أَوَدُّI desire مِنَfrom الأَيّامِthe days مالاwhat not تَوَدُّهُthey desire it
أَوَدُّ مِنَ الأَيّامِ مالا تَوَدُّهُ
وَأَشكوand I complain إِلَيهاto them بَينَناour parting وَهيَwhile they جُندُهُits army
وَأَشكو إِلَيها بَينَنا وَهيَ جُندُهُ
I desire of the days what they do not desire,
I prefer days that you do not like,
I ask of Time what Time does not desire,
And complain to them of our parting, though they are its army.
And I complain to them about us while they are its army.
And complain to it of our distance, though it is distance's guard.
يُباعِدنَthey distance حِبّاًa beloved يَجتَمِعنَthey join together وَوَصلُهُand union with him
يُباعِدنَ حِبّاً يَجتَمِعنَ وَوَصلُهُ
فَكَيفَthen how بِحِبٍّwith a beloved يَجتَمِعنَthey join together وَصَدُّهُand his rejection
فَكَيفَ بِحِبٍّ يَجتَمِعنَ وَصَدُّهُ
They part me from a beloved even when they favor union with him;
They separate a love that unites, and its union,
The days drive a love apart when union is near;
What then of a beloved when they favor his rejection?
So how can love unite when its separateness is stronger?
How then with a love where only rejection stands?
أَبىrefused خُلُقُthe nature of الدُنياthe world حَبيباًa beloved تُديمُهُit keeps him
أَبى خُلُقُ الدُنيا حَبيباً تُديمُهُ
فَماso why طَلَبيmy asking مِنهاfrom it حَبيباًa beloved تَرُدُّهُit restores him
فَما طَلَبي مِنها حَبيباً تَرُدُّهُ
The world's nature refuses to keep a beloved forever;
The nature of this world refused a lasting beloved.
The world's nature forbids a beloved to remain,
So why ask it for a beloved it might restore?
So my quest from it is not for a beloved that lasts.
So why do I ask it to bring one back again?
وَأَسرَعُand the quickest مَفعولٍthing done فَعَلتَyou did تَغَيُّراًin changing
وَأَسرَعُ مَفعولٍ فَعَلتَ تَغَيُّراً
تَكَلُّفُforcing oneself into شَيءٍsomething فيin طِباعِكَyour nature ضِدُّهُits opposite
تَكَلُّفُ شَيءٍ في طِباعِكَ ضِدُّهُ
The quickest to change of all the things you do
The quickest thing to change is what you force yourself to do
The swiftest deed to undergo a change
Is forcing yourself into something contrary to your nature.
Against your nature—its opposite undoes it.
Is feigning a nature that is not your own.
رَعىmay guard اللَهُGod عيساًpale camels فارَقَتناthey left us وَفَوقَهاand upon them
رَعى اللَهُ عيساً فارَقَتنا وَفَوقَها
مَهاًoryxes كُلُّهاeach of them يولىis wounded بِجَفنَيهِby its two eyelids خَدُّهُits cheek
مَهاً كُلُّها يولى بِجَفنَيهِ خَدُّهُ
May God guard the pale camels that left us, bearing
May God watch over Isa since she left us, though over her
May God protect the white camels that bore away
Oryxes, each with a cheek wounded by its two eyelids.
Is a moon, its cheeks wholly turning away.
Maidens who wipe their cheeks against their lids.
بِوادٍin a valley بِهِin it ماwhat بِالقُلوبِin the hearts كَأَنَّهُas though it
بِوادٍ بِهِ ما بِالقُلوبِ كَأَنَّهُ
وَقَدand already رَحَلواthey departed جيدٌa neck تَناثَرَscattered عِقدُهُits necklace
وَقَد رَحَلوا جيدٌ تَناثَرَ عِقدُهُ
In a valley bearing what our hearts bear, as though it were,
In a land where there is nothing in hearts as though
In a valley holding the heat of hearts; it seemed,
Now they have departed, a neck whose necklace has scattered.
They left, a necklace coming undone as they walked away,
When they departed, a necklace of pearls unstrung.
