قَسَماًI swear بِسُؤدُدِكَby your preeminence الَّذيwhich لاnot يُدَّعىis claimed
قَسَماً بِسُؤدُدِكَ الَّذي لا يُدَّعى
وَحُلولِكَand by your attaining الشَرَفَthe eminence الَّذيwhich لَنwill not يُفرَعاbe surmounted
وَحُلولِكَ الشَرَفَ الَّذي لَن يُفرَعا
I swear by your preeminence, which is no mere claim,
and by your attaining heights that none will surmount.
لَقَدِindeed اِكتَسَتhave clothed themselves أَيّامُناour days بِكَthrough you رَونَقاًin splendor
لَقَدِ اِكتَسَت أَيّامُنا بِكَ رَونَقاً
حَسُنَتbecame beautiful بِهِthrough it مَرأىًto behold وَطابَتand became delightful مَسمَعاto hear
حَسُنَت بِهِ مَرأىً وَطابَت مَسمَعا
Indeed, through you our days have clothed themselves in splendor,
beautiful to behold through it, and delightful to hear.
طالَrose high الأُلىthose who طالواsurpassed الأَنامَhumankind بِباطِلٍthrough falsehood
طالَ الأُلى طالوا الأَنامَ بِباطِلٍ
وَعَلَوتَand you rose بِالحَقِّthrough truth الَّذيwhich لَنwill not يُدفَعاbe refuted
وَعَلَوتَ بِالحَقِّ الَّذي لَن يُدفَعا
Those who towered over mankind through falsehood rose high,
but you rose through truth that will never be refuted.
وَسَلَكتَand you followed فيin حَوزِwinning الثَناءِpraise مَسالِكاًpaths
وَسَلَكتَ في حَوزِ الثَناءِ مَسالِكاً
ظَلَّremained الأَنامُhumankind بِهاon them وَراءَكَbehind you ظُلَّعاlimping
ظَلَّ الأَنامُ بِها وَراءَكَ ظُلَّعا
You followed paths in winning praise
on which mankind remained behind you, limping.
بِمَكارِمٍthrough noble gifts أَولَيتَهاyou bestowed them مُتَبَرِّعاfreely giving
بِمَكارِمٍ أَولَيتَها مُتَبَرِّعا
وَجَرائِمٍand offenses أَلغَيتَهاyou pardoned them مُتَوَرِّعاout of piety
وَجَرائِمٍ أَلغَيتَها مُتَوَرِّعا
Through noble gifts you freely bestowed,
and offenses you piously pardoned.
مَجدٌa glory تَضَوَّعَتِbecame fragrant البِلادُthe lands بِنَشرِهِwith its fragrance
مَجدٌ تَضَوَّعَتِ البِلادُ بِنَشرِهِ
طيباًwith perfume فَأَغنىand so spared سائِفاًone smelling it أَنfrom having to يَسمَعاhear
طيباً فَأَغنى سائِفاً أَن يَسمَعا
A glory whose spreading fragrance perfumed the lands
so sweetly that smelling it spared one any need to hear.
ماnot إِنindeed أَتىit reached فَهمَthe understanding of القَريبِthe nearby person عِبارَةًas words
ما إِن أَتى فَهمَ القَريبِ عِبارَةً
حَتّىuntil أَتىit reached أَنفَthe nose of البَعيدِthe distant person تَضَوُّعاas wafting fragrance
حَتّى أَتى أَنفَ البَعيدِ تَضَوُّعا
No sooner had it reached a nearby man's understanding as words
than it reached a distant man's nose as fragrance.
لِلَّهِto God تاجُthe crown of الأَصفِياءِthe chosen ones فَإِنَّهُfor it
لِلَّهِ تاجُ الأَصفِياءِ فَإِنَّهُ
أَضحىhas become بِدُرِّwith pearls of المَأثُراتِnoble deeds مُرَصَّعاstudded
أَضحى بِدُرِّ المَأثُراتِ مُرَصَّعا
To God belongs the crown of the chosen, for it
has become studded with pearls of noble deeds.
