نَزَلُواthey alighted فادَّعَوْاthen challenged نزَالِto battle! نَزالِto battle!
نَزَلُوا فادَّعَوْا نزَالِ نَزالِ
بَعْدَafter مَيْلِيmy turning away عنfrom حَرْبِهِمْfighting them واعتزاليand my withdrawal
بَعْدَ مَيْلِي عن حَرْبِهِمْ واعتزالي
They alighted and challenged: “To battle! To battle!”
They dismounted and called for a halt, a halt,
after I had turned away from fighting them and withdrawn.
After my withdrawal from their war and withdrawal.
وأَقامواand they set حِيالَopposite قلبِيَmy heart عَيْناًan eye
وأَقاموا حِيالَ قلبِيَ عَيْناً
أَلْقَحَتْmade fertile حَرْبَthe war of حُبِّهِمْlove for them عنafter حِيالِbarrenness
أَلْقَحَتْ حَرْبَ حُبِّهِمْ عن حِيالِ
And they set before my heart an eye
And they positioned opposite my heart an eye
that made the war of loving them fertile after barrenness.
That kindled the war of their love over the hillocks.
قرِّباbring near, you two مَرْبِطَthe tethering-place of الصَّبابَةِpassionate longing منِّيto me
قرِّبا مَرْبِطَ الصَّبابَةِ منِّي
شابَgrew gray رُشْدِيmy good sense بهمthrough them وشَبَّand grew young ضلاليmy folly
شابَ رُشْدِي بهم وشَبَّ ضلالي
You two, bring passion’s tethering-post close to me:
Bring near the tethering place of youth to me,
my good sense grew gray through them, while my folly grew young.
My maturity was imbued by them and my misguidance became immature.
لاmay I not لقيتُmeet العيونَthe eyes منof حَلَقِthe mail-rings of الشَّيْgray hair (first part)
لا لقيتُ العيونَ من حَلَقِ الشَّيْ
بِgray hair (completion) بدرعٍin armor وإِنand even if رَمَتْthey shoot بِنِبالِwith arrows
بِ بدرعٍ وإِن رَمَتْ بِنِبالِ
May I never face those eyes in chain mail of gray
Had I not met the eyes from the throng of the night
hair, even if they shoot arrows.
With a coat of mail even if it aimed with arrows.
فامسحاso wipe, you two عارِضِيmy cheek فَلَيْسَfor it is not قتيراًgray speckling
فامسحا عارِضِي فَلَيْسَ قتيراً
ماwhat بداappeared فيهon it منof غُبارِthe dust of اللياليnights
ما بدا فيه من غُبارِ الليالي
Wipe my cheek, you two: it is not gray hair,
So wipe my cheek for it is not sullied
what has appeared there of the dust of nights.
By what appeared on it from the dust of nights.
كَلَفِيmy infatuation بالهلالِwith the crescent عَوَّضَcompensated رأْسيmy head
كَلَفِي بالهلالِ عَوَّضَ رأْسي
عنهfor it منfrom كلevery شَعْرَةٍhair بِهلالِwith a crescent
عنه من كل شَعْرَةٍ بِهلالِ
My passion for the crescent has compensated my head
Like the new moon compensated my head
for it with a crescent from every hair.
For it with every hair by a new moon.
ياO خَلِيلِيmy friend سائِلْask صُروفَthe vicissitudes of اللياليnights
يا خَلِيلِي سائِلْ صُروفَ الليالي
هلwhether خِلالاًa toothpick نَحَتْنَهُthey carved it منfrom خِلالِa toothpick
هل خِلالاً نَحَتْنَهُ من خِلالِ
O my friend, ask the vicissitudes of nights
O my friend ask the turns of nights
whether they whittled a toothpick out of a toothpick.
Whether serene moments carved out of serene moments.
صَقَلَتْنِيpolished me الخطوبُadversities والسيفُand the sword يَخْفَىis concealed
صَقَلَتْنِي الخطوبُ والسيفُ يَخْفَى
عَيْبُهُits flaw فيin صَدَاهُits rust قَبْلَbefore الصِّقالِpolishing
عَيْبُهُ في صَدَاهُ قَبْلَ الصِّقالِ
Adversities have polished me; a sword’s
Hardships and sword polished me and its flaw is hidden
flaw is concealed in its rust before polishing.
