ماذاwhat جَنَتْهwrought it ليلةُthe night of التّعريفِthe ʿArafāt observance
ماذا جَنَتْه ليلةُ التّعريفِ
شغفتْenthralled فؤاداًa heart ليسnot بالمشغوفِpassion-stricken
شغفتْ فؤاداً ليس بالمشغوفِ
What has the night of Taʿrīf wrought!
What did the night of introduction reap,
It enthralled a heart not given to passion.
That it stirred a heart not stirred by love before?
ولوand if اِنّنيthat I أدريI knew بماof what حُمِّلتُهُI was made to bear it
ولو اِنّني أدري بما حُمِّلتُهُ
عندat الوقوفِthe standing حذرتُI dreaded يومَthe day of وقوفيmy standing
عند الوقوفِ حذرتُ يومَ وقوفي
Had I known what I was made to bear
Had I known what burdens it would load on me
while standing, I would have dreaded the day of my standing.
When halting, I'd have been wary on the day I halted.
ماnot زالceased حتّىuntil حلّsettled in حَبَّthe core of قلوبناour hearts
ما زال حتّى حلّ حَبَّ قلوبنا
بجمالهthrough its beauty سِرْبُa herd of الظِّباءِthe gazelles الهِيفِslender-waisted
بجماله سِرْبُ الظِّباءِ الهِيفِ
It did not cease until it lodged in the cores of our hearts—
Until love settled in our hearts,
through its beauty, that herd of slender gazelles.
With its beauty, the shy gazelles.
وَأَرَتْكَand she showed you مُكْتَتمَthe hidden المحاسنbeauties بعدماafter
وَأَرَتْكَ مُكْتَتمَ المحاسن بعدما
أَلقىcast aside تُقَىthe piety of الإحرامِritual consecration كلَّevery نَصيفِface-veil
أَلقى تُقَى الإحرامِ كلَّ نَصيفِ
And she showed you her hidden beauties, after
It showed you unveiled beauty after
the piety of iḥrām had cast aside every face-veil.
Shedding the decorum of pilgrimage garb.
وقنعتand I was content منهاfrom her بالسّلامِwith a greeting لوif only اِنّهthat it
وقنعت منها بالسّلامِ لو اِنّه
أروىquenched صَدىthirst أوor بلّmoistened لَهْفَthe anguish of لهيفِone in distress
أروى صَدى أو بلّ لَهْفَ لهيفِ
I contented myself with her greeting, if only it
I'd have been content with her greeting, had it
could quench thirst or soothe a sufferer's burning anguish.
Quenched the agony or slaked the thirst of the fervid.
وَالحبُّand love يُرضيmakes content بالطّفيفِwith a trifle معاشراًgroups of people
وَالحبُّ يُرضي بالطّفيفِ معاشراً
لمdid not يرتضواthey accept منfrom قبلهbefore it بطفيفِwith a trifle
لم يرتضوا من قبله بطفيفِ
Love makes people content with a trifle,
Love contents itself with little for people
who, before it, would accept no trifle.
Who before it wouldn't content themselves with little.
ويُخِفُّand quickens منwhoever كانwas البطيءَthe slow one عنaway from الهوىlove
ويُخِفُّ من كان البطيءَ عن الهوى
فكأنّهso, as though he ماnot كانhad been غيرother than خفيفِswift
فكأنّه ما كان غير خفيفِ
It quickens whoever was slow to love,
It makes slow to love seem as though
as though he had never been anything but swift.
He had never been other than swift.
ياO حبَّهاlove for her رفقاًgently بقلبٍwith a heart طالماso often
يا حبَّها رفقاً بقلبٍ طالما
عرّفتَهyou acquainted it ماwhat ليسis not بالمعروفِfamiliar
عرّفتَه ما ليس بالمعروفِ
O love for her, be gentle with a heart you have so often
Oh, her love, go easy on a heart which
acquainted with what it never knew.
You made know what was unknown before.
قدindeed كانit was يرضىwould consent أنthat يكونbe محكّماًmade an arbiter
قد كان يرضى أن يكون محكّماً
فيin لُبِّهِits reason لوif كنتَyou were غيرَnot عنيفِharsh
في لُبِّهِ لو كنتَ غيرَ عنيفِ
It would have gladly accepted you as arbiter
It would have been content, had you not been harsh,
over its reason, had you not been harsh.
