ظَنَّhe suspected الظُّنُونَsuspicions فَبَاتَso he spent the night غَيْرَwithout مُوَسَّدِa pillow
ظَنَّ الظُّنُونَ فَبَاتَ غَيْرَ مُوَسَّدِ
حَيْرَانَbewildered يَكْلأwatching مُسْتَنِيرَthe shining الْفَرْقَدِFarqad
حَيْرَانَ يَكْلأ مُسْتَنِيرَ الْفَرْقَدِ
He entertained suspicions and spent the night without a pillow,
He suspected, so he slept uneasily
bewildered, watching the radiant star Farqad.
Restless, biting his illuminated pillow.
تُلْوِيwring بِهِhim الذُّكُراتُmemories حَتَّىuntil إِنَّهُindeed he
تُلْوِي بِهِ الذُّكُراتُ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ
لَيَظَلُّsurely remains مُلْقَىcast down بَيْنَbetween أَيْدِيthe hands of الْعُوَّدِsickbed visitors
لَيَظَلُّ مُلْقَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِي الْعُوَّدِ
Memories wring him until he
Memories torment him until he
lies prostrate before his sickbed visitors.
Lies discarded amidst outstretched hands.
طَوْراًat times يَهُمُّhe considers بِأَنthat يَزِلَّbring ruin بِنَفْسِهِupon himself
طَوْراً يَهُمُّ بِأَن يَزِلَّ بِنَفْسِهِ
سَرَفاًrecklessly وتَاراتٍand at other times يَمِيلُhe leans عَلَىupon الْيَدِthe hand
سَرَفاً وتَاراتٍ يَمِيلُ عَلَى الْيَدِ
At times he thinks of bringing ruin upon himself,
Sometimes he considers injuring himself
recklessly; at other times he leans upon his hand.
Recklessly, and leans on his hand.
فَكَأَنَّمَاas though افْتَرَسَتْdevoured بِطَائِرِthe bird of حِلْمِهِhis reason
فَكَأَنَّمَا افْتَرَسَتْ بِطَائِرِ حِلْمِهِ
مَشْمُولَةٌnorth-wind-chilled wine أَوْor سَاغَhe swallowed سُمَّthe venom of الأَسْوَدِthe black serpent
مَشْمُولَةٌ أَوْ سَاغَ سُمَّ الأَسْوَدِ
As though the bird of his reason had been devoured
It's as if his patience was preyed upon
by north-wind-chilled wine, or he had swallowed a black serpent's venom.
By an owl, or he drank black poison.
قالُواthey said غَداًtomorrow يَوْمُthe day of الرَّحِيلِdeparture وَمَنْand who لَهُمْfor them
قالُوا غَداً يَوْمُ الرَّحِيلِ وَمَنْ لَهُمْ
خَوْفَfor fear of التَّفَرُّقِparting أَنْthat أَعِيشَI may live إِلَىuntil غَدِtomorrow
خَوْفَ التَّفَرُّقِ أَنْ أَعِيشَ إِلَى غَدِ
They said, 'Tomorrow is departure day'; but who can assure them—
They said tomorrow is the day of departure, and for those
in my fear of parting—that I shall live until tomorrow?
Who fear separation, may I live until tomorrow.
هِيَit is مُهْجَةٌa heart ذَهَبَwent off الْهَوَىlove بِشَغَافِهَاwith its heart's core
هِيَ مُهْجَةٌ ذَهَبَ الْهَوَى بِشَغَافِهَا
مَعْمُودَةٌstricken إِنْif لَمْhas not تَمُتْdied فَكَأَنْthen as though قَدِalready
مَعْمُودَةٌ إِنْ لَمْ تَمُتْ فَكَأَنْ قَدِ
It is a heart whose deepest core love has carried away,
It is an inflamed love that passion took away,
stricken: if it has not died, it is as though it had.
A baptized one, as if she did not die she did.
