ماnot مَدْمَعيmy tearful eye حَذرَfor fear of النَّوىparting بقريحِsore
ما مَدْمَعي حَذرَ النَّوى بقريحِ
فدعِso let الغُرابَthe raven يَصِيحُcry كلَّevery مَصيحِcry
فدعِ الغُرابَ يَصِيحُ كلَّ مَصيحِ
My tearful eye is not sore from fear of parting;
My tears did not deter fate's determination,
so let the raven scream as loudly as it will.
So leave the raven to caw each cry.
شُغْليmy occupation بإطراءِwith praising الذيthe one who مَهْمَاwhatever ادَّعَىhe claims
شُغْلي بإطراءِ الذي مَهْمَا ادَّعَى
مُطْرِيهِhis praiser أعربَspeaks plainly عنهabout him بالتَّصْحيحِwith accuracy
مُطْرِيهِ أعربَ عنه بالتَّصْحيحِ
My concern is praising one: whatever the claim,
My preoccupation is with praising him who, though he claims,
his praiser describes him plainly and truly.
My eulogy corrects his claim.
أعنيI mean المُسَمَّىthe one named باسمwith the name of أصدقِthe truest واعِدٍpromise-maker
أعني المُسَمَّى باسم أصدقِ واعِدٍ
وَعْداًin promise ذَبيحَthe sacrificial victim of اللهGod خَيْرَthe best ذبيحِsacrificial victim
وَعْداً ذَبيحَ الله خَيْرَ ذبيحِ
I mean the man named after the truest maker of promises,
I mean him named with the name of the most truthful promising one,
true in his promise—God's sacrificial victim, the finest of victims.
A promise slaughtered by God - the best slaughtered.
للّهGod be praised for إسماعيلُIsma'il جِدلُa stalwart of كتَابَةٍthe scribal craft
للّه إسماعيلُ جِدلُ كتَابَةٍ
أعنيI mean أخاthe kinsman of شَيْبَانShayban لاnot ابنson of صَبيحِSabih
أعني أخا شَيْبَان لا ابن صَبيحِ
God be praised for Isma'il, stalwart of the scribal art!
To God is Ismael, the debate of writing,
I mean the kinsman of Shayban, not Ibn Sabih.
I mean the brother of Shayban not the son of Sabeeh.
حملbore الفَوادحَcrushing burdens فاستقلَّand rose with them ومثْلُهand one like him
حمل الفَوادحَ فاستقلَّ ومثْلُه
حملbore الفوادحcrushing burdens غَيْرnot ذيpossessing تَبليحِexhaustion
حمل الفوادح غَيْر ذي تَبليحِ
He bore crushing burdens and rose with them; a man like him
He carried burdens so he gained independence, and the like of him
bears crushing burdens without exhaustion.
Carried burdens other than the exhausted.
ماnot ضرَّharmed منthe one who زمَّreined الكتابةَthe scribal craft زَمَّةًa firm reining
ما ضرَّ من زمَّ الكتابةَ زَمَّةً
أنthat كانwas مَنْبتُهُhis birthplace بأرضin the land of الشِّيحِwormwood
أن كان مَنْبتُهُ بأرض الشِّيحِ
It does not harm one who firmly holds the scribal reins
It did not harm that he made writing his career,
that his roots lie in a land of wormwood.
If his origin was in the land of Sheeh.
ماnot ضرَّهharmed him أنthat لمnot تكنwere سَمُرَاتُهُhis acacias
ما ضرَّه أن لم تكن سَمُرَاتُهُ
نَخْلاًdate palms يُلَقِّحُهُpollinate it ذووthose skilled in التلقيحِpollination
نَخْلاً يُلَقِّحُهُ ذوو التلقيحِ
Nor did it harm him that his acacias were not
It did not harm him that his offspring were not
date palms pollinated by those skilled in pollination.
Date palms pollinated by those of pollination.
حَلَّuntied العِصَابthe udder-bands عنfrom الذينthose whom يليهُمُhe governs
حَلَّ العِصَاب عن الذين يليهُمُ
وأدَرَّand made milk flow بالإبْساسِwith coaxing والتَّمْسيحِand stroking
وأدَرَّ بالإبْساسِ والتَّمْسيحِ
He untied the udder-bands of those he governs,
He relieved the helpless, so he began
and made milk flow with coaxing and stroking.
With gentleness and stroking.
وأراحَand gave relief منfrom أهلthe men of الفداءransom فأصبحتْso became
وأراحَ من أهل الفداء فأصبحتْ
غاراتُهمtheir raids مأمُونَةَno longer feared التصبيحِattacking at dawn
غاراتُهم مأمُونَةَ التصبيحِ
And he gave relief from the ransom-takers, so
And gave relief to the people of redemption, so their
their raids no longer threatened at dawn.
