لَقَد أَرسَلَت لَيلى رَسُولاً بِأَن أَقمِ

لَقَد أَرسَلَت لَيلى رَسُولاً بِأَن أَقمِ

وَلا تَقرَبَنّا فَالتَجَنُّبُ أَمثَلُ

وَلا تَقرَبَنّا فَالتَجَنُّبُ أَمثَلُ

Layla indeed sent a messenger with the message: Stay,

Layla sent a messenger that I stay aloof,

and do not come near us; keeping away is better.

And not go near you all, that is best to do,

لَعَلَّ العُيُونَ الرامِقات لِوُدِّنا

لَعَلَّ العُيُونَ الرامِقات لِوُدِّنا

تُكَذَّبُ عَنّا أَو تَنامُ فَتُغفَلُ

تُكَذَّبُ عَنّا أَو تَنامُ فَتُغفَلُ

Perhaps the eyes that watch our love

Lest prying eyes watch our love,

will be proved wrong about us, or sleep and grow heedless.

And belie us or in slumber miss the clue.

أُناسٌ امِنّاهُم فَنَثُّوا حَدِيثَنا

أُناسٌ امِنّاهُم فَنَثُّوا حَدِيثَنا

فَلَمّا كَتَمنا السِرَّ عَنهُم تَقَوَّلُوا

فَلَمّا كَتَمنا السِرَّ عَنهُم تَقَوَّلُوا

We trusted people, and they spread our story;

Some we trusted, to whom our secret we told,

then, when we hid the secret from them, they invented tales.

When from them our love we hid, turned disloyal,

فَما حَفظُوا العَهدَ الَّذي كانَ بَينَنا

فَما حَفظُوا العَهدَ الَّذي كانَ بَينَنا

وَلا حِينَ هَمُّوا بِالقَطيعَةِ أَجمَلُوا

وَلا حِينَ هَمُّوا بِالقَطيعَةِ أَجمَلُوا

They did not keep the pledge that was between us,

Not one of them the covenant upheld,

nor act graciously when they meant to sever ties.

Nor tried, when they sought to break with us, gentler style.

فَإِن نِساءً قَد تَحَدَّثنَ أَنَّنا

فَإِن نِساءً قَد تَحَدَّثنَ أَنَّنا

عَلى عَهدِنا وَالعَهدُ إِن دامَ أَجمَلُ

عَلى عَهدِنا وَالعَهدُ إِن دامَ أَجمَلُ

For some women have been saying that we

still keep our pledge; a pledge is fairer if it endures.

For women gossiped that to our vows we were fast bound,-

فَقُلت وَقَد ضاقَت بِلادي برُحبِها

فَقُلت وَقَد ضاقَت بِلادي برُحبِها

عَلَيَّ لَما قَد قِيلَ وَالعَينُ تَهمِلُ

عَلَيَّ لَما قَد قِيلَ وَالعَينُ تَهمِلُ

So I said, my land grown cramped despite its breadth

Yet such vows, if prolonged, turn interest cold.

around me at what was said, and my eye streaming tears:

Then I said, when my land seemed to me too strait around:

سَأَجتَنِبُ الدارَ الَّتي أنتُمُ بِها

سَأَجتَنِبُ الدارَ الَّتي أنتُمُ بِها

وَلَكنَّ طَرفي نَحوَها سَوفَ يَعمَلُ

وَلَكنَّ طَرفي نَحوَها سَوفَ يَعمَلُ

I shall avoid the dwelling where you are,

I am pressed by what is told; though eyes may getting old.

but my gaze will keep straining toward it.

أَلم تَعلَمي أَني وَهَل نافِعي

أَلم تَعلَمي أَني وَهَل نافِعي

لَدَيكِ وَما أُخفي مِن الوَجد فصَلُ

لَدَيكِ وَما أُخفي مِن الوَجد فصَلُ

Did you not know that I—[text incomplete]—and would it help me

Your abode I shall shun, I said, yet my eyes thereto bend,

with you? And what I conceal of longing—a separation [text unclear].

Know you not my profit lies with you, nor what love I spend?

أُرى مُستَقيم الطَرفِ ما الطَرفُ أَمَّكُم

أُرى مُستَقيم الطَرفِ ما الطَرفُ أَمَّكُم

وَإِن أَمَّ طَرفي غَيرَكُم فَهوَ أَحوَلُ

وَإِن أَمَّ طَرفي غَيرَكُم فَهوَ أَحوَلُ

I am seen as straight-eyed while my gaze is turned toward you;

I seem to turn straight eyes, but turn them not, on other men,

but if my gaze seeks others, it is cross-eyed.

