أَياO مَنone who يُهابُis feared وَمَنand one who يُتَّقىis guarded against
أَيا مَن يُهابُ وَمَن يُتَّقى
وَمَنand one whom لَيسَnot يَرقىreaches اِمرُؤٌa man ماhowever high اِرتَقىhe climbs
وَمَن لَيسَ يَرقى اِمرُؤٌ ما اِرتَقى
O you who are feared and held in wary awe,
O you who are revered and pious
and whose heights no man can reach, however high he climbs;
None can rise as high as you have risen
وَمَنand one who يُمطِرُrains down الخَوفَfear أَعداءَهُhis enemies
وَمَن يُمطِرُ الخَوفَ أَعداءَهُ
إِذاwhen هُوَhe أَرعَدَthunders أَوor أَبرَقاflashes lightning
إِذا هُوَ أَرعَدَ أَو أَبرَقا
and who rains fear upon his enemies
You rain fear upon your foes
whenever he thunders or flashes lightning;
When you thunder and lightening
وَمَنand whose نَبتُplant سُؤدُدِهِhis nobility قَدalready نَمىhas grown
وَمَن نَبتُ سُؤدُدِهِ قَد نَمى
وَغَرسُand the planting of مَعاليهِhis lofty qualities قَدalready أَورَقاhas put forth leaves
وَغَرسُ مَعاليهِ قَد أَورَقا
and whose plant of nobility has grown,
The roots of your glory have grown
and whose planted glories have put forth leaves;
And the shoots of your virtues have leafed
وَمَنand one who لَيسَnot يَخذُلُforsakes مُستَنجِداًone seeking aid
وَمَن لَيسَ يَخذُلُ مُستَنجِداً
وَمَنand one who لَيسَnot يَحرِمُdeprives مُستَرزِقاone seeking sustenance
وَمَن لَيسَ يَحرِمُ مُستَرزِقا
and who never forsakes one seeking aid,
You never fail those seeking aid
and who never denies one seeking sustenance;
Or deprive those begging sustenance
وَمَنand one who لَيسَnot يَترُكُleaves فيin بَلدَةٍa town
وَمَن لَيسَ يَترُكُ في بَلدَةٍ
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle أَناخَhe encamps بِهاin it مُملِقاdestitute
إِذا ما أَناخَ بِها مُملِقا
and who leaves no one in a town,
You leave no region you visit
when he encamps there, destitute:
Without gaining sincere allegiance
تَمَتَّعenjoy بِعُمرِكَin your lifetime وَاِنعَمand take pleasure بِهِin it
تَمَتَّع بِعُمرِكَ وَاِنعَم بِهِ
وَإِلّاand otherwise سَتَندَمُyou will regret إِنif أَخلَقاit wears out
وَإِلّا سَتَندَمُ إِن أَخلَقا
Enjoy your lifetime and take pleasure in it,
Enjoy your life and delight in it
otherwise you will regret it if it wears away.
Or you'll regret once life has passed
وَزُرنيand visit me عَلىon الظَهرِthe back مَنof (vocalization unclear) عَزمَةٍa resolve
وَزُرني عَلى الظَهرِ مَن عَزمَةٍ
تَفوتُoutstrips بِكَwith you الخَيلُthe horses وَالأَينُقاand the she-camels
تَفوتُ بِكَ الخَيلُ وَالأَينُقا
And visit me, astride a resolve
Visit me with resolute intent
that bears you faster than horses and she-camels.
My steeds and camels outpace yours
فَقَدfor already دَهِمَovertook الفَجرُdawn طَرفَthe steed of الدُجىdarkness
فَقَد دَهِمَ الفَجرُ طَرفَ الدُجى
فَصَيَّرَso it made أَدهَمَهُits black steed أَبلَقاpiebald
فَصَيَّرَ أَدهَمَهُ أَبلَقا
For dawn has overtaken the steed of darkness
Dawn has approached, dimming the gloom
and made its black steed piebald.
