شامَspied بَرقُthe lightning of الشامِSyria بِالرومin Rum جَزُوعاa distraught man
شامَ بَرقُ الشامِ بِالروم جَزُوعا
فَاِنبَرَتthen began أَجفانُهُhis eyelids تذريto shed الدُموعاtears
فَاِنبَرَت أَجفانُهُ تذري الدُموعا
Syria's lightning spied a distraught man in Rum,
and his eyelids began to shed tears.
هَبَّit flashed مِنfrom عَلياthe heights of دِمَشقٍDamascus مَوهِناًlate at night
هَبَّ مِن عَليا دِمَشقٍ مَوهِناً
هَبَّةَlike the flare of المِصباحِa lamp فيin اللَيلِthe night ذَريعاswiftly
هَبَّةَ المِصباحِ في اللَيلِ ذَريعا
It flashed from the heights of Damascus late at night,
flaring swiftly like a lamp in the darkness.
جزعit crossed الآفاقthe horizons فيin هَبَّتِهِits flare
جزع الآفاق في هَبَّتِهِ
وَأَتىand reached الرومRum سُرىthe night-gliding of الأَيمِthe snake جَزُوعاswiftly crossing
وَأَتى الروم سُرى الأَيمِ جَزُوعا
It crossed the horizons in its flare,
and came to Rum, coursing across like a snake by night.
خَفَقَتfluttered راياتُهُits banners فيin أُفقِهِits horizon
خَفَقَت راياتُهُ في أُفقِهِ
خَفَقانَlike the beating of القَلبِthe heart قَدalready أَمسىhad become مَرُوعاterrified
خَفَقانَ القَلبِ قَد أَمسى مَرُوعا
Its banners fluttered upon its horizon,
like the beating of a heart grown terrified.
وَقَعَتfell شُعلَتُهُits flame وَسطَamid الحَشاthe inner breast
وَقَعَت شُعلَتُهُ وَسطَ الحَشا
وَسَناهُand its radiance طالَrose فيin الجَوِّthe sky رَفيعاhigh
وَسَناهُ طالَ في الجَوِّ رَفيعا
Its flame fell deep within the breast,
while its radiance rose high into the sky.
لَيسَnot يَدريknows وَقعَهاits impact غَيرُanyone except شَجٍa sorrowful man
لَيسَ يَدري وَقعَها غَيرُ شَجٍ
فارَقَleft الأَوطانthe homelands مِثليlike me وَالرُبوعاand the dwellings
فارَقَ الأَوطان مِثلي وَالرُبوعا
None knows its impact but a sorrowful man
who has left homelands and dwellings, as I have;
أَوor مُعَنّىًone tormented بِهَوىًby a love تَيَّمَهُthat enslaved him
أَو مُعَنّىً بِهَوىً تَيَّمَهُ
مِنfor غَزالٍa gazelle راحَbecame لِلوَصلِof union مَنوعاwithholding
مِن غَزالٍ راحَ لِلوَصلِ مَنوعا
or one tormented by a love that has enslaved him,
for a gazelle who has grown withholding of union.
يُخجِلُputs to shame الشَمسَthe sun سَناءًin splendor وَسَناand radiance
يُخجِلُ الشَمسَ سَناءً وَسَنا
وَمَهاةَand the oryx-doe of الرَملِthe sand جِيداًin neck وَتَليعاand graceful neck-length
وَمَهاةَ الرَملِ جِيداً وَتَليعا
He puts the sun to shame in splendor and radiance,
and the sand's oryx-doe in neck and graceful height.
أَسهَرَkept awake الجَفنَthe eyelid خَلِيّاًdevoid عَنof كَرىًslumber
أَسهَرَ الجَفنَ خَلِيّاً عَن كَرىً
مُقلَةًan eye لَمnot تُطعَمِwas fed النَومَsleep هُجُوعاin repose
مُقلَةً لَم تُطعَمِ النَومَ هُجُوعا
He kept the eyelid wakeful, bereft of slumber—
an eye that has never tasted sleep's repose.
