صَدَّturned away عنfrom الأطلالthe ruins لمَاwhen استيأساhe despaired
صَدَّ عن الأطلال لمَا استيأسا
منof أنthat تُحيرthey return النُطقspeech أوor أنthat تَنْبساthey utter a word
من أن تُحير النُطق أو أن تَنْبسا
He turned away from the ruins when he despaired
He turned away from the ruins when they despaired
of their returning speech or uttering a word.
Of eloquence confusing speech or emitting a sound
ولمand he did not يُمادِprolong الخَطَراتِthe passing thoughts الهُجَّساwhispering
ولم يُمادِ الخَطَراتِ الهُجَّسا
خوفاًfearing علىfor أدوائهhis maladies أنthat تُنْكَساthey relapse
خوفاً على أدوائه أن تُنْكَسا
He did not prolong the whispering thoughts,
And the pungent sobs were not prolonged
fearing that his maladies might relapse.
For fear his maladies would subside
بَلrather ذوone possessing الحِجىreason لاnot يَستحيرseeks a reply from أخْرَساa mute
بَل ذو الحِجى لا يَستحير أخْرَسا
إلاexcept إذاwhen اسْتَجْهلهit drives him to folly فرطُexcess الأسىof sorrow
إلا إذا اسْتَجْهله فرطُ الأسى
A man of reason does not seek an answer from the mute,
But the shrewd one does not waver, struck dumb
unless overwhelming sorrow drives him to folly.
Except when excess grief makes him act ignorantly
لاnot يَحرِمُdeprive اللَهGod الطلولَthe ruins الدُّرَّساworn away
لا يَحرِمُ اللَه الطلولَ الدُّرَّسا
سُقياًrain تُردِّيهنclothes them نوراًblossoms أملساsmooth
سُقياً تُردِّيهن نوراً أملسا
May God not deprive the worn-away ruins
God does not forbid well-worn paths
of rain that clothes them in smooth blossoms—
Watering them, shedding smooth light
أَقاحِياًdaisies أوor حَنوةًchamomile أوor نَرْجساnarcissi
أَقاحِياً أو حَنوةً أو نَرْجسا
تكادُalmost رَياهits fragrance إذاwhen تنفَّساit breathes
تكادُ رَياه إذا تنفَّسا
daisies, chamomile, or narcissi—
Acacias, or sweetness, or narcissi
whose fragrance, when it breathes, almost
Whose fragrance when exhaled
تُنْشئُbrings forth فيin تلكَthose المَواتِdead places أنفُساsouls
تُنْشئُ في تلكَ المَواتِ أنفُسا
تَربُّهnurture it الأنوارُthe blossoms رَبّاًnurturing مِرغَساluxuriant
تَربُّه الأنوارُ رَبّاً مِرغَسا
brings souls into being in those dead places.
Brings life to those barrens
The blossoms nurture it with luxuriant care,
The lights nurture them, saturating the soil
بكلwith every محمومcoal-black الظلالin shade أغبساdusky
بكل محموم الظلال أغبسا
إذاwhen أضاءَlights up البَرقlightning فيهwithin it أرجَساit thunders
إذا أضاءَ البَرق فيه أرجَسا
with every dusky cloud of coal-black shade;
Every gloomy shadow is gloomy
when lightning shines within it, it thunders.
When lightning flashes in it, it shines
إنif لمْnot يَؤُبْit returns جُنحَat the onset of الظلامdarkness غَلَّساit comes before dawn
إن لمْ يَؤُبْ جُنحَ الظلام غَلَّسا
فقدfor indeed لَهَوْناwe frolicked بالطلولamong the ruins أحْرُساfor ages
فقد لَهَوْنا بالطلول أحْرُسا
If it does not return at nightfall, it comes before dawn.
