عثرتَyou stumbled يومَon the day of العذَيبِal-ʿUdhayb فاستقلِso rise again
عثرتَ يومَ العذَيبِ فاستقلِ
ماnot كلُّevery ساعٍstriving person يُحسُّis aware بالزَّلَلِof slipping
ما كلُّ ساعٍ يُحسُّ بالزَّلَلِ
You stumbled on the day at al-ʿUdhayb; rise again.
You stumbled on the day of torment, so bear it with patience
Not everyone who strives is conscious of a slip.
Not everyone who strives feels the slips
ماnot سلِمَتْwere safe قبلكbefore you القلوبُthe hearts علىin the face of الthe (continued)
ما سلِمَتْ قبلك القلوبُ على ال
حُسنbeauty ولاnor الراجمونthose who pelt بالمقلِwith the eyes
حُسن ولا الراجمون بالمقلِ
Before you, no hearts escaped unscathed from
Before you, hearts were not safe from the arrows of beauty, nor were those who cast them with skill
beauty, nor did those whose eyes cast darts.
They took away my heart and left behind a body, completely destroyed by the madness of love
راحواthey went away بقلبيwith my heart وغادرواand they left جسداًa body
راحوا بقلبي وغادروا جسداً
أعدىinfected بِلاهits decay ربعَthe dwelling of الهوىlove فبَليso it decayed
أعدى بِلاه ربعَ الهوى فبَلي
They carried off my heart and left a body
I stood in it, and it is no wonder, like a shadow standing on a shadow
whose decay infected love's dwelling, so it too decayed.
Ask my brothers in the palaces of Persia about a dear brother who is persecuted in chains
وقفتُI stood فيهin it ولاand not ترىyou see عجباًa marvel
وقفتُ فيه ولا ترى عجباً
كطللٍlike a ruin واقفٍstanding علىover طللِa ruin
كطللٍ واقفٍ على طللِ
I stood there; you will see no marvel
O people, after you tribulation will take me with its first calamities
like a ruin standing over a ruin.
Do not seek my blood on the hills of men, for my blood is on the socks of camels
سلask إخوتيmy brothers فيin قصورthe palaces of فارسَPersia عنabout
سل إخوتي في قصور فارسَ عن
أخٍa brother عزيزnoble يُضامُis wronged فيin الحِلَلِthe encampments
أخٍ عزيز يُضامُ في الحِلَلِ
Ask my brothers in the palaces of Persia about
As if trailing on the howdahs, walking to my death
a noble brother wronged in the encampments.
Strange! He stubbornly hunted me down like hunting a wild deer with tricks
ياO قومmy people إنindeed العذيبَal-ʿUdhayb بعدكُمُafter you
يا قوم إن العذيبَ بعدكُمُ
يأخذنيholds me liable بالطوائلfor the blood-debts الأُوَلِthe former
يأخذني بالطوائل الأُوَلِ
My people, after your departure al-ʿUdhayb
He spread ropes of curls and stealthily aimed an arrow of kohl
exacts from me the old claims of vengeance.
Illness did not specifically injure my sides; rather I am totally wounded with the sorrows of love
لاdo not تطلبواseek فيin طُلىthe throats of الرجالmen دميmy blood
لا تطلبوا في طُلى الرجال دمي
إنّindeed دميmy blood فيon غواربthe withers of الإبلِthe camels
إنّ دمي في غوارب الإبلِ
Do not seek my blood on the throats of men;
When my cheeks saw my emaciated body, they recoiled in grief, and my heart said: endure!
my blood is on the withers of the camels.
I have endured all the torment of passion, and if I were chided for it, I would not care
كأنهاas though they بالحمُولwith the loads واطئةٌare treading
كأنها بالحمُول واطئةٌ
صفحةَthe surface of خدّيmy cheek تمشيwalking إلىtoward أجليmy death
صفحةَ خدّي تمشي إلى أجلي
It is as though, with their loads, they trample
Time has quenched its cruelty, but has not quenched the cruelty of my tormentors toward me
the surface of my cheek, walking toward my death.
