بِذاتِin the very being of المَكارِمِnoble deeds ذاكَthat الأَلَمpain
بِذاتِ المَكارِمِ ذاكَ الأَلَم
وَفيand for the sake of اللَهِGod مانابَwhat befell تِلكَthat القَدَمfoot
وَفي اللَهِ مانابَ تِلكَ القَدَم
That pain afflicts the very embodiment of noble deeds,
With the noble virtues lies that pain,
and for God's sake is what befell that foot.
And in God what those feet attained.
فَرَوَّعَso it terrified حَتّىeven نُجومَthe stars of العَلاءِexalted rank
فَرَوَّعَ حَتّى نُجومَ العَلاءِ
وَضَعضَعَand shook حَتّىeven سَماءَthe heaven of الكَرَمgenerosity
وَضَعضَعَ حَتّى سَماءَ الكَرَم
It terrified even the stars of exalted rank,
It startled even the stars on high,
and shook even the heaven of generosity.
And shook even the generous sky.
مُهِمٌّa grave affliction تَعاطىundertook رُكوبَriding السُرىnight travel
مُهِمٌّ تَعاطى رُكوبَ السُرى
فَصَمَّمَthen pressed resolutely onward يَطرُقُmaking a night visit حَتّىuntil أَلَمit arrived
فَصَمَّمَ يَطرُقُ حَتّى أَلَم
A grave affliction undertook a journey by night,
A resolute one set out to ride,
then pressed resolutely onward, seeking a night visit, until it arrived.
Determined to tread though it pained.
وَوافىand arrived يُقَلِّصُtucking up أَذيالَهُits skirts
وَوافى يُقَلِّصُ أَذيالَهُ
لِيَعبُرَto cross لُجَّةَthe deep waters of بَحرٍa sea خِضَمvast
لِيَعبُرَ لُجَّةَ بَحرٍ خِضَم
It came, tucking up its skirts,
He came lessening his garment's train,
to cross the depths of a vast sea.
To cross a turbulent, billowing main.
وَهابَand feared فَأَلقىso it cast عَلىover وَجهِهِits face
وَهابَ فَأَلقى عَلى وَجهِهِ
قِناعَa veil of سَوادِthe blackness of الدُجىnight وَاِلتَثَمand masked itself
قِناعَ سَوادِ الدُجى وَاِلتَثَم
Afraid, it cast over its face
He shunned it and cast on his face instead,
the veil of night's blackness and masked itself.
The mask of night's darkness that he donned.
وَأَمَّand headed toward يَدِبُّcreeping دَبيبَthe creeping of الكَرىsleep
وَأَمَّ يَدِبُّ دَبيبَ الكَرى
وَيَمشيand walks الضَراءَstealthily بِذاكَin that الحَرَمsanctuary
وَيَمشي الضَراءَ بِذاكَ الحَرَم
It headed there, creeping as sleep creeps,
He crept with the gait of the tried and true,
and moving stealthily in that sanctuary.
And walked adversity with that probity.
وَلِلسَعدِand for good fortune طَرفٌan eye بِهِin it كالِئٌwatchful
وَلِلسَعدِ طَرفٌ بِهِ كالِئٌ
يُراعيwatches over الهِزبَرَthe lion وَيَحميand protects الأَجَمthe thickets
يُراعي الهِزبَرَ وَيَحمي الأَجَم
But good fortune had a watchful eye there,
Good fortune's eyes watch carefully,
watching over the lion and guarding the thickets.
Guarding the feeble, protecting the frail.
فَماso it did not طَرَقَvisit by night الحَيَّthe clan حَتّىuntil اِتَّقىit grew wary
فَما طَرَقَ الحَيَّ حَتّى اِتَّقى
وَلاnor اِستَقبَلَfaced المَجدَglory حَتّىuntil اِحتَشَمfelt abashed
وَلا اِستَقبَلَ المَجدَ حَتّى اِحتَشَم
It scarcely visited the clan by night before it grew wary,
Not once trampling the alive, but wary,
nor faced glory before it felt abashed.
Nor once meeting glory but humble and modest.
