أَلاnow قُلْsay لَخِيْرِto the best of النَّاسِpeople نَفْساًin himself وَوَالِداًand in his father
أَلا قُلْ لَخِيْرِ النَّاسِ نَفْساً وَوَالِداً
وَرَهْطاًand in clan وَأجْدَاداًand in forebears مَقَالَةَthe words of مُخْتَصِّan intimate
وَرَهْطاً وَأجْدَاداً مَقَالَةَ مُخْتَصِّ
Now speak to the best of men in himself and in his father,
Tell the best of people in self and forebears,
in clan and forebears, with the words of one devoted to him,
And tribe and ancestors an eloquent speech -
مَحمَّدٍMuhammad الْمَأْمُولِthe one hoped in وَالْمُقْتَدَيand the one emulated بهِhim, as a model الْthe (split article)
مَحمَّدٍ الْمَأْمُولِ وَالْمُقْتَدَي بهِ الْ
أَمِيرِemir أبيAbu (father of) الْعَبَّاسِal-Abbas ذِيpossessor of الْفَضْلِexcellence النَّقْصِdeficiency [unclear here]
أَمِيرِ أبي الْعَبَّاسِ ذِي الْفَضْلِ النَّقْصِ
Muhammad, in whom hopes are placed and whose example is followed, the—
Muhammad the hoped for and the exemplar to be followed,
Emir Abu al-Abbas, possessed of excellence—‘deficiency’ [unclear text].
The Commander Abu al-Abbas, possessing outstanding merit and defectlessness.
وَمَنْand the one who جَمَعَgathered الآدَابَthe arts of learning بَعْدَafter افْتِراقَهِاtheir dispersal
وَمَنْ جَمَعَ الآدَابَ بَعْدَ افْتِراقَهِا
وَثَقَّفَهَاand refined them بِالْبَحْثِthrough inquiry مِنْهُon his part وبِالْفَحْصِand through scrutiny
وَثَقَّفَهَا بِالْبَحْثِ مِنْهُ وبِالْفَحْصِ
And to him who gathered the arts of learning after their dispersal,
And whoever gathered manners after their separation
and refined them through his own inquiry and scrutiny;
And gained them through research and examination -
دقِيقِsubtle حَوَاشِيreaches of الذّهْنِthe mind هُذِّبَwas refined طَبْعُهُhis nature
دقِيقِ حَوَاشِي الذّهْنِ هُذِّبَ طَبْعُهُ
وَمُحِّصَand was purified فِيwithin قُرْبِthe shortness of الْمَدَىthe span أَيَّمَاmost thorough مَحْصِpurification
وَمُحِّصَ فِي قُرْبِ الْمَدَى أَيَّمَا مَحْصِ
subtle in the reaches of his mind, his nature refined,
Refined in the margins of his mind, his nature polished,
and thoroughly purified within a short span;
Purified through proximity the best of purifications.
بَعِيدِfar الْقَبُولِfrom acceptance مِنْof حَسُودِan envious man مُكَاشِرٍgrinning
بَعِيدِ الْقَبُولِ مِنْ حَسُودِ مُكَاشِرٍ
تَخَلَّفَhe lagged behind عَنْfrom [object missing] بِالنَّزْغِwith provocation والْفَرْصِand biting attacks
تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ بِالنَّزْغِ والْفَرْصِ
far from giving ear to a grinning, envious man,
Far from accepting the envy of an associating envier
who lagged behind [text incomplete], with provocation and biting attacks.
Who lags behind with slander and opportunism -
لِئَنْeven if سَاغَwent down easily لِيfor me أَكْلِيmy eating وَشُرْبِيand my drinking فَإِنَّنيstill, indeed I
لِئَنْ سَاغَ لِي أَكْلِي وَشُرْبِي فَإِنَّني
كَذِيlike one with شَرَقٍchoking مِنْfrom غَيْبَتِيmy absence عَنْهُfrom him مُغْتَصِّsuffocating
كَذِي شَرَقٍ مِنْ غَيْبَتِي عَنْهُ مُغْتَصِّ
Even if my food and drink go down easily, still I
If my eating and drinking are pleasant then I am like one
am like one choking, suffocated by my absence from him.
