بدرٌa full moon وشمسٌand a sun وَلَدَاthe two begot كوكباa star
بدرٌ وشمسٌ وَلَدَا كوكبا
أقسمتُI swore باللّهby God لقدindeed أنجباthe two begot nobly
أقسمتُ باللّه لقد أنجبا
A full moon and a sun have begotten a star.
A moon and sun begot a planet,
I swore by God: they have indeed begotten nobly.
I swear by God they both gave birth.
ثلاثةٌthree تُشرقُshine أنوارُهاtheir lights
ثلاثةٌ تُشرقُ أنوارُها
لاmay not بُدِّلتْthey be changed منfrom مَشرقٍa place of rising مَغرباa place of setting
لا بُدِّلتْ من مَشرقٍ مَغربا
Three whose lights shine forth—
Three shining lights,
may they never be changed from sunrise to sunset.
That did not change from east to west.
بدرٌa full moon وشمسand a sun أبَوَاthe two parents of مُشتَرٍJupiter
بدرٌ وشمس أبَوَا مُشتَرٍ
ماnever نازعتْhas vied over شَرْواهُhis like أمٌّa mother أباwith a father
ما نازعتْ شَرْواهُ أمٌّ أبا
A full moon and a sun are Jupiter's parents;
Moon and sun parented Jupiter,
no mother has vied with a father over his like.
His mother did not dispute his fortune.
قدindeed قلتُI said إِذwhen بشِّرتُI received glad news بالمُشتريof Jupiter
قد قلتُ إِذ بشِّرتُ بالمُشتري
قولَthe words of امرئٍa man لمdid not يَخْشَfear أنthat يُكذَباhe would be called a liar
قولَ امرئٍ لم يَخْشَ أن يُكذَبا
When I received the glad news of Jupiter, I spoke
When I announced the birth of Jupiter,
the words of a man unafraid of being called a liar:
I spoke truthfully, and did not lie.
ياO آلhouse of بِشرٍBishr أبشرواrejoice كلّكُمْall of you
يا آل بِشرٍ أبشروا كلّكُمْ
فقدfor indeed وَلَدْتُمْyou have begotten مَطلباًone to seek مهرَباa refuge
فقد وَلَدْتُمْ مَطلباً مهرَبا
O house of Bishr, rejoice, all of you!
O clan of Bishr, rejoice all of you!
You have begotten one to seek and flee to.
You have given birth to the sought refuge.
تباركblessed is اللّهُGod وسبحانَهُand glory be to Him
تبارك اللّهُ وسبحانَهُ
أيَّwhat a شهابٍshooting star منكُمُfrom among you أثقباHe kindled
أيَّ شهابٍ منكُمُ أثقبا
Blessed is God, and glory be to Him!
Blessed is God, glorified is He,
What a shooting star He has kindled from among you!
What shooting star of yours pierced through?
إنif طابَhe is excellent أوor طِبْتُمْyou are excellent فماthen not أبعدتْhave strayed far
إن طابَ أو طِبْتُمْ فما أبعدتْ
فروعُbranches of مجدٍglory أَشبهتْthat resemble منصباancestral stock
فروعُ مجدٍ أَشبهتْ منصبا
If he is excellent, or you are, they have not strayed far—
If you are virtuous or made virtuous,
branches of glory resembling their ancestral stock.
Branches of glory resemble positions.
ولاand not عجيبٌstrange لاno ولاnor منْكَرٌunheard-of
ولا عجيبٌ لا ولا منْكَرٌ
أنthat تلِدواyou beget الأَطْيَبَthe finest فالأطيباthen the finest again
أن تلِدوا الأَطْيَبَ فالأطيبا
It is no wonder—no, nor anything strange—
It is no wonder or absurdity,
that you beget the finest, then the finest again.
That you gave birth to the most virtuous.
أصبحتُمُyou have become واللّهُand God يُبقيكُمُmay preserve you
أصبحتُمُ واللّهُ يُبقيكُمُ
مُنتجَعَthe resort of الحُرِّthe noble man إذاwhen أجدباhe suffers drought
مُنتجَعَ الحُرِّ إذا أجدبا
You have become—may God preserve you—
You have risen while God makes you last,
the noble man's resort when he suffers drought.
As the free man's refuge when impoverished.
مهماwhatever انتقصناهُwe lose of it إذاwhen زدتُمُyou increase
مهما انتقصناهُ إذا زدتُمُ
منْamong نِعَمِthe blessings of اللّهِGod فلنwill not يُحْسَباbe counted
منْ نِعَمِ اللّهِ فلن يُحْسَبا
Whatever we lose, when you grow more numerous
However much we detract from you,
among God's blessings, will not be reckoned.
Of God's blessings you will not be counted.
أنتمyou أناسٌare people بأياديكُمُthrough your favors
أنتم أناسٌ بأياديكُمُ
يَستغفرُseeks forgiveness الدهرُTime إذاwhen أجدباit grows barren
يَستغفرُ الدهرُ إذا أجدبا
You are people through whose favors
You are people whose hands,
Time seeks forgiveness whenever it grows barren.
Make time seek forgiveness when distressed.
