اِنهَضrise فَهَذاfor this النَجمُthe star فيin الغَربِthe west سَقَطhas fallen
اِنهَض فَهَذا النَجمُ في الغَربِ سَقَط
وَالشَيبُand gray hair فيin فَودِthe temple of الظَلامِdarkness قَدalready وَخَطhas streaked
وَالشَيبُ في فَودِ الظَلامِ قَد وَخَط
Rise, for this star has fallen in the west,
Arise! for yonder star in the west has set,
and gray hair has streaked the temple of darkness.
And grey hairs streak the darkness of the gloaming;
وَالصُبحُand dawn قَدalready مَدَّhas stretched إِلىtoward نَحرِthe throat of الدُجىdarkness
وَالصُبحُ قَد مَدَّ إِلى نَحرِ الدُجى
يَداًa hand بِهاwith it دُرَّthe pearls of النُجومِthe stars تَلتَقِطgathers
يَداً بِها دُرَّ النُجومِ تَلتَقِط
Dawn has stretched toward the throat of night
And morn o'er Night's dark neck her hand hath spread,
a hand with which to gather the pearls of the stars.
That with her stars she seemeth to be groping;
وَأَلهَبَand set aflame الإِصباحُdaybreak أَذيالَthe skirts of الدُجىdarkness
وَأَلهَبَ الإِصباحُ أَذيالَ الدُجى
بِشَمعَةٍwith a candle مِنَof الشُعاعِradiance لَمnot تُقَطbeen trimmed
بِشَمعَةٍ مِنَ الشُعاعِ لَم تُقَط
Daybreak has set the skirts of darkness aflame
And Dawn's first flames have lit the skirts of Night
with a candle of radiance, never trimmed.
With candles that were made without the dropping;
وَضَجَّتِand clamored الأَوراقُthe gray doves فيamong أَوراقِهاtheir leaves
وَضَجَّتِ الأَوراقُ في أَوراقِها
لَمّاwhen رَأَتthey saw سَيفَthe sword of الصَباحِmorning مُختَرَطunsheathed
لَمّا رَأَت سَيفَ الصَباحِ مُختَرَط
The gray doves clamored among their leaves
And the leaves shudder in their leaves for fright,
when they saw morning's sword unsheathed.
When the sword of sunrise they see baring,—
وَقامَand rose مِنfrom فَوقِatop الجِدارِthe wall هاتِفٌa caller
وَقامَ مِن فَوقِ الجِدارِ هاتِفٌ
مُتَوَّجُcrowned الهامَةِof head ذيhaving فَرعٍa crest قَطَطtightly curled
مُتَوَّجُ الهامَةِ ذي فَرعٍ قَطَط
A caller rose from atop the wall,
And, perched on the high wall, a herald-wight,
crown-headed, with a tightly curled crest,
Cries out to all a-sleep that morning's glaring;
يُخَبِّرُtells الراقِدَthe sleeper أَنَّthat نَومَهُhis sleep
يُخَبِّرُ الراقِدَ أَنَّ نَومَهُ
عِندَat اِنتِباهِthe awakening of جَدِّهِhis fortune مِنَof الغَلَطfolly
عِندَ اِنتِباهِ جَدِّهِ مِنَ الغَلَط
telling the sleeper that his sleep,
And the moon is a mere shred, that soon will fail
when his fortune awakens, is folly.
Ere with the sun her faint light mix and mingle;—
وَالبَدرُand the full moon قَدalready صارَhas become هِلالاًa crescent ناحِلاًslender
وَالبَدرُ قَد صارَ هِلالاً ناحِلاً
فيat آخِرِthe end of الشَهرِthe month وَبِالصُبحِand with dawn اِختَلَطmingled
في آخِرِ الشَهرِ وَبِالصُبحِ اِختَلَط
The full moon has become a slender crescent
On a taut string a bow of lemon-tree,
at month's end, mingling with the dawn.