يَاO أَهْلَpeople of ذاthis الْبَيْتِhouse الرَّفِيعِlofty مَنَارُهُits beacon
يَا أَهْلَ ذا الْبَيْتِ الرَّفِيعِ مَنَارُهُ
أَدْعُوكُمُI call to you يَاO قَوْمُpeople دَعْوَةَthe cry of مُقْصَدِone mortally wounded
أَدْعُوكُمُ يَا قَوْمُ دَعْوَةَ مُقْصَدِ
O people of this house whose beacon rises high,
O people of this lofty house with a minaret!
I call to you, O people, with a mortally wounded man's cry.
I call you, o people, with intent.
إِنِّيindeed I فَقَدْتُhave lost الْيَوْمَtoday بَيْنَamong بُيُوتِكُمْyour houses
إِنِّي فَقَدْتُ الْيَوْمَ بَيْنَ بُيُوتِكُمْ
عَقْلِيmy reason فَرُدُّوهُso restore it عَلَيَّto me لأَهْتَدِيso I may find my way
عَقْلِي فَرُدُّوهُ عَلَيَّ لأَهْتَدِي
I have lost today, among your houses,
Today amongst your homes I lost
my reason; restore it to me, that I may find my way.
My mind, so give it back so I may be guided,
أَوْor فَاسْتَقِيدُونِيthen grant me redress بِبَعْضِthrough one of قِيَانِكُمْyour singing slave-girls
أَوْ فَاسْتَقِيدُونِي بِبَعْضِ قِيَانِكُمْ
حَتَّىuntil ترُدَّshe restores إِلَيَّto me نَفْسِيmy soul أَوْor تَدِيpays blood-money
حَتَّى ترُدَّ إِلَيَّ نَفْسِي أَوْ تَدِي
Or let me exact redress from one of your singing slave-girls,
Or guide me with some of your leaders,
until she restores my soul to me or pays its blood-price.
Until my soul returns or perishes.
بَلْrather يَاO أَخَاcompanion of السَّيْفِthe sword الطَّوِيلِlong نِجَادُهُits baldric
بَلْ يَا أَخَا السَّيْفِ الطَّوِيلِ نِجَادُهُ
إِنْif أَنْتَyou لَمْdo not تَحْمِprotect النَّزِيلَthe guest فَأَغْمِدِthen sheathe it
إِنْ أَنْتَ لَمْ تَحْمِ النَّزِيلَ فَأَغْمِدِ
Rather, O man of the sword with its long baldric,
Rather, o brother of the long sword, its sheath
if you do not protect the guest, then sheathe it.
If you do not shelter the guest, then sheathe it!
هَذِيthese لِحَاظُglances of الْغِيدِgraceful women بَيْنَamong شِعَابِكُمْyour ravines
هَذِي لِحَاظُ الْغِيدِ بَيْنَ شِعَابِكُمْ
فَتَكَتْstruck down بِنَاus خَلْساًstealthily بِغَيْرِwithout مُهَنَّدِan Indian-steel sword
فَتَكَتْ بِنَا خَلْساً بِغَيْرِ مُهَنَّدِ
These glances of graceful women among your ravines
This is the clothing of the brave between your crevices
have struck us down stealthily, without an Indian-steel sword.
So it deceived us secretly without unsheathing.
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery نَاعِمَةِtender in الصِّبَاyouth بَدَوِيَّةٍBedouin girl
مِنْ كُلِّ نَاعِمَةِ الصِّبَا بَدَوِيَّةٍ
رَيَّاlush with الشَّبابِyouth سَلِيمَةِflawless in الْمُتَجَرّدِthe unclothed body
رَيَّا الشَّبابِ سَلِيمَةِ الْمُتَجَرّدِ
From every Bedouin girl of tender youth,
Of every gentle grace, nomadic,
lush with youth, flawless in her unclothed form,
Pure, stripped youth.
