هبتarose نسيماتlittle breezes السرورjoy
هبت نسيمات السرور
بحديثwith talk of رباتladies of الخدورthe secluded chambers
بحديث ربات الخدور
Breezes of joy arose
The breezes of joy have blown,
with talk of the ladies of secluded chambers.
With the talk of maidens in bowers,
وسرتand drifted فاهدتand so bestowed للفواupon the heart (beginning)
وسرت فاهدت للفوا
دheart (ending) عرارfragrant wild chamomile ذياكthat العبيرthe perfume
د عرار ذياك العبير
And drifted on, bestowing upon the heart
And they traveled and gifted the branches
the wild chamomile of that perfume.
The perfume of that fragrant wood,
مرتpassed بهنby them سحيرةًshortly before dawn
مرت بهن سحيرةً
فتحملتand so carried نشرthe fragrance of الثغورthe mouths
فتحملت نشر الثغور
They passed by them shortly before dawn,
They passed by the maidens intoxicated,
and carried away the fragrance of their mouths.
Bearing the scent of buds,
وتأرجتand grew fragrant إذwhen لاثمتkissed
وتأرجت إذ لاثمت
تلكthose المباسمsmiling mouths فيin البكورearly morning
تلك المباسم في البكور
And grew fragrant as they kissed
And were perfumed when they kissed,
those smiling mouths in the early morning.
Those smiles in the early dawn,
جاءتcame ضحىat forenoon فتماوجتand rippled
جاءت ضحى فتماوجت
فيin عرفthe fragrance of لبنانLebanon العطيرfragrant
في عرف لبنان العطير
They came at forenoon and rippled
They came at dawn and intermingled,
through the scent of fragrant Lebanon.
In the pleasant fragrance of Lebanon,
والروضand the garden قدhad خلعbestowed a robe الربيعspring
والروض قد خلع الربيع
عليهupon it كالثوبlike a robe النضيرfresh and verdant
عليه كالثوب النضير
And spring had clothed the garden
The garden shed the spring,
as in a fresh, verdant robe.
Upon it like a new garment,
يزدانis adorned بينbetween مسلسلa flowing stream
يزدان بين مسلسل
مثلlike العذارthe line of cheek-hair ومستديرand a circular pool
مثل العذار ومستدير
It is adorned between a flowing stream,
Adorned with a chain,
like the line of cheek-hair, and a round pool.
Like a necklace round and shining,
والزهرand the flowers يشرقshine ضاحكاًlaughing
والزهر يشرق ضاحكاً
فيon غرةthe bright brow of السفحthe slope المطيرrain-drenched
في غرة السفح المطير
And the flowers shine, laughing,
And the flowers laugh brightly
on the bright brow of the rain-drenched slope.
In the soft, rainy slope,
لعبتplayed بهwith it أيديthe hands of الصباthe east wind
لعبت به أيدي الصبا
فلوىso it bent النحورthe necks علىover الخصورthe waists
فلوى النحور على الخصور
The hands of the east wind played with them,
The hands of morning played with it,
so they bent their necks over their waists.
And twisted the slender bodies at the hips,
والغصنand the branch صفقclapped راقصاًdancing
والغصن صفق راقصاً
يهتزswaying منfrom فوقabove الغديرthe pool
يهتز من فوق الغدير
And the branch clapped, dancing,
And the branches clapped dancing,
swaying above the pool.
Shaking above the stream,
ولهانlove-stricken هيجهُstirred it الهوىpassion
ولهان هيجهُ الهوى
كحنينlike the yearning cry of ساجعةa cooing one among الطيورbirds
كحنين ساجعة الطيور
Love-stricken, stirred by passion,
Passion excited it,
like the yearning coo of a bird.
Like the cooing of a languid bird,
ياO صاحfriend هلis there للصبfor the lover منagainst
يا صاح هل للصب من
ألمthe pain of الصبابةardent longing منany مجيرprotector
ألم الصبابة من مجير
O friend, does the lover have, against
Oh friend! Does the youth have
the pain of longing, any protector?
The pain of lovesickness and passion?
أمor للمتيمfor the love-besotted غيرother than تذremembrance (beginning)
أم للمتيم غير تذ
كارremembrance (ending) الأحبةthe loved ones منany سميرnighttime companion
كار الأحبة من سمير
Or has the love-besotted, apart from remembrance
Or does the lover have anything but
of loved ones, any companion by night?
