تابَrepented الزَمانُTime مِنَof الذُنوبِsins فَواتِso comply
تابَ الزَمانُ مِنَ الذُنوبِ فَواتِ
وَاِغنَمand seize لَذيذَthe sweetness of العَيشِlife قَبلَbefore فَواتِpassing
وَاِغنَم لَذيذَ العَيشِ قَبلَ فَواتِ
Time has repented of its sins—so fall in with it,
Time has passed by sins forgotten and gone astray
and seize life's sweetness before it slips away.
So enjoy the sweetness of life before life fades away
تَمَّbecame complete السُرورُjoy بِناwith us فَقُمso rise ياO صاحِبيmy companion
تَمَّ السُرورُ بِنا فَقُم يا صاحِبي
نَستَدرِكِlet us recover الاضيthe past (reading inferred) بِنَهبِby plundering الآتيwhat is to come
نَستَدرِكِ الاضي بِنَهبِ الآتي
Joy is complete with us; rise, my companion,
Our joy is complete so rise my friend
let us recover the past by plundering what is to come.
Let us regain the past by seizing the days ahead
تاقَتyearned إِلىfor شُربِdrinking المُدامِwine نُفوسُناour souls
تاقَت إِلى شُربِ المُدامِ نُفوسُنا
لاlet not تَذهَبَنَّslip away بَطالَةُthe leisure of الأَوقاتِthe hours
لا تَذهَبَنَّ بَطالَةُ الأَوقاتِ
Our souls have yearned to drink wine;
Our souls yearn to drink wine
let not the leisure of the hours slip away.
Lest idle times go by in vain
تَوَّجcrown بِكاساتِwith cups of الطَلىwine هامَthe crests of الرُبىthe hills
تَوَّج بِكاساتِ الطَلى هامَ الرُبى
فيin رَوضَةِa garden مَطلولَةِdew-moistened الزَهَراتِthe blossoms
في رَوضَةِ مَطلولَةِ الزَهَراتِ
Crown the hilltops with cups of wine
Cups of ruby coronate the inclined cups
in a garden whose blossoms are moist with dew.
In a garden of blossoming flowers
تَغدوbecomes at morning سُلافُthe pure vintage of القَطرِrain دائِرَةًcirculating بِهاwithin it
تَغدو سُلافُ القَطرِ دائِرَةً بِها
وَالكَأسُand the cup دائِرَةًcirculating بِكَفِّin the palm of سُقاةِcupbearers
وَالكَأسُ دائِرَةً بِكَفِّ سُقاةِ
At morning, the rain's pure vintage circles through it,
The rain drips in rounds as the cup circles in the pourer’s hand
and the cup circles in the cupbearers' hands.
Gather my share of buds and leisure my ease on respites
تَلفُthe loss of النُضارِgold عَلىon العُقارِwine غَنيمَتيmy gain
تَلفُ النُضارِ عَلى العُقارِ غَنيمَتي
وَفَراغُand the emptying of راحاتيmy palms عَلىfor الراحاتِpleasures
وَفَراغُ راحاتي عَلى الراحاتِ
Squandering gold on wine is my gain,
Leave the bags of star anise ignorant
and emptying my palms for pleasures.
For who deserves them more than cups?
تَركيmy leaving لِأَكياسِof the purses of النُضاءِgold (reading inferred) جَهالَةًout of folly
تَركي لِأَكياسِ النُضاءِ جَهالَةً
مَنwho ذاthis one أَحَقَّmore entitled بِهاto them مِنَthan الكاساتِthe goblets
مَن ذا أَحَقَّ بِها مِنَ الكاساتِ
My leaving purses of gold untouched is folly;
Cursed are the hands of those who repent drinking wine
who has more right to them than the goblets?
