لَمdid not يَبقَremain فيكَin you لِمُشتاقٍfor a longing lover إِذاwhen وَقَفاhe paused
لَم يَبقَ فيكَ لِمُشتاقٍ إِذا وَقَفا
إِلّاexcept اِدِّكارُremembering رُسومٍruins تَبعَثُthat awaken الأَسَفاsorrow
إِلّا اِدِّكارُ رُسومٍ تَبعَثُ الأَسَفا
Nothing remains in you for a longing lover who pauses
except remembrance of ruins that awaken sorrow,
وَنَظرَةٌand a glance رُبَّماsometimes أَرسَلتُI sent رائِدَهاits scout
وَنَظرَةٌ رُبَّما أَرسَلتُ رائِدَها
وَالطَرفُand the eye يُنكِرُdisowns مِنof مَعناكَyour dwelling ماwhat عَرَفاit knew
وَالطَرفُ يُنكِرُ مِن مَعناكَ ما عَرَفا
and a glance whose scout I sometimes send forth,
while the eye disowns what it once knew of your dwelling.
ياO مَنزِلاa dwelling بِاللِوىat al-Liwa أَقوىbecame deserted مَعالِمُهُits landmarks
يا مَنزِلا بِاللِوى أَقوى مَعالِمُهُ
لَمdid not يَعفُfade وَجديmy longing عَلىfor سُكّانِهِits inhabitants وَعَفاthough it faded
لَم يَعفُ وَجدي عَلى سُكّانِهِ وَعَفا
O dwelling at al-Liwa, whose landmarks stand deserted:
my longing for its inhabitants has not faded, though it has.
لَولاكَbut for you ماnot هاجَنيstirred me نَوحُthe lament of الحَمامِthe doves وَلاnor
لَولاكَ ما هاجَني نَوحُ الحَمامِ وَلا
هَفاswept away بِيَme البَرقُthe lightning عُلوِيّاًhigh aloft إِذاwhen خَطَفاit flashed
هَفا بِيَ البَرقُ عُلوِيّاً إِذا خَطَفا
But for you, the doves' lament would not stir me, nor
would lightning flashing high carry me away.
أَعائِدٌwill return? وَأَحاديثُand the tales of المُنىwishes خُدَعٌare deceptions
أَعائِدٌ وَأَحاديثُ المُنى خُدَعٌ
عَلىbeside الغَضاthe ghada trees زَمَنٌa time مِنof عَيشِناour life سَلَفاthat passed
عَلى الغَضا زَمَنٌ مِن عَيشِنا سَلَفا
Will it return—though the tales of wishes are deceits—
a bygone season of our life beside the ghada trees?
هَيهاتَfar from possible أَنthat تَخلِفَrestore الأَيّامُthe days مِنof عُمُريmy lifetime
هَيهاتَ أَن تَخلِفَ الأَيّامُ مِن عُمُري
شَبيبَةًyouth فيكُمُon you أَنفَقتُهاI spent it سَرَفاlavishly
شَبيبَةً فيكُمُ أَنفَقتُها سَرَفا
Never will the days restore to my life
a youth I spent lavishly on you.
وَباخِلٍand a withholding lover سَمُحَgenerously yielded الطَيفُthe dream-image الكَذوبُthe deceitful بِهِhim
وَباخِلٍ سَمُحَ الطَيفُ الكَذوبُ بِهِ
وَاللَيلُand the night قَدhad مَدَّspread مِنfrom ظَلمائِهِits darkness سُجَفاcurtains
وَاللَيلُ قَد مَدَّ مِن ظَلمائِهِ سُجَفا
And many a withholding beloved the lying dream granted me,
when night had stretched curtains of its darkness,
أَسرىcame by night إِلَيَّto me عَلىdespite ماwhat فيهِwas in him مِنof فَرَقٍfear
أَسرى إِلَيَّ عَلى ما فيهِ مِن فَرَقٍ
تَحتَbeneath الدُجىthe darkness يَركَبُbraving الأَهوالَterrors مُعتَسِفاtraveling trackless
تَحتَ الدُجى يَركَبُ الأَهوالَ مُعتَسِفا
came to me by night despite his fear,
braving terrors beneath the darkness, traveling trackless.