To be the arbiter within its core.
أطرحتِdid you cast ياO ظمياءُẒamyāʾ ثِقْلَكِyour burden كلَّهall of it
أطرحتِ يا ظمياءُ ثِقْلَكِ كلَّه
يومَon the day of الوَداِعfarewell علىupon فقارِthe vertebrae of ضعيفِa frail one
يومَ الوَداِع على فقارِ ضعيفِ
Did you lay, O Ẓamyāʾ, all your burden
You cast off, O slim one, on the day of farewell,
on the day of farewell, upon a frail man's spine?
All your burden upon my weak nape.
يقتادُهdraws him للحبِّtoward love كلُّevery مُحَبَّبٍbeloved
يقتادُه للحبِّ كلُّ مُحَبَّبٍ
ويروعهand frightens him بالبينwith separation كلُّevery أَليفِintimate companion
ويروعه بالبين كلُّ أَليفِ
Every beloved draws him toward love,
Every loved one leads him to love
and every intimate frightens him with separation.
And every intimate terrifies him with separation.
وكأنّنِيand as though I لمّاwhen رجعتُI returned إلىto النّوىseparation
وكأنّنِي لمّا رجعتُ إلى النّوى
أبكيI weep رَجعتُI returned بناظرٍwith an eye مطروفِinjured
أبكي رَجعتُ بناظرٍ مطروفِ
It was as though, when I returned to separation,
It's as though, when I returned to the dwellings,
weeping, I returned with a wounded eye,
I returned, my eyes weeping, blinded.
وبزفرةٍand with a sigh شهدtestified العذولُthe reproacher بأنّهاthat it
وبزفرةٍ شهد العذولُ بأنّها
منfrom حاملٍa bearer ثِقْلَthe burden of الهوىlove ملهوفِanguished
من حاملٍ ثِقْلَ الهوى ملهوفِ
and with a sigh which the reproacher acknowledged
With a sigh which the chaste attested
came from an anguished bearer of love's burden.
Came from one heavily burdened by passion.
ومتىand whenever جَحَدْتُهُمُI denied to them الغرامَpassion تصنُّعاًin pretense
ومتى جَحَدْتُهُمُ الغرامَ تصنُّعاً
ظهرواthey learned عليهof it بدمعيَthrough my tears المذروفِshed
ظهروا عليه بدمعيَ المذروفِ
Whenever I feigned denial of my passion before them,
Whenever I denied love dissemblingly,
they learned of it through my streaming tears.
They exposed it through my spilled tears.
وعلىand at مِنىًMinā غُرَرٌradiant beauties رمينthey pelted نفوسَناour souls
وعلى مِنىً غُرَرٌ رمين نفوسَنا
قَبْلَbefore الجِمارِthe ritual pebbles منfrom الهوىlove بحُتُوفِwith death-blows
قَبْلَ الجِمارِ من الهوى بحُتُوفِ
At Minā, radiant beauties pelted our souls,
On our wishes stumbling blocks were set
before the ritual pebbles, with love's death-blows.
By love, with stacks, before the pebbles.
يسحبنthey trail أذيالَthe hems of الشّفوفِgauzy robes غوانياًself-sufficient beauties
يسحبن أذيالَ الشّفوفِ غوانياً
بالحُسنِthrough beauty عنwithout needing حَسَنٍbeauty بكلِّwith every شُفوفِexcellence
بالحُسنِ عن حَسَنٍ بكلِّ شُفوفِ
They trail the hems of gauzy robes, needing nothing
They trail the skirts of gowns coquettishly
beyond their beauty, which surpasses all other beauty.
With beauty, every beauty trailing its skirt.
وعدلْنَand they turned away عنfrom لبسwearing الشُّنوفِearrings وإنّماand rather
وعدلْنَ عن لبس الشُّنوفِ وإنّما
هنّthey الشّنوفُthe earrings محاسناًin beauty لشنوفِfor earrings
هنّ الشّنوفُ محاسناً لشنوفِ
They forgo wearing earrings; rather,
They turned from wearing snoods, though the snood
in beauty, they are earrings for the earrings themselves.
