جَرِّرDrag along مُلاءَةَthe mantle of كُلِّevery يَومٍday شامِسِsunlit
جَرِّر مُلاءَةَ كُلِّ يَومٍ شامِسِ
وَاِسحَبand trail ذُؤابَةَthe forelock of كُلِّevery لَيلٍnight دامِسِpitch-dark
وَاِسحَب ذُؤابَةَ كُلِّ لَيلٍ دامِسِ
Drag along the mantle of every sunlit day,
and trail the forelock of every pitch-dark night.
وَاِطلُعand rise بِكُلِّin every فَلاةِwilderness of أَرضٍearth غُرَّةًa bright brow
وَاِطلُع بِكُلِّ فَلاةِ أَرضٍ غُرَّةً
غَرّاءَradiant فيin وَجهِthe face of الظَلامِthe darkness العابِسِscowling
غَرّاءَ في وَجهِ الظَلامِ العابِسِ
Rise in every earthly wilderness as a bright brow,
radiant in the face of scowling darkness.
وَاِنزِلand lodge بِهاin it ضَيفاًas a guest لِلَيثٍof a lion خادِرٍlair-dwelling
وَاِنزِل بِها ضَيفاً لِلَيثٍ خادِرٍ
يَقريكَfeeds you as a guest أَوor جاراًas a neighbor لِظَبيٍto a gazelle كانِسِsheltering in its covert
يَقريكَ أَو جاراً لِظَبيٍ كانِسِ
Lodge there as guest of a lion in its lair,
who feeds you, or as neighbor to a gazelle in its covert.
وَإِذاand when طَعِمتَyou eat فَمِنthen from قَنيصٍhunted game فِلذَةًa slice
وَإِذا طَعِمتَ فَمِن قَنيصٍ فِلذَةً
وَإِذاand when شَرِبتَyou drink فَمِنthen from غَمامٍa cloud راجِسِrumbling
وَإِذا شَرِبتَ فَمِن غَمامٍ راجِسِ
And when you eat, take a slice of hunted game;
and when you drink, drink from a rumbling cloud.
وَالريحُand the wind تَلويtwists عِطفَthe side of كُلِّevery أَراكَةٍarak tree
وَالريحُ تَلوي عِطفَ كُلِّ أَراكَةٍ
لَيَّas the bending of السَرىnight travel وَهناًlate at night لِعِطفِupon the side of الناعِسِthe drowsy one
لَيَّ السَرى وَهناً لِعِطفِ الناعِسِ
The wind twists the side of every arak tree
as night travel, deep at night, bends a drowsy man's side.
وَسَلِand seek الغِنىwealth مِنfrom ظَهرِthe back of طِرفٍa courser أَشقَرٍchestnut
وَسَلِ الغِنى مِن ظَهرِ طِرفٍ أَشقَرٍ
يَطَأُtramples القَتيلَthe slain وَصَدرِand the point of رُمحٍa spear داعِسِthrusting
يَطَأُ القَتيلَ وَصَدرِ رُمحٍ داعِسِ
Seek wealth from the back of a chestnut courser
that tramples the slain, and from the point of a thrusting spear.
وَاِرجُمand pelt بِرَأيِكَwith your judgment شَدقَthe maw of لَيثٍa lion ضاغِمٍbiting
وَاِرجُم بِرَأيِكَ شَدقَ لَيثٍ ضاغِمٍ
طَلَبَin pursuit of الثَراءَriches وَنابَand the fang of صِلٍّa viper ناهِسِbiting
طَلَبَ الثَراءَ وَنابَ صِلٍّ ناهِسِ
Pelt with your judgment the maw of a biting lion,
in pursuit of riches, and the fang of a biting viper.
وَاِرغَبand hold بِنَفسِكَyourself عَنabove مَقامَةِthe station of فاضِلٍa worthy man
وَاِرغَب بِنَفسِكَ عَن مَقامَةِ فاضِلٍ
قَدalready قامَhas stood يَمثُلُstanding upright فيin خَصاصَةِthe destitution of بائِسِa wretched man
قَد قامَ يَمثُلُ في خَصاصَةِ بائِسِ
Hold yourself above the station of a worthy man
who has come to stand in a pauper's want.
