أىُّwhich لبيبٍwise person بكby you لمnot يُخدَعِbe deceived
أىُّ لبيبٍ بك لم يُخدَعِ
وأيُّand which عينeye فيكover you لمnot تدمَعِshed tears
وأيُّ عين فيك لم تدمَعِ
What wise person has not been deceived by you?
What sane person have you not deceived,
And what eye has not shed tears over you?
And what eye seeing you has not wept?
لاnot أمدحI praise اليأسَdespair ولكنهbut it
لا أمدح اليأسَ ولكنه
أرْوحُmore restful للنفسfor the soul منthan المطمعِhopeful longing
أرْوحُ للنفس من المطمعِ
I do not praise despair, but it
I do not praise despair, but it
Gives the soul more rest than hopeful longing.
Is more soothing to the soul than hoping.
أفلحَprospered منwhoever أبصرَsaw عُشْبَgrass المنَىof hopes
أفلحَ من أبصرَ عُشْبَ المنَى
يُرَعىbeing grazed فلمyet did not يَرْعَgraze ولمand did not يرتَعِfeed freely
يُرَعى فلم يَرْعَ ولم يرتَعِ
Happy is he who saw the grass of hopes
Happy is he who saw the pasture of death
Being grazed, yet neither grazed nor fed there.
Being grazed, and did not graze or browse.
ياoh ليتَif only أنِّىthat I قبلَbefore وَقْرthe deafness of الهوىlove
يا ليتَ أنِّى قبلَ وَقْر الهوى
أذِنتُI gave leave للعذلto reproach علىupon مسمعىmy hearing
أذِنتُ للعذل على مسمعى
Would that, before love deafened me,
Oh, would that before the passion of love
I had let reproach reach my ear.
I had listened to reproach in my hearing.
هلis ماwhat مضَىhas passed منof عيشةٍlife راجعٌreturning
هل ما مضَى من عيشةٍ راجعٌ
والخُلفُand promise-breaking كلُّall الخلفpromise-breaking فيin المرجِعِthe return
والخُلفُ كلُّ الخلف في المرجِعِ
Will any of the life gone by return?
Is what is past of life coming back,
Yet its promised return is utterly false.
And is the future all to return?
وأينand where بدورٌfull moons منamong بنىthe sons of دارمٍDarim
وأين بدورٌ من بنى دارمٍ
تبخلare too miserly أنto تُسفرunveil منfrom مطلِعa rising-place
تبخل أن تُسفر من مطلِع
And where are the full moons of Banu Darim,
Where are the abodes of the people of Darim,
Too miserly to unveil from their rising-place?
Too miserly to be revealed from the horizon?
لاnot فيat سِرَارthe dark end of الشهرthe month تبدوappear لناto us
لا في سِرَار الشهر تبدو لنا
ولاnor اللياليthe nights العشرthe ten والأربعِand the four
ولا الليالي العشر والأربعِ
Neither at the month's dark end do they appear to us,
Neither in the dark of the month do they appear,
Nor through the ten nights and four.
Nor on the nineteenth or the fourth night.
لوif لمnot تكنwere أعينُهمtheir eyes أسهماarrows
لو لم تكن أعينُهم أسهما
ماnot خرَقَتwould have pierced فيin جانبthe side of البرقعِthe veil
ما خرَقَت في جانب البرقعِ
Had their eyes not been arrows,
Had their eyes not been arrows
They would not have pierced the side of the veil.
They would not have torn through the slit of the veil.
كيفhow تَخَطَّينَdid they pass through إلىto مَقتلىmy vital spot
كيف تَخَطَّينَ إلى مَقتلى
وماand not درَىknew تُرسىmy shield ولاnor أدرعىmy coats of armor
وما درَى تُرسى ولا أدرعى
How did they pass through to my vital spot,
How did you get to my slain ones
Without my shield or armor knowing?
When you did not know to steer or paddle?
