وَفَتshe kept faith إِذwhen لَوَتshe turned evasively بِالوَعدِwith the promise يَومon the day of لِوىthe bend of الرَملthe sand
وَفَت إِذ لَوَت بِالوَعدِ يَوم لِوى الرَمل
وَمِنand among عَهدِهاher customary dealings ليwith me المَواعيدpromises بِالمَطلِwith postponement
وَمِن عَهدِها لي المَواعيد بِالمَطلِ
She kept faith when she evaded her promise that day at the sand's bend;
When she promised with beauty on a day of twisted sands,
Her way with me has always been promises deferred.
Her covenants left me only with delay.
مَهاwhite oryxes مِنfrom بُروجthe mansions of البَدرِthe full moon لاحَتappeared وَدارُهاand their dwelling
مَها مِن بُروج البَدرِ لاحَت وَدارُها
عَلىat المُنحَنىthe bend مِنfrom ذيthe place of الأَراكةthe arak tree فَالأَثلِthen the tamarisks
عَلى المُنحَنى مِن ذي الأَراكة فَالأَثلِ
White oryxes appeared from the full moon's mansions; their dwelling
Her tents shone from the full moons and circled
Was at the bend, from Dhu al-Arakah to al-Athl.
Above the bending [horizon] from the brightest stars.
عِذابُsweet الثَناياof front teeth مِنamong كَواعبِbudding-breasted maidens غادَةٍa tender maiden
عِذابُ الثَنايا مِن كَواعبِ غادَةٍ
حِسانُlovely التَثَنّيin swaying قَدalready ثَمِلنَthey became drunk مِنwith الدَلِّcoquetry
حِسانُ التَثَنّي قَد ثَمِلنَ مِن الدَلِّ
Sweet of teeth, among tender, budding-breasted maidens,
The pain of her eyelashes from the glances of a beauty -
Lovely in their swaying, drunk on coquetry.
The charm of her glances filled with languor.
كَواعِبُbudding-breasted maidens إِلّاexcept أَنَّهنَّthat they كَواكِبٌare stars
كَواعِبُ إِلّا أَنَّهنَّ كَواكِبٌ
سَمَتthey rose فيin سَماءthe heaven of الحُسنِbeauty عَنbeyond سِمَةِthe mark of المِثلِany likeness
سَمَت في سَماء الحُسنِ عَن سِمَةِ المِثلِ
Budding-breasted maidens—yet they are stars
Her glances are like stars
Risen in beauty's heaven beyond any likeness.
That took aim in the sky of beauty beyond any peer.
كَسَتthey clothed حِبرَrich fabrics of الوَشيِbrocade البَديعِexquisite مَعاطِفاًswaying bodies
كَسَت حِبرَ الوَشيِ البَديعِ مَعاطِفاً
سَقاهاwatered them الشَبابُyouth الرُوقradiant سَجلاًa bucketful عَلىupon سَجلِanother bucketful
سَقاها الشَبابُ الرُوق سَجلاً عَلى سَجلِ
They clothed swaying forms in wondrous patterned brocade,
She donned the fine writing of poetry as cloaks -
Forms radiant youth had watered, bucketful upon bucketful.
Youth quenched them in vintage poured on parchment.
وَقَلَّدَتand wore as necklaces الأَجيادُthe necks ماwhat فيin ثُغورِهاtheir mouths
وَقَلَّدَت الأَجيادُ ما في ثُغورِها
تَقَلُّدَlike the necklacing of أَجيادِthe necks of الرُباthe hills لُؤلُؤَpearls of الطَلِّdew
تَقَلُّدَ أَجيادِ الرُبا لُؤلُؤَ الطَلِّ
Their necks wore what lay within their mouths,
The stallions were adorned with what was in her cheeks -
As the necks of hills wear pearls of dew.
The adornment of steeds with strung pearls.
وَباتَتand they spent the night عَلىon الجَرعاءthe sandy flat مِنon أَيمَنِthe right side of الحِمىthe preserve
وَباتَت عَلى الجَرعاء مِن أَيمَنِ الحِمى
حِمىthe preserve of القَلبِthe heart تَرعىthey graze لاnot حِمىthe preserve of البانِmoringa trees وَالرَملِand sand
حِمى القَلبِ تَرعى لا حِمى البانِ وَالرَملِ
They passed the night on the sandy flat, to the right of the preserve,
She spent the night watching over the wounded of love -
Grazing the heart's preserve, not one of moringa trees and sand.