Remembering the beloved from conversing?
منwho ليfor me بهاwith her قناصةًa huntress
من لي بها قناصةً
ولعتenamored بتعذيبof tormenting الأسيرthe captive
ولعت بتعذيب الأسير
Who can bring her to me, a huntress
Who can I have as a huntress,
enamored of tormenting her captive?
Who is obsessed with torturing the captive?
هيفاءُslender-waisted يشرقshines وجههاher face
هيفاءُ يشرق وجهها
كالبدرlike the full moon فيin ليلthe night of الشعورِhair
كالبدر في ليل الشعورِ
Slender-waisted, her face shines
Haifa's face shines
like the full moon in the night of her hair.
Like the full moon in the dark night,
ميادةgracefully swaying لعبتplayed بقاwith her figure (beginning)
ميادة لعبت بقا
متهاher figure (ending) الصباthe east wind عندduring المسيرwalking
متها الصبا عند المسير
Gracefully swaying, her figure was played upon
Miyada played with her figure,
by the east wind as she walked.
Youth played with it while walking,
ياO ظبيةًgazelle سلبتrobbed بدوthe moons (beginning)
يا ظبيةً سلبت بدو
رmoons (ending) التمfullness بالوجهwith the face المنيرِradiant
ر التم بالوجه المنيرِ
O gazelle, who robbed the moons
Oh gazelle! Who stole
in their fullness, with your radiant face!
Hearts with her bright face,
ماnot قيلwas called فيكof you ظبيةٌa gazelle
ما قيل فيك ظبيةٌ
إلاexcept لفرطكِfor your excess بالنفورِin fleeing
إلا لفرطكِ بالنفورِ
You were called a gazelle
Nothing was said about you gazelle,
only because you are so quick to flee.
Except for your excessive aloofness,
قِليّrelent لقدindeed أسرفتِyou have gone too far فيin
قِليّ لقد أسرفتِ في
فتكslaying الفوادthe heart المستطيرdistraught
فتك الفواد المستطير
Relent! You have gone too far in
Tell her she was excessive in
slaying the distraught heart.
Slaughtering enamored hearts,
نهداكyour two breasts والعينانand the two eyes تفenchant (beginning)
نهداك والعينان تف
تنenchant (ending) بالنشاطwith vivacity وبالفتورand with languor
تن بالنشاط وبالفتور
Your breasts and both your eyes enchant
Her breasts and eyes
with vivacity and languor.
Dazzle with vigor and languor,
أفديI would ransom بروحيwith my soul مبسماًa smiling mouth
أفدي بروحي مبسماً
قفلclosed العقيقthe carnelian علىover الخمورthe wines
قفل العقيق على الخمور
I would ransom with my soul a smiling mouth
I ransom with my soul a smile,
whose carnelian has sealed in wine.
That locks the red wine on the lips,
منwho منجديis my helper فيin حبهاlove of her
من منجدي في حبها
ياO صاحبيmy friend أوor منwho عذيريwill excuse me
يا صاحبي أو من عذيري
Who will aid me in loving her,
Who can aid me in loving her,
O my friend, or who will excuse me?
Oh friend, or console me?
أدرcirculate المدامةthe wine واسقنيand give me drink
أدر المدامة واسقني
واشربand drink معwith الظبيthe gazelle الغريرِinnocent
واشرب مع الظبي الغريرِ
Pass the wine around and pour for me,
Pass the wine cup and serve me a drink,
and drink with the innocent gazelle.
And drink with the captivating gazelle,
وتعاطهاand take it أنif لمnot تجدyou find
وتعاطها أن لم تجد
وردthe roses of الخدودthe cheeks علىupon الزهورthe flowers
ورد الخدود على الزهور
And take it, if you cannot find
And court her if you do not find,
the roses of cheeks upon the flowers.
The roses of cheeks upon the flowers,
صهباءَtawny wine حللsanction مزجهاits blending
صهباءَ حلل مزجها
بنتthe daughter of الشموسthe suns إلىwith البدورthe moons
بنت الشموس إلى البدور
Tawny wine—sanction its blending,
Blonde, she wore dresses,
the daughter of suns with the moons.
