Sol 6.1

  1. إِلى اللَهِ إِنّي لِلعَظيمِ حَمولُ

    كَثيرٌ بِنَفسي وَالعَديلُ قَليلُ

    To God I turn: I can bear great trials.

    I am a host in myself, though my peers are few.

  2. وَمَن طُعمُهُ مِن سَيفِهِ كَيفَ يَتَّقي

    وَمَن يَطلُبُ العَلياءَ كَيفَ يَقيلُ

    And one whose sustenance comes from his sword—how can he be wary?

    And one who seeks the heights—how can he take his noonday rest?

  3. يَقولونَ خالِل في البِلادِ وَإِنَّما

    خَليلَيَ مَن لا يَطَّبيهِ خَليلُ

    They say, 'Make friends throughout the lands'; yet

    my friend is one whom no friend can lure away.

  4. وَلَيسَ طِباعُ الناسِ وَقفاً وَرُبَّما

    تَفاضَلَ فيهِم أَنفُسٌ وَعُقولُ

    Human natures are not all alike; sometimes

    souls and minds surpass one another among them.

  5. وَلَولا نُفوسٌ في الأَقَلِّ عَزيزَةٌ

    لَغَطّى جَميعَ العالَمينَ خُمولُ

    Were it not for noble souls among the few,

    obscurity would shroud all humankind.

  6. فَما تَطلُبُ الأَيّامُ مِن مُتَغَرِّبٍ

    لَهُ كُلَّ يَومٍ رِحلَةٌ وَنُزولُ

    What do the days demand of an exile

    whose every day brings a departure and a halt?

  7. رَمى مَقتَلَ الدُنيا بِسَهمِ قَناعَةٍ

    فَعَزَّ لَأَن غالَ الرَميَّةَ غولُ

    He struck the world's vital spot with an arrow of contentment,

    and stood invincible, for a destroyer had felled his quarry.

  8. أَلا إِنَّما الدُنيا إِذا ما نَظَرتَها

    بِقَلبِكَ أُمٌّ لِلبَنينَ ثَكولُ

    Know: this world, if you behold it

    with your heart, is a mother bereaved of her sons.

  9. وَما يُثقِلُ المَيتَ الصَعيدُ وَإِنَّما

    عَلى الحَيِّ عِبءٌ لِلزَمانِ ثَقيلُ

    The earth does not weigh upon the dead; rather,

    upon the living lies Time's heavy burden.

  10. وَتَختَلِفُ الأَيّامُ حَتّى تَرى العُلى

    عَناءً وَيَغدو ما يَروقُ يَهولُ

    The days change until you see high rank

    as toil, and what delights becomes a terror.

  11. أَقولُ لِغِرٍّ بِالمَنايا وَدونَهُ

    لَهُنَّ خُيولٌ جَمَّةٌ وَحُبولُ

    I say to one unversed in death, before whom

    death has countless horses and snares:

  12. سَتُعطى يَدَ العاني إِذا ما دَنا لَها

    بِغَيرِ وَغىً قِرنٌ أَلَدُّ صَؤولُ

    A captive's hand will be offered to death whenever there approaches it,

    without a battle, a fierce and charging champion.

  13. فَلا تَعتَصِم بِالبُعدِ عَنها فَإِنَّها

    مَسَرَّةُ نِقيٍ في العِظامِ دَمولُ

    So seek no refuge in distance from death, for it

    is marrow's delight, lurking within the bones.

  14. أَرى شَيبَةً في العارِضَينِ فَيَلتَوي

    بِقَلبِيَ حَدّاها جَوىً وَغَليلُ

    I see a gray hair upon my cheeks, and there twist

    within my heart its two edges—anguish and burning thirst.

  15. وَمِن عَجَبٍ غَضّي عَنِ الشَيبِ جازِعاً

    وَكَرّي إِذا لاقى الرَعيلَ رَعيلُ

    Strange that I avert my gaze from gray hair in dread,

    yet charge when troop meets troop.

  16. وَلي نَفَسٌ يَطغى إِذا ما رَدَدتُهُ

    فَيَعرُقُني عَرقَ المُدى وَيَغولُ

    I have a breath that surges when I hold it back,

    stripping my flesh like blades, and ravaging me.