And turned the darkness to twilight
وَأَبدىand displayed لَناfor us الزَهرُthe blossoms ياruby (first fragment) قوتَةًruby (second fragment)
وَأَبدى لَنا الزَهرُ يا قوتَةً
فَمِنsome of مُستَجادٍthe exquisite وَمِنand some of مُنتَقىthe selected
فَمِن مُستَجادٍ وَمِن مُنتَقى
The blossoms have displayed rubies for us,
The flowers have bloomed, a wondrous sight
some exquisite, others choice;
The finest of the fine, handpicked
وَزَخرَفَand adorned جَنَّةَthe paradise of بُستانِناour garden
وَزَخرَفَ جَنَّةَ بُستانِنا
وَأَلبَسَهاand clothed it مِنهُfrom it إِستَبرَقاheavy silk brocade
وَأَلبَسَها مِنهُ إِستَبرَقا
and adorned the paradise of our garden,
Our garden is now ornamented
and clothed it in their own brocade.
Dressed in the finest silken fabrics
وَفَتَّحَتِand opened القَضبُthe branches أَحداقَهاtheir eyes
وَفَتَّحَتِ القَضبُ أَحداقَها
فَزادَتso increased حَدائِقُهاtheir gardens رَونَقاsplendor
فَزادَت حَدائِقُها رَونَقا
The branches have opened their eyes,
The branches have opened their eyes
so their gardens have gained in splendor.
Adding charm to the gardens
فَماso whatever كانَwas مِنهاamong them وَقاحاًbold رَناgazed
فَما كانَ مِنها وَقاحاً رَنا
وَماand whatever كانَwas مُحتَشِماbashful أَطرَقاlowered its head
وَما كانَ مُحتَشِما أَطرَقا
The bold among them gazed out,
Some blossoms blush while others bow
while the bashful lowered their heads.
The hyacinth shines though earth still barren
وَلاحَand shone الشَقيقُthe anemone وَلَوand if لَمnot يَلُحit shone
وَلاحَ الشَقيقُ وَلَو لَم يَلُح
لِماit would not have نَعِمَenjoyed ease التُربُthe soil بَعدَafter الشَقاmisery
لِما نَعِمَ التُربُ بَعدَ الشَقا
The anemone shone; had it not shone,
Spring has adorned the hillside abodes
the soil would not have known ease after misery.
And removed all previous decor
وَزَمَّand fastened الرَبيعُspring قِبابَthe domes of الرُبىthe hills
وَزَمَّ الرَبيعُ قِبابَ الرُبى
وَأَذهَبَand gilded مِنهاof them الَّذيwhat زَوَّقاit embellished
وَأَذهَبَ مِنها الَّذي زَوَّقا
Spring fastened the domes of the hills
It comes dressed in patchwork attire
and gilded the parts of them it embellished;
Not forgetting any branch to adorn
وَجاءَand came مِنَof الوَشيِembroidered silk فيin مُعلَمٍa patterned garment
وَجاءَ مِنَ الوَشيِ في مُعلَمٍ
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَسَربَلَهُit donned it مُخرَقاtorn
إِذا ما تَسَربَلَهُ مُخرَقا
and came in a patterned robe of embroidered silk,
It has scattered the crowns of its lights
torn as soon as it put it on.
Not overlooking any divided limb
وَفَرَّقَand distributed تيجانَthe crowns of نَوّارِهِits blossoms
وَفَرَّقَ تيجانَ نَوّارِهِ
فَلَمso did not يَنسَforget مِنof غُصُنٍa branch مَفرِقاa crown of the head
فَلَم يَنسَ مِن غُصُنٍ مَفرِقا
It distributed the crowns of its blossoms,
The waters - their camphor is mixed
forgetting no branch's head.
With the musk of lilac so strong
فَأَمّاand as for المِياهُthe waters فَكافورُهاthen their camphor
فَأَمّا المِياهُ فَكافورُها
بِمِسكِaround the musk of البَنَفسَجِviolets قَدhas أَحدَقاencircled
بِمِسكِ البَنَفسَجِ قَد أَحدَقا
As for the waters, their camphor
Its snakes slither and glide
has encircled the musk of violets.
