لِهَوَىfor love of الْكَوَاعِبِbudding-breasted maidens ذِمَّةٌa covenant لاnot تُخْفَرُis violated
لِهَوَى الْكَوَاعِبِ ذِمَّةٌ لا تُخْفَرُ
وَأَخُوand a man of الْوَفَاءِfaithfulness بِعَهْدِهِin his pledge لاnot يَغْدِرُacts treacherously
وَأَخُو الْوَفَاءِ بِعَهْدِهِ لا يَغْدِرُ
Love of budding-breasted maidens has a covenant never broken,
For the passion of beautiful women there is a pact unbroken,
and a faithful man never betrays his pledge.
And a friend of loyalty keeps his word, never deceiving.
فَعَلامَso why يَنْهَانِيforbids me الْعَذُولُthe reproacher عَنِfrom الصِّبَاyouthful love
فَعَلامَ يَنْهَانِي الْعَذُولُ عَنِ الصِّبَا
أَوَلَيْسَand is it not أَنَّthat هَوَىthe desire of النُّفُوسِsouls مُقَدَّرُordained
أَوَلَيْسَ أَنَّ هَوَى النُّفُوسِ مُقَدَّرُ
So why does the reproacher forbid me youthful love?
Why then does censure bar me from loving one still young?
Is it not true that the souls' desire is ordained?
Is not the soul's desire something fated and ordained?
قَدْindeed كَانَthere was لِيfor me فِيin بَعْضِsome of مَاwhat صَنَعَwrought الْهَوَىlove
قَدْ كَانَ لِي فِي بَعْضِ مَا صَنَعَ الْهَوَى
عُذْرٌan excuse وَلَكِنْbut أَيْنَwhere مَنْone who يَتَبَصَّرُsees clearly
عُذْرٌ وَلَكِنْ أَيْنَ مَنْ يَتَبَصَّرُ
For some of what love wrought, I had
For some of the madness wrought by love I have excuse,
an excuse—but where is anyone who sees clearly?
Though who is there to see and understand?
وَمِنَand among الْبَلِيَّةِaffliction غَافِلٌone heedless عَمَّاof what جَنَتْhas inflicted
وَمِنَ الْبَلِيَّةِ غَافِلٌ عَمَّا جَنَتْ
يَدُهُhis hand عَلَيَّupon me وَلائِمٌand a reproacher لاnot يَعْذِرُgrants an excuse
يَدُهُ عَلَيَّ وَلائِمٌ لا يَعْذِرُ
And among afflictions is a man heedless of what
Oblivious of my torment a critic blames unheeding,
his hand has wrought against me, and a reproacher who grants no excuse.
Not knowing what kohl of the beloved has blackened his eyes,
لَمْnot يَدْرِknows مَنْone whose كَحَلَlined with kohl الْكَرَىslumber أَجْفَانَهُhis eyelids
لَمْ يَدْرِ مَنْ كَحَلَ الْكَرَى أَجْفَانَهُ
مَاذَاwhat يُكَابِدُendures فِيin الْهَوَىlove مَنْone who يَسْهَرُstays awake
مَاذَا يُكَابِدُ فِي الْهَوَى مَنْ يَسْهَرُ
One whose eyelids are lined with slumber's kohl does not know
Or what suffering is borne by the sleepless lover.
what one who stays awake endures in love.
O you, blind to my heart, where a flame bursts its cage,
يَاO غَافِلاًheedless one عَنِّيof me وَبَيْنَwhile between جَوانِحِيmy ribs
يَا غَافِلاً عَنِّي وَبَيْنَ جَوانِحِي
لَهَبٌa flame يَكَادُalmost لَهُbecause of it الْحَشَاthe inward heart يَتَفَطَّرُsplits apart
لَهَبٌ يَكَادُ لَهُ الْحَشَا يَتَفَطَّرُ
O you heedless of me, while between my ribs
Let me unburden to you but a little of my inner world,
burns a flame that almost rends my inner heart!
And judge as you please, for the choice now is yours.
دَعْنِيlet me أَبُثكَconfide to you بَعْضَsome of مَاwhat أَنَاI وَاجِدٌam feeling
دَعْنِي أَبُثكَ بَعْضَ مَا أَنَا وَاجِدٌ
وَاحْكُمْand judge بِمَاaccording to what تَهْوَىyou desire فَأَنْتَfor you مُخَيَّرُare free to choose
وَاحْكُمْ بِمَا تَهْوَى فَأَنْتَ مُخَيَّرُ
Let me confide to you some of what I feel,
Had you but seen the secrets of my inner being,
and judge as you wish, for the choice is yours.