وَوَلّىand turned back يَكُدُّhastening with effort الخُطىthe steps خَشيَةًin fear
وَوَلّى يَكُدُّ الخُطى خَشيَةً
وَيَحذَرُand fears مِمّاwhat it had اِجتَرىdared وَاِجتَرَمand committed
وَيَحذَرُ مِمّا اِجتَرى وَاِجتَرَم
It turned back, hastening its steps in fear,
He turned straining his steps warily,
dreading what it had dared and committed.
And avoided the misdeeds and crimes.
فَلاso may he never زالَcease يَرميshooting فَيُصميthen killing outright العِدىthe enemies
فَلا زالَ يَرمي فَيُصمي العِدى
وَتَكتَنِفُand surround اِبنَthe son of عِصامٍʿIṣām عُصَمsafeguards
وَتَكتَنِفُ اِبنَ عِصامٍ عُصَم
May he never cease shooting and striking his enemies dead,
So he kept striking till he stilled the foe,
and may safeguards encompass Ibn ʿIṣām.
And the son of firmness was girded safely.
هُمامٌa noble champion لِعَينِfor the eye of الهُدىguidance ناظِرٌa pupil
هُمامٌ لِعَينِ الهُدى ناظِرٌ
بِهِin him وَلِوَجهِand for the face of العُلىhigh honor مُبتَسَمa smile
بِهِ وَلِوَجهِ العُلى مُبتَسَم
A noble champion: the eye of guidance has a pupil
Aspiring, to guidance's eyes glancing,
in him, and the face of high honor has a smile.
In it and to honor's face smiling.
أَضافَhe added إِلىto مُجتَنىًa harvest
أَضافَ إِلى مُجتَنىً
فَبَرقٌso lightning يُشامُis watched وَرَوضٌand a garden يُثَمis smelled
فَبَرقٌ يُشامُ وَرَوضٌ يُثَم
He added to a harvest—
To his refuse he added a flash of lightning,
thus, lightning to be watched and a garden to be smelled.
A garden he adorned and furnished sublimely.
وَفاتَand outstripped الرِياحَthe winds وَطالَand overtopped الرِماحَthe spears
وَفاتَ الرِياحَ وَطالَ الرِماحَ
فَطَولٌso bounty عَميمٌall-embracing وَطولٌand stature عَمَمtowering
فَطَولٌ عَميمٌ وَطولٌ عَمَم
He outstripped the winds and overtopped the spears:
He surpassed the winds and prolonged the spears,
all-embracing bounty and towering stature.
A vast, all-encompassing, towering clime.
يَمُدُّhe extends بِغُرِّwith radiant الأَياديbenefactions يَداًa hand
يَمُدُّ بِغُرِّ الأَيادي يَداً
تَصاحَبَkept company فيهاin it النَدىgenerosity وَالقَلَمand the pen
تَصاحَبَ فيها النَدى وَالقَلَم
With radiant benefactions he extends a hand
Extending with hands white as the full moon,
in which generosity and the pen keep company.
In them the dew and the pen entwined.
فَيَمحوso he erases مِدادَthe ink of سَوادِthe blackness of الرَجاhope
فَيَمحو مِدادَ سَوادِ الرَجا
بِماwith what فاضَoverflowed مِنfrom ماءِthe water of بيضِthe bright النِعَمfavors
بِما فاضَ مِن ماءِ بيضِ النِعَم
Thus he erases hope's black ink
He wipes out with what overflowed from the grace,
with the water overflowing from bright favors.
The ink of sorrow with that pure boon.
وَيَكتُبُand he writes وَالخَطبُwhile the crisis مُستَفحِلٌis raging
وَيَكتُبُ وَالخَطبُ مُستَفحِلٌ
فَيَدفَعُso he thrusts فيagainst صَدرِthe breast of ماقَدwhat has already أَهَمcaused distress
فَيَدفَعُ في صَدرِ ماقَد أَهَم
He writes while the crisis is raging,
He writes while turmoil grows severe,
thus thrusting against the breast of whatever has caused distress.
Repelling in the breast of one concerned.
فَياso oh رُبَّmany a حَيَّةِserpent of وادٍa valley رَقىhe charmed
فَيا رُبَّ حَيَّةِ وادٍ رَقى
هُناكَthere وَرُقعَةِand a panel of وَشيٍbrocade رَقَمhe patterned
هُناكَ وَرُقعَةِ وَشيٍ رَقَم
Oh, how many a valley serpent he has charmed
My Lord, the snake of the lofty valley,
there, and a panel of brocade he has patterned!