O short night, stay still for the sleeper, for without drowsiness, the night would not be long
ياO عجباًwonder صادنيhunted me عناداًdefiantly علىat
يا عجباً صادني عناداً على
وجرةَWajra ظبيٌa gazelle يصادis hunted بالحيلِby stratagems
وجرةَ ظبيٌ يصاد بالحيلِ
How strange! I was hunted, perversely, at
My tears have turned the color of blackness in my eyes, and the color of darkness has not faded
Wajra by a gazelle itself caught by stratagems.
My eyes have become unaccustomed to daylight, from being accustomed to long nights of anxiety
مدَّstretched حبالاًropes منof الذوائبthe tresses واسand sharp- (fragment)
مدَّ حبالاً من الذوائب واس
ترهف-ened (continuation) يرميshooting نَصلاًa blade منof الكَحَلِkohl
ترهف يرمي نَصلاً من الكَحَلِ
It stretched out ropes of tresses, and
Seeming outwardly clad in well-being, while underneath is a skin tattooed with wounds
shot a sharpened blade of kohl.
He gives me the drink of patience when I describe to him a thirst from the utensils of honey
ماnot اختصَّsingled out منيof me السَّقامُsickness جارحةًa limb
ما اختصَّ مني السَّقامُ جارحةً
علىthroughout جهاتيmy parts أغراضُtargets منتبليmy archer
على جهاتي أغراضُ منتبلي
Sickness singled out no limb of mine;
Smiling at me without any displeasure - not every glance comes from an eye that was once displeased
on every side of me lie my archer's targets.
When his clothes of wealth were renewed, I went in a robe of his betrayal, patched
إذاwhen لحاظيmy glances لجسمِيَfor my body امتعضتْwere distressed
إذا لحاظي لجسمِيَ امتعضتْ
منby الضناwasting قالsaid قلبِيَmy heart احتملِendure
من الضنا قال قلبِيَ احتملِ
When my eyes are distressed for my body
He sees with his eyes every crack to be repaired, except what has closed up of my own wounds
by its wasting, my heart says, 'Endure.'
He sees the departure of nobles has darkened him - oblivion is a brand upon the heedless
كلّevery عذابِtorment of الهوىlove بُليتُI was afflicted بهwith it
كلّ عذابِ الهوى بُليتُ به
ولوand even if كُفيتI were spared الملامَreproach لمnot أُبَلِI care
ولو كُفيت الملامَ لم أُبَلِ
I have been afflicted with every torment of love;
Say to the vile one who is self-satisfied: "Are you spared my questioning? Then withdraw!"
had I been spared reproach, I would not have cared.
You withheld it, fearing to give, yet how much better had you withheld from being powerless!
قدalready اشتفىsatisfied itself الدهرُTime منwith قساوتهits cruelty
قد اشتفى الدهرُ من قساوته
وماand not اشتفىwere satisfied العاذلاتُthe reproaching women منwith عذليreproaching me
وما اشتفى العاذلاتُ من عذلي
Time has had its fill of cruelty,
O you who binds the forelock of benevolence to needs, out of greed, by evening the camel!
but the reproaching women have not had their fill of reproaching me.
Seeking what fate has deferred of wealth during the hastened journey
ياO قِصَرshortness of الليلthe night دمْlast لنائمهfor its sleeper
يا قِصَر الليل دمْ لنائمه
فالليلُfor the night لولاbut for السهادsleeplessness لمwould not يطُلِbe long
فالليلُ لولا السهاد لم يطُلِ
O shortness of night, last for its sleeper;
Perplexed, sacrificing security on land, yet by nightfall in trepidation from it
but for sleeplessness, the night would not be long.
He halted after his courses became obscured, looking for guidance - you are the full moon, so depart!
