ما ذي المَساعي الغُرُّ في قَدرِ الوَرى

ما ذي المَساعي الغُرُّ في قَدرِ الوَرى

فَلِذاكَ نَحنُ نَظُنُّ يَقظَتَنا كَرى

فَلِذاكَ نَحنُ نَظُنُّ يَقظَتَنا كَرى

These glorious deeds are beyond the power of mankind;

What is the use of vain efforts in the fate of mankind?

so we think our wakefulness is sleep.

That is why we think our wakefulness is a slumber.

تُبدي لِأَعيُنِنا فَضائِلَ ما رَأَت

تُبدي لِأَعيُنِنا فَضائِلَ ما رَأَت

أَمثالَها في العالَمينَ وَلا تَرى

أَمثالَها في العالَمينَ وَلا تَرى

You show our eyes virtues whose like they have not seen

It shows our eyes merits not seen

among all beings, nor ever will.

in both worlds, nor does one see.

وَضَحَت لَنا فَعَلاؤُها لا يُمتَرى

وَضَحَت لَنا فَعَلاؤُها لا يُمتَرى

في صِدقِهِ وَثَناؤُها لا يُفتَرى

في صِدقِهِ وَثَناؤُها لا يُفتَرى

They are clear to us: their eminence admits no doubt

Your supreme merits have become evident,

as to its truth, and their praise is not fabricated.

unquestioned in truthfulness and praise unexaggerated.

قَد كُنتَ عَن مَكنونِها مُستَخبِراً

قَد كُنتَ عَن مَكنونِها مُستَخبِراً

فَغَدَوتُ مُذ قَرَّبتَني مُستَخبَرا

فَغَدَوتُ مُذ قَرَّبتَني مُستَخبَرا

You had been inquiring about their hidden essence;

You had asked about its secrets,

then, since you drew me near, I became the one consulted.

so I became since you brought me near, informed.

فَوَدِدتُ أَيّامي تَكونُ لَدَيكَ أَع

فَوَدِدتُ أَيّامي تَكونُ لَدَيكَ أَع

واماً وَساعاتي القَصيرَةَ أَشهُرا

واماً وَساعاتي القَصيرَةَ أَشهُرا

So I wished my days with you could become

I wished my days with you be years

years, and my brief hours months,

and my short hours be months,

لِأَرى وَأَسمَعَ كُلَّ لَحظَةِ ناظِرٍ

لِأَرى وَأَسمَعَ كُلَّ لَحظَةِ ناظِرٍ

ما راقَ مُستَمِعاً وَأَذهَلَ مَنظَرا

ما راقَ مُستَمِعاً وَأَذهَلَ مَنظَرا

so I might see and hear, at every glance of an eye,

to see and hear each glance

what delights a listener and dazzles the sight.

that pleases a listener and stuns a beholder.

يا مَن إِذا نَشَرَ الأَنامُ حَديثَهُ

يا مَن إِذا نَشَرَ الأَنامُ حَديثَهُ

مَلَأَ الدُنا عَرفاً يَفوقُ العَنبَرا

مَلَأَ الدُنا عَرفاً يَفوقُ العَنبَرا

O you whose story, when mankind spreads it,

O you whose fame when people spread,

fills the worlds with fragrance surpassing ambergris:

fills the world with a fragrance surpassing ambergris.

إِن فاحَ في أَقصى البِلادِ فَبَعدَ أَن

إِن فاحَ في أَقصى البِلادِ فَبَعدَ أَن

أَضحى الشَآمُ بِطَرفِهِ مُتَعَطِّرا

أَضحى الشَآمُ بِطَرفِهِ مُتَعَطِّرا

if it wafts to the farthest lands, it is only after

When it spreads in the farthest countries, then

Syria has become perfumed by a trace of it,

Syria has been, through your presence, perfumed.

حَتّى لَخِلنا دَوحَهُ وَتُرابَهُ

حَتّى لَخِلنا دَوحَهُ وَتُرابَهُ

عوداً قَمارِيّاً وَمِسكاً أَذفَرا

عوداً قَمارِيّاً وَمِسكاً أَذفَرا

until we thought its great trees and its soil

Until we found its scent and soil

Qamari aloeswood and strong-scented musk.

aloes wood and yellow musk.

