زَارَتْshe visited وَقَدْand already صَرَفَturned aside العِنَانَthe reins الغَيْهَبُthe deep darkness
زَارَتْ وَقَدْ صَرَفَ العِنَانَ الغَيْهَبُ
وَالصُّبْحُand dawn يُنْشَرُis unfurled مِنْهُfrom it بَنْدٌa banner مُذْهَبُgilded
وَالصُّبْحُ يُنْشَرُ مِنْهُ بَنْدٌ مُذْهَبُ
She visited when deep darkness had turned aside the reins,
She came after the dusk had pulled the reins of disappearance,
And from dawn a gilded banner was unfurled.
And the morning spread out from it a gilded strip,
وَالزَّهْرُand the blossoms فِيin نَهْرِthe river of المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way بَعْضُهَاsome of them
وَالزَّهْرُ فِي نَهْرِ المَجَرَّةِ بَعْضُهَا
يَطْفُوfloats بِصَفْحَتِهَاon its surface وَand بَعْضٌsome يَرْسُبُsinks
يَطْفُو بِصَفْحَتِهَا وَ بَعْضٌ يَرْسُبُ
And the blossoms in the Milky Way's river—some of them
And the flowers in the stream of the Milky Way, some of them
Float upon its surface, while others sink.
Float on its surface, and some sink,
وَكَأَنَّمَاand as though الفَلَكُthe firmament المُكَوْكَبُstar-studded غَادَةٌa graceful maiden
وَكَأَنَّمَا الفَلَكُ المُكَوْكَبُ غَادَةٌ
زُفَّتْwas led as a bride وَحَلَّand unfastened لَهَاfor her الحُلِيَّthe jewels المَغْرِبُthe west
زُفَّتْ وَحَلَّ لَهَا الحُلِيَّ المَغْرِبُ
And the star-studded firmament seemed a graceful maiden,
It was as if the starred sky a decorated bride
Led forth as a bride, while the west unfastened her jewels.
Who was led and dressed in western finery,
وَالدَّوْحُand the grove صَلَّىprayed بِالتَّحِيَّاتِwith the salutations الَّتِيwhich
وَالدَّوْحُ صَلَّى بِالتَّحِيَّاتِ الَّتِي
أَلْقَىcast بِمَسْمَعِهِinto its hearing النَّسِيْمُthe breeze الطَّيِّبُfragrant
أَلْقَى بِمَسْمَعِهِ النَّسِيْمُ الطَّيِّبُ
And the grove prayed with the salutations that
The sand grouse prayed with the greetings
The fragrant breeze cast into its hearing.
Which the gentle breeze conveyed to its hearing,
وَالطَّيْرُand the birds قَدْalready نَفَضَshook الجَنَاحَthe wing مُؤَذِّنَاًcalling to prayer
وَالطَّيْرُ قَدْ نَفَضَ الجَنَاحَ مُؤَذِّنَاً
وَالْوُرْقُand the gray doves تَتْلُوrecite وَالبَلاَبلُand the nightingales تَخْطُبُpreach
وَالْوُرْقُ تَتْلُو وَالبَلاَبلُ تَخْطُبُ
And the birds had shaken their wings, calling to prayer,
And the birds fluttered their wings as callers to prayer
While gray doves recited and nightingales preached.
And the leaves recited while the bulbuls preached,
بِكْرٌa virgin مِنَof السَّحْرِmagic الحَلالِlawful بِبَابِلٍin Babylon
بِكْرٌ مِنَ السَّحْرِ الحَلالِ بِبَابِلٍ
تُنْمَىis ascribed إلَىto هَارُوتِهِits Harut إِذْwhen تُنْسَبُher lineage is traced
تُنْمَى إلَى هَارُوتِهِ إِذْ تُنْسَبُ
A virgin of lawful magic in Babylon,
An innocent dawn in Babylon
Ascribed to its Harut whenever her lineage is traced.
