ماnot سَرَّهُpleased him أنthat ذاعَbecame public منamong أسرارِهhis secrets
ما سَرَّهُ أن ذاعَ من أسرارِه
ماwhat غَيَّبَhid الكِتمانُsecrecy فيin إضمارِهhis inward thoughts
ما غَيَّبَ الكِتمانُ في إضمارِه
He was not pleased that, among his secrets, there became known
what secrecy had hidden in his inward thoughts.
تأبىrefuses العبارةُspeech عنto tell of هواهhis love فينبريso forth comes
تأبى العبارةُ عن هواه فينبري
جفنٌan eyelid يعبِّرُexpresses عنهit فيthrough إستعبارِهits weeping
جفنٌ يعبِّرُ عنه في إستعبارِه
Words refuse to tell his love; then forth comes
an eyelid, expressing it through its tears.
أَخفاهhe hid it بينbetween ضلوعِهhis ribs فجَفَتso dealt harshly بهwith him
أَخفاه بين ضلوعِه فجَفَت به
حُرَقٌburning pangs تُظاهِرُهhelping him علىin إظهارِهrevealing it
حُرَقٌ تُظاهِرُه على إظهارِه
He hid it between his ribs, but was treated harshly
by burning pangs that helped him lay it bare.
أنَّىhow يكونُcould be القصْدُrestraint شيمةَthe habit of وَجْدِهhis passion
أنَّى يكونُ القصْدُ شيمةَ وَجْدِه
يومَon the day of النَّوىseparation والجَورُand cruelty شيمةُthe habit of جارِهhis neighbor
يومَ النَّوى والجَورُ شيمةُ جارِه
How could restraint be the habit of his passion
on parting day, when cruelty is his neighbor's habit?
هلwill ...? يُنْجِدَنَّsurely head upland فريقُthe company of نجدٍNajd بعدَماafter
هل يُنْجِدَنَّ فريقُ نجدٍ بعدَما
غارَتْsank نجومُthe stars of الحُسنِbeauty فيinto أغوارِهits lowlands
غارَتْ نجومُ الحُسنِ في أغوارِه
Will Najd's company take to the uplands, now that
beauty's stars have sunk into its lowlands?
نُهديwe send التحيَّةَgreetings منهمُfrom among them لمحجَّبٍto a veiled one
نُهدي التحيَّةَ منهمُ لمحجَّبٍ
عَبَراتُناour tears أبداًforever تَحيَّةُthe greeting of دارِهhis dwelling
عَبَراتُنا أبداً تَحيَّةُ دارِه
We send greetings to a veiled one among them;
our tears forever greet his dwelling.
وضعيفِand one slender in عَقدِthe binding of الخَصرِthe waist رابٍswelling ردفُهُhis rump
وضعيفِ عَقدِ الخَصرِ رابٍ ردفُهُ
ظَلَمَwronged الجمالَbeauty نِطاقُهhis girdle لإِزارِهfor his waistcloth
ظَلَمَ الجمالَ نِطاقُه لإِزارِه
And one slender where his waist is bound, with swelling hips—
his girdle wronged beauty for his waistcloth's sake.
ومُوَدِّعٍand one bidding farewell ظَفِرَتْgained hold يَداهhis two hands بمهجتيof my heart
ومُوَدِّعٍ ظَفِرَتْ يَداه بمهجتي
فمضَىso he departed ونَضْحُand the spatter of دميmy blood علىon أظفارِهhis fingernails
فمضَى ونَضْحُ دمي على أظفارِه
And one bidding farewell, whose hands seized my heart;
then he went away, my blood spattered on his nails.
أقصرْتُI desisted عنfrom ذِكْرِmentioning السُّلُوِّforgetting love وقصَّرَتand fell short
أقصرْتُ عن ذِكْرِ السُّلُوِّ وقصَّرَت
هِمَمُthe efforts of العذولِthe reprover فَزَادَso he increased فيin إقصارِهhis desisting
هِمَمُ العذولِ فَزَادَ في إقصارِه
I ceased to speak of forgetting love; and thwarted were
the reprover's efforts, so he desisted all the more.