كَيفَhow يَكرىcan sleep ناظِرٌan eye فارَقَهُhas left it
كَيفَ يَكرى ناظِرٌ فارَقَهُ
ناظِرُthe pupil of العَيشِlife مِنَof اللَيلِthe night هَزيعاa watch
ناظِرُ العَيشِ مِنَ اللَيلِ هَزيعا
How can an eye sleep when it has been left by
life's very pupil, for a watch of the night?
وَشَبابٍand youth شَرخُهُits prime مُقتَبلٌjust beginning
وَشَبابٍ شَرخُهُ مُقتَبلٌ
كانَwas فيamid الصَدِّrejection لَدىfor العَبدِthis servant هَزيعاshattered
كانَ في الصَدِّ لَدى العَبدِ هَزيعا
And youth, with its prime still dawning,
was, for this servant, shattered by rejection.
لَمnot يَكُنwas إِلّاexcept كُحُلمٍlike a dream وَاِنقَضىand passed away
لَم يَكُن إِلّا كُحُلمٍ وَاِنقَضى
أَوor خَيالٍa phantom فيin الكَرىsleep مَرَّpassed سَريعاswiftly
أَو خَيالٍ في الكَرى مَرَّ سَريعا
It was no more than a dream, and passed away,
or a phantom that swiftly passed through sleep.
أَزمَعَتresolved حَسرَتُهُregret for it لاnot تَنقَضيto end
أَزمَعَت حَسرَتُهُ لا تَنقَضي
آهِah ماhow أَعجَلَswift ماwhat وَلّىdeparted زَميعاhastening
آهِ ما أَعجَلَ ما وَلّى زَميعا
Regret for it resolved never to end;
ah, how swiftly it departed, hastening away!
لَستُI do not أَرضىaccept مِنَّةَthe favor of السُقياwatering لَهُfor it
لَستُ أَرضى مِنَّةَ السُقيا لَهُ
وَسَحابُwhile the cloud of الجفنِthe eyelid يَسقيهِwaters it الرَبيعاwith spring rain
وَسَحابُ الجفنِ يَسقيهِ الرَبيعا
I will accept no favor of watering it,
while the eyelid's cloud gives it springtime rain.
وَالَّذيand what هاجَstirred الجَوىburning grief قَمَرِيَّةa turtledove
وَالَّذي هاجَ الجَوى قَمَرِيَّة
بِالضُحىat forenoon تَهتِفُcalls بِالأَيكِin the thicket سُجوعاcooing
بِالضُحى تَهتِفُ بِالأَيكِ سُجوعا
What stirred this burning grief was a turtledove,
cooing in the thicket at forenoon.
كُلَّماwhenever ناحَتshe lamented عَلىupon أَفنانِهاher boughs
كُلَّما ناحَت عَلى أَفنانِها
هاجَتِshe stirred الصَبَّthe lover غَراماًto passion وَوُلُوعاand ardent attachment
هاجَتِ الصَبَّ غَراماً وَوُلُوعا
Whenever she lamented upon her boughs,
she stirred the lover to passion and devotion.
وَإِذاand when غَنَّتshe sang لَهُto him عَنَّتarose لَهُbefore him
وَإِذا غَنَّت لَهُ عَنَّت لَهُ
ذِكرَةٌa memory لِلشامِof Syria زادَتهُdeepened his نُزوعاyearning
ذِكرَةٌ لِلشامِ زادَتهُ نُزوعا
And whenever she sang to him, there arose before him
a memory of Syria that deepened his yearning.
ياah سَقىmay water اللَهُGod حِماهاher sanctuary وَابِلاًwith a downpour
يا سَقى اللَهُ حِماها وَابِلاً
مُسبِلَlowering الطَرفِthe gaze مِنَof الغَيثِrain هَمُوعاpouring abundantly
مُسبِلَ الطَرفِ مِنَ الغَيثِ هَمُوعا
Ah, may God water her sanctuary with a downpour,
its gaze lowered, shedding copious rain.
حَيثُwhere ربعُthe quarter of اللَهوِpleasure مِنهاwithin her آهِلٌinhabited
حَيثُ ربعُ اللَهوِ مِنها آهِلٌ
وَالمَغانيand the songs فيin مَغانيهاher dwellings جَميعاall together
وَالمَغاني في مَغانيها جَميعا
Where her quarter of pleasure stands peopled,
and all the songs are gathered in her dwellings.