Unless the wing of darkness spreads arrogantly
For we frolicked among the ruins for ages,
So we have reveled in the ruins, keeping watch
أيامin days when يُؤْوينَthey sheltered الظِّباءthe gazelles الأُنَّساcompanionable
أيام يُؤْوينَ الظِّباء الأُنَّسا
والدهرُand time يجنيreaps أنعماًblessings وأبؤساand hardships
والدهرُ يجني أنعماً وأبؤسا
in days when they sheltered companionable gazelles,
Days when gazelles sought company
while time reaped blessings and hardships.
And fate reaps ease and hardship
أناI ابنُson of أعلىthe highest of كلِّall منwho تفرَّساbecame horsemen
أنا ابنُ أعلى كلِّ من تفرَّسا
بيتاًin lineage وأزكاهُمْand the purest of them ثرىin soil ومَغرساand stock
بيتاً وأزكاهُمْ ثرى ومَغرسا
I am the son of the highest of all horsemen
I am the son of the noblest abode and origin
in lineage, and the purest in soil and stock;
And the most fragrant land and plantation
والوارثُand the heir to المجدَglory الطويلَvast مِقْيَساin measure
والوارثُ المجدَ الطويلَ مِقْيَسا
والباعَand prowess والعِزَّand might التَّليدَage-old الأقعساunbending
والباعَ والعِزَّ التَّليدَ الأقعسا
the heir to glory vast in measure,
The heir of enduring glory, proportionate
to prowess and age-old, unbending might,
The seller of honor and old awe-inspiring glory
عنfrom كلevery وضَّاحradiant one يُجلِّيwho dispels الحنْدِساpitch-darkness
عن كل وضَّاح يُجلِّي الحنْدِسا
تَمَّمَcompleted بيthrough me منof مَجدهhis glory ماwhat أسَّساhe founded
تَمَّمَ بي من مَجده ما أسَّسا
from every radiant forebear who dispelled the darkness
Above any brilliant explainer of mysteries
and through me completed the glory he had founded.
I have attained the glory he established
فأيهاso O المُلْقيthe one casting عليَّupon me الأحْلُساsaddlecloths
فأيها المُلْقي عليَّ الأحْلُسا
شمسُthe sun of الضُّحىmidmorning أبرعُtoo brilliant منfor أنthat تُطْمساit be blotted out
شمسُ الضُّحى أبرعُ من أن تُطْمسا
So, you who cast saddlecloths over me:
So you who cast vile aspersions on me
the midmorning sun is too brilliant to be blotted out.
The dawn sun is too magnificent to be extinguished
يعقوبُYa'qub لاقيتَyou have met هِزَبراًa lion مِفْرَساthat tears prey
يعقوبُ لاقيتَ هِزَبراً مِفْرَسا
يزيدُهheightens his عضّbite of الحروبwars حَمَساfierceness
يزيدُه عضّ الحروب حَمَسا
Ya'qub, you have met a lion that tears its prey,
O Jacob, you have met a knight, an expert rider
whom the bite of war makes fiercer.
Whose battle enhances his zeal
تَنجابُpart عنهaway from him الغمَراتُengulfing dangers أمْلساunscathed
تَنجابُ عنه الغمَراتُ أمْلسا
يَخالهimagines him القِرنُthe rival إذاwhen تَشَرَّساhe grows fierce
يَخاله القِرنُ إذا تَشَرَّسا
Engulfing dangers part from him, leaving him unscathed.
Smooth waves recoil from him
His rival imagines him, when he grows fierce,
When his spear bristles
يُديرُturns فيin المِحجرِthe eye socket منهof his قَبَساa firebrand
يُديرُ في المِحجرِ منه قَبَسا
يَستوقِفُhalts الألفَa thousand إذاwhen تَبَهْنساhe struts
يَستوقِفُ الألفَ إذا تَبَهْنسا
turning a firebrand within his eye socket.
