عسىperhaps للصّباfor the east wind عِلْمٌknowledge برَسْمِof the trace المعالمِthe landmarks
عسى للصّبا عِلْمٌ برَسْمِ المعالمِ
فَتُبْرِدَso it may cool حَرّاًheat منfrom صَبَابَةِyearning هائمِa lovesick wanderer
فَتُبْرِدَ حَرّاً من صَبَابَةِ هائمِ
Perhaps breezes, passing over the traces of those landmarks,
Perhaps the east wind knows the traces of the landmarks,
may cool my fever—the fever of a lover distraught.
and may cool the heat of a lovesick wanderer's yearning.
ربوعٌabodes رَبَعْتُI dwelt with اللهوَrevelry والكاسَand the cup والصِّباand youth
ربوعٌ رَبَعْتُ اللهوَ والكاسَ والصِّبا
بهاin them مُكْرَماًhonored بالوصلِwith union عندamong الكرائمِnoble women
بها مُكْرَماً بالوصلِ عند الكرائمِ
Abodes where pleasure, wine, and youth once dwelt,
Abodes where I dwelt with revelry, the cup, and youth,
ennobled by union there among noble women.
honored there with union among noble women.
لياليَnights تعذيبيmy torment منfrom الوجدpassion مقلقيwhat unsettled me
لياليَ تعذيبي من الوجد مقلقي
ورشفيand my sipping اللمىdusky lips منfrom عذبةone sweet in الرِّيقsaliva غارميwhat enthralled me
ورشفي اللمى من عذبة الرِّيق غارمي
Nights when longing and its sorrows tormented me,
Nights when the torment of passion kept me restless,
while I sipped sweetness from mouths of fresh, sweet saliva.
and sipping dusky lips from one sweet of mouth enthralled me.
وقدand indeed كانwas فيin مَحْلِdrought الهوىlove وانتجاعِهِand seeking its pasture
وقد كان في مَحْلِ الهوى وانتجاعِهِ
مُنَدّايَmy dewy refuge فيin وَرْدroses الخدودcheeks النّواعمِtender
مُنَدّايَ في وَرْد الخدود النّواعمِ
Love once held its contests there,
And amid love's drought and the search for its pasture,
summoning me among the roses of tender cheeks.
my dewy refuge was in the roses of tender cheeks.
فياso O ريحُwind إنّindeed الرّوحrelief فيكِin you فعلّليso soothe
فيا ريحُ إنّ الرّوح فيكِ فعلّلي
بهwith it ساهراًa sleepless man وقفاًwholly devoted علىto ذِكْرِremembering نائمِa sleeper
به ساهراً وقفاً على ذِكْرِ نائمِ
O breeze—if solace lies within you, bring solace
O wind, relief is in you; so soothe
to one awake there, standing in remembrance of one asleep.
with it a sleepless man devoted to remembering a sleeper.
تطيّبْتِyou grew fragrant بالأرضِfrom the land التيwhich طابَwas fragrant تُرْبُهَاits soil
تطيّبْتِ بالأرضِ التي طابَ تُرْبُهَا
وَمَجّand exhaled نداهاits dew الندَّperfume فيinto أنفِthe nose of لاثمِone kissing
وَمَجّ نداها الندَّ في أنفِ لاثمِ
You perfumed yourself with earth whose soil was fragrant,
You grew fragrant from the land whose soil was fragrant,
its moist dew mingling upon a kissing nose.
and whose dew breathed perfume into a kisser's nose.
وأذكرْتنيand you reminded me of عَصْرَthe age of الصباyouth فكأنّماso it was as though
وأذكرْتني عَصْرَ الصبا فكأنّما
تَحدّثُtells منهfrom it العينُthe eye عنof طيْفِa vision of حالمِa dreamer
تَحدّثُ منه العينُ عن طيْفِ حالمِ
You recalled to me the age of youth, until it seemed
And you recalled to me the days of youth, as though
my tears streamed for it as a dreamer’s do at a phantom.
the eye were telling of a dreamer's vision from those days.
أعيديrepeat حديثاًa tale عندهin it مَوْردٌa watering place لناfor us
أعيدي حديثاً عنده مَوْردٌ لنا
وُقوعٌalighting عليهupon it بالقلوبwith hearts الحوائمِhovering
وُقوعٌ عليه بالقلوب الحوائمِ
Repeat a tale at whose watering place we once alighted;
Repeat a tale in which we have a watering place,
my circling heart still settles upon it.
where we alight with our hovering hearts.
وهاتيand bring جهامَrainless masses of السُّحْبِclouds أملؤهاI will fill them حَياًrain
وهاتي جهامَ السُّحْبِ أملؤها حَياً
بدمعيwith my tears لسقياto water أربُعيmy dwellings ومعالميand my landmarks
بدمعي لسقيا أربُعي ومعالمي
Bring the barren clouds, that I may fill them with life-giving rain
And bring rainless clouds: I shall fill them with rain,
from my tears, to water my campsites and landmarks.
from my tears, to water my dwellings and landmarks.