Yearning from my absence from him in the east.
وَقَدْand indeed كُنْتُI was ذَاpossessed of حَظٍّfavor لَدَيْهِwith him وَزُلْفَةٍand nearness
وَقَدْ كُنْتُ ذَا حَظٍّ لَدَيْهِ وَزُلْفَةٍ
فَجَاءَthen came الَّذِيwhat حَاذَرْتُI feared فِيهِconcerning him عَلَىwith غَفْصِsudden surprise
فَجَاءَ الَّذِي حَاذَرْتُ فِيهِ عَلَى غَفْصِ
I once enjoyed favor and nearness with him,
I used to have fortune and intimacy with him
but what I feared concerning him came suddenly,
Then that which I feared happened suddenly -
بِفَسْخِby undoing الَّذِيwhat سَدَّىhe laid in warp وأَلْحَمَand wove in weft بَاطِلاًfalsely
بِفَسْخِ الَّذِي سَدَّى وأَلْحَمَ بَاطِلاً
وَقَدand indeed وَقَصَاهُthe two broke its neck عَاجِلاًswiftly أَيَّمَاmost severe وَقْصِneck-breaking
وَقَد وَقَصَاهُ عَاجِلاً أَيَّمَا وَقْصِ
through falsely undoing what he had woven in warp and weft;
With the nullification of that which he patched up and falsely joined,
the two had swiftly broken its neck—what a shattering!
And he soon recounted it - the best recounting.
مِنَfrom أكْلُبِthe curs of خُوِزَسَتانَKhuzestan نَغْلٌa bastard مُحَقَّرٌdespised
مِنَ أكْلُبِ خُوِزَسَتانَ نَغْلٌ مُحَقَّرٌ
ضَئِيلٌpuny خَفِيٌbarely visible الشَّخْصِin person فِيin صُورَةِthe form of الدَّرْصa young mouse
ضَئِيلٌ خَفِيٌ الشَّخْصِ فِي صُورَةِ الدَّرْص
A contemptible bastard from among the curs of Khuzestan,
From the dogs of Khwarizm, an accursed weakling,
puny and scarcely visible, in the form of a young mouse;
Insignificant, hidden in appearance, in the form of a plane tree.
وَأَلْهَبَand set ablaze مِنهُfrom him الْجَمْرَthe embers بِالنَّفْخِby blowing حَابِلٌa snarer
وَأَلْهَبَ مِنهُ الْجَمْرَ بِالنَّفْخِ حَابِلٌ
عَلُوقٌclinging بِأَذْنَابِto the tails of الأَكَاذِيبِthe lies كَالشَّصِّlike a fishhook
عَلُوقٌ بِأَذْنَابِ الأَكَاذِيبِ كَالشَّصِّ
and a snarer fanned his embers into flame,
And a kindler ignited the embers against him with blowing,
clinging to the tails of lies like a fishhook.
A deceiver tied with the tails of lies like a buttress.
بَنُوsons of مُعْوَرَاتِwomen exposing themselves الطُّرْقِthe roads جَاءُواthey came بِعَوْرَةٍwith a disgrace
بَنُو مُعْوَرَاتِ الطُّرْقِ جَاءُوا بِعَوْرَةٍ
ذَوُوpossessors of الآنْفِnoses [irregular form] الذَّكَّاءِkeen [unclear here] والأَعْيُنِand the eyes الرُّمْصِrheumy
ذَوُو الآنْفِ الذَّكَّاءِ والأَعْيُنِ الرُّمْصِ
Sons of women who expose themselves on the roads brought a disgrace,
The sons of the crooked roads came with crookedness -
men with keen noses [unclear reading] and rheumy eyes.
Possessors of slender noses and bleary eyes.
أَولُواthey advanced [unclear verb] بِظَنةٍwith suspicion فِيamid بَاطِلٍfalsehood وتَكَذُّبٍand fabrication
أَولُوا بِظَنةٍ فِي بَاطِلٍ وتَكَذُّبٍ
وَصِدْقُهُمُand their truth يَأْوِيtakes refuge إلَىin أَبْطُنٍbellies خُمْصempty
وَصِدْقُهُمُ يَأْوِي إلَى أَبْطُنٍ خُمْص
They advanced suspicions [unclear verb] amid falsehood and fabrication,
Foremost with suspicions in falsehood and lies,
while their truth takes refuge in empty bellies.