كُلُّevery رودٍtender maiden أُلبِسَتwas clothed in شَرخَthe prime of الصِباyouth
كُلُّ رودٍ أُلبِسَت شَرخَ الصِبا
وَكَساهاand clothed her الحُسنُbeauty ديباجاًin brocade بَديعاwondrous
وَكَساها الحُسنُ ديباجاً بَديعا
Every tender maiden is clothed in youth's first bloom,
and beauty has dressed her in wondrous brocade.
لَمnot يَرعَهاtended her غَيرَother than رَيعانthe fresh bloom of الصِباyouth
لَم يَرعَها غَيرَ رَيعان الصِبا
وَهَوىًand a love إِنif تَدعُهُyou summon it لَبّىit answers مُطيعاobediently
وَهَوىً إِن تَدعُهُ لَبّى مُطيعا
None tended her save youth's fresh bloom
and a love that answers obediently if you summon it.
كَمhow many لَناwe had فيهِنَّamong them مِنof بَهنانَةٍa tender beauty
كَم لَنا فيهِنَّ مِن بَهنانَةٍ
وَلعَbecame enamored القَلبُthe heart بِهاof her خوداًa young beauty سَموعاattentive
وَلعَ القَلبُ بِها خوداً سَموعا
How many a tender beauty we had among them,
an attentive young maiden with whom the heart fell in love.
لَستُI do not أَنسىforget ساعَةَthe hour of التَوديعِfarewell إِذwhen
لَستُ أَنسى ساعَةَ التَوديعِ إِذ
وَقَفَتshe stood فيat مَوقفِthe place of البينِparting خَضُوعاhumbled
وَقَفَت في مَوقفِ البينِ خَضُوعا
I cannot forget the hour of farewell, when
she stood at the place of parting, humbled,
وَهيَwhile she تُذريscatters لُؤلُؤاًpearls مِنfrom نَرجِسٍnarcissi
وَهيَ تُذري لُؤلُؤاً مِن نَرجِسٍ
فَوقَupon وَردٍroses كادَalmost طيباًwith fragrance أَنto يَضُوعاwaft fragrance
فَوقَ وَردٍ كادَ طيباً أَن يَضُوعا
scattering pearls from narcissi
upon roses almost bursting into fragrance.
عَلِقتَshe clung to ذَيليmy hem وَخانَتهاand betrayed her القُوىstrength
عَلِقتَ ذَيلي وَخانَتها القُوى
فَاِنثَنَتthen she sank مِنfrom وَقعَةِthe blow of البينِparting صَريعاstricken down
فَاِنثَنَت مِن وَقعَةِ البينِ صَريعا
She clung to my hem, and her strength betrayed her,
then sank, felled by the blow of separation.
وَأَفاقَتand she revived وَبِهاwhile within her رسّthe first stirrings of الجَوىburning grief
وَأَفاقَت وَبِها رسّ الجَوى
ثُمَّthen قالَتshe said وَشَكَتand lamented دَهراًan age خَدوعاtreacherous
ثُمَّ قالَت وَشَكَت دَهراً خَدوعا
She revived, with the first stirrings of anguish within her,
then spoke, lamenting a treacherous age:
لاmay not رَعىfavor اللَهُGod المَعاليhigh honors مَطلَباًas a pursuit
لا رَعى اللَهُ المَعالي مَطلَباً
كَمhow many تَرىyou see مُغرىbesotted بِهاwith them صَبّاًa passionate lover وَلوعاardently attached
كَم تَرى مُغرى بِها صَبّاً وَلوعا
‘May God not bless the pursuit of high honors!
How many a passionate lover you see besotted with them!
كُنتَyou were ليfor me بَدراًa full moon مُنيراًshining فَاِختَفىthen it vanished
كُنتَ لي بَدراً مُنيراً فَاِختَفى
فيin سِرارٍthe moon's dark phase بَعدَafter ماthat سرَّdelighted طُلوعاin rising
في سِرارٍ بَعدَ ما سرَّ طُلوعا
You were for me a shining full moon, then it vanished
into moonless darkness after delighting me as it rose;
وَشَباباًand youth لاحَshone بَدراًas a full moon عِندَماjust when
وَشَباباً لاحَ بَدراً عِندَما
أَشعَلَit lit الرَأسthe head سَناًwith radiance راحَdeparted مريعاterrifying
أَشعَلَ الرَأس سَناً راحَ مريعا
and youth that gleamed as a full moon, just when
it lit the head with radiance, departed, bringing dread.