He turns the flint in his bow drill
He halts a thousand when he struts,
Stopping the thousands when they mill about
حِجراًforbidden ground علىto الآسادِlions حيثُwhere عَرَّساhe camps
حِجراً على الآسادِ حيثُ عَرَّسا
أذاكَis it that أمor قِرنَa rival in صِيالٍcombat أسْوَساmasterful
أذاكَ أم قِرنَ صِيالٍ أسْوَسا
making his camp forbidden ground to lions.
A rock against the lions where they nested
Is it that, or a masterful rival in combat,
Is that him or the horn of a snorting young buck
لاnot مُمتَطىridden on الظهرِthe back ولاnor مُخَيَّساbroken in
لا مُمتَطى الظهرِ ولا مُخَيَّسا
أصْيدَstiff-necked يأبىrefuses رأسُهhis head أنto يُعكَساbe bent down
أصْيدَ يأبى رأسُه أن يُعكَسا
neither ridden nor broken in,
With no saddle marks on his back or chest strap scars
stiff-necked, his head refusing to bow,
A prey that disdains to have his head bent back
أهْوَجَheadstrong إنif وَزَعْتَهyou restrain him تَغْطرساhe grows arrogant
أهْوَجَ إن وَزَعْتَه تَغْطرسا
يغشىassails الفحولَcamel bulls البزلَmature بَرْكاًa breast مِهرساcrushing
يغشى الفحولَ البزلَ بَرْكاً مِهرسا
headstrong: restrain him, and he grows arrogant?
Going mad if you provoke him arrogantly
He assails mature camel bulls with a crushing breast;
He charges the stallions, a goring black torrent
إذاwhen أحسَّsenses البَكْرُthe young camel منهfrom him جَرَساa sound
إذا أحسَّ البَكْرُ منه جَرَسا
لَطَّclamps العَسِيبَthe tailbone باستِهagainst its anus واخْرَمَّساand cowers silently
لَطَّ العَسِيبَ باستِه واخْرَمَّسا
when a young camel hears his sound,
When the young camel senses him, he is terrified
it clamps its tail against its anus and cowers silently.
He butted the roan with his mouth till it bled
أذاكَis it that أمor كبشُa ram of نِطاعNita' أرأسَاlarge-headed
أذاكَ أم كبشُ نِطاع أرأسَا
يُوليpresents الكباشَthe rams هامةًa head كروَّساmassive
يُولي الكباشَ هامةً كروَّسا
Is it that, or a great-headed ram of Nita'?
Is that him or a ram of Nita’ leading the flock
He presents the rams with a massive head,
Making the rams yield, bending their heads
يَهْوينَfall منهاfrom it للرؤُوسonto their heads كُوِّساoverturned
يَهْوينَ منها للرؤُوس كُوِّسا
كأنماas though يَصدِمْنthey strike منهاin it عِرمساa boulder
كأنما يَصدِمْن منها عِرمسا
from which they fall headfirst, overturned,
As if they collide with him like a firm mountain
as though they were striking a boulder
The vintners despaired of fermenting it
أعْيَتْproved too hard علىfor الرادينَthose striking back أنto تُؤيَّساbe dented
أعْيَتْ على الرادينَ أن تُؤيَّسا
حتىuntil تَراهاyou see them بالجريضchoking نُسَّسَاat their last breaths
حتى تَراها بالجريض نُسَّسَا
too hard for those striking back to dent,
Until you see it with the dregs, filtered
until you see them choking, their last breaths ebbing:
Intoxicated, never ceasing to drink from cups
سَكرىdrunk وماand not باتتْthey spent the night تُعلُّrepeatedly drinking الأكؤُساcups
سَكرى وما باتتْ تُعلُّ الأكؤُسا
أذاكَis it that أمْor أفعىa viper نآداfearsome دهْرساaged
أذاكَ أمْ أفعى نآدا دهْرسا
drunk, though they spent no night drinking cup after cup.
