سَماع يا أَيُّ هَذا الفاضل النَطِسُ

سَماع يا أَيُّ هَذا الفاضل النَطِسُ

وَمن تسامت بِعَلياهُ طَرابلسُ

وَمن تسامت بِعَلياهُ طَرابلسُ

Hearken, O you discerning man of excellence—

Listen, O learned, discerning one,

you by whose exalted greatness Tripoli has risen high;

and you through whose eminence Tripoli has risen high,

وَمَن غَدا في بَنيها الزُهر منذُ سَما

وَمَن غَدا في بَنيها الزُهر منذُ سَما

سَماء فَضلٍ وَهُم مِن حَولِهِ حَرَسُ

سَماء فَضلٍ وَهُم مِن حَولِهِ حَرَسُ

you who, since ascending among her radiant sons, became

and who, since rising, has become among her radiant sons

a heaven of virtue, while they stand guard around him;

a heaven of excellence, with them as guards around him;

وَمِن هَو الغَيثُ في يَوم النَوال بَل ال

وَمِن هَو الغَيثُ في يَوم النَوال بَل ال

بَحر الزُلال بِها في الجود يَنبَجسُ

بَحر الزُلال بِها في الجود يَنبَجسُ

you who are the rain cloud on the day of giving—indeed, the

and who is rain on the day of giving—rather, the

pure, fresh sea that gushes there with generosity;

limpid sea, welling forth there in generosity;

وَمَن إِذا خَفَقَت راياتُ فِكرَتِهِ في ال

وَمَن إِذا خَفَقَت راياتُ فِكرَتِهِ في ال

بَحث شاهَدتَ لَيث الغاب يَفتَرِسُ

بَحث شاهَدتَ لَيث الغاب يَفتَرِسُ

you whose banners of thought, when they flutter in

and whose banners of thought, when they flutter in

debate, reveal a forest lion pouncing on its prey;

inquiry, reveal to you a forest lion devouring;

وَمَن بِهِ جاءَتِ الأَيّامُ طَودَ عُلاً

وَمَن بِهِ جاءَتِ الأَيّامُ طَودَ عُلاً

رِعانُهُ مِن خُطوب الدَهر مُحتَرِسُ

رِعانُهُ مِن خُطوب الدَهر مُحتَرِسُ

you through whom the days have brought forth a mountain of glory,

and you whom the days have brought as a mountain of eminence,

its summits guarded against the calamities of time;

its crags on guard against the calamities of time;

ذا عَزمَةٍ كَغِرارِ السَيفِ ماضيهِ

ذا عَزمَةٍ كَغِرارِ السَيفِ ماضيهِ

وَهمَّة مَنزِلِ الجوزاءِ تَكتَنِسُ

وَهمَّة مَنزِلِ الجوزاءِ تَكتَنِسُ

a man of resolve as keen as the sword’s sharp edge,

possessed of resolve as keen as a sword's cutting edge,

and ambition that sweeps through the mansion of Gemini;

and ambition that takes shelter in al-Jawza's abode;

أَغَرَّ طَلقِ المُحَيّا زانَهُ خُلُقٌ

أَغَرَّ طَلقِ المُحَيّا زانَهُ خُلُقٌ

حَوى اعتِدالاً فلا لينٌ وَلا شَرسُ

حَوى اعتِدالاً فلا لينٌ وَلا شَرسُ

illustrious and open-faced, adorned by a character

radiant, open-faced, adorned by a character

of perfect balance—neither weak nor harsh;

embracing moderation—neither softness nor harshness;

مهَذَّباً لَو دَعى قُسّ فَصاحَتهُ

مهَذَّباً لَو دَعى قُسّ فَصاحَتهُ

عَراه عِندَ تَناهي نُطقهُ خَرسُ

عَراه عِندَ تَناهي نُطقهُ خَرسُ

so refined that, were Quss to challenge his eloquence,

refined—were Quss to summon his eloquence,

at the culmination of his speech, dumbness would overtake him;

he would be struck dumb at the height of his speech;

مِن مَعشَرٍ كَسُيوفِ الهِندِ ماضِيَةٍ

مِن مَعشَرٍ كَسُيوفِ الهِندِ ماضِيَةٍ

نَمتهُم لِلمَعالي سادَةٌ نُطسُ

نَمتهُم لِلمَعالي سادَةٌ نُطسُ

sprung from a company as keen as Indian swords,

from a people as keen as the swords of India,

noble, discerning lords whose lineage raised them to lofty honors;

whom discerning lords raised to noble heights;

مِن كُلِّ أَزهر حرِّ الوَجهِ غُرَّتُه

مِن كُلِّ أَزهر حرِّ الوَجهِ غُرَّتُه

كَأَنَّها في دَياجي ظُلمَةٍ قَبَسُ

كَأَنَّها في دَياجي ظُلمَةٍ قَبَسُ

each one radiant and noble-faced, whose brow

each radiant and noble-faced, his bright brow

is like a flame amid the depths of darkness;

as though a firebrand in the deepest darkness;

