أَمِطِremove اللِثامَthe veil عَنِfrom العِذارِthe cheek's down السائِلِflowing
أَمِطِ اللِثامَ عَنِ العِذارِ السائِلِ
لِيَقومَso that may stand عُذريmy excuse فيكَconcerning you عِندَbefore عَواذِليmy reproachers
لِيَقومَ عُذري فيكَ عِندَ عَواذِلي
Lift the veil from the down flowing along your cheek,
so my excuse for loving you may stand before my reproachers.
وَاِغمِدand sheathe لِحاظَكَyour glances قَدalready فَلَلنَthey have blunted تَجَلُّديmy endurance
وَاِغمِد لِحاظَكَ قَد فَلَلنَ تَجَلُّدي
وَاِكفُفand restrain سِهامَكَyour arrows قَدalready أَصَبنَthey have struck مَقاتِليmy vital parts
وَاِكفُف سِهامَكَ قَد أَصَبنَ مَقاتِلي
And sheathe your glances: they have blunted my endurance;
and restrain your arrows: they have struck my vital parts.
لاdo not تَجمَعِcombine الشَوقَlonging المُبَرِّحِagonizing وَالقِلىand aversion
لا تَجمَعِ الشَوقَ المُبَرِّحِ وَالقِلى
وَالبَينَand separation ليfor me أَحَدُone of الثَلاثَةِthe three قاتِليmy killer
وَالبَينَ لي أَحَدُ الثَلاثَةِ قاتِلي
Do not heap together agonizing longing, aversion,
and separation for me; any one of the three can kill me.
يَكفيكَsuffices you ماwhat تُذكيهِyou kindle بَينَbetween جَوانِحيmy ribs
يَكفيكَ ما تُذكيهِ بَينَ جَوانِحي
لِهَواكَfor love of you نارُthe fire لَواعِجيof my burning anguish وَبَلابِليand my unrest
لِهَواكَ نارُ لَواعِجي وَبَلابِلي
Enough for you is what you kindle within my ribs:
for love of you, the fire of my anguish and unrest.
وَهُناكَand may it please you أَنّيthat I لاdo not أَدينُowe allegiance صَبابَةًin ardent love
وَهُناكَ أَنّي لا أَدينُ صَبابَةً
لِهَوىto love سِواكَof anyone but you وَلاnor أَلينُyield لِعاذِلِto a reproacher
لِهَوى سِواكَ وَلا أَلينُ لِعاذِلِ
And may it please you that I pledge no passionate devotion
to any love but yours, nor yield to a reproacher.
بِتspend the night لاهِياًcarefree جَذِلاًjoyful بِحُسنِكَin your beauty إِنَّنيindeed I
بِت لاهِياً جَذِلاً بِحُسنِكَ إِنَّني
مُذsince بِنتَyou departed فيin شُغُلٍpreoccupation بِحُزنيwith my sorrow شاغِلall-consuming
مُذ بِنتَ في شُغُلٍ بِحُزني شاغِل
Spend the night carefree, delighting in your beauty; for I,
since you departed, am absorbed in all-consuming sorrow.
فَاِعطِفso show compassion عَلىupon جِلدٍfortitude كَعَهدِكَas you know it فيin النَوىseparation
فَاِعطِف عَلى جِلدٍ كَعَهدِكَ في النَوى
واهٍweak وَجِسمٍand a body مِثلِlike خَصرِكَyour waist ناحِلِwasted
واهٍ وَجِسمٍ مِثلِ خَصرِكَ ناحِلِ
So pity a fortitude that, as you know, in separation
is weak, and a body as slender as your waist.
وَيلاهُalas for me مِنfrom هَيَفٍslenderness بِقَدِّكَin your stature ضامِنٍguaranteeing
وَيلاهُ مِن هَيَفٍ بِقَدِّكَ ضامِنٍ
تَلَفيmy destruction وَمِنand from كِفلٍhips بِوَجديfor my anguish كافِلِa guarantor
تَلَفي وَمِن كِفلٍ بِوَجدي كافِلِ
Alas for the slenderness of your stature, which guarantees
my destruction, and for hips that ensure my anguish.
