أجَلْتَyou sent round يَاO بَدْرُfull moon فِيin سَمَاthe sky الْخَدْof the cheek
أجَلْتَ يَا بَدْرُ فِي سَمَا الْخَدْ
كَأسَa cup مُدَامٍof wine خِتَامُهَاits seal النَّدْnadd perfume
كَأسَ مُدَامٍ خِتَامُهَا النَّدْ
You have sent round, O full moon, in the sky of the cheek
You rose, O moon, in the sky of the cheek
a cup of wine whose seal is nadd perfume.
Like a cup of wine, sealed with softness
وَلَمْand did not تُبِحْهُpermit it فَمَنْso whoever يَذُقْهُtastes it
وَلَمْ تُبِحْهُ فَمَنْ يَذُقْهُ
يُجْلَدُis flogged حَتْمًاcertainly بِلَحْظِكَby your glance الْحَدْthe prescribed punishment
يُجْلَدُ حَتْمًا بِلَحْظِكَ الْحَدْ
Yet you have not permitted it; whoever tastes it
You have not offered its drink, so whoever tastes it
is surely given the prescribed lashes by your glance.
Is surely struck by your piercing glance
وصنتَand you guarded بِالشَّعْرِwith hair رَوْضَa garden خَدٍّof a cheek
وصنتَ بِالشَّعْرِ رَوْضَ خَدٍّ
زَرْفَنَهُclasped it الصدغُthe temple-lock بِالزبرجدwith emerald
زَرْفَنَهُ الصدغُ بِالزبرجد
And you guarded with hair a garden of a cheek;
You have adorned with hair the garden of a cheek
the temple-lock clasped it with emerald.
Whose curve is strewn with pearls
وَلاَand no امْتِرَاdoubt أنْthat حَمَىit guarded المُحَيَّاthe face
وَلاَ امْتِرَا أنْ حَمَى المُحَيَّا
فَرُبَّfor many a كَنْزٍtreasure حَمَاهُhas guarded it أسْوَدْa black guardian
فَرُبَّ كَنْزٍ حَمَاهُ أسْوَدْ
And there is no doubt that it guarded the face,
Don't deny that the beauty mark protects
for many a treasure has been kept by a black guardian.
Many a treasure guarded by a lion
أفْدِيكَI would ransom you شَمْسًاa sun بِغُصْنِupon a bough بَانٍof a bān tree
أفْدِيكَ شَمْسًا بِغُصْنِ بَانٍ
أثْمَرَbore fruit مِنْfrom فَوْقِهِabove it بِفَرْقَدْwith a Farqad star
أثْمَرَ مِنْ فَوْقِهِ بِفَرْقَدْ
I would ransom you—a sun upon a bān-tree bough
I'd sacrifice you, a sun to a willow branch
that bore above it a Farqad star.
Fruiting over it with turquoise gems
رَنَاgazed languidly غَزَالاًas a gazelle وَصَالَand charged لَيْثًاas a lion
رَنَا غَزَالاً وَصَالَ لَيْثًا
وَلاَحَand shone بَدْرًاas a full moon وَمَاسَand swayed أمْلَدْsupple-limbed
وَلاَحَ بَدْرًا وَمَاسَ أمْلَدْ
He gazed like a gazelle and charged like a lion,
It charmed a gazelle and captivated a lion
shone like a full moon and swayed, supple-limbed.
Shining like the moon, blunt like a tent peg
كَعْبَةُa Kaaba حُسْنٍof beauty شَدَاsang فَخِلْنَاso we imagined
كَعْبَةُ حُسْنٍ شَدَا فَخِلْنَا
مِنْهُof him عَلَىin الحَالَتَيْنِthe two guises مَعْبَدْMaʿbad; a temple
مِنْهُ عَلَى الحَالَتَيْنِ مَعْبَدْ
A Kaaba of beauty, he sang, and we imagined
A temple of beauty has drawn us together
him, in both guises, Maʿbad—a singer and a temple.
To worship in both conditions as believers
اعْتَدَّarmed himself بِاللحظwith his glance أوْor تَعَدَّىtransgressed
اعْتَدَّ بِاللحظ أوْ تَعَدَّى
فَهْوَfor he بِحَمْلِby bearing الحسَامthe sword مُعْتَدْarmed; an aggressor
فَهْوَ بِحَمْلِ الحسَام مُعْتَدْ
He armed himself with his glance—or transgressed;
Whether it kills with a glance or transgresses
for, bearing a sword, he is ready to attack.
