جَدَّhe acted earnestly بِقَلبيwith my heart وَمَزَحand jested
جَدَّ بِقَلبي وَمَزَح
ظَبيٌa gazelle مِنَof التُركِthe Turks سَنَحappeared
ظَبيٌ مِنَ التُركِ سَنَح
He grew earnest with my heart and jested—
He dealt with my heart in earnest and in jest—
a Turkish gazelle who came into view.
a gazelle of the Turks who came into view.
مُعَذِّرٌa youth with budding cheek-down قَدalready بانَbecame evident عُذmy excuse (first part)
مُعَذِّرٌ قَد بانَ عُذ
ريmy excuse (completion) فيin هَواهُlove for him وَاِتَّضَحand became clear
ري في هَواهُ وَاِتَّضَح
Downy-cheeked—my excuse
A youth with budding cheek-down: my excuse is plain
for loving him appeared, plain and clear.
for loving him, and clear.
مُسَلَّطٌgiven power عَلىover القُلوthe hearts (first part)
مُسَلَّطٌ عَلى القُلو
بِthe hearts (completion) ماnot يُباليhe cares ماwhat اِجتَرَحhe inflicted
بِ ما يُبالي ما اِجتَرَح
He holds sway over hearts,
He rules over hearts,
caring nothing for whatever wounds he inflicts.
heedless of the wounds he inflicts.
يُمسيhe spends the evening مُطِلّاًleaving blood unavenged ماwhat أَراhe shed (first part)
يُمسي مُطِلّاً ما أَرا
قَhe shed (completion) وَجُباراًand uncompensated ماwhat جَرَحhe wounded
قَ وَجُباراً ما جَرَح
By evening he still defers payment for the blood he has shed—
He spends the evening leaving shed blood unavenged,
a tyrant, unanswerable for the wounds he deals.
and the wounds he dealt uncompensated.
كَأَيِّhow many a عَهدٍpledge وَدَمٍand blood
كَأَيِّ عَهدٍ وَدَمٍ
عَلىat يَدَيهِhis two hands لَمnot يُطَحbe squandered
عَلى يَدَيهِ لَم يُطَح
How many a pledge, and how much blood,
How many pledges, how much blood,
at his hands have gone unavenged!
have not been squandered at his hands?
ضَنَّhe withheld فَماso he does not يَسمَحُgrant بِالwith the
ضَنَّ فَما يَسمَحُ بِال
وَصلِunion وَلَوand if شاءَhe wished سَمَحhe granted
وَصلِ وَلَو شاءَ سَمَح
He is miserly and grants no
He withholds and will not grant
union—though, if he wished, he could be generous.
union, though he would grant it if he wished.
أَفرَدَنيhe left me alone بِالهَمِّwith sorrow وَاِسand kept for himself (first part)
أَفرَدَني بِالهَمِّ وَاِس
تَأثَرَkept for himself (completion) دونيapart from me بِالفَرَحwith joy
تَأثَرَ دوني بِالفَرَح
He singled me out for sorrow
He left me alone with sorrow, and claimed
and kept all joy for himself.
joy for himself, apart from me.
وَكُلَّماand whenever اِستَحيَيتُI felt shy مِنbefore
وَكُلَّما اِستَحيَيتُ مِن
فُتورِthe languor of عَينَيهِhis two eyes اِتَّقَحhe grew brazen
فُتورِ عَينَيهِ اِتَّقَح
Whenever I grew abashed before
And whenever I felt shy before
the languor of his eyes, their fire flared.
the languor of his eyes, he grew brazen.
صالَحَنيhe reconciled with me مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat
صالَحَني مِن بَعدِ ما
عَذَّبَhe tormented قَلباًa heart ماnot صَلَحhealed
عَذَّبَ قَلباً ما صَلَح
He made peace with me after
He made peace with me after
tormenting a heart that would not mend.
tormenting a heart that never healed.
فَزارَنيthen he visited me وَالشُكرُand gratitude قَدalready
فَزارَني وَالشُكرُ قَد
جارَoverwhelmed عَليهِhim وَطَفَحand overflowed
جارَ عَليهِ وَطَفَح
He visited me when gratitude had
Then he visited me, while gratitude
run over him and overflowed.
overwhelmed him and brimmed over.
يَهُزُّsets swaying عِطفَيهِhis two sides الشَباyouth (first part)
يَهُزُّ عِطفَيهِ الشَبا
بُyouth (completion) بِالدَلالِwith coquetry وَالمَرَحand merriment
بُ بِالدَلالِ وَالمَرَح
Youth swayed his two sides
Youth sets his sides swaying
with coquetry and merriment.
with coquetry and merriment.