  17. وَما تَسَعُ الأَضلاعُ رَيعانَ زَفرَةٍ

    يَكادُ لَها قَلبُ الجَليدِ يَزولُ

    My ribs cannot contain the first surge of a sigh

    that almost dislodges the steadfast man's heart.

  18. وَما ذاكَ مِن وَجدٍ خَلا أَنَّ هِمَّةً

    عَنائي بِها في الواجِدينَ طَويلُ

    This is no lover's anguish, save that an ambition—

    my suffering for it among those who yearn is long.

  19. بَكَيتُ وَكانَ الدَمعُ شَيباً مُبَيِّضاً

    عِذارِيَ لا جاري الغُروبِ هَطولُ

    I wept, but my tears were gray hairs whitening

    my sideburns, not a downpour streaming from my eyes.

  20. وَشَوكَةِ ضِغنٍ ما اِنتَقَشتُ شَباتَها

    ذَهاباً بِنَفسي أَن يُقالَ عَجولُ

    Many a thorn of rancor whose point I have not plucked out,

    holding myself too high to be called hasty.

  21. وَإِنِّيَ إِن أُعطِ المَدى مُتَنَفَّساً

    نَزَعتُ أَذاها وَالزَمانُ يُديلُ

    Yet if I give time some breathing room,

    I shall pluck out its hurt, as Time turns fortunes.

  22. وَما أَنا إِلّا اللَيثُ لَو تَعلَمونَهُ

    وَذا الشَعَرُ البادي عَلَيَّ قَبيلُ

    I am nothing but the lion, if you but knew;

    this hair showing upon me bears witness.

  23. وَقَد عُصِبَت مِنّي اللَيالي بِساعِدٍ

    تَئِنُّ الأَعادي مَرَّةً وَتُنيلُ

    The nights have been bound to an arm of mine

    before which foes now groan, now yield gifts.

  24. إِذا سَطَّرَت نَهراً وَراءَ بُيوتِها

    سَطَوتُ وَما يُعدي عَلَيَّ قَبيلُ

    When they mark out a river behind their dwellings,

    I pounce, and no tribe can aid them against me.

  25. وَزورُ المَآقي مِن جَديلٍ وَشَدقَمِ

    تَبَلَّدَ عَنها شَدقَمٌ وَجَديلُ

    And slant-eyed mounts of Jadīl and Shadqam,

    before whose speed even Shadqam and Jadīl lagged—

  26. شَقَقنا بِها قَلبَ الظَلامِ وَفَوقَها

    رِجالٌ كَأَطرافِ الذَوابِلِ ميلُ

    with them we cleft the heart of darkness, and upon them

    were men swaying like the tips of slender spears.

  27. وَهَبَّت لِأَصحابي شَمالٌ لَطيفَةٌ

    قَريبَةُ عَهدٍ بِالحَبيبِ بَليلُ

    A gentle north wind blew upon my companions,

    moist, and fresh from the beloved.

  28. تَرانا إِذا أَنفاسُنا مُزِجَت بِها

    نُرَنَّحُ في أَكوارِنا وَنَميلُ

    You would see us, when our breaths mingled with it,

    set swaying in our saddles and leaning.

  29. وَلَم أَرَ نَشوى لِلشَمالِ عَشيَّةً

    كَأَنَّ الَّذي غالَ الرُؤوسَ شَمولُ

    Never have I seen folk so drunk on the north wind at dusk,

    as though what overcame their heads were wine.

  30. وَبَرقٍ يُعاطينا الجَوى غَيرَ أَنَّهُ

    بِهِ مِن عُيونِ الناظِرينَ نُحولُ

    And many a lightning-flash shared its burning sorrow with us, except

    that its slenderness came from the eyes of those who watched.

  31. وَلَيلٍ مَريضَ النَجمِ مِن صِحَّةِ الدُجى

    نَضَونا وَلَألاءُ النُصولِ دَليلُ

    And many a night whose stars were sick from the vigor of its darkness

    we cast off, the flashing spearheads our guide.

  32. وَأَخضَرَ مَستورِ التُرابِ بِرَوضَةٍ

    رَعَينا وَقَد لَبّى الرُغاءَ صَهيلُ

    And a green place, its soil hidden beneath a meadow,

    we grazed, while a neigh answered the camels' cries.

