ألاAh! نَسّياyou two, make forget نفسيmy soul حديثَthe tale of البلابلِtroubles
ألا نَسّيا نفسي حديثَ البلابلِ
بمشمولةٍwith north-wind-cooled wine صفراءَgolden-yellow منfrom خَمرِwine of بابلِBabylon
بمشمولةٍ صفراءَ من خَمرِ بابلِ
Ah, you two, make my soul forget the tale of troubles,
Oh! Don't my soul forget the warbling of the bulbuls
with golden-yellow wine, north-wind-cooled, from Babylon.
With the yellow wine from Babylon,
فماfor nothing is العيشlife إلاexcept فيin ندامِcompanionship over سُلافةٍchoice wine
فما العيش إلا في ندامِ سُلافةٍ
تنادَمهاhave caroused with it العصرانday and night غيرnot ثَمائِلِdrunken
تنادَمها العصران غير ثَمائِلِ
Life is nothing but companionship over choice wine,
For life is but in the remorse of a drinking companion,
with which day and night have caroused, never drunk.
Repented by the youth but not statues.
نضاstripped الدهرُtime عنfrom أسآرهاits remnants جُلَّmost of لونهاits color
نضا الدهرُ عن أسآرها جُلَّ لونها
فغادرهاand left it منof لونهاits color فيin غلائلِthin veils
فغادرها من لونها في غلائلِ
Time stripped most of the color from its remnants,
Time smiled, revealing its luscious color,
leaving it clad in thin veils of that color.
Leaving of its color only traces in the locks.
سرابيةًmirage-like آليةًshimmering like heat haze تصرعfells الشذاthe gnats
سرابيةً آليةً تصرع الشذا
وترفعand magnifies منin شخصthe visible size of القذىthe speck المتضائلِtiny
وترفع من شخص القذى المتضائلِ
Mirage-like, shimmering, it fells the gnats
It came and went like a mirage,
and magnifies the figure of the tiniest speck.
Raising from the body the diminishing spirit.
ثوتit lingered تصطليbasking in شمسthe sun of الظهائرnoontides برهةًfor a while
ثوت تصطلي شمس الظهائر برهةً
إلىuntil أنthat أفادتit gained لونَthe color of شمسthe sun of الأصائلِlate afternoons
إلى أن أفادت لونَ شمس الأصائلِ
It lingered, basking in the noonday sun,
It shone as the sun glowed over meadows,
until it gained the color of the late-afternoon sun.
Until it took the color of the rising sun.
إذاwhen ماindeed تمشتit coursed فيthrough عِظامthe bones of ابنa son of كبرةٍold age
إذا ما تمشت في عِظام ابن كبرةٍ
مشىhe walked ليّنَsupple الأوصالin his limbs رِخوloose المفاصلِin his joints
مشى ليّنَ الأوصال رِخو المفاصلِ
When it courses through an old man's bones,
When it walked on the bones of Ibn Kabirah,
he walks with supple limbs and loosened joints.
Its limbs became soft and its joints flexible.
تردit restores لهto him غصنَthe branch of الشبابyouth وقدthough already ذوىwithered
ترد له غصنَ الشباب وقد ذوى
رطيباًfresh كغصنlike a branch of البانةthe ban-tree المتمايلِswaying
رطيباً كغصن البانة المتمايلِ
It restores the branch of his youth, already withered,
To it returns the branch of youth after fading,
fresh as the swaying branch of a ban-tree.
Moist as the swaying branch of the acacia.
إذاwhen نزلتit descended بالهمِّupon sorrow فيin دارthe home of أهلهِits hosts
إذا نزلت بالهمِّ في دار أهلهِ
شكىit complained الضيمof ill-treatment شكوىthe complaint of آهلٍa householder ضيمwronged by نَازلِa guest
شكى الضيم شكوى آهلٍ ضيم نَازلِ
When it descends upon sorrow in sorrow's own home,
When it descends into the abode of its family,
sorrow complains like a host wronged by a guest.
It complains the complaint of a wronged and descending king.
بماءٍwith water جَلتْswept away عنfrom حُرّthe pure part of صفحتهits surface القذىthe specks
بماءٍ جَلتْ عن حُرّ صفحته القذى
حريقَa fierce wind لهاit has ذيلa train كَميشtucked up الذلاذلِthe trailing hems
حريقَ لها ذيل كَميش الذلاذلِ
With water whose pure surface has been swept free of specks
With water that the hot iron bubbles slid off its blade
by a fierce wind with a short train and tucked-up hems.
With a tail like the wagging of foxes.
إذاwhen اطَّردتflowed steadily أنفاسُهاits breaths فيacross سَراتهits middle
إذا اطَّردت أنفاسُها في سَراته
تَسلسلit rippled عاريbare المتنbacked جعدcurled السلاسلِripple-chains
تَسلسل عاري المتن جعد السلاسلِ
When its breaths run steadily across the water's middle,
When its breaths blow through its chest,
the water ripples, bare-backed, with curling chains of waves.
The bare midriff sways with curly hair.
قرتْهُsupplied it hospitably السواريnight-rain clouds بينamong أكنافthe borders of روضةٍa meadow
قرتْهُ السواري بين أكناف روضةٍ
تَراعَىgraze together بهاthere عينُwide-eyed النعاجwild does المطَافلِwith young
تَراعَى بها عينُ النعاج المطَافلِ
Night-rain clouds have refreshed it amid a meadow's borders,
It settled its dwellings between the arms of a meadow
where wide-eyed does with young graze together.
