أَمَلَّdictated علىupon القلبِthe heart الغرامَpassion فأبلَغاand conveyed it eloquently
أَمَلَّ على القلبِ الغرامَ فأبلَغا
وفيand in وَصْفِdescribing بَرْحِthe torment of الشّوقِlonging للوُسْعِto utmost capacity أَفرغاhe exhausted
وفي وَصْفِ بَرْحِ الشّوقِ للوُسْعِ أَفرغا
He dictated passion to the heart, conveying it eloquently,
He made love descend upon my heart, so they reached
and exhausted his powers describing the torment of longing.
And in describing the agony of longing, poured out as much as they could
وأَوفَىand mounted علىupon عُودٍa branch خَطيبُa preacher صبابةٍof yearning
وأَوفَى على عُودٍ خَطيبُ صبابةٍ
منfrom الخَطْبِthe grave affair مَنwhoever أَصغَىlistened إلىto سَجعِهhis cooing صَغاwas swayed
من الخَطْبِ مَن أَصغَى إلى سَجعِه صَغا
A preacher of yearning mounted a branch;
And a youthful suitor fulfilled his duty
such was the affair: whoever heard his cooing was swayed.
To she who listened to his eloquence
وقدand indeed رَدَّدrepeated الألحانَthe melodies للصَّبِّfor the lovesick one شائقاًstirring longing
وقد رَدَّد الألحانَ للصَّبِّ شائقاً
فأَلغَىso he dismissed لهاfor their sake قولَthe words العذولِof the reproacher الّذيwho لَغاspoke idly
فأَلغَى لها قولَ العذولِ الّذي لَغا
He repeated melodies, stirring the lovesick one's longing,
He repeated the melodies for the one who longed
who dismissed for their sake the reproacher's idle words.
And so erased the words of the one who blamed which were uttered
وماذاand what عسىmight شَيطانُthe demon عَذْلِكof your reproach صانِعاًbe doing
وماذا عسى شَيطانُ عَذْلِك صانِعاً
إذاif لمnot يَجِدْhe finds بينَamong الأحبّةthe lovers مَنْزَغاan opening for discord
إذا لم يَجِدْ بينَ الأحبّة مَنْزَغا
And what might the demon of your reproach accomplish
What can your demon of blame do
if he finds no opening for discord between lovers?
When no conflict is found among the loved ones
لئنif indeed كانwas لَوميblaming me فيfor هوَىloving البيضِfair women سائغاًpermissible
لئن كان لَومي في هوَى البيضِ سائغاً
لقدsurely كانwas إسعاديsupporting me عليهنَّover them أَسوغاmore permissible
لقد كان إسعادي عليهنَّ أَسوغا
If blaming me for loving fair women was permissible,
If my infatuation with fair ones is agreeable
then supporting me over them was surely more permissible.
Making them happy was even more agreeable to me
خليليّmy two friends إنْif يَمّمْتُماyou two head toward أرضَthe land عامرٍof Amir
خليليّ إنْ يَمّمْتُما أرضَ عامرٍ
فلاthen do not تَبْخَلاyou two begrudge أنto تَسمَعاlisten وتُبلِّغاand convey
فلا تَبْخَلا أن تَسمَعا وتُبلِّغا
My two friends, if you head toward the land of Amir,
My two friends, if you decide a fertile land
do not begrudge listening and conveying.
Do not hesitate to listen and convey
ذكرتُكُمُI remembered you all والأرضُand the earth يَبْسٌdry فلمand not يَزَلْceased
ذكرتُكُمُ والأرضُ يَبْسٌ فلم يَزَلْ
بعينيin my eyes البُكاweeping حتّىuntil أسالَit made streams flow وأَرزَغاand made mud
بعيني البُكا حتّى أسالَ وأَرزَغا
I remembered you when the earth was dry; there was no end
I remembered you while the land was dry, so
to the weeping in my eyes, until it flooded and made mud.
My eyes did not cease shedding tears until they overflowed
وفيand in الحيِّthe encampment أترابٌmaidens of one age إذاwhen شغَلoccupied الفتىthe youth
وفي الحيِّ أترابٌ إذا شغَل الفتى
هواهُنّlove for them لمnot يَطْرَبْhe delighted لأَنْat the prospect of يَتفَرَّغاbeing free
هواهُنّ لم يَطْرَبْ لأَنْ يَتفَرَّغا
In the encampment are maidens of an age; when a youth is engrossed
Among the living are kinsfolk, when a youth's
in love for them, he finds no joy in being free of it.
Passion for them preoccupies him, he does not rejoice to disengage
ظَلَمْنَthey wronged الثّناياthe front teeth الغُرَّthe gleaming لمّاwhen صَقلْنَهاthey polished them
ظَلَمْنَ الثّنايا الغُرَّ لمّا صَقلْنَها
وأَرْشَفْنَهاand made them suck دونيinstead of me أَراكاًan arak twig مُمضَّغاchewed
وأَرْشَفْنَها دوني أَراكاً مُمضَّغا
They wronged their gleaming front teeth when they polished them
The charms of the gazelles darkened when they
and gave them a chewed arak twig to suck, rather than me.
