نديميmy drinking companion وماand not الناسُpeople إلاexcept السُّكارَىdrunkards
نديمي وما الناسُ إلا السُّكارَى
أدِرْهاpass it round ودعنيand leave me غداًtomorrow والخُماراwith the hangover
أدِرْها ودعني غداً والخُمارا
My drinking companion—what are people but drunkards?
My friend, people are but drunkards
Pass it round, and leave me tomorrow with the hangover.
Turn it, and leave me tomorrow and the vine
منof العجزِweakness تركُthe forgoing الفتىthe young man عاجلاًsomething immediate
من العجزِ تركُ الفتى عاجلاً
يَسُرُّdelights لأمرٍfor a thing يُخافُis feared انتظاراin anticipation
يَسُرُّ لأمرٍ يُخافُ انتظارا
It is weakness for a young man to forgo something present
It is weakness that makes a man leave hastily
that delights him, in anticipation of a thing he fears.
What he fears waiting for brings joy
وعَطِّلْand leave idle كؤوسَكyour cups إلاexcept الكبيرَthe large one
وعَطِّلْ كؤوسَك إلا الكبيرَ
تجِدْyou will find للصغيرِfor the small one أُناساًpeople صِغاراpetty
تجِدْ للصغيرِ أُناساً صِغارا
Leave your cups idle, except the large one;
Restrain your large cups unless for the little ones
you will find petty people for the small.
For the little ones you will find little people
وقرِّبْand bring near فتىَa youth of مائةٍa hundred أوor يزيexceeds (continued)
وقرِّبْ فتىَ مائةٍ أو يزي
دُcompletion of 'exceeds' قدalready أُكمِلَhas been made complete الشيبَgray old age إلاexcept الوقاراdignity
دُ قد أُكمِلَ الشيبَ إلا الوقارا
Bring near a youth of a hundred years, or more,
And bring closer a lad of a hundred or more
complete in gray old age, save for dignity.
Old age has been completed except for dignity
تُسِرُّconceal المَسَرَّةَdelight أحشاؤهhis innards
تُسِرُّ المَسَرَّةَ أحشاؤه
ويُبْرِزُand displays للعينto the eye طيناًclay وَقَاراand pitch
ويُبْرِزُ للعين طيناً وَقَارا
His innards conceal delight,
Its joy gladdens his guts
while he displays clay and pitch to the eye.
And it brings out for the eye mud and dignity
لوِنif (unclear as written) سواهanother besides him رأيتُI saw الغلاthe youth (continued)
لوِن سواه رأيتُ الغلا
مَcompletion of 'the youth' ينفُضُshakes off عنfrom كتِفَيْهhis two shoulders الغُباراthe dust
مَ ينفُضُ عن كتِفَيْه الغُبارا
[If] it were another, I would see a youth
Other than its color, I have seen wine
shaking the dust from his shoulders.
That does not shake the dust off its shoulders
وذيand one with مِبزلٍa tap كزنادِlike the fire-striker of المكبthe bent-over man (continued)
وذي مِبزلٍ كزنادِ المكب
بِcompletion of 'the bent-over man' يَقدَحُstrikes بالبَزْلِby tapping منهfrom it شراراsparks
بِ يَقدَحُ بالبَزْلِ منه شرارا
And one with a tap, like a bent-over man's fire-striker,
And like the tinderbox carrier
strikes sparks from it by tapping.
That strikes a spark from it, a flame
فسلَّthen he drew منfrom النارthe fire فيin وجههits face
فسلَّ من النار في وجهه
لساناًa tongue فأمسكthen he stopped فاهُits mouth حِذاراin caution
لساناً فأمسك فاهُ حِذارا
He drew from the fire in its face
Ask the fire on his face to be sparse with its tongue
a tongue, then stopped its mouth in caution.
And hold back its mouth cautiously
وخادَعهُand coaxed it عنout of خَلوقيَّةٍa saffron-hued wine
وخادَعهُ عن خَلوقيَّةٍ
تُذوِّبُdissolves فيin كأسهاits cup الجُلَّناراpomegranate blossom
تُذوِّبُ في كأسها الجُلَّنارا
He coaxed it into yielding a saffron-hued wine
And deceive him about my nature
that dissolves pomegranate blossom in its cup.
