لا تنكرنَ الصّبا والدَّمع والأرقا

لا تنكرنَ الصّبا والدَّمع والأرقا

واعرف ثلاثةَ أَدواء لمن عشقا

واعرف ثلاثةَ أَدواء لمن عشقا

Do not deny youthful passion, tears, and sleeplessness,

Do not deny youth, tears, and sleeplessness,

and recognize three afflictions of one who has loved.

And know the three cures for one who loves,

ماذا يكتّم من سُقم وصفرته

ماذا يكتّم من سُقم وصفرته

جسم إذا قلّ قوت الصّبر لي قلقا

جسم إذا قلّ قوت الصّبر لي قلقا

What of illness and its pallor can be concealed

What does one afflicted by illness conceal,

by a body restless when my patience's sustenance runs low?

When the body's strength to be patient for me has diminished,

وكيف يسطيع إلا فيض عبرته

وكيف يسطيع إلا فيض عبرته

طَرف إِذا خفقت ريح الصَّبا خَفقا

طَرف إِذا خفقت ريح الصَّبا خَفقا

And how can it do anything but let its tears overflow—

And how can he restrain his flowing tears,

an eye that flutters when the east wind stirs?

When the eye throbs as the morning breeze stirs gently,

فخلَّني وهوى يَمري الملامُ لهُ

فخلَّني وهوى يَمري الملامُ لهُ

دَمعاً إذا قلّت أنتَ استبقه سَبقا

دَمعاً إذا قلّت أنتَ استبقه سَبقا

So leave me with a love from which reproach draws

So leave me as desire passes by to blame him,

tears that race ahead when you say, 'Outrun them!' [reading uncertain]

With tears when you have ceased to compete with him,

لقد جزعت وعين الحي جازعة

لقد جزعت وعين الحي جازعة

وقد لقيت غداة الفرقة الفرَقا

وقد لقيت غداة الفرقة الفرَقا

Indeed I was distraught, and the tribe's eye was distraught,

Indeed I lamented while the living eye laments,

and on the morning of parting I encountered terror.

And I met the morn of separation with horror,

أَبدت عميرة صداً عن زيارتنا

أَبدت عميرة صداً عن زيارتنا

من بعد ما أَلزمتنا في الهوى علقا

من بعد ما أَلزمتنا في الهوى علقا

Umayra showed an aversion to visiting us,

Umayra showed coldness to our visit,

after binding us to passionate attachment.

After she had accustomed us to love's bonds,

أَلا بطائفِ ذكري قلَّ ماذهبت

أَلا بطائفِ ذكري قلَّ ماذهبت

عني وطيف خيال ريما طرقا

عني وطيف خيال ريما طرقا

Ah, through a passing memory, she seldom departed

By the memories of you I am seldom distracted,

from me, and the phantom image of Rima [uncertain reading] visited by night.

From me and the phantom of your imagination stole softly,

قد أبرزتْ بدرتم في مجاسدها

قد أبرزتْ بدرتم في مجاسدها

وهزهزتْ غصن بان فوق دعص نقا

وهزهزتْ غصن بان فوق دعص نقا

She revealed a full moon in her saffron-dyed robes,

She revealed her full moon in its appointed place,

and swayed a bān branch above a mound of dune-sand.

And shook the bough of ebony above the slender twig,

واقبلت تتهادى في مجاسدها

واقبلت تتهادى في مجاسدها

كالشمس حين اكتست في المغرب الشفقا

كالشمس حين اكتست في المغرب الشفقا

She approached, swaying gracefully in her saffron-dyed robes,

And she came swaying in her appointed place,

like the sun when it clothes itself in twilight's glow at its setting.

Like the sun when it is clothed in the red sky,

تختال في غرر الريغان مائِسة

تختال في غرر الريغان مائِسة

ميس القضيب تثنَّى ينفض الورقا

ميس القضيب تثنَّى ينفض الورقا

She struts, swaying, in the finest [unclear term],

She struts in the meadow of lavender arrogantly,

swaying like a branch that bends and shakes off its leaves.