There, and the page of excellent trace.
فَفيso on وَجهِthe face of مَكرُمَةٍa noble deed غُرَّةٌa white blaze
فَفي وَجهِ مَكرُمَةٍ غُرَّةٌ
تُنيرُshines وَفيand in أَنفِthe nose of مَجدٍglory شَمَمa proud arch
تُنيرُ وَفي أَنفِ مَجدٍ شَمَم
Upon the face of nobility is a white blaze,
In the face of one noble a glow,
shining; and glory's nose has a proud arch.
That gives light, and in the nose of glory a sniff.
وَإِنّاand indeed we إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle تَصَدّىconfronts الصَدىthirst
وَإِنّا إِذا ما تَصَدّى الصَدى
لَنَكرَعُsurely we drink deep فيin ماءِthe water of تِلكَthose الشِيَمvirtues
لَنَكرَعُ في ماءِ تِلكَ الشِيَم
And we, when thirst confronts us,
And we, when glory calls,
surely drink deep from the waters of those virtues.
Will kneel in the water of those morals.
وَنَسريand we travel by night وَقَدwhen already قَرَّgrew cold لَيلُthe night of السُرىnight travel
وَنَسري وَقَد قَرَّ لَيلُ السُرى
فَنَقبَسُso we take light مِنfrom نارِthe fire of ذاكَthat الفَهَمunderstanding
فَنَقبَسُ مِن نارِ ذاكَ الفَهَم
We travel by night, when the traveling night has grown cold,
We will travel as the night of bliss darkened,
taking light from the fire of that understanding.
Kindling from the fire of that wisdom.
وَلَسناand we do not وَآراؤُهُwhile his counsels أَنجُمٌare stars
وَلَسنا وَآراؤُهُ أَنجُمٌ
نَضِلُّlose our way وَغُرَّتُهُwhile his brow بَدرُis a moon تَمfull
نَضِلُّ وَغُرَّتُهُ بَدرُ تَم
We do not, while his counsels are stars,
We are not, while his opinions are stars,
lose our way, while his brow is a full moon.
Misguided, his glow is a full moon.
فَماso whatever شِئتَyou wish مِنof سَيِّدٍa lord أَيِّدٍmighty
فَما شِئتَ مِن سَيِّدٍ أَيِّدٍ
يَصُدُّrepels العِدىthe foes وَيَسُدُّand fills الثُلَمthe breaches
يَصُدُّ العِدى وَيَسُدُّ الثُلَم
Here is all you could wish for in a mighty lord,
You want a peerless, supported master,
who repels foes and fills breaches.
The Arabs pride themselves on taming the non-Arabs.
يَغارُguards honor jealously وَيَمنَعُand protects مِنagainst غارَةٍa raid
يَغارُ وَيَمنَعُ مِن غارَةٍ
فَيَحميso he protects الحَريمَthe sanctuary وَيَرعىand safeguards الحُرَمsacred things
فَيَحمي الحَريمَ وَيَرعى الحُرَم
He guards honor jealously and wards off raids,
Of lofty gifts, protective of presents,
protecting the sanctuary and guarding what is sacred.
Exalted traits, fulfilling promises.
وَيَغشىand visits النَدِيَّthe assembly بِخُلقٍwith a disposition نَدٍdewy; generous
وَيَغشى النَدِيَّ بِخُلقٍ نَدٍ
تَرىyou see الماءَwater يَجريflowing بِهِthrough him مِنfrom عَلَمa mountain
تَرى الماءَ يَجري بِهِ مِن عَلَم
He visits the assembly with a dew-fresh, generous nature:
He makes his morals shine with good tidings,
you see water flowing through him from a mountain.
From his palms the water of generosity flows.
فَهَضبَةُso a mountain of حِلمٍforbearance إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle اِحتَبىhe sits clasping his knees
فَهَضبَةُ حِلمٍ إِذا ما اِحتَبى
وَقِسطاسُand a balance of عَدلٍjustice إِذاwhen ماحَكَمhe judges (emphatic)
وَقِسطاسُ عَدلٍ إِذا ماحَكَم
A mountain of forbearance when he sits clasping his knees,
For the guest his servants bustle about,
and a balance of justice when he judges.
