أَرحَتI relieved نَفسيmy soul مِنfrom عداةpromises (uncertain reading) الملاحthe fair ones
أَرحَت نَفسي مِن عداة الملاح
لِليأسِfor despair روحrelief مِثلِlike روحِthe relief of النَجاحsuccess
لِليأسِ روح مِثلِ روحِ النَجاح
I freed my soul from the fair ones’ promises;
My soul found relief from the adversaries of sailing,
despair brings relief like the relief of success.
Despair has a spirit like the spirit of success,
وَرُبَّماand often حَكَّمَتI gave authority فيover مُهجَتيmy heart
وَرُبَّما حَكَّمَت في مُهجَتي
نَشوانone intoxicated مِنby ماءthe water of الصِباyouth وَالمراحand merriment
نَشوان مِن ماء الصِبا وَالمراح
Often I gave dominion over my heart
And sometimes youth judged in my mind,
to one drunk on the waters of youth and merriment.
Joy from the water of youth and meadows,
وَكَيفَand how لاnot تُدرِكُهُovertake him نَشوَةٌintoxication
وَكَيفَ لا تُدرِكُهُ نَشوَةٌ
وَاللَحظُand the glance راحَwine وَجَنىand the harvest of الريقsaliva راحwine
وَاللَحظُ راحَ وَجَنى الريق راح
And how could intoxication fail to overtake him,
And how could it not feel joy,
when his glance is wine, and the harvest of his saliva is wine?
When the moment passed and picked the saliva it passed,
لَوif لَمnot تَكُنwere ريقَتُهُhis saliva خَمرَةٌwine
لَو لَم تَكُن ريقَتُهُ خَمرَةٌ
لَمّاwould not تَثنىَّsway عطفهhis flank وَهوَwhile he is صاحsober
لَمّا تَثنىَّ عطفه وَهوَ صاح
Were his saliva not wine,
Had her saliva not been wine,
his body would not sway while he was sober.
He would not have bent his side while shouting,
يَبسِمُhe smiles عَنrevealing ذيpossessing أَشَرٍserrations مِثلَماjust as
يَبسِمُ عَن ذي أَشَرٍ مِثلَما
يَلتَقِطgathers الظَبيُthe gazelle بِفيهwith its mouth الأَقاحdaisies
يَلتَقِط الظَبيُ بِفيه الأَقاح
He smiles, revealing serrated teeth, just as
He smiles away from the one with evil, as
a gazelle gathers daisies in its mouth.
The gazelle picks up the grapes with its mouth,
تُهديbrings الصَباthe east wind رَيّاهُhis fragrance مِنfrom رَوضَةa garden
تُهدي الصَبا رَيّاهُ مِن رَوضَة
تَظَلُّlingers by day أَحياناًsometimes وَحيناًand at times تراحreturns at evening
تَظَلُّ أَحياناً وَحيناً تراح
The east wind brings his fragrance from a garden,
Youth sends its winds from a garden,
sometimes lingering by day, sometimes returning at evening:
That sometimes shadows and sometimes wanders,
أَنيقَةٍlovely يَجمَعُbring together أَرجاؤُهاits bounds
أَنيقَةٍ يَجمَعُ أَرجاؤُها
بيضُfair women المَقاصيرِof secluded chambers وَبيضُand white eggs الأَداحِof ostrich nests
بيضُ المَقاصيرِ وَبيضُ الأَداحِ
a lovely garden whose bounds bring together
Of a delicate one whose corners combine,
fair women of secluded chambers and white eggs of ostrich nests.
The whiteness of the anklets and the whiteness of the bracelets,
وَلَوand if دَرىhe knew مسرىthe passage of الصَباthe east wind نَحوَهاtoward it
وَلَو دَرى مسرى الصَبا نَحوَها
سَدhe blocked مِنَout of البُخلِjealous stinginess مَهَبِthe passage of الرِياحthe winds
سَد مِنَ البُخلِ مَهَبِ الرِياح
Had he known the east wind’s path toward it,
And if the course of youth to it had known,
he would jealously have blocked the winds’ passage.
It would have blocked the winds of stinginess from blowing,
كَمhow many مَرَّةٍtimes أَعجَزَناeluded us حِلَّهُlawful union with him
كَم مَرَّةٍ أَعجَزَنا حِلَّهُ
فَساقَهُthen brought him النَومsleep إِلَيناto us سِفاحin illicit love
فَساقَهُ النَوم إِلَينا سِفاح
How often lawful union with him eluded us,
How many times has it rendered us helpless,
and sleep brought him to us in illicit love!
So sleep took it to us relaxed,
أَفلَتَهُfreed him مِنّيfrom me وَقَدthough already صِدتُهُI had caught him
أَفلَتَهُ مِنّي وَقَد صِدتُهُ
بِرَقدَةٍin a slumber صَوتthe voice of مُناديthe caller to الفَلاحsalvation
بِرَقدَةٍ صَوت مُنادي الفَلاح
He was freed from me, though I had caught him
It slipped from me while I held it back,
in slumber, by the voice of the caller to salvation.
