مَاhow أَضْيَعَwasted الحُسْنَbeauty لمْdid not تُنْصِفْهُdo it justice رَائِعَةٌa masterpiece
مَا أَضْيَعَ الحُسْنَ لمْ تُنْصِفْهُ رَائِعَةٌ
مِنَof القَصَائِدِpoems أَوor لحَنٌa melody يُنَاجِيهِcommunes with it
مِنَ القَصَائِدِ أَو لحَنٌ يُنَاجِيهِ
How wasted is beauty when no masterpiece has done it justice,
Of poetry, or a melody that communes with it,
أَوْor لَوحَةٌa painting مِنْof بَدِيعِexquisite الرَّسْمِpainting لَوَّنهَاcolored it
أَوْ لَوحَةٌ مِنْ بَدِيعِ الرَّسْمِ لَوَّنهَا
مِنَfrom المَشَاعِرِfeelings فَيْضٌa flood قَدْmay يُدَانِيهِcome close to it
مِنَ المَشَاعِرِ فَيْضٌ قَدْ يُدَانِيهِ
Or a painting of exquisite artistry, colored
By a flood of feeling that might approach it,
أَوْor قِطْعَةٌa piece نحَتَcarved المَثَّالُthe sculptor هَيْئَتَهَاits form
أَوْ قِطْعَةٌ نحَتَ المَثَّالُ هَيْئَتَهَا
قَدْindeed مَاتَdied فيwhile نحَتِهَاcarving it وَجْداًof passion لِتُحْيِيهِto revive him
قَدْ مَاتَ في نحَتِهَا وَجْداً لِتُحْيِيهِ
Or a piece whose form the sculptor carved—
He died of passion carving it, so that it might revive him.
فَاعْجَبْso marvel لِفَاتِنَةٍat a captivating woman تجَفُوshuns مَعَابِدَنَاour temples
فَاعْجَبْ لِفَاتِنَةٍ تجَفُو مَعَابِدَنَا
وَand تحَجُبُwithholds الوَحْيَinspiration عَنَّاfrom us إِذْas تُوَارِيهِconceals it
وَ تحَجُبُ الوَحْيَ عَنَّا إِذْ تُوَارِيهِ
Marvel, then, at a captivating woman who shuns our temples,
And withholds inspiration from us by concealing it.
تمَرُّshe passes لاَهِيَةًheedless عَنَّاof us وَand عَابِثَةًmocking
تمَرُّ لاَهِيَةً عَنَّا وَ عَابِثَةً
بمِاat what نَقُولُwe say وَand تَنْسَىshe forgets مَاwhat نُعَانِيهِwe endure it
بمِا نَقُولُ وَ تَنْسَى مَا نُعَانِيهِ
She passes, heedless of us and mocking
What we say, forgetting what we suffer.
لَوif أَنْصَفَتْshe acted fairly كَشَفَتْshe revealed أَسْرَارَthe secrets فِتْنَتِهِof its enchantment
لَو أَنْصَفَتْ كَشَفَتْ أَسْرَارَ فِتْنَتِهِ
وَand عَلَّمَتْنَاtaught us دُنُوّاًdrawing near مِنْto مَراقِيهِits heights
وَ عَلَّمَتْنَا دُنُوّاً مِنْ مَراقِيهِ
Had she been fair, she would have revealed the secrets of its enchantment,
And taught us how to draw near its heights.
وَand فيin غَدَائِرِهَاher tresses غَابَتْdisappeared مَسَالِكُهُits pathways
وَ في غَدَائِرِهَا غَابَتْ مَسَالِكُهُ
لاَno النَّجْمُstar يَهْدِيguides وَand لاَno مَرْسىharbor سَيُؤْويهِwill shelter it
لاَ النَّجْمُ يَهْدِي وَ لاَ مَرْسى سَيُؤْويهِ
And in her tresses its pathways disappeared;
No star guides, nor will any harbor shelter it.
