أَتُرىdo you suppose يَحِلُّdwells هَواكِyour love بَينَbetween الأَضلُعِthe ribs
أَتُرى يَحِلُّ هَواكِ بَينَ الأَضلُعِ
وَيَحِلُّand is permissible ليfor me بِسِواكِfor anyone but you ذَرفُshedding الأَدمُعِtears
وَيَحِلُّ لي بِسِواكِ ذَرفُ الأَدمُعِ
Can your love dwell between my ribs,
And may I shed tears for anyone but you?
وَأَبيتُand I spend the night أُشرِكَassigning a rival فيكِto you فيin دينِthe faith of الهَوىlove
وَأَبيتُ أُشرِكَ فيكِ في دينِ الهَوى
وَأَكونُand I am لِلتَوحيدِto oneness أَوَّلِthe first مُدَّعِclaimant
وَأَكونُ لِلتَوحيدِ أَوَّلِ مُدَّعِ
And spend the night giving you a rival in love's faith,
While being the first to claim its oneness?
وَتَظَلُّand keeps تَشرُدُstraying بيwith me لِغَيرِكَtoward someone other than you صَبوَةًa yearning
وَتَظَلُّ تَشرُدُ بي لِغَيرِكَ صَبوَةً
هِيَit مِنamong سُجونِكَyour prisons فيin المَحلِthe place الأَمنَعِmost impregnable
هِيَ مِن سُجونِكَ في المَحلِ الأَمنَعِ
And can longing keep leading me astray toward another,
While held in the most impregnable of your prisons?
وَأَسيمُand I set grazing فيin رَوضِthe meadow of الحِسانِbeautiful women مَوزِعاًdistributing
وَأَسيمُ في رَوضِ الحِسانِ مَوزِعاً
قَلباًa heart وَهيَwhile it بِالحَملِunder the burden غَيرَnot موزِعِdivided
قَلباً وَهيَ بِالحَملِ غَيرَ موزِعِ
And set grazing in beauties' meadow, sharing out
A heart that, under its burden, remains undivided?
قَلبٌa heart عَلَيكَupon you تَخَتَّمَتhave sealed themselves أَبوابُهُits gates
قَلبٌ عَلَيكَ تَخَتَّمَت أَبوابُهُ
ماnot نَحوَهُtoward it لِسِواكَfor anyone but you طَرفَةَa fleeting glance مَطمَعِof hope
ما نَحوَهُ لِسِواكَ طَرفَةَ مَطمَعِ
A heart whose gates have sealed themselves upon you;
No other has the slightest hope of reaching it.
إِنّيindeed I طَوَيتُshut away عَنِfrom النَسيمِthe breeze شَغافَةًa heart's covering
إِنّي طَوَيتُ عَنِ النَسيمِ شَغافَةً
أَنbecause جاءَنيit came to me مِنfrom غَيرِother than تِلكَthose الأَربَعِdwellings
أَن جاءَني مِن غَيرِ تِلكَ الأَربَعِ
I have closed my heart's covering against the breeze,
Because it came from somewhere other than those dwellings.
وَأَبَحتُand I permitted إِلّاexcept فيin العَواطِفِthe affections حَجبَهُits veiling
وَأَبَحتُ إِلّا في العَواطِفِ حَجبَهُ
إِلّاexcept الحَنينَyearning لِبَدرِfor the full moon of ذاكَthat المَطلَعِrising-place
إِلّا الحَنينَ لِبَدرِ ذاكَ المَطلَعِ
I permitted its veiling, except in affections,
Except yearning for the full moon of that rising-place.
وَأَبَحتُand I permitted إِلّاexcept فيin الغَرامِpassion هَوادَةًa respite
وَأَبَحتُ إِلّا في الغَرامِ هَوادَةً
وَمَنَعتُand I withheld إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it is المُتَوَجِّعُthe one in pain
وَمَنَعتُ إِلّا أَنَّهُ المُتَوَجِّعُ
And I permitted respite, except in passion,
And withheld it—yet it is the one in pain.