مَن أَصدَرَ الراياتِ حُمراً مِثلَما

مَن أَصدَرَ الراياتِ حُمراً مِثلَما

أَصدَرتَها غِبَّ الحُروبِ تَصَدَّرا

أَصدَرتَها غِبَّ الحُروبِ تَصَدَّرا

Whoever brings the banners back red, just as

You who carried red banners as

you brought them back after wars, takes precedence.

the daring of wars used to carry them forward.

وَمَلابِسُ التَعظيمِ لائِقَةٌ بِمَن

وَمَلابِسُ التَعظيمِ لائِقَةٌ بِمَن

يُعيِي إِذا لَبِسَ العَجاجَ الأَكدَرا

يُعيِي إِذا لَبِسَ العَجاجَ الأَكدَرا

And the robes of honor fit the man

And the clothes of glorification befit one

who baffles his foes when clad in murky battle dust.

who wearies if he wears coats of mail.

لَولا اِنصِلاتُكَ وَالحَوادِثُ جَمَّةٌ

لَولا اِنصِلاتُكَ وَالحَوادِثُ جَمَّةٌ

لَغَدا الهُدى مِمّا عَرا واهي العُرى

لَغَدا الهُدى مِمّا عَرا واهي العُرى

But for your swift onset, with calamities so many,

Were it not for your justice and events plentiful,

guidance, from what befell it, would have had its bonds weakened.

guidance would have perished from those who abandoned its reins.

بِكَ أَيَّدَ الرَحمَنُ ظاهِرَ دينِهِ

بِكَ أَيَّدَ الرَحمَنُ ظاهِرَ دينِهِ

وَبِحَدِّ سَيفِكَ يَنصُرُ المُستَنصِرا

وَبِحَدِّ سَيفِكَ يَنصُرُ المُستَنصِرا

Through you the All-Merciful strengthened Zahir, the upholder of His faith,

Through you the Beneficent supported the externals of His religion,

and with your sword's edge He grants al-Mustansir victory.

and by the edge of your sword aids one requesting aid.

وَمَتى تُخيفُ عَصائِبٌ قَسَّمتَها

وَمَتى تُخيفُ عَصائِبٌ قَسَّمتَها

بَينَ المَنايا وَالرَزايا اِشطُرا

بَينَ المَنايا وَالرَزايا اِشطُرا

And when could bands inspire fear, after you have divided them

And whenever bands terrify, you divide them

into portions between deaths and calamities?

between death and life, rending them asunder.

ذَلَّلتَهُم فَلِذاكَ أَرخى ذَيلَهُ

ذَلَّلتَهُم فَلِذاكَ أَرخى ذَيلَهُ

مَن كانَ قِدماً لِلحُروبِ مُشَمِّرا

مَن كانَ قِدماً لِلحُروبِ مُشَمِّرا

You humbled them; therefore he lets his hem trail

You subdued those who used to tuck up

who formerly girded himself for war.

their garments in wars - now relaxing.

وَمَنَيتَهُم بِالفَقرِ حَتّى أَشبَهَت

وَمَنَيتَهُم بِالفَقرِ حَتّى أَشبَهَت

في قِلَّةِ الإِثراءِ مَعنٌ بُحتُرا

في قِلَّةِ الإِثراءِ مَعنٌ بُحتُرا

And you afflicted them with poverty, until

And brought them poverty until they resembled

Ma'n resembled Buhtur in lack of riches.

Ma'n in little wealth.

وَلَوَ اِنَّ غَيرَكَ رامَ ذُعرَ سَوامِهِم

وَلَوَ اِنَّ غَيرَكَ رامَ ذُعرَ سَوامِهِم

لَأَبى لَها صُمُّ القَنا أَن تُذعَرا

لَأَبى لَها صُمُّ القَنا أَن تُذعَرا

Had anyone but you sought to frighten their grazing herds,

Had other than you attempted frightening their herds,

stout spears would have refused to let them be frightened.

even deaf rocks would have been frightened.