وَand لَوْif دَرَىknew الوَرْدُthe rose مَاwhat تطْوِيconceal جَوَانحُنَاour hearts
وَ لَوْ دَرَى الوَرْدُ مَا تطْوِي جَوَانحُنَا
مِنْof حُبِّهِlove for it لَتَخَلَّىwould turn away عَنْfrom تَعَالِيهِits haughtiness
مِنْ حُبِّهِ لَتَخَلَّى عَنْ تَعَالِيهِ
And if the rose knew what our hearts conceal
Of love for it, it would abandon its haughtiness.
وَقَدْand perhaps يَكُونُit is عَلَىin عِلْمٍawareness بِصَبْوَتِنَاof our yearning
وَقَدْ يَكُونُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ بِصَبْوَتِنَا
لَكِنْbut تَعَنُّتُهُits obstinacy بِالدَلّto coyness ِ يُغْرِيهِtempts it
لَكِنْ تَعَنُّتُهُ بِالدَلّ ِ يُغْرِيهِ
It may well know of our yearning,
Yet its obstinacy tempts it to coyness.
لَكَمْhow much أَفَضْنَاwe poured عَلَيْهِupon it مِنْof مَشَاعِرِنَاour feelings
لَكَمْ أَفَضْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ مَشَاعِرِنَا
أَكَانَdid it يحْسَبُهَاconsider them فَرْضَاًa duty نُؤَدِّيهِwe discharge it
أَكَانَ يحْسَبُهَا فَرْضَاً نُؤَدِّيهِ
How much of our feeling we have poured upon it!
Did it consider those feelings a duty we discharge?
يمْشِيit treads عَلَىupon القَلْبِthe heart مخُتَالاًstrutting بِهِin it صَلَفٌarrogance
يمْشِي عَلَى القَلْبِ مخُتَالاً بِهِ صَلَفٌ
كَأَنمَّاas though القَلْبُthe heart عَبْدٌa slave مِنْamong مَوَالِيهِits bondsmen
كَأَنمَّا القَلْبُ عَبْدٌ مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ
It treads upon the heart, strutting, full of arrogance,
As though the heart were a slave among its bondsmen.
إِنْif كَانَit is يحَسِبُthinking فَرْطَthe excess الحُبِّof love يَدْفَعُنَاdrives us
إِنْ كَانَ يحَسِبُ فَرْطَ الحُبِّ يَدْفَعُنَا
إليto المَذَلَّةِabasement قَدْindeed خَابَتْhave failed مَسَاعِيهِits endeavors
إلي المَذَلَّةِ قَدْ خَابَتْ مَسَاعِيهِ
If it thinks our excessive love drives us
To abasement, its endeavors have failed.
أَوْor كَانَit is يَشْعُرُfeeling أَنْthat الحُسْنَbeauty خَوَّلَهُhas granted it
أَوْ كَانَ يَشْعُرُ أَنْ الحُسْنَ خَوَّلَهُ
حَقَّthe right العِبَادَةِto be worshipped لاَmay not جَادَتْpour rain غَوَادِيهِits morning clouds
حَقَّ العِبَادَةِ لاَ جَادَتْ غَوَادِيهِ
Or thinks that beauty has bestowed upon it
The right to be worshipped—may its morning clouds give no rain!
فَلَوْso if يُكُونُit were ِبهَاin that فَرْداًunique لمَاwould not سَجَدَتْprostrate themselves
فَلَوْ يُكُونُ ِبهَا فَرْداً لمَا سَجَدَتْ
لَهُto it الجِبَاهُthe foreheads خُضُوعاًin submission عِنْدَat نَادِيهِits gathering place
لَهُ الجِبَاهُ خُضُوعاً عِنْدَ نَادِيهِ
For even were it unique in that, there would be no bowing
Of foreheads to it, in submission at its gathering place.