أَيُّهاO الظاعِنُdeparting traveler وَالقَلبُwhile the heart عَلىon
أَيُّها الظاعِنُ وَالقَلبُ عَلى
إِثرِهِhis trail مُذsince سارَhe left ماnot زالَceased هَلوعاbeing anxious
إِثرِهِ مُذ سارَ ما زالَ هَلوعا
O departing traveler, while the heart
has remained anxious in his wake ever since he left,
لاdo not تَكُنbe لِلعَهدِof the pledge بَعديaway from me ناسِياًforgetful
لا تَكُن لِلعَهدِ بَعدي ناسِياً
ياO حَياتيmy life وَاِعطِفَنand surely turn نَحويtoward me رُجُوعاin return
يا حَياتي وَاِعطِفَن نَحوي رُجُوعا
do not forget our pledge when away from me,
O my life, turn back toward me!
وَإِذاand if لَمnot تَرعَyou honor عَهديmy pledge فَاِذكُرَنthen surely remember
وَإِذا لَم تَرعَ عَهدي فَاِذكُرَن
عَهدَthe pledge to مِنthose whom خَلّفتَyou left behind وَالطفلَand the child الرَضيعاat the breast
عَهدَ مِن خَلّفتَ وَالطفلَ الرَضيعا
And if you do not keep your pledge to me, remember
your pledge to those you left behind, and the nursing child.
كَيفَhow تَنسىcan you forget زَينَباًZaynab أَوor أُختَهاher sister
كَيفَ تَنسى زَينَباً أَو أُختَها
كُلَّماwhenever قالَتshe says أَبيmy father أَذَرَتshe sheds دُموعاtears
كُلَّما قالَت أَبي أَذَرَت دُموعا
How can you forget Zaynab, or her sister,
who sheds tears whenever she says, “Father”?
لَهُماboth have مِنكَfrom you وَإِنeven if طالَgrows long المَدىthe distance
لَهُما مِنكَ وَإِن طالَ المَدى
ذِمَّةٌan obligation تُرعىto be honored وَعَهدٌand a pledge لَنwill never يَضيعاbe lost
ذِمَّةٌ تُرعى وَعَهدٌ لَن يَضيعا
Both have a claim upon you, however long the distance:
an obligation to be honored, a pledge that shall not perish.’
وَشَفيعُand the intercessor of الدَمعِtears يَجريflows دُرَراًas pearls
وَشَفيعُ الدَمعِ يَجري دُرَراً
مِثلَlike دُرٍّpearls وَقعُهُits fall يَحكيresembles الصَقيعاfrost
مِثلَ دُرٍّ وَقعُهُ يَحكي الصَقيعا
And tears, the intercessor, flow as pearls,
like pearls whose fall resembles frost.
قُلتُI said هَيهاتَfar from it شَفيعan intercessor أَوunless أَرىI see
قُلتُ هَيهاتَ شَفيع أَو أَرى
فَضلَthe bounty of سَعدِSa'd الدينِal-Din فيهِنَّfor them شَفيعاas intercessor
فَضلَ سَعدِ الدينِ فيهِنَّ شَفيعا
I said, ‘No intercessor avails, unless I see
Sa'd al-Din's bounty interceding for them.’
سَعدُSa'd دينِthe faith of اللَهِGod مَجلىthe manifestation of سِرِّهِHis secret
سَعدُ دينِ اللَهِ مَجلى سِرِّهِ
فيin ظُهورٍa manifestation بَلَغَthat reached السَقفَthe vault الرَفيعاlofty
في ظُهورٍ بَلَغَ السَقفَ الرَفيعا
Sa'd, joy of God's faith, the mirror of His secret,
in a manifestation reaching the lofty vault.