With a nap the voice of the farmer's caller awoke me,
تُسلِبناstrips us of اليَقظةwakefulness ماwhat زَفَّهُit brought as a bride
تُسلِبنا اليَقظة ما زَفَّهُ
لَناto us الكَرىsleep مِنof كُلِّevery خودmaiden رَداحfull-figured
لَنا الكَرى مِن كُلِّ خود رَداح
Wakefulness strips us of what
Wakefulness steals from us what it brought over to us,
sleep has brought us as brides: every full-figured maiden.
Misfortune upon misfortune from every generous partner,
فَنَحنُso we فيin نَومٍsleep وَفيand in يَقَظَةٍwakefulness
فَنَحنُ في نَومٍ وَفي يَقَظَةٍ
بَينَbetween دَنوٍnearness مِنهُمُto them وانتِزاحand withdrawal
بَينَ دَنوٍ مِنهُمُ وانتِزاح
Thus, asleep and awake, we are
So we are in sleep and in wakefulness,
between drawing near to them and moving away.
Between approaching them and retreating,
وَمَوقِفٌand a tryst لَولاbut for التَقىpiety لالتَقىwould have met
وَمَوقِفٌ لَولا التَقى لالتَقى
فيهِthere نَجاديmy sword-belt ونظّامand the cord of الوشاحthe sash
فيهِ نَجادي ونظّام الوشاح
And there was a tryst where, but for piety,
And in a situation, if it were not for the encounter,
my sword-belt would have met the cord of her sash.
My companion and the arranger of the headscarf would have met,
قُلتُI said لِخليto my companion وَثغورwhile the mouths of الرُبىthe hills
قُلتُ لِخلي وَثغور الرُبى
مُبتَسِماتٍwere smiling وَثغورand the mouths of المِلاحthe fair ones
مُبتَسِماتٍ وَثغور المِلاح
I said to my companion, while the mouths of the hills
I said to the moles and pores of blessedness,
were smiling, and so were the mouths of the fair ones:
Smiling and pores of salt,
أَيُهُماwhich of the two أَحلىsweeter تَرىdo you find مَنظَراًin appearance
أَيُهُما أَحلى تَرى مَنظَراً
فَقالَthen he said لاnot أَعلَمI know كُلُّall أَقاحdaisies
فَقالَ لا أَعلَم كُلُّ أَقاح
“Which of the two do you find sweeter to behold?”
Which of the two is more beautiful in appearance, I wonder?
He said, “I cannot tell: all are daisies.”
He said: I don't know, every pore is beautiful,
كَيفَhow رَجوعيmy return فيto الهَوىlove بَعدَماafter
كَيفَ رَجوعي في الهَوى بَعدَما
خَلَعتهI cast it off خَلعthe casting off of رِداءa garment فطاحand it fell
خَلَعته خَلع رِداء فطاح
How could I return to love after
How is my return to love after I took it off,
I cast it off like a garment, and it fell away?
Like taking off a garment and it fell?
وانجابand lifted عَنfrom فوديَّmy two temples لَيلthe night of الصِباyouth
وانجاب عَن فوديَّ لَيل الصِبا
لِكُلِّfor every لَيلٍnight مُدلَهِمٍّpitch-dark صَباحa dawn
لِكُلِّ لَيلٍ مُدلَهِمٍّ صَباح
Youth’s night lifted from my temples;
And the night of youth answered my inner self,
every pitch-dark night has a dawn.
Every gloomy night has a bright morning,
فازوَرَّتthen turned aside البيضُthe fair women بِأَبصارِهاwith their eyes
فازوَرَّت البيضُ بِأَبصارِها
مَطروفَةًwith eyes stricken عَنّيaway from me وَكانَتthough they had been صِحاحsound
مَطروفَةً عَنّي وَكانَت صِحاح
The fair women turned their eyes aside,
So the whites dazzled my sight,
blind to me, though their eyes had once been sound.
Blinking away from me, and they were earnest,
مَنwhoever كانَwas يَهواكَloving you لِشَيءٍfor something مَضىthat passed
مَن كانَ يَهواكَ لِشَيءٍ مَضى
إِذاwhen مَضىit passed عَنكَfrom you تَوَلّىhe turned away وَراحَand departed
إِذا مَضى عَنكَ تَوَلّى وَراحَ
Whoever loved you for something now gone,
Whoever loved you for something past,
once it leaves you, turns away and departs.
