ماwhat عَناءُtrouble الكَبيرِthe old man بِالحَسناءِwith the beauty
ما عَناءُ الكَبيرِ بِالحَسناءِ
وَهوَand he مِثلُlike الحَبابِfoam فَوقَupon الماءِthe water
وَهوَ مِثلُ الحَبابِ فَوقَ الماءِ
Why does the old man weary himself over a beauty,
when he is like foam upon the water?
يَتصابىplays at youthful love وَلاتَand it is not حينَa time for تَصابٍyouthful dalliance
يَتصابى وَلاتَ حينَ تَصابٍ
بِعُيونِwith the eyes of المَهاoryxes وَسِربِand a herd of الظِباءِgazelles
بِعُيونِ المَها وَسِربِ الظِباءِ
He plays at youthful love, though its time is past,
with oryx eyes and a herd of gazelles.
وَلَعَمريand by my life لَمّاnot yet تُحِبُّloves فَتاةٌa maiden
وَلَعَمري لَمّا تُحِبُّ فَتاةٌ
يَفَناًa decrepit old man لَوeven if غَداhe became مِنَamong الخُلَفاءِthe caliphs
يَفَناً لَو غَدا مِنَ الخُلَفاءِ
And by my life, no maiden has ever loved
a decrepit man, even were he one of the caliphs.
وَتُحِبُّand she loves الفَتىthe youth الرَقيقَgentle الحَواشيin manner
وَتُحِبُّ الفَتى الرَقيقَ الحَواشي
حُبَّwith the love of ذيone afflicted by الجَدبِdrought صادِقَunfailing الأَنواءِseasonal rains
حُبَّ ذي الجَدبِ صادِقَ الأَنواءِ
And she loves the gentle-mannered youth
as a drought-stricken man loves unfailing rains.
كَيفَhow لاnot وَهوَwhen he يَهنَأsmears with tar النَقبَthe mange مِنهاof hers
كَيفَ لا وَهوَ يَهنَأ النَقبَ مِنها
بِهَناءٍwith tar يَزيدُincreases فيin البُرَحاءِburning torment
بِهَناءٍ يَزيدُ في البُرَحاءِ
How could she not, when he daubs her mange
with tar that heightens her burning torment?
لَحَكاهاhe surely resembles her لَطافَةًin delicacy وَحَكَتهُand she resembles him
لَحَكاها لَطافَةً وَحَكَتهُ
فَهُماso the two of them فيin الهَوىlove كَمَزجِlike the mingling of الهَواءِair
فَهُما في الهَوى كَمَزجِ الهَواءِ
He indeed matches her in delicacy, and she matches him,
so in love the two mingle like air with air.
لاnot كَصادٍlike a thirsty man أَناخَhalted عِندَbeside قَليبِa deep well
لا كَصادٍ أَناخَ عِندَ قَليبِ
دونَwithout دَلوٍa bucket يُدليhe lowers بِهِwith it وَرِشاءِand a rope
دونَ دَلوٍ يُدلي بِهِ وَرِشاءِ
Not like a thirsty man who halts beside a well,
with no bucket to lower and no rope.
يَلحَظُhe gazes at الماءَthe water حَسرَةًin anguish وَهُوَwhile he is مِنهُfrom it
يَلحَظُ الماءَ حَسرَةً وَهُوَ مِنهُ
مُتَدانٍnear فيin حالَةِthe state of المُتَنائيone far away
مُتَدانٍ في حالَةِ المُتَنائي
He eyes the water in anguish, though he is
close to it, yet in the plight of one far away.
كُلُّevery قِرنٍcombatant يُعِدُّreadies سَيفاًa sword كَليلاًblunted
كُلُّ قِرنٍ يُعِدُّ سَيفاً كَليلاً
لِلِقاءٍfor battle يَخونُهُit betrays him فيin اللِقاءِbattle
لِلِقاءٍ يَخونُهُ في اللِقاءِ
Every combatant who readies a blunted sword
for battle is betrayed by it in battle.