أحالchanged دمعيmy tears لونَthe color of السوادblackness منfrom الthe (continued)
أحال دمعي لونَ السواد من ال
عينeye ولونُand the color of الظلامdarkness لمdid not يحُلِchange
عين ولونُ الظلام لم يحُلِ
My tears altered the black color of
This is the chief of the generous, fire of the dark villages, and illuminator of the faces of the roads
the eye, but the color of darkness has not changed.
His smile indicates his generosity, and the East is clad in the striking lightning
وأنكرتْand failed to recognize عينيَmy eye النهارَthe day منfrom اعhabit- (fragment)
وأنكرتْ عينيَ النهارَ من اع
تياد-uation (continuation) ليلاتِnights of همّيَmy sorrow الطِّوَلِlong
تياد ليلاتِ همّيَ الطِّوَلِ
And my eye no longer recognized the day, through
Dazzling, his black attire surpassed his people's attire in excellence
its habit of my long nights of sorrow.
He excelled so that his district was not trodden by the teeth of youths, nor the wisdom of the aged
ظاهرَlayered ثوباًa robe منof السلامةwell-being ليfor me
ظاهرَ ثوباً من السلامة لي
فوقَover أديمٍa hide محلَّمٍmite-riddled نَغِلِrotten within
فوقَ أديمٍ محلَّمٍ نَغِلِ
He layered a robe of well-being for me
He alighted and his talisman was not cast, and he dominated the first ten years of his life
over a mite-riddled hide, rotten within.
Wakeful of thought, brilliant when the slumber of eyelids hid the sentry
يَسقِينيَgives me to drink الصابَbitter sap إنif وصفتُI described لهto him
يَسقِينيَ الصابَ إن وصفتُ له
ظماءةًthirst منfrom إدواةa flask of العسلِhoney
ظماءةً من إدواة العسلِ
He gives me bitter sap to drink when I describe to him
He almost, in obedience to concord, makes peace between the southern and northern winds
a thirst—from a flask of honey.
In the dew, his insight was corrected, so he does not respond to questions with excuses
مبتسمsmiling ليat me منfrom غيرlack of ماany مقةٍaffection
مبتسم لي من غير ما مقةٍ
ماnot كلّevery لحظٍglance بالماقِfrom the eye's inner corner عنfrom قَبَلِa squint
ما كلّ لحظٍ بالماقِ عن قَبَلِ
He smiles at me without any affection;
And linking the raincloud, lest his generosity rival him with a hand of loosened reason
not every glance from the eye's corner comes from a squint.
Of a band of youths whose glory in the prime of life trod the early days of dynasties
إذاwhen استجدَّتْbecame new لهfor him ثيابُrobes of غنىًwealth
إذا استجدَّتْ له ثيابُ غنىً
رحتُI departed بثوبٍin a robe منof غدرهhis treachery سَمَلِthreadbare
رحتُ بثوبٍ من غدره سَمَلِ
Whenever his robes of wealth grow new,
When the ambitious strove in youthful vigor, they looked from the forelocks of the hills
I depart in a threadbare robe of his treachery.
They left wealth with their hands and bestowed in its place such gifts and kisses!
يرىhe sees بعينيهwith his two eyes كلَّevery منصدعfractured thing
يرى بعينيه كلَّ منصدع
يُرأبُis mended إلاexcept ماwhat سدّclosed منof خِلليmy gaps
يُرأبُ إلا ما سدّ من خِللي
He sees with his own eyes every breach
At daybreak, the livelihood of people is under a hand of theirs, and the weight of the world on a foot
mended—except what would close my own gaps.
Each cultivated youth inclines to cultivation, nimbler in work than craftsmen
يرىhe thinks ذهابَthe passing of الساداتِthe lords سوّدهmade him a lord
يرى ذهابَ الساداتِ سوّده
إنindeed التفانيmutual extinction وسمٌa brand علىon الغُفلِthe unmarked
إن التفاني وسمٌ على الغُفلِ
He thinks the passing of the lords has made him lord;
If he wished, he could touch with what his straps have reached, the yellow lions, standing
for extinction is a brand upon the unmarked.
