إِدراكُfully grasping وَصفِكَthe description of you لَيسَis not فيwithin الإِمكانِpossibility
إِدراكُ وَصفِكَ لَيسَ في الإِمكانِ
ماnot لِلمَقالِfor speech بِذاwith this الفَعالِdeeds يَدانِtwo hands; power
ما لِلمَقالِ بِذا الفَعالِ يَدانِ
Fully describing you is beyond possibility.
Realizing your merit is beyond feasibility
Words lack the power to match such deeds.
Words fail to describe your remarkable deeds
قَدindeed دَقَّgrew too subtle عَنbeyond فِكرِthe thought of الوَرىmortals وَتَحَيَّرَتand were bewildered
قَد دَقَّ عَن فِكرِ الوَرى وَتَحَيَّرَت
فيكَbefore you العُقولُminds وَكَلَّand grew weary كُلُّevery لِسانِtongue
فيكَ العُقولُ وَكَلَّ كُلُّ لِسانِ
It eludes mortal thought, and bewildered
You perplexed minds and stilled every tongue
are minds before you, while every tongue grows weary.
While traits defy further description or proof
وَالوَصفُand description ماthat which لاnot تَستَزيدُyou gain more بِهِthrough it عُلىًlofty rank
وَالوَصفُ ما لا تَستَزيدُ بِهِ عُلىً
أَنّىhow وَمَجدُكَand your glory واضِحُclear in البُرهانِproof
أَنّى وَمَجدُكَ واضِحُ البُرهانِ
Description adds nothing to your lofty rank;
Your glory is obvious and needs no explanation
how could it, when your glory's proof is clear?
You exceeded aspirations no ambition could attain
جاوَزتَyou surpassed ماwhat لَمdid not تَسعَtravel فيalong طُرُقاتِهِits paths
جاوَزتَ ما لَم تَسعَ في طُرُقاتِهِ
هِمَمٌambitions وَلَمand did not تَطمَحaspire إِلَيهِto it أَمانيwishes
هِمَمٌ وَلَم تَطمَح إِلَيهِ أَماني
You have gone beyond realms along whose paths
Nor could any hopes reach your stature
no ambitions have ventured, and to which no wishes have aspired.
Your excellence conferred an everlasting glory upon the age
وَأَبانَand revealed فَضلُكَyour excellence لِلزَمانِto time فَضيلَةًa virtue
وَأَبانَ فَضلُكَ لِلزَمانِ فَضيلَةً
تَبقىendures إِذاwhen دَرَسَتhave worn away هِضابُthe hills of أَبانِAbān
تَبقى إِذا دَرَسَت هِضابُ أَبانِ
Your excellence has revealed to time a virtue
That will endure after the hills have eroded
that endures when the hills of Abān have worn away.
Once obscured among the finest qualities
قَدindeed كانَit was مِنof غُرَرِthe choicest المَحاسِنِvirtues مُعدِماًdestitute
قَد كانَ مِن غُرَرِ المَحاسِنِ مُعدِماً
فَالآنَso now قَدindeed أَفضىit has come إِلىto الوِجدانِpossession
فَالآنَ قَد أَفضى إِلى الوِجدانِ
Time had been bereft of the choicest virtues;
Now manifested for all to witness
now it has come into possession of them.
You granted the citizens all their requests through your justice
أَعطىgave الرَعِيَّةَthe subjects سُؤلَهاtheir desire مِنfrom عَدلِهِhis justice
أَعطى الرَعِيَّةَ سُؤلَها مِن عَدلِهِ
مَلِكٌa king عَلَيهاtoward them بِالرِعايَةِwith care حانِtender
مَلِكٌ عَلَيها بِالرِعايَةِ حانِ
He granted the subjects their desire through his justice—
As a ruler obligated to provide for their welfare
a king tender toward them in his care.
The guardian of the faith never sleeps
يُغفيhe dozes وَلَيسَyet does not يَنامُsleep ناظِرُthe watchful eye of دينِهِhis faith
يُغفي وَلَيسَ يَنامُ ناظِرُ دينِهِ
أَعظِمhow great بِهِhe is مِنas نائِمٍa sleeper يَقظانِawake
أَعظِم بِهِ مِن نائِمٍ يَقظانِ
He dozes, yet the watchful eye of his faith does not sleep.