وغَنِيتُand I was content بالساقيwith the cupbearer الأَغَنِّthe mellow-voiced لأنهbecause he
وغَنِيتُ بالساقي الأَغَنِّ لأنه
وِزْرٌa sin يَزيدُgives more to الصبَّthe passionate lover منof أَوزارِهhis sins
وِزْرٌ يَزيدُ الصبَّ من أَوزارِه
And I was content with the mellow-voiced cupbearer, for he
is a sin that adds to the lover's sins.
ظَفِرَتْgained hold يَداهُhis two hands بمُهجَةِof the lifeblood of الدَّنِّthe wine jar الذيwhose
ظَفِرَتْ يَداهُ بمُهجَةِ الدَّنِّ الذي
غَبَرَتْhad long remained وديعةُthe treasure of صدرِهits breast وصِدارِهand its breast-cover
غَبَرَتْ وديعةُ صدرِه وصِدارِه
His hands seized the lifeblood of the wine jar, whose
treasure had long lain within its breast and breast-cover.
فصباحُهاso its dawn منfrom ليلِهits night ونسيمُهاand its fragrance
فصباحُها من ليلِه ونسيمُها
منfrom تُرِبهits earth وعقيقُهاand its carnelian hue منfrom قارِهits pitch
من تُرِبه وعقيقُها من قارِه
So its dawn comes from the jar's night, and its fragrance
from the jar's earth, its carnelian hue from its pitch.
قلْsay للعذولِto the reprover إليكَaway with you عنfrom ذيone possessing عُدَّةٍarms
قلْ للعذولِ إليكَ عن ذي عُدَّةٍ
ماnever ثارَhe rose إلاwithout نالَattaining أبعدَthe farthest reach of ثارِهhis vengeance
ما ثارَ إلا نالَ أبعدَ ثارِه
Tell the reprover: keep clear of one well armed,
who never rises without exacting his furthest-reaching revenge.
صِلُّa viper of القَريضِverse إذَاwhen ارْتَوَتْdrank their fill أَنْيَابُهhis fangs
صِلُّ القَريضِ إذَا ارْتَوَتْ أَنْيَابُه
منof سُمِّهhis venom قَطَرَتْthey dripped علىupon أشفارِهhis blades
من سُمِّه قَطَرَتْ على أشفارِه
A viper of verse: when his fangs drink their fill
of his venom, they drip upon his blades.
لوif أنَّهhe جارىraced عتيقَيthe two thoroughbreds of طَئِّTayy
لو أنَّه جارى عتيقَي طَئِّ
فيon الحلْبَتَيْنِthe two racecourses تَبرقَعاthe two would be veiled بغُبارِهin his dust
في الحلْبَتَيْنِ تَبرقَعا بغُبارِه
Were he to race Tayy's two noble steeds
on both racecourses, they would be veiled in his dust.
ماnot زالَceased يُنجِدُهُaiding him ابنُthe son of فِهدٍFahd ناصراًin support
ما زالَ يُنجِدُهُ ابنُ فِهدٍ ناصراً
حتىuntil أعادَmade الدَّهرَTime منone of أنصارِهhis allies
حتى أعادَ الدَّهرَ من أنصارِه
Ibn Fahd never ceased aiding and supporting him,
until he made Time itself one of his allies.
جاورْتُI dwelt beside منهin him غَزيرَone abundant in جَمَّاتِpools of النَّدىbounty
جاورْتُ منه غَزيرَ جَمَّاتِ النَّدى
والبحرُand the sea يُغْنيenriches جارَهits neighbor بِجوارِهthrough its nearness
والبحرُ يُغْني جارَه بِجوارِه
In him I found a neighbor whose pools of bounty brim;
and the sea enriches its neighbor by its very nearness.
وأغرَّand a radiant one ماnever طَلَعَتْrose أسِرَّةُthe lineaments of وَجْهِهhis face
وأغرَّ ما طَلَعَتْ أسِرَّةُ وَجْهِه
إلاwithout استسرَّhid البدرُthe full moon قبلَbefore سَرارِهits moonless phase
إلا استسرَّ البدرُ قبلَ سَرارِه
And a radiant one: whenever the lines of his face dawn,
the full moon hides before its moonless phase.
