خَليليَّmy two friends هَلis there مِنany رَقدَةٍsleep أَستَعيرَهاI may borrow it
خَليليَّ هَل مِن رَقدَةٍ أَستَعيرَها
لَعَلّيperhaps I بِأَحلامthrough dreams الكَرىof sleep أَستَزيرُهاmay invite her to visit
لَعَلّي بِأَحلام الكَرى أَستَزيرُها
My two friends, is there a spell of sleep I might borrow,
so that in dreams of slumber I might invite her to visit?
وَلَوand if علمتshe knew بِالطَيفِof the apparition عاقَتهit was hindered دونَناfrom us
وَلَو علمت بِالطَيفِ عاقَته دونَنا
لَقَدindeed غبطتshe would begrudge بُخلاًstingily بِماwhat لاdoes not يَضيرهاharm her
لَقَد غبطت بُخلاً بِما لا يَضيرها
Had she known that an apparition was kept from reaching us,
she would have begrudged us what would cost her nothing.
إِذاwhen انتقبتshe veils أَعشىdazzles النَواظِرَthe onlookers وَجهُهاher face
إِذا انتقبت أَعشى النَواظِرَ وَجهُها
ضِياءًwith light وَإِشراقاًand radiance فَكَيفَthen how سُفورُهاher unveiling
ضِياءً وَإِشراقاً فَكَيفَ سُفورُها
When she veils herself, her face dazzles onlookers
with light and radiance; what, then, if she unveils?
فَماso not فقرهاher need نَحوfor السُتورِcurtains وَإِنَّماbut rather
فَما فقرها نَحو السُتورِ وَإِنَّما
يَردُّكَkeeps you عَنهاfrom her نورهاher light لاnot سُتورُهاher curtains
يَردُّكَ عَنها نورها لا سُتورُها
She does not seek curtains out of need; rather,
her light, not her curtains, keeps you from her.
ليهنَmay it delight مروطَthe cloaks الخُسُروانيِّof Khusrawani silk إِنَّهُindeed it
ليهنَ مروطَ الخُسُروانيِّ إِنَّهُ
يُباشِرُtouches مِنهاof her بِالحَريرwith silk حَريرُهاher silk
يُباشِرُ مِنها بِالحَرير حَريرُها
Joy to the Khusrawani cloaks, for
their silk touches the silk of her skin.
هَلالِيَّةHilali الأَنسابin lineage وَالبعدand remoteness وَالسَناand brilliance
هَلالِيَّة الأَنساب وَالبعد وَالسَنا
فَلَستَso you do not بِغَيرِexcept by الوَهمِimagination إِلّاever تَزورُهاvisit her
فَلَستَ بِغَيرِ الوَهمِ إِلّا تَزورُها
Hilali in lineage, remoteness, and brilliance,
you can visit her only in imagination.
يَحِفُّsurround بِهاher فيduring الظَعنthe journey مِنfrom سِرِّSirr عامِرٍAmir
يَحِفُّ بِها في الظَعن مِن سِرِّ عامِرٍ
بدورُmoons دُجىof darkness هالاتُهنtheir halos خُدورُهاtheir curtained litters
بدورُ دُجى هالاتُهن خُدورُها
As she travels, women of Sirr Amir surround her:
moons of darkness whose curtained litters are their halos.
إِذاwhen زيَّنadorns الحليُjewelry النِساءَwomen فَإِنَّهُthen it
إِذا زيَّن الحليُ النِساءَ فَإِنَّهُ
يُزَيِّنُهُadorn it أَجيادهاher necks وَنُحورُهاand her throats
يُزَيِّنُهُ أَجيادها وَنُحورُها
If jewelry adorns other women,
her necks and throats adorn the jewelry.