Greater in wakefulness than a sleeper awake
How magnificent he is—a sleeper awake!
When they pray and implore, they ask only
فَإِذاso when دَعَواthey pray وَتَضَرَّعواand supplicate لَمnot يَسأَلواthey ask
فَإِذا دَعَوا وَتَضَرَّعوا لَم يَسأَلوا
إِلّاexcept إِدامَةَthe perpetuation of عِزِّthe glory of ذاthis السُلطانِsovereign
إِلّا إِدامَةَ عِزِّ ذا السُلطانِ
When they pray and supplicate, they ask
For the continuation of the mighty Sultan’s power
only that this sovereign's glory endure.
Damascus was once the target of a traitor
قَدindeed كانَwas هَذاthis الشامُSyria نُهزَةُprey for ناكِثٍan oath-breaker
قَد كانَ هَذا الشامُ نُهزَةُ ناكِثٍ
حيناًfor a time فَصارَthen became أَعَزَّmore impregnable مِنthan خَفّانِKhaffān
حيناً فَصارَ أَعَزَّ مِن خَفّانِ
This Syria had been prey for an oath-breaker
Now the proudest of steadfast cities
for a time; then it became more impregnable than Khaffān.
You settled its ruins though without you
أَسكَنتَyou populated مُقفِرَهُits wilderness وَلَوand if لَمnot تَحمِهِyou protected it
أَسكَنتَ مُقفِرَهُ وَلَو لَم تَحمِهِ
لَخَلَتwould have emptied مَعاقِلُهُits strongholds مِنَof السُكّانِinhabitants
لَخَلَت مَعاقِلُهُ مِنَ السُكّانِ
You populated its wilderness; had you not protected it,
Its fortresses would lack inhabitants
its strongholds would have stood empty of inhabitants.
Ever since your army camped in Amman
مُذsince ظَلَّremained فيin عَمّانَAmman جَيشُكَyour army نازِلاًencamped
مُذ ظَلَّ في عَمّانَ جَيشُكَ نازِلاً
عَنَتِbowed البَواديthe desert lands مِنfrom وَراءِbeyond عُمانِOman
عَنَتِ البَوادي مِن وَراءِ عُمانِ
Ever since your army remained encamped in Amman,
The deserts beyond Oman feared
the desert lands beyond Oman have bowed.
A fear you instilled in them, you who
عَنfrom هَيبَةٍawe ضَمَّنتَهاyou ensured it إِذsince لَمnot تَزَلyou ceased
عَن هَيبَةٍ ضَمَّنتَها إِذ لَم تَزَل
لِلعِزِّfor glory أَوفىmost faithful ضامِنٍguarantor بِضَمانِin a pledge
لِلعِزِّ أَوفى ضامِنٍ بِضَمانِ
From the awe you ensured, for you have always been
Are the most faithful guarantor of glory
glory's most faithful guarantor of this pledge:
They cannot sleep until your banners rest
أَلاthat not يَقِرَّsettle النَومُsleep فيin أَجفانِهِمtheir eyelids
أَلا يَقِرَّ النَومُ في أَجفانِهِم
حَتّىuntil تَقِرَّsettle ظُباكَyour sword-edges فيin الأَجفانِscabbards
حَتّى تَقِرَّ ظُباكَ في الأَجفانِ
that sleep shall not settle in their eyelids
Securely planted in their own encampments
until your sword-edges settle in their scabbards.
