طاوِلvie بِقَدرِكَwith your worth مَنwhoever عَلاrose مِقدارُهُhis stature
طاوِل بِقَدرِكَ مَن عَلا مِقدارُهُ
فَأَرىfor I see العُلاglory فَلَكاًa celestial sphere عَلَيكَaround you مَدارُهُits orbit
فَأَرى العُلا فَلَكاً عَلَيكَ مَدارُهُ
Vie, with your worth, with whoever stands high in stature;
for I see glory as a celestial sphere revolving around you.
مَنwho يَدفَعُdenies الشَرَفَthe honor الَّذيthat أوتيتَهُyou were granted it
مَن يَدفَعُ الشَرَفَ الَّذي أوتيتَهُ
مِنfrom بَعدِafter أَنthat أَعياbaffled الوَرىmankind إِنكارُهُits denial
مِن بَعدِ أَن أَعيا الوَرى إِنكارُهُ
Who can deny the honor you have been granted,
after mankind has proved unable to deny it?
نَطَقَspoke الوَلِيُّthe ally بِهِof it وَأُسكِتَand was silenced حاسِدٌan envier
نَطَقَ الوَلِيُّ بِهِ وَأُسكِتَ حاسِدٌ
عَنabout وَصفِهِits description وَسُكوتُهُand his silence إِقرارُهُhis acknowledgment
عَن وَصفِهِ وَسُكوتُهُ إِقرارُهُ
Your ally proclaimed it, while an envier was silenced
about its qualities; his silence is his acknowledgment.
فَليَعلَمِso let him know الساعيthe striver لِيُدرِكَto attain ذاthis المَدىheight
فَليَعلَمِ الساعي لِيُدرِكَ ذا المَدى
أَنَّthat الطَريقَthe road كَثيرَةٌnumerous أَخطارُهُits perils
أَنَّ الطَريقَ كَثيرَةٌ أَخطارُهُ
Let whoever strives to reach this height know
that the road has many perils.
وَهِيَand it is الرِياسَةُleadership لَنwill not تَبوحَspeak openly بِسِرِّهاof its secret
وَهِيَ الرِياسَةُ لَن تَبوحَ بِسِرِّها
إِلّاexcept لِأَروَعَto an awe-inspiring man لاnot يُباحُis violated ذِمارُهُhis protected honor
إِلّا لِأَروَعَ لا يُباحُ ذِمارُهُ
It is leadership, which will not reveal its secret
save to an awe-inspiring man whose protected honor none may violate.
يَحميprotects حِماهُhis sanctuary قَلبُهُhis heart وَلِسانُهُand his tongue
يَحمي حِماهُ قَلبُهُ وَلِسانُهُ
وَتَذودُand wards off عَنهُfrom him يَمينُهُhis right hand وَيَسارُهُand his left hand
وَتَذودُ عَنهُ يَمينُهُ وَيَسارُهُ
His heart and tongue defend his sanctuary,
and his right and left hands ward off harm from him.
لاneither العَذلُreproach ناهيهِhis restrainer وَلاnor الحِرصُthe greed الَّذيthat
لا العَذلُ ناهيهِ وَلا الحِرصُ الَّذي
أَمَرَcommanded النُفوسَsouls بِشُحِّهاto their miserly ways أَمّارُهُhis commander
أَمَرَ النُفوسَ بِشُحِّها أَمّارُهُ
Neither reproach restrains him, nor does the greed that
bade souls be miserly command him.
لَكَyours فيin الشَجاعَةِcourage وَالسَماحَةِand generosity رُتبَةٌa rank
لَكَ في الشَجاعَةِ وَالسَماحَةِ رُتبَةٌ
تَرَكَتleft عَدُوَّكَyour enemy لاnot يَقِرُّsettles قَرارُهُhis repose
تَرَكَت عَدُوَّكَ لا يَقِرُّ قَرارُهُ
You hold a rank in courage and generosity
that leaves your enemy unable to rest.