Good birth distinguished him among them, and he attained the heights in the lofty enclosures
قلْsay للئيمto the miser يضمّcloses راحتهhis palm
قلْ للئيم يضمّ راحته
خوفfor fear of سؤاليmy asking أُعفِيتَyou are exempted فاعتزلِso withdraw
خوف سؤالي أُعفِيتَ فاعتزلِ
Tell the miser who closes his palm
Muhammad is like al-Husayn in precedence to his goal, and al-Husayn is the example of Ali
for fear of my asking: 'You are excused; withdraw.'
Your efforts are sought by one wearied, whose hand unravels ropes for the straying camel
كفَفتَهاyou held it shut تَرهبُfearing العطاءَgiving فماso how
كفَفتَها تَرهبُ العطاءَ فما
أحسنَهاfine it is لوif تُكفُّit were held shut منby شلَلِparalysis
أحسنَها لو تُكفُّ من شلَلِ
You hold it shut, fearing to give; how
One who walks on fire without burning his feet will not earn shame like the foot of a youth
fine it would be if paralysis kept it shut!
You have granted me to wade into hope, while before I refrained from it, avoiding wetness
عهديmy experience بمالof the wealth of الجوادthe generous man يأمننيfeels safe from me
عهدي بمال الجواد يأمنني
فكيفthen how قدindeed خفتنيhave you feared me معdespite البخَلِstinginess
فكيف قد خفتني مع البخَلِ
The generous man's wealth, as I know it, feels safe from me;
My poetry in you has exceeded my reflection - the increase of your favor beyond my hope
so how have you feared me, despite your stinginess?
But it requires your perfections be hastened, lest time waste them in slowness
ماwhat لكis with you ترتاعyou are alarmed للسماعat hearing إذاwhen
ما لك ترتاع للسماع إذا
سِيلwere asked أُناسٌsome people وأنتwhile you لمwere not تُسَلِasked
سِيل أُناسٌ وأنت لم تُسَلِ
Why do you start in alarm on hearing
That I may share in the abundance of water, just as I was made a partner in the milk's cream
others asked, when you yourself have not been asked?
Every hand but mine has been immersed in your praise - it is the palm of a pretentious plagiarizer!
غضبانangry تبغيyou seek شرّيmy harm بلاwithout تِرةٍa grievance
غضبان تبغي شرّي بلا تِرةٍ
ولاnor يدٍa favor أنتyou ربُّهاits giver قِبَليtoward me
ولا يدٍ أنت ربُّها قِبَلي
Angry, you seek my harm without a grievance,
And every heart after mine has loved you - the heart of an outsider to affection, fickle in transference
nor any favor toward me of which you are the giver.
How much tender sweetness have I poured for you, in which I brought you a gift from my amorous imagination!
يُذَمُّis blamed مسترجِعُone reclaiming النوالِgifts فهلso will
يُذَمُّ مسترجِعُ النوالِ فهل
تكونyou be مسترجعاًa reclaimer ولمthough you did not تُنلِgive
تكون مسترجعاً ولم تُنلِ
One who takes back a gift is blamed; can you then
The morning comes to you with it like the sun, chaste until it shines with the day
reclaim one when you have given nothing?