فَالحُرُّfor the free man مُفتَقِرٌis in need إِلىof عِزِّthe might of الغِنىwealth
فَالحُرُّ مُفتَقِرٌ إِلى عِزِّ الغِنى
فَقرَas the need of الحُسامِthe keen sword إِلىfor يَمينِthe right hand of الفارِسِthe knight
فَقرَ الحُسامِ إِلى يَمينِ الفارِسِ
For the free man needs the might of wealth
as a keen sword needs a knight's right hand.
وَإِذاand when عَزَمتَyou resolve فَلاthen may you not عَثَرتَstumble بِحادِثٍover a mishap
وَإِذا عَزَمتَ فَلا عَثَرتَ بِحادِثٍ
فَرَكِبتَand so you mounted مِنهُbecause of it ظَهرَthe back of صَعبٍa headstrong mount شامِسِshying
فَرَكِبتَ مِنهُ ظَهرَ صَعبٍ شامِسِ
And when you resolve—may no mishap trip you
and set you riding a headstrong, shying mount—
فَاِفزَعthen seek refuge إِلىwith قاضيthe judge of الجَماعَةِthe community رَهبَةًin fear
فَاِفزَع إِلى قاضي الجَماعَةِ رَهبَةً
تَضَعِyou will place العِنانَthe reins بِخَيرِin the best راحَةِpalm of سائِسِa handler
تَضَعِ العِنانَ بِخَيرِ راحَةِ سائِسِ
then seek refuge in fear with the judge of the community,
placing the reins in the finest handler's palm.
وَاِستَسقِand ask for rain مِنهُfrom him إِنif ظَمِئتَyou thirst غَمامَةًa raincloud
وَاِستَسقِ مِنهُ إِن ظَمِئتَ غَمامَةً
يَخضَرُّturns green عَنهاfrom it كُلُّevery عودٍbranch يابِسِdry
يَخضَرُّ عَنها كُلُّ عودٍ يابِسِ
And if you thirst, ask of him a raincloud
from which every dry branch turns green.
فَإِذاthen when رَويتَyou have drunk your fill بِماءِwith the water of ذاكَthat المُجتَلىone revealed to view
فَإِذا رَويتَ بِماءِ ذاكَ المُجتَلى
فَحَذارِthen beware مِنof أُلهوبِthe blaze of ذاكَthat الهاجِسِbrooding mind
فَحَذارِ مِن أُلهوبِ ذاكَ الهاجِسِ
Then, when you have drunk your fill of that radiant one's water,
beware the blaze of that brooding mind.
مِنfrom آلِthe house of حَمدينَHamdin الأُلىthose who حَلِيَتwere adorned بِهِمwith them
مِن آلِ حَمدينَ الأُلى حَلِيَت بِهِم
قِدماًof old صُدورُthe forefronts of كَتائِبٍbattalions وَمَدارِسِand schools
قِدماً صُدورُ كَتائِبٍ وَمَدارِسِ
He is of the house of Hamdin, those who adorned
of old the forefronts of battalions and schools.
مِنfrom أُسرَةٍa family نَشَأواthey grew up غَمائِمَas rainclouds أَزمَةٍfamine
مِن أُسرَةٍ نَشَأوا غَمائِمَ أَزمَةٍ
وَلَرُبَّماand often طَلَعواthey rose بُدورَas full moons حَنادِسِdeep darkness
وَلَرُبَّما طَلَعوا بُدورَ حَنادِسِ
Of a family whose sons grew as rainclouds in famine,
and often rose as full moons in deepest darkness.
مُتَطَلِّعينَlooking eagerly إِلىtoward الحُروبِwars كَأَنَّماas though
مُتَطَلِّعينَ إِلى الحُروبِ كَأَنَّما
يَستَطلِعونَthey seek to see بِهاin them وُجوهَthe faces of عَرائِسِbrides
يَستَطلِعونَ بِها وُجوهَ عَرائِسِ
Looking eagerly toward wars, as though
they sought in them the faces of brides.
وَجَرَواand they raced بِمَيدانِin the field of المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالعُلىand lofty honor
وَجَرَوا بِمَيدانِ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلى
وَكَأَنَّماand as though رَكِبواthey rode ظُهورَthe backs of رَوامِسِtrack-effacing winds
وَكَأَنَّما رَكِبوا ظُهورَ رَوامِسِ
They raced in the field of noble deeds and lofty honor,
as though riding the backs of track-effacing winds.
