إِنif لَمnot أَزُرI visit رَبعَكُمyour dwelling سَعياًhastening عَلىupon الحَدَقِthe pupils of the eyes
إِن لَم أَزُر رَبعَكُم سَعياً عَلى الحَدَقِ
فَإِنَّthen indeed وُدِّيَmy affection مَنسوبٌascribed إِلىto المَلَقِflattery
فَإِنَّ وُدِّيَ مَنسوبٌ إِلى المَلَقِ
If I do not visit your dwelling, hastening there upon the pupils of my eyes,
If I do not visit your dwelling, hastening on my very eyes,
then I—and my love—must stand accused of false devotion.
then my affection is to be counted flattery.
تَبَّتmay perish يَديmy hand إِنif ثَنَتنيturned me back عَنfrom زِيارَتِكُمvisiting you
تَبَّت يَدي إِن ثَنَتني عَن زِيارَتِكُم
بيضُwhite الصِفاحِsword-blades وَلَوeven if سُدَّتwere blocked بِهاwith them طُرُقيmy paths
بيضُ الصِفاحِ وَلَو سُدَّت بِها طُرُقي
May my hand perish if anything should keep me from visiting you—
May my hand perish if I am turned from visiting you
even gleaming swords, though they barred my roads with them.
by bright sword-blades, even if my paths are blocked with them.
ياO جيرَةَneighbors of الحَيِّthe encampment هَلّاwill it not عادَreturn وَصلُكُمُyour companionship
يا جيرَةَ الحَيِّ هَلّا عادَ وَصلُكُمُ
لِمُدنَفٍto one wasting away مِنfrom خُمارِthe hangover of الوَجدِpassion لَمnot يُفِقِrecovered
لِمُدنَفٍ مِن خُمارِ الوَجدِ لَم يُفِقِ
O neighbors of the encampment, will your fellowship never return
O neighbors of the encampment, will your companionship not return
to one love-sick, still unrecovered from passion’s wine?
to a wasting lover, not yet recovered from passion's hangover?
لاdo not تُنكِرواdeem strange فَرَقيmy dread مِنafter بَعدِكُمُyour departure
لا تُنكِروا فَرَقي مِن بَعدِكُمُ
إِنَّindeed الفِراقَseparation لَمُشتَقٌّsurely derived مِنَfrom الفَرَقِfear
إِنَّ الفِراقَ لَمُشتَقٌّ مِنَ الفَرَقِ
Do not wonder at my terror after your departure:
Do not think strange my dread after your departure;
separation itself derives its name from terror.
for parting is surely derived from fear.
لِلَّهِto God be praise لَيلَتُناour night بِالقَصرِat the palace كَمhow قَصُرَتit was short
لِلَّهِ لَيلَتُنا بِالقَصرِ كَم قَصُرَت
فَظَلتُso I remained مُصطَبِحاًdrinking in the morning فيin زِيِّthe guise of مُغتَبِقِan evening drinker
فَظَلتُ مُصطَبِحاً في زِيِّ مُغتَبِقِ
By God, how brief our night at the Palace seemed!
God bless our night at the palace—how short it was!
I remained a morning-drinker in the guise of one drinking at night.
So I remained a morning drinker in an evening drinker's guise.
وَباتَand spent the night بَدرُthe full moon of الدُجىdarkness فيهاduring it يُسامِرُنيconversing with me by night
وَباتَ بَدرُ الدُجى فيها يُسامِرُني
مُنادِماًas a boon companion فَيَزينُthus adorning الخَلقَoutward beauty بِالخُلُقِwith good character
مُنادِماً فَيَزينُ الخَلقَ بِالخُلُقِ
The full moon of the darkness spent that night conversing with me,
And there the full moon of darkness spent the night conversing with me,
a boon companion adorning beauty of form with beauty of character.
a boon companion, adorning outward beauty with noble character.
فَكَمhow often خَرَقناwe tore through حِجاباًa veil لِلعِتابِof reproach بِهاduring it
فَكَم خَرَقنا حِجاباً لِلعِتابِ بِها
وَلِلعَفافِand for chastity حِجابٌa veil غَيرُnot مُنخَرِقِtorn
وَلِلعَفافِ حِجابٌ غَيرُ مُنخَرِقِ
How many veils of reproach I tore apart there,
How many a veil of reproach we tore through that night,
while modesty’s veil remained untorn.
while chastity's veil remained untorn.