هَيْفَاءَslender-waisted إِنْif خَطَرَتْshe sways سَبَتْshe captivates وإِذَاand when رَنَتْshe gazes
هَيْفَاءَ إِنْ خَطَرَتْ سَبَتْ وإِذَا رَنَتْ
سَلَبَتْshe steals فُؤَادَthe heart of الْعَابِدِthe worshipper الْمُتَشَدِّدِaustere
سَلَبَتْ فُؤَادَ الْعَابِدِ الْمُتَشَدِّدِ
slender-waisted: when she sways, she captivates, and when she gazes,
Coquettish, if she passed she captivated, and if she sang,
she steals the heart of the austere worshipper.
She stole the heart of the devout worshipper.
يَخْفِضْنَthey lower مِنْsome of أَبْصَارِهِنَّtheir gazes تَخَتُّلاًto ensnare
يَخْفِضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ تَخَتُّلاً
لِلنَّفْسِthe soul فِعْلَin the manner of الْقَانِتَاتِdevout women الْعُبَّدِworshippers
لِلنَّفْسِ فِعْلَ الْقَانِتَاتِ الْعُبَّدِ
They lower their eyes to set a snare
They lower their eyes flirtatiously,
for the soul, as devout women at worship do.
Sinning like the humble worshippers.
فَإِذَاthen when أَصَبْنَthey encounter أَخَاa man of الشَّبَابِyouth سَلَبْنَهُthey plunder him
فَإِذَا أَصَبْنَ أَخَا الشَّبَابِ سَلَبْنَهُ
وَرَمَيْنَand they pierce مُهْجَتَهُhis heart بِطَرْفٍwith a glance أَصْيَدِhaughty
وَرَمَيْنَ مُهْجَتَهُ بِطَرْفٍ أَصْيَدِ
When they find a youthful man, they plunder him
So if they encounter the brother of youth, they plunder him,
and pierce his heart with a haughty glance.
And throw his love with a glance that hunts.
وَإِذَاand when لَمَحْنَthey glimpse أَخَاa man of الْمَشِيبِgray hair قَلَيْنَهُthey loathe him
وَإِذَا لَمَحْنَ أَخَا الْمَشِيبِ قَلَيْنَهُ
وَسَتَرْنَand they conceal ضَاحِيَةَthe exposed parts of الْمَحَاسِنِtheir charms بِالْيَدِwith the hand
وَسَتَرْنَ ضَاحِيَةَ الْمَحَاسِنِ بِالْيَدِ
But when they glimpse a gray-haired man, they loathe him
And if they notice an aging man, they reject him
and hide their exposed charms with their hands.
And conceal the cheeks of beauty with a hand.
فَلَئِنْyet even if غَدَوْتُI have become دَرِيئَةًa target لعُيُونِهَاfor her eyes
فَلَئِنْ غَدَوْتُ دَرِيئَةً لعُيُونِهَا
فَلَقدْthen indeed أَفُلُّI blunt زَعَارَةَthe ferocity of الْمُتَمَرِّدِthe rebel
فَلَقدْ أَفُلُّ زَعَارَةَ الْمُتَمَرِّدِ
Yet though I have become a target for her eyes,
So if tomorrow I seem unpleasant to their eyes
I surely blunt the rebel's ferocity.
I once glittered like the rebellious, defiant one.
وَلَقَدْand indeed شَهِدْتُI witnessed الْحَرْبَwar فيat إِبَّانِهَاits height
وَلَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ الْحَرْبَ في إِبَّانِهَا
وَلَبِئْسَand how wretched رَاعِيthe guardian of الْحَيِّthe clan إِنْif لَمْI do not أَشْهَدِattend
وَلَبِئْسَ رَاعِي الْحَيِّ إِنْ لَمْ أَشْهَدِ
I have indeed witnessed war at its height,
And I witnessed war in its time,
and a wretched guardian of the clan I would be, did I not attend.
