عَداكَhas spared you وجديmy passionate anguish فعدِّso turn aside عنfrom عَذًليreproaching me
عَداكَ وجدي فعدِّ عن عَذًلي
منfrom قبلُbefore كانwas السلوُّforgetting love منfrom قِبَليmy side
من قبلُ كان السلوُّ من قِبَلي
My anguish has spared you; turn away from reproaching me.
Beyond you my bliss was illusory; so cease to blame me,
Once, I too could forget love.
Though formerly the fault was mine.
لولاhad it not been for امتثاليmy obedience to أمرَthe command of العيونِthe eyes لَماnever would
لولا امتثالي أمرَ العيونِ لَما
حُكّمِwas made arbiter لحظُthe glance of الآجالdeaths فيover أَجليmy allotted lifespan
حُكّمِ لحظُ الآجال في أَجلي
Had I not obeyed the eyes' command, never
Had I not obeyed the command of the eyes,
would death's glance have ruled my allotted lifespan.
The appointed hour would not have judged my fate.
منwho لمشوقٍwill aid a yearning man حيِalive in الصبابةِpassionate longing والأَشand sorrows (start)
من لمشوقٍ حيِ الصبابةِ والأَش
جانِsorrows (end) مَيتِdead in الرجاءِhope والأَملand expectation
جانِ مَيتِ الرجاءِ والأَمل
Who will aid a yearning man, alive with passion and
The charms of enchanting youth and the self-display of adolescence
sorrows, yet dead in hope and expectation?
Are like the hopes and expectations of the dead.
معُزًىconsoled بثانيby one who makes bow القناةthe spear فيin اللَّونhue واللand suppleness (start)
معُزًى بثاني القناة في اللَّون والل
لينsuppleness (end) وثانيand who makes bow القضيبthe bough ذاpossessing خجَلshame
لين وثاني القضيب ذا خجَل
Consoled by one who makes the spear bow in hue and
The figure of the slender, soft and bashful youth
suppleness, and makes the bough bow in shame.
Equals in its seductiveness the figure of the rod that is bent double.
لاdo not تُنكرنْdeny لوعتيmy burning anguish بمقلتهat his eye النَّشintoxicated (start)
لا تُنكرنْ لوعتي بمقلته النَّش
وىintoxicated (end) وأعطافand the curves of قدّهِhis stature الثَّملwine-dazed
وى وأعطاف قدّهِ الثَّمل
Do not deny my anguish at his intoxicated
Do not deny that his glances have captivated my heart,
eye and the curves of his wine-dazed form.
His flanks that cling together and his heavy thighs.
قلبيmy heart شُجاعbold in الهوىlove فشيمتهُso its nature is
قلبي شُجاع الهوى فشيمتهُ
حبُّlove of مواضيthe keen blades of السيوفswords والأَسلand lances
حبُّ مواضي السيوف والأَسل
My heart is bold in love; its nature is
My heart is courageous in love; its nature
to love keen swords and lances.
Is to love the valleys of swords and level spaces.
يخفُّhastens lightly نحوtoward الدّمِاءِbloodshed يحملُهاhe carries them
يخفُّ نحو الدّمِاءِ يحملُها
مُثقَلweighed down ذيلِthe trailing end of الوشاحthe sash بالسكلby the hips (uncertain reading)
مُثقَل ذيلِ الوشاح بالسكل
It hastens toward bloodshed; those blades are carried
It yearns for bloodshed; heavily laden does it bear
by one whose trailing sash is heavy with his hips [reading uncertain].
The hem of the garment, knotted with anklets.
أُحبّهُI love him وهوthough he is باخلٌmiserly ومنand among الthe (continued)
أُحبّهُ وهو باخلٌ ومن ال
عناءِtorments حبُّloving اللَّيانevasion والبخَلand stinginess
عناءِ حبُّ اللَّيان والبخَل
I love him though he is miserly; among the
I love him, indifferent and slow though he be to my passion,
torments is loving evasion and stinginess.