إِذاwhen سارَتِtravel الأَحداجُthe howdahs فَوقَover نَباتِهِits vegetation
إِذا سارَتِ الأَحداجُ فَوقَ نَباتِهِ
تَفاوَحَmingle their scents مِسكُthe musk of الغانِياتِthe beautiful women وَرَندُهُand its laurel
تَفاوَحَ مِسكُ الغانِياتِ وَرَندُهُ
When the howdahs travel over its greenery,
When the slender ones walked above its plants,
When the camel-litters moved above its brush,
The women's musk and its laurel mingle their scents.
The scent of singing slave-girls wafted around.
The fragrance of musk and laurel filled the air.
وَحالٍand a station كَإِحداهُنَّlike one of them رُمتُI sought بُلوغَهاto reach it
وَحالٍ كَإِحداهُنَّ رُمتُ بُلوغَها
وَمِنand on دونِهاthis side of it غَولُthe peril of الطَريقِthe road وَبُعدُهُand its length
وَمِن دونِها غَولُ الطَريقِ وَبُعدُهُ
And many a station, like one of those women, I sought to reach,
In a state like one of them, she reached maturity,
I sought a fortune lovely as those dames,
With the road's perils and distance barring the way.
With beyond her the expanse of the road and its distance.
But blocked by road-ghouls and the endless waste.
وَأَتعَبُand the weariest خَلقِcreatures of اللَهِGod مَنone whose زادَincreased هَمُّهُhis ambition
وَأَتعَبُ خَلقِ اللَهِ مَن زادَ هَمُّهُ
وَقَصَّرَand fell short عَمّاof what تَشتَهيdesires النَفسُthe soul وُجدُهُhis means
وَقَصَّرَ عَمّا تَشتَهي النَفسُ وُجدُهُ
The weariest of God's creatures is he whose ambition grows
I tire the people of God most when my worries increase
The weariest of God's creatures is he whose ambition soars,
While his means fall short of what his soul desires.
And fall short of what my soul desires to find.
While his means fall short of what his soul adores.
فَلاso do not يَنحَلِلdissipate فيin المَجدِglory مالُكَyour wealth كُلُّهُall of it
فَلا يَنحَلِل في المَجدِ مالُكَ كُلُّهُ
فَيَنحَلَّlest unravel مَجدٌglory كانَwas بِالمالِby wealth عَقدُهُits knot
فَيَنحَلَّ مَجدٌ كانَ بِالمالِ عَقدُهُ
Do not let all your wealth dissolve in pursuit of glory,
So do not squander all your wealth vaingloriously
Do not let all your wealth dissolve in glory's quest,
Lest glory unravel, its knot once tied by wealth.
Lest glory knotted to wealth come undone.
For glory's knot is by wealth's cord secured.
وَدَبِّرهُand manage it تَدبيرَwith the management of الَّذيone for whom المَجدُglory كَفُّهُhis hand
وَدَبِّرهُ تَدبيرَ الَّذي المَجدُ كَفُّهُ
إِذاwhen حارَبَhe fights الأَعداءَthe enemies وَالمالُand wealth زَندُهُhis forearm
إِذا حارَبَ الأَعداءَ وَالمالُ زَندُهُ
Manage it like one for whom glory is his hand
Manage it as one whose glory is his palm,
Manage it like one whose hand is Glory itself,
When he fights his enemies, and wealth his forearm.
When he wars with enemies and wealth is his weapon.
When fighting foes, with Wealth as his striking arm.
فَلاso no مَجدَglory فيin الدُنياthe world لِمَنfor one whose قَلَّis little مالُهُhis wealth
فَلا مَجدَ في الدُنيا لِمَن قَلَّ مالُهُ
وَلاand no مالَwealth فيin الدُنياthe world لِمَنfor one whose قَلَّis little مَجدُهُhis glory
وَلا مالَ في الدُنيا لِمَن قَلَّ مَجدُهُ
There is no glory in this world for one with little wealth,
For there is no glory in this world for one whose wealth is little,
There is no glory in this world for him of little means,
Nor wealth in this world for one with little glory.
Nor wealth in this world for one whose glory is small.
Nor wealth for him whose glory has run dry.
