جَماليmy beauty وَزَينيand my adornment إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle حَضَرhe appears
جَمالي وَزَيني إِذا ما حَضَر
وَمَنand the one who لَستُI am not إِلّاexcept بِهِin him أَفَتَخِرI take pride
وَمَن لَستُ إِلّا بِهِ أَفَتَخِر
He is my beauty and my adornment whenever he appears,
and the one in whom alone I take pride,
وَمَنand the one who هُوَhe عِندِيَin my eyes مُذever since لَمnot يَزَلceased to be
وَمَن هُوَ عِندِيَ مُذ لَم يَزَل
أَجَلَّthe noblest الوَرىhumankind وَأَعَزَّand the dearest البَشَرhuman beings
أَجَلَّ الوَرى وَأَعَزَّ البَشَر
and he who, in my eyes, has always been
the noblest of mankind and the dearest of men.
صَغىinclined القَلبُthe heart مِنهُfrom him إِلىtoward سَفرَةٍa journey
صَغى القَلبُ مِنهُ إِلى سَفرَةٍ
غَداةَon the morning when رَأىhe saw وَجهَهاits face قَدalready سَفَرbecame unveiled
غَداةَ رَأى وَجهَها قَد سَفَر
His heart inclined toward a journey
on the morning he saw its face already unveiled.
فَلَمّاso when تَمَلَّكَhe became master of رِقَّthe servitude of المُنىwishes
فَلَمّا تَمَلَّكَ رِقَّ المُنى
أَتانيcame to me الكِتابُthe letter بِنَصِّwith the exact wording of الخَبَرthe news
أَتاني الكِتابُ بِنَصِّ الخَبَر
So when he made his wishes his slaves,
the letter came to me with the precise news.
فَقَبَّلتُso I kissed مِنof جِسمِهِits body كاسِياًclothed
فَقَبَّلتُ مِن جِسمِهِ كاسِياً
عَلَيهِupon it الكِتابُthe writing بِنَصِّwith the exact wording of الخَبَرthe news
عَلَيهِ الكِتابُ بِنَصِّ الخَبَر
So I kissed a clothed part of its body,
upon which was the writing bearing the precise news.
وَماand not زِلتُI ceased أَشرَبُI drink مِنهُfrom it الَّذيthat which
وَما زِلتُ أَشرَبُ مِنهُ الَّذي
أَراقَتهُpoured it forth بِحارُthe seas of الفِكَرthought
أَراقَتهُ بِحارُ الفِكَر
And I kept drinking from it what
the seas of thought had poured forth,
وَأُنشِدُand I recite مَنظومَهُhis verse المُشتَهيmuch-desired
وَأُنشِدُ مَنظومَهُ المُشتَهي
وَأَقرَأُand I read مَنثورَهُhis prose المُختَصَرconcise
وَأَقرَأُ مَنثورَهُ المُختَصَر
reciting his much-desired verse
and reading his concise prose.
فَأَمّاso, as for المَعانيthe meanings فَمِثلُthen like الرِياضِgardens
فَأَمّا المَعاني فَمِثلُ الرِياضِ
وَأَمّاand as for القَوافيthe rhymes فَمِثلُthen like الزَهَرflowers
وَأَمّا القَوافي فَمِثلُ الزَهَر
As for the meanings, they are like gardens;
and as for the rhymes, they are like flowers;
وَأَمّاand as for الفُصولُthe sections فَمِثلُthen like الحُلىornaments
وَأَمّا الفُصولُ فَمِثلُ الحُلى
بَلىindeed الإِختِراعاتُthe inventions مِثلُlike الدُرَرpearls
بَلى الإِختِراعاتُ مِثلُ الدُرَر
and as for the sections, they are like ornaments;
indeed, the inventions are like pearls.
فِلِلَهِso, to God be praise مِنهُfrom him أَخوa possessor of خاطِرٍimagination
فِلِلَهِ مِنهُ أَخو خاطِرٍ
بَعيدِfar beyond اللِحاقِovertaking إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle خَطَرit flashes forth
بَعيدِ اللِحاقِ إِذا ما خَطَر
God be praised for him—a man of imagination,
far beyond overtaking whenever it flashes forth.
تَرىyou see مِنهُin him مَنone who لاnot يُرىis seen مِثلَهُhis equal
تَرى مِنهُ مَن لا يُرى مِثلَهُ
إِذاif أَنتَyou حَدَّدتَyou sharpened مِنكَof your own النَظَرthe gaze
إِذا أَنتَ حَدَّدتَ مِنكَ النَظَر
In him you see one whose equal is never seen,
if you sharpen your own gaze.