سرَتْit traveled by night موهناًlate at night تمشيwalking علىupon الماءِwater بالهوىwith love
سرَتْ موهناً تمشي على الماءِ بالهوى
وبالمسكِand with musk منfrom أنفاسِهاits breaths فيin النّمائمِwhispered tidings
وبالمسكِ من أنفاسِها في النّمائمِ
You journeyed in the depths of night, walking upon water at desire’s bidding,
It traveled late at night, walking upon water with love,
bearing musk from her breath among the breezes.
and bearing musk from its breaths in whispered tidings.
وليسand is not حديثُthe speech of الريحthe wind إلاexcept تبسّماًa smile
وليس حديثُ الريح إلا تبسّماً
يفتّcrumbles حصاةَthe pebble of القلبthe heart بينbetween الحيازمِthe ribs
يفتّ حصاةَ القلب بين الحيازمِ
The spirit’s speech was nothing but smiles
The wind's speech is nothing but a smile
that crushed the stone of the heart between the ribs.
that crumbles the heart's pebble between the ribs.
وكمand how much منof بِلىwearing away صَبْرٍpatience تَهُبّit blows بهwith it أسىsorrow
وكم من بِلى صَبْرٍ تَهُبّ به أسى
وتجديدِand renewal of شوقٍlonging منfrom هوىًlove متقادمِlong past
وتجديدِ شوقٍ من هوىً متقادمِ
How many a pent-up, timeworn grief did sorrow stir anew,
How often it blows with sorrow that wears patience away,
and how much long-standing passion did it renew!
and renews yearning from a love long past,
وأسطارِand lines of حزنgrief يملأfills الخدَّthe cheek خَطُّهاtheir writing
وأسطارِ حزن يملأ الخدَّ خَطُّها
جراحاًwounds بأقلامwith the pens of الدموعtears السواجمِstreaming
جراحاً بأقلام الدموع السواجمِ
And lines of grief whose script filled the cheek
and writes lines of grief whose script fills the cheek
with wounds drawn by the pens of streaming tears.
with wounds, through the pens of streaming tears.
فَمَنْso who لغريبٍfor a stranger مُذْهبٍconsuming شَطْرَhalf of عُمْرِهِhis life
فَمَنْ لغريبٍ مُذْهبٍ شَطْرَ عُمْرِهِ
طِلابُpursuit of المعاليhigh honors وارتكابُand undertaking العزائمِresolute deeds
طِلابُ المعالي وارتكابُ العزائمِ
Who, then, will aid a stranger who has spent half his life
Who, then, will help a stranger, half of whose life has been spent
pursuing lofty aims and undertaking mighty resolves?
in pursuing high honors and undertaking resolute deeds?
ذوىwithered عُودُهُhis stem وانحطّand declined فيin العمرِage إذas رَقىhe rose
ذوى عُودُهُ وانحطّ في العمرِ إذ رَقى
إلىto سِنِّthe age of مَنْone who أفنىwore out ثلاثَthree عمائمِturbans
إلى سِنِّ مَنْ أفنى ثلاثَ عمائمِ
The tender bough of his life withered even as he climbed
His stem has withered; he declined in age even as he rose
to an age of mine that has worn out three turbans.
to the age of one who has worn out three turbans.
لقدindeed صَرَمَتْsevered حبليmy cord ظباءُgazelles الصرائمِthe thickets
لقد صَرَمَتْ حبلي ظباءُ الصرائمِ
وجازَتْand repaid موَدّاتaffections الهوىlove بالسخائمِwith rancor
وجازَتْ موَدّات الهوى بالسخائمِ
The gazelles of the sandy tracts have severed my bond
The gazelles of the thickets have severed my cord,
and requited love’s affection with rancor.
and repaid love's affections with rancor.
وأعرَْضَand turned away عنfrom ذكريmentioning me الحسانُthe beauties وطالماand often
وأعرَْضَ عن ذكري الحسانُ وطالما
نَقَشْنَthey engraved كلاميmy words فيon فُصُوصِgemstones الخواتمِrings
نَقَشْنَ كلامي في فُصُوصِ الخواتمِ
The beauties turned away from remembering me, though often
The beauties turned away from mentioning me, though so often
they had engraved my words upon the bezels of rings.
they engraved my words upon the gemstones of rings.
وكنتُand I used to أُعاديهاpursue them علىupon فَرَسِthe steed of الصباyouth
وكنتُ أُعاديها على فَرَسِ الصبا
مغيراًraiding فتغدوso become غُرّهاtheir fairest منamong غنائميmy spoils
مغيراً فتغدو غُرّها من غنائمي
I used to raid them on youth’s steed,
I used to pursue them on the steed of youth,
returning with other beauties among my spoils.
raiding, till their fairest became part of my spoils.