And the dark Night thereon a bead that dangleth;
كَأَنَّهُas though it were قَوسُa bow of لُجَينٍsilver موتَرstrung
كَأَنَّهُ قَوسُ لُجَينٍ موتَر
وَاللَيلُand night زِنجيٌّa Zanj man عَليهِupon it قَدalready ضَبَطhas a firm grip
وَاللَيلُ زِنجيٌّ عَليهِ قَد ضَبَط
As though it were a strung bow of silver,
In her hands for Pleiades arrows three,
and night a Zanj man who has firmly grasped it.
Wherewith one more than the fixed number angleth.
وَفيand in يَديهِhis two hands لِلثُرَيّاof the Pleiades نَدَبٌscar marks
وَفي يَديهِ لِلثُرَيّا نَدَبٌ
يَزيدُexceeds فَرداًa single item واحِداًone عَنِbeyond النَمَطthe usual pattern
يَزيدُ فَرداً واحِداً عَنِ النَمَط
In his two hands are marks of the Pleiades,
What! Do the archers and the dark delay,
one single mark beyond the customary pattern.
When in their arrow-holder dawn is crumbling
فَأَيُّso what عُذرٍexcuse لِلرُماةِfor the archers وَالدُجىwhile darkness
فَأَيُّ عُذرٍ لِلرُماةِ وَالدُجى
قَدalready عُدَّhas been counted فيin سِلكِthe ranks of الرُماةِthe archers وَاِنخَرَطand joined them
قَد عُدَّ في سِلكِ الرُماةِ وَاِنخَرَط
What excuse, then, have archers, when darkness
Behold the new clouds' down the sky's highway
has been numbered among the archers and joined their ranks?
Rolling, as 'twere the pitch the negroes jumbling!
أَماdo you not تَرىsee الغَيمَthe cloud الجَديدَnew مُقبِلاًapproaching
أَما تَرى الغَيمَ الجَديدَ مُقبِلاً
قَدalready مَدَّhas stretched فيacross الأُفُقِthe horizon رِداهُits mantle فَاِنبَسَطso it spread out
قَد مَدَّ في الأُفُقِ رِداهُ فَاِنبَسَط
Do you not see the new cloud approaching?
In their folds the lightning's blaze ye scan,
It has stretched its mantle across the horizon and spread wide.
Like knives of steel that through the air are tumbling!
كَأَنَّas though أَيديthe hands of الزُنجِthe Zanj فيin تَلفيقِهِpiecing it together
كَأَنَّ أَيدي الزُنجِ في تَلفيقِهِ
قَدalready لَبَّدَتhad felted قُطناًcotton عَلىonto ثَوبٍa cloth شَمَطgrizzled
قَد لَبَّدَت قُطناً عَلى ثَوبٍ شَمَط
As though the hands of the Zanj, in piecing it together,
Now Autumn of his blooms have brought us more
had felted cotton onto a grizzled cloth.
Than erst 'neath Springtide's skirt lay hidden, shrinking.
يَلمَعُflashes ضَوءُthe light of البَرقِlightning فيalong حافاتِهِits edges
يَلمَعُ ضَوءُ البَرقِ في حافاتِهِ
كَأَنَّas though فيin الجَوِّthe air صِفاحاًsword blades تُختَرَطare drawn
كَأَنَّ في الجَوِّ صِفاحاً تُختَرَط
Lightning's light flashes along its edges,
Hushed are the burning sighs of winds that tore,
as though sword blades were being drawn in the sky.
And after heat, the rains their torrents drinking.
وَأَظهَرَand displayed الخَريفُautumn مِنof أَزهارِهِits flowers
وَأَظهَرَ الخَريفُ مِن أَزهارِهِ
أَضعافَmany times as much ماwhat أَخفىhid الرَبيعُspring إِذwhen شَحَطwent far away
أَضعافَ ما أَخفى الرَبيعُ إِذ شَحَط
Autumn has displayed among its flowers
Poised in her scales is shining Day's full weight.
many times what spring concealed as it departed.