مثلَlike الشِّهابِa meteor محرِّقاًscorching أوor كاسفاًdispelling
مثلَ الشِّهابِ محرِّقاً أو كاسفاً
ظُلَمَthe darkness of الخُطوبِcalamities بنُورِهwith his light أوor نارِهhis fire
ظُلَمَ الخُطوبِ بنُورِه أو نارِه
Like a meteor, scorching or dispelling
the darkness of calamities with his light or fire.
أوor كالحُسامِlike a keen sword إذاwhen مضَىhe advances فيin مَشهَدٍa battle
أو كالحُسامِ إذا مضَى في مَشهَدٍ
شَهِدَتْbore witness مَضارِبُهhis striking edges بعُتْقِto the nobility of نِجارِهhis stock
شَهِدَتْ مَضارِبُه بعُتْقِ نِجارِه
Or like a keen sword: when he advances in battle,
his striking edges bear witness to his noble stock.
أوor كالرَّبيعِlike spring الطَّلْقِthe genial واجهَmet قَطْرُهits rain
أو كالرَّبيعِ الطَّلْقِ واجهَ قَطْرُه
وجهَthe face of الثَّرىthe earth فاخضرَّso it turned green منon أقطارِهits sides
وجهَ الثَّرى فاخضرَّ من أقطارِه
Or like genial spring, whose rain meets
the earth's face, till it turns green on every side.
خُلْقٌa nature سهولُthe plains of المَكرُماتِnoble deeds سهولُهits plains
خُلْقٌ سهولُ المَكرُماتِ سهولُه
وتوعُّرُand the ruggedness of الأيَّامِthe days منfrom أوعارِهits rough ground
وتوعُّرُ الأيَّامِ من أوعارِه
A nature whose plains are the plains of noble deeds,
and from whose crags the days take their ruggedness.
إنif لاحَhe shines فهوthen he is الصُّبحُdawn فيin أثوابِهits robes
إن لاحَ فهو الصُّبحُ في أثوابِه
أوor فاحَhe breathes fragrance فهوَthen he is الرَّوضُthe garden فيin نُوَّارِهits blossoms
أو فاحَ فهوَ الرَّوضُ في نُوَّارِه
If he shines, he is dawn in its robes;
or if he breathes fragrance, he is the garden in its bloom.
نَزَلَتْsubmitted علىto حُكْمِthe judgment of القَناthe lances أعداؤُهُhis enemies
نَزَلَتْ على حُكْمِ القَنا أعداؤُهُ
لمَّاwhen أشارَhe signaled إليهمِto them بِشَرارِهwith his sparks
لمَّا أشارَ إليهمِ بِشَرارِه
His enemies submitted to the judgment of the lances
when he signaled to them with his sparks.
وارتدَّand turned back مَنْwhoever جَاراهraced him مُضمِرَharboring حسرةٍregret
وارتدَّ مَنْ جَاراه مُضمِرَ حسرةٍ
لمَّاwhen جرَىhe raced للمَجدِfor glory فيon مِضْمارِهits racecourse
لمَّا جرَى للمَجدِ في مِضْمارِه
And whoever raced him turned back, harboring regret,
when he raced for glory on its course.
عَزْمٌa resolve يَذُبُّdefends عنon behalf of العُلاhigh honor بذُبابِهِwith its point
عَزْمٌ يَذُبُّ عن العُلا بذُبابِهِ
أبداًforever ويَحميand protects عِزَّهاits might بغِرارِهwith its cutting edge
أبداً ويَحمي عِزَّها بغِرارِه
A resolve that defends high honor with its point,
forever, and guards its might with its cutting edge.
ومكارمٌand noble deeds تُعْليraise ذُرىthe summits of أطوادِهhis mountains
ومكارمٌ تُعْلي ذُرى أطوادِه
فيamong الأزدِthe Azd أوor تُذْكيkindle سَناthe radiance of أقمارِهhis moons
في الأزدِ أو تُذْكي سَنا أقمارِه
And noble deeds that raise his mountains' peaks
among the Azd, or kindle his moons' radiance.
ياO خِيرةَthe choicest one of المجدِglory الذيwho وَرِثَinherited العُلىhigh honors
يا خِيرةَ المجدِ الذي وَرِثَ العُلى
منfrom فَهْدٍFahd الأدنىthe nearer ومنand from مُختارِهhis chosen one
من فَهْدٍ الأدنى ومن مُختارِه
O glory's choicest one, who inherited high honors
from the nearer Fahd and from his chosen one.