فَلْيَرْكَبْso let it ride المَوْجَthe waves وَand ليُبْحِرْlet it sail لطِيَّتِهِtoward its destination
فَلْيَرْكَبْ المَوْجَ وَ ليُبْحِرْ لطِيَّتِهِ
فَلَنْso it will not يَرانَاsee us دُمُوعاًas tears فيin مَرَاسِيهِits harbors
فَلَنْ يَرانَا دُمُوعاً في مَرَاسِيهِ
Let it ride the waves, then, and sail toward its destination;
It will never see us as tears in its harbors.
إِنْif كَانَit is يَشْمَخُholding its head high عَنْfrom عُجْبٍvanity يُدَاخِلُهُpossesses it
إِنْ كَانَ يَشْمَخُ عَنْ عُجْبٍ يُدَاخِلُهُ
ممَّاbecause of what تحَلَّىit adorned itself بِهِwith it مِنْof صُنْعِthe handiwork بَارِيهِof its Maker
ممَّا تحَلَّى بِهِ مِنْ صُنْعِ بَارِيهِ
If it holds its head high from vanity that possesses it,
For its Maker's handiwork with which it adorns itself,
فَنَحْنُso we نَشْمَخُhold our heads high عَنْfrom نُبْلٍnobility وَand عَنْfrom شمَمٍproud dignity
فَنَحْنُ نَشْمَخُ عَنْ نُبْلٍ وَ عَنْ شمَمٍ
إِنْif جَادَit is generous جُدْنَاwe are generous وَand إِنْif أَعْطَىit gives سَنُعْطِيهِwe will give to it
إِنْ جَادَ جُدْنَا وَ إِنْ أَعْطَى سَنُعْطِيهِ
We hold ours high from nobility and proud dignity.
If it is generous, we are generous; if it gives, we shall give to it.
إِنْif تَاهَit is haughty تهِنَاwe are haughty وَand إِنْif أَبْدَىit shows تَوَاضُعَهُits humility
إِنْ تَاهَ تهِنَا وَ إِنْ أَبْدَى تَوَاضُعَهُ
أَعْطَيْنَاwe give مِنْfrom كَنْزِنَاour treasure مَاwhat سَوْفَwill يُغْنِيهِenrich it
أَعْطَيْنَا مِنْ كَنْزِنَا مَا سَوْفَ يُغْنِيهِ
If it is haughty, so are we; if it shows humility,
We give from our treasure what will enrich it.
إِنْif ضنَّare grudging أَهْلٌkinsfolk بِهِwith it زَهْواًout of pride وَand مَفْخَرَةًboastfulness
إِنْ ضنَّ أَهْلٌ بِهِ زَهْواً وَ مَفْخَرَةً
فَأَهْلُنَاthen our kinsfolk لَنْwill not يَقِلُّواbe inferior عَنْto أَهَالِيهِits kinsfolk
فَأَهْلُنَا لَنْ يَقِلُّوا عَنْ أَهَالِيهِ
If kinsfolk jealously guard it in pride and boastfulness,
Our kinsfolk will be no less than its kinsfolk.
نحُبُّهُwe love it حُبَّwith the love أَكْفَاءٍof equals فَإِنْand if رَضِيَتْis pleased
نحُبُّهُ حُبَّ أَكْفَاءٍ فَإِنْ رَضِيَتْ
بِنَاwith us جَوَانحِهُits heart نَسْعَىwe strive لِنُرْضِيهِto please it
بِنَا جَوَانحِهُ نَسْعَى لِنُرْضِيهِ
We love it with the love of equals; and if pleased
With us is its heart, we strive to please it.
إِذَاwhen أَتانَاit comes to us فَتَحْنَاwe open بَابَthe gate قَلْعَتِنَاof our citadel
إِذَا أَتانَا فَتَحْنَا بَابَ قَلْعَتِنَا
وَand إِنْif تَوَلَّىit turns away فَلاَthen no حُزْنٌsorrow يمُاشِيهِwalks beside it
وَ إِنْ تَوَلَّى فَلاَ حُزْنٌ يمُاشِيهِ
When it comes to us, we open the gate of our citadel;
And if it turns away, no sorrow walks beside it.