It is justified in bearing the sword
لَمْdid not أنْسَI forget إذْwhen زَفَّled as a bride بِكْرَa virgin خَمْرٍwine
لَمْ أنْسَ إذْ زَفَّ بِكْرَ خَمْرٍ
لِخَيْرِto the best بَعْلٍhusband بِخَيْرِat the finest مَشْهَدْgathering
لِخَيْرِ بَعْلٍ بِخَيْرِ مَشْهَدْ
I have not forgotten when he led virgin wine as a bride
I won't forget when the maiden of wine was brought
to the best of husbands, at the finest gathering.
To a fine groom in the finest of scenes
صَاغَfashioned لَهَاfor her بِالْمِزَاجِby mixing تَاجًاa crown
صَاغَ لَهَا بِالْمِزَاجِ تَاجًا
ثُمَّthen لَهَاfor her بِالْحَبَابِwith bubbles قَلَّدْput on a necklace
ثُمَّ لَهَا بِالْحَبَابِ قَلَّدْ
He fashioned her a crown by mixing her,
It fashioned her a crown with temperament
then decked her with a necklace of bubbles.
Then adorned her with loves as its gems
شَمْسٌa sun جَلَتْunveiled وَجْهَهَاher face فَصِرْنَاso we became
شَمْسٌ جَلَتْ وَجْهَهَا فَصِرْنَا
لِرُكْنِهَاbefore her corner رُكَّعًاbowing وَسُجَّدْand prostrate
لِرُكْنِهَا رُكَّعًا وَسُجَّدْ
A sun unveiled her face, and we found ourselves
A sun whose face shone leaving us
bowing and prostrate before her corner.
Bowing and prostrating to its sanctuary
تَغْرُبُshe sets فِيin الثَّغْرِthe mouth ثُمَّthen يَبْدُوappears
تَغْرُبُ فِي الثَّغْرِ ثُمَّ يَبْدُو
لَهَاof hers شُعَاعٌa ray عَلَىupon سَمَاthe sky الْخَدْof the cheek
لَهَا شُعَاعٌ عَلَى سَمَا الْخَدْ
She sets in the mouth; then there appears
It sets in the breast then a ray reappears
a ray of hers upon the sky of the cheek.
Lighting up the sky of the cheek anew
سَوْرَتُهَاher fierceness بِالْمِزَاجِwith mixing تَقْوَىgrows stronger
سَوْرَتُهَا بِالْمِزَاجِ تَقْوَى
أمَاdo ... not تَرَىyou see وَجْهَهَاher face قَدَalready ازْبَدْhas foamed
أمَا تَرَى وَجْهَهَا قَدَ ازْبَدْ
Her fierceness grows stronger when mixed—
Its influence grows stronger with age
do you not see that her face has foamed?
See its face has become cloudy
حَبَابُهَاher bubbles فِيin الكُؤُوسِthe goblets يَرْمِيpelts
حَبَابُهَا فِي الكُؤُوسِ يَرْمِي
بِشُهْبِهِwith its shooting stars الهَمَّsorrow إنْif تَمَرَّدْit rebels
بِشُهْبِهِ الهَمَّ إنْ تَمَرَّدْ
Her bubbles in the goblets pelt
Its bubbles in cups bombard cares
sorrow with their shooting stars, should it rebel.
If they rebel with their sparks
لَوْif خَالَperceived كِسْرَىKisra سَنَاthe radiance هُدَاهَاof her guidance
لَوْ خَالَ كِسْرَى سَنَا هُدَاهَا
مَاnot كَانَwould have للِنَّارِto fire قَدْalready تَعَبَّدْdevoted himself in worship
مَا كَانَ للِنَّارِ قَدْ تَعَبَّدْ
Had Kisra perceived the radiance of her guidance,
Had Chosroes seen its guiding light
he would not have devoted himself to fire.
He wouldn't have worshipped the fire
وَلَوْand if جَلاَunveiled أكْمَهٌone born blind سنَاهَاher radiance
وَلَوْ جَلاَ أكْمَهٌ سنَاهَا
أبْصَرَhe would see فِيin الْحَالِthe present moment مَاwhat تَقَصَّدْhe sought
أبْصَرَ فِي الْحَالِ مَا تَقَصَّدْ
And had one born blind unveiled her radiance,
Had Akhma seen its brilliance
he would at once have seen whatever he sought.