How evil the guardian of the living if I don't witness!
تَتَقَصَّفُshatter الْمُرَّانُashwood lances فِيwithin حَجَراتِهَاits bounds
تَتَقَصَّفُ الْمُرَّانُ فِي حَجَراتِهَا
وَيَعُودُand becomes فِيهاin it السَّيْفُthe sword مِثْلَlike الأَدْرَدِa toothless man
وَيَعُودُ فِيها السَّيْفُ مِثْلَ الأَدْرَدِ
Ashwood lances shatter within its bounds,
The abodes within them act coyly
and in it the sword becomes like a toothless man.
And the sword returns in them like an unsheathed blade.
عَصَفَتْswept violently بهاthrough it رِيحُthe wind of الرَّدَىdeath فَتَدَفَّقَتْso it surged
عَصَفَتْ بها رِيحُ الرَّدَى فَتَدَفَّقَتْ
بِدَمِwith the blood of الْفَوَارِسِhorsemen كَالأَتِيِّlike a torrent الْمزْبِدِfoaming
بِدَمِ الْفَوَارِسِ كَالأَتِيِّ الْمزْبِدِ
The wind of death swept through it, and it surged
The winds of vileness blew upon them, so they overflowed
with horsemen's blood, like a foaming torrent.
With the blood of knights like the abundant, frothing torrent.
مَاI did not زِلْتُcease أَطْعَنُthrusting بَيْنَهاamid it حَتَّىuntil انْثَنَتْit receded
مَا زِلْتُ أَطْعَنُ بَيْنَها حَتَّى انْثَنَتْ
عَنْaway from مِثْلِsomething like حَاشِيَةِthe hem of الرَّدَاءِthe cloak الْمُجْسَدِsaffron-dyed
عَنْ مِثْلِ حَاشِيَةِ الرَّدَاءِ الْمُجْسَدِ
I kept thrusting amid it until it receded,
I kept stabbing between them until they bent
leaving something like the hem of a saffron-dyed cloak.
Like the hem of a thick robe.
وَلَقَدْand indeed هَبَطْتُI descended into الْغَيْثَrain-fed pasture يَلْمَعُgleaming نَوْرُهُits blossoms
وَلَقَدْ هَبَطْتُ الْغَيْثَ يَلْمَعُ نَوْرُهُ
فِيin كُلِّevery وَضَّاحِradiant الأَسِرَّةِforehead lines أَغْيَدِsupple
فِي كُلِّ وَضَّاحِ الأَسِرَّةِ أَغْيَدِ
I have indeed descended into a rain-fed meadow, its flowers gleaming
And I descended rain whose light shone
in every bright-faced, supple bloom—
In every clear corner of the family abodes.
تَجْرِيrun بِهِthrough it الآرَامُgazelles بَيْنَamong مَنَاهِلٍwatering places
تَجْرِي بِهِ الآرَامُ بَيْنَ مَنَاهِلٍ
طَابَتْbecame pleasant مَوَارِدُهَاtheir waters وَظِلٍّand shade أَبْرَدِmost cool
طَابَتْ مَوَارِدُهَا وَظِلٍّ أَبْرَدِ
gazelles run there among watering places
It flows with blessings between springs -
whose waters are sweet, and shade most cool—
Its sources are good and its shade cooler.
بِمُضَمَّرٍon a lean steed أَرِنٍlively كَأَنَّas though سَرَاتَهُits upper back
بِمُضَمَّرٍ أَرِنٍ كَأَنَّ سَرَاتَهُ
بَعْدَafter الْحَمِيمِsweat سَبِيكَةٌan ingot مِنْof عَسْجَدِgold
بَعْدَ الْحَمِيمِ سَبِيكَةٌ مِنْ عَسْجَدِ
on a lean, lively steed, as though its back,
Deep brown as if its mane after perspiration
after sweating, were an ingot of gold.
Were cast iron from the blacksmith's.
