صُنتُI guarded نَفسيmy soul عَمّاfrom what يُدَنِّسُdefiles نَفسيmy soul
صُنتُ نَفسي عَمّا يُدَنِّسُ نَفسي
وَتَرَفَّعتُand I rose above عَنfrom جَداthe largesse of كُلِّevery جِبسِbase fellow
وَتَرَفَّعتُ عَن جَدا كُلِّ جِبسِ
I guarded my soul from what defiles my soul,
I protected my soul from what defiles it,
and rose above the largesse of every vile man.
And rose above the rot of every rabble.
وَتَماسَكتُand I held firm حينَwhen زَعزَعَنيshook me الدَهTime (beginning)
وَتَماسَكتُ حينَ زَعزَعَني الدَه
رُTime (ending) إِلتِماساًseeking مِنهُon its part لِتَعسيfor my misery وَنَكسيand my downfall
رُ إِلتِماساً مِنهُ لِتَعسي وَنَكسي
I held firm when Time shook me,
And I stood firm when vacillation shook me,
seeking my misery and downfall.
Seeking from it my misery and defeat.
بُلَغٌscant sustenance مِنfrom صُبابَةِthe last dregs of العَيشِlife عِنديwith me
بُلَغٌ مِن صُبابَةِ العَيشِ عِندي
طَفَّفَتهاshort-measured it الأَيّامُthe days تَطفيفَshort-measuring بَخسِdefrauding
طَفَّفَتها الأَيّامُ تَطفيفَ بَخسِ
I retain scant sustenance from life's last dregs;
I acquired such elegance in living
the days have diminished it with an unjust short measure.
That time diminished it, meanly cheating.
وَبَعيدٌand distant مابَينَwhat lies between وارِدِone coming to water رِفَهٍdaily watering
وَبَعيدٌ مابَينَ وارِدِ رِفَهٍ
عَلَلٍrepeated draughts شُربُهُhis drinking وَوارِدِand one coming to water خِمسِwatering every fifth day
عَلَلٍ شُربُهُ وَوارِدِ خِمسِ
Far apart are one who comes daily to water,
And remote is what’s between one gorged on plenty
drinking repeatedly, and one who comes every fifth day.
And one who barely drinks a taste or sip.
وَكَأَنَّand as though الزَمانَTime أَصبَحَhas become مَحموcarried (beginning)
وَكَأَنَّ الزَمانَ أَصبَحَ مَحمو
لاًcarried (ending) هَواهُits inclination مَعَwith الأَخَسِّthe basest الأَخَسِّthe basest
لاً هَواهُ مَعَ الأَخَسِّ الأَخَسِّ
And it seems Time's inclinations are now carried
And it seems time has come to favor
along with the basest, the very basest.
The lowest wretches over all the rest.
وَاِشتِرائيand my purchase of العِراقَIraq خُطَّةُa course of غَبنٍloss
وَاِشتِرائي العِراقَ خُطَّةُ غَبنٍ
بَعدَafter بَيعيmy sale of الشَآمَSyria بَيعَةَa sale at وَكسِa loss
بَعدَ بَيعي الشَآمَ بَيعَةَ وَكسِ
My purchase of Iraq was a losing bargain,
My buying Iraq was a swindler’s trick
after my sale of Syria at a loss.
After I’d sold Syria in a wretched deal.
لاتَرُزنيdo not assay me مُزاوِلاًtrying لِإِختِباريto test me
لاتَرُزني مُزاوِلاً لِإِختِباري
بَعدَafter هَذيthis البَلوىordeal فَتُنكِرَlest you fail to recognize مَسّيmy temper
بَعدَ هَذي البَلوى فَتُنكِرَ مَسّي
Do not assay me, seeking to test me,
Don’t try me further with more tests now, after
after this ordeal, lest you find my temper unfamiliar.
These tribulations that disprove my name.