أَضَحتَhave become تُغايِرُjealous of one another فيin هَواكَyour love جَوارِحيmy limbs
أَضَحتَ تُغايِرُ في هَواكَ جَوارِحي
حَتّىuntil لِيَغضَبَso that it grows angry ناظِريmy eye مِنat مَسمَعيmy hearing
حَتّى لِيَغضَبَ ناظِري مِن مَسمَعي
My limbs have come to vie jealously in loving you,
Until my sight grows angry with my hearing.
وَأَغارُand I am jealous مِنof طَرفيmy gaze لِغَيرِكَat someone other than you ناظِراًlooking
وَأَغارُ مِن طَرفي لِغَيرِكَ ناظِراً
لَمَحاfor a glance وَلَوeven if شيمَwere watched البَروقُthe lightning flashes اللَمَعِgleaming
لَمَحا وَلَو شيمَ البَروقُ اللَمَعِ
I am jealous of my own eye when it looks at another,
Even for a glance, even at flashing lightning.
وَلَوand even if اِستَطَعتِyou could الشَمسَthe sun ذُدتُI drove away لِعابِهاits spittle
وَلَو اِستَطَعتِ الشَمسَ ذُدتُ لِعابِها
عَنfrom وَجنَتَيكَyour two cheeks وَلَوeven if سَعَتit moved فيin بَرقَعِa face-veil
عَن وَجنَتَيكَ وَلَو سَعَت في بَرقَعِ
Even if you could reach the sun, I would drive its spittle
From your cheeks, even if it moved behind a veil.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَغارَI am jealous لِهاجِسٍof a passing whisper مِنfrom خاطِرٍa thought
وَلَقَد أَغارَ لِهاجِسٍ مِن خاطِرٍ
مِنfrom سِرِّthe secret of مُهجَةِthe heart of راهِبٍa monk مُتَوَرِّعِdevout
مِن سِرِّ مُهجَةِ راهِبٍ مُتَوَرِّعِ
Indeed, I am jealous of a passing whisper of thought
From the hidden heart of a devout monk,
يَمشيit walks إِلَيكَtoward you وَلَوeven if بِأَعمَقِin the deepest part of قَلبِهِhis heart
يَمشي إِلَيكَ وَلَو بِأَعمَقِ قَلبِهِ
وَيُشيرُand it points بِالأَفكارِwith thoughts لاnot بِالإِصبَعِwith a finger
وَيُشيرُ بِالأَفكارِ لا بِالإِصبَعِ
That approaches you, even in his heart's deepest recess,
And points with thoughts, not with a finger.
دَرَّعَتyou armored حُسنَكَyour beauty بِالكَمالِwith perfection وَفِتيَةٌand young men
دَرَّعَت حُسنَكَ بِالكَمالِ وَفِتيَةٌ
مِنfrom حَولِaround خَدرِكَyour secluded chamber حاسِرينَbareheaded وَدَرعِand armored
مِن حَولِ خَدرِكَ حاسِرينَ وَدَرعِ
You armored your beauty with perfection and young men,
Around your chamber, bareheaded and armored.
فيin كُلِّeach تَذرِyou leave الضَراغِمَthe lions عِندَماwhen
في كُلِّ تَذرِ الضَراغِمَ عِندَما
مَنthrough ذَلَّةَabasement أَمثالِlike عُفرِthe pale gazelles of الأَجرَعِthe sandy plain
مَن ذَلَّةَ أَمثالِ عُفرِ الأَجرَعِ
In each [one], you leave the lions—[passage unclear]—
Abased, like pale gazelles of the sandy plain.
ماwhat لِلمَطامِعِfor hopes فيof الوِصالِunion وَدونَهُwhen before it
ما لِلمَطامِعِ في الوِصالِ وَدونَهُ
خَفَرُthe guardianship of الشَريعَةِthe sacred law وَالرِماحِand the spears الشَرَّعِleveled
خَفَرُ الشَريعَةِ وَالرِماحِ الشَرَّعِ
What hope is there of union, when before it stand
The law's guardianship and leveled spears?
