أراقَhe spilled دمعيmy tears لاno بلrather أراقhe spilled دميmy blood
أراقَ دمعي لا بل أراق دمي
ظلماunjustly بظُلمٍwith tooth-lustre مِنfrom رِيقهِhis saliva الشَبِمِthe cool
ظلما بظُلمٍ مِن رِيقهِ الشَبِمِ
He spilled my tears—no, rather, he spilled my blood,
My tears flowed not but my blood flowed
unjustly, with the lustre of his cool saliva.
Unjustly with injustice from his tender glance
ذوpossessing قامةa stature كالقضيبlike a branch ناضِرَةٍfresh
ذو قامة كالقضيب ناضِرَةٍ
وناظرٍand an eye منfrom سقامهits languor سقميmy sickness
وناظرٍ من سقامه سقمي
One whose fresh stature is like a branch,
One with a figure like an erect wand
and whose languid eye has made me ill.
And a looker with sickness from his sickness I am sick
لهhe has جفونeyelids تعنوbow لفتكتهاto their deadly power
له جفون تعنو لفتكتها
ماwhat فيin جفونthe sheaths of الصطرمthe keen sword الخذمِthe severing
ما في جفون الصطرم الخذمِ
His eyelids wield a deadly power before which bow
Eyelids that hint at their murderousness
even the keen, severing swords within their sheaths.
Not like the eyelids of one with mange in his eyebrows
يلومblames فيهconcerning him منone who لوif تأملهhe contemplated him
يلوم فيه من لو تأمله
مثليlike me بعينwith the eye of الغرامlove لمdid not يلمblame
مثلي بعين الغرام لم يلم
One blames me for him who, had he looked upon him
Blaming him when if contemplated
as I do, through love's eyes, would not blame me.
One like me with an eye of passion would not blame
ليfor me فيهbecause of him عيشa life لمhas not يحلgrown sweet منذsince جفاhe shunned
لي فيه عيش لم يحل منذ جفا
وقلبand a heart صبlovesick لمhas not يخلbeen free منfrom ألمِpain
وقلب صب لم يخل من ألمِ
Because of him, my life has lacked sweetness since he shunned me,
With him I have a life not made lawful since he was unfaithful
and my lovesick heart has never been free from pain.
And a pouring heart not emptied of pain
حصلتI obtained منfrom هجرهhis estrangement علىupon أصدقthe truest الthe (continued next line)
حصلت من هجره على أصدق ال
أمرmatter ومنand from وصلهhis union علىupon التهمِsuspicions
أمر ومن وصله على التهمِ
From his estrangement I learned the truth of the
I obtained from his estrangement the truest
matter; from his union, only suspicions.
Matter and from his union the accusations
ياO صاحبيmy two companions الغداةthis morning هلdo لكماyou two have
يا صاحبي الغداة هل لكما
باللهby God علمnews منfrom ساكنthe dweller at العلمِal-ʿAlam
بالله علم من ساكن العلمِ
O my two companions this morning, have you,
O my friends in the morn, is there
by God, any news from the dweller at al-ʿAlam?
For you both, by God, knowledge of the dweller of the banner
وهلand are تعانيsuffers (probably corrupt for “dwellings”) العقِيقِof al-ʿAqīq مخصبةfertile
وهل تعاني العقِيقِ مخصبة
أمor أمظأleft thirsty (probable reading) الغيثthe rain برقتيthe two stony tracts of أضمIḍam
أم أمظأ الغيث برقتي أضم
And are the [dwellings?] of al-ʿAqīq fertile,
And does carnelian suffer being fertile
or has rain left Iḍam's two stony tracts parched?
Or did the rain make my lighting barren and infertile?
لهفيmy longing علىfor وقفةa halt أديمُI perpetuate بهاthrough it
لهفي على وقفة أديمُ بها
ذكرَthe memory of ليالٍnights بهنّin them لمdid not تدمِendure
ذكرَ ليالٍ بهنّ لم تدمِ
Alas for a halt where I keep alive
Yearning for a pure stance in which
the memory of nights there that did not endure,
I remember nights with them that did not last
معwith كلevery بكرmaiden يزينهاadorns her صِغَرyouth
مع كل بكر يزينها صِغَر
تسعىshe goes about ببكرwith virgin wine تزانadorned بالهرمِby age
تسعى ببكر تزان بالهرمِ
with every maiden whom youth adorns,
With every virgin adorned by youth
bringing virgin wine made lovely by age.