لَمdid not يُعطِهاgrant it عَمرَوAmr القَناof the spears إِقدامُهُhis daring
لَم يُعطِها عَمرَو القَنا إِقدامُهُ
قِدماًof old وَلاnor كَعبَKa'b النَدىof bounty إيثارُهُhis selflessness
قِدماً وَلا كَعبَ النَدى إيثارُهُ
Amr of the spears was not granted it by his daring
of old, nor Ka'b of bounty by his selflessness.
تُفنيyou annihilate العِدىthe foes قَتلاًby slaughter بِكُلِّin every كَريهَةٍdreadful battle
تُفني العِدى قَتلاً بِكُلِّ كَريهَةٍ
لَكَyours فَخرُهُits glory وَعَلَيهِمُand upon them أَوزارُهُits burdens
لَكَ فَخرُهُ وَعَلَيهِمُ أَوزارُهُ
You annihilate your foes by slaughter in every dreadful battle:
its glory is yours, and its burdens theirs.
فَلَطالَماfor how often أَضرَمتَyou kindled فيin إِحرازِهاattaining it
فَلَطالَما أَضرَمتَ في إِحرازِها
لَهَباًa flame رُؤوسُthe heads الدارِعينَof armored warriors شَرارُهُits sparks
لَهَباً رُؤوسُ الدارِعينَ شَرارُهُ
How often, to attain it, you have kindled
a flame whose sparks are armored warriors' heads,
بِوَغىًin a battle يَضِلُّgoes astray عَنِfrom المُثَقَّفِthe straightened spear قَصدُهُits aim
بِوَغىً يَضِلُّ عَنِ المُثَقَّفِ قَصدُهُ
فيin ضَنكِهاits crush وَعَنِand from الكَمِيِّthe armored warrior شِعارُهُhis battle cry
في ضَنكِها وَعَنِ الكَمِيِّ شِعارُهُ
in a battle where the straightened spear loses its aim
in its crush, and the armored warrior his battle cry.
لِيَدُمmay it endure لَكَfor you العِزُّmight المُؤَثَّلُdeep-rooted وَليَدُمand may it endure
لِيَدُم لَكَ العِزُّ المُؤَثَّلُ وَليَدُم
لِمُريدِfor one seeking كَيدِكَto plot against you ذُلُّهُhis humiliation وَصَغارُهُand his abasement
لِمُريدِ كَيدِكَ ذُلُّهُ وَصَغارُهُ
May your deep-rooted might endure, and may there endure
the humiliation and abasement of whoever plots against you.
ماnot فازَwon عِندَكَagainst you مَنwhoever وَتَرتَyou bereaved بِبُغيَةٍa desired end
ما فازَ عِندَكَ مَن وَتَرتَ بِبُغيَةٍ
بَلrather ضاعَwas lost فيin تَيّارِthe torrent عِزِّكَof your might ثارُهُhis vengeance
بَل ضاعَ في تَيّارِ عِزِّكَ ثارُهُ
No one you bereaved has won his wish against you;
his vengeance has instead been lost in the torrent of your might.
فَفَداكَso may he be your ransom ذوa possessor of مُلكٍkingship يُصيخُlistens attentively لِبَربَطٍto a lute
فَفَداكَ ذو مُلكٍ يُصيخُ لِبَربَطٍ
شَغَلَتهُdistracted him عَنfrom أَوتارِهِhis blood-feuds أَوتارُهُits strings
شَغَلَتهُ عَن أَوتارِهِ أَوتارُهُ
May a ruler who listens to a lute be your ransom,
its strings having distracted him from his blood-feuds.
وَقَضىand may he meet المُسِرُّthe one concealing لَكَtoward you العَداوَةَenmity نَحبَهُhis death
وَقَضى المُسِرُّ لَكَ العَداوَةَ نَحبَهُ
غَيظاًin rage عَلَيكَat you وَلاand may not اِنقَضَتbe fulfilled أَوطارُهُhis desires
غَيظاً عَلَيكَ وَلا اِنقَضَت أَوطارُهُ
And may he who hides enmity toward you meet his death
in rage at you, his desires never fulfilled.