وَقَديماًand long ago عَهِدَتنيyou knew me ذاpossessing هَناتٍtraits
وَقَديماً عَهِدَتني ذا هَناتٍ
آبِياتٍunyielding عَلىtoward الدَنِيّاتِbase things شُمسِuntamed
آبِياتٍ عَلى الدَنِيّاتِ شُمسِ
Long ago you knew me to possess traits
Long have I shown a richness in my veins,
unyielding toward baseness, wild and untamed.
Noble lines that shame all earthly scenes.
وَلَقَدand indeed رابَنيdisquieted me اِبنُthe son of عَمّيmy paternal uncle
وَلَقَد رابَني اِبنُ عَمّي
بَعدَafter لينٍgentleness مِنfrom جانِبَيهِhis two sides وَأُنسِand friendliness
بَعدَ لينٍ مِن جانِبَيهِ وَأُنسِ
My cousin has indeed disquieted me,
And Ibn ‘Ammi had stolen close to me
after gentleness on his part and friendliness.
After such softness and intimacy.
وَإِذاand when ماجُفيتُI am ever shunned كُنتُI would be جَديراًdeserving
وَإِذا ماجُفيتُ كُنتُ جَديراً
أَنto أَرىbe seen غَيرَnot مُصبِحٍpresent at dawn حَيثُwhere أُمسيI spend the evening
أَن أَرى غَيرَ مُصبِحٍ حَيثُ أُمسي
And when I am shunned, I have good reason
Yet if I’m spurned, then I deserve to see
to be seen at dawn elsewhere than where I spend the evening.
No dawn where I had once seen sunset’s gleam.
حَضَرَتcame to رَحلِيَmy dwelling الهُمومُsorrows فَوَجَّهso directed (verb begins)
حَضَرَت رَحلِيَ الهُمومُ فَوَجَّه
تُI (verb ending) إِلىtoward أَبيَضَthe White Palace of المَدائِنِal-Mada'in عَنسيmy sturdy she-camel
تُ إِلى أَبيَضَ المَدائِنِ عَنسي
Sorrows came to my dwelling, so I directed
My traveling party worries thronged around me,
my sturdy she-camel toward the White Palace of al-Mada'in.
Pointing my camel litters toward Anbar.
أَتَسَلّىI seek distraction عَنِfrom الحُظوظِfortunes وَآسىand I grieve
أَتَسَلّى عَنِ الحُظوظِ وَآسى
لِمَحَلٍّfor a dwelling مِنof آلِthe House of ساسانَSasan دَرسِeffaced
لِمَحَلٍّ مِن آلِ ساسانَ دَرسِ
I turn my thoughts from fortune and grieve
To find in some Sasanian palace there
for a ruined dwelling of the House of Sasan.
Solace from fate and solitude from care.
أَذكَرتِنيهُمُbrought them to my mind الخُطوبُcalamities التَواليsuccessive
أَذكَرتِنيهُمُ الخُطوبُ التَوالي
وَلَقَدand indeed تُذكِرُmake one remember الخُطوبُcalamities وَتُنسيand make one forget
وَلَقَد تُذكِرُ الخُطوبُ وَتُنسي
Successive calamities brought them to my mind;
Those back-to-back catastrophes remind me,
calamities indeed make one remember and forget.
Though disasters bring forgetfulness, they say.
وَهُمُand they خافِضونَliving at ease فيin ظِلِّthe shade of عالٍa lofty one
وَهُمُ خافِضونَ في ظِلِّ عالٍ
مُشرِفٍtowering يَحسِرُwearies العُيونَthe eyes وَيُخسيand repels
مُشرِفٍ يَحسِرُ العُيونَ وَيُخسي
They lived at ease beneath a lofty shelter,
Men who in a noble’s shade decline,
towering, tiring the eyes and repelling their gaze.
Bringing down their eyes, and making foreheads crease.