مَلِكٌa king رِياضُthe meadows of ثَرائِهِhis wealth مَرعِيَّةٌgrazed
مَلِكٌ رِياضُ ثَرائِهِ مَرعِيَّةٌ
كَرَماًout of generosity وَرَوضُand the meadow of عَلائِهِhis eminence لاnot يُرتَعاis grazed
كَرَماً وَرَوضُ عَلائِهِ لا يُرتَعا
A king whose meadows of wealth are grazed
through generosity, while the meadow of his eminence is never grazed.
ماnot زالَceased يَكلُؤُهُhe guards it بِعَينٍwith an eye لَمdid not تَذُقtaste
ما زالَ يَكلُؤُهُ بِعَينٍ لَم تَذُق
سِنَةًslumber وَيَمنَعُهُand he protects it بِقَلبٍwith a heart أَصمَعاresolute
سِنَةً وَيَمنَعُهُ بِقَلبٍ أَصمَعا
He has ever guarded it with an eye that never tasted
slumber, and protected it with a resolute heart,
حَتّىuntil اِستَبَدَّhe reserved for himself بِأَلفِa thousand جُزءٍshares مِنof عُلىًeminence
حَتّى اِستَبَدَّ بِأَلفِ جُزءٍ مِن عُلىً
وَأَصارَand he made جُزءاًone share فيamong الأَنامِhumankind مُوَزَّعاdistributed
وَأَصارَ جُزءاً في الأَنامِ مُوَزَّعا
until he reserved a thousand shares of eminence for himself
and left one share distributed among mankind.
ياO سَيِّدَmaster of الوُزَراءِthe viziers فُقتَyou excelled بِهِمَّةٍwith an ambition
يا سَيِّدَ الوُزَراءِ فُقتَ بِهِمَّةٍ
عَزَّتwas unattainable عَلىto كِسرىKisra وَأَعيَتand baffled تُبَّعاTubbaʿ
عَزَّت عَلى كِسرى وَأَعيَت تُبَّعا
O master of viziers, you excelled through an ambition
beyond Kisra's reach and too great for Tubbaʿ,
وَلُهىًand gifts تَظَلُّremain قَريبَةًnear مِمَّنto whoever نَأىis far
وَلُهىً تَظَلُّ قَريبَةً مِمَّن نَأى
عَنfrom سَيبِهاtheir bounty وَمُجيبَةًand responsive مِمَّنto whoever دَعاcalls
عَن سَيبِها وَمُجيبَةً مِمَّن دَعا
and gifts that remain close to those far removed
from their bounty, and responsive to whoever calls.
أَدنىbrought near الرَجاءُhope إِلَيكَto you مَنone whom لَمdid not يُدنِهِbring him near
أَدنى الرَجاءُ إِلَيكَ مَن لَم يُدنِهِ
وَطَنٌa homeland لَقَدindeed نادىcalled out نَداكَyour bounty فَأَسمَعاand made itself heard
وَطَنٌ لَقَد نادى نَداكَ فَأَسمَعا
Hope brought to you one whom no
homeland had brought near; your bounty called and made itself heard.
وَأَرىand I see اِرتِياحَكَyour eagerness to give ضامِناًguaranteeing إيمانَthe safety of مَنone whom
وَأَرى اِرتِياحَكَ ضامِناً إيمانَ مَن
دَهَتِstruck الخُطوبُcalamities فَأَمَّso he sought دارَكَyour house مُهطِعاhastening
دَهَتِ الخُطوبُ فَأَمَّ دارَكَ مُهطِعا
I see your generous eagerness guaranteeing the safety of one
whom calamities struck, and who hurried toward your house.
دارٌa house بِكَthrough you اِستَعلَتrose high وَطالَand grew tall بِناؤُهاits structure
دارٌ بِكَ اِستَعلَت وَطالَ بِناؤُها
شَرَفاًin honor فَلاso may not زالَتit cease لِوَجهِكَfor your face مَطلَعاa rising-place
شَرَفاً فَلا زالَت لِوَجهِكَ مَطلَعا
A house that rose through you, its structure towering
in honor; may it always be where your face rises.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَضَفتَyou added إِلىto التَقِيَّةِpiety هَيبَةًawe
وَلَقَد أَضَفتَ إِلى التَقِيَّةِ هَيبَةً
جَبَرَتcompelled عَدُوَّكَyour enemy أَنto يَذِلَّabase himself وَيَخضَعاand submit
جَبَرَت عَدُوَّكَ أَن يَذِلَّ وَيَخضَعا
You have added to piety an awe
that forced your enemy to abase himself and submit.
