أَلَمَّتshe visited وَدونيand before me مِنof تِهامَةَTihamah بَيدُهاits deserts
أَلَمَّت وَدوني مِن تِهامَةَ بَيدُها
وَعَهديand my experience بِهاof her عَنّيfrom me كَثيرfrequent صُدودُهاher turning away
وَعَهدي بِها عَنّي كَثير صُدودُها
She visited, though Tihamah's deserts lay between us,
She allured me, and her hands from Tehama played with me,
and I knew her as one who often turned away from me.
And my pledge to her - its renewals are many.
يَمانِيَّةَa Yemeni woman لِلبَدرِto the full moon شُبِّهَwas likened وَجهُهاher face
يَمانِيَّةَ لِلبَدرِ شُبِّهَ وَجهُها
وَلِلظَّبيand to the gazelle مِنهاof her مُقلَتاهاher two eyes وَجيدُهاand her neck
وَلِلظَّبي مِنها مُقلَتاها وَجيدُها
A Yemeni woman, her face was likened to the full moon,
Her face resembles the full moon of Yemen,
and her eyes and neck to those of a gazelle.
And to the gazelle belong her glance and her neck.
سِرتَyou went تَستَزيدَseeking more الوَشيslander بَينيbetween me وَبَينَهاand her
سِرتَ تَستَزيدَ الوَشي بَيني وَبَينَها
وَهَلand is there ليfor me وُدlove غَيرُهاother than her فَأَزيدُهاso I might give her more
وَهَل لي وُد غَيرُها فَأَزيدُها
You went seeking more slander between me and her;
You crept to increase intimacy between me and her,
have I any love beyond hers, that I might give her more?
Is there for me any love other than hers to increase?
أَلَمَّتshe visited وَرحليand my saddle بَينَamong شَعبa company رَمَتcast بِهِمthem adrift
أَلَمَّت وَرحلي بَينَ شَعب رَمَت بِهِم
وَليand I have هِمَمٌambitions فيfor رِفعَةeminence أَستَزيدُهاI seek more of it
وَلي هِمَمٌ في رِفعَة أَستَزيدُها
She visited, while my saddle lay among a company cast adrift,
She allured me, and my camel litter was between a shrub that she frequented,
and I had ambitions for eminence, ever seeking more.
And I have a purpose in the height of my desire for her.
وَقَدand already علقواthey tethered أَنضاءَناour worn-out mounts بِرُؤوسِهِمto their heads
وَقَد علقوا أَنضاءَنا بِرُؤوسِهِم
وَلَوand even if خَلِيَتthey were freed كانَwould be الكَلالُweariness قُيودُهاtheir fetters
وَلَو خَلِيَت كانَ الكَلالُ قُيودُها
They had tethered our worn-out mounts to their heads;
They hung our vessels on their camel litters,
even if freed, weariness would have been their fetters.
And if they were to depart, the farewell would be their ropes.
وَساعَدَهاand joined her فيin النَومِsleep بيضfair-skinned women أَوانِسcompanionable maidens
وَساعَدَها في النَومِ بيض أَوانِس
قِصارshort الخُطىof step بيضُfair السَوالِفat the neck-sides غَيدُهاtheir supple maidens
قِصار الخُطى بيضُ السَوالِف غَيدُها
Fair, companionable maidens joined her in sleep,
And the white brightness of her forearms resembles
short-stepping, fair-necked, gracefully supple.
The creeping of a serpent on a smooth rock.
تَضَوَّعَwafted مِنهُنَّfrom them العَبيرperfume كَأَنَّماas though
تَضَوَّعَ مِنهُنَّ العَبير كَأَنَّما
أَتَتكَcame to you بِغارِwith a thicket of المِسكِmusk غِباًat intervals برودُهاtheir robes
أَتَتكَ بِغارِ المِسكِ غِباً برودُها
Perfume wafted from them, as though
She comes perfumed with scent as though
their robes came to you at intervals bearing a thicket of musk.
She emerges from a gland of musk and ambergris.