The nights and days equality attaining.
وَلانَand softened عِطفُthe sway of الريحِthe wind فيin هُبوبِهاits blowing
وَلانَ عِطفُ الريحِ في هُبوبِها
وَالطَلُّand dew مِنfrom بَعدِafter الهَجيرِthe midday heat قَدalready سَقَطhas fallen
وَالطَلُّ مِن بَعدِ الهَجيرِ قَد سَقَط
The wind's sway has softened as it blows,
To us from Durbán's hills blow winds elate,
and dew has fallen after the midday heat.
To wander here wherein my soul is straining;—
وَالشَمسُand the sun فيin الميزانِLibra; the Balance مَوزونٍweighed بِهاby it
وَالشَمسُ في الميزانِ مَوزونٍ بِها
قِسطُthe fair share of النَهارِdaylight بَعدَafter ماwhen كانَit had قَسَطdealt unjustly
قِسطُ النَهارِ بَعدَ ما كانَ قَسَط
The sun is in Libra; by it is weighed
From Karkh's fruit-laden palms nobly they came,
the day's fair share, after its former injustice.
What time their ripening crops need no more training;
وَأَرسَلَتand sent جِبالُthe mountains of دَربِندَDarband لَناto us
وَأَرسَلَت جِبالُ دَربِندَ لَنا
رُسلاًmessengers صَباyearned القَلبُthe heart إِلَيهاfor them وَاِنبَسَطand grew glad
رُسلاً صَبا القَلبُ إِلَيها وَاِنبَسَط
The mountains of Darband have sent us
Linked troop on troop they marched like men that frame
messengers for whom the heart yearned and grew glad,
A claim to guide men's steps and turn them from ill,—
مِنَfrom among الكَراكيthe cranes الحُزَرِيّاتِthe Khazar ones الَّتيwhich
مِنَ الكَراكي الحُزَرِيّاتِ الَّتي
تَقدَمُadvance وَالبَعضُand some بِبَعضٍto others مُرتَبِطare linked
تَقدَمُ وَالبَعضُ بِبَعضٍ مُرتَبِط
among the Khazar cranes, which
Did one that hath my pain of passion blame,
advance, some linked to others.
Their sound would cure his soul of every ill.
كَأَنَّهاas though they were إِذwhen تابَعَتfollowed in succession صَفوفَهاtheir ranks
كَأَنَّها إِذ تابَعَت صَفوفَها
رَكائِبٌriding camels عَنهاfrom them الرِحالُthe saddles لَمnot تُحَطّbeen taken off
رَكائِبٌ عَنها الرِحالُ لَم تُحَطّ
As though, when their ranks followed one another,
Up! Let us don the raiment of delight!
they were riding camels whose saddles had not been taken off.
He is resolved for wrong who joy denies him.
إِذاwhen قَفاهاfollowed them سَمعُthe hearing of ذيone with صَبابَةٍardent longing
إِذا قَفاها سَمعُ ذي صَبابَةٍ
مِثليlike me تَقاضاهُimportuned him الغَرامُpassion وَنَشَطand he grew eager
مِثلي تَقاضاهُ الغَرامُ وَنَشَط
When the hearing of one with ardent longing follows them,
Seize Pleasure's forelock when thou hast the might!
one like me, passion importunes him and he grows eager.
Fleeting are Pleasure's days; then be thou wise, O youth,
فَقُمso rise بِناwith us نَرفُلُlet us strut فيin ثَوبِthe robe of الصِبىyouth
فَقُم بِنا نَرفُلُ في ثَوبِ الصِبى
إِنَّindeed الرِضىcontentment بِتَركِهِwith abandoning it عَينُthe very essence of السَخَطdiscontent
إِنَّ الرِضى بِتَركِهِ عَينُ السَخَط
So rise with us: let us strut in the robe of youth;
For Youth's a guest that comes and goes in flight,
accepting its abandonment is discontent itself.
Nor can man clasp him tight when he flies from him.