مُظهِرُrevealer of الأَلطافِkindnesses فَيّاضُoverflowing with النَدىbounty
مُظهِرُ الأَلطافِ فَيّاضُ النَدى
عَنthrough أَيادٍbenefactions تُخجِلُthat shame الغَيثَrain الرَبيعاof spring
عَن أَيادٍ تُخجِلُ الغَيثَ الرَبيعا
Revealer of kindnesses, overflowing with bounty,
through benefactions that shame spring rain.
عالمٌa scholar عَذبُsweet in السَجاياcharacter ناسكٌan ascetic
عالمٌ عَذبُ السَجايا ناسكٌ
كُلَّماwhenever اِزدادَhe increases تُقىًin piety زادَhe increases خُشوعاin humility
كُلَّما اِزدادَ تُقىً زادَ خُشوعا
A scholar of gentle character, an ascetic,
whose humility increases as his piety grows.
قانِتٌdevout لِلّهِbefore God فيهِwithin him خِشيَةٌreverent fear
قانِتٌ لِلّهِ فيهِ خِشيَةٌ
يَقطَعُhe spends اللَيلَthe night قِياماًstanding in prayer وَرُكوعاand bowing
يَقطَعُ اللَيلَ قِياماً وَرُكوعا
Devout before God, filled with reverent fear,
he spends the night standing and bowing in prayer.
طاهِرُpure in الشيمةَcharacter عَفُّchaste in الذَيلِconduct لاnot
طاهِرُ الشيمةَ عَفُّ الذَيلِ لا
يَزدَهيهِbeguile him جانِباthe two sides of الدُنياthe world مُريعاflourishing
يَزدَهيهِ جانِبا الدُنيا مُريعا
Pure in character, chaste in conduct; neither
of the world's two flourishing sides beguiles him.
مُستَنيرُilluminated in الرَأيِjudgment مَرهوبُawe-inspiring in الحِجىintellect
مُستَنيرُ الرَأيِ مَرهوبُ الحِجى
أَريَحِيُّopen-handed in الجودgenerosity كَمhow many أَولىhe bestowed صَنيعاfavors
أَريَحِيُّ الجود كَم أَولى صَنيعا
Illuminated in judgment, awe-inspiring in intellect,
open-handed in generosity—how many favors he has bestowed!
قَدindeed حَمىhas protected الإِسلامIslam مِنهُof his صارِمٌa keen sword
قَد حَمى الإِسلام مِنهُ صارِمٌ
فَلَّrepelled عَنّاfrom us حادِثَthe onset of الخَطبِcalamity شَنيعاhideous
فَلَّ عَنّا حادِثَ الخَطبِ شَنيعا
A keen sword of his has protected Islam,
deflecting calamity's dreadful onslaught from us;
وَيَراعٍand a pen ينظِمُstrings together الشُهبَbright stars وَإِنand if
وَيَراعٍ ينظِمُ الشُهبَ وَإِن
نَثَرَit scatters الدُرَّpearls كَساit clothes الرَوضَthe garden وَشيعاin embroidery
نَثَرَ الدُرَّ كَسا الرَوضَ وَشيعا
and a pen that strings the stars, and when
it scatters pearls, it clothes the garden in embroidery.
ماnever مَشىit moved فيacross الطِرسِthe page إلّاwithout خِلتَهُyou imagining it
ما مَشى في الطِرسِ إلّا خِلتَهُ
أَرقَماًa speckled serpent يَنسابُgliding فيthrough الرَوضِthe garden ضَليعاstout-bodied
أَرقَماً يَنسابُ في الرَوضِ ضَليعا
Whenever it moves across the page, you would think it
a stout, speckled serpent gliding through a garden.
يَنفُثُit breathes out الأَريَhoney لراجيfor one hoping for وُدِّهِhis friendship
يَنفُثُ الأَريَ لراجي وُدِّهِ
وَلِباغيand for one seeking ضِدِّهِopposition to him السُمَّpoison النَقيعاpotent
وَلِباغي ضِدِّهِ السُمَّ النَقيعا
It breathes honey for one who hopes for his friendship,
and potent poison for one who seeks to oppose him.