Is an adornment for the beauties of snooded ones.
وتعجّبتْand she marveled للشّيبat gray hair وهيand it is جنايةٌan injury
وتعجّبتْ للشّيب وهي جنايةٌ
لدلالِfrom the coquetry of غانيةٍa beauty وصدِّand the rejection of صَدوفِa shunning woman
لدلالِ غانيةٍ وصدِّ صَدوفِ
She marveled at my gray hair, though it is an injury
She expressed wonder at greying hair though it's
inflicted by a beauty's coquetry and a shunning woman's rejection.
An allurement for a coquette and lover’s wooing.
وأناطتand she laid الحسناءُthe beautiful woman بِيupon me تَبعاتِهِits consequences
وأناطت الحسناءُ بِي تَبعاتِهِ
فكأَنّماso, as though تفويفُهُits streaking تفويفيmy streaking
فكأَنّما تفويفُهُ تفويفي
The fair woman laid its consequences upon me,
The beautiful one burdened me with her attachments
as though I myself had streaked it.
As though her captivation was my captivation.
هوit منزلٌa dwelling بُدّلتُهْI was given it in exchange منfrom غيرهanother
هو منزلٌ بُدّلتُهْ من غيره
وهوand it الغِنَىwealth فيin المنزلِthe dwelling المألوفِfamiliar
وهو الغِنَى في المنزلِ المألوفِ
It is a dwelling I received in place of another,
It is an abode I substituted for another,
and it is wealth within the familiar dwelling.
Yet it is riches in the familiar abode.
لاdo not تُنكرِيهreject it فهوfor it is أبعدُfurther removed لُبْسةًas a garment
لا تُنكرِيه فهو أبعدُ لُبْسةً
منfrom قذفِthe slander of قاذفةٍa slandering woman وقَرْفِand the accusation of قَروفِa habitual accuser
من قذفِ قاذفةٍ وقَرْفِ قَروفِ
Do not reject it: no garment lies further
Do not deny it, for it is farther
from a slandering woman's charges and an accuser's calumny.
From the conjectures of a conjecturer.
وبعيدةand far-reaching الأقطارِin extent طامسةeffaced الصُّوىthe waymarks
وبعيدة الأقطارِ طامسة الصُّوى
منfrom طولِthe length of تَطْوافِthe roaming of الرّياحِthe winds الهوفِparching
من طولِ تَطْوافِ الرّياحِ الهوفِ
And a wilderness of distant bounds, its waymarks effaced
Remote in regions, erasing traces,
by the long roaming of the parching winds—
From the circling winds’ long circling.
لاno صوتَvoice فيهاin it للأنيسِof any human وإنّماbut rather
لا صوتَ فيها للأنيسِ وإنّما
لِعصائبِof bands الجنَّانِthe jinn جَرْسُa sound عزيفِeerie humming
لِعصائبِ الجنَّانِ جَرْسُ عزيفِ
no human voice is heard within it; only
In it no voice of a companion, only
the eerie humming of bands of jinn.
For the rose gardens, the sound of the ringing bell.
وكأنّماand as though حُزُقُflocks of النّعامِostriches بدوّهاin its wilderness
وكأنّما حُزُقُ النّعامِ بدوّها
ذَوْدٌsmall camel-herds شردنthey scattered لزاجرٍat a driver's shout هِنِّيفِshrill-voiced
ذَوْدٌ شردن لزاجرٍ هِنِّيفِ
Its flocks of ostriches in the wilderness seem
It is as though the ostrich’s throats in its expanse
like small camel-herds scattered by a shrill-voiced driver.
Are a flock scattered by a soft repeller.
قَطَعَتْcrossed ركابيmy riding camels وهيand they غيرُnot طلائحٍexhausted
قَطَعَتْ ركابي وهي غيرُ طلائحٍ
معdespite طولِthe length of إيضاعيmy urging to speed ونطِّand the bounding of وَجِيفيmy swift riding
مع طولِ إيضاعي ونطِّ وَجِيفي
My riding camels crossed it, not worn out,
It cut short my heels though it wasn't galloping
despite my long haste and the jolts of my swift riding.
Despite my long stride and gait’s fluctuation.