And his confidants hasten to serve.
يَسيرُtravels بِهِwith him الحَقُّtruth سَيرَlike the travel of القَطاsandgrouse
يَسيرُ بِهِ الحَقُّ سَيرَ القَطا
فَيَقضيso he judges وَيَمضيand advances مُضِيَّlike the advance of الخُذُمkeen blades
فَيَقضي وَيَمضي مُضِيَّ الخُذُم
With him, truth travels as sandgrouse do;
Visit him and you visit a lush garden,
he gives judgment and advances as keen blades do.
Alive, you will find the boughs of the lote-tree laden.
يُسَدِّدُsets straight حَتّىeven صُدورَthe tips of القَناthe spears
يُسَدِّدُ حَتّى صُدورَ القَنا
وَيَضرِبُand strikes حَتّىeven رُؤوسَthe heads of البُهَمmighty warriors
وَيَضرِبُ حَتّى رُؤوسَ البُهَم
He sets straight even the tips of spears,
Leave off from an ignorant, straying one,
and strikes even the heads of mighty warriors.
As though you greeted an idol from him.
وَيَهجُرُand forsakes فيfor the sake of اللَهِGod حَتّىeven الكَرىsleep
وَيَهجُرُ في اللَهِ حَتّى الكَرى
وَيَألَفُand cherishes فيfor the sake of اللَهِGod حَتّىeven نَعَمyes; assent
وَيَألَفُ في اللَهِ حَتّى نَعَم
For God's sake, he forsakes even sleep,
The darkness of ignorance is but blindness,
and for God's sake, he cherishes even 'yes.'
While the prophecy of discernment is deafness.
وَحَسبُكَand enough for you مِنof أَوحَدٍa peerless man أَمجَدٍmost glorious
وَحَسبُكَ مِن أَوحَدٍ أَمجَدٍ
تُباهيvie in pride بِهِin him العُربُthe Arabs صيدَthe proud nobles of العَجَمthe non-Arabs
تُباهي بِهِ العُربُ صيدَ العَجَم
Sufficient for you is a peerless, most glorious man,
Man's nobility is none but propriety,
in whom the Arabs boast before the proud nobles of the non-Arabs.
Otherwise where existence is naught.
سَنِيُّsplendid in العَطاياgifts حَفِيُّwarm in التَحاياgreetings
سَنِيُّ العَطايا حَفِيُّ التَحايا
عَلِيُّlofty in السَجاياcharacter وَفِيُّfaithful to الذِمَمpledges
عَلِيُّ السَجايا وَفِيُّ الذِمَم
Splendid in gifts, warm in greetings,
Glory is but to shackle the foe,
lofty in character, faithful to pledges.
To strike injustice and don oppression.
يُنَوِّرُhe brightens بِالبِشرِwith cheerfulness أَخلاقَهُhis manners
يُنَوِّرُ بِالبِشرِ أَخلاقَهُ
وَيَجريand flows بِكَفَّيهِthrough his palms ماءُthe water of الكَرَمgenerosity
وَيَجري بِكَفَّيهِ ماءُ الكَرَم
He brightens his manners with cheerfulness,
To plunge into the hollows and ford the torrents,
and generosity's water flows through his palms.
To cleave the solid and tread the summits.
وَيَهتَزُّand stir eagerly لِلضَيفِfor the guest خُدّامُهُhis servants
وَيَهتَزُّ لِلضَيفِ خُدّامُهُ
وَتُعديand infect سَجاياthe virtues of المَواليmasters الخَدَمthe servants
وَتُعدي سَجايا المَوالي الخَدَم
His servants stir eagerly for the guest,
My enemies and foes suffice that I
and masters' virtues spread to their servants.
Quaffed the banners and dyed the emblems.
فَزُرهُso visit him تَزُرyou will visit رَوضَةًa garden غَضَّةًlush
فَزُرهُ تَزُر رَوضَةً غَضَّةً
وَحَيِّand greet تَجِدyou will find هِزَّةَthe quiver of الغُصنِthe bough ثَمthere
وَحَيِّ تَجِد هِزَّةَ الغُصنِ ثَم
Visit him, and you visit a lush garden;
I disliked the breasts and flanks of the foes,
greet him, and find the quiver of a bough there.
One recoiled and the other collapsed.
