أَرىI see الْعَلْياءَeminence واضِحَةَclear السَّبِيلِthe path
أَرى الْعَلْياءَ واضِحَةَ السَّبِيلِ
فَماso what لِلْغُرِّfor the white-blazed steeds سالِمَةَunscathed الْحُجُولِthe white-socked legs
فَما لِلْغُرِّ سالِمَةَ الْحُجُولِ
I see that eminence has a clear path;
I see the eminent path clearly,
why, then, are the white-blazed steeds' white-socked legs unscathed?
Yet why are the caves not safe for the partridges?
إِلىuntil كَمْhow long يَقْتَضِيكَdemands of you الْمَجْدُglory دَيْناًa debt
إِلى كَمْ يَقْتَضِيكَ الْمَجْدُ دَيْناً
تُحِيلُyou refer بِهِwith it عَلَىto الْقَدَرِfate الْمَطُولِever-delaying
تُحِيلُ بِهِ عَلَى الْقَدَرِ الْمَطُولِ
How long will glory demand of you a debt
For how long will glory keep you in debt
that you refer to ever-delaying fate?
That you use to reach far goals?
وَأَيُّand what فَتىًyoung man تَمرَّسَhas grappled بِالْمعالِيwith high endeavors
وَأَيُّ فَتىً تَمرَّسَ بِالْمعالِي
فَلَمْand did not يَهْجُمْplunge عَلَىinto خَطَرٍa danger مَهُولِdreadful
فَلَمْ يَهْجُمْ عَلَى خَطَرٍ مَهُولِ
And what young man has grappled with high endeavors
What gallant man hardened with glory
without plunging into dreadful danger?
Yet did not attack a momentous danger?
وَإِنَّand indeed عَناقَembracing حَرِّthe heat of الْمَوْتِdeath أَوْلىis fitter
وَإِنَّ عَناقَ حَرِّ الْمَوْتِ أَوْلى
بِذِيfor one in الإِمْلاقِpoverty مِنْthan بَرْدِthe coolness of الْمَقِيلِnoonday rest
بِذِي الإِمْلاقِ مِنْ بَرْدِ الْمَقِيلِ
Indeed, embracing the heat of death is fitter
The embrace of the heat of death is better
for the destitute than a cool noonday rest.
For the resolute than the chill of eve.
وَماand not كانَتْwere مُنىًhopes بَعُدَتْthat lay far off لِتَغْلُوto become too costly
وَما كانَتْ مُنىً بَعُدَتْ لِتَغْلُو
بِطُولِthrough the length of مَشَقَّةِthe hardship of السَّيْرِtravel الطَّويلِlong
بِطُولِ مَشَقَّةِ السَّيْرِ الطَّويلِ
Distant hopes are not made too costly
Destiny was not made too long
by the enduring hardship of a long journey.
By the misery of prolonged journey.
فَكَيْفَhow then تَخِيمُdo you shrink back وَالآمالُwhile hopes أَدْنىare nearer
فَكَيْفَ تَخِيمُ وَالآمالُ أَدْنى
إِلَيْكَto you مِنَthan الْقِداحِthe gaming arrows إِلىto الْمُجِيلِthe arrow-caster
إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْقِداحِ إِلى الْمُجِيلِ
How, then, can you shrink back, when hopes are nearer
So how do you worry while hopes are closer to you
to you than gaming arrows to their caster?
Than the wine-skin to the drinking companion?
وَقَدْand indeed نادىhas called النَّدىgenerosity هَلْis there مِنْany رَجاءٍhope
وَقَدْ نادى النَّدى هَلْ مِنْ رَجاءٍ
وَقالَand said النَّيْلُbounty هَلْis there مِنْany مُسْتَنِيلِseeker of gifts
وَقالَ النَّيْلُ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَنِيلِ
And generosity has called, 'Is there any hope?'
Both the caller called: is there any hope?
And bounty has said, 'Is anyone seeking gifts?'
And the Nile said: is there one who draws water?
وَلَمْand not أَرَhave I seen قَبْلَهُbefore it أَمَلاًa hope جَواداًlavish
وَلَمْ أَرَ قَبْلَهُ أَمَلاً جَواداً
يُشارُis pointed بِهِwith it إِلىtoward عَزْمٍa resolve بَخِيلِstingy
يُشارُ بِهِ إِلى عَزْمٍ بَخِيلِ
Never before have I seen a hope so lavish
Before it I did not see a generous hope
pointing to a resolve so stingy.
Pointed to a stingy resolve.
