مَحَاسِنُbeauties of العِيدِEid يَومَthe day أنْwhen صَفَاbecame serene الزَّمَنُtime
مَحَاسِنُ العِيدِ يَومَ أنْ صَفَا الزَّمَنُ
أماas for وُجُودُكَyour presence فَهْوَit is الدَّائِمُthe enduring الحَسَنُbeauty
أما وُجُودُكَ فَهْوَ الدَّائِمُ الحَسَنُ
Eid's delights belong to a day when time is serene;
The joys of Eid when time is serene,
but your presence is an enduring beauty.
Your presence is ever beautiful and fair.
وَلَوand if سَألنَاwe asked بِكَabout you الأعيَادَthe festivals مَاnot حَكَمَتْthey ruled
وَلَو سَألنَا بِكَ الأعيَادَ مَا حَكَمَتْ
إلاَّبِأنَكَexcept that you are رُوحٌa soul أوْor هِيَthey البَدنُthe body
إلاَّبِأنَكَ رُوحٌ أوْ هِيَ البَدنُ
Were we to ask the festivals about you, they would give no verdict
If we ask for you in festivals, it would only judge
except that you are the soul—or they are the body.
That you are a soul, nay, you are the body.
فَهْيَso they are المُهَنَّاةُthe ones congratulated إذsince كُنْتَyou were الحَيَاةَthe life لَهَاfor them
فَهْيَ المُهَنَّاةُ إذ كُنْتَ الحَيَاةَ لَهَا
وَإنْeven if جَرَىran بِخِلاَفِcontrary to ذَلِكَthat السنَنُcustom
وَإنْ جَرَى بِخِلاَفِ ذَلِكَ السنَنُ
They are the ones to be congratulated, since you are their life,
The festivals rejoice for you are their life.
even though custom runs contrary to that.
Though fate may run its contrary course.
فَاهْنَأso rejoice بِعِيدٍin an Eid تَمَامُcompletion of العَشرِthe ten لَيلَتُهُits night
فَاهْنَأ بِعِيدٍ تَمَامُ العَشرِ لَيلَتُهُ
وَصُبْحُهُand its dawn بِافْتِتَاحِwith the opening of اليُسرِease مُقْتَرِنُjoined
وَصُبْحُهُ بِافْتِتَاحِ اليُسرِ مُقْتَرِنُ
So rejoice in an Eid whose eve completes the ten,
So celebrate an Eid whose eve is the night of full moon
and whose dawn coincides with the opening of ease.
And its dawn coupled with propitious ease.
نُعطِيكَwe give you مِنْfrom بَعْدِهِafter it الأيامُthe days بَالِغَةًreaching
نُعطِيكَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ الأيامُ بَالِغَةً
لِمِثْلِهِto another like it مِنَناًblessings فِيin إثرِهَاtheir wake مِنَنُblessings
لِمِثْلِهِ مِنَناً فِي إثرِهَا مِنَنُ
We give you, after it—as the days reach
After it days will give you more
another like it—blessings followed by blessings.
Of similar gifts following in succession.
تَنَالُyou obtain مِنهُfrom it الجَدِيدَthe new الليْنَthe soft تَلبَسُهُyou wear it
تَنَالُ مِنهُ الجَدِيدَ الليْنَ تَلبَسُهُ
عَفواًeffortlessly وَيَنحطُّand falls away عنكfrom you الدَّارِسِthe worn-out الخَشِنُthe rough
عَفواً وَيَنحطُّ عنك الدَّارِسِ الخَشِنُ
You gain from it a new, soft garment to wear,
You will get the gentle new
effortlessly, while the worn, rough one falls away from you,
Forgivingly and the harsh thorns will fall off you,
حَتىuntil تَرَىyou see منْfrom سُلَيْمَانSulayman وَتَابِعِهِand his follower
حَتى تَرَى منْ سُلَيْمَان وَتَابِعِهِ
مُحَمدٍMuhammad مَاwhat تَلَذُّdelights العَيْنُthe eye وَالأذُنُand the ear
مُحَمدٍ مَا تَلَذُّ العَيْنُ وَالأذُنُ
until you see from Sulayman and his follower,
Until you see from Solomon and his successor
Muhammad, what delights the eye and ear.
