أَذْرَىPouredلِخَوْفِout of fearالْبَيْنِof partingحَرَّthe hotمَدَامِعٍtears
Out of the fear of parting, hot tears were shed
فِيonدُرِّthe pearlخَدٍّof a cheekفِيهِin whichذَوْبُis the meltingعَقِيقِof cornelian
upon the pearl of a cheek wherein cornelian melts.
هُوَHeفِيinتَنَاهِيthe utmostصِدْقِtruthحُسْنٍof beautyفَائِقٌsurpassing
He is surpassing in the utmost truth of beauty,
فِيinحُسْنِthe beautyصُورَةِof the formيُوسُفَof Josephالصِّدِّيقِthe truthful
in the beauty of the form of Joseph the truthful.
قَامَتْStood upعَلَىforرَجُلٍa manبِهِthrough whomالدُّنْيَاthe worldلَنَاfor us
The world stood up for us through him
إِنْifقَامَhe standsبِالْمِنْدِيلِwith the towelوَالْإِبْرِيقِand the ewer
when he stands with the towel and the ewer.
فَرَأَىSo he sawعَلَىuponقَلْبِيmy heartلَوَاحِظَthe glancesطَرْفِهِof his eye
He saw upon my heart the glances of his eye,
وَتَلَاand recitedكِتَابَthe bookالْحُبِّof loveبِالتَّحْقِيقِwith certainty
and recited the book of love with certainty.
إِنْIfدَامَremainsذَاthisفِيinحُسْنِهِhis beautyأَبَداًforeverلَنَاfor us
If this remains in his beauty forever for us,
سُمِّيlet be namedفَقِيهُthe juristالْعَصْرِof the ageبِالزِّنْدِيقِa heretic
let the jurist of the age be called a heretic.
قَالَ:He said:فَقَالَthen saidالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:أَحْسَنْتَWell doneوَيْحَكَwoe to youفَمَنْso who isصَاحِبُthe author ofهَذِهِtheseالْأَبْيَاتِ؟verses?
He said: Al-Ma'mun then said: Well done, woe to you, whose are these verses?
قُلْتُ:I said:فُلَانٌSo-and-soيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
I said: So-and-so, O Commander of the Faithful.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَشْعَرُMore poeticalوَاللَّهِby Allahمِنْهُthan himفِيinهَذَاthisالْمَعْنَىmeaningشَيْخُis the masterالشُّعَرَاءِof poetsأَبُوAbuنُوَاسٍNuwasحَيْثُwhereيَقُولُ:he says:
He said: By Allah, more poetical than him in this meaning is the master of poets, Abu Nuwas, when he says:
كُفِّيCeaseفَلَسْتُfor I am notلِعَاذِلٍto a blamerبِمُطِيقِable to endure
Cease, for I am unable to endure a blamer,
بَلَغَhas reachedالْهَوَىloveبِيin meغَايَةَthe utmost limitالتَّحْقِيقِof certainty.
love has reached in me the utmost limit of certainty.
قَطَعَHas cut offالْهَوَىloveفَرْطُthe excess ofالشَّبَابِyouthبِبَاطِلٍwith falsehood
The excess of youth with falsehood cut off
أَيْدِيthe handsالزَّمَانِof timeوَأَلْسُنَand the tonguesالتَّصْدِيقِof confirmation.
the hands of time and the tongues of confirmation.
وَجَدَاوِلٌAnd streamsمَوْصُولَةٌconnectedبِجَدَاوِلٍto streams
And streams connected to streams
مِنْfromصَوْبِthe pouring ofغَادِيَةٍa morning rain cloudوَلَمْعِand the flashingبُرُوقِof lightnings.
from the pouring of a morning rain cloud and the flashing of lightnings,
تَكْسُوcladdingمَدَامِعُهُits tearsالرِّيَاضَthe gardensعَرَائِساًas brides
its tears clothing the gardens as brides
مِنْofنَرْجِسٍnarcissusمُتَكَاثِفٍdenseوَشَقِيقِand anemones.
of dense narcissus and anemones.
