فَقَالَSo saidلِيto meرَفِيقِي:my companion:
So my companion said to me: What is the matter with you?
مَاwhatلَكَ؟is for you?
What is the matter with you?
قُلْتُ:I said:إِنْifصَدَقَcomes trueالزَّجْرُthe omen
I said: If the omen is true, then your friend has passed away into the dust and the layers of earth have been heaped over him.
فَصَاحِبُكَthen your companionقَدْhasثَوَىdweltفِيinالتُّرَابِthe dust
Then your companion has dwelt in the dust.
وَالْتَحَفَand has coveredعَلَيْهِover himأَطْبَاقُlayers ofالثَّرَى.earth.
And the layers of earth have been heaped over him.
قَالَ:He said:كَيْفَhowذَلِكَ؟that?
He said: How is that?
قُلْتُ:I said:وَافَقَcoincidedفَرَاغُكَyour freeingمِنَfromالْبَيْتِthe house
I said: Your freeing yourself from the house coincided with the entry of the he-goat into its sweeping place.
دُخُولُentry ofالتَّيْسِthe he-goatفِيinمَكْنَسِهِ.its sweeping place.
The entry of the he-goat into its sweeping place.
فَأَعْرَضَSo he turned awayعَنِّيfrom meفَلَمَّاand whenأَصْبَحْتُI awokeفِيinالْيَوْمِthe day
So he turned away from me. When I awoke on the day we had appointed for meeting him, he did not come.
الَّذِيwhichوَاعَدْنَاwe appointedلِقَائِهِfor his meetingلَمْdid notيُوَافِfulfill
Which we appointed for meeting him, he did not fulfill.
وَلَمْand it was notيَكُنْanyبِأَوْشَكَsoonerمِنْthanأَنْthatأَتَانَاcame to usالْخَبَرُthe news
And it was no sooner than that the news of his demise and his son's sitting reached us, so Caesar honored him and improved his reward.
بِهَلَاكِهِof his demiseوَقُعُودِand sittingابْنِهِ،of his son,فَأَكْرَمَهُso honored himقَيْصَرُCaesarوَأَحْسَنَand improvedجَائِزَتَهُ.his reward.
And Caesar honored him and improved his reward.
قُلْنَا:We said:أَيَّدَMay supportاللَّهُGodالْوَزِيرَ!the vizier!
We said: May God support the vizier! You have deservedly attained and you have captured the prize of the race in every noble trait.
لَقَدْIndeedبَلَغْتَyou reachedبِاسْتِحْقَاقٍwith meritوَلَقَدْand indeedحُزْتَyou acquiredقَصَبَةَthe forelockالرِّهَانِof the raceفِيinكُلِّeveryمَنْقَبَةٍ.noble trait.
You have deservedly attained and you have captured the prize of the race in every noble trait.
فَتَبَسَّمَSo he smiledوَقَالَ:and said:عِزُّThe gloryالشَّرِيفِof the nobleأَدَبُهُ.is his manners.
So he smiled and said: The glory of a noble person is his manners.
وَإِذَاAnd lo,رَسُولُthe messengerالرَّشِيدِof al-Rashidقَدْhasوَافَاهُarrived to him
And lo, the messenger of al-Rashid had arrived to him, so he stood up toward him, the assembly dispersed, and we departed.
فَنَهَضَso he stood upنَحْوَهُtoward himوَتَصَدَّعَand dispersedالْمَجْلِسُthe assemblyوَانْصَرَفْنَا.and we departed.
So he stood up toward him, the assembly dispersed, and we departed.
فَلَمَّاAnd whenمَضَىpassedمِنَfromاللَّيْلِthe nightبَعْضُهُsome of it
And when a part of the night had passed, lo, a night-visitor came to me, and before him were pages upon whose necks were the full moons.
إِذْlo,أَنَاIبِطَارِقٍwith a night-visitorقَدْhasطَرَقَنِيvisited me by nightوَبَيْنَand betweenيَدَيْهِhis handsغِلْمَانٌpagesعَلَىuponأَعْنَاقِهِمُtheir necksالْبَدْرُthe full moon
Lo, a night-visitor came to me, and before him were pages upon whose necks were the full moons.