While their truth retreats to deceitful bellies.
فَمَاand not أَسْنَدُواthey attributed قَوْلاًa statement إلَيto ذِيone with تَمَاسُكٍreliability
فَمَا أَسْنَدُوا قَوْلاً إلَي ذِي تَمَاسُكٍ
ولاَnor شَيَّدُواthey built زُورَthe falsehood of الْمَقَالِthe speech عَلَىupon إِصِa foundation
ولاَ شَيَّدُوا زُورَ الْمَقَالِ عَلَى إِصِ
They traced no statement to anyone reliable,
They did not lean any coherent saying,
nor built their lying speech upon a foundation.
Nor build up the lies of speech on a foundation.
وَبِالْقَصْرِand at the palace قَوْمٌpeople إِنْif رَأَوْنَاthey see us تَبَلَّغُواthey strain
وَبِالْقَصْرِ قَوْمٌ إِنْ رَأَوْنَا تَبَلَّغُوا
وَحَطُّواand they lowered لَنَاtoward us الأَعْيَاقَ[unclear object] كَالرَّخَمِlike vultures الْقُصِshort-necked [uncertain]
وَحَطُّوا لَنَا الأَعْيَاقَ كَالرَّخَمِ الْقُصِ
At the palace are people who strain when they see us,
And in the palace some people, if we saw they were informed
and lower [unclear object] toward us, like short-necked vultures.
And they lowered for us the high necks like ossified necks.
تَلاَقَتْmet بِتَأَلِيبٍin conspiracy عَلْينَاagainst us جُفُونُهُمْtheir eyelids
تَلاَقَتْ بِتَأَلِيبٍ عَلْينَا جُفُونُهُمْ
وَفَرَّقَتِand spread الأَقْوَالَthe words بِالثَّلْبِwith slander والْغَمْصِand disparagement
وَفَرَّقَتِ الأَقْوَالَ بِالثَّلْبِ والْغَمْصِ
Their eyelids met in conspiracy against us,
Their eyelids met with incitement against us
and spread words of slander and disparagement.
And the words separated with roundedness and chewing.
وَمَاand not قَبُلواthey accepted نُصْحَthe counsel of الْعَرُوضِيِّal-Arudi, the prosodist فِيconcerning الَّذِيwhat
وَمَا قَبُلوا نُصْحَ الْعَرُوضِيِّ فِي الَّذِي
رآهُhe saw وَرَصُّواand they packed together إفْكَهُمْtheir lies أَيّمَاmost tightly رَصِّpacking
رآهُ وَرَصُّوا إفْكَهُمْ أَيّمَا رَصِّ
They did not accept al-Arudi's counsel concerning what
They did not accept the advice of the profferer in that
he saw, and they packed their lies most tightly together.
Which he saw, and they butted their calumny - the best butting.
وَقَدْand indeed هَطَلَتْهُrained upon him غَيْبَةٌbackbiting [vowel uncertain] مِنْfrom سَحَابِهِمْtheir clouds
وَقَدْ هَطَلَتْهُ غَيْبَةٌ مِنْ سَحَابِهِمْ
وَكَالُواand they measured out لَهُfor him صَاعاًa saʿ (dry measure) مِنَof النَّثِّgossip والْقَصّand tale-telling
وَكَالُوا لَهُ صَاعاً مِنَ النَّثِّ والْقَصّ
Backbiting from their clouds had rained upon him,
Absence from their clouds deluged him,
and they measured out for him a saʿ of gossip and tales.
And they measured out for him a sa`a of riffraff and Stories.