فَمِنَso it is part of الرَأيِgood judgment أَنthat تَكونَyou be جَباناًa coward
فَمِنَ الرَأيِ أَن تَكونَ جَباناً
سامِريّاًlike al-Samiri يَدينُprofesses belief بِالإِنزِواءِin seclusion
سامِريّاً يَدينُ بِالإِنزِواءِ
So wisdom bids you be a coward,
like al-Samiri, making seclusion your creed.
عَجَباًhow strange! كَمhow often رَأَيتُI have seen مالاًwealth مَصوناًsafeguarded
عَجَباً كَم رَأَيتُ مالاً مَصوناً
وَفُؤاداًand a heart نَهباًas plunder بِأَيديin the hands of النِساءِwomen
وَفُؤاداً نَهباً بِأَيدي النِساءِ
How strange! How often have I seen wealth kept safe,
and a heart left as plunder in women's hands!
وَإِذاand if حازِمٌa prudent man عَلىwith regard to المالِwealth أَبقىpreserves
وَإِذا حازِمٌ عَلى المالِ أَبقى
فَقُواهُthen his powers أَحَقُّmore deserving بِالإِبقاءِof preservation
فَقُواهُ أَحَقُّ بِالإِبقاءِ
And if a prudent man takes care to preserve his wealth,
his strength has a greater claim to preservation.
فَتَساوىthus are alike الرِجالُmen فيin مِثلِthe like of هَذاthis
فَتَساوى الرِجالُ في مِثلِ هَذا
فَالمَجانينُfor the mad فيهِin it كَالعُقَلاءِlike the sane
فَالمَجانينُ فيهِ كَالعُقَلاءِ
Thus men are alike in such matters;
for in this the mad are like the sane.
أَيُّwhat خَيرٍgood لِوالِدٍfor a father فيin بَنيهِhis sons
أَيُّ خَيرٍ لِوالِدٍ في بَنيهِ
وَهُوَwhile he عَنهُمfrom them يَفِرُّflees يَومَon the Day of الجَزاءِRecompense
وَهُوَ عَنهُم يَفِرُّ يَومَ الجَزاءِ
What good are a father's sons to him,
when he flees from them on the Day of Recompense?
وَالتَقيُّand the pious one المُوَفَّقُrightly guided البَرُّdutiful مِنهُمamong them
وَالتَقيُّ المُوَفَّقُ البَرُّ مِنهُم
عَدَمٌnonexistent كَالسَماعِlike hearing بِالعَنقاءِof the Anqa (mythical bird)
عَدَمٌ كَالسَماعِ بِالعَنقاءِ
And the pious, rightly guided, dutiful one among them
does not exist, like the Anqa known only by hearsay.
وَإِذاand when ما(emphasis) الأَديبُthe man of letters شُبِّهَis taken to be such فيهِمamong them
وَإِذا ما الأَديبُ شُبِّهَ فيهِم
جَرَّhe drags أَذيالَهُhis robe's hems مِنَout of الخُيَلاءِarrogance
جَرَّ أَذيالَهُ مِنَ الخُيَلاءِ
And when one among them passes for a man of letters,
he trails his robes in arrogance,
وَاِزدَرَىand scorned بِالشُيوخِthe elders وَاِعتَرَضَand challenged الدَأthe sea (word begins)
وَاِزدَرَى بِالشُيوخِ وَاِعتَرَضَ الدَأ
ماءَ(completes 'the sea') جَهلاًin ignorance بِنَفثَةِwith a puff of الرَقّاءِthe charm-reciter
ماءَ جَهلاً بِنَفثَةِ الرَقّاءِ
and scorns the elders, challenging the
sea, in ignorance, with a charm-reciter's puff.
