اِذاwhen لاحَappears ذاكَthat الوَجهُface وَاِبتَسَمand smiles الثغرthe lips
اِذا لاحَ ذاكَ الوَجهُ وَاِبتَسَم الثغر
فَالىso I have no [unclear reading] فيin التَأخيرdelaying عَنfrom عِشقهloving him عُذرan excuse
فَالى في التَأخير عَن عِشقه عُذر
When that face appears and his lips smile,
When that face appears and the lips smile,
then I have no excuse for delaying love of him.
Delaying love for him is no excuse.
مَليحa handsome one اِذاwhen عايَنتyou behold لينthe suppleness of قَوامهhis figure
مَليح اِذا عايَنت لين قَوامه
عرفتyou understand الَّذيthat which منfor أَجلِهits sake تقتلkill السمرthe tawny spears
عرفت الَّذي من أَجلِه تقتل السمر
A handsome one: when you behold the suppleness of his figure,
When you see his soft body and grace,
you understand what makes the tawny spears kill.
You know who is worth killing the brown-skinned girl.
أَماindeed وَالهَوىby love لَولاwere it not for فُتورlanguor رَأَيتهI saw it
أَما وَالهَوى لَولا فُتور رَأَيته
بِعَينَيهin his two eyes ماnot حَققتI ascertained انهماthat both are سحرmagic
بِعَينَيه ما حَققت انهما سحر
Indeed, by love! Were it not for the languor I saw
If not for my indifference, by his eyes,
in his eyes, I would not be certain they were magic.
I'd not realize they were magic.
وَلَولاand were it not for ذُهوليmy stupor عِندwhen تَقبيلkissing ثَغرهhis lips
وَلَولا ذُهولي عِند تَقبيل ثَغره
لماI would not صحbe certain عِنديto me أَنّthat ريقتهhis saliva خمرwine
لما صح عِندي أَنّ ريقته خمر
And were it not for my stupor when kissing his lips,
If not for my swoon when kissing his lips,
I would not be sure that his saliva was wine.
I'd not believe his saliva was wine.
نعمتI delighted بِهin him دَهراfor an age عَلىdespite رُغمthe opposition of حسديmy enviers
نعمت بِه دَهرا عَلى رُغم حسدي
بلذةwith the pleasure of عيشliving لاnot يَكيفهاcan describe it فكرthought
بلذة عيش لا يَكيفها فكر
I delighted in him for an age, despite my enviers,
I enjoyed him for years despite my jealousy,
with a joy of living that thought cannot describe.
A pleasure of life the mind cannot encompass.
وَكَمand how often صُمتI fasted عَنfrom لَذّاتthe pleasures of دَهريmy lifetime عِفّةout of chastity
وَكَم صُمت عَن لَذّات دَهري عِفّة
عَلىdespite أَنَّهthe fact that كَمhow often ليI have عَلىupon ريقهhis saliva فطرa breaking of the fast
عَلى أَنَّه كَم لي عَلى ريقه فطر
How often, in chastity, I fasted from my life's pleasures,
How often I've been silent about my worldly joys in modesty,
though how often I broke my fast on his saliva!
Though his saliva was what I naturally craved.
وَكَمand how often شَقhe cleaved أَنوابthe fangs of الدياجيdark nights وَزارَنيand visited me
وَكَم شَق أَنواب الدياجي وَزارَني
وَكلand every لَياليهnight of his اِذاwhen زارَنيhe visited me قمرa moon
وَكل لَياليه اِذا زارَني قمر
How often he cleaved the fangs of darkness and visited me,
How pack-hunting nights crept up on me,
and every night he visited me was a moon.
While each night it visited, the moon was a guest.
وَكَمand how often مالleaned نَحويtoward me ذلكthat الغُصنbough وَاِنثَنىand bent
وَكَم مال نَحوي ذلك الغُصن وَاِنثَنى
وَماand no ليfor me عَنهapart from him عِندat ماthe time when يَنثنيhe bends صَبرpatience
وَما لي عَنه عِند ما يَنثني صَبر
How often that bough leaned toward me and bent,
How often that branch bent towards me and swayed,
and when he bends, I cannot bear to be apart from him.
