طَيفٌa phantom أَلَمَّvisited فَزادَand increased فيin آلاميmy pains
طَيفٌ أَلَمَّ فَزادَ في آلامي
أَلمٌpain وَلَمand I had not أَعهَدُهُknown it ذاgiven to إِلمامِvisiting
أَلمٌ وَلَم أَعهَدُهُ ذا إِلمامِ
A phantom visited and increased my pains.
A specter tormented me, adding to my pains,
Pain—yet I had never known it to visit.
A pain I was not used to, being so afflicted.
لَمّاwhen تَجَنَّبَhe avoided رُؤيَتيseeing me مُستَيقِظاًawake
لَمّا تَجَنَّبَ رُؤيَتي مُستَيقِظاً
جاءَتcame بِهِwith him الأَضغاثconfused visions فيin الأَحلامِdreams
جاءَت بِهِ الأَضغاث في الأَحلامِ
When he avoided seeing me awake,
Avoiding seeing me when I was awake,
Confused visions brought him in dreams.
It came to me in confused dreams.
وَأَتَتand came بِهِwith him فيin حَندَسٍpitch darkness مُتَنَكِّراًdisguised
وَأَتَت بِهِ في حَندَسٍ مُتَنَكِّراً
كَالبَدرِlike the full moon مُستَتِراًconcealed بِثَوبِin a cloak of جَهامِrainless clouds
كَالبَدرِ مُستَتِراً بِثَوبِ جَهامِ
And brought him, disguised, into pitch darkness,
Disguised, it came in a howdah,
Like the full moon concealed in a cloak of rainless clouds.
Like the moon hidden in robes of darkness.
فَطَفِقتso I began الحَظُI gaze at لؤلؤاًpearls مِنfrom ثَغرِهِhis mouth
فَطَفِقت الحَظُ لؤلؤاً مِن ثَغرِهِ
وَأَضمُّand I embrace غُصناًa branch تَحتَbeneath بدرa moon تَمامِfullness
وَأَضمُّ غُصناً تَحتَ بدر تَمامِ
So I began gazing at pearls from his mouth,
So my eyes began to pick pearls from its mouth,
And embracing a branch beneath a moon in its fullness.
And I held a branch beneath the fullness of its moon.
فيin لَيلَةٍa night ماnot أَنthat أَقومI can render بِشُكرِهاthanks for it
في لَيلَةٍ ما أَن أَقوم بِشُكرِها
لَمّاwhen خَلوتُI was alone بِهwith him مِنَaway from اللُوامِthe reproachers
لَمّا خَلوتُ بِه مِنَ اللُوامِ
On a night for which I cannot give sufficient thanks,
On a night I could not thank enough
When I was alone with him, away from reproachers.
When I was alone with it, free of blame.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen برقflashed الصَباحُthe morning لِناظِرٍbefore a watching eye
حَتّى إِذا برق الصَباحُ لِناظِرٍ
فارَقتهI parted from him كُرهاًunwillingly عَلىunder إِرغاميmy being forced
فارَقته كُرهاً عَلى إِرغامي
Until, when morning flashed before a watching eye,
Until when dawn flashed for the onlooker,
I parted from him unwillingly, under compulsion.
I parted from it against my will.
وَأَقامَand he remained مُعتَكِفاًdevoted عَلىto هِجرانِهِhis estrangement
وَأَقامَ مُعتَكِفاً عَلى هِجرانِهِ
فَهَجَرتُso I deserted صَبريmy patience حينَwhen عَزَّgrew intense غَراميmy passion
فَهَجَرتُ صَبري حينَ عَزَّ غَرامي
And he remained devoted to his estrangement,
It remained secluded, shunning me,
So I deserted patience when my passion grew intense.
So I shunned my patience when passion overwhelmed me.
نادَيتهI called to him وَمَدامِعيand my tears مُنهلَّةflowing
نادَيته وَمَدامِعي مُنهلَّة
كَالغَيثِlike rain مُنهَمِراًpouring بودَقِwith showers of رهامِfine drizzle
كَالغَيثِ مُنهَمِراً بودَقِ رهامِ
I called to him while my tears flowed,
I called to it while my tears poured down
Like rain pouring in showers of fine drizzle.
Like pouring rain, drenching my cheeks.
ياO مسقميyou who sicken me منthrough طَرفِهِhis gaze بِسِقامِهِwith its languor
يا مسقمي من طَرفِهِ بِسِقامِهِ
رِفقاًgently بِقَلبيwith my heart قَدindeed أَطَلتَyou have prolonged هُياميmy love-madness
رِفقاً بِقَلبي قَد أَطَلتَ هُيامي
O you who sicken me with the languor of your gaze,
O you who ail me with your ailment, have mercy!
Be gentle with my heart; you have prolonged my love-madness.
My heart has suffered too long from loveickness.