As the cup burns like a girl’s cheek
تَبَّتmay perish يَداthe two hands of مَنwhoever تابَrepented عَنof رَشفِsipping الطَلىwine
تَبَّت يَدا مَن تابَ عَن رَشفِ الطَلى
وَالكَأسُand the cup مُتَّقِدٌblazing كَخَدِّlike the cheek of فَتاةِa maiden
وَالكَأسُ مُتَّقِدٌ كَخَدِّ فَتاةِ
May both hands of whoever renounces sipping wine perish,
But for keeping company with cups
while the cup blazes like a maiden's cheek.
I would have remained immune from errors
تِبرِيَّةٌgolden لَولاwere it not for مُلازَمَتيmy constant attendance لَهاon it
تِبرِيَّةٌ لَولا مُلازَمَتي لَها
أَصبَحتُI would have become مَعصوماًprotected مِنَfrom الزَلّاتِmissteps
أَصبَحتُ مَعصوماً مِنَ الزَلّاتِ
Golden it is; were it not for my devotion to it,
Follow the caller of youth during his times
I would have been immune to missteps.
And wonder at the signs within
تابِعfollow إِلىtoward أَوقاتِهاits hours داعيthe summons of الصِباyouth
تابِع إِلى أَوقاتِها داعي الصِبا
وَاِعجَبand marvel لِماat what فيهاin it مِنَof الآياتِwonders
وَاِعجَب لِما فيها مِنَ الآياتِ
At its hours, follow the summons of youth,
Complete with them the deficiency of joy, for with the generous
and marvel at the wonders within it.
They are the perfecting of pleasures
تَمِّمcomplete بِهاwith it نَقصَthe lack of السُرورِjoy فَإِنَّهاfor indeed it
تَمِّم بِها نَقصَ السُرورِ فَإِنَّها
عِندَamong الكِرامِthe noble تَميمَةُthe talisman of اللَذّاتِpleasures
عِندَ الكِرامِ تَميمَةُ اللَذّاتِ
With it make good what joy lacks, for it is
Those meadows and gardens are like
among the noble, the talisman of pleasures.
A boy’s cheek dotted with growth
تِلكَthose الخَمائِلُthickets وَالرِياضُand gardens كَأَنَّهاas though they were
تِلكَ الخَمائِلُ وَالرِياضُ كَأَنَّها
خَدُّthe cheek of الغُلامِthe youth مُنَمَّقٌadorned بِنَباتِwith vegetation
خَدُّ الغُلامِ مُنَمَّقٌ بِنَباتِ
Those thickets and gardens seem like
Dew appears on their slopes
a youth's cheek, adorned with growth.
That the hand of the breeze picks up as rust
تَبدوthey appear وَقَدand indeed يَبدوappears النَدىdew بِمُتونِهاon their surfaces
تَبدو وَقَد يَبدو النَدى بِمُتونِها
صَدَأًas rust فَتَلقَطُهُthen plucks it away يَدُthe hand of النَسَماتِthe breezes
صَدَأً فَتَلقَطُهُ يَدُ النَسَماتِ
They show themselves, while dew upon their surfaces appears
The morning breeze blows on their surfaces
as rust; then the hand of the breezes plucks it away.
With clouds dripping tears
تَسريcourses عَلىover صَفَحاتِهاtheir surfaces ريحُwind الصَباthe east wind
تَسري عَلى صَفَحاتِها ريحُ الصَبا
بِسَحائِبٍwith clouds مُنهَلَّةِpouring down العَبَراتِtears
بِسَحائِبٍ مُنهَلَّةِ العَبَراتِ
The east wind courses over their surfaces,
Swords for lightning flash within them
with clouds pouring down tears.
Like al-Mansur’s swords in raids
تَستَلُّunsheathes فيهاwithin them لِلبُروقِfor lightning flashes صَوارِماًswords
تَستَلُّ فيها لِلبُروقِ صَوارِماً
كَصَوارِمِlike the swords of المَنصورِal-Mansur فيin الغاراتِraids
كَصَوارِمِ المَنصورِ في الغاراتِ
Within them it unsheathes the lightning's swords,
Exhaustion in seeking praise sincerely
like al-Mansur's swords in raids.