وَاِلتَقِطِand gather اللَذَّةَpleasure حَيثُwherever أَمكَنَتit is attainable
وَاِلتَقِطِ اللَذَّةَ حَيثُ أَمكَنَت
فَإِنَّماfor only اللَذّاتُpleasures فيin الدَهرِtime لُقَطchance finds
فَإِنَّما اللَذّاتُ في الدَهرِ لُقَط
Gather pleasure wherever it is within reach,
Mark the francolin where th' horizon girding,
for pleasures in this life are only chance finds.
Heaws from far Diyálá's bowers of pleasure,
إِنَّindeed الشَبابَyouth زائِرٌa visitor مُوَدِّعٌbidding farewell
إِنَّ الشَبابَ زائِرٌ مُوَدِّعٌ
لاnot يُستَطاعُis possible رَدُّهُits return إِذاonce فَرَطit has passed
لا يُستَطاعُ رَدُّهُ إِذا فَرَط
Youth is a visitor already bidding farewell;
Of passion he unmindful, to face peril winging:
it cannot be brought back once it has passed.
He comes his life to offer, nor knows the measure
أَماdo you not تَرىsee الكَرَكِيَّthe crane فيin الجَوِّthe air وَقَدand already
أَما تَرى الكَرَكِيَّ في الجَوِّ وَقَد
نَغَّمَsang فيon أُفقِthe horizon of السَماءِthe sky وَلَغَطand clamored
نَغَّمَ في أُفقِ السَماءِ وَلَغَط
Do you not see the crane in the air, as it
Of what him shall befall when his foot slips.
sings and clamors along the horizon of heaven?
Then plunge thee rashly in her every rupture!
أَنساهُmade it forget حُبُّlove of دِجلَةٍthe Tigris وَطيبُهاand its sweetness
أَنساهُ حُبُّ دِجلَةٍ وَطيبُها
مَواطِناًhomelands قَدalready زُقَّwas fed by beak فيهاin them وَلَقَطand pecked up food
مَواطِناً قَد زُقَّ فيها وَلَقَط
Love of the Tigris and its sweetness has made it forget
For steeds of pedigree are linked, are tethered . . .
the homelands where it was fed by beak and pecked for food.
From every Wásit tribe gifts are brought us:
فَجاءَso it came يُهديoffering نَفسَهُitself وَماand not دَرىknew
فَجاءَ يُهدي نَفسَهُ وَما دَرى
أَنَّthat الرَدىdeath قَرينُهُits companion حَيثُwherever سَقَطit alighted
أَنَّ الرَدى قَرينُهُ حَيثُ سَقَط
It has come, offering itself, unaware
Tasan, whose brightness shall not fade or wither,
that death is its companion wherever it alights.
Which workman Zálim wrought in deftest fashion,
فَابرِزso bring out قِسِيّاًbows مِنfrom كَمَندِthe bindings of أَتاتِهاtheir gear
فَابرِز قِسِيّاً مِن كَمَندِ أَتاتِها
إِنَّindeed الجِيادَnoble steeds لِلحُروبِfor wars تُرتَبَطare tethered
إِنَّ الجِيادَ لِلحُروبِ تُرتَبَط
So bring out bows from the bindings of their gear;
Let every keen-eyed man derive instruction!
noble steeds are tethered for war.
Who miss of prudence when they miss their aim
مِنfrom كُلِّeach سَبطٍsmooth مِنamong هَداياthe gifts of واسِطٍWasit
مِن كُلِّ سَبطٍ مِن هَدايا واسِطٍ
جَعدِcurved البَلاغِthe span مِنهُof it فيat الكَعبِthe joint نُقَطdots
جَعدِ البَلاغِ مِنهُ في الكَعبِ نُقَط
Each a smooth bow among the gifts of Wasit,
Have brought her bows up to the highest compass.
curved along its span, with dots at its joint.