Growing toward its Harut even as it is ascribed,
مَحْجُوْبَةٌveiled فِيin خِدْرِa secluded chamber طِرْسٍa written sheet دُونَهَاbefore her
مَحْجُوْبَةٌ فِي خِدْرِ طِرْسٍ دُونَهَا
لِلْحُسْنِfor beauty مِنْof غُرِّthe radiant ones of المَعَانِيthe meanings مَوْكِبُa procession
لِلْحُسْنِ مِنْ غُرِّ المَعَانِي مَوْكِبُ
Veiled in the chamber of a written sheet; before her
Veiled in the bosom of a gentle Tigris below it
Beauty has a procession of radiant meanings.
A procession of meanings for beauty marches,
مَمْنُوعَةُdefended الأَبْيَاتِthe verses بِالْبِيْضِby the gleaming الظُّبَاsword-edges
مَمْنُوعَةُ الأَبْيَاتِ بِالْبِيْضِ الظُّبَا
فَالنَّجْمُso a star لِلطُّرَّاقِto nighttime visitors مِنْهَاthan she أَقْرَبُnearer
فَالنَّجْمُ لِلطُّرَّاقِ مِنْهَا أَقْرَبُ
Her verses are defended by gleaming sword-edges;
Forbidden quarters by the white antelope
A star is nearer than she is to nighttime visitors.
So the star is closer to it than the hunter,
الْبَابَO essence (reading uncertain) رَبَّاتِmistresses of الحِجَالِcurtained chambers بَلِrather الحِجَىintellect
الْبَابَ رَبَّاتِ الحِجَالِ بَلِ الحِجَى
كَيْفَhow اهْتَدَيْتَdid you find your way وَمَاand not اسْتَبَانَbecame clear المَذْهَبُthe path
كَيْفَ اهْتَدَيْتَ وَمَا اسْتَبَانَ المَذْهَبُ
O essence of the ladies of curtained chambers—nay, of intellect—
O lover of veils, rather the veiled ones, how
How did you find your way when no path was clear?
Did you find your way when the course was not clear?
قَدْalready كُنْتُI was أَقْنَعُbe content مِنْكَfrom you فِيin سِنةِdrowsiness الكَرَىsleep
قَدْ كُنْتُ أَقْنَعُ مِنْكَ فِي سِنةِ الكَرَى
بِالْطَّيْفِwith the dream-image فَضْلاًto say nothing عَنْof مَزَارٍa visit يَقْرُبُcomes near
بِالْطَّيْفِ فَضْلاً عَنْ مَزَارٍ يَقْرُبُ
I would have been content, in drowsy sleep, with no more of you
I would have been content with you in the year of distress
Than a dream-image, let alone a visit within reach.
With an apparition, not to mention a visit would suffice,
وَيَئِسْتُand I despaired إِذْwhen عَاقَتْكِkept you back أَحْرَاسُthe guards of العِدَىthe enemies
وَيَئِسْتُ إِذْ عَاقَتْكِ أَحْرَاسُ العِدَى
عَنْfrom زَوْرَتِيvisiting me وَتَألَّفُواand they united وَتَأَلَّبُواand they banded together
عَنْ زَوْرَتِي وَتَألَّفُوا وَتَأَلَّبُوا
And I despaired when the enemy's guards kept you
And I despaired when your guards prevented
From visiting me, and they united and banded together.
My visit, and they connived and plotted,
تَاللهِby God لَوْif أَرْسَلْتِyou had sent طَيْفَكِyour dream-image لأَنْثَنيit would have turned back
تَاللهِ لَوْ أَرْسَلْتِ طَيْفَكِ لأَنْثَني
خَوْفَfor fear of القَوَاطِعِthe cutting blades خَائِفاًfearful يَتَرَقَّبُwatching anxiously
خَوْفَ القَوَاطِعِ خَائِفاً يَتَرَقَّبُ
By God, had you sent your dream-image, it would have turned back,
By God, if you had sent your specter I would have bowed
For fear of cutting blades, fearful and watchful.
Fearing the confounders, anxious and watching,
فأَبيْتِbut you refused إلاَّexcept أَنْto تُبَرِّدَquench غُلَّةٌa burning thirst
فأَبيْتِ إلاَّ أَنْ تُبَرِّدَ غُلَّةٌ
لَوْeven if عُلِّلَتْit were soothed بِالْبَحْرِwith the sea كَانَتْit would تُلْهَبُbe inflamed
لَوْ عُلِّلَتْ بِالْبَحْرِ كَانَتْ تُلْهَبُ
But you insisted on quenching a burning thirst
But you refused save to cool a flame
That would still be inflamed even if soothed with the sea.
Which if justified by the sea it would have burned,
فَرَغَfinished الإِلاهُGod مِنَwith الحَظُوظِthe allotted fortunes فَعَدَّso turn away عَنْfrom
فَرَغَ الإِلاهُ مِنَ الحَظُوظِ فَعَدَّ عَنْ
حَظِّa lot تَكِدُّyou toil لَهُfor it فَحَظُّكَfor your lot يَطْلُبُseeks
حَظِّ تَكِدُّ لَهُ فَحَظُّكَ يَطْلُبُ
God has finished allotting fortunes; turn away from
So God neglected the unlucky and turned away
A lot for which you toil—your allotted lot seeks you.
From the fortune of the ardent admirer and his fortune seeks,
قَسَماًI swear بِمُهْدِيْكِby your sender الَّذِيwhose أَنْوَارُهُhis lights
قَسَماً بِمُهْدِيْكِ الَّذِي أَنْوَارُهُ
كَالشَّمْسِlike the sun إلاَّexcept أَنَّهَاthat they لاَnot تَغْرُبُset
كَالشَّمْسِ إلاَّ أَنَّهَا لاَ تَغْرُبُ
I swear by him who sent you, whose lights
I swear by your guide whose lights
Are like the sun, except that they never set:
Are like the sun except it does not set,
لَنَعِشْتِyou have surely revived مِنِّيin me مُهْجَةًa heart مَطْلُولَةًslain without redress
لَنَعِشْتِ مِنِّي مُهْجَةً مَطْلُولَةً
وَأَنَلْتِنيand you granted me فَوْقَbeyond الذيwhat أَنَاI أَطْلُبُseek
وَأَنَلْتِني فَوْقَ الذي أَنَا أَطْلُبُ
You have surely revived in me a heart left slain without redress,
You would have revived in me an ardent love
And granted me more than I seek.
And attained for me what I seek,
إِيهٍah أَبَاAbu حَسَنٍHasan بِأَيِّwith what عِبَارَةٍexpression
إِيهٍ أَبَا حَسَنٍ بِأَيِّ عِبَارَةٍ
أُثْنِيI praise عَلَىupon عُلْيَاكَyour eminence عَزَّis hard to attain المَطْلَبُthe aim
أُثْنِي عَلَى عُلْيَاكَ عَزَّ المَطْلَبُ
Ah, Abu Hasan, in what words
Alas Abu Hasan with what words
Can I praise your eminence? The task is hard.
Can I praise your most high character?
طَوَّقْتَنِيyou hung about my neck مِنْهَاfrom it قِلادَةَa necklace of مَفْخَرٍglory
طَوَّقْتَنِي مِنْهَا قِلادَةَ مَفْخَرٍ
فِيin مِثْلِهَاits like بَاغِيa seeker of المَكَارِمnoble deeds يَرْغَبُyearns
فِي مِثْلِهَا بَاغِي المَكَارِم يَرْغَبُ
With it you have hung about my neck a necklace of glory,
You have adorned me with a necklace of pride
The like of which a seeker of noble deeds desires.
In the like of which the seeker of favors aspires,
هَذاthis وَكَمْand how many لَكَyou have مِنْof يَدٍa favor مَشْفُوعَةٍfollowed by another
هَذا وَكَمْ لَكَ مِنْ يَدٍ مَشْفُوعَةٍ
لاَnot يَسْتَقِلُّcan bear alone بِحَمْلِهَاwith carrying them لِيof mine مَنْكَبُa shoulder
لاَ يَسْتَقِلُّ بِحَمْلِهَا لِي مَنْكَبُ
This—and how many favors of yours are followed by others,
This alongside many an outstretched hand
Whose weight no shoulder of mine can bear alone.
That my shoulder cannot undertake to carry,
وَتَوَخَّنِيand favor me بِالْعُذْرِwith indulgence إِنَّfor indeed قَرِيحَتِيmy poetic gift
وَتَوَخَّنِي بِالْعُذْرِ إِنَّ قَرِيحَتِي
كَالضَّرْعِlike an udder جَفَّdried up وَشَحَّand yielded scantily مِمَّاof what يُحْلَبُis milked
كَالضَّرْعِ جَفَّ وَشَحَّ مِمَّا يُحْلَبُ
And favor me with indulgence, for my poetic gift
And you have counseled me with a gracious excuse, and I
Is like an udder gone dry, yielding scant milk.
Fear the blamer, not the reproacher,
أَمَّاas for دُعَاؤُكَyour prayer لِيfor me فعلميthen my knowledge أنهthat it
أَمَّا دُعَاؤُكَ لِي فعلمي أنه
ماnot أنindeed لهit has إلاexcept العنايةsolicitude موجبa motive
ما أن له إلا العناية موجب
As for your prayer for me, I know that
I was alerted as I slept expectantly of you
Nothing but your solicitude has prompted it.
The enemies scatter from you one who gathers,
والوقتand the time فيهin it لِلْقَبُولِfor acceptance مَظِنَّةٌa likely occasion
والوقت فيه لِلْقَبُولِ مَظِنَّةٌ
وَبِسَاطُand the carpet of حَالِthe state of الوَقْتِthe moment عَنْهُabout it يُعْرِبُspeaks plainly
وَبِسَاطُ حَالِ الوَقْتِ عَنْهُ يُعْرِبُ
And this time offers a prospect of acceptance,
So extend to it a palm for an hour's framework
Which the carpet of the moment's state proclaims.
But its father is, without pride, the begetter
هَذَاthis جَنَيَfruit غَرَسَتْهُplanted it كَفّthe hand of رِضَاكَyour approval لِيfor me
هَذَا جَنَيَ غَرَسَتْهُ كَفّ رِضَاكَ لِي
فَهَصَرْتَهُso you bent it down وَهْوَand it is الْكَثِيرُabundant الأَطْيَبُthe sweetest
فَهَصَرْتَهُ وَهْوَ الْكَثِيرُ الأَطْيَبُ
This is fruit that the hand of your approval planted for me;
And when evening comes to you, recite to it:
So you bent it down, abundant and most sweet.
"We came across each other by chance, so we said 'hubbub'"
وَنَتِيجَةٌand a conclusion قَدَّمْتُI put forward عِنْدَat قِيَاسِهَاits syllogism
وَنَتِيجَةٌ قَدَّمْتُ عِنْدَ قِيَاسِهَا
مَاwhat يُوجِبُentails الإِحْسَانَkindness لاَnot مَاwhat يَسْلُبُtakes away
مَا يُوجِبُ الإِحْسَانَ لاَ مَا يَسْلُبُ
And a conclusion for whose syllogism I supplied
What entails kindness, not what takes it away.
لَكِنْbut غَدَوْتُI became بِرَغْمِin spite of أَنْفِيmy nose قَاعِداًsitting
لَكِنْ غَدَوْتُ بِرَغْمِ أَنْفِي قَاعِداً
وَالدَّمْعُand tears مِنْfrom عَيْنيِmy eye يَفِيضُoverflow وَيُسْكُبُand are poured out
وَالدَّمْعُ مِنْ عَيْنيِ يَفِيضُ وَيُسْكُبُ
But I was left sitting, against my will,
While tears overflow from my eye and pour down.
وَتَنَازَعَand contended for الْقَصْدَانَthe two aims عَزْمِيmy resolve عِنْدَهَاat that moment
وَتَنَازَعَ الْقَصْدَانَ عَزْمِي عِنْدَهَا
فَالضَّعْفُso weakness يُمْسِكُholds back وَالتَّشَوُّقُand longing يَجْذِبdraws on
فَالضَّعْفُ يُمْسِكُ وَالتَّشَوُّقُ يَجْذِب
And the two aims contended for my resolve then:
Weakness holds me back, while longing draws me on.
وَإِلَيْكَهَاand here she is for you كَالْبَحْرِlike the sea قِيسَwas measured بِمِذْنَبٍagainst a rivulet
وَإِلَيْكَهَا كَالْبَحْرِ قِيسَ بِمِذْنَبٍ
وَالشَّمْسِand the sun نَازَعَهَاchallenged it for الضَّيَاءَbrightness الْكَوكَبُa star
وَالشَّمْسِ نَازَعَهَا الضَّيَاءَ الْكَوكَبُ
And here she is for you: like the sea measured against a rivulet,
And the sun, whose light a star contested.
وَالْعَزْمُand resolve بَيْنَbetween الْمَقْصَدَيْنthe two aims مُرَدَّدٌwavering
وَالْعَزْمُ بَيْنَ الْمَقْصَدَيْن مُرَدَّدٌ
وَالْقَلْبُand the heart بَيْنَbetween الْحَالَتَيْنِthe two states مُذبْذَبُoscillating
وَالْقَلْبُ بَيْنَ الْحَالَتَيْنِ مُذبْذَبُ
And resolve wavers between the two aims,
And the heart oscillates between the two states.
وَلَوَانَّنِيand if I أَلفَيْتُhad found طِرْفاًa steed يُرْتَضَىdeemed suitable
وَلَوَانَّنِي أَلفَيْتُ طِرْفاً يُرْتَضَى
لِلْفَرِّfor flight وَالتَّأَوِيلُand interpretation فِيهِconcerning it يُجَنَّبُis set aside
لِلْفَرِّ وَالتَّأَوِيلُ فِيهِ يُجَنَّبُ
And had I found a steed deemed suitable
For flight, with any reinterpretation of it excluded—
وَإذَاand when تَبَيَّنَتِbecame clear الْمَقَاصِدُthe aims لَمْnot يَكُنْbe
وَإذَا تَبَيَّنَتِ الْمَقَاصِدُ لَمْ يَكُنْ
فِيهَاin them أَخُوa man of جِدٍّseriousness كَمَنْlike one who هُوَhe يَلْعَبُplays
فِيهَا أَخُو جِدٍّ كَمَنْ هُوَ يَلْعَبُ
And when the aims are clear, there is no comparing
One in earnest about them with one who plays—
لَبَذَلْتُI would have given فِيهَاon them كُلَّall مَاthat مَلكَتْpossessed يَديmy hand
لَبَذَلْتُ فِيهَا كُلَّ مَا مَلكَتْ يَدي
وَحَثَثْتُهَاand I would have spurred it لِلْحَرْبِto war فِيمَاas far as أَحْسَبُI reckon
وَحَثَثْتُهَا لِلْحَرْبِ فِيمَا أَحْسَبُ
I would have spent on them all that my hand possessed,
And urged it on to war, as I reckon.
وَهَزَزْتُand I would have brandished فِيهَاin them كُلَّevery أَسْمَرَbrown spear ذَابِلٍslender
وَهَزَزْتُ فِيهَا كُلَّ أَسْمَرَ ذَابِلٍ
يَشْقَىsuffers بِطَعْنَتِهِfrom its thrust الْعَدُوُّthe enemy الأَصْهَبُred-haired
يَشْقَى بِطَعْنَتِهِ الْعَدُوُّ الأَصْهَبُ
And there I would have brandished every slender brown spear
Whose thrust brings suffering to the red-haired enemy.
مَاnot بِنْتُI parted عَنْهُfrom it لِفَرْطِbecause of excessive جُبْنٍcowardice فَاضِحٍdisgraceful
مَا بِنْتُ عَنْهُ لِفَرْطِ جُبْنٍ فَاضِحٍ
كَلاَّcertainly not فَمَاfor not قَلْبِيِmy heart لِذُعْرٍby terror يُنْخَبُis unnerved
كَلاَّ فَمَا قَلْبِيِ لِذُعْرٍ يُنْخَبُ
I did not turn away from it through excessive, disgraceful cowardice;
No indeed—my heart is not unnerved by terror.
والحَتْفُand death غَايَةُthe end of مَنْwhoever يَرُوحُgoes out at evening وَيَغْتَديand goes out at dawn
والحَتْفُ غَايَةُ مَنْ يَرُوحُ وَيَغْتَدي
فَإِذَاso if فَرَرْتَyou flee إِلَيْهِtoward it مِنْهُfrom it الْمَهْرَبُthe escape
فَإِذَا فَرَرْتَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْهُ الْمَهْرَبُ
And death is the end of everyone who goes out at evening or dawn;
So if you flee, the escape from it leads toward it.
وَحَذَرْتَand you feared لِيfor me عُقْبَيthe outcome of الْقَطِيعَةِestrangement جَاهِداًearnestly
وَحَذَرْتَ لِي عُقْبَي الْقَطِيعَةِ جَاهِداً
وَهِيَand that is الطَّرِيقَةُthe course وَالسَّبِيلُand the path الأَصْوَبُthe soundest
وَهِيَ الطَّرِيقَةُ وَالسَّبِيلُ الأَصْوَبُ
And you earnestly feared for me the outcome of estrangement,
And that is the course, and the soundest way.
لَكِنْbut لَدَيَّI have فِرَاسَةٌdiscernment مَعْضُودَةٌwell-supported
لَكِنْ لَدَيَّ فِرَاسَةٌ مَعْضُودَةٌ
فَإِذَاso when ظَنَنْتُI conjecture فَإِنَّهَاthen it surely لاَnot تَكْذِبُproves false
فَإِذَا ظَنَنْتُ فَإِنَّهَا لاَ تَكْذِبُ
But I possess a well-supported discernment,
And when I make a surmise, it does not prove false.
وَالشَّرْعُand the sacred law يَعْتَبِرُtakes account of الظُّنُونَpresumptions وَسِيَّمَاand especially
وَالشَّرْعُ يَعْتَبِرُ الظُّنُونَ وَسِيَّمَا
ظَنٌّa presumption يَكَادُalmost الْحَقُّthe truth فِيهِin it يَغْلِبُprevails
ظَنٌّ يَكَادُ الْحَقُّ فِيهِ يَغْلِبُ
And the sacred law takes presumptions into account, especially
One in which truth is all but certain to prevail.
كِلْنِيleave me لِعِلْمِيto my knowledge فِيconcerning صِحَابِيmy companions إِنَّنِيfor I indeed
كِلْنِي لِعِلْمِي فِي صِحَابِي إِنَّنِي
بِهْمُwith them خَبيرٌwell acquainted مَاهِرٌskilled وَمُجَرِّبُand experienced
بِهْمُ خَبيرٌ مَاهِرٌ وَمُجَرِّبُ
Leave me to my knowledge of my companions; indeed, I am
Well acquainted with them, skilled and experienced.
لَكَyou have ظَاهِرٌan outward aspect مِنْهُمْof them حَكِمْتَyou judged بِهِby it وَلِيand I have
لَكَ ظَاهِرٌ مِنْهُمْ حَكِمْتَ بِهِ وَلِي
مِنْهُمْof them بَوَاطِنinward realities عَنْfrom عِيَانِكَyour sight غُيَّبُhidden
مِنْهُمْ بَوَاطِن عَنْ عِيَانِكَ غُيَّبُ
You have their outward aspect, by which you have judged; I have
Their inward realities, hidden from your sight.
سِيَّانِalike مِنْهُمْamong them وَاصِلٌone who keeps ties أَوْor هَاجِرٌone who severs ties
سِيَّانِ مِنْهُمْ وَاصِلٌ أَوْ هَاجِرٌ
أَوْor عَاذِرٌone who excuses أَوْor عَاذِلٌone who censures وَمُؤَنِّبُand one who reproaches
أَوْ عَاذِرٌ أَوْ عَاذِلٌ وَمُؤَنِّبُ
Among them, it is all the same: one who keeps ties or one who shuns,
Or one who excuses, or one who censures and reproaches.
مَهْمَاwhenever جَفَانِيshuns me صَاحِبٌa friend فِيamong النَّاسِpeople وَلِيand I have
مَهْمَا جَفَانِي صَاحِبٌ فِي النَّاسِ وَلِي
سَعْةٌroom enough وَفيand in عَرْضِthe breadth of الْبَسِيطَةِthe earth مَذْهَبُa way to go
سَعْةٌ وَفي عَرْضِ الْبَسِيطَةِ مَذْهَبُ
Whenever a friend among people shuns me, I have
Room enough, and across the breadth of the earth a way to go.