That melts its bitterness in its cup
جَنَتْbrought about فقرَpoverty شُرَّابهاits drinkers المسلمينthe Muslims
جَنَتْ فقرَ شُرَّابها المسلمين
وأغنتand enriched بغُمَّىthrough distress اليهودَthe Jews التِّجاراthe merchants
وأغنت بغُمَّى اليهودَ التِّجارا
It brought poverty upon its Muslim drinkers,
Its poverty enriched the Muslims
and enriched the Jewish merchants through distress.
And its sadness made the Jewish merchants wealthy
عَقرْناwe sacrificed البُدورَthe full moons لهمfor them فيin المهوbride-prices (continued)
عَقرْنا البُدورَ لهم في المهو
رِcompletion of 'bride-prices' حتىuntil جلَوهاthey unveiled her عليناbefore us عُقاراwine
رِ حتى جلَوها علينا عُقارا
We sacrificed full moons to them as bride-prices,
We tore up the grapes for them in the wine presses
until they unveiled her before us as wine.
Until they clarified it over us as medicine
يطوفpasses round بهاwith her عاطلُunadorned المِعصَميْthe two wrists (continued)
يطوف بها عاطلُ المِعصَميْ
نِcompletion of 'the two wrists' يُلبِسهُadorns him الجامُthe goblet منهاof her سِواراa bracelet
نِ يُلبِسهُ الجامُ منها سِوارا
One with bare wrists passes her round;
The unemployed roams with it on his wrists
the goblet adorns him with a bracelet of her.
The cup clothes him in bracelets from it
شفيقٌprotective علىover الحبِّlove منagainst غيرهanyone else
شفيقٌ على الحبِّ من غيره
إذاwhen قلتI say ماhow أحسنbeautiful البدرthe full moon غاراhe grows jealous
إذا قلت ما أحسن البدر غارا
Protective of love against anyone else,
Pitying love from other than it
he grows jealous when I say, 'How lovely the full moon!'
When I said how beautiful the full moon hid
ولاand no ومُقَبَّلِهِby his kissable mouth ماnot فَرَقْتُI distinguished
ولا ومُقَبَّلِهِ ما فَرَقْتُ
أريقتُهis it his saliva الخمرُthe wine أمor ماwhat أداراhe passed round
أريقتُه الخمرُ أم ما أدارا
No, by his kissable mouth, I could not tell
By its kisses I have not separated
whether the wine was his saliva or what he passed round.
Did I spill it, the wine, or did it not turn?
هنيئاًgood fortune لِلْهَوِيَto my revelry إنِّيindeed I خلعcast off (continued)
هنيئاً لِلْهَوِيَ إنِّي خلع
تُI (verb ending) حلمِيmy good sense لهfor it وتركتُand I abandoned الوقاراdignity
تُ حلمِي له وتركتُ الوقارا
Good fortune to my revelry! I have cast
Congratulations to the passionate, I took off
off my good sense for it and abandoned dignity.
My patience for it and left dignity
وصرتُand I became فتَىthe youth of غَبَقاتِevening drinking parties الملوكِkings
وصرتُ فتَى غَبَقاتِ الملوكِ
عشِيّاًat dusk أخاa brother to النشواتِraptures ابتكاراat dawn
عشِيّاً أخا النشواتِ ابتكارا
I became the youth of kings' evening drinking parties,
And became a lad of the carousing of kings
at dusk, and a brother to raptures at dawn.
At night, brother to the pleasures of initiation
ودادِيَmy affection والدهرُand time ماas long as دامَit lasts دامَlasts
ودادِيَ والدهرُ ما دامَ دامَ
وشعرِيَand my poetry والنجمُand the star ماas long as سارَit travels ساراtravels
وشعرِيَ والنجمُ ما سارَ سارا
My affection, with time, endures as long as time endures;
My love, and the age, as long as it lasts, lasts
and my poetry, with the star, journeys as long as it journeys.
And my poetry, and the star, as long as it moves, moves
وفيحاءَand a spacious one منof دورهمtheir houses زرتُهاI visited it
وفيحاءَ من دورهم زرتُها
وأخلِقْand how fitting بهاfor it جَنَّةًa paradise أنthat تُزاراit be visited
وأخلِقْ بها جَنَّةً أن تُزارا
A spacious house of theirs I visited—
And the deserts from their homes I visited
how fitting that such a paradise should be visited!