Once it passed he turned away from you and left,
وَخَلَّهُand his beloved (uncertain reading) أَظهَرَrevealed ماwhat أَضمَرَتshe concealed
وَخَلَّهُ أَظهَرَ ما أَضمَرَت
سَيريmy departure فَقالَتthen she said أَقلىًis it aversion? وَاطِّراحand rejection
سَيري فَقالَت أَقلىً وَاطِّراح
And his beloved—what she hid was laid bare
And it revealed to him what her travel had hidden,
by my departure; she said, “Is this aversion and rejection?”
So she said: Burn me and discard me!
فانحَلَّthen loosened سِلكَthe string of الدَمعِtears فيin ثَغرِهاher mouth
فانحَلَّ سِلكَ الدَمعِ في ثَغرِها
فَشَجَّتthen was diluted الخَمرُthe wine بِماءٍwith water قراحpure
فَشَجَّت الخَمرُ بِماءٍ قراح
The string of tears loosened into her mouth,
So the string of tears in her mouth dissolved,
and wine was diluted with pure water.
And the wine was mixed with flowing saliva,
وَلَيسَand not يُمضيsets in motion عَزمَتيmy resolve لَوif دَرَتshe knew
وَلَيسَ يُمضي عَزمَتي لَو دَرَت
مُغرٍan inciter وَلاnor يَعطِفهاturns it aside قَولَthe words of لاحa censurer
مُغرٍ وَلا يَعطِفها قَولَ لاح
My resolve, if she but knew, is not set in motion
And my determination does not go away if she knew,
by an inciter, nor turned aside by a censurer’s words.
A lover, and no soft word persuades her,
لَوif علمَتshe knew أَنthat العلىgreatness فيin السُرىnight-travel
لَو علمَت أَن العلى في السُرى
قالَتshe would say عَلىwith الرَشدright guidance انحَhead toward ماwhat أَنتَyou ناحare heading toward
قالَت عَلى الرَشد انحَ ما أَنتَ ناح
Had she known that greatness lies in traveling by night,
If she knew that chastity in secretiveness,
she would have said, “Go where you are going, guided aright.”
She would say: In decency you have not moaned!
آلَيتI swore استَسقيto seek water سِوىfrom none but مَنصِليmy blade
آلَيت استَسقي سِوى مَنصِلي
إِنindeed الغَواديthe morning rain-clouds بِمُراديwith what I desire شحاحare stingy
إِن الغَوادي بِمُرادي شحاح
I have sworn to seek water from nothing but my blade,
I nearly begged rain except my downpour,
for the morning rain-clouds are stingy with what I desire.
Surely the valleys against my will are barren,
المَجدglory شربa draught لَمnot يَزَلceased ماؤُهُits water
المَجد شرب لَم يَزَل ماؤُهُ
مُرَقرِقاًshimmering فَوقَupon صفاحthe flat faces of الصفاحsword-blades
مُرَقرِقاً فَوقَ صفاح الصفاح
Glory is a draught whose water has ever been
The glory whose water always bubbled,
shimmering upon the flat faces of sword-blades,
Trickling above the brim of the bowl,
لِكُلِّfor every مُعتادٍone accustomed to ضرابstriking العدىthe foes
لِكُلِّ مُعتادٍ ضراب العدى
مِنfrom فَوقatop مُعتادone accustomed to ضَريبmixed milk of اللِقاحmilch camels
مِن فَوق مُعتاد ضَريب اللِقاح
for every man accustomed to striking foes
For every habitual striker of the enemy,
from atop a mount accustomed to mixed camel milk.
From above the habitual - a strike of the fighter,
يُديرُhe turns وَالمَوتwhile death لَهُat him فاغرٌgapes
يُديرُ وَالمَوت لَهُ فاغرٌ
طَرَفاًa gaze فَوقَatop طرفa steed وَقاحhard-hoofed
طَرَفاً فَوقَ طرف وَقاح
He turns, while death gapes at him,
And death with its mouth wide open for him,
his gaze from atop a hard-hoofed steed.
A gaze above a gaze alert,
يَنصُلdislodges the heads of فيin الطَعنِthrusting حرابthe spearheads of القَناlances
يَنصُل في الطَعنِ حراب القَنا
كَأَنَّهاas though they were أَلسِنَةtongues فيin الجِراحthe wounds
كَأَنَّها أَلسِنَة في الجِراح
He leaves the spearheads lodged as he thrusts,
He penetrates with the spears of the slim sword,
like tongues within the wounds.
As if they were tongues among the wounds,
يَعتَصِبُhe binds المَجدglory عَلىupon نَفسِهِhimself
يَعتَصِبُ المَجد عَلى نَفسِهِ
وَقَدand sometimes يُبيحُmakes accessible الطَعنspear-thrusting غَيرَwhat is not المُباحpermitted
وَقَد يُبيحُ الطَعن غَيرَ المُباح
He binds glory upon himself,
He wears glory upon himself,
and spear-thrusts may lay open what was forbidden.
