يروقُنيdelights me فيamong المهاthe oryx مُهَفْهَفُهاtheir slender one
يروقُني في المها مُهَفْهَفُها
ومنand among قدودِthe forms of الحسانِthe beauties أَهيفُهاtheir most willowy
ومن قدودِ الحسانِ أَهيفُها
Among the oryx, their slender one delights me,
and among beauties' forms, the most willowy;
ومنand among عيونthe eyes of الظِّباءِthe gazelles أَفترُهاtheir most languid
ومن عيون الظِّباءِ أَفترُها
ومنand among خصورِthe waists of الملاحِthe fair ones أَنحفُهاtheir narrowest
ومن خصورِ الملاحِ أَنحفُها
and among gazelles' eyes, the most languid;
and among fair ones' waists, the narrowest.
ماnot سقميmy sickness غيرُother than سُقمِthe languor of أَعْيُنهاtheir eyes
ما سقمي غيرُ سُقمِ أَعْيُنها
ثمthen شِفائيmy cure الشِّفاهُthe lips أَرشُفُهاI sip them
ثم شِفائي الشِّفاهُ أَرشُفُها
My sickness is nothing but the languor of their eyes;
then my cure is the lips I sip.
يُسْكرنيintoxicates me قَرقفٌstrong wine يشعشعُهاmingles it with water
يُسْكرني قَرقفٌ يشعشعُها
لحظُthe glance of الطَّلاthe fawn لاnot الطِّلاgrape wine وقرقفُهاand its strong wine
لحظُ الطَّلا لا الطِّلا وقرقفُها
A wine intoxicates me, mingled
by the fawn's glance—not grape wine and its vintage.
ياO ضعفَthe weakness of قلبيmy heart منbefore أَعينٍeyes نُجلٍwide
يا ضعفَ قلبي من أَعينٍ نُجلٍ
أقتلهاtheir deadliest بالقلوبِto hearts أضْعَفُهاtheir weakest
أقتلها بالقلوبِ أضْعَفُها
How weak my heart before wide eyes:
the weakest of them are deadliest to hearts!
ومنand before عذارٍcheek-down كأَنّهas though it were حَلقٌrings
ومن عذارٍ كأَنّه حَلقٌ
واحكَمَand perfected فيin سروهِits nobility (wording uncertain) مُضعِّفُهاthe one doubling them
واحكَمَ في سروهِ مُضعِّفُها
And before cheek-down that seems like rings,
whose doubler perfected its noble workmanship;
ومنand before خدودِcheeks حُمرٍred مورَّدةٍrose-flushed
ومن خدودِ حُمرٍ مورَّدةٍ
أَدومُهاtheir most constant للحياءِin modesty أَطرَفُهاtheir most charming
أَدومُها للحياءِ أَطرَفُها
and before red, rose-flushed cheeks,
the most charming being those most constant in modesty.
فيin سلبِstealing لُبِّيmy wits تلطّفتْthey acted subtly فأَتىso there came
في سلبِ لُبِّي تلطّفتْ فأَتى
نحويtoward me بخطِّwith the script of الصِّباyouth مُلطِّفُهاtheir subtle messenger
نحوي بخطِّ الصِّبا مُلطِّفُها
They subtly set about stealing my wits, and there came
toward me their subtle messenger, bearing youth's script.
ياO منكراًdenier منof هوىًa passion بُليتُI was afflicted بهِwith it
يا منكراً من هوىً بُليتُ بهِ
علاقةًan attachment ماnot يكادُhe scarcely يَعْرِفُهاrecognizes it
علاقةً ما يكادُ يَعْرِفُها
O denier of the passion with which I am afflicted,
an attachment you can scarcely understand:
دَعْleave سرَّthe secret of وجديmy ardor فماfor I do not أَبوحُdivulge بهit
دَعْ سرَّ وجدي فما أَبوحُ به
وخلِّand leave alone حاليmy condition فلستُfor I do not أَكشفُهاuncover it
وخلِّ حالي فلستُ أَكشفُها
leave the secret of my ardor, for I will not divulge it,
and leave my condition alone, for I will not uncover it.
