ماذا عَلى البَدرِ المُحَجَّبِ لَو سَفَر

ماذا عَلى البَدرِ المُحَجَّبِ لَو سَفَر

إِنَّ المُعَذِب في هَواهُ عَلى سَفَر

إِنَّ المُعَذِب في هَواهُ عَلى سَفَر

What would it cost the veiled full moon to unveil?

What lies hidden behind the curtained full moon were it to travel?

Indeed, the one tormented by love of him is on a journey.

Verily the tortured in his passion travels endlessly,

مِثلُ الخلال أَو الخَيال فَأولَهُ

مِثلُ الخلال أَو الخَيال فَأولَهُ

حَتّى خَيالك لِلتَّجانُس في الصُوَرِ

حَتّى خَيالك لِلتَّجانُس في الصُوَرِ

Like a toothpick or a phantom—so grant him

Like moles or shadows is how it begins

Even your phantom, since their forms are alike.

Until your shadow synchronizes in form.

يا فاضِحَ الغُصنِ النَضير بِقَدِّهِ

يا فاضِحَ الغُصنِ النَضير بِقَدِّهِ

وَالشَمس إِن حَسَرَ القِناع وَإِن سَفَر

وَالشَمس إِن حَسَرَ القِناع وَإِن سَفَر

O you whose stature puts the fresh green bough to shame,

O you who expose the delicate branch with its twigs

And the sun, when you lift the veil and show your face.

And the sun - whether it unveiled or travelled,

مِن أَينَ لِلأَغصانِ قامَتُكَ الَّتي

مِن أَينَ لِلأَغصانِ قامَتُكَ الَّتي

تؤتي مَتى شِئتَ الثِمارَ أَو الزَهَر

تؤتي مَتى شِئتَ الثِمارَ أَو الزَهَر

How could the branches possess your stature, which

Whence came your stature to the branches

Bears fruit or blossoms whenever you wish?

That bears fruit or flowers whenever you will?

ذِكرى لِمَعهَد أُنسنا وَوِصالَنا

ذِكرى لِمَعهَد أُنسنا وَوِصالَنا

وَالدَهرُ مِن إِسعافه غَمض البَصر

وَالدَهرُ مِن إِسعافه غَمض البَصر

A remembrance of the place of our companionship and union,

A memory of the covenant of our intimacy and union

While Time, in its kindness, closed its eyes.

While fate from granting respite closed its eyes.

في رَوضَةٍ صاغَ الرَبيعُ حُليَّها

في رَوضَةٍ صاغَ الرَبيعُ حُليَّها

لمّا بها دُرُّ السَحائِب قَد نُثر

لمّا بها دُرُّ السَحائِب قَد نُثر

In a garden whose ornaments spring fashioned,

In a garden the spring adorned its trinkets

When the clouds' pearls had been scattered there.

When the downpour of clouds was scattered about.

وَالقُضبُ راكِعَةٌ وَتَسجُد عِندَما

وَالقُضبُ راكِعَةٌ وَتَسجُد عِندَما

تَبدو لَها تِلكَ المَحاسِنُ وَالغُرَرُ

تَبدو لَها تِلكَ المَحاسِنُ وَالغُرَرُ

The boughs bow down and prostrate themselves when

The twigs bow down and prostrate when

Those beauties and radiant faces appear before them.

Those beauties and boons become visible.

وَالراحُ يَسبَحُ في الكؤوس حُبابُها

وَالراحُ يَسبَحُ في الكؤوس حُبابُها

ذَوبٌ مِنَ الياقوتِ طُوِّقَ بِالدُرَر

ذَوبٌ مِنَ الياقوتِ طُوِّقَ بِالدُرَر

And the wine, whose bubbles swim within the cups,

The gentle breeze swims in its cups whose bubbles

Is molten ruby encircled with pearls.

Are molten from rubies and studded with pearls.

مِن عَهد لُقمانَ الحَكيم تَعَتَّقَت

مِن عَهد لُقمانَ الحَكيم تَعَتَّقَت

وَرَوَت عَلَيهِ ما تَخَلدَ وَاِشتَهَر

وَرَوَت عَلَيهِ ما تَخَلدَ وَاِشتَهَر

It has aged since the days of Luqman the Wise,

From the era of Luqman the Wise it was liberated

And recounted to him what became immortal and renowned.

