يَاO مَنْyou who أَلَحَّinsisted عَلَيَّupon me فِيon الإِنْشَادِrecitation
يَا مَنْ أَلَحَّ عَلَيَّ فِي الإِنْشَادِ
وَمَدِيحُand praise of شَيْخِيmy shaykh غُنْيَةُsufficiency for الْقُصَّادِthe seekers
وَمَدِيحُ شَيْخِي غُنْيَةُ الْقُصَّادِ
O you who pressed me to recite,
O you who insisted I recite poetry
O you who persistently urge me to recite,
And praise of my shaykh suffices the seekers,
And praise of my master is the livelihood of poets
While the praise of my Sheikh is the ultimate wealth of seekers:
أَبْلَغْتَyou conveyed أَسْمَاعِيmy ears وَذَاكَand that مُرَادِيmy wish
أَبْلَغْتَ أَسْمَاعِي وَذَاكَ مُرَادِي
لَوْif only أَنَّنِيthat I أَحْظَىmight attain بِبَعْضِsome of مُرَادِيmy desire
لَوْ أَنَّنِي أَحْظَى بِبَعْضِ مُرَادِي
You have brought it to my ears, and that is my wish—
You have reached my hearing, and that is my desire
You have made your words reach my ears, and that is my desire,
If only I could attain some of what I desire!
If only I could attain some of my desires
If only I could attain even a fraction of my desire.
أَمَّاas for الْمَدِيحُpraise فَإِنَّهُfor indeed it is مِنْof صَنْعَتِيmy craft
أَمَّا الْمَدِيحُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ صَنْعَتِي
قِدْماًsince long ago وَحَوْكُand weaving بُرُودِهِits striped cloaks مِنْof عَادِيmy custom
قِدْماً وَحَوْكُ بُرُودِهِ مِنْ عَادِي
As for praise, it is part of my craft
As for praise, it is my skill
As for panegyric, it is indeed my craft
Since long ago; weaving its striped cloaks is my wont.
Long practiced and woven into my habits
From of old, and weaving its fine garments is my custom.
لَكِنْbut عَجَْزْتُI was unable وَحُقَّand it was fitting لِيfor me عَنْto مَدْحِpraising مَنْone who
لَكِنْ عَجَْزْتُ وَحُقَّ لِي عَنْ مَدْحِ مَنْ
مُدِحَتْwere praised بِهِthrough him زُمَرٌgroups مِنَof الأَمْجَادِthe illustrious
مُدِحَتْ بِهِ زُمَرٌ مِنَ الأَمْجَادِ
Yet I was unable—and rightly so—to praise one
But I fell short, as is my right, in praising one
But I am incapable—and rightly so—of praising one
Through whom throngs of illustrious men have been praised.
Who was praised by ranks of glories
Through whom entire throngs of glorious men are praised.
وَأَبَتْand refused لَهُfor him هِمَّاتُهُhis aspirations مَيْلاًan inclination إِلَىtoward الthe
وَأَبَتْ لَهُ هِمَّاتُهُ مَيْلاً إِلَى ال
تَّشْرِيفِhonor بِالآبَاءِthrough fathers وَالأَجْدَادِand forefathers
تَّشْرِيفِ بِالآبَاءِ وَالأَجْدَادِ
His aspirations refused him any inclination toward
And his ambitions refused to incline to
And his high ambitions refused any inclination towards
Honor through fathers and forefathers.
Nobility through fathers and forefathers
Gaining honor merely through fathers and ancestors.