The daughter of suns to allure,
سبكتcast لناfor us فيin الراحwine إكسan elixir (beginning)
سبكت لنا في الراح إكس
يراًelixir (ending) لتذهيبto gild away الكدورِtroubles
يراً لتذهيب الكدورِ
It has cast for us in wine an elixir
She wove for us in comfort,
to gild away our cares.
A necklace to gild worries,
حيىmay bless بتدينBeiteddine الإلهGod
حيى بتدين الإله
وجادهاand may it drench it غيثthe rain of السرورjoy
وجادها غيث السرور
May God bless Beiteddine,
Long live her religion,
and may the rain of joy drench it.
And her abundant joyous rain,
دارa mansion تضوعdiffuses مسكهاits musk
دار تضوع مسكها
ريحthe wind of الصباthe east عندduring العبورِpassing
ريح الصبا عند العبورِ
A mansion whose musk is diffused
A house whose musk is diffused
by the east wind as it passes.
By the morning breeze when passing,
أجرىset flowing الصفاءُpurity بروضهاin its garden
أجرى الصفاءُ بروضها
شهداًhoney منfrom الماءthe water النميرِpure and sweet
شهداً من الماء النميرِ
Purity set flowing through its garden
Purity flowed in her garden,
honey of pure, sweet water.
With abundant good honey,
وتدفقتand flowed منfrom حولهاaround it الthe
وتدفقت من حولها ال
أنهارrivers بالخيرwith bounty الكثيرabundant
أنهار بالخير الكثير
And all around it surged
Its maidens danced around it
the rivers, with abundant bounty.
To the sound of tumbling rapids,
رقصتdanced جواريthe flowing maidens of مائهاits water إلthe
رقصت جواري مائها إل
فضيsilvery تصدعresounded بالهديرwith roaring
فضي تصدع بالهدير
The maidens of its water danced,
The branches were watered and became
silvery, resounding with a roar.
Flexible like the supple branches,
سقتwatered الغصونthe branches فمسنand so they swayed كالlike the
سقت الغصون فمسن كال
ندمانdrinking companions سرّتwere delighted بالحضورby the gathering
ندمان سرّت بالحضور
They watered the boughs, which swayed like
By its great blessing,
drinking companions delighted by the gathering.
A spring of abundant joy,
للَهGod be praised for بركتهاits pool الكبيرةgreat
للَه بركتها الكبيرة
موردa source of الطربdelight الوفيرabundant
مورد الطرب الوفير
God be praised for its great pool,
Surrounded by a cypress like
a source of abundant delight!
A spear, with silk green,
حفتwas surrounded بسروٍby cypresses كالقياlike singing-maids (beginning)
حفت بسروٍ كالقيا
نِsinging-maids (ending) تآزرتwrapped themselves in خضرgreen الحريرِsilk
نِ تآزرت خضر الحريرِ
Surrounded by cypresses like singing-maids,
They watch a chain circulating
who have wrapped themselves in green silk.
Around them like a water-bearer,
يلحظنthey gaze at سلسالاًa limpid stream يدوcircles (beginning)
يلحظن سلسالاً يدو
رcircles (ending) بهنّamong them كالساقيlike the cupbearer المديرِwho passes wine around
ر بهنّ كالساقي المديرِ
They watch a limpid stream that circles
And it straightened its fountains
among them, like a cupbearer passing wine.
Offering it the gems of light,
واستنهضتand roused فوارهاits fountain-jet
واستنهضت فوارها
يهديoffers لهاto it دررpearls for النحورِnecks
يهدي لها درر النحورِ
And it roused its fountain-jet,
Tall, strolling in
offering it pearls for necklaces.
The dress of soft silk on a bed,
ساميlofty of القوامstature يميسsways فيin
سامي القوام يميس في
ثوبa robe of اللجينsilver علىupon سريرa couch
ثوب اللجين على سرير
Tall of stature, it sways in
The braids of hair danced with it,
a robe of silver upon a couch.
Appearing like attendants,
دارتencircled ميازيبthe waterspouts of السباthe beasts (beginning)
دارت ميازيب السبا
عbeasts (ending) بهaround it تمثلappear كالحضورlike those in attendance
ع به تمثل كالحضور
The waterspouts of beasts encircled
Dancing more and more
it, appearing like guests in attendance.
As the lute sang melodies,
يزدادincreases رقصاًin dancing كلماwhenever
يزداد رقصاً كلما
غنتthey sang لديهbeside it كالزمورlike piping
غنت لديه كالزمور
Its dancing grows whenever
Flowing, as if it were
they sing beside it like reed pipes.
