ليهنmay ... enjoy كلاكyour [unclear word] مَداهاits reach القَصيّthe farthest
ليهن كلاك مَداها القَصيّ
وَمجدand glory يُؤَثَّلis firmly established عَنهاfrom it سَنىِّsplendid
وَمجد يُؤَثَّل عَنها سَنىِّ
May your [unclear word] enjoy its farthest reach,
Why do you let your determination's scope decline
And splendid glory, firmly established through it.
And glory that was firmly established fade away?
لَقَدindeed حَلَّhas attained سؤددكyour eminence المُرتَقىthe height
لَقَد حَلَّ سؤددك المُرتَقى
الَّذيwhich لاnot يَرومseeks إِلَيهِto it الهوادِجَthe camel litters
الَّذي لا يَروم إِلَيهِ الهوادِجَ
Your eminence has indeed attained the height
Your lofty ambition has indeed come to pass
Which camel litters do not aspire to reach.
Unattainable to the timid minded
وَذَلَّand was subdued بِعَزمِكَby your resolve صرفthe vicissitudes الزَمانِof time
وَذَلَّ بِعَزمِكَ صرف الزَمانِ
حَتّىuntil أَطاعَكَobeyed you منهof it العَصيّthe defiant
حَتّى أَطاعَكَ منه العَصيّ
Your resolve subdued the vicissitudes of time,
By your resolve time itself was subjugated
Until even its defiant force obeyed you.
Until even its rebellious nature obeyed you
وَرُضتَand you tamed الحَوادِثَcalamities ذاpossessed of حِنكَةٍseasoned judgment
وَرُضتَ الحَوادِثَ ذا حِنكَةٍ
فَصَيَّرَتand so you made ماwhat اِعوَجَّwas crooked مِنهاof them سَويstraight
فَصَيَّرَت ما اِعوَجَّ مِنها سَوي
Seasoned in judgment, you tamed calamities,
You welcomed adversities wisely
And made what was crooked in them straight.
Straightening all crookedness that came your way
وَأَنتَand you عَميدthe pillar العُلىof loftiness لَمnot تَزَلyou have ceased
وَأَنتَ عَميد العُلى لَم تَزَل
وَأَنتَand you لكyours is اليَعملthe vigorous camel الشَدthe broad- (fragment) قَميّmouthed (fragment)
وَأَنتَ لك اليَعمل الشَد قَميّ
You have ever been the pillar of loftiness,
You remain the pillar of the exalted
And yours is the vigorous, broad-mouthed camel.
You alone accomplish the most difficult feats
وَقائلةand a woman saying رَعَتهاfrightened her خِلَّةneed
وَقائلة رَعَتها خِلَّة
أَلَيسَis there not لَكَfor you اليَعملthe vigorous camel الشَدthe broad- (fragment) قميّmouthed (fragment)
أَلَيسَ لَكَ اليَعمل الشَد قميّ
And a woman, frightened by need, said:
A woman of noble lineage proclaimed
Do you not have a vigorous, broad-mouthed camel?
Is it not you who performs the hardest tasks?
وَهَذاand this is ابنIbn; son of يَحيىYahya إِلىtoward فَضلِهِhis bounty
وَهَذا ابن يَحيى إِلى فَضلِهِ
تُنَضُّare worn down الرِكابَthe riding camels وَتنظىand grow gaunt المَطيّthe mounts
تُنَضُّ الرِكابَ وَتنظى المَطيّ
Here is Ibn Yahya: toward his bounty
This son of Yahya seeks your favor
Riding camels are worn down, and mounts grow gaunt.
Kissing your feet, yearning for your steed
فَعِشso live فيin ذُراهُhis shelter فَإِنَّfor indeed الوَرىhumankind
فَعِش في ذُراهُ فَإِنَّ الوَرى
لَهُمfor them رغدabundance العيشof life مِنهُfrom him الهَنيّpleasant
لَهُم رغد العيش مِنهُ الهَنيّ
So live beneath his shelter, for humankind
So live long, for people find
Enjoy through him an abundant, pleasant life.