نَفسيmy soul الفِداthe ransom لِمُقَنَّعٍfor a veiled one هَجَرَتhave abandoned لَهُfor his sake
نَفسي الفِدا لِمُقَنَّعٍ هَجَرَت لَهُ
أَجفانُهُنَّtheir scabbards شِفارَthe blades of كُلِّevery مُقَنَّعِhelmeted warrior
أَجفانُهُنَّ شِفارَ كُلِّ مُقَنَّعِ
My soul be ransom for a veiled one, for whose sake
Every helmeted warrior's blades have left their scabbards.
تَتَهافَتُtumble away الأَوهامُfancies عَنfrom حَجَراتِهِhis chambers
تَتَهافَتُ الأَوهامُ عَن حَجَراتِهِ
وَيَرِدand recalls خاطِرَهُhis thought المُتَيَّمُthe love-stricken man إِذwhen يَعيhe becomes aware
وَيَرِد خاطِرَهُ المُتَيَّمُ إِذ يَعي
Fancies tumble back from his chambers,
And the lovesick man recalls his thoughts when he comes to his senses.
ذاكَthat الحِمىsanctuary إِلّاexcept عَلىto مَنone who أَمَّهُsought it
ذاكَ الحِمى إِلّا عَلى مَن أَمَّهُ
مِنّيfrom me بِمُمتَنِعِwith an unshaken الوَجيبِheartbeat مُشَيَّعِcourageous
مِنّي بِمُمتَنِعِ الوَجيبِ مُشَيَّعِ
That sanctuary [is barred], save to one who seeks it,
On my behalf, fearless of heartbeat and courageous.
أَكنَهتُI fathomed بِالأَقدامِwith the feet سِرَّthe secret of ضَميرِهِits inner heart
أَكنَهتُ بِالأَقدامِ سِرَّ ضَميرِهِ
وَحَلَّلتَand you entered بِالأَقدامِwith the feet قَلبَthe heart of المَصنَعِthe stronghold
وَحَلَّلتَ بِالأَقدامِ قَلبَ المَصنَعِ
With my footsteps I fathomed the secret of its heart,
And you entered on foot the stronghold's core.
هِيَit زَورَةٌa visit تَحتَunder الظَلامِdarkness وَرَدَتهاI came to it
هِيَ زَورَةٌ تَحتَ الظَلامِ وَرَدَتها
فَرداًalone بِلاwithout عَضُدٍsupport بَلىyes indeed قَلبيmy heart مَعيwith me
فَرداً بِلا عَضُدٍ بَلى قَلبي مَعي
It was a visit beneath the darkness; I came there
Alone, without support—yes, my heart was with me.
فَنَظَرتُthen I gazed مَنfrom ذاكَthat الهِلالِcrescent moon لِنّيرِat a radiant one
فَنَظَرتُ مَن ذاكَ الهِلالِ لِنّيرِ
وَعَلِقتُand I became enamored مِنof ذاكَthat الغَزالِgazelle بِأَتلَعِwith a long-necked one
وَعَلِقتُ مِن ذاكَ الغَزالِ بِأَتلَعِ
And in that crescent I beheld a radiant light,
And fell in love with that long-necked gazelle.
وَأَسغَتand I drank فيin نَهلِthe first draught of الشَفاهِthe lips وَعَلَّهاand their second draught
وَأَسغَت في نَهلِ الشَفاهِ وَعَلَّها
ماthat which لَيسَdoes not يَعذَبُtaste sweet بَعدَهُafter it مِنany مَكرَعِdrinking-place
ما لَيسَ يَعذَبُ بَعدَهُ مِن مَكرَعِ
In the lips' first draught and their second, I drank
What left no other drinking-place sweet thereafter.
بِتناwe spent the night كَأَنّاas though we were خَطرَةًa fleeting thought فيin خاطِرٍa mind
بِتنا كَأَنّا خَطرَةً في خاطِرٍ
أَوor هِلَةًa sudden fright حَلَّتentered فُؤادَthe heart of مُرَوَّعِa frightened person
أَو هِلَةً حَلَّت فُؤادَ مُرَوَّعِ
We spent the night like a passing thought within a mind,
Or a sudden fright settling in a startled heart.