فلْيشكرِso let give thanks الدهرُTime لكمto you إِنّهُfor it
فلْيشكرِ الدهرُ لكم إِنّهُ
أرضىhas brought contentment بكمthrough you منfrom بعدماafter it أغضباcaused anger
أرضى بكم من بعدما أغضبا
Let Time thank you, for it
So let time thank you, it
has brought contentment through you after causing anger.
Is pleased with you after being angry.
إذاwhen جَنىwrongs الدهرُTime علىagainst أهلِهِits people
إذا جَنى الدهرُ على أهلِهِ
وزادand increases فيin عِدَّتِكُمyour number أَعتَباit makes amends
وزاد في عِدَّتِكُم أَعتَبا
When Time wrongs its people
When time wrongs its people,
and increases your number, it makes amends.
And adds numbers to you all the more.
إنَّindeed أباAbu العباسal-Abbas إلّاif not يكُنْhe has
إنَّ أبا العباس إلّا يكُنْ
أَرَّخَmarked an epoch بالفُلجِby triumph فقدthen indeed شَبّباmade a beginning
أَرَّخَ بالفُلجِ فقد شَبّبا
Indeed, Abu al-Abbas, if he has not
Abbas's father is not one,
marked an epoch by triumph, has at least made a beginning.
To record defeats - he tied them up!
قدindeed بيَّضَhas brightened الأوجُهthe faces بابنٍwith a son لَهُof his
قد بيَّضَ الأوجُه بابنٍ لَهُ
قالتْsaid لهto him آمالُناour hopes مرحباwelcome
قالتْ له آمالُنا مرحبا
He has brightened faces with a son of his
He whitened faces with a son of his,
to whom our hopes have said, 'Welcome!'
To whom our hopes said "welcome!"
وذاكand that مِفتاحٌis a key لإقبالِكُمْto your prosperity
وذاك مِفتاحٌ لإقبالِكُمْ
كذاthus قضىhas decreed اللّهُGod ولنand will not يُغْلَباbe overcome
كذا قضى اللّهُ ولن يُغْلَبا
That is a key to your prosperity.
That is the key to your rising fortunes,
Thus God has decreed, and He will not be overcome.
Thus God decreed and none can prevent.
وقدand indeed تفاءلتُI read a good omen لهfor him زاجراًtaking omens from
وقد تفاءلتُ له زاجراً
كُنيتَهُhis kunyah لاnot زاجراًtaking omens from ثعلباa fox
كُنيتَهُ لا زاجراً ثعلبا
I have read a fortunate omen for him, taking omens
I took it as good omen for him, his nickname,
from his kunyah, not from a fox.
Not as an ill omen or fox.
إنّيindeed I تأمّلتُexamined لَهُof his كُنيةًa kunyah
إنّي تأمّلتُ لَهُ كُنيةً
إذاwhen بداappeared مقلوبُهاits reversal أعجباit astonished
إذا بدا مقلوبُها أعجبا
I examined a kunyah of his
I pondered a nickname for him,
whose reversal, when revealed, was astonishing.
When reversed, it seemed wondrous:
يصوغهاreshapes it العكسُreversal أباfather of سابعٍa seventh
يصوغها العكسُ أبا سابعٍ
وذاكand that فأْلٌis an omen لمdid not يعدforetell مَعْطباruin
وذاك فأْلٌ لم يعد مَعْطبا
Reversal shapes it into Abu Sabiʿ, 'father of a seventh,'
Reordering makes it "Father of Seven"
an omen that foretells no ruin.
A fortunate sign, no longer blemished.
بلrather ذاكthat فألٌis an omen ضامنٌguaranteeing سبعةًseven
بل ذاك فألٌ ضامنٌ سبعةً
مثلlike الصقورhawks استشرفتthat have sighted أرنباa hare
مثل الصقور استشرفت أرنبا
Rather, it is an omen guaranteeing seven,
Rather a sign ensuring seven,
like hawks that have sighted a hare.
Like falcons that spotted a hare.
يأتونthey will come منfrom صلبِthe loins of فتىًa young man ماجدٍnoble
يأتون من صلبِ فتىً ماجدٍ
لاmay not كذَّبbelie it اللّهGod ولاnor خيباdisappoint
لا كذَّب اللّه ولا خيبا
They will come from the loins of a noble young man—
They come from the loins of a glorious youth,
may God neither belie it nor disappoint!
God did not lie to him or disappoint.
وقدand indeed أتاهhas come to him منهُمof them واحدٌone
وقد أتاه منهُم واحدٌ
فلينتظرْso let him await ستّةًsix غُيَّباstill unseen
فلينتظرْ ستّةً غُيَّبا
One of them has already come to him;
One of them has come to him already,
let him await six still unseen,
So let him await six who are absent!
فيin مدةٍa span تعمُرهاfills it نعمةٌbounty
في مدةٍ تعمُرها نعمةٌ
يجعلهاmay make it اللّهGod لهfor him تُرْتُباlasting
يجعلها اللّه له تُرْتُبا
over a span filled with bounty
In a period prosperity will furnish,
that God will make enduring for him,
God will make it a regulated succession,
حتىuntil نراهُwe see him جالساًsitting بينهمamong them
حتى نراهُ جالساً بينهم
أجلَّgrander منthan رَضوىRadwa ومنand than كَبْكَباKabkab
أجلَّ من رَضوى ومن كَبْكَبا
until we see him sitting among them,
Until we see him sitting amongst them,
grander than Radwa and Kabkab,
Nobler than pleasure or aloofness.