يَهمِي سَحابُ النَدى مِن صَوب راحَتِهِ

يَهمِي سَحابُ النَدى مِن صَوب راحَتِهِ

كَما هَمى وَاكفُ الأَنداءِ يَرتَجِسُ

كَما هَمى وَاكفُ الأَنداءِ يَرتَجِسُ

the cloud of bounty pours from the downpour of his hand,

the cloud of generosity pours from his palm,

as a rumbling torrent of rain-laden clouds pours down;

as drenching rain pours down, rumbling;

قَومٌ لَهُم في سَماءِ المَجدِ مَنزِلَةٌ

قَومٌ لَهُم في سَماءِ المَجدِ مَنزِلَةٌ

زُهر الكَواكِبِ مِنها النور تقتَبسُ

زُهر الكَواكِبِ مِنها النور تقتَبسُ

a people who possess a station in the heaven of glory,

a people with a station in the heaven of glory,

from which the brilliant stars themselves borrow their light;

from which the bright stars borrow their light;

وَمَن هُوَ الحَكَمُ التُرضى حُكُومَتُهُ

وَمَن هُوَ الحَكَمُ التُرضى حُكُومَتُهُ

وَمَن يَدين بِعالي فَضلِهِ الأُنُسُ

وَمَن يَدين بِعالي فَضلِهِ الأُنُسُ

and you whose judgment is accepted with contentment,

and you, the arbiter whose judgment is accepted,

and to whose sublime excellence all humankind submits.

and to whose lofty excellence humankind submits.

وَافتكَ كَالروضِ يُزَهي غِبَّ ساريَةٍ

وَافتكَ كَالروضِ يُزَهي غِبَّ ساريَةٍ

أَو غادةٍ يَزدَهي أَعطافَها المَيَسُ

أَو غادةٍ يَزدَهي أَعطافَها المَيَسُ

It has come to you like a garden flourishing after a night shower,

She has come to you like a garden blooming after a night shower,

or like a maiden whose swaying graces beautify her form:

or a tender maiden whose swaying adorns her flanks.

في طَرفِها صَيَدٌ في جيدِها جَيَدٌ

في طَرفِها صَيَدٌ في جيدِها جَيَدٌ

في قَدِّها مَيَدٌ في ثَغرِها لَعَسُ

في قَدِّها مَيَدٌ في ثَغرِها لَعَسُ

proud reserve is in her glance, elegance in her neck,

In her gaze, proud aversion; in her neck, graceful length;

a graceful sway in her figure, and dusky sweetness on her lips.

in her figure, a sway; upon her lips, a dusky hue.

مِن نازِحِ الدارِ قَد شَطَّت بِجيرَتِهِ

مِن نازِحِ الدارِ قَد شَطَّت بِجيرَتِهِ

نَوىً شطونٌ وَدَهرَقُ جائِر تَعِسُ

نَوىً شطونٌ وَدَهرَقُ جائِر تَعِسُ

It comes from one far from home, driven far from his neighbors

From one far from home, whose neighbors have been carried far away

by a remote separation and a cruel, wretched age.

by distant separation and an unjust, wretched age.

لَم يَبقَ مِنهُ عَلى نَأي الدِيار سِوى

لَم يَبقَ مِنهُ عَلى نَأي الدِيار سِوى

رَسمٍ مَتى صَحَّ بِالتَذكارِ يَنتَكِسُ

رَسمٍ مَتى صَحَّ بِالتَذكارِ يَنتَكِسُ

Nothing remains of him, despite the homeland’s distance, except

Nothing is left of him, with his homes so distant, but

a trace; whenever the lover recovers through remembrance, he relapses.

a trace that, whenever remembrance revives it, relapses.

يَبكي المَنازلَ أَقوت مِن أَحِبَّته

يَبكي المَنازلَ أَقوت مِن أَحِبَّته

بِمَدمعٍ في نَواحي خَدِّهِ يَطِسُ

بِمَدمعٍ في نَواحي خَدِّهِ يَطِسُ

He weeps for the dwellings, now empty of his loved ones,

He weeps for dwellings emptied of his loved ones,

with tears that course across the reaches of his cheek.

with tears splashing along the sides of his cheek.

وَافَتكَ مِن جِلَّقَ الفَيحاءَ لا بَرِحَت

وَافَتكَ مِن جِلَّقَ الفَيحاءَ لا بَرِحَت

عَلى مَعالِمِها الأَنواءُ تَنبَجِسُ

عَلى مَعالِمِها الأَنواءُ تَنبَجِسُ

It has come to you from spacious Damascus—may the rain clouds never cease

She has come to you from spacious Jilliq—may there never cease

to burst upon her landmarks—

rain-showers pouring over its landmarks.