While I had no patience when it would bend.
وَكَمand how often انسهhis companionship اذباتwhen he spent the night عِنديwith me وَساعديand my forearm
وَكَم انسه اذبات عِندي وَساعدي
وَسادَتهhis pillow وَالصدرand the breast يَشهدbears witness وَالنجرand the throat [probable reading]
وَسادَته وَالصدر يَشهد وَالنجر
How often I had his company as he slept beside me, with my forearm
How often he leaned by me, my hand his pillow,
his pillow, and breast and throat bearing witness.
His hair disheveled, while my chest and the strings of the lute bore witness.
وَكَمand how many لذةa pleasure قَدalready نِلتَهاyou attained it مِنهfrom him جَهرةopenly
وَكَم لذة قَد نِلتَها مِنه جَهرة
وَلاand no خَيرgood فيin اللّذاتpleasures منfrom دونِهاbefore them سترa veil
وَلا خَير في اللّذات من دونِها ستر
How many a pleasure you have gained from him openly!
How much pleasure I got from him openly,
No good lies in pleasures with a veil standing before them.
While the best pleasures without it have no cover.
يَصدّhe turns away دَلالاcoyly ثُمَّthen يَعطفhe inclines kindly رقةtenderly
يَصدّ دَلالا ثُمَّ يَعطف رقة
وَيَغضَبand he grows angry تبهاin pride [probable reading] ثُمَّthen يَرضىhe is pleased فَيَفترand then smiles
وَيَغضَب تبها ثُمَّ يَرضى فَيَفتر
He turns away coyly, then inclines toward me tenderly;
He acts coyly then turns gently,
he grows angry in pride, then is pleased and smiles.
Gets mad randomly then is pleased and relents.
وَياand ah طالَماhow often متعتI delighted بِالجيدwith the neck ساعديmy forearm
وَيا طالَما متعت بِالجيد ساعدي
وَماand no صَدّنيdeterred me اِثنsin [probable reading] وَلاnor عاقَنيrestrained me وَزرguilt
وَما صَدّني اِثن وَلا عاقَني وَزر
Ah, how often I delighted my forearm with his neck,
O how often my hand enjoyed his neck,
and no sin deterred me, nor any guilt restrained me.
Neither weakening nor burdening me.
وَقُلتand I said لزهديto my asceticism اِرحَلdepart وَلِلرّشدand to right judgment لاdo not تَقمstay
وَقُلت لزهدي اِرحَل وَلِلرّشد لا تَقم
فَحُكمfor the decree of الهَوىlove جتمbinding [probable reading] وَسلطانهand its dominion قَهرcompulsion
فَحُكم الهَوى جتم وَسلطانه قَهر
I told my asceticism, 'Depart!' and right judgment, 'Do not stay!'
I said to my asceticism, "Be gone," and to my piety, "Do not stand,"
For love's decree is binding, and its dominion compels.
For the rule of passion is absolute and its authority victor.
وَبتناand we spent the night كَماas شاءَwished الغَرامpassion بِحالَةin a state
وَبتنا كَما شاءَ الغَرام بِحالَة
تَغارُis jealous لَهاof it الجوزal-Jawza [probable reading] وَيَغبِطُهاand envies it البَدرthe full moon
تَغارُ لَها الجوز وَيَغبِطُها البَدر
We spent the night as passion wished, in a state
We were as passion desired in a state
that made al-Jawza jealous and the full moon envious.
That makes chaste ladies jealous and the full moon envious.
وَماand no بَينَناbetween us أَستَغفِرُI ask forgiveness of اللَهَGod ريبَةimpropriety
وَما بَينَنا أَستَغفِرُ اللَهَ ريبَة
عَلىdespite أَنَّهُthe fact that كَمmany a ريبَةquestionable deed كُلَّهاall of it أَجرreward
عَلى أَنَّهُ كَم ريبَة كُلَّها أَجر
There was nothing suspect between us—God forgive me—
Between us - I seek Allah's forgiveness - is much suspicion,
though many a questionable deed is nothing but reward!