لاdo not تَجمَعَنever combine عتباًreproach وَطولand prolonged قَطيعَةٍestrangement
لا تَجمَعَن عتباً وَطول قَطيعَةٍ
يَوماًfor a day فَتَركَبand thus venture into مقطعthe furthest reach of الآثامِsins
يَوماً فَتَركَب مقطع الآثامِ
Never combine reproach and long estrangement
Do not combine reproach and long estrangement
For a day, lest you venture to the furthest bounds of sin.
In a day, so you commit successive sins.
ياO مَنyou who يَرىdeem حِلُّlawful الوِصالunion مُحَرَّماًforbidden
يا مَن يَرى حِلُّ الوِصال مُحَرَّماً
وَيَرىand deem حَرامforbidden الوَصلِunion غيرnot حَرامِforbidden
وَيَرى حَرام الوَصلِ غير حَرامِ
O you who deem lawful union forbidden,
O you who see lawful union as forbidden
Yet deem forbidden union not forbidden.
And unlawful union as not unlawful!
إِنif دامَpersists هَجركyour abandonment ليof me وَعَزَّand grows hard تَصَبُّريmy endurance
إِن دامَ هَجرك لي وَعَزَّ تَصَبُّري
رَغماًagainst my will وَطالand grows long تَشَوُّقيmy longing وَسِقاميand my sickness
رَغماً وَطال تَشَوُّقي وَسِقامي
If your abandonment of me persists and endurance grows hard,
If your estrangement from me continues
Despite myself, and my longing and sickness lengthen,
Despite my unyielding patience and persistent lovesickness,
وَغَداand becomes لَكto you الدَهرtime الخَؤونُthe treacherous مُساعِداًa helper
وَغَدا لَك الدَهر الخَؤونُ مُساعِداً
فيin هَجرتيabandoning me وهجرتand you forsake طَيفthe phantom of مَناميmy sleep
في هَجرتي وهجرت طَيف مَنامي
And treacherous Time becomes your helper
The days favor your estrangement from me
In abandoning me, and you forsake the phantom of my sleep,
And estrangement from the phantom of my dreams,
فَإِلىthen to أَبيAbu نَصرٍNasr أَبُثُّI confide ظُلامتيmy grievance
فَإِلى أَبي نَصرٍ أَبُثُّ ظُلامتي
وَأَكونُand I shall be منهthrough him فيin حِمىًrefuge وَذِمامِand protection
وَأَكونُ منه في حِمىً وَذِمامِ
Then to Abu Nasr I shall confide my grievance,
Then I will confide my darkness to Abu Nasr
And find through him refuge and protection.
And seek refuge with him, protected and safeguarded.
مَنone who لاnot أَرىI see إِقبالthe advent of دَهرٍa time مُقبِلٍfavorable
مَن لا أَرى إِقبال دَهرٍ مُقبِلٍ
حَتّىuntil أَراهُI see him وَلاnor كَريمَa generous man كِرامِthe generous
حَتّى أَراهُ وَلا كَريمَ كِرامِ
He is the one: I see no dawn of favorable times
He whose fate I do not foresee as propitious
Until I see him, nor the most generous of the generous.
Until I see him, no generous bestower of bounty,
وَإِذاand when برَتtrimmed يُمناهُhis right hand أَسمَرَa brown reed ناصِلاًunpointed
وَإِذا برَت يُمناهُ أَسمَرَ ناصِلاً
يَوماًone day زَرىscoffed بِفَصاحَةِat the eloquence of الأَقلامِpens
يَوماً زَرى بِفَصاحَةِ الأَقلامِ
And when his right hand trims a brown, unpointed reed,
And when his right hand gleams, visiting
One day, it puts the eloquence of pens to shame.
One day, eloquent with the pens,
قَلَمٌa pen إِذاwhen ناجاهُhe confides in it وَهوَand it is ضَميرهhis inner thought
قَلَمٌ إِذا ناجاهُ وَهوَ ضَميره
نطقتspoke فَصاحَتهits eloquence بدمعwith tears هاميstreaming
نطقت فَصاحَته بدمع هامي
A pen—when he confides in it, it is his inner thought—
A pen, when it privately converses with him, the confidant of his conscience,
Speaks its eloquence through streaming tears,
Its eloquence speaks with my tears.
بَقضيby decreeing بآجالappointed life-terms وَفَيضِand an outpouring of مَواهِبٍgifts
بَقضي بآجال وَفَيضِ مَواهِبٍ
وَتُطيعُهُand obey it الأَقدارُthe fates فيin الأَحكامِjudgments
وَتُطيعُهُ الأَقدارُ في الأَحكامِ
Decreeing life's appointed ends and floods of gifts;
He ordains lifespans and the overflowing of gifts,
And the fates obey it in its judgments.
While destinies obey him in all matters.