In its resonance before polishing.
ظَهْرُthe back of ذاتِone possessing الحُجولِwhite fetlock markings إِنْif طُلِبَis sought المجglory (first part)
ظَهْرُ ذاتِ الحُجولِ إِنْ طُلِبَ المج
دُglory (completion) وإِلاand otherwise فَبَطْنُthen the belly of ذاتِone possessing الحِجالِbridal curtains
دُ وإِلا فَبَطْنُ ذاتِ الحِجالِ
A white-stockinged mare’s back, if one seeks
The back of she-camels, if a race is wanted
glory; otherwise, a curtained bride’s belly.
Otherwise the belly of she-camels with burdens.
والمعالِيand high stations مثلُlike الرماحِspears ففيهاso within them
والمعالِي مثلُ الرماحِ ففيها
رُتَبٌranks منfrom سَوَافلٍlower parts وعَوالِand upper parts
رُتَبٌ من سَوَافلٍ وعَوالِ
High stations are like spears: within them
And high goals are like spears so in them
are ranks, from the low to the high.
Are ranks from lowlands and highlands.
إِنif تَأَخَّرْتَyou fall behind فالمُحَرَّمُthen Muharram عُطْلٌis unadorned
إِن تَأَخَّرْتَ فالمُحَرَّمُ عُطْلٌ
منof حِلَىthe ornaments of العيدEid وَهْوَand it is فيin شَوَّالِShawwal
من حِلَى العيد وَهْوَ في شَوَّالِ
If you fall behind, Muharram is bare
If you are late then the sacred month is leisure
of Eid’s adornments, though Eid falls in Shawwal.
From the adornments of Eid while it is in Shawwal.
عَزَّwas exalted سَفْحٌa foothill بهon it الأُسودُlions وذَلَّتْand was humbled
عَزَّ سَفْحٌ به الأُسودُ وذَلَّتْ
قُنَّةٌa summit ماnot بهاon it سِوَىexcept الأَوْعَالِibex
قُنَّةٌ ما بها سِوَى الأَوْعَالِ
A foothill with lions is exalted, while humbled is
A plain which lions made great and
a peak that holds nothing but ibex.
A meadow that has nothing but grass.
أَيْنَwhere أَمثالُthe equals of ماwhat أَقولُI say ولَفْظِيand my wording
أَيْنَ أَمثالُ ما أَقولُ ولَفْظِي
باتَhas come to يقتادُlead شارِدَthe straying الأَمْثَالِproverbs
باتَ يقتادُ شارِدَ الأَمْثَالِ
Where are the equals of what I say? My wording
Where are the likes of what I say and my utterance
has come to lead the straying proverbs.
Took to leading the stumblers of proverbs?
صُحْبَةُcompanionship with الدهرِtime وَهْوَand it is مشتهرُnotorious for النقdeficiency (first part)
صُحْبَةُ الدهرِ وَهْوَ مشتهرُ النق
صِdeficiency (completion) هَدَتْنِيguided me إِلىto خَفِيِّhidden الكمالperfection
صِ هَدَتْنِي إِلى خَفِيِّ الكمال
Keeping company with time, notorious for its
The company of time, and it is notorious for backbiting,
imperfection, guided me to hidden perfection.
Guided me to the hidden of perfection.
فاعْتَضِدْso seek strength بالرِّفيقِwith a companion فيin مُشْكِلِa difficult الأَمmatter (first part)
فاعْتَضِدْ بالرِّفيقِ في مُشْكِلِ الأَم
رِmatter (completion) وإِنand even if لمnot يَكُنْhe is منamong الأَشْكَالِthose of your kind
رِ وإِن لم يَكُنْ من الأَشْكَالِ
So find strength in a companion in a difficult
So seek support from a kind friend in the problem of affairs
matter, even if he is not of your kind.
Even if he is not from forms.
