قِفواstop حَدِّثواspeak عَنof حاجرٍHajir وَمُحجّرand Muhajjar
قِفوا حَدِّثوا عَن حاجرٍ وَمُحجّر
وَعَنand of عهدِthe time of أيّامٍdays تَقضَّتthat passed وأعصرِand ages
وَعَن عهدِ أيّامٍ تَقضَّت وأعصرِ
Stop, and speak of Hajir and Muhajjar,
Stand still, speak of old ruins and quarries,
And of the days and ages that have passed.
Of bygone days that have passed and pressed wine.
وَعَنand of جيرةٍneighbors ساغَتwere pleasant to drink لَناfor us بِجوارهمin their company
وَعَن جيرةٍ ساغَت لَنا بِجوارهم
كؤوسُcups الهوىof love مِنfrom كلِّevery أَلعسَdark-lipped one أَحورِdark-eyed one
كؤوسُ الهوى مِن كلِّ أَلعسَ أَحورِ
And of neighbors in whose company we savored
Of a neighborhood whose company was pleasant,
Cups of love from every dark-lipped, dark-eyed beauty.
Cups of love and joy overflowed without restraint.
لَياليَnights لَمdid not تبخلwithhold أُميمUmaym بِوصلهاher intimacy
لَياليَ لَم تبخل أُميم بِوصلها
عَليناfrom us وَلَمand did not تَصرمsever حبالاًbonds وتهجرِand forsake
عَلينا وَلَم تَصرم حبالاً وتهجرِ
On nights when Umaym did not withhold her intimacy
Nights of amity were generous with their union,
From us, nor sever bonds and turn away.
They did not sever ties or abandon.
فَياso, oh طالَlong lasted ماthat قدindeed بتُّI spent the night مُستمعاًlistening بهاwith her
فَيا طالَ ما قد بتُّ مُستمعاً بها
وَمنهلand the wellspring صفوpurity الفضلof bounty لمdid not يتكدّرِgrow turbid
وَمنهل صفو الفضل لم يتكدّرِ
Oh, how often I spent the night listening in her company,
For so long I have remained a keen listener,
And the wellspring of pure bounty remained unclouded.
A spring of honor never muddied.
أَرىI see عندَهاwith her ماwhat أَشتهيI desire بِلذاذهِin its sweetness
أَرى عندَها ما أَشتهي بِلذاذهِ
فَماand no لذّةpleasure إِلّاexcept وكانand was بمحضرِat hand
فَما لذّة إِلّا وكان بمحضرِ
With her I find what I desire, in its sweetness;
In their company I found all I yearned for in delight,
And there was no pleasure that was not at hand.
No pleasure but was found in their presence.
تَرىyou see وقعاتِthe impacts اللثمِof kisses إِنif رُمتyou sought لَثمهاto kiss her
تَرى وقعاتِ اللثمِ إِن رُمت لَثمها
لَهاthey have أَثرٌa trace فيon خدّهاher cheek المُتعصفرِsafflower-tinted
لَها أَثرٌ في خدّها المُتعصفرِ
You see, if you seek to kiss her, how kisses fall,
You’d see imprints of kisses if she graced your lips,
Leaving a trace upon her safflower-tinted cheek.
Leaving a mark on her rosy, tawny cheek.
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) لَثمتyou kissed الخدّthe cheek والخدُّand the cheek أحمرٌred
إِذا ما لَثمت الخدّ والخدُّ أحمرٌ
تَضرّجbecame suffused فيwith لونٍa hue منَof الحسنِbeauty أصفرِyellow
تَضرّج في لونٍ منَ الحسنِ أصفرِ
When you kiss the cheek—and the cheek is red—
Kissing the cheek that reddens, it blushes
It becomes suffused with a yellow hue of beauty.
With a hue of beauty, golden yellow.
برودcool الثناياof front teeth معصرa nubile maiden ريقَsaliva ثَغرِهاof her mouth
برود الثنايا معصر ريقَ ثَغرِها
حَكىresembled الخمرَwine مَمزوجmixed بنطفةِwith a drop معصرِa rain-bearing cloud
حَكى الخمرَ مَمزوج بنطفةِ معصرِ
A nubile maiden with cool front teeth—the saliva of her mouth
The cool of her mouth strained the drops from her lips,
Resembled wine mixed with a drop from a rain-bearing cloud.