وَفيand among الناسِpeople مَنone who يَرضىis content بِمَيسورِwith the available means of عَيشِهِhis living
وَفي الناسِ مَن يَرضى بِمَيسورِ عَيشِهِ
وَمَركوبُهُand his mount رِجلاهُhis two feet وَالثَوبُand clothing جِلدُهُhis skin
وَمَركوبُهُ رِجلاهُ وَالثَوبُ جِلدُهُ
Among men is one content with the living he can afford,
Among people there are those who are content with a modest living,
Among men are those content with an easy life,
His mount his two feet, and his clothing his skin.
Their mounts are their legs and their clothes are their skins.
Their mount their feet, their own skin their only garb.
وَلَكِنَّbut قَلباًa heart بَينَbetween جَنبَيَّmy two sides مالَهُit has no
وَلَكِنَّ قَلباً بَينَ جَنبَيَّ مالَهُ
مَدىًlimit يَنتَهيstops بيwith me فيat مُرادٍan aim أَحُدُّهُI delimit it
مَدىً يَنتَهي بي في مُرادٍ أَحُدُّهُ
But the heart between my ribs has no
But I have a heart between my ribs whose
But within my ribs beats a heart that knows no bounds,
Limit to halt me at any aim I set.
Expanse ends for me in some desire I love most,
No limit to the vast ambition I define.
يَرىit sees جِسمَهُits body يُكسىis clothed شُفوفاًfine fabrics تَرُبُّهُpamper it
يَرى جِسمَهُ يُكسى شُفوفاً تَرُبُّهُ
فَيَختارُso it chooses أَنto يُكسىbe clothed دُروعاًarmor تَهُدُّهُcrush it
فَيَختارُ أَن يُكسى دُروعاً تَهُدُّهُ
It sees its body clothed in fine fabrics that pamper it,
Who sees his body clothed in fine garments that soil it,
It sees the body clad in silks that comfort it,
Yet chooses to wear armor that crushes it.
So prefers to be clothed in armor that protects him.
Yet chooses the weight of mail that wears it down.
يُكَلِّفُنيit compels me التَهجيرَmidday travel فيthrough كُلِّevery مَهمَهٍwilderness
يُكَلِّفُني التَهجيرَ في كُلِّ مَهمَهٍ
عَليقيmy mount's fodder مَراعيهِits pastures وَزادِيَand my provisions رُبدُهُits gray ostriches
عَليقي مَراعيهِ وَزادِيَ رُبدُهُ
It drives me to travel at midday through every wilderness,
You task me to wander on every mission,
It drives me through the noon heat of every waste,
Its pastures my mount's fodder, its gray ostriches my provisions.
My provisions are my hopes, my travel-food is my determination.
Where grazing is my fodder, and wild game my feast.
وَأَمضىand the sharpest سِلاحٍweapon قَلَّدَhas girded المَرءُa man نَفسَهُhimself
وَأَمضى سِلاحٍ قَلَّدَ المَرءُ نَفسَهُ
رَجاءُhope in أَبيfather of المِسكِmusk الكَريمِthe noble وَقَصدُهُand seeking him
رَجاءُ أَبي المِسكِ الكَريمِ وَقَصدُهُ
The sharpest weapon a man has girded upon himself
The surest weapon a man arms himself with
The sharpest weapon a man can gird himself with
Is hope in noble Abu al-Misk, and seeking him.
Is hope in my generous father and his purpose.
Is the hope of Abu al-Misk and seeking his domain.
هُماthese two ناصِراthe two supporters of مَنwhoever خانَهُbetrayed him كُلُّevery ناصِرٍsupporter
هُما ناصِرا مَن خانَهُ كُلُّ ناصِرٍ
وَأُسرَةُand the clan of مَنone whose لَمdid not يُكثِرِmultiply النَسلَoffspring جَدُّهُhis grandfather
وَأُسرَةُ مَن لَم يُكثِرِ النَسلَ جَدُّهُ
These two support whoever every supporter has betrayed,
They both help whoever every helper betrayed,
They are the defenders of one betrayed by all aid,
And are the clan of one whose grandfather had few descendants.
And are family to whoever’s ancestors left no extended family.
The kin of him whose lineage has run thin.
