لِصَرفِfor the vicissitudes of اللَياليthe nights أَنto يَصولَassail وَنَخضَعاand for us to submit
لِصَرفِ اللَيالي أَن يَصولَ وَنَخضَعا
وَحَتمٌand it is decreed عَلَيناupon us أَنthat يَقولَit speak وَنَسمَعاand we listen
وَحَتمٌ عَلَينا أَن يَقولَ وَنَسمَعا
The vicissitudes of night may assail, and we must submit;
it is decreed that they speak and we listen.
أَطَعناهُwe obeyed it كَرهاًunwillingly حينَwhen لَمnot نَلقَwe found ناصِراًa helper
أَطَعناهُ كَرهاً حينَ لَم نَلقَ ناصِراً
عَلَيهِagainst it وَلاnor فيin كَفِّrestraining عَدواهُits aggression مَطمَعاany hope
عَلَيهِ وَلا في كَفِّ عَدواهُ مَطمَعا
We obeyed them unwillingly, finding no helper
against them, nor any hope of checking their aggression.
فَكَمhow often فَلَّit blunted ذاone possessed of حَدٍّa keen edge وَذَلَّقَand sharpened نابِياًa blunt one
فَكَم فَلَّ ذا حَدٍّ وَذَلَّقَ نابِياً
وَآمَنَand made safe مُرتاعاًa frightened one وَرَوَّعَand terrified أَروَعاa fearless one
وَآمَنَ مُرتاعاً وَرَوَّعَ أَروَعا
How often they blunted a keen edge and sharpened a blunt one,
reassured the frightened and terrified the fearless,
وَأَبطَلَand thwarted أَمراًan affair كانَthat was يُرجىhoped for وُقوعُهُits occurrence
وَأَبطَلَ أَمراً كانَ يُرجى وُقوعُهُ
وَجاءَand brought بِأَمرٍan affair لَمnot يَكُنwas مُتَوَقَّعاexpected
وَجاءَ بِأَمرٍ لَم يَكُن مُتَوَقَّعا
thwarted an affair whose fulfillment was hoped for,
and brought about something wholly unexpected,
وَبَلَّغَand brought to غاياتِthe utmost limits of الأَمانِيِّwishes عاجِزاًa helpless man
وَبَلَّغَ غاياتِ الأَمانِيِّ عاجِزاً
وَخابَand failed مُشيخٌan aged man خَبَّwho hurried فيهاafter them وَأَوضَعاand hastened
وَخابَ مُشيخٌ خَبَّ فيها وَأَوضَعا
brought a helpless man to his utmost wishes,
while an aged man failed, though he hurried and hastened after them.
سَواءٌequal عَلَيهِbefore it مَنwhoever أَقامَremained بِبَيتِهِin his home
سَواءٌ عَلَيهِ مَن أَقامَ بِبَيتِهِ
عَلىunder الذُلِّhumiliation صَبّاراًsteadfastly patient وَمَنand whoever باشَرَentered الوَعاbattle's din
عَلى الذُلِّ صَبّاراً وَمَن باشَرَ الوَعا
Equal before them are those who remain at home,
patiently enduring humiliation, and those who enter battle's din.
وَهَلand is هُوَit إِلّاanything but الريحُthe wind عِندَat هُبوبِهاits blowing
وَهَل هُوَ إِلّا الريحُ عِندَ هُبوبِها
تَبيتُit spends the night رُخاءًgentle ثُمَّthen تُصبِحُbecomes at dawn زَعزَعاa violent gale
تَبيتُ رُخاءً ثُمَّ تُصبِحُ زَعزَعا
What are they but the wind when it blows,
gentle by night, then a violent gale at dawn?
وَمِنand among جَورِهِits injustices أَنthat غادَرَit left الذُلَّabasement قاهِراًdominant
وَمِن جَورِهِ أَن غادَرَ الذُلَّ قاهِراً
عَزيزاًmighty وَأَبقىand left مازِنَthe radiant one العِزِّof glory أَجدَعاwith nose cut off
عَزيزاً وَأَبقى مازِنَ العِزِّ أَجدَعا
Among their injustices: they left abasement dominant,
mighty, and left glory's radiant one with his nose cut off.
أَضاعَleft bereft العُفاةَthe petitioners فَقدُthe loss of نَصرِNasr بنِson of صالِحٍSalih
أَضاعَ العُفاةَ فَقدُ نَصرِ بنِ صالِحٍ
عَلىalthough أَنَّindeed دَهراًan age غالَهُthat snatched him كانَwas أَضيَعاmore bereft
عَلى أَنَّ دَهراً غالَهُ كانَ أَضيَعا
The loss of Nasr ibn Salih left petitioners bereft,
though the age that stole him was more bereft still.
غَداةَthe morning دَعاhe called أَنصارَهُhis supporters فَتَصامَمواand they feigned deafness
غَداةَ دَعا أَنصارَهُ فَتَصامَموا
وَقَدalthough طالَماso often نادىcalled نَداهُhis bounty فَأَسمَعاand made itself heard
وَقَد طالَما نادى نَداهُ فَأَسمَعا
That morning he called his supporters, and they feigned deafness,
though long had his bounty called and made itself heard.