أَغَضَّfresher مِنthan الوَردِroses الجَنيِّfreshly picked خُدودهاtheir cheeks
أَغَضَّ مِن الوَردِ الجَنيِّ خُدودها
وَأَرشَقand more graceful مِنthan شَرقِthe sunlit part of الرِياضِgardens قُدودُهاtheir figures
وَأَرشَق مِن شَرقِ الرِياضِ قُدودُها
Their cheeks were fresher than newly picked roses,
Her cheeks are fairer than the rose in its freshness,
and their figures more graceful than the sunlit gardens.
And more radiant than the horizon when it shines.
فَكَمso how many مِنof يَدٍa kindness أَولَيتَنيyou bestowed on me فَجَحدتُهاbut I denied it
فَكَم مِن يَدٍ أَولَيتَني فَجَحدتُها
وَشُكرand thanks for أَياديthe favors of الغانِياتbeautiful women جُحودُهاdenying them
وَشُكر أَيادي الغانِيات جُحودُها
How many a kindness you bestowed on me, which I denied!
So how many a hand did you outstretch to me and I rejected,
And thanks for beauties' favors is to deny them.
And the regret of rejecting the hands of singing girls is shameful.
وَلَيسَand not سفاحاًillicit intercourse جئنَthey came لكنbut مُهورهاtheir dowries
وَلَيسَ سفاحاً جئنَ لكن مُهورها
صَحيحُgenuine وِدادٍaffection وَالغَرامand passion يَقودُهاleads them
صَحيحُ وِدادٍ وَالغَرام يَقودُها
They did not come for illicit love; rather, their dowries
He is not insolent, but love drove him mad
were genuine affection, and passion led them.
Sincere affection and love that led him astray.
سَلask اللَهَGod تَهويمdrowsing الكَرىsleep لَيسَnot غَيرهanything else
سَل اللَهَ تَهويم الكَرى لَيسَ غَيره
لَعَلَّperhaps الكَرىsleep يَوماًone day إِلَيكَto you يُعيدُهاwill bring her back
لَعَلَّ الكَرى يَوماً إِلَيكَ يُعيدُها
Ask God for a drowse of sleep, nothing else;
Ask Allah to protect me from the heat of ardour − no one else −
perhaps sleep will one day bring her back to you.
Perhaps ardour will someday return me to my senses.
أَياah حَبَّذاhow dear أَرضthe land of السَراةِal-Sarat وَحَبَّذاand how dear
أَيا حَبَّذا أَرض السَراةِ وَحَبَّذا
تَهائِمهاits lowlands مِنfor أَجلِهاher sake وَنجودُهاand its highlands
تَهائِمها مِن أَجلِها وَنجودُها
Ah, how dear the land of al-Sarat, and how dear
Most excellent is the land of Sara and best
its lowlands and highlands, for her sake!
Are its camels for her sake and best are its young she camels.
عَلىdespite أَنَّهُمthat they بانواdeparted وَبَينَand within جَوانِحيmy ribs
عَلى أَنَّهُم بانوا وَبَينَ جَوانِحي
هَوىlove مِثلَlike لَذعِthe sting of النارِfire شَبَّflared up وَقودُهاits fuel
هَوى مِثلَ لَذعِ النارِ شَبَّ وَقودُها
Though they departed, within my breast
They showed themselves between my ribs though in me
was love like fire's sting, its fuel ablaze.
Was a love like the burning heat of flames and its fuel.
وَلَمand I did not أَنسَهاforget her يَومَthe day of النَوىseparation وَقَدand already التَقىmet
وَلَم أَنسَها يَومَ النَوى وَقَد التَقى
جمانانtwo sets of pearls جاريflowing دَمعهاher tears وَعُقودُهاand her necklaces
جمانان جاري دَمعها وَعُقودُها
I have not forgotten her on the day of parting, when there met
I did not forget her even on the day of departure when
two sets of pearls: her streaming tears and her necklaces.
My tears flowed freely and scattered my pearls.