جُعِلَwas assigned القَرْعُstriking لِلْيَمِينto the right hand فإِنْthen if جاcomes (first part)
جُعِلَ القَرْعُ لِلْيَمِين فإِنْ جا
ءَcomes (completion) جوابٌan answer فالرَّدُّthen the parry حَدُّthe edge of الشِّمالِthe left hand
ءَ جوابٌ فالرَّدُّ حَدُّ الشِّمالِ
Striking is assigned to the right hand; if there comes
The knocking was made for the right so if an answer comes
an answering blow, the parry is the left hand’s edge.
Then the return is the limit of the left.
أَناI مالِيwhat concern have I وللبخيلand with the miser وعندِيand I have
أَنا مالِي وللبخيل وعندِي
فِكْرَةٌa thought قدindeed جَعَلْتُهاI made it رَأْسَthe capital of ماليmy wealth
فِكْرَةٌ قد جَعَلْتُها رَأْسَ مالي
What have I to do with the miser, when I have
I have what I have, and for the stingy one, and I have
a thought that I have made my capital?
A thought that I made the capital of my wealth.
إِنْif ثَنَتْbends خَلَّةٌneed إِليهtoward him يَمِينيmy right hand
إِنْ ثَنَتْ خَلَّةٌ إِليه يَمِيني
فبعضبٍthen with a keen sword تَبْرِيهِit whittles him بَرْيَthe whittling of الخِلالِa toothpick
فبعضبٍ تَبْرِيهِ بَرْيَ الخِلالِ
If need bends my right hand toward him,
If a flaw inclined to it, I would rebuke it
then with a keen sword it whittles him like a toothpick.
With a rebuke that heals the flaws.
شَرفِيmy honor جاوَزَsurpassed الغِنَىwealth ومنand among العاrain clouds (first part)
شَرفِي جاوَزَ الغِنَى ومن العا
رِضِrain clouds (completion) ماthat which انْحَطَّsank عنbelow رءُوسِthe summits of الجِبالِmountains
رِضِ ما انْحَطَّ عن رءُوسِ الجِبالِ
My honor has surpassed wealth; among the rain
My honor surpassed wealth and from the prominent
clouds are those that lie below the mountaintops.
Nothing descended from the heads of mountains.
ونُحولىand my slenderness أَجْدَىmore beneficial عَلَيَّto me ولولاand were it not for
ونُحولى أَجْدَى عَلَيَّ ولولا
دِقَّةُthe fineness of السِّلْكِthe thread لمnot يَفُزْwin بِاللآليthe pearls
دِقَّةُ السِّلْكِ لم يَفُزْ بِاللآلي
My slenderness has profited me more; were it not for
And my distinguished deeds are more useful to me
the thread’s fineness, it would never win the pearls.
And were it not for the fineness of the thread, the gleaming would not win.
كيفhow لاnot أُسْرِعُI hasten التَّنَقُّلَtraveling والمشand the renowned (first part)
كيف لا أُسْرِعُ التَّنَقُّلَ والمش
هورُrenowned (completion) للبدرِof the full moon سُرْعَةُswiftness of الإِنْتِقَالِpassage
هورُ للبدرِ سُرْعَةُ الإِنْتِقَالِ
How should I not hasten my travels, when it is known
How can I not hasten moving and the famous
that the full moon is swift in its passage?
Has the speed of transition for the full moon?
إِنْif تَرَيْنِيyou see me علىat الثلاثينَthirty أَرْقَىI ascend
إِنْ تَرَيْنِي على الثلاثينَ أَرْقَى
منfrom حضيضِthe lowlands of الصِّبَاyouth إِلىto الاكْتِهَالِmature age
من حضيضِ الصِّبَا إِلى الاكْتِهَالِ
If you see me, at thirty, ascending
If you see me at thirty rising
from youth’s lowlands to mature age,
From the lowliness of youth to maturity.
فَلَقَدْfor indeed كنتI was فيamong الشيوخِelders زماناًfor a time
فَلَقَدْ كنت في الشيوخِ زماناً
كنتُI was فيin عَصْرِهِits era منamong الأَطْفَالِchildren
كنتُ في عَصْرِهِ من الأَطْفَالِ
I was indeed among the elders in a time
For I was among the old for a time
when I was one of the children.