واصرفْand turn away كؤوسَthe cups of الملامِreproach عنfrom فئةٍa company
واصرفْ كؤوسَ الملامِ عن فئةٍ
عنfrom شرعةِthe law of الحبِّlove لستَyou cannot تصرفُهاturn them away
عن شرعةِ الحبِّ لستَ تصرفُها
Turn the cups of reproach away from a company
you cannot turn from love's law.
منamong شُرَفِthe glories of الحبِّlove حلَّit dwelt فيin مُهَجٍhearts
من شُرَفِ الحبِّ حلَّ في مُهَجٍ
أَقْبَلُهاtheir most receptive للغرامِto passion أَشْرَفُهاtheir noblest
أَقْبَلُها للغرامِ أَشْرَفُها
One of love's glories: it dwells in hearts
whose noblest are most receptive to passion.
لاnot يستطيبُfinds pleasant السُّلوَّforgetting love مُغرمُهاtheir enamored one
لا يستطيبُ السُّلوَّ مُغرمُها
ولاnor يلذُّrelishes الشّفاءَa cure مُدْنَفُهاtheir lovesick one
ولا يلذُّ الشّفاءَ مُدْنَفُها
Their lover takes no pleasure in forgetting,
nor does their lovesick one relish a cure.
فالقلبُso the heart فيin لوعةٍburning anguish أُعالجُهاI struggle to soothe it
فالقلبُ في لوعةٍ أُعالجُها
والعينُand the eye فيin عبرةٍtears أُكفكفُهاI wipe them away
والعينُ في عبرةٍ أُكفكفُها
The heart is in a burning anguish I struggle to soothe,
and the eye in tears I wipe away.
كأنَّas though قلبيmy heart وحُبَّand love for مالكهِits master
كأنَّ قلبي وحُبَّ مالكهِ
مصْرٌEgypt وفيهاand within it المليكُthe sovereign يوسفُهاits Yusuf
مصْرٌ وفيها المليكُ يوسفُها
My heart, with love for its master, seems
Egypt, with its sovereign Yusuf within.
هذاthis one بسلبِby stealing الفؤادِthe heart يظلمنيwrongs me
هذا بسلبِ الفؤادِ يظلمني
وهوwhile he بقتلِby slaying الأَعداءِthe enemies يُنصفُهاdoes it justice
وهو بقتلِ الأَعداءِ يُنصفُها
This one wrongs me by stealing my heart,
while he does Egypt justice by slaying its enemies.
الملكُthe king النّاصرُal-Nasir الذيwho أَبداًforever
الملكُ النّاصرُ الذي أَبداً
بعزِّwith the might of سلطانهِhis sovereignty يُشرِّفُهاhonors it
بعزِّ سلطانهِ يُشرِّفُها
The king al-Nasir, who forever
honors it with his sovereign might,
قامَtook charge بأَحوالهاof its affairs يُدبرهاgoverning it
قامَ بأَحوالها يُدبرها
حسناًwell وأَثقالهاand its burdens يُخفِّفُهاhe lightens them
حسناً وأَثقالها يُخفِّفُها
has taken charge of its affairs, governing it
well, and lightening its burdens.
بعدلهِthrough his justice والصّلاحِand righteousness يعمرُهاhe makes it flourish
بعدلهِ والصّلاحِ يعمرُها
وبالنَّدىand with bounty والجميلand kindness يكنفُهاhe shelters it
وبالنَّدى والجميل يكنفُها
Through his justice and righteousness he makes it thrive,
and shelters it with bounty and kindness.
منof دنسِthe defilement of الغادرينthe traitors يَرْحَضُهاhe washes it clean
من دنسِ الغادرين يَرْحَضُها
ومنand of خباثِthe vileness of العداthe enemies يُنظِّفهاhe cleanses it
ومن خباثِ العدا يُنظِّفها
He washes it clean of traitors' defilement,
and purges it of the enemies' vileness.
وإنَّand indeed مصراًEgypt بملكِunder the rule of يوسفهاits Yusuf
وإنَّ مصراً بملكِ يوسفها
جنّةُa garden of خُلْدٍeternity يروقُdelights زُخرفُهاits splendor
جنّةُ خُلْدٍ يروقُ زُخرفُها
Indeed, Egypt, under its Yusuf's rule,
is an everlasting garden whose splendor delights.
