لَوif أَنصَفَتshe had been just ذاتُthe wearer of النَصيفِthe veil
لَو أَنصَفَت ذاتُ النَصيفِ
عَطَفَتshe showed compassion عَلىtoward الجِلدِthe skin الضَعيفِfrail
عَطَفَت عَلى الجِلدِ الضَعيفِ
Had the wearer of the veil been just,
she would have pitied the frail flesh,
وَشَفَتand quenched غَليلاًa burning thirst نَقعُهُits quenching
وَشَفَت غَليلاً نَقعُهُ
بَينَbetween الغَلائِلِthe fine undergowns وَالشُفوفِand gauzy robes
بَينَ الغَلائِلِ وَالشُفوفِ
and quenched a thirst whose relief lies
between fine undergowns and gauzy robes.
لَكِنَّهاbut she يَومَthe day of النَوىparting
لَكِنَّها يَومَ النَوى
بَخِلَتshe begrudged بِمَنزورٍa scant amount طَفيفِtrifling
بَخِلَت بِمَنزورٍ طَفيفِ
Yet on the day of parting
she begrudged even the merest trifle.
بَخِلَتshe begrudged بِتَسليمٍa greeting عَلىto الthe
بَخِلَت بِتَسليمٍ عَلى ال
مُشتاقِlonging lover مِنthrough خَلَلِthe gaps in السُجوفِthe curtains
مُشتاقِ مِن خَلَلِ السُجوفِ
She begrudged a greeting to the
yearning lover through a gap in the curtains.
وَلَطالَماand how often ضَنَّتshe begrudged بِزَوa visit (first part)
وَلَطالَما ضَنَّت بِزَو
رِa visit (remainder) خَيالِهاher phantom الساريnight-roaming المُطيفِhovering
رِ خَيالِها الساري المُطيفِ
And how often she denied a visit
from her night-roaming, hovering phantom!
ياO مَنyou who رَأىhave seen قُضبانَbranches of باbān trees (first part)
يا مَن رَأى قُضبانَ با
نٍbān trees (remainder) فيin الدَمالِجِarmlets وَالشُنوفِand earrings
نٍ في الدَمالِجِ وَالشُنوفِ
O you who have seen branches of bān
in armlets and earrings,
خُمصَslender of البُطونِbellies رَواجِحَheavy of الthe
خُمصَ البُطونِ رَواجِحَ ال
أَكفالِhaunches مِنamong مَيلٍswaying ones وَهَيفِand slim-waisted ones
أَكفالِ مِن مَيلٍ وَهَيفِ
slender of belly, weighty of
haunch, swaying and slim-waisted!
بَرَقَتflashed لِقَتلِto slay المُستَهاthe love-distraught (first part)
بَرَقَت لِقَتلِ المُستَها
مِthe love-distraught (remainder) لَهاfor her سَوالِفُsides of necks كَالسُيوفِlike swords
مِ لَها سَوالِفُ كَالسُيوفِ
There flashed, to slay the lover crazed
for her, necks like swords.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery سَكرىdrunken القَدِّin figure ماswayed (first part)
مِن كُلِّ سَكرى القَدِّ ما
لَswayed (remainder) بِهاwith her الصَبىyouthful passion مَيلَwith the sway of النَزيفِone overcome by wine
لَ بِها الصَبى مَيلَ النَزيفِ
Each with a drunkenly swaying figure, swayed
by youthful passion like one overcome with wine;
مَيّادَةِswaying العِطفَينِin both flanks لَوif only
مَيّادَةِ العِطفَينِ لَو
جُبِلَتshe had been formed عَلىwith قَلبٍa heart عَطوفِtender
جُبِلَت عَلى قَلبٍ عَطوفِ
swaying from side to side—if only
she had been formed with a tender heart!
