لاmay not فاتَelude مُلكَكَyour rule ماwhat أَعياbaffled بِهِby it الطَلَبُpursuit
لا فاتَ مُلكَكَ ما أَعيا بِهِ الطَلَبُ
وَلاand not تَزَلcease أَبَداًever تَعلوrise بِكَthrough you الرُتَبُthe ranks
وَلا تَزَل أَبَداً تَعلو بِكَ الرُتَبُ
May what has baffled pursuit never elude your rule,
And may high ranks forever be exalted through you.
فَقَدfor indeed حَلَلتَyou attained بِماthrough what تَأتيyou perform ذُرىthe summits of شَرَفٍhonor
فَقَد حَلَلتَ بِما تَأتي ذُرى شَرَفٍ
لَوif يُدَّعىit were claimable لَاِدَّعَتهُwould claim it السَبعَةُthe seven الشُهُبُshining stars
لَو يُدَّعى لَاِدَّعَتهُ السَبعَةُ الشُهُبُ
For through your deeds you have attained the heights of an honor
That the seven shining stars would claim, could it be claimed.
وَعَمَّand filled بَيتَكَyour house مِنfrom مَجدٍglory خُصِصتَyou were singled out بِهِfor it
وَعَمَّ بَيتَكَ مِن مَجدٍ خُصِصتَ بِهِ
فَخرٌa pride تَشارَكَshared فيهِin it العُجمُnon-Arabs وَالعَرَبُand Arabs
فَخرٌ تَشارَكَ فيهِ العُجمُ وَالعَرَبُ
From glory bestowed on you alone, your house is filled
With a pride shared by non-Arabs and Arabs.
يُشَبِّبُoffer preludes الناسُpeople إِنif هَمّواthey intend بِمَكرُمَةٍa noble deed
يُشَبِّبُ الناسُ إِن هَمّوا بِمَكرُمَةٍ
عِيّاًout of ineptitude وَأَنتَwhile you عَلىin الحالاتِall circumstances تَقتَضِبُact without preamble
عِيّاً وَأَنتَ عَلى الحالاتِ تَقتَضِبُ
People, when intending a noble deed, offer preludes
Out of ineptitude; you act without preamble in every circumstance.
نافَيتَهُمyou stood apart from them بِمَساعٍthrough feats مَنwhoever أُعينَis aided بِهاby them
نافَيتَهُم بِمَساعٍ مَن أُعينَ بِها
فَكُلُّthen every مَرمىًgoal بَعيدٍdistant رامَهُhe seeks it كَثَبُis near
فَكُلُّ مَرمىً بَعيدٍ رامَهُ كَثَبُ
You stand apart from them through feats that, for whoever they aid,
Bring every distant goal he seeks close at hand.
كَماjust as تَنافىdiffer الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades وَالزَرىand lowliness رُتَباًin rank
كَما تَنافى الثُرَيّا وَالزَرى رُتَباً
لاnot مِثلَماas يتَنافىdiffer الصُفرُbrass وَالذَهَبُand gold
لا مِثلَما يتَنافى الصُفرُ وَالذَهَبُ
As the Pleiades and lowliness differ in rank,
Not merely as brass differs from gold.
فَصَحَّso proved sound حَقُّكَyour rightful claim لَمّاwhen اِعتَلَّfell ill بِاطِلَهُمtheir falsehood
فَصَحَّ حَقُّكَ لَمّا اِعتَلَّ بِاطِلَهُم
لَنwill not يَنفُقَfind a market الصِدقُtruth حَتّىuntil يَكسُدَgoes unsold الكَذِبُfalsehood
لَن يَنفُقَ الصِدقُ حَتّى يَكسُدَ الكَذِبُ
Your rightful claim proved sound when their falsehood sickened;
Truth will find no market until falsehood goes unsold.