For 'tis the nature of love to love the niggardly and the slow.
يَخفىhides ليَfor me الموتُdeath فيin خلائقهِhis character
يَخفى ليَ الموتُ في خلائقهِ
والسمُّand poison يخفيhides فيin لذَّةِthe pleasure of العمَلthe deed
والسمُّ يخفي في لذَّةِ العمَل
Death hides for me within his character,
Death in its attributes is hidden from me,
and poison hides in the pleasure of a deed.
And poison lies unseen in what gives joy.
اقبلhe approached يسعىhastening والليلُwhile the night مُنسدِلٌwas descending
اقبل يسعى والليلُ مُنسدِلٌ
كالشَّمسlike the sun فيin حُلَّةٍa robe منof الطَّفَلdusk
كالشَّمس في حُلَّةٍ من الطَّفَل
He approached swiftly while night was descending,
He comes hastening by night, clad in a robe of darkness,
like the sun in a robe of dusk.
Like the sun robed in clouds like infants' swaddling-bands.
يهتفُcalls بيto me والبكاءُwhile weeping يَشغلنيoccupies me
يهتفُ بي والبكاءُ يَشغلني
عمَّاfrom what توقعتهُI expected منof القُبَلkisses
عمَّا توقعتهُ من القُبَل
He calls to me, while weeping distracts me
He cries aloud to me while I weep, engrossed
from the kisses I had anticipated.
With expectations from his kisses.
يمدُّstretches كفّيmy hands الهوىlove إلىtoward ضمّembracing
يمدُّ كفّي الهوى إلى ضمّ
عطفَيهhis two sides فلاbut not تهتديdo they find their way منbecause of الخَبَلbewilderment
عطفَيه فلا تهتدي من الخَبَل
Love stretches my hands out to embrace
Passion stretches out my hands to the folds of his sides;
his sides, but bewilderment leaves them unable to find their way.
But bewildered, they cannot find the way to wander.
لولاbut for ذهوليmy daze نقعتI would have quenched منwith ريقsaliva
لولا ذهولي نقعت من ريق
هhis بَرْحَthe torment of غليليmy burning thirst بمائِهِwith its water الغَلَلgently flowing
ه بَرْحَ غليلي بمائِهِ الغَلَل
Had I not been dazed, I would have quenched with the saliva
Had I not been distraught I would have sipped until my thirst was slaked
of his mouth my burning thirst, with its flowing water.
From his spittle the drafts that loose the knot of anguish.
يُخيفنيfrightens me كلّevery مقلةٍeye ضمَّهاwhich it gathered الthe (continued)
يُخيفني كلّ مقلةٍ ضمَّها ال
حيَّencampment وماand not آقتيmy bane (uncertain reading) سوىexcept المُقَلeyes
حيَّ وما آقتي سوى المُقَل
I fear every eye gathered in the
Every cheek pressed to his in the night alarms me, save my own,
encampment; eyes alone are my bane.
And naught have I beyond pressing cheek to cheek!
مافيthere is no ... in فؤاديmy heart مكانroom for حادثةٍa misfortune
مافي فؤادي مكان حادثةٍ
يحلُهُsettles in it طارقٌa visitor منof الوَجلfear
يحلُهُ طارقٌ من الوَجل
There is no room in my heart for a new misfortune
No stranger enters the temple of my heart to take its place;
where a visitor of fear might settle.
It is filled by my lord and all apart from him seem vile.
أغناهمhas spared them قدَّكyour stature المهفهَفُslender عنfrom
أغناهم قدَّك المهفهَفُ عن
هّزِbrandishing قدودthe shafts of العواسلswaying lances الذُّبُلslender
هّزِ قدود العواسل الذُّبُل
Your slender stature has spared them
His neck have rendered other slim ones needless for amorous embraces,
the brandishing of supple, slender lance shafts.
And makes the neighing arrows redundant and obsolete.
