كَمhow many ذَميلٍan ambling pace إِلَيكُمُtoward you وَوَجيفِand a swift pace
كَم ذَميلٍ إِلَيكُمُ وَوَجيفِ
وَصُدودٍand shunning عَنّاof us لَكُمon your part وَصُدوفِand turning away
وَصُدودٍ عَنّا لَكُم وَصُدوفِ
How many an ambling journey toward you, and a swift ride,
How much yearning for you and passion,
and how much shunning of us and turning away on your part!
And rejection from you, and rejection!
وَغَرامٌand passion بِكُمfor you لَوَif only اِنَّthat غَراماًpassion
وَغَرامٌ بِكُم لَوَ اِنَّ غَراماً
جَرَّbrought نَفعاًbenefit لِلواجِدِto the yearning one المَشغوفِthe love-stricken
جَرَّ نَفعاً لِلواجِدِ المَشغوفِ
And passion for you—if only passion
And love for you - if only love
brought benefit to the yearning, love-stricken one!
Brought benefit to the passionate lover -
صَبوَةٌyouthful infatuation ثُمَّthen عِفَّةٌchastity ماhow أَضَرَّharmful الthe
صَبوَةٌ ثُمَّ عِفَّةٌ ما أَضَرَّ ال
حُبَّlove فيin كُلِّevery خَلوَةٍseclusion بِالعَفيفِto the chaste person
حُبَّ في كُلِّ خَلوَةٍ بِالعَفيفِ
Infatuation, then chastity—how harmful
Chastity, then virtue - evil does not harm
love is to the chaste in every seclusion!
Love in every tryst with the chaste one.
هَجَروناthey forsook us وَلَمand not يُلامواwere blamed وَواصَلand kept ties (beginning)
هَجَرونا وَلَم يُلاموا وَواصَل
ناwe (verb ending) عَلىdespite مُؤلِمٍpainful hurt مِنَfrom التَعنيفِharsh reproach
نا عَلى مُؤلِمٍ مِنَ التَعنيفِ
They forsook us without blame; we kept ties
They abandoned us, without blaming themselves, though they maintained
despite painful, harsh reproach.
Contact with one who reproaches and censures.
وَطَلَبناand we sought الوَفاءَfidelity حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen عَbecame scarce (beginning)
وَطَلَبنا الوَفاءَ حَتّى إِذا عَ
زَbecame scarce (completion) رَضيناwe accepted بِالمَطلِdelay وَالتَسويفِand procrastination
زَ رَضينا بِالمَطلِ وَالتَسويفِ
We sought fidelity until, when it grew
And we sought loyalty until, when
scarce, we accepted delay and procrastination.
Procrastination and delay became easy for us, we were content.
كَيفَhow يَرجوhopes for الكَثيرَmuch مَنone whom راضَهُtrained him الشَوthe longing (beginning)
كَيفَ يَرجو الكَثيرَ مَن راضَهُ الشَو
قُlonging (completion) إِلىto أَنthe point that رَضيhe accepted بِبَذلِthe giving of الطَفيفِa scant amount
قُ إِلى أَن رَضي بِبَذلِ الطَفيفِ
How can one hope for much whom longing has trained
How can one who was satisfied by passion hope for much
to be content with a scant gift?
Until he was content with little?
إِنَّindeed بَينَbetween الحِمىthe protected pasture إِلىto جانِبِthe edge of الرَمthe sand (beginning)
إِنَّ بَينَ الحِمى إِلى جانِبِ الرَم
لِsand (completion) مَعاناًhaunts مِنَof الظِباءِthe gazelles الهيفِthe slender-waisted
لِ مَعاناً مِنَ الظِباءِ الهيفِ
Between the protected pasture and the edge of the sands
Between the sanctuary and the side of the sand dune
are indeed haunts of slender-waisted gazelles.
Are meanings from the conversations of the tall gazelles.
عاطِياتٍstretching their necks بَلrather عاطِلاتٍunadorned وَماand how أَغfree of need (beginning)
عاطِياتٍ بَل عاطِلاتٍ وَما أَغ
نىfree of need (completion) الدُمىthe statues عَنof قَلائِدٍnecklaces وَشُنوفِand earrings
نى الدُمى عَن قَلائِدٍ وَشُنوفِ
With necks outstretched—or rather, unadorned; how little
Givers - no, withholders - and the tearful ones do not complain
those statues need necklaces and earrings!