لَهاshe has مَبسَمa smiling mouth يَحكيresembles المَساويكtooth-cleaning twigs إِنَّهُindeed it is
لَها مَبسَم يَحكي المَساويك إِنَّهُ
بَعيدshortly after الكَرىsleep عَذبsweet الثَناياthe front teeth بُرودُهاtheir coolness
بَعيد الكَرى عَذب الثَنايا بُرودُها
She has a smiling mouth like tooth-cleaning twigs; it is,
She smiles the smile of the fertile season as though she
just after sleep, sweet and cool of teeth.
Is an inaccessible mirage, of beautiful and fresh countenance.
وَهَلand is there منصفone who does justice مِنهاagainst her فَيَلزمso he may compel قَومهاher people
وَهَل منصف مِنها فَيَلزم قَومها
حمالةcompensation ماwhat قَدalready أَتلَفَتshe destroyed أَوor يَقيدُهاexact retaliation from her
حمالة ما قَد أَتلَفَت أَو يَقيدُها
Is there one to do me justice against her, and compel her people
Can an arbiter from her family compel them
to pay compensation for what she destroyed, or exact retaliation from her?
To atone for what they ruined or else imprison her?
فَدَعso leave ذكرmention of سَعدىSa'da إِنif فيكَin you بَقيَّةَsomething remaining
فَدَع ذكر سَعدى إِن فيكَ بَقيَّةَ
إِلّاbut إِنَّماonly يَبغيseeks المَهاoryx مِنwhoever يَصيدُهاhunts them
إِلّا إِنَّما يَبغي المَها مِن يَصيدُها
Leave off speaking of Sa'da, if you have anything left;
Leave off mentioning happiness, for surely you have some remnant of sorrow
yet only those who hunt the oryx seek them.
Unless one is seeking prohibition where it can be attained.
أَتَرضىare you content بِعَيشwith the life of المقتَرينthe impoverished وَهَذِهِwhile these
أَتَرضى بِعَيش المقتَرين وَهَذِهِ
أَنامِلthe fingers of نورlight of الدَولَةthe state إِنهَلَّpoured down جودُهاtheir generosity
أَنامِل نور الدَولَة إِنهَلَّ جودُها
Are you content with the life of the needy, when these
Will you be content with the life of a subservient one when she
are Nur al-Dawlah's fingers, their bounty pouring down?
Is one adorned with the light of fortune and its rain flows freely from her hands?
دَعىcalled جودَthe generosity of ذيpossessor of العزَينthe two glories عيسى'Isa وَلَمand did not يَزَلcease
دَعى جودَ ذي العزَين عيسى وَلَم يَزَل
مِنfrom اليمنYemen الأَقصىfarthest نَداهُhis bounty يَقودُهاled them
مِن اليمن الأَقصى نَداهُ يَقودُها
The bounty of 'Isa, Dhu al-'Izzayn, summoned them, and ever
Good fortune calls out greetings to Jesus, constantly,
his largesse guided them from farthest Yemen.
From the furthest point in Yemen its call guides him.
فَجاءَتهُso they came to him مَكتوباًwritten عَلىupon حَرِّthe fair surface of وَجههاtheir faces
فَجاءَتهُ مَكتوباً عَلى حَرِّ وَجهها
حَرامٌforbidden إِلىtoward غَيرِanyone other than الأَميرthe prince وَخيدُهاtheir swift gait
حَرامٌ إِلى غَيرِ الأَمير وَخيدُها
So they came to him, written upon their fair faces:
So she came to him inscribed on her unblemished face:
Their swift stride toward anyone but the prince is forbidden.
"Unlawful, to other than the Commander, woe to him who inclines to others."
سَليلa scion of مُلوكkings مِنfrom ذؤابَةthe highest stock of عامِرٍ'Amir
سَليل مُلوك مِن ذؤابَة عامِرٍ
تُرَجّىare hoped for عَطاياهاtheir gifts وَيُخشىand is feared وَعيدُهاtheir threat
تُرَجّى عَطاياها وَيُخشى وَعيدُها
A scion of kings, from the highest stock of 'Amir,
A scion of kings, from glorious Dhul-Yazan,
whose gifts are hoped for and whose threats are feared.
