيthe rhymes بِماwith what يَكفيsuffices
وَإِن شئتَ لَبّتكَ القَوافي بِما يَكفي
So leave all else aside, for it is the sum of praise;
And if you wish, the rhymes will answer you with enough.
عَلىyet أَنَّهاthat it is صدقtruthfulness المَقالِof speech فَلَمso did not تَزدexaggerate
عَلى أَنَّها صدق المَقالِ فَلَم تَزد
وَواحدةand a single one فيamong الدرّpearls أَحسَنis better مِنthan أَلفِa thousand
وَواحدة في الدرّ أَحسَن مِن أَلفِ
Yet it is truthful speech, with nothing overstated;
And one pearl is better than a thousand.
Sol 6.1