وَهَبَّand arose لهُfor him فِيin بُعْدِهhis distance لَكَon your account قَاصِفٌa shattering storm
وَهَبَّ لهُ فِي بُعْدِه لَكَ قَاصِفٌ
مِنَof الْحزْنِgrief يُنْئِيdrives far away عَنْكَfrom you بَلْrather بُقْصِيbanishes [unclear spelling]
مِنَ الْحزْنِ يُنْئِي عَنْكَ بَلْ بُقْصِي
In his distance, a shattering storm rose for him on your account,
So a drinker came to you from sorrow over him
of grief, driving him far from you—rather, banishing him [unclear spelling].
To distract you - or rather to fully distract you -
فَغَصَّso he choked بِشُربٍon a draught مِنْof فِرَاقِكَseparation from you آجنٍstagnant
فَغَصَّ بِشُربٍ مِنْ فِرَاقِكَ آجنٍ
عَصُوفٍravaging بِجَدْوَاهُhis gains أَمَرَّmore bitter مِنَthan الْعَفْصِgallnuts
عَصُوفٍ بِجَدْوَاهُ أَمَرَّ مِنَ الْعَفْصِ
He choked on a stagnant draught of separation from you,
Who choked on a drink of parting from you,
ravaging his gains, more bitter than gallnuts.
contracted, bitterer than wormwood.
وَإِنْand if أَنْجَزَfulfills الإِمْكَانُopportunity يَوْماًone day بِجَلْسَةٍwith a sitting
وَإِنْ أَنْجَزَ الإِمْكَانُ يَوْماً بِجَلْسَةٍ
لَدَيْكَwith you أَتَاكَcomes to you الْقَوْلُthe account بِالشَرْحِwith explanation واللَّخْصِand summarizing
لَدَيْكَ أَتَاكَ الْقَوْلُ بِالشَرْحِ واللَّخْصِ
If opportunity one day grants a sitting
And if possibility one day actualizes a session
with you, the account will reach you, explained and summarized.
With you, the words will come to you in explanation and summation.
فَأَدْنَيْتَthen you brought near حَقّاًa truth قَدْalready أُطِيحَwas cast down بِشَخْصِهِin its person إلَىinto
فَأَدْنَيْتَ حَقّاً قَدْ أُطِيحَ بِشَخْصِهِ إلَى
نزَوَانِthe leaping about of الْقَوْمِthe people بِالزُّورِwith falsehood والْقَنْصِand snaring
نزَوَانِ الْقَوْمِ بِالزُّورِ والْقَنْصِ
Then you would bring close a truth whose very person had been cast into
So you will restore the right of one who was toppled
the people's frenzy of falsehood and snaring.
To the lowliness of the people through lies and hunting.
فَأَقْتَبَلُthen I welcome الْعَيْشَlife الْغَرِيرَcarefree بِقُرْبِكُمْthrough nearness to you
فَأَقْتَبَلُ الْعَيْشَ الْغَرِيرَ بِقُرْبِكُمْ
وَأَسْحَبُand I trail فِيthrough لَذَّاتِهِits pleasures أَذْيُلَthe hems of الْقُمْصِthe tunics
وَأَسْحَبُ فِي لَذَّاتِهِ أَذْيُلَ الْقُمْصِ
Then I would welcome carefree life in your nearness,
Then I will happily live life in your proximity
and trail the hems of my tunics through its delights.
And drag in its pleasures the train of a shirt.
بِحَقّin truth أَفَاضَpoured out الْقَلْبُthe heart فَاضِلthe remainder of شَرْبَةٍa draught
بِحَقّ أَفَاضَ الْقَلْبُ فَاضِل شَرْبَةٍ
مِنَof الهَمِّsorrow حَتَّىuntil جَاءَنِيcame to me الأَمْرُthe matter مِنْfrom فَصِّthe essence
مِنَ الهَمِّ حَتَّى جَاءَنِي الأَمْرُ مِنْ فَصِّ
In truth, the heart poured out the remainder of a draught
By the right! The heart overflowed, the surplus of a draught
of sorrow, until the matter reached me in its very essence.
Of worries, until the matter came to me from unstitching.