جاءَhe came وَفيand in يُسراهُhis left hand قَوa bow (first part)
جاءَ وَفي يُسراهُ قَو
سٌa bow (completion) وَبِيُمناهُand in his right hand قَدَحa goblet
سٌ وَبِيُمناهُ قَدَح
He came, a bow in his left hand,
He came with a bow in his left hand
and in his right, a goblet.
and a goblet in his right.
كَأَنَّهُas though he were الشَمسُthe sun بَداappeared
كَأَنَّهُ الشَمسُ بَدا
مِنfrom حَولِهاaround it قَوسُbow قُزَحQuzah (in 'rainbow')
مِن حَولِها قَوسُ قُزَح
He seemed the sun appearing,
He was like the sun: there appeared
with a rainbow arching around it.
around it a rainbow.
ياO لائِميyou who blame me فيfor حُبِّهِloving him
يا لائِمي في حُبِّهِ
ماكُلُّnot every مَنone who لامَblamed نَصَحgave sincere counsel
ماكُلُّ مَن لامَ نَصَح
O you who reproach me for loving him—
O you who blame me for loving him,
not everyone who blames counsels sincerely.
not everyone who blames gives sincere counsel.
ماnot بَرِحَdeparted الوَجدُpassion وَلَbut (first part)
ما بَرِحَ الوَجدُ وَلَ
كِنَّbut (completion) الخَفاءَconcealment قَدalready بَرَحdeparted
كِنَّ الخَفاءَ قَد بَرَح
Longing never ceased, though
Passion has not departed, but
its concealment did cease.
concealment has gone.
فَكَيفَso how لاnot أَنزِحُI drain دَمmy tears (first part)
فَكَيفَ لا أَنزِحُ دَم
عيmy tears (completion) وَالحَبيبُand the beloved قَدalready نَزَحwent far away
عي وَالحَبيبُ قَد نَزَح
How could I not pour forth
How then should I not drain my tears,
my tears when the beloved has gone far away?
when the beloved has gone far away?
وَكَيفَand how لاnot أُهديI offer لِمَجto Majd (first part)
وَكَيفَ لا أُهدي لِمَج
دِMajd (completion) الدينِal-Din ('the faith') أَعلاقَprecious treasures المِدَحpraises
دِ الدينِ أَعلاقَ المِدَح
And how could I not offer Majd—
And how should I not offer Majd
al-Din the precious treasures of praise?
al-Din the precious treasures of praise?
وَهوَand he الَّذيthe one who أَعطاgave وَأَقand endowed (first part)
وَهوَ الَّذي أَعطا وَأَق
نىendowed (completion) وَأَفادَand benefited وَمَنَحand bestowed
نى وَأَفادَ وَمَنَح
He is the one who gave and praised,
And he is the one who gave and endowed,
who benefited and bestowed;
brought benefit and bestowed gifts.
الِصاحِبُthe Sahib اِبنُson of الصاحِبِthe Sahib الthe
الِصاحِبُ اِبنُ الصاحِبِ ال
قَرمُnoble chief الجَوادُthe generous المُمتَدَحthe praised
قَرمُ الجَوادُ المُمتَدَح
the Sahib, son of the Sahib—the
The Sahib, son of the Sahib, the
noble, open-handed lord whom all extol;
noble chief, generous and praised.
رَبُّmaster of النَدىbounty وَكاشِفُand dispeller of الthe
رَبُّ النَدى وَكاشِفُ ال
غَمِّgrief إِذاwhen الهَمُّcare تَرَحanguish
غَمِّ إِذا الهَمُّ تَرَح
master of largesse and dispeller of
Lord of bounty, dispeller of
grief whenever sorrow afflicts;
grief when care turns to anguish.
المُخمِدُthe quencher of الحَربَwar إِذاwhen
المُخمِدُ الحَربَ إِذا
شَبَّflared up لَظاهاits blaze وَلَفَحand scorched
شَبَّ لَظاها وَلَفَح
quencher of war whenever
The quencher of war when
its blaze flares and scorches.
its blaze flares up and scorches.
يَبسِمُhe smiles فيon يَومِthe day of الهِياtumult (first part)
يَبسِمُ في يَومِ الهِيا
جِtumult (completion) وَالحِمامُand death قَدalready كَلَحscowled
جِ وَالحِمامُ قَد كَلَح
He smiles amid the tumult,
He smiles on the day of tumult,
while death itself grimaces.
while death scowls.