فَبِتُّso I spent the night مِنfrom قَدِّهِhis figure لِلغُصنِto the bough مُعتَنِقاًembracing
فَبِتُّ مِن قَدِّهِ لِلغُصنِ مُعتَنِقاً
طَوراًat times وَمِنand from خَدِّهِhis cheek لِلخَمرِof the wine مُرتَشِفاsipping
طَوراً وَمِن خَدِّهِ لِلخَمرِ مُرتَشِفا
So I spent the night embracing, in his figure, a bough,
at times, and sipping, from his cheek, wine.
فَياso, oh لَهُfor him مِنof بَخيلِa miser كَيفَhow جادَhe gave generously لَناto us
فَيا لَهُ مِن بَخيلِ كَيفَ جادَ لَنا
عَفواًunasked وَمِنand of غادِرٍa betrayer بِالعَهدِof the pledge كَيفَhow وَفاhe kept faith
عَفواً وَمِن غادِرٍ بِالعَهدِ كَيفَ وَفا
What a miser he is—how freely he gave to us
unasked! What a breaker of pledges—yet how faithfully he kept his!
وَفاتِرِand one languid الطَرفِof eye مَمشوقِslender القَوامِof stature لَهُhe has
وَفاتِرِ الطَرفِ مَمشوقِ القَوامِ لَهُ
قَدa figure يُعَلِّمُteaches خوطَthe shoot of البانَةِthe ban tree الهَيَفاslender grace
قَد يُعَلِّمُ خوطَ البانَةِ الهَيَفا
And a languid-eyed one, slender of stature, whose
figure teaches the ban-tree's shoot its slender grace.
إِنif قُلتُI say جُرتَyou acted unjustly عَلىtoward ضَعفيmy weakness يَقولُhe says مَتىwhen
إِن قُلتُ جُرتَ عَلى ضَعفي يَقولُ مَتى
كانَwas المُحِبُّthe lover مِنَfrom المَحبوبِthe beloved مُنتَصِفاobtaining redress
كانَ المُحِبُّ مِنَ المَحبوبِ مُنتَصِفا
If I say, 'You wrong my weakness,' he says, 'When
has a lover ever won redress from his beloved?'
أَوor قُلتُI say أَتلَفتَyou destroyed روحيmy soul قالَhe says لاno عَجَبٌwonder
أَو قُلتُ أَتلَفتَ روحي قالَ لا عَجَبٌ
مِنwho ذاقَtasted طَعمَthe taste of الهَوىlove يَوماًone day وَماand did not تَلِفاperish
مِن ذاقَ طَعمَ الهَوى يَوماً وَما تَلِفا
Or if I say, 'You have destroyed my soul,' he says, 'No wonder!
Who ever tasted love one day and did not perish?'
إِنif أَنكَرَتdeny مِنof دَميmy blood عَيناهُhis two eyes ماwhat سَفَكَتthey shed
إِن أَنكَرَت مِن دَمي عَيناهُ ما سَفَكَت
فَقَدthen indeed أَقَرَّبِهِacknowledged it خَدّاهُhis two cheeks وَاِعتَرَفاand confessed
فَقَد أَقَرَّبِهِ خَدّاهُ وَاِعتَرَفا
If his eyes deny the blood of mine they shed,
his cheeks have acknowledged it and confessed.
ماdid not قُلتُمُyou say الغُصنُthe bough مَيّالٌis swaying وَمُنعَطِفٌand bending
ما قُلتُمُ الغُصنُ مَيّالٌ وَمُنعَطِفٌ
فَكَيفَthen how مالَhe leaned عَلىagainst ضَعفيmy weakness وَماyet did not عَطَفاshow tenderness
فَكَيفَ مالَ عَلى ضَعفي وَما عَطَفا
Did you not say, 'The bough inclines and bends'?
How then did he turn against my weakness, yet show no tenderness?
ياO صاحِfriend قُمrise فَوُجوهُfor the faces of اللَهوِpleasure سافِرَةٌare unveiled
يا صاحِ قُم فَوُجوهُ اللَهوِ سافِرَةٌ
وَناظِرُand the eye of الهَمِّsorrow بِالأَفراحِby joys قَدhas طُرِفاbeen struck blind
وَناظِرُ الهَمِّ بِالأَفراحِ قَد طُرِفا
Friend, rise: the faces of pleasure are unveiled,
and joy has blinded sorrow's watching eye.