Where the gazes of fat sheep graze
بهin it عبَقٌa fragrance كالمسكlike musk مماfrom what تسحَّبتtrailed
به عبَقٌ كالمسك مما تسحَّبت
عليهover it الصَّباthe east wind تَفْلىcombing خُزامىlavender of الخمائلِthe thickets
عليه الصَّبا تَفْلى خُزامى الخمائلِ
It holds a musk-like fragrance from the breeze that trailed
With a fragrance of musk from the zephyr
over it—the east wind combing the thickets' lavender.
That blew over it the scent of beautiful maidens.
إذاwhen ساورتهwrestled with it الراحwine فيin الصحنthe bowl لألأتْgleamed
إذا ساورته الراح في الصحن لألأتْ
وجوهُthe faces of الندامىthe drinkers بالبروقwith lightning flashes العواملِlively
وجوهُ الندامى بالبروق العواملِ
When wine wrestles with it in the bowl, there gleam
When the sleep visits it in the courtyard it charms
the drinkers' faces with lively lightning flashes.
The faces of boon companions with lightning smiles.
كأنهماas though the two were شوبانtwo blended substances ذوبُmolten سبائكٍingots
كأنهما شوبان ذوبُ سبائكٍ
منof التبرpure gold معلولٌdiluted بذَوبwith molten وذائلِsilver bars
من التبر معلولٌ بذَوب وذائلِ
As though the two were mingled metals: molten ingots
As if they are two rods of melted alloy
of pure gold diluted with molten silver bars.
Decorated with pearls and dangling fringes.
شربتُI drank علىin صحوthe sobriety of المشيبgray age وطالand long continued ماthe time that
شربتُ على صحو المشيب وطال ما
شربتI drank علىin سُكرِthe intoxication of الشبابyouth المخايلِbeguiling
شربت على سُكرِ الشباب المخايلِ
I drank in the sobriety of gray age; long had I
I drank in the prime of old age though long I had not
drunk in the beguiling intoxication of youth.
Drunk in the intoxication of playful youth.
وأعذرُand most excusable among شُرَّابdrinkers of المُدامةwine شاربٌone who drinks
وأعذرُ شُرَّاب المُدامة شاربٌ
لتقصيرto shorten أيامthe days of المشيبgray age الأَطاولِlongest
لتقصير أيام المشيب الأَطاولِ
The wine drinker with the best excuse is one who drinks
I excuse the cupbearer of the wine for my diminished drinking
to shorten old age's longest days.
Due to the prolonged days of my advancing years.
وللكأسand the cup has أخرىanother purpose أنthat تكونit be تعلَّةًa distraction
وللكأس أخرى أن تكون تعلَّةً
لذيfor one with الشيبgray hair عنfrom ذكرremembering الشبابyouth المزايلِdeparted
لذي الشيب عن ذكر الشباب المزايلِ
The cup has another purpose: to be a distraction
And for the cup to be another pretext,
for the gray-haired from remembering departed youth.
For one grayed to forget the departing days of youth.
إذاwhen ماindeed تذكرتُI remembered الشبابyouth جعلتهاI made it
إذا ما تذكرتُ الشباب جعلتها
رقوءاًa stancher لأسرابfor streams of الدموعtears الهواملِfreely flowing
رقوءاً لأسراب الدموع الهواملِ
Whenever I remembered youth, I made it
When I reminisce about youth, I let it
a stopper for the streams of freely falling tears.
Flow copious tears from the eye's clouds.
أدرتُI passed around علىamid لهوthe pleasure of الحديثconversation كؤوسهاits cups
أدرتُ على لهو الحديث كؤوسها
ونادمتُهاand drank it with الخُلّانَclose friends بينamong الخلائلِbeloved women
ونادمتُها الخُلّانَ بين الخلائلِ
I passed its cups around amid pleasant conversation,
I lead the conversation's amusement with cups
and drank it with dear friends among beloved women.
And summon the boon companions among the locks.
طلبتُI sought بهاthrough it سلمَpeace from الهمومcares وربماand sometimes
طلبتُ بها سلمَ الهموم وربما
طلبتُI sought بهاthrough it جَرَّdragging الذيولthe trains الذوائلِtrailing
طلبتُ بها جَرَّ الذيول الذوائلِ
Through it I sought peace from cares, and sometimes
With it I seek the ladder of worries and sometimes
I sought the swagger of dragging long, trailing hems.
With it I seek to trail the lengthening trains.
وحدثتُand I told نُدمانيmy drinking companions أحاديثَtales of ماwhat مضىpassed
وحدثتُ نُدماني أحاديثَ ما مضى
منof العيشِlife أقْفُوهاI follow them بأنَّةِwith the moan of ثاكلِone bereaved
من العيشِ أقْفُوها بأنَّةِ ثاكلِ
I told my drinking companions tales of bygone
And I relate to my boon companions tales of days gone by,
life, following each with a bereaved one's moan.
Tales that my cooing voice narrates.
أعاذلتيO my reproacher فيover الراحwine أشيهتI have grayed (uncertain reading) فارعوِيso desist
أعاذلتي في الراح أشيهت فارعوِي
لشأنكto your own affairs إنيindeed I لاdo not أدينُsubmit لعاذلِto a reproacher
لشأنك إني لا أدينُ لعاذلِ
You who blame me for wine—I have grown gray; desist
My friend scolded me in my tipsiness so I implored her
and mind your own affairs: I submit to no reproacher.