وَبِنَفسيَand my life his ransom الغَضبانُthe angry one لاnot يُرضيهِpleases him غَيother than (first part)
وَبِنَفسيَ الغَضبانُ لا يُرضيهِ غَي
رُother than (completion) دَميmy blood وَماand there is not فيin سَفكِهِits shedding مِنany طائِلِbenefit
رُ دَمي وَما في سَفكِهِ مِن طائِلِ
My life be ransom for the angry one, whom nothing pleases but
my blood, though shedding it brings no gain.
تُصَميstrike dead نِبالُthe arrows جُفونِهِof his eyelids قَلبيmy heart وَلاand may not
تُصَمي نِبالُ جُفونِهِ قَلبي وَلا
شَلَّتbe paralyzed وَإِنeven though أَصمَتit struck dead يَمينُthe right hand النابِلِof the archer
شَلَّت وَإِن أَصمَت يَمينُ النابِلِ
The arrows of his eyelids strike my heart dead; yet may not
the archer's right hand wither, even though it kills.
وَيَهُزُّand he sways قَدّاًa stature كَالقَناةِlike a spear لِحاظُهُhis glances
وَيَهُزُّ قَدّاً كَالقَناةِ لِحاظُهُ
لِمُحِبِّهِfor his lover مِنهاof it مَكانَthe position of العامِلِthe spearhead
لِمُحِبِّهِ مِنها مَكانَ العامِلِ
He sways a stature like a spear; his glances,
for his lover, take the place of its spearhead.
عانَقتُهُI embraced him أَبكيweeping وَيَبسِمُwhile smiles ثَغرُهُhis mouth
عانَقتُهُ أَبكي وَيَبسِمُ ثَغرُهُ
كَالبَرقِlike lightning أَومَضَflashed فيin غَمامٍa cloud هاطِلِpouring rain
كَالبَرقِ أَومَضَ في غَمامٍ هاطِلِ
I embraced him, weeping, while his lips smiled,
like lightning flashing in a cloud pouring rain.
فَأَلينُso I soften فيin الشَكوىcomplaint لِقاسٍbefore one hard قَلبُهُof heart
فَأَلينُ في الشَكوى لِقاسٍ قَلبُهُ
وَأُجِدُّand I am earnest فيin وَصفِdescribing الغَرامِpassion الهازِلِthe jesting one
وَأُجِدُّ في وَصفِ الغَرامِ الهازِلِ
I soften in complaint before one whose heart is hard,
and speak earnestly of passion to one who jests.
يالَيتَهُwould that he وَجَفَتthough have grown harsh خَلائِقُهُhis manners اِقتَدىfollowed the example
يالَيتَهُ وَجَفَت خَلائِقُهُ اِقتَدى
بِخَلائِقِof the manners القاضيof the judge الأَجَلِّmost illustrious الفاضِلِvirtuous
بِخَلائِقِ القاضي الأَجَلِّ الفاضِلِ
Would that he, whose manners have grown harsh, followed
the manners of the most illustrious, virtuous judge.
مَلِكٌa king يُجيرُprotects مِنَfrom الحَوادِثِcalamities جارَهُhis neighbor
مَلِكٌ يُجيرُ مِنَ الحَوادِثِ جارَهُ
وَيُخيلُand inspires hope سائِلُهُhis petitioner دُعاءَthe prayer السائِلِof the supplicant
وَيُخيلُ سائِلُهُ دُعاءَ السائِلِ
A king who shields his neighbor from calamities,
and gives his petitioner hope that his prayer will be answered.
خُلِقَتwere fashioned أَنامِلُهُhis fingers لِأَرقَشَfor a speckled serpent نافِثٍspitting
خُلِقَت أَنامِلُهُ لِأَرقَشَ نافِثٍ
حَتفَdeath العِدىupon the foes وَلِمُنصُلٍand for a sword وَلِذابِلِand for a slender spear
حَتفَ العِدى وَلِمُنصُلٍ وَلِذابِلِ
His fingers were fashioned for a speckled serpent spitting
death upon foes, for a sword, and for a slender spear.