كَساclothed الرَبيعُspring ثَراهاits soil مِنfrom خَمائِلِهِits lush groves
كَسا الرَبيعُ ثَراها مِن خَمائِلِهِ
ريطاًfine robes وَأَلقىand spread عَلىover كُثبانِهاits dunes قُطُفاplush carpets
ريطاً وَأَلقى عَلى كُثبانِها قُطُفا
Spring has clothed its soil, from its lush groves,
in fine robes, and spread plush carpets over its dunes.
وَالغَيمُand the clouds باكٍare weeping وَثَغرُand the mouth of النورِthe blossoms مُبتَسِمٌis smiling
وَالغَيمُ باكٍ وَثَغرُ النورِ مُبتَسِمٌ
وَطائِرُand the bird of البانِthe ban tree فيamong الأَغصانِthe branches قَدhas هَتَفاcalled
وَطائِرُ البانِ في الأَغصانِ قَد هَتَفا
The clouds weep, while the blossoms' mouth smiles,
and the ban-tree's bird has called among the branches.
وَالثَغرُand the mouth رَيّانُis fresh and moist لَدنُsupple العِطفِof stem قَدhave عَقَدَتstrung
وَالثَغرُ رَيّانُ لَدنُ العِطفِ قَد عَقَدَت
لَآلِئُpearls of الطَلِّdew مِنfrom أَوراقِهِits leaves شَنَفاan earring
لَآلِئُ الطَلِّ مِن أَوراقِهِ شَنَفا
The blossom's mouth is fresh, its stem supple; an earring is strung
from its leaves by the pearls of dew.
فَاِنهَضso rise إِلىto الراحِwine وَاِعذُرand excuse فيin الغَرامِlove بِهاof it
فَاِنهَض إِلى الراحِ وَاِعذُر في الغَرامِ بِها
لاdo not تُلحِrebuke مَنone who باتَspent the night مَشغوفاًenamored بِهاof it كَلِفاpassionately attached
لا تُلحِ مَن باتَ مَشغوفاً بِها كَلِفا
So rise to wine, and excuse love of it;
do not reproach one who spends the night enamored and enthralled by it.
وَاحبُand favor النَديمَthe drinking companion بِهاwith it حَمراءَred صافِيَةًclear
وَاحبُ النَديمَ بِها حَمراءَ صافِيَةً
صِرفاًunmixed إِذاwhen ثَبَتَتit settles فيin صَدرِهِhis breast رَجفاhe trembles
صِرفاً إِذا ثَبَتَت في صَدرِهِ رَجفا
Favor your drinking companion with it, red and clear,
unmixed: when it settles in his breast, he trembles.
راحاًwine كَأَنَّas though عِمادِImad الدينِal-Din شابَmixed بِهاwith it
راحاً كَأَنَّ عِمادِ الدينِ شابَ بِها
فيin الكَأسِthe cup ماwhat رَقَّis tender مِنof أَخلاقِهِhis character وَصَفاand pure
في الكَأسِ ما رَقَّ مِن أَخلاقِهِ وَصَفا
A wine as though Imad al-Din had blended with it
in the cup all that is tender and pure in his character,
فيin جَنَّةٍa garden جادَهاwatered it وَسَمِيُّthe early rain of راحَتِهِhis palm
في جَنَّةٍ جادَها وَسَمِيُّ راحَتِهِ
وَاِمتَدَّand stretched فيهاthere عَلَيناover us ظِلُّهُhis shade وَضَفاand spread amply
وَاِمتَدَّ فيها عَلَينا ظِلُّهُ وَضَفا
in a garden watered by his palm's first rain,
where his shade stretched broadly over us.
حَيثُwhere التَقَيناwe met رَأَيناwe saw مِنof صَنائِعِهِhis benefactions
حَيثُ التَقَينا رَأَينا مِن صَنائِعِهِ
وَمِنand of سَجاياهُhis virtues فيهاthere رَوضَةًa garden أُنُفاfresh and untouched
وَمِن سَجاياهُ فيها رَوضَةً أُنُفا
Where we met, we saw in his benefactions
and his virtues a fresh, untouched garden.
أَعدَتinfluenced شَمائِلُهُhis virtues مَرَّthe passage of النَسيمِthe breeze بِهاthrough it
أَعدَت شَمائِلُهُ مَرَّ النَسيمِ بِها
وَكُلَّماand whenever هَبَّit blew فيin أَرجائِهِhis grounds لَطُفاit grew gentle
وَكُلَّما هَبَّ في أَرجائِهِ لَطُفا
His virtues lent their grace to the breeze passing there;
whenever it blew through his grounds, it grew gentler.
