كُفيcease مقالكyour talk عنabout لوميblaming me وتَفْنيديand reproaching me
كُفي مقالك عن لومي وتَفْنيدي
صبابتيmy yearning بالعُلىfor lofty glory لاnot الخُرَّدِbashful maidens الغِيدِthe graceful ones
صبابتي بالعُلى لا الخُرَّدِ الغِيدِ
Cease your talk of blaming and reproaching me;
Your reproach and censure of me are enough,
my yearning is for heights of glory, not bashful, graceful maidens.
My youth is spent in glory, not in idle play.
أطَلْتyou went on at length حتىuntil حسبتI thought المجدglory منقصةًa failing
أطَلْت حتى حسبت المجد منقصةً
كلاnot so ولوeven if أنهit were حتَفُthe death of المماجيدِthe illustrious
كلا ولو أنه حتَفُ المماجيدِ
You went on so long that I thought glory a failing;
I have persevered till glory seemed diminished,
no—even if it meant the death of the illustrious!
No, even if the mighty fall to their doom.
لماwhen رأيتِyou saw غَراماًardent passion جَلَّtowered عنbeyond عَذَلٍreproach
لما رأيتِ غَراماً جَلَّ عن عَذَلٍ
حسبتِهyou supposed it بهوىto be love for الحُسَّانةِthe lovely woman الرُّودِthe tender one
حسبتِه بهوى الحُسَّانةِ الرُّودِ
When you saw a passion too mighty for reproach,
When you saw passionate love, high above blame,
you thought it love for a lovely, tender maiden.
You thought it was a young girl’s foolish infatuation.
لاno والرَّواقصِby the bounding camels بالأنْساعِwith girth-straps يَبْعثهاdrives them onward
لا والرَّواقصِ بالأنْساعِ يَبْعثها
زجرُurging cries الحُداةِof the camel-drivers بإنشادٍwith chanting وتغريدِand singing
زجرُ الحُداةِ بإنشادٍ وتغريدِ
No—by the camels bounding in their girth-straps, urged on
No, and as for the dancing girls rhythmically swaying,
by the camel-drivers' cries, their chanting and singing.
It is the singers’ chorus that inspires their movements.
إذاwhen ونينthey grew weary منfrom الأرقالswift trotting واضْطمرتْand grew lean
إذا ونين من الأرقال واضْطمرتْ
منfrom اللُّغوبexhaustion خلطْنthey mingled البيدَthe deserts بالبيدِwith deserts
من اللُّغوب خلطْن البيدَ بالبيدِ
When they tire from swift trotting and grow gaunt
When they moan from the shackles and writhe
from exhaustion, they mingle desert with desert.
Confused by ecstasy, they mix together.
لُغامهنَّtheir mouth-foam وماand what ينضحنthey spatter منof عَلَقٍclotted blood
لُغامهنَّ وما ينضحن من عَلَقٍ
غِسْلa washing fluid الأزمَّةfor the reins أوor صبغُa dye for الجلاميدِthe boulders
غِسْل الأزمَّة أو صبغُ الجلاميدِ
Their foam, and the clotted blood they spatter,
Their flirtations and the juices they exude
are a wash for the reins, or a dye for the boulders.
Are like washing filth or dyeing clothes.
يحملنthey carry شُعثاًdisheveled men علىupon الأكوارthe camel-saddles تحسبهمyou would take them
يحملن شُعثاً على الأكوار تحسبهم
أزِمَّةَreins العيسِof the pale camels منهمٍّfrom care وتَسْهيدِand sleeplessness
أزِمَّةَ العيسِ منهمٍّ وتَسْهيدِ
They carry disheveled men on their saddles, whom you would take
They carry dishevelled hair over their breasts, so you would think them
for the pale camels' reins, so wasted by care and sleeplessness.
A troop of ram soldiers charging in attack.
ماnot حنَّyearned قلبيmy heart إلىtoward الحسناءthe beautiful woman منfrom علقٍloving attachment
ما حنَّ قلبي إلى الحسناء من علقٍ
لكننيbut I بالمعاليwith lofty attainments جِدُّutterly مَعْمودِsmitten
لكنني بالمعالي جِدُّ مَعْمودِ
My heart has not yearned for a beauty out of love;
My heart is not inclined towards a beautiful woman through lust,
but I am utterly smitten with high attainments.
But I am steadfast in pursuing noble goals.
صبابتيmy yearning دونrather than عِقْدٍa necklace زانهُadorned it عُنُقٌa neck
صبابتي دون عِقْدٍ زانهُ عُنُقٌ
إلىtoward لواءٍa banner أمامَbefore الجيشthe army معقودِfastened
إلى لواءٍ أمامَ الجيش معقودِ
My yearning, rather than for a necklace adorned by a neck,
My youth, though without restraint, is adorned by a neck
is for a banner fastened at the army's head.
Raised like a banner before the marching army.
