وَعالِمَةٍand a knowing woman وَقَدyet indeed جَهِلَتdid not know دَوائيmy cure
وَعالِمَةٍ وَقَد جَهِلَت دَوائي
بِلاwithout جَهلٍignorance وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَتknew بِدائيof my illness
بِلا جَهلٍ وَقَد عَلِمَت بِدائي
And a knowing woman, yet ignorant of my cure,
not through ignorance, for she knows my illness.
يَموتُdies بِهاbecause of her المُتَيَّمُthe enthralled lover كُلَّevery يَومٍday
يَموتُ بِها المُتَيَّمُ كُلَّ يَومٍ
عَلىover فَوتِthe loss of المَواعِدِtrysts وَاللِقاءِand meetings
عَلى فَوتِ المَواعِدِ وَاللِقاءِ
The lover enthralled by her dies each day
over missed trysts and meetings.
لَهاshe has ثَغرٌa mouth وَمُبتَسِمٌand a smile وَريقٌand saliva
لَها ثَغرٌ وَمُبتَسِمٌ وَريقٌ
يَنوبُtakes the place عَنِof المُعَتَّقَةِthe aged الطِلاءِthickened wine
يَنوبُ عَنِ المُعَتَّقَةِ الطِلاءِ
She has a mouth, a smile, and saliva
that takes the place of aged, thickened wine.
وَطَرفٌand a gaze ساحِرٌenchanting غَنِجٌcoquettish كَحيلٌkohl-darkened
وَطَرفٌ ساحِرٌ غَنِجٌ كَحيلٌ
وَوَجهٌand a face لَيسَis not يُنكَرُunrecognized لِلضِياءِfor brightness
وَوَجهٌ لَيسَ يُنكَرُ لِلضِياءِ
And an enchanting gaze, coquettish and kohl-darkened,
and a face whose radiance cannot be denied.
فَبوؤسىso woe لِلكَئيبِto the sorrowful man بِهاfor her إِذاwhen ماever
فَبوؤسى لِلكَئيبِ بِها إِذا ما
بَدَتshe appears تَختالُshe struts فيin حُسنِthe beauty of الرُواءِher appearance
بَدَت تَختالُ في حُسنِ الرُواءِ
So woe to the man sorrowing for her whenever
she appears, strutting in her beautiful bearing.
كَأَنَّas though لَهاshe has عَلىover قَلبيmy heart رَقيباًa watchman
كَأَنَّ لَها عَلى قَلبي رَقيباً
مِنَof الصَدِّrejection المُبَرِّحِagonizing وَالجَفاءِand estrangement
مِنَ الصَدِّ المُبَرِّحِ وَالجَفاءِ
It is as though she has a watchman over my heart,
made of agonizing rejection and estrangement.
وَلَوعاتُand burning pangs of الهَوىlove هُنَّthey اللَواتيthose that
وَلَوعاتُ الهَوى هُنَّ اللَواتي
دَعَونَكَsummoned you لِلبُلابِلِto anguish وَالغِناءِand song
دَعَونَكَ لِلبُلابِلِ وَالغِناءِ
And love's burning pangs are those
that summoned you to anguish and song.
وَطَيفٍand a phantom طافَpassed بيby me سَحَراًbefore dawn فَأَذكىthen fanned
وَطَيفٍ طافَ بي سَحَراً فَأَذكى
حَرارَةَthe heat of لَوعَتيmy longing وَجَوىand the anguish of حَشائيmy breast
حَرارَةَ لَوعَتي وَجَوى حَشائي
And a phantom visited me before dawn and fanned
the heat of my longing and the anguish in my breast.
وَفيand in طَيفِthe apparition of الخَيالِthe dream-image شِفاthe cure of المُعَنّىthe tormented lover
وَفي طَيفِ الخَيالِ شِفا المُعَنّى
وَرِيُّand the quenching of الصادِياتِthe thirsty ones مِنَfrom الظَماءِthirst
وَرِيُّ الصادِياتِ مِنَ الظَماءِ
And in a dream's phantom lies the tormented one's cure,
and the quenching of those parched with thirst.
وَلَكِنّيbut I أَشَدُّهُمُthe most afflicted of them غَراماًwith love
وَلَكِنّي أَشَدُّهُمُ غَراماً
وَأَكثَرُهُمand the most burdened of them أَصانيفَvarieties of البَلاءِaffliction
وَأَكثَرُهُم أَصانيفَ البَلاءِ
But I am the most deeply lovesick of them,
and suffer the greatest variety of afflictions.