ياO اِبنَson of الأُلىthose who دانَتِsubmitted الدُنياthe world لَهُمto them رَهَباًin fear
يا اِبنَ الأُلى دانَتِ الدُنيا لَهُم رَهَباً
وَأَدرَكواand they attained عَنوَةًby force أَضعافَmany times ماwhat طَلَبواthey sought
وَأَدرَكوا عَنوَةً أَضعافَ ما طَلَبوا
O son of those to whom the world submitted in fear,
Who won by force many times what they sought,
بِالعَزمِthrough resolve حينَwhen يَخونُbetrays العَزمُresolve طالِبَهُits seeker
بِالعَزمِ حينَ يَخونُ العَزمُ طالِبَهُ
وَالغَزوِand campaigning حينَwhen يُمَلُّgrows tiresome السَرجُthe saddle وَالقَتَبُand the pack-saddle
وَالغَزوِ حينَ يُمَلُّ السَرجُ وَالقَتَبُ
Through resolve, when resolve betrays its seeker,
And campaigning, when saddle and pack-saddle grow tiresome.
ذَووmasters of الوَقائِعِbattles حَلّىsweetened مُرَّهاtheir bitterness لَهُمُfor them
ذَوو الوَقائِعِ حَلّى مُرَّها لَهُمُ
ضَربُstriking الطُلىnecks رُبَّmany a ضَربٍblow دونَهُbeneath it ضَرَبُwhite honey
ضَربُ الطُلى رُبَّ ضَربٍ دونَهُ ضَرَبُ
Masters of battles, whose bitterness was sweetened for them
By striking necks—many a blow is sweeter than honey.
الوارِدونَthose who enter حِياضَthe pools of المَوتِdeath مَحمِيَةًguarded
الوارِدونَ حِياضَ المَوتِ مَحمِيَةً
وَالجائِدونَand those giving lavishly إِذاwhen ما(emphatic) ضَنَّتِwithhold السُحُبُthe clouds
وَالجائِدونَ إِذا ما ضَنَّتِ السُحُبُ
Those who enter the guarded pools of death,
And give lavishly when the clouds withhold.
لَهُمthey have ظُبىًblades تَسلُبُstrip الأَعداءَthe enemies أَنفُسَهاof their lives
لَهُم ظُبىً تَسلُبُ الأَعداءَ أَنفُسَها
يومَon the day of الوَغىbattle وَرِماحٌand spears كُلُّهاall of them سُلُبُlong and slender
يومَ الوَغى وَرِماحٌ كُلُّها سُلُبُ
Their blades strip enemies of their lives
On battle's day; their spears are all long and slender.
وَطالَماand how often أَضرَمواthey kindled فيin كُلِّevery مُعتَرَكٍbattlefield
وَطالَما أَضرَموا في كُلِّ مُعتَرَكٍ
ناراًa fire حُماةُthe champions of أَعاديهمِtheir enemies لَهاfor it حَصَبُfuel
ناراً حُماةُ أَعاديهمِ لَها حَصَبُ
How often, on every battlefield, they kindled
A fire whose fuel was their enemies' champions.
ماnot عاشَhas lived مَنone who لَمnot تَكُنwere هَذيthese الصِفاتُqualities لَهُhis
ما عاشَ مَن لَم تَكُن هَذي الصِفاتُ لَهُ
حُلىًornaments وَلاnor ماتَhas died مَنone whose نَصرٌNasr لَهُhis عَقِبُsuccessor
حُلىً وَلا ماتَ مَن نَصرٌ لَهُ عَقِبُ
He has not lived who lacks these qualities
As ornaments; nor has he died whose successor is Nasr.
طَلقُbright المُحَيّاof countenance بِحَيثُwhere الحَربُwar عابِسَةٌis frowning
طَلقُ المُحَيّا بِحَيثُ الحَربُ عابِسَةٌ
كَأَنَّas though جِدَّthe earnestness of الوَغىbattle قُدّامَهُbefore him لَعِبُwere play
كَأَنَّ جِدَّ الوَغى قُدّامَهُ لَعِبُ
Bright-faced where war itself is frowning,
As though battle's earnestness before him were play,
فيin مَوقِفٍa stand شَهِدَتbore witness شوسُthe fierce-eyed الكُماةِchampions لَهُfor him
في مَوقِفٍ شَهِدَت شوسُ الكُماةِ لَهُ
بِالجودِto generosity بِالنَفسِwith his life وَالأَرواحُwhile souls تُستَلَبُwere snatched away
بِالجودِ بِالنَفسِ وَالأَرواحُ تُستَلَبُ
In a stand where fierce-eyed champions bore witness
To his lavishness with his life, while souls were snatched away.