In your presence, pleasant and easy living
جنابa domain مَريعfertile لِوُرّادِهِfor its visitors
جناب مَريع لِوُرّادِهِ
بِوادٍin a valley خَصيبfertile وَشُربٍand a draught رَويّthirst-quenching
بِوادٍ خَصيب وَشُربٍ رَويّ
A fertile domain for those who come to it,
A blessed shelter for its visitors
In a fruitful valley, with a thirst-quenching draught.
With fertile valleys and plentiful water
فَلَمّاand when تيممتهI sought him out قاصِداًwith purpose
فَلَمّا تيممته قاصِداً
تكنَّفنيsurrounded me مِنهfrom him جودgenerosity سَنيّsplendid
تكنَّفني مِنه جود سَنيّ
And when I purposefully sought him out,
When I came seeking it
His splendid generosity surrounded me.
I was overwhelmed by its abundant generosity
وَقابَلَنيand greeted me البَدرُthe full moon منfrom وَجهِهِhis face
وَقابَلَني البَدرُ من وَجهِهِ
وَناطقنيand spoke with me مصقعan eloquent speaker هبرَزيِّdistinguished
وَناطقني مصقع هبرَزيِّ
The full moon greeted me from his face,
The full moon welcomed me with its face
And an eloquent, distinguished speaker spoke with me.
And a fiery eloquent speaker addressed me
يَجُرُّdraws along العُقولminds بِأَلفاظِهِwith his words
يَجُرُّ العُقول بِأَلفاظِهِ
فَيَرتَدُّso becomes عَقلاًa fetter لَدَيهِbefore him الدَهيِّthe shrewd man
فَيَرتَدُّ عَقلاً لَدَيهِ الدَهيِّ
He draws minds along with his words,
Whose words drag minds forcefully
So even the shrewd man becomes fettered before him.
Leaving the foolish mindless before him
وَقورٌdignified تُراعis revered لَهُfor him هَيبَةawe
وَقورٌ تُراع لَهُ هَيبَة
لَذيذdelightful الفَكاهِةِin wit عَذبsweet شَهيّpleasing
لَذيذ الفَكاهِةِ عَذب شَهيّ
Dignified, inspiring reverent awe,
Dignified, commanding awe and reverence
Delightful in wit, sweet and pleasing.
Yet gentle and sweetly eloquent
كَأَنَّas though تألَّقّthe gleam آرائِهِof his judgments
كَأَنَّ تألَّقّ آرائِهِ
سَناthe radiance البَرقof lightning يَفتَرُّbares in a smile عَنهُrevealing it الحَبيّthe piled clouds
سَنا البَرق يَفتَرُّ عَنهُ الحَبيّ
As though the gleam of his judgments
The radiance of his insights
Were lightning's radiance, bared in a smile by piled clouds.
Like sudden lightning illuminating the confused mind
يَشُفُّdazzles العُيونthe eyes بإِيماضِهاwith their flashes
يَشُفُّ العُيون بإِيماضِها
كَأَنَّas though القَضاءFate لَدَيهِwith him نَجيّan intimate confidant
كَأَنَّ القَضاء لَدَيهِ نَجيّ
Their flashes dazzle the eyes,
Delighting eyes with their flashes
As though Fate were his intimate confidant.
As if destiny itself has become favorable
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) اِنتَضىdraws العَزمُresolve أَقلامَهُhis pens
إِذا ما اِنتَضى العَزمُ أَقلامَهُ
تَذَلَّلَsubmits طَوعاًwillingly لَهُto him السَمهَريّthe firm spear
تَذَلَّلَ طَوعاً لَهُ السَمهَريّ
Whenever resolve draws his pens,
When he takes up his pen with determination
The firm spear willingly submits to him.
