هَلis there فَوقَabove مَجدِكَyour glory غايَةٌa goal لِطِلابِfor seeking
هَل فَوقَ مَجدِكَ غايَةٌ لِطِلابِ
أَمor عَنaway from ذَراكَyour heights مُعَرَّجٌa turning-place لِرِكابِfor riding camels
أَم عَن ذَراكَ مُعَرَّجٌ لِرِكابِ
Is there any goal to seek above your glory?
Is there an ultimate goal beyond your glory that seekers yearn for?
Or a turning-place for mounts away from your heights?
Or a path ascending to your lofty threshold for riders?
ماnot المُنزِلُone who lodges الآمالَhopes عِندَكَwith you مُخفِقٌunsuccessful
ما المُنزِلُ الآمالَ عِندَكَ مُخفِقٌ
كَلّاcertainly not وَلاnor المُرتادُthe seeker بِالمُرتابِin doubt
كَلّا وَلا المُرتادُ بِالمُرتابِ
No one who lodges his hopes with you fails.
No indeed! Neither hopes waver in your presence,
Certainly not; nor is the seeker in doubt.
Nor do doubters frequent your court.
فَطُلِso surpass الوَرىmankind وَتَمَلَّand long enjoy رُتبَتَكَyour rank الَّتيwhich
فَطُلِ الوَرى وَتَمَلَّ رُتبَتَكَ الَّتي
خَطَبَتكَwooed you وَهيَthough it is كَثيرَةُrich in الخُطّابِsuitors
خَطَبَتكَ وَهيَ كَثيرَةُ الخُطّابِ
So surpass mankind, and long enjoy the rank that
So seek leadership over the lands and people will weary of your ranks which sought you, numerous though your suitors be.
wooed you, though it had many suitors.
And disdain the nobility through the efforts which have made you independent of the pretentious genealogists.
وَتَمَلَّكِand take possession of العَلياءَeminence بِالسَعيthrough the striving الَّذيwhich
وَتَمَلَّكِ العَلياءَ بِالسَعي الَّذي
أَغناكَmade you independent عَنof مُتَعالَمِthe commonly acknowledged الأَنسابِpedigrees
أَغناكَ عَن مُتَعالَمِ الأَنسابِ
And take possession of eminence through the striving that
With the blackness of battle and the reddening of swords,
freed you from dependence on pedigrees known to all—
The whiteness of honor and the greenness of meadows,
بَسَوادِthrough the blackness of نَقعٍbattle-dust وَاِحمِرارِand the redness of صَوارِمٍkeen swords
بَسَوادِ نَقعٍ وَاِحمِرارِ صَوارِمٍ
وَبَياضِand the whiteness of عِرضٍhonor وَاِخضِرارِand the greenness of جَنابِa domain
وَبَياضِ عِرضٍ وَاِخضِرارِ جَنابِ
through the blackness of battle-dust and the redness of keen swords,
And pride in a paternal uncle whose munificence encompasses all,
and the whiteness of honor and the greenness of your domain.
And a father who prevents the debased acts.
وَاِفخَرand boast بِعَمٍّof a paternal uncle عَمَّembraced all جودُthe bounty of يَمينِهِhis right hand
وَاِفخَر بِعَمٍّ عَمَّ جودُ يَمينِهِ
وَأَبٍand a father لِأَفعالِto the deeds of الدَنِيَّةِbaseness آبِaverse
وَأَبٍ لِأَفعالِ الدَنِيَّةِ آبِ
And boast of a paternal uncle whose right hand's bounty embraced all,
By inheriting deeds you have attained the goal—
and a father averse to deeds of baseness.
Undoubtedly before inheriting titles.
بِوِراثَةِby inheriting الأَفعالِdeeds أَدرَكتَyou attained المَدىthe utmost reach
بِوِراثَةِ الأَفعالِ أَدرَكتَ المَدى
لاشَكَّwithout doubt قَبلَbefore وِراثَةِinheriting الأَلقابِtitles
لاشَكَّ قَبلَ وِراثَةِ الأَلقابِ
By inheriting deeds, you reached the utmost goal,
Your virtuous acts are many. By which of them
without doubt, before inheriting titles.
