لِيَهنِmay ... rejoice الهُدىright guidance إِنجاحُthe success of سَعيِكَyour striving فيagainst العِداthe foes
لِيَهنِ الهُدى إِنجاحُ سَعيِكَ في العِدا
وَأَنand that راحَcame at evening صُنعُthe favor of اللَهِGod نَحوَكَtoward you وَاِغتَدىand came at dawn
وَأَن راحَ صُنعُ اللَهِ نَحوَكَ وَاِغتَدى
May right guidance rejoice at your successful striving against the foes,
and at God's favor coming your way at evening and at dawn,
وَنَهجُكَand your following سُبلَthe paths of الرُشدِrectitude فيin قَمعِsubduing مَنthose who غَوىstrayed
وَنَهجُكَ سُبلَ الرُشدِ في قَمعِ مَن غَوى
وَعَدلُكَand your justice فيin اِستِئصالِrooting out مَنwhoever جارَacted unjustly وَاِعتَدىand transgressed
وَعَدلُكَ في اِستِئصالِ مَن جارَ وَاِعتَدى
and at your following paths of rectitude in subduing those who strayed,
and at your justice in rooting out whoever wronged and transgressed,
وَأَنand that باتَspent the night مَنwhoever والاكَbefriended you فيin نَشوَةِthe rapture of الغِنىwealth
وَأَن باتَ مَن والاكَ في نَشوَةِ الغِنى
وَأَصبَحَand awoke مَنwhoever عاداكَopposed you فيin غَمرَةِthe engulfing depths of الرَدىdestruction
وَأَصبَحَ مَن عاداكَ في غَمرَةِ الرَدى
and at your allies passing the night in the rapture of wealth,
while your enemies awoke engulfed in destruction.
وَبُشراكَand your glad tidings دُنياa world غَضَّةُfresh العَهدِin age طَلقَةٌsmiling
وَبُشراكَ دُنيا غَضَّةُ العَهدِ طَلقَةٌ
كَماjust as اِبتَسَمَsmiled النُوّارُthe blossoms عَنthrough أَدمُعِthe tears of النَدىdew
كَما اِبتَسَمَ النُوّارُ عَن أَدمُعِ النَدى
And your glad tidings: a fresh-begun, smiling world,
as blossoms smile through tears of dew;
وَدَولَةُand a reign of سَعدٍgood fortune لاno اِنتِهاءَend لِحَدِّهِto its bounds
وَدَولَةُ سَعدٍ لا اِنتِهاءَ لِحَدِّهِ
إِذاwhenever قيلَit is said فيهِof it قَدalready تَناهىit reached its limit تَوَلَّداit was born anew
إِذا قيلَ فيهِ قَد تَناهى تَوَلَّدا
and a reign of fortune whose bounds have no end:
whenever it is said to have reached its limit, it is born anew.
دَعَوتَyou called فَقالَthen said النَصرُvictory لَبَّيكَat your service ماثِلاًstanding present
دَعَوتَ فَقالَ النَصرُ لَبَّيكَ ماثِلاً
وَلَمand not تَكُwere you كَالداعيlike a caller يُجاوِبُهُanswers him الصَدىthe echo
وَلَم تَكُ كَالداعي يُجاوِبُهُ الصَدى
You called, and victory said, 'At your service,' standing before you;
you were not like a caller answered only by an echo.
وَأَحمَدتَand you found praiseworthy عُقبىthe outcome of الصَبرِpatience فيin دَرَكِattaining المُنىdesires
وَأَحمَدتَ عُقبى الصَبرِ في دَرَكِ المُنى
كَماas بَلَغَreached الساريthe night traveler الصَباحَmorning فَأَحمَداand found it welcome
كَما بَلَغَ الساري الصَباحَ فَأَحمَدا
You found patience's outcome praiseworthy in attaining your desires,
as a night traveler reaches morning and finds it welcome.
