أَجَدَّكَtell me truly أنَّthat بَينَهُمtheir parting أنَhas come due (unclear form) آنَاnow
أَجَدَّكَ أنَّ بَينَهُم أنَ آنَا
تُقَطِّعُyou tear apart مِنbecause of مَضَاضتِهِits bitter pain الأُنَانَاthe heart (uncertain)
تُقَطِّعُ مِن مَضَاضتِهِ الأُنَانَا
Tell me truly: has the time of their parting now come?
I found that, verily, between them there was
You tear your heart apart from its bitter pain,
You who would cut the ripe fruits from their branches,
وتجريand you make flow مَدمَعَthe tears العَينَينِof both eyes حتىuntil
وتجري مَدمَعَ العَينَينِ حتى
كأَنَّas though الصَّابَbitter plant-sap فيin العَينَينشboth eyes (textual typo) كَانَاwas
كأَنَّ الصَّابَ في العَينَينش كَانَا
and make the tears of both eyes flow until
And tears would flow from the eyes as though
it is as though bitter sap lay in both eyes.
The clouds in the eyes had showered rain,
وتَضطَرِمُand blazes جِذوَةُthe ember الأحشَاءِof the entrails لَمَّاwhen
وتَضطَرِمُ جِذوَةُ الأحشَاءِ لَمَّا
أُذِنتَyou were informed بِقُربِof the nearness بَينِهِمُof their parting أذَانَاan announcement
أُذِنتَ بِقُربِ بَينِهِمُ أذَانَا
And the ember in your entrails flares when
And the embers of my heart would flare when
you are told outright of their imminent parting.
You were told of their coming together.
يَقُولُhe says لَكَto you الخَلِىُّthe carefree one وَلَيسَand he is not يَدرِىaware
يَقُولُ لَكَ الخَلِىُّ وَلَيسَ يَدرِى
بَأَنَّof the fact that الوَجدَlove's anguish أصعَبُthe hardest مَاwhat يُعَانَىis endured
بَأَنَّ الوَجدَ أصعَبُ مَا يُعَانَى
The carefree one says to you, not knowing
The empty-headed said to me, not knowing
that love's anguish is the hardest thing to endure,
That passion is the most difficult to endure,
وأنَّكَand that you مُغرَمٌinfatuated كَلِفٌbesotted مُعَنًّىtormented
وأنَّكَ مُغرَمٌ كَلِفٌ مُعَنًّى
ولَيسَand it is not لِدَمعِfor the tears مُغرَمِof a lover أنto يُصَانَاbe held back
ولَيسَ لِدَمعِ مُغرَمِ أن يُصَانَا
and that you are infatuated, besotted, tormented,
And that you are lovesick, weary, and concerned,
and a lover's tears cannot be held back:
And the tear of a lovesick one cannot be restrained.
صُنِhold back الدَّمعَthe tears الذيthat تجريyou shed وِإلor else— (word continued)
صُنِ الدَّمعَ الذي تجري وِإل
لاcompletion of 'or else' فإِنfor if أجرَيتَهُyou let it flow أناصُنunclear word آنَاnow (uncertain here)
لا فإِن أجرَيتَهُ أناصُن آنَا
Hold back the tears you shed; or—
Restrain the tear that flows, or else
else, if you shed them, [the closing phrase is unclear].
If you let it flow, I will restrain it.
فَقُلتُso I said لَهُto him دَعنيleave me ِإنَّنيindeed I بِيwithin me
فَقُلتُ لَهُ دَعني ِإنَّني بِي
جَوَىًburning grief سَفَعَتhave scorched جُذاهُits embers الجُلجُلاناthe heart's core
جَوَىً سَفَعَت جُذاهُ الجُلجُلانا
So I told him: Leave me, for within me is
So I said to him, “Leave me be, for in me
a burning grief whose embers have scorched the heart's core.
Is an agony whose coals are stoked.”
تَمَلَّكَنِيhas possessed me الهَوَىlove العُذرِيُّUdhri; chaste قَسراًby force
تَمَلَّكَنِي الهَوَى العُذرِيُّ قَسراً
ومَنand whoever يَملِكهُit possesses يَفتَتِنِis enthralled افتِتَانَاutter enthrallment
ومَن يَملِكهُ يَفتَتِنِ افتِتَانَا
Chaste, Udhri love has possessed me by force;
Passion gripped me by force,
whoever it possesses is utterly enthralled.
And he who it grips is utterly ensnared.
