عِتابٌreproach لِدهرٍto Time لاnot يَمَلُّtires of عتابيmy reproach
عِتابٌ لِدهرٍ لا يَمَلُّ عتابي
وشَكوىand a complaint إِلىto مَنْone who لاnot يردّanswers جوابيmy reply
وشَكوى إِلى مَنْ لا يردّ جوابي
Reproach to Time, which never tires of my reproach,
Reproach of an age that does not tire my reproaches,
and a complaint to one who never answers me.
And complaint to one who does not answer my call,
وَأَطلُبُand I seek ماthat which أَعياhas exhausted الرّجالَmen طِلابُهits pursuit
وَأَطلُبُ ما أَعيا الرّجالَ طِلابُه
فَياso, O لِلحِجىfor reason كَمhow long ذاthis يَكونُwill be طِلابيmy quest
فَيا لِلحِجى كَم ذا يَكونُ طِلابي
I seek what has exhausted men in its pursuit.
I seek what men have wearied themselves seeking,
So, O reason, how long will this quest of mine last?
So how great my need, how long my quest!
وَبِيand within me ماsomething that أَذودُI drive away النّاسَpeople عنfrom بابthe door to علمِهِknowledge of it
وَبِي ما أَذودُ النّاسَ عن باب علمِهِ
وكلُّand all أُساتيmy physicians جاهلونignorant بماof what بِيis within me
وكلُّ أُساتي جاهلون بما بِي
I harbor something whose door of understanding I bar to others;
In me is a science men do not grasp,
and all my physicians know nothing of what is within me.
While all my peers are ignorant of my knowledge.
فلِيfor I have كَبِدٌa liver تَصلىburns بغيرِwithout خريدةٍa secluded maiden
فلِي كَبِدٌ تَصلى بغيرِ خريدةٍ
وَلِيand I have جَسدٌa body يبليwastes away بغيرwithout كَعابٍa budding-breasted maiden
وَلِي جَسدٌ يبلي بغير كَعابٍ
For I have a liver that burns, but not for a maiden;
I have a heart that prays with no ritual,
and a body that wastes away, but not for a budding-breasted girl.
And a body that suffers without sin.
إِذاif لَمnot أُرَغْI am desired عندamong الغوانِيbeautiful women تغزّلاًfor love-play
إِذا لَم أُرَغْ عند الغوانِي تغزّلاً
فَمثلُthen like مشيبيmy gray-haired age بينهنَّamong them شَبابيmy youth
فَمثلُ مشيبي بينهنَّ شَبابي
If I am not desired among beauties for amorous dalliance,
If I indulge the wanton in their sport,
then my youth among them is just like my gray-haired age.
My hoary hair resembles their youth.
وَلَوand if كنتُI were يوماًone day بالخِضابwith hair dye موكَّلاًcharged
وَلَو كنتُ يوماً بالخِضاب موكَّلاً
خضبتُI would dye لمَنfor someone يَخفيis hidden عليهِfrom him خضابيmy hair dye
خضبتُ لمَن يَخفي عليهِ خضابي
Were I ever charged with dyeing my hair,
And were I tasked one day with henna,
I would dye it for someone from whom my dye would remain hidden.
I would henna one who hides not my dye.
فَإِنso if تعطِنيgrants me أولىthe beginning of الخِضابhair dye شبيبةًyouth
فَإِن تعطِني أولى الخِضاب شبيبةً
فإنّيthen I أُخيراهat its end بغيرwithout شبابٍyouth
فإنّي أُخيراه بغير شبابٍ
If the first application of dye grants me youth,
And if you give me youth in my old age,
at its last I am without youth.
I shall treat it as senility without youth.