وَالصُبحُand dawn قَدalready أَخلَقَتwore out ثَوبَthe robe of الدُجىdarkness يَدُهُits hand
وَالصُبحُ قَد أَخلَقَت ثَوبَ الدُجى يَدُهُ
وَلَيتَهُand if only it جادَhad been generous لِلعُشّاقِto lovers بِالخَلُقِwith the worn cloth
وَلَيتَهُ جادَ لِلعُشّاقِ بِالخَلُقِ
Dawn itself wore out the robe of darkness with its hand—
And dawn—its hand had worn out the robe of darkness;
if only it had bestowed that worn robe upon lovers!
if only it had bestowed the worn cloth on lovers!
أَبلىit wore out الظَلامَthe darkness وَماذاand what لَوif يَجودُit were generous بِهِwith it
أَبلى الظَلامَ وَماذا لَو يَجودُ بِهِ
عَلىupon جُفونٍeyelids لِطيبِthe sweetness of الغُمضِslumber لَمnot تَذُقِtasted
عَلى جُفونٍ لِطيبِ الغُمضِ لَم تَذُقِ
It wore the darkness away; what if it had granted it
It wore out darkness—what if it bestowed it
to eyelids that had never tasted gentle sleep?
on eyelids that had never tasted sweet slumber?
ماhow أَحسَنَbeautiful الصُبحَthe dawn لَولاwere it not for قُبحُthe ugliness of سُرعَتِهِits haste
ما أَحسَنَ الصُبحَ لَولا قُبحُ سُرعَتِهِ
وَأَعذَبَand how sweet اللَيلَthe night لَولاwere it not for كَثرَةُthe abundance of الأَرَقِsleeplessness
وَأَعذَبَ اللَيلَ لَولا كَثرَةُ الأَرَقِ
How lovely dawn would be, but for the ugliness of its haste;
How lovely dawn would be, but for its ugly haste,
how sweet the night, but for the abundance of sleeplessness.
and how sweet the night, but for so much sleeplessness!
هَبَّblew النَسيمُthe breeze عِراقِيّاًfrom Iraq فَشَوَّقَنيand stirred my longing
هَبَّ النَسيمُ عِراقِيّاً فَشَوَّقَني
وَطالَماand often هَبّit blew نَجدِيّاًfrom Najd فَلَمyet did not يَشُقِstir longing
وَطالَما هَبّ نَجدِيّاً فَلَم يَشُقِ
The Iraqi breeze blew and stirred my longing,
The breeze blew from Iraq and stirred my longing;
though often a Najdi breeze had blown and stirred none.
and often it blew from Najd, yet stirred no longing.
فَماand not تَنَفَّستُI breathed وَالأَرواحُwhile the winds سارِيَةٌcoursed by night
فَما تَنَفَّستُ وَالأَرواحُ سارِيَةٌ
إِلّاexcept that اِشتَكَتcomplained نَسَماتُthe soft breaths of الريحِthe wind مِنof حُرَقيmy burning anguish
إِلّا اِشتَكَت نَسَماتُ الريحِ مِن حُرَقي
Never did the wind breathe while spirits roamed by night
Never did I breathe while the winds coursed by night,
but its breezes complained of the heat of my burning passion.
but the wind's soft breaths complained of my burning anguish.
ذَرleave aside أَيُّهاO الصَبُّimpassioned lover تَذكارَthe memory of الدِيارِthe dwellings إِذاif
ذَر أَيُّها الصَبُّ تَذكارَ الدِيارِ إِذا
مُتَّعتَyou were granted enjoyment فيهاthere بِعَيشٍof a life غَيرِnot مُتَّسِقِharmonious
مُتَّعتَ فيها بِعَيشٍ غَيرِ مُتَّسِقِ
Leave off, O lover, remembrance of the dwellings whenever
Leave, O impassioned lover, the memory of those dwellings, if
you enjoyed within them a life that could not remain serene.
you were granted there a life that never ran smoothly.