لَمnot يَبقَremains منanyone who يُرجىis hoped for لِدَفعِto repel ملمةٍa calamity
لَم يَبقَ من يُرجى لِدَفعِ ملمةٍ
وَيجيرand grants refuge منfrom ظلمoppression أَوor اِستِهضامِdeprivation of rights
وَيجير من ظلم أَو اِستِهضامِ
None remains whose aid is hoped for in repelling calamity
None remains to be hoped for to dispel adversity
And who grants refuge from oppression or deprivation of rights,
And protect from injustice or transgression,
إِلّاexcept أَبوAbu النَصرal-Nasr الَّذيwho أَنعامهhis beneficence
إِلّا أَبو النَصر الَّذي أَنعامه
مُتواتِرٌunceasing يَهميpours كَصوبlike the downpour of غَمامِclouds
مُتواتِرٌ يَهمي كَصوب غَمامِ
Save Abu al-Nasr, whose beneficence
Except Abu Nasr, whose favors
Follows without cease, pouring like a cloudburst.
Continually descend like pouring rain.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen عَلِمَlearned الزَمانُtime بِأَنَّنيthat I
حَتّى إِذا عَلِمَ الزَمانُ بِأَنَّني
منamong لائِذيهthose seeking his refuge حادَturned aside عَنfrom إِقداميmy advance
من لائِذيه حادَ عَن إِقدامي
Until, when Time learned that I
When the times learned that I
Was among those seeking his refuge, it shied away from my advance.
Take refuge with him, it shunned confronting me.
وَأَتىand came إِليَّto me بِذُلِّهin its abasement مُتَنَصِّلاًmaking excuses
وَأَتى إِليَّ بِذُلِّه مُتَنَصِّلاً
مِنfrom بعدafter عِزَّتِهِits might وَعادَand became غُلاميmy servant
مِن بعد عِزَّتِهِ وَعادَ غُلامي
And came to me in abasement, making excuses,
It came to me humbled,
After its former might, and became my servant.
After its glory, again my lad.
نادَيتهI called to it ياO دهرTime قَدكَenough from you فَقَدfor indeed وَهىhas weakened
نادَيته يا دهر قَدكَ فَقَد وَهى
صَبريmy patience وَفارَقَنيand left me بَنوthe sons of الأَعمامِpaternal uncles
صَبري وَفارَقَني بَنو الأَعمامِ
I called to it: O Time, enough! For weakened is
I called: O Time, after you I grew frail,
My patience, and my cousins have left me.
My patience failed me, and my paternal uncles passed away.
وَرَحَلتُand I departed عَنfrom بَلَدٍa land يَعزis painful علَيهِمُto them
وَرَحَلتُ عَن بَلَدٍ يَعز علَيهِمُ
مِنّيfrom me مُفارَقَتيmy departure وَبُعدand the distance of مَراميmy destination
مِنّي مُفارَقَتي وَبُعد مَرامي
And I departed from a land where it pains them
I traveled from a land whose people
That I should leave and that my destination lies so far,
Grieve for my departure and remoteness of my aspirations.
نَحوَtoward امرىءٍa man ماnot زالَceased مُرتَقىascending العُلىthe heights
نَحوَ امرىءٍ ما زالَ مُرتَقى العُلى
حَتّىuntil سماhe soared وَعَلاand rose عَلىabove بُهرامِBahram
حَتّى سما وَعَلا عَلى بُهرامِ
Toward a man who never ceased ascending the heights,
Toward a lord who remains ever exalted
Until he soared and rose above Bahram.
Until he ascended and rose above the zenith.
وَلَكَand to you الذِمامthe pledge بِأَنَّنيthat I لكfor you آخِذٌshall obtain
وَلَكَ الذِمام بِأَنَّني لك آخِذٌ
منهُfrom him أَماناًsafe conduct فاِنصَرَفَso depart بِسَلامِin peace
منهُ أَماناً فاِنصَرَفَ بِسَلامِ
And you have my pledge that I shall obtain for you
Yours is the protection, for I have taken
Safe conduct from him; so depart in peace.
Refuge with him, so turn away in peace.
أَلاdoes not ...? تروعكfrighten you نَبوَةa sudden jolt منfrom عَزمِهِhis resolve
أَلا تروعك نَبوَة من عَزمِهِ
حَتّىso that تَقَلَّدَyou shoulder ظالِماًunjustly آثاميmy sins
حَتّى تَقَلَّدَ ظالِماً آثامي
Does no sudden stroke of his resolve frighten you,
Does not the prophecy of his resolve frighten you,
So that you unjustly shoulder my sins?
That he should assume the garb of my oppressor?
ثُمَّthen اِنبرأتI set forth إِلَيكَtoward you أَدَّرعُI wear as armor الفَلاthe wilderness
ثُمَّ اِنبرأت إِلَيكَ أَدَّرعُ الفَلا
متنسّشماًscenting لنَداكَyour bounty وَهوَand it is أَماميbefore me
متنسّشماً لنَداكَ وَهوَ أَمامي
Then I set forth toward you, wearing the wilderness as armor,
Then I turned to you, arrayed in coats of mail,
Scenting your bounty, which lay before me.
Scowling at your call while facing me.