He would've instantly understood its aim
وَلَوْand if عَلَىto مُقْعَدٍone paralyzed أدِيرَتْshe were passed around
وَلَوْ عَلَى مُقْعَدٍ أدِيرَتْ
لَقَامَhe would surely rise يَسْعَىhurrying وَمَاand not تَقَعَّدْremain seated
لَقَامَ يَسْعَى وَمَا تَقَعَّدْ
And were she passed around to one paralyzed,
Had it circled round a sedentary man
he would rise and hurry, no longer staying seated.
He would've risen up and walked briskly
يَسْعَىhurries بِهَاwith her كَوْكَبٌa star سنَاهُhis radiance
يَسْعَى بِهَا كَوْكَبٌ سنَاهُ
يَكَادُalmost يُخْفِيeffaces الظَّلاَمَthe darkness أوْor قَدْalready has
يَكَادُ يُخْفِي الظَّلاَمَ أوْ قَدْ
A star hurries about with her; his radiance
A planet it lit circles with it
almost effaces the darkness—or already has.
Nearly hiding the darkness with its glow
يَمُجُّspouts إبْرِيقُهُhis ewer سُلاَفاًchoice wine
يَمُجُّ إبْرِيقُهُ سُلاَفاً
كَكَوْكبٍlike a star نُورُهُits light تَوَقَّدْhas flared
كَكَوْكبٍ نُورُهُ تَوَقَّدْ
His ewer spouts choice wine,
Its urn pours drinks in streams
like a star whose light has flared.
Like a star whose light has sparked
فِيin رَوْضَةٍa garden بَانُهَاits bān trees تَثَنَّىswayed
فِي رَوْضَةٍ بَانُهَا تَثَنَّى
لَمَّاwhen شَداَsang طَيْرُهَاits birds وَغَرَّدْand warbled
لَمَّا شَداَ طَيْرُهَا وَغَرَّدْ
In a garden whose bān trees swayed
In a meadow whose branches bend
when its birds sang and warbled,
When its birds gathered and chirped
يَنْسَابُflows smoothly فِيهَاthrough it الخَلِيجُthe watercourse ذُعْراًin fright
يَنْسَابُ فِيهَا الخَلِيجُ ذُعْراً
إنْif أبْرَقَflashes lightning الغيمُthe cloud ثُمَّthen أرْعَدْthunders
إنْ أبْرَقَ الغيمُ ثُمَّ أرْعَدْ
the watercourse slips through it in fright
A stream meanders through it in panic
if the cloud flashes lightning and then thunders,
When the clouds thunder and lightning strikes
مُنْعَطِفٌcurving كَالْهِلاَلِlike the crescent طوراًat times
مُنْعَطِفٌ كَالْهِلاَلِ طوراً
وَتَارَةًand at others كَالْحَسامِlike a sword مُمْتَدْoutstretched
وَتَارَةً كَالْحَسامِ مُمْتَدْ
curving like the crescent at times,
Winding like a crescent then straight
and at others stretching straight like a sword.
At times like an outstretched sword
بِلْقَيْسُBilqis وَرْقَائِهَاof its gray dove تَهَادَتْwalked gracefully
بِلْقَيْسُ وَرْقَائِهَا تَهَادَتْ
لَمَّاwhen رَأتْshe saw صَرْحَهَاits palace الْمُمَرَّدْsmoothly paved
لَمَّا رَأتْ صَرْحَهَا الْمُمَرَّدْ
Its gray dove, a Bilqis, stepped daintily
Laila's branches nod to each other
when she saw its smoothly paved palace.
When they see its formidable palace
فِيin خَدّthe cheek نُعْمَانِهَاof its anemone اتِّقَادٌa blaze
فِي خَدّ نُعْمَانِهَا اتِّقَادٌ
عَلَيْهِupon it مَاءwater السَّمَاof the sky تَبَدَّدْwas scattered
عَلَيْهِ مَاء السَّمَا تَبَدَّدْ
A blaze burns in the cheek of its anemone;
A fire burns on its Numan's cheek
rainwater lies scattered upon it.
