بداappeared الشيبُgray hair فيin رأسيmy head فَجَلَّىand dispelled عَمَايتيmy blindness
بدا الشيبُ في رأسي فَجَلَّى عَمَايتي
كماas كشفتْdispersed ريحa wind غماماًa cloud تَطَخْطَخَاhad grown dark and dense
كما كشفتْ ريح غماماً تَطَخْطَخَا
Gray hair appeared upon my head and dispelled my blindness,
Gray hairs have appeared in my head, revealing my blindness,
as a wind disperses a cloud grown dark and dense.
As the wind uncovered a hazy, drizzling cloud.
ولاand no بدّalternative للصبحfor dawn الجلِيّbright إذاwhen بدتappear
ولا بدّ للصبح الجلِيّ إذا بدت
تباشيْرهits first heralds أنto يسلخstrip away الليلthe night مسلخاa stripping away
تباشيْره أن يسلخ الليل مسلخا
And bright dawn must, once there appear
And surely when the bright dawn appears,
its first heralds, strip the night away.
Its first lights must peel away the night's skin.
وأضحتand became قناةُthe shaft الظَّهْرof the back قُوِّسَwas bowed متْنُهاits length
وأضحت قناةُ الظَّهْر قُوِّسَ متْنُها
وقدand indeed كانit was معدولاًstraight وإنand if عشتُI live فخخاit will grow crooked
وقد كان معدولاً وإن عشتُ فخخا
And the shaft of my back has now been bowed along its length,
And the channel of my back has become curved in its body,
though once it was straight; if I live on, it will bend further.
Though it had been straight, even if I live decrepit.
وأحدثand created نقصانُthe waning القُوىَof strength بينbetween ناظريmy sight
وأحدث نقصانُ القُوىَ بين ناظري
وسمعيand my hearing وبينand between الشخصِthe figure والصوتand the sound بَرْزخاa barrier
وسمعي وبين الشخصِ والصوت بَرْزخا
And waning strength has raised, between my sight
The diminishing of my strength has created a gap
and hearing and the figure and the sound, a barrier.
Between my eyes, my hearing, and people and voices.
وكنتand I used to إذاwhen فَوَّقتُI aimed للشخصat the figure لَمحَتيmy glance
وكنت إذا فَوَّقتُ للشخص لَمحَتي
طوتْit traversed دونهbefore reaching him سَهْباًa broad plain منof الأرضthe land سَرْبَخَاvast and barren
طوتْ دونه سَهْباً من الأرض سَرْبَخَا
Once, when I aimed my glance at a figure,
When I used to look ahead at someone, my glances
it traversed, before reaching him, a vast and barren plain.
Would fold a plain of earth beneath him.
وكنتُand I used to ينادينيhe would call me المناديthe caller بعَفْوِهِat his ease
وكنتُ يناديني المنادي بعَفْوِهِ
فَيَغْتَالُand would snatch سمعيmy hearing دونshort of مَدْعَاهُhis calling-place فرسخاa parasang
فَيَغْتَالُ سمعي دون مَدْعَاهُ فرسخا
Once a caller would call me at his ease,
And the caller would call me in his kindness,
and my hearing would snatch his call a parasang from where he called.
While my hearing would miss his call from afar.
فحالَتْthen turned صروفُthe vicissitudes الدهرof time تنسخerasing جِدَّتيmy freshness
فحالَتْ صروفُ الدهر تنسخ جِدَّتي
وماand not أُمْلِيَتْwas dictated منfrom قبلُbefore إلاexcept لتُنْسَخاto be erased
وما أُمْلِيَتْ من قبلُ إلا لتُنْسَخا
Then time's vicissitudes turned to erasing my freshness,
So time's turns copy out my oldness,
which had been dictated before only to be erased.
And nothing was dictated before except to be copied.