عَلىon شَفاthe bank of جَدوَلٍa stream فيin أَبرَدَيهِits two cool gifts إِذاwhen اِع[begins 'grew faint']
عَلى شَفا جَدوَلٍ في أَبرَدَيهِ إِذا اِع
تَلَّ[completes 'grew faint'] النَسيمُthe breeze لَأَدواءِfor the ailments of الهُمومِcares شَفاhealing
تَلَّ النَسيمُ لَأَدواءِ الهُمومِ شَفا
On a stream's bank, in its twin coolnesses—when
the breeze grows faint—lies healing for the ailments of care.
يُزهىhe glories بِمُلكٍin an estate إِذاwhen سُحبُthe clouds of الحَياrain بَخِلَتwithhold
يُزهى بِمُلكٍ إِذا سُحبُ الحَيا بَخِلَت
أَرخىhe lets loose لَهاfor it سُحُباًclouds مِنof جودِهِhis bounty وَضَفاand overflows
أَرخى لَها سُحُباً مِن جودِهِ وَضَفا
He glories in an estate where, if rain-clouds withhold,
he looses clouds of his bounty upon it, unstintingly.
جَذلانُjoyful يُصبِحُbecomes شَملُthe gathered mass of المالِwealth مُنصَدِعاًdispersed
جَذلانُ يُصبِحُ شَملُ المالِ مُنصَدِعاً
فيin راحَتَيهِhis two palms وَشَملُand the gathering of الحَمدِpraise مُؤتَلِفاunited
في راحَتَيهِ وَشَملُ الحَمدِ مُؤتَلِفا
Joyful, he sees his gathered wealth dispersed
by his two palms, and all praise gathered together.
ياO مَنyou who يَلومُblame عَلِياًAli فيfor مَواهِبِهِhis gifts
يا مَن يَلومُ عَلِياً في مَواهِبِهِ
هَيهاتَfar from it حاوَلتَyou sought مِنهُfrom him غَيرَother than ماwhat أَلفِاhe was used to
هَيهاتَ حاوَلتَ مِنهُ غَيرَ ما أَلفِا
You who blame Ali for his gifts,
far from it! You seek from him what is foreign to his nature.
فَهَلthen, is يُلامُblamed عُبابُthe surge of البَحرِthe sea إِنif زَخَرَتswell
فَهَل يُلامُ عُبابُ البَحرِ إِن زَخَرَت
أَمواجُهُits waves وَمَهَبُّand the blowing of الريحِthe wind إِنif عَصَفاit rages
أَمواجُهُ وَمَهَبُّ الريحِ إِن عَصَفا
Can the ocean's surge be blamed when
its waves swell, or the blowing wind when it rages?
أَقسَمتُI swear لَوif كانَwere يَدريto know ماwhat الحَياءُshame is حَياًrain
أَقسَمتُ لَو كانَ يَدري ما الحَياءُ حَياً
أَرضاًland بِهاupon it نَزَلَتdescended جَدواهُhis bounty ماnot وَكَفاwould drip
أَرضاً بِها نَزَلَت جَدواهُ ما وَكَفا
I swear: if rain knew what shame means,
it would not drip on land where his bounty had descended.
عانٍattentive عَلىto الشَرَفِhonor المَوروثِinherited تالِدُهُhis ancestral legacy
عانٍ عَلى الشَرَفِ المَوروثِ تالِدُهُ
بِماthrough what اِستَجَدَّhe newly acquired مِنَof العَلياءِeminence أَوor طَرُفاfreshly gained
بِما اِستَجَدَّ مِنَ العَلياءِ أَو طَرُفا
He tends his ancient, inherited honor
through eminence newly acquired or freshly won.
ماnot زادَهُadded to him قَومُهُhis people فَخراًglory وَإِنeven if بَلَغواthey reached
ما زادَهُ قَومُهُ فَخراً وَإِن بَلَغوا
فيin المَجدِrenown شَأواًa height عَلىbeyond مَنwhoever رامَهُsought it قَذَفاfar distant
في المَجدِ شَأواً عَلى مَن رامَهُ قَذَفا
His people add nothing to his glory, though they reach
a height of renown far beyond anyone who seeks it.