كَمhow many غارَةٍa raid شَعواءَfierce جَدَّلَhe felled أُسدَهاits lions
كَم غارَةٍ شَعواءَ جَدَّلَ أُسدَها
يَومَon the day الكَريهَةِof battle عَنfrom مُتونِthe backs أَجادِلِof falcons (mounts)
يَومَ الكَريهَةِ عَن مُتونِ أَجادِلِ
How many a fierce raid's lions has he toppled
on battle's day from the backs of falcon-like mounts!
فَيَنالُso he attains ماwhat أَعياdefied الأَسِنَّةَthe spearheads وَالظُبىand the blades
فَيَنالُ ما أَعيا الأَسِنَّةَ وَالظُبى
بِأَسِنَّةٍwith spearheads مِنfrom رَأيِهِhis judgment وَمَناصِلِand swords
بِأَسِنَّةٍ مِن رَأيِهِ وَمَناصِلِ
He wins what spearheads and blades could not,
with spearheads and swords of his judgment.
وَبِصامِتٍand with a silent pen مُنذُsince اِحتَوَتهُheld it بَنانُهُhis fingers
وَبِصامِتٍ مُنذُ اِحتَوَتهُ بَنانُهُ
فَخِرَboasted اليَراعُthe reed pen عَلىover الوَشيجِthe spear-shaft الذابِلِslender
فَخِرَ اليَراعُ عَلى الوَشيجِ الذابِلِ
And with a silent pen: since his fingers clasped it,
the reed has boasted over the slender spear-shaft.
لِقنَlearned النَدىgenerosity وَالبأسَand valor فيin قُضبانِهِits reeds
لِقنَ النَدى وَالبأسَ في قُضبانِهِ
عَنfrom أَيهَمٍa dauntless lion طاوٍhungry وَأَغلَبَand a stout-necked lion باسِلِvaliant
عَن أَيهَمٍ طاوٍ وَأَغلَبَ باسِلِ
Within its reeds it learned generosity and valor
from a ravenous, dauntless lion and a stout-necked, valiant one.
سَلask عَنabout مَواقِعِهِhis strokes الكَتائِبِthe battalions فيin الوَغىbattle
سَل عَن مَواقِعِهِ الكَتائِبِ في الوَغى
يُخبِرنَthey will tell عَنof كُتُبٍwritings لَهُof his وَرَسائِلِand letters
يُخبِرنَ عَن كُتُبٍ لَهُ وَرَسائِلِ
Ask the battalions in battle about his strokes;
they will tell you of his writings and letters:
كَالسِحرِlike magic تَنفُثُthey breathe فيinto القُلوبِhearts مَكائِداًstratagems
كَالسِحرِ تَنفُثُ في القُلوبِ مَكائِداً
لاnot تُتَّقىcan be guarded against فَكَأَنَّهاso as though they مِنfrom بابِلِBabylon
لا تُتَّقى فَكَأَنَّها مِن بابِلِ
like magic, they breathe into hearts stratagems
that cannot be warded off, as though they came from Babylon.
تَرعىgraze لِحاظُكَyour glances مِنamong بَدائِعِthe marvels وَشيهاof their embroidery
تَرعى لِحاظُكَ مِن بَدائِعِ وَشيها
أَزهارَflowers جَنّاتٍof gardens وَنورَand blossoms خَمائِلِof groves
أَزهارَ جَنّاتٍ وَنورَ خَمائِلِ
Your eyes graze among the marvels of their embroidery
on garden flowers and the blossoms of groves.
وَإِذاand when سَرَتtravels by night سَكرىdrunken شَمالٌa north wind خِلتَهاyou would think it
وَإِذا سَرَت سَكرى شَمالٌ خِلتَها
مَرَّتpassed بِأَخلاقٍthrough virtues لَهُof his وَشَمائِلِand noble traits
مَرَّت بِأَخلاقٍ لَهُ وَشَمائِلِ
And when a north wind travels drunkenly by night, you would think it
had passed through his virtues and noble traits.