مُؤَيَّدٌsupported إِذاwhen اِدلَهَمgrew black (first part)
مُؤَيَّدٌ إِذا اِدلَهَم
مَgrew black (completion) لَيلُthe night of خَطبٍcalamity وَجَنَحand drew on
مَ لَيلُ خَطبٍ وَجَنَح
Divinely supported when the
He is upheld: when darkness deepens
night of calamity darkens and descends,
in the night of calamity and it draws on,
أَعمَلَhe put to work زَندَthe fire-stick of رَأيِهِhis judgment الthe
أَعمَلَ زَندَ رَأيِهِ ال
ثاقِبِpiercing فيهِwithin it فَاِقتَدَحand so struck a spark
ثاقِبِ فيهِ فَاِقتَدَح
he works the firestick of his
he works the fire-stick of his piercing judgment
piercing judgment and strikes a spark.
within it, and strikes a spark.
أَروَعُan awe-inspiring man ماnever قَرَعتَyou knocked باdoor (first part)
أَروَعُ ما قَرَعتَ با
بَdoor (completion) جودِهِhis bounty إِلّاbut فَتَحhe opened
بَ جودِهِ إِلّا فَتَح
Awe-inspiring—whenever you knock upon
An awe-inspiring man: you never knock at
the door of his bounty, it opens.
his bounty's door but he opens it.
ذوpossessor of شِيَمٍvirtues قَدalready فَخَرَgloried الthe
ذو شِيَمٍ قَد فَخَرَ ال
دَهرُTime بِهِنَّin them وَبَجَحand took pride
دَهرُ بِهِنَّ وَبَجَح
His virtues are such that time
Possessed of virtues: Time has gloried
boasts of them and glories,
in them and taken pride,
حَتّىuntil أَعادَhe made anew الزَمَنَTime الthe
حَتّى أَعادَ الزَمَنَ ال
مَذمومَreviled وَهوَand it is مُمتَدَحpraised
مَذمومَ وَهوَ مُمتَدَح
until he has made the age that was
until he transformed Time—
condemned become praiseworthy.
once reviled—into something praised.
حِلمٍforbearance إِذاwhen خَفَّتgrew light مَواscales (first part)
حِلمٍ إِذا خَفَّت مَوا
زينُscales (completion) ذَويthose possessing الحِلمِforbearance رَجَحweighed heavier
زينُ ذَوي الحِلمِ رَجَح
His forbearance, when the scales of
Forbearance: when light are the scales
the forbearing grow light, outweighs them;
of forbearing men, his weighs heavy;
وَخُلُقٍand character مِثلَlike النَسيthe breeze (first part)
وَخُلُقٍ مِثلَ النَسي
مِthe breeze (completion) طابَwas pleasant نَشراًin fragrance فَنَفَحand so wafted its scent
مِ طابَ نَشراً فَنَفَح
his character, like the breeze,
and character like the breeze,
is fragrant when its perfume wafts;
sweet in fragrance, wafting its scent;
وَراحَةٍand a palm كَالبَحرِlike the sea لَوif
وَراحَةٍ كَالبَحرِ لَو
جاوَرَهاstood beside it البَحرُthe sea اِفتَضَحwas put to shame
جاوَرَها البَحرُ اِفتَضَح
his palm is like the sea—if
and a palm like the sea—were
the sea came beside it, it would be ashamed;
the sea its neighbor, it would be put to shame;
وَيَقظَةٍand vigilance تَعرِفُهاyou recognize it
وَيَقظَةٍ تَعرِفُها
مِنfrom لَحظِهِhis gaze إِذاwhen لَمَحhe glanced
مِن لَحظِهِ إِذا لَمَح
his vigilance may be recognized
and vigilance you recognize
from his glance whenever he looks;
in his gaze whenever he glances;
وَنَسَبٍand lineage مِثلِlike سَناthe radiance of الthe
وَنَسَبٍ مِثلِ سَنا ال
صُبحِdawn أَضاءَshone وَوَضَحand grew clear
صُبحِ أَضاءَ وَوَضَح
his lineage is like the radiance of
and lineage like the radiance of
dawn: it shines and stands revealed;
dawn, shining bright and clear;
وَغُرَّةٍand a radiant brow إِذاwhen بَدَتit appeared
وَغُرَّةٍ إِذا بَدَت
لِشارِبِto a drinker of اللَيلِthe night اِصطَبَحhe took a morning draught
لِشارِبِ اللَيلِ اِصطَبَح
and when his radiant brow appears,
and a radiant brow: when it appears
it is dawn to the drinker of night.
to a night-drinker, he takes his morning draught.