أودعُتهمI entrusted them with قلبىmy heart وماand not خِلتُهمI thought them
أودعُتهم قلبى وما خِلتُهم
يسحسنونapprove (apparent typo) الغدرَtreachery بالمودعِtoward the depositor
يسحسنون الغدرَ بالمودعِ
I entrusted them with my heart, never thinking
I entrusted them to my heart but did not find them
They would approve betraying its depositor.
Betraying perfidy to the confided.
صارit came to be بأيديهمin their hands وحاكمتهمand I sued them
صار بأيديهم وحاكمتهم
فالحقُّso the right حقىّmy right وأناand I المدّعىthe claimant
فالحقُّ حقىّ وأنا المدّعى
It came into their hands, and I took them to judgment:
The truth is my right and I am the claimant.
The right is mine, and I am the claimant.
If their specters knew me tossing in my bed
لوif زرانىvisited me (apparent typo) طيفُهمُtheir phantom ماnot درىwould know
لو زرانى طيفُهمُ ما درى
منfrom الضناwasting sickness أنىَthat I فيin مضجعىmy bed
من الضنا أنىَ في مضجعى
Were their phantom to visit me, it would not know,
From stinginess they would not know.
So wasted am I, that I lay in my bed.
I say to the riders who intended
أقولI say للرّكبانto the riders قدalready أزمعواthey resolved
أقول للرّكبان قد أزمعوا
حجاًّa pilgrimage إلىto الأطلالthe ruins والأربُعِand former dwellings
حجاًّ إلى الأطلال والأربُعِ
I say to the riders who have resolved
Pilgrimage to the ruins and the four nights,
On pilgrimage to the ruins and former dwellings:
"Visit my mention in the valley of Dhul Hulayfa,
لَبُّواchant the pilgrim's call بذكرِىin my name فيat عقيقʿAqiq الحمىthe protected pasture
لَبُّوا بذكرِى في عقيق الحمى
وذلكand that المصطافِsummer retreat والمَربعَand spring abode
وذلك المصطافِ والمَربعَ
Raise the pilgrim's call in my name at ʿAqiq of the protected pasture,
And that Mustahabb and Muzdalifa,
And at that summer retreat and spring abode.
And tell them what you wish about me,
وأخبرواand tell عنّىabout me بماwhatever شئتُمُyou wish
وأخبروا عنّى بما شئتُمُ
فإنهfor it دونfalls short of الجوىburning grief الموجِعِthe painful
فإنه دون الجوى الموجِعِ
And tell whatever you wish about me:
For it is less than the burning anguish."
It falls short of my painful, burning grief.
A she-camel passed by their pasture
دَرَّتْpoured plentifully علىupon مرعاهُمُtheir pasture ديمةٌa steady rain
دَرَّتْ على مرعاهُمُ ديمةٌ
تحنوtenderly bends علىover أطفالهits infants الرُّضَّعِthe suckling
تحنو على أطفاله الرُّضَّعِ
May a steady rain pour upon their pasture,
Yearning for her suckling young.
Tenderly caressing its suckling infants.
The bald, if hair would grow on her,
غرّاءُsplendid لوif يَنُبتُcould grow شَعْرٌhair بهاthrough it
غرّاءُ لو يَنُبتُ شَعْرٌ بها
لأنبتتit would surely make grow فيon جبهةِthe forehead of الأقرعِthe bald man
لأنبتت في جبهةِ الأقرعِ
A splendid rain—if hair could grow through it,
Would grow it on the scalp of the bald.
It would make hair grow on a bald man's forehead.
Every cloud that rained on their land
كلُّevery سحابٍcloud أمطرتْrained upon أرضَهمtheir land
كلُّ سحابٍ أمطرتْ أرضَهم
حاملةٌbearing للماءthe water منfrom أدمعىmy tears
حاملةٌ للماء من أدمعى
Every cloud that rains upon their land
Carried water from my tears.
Carries its water from my tears.
And every wind that disturbed their sand
وكلّand every ريحٍwind أزعجتstirred تُربهمtheir dust
وكلّ ريحٍ أزعجت تُربهم
فإنهاfor it الزفرةُthe sigh منfrom أضلعىmy ribs
فإنها الزفرةُ من أضلعى
And every wind that stirs their dust
Is the sigh from my ribs.