  33. وَعُدنا بِها وَاللَيلُ يَنفُضُ طَلَّهُ

    سِقاطَ اللَآلي وَالنَسيمُ عَليلُ

    We returned with them as the night shook off its dew,

    falling pearls, while the breeze was faint.

  34. إِذا اِستَوحَشَت آذانُها مِن تَنوفَةٍ

    وَحَمحَمَ وَخدٌ دائِبٌ وَذَميلُ

    Whenever their ears took fright in a wilderness,

    and tireless striding and trotting gave a low whinny,

  35. رَمَت بِأُناسيَّ الحِداقِ وَراعَها

    أَبارِقُ يَعرِضنَ الرَدى وَهُجولُ

    they cast their pupils about, startled by

    rocky ridges proffering death, and broad hollows.

  36. وَلَولا رَجاءٌ مِنكَ هَزَّ رِقابَها

    لَما آبَ إِلّا ضالِعٌ وَكَليلُ

    Had not hope in you set their necks in motion,

    none would have returned but the lame and exhausted.

  37. وَدونَ رِواقِ المَجدِ مِنكَ مُمَنَّعٌ

    جَزيلُ المَعالي وَالعَطاءُ جَزيلُ

    Before glory's pavilion you stand unassailable,

    rich in lofty merits, and abundant in bounty.

  38. مَريرُ القُوى لا يَرأَمُ الضَيمُ أَنفَهُ

    وَأَيدي العِدى إِلّا عَلَيهِ تَصولُ

    Firm in his strength, humiliation cannot befriend his proud nose,

    and hostile hands assault none but him.

  39. يُنَهنَهُ بِالأَعداءِ وَهوَ مَصَمِّمٌ

    وَيَزجَرُ بِالعُذّالِ وَهوَ مُنيلُ

    He is warned back with threats of enemies, yet stays resolute;

    he shouts down his critics while bestowing.

  40. فَتىً لا يَرى الإِحسانَ عِبئاً يَجُرُّهُ

    وَلَكِنَّهُ لَولا الإِباءُ ذَلولُ

    A youth who does not see beneficence as a burden he must drag,

    yet, save for his proud refusal, he would be docile.

  41. أَقَرَّ بِحَقِّ المَجدِ وَهوَ مُضَيَّعٌ

    وَعَظَّمَ قَدرَ الدينِ وَهوَ ضَئيلُ

    He acknowledged glory's due when it was neglected,

    and magnified religion's worth when it was slight.

  42. سَرى طالِباً ما يَطلُبُ الناسُ غَيرَهُ

    وَما كُلُّ قِرنٍ في الرِجالِ رَجيلُ

    He rode by night seeking what other men do not seek;

    not every rival among men is hardy.

  43. فَما آبَ حَتّى اِستَفرَغَ المَجدُ كُلُّهُ

    شَروبٌ عَلى غَيظِ العَدوِّ أَكولُ

    He returned only when he had drained all glory dry,

    a mighty drinker and eater, to his enemy's rage.

  44. أَيُرجى مَداهُ بَعدَما ضَحِكَت بِهِ

    أَمامَ المَعالي غُرَّةٌ وَحُجولُ

    Can anyone hope to reach his extent, now that there shine upon him,

    at the forefront of noble deeds, a white blaze and white stockings?

  45. أَرى كُلَّ حَيٍّ مِن فُضالاتِ سَيفِهِ

    وَها هُوَذا طاغي الغِرارِ صَقيلُ

    I see every living man as one his sword has spared,

    and here it is, polished, with an overmastering edge.

  46. وَكَم غَمرَةٍ يَعلو المُلَجَّمَ ماؤُها

    شَقَقتَ وَلَو أَنَّ الدِماءَ تَسيلُ

    How many a flood whose waters rise above the bridled horse

    have you cleft, even as blood flowed!

  47. وَهَولٍ يَغيظُ الحاسِدينَ رَكِبتَهُ

    وَحيدَ العُلى وَالهائِبونَ نُزولُ

    And many a terror, galling to the envious, you have ridden,

    alone in lofty deeds, while the fearful stayed dismounted,

  48. بِطَعنَةِ مَيّاسٍ إِلى المَوتِ رُمحُهُ

    يَرومُ العُلى مِن غايَةٍ فَيَطولُ

    with the thrust of one whose spear sways toward death;

    it seeks the heights from the farthest limit, and grows longer.

