تَنَفَّسَbreathed forth الرَّوْضُthe garden عَنْrevealing نُوَّارِهِits blossoms الأَرِجِfragrant
تَنَفَّسَ الرَّوْضُ عَنْ نُوَّارِهِ الأَرِجِ
وَأَسْفَرَand unveiled الصُّبْحُthe dawn عَنْrevealing لأْلاَئِهِits radiance البَهجِdelightful
وَأَسْفَرَ الصُّبْحُ عَنْ لأْلاَئِهِ البَهجِ
The garden breathed forth its fragrant blossoms,
The garden breathed out its bright lights,
and dawn unveiled its delightful radiance.
And dawn unveiled its radiant pearls.
بُشْرىglad tidings بِأَيْمَنِof the most auspicious مَوْلُودٍnewborn لِغُرَّتِهِat his radiant brow
بُشْرى بِأَيْمَنِ مَوْلُودٍ لِغُرَّتِهِ
هَزَّتْswayed يَدُthe hand الدَّهْرِof Time مِنَّاamong us عِطْفَthe side مُبْتَهجa rejoicing person
هَزَّتْ يَدُ الدَّهْرِ مِنَّا عِطْفَ مُبْتَهج
Glad tidings of the most auspicious newborn, at whose radiant brow
Good tidings of a blessed newborn,
the hand of Time made us sway with joy.
Whose charm made fate extend a joyous hand.
وافَتْarrived بهwith him لَيْلَةَon the night of الاثْنَيْنِMonday مُخْبِرَةًannouncing
وافَتْ به لَيْلَةَ الاثْنَيْنِ مُخْبِرَةً
بِاثْنَيْنِof two جاءَhas come كَرِيمٌa noble one مِنْهُمَاof the two وَيَجِيand will come
بِاثْنَيْنِ جاءَ كَرِيمٌ مِنْهُمَا وَيَجِي
They came with him on Monday night, announcing
Monday night brought the news,
two: one noble soul has come, and another is to come.
Of two honorable ones, one of whom arrived.
لَمْnot يَنْظُرgazed المَجْدُGlory مِنْfrom عَلْيَاهُits heights عَنْrevealing حَوَرٍeyes of contrasting white and black
لَمْ يَنْظُر المَجْدُ مِنْ عَلْيَاهُ عَنْ حَوَرٍ
حَتَّىuntil تَبَسَّمَit smiled مِنْat مَرْآهُthe sight of him عَنْrevealing فَلَجgaps between the teeth
حَتَّى تَبَسَّمَ مِنْ مَرْآهُ عَنْ فَلَج
Glory had scarcely gazed from its heights with lovely dark eyes
Glory never looked down from its heights,
when, at his sight, it smiled, revealing finely spaced teeth.
Until it smiled at its reflection in the water.
هِلاَلٌa crescent moon سَعْدٍgood fortune يُجَلِّيdispels كُلَّevery دَاجِيَةٍdark night
هِلاَلٌ سَعْدٍ يُجَلِّي كُلَّ دَاجِيَةٍ
ظَلاَمُهاits darkness لَيْسَis not يُمْشَىwalked through فِيهin it بِالسُّرُجwith lamps
ظَلاَمُها لَيْسَ يُمْشَى فِيه بِالسُّرُج
A crescent of good fortune, dispelling every dark night
A crescent of fortune dispelling all gloom -
whose darkness cannot be crossed even with lamps.
Its darkness cannot be traversed with lamps.
ونُطْفَةٌand a drop of seed مِنْfrom صَمِيمِthe very heart الْفَخْرِof glory ماnot بَرَحَتْceased
ونُطْفَةٌ مِنْ صَمِيمِ الْفَخْرِ ما بَرَحَتْ
تَجُولُpasses مِنْfrom مَشَجٍmingled seed زَاكٍpure إلَىto مَشَجِmingled seed
تَجُولُ مِنْ مَشَجٍ زَاكٍ إلَى مَشَجِ
And a drop of seed from the very heart of glory, never ceasing
An essence of pure nobility never ceased
to pass from one pure mingling to another.