أثَارَstirred بَلابِلِيmy anxieties رَشَأٌa young gazelle غَرِيرٌinnocent
أثَارَ بَلابِلِي رَشَأٌ غَرِيرٌ
يُدِيرُhe drapes around عَلَىupon تَرَائِبِهِhis collarbones الجُمَانَاpearls
يُدِيرُ عَلَى تَرَائِبِهِ الجُمَانَا
An innocent young gazelle stirred my anguish,
It stirred in me restless grouses
draping pearls around his collarbones.
Circling about on their perches.
كَأَنَّas though الجَمرَembers فيin الظَّلمَاءِthe darkness فَوضَىscattered
كَأَنَّ الجَمرَ في الظَّلمَاءِ فَوضَى
تَوَقَّدُblazing جَليِهِhis unveiled radiance الوَضَّاحِbright بَانَاappeared
تَوَقَّدُ جَليِهِ الوَضَّاحِ بَانَا
As though embers scattered in the darkness
As though embers were swirling in the darkness,
were his bright, unveiled beauty blazing into view.
Lighting up its gloom dazzlingly.
يَنُصُّhe raises his head جِدَايَةًa young gazelle خَذَلَتstayed behind وَيرنُوand gazes
يَنُصُّ جِدَايَةً خَذَلَت وَيرنُو
غَزَالاَa gazelle مُونِقاًgraceful وَيَمِيسُand sways بَانَاa bān tree
غَزَالاَ مُونِقاً وَيَمِيسُ بَانَا
He lifts his head like a young gazelle that stayed behind, and gazes
It moans grievously when deserted, and gazes
like a graceful gazelle, and sways like a bān tree.
At a delicate gazelle, then smiles alluringly,
ويُلحِفُand veils شَمسَهhis sun لَيلاًa night بَهِيماًpitch-black
ويُلحِفُ شَمسَه لَيلاً بَهِيماً
خُدَارِيًّاdeeply dark وَيَبسَمُand smiles اُقحُوَانَاdaisies
خُدَارِيًّا وَيَبسَمُ اُقحُوَانَا
And he veils his sun in a pitch-black night,
And meets its sun furtively at night foolishly,
deeply dark, and smiles with daisy-white teeth.
Bashfully, smiling alluringly.
ويُسفِرُand reveals إِنwhen تَبسَمُhe smiles عنof ثَمَانٍeight
ويُسفِرُ إِن تَبسَمُ عن ثَمَانٍ
ثِمَانٍprecious ones تُخجِلُput to shame الدُّرَرَthe pearls الثمانَاcostly
ثِمَانٍ تُخجِلُ الدُّرَرَ الثمانَا
And when he smiles, he reveals eight
And if it smiles, it reveals eight
precious teeth that put costly pearls to shame.
Pearly whites that shame pearls.
كَأَنَّas though لِثَاتِthe gums أشنَبِهof his cool, pearly mouth اُسِفَّتwere dusted
كَأَنَّ لِثَاتِ أشنَبِه اُسِفَّت
بِأثمُدٍwith antimony أوor يَمُجُّhe spits forth الطَّيلَسَانَاa shawl
بِأثمُدٍ أو يَمُجُّ الطَّيلَسَانَا
As though the gums of his cool, pearly mouth were dusted
As though its protruding eyeteeth were clad
with antimony, or he were spitting forth a shawl.
In black, or its tip curls fetchingly.
وَيسقِىand serves الرَّاحَwine فَرعَa branch بَشَامَةٍof a bashām tree فيamong
وَيسقِى الرَّاحَ فَرعَ بَشَامَةٍ في
بَنَاتِdaughters نَقىًsand يُصَرِّفُهاhe moves them بَنَانَاas fingers
بَنَاتِ نَقىً يُصَرِّفُها بَنَانَا
And a bashām branch serves the wine among
And it waters the wind with a lofty splendor in
sand-grubs that he moves about as fingers.
The daughters of pure silver it pours gracefully.
وَيَجذِبُand drags قَدُّهhis stature الرُّمحِىُّspear-like حِقفاًa curved sand-dune
وَيَجذِبُ قَدُّه الرُّمحِىُّ حِقفاً
إِذَاwhen قَصَدَhe attempts القِيامَto stand بِهwith it تَوَانَىhe falters
إِذَا قَصَدَ القِيامَ بِه تَوَانَى
And his spear-like stature drags a curved sand-dune,
And its neck draws its spear shaft coyly
faltering whenever he tries to rise with it.
When it intends to stand with it hesitantly.