وَلَوand had دافَعواthey defended عَنon behalf of رَبِّهِمtheir master بَعدَnext after رَبِّهِمtheir Lord
وَلَو دافَعوا عَن رَبِّهِم بَعدَ رَبِّهِم
بِأَنفُسِهِمwith their lives ماnot أَبطَأواthey would have lagged إِذwhen تَسَرَّعاhe rushed ahead
بِأَنفُسِهِم ما أَبطَأوا إِذ تَسَرَّعا
Had they defended their master, next after their Lord,
with their lives, they would not have lagged when he rushed ahead.
وَلاقىand faced الأُلوفَthe thousands غَيرَwithout مُكتَرِثٍpaying heed بِهاto them
وَلاقى الأُلوفَ غَيرَ مُكتَرِثٍ بِها
هُمامٌa valiant man أَجابَwho answered المَوتَdeath أَوَّلَthe first time ماthat دَعاit called
هُمامٌ أَجابَ المَوتَ أَوَّلَ ما دَعا
He faced the thousands, paying them no heed:
a valiant man who answered death at its first call.
فَهَلdid he then ظَنَّهُthink it بَعضَone of العُفاةِthe petitioners فَلَمand not يَجِدfind
فَهَل ظَنَّهُ بَعضَ العُفاةِ فَلَم يَجِد
إِلىto رَدِّهِturning it back نَهجاًa way وَلاnor عَنهُagainst it مَدفَعاa defense
إِلى رَدِّهِ نَهجاً وَلا عَنهُ مَدفَعا
Did he suppose it a petitioner, and find no
way to turn it back, nor any means to ward it off?
وَجادَand gave generously بِنَفسٍa life لاnot يُجادُis given بِمِثلِهاits like
وَجادَ بِنَفسٍ لا يُجادُ بِمِثلِها
وَأَعطىand yielded قِياداًreins لَمnot يَكُنhad been قَبلُbefore طَيِّعاpliant
وَأَعطى قِياداً لَم يَكُن قَبلُ طَيِّعا
He gave a life whose like is never given,
and yielded reins that had never before been pliant.
وَماand not خِلتُI thought أَنَّthat الشَمسَthe sun قَبلَbefore مُصابِهِhis calamity
وَما خِلتُ أَنَّ الشَمسَ قَبلَ مُصابِهِ
تُضامُcould suffer wrong وَلاnor زُهرَthe bright stars of المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way تُرتَعاbe grazed upon
تُضامُ وَلا زُهرَ المَجَرَّةِ تُرتَعا
Before his calamity, I never thought the sun
could suffer wrong, or the Milky Way's bright stars be grazed upon.
لِيَبكِlet weep طَويلاًlong كُلُّevery مُكدٍunsuccessful seeker وَعائِلٍand needy man
لِيَبكِ طَويلاً كُلُّ مُكدٍ وَعائِلٍ
عَلىfor مَلِكٍa king أَغنىwho enriched وَأَروىand quenched thirst وَأَشبَعاand fed
عَلى مَلِكٍ أَغنى وَأَروى وَأَشبَعا
Let every unsuccessful seeker and needy man weep long
for a king who enriched, quenched thirst, and fed,
وَبَحرِand an ocean of نَوالٍbounty يَنزَحُdraw الناسُthe people مائَهُits water
وَبَحرِ نَوالٍ يَنزَحُ الناسُ مائَهُ
إِذاwhen ظُنَّit is thought أَنthat قَدalready غيضَit was depleted عاوَدَit returns مُترَعاbrimming
إِذا ظُنَّ أَن قَد غيضَ عاوَدَ مُترَعا
an ocean of bounty whose water people draw:
whenever thought depleted, it returns brimming.
أَضاقَhe narrowed سَبيلَthe path of المَأثُراتِnoble achievements عَلىfor الوَرىmankind
أَضاقَ سَبيلَ المَأثُراتِ عَلى الوَرى
وَعَمَّهُمُand encompassed them all بِالمُنفِساتِwith precious gifts وَأَوسَعاand gave abundantly
وَعَمَّهُمُ بِالمُنفِساتِ وَأَوسَعا
He left mankind little room for noble achievements,
yet lavished precious gifts on all and gave abundantly.
فَقُلناso we said غَمامٌa cloud طَبَّقَcovered الأَرضَthe earth سَيلُهُits flood
فَقُلنا غَمامٌ طَبَّقَ الأَرضَ سَيلُهُ
وَقالَand said العِدىthe enemies لَوif كانَit were غَيماًa cloud تَقَشَّعاit would disperse
وَقالَ العِدى لَو كانَ غَيماً تَقَشَّعا
We said: a cloud whose flood covered the earth;
his enemies said: were it a cloud, it would disperse.
وَماand not زالَceased to be رَبَّthe lord of الجودِgenerosity طِفلاًas a child وَيافِعاًand as a youth
وَما زالَ رَبَّ الجودِ طِفلاً وَيافِعاً
إِلىuntil أَنthat ثَوىhe lay الجودَgenerosity فيin حُفرَةٍa grave مَعاtogether
إِلى أَن ثَوى الجودَ في حُفرَةٍ مَعا
He remained the lord of generosity, a child and a youth,
until he and generosity lay together in a grave.
وَأَعجَزَand thwarted رَيبَthe vicissitudes of الدَهرِfate أَنfrom يَتَفَرَّقاtheir parting
وَأَعجَزَ رَيبَ الدَهرِ أَن يَتَفَرَّقا
وَكانَalthough it was بِتَفريقِwith separating الأَحِبَّةِloved ones مولَعاinfatuated
وَكانَ بِتَفريقِ الأَحِبَّةِ مولَعا
He thwarted fate's vicissitudes from parting them,
though fate delighted in separating loved ones.