With the sky's water dripping over it
وَهَبَّand arose مِنْfrom حِجْرِهَاits lap نَسِيمٌa breeze
وَهَبَّ مِنْ حِجْرِهَا نَسِيمٌ
يَرْفُلُstruts فِيin ذَيْلِهِhis train الْمُجَعَّدْcrinkled
يَرْفُلُ فِي ذَيْلِهِ الْمُجَعَّدْ
And a breeze sprang from its lap,
A breeze blows from its rocks
strutting in his crinkled train.
Ruffling the train of its gown
وَنَبَّهَand roused الزَّهْرَthe blossoms مِنْfrom نُعَاسٍslumber
وَنَبَّهَ الزَّهْرَ مِنْ نُعَاسٍ
أرْغَمَhumbled أنْفَthe nose الْعَبِيرِof perfume فَامْتَدْthen spread abroad
أرْغَمَ أنْفَ الْعَبِيرِ فَامْتَدْ
And he roused the blossoms from slumber,
It awakens the flowers from slumber
humbled perfume's nose, then spread abroad.
Silencing the scent of musk as it stretches
وَهَزَّand shook عِطْفَthe flank الْقَضِيبِof the bough لَمَّاwhen
وَهَزَّ عِطْفَ الْقَضِيبِ لَمَّا
نَقَّطَdotted خَدَّthe cheek الشَّقِيقof the anemone بِالنَّدْwith nadd perfume
نَقَّطَ خَدَّ الشَّقِيق بِالنَّدْ
And he shook the branch's flank when
It sways the slender branch when
he dotted the anemone's cheek with nadd perfume.
It dots the cheek of the anemone with dew
وَصَافَحَand shook hands with الْوَرْدُthe rose خَدَّهُhis cheek إذْwhen
وَصَافَحَ الْوَرْدُ خَدَّهُ إذْ
شَمَّرَrolled up أكْمَامَهُits sleeves عَنِfrom الْيَدْthe hand
شَمَّرَ أكْمَامَهُ عَنِ الْيَدْ
And the rose shook hands with his cheek when
The roses unfold their sleeves to greet
it rolled its sleeves back from its hand.
And shake hands with the cheek
يَاO شَمْسَsun أفْقِof the horizon الجَمَالِof beauty مَنْone who قَدْhas
يَا شَمْسَ أفْقِ الجَمَالِ مَنْ قَدْ
قَدَّcleft المُعَنَّىthe tormented lover بِأسْمَرِwith a dusky spear الْقَدْof stature
قَدَّ المُعَنَّى بِأسْمَرِ الْقَدْ
O sun of beauty's horizon, one who has
O sun of the horizon of beauty, who has
cleft the tormented lover with a dusky spear of stature,
Presented meaning with the dark eyeliner
وَسَلَّand drew بَيْنَbetween الْجُفُونِthe eyelids سَيْفًاa sword
وَسَلَّ بَيْنَ الْجُفُونِ سَيْفًا
جَاوَزَsurpassed فِيin الْحَدّsharpness غَايَةَthe utmost الْحَدْlimit
جَاوَزَ فِي الْحَدّ غَايَةَ الْحَدْ
and drawn a sword between the eyelids
And let down between the eyelids a sword
whose sharpness surpassed the utmost limit,
Exceeding all bounds in sharpness
وَأوْتُرُand strung الْحَاجِبَينthe two eyebrows قَوْسًاas a bow
وَأوْتُرُ الْحَاجِبَين قَوْسًا
بِسَهْمِwith the arrow ألْحَاظِهِof his glances الْمُسَدّدْwell-aimed
بِسَهْمِ ألْحَاظِهِ الْمُسَدّدْ
and strung the two eyebrows as a bow
And the eyebrow a bow with arrows
with the well-aimed arrow of his glances,
Of piercing glances aimed straight
وَصَاغَand fashioned فِيin حَلْبَةِthe playing-field الْمُحَيَّاof the face
وَصَاغَ فِي حَلْبَةِ الْمُحَيَّا
بِصَوْلَجِwith the polo mallet الصُّدْغِof the temple-lock أكْرَةَthe ball الْخَدْof the cheek
بِصَوْلَجِ الصُّدْغِ أكْرَةَ الْخَدْ
and fashioned in the face's playing-field,
And shaped in the circle of the cheek
with the temple-lock's polo mallet, the ball of the cheek,