وَأَينand how far منَfrom الإِصباحِdaybreak صِبغةُthe tint of غَيْهبٍdarkness
وَأَين منَ الإِصباحِ صِبغةُ غَيْهبٍ
وَأَينand how far مِنَfrom البازيّthe falcon لونthe color of غُرابٍa raven
وَأَين مِنَ البازيّ لون غُرابٍ
How far the tint of darkness is from daybreak,
Where is the saffron at dawn, dye of sunset?
and how far a raven's color is from a falcon's!
Where is the raven hue in the hue of crow?
وقدand indeed قلّصتْhave shortened خَطْوِيmy stride اللياليthe nights وشمّرتْand curtailed
وقد قلّصتْ خَطْوِي الليالي وشمّرتْ
برَوْحاتهاwith their evening passages منof جيئتِيmy coming وذهابيand my going
برَوْحاتها من جيئتِي وذهابي
The nights have shortened my stride and curtailed,
The nights have straitened my steps,
with their evening passages, my coming and going.
Binding their departure and my coming.
وَكَمand how many ظَفرhave won الأقوامُmen فيamong البيضfair women كالدُّمىlike figurines
وَكَم ظَفر الأقوامُ في البيض كالدُّمى
بفُوفِwith the fine cloth of المنىhopes منهنَّfrom them لاnot بثيابِgarments
بفُوفِ المنى منهنَّ لا بثيابِ
How many men, among fair women like figurines,
And how many a people won at dice
have gained from them the fine fabric of hopes, not clothes!
Like idols, not for their raiment.
وَلِيand I have هِممٌambitions لمّاwhen طَمحْنَthey aspired إليto العُلاthe heights
وَلِي هِممٌ لمّا طَمحْنَ إلي العُلا
طمحْنَthey aspired كثيراتٍin great numbers وقلّand few were صِحابيmy companions
طمحْنَ كثيراتٍ وقلّ صِحابي
I have ambitions that, when they aspired to the heights,
I have resolves when they aspire on high
aspired in multitudes, though my companions were few.
Aspiring oft, though few my friends.
فمِنْso from عذْبِthe sweet أزوادِprovisions of النّزاهةِintegrity مطعمِيmy food
فمِنْ عذْبِ أزوادِ النّزاهةِ مطعمِي
ومنand from ماءِthe water of أحواضpools of العَفافchastity شرابيmy drink
ومن ماءِ أحواض العَفاف شرابي
My food comes from the sweet provisions of integrity,
My food is the nectar of virtuous provision,
and my drink from the water in the pools of chastity.
My drink from the pool of modesty.
فأيّso which بلادٍland ماnot خرقتُI traversed فِجاجهاits passes
فأيّ بلادٍ ما خرقتُ فِجاجها
وَفيand in أَيّwhich أَرضٍland لمnot تدُرَّhave poured rain سحابيmy clouds
وَفي أَيّ أَرضٍ لم تدُرَّ سحابي
What land's passes have I not traversed,
What land have I not pierced its chasms?
and over what earth have my clouds not rained?
What land have I not crossed its dunes?
وَأَيّand which صَديقٍfriend لَمnot تُصبْهhas reached him مثوبتيmy reward
وَأَيّ صَديقٍ لَم تُصبْه مثوبتي
وَأَيّand which عدوٍّenemy لَمnot يَنلهُhas befallen him عِقابيmy punishment
وَأَيّ عدوٍّ لَم يَنلهُ عِقابي
What friend has not received my reward,
What friend have I not visited in his affliction?
and what enemy has not felt my punishment?
What foe have I not punished for his deed?
أُريدُI seek الغنىwealth مِنfrom غيرِother than ماan emphatic particle جانبthe quarter of الغنىwealth
أُريدُ الغنى مِن غيرِ ما جانب الغنى
فسهمِيَso my arrow لاnot يُصمىkills outright وسيفِيَand my sword نابblunt
فسهمِيَ لا يُصمى وسيفِيَ ناب
I seek wealth from a quarter other than wealth's own,
I seek wealth without deviating from wealth,
so my arrow does not kill outright, and my sword is blunt.