You would know what blood is shed for love of you.
فَلَوfor if اطَّلَعْتَyou looked عَلَىupon تَبَارِيحِthe torments of الْجَوَىburning passion
فَلَو اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَى تَبَارِيحِ الْجَوَى
لَعَلِمْتَyou would surely know أَيُّwhat دَمٍblood بِحُبِّكَfor love of you يُهْدَرُis squandered
لَعَلِمْتَ أَيُّ دَمٍ بِحُبِّكَ يُهْدَرُ
For if you looked upon the torments of burning passion,
Before your love I never knew I could endure
you would know what blood is squandered for love of you.
Griefs bitter brew, and show such patience.
مَاnot كُنْتُI was أَعْلَمُknowing قَبْلَbefore حُبِّكَloving you أَنَّنِيthat I
مَا كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ قَبْلَ حُبِّكَ أَنَّنِي
أُغْضِيclose my eyes عَلىto مَضَضِthe sting of الْهَوانِhumiliation وَأَصْبِرُand endure
أُغْضِي عَلى مَضَضِ الْهَوانِ وَأَصْبِرُ
Before loving you, I never knew that I
With a mere glance of your eye you brought me to love -
would close my eyes to humiliation's sting, and endure.
A look is the frailest, yet strongest, of weapons.
أَوْرَدْتَنِيyou led me to water بلِحاظِwith the glances of عَيْنِكَyour eye مَوْرِداًa watering place
أَوْرَدْتَنِي بلِحاظِ عَيْنِكَ مَوْرِداً
لِلْحُبِّof love مَاnot لِلْقَلْبِfor the heart عَنْهُaway from it مَصْدَرُa way out
لِلْحُبِّ مَا لِلْقَلْبِ عَنْهُ مَصْدَرُ
With your eye's glances you led me to a watering place
Before the spell of those heavy-lidded eyes
of love, from which the heart has no way out.
I never knew how eyes of languor could bewitch.
هِيَit نَظْرَةٌa glance كَانَتْwas ذَرِيعَةَa means to صَبْوَةٍinfatuation
هِيَ نَظْرَةٌ كَانَتْ ذَرِيعَةَ صَبْوَةٍ
وَاللَّحْظُand the glance أَضْعَفُthe weakest مَاwhat يَكُونُexists وَأَقْدَرُand the most powerful
وَاللَّحْظُ أَضْعَفُ مَا يَكُونُ وَأَقْدَرُ
It was a glance that became the means of infatuation;
They have wronged the lovely fair one, would that they knew
and a glance is the frailest thing there is, and the mightiest.
What magic may lie in eyes and slender shape!
مَاnot كُنْتُI was أَعْلَمُknowing قَبْلَbefore وَحْيِthe revelation of جُفُونِهَاher eyelids
مَا كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ قَبْلَ وَحْيِ جُفُونِهَا
أَنَّthat الْعُيُونَthe eyes الْجُؤْذُرِيَّةَfawnlike تَسْحَرُbewitch
أَنَّ الْعُيُونَ الْجُؤْذُرِيَّةَ تَسْحَرُ
Before her eyelids' revelation, I did not know
O you who mock valiant horsemen in battle's midst,
that fawnlike eyes can bewitch.
Your lance falls short of your opponent by far.
ظَلَمُواthey wronged الأَسِنَّةَthe spearheads خَاطِئِينَbeing mistaken وَلَيْتَهُمْand would that they
ظَلَمُوا الأَسِنَّةَ خَاطِئِينَ وَلَيْتَهُمْ
عَلِمُواknew بِمَاof what صَنَعَwrought السِّنَانُthe spearhead الأَحْوَرُdark-pupiled and bright-eyed
عَلِمُوا بِمَا صَنَعَ السِّنَانُ الأَحْوَرُ
They wronged the spearheads in error; if only they
What are lances to glances, what mail coats to the glance
knew what the dark-eyed spearhead has wrought!
Of bewitching eyes where beauty and magic abide?
أَمُطَاعِنَO jouster with الْفُرْسَانِthe knights فِيamid حَمَسِthe fury of الْوَغَىbattle
أَمُطَاعِنَ الْفُرْسَانِ فِي حَمَسِ الْوَغَى
أَقْصِرْdesist فَرُمْحُكَfor your spear عَنْthan غَريمِكَyour adversary أَقْصَرُis shorter
أَقْصِرْ فَرُمْحُكَ عَنْ غَريمِكَ أَقْصَرُ
O jouster with knights amid battle's fury,
No coat of mail can withstand that piercing glance,
desist, for your spear falls short of your adversary.