عَلامَwhy تُرَوِّضُgrows green الْحَصْباءُthe stony ground خِصْباًwith fertility
عَلامَ تُرَوِّضُ الْحَصْباءُ خِصْباً
وَتَجْزَعُand dreads أَنْto تُعَدَّbe counted مِنَamong الْمُحُولِthe barren wastes
وَتَجْزَعُ أَنْ تُعَدَّ مِنَ الْمُحُولِ
Why does stony ground grow green with plenty
Why does the pebbly terrain discipline itself fertile
and dread being counted among barren wastes?
And fear to be counted barren?
وَكَيْفَand how تَرىcan you see مِياهَthe waters of الْفَضْلِexcellence إِلاّexcept
وَكَيْفَ تَرى مِياهَ الْفَضْلِ إِلاّ
وَقَدْwhen already رُشِفَتْhave been sipped بِأَفْواهِby the mouths of الْعُقُولِminds
وَقَدْ رُشِفَتْ بِأَفْواهِ الْعُقُولِ
And how can you see the waters of excellence except
How do you see the water of virtue
when they have been sipped by the mouths of minds?
Except it is sipped by sane mouths?
لَقَدْindeed أَعْطَتْكَhave given you صِحَّتَهاtheir soundness الأَمانِيhopes
لَقَدْ أَعْطَتْكَ صِحَّتَها الأَمانِي
فَلاso do not تَعْتَلَّplead an excuse بِالْحَظِّon account of fortune الْعَلِيلِailing
فَلا تَعْتَلَّ بِالْحَظِّ الْعَلِيلِ
Hopes have surely proved sound for you;
Wishes gave you their good health,
so do not make ailing fortune your excuse.
So do not pretend to be ill-fated.
وَماand what لَكَreason have you أَنْto تَسُومَdemand of الدَّهْرَTime حَظّاًgood fortune
وَما لَكَ أَنْ تَسُومَ الدَّهْرَ حَظّاً
إِذاwhen ماindeed فُزْتَyou have won بِالذِّكْرِwith renown الْجَمِيلِfine
إِذا ما فُزْتَ بِالذِّكْرِ الْجَمِيلِ
Why should you demand good fortune from Time
Why should you bargain with time for fortune
once you have won a noble name?
When you have won fair fame?
إِذاwhen أَهْلُthe masters of الثَّناءِpraise عَلَيْكَof you أَثْنَواhave praised
إِذا أَهْلُ الثَّناءِ عَلَيْكَ أَثْنَوا
فَسِرْthen walk فِيin الْمَكْرُماتِnoble deeds بِلاwithout دَلِيلِa guide
فَسِرْ فِي الْمَكْرُماتِ بِلا دَلِيلِ
When the masters of praise have praised you,
If the people of praise praise you,
walk among noble deeds without a guide.
Then walk freely in generous deeds without a guide.
أرىI see حُلَلَthe robes of النَّباهَةِprominence قَدْalready أَظَلَّتْhave cast shade
أرى حُلَلَ النَّباهَةِ قَدْ أَظَلَّتْ
تُنازِعُcontending with فِيَّupon me أَطْمارَthe rags of الْخُمُولِobscurity
تُنازِعُ فِيَّ أَطْمارَ الْخُمُولِ
I see the robes of prominence casting their shade,
I see the garments of glory have shaded me,
contending, upon me, with obscurity's rags.
Competing over me with the veils of oblivion.
فَياso O جَدِّيmy fortune نَهَضْتَyou have risen وَياand O زمَانِيmy time
فَيا جَدِّي نَهَضْتَ وَيا زمَانِي
جَنَيْتَyou did wrong فَكُنْتَthen you were أَحْسنَthe finest مُسْتَقِيلِseeker of pardon
جَنَيْتَ فَكُنْتَ أَحْسنَ مُسْتَقِيلِ
O my fortune, you have risen; and O my time,
So my grandfather rose and my time
you wronged me, then were the finest seeker of pardon.
Flourished, thus it was best to depart.
وَياand O فَخْرِيmy pride وَفَخْرُwhile Fakhr الْمُلْكِal-Mulk مُثْنٍis praising
وَيا فَخْرِي وَفَخْرُ الْمُلْكِ مُثْنٍ
عَلَيَّof me لَقَدْindeed جَرَيْتُI have raced بِلاwithout رَسِيلِa rival
عَلَيَّ لَقَدْ جَرَيْتُ بِلا رَسِيلِ
And O my pride! Fakhr al-Mulk is praising
My pride and pride of praised kingdom,
me; I have raced without a rival.
I raced without sending a messenger.
تَفَنَّنَhe varied his ways فِيin الْعَطاءِgiving الْجَزْلِlavish حَتّىuntil
تَفَنَّنَ فِي الْعَطاءِ الْجَزْلِ حَتّى
حَبانِيhe favored me فِيهِin it بِالْحَمْدِwith praise الْجَزِيلِabundant
حَبانِي فِيهِ بِالْحَمْدِ الْجَزِيلِ
He varied his lavish gifts until
He perfected generous ample gifts until
he favored me among them with abundant praise.