Raids became safe at dawn.
إلَّاif not يُزِحْdispel عِلَلَthe afflictions of الرَّعيَّةِthe subjects عَدْلُهُhis justice
إلَّا يُزِحْ عِلَلَ الرَّعيَّةِ عَدْلُهُ
فيهمْamong them فماthen not شَيْءٌanything لهاfor them بمُزيحِable to dispel
فيهمْ فما شَيْءٌ لها بمُزيحِ
If his justice does not dispel his subjects' afflictions
Except he removes the illness of the subjects with his justice,
among them, then nothing can dispel them.
So nothing of it remains with them.
ولقدْand indeed بلاَهُtested him إمامُهُhis imam وأميرُهand his commander
ولقدْ بلاَهُ إمامُهُ وأميرُه
فكلاهماso both of them ألْفَاهُfound him حَقَّtruly نَصيحِa loyal adviser
فكلاهما ألْفَاهُ حَقَّ نَصيحِ
His imam and his commander have indeed tested him;
His imam and prince tested him,
both found him a truly loyal adviser.
Yet he found both to be truly advising.
وأراهُand I see him لاnot يِنْسىforgetting الوفاءَloyalty لشدةٍbecause of hardship
وأراهُ لا يِنْسى الوفاءَ لشدةٍ
تُنْسيmakes forgotten الوفاءَloyalty ولاnor لفتْرَةِbecause of a lull in ريحِthe wind
تُنْسي الوفاءَ ولا لفتْرَةِ ريحِ
I see him never forgetting loyalty because of hardship
And he saw him not forget loyalty despite
that makes men forget it, nor because of a lull in the wind.
Severity that makes one forget loyalty, and not due to apathy.
كمhow many a ضربةٍblow رَعْلاَءَslashing بلnay كمhow many a طعنةٍspear-thrust
كم ضربةٍ رَعْلاَءَ بل كم طعنةٍ
نجلاءwide-gaping بلnay كمhow many a رَمْيَةٍarrow-shot إذْبيحِdeadly
نجلاء بل كم رَمْيَةٍ إذْبيحِ
How many a slashing blow—nay, how many a thrust
How many deadly blows, but how many fatal stabs,
wide-gaping—nay, how many a deadly arrow-shot
And how many deathly shots.
خطرتْswung بهاwith them كفَّاهُhis two hands دونin defense of إمامِهhis imam
خطرتْ بها كفَّاهُ دون إمامِه
فيin ظلِّthe shadow of يوْمٍa day للأكفِّfor hands مُطيحِsending flying
في ظلِّ يوْمٍ للأكفِّ مُطيحِ
did his hands deliver in defense of his imam,
His palms warded off from his imam
in the shadow of a day that sent hands flying!
In the shade of a day lethal for palms.
سائلask بذلكabout that عَنْهof him حربَthe war of المهتدِيal-Muhtadi
سائل بذلك عَنْه حربَ المهتدِي
وكباشَهَاand its rams منamong ناطحone butting ونطيحِand one butted
وكباشَهَا من ناطح ونطيحِ
Ask al-Muhtadi's war about those deeds of his,
Ask regarding this the war of the Guided one,
and its rams, both the butting and the butted.
And its ferocious camels of butting and goring.
فلتخبرنَّكthen let it surely tell you عنabout جِلاَدِthe swordplay of مُغَامِسٍone plunging into battle
فلتخبرنَّك عن جِلاَدِ مُغَامِسٍ
ولتخبرنَّكand let it surely tell you عنabout طِرَادِthe charges of مُشِيحِa resolute warrior
ولتخبرنَّك عن طِرَادِ مُشِيحِ
Then let it surely tell you of a fighter's swordplay amid the fray,
So let it inform you of the brave plunging,
and let it surely tell you of a resolute warrior's charges;
And let it inform you of the quick stabbing.
ولتخبرنَّكand let it surely tell you عنabout نضالthe archery of مُطَمَّحa high-aiming archer
ولتخبرنَّك عن نضال مُطَمَّح
باليَثْربيَّةwith the Yathribi bow أيَّماwhat mighty تطميحِlofting of shots
باليَثْربيَّة أيَّما تطميحِ
and let it surely tell you of a high-aiming archer's shooting
And let it inform you of the eager struggle
with the Yathribi bow—what lofty shooting!
For Yathrib - what great ambition.
ممنone of those who إذاwhen حَفَزَpropels السهامَthe arrows بِقوسهwith his bow
ممن إذا حَفَزَ السهامَ بِقوسه
فَحَّتْhissed أفاعِيهنَّtheir vipers أيَّwhat فحيحِhissing
فَحَّتْ أفاعِيهنَّ أيَّ فحيحِ
One who, when he propels the arrows with his bow,
When he incites the arrows with his bow,
makes their vipers hiss—what a hissing!
