أَمِنis it from شَوقٍlonging تُعانِقُنيembrace me الأَمانيhopes
أَمِن شَوقٍ تُعانِقُني الأَماني
وَعَنand out of وُدٍّaffection يُخادِعُنيdeceives me زَمانيmy time
وَعَن وُدٍّ يُخادِعُني زَماني
Is it from longing that hopes embrace me,
From longing, hopes caress me,
and out of affection that my time deceives me?
And from affection, my time deceives me.
وَماand not أَهوىI desire مُصافَحَةَclasping the hands of الغَوانيlovely women
وَما أَهوى مُصافَحَةَ الغَواني
إِذاwhen اِشتَغَلَتare occupied بَنانيmy fingers بِالعِنانِwith the reins
إِذا اِشتَغَلَت بَناني بِالعِنانِ
I have no desire to clasp lovely women's hands
Yet I yearn not to meet glancing eyes,
when my fingers are busy with the reins.
When my mind is preoccupied with the reins.
عَدِمتُmay I be rid of الدَهرَTime كَيفَhow يَصونُdoes it preserve وَجهاًa face
عَدِمتُ الدَهرَ كَيفَ يَصونُ وَجهاً
يُعَرَّضُis exposed لِلضَرابِto sword blows وَلِلطَعانِand to spear thrusts
يُعَرَّضُ لِلضَرابِ وَلِلطَعانِ
May Time perish! How can it preserve a face
I wondered, how can the times protect a face
exposed to sword blows and spear thrusts?
Exposed to blows and stabs?
وَأَسفَعَand a swarthy man لَثَّمَتهُkissed him الشَمسُthe sun نَدبٌa gallant
وَأَسفَعَ لَثَّمَتهُ الشَمسُ نَدبٌ
أَبَيناwe refused أَنthat يُلَقَّبَhe be called بِالهِجانِby the name fair-skinned
أَبَينا أَن يُلَقَّبَ بِالهِجانِ
And a swarthy gallant, kissed by the sun—
The sun mourned its lost beauty,
we refused to have him called fair-skinned.
Which refused to be termed ugly.
وَكَمand many a مُتَضَرِّمِblazing الوَجَناتِcheeks حُسناًin beauty
وَكَم مُتَضَرِّمِ الوَجَناتِ حُسناً
إِذاwhen جَرَّبتَهُyou test him نابيrecoiling الجَنانِof heart
إِذا جَرَّبتَهُ نابي الجَنانِ
And many a man whose cheeks blaze with beauty
How beautiful are those with cheeks grown hollow!
proves faint-hearted when you put him to the test.
When tested by the springs of Paradise.
تُعَرِّفُنيacquaint me بِأَنفُسِهاwith themselves اللَياليthe nights
تُعَرِّفُني بِأَنفُسِها اللَيالي
وَآنَفُand I disdain أَنto أُعَرِّفَهاmake them know مَكانيmy station
وَآنَفُ أَن أُعَرِّفَها مَكاني
The nights acquaint me with themselves,
The nights introduce themselves to me,
yet I disdain to acquaint them with my station.
Yet I disdain to make my place known to them.
أَناI اِبنُson of مُفَرِّجِone who dispels الغَمَراتِoverwhelming ordeals سوداًdark
أَنا اِبنُ مُفَرِّجِ الغَمَراتِ سوداً
تَلاقىmeet تَحتَهاbeneath them حَلَقُrings البِطانِof the saddle-girth
تَلاقى تَحتَها حَلَقُ البِطانِ
I am the son of one who dispels dark ordeals,
I am the son of the dispeller of dark sorrows,
beneath which the girth-rings meet.
Beneath which the throats of camels meet.
وَجَدّيand my forefather خابِطُone who traversed البَيداءِthe wilderness حَتّىuntil
وَجَدّي خابِطُ البَيداءِ حَتّى
تَبَدّىappeared الماءُwater مِنfrom ثَغبِa rock-pool الرِعانِthe mountain spurs
تَبَدّى الماءُ مِن ثَغبِ الرِعانِ
My forefather traversed the wilderness until
My grandfather probed the desert sands
water appeared from a rock-pool among the mountain spurs.
Until water sprang from the shepherds’ staffs.
