رَقَّتshe softened لَناtoward us حينَwhen هَمَّprepared الصُبحُdawn بِالسَفَرِto set forth
رَقَّت لَنا حينَ هَمَّ الصُبحُ بِالسَفَرِ
وَأَقبَلَتand she came فيin الدُجىthe darkness تَسعىwalking عَلىwith حَذَرِcaution
وَأَقبَلَت في الدُجى تَسعى عَلى حَذَرِ
She softened toward us as dawn prepared to set forth,
And came through the darkness, walking cautiously.
راضَtamed الهَوىlove قَلبَهاher heart القاسيthe hard فَجادَso it gave generously لَناto us
راضَ الهَوى قَلبَها القاسي فَجادَ لَنا
وَكانَand it had been أَبخَلَstingier مِنthan تَمّوزَTammuz بِالمَطَرِwith rain
وَكانَ أَبخَلَ مِن تَمّوزَ بِالمَطَرِ
Love tamed her hard heart, and it gave freely to us,
Though it had been stingier with rain than Tammuz.
رَأَتshe saw غَداةَon the morning of النَوىseparation نارَthe fire of الكَليمِMoses, whom God addressed وَقَدwhich had
رَأَت غَداةَ النَوى نارَ الكَليمِ وَقَد
شَبَّتblazed up وَلَمand did not تُبقِleave مِنof قَلبيmy heart وَلَمand did not تَذَرِspare
شَبَّت وَلَم تُبقِ مِن قَلبي وَلَم تَذَرِ
On the morning of parting she saw Moses' fire, which had
Blazed up, leaving nothing of my heart and sparing nothing.
رَقَّتshe softened إِلىtoward الصَبِّthe lovesick man طولَthroughout الوَصلِunion راقِيَةًchanting healing charms
رَقَّت إِلى الصَبِّ طولَ الوَصلِ راقِيَةً
فَقُلتُso I said قَدindeed جِئتَyou have come ياO موسىMoses عَلىaccording to قَدَرِdestiny
فَقُلتُ قَد جِئتَ يا موسى عَلى قَدَرِ
She softened toward the lovesick man, chanting healing charms throughout our union;
So I said: You have come, O Moses, as destined.
رَبيبَةٌa cherished maiden لَوif تَراهاyou saw her عِندَماwhen سَفَرَتshe unveiled
رَبيبَةٌ لَو تَراها عِندَما سَفَرَت
وَالبَدرُand the full moon ساهٍdistracted إِلَيهاtoward her سَهوَwith the distraction of مُعتَذِرِone apologizing
وَالبَدرُ ساهٍ إِلَيها سَهوَ مُعتَذِرِ
A cherished maiden—had you seen her as she unveiled,
With the full moon gazing absently toward her, like one apologizing,
رَأَيتَyou would have seen بَدرَينِtwo full moons مِنof شَمسٍa sun وَمِنand of قَمَرٍa moon
رَأَيتَ بَدرَينِ مِن شَمسٍ وَمِن قَمَرٍ
فيin ظِلِّthe shade of جِنحَينِtwo wings مِنof لَيلٍnight وَمِنand of شَعَرِhair
في ظِلِّ جِنحَينِ مِن لَيلٍ وَمِن شَعَرِ
You would have seen two full moons, one a sun and one a moon,
In the shade of two wings, one of night and one of hair.
رَشَفتُI sipped بُردَthe coolness of الحُمَيّاstrong wine مِنfrom مَراشِفِهاher lips
رَشَفتُ بُردَ الحُمَيّا مِن مَراشِفِها
فَنَبَّهَتنيthen drew my attention إِلَيهاto her نَسمَةُthe breeze of السَحَرِpredawn
فَنَبَّهَتني إِلَيها نَسمَةُ السَحَرِ
I sipped the coolness of wine from her lips;
Then the predawn breeze drew my attention to her.