He gifted me with abundant praise.
فَهاso here أَناI am بَيْنَbetween تَفْضِيلٍesteem وَفَضْلٍand bounty
فَها أَنا بَيْنَ تَفْضِيلٍ وَفَضْلٍ
تَبَرُّعُthe free giving of خَيْرِthe finest قَوّالٍeloquent speaker فَعُولِman of deeds
تَبَرُّعُ خَيْرِ قَوّالٍ فَعُولِ
So here I stand between esteem and bounty,
Volunteering the good of a generous donor.
the free gifts of the finest speaker and doer.
A stranger of generosity who praises his askers,
غَرِيبُexceptional in الْجُودِgenerosity يَحْمَدُhe praises سائِلِيهِthose who ask him
غَرِيبُ الْجُودِ يَحْمَدُ سائِلِيهِ
وَفَرْضُand the duty of الْحَمْدِpraise أَلْزَمُis more binding لِلسَّؤُولِon the petitioner
وَفَرْضُ الْحَمْدِ أَلْزَمُ لِلسَّؤُولِ
Unmatched in generosity, he praises his petitioners,
Thankfulness is a duty for the questioned.
though the duty of praise binds the petitioner more.
He quenched me from happy generosity
سَقانِيhe gave me drink الرِّيَّthirst's quenching مِنْof بِشرٍcheerfulness وَجُودٍand generosity
سَقانِي الرِّيَّ مِنْ بِشرٍ وَجُودٍ
كَماas رَقَصَdanced الْحَبابُthe bubbles عَلَىupon الشَّمُولِwine
كَما رَقَصَ الْحَبابُ عَلَى الشَّمُولِ
He slaked my thirst with cheer and generosity,
As bubbles danced on top of wine.
as bubbles danced upon the wine.
I know the effects of gifts
وَأَعْلَمُand I know أَنَّthat نَشْوانَone intoxicated by الْعَطاياgifts
وَأَعْلَمُ أَنَّ نَشْوانَ الْعَطايا
سَيَخْمَرُwill feel a hangover بِالْغِنىfrom wealth عَمّاin just قَلِيلِa short while
سَيَخْمَرُ بِالْغِنى عَمّا قَلِيلِ
And I know that one intoxicated by gifts
Will ferment with wealth over what is little.
will soon feel the hangover of wealth.
His call, it indeed has a right
أَماindeed وَنَداكَby your bounty إِنَّindeed لَهُit has لَحَقًّاsurely a rightful claim
أَما وَنَداكَ إِنَّ لَهُ لَحَقًّا
يُبِرُّmakes good بِهِthrough it أَلِيَّةَthe oath of كُلِّevery مُولِswearer
يُبِرُّ بِهِ أَلِيَّةَ كُلِّ مُولِ
Indeed, by your bounty, it has a rightful claim
To pay the debt of every donor.
by which every swearer's oath is honored.
If you were peculiar in gift of spontaneity
لَئِنْif indeed أَغْرَبْتَyou have shown wonders فِيin كَرَمِthe nobility of السَّجاياcharacter
لَئِنْ أَغْرَبْتَ فِي كَرَمِ السَّجايا
لَقَدْindeed أَغْربْتَyou have shown wonders عَنْfrom كَرَمِthe nobility of الأُصُولِroots
لَقَدْ أَغْربْتَ عَنْ كَرَمِ الأُصُولِ
If you have shown wonders in noble character,
You were peculiar from the gift of origins.
you have shown wonders born of noble roots.
Shall I tell the kings of earth that
أَلاnow أَبْلِغْtell مُلُوكِthe kings of الأَرْضِthe earth أَنِّيthat I
أَلا أَبْلِغْ مُلُوكِ الأَرْضِ أَنِّي
لَبِسْتُhave donned الْعَيْشَlife مَجْرُورَtrailing الذُّيُولِthe hems
لَبِسْتُ الْعَيْشَ مَجْرُورَ الذُّيُولِ
Now tell the kings of the earth that I
I wore a life with lowered robes?
have donned a life with trailing hems,
In the presence of a king when you turn away from him You cannot face time with elevation.
لَدىbeside مَلِكٍa king مَتىwhenever نَكَّبْتَyou turn aside عَنْهُfrom him
لَدى مَلِكٍ مَتى نَكَّبْتَ عَنْهُ
فَلَسْتَthen you are not عَلَىover الزَّمانِTime بِمُسْتَطِيلِascendant
فَلَسْتَ عَلَى الزَّمانِ بِمُسْتَطِيلِ
beside a king—if ever you turn away from him,
When their attainment was difficult in leadership
you will have no mastery over Time.