وََرَأَىand he saw الكَمالَperfection بِأَنin that يَكونَbe كَمالُهُhis perfection
وََرَأَى الكَمالَ بِأَن يَكونَ كَمالُهُ
يَسْريflows إِلىto الآبَاءِfathers وَالأَوْلاَدِand children
يَسْري إِلى الآبَاءِ وَالأَوْلاَدِ
And he saw perfection in having his own perfection
And he saw perfection in his perfection stemming
He saw true perfection in letting his own perfection
Flow to fathers and children,
To fathers and children
Flow outward to elevate both his forebears and descendants,
وَإِلَىand to الزَّمانِtime مَعَalong with الْمَكانِplace كَمَطْلَعِlike the rising-place of الthe
وَإِلَى الزَّمانِ مَعَ الْمَكانِ كَمَطْلَعِ ال
أَنْوارِlights منْهُfrom him وَمَوْضِعِand the place of الْمِيلاَدِbirth
أَنْوارِ منْهُ وَمَوْضِعِ الْمِيلاَدِ
And to time along with place, such as the rising-place of
And to time along with place like the rise of
And to time along with space, like the dawning of
His lights and the place of his birth.
Lights from him and the place of birth
Lights emerging from him and his place of birth.
إِيهٍcome now! قُسَنْطِينَةٌConstantine فَخَارُكِyour glory فَافْخَرِيso boast
إِيهٍ قُسَنْطِينَةٌ فَخَارُكِ فَافْخَرِي
أَنْbecause كُنْتِyou were مَنْشَأَهُhis place of upbringing علىover بَغْدَادِBaghdad
أَنْ كُنْتِ مَنْشَأَهُ على بَغْدَادِ
Come, Constantine! Yours is the glory, so boast
Oh Constantinople! Your pride is pride
Ah, Constantine! This is your glory, so boast proudly
Over Baghdad, for you were the place of his upbringing.
That you were his place of origin over Baghdad
That you were his birthplace, exalted even over Baghdad.
وَتَطاوَلِيand rise proudly حتَّىuntil تَفُوقِيyou surpass قَلْعَةًa citadel
وَتَطاوَلِي حتَّى تَفُوقِي قَلْعَةً
نُسِبَتْwas attributed لَدَيْكِnear you إِلَىto بَنِيthe sons of حَمَّادِHammad
نُسِبَتْ لَدَيْكِ إِلَى بَنِي حَمَّادِ
And tower high until you surpass a citadel
And rise high no matter how the palace boasts
And stand tall until you surpass the fortress
Ascribed, near you, to the Banu Hammad.
And looks down on the glories of Sinbad
Attributed in your vicinity to the Banu Hammad.
وَارْقَيْand ascend عُلاًheights مَهْمَاhowever تَبَارَىyou vie وَازْدَرَىand disdain
وَارْقَيْ عُلاً مَهْمَا تَبَارَى وَازْدَرَى
بِالْقَصْرِon the palace ذِيwith الشُّرُفَاتِbattlements مِنْof سِنْدَادِSindad
بِالْقَصْرِ ذِي الشُّرُفَاتِ مِنْ سِنْدَادِ
And rise to heights, however you vie, and look down
You bore in the late age one so virtuous
And ascend in eminence, however much your glory vies with and disdains
On Sindad's palace with its battlements.
His time surpassed those past
The multi-balconied palace of Sindad.
أَنْجَبْتِyou gave birth فِيin العَصْرِthe age الأَخيرِthe latter بِفاضِلٍto an excellent man
أَنْجَبْتِ فِي العَصْرِ الأَخيرِ بِفاضِلٍ
سَادَsurpassed الْمُقَدَّمَthe one placed earlier عَصْرُهُhis era مِنْof هَادِa guide
سَادَ الْمُقَدَّمَ عَصْرُهُ مِنْ هَادِ
You gave birth in this latter age to a man of excellence,
And you produced a full moon whose lights
You gave birth in this latter age to a man of virtue
Who surpassed the guide from an earlier age.
Dazzle like the blazing star
Who surpassed the guiding figures of ages that preceded him.
ونُتِجْتِand you were delivered of بدْرَa full moon of مَحَاسِنٍbeauties أَضْوَاؤُهُits lights
ونُتِجْتِ بدْرَ مَحَاسِنٍ أَضْوَاؤُهُ
مُزْرِيَةٌputting to shame بِالْكَوْكَبِthe star الْوَقَّادِthe blazing
مُزْرِيَةٌ بِالْكَوْكَبِ الْوَقَّادِ
And you bore a full moon of beauties, whose lights
With its men the countries are exalted for they are like
And you brought forth a full moon of virtues, whose lights
Put the blazing star to shame.