إِذwhen عَمَّseized كُلَّevery فَصيحٍeloquent speaker مِدرَهٍorator خَرَسٌmuteness
إِذ عَمَّ كُلَّ فَصيحٍ مِدرَهٍ خَرَسٌ
وَلِلظُبىwhile blades have وَالعَواليand spearheads أَلسُنٌtongues ذُرُبُsharp
وَلِلظُبى وَالعَوالي أَلسُنٌ ذُرُبُ
When muteness seized every eloquent orator,
And blades and spearheads had sharp tongues.
وَرَأيُهُand his choice الكَرُّcharging back فيat أَعقابِthe rear of أُسرَتِهِhis clan
وَرَأيُهُ الكَرُّ في أَعقابِ أُسرَتِهِ
إِذwhile رَأيُthe choice of كُلِّevery عَزيزٍsecure جارُهُhis neighbor الهَرَبُflight
إِذ رَأيُ كُلِّ عَزيزٍ جارُهُ الهَرَبُ
He chose to charge at his clansmen's rear,
While every lord who kept his neighbor safe chose flight.
حَتّىuntil اِنجَلَتit cleared وَلَهُand his was الذِكرُthe renown المُبَلِّغُهُthat brought him to
حَتّى اِنجَلَت وَلَهُ الذِكرُ المُبَلِّغُهُ
هَذاthis المَدىheight رَضِيَwere pleased الحُسّادُthe envious أَوor غَضِبواthey were angered
هَذا المَدى رَضِيَ الحُسّادُ أَو غَضِبوا
Until battle cleared, leaving him the renown that brought him
To this height, whether the envious approved or raged.
مَنone who لَيسَdoes not يُجزِلُlavish نُعمىa favor جَرَّهاprompted it سَبَبٌa cause
مَن لَيسَ يُجزِلُ نُعمى جَرَّها سَبَبٌ
إِلّاwithout تَلاهاhe followed it بِأُخرىwith another مالَهاit has no سَبَبُcause
إِلّا تَلاها بِأُخرى مالَها سَبَبُ
He never lavishes a favor prompted by some cause
Without following it with another prompted by none.
وَمَظهِرُand one manifesting العَدلِjustice فيin نَأيٍremoteness وَمُقتَرَبٍand nearness
وَمَظهِرُ العَدلِ في نَأيٍ وَمُقتَرَبٍ
حَتّىuntil لَقَدindeed عَدَلَتturned aside عَنfrom ظُلمِهاtheir injustice النُوَبُcalamities
حَتّى لَقَد عَدَلَت عَن ظُلمِها النُوَبُ
He manifests justice far away and near,
Till even calamities have turned aside from their injustice.
فَالجودُso generosity وَالعَدلُand justice مَفروضٌare prescribed وَمُتَّبَعٌand followed
فَالجودُ وَالعَدلُ مَفروضٌ وَمُتَّبَعٌ
وَالجَورُand oppression وَالبُخلُand miserliness مَرفوضٌare rejected وَمُجتَنَبُand shunned
وَالجَورُ وَالبُخلُ مَرفوضٌ وَمُجتَنَبُ
Thus generosity and justice are enjoined and followed,
And oppression and miserliness rejected and shunned.
تَخفىfade from view الكِرامُthe noble مَتىwhenever عُدَّتare counted مَكارِمُهُhis noble deeds
تَخفى الكِرامُ مَتى عُدَّت مَكارِمُهُ
إِذاwhen الأَتِيُّthe rushing flood طَغىoverflows لَمnot تَظهَرِappear القُلُبُthe wells
إِذا الأَتِيُّ طَغى لَم تَظهَرِ القُلُبُ
Noble men vanish from view whenever his noble deeds are counted;
When the flood overflows, the wells cannot be seen.