Is that him or a long-bodied serpent in a pit
Is it that, or a fearsome, ancient viper,
That twists to meet him until it recoils
أمْلَتْgave respite لهto it الأحداثُvicissitudes حتىuntil عَنَّساit grew old
أمْلَتْ له الأحداثُ حتى عَنَّسا
ببطنin the depths of وادٍa valley وَحَداalone فيهin it خَساunpaired
ببطن وادٍ وَحَدا فيه خَسا
which time's vicissitudes spared until it grew old,
In the belly of a valley, alone, desolate
alone in a valley's depths, solitary and unpaired?
His valley bore no dew or verdure
ماnot بَضَّoozed واديهits valley ندىًmoisture ولاnor اكتسىclothed itself
ما بَضَّ واديه ندىً ولا اكتسى
نبتاًwith plants لدُنsince آوَاهit sheltered it إلاexcept أيبساdry ones
نبتاً لدُن آوَاه إلا أيبسا
Its valley has never oozed moisture or clothed itself
No plants for his dens except those dried up
in anything but dry plants since sheltering it.
When he suspiciously creeps into old age
إذاwhen استدرَّit flows freely فيin المَشيبِold age وَسْوساit hisses
إذا استدرَّ في المَشيبِ وَسْوسا
وسوسةَhissing of الحِمِّcharcoal إذاwhen تحسحساit is stirred
وسوسةَ الحِمِّ إذا تحسحسا
When its venom flows in old age, it hisses
Creeping doubts of anxiety when he tingles
like the hiss of charcoal when stirred.
He is quick to drive away the whistling arrow
يُعجِلُhastens منwhoever أنْحىit brought down عليهupon him المِنهساthe biting fang
يُعجِلُ من أنْحى عليه المِنهسا
منfrom أنthat يُرَجّيhe hopes for البرءrecovery أوor أنthat يَيْأساhe despairs
من أن يُرَجّي البرء أو أن يَيْأسا
It hastens the man upon whom it drives its biting fang
Before it hopes for innocence or despairs
beyond any chance to hope for healing or despair,
Or pays heed to the lurking girls
أوor أنthat يُراعيhe watches الجارياتِthe coursing stars الخُنَّساthat retreat
أو أن يُراعي الجارياتِ الخُنَّسا
بلrather شاعِراًa poet ثَبْتَsteadfast in المقامhis stand أحْوساfearless
بل شاعِراً ثَبْتَ المقام أحْوسا
or to watch the coursing stars that retreat.
But a firm poet of enduring valor
No: a poet, steadfast in his stand and fearless,
A deadly thrower of examples and proverbs
مِردىًa destroyer بأمثالwith the likes of القَوامstraight shafts مِرْدساa crusher
مِردىً بأمثال القَوام مِرْدسا
يُرسلهُنَّsends them نِقْرساًa keen adept فنقرساthen another adept
يُرسلهُنَّ نِقْرساً فنقرسا
a destroyer, crushing with spear-like shafts.
Who hurls them continuously so they strike
He sends them forth, keen adept after keen adept,
Piercing the graves, sprinkling them
تَقْرُوsearch out القبورَthe graves مَرْمَساًa burial-place فمرمَساthen another burial-place
تَقْرُو القبورَ مَرْمَساً فمرمَسا
حتىuntil يُوافينَthey reach العَجوزَthe old woman المُومساthe whore
حتى يُوافينَ العَجوزَ المُومسا
to search the graves, burial-place after burial-place,
Until they meet the bent old man
until they reach the old whore,
And the despicable aged one, sneezing
أمَّكَyour mother والشيخَand the old man اللَئيمvile مَعْطساMa'tas
أمَّكَ والشيخَ اللَئيم مَعْطسا
لاnot بُورِكmay be blessed الزوجانthe two spouses بلrather لاnot قُدِّساmay both be hallowed
لا بُورِك الزوجان بل لا قُدِّسا
your mother, and the vile old man, Ma'tas.
Not blessed is the couple, rather the opposite
May neither spouse be blessed, nor either be hallowed.