Is the sigh rising from my ribs.
Do the fifty intercede for me with them?
أتشفعwill intercede? الخمسونfifty ليfor me عندَهمwith them
أتشفع الخمسون لي عندَهم
هيهاتَfar from it والعشرونand twenty لمnot تَشفعِintercede
هيهاتَ والعشرون لم تَشفعِ
Will fifty years intercede for me with them?
Never! And the twenty did not intercede.
Far from it—twenty did not intercede.
If my eyes pour down clouds,
إنif أمطرتْrained عيناىmy two eyes سُحبْاclouds فعنthen from
إن أمطرتْ عيناى سُحبْا فعن
بوارقٍlightning flashes فيat مَفرِقَىmy hair's parting لُمَّعِgleaming
بوارقٍ في مَفرِقَى لُمَّعِ
If my eyes rain down clouds, it is from
It is from clouds in my head that lightened.
Lightning flashes gleaming at my hair's parting.
You want life and youth together,
تُريدyou want عُمْراa long life وشباباand youth معاًtogether
تُريد عُمْرا وشبابا معاً
أشياءُthings للإنسانfor a human being لمnot تُجمَعِbe combined
أشياءُ للإنسان لم تُجمَعِ
You want long life and youth together—
Things not combined for man.
Things never combined for a human being.
It's the same to singers whether
سيَّانequal عندto الغانياتbeautiful women اكتسَىbecame clothed
سيَّان عند الغانيات اكتسَى
رأسُthe head of الفتىthe young man بشيبهin his gray hair أمor نُعِىhis death was announced
رأسُ الفتى بشيبه أم نُعِى
To beautiful women, it is all the same whether
The youth's head dons white hair or is eulogized.
A young man's head wears gray hair or his death is announced.
The day colors its head from its night
يُصبَغُis dyed رأسُthe head of الدهرtime منfrom ليلهِits night
يُصبَغُ رأسُ الدهر من ليلهِ
وصبحهِand its dawn بالجَوْنِwith black والأسفعِand dusky hues
وصبحهِ بالجَوْنِ والأسفعِ
Time's head is dyed by its night
And morning with youth and whiteness.
And its dawn in black and dusky hues.
Misfortunes manifold as pebbles
نوائبٌcalamities أضعافُmany times عدِّthe number of الحصىpebbles
نوائبٌ أضعافُ عدِّ الحصى
تجَمعُbring together بينbetween الضّبّthe desert lizard والضِّفْدَعِand the frog
تجَمعُ بين الضّبّ والضِّفْدَعِ
Calamities many times the number of pebbles
Bring together the wolf and the hyena.
Bring together the desert lizard and the frog.
They make the honorable wretched in her wasteland
تصطلُمdestroy utterly العفراءَthe pale gazelle فيin قفرهاher wilderness
تصطلُم العفراءَ في قفرها
وتفجأand surprise العذراءَthe maiden فيin المخدَعِthe private chamber
وتفجأ العذراءَ في المخدَعِ
They destroy the pale gazelle in her wilderness
And suddenly assail the maiden in her private chamber.
And take the maiden unawares in her chamber.
How much that diverted its course passed me by;
كمhow many مرَّpassed بىover me منfrom صَرفهits vicissitudes حاصبٌa stone-laden storm
كم مرَّ بى من صَرفه حاصبٌ
لوif مرَّpassed بالوَرقاءover the gray dove لمnot تسجعِcoo
لو مرَّ بالوَرقاء لم تسجعِ
How many a stone-laden storm of its reversals has passed over me—
Had it passed the paper mulberry, it would not have flowed.
Had it passed over the gray dove, she would not have cooed.
I raised my shoulders from its waves
رفعتُI raised منfrom أمواجهits waves منِكبىmy shoulder
رفعتُ من أمواجه منِكبى
حيثwhere يشيرpoints الجونthe dark cloud بالإصبعِwith a finger
حيث يشير الجون بالإصبعِ
I raised my shoulder above its waves,
Where youth hints with a finger.