خَلَصَتْremained unmarked لَهُfor it الْيُمْنَىthe right foreleg وَعَمَّand covered ثَلاثَةًthree
خَلَصَتْ لَهُ الْيُمْنَى وَعَمَّ ثَلاثَةً
مِنْهُof it الْبَيَاضُwhiteness إِلَىup to وَظِيفٍa shank أَجْرَدِsmooth
مِنْهُ الْبَيَاضُ إِلَى وَظِيفٍ أَجْرَدِ
Its right foreleg remained unmarked, while three
The right side is purely his, it extends to three:
of its legs were white up to the smooth shank.
The whiteness to the specified duty of one whose upper arm is stripped.
فَكَأَنَّمَاas though انْتَزعَit stripped الأَصِيلَlate afternoon رِدَاءَهُof its cloak
فَكَأَنَّمَا انْتَزعَ الأَصِيلَ رِدَاءَهُ
سَلَباًas plunder وَخَاضَand waded مِنَof الضُّحَىthe forenoon فِيinto مَوْرِدِa watering place
سَلَباً وَخَاضَ مِنَ الضُّحَى فِي مَوْرِدِ
It seemed to have stripped late afternoon of its cloak
It's as if he pulled off the natural cloak of the thoroughbred
as plunder, and waded into a pool of forenoon light.
Forcefully, and waded into the morning at a watering place.
زَجِلٌloud-voiced يُرَدِّدُrepeats فِيin اللَّهَاةِthe uvula صَهِيلَهُits neigh
زَجِلٌ يُرَدِّدُ فِي اللَّهَاةِ صَهِيلَهُ
رَفْعاًloudly كَزَمْزَمَةِlike the rumbling of الْحَبِيِّheaped clouds الْمُرْعِدِthundering
رَفْعاً كَزَمْزَمَةِ الْحَبِيِّ الْمُرْعِدِ
Loud-voiced, it repeats its neigh in its throat,
A stallion repeating its whinny in the meadows,
loud as the rumble of heaped, thundering clouds.
Lofty like the croaking of the resonating frog.
مُتَلَفِّتَاًlooking around عَنْtoward جَانِبَيهِits two sides يَهُزُّهُstirs it
مُتَلَفِّتَاً عَنْ جَانِبَيهِ يَهُزُّهُ
مَرَحُthe exuberance of الصِّبَاyouth كَالشَّارِبِlike a drinker الْمُتَغَرِِّدsinging merrily
مَرَحُ الصِّبَا كَالشَّارِبِ الْمُتَغَرِِّد
Looking to either side, it is stirred
Looking around him it sways him -
by youth's exuberance, like a drinker bursting into song.
The gentle breeze like the warbling drinker.
فإِذَاthen when ثَنَيْتَyou draw back لَهُfor it الْعِنَانَthe reins وَجَدْتَهُyou find it
فإِذَا ثَنَيْتَ لَهُ الْعِنَانَ وَجَدْتَهُ
يَمْطُوextending its stride كَسِيدِlike the wolf of الرَّدْهَةِthe rocky pool الْمُتَوَرِّدِcoming to drink
يَمْطُو كَسِيدِ الرَّدْهَةِ الْمُتَوَرِّدِ
When you draw in its reins, you find it
It's enough if when sensing something suddenly
stretching its stride like a wolf coming to drink at a rocky pool.
He bolts like the neigh of the burning father.
وإِذَاand when أَطَعْتَyou yield لَهُto it الْعِنَانَthe reins رَأَيْتَهُyou see it
وإِذَا أَطَعْتَ لَهُ الْعِنَانَ رَأَيْتَهُ
يَطْوِيfolding up الْمَهَامِهَtrackless wastes فَدْفَداًan open expanse فِيinto فَدْفَدِanother expanse
يَطْوِي الْمَهَامِهَ فَدْفَداً فِي فَدْفَدِ
And when you give it free rein, you see it
The firmness of his hooves does not pass over smooth stone
folding up the trackless wastes, expanse after expanse.
