عَلاrose high بِكَthrough you نَجمthe star الدينof the faith فاشتَدso grew strong ناصِرهits champion
عَلا بِكَ نَجم الدين فاشتَد ناصِره
وَرَفرَفَand fluttered بِالتَوفيقِwith success وَاليُمنِand good fortune طائِرُهُits bird
وَرَفرَفَ بِالتَوفيقِ وَاليُمنِ طائِرُهُ
Through you the star of the faith rose high, and its champion grew strong.
Its bird fluttered with success and good fortune.
تُسايرُكَwalks beside you العَلياءloftiness وَالمَجدُand glory مِثلَماjust as
تُسايرُكَ العَلياء وَالمَجدُ مِثلَما
يُصاحِبُaccompany شَخصاًa person طِلَّهُhis shadow وَسايرُهُand his fellow traveler
يُصاحِبُ شَخصاً طِلَّهُ وَسايرُهُ
Loftiness and glory walk beside you, just as
a person's shadow and fellow traveler accompany him.
طلعتyou rose لدينfor the faith اللَهِof God شَمساًas a sun تحفّهاencircle it
طلعت لدين اللَهِ شَمساً تحفّها
غَمائِمclouds جودof bounty ماnot تغبُّcease مَواطِرُهُits downpours
غَمائِم جود ما تغبُّ مَواطِرُهُ
You rose as a sun for God's faith, encircled by
clouds of bounty whose downpours never cease.
فَلاso neither ضَوءُthe light شَمسُof the sun الدينof the faith تَقشعdispels غيمهاits clouds
فَلا ضَوءُ شَمسُ الدين تَقشع غيمها
وَلاnor الغَيمُthe clouds مِنهاof it مانِعblocking الضَوءِthe light ساتِرُهُconcealing it
وَلا الغَيمُ مِنها مانِع الضَوءِ ساتِرُهُ
The light of the faith's sun does not disperse its clouds,
nor do the clouds block or conceal its light.
لَقَدindeed نَسِيَتhas forgotten طيىءٌTayyi بجودكthrough your bounty حاتِماًHatim
لَقَد نَسِيَت طيىءٌ بجودك حاتِماً
وَأَغناهمand spared them need عَنof غايبthe absent bearer الفَخرof glory حاضِرُهُits present bearer
وَأَغناهم عَن غايب الفَخر حاضِرُهُ
Through your bounty, Tayyi has forgotten Hatim;
the present bearer of glory has spared them need of the absent.
وَخَوَّلَهمand endowed them ماwith what يُنبَتونَthey cultivate بِهِthrough it العُلىeminence
وَخَوَّلَهم ما يُنبَتونَ بِهِ العُلى
ويَغنَونand they prosper ماas long as تبقىendure عَليهمamong them مآثِرُهُhis glorious deeds
ويَغنَون ما تبقى عَليهم مآثِرُهُ
He endowed them with what lets them cultivate eminence
and prosper while his glorious deeds endure among them.
فمنso whoever جاءcomes مِنfrom طييٍّTayyi شكرناكwe thank you دونَهrather than him
فمن جاء مِن طييٍّ شكرناك دونَه
لاعطائكfor your giving الطَولُthe bounty الَّذيwhich هوَhe ناشِرُهُdistributes it
لاعطائك الطَولُ الَّذي هوَ ناشِرُهُ
Whoever comes from Tayyi, we thank you rather than him,
for your giving the bounty that he distributes.
وَمنand whoever يردvisits الغُدرانthe pools يَرجعreturns ثَناؤُهُhis praise
وَمن يرد الغُدران يَرجع ثَناؤُهُ
عَلىto المُزنthe rain clouds إِنَّfor indeed الغُدرَthe pools مماare among what تُغادِرُهُthey leave behind
عَلى المُزن إِنَّ الغُدرَ مما تُغادِرُهُ
The praise of whoever visits the pools returns
to the rain clouds, for pools are what they leave behind.
يُشلُّputs to flight العِدىthe enemies خوفfear الأَميرof the emir إِذاwhen وَنَتgrow slack
يُشلُّ العِدى خوف الأَمير إِذا وَنَت
كَتائِبُهُhis battalions عَنfrom سلمهمtheir submission وَمَناسِرُهُand his raiding bands
كَتائِبُهُ عَن سلمهم وَمَناسِرُهُ
Fear of the emir puts enemies to flight even when
his battalions and raiding bands slacken in seeking their surrender.
