عادَreturned لِلصَبِّto the lovesick man شَجوُهُhis sorrow وَاِكتِئابُهand his dejection
عادَ لِلصَبِّ شَجوُهُ وَاِكتِئابُه
بِبِعادِthrough separation from الَّذيthe one who يُرادُis desired اقتِرابُهhis nearness
بِبِعادِ الَّذي يُرادُ اقتِرابُه
The lovesick man's sorrow and dejection have returned,
His sorrows and melancholy have returned
through separation from the one whose nearness is desired.
With the absence of the one whose nearness is desired
رَشَأُa young gazelle ماnot دَنَتdrew near بِهِwith him الدارُthe dwelling إِلّاexcept that
رَشَأُ ما دَنَت بِهِ الدارُ إِلّا
رَجَعَrestored البُعدَdistance صَدُّهُhis rebuff وَاِجتِنابُهand his avoidance
رَجَعَ البُعدَ صَدُّهُ وَاِجتِنابُه
A young gazelle: his dwelling never brought him near
However much the house was brought near by his steps
without his rebuff and avoidance restoring distance.
His aloofness drove him back and avoidance of him
كَمhow much غَرامٍpassion لَناfor us بِأَلحاظِfor the glances of عَينَيـtwo eyes
كَم غَرامٍ لَنا بِأَلحاظِ عَينَيـ
ـهِhis شَهِيٍّsweet إِلىto النُفوسِsouls عَذابُهits torment
ـهِ شَهِيٍّ إِلى النُفوسِ عَذابُه
How much passion we feel for the glances of his eyes,
How much passion we had for his charming eyes
whose torment is sweet to souls!
That were delightful for souls yet tormenting for them
وَسُرورٍand joy بِمَشهَدٍat a sight مِنهُof him وَالتُفand the apples (beginning)
وَسُرورٍ بِمَشهَدٍ مِنهُ وَالتُف
فاحُcompletion of 'apples' خَدّاهُhis two cheeks وَالمُدامُand wine رُضابُهhis saliva
فاحُ خَدّاهُ وَالمُدامُ رُضابُه
And what joy in the sight of him—and apples
And joy at seeing him, his smiling cheek and constant intoxication
are his cheeks, and wine his saliva.
As if eyes wished to rob him, if they were able to seize him
كِدنَthey almost يَنهَبنَهُthey plunder him العُيونِthe eyes سِراعاًswiftly
كِدنَ يَنهَبنَهُ العُيونِ سِراعاً
فيهِon him لَوif أَمكَنَwere possible for العُيونَthe eyes اِنتِهابُهplundering him
فيهِ لَو أَمكَنَ العُيونَ اِنتِهابُه
Eyes almost snatched him away in their haste,
The singers were weakened, demanding
as they gazed at him—if eyes could snatch him away.
What was owed by the smitten heart
هُبِلَmay they be bereaved الغانِياتُthe beauties كَمhow often يَتَقاضىdemands payment of
هُبِلَ الغانِياتُ كَم يَتَقاضى
دَينَهُhis due مُعلَقُensnared الفُؤادِthe heart مُصابُهhis stricken lover
دَينَهُ مُعلَقُ الفُؤادِ مُصابُه
May the beauties be bereaved! How often does he demand
What was promised was lacking though longing remained
his due—the man he has smitten, his heart ensnared!
For the one whose stay and wait were prolonged
كانَwas خُلفاًa broken promise ماwhat قَدalready وَعَدنَthey promised وَإِنand though طاlasted long (beginning)
كانَ خُلفاً ما قَد وَعَدنَ وَإِن طا
لَcompletion of 'lasted long' بِذيfor the one with الوَجدِpassion مَكثُهُhis lingering وَاِرتِقابُهand his waiting
لَ بِذي الوَجدِ مَكثُهُ وَاِرتِقابُه
What they promised proved false, though long
They said: where is youth after its passing?
were the lovelorn one's lingering and waiting.
I struggled to answer them
قُلنَthey said أَينَwhere الشَبابُyouth فيin عَقَبِthe wake of فَوتٍa loss
قُلنَ أَينَ الشَبابُ في عَقَبِ فَوتٍ
مِنهُof it قَولاًwords أَعياdefeated عَلَيَّfor me جَوابُهits answer
مِنهُ قَولاً أَعيا عَلَيَّ جَوابُه
They said, 'Where is youth?' when something
And the youth dies even if he still lives
of it had slipped away—words whose answer defeated me.