وَإِذَاAnd lo,رَسُولُthe messengerالْفَضْلِof al-Fadlوَقَدْand hasحَمَلَcarriedإِلَيَّto meمِائَةَa hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
And lo, the messenger of al-Fadl had carried to me a hundred thousand dirhams and said: The vizier reads you peace and says:
وَقَالَ:and said:الْوَزِيرُThe vizierيَقْرَأُreadsعَلَيْكَupon youالسَّلَامَpeaceوَيَقُولُ:and says:
The vizier reads you peace and says:
ضَجِرْتَYou grew wearyبِاسْتِمَاعِwith listening toالْحَدِيثِthe talkوَأَوْجَبْتَand you made obligatoryعَلَيَّupon meبِذَلِكَtherebyمِنَّةًa favor
You grew weary of listening to the talk and thereby obligated a favor upon me, and this is a connection and a gift alongside your standing with me, so take it and do not consider it important.
وَهَذِهِand thisصِلَةٌis a connectionوَتُحْفَةٌand a giftفِيinجَنْبِside ofقَدْرِكَyour rankعِنْدِيnear meفَخُذْهَاso take itوَلَاand do notتَعْتَدَّcountبِهَا.it.
And this is a connection and a gift alongside your standing with me, so take it and do not consider it important.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:سُبْحَانَGlory be toاللَّهِGodالَّذِيwhoخَلَقَcreatedهَذَاthisالرَّجُلَman
So I said: Glory be to God who created this man and formed him with a generosity that surpassed those who passed and those who came after!
وَجَبَلَهُand formed himعَلَىuponكَرَمٍgenerosityبَذَّsurpassedبِهِwith itمَنْwhoمَضَىpassedوَمَنْand whoغَبَرَ!came after!
And formed him with a generosity that surpassed those who passed and those who came after!
وَإِذَاAnd lo,هُوَheقَدْhasوَجَّهَdirectedإِلَىtoأَصْحَابِيmy companionsالَّذِينَwhoكَانُواwereمَعِيwith me
And lo, he had sent to my companions who were with me the like of what he sent to me.
بِمِثْلِwith the likeالَّذِيof whatوَجَّهَhe directedبِهِwith itإِلَيَّ،to me,فَغَدَوْتُso I went earlyإِلَيْهِto him
So I went early to him and wanted to thank him, but he said: By God, if you go to uncover what God has veiled, I will estrange you!
وَأَرَدْتُand I wantedأَنْthatأَشْكُرَهُI thank himفَقَالَ:so he said:وَاللَّهِBy Godلَئِنْifذَهَبْتَyou wentتَكْشِفُyou uncoverمَاwhatسَتَرَveiledاللَّهُGodلَأَجْفُونَكَ!I will estrange you!
By God, if you go to uncover what God has veiled, I will estrange you!
فَكَأَنَّمَاSo it was as ifأَلْقَمَنِيhe put in my mouthبِذَلِكَtherebyحَجراً،a stone,فَاحْتَبَسَنِيso he detained meعِنْدَهُwith him
So it was as if he had put a stone in my mouth thereby. He detained me with him, so I ate and drank, and departed having been provided with several horses with gilded saddles and gilded bridles.
فَطَعِمْتُso I ateوَشَرِبْتُand drankوَرُحْتُand departedوَقَدْand hasحَمَلَنِيcarried meعَلَىuponعِدَّةِseveralأَفْرَاسٍhorsesبِسُرُوجٍwith saddlesمُذَهَّبَةٍgildedوَلُجُمٍand bridlesمُذَهَّبَةٍgilded
And departed having been provided with several horses with gilded saddles and gilded bridles, and he sent with me ten chests of clothes and ten purses.
وَوَجَّهَand sentمَعِيwith meبِعَشَرَةِwith tenتُخُوتِchests ofثِيَابٍclothesوَعَشَرِand tenبِدَرٍ.purses.