So my arrow hits not awry, nor my sword bend.
وَفيand for راحَتيmy rest أَسعىI strive وَمنand from دونِbefore راحتِيmy rest
وَفي راحَتي أَسعى وَمن دونِ راحتِي
ركوبُriding شِماساتِrestive beasts المتونthe backs صِعابِhard to ride
ركوبُ شِماساتِ المتون صِعابِ
I strive for my rest, but between me and rest
At ease I strive, and without ease
lies riding stubborn, unruly backs.
Is riding the beast’s withers torture.
وَربّand many a أُناسٍman جارِعيswallowing مُرَّthe bitterness of بِغْضَتِيhatred of me
وَربّ أُناسٍ جارِعي مُرَّ بِغْضَتِي
وَأَضلُعُهمand their ribs ملأىfull بخبّof the cunning of ضَبابِlizards
وَأَضلُعُهم ملأى بخبّ ضَبابِ
And many men swallow the bitterness of hatred for me,
And many a biter my bitterness turned aside,
their ribs filled with the cunning of lizards.
Their ribs filled with the murk of clouds.
بَطيئينَlagging عنّيbehind me ناكِصينَretreating عَنِfrom الّتيthat which
بَطيئينَ عنّي ناكِصينَ عَنِ الّتي
رَقَيْتَyou climbed إِلَيهاto it منamong قلالِsummits of هضابِhills
رَقَيْتَ إِلَيها من قلالِ هضابِ
Lagging behind me, retreating from the heights
Lagging from me, retreating from my ascent
you climbed among the hilltops.
To which you climbed from the slopes of hills.
وَلَمّاand when جرَوْاthey ran يَرجونَhoping for سَبْقيpreceding me إِلىto العُلاthe heights
وَلَمّا جرَوْا يَرجونَ سَبْقي إِلى العُلا
مَضيتُI pressed on وَلَمّاwhile not yet يَلحَقواthey caught up بترابيwith my dust
مَضيتُ وَلَمّا يَلحَقوا بترابي
When they ran, hoping to precede me to the heights,
When they raced hoping to outstrip me,
I pressed on while they had yet to reach my dust.
I went, and when they sought to match my dust,
يريدونَthey want أَنthat أَشقىI suffer برَجْعby answering خطابِهمْtheir words
يريدونَ أَن أَشقى برَجْع خطابِهمْ
وَمنْand who فيهمamong them يستطيعُcan رَجْعَanswer خطابيmy words
وَمنْ فيهم يستطيعُ رَجْعَ خطابي
They want me to suffer by answering their words,
They wished my words confound me in returning,
but which of them can answer mine?
But who among them can return my words?
وَودّواand they wished وأنّىand how remote ماwhat يَودّونthey wish أنّهمthat they
وَودّوا وأنّى ما يَودّون أنّهم
أصابواthey found معاباًa fault لِيin me وأينand where معابيmy fault
أصابوا معاباً لِي وأين معابي
They wished—how far-fetched their wish!—that they
They wished, though they wished not, that they
might find a fault in me; but where is my fault?
Had found in me a fault, but where are my faults?
وَمُذْand since أَخطَأواthey missed بابَthe gate of الصّوابright judgment ونكّبواand turned aside
وَمُذْ أَخطَأوا بابَ الصّواب ونكّبوا
عَنِfrom الرّشدِsound guidance باتواthey spent the night حاسِدينَenvying صَوابيmy right judgment
عَنِ الرّشدِ باتوا حاسِدينَ صَوابي
Since they missed the gate of right judgment and turned aside
And when they missed the path of right, swerving
from sound guidance, they have spent their nights envying my rightness.
From guidance, they persisted envying my rightness.