وَإِنَّand indeed بِقَلبيin my heart نَحوَهُنَّtoward them لَغُلَّةa thirst
وَإِنَّ بِقَلبي نَحوَهُنَّ لَغُلَّة
يقوِّمstraightens معوَجَّthe crookedness الضُلوعِof ribs زَفيرُهاits sigh
يقوِّم معوَجَّ الضُلوعِ زَفيرُها
In my heart I have a thirst for them
whose sighs straighten my crooked ribs.
نزلنthey alighted بروضin a meadow الحَزنof the uplands فابتَسمتand smiled لَهاfor them
نزلن بروض الحَزن فابتَسمت لَها
ثُغورُmouths أَقاحيof daisies الرُباof the hills وَثُغورُهاand their mouths
ثُغورُ أَقاحي الرُبا وَثُغورُها
They alighted in a meadow of the uplands, and there smiled
the mouths of hillside daisies and their own mouths.
وَفَّتحand opened درthe pearls الطَلof dew أَجفانeyelids زهرهof its flowers
وَفَّتح در الطَل أَجفان زهره
تلاحظناthey gazed at us زرقُblue-eyed ones العيونِof eyes وَحورُهاand its dark-eyed ones
تلاحظنا زرقُ العيونِ وَحورُها
The pearls of dew opened the flowers’ eyelids;
blue-eyed and dark-eyed blooms looked toward us.
فَهَلthen does عِندَby غُصنِthe branch البانَةof the moringa اللَدنِsupple أَنَّهُthat it
فَهَل عِندَ غُصنِ البانَة اللَدنِ أَنَّهُ
يُناسبهresembles it أَجيادهاtheir necks وَخصورُهاand their waists
يُناسبه أَجيادها وَخصورُها
Does the supple branch of the moringa know
that their necks and waists are akin to it?
أَياoh مَنwho will help لعينan eye لاdoes not يَغيضrun dry مَعينُهاits spring
أَيا مَن لعين لا يَغيض مَعينُها
وَرَمضاءُand the burning plain قَلبof a heart ماdoes not يَبوخُcool هَجيرُهاits heat
وَرَمضاءُ قَلب ما يَبوخُ هَجيرُها
Who will help an eye whose spring never runs dry,
and a heart’s burning plain whose heat never cools?
إِذاwhen خَطَرَتcrosses مِنfrom ذِكرِthe memory حَمدَةof Hamda خَطرَةٌa thought
إِذا خَطَرَت مِن ذِكرِ حَمدَة خَطرَةٌ
عَلىover مُهجَتيmy heart كادَnearly النَوىseparation يَستَطيرُهاscattered it
عَلى مُهجَتي كادَ النَوى يَستَطيرُها
Whenever a thought of Hamda crosses
my heart, separation almost sends it flying apart.
وَأَطلُبُand I ask مِنهاher رَدَّto return نَفسيmy soul بِكَفِّهاwith her hand
وَأَطلُبُ مِنها رَدَّ نَفسي بِكَفِّها
وَهَلand has رَدَّreturned نَفساًa soul قَبلَهاbefore her مُستَعيرُهاits borrower
وَهَل رَدَّ نَفساً قَبلَها مُستَعيرُها
I ask her to return my soul with her hand;
but has anyone who borrowed a soul ever returned it?
وَأَهوىand I desire تَدانيthe nearness أَرضهاof her land لاnot لبنيةfor a building
وَأَهوى تَداني أَرضها لا لبنية
وَلَكِنَّbut قَلبيmy heart حَيثُwherever سارَتshe went أَسيرُهاis her captive
وَلَكِنَّ قَلبي حَيثُ سارَت أَسيرُها
I long to draw near her land, not for its buildings,
but because wherever she goes, my heart is her captive.
فطمتI weaned فطامas one weans الفلوa foal نَفسيmy soul عَنfrom الصِباyouthful passion
فطمت فطام الفلو نَفسي عَن الصِبا
فريعتand it recoiled لَهاat it ثُمَّthen استَمَرَّheld firm مَريرُهاits resolve
فريعت لَها ثُمَّ استَمَرَّ مَريرُها
I weaned my soul from youthful love as a foal is weaned;
it recoiled at first, then its resolve held firm.