Have you become peerless among your contemporaries?
حَسَناتُthe merits of فِعلِكَyour conduct جَمَّةٌabundant فَبِأَيِّهاso by which of them
حَسَناتُ فِعلِكَ جَمَّةٌ فَبِأَيِّها
أَصبَحتَyou have become مُنفَرِداًset apart مِنَfrom الأَضرابِpeers
أَصبَحتَ مُنفَرِداً مِنَ الأَضرابِ
The merits of your conduct are many; by which of them
Is it by your raging attacks? Or your unfailing destiny?
have you come to stand apart from your peers?
Or your unstinting gifts?
بِمَضائِكَby your decisive force المُجتاحِall-sweeping أَمor بِقَضائِكَby your judgment الthe (continued next line)
بِمَضائِكَ المُجتاحِ أَم بِقَضائِكَ ال
مُنتاشِrescuing أَمor بِعَطائِكَby your bounty المُنتابِrepeatedly sought
مُنتاشِ أَم بِعَطائِكَ المُنتابِ
By your sweeping resolve, or by your judgment that
Or the pardon you grant when sins abound?
rescues, or by your bounty sought time and again?
Or your resolve as swords substitute for you?
أَمor بَذلِthe granting of عَفوِكَyour pardon وَالذُنوبُwhile offenses كَثيرَةٌare many
أَم بَذلِ عَفوِكَ وَالذُنوبُ كَثيرَةٌ
أَمor قَطعِthe cutting force of عَزمِكَyour resolve وَالسُيوفُwhile the swords نَوابِare blunted
أَم قَطعِ عَزمِكَ وَالسُيوفُ نَوابِ
Or by your granting of pardon, while offenses are many,
The kings of earth, their domains are constricted,
or by the cutting edge of your resolve when swords are blunt?
Their breasts in assembly are not spacious.
فيon الأَرضِthe earth أَهلُlords of مَمالِكٍkingdoms ساحاتُهُمtheir courtyards
في الأَرضِ أَهلُ مَمالِكٍ ساحاتُهُم
وَصُدورُهُمand their breasts فيin المَحلِdrought غَيرُnot رِحابِspacious
وَصُدورُهُم في المَحلِ غَيرُ رِحابِ
On earth are lords of kingdoms whose courtyards
Yet in munificence they are not hindered, and they are admired.
and breasts, in drought, are not spacious.
While yours is a miracle without admiration.
لَمdid not يُعجِزواachieve the inimitable فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds وَأُعجِبواyet grew conceited
لَم يُعجِزوا في المَكرُماتِ وَأُعجِبوا
وَلَدَيكَwhile you possess إِعجازٌinimitable achievement بِلاwithout إِعجابِconceit
وَلَدَيكَ إِعجازٌ بِلا إِعجابِ
They have worked no wonders in noble deeds, yet are conceited;
For your clemency is disregarding rage.
while you work wonders without conceit.
And your bounty, obliging reluctance.
وَلِحِلمِكَand to your forbearance الإِغضاءُoverlooking offenses فيamid الإِغضابِprovocation
وَلِحِلمِكَ الإِغضاءُ في الإِغضابِ
وَلِنَيلِكَand to your bounty الإِجداءُgiving relief فيamid الإِجدابِdrought
وَلِنَيلِكَ الإِجداءُ في الإِجدابِ
And your forbearance overlooks offenses amid provocation,
Moreover, you are a young shoot of a clan whose covenants
and your bounty brings relief amid drought.
Are filled with gifts and grants.
وَلَأَنتَand indeed you are غُرَّةُthe radiant ornament of أُسرَةٍa family أَيمانُهاits right hands
وَلَأَنتَ غُرَّةُ أُسرَةٍ أَيمانُها
مَلأَىfull مِنَof الإِعطاءِgiving وَالإِعطابِand destruction
مَلأَى مِنَ الإِعطاءِ وَالإِعطابِ
And you are indeed the radiant ornament of a family whose right hands
A provider in affliction or leader in arena,
are full of giving and destruction.
Or speaker of wisdom.