Except it slips on it with a slipperiness.
يَكْفِيكَsuffices you مِنْهُfrom it إِذَاwhen أَحَسَّit senses بِنَبْأَةٍa faint sound
يَكْفِيكَ مِنْهُ إِذَا أَحَسَّ بِنَبْأَةٍ
شَدُّa dash كَمَعْمَعَةِlike the roar of الأَباءِreeds الْمُوقَدِset ablaze
شَدُّ كَمَعْمَعَةِ الأَباءِ الْمُوقَدِ
All you need of it, when it hears a faint sound,
Good is the equipment when the lips contract
is a dash like the roar of a blazing reedbed.
On the day of distastefulness in intense white heat.
صُلْبُhard السَّنابِكِthe hooves لاnot يَمُرُّit passes بِجَلْمَدٍover a rock
صُلْبُ السَّنابِكِ لا يَمُرُّ بِجَلْمَدٍ
فِيin الشَّدِّthe gallop إِلَّاwithout رَضَّcrushing فِيهِinto it بِجَلْمَدِwith a rock
فِي الشَّدِّ إِلَّا رَضَّ فِيهِ بِجَلْمَدِ
Hard-hoofed, it never passes over a rock
And I drank wine between vine leaves
in its gallop without crushing it, rock against rock.
That smell of apple blossoms like dangling branches.
نِعْمَexcellent is الْعَتَادُthe equipment إِذَاwhen الشِّفَاهُthe lips تَقَلَّصَتْdraw back
نِعْمَ الْعَتَادُ إِذَا الشِّفَاهُ تَقَلَّصَتْ
يومَon the day of الْكَرِيهَةِbattle فيamid الْعَجَاجِthe dust-cloud الأَرْبَدِdusky
يومَ الْكَرِيهَةِ في الْعَجَاجِ الأَرْبَدِ
What fine battle-gear, when lips draw back
They toy with cups when they circulate
on battle's day amid the dusky dust-cloud.
Playing a game in which earnestness comes and goes.
وَلَقَدْand indeed شَرِبْتُI drank الْخَمْرَwine بَيْنَamong غَطارِفٍnoble men
وَلَقَدْ شَرِبْتُ الْخَمْرَ بَيْنَ غَطارِفٍ
شُمِّlofty الْمَعَاطِسِnoses كَالْغُصُونِlike boughs الْمُيَّدِswaying
شُمِّ الْمَعَاطِسِ كَالْغُصُونِ الْمُيَّدِ
I have indeed drunk wine among noble men,
They speak nothing but what desire ordered
high-nosed, like swaying boughs.
So their speech is like a polished garden, bright.
يَتَلاعَبُونَthey jest عَلَىover الْكُؤوسِthe cups إِذَاwhen جَرَتْthey circulate
يَتَلاعَبُونَ عَلَى الْكُؤوسِ إِذَا جَرَتْ
لَعِباًin play يَرُوحُgoes at evening الْجِدُّearnestness فِيهِin it وَيَغْتَدِيand comes at morning
لَعِباً يَرُوحُ الْجِدُّ فِيهِ وَيَغْتَدِي
They jest over the cups as they pass round,
On every shining forehead it's as if
in play where earnestness goes and comes.
A moon centered the wing of a dark night.
لاnot يَنْطِقُونَthey speak بِغَيْرِother than ماwhat أَمَرَcommands الْهَوَىpassion
لا يَنْطِقُونَ بِغَيْرِ ما أَمَرَ الْهَوَى
فَكَلامُهُمْso their speech كَالرَّوْضِlike a garden مَصْقُولٌpolished نَدِيdewy
فَكَلامُهُمْ كَالرَّوْضِ مَصْقُولٌ نَدِي
They utter only what passion commands,
But I entered many a singing-girl's tent
so their speech is like a garden, polished and dewy.