وسرتand I traveled وللَّيلِwhile the night الأَحمِّdeep black شَبيبَةhad youth
وسرت وللَّيلِ الأَحمِّ شَبيبَة
عَلىover كلevery أفقٍhorizon وَالصَباحُand dawn قَتيرُهاwas its gray hair
عَلى كل أفقٍ وَالصَباحُ قَتيرُها
I traveled while black night still had its youth
across every horizon, and dawn was its first gray hair.
بِفضلةِon the lean back مرقالٍof a swift mount أَمونtireless كَأَنَّهاas though she
بِفضلةِ مرقالٍ أَمون كَأَنَّها
يُناطwere hung عَلىupon بَعضِpart الأَهِلَّةِof the crescents كورُهاher saddle
يُناط عَلى بَعضِ الأَهِلَّةِ كورُها
On a tireless, swift-striding mount, so slender
that its saddle seemed hung upon a crescent moon.
تَباريshe races فَتُبريand outstrips كُلَّevery حرفlean mount كَأَنَّماas though
تَباري فَتُبري كُلَّ حرف كَأَنَّما
عَلىalong سُنَّةٍthe curve مِنof قَوسِa bow نَبعٍof nab‘ wood جَريرُهاher reins
عَلى سُنَّةٍ مِن قَوسِ نَبعٍ جَريرُها
She races and outstrips every lean mount, as though
her reins were set along the curve of a bow of nab‘ wood.
يُخَيَّلُit seems ليto me أَنَّthat الفَيافيthe deserts مَصاحِفٌare manuscripts
يُخَيَّلُ لي أَنَّ الفَيافي مَصاحِفٌ
وَداميَand bloodied آثارtracks المطيِّof the mounts عُشورُهاare their decimal marks
وَداميَ آثار المطيِّ عُشورُها
I imagine the deserts to be pages of scripture,
and the bloodied camel tracks their decimal marks.
هَداهنَّhe guided them فيin الظَلماءthe darkness مِنfrom دَولَةthe state الهُدىof guidance
هَداهنَّ في الظَلماء مِن دَولَة الهُدى
وَدَولَةٌand a state طيٍّof Tayy شَمسُهاits sun وَمُنيرُهاand its light
وَدَولَةٌ طيٍّ شَمسُها وَمُنيرُها
Guiding them through the darkness was the state of guidance,
the state of Tayy, its sun and its shining light.
كتبناwe wrote عَلىupon أَعناقِهاtheir necks وَخُدودهاand their cheeks
كتبنا عَلى أَعناقِها وَخُدودها
حَرامٌforbidden إِلىto غَيرِany but الأَميرthe prince مَسيرُهاis their journey
حَرامٌ إِلى غَيرِ الأَمير مَسيرُها
On their necks and cheeks we wrote:
Their journey to anyone but the prince is forbidden.
نَفيسprecious عَطاياهُhis gifts وَلَيسَand not بِواهِبٍa giver
نَفيس عَطاياهُ وَلَيسَ بِواهِبٍ
نَفائِسُprecious things هَذاof this الدُرِّpearl إِلّاexcept نُحورُهاtheir necks
نَفائِسُ هَذا الدُرِّ إِلّا نُحورُها
His gifts are precious; none bestows
these costly pearls except the necks that bear them.
لَهُhe has مَنطِقspeech ينبيكthat tells you عَنof بأسِهِhis might كَماjust as
لَهُ مَنطِق ينبيك عَن بأسِهِ كَما
يدلُّindicates عَلىthe might بأسof lions الأسودtheir roaring is its sign; their roar is what indicates it زَئيرُهاtheir roar
يدلُّ عَلى بأس الأسود زَئيرُها
His speech tells you of his might, just as
a lion’s roar declares its strength.