حَتّى إِذا ما أَقلَعَت ظُلَمُ الوَغى

حَتّى إِذا ما أَقلَعَت ظُلَمُ الوَغى

عَنهُم وَأَبصَرَ رُشدَهُ مَن أَبصَرا

عَنهُم وَأَبصَرَ رُشدَهُ مَن أَبصَرا

At last, when the darkness of battle lifted

Until when the darkness of turmoil turned from them

from them, and those who saw discerned their proper course,

and he of insight saw your guidance,

عاذوا بِمُلكِكَ خاضِعينَ لِيَأمَنوا

عاذوا بِمُلكِكَ خاضِعينَ لِيَأمَنوا

صَرفَ الرَدى وَاِستَغفَروكَ لِتَغفِرا

صَرفَ الرَدى وَاِستَغفَروكَ لِتَغفِرا

they sought refuge in your dominion, humbled, to escape

they sought refuge in your rule submissively, to be safe

the assaults of death, and begged your pardon that you might forgive.

from evil, imploring you for forgiveness that you may forgive.

فَمَنَعتَ حَتّى لَم تَجِد مُستَبدِلاً

فَمَنَعتَ حَتّى لَم تَجِد مُستَبدِلاً

وَغَفَرتَ حَتّى لَم تَدَع مُستَغفِرا

وَغَفَرتَ حَتّى لَم تَدَع مُستَغفِرا

You protected them until you found none seeking another protector,

You refused until you found none to replace

and forgave them until none remained asking forgiveness.

and forgave until you left none asking forgiveness.

وَلَّوا وَقَد أَلقَوا أَعِنَّةَ خَيلِهِم

وَلَّوا وَقَد أَلقَوا أَعِنَّةَ خَيلِهِم

وَأَتَوا وَقَد سُلِبَت قِلاصُهُمُ البُرى

وَأَتَوا وَقَد سُلِبَت قِلاصُهُمُ البُرى

They fled, having thrown down their horses' reins,

They turned back, having cast off the trappings of their steeds

and came, their young she-camels stripped of nose-rings.

and they came, deprived of their embroidered gowns.

وَمَتى جَنَوا ثَمَراتِ وَعدِكَ وَاِعتَدَوا

وَمَتى جَنَوا ثَمَراتِ وَعدِكَ وَاِعتَدَوا

أَلفَوا وَعيدَكَ مِثلَ وَعدِكَ مُثمِرا

أَلفَوا وَعيدَكَ مِثلَ وَعدِكَ مُثمِرا

And whenever they reap your promise's fruits and transgress,

And whenever they plucked the fruits of your promise and transgressed,

they find your threat, like your promise, fruitful.

they found your threat like your promise, bearing fruit.

فَلتَحذَرِ الذُؤبانُ في فَلَواتِها

فَلتَحذَرِ الذُؤبانُ في فَلَواتِها

أَسَداً تَحامَت سُخطَهُ أُسدُ الشَرى

أَسَداً تَحامَت سُخطَهُ أُسدُ الشَرى

So let the wolves in their deserts beware

Therefore, let the wolves fear in their deserts

a lion whose wrath the lions of al-Shara avoid,

a lion whose anger has flared, the lion of evil.

وَمُظَفَّراً كَفَلَت لَهُ عَزَماتُهُ

وَمُظَفَّراً كَفَلَت لَهُ عَزَماتُهُ

أَن لا يُقَدِّمَ هَمُّهُ مَن أَخَّرا

أَن لا يُقَدِّمَ هَمُّهُ مَن أَخَّرا

and a victor whose firm resolves guarantee him

And a victorious one whose determination

that his purpose will not advance one he has set back.

guaranteed he won't bring forward one who lags behind.

إِنَّ اِبنَ جَرّاحٍ دَعاكَ وَمالَهُ

إِنَّ اِبنَ جَرّاحٍ دَعاكَ وَمالَهُ

مِمّا يُحاذِرُ غَيرَ عَفوِكَ مُدَّرا

مِمّا يُحاذِرُ غَيرَ عَفوِكَ مُدَّرا

Ibn Jarrah has called upon you, and he has no

Son of Jarrah called you while turning away

refuge from what he fears but your pardon.

from that which he fears other than your pardon.

فَأَجِب نِداءَ أَبي النَدى فَلَطالَما

فَأَجِب نِداءَ أَبي النَدى فَلَطالَما

ناداهُ غَيرُكَ خاضِعاً فَاِستَكبَرا

ناداهُ غَيرُكَ خاضِعاً فَاِستَكبَرا

Answer Abu al-Nada's call, for how often

So respond to the call of the eminent father - for long

another called him humbly, and he held himself proud.

another called him submissively but he disdained.