Then overlaid with oil of sesame,
أَصلَحَهُperfected it صالِحٌSalih بِاِجتِهادِهِthrough his diligence
أَصلَحَهُ صالِحٌ بِاِجتِهادِهِ
فَكُلُّso every ذيpossessor of لُبٍّsense لَهُfor him فيهِfor it غِبَطadmiring envy
فَكُلُّ ذي لُبٍّ لَهُ فيهِ غِبَط
Salih perfected it through his diligence,
Pure, brilliant jessamine were her complexion.
so every man of sense envies him for it.
As she were stars of pearls in strange perfection,
وَماand did not أَضاعَneglect الحَزمَprudence عِندَwhen عَزمِهاundertaking them
وَما أَضاعَ الحَزمَ عِندَ عَزمِها
بَلrather جاوَزَlet pass القَيظَsummer's heat وَلِلفَصلِand for the season ضَبَطtimed it precisely
بَل جاوَزَ القَيظَ وَلِلفَصلِ ضَبَط
He did not neglect prudence when undertaking them,
Or round sweetmeat on round sweetmeat were looping.
but let the summer heat pass and timed the season precisely.
As like two snakes her shape the intermediate,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen حَرُّthe heat of حُزَيرانَJune خَباdied down
حَتّى إِذا حَرُّ حُزَيرانَ خَبا
وَتَمَّand ended تَمّوزٌJuly وَآبٌand August وَشَحَطand passed away
وَتَمَّ تَمّوزٌ وَآبٌ وَشَحَط
Until June's heat had died down,
In archer's fingers were she bent to nothing!
and July and August were over and gone,
So, did an Indian ply her from his stand,
وَجاءَand came أَيلولٌSeptember بِحَرٍّwith heat فاتِرٍtepid
وَجاءَ أَيلولٌ بِحَرٍّ فاتِرٍ
فيin نُضجِripening تَعديلِbalancing الثِمارِthe fruits ماnot فَرَطwas excessive
في نُضجِ تَعديلِ الثِمارِ ما فَرَط
and September came with a tepid heat,
No portion but were broke and rent to splinters.
not excessive in bringing the fruits to balanced ripeness.
As though she sighed to leave her master's hand
أَبرَزَhe brought out ماwhat أَحرَزَhe had stored مِنof آلاتِهِhis tools
أَبرَزَ ما أَحرَزَ مِن آلاتِهِ
وَحَلَّand untied مِنfrom ذاكَthat المَتاعَequipment ماwhat رَبَطhe had tied
وَحَلَّ مِن ذاكَ المَتاعَ ما رَبَط
He brought out the tools he had stored
For those bird-haunted groves, those woodland centres.
and untied the equipment he had bound.
By every deft artificer was wrought,
وَمَدَّand extended لِلصَنعَةِto the craft كَفّاًa hand أَوحَداًpeerless
وَمَدَّ لِلصَنعَةِ كَفّاً أَوحَداً
He stretched a peerless hand to the craft.
Till her fair shape was faultless,—aye, transcending!—
As if the letter lám were looped in naught;
وَظَلَّand kept يَستَقريexamining throughout بَلاغَthe full span of عودِهاtheir wood
وَظَلَّ يَستَقري بَلاغَ عودِها
فَنَبَّرَso raised الأَطرافَthe tips وَاِختارَand selected الوَسَطthe middle
فَنَبَّرَ الأَطرافَ وَاِختارَ الوَسَط
He kept inspecting the full span of their wood,
Thoughcertain critics cry"'Tis but a straight line!"
raising the tips and choosing the middle.
Speed joy our eyes with sight of her, for she
وُجَوَّدَand perfected التَدفيقَthe pouring فيin لِهحامِهاtheir joining
وُجَوَّدَ التَدفيقَ في لِهحامِها
فَأَسقَطَso removed الكِرشاتِthe bulges مِنهاfrom them وَالسَقَطand waste
فَأَسقَطَ الكِرشاتِ مِنها وَالسَقَط
He perfected the pouring at their joints,
Shall banish sorrow and despair, repressing!
thus removing their bulges and waste.