Their snakes pour out deadly hisses.
أعطىgave الكريهَةَbattle حقَّهاits due عَنْon behalf of غيْرِهِothers
أعطى الكريهَةَ حقَّها عَنْ غيْرِهِ
وكفَىand spared كِفَاحَface-to-face combat with الموتِdeath كُلَّevery كَفِيحِcombatant
وكفَى كِفَاحَ الموتِ كُلَّ كَفِيحِ
He paid battle its due on behalf of others,
He gave ugliness its right from another,
and spared every combatant the face-to-face struggle with death,
And sufficed to fight death - every gasping.
والحربُwhile war تَعْذِمُbites بالسيوفwith swords مُدِلَّةًcoquettishly
والحربُ تَعْذِمُ بالسيوف مُدِلَّةً
دَلّاًa coyness علىtoward الخُطَّابِthe suitors غيرَnot مَلِيحِbeautiful
دَلّاً على الخُطَّابِ غيرَ مَلِيحِ
while war bit with swords, playing the coquette,
And war grows fierce with swords bared,
with an unlovely coyness toward her suitors.
Evidence to the letters of no beauty.
صَعْبٍunyielding إذاwhen صَعُبَتْwas unyielding عليهtoward him قرينةٌa consort
صَعْبٍ إذا صَعُبَتْ عليه قرينةٌ
حَتَّىuntil تُسمِّحَshe yields أيَّمَاthe fullest تسميحِyielding
حَتَّى تُسمِّحَ أيَّمَا تسميحِ
Unyielding when a consort is unyielding toward him,
Difficult when a mate becomes difficult for him
until she yields with utter compliance;
Until she allows what allowance she allows.
فإذاbut when القرينةُthe consort سَمَّحَتْyielded لمْdid not يُولِهاaccord her
فإذا القرينةُ سَمَّحَتْ لمْ يُولِها
خُلُقْاًa manner منamong الأخلاَقِmanners غيرَother than سجيحِgentle
خُلُقْاً من الأخلاَقِ غيرَ سجيحِ
but when the consort yields, he accords her
So when the mate allowed, he did not show her
no manner but a gentle one.
A manner from manners other than honorable.
خُلِقَتْwere created يداهhis two hands يَدٌone hand لتجرَحَto wound فيamong العداthe enemies
خُلِقَتْ يداه يَدٌ لتجرَحَ في العدا
ويدٌand one hand لِتَأْسُوَto heal جُرْحَthe wound of كُلِّevery جريحِwounded person
ويدٌ لِتَأْسُوَ جُرْحَ كُلِّ جريحِ
His two hands were made: one to wound his foes,
His hands were created - a hand to wound the enemies
and one to heal the wound of every wounded person.
And a hand to dress the wound of every wounded.
وإذاand when ارْتأىhe forms رَأياًa judgment فأثْقَبُthen the keenest ناِظرٍobserver
وإذا ارْتأى رَأياً فأثْقَبُ ناِظرٍ
نظراًin vision وأبْعَدُهُand the farthest-reaching of them مَدَىin range تطريحِof thought-casting
نظراً وأبْعَدُهُ مَدَى تطريحِ
When he forms a judgment, he is the keenest observer
And if he opines an opinion - the most insightful
in vision, and the farthest-reaching in casting his thoughts.
Insight, and the furthest in its scope.
تُبدِيreveals لهto him سِرَّthe secret of الغُيوُبِthe unseen كَهَانةٌdivination
تُبدِي له سِرَّ الغُيوُبِ كَهَانةٌ
يوُحِيinspires بهاit رِئْيٌa familiar spirit كَرِئْيِlike the familiar of سطيحِSatih
يوُحِي بها رِئْيٌ كَرِئْيِ سطيحِ
Divination reveals to him the secrets of the unseen,
Divination reveals to him the unseen secrets
inspired by a familiar spirit like the familiar of Satih.
Suggested by dreams like the dreams of the truthful.
سَبَقَتْoutstripped بحُنْكتِهِin his seasoned wisdom التجارِبَexperience فطرةٌinnate nature
سَبَقَتْ بحُنْكتِهِ التجارِبَ فطرةٌ
كالشَّوكَةِlike a thorn اسْتَغْنَتْhad no need عنof التنقيحِsharpening
كالشَّوكَةِ اسْتَغْنَتْ عن التنقيحِ
His innate nature outstripped experience in seasoned wisdom;
His instinct surpassed experiences, so his nature
like a thorn, it had no need of sharpening.
Sufficed without refinement.