Adorned themselves before me, chewing
وفيand in مُستدارِthe roundness الخَدّof the cheek منof كُلّevery غادةٍgraceful maiden
وفي مُستدارِ الخَدّ من كُلّ غادةٍ
تَرىyou see سِحْرَthe magic عينَيْهاof her two eyes لدِينكَto your faith مُوتِغاruinous
تَرى سِحْرَ عينَيْها لدِينكَ مُوتِغا
And on the rounded cheek of every graceful maiden
In the round cheek of each beauty
you see her eyes' enchantment, ruinous to your faith.
You see the magic of her eyes humbling you
عَقارِبُscorpions صُدْغٍof temple-locks لاnot يَضُرُّكَharms you وَصْلُهاcloseness to them
عَقارِبُ صُدْغٍ لا يَضُرُّكَ وَصْلُها
ولكنّماbut only يُمسِينَthey become بالهَجْرِthrough estrangement لُدَّغاstingers
ولكنّما يُمسِينَ بالهَجْرِ لُدَّغا
Scorpions of temple-locks—their closeness does you no harm,
The hand of a cheek that will not harm you if joined
but through estrangement they become stingers.
But separation makes me bitten by its sting
سفَرْنَthey unveiled themselves لناto us حتّىuntil تَركْنَthey left عُيونَناour eyes
سفَرْنَ لنا حتّى تَركْنَ عُيونَنا
مِلاءًfull وغادَرْنَand left الجوانحَthe breasts فُرَّغاempty
مِلاءً وغادَرْنَ الجوانحَ فُرَّغا
They unveiled themselves to us, until they left our eyes
They traveled until they left our eyes
full, and left our breasts empty.
Filled with water and emptied the bosoms
فماليthen why do I أُحبُّlove الآفِلينَthose that set وقدwhen indeed أَرىI see
فمالي أُحبُّ الآفِلينَ وقد أَرى
منamong الغيدِgraceful women أقماراًmoons علىupon العيسِpale camels بُزَّغاrising
من الغيدِ أقماراً على العيسِ بُزَّغا
Why, then, do I love those that set, when I see
Why should I love the setting ones when I see
among graceful women moons rising upon pale camels?
On the horizon, moons placed high
علىat حينَa time when أَلوَىswept away الحلْمُforbearance بالجهلِfolly كَبْرةًthrough old age
على حينَ أَلوَى الحلْمُ بالجهلِ كَبْرةً
وعَمّمَand turbaned منّيmy own الرّأسَhead شَيبٌgray hair تفَشّغاspreading
وعَمّمَ منّي الرّأسَ شَيبٌ تفَشّغا
When, through old age, forbearance had swept folly away,
Just when dreams intertwined with ignorance greatly
and spreading gray hair had turbaned my head.
And white hair spread through my head
وكمand how many ليلةٍa night ياO لَيلُLayl قَصّرْتُI shortened طُولَهاits length
وكم ليلةٍ يا لَيلُ قَصّرْتُ طُولَها
وقَضَيتُand lived عَيشاًa life بالبِطالةِin idleness أَرفَغاmore comfortable
وقَضَيتُ عَيشاً بالبِطالةِ أَرفَغا
How many a night, O Layl, I shortened its length
How many a night, O night, I shortened its length
and lived a life made comfortable by idleness.
And spent a life of unemployment, useless
لَهْوتُI reveled بهاin it حتّىuntil ثنَىturned away اللّيلُthe night صَدرَهits breast
لَهْوتُ بها حتّى ثنَى اللّيلُ صَدرَه
وعادand became الدُّجَىthe darkness بالصُّبْحِwith dawn أَدْهَمa black steed أَصبَغاwhite-marked
وعاد الدُّجَى بالصُّبْحِ أَدْهَم أَصبَغا
I reveled in it until the night turned its breast away,
Wasting it until the night folded its breast
and darkness, with dawn, became a white-marked black steed.
And dusk returned at dawn, gloomy, blackish
وعُدُتand I returned ولمand not يَشعُرْknew بيَof me الحَيُّthe encampment غادياًat dawn
وعُدُت ولم يَشعُرْ بيَ الحَيُّ غادياً
يُخلِّفُleave behind هامُthe crests الأُكْمِof the hills طِرْفيmy steed مُفَدَّغاbattered
يُخلِّفُ هامُ الأُكْمِ طِرْفي مُفَدَّغا
I returned at dawn, unnoticed by the encampment,
I returned and none of the living noticed me leaving
the hill-crests leaving my steed battered.