Babel's bricks have built no life at all
وَلَمand did not يَزَلcease يُبلِغُهاbringing them to مَراتِباًstages
وَلَم يَزَل يُبلِغُها مَراتِباً
تَلزَمُare necessary فيin صَنعَتِهِhis craft وَتُشتَرَطand are stipulated
تَلزَمُ في صَنعَتِهِ وَتُشتَرَط
He went on bringing them to stages
To equal this glad fortune and good blessing!
required and stipulated in his craft.
While we recline in meadow and in field
فَعِندَماso when أَفضَتit came إِلىto تَطهيرِهاtheir cleansing
فَعِندَما أَفضَت إِلى تَطهيرِها
صَحَّحَhe corrected داراتِthe circles of البُيوتِthe housings وَالنِقَطand the dots
صَحَّحَ داراتِ البُيوتِ وَالنِقَط
Then, when the work came to their cleansing,
Checking old buildings and their needs assessing.
he perfected the circles of the housings and the dots.
With lore enriched, and free of all oppression,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen قَمَّصَهاhe clothed them بِدُهنِهاwith their oil
حَتّى إِذا قَمَّصَها بِدُهنِها
جاءَتthey emerged مِنَof الصِحَّةِsound workmanship فيin أَحلىthe loveliest نَمَطform
جاءَت مِنَ الصِحَّةِ في أَحلى نَمَط
When he had clothed them in their oil,
Who judges justly 'twixt us, clear of blame,
they emerged in the loveliest form of sound workmanship.
Eschewing tyranny's least suggestion.
كَأَنَّهاas though they were النُواناتُthe nūn letters فيin تَعريقِهاtheir curved strokes
كَأَنَّها النُواناتُ في تَعريقِها
يُعرُجُrises مِنهاfrom them بُندُقٌpellets مِثلُlike النَقَطdots
يُعرُجُ مِنها بُندُقٌ مِثلُ النَقَط
As though they were nūn letters in their curving strokes,
He has no fault to find with racing steeds,
with pellets rising from them like dots.
Nor ever was his soul possessed of caution,
مِثلَlike السُيورِstraps فيin يَدِthe hand of الراميthe archer فَلوso if
مِثلَ السُيورِ في يَدِ الرامي فَلو
شاءَhe wished طَواهاhe folded them وَحَواهاand stowed them فيin سَفَطa basket
شاءَ طَواها وَحَواها في سَفَط
Like straps in the archer's hand—if
But if he was aware of evil deed,
he wished, he could fold them and stow them in a basket.
Or if good fortune smiled on him, straight louting,
لَوif يَقذِفُwere to cast اليَمَّthe sea بِهاwith them مالِكُهاtheir owner
لَو يَقذِفُ اليَمَّ بِها مالِكُها
ماnot اِنتَفَضَcame loose العودُthe wood وَلاnor الزَورُthe bow's belly اِنكَشَطpeeled away
ما اِنتَفَضَ العودُ وَلا الزَورُ اِنكَشَط
Were their owner to cast them into the sea,
No sweeter is the note of pipe and drum,
the wood would not loosen, nor the belly peel away.
What time he analyzes strains heart-witching,
كَأَنَّماas though بِندُقُهاtheir pellets تَنازَلاdescended together
كَأَنَّما بِندُقُها تَنازَلا
أَوor مِنfrom يَدِthe hand of الراميthe archer إِلىto الطَيرِthe birds خِطَطlines
أَو مِن يَدِ الرامي إِلى الطَيرِ خِطَط
As though their pellets descended together,
Nor tabret struck on bow-string twanging from
or were lines from the archer's hand to the birds.
The plectrum blade on sounding-board down smiting.
مِنfrom كُلِّeach مَحنيِّcurved at البُيوتِthe housings مُدمَجٍcompact
مِن كُلِّ مَحنيِّ البُيوتِ مُدمَجٍ
ماnot أَخطَأَerred الباريthe bowyer بِهِin it وَلاnor فَرَطoverdid it
ما أَخطَأَ الباري بِهِ وَلا فَرَط
From each compact bow with curved housings,
And birds of every wing around us cheeping,
whose bowyer neither erred nor went too far.