أَناI اليَومَtoday مِنamong غِلمانِهِhis young retainers فيin عَشيرَةٍa clan
أَنا اليَومَ مِن غِلمانِهِ في عَشيرَةٍ
لَناwe have والِدٌa father مِنهُin him يُفَدّيهِransom him وُلدُهُhis children
لَنا والِدٌ مِنهُ يُفَدّيهِ وُلدُهُ
Today I am among his young retainers, within a clan:
Today I am one of his young men, among a tribe
Today I stand among his pages, within a clan
We have a father in him, whom his children would ransom.
To whom we have a father who ransoms his sons with his life.
Where he is a father whose sons would die for him.
فَمَنfor from مالِهِhis wealth مالُthe wealth of الكَبيرِthe grown man وَنَفسُهُand his life
فَمَن مالِهِ مالُ الكَبيرِ وَنَفسُهُ
وَمَنand from مالِهِhis wealth دَرُّthe milk of الصَغيرِthe infant وَمَهدُهُand his cradle
وَمَن مالِهِ دَرُّ الصَغيرِ وَمَهدُهُ
From his wealth come the grown man's wealth and life,
Whoever’s wealth is the wealth of the great, his own self,
From his bounty comes the elder's wealth and life,
And from his wealth the infant's milk and cradle.
And whoever’s wealth is the pearl of the little one, his cradle.
From his bounty, the infant's milk and cradle-rest.
نَجُرُّwe drag القَناlances الخَطِيَّKhatti حَولَaround قِبابِهِhis pavilions
نَجُرُّ القَنا الخَطِيَّ حَولَ قِبابِهِ
وَتَرديand gallop بِناwith us قُبُّslender-bellied ones الرِباطِthe warhorses وَجُردُهُand its short-coated ones
وَتَردي بِنا قُبُّ الرِباطِ وَجُردُهُ
We drag Khatti lances around his pavilions,
We pull the battle lines taut around his tents,
We trail our long spears around his royal tents,
And slender, short-coated warhorses bear us at a gallop.
As the collar of encampment comes undone around us.
While thoroughbreds, lean and swift, beneath us bound.
وَنَمتَحِنُand we test النُشّابَarrows فيin كُلِّevery وابِلٍdownpour
وَنَمتَحِنُ النُشّابَ في كُلِّ وابِلٍ
دَوِيُّthe roar of القِسِيِّbows الفارِسِيَّةِPersian رَعدُهُits thunder
دَوِيُّ القِسِيِّ الفارِسِيَّةِ رَعدُهُ
We test our arrows in every downpour
We try the spears in every downpour
We test our arrows in the thick of every storm,
Whose thunder is the roar of Persian bows.
Whose thunder is the rumble of Persian armor.
Where the twang of Persian bows provides the thunder.
فَإِلّاso if not تَكُنis مِصرُEgypt الشَرىal-Shara أَوor عَرينُهُits lair
فَإِلّا تَكُن مِصرُ الشَرى أَو عَرينُهُ
فَإِنَّthen indeed الَّذيthose who فيهاwithin it مِنَamong الناسِpeople أُسدُهُits lions
فَإِنَّ الَّذي فيها مِنَ الناسِ أُسدُهُ
If Egypt is not al-Shara or its lion's lair,
For if Egypt is not the land of war or its lair,
If Egypt be not the lion's thicket or his den,
Then the men within it are indeed its lions:
Then the lion among its people is just a cat.
Surely the men within it are his pride of lions.
سَبائِكُingots of كافورٍKafur وَعِقيانُهُand his pure gold الَّذيwhich
سَبائِكُ كافورٍ وَعِقيانُهُ الَّذي
بِصُمِّwith solid القَناlances لاnot بِالأَصابِعِwith fingers نَقدُهُits assay
بِصُمِّ القَنا لا بِالأَصابِعِ نَقدُهُ
Kafur's ingots and his pure gold, whose
Ingots of camphor whose currency is not fingers
His ingots of gold and camphor are of the sort
Assay is by solid lances, not by fingers.
But the edge of the sword—that is its value.
Tested by the tips of spears, not by the touch of hands.