ذَنبٌa tail أَبتَرٌdocked لَعَمرُكَby your life خَيرٌbetter
ذَنبٌ أَبتَرٌ لَعَمرُكَ خَيرٌ
مِنthan طَويلٍa long one يُجَرُّdragged فيthrough الأَقذاءِfilth
مِن طَويلٍ يُجَرُّ في الأَقذاءِ
A docked tail, by your life, is better
than a long one dragged through filth.
وَمِنَand among الغَبنِlosing bargains هَجرُforsaking دارِthe abode of خُلودٍimmortality
وَمِنَ الغَبنِ هَجرُ دارِ خُلودٍ
وَبَقاءٍand permanence وَوَصلُand cleaving to دارِthe abode of الفَناءِperishing
وَبَقاءٍ وَوَصلُ دارِ الفَناءِ
And it is a losing bargain to forsake the abode of immortality
and permanence, and cling to the abode of passing away,
وَاِشتِغالٌand preoccupation بِفَرتَنَىwith Fartana وَبِلُبنىand with Lubna
وَاِشتِغالٌ بِفَرتَنَى وَبِلُبنى
وَبِدَعدٍand with Da'd عَنinstead of خِطبَةِwooing الحَوراءِthe dark-eyed houri
وَبِدَعدٍ عَن خِطبَةِ الحَوراءِ
and to be absorbed in Fartana and Lubna,
and Da'd, rather than wooing the dark-eyed houri.
وَلَئِنand even if عادَhas turned لَيلُthe night of رَأسِيَmy head صُبحاًto dawn
وَلَئِن عادَ لَيلُ رَأسِيَ صُبحاً
وَوَشَىand informed بيagainst me شَيبيmy gray hair إِلىto الحَسناءِthe beauty
وَوَشَى بي شَيبي إِلى الحَسناءِ
And though the night upon my head has turned to dawn,
and my gray hair has betrayed me to the beauty,
إِنَّindeed عوديmy wood لِعاجِمِيهِto those who test it لَصُلبٌsurely hard
إِنَّ عودي لِعاجِمِيهِ لَصُلبٌ
وَفُؤاديand my heart كَصارِمٍlike a cutting sword مَضَّاءِkeen-edged
وَفُؤادي كَصارِمٍ مَضَّاءِ
my wood is indeed hard to those who test it,
and my heart is like a keen-cutting sword.
وَأُقَضّيand I fulfill لُبانَتيmy desire وَأُرَوّيand I drench
وَأُقَضّي لُبانَتي وَأُرَوّي
عامِلَthe point of الرُمحِthe spear مِنfrom دَمِthe blood of العَذراءِthe virgin
عامِلَ الرُمحِ مِن دَمِ العَذراءِ
And I fulfill my desire and drench
the spear's point with the virgin's blood.
وَأَناand I قُرَّةٌa delight لِعَينِto the eye of صَديقيmy friend
وَأَنا قُرَّةٌ لِعَينِ صَديقي
وَقَذَىًand grit فيin مَحاجِرِthe eye sockets of الأَعداءِthe enemies
وَقَذَىً في مَحاجِرِ الأَعداءِ
And I am a delight to my friend's eye,
and grit in the sockets of my enemies' eyes.
هَذَّبَتنيhave refined me نَوائِبُthe calamities of الدَهرِtime حَتّىuntil
هَذَّبَتني نَوائِبُ الدَهرِ حَتّى
صِرتُI became كَالوَصلِlike reunion بَعدَafter طولِthe length of الجَفاءِestrangement
صِرتُ كَالوَصلِ بَعدَ طولِ الجَفاءِ
Time's calamities have refined me until
I have become like reunion after long estrangement.
فَسَفينيso my fleet تَجريsails بِأَطيَبِwith the best ريحٍwind
فَسَفيني تَجري بِأَطيَبِ ريحٍ
لاnot بِريحٍwith a wind ضَعيفَةٍfeeble نَكباءِcross-blowing
لا بِريحٍ ضَعيفَةٍ نَكباءِ
So my fleet sails with the most favorable wind,
not with a feeble, cross-blowing wind.