أبغيI seek الّذيthat which كلُّall الورىmankind عنfrom بَغْيهِseeking it
أبغي الّذي كلُّ الورى عن بَغْيهِ
منamong بينbetween مصدودٍone barred ومنand among مصدوفِone turned away
من بين مصدودٍ ومن مصدوفِ
I seek that from whose pursuit all mankind
I seek what all mankind seeks to attain
are either kept back or turned aside.
Among the debarred and the attained.
والعزُّand honor فيin كلّall الرجالmen ولمand not يُنَلْhas been attained
والعزُّ في كلّ الرجال ولم يُنَلْ
عزٌّhonor بلاwithout نَصَبٍtoil ولاand without تكليفِburdensome effort
عزٌّ بلا نَصَبٍ ولا تكليفِ
Honor is in every man, yet none has attained
Glory in all men, but no glory
honor without toil and onerous effort.
Is got without fatigue and obligation.
والجَدْبُand barren land مغنىًa dwelling للأعزّةِfor the proud دارِهٌspacious
والجَدْبُ مغنىً للأعزّةِ دارِهٌ
والذّلُّand humiliation بيتٌa house فيin مكانِthe place of الرّيفِfertile country
والذّلُّ بيتٌ في مكانِ الرّيفِ
Barren land is a spacious dwelling for the proud,
Barrenness is the shelter of the glorious,
while humiliation has its house in fertile country.
While abasement is the home of the lowly.
ولقدand indeed تعرَّفَتِcame to know النّوائبُcalamities صَعْدَتيmy spear-shaft
ولقد تعرَّفَتِ النّوائبُ صَعْدَتي
وأجادand mastered صَرْفthe vicissitudes of الدّهرِtime منin تشفيفيdraining me
وأجاد صَرْف الدّهرِ من تشفيفي
Calamities have indeed come to know my spear-shaft,
Misfortunes have recognized my ascent
and time's vicissitudes have mastered the art of draining me.
And fate lavished on me its upturning.
وحللتُand I settled منaway from ذلِّthe humiliation of الأنامِmankind بنجوةٍon high ground
وحللتُ من ذلِّ الأنامِ بنجوةٍ
لاno لَوْمتيblaming me فيهاthere ولاnor تعنيفيrebuking me
لا لَوْمتي فيها ولا تعنيفي
I have settled on high ground, clear of mankind's abasement,
I took refuge from the abjection of people
where I am neither blamed nor rebuked.
Reproaching none, and none reproaching me.
فبدارso, in the house of أنديةِthe assemblies of الفخارglory إقامتيmy residence
فبدار أنديةِ الفخار إقامتي
وعلىand upon الفضائلvirtues مَربَعيmy spring dwelling ومصيفيand my summer dwelling
وعلى الفضائل مَربَعي ومصيفي
So I dwell in the home of glory's assemblies,
So my dwelling is in the circle of the noble,
and among virtues are my spring and summer dwellings.
And my square and summering place are in virtues.
وسرىand traveled by night سُرَىthe night-course of النَّجمِthe star المحلِّقsoaring aloft فيin العُلاthe heights
وسرى سُرَى النَّجمِ المحلِّق في العُلا
نَظْمِيmy verse وماand what ألّفتُI composed منof تصنيفيmy writings
نَظْمِي وما ألّفتُ من تصنيفي
And, like a star soaring on high, have coursed through the night
The star’s course, rising lofty in the sky,
my verse and the writings I have composed.
Flowed with my verse and compositions.
ورأيتُand I saw منof غَدْرِthe treachery of الزّمانِtime بأهلِهِtoward its people
ورأيتُ من غَدْرِ الزّمانِ بأهلِهِ
مِنfrom بعدafter أنthat أمِنوهُthey trusted it كلّevery طريفِstrange novelty
مِن بعد أن أمِنوهُ كلّ طريفِ
I have seen, in time's treachery toward its people,
Of time’s betrayal of its people, I saw,
after they had trusted it, every strange turn.
After they felt safe from it, every twist.
وعجبتُand I marveled منat حَيْدِthe turning aside of القويّthe strong man عنfrom الغِنىwealth
وعجبتُ من حَيْدِ القويّ عن الغِنى
طولَthroughout الزّمانِtime وخطوةِand the stride of المضعوفِthe weakened man
طولَ الزّمانِ وخطوةِ المضعوفِ
I marvel at the strong man's turning away from wealth
I wondered that the strong avoid wealth
throughout the years, and at the weak man's advance;
So long, and the step of the lame, bent over.