The sanctuary of the heart, not the refuge of pasture and sand.
أَلاah, may رَبعَتsettle فيin دارِهاher dwelling أَربَعِيَّةًa spring raincloud
أَلا رَبعَت في دارِها أَربَعِيَّةً
سماكيَّةof Simak الأَنواءِthe rain-seasons دائِمَةunceasing in الهَطلِdownpour
سماكيَّة الأَنواءِ دائِمَة الهَطلِ
Ah, may a spring raincloud settle over her dwelling,
Indeed, in her abode gathered a foursome
Of Simak's rains, unceasing in its downpour,
Of dark clouds, ever rains pouring.
مِنَone of الضَحِكِthe laughing clouds اللاتيthose which يُضاحِكُsmiles back at وَدقُهاtheir rain
مِنَ الضَحِكِ اللاتي يُضاحِكُ وَدقُها
ثُغورَthe mouths of الأَقاحيdaisies فيin الرِياضthe gardens بِمُنهَلِّwith a streaming shower
ثُغورَ الأَقاحي في الرِياض بِمُنهَلِّ
One of those laughing clouds whose rain smiles back at
With laughter that elicits smiles in the gardens at watering places
The daisy-mouths in gardens with streaming showers.
From cheeks that entice the meadows’ bushes.
فَتَعطِفُso it bends لِيتَthe neck of الرَندِthe laurel نَحوَtoward عُرارِهِits arar flowers
فَتَعطِفُ لِيتَ الرَندِ نَحوَ عُرارِهِ
وَيَرنوand gazes لَهاat it الحَوذانthe buttercups عَنthrough أَعيُنٍeyes شُهلِgray-blue
وَيَرنو لَها الحَوذان عَن أَعيُنٍ شُهلِ
So it bends the laurel's neck toward its arar flowers,
She sways the slender twigs toward the gazelle,
And buttercups gaze at it with gray-blue eyes.
As the young oryx glance at her from sleepy eyes.
تُجدِّدُit renews مِنamong تِلكَthose الرُسومِruins مَعاهِداًfamiliar places
تُجدِّدُ مِن تِلكَ الرُسومِ مَعاهِداً
عَهدتُI once knew بِهاthere حُسّانَةَa lovely woman الجيدِof neck وَالشَكلِand coquettish grace
عَهدتُ بِها حُسّانَةَ الجيدِ وَالشَكلِ
It renews among those ruins familiar places
She renews from those features covenants
Where I knew a woman lovely of neck and coquettish grace,
I promised regarding the beauty of her face and form.
وَأَحوَرَand a dark-eyed one وَسنانَdrowsy الجُفونof eyelids إِذاwhen رَناhe gazed
وَأَحوَرَ وَسنانَ الجُفون إِذا رَنا
أَدارَhe passed around كُؤوسcups of الراحِwine بِالحَدَقِwith his eyes النُجلِwide
أَدارَ كُؤوس الراحِ بِالحَدَقِ النُجلِ
And a dark-eyed one, drowsy-lidded, who, when he gazed,
She captivates and the teeth of her eyelids when she is amorous
Passed round winecups with his wide eyes.
Turn the cups of comfort with a languorous gaze.
خَليليmy friend أَقِمhalt بيwith me فيamong الديارِthe dwellings لَعَلَّناperhaps we
خَليلي أَقِم بي في الديارِ لَعَلَّنا
نُسائِلُmay ask مَغناهاher dwelling عَنِabout الرَشَأthe fawn الطفلِtender
نُسائِلُ مَغناها عَنِ الرَشَأ الطفلِ
My friend, halt with me among the dwellings; perhaps we
My friend, stay with me in the dwellings so we may
May ask her dwelling about the tender fawn.
Inquire of their singer about the youthful foal.