بَاكَرْتُهَاI came early to itقَبْلَbeforeالصَّبَاحِthe morningبِسَحْرَةٍat early dawn
I came early to it before morning at early dawn,
قَبْلَbeforeابتِكَارِthe appearance ofمَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way ofالْعَيُوقِAl-Ayyuq.
before the appearance of the Milky Way of Al-Ayyuq,
مِنْfromكَفِّthe hand ofأَحْوَرَa dark-eyed oneذِيpossessingعِذَارٍdownأَخْضَرَgreenish
from the hand of a dark-eyed one with greenish down,
يَسْبِيcaptivatingالْقُلُوبَheartsبِقَدِّهِwith his statureالْمَمْشُوقِslender.
captivating hearts with his slender stature.
فَكَأَنَّSo it is as ifمَاwhatفِيinالْكَأْسِthe cupمِنْfromإِبْرِيقِهِits ewer
So it is as if what is in the cup from its ewer
نَارٌis fireتَسَلَّلُslippingمِنْfromفَمِthe mouth ofالْإِبْرِيقِthe ewer.
is fire slipping from the mouth of the ewer.
وَكَأَنَّهَاAnd as if itوَالْمَاءُwhile the waterيَأْخُذُtakesجِسْمَهَاits body
And as if it, while water takes its body,
دُرٌَّis pearlsيُنْثَرُscatteredفَوْقَuponأَرْضِthe land ofعَقِيقِcornelian.
is pearls scattered upon the land of cornelian.
وَتَضَوَّعَAnd it diffusedمِسْكاًas muskفِيinالزُّلَاجَةِthe glassأَذْفَراًfragrant
And it diffused fragrant musk in the glass,
ذَوْبَthe melting ofالشَّبَابِyouthمُعَصْفَراًdyed with safflowerبِخُلُوقِwith saffron perfume.
the melting of youth, dyed with safflower and saffron perfume.
قَمَرٌA moonعَلَيْهِupon whomمِنَofالْبَدَائِعِwondersحُلَّةٌis a garment
A moon upon whom is a garment of wonders,
يَسْقِيكَhe pours for youكَأْسَthe cup ofهَوًىloveوَكَأْسَand the cup ofرَحِيقِpure wine.
he pours for you the cup of love and the cup of pure wine.
مَاDoes notطَابَbecome pleasantعَيْشُthe life ofفَتًىa youthيَطِيبُthat is pleasantبِغَيْرِهَاwithout it
The life of a youth does not become pleasant without it,
لَاnotسِيَّمَاespeciallyإِنْifشَجَّهَاhe mixed itبِالرِّيقِwith saliva.
especially if he mixes it with saliva.
يُغْنِيكَIt suffices youعَنْinstead ofوَرْدِthe roses ofالرِّيَاضِthe gardensوَزَهْرِهَاand their flowers
It suffices you instead of the garden roses and flowers
مِنْهُfrom himتَوَرُّدُthe blooming ofخَدِّهِhis cheekالْمَعْشُوقِthe beloved.
the blooming of the beloved's cheek.
قَالَHe saidفَقُلْتُ:so I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulقَدْhasحَضَرَنِيcome to my mindفِيinهَذَاthisالْمَعْنَىmeaningشَيْءٌsomething
He said, so I said: O Commander of the Faithful, something has occurred to me regarding this meaning,
فَإِنْso ifرَأَىsees fitأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْtoيَأْذَنَgrant permissionلِيto meفِيinإِنْشَادِهِ؟reciting it?
so if the Commander of the Faithful sees fit to grant me permission to recite it?
قَالَ:He said:هَاتِ.Bring it forth.
He said: Bring it forth.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:
So I said:
جِسْمٌA bodyمُرَكَّبُهُwhose compositionفِيinالْعَيْنِthe eyeإِنْسِيُّis human
A body whose composition to the eye is human,
وَفِيand inاللَّطَافَةِsubtletyوَالْأَجْنَاسِand speciesعَدَنِيُّis heavenly.
and in subtlety and species is heavenly.