فَالأَنجُمُfor the stars الزُهرُbright وَالشُبُّand the blazing lights اّلثَواقِبُpiercing لَوif
فَالأَنجُمُ الزُهرُ وَالشُبُّ اّلثَواقِبُ لَو
كانَتwere عَشائِرَهُhis clans زادَتthey would increase بِهِthrough him شَرَفاin nobility
كانَت عَشائِرَهُ زادَت بِهِ شَرَفا
For if the bright stars and piercing lights
were his clans, they would gain nobility through him.
وَالغَيثُand the rain لَوif جاوَرَتstood beside كَفّاهُhis two palms ديمَتَهُits rain-cloud الوَ[begins 'dense']
وَالغَيثُ لَو جاوَرَت كَفّاهُ ديمَتَهُ الوَ
طفاءَ[completes 'dense'] أَضحىit would become لَهاto them بِالجودِin generosity مُعتَرِفاacknowledging
طفاءَ أَضحى لَها بِالجودِ مُعتَرِفا
And if his palms stood beside rain's dense
cloud, rain would acknowledge their bounty.
ماضيkeen الغِرارِof edge إِذاwhen البيضُwhite swords الحِدادُsharp نَبَتfail to cut
ماضي الغِرارِ إِذا البيضُ الحِدادُ نَبَت
ثَبتُfirm الجَنانِof heart إِذاwhen قَلبُthe heart of الحَليمِthe prudent man هَفاfalters
ثَبتُ الجَنانِ إِذا قَلبُ الحَليمِ هَفا
His edge cuts when sharp white swords fail;
his heart stands firm when the prudent man's falters.
يَستَلُّhe draws مِنfrom عَزمِهِhis resolve فيin الرَوعِterror ذاone bearing شُطَبٍgrooves
يَستَلُّ مِن عَزمِهِ في الرَوعِ ذا شُطَبٍ
عَضباًa keen blade وَيَلبَسُand wears مِنfrom آرائِهِhis judgments زَعفاfine mail
عَضباً وَيَلبَسُ مِن آرائِهِ زَعفا
In danger he draws from his resolve a grooved,
keen blade, and dons fine mail woven of his judgments.
كَأَنَّas though غُرَّتَهُhis bright brow وَالخَطبُwhile calamity مُعتَكِرٌgathers darkly
كَأَنَّ غُرَّتَهُ وَالخَطبُ مُعتَكِرٌ
بِشائِرُglad tidings of الصُبحِdawn جَلّاhas dispelled نورُهاtheir light السُدفاthe darkness
بِشائِرُ الصُبحِ جَلّا نورُها السُدفا
His radiant brow, when calamity gathers,
is like dawn's glad tidings, whose light dispels the gloom.
تَلقىyou find الغِنىwealth عِندَهُwith him إِنif جِئتَyou come مُجتَدِياًseeking gifts
تَلقى الغِنى عِندَهُ إِن جِئتَ مُجتَدِياً
وَالعَفوَand pardon إِنif جِئتَهُyou come to him لِلذَنبِfor the sin مُعتَرِفاconfessing
وَالعَفوَ إِن جِئتَهُ لِلذَنبِ مُعتَرِفا
You find wealth with him if you come seeking gifts,
and pardon if you come confessing your sin.
ماwhat لِلزَمانِfor Time وَليand for me حَتّامَuntil when تَجمَعُwill gather ليfor me
ما لِلزَمانِ وَلي حَتّامَ تَجمَعُ لي
أَيّامُهُits days مَعwith سَواءِthe depths of اللَيلَةِnight الخُسُفاhumiliations
أَيّامُهُ مَع سَواءِ اللَيلَةِ الخُسُفا
What has Time against me? How long will
its days, with the depths of night, heap abasement upon me?
يَسومُdemands ذُؤبانَهُits wolves مَدحيmy praise وَيَطمَعُand hopes فيfor
يَسومُ ذُؤبانَهُ مَدحي وَيَطمَعُ في
أَنّيthat I أُنازِعُهاcontend with them أَشلاءَهاtheir limbs الجيفاthe carrion
أَنّي أُنازِعُها أَشلاءَها الجيفا
It would have me praise its wolves, and hopes
that I will vie with them for their carrion scraps.
هَيهاتَfar from it تَرهَبُrecoils نَفسيmy soul عَنfrom مَطامِعِهاtheir greedy aims
هَيهاتَ تَرهَبُ نَفسي عَن مَطامِعِها
وَصُنتُand I guarded فَضلِيَmy merit عَنfrom إِدناسِهاtheir defilement صَلَفاproudly
وَصُنتُ فَضلِيَ عَن إِدناسِها صَلَفا
Far from it! My soul recoils from their greedy aims;
and proudly I have guarded my merit against their defilement.