يَتيهُhe is proud فَيُعذِرُso he has justification فيin تيهِهِhis pride
يَتيهُ فَيُعذِرُ في تيهِهِ
وَماand not كُلُّevery مَنone who تاهَacted proudly مِنّاamong us عُذِرwas excused
وَما كُلُّ مَن تاهَ مِنّا عُذِر
He is proud, and his pride is excusable;
not everyone among us who is proud is excused.
أَرَقُّmore tender مِنَthan العُذرِan apology عِندَduring العِتابِreproach
أَرَقُّ مِنَ العُذرِ عِندَ العِتابِ
وَأَحلىand sweeter مِنَthan الأَمنِsafety عِندَto الحَذِرthe fearful person
وَأَحلى مِنَ الأَمنِ عِندَ الحَذِر
More tender than an apology amid reproach,
and sweeter than safety to one afraid.
حَليفيmy ally إِلَهيmy God رَبُّLord of العُلىthe heights
حَليفي إِلَهي رَبُّ العُلى
عَلىagainst الأَبلَجِbright الوَجهِthe face مِنهُof his الأَغَرradiant
عَلى الأَبلَجِ الوَجهِ مِنهُ الأَغَر
My ally is my God, Lord of the heights,
against that bright, radiant face of his.
فَكَمso, how many بالجَزيرَةِon the island مِنof نَشوَةٍa rapture
فَكَم بالجَزيرَةِ مِن نَشوَةٍ
لَناfor us بَينَamong مَنثورِهاits stock flowers المُنتَثِرscattered
لَنا بَينَ مَنثورِها المُنتَثِر
How many a rapture on the island
was ours amid its scattered stock flowers!
وَقضدand indeed (apparent typo) نَشَرَspread الرَوضُthe meadow مِنsome of وَشيِهِits brocade
وَقضد نَشَرَ الرَوضُ مِن وَشيِهِ
عَلىupon الأَرضِthe earth ماwhat لَمnot يَكُنit was يَنتَشِرspread out
عَلى الأَرضِ ما لَم يَكُن يَنتَشِر
And the meadow unfurled some of its brocade
upon the earth—what had not been unfurled before.
وَرَضَّعَتِand suckled السُحبُthe clouds ماwhat صيغَwas fashioned مِنfrom
وَرَضَّعَتِ السُحبُ ما صيغَ مِن
لُجَينِthe silver of الأَقاحيthe daisies بِدُرِّwith pearls of المَطَرrain
لُجَينِ الأَقاحي بِدُرِّ المَطَر
And the clouds suckled what was fashioned from
the daisies’ silver, with pearls of rain.
وَقَدand indeed ظَهَرَappeared الآسُthe myrtle ياO! زَهرَهُits blossoms
وَقَد ظَهَرَ الآسُ يا زَهرَهُ
فَماso, how أَطيَبَpleasant العَيشَlife لَمّاwhen ظَهَرit appeared
فَما أَطيَبَ العَيشَ لَمّا ظَهَر
And the myrtle has appeared—oh, its blossoms!
How sweet life was when it appeared!
وَكُلُّand all الحَدائِقِthe gardens قَدalready أَحدَقَتencircled
وَكُلُّ الحَدائِقِ قَد أَحدَقَت
بِعُشبٍwith grass ذَكِيٍّsweet-smelling وَنَبتٍand plants عَطِرfragrant
بِعُشبٍ ذَكِيٍّ وَنَبتٍ عَطِر
And all the gardens were ringed
with sweet-smelling grass and fragrant plants,
وَنَورٍand blossom يُفَصِّلُadorns مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter it
وَنَورٍ يُفَصِّلُ مِن بَعدِهِ
بِماwith what شَكَرَتهُthanked it عَلَيهِfor it الشَجَرthe trees
بِما شَكَرَتهُ عَلَيهِ الشَجَر
and blossom that afterward lends adornment
with that for which the trees thanked it.
وَأَمّاand as for الخَليجُthe canal فَكَمthen how many صُبحَةٍa morning slumber
وَأَمّا الخَليجُ فَكَم صُبحَةٍ
نَعِمناwe took delight بِهاin it فيهِtherein بَينَamid الخُضَرthe greenery
نَعِمنا بِها فيهِ بَينَ الخُضَر
As for the canal, how many a morning slumber
we enjoyed there amid the greenery!