مِنamong them رازِقٍa provider of sustenance فيin لَزبَةٍhardship أَوor سابِقٍa frontrunner
مِن رازِقٍ في لَزبَةٍ أَو سابِقٍ
فيon حَلبَةٍa racecourse أَوor ناطِقٍone who speaks بِصَوابِrightly
في حَلبَةٍ أَو ناطِقٍ بِصَوابِ
Among them, a provider in hardship, or a frontrunner
A people who when the war horses charge upon them
on a racecourse, or one who speaks rightly.
Kill the foe, protecting their offspring from humiliation.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen طَلَعَrises العَجاجُbattle-dust عَلَيهِمُover them
قَومٌ إِذا طَلَعَ العَجاجُ عَلَيهِمُ
قَتَلواthey slay العِدىthe foes فَاِنجابَthen it clears عَنfrom أَنجابِnoble men
قَتَلوا العِدى فَاِنجابَ عَن أَنجابِ
A people who, when battle-dust rises over them,
And when rain is scarce in their land
slay their foes, and it lifts to reveal noble men.
They refrain from begging the clouds, superior at seeking alternatives.
وَإِذاand when تَعَذَّرَتِfail الغُيوثُthe rains بِأَرضِهِمin their land
وَإِذا تَعَذَّرَتِ الغُيوثُ بِأَرضِهِم
نابواthey stood in عَنِfor الأَنواءِthe rain-bearing stars خَيرَthe best مَنابِsubstitution
نابوا عَنِ الأَنواءِ خَيرَ مَنابِ
And when rains fail in their land,
They battled fate but it had its vengeance on them
they stand in for the rain-bearing stars in the finest way.
Through dire events, not by limit of swords.
حَرَبواthey despoiled الزَمانَTime فَنالَso it exacted مِنهُمfrom them ثَأرَهُits revenge
حَرَبوا الزَمانَ فَنالَ مِنهُم ثَأرَهُ
بِخَباthrough concealed خُطوبٍcalamities لاnot بِحَدِّthrough the sharp edge of حِرابِspears
بِخَبا خُطوبٍ لا بِحَدِّ حِرابِ
They despoiled Time, so it took its revenge upon them
Then you came, most knowledgeable of your clan’s ways,
through concealed calamities, not the sharp points of spears.
Excelling the cavaliers of yore in horsemanship.
وَأَتَيتَand you came فيin أَعقابِthe wake of قَومِكَyour people عالِماًknowing
وَأَتَيتَ في أَعقابِ قَومِكَ عالِماً
فيin الرَوعِbattle's terror فَضلَthe excellence of فَوارِسِthe horsemen of الأَعقابِthe rearguard
في الرَوعِ فَضلَ فَوارِسِ الأَعقابِ
And you came in your people's wake, knowing
You curbed it until its events were fettered,
the worth, in battle's terror, of rearguard horsemen.
Claws and fangs bound.
فَأَخَفتَهُso you frightened it حَتّىuntil اِنبَرَتcame forth أَحداثُهُits calamities
فَأَخَفتَهُ حَتّى اِنبَرَت أَحداثُهُ
مَغلولَةَfettered الأَظفارِthe claws وَالأَنيابِand the fangs
مَغلولَةَ الأَظفارِ وَالأَنيابِ
So you frightened it, until its calamities came forth
Between a consulted affair you quelled with resolve
with their claws and fangs fettered,
And an aspired aim you repelled with argument.
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween خَطبٍa calamity رُعتَهُyou terrified it بِعزَيمَةٍwith resolve
ما بَينَ خَطبٍ رُعتَهُ بِعزَيمَةٍ
تُرديlays low وَخَطبٍand a calamity ذُدتَهُyou repelled it بِخِطابِwith speech
تُردي وَخَطبٍ ذُدتَهُ بِخِطابِ
ranging between a calamity you terrified with resolve
O you who excels at decisive words when harm impends
that lays low, and one you repelled with speech.
And surpasses rulers the morning after calumny.