I gave the difficult ones of them to the lowly.
وَلَمّاand when عَزَّproved difficult نائِلُهُمْtheir bounty قِياداًto lead
وَلَمّا عَزَّ نائِلُهُمْ قِياداً
وَهَبْتُI gave up الصَّعْبَthe intractable مِنْهُمْamong them لِلذَّلُولِfor the tractable
وَهَبْتُ الصَّعْبَ مِنْهُمْ لِلذَّلُولِ
And when their bounty proved hard to rein,
I unleashed wishes not resolve one day
I gave up the stubborn among them for the tractable.
For them, nor mounts for the despised.
وَطَلَّقْتُand I divorced الْمُنىhopes لاnot الْعَزْمُresolve يَوْماًever
وَطَلَّقْتُ الْمُنى لا الْعَزْمُ يَوْماً
لَهُنَّfor them وَلاnor الرَّكائِبُthe riding camels لِلذَّمِيلِfor a brisk gait
لَهُنَّ وَلا الرَّكائِبُ لِلذَّمِيلِ
I divorced my hopes: never would resolve be
Were it not for the family of Ammar
theirs, nor would the mounts take a brisk pace.
You would see the vastness of the sky tied tilted.
وَلُوْلاand but for آلُthe house of عَمّارِAmmar لَباتَتْthey would have spent the night
وَلُوْلا آلُ عَمّارِ لَباتَتْ
تَرىseeing عَرْضَthe breadth of السَّماوَةِal-Samawah قِيدَthe measure of مِيلِa mile
تَرى عَرْضَ السَّماوَةِ قِيدَ مِيلِ
But for the house of Ammar, the mounts would have spent the night
They gave me glory and sufficed me while the like of me
seeing al-Samawah's breadth as the span of a mile.
Is aided by every stubborn transgressor.
أَعَزُّونِيthey honored me وَأَغْنَوْنِيand enriched me وَمِثْلِيand one like me
أَعَزُّونِي وَأَغْنَوْنِي وَمِثْلِي
أُعِينَwas aided بكُلِّby every مَنّاعٍstaunch protector بَذُولِlavish giver
أُعِينَ بكُلِّ مَنّاعٍ بَذُولِ
They honored and enriched me; one like me
It suffices you that I am a neighbor of people
has been aided by every staunch protector and lavish giver.
Who give refuge from floods.
وَحَسْبُكَand it suffices you أَنَّنِيthat I جارٌam a neighbor لِقَوْمٍto a people
وَحَسْبُكَ أَنَّنِي جارٌ لِقَوْمٍ
يُجِيرُونَwho protect الْقَرارَlow-lying ground مِنَfrom السُّيُولِtorrents
يُجِيرُونَ الْقَرارَ مِنَ السُّيُولِ
Suffice it that I am the neighbor of a people
Oh, the worth of an intent that threw me
who shelter low-lying ground from torrents.
To the bosoms of their shaded shelter.
أَلاah للهِto God belongs دَرُّthe bounty of نَوىًa far journey رَمَتْthat cast بِيme
أَلا للهِ دَرُّ نَوىً رَمَتْ بِي
إِلىinto أَكْنافِthe shelter of ظِلِّهِمِtheir shade الظَّلِيلِdeep
إِلى أَكْنافِ ظِلِّهِمِ الظَّلِيلِ
Ah, God bless the distance that cast me
And the cycles of time that turned my rein
into the shelter of their deep shade,
To their encounter at departure.
وَدَرُّand blessed be نَوائِبٍmisfortunes صَرَفَتْthat turned عِنانِيmy reins
وَدَرُّ نَوائِبٍ صَرَفَتْ عِنانِي
إِلىtoward تِلْقائِهِمْtheir direction عِنْدَat الرَّحِيلِdeparture
إِلى تِلْقائِهِمْ عِنْدَ الرَّحِيلِ
and bless the misfortunes that turned my reins
I'm delighted to have an excellent ancestor
toward them when I set out.
And Ammar the son of Ammar hosting me.
أُسَرُّI rejoice بِأَنَّin that لِيI have جَدّاًa fortune عَثُوراًprone to stumble
أُسَرُّ بِأَنَّ لِي جَدّاً عَثُوراً
وَعَمّارُand Ammar بْنُson of عَمّارٍAmmar مُقِيليmy rescuer
وَعَمّارُ بْنُ عَمّارٍ مُقِيلي
I rejoice that mine is a stumbling fortune,
If not for his proximity I would have never
with Ammar ibn Ammar there to lift me up.
Thanked for the great misfortune.