مُذsince رَساhe stood firm لِلملكِfor the kingdom طَوداًas a mountain لَمnot يَزَلceased
مُذ رَسا لِلملكِ طَوداً لَم يَزَل
رُكنهُits pillar مِنagainst حادِثِthe assaults of الدَهرِtime مَنيعاimpregnable
رُكنهُ مِن حادِثِ الدَهرِ مَنيعا
Since he stood as a mountain for the kingdom, it has never ceased
to have a pillar secure against time's calamities.
يَحتَبيhe wraps himself in الحُلمَforbearance بِحِقوَيهِaround his hips إِذاwhen
يَحتَبي الحُلمَ بِحِقوَيهِ إِذا
زَعزَعتshook عاصِفthe storm-blast of ريحِthe wind of الطَيشِrashness ريعاa hill
زَعزَعت عاصِف ريحِ الطَيشِ ريعا
He wraps his hips in forbearance when
the storm-blast of rashness shakes a hill.
أَيُّهاO السالِكُtraveler مِنalong نَهجِthe path of الهُدىguidance
أَيُّها السالِكُ مِن نَهجِ الهُدى
طُرُقَthe roads of الحَقِّtruth دَعِabandon المَشيَwalking هَيوعاin panic
طُرُقَ الحَقِّ دَعِ المَشيَ هَيوعا
O traveler, following the path of guidance
along the roads of truth, abandon your panicked wandering;
وَاِستَبِقand hasten to سدَّةَthe threshold of سَعدSa'd نورهاits light
وَاِستَبِق سدَّةَ سَعد نورها
قَدalready بَداhas appeared مِنfrom أُفقِthe horizon of الحَقِّtruth صَديعاbrightly breaking
قَد بَدا مِن أُفقِ الحَقِّ صَديعا
and hasten to Sa'd's threshold, whose light
has emerged from truth's horizon, brightly breaking.
الإِمامُthe imam المُجتَبىchosen سَعدُthe good fortune of الوَرىmankind
الإِمامُ المُجتَبى سَعدُ الوَرى
فَهوَfor he is مَنthe one whom يَنتَظِرُawait القَومَthe people تَبيعاas a champion
فَهوَ مَن يَنتَظِرُ القَومَ تَبيعا
The chosen imam, Sa'd, mankind's good fortune,
he is the one the people await as their champion.
صاحِبُpossessor of الخيرَةِexcellence وَالنُورand the light الَّذيthat
صاحِبُ الخيرَةِ وَالنُور الَّذي
مَلَأَfilled الآفاقَthe horizons وَالكَونَand the universe شُيوعاpervasively
مَلَأَ الآفاقَ وَالكَونَ شُيوعا
Possessor of excellence and of the light that
has filled the horizons and the universe, spreading everywhere.
هُوَhe is ظِلُّthe shadow of الظِلِّthe shadow وَالظلُّand the shadow كَماas
هُوَ ظِلُّ الظِلِّ وَالظلُّ كَما
قيلَwas said عَينُthe very essence of الشَمسِthe sun إِنif كُنتَyou are سَميعاone who listens
قيلَ عَينُ الشَمسِ إِن كُنتَ سَميعا
He is the shadow of the shadow; and the shadow, as
has been said, is the very sun, if you will listen.
لَيسَnot تَخفيis hidden ذاتُهُhis essence إِلّاexcept عَلىfrom
لَيسَ تَخفي ذاتُهُ إِلّا عَلى
أَكمهٍone blind from birth لاnot يَعرِفُknows الصُبحَthe dawn الصَديعاbreaking
أَكمهٍ لا يَعرِفُ الصُبحَ الصَديعا
His essence is hidden only from
one born blind, who cannot know the breaking dawn.
رُتَبٌranks تَسقطُfall حَسرىexhausted دونَهاshort of them
رُتَبٌ تَسقطُ حَسرى دونَها
مُستَطيلاتُthe farthest-reaching of الأَمانيّambitions وُقوعاtumbling down
مُستَطيلاتُ الأَمانيّ وُقوعا
Ranks short of which fall, exhausted,
the farthest-reaching ambitions, tumbling down.
لَمnot تُنَلwere attained بِالسَعيِby striving كلّاcertainly not إِنَّماonly
لَم تُنَل بِالسَعيِ كلّا إِنَّما
هُوَit is فَضلُthe grace of اللَهِGod فيهِin him قَدindeed أُذيعاhas been made known
هُوَ فَضلُ اللَهِ فيهِ قَد أُذيعا
They were not attained by striving—no! It is only
God's grace, made manifest in him.
