ماwhat لعذّاليwith my reproachers وماand what ليwith me
ما لعذّالي وما لي
قدindeed أطالواthey prolonged فيin المقالِspeech
قد أطالوا في المقالِ
What have my reproachers to do with me?
What blame is mine, what fault have I,
They have spoken at length,
That they prolong in talk, and range in liberty?
وَأَجالواand ranged فيin المجالِthe field
وَأَجالوا في المجالِ
فيin هوىlove ذاتِthe woman possessing الدلالِcoquettish charm
في هوى ذاتِ الدلالِ
And ranged widely in the field,
In love of her whose beauty chained mine eye,
On love for the coquettish one.
How should reproach make head against my flame,
كيفَhow يثنيهturn him back الملامُreproach
كيفَ يثنيه الملامُ
مَنone who بهِin him طالhas endured long الغرامُpassion
مَن بهِ طال الغرامُ
How can reproach turn him back,
When longing in my heart is fed the same,
One whose passion has long endured,
A streaming torrent that may not run dry?
وَهوand he is صبٌّa lovesick lover مُستهامlove-distraught
وَهو صبٌّ مُستهام
شاحبpale الأعضاءthe limbs بالِworn out
شاحب الأعضاء بالِ
While he is lovesick and love-distraught,
They chide in vain; love's sovranty I claim;
Pale-limbed and worn away?
For me the bitter is made sweet thereby,
ظنُّهمtheir belief باللومِthrough blame يسلوhe forgets his love
ظنُّهم باللومِ يسلو
وَهَوand he فيin الأشواقlongings يعلوrises higher
وَهَو في الأشواق يعلو
They think reproach will make him forget,
Since my desire is still my mistress' name.
While his longings only rise.
O comrades mine, the grip my heart is in
قلَّseldom ماparticle forming 'seldom' للصبِّfor the lovesick lover يحلوis sweet
قلَّ ما للصبِّ يحلو
مطعمٌa taste مِنof لومblame سالِone free of love
مطعمٌ مِن لوم سالِ
Seldom does the lovesick lover relish
Between desire, and longing to possess,
A taste of blame from one free of love.
For that slim, swaying shape, that brightness rare,
ياO رِفاقيmy companions ياO رِفاقيmy companions
يا رِفاقي يا رِفاقي
إنّtruly قَلبيmy heart فيin وثاقِbonds
إنّ قَلبي في وثاقِ
O my companions, O my companions,
Is fire unquenched, is furnace fiery gin.
My heart is bound in fetters,
The lover's woes are traced in happiness;
بينَbetween وَجديmy ardor واِشتياقيand my yearning
بينَ وَجدي واِشتياقي
لسعيرِfor the blaze الشوقِof longing سالِunmindful
لسعيرِ الشوقِ سالِ
Between my passion and my yearning,
Time spoiled of frowns, by smiles made debonair,
Unmindful of longing's blaze.
Has power no more his own abode to win,
نارُfire أهلِthe people of العشقlove جنّةa paradise
نارُ أهلِ العشق جنّة
بِالتصابيwith youthful dalliance مُرجحنّةswaying heavily
بِالتصابي مُرجحنّة
The fire of lovers is a paradise,
Where day and night alternate in their stress.
Swaying with youthful dalliance,
You blamed me, when my love began to grow;
بِالمَلاهيamid diversions مُطمئنّةat peace
بِالمَلاهي مُطمئنّة
لَمnot يزحزحbe dislodged باِنتقالِby a change
لَم يزحزح باِنتقالِ
At peace amid diversions,
But for myself, nor misery nor bliss,
Unmoved by any change.
Sickness or health, or death or life have I
ياO مَلوميmy reproacher فيover سعادِSu'ad
يا مَلومي في سعادِ
لستَyou are not ليfor me أنتَyou بهاديa guide
لستَ لي أنتَ بهادي
O you who reproach me over Su'ad,
Known other cause than this same lordly foe.
You are no guide for me.