لَقَدindeed راضَهُit tamed him حَتّىuntil لَأَنفَذَit surely enforced حُكمَهُits decree
لَقَد راضَهُ حَتّى لَأَنفَذَ حُكمَهُ
وَلَوand had لَمnot يُرَضhe been tamed لَمnot يَرضَhe would have accepted بِالتُربِthe dust as مَضجَعاa bed
وَلَو لَم يُرَض لَم يَرضَ بِالتُربِ مَضجَعا
It tamed him indeed, until it enforced its decree;
had he not been tamed, he would not have accepted dust for a bed,
وَلاnor اِتَّخَذَtaken الغَبراءَthe dusty earth دارَas a home of إِقامَةٍresidence
وَلا اِتَّخَذَ الغَبراءَ دارَ إِقامَةٍ
وَقَدwhen كانَhad been مَثواهُhis dwelling مِنَthan النَجمِthe stars أَرفَعاhigher
وَقَد كانَ مَثواهُ مِنَ النَجمِ أَرفَعا
nor taken the dusty earth as a lasting home,
when his dwelling had been higher than the stars.
وَلَمand not يَدرِknew مَنwhoever هالَheaped التُرابَthe earth عَلَيهِupon him مَنwhom
وَلَم يَدرِ مَن هالَ التُرابَ عَلَيهِ مَن
يُواريhe buried وَلاnor ناعيهِhis death-herald أُخرِسَmay he be struck dumb مَنwhom نَعاhe announced dead
يُواري وَلا ناعيهِ أُخرِسَ مَن نَعا
He who heaped earth upon him did not know whom
he buried; nor did his herald—struck dumb be he!—know whom he mourned.
أَرىI see ضَحوَةَthe forenoon of الإِثنَينِMonday يَومَas the day تَقَطَّعَتwere severed
أَرى ضَحوَةَ الإِثنَينِ يَومَ تَقَطَّعَت
قُوىthe bonds of عِزَّةٍmight ماnot خِلتُهاI thought them أَنto تَقَطَّعاbreak
قُوى عِزَّةٍ ما خِلتُها أَن تَقَطَّعا
I see Monday's forenoon as the day there snapped
bonds of might I never thought could be severed.
فَفاضَتthen overflowed دُموعٌtears لاnot تَقومُfulfilling بِحَقِّهِhis due
فَفاضَت دُموعٌ لا تَقومُ بِحَقِّهِ
وَلَوeven if نَزَحَتthey drained أَمواهَthe waters of دِجلَةَthe Tigris أَجمَعاentirely
وَلَو نَزَحَت أَمواهَ دِجلَةَ أَجمَعا
Tears overflowed that could not fulfill his due,
even had they drained all the waters of the Tigris.
وَريعَتand were terrified قُلوبٌhearts عَمَّهاengulfed them الخَوفُfear بَعدَهُafter him
وَريعَت قُلوبٌ عَمَّها الخَوفُ بَعدَهُ
وَعَهديand my knowledge بِهاof them فيin ظِلِّهِhis shelter لَنnever تُرَوَّعاto be frightened
وَعَهدي بِها في ظِلِّهِ لَن تُرَوَّعا
Hearts were terrified, fear engulfing them after him,
though I had known them beneath his shelter, never afraid.
وَتَحتَand beneath مُلوكِthe kings of الخافِقينَEast and West أَسِرَّةٌthrones
وَتَحتَ مُلوكِ الخافِقينَ أَسِرَّةٌ
تُزَعزَعُwould quake يَوماًon any day إِنif قَناهُhis spear تَزَعزَعاshook
تُزَعزَعُ يَوماً إِن قَناهُ تَزَعزَعا
Beneath the kings of East and West are thrones
that would quake whenever his spear shook,
كَيَومِas on the day of عَزازٍAzaz إِذwhen حَمىdefended الدينَthe faith سَيفُهُhis sword
كَيَومِ عَزازٍ إِذ حَمى الدينَ سَيفُهُ
وَقَدwhen قارَبَتhad nearly أَركانُهُits pillars أَنto تَضَعضَعاcrumble
وَقَد قارَبَت أَركانُهُ أَن تَضَعضَعا
as on the day of Azaz, when his sword defended the faith
whose pillars had nearly crumbled.
أَقامَhe established بِهِthere سوقَthe market of الطِعانِspear-thrusts وَلَمand not يُقِمupheld
أَقامَ بِهِ سوقَ الطِعانِ وَلَم يُقِم
دَعائِمَthe pillars of هَذاthis الشَرعِsacred law كَالسُمرِlike brown spears شُرَّعاleveled
دَعائِمَ هَذا الشَرعِ كَالسُمرِ شُرَّعا
There he established the market of spear-thrusts; nothing upheld
the pillars of this sacred law like leveled brown spears.
فَوَلّىthen fled عَظيمُthe ruler of الرومِthe Byzantines وَالرَأيُand sound judgment ماwas what رَأىhe chose
فَوَلّى عَظيمُ الرومِ وَالرَأيُ ما رَأى
مُصيخاًheeding إِلىto داعِthe summons of السَلامَةِsafety مُهطِعاhurrying
مُصيخاً إِلى داعِ السَلامَةِ مُهطِعا
The Byzantine ruler fled—and prudent was his choice—
heeding the summons of safety and hurrying toward it.
