ياO فَضلُFadl فيماwhy الصُدودُthe shunning وَالغَضَبُand anger
يا فَضلُ فيما الصُدودُ وَالغَضَبُ
أَمor فيمَwhy حَبلُthe cord الصَفاءِof friendship مُنقَضِبُsevered
أَم فيمَ حَبلُ الصَفاءِ مُنقَضِبُ
O Fadl, why this shunning and anger?
O Fadl! What good is aloofness and anger,
Or why is the cord of friendship severed?
Or when the cord of amiability is severed?
أَمor فيمَwhy هِجرانُthe abandonment هائِمٍof a love-stricken man بِكُمُwith you
أَم فيمَ هِجرانُ هائِمٍ بِكُمُ
تُقصونَهُyou drive him away دائِباًcontinually وَيَقتَرِبُand he draws near
تُقصونَهُ دائِباً وَيَقتَرِبُ
Or why abandon one consumed with love for you,
Or when an absent loved one you push away
whom you continually drive away while he draws near?
Constantly though he seeks to draw near?
هَذاthis لِذَنبٍfor a fault فَلَنso never أَعودَI return لَهُto it
هَذا لِذَنبٍ فَلَن أَعودَ لَهُ
ماas long as أَعقَبَتfollowed ريحَa wind شَمأَلٍthe north نُكُبُcrosswinds
ما أَعقَبَت ريحَ شَمأَلٍ نُكُبُ
Is this for a fault? I shall never return to it,
For a fault I shall never repeat,
as long as crosswinds follow the north wind.
The wind of a northern journey shall not blow again.
أَمor دَبَّcrept ليagainst me كاشِحٌa secret foe فَأَضرَمَthen kindled ليagainst me
أَم دَبَّ لي كاشِحٌ فَأَضرَمَ لي
عِندَكَin your presence ناراًa fire بِالإِفكِwith lies تَلتَهِبُit blazes
عِندَكَ ناراً بِالإِفكِ تَلتَهِبُ
Or has a secret foe plotted against me and kindled
Or has a slanderer attacked me
before you a fire that blazes with lies?
Kindling for me a fire of lies with you?
ياO فَضلُFadl أَشمَتَّyou made them gloat بيover me العُداةَthe enemies وَقَدand indeed
يا فَضلُ أَشمَتَّ بي العُداةَ وَقَد
أَعطَيتَهُمyou gave them فِيَّagainst me فَوقَmore than ماwhat طَلَبواthey sought
أَعطَيتَهُم فِيَّ فَوقَ ما طَلَبوا
O Fadl, you have made my enemies gloat over me, and
O Fadl! My enemies rejoice while you
given them more against me than they sought:
Have given them more than they hoped for.
صَدُّكَyour shunning عَنّيfrom me وَجَفوَةٌand coldness حَدَثَتarose
صَدُّكَ عَنّي وَجَفوَةٌ حَدَثَت
مِنfrom صاحِبٍa companion غالَswept away وُدَّهُhis affection العَطَبُruin
مِن صاحِبٍ غالَ وُدَّهُ العَطَبُ
your turning from me, and a coldness that arose
Your coldness toward me, though we were friends,
from a companion whose affection ruin swept away.
Whose affection was abundant before.
كانَhe was صَديقاًa friend فَصارَthen became مَعرِفَةًan acquaintance
كانَ صَديقاً فَصارَ مَعرِفَةً
بَعدُafterward كَذاكَthus القُلوبُhearts تَنقَلِبُchange
بَعدُ كَذاكَ القُلوبُ تَنقَلِبُ
He was a friend, then became a mere acquaintance
He was a friend, and became an acquaintance,
afterward: thus do hearts change.
Thus hearts can turn and change.
إِنّيindeed I لَباكٍsurely weeping عَلَيهِfor him ماas long as طَرَقَتblinked
إِنّي لَباكٍ عَلَيهِ ما طَرَقَت
عَينٌan eye وَماand as long as فاضَoverflowed دَمعُهاits tears السَرِبُstreaming
عَينٌ وَما فاضَ دَمعُها السَرِبُ
Indeed, I shall weep for him as long as there blinks
I weep for him whenever an eye sheds tears
an eye, and as long as its streaming tears flow—
And they flow copiously and freely.
بُكاءَthe weeping مَحزونَةٍof a grieving woman عَلىover وَلَدٍa child
بُكاءَ مَحزونَةٍ عَلى وَلَدٍ
لَمdid not يُغنِavail عَنهاher الإِشفاقُanxious concern وَالحَدَبُand tender care
لَم يُغنِ عَنها الإِشفاقُ وَالحَدَبُ
the weeping of a grieving woman over a child,
I mourn for one alive though his love is dead,
when anxious concern and tender care availed her nothing.