About necklaces and combs.
عارَضَتكَcrossed your path الحُدوجُthe howdahs بِالجِزعِat the valley bend يُحدَيare driven onward (beginning)
عارَضَتكَ الحُدوجُ بِالجِزعِ يُحدَي
نَthey (feminine verb ending) بِعِزِّwith the might of يَماتِهِمtheir yamāt (unclear reading) فيamid السُيوفِthe swords
نَ بِعِزِّ يَماتِهِم في السُيوفِ
The howdahs crossed your path at the valley bend, driven onward
They confronted you with courage - it is challenged
by the might of their yamāt [unclear reading] amid swords,
By the glory of their souls in the swords.
سائِلاتِasking الرِفاقِthe fellow travelers أَينَwhere مَصابُthe falling-place of الthe
سائِلاتِ الرِفاقِ أَينَ مَصابُ ال
غَيثِrain مِنin جَوِّthe tract of مَربَعٍa spring campsite وَمَصيفِand a summer campsite
غَيثِ مِن جَوِّ مَربَعٍ وَمَصيفِ
asking fellow travelers where the rain
Askers of the caravan, where is the rain cloud
falls in the country of spring and summer camps.
From the atmosphere of the square and summer?
وَبُدورٍand full moons يَلِطُّveils مِنfrom دونِهاin front of them النَقthe dust (beginning)
وَبُدورٍ يَلِطُّ مِن دونِها النَق
عُdust (completion) وَلاand not يَكتَفيis content بِلَطِّwith the veiling of السُجوفِthe curtains
عُ وَلا يَكتَفي بِلَطِّ السُجوفِ
And full moons, before which the dust casts a veil,
With tents around which the tracks abound but are not
not content with the covering of curtains.
Satisfied with the patches of the roofs.
بَعُدَتhas grown long شِقَّةُthe distance of الوِصالِunion إِذاwhen كاwas (beginning)
بَعُدَت شِقَّةُ الوِصالِ إِذا كا
نَwas (completion) بِخَوضِthrough plunging among القَناthe spears وَخَرقِand breaking through الصُفوفِthe ranks
نَ بِخَوضِ القَنا وَخَرقِ الصُفوفِ
Long is the journey to union when it must be
The pleasure of union is remote when there is
through plunging among spears and breaking through ranks.
Plunging into the spear and tearing through the ranks.
وَوَراءَand behind الغَبيطِthe camel-litter مِنfrom ذَلِكَthat السَرthe herd (beginning)
وَوَراءَ الغَبيطِ مِن ذَلِكَ السَر
بِherd (completion) أَجَمٌّa hornless gazelle مُبَرقَعٌface-veiled بِالنَصيفِwith a headscarf
بِ أَجَمٌّ مُبَرقَعٌ بِالنَصيفِ
And behind the camel-litter, from that herd,
And beyond that ridge of mirage
is a hornless gazelle, face-veiled with a headscarf.
Is a barren expanse covered in gravel.
مانِعٌwithholding لاnot يَجودُis generous بِالنَيلِwith favors مَمنوprotected (beginning)
مانِعٌ لا يَجودُ بِالنَيلِ مَمنو
عٌprotected (completion) بِرَزٍby a rattle مِنَof القَناthe spears وَحَفيفِand a swish
عٌ بِرَزٍ مِنَ القَنا وَحَفيفِ
Withholding, ungenerous with favors, protected
A withholder who does not give generously of the water,
by the rattle and swish of spears.
Distracted by fear of the spear and the neighing.
مِنof أَقاحٍdaisies غُمِسنَwere dipped فيin البارِدِthe cool العَذthe sweet (beginning)
مِن أَقاحٍ غُمِسنَ في البارِدِ العَذ
بِsweet (completion) طَويلاًfor a long while وَمِنand of قَضيبٍa branch قَضيفِslender
بِ طَويلاً وَمِن قَضيبٍ قَضيفِ
Of daisies dipped in cool, sweet water,
Made of sticks immersed in the cold sweet
for a long while, and of a slender branch.
For a long time, and of a strong rod.