Whose favours are hoped for and whose threats are feared.
مهذَّبهاtheir refined one قَمقامهاtheir mighty chief تاجthe crown of فَخرِهاtheir pride
مهذَّبها قَمقامها تاج فَخرِها
موفَّقهاtheir favored one فيin كُلِّevery رأيjudgment سَديدهاtheir sound-minded one
موفَّقها في كُلِّ رأي سَديدها
Their refined one, their mighty chief, the crown of their pride;
Correct in her judgement, excellent in every opinion, brave in every battle,
their favored one, sound in every judgment;
Her affair is well-regulated in every celebrated occurrence.
مقدمهاtheir leader فيin كُلِّevery حَربwar شجاعهاtheir brave one
مقدمها في كُلِّ حَرب شجاعها
مُدَبِّرُهاtheir counselor فيin كُلِّevery خَطبٍcrisis حَميدهاtheir praiseworthy one
مُدَبِّرُها في كُلِّ خَطبٍ حَميدها
their leader in every war, their courageous one;
Honoured, preferred, loud is her fame,
their counselor in every crisis, their praiseworthy one;
And she is protected in calamities by her noble deeds.
مكرَّمهاtheir honored one مفضالهاtheir bounteous one لَوfirst fragment of 'keen-witted' ذعيُّهاtheir keen-witted one (final fragment)
مكرَّمها مفضالها لَو ذعيُّها
وَمَلجأؤهاand their refuge فيin النائِباتِcalamities عَميدهاtheir chief
وَمَلجأؤها في النائِباتِ عَميدها
their honored one, their bounteous one, their keen-witted one;
Adorned with the light of truth and faith, a treasure of glory,
their refuge in calamities, their chief;
Equitable, fulfiller of promises and rightly guided.
مُسوَّدُهاtheir acknowledged lord مقدامهاtheir bold champion كَنزthe treasure of عِزَّهاtheir might
مُسوَّدُها مقدامها كَنز عِزَّها
سنميدعهاtheir noble chief (unclear spelling) مصداقهاtheir truthful one وَرَشيدهاand their wise one
سنميدعها مصداقها وَرَشيدها
their acknowledged lord, their bold champion, the treasure of their might;
To her the angels in heaven bow down prostrating
their noble chief, their truthful one, their wise one.
And for her the birds refrain from singing and bow down.
تَخُرُّfall down لَهُbefore him الأَملاكkings فيon الأَرضِthe earth سُجَّداprostrate
تَخُرُّ لَهُ الأَملاك في الأَرضِ سُجَّدا
وَقَلَّand is little لَهُfor him تَعفيرَهاtheir abasement in dust وَسُجودَهاand their prostration
وَقَلَّ لَهُ تَعفيرَها وَسُجودَها
Kings fall prostrate before him upon the earth,
If one day she begins with a blessing she completes it.
and even their abasement in dust and prostration are too little for him.
O Lord, initiator of a blessing without End.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle ابتَدىhe began يَوماًone day بِنعميwith a blessing أَعادَهاhe renewed it
إِذا ما ابتَدى يَوماً بِنعمي أَعادَها
وَياand oh رَبَّmany a مبديinitiator of نِعمَةٍa blessing لاnot يُعيدُهاrenews it
وَيا رَبَّ مبدي نِعمَةٍ لا يُعيدُها
Whenever he begins bestowing a favor, he renews it;
Every pulpit yearns for her name
yet how many a man begins a kindness and does not renew it!
If only it could move, it would sway and turn green in joy.
يَحنyearns إِلىfor أَسمائِهِhis names كُلَّevery مِنبَرٍpulpit
يَحن إِلى أَسمائِهِ كُلَّ مِنبَرٍ
فَلَوso if يَستَطيعit could اهتَزَّit would sway واخضَرَّand turn green عودُهاits wood
فَلَو يَستَطيع اهتَزَّ واخضَرَّ عودُها
Every pulpit yearns for his names;
She leads the masters Nobles and Chiefs
if it could, its wood would stir and turn green.
