نَمَّdivulged بِسِرِّabout the secret of الرَوضِthe garden خَفقُthe fluttering of الرِياحthe winds
نَمَّ بِسِرِّ الرَوضِ خَفقُ الرِياح
وَاِقتَدَحَand struck sparks from الشَرقُthe east زِنادَthe flint of الصَباحdawn
وَاِقتَدَحَ الشَرقُ زِنادَ الصَباح
The flutter of the winds betrayed the garden's secret.
The breeze whispered in the garden's secret,
And the east struck sparks from dawn's flint.
And the east ignited the morning’s flint.
وَأَخجَلَand put to shame الوَردُthe rose شُعاعَthe radiance of الضُحىmidmorning
وَأَخجَلَ الوَردُ شُعاعَ الضُحى
فَاِبتَسَمَتso smiled مِنهُbecause of it ثُغورُthe mouths of الأَقاحthe daisies
فَاِبتَسَمَت مِنهُ ثُغورُ الأَقاح
And the rose put midmorning's radiance to shame,
The roses blushed at the brilliance of dawn,
So the daisies' mouths smiled at it.
So the buds smiled.
وَقامَand rose فيin الدَوحِthe tall trees لَنَعيِto announce the death of الدُجىdarkness
وَقامَ في الدَوحِ لَنَعيِ الدُجى
حَمائِمٌdoves تُطرِبُناdelight us بِالصِياحwith cries
حَمائِمٌ تُطرِبُنا بِالصِياح
And in the tall trees rose, to announce the death of darkness,
And in the meadow, to mourn nightfall,
Doves delighting us with their cries.
Doves trilled, singing their refrain
مُذsince وُلِدَwas born الصُبحُdawn وَماتَand died الدُجىdarkness
مُذ وُلِدَ الصُبحُ وَماتَ الدُجى
صاحَتthey cried فَلَمso did not نَدرِwe know غِناًsong أَمor نُواحlamentation
صاحَت فَلَم نَدرِ غِناً أَم نُواح
Since dawn was born and darkness died,
Since dawn was born and dusk had died,
They cried; we knew not whether song or lament.
They cried out – we couldn’t tell joy from grief.
وَيَومَand on a day of دَجنٍovercast weather حُجِبَتwas veiled شَمسُهُits sun
وَيَومَ دَجنٍ حُجِبَت شَمسُهُ
وَأَشرَقَتand shone فيin لَيلِهِits night شَمسُa sun of راحwine
وَأَشرَقَت في لَيلِهِ شَمسُ راح
And on a cloudy day whose sun was veiled,
On a gloomy day when its sun was veiled
A sun of wine shone in its night.
And its night shone with the sun of your smile,
فَماso did not ظَنَنّاwe think الصُبحَdawn إِلّاexcept دُجىًdarkness
فَما ظَنَنّا الصُبحَ إِلّا دُجىً
وَلاand did not حَسِبناwe reckon اللَيلَthe night إِلّاexcept صَباحdawn
وَلا حَسِبنا اللَيلَ إِلّا صَباح
So we took dawn for nothing but darkness,
We thought the morn was but dusk
And reckoned the night nothing but dawn.
And reckoned the night as dawn.
وَقابَلَتand met نورَthe light of الضُحىmidmorning أَوجُهٌfaces
وَقابَلَت نورَ الضُحى أَوجُهٌ
لِلغيدِof graceful beauties تَبغيseeking فيin الصَباحِthe morning اِصطِباحa morning wine-draught
لِلغيدِ تَبغي في الصَباحِ اِصطِباح
And the light of midmorning was met by faces
Your smile met the light of morn
Of graceful beauties seeking a morning draught at dawn.
Seeking delight in the waking hours.