وَجَنَواand they harvested ثِمارَthe fruits of النَصرِvictory مِنfrom غَرسِthe planting of القَناspears
وَجَنَوا ثِمارَ النَصرِ مِن غَرسِ القَنا
بِأَكُفِّهِمwith their own hands وَلَنِعمَand how excellent غَرسُthe planting of الغارِسِthe planter
بِأَكُفِّهِم وَلَنِعمَ غَرسُ الغارِسِ
They plucked victory's fruits from spears they planted
with their own hands—how fine the planter's planting!
فَهُمُfor they are لُبابُthe essence of المَجدِglory نَجدَةَin the courage of أَنفُسٍsouls
فَهُمُ لُبابُ المَجدِ نَجدَةَ أَنفُسٍ
وَذَكاءَand the keenness of أَلبابٍminds وَطيبَand the goodness of مَغارِسِroots
وَذَكاءَ أَلبابٍ وَطيبَ مَغارِسِ
They are the essence of glory in their souls' courage,
their minds' keenness, and the goodness of their roots.
وَهُمُand they are رِياضُthe gardens of الحَزنِrugged uplands نُضرَةَin the freshness of أَوجُهٍfaces
وَهُمُ رِياضُ الحَزنِ نُضرَةَ أَوجُهٍ
وَجَمالَand the beauty of أَردانٍsleeves وَحُسنَand the grace of مَجالِسِgatherings
وَجَمالَ أَردانٍ وَحُسنَ مَجالِسِ
They are gardens on rugged uplands in their faces' freshness,
their sleeves' beauty, and their gatherings' grace.
مِنof كُلِّevery أَروَعَsplendid man راعَawed كُلَّevery ضُبارِمٍmighty lion
مِن كُلِّ أَروَعَ راعَ كُلَّ ضُبارِمٍ
بَأساًin valor وَذَلَّلَand humbled نَفسَthe spirit of كُلِّevery مُنافِسِrival
بَأساً وَذَلَّلَ نَفسَ كُلِّ مُنافِسِ
Each a splendid man who awed every mighty lion
with valor, and humbled every rival's spirit.
خَلَعَbestowed الثَناءُpraise عَلَيهِupon him أَكرَمَthe noblest حِليَةٍadornment
خَلَعَ الثَناءُ عَلَيهِ أَكرَمَ حِليَةٍ
يُزهىglories بِهاin it فيin الدُستِthe seat of honor عِطفُthe figure of اللابِسِthe wearer
يُزهى بِها في الدُستِ عِطفُ اللابِسِ
Praise has clothed him in the noblest adornment,
in which the wearer's form glories upon the seat of honor.
سَلِسُsmooth الكَلامِin speech عَلىto السَماعِthe hearing كَأَنَّهُas though it were
سَلِسُ الكَلامِ عَلى السَماعِ كَأَنَّهُ
سِنَةٌa drowse تَرَقرَقُshimmers بَينَbetween جَفنَيthe two eyelids of ناعِسِa drowsy man
سِنَةٌ تَرَقرَقُ بَينَ جَفنَي ناعِسِ
His speech flows gently to the ear, as though it were
slumber shimmering between a drowsy man's eyelids.
ماnot إِنemphasis يُمازُis distinguished مِنَfrom الشِهابِthe flame طَلاقَةًin cheerful radiance
ما إِن يُمازُ مِنَ الشِهابِ طَلاقَةً
حَتّىuntil تُمَدُّis extended إِلَيهِtoward him كَفُّthe hand of القابِسِone seeking fire
حَتّى تُمَدُّ إِلَيهِ كَفُّ القابِسِ
In cheerful radiance he cannot be distinguished from a flame,
until the fire-seeker's hand reaches toward him.
تَرَكَhe left الأَعاديthe enemies بَينَbetween طَرفٍa gaze خاشِعٍdowncast
تَرَكَ الأَعادي بَينَ طَرفٍ خاشِعٍ
لاnot يَستَقِلُّrises وَبَينَand between رَأسٍa head ناكِسِbowed
لا يَستَقِلُّ وَبَينَ رَأسٍ ناكِسِ
He left his foes between a downcast gaze
that cannot rise and a head bowed low.