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa folk نَهَضواwho rose وَقَدwhen already فَرِسَhad been mauled النَدىgenerosity
مِن مَعشَرٍ نَهَضوا وَقَد فَرِسَ النَدى
بِفُروضِto duties جودٍof generosity أُهمِلَتneglected وَنَوافِلِand voluntary gifts
بِفُروضِ جودٍ أُهمِلَت وَنَوافِلِ
He is from a folk who rose, when generosity lay mauled,
to fulfill neglected duties of giving and voluntary gifts.
مِنamong كُلِّevery طَلقِcheerful الوَجهِof face بَسّامٍever-smiling إِلىtoward الthe (continued)
مِن كُلِّ طَلقِ الوَجهِ بَسّامٍ إِلى ال
عافينَseekers of bounty فَيّاضِoverflowing اليَدينِin both hands حُلاحِلِa noble chief
عافينَ فَيّاضِ اليَدينِ حُلاحِلِ
Each is open-faced, smiling toward the
petitioners, both hands overflowing, a noble chief.
شادَhe built العُلىhigh glory بِمَعارِفٍwith knowledge وَعَوارِفٍand benefactions
شادَ العُلى بِمَعارِفٍ وَعَوارِفٍ
وَرَمىand struck العِدىthe foes بِصَوارِمٍwith keen swords وَصَواهِلِand neighing steeds
وَرَمى العِدى بِصَوارِمٍ وَصَواهِلِ
He built high glory with knowledge and benefactions,
and struck his foes with keen swords and neighing steeds.
فَهُمُso they إِذاwhen جَلَسواthey sit صُدورُthe foremost مَجالِسٍof assemblies
فَهُمُ إِذا جَلَسوا صُدورُ مَجالِسٍ
وَهُمُand they إِذاwhen رَكِبواthey ride قُلوبُthe hearts حَجافِلِof armies
وَهُمُ إِذا رَكِبوا قُلوبُ حَجافِلِ
When they sit, they are the foremost of assemblies,
and when they ride, the hearts of armies.
نَسَبٌa lineage كَماas وَضَحَshone clearly الصَباحُthe dawn مُرَدَّدٌhanded down
نَسَبٌ كَما وَضَحَ الصَباحُ مُرَدَّدٌ
فيin سودَدٍnobility مُتَقادِمٍlong-established مُتَقابِلِmutually matching
في سودَدٍ مُتَقادِمٍ مُتَقابِلِ
A lineage as clear as the dawn, handed down
through ancient nobility, matched on every side.
بِجَميلِthrough excellent رَأُيِjudgment أَبيAbu عَلَيٍّAli أَكثَبَdrew near الthe (continued)
بِجَميلِ رَأُيِ أَبي عَلَيٍّ أَكثَبَ ال
نائيremote البَعيدُthe distant وَقامَand was straightened زَيغُthe deviation المائِلِof the crooked one
نائي البَعيدُ وَقامَ زَيغُ المائِلِ
Through Abu Ali's sound judgment, close has come the
remote and distant, and the crooked one's deviation is set straight.
ياطالِبَO seeker of المَعروفِbounty يُجهِدُexhausts نَفسَهُhimself
ياطالِبَ المَعروفِ يُجهِدُ نَفسَهُ
فيin خَوضِplunging through أَهوالٍterrors وَنَقضِand traversing مَراحِلِjourney stages
في خَوضِ أَهوالٍ وَنَقضِ مَراحِلِ
O seeker of bounty, exhausting himself
in plunging through terrors and crossing stages of travel,
شِمwatch for بارِقاًlightning عَبدُAbd الرَحيمِal-Rahim سَحابُهُits cloud
شِم بارِقاً عَبدُ الرَحيمِ سَحابُهُ
وَاِبشِرand rejoice بِسَحٍّin pouring rain مِنfrom نَداهُhis bounty وَوابِلِand a downpour
وَاِبشِر بِسَحٍّ مِن نَداهُ وَوابِلِ
watch for a lightning flash whose cloud is Abd al-Rahim,
and rejoice in pouring rain and downpour from his bounty.