No armour save a man when those eyes assail.
أَيْنَwhere الْرِّمَاحُthe spears مِنَbeside الْقُدُودِgraceful figures وَأَيْنَand where مِنْbeside
أَيْنَ الْرِّمَاحُ مِنَ الْقُدُودِ وَأَيْنَ مِنْ
لَحْظٍa glance تَهِيمُyou are enraptured بِهِby it السِّنَانُthe spearhead الأَخْزَرُsquint-eyed
لَحْظٍ تَهِيمُ بِهِ السِّنَانُ الأَخْزَرُ
What are spears beside graceful figures, and what, beside
Loveliness has weapons when gathered all at once
a glance that enthralls you, is the squint-eyed spearhead?
Against which no defences, no wards could avail.
هَيْهَاتَfar from possible يَثْبُتُstands firm فِيin الوَقِيعَةِbattle دَارِعٌan armored man
هَيْهَاتَ يَثْبُتُ فِي الوَقِيعَةِ دَارِعٌ
يَسْطُوassails عَلَيْهِhim مُخَلْخَلٌone wearing anklets وَمُسَوَّرُand one wearing bracelets
يَسْطُو عَلَيْهِ مُخَلْخَلٌ وَمُسَوَّرُ
No armored man can stand firm in battle
A mere look is a blade that slashes, each lovely tress
when one adorned with anklets and bracelets assails him.
A sure arrow, the slender shape a spear's point.
لِلْحُسْنِfor beauty أَسْحِلَةٌweapons إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle اسْتَجْمَعَتْthey gather
لِلْحُسْنِ أَسْحِلَةٌ إِذَا مَا اسْتَجْمَعَتْ
فِيin حَوْمَةٍthe thick of battle لاnot يَتَّقِيهَاwards them off مغْفَرُa mail helmet
فِي حَوْمَةٍ لا يَتَّقِيهَا مغْفَرُ
Beauty has weapons which, when gathered
What heart can escape with only a hint, a flutter
in the thick of battle, no mail helmet can ward off.
Of lashes, when the eyebrow's bow is tautly strung?
فَالْلَّحْظُfor the glance عَضْبٌa keen blade صَارِمٌcutting وَالْهُدْبُand the eyelashes نَبْarrows (word begins)
فَالْلَّحْظُ عَضْبٌ صَارِمٌ وَالْهُدْبُ نَبْ
لٌarrows (word ends) صَائِبٌhitting the mark وَالْقَدُّand the figure رُمْحٌa spear أَسْمَرُdusky
لٌ صَائِبٌ وَالْقَدُّ رُمْحٌ أَسْمَرُ
The glance is a keen, cutting blade, and the lashes are arrows
A moon he is, who progresses through hearts' stations,
that strike true; the figure is a dusky spear.
Each moon must have its aspect, its time to shine.
أَنَّىhow يَطِيشُstrays عَنِaway from الْقُلُوبِthe hearts لِغَمْزَةٍof a wink
أَنَّى يَطِيشُ عَنِ الْقُلُوبِ لِغَمْزَةٍ
سَهْمٌan arrow وَقَوْسُand the bow of الْحَاجِبَيْنِthe two eyebrows مُوَتَّرُis strung taut
سَهْمٌ وَقَوْسُ الْحَاجِبَيْنِ مُوَتَّرُ
How could it miss the hearts—a wink's
Consider his turban, his cheek's radiance -
arrow—when the bow of the two eyebrows is strung taut?
Guidance itself, though the night be moonlit and fair.
يَاO لَلْحَمِيَّةِfor protective pride! مِنْagainst غَزَالٍa gazelle صَادَنِيhunted me
يَا لَلْحَمِيَّةِ مِنْ غَزَالٍ صَادَنِي
وَمِنَand among الْعَجَائِبِwonders أَنْthat يَصِيدَshould hunt الْجُؤْذَرُthe fawn
وَمِنَ الْعَجَائِبِ أَنْ يَصِيدَ الْجُؤْذَرُ
O for pride's defense against a gazelle that has hunted me!
When he appeared beneath his cloak I cried aloud,
And what a wonder that a fawn should hunt!
"Beware this one who hides his face from your sight!"