And created from it a paradise to be visited
تَلجلَجَfaltered فيin وصفهاits description المحدَثونthe modern poets
تَلجلَجَ في وصفها المحدَثون
وحُدِّثَand was told رِضوانُRidwan عنهاabout it فحاراand was bewildered
وحُدِّثَ رِضوانُ عنها فحارا
Modern poets faltered in describing it;
The storytellers glittered describing it
Ridwan was told of it and was bewildered.
And Heaven was narrated about it and burned
تعرَّبَadopted Arab ways قاسمُهاits divider عادلاًacting fairly
تعرَّبَ قاسمُها عادلاً
فخطَّso he marked out وتحسبهand thinks him العينُthe eye جاراunjust
فخطَّ وتحسبه العينُ جارا
Its divider adopted Arab ways, acting fairly;
Its archer straightened it out justly
he marked out—though the eye thinks him unjust—
So it etched and the eye considers it a neighbor
صُحُوناًcourtyards طِوالاًlong كماas تقتضِيrequires
صُحُوناً طِوالاً كما تقتضِي
شجاعتُناour courage وحصوناًand fortifications قِصاراshort
شجاعتُنا وحصوناً قِصارا
long courtyards, as required by
Tall, long, as our bravery necessitates
our courage, and short fortifications.
And short fortresses
وشَقَّand he opened لبستانهاfor its garden عنto reveal ثَرىًsoil
وشَقَّ لبستانها عن ثَرىً
إذاwhen طلعَsprouted النبتُthe plants فيهin it أناراblossomed
إذا طلعَ النبتُ فيه أنارا
He laid bare soil for its garden,
And it split for its orchard from the land
where plants blossomed as soon as they sprouted.
When the vegetation in it emerged illuminated
وقدand already بَثَّhe scattered فيin ظلِّthe shade of شجرائهِits trees
وقد بَثَّ في ظلِّ شجرائهِ
عُيونَeyes of الأذَىharm رِقبَةًkeeping watch واستتاراand in concealment
عُيونَ الأذَى رِقبَةً واستتارا
He had scattered beneath the shade of its trees
And it scattered in the shade of its trees
eyes of harm, keeping watch in concealment.
Eyes of harm, a neck, and took cover
تخفَّرَhe sought protection منهاfrom them بمسلوبةٍbehind one stripped bare
تخفَّرَ منها بمسلوبةٍ
سوىexcept ورَقٍleaves أُلحفَتْهُshe was wrapped in them إزاراas a skirt
سوى ورَقٍ أُلحفَتْهُ إزارا
He sheltered from them behind one stripped bare,
Shedding leaves from it with a loincloth
save for leaves she was wrapped in as a skirt.
When the wind stirs on its branch, it cannot withstand
منamong الهِيفِthe slender beauties حينwhen يجورُoppresses النسيمُthe breeze
من الهِيفِ حين يجورُ النسيمُ
علىagainst غصنهاher bough لاnot تُطيقshe can manage انتصاراself-defense
على غصنها لا تُطيق انتصارا
One of the slender beauties: when the breeze oppresses
I came upon a slender one with a spear
her bough, she cannot defend herself.
And avoided the big ones from the small
نحولٌslenderness عَرَضْتُI contrasted لهwith it بالسِّمانِthe plump ones
نحولٌ عَرَضْتُ له بالسِّمانِ
وصُغرَىand a little one تجنَّبتُI avoided منهاthrough her كِباراgreat ones
وصُغرَى تجنَّبتُ منها كِبارا
A slenderness I contrasted with plump beauties,
And an outspread one who covered herself
and a little one through whom I avoided great ones.
So she sewed a shirt and wound a headscarf
ومنشورةٍand a spreading one ستَرتْcovered نفسَهاherself
ومنشورةٍ ستَرتْ نفسَها
فخاطتso she sewed قميصاًa tunic ولاثتand wound on خِماراa veil
فخاطت قميصاً ولاثت خِمارا
And a spreading one who covered herself,
And was chaste, protecting only her leg
sewing a tunic and winding on a veil.
And did not allow it except out of necessity
وعزَّتْand she held aloof فصانتso she guarded سوىexcept ساقهاher leg
وعزَّتْ فصانت سوى ساقها
وماand not إنfor emphasis أباحتهshe exposed it إلاexcept اضطراراunder compulsion
وما إن أباحته إلا اضطرارا
She held aloof, guarding everything but her leg,
She tucks up her robes from it
and exposed even that only under compulsion.