لوif لاnot for أبُوAbu (father of) الصقرal-Saqr (the falcon) الفسيحُexpansive خَلائِقاًin character
لو لا أبُو الصقر الفسيحُ خَلائِقاً
أضحىwould become فَسِيحُthe expanse of الأرضthe earth غيرَnot فسيحِspacious
أضحى فَسِيحُ الأرض غيرَ فسيحِ
Were it not for Abu al-Saqr, expansive in character,
If not for Abu Al-Saqr Al-Faseeh in manners,
the earth's wide expanse would have become narrow.
The spacious earth would be other than spacious.
رحُبَتْgrew spacious بهthrough him الدنياthe world علىfor سُكَّانِهاits inhabitants
رحُبَتْ به الدنيا على سُكَّانِها
منfrom بعدماafter كانتit had been كَخَطِّlike the outline of ضريحِa grave
من بعدما كانت كَخَطِّ ضريحِ
Through him the world grew spacious for its inhabitants,
It welcomed him over its inhabitants
after it had been as cramped as a grave's outline.
After it had been like a burial ground.
طَلْقُopen المُحَيِّاin countenance واليدينand in both hands سَمَيْدَعٌa noble lord
طَلْقُ المُحَيِّا واليدين سَمَيْدَعٌ
سَهْلُwelcoming المَبَاءَةِin dwelling ذوpossessing عِراضٍgrounds فِيحِspacious
سَهْلُ المَبَاءَةِ ذو عِراضٍ فِيحِ
Open-faced and open-handed, a noble lord,
Easy, gentle, soft hands,
welcoming in his dwelling, with broad, spacious grounds.
Easy pardon, loud voice.
نَهَكَsubdued الحياءُmodesty جُفُونَهُhis eyelids وكلامَهُand his speech
نَهَكَ الحياءُ جُفُونَهُ وكلامَهُ
فغداso he became مريضاًsickly فيin ثيابِthe clothes of صحيحِa healthy man
فغدا مريضاً في ثيابِ صحيحِ
Modesty has subdued his eyelids and his speech,
Shyness weakened his eyelids and speech
so he became a sick man in a healthy man's clothes,
So he became outwardly healthy but inwardly sick.
لاnot منfrom قِرافinvolvement in دَنيَّةٍa base deed لكنهbut it is
لا من قِراف دَنيَّةٍ لكنه
كرمnobility بلاwithout مَذْقadulteration ولاnor تضييحِdilution
كرم بلا مَذْق ولا تضييحِ
not from involvement in a base deed, but from
Not of low worldly pleasures, but he is
nobility, unmixed and undiluted.
Generous without taste or seasoning.
تبدُوappears لسائلهto his petitioner صَفيحَةُthe broad surface of وجههhis face
تبدُو لسائله صَفيحَةُ وجهه
وكأنهاand as though it were سَيْفٌa sword بِكَفِّin the hand of مُلِيحِa brandisher
وكأنها سَيْفٌ بِكَفِّ مُلِيحِ
The broad surface of his face appears to his petitioner
His bright face appears to the asker
like a sword in a brandisher's hand.
As if a sword in a graceful palm.
وكأنَّand as though فيهِin him أرْيَحِيَّةَthe generous exhilaration of نَشْوَةٍintoxication
وكأنَّ فيهِ أرْيَحِيَّةَ نَشْوَةٍ
منfrom قهْوَةٍwine تُرْخيloosens الإِزارَthe waistcloth قَدِيحِladled out
من قهْوَةٍ تُرْخي الإِزارَ قَدِيحِ
And he seems filled with the generous exhilaration of intoxication
And as if in it is the stimulation of delight
from ladled wine that loosens the waistcloth.
From coffee that loosens the waistband.
أعلىraised the value of المحامدَvirtues بعدafter رُخْصٍcheapness إنهindeed he
أعلى المحامدَ بعد رُخْصٍ إنه
يبْتاعُbuys كاسدهاtheir unsold stock بِكُلِّwith every ربيحِprofit
يبْتاعُ كاسدها بِكُلِّ ربيحِ
He made virtues dear after they had grown cheap; he
He extols virtues after easiness, he
buys their unsold stock with every profit.
Buys its impurities with any profit.
بذلspent الكرائمَprecious things فيon المكارمnoble deeds تاجِرٌa merchant
بذل الكرائمَ في المكارم تاجِرٌ
جَلَّتْwas too lofty تجارَتُهُhis trade عنfor التَّرْقِيحِpetty profit-seeking
جَلَّتْ تجارَتُهُ عن التَّرْقِيحِ
A merchant who spends precious things on noble deeds,
A merchant of generosity in magnanimity,
his trade is far above petty profit-seeking.
His trade is too lofty for bartering.