وإنّهand indeed he فيin السَّماحِgenerosity حاتمهاis its Hatim
وإنّه في السَّماحِ حاتمها
وإنّهُand indeed he فيin الوقارِdignity أَحْنَفُهاis its Ahnaf
وإنّهُ في الوقارِ أَحْنَفُها
Indeed, in generosity he is its Hatim,
and in dignity he is its Ahnaf.
كمhow many آملٍa hopeful man بالنّدىwith bounty يُحقِّقُهُhe fulfills his hope
كم آملٍ بالنّدى يُحقِّقُهُ
ومنيَّةٍand a wish بالنَّجاحِwith fulfillment يُسعفُهاhe grants it
ومنيَّةٍ بالنَّجاحِ يُسعفُها
How many a hopeful man he reassures with bounty,
and a wish he grants fulfillment!
وليسand does not يُوليكoffer you وَعْدَthe promise of عارفةٍa favor
وليس يُوليك وَعْدَ عارفةٍ
إلاّexcept وعندَand at النِّجازِfulfillment يُضعفُهاhe doubles it
إلاّ وعندَ النِّجازِ يُضعفُها
He never offers you the promise of a favor
without doubling it when the time to deliver comes.
حكّمَgave authority فيover مالهِhis wealth العُفاةَto the supplicants فماso nothing
حكّمَ في مالهِ العُفاةَ فما
يَنْفُذُtakes effect فيهwithin it إلاّexcept تصرَّفُهاtheir disposal of it
يَنْفُذُ فيه إلاّ تصرَّفُها
He has given supplicants authority over his wealth, so
only their decisions carry force within it.
وإنَّand indeed شَمْلَthe gathered sum of اللُّهاgifts يُفَرِّقُهُhe scatters it
وإنَّ شَمْلَ اللُّها يُفَرِّقُهُ
لمكرماتٍfor noble deeds لهof his يُؤلِّفُهاhe gathers them together
لمكرماتٍ له يُؤلِّفُها
Indeed, he scatters the gathered gifts
to gather together his noble deeds.
ذوpossessor of شرفٍhonor مكرماتُهُhis generous deeds سَرَفُare extravagance
ذو شرفٍ مكرماتُهُ سَرَفُ
ويستحقُّand deserves الثّناءَpraise مُسرِفُهاtheir spendthrift
ويستحقُّ الثّناءَ مُسرِفُها
A man of honor, whose generous deeds are extravagance,
and their spendthrift merits praise;
وعزمةٍand a resolve بالهدىin guidance تكفّلَهاhe undertook it
وعزمةٍ بالهدى تكفّلَها
وهمةٍand an ambition للعلىfor the heights تَكلُّفُهاits striving
وهمةٍ للعلى تَكلُّفُها
and of a resolve he has pledged to guidance,
and an ambition whose striving is for the heights.
يوسفYusuf مصرَof Egypt التيwhose ملاحمُهاits battle-prophecies
يوسف مصرَ التي ملاحمُها
جاءَتْhave come بأَوصافهِwith his qualities تعرِّفُهاmaking them known
جاءَتْ بأَوصافهِ تعرِّفُها
Yusuf of Egypt, whose prophecies
have come setting forth his qualities, making them known.
كُتْبُthe books of التّواريخِhistories لاnot يُزيِّنُهاadorns them
كُتْبُ التّواريخِ لا يُزيِّنُها
إلاّexcept بأَوصافهِthrough his qualities تُعرِّفُهاmakes them known
إلاّ بأَوصافهِ تُعرِّفُها
The books of history find no adornment
save in his qualities, which make them known.
ومَنْand he who يميرُprovisions العُفاةَthe supplicants فيin سنةٍa year
ومَنْ يميرُ العُفاةَ في سنةٍ
أَسمنُهاits fattest للجذوبِthrough drought (uncertain reading) أَعجفُهاits leanest
أَسمنُها للجذوبِ أَعجفُها
And he who provisions supplicants in a year
when drought makes even the fattest lean.
آياتُthe signs of دينthe religion of الإلهِGod ظاهرةٌare manifest
آياتُ دين الإلهِ ظاهرةٌ
فيكَin you ويُثنيand praises عليكَyou مُصْحَفُهاits scripture
فيكَ ويُثني عليكَ مُصْحَفُها
The signs of God's religion are manifest
in you, and its scripture praises you.