And he may allow blame where it is not allowed,
وَمجهلand an unknown waste مُشتَبِهindistinguishable طرقهits paths
وَمجهل مُشتَبِه طرقه
كَأَنَّماas though هُنَّthey خُطوطwere lines بِراحupon palms
كَأَنَّما هُنَّ خُطوط بِراح
And many an unknown waste, its tracks indistinguishable,
And an ignorant, confusing its ways,
as though they were lines upon a palm—
As if they were dotted lines,
يُسعِدُنيaids me فيهِin it وَفيand in غَيرِهِother places
يُسعِدُني فيهِ وَفي غَيرِهِ
ذوpossessing صُدورٍchests كفلاةlike a desert فِساحspacious
ذو صُدورٍ كفلاة فِساح
in it, as elsewhere, I am aided
A man with breasts like desert expanses makes me happy,
by those with chests as spacious as a desert.
As if our idols were harsh springs and jugs,
كَأَنَّماas though أَشباحthe shapes of أَنضائناour wasted mounts
كَأَنَّما أَشباح أَنضائنا
قِسيٌّbows نَبعof nabʿ wood وَكَأنّاand as though we were قداحarrow-shafts
قِسيٌّ نَبع وَكَأنّا قداح
As though the shapes of our wasted mounts
Until after the long journey we met,
were bows of nabʿ wood, and we were arrow-shafts,
At the grin of the perfect - the face of the morning,
حَتّىuntil اجتَلَيناwe beheld بَعدَafter طولِthe length of السُرىnight-travel
حَتّى اجتَلَينا بَعدَ طولِ السُرى
بغرَّةin the radiant brow of الكامِلal-Kamil وَجهthe face of الصَباحmorning
بغرَّة الكامِل وَجه الصَباح
until, after long night-travel, we beheld
So my companion said to me: start the conversation!
the face of morning in al-Kamil’s radiant brow.
I said: No, but it is the full moon of tolerance,
فَقالَthen said ليto me صاحِبيmy companion أَبدَرُis it the full moon of السَماthe sky
فَقالَ لي صاحِبي أَبدَرُ السَما
فَقُلتُthen I said لاno بَلrather هوَit بَدرُthe full moon of السَماحgenerosity
فَقُلتُ لا بَل هوَ بَدرُ السَماح
My companion said to me, “Is that the full moon of the sky?”
It warns you of misery - so announce its good news -
I said, “No, it is the full moon of generosity.”
The terminators of misery are silent outcriers,
ينبيكtells you عَنof سؤددٍnobility بشرهhis cheerful face
ينبيك عَن سؤددٍ بشره
مَخائِلthe signs of السُؤدَدِnobility خَرسmute فَصاحeloquent
مَخائِل السُؤدَدِ خَرس فَصاح
His cheerful face tells you of his nobility;
Difficult to refuse the soul, easy to bestow,
the signs of nobility are mute, yet eloquent.
Surely, glory is hardship in tolerance,
صَعبunyielding إِباءin the self-respect of النَفسthe soul سَهلeasy النَدىin generosity
صَعب إِباء النَفس سَهل النَدى
إِنَّindeed المَعاليgreatness شَدَّةٌfirmness فيin سَماحopenhandedness
إِنَّ المَعالي شَدَّةٌ في سَماح
Unyielding in self-respect, easy in generosity:
Does the young man whose life -
greatness is firmness joined to openhandedness.
In blasphemy and Islam - is the life of fighter, accept injustice?
هَلdoes يَقبَلaccept الضَيمoppression فَتىًa young man حَيَّهُwhose tribe
هَل يَقبَل الضَيم فَتىً حَيَّهُ
فيin الكُفرِunbelief والإِسلامِand Islam حَيُّa tribe لِقاحindependent
في الكُفرِ والإِسلامِ حَيُّ لِقاح
Would a young man endure oppression whose tribe,
The crowns remember his fathers through him,
in unbelief and Islam alike, is an independent tribe?
And those features of salt,
يَذكُرrecalls التيجانthe crowns آباءُهُhis forefathers
يَذكُر التيجان آباءُهُ
بِهِthrough him وَتِلكَand those القَسماتfeatures المِلاحhandsome
بِهِ وَتِلكَ القَسمات المِلاح
The crowns recall his forefathers
When she sees him, a shudder stirs her,
through him and those handsome features.
As if in every crown there is a wing,
إِذاwhen رَأتهُthey see him قلقَتthey tremble هَزَّةٌwith excitement
إِذا رَأتهُ قلقَت هَزَّةٌ
كَأَنَّماas though فيin كُلِّevery تاجcrown جناحa wing
كَأَنَّما في كُلِّ تاج جناح
When they see him, they tremble with excitement,
Do you see the crowns better than him,
as though each crown had a wing.
From full moon to fuller moon fully?