يَقولُsays لِيَto me العَذولُthe reproacher وَلَيسَand does not يَدريknow
يَقولُ لِيَ العَذولُ وَلَيسَ يَدري
بِأَنَّthat اللَومَreproach مِنamong شِيَعِthe allies of الخَناءِfoul speech
بِأَنَّ اللَومَ مِن شِيَعِ الخَناءِ
The reproacher tells me, not knowing
that reproach is among the allies of foul speech:
أَجِدَّكَin earnest, I ask you كَمhow often تُغَرِّرُكَendanger you الأَمانيhopes
أَجِدَّكَ كَم تُغَرِّرُكَ الأَماني
وَتَطرَحُكَand cast you المَطامِعُambitions بِالعَراءِonto bare ground
وَتَطرَحُكَ المَطامِعُ بِالعَراءِ
In earnest, how often do hopes endanger you,
and ambitions cast you onto bare ground?
وَأَنتَand you مُشَرِّقٌheading east فيin غَيرِno عَزمٍresolve
وَأَنتَ مُشَرِّقٌ في غَيرِ عَزمٍ
وَأَنتَand you مُغَرِّبٌheading west عَنfrom غَيرِno راءِcounsel
وَأَنتَ مُغَرِّبٌ عَن غَيرِ راءِ
You head east without resolve,
and you head west without counsel.
فَقُلتُso I said الدَهرُtime يَطلِبُنيpursues me بِثَأرٍfor vengeance
فَقُلتُ الدَهرُ يَطلِبُني بِثَأرٍ
وَأَيّامُand the days of الحَوادِثِcalamities بِالدِماءِfor blood
وَأَيّامُ الحَوادِثِ بِالدِماءِ
I said: Time pursues me for vengeance,
and the days of calamity demand my blood.
وَماand there is no لِلحُرِّfor the noble man فيin بَلَدٍa land مُقامٌabiding place
وَما لِلحُرِّ في بَلَدٍ مُقامٌ
إِذاwhen قامَstands الأَديبُthe cultivated man مَعَalongside العَياءِthe inept
إِذا قامَ الأَديبُ مَعَ العَياءِ
And a noble man has no abiding place in a land
where the cultivated man ranks alongside the inept.
وَهَلand can جُرحٌa wound يُرَبُّbe tended بِغَيرِwithout آسٍa healer
وَهَل جُرحٌ يُرَبُّ بِغَيرِ آسٍ
وَهَلand can غَرسٌa sapling يَطولُgrow tall بِغَيرِwithout ماءِwater
وَهَل غَرسٌ يَطولُ بِغَيرِ ماءِ
Can a wound be tended without a healer,
and can a sapling grow tall without water?
غَريتُI became attached بِأَربَعٍto four بيدٍdeserts وَعَنسٍand a sturdy she-camel
غَريتُ بِأَربَعٍ بيدٍ وَعَنسٍ
وَلَيلٍand a night دامِسٍpitch-dark وَرَحيلِand a journey ناءِfar-ranging
وَلَيلٍ دامِسٍ وَرَحيلِ ناءِ
I am bound to four things: deserts, a sturdy she-camel,
a pitch-dark night, and a far-ranging journey.
وَلَولاand were it not for أَحمَدٌAhmad وَنَدىand the generosity of يَدَيهِhis hands
وَلَولا أَحمَدٌ وَنَدى يَدَيهِ
لَباتَwould spend the night المُعتَفونَthe seekers of bounty عَلىin الطَواءِhunger
لَباتَ المُعتَفونَ عَلى الطَواءِ
Were it not for Ahmad and his hands' generosity,
the seekers of bounty would spend the night hungry.
أَبوAbu بَكرٍBakr فَكَمso how many آسىhe healed جَريحاًa wounded man
أَبو بَكرٍ فَكَم آسى جَريحاً
وَكَمand how often عَمَّhe encompassed الأَعِلّاthe sick بِالشِفاءِwith healing
وَكَم عَمَّ الأَعِلّا بِالشِفاءِ
Abu Bakr—how many a wounded man he has healed,
and how often he has brought healing to all the sick!