أَقمhalt عَلّهاperhaps it أَنmay تُرجعreturn القَولَthe answer أَوor عَسىperhaps
أَقم عَلّها أَن تُرجع القَولَ أَو عَسى
أُخلِّفُI may leave behind فيهاthere بَعضَsome of ماwhat بيafflicts me مِنَof الخبلِmadness
أُخلِّفُ فيها بَعضَ ما بي مِنَ الخبلِ
Halt: perhaps it will answer, or perhaps
Stay so she may return the word, or perhaps
I may leave there some of the madness afflicting me.
I will leave with her some of the madness that is within me.
فَإِنso if تَقِفَنyou should halt مِنfor أَجلِthe sake of نَفسِكَyourself ساعَةًan hour
فَإِن تَقِفَن مِن أَجلِ نَفسِكَ ساعَةً
فَقِفهاthen spend it standing عَلىat تِلكَthose المَعالِمِlandmarks مِنfor أَجليmy sake
فَقِفها عَلى تِلكَ المَعالِمِ مِن أَجلي
If you would halt an hour for your own sake,
If she pauses for your sake an hour,
Then spend it by those landmarks for my sake.
Then pause by those landmarks for my sake.
فرُبَّfor many a فَتاةٍmaiden مِنof مَهاةٍa white oryx بُدورُهاher full moons
فرُبَّ فَتاةٍ مِن مَهاةٍ بُدورُها
تَجَلَّتshone بِداجيin the darkness of لَيلِthe night of فَرعٍtresses لَهاof hers جَثلِthick
تَجَلَّت بِداجي لَيلِ فَرعٍ لَها جَثلِ
For many an oryx-like maiden—her full moons
For many a beauty from the tents, their new moons
Shone through the dark night of her luxuriant tresses—
Shone for us in the darkness of flowering nights.
وَأَجلَتand unveiled لَناfor us عَنto reveal أُقحُوانa daisy مُفلّجٍwith spaced teeth
وَأَجلَت لَنا عَن أُقحُوان مُفلّجٍ
يَرودُmoves to and fro بَعلِّwith draughts of المسكmusk فيamid واضحbright teeth رَتلِevenly set
يَرودُ بَعلِّ المسك في واضح رَتلِ
Unveiled for us a daisy with spaced teeth,
They revealed to us from the brink of a paralyzed love
Wafting draughts of musk amid bright, evenly set teeth.
That returns at dawn in a clear caravan.
مِنَamong الغيدِsupple beauties بَيضاءُwhite التَرائِبِof upper chest طفلَةtender
مِنَ الغيدِ بَيضاءُ التَرائِبِ طفلَة
وَقالَتand she said قَتيليmy slain one فيin الغَرامِpassion بِلاwithout ذَحلِa blood-feud
وَقالَت قَتيلي في الغَرامِ بِلا ذَحلِ
One of the supple beauties, white of breast and tender,
Of the antelopes, a white-thighed doe
She said: 'My victim in love, slain without blood-feud,
Said, “I am slain by love without reserve.”
وِصاليunion with me بِبَذلِat the price of surrendering النَفسِlife إِنif كُنتَyou are طامِعاًdesiring it
وِصالي بِبَذلِ النَفسِ إِن كُنتَ طامِعاً
وَإِلّاand otherwise الثُّريّاthe Pleiades مِنكَto you أَقرَبُare nearer مِنthan وَصليunion with me
وَإِلّا الثُّريّا مِنكَ أَقرَبُ مِن وَصلي
Union with me costs your life, if you desire it;
“My union is in sacrificing myself, if you desire it,
Otherwise the Pleiades are closer to you than union with me.'
Else, parting is nearer to me than union.”
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her وَالعَينُwhile my eye شكرىwas brimming بِمائِهاwith its tears
فَقُلتُ لَها وَالعَينُ شكرى بِمائِها
وَفيand in القَلبِthe heart نارٌa fire حَرّاwith heat بَردُهاits coolness يَغليboils
وَفي القَلبِ نارٌ حَرّا بَردُها يَغلي
I said to her, my eye brimming with tears,
So I said to her, while my eyes overflowed in gratitude,
And in my heart a fire whose coolness boiled with heat:
And in my heart was a burning fire, its coolness boiling:
فَدَيتُكِI ransom you ياO نَفسيmy soul بِملكيwith what I own وَإِنَّماbut in fact
فَدَيتُكِ يا نَفسي بِملكي وَإِنَّما
تَمَلَّكَهاpossessed it سَعدُSa'd البَريّةof mankind مِنfrom قَبليbefore me
تَمَلَّكَها سَعدُ البَريّة مِن قَبلي
'I ransom you, my soul, with what I own; yet
“I ransom you, O my soul, with my kingdom, but
Sa'd of mankind possessed it before I did.'