Seeking with an old virgin wrinkled with old age
كالبدرlike the full moon فيin كفهاher palm مشعشعةwine mixed with water
كالبدر في كفها مشعشعة
كالشمسlike the sun تجلوdispels حنادسthe deepest gloom of الظلمdarkness
كالشمس تجلو حنادس الظلم
She is like the full moon, with diluted wine in her palm,
Like the full moon in her palm shining
like the sun, dispelling the deepest darkness.
Like the sun dispelling the darkness of gloom
بنتدنانdaughter of wine-jars تسقيكgives you to drink صفوتهاits choicest portion
بنتدنان تسقيك صفوتها
ذاتa woman possessing بنانfingertips فيin حمرةthe redness of العنمِthe ʿanam plant
ذات بنان في حمرة العنمِ
A daughter of wine-jars, whose choicest draught is poured for you
Affectionately giving you her elite wine
by one whose fingertips are red as the ʿanam plant.
Of smooth cheeks in the redness of acacia
قدalready برمتshe wearied بالعقودof necklaces فاقتصرتso she confined herself
قد برمت بالعقود فاقتصرت
علىto عقودgarlands of المنثورstock flowers والبرمِand acacia blossoms
على عقود المنثور والبرمِ
She has wearied of necklaces and confined herself
Adorned with necklaces so she limits herself
to garlands of stock flowers and acacia blossoms.
To necklaces of scattering and separation
تنثرshe scatters درpearls of الغناءsong مبدعةdisplaying artistry
تنثر در الغناء مبدعة
فيin مجلسa gathering بالسرورwith delight منتظمِstrung together
في مجلس بالسرور منتظمِ
She scatters pearls of song with inspired artistry,
Scattering the pearls of singing innovatively
in a gathering strung together with delight.
In a gathering arranged with happiness
أنفقتI spent فيهthere كرائميmy treasures ثقهtrusting
أنفقت فيه كرائمي ثقه
بجودin the bounty of خِدنthe intimate companion of السماحgenerosity والكرمِand nobility
بجود خِدن السماح والكرمِ
There I spent my treasures, trusting
I spent my virtues on him trusting
the bounty of generosity and nobility's close companion,
In the generosity of the breast of munificence and nobility
مولىlord of البراياall creatures محمدMuḥammad عضدʿAḍud, “support” الدal- (beginning of al-Dīn)
مولى البرايا محمد عضد الد
دينDīn, “Faith” التقيthe pious الوفيthe faithful بالذممِto pledges
دين التقي الوفي بالذممِ
lord of all creatures, Muḥammad ʿAḍud al-
Master of the lands Muhammad, pillar of
Dīn, pious and faithful to his pledges,
The religion, loyal to promises and covenants
المطعمthe feeder of الضيفthe guest غيرwithout being معتذرone who makes excuses
المطعم الضيف غير معتذر
والخاضبand one who dyes السيفthe sword فيin الوغىbattle بدمِwith blood
والخاضب السيف في الوغى بدمِ
who feeds the guest without making excuses,
The host who does not apologize to guests
and dyes his sword with blood in battle.
And the drawn sword among the fray with blood
خِرقa magnanimous man إِذwhen أَمَّهُhe came to him أخوone possessing أملٍhope
خِرق إِذ أَمَّهُ أخو أملٍ
فازhe gains بماwhat يرتجيهhe hopes for عنfrom أَممِnear at hand
فاز بما يرتجيه عن أَممِ
A magnanimous man: when a hopeful seeker comes to him,
When his mother's brother was wronged
he gains what he hopes for close at hand.
He won what he sought from the nations
حصنa fortress للاجfor a refugee أمنsafety لمعتصِمِfor one seeking protection
حصن للاج أمن لمعتصِمِ
كهفa refuge لراجfor one hoping نصرvictory لمهتضمِfor one oppressed
كهف لراج نصر لمهتضمِ
A fortress for the refugee, safety for one seeking protection;
A fortress for refugees, safety for one who takes refuge
a refuge for the hopeful, victory for the oppressed.
A cave for the returning, victory for the wronged
أجدتI excelled فيin مدحهhis praise وجادand he gave generously فماso what
أجدت في مدحه وجاد فما
عذرُexcuse زهيرٍZuhayr إنif جادَhe excelled عنin speaking of هرمِHarim
عذرُ زهيرٍ إن جادَ عن هرمِ
I excelled in praising him, and he gave lavishly; what, then,
In praise of him I was eloquent and he was generous so no
is Zuhayr's excuse, if he excelled in praising Harim?