ياO اِبنَson of الأُلىthose who لاnot يُعظِمونَexalt عَظيمَهُمtheir great man
يا اِبنَ الأُلى لا يُعظِمونَ عَظيمَهُم
حَتّىuntil يُجارَis sheltered مِنَfrom النَوائِبِcalamities جارُهُhis neighbor
حَتّى يُجارَ مِنَ النَوائِبِ جارُهُ
O son of those who do not exalt their great man
until his neighbor is sheltered from calamities.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen حَمَلواthey carry الوَشيجَthe spears تَطاوَلَتgrew longer
قَومٌ إِذا حَمَلوا الوَشيجَ تَطاوَلَت
أَطرافُهُtheir points وَتَقاصَرَتand shortened أَعمارُهُtheir lifespans
أَطرافُهُ وَتَقاصَرَت أَعمارُهُ
A people whose spears, when they wield them, have farther-reaching
points and shorter lifespans.
وَنَحَتand made for أَسِنَّتُهُtheir spearheads الصَريخَthe caller for help كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَنَحَت أَسِنَّتُهُ الصَريخَ كَأَنَّها
طَيرٌbirds وَأَفئِدَةُand the hearts العِدىof the foes أَوكارُهُtheir nests
طَيرٌ وَأَفئِدَةُ العِدى أَوكارُهُ
Their spearheads make for the caller for help, as though they were
birds, with the enemy's hearts their nests.
كَثَرَتoutnumbered مُنىthe wishes قُصّادِكُمof those seeking you آلاؤُكُمyour favors
كَثَرَت مُنى قُصّادِكُم آلاؤُكُم
كَرَماًin generosity كَماas كَثَرَoutnumbered الحَجيجَthe pilgrims جِمارُهُtheir stoning pebbles
كَرَماً كَما كَثَرَ الحَجيجَ جِمارُهُ
Your favors outnumber your visitors' wishes
in generosity, as the pilgrims' pebbles outnumber them.
وَأَبَيتُمُand you refused أَنto تَنتَمواclaim descent إِلّاexcept كَماas
وَأَبَيتُمُ أَن تَنتَموا إِلّا كَما
نَسَبَتproclaimed the lineage of لَدىamid الرَوعِterror الصَفيحِthe sword steel شِفارُهُits edges
نَسَبَت لَدى الرَوعِ الصَفيحِ شِفارُهُ
You refused to declare your lineage except as
a sword's edges proclaim its pedigree amid terror.
وَأَعَدتُمُand you restored عودَthe stem المَكارِمِof noble deeds أَخضَراًgreen
وَأَعَدتُمُ عودَ المَكارِمِ أَخضَراً
لِلَّهِGod be praised for عودٌa tree أَنتُمُyou أَثمارُهُits fruits
لِلَّهِ عودٌ أَنتُمُ أَثمارُهُ
You have made the stem of noble deeds green again;
God be praised for a tree whose fruits you are!
شِيَمٌtraits حَوَتcontained مِنfrom كُلِّevery فَخرٍglory صَفوَهُits purest part
شِيَمٌ حَوَت مِن كُلِّ فَخرٍ صَفوَهُ
وَتَعَقَّبَتand followed مِنfrom بَعدِهاafter them أَكدارُهُits impurities
وَتَعَقَّبَت مِن بَعدِها أَكدارُهُ
Traits that hold the purest part of every glory,
with its impurities following behind them.
فَلِذاtherefore تَعُمُّencompass ذَويthose of النَباهَةِdistinction عونُهُits matrons
فَلِذا تَعُمُّ ذَوي النَباهَةِ عونُهُ
إِنif سامَحَتthey give freely وَتَخُصُّكُمand belong to you alone أَبكارُهُits maidens
إِن سامَحَت وَتَخُصُّكُم أَبكارُهُ
Thus its matrons embrace men of distinction,
if they give freely, while its maidens are yours alone.