Where the dark cloud points with a finger.
Whoever does not plunge into its billows
منwhoever لمnot يخُضplunge into غَمرتَهاits depths لمnot يشِدْbuild
من لم يخُض غَمرتَها لم يشِدْ
قواعدَthe foundations of المجدglory ولمand not يرفَعِraise
قواعدَ المجد ولم يرفَعِ
Whoever does not plunge into its depths cannot build
Does not establish the foundations of glory or ascend.
The foundations of glory, nor raise them.
Below the highlands is a towering precipice—
دونbefore المعاليhigh honors مرتقىًan ascent شاهقtowering
دون المعالي مرتقىً شاهق
فِطرْso fly إلىto ذِروتِهits summit أوقَعِor fall
فِطرْ إلى ذِروتِه أوقَعِ
Before high honors lies a towering ascent:
Hurl yourself to its peak or be toppled!
So fly to its summit—or fall.
Tell the ruffians I see their religion
قلsay للصعاليكto the outcasts أرىI see دينَكمyour creed
قل للصعاليك أرى دينَكم
دِينىmy creed ودِينَand the creed of الأسَدthe lion الأفدعِcrooked-pawed
دِينى ودِينَ الأسَد الأفدعِ
Tell the outcasts: I see that your creed
As my religion and the religion of the growling lion.
Is my creed, and that of the crooked-pawed lion:
Either his den filled his fang
إمّاeither قَرىَfeeds بُرثُنُهits claw نابَهُits fang
إمّا قَرىَ بُرثُنُه نابَهُ
أوor ماتَdies طيَّانَhungry ولمand not يَصرَعِfell prey
أو ماتَ طيَّانَ ولم يَصرَعِ
Either its claw feeds its fang,
Or he died rabid and was not slain.
Or it dies hungry without felling prey.
When I see you like the dogs of anger
متىwhen أراكمshall I see you كذئابِlike wolves of الغضاthe ghada thickets
متى أراكم كذئابِ الغضا
شمننَthey scented (apparent typo) ريحthe scent of المَعِزِgoats الرُّتَّعِgrazing
شمننَ ريح المَعِزِ الرُّتَّعِ
When shall I see you like wolves of the ghada thickets
Smelling the scent of the filthy goat,
That have scented the grazing goats?
In youths whose boast is mostly
فيamong فتيةٍyoung men أكثرُmost of تهويمهمtheir dozing
في فتيةٍ أكثرُ تهويمهم
إسنادthe resting of هاماتٍheads إلىupon أذُرعِforearms
إسناد هاماتٍ إلى أذُرعِ
Among youths whose dozing is mostly
Propping worn-out pillows on withered arms,
The resting of heads upon forearms.
If they marry they do not control their camels
إنif عرَّسواthey halt for the night لمnot يعِقلواhobble إبْلَهمtheir camels
إن عرَّسوا لم يعِقلوا إبْلَهم
إلاexcept بوفراتٍwith locks of hair معtogether with الأنُسعِthe straps
إلا بوفراتٍ مع الأنُسعِ
If they halt for the night, they do not hobble their camels
Except with abundant feed and companionship.
Except with locks of hair together with the straps.
They are guided by them like the stars of night
مثلlike نجومstars الليلof the night يُهدَىis guided بهمby them
مثل نجوم الليل يُهدَى بهم
منwhoever ضلَّwent astray فيin الدَّيمومةِthe vast desert البلقَعِthe barren
من ضلَّ في الدَّيمومةِ البلقَعِ
Like stars of the night, they guide
Who lost his way in the black darkness.
Whoever strays in the vast, barren desert.
Their hands dye the thickets of dawn—
يخضِبُdyes ايديهمtheir hands نجيعthe fresh blood of الطُّلَىthroats
يخضِبُ ايديهم نجيع الطُّلَى
إنwhen خضَبَdye الأقوامُother folk بالأَيدعِwith red pigment
إن خضَبَ الأقوامُ بالأَيدعِ
The fresh blood of throats dyes their hands
If the people dye with indigo.