Sa’d of the wilderness gained it before me.”
إِمامُleader of الهُدىguidance بَحرُocean of النَدىgenerosity قامِعُcrusher of العِداfoes
إِمامُ الهُدى بَحرُ النَدى قامِعُ العِدا
حَليفُally of النَدىbounty لاnever يَفترُtires الدَهرَthroughout time عَنof بَذلِgiving
حَليفُ النَدى لا يَفترُ الدَهرَ عَن بَذلِ
Leader of guidance, ocean of generosity, crusher of foes,
The Imam of guidance, ocean of dew, vanquisher of enemies,
Ally of bounty, never tiring of giving through all time.
Ally of dew ceaselessly bestowing.
هُوَhe العالِمُthe scholar الطُهرُpure الَّذيwho بِيَمينهِby his right hand
هُوَ العالِمُ الطُهرُ الَّذي بِيَمينهِ
تَقَسَّمis apportioned ماwhatever فيin العالمينthe worlds مِنof الفَضلِexcellence
تَقَسَّم ما في العالمين مِن الفَضلِ
He is the pure scholar by whose right hand
He is the pure scholar whose right hand
All the excellence within the worlds is apportioned.
Apportions what bounty lies in both worlds.
هُوَhe المُجتَليthe unveiler of سِرّthe secret of الخَليقَةcreation وَالَّذيand the one whose
هُوَ المُجتَلي سِرّ الخَليقَة وَالَّذي
رَوِيَّتُهhis reflection رَمزَthe cipher of الحَقيقَةِreality تَستَجليbrings to light
رَوِيَّتُه رَمزَ الحَقيقَةِ تَستَجلي
He unveils creation's secret, and it is he
He is the revealer of the secret of creation, whom
Whose reflection brings reality's cipher to light.
I quenched my thirst from the symbol of truth that he manifests.
هُوَhe المُظهِرُthe revealer of النورَthe light الَّذيwhich ظَهَرتbecame manifest بِهِthrough it
هُوَ المُظهِرُ النورَ الَّذي ظَهَرت بِهِ
حَقائِقُthe realities of ماwhat يَلقىhe encounters مِنَof الجنسِgenus وَالفَصلِand differentia
حَقائِقُ ما يَلقى مِنَ الجنسِ وَالفَصلِ
He reveals the light by which become manifest
He is the displayer of the light whereby
The realities he encounters, of genus and differentia.
The realities of genus and categories appeared.
هُوَhe المُصدرthe issuer of الأَحكامَjudgments وَالحِكمَةَand wisdom الَّتيwhich
هُوَ المُصدر الأَحكامَ وَالحِكمَةَ الَّتي
تُريناshows us طَريقَthe path of الحَقِّtruth وَاضِحَةclear in السُبلِits ways
تُرينا طَريقَ الحَقِّ وَاضِحَة السُبلِ
He issues judgments and the wisdom that
He is the source of rulings and the wisdom
Shows us truth's path, its ways made clear.
That shows us the clear path of truth.
هُوَhe الفائِضthe outpourer of الأَنوارlights وَالعَلَمُand the beacon الَّذيwhose
هُوَ الفائِض الأَنوار وَالعَلَمُ الَّذي
بِذكرِat the mention of اسمهِhis name يُستَنزلis called down الغَيثُrain فيin مَحلِdrought
بِذكرِ اسمهِ يُستَنزل الغَيثُ في مَحلِ
He pours forth lights, the beacon whose
He is the overflowing of light, the banner that,
Name, when invoked, brings rain down in drought.
By mentioning his name, rain is summoned in place.