ياO خَيرَbest of مَنthose who أَولىbestowed الجَميلِkindness وَخَيرَand best of مَنthose who
يا خَيرَ مَن أَولى الجَميلِ وَخَيرَ مَن
عَلِقَتclung بِحَبلٍto a rope مِنهُfrom him راحَةُthe palm آمِلِof a hopeful man
عَلِقَت بِحَبلٍ مِنهُ راحَةُ آمِلِ
O best of those who bestow kindness, and best of those
whose rope a hopeful man's palm has grasped!
كَمhow many مِنof يَدٍa favor أَسدَتbestowed يَداكَyour two hands وَنائِلٍand a gift
كَم مِن يَدٍ أَسدَت يَداكَ وَنائِلٍ
أَتبَعتَهُyou followed it يَومَon the day العَطاءِof giving بِنائِلِwith another gift
أَتبَعتَهُ يَومَ العَطاءِ بِنائِلِ
How many favors your hands have bestowed, and gifts
you followed, on giving's day, with further gifts!
بَيضاءَwhite (beneficent) يَشهَدُtestifies بِالسَماحِto generosity لِرَبِّهاfor its giver
بَيضاءَ يَشهَدُ بِالسَماحِ لِرَبِّها
ماthose whom أَثقَلَتهُit has burdened مِنof طُلىًnecks وَكَواهِلِand shoulders
ما أَثقَلَتهُ مِن طُلىً وَكَواهِلِ
White favors, whose giver's generosity is attested
by all the necks and shoulders they have burdened.
وَاِستَجلِand unveil أَبكارَthe virgins المَديحِof praise عَرائِساًas brides
وَاِستَجلِ أَبكارَ المَديحِ عَرائِساً
أَبدَينَthey displayed زينَتَهُنَّtheir adornment غَيرَnot عَواطِلِunadorned
أَبدَينَ زينَتَهُنَّ غَيرَ عَواطِلِ
Unveil the virgin songs of praise as brides
displaying their finery, not unadorned.
أَبرَزتُهُنَّI brought them forth عَلىfor عُلاكَyour loftiness سَوافِراًunveiled
أَبرَزتُهُنَّ عَلى عُلاكَ سَوافِراً
وَجَعَلتُهُنَّand I made them إِلىto نَداكَyour bounty وَسائِليmy means of approach
وَجَعَلتُهُنَّ إِلى نَداكَ وَسائِلي
I brought them forth unveiled to honor your loftiness,
and made them my means of reaching your bounty.
فَاِجلِسso sit لَهاfor them وَاِرفَعand lift حَجابَكَyour veil دونَهاbarring their way
فَاِجلِس لَها وَاِرفَع حَجابَكَ دونَها
وَاِنصِتand listen إِلىto إِنشادِهاtheir recitation وَتَطاوَلِand rise in pride
وَاِنصِت إِلى إِنشادِها وَتَطاوَلِ
So sit to receive them, and lift the veil barring their way;
listen to their recitation, and take pride.
وَاِعرِفand acknowledge لَهاfor them تَأميلَهاtheir hope ياO مَنyou who يَرىregard
وَاِعرِف لَها تَأميلَها يا مَن يَرى
كَرَماًout of generosity عَلىupon المَأمولِthe one hoped in حَقَّthe right الآمِلِof the hopeful one
كَرَماً عَلى المَأمولِ حَقَّ الآمِلِ
Recognize their hope, O you who regard,
in generosity, a hopeful man's claim as binding on his patron.
جاءَتكَthey came to you لاnot مَرذولَةَbase المَعنىin meaning وَلاnor
جاءَتكَ لا مَرذولَةَ المَعنى وَلا
دَنِساًsoiled مَلابِسُهاtheir garments بِمَدحِby praising أَراذِلِignoble men
دَنِساً مَلابِسُها بِمَدحِ أَراذِلِ
They come to you neither base in meaning, nor
with garments sullied by praise of ignoble men.
وَلَطالَماand long have نَزَّهتُهاI kept them above عَنfrom مَوقِفٍa standing-place
وَلَطالَما نَزَّهتُها عَن مَوقِفٍ
يُجزيrequites الكِرامَthe noble وَصُنتُهاand I guarded them عَنfrom جاهِلِan ignorant man
يُجزي الكِرامَ وَصُنتُها عَن جاهِلِ
Long have I kept them above a standing-place
that ill-requites the noble, and sheltered them from the ignorant.