بَدْرٌa full moon لَهُhe has بَيْنَamong الْقُلُوبِthe hearts مَنَازِلٌlunar mansions
بَدْرٌ لَهُ بَيْنَ الْقُلُوبِ مَنَازِلٌ
يَسْرِيjourneys by night بِهَاthrough them وَلِكُلِّand for every بَدْرٍfull moon مَظْهَرُa place of appearance
يَسْرِي بِهَا وَلِكُلِّ بَدْرٍ مَظْهَرُ
A full moon, he has mansions among the hearts;
In my heart's tablet he is captured by my imagination
he journeys through them by night; every full moon has a place to appear.
Through the lens of my eyes, so I have him pictured.
انْظُرlook لِطُرَّتِهِat his forelock وَغُرَّةِand the radiance of وَجْهِهِhis face
انْظُر لِطُرَّتِهِ وَغُرَّةِ وَجْهِهِ
تَلْقَyou will find الْهِدَايَةَguidance فَهوَfor he is لَيْلٌa night أَقْمَرُmoonlit
تَلْقَ الْهِدَايَةَ فَهوَ لَيْلٌ أَقْمَرُ
Look at his forelock and his face's radiance:
The electricity of his beauty has coursed through my being,
you will find guidance, for he is a moonlit night.
Tracing its path through artery and vein.
نَادَيْتُI cried out لَمَّاwhen لاحَhe appeared تحْتَbeneath قِنَاعِهِhis veil
نَادَيْتُ لَمَّا لاحَ تحْتَ قِنَاعِهِ
هَذَاthis is الْمُقَنَّعُal-Muqannaʿ (the Veiled One) فَاحْذَرُواso beware أَنْlest تُسْحَرُواyou be bewitched
هَذَا الْمُقَنَّعُ فَاحْذَرُوا أَنْ تُسْحَرُوا
I cried out when he appeared beneath his veil:
I am his, amidst a passion endless,
This is al-Muqannaʿ, so beware lest you be bewitched!
At trysts that bear no fruit, no profit I earn.
طَبَعَتْهُimprinted him فِيon لَوْحِthe tablet of الْفُؤَادِthe heart مَخِيلَتيmy imagination
طَبَعَتْهُ فِي لَوْحِ الْفُؤَادِ مَخِيلَتي
بِزُجَاجَةِthrough the glass of الْعَينَينِthe two eyes فَهُوَso he is مُصَوَّرُpictured
بِزُجَاجَةِ الْعَينَينِ فَهُوَ مُصَوَّرُ
My imagination imprinted him on the tablet of my heart
My body's a cage, thinned by care until
through the glass of my two eyes, so he is pictured there.
My heart inside is a bird that cries.
وَسَرَتْand coursed بِجِسْمِيthrough my body كَهْرَبَاءةُthe electric charge of حُسْنِهِhis beauty
وَسَرَتْ بِجِسْمِي كَهْرَبَاءةُ حُسْنِهِ
فَمِنَso from الْعُرُوقِthe veins بِهِwithin it سُلُوكٌwires تُخْبرُconvey tidings
فَمِنَ الْعُرُوقِ بِهِ سُلُوكٌ تُخْبرُ
And the electric charge of his beauty coursed through my body,
Were it not for breathing, a sigh might still this breath,
so its veins form wires that convey tidings.
Making me seem a bird in sudden flight.
أَنَاI مِنْهُbecause of him بَيْنَbetween صَبَابَةٍardent longing لاnot يَنْقَضيcomes to an end
أَنَا مِنْهُ بَيْنَ صَبَابَةٍ لا يَنْقَضي
مِيقَاتُهَاits appointed term وَمَواعِدٍand promises لاnot تُثْمِرُbear fruit
مِيقَاتُهَا وَمَواعِدٍ لا تُثْمِرُ
Because of him, I am caught between yearning with no end
No wonder that I am under his command,
to its appointed term, and promises that bear no fruit.
For love rules souls, and is mightiest ever.
جِسْمٌa body بَرَتْهُpared it down يَدُthe hand of الضَّنَىwasting sickness حَتَّىuntil غَدَاit became
جِسْمٌ بَرَتْهُ يَدُ الضَّنَى حَتَّى غَدَا
قَفَصاًa cage بِهِwithin it لِلْقَلْبِfor the heart طَيْرٌa bird يَصْفِرُwhistles
قَفَصاً بِهِ لِلْقَلْبِ طَيْرٌ يَصْفِرُ
A body pared by the hand of wasting sickness until it became
The guarded king and the most cautious man both fear its power,
a cage in which the heart is a bird that whistles.