تَبكيthey weep لكَسرىfor Kisra وَتَراand behold (uncertain reading) آيsigns of ابنَهُhis son
تَبكي لكَسرى وَتَرا آي ابنَهُ
فَيَستَحيلthen turns الأرتياعalarm ارتِياحinto delight
فَيَستَحيل الأرتياع ارتِياح
They weep for Kisra, then behold signs of his son,
He concludes what his forefathers commenced,
and alarm turns into delight.
And for the sublime, a conclusion and commencement,
فَهَلso do تَرىyou see التيجانthe crowns مِنهُupon him عَلىupon
فَهَل تَرى التيجان مِنهُ عَلى
بَدرٍa full moon لِبَدرٍfor the moon of التَمِّfullness مِنهُbecause of him افتِضاحshame
بَدرٍ لِبَدرٍ التَمِّ مِنهُ افتِضاح
Do you see the crowns upon him—upon
Time has done justice by elevating him,
a moon that puts the full moon to shame?
And everything in time is outright injustice,
يَختِمhe completes ماwhat استَفتَحbegan آباؤهُhis forefathers
يَختِم ما استَفتَح آباؤهُ
وَلِلعُلىand greatness has خاتِمَةa completion وافتِتاحand a beginning
وَلِلعُلى خاتِمَة وافتِتاح
He completes what his forefathers began;
And people agreed on his merit,
greatness has a completion and a beginning.
Then differed - so there is no agreement,
قَدindeed عدلhas dealt justly الدَهرُTime بإِعلائِهِby raising him
قَد عدل الدَهرُ بإِعلائِهِ
وَكُلُّand all ماthat فيin الدهرTime ظلمinjustice صِراحplain
وَكُلُّ ما في الدهر ظلم صِراح
Time has dealt justly in raising him,
I have honored my soul by praising him,
though all else in Time is plain injustice.
So the reward of praise has hastened,
واصطَلَحَand agreed الناسthe people عَلىupon فَضلِهِhis excellence
واصطَلَحَ الناس عَلى فَضلِهِ
واختَلِفواand they differed بَعدُbeyond that فَلَيسَso there is no اصطِلاحagreement
واختَلِفوا بَعدُ فَلَيسَ اصطِلاح
People have agreed upon his excellence;
When he reined generosity in his palm,
beyond that they differ: there is no agreement.
He called in his loudest voice: no escape!
شَرَّفتُI ennobled نَفسيmyself باِمتِداحيby my praise لَهُof him
شَرَّفتُ نَفسي باِمتِداحي لَهُ
فَقَدand thus تَعَجَّلَتI received early ثَوابُthe reward of امتِداحpraise
فَقَد تَعَجَّلَت ثَوابُ امتِداح
I ennobled myself by praising him,
In his palm he brings life, and from his palm,
and thus received praise’s reward in advance.
I will be resurrected if the decree of death comes,
لَمّاwhen أَناخsettled الجودَgenerosity فيin كَفِّهِhis palm
لَمّا أَناخ الجودَ في كَفِّهِ
نادىit cried بِأَعلىat the highest pitch of صَوتِهِits voice لاno بَراحdeparture
نادى بِأَعلى صَوتِهِ لا بَراح
When generosity settled in his palm,
Distracted, with exhaustion from his glory, no rest,
it cried at the top of its voice, “No departing!”
He aspires from one glory to another -
فيin كَفِّهِhis palm أَحياI live وَمِنand from كَفِّهِhis palm
في كَفِّهِ أَحيا وَمِن كَفِّهِ
أَحشَرI shall be raised إِنwhen حُمَّis decreed القَضاءَthe fate المُتاحallotted
أَحشَر إِن حُمَّ القَضاءَ المُتاح
In his palm I live, and from his palm
May his glory last and the aspiration last,
I shall be raised when the allotted decree falls due.
In an army from his same opinion, his banner -
مُقَسَّمdivided الخاطِرِin thought مَكدودهhis thought wearied
مُقَسَّم الخاطِرِ مَكدوده
فيin تَعبtoil مِنbecause of مَجدِهِhis glory لاnot استِراحhe rests
في تَعب مِن مَجدِهِ لا استِراح
His thoughts divided and worn with toil,
If war knew how to flee it would flee,
he labors for his glory, never resting.
It defeats whoever rivals the best souls,
يَطمَحhe aspires مِنfrom عِزٍhonor إِلىto آخَرٍanother
يَطمَح مِن عِزٍ إِلى آخَرٍ
دامَmay endure لَهُfor him العِزُّhonor وَدامَand may endure الطِماحaspiration
دامَ لَهُ العِزُّ وَدامَ الطِماح
He aspires from one honor to another;
Well-spoken bodies and honest features,
may honor and aspiration endure for him.
One may defeat a thousand with his scheme,
فيin عَسكَرٍan army مِنof نَقسِهِhis ink (uncertain reading) رأيهِhis judgment
في عَسكَرٍ مِن نَقسِهِ رأيهِ
رايَتِهِhis banner إِنwhen عَلِمthe standard of الحَربُwar لاحappears
رايَتِهِ إِن عَلِم الحَربُ لاح
With an army of his ink, his judgment is
And not defeat them with weapons,
his banner whenever war’s standard appears.