قَضىhe died وَجِيادُهُand his chargers حَولَaround العَواليthe tall lances
قَضى وَجِيادُهُ حَولَ العَوالي
وَوَفدُand the throng ضُيوفِهِof his guests حَولَaround الجِفانِthe great bowls
وَوَفدُ ضُيوفِهِ حَولَ الجِفانِ
He died, his chargers around the tall lances,
His steeds roamed the highlands,
and his throng of guests around the great bowls.
And his guests gathered around the valleys.
تُكَفِّنُهُshroud him ظُبىedges البيضِthe white swords المَواضيthe keen ones
تُكَفِّنُهُ ظُبى البيضِ المَواضي
وَيَفصِلُهُand adorns him دَمُblood السُمرِاللَدانِthe supple, dusky spears
وَيَفصِلُهُ دَمُ السُمرِاللَدانِ
The edges of keen white swords shroud him,
Gazelles clothed him in white shrouds
and blood from supple, dusky spears adorns him.
And his blood was spilt by brown spear points.
نَشَرتُI spread عَلىover الزَمانِTime وِشاحَa sash of عِزٍّglory
نَشَرتُ عَلى الزَمانِ وِشاحَ عِزٍّ
تَرَنَّحُreel دونَهُbefore it المُقَلُthe eyes الرَوانيthe gazing ones
تَرَنَّحُ دونَهُ المُقَلُ الرَواني
I spread across Time a sash of glory,
I have spread over time the cloak of glory
before which gazing eyes reel.
Beneath which 87 pearl necklaces sway.
خَفيريmy guardian فيin الظَلامِthe darkness أَقَبُّlean-flanked نَهدٌpowerfully built
خَفيري في الظَلامِ أَقَبُّ نَهدٌ
يُساعِدُنيhelps me عَلىin ذَمِّreproaching الزَمانِTime
يُساعِدُني عَلى ذَمِّ الزَمانِ
My guardian in the darkness is a lean-flanked, mighty steed,
My guide in darkness is a tender breast
who joins me in reproaching Time.
That helps me to blame the times.
جَوادٌa charger تُرعَدُare made to tremble الأَبصارُeyes فيهِat him
جَوادٌ تُرعَدُ الأَبصارُ فيهِ
إِذاwhen هَزَأَتmock بِرِجلَيهِat his hind legs اليَدانِthe two forelegs
إِذا هَزَأَت بِرِجلَيهِ اليَدانِ
A charger who sets eyes trembling
A steed from which eyesight trembles
when his forelegs mock his hind legs.
When his legs sport with hands.
كَأَنّيas though I مِنهُthrough him فيin جاريa flowing غَديرِpool
كَأَنّي مِنهُ في جاري غَديرِ
أُلاعِبُI play with مِنthrough عِنانيmy reins غُصنَa bough of بانِthe ban tree
أُلاعِبُ مِن عِناني غُصنَ بانِ
It is as though, upon him, I were in a flowing pool,
As though I were in its flowing stream, a brook,
toying through my reins with a bough of the ban tree.
Playing with a bough of acacia from my reins.
حَيِيُّshy الطَرفِof gaze إِلّاexcept مِنin مَكَرٍّa wheeling charge
حَيِيُّ الطَرفِ إِلّا مِن مَكَرٍّ
يُبَيَّنُis distinguished مِنamong خَلائِقِهِhis traits الحِسانِthe fine ones
يُبَيَّنُ مِن خَلائِقِهِ الحِسانِ
Shy-eyed, save for a wheeling charge
Lively of glance, were it not for cunning
distinguished among his handsome qualities.
Revealed in its fine character.
إِذاif اِستَطلَعتَهُyou glimpse him مِنthrough سِجفِthe curtain of بَيتٍa house
إِذا اِستَطلَعتَهُ مِن سِجفِ بَيتٍ
ظَنَنتَyou would think بِأَنَّهُthat he is بَعضُone of الغَوانيthe lovely women
ظَنَنتَ بِأَنَّهُ بَعضُ الغَواني
If you glimpsed him through a house's curtain,
If you espy it from a thatched house,
you would think him one of the lovely women.
You would think it one of the wild cows.
سَأُطلِعُI shall bring forth مِنfrom ثَناياthe recesses of الدَهرِTime عَزماًa resolve
سَأُطلِعُ مِن ثَنايا الدَهرِ عَزماً
يَسيلُsurges بِهِمَّةِwith the ardor of الحَربِwar العَوانِoft-renewed
يَسيلُ بِهِمَّةِ الحَربِ العَوانِ
I shall bring forth from Time's recesses a resolve
I will muster from the bosom of time a resolve
that surges with the ardor of oft-renewed war.