“For your sake, I am no debtor to the scolder.”
فلوand if أسمحتْrelented عنهاover it القرينةُthe companion أسمحتshe would relent
فلو أسمحتْ عنها القرينةُ أسمحت
لشيبٍfor gray hair كنُوّارlike the blossoms of الثُّغامةthughama شاملِall-spreading
لشيبٍ كنُوّار الثُّغامة شاملِ
If my companion would relent over it, she would relent
If the companion allowed, I would allow
for gray hair spreading like thughama blossoms.
For gray hair like the encompassing darkness.
وقالتand she said دعleave الشبانَthe young men والكأسand the cup إنهاfor it is
وقالت دع الشبانَ والكأس إنها
حِمىًforbidden ground بعدafter مرّthe passing of الأربعينforty years الكواملِcomplete
حِمىً بعد مرّ الأربعين الكواملِ
She said, “Leave the young men and the cup; it is
She said “Leave the youth and the cup, it is a fever
forbidden ground once forty full years have passed.”
After passing forty perfect years.”
ألمhas it not يكفِهاsufficed her أنthat المشيبَgray age أفاتنيdeprived me of
ألم يكفِها أن المشيبَ أفاتني
نصيبيَmy share منof وصلintimacy with الحسانِbeautiful women العطائلِunadorned
نصيبيَ من وصل الحسانِ العطائلِ
Was it not enough for her that gray age deprived me
Doesn’t it suffice her that gray hair deprived me
of my share of intimacy with unadorned beauties,
Of my share of the union with the missing beauties?
إلىuntil أنthat غدتshe came باللومwith reproach لاmay not درَّflow درُّهاher milk
إلى أن غدت باللوم لا درَّ درُّها
لتمنعنيto deny me درَّthe flow of الكؤوسcups الحوافلِbrimming
لتمنعني درَّ الكؤوس الحوافلِ
yet she has come reproaching—may her milk never flow!—
Until by blaming she cared not for my feelings
to deny me the flow of the brimming cups,
To forbid me the sweetness of the overflowing cups.
فتشفعthus doubles ليfor me حرمانthe deprivation of حظa pleasure بمثلهwith its like
فتشفع لي حرمان حظ بمثله
رماهاmay he strike her عنaway from اللَّوماءreproach رامa shooter بشاغلِwith a distraction
رماها عن اللَّوماء رام بشاغلِ
doubling the loss of one pleasure with another?
So the denial of a share like it interceded for me,
May some archer strike her with a distraction from reproach!
Having distracted her from blaming the busy one.
أأتركshall I abandon عَفْوthe ready bounty of الكأسthe cup حرّانَburning with thirst صادياًparched
أأترك عَفْو الكأس حرّانَ صادياً
لعلّانَfor So-and-so منfrom ريقthe saliva of الكواعبfull-breasted maidens ثاملِintoxicated
لعلّانَ من ريق الكواعب ثاملِ
Shall I abandon the cup's ready bounty, burning and parched,
Shall I abandon the cup’s pardon, burning with thirst
for So-and-so, drunk on full-breasted maidens' saliva,
Hoping for the mouth’s spray from the withholding gazelle?
خليٍّfree منfrom الأحزانsorrows فيin ظلthe shade of جنةٍa garden
خليٍّ من الأحزان في ظل جنةٍ
قريبٍnear جَناهاits fruit منto يدthe hand of المتناولِone reaching
قريبٍ جَناها من يد المتناولِ
free of sorrows in the shade of a garden
Free of worries in the shade of a nearby garden
whose fruit lies close to the hand that reaches,
That its planter placed near at hand.
يروحhe goes in the evening ويغدوand goes in the morning فيamong الغوانيbeautiful women مُساعفاًindulged
يروح ويغدو في الغواني مُساعفاً
بحاجاتin the desires of موموقٍa beloved man حظِيِّfavored الوسائلِin his advances
بحاجات موموقٍ حظِيِّ الوسائلِ
going evening and morning among beautiful women, indulged
Going and coming in orchards, doubling
in a beloved man's desires, favored in his advances?
His fortunate share with coveted means.
يميدsways بهhim مأدُthe suppleness of الشبابyouth فترعويand they turn
يميد به مأدُ الشباب فترعوي
إلىtoward جانبيهhis two sides كالظباءlike gazelles العواطلِunadorned
إلى جانبيه كالظباء العواطلِ
Youth's suppleness makes him sway, and they turn
The bed of youth stretches with him so the gazelles
toward his sides like unadorned gazelles,
Graze to his sides like the freely roaming deer.
مُسقّىًgiven drink بأفواهٍby mouths كأنَّas though رُضابَهاtheir saliva
مُسقّىً بأفواهٍ كأنَّ رُضابَها
جَنىthe harvest of النحلbees شارتْgathered أرْيَهits honey كفُّthe hand of عاسلِa honey-gatherer
جَنى النحل شارتْ أرْيَه كفُّ عاسلِ
giving him drink from mouths whose saliva seems
Watered by mouths as though their sipping
the bees' harvest, its honey gathered by a honey-gatherer's hand.
Was the harvest of bees dripping from the squeezing grasp.
لَذاكَsurely that man عنfor الصهباءtawny wine أبردُcooler علةًin need
لَذاكَ عن الصهباء أبردُ علةً
وأجدرُand more deserving أنto يغْنىbe content بتلكwith those المناهلِdrinking places
وأجدرُ أن يغْنى بتلك المناهلِ
Surely he has far less need for tawny wine,
For that the sober one, I have a cooler excuse
and more reason to be content with those drinking places.