وَتَكَفَّلَتand guaranteed لَكَfor you بِالمُرادِthe desired goal عَزائِمٌfirm resolutions
وَتَكَفَّلَت لَكَ بِالمُرادِ عَزائِمٌ
لَوif لامَسَتthey touched جَبَلاًa mountain أَشَمَّlofty تَصَدَّعاit would split apart
لَو لامَسَت جَبَلاً أَشَمَّ تَصَدَّعا
Firm resolutions have guaranteed you your desired end—
if they touched a lofty mountain, it would split apart.
فَالإِفكُso falsehood مُنذُsince حَضَرتَهُyou confronted it لَمhas not يَنفَسِخdissolved
فَالإِفكُ مُنذُ حَضَرتَهُ لَم يَنفَسِخ
وَالدينُand religion مُنذُsince نَصَرتَهُyou championed it ماnot رُوِّعاwas frightened
وَالدينُ مُنذُ نَصَرتَهُ ما رُوِّعا
Falsehood, since you confronted it, has not dissolved,
and religion, since you championed it, has not been frightened.
أَمّاas for الزَمانُTime فَقَدit has indeed غَداbecome بِكَthrough you مُصلِحاًa mender
أَمّا الزَمانُ فَقَد غَدا بِكَ مُصلِحاً
ماwhat كانَit had أَفسَدَspoiled حافِظاًpreserving ماwhat ضَيَّعاit squandered
ما كانَ أَفسَدَ حافِظاً ما ضَيَّعا
As for Time, through you it has come to mend
what it had spoiled, preserving what it had squandered.
رَوَّعتَyou frightened عاصِيَهُits rebellious part فَأَصبَحَso it became طائِعاًobedient
رَوَّعتَ عاصِيَهُ فَأَصبَحَ طائِعاً
وَقَدَعتَand you curbed جامِحَهُits unruly part فَأَصحَبَso it became tractable طَيِّعاcompliant
وَقَدَعتَ جامِحَهُ فَأَصحَبَ طَيِّعا
You frightened its rebellious part into obedience,
and curbed its unruliness, so it became tractable and compliant.
فَإِذاso whenever أَشَرتَyou counseled عَلَيهِto it بِالقَصدِto moderation اِرعَوىit desisted
فَإِذا أَشَرتَ عَلَيهِ بِالقَصدِ اِرعَوى
وَإِذاand whenever أَشَرتَyou signaled إِلَيهِto it إيماءًwith a gesture وَعاit understood
وَإِذا أَشَرتَ إِلَيهِ إيماءً وَعا
Whenever you counsel it to moderation, it desists,
and whenever you signal to it with a gesture, it understands.
قَلَّدتَهُyou bound it with المِنَنُfavors الجِسامَmighty فَجاهِلٌso ignorant is
قَلَّدتَهُ المِنَنُ الجِسامَ فَجاهِلٌ
مَنwhoever ظَنَّهُthinks it يُثنيpraises عَلَيكَyou تَطَوُّعاvoluntarily
مَن ظَنَّهُ يُثني عَلَيكَ تَطَوُّعا
You have bound it with mighty favors; ignorant is
whoever thinks it praises you voluntarily.
لَمّاwhen هَجَرتُI left إِلىfor جَنابِكَyour presence مَضجَعيmy bed
لَمّا هَجَرتُ إِلى جَنابِكَ مَضجَعي
ماnot كُنتَyou were فيin فِعلِdoing الجَميلِgood مُضَجَّعاsluggish
ما كُنتَ في فِعلِ الجَميلِ مُضَجَّعا
When I left my bed to seek your presence,
you were not sluggish in doing good.
