حَذراًout of concern عَلَيكَfor you مِنَagainst الفَعالِconduct الجافيharsh
حَذراً عَلَيكَ مِنَ الفَعالِ الجافي
أُدنيكَI draw you near مُجتَهِداًstriving إِلىto الإِنصافِfairness
أُدنيكَ مُجتَهِداً إِلى الإِنصافِ
Out of concern for you, beware of harsh conduct;
I strive to draw you toward fairness.
وَأَوَدُّand I wish فِعلَكَyour doing لِلجَميلِwhat is gracious مَخافَةًout of fear
وَأَوَدُّ فِعلَكَ لِلجَميلِ مَخافَةً
إِنَّindeed الطَبيعَةَnature لِلمُسيءِthe wrongdoer تُكافيrepays
إِنَّ الطَبيعَةَ لِلمُسيءِ تُكافي
I wish you to act graciously, out of fear:
nature indeed repays the wrongdoer.
ياO شائِنَyou who mar الحُسنِbeauty البَديعِwondrous بِبِدعَةِwith the novelty of الthe
يا شائِنَ الحُسنِ البَديعِ بِبِدعَةِ ال
هَجرِdesertion الشَنيعِhideous وَكَثرَةِand frequent الإِخلافِpromise-breaking
هَجرِ الشَنيعِ وَكَثرَةِ الإِخلافِ
O you who mar wondrous beauty with the novelty of
hideous desertion and repeated broken promises,
لاdo not تَقرِنَنَّever join الحُسنَbeauty مِنكَin you بِضِدِّهِto its opposite
لا تَقرِنَنَّ الحُسنَ مِنكَ بِضِدِّهِ
إِنَّindeed الإِساءَةَwrongdoing لِلجَمالِwith beauty تُنافيis incompatible
إِنَّ الإِساءَةَ لِلجَمالِ تُنافي
never join your beauty to its opposite:
wrongdoing is incompatible with beauty.
ياO جامِعَyou who gather الوَردِroses الجَنِيَّfreshly picked وَمائِهِand their water
يا جامِعَ الوَردِ الجَنِيَّ وَمائِهِ
فيin الخَدِّthe cheek لِمwhy أُشرِبتَwere you steeped in ماءَwater of خِلافِwillow (also discord)
في الخَدِّ لِم أُشرِبتَ ماءَ خِلافِ
O you who gather fresh roses and their water
upon your cheek, why were you steeped in willow-water?
ياO عاذِليmy reproacher فيin الحُبِّlove لَمّاwhen أَنthat رَأىhe saw
يا عاذِلي في الحُبِّ لَمّا أَن رَأى
وَجديmy passion وَبِشريand my joy فيin الهَوىlove بِتَلافيat my ruin
وَجدي وَبِشري في الهَوى بِتَلافي
O my reproacher in love, when he saw
my passion and my joy in love at my undoing:
لَوif سِرتُI walked فيin قُدسِthe sanctuary of المَحَبَّةِlove حافِياًbarefoot
لَو سِرتُ في قُدسِ المَحَبَّةِ حافِياً
لَعَلِمتَyou would know كَيفَhow يَكونُis بِشرُBishr (also joy) الحافيthe Barefoot
لَعَلِمتَ كَيفَ يَكونُ بِشرُ الحافي
if I walked barefoot in love's sanctuary,
you would know what Bishr the Barefoot is like.
إِنَّindeed الَّذيhe who أَضحَتhave become صَوارِمُthe sharp swords of لَحظِهِhis glance
إِنَّ الَّذي أَضحَت صَوارِمُ لَحظِهِ
تَحميguard مَراشِفَهُhis lips مِنَagainst التَرشافِsipping kisses
تَحمي مَراشِفَهُ مِنَ التَرشافِ
Indeed, he whose glances' sharp swords now
guard his lips against kisses,
لَوif شاءَhe wished أَنto يَشفيheal المُحِبَّthe lover سَقاهُhe would give him drink مِنfrom
لَو شاءَ أَن يَشفي المُحِبَّ سَقاهُ مِن
تِلكَthose الشِفاهِlips بِأَوَّلِwith the opening of الأَعرافِal-A‘raf
تِلكَ الشِفاهِ بِأَوَّلِ الأَعرافِ
if he wished to heal the lover, would give him drink from
those lips with the opening of al-A‘raf.