وَand قَدْmay يَكُونُthere be بِنَاin us حُبٌّlove لِطَلْعَتِهِfor its countenance
وَ قَدْ يَكُونُ بِنَا حُبٌّ لِطَلْعَتِهِ
لَكِنْbut نجُازِيهِwe repay it قَرْضَa loan التِّيهِof haughtiness باِلتِّيهِwith haughtiness
لَكِنْ نجُازِيهِ قَرْضَ التِّيهِ باِلتِّيهِ
We may harbor love for its countenance,
But we repay its loan of haughtiness with haughtiness.
حُبٌّlove بحُبٍّfor love يُسَاوِينَاmakes us equal وَand يجْمَعُنَاunites us
حُبٌّ بحُبٍّ يُسَاوِينَا وَ يجْمَعُنَا
فيin ظِلِthe shade سَرْحَتِنَاof our spreading tree أَوْor رُحْبِthe breadth وَادِيهِof its valley
في ظِلِ سَرْحَتِنَا أَوْ رُحْبِ وَادِيهِ
Love for love makes us equal and brings us together
In the shade of our spreading tree, or the breadth of its valley.
عُنْفٌviolence بِعُنْفٍfor violence وَand إِعْصَارٌa whirlwind بِزَوْبَعَةٍfor a tempest
عُنْفٌ بِعُنْفٍ وَ إِعْصَارٌ بِزَوْبَعَةٍ
إِنْif جَارَit acts unjustly جُرْنَاwe act unjustly وَand إِنْif أَرْخَىease off نُوَاتِيهِits sailors
إِنْ جَارَ جُرْنَا وَ إِنْ أَرْخَى نُوَاتِيهِ
Violence for violence, a whirlwind for a tempest:
If it is unjust, so are we; and if its sailors ease off—
كَذَاكَsuch مَذْهَبُنَاis our creed فيin الحُبِّlove وَاحِدَةٌone act
كَذَاكَ مَذْهَبُنَا في الحُبِّ وَاحِدَةٌ
بمِثْلِهَاfor its like وَand لَقَدْindeed نَسْخُوwe are generous فَنُوفِيهِso repay it fully
بمِثْلِهَا وَ لَقَدْ نَسْخُو فَنُوفِيهِ
Such is our creed in love: one act
For its like; indeed, we may be generous and repay it fully.
وَand قَدْindeed خَبِرْنَاwe have experienced ضُرُوباًvarieties مِنْof تَعَنُّتِهِits obstinacy
وَ قَدْ خَبِرْنَا ضُرُوباً مِنْ تَعَنُّتِهِ
فَمَاso not دَعَوْنَاwe prayed بِأَنَّthat اللهGod يَهْدِيهِguide it
فَمَا دَعَوْنَا بِأَنَّ الله يَهْدِيهِ
And we have experienced various forms of its obstinacy,
So we have not prayed for God to guide it.
مَاwhat عِنْدَهُit possesses مِنْof كُنُوزِtreasures الحُسْنِof beauty يُعْدِلَهُmatches it
مَا عِنْدَهُ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الحُسْنِ يُعْدِلَهُ
مَاwhat عِنْدَنَاwe possess مِنْof كُنُوزٍtreasures سَوْفَwill تُغْوِيهِbeguile it
مَا عِنْدَنَا مِنْ كُنُوزٍ سَوْفَ تُغْوِيهِ
What it possesses of beauty's treasures is matched by
The treasures we possess, which will beguile it.