By which war helpers are set flowing.
وَلاand not أَنسىI forget المَسيرَthe journey إِلىtoward المَعاليlofty deeds
وَلا أَنسى المَسيرَ إِلى المَعالي
وَلَوand even if نَسِيَتهُforgot it أَخفافُthe padded feet of الحَوانيthe stooping she-camels
وَلَو نَسِيَتهُ أَخفافُ الحَواني
Nor shall I forget the march toward lofty deeds,
I will not forget the ascent to high deeds
even if the stooping camels' padded feet forget it.
Even if the steps of farewell forgot it.
وَأَلطافُand the gentle gifts of السَحابِthe clouds لِكُلِّto every دارٍdwelling
وَأَلطافُ السَحابِ لِكُلِّ دارٍ
صَحِبناwe shared رَبعَهاits quarter خَضِلَlush and moist المَغانيthe haunts
صَحِبنا رَبعَها خَضِلَ المَغاني
May the clouds bring gentle gifts to every dwelling
The kind rain clouds halted at every house.
whose quarter we shared, its haunts lush and moist.
We were their quarter from which songs poured forth.
وَكُنّاand we were لاnot يُرَوِّعُناfrightens us زَمانٌa time
وَكُنّا لا يُرَوِّعُنا زَمانٌ
بِماby what يُعديaids البِعادَseparation عَلىagainst التَدانيcloseness
بِما يُعدي البِعادَ عَلى التَداني
Once no turn of Time could frighten us
We were not frightened by a time
by helping separation prevail over closeness.
Which stretched harm beyond the nearby.
وَنَأنَفُand we disdain أَنthat تُشَبِّهَناliken us اللَياليthe nights
وَنَأنَفُ أَن تُشَبِّهَنا اللَيالي
بِشَمسٍto a sun أَوor سَناthe radiance of قَمَرٍa moon هِجانِpure-white
بِشَمسٍ أَو سَنا قَمَرٍ هِجانِ
And we disdained that nights should liken us
We disdain that nights should liken us
to a sun or the radiance of a pure-white moon.
To a brilliant sun or a resplendent moon.
فَهاso behold أَناI وَالحَبيبُand the beloved نَوَدُّwe wish أَنّاthat we
فَها أَنا وَالحَبيبُ نَوَدُّ أَنّا
تَدانَيناmight draw near وَنَحنُwhile we are الفَرقَدانِthe two Farqad stars
تَدانَينا وَنَحنُ الفَرقَدانِ
Yet here my beloved and I are, wishing
So here I am, and the beloved, we wish
we might draw near, though we are the two Farqad stars.
We had drawn near when we were two fleas.
وَليلٍand many a night أَدهَمٍcoal-black قَلِقِrestless النَواصيof forelocks
وَليلٍ أَدهَمٍ قَلِقِ النَواصي
جَعَلتُI made بَياضَthe whiteness of غُرَّتِهِits forehead-blaze سِنانيmy spearhead
جَعَلتُ بَياضَ غُرَّتِهِ سِناني
And many a coal-black night with tossing forelocks—
By a dark, restless night
I made my spearhead the white blaze on its brow.
I made its blackness white like my hair.
وَصُبحٍand many a dawn تُطلَقُare unleashed الآجالُdestined deaths فيهِin it
وَصُبحٍ تُطلَقُ الآجالُ فيهِ
وَناظِرُand the eye of شَمسِهِits sun فيin النَقعِthe battle-dust عانيa captive
وَناظِرُ شَمسِهِ في النَقعِ عاني
And many a dawn when destined deaths are unleashed,
By a morn whose freedoms pour forth
its sun's eye captive in the battle-dust—
While its sun peers out through the wavy mirage.
عَقَدتُI bound ذَوائِبَthe forelocks of الأَبطالِthe heroes مِنهُfrom it
عَقَدتُ ذَوائِبَ الأَبطالِ مِنهُ
بِأَطرافِto the points of المُثَقَّفَةِthe straightened lances الدَوانيthe near ones
بِأَطرافِ المُثَقَّفَةِ الدَواني
I bound the heroes' forelocks that morning
I have tied the ends of the heroes’ plaits with it
to the points of the straightened lances close at hand.
By the edges of the gilt-edged pages.