كالبدرِlike the full moon وافىcame to الأرضَthe earth فيin نُورِهِits radiance
كالبدرِ وافى الأرضَ في نُورِهِ
بينamong نجومٍstars سبعةٍseven فاحتبىand sat with knees clasped
بين نجومٍ سبعةٍ فاحتبى
like the full moon come to earth in its radiance,
Like the full moon he reached the earth in his light,
amid seven stars, sitting with knees clasped.
Amongst seven stars he sought intimacy.
يُعديhe grants redress علىagainst الدهرTime إذاwhen ماever اعتدىit transgresses
يُعدي على الدهر إذا ما اعتدى
ويؤمنُand reassures الناسَpeople إذاwhen استرهباit inspires fear
ويؤمنُ الناسَ إذا استرهبا
He grants redress against Time whenever it transgresses
He exceeds time if it transgresses,
and reassures people when it inspires fear.
And protects people if they feel dread.
وليشكرِand let him thank النَّاجِمَthe one responsible عنfor هذهthis
وليشكرِ النَّاجِمَ عن هذه
فإنهاfor it منis among بعضِsome of ماwhat بوَّباhe arranged
فإنها من بعضِ ما بوَّبا
And let him thank the one behind this,
The stars should thank him for these,
for it is among the things he has arranged.
As part of what he tied up and compiled.
أسدَىlaid the warp وألحمتُand I wove the weft أخٌa brother لمnot أزلI ceased
أسدَى وألحمتُ أخٌ لم أزل
أحمدُpraising ماwhat سدَّىhe laid as warp وماand what سبَّباhe brought about
أحمدُ ما سدَّى وما سبَّبا
A brother laid the warp, and I wove the weft; I have never ceased
I have supported, provisioned, a brother I never
praising the warp he laid and what he brought about.
Ceased praising what he tied up or compiled.
واسعدْand prosper أباAbu العباسal-Abbas مُستوهِباًseeking gifts
واسعدْ أبا العباس مُستوهِباً
منfrom ملكٍa king أعطاهُwho gave him ماwhat استوهباhe asked to be given
من ملكٍ أعطاهُ ما استوهبا
And prosper, Abu al-Abbas, seeking gifts
And bless Abu al-Abbas seeking bounty,
from a king who gave him what he asked.
From a King who gave him what he sought.
عَمِرتَmay you live long والمولودَand the newborn with you حتىuntil ترىyou see
عَمِرتَ والمولودَ حتى ترى
أولادَهُhis children خلفكُماbehind you both موكباas a procession
أولادَهُ خلفكُما موكبا
May you and the newborn live long, until you see
Live long, and the newborn, until you see
his children behind you both in a procession:
Children behind you both in procession.
منof فتيةٍyoung men مثلِlike أسودِthe lions of الشّرىal-Shara
من فتيةٍ مثلِ أسودِ الشّرى
وصبيةٍand children تحسبُهُمْyou reckon them ربرباa herd of gazelles
وصبيةٍ تحسبُهُمْ ربربا
young men like the lions of al-Shara,
From gallant youths like fierce lions,
and children you would take for a herd of gazelles.
And girls you think mere butterflies.
دونكموهاtake it, all of you ياO بنيsons of مَرثدٍMarthad
دونكموها يا بني مَرثدٍ
لاmay not تعدَمواyou lack أمثالَهاits like مكسباas a gain
لا تعدَموا أمثالَها مكسبا
Take this, sons of Marthad;
Shield them O clan of Murthid,
may you never lack such gains.
Do not lack the likes of them as profit!
ياO رُبَّhow much جِدٍّearnest striving لكمof yours فيfor العلىeminence
يا رُبَّ جِدٍّ لكم في العلى
قدhas indeed جعلmade المالَwealth لكمfor you ملعباa plaything
قد جعل المالَ لكم ملعبا
How much earnest striving of yours for eminence
O Lord of ancient glory for them on high,
has made wealth a plaything for you!
Make wealth for them a playing field.
لاmay not سَلَبَtake away اللّهُGod سرابيلَكُمْyour robes
لا سَلَبَ اللّهُ سرابيلَكُمْ
منof هذهthis النُّعمىbounty ولنand never will it تُسلباbe stripped away
من هذه النُّعمى ولن تُسلبا
May God never strip away your robes
God did not strip your loincloths,
of this bounty; nor shall it be taken away.
Of this bounty, and they will not be stripped.
وادَّرِعواand put on as armor منfrom عُرْفكمyour beneficence جُنّةًa shield
وادَّرِعوا من عُرْفكم جُنّةً
تَفُلُّthat blunts نابَthe fang of الدهرِTime والمِخلباand the claw
تَفُلُّ نابَ الدهرِ والمِخلبا
And don your kindness as a shield
And arm yourselves with your honor as armor,
that blunts Time's fang and claw.