When the winds bring the moisture
تَدُبُّcreep وَتَسعىand glide ثَعابينُهاtheir serpents
تَدُبُّ وَتَسعى ثَعابينُها
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الرِياحُthe winds أَتَتcame بِالرُقىwith incantations
إِذا ما الرِياحُ أَتَت بِالرُقى
Their serpents creep and glide
The air too inclined towards its own
when the winds bring incantations.
Mending all it had torn
بَلىindeed الجَوُّthe sky حَنَّyearned إِلىfor جَوِّهِits sky
بَلى الجَوُّ حَنَّ إِلى جَوِّهِ
فَرَقَّعَso it patched مِنهَof it الَّذيwhat خَرَّقاit tore
فَرَقَّعَ مِنهَ الَّذي خَرَّقا
Yes, the sky yearned for its own sky,
So we see it glistening like silver
and patched the parts of it that it had torn.
Though just moments ago sapphire
فَصِرناso we became نُشاهِدُهُwe behold it فَضَّةًsilver
فَصِرنا نُشاهِدُهُ فَضَّةً
وَقَدand already كانَwas فَيروزَجاًturquoise أَزرَقاblue
وَقَد كانَ فَيروزَجاً أَزرَقا
So we now behold it as silver,
Do not be distracted from those who have gone
though it had been blue turquoise.
To leisure, which they prefer to all else
فَلاso do not تَلهُbe distracted بِالشُغلِby work عَمَّنfrom one who غَداhas become
فَلا تَلهُ بِالشُغلِ عَمَّن غَدا
إِلىfor اللَهوِamusement مِنthan غَيرِهِothers besides him أَشوَقاmore eager
إِلى اللَهوِ مِن غَيرِهِ أَشوَقا
Do not let work distract you from one who has become
Our skilled cook has risen early
more eager for amusement than anyone else.
And prepared breakfast to sate
فَقَدfor indeed قامَrose طَبّاخُناour cook فائِقٌFaiq
فَقَد قامَ طَبّاخُنا فائِقٌ
بِلَيلٍat night أَعَدَّprepared لَناfor us الفُيَّقاthe fuyyaq (unclear food term)
بِلَيلٍ أَعَدَّ لَنا الفُيَّقا
For our cook, Faiq, rose
He has stuffed the geese well
at night and prepared fuyyaq for us.
Fearing overcooking would ruin them
وَعَبّاand packed البَوارِدِthe cold dishes فيin جونَةٍa basket
وَعَبّا البَوارِدِ في جونَةٍ
أَجَنَّconcealed مِنَfrom الخَوفِfear أَنthat تُطبِقاit close
أَجَنَّ مِنَ الخَوفِ أَن تُطبِقا
He packed the cold dishes in a basket,
He brought pigeons dressed finely
concealing them for fear it might close.
In a nutmeg infused stew
وَوافىand arrived بِقِقيانِwith qiqyan (unclear term) سَنبوسَجٍsanbusaj (filled pastries)
وَوافى بِقِقيانِ سَنبوسَجٍ
فَأَلبَسَهاso he clothed it مِنهُfrom it دَستينَقاa dastinaq (unclear term)
فَأَلبَسَها مِنهُ دَستينَقا
He arrived with qiqyan of sanbusaj,
He expertly slit their tender meat
then clothed it in a dastinaq from that.
Else the skewers wouldn’t have pierced
وَخَلَّقَand perfumed عَنبَرَthe ambergris of طُردينِهاits turdin (unclear term)
وَخَلَّقَ عَنبَرَ طُردينِها
وَلَولاand were it not for المَقاليthe frying pans لَمّاit would not have خُلَّقاbeen perfumed
وَلَولا المَقالي لَمّا خُلَّقا
He perfumed the ambergris of its turdin;
He excelled in boiling the hens
without the frying pans, it would not have been perfumed.
For I had instructed they be boiled
وَأَبدَعَand excelled فيin سَلقِboiling هَليونِهاits asparagus
وَأَبدَعَ في سَلقِ هَليونِها
لِأَنّيbecause I أَمَرتُordered بِأَنthat يُسلَقاit be boiled
لِأَنّي أَمَرتُ بِأَن يُسلَقا
He excelled in boiling its asparagus,
The pot seemed a bride sent to her groom
because I had ordered it boiled.