بَلاهاtested them حَوالَيهِaround him العَدُوُّthe enemy وَغَيرُهُand others besides him
بَلاها حَوالَيهِ العَدُوُّ وَغَيرُهُ
وَجَرَّبَهاand tried them هَزلُsport of الطِرادِjousting وَجِدُّهُand its earnestness
وَجَرَّبَها هَزلُ الطِرادِ وَجِدُّهُ
Around him, the enemy and others have tested them,
Its environs the enemy plundered, and others,
The enemy and friend alike have tested them,
And jousting, in sport and in earnest, has tried them.
And the zeal of exile tested it, joking and serious.
In the jest of practice and the grim of war.
أَبوfather of المِسكِmusk لاnot يَفنىis exhausted بِذَنبِكَby your offense عَفوُهُhis pardon
أَبو المِسكِ لا يَفنى بِذَنبِكَ عَفوُهُ
وَلَكِنَّهُbut he يَفنىis exhausted بِعُذرِكَby your apology حِقدُهُhis resentment
وَلَكِنَّهُ يَفنى بِعُذرِكَ حِقدُهُ
Abu al-Misk's pardon is not exhausted by your offense,
Abu al-Misk does not negate forgiveness if you slip,
Abu al-Misk: his pardon outlasts your every sin,
But his resentment is exhausted by your apology.
But it does fade if you offer no excuse for your hatred.
Yet his malice vanishes at your first excuse.
فَياso O أَيُّهاyou المَنصورُthe victorious one بِالجَدِّby good fortune سَعيُهُhis striving
فَيا أَيُّها المَنصورُ بِالجَدِّ سَعيُهُ
وَياand O أَيُّهاyou المَنصورُthe victorious one بِالسَعيِby striving جَدُّهُhis good fortune
وَيا أَيُّها المَنصورُ بِالسَعيِ جَدُّهُ
O you whose striving fortune makes victorious,
O you made victorious by striving, his striving is his victory,
O you whose striving is crowned by Fortune's hand,
And O you whose fortune striving makes victorious!
O you made victorious by victory, his striving earned it.
And you whose Fortune is by striving crowned!
تَوَلّىdeparted الصِباyouth عَنّيfrom me فَأَخلَفتُso I replaced طيبَهُits sweetness
تَوَلّى الصِبا عَنّي فَأَخلَفتُ طيبَهُ
وَماand not ضَرَّنيharmed me لَمّاwhen رَأَيتُكَI saw you فَقدُهُits loss
وَما ضَرَّني لَمّا رَأَيتُكَ فَقدُهُ
Youth left me, and I found a substitute for its sweetness;
Youth turned away from me, but when I saw you I felt no loss,
Youth has turned from me, and I have lost its scent,
Its loss did me no harm once I saw you.
For it had grown old in this time, while in your presence its bloom returned.
Yet its loss harmed me not when I beheld your face.
لَقَدindeed شَبَّbecame young فيin هَذاthis الزَمانِage كُهولُهُits middle-aged men
لَقَد شَبَّ في هَذا الزَمانِ كُهولُهُ
لَدَيكَin your presence وَشابَتand turned gray عِندَwith غَيرِكَothers than you مُردُهُits beardless youths
لَدَيكَ وَشابَت عِندَ غَيرِكَ مُردُهُ
Indeed, this age's middle-aged men have grown young
If only the day of travel could tell of its heat,
In this age, with you, the old have found their youth,
With you, while with others its beardless youths have turned gray.
Then you could ask it, and the night tell of its cold.
While with others, even the beardless turn to gray.
أَلاah لَيتَwould that يَومَthe day of السَيرِtravel يُخبِرُspeaks حَرُّهُits heat
أَلا لَيتَ يَومَ السَيرِ يُخبِرُ حَرُّهُ
فَتَسأَلَهُso you could question it وَاللَيلَand the night يُخبِرُspeaks بَردُهُits cold
فَتَسأَلَهُ وَاللَيلَ يُخبِرُ بَردُهُ
Ah, would that the traveling day's heat could speak,
If only you could see me distracted, wandering,
Would that the heat of my travel-day could speak to you,
So you could question it—and that the night's cold could speak!