Shedding the claws and fangs of time.
قلتُI said لباغيكمto your seekers وراجيكُمُand those hoping in you
قلتُ لباغيكم وراجيكُمُ
ماhow أبعدَdistant الغيثَthe rain وماand how أقرباnear
ما أبعدَ الغيثَ وما أقربا
I said to those seeking you and hoping in you:
I said to those hostile and friendly to you,
'How distant the rain, and how near!'
How far is rain, and how near.
سماit rose فأعلىand raised عنbeyond يدٍa hand ملمساًa place to touch
سما فأعلى عن يدٍ ملمساً
منهof it وأدنىand brought closer منthan فمٍa mouth مشرباa drinking-place
منه وأدنى من فمٍ مشربا
It soared, putting its touch beyond a hand's reach,
Lofty beyond a touching hand,
yet bringing its drink nearer than the mouth.
And nearer than a drinking mouth.
كمhow many سبسبٍa desert جابَhas crossed مديحٌpraise لكمof you
كم سبسبٍ جابَ مديحٌ لكم
ماnot جابdid it cross منin إحسانكمyour bounty سبسباa desert
ما جاب من إحسانكم سبسبا
How many a desert has praise of you crossed,
How much murmuring dispraised you,
without crossing a desert in your bounty!
That did not earn your generosity murmuring!
بلrather خاضit waded through روضاًa meadow بينamong غدرانِهِits pools
بل خاض روضاً بين غدرانِهِ
يُرضيهpleasing it إنif صعَّدit went uphill أوor صَوَّباdownhill
يُرضيه إن صعَّد أو صَوَّبا
Rather, it waded through a meadow among its pools,
Rather it waded through a garden amidst its betrayal,
pleased whether it climbed or descended.
Pleasing it whether ascending or descending.
قدindeed قلتُI have spoken قولاًwords فيكُمُabout you مُعْجِباًpleasing
قد قلتُ قولاً فيكُمُ مُعْجِباً
أنprovided that لمnot أكنْI am ذاpossessed of حُمُقٍfolly مُعجَباself-conceited
أن لم أكنْ ذا حُمُقٍ مُعجَبا
I have spoken pleasing words about you,
I have spoken words praising you in wonder,
provided I am no vain and foolish man.
Had I no foolish wonderment.
قَلَّلْتُهُI shortened it فيكمabout you وهذَّبتُهُand polished it
قَلَّلْتُهُ فيكم وهذَّبتُهُ
عمداًdeliberately وماand not قلَّلَhas diminished منone who هذّباpolished
عمداً وما قلَّلَ من هذّبا
I shortened and polished them for you
I diminished it towards you intentionally,
deliberately; whoever polishes does not diminish.
And refined it - not all who refine, diminish!
ومثلُكُمْand someone like you خُصَّwas singled out بأمثالِهِfor its like
ومثلُكُمْ خُصَّ بأمثالِهِ
ومثلُكُمْand someone like you عنfor مثلِهِits like ثَوَّباgave reward
ومثلُكُمْ عن مثلِهِ ثَوَّبا
Those like you are reserved for verses like these,
And the like of you is specially entitled,
and those like you have rewarded such verses.
To the like of it, and the like of you rewards it.
وَليand I have لديكمwith you صاحبٌa friend فاضلٌexcellent
وَلي لديكم صاحبٌ فاضلٌ
أُحِبُّI wish أنthat يُرعىhe be cared for وأنand that يُصحباhe be befriended
أُحِبُّ أن يُرعى وأن يُصحبا
I have an excellent friend with you
I have a virtuous companion with you,
whom I wish to be cared for and befriended.
I love that he be cared for and accompanied.
مبارَكُblessed in الطائرِomen ميمونُهُauspicious in it
مبارَكُ الطائرِ ميمونُهُ
حدَّثنيtold me عنabout ذاكthat منone who جرّباhad tested it
حدَّثني عن ذاك من جرّبا
Blessed in his omen, fortunate in it—
Blessed is the bird of good omen for him,
so one who had tested it told me.
Tell me of him, you who have experienced.
بلrather عندكمwith you منof يُمنهِhis good fortune شاهدٌa witness
بل عندكم من يُمنهِ شاهدٌ
قدhas indeed أفصحَmade plain القولَthe message وقدand indeed أعرباspoken clearly
قد أفصحَ القولَ وقد أعربا
Indeed, with you is a witness to his good fortune,
Rather, you have with you one who witnesses him
who has spoken plainly and clearly.
Who has eloquently spoken and expressed.
جاءhe came فجاءتand came معهwith him غُرَّةٌa radiant brow
جاء فجاءت معه غُرَّةٌ
يُقَبِّلُkiss الناسُpeople بهاupon it كوكباa star
يُقَبِّلُ الناسُ بها كوكبا
He came, and with him came a radiant brow
He came and with him came a thrill,
on which people kiss a star.
People kiss him like a planet.
ياO حبذاhow welcome بُشرىglad tidings ابنُIbn عمَّارِكُمْyour Ammar
يا حبذا بُشرى ابنُ عمَّارِكُمْ
ماhow أحسنfine العُقبىthe outcome التيthat أعقباhe brought about
ما أحسن العُقبى التي أعقبا
How welcome your Ibn Ammar's glad tidings!