Muhammad what delights the eye and ear,
وَتَرْتَقِيand you rise بِأبِيwith Abu عَمرٍوAmr لِغَايَتِهِto his goal
وَتَرْتَقِي بِأبِي عَمرٍو لِغَايَتِهِ
وَمَاand not يَخَافُfears عَلَىfor المَأمونِal-Ma'mun مُؤتَمَنُa trusted guardian
وَمَا يَخَافُ عَلَى المَأمونِ مُؤتَمَنُ
And you rise with Abu Amr to his utmost goal;
And rise to the heights attained by Abi Amr
no trusted guardian need fear for al-Ma'mun.
Where nothing is feared for Al-Mamun the trusted,
أفلاَذُpieces of قَلبِكَyour heart همthey فيin نفسthe soul of وَامِقِهِمْone who loves them
أفلاَذُ قَلبِكَ هم في نفس وَامِقِهِمْ
شَأنٌhigh standing وَفِيand in عينthe eye of مَنْwhoever يَشناهُمُhates them شَجَنُsorrow
شَأنٌ وَفِي عين مَنْ يَشناهُمُ شَجَنُ
These pieces of your heart are, in the soul of one who loves them,
The apples of your heart they are, in the core of their being
of high standing; in the eye of whoever hates them, sorrow.
Of an essence, and in the eye of those who envy them, poignant.
مِنْof كُلّevery أروَعَsplendid one يَستَشفَىhealing is sought بِطَلعَتِهِthrough his countenance
مِنْ كُلّ أروَعَ يَستَشفَى بِطَلعَتِهِ
وَيَسْتَجِيرُand seeks refuge بِهِwith him مَنْwhoever هَمَّهُtroubled him الإحَنُenmities
وَيَسْتَجِيرُ بِهِ مَنْ هَمَّهُ الإحَنُ
Each a splendid one whose countenance offers healing,
The choicest of the splendid who heal by their rising
with whom whoever is troubled by enmities seeks refuge.
And who give refuge from anguish brought by time.
أعِزَّةٌnoble ones لِمَقَامِfor the station of المُلكِkingship رَشَّحَهُمْmarked them out
أعِزَّةٌ لِمَقَامِ المُلكِ رَشَّحَهُمْ
لَهُfor it ذكَاؤُهُمُtheir intelligence مِنْfrom بَعدِafter مَاthat خُتِنُواthey were circumcised
لَهُ ذكَاؤُهُمُ مِنْ بَعدِ مَا خُتِنُوا
Noble ones, marked out for the station of kingship
Nobles fit for kingship, their intelligence rendered them
by their intelligence, once they had been circumcised.
Eligible, after their early training.
بلindeed ماnot استهَلَّgave a first cry لدىat الميلاَدِbirth صَارِخُهُمْtheir crying newborn
بل ما استهَلَّ لدى الميلاَدِ صَارِخُهُمْ
إلاَّexcept وَعَقدُكَand your covenant مِنْfrom كَفيهِhis two palms مرتهَنُheld in pledge
إلاَّ وَعَقدُكَ مِنْ كَفيهِ مرتهَنُ
Indeed, none of them gave his first cry at birth
Rather, none cries out at birth
without your covenant pledged in his two hands.
Except your writ is hostage in their grip.
تبادروهthey raced for it فلاso no فيin كفthe hand of حاملهits bearer
تبادروه فلا في كف حامله
منهمamong them نكولhesitation ولاand no فيin طبعهhis nature ددنfrivolity
منهم نكول ولا في طبعه ددن
They raced for it; in the hand of its bearer
They rush to you, none of their ilk
among them is no hesitation, nor frivolity in his nature.
Ever failed, nor is fickleness in their nature.
تَوَدُّهُمْlove them صَهَواتُthe backs of الخَيلِhorses حِينئذٍthen
تَوَدُّهُمْ صَهَواتُ الخَيلِ حِينئذٍ
وَهُمْand they عَلىat الرَّكضِgalloping فيin الأرحَامِthe wombs قدalready مرَنُواhad trained
وَهُمْ عَلى الرَّكضِ في الأرحَامِ قد مرَنُوا
The horses' backs love them even then,
Then, the neighing of steeds is their desire
and in the wombs they had already trained for galloping.
When they are yet in wombs they have been trained to gallop.