وَطائِفَةٍand many a band خَرّواfell إِلىtoward غَيرِother than قِبلَةٍa prayer-direction
وَطائِفَةٍ خَرّوا إِلى غَيرِ قِبلَةٍ
سُجوداًprostrate بِحُكمِby the decree of الباتِراتِcleaving swords وَرُكَّعاand kneeling
سُجوداً بِحُكمِ الباتِراتِ وَرُكَّعا
Many a band fell facing no prayer-direction,
prostrate under the cleaving swords' decree, and kneeling.
فَلِلَّهِso to God belongs نَفسٌa soul لاnot تُنافَسُrivaled غالَهاsnatched it الthe (continued)
فَلِلَّهِ نَفسٌ لا تُنافَسُ غالَها ال
حِمامُdeath وَحَقٌّand a right لِلمَكارِمِof noble deeds ضُيِّعاleft unfulfilled
حِمامُ وَحَقٌّ لِلمَكارِمِ ضُيِّعا
God's is an unrivaled soul, seized by
death, and a claim of noble deeds left unfulfilled.
لَئِنthough ماتَhe died مَقصورَcut short in الحَياةِlife فَلَمyet not يَزَلceased to be
لَئِن ماتَ مَقصورَ الحَياةِ فَلَم يَزَل
أَمَدَّthe most far-reaching of الوَرىmankind طَولاًin bounty وَباعاًand in reach وَتُبَّعاand in followers
أَمَدَّ الوَرى طَولاً وَباعاً وَتُبَّعا
Though he died with life cut short, he remained
the greatest of men in bounty, reach, and following.
شَبابٌa youth نَهاهُforbade him الحِلمُmature judgment أَنto يَتبَعَfollow الهَوىdesire
شَبابٌ نَهاهُ الحِلمُ أَن يَتبَعَ الهَوى
وَعَزمٌand a resolve كَفاهُspared it الحَزمُprudence أَنfrom يُتَتَبَّعاbeing scrutinized
وَعَزمٌ كَفاهُ الحَزمُ أَن يُتَتَبَّعا
A youth whom mature judgment forbade to follow desire,
and a resolve that prudence spared from scrutiny;
وَمَلكٌand a king وَأَيمُand by اللَهِGod كَذَّبَgave the lie to كُلَّeveryone مَنwho
وَمَلكٌ وَأَيمُ اللَهِ كَذَّبَ كُلَّ مَن
يُكَبِّرُextols كِسرىKhosrow أَوor يُعَظِّمُmagnifies تُبَّعاTubba
يُكَبِّرُ كِسرى أَو يُعَظِّمُ تُبَّعا
a king, by God, who gave the lie to everyone who
extols Khosrow or magnifies Tubba.
فَقيدٌa departed man أَماتَwho slew المَحلَdrought قَبلَbefore فِطامِهِhis weaning
فَقيدٌ أَماتَ المَحلَ قَبلَ فِطامِهِ
وَرَوَّعَand terrified أَهلَthe inhabitants of الأَرضِthe earth لَمّاwhen تَرَعرَعاhe grew up
وَرَوَّعَ أَهلَ الأَرضِ لَمّا تَرَعرَعا
A departed man who slew drought before his weaning,
and terrified the earth's inhabitants when he grew up.
إِذاwhen عَنَّتِpresented itself الفَحشاءُvice فيin نَيلِهاattaining it المُنىdesires
إِذا عَنَّتِ الفَحشاءُ في نَيلِها المُنى
تَوَرَّعَhe abstained أَوor عَزَّwas difficult السُؤالُasking تَبَرُّعاhe gave unasked
تَوَرَّعَ أَو عَزَّ السُؤالُ تَبَرُّعا
When vice appeared as a way to fulfill desires,
he shunned it; if asking was hard, he gave unasked.
حَيِيٌّmodest وَإِنeven if لَمnot يَأتِhe did ماwhat يوجِبُoccasions الحَياshame
حَيِيٌّ وَإِن لَم يَأتِ ما يوجِبُ الحَيا
وَصَوبُand a downpour of حَياًlife-giving rain باقٍlasting إِذاwhen الغَيثُthe rain أَقلَعاceased
وَصَوبُ حَياً باقٍ إِذا الغَيثُ أَقلَعا
Modest, though he did nothing to occasion shame,
a lasting downpour when other rain had ceased;
وَذوand possessing سورَةٍa high rank شَطَّتfar beyond مَراماًreach وَسَورَةٍand a fierce force
وَذو سورَةٍ شَطَّت مَراماً وَسَورَةٍ
تُميتُthat kills لِتُحيِيto give life أَوor تَضُرُّharms لِتَنفَعاto benefit
تُميتُ لِتُحيِي أَو تَضُرُّ لِتَنفَعا
possessed of a rank far beyond reach, and a fierce force
that kills to give life, or harms to bring benefit.
خَلائِقُqualities أَعياdefied attainment فيamong الخَلائِقِcreation نِدُّهاtheir equal
خَلائِقُ أَعيا في الخَلائِقِ نِدُّها
تَشوقُكَcaptivate you مَرأىًin sight أَوor تَروقُكَdelight you مَسمَعاin hearing
تَشوقُكَ مَرأىً أَو تَروقُكَ مَسمَعا
Qualities whose equal none among creation could attain,
that captivate you to behold, or delight you to hear,
تَزيدُthey exceed عَلىbeyond ماءِthe water of الغَواديmorning showers طَهارَةًin purity
تَزيدُ عَلى ماءِ الغَوادي طَهارَةً
وَيُنسيكَand makes you forget رَيّاهاtheir fragrance الرَحيقَthe wine المُشَعشَعاbrightened with water
وَيُنسيكَ رَيّاها الرَحيقَ المُشَعشَعا
purer than the water of morning showers,
whose fragrance makes you forget wine brightened with water.