Roaming from glorious origin to origin.
تَفَرَّعَتْit branched بَيْنَbetween أَصْلَيْtwo roots سُؤْدُدٍnobility وَعُلاًand exalted rank
تَفَرَّعَتْ بَيْنَ أَصْلَيْ سُؤْدُدٍ وَعُلاً
تَقَاسَمَاthe two shared طَيِّبَsweetness الأَثْمَارِof the fruits وَالأَرَجand fragrance
تَقَاسَمَا طَيِّبَ الأَثْمَارِ وَالأَرَج
It branched between two roots of nobility and exalted rank,
Branching between two roots of glory and might,
both sharing the sweetness of fruit and fragrance.
Sharing the good fruits and meadows between them.
أَبٌa father وَخَالٌand a maternal uncle أَبَانَاthe two revealed مِنْof رِئَاسَتِهhis leadership
أَبٌ وَخَالٌ أَبَانَا مِنْ رِئَاسَتِه
ماwhat أَحْرَزاthe two secured عَنْfrom خُلَيْفٍKhulayf أَوْor أَبِيAbu (father of) الْفَرَجِal-Faraj
ما أَحْرَزا عَنْ خُلَيْفٍ أَوْ أَبِي الْفَرَجِ
A father and a maternal uncle revealed, in his eminence,
A father and uncle who proved their leadership,
what they had gained from Khulayf or Abu al-Faraj.
Never attaining it through an heir or crown prince.
مَنَاسِبٌlineages كَاطِّرَادِlike the continuous flow الْمَاءِof water ماnot انْبَعَثَتْthey surged forth
مَنَاسِبٌ كَاطِّرَادِ الْمَاءِ ما انْبَعَثَتْ
إلاَّexcept رَأَيْتَyou saw بِحَارَthe seas الأَرْضِof the earth كَالْخُلُجlike channels
إلاَّ رَأَيْتَ بِحَارَ الأَرْضِ كَالْخُلُج
Lineages like the onward flow of water—no sooner do they surge
Continuous like flowing water, nothing emerged
than you see the seas of earth as mere channels.
Except you'd see earth's seas swirling.
تَرَفَّعَتْrose high بِبَنِيthrough the sons of سَعْدٍSa'd ذُرَىthe summits شَرَفٍof honor
تَرَفَّعَتْ بِبَنِي سَعْدٍ ذُرَى شَرَفٍ
كماjust as سَمَتْsoared بِنَدِيٍّthrough Nadi غايَةَthe utmost height الدَّرَجِof the ranks
كما سَمَتْ بِنَدِيٍّ غايَةَ الدَّرَجِ
The summits of honor rose through Banu Sa'd,
The heights of glory rose with Sa'd's sons,
as through Nadi they soared to the highest rank.
As stars reached the farthest zenith.
مَفَاخِرٌglories قَدْindeed خُصِصْتُمْyou were singled out ياO جُذَامُJudham بِِهاwith them
مَفَاخِرٌ قَدْ خُصِصْتُمْ يا جُذَامُ بِِها
فَخَاصِمُواso contend وثِقُواand be confident بِالفَلْجِof victory فيin الْحُجَجِthe arguments
فَخَاصِمُوا وثِقُوا بِالفَلْجِ في الْحُجَجِ
Glories with which you, O Judham, have been uniquely favored:
You are honored, O Judham, with such glories -
so contend, confident of victory in your arguments.
So dispute and rely on eloquence in your disputes.