فَللبيضِfor bright blades وَالجَدوىand bounty بطونthe insides بَنانهof his fingers
فَللبيضِ وَالجَدوى بطون بَنانه
مَغاًas a place of grasping وَلتقبيلand for kissing المُلوكby kings ظهورُهاtheir backs
مَغاً وَلتقبيل المُلوك ظهورُها
The palms of his fingers are for bright blades and bounty,
while their backs are for kings to kiss.
وَلَوand if أَنَّindeed تَقبيلاًkissing محاwore away الكَفَّthe hand لانمحتit would vanish
وَلَو أَنَّ تَقبيلاً محا الكَفَّ لانمحت
بِراجمthe knuckles كَفَّيهof his two hands وَبانَand appeared دُثورُهاtheir wear
بِراجم كَفَّيه وَبانَ دُثورُها
If a kiss could wear a hand away,
the knuckles of his hands would vanish and their wear show.
تُقرُّacknowledges لَهُhis بالسَبقِprecedence طيTayy وَإِنَّهُand indeed he
تُقرُّ لَهُ بالسَبقِ طي وَإِنَّهُ
ليسبقsurely surpasses أَجوادthe generous men الرِجالof men حَسيرُهاeven their weary one
ليسبق أَجواد الرِجال حَسيرُها
Tayy grants him precedence, though
even its most weary generous men surpass other men.
فأشرفso the noblest أَعضاءmembers الرِجالof men قلوبهاtheir hearts
فأشرف أَعضاء الرِجال قلوبها
وَأَشرَفهاand he ennobles them إِنif قَبَّلتهthey kiss him ثُغورُهاtheir mouths
وَأَشرَفها إِن قَبَّلته ثُغورُها
The noblest parts of men are their hearts,
and their mouths are ennobled when they kiss him.
يُقَلِّدُهاhe collars them طوقwith the collar العَطاياof gifts فَإِنthen if نبتthey shrink
يُقَلِّدُها طوق العَطايا فَإِن نبت
عَنfrom الشُكرِgratitude عادbecomes الطَوقthe collar غِلاًa shackle يُديرُهاencircling them
عَن الشُكرِ عاد الطَوق غِلاً يُديرُها
He places the collar of gifts around them; if they shrink
from gratitude, the collar becomes a shackle around them.
وَيصغرand seem small كلall الناسpeople فيbeside جَنبTayy’s tribe of Tayy طيىءٍTayy
وَيصغر كل الناس في جَنب طيىءٍ
وَيصغرand seems small فيbeside جنبthe prince الأَميرits greatest man even كَبيرُهاits great man
وَيصغر في جنب الأَمير كَبيرُها
All people seem small beside Tayy,
and Tayy’s greatest seems small beside the prince.
وَكُلُّand every جَوادٍgenerous man سَيدٍis a lord غَيرَexcept أَنَّهُthat he
وَكُلُّ جَوادٍ سَيدٍ غَيرَ أَنَّهُ
يُقَصِّرُfalls short عَنof بَحرِthe sea العَطاياof gifts غَزيرُهاeven his abundance
يُقَصِّرُ عَن بَحرِ العَطايا غَزيرُها
Every generous man is a lord, yet
even his abundance falls short of the sea of gifts.
إلاindeed إِنindeed وَجهَthe face المَجدِof glory طيٌّis Tayy وعينهand its eye
إلا إِن وَجهَ المَجدِ طيٌّ وعينه
كرامthe nobles عَنينof Anin وَالمُفَرِّجand al-Mufarrij نورُهاis its light
كرام عَنين وَالمُفَرِّج نورُها
Indeed, Tayy is the face of glory and its eye;
the noble house of Anin is its eye, and al-Mufarrij its light.