وَتِلكَand those البَساتينُorchards مِنfrom حَولِهِaround it
وَتِلكَ البَساتينُ مِن حَولِهِ
مُقَلِّدَةًnecklaced بِعُقودِwith necklaces of الثَمَرfruit
مُقَلِّدَةً بِعُقودِ الثَمَر
And those orchards all around it
were adorned with necklaces of fruit.
وَقَدand indeed شَهَرَdisplayed الوَردُthe rose ياruby (first fragment) قوتَهُits ruby (remaining fragment)
وَقَد شَهَرَ الوَردُ يا قوتَهُ
وَمَنand who لاnot يُسَرُّis delighted إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِشتَهَرit becomes manifest
وَمَن لا يُسَرُّ إِذا ما اِشتَهَر
And the rose displayed its ruby;
who would not rejoice when it comes into view?
وَأَمّاand as for الخُزاميlavender فَلاthen do not تَنسَهُforget it
وَأَمّا الخُزامي فَلا تَنسَهُ
فَنَفسُfor the very essence of المُرُوَّةِnoble conduct أَنthat يُدَّكَرit be remembered
فَنَفسُ المُرُوَّةِ أَن يُدَّكَر
As for lavender, do not forget it:
remembering it is the very essence of noble conduct.
بَلىindeed كَمhow many هُنالِكَthere مِنof بُلبُلٍa nightingale
بَلى كَم هُنالِكَ مِن بُلبُلٍ
يُبَلبِلُunsettles قَلبيmy heart إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle صَفَرit whistles
يُبَلبِلُ قَلبي إِذا ما صَفَر
Indeed, how many a nightingale there
unsettles my heart whenever it whistles!
رِياضٌgardens يُحَرِّضُurges ناعورُهاtheir waterwheel
رِياضٌ يُحَرِّضُ ناعورُها
عَلىto الاِصطِباحِmorning drinking إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle نَعَرit groans
عَلى الاِصطِباحِ إِذا ما نَعَر
Gardens whose waterwheel urges
morning drinking whenever it groans.
سَقىmay it water الغَيُrain (apparent typo) أَكنافَthe precincts of دَيرٍa monastery بِهاin them
سَقى الغَيُ أَكنافَ دَيرٍ بِها
يُطِلُّlooks out عَلىupon طَودِهاtheir mountain المُشمَخِرtowering
يُطِلُّ عَلى طَودِها المُشمَخِر
May rain water the precincts of a monastery there,
overlooking their towering mountain.
فَكَمso, how often غازَلَتنِيَflirted with me غِزلانُهُits gazelles
فَكَم غازَلَتنِيَ غِزلانُهُ
وَوَجهُand the face of الزَمانِtime جَميلٌlovely نَضِرfresh
وَوَجهُ الزَمانِ جَميلٌ نَضِر
How often its gazelles flirted with me
while the face of time was lovely and fresh!
فَماذاso what تَرىdo you think فيof ذَويthose possessing أَسهُمٍarrows
فَماذا تَرى في ذَوي أَسهُمٍ
تَضيمُwrong الشَريفَthe Sharif فَلاso he does not يَنتَصِرgain redress
تَضيمُ الشَريفَ فَلا يَنتَصِر
What, then, do you think of those bearing arrows
that wrong the Sharif, so he gains no redress?
كَأَنَّas though وُجوهَهُمُtheir faces أُفرِغَتwere cast
كَأَنَّ وُجوهَهُمُ أُفرِغَت
لَناfor us فيin قَوالِبِthe molds of تِلكَthose الصُوَرforms
لَنا في قَوالِبِ تِلكَ الصُوَر
As though their faces had been cast
for us in the molds of those forms.
فَمِنso among them ذيa man possessing قَوامٍa figure كَمِثلِjust like القَضيبِa bough
فَمِن ذي قَوامٍ كَمِثلِ القَضيبِ
وَمِنand among them ذاتِa woman possessing دَلٍّcoy charm كَمِثلِjust like القَمَرthe moon
وَمِن ذاتِ دَلٍّ كَمِثلِ القَمَر
Among them, a man with a figure like a bough,
and a woman with coy charm, like the moon.
وَكَمand how often قَدindeed عَدَلناwe turned aside إِلىto ظِلِّهِits shade
وَكَم قَد عَدَلنا إِلى ظِلِّهِ
لِيَحظىso that he may enjoy بِلَهوٍwith diversion حَميدِpleasing الأَثَرin effect
لِيَحظى بِلَهوٍ حَميدِ الأَثَر
How often we turned aside into its shade
to enjoy diversion with a pleasing effect.