إِنَّindeed الإِمامَthe Imam سَطاstruck بِسَيفِwith a sword وَقائِعٍof battles
إِنَّ الإِمامَ سَطا بِسَيفِ وَقائِعٍ
مُذsince سُلَّit was drawn ماnot عَرَفَknew النُبُوَّfailure to bite غِرارُهُits edge
مُذ سُلَّ ما عَرَفَ النُبُوَّ غِرارُهُ
The Imam has struck with a sword of battles
whose edge, since it was drawn, has never failed to bite.
شَيَّدتَyou raised حينَwhen نَصَرتَyou supported دَولَتَهُhis dynasty لَهُfor him
شَيَّدتَ حينَ نَصَرتَ دَولَتَهُ لَهُ
عِزّاًglory بَنَتهُbuilt it لِجَدِّهِfor his forefather أَنصارُهُhis supporters
عِزّاً بَنَتهُ لِجَدِّهِ أَنصارُهُ
When you championed his dynasty, you raised for him
a glory built for his forefather by that forefather's supporters.
وَنَصَحتَand you faithfully served مُلكَthe kingdom بَنيthe descendants of عَلِيٍّAli نُصحَthe loyalty of مَنone who
وَنَصَحتَ مُلكَ بَني عَلِيٍّ نُصحَ مَن
أَربىsurpassed عَلىover إِعلانِهِhis public avowal إِسرارُهُhis private devotion
أَربى عَلى إِعلانِهِ إِسرارُهُ
You faithfully served the kingdom of Ali's descendants as one
whose private devotion surpassed his public avowal.
أَثنىpraised بِهِfor it مَنصورُهُits Mansur وَعَلِيُّهُand its Ali
أَثنى بِهِ مَنصورُهُ وَعَلِيُّهُ
وَمَعَدُّهُand its Ma'add وَأَبانَand disclosed عَنهُabout it نِزارُهُits Nizar
وَمَعَدُّهُ وَأَبانَ عَنهُ نِزارُهُ
Its Mansur and its Ali praised that devotion,
as did its Ma'add; its Nizar made it known.
شَهِدَattested المُشاهِدُthe eyewitness ذاthese الفَعالَdeeds بِماfrom what رَأىhe saw
شَهِدَ المُشاهِدُ ذا الفَعالَ بِما رَأى
فيهِin him وَصَحَّand was confirmed لِمُخبِرٍfor a reporter إِخبارُهُhis report
فيهِ وَصَحَّ لِمُخبِرٍ إِخبارُهُ
The eyewitness attested to these deeds from what he saw
in him, and the reporter's account was confirmed.
مَهَّدتَyou pacified هَذاthis الشامَSyria حَتّىuntil لَاِستَوَتwere indeed equal
مَهَّدتَ هَذا الشامَ حَتّى لَاِستَوَت
فيin أَمنِهاits security بُلدانُهُits towns وَقِفارُهُand its deserts
في أَمنِها بُلدانُهُ وَقِفارُهُ
You pacified this Syria, until there were equal
in safety its towns and its deserts.
لاnot أَنتَyou مُتبِعُfollowing up ماwhat صَنَعتَyou did بِأَهلِهِfor its people
لا أَنتَ مُتبِعُ ما صَنَعتَ بِأَهلِهِ
مَنَّreproachful reminders المُنيلِof the giver وَلاnor هُمُthey كُفّارُهُungrateful for it
مَنَّ المُنيلِ وَلا هُمُ كُفّارُهُ
You do not follow what you did for its people with
a giver's reproachful reminders, nor are they ungrateful for it.
نُوَبٌcalamities تَطيشُmiss سِهامُهاtheir arrows وَمُنىًand hopes يَعيlives (continued)
نُوَبٌ تَطيشُ سِهامُها وَمُنىً يَعي
شُcompletion of 'lives' يَقينُهاtheir certainty وَنَدىًand bounty تَجيشُsurge بِحارُهُits seas
شُ يَقينُها وَنَدىً تَجيشُ بِحارُهُ
Calamities whose arrows miss, and hopes with living
certainty, and bounty whose seas surge.