Telling of wine blended with pressed grapes.
شَكىcomplained الجسمُthe body منهاof her مرطهاher mantle فوقهُupon it كَماjust as
شَكى الجسمُ منها مرطها فوقهُ كَما
شَكىcomplained خصرهاher waist منof ردفهاher rump المتمرمرِquivering
شَكى خصرها من ردفها المتمرمرِ
Her body complained of her mantle lying upon it, just as
Her body complained of its saddle atop it,
Her waist complained of her quivering rump.
As her hips bemoaned their crushing embrace.
بَدَتshe appeared بصفاتِwith the qualities الحسنِof beauty بينَamid موشّحٍa sash-girdled waist
بَدَت بصفاتِ الحسنِ بينَ موشّحٍ
دقيقٍslender وساقٍand a calf فاعمٍfull ومسوّرِand a bracelet-circled wrist
دقيقٍ وساقٍ فاعمٍ ومسوّرِ
She showed beauty's qualities in a sash-girdled waist,
She appeared with the traits of beauty, slender waist wrapped tightly,
Slender, a full calf, and a bracelet-circled wrist.
Smooth legs and heavy hips on perfect display.
مَتىwhenever يَرهاhe sees her الرائيthe beholder وقدand already كانwas صاحياًsober
مَتى يَرها الرائي وقد كان صاحياً
منَfrom الخمرِwine مِنfrom خمرِthe wine الصبابةِof longing يسكرِbecomes drunk
منَ الخمرِ مِن خمرِ الصبابةِ يسكرِ
Whenever the beholder sees her, though he was sober
When one who is sober sees her as if drunk
From wine, he grows drunk on the wine of longing.
On the wine of youth till fully inebriated.
تَمرّستI grappled بِالأحداثِwith events مِنsince كونِthe existence حُكمهاof their decree
تَمرّست بِالأحداثِ مِن كونِ حُكمها
وَخاطَبتُهاand I addressed them عَنwith علمِknowledge غيبٍof the unseen مقدّرِpredestined
وَخاطَبتُها عَن علمِ غيبٍ مقدّرِ
I have grappled with events since their decrees came into being,
I have gained knowledge of events from their wisdom,
And addressed them with knowledge of the predestined unseen.
And spoken to them of foreknown, predestined fate.
وَمَنand whoever (unclear here) قارعَتنيassailed me النائباتُcalamities بِصَرفهاwith their reversals
وَمَن قارعَتني النائباتُ بِصَرفها
فَماso not فزعتI sought refuge إلّاexcept صفاتqualities (possibly a miswritten 'rock') المشقّرِof al-Mushaqqar
فَما فزعت إلّا صفات المشقّرِ
And [when?] calamities assailed me with their reversals,
When misfortunes have struck me with their twists and turns,
I sought refuge only in al-Mushaqqar's qualities [possibly 'rock'].
I fret not, but to divine decrees acquiesce.
وَإِنّيand indeed I إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) الجارُthe neighbor غيّرchanged طبعهُhis nature
وَإِنّي إِذا ما الجارُ غيّر طبعهُ
فَطبعيَthen my nature لمdid not يخبُتgrow subdued وَلَمand did not يتغيّرِchange
فَطبعيَ لم يخبُت وَلَم يتغيّرِ
And as for me, whenever my neighbor changes his nature,
Though my neighbor changes his nature,
My nature has neither grown subdued nor changed.
Mine remains unshaken, its course stays steadfast.
وَرثتُI inherited زُهيراًZuhayr فيin القريضِpoetry وجرولاًand Jarwal
وَرثتُ زُهيراً في القريضِ وجرولاً
وَأَسندتُand I transmitted عَنon the authority of قيسٍQays وعنand from بزرجمهرِBuzurgmihr
وَأَسندتُ عَن قيسٍ وعن بزرجمهرِ
I inherited Zuhayr in poetry, and Jarwal,
I inherited Zuhair’s art of poetry, and Jarwal’s;
And transmitted on the authority of Qays and Buzurgmihr.