وَزَكاand he was pure فَلَمand was not يُطرَفstruck in the eye بِنَظرَةِby the glance of خائِنٍa traitor
وَزَكا فَلَم يُطرَف بِنَظرَةِ خائِنٍ
يَوماًever وَلَمand was not يُعرَفknown بِعَهدٍfor a pledge خائِسِfaithless
يَوماً وَلَم يُعرَف بِعَهدٍ خائِسِ
Pure, he was never struck by a traitor's glance
on any day, nor known for a faithless pledge.
مُتَقَلِّبٌmoving continually ماemphasis بَينَbetween عَزمٍresolve غارِسٍthat plants
مُتَقَلِّبٌ ما بَينَ عَزمٍ غارِسٍ
لِلمَكرُماتِfor noble deeds وَبَينَand between حَزمٍprudence حارِسِthat guards
لِلمَكرُماتِ وَبَينَ حَزمٍ حارِسِ
Ever moving between resolve that plants
noble deeds, and prudence that guards them.
وَذَكاءُand keenness of فَهمٍunderstanding لَوif تَمَثَّلَit took form صارِماًas a sword
وَذَكاءُ فَهمٍ لَو تَمَثَّلَ صارِماً
لَمwould not يَأتَمِنtrust ظُبَتَيهِits two edges عاتِقُthe shoulder of فارِسِa knight
لَم يَأتَمِن ظُبَتَيهِ عاتِقُ فارِسِ
And such keenness of understanding that, were it embodied as a sword,
no knight's shoulder would trust its two edges.
وَمَقامُand a station of حُكمٍjudgment عادِلٍjust لاnot يَزدَريdisdains
وَمَقامُ حُكمٍ عادِلٍ لا يَزدَري
فيهِin it المُعَلّىone raised high خَطوُهُhis stride بِالنافِسِupon the rival
فيهِ المُعَلّى خَطوُهُ بِالنافِسِ
And a seat of just judgment, where no man scorns
his rival, however exalted his own stride.
وَمَجالُand a field of حَربٍwar جَرَّhe trailed فيهِin it لامَةًa suit of armor
وَمَجالُ حَربٍ جَرَّ فيهِ لامَةً
قَدalready قامَhe stood مِنهاof it فيin غَديرٍa pool حامِسِseething
قَد قامَ مِنها في غَديرٍ حامِسِ
And a field of war where he trailed a coat of armor,
standing within it in a seething pool.
يَطَأُhe tramples العِدىthe foes ماemphasis بَينَbetween نَصلٍa blade ضاحِكٍlaughing
يَطَأُ العِدى ما بَينَ نَصلٍ ضاحِكٍ
تَحتَbeneath العَجاجِthe battle-dust وَوَجهِand the face of طِرفٍa courser عابِسِscowling
تَحتَ العَجاجِ وَوَجهِ طِرفٍ عابِسِ
He tramples foes between a laughing blade
beneath the battle-dust and a scowling courser's face,
فيin حَيثُthe place where يَلعَبُhe plays بِالقَناةِwith the spear شَهامَةًin valor
في حَيثُ يَلعَبُ بِالقَناةِ شَهامَةً
لَعِبَas the play of النُعامىthe south wind بِالقَضيبِwith the bough المائِسِswaying
لَعِبَ النُعامى بِالقَضيبِ المائِسِ
where, in valor, he plays with his spear
as the south wind plays with a swaying bough.
أَحسِنhow beautiful بِقُرطُبَةٍis Cordoba وَقَدand indeed حَمَلَتshe bore بِهِthrough him
أَحسِن بِقُرطُبَةٍ وَقَد حَمَلَت بِهِ
حُسنَthe beauty of الفَتاةِa young woman وَلُبسَand the garb of خُلقِthe character of العانِسِan older unmarried woman
حُسنَ الفَتاةِ وَلُبسَ خُلقِ العانِسِ
How fair is Cordoba, having gained through him
a young woman's beauty and the mantle of a mature maiden's character.
وَتَتَوَّجَتand she crowned herself بِمَنارِwith a beacon of عِلمٍlearning ساطِعٍradiant
وَتَتَوَّجَت بِمَنارِ عِلمٍ ساطِعٍ
قَدindeed قامَit rose فَوقَabove قَرارِthe firm foundation of دينٍfaith آنِسِcomforting
قَد قامَ فَوقَ قَرارِ دينٍ آنِسِ
She crowned herself with a radiant beacon of learning,
raised upon the firm foundation of a comforting faith.