وأصبحتُand I became عَمَّاan uncle للفتاةto the young woman مُوَقَّراًrevered
وأصبحتُ عَمَّا للفتاة مُوَقَّراً
وقدand indeed كنتI was أيامin the days of الشبابyouth لهاto her أَخَاa brother
وقد كنت أيام الشباب لها أَخَا
Now I am a revered uncle to the young woman,
And I have become venerable to the girl,
though in the days of youth I was a brother to her.
When in the days of youth I was her brother.
وماand no عَجَبٌwonder أنthat كانwas ذاكthat فإنهfor the fact is
وما عَجَبٌ أن كان ذاك فإنه
إذاwhen المرءa man أشْوَتْهُstruck him without killing him الحوادثُmisfortunes شَيَّخَاhe grew old
إذا المرء أشْوَتْهُ الحوادثُ شَيَّخَا
It is no wonder that this happened, for
It is no wonder that this was so, for when
when misfortunes strike a man without killing him, he grows old.
Afflictions made a man old, he was aged.
بَلَىrather عجبٌa wonder أنيthat I جَزعتdespaired ولمand not أكنI was
بَلَى عجبٌ أني جَزعت ولم أكن
جَزوعاًprone to anguish إذاwhen ماever عضَّهُbit him الدهرُtime أَخَّخَاhe groaned 'Ah!'
جَزوعاً إذا ما عضَّهُ الدهرُ أَخَّخَا
Rather, the wonder is that I despaired, though I was not
But it is a wonder that I was troubled, when I was not
one who, when time bit him, groaned 'Ah!' in anguish.
One to be troubled if time's biting injured him.
عَزَاءَكَyour consolation فاذكرهُso recall it ولاand do not تنسforget مِدْحةًa praise-song
عَزَاءَكَ فاذكرهُ ولا تنس مِدْحةً
لأَبْلَجَfor a bright-browed man يحكيresembles سُنَّةthe face of البدرthe full moon أبلْخَاproud
لأَبْلَجَ يحكي سُنَّة البدر أبلْخَا
Recall your consolation, and do not forget a song of praise
Your consolation—remember it, and do not forget praise
for a proud, bright-browed man whose face mirrors the full moon.
Of Abu Al-Abbas, who relates the full moon's attributes.
لهhe has سِيمِياءٌa distinctive mark بينbetween عَيْنَيْthe two eyes of مُبَارَكٍa blessed man
له سِيمِياءٌ بين عَيْنَيْ مُبَارَكٍ
إذاwhen ماever اجتلاهاbeholds it رَوْعُthe fear ذيof one with الروعfear أفْرَخَاsubsides
إذا ما اجتلاها رَوْعُ ذي الروع أفْرَخَا
A blessed man, he bears a distinctive mark between his eyes;
He has a mark between the eyes of the blessed one,
when a frightened man's fear beholds it, that fear subsides.
When the terror of possessing terror alarmed him.
صَريخٌa rescuer لوif اسْتَصْرخْتَهyou sought his rescue ياO ابنson of طاهرٍTahir
صَريخٌ لو اسْتَصْرخْتَه يا ابن طاهرٍ
علىagainst الدهرtime إذwhen أخنىwrought ruin عليكupon you لأَصْرخاhe would surely help
على الدهر إذ أخنى عليك لأَصْرخا
A rescuer—if you sought his rescue, O son of Tahir,
A cry—if you appealed to it against time
against time when it ravaged you, he would surely help.
When it harmed you, O Son of Tahir—would cry out.
منof المُصْعَبيينthe Mus'abids الذينwho تفرَّعواrose in branches
من المُصْعَبيين الذين تفرَّعوا
شَمَاريخَpeaks أطْوادٍof mountains منof المجدglory شُمَّخاtowering
شَمَاريخَ أطْوادٍ من المجد شُمَّخا
Of the Mus'abids, who rose in branches
Of the Mus`ab, whose branches
as towering peaks of mountains of glory.