You persistently deflate their pride
ماnot زِلتَyou ceased تُزجيdriving onward مُزنَةًa raincloud فيin ضِمنِهاits midst
ما زِلتَ تُزجي مُزنَةً في ضِمنِها
إِطفاءُthe quenching of ماwhat شَبّواthey kindled مِنَof النيرانِfires
إِطفاءُ ما شَبّوا مِنَ النيرانِ
You have kept driving onward a raincloud carrying within it
Extinguishing their glowing embers
the quenching of the fires they kindled,
Until you dashed their suspicions and hearts
حَتّىuntil تَرَكتَyou left ظُنونَهُمtheir expectations وَقُلوبَهُمand their hearts
حَتّى تَرَكتَ ظُنونَهُم وَقُلوبَهُم
وَقفاًconsigned عَلىto الإِخفاقِfailure وَالخَفَقانِand palpitations
وَقفاً عَلى الإِخفاقِ وَالخَفَقانِ
until you left their expectations and their hearts
Leaving them paused in failure and fluttering
consigned to failure and palpitations.
Whether taking the offensive or counterattacking
مِنamong آخِذٍone taking بِمَضَلَّةٍalong a trackless path أَوor عائِدٍone returning
مِن آخِذٍ بِمَضَلَّةٍ أَو عائِدٍ
بِمَذَلَّةٍin humiliation أَوor عائِذٍone seeking refuge بِأَمانِin safe-conduct
بِمَذَلَّةٍ أَو عائِذٍ بِأَمانِ
Some taking a trackless path, others returning
Or seeking refuge and peace
in humiliation, and others seeking refuge in safe-conduct.
Between recklessness and timidity a distance lies
بَينَbetween النَباهَةِeminence وَالخُمولِand obscurity مَسافَةٌa distance
بَينَ النَباهَةِ وَالخُمولِ مَسافَةٌ
لَولاكَbut for you ماnot بَعُدَتwould have grown vast عَلىfor حَسّانِHassān
لَولاكَ ما بَعُدَت عَلى حَسّانِ
Between eminence and obscurity lies a distance
Too far for anyone but you to traverse
that, but for you, would not have grown so vast for Hassān.
Had the emirate not resisted him by force
لَوif لَمnot تَذُدyou kept away عَنهُfrom him الإِمارَةُthe emirate عَنوَةًby force
لَو لَم تَذُد عَنهُ الإِمارَةُ عَنوَةً
لَاِقتادَhe would have led مُصعَبَهاits unruly mount بِغَيرِwithout حِرانِresistance
لَاِقتادَ مُصعَبَها بِغَيرِ حِرانِ
Had you not forcibly kept the emirate from him,
He would have claimed it without contention
he would have led its unruly mount without resistance.
You bent him when his inheritance among the weak
لَيَّنتَهُyou softened him وَلَوَيتَهُand put him off فَتُراثُهُso his inheritance
لَيَّنتَهُ وَلَوَيتَهُ فَتُراثُهُ
بَينَbetween اللَيانِsoftness يَضيعُis lost وَاللَيّانِand delay
بَينَ اللَيانِ يَضيعُ وَاللَيّانِ
You softened him and put him off; his inheritance
Would have been squandered by the feeble
is lost between softness and delay.
Yet your justice refused his cups victory
وَسُطاكَand your might تَأبىrefuses أَنthat تَفوزَwin قِداحُهُhis gaming arrows
وَسُطاكَ تَأبى أَن تَفوزَ قِداحُهُ
حَتّىuntil يَفوزَhe wins لَدَيكَwith you بِالغُفرانِthrough forgiveness
حَتّى يَفوزَ لَدَيكَ بِالغُفرانِ
Your might refuses to let his gaming arrows win
Until at your hand he obtained forgiveness
until he wins forgiveness with you.
So extend to him the shade of your mercy that reaps
فَاِمدُدso extend عَلَيهِover him ظِلَّthe shade of رَأفَتِكَyour mercy الَّذيwhich
فَاِمدُد عَلَيهِ ظِلَّ رَأفَتِكَ الَّذي
يَجنيgathers ثِمارَthe fruits of العَفوِpardon مِنهُfrom it الجانيthe wrongdoer
يَجني ثِمارَ العَفوِ مِنهُ الجاني
So spread over him that shade of your mercy
The fruits of pardon from the transgressor
from which the wrongdoer gathers the fruits of pardon.