حَامٍa protector of حَقِيقَتَهُhis honor مُبِيحٌfreely bestowing مَالَهُhis wealth
حَامٍ حَقِيقَتَهُ مُبِيحٌ مَالَهُ
ناهيكَsufficient for you منas a حامprotector بهin him ومُبيحِand a generous giver
ناهيكَ من حام به ومُبيحِ
He protects his honor and freely bestows his wealth;
A protector whose reality a bestower makes public his wealth -
what a protector and generous giver you have in him!
Not to mention one who protects and makes public.
يعطيgives اللَّهَاgifts إعطاءَwith the giving of سمْحٍone generous باللُّهَاwith gifts
يعطي اللَّهَا إعطاءَ سمْحٍ باللُّهَا
لَحزٍtight-fisted علىover الحَسَبِfamily honor التَّلِيدِancestral شحيحِjealously protective
لَحزٍ على الحَسَبِ التَّلِيدِ شحيحِ
He bestows gifts with a giver's openhandedness,
He gives spontaneously without stinginess,
yet is tight-fisted and jealous over ancestral honor.
To a cheeky one of noble lineage yet miserly.
إلّاif not يُتِحْallots صَرْفُthe vicissitudes of الزمانtime لمالِهِto his wealth
إلّا يُتِحْ صَرْفُ الزمان لمالِهِ
حَيْناًdestruction يُتِحْهُhe allots it دونَbefore كلevery مُتيحallotter
حَيْناً يُتِحْهُ دونَ كل مُتيح
If time's vicissitudes do not bring his wealth
Except that the course of time makes his wealth incline
to ruin, he does so before anyone else can.
At times he inclines it without any incliner.
أضحتhave become حِيَاضُthe basins of المُعْطِشينَthe thirsty بجودهthrough his generosity
أضحت حِيَاضُ المُعْطِشينَ بجوده
فَهَفَتْso quivered جَوَانِبُهاtheir sides منfrom التَّطْفِيحoverfilling
فَهَفَتْ جَوَانِبُها من التَّطْفِيح
Through his generosity, the thirsty people's basins filled,
The thirst quenchers became - through his generosity -
and their sides trembled with overflowing.
Overfilled, their sides spilling over.
وردواthey came to مناهِلَهhis watering places فَمَاحُواthen they scooped water واسْتَقَوْاand drew water
وردوا مناهِلَه فَمَاحُوا واسْتَقَوْا
منهنّfrom them أعذبَthe sweetest مُسْتقىًdrawn water وَمُمِيحِand scooped water
منهنّ أعذبَ مُسْتقىً وَمُمِيحِ
They came to his watering places and scooped and drew
They returned to his springs so they wiped off and quenched their thirst
from them the sweetest water drawn or scooped.
From them - the sweetest and most gratifying drink.
لوif أنهhe وَسَمَmarked الرياضَthe meadows بجودِهِwith his generosity
لو أنه وَسَمَ الرياضَ بجودِهِ
أَمِنَتْwould be safe حَدائِقُهاtheir gardens منfrom التَّصْوِيحِwithering
أَمِنَتْ حَدائِقُها من التَّصْوِيحِ
If he marked the meadows with his bounty,
If he marked the gardens with his generosity,
their gardens would be safe from withering.
Their orchards would be safe from plunder.
ذوpossessing صُورَةٍa form قَمَريَّةٍmoonlike بَشَرِيَّةٍhuman
ذو صُورَةٍ قَمَريَّةٍ بَشَرِيَّةٍ
تَسْتَنْطِقُmakes speak الأفواهَthe mouths بالتسبيحwith glorification of God
تَسْتَنْطِقُ الأفواهَ بالتسبيح
His is a moonlike form, though human,
Of lunar beauty and human handsomeness -
that moves mouths to glorify God.
That makes mouths pronounce the declaration of faith.
وإذاand when تأمَّلَhe considers نَفْسَهhimself لمْdoes not يقْتَصِرْconfine himself
وإذا تأمَّلَ نَفْسَه لمْ يقْتَصِرْ
منهاof himself علىto التصويرgiving form والتَّشْبِيحِand bodily shaping
منها على التصوير والتَّشْبِيحِ
When he considers himself, he does not content himself
And if he contemplates himself, he does not stop
with his outward shape and bodily frame,
At depicting and adorning himself.
حتىuntil يُزَيِّنَهَاhe adorns it بزينةِwith the adornment of ماجدٍa noble man
حتى يُزَيِّنَهَا بزينةِ ماجدٍ
ليستit is not بتطويقٍby necklace-adornment ولاnor توشيحِsash-adornment
ليست بتطويقٍ ولا توشيحِ
until he adorns himself with a noble man's adornment,
Until he adorns it with the decoration of glory
not a necklace or a sash.
That is not a crown or jewelry.