فَظَلتُso I remained ذاpossessing النورَينِthe two lights فيin مَجلِسيmy gathering
فَظَلتُ ذا النورَينِ في مَجلِسي
مِنfrom وَجهِthe face of صُبحٍdawn وَوُجوهٍand faces صِباحbeautiful
مِن وَجهِ صُبحٍ وَوُجوهٍ صِباح
So I spent the day with two lights in my gathering,
Thus, between two lights I sat enthralled
From the face of dawn and beautiful faces.
By your smiling visage and the dawn’s first glow.
وَشادِنٍand a young gazelle إِنif جالَstirred ماءُthe water of الحَياmodesty
وَشادِنٍ إِن جالَ ماءُ الحَيا
فيin مُقلَتَيهِhis two eyes زادَهُنَّadded to them اِتِّقاحbrazenness
في مُقلَتَيهِ زادَهُنَّ اِتِّقاح
And a young gazelle—if the water of modesty stirred
With a grace that stirs life’s water
In his two eyes, it made them more brazen.
To rise in their eyes, enhancing their allure.
يُسكِرُناintoxicates us مِنfrom خَمرِthe wine of أَلحاظِهِhis glances
يُسكِرُنا مِن خَمرِ أَلحاظِهِ
وَيَمزُجُand mingles الجِدَّearnestness لَناfor us بِالمُزاحwith jest
وَيَمزُجُ الجِدَّ لَنا بِالمُزاح
He intoxicates us with the wine of his glances,
They intoxicate us with the wine of their glances
And mingles earnestness with jest for us.
And mix earnestness for us with gentle teasing.
مِنfrom لَحظِهِhis glance يَسقيgives drink وَمِنand from لَفظِهِhis speech
مِن لَحظِهِ يَسقي وَمِن لَفظِهِ
وَريقِهِand his saliva خَمراًwine حَلالاًlawful مُباحpermitted
وَريقِهِ خَمراً حَلالاً مُباح
From his glance he pours, and from his speech
With their look they give drink and with their words
And his saliva, wine lawful and permitted.
A draught from their saliva, pure untainted wine.
نَواظِرٌeyes تُعزىare ascribed إِلَيهاto them الظُبىsword blades
نَواظِرٌ تُعزى إِلَيها الظُبى
وَقامَةٌand a stature تُعزىare ascribed إِلَيهاto it الرِماحspears
وَقامَةٌ تُعزى إِلَيها الرِماح
Eyes to which sword blades owe their lineage,
Gazelles whose loveliness inspires poetry,
And a stature to which spears owe theirs.
A figure for which spears are made.
ياO عاذِليmy reproacher فيover حُسنِthe beauty of أَوصافِهِhis qualities
يا عاذِلي في حُسنِ أَوصافِهِ
وَمُسمِعيand you who make me hear وَصفَthe description of الفَتاةِthe girl الرَداحfull-hipped
وَمُسمِعي وَصفَ الفَتاةِ الرَداح
O you who chide me over his fair qualities,
O you who blame me for praising such beauty
And recite to me the full-hipped girl's description:
And heed the critics’ pompous clatter,
فيin حُبِّlove of ذيhim with القُرطَينِthe two earrings ياO لائِميmy censurer
في حُبِّ ذي القُرطَينِ يا لائِمي
ليI have شاغِلٌa distraction عَنfrom حُبِّlove of ذاتِher with الوِشاحthe sash
لي شاغِلٌ عَن حُبِّ ذاتِ الوِشاح
Love for him with the two earrings, O my censurer,
Loving the curly-haired one distracts me
Keeps me from love for her who wears the sash.
From loving one who wears a face veil.
دَعنيlet me أُقَضّيI spend العَيشَlife فيin غِبطَةٍbliss
دَعني أُقَضّي العَيشَ في غِبطَةٍ
مُتَّبِعاًfollowing مَغدىthe morning course of الهَوىdesire وَالمَراحand the evening return
مُتَّبِعاً مَغدى الهَوى وَالمَراح
Let me spend my life in bliss,
Let me live out my life in rapture,
Following desire's morning course and evening return,
Following the path of passion and the wind’s whim.