I was among their time from the children.
لاdo not تَغُرَّنَّكَlet deceive you اللِّحَىbeards منof أُنَاسٍpeople
لا تَغُرَّنَّكَ اللِّحَى من أُنَاسٍ
دَرَجُواgrew up كالحميرlike donkeys تَحْتَbeneath المَخَالِيfeedbags
دَرَجُوا كالحمير تَحْتَ المَخَالِي
Do not let the beards of certain men deceive you,
Let not the beard trick you from people
who grew up like donkeys beneath feedbags.
Who walked like donkeys under saddles.
ولئِنْand although خَفَّis sparse عارِضايَmy two cheek-beards فإِنِّيthen I
ولئِنْ خَفَّ عارِضايَ فإِنِّي
لاnot أُبَالِيI care بكلِّabout every وافِيfull in السِّبالِmustaches
لا أُبَالِي بكلِّ وافِي السِّبالِ
And though the hair on my cheeks is sparse, I
And if my cheek faded, I do not
care nothing for anyone with a full mustache.
Care about every long-bearded man.
إِنماonly الشيخُthe elder منone who تَقَدَّمَcomes forward بالفَضْwith merit (first part)
إِنما الشيخُ من تَقَدَّمَ بالفَضْ
لِmerit (completion) إِلىto الشيخِthe shaykh ياسِرِYasir بْنِson of بِلالِBilal
لِ إِلى الشيخِ ياسِرِ بْنِ بِلالِ
A true elder is only one who comes forward with
But the old man is one who preceded with virtue
merit to Shaykh Yasir ibn Bilal,
To old age, O Yasir son of Bilal.
وتَولَّىand undertook تقبيلَkissing كَفٍّa hand غَدَتْbecame فيin
وتَولَّى تقبيلَ كَفٍّ غَدَتْ في
حَرِمَthe sanctuary of اليُمْنgood fortune قِبْلَةَthe prayer-direction of الإِقْبَالِprosperity
حَرِمَ اليُمْن قِبْلَةَ الإِقْبَالِ
and undertakes to kiss a hand that has become, in
And he turned to kissing a palm that became
fortune’s sanctuary, the qibla of prosperity.
In the sanctuary of Yemen a place for turning toward.
إِذَاwhen وَظِيفُthe fetlock of الثناءِpraise مُرْتَبَطٌtethered تَحْbeneath (first part)
إِذَا وَظِيفُ الثناءِ مُرْتَبَطٌ تَحْ
تَbeneath (completion) رِواقِthe portico of العُلاَeminence بِقَيْدِwith the bond of النَّوَالِgenerosity
تَ رِواقِ العُلاَ بِقَيْدِ النَّوَالِ
When the fetlock of praise is tethered
When the duty of praise is tied
beneath the portico of eminence by generosity’s bond,
Under the porch of elevation with the tether of attainment.
وغيوثُand the rains of العَطَاءِgiving مُنْشَأَةُbrought into being السُّحclouds (first part)
وغيوثُ العَطَاءِ مُنْشَأَةُ السُّح
بِclouds (completion) وماand not أُلِّفَتْwere gathered بِرِيحِby a wind of شَمالِthe north
بِ وما أُلِّفَتْ بِرِيحِ شَمالِ
and the rains of giving have clouds brought into being,
And the rains of gifts are the clouds of pride
yet not gathered by a north wind;
And were not brought up in the wind of the left.
والنَّدِيُّand the assembly الذيwhich يرِفُّflutters عليهِover it
والنَّدِيُّ الذي يرِفُّ عليهِ
نَضْرَةٌfreshness منfrom أَزاهِرِthe blossoms of الآمالِhopes
نَضْرَةٌ من أَزاهِرِ الآمالِ
and the assembly, over which there flutters
And the neighbor who waves unto him
the freshness of blossoms of hope;
A greenness from the flowers of hopes.