O son of the killer, no honorable one
ياO ابنَson of السفاحfornication يَقَناًcertainly لاnot مَحْدساconjecturally
يا ابنَ السفاح يَقَناً لا مَحْدسا
وابنand son of التيher who لمnot يَلقَhas found منwhoever تحسَّساsearched
وابن التي لم يَلقَ من تحسَّسا
O son of fornication—certainly, not conjecturally—
And son of one from whom no chaste one sought
and son of her than whom no seeker has found
More deadly to adultery and more creeping
أرْوَضmore yielding منهاthan her للزَناto fornication وأسْوساand more practiced
أرْوَض منها للزَنا وأسْوسا
ريَّاwell-watered بماءٍwith fluid غُصنُهاher branch حتىuntil عساit hardened
ريَّا بماءٍ غُصنُها حتى عسا
anyone more yielding to fornication or more practiced!
Watered with water till her branch was supple
Her branch is drenched with fluid until it hardens.
She sells her profits and earnings
تبيعُshe sells منto whoever أرْبحَهاprofits her وأوْكساand shortchanges her
تبيعُ من أرْبحَها وأوْكسا
سِيّانalike منwhoever أسْنَىpays generously لهاto her وخسّساand pays poorly
سِيّان من أسْنَى لها وخسّسا
She sells herself to those who profit her or shortchange her;
The same if she refuses or debases herself
those who pay generously or poorly are alike to her.
Then she stored up her vulgar earnings
ثمthen أعدَّتْshe prepared كَسْبَهاher earnings المحبَّساhoarded
ثم أعدَّتْ كَسْبَها المحبَّسا
فادَّخرتْso she stored مِنهfrom it الرغيبَthe substantial portion المنْفِساthe precious portion
فادَّخرتْ مِنه الرغيبَ المنْفِسا
Then she sets aside her hoarded earnings,
Hoarding from it the coveted, fleeting
storing from them a substantial, precious portion
To entice the needy buyer, penniless
لتُرغبَto entice المقْترthe needy man فيهto it المُفلساpenniless
لتُرغبَ المقْتر فيه المُفلسا
إذاwhen تَحَنَّىbends ظهْرُهاher back وقوَّساand arches
إذا تَحَنَّى ظهْرُها وقوَّسا
to entice the destitute, penniless man with it,
When her back hunches and bends
when her back has bent into a bow
And the fornicators do not see any flaw in her
ولمْand not يرَsee الزْناةُfornicators فيهاin her مَلْبساanything fit to wear
ولمْ يرَ الزْناةُ فيها مَلْبسا
كَذَاكَlikewise تَلقَىyou find الحُوَّلthe crafty man المُجرَّساseasoned
كَذَاكَ تَلقَى الحُوَّل المُجرَّسا
and fornicators find nothing in her fit to wear.
Just so does the vile pimp receive
That is how you find the crafty, seasoned schemer:
Taking from their slick talk to meet his needs
يأخذُtakes منfrom لِيانهhis ease لِماagainst what قَسَاgrew hard
يأخذُ من لِيانه لِما قَسَا
تَفْريrends الغراميلَpenises إذاwhen الليلnight غساdarkens
تَفْري الغراميلَ إذا الليل غسا
he draws on his easy times against the hard.
The coal bins are emptied when night falls
She rends penises when night grows dark,
His vast scoop gorges, made ritually unclean
احْوَقَgaping يَقذِيexude مِشْفَراهُits two lips نَجَسَاfilth
احْوَقَ يَقذِي مِشْفَراهُ نَجَسَا
أوْسَعَwider منthan طَوْقِthe opening of الرحاa millstone وأسلساand more yielding
أوْسَعَ من طَوْقِ الرحا وأسلسا
with a gaping hole whose two lips exude filth,
Wider than the neck of a flask and smoother
wider than a millstone's opening and more yielding,
It swallows what the whale of Jonah swallowed
يَبلعُswallows ماwhat يَبْلعُswallows حُوتُthe whale of يُونُساYunus
يَبلعُ ما يَبْلعُ حُوتُ يُونُسا
لوif انتحاهُaimed at it سَهْمُan arrow of أعْمىa blind man قَرطساit hits the mark
لو انتحاهُ سَهْمُ أعْمى قَرطسا
swallowing what the whale of Yunus swallows.