وَشُعثٍand disheveled men فَلَّهُمwore them down طَلَبُthe pursuit of المَعاليlofty deeds
وَشُعثٍ فَلَّهُم طَلَبُ المَعالي
وَفَلّواand they wore down كُلَّevery مُنجَردٍsleek-coated حِصانِstallion
وَفَلّوا كُلَّ مُنجَردٍ حِصانِ
And many a disheveled band, worn down in pursuit of lofty deeds,
Dishevelled ones seeking lofty deeds—
who in turn wore down every sleek stallion—
Each stripped warrior horse.
أَقولُI say لَهُمto them ثِقواtrust بِاللَهِin God فيهاin it
أَقولُ لَهُم ثِقوا بِاللَهِ فيها
فَفَضلُfor the superiority of يَدِthe hand of المُعينِthe helper عَلىover المُعانِthe helped
فَفَضلُ يَدِ المُعينِ عَلى المُعانِ
I tell them: trust in God in this quest,
I say to them “Trust in God regarding it,
for the helper's hand stands above the one he helps.
For the Bountiful hand exceeds the assistant.”
وَلاand do not تَتَعَرَّضواventure forth بِالعِزِّrelying on glory إِنّيfor I
وَلا تَتَعَرَّضوا بِالعِزِّ إِنّي
رَأَيتُhave seen العِزَّglory خَوّارَweak العِنانِof rein
رَأَيتُ العِزَّ خَوّارَ العِنانِ
Do not venture forth relying on glory, for I
Do not pursue glory–I saw
have seen glory weak of rein.
Glory demean the reins.
فَماfor none رَكِبَhas mounted العُلىthe heights إِلّاexcept عَلِيٌّAli
فَما رَكِبَ العُلى إِلّا عَلِيٌّ
وَمَسَّحَand stroked عِطفَهاits flank بَعدَafter الحِرانِbalking
وَمَسَّحَ عِطفَها بَعدَ الحِرانِ
None but Ali has mounted the heights
None rode glory save Ali
and stroked their flank after their stubborn balking.
Who wiped its shoulder after war.
سَعىhe strove وَالشَمسُwhile the sun تَرقىclimbed فيin أَناةٍunhurriedness
سَعى وَالشَمسُ تَرقى في أَناةٍ
فَجازَso he passed ahead وَسَيرُهاwhile its course فيin الجَوِّthe sky وانِsluggish
فَجازَ وَسَيرُها في الجَوِّ وانِ
He strove while the sun climbed slowly,
He raced while the sun climbed hesitantly,
and outstripped it, its course through the sky still sluggish.
So it passed and its course was in the air.
رَمواthey aimed مِنكَfrom you المَدىthe farthest reach وَالخَيلُwhile the horses شُعثٌwere disheveled
رَموا مِنكَ المَدى وَالخَيلُ شُعثٌ
بِمَصقولِwith one polished in العَوارِضِthe cheeks وَاللَبانِand the breast
بِمَصقولِ العَوارِضِ وَاللَبانِ
They aimed for the farthest goal through you, the horses disheveled,
They shot arrows from you and the horses are dishevelled
with a steed of gleaming cheeks and breast.
With polished cheekbones and shining necks.
يَدٌa hand لَمnot تَخلُwas empty مِنof قَصَبِshafts of العَواليthe tall lances
يَدٌ لَم تَخلُ مِن قَصَبِ العَوالي
تُزَعزِعُهُنَّshaking them أَوor قَصَبِthe prize-reeds of الرِهانِthe race
تُزَعزِعُهُنَّ أَو قَصَبِ الرِهانِ
A hand never empty of the shafts of tall lances,
A hand that never failed to harvest the high stems
shaking them, or of the victor's reeds in racing.
Shaking them, or the harvest of grapes.
تَرَكتَyou left لَهُمfor them عُيونَthe eyes of الطَعنِspear-wounds تَدمىbleeding
تَرَكتَ لَهُم عُيونَ الطَعنِ تَدمى
بِمُنخَرِطٍwith a torrent مِنَof التامورِheart's blood قانِdeep-red
بِمُنخَرِطٍ مِنَ التامورِ قانِ
You left the eyes of their spear-wounds bleeding
You left them eyes of stab wounds flowing
with a crimson torrent of heart's blood.
With what drips from the edge of a keen sword.