وَلَوْلاand were it not for قُرْبُهُhis nearness ماnot كُنْتُwould I be يَوْماًever
وَلَوْلا قُرْبُهُ ما كُنْتُ يَوْماً
لأَشْكُرto give thanks for حادِثthe onset of الْخَطْبِcalamity الْجَلِيلِgrave
لأَشْكُر حادِث الْخَطْبِ الْجَلِيلِ
Were it not for his nearness, never
A loving heart desires recollection
would I thank the onset of grave calamity.
Not to abandon recollection of loved ones.
وَقَدْand sometimes يَهْوىloves الْمُحِبُّthe lover الْعَذْلَrebuke شَوْقاًout of longing
وَقَدْ يَهْوى الْمُحِبُّ الْعَذْلَ شَوْقاً
إِلىfor ذِكْرِthe mention of الأَحِبَّةِloved ones لاnot الْعَذُولِthe rebuker
إِلى ذِكْرِ الأَحِبَّةِ لا الْعَذُولِ
A lover may even love rebuke, yearning
With his cloud-like generosity he gives pardon,
for mention of loved ones, not for the rebuker.
Enriching without means or mediation.
لَهُhe has كَرَمُthe generosity of الْغَمامِclouds يَجُودُhe gives عَفْواًunbidden
لَهُ كَرَمُ الْغَمامِ يَجُودُ عَفْواً
فَيُغْنِيthus removes the need عَنْfor ذَرِيعٍan intercessor أَوْor وَسِيلِan intermediary
فَيُغْنِي عَنْ ذَرِيعٍ أَوْ وَسِيلِ
His is the clouds' generosity: he gives unbidden,
I do not cease to prefer a bestowal
leaving no need for intercessor or intermediary.
That gives me succession other than what I seek.
وَماand not إِنindeed زِلْتُhave I ceased أَرْغَبُto turn away عَنْfrom نَوالٍa gift
وَما إِن زِلْتُ أَرْغَبُ عَنْ نَوالٍ
يُقَلِّدُنِيthat burdens me with يَداًan obligation لِسَوىto someone other than الْمُنِيلِthe giver
يُقَلِّدُنِي يَداً لِسَوى الْمُنِيلِ
I have always disdained a gift
Her sweet blossoms give generously
that binds me in obligation to anyone but its giver.
With gratitude always turning acceptable.
تَجُودُgives generously بِطِيبِof the sweetness of رَيّاهاits fragrance الْخُزامىlavender
تَجُودُ بِطِيبِ رَيّاها الْخُزامى
وَيَغْدُوand goes الشُّكْرُthe thanks لِلرِّيحِto the wind الْقَبُولِfrom the east
وَيَغْدُو الشُّكْرُ لِلرِّيحِ الْقَبُولِ
Lavender gives generously of its sweet scent,
While others who accompany him are servitude,
yet thanks go to the east wind.
Slumbering tears on the cheek.
وَغَيْرِيand someone other than me مَنْis one whom يُصاحِبُهُaccompanies him خُضُوعٌsubmission
وَغَيْرِي مَنْ يُصاحِبُهُ خُضُوعٌ
أَنَمُّmore revealing مِنَthan الدُّمُوعِtears عَلَىof الْغَلِيلِinner anguish
أَنَمُّ مِنَ الدُّمُوعِ عَلَى الْغَلِيلِ
Someone other than me is attended by a meekness
Complaining if harm touches a drink
more telling of inner anguish than tears.
And some disgrace is better for the disgraced.
يَعُبُّhe drinks deep إِذاwhen أَصابَfinds الضَّيْمُoppression شَرْباًa company of drinkers
يَعُبُّ إِذا أَصابَ الضَّيْمُ شَرْباً
وَبَعْضُand some الذُّلِّabasement أَوْلىis fitter بِالذَّلِيلِfor the abased
وَبَعْضُ الذُّلِّ أَوْلى بِالذَّلِيلِ
He gulps when oppression finds a company of drinkers;
My request rose above any generosity
and some abasement best befits the abased.
Thus I do not want your gift to replace it.
تَرَفَّعَhas risen مَطْلَبِيmy aspiration عَنْabove كُلِّall جُودٍbounty
تَرَفَّعَ مَطْلَبِي عَنْ كُلِّ جُودٍ
فَماso not أَبْغِيdo I seek بِجُودِكَin exchange for your bounty مِنْany بَدِيلِsubstitute
فَما أَبْغِي بِجُودِكَ مِنْ بَدِيلِ
My aspiration has risen above all bounty,
Why do I not reconcile the roads as customary
and I seek no substitute for yours.
While the terraces of Salsabil have appeared?