وَقَدand indeed كانَwas أَولاهاits earliest branch يَطولrising high بِحاتمthrough Hatim
وَقَد كانَ أَولاها يَطول بِحاتم
كَماjust as بأبيthrough Abu الذَوادal-Dhawwad طالَrose high أَخيرُهاits latest branch
كَما بأبي الذَواد طالَ أَخيرُها
Its earliest branch once rose high through Hatim,
as its latest has risen through Abu al-Dhawwad.
فلوقيسif measured أَهلthe people الأَرضof the earth دَعset aside عَنكَfrom you حاتِماًHatim
فلوقيس أَهل الأَرض دَع عَنكَ حاتِماً
بخِنصِرِهwith his little finger أَربىoutweighed عَليهِمthem عَشيرُهاhis clan
بخِنصِرِه أَربى عَليهِم عَشيرُها
Were the people of the earth weighed—leave Hatim aside—
the least finger of his clan would outweigh them.
فَإِنso if كُنتَyou are مُرتاباًdoubtful بِقَوليof my words فَهَذِهِthen here are
فَإِن كُنتَ مُرتاباً بِقَولي فَهَذِهِ
مَواهِبgifts كَفَّيهِof his hands فَأَينَthen where نَظيرُهاis their equal
مَواهِب كَفَّيهِ فَأَينَ نَظيرُها
If you doubt my words, here are
the gifts of his hands: where is their equal?
إِلّاindeed إِنَّindeed لِلعَلياءfor loftiness وَالمَجدand glory كِتبةan inscription
إِلّا إِنَّ لِلعَلياء وَالمَجد كِتبة
تَلوحُshines عَلىon وَجهِthe face الأَميرِof the prince سُطورُهاits lines
تَلوحُ عَلى وَجهِ الأَميرِ سُطورُها
Lo, loftiness and glory have an inscription;
its lines shine on the prince’s face.
وَلاand no دَولَةrealm إِلّاexcept وَيَهتَزthat trembles تاجهاits crown
وَلا دَولَة إِلّا وَيَهتَز تاجها
وَيرتَجُّand shakes مِنwith شَوقlonging إِلَيهِfor him سَريرُهاits throne
وَيرتَجُّ مِن شَوق إِلَيهِ سَريرُها
No realm exists whose crown does not tremble,
whose throne does not shake with longing for him.
وَتَختالand strut أَعوادُthe timbers المَنابِرof the pulpits باسمهat his name
وَتَختال أَعوادُ المَنابِر باسمه
وَيطربand rejoices تيهاًproudly بالخَطيبwith the preacher وَقورُهاits solemn wood
وَيطرب تيهاً بالخَطيب وَقورُها
The timbers of pulpits strut at his name,
and even their solemn wood rejoices in the preacher’s pride.
وَللعربand for the Arabs العرباءof pure Arab stock مِنهُfrom him مَعاقِلstrongholds
وَللعرب العرباء مِنهُ مَعاقِل
تُطلُّoverlook عَلىSirius الشِعرىthe star Sirius العبورtheir palaces قُصورُهاtheir palaces
تُطلُّ عَلى الشِعرى العبور قُصورُها
Through him the pure Arabs have strongholds
whose palaces overlook Sirius.
شَرائفهاtheir battlements زرقblue الأَسنةspearpoints وَالقَناand lances
شَرائفها زرق الأَسنة وَالقَنا
دَعائمهاtheir pillars وَالطَعنand thrusting وَالضَربand striking سورُهاtheir wall
دَعائمها وَالطَعن وَالضَرب سورُها
Their battlements are blue spearpoints and lances,
their pillars are spears, and thrusts and blows their walls.
بِعِزِّthrough the might أَبيof Abu الذَوّادِal-Dhawwad عِزَّgrew mighty ذَليلهاtheir humbled one
بِعِزِّ أَبي الذَوّادِ عِزَّ ذَليلها
وَذَلَّتand were humbled أَعاديهاtheir enemies وَسَدَّتand were secured ثغورهاtheir frontiers
وَذَلَّت أَعاديها وَسَدَّت ثغورها
Through Abu al-Dhawwad’s might, their humbled gained honor,
their enemies were humbled, and their frontiers secured.