مُغلَقٍclosed بابُهُits gate عَلىupon جَبَلِMount القَبal-Qabq (beginning)
مُغلَقٍ بابُهُ عَلى جَبَلِ القَب
قِal-Qabq (ending) إِلىas far as دارَتَيthe two regions of خِلاطَKhilat وَمُكسِand Muks
قِ إِلى دارَتَي خِلاطَ وَمُكسِ
Its gate enclosed Mount al-Qabq,
His gate is locked toward Jabal Qaf, until
as far as the two regions of Khilat and Muks.
You reach two slopes of sand and barren hills.
حِلَلٌdwellings لَمnot تَكٌwere كَأَطلالِlike the abandoned traces of سُعدىSu'da
حِلَلٌ لَم تَكٌ كَأَطلالِ سُعدى
فيin قِفارٍbarren tracts مِنَof البَسابِسِthe wastelands مُلسِsmooth
في قِفارٍ مِنَ البَسابِسِ مُلسِ
Dwellings unlike the abandoned traces of Su'da
Encampments, not like Su’da’s ruins, spaced
in barren, smooth expanses of wilderness;
On dusty flats no tents had ever faced.
وَمَساعٍand achievements لَولاbut for المُحاباةُpartiality مِنّيon my part
وَمَساعٍ لَولا المُحاباةُ مِنّي
لَمnot تُطِقهاcould match them مَسعاةُthe striving of عَنسٍ'Ans وَعَبسِand 'Abs
لَم تُطِقها مَسعاةُ عَنسٍ وَعَبسِ
and achievements that, but for my partiality,
Distresses even my indulgence could not
the deeds of 'Ans and 'Abs could never equal.
Bear, sent from a people of great wrath and rage.
نَقَلَcarried away الدَهرُTime عَهدَهُنَّtheir former state عَنِfrom الthe
نَقَلَ الدَهرُ عَهدَهُنَّ عَنِ ال
جِدَّةِfreshness حَتّىuntil رَجَعنَthey became أَنضاءَworn-out remnants of لُبسِclothing
جِدَّةِ حَتّى رَجَعنَ أَنضاءَ لُبسِ
Time has carried their former state away from
Time has moved their epoch from sobriety
freshness, till they became threadbare garments.
To make them models of vulgarity.
فَكَأَنَّso as though الجِرمازَthe great palace مِنfrom عَدَمِthe absence of الأُنcompanionship (beginning)
فَكَأَنَّ الجِرمازَ مِن عَدَمِ الأُن
سِcompanionship (ending) وَإِخلالِهِand its desolation بَنِيَّةُthe structure of رَمسِa tomb
سِ وَإِخلالِهِ بَنِيَّةُ رَمسِ
And the great palace, for want of companionship
So that Jurmaz now, with his lack of grace,
and in its desolation, seems a tomb's structure.
Seems in his character distinct from all his race.
لَوif تَراهُyou saw it عَلِمتَyou would know أَنَّthat اللَياليthe nights
لَو تَراهُ عَلِمتَ أَنَّ اللَيالي
جَعَلَتmade فيهِin it مَأتَماًa funeral gathering بَعدَafter عُرسِa wedding
جَعَلَت فيهِ مَأتَماً بَعدَ عُرسِ
If you saw it, you would know that the nights
You’d know, to see him, how the nights have made
had made a funeral gathering there after a wedding.
Of him a cemetery since his wedding feast.
وَهوَand it يُنبيكَtells you عَنof عَجائِبِthe wonders of قَومٍa people
وَهوَ يُنبيكَ عَن عَجائِبِ قَومٍ
لايُشابُis not mingled البَيانُthe account فيهِمof them بِلَبسِwith ambiguity
لايُشابُ البَيانُ فيهِم بِلَبسِ
It tells you of a people's wonders;
He tells you wonders of a folk whose ways
no ambiguity clouds the account of them.
Pure eloquence could never rightly praise.