فَكَمfor how often ضَمَمتَyou embraced وِشاحاًa sash فيin الظَلامِthe darkness بِهاthere
فَكَم ضَمَمتَ وِشاحاً في الظَلامِ بِها
ماnot زادَincreased قَلبَكَyour heart إِلّاexcept كَثرَةَthe abundance of القَلَقِunrest
ما زادَ قَلبَكَ إِلّا كَثرَةَ القَلَقِ
How often there in darkness you embraced a sash-clad waist,
How many a sash you clasped there in the darkness
only increasing your heart’s abundant unrest.
that only heightened your heart's unrest!
فَخَلِّso leave aside تَذكارَthe memory of زَوراءِZawra العِراقِIraq إِذاwhen
فَخَلِّ تَذكارَ زَوراءِ العِراقِ إِذا
جاءَتcame نَسيمُthe breeze of الصَباthe east wind بِالمَندَلِwith aloeswood العَبِقِfragrant
جاءَت نَسيمُ الصَبا بِالمَندَلِ العَبِقِ
So leave off recalling al-Zawra of Iraq whenever
So leave the memory of Iraq's Zawra when
the east wind comes bearing fragrant sandalwood.
the east wind's breeze comes bearing fragrant aloeswood.
فَهَذِهِso here are شُهُبُthe meteors of الشَهباءِal-Shahba ساطِعَةًshining
فَهَذِهِ شُهُبُ الشَهباءِ ساطِعَةً
وَهَذِهِand here is نَسمَةُthe breeze of الفِردَوسِParadise فَاِنتَشِقِso breathe it in
وَهَذِهِ نَسمَةُ الفِردَوسِ فَاِنتَشِقِ
Here are the bright meteors of wine, blazing;
Here are al-Shahba's meteors shining,
and here is a breath of Paradise—inhale it!
and here is Paradise's breeze—breathe it in!
فَتِلكَfor those are أَفلاكُthe celestial spheres of سَعدٍgood fortune لاnot يَلوذُseeks refuge بِهاin them
فَتِلكَ أَفلاكُ سَعدٍ لا يَلوذُ بِها
مِنany مارِدٍrebellious demon لَخَفيِّof secret السَمعِhearing مُستَرِقِa stealer
مِن مارِدٍ لَخَفيِّ السَمعِ مُستَرِقِ
Those are auspicious heavens in which no rebellious demon
For those are spheres of good fortune that give no shelter
seeks refuge, stealthily eavesdropping on a secret council.
to any rebel demon stealing a secret hearing.
سَماءُa heaven of مَجدٍglory بَداappeared فيهاwithin it فَزَيَّنَهاand adorned it
سَماءُ مَجدٍ بَدا فيها فَزَيَّنَها
نَجمٌa star تَخُرُّfall prostrate لَديهِbefore it أَنجُمُthe stars of الأُفُقِthe horizon
نَجمٌ تَخُرُّ لَديهِ أَنجُمُ الأُفُقِ
A heaven of glory—in it there appeared and adorned it
A heaven of glory, where there appeared, adorning it,
a star before whom the stars of the horizon bow.
a star before which the horizon's stars fall prostrate.
مَلِكٌa king غَداbecame الجودُgenerosity جُزءاًa part مِنof أَنامِلِهِhis fingertips
مَلِكٌ غَدا الجودُ جُزءاً مِن أَنامِلِهِ
فَلَوso if تَكَلَّفَhe tried تَركَabandoning الجودِgenerosity لَمnot يُطِقِhe could manage
فَلَو تَكَلَّفَ تَركَ الجودِ لَم يُطِقِ
A king in whose fingertips generosity has become inseparable—
A king whose generosity became part of his fingertips,
were he to force himself to forsake giving, he could not.
so that, even if he tried to abandon giving, he could not.
أَعادَhe turned لَيلَthe night of الوَرىhumankind صُبحاًinto dawn وَكَمand how often رَكَضَتgalloped
أَعادَ لَيلَ الوَرى صُبحاً وَكَم رَكَضَت
جِيادُهhis steeds فَأَرَتناand showed us الصُبحَthe dawn كَالغَسَقِlike dusk
جِيادُه فَأَرَتنا الصُبحَ كَالغَسَقِ
He turned mankind’s night into morning; how often his steeds galloped
He turned mankind's night to dawn; how often, galloping,
and showed us morning looking like dusk.
his steeds showed us morning dark as dusk!
