هَلِis ...? العَدلُjustice إِلّاanything but دونَless than ماwhat أَنتَyou مُظهِرُdisplaying
هَلِ العَدلُ إِلّا دونَ ما أَنتَ مُظهِرُ
أَوِor الخَيرُgoodness إِلّاanything but ماwhat تُذيعُyou proclaim وَتُضمِرُand harbor inwardly
أَوِ الخَيرُ إِلّا ما تُذيعُ وَتُضمِرُ
Is justice anything but less than what you display?
Is justice anything but what you display?
Or goodness anything but what you proclaim and hold within?
Or good anything but what you disseminate and harbor?
قَضىdecreed لَكَfor you بِالعَلياءِexalted rank عَزمٌresolve وَهِمَّةٌand ambition
قَضى لَكَ بِالعَلياءِ عَزمٌ وَهِمَّةٌ
وَجودٌand generosity وَإِقدامٌand daring وَفَرعٌand descent وَعُنصُرُand ancestral stock
وَجودٌ وَإِقدامٌ وَفَرعٌ وَعُنصُرُ
Resolve and ambition decreed you exalted rank,
Fortune has ordained for you determination, ambition,
as did generosity, daring, lineage, and ancestral stock,
Generosity, daring, progeny and support.
وَرَأيٌand judgment كَفىwarded off كَيدَthe guile الخُطوبِof calamities وَقَبلَهُand before it
وَرَأيٌ كَفى كَيدَ الخُطوبِ وَقَبلَهُ
عَدَتassailed غِيَرُthe vicissitudes الأَيّامِof the days إِذwhen لاno مُغَيِّرُagent of change
عَدَت غِيَرُ الأَيّامِ إِذ لا مُغَيِّرُ
and judgment that thwarted the guile of calamities; before it,
And a view that sufficed to thwart adversities before
the vicissitudes of the days assailed, with none to change them.
The days other than it could change.
بَلَغتَyou reached بِأَدناهُthrough its least إِلىto الغايَةِthe goal الَّتيwhich
بَلَغتَ بِأَدناهُ إِلى الغايَةِ الَّتي
كَباstumbled دونَهاshort of it كِسرىKisra وَقَصَّرَand fell short قَيصَرُCaesar
كَبا دونَها كِسرى وَقَصَّرَ قَيصَرُ
Through the least of it, you reached the goal
You have reached with your lowliness the farthest extent
short of which Kisra stumbled and Caesar fell short.
To which Chosroes aspired and Caesar's endeavor fell short.
وَأَنّىand how يُجاريكَcould rival you العَلاءَin glory مُعَظَّمٌa revered man
وَأَنّى يُجاريكَ العَلاءَ مُعَظَّمٌ
يُعَظِّمُmagnifies مِنof شَأنِthe matters العُلىof eminence ماwhat تُصَغِّرُyou belittle
يُعَظِّمُ مِن شَأنِ العُلى ما تُصَغِّرُ
And how could a revered man rival you in glory,
And how can an exalted one seek to vie with you
who deems great in matters of eminence what you deem small?
When he aggrandizes what you consider petty?
يَخافُhe fears مِنَof الإِقدامِbold action ماwhat لاnot تَخافُهُyou fear it
يَخافُ مِنَ الإِقدامِ ما لا تَخافُهُ
وَيَرقُدُand sleeps عَنinstead of مَنعِdefending الذِمارِthose under protection وَتَسهَرُand you keep vigil
وَيَرقُدُ عَن مَنعِ الذِمارِ وَتَسهَرُ
He fears acts of daring that you do not fear,
He fears from daring what you do not fear,
and sleeps rather than defending his charges, while you keep vigil.
And he falls asleep to warding off harm while you stay awake.
فَضَلتَyou surpassed الحَياthe rain السَحّاحَpouring abundantly وَالعامُand the year مُمرِعٌlush
فَضَلتَ الحَيا السَحّاحَ وَالعامُ مُمرِعٌ
وَأَسرَفتَand exceeded measure فيin التَهطالِthe downpour وَالعامُand the year مُمعِرُbarren
وَأَسرَفتَ في التَهطالِ وَالعامُ مُمعِرُ
You surpassed the pouring rain when the year was lush,
You surpassed the neighborly chief while the year is fertile,
and exceeded all bounds in downpour when the year was barren.
And you were excessive in grants while the year is copious.
وَدانَتand submitted لَكَto you الأَيّامُthe days فَاِنجابَso lifted ظُلمُهاtheir oppression
وَدانَت لَكَ الأَيّامُ فَاِنجابَ ظُلمُها
كَماjust as اِنجابَتِlifted الظَلماءُthe darkness وَالصُبحُand the dawn مُسفِرُshining forth
كَما اِنجابَتِ الظَلماءُ وَالصُبحُ مُسفِرُ
The days submitted to you, and their oppression lifted,
The days submitted to you so their darkness receded
as darkness lifts when dawn shines forth.
As the darkness recedes and dawn becomes manifest.
وَكانَand was وَقارُthe dignity الشَيبِof gray hair فيamong الناسِpeople فاشِياًwidespread
وَكانَ وَقارُ الشَيبِ في الناسِ فاشِياً
فَأَعلَمتَهُمso you taught them أَنَّthat الشَبيبَةَyouth أَوقَرُmore dignified
فَأَعلَمتَهُم أَنَّ الشَبيبَةَ أَوقَرُ
The dignity of gray hair was widespread among men,
You taught people that venerable old age
but you taught them that youth is more dignified.