How excellent the tidings, Ibn 'Ammār's son,
How fine the outcome he brought about!
What fine consequence has eventuated!
كانhe was بشيراًa herald بفتىًof a young man منكُمُfrom among you
كان بشيراً بفتىً منكُمُ
بلrather بربيعٍof a spring منكُمfrom among you أَخْصباlush
بل بربيعٍ منكُم أَخْصبا
He heralded a young man from among you—
He was a herald of a youth amongst you,
rather, a lush spring from among you.
Rather, of a springtime amongst you most fertile.
وماand never أرىhas shown اللّهGod امرَأًa man وجهَهُhis face
وما أرى اللّه امرَأً وجهَهُ
إلاexcept أراهُHe showed him ولداًa child طيّباfine
إلا أراهُ ولداً طيّبا
Never has God shown his face to a man
I do not see that God has faced a man,
without showing him a fine child.
Except I see he is a good son.
قلتI said لحُسَّادto enviers لهof him أَلهِبواkindle
قلت لحُسَّاد له أَلهِبوا
أوor أطفئِواextinguish جمرَكُمyour embers الملهباblazing
أو أطفئِوا جمرَكُم الملهبا
I told those envious of him: kindle
I said to those envious of him "Inflame
or quench your blazing embers.
or extinguish your embers that combust!"
إنindeed أباAbu العباسِal-Abbas مستصحِبٌtakes a companion
إن أبا العباسِ مستصحِبٌ
يَرضىhe is pleased with أباAbu العباسal-Abbas مُستصحَباas a companion
يَرضى أبا العباس مُستصحَبا
Abu al-Abbas is taking a companion,
Abu al-'Abbas befriends and accompanies
content to have Abu al-Abbas as his companion.
Abu al-'Abbas being befriended and accompanied.
لكنّbut فيin الشيخthe old man عُزَيريةًan ʿUzayri streak
لكنّ في الشيخ عُزَيريةً
قدhas indeed تركَتْهُleft him شَرساًfierce مشغباquarrelsome
قد تركَتْهُ شَرساً مشغبا
But the old man has an ʿUzayri streak
However the Shaykh has fickleness,
that has left him fierce and quarrelsome.
Leaving him wild and unruly.
فاشددْso tighten أباAbu العباسal-Abbas كفّاًa hand بهِupon him
فاشددْ أبا العباس كفّاً بهِ
فقدfor indeed ثَقفتَyou have secured المخْطَبَthe eloquent one المِخرَباthe wily one
فقد ثَقفتَ المخْطَبَ المِخرَبا
So keep a firm grip on him, Abu al-Abbas,
So make Abu al-'Abbas's hand firm with him
for you have secured the eloquent, wily fellow.
For you have grabbed the wanton corruptor!
كلِّمspeak بهthrough him مُلِّيتَهُmay you long enjoy him مِقْولاًas a tongue
كلِّم به مُلِّيتَهُ مِقْولاً
وازحَمْand press forward بهthrough him مُلّئتهmay you long enjoy him مَنْكِباas a shoulder
وازحَمْ به مُلّئته مَنْكِبا
Speak through him as a tongue—may you long enjoy him—
Chastise him, you have filled his ear with talk,
and press forward with him as a shoulder—may you long enjoy him.
And push him, you have filled his shoulder.
حاولattempt بهthrough him أمراًan affair وقلِّبand turn over بهthrough him
حاول به أمراً وقلِّب به
أمراًan affair تجدهyou will find him حُوَّلاًresourceful قُلَّباadaptable
أمراً تجده حُوَّلاً قُلَّبا
Attempt an affair through him, and turn over through him
Try with him some matter, and overturn with him
an affair: you will find him resourceful and adaptable.
Some matter, you will find overturned and overturned!
باقِعَةًa shrewd expert إنif أنتyou خاطبتَهُaddress him
باقِعَةً إن أنت خاطبتَهُ
أَعرَبَhe speaks clearly أوor فاكهتَهُjest with him أغرباhe says marvels
أَعرَبَ أو فاكهتَهُ أغربا
A shrewd expert: if you address him,
Articulate, if you address him,
he speaks lucidly; if you jest with him, he astonishes.
He expresses clearly or makes subtle.
يصلحhe is fit للجدِّfor seriousness وماand not هزْلُهُhis joking
يصلح للجدِّ وما هزْلُهُ
بدونbeneath ماwhat يُحظىis favored وماand what يُجتبىis chosen
بدون ما يُحظى وما يُجتبى
He is fit for serious work; nor is his humor
He is apt for seriousness, not jest,
beneath what wins favor and is prized.
Without what is regarded or chosen.
أدَّبَهُtrained him الدهْرُTime بتصريفهِthrough its vicissitudes
أدَّبَهُ الدهْرُ بتصريفهِ
فأحسنَand perfected التأديبَthe training إذwhen أدَّباit trained
فأحسنَ التأديبَ إذ أدَّبا
Time trained him through its vicissitudes
Time has disciplined him through its turns,
and trained him well when it did so.
