فَقَالَ:He said:
He said:
وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَقَدْindeedأَحْسَنَhe has done wellوَأَجَادَ.and excelled.
By Allah, he has done well and excelled.
وَدَعَاAnd he calledبِالدَّوَاةِfor the inkwellفَمَاand I do notأَدْرِيknowمَاwhatيَكْتُبُhe writesثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:
And he called for the inkwell and I do not know what he wrote, then he said:
يَاOنَضْرُNadrكَيْفَhowتَقُولُdo you sayمِنَfromالْإِتْرَابِ؟dust/earth?
O Nadr, how do you say from al-itrab?
قُلْتُ:I said:أَقُولُI sayأَتْرَبَatrebaالْقِرْطَاسَthe paperوَالْقِرْطَاسُand the paper isمُتْرَبٌ.dusty.
I said: I say atreba al-qirtas and al-qirtas mutrab.
قَالَ:He said:فَلِمَwhyكَسَرْتَdid you kasrالْأَلِفَ؟the alif?
He said: Why did you give the alif a kasrah?
قُلْتُ:I said:لِأَنَّهَاbecause it isأَلِفُan alif ofوَصْلٍwaslتَسْقُطُwhich dropsفِيinالتَّصْغِيرِ.diminutive.
I said: Because it is an alif of connection which drops in the diminutive.
قُلْتُ:I said:فَكَيْفَhowتَقُولُdo you sayمِنَfromالطِّينِ؟clay?
I said: How do you say from clay?
قُلْتُ:I said:طَيَّنَtayyanaالْكِتَابَthe bookوَالْكِتَابُand the book isمُطَيَّنٌ.covered in clay.
I said: Tayyana al-kitab and al-kitab mutayyan.
قَالَ:He said:هَذِهِthisأَحْسَنُis betterمِنَthanالْأُولَى.the first.
He said: This is better than the first.
ثُمَّThenدَفَعَhe handedمَاwhatكَتَبَhe wroteإِلَىtoخَادِمٍa servantوَوَجَّهَهُand dispatched himمَعِيwith meإِلَىtoذِيDhuالرِّيَاسَتَيْنِal-Riyasataynالْحَسَنِal-Hasanبْنِibnسَهْلٍ،Sahl,
Then he handed what he wrote to a servant and dispatched him with me to Dhu al-Riyasatayn al-Hasan ibn Sahl.
فَقَالَAnd saidلِيto meذُوDhuالرِّيَاسَتَيْنِ:al-Riyasatayn:مَاwhatالَّذِيthat whichجَرَىtook placeبَيْنَكَbetween youوَبَيْنَand betweenأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Faithful?
Dhu al-Riyasatayn said to me: What took place between you and the Commander of the Faithful?
فَقَدْFor indeedأَمَرَhe has orderedلَكَfor youبِخَمْسِينَfiftyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
For indeed he has ordered fifty thousand dirhams for you.
فَقَصَصْتُSo I narratedعَلَيْهِto himالْقِصَّةَ.the story.
So I narrated the story to him.
فَقَالَHe saidوَيْحَكَwoe to youلَحَّنْتَyou made a grammatical error forأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
He said: Woe to you, you made a grammatical error for the Commander of the Faithful.
قُلْتُ:I said:مَعَاذَGod forbidاللَّهِAllahبَلْratherلَحَّنْتُI made a grammatical error forهُشَيْماًHushaymلِأَنَّهُbecause heكَانَwasلَحَّانَةً،frequently making grammatical errors.
I said: God forbid, rather I made a grammatical error for Hushaym because he used to make many grammatical errors.
فَوَقَّعَSo he endorsedلِيfor meأَيْضاًalsoمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhimselfبِثَلَاثِينَwith thirtyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsفَانْصَرَفْتُso I leftبِثَمَانِينَwith eightyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsفِيinحَرْفٍa wordوَاحِدٍoneسِدَادٍsidadوَسَدَادٍ.and sadad.
So he also endorsed for me from himself thirty thousand dirhams, and I left with eighty thousand dirhams for a single word: sidad and sadad.