Lo, from her face the morning lights arise,
وَصَلاحيand my righteousness وفساديand my corruption
وَصَلاحي وفسادي
ورشاديand my guidance فيin ضلالبmy straying (likely ضلالي)
ورشادي في ضلالب
My righteousness and my corruption,
And in her hair the night its darkness stows.
And my guidance, lie in my straying.
I am her offering; at her feet I lie,
سَحَرتshe bewitched قَلبيmy heart وَصادَتand snared it
سَحَرت قَلبي وَصادَت
وخذتهُand took it (likely وأخذته) ثمّthen قادتled it
وخذتهُ ثمّ قادت
She bewitched my heart and snared it,
To me the world is daily paradise.
And took it, then led it away.
My body by the wasting sickness cleft
ليتَwould that شِعريmy knowing هَلwhether أَرادَتshe wanted
ليتَ شِعري هَل أَرادَت
هيَshe هَجريabandoning me أمor وصاليunion with me
هيَ هَجري أم وصالي
Would that I knew whether she wished
That fed upon me, of my strength bereft,
To abandon me or to be united with me.
Was clad by her in habiliments new-made.
فاقَتِshe surpassed الغصنَthe bough قواماin stature
فاقَتِ الغصنَ قواما
وهيَand she كالبدرlike the full moon تماماin completeness
وهيَ كالبدر تماما
She surpassed the bough in stature,
What if her eye with inequality
And was like the full moon in perfection.
Measured my merit, and threw light on me
غادَرَتshe left جِسميmy body سقاماsickness
غادَرَت جِسمي سقاما
ومحاقand waning كالهلالِlike the crescent
ومحاق كالهلالِ
She left my body sick,
Only by fits, while radiance she arrayed
And waning, like the crescent.
On others always, - oft the moon will be
أَلبَستنيshe clothed me مِنthrough هواهاlove of her
أَلبَستني مِن هواها
ثوبَa robe سقمٍof sickness قَدalready تناهىreached its utmost
ثوبَ سقمٍ قَد تناهى
Through love of her, she clothed me
Hid by a cloud, when in the sky arrayed,
In a robe of sickness grown extreme,
But soon shines out again in brilliancy.
إِذwhen حَباهاHe favored her وكساهاand clothed her الGod (first fragment)
إِذ حَباها وكساها ال
لهُGod (continuation) برداًa mantle منof جمالِbeauty
لهُ برداً من جمالِ
When she was favored and clothed by
Bowed is that slender stem beneath her burden white.
God in a mantle of beauty.
Fed by her moisture grows that ripening fruit;
ياO لَهاto her منof شمسa sun خدرِa secluded chamber
يا لَها من شمس خدرِ
مَلكتshe possessed سرّيmy secret self وجهريand my open self
مَلكت سرّي وجهري
What a sun within her secluded chamber!
But I have only longing in my breast,
She rules what I hide and what I reveal.
No gifts have I to offer, good or bright.
ماnot لَهاshe has منin حيثwhere تجريshe courses
ما لَها من حيث تجري
فلكa sphere غيرother than الحجالِthe curtained chambers
فلك غير الحجالِ
Where she runs her course, she has no
That cheek outblooms the red flame of the light;
Sphere but the curtained chambers.
Speech from that mouth is sweeter honey-sweet.
قدُّهاher figure غصنٌa bough رطيبtender
قدُّها غصنٌ رطيب
تحتهbeneath it منهاof her كثيبُa sand dune
تحته منها كثيبُ
Her figure is a tender bough;
Under her mantle bides she, shrouded quite,
Beneath it lies her sand dune.
Safe from all eyes, and I am dispossest
لَيسnot ليfor me منهاof her نصيبُa share
لَيس لي منها نصيبُ
مِنof حرامٍthe forbidden وحلالِand the lawful
مِن حرامٍ وحلالِ
I have no share of her,
Even of hope, unhappy that I am, and blest.
Whether forbidden or lawful.