كَأنَّas though حِجالَهُhis anklets عِيجَتwere bent فَغَصَّتthen gripped tightly
كَأنَّ حِجالَهُ عِيجَت فَغَصَّت
عَلَىaround أنبُوبِthe shank مُكرَمَةٍa well-tended she-camel (inferred) مُسَانَىunclear epithet
عَلَى أنبُوبِ مُكرَمَةٍ مُسَانَى
As though his anklets were bent and clasped tightly
As though its anklets clanked and were jammed
around a well-tended she-camel's shank [unclear epithet].
On the pipes of honored sandals.
وتفريand rend مُقلَتَاهُhis two eyes كُلَّevery قَلبٍheart
وتفري مُقلَتَاهُ كُلَّ قَلبٍ
كَأَنَّas though بِلَحظِin the glance عَينَيهِof his eyes سِنَانَاa spearhead
كَأَنَّ بِلَحظِ عَينَيهِ سِنَانَا
And his two eyes rend every heart,
And its eyelids pierce every heart,
as though their glance contained a spearhead.
As though with their glance were knives.
وَيَحسَبُهand supposes him المُغَمَّرُthe inexperienced man إِنif رَآهُhe sees him
وَيَحسَبُه المُغَمَّرُ إِن رَآهُ
أعَانَhe helped عَلَىwith صِنَاعَتِهِhis making الزَّمَانَاTime
أعَانَ عَلَى صِنَاعَتِهِ الزَّمَانَا
The inexperienced man, when he sees him, imagines
And the passionate one thinks, when he sees it,
that he helped Time in his own making.
It has aided him in his craft through time.
وتَحسَبُand you suppose جَانِبَيهِhis two sides مَنجَنُوناًfine woven cloth
وتَحسَبُ جَانِبَيهِ مَنجَنُوناً
لَطِيفَdelicate الجَسِّto the touch مَوشِيّاًembroidered حُسَانَاbeautiful
لَطِيفَ الجَسِّ مَوشِيّاً حُسَانَا
And you would take his two sides for fine woven cloth,
And you’d think its flanks were possessed
soft to the touch, embroidered and beautiful.
Of a delicate body, beautifully slender.
بهِwith him انقَطَعَhas reached its limit السَّنَاradiance فَمَنso whoever ادَّعَىclaims أَنthat
بهِ انقَطَعَ السَّنَا فَمَن ادَّعَى أَن
يُكَلِّفَtask; burden مِثلُهُhis equal الأزمَانَthe ages مَانَاhas lied
يُكَلِّفَ مِثلُهُ الأزمَانَ مَانَا
In him radiance reaches its limit; whoever claims that
With it the eras are severed, so who claims that
the ages could be tasked to produce his equal has lied.
He can task time again with its like has lied.
أُقُولُI say وقَدand already رَأَيتُI have seen أُمَامَUmām صَدَّتturned away
أُقُولُ وقَد رَأَيتُ أُمَامَ صَدَّت
قُرُونَتَهاher soul; disposition وقَدand already أَخَذَتshe had taken قِرَانَاa bond
قُرُونَتَها وقَد أَخَذَت قِرَانَا
I say, having seen Umām turn away
I say this having seen its virtues manifest
in her heart, though she had entered a bond:
With tusks that have taken prey.
أُمَامَةُUmāmah إِنَّindeed مَنwhoever أَلِفَhas grown used to اللَّيَالِىthe nights
أُمَامَةُ إِنَّ مَن أَلِفَ اللَّيَالِى
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle صَارَمَsevers ties with الخِلاَّنَfriends لاَنَاsoftens
إِذَا مَا صَارَمَ الخِلاَّنَ لاَنَا
Umāmah, whoever has grown familiar with the nights
Ummamah said to me, “Verily, he who is familiar with nights
softens when he breaks with his friends.
When engaging adversaries is not weak.”
فَقَالَتso she said لِىto me حَسِبتُكَI thought you نَاunclear word لأَنيbecause I
فَقَالَت لِى حَسِبتُكَ نَا لأَني
رَأيتُكَI saw you تَنظِمُstringing الدُّرَرَthe pearls الحِسَانَاbeautiful
رَأيتُكَ تَنظِمُ الدُّرَرَ الحِسَانَا
She said to me: I thought you [unclear word], because
So I said to her, “You are ignorant of the matter. When
I saw you stringing beautiful pearls.
I am as you described ignorant, then I am weak.”