بَرَعَتْexcelled محاسِنُهhis beauties فَأقْسَمَso he swore صادقاًtruthfully
بَرَعَتْ محاسِنُه فَأقْسَمَ صادقاً
أنْthat لاnot يُعَرِّضَهُنَّhe exposes them للتّقْبِيحِto disfigurement
أنْ لا يُعَرِّضَهُنَّ للتّقْبِيحِ
His beauties excelled, and he swore in truth
His beauty dazzled so he truthfully swore
not to expose them to disfigurement,
To not expose it to vilification.
لكنbut لِتَلْويحto the sun-darkening of الهَواجِرِnoonday heats طالباًseeking
لكن لِتَلْويح الهَواجِرِ طالباً
إسْفَارَهُنَّtheir unveiling بذلكthrough that التلويحsun-darkening
إسْفَارَهُنَّ بذلك التلويح
but to the sun-darkening of noonday heats, seeking
But to vaguely hint to the bashful ladies,
to bring them to light through that darkening.
To reveal their wrists with that hinting.
ماnot زالceased يبعثrousing بالعُطاسwith sneezing ركابهhis mounts
ما زال يبعث بالعُطاس ركابه
ويروعand startles قائلهنَّtheir noon-resting ones بالترويحِwith afternoon departure
ويروع قائلهنَّ بالترويحِ
He never ceased rousing his mounts with sneezes,
He keeps sending his desires to them
and startling their noon-resting ones by setting out in the afternoon.
And startling their sayers with pretense of departure.
وتقودand guides كلَّevery نَوَىjourney شَطُونfar-off هِمَّةٌambition
وتقود كلَّ نَوَى شَطُون هِمَّةٌ
ونوىand the journeys of الكريمthe noble man بعيدةُfar-reaching التَطْويحِin their casting
ونوى الكريم بعيدةُ التَطْويحِ
And ambition guides every far-off journey;
And every purpose guides determination,
a noble man's journeys cast him far afield.
And the purpose of the generous is far reaching.
حتىuntil تَعَمَّمَhe donned a turban بالسيادةof lordship ناشئاًwhile young
حتى تَعَمَّمَ بالسيادة ناشئاً
ولِذَاكand for that رشَّحَهُnominated him ذووthose who undertake الترشيحِnomination
ولِذَاك رشَّحَهُ ذوو الترشيحِ
Until, still young, he wore the turban of lordship,
Until he wore the garb of authority as a youth,
and those who nominate marked him out for that.
And so those of nomination nominated him for that.
عَشِقَhe loved العلاglory's heights وَعَشِقْنَهُand they loved him فكأنماso it was as though
عَشِقَ العلا وَعَشِقْنَهُ فكأنما
وافىmet هوىthe love of لُبْنَىLubna هوىthe love of ابنson of ذَرِيحِDharih
وافى هوى لُبْنَى هوى ابن ذَرِيحِ
He loved glory's heights, and they loved him, as though
He loved knowledge and it loved him, so it is as if
Lubna's love had met the love of Ibn Dharih.
He fulfilled the love of the beloved of the son of Dhareeh.
وَهَبَتْbestowed لهon him القلمَthe lot-arrow المُعلّىthe highest winning lot (Mu'alla) هِمَّةٌambition
وَهَبَتْ له القلمَ المُعلّى هِمَّةٌ
رَفَضتْrejected منamong الأقلامthe lot-arrows كلَّevery مَنِيحِblank lot (Manih)
رَفَضتْ من الأقلام كلَّ مَنِيحِ
Ambition gave him the highest lot-arrow, the Mu'alla,
And the supreme pen gifted him determination
rejecting every blank Manih among the arrows.
That refused the pens - all of them flexing.
لمnot أمتدحهI praised him لِخلَّةٍfor a gap ألفَيْتُهَاI found it
لم أمتدحه لِخلَّةٍ ألفَيْتُهَا
فيin مجدهhis glory فَسَدَدْتُهَاso I filled it بمَدِيحِwith praise
في مجده فَسَدَدْتُهَا بمَدِيحِ
I did not praise him for a gap I had found
I did not praise him for a fault I found
in his glory, to fill it with eulogy,
In his glory, so I corrected it with eulogy.
لكنْbut لكْيso that تَزْهىmight beautify محاسنُthe beauties of وصْفِهِdescribing him
لكنْ لكْي تَزْهى محاسنُ وصْفِهِ
شعريmy poetry فيحسُنَso becomes beautiful منهof it كلُّevery قبيحِugly part
شعري فيحسُنَ منه كلُّ قبيحِ
but so that the beauties of describing him might adorn
But so that the beauty of his description manifests,
my poetry and make every ugly part of it fair.
My poetry beautifies every ugliness.