With determination witnessing glory
تَعِبٌtoiling لِتَحصيلِto obtain الثَناءِpraise مُجَرِّدٌunsheathing
تَعِبٌ لِتَحصيلِ الثَناءِ مُجَرِّدٌ
لِلمَجدِfor glory عَزماًa resolve صادِقَtrue in اللَحَظاتِthe glances
لِلمَجدِ عَزماً صادِقَ اللَحَظاتِ
He toils to earn praise, unsheathing
Some followed their passions so their passions were
for glory a resolve unerring in its gaze.
Seeking the sublime and avoiding desires
تَبِعَfollowed الهَوىdesire قَومٌa people فَكانَso was هَواهُhis desire فيin
تَبِعَ الهَوى قَومٌ فَكانَ هَواهُ في
طَلَبِseeking العُلىeminence وَتَجَنُّبِand shunning الشَهَواتِlusts
طَلَبِ العُلى وَتَجَنُّبِ الشَهَواتِ
Some people followed desire, but his desire lay in
It left depression in the prisons scattered about
seeking eminence and shunning lusts.
So you see time shackled in its steps
تَرَكَhe left الكَتائِبَthe battalions فيin السَباسِبِthe open plains شُرَّداًscattered fugitives
تَرَكَ الكَتائِبَ في السَباسِبِ شُرَّداً
فَتَرىso you see الزَمانَTime مُقَيَّدَfettered in الخُطَواتِfootsteps
فَتَرى الزَمانَ مُقَيَّدَ الخُطَواتِ
He left the battalions fleeing across the open plains,
His virtues perfected by the virtue of his creation
so you see Time with its footsteps fettered.
And his years increased the virtues
تَمَّتwere perfected مَحاسِنُهُhis virtues بِحُسنِthrough the goodness of خَلاقِهِhis character
تَمَّت مَحاسِنُهُ بِحُسنِ خَلاقِهِ
وَسَناand he shone فَزادَso increased الحُسنُbeauty بِالحَسَناتِthrough good deeds
وَسَنا فَزادَ الحُسنُ بِالحَسَناتِ
His virtues were perfected by the goodness of his character,
The world became lost through him and were it not for his generosity
and he shone; beauty grew through good deeds.
People would have been drifting with no gifts
تاهَتgloried بِهِin him الدُنياthe world وَلولاand were it not for جودُهُhis generosity
تاهَت بِهِ الدُنيا وَلولا جودُهُ
كانَwould have been الأَنامُmankind هَباًdust بِغَيرِwithout هِباتِgifts
كانَ الأَنامُ هَباً بِغَيرِ هِباتِ
The world glories in him; were it not for his generosity,
His treasuries weep over his money
mankind would be dust, without gifts.
From the burning of a heart ever regretful
تَبكيweep خَزائِنُهُhis treasuries عَلىover أَموالِهِhis wealth
تَبكي خَزائِنُهُ عَلى أَموالِهِ
مِنfrom حَرِّthe burning of قَلبٍa heart دائِمِunceasing in الحَسَراتِregrets
مِن حَرِّ قَلبٍ دائِمِ الحَسَراتِ
His treasuries weep over his wealth,
Days smile during their crying
from a heart burning with ceaseless regret.
As if they are gloating over it
تَتَبَسَّمُsmile الأَيّامُthe days عِندَat بُكائِهاtheir weeping
تَتَبَسَّمُ الأَيّامُ عِندَ بُكائِها
فَكَأَنَّهُنَّso it is as though they بِهاover them مِنَamong الشُمّاتِthose who gloat
فَكَأَنَّهُنَّ بِها مِنَ الشُمّاتِ
The days smile at their weeping,
With your resolve ascend O son of lofty resolve
as though they were among those gloating over them.