طُلَّwas shed unavenged دميmy blood والرِماحُwhile the spears ماnot اعتُقلتwere couched
طُلَّ دمي والرِماحُ ما اعتُقلت
مشرعةًleveled والسيوفُand the swords فيin الخِللthe sheaths
مشرعةً والسيوفُ في الخِلل
My blood was shed unavenged, though no spears were couched
My blood flowed freely while spears were held back from the fray,
with points leveled, and the swords remained in their sheaths.
And swords were still sheathed and sneaking in their cases.
ولىhas fled اصطباريmy endurance والوجدwhile passion مقتبلٌis newly flourishing
ولى اصطباري والوجد مقتبلٌ
وضاقand became straitened ذرعَيmy capacity بالأَعينby the eyes النُّجلwide
وضاق ذرعَي بالأَعين النُّجل
My endurance has fled, while passion is newly flourishing,
Patience deserted me while passion made ready (for the sport);
and my strength has failed before wide eyes.
My means failed me and eyes of murky hue were analytic.
أبكيI weep إلىto ضاحكٍone laughing وأصبوand I yearn إلىfor
أبكي إلى ضاحكٍ وأصبو إلى
سالٍone who has forgotten love واشكواand I complain of الهوىlove إلىto مَذِلa divulger of secrets
سالٍ واشكوا الهوى إلى مَذِل
I weep before one who laughs, and yearn for
I weep to him who laughs, act crazy to a reasonable man, complain of love
one who has forgotten; I complain of love to a divulger of secrets.
To one indifferent to it and seek aid of the helpless.
وصاحبٍand a companion كالشَهِابlike a shooting star تَوأَمهُwhose twin is
وصاحبٍ كالشَهِاب تَوأَمهُ
عزميَmy resolve لاnot جازعٍfearful ولاnor وَكلhelpless
عزميَ لا جازعٍ ولا وَكل
And a companion like a shooting star, whose twin
But my companion is like a shooting star to whose resolution
is my resolve—neither fearful nor helpless.
My own aspires, knowing nor turning tail nor fleeing the stress of harm.
مقطبٌfrowning حدُّهُhis edge للأحزَنٍon the sorrowful
مقطبٌ حدُّهُ للأحزَنٍ
مبتسمٌsmiling صَفحهُhis flat لِلاon the (continued) جذَلjoyful
مبتسمٌ صَفحهُ لِلا جذَل
His edge frowns on the sorrowful,
He lowers his eyes for grief and smiles at him who shows no feebleness;
his flat smiles on the joyful.
He brought me low, but he surpassed me in courtesy shown to the noble.
أوطأنيhe mounted me upon مِثَلهُhis like وجاوزand carried across بيme
أوطأني مِثَلهُ وجاوز بي
بينbetween نيوبthe fangs of المخارمmountain passes العُصلُcrooked
بين نيوب المخارم العُصلُ
He mounted me on his like, and bore me onward
His fangs bit deep into the boss while from ugly words
between the crooked fangs of mountain passes.
And uncomely deeds his mouth was kept as free as his sword from rust.
ياO ناقُshe-camel وخداًtrot إلىto دمشقDamascus فماfor not
يا ناقُ وخداً إلى دمشق فما
يُنالis obtained فيهاthere النوالُbounty بالحيلby cunning
يُنال فيها النوالُ بالحيل
O she-camel, trot toward Damascus, for
How many a year has he suppressed privily while restraining his hands publicly from foul work!
its bounty is not won by cunning.
How many a cleavage has he repaired!
كمhow often شمْتُI watched for فيin غيرهاelsewhere than her ندىthe dew of generosity of رجلٍa man
كم شمْتُ في غيرها ندى رجلٍ
وقفتُI came upon منof شخصهِhis person علىupon طللa deserted ruin
وقفتُ من شخصهِ على طلل
How often elsewhere I watched for the dew of a man's generosity,
Royal authority is forbidden territory to me, a sanctuary
and found his very person a deserted ruin.
