علىover دارسeffaced الأطلالthe ruins بالمتحلبat al-Mutaḥallib
على دارس الأطلال بالمتحلب
نسيجwoven fabric الصباthe east wind تبكيyou weep بدمعwith tears كصيبlike a downpour
نسيج الصبا تبكي بدمع كصيب
Over the effaced ruins at al-Mutaḥallib,
The one roaming the ruins with his cloak,
woven by the east wind, you weep tears like a downpour,
Weaving youth's dreams with tears like pouring rain,
لذكراكbecause of your remembrance منof سعدىSaʿdā بعامرin the inhabited part of ربعهاher dwelling
لذكراك من سعدى بعامر ربعها
معاهدhaunts يصبوyearns نحوهاtoward them كلevery معجبadmirer
معاهد يصبو نحوها كل معجب
at the memory of Saʿdā in her once-thriving dwelling—
Remembering the days of happiness there,
haunts toward which every admirer yearns.
Where lovers flocked, enchanted by its charm,
كأنas though لمnot تكنyou were تغنيsinging بهاthere فيin مسرةjoy
كأن لم تكن تغني بها في مسرة
وعيشand a life لذيذpleasant فيamid المنىhopes ذوpossessing تقلبchange
وعيش لذيذ في المنى ذو تقلب
As though you had never sung there in joy,
As if it never echoed with joy before,
with a sweet life, ever turning amid hopes.
With a sweet life of wishes come true,
فأصبحنso they became قدindeed أقوينdeserted منof كلevery غادةyoung beauty
فأصبحن قد أقوين من كل غادة
ودمعكand your tears سفاحgushing كهايعlike a pouring cloud هيدبrain-fringed
ودمعك سفاح كهايع هيدب
Now they have become deserted of every young beauty,
But is now stronger than any downpour
and your tears gush like a pouring, rain-fringed cloud.
Your tears a flood, pouring heavily.
لئنif indeed كانhas been قدindeed أودىbrought ruin لكto you الوجدyearning جذوةa glowing ember
لئن كان قد أودى لك الوجد جذوة
وأصبحand has begun يذكيهاto kindle it المنىhopes بالتلهبwith blazing
وأصبح يذكيها المنى بالتلهب
If yearning, a glowing ember, has indeed brought you ruin,
If longing lit a spark of sorrow in you
and hopes have begun to kindle it into flame,
And longing now fans the flames,
فقدthen indeed زاحhas departed عنيfrom me الهمworry والغمand grief والأسىand sorrow
فقد زاح عني الهم والغم والأسى
بإقبالthrough the coming of سلمىSalmā بالرضىwith contentment والتحببand affection
بإقبال سلمى بالرضى والتحبب
yet worry, grief, and sorrow have left me
Then worry, grief and pain have gone from me
with Salmā's coming in contentment and affection.
With Salma's return and her affection.
لقدindeed ذكرتshe remembered عهدthe pledge المحبof the lover فأقبلتso she came
لقد ذكرت عهد المحب فأقبلت
وقدand already آمنتshe felt safe from عينthe eye الرقيبof the watcher المؤنبthe reproachful
وقد آمنت عين الرقيب المؤنب
She remembered the lover's pledge and came,
She came when I recalled our love,
having felt safe from the reproachful watcher's eye.
Trusting, though eyes spied and told on us,
فجاءتso she came ودمعwhile the tears العينof the eye يهميstreamed تولهاin lovesick anguish
فجاءت ودمع العين يهمي تولها
علىupon خدهاher cheek بعدafter النوىseparation والتغربand exile
على خدها بعد النوى والتغرب
She came, her tears streaming in lovesick anguish
Her face still wet with tears after separation
upon her cheek after separation and exile.
As she reproached me for breaking our bond.
تناشدنيshe entreats me by العهدthe pledge القديمold تقطعاًin anguish
تناشدني العهد القديم تقطعاً
وقدand already علمتknew سلمىSalmā بداخلof the inward state مسلبone despoiled
وقد علمت سلمى بداخل مسلب
She entreats me by the old pledge, her heart torn,
A girl whose face outshines the rising sun,
and Salmā has learned the inward state of one despoiled.
