ماnot هوhe عَبْدٌa slave لَكِنَّهُbut he وَلَدٌa son
ما هو عَبْدٌ لَكِنَّهُ وَلَدٌ
خَوَّلنيهِgranted him to me المُهَيْمِنُthe Guardian الصَّمَدُthe Self-Sufficient One
خَوَّلنيهِ المُهَيْمِنُ الصَّمَدُ
He is no servant, but a son,
He is no slave, but a son.
bestowed on me by the Almighty, the Eternal Refuge.
The Guardian, the Self-Sufficient One, granted him to me
وشَدَّand strengthened أَزْريَmy back بِحُسْنِthrough the goodness of صُحْبَتِهِhis companionship
وشَدَّ أَزْريَ بِحُسْنِ صُحْبَتِهِ
فَهوso he يَديmy hand والذِّراعُand the forearm والعَضُدُand the upper arm
فَهو يَدي والذِّراعُ والعَضُدُ
He has strengthened me through his gracious companionship:
and strengthened my back through his good companionship;
he is my hand, my forearm, and my supporting arm.
so he is my hand, my forearm, my upper arm.
صَغيرُyoung سِنٍage كَبيرُgreat مَعْرِفَةٍknowledge
صَغيرُ سِنٍ كَبيرُ مَعْرِفَةٍ
تَمازَجَmingled الضَّعْفُweakness فيهِin him والجَلَدُand fortitude
تَمازَجَ الضَّعْفُ فيهِ والجَلَدُ
Young in years, yet great in understanding,
Young in years, great in knowledge,
in him frailty and fortitude are blended.
weakness and fortitude have mingled in him.
فيin سِنِّage بَدْرِthe full moon الدُّجىnight's darkness وصُورَتِهِand its form
في سِنِّ بَدْرِ الدُّجى وصُورَتِهِ
فَمِثْلُهُso one like him يُصْطَفىis chosen ويُفْتَقَدُand is missed
فَمِثْلُهُ يُصْطَفى ويُفْتَقَدُ
In age and form he is the full moon of darkness;
In age and form, he is the full moon of night;
one such as he is chosen—and sorely missed.
so one like him is chosen and missed.
مُعَشَّقُenchanting الطَّرْفِthe gaze كُحْلُهُhis kohl كَحَلٌnatural dark eye-rims
مُعَشَّقُ الطَّرْفِ كُحْلُهُ كَحَلٌ
مُعَطَّلُunadorned الجيدِthe neck حِلْيُهُits ornament جَيَدُgraceful length of neck
مُعَطَّلُ الجيدِ حِلْيُهُ جَيَدُ
His eyes inspire love; their darkness is natural kohl.
His gaze enchants; his kohl is his eyes' natural dark edging.
His neck needs no adornment: its ornament is its fine length.
His neck is unadorned; its ornament is its graceful length.
ووَرْدُand the roses خَدَّيْهِhis two cheeks والشَّقائِقُand anemones والتْand the (before 'apples')
ووَرْدُ خَدَّيْهِ والشَّقائِقُ والتْ
تُفاحُapples والجُلَّنارُand pomegranate blossoms مُنْتَضِدُarrayed together
تُفاحُ والجُلَّنارُ مُنْتَضِدُ
The roses of his cheeks, the anemones, the
And the roses of his cheeks, anemones, and
apples, and the pomegranate blossoms are arrayed together—
apples and pomegranate blossoms are arrayed together.
رِياضُgardens حُسْنٍbeauty زَواهِرٌflowering أَبداًforever
رِياضُ حُسْنٍ زَواهِرٌ أَبداً
فيهُنَّin them ماءُwater النَّعيمِbliss يَطَّرِدُflows continuously
فيهُنَّ ماءُ النَّعيمِ يَطَّرِدُ
ever-blooming gardens of beauty,
Gardens of beauty, forever flowering,
through which the water of bliss flows on.
in them the water of bliss flows unceasingly.
وغُصْنُand a bough بانٍa bān tree إِذاwhen بَداhe appears وإِذاand when
وغُصْنُ بانٍ إِذا بَدا وإِذا
شَداhe sings فَقُمْرِيُّthen a turtledove بانةٍa bān tree غَرِدُtuneful
شَدا فَقُمْرِيُّ بانةٍ غَرِدُ
A willow bough whenever he appears, and when
And a bān-tree bough when he appears; and when
he sings, a willow-dove warbling.
he sings, a tuneful turtledove in a bān tree.
ثَقَّفَهُstraightened him كَيْسُهُhis good sense فلاso no عِوَجٌcrookedness
ثَقَّفَهُ كَيْسُهُ فلا عِوَجٌ
فيin بَعْضِany part of أَخْلاقِهِhis character ولاnor أَوَدُwarp
في بَعْضِ أَخْلاقِهِ ولا أَوَدُ
His good sense has straightened him, so there is neither crookedness
His good sense has set him straight; no crookedness
in any of his character nor any warp.
in any of his traits, nor any warp.