قَالَSaidأَبُوAbuسَعِيدٍSaeedالضَّرِيرُ:al-Darir:سَمِعْتُI heardابْنَIbnالْأَعْرَابِيِّal-A'rabiيَقُولُ:saying:
Abu Saeed al-Darir said: I heard Ibn al-A'rabi saying:
بَعَثَSentإِلَيَّto meالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munفَصِرْتُso I wentإِلَيْهِto himوَإِذَاand loهُوَhe wasمَعَwithيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِibnأَكْثَمَAkthamيَطُوفَانِwalking aroundفِيinحَدِيقَةٍ،a garden.
Al-Ma'mun sent for me, so I went to him and he was with Yahya ibn Aktham walking around in a garden.
فَلَمَّاWhenنَظَرَhe lookedإِلَيَّat meوَلَّانِيhe turnedظَهْرَهُhis back to meفَجَلَسْتُso I satفَلَمَّاand whenأَقْبَلَhe approachedقُمْتُI stood upقَائِماًstandingفَأَسَرَّand he whisperedإِلَىtoيَحْيَىYahyaبِشَيْءٍsomethingمَاI did notفَهِمْتُunderstandكُلَّهُall of itإِلَّاexceptمَاwhatقَالَ:he said:
When he looked at me, he turned his back to me so I sat. When he approached, I stood up, and he whispered to Yahya something of which I did not understand everything except what he said:
مَاHowأَحْسَنَexcellentأَدَبَهُ!is his manners!
How excellent is his manners!
وَقَدْAndأَقْبَلَhe advancedإِلَىtoمَجْلِسِهِhis gathering placeثُمَّthenالتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَيَّto meفَقَالَ:and said:
And he advanced to his gathering place, then he turned to me and said:
يَاOمُحَمَّدَMuhammadبْنَibnزِيَادٍZiyadمَنْwhoأَشْعَرُis the best poetالْعَرَبِof the Arabsفِيinوَصْفِdescribingالْخَمْرِ؟wine?
O Muhammad ibn Ziyad, who is the best poet of the Arabs in describing wine?
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:الَّذِيHe whoيَقُولُ:says:
So I said: He who says:
تُرِيكَIt shows youالْقَذَىthe impurityمِنْfromدُونِهَاbeyond itوَهِيَwhile it isدُونَهُbeneath it......إِذَاwhenذَاقَهَاtastes itمَنْwhoeverذَاقَهَاtastes itيَتَمَطَّقُsmacks his lips
It shows you the impurity from beyond it while it is beneath it ... whoever tastes it smacks his lips.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَحْسَنُThe bestالنَّاسِof peopleقَوْلاًin speechفِيregardingصِفَةِthe description ofالْخَمْرِwineالَّذِيis the one whoيَقُولُ:says:
He said: The best of people in speech regarding the description of wine is the one who says:
فَتَمَشَّتْThen it walkedفِيinمَفَاصِلِهِمْtheir joints......كَتَمَشِّيlike the walking ofالْبُرْءِrecoveryفِيinالسَّقَمِillness
Then it walked in their joints ... like the walking of recovery in illness.
فَعَلَتْIt didفِيinالْبَيْتِthe houseإِذْwhenمُزِجَتْit was mixed......مِثْلَlikeفِعْلِthe action ofالصُّبْحِthe morningفِيinالظُّلَمِthe darkness
It did in the house when it was mixed ... like the action of the morning in the darkness.
فَهْتَدَىSo was guidedسَارِيthe nocturnalالظَّلَامِdarkness travelerبِهَاby it......كَاهْتِدَاءِlike the guidance ofالسَّفْرِtravelersبِالْعَلَمِby the landmark
So the night traveler was guided by it ... like the guidance of travelers by the landmark.