Her dark tresses like the darkest night,
فتاةa maiden كأنas though الشمسthe sun غرةthe bright brow وجههاof her face
فتاة كأن الشمس غرة وجهها
وليلand the night الدجىof darkness فيin فاحمcoal-black hair مثلlike غيهبdeep gloom
وليل الدجى في فاحم مثل غيهب
A maiden whose radiant brow is like the sun,
A smooth-necked gazelle glancing back
while darkest night lies in her coal-black hair, like utter gloom.
At the hunter pursuing her in the meadow.
كمغزلةlike a doe with a fawn أدماءpale-coated ترنوgazing لشادنat a young gazelle
كمغزلة أدماء ترنو لشادن
غضبضةsoft and tender طرفيmy gaze رعيهاher grazing وسطamid ربربa herd of gazelles
غضبضة طرفي رعيها وسط ربرب
Like a pale doe with a fawn, gazing at a young gazelle,
Her smile reveals teeth like fresh camomile
soft and tender—my gaze upon her grazing amid a herd.
Newly picked in the morning, glistening with dew,
وتبسمand she smiles عنrevealing درpearls نضيدneatly arrayed كأنهas though it were
وتبسم عن در نضيد كأنه
أقاحdaisies بدعصٍon a sand dune خالصٍpure غبafter صيبa downpour
أقاح بدعصٍ خالصٍ غب صيب
And she smiles, revealing pearls in ordered rows, as though they were
Her voice captivates the wise with melodies
daisies upon a clean sand dune after a downpour.
That surpass the strings of an oud.
ومنطقهاand her speech يسبيtakes captive الحليمthe self-possessed man بنغمةwith a melody
ومنطقها يسبي الحليم بنغمة
تزيدsurpasses علىbeyond الأوتارthe strings للمتطربfor the enraptured listener
تزيد على الأوتار للمتطرب
Her speech takes the self-possessed captive with a melody
If after drinking wine's headiness, no fear
surpassing strings for an enraptured listener.
Of the angry watcher ready to rebuke,
إذاwhen زرتهاyou visit her بعدafter الرحيقpure wine ولمand do not تخفfear
إذا زرتها بعد الرحيق ولم تخف
عتابthe rebuke المريدof the defiant one الكاشحthe spiteful المترقبthe watchful
عتاب المريد الكاشح المترقب
When you visit her after wine, and have no fear of
Her soft, reddened cheeks are like
the rebuke of the defiant, spiteful watcher,
Fine worked leather, delicately scented.
مرخصtender خضبhenna-stained ناعمsoft فكأنهso it seems as though it were
مرخص خضب ناعم فكأنه
منin اللينsoftness هدابthe fringe الدمقسof silk المهذبfinely finished
من اللين هداب الدمقس المهذب
her henna-stained hand is tender and soft, as though it were,
If an old man, after years of devotion
in softness, the fringe of finely finished silk.
Saw her, from worship he'd surely stray.
فلوso if أنهاthat she تبدوappears لشيخto an old man وقدand already خلتhad passed
فلو أنها تبدو لشيخ وقد خلت
عليهover him سنونyears فيamong العبادthe devout مرائبunclear in the supplied text
عليه سنون في العباد مرائب
Were she to appear to an old man, after there had passed
She's unmatched among singers, unique as
years over him among the devout [final word unclear],
I was in love and affection for her.
لضلhe would surely stray عنfrom الإرشادguidance بعدafter سلوكهfollowing it
لضل عن الإرشاد بعد سلوكه
وخالand would deem رشاداًright guidance ذاكthat بعدafter الترهبascetic devotion
وخال رشاداً ذاك بعد الترهب
he would stray from guidance after having followed it,
Rising above friends in loyalty and faith,
and deem that right guidance after his ascetic devotion.
The hallmarks of one who's truly refined.
لقدindeed أصبحتshe has become فيamong الغانياتbeautiful women فريدةpeerless
لقد أصبحت في الغانيات فريدة
كماjust as كنتyou were فرداًpeerless فيin الأخاbrotherhood والتحببand affection
كما كنت فرداً في الأخا والتحبب
She has become peerless among beauties,
If the spying critics ask what molded this man,
as you were peerless in brotherhood and affection.
Tell them - his manners taught him grace.