وَمالِيَand why should I لاnot أَعافُdisdain الطَّرْقَhoof-fouled water وِرْداًas a drink
وَمالِيَ لا أَعافُ الطَّرْقَ وِرْداً
وَقَدْwhen already عَرَضَتْhave appeared حِياضُthe pools of السَّلْسَبِيلِSalsabil
وَقَدْ عَرَضَتْ حِياضُ السَّلْسَبِيلِ
Why should I not disdain hoof-fouled water as my drink,
You taught me the manners of glory
when the pools of Salsabil lie before me?
So I am not comfortable but with the noble.
وَقَدْand indeed عَلَّمْتَنِيyou have taught me خُلُقَthe character of الْمَعالِيhigh nobility
وَقَدْ عَلَّمْتَنِي خُلُقَ الْمَعالِي
فَماso not أَرْتاحُdo I delight إِلاّexcept لِلنَّبِيلِin the noble
فَما أَرْتاحُ إِلاّ لِلنَّبِيلِ
And you have taught me the ways of high nobility;
I have demands from time,
so I delight in none but the noble.
So what is my excuse while you guarantee them?
وَلِيand I have عِنْدَagainst الزَّمانِTime مُطالَباتٌclaims
وَلِي عِنْدَ الزَّمانِ مُطالَباتٌ
فَماso what عُذْرِيis my excuse وَأَنْتَwhile you بِهاfor them كَفيليare my guarantor
فَما عُذْرِي وَأَنْتَ بِها كَفيلي
I have claims to press against Time;
A gallant man who saw you has hope
what excuse have I, when you stand surety for them?
That is worthy to deliver every asker.
وَإِنَّand indeed فَتىًa young man رَآكَwho has seen you لَهُfor himself رَجاءَas hope
وَإِنَّ فَتىً رَآكَ لَهُ رَجاءَ
لأَهْلٌis surely worthy أَنْto يُبَلَّغَbe granted كُلَّevery سُولِwish
لأَهْلٌ أَنْ يُبَلَّغَ كُلَّ سُولِ
Indeed, a young man who sees you as his hope
Many a gift was asked for then handed
deserves to be granted every wish.
To other than a matching groom.
وَرُبَّand many a صَنِيعَةٍfavor خُطِبَتْwas wooed فَزُفَّتْthen led as a bride
وَرُبَّ صَنِيعَةٍ خُطِبَتْ فَزُفَّتْ
إِلىto غَيْرِother than الْكَفِيءِa worthy match مِنَamong الْبُعُولِhusbands
إِلى غَيْرِ الْكَفِيءِ مِنَ الْبُعُولِ
Many a favor has been wooed and led as a bride
Can the measure of your dedication to me be exposed
to a husband unworthy of her.
In secret of what you give me and bestow?
أَبِنْmake plain قَدْرَthe measure of اصْطِناعِكَyour patronage لِيof me بِنُعْمىthrough a favor
أَبِنْ قَدْرَ اصْطِناعِكَ لِي بِنُعْمى
تَبُوحُthat discloses بِسِرِّthe secret of ماwhat تُسْدِيyou grant وَتُولِيand bestow
تَبُوحُ بِسِرِّ ما تُسْدِي وَتُولِي
Show the worth of your patronage of me through a favor
When rain pours a flooded terrain
that reveals the secret of what you grant and bestow.
The favor of its affliction appears clearly.
إِذاwhen ماindeed رَوَّضَturns to meadow الْبَطْحاءَthe gravel plain غَيْثٌrain
إِذا ما رَوَّضَ الْبَطْحاءَ غَيْثٌ
تَبَيَّنَbecomes clear فَضْلُthe bounty of عارِضِهِits raincloud الْهَطُولِpouring
تَبَيَّنَ فَضْلُ عارِضِهِ الْهَطُولِ
When rain turns the gravel plain to meadow,
Expose the good of your view of me that prevails
the bounty of its pouring raincloud becomes clear.
My enemy over my intimate friend.
وَأَعْلِنْand proclaim حُسْنَthe goodness of رَأْيِكَyour opinion فِيَّof me يَرْجَحْwill outweigh
وَأَعْلِنْ حُسْنَ رَأْيِكَ فِيَّ يَرْجَحْ
عَدُوِّيmy enemy فِيin الْمَوَدَّةِaffection مِنْthan خَلِيلِيmy friend
عَدُوِّي فِي الْمَوَدَّةِ مِنْ خَلِيلِي
Proclaim your good opinion of me, and greater will be
my enemy's affection than my friend's.
فَلَيْسَso not بِعائِبِيa disgrace to me نُوَبٌcalamities أَكَلَّتْthat blunted
فَلَيْسَ بِعائِبِي نُوَبٌ أَكَلَّتْ
شَباthe keen edge of عَزْمِيmy resolve وَلَمْand not يَكُhad it been بِالْكَلِيلِdull
شَبا عَزْمِي وَلَمْ يَكُ بِالْكَلِيلِ
No disgrace to me are trials that blunted
my resolve's keen edge, which had not been dull.