لِلَّهِto God belongs دَرُّthe excellence of أَبِيِّone proud النَفسِof soul مُمتَعِضٍindignant
لِلَّهِ دَرُّ أَبِيِّ النَفسِ مُمتَعِضٍ
لِفَضلِهِfor his merit أَنthat يُلاقيhe should encounter الحَيفَinjustice وَالجَنَفاand oppression
لِفَضلِهِ أَن يُلاقي الحَيفَ وَالجَنَفا
How admirable the proud-spirited man, indignant
that his merit should meet with injustice and oppression!
يَأبىhe rejects فَضارَةَthe luxury of عَيشٍa life جَرَّbrought مَلبَسُهاits clothing
يَأبى فَضارَةَ عَيشٍ جَرَّ مَلبَسُها
ذُلّاًhumiliation وَيَختارُand chooses عِزَّthe dignity of النَفسِthe soul وَالقَشَفاand austerity
ذُلّاً وَيَختارُ عِزَّ النَفسِ وَالقَشَفا
He rejects the luxury of a life whose clothing brings
humiliation, choosing dignity and an austere life.
قالواthey said اِنتَزِحgo far away وَتَغَرَّبand live abroad تَكتَسِبyou will gain شَرَفاًhonor
قالوا اِنتَزِح وَتَغَرَّب تَكتَسِب شَرَفاً
فَالدُرُّfor pearls ماnot عَزَّbecame precious حَتّىuntil فارَقَthey left الصَدَفاthe shells
فَالدُرُّ ما عَزَّ حَتّى فارَقَ الصَدَفا
They said, 'Go far away; travel abroad and win honor,
for pearls grew precious only when they left their shells.'
أَأَترُكُshall I leave البَحرَthe sea دونيbefore me سائِغاًeasy to drink غَدَقاًabundant
أَأَترُكُ البَحرَ دوني سائِغاً غَدَقاً
وَأَجتَديand beg وَشَلاًa trickle بِالجَوِّin the wilderness مُنتَزِفاdrained away
وَأَجتَدي وَشَلاً بِالجَوِّ مُنتَزِفا
Shall I leave the sea before me, sweet and abundant,
and beg a dwindling trickle in the wilderness?
أَبَتrefused عَطاياthe gifts of عَلِيٍّAli أَنthat أَمُدَّI should stretch إِلىtoward
أَبَت عَطايا عَلِيٍّ أَن أَمُدَّ إِلى
يَديmy hand يَداًa hand كَفَّنيrestrained me مَعروفُهُhis kindness وَكَفاand sufficed
يَدي يَداً كَفَّني مَعروفُهُ وَكَفا
Ali's gifts forbid me to stretch
my hand toward another hand; his kindness restrains me and suffices.
كَمhow often رَدَّhe turned aside عَنّيfrom me سِهامَthe arrows of الدَهرِTime طائِشَةًflying astray
كَم رَدَّ عَنّي سِهامَ الدَهرِ طائِشَةً
وَلَمand have not أَزَلI ceased لِمَراميfor the shots of صَرفِهِits vicissitudes هَدَفاa target
وَلَم أَزَل لِمَرامي صَرفِهِ هَدَفا
How often he has turned Time's wild-flying arrows away from me,
though I remain a target for the arrows of its vicissitudes.
وَكَمand how often دَعَوتُI called أَباAbu نَصرٍNasr لِحادِثَةٍfor a calamity
وَكَم دَعَوتُ أَبا نَصرٍ لِحادِثَةٍ
جَلَّتgrew grave فَماyet did not خارَhe falter عَنfrom نَصريaiding me وَلاnor صَدَفاturn away
جَلَّت فَما خارَ عَن نَصري وَلا صَدَفا
How often I have called Abu Nasr in a calamity
grown grave, and he neither faltered in my defense nor turned away!
أَحَلَّنيhe placed me مِنthrough جَميلِgracious الرَأيِregard مَنزِلَةًin a station
أَحَلَّني مِن جَميلِ الرَأيِ مَنزِلَةً
غَدَوتُI became مِنهاfrom it لِظَهرِupon the back of النَجمِa star مُرتَدِفاriding pillion
غَدَوتُ مِنها لِظَهرِ النَجمِ مُرتَدِفا
His gracious regard has raised me to a station
from which I ride pillion on a star's back.