كمhow many جحفلٍan army بالعراءِin the wilderness ذيpossessing لجبٍclamor
كم جحفلٍ بالعراءِ ذي لجبٍ
بالصّفِّwith the ranks منهof it يضيفُhosts صَفْصَفُهاits level plain
بالصّفِّ منه يضيفُ صَفْصَفُها
How many a clamorous army in the wilderness,
its level plain hosting its ranks,
كالبحرِlike the sea طاميsurging العُبابِin billows لاعبةٌplaying
كالبحرِ طامي العُبابِ لاعبةٌ
بموجهِwith its waves للرِّياحِamong the winds أَعْصَفُهاtheir fiercest
بموجهِ للرِّياحِ أَعْصَفُها
like a sea with surging billows, played upon
in its waves by the fiercest winds;
كتيبةٌa battalion منتضىًunsheathed مهنّدُهاits Indian-forged sword
كتيبةٌ منتضىً مهنّدُها
إلىtoward الرَّدَىdeath مُشْرَعٌleveled مُثقّفُهاits straightened lance
إلى الرَّدَى مُشْرَعٌ مُثقّفُها
a battalion, its Indian-forged sword unsheathed,
its straightened lance leveled toward death,
غادَرْتَهاyou left it للنسورِfor the vultures مأكَلَةًa feast
غادَرْتَها للنسورِ مأكَلَةً
حيثُwhere بأَشلائهاwith its scattered limbs تُضيفِّهاyou feed them as guests
حيثُ بأَشلائها تُضيفِّها
you left as a feast for vultures,
hosting them there with its scattered limbs;
منتصفاًtaking vengeance منupon رؤوسِheads طاعنةٍassailing
منتصفاً من رؤوسِ طاعنةٍ
بباتراتِwith cleaving blades الظُّبىof swords تُنصفِّهاyou halve them
بباتراتِ الظُّبى تُنصفِّها
taking vengeance upon assailants' heads,
you split them with cleaving blades.
وحُطتَand you guarded دمياطَDamietta إذْwhen أَحاطَsurrounded بهاit
وحُطتَ دمياطَ إذْ أَحاطَ بها
مَنْthose who برجومِwith the missiles of البلاءِcalamity يَقْذِفُهاpelt it
مَنْ برجومِ البلاءِ يَقْذِفُها
You guarded Damietta when it was surrounded
by those pelting it with the stones of calamity.
لاقتْmet غواةُthe misguided men of الفرنجthe Franks خيبتَهاtheir disappointment
لاقتْ غواةُ الفرنج خيبتَها
فزادَso increased منwith حسرةٍgrief تأسُّفُهاtheir remorse
فزادَ من حسرةٍ تأسُّفُها
The Franks' misguided men met their disappointment,
and their remorse swelled with grief.
فرَّfled فريرِيُّهاtheir Hospitaller وأَزعجهاand shook them
فرَّ فريرِيُّها وأَزعجها
نداءthe cry of داويِّهاtheir Templar تلهفُهاtheir anguished regret
نداء داويِّها تلهفُها
Their Hospitaller fled, and they were shaken
by their Templar's cry of anguished regret.
يمطرُis showered with مطرانُهاtheir metropolitan العذابَtorment كماjust as
يمطرُ مطرانُها العذابَ كما
يُردَىis slain بهدِّby the collapse of السُّقوفِthe roofs أَسقُفُهاtheir bishop
يُردَى بهدِّ السُّقوفِ أَسقُفُها
Their metropolitan is showered with torment, as
their bishop is slain by collapsing roofs.
تكسرُyou shatter صلبانَهاtheir crosses وتنكسُهاand overturn them
تكسرُ صلبانَها وتنكسُها
لقصمِto break أَصْلابهاtheir backbones وتَقصفهاand crush them
لقصمِ أَصْلابها وتَقصفها
You shatter their crosses and overturn them,
to break their backbones and crush them.
أوردتَyou brought to water قلبَthe core of القلوبthe hearts أَرشيةًbucket-ropes
أوردتَ قلبَ القلوب أَرشيةً
منof القناlances للدَّماءِfor the blood تنزفُهاyou drain it
من القنا للدَّماءِ تنزفُها
You lowered bucket-ropes into the very core of hearts,
ropes of lances, to drain away their blood.