ماnot زِلْتُمُyou ceased بِمَنَارِby the beacon اليُمْنِof good fortune مِنْfrom يَمَنٍYemen
ما زِلْتُمُ بِمَنَارِ اليُمْنِ مِنْ يَمَنٍ
حَتَّىuntil تَقَوَّمَit stood upright منfrom مَيْلٍtilting وَمِنْand from عِوَجِcrookedness
حَتَّى تَقَوَّمَ من مَيْلٍ وَمِنْ عِوَجِ
You never ceased upholding the beacon of good fortune from Yemen
You never strayed from Yemen's minaret,
until it stood upright, free of tilt and crookedness.
Until all crookedness and leaning was corrected.
كَمْhow many مَسْلَكٍa path بِكُمُthrough you قَدْindeed عادَbecame مُتَّسِعاًbroad
كَمْ مَسْلَكٍ بِكُمُ قَدْ عادَ مُتَّسِعاً
وكانَand it was مِنْfrom قَبْلُbefore ذاpossessed of ضِيقٍnarrowness وَذَاand possessed of حَرَجِconstriction
وكانَ مِنْ قَبْلُ ذا ضِيقٍ وَذَا حَرَجِ
How many a path has become broad through you,
Through you many a path was widened,
though before it was narrow and constricted!
Which before was narrow and constricted.
وقاصِدٍand a seeker قَدْindeed تَلَقَّىgreeted السَّيْرَthe journey نَحْوَكُمُtoward you
وقاصِدٍ قَدْ تَلَقَّى السَّيْرَ نَحْوَكُمُ
بِحَمْدِwith praise مُبْتَكِرٍone setting out at dawn مِنْهُof it ومُدَّلِجِand one traveling by night
بِحَمْدِ مُبْتَكِرٍ مِنْهُ ومُدَّلِجِ
And how many a seeker has greeted the journey toward you
With praise a traveller came seeking you,
with praise for its dawn departures and night travel.
Glorifying at dawn and darkening at dusk.
وَبَحْرِand a sea of حَرْبٍwar قَطَعْتُمْyou crossed لُجَّthe depths زاخِرِهits surging waters
وَبَحْرِ حَرْبٍ قَطَعْتُمْ لُجَّ زاخِرِه
بأَنْصُلٍwith blades لُجِّجَتْwere plunged deep فيin الخَوْضِwading فيinto اللُّجَجِthe deep waters
بأَنْصُلٍ لُجِّجَتْ في الخَوْضِ في اللُّجَجِ
And how many a sea of war whose surging depths you crossed
You crossed the turbulent sea of war,
with blades plunged deep as you waded through its waters,
With swords plunging into the depths amidst the waves.
بمَعْرَكon a battlefield لاnot تَرَىsee منهof it العيونُthe eyes سِوَىexcept
بمَعْرَك لا تَرَى منه العيونُ سِوَى
شُهْبٍmeteors مِنَfrom السَّيْرِmovement فيin ليلٍa night منَof الرَّهَجِbattle-dust
شُهْبٍ مِنَ السَّيْرِ في ليلٍ منَ الرَّهَجِ
on a battlefield where the eyes see nothing
A battle in which eyes see only
but meteors speeding through a night of battle-dust,
Meteors of cavalry in a dark night of clamour.
حيثُwhere الدِّماءُblood عُقارٌwine يُسْتَحَثُّis eagerly quaffed علىto
حيثُ الدِّماءُ عُقارٌ يُسْتَحَثُّ على
ماwhatever شِئْتَyou wish منof زَجَلٍclamor للخَيْلِof the horses أَوor هَزَجِrhythmic song
ما شِئْتَ من زَجَلٍ للخَيْلِ أَو هَزَجِ
where blood is wine, eagerly quaffed to
Where blood is an elixir to incite
whatever clamor of horses or rhythmic song you wish.
Any warhorse or steed to zeal and agitation.