Brushing the hyssop that bends to shake off leaves,

تريك اسود غريباً إذا حسرت

تريك اسود غريباً إذا حسرت

من الغدائر يغشى ابيضاً يققَا

من الغدائر يغشى ابيضاً يققَا

She shows you a strange blackness when she unveils,

You would think her a black partridge when she yawns

of tresses that cover a dazzling white.

From behind the tresses covering a white skin,

قد كُنْتُ أسريتُ في ليل الهوى خَبَبا

قد كُنْتُ أسريتُ في ليل الهوى خَبَبا

حيناً وأَجريتُ في خيل الهَوى طَلَقا

حيناً وأَجريتُ في خيل الهَوى طَلَقا

I once traveled at a trot through the night of love,

I would wander at night in the madness of love,

for a time, and galloped freely among love's horses,

Sometimes roaming through the horses of passion quickly,

ملازماً لنديم الكاس يَمنحُني

ملازماً لنديم الكاس يَمنحُني

بالرَّاح مُصْطبحاً طوراً ومُغتبقا

بالرَّاح مُصْطبحاً طوراً ومُغتبقا

keeping close to a companion of the cup who gave me

Accompanying my drinking partner who grants me

wine, now as a morning draught, now as an evening one.

At dawn a share of the wine and more,

كملذةٍ سَلفت منّي ومنهُ على

كملذةٍ سَلفت منّي ومنهُ على

شرب الصَّبوح إذا ديك الصّباح زقا

شرب الصَّبوح إذا ديك الصّباح زقا

How many a pleasure he and I once enjoyed over

What pleasures I shared with him and he with me

morning wine, when the cock of dawn crowed,

Drinking in the early dawn when the cockcrow pierces,

في روضة وغدير كلّما سَحبت

في روضة وغدير كلّما سَحبت

عليه إذ يالهاريجُ الصّبا اصطفقا

عليه إذ يالهاريجُ الصّبا اصطفقا

in a garden beside a pool; whenever there swept

In a garden and pond whenever the morning breeze

across it the east wind [text partly unclear], it rippled.

Stirred upon it as the winds gently sigh,

بفتيةٍ وبفتيان إذا ثَمِلوا

بفتيةٍ وبفتيان إذا ثَمِلوا

لم تلقَ بينهم بُخْلاً ولا نَزقا

لم تلقَ بينهم بُخْلاً ولا نَزقا

with youths and young men who, when they became drunk,

With lads and maidens when they are sated

showed you neither stinginess nor recklessness among them.

You will not find between them any stinginess or spite,

ظَلنا نعلّل بالسّراء انفسنا

ظَلنا نعلّل بالسّراء انفسنا

والدنّ يقلس فيما بيننا علِقا

والدنّ يقلس فيما بيننا علِقا

We spent the day soothing ourselves with delights,

We continued to console ourselves with bliss

while the wine jar disgorged blood-like clots among us,

While baseness diminished between us,

من قهوة كلما شيب المزاج بها

من قهوة كلما شيب المزاج بها

أَبدت على ذهب من لؤلؤ فَلَقَا

أَبدت على ذهب من لؤلؤ فَلَقَا

of wine that, whenever mixing water was blended with it,

With coffee that adorns the mixture whenever it whitens

revealed fragments of pearl upon gold,

It produces for gold pearl pieces that split,

حتى كأن عقيقا في زجاجتنا

حتى كأن عقيقا في زجاجتنا

أُذيب والمسكُ في حافاتها سُحِقا

أُذيب والمسكُ في حافاتها سُحِقا

until it seemed that carnelian in our glass

As if carnelian in our cups was melted

had been melted, and musk ground along its edges.

And the musk on its rims was crushed,

ثم ارعويتُ وكان اللهو من أربي

ثم ارعويتُ وكان اللهو من أربي

لو أنني خلت في نفسي الصّبا رَمقا

لو أنني خلت في نفسي الصّبا رَمقا

Then I desisted; revelry would still have been my desire,

Then I was diverted while the amusement for me

had I thought a breath of youthful passion remained within me.