بَلrather كانَwas جودُكَyour generosity مِنthan سَحابٍa cloud هاطِلٍpouring rain
بَل كانَ جودُكَ مِن سَحابٍ هاطِلٍ
أَندىmore bountiful وَمِنand than إيماضِthe flashing of بَرقٍlightning أَسرَعاswifter
أَندى وَمِن إيماضِ بَرقٍ أَسرَعا
Rather, your generosity was, compared with a pouring cloud,
more abundant, and swifter than lightning's flash.
ماnot إِنindeed لَقيتُكَI met you مادِحاًpraising وَمُسَلِّماًand greeting
ما إِن لَقيتُكَ مادِحاً وَمُسَلِّماً
حَتّىuntil لَقيتُكَI met you حامِداًthanking وَمُوَدِّعاand bidding farewell
حَتّى لَقيتُكَ حامِداً وَمُوَدِّعا
No sooner did I meet you praising and greeting you
than I was thanking you and bidding you farewell.
لاmay not نالَتِattain الآمالُhopes أَيسَرَthe least of سُؤلِهاtheir desires
لا نالَتِ الآمالُ أَيسَرَ سُؤلِها
إِنif نَكَّبَتthey avoided ماas long as عِشتُI live هَذاthis المَشرَعاwatering place
إِن نَكَّبَت ما عِشتُ هَذا المَشرَعا
May my hopes not attain their least desire
if, while I live, they turn aside from this watering place.
فَلَقَدfor indeed كَفانيhas spared me غَيثُthe rain of كَفِّكَyour palm أَنfrom أَرىseeing
فَلَقَد كَفاني غَيثُ كَفِّكَ أَن أَرى
طولَthroughout الحَياةِlife لِديمَةٍfor steady rain مُتَوَقِّعاwaiting expectantly
طولَ الحَياةِ لِديمَةٍ مُتَوَقِّعا
The rain of your palm has spared me seeing
myself awaiting gentle rain throughout my life.
أَيَجوزُcould it be ذاكَthat وَقَدwhen already أَضاقَnarrowed مَذاهِبيmy paths
أَيَجوزُ ذاكَ وَقَد أَضاقَ مَذاهِبي
عَنaway from مُلكِهِhis realm مَلِكٌa king أَنالَbestowed فَأَوسَعاand gave abundantly
عَن مُلكِهِ مَلِكٌ أَنالَ فَأَوسَعا
Could that be, when a king has narrowed my paths
away from his realm, granting gifts so lavishly?
مِنَنٌfavors تَوالَتfollowed successively بِالمَواهِبِwith gifts فَاِنبَرىso became
مِنَنٌ تَوالَت بِالمَواهِبِ فَاِنبَرى
رَوضيmy garden بِهاthrough them أَحوىdark green وَحَوضيand my pool مُترَعاbrimming
رَوضي بِها أَحوى وَحَوضي مُترَعا
Favors followed one another with gifts, so that
my garden grew dark green through them, and my pool brimmed.
وَسَرَرتُand I gladdened مِنfrom قَبلِbefore اللِقاءِmeeting بِذِكرِهاby mentioning them
وَسَرَرتُ مِن قَبلِ اللِقاءِ بِذِكرِها
مَنone who كانَwas إِذwhen حُمَّwas decreed الفِراقُseparation مُرَوَّعاterrified
مَن كانَ إِذ حُمَّ الفِراقُ مُرَوَّعا
Before our meeting, by mentioning them I cheered
those whom parting had terrified when it was decreed.
إِنif ضَرَّهُمharmed them بُعديmy absence بِظاهِرِin the outward aspect of أَمرِهِits condition
إِن ضَرَّهُم بُعدي بِظاهِرِ أَمرِهِ
فَلَرُبَّماfor often ضَرَّharms الزَمانُTime لِيَنفَعاto benefit
فَلَرُبَّما ضَرَّ الزَمانُ لِيَنفَعا
If my absence harmed them in its outward aspect,
Time often brings harm in order to bring benefit.
لَرَدَدتَنيyou surely sent me back بِغَرائِبِwith wonders of الجَدوىbounty إِلىto
لَرَدَدتَني بِغَرائِبِ الجَدوى إِلى
مَنone whose كانَwas أَقصىthe utmost سُؤلِهِof his desire أَنthat أَرجِعاI return
مَن كانَ أَقصى سُؤلِهِ أَن أَرجِعا
You surely returned me, with wondrous bounty, to
those whose utmost wish had been for my return.