Lamenting again and again though sympathy and affection avail me naught.
أَندَبُI lament حَيّاًa living man ماتَتdied مَوَدَّتُهُhis affection
أَندَبُ حَيّاً ماتَت مَوَدَّتُهُ
طَوراًat times وَطَوراًand at times عَلَيهِover him أَنتَحِبُI sob
طَوراً وَطَوراً عَلَيهِ أَنتَحِبُ
I lament a living man whose affection has died,
I cry for the loss of his love and devotion
at times, and at times I sob over him.
That once burned bright but is extinguished now.
باخَdimmed سَناthe radiance نارِof the fire وُدِّهِof his affection فَخَباthen faded
باخَ سَنا نارِ وُدِّهِ فَخَبا
وَكانَand there was حيناًonce لِنارِهِfor his fire لَهَبُa flame
وَكانَ حيناً لِنارِهِ لَهَبُ
The radiance of his love's fire dimmed and faded,
I used to visit him in friendship
though once his fire had a flame.
No veil concealed me from meeting him.
قَدindeed كُنتُI used to آتيهِI come to him لِلسَلامِto offer greetings فَلاand no
قَد كُنتُ آتيهِ لِلسَلامِ فَلا
تَستُرُنيscreen me off عَنfrom لِقائِهِmeeting him الحُجُبُthe curtains
تَستُرُني عَن لِقائِهِ الحُجُبُ
I used to come to him to offer greetings, and no
He showed affection and honored me,
curtains barred me from meeting him.
When affection's door was open between us.
قَدindeed كانَhe used to يُبديshow وُدّاًaffection وَتَكرِمَةًand honor
قَد كانَ يُبدي وُدّاً وَتَكرِمَةً
إِذwhen مَشرَعُthe watering-place الوُدِّof friendship بَينَناbetween us عُقَبُturns
إِذ مَشرَعُ الوُدِّ بَينَنا عُقَبُ
He used to show affection and honor,
When I was at the height of my status
when we shared friendship's watering-place by turns,
That the Arabs used to honor.
إِذwhen أَناI فيin عُنفُوانِthe prime of مَنزِلَةٍa rank
إِذ أَنا في عُنفُوانِ مَنزِلَةٍ
تُكرِمُنيhonor me مَرَّةًonce لَهاfor it العَرَبُthe Arabs
تُكرِمُني مَرَّةً لَها العَرَبُ
when I stood at the height of a rank
I was sheltered by glorious reigns
for which the Arabs once honored me.
With abundant rain and gold.
تُظِلُّنيshade me لِلمُلوكِbelonging to kings أَسمِيَةٌskies
تُظِلُّني لِلمُلوكِ أَسمِيَةٌ
أَمطارُهُنَّtheir rains اللُجَينُsilver وَالذَهَبُand gold
أَمطارُهُنَّ اللُجَينُ وَالذَهَبُ
The skies of kings spread their shade over me,
In humble life and under royal shade
their rains were silver and gold,
Milk for us flowed sweet and pure.
فيin خَفضِthe ease of عَيشٍliving وَظِلِّand the shade of مَملَكَةٍa kingdom
في خَفضِ عَيشٍ وَظِلِّ مَملَكَةٍ
قَدindeed كانَused to يَصفوflow pure بِهاin it لَناfor us الحَلَبُthe milk yield
قَد كانَ يَصفو بِها لَنا الحَلَبُ
in a life of ease and a kingdom's shade,
But when fate turned against me
where the milk we drew once flowed pure.
And time's vicissitudes came upon us,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الزَمانُtime أَعوَصَgrew difficult بيfor me
حَتّى إِذا ما الزَمانُ أَعوَصَ بي
وَالدَهرُand time فيناamong us لِصَرفِهِfor its reversals نُوَبُturns
وَالدَهرُ فينا لِصَرفِهِ نُوَبُ
Until, when time grew difficult for me—
The door of amiability was closed to me
and time's reversals have their turns among us—
As if no connection was between us before.
أُغلِقَwas shut دونيagainst me بابُthe door الصَفاءِof friendship كَأَنas though
أُغلِقَ دوني بابُ الصَفاءِ كَأَن
لَمnot يَكُthere was بَينيbetween me وَبَينَهُand him سَبَبُa bond
لَم يَكُ بَيني وَبَينَهُ سَبَبُ
the door of friendship was shut against me, as though
O friend! I never expected your change of heart,
no bond had existed between him and me.
One of refinement would not act this way.