Who takes her back each time they disagree
فَزُفَّتso it was led in bridal procession عَروساًas a bride إِلىto خاطِبٍa suitor
فَزُفَّت عَروساً إِلى خاطِبٍ
يُراجِعُهاhe takes her back كُلَّماwhenever طَلَّقاhe divorces
يُراجِعُها كُلَّما طَلَّقا
So it was led as a bride to a suitor
When he beautifies her with herbs
who takes her back each time he divorces her.
She awaits with desire the first crackling
فَحينَso when يَزينُهاhe adorns her حُسناًwith beauty
فَحينَ يَزينُها حُسناً
تَخُصُّshe favors بِشَوقٍwith longing إِذاwhen شُقَّقاit is split apart
تَخُصُّ بِشَوقٍ إِذا شُقَّقا
And when he adorns her with beauty,
Delectable vinegar, clarified and clear
she favors him with longing when it is split apart.
And seasoned salt so sublime
وَخَلٌّand vinegar ظَريفٌfine بِذاكَwith that الصِفاءِclarity
وَخَلٌّ ظَريفٌ بِذاكَ الصِفاءِ
وَمشلحٌand mashlah (unclear term) مَليحٌlovely بِذاكَwith that النَقاpurity
وَمشلحٌ مَليحٌ بِذاكَ النَقا
And fine vinegar, with such clarity,
He showered upon it caraway
and a lovely mashlah, with such purity.
That tears apart my every woe
وَأَلقىand he laid عَلَيهاupon it بِرازيدَقاbirazidaq (unclear food term)
وَأَلقى عَلَيها بِرازيدَقا
يُمَزِّقُtears apart هَمّيmy worry إِذاwhen مُزِّقاit is torn
يُمَزِّقُ هَمّي إِذا مُزِّقا
He laid birazidaq upon it,
He brought it to us right away
which tears my worries apart when it is torn.
To where we asked it be delivered
وَأَصبَحَand he became مِنّاthan us عَلىحَملِهاabout carrying it
وَأَصبَحَ مِنّا عَلىحَملِها
إِلىto حَيثُwhere قَلناwe said لَهُto him أَقلَقاmore anxious
إِلى حَيثُ قَلنا لَهُ أَقلَقا
He grew more anxious than we to carry it
My cherished friend, I have reserved
to wherever we told him.
Fresh grape juice, from the vine freely flowing
وَعِنديand I have فَدَيتُكَmay I ransom you مِنfrom بَعدِهاafter it
وَعِندي فَدَيتُكَ مِن بَعدِها
عَصيرٌjuice مِنَfrom الكَرَمِthe grapevines قَدhas been عُتِّقاaged
عَصيرٌ مِنَ الكَرَمِ قَد عُتِّقا
And I have—may I be your ransom—after it,
It comes to you as clear spirits
juice of the vine that has been aged.
Or saffron honey if you so wish
يَجيئُكَcomes to you مِنهُfrom it الخَلوقُsaffron perfume الَّذيwhich
يَجيئُكَ مِنهُ الخَلوقُ الَّذي
إِذاif شِئتَyou wish صَيَّرتَهُyou turn it into زَنبَقاjasmine oil
إِذا شِئتَ صَيَّرتَهُ زَنبَقا
From it comes to you the saffron perfume
It is carried to our drunkenness
that, if you wish, you can turn into jasmine oil.
By cups when we imbibe
وَساقٍand a cupbearer يُساقُis driven إِلىtoward سَكرِناour intoxication
وَساقٍ يُساقُ إِلى سَكرِنا
بِلُجمِby the bridles of الكُؤوسِthe cups إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle سَقىhe pours drinks
بِلُجمِ الكُؤوسِ إِذا ما سَقى
And a cupbearer, driven toward our intoxication
With cheeks excused for their full red blaze
by the bridles of cups whenever he pours,
Their flush like embers stoked
يَتيهُhe struts proudly بِخَدَّينِwith two cheeks قَدalready عُذِّراhave sprouted down
يَتيهُ بِخَدَّينِ قَد عُذِّرا
فَصارَso became لُجَينُهُماtheir silver مُحرَقاscorched
فَصارَ لُجَينُهُما مُحرَقا
proud of two cheeks newly fringed with down,
It woos those who desire its nearness
so their silver has become scorched.