مُشَتَّتُscattered العَزمِresolve وَالأَموالِand riches ماnot تَرَكَتleft
مُشَتَّتُ العَزمِ وَالأَموالِ ما تَرَكَت
يَداهُhis two hands لِلمالِof wealth شَملاًa gathering غَيرَnot مُفتَرِقِdispersed
يَداهُ لِلمالِ شَملاً غَيرَ مُفتَرِقِ
A disperser of resolves and hopes—his two hands have left
His resolve and riches are scattered far and wide; never have
no gathered mass of wealth undistributed.
his hands left any gathering of wealth undispersed.
إِذاwhenever رَأىhe sees مالَهُhis wealth قالَتsay خَزائِنُهُhis treasuries
إِذا رَأى مالَهُ قالَت خَزائِنُهُ
أَفديكَI would ransom you مِنas a وَلَدٍchild بِالثُكلِto bereavement مُلتَحِقِbound
أَفديكَ مِن وَلَدٍ بِالثُكلِ مُلتَحِقِ
Whenever he looks upon his wealth, his treasures say,
Whenever he sees his wealth, his treasuries say:
“I ransom you with a child consigned to bereavement.”
'I would ransom you, child destined to leave me bereaved!'
لَولاwere it not for أَبوAbu الفَتحِal-Fath نَجمُNajm الدينِal-Din ماnot فُتِحَتwould be opened
لَولا أَبو الفَتحِ نَجمُ الدينِ ما فُتِحَت
أَبوابُgates of رِزقٍlivelihood عَليهاupon them اللَومُreproach كَالغَلَقِlike a bolt
أَبوابُ رِزقٍ عَليها اللَومُ كَالغَلَقِ
Were it not for Abu al-Fath Najm al-Din, there would have opened
Were it not for Abu al-Fath Najm al-Din, there would not open
no gates of provision—reproach would have sealed them shut.
gates of livelihood on which reproach lies like a bolt.
مَلِكٌa king بِهِthrough him اِكتَسَتِput on الأَيّامُthe days ثَوبَa robe of بَهاًsplendor
مَلِكٌ بِهِ اِكتَسَتِ الأَيّامُ ثَوبَ بَهاً
مِثلَlike اِكتِساءِthe clothing of غُصونِthe boughs of البانِthe ban tree بِالوَرَقِin leaves
مِثلَ اِكتِساءِ غُصونِ البانِ بِالوَرَقِ
A king through whom the days donned a garment of splendor,
A king through whom the days put on a robe of splendor,
as branches of ben trees clothe themselves in leaves.
as ban-tree boughs clothe themselves in leaves.
تَهوىlove الحُروبَwars مَواضيهِhis keen swords فَإِنand if ذُكِرَتthey are mentioned
تَهوى الحُروبَ مَواضيهِ فَإِن ذُكِرَت
حَنَّتthey yearn فَلَمand you do not تَرَsee مِنهاamong them غَيرَother than مُندَلِقِone leaping forth
حَنَّت فَلَم تَرَ مِنها غَيرَ مُندَلِقِ
His sharp blades yearn for wars; whenever wars are mentioned,
His keen swords love wars, and when they are mentioned,
they yearn, and are seen only streaming from their sheaths—
they yearn; you see none of them but a blade leaping forth.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen جُرَّدَتthey are unsheathed فيin الرَوعِbattle's terror أَغمَدَهاhe sheathes them
حَتّى إِذا جُرَّدَت في الرَوعِ أَغمَدَها
فيin كُلِّevery سابِغَةٍample mail coat مَسرودَةِclosely linked الحَلَقِrings
في كُلِّ سابِغَةٍ مَسرودَةِ الحَلَقِ
until, once drawn amid battle’s terror, he sheaths them
Until, when they are drawn in battle's terror, he sheathes them
inside every full coat of mail woven ring by ring.
in every ample mail coat with closely linked rings.