How could betrayal please one you’ve pardoned
فَمَتىso when يُسِرُّwould conceal الغَدرَtreachery مَنone whom غادَرتَهُyou left him
فَمَتى يُسِرُّ الغَدرَ مَن غادَرتَهُ
حَيَّalive with المَخافَةِfear مَيِّتَdead to الأَضغانِgrudges
حَيَّ المَخافَةِ مَيِّتَ الأَضغانِ
When could he conceal treachery, whom you have left
When fear of you kills rancor outright
alive with fear, dead to grudges?
You fulfilled his hopes with the retreat of his allies
مُطِلَتwere delayed مَطامِعُهُhis ambitions بِماby what مَنَّيتَهُyou promised him
مُطِلَت مَطامِعُهُ بِما مَنَّيتَهُ
فَمَنَيتَهُthen you afflicted him بِتَخاذُلِwith the desertion of الأَعوانِhelpers
فَمَنَيتَهُ بِتَخاذُلِ الأَعوانِ
His ambitions were delayed by what you promised him;
Whose feet faltered in seeking his victory
then you afflicted him with his helpers' desertion.
When he saw with eyes of resolve what he saw
مُذsince زالَdeparted ميخائيلُMīkhāʾīl عَنfrom خُيَلائِهِhis arrogance
مُذ زالَ ميخائيلُ عَن خُيَلائِهِ
زَلَّتslipped بِطالِبِbeneath the seeker of نَصرِهِhis aid القَدَمانِboth feet
زَلَّت بِطالِبِ نَصرِهِ القَدَمانِ
Since Mīkhāʾīl abandoned his arrogance,
That before you no weapon can compel surrender
both feet have slipped beneath whoever sought his aid.
The protection of Caesar's reign sufficed
لَرَأىhe would surely have seen بِناظِرِwith the eye of حَزمِهِhis prudence لَمّاwhen رَأىhe saw
لَرَأى بِناظِرِ حَزمِهِ لَمّا رَأى
أَلّاthat no سِلاحَweapon لَدَيكَbefore you كَالإِذعانِlike submission
أَلّا سِلاحَ لَدَيكَ كَالإِذعانِ
He would have seen with the eye of prudence, when he looked,
That he handed the reins to the Khan
that no weapon before you equals submission.
You attained glory and protection for the peninsula
وَكَفىand sufficed اِحتِماءًas protection مُلكَthe realm of قَيصَرَCaesar أَنَّهُthat he
وَكَفى اِحتِماءً مُلكَ قَيصَرَ أَنَّهُ
أَلقىhanded over مَقالِدَهُits keys إِلىto خاقانِKhāqān
أَلقى مَقالِدَهُ إِلى خاقانِ
It was protection enough for Caesar's realm that he
In a year of misfortune and days of calamity
handed its keys over to Khāqān,
A king who, when the enemy souls were exposed for the taking
أَوفىmost abundant of البَرِيَّةِmankind نائِلاًin bounty وَحَمِيَّةًand protective zeal
أَوفى البَرِيَّةِ نائِلاً وَحَمِيَّةً
فيin عامِa year of مَسغَبَةٍfamine وَيَومِand a day of طِعانِspear-fighting
في عامِ مَسغَبَةٍ وَيَومِ طِعانِ
the most abundant of mankind in bounty and protective zeal,
Made the spear a substitute for the sword
in a famine year and on a day of spear-fighting.
And when the brave men’s weapons were ready
مَلِكٌa king إِذاwhen ماever اِمتاحَdraws up أَرواحَthe souls of العِدىfoes
مَلِكٌ إِذا ما اِمتاحَ أَرواحَ العِدى
جَعَلَuses القَناspears عِوَضاًas a substitute مِنَfor الأَشطانِwell-ropes
جَعَلَ القَنا عِوَضاً مِنَ الأَشطانِ
A king who, whenever he draws up the souls of foes,
He was not pleased by crowns among the spoils
uses spears in place of well-ropes.