The generous hand of the young prince,
متدفقاًgushing forth فكأنهso it is as though
متدفقاً فكأنه
كفthe hand of الشهابيّal-Shihabi البشيرِBashir
كف الشهابيّ البشيرِ
Gushing forth, it is as though
For he is the prince, son of a prince
it were Bashir al-Shihabi's hand.
Son of a prince, son of a prince
فهوfor he is الأميرthe emir بنson of الأميرِthe emir
فهو الأمير بن الأميرِ
بنson of الأميرthe emir بنson of الأميرِthe emir
بن الأمير بن الأميرِ
For he is the emir, son of the emir,
And the glorious builder of the glory
son of the emir, son of the emir.
Of the high ones with famed justice,
والماجدand the noble one البانيthe builder of ذرىthe heights of
والماجد الباني ذرى
العلياءِglory بالعدلthrough justice الشهيرِrenowned
العلياءِ بالعدل الشهيرِ
And the noble builder of the heights
A master whose bestowal,
of glory through renowned justice.
Made the sea of wealth gush forth,
مولىًa lord أياديthe favors of بذلهِhis bounty
مولىً أيادي بذلهِ
أربتsurpassed علىthe overflow of فيضthe seas long-awaited...?? No! translate 'the seas'! The injected text 'seas' instructs me no tools. Just seas. البحورِthe seas
أربت على فيض البحورِ
A lord, the favors of whose bounty
You always see his wealth,
surpass the overflowing seas.
Clasped in the hand of the poor,
أبداًalways ترىyou see أموالهhis wealth
أبداً ترى أمواله
مقبوضةheld بيدin the hand of الفقيرِthe poor man
مقبوضة بيد الفقيرِ
You always see his wealth
With the alchemy of praise, as he
held in the poor man's hand.
Is the healer of the broken heart,
ذوpossessor of كيمياءِthe alchemy of الحمدpraise إذfor
ذو كيمياءِ الحمد إذ
هوhe جابرmender of القلبthe heart الكسيرِbroken
هو جابر القلب الكسيرِ
Master of the alchemy of praise, for
Good fortune to the sinner whose
he mends the broken heart.
Hand has won abundant generosity,
طوبىblessedness للأثمfor the kisser of كفهِhis hand
طوبى للأثم كفهِ
قدhas فازwon بالكرمgenerosity الغزيرlavish
قد فاز بالكرم الغزير
Blessed is the one who kisses his hand:
A noble, generous, more wonderful
he has gained lavish generosity.
Courageous, mighty refuge,
قرمٌa noble chief كريمgenerous أروعٌsplendid
قرمٌ كريم أروعٌ
شهمhigh-souled عزيزhonored المستجيرthe seeker of refuge
شهم عزيز المستجير
A noble chief, generous and splendid,
A hero whose sword,
high-souled, whose suppliant is honored.
Rules the brow of the intrepid hero,
بطلٌa champion يحكمlets judge سيفهُhis sword
بطلٌ يحكم سيفهُ
فيupon جبهةthe brow of البطلthe champion الهصورfierce
في جبهة البطل الهصور
A champion who lets his sword judge
His hands were victorious,
upon the brow of a fierce champion.
Despite the schemes of rivals,
ظفرتwon يداهhis two hands بالعلىexalted glory
ظفرت يداه بالعلى
رغماًin defiance علىof كيدthe scheming of النظيرthe rival
رغماً على كيد النظير
His hands have won exalted glory
As if he, while war rages,
despite the rival's plotting.
And brave warriors arrive on horseback,
فكأنهso it is as though he were والحربwhile war تضblazes (beginning)
فكأنه والحرب تض
رمblazes (ending) والكماةand armored warriors علىupon الظهورbacks
رم والكماة على الظهور
He seems, while war blazes
Is a lion playing with a lance,
and armored warriors are on horseback,
From atop his rearing horse,
ليثٌa lion يلاعبplays with أرقماًa spotted serpent
ليثٌ يلاعب أرقماً
منfrom فوقatop سرحانa wolf دريرِswift-running
من فوق سرحان دريرِ
a lion playing with a spotted serpent
Erasing the darkness of its blackness,
astride a swift-running wolf.