نَبَهتُI awakened بِالأَغزالِwith love songs هاجِعَthe sleeper of حُبِّهاher love
نَبَهتُ بِالأَغزالِ هاجِعَ حُبِّها
وَحَماتِهاwhile her guardians مِنamong غافِلينَthe heedless وَهَجَّعِand sleepers
وَحَماتِها مِن غافِلينَ وَهَجَّعِ
I woke her sleeping love with love songs,
While her guardians were heedless or asleep.
وَسقَيتُهاand I gave her to drink كَأسَthe cup of الهَوىlove دِهقاًbrimming وَلَمand not
وَسقَيتُها كَأسَ الهَوى دِهقاً وَلَم
يَحلُis sweet الهَوىlove إِلّاexcept بِكَأسِwith a cup مَترَعِfilled to the brim
يَحلُ الهَوى إِلّا بِكَأسِ مَترَعِ
I gave her love's cup to drink, brimming full; nor
Does love taste sweet except from an overflowing cup.
مُتَمَليينَtaking our fill مِنَof العِناقِembracing كَأَنَّناas though we were
مُتَمَليينَ مِنَ العِناقِ كَأَنَّنا
قَوسٌa bow خَلاleft no room لِزِيادَةٍfor further increase مِنof مَنزَعِa draw
قَوسٌ خَلا لِزِيادَةٍ مِن مَنزَعِ
Taking our fill of embraces, as though we were
A bow with no scope left for a further draw.
أَرويI recount غَريبَthe strange حَديثِtales of أَحوالِthe states of الجَوىburning love
أَروي غَريبَ حَديثِ أَحوالِ الجَوى
وَالراحِand wine لَيسَis not يَطيبُpleasant غَيرَunless مُشَعشَعِdiluted with water
وَالراحِ لَيسَ يَطيبُ غَيرَ مُشَعشَعِ
I recount strange tales of love's burning states;
Wine, too, tastes good only when diluted.
وَصلٌa union أَعادَrestored الشَملَtogetherness أَيُّwhat a مُوَصِّلِjoining
وَصلٌ أَعادَ الشَملَ أَيُّ مُوَصِّلِ
لَكِنbut أَعادَleft القَلبَthe heart أَيُّwhat a مَقطَعِrending
لَكِن أَعادَ القَلبَ أَيُّ مَقطَعِ
A union that reunited us—what a joining!
Yet left the heart—what a rending!
عاطَتُهاI shared with her صَرفَthe unmixed draught of الهَوىlove وَعَفافَناwhile our chastity
عاطَتُها صَرفَ الهَوى وَعَفافَنا
طولَthroughout التَلازُمِcloseness لَمnot يُشِبwas stained مِنin any مَوضِعِplace
طولَ التَلازُمِ لَم يُشِب مِن مَوضِعِ
I shared with her love's unmixed draught, while our chastity
Was nowhere stained throughout our closeness.
كانَتwould be مَضاجِعُناour couches تَنُثُّproclaiming كَمالَناour virtue
كانَت مَضاجِعُنا تَنُثُّ كَمالَنا
لَوif كانَthere were يوجَدُto be found مَنطِقٌspeech لِلمَضجَعِfor the couch
لَو كانَ يوجَدُ مَنطِقٌ لِلمَضجَعِ
Our couches would have proclaimed our virtue,
Had a couch been endowed with speech.
وَاللَيلُand night يَكتُمُconceals ماwhat يَنُمُّbetrays بِسِرِّهِits secret
وَاللَيلُ يَكتُمُ ما يَنُمُّ بِسِرِّهِ
أَرِجُthe fragrance of النَسيمِthe breeze سَرىwafted بِمِسكِwith musk أَضوَعِwidely fragrant
أَرِجُ النَسيمِ سَرى بِمِسكِ أَضوَعِ
Night concealed what was betrayed of its secret
By the fragrant breeze, bearing musk's rich perfume.