He whose might you were against his might
وَإِذاand when الفَوارِسُthe horsemen أَمكَنَتbecame accessible أَسلابُهاtheir spoils
وَإِذا الفَوارِسُ أَمكَنَت أَسلابُها
لَمnot يُرضِهِsatisfies him سَلَبٌbooty مِنَof التيجانِcrowns
لَم يُرضِهِ سَلَبٌ مِنَ التيجانِ
When the horsemen's spoils lie within his reach,
The distant and near equally submitted to your glory
not even booty of crowns satisfies him.
Your ferocity - if only the Age of Ignorance was warned
مَنwhoever كُنتَyou are عُدَّتَهُhis resource لِقَهرِfor subduing عُداتِهِhis foes
مَن كُنتَ عُدَّتَهُ لِقَهرِ عُداتِهِ
ذَلَّbows البَعيدُthe distant لِعِزِّهِto his might وَالدانيand the near
ذَلَّ البَعيدُ لِعِزِّهِ وَالداني
Whoever has you as his resource for subduing his foes,
By something resembling your statues
the far and the near bow to his might.
Like rain, when its season arrived, benefiting
بَأسٌa might لَوَif اِنَّindeed الجاهِلِيَّةِthe Age of Ignorance رُوِّعَتwere terrified
بَأسٌ لَوَ اِنَّ الجاهِلِيَّةِ رُوِّعَت
بِشَباهُby its keen edge ماnot عَكَفَتwould have remained devoted عَلىto الأَوثانِidols
بِشَباهُ ما عَكَفَت عَلى الأَوثانِ
A might that, had the Age of Ignorance been terrified
All people, benefiting each era
by its keen edge, it would not have remained devoted to idols.
You enriched the caliphate by restoring its legacy
وَنَدىًand generosity إِذاwhen ماever الغَيثُrain خَصَّis restricted أَوانُهُits season
وَنَدىً إِذا ما الغَيثُ خَصَّ أَوانُهُ
عَمَّembraces الأَنامَmankind فَعَمَّand so embraces كُلَّevery أَوانِseason
عَمَّ الأَنامَ فَعَمَّ كُلَّ أَوانِ
And generosity that, when rain is confined to its season,
Independent of the double-edged Yemeni sword
embraces all mankind, and so embraces every season.
A sword raging with a thousand blades in battle
أَغنىspared الخِلافَةَthe caliphate فيin اِرتِجاعِreclaiming تُراثِهاits heritage
أَغنى الخِلافَةَ في اِرتِجاعِ تُراثِها
عَنthe need for كُلِّevery ماضيkeen الشَفرَتَينِthe two edges يَمانِYemeni
عَن كُلِّ ماضي الشَفرَتَينِ يَمانِ
He spared the caliphate, in reclaiming its heritage,
And for each diminished temper, two keen edges
the need for every keen, double-edged Yemeni blade:
It surpassed swords, however many the world drew
سَيفٌa sword يَصولُcharges بِأَلفِwith a thousand حَدٍّedges فيin الوَغىbattle
سَيفٌ يَصولُ بِأَلفِ حَدٍّ في الوَغى
وَلِكُلِّand for every عَضبٍsharp blade باتِرٍsevering حَدّانِtwo edges
وَلِكُلِّ عَضبٍ باتِرٍ حَدّانِ
a sword that charges with a thousand edges in battle,
Of what the Caliph of the Merciful attained
while every sharp, severing blade has but two edges.
Had you been for past generations of his ancestors
فاقَsurpassed السُيوفَswords وَأَينَand where is ماwhat سَلَّhas drawn الوَرىmankind
فاقَ السُيوفَ وَأَينَ ما سَلَّ الوَرى
مِمّاbeside what اِنتَضاهُhas unsheathed خَليفَةُthe caliph of الرَحمَنِthe Merciful
مِمّا اِنتَضاهُ خَليفَةُ الرَحمَنِ
He surpassed swords; how can what mortals have drawn
None would have prevented them from the caliphate again
compare with what the caliph of the Merciful has unsheathed?
Yet the sincerity of your commitment refused
لَوif كُنتَyou had been لِلماضينَfor those of old مِنamong أَجدادِهِhis ancestors
لَو كُنتَ لِلماضينَ مِن أَجدادِهِ
لَمnot يَثنِهِمcould turn them aside دونَshort of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate ثانِany deterrent
لَم يَثنِهِم دونَ الخِلافَةِ ثانِ
Had you served his ancestors of old,
That the Marwanids exchange it amongst themselves
no deterrent would have barred them from the caliphate.