Guarded by banners of determination
تَسموsoars بِهِمَّتِكَthrough your resolve اِبنَO son of أُرتُقَArtuq هِمَّةٌa resolve
تَسمو بِهِمَّتِكَ اِبنَ أُرتُقَ هِمَّةٌ
حَفَّتwas surrounded بِأَلوِيَةٍwith banners مِنَof العَزَماتِfirm resolutions
حَفَّت بِأَلوِيَةٍ مِنَ العَزَماتِ
Through your resolve, son of Artuq, a resolve soars,
Repel the turns of fate though they are tranquil
ringed with banners of firm determination.
For calmness to it is of motions
تُرديstrike down صُروفَthe reversals of الدَهرِTime وَهيَwhile they سَواكِنٌmotionless
تُردي صُروفَ الدَهرِ وَهيَ سَواكِنٌ
إِنَّindeed السُكونَstillness لَهاfor them مِنَamong الحَرَكاتِmovements
إِنَّ السُكونَ لَها مِنَ الحَرَكاتِ
They strike down Time's reversals while standing still;
The hearts of a people have yearned for you
for stillness, to them, is a form of movement.
Their mornings cast to you from the flat lands
تاقَتyearned إِلَيكَfor you قُلوبُthe hearts of قومٍa people أَصبَحَتhave come to
تاقَت إِلَيكَ قُلوبُ قومٍ أَصبَحَت
تُلقيcast aside إِلَيكَtoward you مَعارِقَthe tracks of الفَلَواتِthe deserts
تُلقي إِلَيكَ مَعارِقَ الفَلَواتِ
The hearts of a people yearned for you; now they
They left their homes on Euphrates’ banks
cast aside the desert tracks on their way to you.
And sought you out so fixated on Euphrates
تَرَكواthey left عَلىon شاطيthe bank of الفُراتِthe Euphrates دِيارَهُمtheir homes
تَرَكوا عَلى شاطي الفُراتِ دِيارَهُم
وَسَعواand hastened إِلَيكَtoward you فَأَحدَقواso they gathered بِفُراتِaround sweet water
وَسَعوا إِلَيكَ فَأَحدَقوا بِفُراتِ
They left their homes upon the bank of the Euphrates,
Praising you, panegyrists offer jewels
and hastened to you, gathering round sweet water.
Strung like chokers of pearls
يُهديoffer إِلَيكَto you المادِحونَthe panegyrists جَواهِراًjewels
يُهدي إِلَيكَ المادِحونَ جَواهِراً
مَنظومَةًstrung كَقَلائِدِlike necklaces about اللَبّاتِthe upper chests
مَنظومَةً كَقَلائِدِ اللَبّاتِ
The panegyrists offer you jewels,
Your attributes are sweet in hearts as if
strung like necklaces about the throats.
They came for a transient meaning in the essence
تَحَلوare sweet صِفاتُكَyour qualities فيin القُلوبِthe hearts كَأَنَّهاas though they
تَحَلو صِفاتُكَ في القُلوبِ كَأَنَّها
جاءَتcame لِمَعنىًfor a meaning عارِضٍaccidental فيin الذاتِthe essence
جاءَت لِمَعنىً عارِضٍ في الذاتِ
Your qualities are sweet within hearts, as though they
The days among people you never ceased being hoped for
came to express an accidental quality within the essence.
Clearing eyelids and filling pupils
تِهbe proud فيamong الأَنامِmankind فَلاso may you never بَرِحتَcease to be مُؤَمَّلاًlooked to with hope
تِه في الأَنامِ فَلا بَرِحتَ مُؤَمَّلاً
تَجلوyou brighten الجُفونَthe eyelids وَتَملَأُand you fill الجَفَناتِthe bowls
تَجلو الجُفونَ وَتَملَأُ الجَفَناتِ
Be proud among mankind; may you always remain their hope,
brightening eyes and filling bowls.
Partial English translation: 56 of 58 Arabic lines translated.