غادرنيhe left me صبّاlovesick حليفcompanion of الوصبaffliction
غادرني صبّا حليف الوصب
نصيبيmy lot الهمّsorrow وطولand length of النصبweariness
نصيبي الهمّ وطول النصب
He left me lovesick, affliction's companion,
My young companion of morning draughts has left me,
my lot sorrow and prolonged weariness.
My lot is care, and toil without relief.
غضfresh الصباyouth معتدلwell-proportioned قدهhis stature
غض الصبا معتدل قده
كالحصنlike a fortress هزتهshook it صباan east wind فاضطربso it trembled
كالحصن هزته صبا فاضطرب
Fresh in youth, his figure well-proportioned,
He was erect in frame, and beautifully moulded,
like a fortress shaken by the east wind into trembling.
Like a castle that the breeze shakes into ripples.
كأنماas though فيin فيهhis mouth غبafter الكرىsleep
كأنما في فيه غب الكرى
خمرwine لهاfor it درpearls of الثناياthe front teeth حببbubbles
خمر لها در الثنايا حبب
As though in his mouth, after slumber,
As though in his mouth lay, beyond the white fence,
were wine, its bubbles the pearls of his front teeth.
Wine whose seal musk had set on the flasks.
لمdid not أنسهforget him إذwhen زارنيhe visited me سالباstealing
لم أنسه إذ زارني سالبا
لبيmy wits وعقدand the necklace of الأفقthe horizon لمhad not يستلبbeen snatched away
لبي وعقد الأفق لم يستلب
I have not forgotten him—he visited me, stealing
When he came in his beauty to visit me,
my wits, while the horizon's necklace had not been snatched away.
Snatching my reason, but not my heart's troth,
والليلand the night لمhad not يطوfurl بنودbanners of الدجىdarkness
والليل لم يطو بنود الدجى
والفجرand dawn ماhad not لشرunfurled (uncertain reading) بيضwhite العذبstreamers
والفجر ما لشر بيض العذب
And night had not yet furled the banners of darkness,
The night was not long in its cover of gloom,
and dawn had not unfurled its white streamers.
And the daybreak not bright in its silver whiteness;
بدرa full moon إذاwhen قابلنيhe faced me سافراunveiled
بدر إذا قابلني سافرا
حسبتهI thought him بالجلنارin pomegranate blossom انتقبhe veiled himself
حسبته بالجلنار انتقب
A full moon: when he faced me unveiled,
The full moon, when it faced me, travelling,
I thought he wore a veil of pomegranate blossom.
Seemed to carry his tent-ropes over its shoulder.
يمزجhe mixes ليfor me بالصفوwith the pure part منof ريقهhis saliva
يمزج لي بالصفو من ريقه
عذباsweet وبابنand with the son of المزنthe rain clouds بنتthe daughter of العنبgrapes
عذبا وبابن المزن بنت العنب
He blends for me, with the purest of his saliva,
He mingled for me, from his saliva, gentle wine
a sweet draught, and the grape's daughter with the cloud's son.
Sweetened by the son of al-Muzain, perfect in grape.
فيin روضةa garden راضtamed ثراهاits soil الحياrain
في روضة راض ثراها الحيا
فأضحكso it made laugh الزهرthe blossoms بهاin it وانتحبand sobbed
فأضحك الزهر بها وانتحب
In a garden whose soil the rain had tamed,
In a garden I had not known, he left his traces,
it made the blossoms laugh there, while it sobbed.
Making the rose smile there, and the branches lament.
سلتdrew forth علىover الفضةthe silver منof مائهاits water
سلت على الفضة من مائها
أناملfingertips of البرقlightning ظبيblades (uncertain spelling) منof ذهبgold
أنامل البرق ظبي من ذهب
Over the silver of its water were unsheathed
Lightning slips played on the stream from his hand,
blades of gold by the fingers of lightning.
Willow-wand, fashioned of silver, tipped with gold.