For it is accustomed to plunging into the unknown
تُشمِّرshe lifts عنهabove it جلابيبَهاher robes
تُشمِّر عنه جلابيبَها
لعادتهbecause of its habit أنto يخوضَwade into الغِماراdeep waters
لعادته أن يخوضَ الغِمارا
She lifts her robes above it,
So it nearly hid it stingily from it
for it is used to wading into deep waters.
And of her beauty, that it cannot be hidden
فكادتso she nearly تُواريهhid it ضنّاًout of jealous care بهfor it
فكادت تُواريه ضنّاً به
ومنand part of حسنهاher beauty أنّهis that it لاnot يُوارَىis hidden
ومن حسنها أنّه لا يُوارَى
She nearly hid it, jealous of it,
She makes me doubt, compliant to the wind
though part of her beauty is that it is not hidden.
Following it right or left
تُشكِّكُنيshe leaves me wondering وهيwhile she طوعis obedient to الرياthe winds (continued)
تُشكِّكُني وهي طوع الريا
حِcompletion of 'the winds' تَتْبعُهاshe follows them يَمنَةًrightward أوor يَساراleftward
حِ تَتْبعُها يَمنَةً أو يَسارا
She leaves me wondering, obedient to the winds,
Do I approach to offer it protection
following them rightward or leftward:
Against the like of it or refuse the buttons
أتدنوdoes she draw near لتُسعفَنيto assist me بالعِناwith an embrace (continued)
أتدنو لتُسعفَني بالعِنا
قِcompletion of 'an embrace' فيin مثلهاone like her أمor تَصدُّshe turns away ازوراراin aversion
قِ في مثلها أم تَصدُّ ازورارا
does she draw near to grant me the embrace
And it dawns upon you, daughters of the abandoned camp
of one like her, or turn away in aversion?
When the fronds put forth their fruits
وتجلوand unveils عليكbefore you بناتِthe daughters of الفسيلِpalm shoots
وتجلو عليك بناتِ الفسيلِ
إذاwhen كَستِclothed السَّعَفاتُthe palm fronds الثماراthe fruit
إذا كَستِ السَّعَفاتُ الثمارا
She unveils before you the daughters of palm shoots,
Braids of twisted thread that adorn them
when palm fronds clothe the fruit:
And they refuse to do anything but flourish
غدائرُtresses of غيدٍgraceful maidens يُضفِّرنَهاthey braid them
غدائرُ غيدٍ يُضفِّرنَها
وتأبىand refuse عليهنّthem إلاanything but انتشاراflowing loose
وتأبى عليهنّ إلا انتشارا
tresses of graceful maidens, which they braid,
We brought it water from a towering
yet, despite them, will do nothing but flow loose.
We returned, measuring ascent and descent
جلبناwe brought لهto it الماءwater منfrom شاهقٍa height
جلبنا له الماء من شاهقٍ
جزاناit repaid us بحسْبِin proportion to الصعودthe ascent انحداراa descent
جزانا بحسْبِ الصعود انحدارا
We brought water to it from a height;
And it did not flow until we freed the streams
it repaid our ascent with a matching descent.
And did not refuse until we made the tender sing
وماand not سالit flowed حتىuntil أسلناwe made flow اللُّجيْنَsilver
وما سال حتى أسلنا اللُّجيْنَ
ولاnor عَزَّbecame precious حتىuntil أهنَّاwe humbled النُّضاراpure gold
ولا عَزَّ حتى أهنَّا النُّضارا
It did not flow until we made silver flow,
When it climbs high
nor became precious until we humbled gold.
Clinging by nature, seeking to flee
إذاwhenever ماfor emphasis تحلَّقit formed a circle مستعلياًon high
إذا ما تحلَّق مستعلياً
تَعلَّقَit clung بالطبعto its nature يبغيseeking الفِراراescape
تَعلَّقَ بالطبع يبغي الفِرارا
Whenever it forms a circle on high,
So it bubbles foam when the girls
it clings to its nature, seeking escape.
Speak to it of their news, brewing, excited
فثَوَّرَso it roused خَمْساًfive إذاwhen ماfor emphasis نطقنَthey spoke
فثَوَّرَ خَمْساً إذا ما نطقنَ
بأخبارِهِof its tidings خِلتَyou imagined نقعاًdust مُثاراstirred up
بأخبارِهِ خِلتَ نقعاً مُثارا
It roused five; when they speak
When they are generous with its dew, its generosity overflows
of its tidings, you imagine dust stirred aloft.