Is less dignified than the prime of youth.
ضَفَتoverflowed نِعمَتانِtwo blessings خَصَّتاكَboth singled you out وَعَمَّتاand both embraced all
ضَفَت نِعمَتانِ خَصَّتاكَ وَعَمَّتا
حَديثُهُماtheir tale حَتّىuntil القِيامَةِthe Resurrection يُؤثَرُis handed down
حَديثُهُما حَتّى القِيامَةِ يُؤثَرُ
Two blessings overflowed, singling you out yet embracing all;
Two boons singled you out and became commonplace,
their tale will be handed down until the Resurrection:
Their fame everlasting until resurrection.
وُجودُكَyour existence وَالدُنياand the world إِلَيكَof you فَقيرَةٌin need
وُجودُكَ وَالدُنيا إِلَيكَ فَقيرَةٌ
وَجودُكَand your generosity وَالمَعروفُand kindness فيamong الخَلقِmankind مُنكَرُunknown
وَجودُكَ وَالمَعروفُ في الخَلقِ مُنكَرُ
your existence, when the world has need of you,
Your munificence while the world is in need of you,
and your generosity, when kindness is unknown among mankind.
And your charity while good is scarce among people.
بِعارِفَةٍwith a bounty لَوif عارَضَتhad rivaled آلَthe house of بَرمَكٍBarmak
بِعارِفَةٍ لَو عارَضَت آلَ بَرمَكٍ
لَأَكبَرَهاwould have esteemed it great يَحيىYahya وَفَضلٌand Fadl وَجَعفَرُand Ja'far
لَأَكبَرَها يَحيى وَفَضلٌ وَجَعفَرُ
With a bounty that, had it rivaled the house of Barmak,
With nobility, had it rivaled the clan of Barmuke,
Yahya, Fadl, and Ja'far would have esteemed it great.
Yahya, Fadl and Ja'far would have seemed greater.
وَلَوand if عايَنَتكَhad beheld you الجاهِلِيَّةُthe age of ignorance لَمnot يَئِدbury alive
وَلَو عايَنَتكَ الجاهِلِيَّةُ لَم يَئِد
فَقيرٌa poor man وَلاand not ضَمَّgathered الجَماعَةَthe company مَيسِرُgambling
فَقيرٌ وَلا ضَمَّ الجَماعَةَ مَيسِرُ
Had the age of ignorance beheld you, no child would have been buried alive
Had the Pre-Islamic Era witnessed you no pauper lingered
by a poor man, nor would gambling have gathered a company.
Nor did a needy man join the assembly.
وَأَبطَلَand would have ended عَقرَthe hamstringing العَودِof the old camel فيهِمamong them مُبيحُهُthe one offering it
وَأَبطَلَ عَقرَ العَودِ فيهِم مُبيحُهُ
لِمَنfor whoever يَعتَفيهِseeks his bounty وَهوَand it بِالدَبرِwith saddle-sores موقَرُladen
لِمَن يَعتَفيهِ وَهوَ بِالدَبرِ موقَرُ
Among them, its giver would have ceased hamstringing the old camel
Your protection of those who seek it voided
for those seeking his bounty, though it was laden with saddle-sores.
The permissibility of sacrificing those who turn their backs.
إِذاwhen عَزَمَتresolved كَعبٌKa'b عَلىupon حَوزِwinning سُؤدُدٍlordship
إِذا عَزَمَت كَعبٌ عَلى حَوزِ سُؤدُدٍ
قَضىdecreed بِالَّذيin accord with what تَهوىit desires القَضاءُfate المُقَدَّرُpredestined
قَضى بِالَّذي تَهوى القَضاءُ المُقَدَّرُ
When Ka'b resolves to win lordship,
When Ka'b resolved to possess Sowdood
predestined fate decrees what it desires.
Fate ordained what it cherished to ordain.
وَهَلand have ...? عَدِمَتlacked أَعداؤُهاits enemies مِنfrom سُيوفِهاits swords
وَهَل عَدِمَت أَعداؤُها مِن سُيوفِها
رُسوماًtraces تُعَفّىare obliterated أَوor قُروماًchieftains تُعَفَّرُare cast into dust
رُسوماً تُعَفّى أَو قُروماً تُعَفَّرُ
Have its enemies ever lacked, at the hands of its swords,
Did not its swords spare them any
traces obliterated, or chieftains cast into the dust?
Regulations to flout or rules to break?
إِذاwhen لاقَتِit met الأَبطالَthe champions يَومَon a day كَريهَةٍof battle
إِذا لاقَتِ الأَبطالَ يَومَ كَريهَةٍ
فَكَمthen how often أَبطَلَتit disproved ماwhat يَدَّعيهِit claims السَنَوَّرُmail armor
فَكَم أَبطَلَت ما يَدَّعيهِ السَنَوَّرُ
When it meets champions on a day of battle,
When they met champions on an ominous day,
how often it disproves the claims of armor!
How many champions did they cause to despair of glory!