وَرَفَعتُهاand I raised them above عَنfrom مَدحِpraising كُلِّevery مُبَخَّلٍreputed miser
وَرَفَعتُها عَن مَدحِ كُلِّ مُبَخَّلٍ
وَالعُدمُand poverty أَحسَنُis better مِنthan عَطاءِthe gift الباخِلِof the miser
وَالعُدمُ أَحسَنُ مِن عَطاءِ الباخِلِ
I have raised them above praising any reputed miser;
poverty is better than a miser's gift.
هَيهاتَfar be it يَطمَعُshould hope فيfor اِنقِياديmy submission مانِعٌa withholder
هَيهاتَ يَطمَعُ في اِنقِيادي مانِعٌ
وَشَكيمَتيand my mettle لاdoes not تَستَكينُsubmit لِباذِلِto a giver
وَشَكيمَتي لا تَستَكينُ لِباذِلِ
Far be it that a withholder should hope for my obedience,
and my mettle does not bow to a giver.
وَلَئِنand even if دَعَوتُكَI called to you مِنfrom مَحَلٍّa place شاسِعٍfar-flung
وَلَئِن دَعَوتُكَ مِن مَحَلٍّ شاسِعٍ
ناءٍremote مَداهُits extent عَلىfor السُرىnight travel المُتَطاوِلِprolonged
ناءٍ مَداهُ عَلى السُرى المُتَطاوِلِ
Though I call to you from a far-flung place,
whose reach lies distant even for long night journeys,
فَالسُحبُfor the clouds تَبعُدُare too distant أَنto تُنالَbe reached وَصَوبُهاand their rain
فَالسُحبُ تَبعُدُ أَن تُنالَ وَصَوبُها
دانٍnear قَريبٌclose مِنto يَدِthe hand المُتَناوِلِof one reaching out
دانٍ قَريبٌ مِن يَدِ المُتَناوِلِ
clouds are too distant to be reached, yet their rain
is near, close to the hand of one reaching out.
فَاِرفَعso raise إِذاwhen عُرِضَتare presented عَليكَto you قَصائِديmy poems
فَاِرفَع إِذا عُرِضَت عَليكَ قَصائِدي
مَدحيmy praise إِلىto المَلِكِthe king الرَحيمِmerciful العادِلِjust
مَدحي إِلى المَلِكِ الرَحيمِ العادِلِ
So, when my poems are presented to you, raise
my praise to the merciful, just king.
وَاِسفِرand mediate بِجاهِكَby your standing بَينَbetween حَظّيmy fortune وَالغِنىand wealth
وَاِسفِر بِجاهِكَ بَينَ حَظّي وَالغِنى
وَتَقاضَand demand payment ليfor me أَيّامَfrom the days دَهريof my fate الماطِلِdelaying payment
وَتَقاضَ لي أَيّامَ دَهري الماطِلِ
Mediate, by your standing, between my fortune and wealth,
and exact my due from the days of my dilatory fate.
وَاِنهَضand rise بِهاto it أُكرومَةًas a noble deed قَعَدَheld back الوَرىmankind
وَاِنهَض بِها أُكرومَةً قَعَدَ الوَرى
عَنهاfrom it فَمِنsome being مُتَقاعِسٍlaggard أَوor ناكِلِshrinking away
عَنها فَمِن مُتَقاعِسٍ أَو ناكِلِ
Rise to it as a noble deed from which mankind has held
back, some laggard, others shrinking away.
إِنif كُنتَyou are أَكرَمَthe noblest مَنزِلٍlodging نَزَلَتthey alighted بِهِin it
إِن كُنتَ أَكرَمَ مَنزِلٍ نَزَلَت بِهِ
فَليَحمَدَنَّthen let him surely praise عَليكَyou for it أَفضَلُthe finest نازِلِguest
فَليَحمَدَنَّ عَليكَ أَفضَلُ نازِلِ
If you are the noblest lodging they have alighted in,
then surely let the finest guest praise you for it.