And if they neglect it, it turns away
إذاwhen جادهنَّit bestowed on them ندىًdew جُدْنَهُthey bestowed on it
إذا جادهنَّ ندىً جُدْنَهُ
وإنand if فرَّit fled طِرْنَthey flew إليهtoward it نِفاراin alarm
وإن فرَّ طِرْنَ إليه نِفارا
When it gives them dew, they give it dew in return;
They desire its entrusted water until they strive
if it flees, they fly toward it in alarm.
To fulfill it the borrowed water
هوِينَthey loved الأَمانةَtrustworthiness حتىuntil اجتهدنَthey strove
هوِينَ الأَمانةَ حتى اجتهدنَ
لِيقضينَهُto repay it ماءَهits water المستعاراborrowed
لِيقضينَهُ ماءَه المستعارا
They loved trustworthiness so much that they strove
It relaxes with them in their midst
to repay it its borrowed water.
As the greatest caring for young daughters
تَروسُpresides عليهنّover them فيin وسْطِهِنtheir midst (continued)
تَروسُ عليهنّ في وسْطِهِن
نَcompletion of 'their midst' كُبرَىa great one تعولُsupports بناتٍdaughters صِغاراlittle
نَ كُبرَى تعولُ بناتٍ صِغارا
Presiding over them, in their midst,
They come out appearing to onlookers
is a great one, supporting little daughters.
Monasteries around it or minarets
برزنَthey stood forth يُخيَّلْنَthey appeared للناظرينto onlookers
برزنَ يُخيَّلْنَ للناظرين
صوامعَhermitages منfrom حولهاaround her أوor مَناراminarets
صوامعَ من حولها أو مَنارا
They stand forth, appearing to onlookers
If it aims at a spear, straightens a reed
as hermitages around her, or minarets.
They deflect flying arrows towards it
إذاwhen سدَّدتْshe aimed لطعانٍfor thrusting قَناًspears
إذا سدَّدتْ لطعانٍ قَناً
حذفْنَthey flung إليهاtoward her نُصولاًpoints طِراراkeen-edged
حذفْنَ إليها نُصولاً طِرارا
When she levels spears to thrust,
Containing them, the miracle of the two signs
they fling keen points toward her.
Freely giving life and extending the seas
حوتْهنّencompassed them معجزةُthe miracle of الآيتينِthe two wonders
حوتْهنّ معجزةُ الآيتينِ
تجودُbestows الحياrain وتُمدُّand replenishes البحاراthe seas
تجودُ الحيا وتُمدُّ البحارا
The miracle of two wonders encompassed them:
So from between wrinkled, beaten
bestowing rain and feeding the seas.
On a hill it carried deceived
فمنso from بينamong خَرْكاءَa pavilion مضروبةٍpitched
فمن بين خَرْكاءَ مضروبةٍ
علىon تَلعةٍa knoll حَمَلتْهاit bore her اغتراراunsuspectingly
على تَلعةٍ حَمَلتْها اغترارا
Among them, a pavilion pitched
Its channels turned above it
on a knoll that bore her unsuspectingly.
From the water, generous, manly, carpenter
تَولَّىtook charge of مَجَاريَهاher channels فوقهاabove her
تَولَّى مَجَاريَها فوقها
منof الماءwater سمحٌa generous one كريمٌnoble نِجاراin stock
من الماء سمحٌ كريمٌ نِجارا
Over her, her channels were tended
Whenever it is turned once
by water, generous and noble in stock.
To impress, it flows and turns round and round
إذاwhen ماfor emphasis أُديرَit was turned لهاfor her مرّةًonce
إذا ما أُديرَ لها مرّةً
لتُعجِبَto amaze جادتshe gave lavishly فدارتْthen she revolved مراراrepeatedly
لتُعجِبَ جادت فدارتْ مرارا
When it is turned for her once,
It has a sign that was not before it
to amaze, she pours forth and revolves repeatedly.
But we overpowered it
لهاshe has آيةٌa wonder لمnot تكنit existed قبلَهاbefore her
لها آيةٌ لم تكن قبلَها
ولكنbut ظَهرَناwe prevailed عليهاover her اقتداراthrough power
ولكن ظَهرَنا عليها اقتدارا
She has a marvel never seen before her,
You see its shadow solid, fluid
yet we prevailed over her through power.