إِذاif ماever احتَمىseeks shelter بِالجَيشِin the army مَلكٌa king فَإِنَّماthen only
إِذا ما احتَمى بِالجَيشِ مَلكٌ فَإِنَّما
بِذِكرِby mention of أَبيAbu الدَوادal-Dawad يُحمىare protected عَساكِرُهُhis armies
بِذِكرِ أَبي الدَواد يُحمى عَساكِرُهُ
If a king seeks shelter in his army, then only
by mention of Abu al-Dawad are his armies protected.
كَفاهُsuffices him منin place of الأَعوانِhelpers فيin الرَوعِterror بأسُهُhis valor
كَفاهُ من الأَعوانِ في الرَوعِ بأسُهُ
وَأَغنَتهand spared him need عَنof نَصرِthe aid الجُيوشِof armies بَواتِرُهُhis cleaving swords
وَأَغنَته عَن نَصرِ الجُيوشِ بَواتِرُهُ
His valor suffices him in place of helpers amid terror;
his cleaving swords spare him the aid of armies.
وَماand not اللَيثthe lion مُحتاجٌin need إِلىof نصرthe aid غَيرِهِof anyone else
وَما اللَيث مُحتاجٌ إِلى نصر غَيرِهِ
إِذاif سلمتremain sound أَنيابِهِhis fangs وَأَظافِرُهُand his claws
إِذا سلمت أَنيابِهِ وَأَظافِرُهُ
A lion has no need of another's aid
so long as his fangs and claws remain sound.
هوَhe السالِبُthe plunderer of الأَعداءthe enemies فيin ساعضةthe hour الوَغىof battle
هوَ السالِبُ الأَعداء في ساعضة الوَغى
وَيَسلبُهُand plunders him فيin ساعَةthe hour السِلمِof peace زائِرُهُhis visitor
وَيَسلبُهُ في ساعَة السِلمِ زائِرُهُ
He plunders enemies in the hour of battle,
and in the hour of peace his visitor plunders him.
مَواهِبُهُhis gifts مِمّاcome from what أَفادَتhave won سُيوفهhis swords
مَواهِبُهُ مِمّا أَفادَت سُيوفه
وَلَولاand were it not for بروقthe lightning المُزنof rain clouds ماnot انهَلَّwould pour ماطِرُهُtheir rain
وَلَولا بروق المُزن ما انهَلَّ ماطِرُهُ
His gifts come from what his swords have won;
without the rain clouds' lightning, their rain would not pour.
هوَhe المَلكُthe king أَضحىhas become الغيثthe rain لَيسَnot بِنافِعٍof use
هوَ المَلكُ أَضحى الغيث لَيسَ بِنافِعٍ
إِذاwhen جادَlavishes bounty on أَرضاًa land صوبهhis downpour وَبَوادِرُهُand his first showers
إِذا جادَ أَرضاً صوبه وَبَوادِرُهُ
He is the king; rain has become of no use
when his downpour and first showers lavish bounty on a land.
هوَhe البَحرُthe sea إِنif صادَمتهyou clash with him تَبقَyou remain وَسطهin its midst
هوَ البَحرُ إِن صادَمته تَبقَ وَسطه
غَريقاًdrowned وَإِنbut if تَستَجِدِyou seek bounty تَأتيcome جَواهِرُهُits jewels
غَريقاً وَإِن تَستَجِدِ تَأتي جَواهِرُهُ
He is the sea: clash with him, and you remain in its midst
drowned; but seek his bounty, and its jewels come to you.
وَلَمand not أَرَhave I seen جوداًgenerosity غَيرother than جودthe generosity ابنof the son of دُغفُلٍDughful
وَلَم أَرَ جوداً غَير جود ابن دُغفُلٍ
معنياًsolicitous إِذاwhen استرفدتهyou seek his aid فازَsucceeds زائِرُهُhis visitor
معنياً إِذا استرفدته فازَ زائِرُهُ
I have seen no bounty, save the bounty of Ibn Dughful,
so solicitous: when you seek his aid, his visitor succeeds.