والجبينُand the brow الذيthat يُوضِّحُreveals شَمْساًa sun
والجبينُ الذي يُوضِّحُ شَمْساً
لمnot نَزَلْwe have ceased منfrom شُعاعِهاits rays فيin ظِلالِshade
لم نَزَلْ من شُعاعِها في ظِلالِ
and the brow that reveals a sun
And the forehead that shows a sun
in the shade of whose rays we have always stood;
We have not descended from its rays into shadows.
والمساعِيand the endeavors التيwhich تَرُدُّbring back إِليهاto themselves
والمساعِي التي تَرُدُّ إِليها
قَصَبَthe reed of السَّبْقِvictory فيin ارْتِقَاءِascending المعاليhigh stations
قَصَبَ السَّبْقِ في ارْتِقَاءِ المعالي
and the endeavors that bring back to themselves
And the endeavors to which return
the victor’s reed in the ascent to high stations—
The spears of preceding in ascending high goals.
خَيْرُthe best of شَدِّbinding الرِّحالِsaddles ماthat which حَلَّalighted at مَغْنًىa dwelling
خَيْرُ شَدِّ الرِّحالِ ما حَلَّ مَغْنًى
ضَمِنَتْguaranteed ساحَتاهُits two courtyards حَطَّthe laying down of الرِّحالِsaddles
ضَمِنَتْ ساحَتاهُ حَطَّ الرِّحالِ
the best saddling for travel is that which reaches a dwelling
The best firm tying of sandals is what sufficed independence,
whose two courtyards guarantee the laying down of saddles.
Its arena necessitated setting down the sandals.
وَأَجلُّand the noblest الثناءِpraise ماwhat صِيغَwas fashioned تاجاًas a crown
وَأَجلُّ الثناءِ ما صِيغَ تاجاً
لِجَبينٍfor a brow مُتَوَّجٍcrowned بالجَلالِwith majesty
لِجَبينٍ مُتَوَّجٍ بالجَلالِ
And the noblest praise is that fashioned as a crown
And the greatest praise is what was made into a crown
for a brow already crowned with majesty.
For a crowned forehead with majesty.
لِلَّذِيfor him who نِلْتُI gained عندَهُwith him سِمَنَthe fatness of الكِيthe purse (first part)
لِلَّذِي نِلْتُ عندَهُ سِمَنَ الكِي
سِpurse (completion) وقدand indeed كانَit was غَايةًthe utmost فيin الهُزالِemaciation
سِ وقد كانَ غَايةً في الهُزالِ
For him, with whom I gained a well-fed
For the one I gained mature fat from
purse, though it had been utterly emaciated.
And he had been the utmost emaciation.
وَتَشَكَّيْتُand I complained of نَقْبَthe mange of فَقْرِيmy poverty فوافَىthen he came
وَتَشَكَّيْتُ نَقْبَ فَقْرِي فوافَى
بهِناءِwith the healing tar of الغِنَىwealth ونِعْمَand excellent is الطَّالِيthe anointer
بهِناءِ الغِنَى ونِعْمَ الطَّالِي
I complained of poverty’s mange, and he came
And I complained of the burrow of my poverty so he compensated
with wealth’s healing tar—an excellent anointer!
With ease of wealth and excellent extension.
ورمانِيand he assailed me بالأَكثَرِينَwith the most numerous منof الأَعenemies (first part)
ورمانِي بالأَكثَرِينَ من الأَع
دَاءِenemies (completion) لِلْقُرْبِbecause of closeness منهto him والأَعْدالِand the loads
دَاءِ لِلْقُرْبِ منه والأَعْدالِ
And he made me the target of so many
And he threw me among the multitudes of enemies
enemies, for my closeness to him and the loads of gifts.
For being near him and justice.
وسَمَاand he rose ليfor me بجاهِهِby his standing فَسَمَاand so he raised بِيme
وسَمَا لي بجاهِهِ فَسَمَا بِي
ورآنيand he saw me بفَضْلِهِwith his favor فرأَىand so he looked out ليfor me
ورآني بفَضْلِهِ فرأَى لي
He rose for me through his standing, and raised me;
And he elevated me with his prominence so he elevated me
he looked upon me with his favor, and looked out for me.
And he saw me with his merit so he saw good in me.
