أَلَم تَسأَلِ الأَطلالَ وَالمُتَرَبَّعا

أَلَم تَسأَلِ الأَطلالَ وَالمُتَرَبَّعا

بِبَطنِ حُلَيّاتٍ دَوارِسَ بَلقَعا

بِبَطنِ حُلَيّاتٍ دَوارِسَ بَلقَعا

Have you not questioned the ruins and the spring encampment,

Did you not ask the ruins and the one sitting

in the hollow of Hulayyat, weather-worn and barren,

In the belly of rolling sands, wearing worn-out rags,

إِلى الشَريِ مِن وادي المُغَمَّسِ بُدِّلَت

إِلى الشَريِ مِن وادي المُغَمَّسِ بُدِّلَت

مَعالِمُهُ وَبلاً وَنَكباءَ زَعزَعا

مَعالِمُهُ وَبلاً وَنَكباءَ زَعزَعا

toward al-Shari, from the valley of al-Mughammas, where

Having changed its landmarks and become

its landmarks have given way to downpours and a fierce crosswind?

Afflicted with tribulation and upheaval?

فَيَبخَلنَ أَو يُخبِرنَ بِالعِلمِ بَعدَما

فَيَبخَلنَ أَو يُخبِرنَ بِالعِلمِ بَعدَما

نَكَأنَ فُؤاداً كانَ قِدماً مُفَجَّعا

نَكَأنَ فُؤاداً كانَ قِدماً مُفَجَّعا

Then will they withhold or tell what they know, after

Will it then be stingy or inform with knowledge after

wounding anew a heart long stricken with grief

It had lacerated a heart that was once agonized?

بِهِندٍ وَأَترابٍ لِهِندٍ إِذِ الهَوى

بِهِندٍ وَأَترابٍ لِهِندٍ إِذِ الهَوى

جَميعٌ وَإِذ لَم نَخشَ أَن يَتَصَدَّعا

جَميعٌ وَإِذ لَم نَخشَ أَن يَتَصَدَّعا

over Hind and Hind's age-mates, when love

About a love for Hind and towns of Hind, when passion

was whole, and when we did not fear it would break apart,

Was all-encompassing and we did not fear it would crack.

وَإِذ نَحنُ مِثلُ الماءِ كانَ مِزاجُهُ

وَإِذ نَحنُ مِثلُ الماءِ كانَ مِزاجُهُ

كَما صَفَّقَ الساقي الرَحيقَ المُشَعشَعا

كَما صَفَّقَ الساقي الرَحيقَ المُشَعشَعا

and when we were like water in its mingling,

When we were like water and its mixture

as the cupbearer decanted the pure wine, diluted with water,

Was as the drink-pourer blends spiced drink.

وَإِذ لا نُطيعُ العاذِلينَ وَلا نَرى

وَإِذ لا نُطيعُ العاذِلينَ وَلا نَرى

لِواشٍ لَدَينا يَطلُبُ الصَرمَ مَطمَعا

لِواشٍ لَدَينا يَطلُبُ الصَرمَ مَطمَعا

and when we heeded no reproachers and saw no

And when we did not obey the blamers, nor did we see

opening for a slanderer in our midst seeking to part us?

A slanderer among us seeking to find fault.

تُنوعِتنَ حَتّى عاوَدَ القَلبَ سُقمُهُ

تُنوعِتنَ حَتّى عاوَدَ القَلبَ سُقمُهُ

وَحَتّى تَذَكَّرتُ الحَديثَ المُوَدَّعا

وَحَتّى تَذَكَّرتُ الحَديثَ المُوَدَّعا

They were described until the heart's sickness returned,

You varied until the heart regained its sickness,

and until I recalled the conversation I had left behind.

And until I remembered the farewell conversation.

فَقُلتُ لِمُطريهِنَّ وَيحَكَ إِنَّما

فَقُلتُ لِمُطريهِنَّ وَيحَكَ إِنَّما

ضَرَرتَ فَهَل تَسطيعُ نَفعاً فَتَنفَعا

ضَرَرتَ فَهَل تَسطيعُ نَفعاً فَتَنفَعا

Then I said to the one who praised them, “Alas for you! You have only

So I said to the rain-bearers: Woe to you! You have only

done harm; can you do some good and be of help?