بِعَليِّthrough Ali بَنِson of تَوبَةٍTawba فازَwon قِدحيmy lot-drawing arrow
بِعَليِّ بَنِ تَوبَةٍ فازَ قِدحي
وَسَمَتand rose هِمَّتيmy ambition عَلىabove الجَوزاءِal-Jawza (constellation)
وَسَمَت هِمَّتي عَلى الجَوزاءِ
Through Ali ibn Tawba, my lot-casting arrow has won,
and my ambition has soared above al-Jawza.
فَهَنيئاًso, congratulations لَناto us وَلِلدينِand to the faith قاضٍa judge
فَهَنيئاً لَنا وَلِلدينِ قاضٍ
مِثلُهُlike him عالِمٌlearned بِفَصلِin deciding القَضاءِcases
مِثلُهُ عالِمٌ بِفَصلِ القَضاءِ
Blessed are we and the faith with a judge
like him, versed in settling cases.
يَحسُمُhe settles decisively الأَمرَthe matter بِالسِياسَةِthrough governance وَالعَدand justice (word begins)
يَحسُمُ الأَمرَ بِالسِياسَةِ وَالعَد
لِ(completes 'justice') كَحَسمِlike the cutting of الحُسامِthe keen sword لِلأَعداءِagainst the enemies
لِ كَحَسمِ الحُسامِ لِلأَعداءِ
He settles matters through governance and
justice, as the keen sword dispatches enemies.
لَوif إِياسٌIyas يَلقاهُmet him قالَhe would say اِعتِرافاًin acknowledgment
لَو إِياسٌ يَلقاهُ قالَ اِعتِرافاً
غَلِطَwere mistaken الواصِفونَthose who ascribed ليto me بِالذَكاءِintelligence
غَلِطَ الواصِفونَ لي بِالذَكاءِ
Had Iyas met him, he would have confessed:
“Those who credited me with intelligence were mistaken.”
وَلَوand if أَنَّthat الدُهاةَthe shrewd men مِنfrom كُلِّevery عَصرٍage
وَلَو أَنَّ الدُهاةَ مِن كُلِّ عَصرٍ
خَبَروهُtested him دانواyielded لَهُto him بِالدَهاءِin shrewdness
خَبَروهُ دانوا لَهُ بِالدَهاءِ
And had the shrewd men of every age
tested him, they would have yielded to his shrewdness.
أَوor رَأَىsaw أَحنَفٌAhnaf أَوor أَحلَمُone more forbearing مِنهُthan he
أَو رَأَى أَحنَفٌ أَو أَحلَمُ مِنهُ
حِلمَهُhis forbearance ماnot اِنتَمَواthey would claim membership إِلىamong الحُلَماءِthe forbearing
حِلمَهُ ما اِنتَمَوا إِلى الحُلَماءِ
Or had Ahnaf, or one more forbearing than he, seen
his forbearance, they would not have counted themselves among the forbearing.
لَوif رَأَىsaw المُنصِفونَthe fair-minded بَحرَthe sea of نَداهُhis generosity
لَو رَأَى المُنصِفونَ بَحرَ نَداهُ
جَعَلواthey would count حاتِماًHatim مِنَamong البُخَلاءِthe misers
جَعَلوا حاتِماً مِنَ البُخَلاءِ
Had the fair-minded seen the sea of his generosity,
they would have numbered Hatim among the misers.
هُوَhe أَوفىmore faithful مِنَthan السَمَوأَلِal-Samaw'al عَهداًin pledges
هُوَ أَوفى مِنَ السَمَوأَلِ عَهداً
وَلَماand indeed never زالَceased to be مُغرَماًenamored بِالوَفاءِof fidelity
وَلَما زالَ مُغرَماً بِالوَفاءِ
He is truer to his pledge than al-Samaw'al,
and has ever been enamored of fidelity.