And turned away the Abbasids without defense
وَأَبىand would have refused لَهاfor it صِدقُthe sincerity of اِعتِزامِكَyour resolve لاmay it not نَباfalter
وَأَبى لَها صِدقُ اِعتِزامِكَ لا نَبا
عَنfrom أَنthat تَداوَلَهاpass it among themselves بَنوthe sons of مَروانِMarwān
عَن أَن تَداوَلَها بَنو مَروانِ
Your true resolve—may it never falter—would have kept it
From seizing it by deceit and aggression
from passing among the sons of Marwān,
Hypocrisy has ended, so there is no hypocrisy
وَثَنىand would have turned back بَنيthe sons of العَبّاسِal-ʿAbbās غَيرَnot مُدافِعٍrepulsed
وَثَنى بَني العَبّاسِ غَيرَ مُدافِعٍ
عَنfrom أَخذِهاseizing it بِالإِفكِthrough falsehood وَالعُدوانِand aggression
عَن أَخذِها بِالإِفكِ وَالعُدوانِ
and turned back the sons of al-ʿAbbās, unopposed,
Among its people since your ties grew strong in faith
from seizing it through falsehood and aggression.
Who can frighten him while your ferocity is his armor?
كَسَدَlost its market النِفاقُhypocrisy فَلاso no نَفاقَmarketability لِأَهلِهِfor its people
كَسَدَ النِفاقُ فَلا نَفاقَ لِأَهلِهِ
مُذsince صُلتَyou charged وَاِشتَدَّتand grew strong قُوىthe powers of الإِيمانِfaith
مُذ صُلتَ وَاِشتَدَّت قُوى الإِيمانِ
Hypocrisy's market has collapsed; its people find no sale,
Or where is its demolisher while you are the builder?
since you charged and the powers of faith grew strong.
How many darknesses you illuminated with stars
مَنwho ذاis it that يُرَوِّعُهُterrifies him وَبَأسُكَand your might رِدؤُهُis his support
مَن ذا يُرَوِّعُهُ وَبَأسُكَ رِدؤُهُ
أَمor أَينَwhere هادِمُهُhis destroyer وَأَنتَand you are البانيthe builder
أَم أَينَ هادِمُهُ وَأَنتَ الباني
Who can terrify him when your might is his support?
Rising above the pillars of lances
Where is his destroyer, when you are the builder?
And leaders, until their setting arrived
كَمhow many ظُلمَةٍa darkness جَلَّيتَهاyou dispelled it بِكَواكِبٍwith stars
كَم ظُلمَةٍ جَلَّيتَها بِكَواكِبٍ
يَطلُعنَrise فَوقَabove عَوامِلِthe spearheads of المُرّانِashwood shafts
يَطلُعنَ فَوقَ عَوامِلِ المُرّانِ
How many a darkness have you dispelled with stars
Then they disappeared among the ranks of horsemen
that rise above the spearheads of ashwood shafts,
If those guiding lights have waned, in the enemy’s sight
وَقّادَةٍblazing حَتّىuntil يَحينَcomes غُروبُهاtheir setting
وَقّادَةٍ حَتّى يَحينَ غُروبُها
فَتَغيبَthen disappear بَينَbetween تَرائِبِthe breastbones of الفُرسانِhorsemen
فَتَغيبَ بَينَ تَرائِبِ الفُرسانِ
blazing until the time comes for their setting,
They remain radiant with brilliance
then disappearing among the horsemen's breastbones!
With al-Mustafa, the victorious sovereign, the rhymes
وَلَئِنand even if خَبَتdie out تِلكَthose البَوارِقُflashes فَهيَthen they are فيin
وَلَئِن خَبَت تِلكَ البَوارِقُ فَهيَ في
نَظَرِthe sight of العَدُوِّthe enemy مُقيمَةُconstant in اللَمَعانِgleaming
نَظَرِ العَدُوِّ مُقيمَةُ اللَمَعانِ
And even if those flashes fade, they are, in
Regained splendor after long barrenness
the enemy's eyes, constantly gleaming.