أميسُI swagger تِيهاًin pride علىabove الأحياءِthe living كلِّهِمُall of them
أميسُ تِيهاً على الأحياءِ كلِّهِمُ
علماًknowing بأنَّthat نظيريmy equal غيرُnot موجودِexistent
علماً بأنَّ نظيري غيرُ موجودِ
I strut in pride above all the living,
I wander perplexed among all the settlements,
knowing that my equal does not exist.
Knowing that none can equal me.
كيفhow الإجادةُexcellence فيin نظمٍverse وقافيةٍand rhyme
كيف الإجادةُ في نظمٍ وقافيةٍ
عنfrom خاطرٍa mind بصروفby the vicissitudes of الدهرtime مكدودworn down
عن خاطرٍ بصروف الدهر مكدود
How can there be excellence in verse and rhyme
How can I excel in verse and rhyme
from a mind worn down by the turns of time?
When my mind is wearied by the world’s vicissitudes?
كمhow often قدindeed قريتI offered hospitality to هَنيَّtranquil in العزْمresolve نازلةًa calamity
كم قد قريت هَنيَّ العزْم نازلةً
والخطبwhile calamity يُجلبraises a clamor فيin ساحاتِthe courtyards of رعديدa coward
والخطب يُجلب في ساحاتِ رعديد
How often have I welcomed calamity with untroubled resolve,
How often have I seen resolve humbled,
while disaster clamored in a coward's courtyards!
And glory overturned in the battlefields.
تَبَصَّرُوهاbehold them مِراحاًspirited فيin أعِنَّتِهاtheir reins
تَبَصَّرُوها مِراحاً في أعِنَّتِها
يجفنthey gallop ماwhat lies بينbetween مقتولٍone slain ومطرودِand one routed
يجفن ما بين مقتولٍ ومطرودِ
Behold them, spirited in their reins,
They observe it slyly with the corners of their eyes,
galloping between the slain and the routed.
Blinking between the slain and the outcast.
تكرُّthey charge again فin (apparently truncated) ليلةٍa night ليْلاءَpitch-black منfrom رَهَجٍbattle-dust
تكرُّ ف ليلةٍ ليْلاءَ من رَهَجٍ
علىover نجيعٍshed blood لخيلfor the steeds of اللهِGod مورودِvisited as a watering-place
على نجيعٍ لخيل اللهِ مورودِ
They charge through a night pitch-black with battle-dust,
They attack a pitch-black night with clamour
over blood—a watering-place for God's steeds.
Against the horses of Allah in full stampede.
تنزوthey bound بحُمْسٍwith fierce warriors هفتswept along أضغانهمtheir grudges بهمwith them
تنزو بحُمْسٍ هفت أضغانهم بهم
فحطمواso they shattered فيin التراقيthe collarbones كلevery أمْلودِsupple spear
فحطموا في التراقي كل أمْلودِ
They bound with fierce warriors whose grudges swept them on,
They plunge in recklessly, crushing the enemy host,
so they shattered every supple spear in collarbones.
Destroying in the melee every trained warrior,
كأنَّas though فرْطthe profusion of تواليthe succession of الطَّعنspear-thrusts بينهمُamong them
كأنَّ فرْط توالي الطَّعن بينهمُ
ولْغُlapping العواسلof wolves أوor معروفa kindness محمودpraiseworthy
ولْغُ العواسل أو معروف محمود
As though the relentless succession of spear-thrusts among them
As continuous onslaught of spears amongst them
were wolves' lapping, or a praiseworthy kindness.
And the horses’ neighing were worthy deeds.
الواهبthe giver of الحتفdeath والعيشand life الخصيبabundant معاًtogether
الواهب الحتف والعيش الخصيب معاً
فالموتُthus death بالبأسِthrough martial might والإحياءُand giving life بالجودِthrough generosity
فالموتُ بالبأسِ والإحياءُ بالجودِ
The giver of death and abundant life together:
He who grants both death in battle and a good life
death through martial might, and life through generosity.
So death comes through might and life through bounty.
والمُبْتَنيand the builder of شَرفاًhonor ترسوstand firm دعائمُهُits pillars
والمُبْتَني شَرفاً ترسو دعائمُهُ
بمحمدthrough praiseworthy السَّعيendeavor لاnot صُمِّsolid القَراميدِbricks
بمحمد السَّعي لا صُمِّ القَراميدِ
And he who builds an honor whose pillars stand firm
The one of noble origin, his foundations are laid
through praiseworthy endeavor, not solid bricks.
Through Muhammad, striving, not mere vain indulgence.
إنْif أمسكholds back الغيثthe rain لمnot يحبسwithhold مكارمهhis generous gifts
إنْ أمسك الغيث لم يحبس مكارمه
طولُthe length of المِطالِdelay ولاnor خُلْفُthe breaking of المواعيدِpromises
طولُ المِطالِ ولا خُلْفُ المواعيدِ
If the rain holds back, his bounty is not withheld
If he withholds rain he does not withhold his bounty,
by protracted delay or broken promises.