كأنّيَas though I لمhad not أُشْغَفْbeen enthralled بِزَهْرِby the blossoms of بَرَاقِعٍveils
كأنّيَ لم أُشْغَفْ بِزَهْرِ بَرَاقِعٍ
يقصّرُfalls short عنof ريّاهُits fragrance زَهْرُthe blossoms of الكمائمِcalyxes
يقصّرُ عن ريّاهُ زَهْرُ الكمائمِ
As though I had never been enamored of a radiant blossom
As though I had never been enthralled by flowers beneath veils,
whose fragrance outstrips the flowers within their buds;
whose fragrance the blossoms in their calyxes cannot match.
ترىyou see نرجسَthe narcissus of الأجفانِeyelids منهfrom it كلاثمٍlike one kissing
ترى نرجسَ الأجفانِ منه كلاثمٍ
يشيرpointing إلىto ماwhat فيis in أقاحِthe daisies of المباسمِsmiling mouths
يشير إلى ما في أقاحِ المباسمِ
within it you see the narcissi of eyelids, as though
There you see the narcissus of eyelids like a kisser
they point toward the chamomile-white teeth of smiles.
pointing to what lies in the daisies of smiling mouths.
لياليَnights يشدونيthey sing to me علىover كأسِa cup of قهوةٍwine
لياليَ يشدوني على كأسِ قهوةٍ
قيانُsongstresses العذارىmaidens أوor قيانُsongstresses الحمائمِdoves
قيانُ العذارى أو قيانُ الحمائمِ
Nights when songstresses attended a cup of wine—
Nights when, over a cup of wine, I was serenaded
maidens with downy cheeks, or cooing doves.
by singing maidens or the songstresses of the doves;
وصفراءَand golden wine فيin جسمthe body of الزّجاجglass تَمَيّعَتْmelted
وصفراءَ في جسم الزّجاج تَمَيّعَتْ
تألُّقَthe gleaming of بَرْقٍlightning فيin الغمامclouds لشائمِto a watcher
تألُّقَ بَرْقٍ في الغمام لشائمِ
A golden wine, melting within the glass,
and golden wine melted within the body of glass,
flashed like lightning in cloud to one watching for it.
with lightning's gleam in clouds before a watcher.
ترىyou see الشمسَthe sun منهاfrom it وَسْطَamid هالةِa halo of أنْجُمٍstars
ترى الشمسَ منها وَسْطَ هالةِ أنْجُمٍ
ولاand no فَلَكٌcelestial sphere إلّاexcept بَنَانُthe fingers of المُنادمِthe drinking companion
ولا فَلَكٌ إلّا بَنَانُ المُنادمِ
Within it you see the sun amid a halo of stars,
You see its sun amid a halo of stars,
though its only firmament is the companions’ fingertips.
with no celestial sphere but the drinking companion's fingers.
وكمand how many غادةٍa graceful girl زارَتْvisited علىin خوفِfear of رِقْبَةٍa watcher
وكم غادةٍ زارَتْ على خوفِ رِقْبَةٍ
ولمand did not يَثْنِهاdeter her عنfrom زورتيvisiting me لومُthe blame of لائمِa reprover
ولم يَثْنِها عن زورتي لومُ لائمِ
How many a maiden visited despite fear of the watchers,
How many a graceful girl visited, fearing a watcher,
and no reproacher’s blame turned her from visiting me.
yet no reprover's blame deterred her from visiting me.
فباتَso spent the night يَشُبّkindling النارَfire فيin القلبthe heart حُبُّهاlove for her
فباتَ يَشُبّ النارَ في القلب حُبُّها
علىdespite أنّهاthat she is كالماءlike water فيin فمthe mouth of صائمa fasting man
على أنّها كالماء في فم صائم
She passed the night kindling love’s fire in the heart,
Her love spent the night kindling fire in my heart,
though she was like water in a fasting man’s mouth.
though she was like water in a fasting man's mouth.
وبيدٍand deserts تَرَىyou see ذاتَthose having السنابكhooves فيon السّرَىnight journeys
وبيدٍ تَرَى ذاتَ السنابك في السّرَى
مُسَلِّمَةًyielding فيهاin them لذاتto those having المناسمِpadded feet
مُسَلِّمَةً فيها لذات المناسمِ
Through many a wilderness you see the hoofed steeds journey by night—
And deserts where, on a night journey, you see hoofed mounts
a pitch-dark waste where the soft-padded camels’ feet have sought refuge.
yielding there to those with padded feet.