So our praise, which he remunerates,
وَبِمُصطَفىand through the chosen one of المُلكِthe realm المُظَفَّرِthe victorious أَصحَبَتbecame docile
وَبِمُصطَفى المُلكِ المُظَفَّرِ أَصحَبَت
غُرُّthe radiant القَوافيrhymes بَعدَafter طولِlong حِرانِresistance
غُرُّ القَوافي بَعدَ طولِ حِرانِ
Through the victorious Mustafā al-Mulk, they have grown docile—
Is accounted by him as the most generous payment
the radiant rhymes, after long resistance.
You provided the seekers of gifts with gardens
فَثَناؤُناso our praise مِمّاfrom what يُنَوِّلُhe bestows وَهوَand it is مَحreck- (fragment)
فَثَناؤُنا مِمّا يُنَوِّلُ وَهوَ مَح
سوبٌ-oned (fragment) لَدَيهِin his estimation بِأَوفَرِat the highest الأَثمانِprices
سوبٌ لَدَيهِ بِأَوفَرِ الأَثمانِ
Our praise is among his gifts, and it is reck-
Of varied arts, a shady refuge for artists
oned by him at the highest price.
With entertainment that tames what its clouds shaded
أَجنَيتَyou let harvest رُوّادَthe seekers of السُؤالِpetitioning حَدائِقاًgardens
أَجنَيتَ رُوّادَ السُؤالِ حَدائِقاً
شَتّىvaried الفُنونِin kinds ظَليلَةَshady الأَفنانِin boughs
شَتّى الفُنونِ ظَليلَةَ الأَفنانِ
You let seekers of gifts harvest gardens,
Even if passing over Safwan
of varied kinds, with shady boughs,
Often you sufficed without a partner providing
بِلُهىًwith gifts يُرَوِّضُmakes verdant ماwhat أَظَلَّhas shaded سَحابُهاtheir cloud
بِلُهىً يُرَوِّضُ ما أَظَلَّ سَحابُها
وَلَوَand even if اِنَّهاthey مَرَّتpassed عَلىover صَفوانِsmooth rock
وَلَوَ اِنَّها مَرَّت عَلى صَفوانِ
with gifts whose clouds make verdant all they shade,
In place of a departing caravan, a caravan from Lebanon
even if they pass across smooth stone.
And you separated a western battalion with an advance group
وَلَطالَماand how often أَغنَيتَyou removed the need غَيرَwithout مُشارَكٍa partner
وَلَطالَما أَغنَيتَ غَيرَ مُشارَكٍ
عَنfor صَوبِthe downpour of غادِيَةٍa morning cloud بِصَوبِwith the downpour of بَنانِfingers
عَن صَوبِ غادِيَةٍ بِصَوبِ بَنانِ
How often, with none sharing your deed, you have removed the need
And paired a fine deed with assistance
for a morning cloud's shower, with your fingers' shower.
So be safe - for every day we have holidays
وَفَلَلتَand you blunted غَربَthe edge of كَتيبَةٍa battalion بِطَليعَةٍwith a vanguard
وَفَلَلتَ غَربَ كَتيبَةٍ بِطَليعَةٍ
وَشَفَعتَand you paired بِكرَa maiden صَنيعَةٍfavor بِعَوانِwith a seasoned one
وَشَفَعتَ بِكرَ صَنيعَةٍ بِعَوانِ
You blunted an army's edge with a vanguard,
As long as you are secure from troubles
and paired a maiden favor with a seasoned one.
O you who, when my dwellings thirst, quenches them
فَاِسلَمso remain safe فَكُلُّfor all الدَهرِtime أَعيادٌfestivals لَناfor us
فَاِسلَم فَكُلُّ الدَهرِ أَعيادٌ لَنا
ماas long as دُمتَyou remain فيin أَمنٍsafety مِنَfrom الحَدَثانِtime's vicissitudes
ما دُمتَ في أَمنٍ مِنَ الحَدَثانِ
Live unharmed, then: all time is festival for us
And when I complain of pain, relieves me
as long as you are safe from time's vicissitudes.