Behind their worries, my eyes bleary
أَقُدُّI cleave أديمَthe hide البيدِof the deserts بالسّيرِby traveling حيثماwherever
أَقُدُّ أديمَ البيدِ بالسّيرِ حيثما
وجَدْتُI found وراءَin pursuit of العِزِّglory فيon الأرضِthe earth مَنسَغاan opening
وجَدْتُ وراءَ العِزِّ في الأرضِ مَنسَغا
I cleave the desert's hide in my journey, wherever
I lead the leather of separation in travel wherever
I find on earth an opening in pursuit of glory,
I find glory in the land attainable
بذيon one with غُرَّةٍa forehead blaze ضافيample الحُجولِwhite stockings كأنّماas though
بذي غُرَّةٍ ضافي الحُجولِ كأنّما
تَوَضّأَhe performed ablution منfrom ماءِwater الصّباحِof dawn فأَسْبَغاand did so fully
تَوَضّأَ من ماءِ الصّباحِ فأَسْبَغا
on a blaze-faced steed with ample white stockings, as though
With the flush of youth like one who has performed ablution
he had performed ablution in dawn's water, and done it fully.
With morning water and so covered over
عسىperhaps يَشْتَفيmay be cured منof لاعجِthe blaze الشّوقِof longing مُدْنَفٌa wasting lover
عسى يَشْتَفي من لاعجِ الشّوقِ مُدْنَفٌ
بأنفاسِwith breaths عُلْويِّof the upland الرّياحِwinds تَنشّغاhe inhaled
بأنفاسِ عُلْويِّ الرّياحِ تَنشّغا
Perhaps one wasting away may be cured of longing's blaze
Perhaps one suffering from the agony of longing may be gratified
by inhaling breaths of the highland winds.
By the breaths of the passing winds that blow
أَتملِكُcan you control غَضَّlowering الطَّرْفِthe gaze ياO صاحِfriend بعدماafter
أَتملِكُ غَضَّ الطَّرْفِ يا صاحِ بعدما
تَزيّنَadorned itself بالحَلْيِwith ornaments الثَّرىthe earth وتَزيّغاand put on finery
تَزيّنَ بالحَلْيِ الثَّرى وتَزيّغا
Can you keep your gaze lowered, my friend, after
Can I restrain my gaze, O companions, after
the earth has adorned itself with ornaments and finery?
The land has adorned itself and flourished?
أَرىI see صَنَعَthe craftsman الأنواءof the rain-stars أَظْهرَdisplayed حذْقَهhis skill
أَرى صَنَعَ الأنواء أَظْهرَ حذْقَه
فَوشّعَso he embroidered أَبرادَthe robes الرّياضِof the meadows وَصبّغاand dyed them
فَوشّعَ أَبرادَ الرّياضِ وَصبّغا
I see the craftsman of the rain-stars display his skill,
I see the work of the breeze at its utmost skill
embroidering and dyeing the meadows' robes.
As it opened the blossoms of the gardens and colored them
وفيand on عَذَبِthe tips الأفنانِof branches منfrom كُلِّevery أيكةٍthicket
وفي عَذَبِ الأفنانِ من كُلِّ أيكةٍ
كَرائنُsongstresses للألحانِfor melodies يَغدونَbecome صُوَّغاgoldsmiths
كَرائنُ للألحانِ يَغدونَ صُوَّغا
And on the tips of branches in every thicket,
In the soft melodies of each coquette
songstresses become goldsmiths of melody.
Are notes for the melodies that chant at dawn
كأنّas though الرّبيعَthe spring الطّلقَthe radiant والطّيرَand the birds أصبحَتْhave begun
كأنّ الرّبيعَ الطّلقَ والطّيرَ أصبحَتْ
لأيّامهِfor its days تَدعوto pray بمُخْتلِفِin differing اللُّغاtongues
لأيّامهِ تَدعو بمُخْتلِفِ اللُّغا
As though radiant spring, with the birds now
As if springtime at its prime and the birds
invoking blessings upon its days in differing tongues,
Call in different languages for its days
زمانُthe age جَلالِof Jalal الدّينِal-Din أقبلَarrived فاغتَدىand so became
زمانُ جَلالِ الدّينِ أقبلَ فاغتَدى
بهthrough him شُعراءَpoets كُلُّall مَنwho فيهin it بَبَّغاwere parrots
به شُعراءَ كُلُّ مَن فيه بَبَّغا
were Jalal al-Din's age: it arrived, and there arose
The days of Al-Malik Al-Zahir have come, so the poets
through him as poets all who had been parrots in it.
Of all those in it chanted
وفاؤواand they returned إلىto ظلٍّa shade منof العيشِlife لمnot يزَلْceased
وفاؤوا إلى ظلٍّ من العيشِ لم يزَلْ
لهfor it اللهُGod منout of لطْفٍkindness علىover الخَلْقِcreation مُسبِغاspreading abundantly
له اللهُ من لطْفٍ على الخَلْقِ مُسبِغا
They returned to a shade of life that, unceasingly,
They attained a life in shade that never ceased
God has spread over creation out of kindness.
To clothe them in God's kindness for people
حَصودٌa reaper بحَدِّwith the edge السّيفِof the sword فيin طاعةِobedience الهُدَىto right guidance
حَصودٌ بحَدِّ السّيفِ في طاعةِ الهُدَى
إذاwhen أينعَتْripens بالبَغْيِin rebellion هامةُthe head مَنof whoever طَغىtyrannized
إذا أينعَتْ بالبَغْيِ هامةُ مَن طَغى
He reaps with the sword's edge in obedience to right guidance
Harvested by the sword's edge in obeying guidance
when a tyrant's head ripens in rebellion.