يَأَيُّهاO المَلِكُking المَنصورِgranted victory طائِرُهُhis fortune
يَأَيُّها المَلِكُ المَنصورِ طائِرُهُ
وَمَنand he whose أَياديهِhis favors كَالأَطواقِlike necklaces فيaround عُنُقيmy neck
وَمَن أَياديهِ كَالأَطواقِ في عُنُقي
O king whose fortune is ever victorious,
O king whose fortune is victorious,
whose favors hang like collars around my neck,
and you whose favors are like necklaces about my neck,
أَحيَيتَyou revived بِالجودِthrough generosity آثارَthe traces of الكِرامِthe noble وَقَدwhen already
أَحيَيتَ بِالجودِ آثارَ الكِرامِ وَقَد
كانَwas النَدىgenerosity بَعدَهُمafter them فيin آخِرِthe last of الرَمَقِlife's breath
كانَ النَدى بَعدَهُم في آخِرِ الرَمَقِ
you revived through generosity the traditions of the noble, though
through generosity you revived the noble men's legacy, when
after them liberality had reached its final breath.
generosity, after them, was drawing its last breath.
لَوif أَشبَهَتكَresembled you بِحارُthe seas of الأَرضِthe earth فيin كَرَمٍgenerosity
لَو أَشبَهَتكَ بِحارُ الأَرضِ في كَرَمٍ
لَأَصبَحَthen would become الدُرُّpearls مَطروحاًstrewn عَلىupon الطُرُقِthe roads
لَأَصبَحَ الدُرُّ مَطروحاً عَلى الطُرُقِ
If the earth’s seas resembled you in munificence,
Had the seas of earth resembled you in generosity,
pearls would lie scattered upon the roads.
pearls would be strewn upon the roads.
لَوif أَشبَهَresembled الغَيثُrain جوداًgenerosity مِنكَfrom you مُنهَمِراًpouring forth
لَو أَشبَهَ الغَيثُ جوداً مِنكَ مُنهَمِراً
لَمnot يَنجُwould escape فيon الأَرضِthe earth مَخلوقٌa creature مِنَfrom الغَرَقِdrowning
لَم يَنجُ في الأَرضِ مَخلوقٌ مِنَ الغَرَقِ
If the rain cloud resembled the bounty pouring from you,
Had rain resembled the bounty pouring from you,
no creature on earth would escape drowning.
no creature on earth would have escaped drowning.
كَمhow many قَدindeed أَبَدتَyou annihilated مِنَof الأَعداءِthe enemies مِنof فِئَةٍa company
كَم قَد أَبَدتَ مِنَ الأَعداءِ مِن فِئَةٍ
تَحتَbeneath العَجاجِthe battle-dust وَكَمand how many فَرَّقتَyou scattered مِنof فِرَقِcompanies
تَحتَ العَجاجِ وَكَم فَرَّقتَ مِن فِرَقِ
How many companies of the enemy have you annihilated
How many a company of enemies you have destroyed
beneath the battle dust, and how many hosts dispersed!
beneath the battle-dust, and how many companies you scattered!
رَوَيتَyou quenched يَومَon the day of لِقاهُمmeeting them كُلَّevery ذيpossessor of ظَمَإٍthirst
رَوَيتَ يَومَ لِقاهُم كُلَّ ذي ظَمَإٍ
فيin الحَربِwar حَتّىeven حِلالَtrappings الخيلِthe horses بِالعَرَقِwith sweat
في الحَربِ حَتّى حِلالَ الخيلِ بِالعَرَقِ
On the day you met them, you slaked every thirsty warrior
On the day you met them, you quenched every thirsty one
in battle, until the horses themselves were drenched in sweat.
in war—even the horses' trappings—with sweat.
وَيَومَand on the day of وَقعَةِthe battle with عُبّادِworshippers of الصَليبِthe cross وَقَدwhen already
وَيَومَ وَقعَةِ عُبّادِ الصَليبِ وَقَد
أَركَبتَهُمyou made them ride طَبَقاًstage فيthrough البيدِthe deserts عَنafter طَبَقِstage
أَركَبتَهُم طَبَقاً في البيدِ عَن طَبَقِ
And on the day you fought the worshipers of the Cross,
And on the day of battle with the worshippers of the cross, when
you piled them in layers in the desert, one layer upon another.