قُلْتُ:I said:فَائِدَةُA benefit fromأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
I said: A benefit from the Commander of the Faithful.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:مَاWhat isمَعْنَىthe meaning ofقَوْلِthe saying ofهِنْدٍ:Hind:
Then he said: What is the meaning of the saying of Hind:
نَحْنُWe areبَنَاتُdaughters ofطَارِقٍTariq
We are daughters of Tariq
نَمْشِيWe walkعَلَىuponنَمَارِقِcushions
We walk upon cushions
إِنْIfتُقْبِلُواyou approachنُعَانِقْwe embrace
If you approach we embrace
أَوْOrتُدْبِرُواyou turn awayنُفَارِقْwe part
Or you turn away we part
فِرَاقَA partingغَيْرِother thanوَامِقِloving
A parting without love.
فَفَكَّرْتُSo I thoughtفِيaboutنَسَبِهَاher lineageوَنَسَبِand the lineage ofأَبِيهَاher fatherفَلَمْand I did notأَجِدْfindطَارِقاًa Tariqفَقُلْتُ:so I said:مَاI do notأَعْرِفُknowطَارِقاًTariqيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
So I thought about her lineage and the lineage of her father and I did not find a Tariq, so I said: I do not know a Tariq, O Commander of the Faithful.
فَقَالَ:He said:إِنَّمَاShe onlyقَالَتْsaidإِنَّهَاthat sheفِيinالْعُلُوِّheightوَالشَّرَفِand nobilityبِمَنْزِلَةِis in the position ofالطَّارِقِal-Tariqوَهُوَand he/it isالنَّجْمُ،the star,مِنْfromقَوْلِthe saying ofاللَّهِ،Allah,عَزَّMightyوَجَلَّ،and Majestic,وَالسَّمَاءِBy the skyوَالطَّارِقِ،and al-Tariq,
He said: She only meant that in loftiness and nobility she is in the position of al-Tariq, which is the star, from the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, "By the sky and al-Tariq."
قُلْتُ:I said:فَائِدَةٌA benefitيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulثَانِيَةٌ.a second one.
I said: A second benefit, O Commander of the Faithful.
ثُمَّThenالتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَىtoيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِibnأَكْثَمَAkthamفَقَالَ:and said:أَنَاI amبُؤْبُؤُthe pupilهَذَاof thisالْأَمْرِmatterوَابْنُand the son ofبُؤْبُئِهِ.its pupil.
Then he turned to Yahya ibn Aktham and said: I am the pupil of this matter and the son of its pupil.
فَلَمْSo I did notأَدْرِknowمَاwhatقَالَhe saidوَقُمْتُand I stood upلِأَخْرُجَ.to leave.
So I did not know what he said and I stood up to leave.
فَلَمَّاWhenنَظَرَhe lookedإِلَيَّat meوَقَدْwhileقُمْتُI stood upرَمَىhe threwإِلَيَّto meبِعَنْبَرَةٍan ambergris beadكَانَتْthat wasفِيinيَدِهِhis handبِعْتُهَاI sold itبِخَمْسَةِfor fiveآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ،dirhams,
When he looked at me and I had stood up, he threw to me an ambergris bead that was in his hand, which I sold for five thousand dirhams.
قَالَ:He said:فَرَجَعْتُSo I returnedإِلَىtoكُتُبِيmy booksفَنَظَرْتُand I lookedفِيهَاin themلِأَعْرِفَto knowمَاwhatقَالَhe saidفَوَقَعْتُso I came acrossعَلَىtheseهَذِهِversesالْأَبْيَاتِofلِبَعْضِsomeالْأَعْرَابِ:Bedouins:
He said: So I returned to my books and looked in them to know what he said, and I came across these verses by some of the Bedouins:
كَأَنَّمَاAs ifبِنْتُthe daughter ofأَبِيAbuالْمُحَيْرِيَّةِal-Muhayriyya
As if the daughter of Abu al-Muhayriyya
قَاعِدَةٌis sittingفِيinإِتْبِهَاher garmentلُؤَيْلِيَةٌlike a little pearl
Is sitting in her garment like a little pearl
قَدْShe hasفَاقَتِsurpassedالْبُؤْبُؤَthe pupilوَالْبُؤَيْبِيَةْand the little pupil
She has surpassed the pupil and the little pupil.