وَإِذاand when مارَأَيتَyou ever see صورَةَthe image of أَنطاAntioch (beginning)
وَإِذا مارَأَيتَ صورَةَ أَنطا
كِيَّةَAntioch (ending) إِرتَعتَyou take fright بَينَamong رومٍRomans وَفُرسِand Persians
كِيَّةَ إِرتَعتَ بَينَ رومٍ وَفُرسِ
And when you see the painting of Antioch,
And whenever you see, in Antaki’s painting,
you take fright amid Romans and Persians.
Romans mixed with Persians in their quaint array,
وَالمَناياand deaths مَواثِلٌlooming وَأَنوشَرand Anushirwan (beginning)
وَالمَنايا مَواثِلٌ وَأَنوشَر
وانَAnushirwan (ending) يُزجىurges onward الصُفوفَthe ranks تَحتَbeneath الدِرَفسِthe Dirafs banner
وانَ يُزجى الصُفوفَ تَحتَ الدِرَفسِ
Death looms there, and Anushirwan
Seeing death’s arena where the ranks are brought
urges the ranks onward beneath the Dirafs banner,
Beneath the lances in that frenzied fight,
فيin اِخضِرارٍgreenness مِنَof اللِباسِthe clothing عَلىupon أَصyellow (beginning)
في اِخضِرارٍ مِنَ اللِباسِ عَلى أَص
فَرَyellow (ending) يَختالُstruts فيin صَبيغَةِthe tint of وَرسِwars dye
فَرَ يَختالُ في صَبيغَةِ وَرسِ
clad in green, upon a yellow steed
In greenest garb against a yellow background,
strutting in the yellow hue of wars dye.
Gaily parading in a cheerful site,
وَعِراكُand the combat of الرِجالِthe men بَينَbetween يَدَيهِhis two hands
وَعِراكُ الرِجالِ بَينَ يَدَيهِ
فيin خُفوتٍquietness مِنهُمfrom them وَإِغماضِand the muting of جَرسِsound
في خُفوتٍ مِنهُم وَإِغماضِ جَرسِ
The men fight before him,
Men in struggle before him you will find,
their voices hushed, every sound suppressed.
Blinking, in their slyness, spear points to the blind.
مِنamong مُشيحٍa resolute fighter يَهويthrusting بِعامِلِwith the working end of رُمحٍa spear
مِن مُشيحٍ يَهوي بِعامِلِ رُمحٍ
وَمُليحٍand one warding off مِنَfrom السِنانِthe spearhead بِتُرسِwith a shield
وَمُليحٍ مِنَ السِنانِ بِتُرسِ
One thrusts with the working end of a spear,
Some lean lancer charging with his spear’s point at the neck
and another wards the spearhead off with a shield.
Of some sweet lad with charming curls bedecked.
تَصِفُreports العَينُthe eye أَنَّهُمthat they جِدُّtruly أَحياalive (beginning)
تَصِفُ العَينُ أَنَّهُم جِدُّ أَحيا
ءٍalive (ending) لَهُمthey have بَينَهُمamong themselves إِشارَةُthe gestures of خُرسِthe mute
ءٍ لَهُم بَينَهُم إِشارَةُ خُرسِ
The eye declares them truly alive,
Your eyes describe them as a living throng
exchanging among themselves the gestures of the mute.
Signaling each other silence from their tongue.
يَغتَليseethes فيهِمabout them إِرتِابيmy uncertainty حَتّىuntil
يَغتَلي فيهِم إِرتِابي حَتّى
تَتَقَرّاهُمُfeel them out يَدايَmy two hands بِلَمسِby touch
تَتَقَرّاهُمُ يَدايَ بِلَمسِ
My uncertainty about them seethes until
Then my doubts so overwhelm me that I touch
my hands explore them by touch.
Them with my hands to verify as such.