Even the obstinate yield effortlessly to him
وَلَمand did not يَنُجُescape مِنهُنَّfrom them حَدُّthe edge الظُبىof blades
وَلَم يَنُجُ مِنهُنَّ حَدُّ الظُبى
وَلاnor الزُعفcoats of mail وَالزَردand linked mail التُبَعيّof Tubbaʿ
وَلا الزُعف وَالزَرد التُبَعيّ
And blade-edges have not escaped them,
Neither the wild beasts nor snakes could resist
Nor coats of mail or Tubbaʿ's linked armor.
Nor the firm mountains or solid rocks
فَتِلكَso those اليَراعreed pens اللَواتيwhich لَهاthey have
فَتِلكَ اليَراع اللَواتي لَها
شَباةa sharp point يَفضsplits بِهاwith it السابِريّSabiri mail
شَباة يَفض بِها السابِريّ
Those are the reed pens that possess
It is as if he wields a weapon
A sharp point that splits Sabiri mail.
With which the valiant warrior thrusts through
يَشُبُّkindles بِأَطرافِهِنَّwith their tips الوَغىwar
يَشُبُّ بِأَطرافِهِنَّ الوَغى
فَتَضحىand it becomes وَللهامand heads have فيهاin it هَويّa downward fall
فَتَضحى وَللهام فيها هَويّ
He kindles war with their tips,
He excites passions into raging fury
And heads come tumbling down within it.
Till they overwhelm all reason violently
يزينadorns المَهارِقthe parchments مِنfrom لُبسِهِhis clothing
يزين المَهارِق مِن لُبسِهِ
كَماas فَوَّقَtopped الزَردlinked mail الأَتحَميّAthami cloth
كَما فَوَّقَ الزَرد الأَتحَميّ
He adorns the parchments with his garb,
His attire adorns the horizons
As linked mail is topped with Athami cloth.
As the peacock's plumage outshines gemstones
كَنورِlike blossoms الحَديقَةِof the garden فيin رَوضَةٍa meadow
كَنورِ الحَديقَةِ في رَوضَةٍ
تَتابَعcame successively وَسميّهاits first autumn rain وَالوَليّand the following rain
تَتابَع وَسميّها وَالوَليّ
Like a garden's blossoms in a meadow
Like the light of an orchard in a meadow
Whose first autumn rain and following showers come in turn.
With following beauties and twisting paths
تَروقُdelight العُيونُthe eyes بِأَزهارِهاwith their blossoms
تَروقُ العُيونُ بِأَزهارِها
وَتَبسِمُand smile عَنrevealing نَشرِهاtheir fragrance العَنبَريّambergris-scented
وَتَبسِمُ عَن نَشرِها العَنبَريّ
They delight the eyes with their blossoms,
Eyes feast on its flowers
And smile, revealing their ambergris fragrance.
Smiling at their joyous blooming
فَحينَand when تقيلتُI rested at noon أَظلالهاtheir shades
فَحينَ تقيلتُ أَظلالها
ظَلَلتُI remained وَباليand my mind لَدَيهِwith him رَخيّat ease
ظَلَلتُ وَبالي لَدَيهِ رَخيّ
And when I rested at noon beneath their shade,
When I rested in its shades
I remained, my mind at ease beside him.
I stayed there troubled yet at ease
بِحالٍin a condition قَعدتُI had sat بِهاin it عاطِلاًunadorned
بِحالٍ قَعدتُ بِها عاطِلاً
فَصيغso was fashioned لَهاfor it منfrom نَداهُhis bounty الحُليّjewelry
فَصيغ لَها من نَداهُ الحُليّ
In a condition in which I had sat unadorned,
In that condition I remained idle
Jewelry was fashioned for it from his bounty.
Until his voice formed meaning for me
فَتىًa young man يَفعَلperforms المكرماتgenerous deeds الجِسامmighty
فَتىً يَفعَل المكرمات الجِسام
وَيسترهنand he conceals them بِطَرفwith a gaze حَييّbashful
وَيسترهن بِطَرف حَييّ
A young man who performs mighty generous deeds,
A noble youth performing greatest deeds
And veils them beneath a bashful gaze.