مَورِدٌa watering-place يَنقَعُquenches الغَليلَburning thirst وَيَزداand increases (beginning)
مَورِدٌ يَنقَعُ الغَليلَ وَيَزدا
دُincreases (completion) صَفاءًin clarity عَلىeven with طُروقِthe coming of الرَشيفِsipping
دُ صَفاءً عَلى طُروقِ الرَشيفِ
A watering-place that quenches burning thirst and grows
A place where sorrows are assuaged and
clearer even with repeated sipping.
Purity increases over the roads of the lofty plateau.
كُلَّevery يَومٍday وَداعُfarewell to رَكبٍa caravan عِجالٍhurrying
كُلَّ يَومٍ وَداعُ رَكبٍ عِجالٍ
بِالنَوىinto separation أَوor عَناءُthe anguish of رَكبٍa caravan وُقوفِstanding still
بِالنَوى أَو عَناءُ رَكبٍ وُقوفِ
Every day, farewell to a caravan hurrying
Every day farewells of a hastening caravan
into the distance, or the anguish of a halted caravan.
Or the effort of a standing caravan.
فَكَثيرٌso frequent إِلىtoward الحُمولِthe laden camels اِلتِفاتيmy turning
فَكَثيرٌ إِلى الحُمولِ اِلتِفاتي
وَطَويلٌand long عَلىby الدِيارِthe dwellings وُقوفيmy standing
وَطَويلٌ عَلى الدِيارِ وُقوفي
So often I turn my gaze toward the laden camels,
So I often glance towards the burdens,
and long I stand by the dwellings.
And stand long at the abode.
لاdo not تُوَلِّturn toward الأَظعانَthe departing caravans عَيناًan eye فَماfor not تَرyou return (beginning)
لا تُوَلِّ الأَظعانَ عَيناً فَما تَر
جِعُreturn (completion) إِلّاexcept بِناظِرٍwith an eye مَطروفِstricken
جِعُ إِلّا بِناظِرٍ مَطروفِ
Do not turn your eye toward departing caravans; you return
Do not turn your eyes to misfortunes, for they only
only with a stricken eye.
Return to one with downcast eyes.
وَدَعِand leave المَرءَthe man بِالدِيارِby the dwellings فَماfor not يُجbenefits (beginning)
وَدَعِ المَرءَ بِالدِيارِ فَما يُج
ديbenefits (completion) عَلىto واقِفٍone standing وَلاnor مَوقوفِwhat is stood before
دي عَلى واقِفٍ وَلا مَوقوفِ
Leave the man by the dwellings; it brings no benefit
Leave a man in his abode, for you will not find
to one who stands, nor to what he stands before.
One standing still, nor anyone being stood still.
وَاِعدُدِand count الجيرَةَthe neighbors الحُضورَthe present إِذاif ضَنwithheld (beginning)
وَاِعدُدِ الجيرَةَ الحُضورَ إِذا ضَن
نواthey withheld (completion) عِدادَamong the number of النائينَthe distant عَنكَfrom you الخُلوفِthe absent
نوا عِدادَ النائينَ عَنكَ الخُلوفِ
And count the neighbors who are present, if they withhold,
Count the neighbors present when they are stingy
among the distant, absent ones far from you.
In counting those far from you who are aloof.
شَغَلَoccupied الهَمُّcare أَهلَهُits sufferers وَاِستَقَلناand we found too brief الthe
شَغَلَ الهَمُّ أَهلَهُ وَاِستَقَلنا ال
لَيلَnight مِنbecause of زَورَةِa visit of الخَيالِthe phantom المُطيفِthe circling
لَيلَ مِن زَورَةِ الخَيالِ المُطيفِ
Care occupied its sufferers; we found
Worry preoccupied its people, and we had
the night too short because of the circling phantom's visit.
A night free of the imaginary visitor's deception.
وَضُيوفُand the guests الهُمومِthe sorrows مُذever since كُنَّthey existed لاnot يَنalight (beginning)
وَضُيوفُ الهُمومِ مُذ كُنَّ لا يَن
زِلنَthey alight (completion) إِلّاexcept عَلىupon العَظيمِthe great الشَريفِthe noble
زِلنَ إِلّا عَلى العَظيمِ الشَريفِ
The visiting sorrows, for as long as they have existed, lodge
And the guests of worries - since they only alight
only with the great and noble.