مُلَقِّنteacher to ظِلِّthe shadow of اللَهِGod أَسرارَthe secrets of غَيبِهِHis unseen
مُلَقِّن ظِلِّ اللَهِ أَسرارَ غَيبِهِ
كَماjust as هِيَthey are فيin أُمّthe Mother of الكِتابِthe Book مِنfrom الأَصلِthe beginning
كَما هِيَ في أُمّ الكِتابِ مِن الأَصلِ
He teaches God's shadow the secrets of His unseen,
He whispers to the shadow of God the secrets
As they stand from the beginning in the Mother of the Book.
As they are in the Mother of the Book in origin.
مُرادٌMurad مريدُseeker of الحَقِّthe Truth لاmay never زالَcease مُلكُهُhis kingdom
مُرادٌ مريدُ الحَقِّ لا زالَ مُلكُهُ
يُرىbe seen بِقِرانunder the conjunction of السَعدِgood fortune مُجتَمعَunited الشَملِin its ranks
يُرى بِقِران السَعدِ مُجتَمعَ الشَملِ
Murad, seeker of Truth—may his kingdom ever
The desired, the desire of truth, his kingdom remains unceasing,
Be seen united beneath fortune's conjunction.
Seen by the conjunction of fortune collected whole.
فَوجدانُfor the presence of سَعدِSa'd الدينِal-Din فيin مِثلِthe like of عَصرِهِhis age
فَوجدانُ سَعدِ الدينِ في مِثلِ عَصرِهِ
شَهيدٌa witness بِوحدانيّةِto the oneness of اللَهِGod وَالعَدلِand justice
شَهيدٌ بِوحدانيّةِ اللَهِ وَالعَدلِ
For Sa'd al-Din's presence in an age such as his
Thus the felicity of Sa’d al-Din in an age like his
Bears witness to God's oneness and justice.
Is a martyr of God’s oneness and justice.
تَبارَكَblessed is مَنHe who أَولاهُbestowed on him رَأياًa judgment مُسَدَّداًunerring
تَبارَكَ مَن أَولاهُ رَأياً مُسَدَّداً
يَلوحُgleams عَلَيهِupon him كَالفِرندlike a watered pattern مِنَon النَصلِthe blade
يَلوحُ عَلَيهِ كَالفِرند مِنَ النَصلِ
Blessed is He who endowed him with unerring judgment,
Blessed is he who granted him a rightly guided view
Gleaming upon him like the watered pattern on a blade.
Upon which the sword flashes like a cutting blade.
وَلَولاكَand but for you ياO سَعدَSa'd البَراياof mankind لَماwould not غَداhave become
وَلَولاكَ يا سَعدَ البَرايا لَما غَدا
مَعاقِدُthe binding knots of هَذاthis المُلكkingdom مُستَصحدُfirmly set الفَتلِin their twist
مَعاقِدُ هَذا المُلك مُستَصحدُ الفَتلِ
But for you, Sa'd of mankind, never would
Without you, O felicitous Sa’d, the knots of this kingdom would not
The bonds of this kingdom have become so tightly twisted.
Have been undone, with slaughtered necks bleeding.
وَهَذاand this يَراعٌa reed pen فيin يَمينكyour right hand دُونَهُin its defense
وَهَذا يَراعٌ في يَمينك دُونَهُ
يَقومُstands مَقامَin the place of البيضbright swords وَالأَسَلِand spears الذبلِslender
يَقومُ مَقامَ البيض وَالأَسَلِ الذبلِ
This reed pen in your right hand, in its defense,
And this attendant is in your right, beneath him
Takes the place of bright swords and slender spears.
Taking the place of the white land and the withered grasses.
وَماand not المُلكُkingship إِلّاbut غادَةٌa tender maiden بِكَthrough you شَكلُهاher allure
وَما المُلكُ إِلّا غادَةٌ بِكَ شَكلُها
وَإِلّاand otherwise فَماthen what فَضلُis the merit of الغَوانيlovely women بِلاwithout شَكلِallure
وَإِلّا فَما فَضلُ الغَواني بِلا شَكلِ
Kingship is but a tender maiden whose allure comes from you;
The kingdom is but a beauty by you made,
Otherwise, what are lovely women worth without allure?
Else what is the merit of antelopes without beauty?