فَسَقىso may it water رُبىthe hills of المَرجِthe meadow الأَنيقِlovely وَلالَشٍand Lalash
فَسَقى رُبى المَرجِ الأَنيقِ وَلالَشٍ
وَالعَينَand al-‘Ayn صَوبَthe downpour of الوابِلِheavy rain الوَكّافِever-streaming
وَالعَينَ صَوبَ الوابِلِ الوَكّافِ
May the hills of the lovely meadow and Lalash be watered,
and al-‘Ayn, by a heavy, ever-streaming downpour:
أَرضاًa land حَلَلتُI lodged مُمَتَّعاًenjoying myself فيamong أَهلِهاits people
أَرضاً حَلَلتُ مُمَتَّعاً في أَهلِها
فَكَأَنَّهُمso as though they were إِلفايَmy intimates أَوor إِحلافيmy sworn allies
فَكَأَنَّهُم إِلفايَ أَو إِحلافي
a land where I lodged, delighted among its people,
as though they were my intimates or my sworn allies.
ماnot زِلتُI ceased أَنعَمُenjoying myself فيin جَديدِfresh سَوالِفٍconversations
ما زِلتُ أَنعَمُ في جَديدِ سَوالِفٍ
مِنهاfrom that land وَطَوراًand at times فيin عَتيقِaged سُلافِchoice wine
مِنها وَطَوراً في عَتيقِ سُلافِ
I never ceased delighting in fresh conversation
there, and at times in aged, choice wine,
مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَجدولِwell-knit القَوامِin stature مُهَفهَفٍslender one
مِن كُلِّ مَجدولِ القَوامِ مُهَفهَفٍ
فَحلِvirile اللِحاظِin glances مُخَنَّثِeffeminate الأَعطافِin limbs
فَحلِ اللِحاظِ مُخَنَّثِ الأَعطافِ
from every slender youth of well-knit stature,
virile in his glances, womanly in his limbs,
مِنfrom among فِتيَةِthe young men of الكُردِthe Kurds الَّذينَwho لِجَدَّهُمwhose forefather has
مِن فِتيَةِ الكُردِ الَّذينَ لِجَدَّهُم
شَرَفٌnobility مُنافٍrivaling أَهلَthe house of عَبدِ‘Abd مَنافِManaf
شَرَفٌ مُنافٍ أَهلَ عَبدِ مَنافِ
among the Kurdish youths, whose forefather possesses
a nobility rivaling the house of ‘Abd Manaf.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen أَسَرواthey capture المُلوكَkings بِأَرضِهِمin their land
قَومٌ إِذا أَسَروا المُلوكَ بِأَرضِهِم
جَعَلواthey make الشُعورَhair حَمائِلَbaldrics for الأَسيافِswords
جَعَلوا الشُعورَ حَمائِلَ الأَسيافِ
A people who, when they capture kings in their land,
make hair the baldrics of swords.
غَصَبواthey wrested from الوُعولَthe ibex بِهاthere القِيانَthe singing-girls وَوَطَّدواand secured
غَصَبوا الوُعولَ بِها القِيانَ وَوَطَّدوا
وَعرَthe ruggedness of الذُرىthe summits بِتَسَهُّلِthrough the gentleness of الأَكنافِthe flanks
وَعرَ الذُرى بِتَسَهُّلِ الأَكنافِ
They wrested singing-girls there from the ibex, and secured
the rugged summits through the gentleness of their flanks.
وَبَنواand they built عَلىupon قُلَلِthe peaks of الجِبالِthe mountains بُيوتَهُمtheir houses
وَبَنوا عَلى قُلَلِ الجِبالِ بُيوتَهُم
إِنَّindeed البِقاعَthe places مَنازِلُthe dwellings of الأَشرافِthe nobles
إِنَّ البِقاعَ مَنازِلُ الأَشرافِ
They built their houses upon mountain peaks:
truly, these places are the dwellings of nobles.
خَلَفَتreplaced عُيونُهُمُtheir eyes السِهامَthe arrows وَلَمand did not أَخَلI suppose
خَلَفَت عُيونُهُمُ السِهامَ وَلَم أَخَل
أَنَّthat القُلوبَhearts لَهاfor them مِنَamong الأَهدافِthe targets
أَنَّ القُلوبَ لَها مِنَ الأَهدافِ
Their eyes replaced arrows, and I had not thought
that hearts were among their targets.