فَإِنَّfor indeed السَّيْفَthe sword يُعْرَفُis known ماwhat بَلاهُhas tested it
فَإِنَّ السَّيْفَ يُعْرَفُ ما بَلاهُ
بِماby what فِيin مَضْرِبَيْهِits two striking edges مِنَof الْفُلُولِnicks
بِما فِي مَضْرِبَيْهِ مِنَ الْفُلُولِ
For what a sword has endured is known
from the nicks along its two striking edges.
وَكَائِنْand how many بِالْعَواصِمِin al-Awasim مِنْof مُعَنّىًone enthralled
وَكَائِنْ بِالْعَواصِمِ مِنْ مُعَنّىً
بِشِعْرِيby my poetry لاnot يَرِيعُdoes he return إِلىto ذُهُولِinattention
بِشِعْرِي لا يَرِيعُ إِلى ذُهُولِ
How many in al-Awasim are enthralled
by my verse, never lapsing into inattention.
أَقَمْتُI dwelt بأَرْضِهِمْin their land فَحَلَلْتُso I settled مِنْهاwithin it
أَقَمْتُ بأَرْضِهِمْ فَحَلَلْتُ مِنْها
مَحَلَّthe place of الْخالthe beauty mark فِيon الْخَدِّthe cheek الأَسِيلِsmooth
مَحَلَّ الْخال فِي الْخَدِّ الأَسِيلِ
I dwelt in their land, taking there
the place of a beauty mark upon a smooth cheek.
وَلكِنْbut قادَنِيled me شَوْقِيmy longing إِلَيْكُمْto you
وَلكِنْ قادَنِي شَوْقِي إِلَيْكُمْ
وَحُبِّيand my love of كُلَّevery مَعْدُومِone lacking الشُّكُولِpeers
وَحُبِّي كُلَّ مَعْدُومِ الشُّكُولِ
But my longing led me to you,
and my love of all that has no peer.
فَأَطْلَعَso it raised فِيin سَمائِكَyour sky مِنْfrom ثَنائِيmy praise
فَأَطْلَعَ فِي سَمائِكَ مِنْ ثَنائِي
نُجُومَstars of عُلىًeminence تَجِلُّtoo exalted عَنِfor الأُفُولِsetting
نُجُومَ عُلىً تَجِلُّ عَنِ الأُفُولِ
It raised in your sky, from my praise,
stars of eminence too lofty ever to set.
سَوائِرُfar-ranging تَمْلأُfilling الآفاقَthe horizons فَضْلاًwith excellence
سَوائِرُ تَمْلأُ الآفاقَ فَضْلاً
تُعِيدُmaking الْغُمْرَthe inexperienced man ذاpossessed of رَأْيٍjudgment أَصيلِsound
تُعِيدُ الْغُمْرَ ذا رَأْيٍ أَصيلِ
Far-ranging, they fill the horizons with excellence
and turn the inexperienced into a man of sound judgment.
قَصائِدُpoems كالْكَنائِنِlike quivers فِيin حَشاهاtheir breasts
قَصائِدُ كالْكَنائِنِ فِي حَشاها
سِهامٌarrows كَالنُّصُولِlike arrowheads بِلاwithout نُصُولِarrowheads
سِهامٌ كَالنُّصُولِ بِلا نُصُولِ
Poems like quivers, bearing in their breasts
arrows keen as blades, yet without blades,
نَزائِعُarrows drawn and loosed عَنْfrom قِسِيِّthe bows of الْفِكْرِthought يُرْمىis aimed at
نَزائِعُ عَنْ قِسِيِّ الْفِكْرِ يُرْمى
بِهاwith them غَرَضُthe target of الْمَوَدَّةِaffection وَالذُّحُولِand blood-feuds
بِها غَرَضُ الْمَوَدَّةِ وَالذُّحُولِ
drawn from the bows of thought, they are aimed
at the target of affection and vendettas.
وَكُنَّand they were إِذاwhen مَرَقْنَthey darted بِسَمْعِthrough the hearing of صَبٍّa passionate lover
وَكُنَّ إِذا مَرَقْنَ بِسَمْعِ صَبٍّ
أَصَبْنَthey struck مَقاتِلَthe vital spots of الْهَمِّsorrow الدَّخِيلِintrusive
أَصَبْنَ مَقاتِلَ الْهَمِّ الدَّخِيلِ
And whenever they darted through a lover's ear,
they struck the vitals of intrusive sorrow.
