أمغازليO my wooer بالطرفwith the glance مرهفkeen-edged
أمغازلي بالطرف مرهف
ومقابليand you who face me بالقدّin stature أهيفslender-waisted
ومقابلي بالقدّ أهيف
O my wooer, keen-edged in glance,
My eyes flirt with him, so delicate and refined
and you who face me, slender of stature,
And he returns my glances with his slender, willowy frame
ليfor me منfrom جفونكyour eyelids والقواand the stat- (stature begins)
لي من جفونك والقوا
م-ure (stature ends) السيفthe sword والرمحand the spear المثقفstraightened
م السيف والرمح المثقف
from your eyelids and your stature I have
His eyelashes pierce me like swords and sharpened spears
the sword and the straightened spear.
While the braided belt wraps snug around his slim waist
ومهفهفٌand a slender one عقدfastened النطاقthe girdle
ومهفهفٌ عقد النطاق
علىaround قضيبa slender branch نقاًa sand-dune مهفهفslender
على قضيب نقاً مهفهف
A slender one has fastened his girdle
His supple quiver bounces lightly as he walks
around a slender wand upon a sand-dune.
Bearing the weight of his heavy tail with ease and grace
مجدولwell-knit مستنّthe course of الوشاحthe sash
مجدول مستنّ الوشاح
قصيفslender معتدلwell-proportioned المقصفthe waist's bend
قصيف معتدل المقصف
Well-knit where his sash runs,
He increases my burden with his narrow hips
slender, well-proportioned at the waist,
Fluid in motion, his curled forelock dancing as he prances
ومرجرجand swaying الردفthe rump الثقيلheavy
ومرجرج الردف الثقيل
خفيفlight طيthe fold of الكشحthe flank مخطفslender-waisted
خفيف طي الكشح مخطف
with swaying, heavy hips,
With soothing conversation, though reserved and shy
light in the flank's fold, slender-waisted.
His neck arched as he nudges gently with his graceful legs
قدindeed زادنيincreased in me كلفاًpassion بهfor him
قد زادني كلفاً به
خصرٌa waist بدعصwith a mound of نقاًsand تكلفburdened itself
خصرٌ بدعص نقاً تكلف
What has increased my passion for him
His alluring glances have ensnared me
is a waist burdened with a sandy mound.
With modest gazes, lowered yet so meaningful
سمحsmooth السوالفthe sides of the neck عاقصcoiling up
سمح السوالف عاقص
منsome of مرسلloose-flowing الجعدthe curls المعكفcurled back
من مرسل الجعد المعكف
Smooth of neck, he coils up
His beauty brands my heart like a fiery seal
some of his flowing, backward-curling locks.
As if stamped by a craftsman pressing precious coins
واختالand he swaggered يطعنthrusts قدّهhis stature
واختال يطعن قدّه
بمقدمat the vanguard of الخيلينthe two cavalry hosts بالصفin battle array
بمقدم الخيلين بالصف
He swaggered, his stature thrusting
A lazy horse lagging behind the lead
at the vanguard of both cavalry hosts in battle array.
Dragging his feet, reluctant in the race
خالستهI exchanged furtively with him النظرthe gaze المريبdisquieting
خالسته النظر المريب
بفاسقwith a wanton النظرgaze المعففkept chaste
بفاسق النظر المعفف
I exchanged a furtive, disquieting glance with him,
Plodding heavily over rugged terrain
with a wanton gaze kept chaste.
Squinting through the dark veil of night
بالنارwith fire يطبعit stamps وجنةًa cheek
بالنار يطبع وجنةً
فكأنماso, as though دينارa dinar صيرفa money-changer's
فكأنما دينار صيرف
It stamps a cheek with fire,
Give me your radiance, bright as stars that shine
as though it were a money-changer's dinar.