As the star glanced from the edges of bleary eyes.
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery وَضَّاحِradiant الْجَبينِbrow كَأَنَّهُas though he were
مِنْ كُلِّ وَضَّاحِ الْجَبينِ كَأَنَّهُ
قَمَرٌa moon تَوَسَّطَset amid جُنْحَthe darkness of لَيْلٍa night أَسْوَدِblack
قَمَرٌ تَوَسَّطَ جُنْحَ لَيْلٍ أَسْوَدِ
Each has a radiant brow, as though he were
She said, looking at me, "You exposed me
a moon amid the darkness of a black night.
So go back to your business, for men are on guard."
بَلْrather رُبَّmany a غَانِيَةٍbeautiful woman طَرَقْتُI visited by night خِبَاءَهَاher tent
بَلْ رُبَّ غَانِيَةٍ طَرَقْتُ خِبَاءَهَا
وَالنَّجْمُand the star يَطْرِفُblinks عَنْfrom لَواحِظِthe eyes of أَرْمَدِone with sore eyes
وَالنَّجْمُ يَطْرِفُ عَنْ لَواحِظِ أَرْمَدِ
Rather, many a beauty's tent I have visited by night,
I captivated her with words until she was content
while the star blinked with a sore-eyed gaze.
And folded her like the pliant with my hand.
قَالَتْshe said وَقَدْhaving already نَظَرَتْlooked إِلَيَّat me فَضَحْتَنِيyou disgraced me
قَالَتْ وَقَدْ نَظَرَتْ إِلَيَّ فَضَحْتَنِي
فَارْجِعْso return لِشَأْنِكَto your affairs فَالرِّجَالُfor the men بِمَرْصَدِare keeping watch
فَارْجِعْ لِشَأْنِكَ فَالرِّجَالُ بِمَرْصَدِ
She said, looking at me, 'You have disgraced me;
I kept denying her sleep, seducing
so go about your business: the men are keeping watch.'
Until we spent the night of embers.
فَخَلَبْتُهَاso I beguiled her بِالْقَولِwith words حَتَّىuntil رُضْتُهاI tamed her
فَخَلَبْتُهَا بِالْقَولِ حَتَّى رُضْتُها
وَطَوَيْتُهَاand I folded her طَيَّas one folds الْحَبِيرَةِpatterned cloth بِالْيَدِby hand
وَطَوَيْتُهَا طَيَّ الْحَبِيرَةِ بِالْيَدِ
Then I beguiled her with words until I tamed her,
She startled from the birds of dawn
and folded her as patterned cloth is folded by hand.
Delicately, and startled from the hoopoe's call,
مَاI did not زِلْتُcease أَمْنَعُهَاdenying her الْمَنامَsleep غَوايَةًwantonly
مَا زِلْتُ أَمْنَعُهَا الْمَنامَ غَوايَةً
حَتَّىuntil لَقَدْindeed بِتْنَاwe spent the night بِلَيْلِin the night of الأَنْقَدِthe hedgehog
حَتَّى لَقَدْ بِتْنَا بِلَيْلِ الأَنْقَدِ
I kept denying her sleep in wantonness,
Until when the breeze slept, and the
until we passed a night like the hedgehog's.
Scattered stars followed like frightened does.
رَوْعَاءُtimorous تَفْزَعُshe takes fright مِنْat عَصَافِيرِthe sparrows of الضُّحَىthe forenoon
رَوْعَاءُ تَفْزَعُ مِنْ عَصَافِيرِ الضُّحَى
تَرَفاًfrom pampering وَتَجْزَعُand she quails مِنْat صِيَاحِthe cry of الْهُدْهُدِthe hoopoe
تَرَفاً وَتَجْزَعُ مِنْ صِيَاحِ الْهُدْهُدِ
Timorous, she takes fright at the forenoon sparrows,
She said, "You entered and your being here last night
in her softness, and quails at the hoopoe's cry.