أَعَبّادُO ʿAbbad ياO أَوفىmost faithful of المُلوكِkings بِذِمَّةٍto a pledge
أَعَبّادُ يا أَوفى المُلوكِ بِذِمَّةٍ
وَأَرعاهُمُand most observant of them عَهداًof covenants وَأَطوَلَهُمand longest of them يَداin hand (generosity)
وَأَرعاهُمُ عَهداً وَأَطوَلَهُم يَدا
O ʿAbbad, most faithful of kings to a pledge,
most mindful of covenants and longest of hand in giving:
تَبايَنتَyou showed contrast فيin حالَيكَyour two states غُرتَyou descended تَواضُعاًin humility
تَبايَنتَ في حالَيكَ غُرتَ تَواضُعاً
لِتَستَوفِيَto attain fully العَلياthe highest rank وَأَنجَدتَand you ascended سودَداin lordship
لِتَستَوفِيَ العَليا وَأَنجَدتَ سودَدا
Your two states contrasted: you descended in humility,
to attain the heights, and ascended in lordship.
وَلَمّاand when اِعتَضَدتَyou took as support اللَهَGod كُنتَyou were مُؤَهَّلاًdeemed worthy
وَلَمّا اِعتَضَدتَ اللَهَ كُنتَ مُؤَهَّلاً
لَدَيهِin His sight لِأَنso that تُحمىyou be protected وَتُكفىand be provided for وَتُعضَداand be supported
لَدَيهِ لِأَن تُحمى وَتُكفى وَتُعضَدا
And when you took God as your support, you were deemed worthy
in His sight to be protected, provided for, and upheld.
وَجَدناكَwe found you إِنif أَلفَحتَyou applied heat to سَعياًan endeavor نَتَجتَهُyou brought it to birth
وَجَدناكَ إِن أَلفَحتَ سَعياً نَتَجتَهُ
وَغَيرُكَand someone other than you شاوٍa roaster حينَwhen أَنضَجَhe cooked it through رَمَّداhe reduced it to ashes
وَغَيرُكَ شاوٍ حينَ أَنضَجَ رَمَّدا
We have found that when you kindle an endeavor, you bring it to birth,
while another is a roaster who turns it to ashes just as it cooks.
وَكَمand how often ساعَدَaided الأَعداءُthe enemies أَوَّلَthe beginning of مُطمَعٍa hoped-for prize
وَكَم ساعَدَ الأَعداءُ أَوَّلَ مُطمَعٍ
رَأَوكَthey saw you بِعُقباهُto its outcome أَحَقَّmore entitled وَأَسعَداand more fortunate
رَأَوكَ بِعُقباهُ أَحَقَّ وَأَسعَدا
How often the foes furthered some first hope,
only to see you more entitled to its outcome and more fortunate.
فَلاso no ظافِرٌvictor إِلّاexcept إِلىto سَعدِكَyour good fortune اِعتَزىhe traced his affiliation
فَلا ظافِرٌ إِلّا إِلى سَعدِكَ اِعتَزى
وَلاand no سائِسٌruler إِلّاexcept بِتَدبيرِكَby your governance اِقتَدىhe was guided
وَلا سائِسٌ إِلّا بِتَدبيرِكَ اِقتَدى
No victor but traces his triumph to your fortune,
and no ruler but follows your example in governance.
ضَلالاًperdition لِمَفتونٍto a deluded man سَمَوتَyou raised بِحالِهِhis station
ضَلالاً لِمَفتونٍ سَمَوتَ بِحالِهِ
إِلىto the point أَنthat بَدَتit appeared بَينَamong الفَراقِدِthe Farqad stars فَرقَداas a Farqad star
إِلى أَن بَدَت بَينَ الفَراقِدِ فَرقَدا
Perdition to the deluded man whose station you raised
until it appeared as a Farqad among the Farqad stars!
رَأىhe thought حَطَّهاits abasement أَولىmore fitting بِهِfor him فَأَحَلَّهاso he lodged it
رَأى حَطَّها أَولى بِهِ فَأَحَلَّها
حَضيضاًin a low depth بِكَفرانِthrough ingratitude for الصَنيعَةِthe benefaction أَوهَداstill lower
حَضيضاً بِكَفرانِ الصَنيعَةِ أَوهَدا
He judged its abasement more fitting for him, and brought it
to a still lower abyss, through ingratitude for your favor.