فَعَمِلْتُSo I realizedأَنَّهُthat heعَنَىmeantالسَّيِّدَthe masterوَابْنَand the son ofالسَّيِّدِ.the master.
So I realized that he meant the master and the son of the master.
قَالَSaidأَبُوAbuعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِal-Aswari:الْأَسْوَارِيُّ:enteredدَخَلْتُuponعَلَىal-Ma'munالْمَأْمُونِinفِيa gardenحَدِيقَةٍof hisلَهُand inوَفِيhis handيَدِهِwas a pair ofمَقْرَاصِgoldenذَهَبٍclippersوَهُوَand he wasيَقْرُصُclippingبِهِwith themمَاwhatطَالَgrew longمِنْofأَوْرَاقِleavesتِلْكَof thatالرَّوْضَةِmeadowوَيُقَوِّمُand straighteningمَاwhatبَدَاappearedمِنْofأَغْصَانِهَا،its branches,
Abu Abdullah al-Aswari said: I entered upon al-Ma'mun in a garden of his while in his hand was a pair of golden clippers, clipping with them what had grown long of the leaves of that meadow and straightening what appeared of its branches.
فَسَلَّمْتُSo I greetedوَقُلْتُ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,جُعِلْتُmay I be madeفِدَاكَ،your ransom,إِنَّكَverily youلَمُسْتَهْتِرٌare infatuatedبِهَذِهِwith thisالْحَدِيقَةِgardenحَتَّىto the extent thatإِنَّكَyouلَاdo notتَأْمَنُtrustعَلَيْهَاover itأَحَداً.anyone.
So I greeted and said: O Commander of the Faithful, may I be made your ransom, verily you are so infatuated with this garden that you do not trust anyone with it.
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَسْوَارِيُّAswariفَهَلْso doesيَحْضُرُكَcome to your mindفِيregardingذَلِكَthatشَيْءٌ؟anything?
He said: Yes, O Aswari, does anything come to your mind regarding that?
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ،Yes,وَأَنْشَدْتُهُ:and I recited to him:
I said: Yes, and I recited to him:
أَوَائِلُFirstرُسُلٍmessengersلِلرَّبِيعِof springتَقَدَّمَتْadvanced
First messengers of spring advanced
عَلَىUponطِيبِthe pleasantness ofوَجْهِthe face ofالْأَرْضِthe earthخَيْرُas the bestقُدُومِarrival
Upon the pleasantness of the face of the earth as the best arrival.
فَرَاقَتْSo bloomedلَهَاfor itبَعْدَafterالْمَمَاتِdeathحَدَائِقٌgardens
So gardens bloomed for it after death
كَوَاسٍas clothed onesوَكَانَتْwhile it wasمِثْلَlikeظَهْرِthe back ofأَدِيمِa hide
As clothed ones while it was like the back of a hide.
إِذَاWhenاقْتَصَهَاtracesطَرْفُthe gaze ofالْبَصِيرِthe discerning oneبِلَحْظَةٍwith a glance
When the gaze of the discerning one traces it with a glance
تَوَهَّمَهَاhe imagines itمَفْرُوشَةًfurnishedبِرُقُومِwith patterns
He imagines it furnished with patterns.
كَأَنَّAs ifاخْضِرَارَthe greenness ofالزَّهْرِthe flowersوَالرَّوْضِand the meadowطَالِعٌemerging
As if the greenness of the flowers and the meadow emerging
عَلَيْهِupon itسَمَاءٌis a skyزُيِّنَتْadornedبِنُجُومِwith stars
Upon it is a sky adorned with stars.
تَرَدَّتْIt clothed itselfبِظِلٍّin a shadeدَائِمٍpermanentفَتَضَاحَكَتْand laughed
It clothed itself in permanent shade and laughed
كَضَحْكِlike the laughter ofبُرُوقٍlightningsفِيinبُكَاءِthe weeping ofغُيُومِclouds
Like the laughter of lightnings in the weeping of clouds.