Consecrated- no wayfarer may tread its soil!
أيwhat يدٍa favor أنif بلغتهُاI reach her أَمَماًreadily
أي يدٍ أن بلغتهُا أَمَماً
عنديI owe لأيديto the forelegs of المطيّriding beasts والإِبلand camels
عندي لأيدي المطيّ والإِبل
What a debt of gratitude, if I reach her readily,
His prudence fortified him. Well fortified
I shall owe the forelegs of mounts and camels!
Was he then against the glance of deadly eyes with antimony!
لاmay not قرعتthey strike بعدهاafter it الآكامthe hills ولاnor
لا قرعت بعدها الآكام ولا
ريعتbe frightened بشدّby tightening النسوعthe girths الجُدُلtightly woven
ريعت بشدّ النسوع الجُدُل
May they never again strike the hills,
Now meeting the foe headlong, now using gentleness and procrastination,
nor be frightened by tightly woven girths pulled taut.
Descendant in the male line of the Pavilions of Heaven and the mighty Kings of Nafil.
شابتturned white نواصيthe forelocks of الظلامdarkness منfrom خيfear (start)
شابت نواصي الظلام من خي
فةfear (end) الصبحdawn وللبرقwhile lightning has هزةthe quiver of البطلa hero
فة الصبح وللبرق هزة البطل
The forelocks of darkness have turned white from
More generous than a rain-shower, more penetrating than an arrow,
fear of dawn, while lightning has a hero's quiver.
More firmly rooted in minds than mountains.
تخطَفit snatches لمعاًgleams وشأنُand the task of أنملهhis fingertips
تخطَف لمعاً وشأنُ أنمله
صبغُis dyeing رؤوسthe heads of الأَطوادmountains القللthe summits
صبغُ رؤوس الأَطواد القلل
It snatches gleams; his fingertips' task is
Succor of the desolate places, rain-clouds of meadows and sand,
to dye the heads of mountains, their summits.
Wealth despising the channels cut to bring water from the hills.
أَميhead toward صغيَّṢaghī (name as written) الدينal-Dīn الأبيthe proud أخاbrother of المجglory (start)
أَمي صغيَّ الدين الأبي أخا المج
دglory (end) أباAbū الفتحal-Fatḥ نصراًNaṣr بنibn عليʿAlī
د أبا الفتح نصراً بن علي
Head for Ṣaghī al-Dīn, the proud, brother of
When the sword is drawn he joys in the struggle as lovers
glory—Abū al-Fatḥ Naṣr ibn ʿAlī—
Joy in talk of love and amatory verse.
فيin حيثُthe place where تُجلىare unveiled أوانسthe graceful maidens of المجglory (start)
في حيثُ تُجلى أوانس المج
دِglory (end) والسؤددand lordship بينamid الحليّjewels والحللand robes
دِ والسؤدد بين الحليّ والحلل
there, where the graceful maidens of
He has raised the Banner of Greatness and strengthened its Guy-ropes
glory and lordship are unveiled amid jewels and robes.
Over the abject foe with snub nose and wind-beaten hair.
يلقىone encounters حياضthe pools of السماحgenerosity مترعةًbrimming
يلقى حياض السماح مترعةً
والجوادَand the generous one غضَّfresh in السَّعدانsaʿdān forage والنَّفَلand clover
والجوادَ غضَّ السَّعدان والنَّفَل
There one encounters the brimming pools of generosity,
He preserved its reputation and saved it from the clutch of crookedness and instability,
and the generous one, lush with saʿdān and clover.
While men compare him to the clouds, and no flashing lightning can equal him
لاحhas shone الهدىguidance فانتحيso take محجتهُits clear road
لاح الهدى فانتحي محجتهُ
والصبحُwhile dawn يبديreveals خوافيَthe hidden parts of السبُلthe paths
والصبحُ يبدي خوافيَ السبُل
Guidance has shone: take its clear road,
Save the flashing blades. He feeds it like the well-guided Camel,
while dawn reveals the paths' hidden places.