وَقَدand indeed صَفِرتْwere emptied مِنof كُلّevery مَجدٍglory أكفّهُمْtheir hands
وَقَد صَفِرتْ مِن كُلّ مَجدٍ أكفّهُمْ
ولمand not تخلُwere empty منof مجدٍglory حَوَتْهُthey held it وِطابيmy milk-skins
ولم تخلُ من مجدٍ حَوَتْهُ وِطابي
Their hands have been emptied of all glory,
Their palms faded of every glory,
while my milk-skins have never lacked the glory they hold.
While mine were filled with glory and grace.
ولمّاand when تناهبناwe competed to plunder النّدىbounty جئتُI came راكباًriding
ولمّا تناهبنا النّدى جئتُ راكباً
سنامَthe hump of النّدىbounty فيon كلّevery يومِday of نِهابِplunder
سنامَ النّدى في كلّ يومِ نِهابِ
When we competed to plunder bounty, I came riding
And when we snatched the dew, I came riding
bounty's hump on every day of plunder.
The dew at dawn each day voraciously.
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمواthey knew أنّيthat I عَلىwith غيرِno ريبةٍsuspicion
وَقَد عَلِموا أنّي عَلى غيرِ ريبةٍ
تُلَطُّare drawn shut سُجوفيmy curtains ثمّthen يُغلَقis closed بابيmy door
تُلَطُّ سُجوفي ثمّ يُغلَق بابي
They know that, with no cause for suspicion,
They knew I was not to be tempted
my curtains are drawn shut and then my door is closed.
With wiles, then barred my door.
وإنّيand I وأَدناسُwhile the stains of الزّمانTime كَثيرةٌare many
وإنّي وأَدناسُ الزّمان كَثيرةٌ
مَررتُI passed فَلمand not تَعلقْclung بهنّto them ثِيابيmy clothes
مَررتُ فَلم تَعلقْ بهنّ ثِيابي
And I—though the stains of Time are many—
Many are the base souls I have passed
have passed through, and my clothes caught none of them.
And my robe clung not to them.
وَماand not كانَwas جاريmy neighbor وَالقِرىwhile hospitality يستفزّهdraws him onward
وَما كانَ جاري وَالقِرى يستفزّه
مَروعاًfrightened وقدand indeed وافىhe arrived بِنَبحِamid the barking of كلابيmy dogs
مَروعاً وقد وافى بِنَبحِ كلابي
My neighbor, drawn onward by hospitality, was never
I feared no villages to provoke me
frightened when he arrived amid my dogs' barking.
Though I was barked at by their dogs.
وَلاand not طارِقِيmy night visitor يرجوhoping for ثوابِيَmy bounty عائداًreturning
وَلا طارِقِي يرجو ثوابِيَ عائداً
بعسرٍin hardship ولاnor يُسرٍease بغيرwithout ثوابِa reward
بعسرٍ ولا يُسرٍ بغير ثوابِ
Nor does my night visitor, hoping for my bounty, return
No knocker hoping for my reward
in hardship or ease without a gift.
Came in hardship or ease without reward.
فَقلْso say للعدىto the enemies كونواbe جميعاًall together بنجوَةٍon high ground
فَقلْ للعدى كونوا جميعاً بنجوَةٍ
إذاwhen ماجsurges تيّاريmy current وجُنّand runs wild عُبابيmy flood
إذا ماج تيّاري وجُنّ عُبابي
Tell my enemies: all of you, keep to high ground
Say to my foes, beware altogether
when my current surges and my flood runs wild.
When my torrent flows and clouds rally.
وَلاand do not تَأمَنواfeel safe وَالشرّwhile evil ينتجُbreeds بِالأَذىthrough harm
وَلا تَأمَنوا وَالشرّ ينتجُ بِالأَذى
وَقَدand indeed سَحَّhas poured وَدْقِيmy rain أَنْthat تَسيلَflow شِعابيmy ravines
وَقَد سَحَّ وَدْقِي أَنْ تَسيلَ شِعابي
Do not feel safe—evil breeds through harm—
Trust not when evil sprouts in harm
from my ravines flooding once my rain has poured,
My hand has poured and my cliffs gushed.