Pearls in necklaces and stallions in battle
Outshine the most brightly burning star.
بِرِجَالِهَاthrough their men تَسْمُوrise high الْبِلاَدُlands فَهُمْfor they لَهَاto them
بِرِجَالِهَا تَسْمُو الْبِلاَدُ فَهُمْ لَهَا
كَالدُّرِّlike pearls فِيon اللَّبَّاتِbosoms وَالأَجْيَادِand necks
كَالدُّرِّ فِي اللَّبَّاتِ وَالأَجْيَادِ
Through their men lands rise high, for to them these men are
And rain for the cloud, or water for
By their men do nations rise, for they are to them
Like pearls upon bosoms and necks,
The thirsty, and spirits for bodies
Like pearls upon the upper chests and necks,
وَالْغَيْثِand rain لِلْمِجْدَابِfor drought-stricken land أَوْor كَالْمَاءِlike water لِfor
وَالْغَيْثِ لِلْمِجْدَابِ أَوْ كَالْمَاءِ لِ
لَّهْفَانِthe thirsty one وَالأَرْوَاحِand souls لِلأَجْسَادِfor bodies
لَّهْفَانِ وَالأَرْوَاحِ لِلأَجْسَادِ
And rain to drought-stricken land, or like water to
Our Fez is more deserving of that for in it is
And like rain to the barren land, or like water to
The thirsty, and souls to bodies.
The beacon, a beacon of guidance abiding
The thirsty, and like souls to bodies.
وَلَفَاسُنَاand indeed our Fez أَوْلَىworthier بِذَاكَof that لِكَوْنِهِbecause he is
وَلَفَاسُنَا أَوْلَى بِذَاكَ لِكَوْنِهِ
فِيهَاin it الْمَنَارَthe beacon مَنَارَa beacon of رُشْدٍright guidance بَادِmanifest
فِيهَا الْمَنَارَ مَنَارَ رُشْدٍ بَادِ
And our Fez is surely worthier of that, for he is
And the sea is the sea of knowledge which casts its sweet
And our Fez is most worthy of that glory, because he is
In it the beacon, a beacon of right guidance plain to see;
Fresh springs, the essence of guidance
Within it the lighthouse, a visible beacon of guidance,
وَالْبَحْرَand the sea بَحْرَthe sea of الْعِلْمِknowledge يَقْذِفُcasts forth لُجُّهُits depths الْthe
وَالْبَحْرَ بَحْرَ الْعِلْمِ يَقْذِفُ لُجُّهُ الْ
عَذْبُsweet الْمَوَارِدِthe watering places جَوْهَرَthe jewel of الإِرْشَادِguidance
عَذْبُ الْمَوَارِدِ جَوْهَرَ الإِرْشَادِ
And the sea, the sea of knowledge, whose depths cast forth—
And the meadow a meadow of mortals which fruits
And the sea, the sea of knowledge, whose depths cast forth
Sweet at their watering places—the jewel of guidance;
The wishful hopes of visitors
Sweet waters, the very jewel of guidance,
وَالرَّوْضَand the garden رَوْضَthe garden of الْبِشْرِgladness يُثْمِرُbears fruit دَوْحُهُits spreading trees
وَالرَّوْضَ رَوْضَ الْبِشْرِ يُثْمِرُ دَوْحُهُ
دَوْحَthe spreading trees of الْمُنَىwishes بِمُؤَمَّلِwith what is hoped for by الرُّوَّادِthe seekers
دَوْحَ الْمُنَى بِمُؤَمَّلِ الرُّوَّادِ
And the garden, the garden of gladness, whose spreading trees bear fruit—
And the rain a rain of virtue which pours its floods
And the garden, the garden of joy, whose great trees bear
Trees of wishes—with what seekers hope for;
Of plenty, dispelling distress
The fruits of desires for the hopeful seekers,