فَلاso let not يُحاوِلaspire to مَداهُhis reach كُلُّany ذيpossessor of نَسَبٍlineage
فَلا يُحاوِل مَداهُ كُلُّ ذي نَسَبٍ
فَماfor not لَهُhe has فيin حَديثٍrepute طَيِّبٍhonorable نَشَبُa share
فَما لَهُ في حَديثٍ طَيِّبٍ نَشَبُ
Let no man of lineage alone aspire to his reach,
For he has no share in honorable repute.
لَنwill not يُعدَمَbe lacking الخَيرُgoodness فيin بَيتٍa house قَواعِدُهُwhose pillars
لَن يُعدَمَ الخَيرُ في بَيتٍ قَواعِدُهُ
غُلبٌstalwarts عَلىin الفَضلِexcellence وَالإِفضالِand generosity قَدindeed غَلَبواthey have prevailed
غُلبٌ عَلى الفَضلِ وَالإِفضالِ قَد غَلَبوا
Goodness will never be lacking in a house whose pillars
Are stalwarts who have mastered excellence and generosity.
مَعاشِرٌa people لاnot يَرَونَthey deem الجودَgenerosity عارِفَةًa kindness
مَعاشِرٌ لا يَرَونَ الجودَ عارِفَةً
حَتّىuntil تَكونَbecomes العُلىexalted rank مِنamong بَعضِsome of ماwhat وَهَبواthey give
حَتّى تَكونَ العُلى مِن بَعضِ ما وَهَبوا
A people who deem generosity no true kindness
Until exalted rank is among the things they give.
إِنَّindeed الخَليفَةَthe caliph لَمّاwhen رُقتَهُyou delighted him شِيَماًin character
إِنَّ الخَليفَةَ لَمّا رُقتَهُ شِيَماً
عَلِقتَyou clung مِنهُfrom him بِحَبلٍto a cord لَيسَdoes not يَنقَضِبُbreak
عَلِقتَ مِنهُ بِحَبلٍ لَيسَ يَنقَضِبُ
When your character delighted the caliph,
You grasped a cord from him that cannot be severed.
حَناhe inclined kindly عَلَيكَtoward you فَماand not بارىmatched مَبَرَّتَهُhis kindness
حَنا عَلَيكَ فَما بارى مَبَرَّتَهُ
أَخٌa brother شَقيقٌfull شَفيقٌaffectionate أَوor أَبٌa father حَدِبُtender
أَخٌ شَقيقٌ شَفيقٌ أَو أَبٌ حَدِبُ
He inclined toward you with kindness unmatched
By a loving full brother or a tender father.
وَزادَand he increased مُلكَكَyour dominion مِنwith أَسنىthe loftiest مَواهِبِهِof his gifts
وَزادَ مُلكَكَ مِن أَسنى مَواهِبِهِ
أَشَفَّthe finest ماof what يَصطَفيhe favors مِنهُof it وَيَنتَخِبُand selects
أَشَفَّ ما يَصطَفي مِنهُ وَيَنتَخِبُ
He enriched your dominion with his loftiest gifts,
The finest of what he favors and selects.
وَحُزتَand you gained كُلَّevery نَفيسٍprecious thing مِنamong مَلابِسهِhis robes
وَحُزتَ كُلَّ نَفيسٍ مِن مَلابِسهِ
أَشبَهتَyou resembled لَألاءَهُits radiance وَالشَبهُand likeness مُنجَدِبُis drawn
أَشبَهتَ لَألاءَهُ وَالشَبهُ مُنجَدِبُ
You gained every precious one of his robes;
You matched its radiance, for like is drawn to like.
مُمَنَّعٌunassailable وَهوَyet he is بِالأَبصارِby gazes مُنتَهَبٌplundered
مُمَنَّعٌ وَهوَ بِالأَبصارِ مُنتَهَبٌ
وَظاهِرٌand manifest وَهوَyet he is بِالأَنوارِby radiance مَحتَجِبُveiled
وَظاهِرٌ وَهوَ بِالأَنوارِ مَحتَجِبُ
Unassailable, yet plundered by gazes,
And manifest, yet veiled in radiance.