I took over from Qays and the pride of Buzurjmihr.
وَأصبحتُand I became مَحسوداًenvied عَلىfor ماwhat حويتهُI amassed it
وَأصبحتُ مَحسوداً عَلى ما حويتهُ
منَof الفضلِmerit والعلمِand learning الشريفnoble المجمهرِaccumulated
منَ الفضلِ والعلمِ الشريف المجمهرِ
And I have become envied for what I have amassed
I’ve become envied for the merits I’ve amassed,
Of merit and noble, accumulated learning.
Of noble knowledge and deeds so august.
غَريباًa stranger بأَخلاقيin my character وحيداًalone بهمّتيin my ambition
غَريباً بأَخلاقي وحيداً بهمّتي
وَإِنand although كنتُI am فيin أَرضيmy land وقوميand my people ومعشريand my community
وَإِن كنتُ في أَرضي وقومي ومعشري
A stranger in my character, alone in my ambition,
A stranger in manners, alone in ambition,
Though I am in my land, among my people and my community.
Though amidst my people, kin and peers.
وَليسand is not بماby what يُبديhe displays الحسودُthe envier محسّداًone much envied
وَليس بما يُبدي الحسودُ محسّداً
بِأقمنmore worthy منّيthan I لاno وليسand is not بأجدرِmore deserving
بِأقمن منّي لا وليس بأجدرِ
Nor is the envier, for all he displays, as an object of envy,
Not because the envious see me above reproach,
More worthy than I—no, nor more deserving.
None more pristine than I, or of greater worth.
عَلىdespite أنّنيthat I فيamong الناسِpeople أصبحتُI have become طائلاًpreeminent
عَلى أنّني في الناسِ أصبحتُ طائلاً
بِماthrough what قلتُI said فيin مدحِpraise of المليكthe king مظفّرِMuzaffar
بِما قلتُ في مدحِ المليك مظفّرِ
Though I have become preeminent among people,
Yet I’ve become distinguished among men
Through what I said in praise of King Muzaffar.
For my praises of the victorious King.
أَخوa brother to الجودِgenerosity مفضالٌlavishly generous كأنَّas though نوالهhis bounty
أَخو الجودِ مفضالٌ كأنَّ نواله
عَلىupon الناسِthe people غيثٌrain يستهلُّpours forth ويمتريand is drawn forth
عَلى الناسِ غيثٌ يستهلُّ ويمتري
A brother to generosity, lavish—his bounty is like
The most generous brother, his gifts to the people
Rain upon the people, pouring forth and drawn down.
Are like rainfall, streaming, flowing bountiful.
أَجلّmore august منَthan القعقاعِal-Qa'qa' فيamong جلسائهِhis companions
أَجلّ منَ القعقاعِ في جلسائهِ
وَأعظمُand greater منthan كِسرىKisra بنson of كسرىKisra وقيصرِand Caesar
وَأعظمُ من كِسرى بن كسرى وقيصرِ
More august than al-Qa'qa' among his companions,
Nobler than the egret among his companions,
And greater than Kisra son of Kisra, and Caesar.
Greater than Kisra bin Kisra and Caesar of Rome.
تأرّثhe inherited تاجَthe crown العزّof glory عنfrom كلّevery أكبرٍelder
تأرّث تاجَ العزّ عن كلّ أكبرٍ
تأرّثهinherited it عنfrom كلّevery أكبرelder أكبرِan elder
تأرّثه عن كلّ أكبر أكبرِ
He inherited the crown of glory from every elder,
You inherited the crown of glory from every elder,
Each elder having inherited it from an elder before him.
Received it from each predecessor and forebear.
يَدينُyields لهُto him فيin الفخرِglory عمرٌوAmr وتبّعٌand Tubba'
يَدينُ لهُ في الفخرِ عمرٌو وتبّعٌ
وَدارand Dar بنson of دارDar والجلندand al-Juland بنson of كركرِKarkar
وَدار بن دار والجلند بن كركرِ
Amr and Tubba' yield to him in glory,
‘Amr and Tubba‘ in pride are in your debt,
And Dar son of Dar, and al-Juland son of Karkar.