Harmed, so can you bring benefit? Then do so!

وَأَشرَيتَ فَاِستَشرى وَإِن كانَ قَد صَحا

وَأَشرَيتَ فَاِستَشرى وَإِن كانَ قَد صَحا

فُؤادٌ بِأَمثالِ المَها كانَ موزَعا

فُؤادٌ بِأَمثالِ المَها كانَ موزَعا

And you stirred it, and it grew unruly, though it had sobered—

And you made drink one whose heart was with the likes

a heart once infatuated with women like oryxes.

Of wild cows once composed.

وَهَيَّجتَ قَلباً كانَ قَد وَدَّعَ الصِبا

وَهَيَّجتَ قَلباً كانَ قَد وَدَّعَ الصِبا

وَأَشياعَهُ فَاِشفَع عَسى أَن تُشَفَّعا

وَأَشياعَهُ فَاِشفَع عَسى أَن تُشَفَّعا

And you roused a heart that had already bid farewell to youthful passion

And you stirred up a heart that had bid youth farewell

and its companions; so intercede—perhaps your intercession will be accepted.

And its pleasures, so intercede – maybe you will intercede!

لَئِن كانَ ما حَدَّثتَ حَقّاً فَما أَرى

لَئِن كانَ ما حَدَّثتَ حَقّاً فَما أَرى

كَمِثلِ الأُلى أَطرَيتَ في الناسِ أَربَعا

كَمِثلِ الأُلى أَطرَيتَ في الناسِ أَربَعا

If what you have told me is indeed true, I see no

If what you told was true, still, I do not see

four women among humankind like those you have praised.”

That you roamed among people like a lost camel.

فَقالَ تَعالَ اِنظُر فَقُلتُ وَكَيفَ بي

فَقالَ تَعالَ اِنظُر فَقُلتُ وَكَيفَ بي

أَخافُ مَقاماً أَن يَشيعَ فَيَشنُعا

أَخافُ مَقاماً أَن يَشيعَ فَيَشنُعا

He said, “Come and look.” I said, “But what about me?

He said: Come look! And I said: How can I,

I fear that news of a visit may spread and become a scandal.”

When I fear a stance that may become scandalized?

فَقالَ اِكتَفِل ثُمَّ اِلتَثِم وَأتِ باغِياً

فَقالَ اِكتَفِل ثُمَّ اِلتَثِم وَأتِ باغِياً

فَسَلِّم وَلا تُكثِر بِأَن تَتَوَرَّعا

فَسَلِّم وَلا تُكثِر بِأَن تَتَوَرَّعا

He said, “Mount on a saddlecloth, then veil your face, and come as a seeker.

So he said: Veil yourself, then wrap your face and go to the loved ones,

Then greet them, and do not overdo your scruples.

Greet, and do not refrain excessively out of coyness.

فَإِنّي سَأُخفي العَينَ عَنكَ فَلا تُرى

فَإِنّي سَأُخفي العَينَ عَنكَ فَلا تُرى

مَخافَةَ أَن يَفشو الحَديثُ فَيُسمَعا

مَخافَةَ أَن يَفشو الحَديثُ فَيُسمَعا

For I shall shield you from the watchful eye, so you will not be seen,

For I will hide your eyes from them, so you will not be seen,

for fear that word may spread and be heard.”

Fearing the story will spread and be heard.

فَأَقبَلتُ أَهوى مِثلَما قالَ صاحِبي

فَأَقبَلتُ أَهوى مِثلَما قالَ صاحِبي

لِمَوعِدِهِ أَزجي قَعوداً مُوَقَّعا

لِمَوعِدِهِ أَزجي قَعوداً مُوَقَّعا

So I came hurrying, just as my companion had said,

So I went, yearning, just as my companion said,

to his appointed meeting, urging on a saddle-sore young camel.

To his tryst creeping while feeling uneasy.