لَهُit has الجَمالُbeauty وَand ليI have قَلْبٌa heart يُصَاحِبُنِيkeeps me company
لَهُ الجَمالُ وَ لي قَلْبٌ يُصَاحِبُنِي
تَزِيدُadd فيto ثَرْوَةthe wealth ِالدُّنْيَاof the world مَعَانِيهِits meanings
تَزِيدُ في ثَرْوَة ِالدُّنْيَا مَعَانِيهِ
It has beauty, and I have a heart that keeps me company;
Its meanings add to the world's wealth.
قَدْindeed مَرَّhas passed بِالكَوّنِthrough the universe حُسْنٌbeauty مِثْلَlike طَلْعَتِهِits countenance
قَدْ مَرَّ بِالكَوّنِ حُسْنٌ مِثْلَ طَلْعَتِهِ
وَand غَابَvanished فيin دَوْرِةthe turning ِالأَيامِof days زَاهِيهِits radiance
وَ غَابَ في دَوْرِة ِالأَيامِ زَاهِيهِ
Beauty like its countenance has passed through the universe,
And its radiance vanished in the turning of days.
لَوْhad أَدْرَكَتْهُreached it يَدُthe hand الفَنَّانِof the artist عَاشِقَةًloving
لَوْ أَدْرَكَتْهُ يَدُ الفَنَّانِ عَاشِقَةً
لخَلَّدَتْهُwould have immortalized it وَand زَادَتْincreased فيin تَسَامِيهِits sublimity
لخَلَّدَتْهُ وَ زَادَتْ في تَسَامِيهِ
Had the artist's loving hand reached it,
It would have immortalized it and heightened its sublimity.
إِنْif نَرْسُمْwe paint اللَّوْحَthe canvas عَنْfrom حُلْمٍa dream يُسَاوِرنَاhaunts us
إِنْ نَرْسُمْ اللَّوْحَ عَنْ حُلْمٍ يُسَاوِرنَا
يَزِيدُadds فيto حُسْنِهِits beauty شَيئاًsomething وَand يُغْلِيهِmakes it more precious
يَزِيدُ في حُسْنِهِ شَيئاً وَ يُغْلِيهِ
If we paint a canvas from a dream that haunts us,
Adding something to its beauty and making it more precious,
أَوْor نُرْسِلِwe send forth اللَّحْنَthe melody مُنَسَاباًflowing بِلَوْعَتِنَاwith our anguish
أَوْ نُرْسِلِ اللَّحْنَ مُنَسَاباً بِلَوْعَتِنَا
وَand نَبْعَثِwe kindle النَّارَfire فيin دُنْيَاthe world لَيَالِيهِof its nights
وَ نَبْعَثِ النَّارَ في دُنْيَا لَيَالِيهِ
Or let a melody flow with our anguish,
And kindle fire in the world of its nights,
أَوْor نَنْحَتِwe carve الصَّخْرَrock عَنْfrom عَزْمٍa resolve يُطَاردُناpursues us
أَوْ نَنْحَتِ الصَّخْرَ عَنْ عَزْمٍ يُطَاردُنا
بِأَنْto نُكََّونَwe form شَيْئاًsomething قَدْmay يُضَاهِيهِrival it
بِأَنْ نُكََّونَ شَيْئاً قَدْ يُضَاهِيهِ
Or carve rock from a resolve that pursues us
To form something that might rival it,
أَوْor نُنْشِدِwe recite الشِّعْرَpoetry إِعْجَاباًin admiration بِفِتْنَتِهِof its enchantment
أَوْ نُنْشِدِ الشِّعْرَ إِعْجَاباً بِفِتْنَتِهِ
فَغَايَةُthen the aim الفَنِّof art أَعْلَىis higher مِنْthan مَعَالِيهِits heights
فَغَايَةُ الفَنِّ أَعْلَى مِنْ مَعَالِيهِ
Or recite poetry in admiration of its enchantment,
Then art's aim is higher than its heights.