وَاِمنُن عَلَيهِ مُحَقِّقاً آمالَهُ

وَاِمنُن عَلَيهِ مُحَقِّقاً آمالَهُ

كَرَماً فَكُلُّ الصَيدِ في جَوفِ الفَرا

كَرَماً فَكُلُّ الصَيدِ في جَوفِ الفَرا

And bestow favor on him, fulfilling his hopes

And favor him, fulfilling his hopes,

generously, for all the game lies in the wild ass's belly.

as a generosity, for all game is in the belly of the hunter.

ما كانَ أَثقَبَ زَندَهُ لَو أَنَّهُ

ما كانَ أَثقَبَ زَندَهُ لَو أَنَّهُ

مُستَقبِلٌ مِن أَمرِهِ ما اِستَدبَرا

مُستَقبِلٌ مِن أَمرِهِ ما اِستَدبَرا

How brightly his fire-stick would have sparked, if he

No belt of his would be heavier, had he

could face anew the affairs now left behind!

foreseen from his affair what transpired.

خَلّى بِلاداً بَعدَ ذَمِّ وُرودِها

خَلّى بِلاداً بَعدَ ذَمِّ وُرودِها

وَلَسَوفَ يَحمَدُ إِن عَفَوتَ المَصدَرا

وَلَسَوفَ يَحمَدُ إِن عَفَوتَ المَصدَرا

He abandoned lands after condemning his entry into them;

He left countries after entering them

if you pardon him, he will surely praise his departure.

and soon you will praise, if you pardon, the source.

مُذ راءَ أَفنِيَةَ المَمالِكِ كُلِّها

مُذ راءَ أَفنِيَةَ المَمالِكِ كُلِّها

غُبراً تَذَكَّرَ ذا الجَنابِ الأَخضَرا

غُبراً تَذَكَّرَ ذا الجَنابِ الأَخضَرا

Since he saw the courtyards of all kingdoms

Since he saw the courtyards of all the kingdoms

dust-gray, he remembered this green domain.

as dust, he remembered the radiant presence.

فَبَكى وَأَضحَكَهُ الرَجاءُ فَما رَأَت

فَبَكى وَأَضحَكَهُ الرَجاءُ فَما رَأَت

عَينٌ سِواهُ ضاحِكاً مُستَعبِرا

عَينٌ سِواهُ ضاحِكاً مُستَعبِرا

He wept, yet hope made him laugh; no

So he cried and your hope made him laugh, and none

eye has seen another laughing through tears.

saw other than him crying yet smiling.

قَرَّت جِيادُ الخَيلِ مُنذُ كَفَيتَها

قَرَّت جِيادُ الخَيلِ مُنذُ كَفَيتَها

طَلَبَ العَدُوِّ مُغَلِّساً وَمُهَجِّرا

طَلَبَ العَدُوِّ مُغَلِّساً وَمُهَجِّرا

The noble steeds have rested since you spared them

The steeds rested since you stopped them

pursuit of the enemy before dawn and in midday heat.

seeking the enemy, galloping and neighing.

فَأَراحَها مَن لا يُريحُ جِيادَهُ

فَأَراحَها مَن لا يُريحُ جِيادَهُ

حَتّى تُثيرَ بِكُلِّ أَرضٍ عِثيرا

حَتّى تُثيرَ بِكُلِّ أَرضٍ عِثيرا

Thus he gave them rest who never rests his own steeds

So the one who does not rest his steeds rested them,

until they stir up dust in every land.

until they stirred the ground of every land.

حَتّى لَقيدَت بُدَّناً وَلَوَ اِنَّها

حَتّى لَقيدَت بُدَّناً وَلَوَ اِنَّها

قيدَت لِيَومِ وَغىً لَقيدَت ضُمَّرا

قيدَت لِيَومِ وَغىً لَقيدَت ضُمَّرا

They are even led forth stout; yet if they

Until they were girded though they were girded

were led to a day of battle, they would be led lean.

for a day of battle, they would be resolute.

مِن كُلِّ أَشقَرَ لَم يَكُن مِن قَبلِ أَن

مِن كُلِّ أَشقَرَ لَم يَكُن مِن قَبلِ أَن

تَغشى بِهِ وَخزَ الأَسِنَّةِ أَشقَرا

تَغشى بِهِ وَخزَ الأَسِنَّةِ أَشقَرا

Among them, every chestnut that had not, before you

Of every chestnut that had not been

rode it into the spearheads' stabs, been chestnut.

covered with it before, biting the tongue.