قَدindeed سَقانيgave me drink وَلَمand did not يُصَرِّدstint أَبوAbu (father of) الغَوal-Ghawth (beginning)
قَد سَقاني وَلَم يُصَرِّد أَبو الغَو
ثِal-Ghawth (ending) عَلىbefore العَسكَرَينِthe two armies شَربَةَa draught خُلسِfurtiveness
ثِ عَلى العَسكَرَينِ شَربَةَ خُلسِ
Abu al-Ghawth gave me, without stinting,
He gave me to drink, but did not announce
a furtive draught before the two armies,
Over both hosts the vinegar of “Here’s to!”—
مِنof مُدامٍaged wine تَظُنُّهاyou think it وَهيَand it is نَجمٌa star
مِن مُدامٍ تَظُنُّها وَهيَ نَجمٌ
ضَوَّأَlit up اللَيلَthe night أَوor مُجاجَةُthe spittle of شَمسِthe sun
ضَوَّأَ اللَيلَ أَو مُجاجَةُ شَمسِ
of wine you would think a star
A wine you’d think a star the night made gleam
that lit the night, or spittle from the sun.
Or morning radiance from a cloudless stream.
وَتَراهاand you see it إِذاwhen أَجَدَّتbrings fresh سُروراًjoy
وَتَراها إِذا أَجَدَّت سُروراً
وَاِرتِياحاًand delight لِلشارِبِfor the drinker المُتَحَسّيwho sips
وَاِرتِياحاً لِلشارِبِ المُتَحَسّي
And you see it, when it brings fresh joy
But when it sparkles, moved with joy and luck for the imbiber,
and delight to the drinker who sips it,
It pours into the glass from every loving liver.
أُفرِغَتwas poured فيinto الزُجاجِthe glass مِنfrom كُلِّevery قَلبٍheart
أُفرِغَت في الزُجاجِ مِن كُلِّ قَلبٍ
فَهيَso it مَحبوبَةٌis beloved إِلىto كُلِّevery نَفسِsoul
فَهيَ مَحبوبَةٌ إِلى كُلِّ نَفسِ
as poured into the glass from every heart:
So it is loved by every soul and heart and nature.
so beloved is it to every soul.
I fancied Chosroes here carousing, lost in leisure,
وَتَوَهَّمتُand I imagined أَنَّthat كِسرىKisra أَبَرويAbarwiz (beginning)
وَتَوَهَّمتُ أَنَّ كِسرى أَبَروي
زَAbarwiz (ending) مُعاطِيَّsharing cups with me وَالبَلَهبَذَand al-Balahbadh أُنسيmy delight
زَ مُعاطِيَّ وَالبَلَهبَذَ أُنسي
I imagined that Kisra Abarwiz
A haunted look, or look of bliss, bewilders reason.
was sharing cups with me, and al-Balahbadh was my delight.
Does deepest gloom or perfect trust reflect his face?
حُلُمٌa dream مُطبِقٌclosing عَلىagainst الشَكِّdoubt عَينيmy two eyes
حُلُمٌ مُطبِقٌ عَلى الشَكِّ عَيني
أَمor أَمانٍwishes غَيَّرنَchanged ظَنّيmy judgment وَحَدسيand my conjecture
أَم أَمانٍ غَيَّرنَ ظَنّي وَحَدسي
Is a dream closing my eyes against doubt,
The hall, in its carved wonders and amazement,
or have wishes changed my judgment and conjecture?
Seemed like a Sasanian arch of audience.
وَكَأَنَّand as though الإيوانَthe vaulted hall مِنthrough عَجَبِthe wonder of الصَنcraftsmanship (beginning)
وَكَأَنَّ الإيوانَ مِن عَجَبِ الصَن
عَةِcraftsmanship (ending) جَوبٌa cleft فيin جَنبِthe flank of أَرعَنَa rugged mountain جِلسِlofty
عَةِ جَوبٌ في جَنبِ أَرعَنَ جِلسِ
And the iwan, through its wondrous craftsmanship,
It makes you feel, with such gloom overwhelming it,
seems a cleft in the flank of a lofty, rugged mountain.