ماnot كانَتِwould الغَبراءُthe dusty earth تَحمِلُbear باخِلاًa miser
ما كانَتِ الغَبراءُ تَحمِلُ باخِلاً
لَوif فُضَّwere distributed فيamong سُكّانِهاits inhabitants مِعشارُهُa tenth of it
لَو فُضَّ في سُكّانِها مِعشارُهُ
The dusty earth would bear no miser
if a tenth of that bounty were shared among its inhabitants.
فيin ظِلِّthe shade أَروَعَof an awe-inspiring man أَعجَزَتbaffled أَفعالُهُhis deeds
في ظِلِّ أَروَعَ أَعجَزَت أَفعالُهُ
هَذاthis الأَنامَmankind وَأَعوَزَتand were lacking أَنظارُهُhis peers
هَذا الأَنامَ وَأَعوَزَت أَنظارُهُ
Under the shade of an awe-inspiring man whose deeds have baffled
all mankind, and whose peers are nowhere to be found.
وَمُؤَيَّدِand one fortified in العَزَماتِresolve لاneither إيرادُهُhis advance
وَمُؤَيَّدِ العَزَماتِ لا إيرادُهُ
يُدنيهِbrings him near مِنto ذامٍa detractor وَلاnor إِصدارُهُhis withdrawal
يُدنيهِ مِن ذامٍ وَلا إِصدارُهُ
And one fortified in resolve: neither his advance
brings him near a detractor, nor does his withdrawal.
يُغنيserves غَناءَas effectively as سُيوفِهِhis swords إيعادُهُhis threat
يُغني غَناءَ سُيوفِهِ إيعادُهُ
وَتَنوبُand stand in عَنfor نَظَراتِهِhis glances أَفكارُهُhis thoughts
وَتَنوبُ عَن نَظَراتِهِ أَفكارُهُ
His threats serve as effectively as his swords,
and his thoughts stand in for his glances.
مَلِكٌa king مُقيمٌdwelling فيin دِمَشقَDamascus وَذِكرُهُand his renown
مَلِكٌ مُقيمٌ في دِمَشقَ وَذِكرُهُ
فيin الخافِقينِEast and West بَعيدَةٌfar-reaching أَسفارُهُits journeys
في الخافِقينِ بَعيدَةٌ أَسفارُهُ
A king dwelling in Damascus, while his renown
travels far through East and West.
لَمdid not يَحتَجِبseclude himself عَنfrom رَبِّone with مَسأَلَةٍa request وَلاnor
لَم يَحتَجِب عَن رَبِّ مَسأَلَةٍ وَلا
سُدِلَتwere drawn عَلىover غَيرِanything other than التُقىpiety أَستارُهُhis curtains
سُدِلَت عَلى غَيرِ التُقى أَستارُهُ
He has never screened himself from a petitioner, nor
have his curtains been drawn over anything but piety.
جَعدٌstingy عَنِwith الآثامِsins إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat he
جَعدٌ عَنِ الآثامِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
مُتَتابِعٌunceasing مَعَdespite فَقدِهاtheir absence اِستِغفارُهُhis seeking forgiveness
مُتَتابِعٌ مَعَ فَقدِها اِستِغفارُهُ
He is stingy with sins, yet
despite their absence, his pleas for forgiveness are unceasing.
أَخبارُtales مَجدٍof glory كادَalmost يَحفَظُهاlearns them by heart الدُجىthe darkness
أَخبارُ مَجدٍ كادَ يَحفَظُها الدُجى
مِمّاbecause of how يُكَرِّرُrepeat ذِكرَهاtheir mention سُمّارُهُhis night companions
مِمّا يُكَرِّرُ ذِكرَها سُمّارُهُ
Tales of glory that darkness almost learns by heart,
so often do his night companions repeat them.