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore أَنthat يَهتِفَcries out داعِthe herald of النَوىseparation
مِن قَبلِ أَن يَهتِفَ داعِ النَوى
فَلَمso did not أَجِدI find عَنfrom بَينِناour parting مِنany بَراحescape
فَلَم أَجِد عَن بَينِنا مِن بَراح
Before the herald of separation cries out,
Before the caller of fate summons me away
Then I found no escape from our parting.
And I find no comfort or solace there.
فَكُلَّfor every يَومٍday ليfor me بِرُغمِdespite العُلىhigh honor
فَكُلَّ يَومٍ لي بِرُغمِ العُلى
فيin كُلِّevery أَرضٍland غُربَةٌestrangement وَاِنتِزاحand displacement
في كُلِّ أَرضٍ غُربَةٌ وَاِنتِزاح
For every day, despite high honor, I face
So each day, despite the proud ones’ scorn
Estrangement and displacement in every land.
In every land estrangement and discomfort await me.
واضيعَةَalas for the wasting of العُمرِlife وَفَوتَand the loss of المُنىhopes
واضيعَةَ العُمرِ وَفَوتَ المُنى
بَينَbetween رِضىthe contentment of الكومِthe high-humped camels وَسُخطِand the displeasure of المِلاحthe beauties
بَينَ رِضى الكومِ وَسُخطِ المِلاح
Alas for life wasted and hopes lost,
Squandering a lifetime, failing of my hopes,
Between the high-humped camels' contentment and the beauties' displeasure.
Between accepting fate and spurning fate’s decree.
وَرُبَّand many a لَيلٍnight خُضتُI plunged through تَيّارَهُits current
وَرُبَّ لَيلٍ خُضتُ تَيّارَهُ
بِأَدهَمٍon a black steed يَسبُقُoutstrips جَريَthe racing of الرِياحthe winds
بِأَدهَمٍ يَسبُقُ جَريَ الرِياح
And many a night I have plunged through its current,
And many a night I crossed its currents
On a black steed that outruns the racing winds,
With a steed outstripping the wind’s pace,
مُحَجَّلِwhite-socked on الأَربَعِall four legs ذيpossessing غُرَّةٍa forehead blaze
مُحَجَّلِ الأَربَعِ ذي غُرَّةٍ
مَيمونَةِauspicious الطَلعَةِin appearance ذاتِpossessing اِتِّضاحclarity
مَيمونَةِ الطَلعَةِ ذاتِ اِتِّضاح
White-socked on all four legs, with a forehead blaze,
Of surpassing pedigree and special markings,
Auspicious in appearance, bright and clear.
Auspicious and clearly destined for great deeds.
كَأَنَّهُas though he قَدhad شَقَّcleft بَحرَthe sea of الدُجىdarkness
كَأَنَّهُ قَد شَقَّ بَحرَ الدُجى
وَبَعدَهُand after it خاضَwaded through غَديرَthe pool of الصَباحdawn
وَبَعدَهُ خاضَ غَديرَ الصَباح
As though he had cleft the sea of darkness,
As if he cleaved the sea of gloom
And afterward waded through dawn's pool.
And beyond it plunged into dawn’s pool.
لَمdid not تَعلَمِknow الأَبصارُthe eyes فيin جَريِهِhis running
لَم تَعلَمِ الأَبصارُ في جَريِهِ
قادِمَةًa primary flight feather خَفَّتsped lightly بِهِwith him أَمor جَناحa wing
قادِمَةً خَفَّت بِهِ أَم جَناح
Eyes could not tell, as he ran,
Eyes could not tell in his galloping gait
Whether a flight feather bore him swiftly, or a wing.
If they saw him fade into the distance or take wing on high.