This hooded and equipped, and that a-preening,
كَأَنَّهُas though it were لامٌa lām عَليهِupon it أَلفٌalready
كَأَنَّهُ لامٌ عَليهِ أَلفٌ
وَقالَand said قَومٌsome people إِنَّهاindeed it is اللامُthe lām فَقَطonly
وَقالَ قَومٌ إِنَّها اللامُ فَقَط
As though it were a lām with an alif upon it;
One stands to watch his decoys and peeping,
and some said it was the lām alone.
One picks up what the plain yields while careening.
فَاَجلِso clear away قَذىthe grit from عُيونِناour eyes بِبَرزَةٍwith an outing
فَاَجلِ قَذى عُيونِنا بِبَرزَةٍ
تَنفيbanishes عَنِfrom القَلبِthe heart الهُمومَcares وَالقَنَطand despair
تَنفي عَنِ القَلبِ الهُمومَ وَالقَنَط
So clear the grit from our eyes with an outing
To tell them all were task without endeavour;
that drives cares and despair from the heart.
To count them all were hopeless, never ending!
فَماfor not رَأَتthey have seen مِنfrom بَعدِafter هورِthe marsh of بابِلٍBabylon
فَما رَأَت مِن بَعدِ هورِ بابِلٍ
وَمائِهِand its water التَيّارِrushing عَيشاًa life مُغتَبِطdelightful
وَمائِهِ التَيّارِ عَيشاً مُغتَبِط
For they have not seen, since Babylon's marsh
Our hawks and falcons thither wing, and ever
and its rushing water, any life of delight.
Is safe whoso keeps watch and waits attending.
وَنَحنُand we فيin مُروجِهِits meadows فيin نَشوَةٍrapture
وَنَحنُ في مُروجِهِ في نَشوَةٍ
عِندَduring التَحَرّيcareful selection فيin الوُقوفِtaking our stands لِلخِطَطat the allotted stations
عِندَ التَحَرّي في الوُقوفِ لِلخِطَط
We were in its meadows, exhilarated,
The quarry sinks i' the clouds careering blindly,
carefully choosing our stands in the allotted plots.
The slaughtered bird falls earthward, life's blood streaming
مِنamong كُلِّevery مَقبولِaccepted in المَقالِspeech صادِقٍtruthful
مِن كُلِّ مَقبولِ المَقالِ صادِقٍ
قَدalready قَبَضَhas grasped القَوسَthe bow وَلِلنَفسِand to the soul بَسَطgave ease
قَد قَبَضَ القَوسَ وَلِلنَفسِ بَسَط
Each a truthful man whose speech is accepted,
who has grasped the bow and given ease to his soul.
يُقدِمُناleads us فيهاthere قَديمٌa veteran حاذِقٌskilled
يُقدِمُنا فيها قَديمٌ حاذِقٌ
لاno كَسَلٌsloth يَشينُهُmars him وَلاnor قَنَطdespair
لا كَسَلٌ يَشينُهُ وَلا قَنَط
A seasoned expert leads us there,
marred by neither sloth nor despair.
يُحكُمُjudges فيناamong us حُكمَthe judgment of داوُدَDavid فَلاand so not
يُحكُمُ فينا حُكمَ داوُدَ فَلا
يَنظُرُsees مِنّاamong us خارِجاًone departing عَمّاfrom what شَرَطhe stipulated
يَنظُرُ مِنّا خارِجاً عَمّا شَرَط
He judges among us with David's judgment, and so
sees none of us departing from what he stipulated.