وَوثبةand the leap of مَفتولsinewy الذّراعِthe foreleg قُصاقِصٍa mighty lion
وَوثبة مَفتول الذّراعِ قُصاقِصٍ
يُساعدhe aids ظُفراًa claw فيagainst الصّريعthe fallen victim بنابِwith a fang
يُساعد ظُفراً في الصّريع بنابِ
or from the leap of a mighty lion with a sinewy foreleg,
The bound of his bicep, a serpent
whose fang aids his claw against the fallen.
Whose claws grasp the fallen in sleep
هجومٍan assailant عَلىagainst الأقرانِrivals لَمnot يَثنِhas checked كيدَهhis stratagem
هجومٍ عَلى الأقرانِ لَم يَثنِ كيدَه
كَميٌّan armored warrior بِإقدامٍby bold advance ولاnor بهِبابِby swift attack
كَميٌّ بِإقدامٍ ولا بهِبابِ
An assailant of his rivals, whose attack has not been checked
Charging his peers, his wile never weakened
by an armored warrior's bold advance or swift assault.
Like a torrent, not pausing or fleeing
تَبوعٍa relentless pursuer لحوقٍan overtaker فيin يديهِhis paws طِلابهhis quarry
تَبوعٍ لحوقٍ في يديهِ طِلابه
وَماand not كلُّevery باغٍseeker فائزاًsuccessful بطِلابِin a quest
وَما كلُّ باغٍ فائزاً بطِلابِ
A relentless pursuer and overtaker, his quarry in his paws;
Hunting and overtaking, his wants in his hands
not every seeker wins what he seeks.
Not every desirer succeeds in his wants
ثَوىhe dwelt in الغابَthe thicket مَرهوبَdreaded المكانِthe abode وماand not الرّدىdeath
ثَوى الغابَ مَرهوبَ المكانِ وما الرّدى
يُلاقيهmeets him إلّاexcept فيin خبيئةِa hidden recess of غابِa thicket
يُلاقيه إلّا في خبيئةِ غابِ
He dwells in the thicket, his abode dreaded, and death
He dwelt in the thickets, frightened of places
meets him only in a thicket's hidden recess.
And met but in the cover of thickets.
تَرىyou see حولَهُaround him أَسلابَspoils of قومٍmen ولمand not يكنْhe was
تَرى حولَهُ أَسلابَ قومٍ ولم يكنْ
ليحفلto care فيabout مَنْone whom بزّهhe despoiled him بسِلابِfor plunder
ليحفل في مَنْ بزّه بسِلابِ
You see men's spoils around him, yet he never
Around him the spoils of a people, yet he cared not
cares for the plunder of those he has despoiled.
For who excelled him in spoils.
وَماand not لحظُهُhis gaze إلّاexcept كَنجمَيْlike two stars of دُجُنَّةٍdarkness
وَما لحظُهُ إلّا كَنجمَيْ دُجُنَّةٍ
وَلاand not بَطشُهُhis attack إلّاexcept كَمثلlike حِرابِspears
وَلا بَطشُهُ إلّا كَمثل حِرابِ
His gaze is nothing but two stars in darkness,
His gaze only two stars in darkness
and his striking nothing but the thrust of spears.
His might only like the flight of arrows
لهhe has زَفرةٌa groan مِنfrom فوقabove جنبthe flank of صريعهِhis fallen victim
له زَفرةٌ مِن فوق جنب صريعهِ
كماas صُكَّwas struck صُلْبٌa hard thing يابسٌdry بصِلابِwith hard objects
كما صُكَّ صُلْبٌ يابسٌ بصِلابِ
He gives a groan above the flank of his fallen victim,
Over his fallen foe a roar
like a hard, dry stone struck with hard stones.