وَرَنواand they gazed بِأَجفانٍwith eyelids ضِعافٍfrail فيamid الوَغىbattle
وَرَنوا بِأَجفانٍ ضِعافٍ في الوَغى
لَكِنَّهاbut they فيin الفَتكِslaying غَيرُnot ضِعافِweak
لَكِنَّها في الفَتكِ غَيرُ ضِعافِ
They gazed with frail eyelids amid battle,
yet in slaying those eyelids were not weak.
حَمَلواthey carried البُدورَthe full moons عَلىupon الغُصونِthe branches وَكَلَّفواand charged
حَمَلوا البُدورَ عَلى الغُصونِ وَكَلَّفوا
ضُعفَthe frailty of الخُصورِthe waists تَحَمُّلَwith bearing الأَحقافِthe sand dunes
ضُعفَ الخُصورِ تَحَمُّلَ الأَحقافِ
They bore full moons upon branches, and charged
frail waists with the burden of sand dunes.
عَقَدواthey tied البُنودَthe banners عَلىaround الخُصورِthe waists فَأَظهَرَتso they revealed
عَقَدوا البُنودَ عَلى الخُصورِ فَأَظهَرَت
ماwhat كانَwas مَجهولاًunknown مِنَof الأَردافِthe hips
ما كانَ مَجهولاً مِنَ الأَردافِ
They tied banners about their waists, revealing
what had been unknown of their hips.
وَتَسَربَلواand they clothed themselves بِدُجىin the darkness of الشُعورِhair فَأَسبَلواthen let fall
وَتَسَربَلوا بِدُجى الشُعورِ فَأَسبَلوا
فَوقَover الصِباحِthe morning مَدارِعَtunics of الأَسدافِdarkness
فَوقَ الصِباحِ مَدارِعَ الأَسدافِ
They clothed themselves in the darkness of hair, letting fall
tunics of deep night over the morning.
وَتَتَوَّجواand they crowned themselves بِقَلانِسٍwith caps مُحمَرَّةٍreddened
وَتَتَوَّجوا بِقَلانِسٍ مُحمَرَّةٍ
جَعدٌcrimped عَلىupon سَبطِstraight الأَثيثِluxuriant hair الصافيlustrous
جَعدٌ عَلى سَبطِ الأَثيثِ الصافي
They crowned themselves with reddened caps,
crimped above straight, thick, lustrous hair:
حُمرٌred عَلىagainst سودِthe blackness of الشُعورِhair كَأَنَّهاas though they were
حُمرٌ عَلى سودِ الشُعورِ كَأَنَّها
شَفَقٌtwilight عَلىupon بَحرِa sea of الدُجُنَّةِdarkness طافِfloating
شَفَقٌ عَلى بَحرِ الدُجُنَّةِ طافِ
red against black hair, as though they were
twilight floating upon a sea of darkness.
قُلsay لِلَّذيto him who أَخَذَتtook مَناطِقُthe belts of خَصرِهِhis waist
قُل لِلَّذي أَخَذَت مَناطِقُ خَصرِهِ
مِنfrom فَرعِهِhis locks خَبَراًword عَنِof الأَشنافِthe earrings
مِن فَرعِهِ خَبَراً عَنِ الأَشنافِ
Say to him whose waist-belts have taken
from his locks word of the earrings:
إِنif يَزهُtakes pride خَصرُكَyour waist بِالوِشاحِin the sash فَقَدthen indeed زَهَتtook pride
إِن يَزهُ خَصرُكَ بِالوِشاحِ فَقَد زَهَت
بِفَنىat the courtyard of وِشاحٍWishah سائِرُall الأَطرافِthe regions
بِفَنى وِشاحٍ سائِرُ الأَطرافِ
if your waist takes pride in its sash, then proud are
all the lands at Wishah's court.