you made them ride through the wastes, stage after stage,
مَزَّقتَyou tore apart بِالمَوصِلِat Mosul الحَدباءِal-Hadba شَملَهُمُtheir union
مَزَّقتَ بِالمَوصِلِ الحَدباءِ شَملَهُمُ
فيin مَأزِقٍa press of battle بِوَميضِby the flashing of البيضِbright swords مُمتَزِقِtorn apart
في مَأزِقٍ بِوَميضِ البيضِ مُمتَزِقِ
At humpbacked Mosul you tore their gathered host apart,
at Mosul al-Hadba you tore their ranks apart,
in a narrow pass rent by the flashing white blades,
in a press of battle rent by the flash of bright swords,
بِكُلِّwith every أَبيَضَbright sword داميbloodied الحَدِّthe edge تَحسُبُهُyou would think it
بِكُلِّ أَبيَضَ دامي الحَدِّ تَحسُبُهُ
صُبحاًa dawn عَليهِupon it دَمُthe blood of الأَبطالِheroes كَالشَفَقِlike the sunset glow
صُبحاً عَليهِ دَمُ الأَبطالِ كَالشَفَقِ
with every gleaming sword, its edge bloodied—you would deem it
with every bright sword, bloodied at the edge, that you would think
a dawn upon which heroes’ blood glowed like twilight.
a dawn, with heroes' blood upon it like the sunset glow.
آلىit swore عَلىto غِمدِهِits sheath أَلّاnot to يُراجِعَهُreturn to it
آلى عَلى غِمدِهِ أَلّا يُراجِعَهُ
إِلّاexcept إِذاwhen عادَit returned مُحمَرّاًreddened مِنَwith العَلَقِclotted blood
إِلّا إِذا عادَ مُحمَرّاً مِنَ العَلَقِ
Each sword swore upon its sheath that it would not return
It swore to its sheath that it would not return
unless it came back crimsoned with clotted blood.
unless it came back reddened with clotted blood.
فَاِستَبشَرَتthen rejoiced فِئَةُthe company of الإِسلامِIslam إِذwhen لَمَعَتflashed
فَاِستَبشَرَت فِئَةُ الإِسلامِ إِذ لَمَعَت
لَهُمfor them بَوارِقُthe lightning flashes of ذاكَthat العارِضِrain-cloud الغَدِقِabundantly raining
لَهُم بَوارِقُ ذاكَ العارِضِ الغَدِقِ
The host of Islam swelled like a sea when there flashed
Then the company of Islam rejoiced when there flashed
for them the lightning of that rain-laden cloud.
for them the lightnings of that rain-laden cloud.
وَأَصبَحَand became العَدلُjustice مَرفوعاًraised عَلىupon نَشَزٍa height
وَأَصبَحَ العَدلُ مَرفوعاً عَلى نَشَزٍ
لَمّاwhen وُلّيتَyou were given rule وَباتَand spent the night الجَورُoppression فيin نَفَقِa tunnel
لَمّا وُلّيتَ وَباتَ الجَورُ في نَفَقِ
You raised justice high upon a hill
And justice stood uplifted on a height
when you assumed command, while tyranny spent the night in a tunnel.
when you were given rule, while oppression spent the night in a tunnel.
كَمhow often قَدindeed قَطَعتُI crossed إِلَيكَtoward you البيدَthe deserts مُمتَطِياًriding
كَم قَد قَطَعتُ إِلَيكَ البيدَ مُمتَطِياً
عَزماًa resolve إِذاwhen ضاقَgrew narrow رَحبُthe breadth of الأَرضِthe earth لَمnot يَضِقِgrew narrow
عَزماً إِذا ضاقَ رَحبُ الأَرضِ لَم يَضِقِ
How many deserts I crossed to reach you, mounted upon
How often I crossed the deserts toward you, riding
a resolve that did not narrow when the broad earth grew narrow!
a resolve that never narrowed, though earth's wide spaces narrowed.
يَدُلَّنيguides me فيin الدُجىdarkness مُهريmy colt وَيُؤنِسُنيand comforts me
يَدُلَّني في الدُجى مُهري وَيُؤنِسُني
حَدُّthe edge of الحُسامِthe sword إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle بَتَspends the night مُعتَنِقيembracing me
حَدُّ الحُسامِ إِذا ما بَتَ مُعتَنِقي
My colt carries me by night through the darkness and comforts me,
My colt guides me in the darkness, and I am comforted
and so does the sword’s edge, when I spend the night embracing it.
by the sword's edge when it spends the night embracing me.