وَand لَيْسَis not مِنْfrom جُودِهِits generosity فَنٌّart سَنُبْدعُهُwe shall create it
وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ جُودِهِ فَنٌّ سَنُبْدعُهُ
بَلْrather نحَنُwe جُدْنَاwere generous عَلَيْهِto it حِينَwhen نُبْقِيهِwe preserve it
بَلْ نحَنُ جُدْنَا عَلَيْهِ حِينَ نُبْقِيهِ
And the art we shall create does not come from its generosity;
Rather, we are generous to it when we preserve it
مخُلَّداًimmortalized تحَفَظُguard الأَجْيَالُthe generations صُورَتَهُits image
مخُلَّداً تحَفَظُ الأَجْيَالُ صُورَتَهُ
حِفْظَas the guarding الشَّفيقِof one who cherishes عَلَىover أَغْلَىthe dearest غَوَالِيهِof his treasures
حِفْظَ الشَّفيقِ عَلَى أَغْلَى غَوَالِيهِ
Immortal, its image guarded by generations,
As one who cherishes guards his dearest treasures.
لَقَدْindeed شَقِينَاwe suffered وَand مَاnot نَشْقَىwe suffer لِنَمْلِكَهُto possess it
لَقَدْ شَقِينَا وَ مَا نَشْقَى لِنَمْلِكَهُ
لَكِنْbut لِنَمْلِكَto possess شَيْئاًsomething لَيْسَdoes not يَدْريِهِknow it
لَكِنْ لِنَمْلِكَ شَيْئاً لَيْسَ يَدْريِهِ
We have indeed suffered, yet we do not suffer to possess it,
But to possess something it does not know.
إِشْعَاعُthe radiance ذَاتِكَof your being شَيءٌsomething لَيْسَdo not تَعْرِفُهُyou know it
إِشْعَاعُ ذَاتِكَ شَيءٌ لَيْسَ تَعْرِفُهُ
فيin ذَاتِthe being غَيْرِكَof someone other than you قَدْmay يَلْقَىfind أَمَانِيهِits wishes
في ذَاتِ غَيْرِكَ قَدْ يَلْقَى أَمَانِيهِ
The radiance of your being is something you do not know;
In another's being it may find its wishes fulfilled.
وَand الشَّمْسُthe sun يُبْصِرُهَاsees it الرَّائِيthe beholder فَيَمْنَحُهَاso bestows on it
وَ الشَّمْسُ يُبْصِرُهَا الرَّائِي فَيَمْنَحُهَا
مِنْfrom عِنْدِهِhimself كُلَّevery مَعْنَىmeaning لَيْسَdoes not تَعْنِيهِintend it
مِنْ عِنْدِهِ كُلَّ مَعْنَى لَيْسَ تَعْنِيهِ
And the beholder sees the sun, then bestows on it
From himself every meaning it does not intend.
وَand لَوْif دَرَىknew سِرَّنَاour secret أَعْطَىgave وَand كَلَّلَنَاcrowned us
وَ لَوْ دَرَى سِرَّنَا أَعْطَى وَ كَلَّلَنَا
بِالغَارِwith laurel أَوْor قُبْلَةٍa kiss بِالنَّارِwith fire تُغْرِيهِtempts it
بِالغَارِ أَوْ قُبْلَةٍ بِالنَّارِ تُغْرِيهِ
And had it known our secret, it would have given and crowned us
With laurel, or a kiss that tempts it with fire.
هُنَالِكَthere الفَنُّart مجَدٌglory فَوْقَupon مَسْرَحِهِits stage
هُنَالِكَ الفَنُّ مجَدٌ فَوْقَ مَسْرَحِهِ
يَزِيدُadds فيto رَوْعَةِthe splendor الدُّنيَاof the world تَلاَقِيهِmeeting it
يَزِيدُ في رَوْعَةِ الدُّنيَا تَلاَقِيهِ
There, art is glory upon its stage;
Meeting it adds to the world's splendor.