And he sent with me ten chests of clothes and ten purses.
قَالَHe saidفَقَالَso saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:وَيْحَكَWoe to youيَاOإِسْحَاقُ!Ishaq!
Al-Ma'mun said: Woe to you, O Ishaq! The reward of your talk is double what al-Fadl ordered for you, and I have ordered for you a hundred thousand dirhams.
ثَوَابُReward ofحَدِيثِكَyour talkضِعْفُdoubleمَاwhatأَمَرَorderedلَكَfor youبِهِwith itالْفَضْلُal-Fadlوَقَدْand I haveأَمَرْتُorderedلَكَfor youبِمِائَةِwith a hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
The reward of your talk is double what al-Fadl ordered for you, and I have ordered for you a hundred thousand dirhams.
فَقَبَضْتُSo I receivedذَلِكَthatوَانْصَرَفْتُ.and departed.
So I received that and departed.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَانَAnd wasمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofحَازِمٍHazimقَالَsaidقَصِيدَتَهُhis odeالَّتِيwhichيَقُولُhe saysفِيهَا:in it:
He said: Muhammad ibn Hazim had said his ode in which he says:
فَيَاSo Oشَامِتاًrejoicer at misfortuneمَهْلاًslowlyفَكَمْfor how manyمِنْofشَمَاتَةٍrejoicing at misfortune......تَكُونُisلَهَاfor itالْعُقْبَىthe outcomeلِقَاصِمَةِas the breaker ofالظَّهْرِthe back
So O rejoicer at misfortune, slowly, for how many a rejoicing at misfortune is its outcome the breaker of the back!
فَاعْتَلَّSo fell illمُحَمَّدٌMuhammadوَلَمْand was notيَرِثْهُinheriting himإِلَّاexceptأَخُوهُhis brotherوَكَانَand he wasبِسِرَّin Samarraمَنْwhoرَأَى،saw,
So Muhammad fell ill, and no one was to inherit him except his brother, and he was in Samarra. So his slave-girl sent to him informing him of the severity of his illness.
فَوَجَّهَتْso she sentإِلَيْهِto himجَارِيَتُهُhis slave-girlتُعْلِمُهُinforming himبِشِدَّةِwith severity ofعِلَّتِهِ،his illness,فَقَدِمَso arrivedأَخُوهُhis brotherوَمُحَمَّدٌwhile Muhammadلَمْdid notيَأُوبْreturn to his senses
So his brother arrived while Muhammad had not yet recovered, and he entered the slave-girl into a room in the house and had intercourse with her before his brother's death.
فَأَدْخَلَso he enteredالْجَارِيَةَthe slave-girlبَيْتاًa roomفِيinالدَّارِthe houseوَوَطِئَهَاand had intercourse with herقَبْلَbeforeوَفَاةِdeath ofأَخِيهِ.his brother.
And he entered the slave-girl into a room in the house and had intercourse with her before his brother's death.
فَلَمَّاAnd whenمَاتَhe diedحَمَلَhe carriedالْمَالَthe wealthوَالْأَثَاثَand the furnishingsوَالْجَارِيَةَand the slave-girlإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِهِhis houseبِسِرَّin Samarraمَنْwhoرَأَىsawوَأَخَذَand tookفِيinالشَّرَابِ،drinking,
When he died, he carried the wealth, furnishings, and slave-girl to his house in Samarra and took to drinking. He departed one night intoxicated, wanting to sleep on the roof of the house, but was prevented from that and refused.
فَانْصَرَفَso he departedلَيْلَةًone nightثَمِلًاintoxicatedفَأَرَادَso he wantedالْمَبِيتَthe sleepingعَلَىuponسَطْحِroof ofالدَّارِthe houseفَمُنِعَso he was preventedمِنْfromذَلِكَthatفَامْتَنَعَ،and refused,
He departed one night intoxicated, wanting to sleep on the roof of the house, but was prevented from that and refused.