And for the enemy are ranks in enmity -
يَهزِمhe defeats مَنwhoever زاحَمَcontends عَنleaving أَنفُسٍsouls
يَهزِم مَن زاحَمَ عَن أَنفُسٍ
مُكَلَّماتwounded وَجُسومand bodies صِحاحsound
مُكَلَّمات وَجُسوم صِحاح
He defeats those who contend with him, leaving souls
Opinion, then guile, then struggle,
wounded, and bodies unharmed.
And after war there is no further aim,
قَدmay يَغلِبُovercome المَرءُa man بِتَدبيرِهِthrough his strategy
قَد يَغلِبُ المَرءُ بِتَدبيرِهِ
أَلفاًa thousand وَلاand not يَغلِبهُمُovercome them بِالسِلاحِwith weapons
أَلفاً وَلا يَغلِبهُمُ بِالسِلاحِ
A man may overcome, through his strategy,
These are fortunes like casting lots,
a thousand whom he could not overcome with weapons.
And at the retreat of the enemy, he does not care -
وَلِلمُعاديand for one facing foes رُتَبٌstages فيin العِدىhostility
وَلِلمُعادي رُتَبٌ في العِدى
الرأيjudgment ثُمَّthen الكيدstratagem ثُمَّthen الكِفاحcombat
الرأي ثُمَّ الكيد ثُمَّ الكِفاح
For one facing foes, hostility has successive stages:
Whether awe-inspiring, so let it devour O mother of commotion!
judgment, then stratagem, then combat.
Guardian of the kingdom, so he became protected,
وَلَيسَand there is not بَعدَbeyond الحَربِwar مِنany غايَةٍfurther goal
وَلَيسَ بَعدَ الحَربِ مِن غايَةٍ
هُنَّthey حُظوظare fortunes مِثلَlike ضَربِthe casting of القِداحlot-arrows
هُنَّ حُظوظ مِثلَ ضَربِ القِداح
Beyond war there is no further goal:
After almost being violated,
these are fortunes, like drawing lots with arrows.
So he became a den for the lion of evil,
وَلاand not يُباليhe cares عِندَwhen فَلِّrouting العِدىthe foes
وَلا يُبالي عِندَ فَلِّ العِدى
أَهيبَةwas it awe? فلتهمُthat routed them أُمَor رِجاحsuperiority
أَهيبَة فلتهمُ أُمَ رِجاح
When routing foes, he cares not
And had been a pasture for the wild beasts,
whether awe or superiority put them to flight.
He makes affairs proper - indeed,
حامىhe defended عَنagainst threats to المُلكِthe kingdom فَأَضحىso it became حِمىًa sanctuary
حامى عَن المُلكِ فَأَضحى حِمىً
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماit شارَفnearly reached أَنbeing يُستَباحlaid open to plunder
مِن بَعدِ ما شارَف أَن يُستَباح
He defended the kingdom, and it became a sanctuary,
Two heads in a crown contrary to rectitude,
after it had nearly been laid open to plunder.
Then he recoiled when they disbelieved his effort,
فَصارَso it became عَريناًa lair لِلَيثfor the lion of الشَرىal-Shara
فَصارَ عَريناً لِلَيث الشَرى
وكانَand it had been مَرعىًa pasture لِلسوامfor grazing herds المراحreturning at evening
وكانَ مَرعىً لِلسوام المراح
It became a lair for the lion of al-Shara,
For every subservient there is a pliant wing,
having been a pasture for herds returning at evening.
With clouds from which his enemies grow,
يُوَفِّرhe preserves intact الأَمرcommand أَلاindeed إِنَّماonly
يُوَفِّر الأَمر أَلا إِنَّما
رَأسانtwo heads فيin تاجone crown خِلافcontrary to الصَلاحgood order
رَأسان في تاج خِلاف الصَلاح
He preserves command undivided; indeed,
And his enviers in all directions,
two heads beneath one crown are contrary to good order.
And merit is envied, and he attained it,
ثُمَّthen اِنثَنىhe turned away إِذwhen كَفَرواthey denied سَعيَهُhis efforts
ثُمَّ اِنثَنى إِذ كَفَروا سَعيَهُ
لكلfor every مطواعٍobedient creature ذَلولdocile جِماحrebellion
لكل مطواعٍ ذَلول جِماح
Then he turned away when they denied his efforts;
So his envier is not to be blamed,
every obedient, docile creature has its rebellion.