الحاكِمُthe ruler الحَكَمُthe arbiter الَّذيwho شَهِدَتtestified لَهُfor him
الحاكِمُ الحَكَمُ الَّذي شَهِدَت لَهُ
أَعداؤُهُhis enemies بِالعَدلِto justice وَالإِنصافِand fairness
أَعداؤُهُ بِالعَدلِ وَالإِنصافِ
The ruler, the arbiter, to whose
justice and fairness his enemies bear witness;
قاضٍa judge إِذاwhen التَبَسَتbecomes obscure حَقيقَةُthe truth of مُشكِلٍa difficult question
قاضٍ إِذا التَبَسَت حَقيقَةُ مُشكِلٍ
أَبدَتrevealed لَهُto him الآراءُthe insights ماwhat هُوَit خافِhidden
أَبدَت لَهُ الآراءُ ما هُوَ خافِ
a judge who, when a difficult question's truth grows obscure,
finds his insights revealing to him what is hidden.
وَإِذاand when أَفاضَhe elaborates البَحثَthe inquiry ساقَطَrains down لَفظُهُhis speech
وَإِذا أَفاضَ البَحثَ ساقَطَ لَفظُهُ
دُرَراًpearls تُنَزِّهُهاyou exalt them عَنِabove الأَصدافِshells
دُرَراً تُنَزِّهُها عَنِ الأَصدافِ
When he expands his inquiry, his speech rains down
pearls you would exalt above shells.
وَإِذاand when المَسائِلُthe questions فيin الجِدالِdebate تَعَرضَتconfront one
وَإِذا المَسائِلُ في الجِدالِ تَعَرضَت
بِالعَيِّwith speechlessness أَقبَلَhe comes بِالجَوابِwith the answer الشافيsatisfying
بِالعَيِّ أَقبَلَ بِالجَوابِ الشافي
When questions in debate confront one
with speechlessness, he brings the satisfying answer.
مَولىًa lord طَوارِفُthe new acquisitions of مالِهِhis wealth وَتِلادُهُand his inherited wealth
مَولىً طَوارِفُ مالِهِ وَتِلادُهُ
وَقفٌan endowment عَلىfor الإِسعادِbringing happiness وَالإِسعافِand giving aid
وَقفٌ عَلى الإِسعادِ وَالإِسعافِ
A lord whose newly acquired wealth and inherited riches
are devoted to bringing happiness and aid.
طُبِعَwas fashioned الأَنامُmankind عَلىfor الخِلافِdisagreement وَجودُهُand his generosity
طُبِعَ الأَنامُ عَلى الخِلافِ وَجودُهُ
فيamong الناسِpeople مَسأَلَةٌa matter بِغَيرِwithout خِلافِdispute
في الناسِ مَسأَلَةٌ بِغَيرِ خِلافِ
Mankind was fashioned for disagreement, yet his generosity
is a matter among people beyond dispute.
بَذَلَhe gave freely النُضارَgold مَعَwith اللُجَينِsilver وَعِرضُهُwhile his honor
بَذَلَ النُضارَ مَعَ اللُجَينِ وَعِرضُهُ
فيin الصَونِsafekeeping كَاِسمِlike the name of أَبيهِhis father فيamong الأَوصافِthe attributes
في الصَونِ كَاِسمِ أَبيهِ في الأَوصافِ
He lavished gold together with silver, while his honor
is held in safekeeping, like his father's name among epithets.
يُبديhe shows اِهتِزازاًa joyful tremor لِلمَديحِat praise كَأَنَّماas though
يُبدي اِهتِزازاً لِلمَديحِ كَأَنَّما
عوطيhe were served وَحاشاهُthough far be it from him كُؤوسَcups of سُلافِchoice wine
عوطي وَحاشاهُ كُؤوسَ سُلافِ
He shows a joyful tremor at praise, as though
he had been served—far be it from him!—cups of choice wine.
وَلَرُبَّماand often جَلّىhe cleared العَجاجَthe battle-dust بِسَيفِهِwith his sword
وَلَرُبَّما جَلّى العَجاجَ بِسَيفِهِ
وَالنَقعُwhile the dust أَحلَكُblacker مِنthan جَناحِthe wing of غُدافِa raven
وَالنَقعُ أَحلَكُ مِن جَناحِ غُدافِ
How often he cleared the battle-dust with his sword,
while the dust was blacker than a raven's wing,
مِنfrom فَوقِatop يَعبوبٍa swift steed لَهُpossessing يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle
مِن فَوقِ يَعبوبٍ لَهُ يَومَ الوَغى
سَبقُthe speed of القَطاthe sandgrouse وَتَقَلَّبُand the darting turns of الخَطّافِthe swallow
سَبقُ القَطا وَتَقَلَّبُ الخَطّافِ
from atop a swift steed possessing, on the day of battle,
the sandgrouse's speed and the swallow's darting turns.