وَاللَيلُand the night أَطوَلُlonger مِنthan عَذلِthe reproach of العَذولِthe censurer عَلىupon
وَاللَيلُ أَطوَلُ مِن عَذلِ العَذولِ عَلى
سَمعيmy hearing وَأَظلَمُand darker مِنthan مَرآهُhis appearance فيin حَدَقيmy pupils
سَمعي وَأَظلَمُ مِن مَرآهُ في حَدَقي
The night is longer than the censor’s reproach upon
And night is longer than the censurer's reproach upon
my ears, and darker than his countenance in my eyes.
my ears, and darker than his appearance in my eyes.
أُهديI offer قَلائِدَnecklaces of أَشعارٍpoems فَرائِدُهاtheir matchless gems
أُهدي قَلائِدَ أَشعارٍ فَرائِدُها
دُرٌّpearls نَهَضتُI rose بِهِwith them مِنfrom أَبحُرٍseas عُمُقِdeep
دُرٌّ نَهَضتُ بِهِ مِن أَبحُرٍ عُمُقِ
I offer necklaces of my poetry, their choicest jewels—
I offer necklaces of verse, whose matchless gems
pearls I have brought forth from deep seas.
are pearls I brought up from deep seas.
يَضُمُّهاholds them وَرَقٌpaper لَولاwere it not for مَحاسِنُهُits beauties
يَضُمُّها وَرَقٌ لَولا مَحاسِنُهُ
ماnot لَقَّبواthey named الفِضَّةَsilver البَيضاءَwhite بِالوَرَقِas 'waraq'
ما لَقَّبوا الفِضَّةَ البَيضاءَ بِالوَرَقِ
Paper gathers them; were it not for paper’s virtues,
Paper—waraq—holds them; were it not for its beauty,
they would not have called white silver “wariq.”
they would not have named white silver 'waraq.'
نَظَمتُهاI composed them فيكَabout you ديواناًas a collected volume أَزُفُّI usher in بِهِwith it
نَظَمتُها فيكَ ديواناً أَزُفُّ بِهِ
مَدائِحاًpraises فيof سِوىother than عَلياكَyour high estate لَمnot تَرُقِwere pleasing
مَدائِحاً في سِوى عَلياكَ لَم تَرُقِ
I strung them into a diwan for you, presenting with it
I strung them into a volume in your praise, with which I usher in
panegyrics that never rose so high for any rank but yours.
praises that held no charm for any eminence but yours.
وَلوand if قَصَدتُI intended بِهِby it تَجديدَrenewing وَصفِكُمُdescribing you
وَلو قَصَدتُ بِهِ تَجديدَ وَصفِكُمُ
لَكانَthen would be ذَلِكَthat مَنسوباًascribed إِلىto الحُمُقِfolly
لَكانَ ذَلِكَ مَنسوباً إِلى الحُمُقِ
Had I intended thereby to renew the description of your virtues,
Had I intended by it to describe you anew,
that would indeed have been ascribed to foolishness.
that would have been accounted foolishness.
تِسعٌnine وَعِشرونَand twenty إِنif عُدَّتare counted قَصائِدُهاits odes
تِسعٌ وَعِشرونَ إِن عُدَّت قَصائِدُها
وَمِثلُهاand as many عَدَدُthe number of الأَبياتِthe verses فيin النَسَقِthe ordered sequence
وَمِثلُها عَدَدُ الأَبياتِ في النَسَقِ
Twenty-nine, if its odes are counted,
Twenty-nine, if its odes are counted,
and the same number of verses in the ordered strand.
and the verses in their ordered sequence are as many.
لَمnot أَقتَنِعI was content بِالقَوافيwith rhymes فيat أَواخِرِهاtheir endings
لَم أَقتَنِع بِالقَوافي في أَواخِرِها
حَتّىuntil لَزِمتُI bound myself to أَواليهاtheir beginnings فَلَمand they did not تَعُقِhinder me
حَتّى لَزِمتُ أَواليها فَلَم تَعُقِ
I was not content with rhyme-words only at their endings,
I was not content with rhymes at their endings,
but bound their beginnings as well, and they were not impeded.
until I bound myself to their beginnings too, and they did not hinder me.