How many deficient ones have conveyed about a superior one -
ذوpossessed of سَحبrain-clouds تنبتthat bring forth أَعداءَهُhis enemies
ذو سَحب تنبت أَعداءَهُ
وَحاسديهand his enviers فيin جَميعall النَواحquarters
وَحاسديه في جَميع النَواح
His rain-clouds bring forth his enemies
Indicating a generous house is barking,
and his enviers in every quarter.
And whoever saw the crown of glory on
وَالفَضلُand excellence مَحسودٌis envied وَقَدand indeed حازَهhe attained it
وَالفَضلُ مَحسودٌ وَقَد حازَه
فَماso there is no عَلىupon حاسدِهِhis envier مِنany جُناحblame
فَما عَلى حاسدِهِ مِن جُناح
Excellence is envied, and he has attained it;
The split head of a lion above the wing of success,
so his envier bears no blame.
He has attained with the pens what spears,
كَمhow many ناقِصٍan inferior ترجمhas proclaimed عَنthe worth of فاضِلٍa superior
كَم ناقِصٍ ترجم عَن فاضِلٍ
دَلَّpointed عَلىto بَيتthe house of كَريمa generous man نُباحbarking
دَلَّ عَلى بَيت كَريم نُباح
How often an inferior proclaims a superior’s worth:
Fell short or were too short to reach,
barking has pointed the way to a generous man’s house.
Like creeping serpents are his pens,
وَمَنand who رأىhas seen تاجthe crown of المَعاليgreatness عَلىupon
وَمَن رأى تاج المَعالي عَلى
مَفرقthe crown of the head of لَيثa lion فَوقَatop طَرَفthe steed of النَجاحsuccess
مَفرق لَيث فَوقَ طَرَف النَجاح
And who has seen the crown of greatness upon
For they are shields and lethal poison,
a lion’s head, astride the steed of success?
If the vellum touches their edges,
قَدindeed نالَhe attained بِالأَقلامwith pens ماwhat قَصَّرتfailed to reach
قَد نالَ بِالأَقلام ما قَصَّرت
أَوor قَصُرَتwere too short عَنهُto reach it طوالthe long الرِماحspears
أَو قَصُرَت عَنهُ طوال الرِماح
With pens he has gained what lay beyond the efforts
It overflows with output and floods,
or beyond the reach of long spears.
And it smelled from his fingers oceans -
مِثلَlike الأَفاعيvipers الرَقشspeckled أَقلامُهُhis pens
مِثلَ الأَفاعي الرَقش أَقلامُهُ
فَهُنَّso they are دُرياقan antidote وَسُمٌّand poison ذباحmurderous
فَهُنَّ دُرياق وَسُمٌّ ذباح
His pens are like speckled vipers:
Their pearls are the eloquent words,
they are antidote and murderous poison.
The wisdom of your Persian forefathers
إِنif لمسhe touches الطرسthe page بِأَطرافِهاwith their tips
إِن لمس الطرس بِأَطرافِها
فاضَit overflows نَوالاًwith bounty وَبَياناًand eloquence وَساحand streams
فاضَ نَوالاً وَبَياناً وَساح
If he touches the page with their tips,
Clothed with the diction of Quraishi clarity,
it overflows and streams with bounty and eloquence.
He shows it while hiding it,
وَشمتthey tattooed مِنfrom أَنملهhis fingertips أَبحراًseas
وَشمت مِن أَنمله أَبحراً
لؤلؤهنَّtheir pearls الكَلِماتthe words الفِصاحeloquent
لؤلؤهنَّ الكَلِمات الفِصاح
From his fingertips they have tattooed seas
Surely, dew is musk when treasured it diffuses fragrance,
whose pearls are eloquent words.
And merit is a full moon - whenever
حكمةthe wisdom of آبائكyour forefathers مِنfrom فارِسٍPersia
حكمة آبائك مِن فارِسٍ
كَسَوتهاyou clothed it in لَفظthe speech of قُرَيشQuraysh البِطاحof the valley flats
كَسَوتها لَفظ قُرَيش البِطاح
The wisdom of your forefathers from Persia—
The nights of denial darkened, it increased in illumination,
you clothed it in the speech of Quraysh of the valley flats.
Say to the children of hopes: Set out! For
يُظهِرmakes manifest آلأوكَyour favors إِخفاؤهاconcealing them
يُظهِر آلأوكَ إِخفاؤها
إِنَّindeed النَدىgenerosity مِسكmusk إِذاwhen صينkept hidden فاحgives off fragrance
إِنَّ النَدى مِسك إِذا صين فاح
Concealing your favors makes them manifest;
The winds have blown you in the son of Ali,
generosity is musk: kept hidden, it gives off fragrance.
With him time has erased its wrongs,
وَالعُرفand kindness بَدرa full moon كُلَمّاwhenever اسدَفَتdarken
وَالعُرف بَدر كُلَمّا اسدَفَت
لَهُaround it لَياليthe nights of الجحدdenial زادَit increases اتِضاحin clarity
لَهُ لَيالي الجحد زادَ اتِضاح
And kindness is a full moon: whenever darkness falls
Disengaging, and time laughs and then frowns,
with nights of denial, it becomes more radiant.