وَماand not زادَhe did more لَمّاwhen لَجَّhe persisted فيin البَغيِrebellion أَنَّهُthat he
وَما زادَ لَمّا لَجَّ في البَغيِ أَنَّهُ
سَعىhe strove لِلَّذيtoward what أَصلَحتَyou had set right مِنهاof it فَأَفسَداand ruined it
سَعى لِلَّذي أَصلَحتَ مِنها فَأَفسَدا
And when he persisted in rebellion, he did no more than
seek out what you had set right in his station, and spoil it.
فَزَلَّso he stumbled وَقَدthough already أَمطَيتَهُyou had mounted him on ثَبَجَthe back of السُهاal-Suha
فَزَلَّ وَقَد أَمطَيتَهُ ثَبَجَ السُها
وَضَلَّand strayed وَقَدthough already لَقَّيتَهُyou had given him قَبَسَa firebrand of الهُدىguidance
وَضَلَّ وَقَد لَقَّيتَهُ قَبَسَ الهُدى
So he stumbled, though you had set him astride the back of al-Suha,
and strayed, though you had given him a flame of guidance.
طَويلُlong in عِثارِstumbling through الجُرمِsin قُلتَyou said لَهُto him لَعاًrise again!
طَويلُ عِثارِ الجُرمِ قُلتَ لَهُ لَعاً
بِحِلمٍwith forbearance تَلَقّىmet جَهلَهُhis folly فَتَغَمَّداand pardoned it
بِحِلمٍ تَلَقّى جَهلَهُ فَتَغَمَّدا
To him, ever stumbling into guilt, you said, 'Rise again!'
with a forbearance that met his folly and pardoned it.
تَجَنّىhe made false accusations فَأَهدَيتَso you offered النَصيحَةَcounsel مَحضَةًunalloyed
تَجَنّى فَأَهدَيتَ النَصيحَةَ مَحضَةً
وَلَجَّand he persisted فَوالَيتَso you administered successively العِقابَpunishment مُرَدَّداrepeatedly
وَلَجَّ فَوالَيتَ العِقابَ مُرَدَّدا
He made false accusations; you offered unalloyed counsel.
He persisted, so you administered punishment repeatedly.
وَلَمand not تَألُهُyou stinted him بُقياclemency عَلَيهِtoward him تَنَظُّراًwaiting
وَلَم تَألُهُ بُقيا عَلَيهِ تَنَظُّراً
لِفَيئَةِfor the return to obedience of مَنone whom أَكرَمتَهُyou honored him فَتَمَرَّداthen he rebelled
لِفَيئَةِ مَن أَكرَمتَهُ فَتَمَرَّدا
Nor did you stint him in clemency, waiting
for the return of one you had honored, who then rebelled.
فَماyet not آثَرَhe chose الأولىthe better course وَلاand not قَلَّدَhe took as guide الحِجىreason
فَما آثَرَ الأولى وَلا قَلَّدَ الحِجى
وَلاand not شَكَرَhe thanked النُعمىthe bounty وَلاand not حَفِظَhe remembered اليَداthe helping hand
وَلا شَكَرَ النُعمى وَلا حَفِظَ اليَدا
Yet he neither chose the better course nor took reason as his guide,
nor gave thanks for bounty, nor remembered the helping hand.
كَأَنَّكَas though you أَهدَيتَyou gifted السَوابِحَthe swimming steeds ضُمَّراًlean
كَأَنَّكَ أَهدَيتَ السَوابِحَ ضُمَّراً
لِيَركِضَهاso he might gallop them فيماin what كَرِهتَyou hated فَيُجهِداand overstrain them
لِيَركِضَها فيما كَرِهتَ فَيُجهِدا
As though you had gifted him lean, swimming steeds
so he might gallop them in causes you hated, and exhaust them.
وَأَجرَرتُهُand I let him trail ذَيلَthe hem of الحَبيرِpatterned cloth تَأَلُّفاًto win affection
وَأَجرَرتُهُ ذَيلَ الحَبيرِ تَأَلُّفاً
لَيَخلُقَso he might create فيماin what جَرَّhe trailed حِقداًrancor مُجَدَّداrenewed
لَيَخلُقَ فيما جَرَّ حِقداً مُجَدَّدا
And I let him trail the hem of patterned cloth, to win his affection,
only for him to create fresh rancor in what he trailed.