أَيُّهاO المَولىmaster الَّذيwhose أَعتابُهُhis thresholds
أَيُّها المَولى الَّذي أَعتابُهُ
لِأُليfor possessors of العِلمِlearning غَدَتhave become ربعاًa home وَسيعاspacious
لِأُلي العِلمِ غَدَت ربعاً وَسيعا
O master, whose thresholds
have become a spacious home for the learned,
وَأَقامَand raised السَعدُgood fortune فيin أَكنافِهاtheir precincts
وَأَقامَ السَعدُ في أَكنافِها
بَيتَa house of فَضلٍbounty حَجّهُmake pilgrimage to it الناسِthe people رَفيعاlofty
بَيتَ فَضلٍ حَجّهُ الناسِ رَفيعا
and in whose precincts good fortune has raised
a lofty house of bounty, to which people make pilgrimage.
رُكنُهُits corner رُكنٌa corner لَناfor us مُلتَزَمٌto cling to
رُكنُهُ رُكنٌ لَنا مُلتَزَمٌ
وَحِماهُand its grounds حَرَمٌa sanctuary يُلفىfound مَنيعاinviolable
وَحِماهُ حَرَمٌ يُلفى مَنيعا
Its corner is a corner we embrace,
and its grounds an inviolable sanctuary.
فَبنوso the children of الآمالhopes طافَتcircled حَولَهُaround it
فَبنو الآمال طافَت حَولَهُ
تَبتَغيseeking مِنfrom فَضلِهِhis bounty الفَضلَbounty نُجوعاseeking pasture
تَبتَغي مِن فَضلِهِ الفَضلَ نُجوعا
The children of hope have circled it,
seeking bounty from his grace, journeying in quest of pasture.
وَبَنوand the children of الآدابletters فيin ساحاتِهِhis courtyards
وَبَنو الآداب في ساحاتِهِ
قَدindeed أَقامَتhave settled تُنشئُcreating الوَشيَembroidery البَديعاwondrous
قَد أَقامَت تُنشئُ الوَشيَ البَديعا
And the children of letters, in his courtyards,
have settled, weaving wondrous embroidery.
وَمُلوكُand the kings of النَظمِverse وَالنَثرand prose بِهاthere
وَمُلوكُ النَظمِ وَالنَثر بِها
هَيبَةٌawe مِنof نُطقِهِhis speech تُبديreveals الخُضوعاsubmission
هَيبَةٌ مِن نُطقِهِ تُبدي الخُضوعا
And the kings of verse and prose there—
awe of his speech lays bare their submission.
ياah لَهاhow wondrous أَكنافُthe precincts of سَعدٍSa'd أَصبَحَتhave become
يا لَها أَكنافُ سَعدٍ أَصبَحَت
يَذكُرُrecalls الفَضلَbounty حِماهاtheir sanctuary وَالرَبيعاand spring
يَذكُرُ الفَضلَ حِماها وَالرَبيعا
Ah, what wondrous precincts Sa'd's have become!
Their sanctuary recalls bounty and springtime.
فَاِبنُso Ibn عَبّادٍ'Abbad لَوِif اِجتازَhe passed بِهاthrough them
فَاِبنُ عَبّادٍ لَوِ اِجتازَ بِها
لَرَأىhe would surely see فَضلاًbounty يُنسّيهِthat makes him forget البَديعاal-Badi'
لَرَأى فَضلاً يُنسّيهِ البَديعا
If Ibn 'Abbad were to pass through them,
he would see bounty that made him forget al-Badi',
وَدَرىand he would know أَنّthat المَعاليlofty honors لَمnot تَكُنwere
وَدَرى أَنّ المَعالي لَم تَكُن
تَحتَunder حَصرthe restriction of العَصرthe age بَلrather فَضلٌbounty أُشيعاspread abroad
تَحتَ حَصر العَصر بَل فَضلٌ أُشيعا
and know that lofty honors were not
confined to one age, but were bounty spread abroad.