لَوif شاءَhe wished أَنto يَسفَحَpour out ماwater (first part)
لَو شاءَ أَن يَسفَحَ ما
ءَwater (completion) البِشرِcheerfulness مِنهاfrom it لَانسَفَحthen it would flow forth
ءَ البِشرِ مِنها لَانسَفَح
If he wished to pour forth the wa—
If he wished to pour the water
ter of cheer, it would gush abundantly.
of cheer from it, it would flow forth.
ياهِبَةَO Hibat ('gift') اللَهِof God (Allah) الجَواthe generous (first part)
ياهِبَةَ اللَهِ الجَوا
دَthe generous (completion) ذاpossessor of الهِباتِgifts وَالمِنَحand grants
دَ ذا الهِباتِ وَالمِنَح
O Hibat Allah, open-handed and gene—
O Hibat Allah, generous one,
rous, possessor of gifts and graces!
possessor of gifts and grants!
يامَنO you who إِذاwhen لاذَبِهِsought refuge with him الthe
يامَن إِذا لاذَبِهِ ال
مُجرِمُculprit أَغضىhe averted his eyes وَصَفَحand pardoned
مُجرِمُ أَغضى وَصَفَح
O you with whom, when the
O you who, when a culprit seeks your shelter,
offender seeks refuge, you overlook and forgive;
avert your eyes and pardon!
وَمَنand you who إِذاwhen ضاقَgrew constricted بِناupon us
وَمَن إِذا ضاقَ بِنا
أَمرٌa matter ذَكَرناhe remembered us فَاِنفَسَحand so opened out
أَمرٌ ذَكَرنا فَاِنفَسَح
and when some trouble constricts us,
And you who, when some matter hems us in,
we remember you, and it opens wide.
remember us, and it opens wide!
ياO مُكرِمَyou who honor الشِعرِpoetry وَقَدand indeed
يا مُكرِمَ الشِعرِ وَقَد
كانَit was مَهيناًdespised مُطَّرَحcast aside
كانَ مَهيناً مُطَّرَح
O you who honor poetry, though
O you who honor poetry, though
it had been abject and cast aside!
it had been despised and cast aside!
لَمnot يُبقِleave إِحسانُكَyour kindness ليfor me
لَم يُبقِ إِحسانُكَ لي
عَلىof الزَمانِTime مُقتَرَحanything to request
عَلى الزَمانِ مُقتَرَح
Your kindness has left me
Your kindness has left me
no claim against the age.
nothing to ask of Time.
فَاِصغواso listen, all of you إِلَيهاto it فِقَراًpassages
فَاِصغوا إِلَيها فِقَراً
مِنَof الثَناءِpraise وَمُلَحand witticisms
مِنَ الثَناءِ وَمُلَح
Listen, then, to its stanzas—
So listen to it: passages
passages of praise and elegant wit.
of praise and graceful wit.
إِذاwhen رَسولُthe messenger of السَمعِhearing أَدconveyed it (first part)
إِذا رَسولُ السَمعِ أَد
داهاconveyed it (completion) إِلىto القَلبِthe heart اِنشَرَحopened with joy
داها إِلى القَلبِ اِنشَرَح
When hearing’s messenger deli—
When hearing's messenger conveys it
vers them to the heart, it expands with joy.
to the heart, the heart opens with joy.
عَذراءَa virgin لَمnot تَغدُgo at dawn عَلىto
عَذراءَ لَم تَغدُ عَلى
بانٍa bridegroom بِهاwith her وَلَمand not تَرُحgo at evening
بانٍ بِها وَلَم تَرُح
A virgin who has never gone forth
A virgin who has never gone at dawn
with one who claimed her, morning or evening;
to a bridegroom, nor gone at dusk.
ماnot طَرَحَتshe cast عَلىupon دَنِيa base man (first part)
ما طَرَحَت عَلى دَنِي
يٍa base man (completion) نَفسَهاherself فَتُطَّرَحand so be cast aside
يٍ نَفسَها فَتُطَّرَح
she never offered herself to a base
She has not cast herself upon a base
man, only to be cast aside;
man and so been cast aside.
وَلاnor سَماrose إِلىtoward نَواa reward (first part)
وَلا سَما إِلى نَوا
لٍa reward (completion) طَرفُهاher gaze وَلاnor طَمَحaspired
لٍ طَرفُها وَلا طَمَح
nor did her gaze rise toward
Nor has her gaze risen toward a reward,
a gift, nor did she aspire to one.
nor aspired to it.