فَلَمَّاso whenصَارَhe becameفِيinأَعْلَىupper part ofالدَّرَجَةِthe staircaseسَقَطَhe fellوَانْقَصَفَand brokeظَهْرُهُhis backفَجَعَلْنَاso we beganنَتَذَاكَرُwe rememberشِعْرَpoetry ofأَخِيهِ.his brother.
So when he was at the top of the staircase, he fell and his back broke, and we began to remember his brother's poetry.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَوَفَدَتْAnd arrivedعَزَّةُAzzaكَثَيِّرٍof KathayyirعَلَىuponعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikبْنِson ofمَرْوَانَ،Marwan,
It was said: Azza of Kathayyir arrived as a visitor upon Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan.
فَلَمَّاSo whenدَخَلَتْshe enteredسَلَّمَتْshe greetedفَرَدَّso returnedعَلَيْهَاupon herالسَّلَامَpeaceوَرَحَّبَand welcomedبِهَاherوَقَالَ:and said:مَاwhatأَقْدَمَكِbrought youيَاOعَزَّةُ؟Azza?
When she entered, she gave greetings, so he returned the greeting, welcomed her, and said: What brought you here, O Azza?
قَالَتْ:She said:شِدَّةُSeverity ofالزَّمَانِthe timeوَكَثْرَةُand abundance ofالْأَلْوَانِcolorsوَاحْتِبَاسُand withholding ofالْقَطْرِrainوَقِلَّةُand scarcity ofالْمَطَرِ.precipitation.
She said: The severity of the time, the abundance of hardships, the withholding of rain, and the scarcity of precipitation.
قَالَ:He said:هَلْdoتَرْوِينَyou narrateلِكَثَيِّرٍ:for Kathayyir:
He said: Do you narrate for Kathayyir:
وَقَدْAnd indeedزَعَمَتْshe claimedأَنِّيthat Iتَغَيَّرْتُchangedبَعْدَهَاafter her......وَمَنْand whoذَاthatالَّذِيwhoيَاOعِزُّAzzaلَاnotيَتَغَيَّرُchanges
And she has claimed that I changed after her ... and who is there, O Azza, that does not change?
قَالَتْ:She said:لَاnoأَرْوِيI narrateلَهُfor himهَذَا،this,وَلَكِنِّيand but Iأَرْوِيnarrateلَهُfor himقَوْلَهُ:his saying:
She said: I do not narrate this for him, but I narrate his saying:
كَأَنِّيAs if Iأُنَادِيam callingصَخْرَةًa rockحِينَwhenأَعْرَضَتْshe turned away......مِنَfromالصُّمِّthe hard onesلَوْifتَمْشِيwalksبِهَاupon itالْعِصْمُthe mountain goatsزَلَّتْthey would slip
As if I were calling a rock when she turned away ... of the hard ones, if mountain goats walked upon it, they would slip.
فَقَالَ:He said:مَاwhatكُنْتِyou wereلِتَصِيرِيto becomeإِلَىtoحَاجَةٍa needأَوْorتَهَبِيgiveنَفْسَكِyourselfلِيto meفَأُزَوِّجَكِso I marry youمِنْهُto him
He said: You would not come to a need or give yourself to me so that I might marry you to him.
قَالَتْ:She said:الْأَمْرُThe matterإِلَيْكَis to youيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,مَاnotكُنْتُI wasلِأَزْهَدَto turn awayفِيinهَذَاthisالشَّرَفِhonorالْبَاقِيremainingلِيfor meمَاas long asدَامَتِlastsالدُّنْيَاthe worldأَنْthatيَكُونَisأَمِيرُCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَلِيِّي.my guardian.
She said: The matter is up to you, O Commander of the Faithful; I would not turn away from this remaining honor for me as long as the world lasts, that the Commander of the Faithful should be my guardian.
فَعَظُمَSo grew greatبِذَلِكَtherebyقَدْرُهَاher rankعِنْدَهُnear himوَأَمَرَand he orderedلَهَاfor herبِمَالٍwith wealthوَكَتَبَand wroteإِلَىtoكَثَيِّرٍKathayyirوَهُوَwhile heبِالْكُوفَةِ:was in Kufa:
So her rank grew great near him, and he ordered wealth for her and wrote to Kathayyir while he was in Kufa: Either ride the postal service and make haste, for I am marrying you to Azza.