When the arrogance of a transgressor became ripe
تُشَبُّare kindled لهfor him نارانِtwo fires باللّيلِby night للقرىfor hospitality
تُشَبُّ له نارانِ باللّيلِ للقرى
لكَيْso that يُؤْنِسَhe may cheer السّاريthe night traveler وفيand at الصُّبْحِdawn للوغَىfor battle
لكَيْ يُؤْنِسَ السّاري وفي الصُّبْحِ للوغَى
Two fires are kindled for him: by night, for hospitality,
Fires are kindled for him at night for the villages
to cheer the night traveler; at dawn, for battle.
To cheer up the traveler, and in the morning for havoc
إذاwhen ماindeed انتَدىhe joins the assembly ثمَّthen احتَبىsits clasping his knees بوَقارِهِwith his dignity
إذا ما انتَدى ثمَّ احتَبى بوَقارِهِ
فلاthen no رَفثٌobscenity فيماin what يُقالُis said ولاand no لَغاidle talk
فلا رَفثٌ فيما يُقالُ ولا لَغا
When he joins the assembly, then sits clasping his knees with dignity,
When he returns and then hides in his dignity
there is neither obscenity in what is said nor idle talk.
There is no nonsense in what is said, nor prattle
تَسوسُrules الوَرىhumankind يُمنَىthe right يدَيهِof his two hands جلالةًwith majesty
تَسوسُ الوَرى يُمنَى يدَيهِ جلالةً
بإعمالِby wielding أَلْمَىa dark-lipped pen يَلْفِظُutters الدُّرَّpearls أَفشَغاwide-mouthed
بإعمالِ أَلْمَى يَلْفِظُ الدُّرَّ أَفشَغا
His right hand rules humankind with majesty,
The land is governed by the right of his hands, majestically,
wielding a dark-lipped, wide-mouthed pen that utters pearls.
By the actions of hands that shed pearls when clasped
يَمُجُّspits علىon خَدّthe cheek البياضِof whiteness رُضابَهits saliva
يَمُجُّ على خَدّ البياضِ رُضابَه
فيَجْلوand reveals صباحاًa dawn بالظّلامِwith darkness مُثَمَّغاdaubed
فيَجْلو صباحاً بالظّلامِ مُثَمَّغا
It spits its saliva onto the cheek of whiteness
Light flows down his cheek of brightness
and reveals a dawn daubed with darkness.
And so morning shines through the darkness, blurred
ولمand not أَرI have seen فيamong الأملاكِkings أَسْرعَswifter مُنْهَراًa channel
ولم أَر في الأملاكِ أَسْرعَ مُنْهَراً
لسَجْلِfor the bucket النّدىof bounty منهthan him وأَوسَعَand wider مُفْرَغاan outlet
لسَجْلِ النّدى منه وأَوسَعَ مُفْرَغا
Among kings, I have seen no swifter channel
And I have not seen in kingdoms a source
for generosity's bucket than him, nor a broader outlet.
For the stream of bounty more copious or broader than him
أخوa man of العزْمِresolve وَطّاءٌone who tramples بأخمَصِwith the sole بأْسِهof his might
أخو العزْمِ وَطّاءٌ بأخمَصِ بأْسِه
لرأْسِupon the head المناياof death أوor يَعودَhe returns مُثلَّغاhead-crushed
لرأْسِ المنايا أو يَعودَ مُثلَّغا
A man of resolve, he treads with the sole of his might
The brother of determination, steadfast with the sole of his might
upon death's head—or returns with his own head crushed.
Against the head of death, or he returns stained with blood
قليلٌlittle إليهbeside him جُوُدthe bounty أسحَمَof a black raincloud أوطَفٍfringed
قليلٌ إليه جُوُد أسحَمَ أوطَفٍ
إذاwhen مُثِّلواthey are compared أوor بأْسُthe might أَهْرَتَof a wide-mouthed lion أَفْدَغاbroad-headed
إذا مُثِّلوا أو بأْسُ أَهْرَتَ أَفْدَغا
Beside him, the bounty of a dark, fringed raincloud is little
To him the generosity of lavish hands is little
when they are compared, or the might of a broad-jawed, broad-headed lion.
Or the might of a piercing sword when unsheathed
تَجلَّىhe appeared غداةَon the morning الرَّوعِof terror والنّقْعُand the dust ثائرٌsurging
تَجلَّى غداةَ الرَّوعِ والنّقْعُ ثائرٌ
بناظرتَيْwith the two eyes أَقْنىof a hooked-beaked bird بمَنْسِرِهin its beak شَغاgrew crooked
بناظرتَيْ أَقْنى بمَنْسِرِه شَغا
On the morning of terror he appeared, while dust surged,
He appeared the morning after violence, with anger raging
with the eyes of a hooked-beaked bird whose beak juts crookedly.