أُنْسيmy solace ولَهْويand my amusement وكُلُّand all مَأْرَبَتيmy desire
أُنْسي ولَهْوي وكُلُّ مَأْرَبَتي
مُجْتَمِعٌgathered together فيهِin him ومُنْفَرِدُand singly
مُجْتَمِعٌ فيهِ ومُنْفَرِدُ
My companionship, my diversion, and every need of mine
My solace, my amusement, and all that I desire
are found in him, collectively and severally.
are found in him, together and singly.
ظَريفَwitty مَزْحٍjesting مَليحَcharming نادِرَةٍwitty anecdote
ظَريفَ مَزْحٍ مَليحَ نادِرَةٍ
جَوْهَرَa jewel حُسْنٍbeauty شَرارُهُits sparks يَقِدُblaze
جَوْهَرَ حُسْنٍ شَرارُهُ يَقِدُ
Charming in jest, delightful in anecdote,
Witty in jest, charming in anecdote,
a jewel of beauty whose sparks blaze.
a jewel of beauty whose sparks blaze.
ماnot غاظَنيangered me ساعَةًfor a moment فَلاso no صَخَبٌclamor
ما غاظَني ساعَةً فَلا صَخَبٌ
يَمُرُّpasses فيthrough مَنْزِليmy house ولاnor حَرَدُrage
يَمُرُّ في مَنْزِلي ولا حَرَدُ
Never has he angered me for an hour; no uproar
Not for a moment has he angered me; no clamor
passes through my house, nor any sulking.
passes through my house, nor any rage.
مُسامِريmy night-companion إِنْif دَجاdeepens الظَّلامُdarkness فَليso I have
مُسامِري إِنْ دَجا الظَّلامُ فَلي
مِنْهُfrom him حَديثٌconversation كَأَنَّهُas though it were الشَّهَدُhoney in the comb
مِنْهُ حَديثٌ كَأَنَّهُ الشَّهَدُ
He is my evening companion when darkness deepens, and from him I have
My companion by night, when darkness deepens; I have
conversation as sweet as honey.
from him talk like honey in the comb.
مُبارَكُblessed الوَجْهِof face مُذْsince حَظيتُI was favored بِهِwith him
مُبارَكُ الوَجْهِ مُذْ حَظيتُ بِهِ
باليmy mind رَخيٌّat ease وعيشَتيand my life رَغَدُcomfortable and abundant
بالي رَخيٌّ وعيشَتي رَغَدُ
Blessed of countenance: since I was favored with him,
Blessed of face: since I was favored with him,
my mind has been at ease and my life abundant.
my mind is at ease, and my life is comfortable.
خازِنُkeeper ماwhat فيin يَديmy hand وحافِظُهُand its guardian
خازِنُ ما في يَدي وحافِظُهُ
فَلَيْسَso there is no شَيْءٌthing لَدَيَّin my possession يُفْتَقَدُfound missing
فَلَيْسَ شَيْءٌ لَدَيَّ يُفْتَقَدُ
Treasurer and guardian of all that is in my possession,
Keeper of what is in my hand, and its guardian,
so nothing I own goes missing.
so nothing I possess goes missing.
يَصُونُpreserves كُتْبيmy books فَكُلُّهاso all of them حَسَنٌin good condition
يَصُونُ كُتْبي فَكُلُّها حَسَنٌ
يَطْويfolds ثِيابيmy clothes فَكُلُّهاso all of them جُدُدُnew
يَطْوي ثِيابي فَكُلُّها جُدُدُ
He safeguards my books, so all remain in fine condition;
He preserves my books, so all are in good condition;
he folds my clothes, so all remain fresh and new.
he folds my clothes, so all stay new.
وحاجِبيand my doorkeeper فَالخَفيفُso the light, agreeable guest مُحْتَبَسٌkept
وحاجِبي فَالخَفيفُ مُحْتَبَسٌ
عِنْديwith me بِهِby him والثَّقيلُand the heavy, tiresome guest مُطْرَدُdriven away
عِنْدي بِهِ والثَّقيلُ مُطْرَدُ
He is my doorkeeper: the welcome visitor is kept
And my doorkeeper: the agreeable guest is kept
with me through him, while the tiresome is driven away.
with me by him, the tiresome one driven away.
وصَيْرَفيّand my money-changer القَريضِverse وازِنُweighing ديdinar (beginning)
وصَيْرَفيّ القَريضِ وازِنُ دي
نارِdinar (completion) المَعانيmeanings الجِيادِfine مُنْتَقِدُan assayer
نارِ المَعاني الجِيادِ مُنْتَقِدُ
And he is my assayer of verse, weighing the di-
And my money-changer of verse, weighing the
nars of excellent meanings, a discerning critic.
dinar of fine meanings and assaying it.
ويَعْرِفُand he knows الشِّعْرَpoetry مِثْلَlike مَعْرِفَتيmy knowledge
ويَعْرِفُ الشِّعْرَ مِثْلَ مَعْرِفَتي
وهوand he عَلىtoward أَنْto يَزيدَincrease مُجْتَهِدُstriving
وهو عَلى أَنْ يَزيدَ مُجْتَهِدُ
He knows poetry as well as I do,
And he knows poetry as well as I do,
and strives to know still more.
and strives to know still more.