لَهاfor it مِنكَfrom you يَومَon a day السِلمِof peace تاجٌa crown وَحُلَّةٌand a robe
لَها مِنكَ يَومَ السِلمِ تاجٌ وَحُلَّةٌ
تَزينُadorn وَيَومَand on a day الرَوعِof terror دِرعٌa coat of mail وَمِغفَرُand a mail helmet
تَزينُ وَيَومَ الرَوعِ دِرعٌ وَمِغفَرُ
From you, in peace, it has a crown and robe
You adorn them with a crown and attire during peace,
to adorn it; in terror, a coat of mail and helmet.
And a coat of mail and forgiveness during tribulations.
وَإِنَّكَand indeed you أَوفاهاits most faithful بِعَهدٍto a covenant وَذِمَّةٍand an obligation
وَإِنَّكَ أَوفاها بِعَهدٍ وَذِمَّةٍ
وَأَثبَتُهاand its firmest وَالخَيلُand the horses بِاِلهامِover heads تَعثُرُstumble
وَأَثبَتُها وَالخَيلُ بِاِلهامِ تَعثُرُ
You are its most faithful in covenant and obligation,
You fulfilled a pledge and covenant to them
and its firmest when horses stumble over heads,
And made them steadfast when horses stumble.
وَفارِسُهاand its horseman وَالبيضُand the bright swords تَقطُرُdrip مِنfrom دَمِthe blood of الthe
وَفارِسُها وَالبيضُ تَقطُرُ مِن دَمِ ال
كُماةِchampions وَفُرسانُand the knights الوَغىof battle تَتَقَطَّرُfall headlong
كُماةِ وَفُرسانُ الوَغى تَتَقَطَّرُ
and its horseman, while bright blades drip with the blood of the
Their horsemen drip with the blood of foes
champions, and the knights of battle fall headlong.
While the champions of battle drip with gore.
كَفِعلِكَlike your action بِالرومِيِّagainst the Roman إِذwhen رامَhe sought خُطَّةًa course of action
كَفِعلِكَ بِالرومِيِّ إِذ رامَ خُطَّةً
تَكادُnearly سَماءُthe sky العِزِّof glory فيهاin it تَفَطَّرُsplit apart
تَكادُ سَماءُ العِزِّ فيها تَفَطَّرُ
As you did to the Roman when he sought a course
As you treated the Romans when they plotted
that nearly rent the sky of glory asunder.
A scheme that almost ruptured the sky of glory.
نَهَضتَyou rose إِلَيهِagainst him نَهضَةًa charge شَرَفِيَّةًnoble
نَهَضتَ إِلَيهِ نَهضَةً شَرَفِيَّةً
بِهاthrough it الدينُthe faith يُحمىis protected وَالخِلافَةُand the caliphate تُنصَرُis aided
بِها الدينُ يُحمى وَالخِلافَةُ تُنصَرُ
You rose against him with a noble charge,
You marched against them in a noble advance
through which the faith is guarded and the caliphate aided.
Whereby religion is protected and the Caliphate supported.
رَفيقُكَyour companion مِمّاfrom what تَطبَعُforges الهِندُIndia أَبيَضٌa white blade
رَفيقُكَ مِمّا تَطبَعُ الهِندُ أَبيَضٌ
وَهاديكَand your guide مِمّاfrom what تُنبِتُgrows الخَطُّal-Khatt أَسمَرُa brown spear
وَهاديكَ مِمّا تُنبِتُ الخَطُّ أَسمَرُ
Your companion was a white blade of India's forging,
Your companion is an Indian albino
and your guide a brown spear of al-Khatt's growing.
While your guide is a black of noble descent.
وَقَدand indeed كانَتِwas الريحُthe wind الرُخاءُgentle تَغُرُّهُdeceiving him
وَقَد كانَتِ الريحُ الرُخاءُ تَغُرُّهُ
إِلىuntil أَنthat أَتَتهُit came upon him وَهيَand it نَكباءُa veering wind صَرصَرُa howling gale
إِلى أَن أَتَتهُ وَهيَ نَكباءُ صَرصَرُ
The gentle wind had been deceiving him,
Prosperous winds enticed him
until it came upon him as a veering, howling gale.
Until adversity winds, howling, came to him.
فَوَلّىso he fled وَلَولاand were it not for حُسنُthe goodness عَفوِكَof your pardon لَمnot يَئِلhe escaped
فَوَلّى وَلَولا حُسنُ عَفوِكَ لَم يَئِل
وَلاand not عادَreturned عَنهُfrom him بِالنَجاةِwith tidings of survival مُبَشِّرُa bearer of glad tidings
وَلا عادَ عَنهُ بِالنَجاةِ مُبَشِّرُ
He fled; without the grace of your pardon he would not have escaped,
So he fled, and were it not for your gracious pardon, he would not have despaired,
nor would a bearer of glad tidings have returned from him with news of survival.
Nor returned with the tidings of survival.
وَقَدand indeed عايَنواthey saw شَزراًoblique thrusting مِنَof الطَعنِspear-thrusts كافِلاًguaranteeing
وَقَد عايَنوا شَزراً مِنَ الطَعنِ كافِلاً
لِدينِكَto your faith أَلّاthat not تَمنَعَwould shelter الرومَthe Romans شَيزَرُShayzar
لِدينِكَ أَلّا تَمنَعَ الرومَ شَيزَرُ
They had seen oblique spear-thrusts guaranteeing
They witnessed a spark of piercing, ensuring
to your faith that Shayzar would not shelter the Romans.