وعَمَىand the blindness of الرّجالmen عنto الصّوابwhat is right كأنّهمْas though they
وعَمَى الرّجال عن الصّواب كأنّهمْ
يعمونthey are blind عمّاto what ليسis not بالمكشوفِplainly revealed
يعمون عمّا ليس بالمكشوفِ
and at men's blindness to what is right, as though
Men are blind to the right, as though
they were blind to something not plainly revealed.
They are blind to what is not hidden.
وفديتُand I ransomed عِرْضِيmy honor منfrom لئامِthe base men of عشيرتيmy clan
وفديتُ عِرْضِي من لئامِ عشيرتي
بنزاهتِيthrough my keeping clear عنof سَيِّئِيmy wrongdoing وعزُوفِيand my abstention
بنزاهتِي عن سَيِّئِي وعزُوفِي
I ransomed my honor from the base men of my clan
I ransomed my honor from the insults of my tribe
by keeping clear of my own wrongdoing and holding aloof.
With my aloofness from evil and my loftiness.
فبقدرso, in proportion to ماhow much أحميتُهمْI shielded them ماfrom what ساءهمْhurt them
فبقدر ما أحميتُهمْ ما ساءهمْ
أعطيتُهمْI gave them منof تالِدِيmy inherited wealth وطريفيand my newly acquired wealth
أعطيتُهمْ من تالِدِي وطريفي
As much as I shielded them from what would hurt them,
In proportion to my guarding them from what pained them,
I gave them of my inherited and newly acquired wealth.
I gave them of my benignity and nobility.
كمhow often رُوّعwere terrified الأعداءُthe enemies قبلbefore لقائهمْmeeting them
كم رُوّع الأعداءُ قبل لقائهمْ
ببروقِby the lightning flashes of إيعاديmy threats ورعدِand the thunder of صَريفِيmy teeth-gnashing
ببروقِ إيعادي ورعدِ صَريفِي
How often enemies were terrified before I met them,
How the enemies cowered before meeting them
by the lightning of my threats and the thunder of my gnashing teeth!
By the lightning of my threats and thunder of my power.
وكأنّهمْand as though they شَرَدٌstrays سوامُهُمُtheir grazing herds وقدand already
وكأنّهمْ شَرَدٌ سوامُهُمُ وقد
سمعواthey heard علىacross جوّthe expanse of السّماءthe sky حفيفيmy rustling
سمعوا على جوّ السّماء حفيفي
It is as though their grazing herds had scattered, once
They are a people who held the world’s reins
they heard my rustling across the expanse of heaven.
With the thrusts of spears and the blows of swords.
قَوميmy people الّذينwho تملّكواtook possession of رِبَقَthe neck-ropes of الورىmankind
قَومي الّذين تملّكوا رِبَقَ الورى
بطعانِwith thrusts of أرماحٍlances وضربِand strokes of سيوفِswords
بطعانِ أرماحٍ وضربِ سيوفِ
My people are those who took hold of mankind's halters
And stands on each great day
with lance-thrusts and sword-strokes,
Where none but they could take a stand.
ومواقفٍand stands فيin كلِّevery يومِday of عظيمةٍgreat calamity
ومواقفٍ في كلِّ يومِ عظيمةٍ
ماnot كانwere فيهاthere غيرُهمْany but them بوَقوفِstanding
ما كان فيها غيرُهمْ بوَقوفِ
and with their stands on every day of calamity,
And sights which filled their enemies’ hordes
when none but they could stand their ground;
With motes in the eyes and bendings of the nose.
ومشاهدٍand battle scenes ملأتْfilled شعوبَthe tribes of عُداتهمْtheir enemies
ومشاهدٍ ملأتْ شعوبَ عُداتهمْ
بقذىًwith grit لأجفانٍfor eyelids ورغمِand abasement of أُنوفِnoses
بقذىً لأجفانٍ ورغمِ أُنوفِ
and with battle scenes that filled the tribes of their foes
They made great bounties permissible and showered
with grit in their eyelids and noses rubbed in dust.