It has excellently disciplined when it disciplined!
وظرفُهُand his wit نُورٌis a blossom لآدابِهِof his learning
وظرفُهُ نُورٌ لآدابِهِ
إذfor لمnot ينوِّرْblooms كلُّevery مَنْone who أعشباgrows green
إذ لم ينوِّرْ كلُّ مَنْ أعشبا
His wit is the blossom of his learning,
His manners are light for his morals,
for not all that grows green comes into bloom.
When not all who shed light, shone light.
تُقصِّرُshorten الدهرَTime أحاديثُهُhis conversations
تُقصِّرُ الدهرَ أحاديثُهُ
وتُعجِبُand delight الأمردَthe beardless youth والأشيباand the gray-haired man
وتُعجِبُ الأمردَ والأشيبا
His conversations shorten Time
His conversations shorten the ages
and delight the beardless youth and the gray-haired man.
And please the immortal and the aged.
وقدand indeed غداhe has come to يشكُرُthank نُعماكُمُyour bounty
وقد غدا يشكُرُ نُعماكُمُ
فيin كلِّevery وادٍvalley موجِزاًbriefly مطنباat length
في كلِّ وادٍ موجِزاً مطنبا
He has come to thank your bounty
He has come to thank you for your bounty,
in every valley, briefly and at length.
In every valley, brief but florid.
ولمand not يحاولْhe sought مستزاديmy asking for more لهfor him
ولم يحاولْ مستزادي له
ولمand not يجِدhe found فيin فعلكمyour deeds مَعتباcause for reproach
ولم يجِد في فعلكم مَعتبا
He did not solicit my plea for more on his behalf,
No beseecher of him has tried,
nor did he find cause to reproach your deeds.
To find fault in your deeds.
لكنbut بدأتُI began القولَthe words مستوهباًseeking a gift
لكن بدأتُ القولَ مستوهباً
فيهconcerning him لحسنِfor favorable الرأيregard مُستَجلِباseeking to elicit
فيه لحسنِ الرأي مُستَجلِبا
But I began to speak, seeking a gift
But I began words seeking grace for him,
and soliciting your favorable regard for him.
For the merit of opinion, drawing favour.
صُونوهُprotect him ليfor me وارعَوهُand care for him ليfor me واملَؤواand fill
صُونوهُ لي وارعَوهُ لي واملَؤوا
يديهhis hands ليfor me لاno بلrather بماwith what استوجَباhe has deserved
يديه لي لا بل بما استوجَبا
Protect him for me, care for him for me, and fill
Guard him for me, beware for him, and fill
his hands for me—no, rather, with what he deserves.
My hands with him - no, with what he deserves!
ذاكthat نصيبيis my share منof عطاياكُمُyour gifts
ذاك نصيبي من عطاياكُمُ
إنif حكَمdecrees الحقُّjustice بأنthat أُنصَباI be allotted a share
إن حكَم الحقُّ بأن أُنصَبا
That is my share of your gifts,
That is my share of your gifts,
if justice rules that I receive a share.
If the truth judges that I be appointed.
دعleave ذاthis وجاوزْهُand pass beyond it إلىto غيرِهِsomething else
دع ذا وجاوزْهُ إلى غيرِهِ
ياO أكرمَmost generous of السادةِlords مُستعتَباwhen asked for amends
يا أكرمَ السادةِ مُستعتَبا
Leave this and pass on to something else,
Leave this and pass over it for another,
O most generous of lords when asked for amends.
O most generous of lords, sought for redress!
كمhow many موعدٍa promise منكfrom you وكمand how many موعدa promise
كم موعدٍ منك وكم موعد
أَكدىfailed ولستَyet you are not البارقَlightning الخُلَّبَاwithout rain
أَكدى ولستَ البارقَ الخُلَّبَا
How many promises from you—how many promises—
How many a tryst from you, and how many
have failed! Yet you are no rainless lightning.
A tryst that pained me, you unfailing lightning!
أأمستِhave they spent the evening الحيتانُthe fish فيunder ذمّةٍprotection
أأمستِ الحيتانُ في ذمّةٍ
أمor أصبحتْhave they become at morning منfrom يَمِّهاtheir sea هُرَّباfugitives
أم أصبحتْ من يَمِّها هُرَّبا
Have the fish spent the evening under protection,
In the morning are the fish beholden?
or become fugitives from their sea by morning?
Or by evening are they confused?
حظيmy share منof الأسبوعthe week لاdo not تَنْسَهُforget it
حظي من الأسبوع لا تَنْسَهُ
ولاand let not be يكونَنْmy lot سهميَthe unluckiest one appearing in this week, not a fixed historical title or technical lottery outcome; it is the least fortunate share being wished away here, with no invented reference to any specific event or institution and no added claim beyond the poem's appeal that his portion should not be the disappointing one, since the attached emphatic prohibition belongs to the preceding token and this token is only the superlative description of that share, rendered concisely as the unluckiest despite this explanatory wording being unnecessary for the requested word meaning and therefore not intended to introduce any separate concept or extra listed token at all. الأخيباthe unluckiest
ولا يكونَنْ سهميَ الأخيبا
Do not forget my share of the week,
My share of the week - do not forget it!
and let my lot not be the unluckiest.