وحافِظُand guardian الدّارِthe house إِنْif رَكِبْتُI ride out فماso not
وحافِظُ الدّارِ إِنْ رَكِبْتُ فما
علىon غُلامٍa servant boy سِواهُother than him أَعْتَمِدُI rely
على غُلامٍ سِواهُ أَعْتَمِدُ
He guards the house when I ride away;
And guardian of the house when I ride out; I do not
I rely on no other young servant.
rely on any servant boy but him.
ومُنْفِقٌand a spender مٌشْفِقٌsolicitous إِذاwhen أَناI أَسْI overspend (beginning)
ومُنْفِقٌ مٌشْفِقٌ إِذا أَنا أَسْ
رَفْتُI overspend (completion) وبَذَّرْتُand I squander فَهوthen he مُقْتَصِدُfrugal
رَفْتُ وبَذَّرْتُ فَهو مُقْتَصِدُ
He is a concerned steward of expenses: whenever I ex-
And a considerate spender: when I
ceed all bounds and squander, he is economical.
overspend and squander, he is frugal.
وأَبْصَرُand most skilled النّاسِof people بِالطَّبيخِat cooking فَكالso like the
وأَبْصَرُ النّاسِ بِالطَّبيخِ فَكال
مِسْكِmusk القَلاياfried dishes والعَنْبَرِand ambergris الثَّرِدُbread-and-broth dishes
مِسْكِ القَلايا والعَنْبَرِ الثَّرِدُ
He knows cookery better than anyone: like
And the most skilled of all at cooking: like
musk are the fried dishes, and amber the tharid.
musk are the fried dishes, and like ambergris the bread-and-broth.
وهوand he يُديرُpasses around المُدامَwine إِنْif جُليَتْis unveiled
وهو يُديرُ المُدامَ إِنْ جُليَتْ
عَروسُbride دِنٍّa wine jar نِقابُهاher veil الزَّبَدُfoam
عَروسُ دِنٍّ نِقابُها الزَّبَدُ
He passes the wine around when unveiled—
And he passes round the wine when she is unveiled—
the bride of a wine jar, whose veil is foam.
a wine-jar's bride, her veil the foam.
تَمْنَحُoffers كَأْسيmy cup يَدٌa hand أَنامِلُهاits fingers
تَمْنَحُ كَأْسي يَدٌ أَنامِلُها
تَنْحَلُّunravel منfrom لينِهاtheir softness وتَنْعَقِدُand knot together
تَنْحَلُّ من لينِها وتَنْعَقِدُ
A hand offers me my cup, its fingers
My cup is offered by a hand whose fingers
seeming to dissolve from softness, then form again.
unravel in their softness and knot together.
وكَاتِبٌand a scribe تُوجَدُis found البَلاغَةُeloquence فيin
وكَاتِبٌ تُوجَدُ البَلاغَةُ في
أَلْفَاظِهِhis words والصَّوابُand correctness والرَّشَدُand sound judgment
أَلْفَاظِهِ والصَّوابُ والرَّشَدُ
And he is a scribe in whose
And a scribe: eloquence is found in
words are eloquence, correctness, and sound judgment.
his words, with correctness and sound judgment.
وواجِدٌand feeling ليfor me مِنof المَحَبْةِlove والرْand the (before 'tenderness')
وواجِدٌ لي مِن المَحَبْةِ والرْ
رَأْفَةِtenderness أَضَعافَmany times as much ماwhat بِهِfor him أَجِدُI feel
رَأْفَةِ أَضَعافَ ما بِهِ أَجِدُ
He feels for me, in love and ten-
And he feels for me love and
derness, many times what I feel for him.
tenderness many times greater than I feel for him.
إِذاwhen ابْتَسَمْتُI smile فَهوthen he مُبْتَهِجٌdelighted
إِذا ابْتَسَمْتُ فَهو مُبْتَهِجٌ
وإِنْand if تَنَمَّرْتُI grow fierce as a leopard فَهوthen he مُرْتَعِدُtrembling
وإِنْ تَنَمَّرْتُ فَهو مُرْتَعِدُ
When I smile, he rejoices;
When I smile, he is delighted;
and if I bristle, he trembles.
and if I grow fierce as a leopard, he trembles.
ذاthis بَعْضُsome of أَوْصافِهِhis qualities وقَدْand indeed بَقيَتْremain
ذا بَعْضُ أَوْصافِهِ وقَدْ بَقيَتْ
لَهُof his صِفاتُqualities لَمْdid not يَحْوِهاencompass them العَدَدُthe count
لَهُ صِفاتُ لَمْ يَحْوِها العَدَدُ
These are but some of his qualities; there remain
These are some of his qualities; there still remain
qualities of his beyond all counting.
traits of his that no count can encompass.