For your religion that Shizar would not bar the Romans.
بِعِزِّكَthrough your might سَرحُthe grazing herds المُسلِمينَof the Muslims مُمَنَّعٌwell protected
بِعِزِّكَ سَرحُ المُسلِمينَ مُمَنَّعٌ
وَكانَand was بِأَطرافِby the points الأَسِنَّةِof spearheads يُذعَرُterrified
وَكانَ بِأَطرافِ الأَسِنَّةِ يُذعَرُ
Through your might, the Muslims' grazing herds are protected,
Because of your power, the Muslim flock is protected
though once they were terrified by spear-points.
And was being threatened only by loose tongues.
وَلَمّاand when تَعَدّىoverstepped التُركُمانِيُّthe Turkoman طَورَهُhis bounds
وَلَمّا تَعَدّى التُركُمانِيُّ طَورَهُ
وَأَضمَرَand harbored بَغياًaggression ضِدَّcontrary to ماwhat كانَhe was يُظهِرُdisplaying
وَأَضمَرَ بَغياً ضِدَّ ما كانَ يُظهِرُ
When the Turkoman overstepped his bounds,
When the Seljuq overstepped his limits
and harbored aggression contrary to what he displayed,
And harbored enmity contrary to what he was displaying,
بَعَثتَyou sent إِلَيهِagainst him المُقرَباتِthe prized horses حَوامِلاًcarrying
بَعَثتَ إِلَيهِ المُقرَباتِ حَوامِلاً
أُسودَlions وَغىًof battle عَنto reveal ناجِذِthe back tooth النَصرِof victory تَفغَرُopen their jaws
أُسودَ وَغىً عَن ناجِذِ النَصرِ تَفغَرُ
you sent against him prized horses carrying
You dispatched against him the neighboring
lions of battle, baring the tooth of victory.
Stallions, black calamities from the striking of victory.
فَوَلَّتso they retreated بِأَمرِby the command اللَهِof God لاnot عَنout of مَخافَةٍfear
فَوَلَّت بِأَمرِ اللَهِ لا عَن مَخافَةٍ
وَقَدand indeed يَحضُرُmay face الرَوعَterror الذَليلُthe abased فَيُنصَرُand be granted victory
وَقَد يَحضُرُ الرَوعَ الذَليلُ فَيُنصَرُ
They turned back at God's command, not from fear;
So they advanced, not out of fear,
even the abased may face terror and be granted victory.
And the terrified flees while the defeated is aided.
فَفازَso he triumphed بِكَسرٍby a rout عَجَّلَhastened اللَهُGod جَبرَهُits repair
فَفازَ بِكَسرٍ عَجَّلَ اللَهُ جَبرَهُ
وَأَعقَبَهُand followed it الكَسرُthe rout الَّذيwhich لَيسَis not يُجبَرُrepaired
وَأَعقَبَهُ الكَسرُ الَّذي لَيسَ يُجبَرُ
Thus he won by a rout whose damage God hastened to repair,
Thus he won an immediate loss, may God mend it,
and after it came the rout that can never be repaired.
And it was followed by a loss that cannot be mended.
وَرَجّىand hoped for سَفاهاًfoolishly أُختَهاits sister وَهوَand he صائِمٌfasting
وَرَجّى سَفاهاً أُختَها وَهوَ صائِمٌ
فَأَدرَكَهُso overtook him ماwhat ساءَهُdistressed him وَهوَand he مُفطِرُnot fasting
فَأَدرَكَهُ ما ساءَهُ وَهوَ مُفطِرُ
Foolishly he hoped for its sister while fasting,
And the fool coveted its like while fasting,
but what distressed him overtook him when he was no longer fasting.
So he met what distressed him while he broke the fast.
وَلَوand if لَمnot يُجِرهُhad sheltered him اللَيلُthe night خامِسَfifth of خَمسَةٍfive
وَلَو لَم يُجِرهُ اللَيلُ خامِسَ خَمسَةٍ
لَماwould not عادَhave returned مِنfrom تِلكَthose الجُموعِhosts مُخَبِّرُa teller of news
لَما عادَ مِن تِلكَ الجُموعِ مُخَبِّرُ
Had night not sheltered him, the fifth of five,
Had night not rescued him on the fifth of five days,
no teller of news would have returned from those hosts.
None of those armies would have returned to inform.
وَأَخَّرَتِand delayed الطُلّابَthe pursuers عَنهُfrom him عَصائِبٌbands of men
وَأَخَّرَتِ الطُلّابَ عَنهُ عَصائِبٌ
تُحَكِّمُpass judgment فيهاamong them المُرهَفاتُthe keen blades وَتَأسِرُand take captive
تُحَكِّمُ فيها المُرهَفاتُ وَتَأسِرُ
Bands of men delayed his pursuers from reaching him,
The pursuers barred him from you with chaste white swords
while keen blades judged among them and took captives.
With which the shining blades rule and imprison.