On the great and noble.
كَالجَنابِlike the tract المَمطورِthe rain-watered يَزدَحِمُthrong الوُرthe water-seekers (beginning)
كَالجَنابِ المَمطورِ يَزدَحِمُ الوُر
رادُwater-seekers (completion) فيهِin it وَالمَنزِلِand the dwelling المَألوفِthe familiar
رادُ فيهِ وَالمَنزِلِ المَألوفِ
Like rain-watered ground, where water-seekers throng,
Like a soaking wet person, the visitors crowd him
and a familiar dwelling.
And his familiar dwelling.
لَمnot يُثَقِّفstraightened عوديmy shaft الزَمانُTime وَلَكِنbut
لَم يُثَقِّف عودي الزَمانُ وَلَكِن
ضَجَّcried out عودُthe shaft of الزَمانِTime مِنfrom تَثقيفيmy straightening it
ضَجَّ عودُ الزَمانِ مِن تَثقيفي
Time did not straighten my shaft; rather,
Time has not refined me, but it has
Time's shaft cried out under my straightening.
Caused the time's branch to creak under my refining of it.
قُلتُI said لِلدَهرِto Time يَومَthe day رامَsought اِختِداعيto deceive me
قُلتُ لِلدَهرِ يَومَ رامَ اِختِداعي
عَنaway from جَنانيmy heart الماضيthe resolute وَنَفسيand my soul العُزوفِthe disdainful
عَن جَناني الماضي وَنَفسي العُزوفِ
I said to Time, the day it tried to deceive me
I said to fate one day when it tried to distract me
away from my resolute heart and my disdainful soul:
From my past gardens and my aloof soul:
عُدreturn ذَميماًdisgraced هُبِلتَmay your mother lose you وَاِطلُبand seek لِشَمِّfor smelling الthe
عُد ذَميماً هُبِلتَ وَاِطلُب لِشَمِّ ال
ذُلِّhumiliation ياO دَهرُTime غَيرَother than هَذيthese الأُنوفِthe noses
ذُلِّ يا دَهرُ غَيرَ هَذي الأُنوفِ
Return disgraced—may your mother lose you! Seek, to sniff
Go back in disgrace, and seek for the stench of
humiliation, O Time, noses other than these.
Humiliation, Oh time, others than these proud souls!
لَمnot تُوَفِّcomplete العِشرينَtwenty سِنّيmy age وَإِنَّand indeed الthe
لَم تُوَفِّ العِشرينَ سِنّي وَإِنَّ ال
حِلمَforbearance مِنّيfrom me عَلىabove الجِبالِthe mountains لَموفيsurely towering
حِلمَ مِنّي عَلى الجِبالِ لَموفي
My age has not yet reached twenty, yet
You have not completed my twentieth year, and yet
my forbearance towers above the mountains.
Forbearance from me is abundant in the mountains.
فيَّin me مَعنىthe meaning of المَشيبِgray hair حُكماًin judgment وَإِنalthough كاwas (beginning)
فيَّ مَعنى المَشيبِ حُكماً وَإِن كا
نَwas (completion) نُهوضيmy vigor عَنِfrom الصِباyouth وَخُفوفيand my nimbleness
نَ نُهوضي عَنِ الصِبا وَخُفوفي
Gray hair's meaning is mine in judgment, although
In me is the meaning of old age in wisdom
my vigor and nimbleness spring from youth.
Even if my rising from youth was easy.
وَإِذاand when البُردُthe mantle كانَwas فيin اليَدِthe hand وَالعَيand the eye (beginning)
وَإِذا البُردُ كانَ في اليَدِ وَالعَي
نِeye (completion) صَنيعاًfinely wrought أَغنىremoved the need عَنِfor التَفويفِstriped embellishment
نِ صَنيعاً أَغنى عَنِ التَفويفِ
And when a mantle is, to hand and eye,
And when there is cold in the hand and eye
finely wrought, it needs no striped embellishment.
It makes warmth unnecessary.