And bearing two opposites, water and fire
ترىyou see ظلَّهاher shadow جامداًsolid مائعاًliquid
ترى ظلَّها جامداً مائعاً
وتحمِلُand she carries ضدَّينtwo opposites ماءًwater وناراand fire
وتحمِلُ ضدَّين ماءً ونارا
You see her shadow solid and liquid,
And like a bride, a bride who continuously
and she carries two opposites: water and fire.
Holds out her hands over her shoulders, scattering
ومثلِand like العروسِthe bride عروسٌa bride تُديمُkeeps up
ومثلِ العروسِ عروسٌ تُديمُ
يداهاher two hands علىover مِنكبيْهاher two shoulders النِّثاراthe scattered offerings
يداها على مِنكبيْها النِّثارا
And a bride, like a bride, keeps up
If they face it, it refuses chastely
with her two hands a shower of offerings over her shoulders.
With its chair to bear being settled
إذاwhen ماfor emphasis جَلَوهاthey unveiled her أبتْshe refused حِشمةًout of modesty
إذا ما جَلَوها أبتْ حِشمةً
بكرسيِّهاon her seat أنto تُطيقendure القَراراremaining still
بكرسيِّها أن تُطيق القَرارا
When they unveil her, modesty makes her refuse
We sought a match for it from its people
to endure resting still upon her seat.
But it refused, for other than a match is shameful
طلبناwe sought لهاfor her الكُفءَa worthy match منamong قومهاher own kind
طلبنا لها الكُفءَ من قومها
فعزَّbut he proved elusive وكانand was سوىanything other than الكُفءa worthy match عاراa disgrace
فعزَّ وكان سوى الكُفء عارا
We sought a worthy match for her among her own kind,
So we returned, courting it with platters
but he proved elusive, and an unequal match was a disgrace.
So it accepts chastely and preferring to conceal
فعدناso we returned نُزرّto fastening عليهاaround her السُّجوفَthe curtains
فعدنا نُزرّ عليها السُّجوفَ
فترضىso she accepts بهاthem عفّةًout of chastity واختفاراand modest reserve
فترضى بها عفّةً واختفارا
So again we fastened the curtains around her;
And like the gazelle wronged in the name of beauty
she accepts them in chastity and modest reserve.
So it is obstinate and disdains forgiving
وكالظبيand like a gazelle يُظلمَis wronged باسمby the name of الجِمالcamels
وكالظبي يُظلمَ باسم الجِمال
فيطغَىso he rebels إباءًin proud refusal ويُغضِيand lowers his gaze اغتفاراin forgiveness
فيطغَى إباءً ويُغضِي اغتفارا
And one like a gazelle, wronged by being called a camel,
And its mouth foams drool when
rebels in pride and lowers his gaze in pardon.
It separates from its lips, discharged
ويُزبِدُand foams فوهhis mouth لُغاماًfroth إذاwhen
ويُزبِدُ فوه لُغاماً إذا
تفرَّقit parted عنfrom شَفَتيْهhis two lips استطاراit flew everywhere
تفرَّق عن شَفَتيْه استطارا
His mouth foams with froth which, when
It walks slowly when the camels’ humps thirst
it parts from his lips, flies everywhere.
Intensely for water and heat
يسيرhe travels رَوِيّاًfully quenched إذاwhen ماfor emphasis اغتدتbecame in the morning
يسير رَوِيّاً إذا ما اغتدت
كبودُlivers of المطاياthe mounts عِطاشاًthirsty حِراراburning hot
كبودُ المطايا عِطاشاً حِرارا
He travels fully quenched when morning finds
And were it not for the one who created the duck
the mounts' livers thirsty and burning.
Praise would have succumbed in it and diminished
ولولاand were it not for الذيwhat فَعلَdid الطِّنْبَلَنْبُal-Tinbalanb
ولولا الذي فَعلَ الطِّنْبَلَنْبُ
لقدindeed أنجدَwent to the uplands المدحُpraise فيهabout him وغاراand went to the lowlands
لقد أنجدَ المدحُ فيه وغارا
Had it not been for what al-Tinbalanb did,
But it is a guard against blame
praise of him would have ranged through upland and lowland.