وَماءُand the water of السُرورِjoy لِوُرّادِهِfor those who come to drink it
وَماءُ السُرورِ لِوُرّادِهِ
إِذاwhen فاضَit overflowed لَمnot يَكُthere was فيهِin it كَدَرcloudiness
إِذا فاضَ لَم يَكُ فيهِ كَدَر
And the water of joy, for those who come to drink it,
held no cloudiness when it overflowed.
وَفيand on كُلِّevery يَومٍday لَناfor us مُسمِعٌa musician
وَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ لَنا مُسمِعٌ
رَخيمُsweet الغِناءِof song رَخيمُsweet الوَتَرof strings
رَخيمُ الغِناءِ رَخيمُ الوَتَر
And every day we had a musician,
sweet of song and sweet of strings.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَغَنّىhe sang لِصَبٍّfor a lovesick man غَداwent forth at dawn
إِذا ما تَغَنّى لِصَبٍّ غَدا
وَمَغنىand the dwelling of صَبابَتِهِhis yearning قَدalready دَثَرhad fallen into ruins
وَمَغنى صَبابَتِهِ قَد دَثَر
Whenever he sang for a lover who had gone forth,
with the dwelling of his yearning already in ruins,
فَإِنthen if كانَwas زامِرُهُhis piper حاذِقاًskillful
فَإِن كانَ زامِرُهُ حاذِقاً
زَمَرناwe piped بِأَقداحِناwith our goblets إِنif زَمَرhe piped
زَمَرنا بِأَقداحِنا إِن زَمَر
then, if his piper was skillful,
we piped with our goblets if he piped.
وَبِكرٌand a maiden تَطوفُgoes around بِبَكرٍwith virgin wine لَهاbelonging to it
وَبِكرٌ تَطوفُ بِبَكرٍ لَها
عُقودٌnecklaces تُزَفُّis led as a bride بِهاwith them فيin البُكَرthe early mornings
عُقودٌ تُزَفُّ بِها في البُكَر
And a maiden goes round with virgin wine, which has
necklaces in which it is led as a bride at dawn.
عُقارٌwine تَرىyou see حُمرَred نيرانِهاits flames
عُقارٌ تَرى حُمرَ نيرانِها
تُطَيِّرُsend flying فيin الكَأسِthe cup مِنهاfrom it الشَرَرsparks
تُطَيِّرُ في الكَأسِ مِنها الشَرَر
Wine whose red flames you see
sending sparks flying from it within the cup,
أَلَذَّmore delicious مِنَthan البُرءِrecovery بَعدَafter الضَنىwasting illness
أَلَذَّ مِنَ البُرءِ بَعدَ الضَنى
وَأشهىand more desirable مِنَthan الغُمضِsleep بَعدَafter السَهَرsleeplessness
وَأشهى مِنَ الغُمضِ بَعدَ السَهَر
more delicious than recovery after wasting illness,
and more desirable than sleep after sleeplessness,
إِلىuntil أَنthat أَتَتناcame to us النَوىseparation بَغتَةًsuddenly
إِلى أَن أَتَتنا النَوى بَغتَةً
وَلَمand did not تَتَأَنَّpause وَلَمand did not تَنتَظِرwait
وَلَم تَتَأَنَّ وَلَم تَنتَظِر
until separation came upon us suddenly,
without pausing and without waiting.
فَأَصدَرَتِso it sent away from water القُربَnearness بَعدَafter الوُرودِcoming to water
فَأَصدَرَتِ القُربَ بَعدَ الوُرودِ
وَأَورَدَتِand it brought to water البُعدَdistance بَعدَafter الصَدَرdeparting from water
وَأَورَدَتِ البُعدَ بَعدَ الصَدَر
So it drove nearness from the water after its approach,
and brought distance to the water after its departure.
فَإِنso if غَدَرَbetrayed الدَهرُtime بيagainst me فيregarding أَخيmy brother
فَإِن غَدَرَ الدَهرُ بي في أَخي
فَكَمthen how many مِنof كَريمٍa noble man بِهِagainst him قَدalready غَدَرit betrayed
فَكَم مِن كَريمٍ بِهِ قَد غَدَر
So if time has betrayed me concerning my brother,
how many a noble man it has already betrayed!
Sol 6.1