أَطويI traverse الفَيافيthe deserts وَهيَwhile they are غيرnot مهولَةٍterrifying
أَطوي الفَيافي وَهيَ غير مهولَةٍ
عِنديto me بِقَطعby crossing سَباسِبٍplains وَأَكامِand hills
عِندي بِقَطع سَباسِبٍ وَأَكامِ
I traverse the deserts, which hold no terror
I traverse the deserts fearlessly,
For me, crossing plains and hills,
With neither anxiety about losing provisions nor water-skins.
بأمونَةٍon a trusty she-camel حَرفٍlean سَمَتshe rose بِمَناسِمٍon footpads
بأمونَةٍ حَرفٍ سَمَت بِمَناسِمٍ
فيهاon them منfrom الرَمضاءthe scorching ground كالأَوشامِlike tattoos
فيها من الرَمضاء كالأَوشامِ
On a trusty, lean she-camel, borne high on footpads
Secure in the words of a letter, lofty in principles,
Bearing tattoo-like marks from the scorching ground.
In which, from yellow sands, are tattoos.
وَمكانand in place of سوطيmy whip فيon المسيرthe journey إِرادَتيmy will
وَمكان سوطي في المسير إِرادَتي
فيfor سيرهاher movement وَاللَيلُwhile the night بحرa sea of ظَلامِdarkness
في سيرها وَاللَيلُ بحر ظَلامِ
And in place of my whip on the journey is my will
My whip, while traveling, is my will
To keep her moving, while night is a sea of darkness.
Guiding it while night is an ocean of darkness.
سيريtravel علىin إِسمِthe name of اللَهِGod نَحوَtoward مُجَلببٍone cloaked
سيري على إِسمِ اللَهِ نَحوَ مُجَلببٍ
دونَapart from الوَرىmankind بالعِزِّin glory والإِعظامِand reverence
دونَ الوَرى بالعِزِّ والإِعظامِ
Travel in God's name toward one cloaked,
I travel in God’s name toward Mujallab
Apart from all mankind, in glory and reverence.
Lower than all people in might and esteem.
فتسفّso she skims بيwith me كالطَيرlike a bird حَنَّyearned لِوَكرِهِfor its nest
فتسفّ بي كالطَير حَنَّ لِوَكرِهِ
وَتَزيفand she sways proudly فيin رقلswift trotting لَهاof hers وبُغامِand lowing
وَتَزيف في رقل لَها وبُغامِ
So she skims along with me like a bird yearning for its nest,
So it carried me like a bird to its nest,
And sways proudly in her swift trot and lowing.
And flew swiftly to its encampment and tent.
أَلقىI face الهَجيرthe midday heat بِصَفحَتيwith my cheek مُستَقبِلاًconfronting it
أَلقى الهَجير بِصَفحَتي مُستَقبِلاً
لاnot أَرعَويI recoil عنهُfrom it بِرَدِّby replacing لِثاميmy face-veil
لا أَرعَوي عنهُ بِرَدِّ لِثامي
I face the midday heat with my cheek, confronting it,
I met the dawn with my cheeks, going forth
Not recoiling from it by drawing my veil over my face.
Without covering my mouth with a kerchief.
وَمُقارِنيand my companion هجرforsaking الكرىsleep وَمُساعديand my helper
وَمُقارِني هجر الكرى وَمُساعدي
فيon سَفرَتيmy journey عَزميmy resolve وَحَدُّand the edge of حُساميmy sword
في سَفرَتي عَزمي وَحَدُّ حُسامي
My companion is the forsaking of sleep, and my aid
Accompanying me, estrangement from settlements, aiding me
On my journey is my resolve and my sword's sharp edge.
In my journey, were my resolve and sharp sword.
حَتّىuntil حَلَلتُI alighted بِبابِat the gate of ربعكَyour abode آمِناًsafe
حَتّى حَلَلتُ بِبابِ ربعكَ آمِناً
وَالسَعدُand good fortune منfrom خَلفيbehind me وَمِنand from قُدّاميbefore me
وَالسَعدُ من خَلفي وَمِن قُدّامي
Until I alighted safely at the gate of your abode,
Until I arrived, safe, at your abode’s gate,
With good fortune behind me and before me.
With fortune behind me and before me.
لَمّاwhen دَعوتI summoned المدحpraise فيكَconcerning you أَجابَنيit answered me
لَمّا دَعوت المدح فيكَ أَجابَني
منهfrom it بِقَولٍin speech بَيِّنِclear in الإِفهامِconveying meaning
منه بِقَولٍ بَيِّنِ الإِفهامِ
When I summoned praise of you, it answered me;
When I summoned praise of you, it answered me
From it came words of unmistakable meaning:
With eloquent, clear speech:
لَمnot يَبقَremains ذوa possessor of كرمgenerosity لِدفعto repel مُلِمَّةٍa calamity
لَم يَبقَ ذو كرم لِدفع مُلِمَّةٍ
إِلّاexcept أَبوAbu نصرNasr الخِضَمِّthe vast sea الطاميthe surging
إِلّا أَبو نصر الخِضَمِّ الطامي
No man of generosity remains to ward off calamity
None remains, of generous nature, to dispel adversity
Save Abu Nasr, the vast, surging sea.