With the curvature of the temple an ear
وَبَرْقَعَand veiled الشَّمْسَthe sun بِالثرياwith the Pleiades
وَبَرْقَعَ الشَّمْسَ بِالثريا
فَوْقَabove سَمَاthe sky خَدِّهِof his cheek الْمُوَرَّدْrosy
فَوْقَ سَمَا خَدِّهِ الْمُوَرَّدْ
and veiled the sun with the Pleiades
And covered the sun with luster
above the sky of his rosy cheek,
Over the sky of its blushing cheek
وَزَرَّدَand clad in mail العَارِضَينboth cheeks كيماso that
وَزَرَّدَ العَارِضَين كيما
أُفْتَنَI might be bewitched بِالْعَارِضِby the cheek المُزَوَّدْwell-furnished
أُفْتَنَ بِالْعَارِضِ المُزَوَّدْ
and clad both cheeks in chain mail, so that
And clad the eyebrows in green
I might be bewitched by the well-furnished cheek,
To be allured by the well-equipped brow
وَألْبَسَand clothed الْخَدَّthe cheek مِسْحَa haircloth شَعْرٍof hair
وَألْبَسَ الْخَدَّ مِسْحَ شَعْرٍ
ضَفَّرَهُbraided it حُسْنُهُhis beauty وَسَوَّدْand blackened
ضَفَّرَهُ حُسْنُهُ وَسَوَّدْ
and clothed the cheek in a cloak of hair
And dressed the cheek in the touch of hair
which his beauty braided and blackened.
Its beauty bleached and darkened it
فَخِلتُso I imagined لَيْلاًa night عَلاَrose over صَبَاحًاa morning
فَخِلتُ لَيْلاً عَلاَ صَبَاحًا
أبْيَضُwhite هَذاَthis وَذَاكَand that أسْوَدْblack
أبْيَضُ هَذاَ وَذَاكَ أسْوَدْ
So I imagined a night that rose over a morning—
I was up all night until dawn
this white, and that black.
One white and the other black
أفْدِيهِI would ransom him آسًاmyrtle عَلَىupon شَقِيقٍan anemone
أفْدِيهِ آسًا عَلَى شَقِيقٍ
كَخَوْخَةٍlike a peach خَطَّtraced مَتْنَهَاits surface النَّدْnadd perfume
كَخَوْخَةٍ خَطَّ مَتْنَهَا النَّدْ
I would ransom him—myrtle upon anemone,
I'd sacrifice it, a myrtle whose trunk
like a peach whose surface nadd perfume has traced;
Is etched by the marking of dew
أوْor ظِلِّthe shadow نَبْتٍof a plant عَلَىupon غديرa pool
أوْ ظِلِّ نَبْتٍ عَلَى غدير
أوْor عَنْبَرٍambergris فِيin لَظًىa flame تَوَقَّدْblazed
أوْ عَنْبَرٍ فِي لَظًى تَوَقَّدْ
or a plant's shadow upon a pool,
Or the shade of plants by a stream
or ambergris in a flame that blazed,
Or amber burning in flames
أوْor نَثْرِa scattering مِسْكٍof musk عَلَىupon نُضَارٍgold
أوْ نَثْرِ مِسْكٍ عَلَى نُضَارٍ
أوْor سَبَجٍjet لِلْعَقِيقِagainst carnelian نُضّدْwas arranged
أوْ سَبَجٍ لِلْعَقِيقِ نُضّدْ
or scattered musk upon gold,
Or musk poured on meadows
or jet arranged against carnelian,
Or ruby carpeted with chrysolite
أوْor لازَوَرْدٍlapis lazuli أذِيبَwas melted كَيْمَاso that
أوْ لازَوَرْدٍ أذِيبَ كَيْمَا
برسمfor a design فِيupon شَكْلِهِhis form المُعَسْجَدْgilded
برسم فِي شَكْلِهِ المُعَسْجَدْ
or lapis lazuli melted to make
Or leagues of roses melted
a design upon his gilded form,
To take on their intricate shape
أوْor شَاطِىءٍa shore نبتُهُits plants مُحِيطٌencircling
أوْ شَاطِىءٍ نبتُهُ مُحِيطٌ
بِبَحْرِaround a sea نُونٍnūn (letter n) شعَاعهُits radiance مَدْspread
بِبَحْرِ نُونٍ شعَاعهُ مَدْ
or a shore whose plants encircle