And if my eyes turn elsewhere, twisted are they then.

صَحاحُبُّ مَن يَهوى وَأَخلَقَهُ البِلى

صَحاحُبُّ مَن يَهوى وَأَخلَقَهُ البِلى

وَحُبُّكِ في مَكنُونِ قَلبي مُطَّللُ

وَحُبُّكِ في مَكنُونِ قَلبي مُطَّللُ

A lover's love has grown sober, and decay has worn it out,

True are lovers whose love decay and time rend;

but love of you, hidden in my heart, remains dew-moistened.

And my love in heart's core folded lies secret and sched.

وَبُحتُ بِما قَد وَسَّعَ الناسُ ذِكرَهُ

وَبُحتُ بِما قَد وَسَّعَ الناسُ ذِكرَهُ

وَأَكثَرُهُ في الصَدرِ مِنيِّ مُزَمَّلُ

وَأَكثَرُهُ في الصَدرِ مِنيِّ مُزَمَّلُ

I disclosed what people had already spread abroad,

I have told what widespread rumour widened and said,

while most of it lies shrouded within my breast.

And most of it in my breast bundled lies hid and read.

وَما بُحتُ إِلّا أَن نَسِيتُ وَإِنَّما

وَما بُحتُ إِلّا أَن نَسِيتُ وَإِنَّما

بِهِ كُلُّ مَن يَهوى هَوىً يَتَمَثَّلُ

بِهِ كُلُّ مَن يَهوى هَوىً يَتَمَثَّلُ

I spoke only because I forgot myself; and it is only

I told only that I forgot; lovers in image dwell

through it that every lover gives voice to his passion.

Of those they love, and after that fashion I as well.

فَلا تُجمِعي أَن تَحبِسيني وَتمطلي

فَلا تُجمِعي أَن تَحبِسيني وَتمطلي

أَأُححبَس عَن أَرضي هُديتِ وَأُمطَلُ

أَأُححبَس عَن أَرضي هُديتِ وَأُمطَلُ

So do not resolve to detain me and put me off.

So bar me not, nor long delay around me cast,

Am I to be kept from my homeland—may you be guided—and put off?

Shall I from land I love be prisoned and passed?

فَإِنَّ ثَوائي عِندَكُم لا أَزوُرُكُم

فَإِنَّ ثَوائي عِندَكُم لا أَزوُرُكُم

وَلا أَنا مَردُودٌ بِيَأسٍ مُزَحَّلُ

وَلا أَنا مَردُودٌ بِيَأسٍ مُزَحَّلُ

For my staying near you, though I do not visit you

No visit of yours can I see in my place;

and am not turned away in despair and banished,

I am not one banned in despair to move or race.

وَلا أَنا مَحبُوسٌ لِوَعدٍ فَأَرتَجي

وَلا أَنا مَحبُوسٌ لِوَعدٍ فَأَرتَجي

وَلا أَنا مَردُودٌ بِيَأسٍ فَأَرحَلُ

وَلا أَنا مَردُودٌ بِيَأسٍ فَأَرحَلُ

nor detained by a promise, so that I might hope,

No captive I in promise that I stay and bide,

nor rejected in despair, so that I might leave,

Nor banned and despairing again afar to ride,

كَمُقتَنِصٍ صَيداً يَراهُ بِعَينِهِ

كَمُقتَنِصٍ صَيداً يَراهُ بِعَينِهِ

يُطيفُ بِهِ مِن قُر بِهِ وَهُوَ أَعزَلُ

يُطيفُ بِهِ مِن قُر بِهِ وَهُوَ أَعزَلُ

is like a hunter seeing his quarry with his own eyes,

Like a hunter who eyes in the plain his game,

circling it close by, though he is unarmed;

Now circles near, while it is he weaponless and lame,

وَمُمتَرِسٍ بِالماءِ أَحرَقَهُ الظَما

وَمُمتَرِسٍ بِالماءِ أَحرَقَهُ الظَما

تَحَلّا فَلا يَندى وَلا هُوَ مُمَثَلُ

تَحَلّا فَلا يَندى وَلا هُوَ مُمَثَلُ

and like one grappling with water, scorched by thirst,

Like a man at the pool the noon sun makes sick and burn,

driven from the water, neither refreshed nor [final word unclear].