وليتهاyou entrusted it سفكهاits shedding معاملُهاits handler
وليتها سفكها معاملُها
عاملُهاits agent; its lance-shaft والسّنانُand the spearhead مُشرفُهاits overseer
عاملُها والسّنانُ مُشرفُها
You entrusted its shedding to its handler:
the shaft its agent, the spearhead its overseer.
تعسّفَتْthey blindly followed نحوكَtoward you الطّريقَthe road فماbut nothing
تعسّفَتْ نحوكَ الطّريقَ فما
أَجدىavailed سوىexcept هُلكهاtheir destruction تَعسُّفُهاtheir reckless course
أَجدى سوى هُلكها تَعسُّفُها
They blindly took the road toward you, yet
their rash course brought nothing but their ruin.
وحسبهاand enough for them فيin العمىblindness تهافتُهاtheir headlong rush
وحسبها في العمى تهافتُها
بلrather لسهامِfor the arrows of الرَّدىdeath تهدُّفُهاtheir becoming targets
بل لسهامِ الرَّدى تهدُّفُها
Their blind headlong rush is enough for them—
rather, their making themselves targets for death's arrows.
يُمضيcarries forward لكَfor you اللّهُGod فيin قتالهمُfighting them
يُمضي لكَ اللّهُ في قتالهمُ
عزيمةًa resolve للجهادِfor jihad تُرهفُهاyou hone it
عزيمةً للجهادِ تُرهفُها
God carries forward for you, in fighting them,
a resolve for jihad that you hone.
إنif أظلمتْgrows dark سُدْفَةٌa gloom أَنَرْتَyou bring light لهاto it
إن أظلمتْ سُدْفَةٌ أَنَرْتَ لها
أَبهىthe fairest of لياليthe nights of البدورِfull moons مُسدفُهاits dark night
أَبهى ليالي البدورِ مُسدفُها
If a gloom grows dark, you illumine it;
its dark night is the fairest of full-moon nights.
بشائرُthe glad tidings of الدِّينthe faith فيconcerning إزالتهits removal
بشائرُ الدِّين في إزالته
مواعدthe promises of اللّهِGod ليسnot يُخلفُهاHe breaks them
مواعد اللّهِ ليس يُخلفُها
The faith's glad tidings of its removal
are God's promises, which He does not break.
أَدركتَyou attained ماwhat أَعجزَleft powerless الملوكَthe kings وقدwhile already
أَدركتَ ما أَعجزَ الملوكَ وقد
باتَremained إلىtoward بعضهِsome of it تَشوُّفُهاtheir yearning
باتَ إلى بعضهِ تَشوُّفُها
You attained what left kings powerless, while
their yearning reached only some part of it.
جاوزتَyou surpassed غاياتِthe utmost bounds of كلِّevery منقبةٍvirtue
جاوزتَ غاياتِ كلِّ منقبةٍ
يعزُّis hard to attain إلاَّexcept عليكَfor you موقفُهاits station
يعزُّ إلاَّ عليكَ موقفُها
You surpassed the utmost bounds of every virtue,
a station difficult for all but you.
وإنَّand indeed طُرْقَthe paths of العلاءِhigh renown واضحةٌare clear
وإنَّ طُرْقَ العلاءِ واضحةٌ
آمنُهاtheir safest فيin السُّلوكِtravel أَخوفُهاtheir most fearsome
آمنُها في السُّلوكِ أَخوفُها
Indeed, the paths to high renown are clear:
the safest to travel are the most fearsome.
صلاحSalah; rectitude دينِof the faith الهدىof guidance لقدindeed سَعدَتْhas been blessed
صلاح دينِ الهدى لقد سَعدَتْ
مملكةٌa kingdom بالصّلاحِwith righteousness تُتحفُهاyou endow it
مملكةٌ بالصّلاحِ تُتحفُها
Salah of the guiding faith, truly blessed is
a kingdom you endow with righteousness.
عنديI have بشكرِin gratitude for النُّعمىthe favor ثمارُthe fruits of يدٍa hand
عندي بشكرِ النُّعمى ثمارُ يدٍ
زاكيةُflourishing الغرسِin planting أَنتَyou تَقطفُهاpluck them
زاكيةُ الغرسِ أَنتَ تَقطفُها
I hold, in gratitude for favor, the fruits of a hand,
its planting thriving, for you to pluck them.