Except Abu Nasr, impetuous and intrepid.
ملكa king يَداهhis two hands المكرماتُnoble deeds بِأَسرِهاin their entirety
ملك يَداه المكرماتُ بِأَسرِها
فَغَداand so he became يُذَلِّلُهاsubduing them بِغَيرwithout لِجامِa bridle
فَغَدا يُذَلِّلُها بِغَير لِجامِ
A king whose hands embody all noble deeds,
A king whose hands all favors grasp completely,
And who brings them to heel without a bridle.
So he makes them submissive without shackles.
نادىhe summoned المَكارِمَthe noble virtues وَالحِجاand reason فَأَتَتand they came لَهُto him
نادى المَكارِمَ وَالحِجا فَأَتَت لَهُ
مُنقادةobedient طوعاًwillingly بِغَيرِwithout لِجامِa bridle
مُنقادة طوعاً بِغَيرِ لِجامِ
He summoned noble virtues and reason, and they came to him,
He called upon bounties and virtues, so they came to him
Obedient of their own accord, without a bridle.
Obediently, without need for shackles.
ذوpossessed of هِمَّةِaspiration فيin المكرماتnoble deeds عَليِّهاtheir loftiest
ذو هِمَّةِ في المكرمات عَليِّها
ذوpossessed of عزمةٍresolve أَمضىsharper منthan الصِمصامِa keen sword
ذو عزمةٍ أَمضى من الصِمصامِ
Possessed of aspiration for the loftiest noble deeds,
With will for favors surpassing them,
Possessed of a resolve sharper than a keen sword.
And resolve firmer than an anvil.
ضُربتwere erected لَهُfor him فَوقabove السِماكِal-Simak مَنابِراًpulpits
ضُربت لَهُ فَوق السِماكِ مَنابِراً
مَحفوفَةٍsurrounded بِمَضارِبِby pavilions وَخيامِand tents
مَحفوفَةٍ بِمَضارِبِ وَخيامِ
Pulpits were erected for him above al-Simak,
For him above the heavens platforms were erected
Surrounded by pavilions and tents.
Surrounded by tents and pavilions.
وَإِذاand when بَداarises ذكرmention لهof him فيamong سادَةٍlords
وَإِذا بَدا ذكر له في سادَةٍ
قامواthey stood لهيبَتِهِin awe of him عَلىon الأَقدامِtheir feet
قاموا لهيبَتِهِ عَلى الأَقدامِ
And when mention of him arises among lords,
Whenever his name is mentioned among nobles,
They rise to their feet in awe of him.
They stand in awe of his tremendousness.
لوif كانَwere يَعبُدُworships مُفضلٍa benefactor بِفَضيلَةٍfor a virtue
لو كانَ يَعبُدُ مُفضلٍ بِفَضيلَةٍ
جَلَّتwas exalted لَكانhe would be بِذاكَfor that غيرnot مُلامِblamed
جَلَّت لَكان بِذاكَ غير مُلامِ
Were one to worship a benefactor for a virtue
Had distinction been worshipped for its merit,
Of surpassing greatness, one would not be blamed for that.
It would have submitted to him without blame.
لَمّاwhen رأىsaw مَولاهُhis master نَجدَةَthe strength of رأيهhis judgment
لَمّا رأى مَولاهُ نَجدَةَ رأيه
فيamong كُلِّevery عَبدٍservant ناصِحٍfaithful وَكِتاميand a Kutami
في كُلِّ عَبدٍ ناصِحٍ وَكِتامي
When his master saw the strength of his judgment
When his Master saw the soundness of his judgment
Among every faithful servant and Kutami,
Regarding every sincere and concealed counselor,
رَدَّentrusted الأُمورَaffairs إِلَيهِto him فيin إِبرامِهاsettling them
رَدَّ الأُمورَ إِلَيهِ في إِبرامِها
فَكَفاهُso he spared him مَعنىthe task of الحَلِّloosening وَالإِبرامِand binding
فَكَفاهُ مَعنى الحَلِّ وَالإِبرامِ
He entrusted affairs to him for their settlement,
He relegated affairs to him for their conclusion,
And he spared him the task of loosening and binding.
So sufficed him the meaning of authority and conclusion.
ياO سائِليyou who ask me عنهabout him لتخبرُto learn فَضلَهُhis excellence
يا سائِلي عنه لتخبرُ فَضلَهُ
اِصغِlisten لِتَسمَعَso that you hear مَنطِقيmy speech وَكَلاميand my words
اِصغِ لِتَسمَعَ مَنطِقي وَكَلامي
O you who ask me about him to learn his excellence,
O questioner, to inform you of his superiority,
Listen, that you may hear my speech and words.