فَتىًa youth فيin كَفِّهِhis palm أَبَداًalways فُراتٌa Euphrates
فَتىً في كَفِّهِ أَبَداً فُراتٌ
يَفيضُoverflows عَلىupon الرِجالِmen مَعَalong with النِساءِwomen
يَفيضُ عَلى الرِجالِ مَعَ النِساءِ
A youth with an everlasting Euphrates in his palm,
overflowing upon men and women alike.
فَتىًa youth ناديهِhis assembly مَكرُمَةٌan honor وَفَخرٌand pride
فَتىً ناديهِ مَكرُمَةٌ وَفَخرٌ
لِأَربابِfor the lords of المَفاخِرِglories وَالعَلاءِand exalted rank
لِأَربابِ المَفاخِرِ وَالعَلاءِ
A youth whose assembly is an honor and a source of pride
for the lords of glory and exalted rank.
رَأىhe deemed حَوزَthe winning of الثَناءِpraise أَجَلَّnoblest كَسباًgain
رَأى حَوزَ الثَناءِ أَجَلَّ كَسباً
وَحَسبُand sufficient for المَرءِa man مَكسَبَةُthe earning of الثَناءِpraise
وَحَسبُ المَرءِ مَكسَبَةُ الثَناءِ
He deemed the winning of praise the noblest gain,
and earning praise is enough for a man.
وَلَمand did not يَكُbe واعِداًpromising وَعداًa promise كَذوباًfalse
وَلَم يَكُ واعِداً وَعداً كَذوباً
وَلاnor قُوَلٌa great talker يَقولُspeaks بِلاwithout وَفاءِfulfillment
وَلا قُوَلٌ يَقولُ بِلا وَفاءِ
He has never made a lying promise,
nor is he a mere talker whose words lack fulfillment.
هُوَhe is الخِلُّthe friend الوَدودُloving لِكُلِّto every خِلٍّfriend
هُوَ الخِلُّ الوَدودُ لِكُلِّ خِلٍّ
يَدومُremains constant عَلىin المَوَدَّةِaffection وَالإِخاءِand brotherhood
يَدومُ عَلى المَوَدَّةِ وَالإِخاءِ
He is the loving friend of every friend,
remaining constant in affection and brotherhood.
هُوَhe is البَحرُthe sea الَّذيwhich حُدِّثتَyou were told عَنهُabout it
هُوَ البَحرُ الَّذي حُدِّثتَ عَنهُ
هُوَhe is الغَيثُthe rain المُغيثُbringing relief مِنَfrom السَماءِthe sky
هُوَ الغَيثُ المُغيثُ مِنَ السَماءِ
He is the sea of which you have been told;
he is the saving rain from the sky.
لَهُhe has الأَخلاقُvirtues أَخلاقُthe virtues of المَعاليgreatness
لَهُ الأَخلاقُ أَخلاقُ المَعالي
وَآياتُand the marks of المُروءَةِnoble character وَالسَخاءِand generosity
وَآياتُ المُروءَةِ وَالسَخاءِ
He has virtues—the virtues of greatness—
and the marks of noble character and generosity.
أَباO Abu بَكرٍBakr بَنَيتَyou have built بِناءَan edifice of طَولٍbounty
أَبا بَكرٍ بَنَيتَ بِناءَ طَولٍ
مِنَof الإِحسانِkindness لَيسَis not مِنَof البِناءِconstruction
مِنَ الإِحسانِ لَيسَ مِنَ البِناءِ
Abu Bakr, you have built an edifice of bounty,
out of kindness, not of masonry.
فَلاso may never زالَتcease نُجومُكَyour stars طالِعاتٍrising
فَلا زالَت نُجومُكَ طالِعاتٍ
عَلىin رَغمِspite of الحَواسِدِthe envious وَالعِداءِand enemies
عَلى رَغمِ الحَواسِدِ وَالعِداءِ
May your stars never cease to rise,
in spite of the envious and the hostile,
فَتَبلُغُso you reach فيهِin it أَقصىthe utmost of كُلِّevery حالٍstation
فَتَبلُغُ فيهِ أَقصى كُلِّ حالٍ
تُقَدِّرُyou envisage نَيلَهُattaining it فيat الإِنتِهاءِthe end
تُقَدِّرُ نَيلَهُ في الإِنتِهاءِ
so that through it you reach the utmost of every station
that you envisage attaining in the end.