O son of Ali - promise me with wealth,
قُلtell لِبَنيthe sons of الآمالhopes هَبواawake فَقَدfor already
قُل لِبَني الآمال هَبوا فَقَد
هَبَّتhave risen بِكُمto carry you بابنthrough Ibn عَليAli رِياحwinds
هَبَّت بِكُم بابن عَلي رِياح
Tell the sons of hope, “Awake! For
Like what you have promised me with forbearance,
through Ibn Ali, winds have risen to carry you.”
A people have flown to the heights, and I have not,
مَحاerased بِهِthrough him الدَهرTime إِساءآتِهِits wrongs
مَحا بِهِ الدَهر إِساءآتِهِ
تَنَصُّلاًin apology وَالدَهرand Time واحٍan inscriber وَماحand an eraser
تَنَصُّلاً وَالدَهر واحٍ وَماح
Through him Time erased its wrongs,
Fallen short, but how can I have a wing?
in apology—Time both writes and erases.
Below the heights is an arduous epic,
ياO ابنson of عليAli أَعدنيinfect me بِالغِنىwith wealth
يا ابن علي أَعدني بِالغِنى
كَمِثلِjust like ماhow أَعديتَنيyou infected me بِالسَماحwith generosity
كَمِثلِ ما أَعديتَني بِالسَماح
O Ibn Ali, infect me with wealth,
Its weapon is money while my weapon is moneyless.
just as you infected me with generosity.
It is time for the rain-giver to give freely,
طارَflew إِلىto العَلياءthe heights قَومothers وَماand not
طارَ إِلى العَلياء قَوم وَما
قَصَّرتُI held back لَكِنbut كَيفَhow ليcan I obtain بِالجَناحwings
قَصَّرتُ لَكِن كَيفَ لي بِالجَناح
Others have flown to the heights, and I have not
And the sea-seeker to be given to,
held back—but how can I obtain wings?
So submit and live in the loftiness of its star,
دونَbefore العُلىgreatness ملحمةa battle صَعبَةhard
دونَ العُلى ملحمة صَعبَة
سِلاحُهاits weapon المالwealth وَماليand I have no سِلاحweapon
سِلاحُها المال وَمالي سِلاح
Before greatness stands a hard-fought battle;
In the orbit of glory the ally of success,
its weapon is wealth, and I have no weapon.
And remain as you are - for none after this,
آنit is time لِجاديfor the petitioner of الغَيثthe rain أَنto يَجتَديseek bounty
آن لِجادي الغَيث أَن يَجتَدي
وَمُستَميحand the petitioner of البَحرthe sea أَنto يُستَماحbe asked for bounty
وَمُستَميح البَحر أَن يُستَماح
It is time for the rain’s petitioner to ask for bounty,
To one who knows how glory is proposed,
and for the sea’s petitioner to be asked for bounty.
In the glory of ascent, and auspice, and in
فاسلمso be safe وَعِشand live فيin رفعَةeminence نَجمهاits star
فاسلم وَعِش في رفعَة نَجمها
فيin فلكthe orbit of العِزhonor حليفَallied with النَجاحsuccess
في فلك العِز حليفَ النَجاح
So be safe, and live in eminence, its star
The shade of good fortune emulating righteousness,
in honor’s orbit, allied with success.
The light of dawn has not split the armor of darkness,
وَدَمand remain كَماas أَنتَyou are فَماfor there is no بَعدbeyond ذاthis
وَدَم كَما أَنتَ فَما بَعد ذا
لِمَنfor one who دَرىknows كَيفَhow المَعاليgreatness is اقتِراحfurther request
لِمَن دَرى كَيفَ المَعالي اقتِراح
And remain as you are: beyond this,
And no bird has been called and sings in the nests.
one who knows greatness has nothing more to ask.
فيin عَزِّglorious إِقبالgood fortune وَيُمنٍand auspiciousness وَفيand in
في عَزِّ إِقبال وَيُمنٍ وَفي
ظِلthe shade of سُعودٍblessings يَقتَديtaking guidance بِالصَلاحfrom righteousness
ظِل سُعودٍ يَقتَدي بِالصَلاح
In glorious good fortune and auspiciousness, and in
the shade of blessings, guided by righteousness,
ماas long as شَقcleaves نورthe light of الفَجرdawn درَعthe armor of الدُجىdarkness
ما شَق نور الفَجر درَع الدُجى
وَماand as long as دَعاcalls فيin الأَيكthe thickets طَيرٌa bird وَناحand laments
وَما دَعا في الأَيك طَيرٌ وَناح
as long as dawn’s light cleaves darkness’s armor,
and a bird calls and laments in the thickets.
Partial English translation: 155 of 160 Arabic lines translated.