Though it is all reward.
أَعاتيهI contend with him حَتّىuntil يَكادُhe almost منfrom الحَياshyness
أَعاتيه حَتّى يَكادُ من الحَيا
برunclear fragment وَمنةand from him [probable reading] ذاكthat الخَدcheek يَلتَهِبblazes الجَمرthe embers
بر وَمنة ذاك الخَد يَلتَهِب الجَمر
I contend with him until, from shyness, he nearly—
I indulge him until the live coals
...[unclear wording]—and embers blaze from that cheek.
Nearly ignite from the kindness of his cheek.
وَأَنكرand I deny وَجدىmy passion ثُمthen أَشكوI complain of صدودهhis turning away
وَأَنكر وَجدى ثُم أَشكو صدوده
فَتَخجلهso it embarrasses him الشَكوىthe complaint وَيُضحِكُهand makes him laugh الفِكرthe thought
فَتَخجله الشَكوى وَيُضحِكُه الفِكر
I deny my passion, then complain of his turning away;
I deny my love then complain of his rejection,
the complaint embarrasses him, while the thought makes him laugh.
So my complaint embarrasses him and my thoughts amuse him.
رَعىmay preserve اللَهGod هاتيكَthose اللَياليnights فَكَمfor how many لَهاthey have
رَعى اللَه هاتيكَ اللَيالي فَكَم لَها
أَياديfavors عِنديfor me لاno يَقومcan suffice لَهاfor them شُكرthanks
أَيادي عِندي لا يَقوم لَها شُكر
May God preserve those nights, for they hold so many
May Allah watch over those nights, for how much
favors for me that no thanks can repay.
They have with me that cannot be thanked enough.
لَياليnights أَعطيبI gave [probable reading] الغَرامpassion أَعنتيmy reins
لَيالي أَعطيب الغَرام أَعنتي
وَلَمand did not يَبقَremain عَنديwith me فيin نَهىprohibition وَلاnor أَمرcommand
وَلَم يَبقَ عَندي في نَهى وَلا أَمر
Nights when I gave passion my reins,
Nights that made passion sweet helped me,
and retained no power to forbid or command.
Leaving me with no abstinence or considerations.
وَسلمتand I surrendered قَلبيmy heart لِلصَبّابَةto yearning وَالجَوىand lovesickness
وَسلمت قَلبي لِلصَبّابَة وَالجَوى
وَماand no راعَنيfrightened me عَذلreproach وَلاnor عاقَنيrestrained me زَجرrebuke
وَما راعَني عَذل وَلا عاقَني زَجر
I surrendered my heart to yearning and lovesickness,
I gave my heart to playfulness and passion,
and reproach did not frighten me, nor rebuke restrain me.
Not heeding any rebuke or prohibition.
تَمُرّpass اللَياليthe nights وَالحَبيبand the beloved مسامريmy nighttime companion
تَمُرّ اللَيالي وَالحَبيب مسامري
فَلَمso I did not أَدرِknow ماتَdied العامthe year أَوor سلخended الشَهرthe month
فَلَم أَدرِ ماتَ العام أَو سلخ الشَهر
The nights pass with my beloved keeping me company,
The nights pass with my beloved as company,
and I did not know whether the year had died or the month had ended.
And I know not if the year died or the month ended.
وَماand why ليshould I لاnot أَصبوyearn اِلىfor اللَيلthe night صَبوَتيmy yearning
وَما لي لا أَصبو اِلى اللَيل صَبوَتي
وَذلِكand that لَيلnight بِالهَناin bliss كُلُّهall of it فَجرdawn
وَذلِك لَيل بِالهَنا كُلُّه فَجر
Why should I not yearn for night with all my yearning,
Why wouldn't I stay up nightlong in rapture?
when that night, in its bliss, is entirely dawn?
For that is a night of bliss entirely dawning.
لَيالnights مَضَتpassed لَولاwere it not for أَبوAbu ('father of') عمرUmar لِماwould not
لَيال مَضَت لَولا أَبو عمر لِما
تمنَّيتI wished أَنthat يمتَدّmight extend ليfor me بَعدَهاafter them عمرa lifetime
تمنَّيت أَن يمتَدّ لي بَعدَها عمر
Nights have passed; were it not for Abu Umar, I would not
Past nights - if not for Abu Umar - I would have
have wished my lifetime to extend beyond them.