تَسعى مُيمّمة علياكَ راجِيَةً

تَسعى مُيمّمة علياكَ راجِيَةً

جَدواكَ فَضلاً وَجَلبَ الوُدِّ تَلتَمِسُ

جَدواكَ فَضلاً وَجَلبَ الوُدِّ تَلتَمِسُ

journeying toward your eminence in hope,

She hastens, heading toward your eminence, hoping

seeking your generous bounty and the winning of affection.

for your bounty as a favor, and seeking to win your affection.

في طَيِّها بَعد نَشر الوُدّ غامِضَةٌ

في طَيِّها بَعد نَشر الوُدّ غامِضَةٌ

إِلّا عَلى فهمك النَقاد يا ندسُ

إِلّا عَلى فهمك النَقاد يا ندسُ

Folded within it, after unfolding its affection, lies a matter obscure

Within her folds, after affection is unfurled, lies a question obscure

to all but your discerning understanding, O shrewd expert:

to all but your discerning understanding, O keen-minded one:

ما جاءَ في الذكر مما قالَ في مَلأ

ما جاءَ في الذكر مما قالَ في مَلأ

مِن نَفيِ رَبٍّ سِواه المُسرِفُ الدَنِسُ

مِن نَفيِ رَبٍّ سِواه المُسرِفُ الدَنِسُ

what is mentioned in the Revelation—what, before an assembly,

what is related in the Revelation of what was said before an assembly,

the wanton, defiled transgressor said in denying any lord besides himself.

denying any lord but himself, by the impure transgressor.

وَفيهِ قَد قيل نَفي العلم كُن فطناً

وَفيهِ قَد قيل نَفي العلم كُن فطناً

مُستَلزِمٌ نَفي مَعلومٍ كَذا دَرَسوا

مُستَلزِمٌ نَفي مَعلومٍ كَذا دَرَسوا

Of this it has been said: the denial of knowledge—be alert—

Concerning it, it has been said: negation of knowledge—be discerning—

necessarily entails denial of a thing known; thus they taught.

entails negation of a known object; thus they have studied it.

وَكَونُهُ في بَني ذا النَوع تُبطِله

وَكَونُهُ في بَني ذا النَوع تُبطِله

أَدِلّةٌ مِن كَلامِ القَومِ تُقتَبَسُ

أَدِلّةٌ مِن كَلامِ القَومِ تُقتَبَسُ

Yet its belonging among the members of this class is invalidated

And its existence among members of this kind is disproved

by proofs drawn from the discourse of the learned.

by proofs drawn from those men's words.

إِذا فَتَجويزه في الفَرد مُمتَنِعٌ

إِذا فَتَجويزه في الفَرد مُمتَنِعٌ

فَاِشرح لَنا كنهه يا أَيّها النَطِسُ

فَاِشرح لَنا كنهه يا أَيّها النَطِسُ

Thus, allowing it in the individual case is impossible;

If so, admitting it in an individual is impossible;

so explain its true nature to us, O discerning master.

so explain its true nature to us, O discerning one,

أَثناءَ مَطوِيّة الكشحَينِ ناظِرَة

أَثناءَ مَطوِيّة الكشحَينِ ناظِرَة

عَن طَرف أَوطف لبَّ المَرء تَختَلِسُ

عَن طَرف أَوطف لبَّ المَرء تَختَلِسُ

Amid the folds of a slender-waisted maiden, gazing

within the folds of a slender-waisted maiden, gazing

from beneath a thick-lashed eye, who steals away a man’s heart.

with a thick-lashed eye, stealing a man's wits.

لا زِلت عالمَ هذا القُطر سَيِّدَه

لا زِلت عالمَ هذا القُطر سَيِّدَه

تَحيا بِصَوبِ حَياكَ الأَربعُ الدُرُسُ

تَحيا بِصَوبِ حَياكَ الأَربعُ الدُرُسُ

May you remain the scholar of this realm and its master;

May you ever remain this land's scholar and its lord;

may the four effaced quarters revive beneath the downpour of your life-giving rain.

the effaced dwelling-sites revive through the downpour of your rain,

ما ضاعَ في مُنتَداه الفَضلُ مُنتَشِراً

ما ضاعَ في مُنتَداه الفَضلُ مُنتَشِراً

ما بَينَ أَرجائِهِ وَالضِدُّ مُنتَكِسُ

ما بَينَ أَرجائِهِ وَالضِدُّ مُنتَكِسُ

Excellence, spreading throughout his gathering, is never lost,

as long as excellence wafts in his assembly, spreading

across all its reaches, while its opposite is cast down.

throughout its bounds, while its opposite is overthrown,

وَغَرّدت بِأَعالي رَوضةٍ سَحَراً

وَغَرّدت بِأَعالي رَوضةٍ سَحَراً

وَلاحَ وُرقُ صَباحٍ وَاِنجَلى غَلَسُ

وَلاحَ وُرقُ صَباحٍ وَاِنجَلى غَلَسُ

So long as, at dawn, birds warble in the heights of a garden,

and singing rings out from a garden's heights before dawn,

the gray doves of morning appear, and the last night-darkness clears.

and morning's silver gleams, and the predawn darkness clears.