سَلِask الحائِنِthe doomed man المُعتَرَّthe petitioner كيفَhow اِحتِقابُهُhis shouldering
سَلِ الحائِنِ المُعتَرَّ كيفَ اِحتِقابُهُ
مَعَthrough الدَهرِtime عاراًdisgrace بِالعِرارِby the ostrich's cry مُخَلَّداmade everlasting
مَعَ الدَهرِ عاراً بِالعِرارِ مُخَلَّدا
Ask the doomed petitioner how he shoulders
through all time a disgrace immortalized by the ostrich's cry.
رَأىhe thought أَنَّهُthat he أَضحىhad become هِزَبراًa lion مُصَمِّماًresolute
رَأى أَنَّهُ أَضحى هِزَبراً مُصَمِّماً
فَلَمbut not يَعدُhe went beyond أَنthat أَمسىhe became by evening ظَليماًa male ostrich مُشَرَّداdriven into flight
فَلَم يَعدُ أَن أَمسى ظَليماً مُشَرَّدا
He thought he had become a resolute lion,
but ended as no more than a male ostrich driven into flight.
دَهاهُit overwhelmed him إِذاwhen ماجَنَّهُit indeed shrouded him اللَيلُthe night أَنَّهُthat it
دَهاهُ إِذا ماجَنَّهُ اللَيلُ أَنَّهُ
أَقامَremained عَلَيهِover him آخِرَto the end of الدَهرِtime سَرمَداperpetually
أَقامَ عَلَيهِ آخِرَ الدَهرِ سَرمَدا
When night shrouded him, he was assailed by the thought that it
would remain over him forever, to the end of time.
يُحاذِرُhe fears أَنthat يُلفىhe be found قَتيلاًslain مُعَفَّراًdust-smeared
يُحاذِرُ أَن يُلفى قَتيلاً مُعَفَّراً
إِذاwhen الصُبحُthe dawn وافىarrives أَوor أَسيراًa captive مُقَيَّداshackled
إِذا الصُبحُ وافى أَو أَسيراً مُقَيَّدا
He fears being found slain and dust-smeared,
when dawn arrives, or a captive in chains.
لَبِئسَwretched indeed is الوَفاءُthe loyalty اِستَنَّhe practiced فيtoward اِبنِIbn عَقيدَةٍʿAqida
لَبِئسَ الوَفاءُ اِستَنَّ في اِبنِ عَقيدَةٍ
عَشِيَّةَthat evening لَمnot يُصدِرهُhe led him back from water مِنfrom حَيثُwhere أَورَداhe led him to water
عَشِيَّةَ لَم يُصدِرهُ مِن حَيثُ أَورَدا
Wretched the loyalty he practiced toward Ibn ʿAqida,
that evening when he failed to lead him back from the water he had led him to!
قَرينٌa companion لَهُof his أَغواهُled him astray حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen هَوىhe fell
قَرينٌ لَهُ أَغواهُ حَتّى إِذا هَوى
تَبَرَّأَhe disowned him يَعتَدُّreckoning البَراءَةَdisavowal أَرشَداwiser
تَبَرَّأَ يَعتَدُّ البَراءَةَ أَرشَدا
A companion of his led him astray, until, when he fell,
he disowned him, reckoning disavowal wiser.
فَأَصبَحَthen began يَبكيهِweeping for him المُصابُthe stricken man بِثُكلِهِthrough losing him
فَأَصبَحَ يَبكيهِ المُصابُ بِثُكلِهِ
بُكاءُthe weeping of لَبيدٍLabid حينَwhen فارَقَhe parted from أَربَداArbad
بُكاءُ لَبيدٍ حينَ فارَقَ أَربَدا
The man stricken by his loss then wept for him,
as Labid wept when he parted from Arbad.
فِداءٌa ransom لِإِسماعيلَfor Ismaʿil كُلُّevery مُرَشَّحٍnominee
فِداءٌ لِإِسماعيلَ كُلُّ مُرَشَّحٍ
إِذاwhen جُشِّمَhe was burdened with الأَمرُthe task الجَسيمَthe mighty تَبَلَّداhe grew witless
إِذا جُشِّمَ الأَمرُ الجَسيمَ تَبَلَّدا
A ransom for Ismaʿil be every contender
who grows witless when charged with a mighty task.