وَقَولَand a saying وِحشَةَloneliness قَولِthe saying of الناسِpeople مُنفَرِدalone
وَقَولَ وِحشَةَ قَولِ الناسِ مُنفَرِد
وَقَولهُمand their saying سَرحَةٌa spreading tree مَاnot إنْat all بِهَاin it غُصُنُa branch
وَقَولهُم سَرحَةٌ مَا إنْ بِهَا غُصُنُ
And the lonely saying in people's words: 'He is alone,'
Theirs is the speech of loners, not of the vulgar throng
and their saying: 'A spreading tree without a branch.'
Theirs is poetry without any twig in it.
همْthey جَمَالكَyour adornment إنْif بَاهَيتَyou boast مُفتَخِراًproudly
همْ جَمَالكَ إنْ بَاهَيتَ مُفتَخِراً
وَهُمand they سُيوفُكَyour swords لاmay not مَرَّتْpass بكby you الفِتَنُtumults
وَهُم سُيوفُكَ لا مَرَّتْ بك الفِتَنُ
They are your adornment when you boast proudly,
They are your beauty when you walk proud
and your swords—may no tumults pass your way.
They are your swords if sedition comes your way.
وَهمand they علىagainst الدَّهرِtime سَوطٌa whip إنif بَغَىrebels حَرَناًobstinately
وَهم على الدَّهرِ سَوطٌ إن بَغَى حَرَناً
وَحْيثُand when يَجْمَحُit bolts هُمْthey فِيon رَأسِهِits head رَسَنُa halter
وَحْيثُ يَجْمَحُ هُمْ فِي رَأسِهِ رَسَنُ
Against time they are a whip if it rebels obstinately,
And they are on time a scourge if it runs rough
and when it bolts, they are a halter upon its head.
Wherever it rages they are a piercing spearhead.
فماso no تُخالِفُstrays عنfrom مرضَاكَyour pleasure نَاظِرَةٌa watcher
فما تُخالِفُ عن مرضَاكَ نَاظِرَةٌ
إلاَّexcept وَمِنهُمْand from them عَلَىupon أعنَاقِهَاtheir necks شَطَنُa rope
إلاَّ وَمِنهُمْ عَلَى أعنَاقِهَا شَطَنُ
So no watchers stray from your wishes
So no glance opposed to your pleasure
without a rope from them around their necks.
Except from them comes a blow upon its neck.
وَمِثلُهُمْand those like them لَيسَnot قَدرُthe measure of السِّنّage يَرفَعُهُraises him
وَمِثلُهُمْ لَيسَ قَدرُ السِّنّ يَرفَعُهُ
بَلِrather الشمَائِلُcharacter traits وَالأحسَابُand noble lineages وَالفِطَنُand discernment
بَلِ الشمَائِلُ وَالأحسَابُ وَالفِطَنُ
The likes of them are not exalted by the measure of their age,
And the like of them is not raised in merit by years
but by character, noble lineage, and discernment.
But by noble traits, pedigree and discernment.
يَقولُsays فِيهُمْof them مَدِيدُlong اللَّحظِthe gaze يَبسُرُهُمْfrowns at them
يَقولُ فِيهُمْ مَدِيدُ اللَّحظِ يَبسُرُهُمْ
إذاwhen تَفَرَّسَhe looks keenly عِلقٌa treasure مَاnot لَهُfor it ثَمَنٌa price
إذا تَفَرَّسَ عِلقٌ مَا لَهُ ثَمَنٌ
One of lingering gaze says of them, frowning at them,
Of them the discerning says, when his eye lights up,
on close inspection: 'A treasure beyond price.'
This is priceless, though the vile know no value.
وَمَنْand whoever تَكُنْyou are أبهُhis father استَغْنَىis self-sufficient بِجوهَرِهِthrough his substance
وَمَنْ تَكُنْ أبهُ استَغْنَى بِجوهَرِهِ
عَنِwithout المَزِيدِany addition وَأرضَىand pleased كلَّevery مَنْone who يَزِنُweighs
عَنِ المَزِيدِ وَأرضَى كلَّ مَنْ يَزِنُ
Whoever has you for a father is enriched by his own substance,
He whose father is most glorious, is enriched by his jewel
needing no addition, and satisfying all who weigh him.
Needless of increase, pleasing every weigh-master.
تِلكَthose المَكَاسِبُgains لاَnot تَأتِيcome بَهَاwith them إبِلٌcamels
تِلكَ المَكَاسِبُ لاَ تَأتِي بَهَا إبِلٌ
مِنَfrom القَصِيّthe distant place وَلاَand not تَأتِيcome بِهَاwith them سُفُنُships
مِنَ القَصِيّ وَلاَ تَأتِي بِهَا سُفُنُ
Such gains are not brought by camels
These gains come not with caravans from Yemen
from far away, nor are they brought by ships.