  49. فِداكَ رِجالٌ لِلمُنى في دِيارِهِم

    نَحيبٌ وَلِلظَنِّ الجَميلِ عَويلُ

    May men be your ransom, in whose homes hopes receive

    sobbing, and fair expectations wailing.

  50. فَواغِرُ عُمرَ الدَهرِ لَم يُطعِموا العُلى

    أَلا قَلَّ ما يُعطي العَلاءَ بَخيلُ

    Mouths agape through all time, yet they have never nourished glory;

    indeed, how little a miser gives to greatness!

  51. أَرادوكَ بِالأَمرِ الجَليلِ وَإِنَّما

    يُصادِمُ بِالأَمرِ الجَليلِ جَليلُ

    They challenged you in a mighty matter, yet only

    a mighty man can confront a mighty matter.

  52. أَأَلآنَ إِن أَلقَيتَ ثِنيَ زِمامِها

    وَعُطَّلَ أَغراضٌ لَها وَجَديلُ

    Would you now cast down the loop of its rein,

    and leave its girths and halter idle?

  53. وَإِلّا لَيالٍ أَنتَ راكِبُ ظَهرِها

    وَأَمرُ العُلى جَمعاً إِلَيكَ يَؤولُ

    If not, there are nights upon whose backs you ride,

    while the whole business of glory comes to you.

  54. وَطاغٍ وِعاءُ الشَرِّ بَينَ ضُلوعِهِ

    وَداءٌ مِنَ الغِلِّ القَديمِ دَخيلُ

    And a tyrant, a vessel of evil between his ribs,

    with an ingrained sickness of ancient rancor,

  55. رَماكَ وَبَينَ العَينِ وَالعَينِ حاجِزٌ

    وَقالٌ وَراءَ الغَيبِ فيكَ وَقيلُ

    shot at you, though between eye and eye there lay a barrier,

    and, out of sight, there was talk and hearsay about you.

  56. فَما زِلتَ تَستَوفي مَراميهِ وَالقُوى

    تُقَطَّعُ وَالإِقبالُ عَنهُ يَميلُ

    You kept taking the full measure of his shots while his strength

    was being torn apart and good fortune turned away from him,

  57. إِلى أَن أَطَعتَ اللَهَ ثُمَّ رَمَيتَهُ

    فَلَم تُغضِ إِلّا وَالرَمِيُّ قَتيلُ

    until you obeyed God, then shot at him;

    you did not lower your gaze until your target lay dead.

  58. كَذَلِكَ أَعداءُ الرِجالِ وَهَذِهِ

    لِسائِرِ مَن يَطغى عَلَيكَ سَبيلُ

    Such is the fate of men's enemies; and this

    is the road for all who rise against you.

  59. وَتَسمو سُموَّ النارِ عِزّاً وَهِمَّةً

    وَيَهوي هُويُّ الأَرضِ وَهوَ ذَليلُ

    You rise like fire in honor and ambition,

    while he falls as earth falls, abased.

  60. هَنيئاً لَكَ العيدُ الجَديدُ فَإِنَّهُ

    بِيُمنِكَ وَضّاحُ الجَبينِ جَميلُ

    Joy to you in the new feast, for it,

    through your good fortune, is radiant-browed and fair.

  61. وَلا زالَتِ الأَعيادُ هَطلى رَخيَّةً

    يُحَيِّيكَ مِنها زائِرٌ وَنَزيلُ

    May the feasts never cease to rain down, bringing ease,

    a visitor and a guest from among them greeting you.

  62. وَساقٍ عَداكَ العاصِفاتِ وَأَقبَلَت

    عَلَيكَ شَمالٌ لَدنَةٌ وَقَبولُ

    And may a giver of rain spare you the tempests, while

    a gentle north wind and an east wind come upon you.

  63. وَقَد تَعقُمُ الأَفهامُ عَن قَولِ قائِلٍ

    فَيُوجِزُ بَعضَ القَولِ وَهوَ مُطيلُ

    Minds may prove barren before a speaker's words,

    so he shortens part of his speech, though he speaks at length.

  64. وَما الفَضلُ إِلّا ما أَقولُ فَراعَةً

    وَباقي مَقاماتِ الأَنامِ فُضولُ

    Merit is only the eminence that I describe;

    all other stations of humankind are superfluities.