With the brightness of his shining swords,
يمحوerases ظلامthe darkness of سوادهاits blackness
يمحو ظلام سوادها
بضياwith the light of صوارمهhis cutting swords الذكورِvirile
بضيا صوارمه الذكورِ
He erases the darkness of its gloom
With a dark complexion that
with the radiance of his virile swords.
Made hearts of horsemen like sacrifices,
ذوwielder of أسمرٍa brown lance جعلتwere made لهfor it
ذو أسمرٍ جعلت له
مهجthe lifeblood of الفوارسthe horsemen كالنذورlike votive offerings
مهج الفوارس كالنذور
He bears a brown lance, to which
A charming knight, except
the horsemen's lifeblood is given as votive offerings.
He waters bitterness in hell,
عسّالsupple and quivering إلّاexcept أنهthat it
عسّال إلّا أنه
يسقيgives to drink مراراًbitterness فيin سعيرِa blaze
يسقي مراراً في سعيرِ
Supple and quivering, yet it
As if he were Harut in
gives bitter draughts to drink amid a blaze.
Extracting the treasures of hearts,
فكأنهso it is as though it were هاروتHarut فيin
فكأنه هاروت في
إخراجهits drawing out كنزthe treasure of الصدورِbreasts
إخراجه كنز الصدورِ
So it is as though it were Harut, in
Oh master! You have mastered
drawing out the treasure of breasts.
The ruins of proud Lebanon,
ياO سيداًlord سادتbecame exalted بهthrough him
يا سيداً سادت به
أطلالthe ruins of لبنانLebanon الفخورِproud
أطلال لبنان الفخورِ
O lord, through whom are ennobled
A beautiful maiden came to your door,
the ruins of proud Lebanon,
Chaste of conscience,
وافتarrived لبابكat your door غادةٌa graceful maiden
وافت لبابك غادةٌ
هيفاءُslender-waisted منfrom خدرthe secluded chamber of الضميرِinner thought
هيفاءُ من خدر الضميرِ
a graceful maiden has come to your door,
Apologizing, boasting in you,
slender-waisted, from the secluded chamber of thought.
Poetry of Farazdaq or Jarir,
عذراًa virgin تفاخرrivals فيكمin praise of you
عذراً تفاخر فيكم
شعرthe poetry of الفرزدقal-Farazdaq أوor جريرِJarir
شعر الفرزدق أو جريرِ
A virgin, vying in your praise with
Sending you abundant prayers,
the verse of al-Farazdaq or Jarir,
And praise from a grateful servant,
تهديكshe offers you موفورabundant الدعاprayers
تهديك موفور الدعا
والمدحand praise منfrom عبدِa servant شكورِgrateful
والمدح من عبدِ شكورِ
she offers you abundant prayers
Then congratulations with a robe,
and praise from a grateful servant,
That none but you have supported,
ثمthen الهناءَcongratulations بخلعةٍon a robe of honor
ثم الهناءَ بخلعةٍ
لمnot تلقhas found غيركother than you منany نصيرِsupporter
لم تلق غيرك من نصيرِ
then congratulations upon a robe of honor
Scented, it came from Najd,
that has found no supporter but you.
To your elevation with yearning,
غراءُradiant جاءتcame بالسعوwith good fortune (beginning)
غراءُ جاءت بالسعو
دgood fortune (ending) إلىto علاكyour exalted rank وبالحبورِand with joy
د إلى علاك وبالحبورِ
Radiant, it has come with good fortune
And flirted when it became
to your exalted station, and with joy.
Engaged to the great Master,
بسّامةsmiling قدhas غازلتcourted
بسّامة قد غازلت
علياكyour eminence فيwith طرفa gaze قريرِcontented
علياك في طرف قريرِ
Smiling, it has courted
Auspicious, whose engagement
your eminence with a contented gaze.
Lasted, marched the ages,
وتفاخرتand boasted إذwhen أصبحتit became
وتفاخرت إذ أصبحت
مخطوبةbetrothed to المولىthe lord الكبيرِgreat
مخطوبة المولى الكبيرِ
And it boasted when it became
betrothed to the great lord.
ميمونةًauspicious أرختهاI dated it
ميمونةً أرختها
دامتmay it continue تزفto be led as a bride مدىthroughout الدهورِthe ages
دامت تزف مدى الدهورِ
Auspicious, I recorded its date:
May it ever be led as a bride throughout the ages.
Partial English translation: 124 of 128 Arabic lines translated.