وَدَعand leave عَنكَaway from you مِنany جاهِلٍignorant man ذاهِلٍheedless
وَدَع عَنكَ مِن جاهِلٍ ذاهِلٍ
كَأَنَّكَas though you حَيَّيتَhad greeted مِنهُin him صَنَمan idol
كَأَنَّكَ حَيَّيتَ مِنهُ صَنَم
Leave aside the heedless fool,
I came facing the rejection grim,
as though, in him, you had greeted an idol.
I shot the dawn with it so it blazed.
فَماfor not ظُلمَةُthe darkness of الجَهلِignorance إِلّاexcept عَمىًblindness
فَما ظُلمَةُ الجَهلِ إِلّا عَمىً
وَلاand not نَبوَةُthe failure of الفَهمِunderstanding إِلّاexcept صَمَمdeafness
وَلا نَبوَةُ الفَهمِ إِلّا صَمَم
For ignorance's darkness is nothing but blindness,
As though the robe of darkness that draped me,
and understanding's failure is nothing but deafness.
I mended its rift so it was whole.
وَلاand not شَرَفُthe honor of المَرءِa person غَيرُother than النُهىreason
وَلا شَرَفُ المَرءِ غَيرُ النُهى
وَإِلّاand otherwise فَحَيثُthen where الوُجودُexistence العَدَمnonexistence
وَإِلّا فَحَيثُ الوُجودُ العَدَم
A person's honor is nothing other than reason;
By a night I kindled a resolve,
otherwise, where there is existence, there is nothingness.
I lit up the darkness with it so it burned.
وَلاand not العِزُّglory إِلّاexcept اِعتِقالُcouching القَناspears
وَلا العِزُّ إِلّا اِعتِقالُ القَنا
وَضَربُand striking الطُلىnecks وَاِعتِسافُand venturing through الظُلَمdarkness
وَضَربُ الطُلى وَاِعتِسافُ الظُلَم
And glory is nothing but couching spears,
I trampled its bowels chestnut brown,
striking necks and venturing through darkness,
As though I blew in some tinder and it caught flame.
وَجَوبُand crossing الفَجاجِmountain passes وَخَوضُand plunging into الهُياجِbattle
وَجَوبُ الفَجاجِ وَخَوضُ الهُياجِ
وَشَقُّand cleaving العَجاجِdust clouds وَوَطءُand treading القِمَمsummits
وَشَقُّ العَجاجِ وَوَطءُ القِمَم
crossing mountain passes and plunging into battle,
As though the night struggled against me,
cleaving dust clouds and treading summits.
I sparked a blaze in some live coal.
وَحَسبُand enough for الدُمىthe idol-like beauties وَالعِدىand the enemies أَنَّنيthat I
وَحَسبُ الدُمى وَالعِدى أَنَّني
رَشَفتُI sipped اللِمىdark lips وَخَضَبتُand dyed اللِمَمlocks of hair
رَشَفتُ اللِمى وَخَضَبتُ اللِمَم
Enough for the idol-like beauties and the foes that I
My Lord, a night of fulfilled wishes,
sipped dark lips and dyed locks of hair.
Pleasing in refuge, with sweet-smelling games.
وَأَكرَهتُand I strained صَدرَthe fronts of القَناspears وَالظُبىand sword-edges
وَأَكرَهتُ صَدرَ القَنا وَالظُبى
فَهَذاso this تَثَنّىbent وَذاكَand that اِنثَلَمwas notched
فَهَذا تَثَنّى وَذاكَ اِنثَلَم
I strained spearheads and sword-edges,
I revel and without the gleam of dawn,
so this bent and that was notched.
There remains a slumbering, murky haze.
وَأَقبَلتُand I brought forward وَجهَthe face of الرَدىdeath أَدهَماًa black steed
وَأَقبَلتُ وَجهَ الرَدى أَدهَماً
رَمَيتُI struck الصَباحَthe morning بِهِwith it فَاِدلَهَمّso it darkened
رَمَيتُ الصَباحَ بِهِ فَاِدلَهَمّ
I brought a black steed before death's face;
The drink is chilled by the coolness of droplets,
I hurled it at the morning, and the morning darkened.
And the wing of darkness with black emblems.
