قامت لأسقامِي مقامَ طبيبها

قامت لأسقامِي مقامَ طبيبها

ذِكْرَى بَلَنْسِيَةٍ وذكرُ أَدِيبها

ذِكْرَى بَلَنْسِيَةٍ وذكرُ أَدِيبها

For my ailments, their physician's place was taken

My memories of Valencia took the place of my healer

The memory of Valencia and the mention of its man of letters stood in place of a physician for my maladies.

by the memory of Valencia and remembrance of its man of letters.

The memory of its learned men and the memory of its literati

You spoke to me and healed a burning anguish within, for I had become scorched in my vitals by its flame.

حدّثتَني فشفَيتَ منِّي لَوْعةً

حدّثتَني فشفَيتَ منِّي لَوْعةً

أَمْسَيتُ مُحترق الحشا بلَهيبها

أَمْسَيتُ مُحترق الحشا بلَهيبها

You spoke to me and cured me of a burning anguish

You told me of it and so healed my burning longing

I ceased not to remember him, yet you increased my remembrance, and mention of a beloved is sufficiency for the soul.

whose flame had left my heart ablaze.

I spent my night consumed by its flames

I love Valencia, yet the cause of this love is none but Abu al-Abbas, the solace of her stranger.

مَا زلت أَذكره ولكن زدتَنِي

مَا زلت أَذكره ولكن زدتَنِي

ذكراً وحسبُ النفس ذكرُ حبيبها

ذكراً وحسبُ النفس ذكرُ حبيبها

I have never ceased remembering him, yet you gave me more

I still remember it but you increased

The breeze blows, yet the breeze is not sweet until mingled with his fragrance and with hers.

remembrance—and remembrance of its beloved is enough for the soul.

My memories - and the soul finds comfort in the memory of its beloved

O my brother, who aids against the enemy with a sharp tongue that surpasses Wa'il in the wit of its orator.

أهْوَى بلنسيةً وما سببُ الهوى

أهْوَى بلنسيةً وما سببُ الهوى

إلّا أبو العبّاس أُنس غريبها

إلّا أبو العبّاس أُنس غريبها

I love Valencia, and my love has no cause

I yearn for Valencia though the cause of this yearning

When the tumult arose—and were it not for his aid, its lion would not have been distinguished from its wolf.

except Abu al-Abbas, solace to its stranger.

Is only Abu Abbas, its unique stranger

The howling overwhelmed the roaring in the heat of zeal, and the light of the sun dimmed before its setting.

هبّ النسيم وما النسيمُ بطيِّب

هبّ النسيم وما النسيمُ بطيِّب

حتّى يشاب بطيبه وبطيبها

حتّى يشاب بطيبه وبطيبها

The breeze blew, yet the breeze is not fragrant

The breeze blows but the breeze is not fragrant

So Ahmad established, in disputing the foes, the proof of my truthfulness against their denial,

until it is mingled with his fragrance and with hers.

Until it is imbued with its scent, and with hers

Until the virtuous was distinguished from the deficient, and the errant in argument submitted to the one who struck true.

أَأَخي المعين على العدوّ بِمسلقٍ

أَأَخي المعين على العدوّ بِمسلقٍ

أزرَى بوائل في ذكاء خطيبها

أزرَى بوائل في ذكاء خطيبها

O my brother, helper against the enemy with a sharp tongue

My helpful brother against the enemy with a sword

that put the brilliance of Wa'il's orator to shame,

Fully adorned with the sharpness of its orator

إِذ قامت الهيجا ولولا نصرُه

إِذ قامت الهيجا ولولا نصرُه

ما كان يعرف ليثُها من ذيبها

ما كان يعرف ليثُها من ذيبها

when battle arose—and but for his aid,

When chaos rose up, were it not for his victory

its lion would not have been distinguished from its wolf.

Its lion would not be distinguished from its wolf

غلَب العواءُ على الزئير حميّةً

غلَب العواءُ على الزئير حميّةً

وخبَا ضياء الشَّمس قبلَ مغيبها

وخبَا ضياء الشَّمس قبلَ مغيبها

The howl prevailed over the roar through fierce pride,

Zeal overcame roar in an act of protectiveness

and the sun's radiance faded before its setting.

And the sun's glow darkened before its setting

فأَقام أحمدُ في مجادلة العِدَى

فأَقام أحمدُ في مجادلة العِدَى

بُرْهَانَ تصديقِي على تكذيبها

بُرْهَانَ تصديقِي على تكذيبها

Then Ahmad established, in debate with the enemies,

So Ahmad persisted in debating the enemies

proof vindicating me against their denial,

With proof to affirm me and deny them

حتّى تبَيَّن فاضلٌ من ناقصٍ

حتّى تبَيَّن فاضلٌ من ناقصٍ

واِنقادَ مخطِئ حجّةٍ لمُصيبها

واِنقادَ مخطِئ حجّةٍ لمُصيبها

until the worthy was distinguished from the deficient,

Until the superior was distinguished from the inferior

and he who erred in argument yielded to him who was right.

And the mistaken critic submitted to the correct one