Despite long waiting and delayed promises.
مالٌwealth يُذالُis freely spent وعرضٌand honor بذْلتهِits abasement
مالٌ يُذالُ وعرضٌ بذْلتهِ
خوضُwading الأسنَّةِof spearpoints فيin ماءِthe water of اللَّغاديدِthe flesh beneath the jaws
خوضُ الأسنَّةِ في ماءِ اللَّغاديدِ
Wealth freely spent, but honor whose abasement
Wealth that humbles, and honor that
means spearpoints wading in the moisture beneath the jaws.
Is diminished by plunging into the depths of vice.
أرقُّgentler منthan خُلقِthe temper of الصهباءtawny wine شيمتُهُhis disposition
أرقُّ من خُلقِ الصهباء شيمتُهُ
فإنbut if يُهَجْhe is provoked فهوthen he كاسٍwearing خُلقthe temper of جلمودِa boulder
فإن يُهَجْ فهو كاسٍ خُلق جلمودِ
His disposition is gentler than the temper of tawny wine;
He is more gentle than the temperament of a young doe,
but if provoked, he wears the temper of a boulder.
But if aroused he is like a cup of solid rock.
فسخطهُso his anger ورضاهُand his favor حينwhen تخبُرهyou test him
فسخطهُ ورضاهُ حين تخبُره
ماءٌwater قَراحٌpure ونارٌand fire ذاتُhaving أخْدودِa trench
ماءٌ قَراحٌ ونارٌ ذاتُ أخْدودِ
His anger and favor, when you test him,
Both his wrath and pleasure, when you experience them,
are pure water and a fire within a trench.
Are refreshing water, and fire with burning depths.
شاكيfully equipped with السلاحweapons منfrom الإقدامdaring حِيلتهُhis resource
شاكي السلاح من الإقدام حِيلتهُ
لَطافةُthe finesse of الزولِthe nimble man فيwithin صبرthe endurance of الصَّناديدِchampions
لَطافةُ الزولِ في صبر الصَّناديدِ
Fully armed, his resource in bold attack is
The chief complaint of weapons against his daring
a nimble man's finesse with the endurance of champions.
Is the sharpness of Indian steel and studded armor.
فكلso every مُعضلintractable خطبٍcrisis فيin رويَّتهِhis deliberation
فكل مُعضل خطبٍ في رويَّتهِ
حديدُthe iron of سابغةٍa full coat of mail فيin كفِّthe palm of داودِDavid
حديدُ سابغةٍ في كفِّ داودِ
Thus every intractable crisis, in his deliberation,
Every intricate issue, when placed in his judgment,
is the iron of a coat of mail in David's palm.
Is like David’s iron armor and solid grasp.
بنانُهhis fingertips البحرُthe sea والأطراسُand the pages شاهدةٌbearing witness
بنانُه البحرُ والأطراسُ شاهدةٌ
بقذفto the casting of دُرٍّpearls علىonto الأطراسthe pages منضودِarranged in rows
بقذف دُرٍّ على الأطراس منضودِ
His fingertips are the sea, and the pages bear witness
His decisive jurisprudence in judicial rulings
to pearls cast in ordered rows upon the pages.
Establishes the foundations of Sacred Law, from core to crown.
صوابُsoundness فتْواهof his legal opinion فيin الإحكامprecision مُثبِتةٌestablishing
صوابُ فتْواه في الإحكام مُثبِتةٌ
قواعِدَthe foundations of الشَّرعِsacred law منfrom أسٍّgroundwork وتشييدِand construction
قواعِدَ الشَّرعِ من أسٍّ وتشييدِ
His sound, precise legal opinion establishes
As if the eloquent proof of his clear expression
the foundations of sacred law, from groundwork to construction.
Were the melodious warbling of a singing bird.
كأنَّas though بُرهانَthe proof of مدلولٍa meaning بفوهُhe speaks (apparent typo) بهِof it
كأنَّ بُرهانَ مدلولٍ بفوهُ بهِ
عذبُthe sweetness of الفصاحةeloquence فيin ترجيعthe trilling of غِرِّيدِa songbird
عذبُ الفصاحة في ترجيع غِرِّيدِ
As though the proof of a point he voices
I have exceeded the limits of praise, so I turn
were eloquence's sweetness in a songbird's trill.
To congratulate you on the feast-day I wished you well on the feast.
فضلْتyou surpassed حَدَّthe bounds of التهانيcongratulations فانصرفتُso I turned إلىto
فضلْت حَدَّ التهاني فانصرفتُ إلى
هُنيmay it be congratulated بكon you العيدthe festival منrather than هُنِّيتyou are congratulated بالعيدِon the festival
هُني بك العيد من هُنِّيت بالعيدِ
You surpassed the bounds of congratulation, so I turned to:
Let the festival be congratulated on you, rather than you on the festival.
Partial English translation: 54 of 56 Arabic lines translated.