رَنَتgazed نُجومُthe stars of الدُجىdarkness نَحويtoward me فَماyet never نَظَرَتhad they seen
رَنَت نُجومُ الدُجى نَحوي فَما نَظَرَت
مَنsomeone who يَرشُفُsips الراحَwine لَيلاًat night مِنfrom فَمِthe mouth of القَمَرِthe moon
مَن يَرشُفُ الراحَ لَيلاً مِن فَمِ القَمَرِ
The stars of darkness gazed toward me; never had they seen
Someone sipping wine at night from the moon's mouth.
راقَbecame pleasing العِتابُreproach فَأَبدَتso she revealed ليto me سَرائِرَهاher secrets
راقَ العِتابُ فَأَبدَت لي سَرائِرَها
فيin لَيلَةِthe night of الوَصلِunion بَلnay فيin غُرَّةِthe radiant brow of القَمَرِthe moon
في لَيلَةِ الوَصلِ بَل في غُرَّةِ القَمَرِ
Reproach grew sweet, and she revealed her secrets to me,
In the night of union—nay, in the moon's radiant brow.
رَثَتshe felt pity فَلَمّاbut when رَأَتshe saw رُسلَthe messengers of النَوىseparation فَغَدَتshe then began
رَثَت فَلَمّا رَأَت رُسلَ النَوى فَغَدَت
تُطيلُto prolong عَتبيher reproaches to me وَعُمرُwhile the lifespan of اللَيلِthe night فيwas in قِصَرِdecline
تُطيلُ عَتبي وَعُمرُ اللَيلِ في قِصَرِ
She felt pity; but when she saw the messengers of separation, she began
To prolong her reproaches to me, while the night's span grew short.
رَحبٌspacious مَقاميmy stay بِمَغناهاin her dwelling فَمُذbut once نَظَرَتshe saw
رَحبٌ مَقامي بِمَغناها فَمُذ نَظَرَت
ذَمَّthe reproaching of المَطِيَّthe mounts قَضَتshe decreed لِلصَفوِfor serenity بِالكَدَرِcloudiness
ذَمَّ المَطِيَّ قَضَت لِلصَفوِ بِالكَدَرِ
My stay in her dwelling was spacious; but once she saw
The reproaching of the mounts, she decreed that serenity be clouded.
ريعَتshe was alarmed لِذَمِّat the reproaching of المَطاياthe riding camels لِلسُرىfor night travel قَعَدَتshe sat down
ريعَت لِذَمِّ المَطايا لِلسُرى قَعَدَت
وَأَحذَرَتنيand she warned me مِنَof الأَهوالِthe terrors فيon سَفَريmy journey
وَأَحذَرَتني مِنَ الأَهوالِ في سَفَري
Alarmed at the reproaching of the mounts for night travel, she sat down
And warned me of the terrors on my journey.
رامَتshe intended بِذَلِكَby that تَخويفيto frighten me فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her
رامَت بِذَلِكَ تَخويفي فَقُلتُ لَها
عِنديI have مِنَof الخُبرِexperience ماthat which يُغنيdispenses عَنِwith الخَبَرِhearsay
عِندي مِنَ الخُبرِ ما يُغني عَنِ الخَبَرِ
She meant by this to frighten me, so I told her:
I have experience enough to dispense with hearsay.
رِديcome forth فَماfor no ضَرَّنيhas harmed me هَولٌterror أُكابِدُهُI endure it
رِدي فَما ضَرَّني هَولٌ أُكابِدُهُ
وَنائِلُwhile the bounty of المَلِكِKing المَنصورِal-Mansur فيin الأَثَرِthe wake
وَنائِلُ المَلِكِ المَنصورِ في الأَثَرِ
Come; no terror I endure can harm me,
With King al-Mansur's bounty following close behind.