وَحَياand the rain of المُزنِthe clouds ذوpossessed of حَياءٍshame إِذاwhen ما(emphasis)
وَحَيا المُزنِ ذو حَياءٍ إِذا ما
هَمَلَتpoured forth كَفُّهُhis hand بِوَبلِwith a downpour of العَطاءِbounty
هَمَلَت كَفُّهُ بِوَبلِ العَطاءِ
And the rain from the clouds feels shame whenever
his hand pours forth a downpour of bounty.
يَشهَدُbear witness العالِمونَthe learned فيin كُلِّevery فَنٍّart
يَشهَدُ العالِمونَ في كُلِّ فَنٍّ
أَنَّهُthat he كَالشِهابِlike a meteor فيamong العُلَماءِthe scholars
أَنَّهُ كَالشِهابِ في العُلَماءِ
The learned in every art bear witness
that he is a blazing meteor among scholars.
وَقُضاةُand the judges of الزَمانِthe age أَرضٌearth لَدَيهِbeside him
وَقُضاةُ الزَمانِ أَرضٌ لَدَيهِ
وَهُوَand he مِنfrom فَوقِهِمabove them كَأُفُقِlike the horizon of السَماءِthe sky
وَهُوَ مِن فَوقِهِم كَأُفُقِ السَماءِ
And the judges of the age are earth beside him,
while he is above them like the sky's horizon.
لَتَعَرَّضتُI have indeed ventured مَدحَهُto praise him فَكَأَنّيso it is as though I
لَتَعَرَّضتُ مَدحَهُ فَكَأَنّي
رُمتُsought بَحراًa sea مُساجِلاًcompeting بِالدِلاءِwith buckets
رُمتُ بَحراً مُساجِلاً بِالدِلاءِ
I have indeed ventured to praise him, as though I
sought to rival the sea with buckets.
فَأَناso I مُفحَمٌam speechless عَلىdespite أَنَّthe fact that خَيليmy horses
فَأَنا مُفحَمٌ عَلى أَنَّ خَيلي
لاnot تُجارىare matched فيin حَلبَةِthe racecourse of الشُعَراءِthe poets
لا تُجارى في حَلبَةِ الشُعَراءِ
So I am silenced, although my horses
are unmatched on the poets' racecourse.
لَكَسانيhe has indeed clothed me بِمَجدِهِwith his glory ثَوبَa robe of فَخرٍpride
لَكَساني بِمَجدِهِ ثَوبَ فَخرٍ
طالَit grew long حَتّىuntil جَرَرتُهُI trailed it مِنfrom وَرائيbehind me
طالَ حَتّى جَرَرتُهُ مِن وَرائي
With his glory he has clothed me in a robe of pride,
so long that I trail it behind me.
وَلَوand if أَنصَفتُهُI did him justice وَذاكَand that قَليلٌis little
وَلَو أَنصَفتُهُ وَذاكَ قَليلٌ
كانَwould be خَدّيmy cheek لِرِجلِهِfor his foot كَالحِذاءِlike a shoe
كانَ خَدّي لِرِجلِهِ كَالحِذاءِ
And were I to do him justice—and even that is little—
my cheek would be like a shoe for his foot.
فَأَناso I عَبدُهُhis slave وَذاكَand that فَخاريmy pride
فَأَنا عَبدُهُ وَذاكَ فَخاري
وَجَماليand my beauty بَينَamong الوَرىmankind وَبَهائيand my splendor
وَجَمالي بَينَ الوَرى وَبَهائي
So I am his slave, and that is my pride,
my beauty among mankind, and my splendor.
وَثَنائيand my praise وَقفٌreserved عَلَيهِfor him وَشُكريand my thanks
وَثَنائي وَقفٌ عَلَيهِ وَشُكري
وَدُعائيand my prayer لَهُfor him بِطولِfor the length of البَقاءِlife
وَدُعائي لَهُ بِطولِ البَقاءِ
And my praise is reserved for him, and my thanks,
and my prayers that his life be long.
Translation model: Sol 6.1