ولَمand not تَكُyou were لِلمَعَانيover meanings بِالمُعَانيone who struggles
ولَم تَكُ لِلمَعَاني بِالمُعَاني
ولَمand not يَكُwas يَحسُنُbeautiful المَعنَىthe meaning المُعَانَىlabored
ولَم يَكُ يَحسُنُ المَعنَى المُعَانَى
You did not struggle over meanings,
“I clothe myself in glorious deeds,
nor was a labored meaning beautiful.
And give free rein in high places.
وتَفتِكُand you strike down فيamong الأَعَادِيthe enemies فَتكَthe assault لَيثٍof a lion
وتَفتِكُ في الأَعَادِي فَتكَ لَيثٍ
جَرِىءbold إِنif هُمُthey قَصَدُواseek الطِّعَانَاspear-fighting
جَرِىء إِن هُمُ قَصَدُوا الطِّعَانَا
And you strike enemies down like a lion,
And I shun dishonor and baseness,
bold, if they seek a clash of spears.
And avoid deceitfulness and vileness.
وَتَفثَأُand you allay عَنهُمُfrom them حُمَةَthe sting الدَّوَاهِيof calamities
وَتَفثَأُ عَنهُمُ حُمَةَ الدَّوَاهِي
وتَكشِفُand you lift عَنهُمُfrom them الحَربَwar العَوَانَاrenewed
وتَكشِفُ عَنهُمُ الحَربَ العَوَانَا
You allay for them the sting of calamities,
“And I am not one who covets a bribe for treachery,
and turn renewed war away from them.
Nor am I pleased if my pact is betrayed.
وتَسكُبُand you pour out إنif عَفَواthey seek bounty لَهُمُfor them الأيَادِيfavors
وتَسكُبُ إن عَفَوا لَهُمُ الأيَادِي
وقَدand already عَوَّدتَهُمyou have accustomed them أنthat لاَnot تُعَانَاyou be importuned
وقَد عَوَّدتَهُم أن لاَ تُعَانَا
And you pour out favors for them when they seek your bounty,
And my tongue does not utter concealed things
having taught them that you need not be pressed.
To my enemies, even if they sever it.
ولَمand not تَصحَبyou accompanied جَبَاناًa coward هَيَّبَاناًtimorous
ولَم تَصحَب جَبَاناً هَيَّبَاناً
لَحَاmay curse اللهُGod الجَبَانthe coward الهَيَّبَانَاtimorous
لَحَا اللهُ الجَبَان الهَيَّبَانَا
And you never kept company with a timorous coward—
“And I am not, if seized, pleading for mercy,
may God curse the timorous coward!
Though many a stalwart, if seized, is thus humbled.
فَقُلتُso I said لَهَاto her جَهِلتَyou misunderstood الامرَthe matter إِنِّيindeed I
فَقُلتُ لَهَا جَهِلتَ الامرَ إِنِّي
ِإذَاif مَاemphatic particle كُنتِyou were جَاهِلَتِىignorant of me أنَاI نَأunclear word
ِإذَا مَا كُنتِ جَاهِلَتِى أنَا نَأ
I told her: You have misunderstood the matter; I,
And I do not accept high-handed envoys
if you did not know me, am [unclear word].
Except those crowned and pure.
تَغَبَّقتُI drank at evening المَحَامِدَpraiseworthy qualities مُصطفَاةًchoice
تَغَبَّقتُ المَحَامِدَ مُصطفَاةً
وفيand in العَليَاءِthe heights of glory أطلَقتُI let loose العِنَانَاthe reins
وفي العَليَاءِ أطلَقتُ العِنَانَا
I drank choice virtues as an evening draught,
Nor cups, however much they near me,
and in the heights of glory let the reins run free.
Of one vile or who drives away the vile.
ونَكَّبتُand I avoided المَخَازِىَdisgraces والهُوَينَاand indolence
ونَكَّبتُ المَخَازِىَ والهُوَينَا
وَجانَبتُand I shunned الخَدِيعَةَdeceit والهُوَانَاand humiliation
وَجانَبتُ الخَدِيعَةَ والهُوَانَا
I shunned disgrace and indolence,
And I distance myself from the abode of fools among them,
and avoided deceit and humiliation.
Wary of the traits of ignoble men.
وَلَمand not أكُI was طَالِباًseeking تِرَةًvengeance بَفدرٍby treachery (textual typo)
وَلَم أكُ طَالِباً تِرَةً بَفدرٍ
ولاَand not أرضَىI consent لِعَهدِىfor my pledge أنto يُخَانَأbe betrayed (textual typo)
ولاَ أرضَى لِعَهدِى أن يُخَانَأ
I never sought vengeance through treachery,
And never has any enemy, when my hand took him,
nor consent to the betrayal of my pledge.