ياO أَحضَرَreadiest الأَمَراءِof princes فيin حَسمِending الأَذىharm
يا أَحضَرَ الأَمَراءِ في حَسمِ الأَذى
قَولاًwith words وَأَحصَرَهُمand the most tongue-tied of them غَداةَon the morning of سِبابِinsults
قَولاً وَأَحصَرَهُم غَداةَ سِبابِ
O readiest of princes in putting an end to harm
Glory attends you while you frequent it. You receive growing favor and deny it.
with words, and most tongue-tied on a morning of insults!
If the early boasts of the boastful
شَرُفَbecame ennobled النَدِيُّthe gathering وَأَنتَwhile you are فيهِin it المُحتَبيseated with knees clasped
شَرُفَ النَدِيُّ وَأَنتَ فيهِ المُحتَبي
شَرَفَwith the nobility of النَدىbounty المُعطىbestowed وَأَنتَwhile you are الحابيthe giver
شَرَفَ النَدى المُعطى وَأَنتَ الحابي
The gathering is ennobled while you sit there with knees clasped,
Were purely about pride in you, they would be credible.
as bestowed bounty is ennobled while you are the giver.
To al-Nāṣir son of al-Nāṣir belongs the nobility
لَوif راءَsaw ماwhat يَأتيcomes أَوائِلُthe forebears of وائِلٍWa'il
لَو راءَ ما يَأتي أَوائِلُ وائِلٍ
بِمَحضِwith pure الفَخرِglory مِنكَfrom you لُبابِthe finest essence
بِمَحضِ الفَخرِ مِنكَ لُبابِ
If Wa'il's forebears saw what comes
Whose sun is not obscured by clouds.
from you in pure glory, its very essence—
A king who if you call upon him in a crisis
لِلناصِرِto al-Nasir بنِson of الناصِرِal-Nasir الشَرَفُthe honor الَّذيwhose
لِلناصِرِ بنِ الناصِرِ الشَرَفُ الَّذي
ماnot شَمسُهُits sun مَحجوبَةٌshrouded بِضَبابِby mist
ما شَمسُهُ مَحجوبَةٌ بِضَبابِ
To al-Nasir, son of al-Nasir, belongs the honor whose
You find a lion in a soft coat.
sun is not shrouded by mist.
The ringing of insects makes every persistent critic
مَلِكٌa king إِذاwhen اِجتابَhe dons المُفاضَةَthe ample coat of mail فيin وَغىًbattle
مَلِكٌ إِذا اِجتابَ المُفاضَةَ في وَغىً
عايَنتَyou behold لَيثاًa lion فيin قَميصِa shirt of حُبابِbubbles
عايَنتَ لَيثاً في قَميصِ حُبابِ
A king who, when he dons ample mail in battle,
Hear in his ears the ringing of insects.
you behold a lion in a shirt of bubbles.
He paired valor with devotion to his Lord.
يُلفيhe finds طَنينَthe ringing of ذُبابِthe point of كُلِّevery مُهَنَّدٍIndian-forged sword
يُلفي طَنينَ ذُبابِ كُلِّ مُهَنَّدٍ
فيin سَمعِهِhis hearing عِزّاًthrough his might طَنينَthe buzzing of ذُبابِflies
في سَمعِهِ عِزّاً طَنينَ ذُبابِ
He takes the ringing of every Indian blade's point
How excellent is the prayer niche within the prayer niche!
in his ears, through his might, for the buzzing of flies.
And tomorrow he will take himself to account for Judgment Day
شَفَعَhe paired الشَجاعَةَcourage بِالخُشوعِwith reverent humility لِرَبِّهِtoward his Lord
شَفَعَ الشَجاعَةَ بِالخُشوعِ لِرَبِّهِ
ماhow أَحسَنَsplendid المِحرابَthe fierce warrior فيin المِحرابَthe prayer niche
ما أَحسَنَ المِحرابَ في المِحرابَ
He paired courage with reverent humility before his Lord.
While his gifts transpire without reckoning.
How splendid the warrior in the prayer niche!
Since panegyrics came to you full of praise,
وَغَداand he began يُحاسِبُto call to account نَفسَهُhimself لِمَعادِهِfor his final return
وَغَدا يُحاسِبُ نَفسَهُ لِمَعادِهِ
وَهِباتُهُwhile his gifts تَترىcome successively بِغَيرِwithout حِسابِreckoning
وَهِباتُهُ تَترى بِغَيرِ حِسابِ
And he has come to reckon with himself for his final return,
They have been safe from fraud and lies.
while his gifts follow one another without count.