وَمُقرَبٌand a prized steed بَرَّحَafflicted السَيرُtravel الحَثيثُswift بِهِit
وَمُقرَبٌ بَرَّحَ السَيرُ الحَثيثُ بِهِ
حَتّىuntil تَحَكَّمَtook mastery فيهِover it الأَينُfatigue وَالدَأَبُand toil
حَتّى تَحَكَّمَ فيهِ الأَينُ وَالدَأَبُ
And a prized steed, afflicted by its swift journey,
Until fatigue and toil took mastery of it.
نَحاit made for جَنابَكَyour presence وَالأَشواقُwhile longings تَجذُبُهُdrew it
نَحا جَنابَكَ وَالأَشواقُ تَجذُبُهُ
فَدَأبُهُso its habit الشَدُّgalloping وَالتَقريبُand cantering وَالخَبَبُand trotting
فَدَأبُهُ الشَدُّ وَالتَقريبُ وَالخَبَبُ
It made for your presence, drawn by longing,
Its constant business galloping, cantering, and trotting.
حَتّىuntil رَآكَit saw you فَمالَthen swayed الإِختِيالُpride بِهِit
حَتّى رَآكَ فَمالَ الإِختِيالُ بِهِ
إِلىtoward الجِماحِbolting إِلىuntil أَنthat كَفَّهُrestrained it الأَدَبُtraining
إِلى الجِماحِ إِلى أَن كَفَّهُ الأَدَبُ
Until it saw you; then pride swayed it
Toward bolting, till its training held it back.
وَقَلَّدَand he girded العَضبَthe keen blade عَضباًwith a keen sword طالَماoften اِنكَشَفَتwere dispelled
وَقَلَّدَ العَضبَ عَضباً طالَما اِنكَشَفَت
بِهِthrough it صُنوفُkinds of الأَذىharm وَاِنجابَتِand cleared away الكُربُdistresses
بِهِ صُنوفُ الأَذى وَاِنجابَتِ الكُربُ
He girded the keen blade with a keen sword through which so often
All kinds of harm were dispelled and distresses cleared.
وَكُلُّand all ماthat أَنتَyou مُمطاهُare given it to ride وَلابِسُهُand wear it
وَكُلُّ ما أَنتَ مُمطاهُ وَلابِسُهُ
دونَfalls below الَّذيwhat ضُمِّنَتَwere made to contain مِنof مَدحِكَyour praise الكُتُبُthe books
دونَ الَّذي ضُمِّنَتَ مِن مَدحِكَ الكُتُبُ
All you are given to ride, and all you wear,
Falls short of what books contain in praise of you.
كَمhow many أودِعَتwere lodged مِنof صِفاتٍqualities عَنكَof you مُخبِرَةٍtelling
كَم أودِعَت مِن صِفاتٍ عَنكَ مُخبِرَةٍ
وَإِنeven if تَظَنّىsupposed جَهولٌan ignoramus أَنَّهاthat they are لَقَبُa mere title
وَإِن تَظَنّى جَهولٌ أَنَّها لَقَبُ
How many qualities telling of you were lodged in them,
Though an ignoramus may suppose them mere titles.
كُلُّevery المَلابِسِgarment يَبلىwears out عِندَwith بِذلَتِهِits use
كُلُّ المَلابِسِ يَبلى عِندَ بِذلَتِهِ
وَتِلكَbut those باقِيَةٌendure أَثوابُهاtheir robes قُشُبُfresh
وَتِلكَ باقِيَةٌ أَثوابُها قُشُبُ
Every garment wears out with use,
But those endure, their robes forever fresh.
إِنَّindeed النَباهَةَrenown أَدنىthe least ماof what سَعَيتَyou strove لَهُfor it
إِنَّ النَباهَةَ أَدنى ما سَعَيتَ لَهُ
فِإِنso if خُصِصتَyou are singled out بِأَقصاهاfor its utmost فَلاthen no عَجَبُwonder
فِإِن خُصِصتَ بِأَقصاها فَلا عَجَبُ
Renown is the least of what you strove for;
If you are singled out for its utmost, that is no wonder.