And it related upon it what endured and became renowned,

مِمّا تَخَيَّرَها المَجوسُ بدنَها

مِمّا تَخَيَّرَها المَجوسُ بدنَها

فَهيَ اللَهيبُ وَما الحبابُ سِوى الشَرَر

فَهيَ اللَهيبُ وَما الحبابُ سِوى الشَرَر

One the Magians chose in its cask,

Of what the Magi selected for its essence

For it is flame, its bubbles nothing but sparks.

Thus it is the flame while the bubbles are but embers.

يَرضى عَن الأَقدارِ شارِبُها الَّذي

يَرضى عَن الأَقدارِ شارِبُها الَّذي

يُفني المَجالِس في مُعاتَبَةِ القَدَر

يُفني المَجالِس في مُعاتَبَةِ القَدَر

Its drinker is content with fate's decrees, though he

Content with fate is its drinker who

Wears out gatherings reproaching destiny.

Wastes the gatherings blaming destiny.

وَالعودُ يَنفُثُ ما أَقَل جَنانَهُ

وَالعودُ يَنفُثُ ما أَقَل جَنانَهُ

مِن نَغمَةٍ الوَرقاء أَيام الشَجَرِ

مِن نَغمَةٍ الوَرقاء أَيام الشَجَرِ

And the lute breathes out what its heart once carried

The lute exhales - how slight are its melodies

Of the gray dove's song, from its days as a tree.

From the days of leafy trees and vegetation!

فَيُجيبُهُ رجع الرباب مُؤيِداً

فَيُجيبُهُ رجع الرباب مُؤيِداً

لشَكاته وَالطارُ يَشهَدُ بِالخَبَر

لشَكاته وَالطارُ يَشهَدُ بِالخَبَر

The rebab's echo answers it, lending support

Answering it is the string's returning echo

To its complaint, while the frame drum bears witness to the tale.

Supporting its complaint as the gourd bears witness.

مِن كَفِّ شادٍ شادَ مربَعَ أُنسَنا

مِن كَفِّ شادٍ شادَ مربَعَ أُنسَنا

مَهما تَغَنّى أَو تَهازَجَ في السَمَر

مَهما تَغَنّى أَو تَهازَجَ في السَمَر

From the hand of a singer who built our abode of delight,

From the palm of a singer who brought joy to our company

Whenever he sang or chanted at the evening gathering.

However much it may sing and joke lightheartedly.

يُصبي الحَليمَ بِضَربِهِ وَبِطَرفِهِ

يُصبي الحَليمَ بِضَربِهِ وَبِطَرفِهِ

وَعذارُهُ سَلَبَ النُفوسَ وَما اِعتذَر

وَعذارُهُ سَلَبَ النُفوسَ وَما اِعتذَر

He entrances the sober-minded with his playing and his glance,

It gently intoxicates the forbearing with its rhythm and with a wink

And his cheek-down stole souls, yet never apologized.

While its coquetry robbed souls without apologizing.

فَسَقى دِيارَكَ تونسٌ مِن ديمَةٍ

فَسَقى دِيارَكَ تونسٌ مِن ديمَةٍ

تَهمي بِماء الأَمنِ لا ماءِ المَطَر

تَهمي بِماء الأَمنِ لا ماءِ المَطَر

So may steady rain water your homes, Tunis,

Thus it quenched your home, Tunisia, with a raincloud

Pouring the water of security, not the water of rain.

That rains the water of safety, not the water of rain.

دارُ المَسَرَّةِ لا خَلَت مِن أُسرَةٍ

دارُ المَسَرَّةِ لا خَلَت مِن أُسرَةٍ

تُهدي المَحاسِنَ في الأَصائِلِ وَالبُكَر

تُهدي المَحاسِنَ في الأَصائِلِ وَالبُكَر

Abode of joy, may you never lack a family

The home of cheerfulness - it did not lack a family

Offering beauties in the late afternoons and early mornings.

That bestows beauties in lineage and maidenhood.