وَتَخايَلَتand she walked proudly عِزّاًin glory بِهِthrough him فيin عِصمَةٍprotection
وَتَخايَلَت عِزّاً بِهِ في عِصمَةٍ
صَحَّتshe became sound بِهاthrough it مِنfrom كُلِّevery داءٍillness ناخِسِpiercing
صَحَّت بِها مِن كُلِّ داءٍ ناخِسِ
She walked proudly in his glory, within a protection
that healed her of every piercing malady.
يُزهىis resplendent بِرَيطٍin a fine mantle لِلصَبيحَةِfor the morning أَبيَضٍwhite
يُزهى بِرَيطٍ لِلصَبيحَةِ أَبيَضٍ
تَندىmoistened with dew وَبُردٍand a cloak لِلعَشِيَّةِfor the evening وارِسِyellow-dyed
تَندى وَبُردٍ لِلعَشِيَّةِ وارِسِ
Resplendent in the morning's white mantle,
dew-moistened, and the evening's yellow-dyed cloak.
فَاِنهَضthen rise to help أَباO father of عَبدِthe servant of الإِلَهِGod بِآمِلٍfor a hopeful man
فَاِنهَض أَبا عَبدِ الإِلَهِ بِآمِلٍ
قَدindeed جابَhe crossed دونَكَon the way to you كُلَّevery خَرقٍwilderness طامِسِtrackless
قَد جابَ دونَكَ كُلَّ خَرقٍ طامِسِ
Rise to help, Abu Abd al-Ilah, a hopeful man
who has crossed every trackless waste to reach you.
عاجَturned الرَجاءُhope عَلىtoward عُلاكَyour eminence بِهِwith him فَلَمand he did not
عاجَ الرَجاءُ عَلى عُلاكَ بِهِ فَلَم
يَعُجِturn aside المَطِيَّthe mounts بِرَسمِtoward the trace of رَبعٍa dwelling دارِسِeffaced
يَعُجِ المَطِيَّ بِرَسمِ رَبعٍ دارِسِ
Hope turned him toward your eminence, and he did not
turn his mounts toward the traces of an effaced dwelling.
فَاِشفَعthen intercede لِمُغتَرِبٍfor one far from home رَجاكَwho hoped in you عَلىdespite النَوىthe distance
فَاِشفَع لِمُغتَرِبٍ رَجاكَ عَلى النَوى
يَمدُدso he may stretch إِلىtoward الخَضراءِal-Khadra راحَةَthe palm of لامِسِone who touches
يَمدُد إِلى الخَضراءِ راحَةَ لامِسِ
Intercede for a stranger far from home who hoped in you despite the distance,
so he may reach out a hand to touch al-Khadra.
وَاِمدُدand extend إِلَيهِtoward him بِكَفِّwith the hand of جَدٍّfortune قائِمٍstanding upright
وَاِمدُد إِلَيهِ بِكَفِّ جَدٍّ قائِمٍ
تَجذِبyou pull up بِهِwith it مِنby ضَبعٍthe upper arm of جَدٍّfortune جالِسِsitting
تَجذِب بِهِ مِن ضَبعٍ جَدٍّ جالِسِ
Extend to him the hand of upright fortune,
and with it lift seated fortune by the arm.
فَلَرُبَّfor many a يَومٍday قَدindeed رَفَعتَyou raised بِهِon it المُنىhopes
فَلَرُبَّ يَومٍ قَد رَفَعتَ بِهِ المُنى
وَمَحَوتَand you erased فيهِon it سَوادَthe darkness of ظَنِّthe foreboding of البائِسِthe wretched man
وَمَحَوتَ فيهِ سَوادَ ظَنِّ البائِسِ
For on many a day you have lifted hopes high,
and erased the darkness of a wretched man's foreboding.
وَبَقَيتَand may you endure تَجتَلِبُdrawing to yourself النُفوسَsouls نَفاسَةًthrough nobility
وَبَقَيتَ تَجتَلِبُ النُفوسَ نَفاسَةً
وَبَشاشَةًand cheerful warmth وَوُقيتَand may you be shielded عَينَthe eye of النافِسِthe envier
وَبَشاشَةً وَوُقيتَ عَينَ النافِسِ
May you endure, winning souls through nobility
and cheerful warmth, and be shielded from the envier's eye.
Sol 6.1