مفرَّقةdistributed فيamong كُلِّevery وَفدٍdelegation هباتهhis gifts
مفرَّقة في كُلِّ وَفدٍ هباته
مقسمةapportioned فيacross كلevery نَجدٍhighland خَواطِرُهُhis thoughts
مقسمة في كل نَجدٍ خَواطِرُهُ
His gifts are distributed among every delegation,
his thoughts apportioned across every highland.
إِذاwhen ماever أَتىhe comes بِالجودِwith bounty تحلفyou swear ماnot لَهُit has
إِذا ما أَتى بِالجودِ تحلف ما لَهُ
نَظيرan equal أَتَتcome مِنfrom راحتيهhis two palms نَظائِرُهُits equals
نَظير أَتَت مِن راحتيه نَظائِرُهُ
When he bestows bounty, you swear it has no
equal—then its equals come from his two palms.
فَقَدfor indeed شَرَّدhe banished الأَموالwealth نَفياًinto exile كَأَنَّماas though
فَقَد شَرَّد الأَموال نَفياً كَأَنَّما
تَألّىhe swore يَميناًan oath أَنَّهاthat it لاwould not تُجاوِرُهُdwell beside him
تَألّى يَميناً أَنَّها لا تُجاوِرُهُ
He has driven wealth away into exile, as though
he had sworn an oath that it would not dwell beside him.
فَتىًa young man جِدُّهُhis earnestness فيin المكرماتnoble deeds وَهزلهُand his play
فَتىً جِدُّهُ في المكرمات وَهزلهُ
وَباطِنُهُand his inner self فيin المأثُراتِglorious deeds وَظاهِرُهُand his outward self
وَباطِنُهُ في المأثُراتِ وَظاهِرُهُ
A young man whose earnestness and play are devoted to noble deeds,
whose inner and outward selves alike pursue glorious acts.
فَلِلجودِso for generosity وَالهَيجاءِand battle وَالحلمand forbearance شَطرهُhalf of him
فَلِلجودِ وَالهَيجاءِ وَالحلم شَطرهُ
وَللنَّقضِand for undoing وَالإِبرامِand making firm وَالحَزمِand resolve سائِرُهُthe rest of him
وَللنَّقضِ وَالإِبرامِ وَالحَزمِ سائِرُهُ
Half of him belongs to generosity, battle, and forbearance;
the rest to undoing, making firm, and resolve.
غَداhas become كلevery مجدglory محدقاًgathered in a circle بِمُفَرِّجٍaround Mufarrij
غَدا كل مجد محدقاً بِمُفَرِّجٍ
كَماjust as اكتنفتsurround إِنسانthe pupil عَينٍof an eye مَحاجِرُهُits sockets
كَما اكتنفت إِنسان عَينٍ مَحاجِرُهُ
Every glory has gathered around Mufarrij,
as the sockets of an eye surround its pupil.
وَنيطَتand were bound بِهِto him الآمالhopes وَالحَربand warfare وَالعُلىand eminence
وَنيطَت بِهِ الآمال وَالحَرب وَالعُلى
وَليداًas a newborn وَماand not yet نَيطَتwere tied عليهabout him مآزِرُهُhis wraps
وَليداً وَما نَيطَت عليه مآزِرُهُ
Hopes, warfare, and eminence were bound to him
while still a newborn, before his wraps were tied about him.
يُخبِّرناtells us عَنof جودِهِhis bounty بشرthe cheerfulness وجههof his face
يُخبِّرنا عَن جودِهِ بشر وجهه
وَقبلَand before انصداعthe breaking الفَجرِof dawn تَبدوappear بَشائِرُهُits heralds
وَقبلَ انصداع الفَجرِ تَبدو بَشائِرُهُ
The cheerfulness of his face tells us of his bounty;
before dawn breaks, its heralds appear.
وَيصدُقُand rings true فيهِof him المَدحُpraise حَتّىso much that كَأَنَّماas though
وَيصدُقُ فيهِ المَدحُ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
يَسبحchants sacred praise مِنthrough صدقthe truthfulness المَقالَةِof the words شاعِرُهُhis poet
يَسبح مِن صدق المَقالَةِ شاعِرُهُ
Praise rings so true of him that it is as though
his poet, through truthful speech, were chanting a hymn.