So let the days pride themselves on al-Bāsil
إِنَّindeed القَوافِيَthe rhymes مُذsince أَتَتكَthey came to you مَوادِحاًas praises
إِنَّ القَوافِيَ مُذ أَتَتكَ مَوادِحاً
أَمِنَتbecame safe مِنَfrom الإِكداءِgoing unrewarded وَالإِكذابِand being belied
أَمِنَت مِنَ الإِكداءِ وَالإِكذابِ
Indeed, the rhymes, since they came to you in praise,
Who inundates with reward and is clothed in probity.
have been safe from going unrewarded and being belied.
Wakefulness made him eschew sins
فَلتَفخَرِso let them boast الأَيّامُthe days مِنكَof you بِباسِلٍas a valiant man
فَلتَفخَرِ الأَيّامُ مِنكَ بِباسِلٍ
غَمرِlavish in الثَوابِrecompense مُطَهَّرِpurified in الأَثوابِgarments
غَمرِ الثَوابِ مُطَهَّرِ الأَثوابِ
So let the days boast of you, a valiant man,
And abstain from depravity in his manhood and youth.
lavish in recompense, with garments purified,
I had turned away from versifying
يَقظانَwakeful أَوجَدَهُhas provided him with التَناهيconsummate attainment فيin النُهىreason
يَقظانَ أَوجَدَهُ التَناهي في النُهى
عَدَمَthe absence of اللِعابِidle play بِرَبعِهِin his abode وَالعابِand blemish
عَدَمَ اللِعابِ بِرَبعِهِ وَالعابِ
wakeful, for whom consummate reason has ensured
When the path of rectitude became clear to me.
the absence of idle play and blemish from his abode.
So with it I will clothe your sublimity
قَدindeed كُنتُI had been عَنfrom حَوكِweaving القَريضِverse مُنَكِّباًturning aside
قَد كُنتُ عَن حَوكِ القَريضِ مُنَكِّباً
فَأُتيحَthen was granted ليto me عِرفانُrecognition of وَجهِthe direction of صَوابيmy right course
فَأُتيحَ لي عِرفانُ وَجهِ صَوابي
Indeed, I had turned aside from weaving verse,
In the garb of kings and adornment of literary arts.
then I was granted insight into my right course.
And I will present praise whose nobility matches
فَلَأَكسُوَنَّso I shall surely clothe عُلاكَyour eminence مِنfrom حَبَراتِهِits patterned fabrics
فَلَأَكسُوَنَّ عُلاكَ مِن حَبَراتِهِ
حُلَلَthe robes of المُلوكِkings وَحِليَةَand the adornment of الآدابِliterary arts
حُلَلَ المُلوكِ وَحِليَةَ الآدابِ
So I shall surely clothe your eminence with its patterned fabrics:
The noblest scion of the loftiest lineage.
the robes of kings and the adornment of letters.
And I will leave an enemy in the manner which
وَلِأُهدِيَنَّand I shall surely offer المَدحَpraise عَزَّis rare نَظيرُهُits equal
وَلِأُهدِيَنَّ المَدحَ عَزَّ نَظيرُهُ
لِأَعَزِّto the most honored فَرعٍbranch فيin أَجَلِّthe most august نِصابِstock
لِأَعَزِّ فَرعٍ في أَجَلِّ نِصابِ
And I shall surely offer praise whose equal is rare
A lover leaves the Banū ʿAttāb.
to the noblest branch in the most august stock.
وَلَأُبقِيَنَّand I shall surely preserve عَلىfor عَديٍّAdi مِثلَthe like of ماwhat
وَلَأُبقِيَنَّ عَلى عَديٍّ مِثلَ ما
أَبقىleft enduring حَبيبٌHabib فيamong بَنيthe sons of عَتّابِAttab
أَبقى حَبيبٌ في بَني عَتّابِ
And I shall surely preserve for Adi the like of what
Habib left enduring among Banu Attab.
Partial English translation: 69 of 72 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1