Sweet of fragrance through what I secured of conduct toward you and example
ياO عاقداًone tying صبوةَyearning for الحسانbeautiful women إلىtogether with الthe (continued)
يا عاقداً صبوةَ الحسان إلى ال
حاجاتneeds حرصاًeagerly بغاربto the withers of الجملِthe camel
حاجات حرصاً بغارب الجملِ
O you who bind yearning for beauties, together with
She increases, with her beauty, intimacy - I fear only boredom for her
your needs, eagerly to a camel's withers,
You have burdened the neck of her excellence - so if she increases, it is for pride, not for absence
يطلبُhe seeks ماwhat أمهلَallowed delay القضاءfate بهconcerning it
يطلبُ ما أمهلَ القضاء به
منof الغنىwealth فيin سَفارةa journey العجَلِhaste
من الغنى في سَفارة العجَلِ
seeking what fate has held back
How many enviers have walked in misery toward her, when her opinion went straight against their crookedness!
of wealth, in a hasty journey.
He hoped, by what he said in your presence, his burden would deliver him from his rancor, but did not attain
حيرانَbewildered يُضحيspends the morning علىin أمانٍsafety منfrom الthe (continued)
حيرانَ يُضحي على أمانٍ من ال
أرضearth ويُمسيand spends the evening منهاof it علىin وجلِfear
أرض ويُمسي منها على وجلِ
Bewildered, he feels safe by morning from
Had your hearing not been generous to him, the worthless one would not have hoped for the mouth of nobility!
the earth, yet fears it by evening.
He traces aberration, seeking defects, and forgets favors in their sum
حَطَّhe halted وقدwhen already أعتمتْgrew dark مذاهبُهُhis routes
حَطَّ وقد أعتمتْ مذاهبُهُ
ينظرawaiting رُشْداًguidance أقمرتَyou have moonlight فارتحلِso set out
ينظر رُشْداً أقمرتَ فارتحلِ
He halted when his routes had darkened,
When his hand reaches out, I am pointed out for defects while virtues are for him
awaiting guidance: you have moonlight now, so set out.
It is enough contempt that I left his answer unheeded - had he been one whose answer was heeded, he would not have spoken
هذاthis is عميدthe chief of الكفاةthe capable men نارُthe fire of قِرىhospitality الthe (continued)
هذا عميد الكفاة نارُ قِرى ال
ليلnight وكشّافُand the revealer of أوجهِthe faces of السُّبُلِthe roads
ليل وكشّافُ أوجهِ السُّبُلِ
This is ʿAmīd al-Kufāt, hospitality's fire by
night, and the revealer of the roads' faces.
دلَّpointed علىto جودهhis generosity تبسُّمُهُhis smile
دلَّ على جوده تبسُّمُهُ
والشرقُand the east يشرَىflashes بالعارضِwith the rain cloud الهطلِdownpouring
والشرقُ يشرَى بالعارضِ الهطلِ
His smile points to his generosity,
and the east flashes with the downpouring cloud.
أبلجُbright-faced وافٍrising above سربالُthe robe of سوددِهِhis lordship
أبلجُ وافٍ سربالُ سوددِهِ
علىover سرابيلِthe robes of قومِهhis people الفُضُلِdistinguished
على سرابيلِ قومِه الفُضُلِ
Bright-faced, his robe of lordship towers
above the robes of his distinguished people.
فاتcarried beyond بهwith him أنthat تداسbe trodden حلبتُهhis racing-ground
فات به أن تداس حلبتُه
سنُّthe age of فَتِيٍّa youth ورأيُand the judgment of مكتهلِa mature man
سنُّ فَتِيٍّ ورأيُ مكتهلِ
His racing-ground was put beyond others' tread by
a youth's years and a mature man's judgment.
قرّbecame established وماwhile not أُلقيتْwas cast off تميمتُهhis amulet
قرّ وما أُلقيتْ تميمتُه
وسادand became a lord فيin عشرten years of عمرهhis life الأُوَلِthe first
وساد في عشر عمره الأُوَلِ
He was established before his amulet was cast off,
and became a lord in the first ten years of his life.
مستيقظwakeful الظنّin perception ألمعيٌّkeen-witted إذاwhen
مستيقظ الظنّ ألمعيٌّ إذا
أخلفَfailed ليلُthe night of النَّوّامةِthe sleepyhead الوَكلِthe helpless
أخلفَ ليلُ النَّوّامةِ الوَكلِ
Wakeful in perception, keen-witted when
the night fails the helpless sleepyhead.