Let not my arrow be the most unlucky.
لاmay not يُخطئنِّيmiss me منكfrom you لَوزينَجٌlawzinaj, an almond pastry
لا يُخطئنِّي منك لَوزينَجٌ
إذاwhen بداit appears أعجبَit delights أوor عجّباastonishes
إذا بدا أعجبَ أو عجّبا
Let no lawzinaj from you miss me,
Your sweetmeat will not miss me
which delights or astonishes when it appears.
If it appears most wondrous or wondrous.
لمnot تُغلِقhas closed الشهوةُappetite أبوابَهاits doors
لم تُغلِق الشهوةُ أبوابَها
إلاexcept أبتْrefused زُلفاهُits approach أنto يُحجَباbe barred
إلا أبتْ زُلفاهُ أن يُحجَبا
Appetite has never closed its doors
Desire has not shut its doors
without its arrival refusing to be barred.
Unless its threshold refused to be veiled.
لوif شاءit wished أنto يذهبpass فيinto صخرةٍa rock
لو شاء أن يذهب في صخرةٍ
لسهَّلwould smooth الطِّيبُdeliciousness لَهُfor it مذهباa passage
لسهَّل الطِّيبُ لَهُ مذهبا
If it wished to make its way into a rock,
If it wished to vanish into a rock
its deliciousness would smooth a passage for it.
Fragrance would smooth its passage.
يدورit revolves بالنفخةِat a breath فيin جامِهِits bowl
يدور بالنفخةِ في جامِهِ
دَوْراًa turning ترىyou see الدُّهنَthe oil لهfor it لولباas a spindle
دَوْراً ترى الدُّهنَ له لولبا
It spins at a puff of breath in its bowl,
It spins in its cup with a breath
in a whirl that shows the oil as its spindle.
A spin you see oils swirling in circles.
عاونَhelped فيهin it منظرٌappearance مخبراًinner quality
عاونَ فيه منظرٌ مخبراً
مستحسَنٌthe pleasing sight ساعَدassisted مُستعذباthe pleasing taste
مستحسَنٌ ساعَد مُستعذبا
Its appearance lends help to its inner quality:
A spectacle assisted relating,
the beautiful supports the delicious.
Commending, aiding, sweetening.
كالحَسَنlike al-Hasan المُحسِنِaccomplished فيin شَدوهِhis singing
كالحَسَن المُحسِنِ في شَدوهِ
تمَّbecame perfect فأضحىand became مَطرباًdelighting in song مَضرَباin instrumental playing
تمَّ فأضحى مَطرباً مَضرَبا
Like al-Hasan, accomplished in his singing,
Like the beauty of the beautiful in his ardour,
perfected, a delight in song and instrumental play.
It was completed, so he became enraptured and struck.
مُستكثَفُthickly packed الحشوِthe filling ولكنهُbut it
مُستكثَفُ الحشوِ ولكنهُ
أرقُّmore delicate قشْراًin crust منthan نسيمthe breeze of الصِّباthe east wind
أرقُّ قشْراً من نسيم الصِّبا
Thickly packed with filling, yet
Dense in its filling, but it
more delicate in crust than the eastern breeze.
Is finer than the breeze of the zephyr.
كأنماas though قُدَّتْwere cut جلابيبُهits cloaks
كأنما قُدَّتْ جلابيبُه
منfrom أعينِthe eyes of القطرِrain الذيthat قُبّباwas formed into domes
من أعينِ القطرِ الذي قُبّبا
As though its cloaks were cut
As if its robes were tailored
from the domed eyes of rain.
From the eyes of drops that pearl.
يُخالُit seems منfrom رِقّةِthe thinness of خرشائِهits membrane
يُخالُ من رِقّةِ خرشائِه
شاركَshared with فيin الأجنحةwings الجُنْدُباthe grasshopper
شاركَ في الأجنحة الجُنْدُبا
From the thinness of its membrane, it seems
It shares in the wings of the hoopoe
to share the grasshopper's wings.
In the softness of its roughness.
لوif أنهit صُوِّرَwere fashioned منfrom خُبزِهِits pastry
لو أنه صُوِّرَ من خُبزِهِ
ثغرٌa mouth لكانit would be الواضحَbright الأشنباpearly-toothed
ثغرٌ لكان الواضحَ الأشنبا
If there were fashioned from its pastry
Had it been depicted from its bread
a mouth, it would be bright and pearly-toothed.
A mouth, it would be the obvious lipped.
منof كلevery بيضاءَwhite one يُحبُّwishes الفتىthe young man
من كل بيضاءَ يُحبُّ الفتى
أنto يجعلَmake الكفَّthe palm لهاfor it مركباa mount
أن يجعلَ الكفَّ لها مركبا
Each white piece is one the young man wishes
The lad loves to make his palm
to make the palm of his hand its mount.
A vessel for every white beauty.
مدهونةٍoiled زرقاءَbluish مدفونةٍburied
مدهونةٍ زرقاءَ مدفونةٍ
شهباءَash-gray تحكيresembling الأزرقthe blue الأشهباgray-white one
شهباءَ تحكي الأزرق الأشهبا
Oiled, bluish, buried,
An azure tattooed and buried,
ash-gray, recalling the blue-gray hue.