And more deserving that it be glorified by those springs.
إليكleave me be فإناfor we are للهويناfor easy living وشأنِهاand its concerns
إليك فإنا للهوينا وشأنِها
وآلُand the house of زريقZurayq للأمورِfor affairs الجلائلِweighty
وآلُ زريق للأمورِ الجلائلِ
Leave me be! We are for easy living and its concerns,
It is for you, for our play and its matter
while the house of Zurayq is for weighty affairs.
And the family of Zureiq are for sublime things.
ألمdid you not تعلميknow أنْthat قدalready كفوناspared us شؤونناour concerns
ألم تعلمي أنْ قد كفونا شؤوننا
فلمand did not يطرقواleave (uncertain reading) منهنّamong them أوْلىanything more fitting لآيلِfor a governor
فلم يطرقوا منهنّ أوْلى لآيلِ
Did you not know they have spared us our concerns,
Don’t you know we have fulfilled our affairs
leaving among them nothing more fitting for a governor?
So they have not approached the first of matters?
همُthey أهملوناleft us free فيin مُصابthe falling of غُيوثِهمtheir rains
همُ أهملونا في مُصاب غُيوثِهم
سُدىًunfettered ورعوْناand guarded us بالقناwith spears والقنابلِand cavalry squadrons
سُدىً ورعوْنا بالقنا والقنابلِ
They left us free beneath the falling of their rains,
They neglected us in the rain of their help
unfettered, and guarded us with spears and cavalry squadrons.
In vain, while we were content with spears and arrows.
فأصبحَso became شملُthe company of الناسِthe people شملَthe company of رعيةٍa tended flock
فأصبحَ شملُ الناسِ شملَ رعيةٍ
وسِربهُمُand their herd فيin العيشliving سربَthe herd of الهوامِلِfreely grazing beasts
وسِربهُمُ في العيش سربَ الهوامِلِ
The people thus became a well-tended flock,
So the relationship of people became like that of subjects
yet their herd lived like beasts left free to graze.
And their flock in life is the flock of burdened camels.
وهمand they حمَّلوناloaded us with مِنةًa favor بعدafter منةٍa favor
وهم حمَّلونا مِنةً بعد منةٍ
علىalthough أنناwe are منهاfrom them خفافُlight الكواهلِof shoulder
على أننا منها خفافُ الكواهلِ
They loaded us with favor after favor,
And they burdened us with favor upon favor
yet our shoulders bear them lightly.
As though we are the lightest in burden bearing.
سأنْثُوI shall proclaim نثاthe fame of آلائكُمyour favors آلO house of مصعبMus'ab
سأنْثُو نثا آلائكُم آل مصعب
نثاthe spreading of praise by الروضِthe garden آلاءfor the bounty of السحابthe clouds الهواطلِpouring down
نثا الروضِ آلاء السحاب الهواطلِ
I shall spread the fame of your favors, house of Mus'ab,
I will elegize your favors, O family of Mus'ab
as gardens spread the fame of rain-laden clouds' bounty.
An elegy of the meadow’s rainfall from the pouring clouds.
وماand not نفحاتُthe fragrances of الروضthe garden تثنِيpraise علىupon الحياthe rain
وما نفحاتُ الروض تثنِي على الحيا
بأطيبَmore sweetly منthan ذكراكمُyour remembrance فيin المحافلِgatherings
بأطيبَ من ذكراكمُ في المحافلِ
No garden fragrances praise the rain
And the meadow’s breath does not praise life
more sweetly than your remembrance in gatherings.
With anything sweeter than the mention of you in gatherings.
أكفُّكُمُyour palms فيin الأرضِthe earth أعينُthe springs of مائِهاits water
أكفُّكُمُ في الأرضِ أعينُ مائِها
وأقدامُكمand your feet فيهاupon it مِراسthe force of الزلازلِearthquakes
وأقدامُكم فيها مِراس الزلازلِ
Your palms are the earth's springs of water,
Your swords in the land are the springs of its water
and your feet upon it have the force of earthquakes.
And your feet in it are like mountains firm.
أقولُI speak عليماًknowingly لاnot محيطاًencompassing بفضلكمyour excellence
أقولُ عليماً لا محيطاً بفضلكم
ولاnor خابطاًblundering فيin القولspeech عشوةwith the blindness of جاهلِan ignoramus
ولا خابطاً في القول عشوة جاهلِ
I speak knowingly, without encompassing your excellence,
I say knowing, not encompassing your merit,
nor blundering in speech with an ignoramus's blindness.
Nor speaking nonsense in ignorance.
إذاwhenever شئتُI wished جاريتُI pursued القوافيَthe rhymes فيكمُin your praise
إذا شئتُ جاريتُ القوافيَ فيكمُ
مداهاto their farthest reach وماand not كثَّرتُI inflated حقاًtruth بباطلِwith falsehood
مداها وما كثَّرتُ حقاً بباطلِ
Whenever I wish, I pursue rhymes in your praise
If I wished I could run meters in your praise
to their furthest reach, without swelling truth with falsehood.
Extending them though I would not increase the false.
وماand not يتناهىcomes to an end القولُspeech فيكمabout you لغايةٍat a limit
وما يتناهى القولُ فيكم لغايةٍ
تناهيَthe limitation of ذاتٍthe subject itself بلbut تناهِيَthe limitation of قائلِa speaker
تناهيَ ذاتٍ بل تناهِيَ قائلِ
Speech about you reaches no final boundary
And speech cannot end in you, not for an aim’s end,
of its subject, but only the boundary of its speaker.