If a blind arrow misses and barely grazes him
Were a blind man's arrow aimed at it, it would strike the mark.
Where can it turn aside, not penetrating?
أينَwhere عَسىcould يَعدِلُturn aside عنهfrom it لاعساa licker
أينَ عَسى يَعدِلُ عنه لاعسا
تكادُshe almost منfrom غُلْمتِهits lust أنto تُسْلَساloses her wits
تكادُ من غُلْمتِه أن تُسْلَسا
How could anyone licking it possibly miss it?
His boyishness could almost make you forget yourself
Its lust nearly drives her witless.
When sleep overtakes the sleepy eyes
إذاwhen اعترىovertakes النومُsleep العيونَthe eyes النُعَّساdrowsy
إذا اعترى النومُ العيونَ النُعَّسا
أجْسمهاimpels her جَوْفَthrough the depths of الدُجىdarkness أنto تَهمِساcreep softly
أجْسمها جَوْفَ الدُجى أن تَهمِسا
When sleep overtakes drowsy eyes,
His body sprawls in the darkness of night, whispering
it impels her through night's depths to creep softly,
As if insomnia has afflicted him
كَأنماas though أرَّقهاkept her awake داءُthe illness of النَسَاsciatica
كَأنما أرَّقها داءُ النَسَا
حتىuntil تُلاقيshe meets بعضَsome of منthose who تعسَّساprowled
حتى تُلاقي بعضَ من تعسَّسا
as though sciatica had kept her awake,
Until he meets some miserable, unfortunate one
until she meets some prowler:
A drunk in the passing night or a guard
سكرانَa drunk ليلٍof the night عابراًpassing by أوor حرساa watchman
سكرانَ ليلٍ عابراً أو حرسا
لوif فرشوهاthey bedded her on الجندلstones المضُرَّساjagged
لو فرشوها الجندل المضُرَّسا
a nighttime drunk passing by, or a watchman.
If they spread for him the starred leather
Were they to bed her on jagged stones,
Then his imagination would stir up fantasies for him
إذاًthen لخَالتْهُshe would think it هناكَthere السُنْدساfine silk
إذاً لخَالتْهُ هناكَ السُنْدسا
لاقتْshe met بعَينيكَwith your two eyes الأيورَpenises الدُحَّساpenetrating
لاقتْ بعَينيكَ الأيورَ الدُحَّسا
she would take them there for fine silk.
Meeting your eyes, gloomy and unlucky
With your eyes she met the thrusting penises,
It would make you completely blind
فَقَذَفتْso she cast forth مِنكfrom you بأعمىas a blind man أطْمساsight-effaced
فَقَذَفتْ مِنك بأعمى أطْمسا
يَرىhe sees النهارdaylight ظلماتٍdarknesses دُمَّساpitch-black
يَرى النهار ظلماتٍ دُمَّسا
and brought you forth blind, with sight effaced,
Seeing the day as gloomy darkness
seeing daylight as pitch-black darkness.
And it would leave your daughter misery upon misery
واسْتخلفتْand left as successor بِنتَكَyour daughter تَعْساًmisery أتعساmore miserable
واسْتخلفتْ بِنتَكَ تَعْساً أتعسا
متىwhenever تُلاقِshe meets الرَّاهبَthe monk المُبَرْنَساhooded
متى تُلاقِ الرَّاهبَ المُبَرْنَسا
She left your daughter to succeed her—misery worse yet.