Hurling at high-placed objects, swerving neither to right nor to left.
فأنتِso you are منfrom وجههِhis face وعارضهand his beard
فأنتِ من وجههِ وعارضه
فيin ضوءthe light of شمسٍa sun بادٍmanifest وفيand in ظُلَلshade
في ضوء شمسٍ بادٍ وفي ظُلَل
For from his face and beard you are
He performs feats before which its achievements pale,
in the light of a radiant sun, and in shade.
So bounteous he in gifts and bounty.
أنملهُhis fingertips بالنوالwith bounty حافلةٌoverflowing
أنملهُ بالنوال حافلةٌ
تُخجلُput to shame صوبَthe downpour of السحائبِclouds الُهطلtorrential
تُخجلُ صوبَ السحائبِ الُهطل
His fingertips overflow with bounty,
When he recites poetry, he that hears him takes delight like lovers
putting the downpour of torrential clouds to shame.
Hearkening to cooings of love and graces of seduction.
صبٌpassionately devoted إلىto الجودgenerosity عقَّhe defied عاذلهُhis reprover
صبٌ إلى الجود عقَّ عاذلهُ
والصبُّand the lover لاnot يرعويdesists عنbecause of العذلreproach
والصبُّ لا يرعوي عن العذل
Passionately devoted to generosity, he defies his reprover;
Safe with him from the tricks of Time, greeted here with peace undying
a lover is not deterred by reproach.
Till the appointed Day! How many gifts doubly bestowed,
لاnot يتجافىdoes he turn away عنfrom السؤالrequests ولاnor
لا يتجافى عن السؤال ولا
تدعوهُinvite him أخلاقهُhis qualities إلىto المللweariness
تدعوهُ أخلاقهُ إلى الملل
He does not turn away from requests,
Hope exceeded by gifts showered on me oer hill and plain!
nor does his character invite him to grow weary.
Fair favours surpassing camphor itself and fresh bay leaves!
منwhoever مالturns away عنهُfrom him فانَّfor indeed ليI have أملاًa hope
من مال عنهُ فانَّ لي أملاً
ليسnot علىupon غيرهanyone else بمتكلrelying
ليس على غيره بمتكل
Whoever turns away from him, I have a hope
that relies on no one else.
محتفلٌattentive بالخطوبto calamities دونيin my stead فقدand so indeed
محتفلٌ بالخطوب دوني فقد
أصبحتI have become بالخطبwith misfortune غيرnot محتفلconcerned
أصبحت بالخطب غير محتفل
He attends to calamities in my stead, so
I have ceased to concern myself with trouble.
أمنتI felt safe from فيin ظلهhis shade اللياليthe nights فلاso not
أمنت في ظله الليالي فلا
ارهبdo I fear منof صرفهاtheir changes سوىexcept الأجلdeath's appointed term
ارهب من صرفها سوى الأجل
In his shade I feel secure from the nights, and
fear nothing of their changes but death.
أباحhe opened to شعريmy poetry حمىthe sanctuary of مواهبهhis gifts
أباح شعري حمى مواهبه
وكفand restrained كفthe hand of الأعداءenemies والعللand afflictions
وكف كف الأعداء والعلل
He opened his gifts' sanctuary to my poetry,
and restrained the hands of enemies and afflictions.
فسارso it traveled أسنىmore radiant فيthrough الارضthe earth منthan حاجبthe rim of الthe (continued)
فسار أسنى في الارض من حاجب ال
شمسsun وأعلىand higher فيin القدرrank منthan زحلSaturn
شمس وأعلى في القدر من زحل
Thus it traveled through the earth more brightly than the rim of the
sun, and higher in rank than Saturn.