وَأَطْلَعَand showed شَخْصُthe person of الْحَقِّtruth عنْدَكَbefore you وَجْهَهُits face
وَأَطْلَعَ شَخْصُ الْحَقِّ عنْدَكَ وَجْهَهُ
إلَىuntil أَنْthat يَقُودَguides الْقُرْبُcloseness مَنْطِقَthe speech of مُسْتَقْصِيa thorough investigator
إلَى أَنْ يَقُودَ الْقُرْبُ مَنْطِقَ مُسْتَقْصِي
And the person of truth showed its face before you,
And the person of truth raised his face to you
until closeness guides the speech of a thorough investigator.
Until nearness leads the articulated inquiry.
تَحَيَّفَنِيwore me away رَيْبُthe reversals of الزَّمَانِtime بِبُعْدكُمْthrough distance from you
تَحَيَّفَنِي رَيْبُ الزَّمَانِ بِبُعْدكُمْ
تَحَيُّفَlike the wearing away of مِقْراضِthe shears of الْمُجَازِفِthe reckless cutter فِيin الْقَصِّcutting
تَحَيُّفَ مِقْراضِ الْمُجَازِفِ فِي الْقَصِّ
The reversals of time have worn me away in your absence,
Doubt of the times wrapped me in your absence,
like the ravaging shears of one who cuts at random.
The wrapping of one gambling openly in cutting.
إِلَيْكَtoward you تَرَامَتْhurled بِيme along الأَمَانِيthe hopes هِمَّةٌresolve
إِلَيْكَ تَرَامَتْ بِي الأَمَانِي هِمَّةٌ
عَلَىon لُحُقdrawn-in الأَقْرَابِflanks ضَامِرَةٍlean حُصِّscant-haired
عَلَى لُحُق الأَقْرَابِ ضَامِرَةٍ حُصِّ
Toward you my hopes bore me, with resolve,
To you hopes carried me, an resolve
on lean, scant-haired mounts with drawn-in flanks,
To restore relations, binding and focused.
وَخُوصٍand narrow-eyed mounts سَقَتْهَاgave them to drink الآلَthe mirage كَأْسُthe cup of هَجِيرِهِits noonday heat
وَخُوصٍ سَقَتْهَا الآلَ كَأْسُ هَجِيرِهِ
فَأَفْنَتْهُthen they exhausted it بِالْوَجْدِwith ardor الْمُواشِكِswift والرَّقْصِand bounding strides
فَأَفْنَتْهُ بِالْوَجْدِ الْمُواشِكِ والرَّقْصِ
and narrow-eyed mounts, given mirage to drink by the cup of its noonday heat,
And sorrow which the family's cup intoxicated with its bitterness,
which they exhausted with swift ardor and bounding strides.
So it distracted him with ardor, trembling, and dancing.
إلَىtoward ابْنِthe son of الَّذِيthe one whose أَحْيَاrevived الْبَرِيَّةَcreation عَدْلُهُhis justice
إلَى ابْنِ الَّذِي أَحْيَا الْبَرِيَّةَ عَدْلُهُ
فَشُبِّهَso he was likened بِالْفَارُوقِto al-Faruq فِيهمْamong them أَبِيAbu (father of) حَفْصِHafs
فَشُبِّهَ بِالْفَارُوقِ فِيهمْ أَبِي حَفْصِ
Toward the son of him whose justice revived creation,
To the son whom his justice revived the wilderness,
so he was likened among them to al-Faruq, Abu Hafs.
So he was compared in it to al-Faruq, their father Hafs.
وَقَدْand indeed كَانَthere was لِيfor me وَعْدٌa promise عَلَيْكَbinding on you بِخَاتَمٍof a ring
وَقَدْ كَانَ لِي وَعْدٌ عَلَيْكَ بِخَاتَمٍ
عَلُوقٍclinging بِلَحْظِto the gaze of الْعَيْنِthe eye مُسْتَمْلَحcharming الشَّخْصِin form
عَلُوقٍ بِلَحْظِ الْعَيْنِ مُسْتَمْلَح الشَّخْصِ
You had promised me a ring,
I had a promise to you with a ring,
one that catches the eye and is pleasing in form,
fastened with an amorous glance, excellent in person.