وَتَرىand you see المَجَرَّةَthe Milky Way فيin السَماءِthe sky كَأَنَّهاas though it were
وَتَرى المَجَرَّةَ في السَماءِ كَأَنَّها
دَرٌّmilk تَناثَرَscattered مِنfrom سِماءِa sky مُضرِعِmilk-bearing
دَرٌّ تَناثَرَ مِن سِماءِ مُضرِعِ
You see the Milky Way in the sky as though it were
Milk scattered from a milk-bearing sky.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen شَقَّcleft الدُجُنَّةَthe darkness شَوقَهاits longing
حَتّى إِذا شَقَّ الدُجُنَّةَ شَوقَها
لِلقاto meet ذُكاءَDhuka, the sun وَشابَand grayed فَودُthe sidelock of الأَسفَعِthe dark one
لِلقا ذُكاءَ وَشابَ فَودُ الأَسفَعِ
Until the darkness was cleft by its own longing
To meet Dhuka, the sun, and the dark one's sidelock grayed,
وَرَأَيتُand I saw أَسرابَthe flocks of النُجومِstars تَتابَعَتfollowed one another
وَرَأَيتُ أَسرابَ النُجومِ تَتابَعَت
بِفِرارِهاin their flight مَصعَthe headlong dash of النَعامِostriches الأَمزَعِfleet-footed
بِفِرارِها مَصعَ النَعامِ الأَمزَعِ
And I saw the flocks of stars follow one another
In flight, like the headlong dash of fleet-footed ostriches.
ماhow كانَwas أَحوَجُناgreat our need بِذاكَat that time لِآيَةٍfor a miracle
ما كانَ أَحوَجُنا بِذاكَ لِآيَةٍ
تَأَتيwould come لَناto us فيin عَكسِthe reverse of آيَةِthe miracle of يوشَعِJoshua
تَأَتي لَنا في عَكسِ آيَةِ يوشَعِ
How sorely we needed then a miracle
That would reverse for us Joshua's miracle!
زَحزَحَتI shifted عَنهاaway from her ساعِديmy forearm وَتَرَتكتُهاand I left her
زَحزَحَت عَنها ساعِدي وَتَرَتكتُها
دونَwithout الكَرىsleep مِنfrom تَحتِbeneath عِبءٍa burden مُضلَعِrib-bending
دونَ الكَرى مِن تَحتِ عِبءٍ مُضلَعِ
I drew my forearm away from her and left her,
Without sleep, from beneath a rib-bending burden.
وَطَلَعتُand I emerged أَعثُرُstumbling بِالسُيوفِover swords وَلَوand even if دَرىhad known
وَطَلَعتُ أَعثُرُ بِالسُيوفِ وَلَو دَرى
أَهلُthe wielders of السُيوفِswords مَقامَتيmy stay لَمnot أَفزَعِI would fear
أَهلُ السُيوفِ مَقامَتي لَم أَفزَعِ
I emerged, stumbling over swords; yet had
The swordsmen known where I had been, I would not have feared.
أَيغولُwould destroy نمُهجَتيmy lifeblood الكُماةُarmored champions وَماwhen not لَهُمfor them
أَيغولُ نمُهجَتي الكُماةُ وَما لَهُم
فَخرٌany pride سِوايَbut me إِذاwhen اِغتَدواthey go forth فيin مَجمَعِan assembly
فَخرٌ سِوايَ إِذا اِغتَدوا في مَجمَعِ
Would armored champions destroy my lifeblood, when they have
No pride but me when they gather in assembly?
وَتُرىand do you suppose تَخونُbetray الخَيلُthe horses فارِسُهاtheir rider وَهَلand could
وَتُرى تَخونُ الخَيلُ فارِسُها وَهَل
يُردىbe slain الحُسَينُal-Husayn عَلىat يَدِthe hand of المُتَشَيِّعِa Shiite
يُردى الحُسَينُ عَلى يَدِ المُتَشَيِّعِ
Could horses betray their rider? Could
Al-Husayn be slain by a Shiite's hand?