مِسْكِينَةٌpoor هِيَshe وَقْدَthe blaze النَّارِof fire مَاnot عَرَفَتْshe knew
مِسْكِينَةٌ هِيَ وَقْدَ النَّارِ مَا عَرَفَتْ
وْand جَرَّبْتُهُI tried it لَزَادَتْshe would have increased فيin تَلَظَّيهِits blazing
وْ جَرَّبْتُهُ لَزَادَتْ في تَلَظَّيهِ
Poor is she: she has not known the blaze of fire;
And I have tried it—she would have added to its blazing.
وَand ذَلِكَthat الجَسَدُbody النَّاريّfiery لَوْif عُزِفَتْwere played
وَ ذَلِكَ الجَسَدُ النَّاريّ لَوْ عُزِفَتْ
عَلَيْهِupon it أَهْوَاؤُنَّاour passions رَقَّتْwould soften حَوَاشِيهِits edges
عَلَيْهِ أَهْوَاؤُنَّا رَقَّتْ حَوَاشِيهِ
And that fiery body—if there were played
Upon it our passions, its edges would soften,
وَand جَاءَwould come يَسْعَىhastening عَلَىwith شَوْقٍlonging يُنَاشِدُنَاimploring us
وَ جَاءَ يَسْعَى عَلَى شَوْقٍ يُنَاشِدُنَا
أَنْto نُوفِدَwe send forth النَّارَfire دِفْئاًas warmth فيin نَوَاحِيهِits reaches
أَنْ نُوفِدَ النَّارَ دِفْئاً في نَوَاحِيهِ
And it would come hastening with longing, entreating us
To send fire as warmth throughout its reaches.
وَand النَّارُfire بِالنَّارِwith fire لَوْif أَدْنَتْshe brought near مَوَاقِدَهَاher hearths
وَ النَّارُ بِالنَّارِ لَوْ أَدْنَتْ مَوَاقِدَهَا
مِنْto جَمْرِةan ember ِأَيْقَظَتْshe awakened وَجْداًpassion تُدَارِيهِshe conceals it
مِنْ جَمْرِة ِأَيْقَظَتْ وَجْداً تُدَارِيهِ
And fire with fire—if she brought her hearths close
To an ember, she would awaken a passion she conceals.
إِذَاًthen لَعَادَwould return إِليto الأَكْوَانِthe worlds رَوْنَقُهَاtheir luster
إِذَاً لَعَادَ إِلي الأَكْوَانِ رَوْنَقُهَا
وَand طَالَعَwould greet الأُفْقَthe horizon فَجْرٌa dawn كَادَalmost يَطْوِيهِenfold it
وَ طَالَعَ الأُفْقَ فَجْرٌ كَادَ يَطْوِيهِ
Then the worlds would regain their luster,
And a dawn would greet the horizon, almost enfolding it.
تَاللهby God لَوْif سَارَتِfollowed الأَفْلاَكُthe celestial spheres سِيَرَتهاher course
تَالله لَوْ سَارَتِ الأَفْلاَكُ سِيَرَتها
لَكَانَthere would be مِنْهَاof them قَطِيعٌa herd فيamong جَوَارِيهِhis handmaids
لَكَانَ مِنْهَا قَطِيعٌ في جَوَارِيهِ
By God, if the celestial spheres followed her course,
A herd of them would be among his handmaids.
لَسَوْفَsurely will تَأْتِيcome ِبهَاwith her الأَيَّامُthe days كَاسِفَةًdimmed
لَسَوْفَ تَأْتِي ِبهَا الأَيَّامُ كَاسِفَةً
لِتنْشُدَto seek الظِلَّshade فيin مجْرىthe course سَوَاقِيهِof his waterchannels
لِتنْشُدَ الظِلَّ في مجْرى سَوَاقِيهِ
The days will surely bring her, dimmed,
To seek shade along the course of his waterchannels.