وَلَقَدand indeed أَطَلتُI prolonged عَلىat رُسوtraces (first part)
وَلَقَد أَطَلتُ عَلى رُسو
مِtraces (remainder) الدارِthe dwelling بَعدَهُمُafter them وُقوفيmy standing
مِ الدارِ بَعدَهُمُ وُقوفي
Long have I lingered by the traces
of the dwelling after they had gone,
مُتَلَفِتاًlooking back لَوif only رَدَّrestored أَيّامَthe days of
مُتَلَفِتاً لَو رَدَّ أَيّامَ
الصِبىyouth مَدُّstretching الصَليفِthe side of the neck
الصِبى مَدُّ الصَليفِ
looking back—if only the days
of youth could be restored by craning my neck!
مُستَجدِياًbegging خِلفَthe teat of الحَياrain
مُستَجدِياً خِلفَ الحَيا
لِمَنازِلِfor the dwellings of الحَيِّthe tribe الخُلوفِdeparted
لِمَنازِلِ الحَيِّ الخُلوفِ
Begging at the teat of rain
for the dwellings of the departed tribe,
مِنof مَربَعٍa spring camp طَمَسَتهُeffaced it أَيhands (first part)
مِن مَربَعٍ طَمَسَتهُ أَي
ديhands (remainder) الرامِساتِthe burying winds وَمِنand of مَصيفِa summer camp
دي الرامِساتِ وَمِن مَصيفِ
whether spring grounds effaced by the hands
of burying winds, or summer grounds.
فَسَقاكِso may you be watered ياO دارَhome of الأَحِبthe loved ones (first part)
فَسَقاكِ يا دارَ الأَحِب
بَةِthe loved ones (remainder) كُلُّevery هَطّالٍpouring raincloud وَكوفِdripping copiously
بَةِ كُلُّ هَطّالٍ وَكوفِ
May you be watered, home of the beloved,
by every cloud that pours and streams,
صَخِبِclamorous with الرَواعِدِthunder مُستَطيرِfar-spreading
صَخِبِ الرَواعِدِ مُستَطيرِ
البَرقِlightning لَمّاعٍbrilliantly flashing خَطوفِswiftly darting
البَرقِ لَمّاعٍ خَطوفِ
clamorous with thunder, with far-spreading
lightning, flashing and darting,
كَضِياءِlike the radiance of عَزمِthe resolve of أَبيAbu المُظَفal-Muzaffar (first part)
كَضِياءِ عَزمِ أَبي المُظَف
فَرِal-Muzaffar (remainder) فيin دُجىthe darkness of الخَطبِthe crisis المَخوفِdreaded
فَرِ في دُجى الخَطبِ المَخوفِ
like the radiance of Abu al-Muzaffar's resolve
in the darkness of a dreaded crisis:
ذيpossessed of النائِلِbounty الفَيّاضِoverflowing فيin الthe
ذي النائِلِ الفَيّاضِ في ال
لَزَباتِhardships وَالرَأيِand judgment الحَصيفِsound
لَزَباتِ وَالرَأيِ الحَصيفِ
whose bounty overflows in
hardships, and whose judgment is sound;
عَدلِjust in القَضاءِjudgment وَإِنand though غَداhe becomes
عَدلِ القَضاءِ وَإِن غَدا
فيover المالِwealth ذاpossessed of حُكمٍa rule عَنيفِruthless
في المالِ ذا حُكمٍ عَنيفِ
just in judgment, though he becomes
a ruthless ruler over wealth;
نائيdistant in المَحَلِّstation وَجودُهُand his bounty
نائي المَحَلِّ وَجودُهُ
لِعُفاتِهِfor his petitioners دانيnear-hanging القُطوفِfruit clusters
لِعُفاتِهِ داني القُطوفِ
far is his station, yet his bounty
has fruit within reach of his petitioners.