When other folk dye theirs with red pigment.
I said, and they are places of refuge from fate
قلتُI said وهمwhile they منfrom نَشواتِthe intoxications of الكرىsleep
قلتُ وهم من نَشواتِ الكرى
موائلٌswaying كالسُّجَّدlike the prostrating الرّكَّعِthe bowing
موائلٌ كالسُّجَّد الرّكَّعِ
I said, while, drunk with sleep, they
Like the prostrating palm trunk.
Swayed like worshippers prostrating and bowing:
Spur on your mounts, for how many an aim
حُثُّواurge on مطاياكمyour mounts فكمfor how many غايةa goal
حُثُّوا مطاياكم فكم غاية
قدindeed بُلَغَتْhas been reached بالأينقupon she-camels الظُّلّعِlimping
قد بُلَغَتْ بالأينق الظُّلّعِ
Urge on your mounts: how many a goal
Has been reached by the excellent smooth rock!
Has been reached upon limping she-camels!
Call on Abu Sa'd to help you,
وادعواand call upon أباAbu سعدٍSaʿd يساعِدْكُمُhe will help you
وادعوا أبا سعدٍ يساعِدْكُمُ
مثلَlike سنانِthe point of الأسمرِthe brown spear المشرَعِleveled for attack
مثلَ سنانِ الأسمرِ المشرَعِ
And call upon Abu Saʿd: he will aid you,
Like the yap of the black Evening Star,
Like the point of a leveled brown spear.
A seller with a long rope and skillful hands
باعٌa reach طويلٌlong ويدٌand a hand طَلقةٌopen
باعٌ طويلٌ ويدٌ طَلقةٌ
ومنطقand speech يختالstruts proudly فيin المجمعِthe assembly
ومنطق يختال في المجمعِ
A long reach, an open hand,
And speech strutting in the council.
And speech that strides proudly through the assembly.
When his pens rise they make fun
إذاwhen ارتقتْascended أقلامهُhis pens كفَّهhis palm
إذا ارتقتْ أقلامهُ كفَّه
تهزّأتmocked بالخاطبِat the orator المِصقَعِeloquent
تهزّأت بالخاطبِ المِصقَعِ
When his pens ascend into his palm,
Of the public speaker with his switch.
They mock the eloquent orator.
His jars are filled with imbalance;
غُدرانهُhis pools بالفضلwith bounty مملوءةٌfilled
غُدرانهُ بالفضل مملوءةٌ
متىwhenever يَرِدْهاcomes to them حائمٌa thirsty wanderer ينقَعِquenches his thirst
متى يَرِدْها حائمٌ ينقَعِ
His pools are filled with bounty:
Whenever a reactor comes by he leaks.
Whenever a thirsty wanderer comes, his thirst is quenched.
He reveals from it striking truths—
يكشِفُreveals منهin him الفَرُّtooth inspection عنabout قارحٍa mature steed
يكشِفُ منه الفَرُّ عن قارحٍ
قدalready أحرزsecured السبقthe lead ولمand not يُخدَعِbe deceived
قد أحرز السبق ولم يُخدَعِ
An inspection of his teeth reveals a mature steed
He won the precedence and was not fooled.
That has won the race and never been deceived.
A man's beauty is not in his cloak;
ليسis not جمالُthe beauty of المرءِa person فيin بُردِهhis cloak
ليس جمالُ المرءِ في بُردِه
جمالُهhis beauty فيin الحسَبnoble standing الأرفعِthe loftiest
جمالُه في الحسَب الأرفعِ
A person's beauty does not lie in his cloak:
His beauty is in the most noble lineage.
His beauty lies in the loftiest honor.
Creation points to him in gesture,
يشيرpoint إيماءًby gestures إليهtoward him الورىpeople
يشير إيماءً إليه الورى
إنif قيلit is asked منَwho يُعرَفُis known بالأرَوعِas the splendid one
إن قيل منَ يُعرَفُ بالأرَوعِ
People point toward him with gestures
If it is said "who is known for most delightful?"
If asked, 'Who is known as the splendid one?'