And entices before being invited
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle دَناdrew near الدَنُّthe wine jar مِنهُto him دَناhe drew near
إِذا ما دَنا الدَنُّ مِنهُ دَنا
إِلىto مَنone who يَروقُis pleasing إِذاwhen رُوَّقاit is clarified
إِلى مَن يَروقُ إِذا رُوَّقا
When the wine jar draws near him, he draws near
It dances joyfully from its fervor
to one who charms when the wine is clarified.
And bucks before being ridden
وَأَغيَدَand a graceful youth تَطرَبُyou delight مِنat حِسِّهِhis sound
وَأَغيَدَ تَطرَبُ مِن حِسِّهِ
وَتَنعَرُand you cry out مِنfrom قَبلِbefore أَنthat يَنطِقاhe speaks
وَتَنعَرُ مِن قَبلِ أَن يَنطِقا
And a graceful youth whose sound delights you,
It is not withheld by the noble
and you cry out before he speaks.
Whether they withhold or release it
وَلاand no تُمسِكُholds الكاسَthe cup مِنّاamong us يضدٌa hand (apparent typo)
وَلا تُمسِكُ الكاسَ مِنّا يضدٌ
إِذاwhen هُوَhe أَمسَكَheld back أَوor أَطلَقاlet loose
إِذا هُوَ أَمسَكَ أَو أَطلَقا
No hand among us holds the cup
A vinegar, when visited by its own kind
whether he holds back or lets loose.
Is greeted kindly, a beautiful bond
وَخِلٍّand a friend إِذاwhen زارَهُvisited him خِلُّهُhis friend
وَخِلٍّ إِذا زارَهُ خِلُّهُ
تَلَقّاهُmeets him مِنهُfrom him جَميلُlovely اللِقاthe welcome
تَلَقّاهُ مِنهُ جَميلُ اللِقا
And a friend who, whenever his friend visits him,
It eases its owner’s burdens
greets the visitor with a lovely welcome.
And lightens his gloom to glow
يَروحُhe goes in the evening عَلىtoward مالِهِhis money قاسِياًharsh
يَروحُ عَلى مالِهِ قاسِياً
وَيَغدوand he goes in the morning عَلىtoward وَفرِهِhis abundant wealth مُشفِقاsolicitous
وَيَغدو عَلى وَفرِهِ مُشفِقا
At evening he is harsh toward his money,
So do not leave me lonesome today
and at morning, solicitous toward his wealth.
With a Lord who has granted you long life
فَإِنso if أَظلَمَgrew dark العَيشُlife فيin مَجلِسٍa gathering
فَإِن أَظلَمَ العَيشُ في مَجلِسٍ
أَعادَتهُmade it again أَخلاقُهُhis character مُشرِقاradiant
أَعادَتهُ أَخلاقُهُ مُشرِقا
If life grows dark in a gathering,
Your friend in me is of fine stock
his character makes it radiant again.
Rarely disagreeing with true friends
فَلاso do not تُبقِنيleave me اليَومَtoday مُستَوحِشاًlonely
فَلا تُبقِني اليَومَ مُستَوحِشاً
بِرَبٍّby the Lord يُمَلّيكَgrants you طولَlength of البَقاlasting life
بِرَبٍّ يُمَلّيكَ طولَ البَقا
So do not leave me lonely today,
by the Lord who grants you a long life.
فَإِنَّfor indeed صَديقَكَyour friend مِنّيin me فَتىًa young man
فَإِنَّ صَديقَكَ مِنّي فَتىً
قَليلُhaving little الخِلافِdisagreement عَلىwith الأَصدِقاfriends
قَليلُ الخِلافِ عَلى الأَصدِقا
For your friend in me is a young man
who seldom disagrees with friends.
Partial English translation: 82 of 86 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1