كَساهُclothed him الحِجىreason وَالحِلمُand forbearance وَالعَدلُand justice حُلَّةًin a robe
كَساهُ الحِجى وَالحِلمُ وَالعَدلُ حُلَّةً
تَرَدّىhe wore بِهاit فيin مَهدِهِhis cradle وَتَلَفَّعاand wrapped himself
تَرَدّى بِها في مَهدِهِ وَتَلَفَّعا
Reason, forbearance, and justice clothed him in a robe
that he wore and wrapped himself in within his cradle.
فَكُلُّso every جَميلٍlovely deed كانَthat was أَوor هُوَit كائِنٌexists
فَكُلُّ جَميلٍ كانَ أَو هُوَ كائِنٌ
تَأَصَّلَtook root مِنin أَفعالِهِhis actions وَتَفَرَّعاand branched out
تَأَصَّلَ مِن أَفعالِهِ وَتَفَرَّعا
Every lovely deed that was, or yet exists,
took root in his actions and branched out from them.
مَساعٍendeavors إِلىtoward غَيرِother than المَحامِدِnoble deeds لَمnot تَمِلturned
مَساعٍ إِلى غَيرِ المَحامِدِ لَم تَمِل
وَنَفسٌand a soul إِلىtoward غَيرِother than العُلىthe heights لَنnever تَطَلَّعاwould aspire
وَنَفسٌ إِلى غَيرِ العُلى لَن تَطَلَّعا
Endeavors that never turned toward anything but noble deeds,
and a soul that would never aspire to anything but the heights.
أَخَلَّhe left empty بِمَغناهُhis dwelling الَّذيwhere لَمnot يَزَلceased to be بِهِwithin it
أَخَلَّ بِمَغناهُ الَّذي لَم يَزَل بِهِ
حِمىًa refuge وَخَلاand became empty الغابُthe thicket الَّذيwhich كانَhad been مُسبِعاlion-haunted
حِمىً وَخَلا الغابُ الَّذي كانَ مُسبِعا
He left empty his dwelling, where he had always been
a refuge; empty is the thicket that once harbored a lion.
مَحَلٌّa home عَهِدناwhere we knew العُرفَfavor لِلعُرفِfor favor شافِعاًinterceding
مَحَلٌّ عَهِدنا العُرفَ لِلعُرفِ شافِعاً
بِهِthere وَشَفيعَand the intercessor of السائِلينَpetitioners مُشَفَّعاhaving his plea accepted
بِهِ وَشَفيعَ السائِلينَ مُشَفَّعا
A home where we knew favor to intercede for favor,
and the petitioners' intercessor to have his plea accepted.
إِذاwhen خيفَتِwere feared for الأَوطانُhomelands أومِنَwas secured سِربُهُhis flock
إِذا خيفَتِ الأَوطانُ أومِنَ سِربُهُ
وَإِنand if غَمَرَengulfed المَحلُdrought البَسيطَةَthe earth أَمرَعاit grew lush
وَإِن غَمَرَ المَحلُ البَسيطَةَ أَمرَعا
When homelands grew fearful, his people were secure;
when drought engulfed the earth, his land grew lush.
لَحىmay curse اللَهُGod دَهراًan age بَزَّناهُthat robbed us of him بِرَغمِناagainst our will
لَحى اللَهُ دَهراً بَزَّناهُ بِرَغمِنا
فَعَثرَتُهُfor its stumble ماis that لاnot يُقالُis said لَهاto it لَعاrise again
فَعَثرَتُهُ ما لا يُقالُ لَها لَعا
God curse an age that robbed us of him against our will:
its stumble admits no cry of 'Rise again!'
وَمِنand among عَدلِهِits justice أَنَّthat اللَذَينِthe two who تَغَلَّباusurped
وَمِن عَدلِهِ أَنَّ اللَذَينِ تَغَلَّبا
عَلىover مُلكِهِhis realm مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him ماnot تَمَتَّعاenjoyed it
عَلى مُلكِهِ مِن بَعدِهِ ما تَمَتَّعا
Yet part of its justice was that the two who usurped
his realm after him enjoyed it not.
فَخَصمٌso one rival بِسَيفِby the sword of اللَهِGod عاجَلَهُovertook him swiftly الرَدىdeath
فَخَصمٌ بِسَيفِ اللَهِ عاجَلَهُ الرَدى
وَأَغرَبَand acted strangely فيin قَتلِslaying الأَخيرِthe latter وَأَبدَعاand inventively
وَأَغرَبَ في قَتلِ الأَخيرِ وَأَبدَعا
One rival death overtook through God's sword;
in slaying the other, it worked strange and wondrous means.
خَليفَةُKhalifa لَمnot يَصلُحwas fit لِنَصرٍfor Nasr خَليفَةًas a successor
خَليفَةُ لَم يَصلُح لِنَصرٍ خَليفَةً
وَهَلand was أُلبِسَhe clothed in العَلياءَeminence إِلّاexcept لِيَنزَعاto be stripped
وَهَل أُلبِسَ العَلياءَ إِلّا لِيَنزَعا
Khalifa was no fitting successor to Nasr;
was he clothed in eminence except to be stripped?