لَمdid not أَدعُI call upon حينَwhen دَعَوتُI called for نَصرَكَyour help غافِلاًone heedless
لَم أَدعُ حينَ دَعَوتُ نَصرَكَ غافِلاً
عَنّيof me وَلاnor اِستَنجَدتُdid I seek aid مِنكَfrom you بِخاذِلِfrom a deserter
عَنّي وَلا اِستَنجَدتُ مِنكَ بِخاذِلِ
When I called upon your help, I did not call on one heedless
of me, nor seek in you a helper who would fail me.
قَدindeed أَخصَبَتhas grown fertile أَرضُthe land العِراقِof Iraq وَإِنَّنيyet indeed I
قَد أَخصَبَت أَرضُ العِراقِ وَإِنَّني
لَأَرودُindeed seek pasture مِنهاwithin it فيin جَديبٍbarren ground ماparched (first part) حِلِparched (completion)
لَأَرودُ مِنها في جَديبٍ ما حِلِ
Iraq's land has grown fertile, yet I
still seek pasture there in barren, parched ground.
وَصَفَتand have cleared مَوارِدُهاits watering-places الغِزارُabundant وَمَورِديand my watering-place
وَصَفَت مَوارِدُها الغِزارُ وَمَورِدي
مِنهاwithin it ثَمادُscant pools بِقائِعٍin hollows وَوَشائِلِand trickles
مِنها ثَمادُ بِقائِعٍ وَوَشائِلِ
Its abundant watering-places have cleared, but my watering-place
there is scant water in hollows and mere trickles.
مُتَرَدِّياًcloaked بِرِداءِin a robe حَظٍّof fortune ناقِصٍdeficient
مُتَرَدِّياً بِرِداءِ حَظٍّ ناقِصٍ
فيamong أَهلِهاits people وَجَمالِand the beauty فَضلٍof merit كامِلِperfect
في أَهلِها وَجَمالِ فَضلٍ كامِلِ
Clad in the cloak of a diminished fortune
among its people, yet adorned with the beauty of perfect merit.
وَمَتىand whenever رَأَتsee عَوناكَyour eyes (apparently intended) فَضلاًmerit شائِعاًwidely manifest
وَمَتى رَأَت عَوناكَ فَضلاً شائِعاً
فَاِحكُمthen judge لِصاحِبِهِfor its possessor بِذِكرِa reputation خامِلِobscure
فَاِحكُم لِصاحِبِهِ بِذِكرِ خامِلِ
Whenever your eyes see widely manifest merit,
judge its possessor to have an obscure name.
فَإِذاand whenever هَمَمتُI resolve بِنَهضَةٍon a rising أُعليI raise بِهاby it
فَإِذا هَمَمتُ بِنَهضَةٍ أُعلي بِها
قَدريmy rank وَأَنشُرُand I spread فيthrough البِلادِthe lands فَضائِليmy merits
قَدري وَأَنشُرُ في البِلادِ فَضائِلي
Whenever I resolve on a rising by which I may lift
my rank and spread my merits through the lands,
قامَrises الزَمانُTime يَجودُlavishing دونَshort of بُلوغِهاattaining it
قامَ الزَمانُ يَجودُ دونَ بُلوغِها
بِعَوائِقِobstacles مِنfrom صَرفِهِits reversals وَشَواغِلِand distractions
بِعَوائِقِ مِن صَرفِهِ وَشَواغِلِ
Time rises, lavishing, before I can attain it,
obstacles from its reversals, and distractions.
وَلَعَلَّهُand perhaps it يَخشىfears سُطاكَyour might إِذاwhen رَأىit sees
وَلَعَلَّهُ يَخشى سُطاكَ إِذا رَأى
حُسنَthe graciousness of التِفاتِكَyour attention أَنto يُصيبَstrike شَواكِليmy flanks
حُسنَ التِفاتِكَ أَن يُصيبَ شَواكِلي
Perhaps it will fear your might, once it sees
your gracious attention, and dread striking my flanks.
Sol 6.1