رَبِّlord of النَوالِbounty وَمَحمودِand praised for الخِصالِqualities وَمِقand fear-
رَبِّ النَوالِ وَمَحمودِ الخِصالِ وَمِق
دامِ-less النِزالِin combat وَأَمنِand the refuge of الخائِفِthe fearful الحَذِرِthe wary
دامِ النِزالِ وَأَمنِ الخائِفِ الحَذِرِ
Lord of bounty, praised for his qualities, and bold
In combat, a refuge for the fearful and wary;
راعيguardian of الأَنامِhumankind بِعَينٍwith an eye غَيرِnot راقِدَةٍsleeping
راعي الأَنامِ بِعَينٍ غَيرِ راقِدَةٍ
قَدindeed وُكِّلَتhas been charged فيin أُمورِthe affairs of المُلكِkingship بِالسَهَرِwith wakefulness
قَد وُكِّلَت في أُمورِ المُلكِ بِالسَهَرِ
Guardian of humankind with an unsleeping eye,
Charged with wakefulness in the affairs of kingship;
رَحبِbroad of الذِراعَينِboth arms لَولاwere it not for صُبحُthe dawn of غُرَّتِهِhis radiant brow
رَحبِ الذِراعَينِ لَولا صُبحُ غُرَّتِهِ
لَأَصبَحَthen would become الجودُgenerosity فَجراًa dawn غَيرَnot مُنفَجِرِbreaking
لَأَصبَحَ الجودُ فَجراً غَيرَ مُنفَجِرِ
Open-armed—were it not for the dawn of his radiant brow,
Generosity would be a dawn that never broke.
راضٍwell-disposed مَعَeven amid السَخطِanger يُبديhe displays عَزمَthe resolve of مُنتَقِمٍan avenger
راضٍ مَعَ السَخطِ يُبدي عَزمَ مُنتَقِمٍ
لِلمُذنِبينَto sinners وَيَعفوand he pardons عَفوَwith the pardon of مُقتَدِرِone with power
لِلمُذنِبينَ وَيَعفو عَفوَ مُقتَدِرِ
Well-disposed even in anger, he shows an avenger's resolve
To sinners, yet pardons as one who has power.
راحاتُهُhis palms مُذsince نَشاhe grew up فيin المُلكِkingship قَدindeed عَهِدَتhave known
راحاتُهُ مُذ نَشا في المُلكِ قَد عَهِدَت
يَومَthe day of النَدىbounty وَالرَدىand death بِالنَفعِwith benefit وَالضَرَرِand harm
يَومَ النَدى وَالرَدى بِالنَفعِ وَالضَرَرِ
His palms, since he grew up in kingship, have known
Benefit and harm on days of bounty and death.
رَوىrecounted مَناقِبَهُhis virtues الراويthe narrator فَقُلتُso I said لَهُto him
رَوى مَناقِبَهُ الراوي فَقُلتُ لَهُ
جَلَوتَyou have polished سَمعيmy hearing فَهَلso will تَجلوyou polish بِهِwith him بَصريmy sight
جَلَوتَ سَمعي فَهَل تَجلو بِهِ بَصري
A narrator recounted his virtues, and I said to him:
You have polished my hearing; will you polish my sight with him?
رُحgo at evening أَيُّهاO المَلِكُKing المَنصورُal-Mansur وَاِغدُand go at dawn عَلىupon
رُح أَيُّها المَلِكُ المَنصورُ وَاِغدُ عَلى
هامِthe summits of العُلىglory آمِناًsafe مِنfrom حادِثِthe onset of الغِيَرِfortune's reversals
هامِ العُلى آمِناً مِن حادِثِ الغِيَرِ
Go at evening, O King al-Mansur, and go at dawn upon
The summits of glory, safe from sudden reversals of fortune.
رَسَمتَyou ordained جوداًa bounty حَكىthat resembled الطَوفانَthe Flood فَاِعتَصَمَتso they sought refuge
رَسَمتَ جوداً حَكى الطَوفانَ فَاِعتَصَمَت
مِنهُfrom it الخَلائِقُthe creatures بِالأَلواحِwith planks وَالدُسُرِand nails
مِنهُ الخَلائِقُ بِالأَلواحِ وَالدُسُرِ
You ordained a bounty resembling the Flood; refuge was sought
From it by all creatures, with planks and nails.