وَسَقى بِها عَهدَ المُبَرَّزِ اَحمَدٍ

وَسَقى بِها عَهدَ المُبَرَّزِ اَحمَدٍ

ابنِ الهُمامِ أَبي الضيافِ المُشتَهِر

ابنِ الهُمامِ أَبي الضيافِ المُشتَهِر

And may it water there the days of the eminent Ahmad,

With it the era of the prominent Ahmad was quenched,

Son of the renowned noble Abu al-Diyaf,

Son of the magnificent, the hospitable, the renowned.

العالِمُ الثَقَةُ الوَزير المُرتَضى

العالِمُ الثَقَةُ الوَزير المُرتَضى

العُمدَةُ الصَدرث الزكيّ الشَهمُ الأَغَر

العُمدَةُ الصَدرث الزكيّ الشَهمُ الأَغَر

The scholar, the trusted one, the esteemed minister,

The scholar, the trusted minister, the respected,

The mainstay, the dignitary, pure-hearted, gallant, radiant,

The mainstay, the chief, the devout, the valorous, the generous.

إِنسانُ مُقلَتِها وَدُرَّةُ عِقدِها

إِنسانُ مُقلَتِها وَدُرَّةُ عِقدِها

وَهوَ الَّذي رَفَعَ اللِواءَ عَلى قَدَر

وَهوَ الَّذي رَفَعَ اللِواءَ عَلى قَدَر

The pupil of her eye and the pearl of her necklace,

The essence of its eyeliner and pearl of its necklace,

And he it is who raised the banner as befitted his worth.

And he is the one who raised the banner loftily.

فَخرُ اليَراعِ وَصَدرُ حِلَّةِ أَهلِهِ

فَخرُ اليَراعِ وَصَدرُ حِلَّةِ أَهلِهِ

مِن كُلِّ مَن نظَمَ القَريضَ ومن نثَر

مِن كُلِّ مَن نظَمَ القَريضَ ومن نثَر

Pride of the reed pen, foremost in the company of its masters,

Pride of the cape and breast of the robe of its people,

Of all who compose verse and all who write prose.

Above all who composed verse and prose.

باهى بِهِ الخَطيَّ بَل أَغنى بِهِ

باهى بِهِ الخَطيَّ بَل أَغنى بِهِ

وَكَفى عَنِ الصَمصامِ وَالسَيفِ الذَكَر

وَكَفى عَنِ الصَمصامِ وَالسَيفِ الذَكَر

With it he rivaled the Khatti spear; indeed, it met his need,

With it the penman became content, nay enriched,

And sufficed in place of the keen blade and the hard-tempered sword.

And it sufficed over sword and scabbard in eminence.

يَرمي بِهِ الغَرَض البَعيد فَيُصمِهِ

يَرمي بِهِ الغَرَض البَعيد فَيُصمِهِ

وَيَقودُ مَن خَلَعَ العَنانَ وَمَن نَفَر

وَيَقودُ مَن خَلَعَ العَنانَ وَمَن نَفَر

With it he shoots at the distant target and strikes it dead,

With it the distant goal is struck precisely

And leads those who cast off the reins and those who bolt.

And it directs whoever bolted and whoever shied.

بِلَطائِفٍ سارَت مَسيرَ الشَمسِ في

بِلَطائِفٍ سارَت مَسيرَ الشَمسِ في

أَهلِ البَداوَةِ وَالمَعاقِل وَالحَضَر

أَهلِ البَداوَةِ وَالمَعاقِل وَالحَضَر

With subtleties that traveled the sun's course among

With subtle points that travelled the sun’s path

The nomads, the dwellers in strongholds, and the townsfolk.

Among the nomads, fortresses, and settlements.

وَبَدائِع بَهَرَت فَأَعشى نورُها

وَبَدائِع بَهَرَت فَأَعشى نورُها

عَينَ الحَسود فَلاتَ عَينٌ أَو أَثَر

عَينَ الحَسود فَلاتَ عَينٌ أَو أَثَر

And wonders that dazzled, their light blinding

With masterful wonders that dazzled, so the light of it blinded

The envious eye, leaving neither eye nor trace.

The eye of the envious, confusing the sight or its traces.