مَاNotيَعْرِفُknowsالطَّرْفُthe glanceمِنْofأَعْرَاضِthe accidents ofجَوْهَرِهِits substance
The glance does not know the accidents of its substance
إِلَّاexceptالَّذِيthe one whoيُخْبِرُinformsالْفِكْرَthe intellectالْقِيَاسِيّby analogy.
except the one who informs the intellect by analogy.
وَكُلُّAnd everyoneمَنْwhoغَاصَdove deepفِيinإِدْرَاكِcomprehendingصُورَتِهِits form
And everyone who dove deep in comprehending its form,
فَإِنَّمَاtrulyنُطْقُهُhis speechفِيregardingذَاكَthatوَهْمِيُّis illusory.
truly his speech regarding that is illusory.
حَازَHe acquiredالْمَحَاسِنَbeautiesوَالْأَنْوَارَand lightsأَجْمَعَهَاall of them
He acquired all beauties and lights,
فَالْحُسْنُso beautyمِنْfromحُسْنِهِhis beautyفِيinالْخَلْقِcreationجُزْئِيّis partial.
so beauty in creation is merely partial compared to his.
إِذَاWhenالْعُيُونُeyesتَرَاءَتْهُbehold himتَرَاهَقُهَاoverwhelms them
When eyes behold him, there overwhelms them
مِنْfromحُسْنِthe beauty ofصُورَتِهِhis formاللَّحْظُthe glanceالظَّلَامِيّdarkly.
from the beauty of his form a dark glance.
مَاWhatدَبَّcreptفِيintoفِطَنِthe minds ofالْأَوْهَامِillusionsمِنْofحُسْنٍbeauty
No beauty crept into the minds of illusions
إِلَّاexceptوَكَانَthat it hadلَهُin itالْحَظُّthe shareالْخُصُوصِيّexclusive.
except that he had the exclusive share of it.
كَأَنَّAs ifجَبْهَتَهُhis foreheadمِنْfromتَحْتِbeneathطُرَّتِهِhis forelock
As if his forehead from beneath his forelock
بَدْرٌis a full moonيُتَوِّجُهُcrowned byاللَّيْلُthe nightالْبَهِيمِيّpitch-black.
is a full moon crowned by the pitch-black night.
كَأَنَّAs ifعَيْنَيْهِhis two eyesخُرِطَاwere carved fromجَزْعَتَيْtwo beads ofيَمَنٍYemeni onyx
As if his two eyes were carved from two beads of Yemeni onyx,
مِنْfromكُلِّallحَافَاتِهَاtheir edgesسَهْمٌan arrowصَيَابِيّpiercing.
from all their edges coming a piercing arrow.
كَأَنَّAs ifصَدْغَيْهِhis two templesقَافَاare two letters Qaf ofكَاتِبٍa scribeمَشَقَاdrawn finely
As if his two temples are two Qafs finely drawn by a scribe
مِنْfromفَوْقِuponيَاقُوتَةٍa rubyوَالْخَدُّwhile the cheekوَرْدِيّis rosy.
upon a ruby, while the cheek is rosy.
كَأَنَّمَاAs ifالثَّغْرَthe mouthمِنْهُof himفِيinتَبَسُّمِهِhis smiling
As if his mouth in his smiling
دُرٌّis pearlsتَفَلَّقَsplit openعَنْهُfrom itالْبَحْرُthe seaلُجِّيّdeep.
is pearls from which the deep sea split open.
كَأَنَّمَاAs ifالرِّدْفَthe lower bodyمِنْهُof himإِذْwhenيَمِيسُit swaysبِهِwith him
As if his lower body when it sways with him
مَوْجٌis a waveيُكَفْكِفُهُbuffeted byالرِّيحُthe windالْجَنُوبِيّsouthern.
is a wave buffeted by the southern wind.
لَوْIfمَسَّit touchedأَجْبَالَthe mountains ofمَاهَانَMahanلَفَجَّرَهَاit would cause them to gush
If it touched the mountains of Mahan, it would cause them to gush
بِالْمَاءِwith waterيُسْعِدُهُaided byالطَّلُّthe dewالْغَمَامِيّcloudy.
with water, aided by the cloudy dew.