On the shadowed the known kindnesses.
همْthey خوّلواbestowed النِّعَمَblessings الجسامَimmense وأمطرواand showered
همْ خوّلوا النِّعَمَ الجسامَ وأمطروا
فيupon المُمْلقينthe destitute غنائمَthe spoils of المعروفِgenerosity
في المُمْلقين غنائمَ المعروفِ
They bestowed immense blessings and showered
On the day of battle they were serpents
upon the destitute the spoils of generosity.
In the folds, or black lions.
وكأنّهمْand as though they يومَon the day of الوغىbattle خَلَلَamid القناthe spears
وكأنّهمْ يومَ الوغى خَلَلَ القنا
حيّاتُsnakes of رَمْلٍsand أوor أُسودُlions of عَزيفِʿAzīf
حيّاتُ رَمْلٍ أو أُسودُ عَزيفِ
On the day of battle, amid the spears, they seem
How many riders of them on galloping saddlecloths -
like sand-snakes or lions of ʿAzīf.
Exulting in generosity or demeaning avarice!
كمhow many راكبٍa rider منهمamong them لغاربِupon the withers of سَدْفَةٍdarkness
كم راكبٍ منهم لغاربِ سَدْفَةٍ
طرباًin joyful eagerness لجودٍfor giving أوor مهينِone who spends freely سَديفِcamel-hump fat
طرباً لجودٍ أو مهينِ سَديفِ
How many among them ride the withers of darkness,
Honored with bounties, and many a time
joyful in giving—or lavishly dispense rich camel fat!
The dew was familiar with the unfamiliar.
ومُتَيَّمٍand one enthralled بالمكرُماتِby noble deeds وطالماand how often
ومُتَيَّمٍ بالمكرُماتِ وطالما
ألِفَgrew accustomed to النّدىgenerosity مَنone who كانwas غيرَnot ألُوفِaccustomed
ألِفَ النّدى مَن كان غيرَ ألُوفِ
And how many are enthralled by noble deeds! How often
I frequented the councils of kings, responding
has one once unaccustomed to it grown familiar with bounty!
With my voice, and listening to my guidance.
وحللتُand I entered أنديةَthe assemblies of الملوكِkings مُجيبةًresponding
وحللتُ أنديةَ الملوكِ مُجيبةً
صوتيmy voice ومصغيةًand listening إلىto توقيفِيmy instruction
صوتي ومصغيةً إلى توقيفِي
I entered the assemblies of kings, which answered
I protected them with resolve from every harm
my voice and listened closely to my instruction.
And sufficed them with determination against every terror.
وحميتُهمْand I shielded them بالحزمِwith prudence كلَّevery عَضِيهةٍcalumny
وحميتُهمْ بالحزمِ كلَّ عَضِيهةٍ
وكفيتُهمْand I spared them بالعزمِwith resolve كلَّevery مخوفِterror
وكفيتُهمْ بالعزمِ كلَّ مخوفِ
With prudence I shielded them from every calumny,
You see them studying my virtues
and with resolve I spared them every terror.
And classifying the pristine of my qualities.
وتراهُمُand you see them يتدارسونstudying together فضائليmy virtues
وتراهُمُ يتدارسون فضائلي
ويصنّفونand they classify منof الفخارglory صُنوفيmy varieties
ويصنّفون من الفخار صُنوفي
You see them studying my virtues together,
They repeat to the narrators my exploits
and cataloguing my kinds of glory;
And enumerate my thousands of horsemen.
ويردّدونand they recount علىto الرُّواةِthe transmitters مآثريmy noble deeds
ويردّدون على الرُّواةِ مآثري
ويعدُّدونand they enumerate منof العَلاءِeminence أُلوفيmy thousands
ويعدُّدون من العَلاءِ أُلوفي
recounting my noble deeds to the transmitters,
They march against their enemy’s lands
and counting my thousands of lofty achievements;
With the most courageous armies of men’s judgment.
ويسيّرونand they send forth إلىto ديارthe lands of عدوّهمْtheir enemy
ويسيّرون إلى ديار عدوّهمْ
منfrom جُنْدِthe army of رأيthe counsel of العالمينthe learned زُحوفيmy advancing hosts
من جُنْدِ رأي العالمين زُحوفي
and sending into the lands of their enemy
When they see a strange, sudden stranger,
my advancing hosts, from the army of the learned men's counsel.