إِنّيindeed I أَتَيتُكَcame to you لِلغِنىfor wealth قَبلَbefore العُلىeminence
إِنّي أَتَيتُكَ لِلغِنى قَبلَ العُلى
فَنَحَوتَso you strove ليfor me حَتّىuntil أَنَلتَهُماyou bestowed them both مَعاtogether
فَنَحَوتَ لي حَتّى أَنَلتَهُما مَعا
I came to you for wealth before high rank,
and you strove for me until you granted both together.
لَمnot تَرضَwere you content ليfor me حُلَلاًwith robes سَأَنزِعُهاI will remove them غَداًtomorrow
لَم تَرضَ لي حُلَلاً سَأَنزِعُها غَداً
فَشَفَعتَهاso you paired them بِمَلابِسٍwith garments لَنwill never تُنزَعاbe removed
فَشَفَعتَها بِمَلابِسٍ لَن تُنزَعا
You were not content to give me robes I would remove tomorrow,
so you paired them with garments never to be removed.
أَمطَيتَنيyou mounted me on ظَهرَthe back of السِماكِal-Simak بِرُتبَةٍwith a rank
أَمطَيتَني ظَهرَ السِماكِ بِرُتبَةٍ
سُقِيَتwere made to drink عِدايَmy foes بِهاthrough it سِماماًpoisons مُنقَعاpotent
سُقِيَت عِدايَ بِها سِماماً مُنقَعا
You made me ride the back of al-Simak with a rank
through which my foes were made to drink potent poisons.
فَليَعلَمواso let them know أَنّيthat I ثَبَتُّstood firm بِمَوقِفٍin a position
فَليَعلَموا أَنّي ثَبَتُّ بِمَوقِفٍ
لَوif قامَstood سَحبانٌSahban بِهِin it لَتَتَعتَعاhe would have stammered
لَو قامَ سَحبانٌ بِهِ لَتَتَعتَعا
Let them know that I stood firm in a position
where even Sahban, had he stood there, would have stammered.
قَدindeed كُنتُI was مَغلولَshackled اليَدَينِat both hands عَنِfrom الغِنىwealth
قَد كُنتُ مَغلولَ اليَدَينِ عَنِ الغِنى
فَجَعَلتَso you enabled ليme بِنَداكَthrough your bounty أَنto أَتَبَوَّعاstretch my arms
فَجَعَلتَ لي بِنَداكَ أَن أَتَبَوَّعا
My hands were shackled, kept from wealth,
but through your bounty you enabled me to stretch my arms.
أَمَّsought الرَجاءُhope ذَراكَyour shelter غَيرَnot مُفَرِّعٍbranching
أَمَّ الرَجاءُ ذَراكَ غَيرَ مُفَرِّعٍ
فَسَقَيتَهُso you watered it ماءَwith the water of النَدىgenerosity فَتَفَرَّعاand it branched out
فَسَقَيتَهُ ماءَ النَدى فَتَفَرَّعا
Hope sought your shelter, not yet branching;
you watered it with generosity's water, and it branched out.
لَمnot تَنفَتِقopened عَنهُfrom it كَمائِمُthe sheaths of نورِهِits blossoms
لَم تَنفَتِق عَنهُ كَمائِمُ نورِهِ
فيin ظِلِّكَyour shade المَمدودِoutspread حَتّىuntil أَينَعاit ripened
في ظِلِّكَ المَمدودِ حَتّى أَينَعا
The sheaths of its blossoms had not opened
in your outspread shade until it ripened.
جاوَزتَyou surpassed ماwhat فَعَلَdid اِبنُthe son of جَفنَتِكُمyour Jafna بِحَسfor Has-
جاوَزتَ ما فَعَلَ اِبنُ جَفنَتِكُم بِحَس
سانٍsan (completing Hassan) وَماand what فَعَلَdid الرَشيدُal-Rashid بِأَشجَعاfor Ashjaʿ
سانٍ وَما فَعَلَ الرَشيدُ بِأَشجَعا
You surpassed what your Ibn Jafna did for Has-
san, and what al-Rashid did for Ashjaʿ.