بهاin them منfrom قبيلِthe kind of الإنسhumans جنّانُdemons مَهْمَهٍa wilderness
بها من قبيلِ الإنس جنّانُ مَهْمَهٍ
صعاليكُpaupers إلاexcept منfor قناlances وصوارمِand cutting swords
صعاليكُ إلا من قنا وصوارمِ
There are men of humankind who seem like jinn,
There, from humankind, are demons of the wilderness,
outlaws possessing nothing but spears and swords.
destitute, save for lances and cutting swords;
وكلِّand every أضاةٍpool لاno مغاصplunging place للهذمٍfor a sharp spearhead
وكلِّ أضاةٍ لا مغاص للهذمٍ
علىupon الذِّمرِthe bold warrior فيهاwithin it يَوْمَon the day of طَعْنِpiercing الحيازمِthe ribs
على الذِّمرِ فيها يَوْمَ طَعْنِ الحيازمِ
And every pool whose depths even stout spears cannot sound,
and every pool of mail no sharp spearhead can penetrate,
amid fierce men whose breast-belts are pierced that day.
upon the champion within it, on the day of piercing ribs;
وكلّand every عُقابٍeagle جانحٍspreading its wings بقوادمٍwith flight feathers
وكلّ عُقابٍ جانحٍ بقوادمٍ
مُعَقٍّbearing بطرفwith a noble steed سابِحٍswimming بقوائِمِon legs
مُعَقٍّ بطرف سابِحٍ بقوائِمِ
And every eagle banking upon its foremost pinions,
and every eagle spreading its foremost feathers,
followed by the glance of a swimmer borne upon legs.
bearing a noble steed that swims upon its legs.
كأنّas though الرياحَthe winds الهوجَraging راضواthey tamed شدادَهاtheir fiercest
كأنّ الرياحَ الهوجَ راضوا شدادَها
أماdid they not ركبوهاride them وهيwhile they were لِينُgentle الشكائمِin the bits
أما ركبوها وهي لِينُ الشكائمِ
It is as though they had broken the raging winds to the rein
As though they had tamed the fiercest of the raging winds—
when they mounted them, though their bits were pliant.
did they not ride them with yielding bits?
إذاwhen ماever انتضَوْاthey unsheathed للحرْبِfor war ماwhat فيin غمودهمْtheir sheaths
إذا ما انتضَوْا للحرْبِ ما في غمودهمْ
رَعَوْاthey grazed on بوجيعwith painful الضربblows ماwhat فيin العَمائمِturbans
رَعَوْا بوجيع الضرب ما في العَمائمِ
When they draw them for war, what lies in their scabbards
When they draw for war what lies within their sheaths,
chastises the rabble with painful blows beneath their turbans.
with painful blows they graze on what lies inside turbans.
وتعجبُand you marvel منهمat them منat فصاحةthe eloquence of ألْسُنٍtongues
وتعجبُ منهم من فصاحة ألْسُنٍ
وماand not صَحِبواthey accompanied فيin القفرِthe wilderness غيرَany but البهائمِbeasts
وما صَحِبوا في القفرِ غيرَ البهائمِ
You marvel at the eloquence of their tongues,
You marvel at their eloquent tongues,
though in the wasteland they have kept company only with beasts.
though in the wilderness they have kept company only with beasts.
وخضرٍand green seas خلاياهُنّtheir ships تجريrun كماas ارتَمَتْdarted
وخضرٍ خلاياهُنّ تجري كما ارتَمَتْ
بقاعِacross a plain of سرابٍmirage مُجْفَلاتُstartled النّعائمِostriches
بقاعِ سرابٍ مُجْفَلاتُ النّعائمِ
Green, hollow-bellied vessels run as though they were
And green seas, whose ships run as startled ostriches
a plain of mirage from which ostriches flee.
dart across a plain of mirage;
كأنّas though جبالاًmountains بالعواصفby tempests فوقهاabove them
كأنّ جبالاً بالعواصف فوقها
مُسَيَّرَةٌdriven along منfrom موجهاtheir waves المتلاطمِclashing
مُسَيَّرَةٌ من موجها المتلاطمِ
As though mountains, with storms above them,
as though mountains, driven by tempests above them,
were driven onward by their colliding waves.
were borne along from their clashing waves.
كأنّas though مغاصَthe diving-ground of الدّرّpearls فيin قعرهاtheir depths بَدَتْappeared
كأنّ مغاصَ الدّرّ في قعرها بَدَتْ
فرائِدُهُits unique pearls أوor مَنْثَراًa scattering-place للدراهمِfor dirhams
فرائِدُهُ أو مَنْثَراً للدراهمِ
As though the pearl beds in their depths displayed
As though the pearl-bed in their depths had displayed
their single gems, or scattered silver coins.
its rarest gems, or were a place strewn with dirhams.
كأنّas though علىupon الأفلاكِthe celestial spheres مَسْبَحَthe swimming-course of فلكهاtheir vessels
كأنّ على الأفلاكِ مَسْبَحَ فلكها
إذاwhen طَلَعَتْrose زُهْرُbright النجومstars العوائمِfloating
إذا طَلَعَتْ زُهْرُ النجوم العوائمِ
As though their vessel swam among the celestial spheres
As though the swimming course of their vessels lay upon celestial spheres
when the floating flowers of the stars appeared.
when the bright, floating stars arose.