Or a shore whose plants surround
a nūn-shaped sea, its radiance spread wide,
A sea of noon whose rays stretch wide
أوْor كَاتِبِthe scribe الْحُسْنِof beauty خَطَّtraced لاَمًاa lām (letter l)
أوْ كَاتِبِ الْحُسْنِ خَطَّ لاَمًا
فِيon صَفَحَاتِthe pages الْبَهَاof splendor وَجَوَّدْand did it well
فِي صَفَحَاتِ الْبَهَا وَجَوَّدْ
or beauty's scribe, who traced a lām
Or the writer of beauty wrote a lam
on the pages of splendor and did it well,
On the pages of splendor and flowed on
أوْor خطِّa stroke زَاجٍof vitriol عَلَىupon سَوَادٍblackness
أوْ خطِّ زَاجٍ عَلَى سَوَادٍ
أحَاطَencircled شَكْلاًa form سنَاهُits radiance أوْقَدْset alight
أحَاطَ شَكْلاً سنَاهُ أوْقَدْ
or a stroke of vitriol upon blackness,
Or the script of a foreigner on blackness
encircling a form whose radiance blazed,
Encircling a figure its glow lit up
أوْor رَايَةٍa banner آذَنَتْannounced بِفَرْحٍrejoicing
أوْ رَايَةٍ آذَنَتْ بِفَرْحٍ
إذْwhen قُورِنَتْwas paired بِالْبَيَاضِwith whiteness فِيin الخَدْthe cheek
إذْ قُورِنَتْ بِالْبَيَاضِ فِي الخَدْ
or a banner that announced rejoicing
Or a flag signaling joy
when paired with the whiteness in the cheek.
When joined with white on the cheek
كَأنَّمَاas though الْخَالُthe mole إذْwhen تَبَدَّىappeared
كَأنَّمَا الْخَالُ إذْ تَبَدَّى
بِصَفْحَةِupon the surface الْخَدّof the cheek إذْwhen تَوَرَّدْgrew rosy
بِصَفْحَةِ الْخَدّ إذْ تَوَرَّدْ
As though the mole, when it appeared
Indeed when the mole appeared
upon the cheek's surface as it grew rosy,
On the page of the blushing cheek
نُقْطَةُa drop حِبْرٍof ink بلوحupon a tablet تِبْرٍof gold
نُقْطَةُ حِبْرٍ بلوح تِبْرٍ
أشْرِبَwas imbued مِنْهَاfrom it الْعِذَارُthe cheek-down فَامْتَدْand spread
أشْرِبَ مِنْهَا الْعِذَارُ فَامْتَدْ
were a drop of ink upon a tablet of gold,
It was like a drop of ink on a slate
with which the cheek-down was imbued and spread;
Dyed by it the down erupted
أوْor رِجْلُa leg نَمْلٍof an ant تَسِيرُmoving وَهْنًاfeebly
أوْ رِجْلُ نَمْلٍ تَسِيرُ وَهْنًا
لماwhen اغتدىbecame بالبهَاby beauty مقيدfettered
لما اغتدى بالبهَا مقيد
or an ant's leg moving feebly
Or an ant walking gently
when beauty had fettered it;
When restricted by splendor
أوْor حَبُّa grain مِسْكٍof musk عَلَىupon اللَّظَىflame أوْor
أوْ حَبُّ مِسْكٍ عَلَى اللَّظَى أوْ
إنسَانُthe pupil عَيْنٍof an eye تراهُyou see it أرْقدْasleep
إنسَانُ عَيْنٍ تراهُ أرْقدْ
or a grain of musk upon flame, or
Or a seed of musk on embers or
an eye's pupil, which you see asleep;
A sleeping man's eye you can see
أوْor حَبَشِيٌّan Abyssinian حَمَىguarded ريَاضاًgardens
أوْ حَبَشِيٌّ حَمَى ريَاضاً
أوْor قُرْصُa disc لآدٍlabdanum resin (reading uncertain) بصحنon a platter عسجدof gold
أوْ قُرْصُ لآدٍ بصحن عسجد
or an Abyssinian who guarded gardens,
Or an Abyssinian guarding meadows
or a disc of labdanum resin on a platter of gold,
Or a slice of meat on a fine platter
أوْor مُوبَذَانُthe chief priest المجوسof the Magians يدعُوcalling
أوْ مُوبَذَانُ المجوس يدعُو