A starry whiteness telling of the greyish white.
مَلَذُّa delight to عينٍan eye وفمٍand a mouth حُسِّنتْmade beautiful
مَلَذُّ عينٍ وفمٍ حُسِّنتْ
وطُيِّبتand made delicious حتىuntil صباfell in love منwhoever صباfell in love
وطُيِّبت حتى صبا من صبا
A delight to eye and mouth, made beautiful
Delight of an eye and mouth, adorned
and delicious, till lovers fell in love.
And sweetened until it flowed from youth.
ذِيقَwere tasted لهاfor it اللوزُthe almonds فلاso no مُرَّةٌbitter one
ذِيقَ لها اللوزُ فلا مُرَّةٌ
مرتْpassed علىbefore الذائقthe taster إلاexcept أبىhe refused
مرتْ على الذائق إلا أبى
The almonds were sampled for it; no bitter one
Almonds were tasted by it, no bitterness
passed the taster without his refusing it.
Bittered the taster, it always refused.
وانتقدَand scrutinized السُّكَّرَthe sugar نُقَّادُهُits assayers
وانتقدَ السُّكَّرَ نُقَّادُهُ
وشاورواand consulted فيin نقدهits assay المُذهباthe gilder
وشاوروا في نقده المُذهبا
Its assayers scrutinized the sugar
And its critics appraised the sugar,
and consulted the gilder in its assay.
Debating its appraisal perplexed.
فلاso not إذاwhen العينُthe eye رأتهاsees it نَبَتْdoes it recoil
فلا إذا العينُ رأتها نَبَتْ
ولاnor إذاwhen الضِّرسthe molar علاهاbears down on it نباdoes it rebound
ولا إذا الضِّرس علاها نبا
The eye does not recoil when it sees it,
Not when the eye saw it, sprouting,
nor does the molar rebound when it presses down.
Nor when the molar bit it, sprouting.
لاتنكرواdo not disapprove الإدلالَbold familiarity منfrom وامقٍa lover
لاتنكروا الإدلالَ من وامقٍ
وجَّهَwho directed تلقاءكُمُtoward you المطلباhis quest
وجَّهَ تلقاءكُمُ المطلبا
Do not resent a lover's bold familiarity,
Do not deny the pampering of one providing
one who has directed his quest toward you.
And directing towards you the request.
إنِّيindeed I تسحّبتُpresumed familiarly علىupon طَوْلكمyour bounty
إنِّي تسحّبتُ على طَوْلكم
بَدءاًat first فماand not استخشَنْتُهfound it rough مَسحباas a path
بَدءاً فما استخشَنْتُه مَسحبا
I presumed upon your bounty
I have lingered upon your length
from the outset, and never found it a rough path.
First, and did not find lingering burdensome.
فليُنصفِso let do justice to الوُدَّaffection فتىًa young man ماجدٌnoble
فليُنصفِ الوُدَّ فتىً ماجدٌ
أضحىhas become التقاضيdemanding payment معهwith him متعباexhausting
أضحى التقاضي معه متعبا
Let a noble young man do justice to affection—
So let the affection of a gallant youth judge fairly,
collecting one's due from him has become exhausting.
Arbitration with him has become tiresome.
كأنهas though he لمnot يدرِknew أنَّthat العلاnobility
كأنه لم يدرِ أنَّ العلا
تُزْريlooks down علىon العُرفkindness إذاwhen أنصباit exhausts
تُزْري على العُرف إذا أنصبا
As though he did not know that nobility
As if he did not know that the sublime
disparages kindness when it wears one out.
Cast light upon propriety when erected.
ياO رُبَّhow many معروفٍa kindness لهit has قيمةٌvalue
يا رُبَّ معروفٍ له قيمةٌ
كُدِّرَwas clouded صافيهِits pure essence بأنْby being يُطلباrequested
كُدِّرَ صافيهِ بأنْ يُطلبا
How many a favor, valuable in itself,
O Lord of a favor it has value,
has had its purity clouded by being asked for!
Its purity was marred by requesting it!
تَبَرُّعُthe unsolicited giving of التحفةِa gift زَيْنٌis an adornment لهاto it
تَبَرُّعُ التحفةِ زَيْنٌ لها
وعيبُهاand its flaw الفاحشُglaring أنis that تُخْطباit be requested
وعيبُها الفاحشُ أن تُخْطبا
Giving a gift unasked is its adornment,
Volunteering a gift adorns it,
and its glaring fault is having to be solicited.
Its glaring flaw is that it be sought.
وعزةُand the dignity of المعروفkindness فيlies in ذُلِّهits ready yielding
وعزةُ المعروف في ذُلِّه
وذلّةُand the humiliation of العُرفkindness إذاis when استصْعِباit is made difficult
وذلّةُ العُرف إذا استصْعِبا
A favor's honor lies in its yielding readily,
Honor of a favour is in its humility,
and kindness is shamed when it is hard to obtain.
And disgrace of propriety if made difficult.
Sol 6.1