إلىtoward ابنِson of تميمTamim أسْنَدَتْthey raised كلّevery مَنْكِبٍshoulder
إلى ابنِ تميم أسْنَدَتْ كلّ مَنْكِبٍ
إلىto منكبِthe shoulder of الجوزاءِOrion غيرَwithout مزاحمِjostling
إلى منكبِ الجوزاءِ غيرَ مزاحمِ
Upon Ibn Tamim I rested both my shoulders,
Bound for Ibn Tamim, they raised every shoulder
at Orion’s shoulder, with no one to jostle me.
to Orion's shoulder, without jostling it.
وجدناwe found جميعَall of الأرْضthe earth فيin أرضِthe land of حَمّةٍHamma
وجدنا جميعَ الأرْض في أرضِ حَمّةٍ
وفيand in قَصْدِناour seeking يحيىYahya جميعَall of المكارمِnoble virtues
وفي قَصْدِنا يحيى جميعَ المكارمِ
We found the whole earth within the realm of high aspiration,
We found all the earth in the land of Hamma,
and, in seeking Yahya, every noble quality.
and, in seeking Yahya, every noble virtue.
همامٌa bold lord صريحُunalloyed in العزمresolve سلّunsheathed سيوفَهُhis swords
همامٌ صريحُ العزم سلّ سيوفَهُ
فَذَبّتْso they defended ضراباًwith blows عنon behalf of خدورthe secluded chambers of المحارمِprotected women
فَذَبّتْ ضراباً عن خدور المحارمِ
A high-hearted man of unalloyed resolve, whose swords are drawn,
A bold lord of unalloyed resolve, he unsheathed his swords,
making his blows a defense around inviolable curtains.
and with blows they defended the chambers of protected women.
تلوذُseek refuge المناياdeaths منهfrom him والدهرand Time عابسٌscowling
تلوذُ المنايا منه والدهر عابسٌ
بأرْوَعَin a majestic lord عنfrom ثغْرِthe mouth of الرئاسةِsovereignty باسمِsmiling
بأرْوَعَ عن ثغْرِ الرئاسةِ باسمِ
Death itself seeks refuge from him while Time scowls,
Death seeks shelter with him while Time is grim,
yet the splendid man smiles from the mouth of command.
in a majestic lord smiling with sovereignty's mouth.
تحلّalight بنوthe sons of الآمالِhopes منهhis بساحةٍin a courtyard
تحلّ بنو الآمالِ منه بساحةٍ
بهاin it يَقِفُstands الجبّارُthe overbearing man وِقْفَةَthe stance of واجمِone struck dumb
بها يَقِفُ الجبّارُ وِقْفَةَ واجمِ
The children of hope alight in his courtyard,
The sons of hope alight in his courtyard,
where the tyrant is shattered and skulls are cast down.
where the overbearing man stands struck dumb.
وتمشيand advances بذيwith such الإكبارreverence جَبْهةُthe brow of ساجدٍone prostrating
وتمشي بذي الإكبار جَبْهةُ ساجدٍ
إليهtoward him وفوقَand above التربthe dust أوor فمthe mouth of لاثمِone kissing
إليه وفوقَ الترب أو فم لاثمِ
In awe, the brow advances toward him in prostration
With reverence a prostrate man's brow advances
upon the dust—or a mouth approaches to kiss it.
toward him above the dust—or a kisser's mouth.
حَمَىdefended مُلْكَهُhis kingdom يحيىYahya ولولاهand were it not for him ماnot احتَمىwas secure
حَمَى مُلْكَهُ يحيى ولولاه ما احتَمى
وهلand can يَحْتَميbe protected غِيلٌa thicket بغيرwithout ضُبارمِa mighty lion
وهل يَحْتَمي غِيلٌ بغير ضُبارمِ
Yahya has guarded the sanctuary of his realm; without him it would have no refuge—
Yahya defended his kingdom; without him it would not be secure.
can a lion’s thicket be defended without fierce lions?
Can a thicket be guarded without a mighty lion?
وحَكّمَand gave authority to فيin الجودِgenerosity العُفاةَpetitioners وهكذاand likewise
وحَكّمَ في الجودِ العُفاةَ وهكذا
يُحكّمُhe gives authority to أطرافَthe points of الظّباblades فيover الجماجمِskulls
يُحكّمُ أطرافَ الظّبا في الجماجمِ
He has made petitioners the judges of his generosity,
He lets petitioners rule over his generosity, just as
just as spearheads pass judgment within skulls.
he lets blade-points rule over skulls.
تشيمُyou behold بهthrough him صبحاًa dawn منof العدلjustice مُشْرِقاًradiant
تشيمُ به صبحاً من العدل مُشْرِقاً
إذاwhen كنتَyou are فيin ليلٍa night منof الجوْرِoppression فاحمِcoal-black
إذا كنتَ في ليلٍ من الجوْرِ فاحمِ
In him you behold a radiant dawn of justice
Through him you behold a radiant dawn of justice
whenever you are caught in the pitch-black night of oppression.
when you are in a coal-black night of oppression.