لَبْيتِto the house نيرَانهof his fires وَيَجْهَدْand striving
لَبْيتِ نيرَانه وَيَجْهَدْ
or the Magians' chief priest, calling
Or two Magian priests invoking
to the house of his fires and striving zealously,
Their temple of fire fervently
أوْor رَاهبٌa monk مِنْfrom أهَيْلِa little company حَلمٍof wisdom
أوْ رَاهبٌ مِنْ أهَيْلِ حَلمٍ
أصْبَحَhas become فِيin نَارِهِhis fire مُخَلَّدْan eternal dweller
أصْبَحَ فِي نَارِهِ مُخَلَّدْ
or a monk from a little band of the wise,
Or a monk from the wise ones
who has become an eternal dweller in his fire,
Who wakes in his fire eternally
أوor حبَّةٌa seed فَخُّلَهاa trap for it عِذَارٌcheek-down
أو حبَّةٌ فَخُّلَها عِذَارٌ
لِصَيْدِto catch طَيْرِthe bird الْفُؤَادِof the heart يُرْصَدْis set in wait
لِصَيْدِ طَيْرِ الْفُؤَادِ يُرْصَدْ
or a seed with cheek-down as its trap,
Or a peach whose down enticed
set to catch the bird of the heart,
To hunt the birds of the heart lying in wait
أوْor بُلْبُلٌa nightingale فِيamong الشَّقِيقِanemones لَوْلاَwere it not for
أوْ بُلْبُلٌ فِي الشَّقِيقِ لَوْلاَ
جَارِحُthe raptor ألْفَاظِهِof his words لَغَرَّدْit would surely warble
جَارِحُ ألْفَاظِهِ لَغَرَّدْ
or a nightingale among anemones, which, but for
Or a nightingale in the anemone, were it not
the raptor of his words, would have warbled,
For the predator of its words, it would've sung
أوْor كَوْكَبٌa star عَمَّهُenveloped it كسُوفٌan eclipse
أوْ كَوْكَبٌ عَمَّهُ كسُوفٌ
إذْwhen قَارَنَjoined الشَّمْسَthe sun فِيin سَمَاthe sky الخَدْof the cheek
إذْ قَارَنَ الشَّمْسَ فِي سَمَا الخَدْ
or a star enveloped by an eclipse
Or a planet eclipsed by darkness
when it joined the sun in the sky of the cheek.
When aligned with the sun in the sky of the cheek
بِالرُّوحِwith my soul أفْدِيI would ransom هلاَلَa crescent حسنٍof beauty
بِالرُّوحِ أفْدِي هلاَلَ حسنٍ
صَالَcharged هِزَبْراًas a lion وَصَالَand strutted أغْيَدْsupple-limbed
صَالَ هِزَبْراً وَصَالَ أغْيَدْ
With my soul I would ransom a crescent of beauty:
With my soul I'd sacrifice a crescent of beauty
he charged as a lion and strutted, supple-limbed.
That married both youth and maturity
قَلَّدَهُinvested him طَرْفُهُhis glance اجْتِهَاداًwith independent judgment
قَلَّدَهُ طَرْفُهُ اجْتِهَاداً
بِصَارِمٍwith a keen sword للِدِّمَاfor bloodshed تَقَلَّدْhe girded himself
بِصَارِمٍ للِدِّمَا تَقَلَّدْ
His glance invested him with independent judgment,
Itsglance adorned it with diligence
with a keen sword he girded on for bloodshed.
With a ruthless sword fit for execution
لاَdo not تُنْكِرُواobject إنْif أبَاحَhe permits قَتْلِيmy killing
لاَ تُنْكِرُوا إنْ أبَاحَ قَتْلِي
فَهْوَfor he لَعَمْرِيby my life الرَّشَاthe gazelle الْمُقَلَّدْcollared; invested with authority
فَهْوَ لَعَمْرِي الرَّشَا الْمُقَلَّدْ
Do not object if he permits my killing,
Do not blame me if it permits my murder
for, by my life, he is the collared gazelle whose authority is followed.
For by my life it is the permit to execute
Sol 6.1