فَإِنso if تَكُthere are أَسرىcaptives عَفَّتِrefrained البيضُthe bright swords عَنهُمُfrom them
فَإِن تَكُ أَسرى عَفَّتِ البيضُ عَنهُمُ
فَمِنthen from بَعدِafter أَنthat عافَتhad rejected ضِباعٌhyenas وَأَنسُرُand vultures
فَمِن بَعدِ أَن عافَت ضِباعٌ وَأَنسُرُ
If there were captives whom the bright blades spared,
If the captivity of the chaste whites spares them,
it was only after hyenas and vultures had rejected them.
Then after does and lynxes they are pardoned and overlooked.
تَوَغَّلَhe plunged deep مُجتاباًputting on مِنَfrom اللَيلِthe night جُنَّةًa shield
تَوَغَّلَ مُجتاباً مِنَ اللَيلِ جُنَّةً
وَعادَand returned وَأُخرىand another لِلكَرامَةِfor honor تُذخَرُis stored up
وَعادَ وَأُخرى لِلكَرامَةِ تُذخَرُ
He plunged deep, donning a shield of night,
He infiltrated protected by night in his coat of mail
and returned, with another encounter held in store for honor.
And returned while another coat of armor is preserved.
وَخُبرُand the experience أَخيهِof his brother رَدَّهُturned him back عَنكَfrom you سالِماًsafe
وَخُبرُ أَخيهِ رَدَّهُ عَنكَ سالِماً
وَباءَand incurred بِمَحضِpure الذُلِhumiliation مَنwhoever لَيسَnot يَخبُرُhas experience
وَباءَ بِمَحضِ الذُلِ مَن لَيسَ يَخبُرُ
His brother's experience turned him safely back from you,
The fate of his brother turned him away from you unharmed,
while one without experience incurred pure humiliation.
While he who does not inquire returns in utter humiliation.
مَلَكتَyou took possession مِنَof الدَهرِtime العَصِيِّrebellious قِيادَهُits reins
مَلَكتَ مِنَ الدَهرِ العَصِيِّ قِيادَهُ
فَماso not قَدَّمَتadvanced أَحداثُهُits events مَنwhomever تُؤَخِّرُyou hold back
فَما قَدَّمَت أَحداثُهُ مَن تُؤَخِّرُ
You took the reins of rebellious time,
You took control of fate at its unruly course,
so its events could not advance whomever you held back.
So that its events no longer delay what you advance.
وَلَيسَتand do not تَرُدُّcountermand ماwhat أَمَرتَyou commanded خُطوبُهُits calamities
وَلَيسَت تَرُدُّ ما أَمَرتَ خُطوبُهُ
وَلاand not تَرِدُarrive الأَملاكُkings مِنfrom حَيثُwhere تَصدُرُyou depart
وَلا تَرِدُ الأَملاكُ مِن حَيثُ تَصدُرُ
Its calamities do not countermand your commands,
Nor do they repeal what you commanded of its misfortunes,
nor do kings reach the place from which you depart.
Nor do fates repeal what originates from you.
هُديتَyou were guided إِلىto طُرقِthe paths المَعاليof greatness وَماand not اِهتَدَواthey found their way
هُديتَ إِلى طُرقِ المَعالي وَما اِهتَدَوا
وَأَنجَدتَand you climbed the uplands فيin كَسبِearning الثَناءِpraise وَغَوَّرواand they descended to lowlands
وَأَنجَدتَ في كَسبِ الثَناءِ وَغَوَّروا
You were guided to the paths of greatness, while they found no way,
You were guided to lofty paths which they did not follow,
and climbed the uplands in earning praise, while they descended to the lowlands.
You were given victory in earning praise while they resented.
تَوَقَّلتَyou climbed فيamong تِلكَthose الهِضابِheights فَحُزتَهاso you won them
تَوَقَّلتَ في تِلكَ الهِضابِ فَحُزتَها
عَلىdespite أَنَهاthat they لَولاكَwithout you لَمnot تَكُwould be تُعبَرُcrossed
عَلى أَنَها لَولاكَ لَم تَكُ تُعبَرُ
You scaled those heights and won them,
You penetrated those plateaus so you kept them
though without you they could never have been crossed.
As if, were it not for you, they would not have been accessible.
فَإِنso if طاوَلواthey vie in stature أَوor صاوَلواthey assail بِقَديمِهِمwith their ancestral past
فَإِن طاوَلوا أَو صاوَلوا بِقَديمِهِم
فَأَنتَthen you بِماthrough what تَأتيyou do عَلىof الطَولِsurpassing أَقدَرُare more capable
فَأَنتَ بِما تَأتي عَلى الطَولِ أَقدَرُ
If they vie in stature or assail you with their ancestral past,
If they try their old tricks or plot thereby,
your own deeds make you more capable of surpassing them.
You are more capable of rising above scheming.
وَإِنand if كُنتَyou are ذاpossessed of الجَدَّينِtwo grandfathers جَلّاboth great وَأُعظِماand both revered
وَإِن كُنتَ ذا الجَدَّينِ جَلّا وَأُعظِما
فَكُلٌّthen each بِهِthrough him يَسموrises high الزَمانُtime وَيَفخَرُand boasts
فَكُلٌّ بِهِ يَسمو الزَمانُ وَيَفخَرُ
And if yours are two grandfathers, exalted and revered,
If you are of two noble and mighty ancestors,
through each, time rises high and boasts.