كأنماas though جدولهاits stream أرقمa speckled snake
كأنما جدولها أرقم
أذعرwas startled فيin رملتهits sand فانسربso it slithered away
أذعر في رملته فانسرب
As though its stream were a speckled snake,
As though his runnel were lines of writing
startled in its sand, then slithering away.
Flowing over the gravel that carried their form.
فناظرand the eye of النرجسthe narcissus ساهdreamily gazing إلىtoward
فناظر النرجس ساه إلى
ثغرa mouth of أقاحdaisies راقwas pleasing منهfrom it الشنبcool freshness of the teeth
ثغر أقاح راق منه الشنب
And the narcissus's eye gazes dreamily toward
The narcissus looked at his bent branch and leaned
a mouth of daisies whose pearly freshness delights.
Toward lips opened in thirst at the pool.
والمورقand the leafy tree المخضرgreen قدhas هزهstirred it
والمورق المخضر قد هزه
إذwhen غنتsang الورقthe gray doves عليهupon it طرrapture (word fragment) بrapture (final-letter fragment)
إذ غنت الورق عليه طر ب
And the green, leaf-clad tree was stirred
The anemone, freshened in color, was shaken
to rapture when the gray doves sang upon it.
As the melody alighted and stirred on its stem.
والوردand the rose يحكيresembles نشرهits fragrance ضائعاwafting
والورد يحكي نشره ضائعا
نشرthe fragrance of أبيAbu (father of) الفضلal-Fadl المضاعlavished النشبwealth
نشر أبي الفضل المضاع النشب
And the rose, its fragrance wafting, echoes
The rose tells the story of his cheek’s down,
the fragrance of Abu al-Fadl, whose wealth is freely spent.
Scattered, O prodigal loosener of hair!
الصاحبthe Sahib (lord) الساحبtrailing ذيلthe train of العلىeminence
الصاحب الساحب ذيل العلى
والواهبand the giver الخرقopenhanded الكريمnoble الحسبlineage
والواهب الخرق الكريم الحسب
The Sahib, trailing the train of eminence,
He is friend of high places, drawer of trains
and the openhanded giver, noble in lineage,
Bestower of lavish gifts, worthy in deeds.
فارسa knight of بيضbright swords of الهندIndia مذروبةsharpened
فارس بيض الهند مذروبة
والخيلand horses قبّاlean-flanked والقناand spears واليلبand leather armor
والخيل قبّا والقنا واليلب
a knight of bright Indian blades, honed keen,
A horseman whose steed is whitest of all,
and lean-flanked horses, spears, and leather armor.
Ostrich-plumed; neither boon-fellow nor outcast.
اعلبa lion مشحوذhoned غراراthe two edges of النهىreason
اعلب مشحوذ غرارا النهى
والعزمand resolve ماnever غالبhe contended الاexcept that غلبhe prevailed
والعزم ما غالب الا غلب
A lion with twin edges honed—reason
My heart is on fire from his maxim, deterring
and resolve; he never contends without prevailing.
Transgression; his purpose vanquishes armies.
رواؤهhis splendor يكسفeclipses شمسthe sun of الضحىmorning
رواؤه يكسف شمس الضحى
ورأيهand his judgment يكشفdispels داجيthe darkness of الكربdistress
ورأيه يكشف داجي الكرب
His splendor eclipses the morning sun,
His radiance outshines the full light of morning,
and his judgment dispels the darkness of distress.
His wisdom shows dark tribulation the way.
طاميoverflowing بحارseas of الجودgenerosity هاميpouring الندىbounty
طامي بحار الجود هامي الندى
عاليlofty منارbeacon of المجدglory زاكيpure الحسبlineage
عالي منار المجد زاكي الحسب
His seas of generosity brim; his bounty rains down,
Diver in seas of munificence, rain-cloud of gifts,
his beacon of glory lofty, his lineage pure.