Then know I am the edge of your sword.
Or the night reveal to you its biting cold,
وَلَيتَكَand would that you تَرعانيwatched me وَحَيرانُwhile Hayran مُعرِضٌstretched out
وَلَيتَكَ تَرعاني وَحَيرانُ مُعرِضٌ
فَتَعلَمَso you would know أَنّيthat I مِنof حُسامِكَyour sharp sword حَدُّهُits cutting edge
فَتَعلَمَ أَنّي مِن حُسامِكَ حَدُّهُ
And would that you watched me while Hayran stretched before me,
When I undertake something I want,
Would that you watched me when the path was blocked,
So you would know I am the cutting edge of your sword.
Its far reaches draw near and its hardest part grows simple.
To know that I am the very edge of your sword.
وَأَنّيand that I إِذاwhen باشَرتُundertake أَمراًa task أُريدُهُI desire it
وَأَنّي إِذا باشَرتُ أَمراً أُريدُهُ
تَدانَتdraw near أَقاصيهِits farthest reaches وَهانَand becomes easy أَشَدُّهُits hardest part
تَدانَت أَقاصيهِ وَهانَ أَشَدُّهُ
And that, when I undertake a task I desire,
People have been confusing me and you,
And that when I pursue a goal I truly desire,
Its farthest reaches draw near, and its hardest part grows easy.
But when you appeared clearly to me, its distinction was clear.
Its ends draw near, and its hardships turn to ease.
وَماand not زالَceased أَهلُpeople of الدَهرِthe age يَشتَبِهونَseem alike ليto me
وَما زالَ أَهلُ الدَهرِ يَشتَبِهونَ لي
إِلَيكَuntil you فَلَمّاthen when لُحتَyou came into view ليto me لاحَcame into view فَردُهُits unique one
إِلَيكَ فَلَمّا لُحتَ لي لاحَ فَردُهُ
The people of this age had always seemed alike to me,
It's said that when I see an army and its lord
The people of this age all looked alike to me,
Until you; when you appeared, its peerless man appeared.
Before you, the lord is just your army's servant.
Until you shone forth, unique and unparalleled.
يُقالُit is said إِذاwhen أَبصَرتُI see جَيشاًan army وَرَبُّهُand its lord
يُقالُ إِذا أَبصَرتُ جَيشاً وَرَبُّهُ
أَمامَكَbefore you رَبٌّa lord رَبُّthe lord of ذاthis الجَيشِarmy عَبدُهُhis slave
أَمامَكَ رَبٌّ رَبُّ ذا الجَيشِ عَبدُهُ
When I see an army and its lord, it is said:
And the grinning mouth throws down the gauntlet—I know
When I behold an army and its leader, it is said:
Before you stands a lord whose slave is this army's lord.
He is near to the hand of redemption, faithful to his covenant.
"Before you is a Lord to whom this leader is a thrall."
وَأَلقىand I meet الفَمَthe mouth الضَحّاكَlaughing أَعلَمُI know أَنَّهُthat it
وَأَلقى الفَمَ الضَحّاكَ أَعلَمُ أَنَّهُ
قَريبٌrecent بِذيwith the possessor of الكَفِّthe hand المُفَدّاةِransomed with lives عَهدُهُits acquaintance
قَريبٌ بِذي الكَفِّ المُفَدّاةِ عَهدُهُ
I meet a laughing mouth, knowing that it
So those who long for you visited you from me,
I meet that smiling mouth, and well I know
Has lately known the owner of the hand for which lives are offered.
While among people, none but you reject all others.
It keeps a pact with that hand we hold so dear.
فَزارَكَso has visited you مِنّيfrom me مَنone whose إِلَيكَfor you اِشتِياقُهُhis longing
فَزارَكَ مِنّي مَن إِلَيكَ اِشتِياقُهُ
وَفيand toward الناسِpeople إِلّاexcept فيكَtoward you وَحدَكَyou alone زُهدُهُhis indifference
وَفي الناسِ إِلّا فيكَ وَحدَكَ زُهدُهُ
So in me you were visited by one whose longing is for you,
Whoever does not make your house their goal misses out,
One has visited you whose longing is for you alone,
Who cares nothing for men, except for you alone.