وَدَوَّخَand he subdued أَملاكthe kings البَريَّةِof the world يافِعاًwhile a youth
وَدَوَّخَ أَملاك البَريَّةِ يافِعاً
فَكَيفَthen how بِهِabout him لَمّاwhen استَمَرَّتgrew firm مَرائِرُهُhis cords of strength
فَكَيفَ بِهِ لَمّا استَمَرَّت مَرائِرُهُ
He subdued the kings of the world while still a youth;
what, then, of him when the cords of his strength grew firm?
إِذاif المهرthe colt بَذَّoutstrips الخَيلَthe horses فيin عُنفوانِهِits early vigor
إِذا المهر بَذَّ الخَيلَ في عُنفوانِهِ
فَكَيفَthen how تُدانيهcan they approach it إِذاwhen فَرَّhas emerged فاطِرُهُits adult tooth
فَكَيفَ تُدانيه إِذا فَرَّ فاطِرُهُ
If a colt outstrips the horses in its early vigor,
how can they approach it when its adult tooth has emerged?
يَجولُwheels about بِهِwith him نَهدa stout steed المَراكِلِin the flanks لَمnot تَزَلhave ceased
يَجولُ بِهِ نَهد المَراكِلِ لَم تَزَل
تُواطيءtread upon هاماتِthe heads الرِجالِof men حَوافِرُهُits hooves
تُواطيء هاماتِ الرِجالِ حَوافِرُهُ
A stout-flanked steed wheels with him, ever
treading with its hooves on the heads of men.
يَظَلُّhe remains عَلَيهاupon them متلئباًupright كَأَنَّهُas though he were
يَظَلُّ عَلَيها متلئباً كَأَنَّهُ
خَطيبan orator أناسof a people وَالرؤوسand the heads مَنابِرُهُhis pulpits
خَطيب أناس وَالرؤوس مَنابِرُهُ
He stands upright upon them, as though
an orator before a people, with heads for his pulpits.
كَميٌّan armored champion تحاماهُshun him الكُماةthe champions كَأَنَّماas though
كَميٌّ تحاماهُ الكُماة كَأَنَّما
تُناطُwere fastened عَلىupon لَيثa lion هَزبرٍa mighty one مَغافِرُهُhis mail hoods
تُناطُ عَلى لَيث هَزبرٍ مَغافِرُهُ
An armored champion whom champions shun, as though
his mail hoods were fastened upon a mighty lion.
يَكادُalmost لأدمانthrough constant practice in القِراعِswordplay حُسامهhis sharp sword
يَكادُ لأدمان القِراعِ حُسامه
يُسابِقُهُraces ahead of him نَحوَtoward الطلىthroats وَيُبادِرُهُand forestalls him
يُسابِقُهُ نَحوَ الطلى وَيُبادِرُهُ
His sharp sword, through constant practice in swordplay, almost
races ahead of him toward throats and forestalls him.
فأنso if تعلُrises high قَحطانQahtan فَفيthen in الليلthe night أَنجمare stars
فأن تعلُ قَحطان فَفي الليل أَنجم
وَلاand not يَستَويare equal أَغفالهits obscure stars وَزواهِرُهُand its radiant ones
وَلا يَستَوي أَغفاله وَزواهِرُهُ
If Qahtan rises high, the night too has stars,
yet its obscure stars and its radiant ones are not equal.
وَلاnor يَستَويare equal حَدَّthe edge الحُسامِof the sword وَصفحهand its flat
وَلا يَستَوي حَدَّ الحُسامِ وَصفحه
وَلاnor أَوَّلthe tip الرُمحِof the spear الأَصمّthe solid one وَآخِرُهُand its butt
وَلا أَوَّل الرُمحِ الأَصمّ وَآخِرُهُ
Nor are a sword's edge and its flat equal,
nor the point and butt of a solid spear.
يُشابِهُهُresembles him فيin رؤيَةِthe sight العَينِof the eye غيرهanother
يُشابِهُهُ في رؤيَةِ العَينِ غيره
وَيبعدbut is far removed شبهاًin resemblance حينَwhen تَأتيappear مَفاخِرُهُhis glories
وَيبعد شبهاً حينَ تَأتي مَفاخِرُهُ
Another may resemble him to the eye,
but is far from his likeness when his glories appear.