وَand سَوْفَwill يُنْشِدُهَاhe recites to her مَاwhat كَانَhe had سَجَّلَهُrecorded it
وَ سَوْفَ يُنْشِدُهَا مَا كَانَ سَجَّلَهُ
يَوْمَon the day اللَّقَاءِof meeting وَwhile عُمْقُthe depth الوَجْدِof passion يُشْجِيهِsaddens him
يَوْمَ اللَّقَاءِ وَ عُمْقُ الوَجْدِ يُشْجِيهِ
And he will recite to her what he had recorded
On the day of meeting, while profound passion saddened him:
يَاO رَائِعَwondrous الوَرْدِrose مَزْهُوَّاًproud بِطَلْعَتهِof its countenance
يَا رَائِعَ الوَرْدِ مَزْهُوَّاً بِطَلْعَتهِ
لَسَوْفَsurely will تَنْدَمُyou regret عَمَّاfor what كُنْتَyou used to تَأْتيهِdo it
لَسَوْفَ تَنْدَمُ عَمَّا كُنْتَ تَأْتيهِ
O wondrous rose, proud of your countenance,
You will surely regret what you used to do.
وَand قَدْmay تَرَانَاyou see us نَزُورُvisiting الرَّوْضَthe garden أَرْمَضَهُscorched it
وَ قَدْ تَرَانَا نَزُورُ الرَّوْضَ أَرْمَضَهُ
وَهْجُthe blaze الهَجِيرِof noon وَعَيْثٌand havoc فيin نَوَاحِيهِits reaches
وَهْجُ الهَجِيرِ وَعَيْثٌ في نَوَاحِيهِ
You may see us visiting the garden, scorched
By the blaze of noon and havoc throughout its reaches.
فَمَاso not أَتَيْنَاهُwe came to it عَنْfrom شَوْقٍlonging لحَاضِرهِfor its present
فَمَا أَتَيْنَاهُ عَنْ شَوْقٍ لحَاضِرهِ
لَكِنْbut أَتَيْنَاهُwe came to it مِنْout of عَطْفٍtenderness لمَاضِيهِfor its past
لَكِنْ أَتَيْنَاهُ مِنْ عَطْفٍ لمَاضِيهِ
So we did not come out of longing for its present,
But came out of tenderness for its past.
قَدْindeed كَانَwas مَنْظَرُهُits appearance بِالأَمْسِyesterday يُبْهِجُنَاdelighting us
قَدْ كَانَ مَنْظَرُهُ بِالأَمْسِ يُبْهِجُنَا
وَand اليَوْمَtoday جِئْنَاwe came بِشَوْقِwith the longing الأَمْسِof yesterday نَرْثِيهِto mourn it
وَ اليَوْمَ جِئْنَا بِشَوْقِ الأَمْسِ نَرْثِيهِ
Its appearance delighted us yesterday,
And today we have come, with yesterday's longing, to mourn it.
قَدْindeed صَوَّحَhas withered الوَرْدُthe rose لاَno لَوْنٌcolor وَand لاَno أَرَجٌfragrance
قَدْ صَوَّحَ الوَرْدُ لاَ لَوْنٌ وَ لاَ أَرَجٌ
غَاضَتْebbed نَضَارَتُهُits freshness إِذwhen غَابَwas gone سَاقِيهِthe one who watered it
غَاضَتْ نَضَارَتُهُ إِذ غَابَ سَاقِيهِ
The rose has withered: no color and no fragrance;
Its freshness ebbed when the one who watered it was gone.
وَand قِيمَةُthe worth الوَرْدِof the rose لَيْسَis not الوَرْدُthe rose صَانِعَهَاits maker
وَ قِيمَةُ الوَرْدِ لَيْسَ الوَرْدُ صَانِعَهَا
بَلْrather قِيمَةُthe worth الوَرْدِof the rose شيءٌsomething عِنْدَwith رائِيهِits beholder
بَلْ قِيمَةُ الوَرْدِ شيءٌ عِنْدَ رائِيهِ
And the rose's worth is not of the rose's own making;
Rather, the rose's worth lies with its beholder.
Translation model: Sol 6.1