Rise my love, and greet me with your glowing light
كسلانlanguid يرفعhe lifts رفرفاa trailing hem
كسلان يرفع رفرفا
عنoff سابقهhis courser ويجرُّand he drags رفرفa trailing hem
عن سابقه ويجرُّ رفرف
Languid, he lifts one trailing hem
For you my heart has melted, seeping from each pore
off his courser, and drags another.
And mingled with the tears that I can no longer keep inside
امدعدعO filler of الطَّاساتthe drinking bowls فيin
امدعدع الطَّاسات في
غلسpredawn gloom وجفنand the eyelid of الليلnight اوطفthick-lashed
غلس وجفن الليل اوطف
O you who brim the drinking bowls in
You who has been granted such nobility and grace
the predawn gloom, with night's eyelid thick-lashed,
Not grasping nor presumptuous, but with humility
منwho ليfor me بريقكwith your saliva قرقفاًas wine
من لي بريقك قرقفاً
قمrise عاطنيoffer me بالريقwith saliva قرقفwine
قم عاطني بالريق قرقف
who will grant me your saliva as wine?
Oh son of highborn lineage, your perfume is intoxicating
Rise; let your saliva be the wine you offer me.
Your critics stand no chance to build their feeble case
بكbecause of you قدalready اذبتI melted حشاشةa remnant of life
بك قد اذبت حشاشة
نزفتdrained away معwith الدمعthe tears المكفكفwiped back
نزفت مع الدمع المكفكف
Because of you I have melted my last remnant of life,
Glory clings to you, generosity is your mark
drained away with the tears wiped back.
Wisdom, sincerity, and counsel you impart
ومؤلفand you who gather للفضلfor excellence ماwhat
ومؤلف للفضل ما
قدalready شدّgrew firm منهof it وماand what تألفcame together
قد شدّ منه وما تألف
And you who gather excellence—what
In you I glimpse the finest qualities
has grown firm within it and what has come together—
Were it not for such refinement, I would say divine
ياO ابنson of الغطارفthe noble chiefs افرختhatched
يا ابن الغطارف افرخت
ضرمfiery ones الشذاin spirit بازاًa falcon تغطرفgrew lordly
ضرم الشذا بازاً تغطرف
O son of noble chiefs, there has been hatched
As for the Sacred House and crowds who've come to worship there
by the fiery-spirited a falcon grown lordly.
None more deserving to circle round that noble shrine
والضاربينand those who pitch بكلon every ممتنعunassailable الthe
والضاربين بكل ممتنع ال
ذرىsummits بيتاa tent مسجَّفcurtained
ذرى بيتا مسجَّف
And of those who pitch, on every unassailable
In pilgrim garb they humbly walk, fulfilling their Hajj rites
height, a curtained tent.
Raising their voices in exaltation at that holy site
المجدglory اتلعlofty-necked والمكارمُand noble virtues
المجد اتلع والمكارمُ
سمحةgenerous والرأيand judgment محصفfirmly grounded
سمحة والرأي محصف
Glory holds its head high, and noble virtues
Glorious is the knowledge you have gained and now possess
are generous, while judgment is firmly grounded.
Fearsome, momentous, an honor you've been blessed
تصبيكcaptivate you منكfrom you شمائلٌqualities
تصبيك منك شمائلٌ
لولاbut for الفخامةgrandeur قلتI would say اهيفslender-waisted
لولا الفخامة قلت اهيف
Your own qualities enchant you;
To lead all those who've stood at Arafat's rocky height
but for your grandeur, I would call you slender.