هَزَّstirred عِطفيmy side إِلىtoward الأَغَرِّthe radiant أَبيAbu إِسIshaq (beginning)
هَزَّ عِطفي إِلى الأَغَرِّ أَبي إِس
حَقَIshaq (completion) وُدٌّlove يَلويbends عَلَيهِtoward him صَليفيmy neck's side
حَقَ وُدٌّ يَلوي عَلَيهِ صَليفي
My side swayed toward the radiant Abu Ishaq,
It shook my compassion for the most uncouth father,
moved by love that bends my neck toward him,
A grudge that twists upon it, and my leaning towards him,
وَنِزاعٌand yearning يَهفوflutters إِلَيهِtoward him بِلُبّيwith my heart
وَنِزاعٌ يَهفو إِلَيهِ بِلُبّي
هَفَواتِswoops المُصَرصِرِthe shrill-crying الغِطريفِthe noble hawk
هَفَواتِ المُصَرصِرِ الغِطريفِ
and by a yearning that makes my heart flutter toward him,
And a conflict that inclines to him with the calls
with the swoops of a shrill-crying noble hawk.
Of my disdainful scolding and rebuke.
كَيفَhow لاnot أَغلِبُI overcome الزَمانَTime وَهَذاwhile this الthe
كَيفَ لا أَغلِبُ الزَمانَ وَهَذا ال
نَدبُvaliant man يَغدوbecomes عَلىagainst الزَمانِTime حَليفيmy ally
نَدبُ يَغدو عَلى الزَمانِ حَليفي
How can I fail to overcome Time, when this
How can I not conquer time when this
valiant man becomes my ally against Time?
Reproach rises over time as my ally?
كَلِمٌwords كَالنُصولِlike blade-points هَذَّبَهاrefined them القَيthe smith (beginning)
كَلِمٌ كَالنُصولِ هَذَّبَها القَي
نُsmith (completion) وَوَجهٌand a face كَالهِرقَليِّlike a coin of Heraclius المَشوفِthe burnished
نُ وَوَجهٌ كَالهِرقَليِّ المَشوفِ
Words like blade-points refined by the smith,
Words like spearheads - the whetstone made them smooth -
and a face like a burnished coin of Heraclius.
And a face like that of Heraclius, frowning.
إِنَّindeed شَكواكَyour complaint لِلزَمانِagainst Time مُبينٌmakes clear
إِنَّ شَكواكَ لِلزَمانِ مُبينٌ
ليto me عَلىconcerning قَدرِthe measure of عَقلِهِits intellect المَضعوفِthe enfeebled
لي عَلى قَدرِ عَقلِهِ المَضعوفِ
Your complaint against Time makes clear
Your complaining about fate indicates to me
to me the measure of its feeble intellect.
The level of its weak intellect.
أَيَعومُdoes swim المَجهولُthe unknown بَحراًa sea وَلاand not يَنquenches (beginning)
أَيَعومُ المَجهولُ بَحراً وَلا يَن
قَعُquenches (completion) غُلّاًburning thirst لِلفاضِلِfor the man of merit المَعروفِthe renowned
قَعُ غُلّاً لِلفاضِلِ المَعروفِ
Does the unknown man swim in a sea, while it fails
Does the unknown swim an ocean and not shed
to slake the thirst of the renowned man of merit?
A drop for the virtuous and well-known?
قَدَّمَتadvanced غَيرَكَothers than you الجُدودُgood fortunes وَأُخَّزand were held back (unclear fragment)
قَدَّمَت غَيرَكَ الجُدودُ وَأُخَّز
تَyou (verb ending) وَلَكِنbut أَنافَrose high غَيرَone not مُنيفِeminent
تَ وَلَكِن أَنافَ غَيرَ مُنيفِ
Fortunes advanced others, while you were left
Others before you presented offerings, and you were
behind; yet one without eminence rose high.
Humiliated, but the noses of others are not prone to bleeding.
وَالحُظوظُand fortunes البَلهاءُthe foolish مِنof ذيthese اللَياليthe nights
وَالحُظوظُ البَلهاءُ مِن ذي اللَيالي
أَنكَحَتmarried off بِنتَthe daughter of عامِرٍ'Amir مِنto one of ثَقيفِThaqif
أَنكَحَت بِنتَ عامِرٍ مِن ثَقيفِ
The foolish fortunes of these nights
And blind fortunes - from the one with nights -
married the daughter of 'Amir to one of Thaqif.
Married the daughter of Aamir from Thaqeef.