Shot up lofty pillars of glory, arched.
أُناسٌa people متىwhenever ساءلتyou question نَافَسone envying حظَّهمْtheir fortune
أُناسٌ متى ساءلت نَافَس حظَّهمْ
بأيَّامهمabout their days فيin الجودgenerosity والبأسand valor بَخْبَخَاhe cries 'Bravo!'
بأيَّامهم في الجود والبأس بَخْبَخَا
A people—whenever you question one who envies their fortune
Men, if you asked them, their fortune vied
about their days of bounty and valor, he cries 'Bravo!'
With their days in generosity and valor, seething.
إذاwhen ماever المساعيthe noble endeavors أُجْريَتْwere run حلباتُهاtheir racecourses
إذا ما المساعي أُجْريَتْ حلباتُها
بَدَوْاthey appeared غُرراًas white blazes فيin أَوجُهthe faces of السَّبْقvictory شُدَّخاbroad-spreading
بَدَوْا غُرراً في أَوجُه السَّبْق شُدَّخا
When the racecourses of noble endeavors are run,
Whenever their endeavors' tracks were pursued,
they appear as broad white blazes upon the faces of victory.
They appeared as the outstanding steeds of the lead, hock-marked.
بِهمthrough them جُعِلwas made المجدُglory التَّليداancestral مُصَدَّراًforemost
بِهم جُعِل المجدُ التَّليدا مُصَدَّراً
وليسand is not بإنْسيٍّby any mortal سواهمother than them مُؤَرَّخاdated
وليس بإنْسيٍّ سواهم مُؤَرَّخا
Through them ancestral glory was set at the forefront,
Through them enduring glory was exported,
and its history is reckoned by no mortals but them.
And none but them was chronicled as human.
تَعَدَّgo beyond bounds وأسرفand be lavish فيin مديحthe praise of ابنson of طاهرٍTahir
تَعَدَّ وأسرف في مديح ابن طاهرٍ
فلستfor you are not علىfor الإِسرافexcess فيهconcerning him مُوَبَّخَاreproached
فلست على الإِسراف فيه مُوَبَّخَا
Go beyond bounds and lavish praise on Ibn Tahir:
You have transgressed and been excessive in praising the Son of Tahir,
you will not be reproached for excess in praising him.
Yet I am not to be blamed for excess in praising him.
أبوfather of أحمدٍAhmad ليثُthe lion of البلادthe land وغيثهاand its rain
أبو أحمدٍ ليثُ البلاد وغيثها
إذاwhen حطْمَةٌa crushing famine لمdid not تُبقleave فيin العظمthe bone منقخاmarrow
إذا حطْمَةٌ لم تُبق في العظم منقخا
Abu Ahmad is the land's lion and its rain,
Abu Ahmad, the lion of the land and its rain—
when crushing famine leaves no marrow in the bone.
If annihilators left no marrow in the bone—
فتىa young man لمnot يزلhas ceased فيat رأسthe summit of علياءَa height دونهاbeneath it
فتى لم يزل في رأس علياءَ دونها
بمَرْقَبةon a lookout crag باضَlaid eggs الأُنُوقُthe vulture وفَرَّخاand hatched young
بمَرْقَبة باضَ الأُنُوقُ وفَرَّخا
A young man ever at the summit of a height beneath which
A lad who always at the summit of heights beneath it
on a lookout crag the vulture has laid eggs and hatched its young.
In vigil, dawn shone and nested.
إذاwhen راحhe goes forth فيamid رَيَّاthe fragrance of نَثَاهhis renown حسبتَهyou would think him
إذا راح في رَيَّا نَثَاه حسبتَه
هنالِكthere بالمسكwith musk الذَّكيِّrichly fragrant مُضَمَّخاanointed
هنالِك بالمسك الذَّكيِّ مُضَمَّخا
When he goes forth amid the fragrance of his renown, you would think him
When he walked about, you'd think him there
there anointed with richly fragrant musk.