تَبدوappears لَهُto him عَورَةٌa fault مِنّيin me فَيَستُرُهاso he conceals it
تَبدو لَهُ عَورَةٌ مِنّي فَيَستُرُها
وَإِنand if دَعَوتُI called بِهِupon him فيin غَمَّةٍdistress كَشَفاhe dispelled it
وَإِن دَعَوتُ بِهِ في غَمَّةٍ كَشَفا
If a fault of mine appears to him, he covers it;
and if I invoke him in distress, he dispels it.
ياO مَنyou who إِذاwhen قالَhe speaks أَعيىare outdone القائِلونَthe speakers لَهُby him
يا مَن إِذا قالَ أَعيى القائِلونَ لَهُ
وَمَنand who إِذاwhen جادَhe gives أَعطىhe bestows الجِلَّةَupon the great الشَرَفاnobility
وَمَن إِذا جادَ أَعطى الجِلَّةَ الشَرَفا
O you whose speech leaves all other speakers helpless,
and whose giving bestows nobility upon the great,
فَداكَmay ransom you كُلُّevery قَصيرِone short الباعِof reach مُنسَلِخٍstripped
فَداكَ كُلُّ قَصيرِ الباعِ مُنسَلِخٍ
مِنَof المَكارِمِnoble virtues مَهجُوٍّsatirized إِذاwhen وَصِفاdescribed
مِنَ المَكارِمِ مَهجُوٍّ إِذا وَصِفا
may every man of scant reach be your ransom, stripped
of noble virtues, satirized by mere description.
لاdo not تَعرِفُknow العُرفَkindness كَفّاهُhis two palms وَلاnor هُوَhe إِنif
لا تَعرِفُ العُرفَ كَفّاهُ وَلا هُوَ إِن
حاوَلتَyou tried تَعريفَهُto introduce him فيin مَحفَلٍan assembly عُرِفاwas known
حاوَلتَ تَعريفَهُ في مَحفَلٍ عُرِفا
His palms know no kindness, nor is he himself—if
you try to introduce him at an assembly—recognized.
فَاِسمَعso hear دُعاءَthe prayer of وَلِيٍّa loyal friend باتَwho spent the night مُبتَهِلاًsupplicating
فَاِسمَع دُعاءَ وَلِيٍّ باتَ مُبتَهِلاً
فيهِin it وَظَلَّand spent the day عَلىin الإِخلاصِsincerity مُعتَكِفاsteadfastly devoted
فيهِ وَظَلَّ عَلى الإِخلاصِ مُعتَكِفا
Hear, then, a loyal friend's prayer, which he spent the night offering,
and remained by day steadfastly devoted to sincerity:
مَدحاًpraise مَلَأتُI filled بِهِwith it قَلبَthe heart of الحَسودِthe envious جَوىًwith anguish
مَدحاً مَلَأتُ بِهِ قَلبَ الحَسودِ جَوىً
كَماas مَلَأتُI filled بُطونَthe insides of الكُتبِbooks وَالصُحُفاand scrolls
كَما مَلَأتُ بُطونَ الكُتبِ وَالصُحُفا
praise with which I have filled the envious heart with anguish,
just as I have filled the insides of books and scrolls.
سَرىit traveled by night فَماand not عَرَّسَhalted for the night الرُكبانُthe riders فيin طَرَفٍa region
سَرى فَما عَرَّسَ الرُكبانُ في طَرَفٍ
إِلّاexcept رَأواthey saw فيهِthere مِنof مَدحيmy praise لَكُمfor you طَرَفاa choice piece
إِلّا رَأوا فيهِ مِن مَدحي لَكُم طَرَفا
It traveled: no riders halted for the night in any region
without seeing there a choice passage of my praise of you.
فَاِفنِso outlast اللَيالِيَthe nights وَالأَيّامَand the days ساحِبَtrailing أَذ[begins 'skirts']
فَاِفنِ اللَيالِيَ وَالأَيّامَ ساحِبَ أَذ
يالِ[completes 'skirts'] السَعادَةِhappiness ماas long as كَرّاthe two recur وَماand as long as اِختَلَفاthey alternate
يالِ السَعادَةِ ما كَرّا وَما اِختَلَفا
So outlast nights and days, trailing the
skirts of happiness as long as they return and alternate.
Translation model: Sol 6.1