As if a rigid timber flogged with scourges
حَكتْit mimicked زَفرةthe groan of المغلوبthe defeated حزناًin grief وخيبةًand disappointment
حَكتْ زَفرة المغلوب حزناً وخيبةً
وماand not هيit إلّاexcept زفرةٌa groan لِغلابِof triumph
وما هي إلّا زفرةٌ لِغلابِ
It mimics the defeated one's groan of grief and disappointment,
The roar of the defeated laments in sorrow
yet it is only a groan of triumph.
Though it is but the roar of victors.
وَنهشةَand the bite of مَسمومvenomous اللِّثاثِthe gums لعابُهُits saliva
وَنهشةَ مَسموم اللِّثاثِ لعابُهُ
خَروقٌpiercing إلىtoward الأرداءِdestruction كلّevery حجابُbarrier
خَروقٌ إلى الأرداءِ كلّ حجابُ
And the bite of one with venomous gums, whose saliva
The bite of lethal venom, his spittle
pierces every barrier to bring death.
Gashes unto the cervix every veil
تَراهyou see it لَصوقاًclinging بالتّرابto the dust كأنّهas though it
تَراه لَصوقاً بالتّراب كأنّه
قطيعٌa severed strip طريحٌcast aside أوor سقيطُa fallen piece of حِقابِa waist-cord
قطيعٌ طريحٌ أو سقيطُ حِقابِ
You see it clinging to the dust, as though it were
You see him clinging to earth as if
a severed strip cast aside, or a fallen waist-cord.
A flock collapsed or fruits of date palms felled
لَهit has مَلْمَسٌa touch لَيْنٌsoft وَحشوand the inside of أديمِهِits skin
لَه مَلْمَسٌ لَيْنٌ وَحشو أديمِهِ
خشونةُthe harshness of فرّاءٍa ripper لكلِّof every إِهابhide
خشونةُ فرّاءٍ لكلِّ إِهاب
Its touch is soft, but within its skin
Smooth is his touch, and the pelt of his hide
lies the harshness of one who rends every hide.
Is the coarse coat of a well-wrapped lithe cloak
يَسدُّbars علىfor السّاريthe night traveler الطريقَthe road مجرُّهُits trail
يَسدُّ على السّاري الطريقَ مجرُّهُ
وآثارهand its tracks يحمينguard كلّevery نِقابِmountain pass
وآثاره يحمين كلّ نِقابِ
Its trail bars the road to the night traveler,
His tread blocks the path for travelers
and its tracks guard every mountain pass.
And his tracks guard every approach
كأنّas though عليهupon it جبّةًa robe وهوwhile it صائفٌis in summer
كأنّ عليه جبّةً وهو صائفٌ
وفيand in القُرِّthe cold عُريانٌnaked بغيرِwithout ثيابِclothes
وفي القُرِّ عُريانٌ بغيرِ ثيابِ
It seems to wear a robe in summer,
As if wearing a coat though naked
yet in the cold it is naked, without clothes.
In the burrows without any clothes
يُمجّit spits سِماعاًvenom (uncertain reading) فيinto اللّديغِthe bitten victim كأنّهas though it
يُمجّ سِماعاً في اللّديغِ كأنّه
لُغامُthe mouth-foam of نياقٍshe-camels أوor نضيحthe seepage of حِبابِwater jars
لُغامُ نياقٍ أو نضيح حِبابِ
It spits venom into the bitten one, as though it were
He sniffs listening in the ambush as if
the foam of she-camels or the seepage of water jars.
A she-leopard or the bellow of camels
وماand not مشيُهُits movement إلّاexcept تغضّنُthe folding of نِسْعَةٍa plaited girth
وما مشيُهُ إلّا تغضّنُ نِسْعَةٍ
تَلَوَّىtwisting علىupon كوماءa high-humped she-camel ذاتِpossessing هِبابِswift movement
تَلَوَّى على كوماء ذاتِ هِبابِ
Its movement is nothing but the folding of a plaited girth
His gait but the writhing of a serpent
twisting upon a high-humped she-camel in swift motion.