No sin it were if I should kiss her mouth,
خدّهاher cheek كالجلّنارِlike pomegranate blossom
خدّها كالجلّنارِ
شفّit shone through منfrom تحتِbeneath الخمارِthe veil
شفّ من تحتِ الخمارِ
Her cheek is like pomegranate blossom,
Sweeter than syrup that sweet mouth of hers,
Shining through from beneath the veil.
The lips like pomegranates with their crimson smiles.
ريقُهاher saliva مثلlike العقارِwine
ريقُها مثل العقارِ
مزجهُits admixture صفوthe purity of الزلالِlimpid water
مزجهُ صفو الزلالِ
Her saliva is like wine,
Her spittle healed me as a healing draught,
Blended with pure, limpid water.
When from her fair face, shadowed by its flowers,
لَثمُهاkissing her غيرُnot مباحpermitted
لَثمُها غيرُ مباح
مِنfrom تناياهاher front teeth (ثناياها) الملاحِthe beautiful
مِن تناياها الملاحِ
Her kisses are forbidden,
She turned on me the lightning of her eyes.
From her lovely front teeth,
Low at her feet my life in ruins brought,
حينَwhen لاحتthey appeared كالإقاحِlike daisy blossoms
حينَ لاحت كالإقاحِ
أَوor كمنظومlike strung السلالِpearls (likely اللآل)
أَو كمنظوم السلالِ
When they gleamed like daisy blossoms,
Fed by her bounty's overflowing showers,
Or like pearls strung together.
She made me slave of all, once freeman of the crowds.
أَنحَلتنيshe made me waste away مِنfrom فناهاher courtyard (reading uncertain)
أَنحَلتني مِن فناها
وَأباحَتنيand permitted me جناهاher fruit
وَأباحَتني جناها
From her courtyard, she made me waste away,
God grant her days may never know eclipse;
And granted me her fruit,
That she be tended well, and richly thrive,
وَأَضاءتنيand illuminated me سناهاher radiance
وَأَضاءتني سناها
لستُI am not منabout بؤسmisery مباليconcerned
لستُ من بؤس مبالي
And her radiance illuminated me;
And ever grow in greatness and renown.
I care nothing for misery.
The phantom came to me unto her likeness,
أَمددَmay ... prolong اللّهGod بقاهاher life
أَمددَ اللّه بقاها
وَرَعاهاand may He tend her وسَقاهاand water her
وَرَعاها وسَقاها
May God prolong her life,
Called me by name and left with me its kiss.
And tend her and water her.
Then happiness itself returned to stay:
بذلَoffered freely الطيفُthe dream-apparition لقاهاmeeting her
بذلَ الطيفُ لقاها
ليto me رَخيصاًcheaply وهوwhile it is غالِprecious
لي رَخيصاً وهو غالِ
The dream-apparition offered a meeting with her
Thin things win bulk by fancy's alchemies.
To me cheaply, though it is precious.
The wind of East, what bounty does it bring
فَجَزاهso may He reward it اللّهGod عنّيon my behalf الthe
فَجَزاه اللّه عنّي ال
خيرَgood إذfor صدّقit confirmed ظنّيmy expectation
خيرَ إذ صدّق ظنّي
So may God reward it on my behalf with
From a beloved's land, itself made sweet thereby!
Good, for it confirmed my expectation.
To her my praise prolonged shall chant its song;
وَلكمand how much فضلfavor ومنّand beneficence
وَلكم فضل ومنّ
نلتُI gained منfrom طيفthe apparition الخيالِthe dream-image
نلتُ من طيف الخيالِ
And how much favor and beneficence
My plain, my verse, of her shall always tell.
I gained from the dream's apparition!
Lord of the sure seat, of high magnificence,
قَدindeed أطلتُI prolonged القولspeech جهراaloud
قَد أطلتُ القول جهرا
فيabout الهوىlove نظماًin verse ونثراand prose
في الهوى نظماً ونثرا
I have spoken at length aloud,
Let it reach thee and thy noble pride prolong,
Of love, in verse and prose,
That thou may'st guerdon me: thy benefits
وَأَباand Abu المنصورal-Mansur أجراa reward (syntax unclear)
وَأَبا المنصور أجرا
بمديحيthrough my praise ومقاليand my words
بمديحي ومقالي
And seek reward from Abu al-Mansur [syntax uncertain],
Have raised me to a fervid eminence.