And surely the masters cannot dispense with one who leads them.
يَسودُrules عُقيلاً'Uqayl وَهيَthough they لِلناسِover people سادَةًlords
يَسودُ عُقيلاً وَهيَ لِلناسِ سادَةً
وَلاand no بُدَّescape لِلساداتِfor rulers مِمَّنfrom someone who يَسودهاrules them
وَلا بُدَّ لِلساداتِ مِمَّن يَسودها
He rules 'Uqayl, though they are rulers of mankind;
She defends her family with her power
and rulers must have one who rules them.
And carries for her elders what exhausts them.
يُدافِعُdefends عَنon behalf of أَحسابِهاtheir ancestral honor بِنَوالِهِwith his bounty
يُدافِعُ عَن أَحسابِها بِنَوالِهِ
وَيَحمِلand bears عَنfor أَشياخِهاtheir elders ماwhat يوؤدُهاweighs them down
وَيَحمِل عَن أَشياخِها ما يوؤدُها
With his bounty he shields their ancestral honor,
She repels those who show enmity to her family with an army
and bears for their elders what weighs them down.
Whose sharp swords drive back the eyes of spies.
وَيَرديand lays low أَعاديهاtheir foes بِكُلِّwith every كَتيبَةٍbattalion
وَيَردي أَعاديها بِكُلِّ كَتيبَةٍ
يَرُدُّrepels عُيونَthe eyes of الناظِرينَonlookers حَديدُهاits steel
يَرُدُّ عُيونَ الناظِرينَ حَديدُها
He lays their foes low with every battalion
Weighty when she is encountered, light is her riding,
whose steel turns back the onlookers' eyes.
Many are her captives and few her number.
ثَقيلٌgrievous مَلاقيهاencountering it خَفيفnimble رُكوبهاits riders
ثَقيلٌ مَلاقيها خَفيف رُكوبها
كَثيرٌmany سَباياهاits captives قَليلfew عَديدُهاits numbers
كَثيرٌ سَباياها قَليل عَديدُها
Grievous to encounter, nimble in its riders,
When they fall upon a company they wreak havoc upon it
its captives many, its numbers few.
And they are her cubs and her lions.
إِذاwhen وَقَعواthey entered فيinto وَقعَةٍa battle أَوقَعواthey inflicted بِهاupon it
إِذا وَقَعوا في وَقعَةٍ أَوقَعوا بِها
وَبالاًdisaster فَهُمfor they are أَشبالِهاits lion cubs وَأسودُهاand its lions
وَبالاً فَهُم أَشبالِها وَأسودُها
When they enter a battle, they inflict upon it
They plunged into the waves of death fearless,
disaster: they are its lion cubs and its lions.
While the harsh and difficult situation was slight for them.
وَخاضواand they plunged through إِلىtoward المَوتِdeath الصَفائِحsword blades وَالقَناand spears
وَخاضوا إِلى المَوتِ الصَفائِح وَالقَنا
وَهانَand became easy عَلَيهِمfor them صَعبُهاits hardships وَشَديدُهاand its terrors
وَهانَ عَلَيهِم صَعبُها وَشَديدُها
They plunge through blades and spears toward death,
It is the sea except that its water is sweet
and its hardships and terrors are easy for them.
And how many seas are there whose waters are not sweet?
هوَhe البَحرُthe sea إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat he طابَbecame pleasant وَردُهُdrinking from him
هوَ البَحرُ إِلّا أَنَّهُ طابَ وَردُهُ
وَكَمand how many مِنof بِحارٍseas لاnot يَطيبis pleasant ورودُهاdrinking from them
وَكَم مِن بِحارٍ لا يَطيب ورودُها
He is the sea, save that drinking from him is sweet;
It is the lightning except that its water is a pond for it
and many a sea is not sweet to drink from.
And its water did not diminish until its wood turned green.