لاَnot تَسْتَقِرُّendures عَلَىamid التَّنَافُسِrivalry صُحْبَةٌcompanionship
لاَ تَسْتَقِرُّ عَلَى التَّنَافُسِ صُحْبَةٌ
وَمَوَدَّةُand the affection of الأَكْفَاءِequals أَمْرٌa matter يَصْعُبُis difficult
وَمَوَدَّةُ الأَكْفَاءِ أَمْرٌ يَصْعُبُ
No companionship endures amid rivalry,
And affection between equals is a difficult thing.
وَالِماَءand water إِنْif أَلِفَgrows accustomed to الثَّوَاءَstaying still تَغَيَّرتْchange
وَالِماَء إِنْ أَلِفَ الثَّوَاءَ تَغَيَّرتْ
أَوْصَافُهُits qualities وَعَلاَand rises عَلَيْهِupon it الطُّحْلُبُalgae
أَوْصَافُهُ وَعَلاَ عَلَيْهِ الطُّحْلُبُ
And water, if it grows accustomed to standing still, changes
In its qualities, and algae spread over it.
إِنَّindeed الصَّدَاقَةَfriendship لَفظَةٌa word مَدْلُولُهَاits meaning
إِنَّ الصَّدَاقَةَ لَفظَةٌ مَدْلُولُهَا
فِيin الدَّهْرِthe world كَالْعَنْقَاءِlike the phoenix بَلْrather هُوَit أَغْرَبُstranger still
فِي الدَّهْرِ كَالْعَنْقَاءِ بَلْ هُوَ أَغْرَبُ
Friendship is a word whose meaning
In this world is like the phoenix—nay, stranger still.
كَمْhow much فِضَّةٍsilver فُضَّتْwas scattered وَكَمْand how many مِنْof ضَيْعَةٍan estate
كَمْ فِضَّةٍ فُضَّتْ وَكَمْ مِنْ ضَيْعَةٍ
ضَاعَتْwere lost وَكَمْand how much ذَهَبٍgold رَأَيْنَاwe have seen يَذْهَبُgo away
ضَاعَتْ وَكَمْ ذَهَبٍ رَأَيْنَا يَذْهَبُ
How much silver has been scattered, how many estates
Have been lost, and how much gold have we seen go!
إلاَّexcept الصَّدَافَةَfriendship (apparently intended) فَهْيَfor it is ذُخْرٌa treasure خَالِدٌeverlasting
إلاَّ الصَّدَافَةَ فَهْيَ ذُخْرٌ خَالِدٌ
أسْمَىloftiest وَأَسْنَىand most radiant مَاwhat اكْتَسَبْتَyou have acquired وَتكْسِبُand will acquire
أسْمَى وَأَسْنَى مَا اكْتَسَبْتَ وَتكْسِبُ
Friendship alone is an everlasting treasure,
The loftiest, most radiant thing you have gained and will gain.
وَإِذَاand if رَضِيتَyou are pleased وَقَدْand indeed رَضِيتَyou are pleased فَلَيْسَthen there is not لِيfor me
وَإِذَا رَضِيتَ وَقَدْ رَضِيتَ فَلَيْسَ لِي
عِلْمٌknowledge بِمَنْof whoever يَرْضَىis pleased وَلاَnor مَنْwhoever يَغْضَبُis angry
عِلْمٌ بِمَنْ يَرْضَى وَلاَ مَنْ يَغْضَبُ
And if you are pleased—and you are pleased—I have no
Concern for who is pleased or who is angry.
وَإِذَاand if بَقيِتَyou remain فَلَسْتُthen I do not أَبْكِيmourn مَنْwhoever مَضىhas departed
وَإِذَا بَقيِتَ فَلَسْتُ أَبْكِي مَنْ مَضى
لِمwhy لاَnot وأَنْتَand you are الأَهْلُfamily عِنْدِيto me وَالأَبُand father
لِم لاَ وأَنْتَ الأَهْلُ عِنْدِي وَالأَبُ
And if you remain, I do not mourn those who have gone.