خِرقٍrecklessly lavish بِماwith what مَلَكَتpossessed يَداtwo hands
خِرقٍ بِما مَلَكَت يَدا
هُhis مُعَوَّدٍaccustomed to خَرقَbreaching الصُفوفِthe ranks
هُ مُعَوَّدٍ خَرقَ الصُفوفِ
Recklessly lavish with whatever his hands
possess, accustomed to breaching ranks;
خِدنِcompanion of العُلىhigh deeds إِلفِintimate of النَدىbounty
خِدنِ العُلى إِلفِ النَدى
وَالجودِand generosity وَهّابِlavish giver of الأُلوفِthousands
وَالجودِ وَهّابِ الأُلوفِ
companion of high deeds, intimate of bounty
and generosity, giver of thousands;
القائِدِthe leader of الجُردَsleek steeds السَوابِقَswift-running
القائِدِ الجُردَ السَوابِقَ
لاnot تَمَلُّthey tire مِنَof الوَجيفِgalloping
لا تَمَلُّ مِنَ الوَجيفِ
leading sleek, swift-running steeds
that never tire of galloping.
فَرَعَhe surmounted العَلاءَglory بِلاwithout رَسيa rival (first part)
فَرَعَ العَلاءَ بِلا رَسي
لٍa rival (remainder) وَاِمتَطاهُand rode it بِلاwithout رَديفِa rider behind him
لٍ وَاِمتَطاهُ بِلا رَديفِ
He scaled the heights without a rival
and rode them with no rider behind him,
حَتّىuntil أَنافَtowered عَلىabove الكَواthe stars (first part)
حَتّى أَنافَ عَلى الكَوا
كِبِthe stars (remainder) طودُthe mountain of سودَدِهِhis greatness المُنيفِlofty
كِبِ طودُ سودَدِهِ المُنيفِ
until above the stars there towered
the lofty mountain of his greatness.
وَتَناوَلَand he attained الشَرَفَhonor البَعيdistant (first part)
وَتَناوَلَ الشَرَفَ البَعي
دَdistant (remainder) إِمارَةَthe leadership of الخَلقِhumankind الشَريفِnoble
دَ إِمارَةَ الخَلقِ الشَريفِ
And he attained the distant honor:
the leadership of noble humankind.
عَبلُstout of الذِراعِarm إِذاwhen سَطاhe strikes
عَبلُ الذِراعِ إِذا سَطا
بيراعِهِwith his reed-pen النِضوِlean النَحيفِslender
بيراعِهِ النِضوِ النَحيفِ
Stout of arm, when he strikes
with his lean and slender reed-pen,
خَرَّتfell لَهُbefore him سُمرُthe dusky القَناlances
خَرَّت لَهُ سُمرُ القَنا
وَعَنَتand bowed لَهُto him بَيضُthe white السُيوفِswords
وَعَنَت لَهُ بَيضُ السُيوفِ
the dusky lances fall before him,
and the bright swords bow to him.
ظُبَتاهُits two nib-points تَجريflow بِالفَواwith benefits (first part)
ظُبَتاهُ تَجري بِالفَوا
ئِدِbenefits (remainder) وَالمَكائِدِand stratagems وَالحُتوفِand deaths
ئِدِ وَالمَكائِدِ وَالحُتوفِ
Its two nib-points flow with benefits,
with stratagems and deaths.
كَالشَهدِlike honey طَوراًat times وَهوَwhile it is لِلfor the
كَالشَهدِ طَوراً وَهوَ لِل
أَعداءِenemies كَالسَمِّlike poison المَدوفِmixed
أَعداءِ كَالسَمِّ المَدوفِ
Like honey at times, yet for
enemies it is like mingled poison.
مِنof مَعشَرٍa people بيضِwhite of الوُجوfaces (first part)
مِن مَعشَرٍ بيضِ الوُجو
هِfaces (remainder) إِذاwhen اِنتَدواthey assembled شُمِّlofty of الأُنوفِnoses
هِ إِذا اِنتَدوا شُمِّ الأُنوفِ
Of a people bright of face,
proud of nose when they assemble;
فَضَلواthey surpassed الوَرىmankind كَرَماًin generosity كَماjust as
فَضَلوا الوَرى كَرَماً كَما
فَضَلَexcelled الرَبيعُspring عَلىover الخَريفِautumn
فَضَلَ الرَبيعُ عَلى الخَريفِ
they surpass mankind in generosity, as
spring surpasses autumn.