I was its neighbor so it was unneighborly
ولكنّهbut he خافرٌis a breaker للذماof pledged protection (continued)
ولكنّه خافرٌ للذما
مِcompletion of 'pledged protection' جاورتُهُI dwelt beside him فأساءَso he mistreated الجِواراneighborliness
مِ جاورتُهُ فأساءَ الجِوارا
Yet he is a breaker of pledged protection:
I sang to it but did not succeed with my rise
I dwelt beside him, and he proved a bad neighbor.
And the expanse of my errors escaped from it fleeing
بغانيhe attacked me فلمso not أنجُI escaped معdespite نَهْضَتيmy leap
بغاني فلم أنجُ مع نَهْضَتي
ورحبِand the breadth of خِطَائِيَmy strides منهُfrom him فِراراin flight
ورحبِ خِطَائِيَ منهُ فِرارا
He attacked me; I could not escape, despite my leap
It shot me with an arrow belonging to it
and my wide strides in fleeing him.
Circling with the God-fearing however it turns
رمانيhe shot me فأصمَىand struck fatally بسهمٍwith an arrow لهof his
رماني فأصمَى بسهمٍ له
يدورturns معwith المتَّقيthe one dodging كيفَhowever داراhe turns
يدور مع المتَّقي كيفَ دارا
He shot me and slew me with an arrow of his
When it surpassed it to the hunt
that turns with the dodger however he turns.
It inflicted wounds confusing the trackers
إذاwhen هوhe فَوَّقهُnocked it للثياat the clothes (continued)
إذا هو فَوَّقهُ للثيا
بcompletion of 'the clothes' ألقَىinflicted جروحاًwounds تُضِلُّmislead السِّباراthe probes
ب ألقَى جروحاً تُضِلُّ السِّبارا
Whenever he nocks it at clothes,
So it tore my cloak and my breastplate came to you
it inflicts wounds that baffle the probes.
Seeking vengeance from you
فأردَىso he felled ردائيmy cloak وجاءتand came إليto (continued)
فأردَى ردائي وجاءت إلي
كyou (completes 'to you') دُرَّاعتيmy tunic تبتغيseeking منكَfrom you ثاراvengeance
ك دُرَّاعتي تبتغي منكَ ثارا
He felled my cloak, and to you has come
My slain are with you so do not let
my tunic, seeking vengeance from you.
The blood of my clothes overcome you, Compeller
قتيليmy slain one لديكَbefore you فلاso let not تذهبنَّgo to waste
قتيلي لديكَ فلا تذهبنَّ
عليكَunder your charge دماءُthe blood of ثيابيmy clothes جُباراuncompensated
عليكَ دماءُ ثيابي جُبارا
My slain one lies before you; let not
And a house, when fate gathers winter
the blood of my clothes go uncompensated under your care.
Takes refuge in it, so it gives sanctuary
وبيتٍand a house إذاif الدهرُtime ضامَoppressed الشتاءَwinter
وبيتٍ إذا الدهرُ ضامَ الشتاءَ
تَعوَّذَit sought refuge منهfrom it بهin it فاستجاراand sought protection
تَعوَّذَ منه به فاستجارا
And a house where, if time oppressed winter,
winter would shelter from it there and seek protection.
صحِبتُI kept company with الخريفَautumn بهin it فيin المصيفِsummer
صحِبتُ الخريفَ به في المصيفِ
وذكَّرنيand reminded me الليلُnight فيهin it النَّهاراday
وذكَّرني الليلُ فيه النَّهارا
There I kept company with autumn in summer,
and night there reminded me of day.
وأهدَىand brought as a gift الهواءَair لهto it ناشرٌone spreading
وأهدَى الهواءَ له ناشرٌ
جناحيْنtwo wings لوif حَمَلاهthey carried him لطاراhe would fly
جناحيْن لو حَمَلاه لطارا
Air was brought to it by one spreading
two wings: if they bore him, he would fly.
تنصَّتhe listened attentively للريحto the wind مستفهماًquestioning
تنصَّت للريح مستفهماً
بأذْنيْنwith two ears لاnot يحملانthey hold السِّراراsecrets
بأذْنيْن لا يحملان السِّرارا
He listened keenly to the wind, questioning,
with two ears that cannot keep a secret.