والهامُand the heads قدindeed أَوْسَعَتْهَاlavished upon them البِيضُthe bright swords عَرْبَدَةًdrunken brawling
والهامُ قد أَوْسَعَتْهَا البِيضُ عَرْبَدَةً
لمَّاwhen أّدارَتْthey passed around عليهاto them خَمْرَةَthe wine المُهَجof lifeblood
لمَّا أّدارَتْ عليها خَمْرَةَ المُهَج
And the bright swords lavished drunken brawling upon the heads
And dreams expand the egg to be an ostrich,
when they passed round to them the wine of lifeblood,
When the wine of passion whips it into fervor.
منfrom كُلِّevery ذيbearing جَوْهَرٍdamascened luster ماnot زالَceased مُنْتَظِماًthreading through
من كُلِّ ذي جَوْهَرٍ ما زالَ مُنْتَظِماً
لِلْقِرْنِagainst the opponent فيin لَبَّةٍthe upper chest منهof him وفيand in وَدَجِa jugular vein
لِلْقِرْنِ في لَبَّةٍ منه وفي وَدَجِ
from every damascened blade, ever threading
Every being of value proceeded in order,
through an opponent's upper chest and jugular,
In rings of mane and locks of hair.
وكلِّand every مُنْعَطِفٍcurved blade كالنَّهْرِlike a river مُطَّرِداًflowing onward
وكلِّ مُنْعَطِفٍ كالنَّهْرِ مُطَّرِداً
بَيْنَbetween الأَباطِحِgravelly flats فيthrough أَثْنَاءِthe bends مُنْعَرَجa winding course
بَيْنَ الأَباطِحِ في أَثْنَاءِ مُنْعَرَج
and every curved blade, flowing like a river
And every winding turn like a river,
between gravelly flats, through the bends of its course,
Flowing between dunes amidst the bends.
فيin كَفِّthe hand كُلِّevery كَمِيٍّarmored warrior ماnot بَصَرْتَyou beheld بهhim
في كَفِّ كُلِّ كَمِيٍّ ما بَصَرْتَ به
إلاَّexcept تَنَزَّهْتَyou took delight فيin عَقْلٍreason وفيand in هَوَجَreckless fury
إلاَّ تَنَزَّهْتَ في عَقْلٍ وفي هَوَجَ
in the hand of every armored warrior, whom you never behold
In the palm of every protector what you saw
without delighting in his reason and his wild fury.
Would delight your mind and impassion you.
أَولئكthose men الرّايةُthe banner العَلْياءُlofty منfrom يَمَنٍYemen
أَولئك الرّايةُ العَلْياءُ من يَمَنٍ
فاركنْso take refuge إلىin ظِلِّهاits shade تَأْمَنْyou will be safe مِنَfrom الوَهَجِscorching heat
فاركنْ إلى ظِلِّها تَأْمَنْ مِنَ الوَهَجِ
Those men are the lofty banner of Yemen:
They are the lofty standard of Yemen,
so seek refuge in its shade and be safe from the scorching heat.
So seek shade in its shadow and safety from heat.
وَرَدْتَyou reached منهاfrom it بِبَحْرٍupon a sea إنْif تَهُبَّblows بهover it
وَرَدْتَ منها بِبَحْرٍ إنْ تَهُبَّ به
رِيحُthe wind السؤالِof petition علىdespite عِلاَّتِهاits shortcomings يَهجِit surges
رِيحُ السؤالِ على عِلاَّتِها يَهجِ
Through it you have reached a sea: if over it blows
And you will gain from it a sea, if
the wind of petition, whatever its shortcomings, it surges,
The winds of questioning blow harshly upon it.
جَمِّabundant in العوارِفِbenefactions طامٍoverflowing غيرnot مُحْتَبِسٍheld back
جَمِّ العوارِفِ طامٍ غير مُحْتَبِسٍ
عَذْبِsweet المَشَارِبِdrinking places صافٍclear غَيْرِnot مُمْتَزِجِmixed
عَذْبِ المَشَارِبِ صافٍ غَيْرِ مُمْتَزِجِ
rich in benefactions, overflowing, unrestrained,
Pure drinking waters, clear and unmixed -
sweet to drink, clear and unmixed;
Gathering of rare virtues not to be contained.