Listen to my words and speech:
اللَهGod يَصنَعdoes ماwhat يَشاءHe wills بِقُدرَةٍwith a power
اللَه يَصنَع ما يَشاء بِقُدرَةٍ
جَلَّتare exalted دَقائِقهاits subtleties عَنِbeyond الأَوهامِimagination
جَلَّت دَقائِقها عَنِ الأَوهامِ
God does whatever He wills with a power
God does what He wills with a subtlety
Whose subtleties surpass the imagination.
Whose intricacies are beyond perceptions.
جَعَلHe placed البَريَّةcreation كُلَّهاall of it فيin واحِدٍone man
جَعَل البَريَّة كُلَّها في واحِدٍ
فَغَداand so became لَهُhis فَضلٌexcellence مبينٌmanifest ناميgrowing
فَغَدا لَهُ فَضلٌ مبينٌ نامي
He gathered all creation into a single man,
He placed the entire creation into one—
And thus his excellence is manifest and ever-growing,
Who thus attained obvious, growing distinction.
بِفَصاحةin eloquence وَسَماحَةand generosity وَبَشاشَةٍand cheerfulness
بِفَصاحة وَسَماحَة وَبَشاشَةٍ
وَشَجاعَةٍand courage تُزريputs to shame عَلىcompared with الضِرغامِthe lion
وَشَجاعَةٍ تُزري عَلى الضِرغامِ
In eloquence, generosity, and cheerfulness,
With eloquence, generosity, cheerfulness,
And courage that puts the lion to shame,
And courage that casts down mountains.
وَبَلاغَةٍand oratory لَوif قِستَyou measured سَحباناًSahban بِهاagainst it
وَبَلاغَةٍ لَو قِستَ سَحباناً بِها
أَلفيتهyou would find him ذاpossessing مَنطِقٍspeech تِمتامِstammering
أَلفيته ذا مَنطِقٍ تِمتامِ
And oratory against which, if you measured Sahban,
And such eloquence that, if it were measured,
You would find him a stammerer.
You would find it of perfect and complete expression.
مِنwho is حاتِمٍHatim جوداًin generosity إِذاwhen ذكرis mentioned النَدىbounty
مِن حاتِمٍ جوداً إِذا ذكر النَدى
مِنwho is سَيفِSayf ذيDhi يَزَنٍYazan مِنَamong الأَقوامِpeoples
مِن سَيفِ ذي يَزَنٍ مِنَ الأَقوامِ
Who is Hatim in generosity, when bounty is mentioned?
A Hatem in munificence, when scattered clouds are mentioned,
Who is Sayf Dhi Yazan among men?
A Sword of the Yazan tribe against the foe.
مِنwho is قُسَّهمtheir Quss نظماًin verse ومنand who are فُصحائِهِمtheir eloquent speakers
مِن قُسَّهم نظماً ومن فُصحائِهِم
نَثراًin prose وَمِنand who is لُقمانَLuqman فيin الأَحكامِjudgments
نَثراً وَمِن لُقمانَ في الأَحكامِ
Who is their Quss in verse, and who their eloquent speakers
In prose like their finest orators, in verse like their poets,
In prose, and who is Luqman in judgments?
In wisdom like Luqman in judgments.
مِنwho is يوسِفٍYusuf فيin عِفَّةٍchastity وَصَباحَةٍand beauty
مِن يوسِفٍ في عِفَّةٍ وَصَباحَةٍ
مَنwho is مِثلُهُhis equal عَلماًin knowledge لفَصلfor settling خِصامِa dispute
مَن مِثلُهُ عَلماً لفَصل خِصامِ
Who is Yusuf in chastity and beauty?
A Joseph in chastity and brilliance,
Who is his equal in knowledge for settling disputes?
Who can parallel him in knowledge to settle disputes?
هاتيكthose أَسماءٌnames خلتhave passed وَفِعالهاand their deeds
هاتيك أَسماءٌ خلت وَفِعالها
مِنّاto us كَأَشباحٍlike phantoms بِلاwithout أَجسامِbodies
مِنّا كَأَشباحٍ بِلا أَجسامِ
Those are names long gone, and their deeds
Those are bygone names, their actions
Are to us like phantoms without bodies.
Among us like specters without bodies.
خُذtake ماwhat تَرىyou see وَدَعِand leave السَماحgenerosity فَرُبَّماfor perhaps
خُذ ما تَرى وَدَعِ السَماح فَرُبَّما
زادَexceeds السَماعhearsay عَلىbeyond ذَويthose possessing الأَفهامِunderstanding
زادَ السَماع عَلى ذَوي الأَفهامِ
Take what you see, and set generosity aside; perhaps
Take what you see and leave guessing, for maybe
Hearsay exceeds the grasp of those with understanding.
Hearing exceeds those of insight.