وكمand how often حبانيhe bestowed on me غراءa radiant gift ليسthere is not لهاfor it
وكم حباني غراء ليس لها
مثلٌan equal وكمand how many حكمتI invoked فيهconcerning him منof مثلa maxim
مثلٌ وكم حكمت فيه من مثل
How many a radiant gift he has bestowed on me, without
equal; how many a maxim I have applied to him!
يحسنone speaks well فيهof him قولاًin speech فيحسنand he does good إذwhen
يحسن فيه قولاً فيحسن إذ
تأتيهyou approach him فضلاًin excellence فيin القولspeech وand العملaction
تأتيه فضلاً في القول و العمل
One speaks well of him; and he does good when
you approach him, excelling in word and deed.
وربماand sometimes زلerr مادحوهhis panegyrists ولاbut not
وربما زل مادحوه ولا
تنسبare ascribed أفعالهhis deeds إلىto الزللerror
تنسب أفعاله إلى الزلل
His panegyrists may sometimes err,
but his deeds are never charged with error.
بناwe have افتقارٌneed فنحنso we نسألهask him
بنا افتقارٌ فنحن نسأله
ولوand even if سكتناwe fell silent أغنىhe would enrich ولمand not يسلbe asked
ولو سكتنا أغنى ولم يسل
We have need, and so we ask him;
even were we silent, he would enrich us without being asked.
لقدindeed وجدتI found الزمانthe age معتدلاًwell balanced
لقد وجدت الزمان معتدلاً
وكانand it would be لولاهbut for him غيرnot معتدلbalanced
وكان لولاه غير معتدل
I have found the age well balanced,
though without him it would be out of balance.
ميزانthe Balance of حظيmy fortune حالٍadorned بزهرتهwith its Venus
ميزان حظي حالٍ بزهرته
وشمسand the sun of حاليmy condition فيat نقطةthe point of الحملAries
وشمس حالي في نقطة الحمل
The Balance of my fortune is adorned with its Venus,
and the sun of my condition stands at the point of Aries.
لاmay there be no شللٌpalsy ياO يدhand of الزمانtime لقدindeed
لا شللٌ يا يد الزمان لقد
جدتyou gave بواقيwith a protector of الأيديhands منfrom الشللpalsy
جدت بواقي الأيدي من الشلل
May no palsy touch you, O hand of time! You have
bestowed a protector of all hands against palsy.
عدthe perennial spring of الندىbounty عدةthe bulwark of الممالكkingdoms منّاعthe defender of
عد الندى عدة الممالك منّاع
حمىthe sanctuary of المجدglory عمدةthe mainstay of الدولdynasties
حمى المجد عمدة الدول
Bounty's perennial spring, kingdoms' bulwark, defender of
glory's sanctuary, mainstay of dynasties.
سيفٌa sword يفلthat chips الخطوبcalamities ضرباًby striking ولاyet not
سيفٌ يفل الخطوب ضرباً ولا
يعرفknows شينthe blemish of الكلامwounds والفللand chipped edges
يعرف شين الكلام والفلل
A sword that chips calamities with its blows, yet
knows neither the blemish of wounds nor chipped edges.
كمhow many سنةa custom فضلاًof bounty كمhow often سلhe drew عزمتهhis resolve
كم سنة فضلاً كم سل عزمته
دونin defense of المعاليhigh deeds كمhow many سدhe closed منof خللbreaches
دون المعالي كم سد من خلل
How many a custom of bounty! How often he has drawn his resolve
in defense of high deeds; how many breaches he has closed!
فالملكthus kingship منهthrough him فيin ساحتيthe two precincts of حرمٍa sanctuary
فالملك منه في ساحتي حرمٍ
حلhas settled فماand not ركبهits caravan بمرتحلdeparting
حل فما ركبه بمرتحل
Kingship has settled through him within two sacred precincts,
and its caravan will never depart.
حصنهfortified it حزمهhis prudence فحسنهand so adorned it
حصنه حزمه فحسنه
تحسينlike the beautifying of نجلwide العيونeyes بالكحلwith kohl
تحسين نجل العيون بالكحل
His prudence fortified it and made it fair,
as kohl beautifies wide eyes.