And comes to know that was the limit of their effort.
Who renounces all mankind save you.
يُخَلِّفُleaves behind مَنwhoever لَمhas not يَأتِcome to دارَكَyour house غايَةًas a goal
يُخَلِّفُ مَن لَم يَأتِ دارَكَ غايَةً
وَيَأتيand comes فَيَدريso he knows أَنَّthat ذَلِكَthat جُهدُهُhis utmost capacity
وَيَأتي فَيَدري أَنَّ ذَلِكَ جُهدُهُ
He leaves behind whoever has not made your house his goal,
If I gain what I hope from you, perhaps
He leaves behind those who have not sought your door,
And comes, knowing that this is his utmost achievement.
I will drink water too much for birds to reach.
And comes to you, knowing this is the utmost goal.
فَإِنso if نِلتُI attain ماwhat أَمَّلتُI hoped for مِنكَfrom you فَرُبَّماthen many a time
فَإِن نِلتُ ما أَمَّلتُ مِنكَ فَرُبَّما
شَرِبتُI have drunk بِماءٍfrom water يَعجِزُdefeats الطَيرَthe birds وِردُهُaccess to it
شَرِبتُ بِماءٍ يَعجِزُ الطَيرَ وِردُهُ
If I attain what I hoped for from you—many a time
Your promise is action, for it is
If I attain what I have hoped from you,
Have I drunk from water that even birds cannot reach.
The equal of the truthful man's word and promise.
Then I have drunk from springs no bird can reach.
وَوَعدُكَand your promise فِعلٌa deed قَبلَbefore وَعدٍa promise لِأَنَّهُbecause it
وَوَعدُكَ فِعلٌ قَبلَ وَعدٍ لِأَنَّهُ
نَظيرُthe equal of فَعالِdeeds of الصادِقِthe truthful one القَولِin speech وَعدُهُhis promise
نَظيرُ فَعالِ الصادِقِ القَولِ وَعدُهُ
Your promise is a deed before the promise is made, for
So be good to me in your patronage, like one who tests
Your promise is a deed before it is a word,
The promise of one true to his word is the equal of his deeds.
To show you the advance of a steed and its drive.
For it mirrors the act of one who speaks the truth.
فَكُنso be فيin اِصطِناعيpatronage of me مُحسِناًgenerous كَمُجَرِّبٍas a tester
فَكُن في اِصطِناعي مُحسِناً كَمُجَرِّبٍ
يَبِنwill become clear لَكَto you تَقريبُthe canter of الجَوادِthe noble steed وَشَدُّهُand its gallop
يَبِن لَكَ تَقريبُ الجَوادِ وَشَدُّهُ
So favor me with your patronage, as one conducting a trial;
If you doubt a sword, then test it—
Be gracious in employing me, as one who tests;
You will discover the noble steed's canter and gallop.
Either reject or prepare it.
The horse's worth is proven when he runs.
إِذاif كُنتَyou are فيin شَكٍّdoubt مِنَabout السَيفِthe sword فَاِبلُهُthen test it
إِذا كُنتَ في شَكٍّ مِنَ السَيفِ فَاِبلُهُ
فَإِمّاthen either تُنَفّيهِyou discard it وَإِمّاor else تُعِدُّهُyou ready it
فَإِمّا تُنَفّيهِ وَإِمّا تُعِدُّهُ
If you are in doubt about a sword, put it to the test:
The Indian blade is no different from others
If you are in doubt regarding the sword, then test it:
Then either discard it or keep it ready.
If the scabbard does not leave it and its sheath.
You will either cast it off or count it true.
وَماand not الصارِمُthe keen blade الهِندِيُّIndian إِلّاexcept كَغَيرِهِlike others of its kind
وَما الصارِمُ الهِندِيُّ إِلّا كَغَيرِهِ
إِذاif لَمdoes not يُفارِقهُleave it النِجادُthe sword-belt وَغِمدُهُand its scabbard
إِذا لَم يُفارِقهُ النِجادُ وَغِمدُهُ
A keen Indian sword is no different from any other
You are thanked in every circumstance,
The sharp Indian blade is but like any other,
If its sword-belt and scabbard never leave it.