But the end of one speaking, no end of the speaker.
ألاlisten أيهاO you المُجريwho race ليدركَto reach شأوهمtheir farthest reach
ألا أيها المُجري ليدركَ شأوهم
لهنَّكsurely you are أيمُby اللَّهِGod أنصبُthe most wearied عاملِworker
لهنَّك أيمُ اللَّهِ أنصبُ عاملِ
O you who race to reach their farthest mark,
Oh you who flow, realize their stature
by God, you are surely the most wearied worker!
For protection of God you climb a worker.
إذاif القولspeech أعياexhausted القائلينspeakers بُلوغُهreaching it
إذا القول أعيا القائلين بُلوغُه
فكيفthen how بهwith it لاthere is no كيفhow ذاكfor that لفاعلِfor a doer
فكيف به لا كيف ذاك لفاعلِ
If reaching it in words has exhausted the speakers,
When speech made speakers reach its end,
how could anyone do it? No doer could.
Then how can it be for the non-speaker!
فقِفْso stand خاسِئاًhumbled عنهمaway from them حسيراًexhausted فإنماfor indeed
فقِفْ خاسِئاً عنهم حسيراً فإنما
طلبتَyou sought منيعاًsomething impregnable منbeyond حَويلthe ingenuity of المحاولِthe striver
طلبتَ منيعاً من حَويل المحاولِ
Stand humbled far from them, exhausted, for
So stop in humility for it is surely
you have sought what is impregnable to any striver's ingenuity.
Seeking the unobtainable from twisting efforts.
أصمُّdeaf عنto الفحشاءِfoul speech والعذلِand reproach فيin الندىgenerosity
أصمُّ عن الفحشاءِ والعذلِ في الندى
طويلُlong التماديin persistence فيin شقاقِopposition to العواذلِreproachers
طويلُ التمادي في شقاقِ العواذلِ
Deaf to foul speech and reproach in generosity,
I turn away from vulgarity and blaming in praise
he persists long in opposing his reproachers.
Prolonged opposition in the strife of scolders.
يجودُhe gives generously فيعطيand gives مالهhis wealth فيtoward حقوقهits rightful dues
يجودُ فيعطي ماله في حقوقه
علىalong منهجٍa course بينbetween السبيلينthe two paths عادلِjust
على منهجٍ بين السبيلين عادلِ
He gives generously, spending his wealth on its rightful dues,
He is generous giving his wealth in its rights
along a just course between the two paths.
On a path between the two paths, just.
وإنand if هاجَهstirred him هيجٌan outburst منof العذلِreproach أصبحتْbecame
وإن هاجَه هيجٌ من العذلِ أصبحتْ
فواضلهُhis favors مشفوعةًpaired بفواضلِwith further favors
فواضلهُ مشفوعةً بفواضلِ
If an outburst of reproach stirs him, then
And no escape from his start, his comfort
his favors become paired with further favors.
Lowers domination from the backs of the saddled.
كدجلةَlike the Tigris يجريflows ماؤُهاits water فيin سبيلهits course
كدجلةَ يجري ماؤُها في سبيله
فلاand does not ينتحيswerve عنfrom قصدهits intended course للمعادلِtoward deviations
فلا ينتحي عن قصده للمعادلِ
Like the Tigris, whose water flows along its course,
Unique and unmatched in munificence, intimate
never swerving from its purpose toward other channels.
In his solitude, monopolizing all merits.
فإنbut if كفكفتْهdrove it back الريحُthe wind منfrom شطرِthe direction of وجههits front
فإن كفكفتْه الريحُ من شطرِ وجهه
طماit swelled فاغتدىand became آذيُّهits surge فيupon السواحلِthe shores
طما فاغتدى آذيُّه في السواحلِ
If the wind drives it back from directly ahead,
He distributes gifts and tribulations to their people,
it swells, and its surge spills over the shores.
Lowering the train of his banner, honored like bridesmaids.
إذاif حالَstood as a barrier بدءٌa first giving دونbefore عُرفٍa favor فبدؤهthen his first giving
إذا حالَ بدءٌ دون عُرفٍ فبدؤه
إلىtoward عودهِhis renewed giving المأمولِhoped-for أحظىthe surest الوسائلِmeans
إلى عودهِ المأمولِ أحظى الوسائلِ
If a first gift stands between you and further kindness, that beginning
When war disheveled him he met its spear
is the surest means to his hoped-for renewed giving.
With his spear, burns meeting the deepest depths.
ولاand no بِدْعَnovelty منهfrom him بدؤهhis first giving أريحيةٌnoble generosity
ولا بِدْعَ منه بدؤه أريحيةٌ
تحطّremoves الولاياsaddlecloths عنfrom ظهورthe backs of الرواحلِriding beasts
تحطّ الولايا عن ظهور الرواحلِ
Nor is his first giving any novelty: it is noble generosity
And it shook out its leg, though it still
that removes saddlecloths from the backs of traveling mounts.
Runs with a tail of spreading benefit.
وحيدٌalone فريدٌunique فيin المكارمnoble deeds آنسٌat ease
وحيدٌ فريدٌ في المكارم آنسٌ
بوحدتِهin his solitude مستأثرٌsole possessor بالفضائلِof excellences
بوحدتِه مستأثرٌ بالفضائلِ
Alone and unique in noble deeds, at ease
The heroes shouted, “You have spoken true to the oracle,
in his solitude, sole possessor of excellences.