قَصَفَshattered الدَهرُTime فيكَagainst you رُمحاًa spear مِنَof الكَيthe guile (beginning)
قَصَفَ الدَهرُ فيكَ رُمحاً مِنَ الكَي
دِguile (completion) وَحامىand defended عَنِon behalf of المَعيبِthe flawed المَؤوفِthe afflicted
دِ وَحامى عَنِ المَعيبِ المَؤوفِ
Time shattered a spear of guile against you,
Fate shot an arrow of venom at you
and defended the flawed, afflicted man.
And protected from blame the familiar stain.
إِنif حُرِمتَyou were denied الرِزقَthe livelihood الَّذيwhich نالَhe obtained مِنهُfrom it
إِن حُرِمتَ الرِزقَ الَّذي نالَ مِنهُ
فَدَواءُthen the cure of العَيِيِّthe dullard داءُthe disease of الحَصيفِthe discerning
فَدَواءُ العَيِيِّ داءُ الحَصيفِ
If you are denied the livelihood of which he partook,
If you missed out on the provision that he attained
then the dullard's cure is the discerning man's disease.
Then the remedy for the weak is the effort of the strong.
عَمَلٌwork فاضِحٌdisgraceful وَأَجمَلُand more seemly مِنthan بَعsome (beginning)
عَمَلٌ فاضِحٌ وَأَجمَلُ مِن بَع
ضِsome (completion) الوِلاياتِthe offices عُطلَةُthe idleness of المَصروفِthe dismissed
ضِ الوِلاياتِ عُطلَةُ المَصروفِ
Disgraceful work—and more seemly than some
A known sin, yet more seemly than
offices is the dismissed man's idleness.
The idleness of some rulers.
فَاِصطَبِرso endure patiently لِلخُطوبِthrough calamities رُبَّmany an اِصطِبارٍact of endurance
فَاِصطَبِر لِلخُطوبِ رُبَّ اِصطِبارٍ
شَقَّcleft فَجراًa dawn مِنfrom لَيلِهِنَّtheir night المَخوفِthe fearsome
شَقَّ فَجراً مِن لَيلِهِنَّ المَخوفِ
So endure calamities; many an act of endurance
So be patient with troubles - the patience
has cleft a dawn from their fearsome night.
Of many has cleaved a dawn from their fearful night.
إِنَّماonly نَلبَسُwe wear الدُروعَthe coats of mail ثِقالاًheavy
إِنَّما نَلبَسُ الدُروعَ ثِقالاً
لِرُجوعٍfor a return إِلىto خِفافِthe lightweight الشُفوفِgauzy robes
لِرُجوعٍ إِلى خِفافِ الشُفوفِ
We wear heavy coats of mail only
We only wear armor as a burden
to return to light, gauzy robes.
For returning to the lightness of the pliant coats of mail.
كَمhow often تَحَمَّلتَهاyou bore them بِظَهرٍupon a back مِنَof الصَبthe patience (beginning)
كَم تَحَمَّلتَها بِظَهرٍ مِنَ الصَب
رِpatience (completion) فَخَفَّتso they grew light وَالعِبءُand the burden غَيرُnot خَفيفِlight
رِ فَخَفَّت وَالعِبءُ غَيرُ خَفيفِ
How often you bore them on a back of patience,
How much you have borne with a back
so they grew light, though the burden was not light.
Of patience, yet it lightened while the burden remained heavy!
إِنَّindeed أَولىmost deserving بِالصَبرِof patience إِنif حُرَّجَتهُyou press him hard
إِنَّ أَولى بِالصَبرِ إِن حُرَّجَتهُ
مَنhe who حَشاهُhis breast مِنهاfrom them كَثيرُmany القُروفِthe wounds
مَن حَشاهُ مِنها كَثيرُ القُروفِ
The one most worthy of patience, if you press him hard,
The most deserving of patience, if it troubles him,
is he whose breast bears many wounds from them.
Is one whose close camaraderie with it is abundant.
لَمnot تَغِبyou vanished عَنfrom سَوادِthe core of قَلبيmy heart وَإِنthough غِبwere absent (beginning)
لَم تَغِب عَن سَوادِ قَلبي وَإِن غِب
تَyou (verb ending) مُعَنّىtormented by نَوائِبٍcalamities وَصُؤوفِand grievous trials
تَ مُعَنّى نَوائِبٍ وَصُؤوفِ
You have not vanished from my heart's core, though absent,
It is not absent from the blackness of my heart even if
tormented by calamities and grievous trials.