يَقرَأُhe reads مِنfrom وَحيِthe prompting of ضَميريmy inner thoughts لَهُto him
يَقرَأُ مِن وَحيِ ضَميري لَهُ
تَقاعُساًholding back رُمتُI intended بِهِwith him أَمor جِماحbolting
تَقاعُساً رُمتُ بِهِ أَم جِماح
He reads from the prompting my mind sends him
From my inner conscience he could read
Whether I intend him to hold back or bolt.
Did I lag behind through sloth or zeal make haste?
مُذsince فَسُدَturned bad العَيشُlife رَأىhe deemed قَصدَهُhis journey
مُذ فَسُدَ العَيشُ رَأى قَصدَهُ
لِلمَلِكِto the king الصالِحِthe righteous عَينَthe very essence of الصَلاحgoodness
لِلمَلِكِ الصالِحِ عَينَ الصَلاح
Since life turned sour, he has deemed his journey
Since life lost its savor he saw his course lie
To al-Malik al-Salih the very essence of good.
With that righteous ruler, pillar of justice.
المَلِكُthe king النَدبُthe gallant الَّذيwhose شُكرُهُpraise of him
المَلِكُ النَدبُ الَّذي شُكرُهُ
صارَbecame اِعتِباراًa lesson لِلوَرىfor mankind وَاِصطِلاحand a shared convention
صارَ اِعتِباراً لِلوَرى وَاِصطِلاح
The gallant king, whose praise
That eminent king whose gratitude
Has become a lesson for mankind and a shared convention.
Became a lesson and established tradition.
مُمَنَّعُunassailable المَجدِglory رَفيعُlofty العُلىeminence
مُمَنَّعُ المَجدِ رَفيعُ العُلى
لَمnot يَكُwas إِلّاexcept مالُهُhis wealth مُستَباحfree for the taking
لَم يَكُ إِلّا مالُهُ مُستَباح
Unassailable in glory, exalted in rank,
Impregnable in glory, lofty in station
Nothing but his wealth was free for the taking.
None could aspire to what he possessed.
يَكادُhe almost مِنbecause of دِقَّةِthe subtlety of أَفكارِهِhis thoughts
يَكادُ مِن دِقَّةِ أَفكارِهِ
يُزريputs to shame بِماwhat يُجريbrings to pass القَضاءُfate المُتاحallotted
يُزري بِما يُجري القَضاءُ المُتاح
So subtle are his thoughts that he almost
With keen intellect he all but surpassed
Puts to shame what allotted fate brings to pass.
The judgments of fate that transpire.
لَهُhe has يَدٌa hand إِنif جادَhe gives generously كانَتit becomes حَياًrain
لَهُ يَدٌ إِن جادَ كانَت حَياً
وَهِمَّةٌand resolve إِنif جالَhe sallies forth كانَتit becomes سِلاحa weapon
وَهِمَّةٌ إِن جالَ كانَت سِلاح
He has a hand that, when he gives, is rain,
A generous hand, when he was inclined to give
And resolve that, when he sallies forth, is a weapon.
Became a lifetime, and when he showed zeal, a weapon.
وَرَحبُand a spacious صَدرٍbreast كُلَّماwhenever هيمَنَتstirred
وَرَحبُ صَدرٍ كُلَّما هيمَنَت
فيهِwithin it نَسيمُthe breeze of المَدحِpraise زادَincreased اِرتِياحgladness
فيهِ نَسيمُ المَدحِ زادَ اِرتِياح
And a spacious breast: whenever there stirs
With a generous heart, whenever the breeze
Within it the breeze of praise, his gladness grows.
Of praise blew through it, he found comfort.
ياO حامِلَbearer of الأَثقالِburdens مِنfrom بَعدِماafter
يا حامِلَ الأَثقالِ مِن بَعدِما
حَطَّlaid down مِراراًrepeatedly غَيرُهُsomeone other than him وَاِستَراحand rested
حَطَّ مِراراً غَيرُهُ وَاِستَراح
O bearer of burdens, after
O you who shoulder burdens after others
Others have laid them down time and again, and rested.