Wished them to extend after they had gone.
همامa resolute nobleman لَهhe has فيin كُلevery دَهماءdark calamity همةresolve
همام لَه في كُل دَهماء همة
بِاِسلافةthrough his forebears [probable reading] الاِشرافthe noble ones يَتبَعهاfollows it النَصرvictory
بِاِسلافة الاِشراف يَتبَعها النَصر
A valiant man, with resolve for every dark calamity,
He has in every crisis the resolve
which, through his noble forebears, is followed by victory.
Of nobility, with victory following his endeavors.
عَلَيكَyou should turn بِهِto him ياO خائِفاًone fearing رَيبthe vagaries of دَهرهhis age
عَلَيكَ بِهِ يا خائِفاً رَيب دَهره
فُساحتهfor his courtyard أَمنsafety وَراحتهand his palm بحرa sea
فُساحته أَمن وَراحته بحر
Turn to him, you who fear the vagaries of your age;
Rely on him, O you fearful of fate's tricks:
for his courtyard is safety, and his palm a sea.
In his company is safety, and in his peace an ocean.
وَسَلand ask عَنهُabout him ماءthe water of المزنthe rainclouds أَوor نسمةa breeze of الصِباthe east wind
وَسَل عَنهُ ماء المزن أَو نسمة الصِبا
فَعِندَهماfor both have عَنabout طيبthe sweetness of أَخلاقِهhis character خبرnews
فَعِندَهما عَن طيب أَخلاقِه خبر
Ask the rainclouds' water or the east wind's breeze about him,
Ask the rain of al-Muzn or the north wind about him,
for both have news of the sweetness of his character.
For with them is news of his good character.
لقاصدfor a petitioner منfrom وجههhis face نظرةa look of الرِضاfavor
لقاصد من وجهه نظرة الرِضا
وَمنand from لَفظهhis speech البُشرىgood tidings وَمنand from لحظهhis gaze البَشرgood cheer
وَمن لَفظه البُشرى وَمن لحظه البَشر
For a petitioner, his face offers a look of favor,
For one seeking the gaze of his approval
his speech good tidings, and his gaze good cheer.
And from his words glad tidings and from his sight joy.
رُوَيدَكtake your time ياO مَنone who رامَsought حَصرto enumerate صِفاتِهhis qualities
رُوَيدَك يا مَن رامَ حَصر صِفاتِه
مَحاسِنَthe virtues of آلthe family of البَيتthe House لَيسthere is not لهاfor them حَصرa limit
مَحاسِنَ آل البَيت لَيس لها حَصر
Easy, you who seek to enumerate his qualities:
Restrain yourself, O one who would limit his traits,
the virtues of the Household have no limit.
For the virtues of Muhammad's family have no limit.
مَحاسِنvirtues لَوif شمتthey were smelled لاwould [broken word] غنتsuffice [broken word] بِطيبِهاby their fragrance
مَحاسِن لَو شمت لا غنت بِطيبِها
عَنin place of المِسكِmusk أَوor صيغَتwere fashioned لماwould not عرفbe known الدرpearls
عَن المِسكِ أَو صيغَت لما عرف الدر
Virtues which, if smelled, would by their fragrance suffice
Virtues - if you sensed their perfume - would suffice you
in place of musk; or if fashioned, pearls would be unknown.
Above musk or, if cast, would make pearls unrecognized.
أولئكthose قَومa people لَيسَnot يُحكىis matched فَخارهمtheir glory
أولئك قَوم لَيسَ يُحكى فَخارهم
فَخارglory وَلاnor يَعلوrises عَلىabove قَدرِهِمtheir rank قَدرany rank
فَخار وَلا يَعلو عَلى قَدرِهِم قَدر
Those are a people whose glory cannot be matched
They are a people whose pride cannot be recounted -
by any glory, nor can any rank rise above theirs.
No match or parallel for their worth.