فَلَمّا تَواقَفنا وَسَلَّمتُ أَشرَقَت

فَلَمّا تَواقَفنا وَسَلَّمتُ أَشرَقَت

وُجوهٌ زَهاها الحُسنُ أَن تَتَقَنَّعا

وُجوهٌ زَهاها الحُسنُ أَن تَتَقَنَّعا

Then, when we stood face to face and I greeted them, there shone

When we stopped and I greeted, faces shone

faces too proud in their beauty to be veiled.

With beauty that disdains to veil itself.

تَبالَهنَ بِالعِرفانِ لَمّا رَأَينَني

تَبالَهنَ بِالعِرفانِ لَمّا رَأَينَني

وَقُلنَ اِمرُؤٌ باغٍ أَكَلَّ وَأَوضَعا

وَقُلنَ اِمرُؤٌ باغٍ أَكَلَّ وَأَوضَعا

They pretended not to recognize me when they saw me,

They recognized me when they saw me

and said, “A man in search, who has wearied his mount and hurried on.”

And said: “A lover who fulfilled and settled.”

وَقَرَّبنَ أَسبابَ الهَوى لِمُتَيَّمٍ

وَقَرَّبنَ أَسبابَ الهَوى لِمُتَيَّمٍ

يَقيسُ ذِراعاً كُلَّما قِسنَ إِصبَعا

يَقيسُ ذِراعاً كُلَّما قِسنَ إِصبَعا

And they brought love's cords within reach of a love-enslaved man,

And they brought the means of love closer to one infatuated

who measured a cubit whenever they measured a finger's breadth.

Who measures a span whenever a finger is folded.

فَلَمّا تَنازَعنا الأَحاديثَ قُلنَ لي

فَلَمّا تَنازَعنا الأَحاديثَ قُلنَ لي

أَخِفتَ عَلَينا أَن نُغَرَّ وَنُخدَعا

أَخِفتَ عَلَينا أَن نُغَرَّ وَنُخدَعا

Then, when we exchanged conversation, they said to me:

When we had exchanged talk, they said to me:

“Did you fear for us that we would be beguiled and deceived?

“You hid from us lest we be deceived and tricked.

فَبِالأَمسِ أَرسَلنا بِذَلِكَ خالِداً

فَبِالأَمسِ أَرسَلنا بِذَلِكَ خالِداً

إِلَيكَ وَبَيَّنّا لَهُ الشَأنَ أَجمَعا

إِلَيكَ وَبَيَّنّا لَهُ الشَأنَ أَجمَعا

For yesterday we sent Khalid with that message

Just yesterday we sent Khalid to you

to you, and explained the whole affair to him.

And explained the matter to him in full.

فَما جِئتَنا إِلّا عَلى وَفقِ مَوعِدٍ

فَما جِئتَنا إِلّا عَلى وَفقِ مَوعِدٍ

عَلى مَلَإٍ مِنّا خَرَجنا لَهُ مَعا

عَلى مَلَإٍ مِنّا خَرَجنا لَهُ مَعا

So you came to us only in keeping with an appointment

You did not come to us except at the appointed time,

made by common agreement among us; we came out for it together.

When we came out together to it in a group.

رَأَينا خَلاءً مِن عُيونٍ وَمَجلِساً

رَأَينا خَلاءً مِن عُيونٍ وَمَجلِساً

دَميثَ الرُبى سَهلَ المَحَلَّةِ مُمرِعا

دَميثَ الرُبى سَهلَ المَحَلَّةِ مُمرِعا

We found a spot free of watchful eyes, and a place to sit

We saw a lonely place, empty of spies and a sitting place

with soft hillocks, easy to settle in, lush with pasture.

Of lasting shade and easy access.”

وَقُلنا كَريمٌ نالَ وَصلَ كَرائِمٍ

وَقُلنا كَريمٌ نالَ وَصلَ كَرائِمٍ

فَحَقَّ لَهُ في اليَومِ أَن يَتَمَتَّعا

فَحَقَّ لَهُ في اليَومِ أَن يَتَمَتَّعا

And we said, ‘A noble man has won the company of noble women,

And we said: “A noble one attained and met nobles,

so he has every right to enjoy himself today.’”

So it is his right today to enjoy himself.”