Faltered and gave up, seeking rest.
لَولاكَbut for you ياO وابِلُdownpour زَرعُthe crop of النَدىgenerosity
لَولاكَ يا وابِلُ زَرعُ النَدى
أَضحىbecame هَشيماًdry stubble وَذَرَتهُand scattered it الرِياحthe winds
أَضحى هَشيماً وَذَرَتهُ الرِياح
But for you, O downpour, generosity's crop
Without you, O raincloud, the crops of dew
Would have turned to stubble, and the winds would have scattered it.
Would be reduced to shreds scattered by the winds.
ياO اِبنَson of الَّذيthe one whom حَجَّmade pilgrimage إِلَيهِto him الوَرىmankind
يا اِبنَ الَّذي حَجَّ إِلَيهِ الوَرى
لِكونِهِbecause he was كَعبَةَthe Kaaba of دينِthe faith of السَماحgenerosity
لِكونِهِ كَعبَةَ دينِ السَماح
O son of him to whom mankind made pilgrimage,
O son of one to whom the world made pilgrimage
For he was the Kaaba of generosity's faith.
For he was a Kaaba of noble deeds.
إِنif قَصُرَتfell short مِنّيfrom me إِلَيكَtoward you الخُطىthe steps
إِن قَصُرَت مِنّي إِلَيكَ الخُطى
ماnot قَصُرَتfell short مِنّيfrom me يَدُthe hand of الإِمتِداحpraise
ما قَصُرَت مِنّي يَدُ الإِمتِداح
If my steps toward you have fallen short,
If I fall short in approaching you,
My hand of praise has not fallen short.
I do not fail in singing your praises.
فَقَدfor indeed جَعَلتُI made الأَرضَthe earth مِنthrough مَدحِكُمpraise of you
فَقَد جَعَلتُ الأَرضَ مِن مَدحِكُم
خَضراgreen وَشِعريand my verse جائِلٌcircling كَالوِشاحlike a sash
خَضرا وَشِعري جائِلٌ كَالوِشاح
For through praise of you I have made the earth
I make the earth turn green with your glory
Green, and my verse encircles it like a sash.
And my poetry a cloak, dark like the mourner's gown.
خَفَضتُI lowered بِالنَصبِthrough toil اِستِعاراتِهِits metaphors
خَفَضتُ بِالنَصبِ اِستِعاراتِهِ
كَماas أُعيرَwas lent الذُلُّhumility خَفضَthe lowering of الجَناحthe wing
كَما أُعيرَ الذُلُّ خَفضَ الجَناح
I lowered its metaphors through toil,
I weigh down its metaphors with effort
As humility was lent the lowering of a wing.
As humiliation weighs down the wings of the lowly.
إِذاwhen تَلاهُrecited it الوُفدُthe delegations قالَsaid الوَرىmankind
إِذا تَلاهُ الوُفدُ قالَ الوَرى
هَذاthis هُوَis السِحرُmagic الحَلالُlawful المُباحpermitted
هَذا هُوَ السِحرُ الحَلالُ المُباح
When the delegations recite it, mankind says:
When the delegates recite it, people say
This is lawful, permitted magic.
“This is sorcery, untainted and permissible.”
ذِكرُكَmention of you كَالمِسكِlike musk وَلَكِنَّهُand yet it
ذِكرُكَ كَالمِسكِ وَلَكِنَّهُ
إِنif ضَوَّعَتهُstirred it نَسمَةُthe breeze of المَدحِpraise فاحgave off fragrance
إِن ضَوَّعَتهُ نَسمَةُ المَدحِ فاح
The mention of you is like musk, but
The mention of you is like musk, but
If praise's breeze stirs it, its fragrance spreads.
When the breeze of praise blows past it, its scent surrounds all.
Sol 6.1