اَوor مَنwhom لَهُمdo they have مِثليlike me إِذاwhen عَبَسَscowled الوَغىbattle
اَو مَن لَهُم مِثلي إِذا عَبَسَ الوَغى
وَتَضاحَكَتand grinned أَنيابُthe fangs of ثَغرِthe mouth of المَصرَعِdeath
وَتَضاحَكَت أَنيابُ ثَغرِ المَصرَعِ
Or whom have they like me when battle scowls
And the fangs in death's mouth grin,
وَتَشاجَرَتand clashed سُمرُthe dusky shafts of القَناthe spears وَتَجاذَبَتand tugged one another
وَتَشاجَرَت سُمرُ القَنا وَتَجاذَبَت
بِذَوائِبِby forelocks وَالسَيفُwhile the sword شِبهُresembles الأَصلَعِthe bald man
بِذَوائِبِ وَالسَيفُ شِبهُ الأَصلَعِ
And the dusky spears clash and tug one another
By their forelocks, while the sword is like a bald man?
وَلَقَدand indeed بَذَذتُI outstripped السابِقينَthe front-runners فَمَنso who لَهُمfor them
وَلَقَد بَذَذتُ السابِقينَ فَمَن لَهُم
بِوُقوفِwith a halt سَيرٍof a march بِالمَكارِمِin noble deeds موضِعِswift-moving
بِوُقوفِ سَيرٍ بِالمَكارِمِ موضِعِ
I have outstripped the foremost; who can give them
A halt to my swift progress in noble deeds?
وَبَلَغتُand I reached مِنof ساميlofty الفَخارِglory وَجاءَنيand came to me التَقcommendation (opening)
وَبَلَغتُ مِن سامي الفَخارِ وَجاءَني التَق
ريظُcommendation (completion) مِنfrom مَحمودMahmud ساميSami الأَرفَعِthe most exalted
ريظُ مِن مَحمود سامي الأَرفَعِ
I reached lofty glory, and commendation came to me—
From Mahmud Sami, the most exalted.
خَنذيذُthe champion of هَذاthis الدَهرِage واحِدٌunique أَهلُهُamong its people
خَنذيذُ هَذا الدَهرِ واحِدٌ أَهلُهُ
مِقدامٌbold حَلَبَتهُin his arena الأَغَرُّthe illustrious الأَبتَعُthe strong-limbed
مِقدامٌ حَلَبَتهُ الأَغَرُّ الأَبتَعُ
This age's champion, unique among its people,
Bold in his arena, illustrious and strong-limbed.
القائِلِthe utterer of الفُصحِeloquent words الَّتيwhich عَنbefore مِثلِهاtheir like
القائِلِ الفُصحِ الَّتي عَن مِثلِها
يُثنيbends المُقَفَّعِal-Muqaffaʿ فيin بَنانٍfingers مُقَفَّعِcrooked
يُثني المُقَفَّعِ في بَنانٍ مُقَفَّعِ
He utters eloquent words, before whose like
Al-Muqaffaʿ curls his crooked fingers.
لَوif جاءَhe had come فيin العَصرِthe age القَديمِancient لَمّاwould not رَوىhave recited
لَو جاءَ في العَصرِ القَديمِ لَمّا رَوى
إِلّاexcept قَصائِدَهُhis poems لِسانَthe tongue of الأَصمَعيal-Asmaʿi
إِلّا قَصائِدَهُ لِسانَ الأَصمَعي
Had he come in ancient times, nothing would have been recited
But his poems by al-Asmaʿi's tongue.
قَدindeed قادَhe led مَملَكَةَthe kingdom of الكَلامِspeech وَحازَهاand mastered it
قَد قادَ مَملَكَةَ الكَلامِ وَحازَها
أَخَذَthe seizing of الأَعِزَّةَthe mighty لِلذَليلِof the lowly الأضرَعِthe utterly submissive
أَخَذَ الأَعِزَّةَ لِلذَليلِ الأضرَعِ
He led the kingdom of speech and mastered it,
As the mighty seize the abject and submissive.