يَتلوهُ أَدهَمُ كانَ وَرداً بُرهَةً

يَتلوهُ أَدهَمُ كانَ وَرداً بُرهَةً

مِمّا تُسَربِلُهُ النَجيعَ الأَحمَرا

مِمّا تُسَربِلُهُ النَجيعَ الأَحمَرا

A black horse follows it, which for a while was rose-red

Followed by a bay that was for a time

from your clothing it in crimson blood.

clad in what the bright fire enkindles.

داجٍ وَيُشرِقُ مِن ضِياءِ حُجولِهِ

داجٍ وَيُشرِقُ مِن ضِياءِ حُجولِهِ

فَيَخالُهُ رائيهِ لَيلاً مُقمِرا

فَيَخالُهُ رائيهِ لَيلاً مُقمِرا

Dark, yet gleaming with the brightness of its white stockings,

Black in the darkness, shining in its shadows,

the onlooker thinks it a moonlit night.

so its beholder deems it a moonlit night.

وَوَراءَهُ خَيلٌ كَأَنَّ جُلودَها

وَوَراءَهُ خَيلٌ كَأَنَّ جُلودَها

مِن نَسجِ قُسطَنطينَةٍ أَو عَبقَرا

مِن نَسجِ قُسطَنطينَةٍ أَو عَبقَرا

And behind it are horses whose coats seem

And behind them are horses as though their skins

woven in Constantinople or 'Abqar.

were woven in Constantinople or Ctesiphon.

لَقَدِ اِنتَحَيتَ لِمُصطَفيكَ مَنائِحاً

لَقَدِ اِنتَحَيتَ لِمُصطَفيكَ مَنائِحاً

تُعيي المُلوكَ مُقَدَّماً وَمُؤَخَّرا

تُعيي المُلوكَ مُقَدَّماً وَمُؤَخَّرا

You have indeed selected gifts for your chosen ones

You have presented to your Prophet platforms

that baffle kings, earlier and later alike,

that exhaust kings preceding and succeeding.

مِن بَعضِ ما سَلَبَت قَناكَ مِنَ العِدى

مِن بَعضِ ما سَلَبَت قَناكَ مِنَ العِدى

ما هَذِهِ مِمّا يُباعُ وَيُشتَرى

ما هَذِهِ مِمّا يُباعُ وَيُشتَرى

from some of what your spears took from the enemies;

From some of what your spear took from the foe -

these are not things bought and sold.

this is not of what is sold and bought.

وَالجاهِلِيَّةُ كُلُّها كانَت تَرى

وَالجاهِلِيَّةُ كُلُّها كانَت تَرى

عَقرَ القَلوصِ نَدىً إِذا المَحلُ اِعتَرى

عَقرَ القَلوصِ نَدىً إِذا المَحلُ اِعتَرى

And all the Age of Ignorance deemed

And the whole of ignorance used to see

slaughtering a young she-camel generosity when drought befell,

slitting the throat of a prisoner as munificence when a tribe was dishonored.

إِذ لَم تَكُن في عَصرِهِم وَلَوَ اِنَّهُم

إِذ لَم تَكُن في عَصرِهِم وَلَوَ اِنَّهُم

شَهِدوا زَمانَكَ ما اِستَحَلّوا المَيسِرا

شَهِدوا زَمانَكَ ما اِستَحَلّوا المَيسِرا

because you were not in their age; and had they

For in their time, even if they witnessed yours,

witnessed your time, they would not have deemed gambling lawful.

they would not have deemed gambling licit.

وَكَفاهُمُ عَقرَ القَلوصِ مُمَلَّكٌ

وَكَفاهُمُ عَقرَ القَلوصِ مُمَلَّكٌ

بِعَطِيَّةِ الدُرَرِ الثَمينَةِ موفِرا

بِعَطِيَّةِ الدُرَرِ الثَمينَةِ موفِرا

A crowned ruler would have spared them slaughtering the young she-camel,

And it sufficed them to slit the throat of a prisoner -

enriching them with a gift of precious pearls.

a bestowal with precious pearls most generous.