Each of whom makes the time proud and boast.
فَجَدٌّso one grandfather بِهِthrough whom يَسموis exalted جَوادٌa steed وَصارِمٌand a keen sword
فَجَدٌّ بِهِ يَسمو جَوادٌ وَصارِمٌ
وَجَدٌّand one grandfather بِهِthrough whom يَعلوrises سَريرٌa throne وَمِنبَرُand a pulpit
وَجَدٌّ بِهِ يَعلو سَريرٌ وَمِنبَرُ
One grandfather, through whom steed and keen sword rise,
An ancestor through whom the generous steed ascends,
and one, through whom throne and pulpit soar.
And an ancestor through whom the throne and pulpit rise.
بِنَصرِthrough Nasr اِبنِson of مَحمودِMahmud اِبنِson of نَصرٍNasr تَسَهَلَّتbecame easy
بِنَصرِ اِبنِ مَحمودِ اِبنِ نَصرٍ تَسَهَلَّت
مَطالِبُpursuits كانَتwere قَبلَهُbefore him تَتَوَعَّرُgrowing rugged
مَطالِبُ كانَت قَبلَهُ تَتَوَعَّرُ
Through Nasr ibn Mahmud ibn Nasr were made easy
Through the victory of the son of Mahmoud son of Nasr
pursuits that before him had grown rugged.
Difficulties were facilitated that before him were trying.
بِأَروَعَthrough a noble man أَعمارُthe lives المَكارِمِof noble deeds عِندَهُwith him
بِأَروَعَ أَعمارُ المَكارِمِ عِندَهُ
تَطولُgrow long وَأَعمارُand the lives المَواعيدِof promises تَقصُرُgrow short
تَطولُ وَأَعمارُ المَواعيدِ تَقصُرُ
Through a noble man, with whom the lives of noble deeds
With him the lifespans of generous deeds lengthen
grow long, while the lives of promises grow short.
While the lifespans of promises shorten.
لَجوجٌunyielding إِذاwhen قادَled اللَجاجُinsistence إِلىto الوَغىbattle
لَجوجٌ إِذا قادَ اللَجاجُ إِلى الوَغى
وَلوجٌplunging in وَنَيرانُand the fires الوَغىof battle تَتَسَعَّرُblaze fiercely
وَلوجٌ وَنَيرانُ الوَغى تَتَسَعَّرُ
Unyielding when insistence leads to war,
Ferocious when the fierce leads to battle,
ever plunging in, while the fires of war blaze up.
Vicious while the fires of strife flare up.
إِذاwhen عُدَّis counted صِدقُthe truthfulness الناسِof people أَوor ذُكِرَis mentioned النَدىgenerosity
إِذا عُدَّ صِدقُ الناسِ أَو ذُكِرَ النَدى
فَماthen not يَتَعَدّاهُpasses him by لِسانٌa tongue وَخِنصَرُand a little finger
فَما يَتَعَدّاهُ لِسانٌ وَخِنصَرُ
When men's truthfulness is counted, or generosity named,
When the honesty of people is counted or chivalry mentioned,
neither tongue nor little finger passes him by.
No tongue or throat goes beyond that.
رُوَيدَgently with المَساعيthe achievements تَعرِفِyou will find القَولَspeech مُقصِداًhitting its mark
رُوَيدَ المَساعي تَعرِفِ القَولَ مُقصِداً
فَماfor not القَولُspeech عَنof هَذاthis الفَعالِconduct مُعَبِّرُis expressive
فَما القَولُ عَن هَذا الفَعالِ مُعَبِّرُ
Slow your achievements, and you will find speech striking home;
Calm your endeavors, understand the saying’s purpose,
for speech cannot express such deeds.
For words cannot express these deeds.
وَهَلand is there ...? بِالَّذيin what تَأتيyou do إِلىfor الوَصفِdescription حاجَةٌa need
وَهَل بِالَّذي تَأتي إِلى الوَصفِ حاجَةٌ
وَأَخبارُهُand reports of it بِالشَرقِin the East وَالغَربِand the West تُشهَرُare publicized
وَأَخبارُهُ بِالشَرقِ وَالغَربِ تُشهَرُ
Do your deeds have any need of description,
What need is there to describe what you do
when reports of them are proclaimed in East and West?
When reports of it are spread east and west?
وَلَكِنَّهُand yet it بِالشِعرِthrough poetry يَزدادُgains بَهجَةًsplendor
وَلَكِنَّهُ بِالشِعرِ يَزدادُ بَهجَةً
كَماjust as اِزدادَincreased حُسنُthe beauty الرَوضِof the garden وَهوَand it مُنَوِّرُin bloom
كَما اِزدادَ حُسنُ الرَوضِ وَهوَ مُنَوِّرُ
Yet through poetry they gain more splendor,
But it increases in splendor through poetry
as the garden's beauty grows when it flowers.
Like the beauty of a meadow increases when lit up.
لَقَدindeed ماتَتِdied الآمالُhopes فيin كُلِّevery مَوطِنٍplace
لَقَد ماتَتِ الآمالُ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ
وَلَولاand without نَداكَyour generosity الغَمرُoverflowing لَمnot تَكُwould be تُنشَرُrevived
وَلَولا نَداكَ الغَمرُ لَم تَكُ تُنشَرُ
Hopes have died in every place,
Hopes died in every land,
and without your overflowing generosity they would not be revived.