لَكَyours الهَناءُfelicity الَّذيwhich لِلشانِئيكَfor your haters بِهِthrough it
لَكَ الهَناءُ الَّذي لِلشانِئيكَ بِهِ
لَذعُthe sting of الهِناءِmedicinal tar وَإِنeven though لَمnot يَذهَبِgo away الجَرَبُmange
لَذعُ الهِناءِ وَإِن لَم يَذهَبِ الجَرَبُ
Yours be the joy that brings your haters
The sting of tar, though their mange remains uncured:
مِنamong كُلِّevery مُظهِرِone displaying وُدٍّaffection لَيسَdoes not يُضمِرُهُharbor it
مِن كُلِّ مُظهِرِ وُدٍّ لَيسَ يُضمِرُهُ
وَضاحِكٍand one smiling لَكَat you خَوفاًout of fear وَهوَwhile he is مُكتَئِبُdejected
وَضاحِكٍ لَكَ خَوفاً وَهوَ مُكتَئِبُ
All who display affection they do not harbor,
And smile at you from fear while dejected.
وَمَنand who أَحَقُّmore deserving بِذاof this التَنويهِacclaim مِنthan مَلِكٍa king
وَمَن أَحَقُّ بِذا التَنويهِ مِن مَلِكٍ
ماضيkeen الغِرارِإِذاof edge, when ما(emphatic) كَلَّتِgrow dull القُضُبُthe swords
ماضي الغِرارِإِذا ما كَلَّتِ القُضُبُ
Who deserves this acclaim more than a king
Keen-edged when swords grow dull?
تَرضىare content المُلوكُthe kings بِأَنthat يُدعىhe be called لَهاfor them شَرَفاًan honor
تَرضى المُلوكُ بِأَن يُدعى لَها شَرَفاً
وَتَعتَليand are exalted بِاِسمِهِby his name الأَشعارُpoems وَالخُطَبُand orations
وَتَعتَلي بِاِسمِهِ الأَشعارُ وَالخُطَبُ
Kings are content to have him called their honor,
And poems and orations rise through his name.
أَنالَهُgranted him الجودُgenerosity وَالإِقدامُand daring مَنزِلَةًa rank
أَنالَهُ الجودُ وَالإِقدامُ مَنزِلَةً
ماnot نالَهاattained it سالِفاًformerly آباؤُهُhis ancestors النُجُبُthe noble
ما نالَها سالِفاً آباؤُهُ النُجُبُ
Generosity and daring granted him a rank
His noble ancestors never attained before.
وَتاجُand the crown مِلَّةِof the faith خَيرِof the best الأَنبِياءِof prophets لَهُis his
وَتاجُ مِلَّةِ خَيرِ الأَنبِياءِ لَهُ
جَدٌّgrandfather وَتاجُand the crown مُلوكِof the kings الخافِقَينِof East and West أَبُfather
جَدٌّ وَتاجُ مُلوكِ الخافِقَينِ أَبُ
The crown of the faith of the best of prophets is his
Grandfather; the crown of the kings of East and West, his father.
وَإِنand though مَعاليهِمُtheir eminence طالَتrose high فَقَدyet indeed بَلَغَتattained
وَإِن مَعاليهِمُ طالَت فَقَد بَلَغَت
بِهِthrough him المَآثِرُglorious deeds ماwhat لاnot يَبلُغُattains الحَسَبُancestral honor
بِهِ المَآثِرُ ما لا يَبلُغُ الحَسَبُ
Though their eminence rose high, glorious deeds have attained
Through him what ancestral honor cannot attain.