Twisting over sand dunes in mirage
حُبابٌHubab, a serpent بأعلىin the higher of الواديينthe two valleys طريقُهُits path
حُبابٌ بأعلى الواديين طريقُهُ
وَماand not المَوتُdeath إِلّاexcept فيin طَريقthe path of حبُابِHubab
وَما المَوتُ إِلّا في طَريق حبُابِ
Hubab's path lies in the higher of the two valleys,
Asp on the heights is his path
and death lies only in Hubab's path.
And death is but on the path of asps
يَصمّit turns deaf عنِto الرّاقيthe snake charmer وَيحدُرُand brings down ظامِئاًthirsting
يَصمّ عنِ الرّاقي وَيحدُرُ ظامِئاً
لدانٍone drawing near إِلىto مطواهits coils كلّevery وئابِbounding creature
لدانٍ إِلى مطواه كلّ وئابِ
It is deaf to the charmer and, thirsting, brings down
He turns from the climber and descends thirsty
every bounding creature that draws near its coils.
To a lair, to every jackal’s den
فَشاكٍso a sufferer تَشكّاهُcomplains of it بِغَيرِwithout تَعِلَّةٍsolace
فَشاكٍ تَشكّاهُ بِغَيرِ تَعِلَّةٍ
وماضٍand one going forth توخّاهsought it بغيرwithout إيابِreturn
وماضٍ توخّاه بغير إيابِ
A sufferer complains of it without solace,
Doubting without cause, resolved without return,
and one who goes forth to seek it never returns.
Going without coming back.
سَلِask البارقَthe lightning العلويّon high ليلةon the night شُمتَهُyou watched it
سَلِ البارقَ العلويّ ليلة شُمتَهُ
وأعشىand blinded الكرىslumber رَكْبيmy fellow riders معاًtogether ورِكابيand my mounts
وأعشى الكرى رَكْبي معاً ورِكابي
Ask the lightning on high about the night you watched it,
Ask the lightning in the night of his demise
when slumber blinded both my fellow riders and my mounts.
To make my caravan and riders sleepless
أَلستُwas I not وَقَدand indeed خامَshrank الكماةarmored champions عنfrom الرّدىdeath
أَلستُ وَقَد خامَ الكماة عن الرّدى
لَبِستُI clothed myself in طعانيmy spear-thrusts نَحوهtoward it وضِرابيand my sword-strokes
لَبِستُ طعاني نَحوه وضِرابي
Was it not I, when armored champions shrank from death,
Am I not, though the warriors dismounted for rest,
who clothed myself in spear-thrusts and sword-strokes to face it?
Donning my coat of mail against them?
عَشِيّةَthe evening هابَfeared الدّارعونthe armored men تورُّديmy plunge
عَشِيّةَ هابَ الدّارعون تورُّدي
هُناكthere وَهمّand sought الطاعنونthe spearmen جنابيmy flank
هُناك وَهمّ الطاعنون جنابي
That evening the armored men feared my plunge
At eve when the mail-clad grew pallid
there, and the spearmen sought my flank,
I was there, though the spearsmen avoided me,
إِلىuntil أَنthat رأوْاthey saw سَيفيmy sword وَرمحيَand my spear فيin الطُّلىthe throats
إِلى أَن رأوْا سَيفي وَرمحيَ في الطُّلى
بِغَيرwithout أَنابيبٍshaft-sections وغيرand without ذُبابِpoints
بِغَير أَنابيبٍ وغير ذُبابِ
until they saw my sword and spear amid the throats,
Till they saw my sword and spear in the twilight
with neither shaft-sections nor points showing.
With no glitter or fluttering.