Through my praise and my words.
The bounty of this king all kings above
ملكٌa king سادَruled over الملوكاthe kings
ملكٌ سادَ الملوكا
وَبنىand built المجدَglory سموكاlofty heights
وَبنى المجدَ سموكا
A king who was lord of kings,
Claimed glory, building up a tower sublime
And built glory to lofty heights,
That brought him near to heaven's high eminence.
وَنَفىand dispelled عنهfrom it الشكوكاthe doubts
وَنَفى عنه الشكوكا
وَتَرقّاand ascended فيthrough المَعاليlofty ranks
وَتَرقّا في المَعالي
And drove all doubt away from it,
Thence over earth his glances dominate;
And ascended through the ranks of honor.
The stars themseves look up to him elate,
نَسَجتwove منهُfrom him الأياديthe favors
نَسَجت منهُ الأيادي
جودthe generosity of كعبٍKa'b فيinto أياديgifts
جود كعبٍ في أيادي
His favors wove
And guide him on to glorious ascendance.
Ka'b's generosity into gifts,
The hands of noble souls were open ever,
وَهَمتand poured down بينَamong العبادِthe people
وَهَمت بينَ العبادِ
منهfrom him كالسحبlike clouds الثقالِheavy-laden
منه كالسحب الثقالِ
And poured down among the people,
And gifts unceasing flowed like streaming rain,
From him, like heavy-laden clouds.
Poured out to all men with unsparing hand.
سادَhe excelled فيin الملكِkingship وفاقاand surpassed
سادَ في الملكِ وفاقا
وَحَياand greeted الجردthe sleek steeds العتاقاthe noble
وَحَيا الجرد العتاقا
He was supreme in kingship and excelled,
A lion, fierce, impetuous in the attack,
And greeted the sleek, noble steeds,
Yet gentlest friend, serenest to direct.
وَاِرتَقاand ascended سبعاًseven طباقاin layers
وَاِرتَقا سبعاً طباقا
وَتَجلّاand shone بالجلالِin majesty
وَتَجلّا بالجلالِ
And rose through seven layered heavens,
In glory's mansion long he held the throne;
And shone in majesty.
By him the mighty of old days were matched,
زَلزلَhe shook الأرضَthe earth فَمارتso it heaved
زَلزلَ الأرضَ فَمارت
إِذwhen مَذاكيهِhis seasoned steeds اِستَطارتflew forth
إِذ مَذاكيهِ اِستَطارت
He shook the earth till it heaved,
And over every height he soared erect.
When his seasoned steeds flew forth;
He rode the earthquake, mastering its shock.
وَرَحىand the mill of الهيجاءِbattle دارتturned
وَرَحى الهيجاءِ دارت
وَاِرجحنَّتand swayed heavily فيon الثفالِthe mill's leather mat
وَاِرجحنَّت في الثفالِ
And the mill of battle turned,
He broke the maces of the lion-heart;
And swayed heavily on its leather mat.
The roaring of the winds was hushed in death.
وَبَكتand wept فيهاin it البواكيthe mourners
وَبَكت فيها البواكي
وغَدتand went forth فيهاin it المزاكيseasoned steeds (unclear form)
وغَدت فيها المزاكي
And the mourners wept in it,
Loud rose the weeping for his dire attacks;
And seasoned steeds went forth in it,
Men's souls were shivered on destruction's rack,
منof مهانٍcolts (uncertain reading) ورماكيand my mares
من مهانٍ ورماكي
وَاِستمدّتand sought support بالرعالِfrom cavalry squadrons
وَاِستمدّت بالرعالِ
Of colts [reading uncertain] and my mares,
And groans burst from the tortured breast of earth.
And sought support from cavalry squadrons.