لَوif عاصَرَتthey were contemporary with كِسرىKisra لَكانَit would have been بِوِدِّهِhis wish
لَو عاصَرَت كِسرى لَكانَ بِوِدِّهِ
لَوthat صيغَwere fashioned مِنهاfrom them تاجُهُhis crown وَسِوارُهُand his bracelet
لَو صيغَ مِنها تاجُهُ وَسِوارُهُ
Had they lived in Kisra's age, he would have wished
his crown and bracelet to be fashioned from them.
فَليَيأَسِso let them despair المُتَمَحِّلونَthe schemers مَحَلَّthe station of مَنone whose
فَليَيأَسِ المُتَمَحِّلونَ مَحَلَّ مَن
هَذيthese مَناقِبُهُhis virtues وَذاكَand that نِجارُهُhis lineage
هَذي مَناقِبُهُ وَذاكَ نِجارُهُ
Let those scheming for the station of one despair,
whose virtues are these and whose lineage is such.
خَيرُthe finest of البُيوتِhouses إِذاif عَدَوناwe pass over هاشِماًHashim
خَيرُ البُيوتِ إِذا عَدَونا هاشِماً
بَيتٌa house حَلَلتَyou settled بِهِin it وَأَنتَand you خِيارُهُits choicest member
بَيتٌ حَلَلتَ بِهِ وَأَنتَ خِيارُهُ
The finest house, if we set Hashim aside,
is the house you inhabit, of which you are the choicest.
بَيتٌa house يَحِنُّyearns إِلىfor الفَضائِلِvirtues طِفلُهُits infant الthe (article continued)
بَيتٌ يَحِنُّ إِلى الفَضائِلِ طِفلُهُ ال
حابيcrawling فَتَحسَبُso you think أَنَّهاthat they أَظآرُهُhis wet nurses
حابي فَتَحسَبُ أَنَّها أَظآرُهُ
A house whose little child yearns for virtues, still
crawling, so you would think they were his wet nurses.
ماnot زالَceased بِالحَسَناتِthrough good deeds مُرتَقِياًascending فَهَلso is there
ما زالَ بِالحَسَناتِ مُرتَقِياً فَهَل
فَوقَabove المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way مَنزِلٌa dwelling يَختارُهُit chooses it
فَوقَ المَجَرَّةِ مَنزِلٌ يَختارُهُ
It has kept rising through good deeds; is there
a dwelling above the Milky Way it might choose?
وَأَبوand Abu عَلِيٍّAli مُعرِبٌgiving expression عَنto مِثلِهاtheir like
وَأَبو عَلِيٍّ مُعرِبٌ عَن مِثلِها
فيin كُلِّevery فَضلٍexcellence تُقتَفىare followed آثارُهُhis footsteps
في كُلِّ فَضلٍ تُقتَفى آثارُهُ
And Abu Ali gives expression to virtues like these;
in every excellence his footsteps are followed.
ماnot حادَstrayed عَنfrom شَرَفِthe honor عَلَوتَyou surpassed بِهِthrough it الوَرىmankind
ما حادَ عَن شَرَفِ عَلَوتَ بِهِ الوَرى
فَيَقولَso that he might say مادِحُهُhis panegyrist إِلَيكَto you مَحارُهُhis return
فَيَقولَ مادِحُهُ إِلَيكَ مَحارُهُ
He has not strayed from the honor by which you surpassed mankind,
for his praiser to say, 'His return is to you.'
أَعطىhe gave فَبَخَّلَand made seem miserly كُلَّevery جَودٍbounty أَثجَمَتpoured steadily
أَعطى فَبَخَّلَ كُلَّ جَودٍ أَثجَمَت
أَنواؤُهُits rain-bearing stars وَتَتابَعَتand followed in succession أَمطارُهُits rains
أَنواؤُهُ وَتَتابَعَت أَمطارُهُ
He gave, making every bounty seem miserly, though pouring steadily
were its rain-bearing stars, and its showers fell one after another.