With two eyes like an eagle's in its nest
وللحربِand war has عنfrom أنيابِهاits fangs الرُّوقِthe curved كَشْرةٌa snarl
وللحربِ عن أنيابِها الرُّوقِ كَشْرةٌ
إذاwhen الطّعْنُspear-thrusting أَضحَىbecame للجُنوبِto the flanks مُدغْدِغاtickling
إذا الطّعْنُ أَضحَى للجُنوبِ مُدغْدِغا
And war bares its curved fangs in a snarl
And for war, from its sharp fangs
when spear-thrusts begin to tickle flanks.
When the thrust has become a tickling of the ribs
بكلّwith every قناةٍlance فيin يدِthe hand الذِّمْرِof the valiant man صَدْقَةٍtrue
بكلّ قناةٍ في يدِ الذِّمْرِ صَدْقَةٍ
تُرَىit is seen لصدورِfor the breasts الخَيلِof horses فيin الرَّوْعterror مِبْزَغاas a lancet
تُرَى لصدورِ الخَيلِ في الرَّوْع مِبْزَغا
With every true lance in the valiant man's hand,
In each spear-head in the hands of warriors, a charity
seen in terror as a lancet for the horses' breasts.
You see giving drink to the horses' chests in the charge
إذاwhen ظَمئتْit thirsts منfrom نَحْرِthe throat طاغٍof a tyrant إلىfor دَمٍblood
إذا ظَمئتْ من نَحْرِ طاغٍ إلى دَمٍ
غداbecomes لاهثاًpanting منهfor it السِّنانُthe spearpoint ليُولَغاto be made to lap
غدا لاهثاً منه السِّنانُ ليُولَغا
When it thirsts for blood from a tyrant's throat,
When they thirst for the blood of an oppressor
the spearpoint pants for it, to be made to lap.
The swords from it become crimson, dripping
أياO جامعاًone who unites عفْواًa pardon وسيعاًwide ظِلالُهits shades
أيا جامعاً عفْواً وسيعاً ظِلالُه
وعَضْباًand a keen sword صَنيعاًwell-wrought مِصْدَعَcleaving الهامheads مِصْدَغاstriking temples
وعَضْباً صَنيعاً مِصْدَعَ الهام مِصْدَغا
O you who unite a pardon whose shades spread wide
O Gatherer of pardon, vast, whose shade
and a well-wrought, keen sword that cleaves heads and strikes temples!
Is might, and rage that splits the skull when stirred!
فكمand how many حائدٍone straying عنfrom طاعةِobedience الحقِّto the truth حائنٍdoomed
فكم حائدٍ عن طاعةِ الحقِّ حائنٍ
أُحيطَwas surrounded بهaround him والبَغْيُand rebellion صارِعُfells مَنْwhoever بَغَىrebels
أُحيطَ به والبَغْيُ صارِعُ مَنْ بَغَى
How many a doomed man who strayed from obeying the truth
How many a straying from obeying truth, deviant,
was hemmed in—rebellion fells whoever rebels.
Was surrounded while rebellion wrestled the rebellious
غداhe became فاصِدَa bloodletter الأَوداجِof the jugular veins منهof that man بسَيْفِهwith his sword
غدا فاصِدَ الأَوداجِ منه بسَيْفِه
وكانand had دَمُthe blood العصيانِof rebellion فيهwithin him تَبيَّغاsurged
وكان دَمُ العصيانِ فيه تَبيَّغا
He set about bleeding that man's jugular veins with his sword,
The next day it penetrated his flesh with its sword
for the blood of rebellion had surged within him.
While the blood of disobedience in him oozed
وذيand one with هَفْوةٍa lapse قدindeed نَبّهawakened السّعْدُgood fortune جَدَّهُhis luck
وذي هَفْوةٍ قد نَبّه السّعْدُ جَدَّهُ
وللرّيقِand for the saliva منهof him فيin المُخَنَّقِthe constricted throat سَوَّغاmade swallowing easy
وللرّيقِ منه في المُخَنَّقِ سَوَّغا
And one who slipped, whose luck good fortune had awakened
I wonder at one with his insight before him
and allowed saliva to pass down his constricted throat,
Yet he refuses to cease his long rebellion, writhing
فأقبلَso he came يَستَشْفيseeking a cure لِعُرِّfor the mange جرائمٍof offenses
فأقبلَ يَستَشْفي لِعُرِّ جرائمٍ
بهthrough him فيin ثَرىthe dust عُذْرٍof an apology لهto him مُتَمرِّغاrolling
به في ثَرى عُذْرٍ له مُتَمرِّغا
came seeking a cure for the mange of his offenses
When his neck draws near the spear point
from him, rolling in the dust of an apology to him.
He turns away like his name suggests, fleeing
ولمand not أَرI have seen للأحياءfor the living أَبعدَmore distant مَطْرَحاًa place of downfall
ولم أَر للأحياء أَبعدَ مَطْرَحاً
وأَشأمَand more ill-omened منْthan بَكْرِthe young camel الشِّقاقِof dissension إذاwhen رغَاit bellowed
وأَشأمَ منْ بَكْرِ الشِّقاقِ إذا رغَا
I have seen nothing fling the living farther away,
Is there any escape for you except to you?
or more ill-omened than dissension's young camel when it bellows.