Were it not for your light, gloom would not have cleared.
فَياso, oh لَيتَwould that أَيّاميmy days بِظِلِّكَin your shade لاmay it not اِنطَوىfold away
فَيا لَيتَ أَيّامي بِظِلِّكَ لا اِنطَوى
سِنونَyears وَساعاتيand my hours القَصيرَةَshort أَشهُرُmonths
سِنونَ وَساعاتي القَصيرَةَ أَشهُرُ
Ah, would that my days in your shade—may it never fold away—
Would that my days in your shade do not end
were years, and my brief hours months!
And that my brief hours seem long months.
بِحَيثُwhere اللُهىgifts تَنهَلُّpour down وَالحَمدُand praise يُقتَنىis acquired
بِحَيثُ اللُهى تَنهَلُّ وَالحَمدُ يُقتَنى
وَصِدقُand fulfillment المُنىof wishes قَدhas شاعَspread وَالذَنبُand sin يُغفَرُis forgiven
وَصِدقُ المُنى قَد شاعَ وَالذَنبُ يُغفَرُ
Where gifts pour down and praise is gained,
Wherein desires are attained, praise acquired,
the fulfillment of wishes has spread, and sin is forgiven.
And prayers fulfilled while sins are forgiven.
فَقُربُكَso your nearness أَنسانيmade me forget عَطاياgifts بَلَوتُهاI had tried them
فَقُربُكَ أَنساني عَطايا بَلَوتُها
مِنَfrom المَطلِprocrastination تُجنىare harvested بَلrather مِنَfrom اللُؤمِmeanness تُعصَرُare squeezed
مِنَ المَطلِ تُجنى بَل مِنَ اللُؤمِ تُعصَرُ
Your nearness made me forget gifts I had known,
So your proximity, boons I have tested
harvested from procrastination—rather, squeezed from meanness.
Are plucked from ease rather than pressed from stinginess.
مَناظِرُappearances راقَتpleased لَمnot تُعِنهاsupported them مَخابِرٌinner qualities
مَناظِرُ راقَت لَم تُعِنها مَخابِرٌ
وَماand not كُلُّevery دَوحٍgreat tree راقَpleased رائيهِits beholder مُثمِرُfruit-bearing
وَما كُلُّ دَوحٍ راقَ رائيهِ مُثمِرُ
Pleasing appearances, not borne out by inward worth;
Vistas delighted though not spied from afar,
not every great tree that pleases its beholder bears fruit.
And not every nearby garden bears fruit.
إِذاif عَذَرَexcused المَأمولُthe hoped-for giver فيin البُخلِmiserliness نَفسَهُhimself
إِذا عَذَرَ المَأمولُ في البُخلِ نَفسَهُ
فَآمِلُهُthen his hopeful petitioner فيin مَنعِهِwithholding from him الشُكرَthanks أَعذَرُmore excusable
فَآمِلُهُ في مَنعِهِ الشُكرَ أَعذَرُ
If the hoped-for giver excuses his own miserliness,
When the hoped for is miserly with his stinginess
his petitioner has more excuse for withholding thanks from him.
To hope he will be prevented from thanklessness is more excusable.
وَعِنديand I have لِماfor what خَوَّلتَنيهِyou bestowed it on me مَحامِدٌpraises
وَعِندي لِما خَوَّلتَنيهِ مَحامِدٌ
تَسيرُtravel مَسيرَthe course of الشَمسِthe sun بَلrather هِيَthey أَسيَرُmore far-ranging
تَسيرُ مَسيرَ الشَمسِ بَل هِيَ أَسيَرُ
For what you have bestowed on me, I have praises
For what you have graced me with, I have praises
that travel like the sun—indeed, they travel farther.
That pace the sun or faster, being led.
غَرائِبُmarvels إِنif لاحَتthey shine فَدُرٌّthen pearls وَجَوهَرٌand jewels
غَرائِبُ إِن لاحَت فَدُرٌّ وَجَوهَرٌ
ثَمينٌprecious وإِنand if فاحَتthey emit fragrance فَمِسكٌthen musk وَعَنبَرُand ambergris
ثَمينٌ وإِن فاحَت فَمِسكٌ وَعَنبَرُ
Marvels: if they shine, they are pearls and jewels
Wonders, if they appear, are pearls and gems,
of great price; if they give fragrance, musk and ambergris.
Precious, and if they smell, musk and ambergris.
وَماand not أَضعَفَتweakened عَشرُthe decade of الثَمانينَeighty مُنَّتيmy vigor
وَما أَضعَفَت عَشرُ الثَمانينَ مُنَّتي
كَماas تُضعِفُweakens الضِرغامَthe lion وَهوَand it غَضَنفَرa mighty lion
كَما تُضعِفُ الضِرغامَ وَهوَ غَضَنفَر
My eighth decade has not weakened my vigor
My eighties did not weaken my obligations,
as it weakens the lion, fierce though he is.
As the oleander weakens when still a tender twig.