When his prime is completely lost
وَيَموتُand dies الفَتىthe man وَإِنand though كانَwas حَيّاًalive
وَيَموتُ الفَتى وَإِن كانَ حَيّاً
حينَwhen يَستَكمِلُcompletes النَفادَexhaustion شَبابُهhis youth
حينَ يَستَكمِلُ النَفادَ شَبابُه
A man dies, though he still lives,
We do not care if the minister's hand withered
when his youth is wholly spent.
Or if you saw carnelian pouring down its ridges
ماnot نُباليwe care يَدُthe hand of الوَزيرِthe minister اِستَهَلَّتrained down
ما نُبالي يَدُ الوَزيرِ اِستَهَلَّت
أَمor رَأَيتَyou saw العَقيقَal-Aqiq سالَتflowed شِعابُهits ravines
أَم رَأَيتَ العَقيقَ سالَت شِعابُه
We care not whether the minister's hand rains down,
It is the same if the wise man resisted him
or you see al-Aqiq with its ravines flowing.
Or the shepherd mounted its peaks
وَسَواءٌand equal مَقاوِمُpillars of الحِلمِforbearance مِنهُin him
وَسَواءٌ مَقاوِمُ الحِلمِ مِنهُ
وَرِعانُand the crags of الرَيّانِal-Rayyan أَرسَتwere firmly rooted هِضابُهits hills
وَرِعانُ الرَيّانِ أَرسَت هِضابُه
And equal are the pillars of his forbearance
The cavalry leader is independent atop them
and al-Rayyan's crags, its hills firmly rooted.
Although the best penmanship in iron and wood
قائِدُcommander of الخَيلِthe cavalry مُستَقِلٌrising aloft عَلَيهاabove them
قائِدُ الخَيلِ مُستَقِلٌ عَلَيها
أَجَمُthickets of الخَطِّal-Khatt فيamid الحَديدِiron وِغابُهand its forests
أَجَمُ الخَطِّ في الحَديدِ وِغابُه
Commander of cavalry, above which rise
And the governor of affairs is no novelty
thickets and forests of al-Khatt spears amid iron.
It is no wonder if his judgment is correct in it
وَوَلِيُّand master of التَدبيرِgovernance لَيسَis not بِبِدعٍan unprecedented
وَوَلِيُّ التَدبيرِ لَيسَ بِبِدعٍ
عَجَبٍwonder أَنthat يُبِرَّexcel فيهِin it صَوابُهhis sound judgment
عَجَبٍ أَن يُبِرَّ فيهِ صَوابُه
And master of governance: it is no unprecedented
Between truth which ambition turns him to
wonder that his sound judgment should excel in it.
Or contentment which comes over him
بَينَbetween حَقٍّa duty يَنوبُهُfalls to him يَصرِفُhe directs الرَغـzeal (beginning)
بَينَ حَقٍّ يَنوبُهُ يَصرِفُ الرَغـ
ـبَcompletion of 'zeal' إِلَيهِtoward it أَوor مُعتَفٍa suppliant يَنتابُهvisits him
ـبَ إِلَيهِ أَو مُعتَفٍ يَنتابُه
Between a duty that falls to him, toward which he turns
His persistence in haughtiness raises him
his zeal, or a suppliant who visits him.
While people whom his ignorance demeans
ظَلَّcontinued إِدمانُهُhis constant practice of التَطَوُّلَbestowing favors يُعليـraises
ظَلَّ إِدمانُهُ التَطَوُّلَ يُعليـ
ـهِhim وَقَومٌwhile some people يَحُطُّهُمlowers them إِغبابُهits intermittent practice
ـهِ وَقَومٌ يَحُطُّهُم إِغبابُه
His constant practice of generosity kept raising
The initiator of action, if deeds conflict
him, while others are lowered by its intermittent practice.
Shows his closeness or distance
مُبدِئُinitiator of الفِعلِaction إِنif تَبايَنَتِdiffered الأَفـthe deeds (beginning)
مُبدِئُ الفِعلِ إِن تَبايَنَتِ الأَفـ
ـعالُcompletion of 'the deeds' بانَbecame clear اِقتِرابُهُhis nearness وَاِغتِرابُهand his remoteness
ـعالُ بانَ اِقتِرابُهُ وَاِغتِرابُه
An initiator of action: when deeds differ,
And promises proceed urgently
his nearness and remoteness become clear.