شَرِيفnoble إِذَاwhen ماever (emphatic) رفعوهthey raise it لسيدto a lord
شَرِيف إِذَا ما رفعوه لسيد
تعاظمgrew greater واستعلىand rose higher بهthrough him شرفthe nobility of الفصthe ring-stone
تعاظم واستعلى به شرف الفص
noble: whenever they raise it to a lord,
Noble, whenever they carry it to a master,
the nobility of its gem grows greater and rises through him.
His nobility magnifies and rises through it.
فَلاَyet not أَنَاI طَالَعْتُinformed الأَمِيرَthe emir بِذْكِرهِby mentioning it
فَلاَ أَنَا طَالَعْتُ الأَمِيرَ بِذْكِرهِ
بِتَعْرِيضِby an indirect hint in قَوْلٍspeech فِيin الْخِطَابِthe address وَلاَnor نَصِّexplicit wording
بِتَعْرِيضِ قَوْلٍ فِي الْخِطَابِ وَلاَ نَصِّ
Yet I did not bring it to the emir's notice,
So I have not glimpsed the Commander by mentioning it,
either by a hint in my address or by explicit words;
With indirect words in speech, nor directly.
وَلاَnor أَنْجَدَتْنِيhelped me مِنْهُfrom him فِيin ذَاكَthat حُظْوَةٌfavor
وَلاَ أَنْجَدَتْنِي مِنْهُ فِي ذَاكَ حُظْوَةٌ
تُذَكِّرُprompting إِنْجَازاًfulfillment وَلَسْتُand I am not بذِيone with حِرْصِgreed
تُذَكِّرُ إِنْجَازاً وَلَسْتُ بذِي حِرْصِ
nor did any favor from him help me in that,
Favoritism from him has not assisted me in that
to prompt its fulfillment; I am not greedy.
To remind of fulfillment, and I am not covetous.
وإِنِّيand indeed I لأَرْجُوsurely hope أَنْthat يُسَرِّيَwill bring relief لُبْسُهُwearing it
وإِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ يُسَرِّيَ لُبْسُهُ
فَيَأْخُذَand so removes مِنْهُfrom him اللَّبْسَthe confusion أَخْذَةَwith the grasp of مُقْتَصِّan avenger
فَيَأْخُذَ مِنْهُ اللَّبْسَ أَخْذَةَ مُقْتَصِّ
I do indeed hope that wearing it will bring relief,
I exaggerate praise only for one
and remove the confusion from him with an avenger's grasp.
Who exaggerates in giving, and I am not deficient.
وَإِنand if لَمْnot يَكُنْthere is كَرْعٌa deep draught يُقَاوِمُovercomes غُلَّتِيmy burning thirst
وَإِن لَمْ يَكُنْ كَرْعٌ يُقَاوِمُ غُلَّتِي
بِرِيٍّwith thirst-quenching قَنَعَاthe two were content [unclear here] فِيهwith it بِالرَّشْفِwith sipping والْمَصِّand sucking
بِرِيٍّ قَنَعَا فِيه بِالرَّشْفِ والْمَصِّ
If there is no deep draught to overcome my burning thirst
One inspired with yearning, his heart not with a vile
with refreshment, the two settled for sipping and sucking [unclear wording].
Which a pliant branch rubs, aromatic on dais.
إِذاwhen لَمْnot يَكُنْis available كُلُّall الَّذِيthat which يَشْتَهِيdesires الْفَتَىthe young man
إِذا لَمْ يَكُنْ كُلُّ الَّذِي يَشْتَهِي الْفَتَى
فَفِيthen in الرَّأَيِsound judgment أَنْthat يَرْضَىhe be satisfied ويَقَنَعَand be content بالَشِّقْصِwith a portion
فَفِي الرَّأَيِ أَنْ يَرْضَى ويَقَنَعَ بالَشِّقْصِ
When a man cannot have everything he desires,
Its crucible is the heart’s resolve, like rock his heart,
wisdom lies in accepting and being content with a portion.
Though it is confined in a despised body.