لَقَدindeed ظَفِرتَyou won مِنَof المَجدِglory الصَريحِpure بِماthat which
لَقَد ظَفِرتَ مِنَ المَجدِ الصَريحِ بِما
نَصيبُthe lot of طُلّابِهِits seekers الإِكداءُfailure وَالنَصَبُand toil
نَصيبُ طُلّابِهِ الإِكداءُ وَالنَصَبُ
You have won that pure glory
Whose seekers reap only failure and toil,
مُنافِياًstanding apart from كُلَّevery مَنone whom تُخفيهِconceals him هِمَّتُهُhis ambition
مُنافِياً كُلَّ مَن تُخفيهِ هِمَّتُهُ
فَلَيسَso not يُعرَفُis he known إِلّاexcept حينَwhen يَنتَسِبُhe names his lineage
فَلَيسَ يُعرَفُ إِلّا حينَ يَنتَسِبُ
Standing apart from all whose ambition keeps them obscure,
So they are known only when they name their lineage.
بِكَthrough you اِقتَضىexacted الدينُthe faith دَيناًa debt حانَperished ماطِلُهُits defaulter
بِكَ اِقتَضى الدينُ دَيناً حانَ ماطِلُهُ
فَيَسَّرَso may ... ease اللَهُGod ماwhat تَرجوyou hope for وَتَرتَقِبُand await
فَيَسَّرَ اللَهُ ما تَرجو وَتَرتَقِبُ
Through you the faith exacted a debt whose defaulter perished;
May God make easy what you hope for and await.
فَليسَso not يَعصيكَdisobeys you إِلّاexcept مَنone whose حُشاشَتُهُhis last breath
فَليسَ يَعصيكَ إِلّا مَن حُشاشَتُهُ
يَستاقُهاdrives it onward الحَتفُdeath أَوor يَشتاقُهاlongs for it العَطَبُdestruction
يَستاقُها الحَتفُ أَو يَشتاقُها العَطَبُ
None disobeys you except one whose last breath
Death drives onward, or destruction longs to claim.
وَصَلتَنيyou favored me بِصِلاتٍwith gifts لاnot يَجودُbestows generously بِهاthem
وَصَلتَني بِصِلاتٍ لا يَجودُ بِها
إِلّاexcept اِمرُؤٌa man مالَهُwho has no فيfor مالِهِhis wealth أَرَبُdesire
إِلّا اِمرُؤٌ مالَهُ في مالِهِ أَرَبُ
You favored me with gifts none would bestow
Except a man who has no desire for his wealth.
فَمِنso from بَيانِكَyour eloquence ماءُthe water of الفَضلِexcellence مُنهَمرٌpours down
فَمِن بَيانِكَ ماءُ الفَضلِ مُنهَمرٌ
وَمِنand from بَنانِكَyour fingertips ماءُthe water of الجودِgenerosity مُنسَكِبُflows forth
وَمِن بَنانِكَ ماءُ الجودِ مُنسَكِبُ
From your eloquence the water of excellence pours down,
And from your fingertips the water of generosity flows.
وَالمَجدُand glory إِنif كانَis فيamong الأَقوامُpeoples مُكتَسَباًacquired
وَالمَجدُ إِن كانَ في الأَقوامُ مُكتَسَباً
فَإِنَّهُthen it is فيكَin you مَولودٌinborn وَمُكتَسَبُand acquired
فَإِنَّهُ فيكَ مَولودٌ وَمُكتَسَبُ
If glory among other peoples is acquired,
In you it is both inborn and acquired.
سَطَوتَyou struck fiercely فَاِستَصغَرَso deemed insignificant الأَنجادُthe champions مَنthose whom غَلَبواthey defeated
سَطَوتَ فَاِستَصغَرَ الأَنجادُ مَن غَلَبوا
وَجُدتَand you gave generously فَاِستَنزَرَso deemed scant الأَجوادُthe generous ماwhat وَهَبواthey gave
وَجُدتَ فَاِستَنزَرَ الأَجوادُ ما وَهَبوا
You struck, and champions thought little of those they had defeated;
You gave, and generous men deemed their own gifts paltry.