إِنif يُعصِهِit resists him قَولٌan utterance فَلَمthen not يَكُthere passes لَفتَةًa moment
إِن يُعصِهِ قَولٌ فَلَم يَكُ لَفتَةً
حَتّىuntil يُذَلَّلُit is subdued مُستَقيمُupright الأَخدَعِof neck
حَتّى يُذَلَّلُ مُستَقيمُ الأَخدَعِ
If a phrase resists him, not a moment passes
Before its erect neck is brought to submission.
سَهلُeasy البَيانِin expression عَصِيَّهُits intractable aspect لِلمُحَتَذىto the imitator
سَهلُ البَيانِ عَصِيَّهُ لِلمُحَتَذى
فَلَأَنتَso you indeed مِنهُwith it بَينَbetween عاصٍa rebel طيعِan obedient one
فَلَأَنتَ مِنهُ بَينَ عاصٍ طيعِ
Easy in expression, yet defying the imitator,
So you find it both rebellious and obedient.
خَلَقَتwas created لَهُfor him عَلياthe loftiest اللُغاتِlanguage فَلَوso if هَفاhe strayed
خَلَقَت لَهُ عَليا اللُغاتِ فَلَو هَفا
نَحوَtoward الرَكاكَةِweak expression جاءَhe would appear كَالمُتَصَنِّعِlike one affecting it
نَحوَ الرَكاكَةِ جاءَ كَالمُتَصَنِّعِ
The loftiest language was created for him; should he stray
Toward feebleness, he would seem to be affecting it.
تَغدوbecome المَعانيthe meanings حُوَّماًcircling aloft حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen
تَغدو المَعاني حُوَّماً حَتّى إِذا
سامينَthey rivaled in height فِكرَتُهُhis thought هَبَطنَthey descended بِمَوقِعِto a landing-place
سامينَ فِكرَتُهُ هَبَطنَ بِمَوقِعِ
Meanings circle aloft until, when
They vie in height with his thought, they descend to their places.
ماnot زالَhas ceased يُبدِعُcreating marvels قائِلاًin speaking حَتّىuntil يَرىhe is seen
ما زالَ يُبدِعُ قائِلاً حَتّى يَرى
بِدعاًa marvel عَلىthrough الأَيّامِthe ages إِنif لَمnot يَدَعِhe ceases
بِدعاً عَلى الأَيّامِ إِن لَم يَدَعِ
He keeps creating marvels in verse until he is seen
As a marvel through the ages, if he does not cease.
إِنif أَجدَبتَgrew barren أَرضَthe land of الخَلائِقِhumankind بِالثَناfor praise
إِن أَجدَبتَ أَرضَ الخَلائِقِ بِالثَنا
فِخِلالُهُthen his virtues لِلحَمدِfor praise أَمجدَthe noblest مَرتَعِpasture
فِخِلالُهُ لِلحَمدِ أَمجدَ مَرتَعِ
If humanity's fields grow barren for praise,
His virtues are praise's noblest pasture.
أَوor حارَlost their way قَومٌa people فيamong الشِعابِmountain paths فَإِنَّهُthen he indeed
أَو حارَ قَومٌ في الشِعابِ فَإِنَّهُ
رَبُّthe master of المُضِيِّadvancing عَلىalong المُضيءِthe bright المهيَعِbroad road
رَبُّ المُضِيِّ عَلى المُضيءِ المهيَعِ
Or if people lose their way among the mountain paths, he
Is master of advancing along the bright, broad road.
أَضحىhe has come to يُطارِحُنيexchange with me القَريضُpoetry وَهَلand have تَرىyou seen
أَضحى يُطارِحُني القَريضُ وَهَل تَرى
مَنany أَصبَعَfinger's breadth يَوماًever يُقاسِis measured بِأَذرُعِagainst cubits
مَن أَصبَعَ يَوماً يُقاسِ بِأَذرُعِ
He now exchanges poetry with me; but have you seen
A finger's breadth ever measured against cubits?