إِذاwhen قيلَit is said فيin الهَيجاءbattle هَذاhere is مفرجٌMufarrij
إِذا قيلَ في الهَيجاء هَذا مفرجٌ
فَأَنجبُthen the best فُرسانhorsemen العداةof the foes فَريرُهاflee
فَأَنجبُ فُرسان العداة فَريرُها
When it is said in battle, ‘Here is Mufarrij,’
even the best horsemen among the foes flee.
تفرflee الأَعاديthe enemies باسمهat his name قَبلَbefore جِسمِهِhis body
تفر الأَعادي باسمه قَبلَ جِسمِهِ
وَهمهمةand the murmuring الأَسَدof lions الضَواريsavage زَئيرُهاis their roaring
وَهمهمة الأَسَد الضَواري زَئيرُها
The enemies flee his name before they see his body;
their muttering is like the roar of savage lions.
يَزينُadorns دَمthe blood الأَبطالِof champions أَكتافthe shoulders درعهof his armor
يَزينُ دَم الأَبطالِ أَكتاف درعه
كَماas زانَadorns أَثوابthe garments العَروسِof a bride عَبيرُهاher perfume
كَما زانَ أَثواب العَروسِ عَبيرُها
The blood of champions adorns his armor’s shoulders
as perfume adorns a bride’s garments.
وَيفريand he cuts بيمناهwith his right hand الكَليلa dull one مِنof blades that are dull الظُبىof blades
وَيفري بيمناه الكَليل مِن الظُبى
وَيَزدادand grows طولاًlonger فيin يَدَيهِhis hands قَصيرُهاtheir short one
وَيَزداد طولاً في يَدَيهِ قَصيرُها
With his right hand he cuts even with a dull blade,
and a short blade grows long in his hands.
كَذاthus اللَيثُthe lion يفريtears كلevery ظَهرback بِكَفِّهِwith its paw
كَذا اللَيثُ يفري كل ظَهر بِكَفِّهِ
فَيَنبوthen fails بِكَفّيin the hands منof سواهsomeone other than him طَريرُهاeven its sharp one
فَيَنبو بِكَفّي من سواه طَريرُها
So a lion tears through every back with its paw,
while a keen blade fails in the hands of anyone else.
وَماand they only call masculine ذَكَّرواswords الأَسيافexcept إِلّاfor someone other than him لِغَيرِهِhim
وَما ذَكَّروا الأَسياف إِلّا لِغَيرِهِ
إِذاif لَمit is not يؤَيدsupported بِالذكورby men ذُكورُهاtheir masculine swords
إِذا لَم يؤَيد بِالذكور ذُكورُها
They speak of swords as masculine only for others,
when those men’s swords lack his manly support.
يَخوضhe plunges بِهِwith him زُرقblue الأَسِنَّةspearpoints سابِقa swift steed
يَخوض بِهِ زُرق الأَسِنَّة سابِق
عَلىupon مِثلِهِits like خَوضa plunge الوَغىof battle وَعُبورُهاand its crossing
عَلى مِثلِهِ خَوض الوَغى وَعُبورُها
A swift steed carries him through blue spearpoints,
one made for plunging into battle and passing through it.
شمالa north wind إِذاwhen وَلّىhe turns away جَنوبٌa south wind إِذاwhen أَتىhe approaches
شمال إِذا وَلّى جَنوبٌ إِذا أَتى
وَإِنand if يَعتَرِضhe crosses فَهوَthen he الصَباthe east wind وَدُبورُهاand its west wind
وَإِن يَعتَرِض فَهوَ الصَبا وَدُبورُها
A north wind when it turns away, a south wind when it comes;
if it crosses sideways, it is both east and west winds.