يكادhe almost منbecause of طاعةthe obedience of الوِفاقconcord لهto him
يكاد من طاعة الوِفاق له
يُصلحreconciles بينbetween الجَنوبِthe south wind والشَّمَلِand the north wind
يُصلح بين الجَنوبِ والشَّمَلِ
So readily does concord obey him that he almost
reconciles the south wind with the north.
صحّتwas sound لهfor him فيin الندىgenerosity بصيرتُهُhis insight
صحّت له في الندى بصيرتُهُ
فماso not يَردُّhe rejects السؤالَpetitions بالعِللِwith excuses
فما يَردُّ السؤالَ بالعِللِ
His discernment in generosity is sound,
so he does not dismiss petitions with excuses.
وعاقَدand made a pact with الغيثَthe rain أنthat يساهمهit share with him الthe (continued)
وعاقَد الغيثَ أن يساهمه ال
جودَgenerosity بكفٍّwith a hand محلولةِloosened العُقُلِof fetters
جودَ بكفٍّ محلولةِ العُقُلِ
He made a pact with the rain that it share his
generosity, with a hand whose fetters are loosed.
منfrom معشرٍa people شابgrew gray مجدهمtheir glory فيin صبىthe youth of الthe (continued)
من معشرٍ شاب مجدهم في صبى ال
دهرTime وداسواand they trod on أوائلَthe earliest of الدوَلِdynasties
دهر وداسوا أوائلَ الدوَلِ
Of a people whose glory turned gray in the youth of
Time, who trod upon the earliest dynasties.
إذاwhen هوىdescended الناسبونthe genealogists فيinto صَببٍa slope
إذا هوى الناسبون في صَببٍ
تطلَّعواthey looked out منfrom ذوائبthe crests of القُلَلِthe peaks
تطلَّعوا من ذوائب القُلَلِ
When the tracers of lineage descend a slope,
they look out from the crests of peaks.
خلّواthey emptied عنof المالwealth أيدياًhands وَهبُواand they bestowed
خلّوا عن المال أيدياً وَهبُوا
منهاfrom them مكانَthe place of الأموالwealth والقُبَلِand kisses
منها مكانَ الأموال والقُبَلِ
They emptied their hands of wealth, and gave
their palms, the place of wealth and kisses.
يُصبحeach morning lies رزقُthe sustenance of الأنامmankind تحتunder يدٍa hand
يُصبح رزقُ الأنام تحت يدٍ
منهمof theirs وثقلand the weight of الدنياthe world علىupon رجُلِa man
منهم وثقل الدنيا على رجُلِ
The sustenance of mankind lies each morning beneath a hand
of theirs, and the world's weight rests upon a man.
كلّevery غلامٍyoung man ضربٍlean يخفّhastens إلىto الthe (continued)
كلّ غلامٍ ضربٍ يخفّ إلى ال
ضربcombat خُفوفَthe hastening of الصَّنَاعthe skilled craftswoman للعملِto work
ضرب خُفوفَ الصَّنَاع للعملِ
Every lean young man hastens to
combat as a skilled craftswoman hastens to her work.
لوif شاءhe wished مماbecause of how طالتgrew long حمائلهhis sword-straps
لو شاء مما طالت حمائله
مسّhe would touch قياماًstanding ثَعالبَthe spearhead fittings of الأسلِthe spears
مسّ قياماً ثَعالبَ الأسلِ
If he wished, so long are his sword-straps,
he could touch the spearhead fittings while standing.
شابَهَmade alike طيبُthe purity of الوِلادbirth بينهُمُamong them
شابَهَ طيبُ الوِلاد بينهُمُ
وَفقَlike the matching of الأنابيبِthe sections فيin القناthe spear-shafts الذُّبُلِslender
وَفقَ الأنابيبِ في القنا الذُّبُلِ
Purity of birth made them alike,
as sections match in slender spear-shafts.