فَفَدَتكَso may it ransom you مِنfrom صَرفِthe blows of النَوائِبِmisfortunes أُمَّةٌa nation
فَفَدَتكَ مِن صَرفِ النَوائِبِ أُمَّةٌ
لَولاكَbut for you كانَتit would have been لِلنَوائِبِfor misfortunes مَرتَعاa grazing ground
لَولاكَ كانَت لِلنَوائِبِ مَرتَعا
May a nation ransom you from the blows of misfortunes,
which, but for you, would have been their grazing ground.
إِنif خافَتِit feared الأَزَماتِhardships كُنتَyou were غِياثَهاits succor
إِن خافَتِ الأَزَماتِ كُنتَ غِياثَها
أَوor خافَتِit feared النَكَباتِdisasters كُنتَyou were المَفزَعاthe refuge
أَو خافَتِ النَكَباتِ كُنتَ المَفزَعا
If it feared hard times, you were its succor;
or if it feared disasters, you were its refuge.
وَهَنَتكَand may it gladden you عافِيَةُthe recovery of الخَطيرِal-Khatir فَإِنَّهاfor it
وَهَنَتكَ عافِيَةُ الخَطيرِ فَإِنَّها
مِنamong أَحسَنِthe finest الآلاءِblessings عِندَكَto you مَوقِعاin esteem
مِن أَحسَنِ الآلاءِ عِندَكَ مَوقِعا
May al-Khatir's recovery gladden you, for it
is among the blessings most cherished by you.
إِنif راعَhe alarmed إِذwhen أَلِمَhe fell ill القُلوبَhearts جَميعَهاall of them
إِن راعَ إِذ أَلِمَ القُلوبَ جَميعَها
فَهُوَthen he is اِبنُthe son of مَنone who أَمِنَتthey felt safe بِهِthrough him أَنfrom تَهلَعاpanicking
فَهُوَ اِبنُ مَن أَمِنَت بِهِ أَن تَهلَعا
If, when he fell ill, he alarmed every heart,
he is the son of one through whom they were safe from panic.
أَوor جانَبَdeserted النَومُsleep العُيونُthe eyes إِذِwhen اِشتَكىhe ailed
أَو جانَبَ النَومُ العُيونُ إِذِ اِشتَكى
فَسُطىthen the might of أَبيهِhis father قَضَتdecreed لَهاfor them أَنthat تَهجَعاthey sleep
فَسُطى أَبيهِ قَضَت لَها أَن تَهجَعا
Or if sleep deserted the eyes when he ailed,
his father's might decreed that they should sleep.
بَهَرَhe dazzled الوَرىhumankind بِالحُكمِwith judgment فيهِمamong them حاكِماًas a ruler
بَهَرَ الوَرى بِالحُكمِ فيهِم حاكِماً
عَدلاًjust وَراعَهُمُand awed them خَطيباًas an orator مِصقَعاeloquent
عَدلاً وَراعَهُمُ خَطيباً مِصقَعا
He dazzled mankind with his judgment, ruling among them
justly, and awed them as a masterful orator.
فَلَقَدfor indeed أَبانَhe gave evidence عَنِof الفَصاحَةِeloquence وَالحِجىand intellect
فَلَقَد أَبانَ عَنِ الفَصاحَةِ وَالحِجى
وَالحُكمُand judgment يَومَon the day تَلاhe delivered البَيانَthe discourse فَأَبدَعاand excelled
وَالحُكمُ يَومَ تَلا البَيانَ فَأَبدَعا
For he displayed eloquence and intellect,
and sound judgment, when he delivered his discourse so brilliantly.
فَأَمِنتَso you were safe from فيهِthrough him وَفيand through أَخيهِhis brother حَوادِثاًcalamities
فَأَمِنتَ فيهِ وَفي أَخيهِ حَوادِثاً
ماnot كُنَّthey were فيin أَيّامِthe days of غَيرِكَanyone but you خُشَّعاcowering
ما كُنَّ في أَيّامِ غَيرِكَ خُشَّعا
Through him and his brother you found safety from calamities
that never cowered in anyone else's days.