أَباO father of كامِلٍKamil إِنif غالَبَتكَoverpowered you يَدُthe hand of الرَدىdeath
أَبا كامِلٍ إِن غالَبَتكَ يَدُ الرَدى
وَلَمand not يُغنِكَavailed you البَأسُvalor الَّذيwhich لَيسَnot يُدَّعاis merely claimed
وَلَم يُغنِكَ البَأسُ الَّذي لَيسَ يُدَّعا
Abu Kamil, if the hand of death has overpowered you,
and your valor—no mere claim—could not avail you,
فَإِنَّكَthen indeed you مِنare from قَومٍa people تَكونُbecome قُبورُهُمtheir graves
فَإِنَّكَ مِن قَومٍ تَكونُ قُبورُهُم
إِذاwhen ماindeed خَشواthey fear ضَيماًhumiliation نُسوراًvultures وَأَضبُعاand hyenas
إِذا ما خَشوا ضَيماً نُسوراً وَأَضبُعا
you belonged to a people whose graves become,
when they fear humiliation, vultures and hyenas.
إِذاwhen فاخَرواthey boast طابواthey are noble أَخيراًlast وَأَوَّلاًand first
إِذا فاخَروا طابوا أَخيراً وَأَوَّلاً
وَإِنand if طاعَنواthey joust طالواthey outstretch others رِماحاًin spears وَأَذرُعاand arms
وَإِن طاعَنوا طالوا رِماحاً وَأَذرُعا
When they boast, they are noble, last and first;
when they joust, they outstretch others in spears and arms.
وَإِنand if طَلَبواthey pursue جابواthey cross مَهامَةِtrackless deserts لَمnot تُجَبpreviously crossed
وَإِن طَلَبوا جابوا مَهامَةِ لَم تُجَب
وَإِنand if حارَبواthey wage war اِجتابواthey don مِنَof الصَبرِpatience أَدرُعاarmor
وَإِن حارَبوا اِجتابوا مِنَ الصَبرِ أَدرُعا
When they pursue, they cross deserts never crossed;
when they wage war, they don armor made of patience.
مَضَيتَyou departed وَلَمand not تَترُكleft مِنَof المَجدِglory غايَةًa goal
مَضَيتَ وَلَم تَترُك مِنَ المَجدِ غايَةً
وَلَمand not تُبقِyou left remaining فيin قَوسِthe bow of المُروءَةِchivalry مَنزِعاa further draw
وَلَم تُبقِ في قَوسِ المُروءَةِ مَنزِعا
You departed, leaving no goal of glory unreached,
nor any further draw in the bow of chivalry.
كَذاكَthus البُدورُthe full moons النَيِّراتُthe radiant خُسوفُهاtheir eclipse
كَذاكَ البُدورُ النَيِّراتُ خُسوفُها
يُخافُis feared إِذاwhen أَتمَمنَthey complete عَشراًten وَأَربَعاand four
يُخافُ إِذا أَتمَمنَ عَشراً وَأَربَعا
So it is with radiant full moons: their eclipse
is feared when they complete ten nights and four.
وَمِنand among بَخَليmy stinginess أَنthat جاءَcame ذاthis القَولُutterance آخِراًlate
وَمِن بَخَلي أَن جاءَ ذا القَولُ آخِراً
وَلَمand not أَعتَمِدI undertook نَظمَthe composing of القَوافيrhymes تَطَوُّعاvoluntarily
وَلَم أَعتَمِد نَظمَ القَوافي تَطَوُّعا
One sign of my stinginess is that these words came late,
and I did not undertake the weaving of rhymes unasked.
وَحَسَّنَand made seem fair ليto me شَرخُthe prime of الشَبابِyouth وَجَهلُهُand its ignorance
وَحَسَّنَ لي شَرخُ الشَبابِ وَجَهلُهُ
إِضاعَةَthe neglect of فَرضٍa duty مِثلُهُone like him لَنnever يُضَيِّعاwould neglect
إِضاعَةَ فَرضٍ مِثلُهُ لَن يُضَيِّعا
The prime of youth and its ignorance made seem fair to me
the neglect of a duty that his like would never neglect.
وَإِنand even if قُلتُI spoke مَأموراًat command وَأَبدَعَand excelled خاطِريmy imagination
وَإِن قُلتُ مَأموراً وَأَبدَعَ خاطِري
فَيَقبُحُit ill becomes بيme إِذsince لَمnot أَقُلI spoke مُتَبَرِّعاof my own accord
فَيَقبُحُ بي إِذ لَم أَقُل مُتَبَرِّعا
Even if I spoke at command and my imagination excelled,
it shames me that I did not speak of my own accord.
عَدِمتُmay I lose لِساناًa tongue حالَفَthat allied itself with العَجزَimpotence ضِلَّةًmisguidedly
عَدِمتُ لِساناً حالَفَ العَجزَ ضِلَّةً
وَخالَفَand opposed قَلباًa heart كَالقُلوبِlike other hearts مُفَجَّعاgrief-stricken
وَخالَفَ قَلباً كَالقُلوبِ مُفَجَّعا
May I lose a tongue that misguidedly allied itself with impotence,
and defied a heart as grief-stricken as other hearts.