And those who've prayed and reflected through the long day's light
واماand indeed وبيتby the House of اللَهGod والنفرand the company
واما وبيت اللَه والنفر
الأولىthose who بالبيتaround the House طوَّفcircumambulate
الأولى بالبيت طوَّف
And indeed, by God's House and the company
As well as those who've purified themselves from sin
who circumambulate the House,
Walking the paths between Safa and Marwah's hills
وبمحرمينand by consecrated pilgrims تجلببواrobed themselves
وبمحرمين تجلببوا
بمجللin an enveloping covering of الريطcloth wraps الملففwrapped around
بمجلل الريط الملفف
and by consecrated pilgrims who have robed themselves
And those whose Hajj is now complete, their duties done
in enveloping, closely wrapped cloths,
You are foremost among the honorable ones
وعجيجand the clamor of اصواتthe voices of الحجيجthe pilgrims
وعجيج اصوات الحجيج
ومنand whoever بهat it لبىrecited the pilgrimage response وعرّفand stood at Arafat
ومن به لبى وعرّف
and by the clamor of the pilgrims' voices,
Oh you who holds the highest aspirations dear
and those who there answered the call and stood at Arafat,
Devout in faith, though tolerant and not austere
وعظيمand the great things ماthat which ضمَّembraced المعرفal-Muʿarraf
وعظيم ما ضمَّ المعرف
والمحصبand al-Muhassab والمخيفand al-Mukhif
والمحصب والمخيف
and by the great things embraced by al-Muʿarraf,
Your pen flows like a stream, so elegant and bright
al-Muhassab and al-Mukhif,
Inscribed with artistry upon each page you write
والمشعرينand the two sacred stations ومنand whoever تلبثlingered
والمشعرين ومن تلبث
يومهthroughout his day والعيسand the pale camels وقَّفstanding still
يومه والعيس وقَّف
and by the two sacred stations, and whoever lingered
Pure of conscience, brimming with eloquent speech
throughout his day, with the pale camels standing still,
Culled like ripe fruit from branches just beyond your reach
والمروتينand the two Marwas وماand what صفاwas clear
والمروتين وما صفا
بينbetween الصفاal-Safa والخيفand al-Khayf اوشفor shone through (reading uncertain)
بين الصفا والخيف اوشف
and by the two Marwas, and what was clear
Unblemished by the dust of doubt, you've cast off shame
between al-Safa and al-Khayf, or shone through,
Wresting the false perceptions that obscure your name
والآيبينand those returning ليكملواso they may complete
والآيبين ليكملوا
فرضاan obligation لحجهمfor their pilgrimage الموَّقفwith prescribed standing
فرضا لحجهم الموَّقف
and by those returning to complete
You double each gift, and multiply every sum
an obligation of their pilgrimage, with its prescribed standing:
That you extend to those who seek your favor
انتyou المقدَّمthe foremost فيin العلىlofty rank
انت المقدَّم في العلى
لاnot منwhoever تقدَّمwent ahead اوor تخلفlagged behind
لا من تقدَّم او تخلف
you are foremost in lofty rank,
You spur your steeds like eagles in swift flight
not those who went ahead or lagged behind.
As if nothing can stop you from attaining your height
ياO محرزاًone who secures قصبthe shafts of العواليthe tall spears
يا محرزاً قصب العوالي
الصمsolid بالقصبwith the reed المجوفhollow
الصم بالقصب المجوف
O you who win the shafts of towering spears—
No fault lies in your munificence, though some deride
solid shafts—with a hollow reed:
That without restraint you spread your arms open wide
قلمٌa pen بريقthe gleam of رضابهits saliva
قلمٌ بريق رضابه
علقاًclotted blood علىupon الورقthe paper المزخرفornamented
علقاً على الورق المزخرف
a pen, the gleam of whose saliva
For those who give plenty and take little in return
is clotted blood upon the ornamented paper;
You make no complaint of blessings that you've earned
خاليempty الضمائرthe inner recesses ممتلٍfull
خالي الضمائر ممتلٍ
منof يانعripe الكلمwords المقطَّفplucked
من يانع الكلم المقطَّف
empty within, yet filled
Wherever you turn your steps will follow suit
with ripe, plucked words;
Pause or proceed, your will shall bear the fruit
عريانnaked منof دنسdefilement تجرَّدstripped itself bare
عريان من دنس تجرَّد
نازعremoving الشبهاتdoubts مترفluxuriously nurtured
نازع الشبهات مترف
naked, stripped of defilement,
Greetings to you, a sun but newly risen in the morn
dispelling doubts, luxuriously nurtured.