وماand what حيلتِيmy remedy أنthat كنتُI was فيin سرّthe choicest of أُسرَتيmy family
وما حيلتِي أن كنتُ في سرّ أُسرَتي
ولمand not يشركواthey shared فيin صفوتيmy purity ولُبابيand my essence
ولم يشركوا في صفوتي ولُبابي
What can I do if I am the choicest of my family,
My stratagem that I divulged not my secret
and they have shared neither my purity nor my essence?
And they shared not my essence and core
ولمand not أكُI was يوماًever قانعاًcontent فيin فضيلةٍa virtue
ولم أكُ يوماً قانعاً في فضيلةٍ
بأصليwith my ancestry ولاnor فيin مَحتِدٍnoble stock بنصابيwith my pedigree
بأصلي ولا في مَحتِدٍ بنصابي
I was never content, in any virtue,
Never content in virtue with my origin
with my ancestry, nor, in noble stock, with my pedigree.
Nor with the lawful in my lawful share
وكنتُمْand you were وهاداًvalleys هابطاًlow-lying ثمّthen أنتُمُyou
وكنتُمْ وهاداً هابطاً ثمّ أنتُمُ
تسامونyou vie فيin العلياءthe heights أهلَwith the people of روابِhills
تسامون في العلياء أهلَ روابِ
You were low-lying valleys, yet now you
While you were sedentary then declined
vie in the heights with those who dwell on hills.
You now ascend the lofty, people of hill-tops!
وهيهاتand far be it أنthat تستصبحواyou seek light فيin دُجُنَّةٍdarkness
وهيهات أن تستصبحوا في دُجُنَّةٍ
بغيرwithout مصابيحٍlamps وغيرand without شهابِflame
بغير مصابيحٍ وغير شهابِ
Far be it that you should find light in darkness
Never shall you see clearly in the darkness
without lamps or flame.
Without lamps or falling stars
وَهَلand is there فيكمُamong you إلّاexcept مَلومٌa blameworthy one مُفَنَّدٌone deemed foolish
وَهَل فيكمُ إلّا مَلومٌ مُفَنَّدٌ
ببذلِfor giving أَساةٍharm (uncertain reading) أوor بمنعfor withholding ثوابِreward
ببذلِ أَساةٍ أو بمنع ثوابِ
Is any among you not blameworthy and foolish,
Is there not among you a condemned disappointer
for giving harm or withholding reward?
By neglecting duty or denying bounty?
وَهلand has درّyielded milk يوماًever خيرُكمْyour bounty وهوwhile it نازحٌis far removed
وَهل درّ يوماً خيرُكمْ وهو نازحٌ
بشيءٍwith anything سوىexcept مسحيmy stroking لهof it وعِصابيand my binding
بشيءٍ سوى مسحي له وعِصابي
Has your bounty ever yielded milk, remote as it is,
And has the best of you moving house
through anything but my stroking it and binding it?
Ever poured me a drink or wrapped my turban?
صحبتُكُمُI kept your company جهلاًin ignorance بكمof you وملأتُand filled مِنْwith
صحبتُكُمُ جهلاً بكم وملأتُ مِنْ
عهودكمُyour pledges وهْيَthough they الضعافwere weak عِيابيmy bags
عهودكمُ وهْيَ الضعاف عِيابي
I kept your company, not knowing you, and filled, with
I kept your company in ignorance of you,
your pledges—feeble as they were—my bags.
And fulfilled your pledge – the weakest pledge!
وإنْand if فُتّكُمْI outstripped you فضلاًin merit فكمthen how often فاتoutstripped قبلكمْbefore you
وإنْ فُتّكُمْ فضلاً فكم فات قبلكمْ
سَبوقٌa swift racer علىover بُعدthe length of المدىthe course لكوابِfaltering steeds
سَبوقٌ على بُعد المدى لكوابِ
If I outstripped you in merit, how often before you
If you claim some merit over others,
has a swift racer left faltering steeds behind over a long course!
How many outstripped you from afar!
Sol 6.1