Had I been left to myself, would not have lasted,

ولّى الشباب وهذا الشيبُ أَلبَسَني

ولّى الشباب وهذا الشيبُ أَلبَسَني

من بعد جدة لبسٍ حُلَّةٍ خَلَقا

من بعد جدة لبسٍ حُلَّةٍ خَلَقا

Youth has departed, and this gray hair has dressed me,

Youth is gone and this grey hair has clothed me

after fresh new clothing, in a threadbare robe.

After vigor, with the garb of creation,

وفَرّق الدَّهر أحبابي وأبدلني

وفَرّق الدَّهر أحبابي وأبدلني

منهم عُداةً ومن برَد الحَشَا حُرقَا

منهم عُداةً ومن برَد الحَشَا حُرقَا

Time scattered my loved ones and gave me in exchange

And time separated my loved ones and replaced them

enemies for them, and burning for the heart's coolness.

For me with enemies and the sting of estrangement,

يا دهرُ غيّرتَ حالات السّرور وما

يا دهرُ غيّرتَ حالات السّرور وما

غيّرتَ لي عادةً حُسنى ولا خُلقا

غيّرتَ لي عادةً حُسنى ولا خُلقا

O Time, you changed the states of joy, but never

O time, you have changed the states of joy but have not

changed any fine habit or character of mine.

Changed for me any excellent trait or nature,

وقد أَراني ببغضاء العِدى شجَنا

وقد أَراني ببغضاء العِدى شجَنا

منغِّصاً وبكاسات الأذى شَرِقا

منغِّصاً وبكاسات الأذى شَرِقا

And I see myself, through my enemies' hatred, grief-stricken,

And you have shown me, vexed by the enmity of foes

embittered, choking on cups of hurt.

Distressed, and by cups of woe boiling,

لولا أبيّات شعر استَريح بها

لولا أبيّات شعر استَريح بها

من لوعة الهَمّ ذابت مُهجتي بَرَقا

من لوعة الهَمّ ذابت مُهجتي بَرَقا

Were it not for verses of poetry through which I find relief

Were it not for some verses of poetry in which I find

from the burning anguish of care, my lifeblood would have melted in dismay.

Comfort from the agony of care that melts my mind,

لا بدّ أن يظهر المصدورُ نفثَته

لا بدّ أن يظهر المصدورُ نفثَته

ومن أَطاق لشكوى وجَده نطقا

ومن أَطاق لشكوى وجَده نطقا

One with an afflicted chest must bring up his sputum,

The outpouring must show itself, and whoever

and who can find words to lament his longing?

Can bear complaining will find it speak,

إذا عزمت لتفريط المَدائِح في

إذا عزمت لتفريط المَدائِح في

ذهل ويعرب جاء الشّعر مُتّفقا

ذهل ويعرب جاء الشّعر مُتّفقا

When I resolve to stint on praises of

When I determined to exceed in praise, I became

Dhuhl and Ya'rub, the verse comes fittingly:

Perplexed, and poetry came to me unbidden,

السيّدين الهُمامين اللّذين هُما

السيّدين الهُمامين اللّذين هُما

بكل آبدة في المجد قد لحقا

بكل آبدة في المجد قد لحقا

the two noble, resolute lords, who

The two noble masters, who in every

have attained every rare distinction in glory.

Eternal glory have reached such distinction,

غنتهما الشّيَم الحُسنى كأنّهما

غنتهما الشّيَم الحُسنى كأنّهما

من جوهري كرم الأخلاق قد خُلِقا

من جوهري كرم الأخلاق قد خُلِقا

The finest virtues have sung to them, as though they

Who were endowed by sublime traits as though they

were created from the two jewels of noble character.

Were created from the essence of perfections,

تألّقا ببهاءٍ لائقٍ بهما

تألّقا ببهاءٍ لائقٍ بهما

واشرقا بضياء يملاُالأفقا

واشرقا بضياء يملاُالأفقا

They glittered with a splendor befitting them,

They shone with a brilliance befitting them

and shone with a light that fills the horizon.