وساكنِand tranquil of الجَأْشِheart ماnot يَنْفَكُceases عزمتهhis resolve
وساكنِ الجَأْشِ ما يَنْفَكُ عزمته
يلقيfaces الخُطوبَcalamities بلاwithout طَيْشٍrecklessness ولاnor زَعَجِalarm
يلقي الخُطوبَ بلا طَيْشٍ ولا زَعَجِ
and a man of tranquil heart, whose resolve never ceases
Whose resolve in peril does not waver,
to meet calamities without recklessness or alarm.
Meeting misfortunes without panic or alarm.
اِهْنَأْrejoice أَباAbu (father of) الحَسَنal-Hasan السّاميthe exalted بخيرin the best فَتًىyoung son
اِهْنَأْ أَبا الحَسَن السّامي بخير فَتًى
مُحَسَّنٍMuhassan لمnot يَدَعْhe left منof مَنْظَرٍappearance بَهَجَbeauty
مُحَسَّنٍ لم يَدَعْ من مَنْظَرٍ بَهَجَ
Rejoice, exalted Abu al-Hasan, in the finest young son,
Congratulate Abu Al-Hassan the Sublime, a fine youth
Muhassan, who has left no beauty of form unclaimed.
Who left no pleasing spectacle without beautifying.
يُكْنَىis styled أَباAbu (father of) الفَضْلِal-Fadl وَهْوَand he is الفَضْلُexcellence أَجْمَعُهُall of it
يُكْنَى أَبا الفَضْلِ وَهْوَ الفَضْلُ أَجْمَعُهُ
وتِلْكَand that بُشْرَىglad tidings بهاwith it الأَيَّامthe days فيin لَهَجِeager repetition
وتِلْكَ بُشْرَى بها الأَيَّام في لَهَجِ
He is called Abu al-Fadl, and he is excellence entire;
Nicknamed Abu Al-Fadl, and he is all virtue embodied,
and those are glad tidings the days eagerly repeat.
Good tidings the days murmur of.
ماnot زلْتَyou ceased فيin المجدِglory والعلياءِand exalted rank منفَرِداًalone
ما زلْتَ في المجدِ والعلياءِ منفَرِداً
حتىuntil كُسيتَyou were clothed بهthrough him أَوصافَthe qualities مُزْدَوَجِone of a pair
حتى كُسيتَ به أَوصافَ مُزْدَوَجِ
You have ever stood alone in glory and exalted rank,
You remained unmatched in glory and nobility
until through him you were clothed in the qualities of a pair.
Until you were clothed in dual attributes.
فاسْحَبْso trail علىover النجمِthe stars ذَيْلَthe trailing hem التِّيهِof pride مفتخراًglorying
فاسْحَبْ على النجمِ ذَيْلَ التِّيهِ مفتخراً
فَأَنتَfor you بالتِّيهِof pride والفخرِand glory القديمِancient حَجِare worthy
فَأَنتَ بالتِّيهِ والفخرِ القديمِ حَجِ
So draw pride's trailing hem across the stars, exulting:
So trail the hem of your cloak upon the stars proudly,
for you are worthy of pride and ancient glory.
For you are of old prestige and pride.
بَقِيتُماmay you both endure كوثَرَيْtwo Kawthar rivers عُرُفٍkindness ومَعْرِفَةٍand knowledge
بَقِيتُما كوثَرَيْ عُرُفٍ ومَعْرِفَةٍ
وَجَنَّتَيْand two gardens فَرَحٍof joy للناسfor people أَوor فَرَجِrelief
وَجَنَّتَيْ فَرَحٍ للناس أَو فَرَجِ
May you both endure as two Kawthar rivers of kindness and knowledge,
You remain like two meadows of nobility and knowledge,
and two gardens of joy or relief for humankind.
And gardens of joy for people, or relief.
Sol 6.1