Leaves the shame of the pillow."
حَتَّىat last إِذاwhen نَمَّbetrayed the secret الصَّبَاthe east wind وَتَتَابَعَتْand followed in succession
حَتَّى إِذا نَمَّ الصَّبَا وَتَتَابَعَتْ
زِيَمُscattered groups الْكَواكِبِof stars كَالْمَهَاlike oryx الْمُتَبَدِّدِscattered
زِيَمُ الْكَواكِبِ كَالْمَهَا الْمُتَبَدِّدِ
At last, when the east wind told on us and, one after another,
So I stroked her until her heart calmed
clusters of stars passed like scattered oryx,
And alleviated her fear with wise thinking,
قَالَتْshe said دَخَلْتَyou entered وَمَاand not إِخَالُكَI think you بَارِحاًdeparting
قَالَتْ دَخَلْتَ وَمَا إِخَالُكَ بَارِحاً
إِلَّاexcept وَقَدْand already أَبْقَيْتَyou have left behind عَارَthe shame of الْمُسْنَدِtime
إِلَّا وَقَدْ أَبْقَيْتَ عَارَ الْمُسْنَدِ
she said, 'You came in, and I do not think you will leave
And I left rending through enemy ranks
without leaving behind a shame for all time.'
Masked, with my sword gleaming in my hand.
فَمَسَحْتُهَاso I caressed her حَتَّىuntil اطْمَأَنَّgrew calm فُؤَادُهاher heart
فَمَسَحْتُهَا حَتَّى اطْمَأَنَّ فُؤَادُها
وَنَفَيْتُand I banished رَوْعَتَهَاher fear بِرَأْيٍwith a plan مُحْصَدِfirmly wrought
وَنَفَيْتُ رَوْعَتَهَا بِرَأْيٍ مُحْصَدِ
So I caressed her until her heart grew calm,
So excellent is that life, if it does not vanish,
and dispelled her fear with a firm plan.
And excellent is this life, if it does not end!
وَخَرَجْتُand I went out أَخْتَرِقُbreaking through الصُّفُوفَthe ranks مِنَof الْعِدَاthe enemies
وَخَرَجْتُ أَخْتَرِقُ الصُّفُوفَ مِنَ الْعِدَا
مُتَلَثِّمَاًwith my face veiled وَالسَّيْفُand the sword يَلْمَعُgleams فِيin يَدِيmy hand
مُتَلَثِّمَاً وَالسَّيْفُ يَلْمَعُ فِي يَدِي
And I went out, cutting through the ranks of the enemy,
The youth hopes in life for his longevity
my face veiled, the sword gleaming in my hand.
And pleasures, but man is not immortal.
فَلَنِعْمَso how truly fine ذَاكَthat الْعَيْشُlife لَوْif only لَمْit had not يَنْقَضِended
فَلَنِعْمَ ذَاكَ الْعَيْشُ لَوْ لَمْ يَنْقَضِ
وَلَنِعْمَand how truly fine هَذَاthis الْعَيْشُlife إِنْif لَمْit does not يَنْفَدِrun out
وَلَنِعْمَ هَذَا الْعَيْشُ إِنْ لَمْ يَنْفَدِ
How fine that life was—if only it had not ended!
And how fine this life is, if it does not run out!
يَرْجُوhopes الْفَتَىthe young man فِيin الدَّهْرِthe course of time طُولَthe length of حَيَاتِهِhis life
يَرْجُو الْفَتَى فِي الدَّهْرِ طُولَ حَيَاتِهِ
وَنَعِيمِهِand his bliss وَالْمَرْءُyet man غَيْرُnot مُخَلَّدِimmortal
وَنَعِيمِهِ وَالْمَرْءُ غَيْرُ مُخَلَّدِ
A young man hopes for long life in this world
and lasting bliss; yet no man is immortal.
Partial English translation: 92 of 96 Arabic lines translated.