We witness you have fulfilled the good promise.”
يُمرّhe dispenses العطاياgifts والمناياand deaths لأهلهاto those deserving them
يُمرّ العطايا والمنايا لأهلها
بأخفضِin the calmer of بالَيْهhis two moods مُجدّاًearnest كهازِلِlike one jesting
بأخفضِ بالَيْه مُجدّاً كهازِلِ
He dispenses gifts and deaths to those deserving them,
If critics fault him he was the first critic
in the calmer of his two moods, earnest as though jesting.
And if challengers duel him he was the first challenger.
إذاwhen ماindeed جلتْهrevealed him الحربُwar عارضَlaid crosswise رُمْحَهُhis spear
إذا ما جلتْه الحربُ عارضَ رُمْحَهُ
علىupon لاحقِlean الآطالِin the flanks نهدِbulging المآكلِin the shoulder muscles
على لاحقِ الآطالِ نهدِ المآكلِ
When war reveals him, he lays his spear crosswise
The arrival of feet with the sword and the sword with feet,
upon a lean-flanked mount with bulging shoulders.
When the thrust sparks with the low grounds.
وقدand already شمّرتْshe bared عنfrom ساقهاher shin غيرexcept أنهاthat she
وقد شمّرتْ عن ساقها غير أنها
تركّضُgallops فيin ذيلٍa train منof النفعِbenefit ذائلِtrailing
تركّضُ في ذيلٍ من النفعِ ذائلِ
War has bared her shin—yet she
With a courageous and decisive heart escorting him,
gallops in a long, trailing train of benefit.
Polished longtime in dealing with whetstones.
تهاتفتcried to one another الأبطالُthe champions هَدَّكwhat a mighty one you are فارساًas a horseman
تهاتفت الأبطالُ هَدَّك فارساً
شهدْناwe bear witness لقدindeed صدَّقتَyou fulfilled بشرىthe glad tidings of القوابلِthe midwives
شهدْنا لقد صدَّقتَ بشرى القوابلِ
The champions cry: “What a mighty horseman you are!
It deflects the lights of death from his surfaces,
We bear witness: you fulfilled the midwives' glad tidings!”
While in its sharpness is the truth of those glories.
فإنْand if طاعَنوهthey thrust at him كانhe was أولَthe first طاعنٍto thrust
فإنْ طاعَنوه كان أولَ طاعنٍ
وإنْand if نازلوهthey faced him in combat كانhe was أولَthe first نازلِto engage
وإنْ نازلوه كان أولَ نازلِ
If they thrust at him, he is the first to thrust;
If it makes peace, the warrior is like flames,
if they engage him, he is the first to engage.
And if it makes war, the flames are like the warrior.
وَصولُjoining الخُطىthe steps بالسيفto the sword والسيفand the sword بالخطىto the steps
وَصولُ الخُطى بالسيف والسيف بالخطى
إذاwhen الطعنspear-thrusting حُشَّتْwas stoked نارهُits fire بالسوافلِwith spear-butts
إذا الطعن حُشَّتْ نارهُ بالسوافلِ
He joins his steps to his sword, and his sword to his steps,
Its day of hardship, its shade is like its sun,
when the fire of spear-thrusting is stoked with spear-butts.
No, the sun is weaker than the shadows of unsheathed swords.
يشيِّعُهُaccompanies him قلبٌa heart رواعٌfearsome وصارمٌand a keen sword
يشيِّعُهُ قلبٌ رواعٌ وصارمٌ
صقيلٌpolished قديمٌlong ago عهدهُits acquaintance بالصياقلِwith polishers
صقيلٌ قديمٌ عهدهُ بالصياقلِ
A fearsome heart escorts him, and a keen sword,
Under it men exchange the bitterness of blows,
bright-polished, long since last touched by polishers.
What an amazing sight two enemies exchanging!
يشيمhe watches بُروقَthe lightning of الموتِdeath منfrom صفحاتِهits flat faces
يشيم بُروقَ الموتِ من صفحاتِه
وفيand in حدّهِits edge مصداقُthe fulfillment of تلكthose المخايلِomens
وفي حدّهِ مصداقُ تلك المخايلِ
He watches death's lightning flash from its flat faces,
Until theaters of death come between them
and in its edge those omens find fulfillment.
Beating a cracked leather with joints.
إذاwhen كانhe is سلماًat peace فالمَقاتِلُthen the vital parts كالشَّوىare like the limbs
إذا كان سلماً فالمَقاتِلُ كالشَّوى
وإنand if كانhe is حرباًat war فالشوىthen the limbs كالمَقاتلِare like the vital parts
وإن كان حرباً فالشوى كالمَقاتلِ
In peace, the vital parts are like mere limbs;
He judged between his two groups though many distresses,
in war, the limbs are like the vital parts.
He relieved between its multitudes with one of the solutions.
ويومand a day عصيبdire ظلُّهits shade مثلُlike ضِحّهits sunlight
ويوم عصيب ظلُّه مثلُ ضِحّه
بلrather الضحُّsunlight أعفىless harmful منthan ظلالِthe shadows of المناصلِsword-blades
بل الضحُّ أعفى من ظلالِ المناصلِ
On a dire day whose shade is like its sunlight—
Oh how the mother of enemies despaired,
indeed, sunlight is gentler than the shadows of sword-blades—
And where is the man who hates him but the son of desperation?