يَنميhe traces his descent إِلىto القَومِthe people الَّذينَwho إِذاwhen سَطواthey attack
يَنمي إِلى القَومِ الَّذينَ إِذا سَطوا
أَغنَتsuffice عَزائِمُهُمtheir resolves عَنِinstead of الأَسيافِswords
أَغنَت عَزائِمُهُم عَنِ الأَسيافِ
He traces his descent to a people who, when they attack,
find their resolve enough, without swords.
يَتَهافَتونَthey rush eagerly عَلىto القِراعِcombat وَفيand in النَدىgenerosity
يَتَهافَتونَ عَلى القِراعِ وَفي النَدى
يَتَهافَتونَthey rush eagerly عَلىto قِرىentertaining الأَضيافِguests
يَتَهافَتونَ عَلى قِرى الأَضيافِ
They rush headlong into combat, and in generosity
they rush to provide hospitality for guests.
أَغناهُمُspared them عَنfrom رَفعِraising نيرانِthe fires of القِرىhospitality
أَغناهُمُ عَن رَفعِ نيرانِ القِرى
ذِكرٌrenown لَهُمtheirs عالٍlofty وَشُكرٌand gratitude وافِabundant
ذِكرٌ لَهُم عالٍ وَشُكرٌ وافِ
What spares them the need to kindle hospitality's fires is
their lofty renown and the abundant gratitude they receive.
لاno عَيبَfault فيهِin it غَيرَexcept أَنَّthat نَوالَهُمtheir bounty
لا عَيبَ فيهِ غَيرَ أَنَّ نَوالَهُم
فيamong الناسِpeople مَنسوبٌascribed إِلىto الإِسرافِextravagance
في الناسِ مَنسوبٌ إِلى الإِسرافِ
There is no fault in it, except that their bounty
among people is reckoned extravagance.
مَولايَmy lord تاجَTaj (crown of) الدينِal-Din (the faith) ياO مَنyou whose حِلمُهُhis forbearance
مَولايَ تاجَ الدينِ يا مَن حِلمُهُ
وَسَماحُهُand his generosity يُغَنيsuffice عَنِin place of اِستِعطافيmy pleading
وَسَماحُهُ يُغَني عَنِ اِستِعطافي
My lord Taj al-Din, you whose forbearance
and generosity spare me the need to plead,
كَيفَhow اِستَخَرتَdid you deem good سَماعَhearing ماwhat نَقَلَreported العِدىthe enemies
كَيفَ اِستَخَرتَ سَماعَ ما نَقَلَ العِدى
عَنّيabout me وَذَلِكَand that لِلصَحيحِwith the truth يُنافيconflicts
عَنّي وَذَلِكَ لِلصَحيحِ يُنافي
how did you deem it good to hear what enemies reported
about me, when that contradicts the truth?
أَفصَحَّhas it then proved true أَنَّthat الذِئبَthe wolf آكِلُthe devourer of يوسُفٍJoseph
أَفصَحَّ أَنَّ الذِئبَ آكِلُ يوسُفٍ
أَوَليسَand is there not فيهِin it لَكُمfor you دَليلٌproof كافِsufficient
أَوَليسَ فيهِ لَكُم دَليلٌ كافِ
Has it then proved true that the wolf devoured Joseph?
Is there not in that sufficient proof for you,
حَتّىso that تُقاسَmay be measured عَلَيهِagainst it كُلُّevery رَفيعَةٍaccusation
حَتّى تُقاسَ عَلَيهِ كُلُّ رَفيعَةٍ
رَفَعَcarried upward السُعاةُthe informers بِهاwith it إِلىto الإِشرافِhigh authority
رَفَعَ السُعاةُ بِها إِلى الإِشرافِ
by which to judge every accusation
that informers have carried up to high authority?