سموتyou rose علىabove الأصحابcompanions بالصدقthrough truthfulness والوفاand fidelity
سموت على الأصحاب بالصدق والوفا
وأنهماand those two are عنوانthe hallmark كلevery مهذبrefined person
وأنهما عنوان كل مهذب
You rose above your companions through truthfulness and fidelity,
Loyal to the promise of love and brotherhood,
and those two are the hallmark of every refined person.
Never wavering despite the miles apart.
فإنso if سألask الواشونthe slanderers ماwhat خلقthe character الفتىof the young man
فإن سأل الواشون ما خلق الفتى
فقدthen indeed كلمتhave spoken أخلاقهhis manners بالتأدبthrough courtesy
فقد كلمت أخلاقه بالتأدب
If the slanderers ask, 'What is the young man's character?'
Refined, gentle, a poet of discretion
his manners have already spoken through courtesy.
Whose morals are untouched by any stain.
حفيظfaithful علىto عهدthe pledge المحبةof love والأخاand brotherhood
حفيظ على عهد المحبة والأخا
ولمand has not يتغيرchanged باستطاطthrough prolonging [uncertain reading] التغربestrangement
ولم يتغير باستطاط التغرب
Faithful to the pledge of love and brotherhood,
We spurned the foe though they sought to provoke
he has not changed through prolonged estrangement [reading uncertain].
And come at us, but we did not draw near.
أديبcultured أريبdiscerning لوذعيquick-witted مهذبrefined
أديب أريب لوذعي مهذب
مطهرةpurified أخلاقهhis manners عنfrom مثلبa fault
مطهرة أخلاقه عن مثلب
Cultured, discerning, quick-witted, refined,
Yet we answered their attacks out of passion,
his manners are cleansed of every fault.
So my blood honored one who caused pain.
رقناwe pleased [uncertain reading] العدىthe foes منfrom كلevery أوبquarter مماfrom what ارعوىhe turned back
رقنا العدى من كل أوب مما ارعوى
إلىtoward ثلبهمreviling them يوماًone day ولمand did not يتقربdraw near
إلى ثلبهم يوماً ولم يتقرب
We pleased foes from every quarter, through his turning back [wording unclear],
Our poems were like pearls on a string,
toward reviling them one day, yet he did not draw near;
As if polished jewels set in gold.
ولكنbut رماهمhe struck them بالقريضwith verse حميةin zealous defense
ولكن رماهم بالقريض حمية
فاكرمso how noble! بدميwith my blood قامعa subduer للمؤنبof the reproacher
فاكرم بدمي قامع للمؤنب
but he struck them with verse in zealous defense.
Reminding me of days gone by between us,
How noble is my blood, quelling the reproacher!
I'll not forget the love of one so refined.
وقدand indeed جاءit came فيin درpearls القريضof verse كأنهas though it were
وقد جاء في در القريض كأنه
لالئpearls اصدافfrom shells بعقدin a necklace مذهبgilded
لالئ اصداف بعقد مذهب
And it came in pearls of verse, as though it were
Honor it with beautiful, eloquent verses
shell-born pearls in a gilded necklace.
Whose words are sweeter than honeycomb.
يذكرنيit reminds me of العهدthe pledge الذيthat كانwas بينناbetween us
يذكرني العهد الذي كان بيننا
فلمso I have not أنسforgotten عهداًa pledge للمحبto the loving friend المهذبrefined
فلم أنس عهداً للمحب المهذب
It reminds me of the pledge that was between us,
O one who roams the barren desert,
and I have not forgotten a pledge to the loving, refined friend.
Crossing empty plains after empty plains,
فأكرمso how fine! بهin it نظماًverse بديعاًwondrous مروقاًrefined
فأكرم به نظماً بديعاً مروقاً
وألفاظهand its words أحلىsweeter منthan المتحلبdripping honey
وألفاظه أحلى من المتحلب
How fine it is—wondrous, limpid verse!
Prancing like an ostrich, shielded in feathers,
And its words are sweeter than dripping honey.
Swaying as it walks carrying eggs.
فياso O أيهاyou الغاديsetting out at dawn علىupon ظهرthe back ضامرa lean mount
فيا أيها الغادي على ظهر ضامر
تجوبyou traverse الفيافيthe deserts سبسباًa plain بعدafter سبسبa plain
تجوب الفيافي سبسباً بعد سبسب
O you who set out at dawn upon a lean mount's back,
The desert wind debates with it
crossing the deserts, plain after plain,
As the ostrich takes flight in alarm.