Like one arriving there at dusk or one who’s leaving.
يُتَظَنّىis imagined مِنَfrom الكَآبَةِsorrow إِذwhen يَبappears (beginning)
يُتَظَنّى مِنَ الكَآبَةِ إِذ يَب
دوappears (ending) لِعَينَيto the eyes of مُصَبِّحٍa morning visitor أَوor مُمَسّيan evening visitor
دو لِعَينَي مُصَبِّحٍ أَو مُمَسّي
In its sadness it seems, when it appears
Disturbed by parting from familiar company,
to the eyes of a morning or evening visitor,
Or wearied with dismissing noble visitors.
مُزعَجاًdisturbed بِالفِراقِby separation عَنfrom أُنسِthe solace of إِلفٍa companion
مُزعَجاً بِالفِراقِ عَن أُنسِ إِلفٍ
عَزَّheld dear أَوor مُرهَقاًburdened بِتَطليقِby divorcing عِرسِa wife
عَزَّ أَو مُرهَقاً بِتَطليقِ عِرسِ
driven by separation from the solace of a companion
Fate turned on him, and buyer has become
held dear, or burdened by divorcing a wife.
The star of ill-omen, the baneful and accursed.
عَكَسَتreversed حَظُّهُits fortune اللَياليthe nights وَباتَand spent the night الthe
عَكَسَت حَظُّهُ اللَيالي وَباتَ ال
مُشتَريJupiter فيهِin it وَهوَand it is كَوكَبُa star of نَحسِill omen
مُشتَري فيهِ وَهوَ كَوكَبُ نَحسِ
The nights reversed its fortune, and overnight
So he affects composure, but still breaks out
Jupiter within it became a star of ill omen.
In sores that are the canker-blains of fate.
فَهوَso it يُبديshows تَجَلُّداًendurance وَعَلَيهِand upon it
فَهوَ يُبدي تَجَلُّداً وَعَلَيهِ
كَلكَلٌa heavy breast مِنof كَلاكِلِthe breasts of الدَهرِTime مُرسيfirmly planted
كَلكَلٌ مِن كَلاكِلِ الدَهرِ مُرسي
It shows steadfast endurance, though upon it
He was not vexed to be stripped of the dais’ carpets,
one of Time's crushing breasts lies firmly planted.
To dismount from curtained litters he had kept.
لَمnot يَعِبهُmarred it أَنthat بُزَّit was stripped مِنof بُسُطِrugs of الديbrocade (beginning)
لَم يَعِبهُ أَن بُزَّ مِن بُسُطِ الدي
باجِbrocade (ending) وَاِستَلَّand was divested مِنof سُتورِcurtains of المَقسِsilk
باجِ وَاِستَلَّ مِن سُتورِ المَقسِ
It was no blemish that it was stripped of rugs of
High-necked, with diadems on heads
brocade, and divested of its silk curtains.
Raised in joy and holiness.
مُشمَخِّرٌtowering تَعلوrise لَهُfor it شُرُفاتٌbattlements
مُشمَخِّرٌ تَعلو لَهُ شُرُفاتٌ
رُفِعَتwere raised فيupon رُؤوسِthe summits of رَضوىRadwa وَقُدسِand Quds
رُفِعَت في رُؤوسِ رَضوى وَقُدسِ
Lofty, with battlements rising
Wearing pure white, so that only
upon the summits of Radwa and Quds,
The fringes of their robes could be perceived.
لابِساتٌclothed مِنَin البَياضِwhiteness فَماso not تُبyou see (beginning)
لابِساتٌ مِنَ البَياضِ فَما تُب
صِرُyou see (ending) مِنهاof them إِلّاexcept غَلائِلَfine robes of بُرسِcotton
صِرُ مِنها إِلّا غَلائِلَ بُرسِ
clothed in whiteness, so you see
You cannot tell if jinn or humans made
nothing of them but fine cotton robes.