What his robes contain confuses
يربكshows you (apparent typo) ماwhat ضَمَّتenclosed جلابيبُهhis robes
يربك ما ضَمَّت جلابيبُه
محاسنَthe beauties of العالَمthe world فيin مَوضعِone place
محاسنَ العالَم في مَوضعِ
What his robes enfold shows you
The beautiful world in one place.
The beauties of the world in one place.
Incivility is clad on one without manners
يُوكَسُis undervalued منwhoever لاno أدبٌlearning عندهwith him
يُوكَسُ من لا أدبٌ عنده
وكْسlike the devaluation of الدنانيرِdinars ولمand not yet تُطبعِbe minted
وكْس الدنانيرِ ولم تُطبعِ
Whoever has no learning is undervalued,
Like minted dinars which were not stamped.
Like dinars before they have been struck.
O brother, and may kinship's affection continue,
أياO أخيmy brother والودّand affection أرحامهُits kinship bonds
أيا أخي والودّ أرحامهُ
إنif تُقطَعare severed الأرحامُkinship bonds لمnot تُقطعِbe severed
إن تُقطَع الأرحامُ لم تُقطعِ
O my brother—affection's bonds of kinship,
If kinship is cut off it is not cut off!
Though kinship's bonds be severed, remain unbroken.
What is between us of manners, bringing us close,
ماwhat بينناbetween us منof أدبٍlearning جامعuniting
ما بيننا من أدبٍ جامع
أقربُcloser منthan والدةٍa mother مُرِضعِnursing
أقربُ من والدةٍ مُرِضعِ
The shared learning that binds us
Is closer than a suckling mother.
Is closer than a nursing mother.
Goodness from you, if repaid by me,
لُبانةٌa need ليof mine هيit إنif تَقِضهاyou fulfill it
لُبانةٌ لي هي إن تَقِضها
صنيعةٌa favor فيin موضعthe place of المصنعِkindness
صنيعةٌ في موضع المصنعِ
I have a need which, if you fulfill it,
Is a favor returned in place of favor.
Is a favor bestowed where a favor belongs.
A guide like you is a repository
ورائدٌand a scout مثلَكlike you مستودِعٌentrusting
ورائدٌ مثلَك مستودِعٌ
أهليهhis household فيin أحفظِthe safest مستودَعِkeeping-place
أهليه في أحفظِ مستودَعِ
And a scout like you entrusts
For his family in the most guarded repository.
His household to the safest keeping.
Now convey from me what my gratitude
ألاhear this ابلغاyou two, convey عنّىfrom me الذيthe one شكرهhis praise
ألا ابلغا عنّى الذي شكره
صريرُthe creaking of رحِلa saddle الراكبthe rider المُوضعِhastening
صريرُ رحِل الراكب المُوضعِ
Hear me, you two: speak for me to him whose praise
Equals the creak of the laden rider's saddle.
Is the creak of a hastening rider's saddle;
Those hopes spring from are withered;
مَنhe from whom تَصدرُreturn from watering الآمالُhopes قدalready أُترِعتْhave been filled
مَن تَصدرُ الآمالُ قد أُترِعتْ
مَزادُهاtheir waterskins منfrom حوضهِhis pool المترَعِbrimming
مَزادُها من حوضهِ المترَعِ
From whom hopes return, having filled
Their auction from his basin is browsed.
Their waterskins from his overflowing pool.
No palm trees beautifully lofty
لاnot خُلَّبٌrainless بارقُthe lightning of معروفهِhis kindness
لا خُلَّبٌ بارقُ معروفهِ
ولاnor سحابُthe clouds of البيدthe deserts بالمُقشِعِdispersing
ولا سحابُ البيد بالمُقشِعِ
The lightning of his kindness is no rainless flash,
Nor clouds raining with lightning.
Nor do the desert's clouds disperse.
If you likened another to him
إنif أنتَyou شبَهتَcompared بهto him غيرَهsomeone else
إن أنتَ شبَهتَ به غيرَه
سوَّيتyou equated بينbetween النَّبعnabʿ wood والخِروَعِand castor wood
سوَّيت بين النَّبع والخِروَعِ
If you compare someone else to him,
You equated the spring and the pond.