أَفادَhe gained مِنَfrom الأَملاكِthe kings حِدثانِat the onset of فَشلِهِمtheir faltering
أَفادَ مِنَ الأَملاكِ حِدثانِ فَشلِهِم
مَوالِيَallies لَمnot يَشكُcomplained الصَديthe thirsty man مِنهُمُfrom them الصَدىof thirst
مَوالِيَ لَم يَشكُ الصَدي مِنهُمُ الصَدى
He gained, from among kings when first they faltered,
allies among whom no thirsty man complained of thirst.
أَعادَhe turned الصَباحَthe morning الطَلقَbright لَيلاًinto night عَلَيهِمُupon them
أَعادَ الصَباحَ الطَلقَ لَيلاً عَلَيهِمُ
فَجاءَthen he came وَأَثنىand turned back ناظِرَthe eye of الشَمسِthe sun أَرمَداbleary-eyed
فَجاءَ وَأَثنى ناظِرَ الشَمسِ أَرمَدا
He turned the bright morning into night upon them,
then came and turned back the sun's eye, bleared with dust.
فَحَلَّso he alighted هِلالاًas a crescent moon فيin ظَلامِthe darkness of عَجاجَةٍa dust-cloud
فَحَلَّ هِلالاً في ظَلامِ عَجاجَةٍ
تُلاحِظُهُglance at him الأَقمارُthe moons فيon الأُفقِthe horizon حُسَّداenvious
تُلاحِظُهُ الأَقمارُ في الأُفقِ حُسَّدا
He took his place, a crescent in a dust-cloud's darkness,
while moons on the horizon eyed him with envy.
يُراجِمُhe exchanges volleys مِنfrom among صِنهاجَةٍSanhaja وَزَناتَةٍand Zanata
يُراجِمُ مِن صِنهاجَةٍ وَزَناتَةٍ
بِمِثلِwith the likes of نُجومِthe stars of القَذفِhurling مَثنىًin pairs وَموحَداand singly
بِمِثلِ نُجومِ القَذفِ مَثنىً وَموحَدا
He assails men of Sanhaja and Zanata
with the likes of shooting stars, in pairs and singly.
هُمُthey الأَولِياءُthe allies المانِحوكَwho grant you صَفاؤُهُمtheir pure devotion
هُمُ الأَولِياءُ المانِحوكَ صَفاؤُهُم
إِذاwhen امتازَis distinguished مُصفيone sincere in الوُدَّaffection مِمَّنfrom those who تَوَدَّداprofess affection
إِذا امتازَ مُصفي الوُدَّ مِمَّن تَوَدَّدا
They are the allies who offer you their pure devotion,
when one sincere in love stands apart from those who profess it.
لَهُمthey have كُلُّevery مَيمونِauspicious النَقيبَةِin disposition بازِلٍseasoned warrior
لَهُم كُلُّ مَيمونِ النَقيبَةِ بازِلٍ
كَفيلٍsure بِأَنto يَستَهزِمَrout الجَمعَthe host مُفرَداsingle-handed
كَفيلٍ بِأَن يَستَهزِمَ الجَمعَ مُفرَدا
Theirs is every seasoned warrior of auspicious mettle,
sure to rout the host single-handed.
يَسُرُّكَhe delights you فيin الهَيجاbattle إِذاwhen جَرَّhe trails لامَةًarmor
يَسُرُّكَ في الهَيجا إِذا جَرَّ لامَةً
وَيُرضيكَand pleases you فيin الناديthe assembly إِذاwhen اِعتَمَّhe dons a turban وَاِرتَدىand wears a mantle
وَيُرضيكَ في النادي إِذا اِعتَمَّ وَاِرتَدى
He delights you in battle when he trails his armor,
and pleases you in council when he dons turban and mantle.
كَرِهتَyou disliked لِسَيفِfor the sword of المُلكِkingship أُلفَةَfondness for غِمدِهِits sheath
كَرِهتَ لِسَيفِ المُلكِ أُلفَةَ غِمدِهِ
وَقَلَّand little is غَناءُthe usefulness of السَيفِthe sword ماكانَwhile it is مُغمَداsheathed
وَقَلَّ غَناءُ السَيفِ ماكانَ مُغمَدا
You would not have the sword of kingship grow fond of its sheath,
and little use is a sword while sheathed.