هوَhe أَوَّلُfirst آخِرٌlast فيin فَضلِهِhis excellence
هوَ أَوَّلُ آخِرٌ في فَضلِهِ
هوَhe باطِنٌhidden هوَhe ظاهِرُmanifest in الإِنعامِbeneficence
هوَ باطِنٌ هوَ ظاهِرُ الإِنعامِ
He is first and last in his excellence;
He is the first, the last in superiority,
He is hidden; he is manifest in his beneficence.
The essence, the obvious giver of favors.
هوَhe مفرَدٌunequaled فيin بَذلِهِhis giving وَنوالهand his largesse
هوَ مفرَدٌ في بَذلِهِ وَنواله
هوَhe معتِقُthe liberator of الأَسرىcaptives منfrom الإِعدامِdestitution
هوَ معتِقُ الأَسرى من الإِعدامِ
He stands alone in his giving and largesse;
Peerless in giving and bestowal,
He frees captives from destitution.
The emancipator of captives from execution.
هَذاthis أَبوAbu نصرNasr الَّذيwho ورثinherited العُلىlofty rank
هَذا أَبو نصر الَّذي ورث العُلى
عَنfrom سادَةٍlords نُجُبٍnoble-born بِغَيرwithout كَلامِdispute
عَن سادَةٍ نُجُبٍ بِغَير كَلامِ
This is Abu Nasr, who inherited exalted rank
This is Abu Nasr who inherited the heights
From noble, highborn lords, beyond dispute.
From noble, esteemed forebears without speaking.
يُعطيhe gives التِلادَinherited wealth لِسائِليهto those asking him تَكَرُّماًgenerously
يُعطي التِلادَ لِسائِليه تَكَرُّماً
وَطَريفهand his newly acquired wealth يَحبوhe bestows عَلىto الإِتمامِcompletion
وَطَريفه يَحبو عَلى الإِتمامِ
He generously gives inherited wealth to those who ask him,
He gives newborns to petitioners generously
And bestows his newly acquired wealth in full.
While his mature camels stride perfectly.
وَإِذاand when انتَضىhe draws قلماًa pen لِدَفعِto repel كَريهَةٍan ordeal
وَإِذا انتَضى قلماً لِدَفعِ كَريهَةٍ
خَضَعتbowed لَهُto him الأَشبالthe lion cubs فيin الآجامِthe thickets
خَضَعت لَهُ الأَشبال في الآجامِ
And when he draws a pen to repel an ordeal,
When he brandishes a pen to dispel adversity
The lion cubs in the thickets bow before him.
Callow youths submit to him in battle.
تَغدوbecome الصَوارِمthe keen swords وَهيَwhile they are طوعobedient to مُرادهhis will
تَغدو الصَوارِم وَهيَ طوع مُراده
تَقضيcarry out أَوامرهhis commands بِغَيرِwithout سَلامِpeace
تَقضي أَوامره بِغَيرِ سَلامِ
The keen swords become obedient to his will,
Swords in early morning are submissive to his will,
Carrying out his commands without peace.
Executing his commands without hesitation.
وَكَذاand likewise قَضىhe ordained لِلمشرفيةfor Mashrafi swords أَنَّهاthat they
وَكَذا قَضى لِلمشرفية أَنَّها
أَبَداًforever تطيعobey أَوامِرthe commands of الأَقلامِpens
أَبَداً تطيع أَوامِر الأَقلامِ
Thus he ordained for the Mashrafi swords
And so he decreed that the Mashrifeh tribe
That they forever obey the commands of pens.
Would forever obey the commands of pens.
واِعلمand know بِأَنّيthat I لَمnot أَعرهlent him شهادَةًtestimony
واِعلم بِأَنّي لَم أَعره شهادَةً
مُتَغالِياًexaggerating وزراًsinfully وَلاnor مُتَحاميholding back
مُتَغالِياً وزراً وَلا مُتَحامي
And know that I did not lend him testimony
Know that I did not give false witness to extol him
With sinful exaggeration, nor holding back.
Or presume a burden I could not carry.
لَكِنbut مناقبهhis virtues تفرَّقwas dispersed جِمعُهاtheir entirety
لَكِن مناقبه تفرَّق جِمعُها
بَينَamong الوَرىmankind فجمعتُهاso I gathered them بِنِظامِin verse
بَينَ الوَرى فجمعتُها بِنِظامِ
But the whole array of his virtues was scattered
But his virtues were dispersed among people
Among mankind, and I strung them together in verse.
So I compiled them in this ode.
قَلَمٌa pen إِذاwhen اِفتَتَحتopened يَداهُhis hands لِنائِلto a recipient
قَلَمٌ إِذا اِفتَتَحت يَداهُ لِنائِل
فاضَتoverflowed عَلىupon الآفاقِthe horizons بِالأَقسامِwith allotted shares
فاضَت عَلى الآفاقِ بِالأَقسامِ
A pen—when his hands open to a recipient,
A pen—when his hands begin for an asker,
They overflow across the horizons with allotted shares.
It pours upon horizons in divisions.