ياO مَنone who إِذاwhen عَطِشَتthirst رُبوعيmy homesteads جادَهاrains generously upon them
يا مَن إِذا عَطِشَت رُبوعي جادَها
وَإِذاand when شَكَوتُI complain of مُلِمَّةًa calamity أَشكانيrelieves my complaint
وَإِذا شَكَوتُ مُلِمَّةً أَشكاني
O you who rain generously on my homesteads when they thirst,
Leave your feats some of your effort, possessed
and when I complain of a calamity, relieve my complaint:
And string its pearls, O excellent among youths
دَعleave لِلمَناقِبِfor noble qualities بَعضَsome سَعيِكَof your striving حائِزاًgathering
دَع لِلمَناقِبِ بَعضَ سَعيِكَ حائِزاً
وَاِنظِمand string جَواهِرَهاtheir jewels أَباO father of الفِتيانِthe youths
وَاِنظِم جَواهِرَها أَبا الفِتيانِ
Devote some of your striving to gathering noble qualities,
For it guides every straying abode
and string their jewels, Abū al-Fityān.
That neither sun nor moon can steer
فَهُوَfor he المُسَيِّرُthe sender forth of كُلَّevery بَيتٍverse شارِدٍfar-roaming
فَهُوَ المُسَيِّرُ كُلَّ بَيتٍ شارِدٍ
لاnot يَستَطيعُcan مَسيرَهُits course القَمَرانِthe sun and moon
لا يَستَطيعُ مَسيرَهُ القَمَرانِ
For he sends every far-roaming verse abroad,
However often parallels were lacking
on a course the sun and moon cannot travel.
It overflowed and wandered in the seas of Ma'an
فيin كُلِّevery مُعوِزَةِlacking النَظائِرِequals طالَماhas long
في كُلِّ مُعوِزَةِ النَظائِرِ طالَما
عامَتswam وَساحَتand roamed فيin بِحارِseas of مَعانِmeanings
عامَت وَساحَت في بِحارِ مَعانِ
In every poem lacking peers, which has long
You sacrificed what adorned it, though its rubies
swum and roamed through seas of meanings,
Are dearer than rubies and sapphires
يُضحيbecomes بِماthrough what تَوَّجتُهاI crowned it with ياقوتُهاits rubies
يُضحي بِما تَوَّجتُها ياقوتُها
أَولىmore worthy مِنَthan الياقوتِrubies وَالعِقيانِand pure gold
أَولى مِنَ الياقوتِ وَالعِقيانِ
its rubies, through the crown I gave it, become
Until tongues fell silent, so the stirrups proclaimed it
more precious than rubies and pure gold.
Challenging the necks along with the riders
خَفَّتgrew light عَلىupon الأَفواهِmouths حَتّىuntil لَاِنبَرَتindeed sprang forth
خَفَّت عَلى الأَفواهِ حَتّى لَاِنبَرَت
تُحدىare urged by song الرِكابُthe mounts بِهاwith it مَعَtogether with الرُكبانِthe riders
تُحدى الرِكابُ بِها مَعَ الرُكبانِ
It lay lightly on the lips, until it sprang forth,
When I relied upon you for poetry, you obeyed me
the mounts urged onward by its chant, together with their riders.
Though had I relied upon other than you, you would have disobeyed me
لَمّاwhen اِعتَمَدتُكَI addressed you بِالقَريضِwith poetry أَطاعَنيit obeyed me
لَمّا اِعتَمَدتُكَ بِالقَريضِ أَطاعَني
وَلَوِand if اِعتَمَدتُI addressed بِهِwith it سِواكَanyone other than you عَصانيit defied me
وَلَوِ اِعتَمَدتُ بِهِ سِواكَ عَصاني
When I addressed you in poetry, it obeyed me;
had I addressed anyone else with it, it would have defied me.
Partial English translation: 113 of 116 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1