تَأُمُّshe makes for أَبوابَكَyour doors فيin
تَأُمُّ أَبوابَكَ في
كُلِّevery هَناءٍhappiness وَفَرَحand joy
كُلِّ هَناءٍ وَفَرَح
She makes for your doors amid
She comes to your doors on
every felicity and celebration,
every occasion of happiness and joy.
لِوافِدِfor the arrival of النَيروزِNowruz ماwhat اِسwas stipulated (first part)
لِوافِدِ النَيروزِ ما اِس
تُشرِطَwas stipulated (completion) مِنهاof her وَاِقتُرِحand was requested
تُشرِطَ مِنها وَاِقتُرِح
bringing the visitor of Nowruz what was
For the arriving Nowruz, she brings what
stipulated of her and requested.
was stipulated of her and requested.
نَقَّحَهاhe refined her مُجَوِّدٌan accomplished poet
نَقَّحَها مُجَوِّدٌ
شَبَّبَsang of love يَوماًone day أَوor مَدَحpraised
شَبَّبَ يَوماً أَو مَدَح
A master craftsman polished her,
An accomplished poet refined her,
whether he wrote a love-prelude or praise.
whether singing of love one day or praising.
أَبوهاher father مَطبوعٌa naturally gifted poet إِذاwhen
أَبوها مَطبوعٌ إِذا
جَدَّhe was earnest وَقورٌdignified إِنif مَزَحhe jested
جَدَّ وَقورٌ إِن مَزَح
Her sire is naturally gifted when
Her father is a born poet when
earnest, and dignified when he jests.
he is earnest, and dignified if he jests.
خاطِرُهُhis inspiration سَحَّpoured abundantly إِذاwhen الthe
خاطِرُهُ سَحَّ إِذا ال
مُنعِمُthe benefactor بِالشِعرِwith poetry رَشَحtrickled
مُنعِمُ بِالشِعرِ رَشَح
His imagination pours whenever the
His inspiration pours forth when
benefactor sprinkles poetry with favor;
the one generous with verse merely trickles.
يُجِمُّهُrefreshes it الكَدُّtoil إِذاwhen الthe
يُجِمُّهُ الكَدُّ إِذا ال
خاطِرُmind عَيّاfaltered وَرَزَحand sank under its burden
خاطِرُ عَيّا وَرَزَح
toil restores it whenever the
Toil refreshes it when
imagination grows weary and spent.
the mind falters and sinks exhausted.
لاnot يَملِكُcontrols الرُوّاضُthe horse-trainers مِنany of
لا يَملِكُ الرُوّاضُ مِن
عِنانِهِits rein إِذاwhen جَمَحit bolted
عِنانِهِ إِذا جَمَح
No trainers can possess
The trainers can take no hold of
its reins once it bolts.
its rein when it bolts.
كَالبَحرِlike the sea لاnot يَدنوapproaches إِلىtoward الthe
كَالبَحرِ لا يَدنو إِلى ال
ساحِلِshore فيهِin it مَنwhoever سَبَحswam
ساحِلِ فيهِ مَن سَبَح
It is like the sea: no swimmer in it
Like the sea, no one draws near
can draw near the shore.
the shore who swims within it.
لَهُfor him عَنِapart from الأَرضِthe earth وَمَنand whoever
لَهُ عَنِ الأَرضِ وَمَن
فيهاin it سِواكَexcept you مُنتَدَحroom to dispense with
فيها سِواكَ مُنتَدَح
Away from the earth and all who
He can dispense with the earth and all
dwell on it save you, it has room to turn.
who dwell in it, except you.
قَدindeed أَنطَقَتهُmade him speak لَكُمُfor you (plural)
قَد أَنطَقَتهُ لَكُمُ
أَيدٍfavors جِسامٌgreat وَمِنَحand gifts
أَيدٍ جِسامٌ وَمِنَح
What made it speak for you were
He has been made to speak for you
mighty favors and gifts;
by great favors and gifts.
وَطائِرُand the bird of البانِthe ban-tree إِذاwhen
وَطائِرُ البانِ إِذا
رَقَّgrew supple لَهُfor it العودُthe bough صَدَحsang aloud
رَقَّ لَهُ العودُ صَدَح
as the bird of the ben-tree, when
And the bird of the ban-tree, when
the branch grows tender for it, sings.
the bough grows supple for it, sings.
Sol 6.1