Soaked in pure musk.
يُنِيخُmake kneel المَطيَّthe mounts الراغبونthe petitioners ببابهat his gate
يُنِيخُ المَطيَّ الراغبون ببابه
ولوand even if لمnot ينيخُوهthey made them kneel إذنthen لَتَنَوّخاthey would surely kneel
ولو لم ينيخُوه إذن لَتَنَوّخا
Petitioners make their mounts kneel at his gate;
Yearning riders halt his mount,
even if they did not make them kneel, they would kneel themselves.
And if they did not halt it, it would kneel.
تَظلّyou continue متَىwhenever صافحتَyou clasp أسْرارَthe creases of كَفِّهhis palm
تَظلّ متَى صافحتَ أسْرارَ كَفِّه
تَمَسُّtouching عيوناًsprings منfrom نَداهُنَّtheir bounty نُضَّخَاgushing
تَمَسُّ عيوناً من نَداهُنَّ نُضَّخَا
Whenever you clasp the creases of his palm, you keep
You remain, when you grasp the secrets of his palm,
touching springs that gush with their bounty.
Touching eyes watered from his bounty.
إذاwhen وَعَدَhe promises اهْتزتstirs لهfor him الأرضthe earth نَضْرَةًwith verdure
إذا وَعَدَ اهْتزت له الأرض نَضْرَةً
وأنبتand sprouted منهاof it كلُّall ماthat كانwas أسْبَخاsalty and barren
وأنبت منها كلُّ ما كان أسْبَخا
When he promises, the earth stirs lushly for him,
If he promised, the land quaked greenly for him,
and every patch of it that was salt-barren puts forth growth.
And sprouted all that was withered.
وإنand if أوْعَدَhe threatens ارتَجَّتit quakes فإنthen if تمَّis fulfilled سُخطهُhis wrath
وإن أوْعَدَ ارتَجَّت فإن تمَّ سُخطهُ
تهاوتtumble جبالthe mountains of الأرضthe earth فيinto الأرضthe earth سُوَّخاsinking
تهاوت جبال الأرض في الأرض سُوَّخا
And if he threatens, it quakes; if his wrath is fulfilled,
But if he threatened, the mountains would shake,
the earth's mountains tumble, sinking into the earth.
And collapse into the earth, pounded down.
ولستَand you will not تُلاقيmeet عالماًa learned man ذاpossessed of براعةٍmastery
ولستَ تُلاقي عالماً ذا براعةٍ
بأبرَعَmore skilled منهthan he فيin العومswimming وأرسخاand more firmly grounded
بأبرَعَ منه في العوم وأرسخا
You will meet no learned man possessed of mastery
You will not meet a scholar more skillful than him
more skilled than he in swimming, or more firmly grounded.
In swimming and firmer.
ولمand not ترyou have seen ناراًa fire أوقدتkindled مثلlike نارهhis fire
ولم تر ناراً أوقدت مثل ناره
لدىduring الحربwar أشوىbetter at roasting للأعاديfor enemies وأطْبخاand better at cooking
لدى الحرب أشوى للأعادي وأطْبخا
You have seen no fire kindled like his,
You have not seen a fire kindled like his fire
in war, better at roasting and cooking his enemies.
In battle, more scorching and cooking to the foe.
كفىsufficed for زمناًan age أدّىbrought forth الأميرَthe prince وأَهْلَهand his family
كفى زمناً أدّى الأميرَ وأَهْلَه
بهin him وبهمْand in them إنif حاولit sought البَذْخَgrandeur مَبْذَخَاgrounds for boasting
به وبهمْ إن حاول البَذْخَ مَبْذَخَا
An age that brought forth the prince and his family has enough
Enough time he has given the Emir and his family.
in him and them to boast of, if it seeks grandeur.
Through him and them, if vainglory aspired, it was humbled.