When will you meet the shameless monk
Whenever she meets the hooded monk,
Seizing him with the grasp of a skilled rogue
تقْبِضْshe grasps عليهupon him قَبضَthe grip of رامan archer مَعْجِساa bow's handle
تقْبِضْ عليه قَبضَ رام مَعْجِسا
حتىuntil إذاwhen كانhe becomes حَراًready أنto يُقلِساspew
حتى إذا كان حَراً أن يُقلِسا
she grips him as an archer grips a bow's handle,
Until when he was hot and flushed
until he is ready to spew,
And his prayers and rituals were disrupted
وانتَفَجَتْand swelled أوْرادُهhis veins واقعَنْسَساand he arched backward
وانتَفَجَتْ أوْرادُه واقعَنْسَسا
كعُنُقlike the neck of الهَيْقan ostrich إذاwhen تَوَجَّساit grew alarmed
كعُنُق الهَيْق إذا تَوَجَّسا
his veins have swollen and he curves backward,
Like the neck of a stud when it neighs
like an ostrich's neck when it takes alarm;
And you were pleased with his looks and touch
وَرَضِيَتْهُand she liked him منظراًin appearance وَملْمَساand to the touch
وَرَضِيَتْهُ منظراً وَملْمَسا
رَدَّتْهshe thrust him back فيinto أرْحَامهاher wombs مُكَوَّساheadfirst
رَدَّتْه في أرْحَامها مُكَوَّسا
and, pleased with his look and feel,
You returned him in your wombs bent over
she thrusts him headfirst into her womb.
If his Shaykh saw him, he would not frown
فلوso if رَآهاsaw her شَيْخُهاher old man ماnot عبَّساfrowned
فلو رَآها شَيْخُها ما عبَّسا
قالhe said بُوركتِmay you be blessed كَمِيَّاًa warrior مِدعساspear-thrusting
قال بُوركتِ كَمِيَّاً مِدعسا
If her old man saw her, he would not frown;
He would say: blessed is the coital one, rammer
he would say, 'Bless you, a spear-thrusting warrior!'
Blessed are you both, copulators
تنوَّقاboth be choosy بوركتماmay you both be blessed تَنطَّساboth be discerning
تنوَّقا بوركتما تَنطَّسا
وبالرِّفاءِand with harmony والبنينَand sons أعْرِساboth marry
وبالرِّفاءِ والبنينَ أعْرِسا
Be choosy, both of you—bless you both—be discerning,
And multiply, get married
and wed with harmony and sons!
Besides you she dresses him in a striped cloak
دونَكَهاtake it تَكْسوكit clothes you ثوباًa robe أطْلساthreadbare
دونَكَها تَكْسوك ثوباً أطْلسا
يُخاوضُtrades talk with المجلسthe gathering فيهاabout it المجْلِساanother gathering
يُخاوضُ المجلس فيها المجْلِسا
Take it: it will clothe you in a threadbare robe;
The council argues legal cases in it
one gathering trades talk of it with another,
What a radiant and solar son
ماas long as أقْمرَwere moonlit ابْناthe two sons of أبدٍeternity وأشْمساand were sunlit
ما أقْمرَ ابْنا أبدٍ وأشْمسا
لوif اسْتعنْتَyou sought help from فيin المعانيmeanings هِرْمساHermes
لو اسْتعنْتَ في المعاني هِرْمسا
as long as eternity's two sons shine with moon and sun.
If you sought help in meanings from the senile
Even if you sought Hermes's aid in meanings,
Or shouted for words from the deaf
أوor اسْتَجَشْتَyou mustered فيin الكلامwords فَقْعَساFaq'as
أو اسْتَجَشْتَ في الكلام فَقْعَسا
كيso that يُصرِخَاكboth may aid you مِثلهاits like لأُبْلِساboth would surely be confounded
كي يُصرِخَاك مِثلها لأُبْلِسا
or mustered Faq'as to aid you in words,
That they may screech at you: I am confounded!
to help you fashion its like, both would be confounded.
Partial English translation: 111 of 112 Arabic lines translated.