وَقَدand already نَصَلَhad withdrawn الدُجىdarkness عَنfrom صَدرِthe breast of يَومٍa day
وَقَد نَصَلَ الدُجى عَن صَدرِ يَومٍ
مِنَby الخِرصانِthe spearheads مَخضوبِdyed البَنانِin the fingers
مِنَ الخِرصانِ مَخضوبِ البَنانِ
And darkness had withdrawn from the breast of a day
The darkness was stripped from the chest of a day
whose fingers the spearheads had dyed,
Adorned in chainmail and dyed branches.
وَأَجسادٍand bodies تُشاطِرُهاshares with them المَناياDeath
وَأَجسادٍ تُشاطِرُها المَنايا
نُفوساًsouls فيin ضِرابٍsword blows أَوor طِعانِspear thrusts
نُفوساً في ضِرابٍ أَو طِعانِ
and bodies with which Death shares
And bodies which fatalities share
souls amid sword blows or spear thrusts.
With souls amid thrusts and stabs.
هُوَhe الغَمرُthe ample one الرِداءِin cloak لِعَزمَتَيهِfor his two resolves
هُوَ الغَمرُ الرِداءِ لِعَزمَتَيهِ
بِكُلِّfor every دِفاعِrepelling of نائِبَةٍa calamity يَدانِtwo hands
بِكُلِّ دِفاعِ نائِبَةٍ يَدانِ
He is ample-cloaked; his twin resolves
He is one who floods tribulation with his deliberation
have two hands to ward off every calamity.
Through every warding-off blow of two hands.
وَماand not نَهَضَrose اِمرُؤٌa man بِالحَزمِwith firm resolve إِلّاexcept
وَما نَهَضَ اِمرُؤٌ بِالحَزمِ إِلّا
وَصادَفَand found حِلمَهُhis forbearance مُلقىlaid down الجِرانِthe neck
وَصادَفَ حِلمَهُ مُلقى الجِرانِ
No man ever rose with firm resolve without
No man rose with resolve
finding his forbearance settled, its neck laid down.
Except that he met its heat amid hostility.
يَضُمُّenfolds الخائِفَthe fearful one الظَمآنَthe thirsty one مِنهُfrom him
يَضُمُّ الخائِفَ الظَمآنَ مِنهُ
حِمىًa sanctuary يَفتَرُّsmiles مِنfrom بَردِthe coolness of الأَمانيhopes
حِمىً يَفتَرُّ مِن بَردِ الأَماني
A sanctuary of his enfolds the fearful and thirsty,
From him the frightened thirsty one gains
smiling with the coolness of hopes.
Refuge warming him against the cold of wishes.
وَتَضحَكُand laughs نارُهُhis fire وَضَحاًin brightness إِذاwhen ماever
وَتَضحَكُ نارُهُ وَضَحاً إِذا ما
رَغَتbellowed نارُthe fire of القَبائِلِthe tribes بِالدُخانِwith smoke
رَغَت نارُ القَبائِلِ بِالدُخانِ
His fire laughs in clear brightness when
His flame laughs brightly whenever
the tribes' fires bellow with smoke.
The fires of tribes blaze with smoke.
وَيَومٍand many a day مِثلِlike شِدقِthe maw of اللَيثِa lion جَهمٍgrim
وَيَومٍ مِثلِ شِدقِ اللَيثِ جَهمٍ
يَفُلُّblunts عَنِaway from الجِدالِdebate ظُبىthe blades of اللِسانِthe tongue
يَفُلُّ عَنِ الجِدالِ ظُبى اللِسانِ
And many a grim day like a lion's maw,
A day like the snarling lion’s cheek, awesome,
blunting the tongue's blades for debate—
From which the gazelles’ tongues recoil.
سَدَدتَyou stopped up فُروجَهُits breaches بِالقَولِwith speech حَتّىuntil
سَدَدتَ فُروجَهُ بِالقَولِ حَتّى
مَدَدتَyou extended مُشَيِّعاًboldly باعَthe reach of البَنانِthe fingers
مَدَدتَ مُشَيِّعاً باعَ البَنانِ
you stopped its breaches with speech until
You blocked its openings with words until
you boldly extended the reach of your fingers.
You process as one who sold perfume.