Star of glory's height, scion of noblest stock,
مبيضwhitening وجهthe face of الرفدbounty يومthe day of الرضاfavor
مبيض وجه الرفد يوم الرضا
محمرreddening متنthe flat of السيفthe sword يومthe day of الغضبwrath
محمر متن السيف يوم الغضب
Whitening the face of bounty on the day of favor,
Of countenance white foretelling delight,
reddening the sword's flat on the day of wrath.
Of sword-blade red speaking of wounds.
قدindeed فازattained منwhoever سالمهmade peace with him بالمنىwith wishes fulfilled
قد فاز من سالمه بالمنى
وباءand incurred منwhoever حاربهfought him بالحرwith ruin (word fragment) بruin (final-letter fragment)
وباء من حاربه بالحر ب
Whoever makes peace with him wins his wishes,
By his safety is gained all that we hope for,
and whoever fights him incurs ruin.
By contention with him comes heavy defeat.
تلقاهyou find him قيسQays الرأيin judgment إماwhen عراarose
تلقاه قيس الرأي إما عرا
خطبa crisis وقصand Quss (uncertain reading) القولin speech إماwhen خطبhe orated
خطب وقص القول إما خطب
You find him Qays in judgment when there arises
The best in wisdom hastens to greet him.
a crisis, and Quss in speech when he orates.
Orator mounted on pride for a camel-ride,
إنif فضلhe surpassed الأجوادthe generous طراall فلاthen no
إن فضل الأجواد طرا فلا
مريةdoubt إنthat يفضلsurpasses نبعnabʿ, a bow-wood tree غربwillow
مرية إن يفضل نبع غرب
If he surpasses all generous men, there is no
If those who surpass in their gifts have precedence,
doubt that nabʿ wood surpasses willow.
There is no doubt by whose spring men take water.
محتقبstoring up للشكرfor gratitude لاnot للهمىfor money-purses (uncertain)
محتقب للشكر لا للهمى
والشكرand gratitude منamong أنفسthe most precious ماwhat يحتقبone stores up
والشكر من أنفس ما يحتقب
He stores up gratitude, not purses of wealth,
Graceful toward gratitude, not toward ignorance,
and gratitude is among the most precious things to store.
Gratitude, in the noble, itself is expected.
مؤيدMuʾayyid (supporter of) الإسلامal-Islam (Islam) ياO منعماbenefactor
مؤيد الإسلام يا منعما
سمتrose high معاليthe lofty honors of مجدهhis glory والرتبand ranks
سمت معالي مجده والرتب
Muʾayyid al-Islam, O benefactor,
Upholder of Islam, from whom I have gained
whose lofty glories and ranks have soared.
High excellence, lordly position and rank!
ياO منyou who نرىwe find أخلاقهhis traits حلوةsweet
يا من نرى أخلاقه حلوة
كأنهاas though they were مخلوقةmade منof ضربwhite honey
كأنها مخلوقة من ضرب
O you whose traits we find sweet,
O whose nature is sweetness composed,
as though they were made of white honey.
As if molded from a magical compound,
للهfor God (in praise) بشراكyour glad tidings قبلbefore الندىbounty
لله بشراك قبل الندى
يبشرgives glad assurance to الوفدthe delegation بنجحof success in الطلبthe request
يبشر الوفد بنجح الطلب
God bless your glad tidings before the gift,
By God, ere the dew has descended from night,
assuring the delegation of success in its request.
The embassy travelers take joyful leave,
وعزمةand a resolve كالنارlike fire وقادةblazing
وعزمة كالنار وقادة
لوif رميwere struck الماءwater بهاwith it لالتهبit would blaze
لو رمي الماء بها لالتهب
And a resolve blazing like fire:
Resolute like fire, chieftains
were water struck with it, it would burst into flame.
Who, if cast in the sea, would enflame it!