This work, each race assisting each race here.
لَيسَnot يُدرىis known أَصُنعُwhether the work of إِنسٍhumans لِجِنٍّfor jinn
لَيسَ يُدرى أَصُنعُ إِنسٍ لِجِنٍّ
سَكَنوهُthey inhabited it أَمor صُنعُthe work of جِنٍّjinn لِإِنسِfor humans
سَكَنوهُ أَم صُنعُ جِنٍّ لِإِنسِ
None knows: did humans build it for jinn
Yet I bear witness, with kings he has not equaled,
to inhabit, or did jinn build it for humans?
Nor will his like persist in generations on.
غَيرَexcept أَنّيthat I يَشهَدُit bears witness أَنthat لَمnot
غَيرَ أَنّي يَشهَدُ أَن لَم
يَكُwas بانيهِits builder فيamong المُلوكِkings بِنِكسِa weakling
يَكُ بانيهِ في المُلوكِ بِنِكسِ
Yet to me it bears witness that never
I seem to see the ranks and multitudes
was its builder a weakling among kings.
As I approach the limit of my will.
فَكَأَنّيso as though I أَرىsee المَراتِبَthe places of honor وَالقَوand the people (beginning)
فَكَأَنّي أَرى المَراتِبَ وَالقَو
مَthe people (ending) إِذاwhen ماever بَلَغتُI reached آخِرَthe limit of حِسّيmy senses
مَ إِذا ما بَلَغتُ آخِرَ حِسّي
It is as though I see the places of honor and the people
And delegations crying in their woe
when I reach the utmost limit of my senses;
Behind the crowds, too shy to dare draw near.
وَكَأَنَّand as though الوُفودَthe delegations ضاحينَexposed to the sun حَسرىweary
وَكَأَنَّ الوُفودَ ضاحينَ حَسرى
مِنfrom وُقوفٍstanding خَلفَbehind الزِحامِthe throng وَخِنسِand withdrawing
مِن وُقوفٍ خَلفَ الزِحامِ وَخِنسِ
and as though the delegations stand sun-exposed and weary,
The singers, in the palace, seem to guide back
from standing behind the throng, held back;
The odes they sing between love and delight.
وَكَأَنَّand as though القِيانَthe singing-girls وَسطَamid المَقاصيthe chambers (beginning)
وَكَأَنَّ القِيانَ وَسطَ المَقاصي
رِthe chambers (ending) يُرَجِّعنَsing refrains بَينَamong حُوٍdusky women وَلُعسِand dark-lipped women
رِ يُرَجِّعنَ بَينَ حُوٍ وَلُعسِ
and as though the singing-girls within the chambers
Our meeting was the first event of evening,
sing refrains, some dusky, some dark-lipped;
Our separation but the eve before last night.
وَكَأَنَّand as though اللِقاءَthe meeting أَوَّلَearlier مِنthan أَمyesterday (beginning)
وَكَأَنَّ اللِقاءَ أَوَّلَ مِن أَم
سِyesterday (ending) وَوَشكَand the imminence of الفِراقِparting أَوَّلَthe beginning of أَمسِyesterday
سِ وَوَشكَ الفِراقِ أَوَّلَ أَمسِ
and as though our meeting were the day before yesterday,
Whoever seeks to follow them, desiring
and the imminent parting early yesterday;
Their troop, will join them at next morning’s light.
وَكَأَنَّand as though الَّذيwhoever يُريدُwants إِتِّباعاًto follow
وَكَأَنَّ الَّذي يُريدُ إِتِّباعاً
طامِعٌhoping فيfor لُحوقِهِمcatching up with them صُبحَthe morning of خَمسِfive days
طامِعٌ في لُحوقِهِم صُبحَ خَمسِ
and as though whoever wished to follow
Long honored with joy, it now has turned
might hope to catch them on the fifth morning.