وَغَيرُكَand someone other than you مَنone whom تُرَوِّعُهُfrighten him المَعاليlofty deeds
وَغَيرُكَ مَن تُرَوِّعُهُ المَعالي
وَتَخدَعُهُand deceive him أَغانيُّthe songs of القِيانِthe singing girls
وَتَخدَعُهُ أَغانيُّ القِيانِ
It is another whom lofty deeds frighten,
As for others whom lofty deeds terrify
and the singing girls' songs deceive.
And songs of lute players trick,
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَare mentioned الصَوارِمُthe sharp swords وَالعَواليand the tall lances
إِذا ذُكِرَ الصَوارِمُ وَالعَوالي
تَعَوَّذَhe seeks refuge بِالمَثالِثِin the third strings وَالمَثانيand the second strings
تَعَوَّذَ بِالمَثالِثِ وَالمَثاني
When sharp swords and tall lances are mentioned,
When rapiers and high deeds were recalled,
he seeks refuge in the lute's third and second strings.
They sought refuge in spells and amulets.
وَإِنand if طَلَبَhe pursues الذُحولَblood-feuds تَهَضَّمَتهُthey humiliate him
وَإِن طَلَبَ الذُحولَ تَهَضَّمَتهُ
وَباعَand sells دَمَthe blood of الفَوارِسِthe horsemen بِاللِبانِfor milk
وَباعَ دَمَ الفَوارِسِ بِاللِبانِ
If he pursues blood-feuds, they grind him down,
If he pursued prey, it broke him
and he sells the horsemen's blood for milk.
And he bartered the blood of steeds for gum resin.
أَباO Abu سَعدٍSa'd دُعاءٌa prayer لَوif تَراخَتwere delayed
أَبا سَعدٍ دُعاءٌ لَو تَراخَت
أَوائِلُهُits opening words لَعاقَبَهاwould have punished them لِسانيmy tongue
أَوائِلُهُ لَعاقَبَها لِساني
O Abu Sa'd! A prayer: had there been delay
Abu Sa’d, a prayer whose
in its opening words, my tongue would have chastised them.
Beginnings my tongue would chastise, were it slack.
ظَفِرتَmay you gain بِماwhat اِشتَهَيتَyou desired مِنَfrom اللَياليthe nights
ظَفِرتَ بِما اِشتَهَيتَ مِنَ اللَيالي
وَأُعطيتَand may you be given المُرادَthe object sought مِنَamong الأَمانيhopes
وَأُعطيتَ المُرادَ مِنَ الأَماني
May you gain from the nights what you desire,
You attained what you desired from the nights
and be granted the object of your hopes.
And were given what you wanted from wishes.
لِكَفِّكَfor your palm فَوزَةُthe winning share of القِدحِthe gaming arrow المُعَلّىthe highest-valued
لِكَفِّكَ فَوزَةُ القِدحِ المُعَلّى
وَمِنهاand from it صَولَةُthe assault of العَضبِthe keen blade اليَمانيthe Yemeni
وَمِنها صَولَةُ العَضبِ اليَماني
Your palm has the winning share of the highest gaming arrow,
Yours is the prize falcon of the lofty crested cup
and from it comes the assault of the keen Yemeni blade.
And from it the firmly planted Yemeni spear’s charge.
وَلَمّاand when خُرِّقَwas torn الإِظلامُthe darkness جُبناًin cowardice
وَلَمّا خُرِّقَ الإِظلامُ جُبناً
خَلَعتَyou bestowed عَليهِupon it ثَوبَthe robe of المِهرَجانِMihrjan
خَلَعتَ عَليهِ ثَوبَ المِهرَجانِ
When darkness was rent in cowardice,
When darkness was torn cowardly
you draped it in the robe of Mihrjan.
You clothed it in a festival gown.
إِذاwhen طُرِدَتare driven رِماحُthe lances of اللَهوِrevelry فيهِwithin it
إِذا طُرِدَت رِماحُ اللَهوِ فيهِ
أَرَقنَthey spill عَلىover الكُؤوسِthe cups دَمَthe blood of القِنانِthe flasks
أَرَقنَ عَلى الكُؤوسِ دَمَ القِنانِ
When revelry's lances are driven through it,
When the spears of diversion were driven away by it
they spill the flasks' blood over the cups.
Lifeblood gushed over the drinking vessels.