فلئنthen though عُدْتُI returned دونَهُwithout him غيرَnot ناسٍforgetting
فلئن عُدْتُ دونَهُ غيرَ ناسٍ
فلقدfor indeed عُدْتُI visited غَيْرَهُsomeone other than him غَيْرَnot سَالِconsoled
فلقد عُدْتُ غَيْرَهُ غَيْرَ سَالِ
Though I returned without him, not forgetting,
So if I fall short of him unlike people
I did visit another, still unconsoled.
I have fallen short of him unlike others.
وبداand it occurred ليto me أَنْto أَنْتَمِيaffiliate myself لِسِواهُwith someone other than him
وبدا لي أَنْ أَنْتَمِي لِسِواهُ
فتذكَّرْتُthen I remembered صُنْعَهُhis kindness فَبَدَاthen it occurred ليto me
فتذكَّرْتُ صُنْعَهُ فَبَدَا لي
It occurred to me to attach myself to another;
And it seemed to me that I should belong to another
then I remembered his kindness, and changed my mind.
So I remembered his favor so it seemed to me...
ملِكٌa king تنظرُlook الملوكُkings إِليهِat him
ملِكٌ تنظرُ الملوكُ إِليهِ
مثلَlike ماthe way تنظرُlook العبيدُslaves المواليthe masters
مثلَ ما تنظرُ العبيدُ الموالي
A king whom other kings look upon
A king whom kings look to
as slaves look upon their masters.
Like what servants look to their masters.
رقدواthey slept عنheedless of خُيولِهِhis horses فأَتَتْهُمْthen they came upon them
رقدوا عن خُيولِهِ فأَتَتْهُمْ
وَهْيَwhile they were أَسْرَىswifter in night-travel فيthrough ظُلْمَةٍdarkness منthan خيالِa phantom
وَهْيَ أَسْرَى في ظُلْمَةٍ من خيالِ
They slept, heedless of his horses; then these came upon them,
They neglected their horses so they came to them
outstripping a phantom in their night-passage through darkness.
While they were captives in darkness of imagination.
فتراقَوْاthen they ascended إِليهtoward him منfrom كلevery فَجٍّmountain pass
فتراقَوْا إِليه من كل فَجٍّ
وإِلىand to البَحْرِthe sea مَرْجِعُthe return of الأَوْشَالِtrickling streams
وإِلى البَحْرِ مَرْجِعُ الأَوْشَالِ
Then they climbed toward him from every mountain pass,
So they flocked to him from every valley
and to the sea the trickling streams return.
And to the sea the return of meadows.
فإِنِso if استَسلَمُواthey surrender فإِنَّthen indeed الرعاياthe subjects
فإِنِ استَسلَمُوا فإِنَّ الرعايا
عِزُّهاtheir honor فيin انقيادِهاtheir obedience للواليto the ruler
عِزُّها في انقيادِها للوالي
If they surrender, then the subjects’
So if they surrender then the subjects
honor lies in their obedience to the ruler.
Their honor is in their obedience to the governor.
ياO مُجيبَanswerer of الدُّعَاةِpetitioners والعَضْبُand the keen sword والعّذْand the sweet (first part)
يا مُجيبَ الدُّعَاةِ والعَضْبُ والعّذْ
بُsweet (completion) لِسانَاthe two tongues of جِلادِهِhis combat والجِدالِand debate
بُ لِسانَا جِلادِهِ والجِدالِ
O answerer of petitioners—the keen blade and sweet
O answerer of supplicants and anger and punishment are for us
speech are his twin tongues of combat and debate!
The whip of his tongue and arguing.
عَجَبُthe wonder of العَزْمِresolve أَنْthat دَعَوْكَthey called you سِراراًin whispers
عَجَبُ العَزْمِ أَنْ دَعَوْكَ سِراراً
فَتَسَمَّعْتَهُthen you heard it بصُمِّwith the deaf العواليspearheads
فَتَسَمَّعْتَهُ بصُمِّ العوالي
The wonder of resolve is that they called you in whispers,
The wonder of determination is that they called you secretly
and you heard it with deaf spearheads.
Yet you heard them with the deafness of heights.