وَماand not البَرقُlightning إِلّاexcept دوحَةa spreading tree هوَhe ماؤُهاits water
وَما البَرقُ إِلّا دوحَة هوَ ماؤُها
وَلاand may not غاضَrecede مِنهاfrom it الماءthe water ماas long as اخضَرَّstays green عودُهاits wood
وَلا غاضَ مِنها الماء ما اخضَرَّ عودُها
Lightning is but a spreading tree, and he is its water;
I saw the people followers of the family of Musayyab
may its water never ebb while its wood stays green.
And if it not for people's talk I would say they were their slaves.
رَأَيتُI saw الوَرىhumankind أَتباعfollowers of آلthe house of مُسَيَّبٍMusayyib
رَأَيتُ الوَرى أَتباع آل مُسَيَّبٍ
وَلَولاand were it not for كَلامُthe talk of الناسِpeople قلتI would say عَبيدُهاtheir slaves
وَلَولا كَلامُ الناسِ قلت عَبيدُها
I have seen mankind following the house of Musayyib;
If the wet nurse of the family of Musayyab suckled
were it not for people's talk, I would call them its slaves.
An orphan child, he would be their brother by suckling.
وَلَوand if أُمَّapproached عافa supplicant طفلa child of آلthe house of مُسَيَّبٍMusayyib
وَلَو أُمَّ عاف طفل آل مُسَيَّبٍ
لِقاسِمِهِwould share with him درthe flowing milk of الرَضاعsuckling وَليدُهاtheir infant
لِقاسِمِهِ در الرَضاع وَليدُها
If a supplicant approached a child of the house of Musayyib,
Agil are content. Nay, Nazar are ennobled by their merit
their infant would share his suckling milk with him.
Even if one day they were to deny it, their skins would testify to it.
تُقِرُّacknowledges عَقيلٌ'Uqayl بَلindeed نزارNizar بِفَضلِهِمto their excellence
تُقِرُّ عَقيلٌ بَل نزار بِفَضلِهِم
وَلَوand even if أَنكَرتit denied يَوماًone day أَقَرَّتwould acknowledge جُلودُهاtheir skins
وَلَو أَنكَرت يَوماً أَقَرَّت جُلودُها
'Uqayl—indeed Nizar—acknowledge their excellence;
Kings whose hospitality was sought out by their swords
if they denied it one day, their skins would confess it.
And whose inheritance they increased by their old banners.
مُلوكَkings أَضافَتadded ماwhat احتَبَتthey gathered بِسُيوفِهاwith their swords
مُلوكَ أَضافَت ما احتَبَت بِسُيوفِها
وَزادَتand added more عَلىto ماwhat أَورَثَتهاbequeathed to them جُدودُهاtheir forefathers
وَزادَت عَلى ما أَورَثَتها جُدودُها
Kings who added what they gathered with their swords,
The light of majesty flashes above their foreheads
and increased what their forefathers had bequeathed them.
When their flags and emblems fall.
يَلوحُshines ضِياءthe radiance of المُلكِkingship فَوقَabove جِباهِهاtheir foreheads
يَلوحُ ضِياء المُلكِ فَوقَ جِباهِها
إِذاwhen أَخفَقَتfluttered راياتهاtheir standards وَبنودُهاand their banners
إِذا أَخفَقَت راياتها وَبنودُها
The radiance of kingship shines above their brows
Kings who bought a good name with their wealth
when their flags and banners flutter.
So their living and dead became praiseworthy.
مُلوكٌkings شَرَتbought حُسنَthe beauty of الثَناءِpraise بِمالِهاwith their wealth
مُلوكٌ شَرَت حُسنَ الثَناءِ بِمالِها
فَأَضحىso became حَميداًpraised حَيُّهاtheir living وَفَقيدُهاand their departed
فَأَضحى حَميداً حَيُّها وَفَقيدُها
Kings who bought fair praise with their wealth,
If the kindness of a man would make his Lord eternal
so their living and their departed alike are praised.
It would last despite the enemies out of jealousy.