محمدٌMuhammad كالحسينlike al-Husayn سبقاًin racing إلىtoward
محمدٌ كالحسين سبقاً إلى
غايتِهhis goal والحسينُand al-Husayn مثلُlike عليʿAli
غايتِه والحسينُ مثلُ علي
Muhammad is like al-Husayn in racing toward
his goal, and al-Husayn is like ʿAli.
يبغيseeks مساعيكyour achievements متعبٌa weary man يدُهُhis hand
يبغي مساعيك متعبٌ يدُهُ
تفتُلُtwists حبلاًa rope لشاردِfor a stray of الإبلِthe camels
تفتُلُ حبلاً لشاردِ الإبلِ
The man who seeks your achievements is weary, his hand
twisting a rope for a runaway camel.
وماand nothing جنتreaped خيبةًdisappointment كرِجلِlike the foot of فتىًa youth
وما جنت خيبةً كرِجلِ فتىً
يمشيwalking علىon النارfire غيرَwithout مشتعِلِcatching fire
يمشي على النار غيرَ مشتعِلِ
Nothing has reaped disappointment like the foot of a youth
who walks over fire without catching alight.
أنعمتُمُyou bestowed favor ليon me خوضwading into الرجاءhope وقدthough already
أنعمتُمُ لي خوض الرجاء وقد
كنتI had been أُحلّاkept away منهfrom it عنfrom البللِwetness
كنت أُحلّا منه عن البللِ
You favored me with wading into hope, although
I had been kept from even its wetness.
وزادand exceeded شِعريmy poetry فيكمabout you علىbeyond فِكَريmy thoughts
وزاد شِعري فيكم على فِكَري
مزيدَas the excess of إحسانكمyour kindness علىover أمليmy hope
مزيدَ إحسانكم على أملي
My poetry about you exceeded my thoughts
as your kindness exceeded my hope.
لكنّهbut it يقتضيcalls upon مكارمَكمyour generosity
لكنّه يقتضي مكارمَكم
تعجيلُهاhastening them ماwhat يفوتis lost بالمهلِthrough delay
تعجيلُها ما يفوت بالمهلِ
Yet it calls upon your generosity
to hasten what would be lost through delay.
وأنand that أكونI be الشريكَthe sharer فيin جمّةthe abundance of الthe (continued)
وأن أكون الشريكَ في جمّة ال
ماءِwater كماjust as قدalready شُركتُI was given a share فيin الوشَلِthe trickle
ماءِ كما قد شُركتُ في الوشَلِ
and that I share in the abundance of
water, as I have been given a share in the trickle.
كلّevery يدٍhand فيin مديحكمyour praise غُمستْwas dipped
كلّ يدٍ في مديحكم غُمستْ
غيرَexcept يديmy hand فهيthen it is كفُّthe hand of منتحلِa plagiarist
غيرَ يدي فهي كفُّ منتحلِ
Every hand that has dipped into your praise,
except my hand, is the hand of a plagiarist.
وكلّand every قلبheart بعديafter me أحبَّكُمُloved you
وكلّ قلب بعدي أحبَّكُمُ
قلبُthe heart of دخيلِa newcomer to الودادِaffection منتقِلِtransient
قلبُ دخيلِ الودادِ منتقِلِ
And every heart that loved you after me
is a newcomer's heart in love, ever shifting.
كمhow many جَلوةٍa bridal unveiling حُلوةٍsweet زففتُI brought in procession لكمto you
كم جَلوةٍ حُلوةٍ زففتُ لكم
فيهاin it هَدِيّاًa bride منfrom خاطرٍan imagination غزلِamorous
فيها هَدِيّاً من خاطرٍ غزلِ
How many a sweet bridal unveiling have I brought you,
with a bride from an amorous imagination!