حَبَّرْتُI embellished شعريmy poetry باسمهwith his name إنَّindeed اسمَهُhis name
حَبَّرْتُ شعري باسمه إنَّ اسمَهُ
فيin الشِّعْرpoetry كالتَّحْبيرlike embellishment والتسبيحِand glorification of God
في الشِّعْر كالتَّحْبير والتسبيحِ
I embellished my poetry with his name; his name
I scented my poetry with his name - his name
in poetry is like embellishment and glorification of God.
In poetry is like perfume and glorification.
لماwhen رأيتُI saw الشعرَpoetry أصبحَhad become خاملاًobscure
لما رأيتُ الشعرَ أصبحَ خاملاً
نَبَّهْتُهI roused it بفتىwith a youth أغرَّradiant صريحِof pure descent
نَبَّهْتُه بفتى أغرَّ صريحِ
When I saw that poetry had grown obscure,
When I saw poetry become languid,
I roused it with a radiant youth of pure descent.
I awakened it with a witty youth.
لاّnot يَضْربُstrike الركبُthe riders الطلائحَthe weary mounts نحوَهُtoward him
لاّ يَضْربُ الركبُ الطلائحَ نحوَهُ
بلrather باسمهwith his name يُزْجونَthey urge onward كلَّevery طَليحِweary mount
بل باسمه يُزْجونَ كلَّ طَليحِ
The riders do not beat their weary mounts toward him;
The caravan does not beat the hills toward him,
rather, with his name they urge every weary mount onward.
But with his name they spur on every hill.
تُحْدَىare driven by song الرِّكابُthe mounts بذكرهby mentioning him فترىso you see الحصَىthe pebbles
تُحْدَى الرِّكابُ بذكره فترى الحصَى
منْfrom بينamong مَنْجُولdug up وبينand among ضَريحِflung aside
منْ بين مَنْجُول وبين ضَريحِ
The mounts are driven by chants of his name, and you see the pebbles
The riders are challenged by mentioning him, so you see
some dug up and others hurled aside.
The pebbles between manjul and burial.
وَيَهُزُّand shakes كلُّevery مُبَلَّدٍsluggish beast أَعْطافَهits flanks
وَيَهُزُّ كلُّ مُبَلَّدٍ أَعْطافَه
طَرَباًin delight كفعلlike the action of الشَّاربthe drinker المِرِّيحِboisterous
طَرَباً كفعل الشَّارب المِرِّيحِ
And every sluggish beast shakes its flanks
And every lazy one shakes his shoulders
in delight, like a boisterous wine-drinker,
Agitated like the intoxicated shaking.
مِنْfrom بعدafter ماthat انْتُقيتْwere drained أواخِرُthe last remnants of مُخِّهits marrow
مِنْ بعد ما انْتُقيتْ أواخِرُ مُخِّه
وَخَوتْand became empty مَحَاجرُهُits eye sockets منfrom التقديحِhollowing out
وَخَوتْ مَحَاجرُهُ من التقديحِ
after the last of its marrow had been drained
After the ends of his mind were picked
and its eye sockets lay empty, scooped hollow,
And his brain cells withered from burning.
ثِقَةًtrusting بِسَيْبٍin bounty منهfrom him ليسnot يعوقُهُhinders it
ثِقَةً بِسَيْبٍ منه ليس يعوقُهُ
مهماwhatever جرىpasses منof سَانحright-crossing game وبريحِand left-crossing game
مهما جرى من سَانح وبريحِ
trusting in bounty from him that nothing impedes,
Trusting in a sword from him that nothing stops
whatever right-crossing or left-crossing beast may pass.
No matter what presents itself of easy or calamity.
مَلِكٌa king إذاwhen الْحاجاتُneeds شدَّtightens عِقَالُهَاtheir tether
مَلِكٌ إذا الْحاجاتُ شدَّ عِقَالُهَا
وَثقَتْthey trust لديهin his presence بعاجلin swift التسريحِrelease
وَثقَتْ لديه بعاجل التسريحِ
A king: when needs find their tether tightened,
A king - if needs tighten their reins
they trust him for swift release.
And seek refuge with him for quick relief.
مِمَّاbecause تراهyou see him الدهْرَalways يُصْدرsending away وارداًa visitor
مِمَّا تراه الدهْرَ يُصْدر وارداً
عنfrom نَائلٍbounty قَبْلَbefore السؤالthe asking نجيحِsatisfying
عن نَائلٍ قَبْلَ السؤال نجيحِ
For you see him always sending a visitor away
Of what you see time produces
with satisfying bounty, before the asking.
For an obtaining before asking - success.
ياO منyou who إذاwhen التَّعْريضُa hint صافحbrushes سَمْعَهُhis hearing
يا من إذا التَّعْريضُ صافح سَمْعَهُ
غَنِيhave no need العُفاةُpetitioners بهthrough him عنof التصريحِplain-speaking
غَنِي العُفاةُ به عن التصريحِ
O you, when a hint brushes your hearing,
O you - if allusion greets your hearing
petitioners, through you, need not speak plainly.