He seeks the shade, but shade he finds not, nor place to turn.

فَفِي بَعضِ هَذا اليضوم لِلنَّفسِ بَينُها

فَفِي بَعضِ هَذا اليضوم لِلنَّفسِ بَينُها

وَأَيُّ طَريقَيها إِلى المَوتِ أَسهَلُ

وَأَيُّ طَريقَيها إِلى المَوتِ أَسهَلُ

So in some part of this day lies the soul's departure;

In these fortunes the soul its death and life may scan,

and which of its two paths to death is easier?

And which of the two roads to death for it easier ran.

أَتَصدُرُ بِالداءِ الَّذي وَرَدَت بِهِ

أَتَصدُرُ بِالداءِ الَّذي وَرَدَت بِهِ

فَتَهلكُ أَم تَثوي كَذا لا تُنَوَّلُ

فَتَهلكُ أَم تَثوي كَذا لا تُنَوَّلُ

Will it leave the watering place with the sickness it brought,

Shall I bear the hurt wherewith you my peace disturb and mar,

and perish, or stay like this, granted nothing?

So you may destroy me, or dwell untroubled thus far?

وَكَم لَيلَةٍ طَخياءَ ساقِطَةِ الدُجى

وَكَم لَيلَةٍ طَخياءَ ساقِطَةِ الدُجى

تَهِبُّ الصَبا فيها مِراراً وَتَشملُ

تَهِبُّ الصَبا فيها مِراراً وَتَشملُ

And many a pitch-dark night, with darkness settling,

How many a long night whose darkness like dankness spread,

in which the east wind blew repeatedly and turned northerly,

The morning wind scattered, dripped and over us shed,

كَأَنَّ سَقِيطَ الثَلجِ ما حَصَّبَت بِهِ

كَأَنَّ سَقِيطَ الثَلجِ ما حَصَّبَت بِهِ

عَلى الأَرضِ عَصب أَو دَقيقٌ مُغَربَلُ

عَلى الأَرضِ عَصب أَو دَقيقٌ مُغَربَلُ

as though the snowflakes it cast like pebbles

As if the bursten pipe what it gushed and blew

upon the earth were striped cloth, or sifted flour—

On earth's face a pebbled and foreign grain bestrew!

لِحُبِّكِ أُسريها وَحُبُّكِ قادَني

لِحُبِّكِ أُسريها وَحُبُّكِ قادَني

إِلَيكِ مَع الأَهوالِ وَالسَيفُ مُخضِلُ

إِلَيكِ مَع الأَهوالِ وَالسَيفُ مُخضِلُ

I travelled through it by night for love of you; love of you led me

For love of you perils and night raid I sped,

to you amid terrors, the sword drenched.

By love of you to you with sword terror led.

رَكِبتُ لَها طِرفاً جَواداً كَأَنَّهُ

رَكِبتُ لَها طِرفاً جَواداً كَأَنَّهُ

إِذا خَبَّ سِرحانُ المَلا حِينَ يَعسِلُ

إِذا خَبَّ سِرحانُ المَلا حِينَ يَعسِلُ

For that night I mounted a noble, swift steed, as though it were,

I rode thereto a steed like tower wind could but stem,

when it trotted, a wolf of the open plain loping along.

A firm and round-backed steed, when the waterRaft stampede.

أَقَبُّ شَديدُ الصُلبِ تَحسِبُ مَتنَهُ

أَقَبُّ شَديدُ الصُلبِ تَحسِبُ مَتنَهُ

يُفَرّجُ عَنهُ بِالحَيازِيمِ مُجفِلُ

يُفَرّجُ عَنهُ بِالحَيازِيمِ مُجفِلُ

Lean-bellied and strong-backed; you would think its back

Stiff of shoulder, you think its back the crowbars cleave,

was being forced apart at the ribs by a startled creature.

From its flanks the millstones with their rumbling roll and heave.

لَهُ ثَرَّةٌ تَنهَلُّ مِن جَوفِ رَأسِهِ

لَهُ ثَرَّةٌ تَنهَلُّ مِن جَوفِ رَأسِهِ

تَكاد لَها مِنهُ العُرُوقُ تَبَزَّلُ

تَكاد لَها مِنهُ العُرُوقُ تَبَزَّلُ

It has a copious flow pouring from within its head,

Down its forehead the forelock drips; from the vein's gate

so copious that its veins almost split open,

Its tendons start, and neck bones swell articulate.