وَلَمand not تَرَyou deemed fit لِلشِبلِfor the lion cub الإِقامَةَremaining فيin الثَرىthe dust
وَلَم تَرَ لِلشِبلِ الإِقامَةَ في الثَرى
فَجَدَّso he strove اِفتِراساًin preying حينَwhen أَصحَرَhe went into open country لِلعِداagainst the foes
فَجَدَّ اِفتِراساً حينَ أَصحَرَ لِلعِدا
Nor did you approve the lion cub's staying in the dust,
so he hunted fiercely when he took the open field against the foes.
هُمامٌa hero إِذاwhen حارَبتَyou wage war فَاِرفَعthen raise لِواءَهُhis banner
هُمامٌ إِذا حارَبتَ فَاِرفَع لِواءَهُ
فَماfor he has not زالَceased being مَنصورَvictorious in اللِواءِbanner مُؤَيَّداsupported
فَما زالَ مَنصورَ اللِواءِ مُؤَيَّدا
A hero: when you wage war, raise his banner,
for he has always borne a victorious banner and been upheld.
وَيَأنَفُand he disdains مِنfrom لينِthe softness of المِهادِbedding تَعَوُّضاًexchanging it
وَيَأنَفُ مِن لينِ المِهادِ تَعَوُّضاً
بِصَهوَةِfor the back of طَيّارٍa flying steed إِلىtoward الرَوعِbattle-terror أَجرَداsleek-coated
بِصَهوَةِ طَيّارٍ إِلى الرَوعِ أَجرَدا
And he disdains the softness of bedding, exchanging it
for the back of a sleek steed that flies into battle's terror.
وَقِدماًand long ago شَكاhe complained of حَملَwearing التَمائِمِamulets يافِعاًas a youth
وَقِدماً شَكا حَملَ التَمائِمِ يافِعاً
لِيَحمِلَto carry رَقراقَshimmering in الفِرِندِthe blade's watered pattern مُهَنَّداan Indian-steel sword
لِيَحمِلَ رَقراقَ الفِرِندِ مُهَنَّدا
And long ago, as a youth, he chafed at wearing amulets,
to bear an Indian-steel sword with a shimmering watered blade.
وَلَمand not نَرَwe saw سَيفاًa sword باتِكَcleaving in الحَدِّedge قَبلَهُbefore him
وَلَم نَرَ سَيفاً باتِكَ الحَدِّ قَبلَهُ
تَناوَلَtook up سَيفاًa sword دونَهُlesser than him فَتَقَلَّداand girded himself with it
تَناوَلَ سَيفاً دونَهُ فَتَقَلَّدا
Never before him had we seen a keen-edged sword
take up a lesser sword and gird it on.
لَئِنif indeed أَنجَزَتhave fulfilled مِنهُin him الشَمائِلُhis qualities آخِراًat last
لَئِن أَنجَزَت مِنهُ الشَمائِلُ آخِراً
لَقَدindeed already قَدَّمَتhad offered beforehand مِنهُin him المَخايِلُthe promising signs مَوعِداa pledge
لَقَد قَدَّمَت مِنهُ المَخايِلُ مَوعِدا
If his virtues have now fulfilled their promise,
his early signs had already made that pledge.
قَرَرتَyou found comfort بِهِthrough him عَيناًin your eye فَكَمand how often سادَhe led عِترَةًa kin-group
قَرَرتَ بِهِ عَيناً فَكَم سادَ عِترَةً
وَكَمand how often ساسَhe governed سُلطاناًa realm وَكَمand how often زانَhe adorned مَشهَداa gathering
وَكَم ساسَ سُلطاناً وَكَم زانَ مَشهَدا
Your eye is cooled with joy by him: how often he has led his kin,
and how often governed a realm and graced a gathering.
وَأَعطَيتُماand may you both be granted فيماin what تُريغانِهِyou both seek it الرِضىcontentment
وَأَعطَيتُما فيما تُريغانِهِ الرِضى
وَبُلِّغتُماand may you both be brought مِمّاof what تُريدانِهِyou both desire it المَدىto the utmost reach
وَبُلِّغتُما مِمّا تُريدانِهِ المَدى
May you both be granted contentment in what you seek,
and brought to the furthest reach of what you desire.
Sol 6.1