Excuse for Zuhair if he is stingy about praise
كنbe أنتyou ياO ربLord جارهhis protector أبداforever
كن أنت يا رب جاره أبدا
فجارهfor his protégé كالحَمامlike the doves فيin الحرمِthe sanctuary
فجاره كالحَمام في الحرمِ
Be his protector forever, O Lord,
Be for him, O Lord, an eternal neighbor
for his protégé is like the doves in the sanctuary.
For his neighbor is like the dove in the sanctuary
واحفظهand preserve him للملكfor kingship والسيادةand dominion ماas long as
واحفظه للملك والسيادة ما
هبblows نسيمa breeze ياO بارىءCreator of النسمliving souls
هب نسيم يا بارىء النسم
Preserve him for kingship and dominion as long as
And protect him for the kingship and authority as long
a breeze blows, O Creator of living souls.
As the breeze blows, O Shaper of the winds
فلاso there is no خلافdisagreement إنthat الهمومcares بهthrough him
فلا خلاف إن الهموم به
تزولvanish لاmay not زالcease to be علايlofty (probable reading) الهممِin aspiration
تزول لا زال علاي الهممِ
There is no disputing that through him cares
So worries surely disappear through him
vanish; may he ever remain lofty in aspiration.
Not ceasing, the aspirations of the aspirations
أعدمنيspared me جودهhis bounty سؤاليmy asking منone whom
أعدمني جوده سؤالي من
أحسنbetter ليfor me منthan سؤالهasking him عدميmy destitution
أحسن لي من سؤاله عدمي
His bounty spared me begging from a man
His generosity made me cease asking
from whom it is worse to beg than to be destitute.
Better for me than his asking made me cease
علقتI attached myself منهto him بأروعto an imposing man ورعdevout
علقت منه بأروع ورع
أبلجradiant-faced سمحgenerous للمدحfor praise مغتنمِeager to earn it
أبلج سمح للمدح مغتنمِ
I have bound myself to him: an imposing, devout man,
From him I gained the finest piety
radiant-faced, generous, eager to earn praise,
A shining tolerance for praised opportune
ملآنfilled منwith سؤددnobility وفرطand abundance of حجيwisdom
ملآن من سؤدد وفرط حجي
خالfree منfrom العجبconceit عالمa scholar علمِa luminary
خال من العجب عالم علمِ
filled with nobility and abundant wisdom,
Filled with happiness and abundant grace
free from conceit, a scholar and luminary.
Empty of arrogance, learned scholar
أحرىmost fitted الورىof mankind بالندىfor generosity وأوسعهمand most abundant of them
أحرى الورى بالندى وأوسعهم
جدىin bounty وأجرىand more freely flowing ندىin largesse منthan الديمِthe steady rains
جدى وأجرى ندى من الديمِ
Of all mankind, most fitted for generosity and greatest
The most deserving of mankind for benevolence and the most generous of them
in bounty, his largesse flowing more freely than steady rains.
In munificence and the most flowing of blessings
إنif ضجرgrow impatient المنعمونthe benefactors أوor سئمواgrow weary
إن ضجر المنعمون أو سئموا
أعطىhe gives بلاwithout ضجرةimpatience ولاand without سامِweariness
أعطى بلا ضجرة ولا سامِ
If benefactors grow impatient or weary,
If the prosperous complain or are bored
he gives without impatience or weariness.
He gives without boredom and without lassitude
مظفرvictorious الكِتبthe writings والكتائبand the battalions فيin
مظفر الكِتب والكتائب في
سلمpeace وحربand war مشبوبةkindled الضرمِin flame
سلم وحرب مشبوبة الضرمِ
Victorious with writings and battalions, in
Victorious in script and armies during
peace and war with fiercely kindled flames;
Peace and war with sharpened blades
ففارسthus a knight of السيفthe sword فيin الدروعarmor وفيand in
ففارس السيف في الدروع وفي
ثنيthe folds الدراريعof outer robes فارسa knight of القلمِthe pen
ثني الدراريع فارس القلمِ
a knight of the sword in armor, and in
So the horseman of the sword against shields and in
the folds of robes, a knight of the pen.
The folds of breastplates the horseman of the pen
القارthe feeder (probable reading) الصافناتthe poised steeds مُجفِرةbroad-bellied
القار الصافنات مُجفِرة
تفضلprotrude أقرابهاtheir flanks عنbeyond الحرمthe sanctuary (probably corrupt for “girths”)
تفضل أقرابها عن الحرم
He feeds the poised steeds till they are broad-bellied,
Who straightens the lances dark in
their flanks bulging beyond their [girths?].