كَأَنّيas though I وَقَدwhen already رَثَّhad worn out ثَوبُthe garment of الدُجىnight
كَأَنّي وَقَد رَثَّ ثَوبُ الدُجى
رَتَقتُI mended بِهِwith it خَرقَهُits tear فَاِلتَأَمso it knit together
رَتَقتُ بِهِ خَرقَهُ فَاِلتَأَم
As though, when night's garment had worn thin,
The night concealed the secret of passion,
I had mended its tear with it, and it knit together.
What it entrusted to the breeze slumbered.
وَلَيلٍand many a night قَدَحتُI struck a spark of بِهِin it عَزمَةًresolve
وَلَيلٍ قَدَحتُ بِهِ عَزمَةً
قَدَحتُI kindled الظَلامَthe darkness بِهاwith it فَاِضطَرَمso it blazed
قَدَحتُ الظَلامَ بِها فَاِضطَرَم
And many a night in which I struck a spark of resolve,
The dawn's diffuse glow brought to the garden,
I kindled the darkness with it, and it blazed.
Greetings that caress the boughs of peace.
وَأَوطَأتُand I made tread أَحشاءَهُits entrails أَشقَراًa chestnut steed
وَأَوطَأتُ أَحشاءَهُ أَشقَراً
كَأَنّيas though I نَفَختُblew بِهِwith it فيinto ضَرَمa blaze
كَأَنّي نَفَختُ بِهِ في ضَرَم
I made a chestnut steed tread its entrails,
It bore from gratitude to the just judge,
as though, with it, I blew upon a blaze.
Praise it sculpted fragrantly so it slept.
كَأَنّيas though I وَقَدwhen already خَبَطَlurched about اللَيلُthe night بيwith me
كَأَنّي وَقَد خَبَطَ اللَيلُ بي
قَدَحتُI struck بِهِwith it شُعلَةًa flame فيin فَحَمcharcoal
قَدَحتُ بِهِ شُعلَةً في فَحَم
As though, when night lurched about with me,
I tossed and turned, diving for its pearls,
I had struck with it a flame amid charcoal.
As the sea of darkness surged and roiled.
وَياand oh رُبَّmany a لَيلٍnight جَنِيِّripe with المُنىwishes
وَيا رُبَّ لَيلٍ جَنِيِّ المُنى
شَهِيِّdelicious in اللَمىdark lips مُستَطابِdelightful in اللَمَمlocks of hair
شَهِيِّ اللَمى مُستَطابِ اللَمَم
And oh, how many a night ripe with wishes,
The night stood perplexed, not guided,
with delectable dark lips and lovely locks!
So steps to the Pleiades could not tread.
لَهَوتُI reveled وَدونَand before اِلتِماحِa glimpse of الصَباحِdawn
لَهَوتُ وَدونَ اِلتِماحِ الصَباحِ
ظَلامٌdarkness سَجاgrew still وَغَمامٌand clouds سَجَمpoured rain
ظَلامٌ سَجا وَغَمامٌ سَجَم
I reveled, while between me and a glimpse of dawn
It gloomed till it sobbed heavily,
lay settled darkness and rain-pouring clouds.
And flashed till it bled in profusion.
يُمَدُّis replenished الشَرابُthe wine بِبَردِwith the coolness of الرُضابِthe nectar of lips
يُمَدُّ الشَرابُ بِبَردِ الرُضابِ
وَجِنحُand the wing of الظَلامِdarkness بِسودِwith the black اللِمَمlocks of hair
وَجِنحُ الظَلامِ بِسودِ اللِمَم
The wine was replenished with the cool nectar of lips,
When I crooned it thrilled,
and the wing of darkness with black locks of hair.
Hearing what I composed for you, so it smiled.
وَقَدand already كَتَمَconcealed اللَيلُthe night سِرُّthe secret of الهَوىlove
وَقَد كَتَمَ اللَيلُ سِرُّ الهَوى
وَنَمَّتand betrayed بِماabout what اِستَودَعَتهُthey had entrusted to it النَسمthe breezes
وَنَمَّت بِما اِستَودَعَتهُ النَسم
Night had concealed love's secret,
My sun of joy, when it is proud,
and the breezes betrayed what they had entrusted to it.
My planet of intent, when it is resolute.