The eloquent are satisfied with it over clarification.
أشْكُوI complain إليكto you خَصَاصَةًpoverty وتَجَمُّلاًand keeping up appearances
أشْكُو إليك خَصَاصَةً وتَجَمُّلاً
قَدْindeed بَرَّحَاboth tormented بيme أَيمَاwith the utmost تبريحِtorment
قَدْ بَرَّحَا بي أَيمَا تبريحِ
I complain to you of poverty and keeping up appearances,
I complain to you of reticence and mannerism
which have tormented me most grievously,
That detached from me - what detachment.
لتَصُونَso you may protect وَجْهِيmy face عَنfrom وُجُوهٍfaces وُقِّحتْgrown hardened
لتَصُونَ وَجْهِي عَن وُجُوهٍ وُقِّحتْ
بالرَّدِّby refusal تَوْقيحاًa hardening علىupon توقيحِhardening
بالرَّدِّ تَوْقيحاً على توقيحِ
so you may shield my face from faces hardened
To protect my face from faces censured
by refusal, hardening upon hardening.
With refusal - protection over protection.
سُئِلَتْthey were petitioned وقدthough already سَالتْstreamed ففيso on صفحاتهاtheir surfaces
سُئِلَتْ وقد سَالتْ ففي صفحاتها
لِلرَّدِّfrom refusal تَكْدِيحٌa scratch علىupon تكديحِa scratch
لِلرَّدِّ تَكْدِيحٌ على تكديحِ
They have been petitioned, though already streaming; on their surfaces
Asked though they asked, so in their pages
refusal has scored scratch upon scratch.
Is distress over distress for refusal.
ياO مَنْyou who أراحَbrought home to rest عَوَازِبَthe strays of الشِّعْرِpoetry التيwhich
يا مَنْ أراحَ عَوَازِبَ الشِّعْرِ التي
لَوْلاَهُbut for him أعْزَبَهُنَّwould have sent them astray كلُّevery مُرِيحِhome-bringing herder
لَوْلاَهُ أعْزَبَهُنَّ كلُّ مُرِيحِ
O you who brought poetry's strays home to rest, which
O you who gave rest to the estranged poetry that
but for you, every herder would have sent astray!
Without you every comforter estranged it.
أنطَقْتَyou made speak مُفْحَمَنَاour non-poet فأصبحso he became شاعراًa poet
أنطَقْتَ مُفْحَمَنَا فأصبح شاعراً
وأَعَرْتَand you lent أَعْجَمَنَاour inarticulate man لسانَthe tongue of فصيحِan eloquent man
وأَعَرْتَ أَعْجَمَنَا لسانَ فصيحِ
You gave our non-poet a voice, and he became a poet,
You made our confused eloquent, so he became a poet,
and lent our inarticulate man an eloquent tongue.
And you loaned our foreigner an eloquent tongue.
بِلُهاًwith gifts فتحْنَthat opened لُهَاthe uvulas of الرجالِmen فَكُلُّهُمْso all of them
بِلُهاً فتحْنَ لُهَا الرجالِ فَكُلُّهُمْ
ذوpossessing منطقٍspeech سَلِسٍsmooth عليهfor him سَرِيحfreely flowing
ذو منطقٍ سَلِسٍ عليه سَرِيح
With gifts that opened men's throats, every one of them
Confused, so you opened eloquence to men, so they are all
has speech that comes smoothly and freely to him.
Of smooth, fluent speech - eased.
أَحْيَيْتَyou revived ميْتَdead الشِّعْرpoetry بعدَafter ثَوَائِهِits lying
أَحْيَيْتَ ميْتَ الشِّعْر بعدَ ثَوَائِهِ
فيin الرَّمْسِthe grave تحتbeneath جنادلٍboulders وصفيحِand stone slabs
في الرَّمْسِ تحت جنادلٍ وصفيحِ
You revived dead poetry after it had lain
You revived dead poetry after its writhing
in the grave beneath boulders and stone slabs,
In the sands under plaited palm leaves and pebbles.
حتىuntil لَقالindeed said الناسُpeople فيكَof you فأكثرواand said much
حتى لَقال الناسُ فيكَ فأكثروا
هذاthis is المسيحthe Messiah وَلاَتَthough it is not حينَa time for مَسِيحِa Messiah
هذا المسيح وَلاَتَ حينَ مَسِيحِ
until people said of you, repeating it often:
Until people said about you and exaggerated:
This is the Messiah—though this is no time for a Messiah!
"This is the Messiah" - if not the Messiah.
Sol 6.1