وَهبand suppose أَنَّنيthat I بِالغتwent to the utmost فيin المَدحpraise طاقَتيmy power
وَهب أَنَّني بِالغت في المَدح طاقَتي
فَماthen what قَدرthe worth of مَدحيmy praise بَعدafter أَنthat مدحpraised الذِكرthe Qur'an
فَما قَدر مَدحي بَعد أَن مدح الذِكر
Suppose I went to the utmost of my powers in praise:
Suppose I exceeded in praise what I can express,
what is my praise worth, after the Qur'an has praised them?
For what can my praise accomplish after the mention praised him?
أَبىAbu ('father of', addressed) عمرUmar يَكفيكَsuffices you عزاfor honor وَسوندداand lordship [probable reading]
أَبى عمر يَكفيكَ عزا وَسونددا
وَرَفعَةand elevation of قَدرrank جَدّكyour ancestor الطاهِرthe pure الطهرthe immaculate
وَرَفعَة قَدر جَدّك الطاهِر الطهر
Abu Umar, sufficient for your honor and lordship
Abu Umar, your glory, might, and esteem suffice you,
and exalted rank is your pure, immaculate ancestor.
And the exalted rank of your pure, immaculate grandfather.
عجِبتI marvel لِقَومat people يَرمِقونwho gaze اِلىtoward العُلاeminence
عجِبت لِقَوم يَرمِقون اِلى العُلا
وَاِنwhile indeed العُلاeminence بكرa virgin لهاfor her بيتكمyour house خدرa secluded chamber
وَاِن العُلا بكر لها بيتكم خدر
I marvel at people who gaze toward eminence,
I'm astonished by people who aspire to greatness
when eminence is a virgin whose chamber is your house.
When loftiness was originally your family's abode.
وَكَمand how often حاوَلواthey tried اِنto [probable reading] يَلحقوكcatch up with you وَبَينَهُمwhile between them
وَكَم حاوَلوا اِن يَلحقوك وَبَينَهُم
وَبَينَكand between you عَبدAbd ('servant of') اللَهِAllah ('God') فيماas أَرىI see عسرdifficulty
وَبَينَك عَبد اللَهِ فيما أَرى عسر
How often they tried to catch up with you, while between them
How they have tried to catch up with you when between them
and you, Abdullah, lies a difficulty, as I see it.
And you, Abdullah, is - I see - a gap.
فديتكI would ransom you منas a ذيpossessor of هيبَةmajesty متواضعhumble
فديتك من ذي هيبَة متواضع
لاحبابِهto his friends حلوsweet لاto [broken word] عدائهhis enemies [probable reading] مرّbitter
لاحبابِه حلو لا عدائه مرّ
I would ransom you—a man of majesty, yet humble,
I'd sacrifice you, dignified yet humble,
sweet to his friends, bitter to his enemies.
Sweet to loved ones, bitter to enemies.
بِكthrough you الدَهرtime عَبدAbd ('servant of') اللهAllah ('God') جادَwas generous وَطالَماand how often
بِك الدَهر عَبد الله جادَ وَطالَما
بمثلِكَwith your like عَبدAbd ('servant of') اللهAllah ('God') قَدindeed بخلwas stingy الدَهرtime
بمثلِكَ عَبد الله قَد بخل الدَهر
In you, Abdullah, time has been generous, though so often
Through you Allah has been generous; often
time, Abdullah, has been stingy with the likes of you.
Allah was miserly towards one like you.
وَهيهاتand never يلقىwill find الدهرtime بعدكafter you سيداa lord
وَهيهات يلقى الدهر بعدك سيدا
لهhe has شَرفhonor منfrom دونهbeneath it الانجمthe stars الزهرthe bright ones
له شَرف من دونه الانجم الزهر
Never will time find, after you, a lord
Alas! After you the world will meet no master
whose honor has the bright stars beneath it.
With a nobility that shines like stars or flowers without you.