فَلوso if كانَwere جودَthe generosity of المَرءِa man يَخلِدُmade immortal ربهits possessor
فَلو كانَ جودَ المَرءِ يَخلِدُ ربه
لَدامَwould endure عَلىin رَغمِspite of العَدوِّthe foe خُلودُهاtheir immortality
لَدامَ عَلى رَغمِ العَدوِّ خُلودُها
If a man's generosity could make its master immortal,
Lions, but the rain makes the kings lions at hunt
their immortality would endure despite the foe.
Savages, but she makes the crowned savage beasts homeless.
غَيوثٌrainclouds وَلَكِنbut قَطرِهاtheir rainfall المالwealth وَالنَدىand generosity
غَيوثٌ وَلَكِن قَطرِها المال وَالنَدى
ليوثٌlions وَلَكِنbut المُلوكَkings صُيودُهاtheir prey
ليوثٌ وَلَكِن المُلوكَ صُيودُها
Rainclouds—but their rain is wealth and bounty;
To what high status has the Ka’ba reached and her Lord
lions—but kings are their prey.
Completes her bounty and increases it!
بكمthrough you بَلَغَتattained كَعبٌKa'b مَناهاits hopes وَرَبُّهاand its Lord
بكم بَلَغَت كَعبٌ مَناها وَرَبُّها
يَتِمُّfulfills لَهاfor it نُعماؤُهاits blessings وَيَزيدَهاand increases them
يَتِمُّ لَها نُعماؤُها وَيَزيدَها
Through you Ka'b attained its hopes, and its Lord
The East and the West of the world submit to her
fulfills its blessings and increases them.
And the sun of kings and the lion of the thicket bow down to her.
وَدانَand submitted لَهاto it شَرقthe east of البِلادِthe lands وَغَربِهاand their west
وَدانَ لَها شَرق البِلادِ وَغَربِها
وَذَلَّand was humbled لَهاbefore it شُمسُthe unruly ones among المُلوكِkings وَصَيدُهاand their haughty ones
وَذَلَّ لَها شُمسُ المُلوكِ وَصَيدُها
The lands' east and west submitted to it,
How much have her speeches raised every pulpit?
and unruly kings and their haughty fellows bowed before it.
By Allah if it were not for you, their ascent would be little!
فَكَمso how often صَعِدَتascended خُطّابِهاits orators كلevery مِنبَرٍpulpit
فَكَم صَعِدَت خُطّابِها كل مِنبَرٍ
وَلَولاكُمand but for you واللَهُby God قَلَّwould be few صُعودُهاtheir ascents
وَلَولاكُم واللَهُ قَلَّ صُعودُها
How often its orators have ascended every pulpit;
The feast came so being with its like, it delight a thousand years
but for you, by God, their ascents would have been few.
You are to the sons of oppression on the day of their feast.
أَتىcame العيدُthe festival فاسعَدَso rejoice أَلفَa thousand عامٍyears بِمِثلِهِin its like
أَتى العيدُ فاسعَدَ أَلفَ عامٍ بِمِثلِهِ
فَأَنتَfor you لأَبناءfor the victims of المَظالِمinjustices عيدُهاtheir festival
فَأَنتَ لأَبناء المَظالِم عيدُها
The festival has come: rejoice in its like for a thousand years,
If you make the land prosper ending its misfortunes
for you are a festival to the victims of injustice.
And good fortune comes from all sides
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle حَلَلتَyou settled in الأَرضthe land وَلَّتfled نُحوسهاits ill fortunes
إِذا ما حَلَلتَ الأَرض وَلَّت نُحوسها
وَأَقبَلَand came مِنfrom كُلِّevery الجِهاتِdirection سُعودُهاits good fortunes
وَأَقبَلَ مِن كُلِّ الجِهاتِ سُعودُها
Whenever you settle in a land, its ill fortunes flee,
How can infertility beset a land that you make prosper
and its good fortunes approach from every side.
And your rain never ceases to pour forth generously?
وَكَيفَand how يَحِلُّsettles الجَدبdrought أَرضاًa land تَحلهاyou dwell in it
وَكَيفَ يَحِلُّ الجَدب أَرضاً تَحلها
وَكَفُّكَand your hand غَيثrain لاnot يَزالceases يَجودُهاshowers it
وَكَفُّكَ غَيث لا يَزال يَجودُها
How could drought settle in a land where you dwell,
So how many nights did we travel to you secretly
when your hand is rain that never ceases to drench it?