وَلَسْتُand I am not كَمَنْlike one who يُمْضِيpasses عَلَىon الظَّنَّconjecture حَكْمَهُhis judgment
وَلَسْتُ كَمَنْ يُمْضِي عَلَى الظَّنَّ حَكْمَهُ
وَيَجْعَلُand makes إِسْنَادَthe supporting testimony of الرِّجَالِmen إلىَrest on حَصِّ[unclear noun]
وَيَجْعَلُ إِسْنَادَ الرِّجَالِ إلىَ حَصِّ
I am not like one who passes judgment on suspicion,
Nor with inclusive delight of taste, a gourd,
and makes men's testimony rest on [unclear word].
Whose match is in a bottle and cage.
وإِنِّيand indeed I لأُغلِيdo price highly الْمَدْحَpraise إِلاَّexcept عَلَىfor الَّذِيthe one who
وإِنِّي لأُغلِي الْمَدْحَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الَّذِي
يُغَالِيgoes to great lengths بِإِعَطَاءin giving وَلَسْتُand I am not بِذِيone with نَقْصِdeficiency
يُغَالِي بِإِعَطَاء وَلَسْتُ بِذِي نَقْصِ
I set a high price on praise, except for him
So if the like of it were hoped for in chickpeas,
who gives lavishly; I am no man of shortcomings.
The men would lead my mounts to chickpeas!
بِذِيwith such a man هامَbecame enamored قَلْبٌa heart لاَnot بِخَرِيَدةٍwith a secluded maiden بِهَاin her
بِذِي هامَ قَلْبٌ لاَ بِخَرِيَدةٍ بِهَا
يَميسُsways gracefully بِهَاin her غُصْنٌa branch رَطِيبُsupple عَلَىupon دعْصِa sandhill
يَميسُ بِهَا غُصْنٌ رَطِيبُ عَلَى دعْصِ
It is with such a man that a heart is smitten, not with a maiden in whom
I incline to drink nobly with my darkness,
a supple branch sways above a sandhill;
And I am not a sucker for the rabble's veins.
صَليبَهُunyielding [irregular ending] عَزْمٍin resolve الْقَلْبِof heart كَالصَّخْرِlike rock قَلْبُهَاher heart
صَليبَهُ عَزْمٍ الْقَلْبِ كَالصَّخْرِ قَلْبُهَا
عَلَىdespite أَنَّهُthat it يَكْتَنُّlies hidden فِيin جَسَدٍa body رَخْصِtender
عَلَى أَنَّهُ يَكْتَنُّ فِي جَسَدٍ رَخْصِ
unyielding in heart's resolve, her heart is like rock,
So say to whoever compared the Commander to other than him:
though it lies hidden in a tender body;
Be firm, for precise measure is not like guesswork.
وَلاَnor بِشَمُولِwith wine لَذَّةِdelight of الطَّعْمِtaste قَرْقَفٍchill-inducing wine
وَلاَ بِشَمُولِ لَذَّةِ الطَّعْمِ قَرْقَفٍ
مَنَاسِبُهَاits origins فيin كَركْينَKarkin وَالْقُفْصِand al-Qufs
مَنَاسِبُهَا في كَركْينَ وَالْقُفْصِ
nor with a delicious-tasting wine that induces shivering,
You have arbitrarily aimed falsehood and invalidity
whose origins lie in Karkin and al-Qufs.
Beside a cleft that mastered the rocks with trembling.
فَلَوْso if كَانَthere were فيin حِمْصٍHoms يُرَجَّىto be hoped for شَبِيهُهُhis like
فَلَوْ كَانَ في حِمْصٍ يُرَجَّى شَبِيهُهُ
لَسَاقَwould surely drive مَطَايَايَmy mounts الرِّجَالُthe men إليَto حِمْصِHoms
لَسَاقَ مَطَايَايَ الرِّجَالُ إليَ حِمْصِ
If his like could be hoped for in Homs,
The beauties of this creation began with you,
men would drive my mounts to Homs.
And a pretentious one pulls them like a sneak thief.
أَمِيلُI incline إلَىtoward شُرْبِthe draught of الْكِرَامِthe noble بِغُلَّتيwith my burning thirst
أَمِيلُ إلَى شُرْبِ الْكِرَامِ بِغُلَّتي
وَلَسْتُand I am not لأَوْشَالِat the trickles of اللِّئَامَthe base بِمُمْتَصِّone who sucks
وَلَسْتُ لأَوْشَالِ اللِّئَامَ بِمُمْتَصِّ
In my thirst I seek the noble men's draught,
Thus glory is not gathered together through wealth
and do not suck at the base men's scant trickles.