So by forgiveness, let him attain all he requests
عَجِبْتُI marveled لمُلْقىًat one presented with بينbetween عينَيْهhis two eyes رُشْدُهُhis right course
عَجِبْتُ لمُلْقىً بين عينَيْه رُشْدُهُ
ويَأْبىand he refuses لطولِbecause of long الغَيِّerror إلاّanything but تَملُّغاfoolish babble
ويَأْبى لطولِ الغَيِّ إلاّ تَملُّغا
I marvel at one whose right course lies before his eyes,
Thus, every enemy, envious frustrator, and
yet, long steeped in error, he insists on nothing but foolish babble.
Troublesome one, you see the earth, their place of wallowing,
إذاwhen ماindeed دناapproaches منto ثَعْلَبِthe 'fox' (shaft-tip) الرُّمْحِof the spear نَحْرُهhis throat
إذا ما دنا من ثَعْلَبِ الرُّمْحِ نَحْرُه
غداhe becomes كاسْمِهlike its namesake عنfrom قَصْدِهits aim منهthan it أَرْوَغاmore evasive
غدا كاسْمِه عن قَصْدِه منه أَرْوَغا
When his throat draws near the spear's 'fox,'
This one covered in blood, slain
he becomes, like its namesake, still more evasive of its aim.
That one in tears, smeared
وهلand is there منكُمُfrom you إلاّexcept إليكمْto you مَفَرُّهhis escape
وهل منكُمُ إلاّ إليكمْ مَفَرُّه
فبالعُذْرِthen through apology فلْيَبْلُغْlet him attain منَof العَفْوِpardon مَبْلَغاa measure
فبالعُذْرِ فلْيَبْلُغْ منَ العَفْوِ مَبْلَغا
And where can he flee from you, except back to you?
Every slanderer ransomed Ibn Ali the exalted
Then let an apology bring him some measure of pardon.
Showing property as ransom, pure
فلاmay not زالcease كُلَّevery منof عَدُوٍan enemy وحاسدٍand an envier
فلا زال كُلَّ من عَدُوٍ وحاسدٍ
ومنand from مَسْفَكٍbloodshed منهfrom him تُرَىis seen الأرضُthe earth مَرسَغاankle-deep in mire
ومن مَسْفَكٍ منه تُرَى الأرضُ مَرسَغا
May every enemy and envier forever remain—
And every envious hater, failing in effort, deficient in mind,
while earth lies ankle-deep in blood spilled from him—
When you have power in judgment, twisting
خليطَيْنِa pair هذاthis one بالدّماءwith blood مُردَّعاًsmeared
خليطَيْنِ هذا بالدّماء مُردَّعاً
صريعاًslain وهذاand this one بالدُّموعِwith tears مُردَّغاmuddied
صريعاً وهذا بالدُّموعِ مُردَّغا
a pair: this one smeared with blood,
O you whose opinion and banner are exalted in kingdom
slain, and that one steeped in tears.
So straighten the world and religion, directing
فَدَىmay ransom ابْنَthe son عليٍّof Ali ذاpossessor of العُلاeminence كُلُّevery باخلٍmiser
فَدَى ابْنَ عليٍّ ذا العُلا كُلُّ باخلٍ
يُريكshows you فِداءَas ransom for المالِwealth عِرْضاًan honor مُمَشَّغاdefiled
يُريك فِداءَ المالِ عِرْضاً مُمَشَّغا
May every miser be the ransom of the lofty son of Ali,
The Commander of the Faithful and his Guardian called you
who shows you sullied honor as the ransom of his wealth,
And he did not call people who evaded helping
وكلُّand every حسودٍenvious man ناكِصِretreating in السَّعْيِeffort ناقِصٍdeficient
وكلُّ حسودٍ ناكِصِ السَّعْيِ ناقِصٍ
مُعنّىًtormented إذاwhen أَملكْتَyou master فيin الرَّأْيِcounsel أَمرَغاa wily man
مُعنّىً إذا أَملكْتَ في الرَّأْيِ أَمرَغا
and every envious man, faltering in effort, deficient,
You two remain like the sun and moon for the people,
tormented when you outmaster a wily man in counsel.
Ideal pair, attainers of each sought thing
أياO مَنyou who عَلاrose high للمُلْكfor kingship رأياًin counsel ورايةًand banner
أيا مَن عَلا للمُلْك رأياً ورايةً
فقَوَّمand straightened للدّنياfor worldly life وللدّينِand for faith زيَّغاdeviations
فقَوَّم للدّنيا وللدّينِ زيَّغا
O you who rose for kingship in counsel and banner,
O Minister, seen by those who seek glory
and straightened the deviations of worldly life and faith!