The meaning of misfortunes and sorrows was absent.
قِرَّbe comforted عَيناًin your eye بِطارِقاتِby the visitations of الشَكاياafflictions
قِرَّ عَيناً بِطارِقاتِ الشَكايا
ماso long as تَجافَتkeep away مُطَرِّقاتُthe hammering visitations of الحُتوفِdeaths
ما تَجافَت مُطَرِّقاتُ الحُتوفِ
Be content with afflictions that come calling,
Be pleased with the descending misfortunes
so long as death's hammering blows keep away.
As long as the descending candles do not shun you.
أَتُراناdo you suppose us نُطيقُwe can bear دَفعاًa repelling لِماof what أَعdefeated (beginning)
أَتُرانا نُطيقُ دَفعاً لِما أَع
ياdefeated (completion) صِلالَthe vipers of النَقاthe dunes وَأُسدَand the lions of الغَريفِthe thicket
يا صِلالَ النَقا وَأُسدَ الغَريفِ
Do you think we can repel what has defeated
Do you see us able to ward off what the renovator of the decayed palm branches and the courageous lion have brought?
the dune-vipers and the lions of the thicket?
The imperfect rushed, while fate hastily
أَمهَلَallowed time الناقِصونَthe deficient وَاِستَعجَلَand hastened الدَهTime (beginning)
أَمهَلَ الناقِصونَ وَاِستَعجَلَ الدَه
رُTime (completion) بِسَوقٍwith a driving لِلفاضِلينَof the worthy عَنيفِviolent
رُ بِسَوقٍ لِلفاضِلينَ عَنيفِ
The deficient were allowed time, while Time hastened
Drove the virtuous with a painful whip.
the worthy onward with a violent driving.
One who is virtuous lives amongst people with
مَنwhoever يَكُنis فاضِلاًa man of merit يَعِشlives بَينَamong ذاthese الناthe people (beginning)
مَن يَكُن فاضِلاً يَعِش بَينَ ذا النا
سِpeople (completion) بِقَلبٍwith a heart جَوٍaching وَبالٍand a mind كَسيفِgloomy
سِ بِقَلبٍ جَوٍ وَبالٍ كَسيفِ
Whoever has merit lives among these people
A brave heart and an afflicted mind.
with an aching heart and a gloomy mind.
Whenever one exceeds in intellect, he ends up
كُلَّماwhenever كانَhe is زائِدَgreater in العَقلِintellect أَمسىhe becomes
كُلَّما كانَ زائِدَ العَقلِ أَمسى
ناقِصاًdiminished مِنin تَليدِهِhis inherited wealth وَالطَريفِand new acquisitions
ناقِصاً مِن تَليدِهِ وَالطَريفِ
Whenever he has greater intellect, he becomes
Lacking in adaptability and pliability.
poorer in inherited wealth and new acquisitions.
It is no wonder that I surpassed and outstripped
لاnot عَجيبٌa wonder أَنّيthat I سَبَقتُraced ahead وَأَعرَقand made sweat (beginning)
لا عَجيبٌ أَنّي سَبَقتُ وَأَعرَق
تُI (verb ending) جِيادَthe steeds of المَنثورِprose وَالمَرصوفِand measured verse
تُ جِيادَ المَنثورِ وَالمَرصوفِ
No wonder I raced ahead and drove to a sweat
The thoroughbred horses and the well-trained.
the steeds of prose and measured verse.
You, O horseman of words, went ahead
أَنتَyou ياO فارِسَknight of الكَلامِspeech تَقَدَّمwent ahead (beginning)
أَنتَ يا فارِسَ الكَلامِ تَقَدَّم
تَyou (verb ending) وَأَخلَيتَand you left vacant ليfor me مَكانَthe place of الرَديفِthe pillion rider
تَ وَأَخلَيتَ لي مَكانَ الرَديفِ
You, O knight of speech, have gone before,
And left a place for me as follower.
and left me the pillion rider's place.
Partial English translation: 105 of 106 Arabic lines translated.