And with homes built with mudbricks and plaster.
فَقُولُواso tell لِمَنْto whoever قَاسَcompared الأَمِيرَthe emir بِغَيْرِهِwith someone else
فَقُولُوا لِمَنْ قَاسَ الأَمِيرَ بِغَيْرِهِ
تَأَيَّدْtake your time فَمَاfor not الْكَيْلُthe measure الْمُحَصَّلَaccurately determined كَالخَرْصِlike guesswork
تَأَيَّدْ فَمَا الْكَيْلُ الْمُحَصَّلَ كَالخَرْصِ
Tell whoever compared the emir with another:
You have remained for the eternal kingdom its possessor,
Take your time: an exact measure is not mere guesswork.
Obeyed by it in what you desire, not disobeyed.
تَيَمَّمْتَyou aimed at زَوراًfalsehood فِيin الْمَقَالِspeech وَبَاطِلاًand deceit
تَيَمَّمْتَ زَوراً فِي الْمَقَالِ وَبَاطِلاً
لَدَىbefore خُرْقٍa generous man [vowel uncertain] سَادَsurpassed الصُّخُورَthe rocks عَلَىupon رَهْصِa foundation-course
لَدَى خُرْقٍ سَادَ الصُّخُورَ عَلَى رَهْصِ
You have aimed at falsehood and deceit in speech,
You have taken from lifetimes the furthest extent
before a generous man who surpassed rocks set upon a foundation.
That calculation's hand misses in counting them.
مَحَاسِنُthe virtues of هَذَاthis الْخَلْقِcreation مِنْكَfrom you ابْتَداؤُهاtheir beginning
مَحَاسِنُ هَذَا الْخَلْقِ مِنْكَ ابْتَداؤُها
وَيْجْذُبَهاand draws them ذُوone with كُلْفَةeffort مِنْكَfrom you كَاللِّصِّlike a thief
وَيْجْذُبَها ذُو كُلْفَة مِنْكَ كَاللِّصِّ
The virtues of this creation have their beginning in you,
and one who strains for them draws them from you like a thief.
كَذَاthus الْمَجْدُglory لاَnot بِالْمَالِthrough wealth يُجْمَعُis gathered شَمْلُهُits unity
كَذَا الْمَجْدُ لاَ بِالْمَالِ يُجْمَعُ شَمْلُهُ
وبِالدُّورِand through houses شِيدَتْbuilt بِالقَرَامِيدِwith tiles وَالْجِصِّand plaster
وبِالدُّورِ شِيدَتْ بِالقَرَامِيدِ وَالْجِصِّ
Such is glory: its unity is not achieved through wealth,
nor through houses built with tiles and plaster.
فَلاَso may not زِلْتَyou cease للدَّهْرِover time الْمُمَلَّكِmade sovereign مَالِكاًa master
فَلاَ زِلْتَ للدَّهْرِ الْمُمَلَّكِ مَالِكاً
يَطيعُكَit obeys you فِيمَاin whatever تَشْتَهِيهِyou desire it وَلاَand not يَعْصِيdisobeys
يَطيعُكَ فِيمَا تَشْتَهِيهِ وَلاَ يَعْصِي
May you ever be master of time, though time is made sovereign,
obeying you in all you desire, never rebelling;
وَحُزْتَand may you attain مِنَamong الأَعْمَارِlifespans أَقْصَىthe farthest نِهَايَةٍlimit
وَحُزْتَ مِنَ الأَعْمَارِ أَقْصَى نِهَايَةٍ
تفُوتُsurpasses مَدَىthe range of الإِحْصَاءِreckoning فِيهَاwithin it يَدُthe hand of الْمُحصِيthe counter
تفُوتُ مَدَى الإِحْصَاءِ فِيهَا يَدُ الْمُحصِي
and may you attain the farthest limit of lifespans,
in which the counter's hand passes beyond the limits of reckoning.
Partial English translation: 88 of 96 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1