أَطوادُmountains of حِلمٍforbearance فيin النَدِيِّthe assembly
أَطوادُ حِلمٍ في النَدِيِّ
وَفيand in الوَغىbattle أُسدُlions of الغَريفِthe thicket
وَفي الوَغى أُسدُ الغَريفِ
Mountains of forbearance in the assembly,
and in battle, lions of the thicket.
شادواthey raised بِناthe edifice of المَجدِglory التَليدِinherited
شادوا بِنا المَجدِ التَليدِ
بِماwith what اِبتَنوهُthey built it مِنَof الطَريفِnewly acquired honor
بِما اِبتَنوهُ مِنَ الطَريفِ
They raised the edifice of inherited glory
with the new honors they built.
وَأَماand indeed وَمَنby him who أَردىlaid low كُماchampions (first part)
وَأَما وَمَن أَردى كُما
ةَchampions (remainder) الجِنِّthe jinn فيon يَومِthe day of الخَسيفِal-Khasif
ةَ الجِنِّ في يَومِ الخَسيفِ
Indeed, by him who laid low the champions
of the jinn on the day of al-Khasif,
فَصَبَتso they inclined عَلىat يَدِهِhis hand إِلىtoward الthe
فَصَبَت عَلى يَدِهِ إِلى ال
إِسلامِIslam وَالدينِand the faith الحَنيفِupright
إِسلامِ وَالدينِ الحَنيفِ
so that at his hand they turned toward
Islam and the upright faith:
لَولاwere it not for جَلالُJalal الدينِal-Din يُعaids us (first part)
لَولا جَلالُ الدينِ يُع
ديناaids us (remainder) عَلىagainst الزَمَنِtime العَسوفِtyrannical
دينا عَلى الزَمَنِ العَسوفِ
Were Jalal al-Din not to aid us
against tyrannical time,
لَمnot يَنصَرِفwould desist عَنfrom ظُلمِناwronging us
لَم يَنصَرِف عَن ظُلمِنا
أَيديthe hands of النَوائِبِcalamities وَالصُروفِand reversals
أَيدي النَوائِبِ وَالصُروفِ
never would they cease to wrong us,
the hands of calamities and reversals.
ياO اِبنَson of الأَسِنَّةِspearheads وَالذُبىand sword-edges
يا اِبنَ الأَسِنَّةِ وَالذُبى
وَأَخاand brother of النَدىbounty وَأَباand father of الضُيوفِguests
وَأَخا النَدى وَأَبا الضُيوفِ
O son of spearheads and sword-edges,
brother of bounty and father of guests!
ياO مَنyou who يَبيتُspends the night الوَفدُthe visiting delegation مِنthrough
يا مَن يَبيتُ الوَفدُ مِن
جَدواهُhis bounty فيin أَمنٍsafety وَريفِand plenty
جَدواهُ في أَمنٍ وَريفِ
O you whose visiting envoys pass the night,
through your bounty, in safety and plenty;
وَيَحِلُّand lodges مِنهُin him المُذنِبُthe guilty one الthe
وَيَحِلُّ مِنهُ المُذنِبُ ال
جانيoffender بِذيwith one possessed of كَرَمٍgenerosity رَؤوفِcompassionate
جاني بِذي كَرَمٍ رَؤوفِ
and in whom the guilty
offender finds a generous, merciful host!