أَعدتyou restored لاهلto the people of الدهرthe age رَونَقthe splendor of دَهرِهِمtheir age
أَعدت لاهل الدهر رَونَق دَهرِهِم
بعرسwith a wedding لهit has فيin كلevery قَلبthe heart of اِمرىءa person سرa secret
بعرس له في كل قَلب اِمرىء سر
You restored to the people of this age the splendor of their days
You made the world beautiful for people in their time
with a wedding that has a secret in every person's heart.
With a wedding that secretes joy in every heart.
بِروحيwith my soul أَفديI would ransom ذلِكَthat العرسwedding كَمhow much حَوىit contained
بِروحي أَفدي ذلِكَ العرس كَم حَوى
سُروراjoy وَكَمand how many شَخصa person بهthrough it نالهreached him جبرconsolation
سُرورا وَكَم شَخص به ناله جبر
With my soul I would ransom that wedding—how much it held
I'd give my soul for that wedding! How much
of joy, and how many a person found solace through it!
Joy it held, how it erected whoever it granted victory.
تحاشتهavoided it أَنواءthe rainstorms of السَماءheaven مهايَةin awe [probable reading]
تحاشته أَنواء السَماء مهايَة
وَلَولاand were it not for نَدىthe dew of كفيكyour two palms نقطهwould have speckled it القطرrain
وَلَولا نَدى كفيك نقطه القطر
The rainstorms of heaven avoided it in awe,
The corners of the sky avoided it in awe,
and but for the dew of your palms, rain would have speckled it.
Had it not been for your palm's dripping.
ملأتyou filled بهwith it كلall القُلوبhearts مسرّةwith gladness
ملأت به كل القُلوب مسرّة
وَتاهَتand vaunted herself عَلىabove كُلall البِلادlands بِهِthrough it مِصرEgypt
وَتاهَت عَلى كُل البِلاد بِهِ مِصر
With it you filled every heart with gladness,
You filled all hearts with joy by it
and through it Egypt vaunted herself above all lands.
And Egypt's landmarks were lost to it.
وَحزتand you gained بهthrough it مجداglory وَفخراand pride وَسودداand lordship
وَحزت به مجدا وَفخرا وَسوددا
فارّختهso I dated it لِلسَّيدfor the lord الماجِدthe illustrious الفَخرthe pride
فارّخته لِلسَّيد الماجِد الفَخر
Through it you won glory, pride, and lordship,
You seized by it glory, pride, and esteem
so I recorded its date for the illustrious lord, pride itself.
And registered it to the noble, proud master.
فَلاso may not زِلتُI cease to be فيin عزhonor مَنيعunassailable مُمتعاdelighting
فَلا زِلتُ في عز مَنيع مُمتعا
بنجلكin your son لاmay no يَعروكbefall you سوءill وَلاnor ضَرّharm
بنجلك لا يَعروك سوء وَلا ضَرّ
May I ever remain in unassailable honor, gladdened
So I remain in strong, protected bliss
by your son; may neither ill nor harm befall you.
With your son whom no evil or harm touches.
وَلاand may not زِلتyou cease to be ذُخريmy treasure ياO شَريفnoble one وَملجىءand my refuge [probable reading]
وَلا زِلت ذُخري يا شَريف وَملجىء
وَحَسبيand enough for me منfrom دُنيايَmy worldly life أَنكthat you ليfor me ذُخرa treasure
وَحَسبي من دُنيايَ أَنك لي ذُخر
May you always remain my treasure, noble one, and my refuge,
And I remain, O noble one, my refuge and treasure,
and enough for me in this world is that you are my treasure.
My contentment in life being you as my treasure.
عَلىupon جَدّكyour ancestor الهاديthe guide البَشيرthe bearer of glad tidings تَحيةa greeting
عَلى جَدّك الهادي البَشير تَحية
تَليقbefits بِهِhim ماas long as غَرَّدتsing فيupon الرباthe hills القَمرthe turtledoves [contextual reading]
تَليق بِهِ ما غَرَّدت في الربا القَمر
Upon your ancestor, the guiding bearer of glad tidings, be a greeting
Greetings be upon your grandfather the guide, giver of glad tidings,
befitting him, as long as turtledoves sing upon the hills.
Worthy of him before whom the moon in the pasture twittered.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.