Whose radiance reveals the guiding light we've sworn
امثنِّيO doubler of المأةthe hundred الثنىalready doubled
امثنِّي المأة الثنى
ومضاعفand multiplier of الألفthe thousand المضعفalready doubled
ومضاعف الألف المضعف
O doubler of the doubled hundred,
A sun whose veil is lifted to unveil her face
and multiplier of the already doubled thousand,
Putting the stars and moon to shame with her grace
والباعثand sender of الخيلthe horses العتاقthoroughbred
والباعث الخيل العتاق
كأنهاas though they were العقبانeagles خطَّفswooping to snatch
كأنها العقبان خطَّف
and sender of thoroughbred steeds,
She rises to the zenith, where you reign supreme
as though they were eagles swooping to snatch,
Dragging the train of your gown as you fulfill your dream
ياO مسرفاًextravagant giver ماwhat ضرّهharmed him
يا مسرفاً ما ضرّه
انif قيلit is said لولاwere it not for النصthe authoritative text اسرفhe would spend excessively
ان قيل لولا النص اسرف
O extravagant giver, what harm is done him
Once hidden, when she appears in darkest night
if one says, 'But for the text, he would spend excessively'?
All stars and meteors sparkle in her light
ماwhat ضرَّharmed باسطone spreading راحةa palm
ما ضرَّ باسط راحة
تركتleft وعورthe rough ground of الجودgenerosity صفصفa level plain
تركت وعور الجود صفصف
What harm comes to one who opens a palm
So let all rejoice in the noble prince we adore
that has made generosity's rough ground a level plain?
And celebrate with joy his virtue evermore
يعطيhe gives الكثيىmuch وبعضهمwhile some of them
يعطي الكثيى وبعضهم
مسترجعtaking back ماwhat قلَّwas little بالكفin the hand
مسترجع ما قلَّ بالكف
He gives abundantly, while some of them
take back even the little in a hand.
انif سرتyou travel سارhe travels ميّمماheading toward
ان سرت سار ميّمما
قصداًstraight onward وانand if وَّقفتyou stop وقفhe stops
قصداً وان وَّقفت وقف
If you travel, he travels, heading
straight onward; and if you halt, he halts.
حيَّتكgreeted you شمسa sun تحجُّبseclusion
حيَّتك شمس تحجُّب
زفتwas led as a bride لبدرto a full moon of هدىًguidance تكشفunveiled itself
زفت لبدر هدىً تكشف
A sun of seclusion greeted you,
brought as a bride to an unveiled full moon of guidance.
شمسٌa sun بكسرwith the breaking of حجابهاher veil
شمسٌ بكسر حجابها
انif قابلتهاfaces her الشمسthe sun تكسفis eclipsed
ان قابلتها الشمس تكسف
A sun: when her veil is broken,
if the sun faces her, it is eclipsed.
وافتshe came لمطَّرفto one mantled in العلىloftiness
وافت لمطَّرف العلى
غراًradiant تجرُّshe trails ذيولthe hems of مطرفa figured silk robe
غراً تجرُّ ذيول مطرف
She came to one mantled in loftiness,
radiant, trailing the hems of a silken mantle.
محجوبةveiled فاذاbut when بدتshe appears
محجوبة فاذا بدت
ليلاًby night لطرفto the eye of النجمthe star يطرفit blinks
ليلاً لطرف النجم يطرف
Veiled, yet when she appears
at night to the star's eye, it blinks.
فلتهنئنso may she be congratulated بفتىon the youth العليّthe exalted
فلتهنئن بفتى العليّ
وليهنئنَّand may he be congratulated بهاon her ويسعفand may he be favored
وليهنئنَّ بها ويسعف
So may she be congratulated on the exalted youth,
and may he be congratulated on her and favored.
Partial English translation: 70 of 84 Arabic lines translated.