ياO صَيرَفِيَّassayer of الشِعرِpoetry نَفrejecting (first part)
يا صَيرَفِيَّ الشِعرِ نَف
ياًrejecting (remainder) لِلبَهارِجِof counterfeit coins وَالزُيوفِand debased coins
ياً لِلبَهارِجِ وَالزُيوفِ
O assayer of poetry, casting out
counterfeits and debased coins,
فَلَقَدfor indeed أَتَيتُكَI came to you فيin الثَناpraise (first part)
فَلَقَد أَتَيتُكَ في الثَنا
ءِpraise (remainder) بِواضِحٍwith a bright specimen مِنهُof it مَشوُفِburnished
ءِ بِواضِحٍ مِنهُ مَشوُفِ
For I have indeed brought you, in praise,
a bright, burnished specimen:
مِدَحاًpoems of praise نَزَعنَthey inclined إِلىtoward أَبٍa father
مِدَحاً نَزَعنَ إِلى أَبٍ
فيin الشِعرِpoetry أَباءٍunyielding عَيوفِfastidious
في الشِعرِ أَباءٍ عَيوفِ
poems of praise that take after a father
in verse, unyielding and fastidious;
كالرَوضَةِlike a garden الغَنّاءِlush أَوor
كالرَوضَةِ الغَنّاءِ أَو
كَغِناءِlike the song of ساجِعَةٍa cooing dove هَتوفِfull-voiced
كَغِناءِ ساجِعَةٍ هَتوفِ
like a luxuriant garden, or
the song of a full-voiced, cooing dove.
نَشَأَتthey grew up مَعَwith الآدابِthe literary arts فيin
نَشَأَت مَعَ الآدابِ في
حِجرِthe lap of النَزاهَةِpurity وَالعُزوفِand self-restraint
حِجرِ النَزاهَةِ وَالعُزوفِ
They grew up with letters, in
the lap of purity and self-restraint,
وَتَرَدَّدَتand they ranged بَينَbetween الكَلامِwords
وَتَرَدَّدَت بَينَ الكَلامِ
الجَزلِrobust وَالمَعنىand meaning اللَطيفِsubtle
الجَزلِ وَالمَعنى اللَطيفِ
and ranged between words
robust, and meanings subtle.
تَبراthey clear themselves مِنَof اللفظِdiction الرَكيكِfeeble
تَبرا مِنَ اللفظِ الرَكيكِ
إِلَيكَbefore you وَالنَظمِand versification السَخيفِpaltry
إِلَيكَ وَالنَظمِ السَخيفِ
They disavow feeble diction
before you, and paltry verse.
فَلَهاso theirs is عَلىover أَخَواتِهاtheir sisters
فَلَها عَلى أَخَواتِها
فَضلُthe superiority of السَنامِthe hump عَلىover الوَظيفِthe shank
فَضلُ السَنامِ عَلى الوَظيفِ
Thus they surpass their sister poems
as the hump towers above the shank.
لاnever زِلتَmay you cease being عَوناًa help كافِياًsufficient
لا زِلتَ عَوناً كافِياً
لِلجارِto the neighbor غَوثاًa rescuer لِلَّهيفِfor the distressed
لِلجارِ غَوثاً لِلَّهيفِ
May you ever remain an unfailing help
to the neighbor, a rescuer of the distressed;
وَسَلِمتَand may you be safe ياO شمسَsun of المَكاnoble deeds (first part)
وَسَلِمتَ يا شمسَ المَكا
رِمِnoble deeds (remainder) مِنfrom زَوالٍsetting أَوor كُسوفِeclipse
رِمِ مِن زَوالٍ أَو كُسوفِ
and may you, sun of noble deeds, be safe
from setting or eclipse;
وَبَقيتَand may you remain تَنتَسِفُuprooting العَدُthe enemy (first part)
وَبَقيتَ تَنتَسِفُ العَدُ
وَthe enemy (remainder) بَريحِwith the wind of إِقبالٍgood fortune عَصوفِtempestuous
وَ بَريحِ إِقبالٍ عَصوفِ
and may you keep uprooting the foe
with fortune's tempestuous wind,
ماas long as اِرتاحَthrilled ذوone possessed of طَرَبٍrapture وَماand as long as
ما اِرتاحَ ذو طَرَبٍ وَما
حَنَّyearned الأَليفُthe companion إِلىfor الأَليفِthe companion
حَنَّ الأَليفُ إِلى الأَليفِ
as long as one in rapture thrills, and
companion yearns for companion.
Sol 6.1