وَسَطاand he struck فَماand did not جَرَّbring اِغتِرارُthe overconfidence وَلِيِّهِof his ally
وَسَطا فَما جَرَّ اِغتِرارُ وَلِيِّهِ
ضَرَراًharm وَلاnor نَفَعَbenefited العَدُوَّthe enemy حِذارُهُhis caution
ضَرَراً وَلا نَفَعَ العَدُوَّ حِذارُهُ
He struck: his ally's overconfidence brought
no harm, nor did the enemy's caution benefit him.
عَلَمٌa landmark يَدُلُّpoints عَلَيهِto him ساطِعُthe radiance of نورِهِhis light
عَلَمٌ يَدُلُّ عَلَيهِ ساطِعُ نورِهِ
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore أَنthat تَلِيَundertakes الهِدايَةَguidance نارُهُhis fire
مِن قَبلِ أَن تَلِيَ الهِدايَةَ نارُهُ
A landmark revealed by his radiant light,
before his fire undertakes the work of guidance.
مُتَأَلِّقُradiant with البِشرِcheerfulness المُبَشِّرِthat heralds بِالغِنىof wealth
مُتَأَلِّقُ البِشرِ المُبَشِّرِ بِالغِنى
وَالدَوحُand the great tree قَبلَbefore ثِمارِهِits fruits نُوّارُهُits blossoms
وَالدَوحُ قَبلَ ثِمارِهِ نُوّارُهُ
Radiant with a smile that heralds wealth;
a great tree shows its blossoms before its fruits.
يُرضيكَpleases you إِنif رَكِبَhe rides الجِيادَthe noble steeds عُرامُهُhis fierceness
يُرضيكَ إِن رَكِبَ الجِيادَ عُرامُهُ
عِزّاًas might وَإِنand if حَضَرَhe attends النَدِيَّthe assembly وَقارُهُhis dignity
عِزّاً وَإِن حَضَرَ النَدِيَّ وَقارُهُ
His fierceness pleases you when he rides noble steeds,
as a mark of might, and his dignity when he attends the assembly.
تَأبىdenies لَهُhim النَشَواتِintoxications نَفسٌa soul مُرَّةٌstern
تَأبى لَهُ النَشَواتِ نَفسٌ مُرَّةٌ
حَتّىuntil يَكونَis مِنَfrom الثَناءِpraise عُقارُهُhis wine
حَتّى يَكونَ مِنَ الثَناءِ عُقارُهُ
A stern soul denies him intoxication
until his wine is made of praise.
فَرَأَيتَso you saw إِخوَتَهُhis brothers بِمَرآهُin his appearance الَّذيwhich
فَرَأَيتَ إِخوَتَهُ بِمَرآهُ الَّذي
أَقذَتpained عُيونَthe eyes عَدُوِّكُمof your enemy أَنوارُهُits lights
أَقذَت عُيونَ عَدُوِّكُم أَنوارُهُ
So you saw his brothers in his likeness,
whose lights have pained your enemy's eyes.
أُفُقُthe horizon المُعاليof high honors مُشرِقٌshining بِهِمُwith them فَلاso may not
أُفُقُ المُعالي مُشرِقٌ بِهِمُ فَلا
أَفَلَتset أَهِلَّتُهُits crescents وَلاnor أَقمارُهُits full moons
أَفَلَت أَهِلَّتُهُ وَلا أَقمارُهُ
The horizon of high honors shines with them; may neither
its crescents nor its full moons ever set.
وَأَسيرُand the captive of أَنعُمِكَyour favors الثَناءُpraise فَلاso may not قَضىdecree
وَأَسيرُ أَنعُمِكَ الثَناءُ فَلا قَضى
رَبُّthe Lord الخَلائِقِof creation أَنthat يُفَكَّbe loosed إِسارُهُits bonds
رَبُّ الخَلائِقِ أَن يُفَكَّ إِسارُهُ
Praise is captive to your favors; never may
the Lord of creation decree its bonds be loosed.