أَلاah أَيُّهاO السَعدُSa'd الِّذيwho سارَtraveled ذِكرُهُhis renown
أَلا أَيُّها السَعدُ الِّذي سارَ ذِكرُهُ
مَسيرlike the journey of الصباthe east wind فيthrough الخافقينِeast and west بِماfor what يُوليhe bestows
مَسير الصبا في الخافقينِ بِما يُولي
O Sa'd, whose renown has traveled
O Sa’d whose mention traveled
Like the east wind through east and west, for all he bestows;
Like the morning breeze between the two orbits of day and night!
وَمَنand the one whose دارَتِrevolved الأَفلاكthe celestial spheres طَوعَin obedience to مُرادِهِhis desire
وَمَن دارَتِ الأَفلاك طَوعَ مُرادِهِ
وَمَنand the one for whom كادَتِalmost الأَفلاكُthe spheres تَكتُبُwrite ماwhat يُمليhe dictates
وَمَن كادَتِ الأَفلاكُ تَكتُبُ ما يُملي
You whose desire the spheres obey in turning,
One whom the spheres obey his desires
For whom the spheres almost write down what you dictate:
And one whom the spheres almost record what he dictates!
لِبابِكَto your door جاءَتshe came بِالمَديحwith praise كَأَنَّماas though
لِبابِكَ جاءَت بِالمَديح كَأَنَّما
رَمتهاshot her عيونُthe eyes of الوَحشِwild beasts حَدَقwith pupils قُبلِturned inward
رَمتها عيونُ الوَحشِ حَدَق قُبلِ
My poem has come to your door with praise, as though
To your door the eulogies came as if
The eyes of wild beasts had shot her with inward-turned pupils.
Cast by the eyes of beasts, concentrating their gaze.
إِلىto الشِعرpoetry لاnot تُعزىis she attributed بِوَصفِكَin describing you بَلrather غَدَتshe came to be
إِلى الشِعر لا تُعزى بِوَصفِكَ بَل غَدَت
علىabove فلكthe orbit of الشِعرىSirius بِمَدحِكَthrough praising you تَستَعليshe rises
على فلك الشِعرى بِمَدحِكَ تَستَعلي
Describing you, she belongs no longer to poetry, but
Poetry cannot be consoled by your description, but
Rises, through your praise, above the orbit of Sirius.
It has risen in the celestial sphere, eulogizing you on high.
تَحامىshunned فحولُthe masters of الشِعرِpoetry وزنthe measure of عروضِهاher meter
تَحامى فحولُ الشِعرِ وزن عروضِها
كَماas تَتحاميavoids مُهجَةٌa soul نَظرَةَthe gaze of الصِلِّan asp
كَما تَتحامي مُهجَةٌ نَظرَةَ الصِلِّ
Poetry's masters shun her metrical measure,
The poets’ strengths rise up and the meter of their verse
As a soul avoids the asp's gaze.
Vies as dignified she-camels vie the looks of overlords.
لَهاshe has نِسبَةa lineage فيamong طَيِّئٍTayyi' غَيرَexcept أَنَّهاthat she
لَها نِسبَة في طَيِّئٍ غَيرَ أَنَّها
نَشَتgrew up بَينَamong رَوضِthe gardens of الشامal-Sham فيamid ذارِفdripping الطَلِّdew
نَشَت بَينَ رَوضِ الشام في ذارِف الطَلِّ
She has a lineage among Tayyi', except that she
It has lineage in Tai [tribe] but it grew
Grew among the gardens of al-Sham, amid dripping dew.
Between the gardens of Damascus in torrents of generosity.
رَقيقَةdelicate صَفوpure in الطَبعِnature إِنif هِيَshe لُويِنَتis treated gently
رَقيقَة صَفو الطَبعِ إِن هِيَ لُويِنَت
وَإِنbut if خوشِنَتshe is treated harshly فَالحَدّthen the edge مِنof نابِهاher fang يُفليcuts through
وَإِن خوشِنَت فَالحَدّ مِن نابِها يُفلي
Delicate and pure of nature if treated gently,
Delicate, pure of nature - if she is soft,
But if handled roughly, her fang's sharp edge cuts deep.
The limit of her bite makes swords slick.