وَالْغَيْثَand the rain غَيْثَthe rain of الْفَضْلِbounty يُمْطِرُshowers وَبْلُهُits downpour
وَالْغَيْثَ غَيْثَ الْفَضْلِ يُمْطِرُ وَبْلُهُ
وَبْلَa downpour of الْغِنَىplenty بِمُبَدِّدِwith what dispels الأَنْكَادِtroubles
وَبْلَ الْغِنَى بِمُبَدِّدِ الأَنْكَادِ
And the rain, the rain of bounty, whose downpour showers—
And the towering mountain of forbearance which no
And the rain, the rain of grace, whose downpour rains
A downpour of plenty—with what dispels troubles;
Quaking shakes amidst crumbling crags
A downpour of wealth that scatters all hardships,
وَالطَّوْدَand the mountain طَوْدَthe mountain of الْحِلْمِforbearance لَيْسَdoes not يَسُومُهُafflict it الthe
وَالطَّوْدَ طَوْدَ الْحِلْمِ لَيْسَ يَسُومُهُ ال
رَّجَفَانُtrembling عِنْدَwhen تَزَلْزُلِthe shaking of الأَطْوَادِthe mountains
رَّجَفَانُ عِنْدَ تَزَلْزُلِ الأَطْوَادِ
And the mountain, the mountain of forbearance, never afflicted by
And the full moon a moon of beauty whose light shines
And the mountain, the mountain of forbearance, unaffected by
Trembling when the mountains quake;
For the fortunate in blessing and prosperity
Tremors when other mighty mountains shake,
وَالْبَدْرَand the full moon بَدْرَthe full moon of الْحُسْنِbeauty يَسْطَعُshines نُورُهُits light
وَالْبَدْرَ بَدْرَ الْحُسْنِ يَسْطَعُ نُورُهُ
لِلْمُجْتَلِيfor the beholder بِالْيُمْنِwith good fortune وَالإِسْعَادِand happiness
لِلْمُجْتَلِي بِالْيُمْنِ وَالإِسْعَادِ
And the full moon, the full moon of beauty, whose light shines
And the sun a sun of nobleness, brilliant of majesty,
And the full moon, the moon of beauty, whose light shines
For the beholder with good fortune and happiness;
Vanquishing its rays over enviers
For the beholder with blessings and boundless joy,
وَالشَّمْسَand the sun شَْمْسَthe sun of النُّبْلِnobility بَاهِرَةَdazzling in السَّنَاradiance
وَالشَّمْسَ شَْمْسَ النُّبْلِ بَاهِرَةَ السَّنَا
تَقْضِيpasses judgment لأَِشِعَّتِهَاin favor of its rays عَلَىagainst الْحُسَّادِthe envious
تَقْضِي لأَِشِعَّتِهَا عَلَى الْحُسَّادِ
And the sun, the sun of nobility, dazzling in radiance,
Lasting for us and whoever it gives joy
And the sun, the sun of nobility of dazzling radiance,
Ruling in favor of its rays against the envious.
Particularized with the praises of Hammad
Whose blinding rays bring the downfall of the envious.
دَامَتْmay it endure لَنَاfor us وَلِمَنْand for whoever يَرُودُseeks بِهَاthrough it الْمُنَىwishes
دَامَتْ لَنَا وَلِمَنْ يَرُودُ بِهَا الْمُنَى
مَخْصُوصَةُsingled out بِمَحَامِدِwith the praises of الْحَمَّادِthe prolific praiser
مَخْصُوصَةُ بِمَحَامِدِ الْحَمَّادِ
May it endure for us and for whoever seeks wishes through it,
May it endure for us and for whoever seeks desires through it,
Singled out for the praises of the prolific praiser.
Singled out by the praises of those who praise abundantly.
Partial English translation: 42 of 44 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1