Even if its only asset is a cheerful face.
If it never leaves its sheath and baldric strap.
وَإِنَّكَand indeed you لَلمَشكورُare surely thanked فيin كُلِّevery حالَةٍcircumstance
وَإِنَّكَ لَلمَشكورُ في كُلِّ حالَةٍ
وَلَوand even if لَمnot يَكُنwere إِلّاexcept البَشاشَةَcheerfulness رِفدُهُhis gift
وَلَو لَم يَكُن إِلّا البَشاشَةَ رِفدُهُ
You are indeed to be thanked in every circumstance,
So any fortune, whether past or to come,
Yet you are he who is thanked in every state,
Even if a cheerful welcome were your only gift.
A glance from you is its equal to me.
Even if your only gift were a smiling face.
فَكُلُّfor every نَوالٍgift كانَhas been أَوor هُوَit كائِنٌis to come
فَكُلُّ نَوالٍ كانَ أَو هُوَ كائِنٌ
فَلَحظَةُthen a glance of طَرفٍan eye مِنكَfrom you عِندِيَto me نِدُّهُits equal
فَلَحظَةُ طَرفٍ مِنكَ عِندِيَ نِدُّهُ
For every gift that has been, or ever will be,
I am in an ocean of goodness, its source
For every gift that was or ever shall be
One glance from you is, to me, its equal.
Your gifts—I hope for their continuation, as it continues.
Is matched, for me, by a single glance from you.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَفيam truly in بَحرٍa sea مِنَof الخَيرِgoodness أَصلُهُits source
وَإِنّي لَفي بَحرٍ مِنَ الخَيرِ أَصلُهُ
عَطاياكَyour gifts أَرجوI hope for مَدَّهاtheir increase وَهيَand they مَدُّهُits tide
عَطاياكَ أَرجو مَدَّها وَهيَ مَدُّهُ
And I am indeed in a sea of goodness, springing from
My ambition was not for temporary advantage I'd gain
I swim within a sea of good whose source
Your gifts; I hope they increase, for they are its tide.
But for pride that renews itself that I strive for,
Is your bounty; I hope for its tide, and you are that tide.
وَماand not رَغبَتيmy desire فيfor عَسجَدٍgold أَستَفيدُهُI acquire it
وَما رَغبَتي في عَسجَدٍ أَستَفيدُهُ
وَلَكِنَّهاbut it فيfor مَفخَرٍa source of pride أَستَجِدُّهُI gain it anew
وَلَكِنَّها في مَفخَرٍ أَستَجِدُّهُ
My desire is not for gold that I might gain,
That one generously gives when his generosity exposes others',
My desire is not for gold that I might gain,
But for a new distinction I might win,
And one praises when his praise exposes others' praise.
But for a glory that I may renew.
يَجودُis generous بِهِwith it مَنone whose يَفضَحُputs to shame الجودَgenerosity جودُهُhis generosity
يَجودُ بِهِ مَن يَفضَحُ الجودَ جودُهُ
وَيَحمَدُهُand praises him مَنone whose يَفضَحُputs to shame الحَمدَpraise حَمدُهُhis praise
وَيَحمَدُهُ مَن يَفضَحُ الحَمدَ حَمدُهُ
Bestowed by one whose generosity puts generosity to shame,
For no ill star has passed you
Bestowed by one whose bounty puts Bounty itself to shame,
And he is praised by one whose praise puts praise to shame.
That you did not face it while your face brought good fortune.
And praised by one whose praise puts Praise to shame.
فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you ماnot مَرَّpassed النُحوسُill influences بِكَوكَبٍover a star
فَإِنَّكَ ما مَرَّ النُحوسُ بِكَوكَبٍ
وَقابَلتَهُand you faced it إِلّاexcept وَوَجهُكَand your face سَعدُهُits good fortune
وَقابَلتَهُ إِلّا وَوَجهُكَ سَعدُهُ
For never have ill influences crossed a star
For never did ill-fortune pass a star,
You faced, without your face being its good fortune.
But that your face, confronting it, became its lucky sign.
Partial English translation: 94 of 96 Arabic lines translated.