ويجريand flows لكto you المعروفُgoodness منfrom كفّthe palm of واهبٍa giver
ويجري لك المعروفُ من كفّ واهبٍ
إذاwhen جَمَدَhas frozen المعروفُgoodness منfrom كفّthe palm of حارمِa withholder
إذا جَمَدَ المعروفُ من كفّ حارمِ
From a giving hand, beneficence flows for you
Goodness flows to you from a giver's palm
when beneficence freezes in a withholding hand.
when goodness has frozen in a withholder's palm.
إذاwhen رحلتهsaddles him همةٌaspiration أدْرَكَhe attains العُلَىthe heights
إذا رحلته همةٌ أدْرَكَ العُلَى
وحطّand unloads رحالthe saddlebags of العزّglory فَوْقَabove النعائمِthe Na'a'im stars
وحطّ رحال العزّ فَوْقَ النعائمِ
When aspiration takes him as its mount, it reaches the heights
When aspiration saddles him, he attains the heights
and unloads glory’s baggage above the stars.
and unloads glory's saddlebags above the Na'a'im stars.
ولاand no عَجَبٌwonder أنْthat عَلّمَhe taught الجودَgenerosity باخلاًa miser
ولا عَجَبٌ أنْ عَلّمَ الجودَ باخلاً
يَضِلّgoes astray أخوone possessed of جَهْلٍignorance ويُهدىand is guided بعالمِby a learned man
يَضِلّ أخو جَهْلٍ ويُهدى بعالمِ
No wonder generosity is known even in the empty wild:
No wonder he has taught a miser generosity:
the ignorant man strays, while one with knowledge guides.
an ignorant man goes astray, but a learned man guides him.
يسوسُhe governs الوَرَىhumankind منfrom بينamong بَرٍّthe righteous وفاجرٍand the wicked
يسوسُ الوَرَى من بين بَرٍّ وفاجرٍ
بلطفِwith the gentleness of صفوحa forgiving man منهin him أوor عَفوِthe pardon of ناقمِan avenger
بلطفِ صفوح منه أو عَفوِ ناقمِ
He governs humankind in war and peace alike,
He governs humankind, both righteous and wicked,
with the gentleness of pardon or the violence of avenging wrath.
with a forgiving man's gentleness, or an avenger's pardon.
وتطويand traverse سراياهُhis raiding troops السّرَىthe night's journey وهباتُهُand his gifts
وتطوي سراياهُ السّرَى وهباتُهُ
فأيّso what انتباهٍan awakening للعيونِfor the eyes النّوائمِsleeping
فأيّ انتباهٍ للعيونِ النّوائمِ
His detachments traverse the night, and so do his gifts—
His raiding troops and his gifts cover the night's journey—
what an awakening they bring to sleepers at midday rest!
what an awakening for sleeping eyes!
ومَنand whoever يُمضcarries through أمرَthe affairs of المُلكkingship بالبأسwith might والندىand bounty
ومَن يُمض أمرَ المُلك بالبأس والندى
يَجُزْlet surpass حُكْمُهُhis rule فيin الأرضthe earth طيبةthe goodness of حاتمِHatim
يَجُزْ حُكْمُهُ في الأرض طيبة حاتمِ
When a king’s command proceeds with dread and largesse,
Whoever carries through the affairs of kingship with might and bounty,
its writ throughout the earth surpasses even Hatim’s bounty.
let his rule throughout the earth surpass Hatim's goodness.
فماso what a راحةٌpalm لاno راحةٌrest للندىfor bounty بهاin it
فما راحةٌ لا راحةٌ للندى بها
ومالٌand wealth عليهupon which البذلُgiving ضَرْبةَan imposition لازمِbinding
ومالٌ عليه البذلُ ضَرْبةَ لازمِ
No open hand sets out without largesse finding rest in it,
What a palm—bounty has no rest in it!
and giving inclines toward him with the force of a binding blow.
And wealth upon which giving is a binding obligation.
لهhe has فيin مَكَرِّthe charge of الخيلhorses قَسْوَةُthe hardness of قاهِرٍa conqueror
له في مَكَرِّ الخيل قَسْوَةُ قاهِرٍ
وعندand at مَجَرّthe trailing of الذيلthe robe's hem رأفَةُthe tenderness of راحمِone showing mercy
وعند مَجَرّ الذيل رأفَةُ راحمِ
In the press of horses he is a conquering lion,
In the horses' charge he has a conqueror's hardness,
but when robes trail in peace, he has a merciful man’s tenderness.
and when the robe trails, a merciful man's tenderness;
وَعِفّةُand the chastity of سيفٍa sword ليسnot يبْرُقُflashes بالرّدىwith death
وَعِفّةُ سيفٍ ليس يبْرُقُ بالرّدى
إذاwhen سلّهُhe draws it إلّاexcept علىover رأسthe head of ظالمِa tyrant
إذا سلّهُ إلّا على رأس ظالمِ
His might is a sword that does not flash with death
and a sword's chastity: it never flashes with death
when he draws it, except above an oppressor’s head.
when he draws it, save above a tyrant's head.