أَمَّاEitherارْكَبِrideالْبَرِيدَthe postal serviceوَعَجِّلْand make hasteفَإِنِّيfor Iمُزَوِّجُكَam marrying youعَزَّةَ.to Azza.
Either ride the postal service and make haste, for I am marrying you to Azza.
فَأَتَاهُSo came to himالْكِتَابُthe letterوَهُوَwhile heمُضْنًىwastedمِنَfromالشَّوْقِlongingإِلَيْهَاto herفَرَحَلَso he set outفَأَقْبَلَand advancedنَحْوَهَا،toward her,
So the letter came to him while he was wasted from longing for her, so he set out and advanced toward her. When he was in some part of the road, lo, there was a raven on a banaan tree, plucking its feathers and scattering them.
فَلَمَّاand whenكَانَhe wasفِيinبَعْضِsome ofالطَّرِيقِthe roadإِذَاlo,هُوَheبِغُرَابٍwith a ravenعَلَىuponشَجَرَةِtree ofبَانَةٍbanaanوَإِذَاand lo,هُوَheيَنْتِفُplucksرِيشَهُhis feathersوَيُطَايِرُهُ،and scatters them,
When he was in some part of the road, lo, there was a raven on a banaan tree, plucking its feathers and scattering them.
وَكَانَAnd he wasشَدِيدَsevere inالطِّيَرَةِ،superstition,فَلَمَّاso whenرَآهُhe saw itتَطَيَّرَhe took an evil omenوَهَمَّand intendedبِالْانْصِرَافِthe departureثُمَّthenغَلَبَهُovercame himشَوْقُهُhis longingفَمَضَىso he proceededوَهُوَwhile heمَكْرُوبٌwas distressedلِمَاfor whatرَأَى،he saw,
And he was severe in superstition. When he saw it, he took an evil omen and intended to depart, then his longing overcame him, so he proceeded while he was distressed for what he saw.
حَتَّىuntilأَتَىhe came toمَاءًwaterلِبَنِيbelonging to children ofنَهْدٍ،Nahd,فَإِذَاso lo,هُوَheبِرَجُلٍwith a manيَسْقِيwateringإِبِلَهُhis camels
Until he came to a water source belonging to Banu Nahd. Lo, there was a man watering his camels, so he dismounted from his riding beast and sought shade under a tree there.
فَنَزَلَso he dismountedعَنْfromرَاحِلَتِهِhis riding beastوَاسْتَظَلَّand sought shadeبِشَجَرَةٍunder a treeهُنَاكَthere
So he dismounted from his riding beast and sought shade under a tree there.
فَأَبْصَرَSo he sawالنَّهْدِيَّ،the Nahdi,فَأَتَاهُso he came to himوَسَأَلَهُand asked himعَنْaboutاسْمِهِhis nameوَنَسَبِهِand his lineageفَانْتَسَبَ،so he gave his lineage,
He saw the Nahdi, so he came to him and asked him about his name and lineage, and he gave his lineage. He welcomed him, and Kathayyir informed him about what he saw in his path.
فَرَحَّبَso he welcomedبِهِ،him,فَأَخْبَرَهُso he informed himعَمَّاabout whatرَأَىhe sawفِيinطَرِيقِهِ،his path,
He welcomed him, and Kathayyir informed him about what he saw in his path.
فَقَالَ:so he said:أَمَّاAs forالْغُرَابُthe ravenفَغُرْبَةٌ،then it is estrangement,وَأَمَّاand as forالْبَانَةُthe banaan treeفَبَيْنٌ،then it is separation,وَأَمَّاand as forنَتْفُpluckingرِيشِهِof its feathersفَفُرْقَةٌ.then it is parting.
So he said: As for the raven, then it is estrangement; as for the banaan tree, then it is separation; and as for the plucking of its feathers, then it is parting.