قُل لِلمُحَدِث عَن مَكارِم أَحمَدٍ

قُل لِلمُحَدِث عَن مَكارِم أَحمَدٍ

حَدِّث عَن البَحر الخِضَمِّ وَلا حَذَر

حَدِّث عَن البَحر الخِضَمِّ وَلا حَذَر

Tell whoever speaks of Ahmad's noble deeds:

Say to the one who speaks of Ahmad’s virtues,

'Speak of the vast ocean, and have no fear.'

“Speak of the tumultuous sea without caution!”

أَخَطيبَ هَذا الصقع وابنَ خَطيبِهِ

أَخَطيبَ هَذا الصقع وابنَ خَطيبِهِ

وَلَكَ الأَمانُ مِنَ الزَمان إِذا اِكفَهَر

وَلَكَ الأَمانُ مِنَ الزَمان إِذا اِكفَهَر

O orator of this region and son of its orator,

Orator of this land and son of its orator,

Yours is safety from Time when it scowls,

And safety is yours from time when it rages wrathfully,

وَعمادَهُ وابنَ العَميد وَفَخرَهُ

وَعمادَهُ وابنَ العَميد وَفَخرَهُ

والفاضِلُ الأُستاذَ وَالمَولى الأبَر

والفاضِلُ الأُستاذَ وَالمَولى الأبَر

And its pillar, son of the chief, and its pride,

Its pillar, son of the pillar, its pride,

And the virtuous master, the most benevolent patron,

The exceptional professor, and noble lord.

خُذها وَلا مِن فَريدَة دَهرِها

خُذها وَلا مِن فَريدَة دَهرِها

تَسبي النهىَ لَكِن بِسِحرٍ مُستَمر

تَسبي النهىَ لَكِن بِسِحرٍ مُستَمر

Take it as homage from a jewel unique in its age,

Take it - though not unique to its age -

Captivating minds, but with enduring magic.

But with lasting sorcery.

مِمّا تَخَيَّرها الوَدودُ فَصاغَها

مِمّا تَخَيَّرها الوَدودُ فَصاغَها

عقداً تُنظَّم بِالجَواهِر وَالدرَر

عقداً تُنظَّم بِالجَواهِر وَالدرَر

One the devoted friend selected and fashioned

Of what the affectionate one selected and crafted

Into a necklace, strung with jewels and pearls.

Into a necklace strung with jewels and pearls.

تَهني بصحتكَ الَّتي هي عيدُها

تَهني بصحتكَ الَّتي هي عيدُها

وَالعيد الأَكبَرِ وَالقُدومِ مِنَ السَفَر

وَالعيد الأَكبَرِ وَالقُدومِ مِنَ السَفَر

It congratulates you on your health, which is its feast,

It congratulates your health - which is its celebration -

And on the Greater Feast and your return from travel.

And the greatest celebration and the return from travel.

تأميلها تَقبيلُ راحَتكَ الَّتي

تأميلها تَقبيلُ راحَتكَ الَّتي

هيَ عُمدَتي في كُلِّ وَردٍ أَو صَدَر

هيَ عُمدَتي في كُلِّ وَردٍ أَو صَدَر

Its hope is to kiss your palm, which

What it aspires is the kissing of your hand

Is my mainstay in every coming and going.

Which is my pillar in every affection or breast.

فاِخلد لَنا في نِعمَةٍ تَزدادُ ما

فاِخلد لَنا في نِعمَةٍ تَزدادُ ما

أَثنى الحَبيبُ عَلى المحب وَما شَكَر

أَثنى الحَبيبُ عَلى المحب وَما شَكَر

So live forever for us in blessings that grow, as long as

So linger for us in a blessing that increases

The beloved praises the lover, and as long as he gives thanks;

However much the beloved praises the lover and is thankful,

وَمَتى شَدا في دَوحِهِ القُمري وَما

وَمَتى شَدا في دَوحِهِ القُمري وَما

هَبَّ النَسيمُ عَلى الرِياضِ مَعَ السَحَر

هَبَّ النَسيمُ عَلى الرِياضِ مَعَ السَحَر

And whenever the turtledove sings in its spreading tree, and as long as

And whenever the moon tightens its halo in its orbit

The breeze blows over the gardens before dawn.

Or the breeze blows upon the gardens at dawn.