إِذاwhen ماindeed أُنْشِدَتْthey are recited فِيamong الْقَوْمِthe people رَقَّتْgrow gentle
إِذا ما أُنْشِدَتْ فِي الْقَوْمِ رَقَّتْ
شَمائِلُthe dispositions of يُوْمِهِمْtheir day قَبْلَbefore الأَصِيلِeventide
شَمائِلُ يُوْمِهِمْ قَبْلَ الأَصِيلِ
When recited among the company, they soften
the temper of their day before eventide.
تزُورُthey visit أَباAbu عَلِيٍّAli حَيْثَwhere أَرْسَتْhave taken root
تزُورُ أَبا عَلِيٍّ حَيْثَ أَرْسَتْ
هِضابُthe heights of الْغِزِّhonor وَالْمَجدْand glory الأَثِيلِdeep-rooted
هِضابُ الْغِزِّ وَالْمَجدْ الأَثِيلِ
They visit Abu Ali where stand rooted
the heights of honor and deep-rooted glory.
ومنand who يجزيكcan repay you عنfor فعلa deed بقولwith words
ومن يجزيك عن فعل بقول
لقدindeed حاولتI have attempted عينthe very essence of المستحيلthe impossible
لقد حاولت عين المستحيل
And who can repay you for deeds with words?
I have indeed attempted impossibility itself.
وَكَيْفَand how لِيَfor me السَّبِيلُthe way إِلىto مَقالٍspeech
وَكَيْفَ لِيَ السَّبِيلُ إِلى مَقالٍ
يُخَفِّفُthat lightens مَحْمِلَthe burden of الْمَنِّbenefaction الثَّقِيلِheavy
يُخَفِّفُ مَحْمِلَ الْمَنِّ الثَّقِيلِ
And how can I find a way to words
that lighten the weighty burden of your favors?
فَلاso do not تَلِمُblame الْقَوافِيَthe rhymes إِنْif أَطَالَتْthey prolong
فَلا تَلِمُ الْقَوافِيَ إِنْ أَطَالَتْ
قَطِيعَةَthe estrangement from بِرَّكَyour kindness الْبَرِّbenevolent الْوَصُولِever-faithful
قَطِيعَةَ بِرَّكَ الْبَرِّ الْوَصُولِ
Do not blame the rhymes if they prolong
their estrangement from your kindly, ever-faithful bounty.
هَرَبْتُI fled مِنَfrom ارْتِياحِكَyour eager generosity حِينَwhen أَنْحىit bore down
هَرَبْتُ مِنَ ارْتِياحِكَ حِينَ أَنْحى
عَلَىupon حَمْدِيmy praise بِعَضْبِwith a blade of نَدىًbounty صَقِيلِpolished
عَلَى حَمْدِي بِعَضْبِ نَدىً صَقِيلِ
I fled your eager generosity when it bore down
upon my praise with bounty's polished blade.
وَلَمّاand when عُذْتُI sought refuge بِالْعَلْياءِwith eminence قالَتْshe said
وَلَمّا عُذْتُ بِالْعَلْياءِ قالَتْ
لَعَلَّكَperhaps you are صاحِبُthe possessor of الشُّكْرِgratitude الْقَتِيلِslain
لَعَلَّكَ صاحِبُ الشُّكْرِ الْقَتِيلِ
When I sought refuge with Eminence, she said,
'Perhaps you are the one whose gratitude was slain.'
فَياso O لَكِfor you مِنَّةًa favor فَضَحَتْthat shamed مَقالِيmy speech
فَيا لَكِ مِنَّةً فَضَحَتْ مَقالِي
وَمِثْلِيthough one like me فِيin الْقَرِيضِpoetry بِلاwithout مَثِيلِan equal
وَمِثْلِي فِي الْقَرِيضِ بِلا مَثِيلِ
Ah, what a favor, putting my words to shame,
though I have no equal in verse!
فَعُذْراًso pardon me إِنْif عَجَزْتُI am unable لِطُولِbecause of the length of هَمِّيmy distress
فَعُذْراً إِنْ عَجَزْتُ لِطُولِ هَمِّي
عَنِat الإِسْهابِexpansive speech وَالنَّفَسand a breath الطَّوِيلِlong
عَنِ الإِسْهابِ وَالنَّفَس الطَّوِيلِ
Pardon me if, through my long distress, I cannot
speak expansively or sustain a long breath.
فَإِنْfor indeed وَجىthe hoof-soreness of الْجِيادِnoble steeds إِذاwhen تَمادىpersists
فَإِنْ وَجى الْجِيادِ إِذا تَمادى
بِهاin them شَغَلَdistracts الْجِيادَthe noble steeds عَنِfrom الصَّهِيلِneighing
بِها شَغَلَ الْجِيادَ عَنِ الصَّهِيلِ
For the soreness of noble steeds, when it lingers
in them, keeps those noble steeds from neighing.
Partial English translation: 96 of 138 Arabic lines translated.