ياO صاحِباًa companion لَمnot أَخَفI feared تَغَّيُّرَهُhis changing
يا صاحِباً لَم أَخَف تَغَّيُّرَهُ
ماnot هَكَذاthus فِعلُthe conduct مَنof one who لَهُhe has أَدَبُgood breeding
ما هَكَذا فِعلُ مَن لَهُ أَدَبُ
O companion whose change I never feared,
Why did I hope in a friend
this is not how a man of good breeding acts.
Looking for his benefits and favors?
ماwhat ليwith me وَكُنتُand I was الصَديقَthe friend آمُلُهُI place hope in him
ما لي وَكُنتُ الصَديقَ آمُلُهُ
وَأَرتَجيand I hope for نَفعَهُhis help وَأَرتَقِبُand I wait expectantly
وَأَرتَجي نَفعَهُ وَأَرتَقِبُ
What has befallen me? I had placed my hopes in my friend,
I come to you, my feet stumbling in haste,
hoped for his help, and waited expectantly.
Yearning drives me though you veil yourself from me.
آتيكَI come to you سَعياًhastening مُعَفِّراًcovering with dust قَدَميmy foot
آتيكَ سَعياً مُعَفِّراً قَدَمي
يَحفِزُنيdrives me الشَوقُlonging ثُمَّthen تَحتَجِبُyou hide yourself
يَحفِزُني الشَوقُ ثُمَّ تَحتَجِبُ
I hasten to you, covering my foot with dust;
As if when I come to see you in peace
longing drives me, then you hide yourself
I am shunned or frowned upon by your cold guards.
عَنّيfrom me كَأَنّيas though I إِذاwhen أَتَيتُكُمُI come to you
عَنّي كَأَنّي إِذا أَتَيتُكُمُ
مُسَلِّماًoffering greetings شارِفٌan old she-camel بِهاon her جَرَبُmange
مُسَلِّماً شارِفٌ بِها جَرَبُ
from me, as though, when I come to you
Such disdain is not the reward of a loyal friend,
to offer greetings, I were an old, mangy she-camel.
Qualities and speeches fall short of this.
ثَمَّةَthere حُجّابُكَyour doorkeepers الجُفاةُthe harsh ones إِذاwhen إِستَأbeginning of 'I sought permission'
ثَمَّةَ حُجّابُكَ الجُفاةُ إِذا إِستَأ
ذَنتُend of 'I sought permission' هَرّواthey snarled عَلَيَّat me أَوor قَطَبواthey scowled
ذَنتُ هَرّوا عَلَيَّ أَو قَطَبوا
There are your harsh doorkeepers: when I seek
By my life! A free man does not accept humiliation,
permission, they snarl at me or scowl.
Though young his determination is firm.
لَيسَis not جَزاءُthe recompense القُشولِunclear; probably 'speech' فيكَabout you بِماin terms that
لَيسَ جَزاءُ القُشولِ فيكَ بِما
تَقصُرُfall short عَنهُof it الصِفاتُdescriptions وَالخُطَبُand orations
تَقصُرُ عَنهُ الصِفاتُ وَالخُطَبُ
No recompense for speaking of you in terms
O Fadl! I shall not bear estrangement,
beyond the reach of descriptions and orations
Though in the world I am humbled and troubled.
هَذاthis لَعَمريby my life وَالحُرُّand the noble man لاnot يَرتَضيaccepts الthe (word fragment)
هَذا لَعَمري وَالحُرُّ لا يَرتَضي ال
هونَhumiliation وَإِنand even if قَلَّwas little عِندَهُwith him النَشَبُwealth
هونَ وَإِن قَلَّ عِندَهُ النَشَبُ
is this, by my life! And a noble man will not accept
Never! I shall not be disgraced by one
humiliation, even when his wealth is scant.
Who has spurned me though his meadows are vast.
ياO فَضلُFadl لاnot أَحمِلَI bear الجَفاءَcoldness وَليand I have
يا فَضلُ لا أَحمِلَ الجَفاءَ وَلي
فيon الأَرضِthe earth مَندوحَةٌample room وَمُضطَرَبُand a place to roam
في الأَرضِ مَندوحَةٌ وَمُضطَرَبُ
O Fadl, I will not endure coldness, while I have
My resolve prevents me from bearing
ample room on earth and space to roam.
What would shame me though hearts waver.
هَيهاتَfar from it هَيهاتَfar from it لاnot أَهونُI become abased وَليand I have
هَيهاتَ هَيهاتَ لا أَهونُ وَلي
عَمَّنaway from one who جَفانيshunned me مَنادِحٌalternatives رُحُبُspacious
عَمَّن جَفاني مَنادِحٌ رُحُبُ
Far from it, far from it! I will not be abased, while I have
Until dust covers my bones
wide alternatives to the one who shunned me.
