عَلامwhy الدرpearls ياO غَواصdiver غاليcostly
عَلام الدر يا غَواص غالي
فَبعهso sell it بِماfor whatever يُسامis offered as its price وَلاand do not تُباليworry
فَبعه بِما يُسام وَلا تُبالي
Why are pearls so costly, O diver?
Why pearl diver persist, though gems cost dear?
So sell them for whatever price is offered, and do not worry.
Sell at good price nor feel the least fear.
لَقَدindeed جادَgave generously الاِلهُGod لَناto us بِبَحرwith a sea
لَقَد جادَ الاِلهُ لَنا بِبَحر
يَجودُgives generously بدرهwith its pearls قَبلَbefore السُؤالthe asking
يَجودُ بدره قَبلَ السُؤال
Indeed, God has bestowed upon us a sea
God has endowed us with a sea that pours
that gives its pearls before anyone asks.
Its pearls unasked, aye, and before the prayer.
يَميناًI swear بِالسيراعِby the reed pen (probable reading) لَقَدindeed غَنيناwe have become self-sufficient
يَميناً بِالسيراعِ لَقَد غَنينا
بِمَنطِقَةthrough his speech (probable reading) الشَهىdelightful عَنِwithout needing اللآليpearls
بِمَنطِقَة الشَهى عَنِ اللآلي
By the reed pen, we have indeed found all we need
We've filled our mouths with the words that please,
in his delightful speech, without need of pearls.
And left mere prating to the prattlers there.
أَراناhe showed us مِنfrom بَدائِعِهِhis wondrous creations عُقوداًnecklaces
أَرانا مِن بَدائِعِهِ عُقوداً
وَأَطلَعناand acquainted us عَلىwith السِحرthe magic الحَلالlawful
وَأَطلَعنا عَلى السِحر الحَلال
He showed us necklaces among his wondrous creations
Strange forms and subtleties God gave us free,
and revealed to us lawful magic.
And lawful magic all, beyond compare.
لَهُhis is قَصبthe prize-reed السِباقof the race اِذاwhen تَجارىhe competes
لَهُ قَصب السِباق اِذا تَجارى
مَعَwith البَلغاءِthe eloquent فيin هذاthis المَجالthe arena
مَعَ البَلغاءِ في هذا المَجال
His is the race’s prize-reed whenever he competes
None can contend with us in eloquent art
with masters of eloquence in this arena.
If we in this domain our minds apply.
لَعُمريby my life ماno الفُرسانِthe knights القَوافيof rhyme
لَعُمري ما الفُرسانِ القَوافي
لَحاقcatching up اِنindeed ذاكَthat مِنَamong المُحالthe impossible
لَحاق اِن ذاكَ مِنَ المُحال
By my life, the knights of rhyme have no
Though racers strive, no steeds could keep our pace
hope of catching him; indeed, that is impossible.
In genius - ours a thing impossible.
يَرىhe sees المَجدَglory الَّذيwhich عَزاقَتناءis hard to attain
يَرى المَجدَ الَّذي عَزاقَتناء
فَيوقِنso he is certain أَنَّهُthat it is سَهلeasy المَنالof attainment
فَيوقِن أَنَّهُ سَهل المَنال
He sees the glory that is so hard to attain
He sees the glory which our minds have won
and is certain that it is easily within reach.
And knows ours is the royal road and goal.
ثَننىturned back عَنِaway from الهَوىpassion نياهhis reason (probable reading) عَناناa rein
ثَننى عَنِ الهَوى نياه عَنانا
وَمالand he turned بِعَزمِهِwith his resolve نَحوَtoward المَعاليlofty honors
وَمال بِعَزمِهِ نَحوَ المَعالي
His reason turned his rein away from passion
He turns his rein away from passion's course
and with his resolve he turned toward the heights of honor.
And rides toward the heights - the highest soul.
يَجلis exalted مَقامَهُhis station الاِسمىthe loftiest وَيَأبىand refuses
يَجل مَقامَهُ الاِسمى وَيَأبى
عَلاهُhis eminence أَنthat يُحيطَshould encompass بِهِit مَقاليmy words
عَلاهُ أَن يُحيطَ بِهِ مَقالي
His loftiest station is exalted, and
Too high his rank for my poor words' poor reach.
his eminence refuses to be encompassed by my words.
His glory mocks the utmost of my toll.
Sol 6.1