جنوحforward-leaning جنوقunclear camel epithet كالفينقيlike a pampered camel [uncertain spelling] شملةfleet
جنوح جنوق كالفينقي شملة
دفاقsurging forward إذاwhen ماemphatic particle احتئهاhe urges her on [uncertain reading] ذوone with تحنبbowed legs
دفاق إذا ما احتئها ذو تحنب
forward-leaning, [an unclear epithet], like a pampered camel, fleet,
Convey my greetings though we are far,
surging forward whenever a bow-legged man urges her on,
Like the scent of musk and sweetest wine,
فكالعلمthen like a banner السفارmuch-traveling جادلهwrestled with it الصباthe east wind
فكالعلم السفار جادله الصبا
أوor الهيفthe slender gazelle [uncertain reading] مذعورfrightened بغضفاءby a long-eared hound سبسبof the plain
أو الهيف مذعور بغضفاء سبسب
like a wayfaring banner wrestled by the east wind,
After lightning, sand and pebbles,
or a slender gazelle [uncertain reading], startled by a long-eared hound of the plain.
And the weaving winds of storms.
فابلغهso convey to him تسليماًa greeting علىdespite البعدdistance والنوىand separation
فابلغه تسليماً على البعد والنوى
كنفخlike the waft الخزامىof lavender والرحيقand wine المطيبperfumed
كنفخ الخزامى والرحيق المطيب
Convey to him a greeting despite distance and separation,
Before the coo of doves and the dawn
like the waft of lavender and perfumed wine,
Of stars flickering in the sky.
بعدby the number of وميضflashes البرقlightning والرملand sand والحصىand pebbles
بعد وميض البرق والرمل والحصى
ونسجand the weaving الصباof the east wind والهابعand pouring rain [uncertain reading] المتحلبdripping
ونسج الصبا والهابع المتحلب
as numerous as lightning flashes, sand, and pebbles,
Greetings from a lover, no pretense,
and the east wind's weaving, and streaming, dripping rain,
No boast or fabricated claim.
وماand as long as هتفتcall ورقgray الحمامdoves بأيكةin a thicket
وما هتفت ورق الحمام بأيكة
وماand as long as لاحgleams فيin الآفاقthe horizons منof كلevery كوكبstar
وما لاح في الآفاق من كل كوكب
and for as long as gray doves call in a thicket,
Greetings of peace, Saad, of joy and contentment
and for as long as any star gleams upon the horizons—
May you have the sweetest life as you search.
سلامthe greeting محبof a loving friend لمdid not يقلspeak متحذلقاًpretentiously
سلام محب لم يقل متحذلقاً
ولمand did not يتشدقspeak bombastically باقتراعby casting lots التكذبfabricating lies
ولم يتشدق باقتراع التكذب
the greeting of a loving friend who did not speak pretentiously,
Unite me, my God, whenever the east grows bright
and did not mouth grandiose phrases through a lottery of lies.
And the horizon darkens with rain,
ودمand remain سالماًsafe ياO سعدSaʿd بالسعدwith good fortune والرضىand contentment
ودم سالماً يا سعد بالسعد والرضى
بأطيبwith the sweetest عيشlife للعلاfor lofty rank فيin تطلبseeking
بأطيب عيش للعلا في تطلب
Remain safe, O Saʿd, with good fortune and contentment,
With Muhammed the guide and trustee,
in the sweetest life, striving for lofty rank.
His companions and family, those who were close.
وصلand send blessings إلهيmy God كلماwhenever ذرrises شارقa radiant sun
وصل إلهي كلما ذر شارق
وأظلمand darkens ديجورdeep night بماطرwith pouring صيبrain
وأظلم ديجور بماطر صيب
And send blessings, my God, whenever a sun rises,
and deepest night grows dark with pouring rain,
علىupon المصطفىthe Chosen One الهاديthe guide الأمينthe trustworthy محمدMuḥammad
على المصطفى الهادي الأمين محمد
وأصحابهand his companions والآلand the family أهلpeople of التقربdrawing near to God
وأصحابه والآل أهل التقرب
upon the Chosen One, the guide, the trustworthy Muḥammad,
and his companions and family, those who draw near to You.
Partial English translation: 70 of 74 Arabic lines translated.