Sol 6

  1. دعا فأجابه القدحُ

    وصحبٌ عنده اصطبحوا

    He called, and the goblet answered him.

    Companions beside him drank in the morning.

  2. يضم الراح شملهم

    ويسفر فيهم الفرح

    Wine gathers them together,

    and joy shines among them.

  3. ففاز بهم وليس لهم

    على الأيام مقتَرَح

    He was blessed with their company, while they

    had no further wish of the passing days.

  4. يميل بعطفه سكر

    ويثني جيده مرح

    Drunk, one sways his shoulders;

    merry, another bends his neck.

  5. وتطربه مغنية

    بناجذ ضرسها قرح

    A singer delights him,

    though the molar at the back of her mouth is sore.

  6. بضرب البم تختمه

    ونقر الزير تفتتح

    She ends it with a stroke on the low string

    and begins with a pluck of the high string.

  7. تكاد النار من يدها

    إذا جسته تنقدح

    Fire nearly springs from her hand

    whenever she touches it.

  8. تكاد الطير من طرب

    على الأوتار تطَّرح

    Birds, overcome with delight, almost

    alight upon the strings.

  9. وتسعدها بألحان

    عليها العصم تنبطح

    She gladdens them with melodies

    at which even mountain goats lie down.

  10. أقول ومنزل الألاَّ

    ف منا منزل طرح

    I say: the dwelling of dear companions

    has been cast far from us.

  11. وقد ضاقت بنا أعطا

    ن دهر ليس ينشرح

    The pastures of an age have grown narrow around us,

    an age that will not open up.

  12. ولي في كل جارحة

    لفضل الشيخ ممتدح

    In every part of me

    there is praise for the sheikh’s virtue.

  13. وفي واديه متَّسَع

    لأمالي ومنتدَح

    In his valley there is room

    for my hopes and a place to turn.

  14. أطال اللّه منه يداً

    بها الآمال تلتقح

    May God prolong his generous hand;

    through it, hopes come to fruition.

  15. قفوا يا أهل نيسابو

    ر نعتب ثم نصطلح

    Stop, people of Nishapur:

    let us air our grievance, then make peace.

  16. أُفاتحكم بمعتبة

    ومعناها هوى صرح

    I begin with a reproach

    whose meaning is love plainly spoken.

  17. وقدر الفضل عندكُم

    ولست أذمكم وقح

    You know the worth of virtue;

    I do not rebuke you out of insolence.

  18. وحقاً أن أُعاتبكم

    وسهل منكم وتح

    It is only right that I reproach you:

    Sahl is undervalued among you.

  19. لسهل في العلى غرر

    فهلا عندكم لمح

    Sahl bears bright signs of eminence;

    why do you not see them?

  20. وفيه من النُّهى بدع

    فهلا فيكم مُلح

    He has wonders of wisdom;

    why do you show no grace?

  21. تضمَّن أمة رجل

    وأودع عالماً شبح

    One man contains a whole community;

    one body holds a world.

  22. فمن جاراه منقطع

    ومن باراه مفتضح

    Whoever tries to keep pace with him falls behind;

    whoever vies with him is exposed.

  23. ليهنك إن سعيك في

    مساعي المجد متضح

    May you rejoice: your striving

    in the pursuit of glory is plain.

  24. وأنك جدت إذ بخلوا

    فَلَم تخسر ولا ربحوا

    You gave generously when they withheld;

    you lost nothing, and they gained nothing.

  25. وقِدْماً كان يبلغني

    لهم ما كاد يتضح

    Long ago, reports reached me

    about them, though the truth was scarcely clear.

  26. وكان يقال إنهم

    إذا بخل الورى سمحوا

    It was said that they

    gave freely when others were miserly,

  27. وإن وزنوا بأهل الأر

    ض في أحلامهم رجحوا

    and that, weighed against the people of the earth,

    they surpassed them in forbearance.

  28. ففيم الضيف مهتضَم

    وممّ البر مُطّرح

    Why, then, is the guest slighted?

    Why is kindness cast aside?

  29. ومنغلقاً أؤمله

    بيمنى الشيخ ينفسح

    What I hope for, though closed to me,

    opens through the sheikh’s right hand.

  30. فيعلم أن وادينا

    لها أولاه ينفسح

    Then he will know that our valley

    opens for hope at its very beginning.

  31. ويبرز سره أملي

    ويطلع قوسه قُزَح

    My hope reveals its hidden heart,

    and its rainbow rises.