يَرضُّcrush الحَصىthe pebbles مِنهُfrom him حَوامcircling hooves كَأَنَّماas though
يَرضُّ الحَصى مِنهُ حَوام كَأَنَّما
مَناسِرhard tips أَفواهof beaks النُسورof vultures نُسورُهاwere its vultures
مَناسِر أَفواه النُسور نُسورُها
Its circling hooves crush pebbles, as though
their hard tips were the beaks of vultures.
لَقَدindeed ضاعَis lost أَمرٌan affair لاthat does not يَكونhave him يديرهdirect it
لَقَد ضاعَ أَمرٌ لا يَكون يديره
وَأَنسابand lineages مَجدof glory لاdo not يظلremain بغيرهاwithout him
وَأَنساب مَجد لا يظل بغيرها
Lost is any affair he does not direct,
and lost are lines of glory left without him.
وَضَلَّتand go astray جُيوشarmies لاthat do not يَكونhave him أَميرهاas their commander
وَضَلَّت جُيوش لا يَكون أَميرها
لَدىin الرَوعِterror أَوor تؤتىare brought إِلَيكto you أُمورُهاtheir affairs
لَدى الرَوعِ أَو تؤتى إِلَيك أُمورُها
Armies go astray if he is not their commander
in terror, or if their affairs are not brought to you.
فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you ماwhenever انسلَتdraw them إِلّاonly أَجادِلاًas falcons
فَإِنَّكَ ما انسلَت إِلّا أَجادِلاً
تُخطِّفsnatch خِزّانَthe treasures المُلوكof kings صُقورُهاtheir hawks
تُخطِّف خِزّانَ المُلوك صُقورُها
For whenever you draw them, they are falcons
whose hawks snatch away kings’ treasures.
فَعُدتَso you stood بمرصادwatching لِكُلِّfor every فَضيلَةٍvirtue
فَعُدتَ بمرصاد لِكُلِّ فَضيلَةٍ
فَلاand no رتبةrank إِلّاexcept إِلَيكَto you مَصيرُهاis its destination
فَلا رتبة إِلّا إِلَيكَ مَصيرُها
Thus you stand watch for every virtue,
and every rank leads at last to you.
وَكَيفَand how يَفوتcould elude المجدglory أَبلَجَone radiant عَرَّقَتhave taken root
وَكَيفَ يَفوت المجد أَبلَجَ عَرَّقَت
شُموسsuns العُلىof exalted rank فيin أَصلِهِhis origin وَبدورُهاand its moons
شُموس العُلى في أَصلِهِ وَبدورُها
How could glory elude one so radiant, whose roots contain
the suns and moons of exalted lineage?
أَبىrefused عزthe pride طيof Tayy أَنto تقبلaccept مِنَّةa favor
أَبى عز طي أَن تقبل مِنَّة
لِغَيرِكَfrom anyone but you أَوor يحداbe driven لغيركfor anyone but you عيرُهاits caravans
لِغَيرِكَ أَو يحدا لغيرك عيرُها
The pride of Tayy refuses to accept a favor
from anyone but you, or to drive its caravans for another.
فهمfor they مِثلَlike أَشباcubs الضَراغِمِof lions لَمnever يَكُنwould
فهم مِثلَ أَشبا الضَراغِمِ لَم يَكُن
لِيُطعِمَeat إِلّاexcept ماwhat يَصيدhunts كَبيرُهاtheir elder
لِيُطعِمَ إِلّا ما يَصيد كَبيرُها
They are like lion cubs that never
eat except what their elder has hunted.
لِكُلِّfor every امرىءٍperson مِنهُمamong them مِنَof المَجدِglory رُتبَةًa rank
لِكُلِّ امرىءٍ مِنهُم مِنَ المَجدِ رُتبَةً
عَلىaccording to قَدرِهاits measure أَوor خِطَةَa charge تَستَديرُهاhe governs it
عَلى قَدرِها أَو خِطَةَ تَستَديرُها
Each of them has a station in glory
suited to his measure, or a charge he governs.