أَرىI see خَبَرَthe fame البُخّالِof misers يَهلِكُperish عَبطَةًprematurely
أَرى خَبَرَ البُخّالِ يَهلِكُ عَبطَةً
فَيُنسىso it is forgotten وَأَخبارُand the accounts الكِرامِof the generous تُعَمَّرُlive long
فَيُنسى وَأَخبارُ الكِرامِ تُعَمَّرُ
I see the fame of misers perish before its time,
I see the news of the miser perishes disgracefully,
and be forgotten, while the tales of the generous live long.
Then fades, while the news of the generous lives on.
وَلَوand if لَمnot يَكُنwere هَذاthis كَذاso ماتَwould have died حاتِمٌHatim
وَلَو لَم يَكُن هَذا كَذا ماتَ حاتِمٌ
مَماتَthe death of رِجالٍmen عَنfrom مَدىthe utmost reach الجودِof generosity قَصَّرواthey fell short
مَماتَ رِجالٍ عَن مَدى الجودِ قَصَّروا
Were this not so, Hatim would have died
Had this not been so, Hatem would not have died.
the death of men who fell short of generosity's utmost reach.
Nor would men who fell short of extreme generosity have died.
فَلِلَّهِso, to God belongs مَولىًa patron أَصبَحَhas become الحَمدُpraise دَأبَهُhis constant practice
فَلِلَّهِ مَولىً أَصبَحَ الحَمدُ دَأبَهُ
فَلَمso not يَعدُهُexceeded him هَذاthis الثَناءُpraise المُحَبَّرُfinely wrought
فَلَم يَعدُهُ هَذا الثَناءُ المُحَبَّرُ
God be praised for a patron whose constant lot is praise;
So to God belongs a master who in praised morns and eves,
this finely wrought praise has not exceeded his due.
So this rhymed eulogy does not count it enough.
مِنَfrom الذَمِّblame مَعصومٌprotected كَأَنَّas though مَغيبَهُhis absence
مِنَ الذَمِّ مَعصومٌ كَأَنَّ مَغيبَهُ
وَلَوand even if جُمِعَتwere gathered فيهِthere أَعاديهِhis enemies مَحضَرُpresence
وَلَو جُمِعَت فيهِ أَعاديهِ مَحضَرُ
Protected from blame, as though his absence—
Safe is he from any blemish, as though his absence
even were his enemies gathered there—were his presence.
Would prevent his critics from gathering.
وَمُعتَرِفٌand acknowledging لِلطالِبينَto petitioners بِماas to what اِدَّعواthey claimed
وَمُعتَرِفٌ لِلطالِبينَ بِما اِدَّعوا
وَلَكِنَّهِand yet he بَعدَafter المَواهِبِgifts مُنكِرُdenies
وَلَكِنَّهِ بَعدَ المَواهِبِ مُنكِرُ
He acknowledges to petitioners whatever claims they make,
And acknowledging to petitioners what they claimed,
yet, after bestowing gifts, he denies his giving.
But after graces, refusing and rejecting.
تَحوزُsecures الغِنىwealth جَدواهُhis bounty أَوَّلَat the first وَهلَةٍmoment
تَحوزُ الغِنى جَدواهُ أَوَّلَ وَهلَةٍ
وَيَحسَبُهاand he thinks it لَمnot تُغنِenriched فَهوَso he يُكَرِّرُrepeats
وَيَحسَبُها لَم تُغنِ فَهوَ يُكَرِّرُ
His bounty brings wealth at the very first moment,
Wealth seizes him swiftly at first,
but he thinks it has not enriched, so he gives again.
And he reckons it did not enrich, so he amasses.
كَصَوبِlike a shower of حَياًrain عَمَّcovered البِلادَthe lands بِغَيثِهِwith its rainfall
كَصَوبِ حَياً عَمَّ البِلادَ بِغَيثِهِ
فَفازَتso they gained بِأَقصىthe utmost رَيِّهاof their saturation وَهوَand it مُمطِرُraining
فَفازَت بِأَقصى رَيِّها وَهوَ مُمطِرُ
Like a shower of rain that covered the lands with its rainfall,
Like clouds that rain bounty on a land,
they gained their utmost saturation, yet it still rains.
And it profits fully from its irrigation while he continues pouring.
بَقيتَmay you endure بَقاءَthe endurance of الفَرقَدَينِthe two Farqad stars مُلازِماًremaining close
بَقيتَ بَقاءَ الفَرقَدَينِ مُلازِماً
جِوارَهُماthe company of both ماas long as جاوَرَneighbors العَينَthe eye مَحجِرُan eye socket
جِوارَهُما ما جاوَرَ العَينَ مَحجِرُ
May you endure as long as the two Farqad stars, ever abiding
You remain the lasting stay of the two noble sanctuaries,
beside them, as long as an eye is bordered by its socket.
Dwelling in their vicinity for as long as the eye harbors its pupil.
وَلاand may ... not زالَتِcease الأَعيادُthe festivals تَقدَمُarrive هَكَذاthus
وَلا زالَتِ الأَعيادُ تَقدَمُ هَكَذا
وَمُلكُكَand your kingdom مَحروسٌprotected وَمَغناكَand your dwelling أَخضَرُgreen
وَمُلكُكَ مَحروسٌ وَمَغناكَ أَخضَرُ
May the festivals always arrive thus,
Just as holidays continue to arrive perpetually,
your kingdom guarded and your dwelling green.
So your rule is protected and your wealth is green.
Sol 6.1