Thou mountain mass, majestically bright,
أسدٌa lion ضارٍfierce مكينٌpowerful
أسدٌ ضارٍ مكينٌ
وَعَلىand toward الجارthe neighbor أمينtrustworthy
وَعَلى الجار أمين
A fierce, powerful lion,
Sea of grandeur, rich in myriad waves,
And a trustworthy guardian to his neighbor;
Moon in expansive full perfection seen,—
ماnot لهُhe has قطّever عرينa lair
ما لهُ قطّ عرين
غيرother than تيرarrows وعوالِand tall spears
غير تير وعوالِ
He never has a lair
Be thou my refuge in this trouble's night,
Other than arrows and tall spears.
My morning-draught while gleam thy beacon-fires.
آماليmy hopes لهin him سمانُfat
آمالي له سمانُ
وَهوand he فيin الفضلbounty معانُaided
وَهو في الفضل معانُ
My hopes in him are fat,
The pouring of the rain makes loud the plain,
And he is aided in generosity;
Then why should bounty's rain not fall from thee?
باسطُoutstretching الكفّthe hand مصانُprotected الthe
باسطُ الكفّ مصانُ ال
عرضhonor فالمالso the wealth المذالِfreely lavished
عرض فالمال المذالِ
Open-handed, with safeguarded
Yea, let thy giving follow quick on vow;
Honor, his wealth freely lavished.
Darling of fortune, let me live beloved,
أيّهاO الطودُthe mountain الأشمُّlofty الرthe (fragment before 'summit')
أيّها الطودُ الأشمُّ الر
ركنsummit والبحرand the sea الخضمُّimmense
ركن والبحر الخضمُّ
O mountain, lofty of
On gifts from thy true hand my being depending.
Summit, and sea, immense in
And leave me not amid the rabble drove,
اللجّthe depth والبدرand the full moon الأتمfullest (first fragment)
اللجّ والبدر الأتم
مُcompletion of 'fullest' المُتعاليexalted بالكمالِin perfection
مُ المُتعالي بالكمالِ
Depth, and moon of utmost
Cast the small coin of base alloy unmoved:
Fullness, exalted in perfection!
Far from the noble soul be such an ending.
كُنbe لماfor what أرجوI hope for ملاذاًa refuge
كُن لما أرجو ملاذاً
واِسقنيand give me to drink غيثكyour rain هذاthis
واِسقني غيثك هذا
Be a refuge for what I hope for,
Nay, be thou still my garden and my spring,
And give me this rain of yours to drink,
My morning draught, and comfort of my soul.
مُستهلّاًpouring down ورذاذاand drizzling
مُستهلّاً ورذاذا
مِنfrom سجالكyour water-filled buckets فيin سجالِwater-filled buckets
مِن سجالك في سجالِ
Pouring down and drizzling,
While the night passes, and the rainy spheres,
From your buckets, bucketful after bucketful.
Changeless, unchanging, rest thy glory's goal,
وَاِردفand follow الجودَgenerosity بجودٍwith generosity
وَاِردف الجودَ بجودٍ
وَاِتركنّيand leave me فيin الوجودِthe world
وَاِتركنّي في الوجودِ
And follow generosity with generosity,
Thy splendor's home too high for fortune's reach,
And leave me in this world,
Nor years avail that steadfastness to bring.
ساحباًtrailing فضلَthe extra length of البرودِthe striped cloaks
ساحباً فضلَ البرودِ
بينَamid جاهٍprestige ونوالِand gifts
بينَ جاهٍ ونوالِ
Trailing my mantles' ample hems,
Amid prestige and gifts.
وَاِبقَand remain واِسلمand be safe فيin نعيمٍbliss
وَاِبقَ واِسلم في نعيمٍ
باسطopen-handed غيرnot ذميمblameworthy
باسط غير ذميم
And live on, safe in bliss,
Open-handed, without reproach,
دائمenduring الدهرِfor all time مقيمabiding
دائم الدهرِ مقيم
لمnot تغيّرهُchange him اللياليthe nights
لم تغيّرهُ الليالي
Enduring, abiding for all time,
Unchanged by the nights.
Partial English translation: 106 of 112 Arabic lines translated.