Nor do ships bring the likes of them.
كَسَبَتْهُمْyou gained them بَعْدَمَاafter عَمرْتَyou inhabited غَامِرَةًa desolate tract
كَسَبَتْهُمْ بَعْدَمَا عَمرْتَ غَامِرَةً
مِنَof الفَيافيwildernesses وَشَابَand turned gray الرَّأسُthe head وَالذَّقنُand the chin
مِنَ الفَيافي وَشَابَ الرَّأسُ وَالذَّقنُ
You gained them after inhabiting a desolate stretch
You reaped them after you had lived opulently
of wilderness, and your head and chin had turned gray.
Your hair turning gray and your beard growing.
وَخَضْتَand you waded بَحراًa sea مِنَof الأهوَالِterrors سَاحِلُهُits shore
وَخَضْتَ بَحراً مِنَ الأهوَالِ سَاحِلُهُ
حَينٌdeath وَلُجَّتُهُand its depths الآفَاتُcalamities وَالمِحَنُand trials
حَينٌ وَلُجَّتُهُ الآفَاتُ وَالمِحَنُ
And you waded through a sea of terrors whose shore
You sailed a sea of horrors, its coast
was death, and whose depths were calamities and trials.
At times turbulent with tribulations and trials.
مَاnot تَستَقِلُّset out بِأرضٍacross a land تَبتَغِيyou seek سَكَناًa home
مَا تَستَقِلُّ بِأرضٍ تَبتَغِي سَكَناً
إلاَّexcept رَمَتْكَit cast you بِأرضٍinto a land مَاnot بَهَاin it سَكَنُa home
إلاَّ رَمَتْكَ بِأرضٍ مَا بَهَا سَكَنُ
Whenever you set out across a land, seeking a home,
You found no peace inhabiting any land
it cast you into a land with no home.
Except you were pelted in it with no peace.
وَحَيثُمَاand wherever لاَحَappeared وَجْهُthe face of الضَّيْمِoppression فيin وَطَنِa homeland
وَحَيثُمَا لاَحَ وَجْهُ الضَّيْمِ في وَطَنِ
كَانَتْbecame ظُهورُthe backs of المَذَاكِيseasoned steeds عندكَfor you الوَطَنُthe homeland
كَانَتْ ظُهورُ المَذَاكِي عندكَ الوَطَنُ
Wherever the face of oppression appeared in a homeland,
Wherever the face of injustice loomed in a homeland
the backs of seasoned steeds became your homeland.
The backs of your steeds were home.
قَطَعْتَyou crossed أحقْافَthe winding dunes of سوفٍSouf وَهيand it is مَجْهَلَةٌa trackless waste
قَطَعْتَ أحقْافَ سوفٍ وَهي مَجْهَلَةٌ
لاَnot تَستَقِرُّstay firm بهاin it الأحقافُthe dunes وَالثِّفنُand camels' calluses
لاَ تَستَقِرُّ بها الأحقافُ وَالثِّفنُ
You crossed the winding dunes of Souf, a trackless waste,
You crossed the wastes of Sowf though unexplored
where neither dunes nor camels' calloused knees hold steady.
No wastes can settle them nor does familiarity make them cloy.
وَفِيand in مَهَامِهِthe wildernesses of تَقُّرْتٍTouggourt وَفَدفَدِهَاand its open expanses
وَفِي مَهَامِهِ تَقُّرْتٍ وَفَدفَدِهَا
كَلَّتْgrew weary سوَاكexcept you أولوthose possessing الأبدانِbodies وَالبُدُنُand stout camels
كَلَّتْ سوَاك أولو الأبدانِ وَالبُدُنُ
In the wildernesses of Touggourt and its open expanses,
In its coarse terrain and treacherous straits
strong-bodied men and stout camels tired, but not you.
All but you, the able men, shirked.
وَبَعْدَand after كَشفِكَyour exploring ماwhat بِالزَّابِin the Zab منof طُرُقٍroutes
وَبَعْدَ كَشفِكَ ما بِالزَّابِ من طُرُقٍ
دَعَاكَinvited you نَاجٍNaji وَنَاجