أَنْورُكِis that your light أَمْor أَوْقَدْتِhave you kindled بالليلِby night نارَكِyour fire
أَنْورُكِ أَمْ أَوْقَدْتِ بالليلِ نارَكِ
لباغٍfor one seeking قِراكِyour hospitality أَوْor لباغٍfor one seeking جوارَكِyour protection
لباغٍ قِراكِ أَوْ لباغٍ جوارَكِ
Is that your light, or have you kindled your fire by night
for one seeking your hospitality, or one seeking your protection?
وَرَيَّاكِand your fragrance أَمْor عَرْفُthe scent of المجامرthe braziers أَشْعَلَتْhave kindled
وَرَيَّاكِ أَمْ عَرْفُ المجامر أَشْعَلَتْ
بعودwith wood of الكِباءِincense والأَلُوَّةِand aloeswood نارَكِyour fire
بعود الكِباءِ والأَلُوَّةِ نارَكِ
And is that your fragrance, or the scent of braziers that kindled
your fire with incense wood and aloeswood?
وَمَبسِمُكِand your smile الوضَّاحُradiant أمor ضوءُthe light of بارِقٍa lightning flash
وَمَبسِمُكِ الوضَّاحُ أم ضوءُ بارِقٍ
حَداهُurged it on دُعائيmy prayer أنto يجودَrain generously upon ديارَكِyour dwellings
حَداهُ دُعائي أن يجودَ ديارَكِ
And is that your radiant smile, or a flash of lightning
urged by my prayer to rain generously upon your dwellings?
وخَلْخالَكِand your anklet اسْتَنضَيْتِdid you slip off أَمor قَمَرٌa moon بداappeared
وخَلْخالَكِ اسْتَنضَيْتِ أَم قَمَرٌ بدا
وشمْسٌand a sun تبدَّتْrevealed itself أَمْor أَلَحْتِdid you display سِوَارَكِyour bracelet
وشمْسٌ تبدَّتْ أَمْ أَلَحْتِ سِوَارَكِ
Have you slipped off your anklet, or has a moon appeared?
And has a sun revealed itself, or have you displayed your bracelet?
وَطُرُّةُand a fringe of صُبحٍdawn أَمor جبينُكِyour brow سافِراًunveiled
وَطُرُّةُ صُبحٍ أَم جبينُكِ سافِراً
أَعَرْتِdid you lend الصَّباحَmorning نورَهُits light أَمْor أَعارَكِdid it lend you
أَعَرْتِ الصَّباحَ نورَهُ أَمْ أَعارَكِ
And is that a fringe of dawn, or your unveiled brow?
Did you lend morning its light, or did it lend light to you?
وَأَنتِand you أَجَرْتِsheltered الليلَthe night إِذْwhen هزَمَrouted الضُّحىforenoon
وَأَنتِ أَجَرْتِ الليلَ إِذْ هزَمَ الضُّحى
كتائِبُهُits battalions والصُّبحَand the dawn لَمَّاwhen استجارَكِsought your refuge
كتائِبُهُ والصُّبحَ لَمَّا استجارَكِ
And you sheltered the night when forenoon routed
its battalions, and the dawn when it sought your refuge.
فلِلصُّبحso dawn has فيماin what lies بَيْنَbetween قرْطَيكِyour two earrings مطلعٌa rising-place
فلِلصُّبح فيما بَيْنَ قرْطَيكِ مطلعٌ
وَقَدْand indeed سَكَنَhas inhabited الليلُthe night البهيمُpitch-black خِمارَكِyour veil
وَقَدْ سَكَنَ الليلُ البهيمُ خِمارَكِ
For dawn has a rising-place between your earrings,
while pitch-black night has settled in your veil.
فياso, oh لِنهارٍwhat a day لاnot يغيضُebbs ظلامُهُits darkness
فيا لِنهارٍ لا يغيضُ ظلامُهُ
وياand oh لِظلامٍwhat a darkness لاnot يُغيضُdiminishes نهارَكِyour daylight
ويا لِظلامٍ لا يُغيضُ نهارَكِ
Oh, what a day whose darkness never ebbs!
And what a darkness that never diminishes your daylight!
وَنَجمُand the star-cluster of الثُّرَيَّاthe Pleiades أمor لآلٍpearls تقسَّمتْspread themselves over
وَنَجمُ الثُّرَيَّا أم لآلٍ تقسَّمتْ
يمينَكِyour right hand إِذwhen ضَمَّخْتِهاyou perfumed it أمor يَسارَكِyour left hand
يمينَكِ إِذ ضَمَّخْتِها أم يَسارَكِ
And is that the Pleiades, or pearls spread across
your right hand when you perfumed it—or your left?
لِسُلطانِwhat a sovereignty of حسنٍbeauty فِيamid بديعwondrous محاسِنٍcharms
لِسُلطانِ حسنٍ فِي بديع محاسِنٍ
يصيدُhunts القلوبَthe hearts النَّافِرَاتِfleeing نفارَكِyour aloofness
يصيدُ القلوبَ النَّافِرَاتِ نفارَكِ
What sovereignty beauty holds amid wondrous charms:
your aloofness captures the fleeing hearts!
وَجُندِand an army of غرامٍpassion فِيin دروعarmor of صبابةٍardent longing
وَجُندِ غرامٍ فِي دروع صبابةٍ
تقلَّدْنَthey girded themselves with أَقْدَارَthe decrees of الهوىlove واقتدارَكِand your power
تقلَّدْنَ أَقْدَارَ الهوى واقتدارَكِ
And what an army of passion in armor of longing,
girded with love's decrees and your power!
هوit is المُلكُsovereignty لاnot بلقيسُBilqis أَدْرَكَreached شَأْوُهاher utmost reach
هو المُلكُ لا بلقيسُ أَدْرَكَ شَأْوُها
مَداكِyour range ولاnor الزَّبَّاءُal-Zabba شقَّتْcleaved غُبارَكِyour dust
مَداكِ ولا الزَّبَّاءُ شقَّتْ غُبارَكِ
This is sovereignty: Bilqis's utmost reach never attained
your range, nor did al-Zabba cleave your dust.
وقَادِمَةُand the leading star of الجوزاءِOrion راعَيْتُI watched مَوْهِناًlate at night
وقَادِمَةُ الجوزاءِ راعَيْتُ مَوْهِناً
بحَرِّwith the burning of هواكِlove for you أَمor تَرَسَّمْتُI traced دَارَكِyour dwelling
بحَرِّ هواكِ أَم تَرَسَّمْتُ دَارَكِ
And was it Orion's leading star I watched late at night,
burning with love for you, or was I tracing your dwelling?
وَطيفُكِand your phantom أَسْرىtraveled by night فاستثارَand so roused تَشوُّقيmy yearning
وَطيفُكِ أَسْرى فاستثارَ تَشوُّقي
إِلَىfor العهدِthe old pledge أَمor شوقيmy longing إليكِfor you استَثَارَكِroused you
إِلَى العهدِ أَم شوقي إليكِ استَثَارَكِ
Did your phantom travel by night and rouse my yearning
for our old pledge, or did my longing for you rouse you?
ومُرْتَدُّand the return of أَنْفاسيmy breaths إِليكِtoward you استطارَنيcarried me away
ومُرْتَدُّ أَنْفاسي إِليكِ استطارَني
أَمِor الرُّوحُthe soul لماwhen رُدَّwas restored فيَّwithin me استطارَكِcarried you away
أَمِ الرُّوحُ لما رُدَّ فيَّ استطارَكِ
And did the return of my breaths toward you carry me away,
or did the soul, restored within me, carry you away?
فكمْso how many جُزْتِyou crossed منof بحرٍa sea إِليَّto me وَمَهْمَهٍand a trackless waste
فكمْ جُزْتِ من بحرٍ إِليَّ وَمَهْمَهٍ
يكادُalmost يُنَسِّيmakes forget المستهامَthe love-distraught one ادِّكارَكِremembrance of you
يكادُ يُنَسِّي المستهامَ ادِّكارَكِ
How many seas and trackless wastes you crossed to reach me,
that almost make the love-distraught forget remembrance of you!
أَذُوwas it the possessor of الحَظِّa share منof علمknowledge of الكتابthe Book حدَاكguided you ليto me
أَذُو الحَظِّ من علم الكتاب حدَاك لي
أَمor الفلكُthe firmament الدَّوارrevolving نحويtoward me أَدارَكِturned you
أَم الفلكُ الدَّوار نحوي أَدارَكِ
Did one with a share of knowledge of the Book guide you to me,
or did the revolving firmament turn you toward me?
وكَيفand how كَتمتِdid you conceal from اللَّيلthe night وَجْهَكِyour face مظلماًdarkened
وكَيف كَتمتِ اللَّيل وَجْهَكِ مظلماً
أَشْعَرَكِwas it your hair أَغشيْتِyou covered السَّناthe radiance أَمor شِعَارَكِyour inner garment
أَشْعَرَكِ أَغشيْتِ السَّنا أَم شِعَارَكِ
And how did you hide your face from the darkened night?
Was it your hair you laid over the radiance, or your inner garment?
وكيفَand how اعتَسَفتdid you traverse البيدَthe deserts لاnot فِيin ظعائنٍcamel-litters
وكيفَ اعتَسَفت البيدَ لا فِي ظعائنٍ
ولاnor شَجرُa thicket of الخَطِّيِّKhatti lances حفَّsurrounded شِجارَكِyour litter
ولا شَجرُ الخَطِّيِّ حفَّ شِجارَكِ
And how did you cross the deserts, not in camel-litters,
nor with a thicket of Khatti lances surrounding your litter?
ولاnor أذَّنَannounced الحَيُّthe tribe الجميعُentire برحلةa departure
ولا أذَّنَ الحَيُّ الجميعُ برحلة
أَراحَbrought in at evening لَهَاfor it رَاعيthe herder of المخاضِpregnant she-camels عِشارَكِyour near-term she-camels
أَراحَ لَهَا رَاعي المخاضِ عِشارَكِ
Nor did the whole tribe announce a departure
for which the pregnant-camel herder brought in your near-term camels;
وَلاnor أَرْزَمَتْrumbled خوصُthe sunken-eyed المهاريMahri camels مُجيبةًanswering
وَلا أَرْزَمَتْ خوصُ المهاري مُجيبةً
صهيلَthe neighing of جيادٍsteeds يكتَنِفْنَflanking قِطارَكِyour camel-train
صهيلَ جيادٍ يكتَنِفْنَ قِطارَكِ
nor did the sunken-eyed Mahri camels rumble in answer
to the neighing of steeds flanking your camel-train;
ولاnor أَذْكَتِsharpened الرُّكْبانُthe riders عنكِon your behalf عيونهاtheir eyes
ولا أَذْكَتِ الرُّكْبانُ عنكِ عيونها
حِذارَfor fear of عيونٍeyes لاnot يَنَمْنَsleep حِذارَكِfor fear of you
حِذارَ عيونٍ لا يَنَمْنَ حِذارَكِ
nor did riders sharpen their watch on your behalf,
for fear of eyes that never sleep for fear of you.
وكَيفand how رضيتِdid you accept الليلَthe night مَلبَسَas the garb of طارِقٍa night-visitor
وكَيف رضيتِ الليلَ مَلبَسَ طارِقٍ
وَمَاand never ذَرَّrose قَرْنُthe first rim of الشمسthe sun إِلّاwithout استنارَكِseeking your light
وَمَا ذَرَّ قَرْنُ الشمس إِلّا استنارَكِ
And how did you accept the night as a night-visitor's garment,
when the sun's first rim never rose without seeking your light?
وكمand how many دُونَbefore رحليmy camp منof قصورٍpalaces مشيدَةٍlofty
وكم دُونَ رحلي من قصورٍ مشيدَةٍ
تُحَرِّمُforbid منthrough قربthe nearness of المزارthe visiting-place مَزَارَكِyour visit
تُحَرِّمُ من قرب المزار مَزَارَكِ
And how many lofty palaces stand before my camp,
their proximity forbidding your visit.
وَقَدْand indeed زَأَرَتْroared حوْليaround me أُسودٌlions تَهامَستْwhispered to one another
وَقَدْ زَأَرَتْ حوْلي أُسودٌ تَهامَستْ
لَهَاto them الأُسدُthe lions أَنْthat كُفِّيrestrain عنfrom السمعhearing زَارَكِyour roaring
لَهَا الأُسدُ أَنْ كُفِّي عن السمع زَارَكِ
And lions have roared around me; other lions whispered
to them: 'Keep your roaring out of earshot!'
وأَرْضيand my ground سُيولٌtorrents منof خُيولِthe horses of مُظَفَّرٍMuzaffar
وأَرْضي سُيولٌ من خُيولِ مُظَفَّرٍ
وَلَيليand my night نجومٌstars منfrom سَماءِthe sky of مُبارَكِMubarak
وَلَيلي نجومٌ من سَماءِ مُبارَكِ
And my ground is torrents of Muzaffar's horses,
and my night, stars from Mubarak's sky,
بحَيثُwhere وَجدتُI found الأمنَsafety يَهتِفُcalling بالمُنىto hopes
بحَيثُ وَجدتُ الأمنَ يَهتِفُ بالمُنى
هَلُمِّيcome إِلَىto عينَيْنtwo springs جاداthat have watered سَرَارَكِyour inmost ground
هَلُمِّي إِلَى عينَيْن جادا سَرَارَكِ
where I found safety calling to hopes:
Come to two springs that have watered your inmost ground.
هَلُمِّيcome إِلَىto بَحرَيْنِtwo seas قَدْindeed مَرَجَmingled النَّدىgenerosity
هَلُمِّي إِلَى بَحرَيْنِ قَدْ مَرَجَ النَّدى
عبابَيْهِماtheir two surging floods لاnot يَسأمانِthey tire of انتظارَكِawaiting you
عبابَيْهِما لا يَسأمانِ انتظارَكِ
Come to two seas: generosity has mingled
their surging floods; they never tire of awaiting you.
هَلُمِّيcome إِلَىto سيفينِtwo swords والحدُّand the edge واحدٌone
هَلُمِّي إِلَى سيفينِ والحدُّ واحدٌ
يجيرانthey protect منfrom صرفthe vicissitudes of الحوادثevents جارَكِyour neighbor
يجيران من صرف الحوادث جارَكِ
Come to two swords whose edge is one,
protecting your neighbor from fortune's changing blows.
هَلُمِّيcome إِلَىto طِرْفَيْtwo noble steeds of رِهانٍa race تقدَّماthat have advanced
هَلُمِّي إِلَى طِرْفَيْ رِهانٍ تقدَّما
إِلَىtoward الأَمَدِthe finish الجاليrevealing عَلَيْكَto you اختيارَكِyour choice
إِلَى الأَمَدِ الجالي عَلَيْكَ اختيارَكِ
Come to two race-steeds that have surged ahead
toward the finish that makes your choice plain to you.
وَحَيِّيand hasten عَلَىto دَوْحَيْنِtwo spreading trees جادَenriched نداهُماtheir dew
وَحَيِّي عَلَى دَوْحَيْنِ جادَ نداهُما
ظِلالَكِyour shade واستدْنىand brought close إِليَّto me ثمارَكِyour fruits
ظِلالَكِ واستدْنى إِليَّ ثمارَكِ
And hasten to two spreading trees whose dew has enriched
your shade and brought your fruits within my reach.
وَبُشرَاكِand glad tidings to you قَدْindeed فازَتْhave won قِداحُكَyour lots بالمُنىwishes
وَبُشرَاكِ قَدْ فازَتْ قِداحُكَ بالمُنى
وأُعطِيتand you were given منfrom هَذَاthis الأَنامِmankind خِيارَكِyour choice
وأُعطِيت من هَذَا الأَنامِ خِيارَكِ
And glad tidings to you: your lots have won your wishes,
and you have been granted your choice of all mankind.
شريكانtwo partners فِيin صِدْقِthe fulfillment of المُنىhopes وَكِلاهُماand each of them
شريكان فِي صِدْقِ المُنى وَكِلاهُما
إِذَاwhen بارَزَhe challenges الأَقْرانَhis peers غيرُwithout مُشارِكِa partner
إِذَا بارَزَ الأَقْرانَ غيرُ مُشارِكِ
Partners in fulfilling hopes, yet each of them,
when he challenges his peers, stands without a partner.
هُماthey both سَمِعاheard دَعواكِyour appeal يَاO دعوَةsummons of الهدىright guidance
هُما سَمِعا دَعواكِ يَا دعوَة الهدى
وَقَدْand indeed أَوْثقَtightened الدهرُTime الخؤونُtreacherous إِسارَكِyour bonds
وَقَدْ أَوْثقَ الدهرُ الخؤونُ إِسارَكِ
They heard your appeal, O summons of right guidance,
when treacherous Time had tightened your bonds.
وَسَلّاand they drew سيوفاًswords لَمْnot تَزَلْceased تلتَظيblazing أَسىًwith grief
وَسَلّا سيوفاً لَمْ تَزَلْ تلتَظي أَسىً
بثأْرِكِfor your vengeance حَتَّىuntil أَدْركاthey secured لكِfor you ثارَكِyour revenge
بثأْرِكِ حَتَّى أَدْركا لكِ ثارَكِ
And they drew swords that never ceased blazing with grief
for your vengeance, until they won you your revenge.
وَيهنيكِand may you rejoice يَاO دَارَabode of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate منهُماin the two of them
وَيهنيكِ يَا دَارَ الخِلافَةِ منهُما
هِلالانِtwo crescents لاحاappeared يَرْفَعَانِraising منارَكِyour beacon
هِلالانِ لاحا يَرْفَعَانِ منارَكِ
And may you rejoice, O abode of the caliphate, in them:
two crescents appeared, raising your beacon.
كِلاeach of القَمَرَيْنِthe two moons بَيْنَbetween عينيهِhis eyes غُرَّةٌa radiant blaze
كِلا القَمَرَيْنِ بَيْنَ عينيهِ غُرَّةٌ
أَنارَتْlit up كُسُوفَيكِyour two eclipses وَجَلَّتْand dispelled سِرَارَكِyour moonless darkness
أَنارَتْ كُسُوفَيكِ وَجَلَّتْ سِرَارَكِ
Each of the two moons bears a blaze between his eyes,
lighting your two eclipses and dispelling your moonless darkness.
فقادَso he led إِليكِto you الخيلَthe horses شُعْثاًdisheveled شَوازباًlean
فقادَ إِليكِ الخيلَ شُعْثاً شَوازباً
يُلَبِّينَanswering بالنَّصرِwith victory العزيزmighty انتصارَكِyour plea for victory
يُلَبِّينَ بالنَّصرِ العزيز انتصارَكِ
So he led toward you horses, disheveled and lean,
answering your plea for victory with mighty triumph:
سوابقforemost racers of هيجاءٍbattle كَأَنَّas though صهيلهاtheir neighing
سوابق هيجاءٍ كَأَنَّ صهيلها
يُجاوبُanswers تَحْتَbeneath الخافِقَاتِthe fluttering banners شِعارَكِyour battle cry
يُجاوبُ تَحْتَ الخافِقَاتِ شِعارَكِ
foremost racers of battle, whose neighing seemed
to answer your battle cry beneath the fluttering banners,
بكلِّwith every سَرِيّnoble one العِتقof pure lineage سَرَّىwho dispelled sorrow عنfrom الهدىright guidance
بكلِّ سَرِيّ العِتق سَرَّى عن الهدى
وكلand every حَمِيِّfiercely protective of الأَنفِhis pride أَحْمىwho protected ذِمارَكِyour honor
وكل حَمِيِّ الأَنفِ أَحْمى ذِمارَكِ
bearing every highborn noble who lifted grief from right guidance,
and every proud defender who guarded your honor.
تحلَّوْاthey adorned themselves مِنَfrom المَنصورal-Mansur نصراًwith victory وعزّةًand might
تحلَّوْا مِنَ المَنصور نصراً وعزّةً
فأَبلوْكِso they proved to you فِيon يومthe day of البَلاءِtrial اختِيارَكِyour choice
فأَبلوْكِ فِي يوم البَلاءِ اختِيارَكِ
They adorned themselves with victory and might from al-Mansur,
so on the day of trial they vindicated your choice.
إِذاwhen انتَسبواthey claim descent يومَon the day of الطِّعانِspear-thrusts لِعامِرٍfrom Amir
إِذا انتَسبوا يومَ الطِّعانِ لِعامِرٍ
فَعُمرَكِthen, by your life يَاO هامَheads of العِدىthe foes لاnot عَمارَكِyour long survival
فَعُمرَكِ يَا هامَ العِدى لا عَمارَكِ
When, on the day of spear-thrusts, they claim descent from Amir,
then, by your life, O enemy heads, no long life awaits you!
يَقُودُهُمlead them منهمfrom among them سِراجاtwo lamps of كتائِبٍbattalions
يَقُودُهُم منهم سِراجا كتائِبٍ
يقولانِthey both say للدنياto the world أجدِّيrenew افتِخارَكِyour boasting
يقولانِ للدنيا أجدِّي افتِخارَكِ
Two lamps of battalions from among them lead them,
saying to the world: 'Renew your boasting!'
إِذاwhen افترَّتِparted الرَّاياتُthe banners عنto reveal غُرَّتَيهِمَاtheir two radiant brows
إِذا افترَّتِ الرَّاياتُ عن غُرَّتَيهِمَا
فياso, oh لِلعِدَىwoe to the foes أَضلَلتِyou lost منهُمfrom them فِرَارَكِyour escape
فيا لِلعِدَى أَضلَلتِ منهُم فِرَارَكِ
When the banners part to show their radiant brows,
woe to the foe—you have lost your escape from them!
وإِنْand if أَشْرَقَshone النَّادِيthe assembly بنورwith the light of سَناهُماtheir radiance
وإِنْ أَشْرَقَ النَّادِي بنور سَناهُما
فَبُشرىthen glad tidings الأَمانيO hopes عَيْنَكyour ready wealth لاnot ضِمَارَكِyour inaccessible wealth
فَبُشرى الأَماني عَيْنَك لا ضِمَارَكِ
And when the assembly shines with their radiance,
then rejoice, O hopes: your riches are at hand, not out of reach.
وكمand how many كَشفاthey dispelled منof كُرْبَةٍa distress بعدَafter كُرْبَةٍa distress
وكم كَشفا من كُرْبَةٍ بعدَ كُرْبَةٍ
تقولُsays لَهَاto it النِّيرانُthe fires كُفِّيrestrain أُوَارَكِyour blazing heat
تقولُ لَهَا النِّيرانُ كُفِّي أُوَارَكِ
And how many a distress after distress they have dispelled,
to which the very fires would say: 'Restrain your heat!'
وكمand how many لَبَّياthey answered منof دعوةٍa call وتَدارَكاand rescued
وكم لَبَّيا من دعوةٍ وتَدارَكا
شَفىthe last remnant of رَمقٍa breath of life مَاnot كَانَwas بالمُتَدَاركِrescuable
شَفى رَمقٍ مَا كَانَ بالمُتَدَاركِ
And how many a call they have answered, rescuing
a last breath otherwise beyond rescue!
وياand O نَفسَsoul of غاوٍone astray كمhow often أَقَرَّاthey stilled نفارَكِyour flight
ويا نَفسَ غاوٍ كم أَقَرَّا نفارَكِ
وَياand O رِجْلَfoot of هاوٍone falling كمhow often أَقالاthey remedied عِثارَكِyour stumbling
وَيا رِجْلَ هاوٍ كم أَقالا عِثارَكِ
O erring soul, how often they have calmed your flight!
O foot of one falling, how often they have remedied your stumbling!
وَلستُand I am not ببدْعan innovator حينَwhen قلتُI said لهمَّتيto my resolve
وَلستُ ببدْع حينَ قلتُ لهمَّتي
أَقِلّيreduce لإِعتابِfor amends from الزَّمَانِTime انتظارَكِyour waiting
أَقِلّي لإِعتابِ الزَّمَانِ انتظارَكِ
And I was no innovator when I told my resolve:
Wait less for Time to make amends.
فَللهِso God be praised for صدْقthe sincerity of العَزْمِresolve أَيَّةُwhat غِرَّةٍdelusion
فَللهِ صدْق العَزْمِ أَيَّةُ غِرَّةٍ
إِذَاwhen لَمْnot تطيعيyou heed فِيin لَعَلَّ'perhaps' اغتِرارَكِyour self-deception
إِذَا لَمْ تطيعي فِي لَعَلَّ اغتِرارَكِ
God bless true resolve! What delusion is there
when you do not heed your own beguilement by 'perhaps'?
وإِنْand though غالَتِexhausted البيدُthe deserts اصطبارَكِyour endurance والسُّرىand night-travel
وإِنْ غالَتِ البيدُ اصطبارَكِ والسُّرى
فماyet not غالَexhausted ضيمthe oppression of الكاشِحينَspiteful foes اصطبارَكِyour endurance
فما غالَ ضيم الكاشِحينَ اصطبارَكِ
And though deserts and night-travel have exhausted your endurance,
the oppression of spiteful foes has not exhausted your endurance.
وياand O خُلَّةcompanion of التَّسويفِprocrastination قُوميrise فأغدِقيand let hang low
ويا خُلَّة التَّسويفِ قُومي فأغدِقي
قناعَكِyour veil منin دُونيfront of me وشُدِّيand tighten إِزارَكِyour waist-wrap
قناعَكِ من دُوني وشُدِّي إِزارَكِ
O companion Procrastination, rise and let fall
your veil to shut me out, and bind your waist-wrap tight.
وَحسبكand sufficient for you بيam I يَاO خُلَّةَcompanion of النَّأْيdistance خاطِريwager
وَحسبك بي يَا خُلَّةَ النَّأْي خاطِري
بِنَفسيwith my life إِلَىfor الحَظِّfortune النَّفيسِprecious خِطَارَكِyour stake
بِنَفسي إِلَى الحَظِّ النَّفيسِ خِطَارَكِ
And I suffice you, O companion of distance: wager
my life for precious fortune—make your stake.
فقدfor indeed آنَthe time has come إِعْطاءُto give النَّوىseparation صَفقةَthe handclasp of الهوىlove
فقد آنَ إِعْطاءُ النَّوى صَفقةَ الهوى
وَقَوْلُكِand for you to say للأَيَّامto the days حوريturn back مَحارَكِalong your course
وَقَوْلُكِ للأَيَّام حوري مَحارَكِ
For the time has come to give separation the handclasp of love,
and for you to tell the days: 'Turn back upon your course.'
وياand O سُتُرَveils of البيضِfair women النَّواعِمِdelicate أَعْلِنيreveal
ويا سُتُرَ البيضِ النَّواعِمِ أَعْلِني
إِلَىto اليَعْمُلاتِhard-working she-camels والرِّحالِand saddles سِرَارَكِyour secrets
إِلَى اليَعْمُلاتِ والرِّحالِ سِرَارَكِ
O veils of fair, delicate women, reveal
your secrets to the hard-working she-camels and saddles.
نَواجِيَswift she-camels واسْتَوْدَعْتُهُنَّand I entrusted to them نَواجِياًsecret confidences
نَواجِيَ واسْتَوْدَعْتُهُنَّ نَواجِياً
حِفاظَكِguard carefully يَاO هذيyou here بذيthat one وازدِهارَكِand be vigilant
حِفاظَكِ يَا هذي بذي وازدِهارَكِ
Swift she-camels—to them I entrusted secret confidences:
Guard that one, you here, and keep watch!
ودُونَكِand take أَفلاذَpieces of الفؤادِthe heart فَشَمِّريso gird yourself
ودُونَكِ أَفلاذَ الفؤادِ فَشَمِّري
ودُونَكand take يَاO عينَeye of اللبيبthe discerning one اعتبارَكِyour lesson
ودُونَك يَا عينَ اللبيب اعتبارَكِ
Take these pieces of my heart, and gird yourself!
And take your lesson, O discerning eye!
صَرَفْتُI drove away الكَرىsleep عنهاfrom it بمُغْتَبَقِwith an evening draught of السُّرىnight-travel
صَرَفْتُ الكَرى عنها بمُغْتَبَقِ السُّرى
وَقُلْتُand I said أدِيريpass around والنُّجومَtogether with the stars عُقارَكِyour wine
وَقُلْتُ أدِيري والنُّجومَ عُقارَكِ
I drove sleep from it with an evening draught of night-travel,
and said: 'Pass your wine around, together with the stars.'
فإِنthen if وَجَبتُhave sunk للمَغْرِبَينِtoward the two wests جُنوبُهاtheir flanks
فإِن وَجَبتُ للمَغْرِبَينِ جُنوبُها
فداويthen cure برَقراقِwith the shimmer of السَّرابِthe mirage خُمارَكِyour hangover
فداوي برَقراقِ السَّرابِ خُمارَكِ
Then, if their flanks sink toward the two wests,
cure your hangover with the shimmering mirage.
وَأَوْرِيand kindle fire بزَندَيْwith the two firesticks of سُدْفَةٍdusk وَدُجُنَّةٍand deep darkness
وَأَوْرِي بزَندَيْ سُدْفَةٍ وَدُجُنَّةٍ
إذاwhen كانتاthe two are ليfor me مَرْخَكِyour markh wood وعفارَكِand your afar wood
إذا كانتا لي مَرْخَكِ وعفارَكِ
And kindle fire with the two firesticks of dusk and deep darkness,
when they serve me as your markh and afar.
وإِنْand if خَلَعَcasts off اللَّيلُthe night الأَصائلَthe late afternoons فاخلَعيthen cast off
وإِنْ خَلَعَ اللَّيلُ الأَصائلَ فاخلَعي
إِلَىtoward المَلِكَينِthe two kings الأَكْرَمَينِmost generous عِذَارَكِyour bridle
إِلَى المَلِكَينِ الأَكْرَمَينِ عِذَارَكِ
And if night casts off the late-afternoon hues, cast off
your bridle toward the two most generous kings.
بَلَنْسِيَةًValencia مثوىthe abode of الأَمانِيَّwishes فاطلُبيso seek
بَلَنْسِيَةً مثوى الأَمانِيَّ فاطلُبي
كنوزَكِyour treasures فِيin أَقطارِهاits regions وادِّخَارَكِand your store
كنوزَكِ فِي أَقطارِها وادِّخَارَكِ
Valencia, the abode of wishes—seek
your treasures and your store within its bounds.
سيُنبيكِwill tell you زَجريmy camel-urging عنof بلاءِhardship نَسِيتُهُI have forgotten
سيُنبيكِ زَجري عن بلاءِ نَسِيتُهُ
إِذَاwhen أَصبَحَتْbecome تِلْكَthose القُصورُpalaces قُصارَكِyour utmost goal
إِذَا أَصبَحَتْ تِلْكَ القُصورُ قُصارَكِ
My camel-urging will tell you of hardship I have forgotten,
when those palaces become your utmost goal,
وَأُظفِرَand was granted success سَعيٌan endeavor بالرِّضىwith approval منfrom مُظَفَّرٍMuzaffar
وَأُظفِرَ سَعيٌ بالرِّضى من مُظَفَّرٍ
وبُورِكَand blessings were granted ليto me فِيin حُسنِthe favorable رأْيregard of مُبارَكِMubarak
وبُورِكَ لي فِي حُسنِ رأْي مُبارَكِ
and striving is granted success through Muzaffar's approval,
and I am blessed with Mubarak's favorable regard.
فَظِمْءso the thirst of المُنىhopes قَدْindeed شامَglimpsed بارَقَةَthe lightning of الحَياlife-giving rain
فَظِمْء المُنى قَدْ شامَ بارَقَةَ الحَيا
وأُنشِقْتِand you were made to smell يَاO ظِئرَfoster-mother of الرَّجاءِhope حُوارَكِyour camel-calf
وأُنشِقْتِ يَا ظِئرَ الرَّجاءِ حُوارَكِ
For the thirst of hopes has glimpsed rain's lightning,
and you, O foster-mother of hope, have been made to scent your calf.
وَحَمداًand praise يمينيmy right hand قَدْindeed تَملَّأْتِyou have filled yourself بالمُنىwith wishes
وَحَمداً يميني قَدْ تَملَّأْتِ بالمُنى
وشُكراًand thanks يَساريmy left hand قَدْindeed حَوَيتِyou have gained يسارَكِyour wealth
وشُكراً يَساري قَدْ حَوَيتِ يسارَكِ
Praise, my right hand: you are filled with all you wished;
and thanks, my left: you have gained your wealth.
وقُلْand say لسَماءِto the sky of المُزنrainclouds إِنْif شِئْتِyou wish أَقلِعيcease raining
وقُلْ لسَماءِ المُزن إِنْ شِئْتِ أَقلِعي
وَياand O أَرْضَنَاour earth إِنif شئتyou wish غيضيswallow up بحَارَكِyour seas
وَيا أَرْضَنَا إِن شئت غيضي بحَارَكِ
And tell the raincloud sky: 'Cease raining, if you wish,'
and you, our earth: 'Swallow your seas, if you wish.'
ولاand do not تُوحِشيleave desolate يَاO دَوْلَةَrealm of العزِّmight والندىand generosity
ولا تُوحِشي يَا دَوْلَةَ العزِّ والندى
مساءَكِyour evening منwithout نُورَيهِمَاtheir two lights وابتكارَكِand your early morning
مساءَكِ من نُورَيهِمَا وابتكارَكِ
And, O realm of might and bounty, do not leave desolate
your evening and early morning, bereft of their two lights.