وَنَشَرتَ مِن كَشفِ المَظالِمِ مَيتَةً

وَنَشَرتَ مِن كَشفِ المَظالِمِ مَيتَةً

ما كانَ يَأمُلُ آمِلٌ أَن تُنشَرا

ما كانَ يَأمُلُ آمِلٌ أَن تُنشَرا

And through redressing wrongs you revived what lay dead,

And you spread from exposing injustices a death

what no hopeful soul had hoped would be revived.

that no aspirant hoped would be exposed.

فَوَرى بِحُكمِكَ زَندُ عَدلٍ قَد كَبا

فَوَرى بِحُكمِكَ زَندُ عَدلٍ قَد كَبا

وَكَبا لِخَوفِكَ زَندُ جَورٍ قَد وَرى

وَكَبا لِخَوفِكَ زَندُ جَورٍ قَد وَرى

So under your rule justice's extinguished fire-stick sparked,

So by your rule the wrist of justice prevailed

and fear of you extinguished oppression's kindled fire-stick.

and by fear of you the wrist of tyranny bent.

وَحَسَمتَ ظُلمَ الظالِمينَ فَعادَ مَن

وَحَسَمتَ ظُلمَ الظالِمينَ فَعادَ مَن

يَمشي العِرَضنَةَ وَهوَ يَمشي القَهقَرى

يَمشي العِرَضنَةَ وَهوَ يَمشي القَهقَرى

You ended the oppressors' oppression, so now the man

And you terminated the injustice of the unjust, so one who

who swaggered walks backward.

used to walk with pride now walks groveling.

فَالجَورُ قَد أَلغاهُ مَن لَم يُلغِهِ

فَالجَورُ قَد أَلغاهُ مَن لَم يُلغِهِ

وَالحَقُّ مُعتَرِفٌ بِهِ مَن أَنكَرا

وَالحَقُّ مُعتَرِفٌ بِهِ مَن أَنكَرا

Thus those who had never rejected injustice have now rejected it,

So injustice - one who did not eliminate it, eliminated it.

and those who denied the right now acknowledge it.

And right - one who denied it, confessed to it.

خُلِقَ المُظَفَّرُ بِالفَضائِلِ وَالنُهى

خُلِقَ المُظَفَّرُ بِالفَضائِلِ وَالنُهى

وَالمَجدِ وَالذِكرِ الجَميلِ مُظَفَّرا

وَالمَجدِ وَالذِكرِ الجَميلِ مُظَفَّرا

Al-Muzaffar was created, in virtues and wisdom,

The victorious was created with virtues and continence,

in glory and fair renown, victorious.

glory, goodly mention - ever triumphant.

جَدٌّ يُشايِعُهُ عَلى حَوزِ العُلى

جَدٌّ يُشايِعُهُ عَلى حَوزِ العُلى

جِدٌّ إِذا طَلَبَ العَسيرَ تَيَسَّرا

جِدٌّ إِذا طَلَبَ العَسيرَ تَيَسَّرا

Fortune is aided, in his winning of the heights,

A grandfather who aids him in possessing the heights -

by diligence; when he seeks the difficult, it becomes easy.

a father, when the difficult is sought, it is facilitated.

وَهِيَ العُلى وَأَبيكَ لَيسَ يَحوزُها

وَهِيَ العُلى وَأَبيكَ لَيسَ يَحوزُها

مَن لَم يَطِب أَصلاً وَيَكرُم عُنصُرا

مَن لَم يَطِب أَصلاً وَيَكرُم عُنصُرا

These are the heights, by your father; none attains them

And it is the heights - your father does not possess except

whose origins are not pure and whose stock is not noble.

one whose origin is fragrant and whose lineage is noble.

وَالتُركُ بَعضُ الناسِ إِلّا أَنَّهُم

وَالتُركُ بَعضُ الناسِ إِلّا أَنَّهُم

أَقوى وَأَصلَبُ في الكَريهَةِ مَكسِرا

أَقوى وَأَصلَبُ في الكَريهَةِ مَكسِرا

And the Turks are part of mankind, but they

The Turks are a people except that they

are stronger and of harder mettle in battle.

are stronger and firmer in adversity, crushing it.