طوراًat times يلاقيhe meets الأعداءenemies ذاwith عجلhaste
طوراً يلاقي الأعداء ذا عجل
وتارةًand at times بالأناةwith deliberation والمهلand restraint
وتارةً بالأناة والمهل
At times he meets his enemies in haste,
and at times with deliberation and restraint.
ابنson of بدورthe full moons of السماءheaven والسحand clouds (start)
ابن بدور السماء والسح
بclouds (end) الغرbright الغواديcoming at dawn والسادةand lords النبلnoble
ب الغر الغوادي والسادة النبل
Son of the full moons of heaven and the
bright morning clouds, and of noble lords.
أجودmore generous منthan ديمةٍsteady rain وأنفذand more piercing منthan
أجود من ديمةٍ وأنفذ من
سهمٍan arrow وأرسىand firmer فيin الروعterror منthan جبلa mountain
سهمٍ وأرسى في الروع من جبل
More generous than steady rain, more piercing than
an arrow, and firmer in terror than a mountain.
غوثsuccor of الأياميwidows غيثrain for الأوامburning thirst إذاwhen
غوث الأيامي غيث الأوام إذا
أسيلmade to flow أغنىit dispenses عنwith صيبa raincloud of السبلfalling rain
أسيل أغنى عن صيب السبل
Helper of widows, rain for burning thirst: when
set flowing, he makes the pouring raincloud needless.
يلذhe delights بالدحin praise (uncertain reading) حينwhen يسمعهhe hears it
يلذ بالدح حين يسمعه
تلذذas do delight العاشقينlovers بالغزلin love poetry
تلذذ العاشقين بالغزل
He delights in praise when he hears it,
as lovers delight in love poetry.
شادhe raised المعاليhigh deeds وشدand strengthened وطأتهاtheir footing
شاد المعالي وشد وطأتها
فوقupon ذليلٍone gentle أشمlofty ذيpossessed of بللmoisture; bounty
فوق ذليلٍ أشم ذي بلل
He raised high deeds and strengthened their footing
upon one gentle yet lofty, endowed with bounty's dew.
ثقَّفhe straightened مياَّدهاwhat swayed in them وأطلقَهُand freed it
ثقَّف مياَّدها وأطلقَهُ
منfrom قبضةthe grip of الاعوجاجcrookedness والميَلand leaning
من قبضة الاعوجاج والميَل
He straightened what swayed in them, and freed it
from the grip of crookedness and leaning.
يقيسُهُcompare him الخَلقُpeople بالغمامto rainclouds فماyet not
يقيسُهُ الخَلقُ بالغمام فما
يحمرُّdoes it redden برقٌlightning إلاexcept منfrom الخطَلfolly
يحمرُّ برقٌ إلا من الخطَل
People compare him to rainclouds, yet
lightning blushes only at such folly.
يراعهُhis reed pen كالقناةِlike a spear معتدلٌstraight
يراعهُ كالقناةِ معتدلٌ
يرميit charges العواليlofty lances بالزَّيغwith wavering والخطَلand folly
يرمي العوالي بالزَّيغ والخطَل
His reed pen, straight as a spear,
charges lofty lances with wavering and folly.
يفعلit performs أفعالهاtheir deeds وتعجزwhile they are unable عنto match
يفعل أفعالها وتعجز عن
أفعالهِits deeds فيin العطاءِgiving والنّحَلand gifts
أفعالهِ في العطاءِ والنّحَل
It performs their deeds, while they cannot match
its deeds in giving and bestowing gifts.
ماضeffective إذاwhen علَّهُhe gives it a second drink وأَنهلَهُand gives it a first drink
ماض إذا علَّهُ وأَنهلَهُ
أَغناهُit spares him عنfrom needing علّهِنَّtheir second drinks والنَّهَلand first drinks
أَغناهُ عن علّهِنَّ والنَّهَل
Effective: when he gives it a second drink and a first,
it spares him their second draughts and their first.