For quick success whose causes are imminent
وَالمَواعيدُand the promises يَندَفِعنَrush onward عَلىtoward عاprompt (beginning)
وَالمَواعيدُ يَندَفِعنَ عَلى عا
جِلِcompletion of 'prompt' نُجحٍfulfillment وَشيكَةٍnear at hand أَسبابُهits means
جِلِ نُجحٍ وَشيكَةٍ أَسبابُه
And his promises rush toward prompt
As if the crossing trembled but
fulfillment, its means close at hand.
The dispersal of clouds did not cease, nor their drivers
مِثلَlike ماwhen اِهتَزَّتِshimmered العَبورُSirius فَلَمand did not يُكـfail to yield rain (beginning)
مِثلَ ما اِهتَزَّتِ العَبورُ فَلَم يُكـ
ـدِcompletion of 'fail to yield rain' نَشاصُtowering masses of السَحابِclouds ثُمَّthen رَبابُهtheir lower cloudbanks
ـدِ نَشاصُ السَحابِ ثُمَّ رَبابُه
As when Sirius shimmered, and rain did not fail
In a system of beauties that still
from the towering clouds, then their lower cloudbanks.
Match his manners and etiquette
فيin نِظامٍan ordered array مِنَof المَحاسِنِfine qualities مازاhave never ceased (beginning)
في نِظامٍ مِنَ المَحاسِنِ مازا
لَتcompletion of 'have never ceased' تُضاهيmatch أَخلاقَهُhis character آدابُهhis cultivated manners
لَت تُضاهي أَخلاقَهُ آدابُه
In an ordered array of virtues, ceaselessly
And features of a face, if gleaming for the seeking one
his cultivated manners match his character.
Its needs have been attained, despite remoteness
وَتَلاليand the radiance of وَجهٍa face إِذاwhen لاحَappeared لِلطاto the seeker (beginning)
وَتَلالي وَجهٍ إِذا لاحَ لِلطا
لِبِcompletion of 'seeker' أَمسىbecame مَبلوغَةًfulfilled أَرابُهhis wishes
لِبِ أَمسى مَبلوغَةً أَرابُه
And the radiance of a face which, when it appears to a seeker,
It contended with the full moon, so its splendor outshone
leaves his wishes fulfilled.
The rent in the clouds below it and its assemblage
سَومَin the manner of بَدرِthe full moon of السَماءِthe sky وَفَّتmade complete سَناهُits radiance
سَومَ بَدرِ السَماءِ وَفَّت سَناهُ
فَرجَةُan opening in الغَيمِthe clouds دونَهُbefore it وَاِنجِيابُهand their parting
فَرجَةُ الغَيمِ دونَهُ وَاِنجِيابُه
Like the full moon in the sky, whose radiance is made complete
And awe-inspiring for confidants, if not for
by an opening in the clouds before it and their parting.
The generosity of intimacy, his discourse would be frightening
وَمَهيبٌand awe-inspiring عِندَto المُناجينَthose speaking privately لَولاwere it not for
وَمَهيبٌ عِندَ المُناجينَ لَولا
كَرَمُgraciousness of الأُنسِaffability كانَwould be هَولاًa terror خِطابُهhis speech
كَرَمُ الأُنسِ كانَ هَولاً خِطابُه
And awe-inspiring to those who speak privately with him; but for
He continues to be ransomed by souls
his gracious affability, his speech would be a terror.
Whose clothes are untouched by their flaws
لاmay not يَزَلcease يُفتَدىbe ransomed بِأَنفُسِwith the lives of قَومٍpeople
لا يَزَل يُفتَدى بِأَنفُسِ قَومٍ
نَقِيَتwere free مِنfrom عُيوبِهِمtheir faults أَثوابُهhis robes
نَقِيَت مِن عُيوبِهِم أَثوابُه
May he always be ransomed with the lives of people
Strangely, his manner was obscured from us
from whose faults his robes are free.