ماnot أَدرَكَتattained فُصَحاءُthe eloquent speakers of العُربِthe Arabs غايَتَهاtheir utmost reach
ما أَدرَكَت فُصَحاءُ العُربِ غايَتَها
قَبليbefore me وَلاnor أَخذواthey gained فيin مِثلِهاtheir like سَبَقيmy precedence
قَبلي وَلا أَخذوا في مِثلِها سَبَقي
The eloquent Arabs never attained their furthest goal
The eloquent Arabs never attained their utmost reach
before me, nor did they anticipate my precedence in anything like it.
before me, nor won the lead I hold in anything like them.
جَرَتran لِتَركُضَto gallop فيin مَيدانِthe field of حَومَتِهاtheir arena
جَرَت لِتَركُضَ في مَيدانِ حَومَتِها
قَومٌsome people فَأَوقَفتُهُمbut I halted them فيat أَوَّلِthe first الطَلَقِburst of running
قَومٌ فَأَوقَفتُهُم في أَوَّلِ الطَلَقِ
Men set out to race across the arena of their contest;
There ran, seeking to gallop in their arena,
yet I halted them at the very first burst.
some men—but I halted them at their very first stride.
فَليَحسُنِso let be gracious العُذرُthe excuse فيin إيرادِهُنَّpresenting them إِذاif
فَليَحسُنِ العُذرُ في إيرادِهُنَّ إِذا
رَأَيتَyou see جَريَthe running of لِسانيmy tongue غَيرَnot مُنطَلِقِfree
رَأَيتَ جَريَ لِساني غَيرَ مُنطَلِقِ
So let my excuse for presenting them be graciously accepted
So let my excuse in presenting them be accepted, if
if you find the course of my tongue no longer free.
you see my tongue unable to run freely.
فَلَوfor if رَأَتsaw بَأسَكَyour might الآسادُthe lions لَاِضطَرَبَتwould surely tremble
فَلَو رَأَت بَأسَكَ الآسادُ لَاِضطَرَبَت
بِهِbefore it فَرائِصُهاtheir flanks مِنfrom شِدَّةِthe intensity of الفَرَقِfear
بِهِ فَرائِصُها مِن شِدَّةِ الفَرَقِ
Were lions to behold your prowess, they would surely tremble,
For if lions saw your might, there would quake
their flanks quivering from the violence of fear.
their flanks before it, from the sheer force of fear.
ياO آلَhouse of أُرتُقَArtuq لَولاwere it not for فَيضُthe overflow of جودِكُمُyour generosity
يا آلَ أُرتُقَ لَولا فَيضُ جودِكُمُ
لَدامَwould have remained خَرقُthe rent in المَعاليnoble deeds غَيرَnot مُرتَتِقِmended
لَدامَ خَرقُ المَعالي غَيرَ مُرتَتِقِ
O House of Artuq, were it not for the flood of your generosity,
O house of Artuq, were it not for your overflowing bounty,
the breach in lofty glory would have remained unrepaired.
the rent in noble deeds would have remained unmended.
لَقَدindeed رَفَعتُمyou raised بِإِسداءِby bestowing الجَميلِkindness لَكُمfor yourselves
لَقَد رَفَعتُم بِإِسداءِ الجَميلِ لَكُم
ذِكراًa renown إِذاwhen قَبَضَtakes away اللَهُGod الأَنامَhumankind بَقيremains
ذِكراً إِذا قَبَضَ اللَهُ الأَنامَ بَقي
By bestowing goodness, you have raised up for yourselves
By bestowing kindness you have indeed raised for yourselves
a renown that shall remain when God gathers all humankind.
a renown that remains when God takes humankind away.
لاnever زالَmay cease يَهميraining عَلىupon الوُفّادِvisiting petitioners نائِلُكُمyour bounty
لا زالَ يَهمي عَلى الوُفّادِ نائِلُكُم
بِوابِلٍin a downpour مِنfrom سَحابِthe cloud of الجَودِgenerosity مُندَفِقِpouring forth
بِوابِلٍ مِن سَحابِ الجَودِ مُندَفِقِ
May your bounty never cease raining upon visiting delegations,
May your bounty never cease to rain upon visiting petitioners,
in a downpour from generosity’s streaming cloud.
in a downpour streaming from generosity's cloud.