إذاwhen عَبَرتْpassed مطلَقاتُunfettered الرياthe winds (continued)
إذا عَبَرتْ مطلَقاتُ الريا
حcompletion of 'the winds' يسلُكْنَهthey pass through it ظِلْنَthey remained فيهin it أَسارىcaptives
ح يسلُكْنَه ظِلْنَ فيه أَسارى
When the unfettered winds pass
through it, they remain within as captives.
فتلفِظُthen spits out منهاfrom them السُّمومُthe scorching wind الشّرارَsparks
فتلفِظُ منها السُّمومُ الشّرارَ
ويُلقىand casts إليناtoward us النسيمُthe breeze الحِباراdelight
ويُلقى إلينا النسيمُ الحِبارا
The scorching wind among them spits out sparks,
while the breeze brings delight to us.
غرائبُmarvels روَّضتَyou tamed ياO ابنson of الكرامthe noble
غرائبُ روَّضتَ يا ابن الكرام
برأيكthrough your judgment منهاamong them الشَّموسَthe unruly ones النَّوَاراthe shy ones
برأيك منها الشَّموسَ النَّوَارا
Marvels! O son of the noble, you have tamed
their skittish, shy ones through your judgment.
وباهلتَand you challenged بالأرضwith the earth فيهاin them السماheaven (continued)
وباهلتَ بالأرض فيها السما
ءَcompletion of 'heaven' فاعترفتso it conceded خجلاًin shame وانحصاراand discomfiture
ءَ فاعترفت خجلاً وانحصارا
With the earth in them, you challenged heaven,
and it conceded, ashamed and abashed.
وقبَّحتَand you made ugly فيin جنبcomparison with تحسينهاbeautifying it
وقبَّحتَ في جنب تحسينها
بأعينin the eyes of أربابهنtheir owners الدياراthe dwellings
بأعين أربابهن الديارا
Beside the beauty you gave it, you made ugly
other homes in the eyes of their owners.
فلوso if صاحبُthe master of السَّدِّthe dam لاحتit appeared لهto him
فلو صاحبُ السَّدِّ لاحت له
تبيَّنhe discerned فيماin what بناهhe built العَواراthe flaws
تبيَّن فيما بناه العَوارا
Had the master of the dam glimpsed it,
he would have seen the flaws in what he built.
وقيستْand were it compared لكسرَىfor Kisra بإيوانهwith his iwan
وقيستْ لكسرَى بإيوانه
قَلاهُhe loathed it ولمand not يُعطَwas granted عنهاapart from her اصطباراpatience
قَلاهُ ولم يُعطَ عنها اصطبارا
Were it compared for Kisra with his iwan,
he would have loathed his hall and been given no patience to be without her.
أرتكshowed you بدائعَهاher marvels هِمّةٌhigh ambition
أرتك بدائعَها هِمّةٌ
تُهينُbelittles عليكfor you العظيمَthe great احتقاراin contempt
تُهينُ عليك العظيمَ احتقارا
High ambition showed you her marvels,
belittling great things for you in scorn.
وفضْلٌand excellence يُجَلِّيكَbrings you first يومَthe day of الرِّهاthe race (continued)
وفضْلٌ يُجَلِّيكَ يومَ الرِّها
نِcompletion of 'the race' مَنْone who لاnot يُبَذُّis outstripped ومَنْand one who لاnot يُجارَىis matched
نِ مَنْ لا يُبَذُّ ومَنْ لا يُجارَى
And excellence brings you first on the day of the race,
as one none can outstrip, and none can match.
فأقسِمُso I swear باللّهby God لوif أنصفوthey treated fairly (continued)
فأقسِمُ باللّه لو أنصفو
كyou (verb object) قِسْماًin allotting a share وَردُّواand they restored إليَّto me الخِياراthe choice
ك قِسْماً وَردُّوا إليَّ الخِيارا
I swear by God: if they treated you fairly
in allotting your share, and restored to me the choice,
لماI would not كنتُI would be أرضَىcontent لكfor you الخافقيْthe two horizons (continued)
لما كنتُ أرضَى لك الخافقيْ
نcompletion of 'the two horizons' مُلكاًas a kingdom ولاnor جَنَّةَthe Garden of الخُلدEternity داراas a dwelling
ن مُلكاً ولا جَنَّةَ الخُلد دارا
I would not accept for you the two horizons
as a kingdom, nor the Garden of Eternity as a home.
Partial English translation: 126 of 156 Arabic lines translated.