وَالنَبعُ كَالشَريانِ إِلّا أَنَّ ذا

وَالنَبعُ كَالشَريانِ إِلّا أَنَّ ذا

نَبتُ الوِهادِ وَذاكَ نَبتٌ في الذُرى

نَبتُ الوِهادِ وَذاكَ نَبتٌ في الذُرى

And nab' wood is like sharyan, except that this one

And a spring is like an artery except that this one

grows in the lowlands and that one on the peaks.

gushes from the meadows while that one gushes from the ground.

باغي نَظيرِكَ فائِزٌ بِمُرادِهِ

باغي نَظيرِكَ فائِزٌ بِمُرادِهِ

لَكِن إِذا اِلتَقَتِ الثُرَيّا وَالثَرى

لَكِن إِذا اِلتَقَتِ الثُرَيّا وَالثَرى

The seeker of your equal will attain his wish—

Your peer seeking his goal is successful,

but only when the Pleiades and earth meet.

but when the lesser clashes with the great!

فَلَأَنتَ عيدُ المُسلِمينَ فَلا رَأَوا

فَلَأَنتَ عيدُ المُسلِمينَ فَلا رَأَوا

رَبعَ المَعالي مِنكَ يَوماً مُقفِرا

رَبعَ المَعالي مِنكَ يَوماً مُقفِرا

You indeed are the Muslims' festival; may they never see

You are the feast of the Muslims, for they did not see

the abode of greatness in you deserted for a day.

from you a single day deprived of the heights' meadows.

وَنَداكَ رَوّى رَوضَ شِعري بارِضاً

وَنَداكَ رَوّى رَوضَ شِعري بارِضاً

حَتّى لَصارَ كَما تَراهُ مُنَوِّرا

حَتّى لَصارَ كَما تَراهُ مُنَوِّرا

And your bounty watered my verse's garden in its first growth,

Calling you watered the meadow of my poetry, flourishing,

until it became, as you see it, in bloom.

until it became, as you see it, illuminated.

فَليَرعَ مَجدُكَ مِنهُ كُلَّ خَميلَةٍ

فَليَرعَ مَجدُكَ مِنهُ كُلَّ خَميلَةٍ

كَفَلَت لَها نُعماكَ أَلّا تُمعِرا

كَفَلَت لَها نُعماكَ أَلّا تُمعِرا

So let your glory graze in every lush grove of it

So may your glory make every defective meadow thrive,

that your favors have guaranteed will never become barren.

which your favors guaranteed against barrenness.

وَالرَوضُ لَستَ تَراهُ أَبلَجَ ناضِراً

وَالرَوضُ لَستَ تَراهُ أَبلَجَ ناضِراً

إِلّا بِحَيثُ تَرى الحَيا مُثعَنجَرا

إِلّا بِحَيثُ تَرى الحَيا مُثعَنجَرا

And you do not see a garden bright and fresh

You do not see the meadow fresh and vibrant

except where you see rain pouring abundantly.

unless where you see the writhing serpent.

إِنّي وَجَدتُكَ تاجَ كُلِّ مُمَلَّكٍ

إِنّي وَجَدتُكَ تاجَ كُلِّ مُمَلَّكٍ

فَكَسَوتُ هَذا التاجَ هَذا الجَوهَرا

فَكَسَوتُ هَذا التاجَ هَذا الجَوهَرا

I found you the crown of every crowned ruler,

I found you the crown of every ruler

so I adorned this crown with this jewel.

so I clothed this crown with this gem.

وَلَوَ اِنَّني أُجري وَلَستُ بِفاعِلٍ

وَلَوَ اِنَّني أُجري وَلَستُ بِفاعِلٍ

قَلَماً بِمَدحٍ في سِواكَ لَما جَرى

قَلَماً بِمَدحٍ في سِواكَ لَما جَرى

And if I were to set in motion—and I will not—

And even if I, though I do not, let flow

a pen in praise of anyone but you, it would not move.

a pen in praise of other than you it would not flow.

أَو كُنتُ غائِصَ غَيرَ بَحرِكَ لَم أَكُن

أَو كُنتُ غائِصَ غَيرَ بَحرِكَ لَم أَكُن

مُستَخرِجاً ذا اللُؤلُؤَ المُتَخَيِّرا

مُستَخرِجاً ذا اللُؤلُؤَ المُتَخَيِّرا

Or if I dived into any sea but yours, I would not

Or if I plunged outside your sea I would not be

bring up these choicest pearls.

a extractor of this carefully selected pearl.