فَاسْتُطِيرَSo he was terrifiedلِذَلِكَ،at that,وَمَضَىand he proceededحَتَّىuntilدَنَاhe drew nearمِنْfromدِمَشْقَDamascusفَإِذَاso lo,بِجِنَازَةٍwith a funeral processionفَاسْتَعْبَرَso he shed tearsوَقَالَ:and said:
So he was terrified at that, and he proceeded until he drew near to Damascus. Lo, there was a funeral procession, so he shed tears and said: I ask God for the best of what is to be!
أَسْأَلُI askاللَّهَGodخَيْرَthe bestمَاof whatهُوَisكَائِنٌ!being!
I ask God for the best of what is to be!
فَسَأَلَSo he askedعَنِaboutالْمَيِّتِthe deceasedفَإِذَاso lo,هِيَsheعَزَّةُ،was Azza,فَخَرَّso he fell downمَغْشِيّاًfaintingعَلَيْهِ،upon him,
So he asked about the deceased, and lo, she was Azza. He fell down fainting, so he was recognized and water was poured upon him.
فَعُرِفَso he was recognizedوَصُبَّand was pouredعَلَيْهِupon himالْمَاءُthe waterفَكَانَand it wasمَجْهُودَهُhis utmost effortأَنْthatبَلَغَhe reachedالْقَبْرَ،the grave,
Water was poured upon him, and his utmost effort was that he reached the grave.
فَلَمَّاSo whenدُفِنَتْshe was buriedانْكََبَّhe slumpedعَلَىuponالْقَبْرِthe graveوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying:
When she was buried, he slumped over the grave saying:
سِرَاجُLamp ofالدُّجَىthe darknessضَامِرُwastedالْحَشَىthe insidesمُنْتَهَىutmost ofالْمُنَىdesires......كَشَمْسِlike sun ofالضُّحَىthe forenoonنُوَّامَةٌsleepyحِينَwhenتُصْبِحُshe becomes morning
Lamp of the darkness, wasted in the insides, utmost of desires ... like the sun of the forenoon, sleepy when morning comes.
إِذَاWhenمَشَتْshe walkedبَيْنَbetweenالْبُيُوتِthe housesتَخَزَّلَتْshe walked languidly......وَمَالَتْand leanedكَمَاasمَالَleanedالنَّزِيفُthe intoxicated oneالْمُرَنَّحُswaying
When she walked between the houses, she walked languidly ... and leaned as the swaying intoxicated one leans.
تَعَلَّقْتُI attached myself toعِزًّاAzzaوَهِيَwhile sheرُؤْدٌwas tenderشَبَابُهَاher youth......عَلَاقَةُattachment ofحُبٍّloveكَادَalmostبِالْقَلْبِwith the heartيَرْجَحُoutweigh
I attached myself to Azza while her youth was tender ... an attachment of love that almost outweighed the heart.
أَقُولُI sayوَنَضْوِيwhile my riding beastوَاقِفٌis standingعِنْدَatرَمْسِهَاher grave......عَلَيْكَupon youسَلَامُpeace ofاللَّهِGodوَالْعَيْنُand the eyeتَسْفَحُis shedding tears
I say while my emaciated riding beast is standing at her grave ... Upon you be the peace of God, and the eye is shedding tears.
فَهَلَّاWould thatفَدَاكَransomed youالْمَوْتُdeathمَنْwhoأَنْتَyouدُونَهُare before him......وَمَنْand whoهُوَisأَسْوَأُworseمِنْكَthan youذُلًّاin disgraceوَأَقْبَحُand uglier
Would that death had ransomed you from those who are below you ... and who is worse than you in disgrace and uglier!
عَلَىUponأُمِّUmبَكْرٍBakrرَحْمَةٌmercyوَتَحِيَّةٌand a greeting......لَهَاfor herمِنْكَfrom youوَالنَّائِيand the distant oneيَوَدُّlovesوَيَنْصَحُand advises
Upon Um Bakr be mercy and a greeting ... for her from you, while the distant one loves and advises.