The incline being equal whether we advanced or turned back.
فَكَمso how many لَيلَةٍa night سِرناwe journeyed إِلَيكَto you شَوازِياًlean mounts (uncertain reading)
فَكَم لَيلَةٍ سِرنا إِلَيكَ شَوازِياً
سُواءalike عَلَيهاto them مَيلُهاtheir mile وَبَريدُهاand their postal stage
سُواء عَلَيها مَيلُها وَبَريدُها
How many a night we journeyed to you on lean mounts,
The necks of the people bowed down in sleep
to which a mile and a postal stage were alike.
And the cheeks of the children of travel met one another.
وَمالَتand drooped رِقابthe necks of القَومthe men بِالنَومِwith sleep فالتَقَتso met
وَمالَت رِقاب القَوم بِالنَومِ فالتَقَت
مَناكِبthe shoulders of أَبناءthe sons of السُرىnight travel وَخُدودُهاand their cheeks
مَناكِب أَبناء السُرى وَخُدودُها
The men's necks drooped with sleep, bringing together
And our singers sang your praises
the night-travelers' shoulders and cheeks.
As Sirdar sang boisterously late at night.
وَغَنّىand sang مُغَنِّيَناour singer بِمَدحكin praise of you مِثلَماjust as
وَغَنّى مُغَنِّيَنا بِمَدحك مِثلَما
عَوىhowled بشرورىin Sharawra آخرat the end of اللَيلِthe night سيدُهاits wolf
عَوى بشرورى آخر اللَيلِ سيدُها
Our singer sang your praises, just as
My soul promised me enrichment with you
Sharawra's wolf howled at the close of night.
So it behooves it not to dash hopes.
وَقَدand already وَعدتنيpromised me النَفسmy soul عِندَكَin your presence بِالغِنىwealth
وَقَد وَعدتني النَفس عِندَكَ بِالغِنى
فأجدرhow fitting بِهاfor it ألاnot to تَخيبfail وُعودُهاits promises
فأجدر بِها ألا تَخيب وُعودُها
My soul has promised me wealth in your presence;
If it were not for you we would not have endured desolation
how fitting that its promises should not fail!
Nor would our vessels contain a distant land.
وَلَولاكَand but for you ماnot جِبناwe crossed الفَلاةَthe wilderness وَلاnor اِنطَوىfolded up
وَلَولاكَ ما جِبنا الفَلاةَ وَلا اِنطَوى
لأنضائِناfor our weary mounts طَيlike the folding of الرِداءِa cloak بَعيدُهاits far reaches
لأنضائِنا طَي الرِداءِ بَعيدُها
But for you, we would not have crossed the wilderness, nor would
I shall clothe you in return for my praise from afar in a robe
its far reaches have folded for our spent mounts like a cloak.
That will last longer than fine garments.
سَأكسوكَI shall clothe you مِنfrom مَدحيmy praise عَلىdespite النأيdistance حلةa robe
سَأكسوكَ مِن مَدحي عَلى النأي حلة
يَدومendures عَلىthrough مَرِّthe passage of الجَديدrenewing time جَديدُهاits newness
يَدوم عَلى مَرِّ الجَديد جَديدُها
From afar I shall clothe you in a robe of my praise,
I thank the bounties that through your praises I attained
whose freshness endures through the passage of renewing time.
And from the Giver I seek to increase them.
وَأَشكُرand I give thanks for نُعماءًblessings بِمَدحِكَthrough praising you نِلتُهاI obtained them
وَأَشكُر نُعماءً بِمَدحِكَ نِلتُها
وَمِمَّنand from the one who حَباهاbestowed them دائِماًcontinually أَستَزيدُهاI seek more of them
وَمِمَّن حَباها دائِماً أَستَزيدُها
I give thanks for blessings I gained through praising you,
and ever seek more from him who bestowed them.
Partial English translation: 112 of 114 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1