يُؤَبِّنُit eulogizes مَنwhoever يُدليlays claim بِأَدنىto the least فَضيلَةٍmerit
يُؤَبِّنُ مَن يُدلي بِأَدنى فَضيلَةٍ
فَكَيفَthen how بِمَنwith one who حازَpossessed الفَضائِلَthe virtues أَجمَعاentirely
فَكَيفَ بِمَن حازَ الفَضائِلَ أَجمَعا
It eulogizes whoever can claim the least merit;
how then should it treat one who possessed every virtue?
بِنَفسيmy life as ransom for وَحيدٌa lonely man أَسلَمَتهُabandoned him جُيوشُهُhis armies
بِنَفسي وَحيدٌ أَسلَمَتهُ جُيوشُهُ
وَمُرتَحِلٌand a traveler لَمnot يَنتَظِرwaited أَنto يُوَدَّعاbe bidden farewell
وَمُرتَحِلٌ لَم يَنتَظِر أَن يُوَدَّعا
I would give my life for the lonely man his armies abandoned,
a traveler who did not wait to be bidden farewell.
وَحَلَّand entered ضَريحاًa tomb أودِعَentrusted with البَأسَvalor وَالنَدىand bounty
وَحَلَّ ضَريحاً أودِعَ البَأسَ وَالنَدى
وَلَولاand but for اِبنُهُhis son ماnot رَدَّit would have returned ماwhat كانَhad been أودِعاdeposited
وَلَولا اِبنُهُ ما رَدَّ ما كانَ أودِعا
He entered a tomb entrusted with valor and bounty;
but for his son, it would not have returned what was deposited.
فَنابَso he stood مَنابَin the place of الشَمسِthe sun عَنin place of قَمَرِthe moon of الدُجىdarkness
فَنابَ مَنابَ الشَمسِ عَن قَمَرِ الدُجى
وَهَلand did غابَset بَدرُthe moon of التَمِّfullness إِلّاexcept لِيَطلَعاthat he might rise
وَهَل غابَ بَدرُ التَمِّ إِلّا لِيَطلَعا
His son stood as the sun in place of the moon of darkness;
did the full moon set except that he might rise?
إِذاif جارَstrayed فيin كَسبِwinning الثَناءِpraise طَريقُهُhis path
إِذا جارَ في كَسبِ الثَناءِ طَريقُهُ
أَجَدَّhe made anew طَريقاًa road لَمnot يَكُنhad been قَطُّever مَهيعاclear and open
أَجَدَّ طَريقاً لَم يَكُن قَطُّ مَهيعا
If his path strayed in the pursuit of praise,
he opened a road never before made plain.
بَعيدُfar-reaching المَراميin aims فيin مَساعيهِhis endeavors ماnever جَرىran
بَعيدُ المَرامي في مَساعيهِ ما جَرى
يَرومُseeking مَداهُhis limit الفِكرُthought إِلّاexcept تَتَعتَعاit stumbled
يَرومُ مَداهُ الفِكرُ إِلّا تَتَعتَعا
Far-ranging in his endeavors: never did thought run
to reach his limit without stumbling.
حَوىhe possessed حَسَباًlineage مَحضاًpure وَرَأياًand judgment مُؤَيَّداًwell-supported
حَوى حَسَباً مَحضاً وَرَأياً مُؤَيَّداً
وَمَنّاًand bounty بِلاwithout مَنٍّreproach وَعِزّاًand might مُمَنَّعاimpregnable
وَمَنّاً بِلا مَنٍّ وَعِزّاً مُمَنَّعا
He possessed pure lineage and well-supported judgment,
bounty without reproach, and impregnable might:
أَصالَةُthe nobility of وَثّابٍWaththab وَصَولَةُand the onslaught of صالِحٍSalih
أَصالَةُ وَثّابٍ وَصَولَةُ صالِحٍ
وَهِزَّةُand the eagerness of نَصرٍNasr لِلعَطاياfor gifts تَبَرُّعاfreely given
وَهِزَّةُ نَصرٍ لِلعَطايا تَبَرُّعا
the nobility of Waththab, the onslaught of Salih,
and Nasr's eagerness to bestow gifts unasked.
حَمِدناwe praised بِمَحمودٍthrough Mahmud ذَميمَthe blameworthy part of زَمانِناour age
حَمِدنا بِمَحمودٍ ذَميمَ زَمانِنا
وَعاوَدَand returned مَشتاناour winter بِنُعماهُthrough his blessings مَربَعاto spring
وَعاوَدَ مَشتانا بِنُعماهُ مَربَعا
Through Mahmud we praised our blameworthy age,
and his blessings turned our winter back to spring.
بِأَنطَقِthrough the most eloquent مَنwhom شاهَدتُI have seen بِالحِكَمِin wise sayings الَّتيwhich
بِأَنطَقِ مَن شاهَدتُ بِالحِكَمِ الَّتي
تَفَنَّنَhe showed varied artistry فيin إِظهارِهاrevealing them وَتَنَوَّعاand varied his forms
تَفَنَّنَ في إِظهارِها وَتَنَوَّعا
Through the most eloquent in wisdom I have seen,
who displayed it with varied arts and diverse forms:
فَأَوضَحَso he clarified مَعناهاtheir meaning الَّذيwhich كانَhad been غامِضاًobscure
فَأَوضَحَ مَعناها الَّذي كانَ غامِضاً
وَآنَسَand made welcoming مَغناهاtheir dwelling الَّذيwhich كانَhad been بَلقَعاa barren waste
وَآنَسَ مَغناها الَّذي كانَ بَلقَعا
he clarified its meaning, which had been obscure,
and made its once-barren dwelling welcoming.