You make nabʿ wood and castor wood equal.
Why did you give my enemies
ماwhat بالُis the matter with أعدائىَmy enemies ملَّكتَهمyou gave them control of
ما بالُ أعدائىَ ملَّكتَهم
عِنانَthe reins of رأسthe head of السابحِthe swimming steed الأتلعِlong-necked
عِنانَ رأس السابحِ الأتلعِ
Why have you given my enemies control of
The reins of the head of the smooth swimmer?
The reins upon the head of the long-necked, swimming steed?
They cast my love with the pebbles of their lies
يرمونthey pelt حبِّىmy love بحصَىwith the pebbles of زُورهمtheir falsehoods
يرمون حبِّى بحصَى زُورهم
رمىَlike the pelting of جِمارِthe stoning-sites الحجّof the pilgrimage باليَرمَعِwith pale pebbles
رمىَ جِمارِ الحجّ باليَرمَعِ
They pelt my love with the pebbles of their lies,
Like casting pebbles at pillars during Hajj.
Like pelting the pilgrimage's jamarat with pale pebbles.
Every mouth that breathes a saying about me
كلُّevery فمٍmouth يَنفُثُspits out بيagainst me قولةًa saying
كلُّ فمٍ يَنفُثُ بي قولةً
اسلمُsafer منهاthan it لسعةُthe sting of الشَّبْدَعِthe scorpion
اسلمُ منها لسعةُ الشَّبْدَعِ
Every mouth spits out a saying against me—
I am safer than the bite of the giant lizard.
A scorpion's sting is safer than it.
About me they became, though I advised sincerely,
علىَّagainst me صارواthey turned عندwhen نُصحىmy sincere counsel ولوand had
علىَّ صاروا عند نُصحى ولو
عملتُI acted بالغِشّwith deceit لكانواthey would have been معيwith me
عملتُ بالغِشّ لكانوا معي
They turned against me when I offered sincere counsel; had I
And if I had acted with deceit, they would have been with me.
Practiced deceit, they would have stood with me.
Seek the opinion, that it may return with him,
واستطِفand reconsider الرأىthe judgment ليرِجعْso he may bring back بهwith it
واستطِف الرأى ليرِجعْ به
منthe one who رجَعَbrought back الشمسَthe sun إلىto يُوشَعِJoshua
من رجَعَ الشمسَ إلى يُوشَعِ
And reconsider your judgment, that it may be restored
Of one who returned the sun for Joshua.
By the one who returned the sun to Joshua.
For you are more guided on the path of glory
فأنتfor you أهدَىbetter guided فيon طريقthe road of العلاhigh honor
فأنت أهدَى في طريق العلا
منthan القَطاsandgrouse فيon اللاحبِthe well-trodden المَهيعِbroad road
من القَطا في اللاحبِ المَهيعِ
For you are better guided on the road to high honor
Than the wild cat in the howling wilderness.
Than sandgrouse on the broad, well-trodden path.
And attain it, even if you come upon a fox
واظفرْand obtain بهاit لوif أدركتit had reached ثعلباThaʿlab
واظفرْ بها لو أدركت ثعلبا
أنستهit made him forget ماwhat يُروَىis narrated عنfrom الأصمعىal-Asmaʿi
أنسته ما يُروَى عن الأصمعى
And take possession of it—had it reached Thaʿlab,
Forget what is reported of Al-Asma'i.
It would have made him forget what is related from al-Asmaʿi.
Yesterday we saw a speaker hearing,
أمِسyesterday رأيناwe saw قائلاone speaking سامعاone listening
أمِس رأينا قائلا سامعا
واليومand today قدindeed أعوزناwe lack منsomeone who يعىunderstands
واليوم قد أعوزنا من يعى
Yesterday we saw someone who spoke and listened;
And today we lack one who comprehends.
And today we lack anyone who understands.
Partial English translation: 127 of 128 Arabic lines translated.