By aloofness, if barriers enveloped him
عَجَباًwonder مِنهُat him ماnot اِنطَوىwas withheld سَيبُهُhis bounty عَنـfrom
عَجَباً مِنهُ ما اِنطَوى سَيبُهُ عَنـ
ـناus بِعَوقٍby hindrance إِذاwhen طَواهُconcealed him حِجابُهhis curtain
ـنا بِعَوقٍ إِذا طَواهُ حِجابُه
How wondrous he is! His bounty is never withheld from
Achieving abundantly was not difficult, though we wished it
us by any hindrance, even when his curtain conceals him.
So how can his gate be arduous?
لَمnot يَكُنwas نَيلُهُhis bounty الجَزيلُabundant وَقَدwhen already رُمناwe sought
لَم يَكُن نَيلُهُ الجَزيلُ وَقَد رُمنا
هُit صَعباًdifficult فَكَيفَso how يَصعُبُcan be difficult بابُهhis door
هُ صَعباً فَكَيفَ يَصعُبُ بابُه
His ample bounty was not, when we sought
Whoever was absent from the wit of a face
it, hard to gain; how then can his door be hard to enter?
That illuminated the gloomy event was disappointed
خابَwas disappointed مَنwhoever غابَwas absent عَنfrom طَلاقَةِcheerfulness of وَجهٍa face
خابَ مَن غابَ عَن طَلاقَةِ وَجهٍ
ضَوَّأَilluminated الحادِثَthe calamity المُضِبَّfog-shrouded شِهابُهits meteor
ضَوَّأَ الحادِثَ المُضِبَّ شِهابُه
Disappointed is he who misses the cheerfulness of a face
I have not seen the Sultan incline away from you
whose meteor lights up a fog-shrouded calamity.
For the Sultan’s victory gives plenty and turns away
ماnot رَأَيتُI saw السُلطانَthe sovereign مَيَّلَhesitated فيregarding أَنـthat
ما رَأَيتُ السُلطانَ مَيَّلَ في أَنـ
ـنَكَyou ظُفرُthe claw of السُلطانِthe sovereign أَغنَتproved effective وَنابُهand his fang
ـنَكَ ظُفرُ السُلطانِ أَغنَت وَنابُه
I have never seen the sovereign hesitate over
Do I see you in the morning releasing my camel
your being the sovereign's effective claw and his fang.
Announcing departure, provisions tied?
أَتُراكَmight you be الغَداةَthis morning مُطلِقُreleasing رِبقيmy bonds
أَتُراكَ الغَداةَ مُطلِقُ رِبقي
مُؤذِنٌannouncing بِالرَحيلِdeparture زُمَّتwere bridled رِكابُهits riding-camels
مُؤذِنٌ بِالرَحيلِ زُمَّت رِكابُه
Will you this morning release my bonds?
Coming from benevolence of a hand of yours that
Announcing departure, its mounts already bridled,
Neither its waves nor foam can describe
صادِرٌreturning عَنfrom نَدىbounty of يَدٍa hand مِنكَof yours لاnot يَنـreach half of (beginning)
صادِرٌ عَن نَدى يَدٍ مِنكَ لا يَنـ
ـصُفُهاreach half of it (completion) البَحرُthe sea مَوجُهُits waves وَعُبابُهand its surge
ـصُفُها البَحرُ مَوجُهُ وَعُبابُه
returning from the bounty of your hand, which
A need—if you commanded success in it
the sea—its waves and surge—cannot match even halfway.
The distant seeker would come near his refuge
حاجَةٌa request لَوif أَمَرتَyou decreed فيهاconcerning it بِنُجحٍwith success
حاجَةٌ لَو أَمَرتَ فيها بِنُجحٍ
قَرُبَwould draw near النازِحُthe distant wanderer البَعيدُfar away مَآبُهhis home
قَرُبَ النازِحُ البَعيدُ مَآبُه
A request: if you decreed its fulfillment,
Nothing is sweetened by your existence but what is sought
the distant wanderer, whose home is far away, would draw near.
With effort until its seeker despairs
لَيسَdoes not يَحلوbecome sweet وُجودُكَyour finding الشَيءَthe thing تَبغيـyou seek
لَيسَ يَحلو وُجودُكَ الشَيءَ تَبغيـ
ـهِit اِلتِماساًin pursuit حَتّىuntil يَعِزَّbecomes difficult طِلابُهseeking it
ـهِ اِلتِماساً حَتّى يَعِزَّ طِلابُه
Finding the thing you seek is not sweet
until your pursuit of it becomes difficult.
Partial English translation: 60 of 62 Arabic lines translated.