وَأَوْرَدَهَاAnd brought to itفَحْلُthe stallion ofالسَّحَابِcloudsعَرَائِساًbrides
And the stallion of clouds brought to it brides
ضِعَافَweakالْقُوَىin strengthمِنْfromمُرْضِعٍnursingوَفَطِيمِand weaned
Weak in strength, of nursing and weaned.
إِذَاWhenبَرَزَتْemergedمِنْهُنَّfrom themبِكْرٌa virginحَسِبْتَهَاyou would deem her
When a virgin emerged from them, you would deem her
تَرَاكَseeing youوَإِنْeven thoughأَضْحَتْshe becameبِعَيْنِin the eye ofسَقِيمِa sick person
Seeing you even though she became in the eye of a sick person.
كَمِثْلِLikeنشَاوَىthe intoxicated ofالرَّاحِwineيَلْثَمُkissingذَاكَthisذاthat
Like the intoxicated of wine, this one kissing that one
أَوْOrالرِّيحُthe windجَادَتْbestowedبَيْنَهَاamong themبِنَسِيمِwith a breeze
Or the wind bestowed among them with a breeze.
تَخَالُYou imagineوُقُوعَthe falling ofالطَّلِّdewفِيهِنَّin themأَدْمُعاًas tears
You imagine the falling of dew in them as tears
رَنَتْgazingبِعُيُونٍwith eyesغَيْرِother thanذَاتِpossessingسُجُومِshedding
Gazing with eyes that do not shed tears.
قَالَ:He said:أَحْسَنْتَYou have done wellيَاOأَسْوَارِيُّ،Aswari,يَاOغُلَامُboyاسْقِنَاgive us to drinkعَلَىuponهَذَا.this.
He said: You have done well, O Aswari; O boy, give us to drink upon this.
ثُمَّThenجَلَسَhe satعَلَىonكُرْسِيٍّa chairمَغْشًىcoveredبِالْحَرِيرِwith silkوَإِذَاand loغُلَامٌa boyقَدْhadأَقْبَلَapproachedيَهْتَزُّswayingكَأَنَّهُas if he wereالْقَضِيبُthe branchالْمَائِلُleaningحِينَwhenاخْضَرَّgreenedشَارِبُهُhis mustacheوَبَدَاand appearedعِذَارُهُhis sideburnوَفِيand inيَدِهِhis handكَأْسٌwas a cupوَإِبْرِيقُand a pitcherفَصَبَّso he pouredفِيintoالْكَأْسِthe cupمِنَfromالْإِبْرِيقِthe pitcherثُمَّthenمَزَجَهُhe mixed itوَنَاوَلَهُand handed itإِيَّاهُ،to him,
Then he sat on a chair covered with silk, and lo, a boy had approached, swaying as if he were a leaning branch when his mustache greened and his sideburn appeared, and in his hand was a cup and a pitcher. He poured into the cup from the pitcher, then mixed it and handed it to him.
فَأَخَذَهُSo he took itفِيinيَدِهِhis handسَاعَةًfor a whileوَجَعَلَand beganيَنْظُرُlookingإِلَىatالْغُلَامِthe boyمَاnotيَرُدُّturningبَصَرَهُhis sightعَنْهُ،away from him,
So he took it in his hand for a while and began looking at the boy, not turning his sight away from him.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:يَاOأَسْوَارِيُّAswariهَلْdoesيَحْضُرُكَcome to your mindفِيregardingصِفَةِthe description ofمِثْلِthe like ofهَذَاthisشَيْءٌ؟anything?
Then he said: O Aswari, does anything come to your mind regarding the description of the like of this?
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْYesيَاOسَيِّدِي،my master,وَأَنْشَدْتُهُ:and I recited to him:
I said: Yes, O my master, and I recited to him:
ثَجَّاجُPouringمُزْنٍraincloudشَجَّmixedكَأْسَthe cup ofرَحِيقٍpure wine
Pouring raincloud mixed the cup of pure wine
رِيقُthe saliva ofالْمَهَفَّفِthe slender oneفِيهِin itأَعْذَبُis the sweetestرِيقِsaliva
The saliva of the slender one in it is the sweetest saliva.