فَلَعَمريby my life إِنَّindeed مَغناهاtheir dwelling لَناfor us
فَلَعَمري إِنَّ مَغناها لَنا
جَنَّةٌa paradise أَنهارُهاwhose rivers تَجريflow نُبوعاgushing forth
جَنَّةٌ أَنهارُها تَجري نُبوعا
By my life, their dwelling is for us
a paradise whose rivers gush and flow.
أَبتَغيI seek فيهاthere مُقاميmy residence مِثلَjust like ماthat
أَبتَغي فيها مُقامي مِثلَ ما
يَبتَغيseeks فَضلكَyour bounty فيin الدُنياthe world الشُيوعاto spread
يَبتَغي فَضلكَ في الدُنيا الشُيوعا
I seek to make my abode there, just as
your bounty seeks to spread throughout the world.
وَلِسانيand my tongue عَنكَabout you يَهوىyearns for السرَّsecrecy كيso that
وَلِساني عَنكَ يَهوى السرَّ كي
يَنثُرit may scatter الإِحسانَgoodness فيacross الأَرضِthe earth مشيعاspreading it abroad
يَنثُر الإِحسانَ في الأَرضِ مشيعا
And my tongue yearns for secrecy about you, so that
it may scatter goodness broadcast over the earth,
بَينَamong أَقطارthe regions of دِمَشقDamascus وَيَرىand behold
بَينَ أَقطار دِمَشق وَيَرى
مَنزِلاًa home فارَقَهُleft it الجِسمthe body جَزوعاanguished
مَنزِلاً فارَقَهُ الجِسم جَزوعا
through the regions of Damascus, and behold
a home the body left in anguish.
ماnot شَرِبناwe drank الماءَwater كَلّاno indeed وَالكَلاand pasture
ما شَرِبنا الماءَ كَلّا وَالكَلا
مُنذُfor عامَينِtwo years وَحَسبيand enough for me أَنthat أَضيعاI perish
مُنذُ عامَينِ وَحَسبي أَن أَضيعا
We have drunk no water—no—nor tasted pasture,
for two years; enough that I should perish.
ماnot لَهُمthey have ثَمَّthere سِوىexcept مَولاهُمtheir Lord
ما لَهُم ثَمَّ سِوى مَولاهُم
ثُمَّthen هَذاthis العَبدُservant فَاِرسِلهُso send him سَريعاquickly
ثُمَّ هَذا العَبدُ فَاِرسِلهُ سَريعا
They have no one there except their Lord,
and then this servant; so send him swiftly.
لاmay not بَرِحتَyou cease الدَهرَthroughout time ردّافَconstantly renewing العَطاgifts
لا بَرِحتَ الدَهرَ ردّافَ العَطا
عَنthrough أَيادٍbenefactions تُخجِلُthat shame السحبَthe clouds صَنيعاin kindness
عَن أَيادٍ تُخجِلُ السحبَ صَنيعا
May you never cease, through time, to heap gift upon gift,
with benefactions whose kindness shames the clouds,
بَينَamid إِقبالِprosperity وَعيدٍand a festival عايِدٍreturning
بَينَ إِقبالِ وَعيدٍ عايِدٍ
بِأَمانٍin safety فيin زَمانٍan age ماnot أُريعاalarmed
بِأَمانٍ في زَمانٍ ما أُريعا
amid prosperity and a returning festival,
in safety, through an age untouched by fear;
وَبَنُوكَand your sons الغُرُّradiant ساداتُlords of الوَرىmankind
وَبَنُوكَ الغُرُّ ساداتُ الوَرى
فيamong الوَرىmankind طابُواthey are noble أصولاًin roots وَفُروعاand branches
في الوَرى طابُوا أصولاً وَفُروعا
and your radiant sons, masters of mankind,
noble among men in root and branch,
ماas long as صَباyearned صَبٌّa lover إِلىfor أَوطانِهِhis homelands
ما صَبا صَبٌّ إِلى أَوطانِهِ
نازِحُfar from الدارhome وَاِشتاقَand yearned for رُبوعاdwellings
نازِحُ الدار وَاِشتاقَ رُبوعا
as long as a lover yearns for his homeland,
far from home, and longs for its dwellings.
Sol 6.1