أَرىI see الناسpeople مِثلlike الماءwater مشتبهsimilar الروىin appearance
أَرى الناس مِثل الماء مشتبه الروى
وَلاyet not يَتَساوىare equal إِنif يَكونُit happens تُجاوِرُهُyou live beside him
وَلا يَتَساوى إِن يَكونُ تُجاوِرُهُ
I see people as water, alike in appearance,
yet unequal if you happen to dwell beside them.
لَقَدindeed جادَنيhas rained upon me مِنfrom جودthe bounty كَفِّكof your hand وآبلa downpour
لَقَد جادَني مِن جود كَفِّك وآبل
فَأَصبَحتُso I became رَوضاًa garden وَالقَوافيand the rhymes أَزاهِرُهُits flowers
فَأَصبَحتُ رَوضاً وَالقَوافي أَزاهِرُهُ
From the bounty of your hand a downpour has rained upon me,
so I have become a garden, and the rhymes are its flowers.
فَإِنso if لَمnot أكافيهِI repay him فَإِنّيthen I شاكِرٌam grateful
فَإِن لَم أكافيهِ فَإِنّي شاكِرٌ
بِجُهديwith all my effort وَإِنeven though كافىrepays عَلىfor العُرفِthe kindness شاكِرُهُits thankful recipient
بِجُهدي وَإِن كافى عَلى العُرفِ شاكِرُهُ
If I cannot repay him, I am grateful
with all my effort—though one who thanks a kindness repays it.
وَأَعلَمand I know أَنّيthat I لستam not مُدرِكٌable to encompass وَصفهُhis description
وَأَعلَم أَنّي لست مُدرِكٌ وَصفهُ
أَيُدرِكcan he encompass عَرضthe breadth الجَوِّof the sky بِالكَفِّwith the palm شابِرُهُone measuring it by handspan
أَيُدرِك عَرض الجَوِّ بِالكَفِّ شابِرُهُ
And I know I cannot fully describe him:
can one measuring with his palm encompass the breadth of the sky?
وَماليَand I have nothing فيin مَدحَيهِmy praise of him شيءٌanything لِأَنَّنيbecause I
وَماليَ في مَدحَيهِ شيءٌ لِأَنَّني
نظمتُI strung مِنَfrom الدُرِّpearls الَّذيwhich هوَhe ناثِرُهُscatters them
نظمتُ مِنَ الدُرِّ الَّذي هوَ ناثِرُهُ
Nothing in my praise of him is mine, for I
have strung some of the pearls that he scatters.
ليهنكmay it gladden you عيدEid قَدalready أَطَلَّتhave dawned سعودهits good fortunes
ليهنك عيد قَد أَطَلَّت سعوده
وَشهرand a month صيامof fasting وَدَّعتكhave bid you farewell أَواخِرُهُits final days
وَشهر صيام وَدَّعتك أَواخِرُهُ
May Eid gladden you, its good fortunes having dawned,
and the fasting month, whose final days have bid you farewell.
وَقَدand indeed كُسيتwere clothed أَيامُهُits days مِنكَfrom you طيبةًin fragrance
وَقَد كُسيت أَيامُهُ مِنكَ طيبةً
كَذاthus المِسكُmusk يعديimparts ريحهits scent منto whoever يُجاوِرُهُdwells beside it
كَذا المِسكُ يعدي ريحه من يُجاوِرُهُ
Its days have been clothed in fragrance from you;
thus musk imparts its scent to whoever dwells beside it.
فَعِشso live عمرthe lifespan هَذاof this المَدحpraise فيكَof you فَإِنَّهُfor it
فَعِش عمر هَذا المَدح فيكَ فَإِنَّهُ
سَيَبقىwill remain إِلىuntil يَومthe Day القيامَةِof Resurrection غابِرُهُits enduring remnant
سَيَبقى إِلى يَوم القيامَةِ غابِرُهُ
Live as long as this praise of you, for
its lasting remnant will endure until the Day of Resurrection.
رصدتyou lay in wait for العُلىeminence فيat مُلتَقىthe meeting place طُرقof the paths النَدىof generosity
رصدت العُلى في مُلتَقى طُرق النَدى
فَلاso no غروwonder إِنif صارَتhave come إِلَيكَto you مَصائِرُهُits destinations
فَلا غرو إِن صارَت إِلَيكَ مَصائِرُهُ
You lay in wait for glory where the paths of bounty meet;
so no wonder its courses have led to you.
Sol 6.1