وَكَمand many مِثلهاlike her بِالرومِin Rum ليI have خِلتُI thought أَنَّهاthat she was
وَكَم مِثلها بِالرومِ لي خِلتُ أَنَّها
وَحاشاكَand excepting you مِثلَlike القَطرِrain فيin البَلَدthe land المَحلِdrought-stricken
وَحاشاكَ مِثلَ القَطرِ في البَلَد المَحلِ
And many like her I have in Rum, which I deemed
And how many like her I have among the Romans, but
—You excepted—like rain upon a barren land.
God forbid you are like drops in a foreign land.
دَعاهاdrew her إِلَيكَto you العِلمُknowledge وَالحلمُand forbearance وَالحِجىand wisdom
دَعاها إِلَيكَ العِلمُ وَالحلمُ وَالحِجى
وَماand what تَرتَجيshe hopes for مِنfrom صَوبthe downpour of نائِلكyour bounty الجَزلِabundant
وَما تَرتَجي مِن صَوب نائِلك الجَزلِ
Knowledge, forbearance, and wisdom drew her to you,
Knowledge, wisdom and argument summoned her to you
And what she hopes for from the downpour of your abundant bounty.
And she hopes for nothing but your abundant bestowal.
أَتَتshe came تَمتَريto milk مِنfrom جودِthe generosity of راحَتِكَyour palm الغنىwealth
أَتَت تَمتَري مِن جودِ راحَتِكَ الغنى
وَتستَنزلُand calls down النعمىblessings لَدَيكَfrom you بِلاwithout مَهلِdelay
وَتستَنزلُ النعمى لَدَيكَ بِلا مَهلِ
She came to milk riches from the generosity of your palm,
She came to glean from the plenty of your ease,
And to call down your blessings without delay.
And obtain blessing in your presence without delay.
وَلَمand did not يُبقِleave مِنهاof her صَبرُهاher patience غَيرَanything but مُهجَةٍa soul
وَلَم يُبقِ مِنها صَبرُها غَيرَ مُهجَةٍ
مُعَلَّقةsuspended بَينَbetween المَواعيدِpromises وَالمَطلِand postponement
مُعَلَّقة بَينَ المَواعيدِ وَالمَطلِ
Her patience has left her nothing but a soul
Nothing remained of her patience but an antelope
Suspended between promises and postponement.
Suspended between promises and procrastination.
فَمالَكَthen why do you لاnot تَختَصُّهاsingle her out بِشَفاعَةٍwith intercession
فَمالَكَ لا تَختَصُّها بِشَفاعَةٍ
وَأَمرُكَwhile your command كَالمِقدارlike destiny يَنفذُtakes effect فيon الكُلِّall
وَأَمرُكَ كَالمِقدار يَنفذُ في الكُلِّ
Why, then, do you not single her out for intercession,
So why do you not grant her special intercession?
When your command, like destiny, takes effect on all?
For your command is like fate, prevailing over all.
فَوَاللَّهِfor, by God لَيسَتshe is not دونَinferior to ماwhat حاكَwove وَشيهُits brocade
فَوَاللَّهِ لَيسَت دونَ ما حاكَ وَشيهُ
صَريعُslain by الغَوانيthe fair women مُسلمMuslim مِنfrom حلىthe ornaments of الفَضلِexcellence
صَريعُ الغَواني مُسلم مِن حلى الفَضلِ
By God, she is no less than the brocade woven
By God, she is no less than the slain of love,
By Muslim, 'Slain by the Fair,' from the ornaments of excellence.
A Muslim in surrender to your nobility.
وَأَنتَand you اِمرُؤٌa man مِنfrom فَضلِكَyour excellence الفَضلُexcellence وَالَّذيand whoever
وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ مِن فَضلِكَ الفَضلُ وَالَّذي
يَشُكُّdoubts كَمَنlike one who قَدhas شَكّdoubted فيin اللَّهِGod وَالرُسلِand the messengers
يَشُكُّ كَمَن قَد شَكّ في اللَّهِ وَالرُسلِ
You are a man from whose excellence excellence springs; whoever
You are the nobility whose nobility is bounty, and one who
Doubts this is like one who has doubted God and the messengers.
Doubts is like one who doubts God and His messengers.
Sol 6.1