كَما انهَدَّ جَدرٌ مائِلٌ كانَ حَشوَهُ

كَما انهَدَّ جَدرٌ مائِلٌ كانَ حَشوَهُ

مَعَ الآجُرِ المَطبُوخِ شِيدٌ وَجَندَلُ

مَعَ الآجُرِ المَطبُوخِ شِيدٌ وَجَندَلُ

like a leaning wall collapsing, whose filling was,

Like a wall whose clay the rain's flood crumbled and drove

along with fired bricks, lime plaster and stone.

With bricks well baked in order bound and grove.

قَرُوصٌ عَلى الآرِيِّ لِلسائِسِ الَّذي

قَرُوصٌ عَلى الآرِيِّ لِلسائِسِ الَّذي

يُطِيفُ بِهِ مُستَأنِسٌ مَتَأكِّلُ

يُطِيفُ بِهِ مُستَأنِسٌ مَتَأكِّلُ

At its tether it nips the groom who

A chestnut-bay the rider tries, and it paces proud, nibbling sweet,

tends it familiarly, seeking his livelihood.

While he strokes it, by its docile tameness fain and fleet.

نَشِيطٌ وَلَم يُخلَق صَوُولاً كَأَنَّهُ

نَشِيطٌ وَلَم يُخلَق صَوُولاً كَأَنَّهُ

بِهِ مازِحٌ لِعّابُهُ يَتَبَطَّلُ

بِهِ مازِحٌ لِعّابُهُ يَتَبَطَّلُ

Lively, not created vicious, as though it were

Proud of neck, and fine of coat, it tasted not iron in heat,

joking with him, its playfulness indulging in frolic [reading uncertain].

Nor watched night the while for it saddle and breastplate meet.

عَرِيض الوَظيفِ مُكرَبُ القَصِّ لَم يَذُق

عَرِيض الوَظيفِ مُكرَبُ القَصِّ لَم يَذُق

حَديداً وَلَم يَسهَر لَهُ اللَيل أَبجَلُ

حَديداً وَلَم يَسهَر لَهُ اللَيل أَبجَلُ

Broad in the cannon bone, compact in the breastbone; it has never tasted

If horses fail of men's hardness and their toils to greet,

iron, nor has a great leg-vein kept vigil for it through the night.

Then their rider against war's brunt mailed is complete.

إِذا لَم تُطِق خَيلٌ أَداةَ رِجالِها

إِذا لَم تُطِق خَيلٌ أَداةَ رِجالِها

فَفارِسُهُ مِن شِكَّةِ الحَربِ مُكملُ

فَفارِسُهُ مِن شِكَّةِ الحَربِ مُكملُ

When horses cannot bear their riders' equipment,

As we circle, lofty its mien seems to display

then its rider is fully equipped with the gear of war.

A grandeur, as of a king in his pride and sway.

كَأَنّا نُداري حِينَ نَسرُو جِلالُهُ

كَأَنّا نُداري حِينَ نَسرُو جِلالُهُ

بِهِ مَلِكاً مِن عِزَّةٍ يَتَخَيُّلُ

بِهِ مَلِكاً مِن عِزَّةٍ يَتَخَيُّلُ

As we remove its blankets, it is as though we humor

It agrees with its fashioning, and is stablished at rest,

in it a king who struts in his majesty.

Pleased with its making, like He who made it, blest.

وَيَرضى بَصِيرٌ خَلقَهُ وَهوَ مُدبِرٌ

وَيَرضى بَصِيرٌ خَلقَهُ وَهوَ مُدبِرٌ

كَما هُوَ راضٍ خَلقَهُ وَهُوَ مُقبِلُ

كَما هُوَ راضٍ خَلقَهُ وَهُوَ مُقبِلُ

A discerning observer approves its form as it goes away,

On its like did Layla and her family press,

just as he approves its form when it approaches.

Death drew nigh them, but God gives aid and redress!

عَلى مِثلِهِ أَنتابُ لَيلى وَأَهلَها

عَلى مِثلِهِ أَنتابُ لَيلى وَأَهلَها

وَآتى الوَغى وَاللَهُ يَكفي وَيَحمِلُ

وَآتى الوَغى وَاللَهُ يَكفي وَيَحمِلُ

On one like it I repeatedly visit Layla and her people,

and enter the fray; God suffices and sustains.