لَمnot تُلفَyou were found فيهِin it وَهوَwhile it is مُلكُكَyour possession شامِخاًhaughty
لَم تُلفَ فيهِ وَهوَ مُلكُكَ شامِخاً
وَسِواكَand another than you يَستَعليgrows proud أَوانَwhen يُعارُهُhe is lent it
وَسِواكَ يَستَعلي أَوانَ يُعارُهُ
You were never found haughty in it, though it is your possession,
while another grows proud the moment it is lent to him.
وَإِذاand when أَرَدتُكَI turn to you بِالمَديحِwith praise تَفَتَّحَتopen
وَإِذا أَرَدتُكَ بِالمَديحِ تَفَتَّحَت
أَغلاقُهُits locks وَتَسَهَّلَتand become easy أَوعارُهُits rough paths
أَغلاقُهُ وَتَسَهَّلَت أَوعارُهُ
When I intend to praise you, there open
its locks, and its rough paths become easy.
وَإِذاand when زَفَفتُI escorted as a bride إِلىto نَدِيِّكَyour assembly كاعِباًa nubile maiden
وَإِذا زَفَفتُ إِلى نَدِيِّكَ كاعِباً
أَثنىbestowed praise عَلَيَّupon me بِحُسنِهاfor her beauty حُضّارُهُits attendees
أَثنى عَلَيَّ بِحُسنِها حُضّارُهُ
And when I escort a nubile maiden as a bride to your assembly,
those present praise me for her beauty.
وَالمِسكُand musk أَوَّلُthe first مَنone who يَفوزُenjoys بِعَرفِهِits fragrance
وَالمِسكُ أَوَّلُ مَن يَفوزُ بِعَرفِهِ
فيat وَقتِthe time فَضِّof breaking خِتامِهِits seal عَطّارُهُits perfumer
في وَقتِ فَضِّ خِتامِهِ عَطّارُهُ
As for musk, the first to enjoy its fragrance
when its seal is broken is its perfumer.
لَولاكَwere it not for you كانَwould have been الشِعرُpoetry شَيئاًa thing ذاهِباًpassing away
لَولاكَ كانَ الشِعرُ شَيئاً ذاهِباً
أَوor مَذهَباًa pursuit مُتَجَنَّباًavoided إِظهارُهُits public expression
أَو مَذهَباً مُتَجَنَّباً إِظهارُهُ
Without you, poetry would have been a thing that passed away,
or a pursuit whose public expression was shunned.
أَكرَمتَyou honored مَثواهُits lodging عَليماًknowing أَنَّهُthat it
أَكرَمتَ مَثواهُ عَليماً أَنَّهُ
ضَيفٌa guest يَشُقُّis onerous عَلىupon اللِئامِthe ignoble مَزارُهُhis visit
ضَيفٌ يَشُقُّ عَلى اللِئامِ مَزارُهُ
You honored its lodging, knowing that it is
a guest whose visit burdens the ignoble.
فَسَلِمتَso may you remain safe لِلزَمَنِfor the age الفَقيرِin need إِلَيكَof you ماas long as
فَسَلِمتَ لِلزَمَنِ الفَقيرِ إِلَيكَ ما
كَرَّتreturn عَلىupon آصالِهِits evenings أَسحارُهُits predawn hours
كَرَّت عَلى آصالِهِ أَسحارُهُ
May you remain safe for the age that needs you, as long as
its predawn hours return after its evenings.
وَبَقيتَand may you endure ماas long as شِئتَyou wish البَقاءَto remain لِمُنكِرٍfor a detractor
وَبَقيتَ ما شِئتَ البَقاءَ لِمُنكِرٍ
تَمتازُyou stand apart عَنهُfrom him وَسُؤدُدٍand lordly honor تَمتازُهُyou make it your own
تَمتازُ عَنهُ وَسُؤدُدٍ تَمتازُهُ
And may you live as long as you wish, for the detractor
from whom you stand apart, and the lordly honor you make your own.
Sol 6.1