وسَقَيْتَand you gave to drink العَدُوَّthe enemy مُرًّاbitterness منfrom الطَّعْthrusting (first part)
وسَقَيْتَ العَدُوَّ مُرًّا من الطَّعْ
نِthrusting (completion) علىdespite أَنَّهُits being منfrom العَسَّالِthe swaying, honey-named spear
نِ على أَنَّهُ من العَسَّالِ
And you gave the foe a bitter draught of
And you made the enemy drink bitter
thrusting, though it came from the “honey-maker,” the swaying spear.
Poison while he thought it was honey.
فَرَعَىso may preserve اللُّهGod دّوْلَةًa realm أَنْتَyou فيهاin it
فَرَعَى اللُّه دّوْلَةً أَنْتَ فيها
ناظِرٌan overseer صانَهاguarded it مِنَfrom الإِهْمَالِneglect
ناظِرٌ صانَها مِنَ الإِهْمَالِ
May God preserve a realm in which you are
So may God protect a state in which you are
an overseer who has guarded it from neglect.
A supervisor who protected it from neglect.
وسلامٌand peace علىupon خلائِقِكَyour virtues الخُضْgreen (first part)
وسلامٌ على خلائِقِكَ الخُضْ
رِgreen (completion) ومُنْهَلِّand the pouring flow of جُودِكَyour bounty السَّلْسَالِlimpid
رِ ومُنْهَلِّ جُودِكَ السَّلْسَالِ
And peace upon your green
And greetings to your green creatures and your
virtues, and the pouring, limpid stream of your bounty.
Flowing river of generosity and waterfalls.
أَنتَyou أَهلٌworthy لأَنْto تَجُودَgive generously بمُلْكٍa kingdom
أَنتَ أَهلٌ لأَنْ تَجُودَ بمُلْكٍ
فقليلٌso a small thing بأَنto تجودَgive generously بمالِwealth
فقليلٌ بأَن تجودَ بمالِ
You are worthy of giving away a kingdom,
You are worthy to be generous with a kingdom
so giving wealth is a small thing for you.
So it is little that you are generous with money.
كمhow often بَدَرْتُI outstripped الرجالَmen فيكconcerning you فلاso may you not زاcease (first part)
كم بَدَرْتُ الرجالَ فيك فلا زا
لَcease (completion) مَحَلَّthe abode of النَّدَىgenerosity
لَ مَحَلَّ النَّدَى
How often I have outstripped men in praising you! May you never
How I surpassed men in you, so the dew still has no place.
cease to be the abode of generosity.
So I am - whenever I recited your praise -
فأَناfor I ماnot تَلَوْتُI recited مَدْحَكَyour praise إِلاexcept
فأَنا ما تَلَوْتُ مَدْحَكَ إِلا
وإِبوand Abu طاهِرٍTahir مُحِبُّكَyour admirer تالِfollowing in recitation
وإِبو طاهِرٍ مُحِبُّكَ تالِ
For I never recite your praise but
And Abu Tahir your lover, reciting.
Abu Tahir, your admirer, follows in recitation.
And whenever I wish, fresh
وإذاand whenever ماever أشاءُI wish زَارَكَhe visits you رطباًfresh
وإذا ما أشاءُ زَارَكَ رطباً
منfrom مولunclear reading: mawl فإنهfor he is منamong مُواليmy allies
من مول فإنه من مُوالي
And whenever I wish, he visits you fresh,
Dates visit you for he is from those loyal to you.
from “mawl” [unclear in the text], for he is one of my allies.
So take my gratitude for what I experienced from drifting
فالْقَِso receive شُكْرِيmy thanks بماwith what عَهِدْتُI have known منof التِّرْwelcome (first part)
فالْقَِ شُكْرِي بما عَهِدْتُ من التِّرْ
حابِwelcome (completion) منfrom قبلbefore حادِثِthe occurrence of التَّرْحَالِdeparture
حابِ من قبل حادِثِ التَّرْحَالِ
So receive my thanks with what I have known of
Before the incident of traveling.
welcome, before the coming of departure.
Partial English translation: 107 of 108 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1