هوhe الطِّرْفُthe thoroughbred أجرتْهset him racing الملوكthe kings ومسَّحتand stroked
هو الطِّرْفُ أجرتْه الملوك ومسَّحت
قديماًlong ago لهfor him وجهاًa face أغرَّwhite-blazed مُشَمْرَخَاbearing a long white streak
قديماً له وجهاً أغرَّ مُشَمْرَخَا
He is the thoroughbred whom kings set racing; they stroked
He is the winking one kings have crowned,
long ago his radiant face, marked with a long white blaze.
And of old wiped a cheek more twinkling.
إذاwhen هوhe قادled المُصعبيينthe Mus'abids فاغتدَواso they set forth at dawn
إذا هو قاد المُصعبيين فاغتدَوا
جَحَاجحَةًmighty chiefs تَهْديleading غَطاريفnoblemen شُرَّخاin their youth
جَحَاجحَةً تَهْدي غَطاريف شُرَّخا
When he leads the Mus'abids, they set forth at dawn
When he leads the Mus`ab, they become
as mighty chiefs leading young noblemen.
Slayers toppling the humped backs of armor.
فأيَّةَso whatever دارٍdwelling للعداof the foes شاءhe wished جَاسَهاhe overran it
فأيَّةَ دارٍ للعدا شاء جَاسَها
وأيةَand whatever أرضٍland للعداof the foes شاءhe wished دَوّخاhe subdued
وأيةَ أرضٍ للعدا شاء دَوّخا
So whatever dwelling of his foes he chooses, he overruns;
So which house did he desire to storm
and whatever land of his foes he chooses, he subdues.
And which land did he desire to pound down?
بهthrough him أيَّدَstrengthened اللَّهGod الخلافةthe caliphate بعدماafter
به أيَّدَ اللَّه الخلافة بعدما
وَهىweakened كُلَّevery وَهْيٍweakening رُكْنُهاits pillar فتفسَّخاthen crumbled
وَهى كُلَّ وَهْيٍ رُكْنُها فتفسَّخا
Through him God strengthened the caliphate after
Through him God supported the caliphate after
its pillar had weakened utterly and fallen apart.
Its pillars tottered and split apart.
هوhe الطَّاهرthe pure one ابنson of الطَّاهرينthe pure ones الألىwho مَضَوْاwent before
هو الطَّاهر ابن الطَّاهرين الألى مَضَوْا
ولمand did not يَلْبَسواwear عرضاًa reputation مُذالاًdebased مُطَيَّخاbesmirched
ولم يَلْبَسوا عرضاً مُذالاً مُطَيَّخا
He is the pure one, son of the pure ones who went before,
He is the pure son of two pure ones who have gone,
and never wore a reputation debased and besmirched.
And did not wear a disgraced, contaminated garment.
ومُسْتَمْنِحِيand one seeking from me مدحاًpraise كمدحيهlike my praise of him بعدماafter
ومُسْتَمْنِحِي مدحاً كمدحيه بعدما
تمكَّنbecame established إخلاصيmy devotion لهto him فَتَمَخَّخَاand reached the marrow
تمكَّن إخلاصي له فَتَمَخَّخَا
And one who sought from me praise like my praise of him, after
And I am begging praise like my praising him, after
my devotion to him had taken hold and reached the marrow—
My loyalty to him has become firmly rooted.
فقلتُso I said لهto him عنيaway from me إليكoff with you فلنfor I shall not أرىI regard
فقلتُ له عني إليك فلن أرى
هواكyour desire لمثليfor one like me فيin رمادكyour ashes مَنْفَخَاbellows
هواك لمثلي في رمادك مَنْفَخَا
I told him, 'Away from me! Off with you! For I shall not regard
So I said to him, turning my eye to you—I will not see
your desire for one like me as bellows for your ashes.'
Passion for you in your ashes kindled by the likes of me.
Sol 6.1