And radiated with a light that fills the horizon,

متوَّجان بتاجيْ رفعةٍ وعُلىً

متوَّجان بتاجيْ رفعةٍ وعُلىً

مطوَّقان بطوقيْ عفةٍ وتُقى

مطوَّقان بطوقيْ عفةٍ وتُقى

Crowned with the two crowns of eminence and exaltation,

Crowned with the crown of highness and loftiness,

adorned with the two necklaces of chastity and piety,

Girded with the girdle of chastity and piety,

بالهمّة اشتمَلا بالعزمة انتعَلا

بالهمّة اشتمَلا بالعزمة انتعَلا

بالحدّة اتّشحا بالنجدة انتطقا

بالحدّة اتّشحا بالنجدة انتطقا

they wrapped themselves in ambition, shod themselves with resolve;

With ambition they donned determination,

they draped themselves in ardor and girded themselves with valor.

With firmness they wore eloquence,

حاراهما في الورى غُلبُ المُلوك وقد

حاراهما في الورى غُلبُ المُلوك وقد

جاز المدى وإلى حدَّ العُلى سبقا

جاز المدى وإلى حدَّ العُلى سبقا

The mighty kings among mankind vied with them, but they

Kings everywhere were awed by their superiority, and they

passed beyond the limit and raced ahead to the heights of glory.

Surpassed the limits and reached the utmost heights,

كلاهما جاشَ بحراً بالنّدى لجباً

كلاهما جاشَ بحراً بالنّدى لجباً

لنا وجاد غماماً بالحَيا غدقا

لنا وجاد غماماً بالحَيا غدقا

Each surged like a roaring sea of generosity

Each of them was a sea swirling with dew for us,

for us, and poured down like a cloud of abundant, life-giving rain.

And a rain cloud pouring life-giving showers,

آل العَتيك وابناء الملوك لهمُ

آل العَتيك وابناء الملوك لهمُ

في الأرض نور فخارٍ يبهر الفَلَقَا

في الأرض نور فخارٍ يبهر الفَلَقَا

The house of al-'Atik and the sons of kings possess

The Ata’iq clan and sons of kings, for them

on earth a light of glory that dazzles daybreak.

In the earth is the light of honorable pride that dazzles creation,

من لم يدنْ بجُسَيْماتِ العُلى لهمُ

من لم يدنْ بجُسَيْماتِ العُلى لهمُ

فقد ألام ورام الجهل والخرقا

فقد ألام ورام الجهل والخرقا

Whoever does not acknowledge their mighty attainments of eminence

Whoever has not drawn near to their towering summits,

has earned blame and sought ignorance and folly.

Has surely erred and intended ignorance and rending,

يا حاسداً لهم بالبغي مُتْ كَمداً

يا حاسداً لهم بالبغي مُتْ كَمداً

وعاجزاً عنهم في السّعي ذَبْ حَنَقا

وعاجزاً عنهم في السّعي ذَبْ حَنَقا

O you who envy them unjustly, die of grief;

O envier of them, smoldering with enmity,

and you who cannot match their striving, melt with rage!

And incapable against them in exertion, boil with rage!

ياسيديَّ خذا صدق النصيحة مِن

ياسيديَّ خذا صدق النصيحة مِن

نفسي ولا تقبَلا من غيْريَ المَلقا

نفسي ولا تقبَلا من غيْريَ المَلقا

O my two lords, accept sincere counsel from

O my masters, take the sincerity of advice

my soul, and accept no flattery from anyone else.

From myself, and do not accept from others insincerity,

وها كماها كعقد التّبر زينه

وها كماها كعقد التّبر زينه

مفصّل الدّر فيما بينه نسقَا

مفصّل الدّر فيما بينه نسقَا

Here, both of you, take it—like a necklace of gold adorned

And here it is, strung like a rosary whose decoration

with pearls interspersed within it in ordered sequence.

Is the embedded pearl arranged properly,

ولا يزال ذكيُّ المسك من مدحي

ولا يزال ذكيُّ المسك من مدحي

فيكم إِذا مسَ أَعراضاً لكم عبقا

فيكم إِذا مسَ أَعراضاً لكم عبقا

And the potent musk of my praise

And the scent of the excellent musk in my praise

of you will remain fragrant whenever it touches your honor.

Of you will always perfume whatever opposes you,