كالشمسlike the sun يأتيكمcomes to you الصباحُthe morning بهاwith her
كالشمس يأتيكم الصباحُ بها
عذراءَa virgin حتىuntil تُجلَىshe is unveiled معwith الطَّفْلِtwilight
عذراءَ حتى تُجلَى مع الطَّفْلِ
Morning brings her to you like the sun,
a virgin until she is unveiled at twilight.
طيّبةsweet-scented الرُّدنِat the sleeve-end بالذيthrough what ضمنتshe contained
طيّبة الرُّدنِ بالذي ضمنت
منof سيرةٍconduct فيكمُconcerning you ومنand of مثلِexamples
من سيرةٍ فيكمُ ومن مثلِ
Sweet-scented at the sleeve through what she holds
of your conduct and of examples.
تُكثِرshe offers much معwith حسنهاher beauty الوصالَunion فماso not
تُكثِر مع حسنها الوصالَ فما
أخشىI fear عليهاfor her إلاexcept منfrom المللِboredom
أخشى عليها إلا من المللِ
She adds frequent union to her beauty; I do not
fear for her anything but boredom.
أثقلتُمُyou made heavy حملَthe burden of جيدهاher neck فإنso if ازincreas- (fragment)
أثقلتُمُ حملَ جيدها فإن از
دادت-ed (continuation) فللفخرthen for glory ليسnot للعطَلِfor lack of adornment
دادت فللفخر ليس للعطَلِ
You have made her neck's burden heavy; if she
gains more, it is for glory, not for want of ornaments.
كمhow many حاسدٍan envier قدindeed مشىcrept الضَّرَاءunder cover لهاagainst her
كم حاسدٍ قد مشى الضَّرَاء لها
لماwhen استقامتshe stood sound برأيهin his judgment الخطِلِfoolish
لما استقامت برأيه الخطِلِ
How many an envier has stalked her under cover,
when she seemed sound to his foolish judgment!
رجاhe hoped بماthrough what قالhe said عندكمwith you وَزَراًa refuge
رجا بما قال عندكم وَزَراً
يُنجيهwould save him منfrom غيظهhis rage فلمbut he did not ينلِattain
يُنجيه من غيظه فلم ينلِ
He hoped his words would win, with you, a refuge
to save him from his rage, but he gained none.
لوif لمnot توسّعyou opened لهto him مسامعكمyour ears
لو لم توسّع له مسامعكم
ماnot طمعwould covet الصّلُّthe viper فيin فمthe mouth of الوعلِthe ibex
ما طمع الصّلُّ في فم الوعلِ
Had you not opened your ears to him,
the viper would not have coveted the ibex's mouth.
يقُصُّhe tracks إثرَthe trail of الشذوذِdeviations يلتمسseeking الthe (continued)
يقُصُّ إثرَ الشذوذِ يلتمس ال
عيبَfault وينسَىand forgets الإحسانexcellence فيin الجملِthe whole
عيبَ وينسَى الإحسان في الجملِ
He tracks the trail of deviations, seeking
fault, and forgets the excellence of the whole.
لهhis share إذاwhen امتدّextended باعُthe reach of همّتهhis ambition
له إذا امتدّ باعُ همّته
ذكرِيmentioning me بالعيبwith blame والمحاسنُand the merits ليare mine
ذكرِي بالعيب والمحاسنُ لي
His share, when his ambition's reach extends,
is mentioning me with blame; the merits are mine.
كفىsufficed احتقاراًas contempt تركيmy refraining from إجابتَهanswering him
كفى احتقاراً تركي إجابتَه
لوif كانhe were ممّنamong those who يُجابُare answered لمwould not يقُلِhave spoken
لو كان ممّن يُجابُ لم يقُلِ
My leaving him unanswered is contempt enough;
had he been worth answering, he would not have said it.
Partial English translation: 66 of 138 Arabic lines translated.