فاقبلْso accept نقوداًcoins منof الفضائلِexcellences لاnot
فاقبلْ نقوداً من الفضائلِ لا
يصابُis found إلاَّexcept لديكَwith you مَصْرَفُهاtheir place of exchange
يصابُ إلاَّ لديكَ مَصْرَفُها
Accept, then, coins of excellence, whose
place of exchange is found only with you.
أَصدافُthe shells of دُرِّيmy pearls إليكَto you أَحملُهاI carry them
أَصدافُ دُرِّي إليكَ أَحملُها
وعنand away from جميعِall الملوكِthe kings أَصدِفُهاI turn them aside
وعن جميعِ الملوكِ أَصدِفُها
I bear to you the shells of my pearls,
and turn them away from all other kings.
إنْif لمnot تُصخْyou lend an ear ليto me فهذهthen these are دُرريmy pearls
إنْ لم تُصخْ لي فهذه دُرري
لأَيِّon which مَسلكٍpath سواكَbesides you أَرصفُهاshall I array them
لأَيِّ مَسلكٍ سواكَ أَرصفُها
If you will not lend me your ear, these are my pearls:
on what path but yours shall I array them?
وهلand is there لآمالناfor our hopes سوىother than مَسلكٍa path
وهل لآمالنا سوى مَسلكٍ
ينقدُهاpays them outright برَّهُhis bounty ويُسْلفُهاand advances it to them
ينقدُها برَّهُ ويُسْلفُها
Have our hopes any other path,
one that pays them his bounty and advances it?
دنياa world منof الفضلِexcellence قدalready خَلَتْhas passed away وبداand appeared
دنيا من الفضلِ قد خَلَتْ وبدا
للنقصto deficiency فيamong أَهلهِits people تَعيفُّهُاits aversion (uncertain reading)
للنقص في أَهلهِ تَعيفُّهُا
A world of excellence has passed away, and manifest is
its aversion to deficiency among its people.
وهلand can يروحُgo forth الرَّجاءُhope فيamong نَفَرٍa band
وهل يروحُ الرَّجاءُ في نَفَرٍ
كلهُمُall of them فيin العُلىhigh rank مُزَيّفُهاits counterfeiters
كلهُمُ في العُلى مُزَيّفُها
Can hope go forth among a band,
all counterfeit claimants to high rank?
وقدand indeed عطفتْhave inclined kindly ليtoward me فضائليmy virtues ووفتْand proved faithful
وقد عطفتْ لي فضائلي ووفتْ
لكنْbut حظوظيmy fortunes أَعياhas proved impossible تعطُّفُهاwinning their favor
لكنْ حظوظي أَعيا تعطُّفُها
My virtues have favored me and proved faithful,
but my fortunes have defied all coaxing.
وفضليَand my merit الشّمسُthe sun فيat مطالعهاits rising places
وفضليَ الشّمسُ في مطالعها
لكنَّbut جهلَthe ignorance of الزَّمانِthe age يكسفُهاeclipses it
لكنَّ جهلَ الزَّمانِ يكسفُها
My merit is the sun at its rising,
but the age's ignorance eclipses it.
قدindeed أَعربتْhave spoken plainly فيكَof you بالثَّناwith praise كلميmy words
قد أَعربتْ فيكَ بالثَّنا كلمي
وحاسديand my envier ضَلّةًin error يُحرِّفُهاdistorts them
وحاسدي ضَلّةً يُحرِّفُها
My words have spoken plainly in your praise,
while my envier, in error, distorts them.
أَسدىbestowed لناupon us شيركوهShirkuh عارفةًa favor
أَسدى لنا شيركوه عارفةً
يوسفُYusuf منfrom بعدهماafter them both سيخلفُهاwill replace it
يوسفُ من بعدهما سيخلفُها
Shirkuh bestowed a favor upon us;
Yusuf, after them both, will renew it.
أَنتَyou قمينٌare worthy بكلِّof every تالدةancestral virtue
أَنتَ قمينٌ بكلِّ تالدة
إنّكَindeed you ياO ابنَson of الكرامِthe noble تُطرِفُهاmake it new
إنّكَ يا ابنَ الكرامِ تُطرِفُها
You are worthy of every ancestral virtue;
for you, son of the noble, make it new.
Sol 6.1