Yet concealing them with a glance of his eyes
وَلماand when صَفاbecame clear ليfor me ريقthe pure draught الحَياةِof life
وَلما صَفا لي ريق الحَياةِ
وَساغand went down easily ليfor me العَذبthe sweet draught مِنهُof it المَريّwholesome
وَساغ لي العَذب مِنهُ المَريّ
And when life's pure draught ran clear for me,
When the potion of life was refined for me
And its sweet, wholesome liquor went down easily,
And its bitter taste turned sweet
بَذَلتُI offered حَدائِقَgardens شُكريof my gratitude لَهُto him
بَذَلتُ حَدائِقَ شُكري لَهُ
واِتبعتُand I followed up فيهنَّin them مَدحاًwith praise جَنيّfreshly gathered
واِتبعتُ فيهنَّ مَدحاً جَنيّ
I offered him the gardens of my gratitude,
I offered gardens of gratitude to him
And followed with freshly gathered praise in them.
And complimented him with a harvest of praise
فَقُلتُso I said الَّذيwhoever رامَsought مَسعيthe striving of أَبيAbu; father of حسنHasan
فَقُلتُ الَّذي رامَ مَسعي أَبي حسن
لَقَدindeed خابَhas failed سَعياًin endeavor بَطيّslow
لَقَد خابَ سَعياً بَطيّ
So I said: Whoever sought to match Abu Hasan's striving
Saying: One who envies Abu Hassan's purpose
Has indeed failed, lagging in his endeavor.
Has certainly pursued a futile quest
إِذاif هوَhe خُودِعَis deceived عَنout of مالِهِhis wealth
إِذا هوَ خُودِعَ عَن مالِهِ
تَخادَعَhe feigns being deceived وَهوَand he is النَبيهalert الدَريّdiscerning
تَخادَعَ وَهوَ النَبيه الدَريّ
If he is deceived into parting with his wealth,
If he is deceived of his money
He plays the dupe, though alert and discerning.
He is cunning while unaware of it
منحتكI have given you عَذراءa maiden زُفَّتwas escorted as a bride إِلَيكَto you
منحتك عَذراء زُفَّت إِلَيكَ
كَماas اِزدَلَفَتdrew near لِلهَداءfor bridal escort الهَديّthe bride
كَما اِزدَلَفَت لِلهَداء الهَديّ
I have given you a maiden, led to you as a bride,
You were granted a maiden brought to you
As a bride draws near for her procession.
As a gift is presented to one deserving
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) ثَنىbent التيهpride أَعطافهاher flanks
إِذا ما ثَنى التيه أَعطافها
تَضَوَّعwafted منfrom نشرهاher fragrance المَندَليّMandali aloeswood
تَضَوَّع من نشرها المَندَليّ
When pride sways her flanks,
When the bending branches of the tamarisk tree sway
Mandali aloeswood's scent wafts from her fragrance.
The sweet smelling menders flower scatters all around
فَقَدfor indeed قَصَّرَfell short المَدحُpraise عَنof شُكرِthanking مَنone who
فَقَد قَصَّرَ المَدحُ عَن شُكرِ مَن
أَطاعَobeyed لَهُto him الدَهرTime قَسراًunder compulsion أَبيّdefiant
أَطاعَ لَهُ الدَهر قَسراً أَبيّ
For praise falls short of thanking one
Praise falls short in thanking one
Whom defiant Time has been forced to obey.
Whose will the age submits to unwillingly
تَمَلَّlong enjoy العُلىloftiness ماas long as بَداappears كَوكَبٌa star
تَمَلَّ العُلى ما بَدا كَوكَبٌ
وَماand as long as أَعقَبَfollowed اللَيلَthe night صُبحَa dawn ذَكيّradiant
وَما أَعقَبَ اللَيلَ صُبحَ ذَكيّ
May you long enjoy loftiness, while any star appears,
He fulfilled excellence in all that appeared
And while a radiant dawn follows the night.
Like the shining star or the radiant dawn
Sol 6.1