أَوْOrلَامَسَit brushedالْمَاءَthe waterلَانْسَابَتْwould flowأَنَامِلُهُhis fingertips
Or if it brushed the water, his fingertips would flow
كَالثَّلْجِlike snowحَلَّbefallingبِهِin itالْوَدْقُthe rainالسَّخَامِيّdark.
like snow upon which dark rain has fallen.
جِنْسِيُّA creature ofنُورٍlightعَلَىuponكُنْهِيِّthe inner reality ofجَوْهَرَةٍa jewel
A creature of light upon the inner reality of a jewel,
مِنْfromرُوحِthe spirit ofقُدْسٍholinessأَوْorالْأَنْوَارِof lightsبَرِيّcreated.
created from the spirit of holiness or from lights.
يَسْقِيHe poursبِجَوْهَرَةٍwith a jewelفِيinجَوْفِthe hollow ofجَوْهَرَةٍa jewel
He pours with a jewel in the hollow of a jewel,
مِنْfromنُورِthe light ofجَوْهَرَةٍa jewelوَاللَّوْنُwhile the colorجِنْسِيّis kindred.
from the light of a jewel, while the color is kindred.
مَاءٌWaterوَمَاءٌand waterوَفِيand inمَاءٍwaterيُدِيرُهُمَاdirecting them both
Water and water, and in water directing them both
مَاءٌis waterخِلَافُهُمَاdifferent from themوَالطِّيبُwhile the perfumeتِيهِيّis bewildering.
is water different from them, while the perfume is bewildering.
قَدْHasجَلَّbeen exaltedعَنْaboveطِيبِthe perfume ofأَهْلِthe people ofالْأَرْضِthe earthعَنْبَرُهُhis ambergris
His ambergris has been exalted above the perfume of the people of the earth,
وَمِسْكُهُand his muskفَهُوَfor it isالطِّيبُthe perfumeالسَّمَاوِيّheavenly.
and his musk, for it is the heavenly perfume.
إِذَاWhenرَأَتْهُsaw himعُيُونُthe eyes ofالْخَلْقِcreationأَحْسَرَهَاit dazed them
When the eyes of creation saw him, it dazed them
نُوراًwith lightوَلَاحَظَهَاand glanced at themالْحُسْنُbeautyالْهَوَائِيّethereal.
with light, and ethereal beauty glanced at them.
كَادَتْAlmostمَحَاسِنُهُhis beautiesمِنْfromلُطْفِthe subtlety ofرِقَّتِهِhis delicacy
His beauties, from the subtlety of his delicacy, almost
تَصِيرُbecomeعَيْباًa flawوَمَاand there is notلِلْعَيْبِfor the flawكَيْفِيّany manner.
become a flaw, yet for the flaw there is no manner.
سُبْحَانَGlory be toخَالِقِهِhis Creatorمَاذَاwhatأَرَادَdid He intendبِهِwith him
Glory be to his Creator, what did He intend with him?
لَوْلَاهُHad it not been for himلَمْwould notيَكُنِhave beenالْفِعْلُthe actionالسَّرِيرِيّsecret.
Had it not been for him, the secret action would not have been.
إِذَاWhenأَدَارَhe circulatesعَلَيْنَاupon usالْكَأْسَthe cupجَمَّشَهُhe excites him
When he circulates the cup upon us, there excites him
مِنْfromوُدِّthe affection ofأَسْرَارِنَاour secretsوُدٌّan affectionحَقِيقِيّtrue.
from the affection of our secrets a true affection.
مُصَوَّرٌPortrayedطَرَفَتْbeheldعَيْنُthe eye ofالزَّمَانِtimeبِهِat him
Portrayed, at whom the eye of time gazed,
وَاکْتَنَّهُand concealed himمِنْfromجَنَاحِthe wing ofالْخَفْضِtranquilityعَلَوِيّa heavenly one.
and a heavenly one concealed him under the wing of tranquility.