أَمَليhe dictated إِلَيَّto me قَصيدَةٌa poem فَأَذابَنيand so melted me
أَمَلي إِلَيَّ قَصيدَةٌ فَأَذابَني
خَجَلاًin shame وَهَيبَةًand awe خاشِعٍhumbled مُتَصَدِّعِshattered
خَجَلاً وَهَيبَةً خاشِعٍ مُتَصَدِّعِ
He dictated a poem to me, and melted me
With shame and awe, humbled and shattered.
ياO اِبنَson of الغَطارِقَةِgreat lords الأولىwho لَمnot يَنتَمواclaim descent
يا اِبنَ الغَطارِقَةِ الأولى لَم يَنتَموا
إِلّاexcept بِأَزهَرَfrom a radiant man فيin النَدِيِّthe assembly سَمَيذَعِa magnanimous lord
إِلّا بِأَزهَرَ في النَدِيِّ سَمَيذَعِ
O son of grandees who claimed no descent
Except from a radiant, magnanimous lord in the assembly.
لاno غَروَwonder أَنthat يَرتَجspeech fails عَلَيَّme بِحَضرَةٍin a presence
لا غَروَ أَن يَرتَج عَلَيَّ بِحَضرَةٍ
إِنif قابَلَتَyou faced شَمسَthe sun of الضُحىforenoon لَمnot تَسطَعِit would shine
إِن قابَلَتَ شَمسَ الضُحى لَم تَسطَعِ
No wonder I am struck speechless in your presence:
If you faced the morning sun, it would fail to shine.
فَلَمthen not (unclear) أَنَّthat سُبحانَglory be to الفَصاحَةِeloquence قائِمٌstanding
فَلَم أَنَّ سُبحانَ الفَصاحَةِ قائِمٌ
فيat بَابِهاits gate ماnot قالَhe spoke غَيرَexcept مُتَعتَعِstammering
في بَابِها ما قالَ غَيرَ مُتَعتَعِ
[Text unclear:] the glory of eloquence stands
At its gate, speaking only with a stammer.
فَهُناكَfor there ماthat which بَهَرَoverawed الخَواطِرَthe minds هَيبَةًwith awe
فَهُناكَ ما بَهَرَ الخَواطِرَ هَيبَةً
وَزَرىand belittled بِعارِضَةِthe ready speech of الخَطيبِthe orator المُصَفَّعِslap-struck
وَزَرى بِعارِضَةِ الخَطيبِ المُصَفَّعِ
There is what overawes the mind with its majesty
And shames the stricken orator's ready speech.
كُلُّall العَقائِلِnoble ladies فيin حِماكَyour domain وَصائِفٌhandmaids
كُلُّ العَقائِلِ في حِماكَ وَصائِفٌ
وَالمُنشَآتِand lofty compositions مِنَamong الجَواريthe maidens الخُضَّعِsubmissive
وَالمُنشَآتِ مِنَ الجَواري الخُضَّعِ
All noble ladies within your domain are handmaids,
And lofty compositions are among the submissive maidens.
فَاِسلَمso live safe رَعاكَmay He guard you اللَهُGod سابِغَabundant in نِعمَةٍblessing
فَاِسلَم رَعاكَ اللَهُ سابِغَ نِعمَةٍ
وَأَعادَand may He restore عَيشَكَyour life لِلزَمانِto the time الأَمرَعِmost fertile
وَأَعادَ عَيشَكَ لِلزَمانِ الأَمرَعِ
Live safe—may God guard you—in ample blessing,
And may He restore your life to times of greatest plenty.
وَاِعذُرand forgive إِذاif قَصَّرتُI fell short عَنof حَقٍّwhat is owed فَلَوfor even if
وَاِعذُر إِذا قَصَّرتُ عَن حَقٍّ فَلَو
أَملَيتُI dictated أَسوَدَthe blackness of مُقلَتيmy pupil لَمnot أَقنَعِI would be content
أَملَيتُ أَسوَدَ مُقلَتي لَم أَقنَعِ
Forgive me if I fall short of what is owed; for even if
I dictated with my pupil's blackness, I would not be content.
Sol 6.1