Ridden except barebacked.
ولَمand not أُنطِقI made speak بِمُكتَتَمٍof a secret لِسَانيmy tongue
ولَم أُنطِق بِمُكتَتَمٍ لِسَاني
لأعدَائِىto my enemies ولَوeven if قَطَعُواthey cut out اللِّسَانَاthe tongue
لأعدَائِى ولَو قَطَعُوا اللِّسَانَا
I never made my tongue divulge a secret
And I do not grant safe passage except
to my enemies, even if they cut out my tongue.
To one who grants me safe return.
ولَمand not أكُI was إِنif اُخِذتُI was captured بِمُستَكِينٍat all submissive
ولَم أكُ إِن اُخِذتُ بِمُستَكِينٍ
ورُبَّand many a فَتًىyoung man إِنif أُخِذَhe was captured استَكَانَاbecame submissive
ورُبَّ فَتًى إِن أُخِذَ استَكَانَا
Nor, if captured, did I become submissive,
And I am no violator, by my hands, of sanctity,
and many a young man submits when captured.
For every situation has its own circumstance.
ولَمand not أَقرِI entertained الوُفُودَthe delegations الشُّمَّproud; noble مَهمَاwhenever
ولَم أَقرِ الوُفُودَ الشُّمَّ مَهمَا
تُنِخthey halted their mounts إِلاَّexcept المُكَلَلَةَheaped up الجِفَانَاthe serving-bowls
تُنِخ إِلاَّ المُكَلَلَةَ الجِفَانَا
I never entertained the proud delegations, whenever
And indeed our blood is not shed in vain,
they halted, except with heaped serving-bowls,
And he on whom we bestow grace returns grace.
وإِلاَّand except أكؤُساًcups مهماwhenever دَنَتthey came near مِنto
وإِلاَّ أكؤُساً مهما دَنَت مِن
مُعَنًّىone besotted بالدِّنَانِwith wine-jars هَجَاhe derided الدِّنَانَاthe wine-jars
مُعَنًّى بالدِّنَانِ هَجَا الدِّنَانَا
and cups which, whenever brought near
one besotted with wine-jars, made him deride the jars.
وأُبعِدُand I keep far مَنزِلَthe dwelling السُّفَهَاءِof fools مِنهُمfrom them
وأُبعِدُ مَنزِلَ السُّفَهَاءِ مِنهُم
حِذَاراًfor fear مِنof شَمَائِلِthe ways مَنof those سِوَانَاother than us
حِذَاراً مِن شَمَائِلِ مَن سِوَانَا
And I keep fools' lodgings far from them,
for fear of the ways of people unlike us.
ولَمand not يَركَبrode وقدand already أخَذَتهُhad seized him كفيmy hand
ولَم يَركَب وقد أخَذَتهُ كفي
عَدويmy enemy مَركَباًa conveyance ِإلاَّexcept الأُرَانَاthe bier
عَدوي مَركَباً ِإلاَّ الأُرَانَا
And, once my hand has seized him, never does
my enemy ride any conveyance but a bier.
ولَمand not أُعطِI gave الأَمَانَsafety الرَّنقَtainted ِإلاَّexcept
ولَم أُعطِ الأَمَانَ الرَّنقَ ِإلاَّ
لِمَنto whoever أعطَانيgave me الرَّنقَtainted الأَمَانَاsafety
لِمَن أعطَاني الرَّنقَ الأَمَانَا
I never gave a tainted pledge of safety except
to one who gave me a tainted pledge of safety.
ولَمand not أكُI was هَاتِكاًone violating بِيَدِىwith my hand حَرِيماًa sanctuary
ولَم أكُ هَاتِكاً بِيَدِى حَرِيماً
وإِنَّand indeed لِكُلِّfor every حَادِثَةٍevent لَشَانَاsurely an import
وإِنَّ لِكُلِّ حَادِثَةٍ لَشَانَا
I never violated a sanctuary with my own hand;
and every event indeed has its own import.
وإِنَّاand indeed we لاَnot تُطَلُّis left unavenged لَنَاfor us دِمَاءٌblood
وإِنَّا لاَ تُطَلُّ لَنَا دِمَاءٌ
ومَنand whoever هُنَّاwe are held cheap عَلَيهِin his eyes يَهُنis held cheap عَلاَنَاin our eyes (textual typo)
ومَن هُنَّا عَلَيهِ يَهُن عَلاَنَا
Our blood is never left unavenged,
and whoever holds us cheap is cheap to us.
Partial English translation: 72 of 84 Arabic lines translated.