As does the tyrant, bold, fierce and strong.
لَوْلاwere it not for التَّنَفُّسُbreathing لاعْتَلَتْwould surely rise بِيَwith me زَفْرَةٌa sigh
لَوْلا التَّنَفُّسُ لاعْتَلَتْ بِيَ زَفْرَةٌ
فَيَخَالُنِيso would think me طَيَّارَةًa kite مَنْwhoever يُبْصِرُsees
فَيَخَالُنِي طَيَّارَةً مَنْ يُبْصِرُ
Were it not for breathing, a sigh would bear me aloft,
When the noble youth refrains from base desire,
so whoever sees me would think me a kite.
Love is a grace, an honor to him.
لاno غَرْوَwonder أَنْthat أَصْبَحْتُI have become تَحْتَunder قِيَادِهِhis rein
لا غَرْوَ أَنْ أَصْبَحْتُ تَحْتَ قِيَادِهِ
فَالْحُبُّfor love أَغْلَبُmore overpowering لِلنُّفُوسِover souls وَأَقْهَرُand more subduing
فَالْحُبُّ أَغْلَبُ لِلنُّفُوسِ وَأَقْهَرُ
No wonder I have come under his rein:
The coward finds strength, the greedy hope,
for love is the mightiest conqueror and subduer of souls.
The arrogant are humbled before its force.
يَعْنُوbows لِقُدْرَتِهِto its power الْمَلِيكُthe king الْمُتَّقَيthe feared
يَعْنُو لِقُدْرَتِهِ الْمَلِيكُ الْمُتَّقَي
وَيَهَابُand fears صَوْلَتَهُits assault الْكَمِيُّthe armored warrior الْقَسْوَرُlionlike
وَيَهَابُ صَوْلَتَهُ الْكَمِيُّ الْقَسْوَرُ
The feared king bows to its power,
So adorn yourself with noble qualities, for they
and the lionlike armored warrior dreads its assault.
Give worth to the wise and are their pride.
وَالْعِشْقُand passionate love مَكْرُمَةٌan honor إِذَاif عَفَّrefrains chastely الْفَتَىthe young man
وَالْعِشْقُ مَكْرُمَةٌ إِذَا عَفَّ الْفَتَى
عَمَّاfrom what يَهِيمُis infatuated بِهِwith it الْغَوِيُّthe wayward man الأَصْوَرُlust-inclined
عَمَّا يَهِيمُ بِهِ الْغَوِيُّ الأَصْوَرُ
And passionate love is an honor if a young man refrains
When you determine, be confident in yourself,
from what the wayward, lustful man adores.
For those relying on others will never prevail.
يَقْوَىgrows strong بِهِthrough it قَلْبُthe heart of الْجَبَانِthe coward وَيَرْعَوِيand is curbed
يَقْوَى بِهِ قَلْبُ الْجَبَانِ وَيَرْعَوِي
طَمَعُthe craving of الْحَريصِthe greedy man وَيَخْضَعُand bows الْمُتَكَبِّرُthe arrogant man
طَمَعُ الْحَريصِ وَيَخْضَعُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ
It strengthens the coward's heart and reins in
When a man has no insight to guide him in deeds,
the greedy man's craving, while the arrogant man bows.
Who will aid him when fate turns against him?
فَتَحَلَّso adorn yourself بِالأَدَبwith refinement النَّفِيسِprecious فَإِنَّهُfor it is
فَتَحَلَّ بِالأَدَب النَّفِيسِ فَإِنَّهُ
حَلْيٌan ornament يَعِزُّgains honor بِهِthrough it اللَّبِيبُthe discerning man وَيَفْخَرُand takes pride
حَلْيٌ يَعِزُّ بِهِ اللَّبِيبُ وَيَفْخَرُ
So adorn yourself with precious refinement, for it is
Beware the low fellow's company, though he be exalted in rank,
an ornament through which the wise gain honor and take pride.
For a man is ruined by the baser companion.
وَإِذاand when عَزَمْتَyou resolve فَكُنْthen be بِنَفْسِكَin yourself وَاثِقاًconfident
وَإِذا عَزَمْتَ فَكُنْ بِنَفْسِكَ وَاثِقاً
فَالْمُسْتَعِزُّfor one seeking strength بِغَيْرِهِthrough another لاnot يَظْفَرُprevails
فَالْمُسْتَعِزُّ بِغَيْرِهِ لا يَظْفَرُ
And when you resolve, be confident in yourself,
Some men of good repute make agreeable friends,
for one who seeks strength in another does not prevail.