يفضّhe breaks open ختامَthe seal of الهامِheads قطفاًplucking عنfrom الطلىnecks
يفضّ ختامَ الهامِ قطفاً عن الطلى
بيسرىwith a left hand إذsince اليمنىthe right hand قبيعةُthe pommel of صارمِa cutting sword
بيسرى إذ اليمنى قبيعةُ صارمِ
It breaks the seals of heads, harvesting them from necks,
He breaks the seal of heads, plucking them from necks,
with his left hand while the right grips the pommel of a keen sword.
with his left, since his right is the pommel of a cutting sword.
نَمَتْهُbegot him منamong الأملاكِkings صِيدٌproud lords تَقَدّمَتْpreceded
نَمَتْهُ من الأملاكِ صِيدٌ تَقَدّمَتْ
لهمfor them قَدَمُprecedence in الإعظامveneration عندamong الأعاظمِthe great
لهم قَدَمُ الإعظام عند الأعاظمِ
Royal lions before him raised him,
He descends from proud kings, who gained
men whose precedence in honor is acknowledged by the great.
precedence in veneration among the great.
بهاليلُnoble chiefs منfrom حيٍّa tribe لقاحٍindependent سَمَوْاthey rose علىabove
بهاليلُ من حيٍّ لقاحٍ سَمَوْا على
أعاربَArabs منamong أهْلِpeople of العُلىhigh rank وأعاجمِand non-Arabs
أعاربَ من أهْلِ العُلى وأعاجمِ
Magnanimous lords of a people never conquered, exalted—
Noble chiefs of an independent tribe, who rose above
Arabs and non-Arabs among the people of high station.
Arabs of lofty rank and non-Arabs.
مجالِسُهُمْtheir seats فيin الحربwar والسلمand peace لمnot تزَلْhave ceased
مجالِسُهُمْ في الحرب والسلم لم تزَلْ
دسوتَthrones of المعاليhigh honors أوor سرُوجَthe saddles of الصلادمِmighty steeds
دسوتَ المعالي أو سرُوجَ الصلادمِ
In war and peace, their seats have always been
Their seats in war and peace have ever been
the high places of glory or the saddles of powerful steeds.
the thrones of high honor or the saddles of mighty steeds.
بنوsons of الحربwar تُخْشىis feared صولةُthe onslaught of البأسmight منهمُfrom them
بنو الحرب تُخْشى صولةُ البأس منهمُ
وحربُand the warfare of القناlances فيin نافذاتِthe piercing points of اللهاذمِkeen spearheads
وحربُ القنا في نافذاتِ اللهاذمِ
Even the sons of war fear their valorous assault
Sons of war, whose onslaught of might is feared,
and the war of lances piercing throats.
whose lances wage war through piercing spearheads.
لهمfor them كلّevery موْلودٍchild علىupon فِطْرَةِthe innate nature of الوغىbattle
لهم كلّ موْلودٍ على فِطْرَةِ الوغى
تُرَاعُare terrified بهby him شبلاًas a cub أُسودُthe lions of الملاحمِgreat battles
تُرَاعُ به شبلاً أُسودُ الملاحمِ
Every child of theirs is born to the instinct of battle;
Every child of theirs is born with battle in his nature;
in him a lion-cub of the black lions of combat alarms you.
even as a cub, he terrifies the lions of great battles.
وتحسبُهُand you reckon him سيفاًa sword علىupon عاتقِthe shoulder of العلىhigh honor
وتحسبُهُ سيفاً على عاتقِ العلى
ولاand no حليةٌornament إلاexcept مَنوطُthe hanging-place of التمائمِamulets
ولا حليةٌ إلا مَنوطُ التمائمِ
You would think him an executioner’s sword upon Glory’s shoulder,
You reckon him a sword upon the shoulder of high honor,
with no adornment except the amulets hung upon him.
with no ornament but where the amulets hang.
ولمand had not يدرِhe known منfrom قبلbefore السيوفَswords وإنّماbut rather
ولم يدرِ من قبل السيوفَ وإنّما
حكىcopied القينُthe smith فيهاinto them ماwhat لهمthey possess منof عزائمِresolutions
حكى القينُ فيها ما لهم من عزائمِ
The sword knew nothing before them; it was only
He had never known swords before; rather,
the smith who traced upon it the resolve they bear.
the smith copied into them the resolve of his people.