Into their consolation and their plight.
عُمِّرَتwere inhabited لِلسُرورِfor joy دَهراًfor an age فَصارَتthen became
عُمِّرَت لِلسُرورِ دَهراً فَصارَت
لِلتَعَزّيfor consolation رِباعُهُمtheir dwellings وَالتَأَسّيand solace
لِلتَعَزّي رِباعُهُم وَالتَأَسّي
Their dwellings were peopled for joy for an age, then became
Right that I weep for it with flooding tears
places for consolation and solace.
Pausing throughout the youthful years.
فَلَهاso they deserve أَنthat أُعينَهاI aid them بِدُموعٍwith tears
فَلَها أَن أُعينَها بِدُموعٍ
موقَفاتٍreserved عَلىfor الصَبابَةِyearning حُبسِheld in reserve
موقَفاتٍ عَلى الصَبابَةِ حُبسِ
They have a claim on me to aid them with tears,
That's my view, though not my house, nor are
dedicated to yearning and held in reserve.
The people of that lineage my own line.
ذاكَthat عِنديwith me وَلَيسَتand is not الدارُthe dwelling داريmy dwelling
ذاكَ عِندي وَلَيسَت الدارُ داري
بِإِقتِرابٍthrough closeness مِنهاto it وَلاnor الجِنسُthe race جِنسيmy race
بِإِقتِرابٍ مِنها وَلا الجِنسُ جِنسي
Such is my feeling, though the dwelling is not mine
But kindness to its people, in my family's eyes,
through any ties with it, nor is their race my race,
Was a most virtuous graft of sapling they supplied.
غَيرَexcept for نُعمىa kindness لِأَهلِهاfrom its people عِندَtoward أَهليmy people
غَيرَ نُعمى لِأَهلِها عِندَ أَهلي
غَرَسواthey planted مِنfrom زَكائِهاits fruitful bounty خَيرَthe best غَرسِplanting
غَرَسوا مِن زَكائِها خَيرَ غَرسِ
save for a kindness its people bestowed on mine:
They lent our kingdom strength, and fortified its force
they planted the finest seed from its flourishing bounty.
With sturdy pillars under every frowning door.
أَيَّدواthey strengthened مُلكَناour kingdom وَشَدّواand reinforced قُواهُits might
أَيَّدوا مُلكَنا وَشَدّوا قُواهُ
بِكُماةٍwith champions تَحتَbeneath السَنَّورِthe armor حُمسِfierce
بِكُماةٍ تَحتَ السَنَّورِ حُمسِ
They strengthened our kingdom and reinforced its might
They helped against the packs of ravening clients
with champions, fierce beneath their armor,
By stabbing with their lances, trampling with their steeds.
وَأَعانواand helped عَلىagainst كَتائِبِthe battalions of أَرياAryat (beginning)
وَأَعانوا عَلى كَتائِبِ أَريا
طَAryat (ending) بِطَعنٍwith thrusts عَلىat النُحورِthe throats وَدَعسِand fierce stabbing
طَ بِطَعنٍ عَلى النُحورِ وَدَعسِ
and helped against the battalions of Aryat
And so I find myself, as I proceed,
with thrusts to the throats and fierce stabbing.
Borne high above each tribe and kin and breed.
وَأَرانيand I find myself مِنfrom بَعدُthen onward أَكلَفُdevoted بِالأَشto the noble (beginning)
وَأَراني مِن بَعدُ أَكلَفُ بِالأَش
رافِthe noble (ending) طُرّاًall together مِنfrom كُلِّevery سِنخِroot وَأُسِّand foundation
رافِ طُرّاً مِن كُلِّ سِنخِ وَأُسِّ
And henceforth I find myself devoted to the noble,
all of them, of every root and foundation.
Partial English translation: 110 of 112 Arabic lines translated.