فيهin it المناياdeaths معalongside الأَمانsafety منfrom الthe (continued)
فيه المنايا مع الأَمان من ال
دهرage فسالمهُso make peace with it ثمَّthen لاdo not تُبَلcare
دهر فسالمهُ ثمَّ لا تُبَل
It holds deaths, together with safety from the
age: make peace with it, then have no care.
كمhow many لكyou have منof منَّةٍa favor مضاعفةٍmultiplied
كم لك من منَّةٍ مضاعفةٍ
تعفوexceeding رجائيmy hope فيon السهلِthe plain والجبلand mountain
تعفو رجائي في السهلِ والجبل
How many a multiplied favor you have bestowed,
surpassing my hopes on plain and mountain!
بيضاءfair رودٍgraceful تفوقsurpassing فيin الحسbeauty (start)
بيضاء رودٍ تفوق في الحس
نbeauty (end) والنعمةand luxury بيضthe fair women of الخدورsecluded chambers والكللand canopies
ن والنعمة بيض الخدور والكلل
Fair and graceful, surpassing in
beauty and luxury the fair women of chambers and canopies.
نمتI slept وهبتwhile she stirred اليtoward me ساهرةًwakeful
نمت وهبت الي ساهرةً
وزُلتُand I swerved عنfrom قصدهاher aim ولمbut she did not تَزswerve (truncated)
وزُلتُ عن قصدها ولم تَز
I slept while she came toward me, wakeful;
I swerved from her purpose, but she did not swerve.
حسبكenough from you فاكففso hold back عليperhaps I may أوفِكrepay you
حسبك فاكفف علي أوفِك
معdespite حذقيmy skill حقَّthe due of السوابقthe preceding gifts الأُوَلthe first
مع حذقي حقَّ السوابق الأُوَل
Enough! Hold back—perhaps I can repay you,
for all my skill, the debt of those first, surpassing gifts.
ايُّwhat جوادa steed فكريmy thought وايّand what مدىa distance
ايُّ جواد فكري وايّ مدى
يفوتeludes طرفيmy sight والطِرفَwhile the steed فيin الطّوَلthe tether
يفوت طرفي والطِرفَ في الطّوَل
What steed is my thought, and what distance
eludes my sight, while the steed remains tethered?
فأطلقهُso release it بالاقتصادthrough moderation أولاor else فلاthen no
فأطلقهُ بالاقتصاد أولا فلا
لومblame عليهِon it فيfor العجزweakness والفشَلand failure
لوم عليهِ في العجز والفشَل
Release it through moderation, or else
it bears no blame for weakness and failure.
ماnot ليhave I يدٌpower فُتَّنيyou outstripped me بكلwith every يدٍhand
ما لي يدٌ فُتَّني بكل يدٍ
تندىyou give generously بهاwith it فيin الشؤبوبthe downpour متَّصلunceasing
تندى بها في الشؤبوب متَّصل
I have no power; with every hand you have outstripped me,
showering bounty with it in an unbroken downpour.
وهذهand these السُبَّقُthe prizewinners النجائبthoroughbred mounts فارso tether (start)
وهذه السُبَّقُ النجائب فار
بطهاtether them (end) ولاand do not تحفلنَّpay heed بالهمَلto the strays
بطها ولا تحفلنَّ بالهمَل
These are the prizewinning thoroughbreds, so tether
them, and pay no heed to stray stock.
وقُلْand say لمنto whoever رامهاaims at them بمنقصةٍwith disparagement
وقُلْ لمن رامها بمنقصةٍ
حُكْweave مثلهاtheir like أوor فجلّthen depart واعتزلand withdraw
حُكْ مثلها أو فجلّ واعتزل
And tell whoever seeks to disparage them:
Weave their like—or depart and withdraw.
Partial English translation: 72 of 148 Arabic lines translated.