فَيَلقاكَso meets you بِالجودِwith generosity الجَنيِّfresh and abundant غَنيّهاtheir rich man
فَيَلقاكَ بِالجودِ الجَنيِّ غَنيّها
وَيَلقاكَand meets you بالوَجهِwith a face الطَليقopen and cheerful فَقيرُهاtheir poor man
وَيَلقاكَ بالوَجهِ الطَليق فَقيرُها
Their rich man meets you with abundant generosity,
and their poor man meets you with an open face.
تَفيضthey pour عَلىdespite العِلّاتِhardships ماءَthe water جِنائِهاof their harvest
تَفيض عَلى العِلّاتِ ماءَ جِنائِها
وَماءand the water أَيادِيهاof their giving hands عَلىupon مَنwhoever يَزورُهاvisits them
وَماء أَيادِيها عَلى مَن يَزورُها
Despite hardship, they pour out the water of their harvest,
and the bounty of their hands upon whoever visits them.
تُباشِرthey welcome بالأَضيافguests حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
تُباشِر بالأَضياف حَتّى كَأَنَّما
أَتاهاcame to them مَعwith الضَيفthe guest المُنيخِwho has dismounted بَشيرُهاtheir herald
أَتاها مَع الضَيف المُنيخِ بَشيرُها
They welcome guests so warmly that it seems
their herald has arrived with the guest who has dismounted.
إِذاwhen ضاقَis cramped صَدرُthe breast المجتَديof a petitioner أَوor فَناؤُهُhis courtyard
إِذا ضاقَ صَدرُ المجتَدي أَو فَناؤُهُ
فَقَدthen indeed رَحُبَتare spacious ساحاتهاtheir courtyards وَصُدورُهاand their hearts
فَقَد رَحُبَت ساحاتها وَصُدورُها
When a petitioner’s breast or courtyard grows cramped,
their courtyards and hearts are spacious.
هيَthey الأُسدُare lions لكنbut يأمَنis safe الغَدرfrom treachery جارهاtheir neighbor
هيَ الأُسدُ لكن يأمَن الغَدر جارها
وَلاand does not يأَمَنfeel safe الأَسادamong lions مَنwhoever يَستَجيرُهاseeks their protection
وَلا يأَمَن الأَساد مَن يَستَجيرُها
They are lions, yet their neighbor is safe from treachery,
while one who seeks refuge with lions is not safe.
تنافِسthey compete فيin عِزِّthe honor المَعاليof high deeds كَأَنَّهاas though they
تنافِس في عِزِّ المَعالي كَأَنَّها
عَقائِلnoble brides لَكِنَّbut العَطاياgifts مُهورُهاare their dowries
عَقائِل لَكِنَّ العَطايا مُهورُها
They vie for the honor of high deeds as though they were
noble brides, with gifts as their dowries.
وأحييتَand you revived بالآلاءِwith favors أَمواتthe dead طيىءٍof Tayy
وأحييتَ بالآلاءِ أَموات طيىءٍ
بِذِكرِكthrough mention of you مِنbefore قَبلthe Resurrection النُشورِis their rising again نُشورُهاtheir resurrection
بِذِكرِك مِن قَبل النُشورِ نُشورُها
With favors you revived the dead of Tayy;
through mention of you, they rise before the Resurrection.
أَرىI see المَجدَglory إِنساناًas a human وَقَحطانand Qahtan قلبهhis heart
أَرى المَجدَ إِنساناً وَقَحطان قلبه
وَسَوداؤهُand its innermost heart طيٌّis Tayy وَأَنتَand you ضَميرُهاare its very soul
وَسَوداؤهُ طيٌّ وَأَنتَ ضَميرُها
I see glory as a human being, with Qahtan as its heart,
Tayy as its innermost heart, and you as its very soul.
Sol 6