فَكِلاهُماfor each of them خَطَبَcourted الثَناءَpraise بِمَهدِهِin his cradle
فَكِلاهُما خَطَبَ الثَناءَ بِمَهدِهِ
وَسَعىand strove لِحَوزِto win الحَمدِacclaim أَوَّلَat the first ماtime سَعىhe strove
وَسَعى لِحَوزِ الحَمدِ أَوَّلَ ما سَعى
Each of them courted praise in his cradle
and strove to win acclaim from his first endeavor.
وَبَقيتَand may you live ماas long as مَتَعَrises النَهارُdaylight مُمَتَّعاًblessed
وَبَقيتَ ما مَتَعَ النَهارُ مُمَتَّعاً
بِهِماwith them both وَدامَand may remain بِكَwith you الزَمانُTime مُمَتَّعاblessed
بِهِما وَدامَ بِكَ الزَمانُ مُمَتَّعا
May you live, as long as daylight shines, blessed
with them both, and may Time remain blessed with you.
ضَلَّتwere wasted عَوارِفُfavors لَمnot تَجِدyou found بيin me مِثلَهاtheir like
ضَلَّت عَوارِفُ لَم تَجِد بي مِثلَها
إِنif لَمnot تَجِدنيyou find me لِلصَنيعَةِfor beneficence مَوضِعاa fitting recipient
إِن لَم تَجِدني لِلصَنيعَةِ مَوضِعا
Wasted are favors whose equal you have not found in me,
if you do not find me a worthy recipient of kindness.
لاdo not تَحكُمَنَّever judge لِصارِمٍa sharp sword بِفِرِندِهِby its watered pattern
لا تَحكُمَنَّ لِصارِمٍ بِفِرِندِهِ
فَأَجَلُّfor the noblest جَوهَرِquality of صارِمٍa sharp sword أَنis that يَقطَعاit cuts
فَأَجَلُّ جَوهَرِ صارِمٍ أَن يَقطَعا
Do not judge a sharp sword by its watered pattern:
a sharp sword's noblest quality is that it cuts.
وَاِحبِسand withhold عَطاياكَyour gifts الَّتيwhich قَدindeed أَذهَلَتhave overwhelmed
وَاِحبِس عَطاياكَ الَّتي قَد أَذهَلَت
حَسبيenough for me نَوالاًas a gift أَنthat أَقولَI speak وَتَسمَعاand you listen
حَسبي نَوالاً أَن أَقولَ وَتَسمَعا
Withhold your gifts, which have overwhelmed me;
it is gift enough for me to speak and you to listen.
سَأَعودُI shall return عَنfrom كَثَبٍnearness وَإِنalthough لَمnot تُبقِhave left ليfor me
سَأَعودُ عَن كَثَبٍ وَإِن لَم تُبقِ لي
فَعَلاتُكَyour deeds الحُسنىgracious إِلَيهاto them مَرجِعاa recourse
فَعَلاتُكَ الحُسنى إِلَيها مَرجِعا
I shall return soon, although nothing remains for me
to seek again from your gracious deeds.
أَستَودِعُI entrust المَجدَglory المُؤَثَّلَdeep-rooted وَالتُقىand piety
أَستَودِعُ المَجدَ المُؤَثَّلَ وَالتُقى
وَالعَدلَand justice رَبّاًto a Lord حافِظاًwho preserves ماwhat اِستودِعاwas entrusted
وَالعَدلَ رَبّاً حافِظاً ما اِستودِعا
I entrust deep-rooted glory and piety,
and justice, to a Lord who guards what is entrusted.
وَأَجَلُّand the greatest of ماwhat أَرجوهُI hope for it بَعدَafter لِقائِكَmeeting you الthe
وَأَجَلُّ ما أَرجوهُ بَعدَ لِقائِكَ ال
مَحبوبِbeloved أَنis to أَلفىfind myself لِشُكرِكَto thank you موزَعاinspired
مَحبوبِ أَن أَلفى لِشُكرِكَ موزَعا
And my greatest hope, after our meeting—the
beloved encounter—is to be inspired to thank you.
Sol 6.1