وَكَمand how many عانَيتُI endured قَبلَكَbefore you مِنof جَميلٍa handsome man
وَكَم عانَيتُ قَبلَكَ مِن جَميلٍ
قَبيحِugly in الفِعلِconduct عِندَwhen الإِجتِداءِseeking gifts
قَبيحِ الفِعلِ عِندَ الإِجتِداءِ
And how many a handsome man I endured before you,
ugly in his conduct when asked for bounty!
مَعاشِرُpeople مالَهُمthey have no خُلُقٌgood character وَلَكِنbut
مَعاشِرُ مالَهُم خُلُقٌ وَلَكِن
لَهُمthey have نِعَمٌriches تَدُلُّpoint عَلىto الرَخاءِprosperity
لَهُم نِعَمٌ تَدُلُّ عَلى الرَخاءِ
People with no good character, yet
they have riches that testify to prosperity.
تَعودُturn وُجوهُهُمtheir faces سوداًblack إِذاwhen ماever
تَعودُ وُجوهُهُم سوداً إِذا ما
نَزَلتُI alight بِهِمamong them لِمَدحٍto praise أَوor جَداءِa gift
نَزَلتُ بِهِم لِمَدحٍ أَو جَداءِ
Their faces turn black whenever
I visit them to offer praise or seek a gift.
فِداؤُكَyour ransom مِنهُمُamong them مَنwhoever لَيسَdoes not يَدريknow
فِداؤُكَ مِنهُمُ مَن لَيسَ يَدري
وَيَعلَمُand understands كَيفَhow مَدحيmy praise مِنfrom هِجائيmy satire
وَيَعلَمُ كَيفَ مَدحي مِن هِجائي
May those among them be your ransom who cannot discern
or understand how my praise differs from my satire.
فَعِشso live بِسَلامَةٍin safety وَاِنعَمand enjoy ease هَنيئاًin delight
فَعِش بِسَلامَةٍ وَاِنعَم هَنيئاً
بِطولِwith length of العُمرِlife فيin عِزِّthe dignity of البَقاءِenduring life
بِطولِ العُمرِ في عِزِّ البَقاءِ
So live in safety, and enjoy untroubled delight
with long life in the dignity of enduring years.
وَلاand may never زالَتcease سِنوكَyour years عَلَيكَover you تَجريflowing
وَلا زالَت سِنوكَ عَلَيكَ تَجري
بِإِنعامٍwith blessings يَتِمُّreach fullness بِلاwithout اِنقِضاءِend
بِإِنعامٍ يَتِمُّ بِلا اِنقِضاءِ
And may your years keep flowing over you
with blessings perfected without end.
وَإِنَّand indeed وَسيلَتيmy means of approach وَأَجَلَّand the strongest of مَتّيmy ties
وَإِنَّ وَسيلَتي وَأَجَلَّ مَتّي
إِلَيكَto you بِحَقِّby the right of أَصحابِthe people of الإِساءِhealing
إِلَيكَ بِحَقِّ أَصحابِ الإِساءِ
Indeed, my means of approach and my strongest bond
to you rest on the claim of those who heal.
وَأَنتَand you فَعارِفٌare thus acquainted with سَلَفيmy forebears وَجَدّيand my grandfather
وَأَنتَ فَعارِفٌ سَلَفي وَجَدّي
فَقيهُthe jurist of الأَرضِthe land فيamong حَشدِthe throng of المُلاءِnotables
فَقيهُ الأَرضِ في حَشدِ المُلاءِ
And you know my forebears; my grandfather
is the land's jurist amid the throng of notables.
وَأَعماميand my uncles فَقَدfor indeed عُدُواwere counted قَديماًlong ago
وَأَعمامي فَقَد عُدُوا قَديماً
مِنَamong العُظَماءِthe great أَهلِthe people of الإِعتِلاءِexalted rank
مِنَ العُظَماءِ أَهلِ الإِعتِلاءِ
And my uncles have long been counted
among the great, the men of exalted rank.
وُجودُكَand your generosity كُلُّهُall of it حَسَنُgood وَلَكِنbut
وُجودُكَ كُلُّهُ حَسَنُ وَلَكِن
أَجَلُّthe noblest الجودِgenerosity حُسنُthe goodness of الإِبتِداءِthe beginning
أَجَلُّ الجودِ حُسنُ الإِبتِداءِ
And all your generosity is good, but
the noblest generosity is a gracious beginning.
Translation model: Sol 6.1