كَمhow many مِنof لُهىًgifts جَمَّةٍabundant أَتبَعتَهاyou followed them بِلُهىًwith gifts
كَم مِن لُهىً جَمَّةٍ أَتبَعتَها بِلُهىً
كَذَّبنَthey belied مَنwhoever قالَsaid إِنّيthat I am جارُكَyour neighbor الجُنُبُunrelated
كَذَّبنَ مَن قالَ إِنّي جارُكَ الجُنُبُ
How many abundant gifts you followed with further gifts,
Belying whoever called me your neighbor without kinship.
وَزادَand increased بِرُّكَyour kindness حَتّىuntil صارَcame to ناسِبُكُمyour genealogist
وَزادَ بِرُّكَ حَتّى صارَ ناسِبُكُم
يَعُدُّنيcount me مِنamong ذَويthose of القُربىclose kinship إِذاwhen نُسِبواtheir lineage is traced
يَعُدُّني مِن ذَوي القُربى إِذا نُسِبوا
Your kindness grew until your genealogist
Counted me among close kin when tracing their descent.
فَقَدso indeed تَرَكتُI left غَنِيّاًGhani غَيرَnot مَقلِيَةٍhated
فَقَد تَرَكتُ غَنِيّاً غَيرَ مَقلِيَةٍ
لَمّاwhen تَجَدَّدَnewly arose ليfor me فيin عامِرٍAmir نَسَبُkinship
لَمّا تَجَدَّدَ لي في عامِرٍ نَسَبُ
So I left Ghani, though I bore her no hatred,
When a new kinship in Amir became mine.
وَسَوفَand I shall أُبقيleave enduring عَلىfor ذاthis المُلكِreign مِنof كَلِميmy verse
وَسَوفَ أُبقي عَلى ذا المُلكِ مِن كَلِمي
ماthat which لاnot تَحَيَّفُهُdiminish it الأَحوالُchanging fortunes وَالحِقَبُand ages
ما لا تَحَيَّفُهُ الأَحوالُ وَالحِقَبُ
I shall leave for this reign words of mine
That neither changing fortunes nor long ages can diminish:
مِنof كُلِّevery مُطرِيَةٍverse praising لِلفَضلِexcellence مُطرِبَةٍdelighting
مِن كُلِّ مُطرِيَةٍ لِلفَضلِ مُطرِبَةٍ
مَنone who لَيسَdoes not يَطرَبُfeel delight وَالأَوتارُwhile the strings تَصطَخِبُresound
مَن لَيسَ يَطرَبُ وَالأَوتارُ تَصطَخِبُ
Verses extolling excellence, delighting
Even one unmoved when the strings resound.
قَولٌverse يُضاعِفُmultiplies بُعدُdistance from الدارِhome قيمَتَهُits value
قَولٌ يُضاعِفُ بُعدُ الدارِ قيمَتَهُ
كَالمِسكِlike musk يَزدادُincreases قَدراًin worth حينَwhen يَغتَرِبُit travels abroad
كَالمِسكِ يَزدادُ قَدراً حينَ يَغتَرِبُ
Verse whose worth is multiplied by distance from home,
Like musk, increasing in value when it travels abroad.
وَكَيفَand how أَمدَحُهُcan I praise him مِنfrom بَعدِمَعرِفَتيafter my knowing
وَكَيفَ أَمدَحُهُ مِن بَعدِمَعرِفَتي
أَلّاthat I do not أَقومَfulfill بِمِعشارِa tenth of الَّذيwhat يَجِبُis due
أَلّا أَقومَ بِمِعشارِ الَّذي يَجِبُ
How can I praise him, after knowing
I cannot fulfill a tenth of what is due?
لَنwill never يَبلُغَreach المَدحُpraise أَدنىthe least ماof what تَجودُyou bestow generously بِهِwith it
لَن يَبلُغَ المَدحُ أَدنى ما تَجودُ بِهِ
فَلَستَso you do not تُحرِزُgain إِلّاexcept دونَless than ماتَهَبُwhat you give
فَلَستَ تُحرِزُ إِلّا دونَ ماتَهَبُ
Praise will never reach the least of what you bestow,
So all you gain falls short of what you give.
Sol 6.1