وَماand not زالَceased to be مَخدوعاًreadily beguiled لِراجيهِby one hoping in him عاصِياًunyielding
وَما زالَ مَخدوعاً لِراجيهِ عاصِياً
عَلىغَيرِهِagainst anyone else أَنto يُستَزَلَّbe lured astray فَيُخدَعاand thus deceived
عَلىغَيرِهِ أَن يُستَزَلَّ فَيُخدَعا
He ever lets those who hope in him beguile him, but resists
all others who would lure him into being deceived.
وَثَبتُand steadfast of الجَنانِheart عِندَat كُلِّevery مُلِمَّةٍcalamity
وَثَبتُ الجَنانِ عِندَ كُلِّ مُلِمَّةٍ
تَضَعضَعَtrembled مَنwhoever مَرَّتit passed بِهِover him وَتَصَعصَعاand tottered
تَضَعضَعَ مَن مَرَّت بِهِ وَتَصَعصَعا
Steadfast of heart at every calamity
that makes whomever it strikes tremble and totter;
مُبيدُa destroyer of الأَعاديfoes وَالفَوارِسُwhile horsemen تَدَّعيboast
مُبيدُ الأَعادي وَالفَوارِسُ تَدَّعي
صَحيحُtrue in الدَعاويclaims وَالمَآثِرُwhile noble exploits تُدَّعاare claimed
صَحيحُ الدَعاوي وَالمَآثِرُ تُدَّعا
a destroyer of foes when horsemen boast,
true in his claims when noble exploits are claimed.
وَمُخفيand a concealer of الهِباتِgifts سُؤدُداًout of nobility غَيرَexcept أَنَّهاthat they
وَمُخفي الهِباتِ سُؤدُداً غَيرَ أَنَّها
تَنُمُّbetray themselves نَميمَlike the disclosure of المِسكِmusk لَمّاwhen تَضَوَّعاits fragrance spreads
تَنُمُّ نَميمَ المِسكِ لَمّا تَضَوَّعا
He hides his gifts out of nobility, yet they
betray themselves like musk when its fragrance spreads.
تَوَلَّيتَyou undertook ياO تاجَcrown of المُلوكِkings رِعايَتيmy care
تَوَلَّيتَ يا تاجَ المُلوكِ رِعايَتي
فَلَمso not أَخشَI feared مِنfrom جَورِthe tyranny of الخُطوبِcalamities مُرَوِّعاany terror
فَلَم أَخشَ مِن جَورِ الخُطوبِ مُرَوِّعا
You undertook my care, O crown of kings,
so I feared no terror from the tyranny of calamities.
أَمِنتُI was safe from أَذاهاtheir harm مُذsince لَقيتُكَI met you خائِفاًafraid
أَمِنتُ أَذاها مُذ لَقيتُكَ خائِفاً
وَعُدتُand returned غَنِيّاًrich يَومَthe day زُرتُكَI visited you مُدقِعاdestitute
وَعُدتُ غَنِيّاً يَومَ زُرتُكَ مُدقِعا
I was safe from their harm since I met you in fear,
and returned rich the day I visited you destitute.
وَبَيَّضتَand you brightened ليfor me وَجهَthe face of الرَجاءِhope وَطالَماand so often
وَبَيَّضتَ لي وَجهَ الرَجاءِ وَطالَما
بَداit appeared ليto me بِوَجهٍwith a face أَربَدِdusky in اللَونِcolor أَسفَعاdarkened
بَدا لي بِوَجهٍ أَربَدِ اللَونِ أَسفَعا
You brightened hope's face for me, though so often
it had appeared to me with a dusky, darkened face.
بِقَلعَتِكَat your citadel الشَمّاءِthe lofty شِمتُI sighted سَحابَةًa cloud
بِقَلعَتِكَ الشَمّاءِ شِمتُ سَحابَةً
كَفَتنيthat sufficed me فَلاso may it not زالَتcease to be لِوَجهِكَfor your face مَطلَعاa place of rising
كَفَتني فَلا زالَت لِوَجهِكَ مَطلَعا
At your lofty citadel I sighted a cloud
that sufficed me; may it ever be where your face rises.
إِذاwhenever ماindeed اِنبَرىwent forth مَدحيكَmy praise of you فيamong الناسِthe people شائِعاًwidely spread
إِذا ما اِنبَرى مَدحيكَ في الناسِ شائِعاً
رَأَواthey saw ماwhat أَفادَتنيhad brought me عَطاياكَyour gifts أَشيَعاmore widely spread
رَأَوا ما أَفادَتني عَطاياكَ أَشيَعا
Whenever my praise of you went forth widely among the people,
they saw what your gifts had brought me spread more widely still.
وَأَكثَرَand most often ماwhat أَدعوI pray إِلىto اللَهِGod أَنis that أُرىI be found
وَأَكثَرَ ما أَدعو إِلى اللَهِ أَن أُرى
لِشُكرِكَto thank you ماas long as اِمتَدَّتendures حَياتِيَmy life موزَعاinspired
لِشُكرِكَ ما اِمتَدَّت حَياتِيَ موزَعا
My most frequent prayer to God is that I be found
inspired to thank you as long as my life endures.
Sol 6.1