وَأَهدىand brought إِلىto الرَوضِthe garden نَشرُthe fragrance of الصَباthe east wind
وَأَهدى إِلى الرَوضِ نَشرُ الصَبا
سَلاماًa greeting يَلُفُّenveloping فُروعَthe branches of السَلَمacacias
سَلاماً يَلُفُّ فُروعَ السَلَم
The east wind's fragrance brought to the garden
It refused for your glory to be slighted,
a greeting enveloping the branches of the acacias.
And your nature to be blamed.
تَحَمَّلَit bore مِنfrom شُكرِgratitude to قاضيthe judge of القُضاةِjudges
تَحَمَّلَ مِن شُكرِ قاضي القُضاةِ
ثَناءًpraise تَجَسَّمَbecame embodied طيباًas perfume فَنَمthen made itself known
ثَناءً تَجَسَّمَ طيباً فَنَم
It bore, in gratitude to the Chief Judge,
I, by your glory am not pleased,
praise embodied in perfume, which made itself known.
Except your glory, proud through one who apportioned.
أَرِقتُI lay awake أَغوصُdiving عَلىfor دُرِّهِits pearls
أَرِقتُ أَغوصُ عَلى دُرِّهِ
وَقَدwhile already ماجَsurged بَحرُthe sea of الدُجىnight وَاِلتَطَمand its waves clashed
وَقَد ماجَ بَحرُ الدُجى وَاِلتَطَم
I lay awake, diving for its pearls,
while night's sea surged and its waves clashed.
وَقَدwhile already وَقَفَstood still اللَيلُthe night لاnot يَهتَديfinding its way
وَقَد وَقَفَ اللَيلُ لا يَهتَدي
فَتَخطوso steps onward بِهِwith it لِلثُرَيّاbelonging to the Pleiades قَدَمa foot
فَتَخطو بِهِ لِلثُرَيّا قَدَم
Night stood still, unable to find its way,
so a foot of the Pleiades stepped it onward.
وَغامَand grew cloudy فَأَجهَشَthen burst into sobs حَتّىuntil بَكىit wept
وَغامَ فَأَجهَشَ حَتّى بَكى
سُحَيراًjust before dawn وَأَبرَقَand flashed lightning حَتّىuntil اِلتَدَمbeat itself in mourning
سُحَيراً وَأَبرَقَ حَتّى اِلتَدَم
It clouded over and sobbed until it wept
just before dawn, and flashed until it beat its cheeks.
وَلَمّاand when تَرَنَّمتُI sang melodiously أَطرَبتُهُI delighted it
وَلَمّا تَرَنَّمتُ أَطرَبتُهُ
بِماwith what صُغتُI fashioned أُطريكُمُI praise you all فَاِبتَسَمso it smiled
بِما صُغتُ أُطريكُمُ فَاِبتَسَم
When I sang, I filled it with delight
with what I fashioned in your praise, and it smiled.
فَياso O شَمسَsun of سَعدٍgood fortune إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle اِعتَزىhe proclaims his lineage
فَيا شَمسَ سَعدٍ إِذا ما اِعتَزى
وَكَوكَبَand a star of رَجمٍstoning إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle اِعتَزَمhe resolves
وَكَوكَبَ رَجمٍ إِذا ما اِعتَزَم
So, O sun of good fortune when you proclaim your lineage,
and stone-hurling star when you set your resolve!
أَبىrefused طَودُthe mountain of عِزِّكَyour might مِنfrom أَنto يُضامَbe wronged
أَبى طَودُ عِزِّكَ مِن أَن يُضامَ
وَأَبطَحُand the broad valley of خُلقِكَyour character مِنfrom أَنto يُذَمbe censured
وَأَبطَحُ خُلقِكَ مِن أَن يُذَم
The mountain of your might refuses to be wronged,
and the broad valley of your character refuses to be censured.
وَإِنّيand indeed I وَمَجدِكَby your glory ماnot راقَنيpleased me
وَإِنّي وَمَجدِكَ ما راقَني
كَمَجدِكَlike your glory أَعزِزhow mighty! بِهِthrough it مَنwhoever قاسَمshared it
كَمَجدِكَ أَعزِز بِهِ مَن قاسَم
And I swear by your glory: nothing has delighted me
like your glory—how mighty through it is whoever shares it!
Partial English translation: 102 of 116 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1