وَلَقَدand indeed بَسَطتُI set out العُذرَthe excuse عِندَكَbefore you فَاِعتَبِرso examine
وَلَقَد بَسَطتُ العُذرَ عِندَكَ فَاِعتَبِر
مَبسوطَهُits full account مِنthrough رَأيِكَyour judgment الكَشّافِpenetrating
مَبسوطَهُ مِن رَأيِكَ الكَشّافِ
I have indeed set out my excuse before you; examine
its full account with your penetrating judgment.
كَمhow many طالِبٍone seeking عَفواًpardon وَلَيسَand he is not بِمُذنِبٍguilty
كَم طالِبٍ عَفواً وَلَيسَ بِمُذنِبٍ
وَمُقَدَّمٍand one offering عُذراًan excuse وَليسَand he is not بِهافِone who errs
وَمُقَدَّمٍ عُذراً وَليسَ بِهافِ
How many seek pardon without being guilty,
and offer excuses without having erred!
وَمُؤَنَّبٍand one reproached فيfor الإِنقِطاعِstaying away وَإِنeven if غَداhe has become
وَمُؤَنَّبٍ في الإِنقِطاعِ وَإِن غَدا
مُتَجافِياًaloof خَجَلاًfrom shame فَلَيسَyet he is not بِجافِunkind
مُتَجافِياً خَجَلاً فَلَيسَ بِجافِ
How many are reproached for staying away, though they have grown
distant out of shame, and are not unkind!
وَلَرُبَّand many a جانٍwrongdoer وَهوَwhile he is غَيرُnot مُجانِبٍestranged
وَلَرُبَّ جانٍ وَهوَ غَيرُ مُجانِبٍ
وَلَرُبَّand many a وافٍloyal one وَهوَwhile he is غَيرُnot مُوافِone who visits
وَلَرُبَّ وافٍ وَهوَ غَيرُ مُوافِ
Many a wrongdoer is not estranged,
and many a loyal friend does not come visiting.
شُكراًthanks لِواشٍto a slanderer أَوجَبَتmade obligatory أَقوالُهُhis words
شُكراً لِواشٍ أَوجَبَت أَقوالُهُ
حَجّيmy pilgrimage لِكَعبَةِto the Kaaba of رَبِّكُمyour lord وَطَوافيand my circumambulation
حَجّي لِكَعبَةِ رَبِّكُم وَطَوافي
Thanks to a slanderer whose words required
my pilgrimage to your lord's Kaaba and my circling of it:
بُعدٌdistance جَنَيتُI plucked القُربُnearness مِنfrom أَغصانِهِits branches
بُعدٌ جَنَيتُ القُربُ مِن أَغصانِهِ
وَسَكينَةٌand tranquility حَصَلَتarose مِنَfrom الإِرجافِrumor-mongering
وَسَكينَةٌ حَصَلَت مِنَ الإِرجافِ
distance from whose branches I plucked nearness,
and tranquility that arose from rumor-mongering.
وَلَرُبَّماand often عَوَتِhowled الكِلابُthe dogs فَأَرشَدَتand so guided
وَلَرُبَّما عَوَتِ الكِلابُ فَأَرشَدَت
نَحوَtoward الكِرامِthe generous شَوارِدَthe wanderers among الأَضيافِthe guests
نَحوَ الكِرامِ شَوارِدَ الأَضيافِ
How often dogs have howled, and thereby guided
wandering guests toward the generous!
دَعleave عَنكَaside from you ماwhat اِختَلَفَdiffered الوَرىpeople فيin نَقلِهِreporting it
دَع عَنكَ ما اِختَلَفَ الوَرى في نَقلِهِ
عَنّيabout me وَخُذand accept مَدحاًpraise بِغَيرِwithout خِلافِdispute
عَنّي وَخُذ مَدحاً بِغَيرِ خِلافِ
Set aside what people differ over in reporting
about me, and accept praise beyond dispute:
مَدحاًpraise أَتاكَthat came to you وَلاand not يَرومُit seeks إِجازَةًa reward
مَدحاً أَتاكَ وَلا يَرومُ إِجازَةً
إِلّاexcept المَوَدَّةَaffection وَالضَميرَand a heart الصافيpure
إِلّا المَوَدَّةَ وَالضَميرَ الصافي
praise that has come to you seeking no reward
except affection and a pure heart.
Translation model: Sol 6.1