بَكَرَcame early الثَّناءُpraise عليكto you فاخلَعْso cast off عُونَهits matronly verses
بَكَرَ الثَّناءُ عليك فاخلَعْ عُونَه
والبَسْand wear جديدَnew الحَلْيِornaments منfrom أبكارِهits maiden verses
والبَسْ جديدَ الحَلْيِ من أبكارِه
Praise has come early to you: cast off its matronly verses,
and wear fresh ornaments from its maiden verses.
واسلَمْand remain safe فقدfor indeed سَلِمَتْhave remained free خِلالُكَyour traits كلُّهاall of them
واسلَمْ فقد سَلِمَتْ خِلالُكَ كلُّها
منfrom عُرِّthe mange of أخلاقِthe morals of اللئيمِthe base man وعارِهand his disgrace
من عُرِّ أخلاقِ اللئيمِ وعارِه
And may you be safe, for all your traits are free
from the mange of the base man's morals and his shame.
وتَحلَّهاand wear it as adornment منfrom عائذٍone seeking refuge بكin you واثقٍtrusting
وتَحلَّها من عائذٍ بك واثقٍ
دهراًfor ages سهامُthe arrows of الظُّلمِoppression فيon أوتارِهits bowstrings
دهراً سهامُ الظُّلمِ في أوتارِه
And wear it as adornment, from one who seeks your refuge, trusting,
though oppression's arrows have long lain on its bowstrings.
ألبَسْتَهyou clothed him in بُرْدَthe mantle of الغِنىwealth وسَلَلْتَهand drew him out
ألبَسْتَه بُرْدَ الغِنى وسَلَلْتَه
منfrom عُدْمِهhis poverty فانسلَّso he slipped out منof أطمارِهhis rags
من عُدْمِه فانسلَّ من أطمارِه
You clothed him in the mantle of wealth and drew him
out of his poverty, so he slipped out of his rags.
قدindeed كانhad been هِيضَbroken جَناحُهhis wing فجَبَرْتَهso you mended it
قد كان هِيضَ جَناحُه فجَبَرْتَه
بنَداكَwith your bounty حتّىuntil طارَhe flew فيin pursuit of أَوطارِهhis desires
بنَداكَ حتّى طارَ في أَوطارِه
His wing had been broken, and you mended it
with your bounty, until he flew in pursuit of his desires.
فجفَىso he forsook المَواطِنَthe homelands والأحِبَّةَand loved ones ناسياًforgetting
فجفَى المَواطِنَ والأحِبَّةَ ناسياً
مَنْone whom لاnever يُفيقُhe awakens الدَّهْرَall his life منfrom تَذْكارِهremembering him
مَنْ لا يُفيقُ الدَّهْرَ من تَذْكارِه
So he forsook homelands and loved ones, forgetting
one from whose remembrance he never wakes, all his days.
لولاbut for ربيعُthe spring of نَوالِكَyour gifts الغَمرِabundant in النَّدىdew
لولا ربيعُ نَوالِكَ الغَمرِ النَّدى
ماnot كانَhe would have يَذهَلُforgotten عنabout ربيعِthe spring of ديارِهhis homeland
ما كانَ يَذهَلُ عن ربيعِ ديارِه
But for the spring of your gifts, with its abundant dew,
he would never have forgotten the spring of his homeland.
نشرَhe spread الثناءَpraise فكانَso it was منamong إعلانِهhis public avowals
نشرَ الثناءَ فكانَ من إعلانِه
وطوَىand folded away الودادَaffection فكانso it was منamong أَسرارِهhis secrets
وطوَى الودادَ فكان من أَسرارِه
He spread praise abroad, and it was among his public avowals;
and folded affection away, making it one of his secrets.
كالنَّخلِlike palms يُبْديrevealing الطَّلْعَthe date-blossoms منof أثمارِهtheir fruits
كالنَّخلِ يُبْدي الطَّلْعَ من أثمارِه
حيناًat times ويُخفيand concealing الغَضَّthe tender part منof جُمَّارِهtheir palm hearts
حيناً ويُخفي الغَضَّ من جُمَّارِه
Like palms that show their fruit-blossoms
at times, yet hide their tender hearts.