As reaching even to the stars for the aspirant
دعاكَcalled you أميرُthe Commander المؤمنينof the Faithful وَليَّهُhis ally
دعاكَ أميرُ المؤمنين وَليَّهُ
ولمand not يَدْعُhe called أقواماًmen عنِfrom النّصْرِsupport رُوَّغاevasive
ولم يَدْعُ أقواماً عنِ النّصْرِ رُوَّغا
The Commander of the Faithful named you his ally,
To you I complain of the days' calamities
not men who evade the task of giving aid.
If you wished, from my heart you could draw them out at dawn
فلاmay not زلْتُماyou two cease كالشّمسِlike the sun والبَدْرِand the full moon للورَىfor humankind
فلا زلْتُما كالشّمسِ والبَدْرِ للورَى
قَرينَيْtwo partners in عَلاءexaltation مُدرِكَيْtwo attainers of كُلِّevery مُبْتَغىdesired end
قَرينَيْ عَلاء مُدرِكَيْ كُلِّ مُبْتَغى
May you two remain like the sun and full moon to humankind,
I bid farewell to a shrine that I could not find
partners in exaltation, attaining every desired end.
With my grasp, ways to restore it, patching
ألاbehold أَيُّهاO المَولَىmaster الوزيرُthe minister الّذيwho يُرَىis seen
ألا أَيُّها المَولَى الوزيرُ الّذي يُرَى
لراجيهِto one who hopes in him منfrom عزٍّdignity إلىto النّجْمِthe stars مُبْلِغاraising
لراجيهِ من عزٍّ إلى النّجْمِ مُبْلِغا
O master, the minister who is seen
I was given from the sea of bounties a drop
raising those who hope in him from dignity up to the stars,
While many a drinker was told to find satisfaction, though he was not sated
إليكَto you منَof الأيّامِthe days أشكوI complain روائعاًterrors
إليكَ منَ الأيّامِ أشكو روائعاً
ولوand if شئْتَyou wished عنfrom قلبيmy heart الغداةَthis morning لفَرّغاthey would empty out
ولو شئْتَ عن قلبي الغداةَ لفَرّغا
to you I complain of terrors inflicted by the days;
Manner of a time that did not cease its stubbornness
if you wished, this morning my heart would be emptied of them.
To one like me, whether it gave or was distracted
قضَيتُI completed وَداعيmy farewell كَعبةًto a Kaaba لمnot أَجدْI found لهاfor it
قضَيتُ وَداعي كَعبةً لم أَجدْ لها
بغطْفَيَّupon my two temple-locks آثارَtraces التّحلُّلِof release from consecration سَيِّغاagreeable (reading uncertain)
بغطْفَيَّ آثارَ التّحلُّلِ سَيِّغا
I completed my farewell to a Kaaba, yet found for it no
I will gather the resolve, hurling
agreeable traces of release from consecration upon my temple-locks.
With the hands of steeds, so the open desert is roamed
وزُوِّدْتُand I was provisioned منfrom بَحْرِthe sea المكارمِof noble deeds قَطرةًwith a drop
وزُوِّدْتُ من بَحْرِ المكارمِ قَطرةً
وكمand how many شاربٍa drinker قيلit was said احْتَسىhe sipped وقدِthough indeed ارتَغىhe drank foam
وكم شاربٍ قيل احْتَسى وقدِ ارتَغى
I was provisioned with a drop from the sea of noble deeds—
And if I do not find rest, neither for the heart in the chest
how many a drinker was said to have drunk, though he had only sipped foam!
Nor patience, if we go on breaking the heart
سَجيّةُthe habit دَهرٍof an age لمnot يزَلْceased منout of عِنادِهits obstinacy
سَجيّةُ دَهرٍ لم يزَلْ من عِنادِه
لمثْلَيto one like me إنif أَعطَىit gives العطيّةَthe gift أَوit makes it meager materialistically? nope wrong, must use concise: it makes it meager. شَغاit makes it meager
لمثْلَي إن أَعطَى العطيّةَ أَو شَغا
Such is the habit of an age that, in its obstinacy, has always,
Yet I complain of the companion wrongfully
when giving to one like me, made its gift meager.
Though nearness - how little I enjoyed save through you!
سأجمعُI shall gather أَشتاتَthe scattered pieces العزيمةِof resolve قاذِفاًhurling forth
سأجمعُ أَشتاتَ العزيمةِ قاذِفاً
بأيديwith the forelegs المطاياof mounts تَلطِمُslapping البِيدَthe deserts دُمَّغاcrushing
بأيدي المطايا تَلطِمُ البِيدَ دُمَّغا
I shall gather my scattered resolve, hurling myself forth
I do not complain except of a time whose injustice
with the mounts' forelegs slapping the desert and crushing it,
Transformed the balance of my state to disgrace
وإنand though لمnot أَجدْI find لاneither القَلْبَthe heart فيin الصّدْرِthe breast ساكناًat rest
وإن لم أَجدْ لا القَلْبَ في الصّدْرِ ساكناً
ولاnor الصّبْرَpatience إنif سرْناwe set out علىupon القَلْبِthe heart أُفْرِغاpoured
ولا الصّبْرَ إن سرْنا على القَلْبِ أُفْرِغا
though I find neither my heart at rest within my breast
It changed me as if I am a faulty good
nor patience poured upon my heart if we set out.