لاnot يَشتَكيcomplains of الأَسباقَthe prizes مِنfrom جَفَّتِهِhis band
لا يَشتَكي الأَسباقَ مِن جَفَّتِهِ
وَلَمand not يَكُنwas مِثلَlike القِرِلّىthe kingfisher فيin النَمَطmanner
وَلَم يَكُن مِثلَ القِرِلّى في النَمَط
He does not complain about his band's prizes,
nor is he kingfisher-like in his ways:
إِذاwhen رَأىit sees الشَرَّharm تَعَلّىrises high وَإِذاand when
إِذا رَأى الشَرَّ تَعَلّى وَإِذا
لاحَappears لَهُto it الخَيرُgood تَدَلّىswoops down وَاِنخَبَطand flounders
لاحَ لَهُ الخَيرُ تَدَلّى وَاِنخَبَط
when it sees harm, it rises high, and when
good appears to it, it swoops down and flounders.
ماnot نَغَمَthe music of المِزهَرُthe lute وَالدُفُّand the frame drum إِذاwhen
ما نَغَمَ المِزهَرُ وَالدُفُّ إِذا
فَصَّلَarticulates أَدوارَthe cycles of الضُروبِrhythmic patterns وَضَبَطand keeps time
فَصَّلَ أَدوارَ الضُروبِ وَضَبَط
No music of lute and frame drum, when
it articulates the rhythmic cycles and keeps time,
أَطيَبُsweeter مِنthan تَدفدُفِthe fluttering of التَمِّthe swan إِذاwhen
أَطيَبُ مِن تَدفدُفِ التَمِّ إِذا
دَقَّbeats عَلىupon القَبضِbeing seized الجَناحَits wing وَخَبَطand flaps
دَقَّ عَلى القَبضِ الجَناحَ وَخَبَط
is sweeter than the swan's fluttering when
it beats and flaps its wing upon being seized.
وَالطَيرُand the birds شَتّىvaried فيin نَواحيهِits reaches فَذاso this one
وَالطَيرُ شَتّى في نَواحيهِ فَذا
قَدalready اِكتَسىhas donned الرَيشَfeathers وَهَذاand this one قَدalready شَمَطhas turned gray
قَد اِكتَسى الرَيشَ وَهَذا قَد شَمَط
Birds are of many kinds along its reaches: this one
has donned feathers, and this one has turned gray;
وَذاكَand that one يَرعىgrazes فيalong شَواطيهِits shores وَذاand this one
وَذاكَ يَرعى في شَواطيهِ وَذا
عَلىon الرَوابيthe hills قَدalready تَحَصّىhas gathered pebbles وَلَقَطand pecked up food
عَلى الرَوابي قَد تَحَصّى وَلَقَط
that one grazes along its shores, and this one
on the hills has picked up pebbles and food.
فَمِنso some are جَليلٍlarge birds واجِبٍobligatory تَعدادُهُits counting
فَمِن جَليلٍ واجِبٍ تَعدادُهُ
وَمِنand some are مَراعٍrails عَدُّهاtheir counting لاnot يُشتَرَطis required
وَمِن مَراعٍ عَدُّها لا يُشتَرَط
Some are large birds whose counting is required,
and some are rails, which need not be counted.
يَعرُجُrise مِنّاfrom us نَحوَهاtoward them بَنادِقٌpellets
يَعرُجُ مِنّا نَحوَها بَنادِقٌ
لَمnot يَنجُescaped مِنهاfrom them مَنthose who تَعَلّىrose high وَاِختَبَطand fluttered
لَم يَنجُ مِنها مَن تَعَلّى وَاِختَبَط
Pellets rise from us toward them;
none that rose high and fluttered escaped them.
فَمِنso some are كَسيرٍwing-broken فيin العُبابِthe surging water عائِمٍfloating
فَمِن كَسيرٍ في العُبابِ عائِمٍ
وَمِنand some are ذَبيحٍslaughtered بِالدِماءِin blood يَغتَبِطreveling
وَمِن ذَبيحٍ بِالدِماءِ يَغتَبِط
Some float wing-broken in the surging water,
and some lie slaughtered, reveling in blood.
Partial English translation: 95 of 119 Arabic lines translated.