فياso O جاعلاًone making منfrom عَفْوِهِhis pardon وانتقامِهِand his vengeance
فيا جاعلاً من عَفْوِهِ وانتقامِهِ
جنىthe harvest of النحلbees طَعْمَيْهhis two flavors وَسَمّand the venom of الأراقمِspeckled serpents
جنى النحل طَعْمَيْه وَسَمّ الأراقمِ
O you who make from your pardon and your vengeance
O you who make your pardon and vengeance
the honey of bees as one taste, and the venom of snakes as another:
your two flavors: bees' harvest and the venom of speckled serpents!
لأذكيتَyou have indeed kindled نارَthe fire of العِزّglory وهيand it is التيthat which بهاwith it
لأذكيتَ نارَ العِزّ وهي التي بها
وَضَعْتَyou placed سماتِthe brands of الذلّabasement فوْقَupon المَخاطمِsnouts
وَضَعْتَ سماتِ الذلّ فوْقَ المَخاطمِ
you have kindled the fire of glory, by which
You have indeed kindled the fire of glory, the fire with which
you branded the marks of abasement upon proud snouts.
you branded humiliation upon their snouts.
سيوفُكyour swords أبقتْleft فيamong الأعاديenemies أبدْتَهُمْyou annihilated them
سيوفُك أبقتْ في الأعادي أبدْتَهُمْ
مآتمَmourning assemblies أحزانٍsorrows بغيرwithout مآثمِsins
مآتمَ أحزانٍ بغير مآثمِ
Your swords have left among the enemies, forever,
Your swords left among the foes you annihilated
mourning rites of sorrow, though yours were no sins.
mourning gatherings of grief, without incurring sin.
كأنّas though حروفَthe letters of اللينِweakness كانتْwere رؤوسهُمْtheir heads
كأنّ حروفَ اللينِ كانتْ رؤوسهُمْ
فلاقَيْنِso they met حَذْفاًdeletion منfrom وقوعthe onset of الجوازمِjussive particles
فلاقَيْنِ حَذْفاً من وقوع الجوازمِ
Their heads were like the weak letters of grammar
As though their heads had been the weak letters,
and met with deletion when the governing particles fell upon them.
and suffered deletion when the jussive particles fell.
وجيشُكand your army هنديّof Indian steel الخوافيinner wing-feathers بِهزّهِby its shaking
وجيشُك هنديّ الخوافي بِهزّهِ
جناحَيthe two wings of عُقَابٍan eagle سمهرِيُّof straight lances القوادمِouter flight feathers
جناحَي عُقَابٍ سمهرِيُّ القوادمِ
Your army is an Indian blade, its rear fitted with feathers—
Your army, with Indian blades for inner feathers, flaps
an eagle’s two wings, with spear-shafts as foremost pinions.
an eagle's two wings, with straight lances for outer feathers.
وزرقand blue ذبابٍspear-tips فيamong الثعالبfoxes أجْدَبَتْfound barren pasture
وزرق ذبابٍ في الثعالب أجْدَبَتْ
وماand not انتجعتْthey sought pasture إلّاexcept نجيعَthe fresh gore of الضراغمِmighty lions
وما انتجعتْ إلّا نجيعَ الضراغمِ
Blue-tipped spearheads found the foxes’ country barren
And blue spearheads found barren pasture among foxes,
and sought no pasture but the blood of lions.
and sought no grazing but the gore of mighty lions.
فياso O دَوْلَةًdynasty قعساءَunassailable دَرّتْflowed with milk فأرْضَعَتْthen gave suck
فيا دَوْلَةً قعساءَ دَرّتْ فأرْضَعَتْ
ثُديّbreasts of المناياdeath أوor ثُديّbreasts of المكارمِnoble deeds
ثُديّ المنايا أو ثُديّ المكارمِ
O lofty family tree, you have lowered for suckling
O unassailable dynasty, whose milk flowed, giving suck
the breast of death—and the breast of noble deeds.
from the breasts of death or the breasts of noble deeds!
حلُمْتَyou showed forbearance فماso no longer تُثْنيyou praise علىfor حلمthe forbearance of أحنفٍAhnaf
حلُمْتَ فما تُثْني على حلم أحنفٍ
وَجُدْتَand you gave generously فماso no longer تُصْغيyou listen إلىto جودthe generosity of حاتمِHatim
وَجُدْتَ فما تُصْغي إلى جود حاتمِ
You came to dwell, so I no longer praise the clemency of al-Ahnaf;
You showed forbearance: one no longer praises Ahnaf's forbearance;
you gave so freely that I no longer heed the generosity of Hatim.
you gave generously: one no longer heeds Hatim's bounty.
فهنّئتَso may you be congratulated عيداًon a feast يقتضيentailing كلّevery عودةٍreturn
فهنّئتَ عيداً يقتضي كلّ عودةٍ
إِلَيكَto you بعزٍّwith glory ثابتِfirm in الملكِkingship دائمِenduring
إِلَيكَ بعزٍّ ثابتِ الملكِ دائمِ
May every returning feast-day find you
May you be congratulated on a feast whose every return demands
in abiding might and a kingdom made secure.
for you glory, with kingship firm and enduring.