Cast into the sale of a stutterer
عَلىalthough أَنَّنيI أَشكوcomplain of النَوىseparation ظالِماًwronging لَهُit
عَلى أَنَّني أَشكو النَوى ظالِماً لَهُ
وَماand not القُربُnearness ماas far as اِستَمتَعتُI enjoyed إِلّاexcept تَبَلُّغاsubsistence
وَما القُربُ ما اِستَمتَعتُ إِلّا تَبَلُّغا
Yet I wrong separation when I complain of it:
If not for the turns of fate I would not be an hour
the nearness I enjoyed was no more than subsistence.
Distracted from serving you with praise composing
ولاand not أَشتكيI complain إلاّexcept زماناًof an age بجَوْرهِthrough its injustice
ولا أَشتكي إلاّ زماناً بجَوْرهِ
أَحالَturned اعتدالَthe balance الحالِof my condition منّيin me إلىto الصَّغاa slant
أَحالَ اعتدالَ الحالِ منّي إلى الصَّغا
I complain only of an age whose injustice
How my mind strove in your praise
turned the balance of my condition into a crooked slant.
Yet my words were not as eloquent as your deeds
فبَدَّلَنيand changed me والنّقْصُwhile the defect فيهis in it كأنّنيas though I
فبَدَّلَني والنّقْصُ فيه كأنّني
لهto it سِينةٌa letter sin (s) أُلقِيتُI was cast فيin لَفْظِthe utterance أَلْثَغاof a lisper
له سِينةٌ أُلقِيتُ في لَفْظِ أَلْثَغا
It changed me, though the defect is in it, as though I were
The days conveyed you the furthest of wishes
to it an s, cast into a lisper's speech.
And fortune crowned you the forelock of desires
فلولاbut for صُروفُthe reversals الدّهرِof fate لمnot أكُI would be ساعةًfor an hour
فلولا صُروفُ الدّهرِ لم أكُ ساعةً
لعُلياكَfor your eminence منfrom شُغْليmy work بمَدْحٍto praise لأفْرُغاI would make time
لعُلياكَ من شُغْلي بمَدْحٍ لأفْرُغا
Were it not for fate's reversals, not for an hour would I
You lived a lifetime without end in sight
leave my work to devote myself to praising your eminence.
Though the circle tells only a part
وكمand how often قدindeed تَعنَّىlabored فيin مَديحِكyour praise خاطريmy mind
وكم قد تَعنَّى في مَديحِك خاطري
فماand not كانwere قَوليmy words منthan فِعالِكyour deeds أَبلَغاmore eloquent
فما كان قَولي من فِعالِك أَبلَغا
How often my mind has labored in your praise,
I used to allot hopes in you
yet my words have never been more eloquent than your deeds.
While from you excellence of good persists in hopes
فبلّغَكmay bring you الأيّامُthe days قاصيةَthe farthest reaches المُنَىof desires
فبلّغَك الأيّامُ قاصيةَ المُنَى
ومَلَّككand may grant you mastery of الإقبالُgood fortune ناصيةَthe forelock البِغىof aims
ومَلَّكك الإقبالُ ناصيةَ البِغى
May the days carry you to the farthest reaches of desire,
I attained what I hoped in you, and now
and good fortune give you mastery over the forelock of your aims.
It is time I am made an attainer of what I hope in you
وعُمِّرْتَand may you be granted عُمْراًa life لاnot يُرَىis seen طَرَفٌan end لهto it
وعُمِّرْتَ عُمْراً لا يُرَى طَرَفٌ له
ولكنّماbut only يَحْكيresembles لكfor you الطّوْقَa ring مُفْرَغاcast whole
ولكنّما يَحْكي لك الطّوْقَ مُفْرَغا
May you be granted a life whose endpoint cannot be seen,
You were my wish and the surplus of good does not cease to be sought
but which resembles for you a ring cast whole.
I attained my hopes in you, and now is time
لقدindeed كنتُI had been للآمالِfor hopes فيكَin you مُقسِّماًapportioning
لقد كنتُ للآمالِ فيكَ مُقسِّماً
ومنكand from you وفَضْلُand the abundance الخَيرِof goodness ماnot زالَceased يُبتَغىbeing sought
ومنك وفَضْلُ الخَيرِ ما زالَ يُبتَغى
I had apportioned my hopes in you
That I attain what I hope for in you
and from you—for abundant goodness is ever sought.
وبُلِّغْتُand I was informed ماwhat أَمّلْتُI hoped فيكَin you وآنَand the time has come أنْto
وبُلِّغْتُ ما أَمّلْتُ فيكَ وآنَ أنْ
أكونَI should be لِماto what أَمّلتُI hoped فيكin you مُبَلَّغاmade to attain
أكونَ لِما أَمّلتُ فيك مُبَلَّغا
I have been told of what I hoped for in you; now it is time
for me to be granted what I hoped for in you.
Partial English translation: 137 of 140 Arabic lines translated.