وَشَربٍand a drinking company قَدindeed نَحَرتَyou slaughtered لَهُمfor them عُقاراًwine
وَشَربٍ قَد نَحَرتَ لَهُم عُقاراً
كَحاشِيَةِlike the hem of الرِداءِthe robe الأُرجُوانيpurple
كَحاشِيَةِ الرِداءِ الأُرجُواني
And many a company of drinkers for whom you slaughtered wine,
A draft you slaughtered for them, an antidote
like the hem of a purple robe—
Like the trim of the purple cloak.
كَأَنَّas though الشَمسَthe sun مالَinclined بِهاwith it غُروبٌsunset
كَأَنَّ الشَمسَ مالَ بِها غُروبٌ
فَأَهوَتthen it plunged فيinto حَيازيمِthe bosoms of الدِنانِthe wine-jars
فَأَهوَت في حَيازيمِ الدِنانِ
as though the sun, drawn down by sunset,
As though a sunset leaned unto it
had plunged into the bosoms of the wine-jars.
And plunged in the camel litters’ throats.
فَصِلso join بِدَمِwith the blood of العُقارِwine دَمَthe blood of الأَعاديthe foes
فَصِل بِدَمِ العُقارِ دَمَ الأَعادي
وَأَصواتَand the voices of العَواليthe tall lances بِالأَغانيwith songs
وَأَصواتَ العَوالي بِالأَغاني
So join the blood of wine to the blood of foes,
Separate the blood of the poison with the blood of foes
and the voices of tall lances to songs.
And sounds of lofty deeds with songs.
فَيَومٌfor a day أَنتَyou غُرَّتُهُits white blaze جَوادٌa charger
فَيَومٌ أَنتَ غُرَّتُهُ جَوادٌ
يَبُذُّoutstrips بِشَأوِهِwith its reach طَلقَone loosed from القِرانِthe tether
يَبُذُّ بِشَأوِهِ طَلقَ القِرانِ
A day whose white brow you are is a charger
A day of which you are the foal—a steed
whose course outstrips even a steed loosed from its tether.
Who stomps free with its prowess.
جَعَلتُI made هَدِيَّتيmy gift فيهِon it نِظاماًa string of verse
جَعَلتُ هَدِيَّتي فيهِ نِظاماً
صَقيلاًpolished مِثلَlike قادِمَةِthe forepart of السِنانِa spearhead
صَقيلاً مِثلَ قادِمَةِ السِنانِ
I made my gift on it a string of verse,
I made my ode to you an artful order
polished like the foremost point of a spearhead,
Polished like the incoming flood.
بِلَفظٍin wording فاسِقِwanton اللَحَظاتِin its glances تُنمىare traced
بِلَفظٍ فاسِقِ اللَحَظاتِ تُنمى
مَحاسِنُهُits beauties إِلىto مَعنىًa meaning حَصانِchaste
مَحاسِنُهُ إِلى مَعنىً حَصانِ
in wording with wanton glances, whose
In lines whose glances are wicked, they nurture
beauties are traced to a chaste meaning.
Its beauties into the meaning of a horse.
وَصَلتُI joined جَواهِرَthe jewels of الأَلفاظِwords فيهِin it
وَصَلتُ جَواهِرَ الأَلفاظِ فيهِ
بِأَعراضِwith the honor of المَقاصِدِpurposes وَالمَعانيand meanings
بِأَعراضِ المَقاصِدِ وَالمَعاني
I joined in it the jewels of words
I joined the pearls of words in it
to the honor of purposes and meanings.
To the display of meanings and significances.
فَجاءَتso she came غَضَّةَtender الأَطرافِof limb بِكراًa virgin
فَجاءَت غَضَّةَ الأَطرافِ بِكراً
تَخَيَّرَchose جيدُهاher neck نَظمَa string of الجُمانِpearls
تَخَيَّرَ جيدُها نَظمَ الجُمانِ
So she came, tender-limbed, a virgin,
So there came, blossoming, a glance
her neck choosing a necklace of pearls,
That picked for its beauty pearls of poetry.
كَأَنَّas though أَباAbu عُبادَةَUbada شَقَّopened فاهاher mouth
كَأَنَّ أَبا عُبادَةَ شَقَّ فاها
وَقَبَّلَand kissed ثَغرَهاher lips الحَسَنُal-Hasan بنُson of هانيHani
وَقَبَّلَ ثَغرَها الحَسَنُ بنُ هاني
as though Abu Ubada had opened her mouth,
As though Abu ‘Ubadah split his mouth open
and al-Hasan ibn Hani had kissed her lips.
And al-Hasan ibn Hani kissed his lips.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.