Why not? To me, you are family and father.
أَمَحلَّO place of وَالِدِيَmy father الَّذِيwho لِجَنَابِهِto his side
أَمَحلَّ وَالِدِيَ الَّذِي لِجَنَابِهِ
آويI take refuge وَفِيand in مَرْضَاتِهِhis good pleasure أَتقَلَّبُI move about
آوي وَفِي مَرْضَاتِهِ أَتقَلَّبُ
O you in my father's place, at whose side
I take refuge, and within whose good pleasure I move.
خَيَّرْتَنِيyou gave me the choice بَيْنَbetween الْمُقَامِstaying أَوor السُّرَىnight travel
خَيَّرْتَنِي بَيْنَ الْمُقَامِ أَو السُّرَى
وَالأَمْرُand the matter يُفْصِحُspeaks plainly بِالْمَسِيرfor departure وَيُعْرِبُand declares clearly
وَالأَمْرُ يُفْصِحُ بِالْمَسِير وَيُعْرِبُ
You gave me the choice between staying and journeying by night,
And the matter speaks plainly for departure and declares it.
فَتَرَجَحَso prevailed العزمُresolve الصريحُunequivocal وساقِطٌand void is
فَتَرَجَحَ العزمُ الصريحُ وساقِطٌ
حُكْمُthe ruling of الإِباحَةِpermissibility مَاonce اسْتَبَانbecame clear الأوْجَبُthe greater obligation
حُكْمُ الإِباحَةِ مَا اسْتَبَان الأوْجَبُ
So unequivocal resolve has prevailed, and void is
The rule of permissibility once the greater duty is plain.
وَوَعَدْتَand you promised بِالْعُذْرِwith indulgence الْجَمِيلِgracious وَإِنَّنِيand I indeed
وَوَعَدْتَ بِالْعُذْرِ الْجَمِيلِ وَإِنَّنِي
لأَخَافُI surely fear مَنْwhoever يَبْغِيacts unjustly وَلاَand not مَنْwhoever يُعْتِبُmakes amends
لأَخَافُ مَنْ يَبْغِي وَلاَ مَنْ يُعْتِبُ
And you promised gracious indulgence; indeed, I
Surely fear the wrongdoer, not one who makes amends.
نُبَّهْتُI was awakened لَمَّاwhen نِمْتُI slept عَنْكَheedless of you مُؤَمِّلاًhoping
نُبَّهْتُ لَمَّا نِمْتُ عَنْكَ مُؤَمِّلاً
يُرْدِيlays low الأَعَادِيthe enemies مِنْكَfrom you مَاضٍkeen مِقْضَبُa cutting sword
يُرْدِي الأَعَادِي مِنْكَ مَاضٍ مِقْضَبُ
I was awakened when I slumbered heedless of you, hoping
A keen, cutting sword of yours would lay the enemies low.
فَامْدُدْso stretch out لَهَاto her كَفّاًa hand بُنَيَّةَa little daughter of سَاعَةٍan hour
فَامْدُدْ لَهَا كَفّاً بُنَيَّةَ سَاعَةٍ
لكِنْbut أَبُوهَاher father دُونَwithout فَخْرboasting مُنْجِبُbegets noble offspring
لكِنْ أَبُوهَا دُونَ فَخْر مُنْجِبُ
So extend a hand to her, a little daughter of an hour;
Yet her father, without boasting, begets worthy offspring.
وَإِذَاand when أَتَتْكَshe comes to you عَشِيَّةًat evening فانْشُدْthen recite لَهَاto her
وَإِذَا أَتَتْكَ عَشِيَّةً فانْشُدْ لَهَا
عَارَضْنَنَاthey crossed our path أَصُلاًat eventide فَقُلناso we said الَّربْرَبُthe herd of gazelles
عَارَضْنَنَا أَصُلاً فَقُلنا الَّربْرَبُ
And when she comes to you at evening, recite for her:
They crossed our path at eventide, and we said, 'The gazelle herd!'
Partial English translation: 46 of 110 Arabic lines translated.