أصبحتyou have become كالليثlike a lion حمىdefended غيلهhis thicket
أصبحت كالليث حمى غيله
بأساin might وكالغيثand like rain همىpoured وانسكبand streamed down
بأسا وكالغيث همى وانسكب
You have become like a lion defending his thicket
Lion for protectors, when roused to anger,
in might, and like rain pouring and streaming down.
Deluging rain when defenders show weakness.
ماnever بعدwas distant الرزقsustenance علىfor مقترa needy man
ما بعد الرزق على مقتر
ناداكcalled upon you إلاexcept that ودناand drew near واقتربand came closer
ناداك إلا ودنا واقترب
Sustenance was never far from a needy man
Not one who appealed to you at the shrines
who called upon you: it drew close and near.
Came for naught or departed denied.
ياO راكباrider شبتreared غداةat the time of السرىnight travel
يا راكبا شبت غداة السرى
برحلهwith his saddle ذعلبةa fleet she-camel كالشّببlike a wild bull
برحله ذعلبة كالشّبب
O rider, at the hour of night travel, up sprang
O rider who leaves in the dawn, travelling
beneath his saddle a fleet she-camel like a wild bull;
On his she-camel, more nimble than fox,
يحاولhe seeks الريthirst-quenching لدىamong معشرa people
يحاول الري لدى معشر
وردthe watering place of الندىbounty بينهمamong them قدhas نضبrun dry
ورد الندى بينهم قد نضب
he seeks to slake his thirst among a people
Stay far from that tribe, and incline
whose watering place of bounty has run dry.
To one never implored for a gift.
خذtake جانباa side عنهمaway from them وملand turn بالمنىwith your hopes
خذ جانبا عنهم ومل بالمنى
إلىtoward جنابa court قطever لمhas not يجتنبbeen shunned
إلى جناب قط لم يجتنب
Turn aside from them, and direct your hopes
The shelter of praiseworthy religion and laws
toward a court that has never been shunned:
Killer of despots, lover of noble minds,
جنابthe court of مجدMajd (glory of) الدينal-Din (the faith) خدنcompanion of العلىeminence
جناب مجد الدين خدن العلى
وقاتلand slayer of المحلdrought ومحبيand reviver of (uncertain reading) الأدبletters
وقاتل المحل ومحبي الأدب
the court of Majd al-Din, companion of eminence,
Whose clouds, when they drop on the hills
and slayer of drought and reviver of letters.
Embrace them, and bow, and then slip away,
فماfor no السحابcloud الجونdark مسtouched الثرىthe earth
فما السحاب الجون مس الثرى
هيدwas roused بهby it معتنقاembracing وانسحبِand trailed along
هيد به معتنقا وانسحبِ
For no dark cloud that has touched the earth,
Whose lightning smiles and laughs,
roused by it, embracing it and trailing along—
Whose thunder steps out and is gone.
فبرقهso its lightning مبتسمsmiling ضاحكlaughing
فبرقه مبتسم ضاحك
ورعدهand its thunder وتجزchanting (unclear text) فيamid صخبِa din
ورعده وتجز في صخبِ
its lightning smiling and laughing,
One day may he rain on the seeker his gifts
and its thunder chanting amid a din—
Like the downpour of clouds in flood.
يوماever بأندىmore generous منكthan you للمجتديto the gift-seeker
يوما بأندى منك للمجتدي
صوبdownpour of بنانfingers سيلهits torrent فيon صببa slope
صوب بنان سيله في صبب
is ever more generous than you to the gift-seeker:
Then wisdom will show you no bound to his thought,
rain from your fingers, its torrent rushing downhill.
And none will have trodden his precinct before.
فلاso may not نباgrow blunt حدthe edge لرأيof a judgment ترىyou hold
فلا نبا حد لرأي ترى
ولاand may not تمشتtread فيin حماكyour sanctuary النوبcalamities
ولا تمشت في حماك النوب
So may no edge of any judgment you hold grow blunt,
nor calamities ever tread your sanctuary.
Partial English translation: 72 of 74 Arabic lines translated.