As are Dar bin Dar and Jaland of Karkar.
وَلَوand if توزنُwere weighed الدُنياthe world جميعاًin its entirety وأهلهاand its people
وَلَو توزنُ الدُنيا جميعاً وأهلها
لَماwould not وازنواthey equal منهُof him قُلامةa nail clipping بُنصرِof a ring finger
لَما وازنوا منهُ قُلامة بُنصرِ
And were the whole world and its people weighed,
If the world entire and its people were weighed,
They would not equal a clipping of his ring fingernail.
They would not balance a feather of your worth.
أَلاtake heed فاِختبرthen inquire عنهُabout him إذاif كنتَyou are جاهلاًignorant
أَلا فاِختبر عنهُ إذا كنتَ جاهلاً
بهِof him تعطَyou will be given أنباءَtidings اليقينof certainty وتخبرِand be informed
بهِ تعطَ أنباءَ اليقين وتخبرِ
Take heed: inquire about him if you are ignorant
Oh inquire about him if you do not know him,
Of him; you will receive certain tidings and be informed.
Be informed of the certainty, ask and be told.
وَإِنand if أنتَyou وسطَamid الدستِthe court قابلتَyou face وجههُhis face
وَإِن أنتَ وسطَ الدستِ قابلتَ وجههُ
فَعظّمهُthen exalt him تَعظيماًgreatly وهلّلand proclaim God's oneness وكبّرِand proclaim God's greatness
فَعظّمهُ تَعظيماً وهلّل وكبّرِ
And if, amid the court, you meet his face,
If you are honored to behold his visage,
Then honor him greatly, proclaim God's oneness, and cry 'God is greatest!'
Revere him greatly, shout God’s praises and exalt.
وَطأطِئand lower لهُto him بالرأسِwith the head واِلثمand kiss بساطهُhis carpet
وَطأطِئ لهُ بالرأسِ واِلثم بساطهُ
ونادِand call out لهُfor him بِالحمدِwith praise جهراًaloud وكرّرِand repeat
ونادِ لهُ بِالحمدِ جهراً وكرّرِ
And lower your head to him and kiss his carpet,
Bow your head, kiss his carpet, acclaim him loudly,
And proclaim praise of him aloud, and repeat it.
Speak his praises openly, repeat and extol.
وَهاكand take ابنson of نبهانNabhan المتوّجthe crowned حليةًan ornament
وَهاك ابن نبهان المتوّج حليةً
وبرداًand a mantle محاكاًwoven منof ثناءٍpraise ومفخرِand glory
وبرداً محاكاً من ثناءٍ ومفخرِ
And take, crowned son of Nabhan, an ornament,
An ode of praise and glory—rejoice and recall.
And a mantle woven of praise and glory.
Congratulations are yours for the kingdom you hold,
هنيئاًmay it bring joy لكto you الملكُthe kingship الّذيwhich قدindeed حويتهyou have gained it
هنيئاً لك الملكُ الّذي قد حويته
وملكتهand you possessed it فاِحمدso praise إِلهكَyour God واِشكرِand give thanks
وملكته فاِحمد إِلهكَ واِشكرِ
May you rejoice in the kingship you have gained
Rule it and thank your God, offer gratitude and laud.
And made your own; so praise your God and give thanks.
You remain, O sun of glory and its full moon,
وَلاand never زلتَmay you cease ياO شمسsun العتيكof al-Atik وبدرهاand its full moon
وَلا زلتَ يا شمس العتيك وبدرها
منَin المجدِglory ترقىyou ascend فيupon منارٍa beacon ومنبرِand a pulpit
منَ المجدِ ترقى في منارٍ ومنبرِ
May you never cease, O sun of al-Atik and its full moon,
Ever rising in splendor, pulpit and station.
To ascend in glory upon beacon and pulpit.
Partial English translation: 59 of 60 Arabic lines translated.