تباذلَmutually surrendered أعلاقَthe precious possessions of المضنّةِjealous keeping تحتَهُbeneath it
تباذلَ أعلاقَ المضنّةِ تحتَهُ
رجالٌmen عِدىًenemies ياO للعدوّwhat an enemy المباذلِwho exchanges gifts
رجالٌ عِدىً يا للعدوّ المباذلِ
the most jealously treasured things are exchanged beneath it
War did not rush his command
by men who are foes—what foes for such mutual giving!—
When the fated is rushed by the circling fate.
إلىuntil أنthat تظلhover المضرحياتُgreat-winged vultures بينهمamong them
إلى أن تظل المضرحياتُ بينهم
تدفّflapping بطاناًfull-bellied دُلَّحاًweighed down بالحواصلِwith laden crops
تدفّ بطاناً دُلَّحاً بالحواصلِ
until great-winged vultures hover among them,
Nor did the patience’s length miss him an occasion,
flapping full-bellied, weighed down by their crops.
When the matter of the inactive procrastinator is wasted.
قضىhe decided بينbetween جمعَيهits two hosts وكمand how many منof كريهةٍa dire battle
قضى بين جمعَيه وكم من كريهةٍ
قضىhe decided بينbetween جمعيهاits two hosts بإحدىwith one of الفواصلِdecisive strokes
قضى بين جمعيها بإحدى الفواصلِ
He settled the contest between its hosts—and many a dire battle
So think not his hastening of enemies wrath,
has he settled between its hosts with one decisive stroke!
But think his hastening graciousness to the questioner.
ألاah هَبَلتْmay she be bereaved أمُّthe mother of المعادِيهthe one opposing him نفسهُof that very man
ألا هَبَلتْ أمُّ المعادِيه نفسهُ
وأينand where is امرؤa man عاداهwho opposed him إلاexcept ابنthe son of هابلِa bereaved mother
وأين امرؤ عاداه إلا ابن هابلِ
Ah, may his enemy's mother be bereaved of that very man!
He is the man whose promised victory is hastened,
Where is anyone who opposed him but a bereaved mother's son?
As you have known, and the threat is procrastinated.
وماand not أعجلتْهhurried him الحربُwar إبرامَin finalizing أمرهِhis plan
وما أعجلتْه الحربُ إبرامَ أمرهِ
إذاwhen أعجلhurried المنخوبَthe fainthearted جولُthe wheeling of الجوائلِwheeling fighters
إذا أعجل المنخوبَ جولُ الجوائلِ
War never hurried him in making his plan firm,
Leave the war to perfect its tools for them,
when wheeling fighters hurried the fainthearted.
And hasten it not to bite with closed teeth.
ولاnor فاتهcost him طولُthe length of الأناةِdeliberation بفرصةٍan opportunity
ولا فاته طولُ الأناةِ بفرصةٍ
إذاwhen ضاعwas lost أمرthe undertaking of العاجزthe incapable man المتخاذلِfaltering
إذا ضاع أمر العاجز المتخاذلِ
Nor did long deliberation cost him an opportunity,
For the son of Abdullah is not sleeping from them
when the faltering incompetent's undertaking was lost.
Nor is Allah heedless of what they do.
فلاso do not تحسبواyou all suppose تعجيلهhis hastening of نقماتِهhis punishments
فلا تحسبوا تعجيله نقماتِه
لأعدائهfor his enemies تعجيلهhis hastening of رفدَaid to سائلِa petitioner
لأعدائه تعجيله رفدَ سائلِ
Do not think his speed in dealing out punishment
Beasts he herded around a thicket,
to his enemies equals his speed in helping a petitioner.
In which Usamah glowered with armored coats.
هوhe is المرءُthe man ذوpossessing الوعدthe promise المعجَّلhastened نُجْحُهits fulfillment
هو المرءُ ذو الوعد المعجَّل نُجْحُه
كماas قدalready عهدتمyou have known والوعيدِand the threat المماطلِdelayed
كما قد عهدتم والوعيدِ المماطلِ
He is the man whose promise is promptly fulfilled,
He gathered his army then guarded them
as you have known, but whose threat is delayed.
With the disliked abruptness of a valiant hero.
دعواleave الحربَwar تستكملto complete لهمfor them أدواتهاher equipment
دعوا الحربَ تستكمل لهم أدواتها
ولاand do not تُعجلوهاhurry her أنto تَعضّbite ببازلِwith a mature fang
ولا تُعجلوها أن تَعضّ ببازلِ
Let war complete her equipment for them,
He did not cease to display patience and his plot,
and do not hurry her to bite with a mature fang.
Lying in ambush by every path with calamities.
فليسfor is not ابنُthe son of عبدِAbd اللهAllah عنهمregarding them بنائمٍasleep
فليس ابنُ عبدِ الله عنهم بنائمٍ
ولاnor اللهGod عماof what يعملونَthey do بغافلِunaware
ولا الله عما يعملونَ بغافلِ
Ibn Abd Allah is not asleep concerning them,
Had he counted them an adequate host for his might,
nor is God unaware of what they do.
Then what came to them of the forms of warriors would not have come.
وحوشٌwild beasts رعاهاpastured them حَيْنهاtheir doom حولaround غابةٍa thicket
وحوشٌ رعاها حَيْنها حول غابةٍ
أُسامةُUsama, the lion فيهاwithin it مُلبدٌcrouched بالكلاكلِwith his chest to earth
أُسامةُ فيها مُلبدٌ بالكلاكلِ
Wild beasts, pastured by their doom around a thicket,
But he is like a lion singling out his prey,
where Usama the lion crouches with his chest to earth.