رَفِقتَyou dealt gently بِالناسِwith people فيin كُلِّall الأُمورِmatters فَقَدand indeed
رَفِقتَ بِالناسِ في كُلِّ الأُمورِ فَقَد
أَضحىhas become الزَمانُTime إِلَيهِمtoward them شاخِصَfixed البَصَرِgaze
أَضحى الزَمانُ إِلَيهِم شاخِصَ البَصَرِ
You treated people gently in every matter; indeed,
Time now stares fixedly at them.
رَبَواthey grew up لَدَيكَin your care فَلَولاand were it not أَنَّthat بَعضَهُمُsome of them
رَبَوا لَدَيكَ فَلَولا أَنَّ بَعضَهُمُ
تُجَلَّyou are too exalted عَنهُabove him لَقُلناwe would have said ياO أَباfather of البَشَرِhumankind
تُجَلَّ عَنهُ لَقُلنا يا أَبا البَشَرِ
They grew up in your care; were it not that some of them
Are beneath you, we would have said: O father of humankind!
رُعتَyou terrified العِدىthe foes بِحُسامٍwith a keen sword لَوif عَدَلتَyou turned بِهِwith it
رُعتَ العِدى بِحُسامٍ لَو عَدَلتَ بِهِ
عَنهُمaway from them لَأَغناكَit would have sufficed you عَنهُinstead of it صارِمُthe sword of القَدَرِfate
عَنهُم لَأَغناكَ عَنهُ صارِمُ القَدَرِ
You terrified your foes with a sword; had you turned it
Away from them, fate's keen blade would have spared you its use.
رَفَعتَyou raised ذِكرَكَyour renown فيon يَومِthe day of الهِياجِbattle بِهِwith it
رَفَعتَ ذِكرَكَ في يَومِ الهِياجِ بِهِ
فَأَذكَرَتنيthus reminded me بِحَدِّof the edge of الصارِمِthe cutting sword الذَكَرِof hard steel
فَأَذكَرَتني بِحَدِّ الصارِمِ الذَكَرِ
With it you raised your renown on the day of battle,
And brought to my mind the edge of a hard-steel blade.
رَمَتhurled إِلَيكَtoward you بِناus هوجٌheadlong she-camels مُضَمَّرَةٌlean
رَمَت إِلَيكَ بِنا هوجٌ مُضَمَّرَةٌ
كَأَنَّهاas though they were فيin الدُجىdarkness قَوسٌa bow بِلاwithout وَتَرِa bowstring
كَأَنَّها في الدُجى قَوسٌ بِلا وَتَرِ
Lean, headlong she-camels hurled us toward you,
Like a bow without a string in the darkness.
راحَتthey went إِلىto جَنَّةٍa paradise حَلَّsettled العُفاةُseekers of bounty بِهاin it
راحَت إِلى جَنَّةٍ حَلَّ العُفاةُ بِها
فيin الخُلدِeternity وَاِتَّكَأواand they reclined فيهاin it عَلىupon سُرُرِcouches
في الخُلدِ وَاِتَّكَأوا فيها عَلى سُرُرِ
They journeyed to a paradise where seekers of bounty settled
For eternity, and reclined there upon couches.
رَجَعتُI turned أَعتِبُto reproach نَفسيmyself فيfor تَأَخُّرِهاits delay
رَجَعتُ أَعتِبُ نَفسي في تَأَخُّرِها
عَنهاfrom it وَطَوراًand at other times أُهَنّيI congratulate النَفسَmyself بِالظَفَرِon success
عَنها وَطَوراً أُهَنّي النَفسَ بِالظَفَرِ
I turned to reproaching myself for my delay
In reaching it, and at other times congratulating myself on success.
Sol 6.1