إِنّيindeed I قَصَدتُكcame to you مِنfrom بلادlands قَدhave نأتgrown distant
إِنّي قَصَدتُك مِن بلاد قَد نأت
وَبعدتand I went far عَنfrom أَهليmy family وَعَنand from آطاميmy strongholds
وَبعدت عَن أَهلي وَعَن آطامي
I came to you from lands far away,
I came to you from lands that are distant
And have gone far from my family and my strongholds.
And remote from my family and settlements.
وَيَقودنيand leads me حسنُthe goodness of الرَجاءhope بِأَنَّنيthat I
وَيَقودني حسنُ الرَجاء بِأَنَّني
قَدalready نلتI have gained ماwhat أَهوىI desire مِنَfrom الأَيّامِthe days
قَد نلت ما أَهوى مِنَ الأَيّامِ
And fair hope guides me in the belief that I
Led by hopes of attaining what I love
Have gained from the days what I desire.
Of days, for my aspirations were fulfilled.
فاِصرِفso assign إِليَّto me تَصَرُّفاًa charge أُحظىI gain favor بِهِthrough it
فاِصرِف إِليَّ تَصَرُّفاً أُحظى بِهِ
وَأَكونand I become مَعدوداًcounted مِنَamong الخُدّامِthe servants
وَأَكون مَعدوداً مِنَ الخُدّامِ
So entrust me with a charge through which I may gain favor,
So treat me in a way that I will be fortunate
And be counted among your servants.
And counted among your servants.
فَإِذاthen when رَأَيتَyou see كِفايَتيmy competence وَأَمانَتيand my trustworthiness
فَإِذا رَأَيتَ كِفايَتي وَأَمانَتي
وَصيانَتيand my safeguarding عرضيmy honor وَحُسنand the excellence of قِياميmy performance
وَصيانَتي عرضي وَحُسن قِيامي
Then, when you see my competence and trustworthiness,
When you see my competence, trustworthiness,
My safeguarding of my honor and my sound performance
Safeguarding of my honor, and excellent service
فيماin what نُدِبتُI was appointed لَهُto it وَحسنand the excellence of سِياسَتيmy management
فيما نُدِبتُ لَهُ وَحسن سِياسَتي
كنتَyou will be المُخَيَّرُthe chooser أَنتَyou yourself فيin اِستِخداميemploying me
كنتَ المُخَيَّرُ أَنتَ في اِستِخدامي
In what I am appointed to, and my good management,
In tasks assigned me, and my good governance,
You yourself will have the choice of employing me.
You will have the choice regarding my employment.
أَولاotherwise فجدthen grant ليto me بِاليَسيرwith a little فَإِنَّنيfor I
أَولا فجد لي بِاليَسير فَإِنَّني
أَرضىI am content بِماwith what توليyou bestow مِنَof الإِكرامِhonor
أَرضى بِما تولي مِنَ الإِكرامِ
Otherwise, grant me a little, for I
First, be generous to me with something simple, for I
Am content with whatever honor you bestow.
Am content with the honor you confer on me.
وَعلمتُand I have learned أَنَّthat الأَرضthe earth يَصغرis small قدرهاits worth
وَعلمتُ أَنَّ الأَرض يَصغر قدرها
وَجَميعُand all ماwhat تَحويit contains مِنَof الأَنعامِlivestock
وَجَميعُ ما تَحوي مِنَ الأَنعامِ
And I have learned that the earth's worth is small,
I learned the world's worth is diminished,
Together with all the livestock it contains,
As is all it contains, of cattle.
إِنَّif قستهاyou measure it كرماًin generosity وَضِعفاًand a doubling ضِعفُهاits double
إِنَّ قستها كرماً وَضِعفاً ضِعفُها
ماnot قَلَّis scant ماwhat تَحويit contains مِنَof الأَنعامِlivestock
ما قَلَّ ما تَحوي مِنَ الأَنعامِ
If you measure it in generosity, even with twice its double—
If its weight is generosity, its weakness is weaker
What it contains of livestock is by no means scant.
Than all it contains of cattle.
جُدbe generous ليto me بِماwith what يبلىperishes أَجدI will give generously لَكَto you بِالَّذيwith that which
جُد لي بِما يبلى أَجد لَكَ بِالَّذي
يَبقىendures لجدَّتهin its freshness عَلىthrough الأَعوامِthe years
يَبقى لجدَّته عَلى الأَعوامِ
Give me what perishes, and I shall give you what
Be generous with perishable things, I will repay you
Endures in freshness through the years.
With that which remains, for its permanence through years.
واسلمand remain safe وَعشand live ماas long as لاحgleams نجمa star فيin العُلىthe heights
واسلم وَعش ما لاح نجم في العُلى
وَدعاand calls الحمامthe doves بأيكِهِin its thicket لِحَمامِto doves
وَدعا الحمام بأيكِهِ لِحَمامِ
Remain safe and live as long as a star gleams in the heights,
And peace be upon you for as long as a star gleams on high,
And doves call to doves from their thicket.
And the turtledoves call one another to the baths.
Sol 6.1