And stepping forward to the peers without withdrawal.
فضمَّthen he gathered إليهwithin himself جأْشهhis resolve ثمthen راعهاfrightened them
فضمَّ إليه جأْشه ثم راعها
بشدةِwith an onslaught مكروهِdreaded الفجاءةin suddenness باسلِgrim
بشدةِ مكروهِ الفجاءة باسلِ
He gathered his resolve within him, then terrified them
He only descended into the plains as a careful watcher,
with a grim onslaught of dreaded suddenness.
Hiding during the laying of nets.
وماand not زالceased فيin عُرضِthe midst of الأناةِdeliberation وكيدُهُwhile his cunning
وما زال في عُرضِ الأناةِ وكيدُهُ
بكلalong every سبيلpath مُرصِدٌlying in ambush بالغوائلِwith deadly traps
بكل سبيل مُرصِدٌ بالغوائلِ
He remained amid deliberation, while his cunning
I saw them reckless of his affair,
lay in ambush with deadly traps along every path.
And the Lord of Glory plays in matters as He wills.
ولوand if عدَّهمhe reckoned them قِرناًan opponent كفِيّاًa match لبأسهِfor his might
ولو عدَّهم قِرناً كفِيّاً لبأسهِ
إذنthen ماnot أتاهمhe would approach them منfrom وجوهthe ways of المخاتِلِguile
إذن ما أتاهم من وجوه المخاتِلِ
Had he reckoned them an opponent matching his might,
So delusions from him made them arrogant until
he would not have approached them by the ways of guile.
Their warriors became the targets of killing fates.
ولكنهbut he كالليثِlike the lion يختلُstalks by stealth صيدهhis prey
ولكنه كالليثِ يختلُ صيده
ويبرزand comes forth openly للأقرانِagainst peers غيرَwithout مخاتلِguile
ويبرز للأقرانِ غيرَ مخاتلِ
But, like the lion, he stalks his prey by stealth
Had they heard the threats of truth,
and faces his peers openly, without deceit.
They would have been saved from it the salvation of hopes.
وماand not نزلentered الإصحارَopen country إلاexcept كقانصٍlike a hunter
وما نزل الإصحارَ إلا كقانصٍ
أريبٍclever توارىhid himself عندwhile بثّspreading الحبائلِthe snares
أريبٍ توارى عند بثّ الحبائلِ
He entered open country only like a hunter,
The quarters are subject to you in precision and wisdom,
a clever one who hides himself while spreading snares.
So the earth to you became like a docile camel.
أراهمhe showed them هويناthe easy manner of المستخفّone belittling بشأنهمtheir importance
أراهم هوينا المستخفّ بشأنهم
وربّand many an مجدٍّearnest man فيin الأمورaffairs كهازِلِseems like one jesting
وربّ مجدٍّ في الأمور كهازِلِ
He showed them the easy manner of one scorning their importance;
If you wished oversight and power over it
many an earnest man appears to be at play.
You would grasp its edges with your fingers.
فغرَّتهُمُso deceived them منهfrom him الغرورُdeceptive appearances فأصبحتْand became
فغرَّتهُمُ منه الغرورُ فأصبحتْ
مقاتلُهُمtheir vital parts نُصْبَtargets for المناياthe fates القواتِلِkilling
مقاتلُهُم نُصْبَ المنايا القواتِلِ
His deceptive appearance deluded them, so
To you belongs the merit, not to another deficient one,
their vital parts became targets for killing fates.
But to another meritorious one.
ولوand if أنهمthey سامواhad sought مخايلَsigns of جِدَّةٍearnest resolve (uncertain reading)
ولو أنهم ساموا مخايلَ جِدَّةٍ
إذنthen لنجواthey surely would have escaped منهاfrom it نجاءَwith the flight of الموائلِone seeking refuge
إذن لنجوا منها نجاءَ الموائلِ
Had they sought the signs of earnest resolve,
they would have escaped it like one fleeing to refuge.
تدانتْdrew near لكto you الأقطارُthe regions ضبطاًthrough control وخبرةًand knowledge
تدانتْ لك الأقطارُ ضبطاً وخبرةً
فأضحتْso became لَدَيْكَbefore you الأرضُthe earth كِفّةthe encircling net of حابلِa trapper
فأضحتْ لَدَيْكَ الأرضُ كِفّة حابلِ
The regions drew near to you through mastery and knowledge,
so the earth became before you a trapper's encircling net.
فلوand if شئتَyou wished إشرافاًcommand عليهاover it وقدرةًand power
فلو شئتَ إشرافاً عليها وقدرةً
قبضتَyou would grasp علىupon أطرافهاits edges بالأناملِwith fingertips
قبضتَ على أطرافها بالأناملِ
Had you wished, through command and power over it,
you could have grasped its edges with your fingertips.
لكyours is الفضلُexcellence لاnot تلقاءin comparison with آخرَanother ناقصٍdeficient man
لك الفضلُ لا تلقاء آخرَ ناقصٍ
ولكنهbut it is تلقاءin comparison with آخرanother فاضلِexcellent man
ولكنه تلقاء آخر فاضلِ
Your excellence is not set against another man's deficiency,
but against another man's excellence.
Partial English translation: 166 of 174 Arabic lines translated.