What they pierce and with spears in the thickest fray
تقلّcarry اكتادهاtheir withers أسودlions وفيand in (probably corrupt for “battle”)
تقلّ اكتادها أسود وفي
ماnot برحتceased to be بالرماحwith spears فيin أجمِthickets
ما برحت بالرماح في أجمِ
Their withers carry lions [of battle?],
Not ceasing what he wills in blessings
ever dwelling in thickets of spears.
So I do not see his word but as “yes”
لاmay not زالcease يبقىto live on ماas long as شاءhe wishes فيin نعمِblessings
لا زال يبقى ما شاء في نعمِ
فماfor not ارىI find قولهhis words سوىexcept نَعَمِyes
فما ارى قوله سوى نَعَمِ
May he live as long as he wishes amid blessings,
No meadow pleased him, every trained
for I find no word of his but “Yes.”
With every tear to the rain conforming
ماnot الروضthe garden راضَتهcultivated it كلevery مدجِنَةdark rain-cloud
ما الروض راضَته كل مدجِنَة
بكلwith every دمعٍtear للغيثof rain منسجمِstreaming
بكل دمعٍ للغيث منسجمِ
No garden, nurtured by every dark rain-cloud
The horizons speak of him and he
with every streaming tear of rain,
After the coolness of dew has prospered
حكىresembled الأقاحيthe daisies بهin it الثغورmouths وقدand already
حكى الأقاحي به الثغور وقد
بسمنthey smiled عنrevealing باردcool اللمىlip-darkness شبمِchilled
بسمن عن بارد اللمى شبمِ
its daisies resembling mouths that have
Amidst fresh roses better than
smiled to reveal chilled, dusky lips,
Their midst, the sweet and the shapely
خلالamid وردroses غضfresh بأَحسنany lovelier منthan
خلال ورد غض بأَحسن من
خلالهhis traits الرائقاتthe delightful والشيمِand virtues
خلاله الرائقات والشيمِ
amid fresh roses, is lovelier than
O king who revives the lands with a
his delightful traits and virtues.
Hand above the hand of time and below the mouth
ياO ملكاking ينعشrevives الورىmankind بيدwith a hand
يا ملكا ينعش الورى بيد
فوقabove يدthe hand دهرهاof their fate وتحتand beneath فمa mouth
فوق يد دهرها وتحت فم
O king who revives mankind with a hand
You awakened my fortune while it
above the hand of their fate, yet beneath a mouth.
Slept and did not sleep from my need
أيقظتyou awakened حظيmy fortune وكانand it had been ذاpossessed of سنةdrowsiness
أيقظت حظي وكان ذا سنة
ونمتand I slept عنfree from حاجتيmy need ولمand did not تنمِyou sleep
ونمت عن حاجتي ولم تنمِ
You awakened my fortune, which had been drowsy,
So the blood of the defender of Islam—when it sounded
and I slept untroubled by my need, while you stayed awake.
And the foliage—what was green of the peace
فدمso endure معزgiver of glory to الإسلامIslam ماas long as صدحتsing
فدم معز الإسلام ما صدحت
ورقgray doves وماand as long as اخضرgrows green مورقthe leafy growth السلمof salam acacias
ورق وما اخضر مورق السلم
So endure, giver of glory to Islam, as long as
In bounty that brings joy to the destitute and does not
gray doves sing and leafy salam trees grow green,
Cease for the enemies in affliction
فيin نعمةblessing تفرحgladdens العفاةpetitioners ولاand never
في نعمة تفرح العفاة ولا
تبرحcease to be منهاbecause of it العداةthe enemies فيin نقمِafflictions
تبرح منها العداة في نقمِ
in blessings that delight petitioners, while
Take praise that is cast from wisdom
your enemies remain forever afflicted by them.
That diminishes the poetry of al-Ta'i and al-Hakami
وخذand accept ثناءpraise قدalready صيغwas fashioned منfrom حكمwise sayings
وخذ ثناء قد صيغ من حكم
يزريputs to shame بشعرthe poetry of الطائيّal-Ṭāʾī والحَكَميand al-Ḥakamī
يزري بشعر الطائيّ والحَكَمي
Accept praise fashioned from wise sayings,
As words that bewilder the hearer
putting the verse of al-Ṭāʾī and al-Ḥakamī to shame:
And where are the words of the seas to my words?
درpearls كلامof speech يحارis bewildered سامعهits listener
در كلام يحار سامعه
وأينand where درthe pearls البحارof the seas منcompared with كلميmy words
وأين در البحار من كلمي
pearls of speech that leave their listener amazed.
And how can the pearls of the seas compare with my words?
Partial English translation: 82 of 84 Arabic lines translated.