Whose affection enriches - while some are corrupt.
إِنْif لَمْnot يَكُنْthere is لِلْمَرءِfor a person مِنْfrom بَدَهاتِهِhis spontaneous insights
إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْمَرءِ مِنْ بَدَهاتِهِ
فِيin الْخَطْبِa crisis هَادٍa guide خَانَهُfails him مَنْwhoever يَنْصُرُgives support
فِي الْخَطْبِ هَادٍ خَانَهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُ
If a man has no guidance from his own quick judgment
Consider the wisdom of a youth, not his physical form,
in crisis, the one who supports him will fail him.
For it's by deeds that a man becomes great or small.
وَاحْذَرْand beware مُقَارَنَةَthe company of اللَّئِيمِthe base man وَإِنْeven if عَلاhe rises high
وَاحْذَرْ مُقَارَنَةَ اللَّئِيمِ وَإِنْ عَلا
فَالْمَرْءُfor a person يُفْسِدُهُcorrupts him الْقَرِينُthe companion الأَحْقَرُthe baser
فَالْمَرْءُ يُفْسِدُهُ الْقَرِينُ الأَحْقَرُ
And beware the company of the base, however high they rise,
Sometimes a single man can rout a whole army,
for a contemptible companion corrupts a man.
While a vile crowd brings shame on their people.
وَمِنَand among الرِّجَالِmen مَنَاسِبٌbonds of kinship مَعْرُوفَةٌwell-known
وَمِنَ الرِّجَالِ مَنَاسِبٌ مَعْرُوفَةٌ
تَزْكُوflourishes مَوَدَّتُهَاtheir affection وَمِنْهُمْand among them مُنْكَرُone disapproved of
تَزْكُو مَوَدَّتُهَا وَمِنْهُمْ مُنْكَرُ
And among men are well-known bonds of kinship,
Beauty lies in character, not outer looks -
whose affection flourishes, while some men are shunned.
Wisdom is hidden, does not show its face.
فَانْظُرْso look إِلَىat عَقْلِthe mind of الفَتَىthe young man لاnot جِسْمِهِhis body
فَانْظُرْ إِلَى عَقْلِ الفَتَى لا جِسْمِهِ
فَالْمَرْءُfor a person يَكْبُرُgrows great بِالْفِعَالِthrough deeds وَيَصْغُرُand grows small
فَالْمَرْءُ يَكْبُرُ بِالْفِعَالِ وَيَصْغُرُ
So look to a young man's mind, not his body,
So choose for yourself enduring qualities to live by,
for a man grows great or small through his deeds.
For what makes a man memorable are his deeds.
فَلَرُبَّمَاfor often هَزَمَdefeated الْكَتِيبَةَthe battalion وَاحِدٌone man
فَلَرُبَّمَا هَزَمَ الْكَتِيبَةَ وَاحِدٌ
وَلَرُبَّمَاand often جَلَبَbrought الدَّنيئَةَdisgrace مَعْشَرُa company of men
وَلَرُبَّمَا جَلَبَ الدَّنيئَةَ مَعْشَرُ
For many a time one man has routed a battalion,
and many a time a whole company has brought disgrace.
إِنَّindeed الْجَمَالَbeauty لَفِيsurely in الْفُؤَادِthe heart وَإِنَّماand only
إِنَّ الْجَمَالَ لَفِي الْفُؤَادِ وَإِنَّما
خَفِيَis hidden الصَّوَابُthe truth لأَنَّهُbecause it لاnot يَظْهَرُappears
خَفِيَ الصَّوَابُ لأَنَّهُ لا يَظْهَرُ
Beauty indeed lies in the heart; and it is only
because it is unseen that the truth stays hidden.
فَاخْتَرْso choose لِنَفْسِكَfor yourself مَاwhat تَعِيشُyou live بِذِكْرِهِthrough its remembrance
فَاخْتَرْ لِنَفْسِكَ مَا تَعِيشُ بِذِكْرِهِ
فَالْمَرْءُfor a person فِيin الدُّنْيَاthis world حَدِيثٌa tale يُذْكَرُis recounted
فَالْمَرْءُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَدِيثٌ يُذْكَرُ
So choose for yourself what will keep you alive in remembrance,
for a man in this world is a tale that is told.
Partial English translation: 76 of 82 Arabic lines translated.