They are startled in their estrangement to my description.
وإذاand when هُمُthey نَكِرواfound unfamiliar غريباًa strange thing فاجئاًsudden
وإذا هُمُ نَكِروا غريباً فاجئاً
فَزِعواthey resorted بنُكرهمُin their bewilderment إلىto تعريفيmy explanation
فَزِعوا بنُكرهمُ إلى تعريفي
When they cannot fathom something strange and sudden,
They averted from themselves the great misfortunes through me
in their bewilderment they turn to my explanation.
And sought refuge from the harm of enemies in my burrows.
دفعواthey warded off بِيَthrough me الخطبَthe calamity العظيمَgreat عليهمُupon them
دفعوا بِيَ الخطبَ العظيمَ عليهمُ
واِستَعصمواand sought protection حَذَرَfor fear of العدىthe foes بكنُوفيunder my protection
واِستَعصموا حَذَرَ العدى بكنُوفي
Through me they warded off the great calamity upon them,
I kept company with them all, every man of valor
and sought shelter under my protection for fear of their foes.
Sublime on the summits of glorious deeds.
وصحبتُand I accompanied منهمْamong them كلّevery ذيpossessor of جَبْرِيّةٍsovereign might
وصحبتُ منهمْ كلّ ذي جَبْرِيّةٍ
سامٍlofty علىabove قُلَلthe summits of البريَّةِmankind موفِtowering
سامٍ على قُلَل البريَّةِ موفِ
Among them I kept company with every mighty lord,
Gaze toward him as you stand facing him
lofty, overtopping the summits of mankind.
Among thousands, with searching eyes.
ترنوyou gaze إليهat him وقدand already وقفتَyou stood إزاءَهbefore him
ترنو إليه وقد وقفتَ إزاءَه
بينamong الألوفthe thousands بناظِرَيْwith the two eyes of غِطْرِيفِa nobleman
بين الألوف بناظِرَيْ غِطْرِيفِ
You gaze at him, having stood before him,
Say now to the envious rivals: Withdraw
amid thousands, with the eyes of a nobleman.
From a peerless sun of unblemished rising!
فالآنso now قلْsay للحاسدينto the envious تنازحواwithdraw
فالآن قلْ للحاسدين تنازحوا
عنfrom شمسthe sun of أُفقٍa horizon غيرnot ذاتِpossessing كسوفِeclipse
عن شمس أُفقٍ غير ذاتِ كسوفِ
Now tell the envious: withdraw
Leave the course of the two rivers be,
from a horizon's sun that knows no eclipse.
For the torrent sweeps away every mound.
ودعواand leave لِسيلِfor the torrent of الواديينthe two valleys طريقَهits path
ودعوا لِسيلِ الواديين طريقَه
فالسّيلُfor the torrent جرّافٌall-sweeping لكلّof every جَروفِravager
فالسّيلُ جرّافٌ لكلّ جَروفِ
Leave the torrent of the two valleys its path,
And equip yourselves with the despair of hearts from
for the torrent sweeps away every ravager.
For Minifa is the house of every well-settled one.
وتزوّدواand provision yourselves يأْسَdespair القلوبof hearts عنof الذُّراthe heights
وتزوّدوا يأْسَ القلوب عن الذُّرا
فمنيفةٌfor lofty دارٌa dwelling لكلِّfor every مُنيفِlofty person
فمنيفةٌ دارٌ لكلِّ مُنيفِ
Provision yourselves with hearts that despair of the heights,
Be content to walk when you have no magnanimity
for a lofty dwelling belongs to each lofty man.
As guests in the house of my glorious hospitality.
وأرضَوْاand be content بأنْthat تمشواyou walk ولاand no كرمٌnobility لكمْfor you
وأرضَوْا بأنْ تمشوا ولا كرمٌ لكمْ
فيin دارthe house of مجدthe glory of الأكرمينthe noblest ضيوفيmy guests
في دار مجد الأكرمين ضيوفي
Be content to walk, with no nobility of your own,
as my guests in the home of the noblest men's glory.
Partial English translation: 116 of 118 Arabic lines translated.