I carry what would shame the weak.
تَمنَعُنيkeeps me نَبعَةٌa nabʿ tree مُغَرَّسَةٌfirmly planted
تَمنَعُني نَبعَةٌ مُغَرَّسَةٌ
لاno قادِحٌa wood-borer شانَهاmarred it وَلاnor قَلَبُheart-rot
لا قادِحٌ شانَها وَلا قَلَبُ
A firmly planted nabʿ tree keeps me—
O Fadl! I have words to say
no wood-borer has marred it, nor heart-rot—
That stir anger when I repeat them.
عَنfrom حَملِbearing ماwhat فيin اِحتِمالِهِenduring it ضَعَةٌdebasement
عَن حَملِ ما في اِحتِمالِهِ ضَعَةٌ
حَتّىuntil يُوارِيconceals عِظامِيَmy bones التُرُبُthe dust
حَتّى يُوارِي عِظامِيَ التُرُبُ
from bearing anything whose endurance is degrading,
Honor prevents me from you
until the dust hides my bones.
And an intimacy that falsehood would taint.
ياO فَضلُFadl ليI have مِقوَلٌa tongue أَقولُI speak بِهِwith it
يا فَضلُ لي مِقوَلٌ أَقولُ بِهِ
عَضبٌsword-sharp إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle هَزهَزتُهُI brandish it ذَرِبُkeen
عَضبٌ إِذا ما هَزهَزتُهُ ذَرِبُ
O Fadl, I have a tongue with which I speak,
How many foes have I silenced for your sake
sword-sharp, keen whenever I brandish it.
And how often anger against you I have curbed.
تَحجِزُنيrestrains me عَنكَfrom you حُرمَةٌa bond of respect قَدُمَتhas long existed
تَحجِزُني عَنكَ حُرمَةٌ قَدُمَت
وَخُلَّةٌand a friendship ماnot يَشينُهاstains it كَذِبُfalsehood
وَخُلَّةٌ ما يَشينُها كَذِبُ
A longstanding bond of respect holds me back from you,
When men denounced you
and a friendship unstained by falsehood.
I defended you from their attacks.
كَمhow many مِنof عَدُوٍّan enemy أَرغَمتُI forced into the dust مَعطِسَهُhis nose
كَم مِن عَدُوٍّ أَرغَمتُ مَعطِسَهُ
فيكَfor your sake وَكَمand how often فيكَfor your sake هَزَّنيstirred me الغَضَبُanger
فيكَ وَكَم فيكَ هَزَّني الغَضَبُ
How many an enemy's nose I have rubbed in the dust
If people were judged by their deeds
for your sake; how often anger stirred me for you
You would be the one I choose and prefer.
عَلىagainst رِجالٍmen إِذاwhen هُمُthey قَدَحواthey disparaged
عَلى رِجالٍ إِذا هُمُ قَدَحوا
فيكَabout you فَبَينيthen between me وَبَينَهُمand them نَحَبُa wager
فيكَ فَبَيني وَبَينَهُم نَحَبُ
against men who, whenever they disparaged
I make you the best among them
you, a wager lay between them and me.
Even if they are displeased and angry.
إِنif حُصِّلَwere assessed الناسُpeople فيby فِعالِهِمِtheir deeds
إِن حُصِّلَ الناسُ في فِعالِهِمِ
كُنتَyou would be الَّذيthe one whom أَصطَفيI select وَأَنتَخِبُand I choose
كُنتَ الَّذي أَصطَفي وَأَنتَخِبُ
If people were judged by their deeds,
Yet I find myself spurned by you
you would be the one I selected and chose.
Though I respected propriety and avoided harm.
أَجعَلُكَI make you الفَذَّthe one-share gaming arrow مِنfrom قِداحِهِمِtheir gaming arrows
أَجعَلُكَ الفَذَّ مِن قِداحِهِمِ
إِذاwhen أُجيلَتwere shuffled وَإِنand even if هُمُthey غَضِبواgrew angry
إِذا أُجيلَت وَإِن هُمُ غَضِبوا
I would make you the one-share arrow among their gaming lots,
when they were shuffled, even if they grew angry.
ثُمَّthen أَرانيI see myself لَدَيكَin your presence مُطَّرِحاًcast aside
ثُمَّ أَراني لَدَيكَ مُطَّرِحاً
أُجفىI am rebuffed عَلىdespite حُرمَتيmy claim to respect وَأَجتَنِبُand I keep away
أُجفى عَلى حُرمَتي وَأَجتَنِبُ
Yet I see myself cast aside before you;
I am rebuffed despite my claim to respect, and I keep away.
Partial English translation: 68 of 72 Arabic lines translated.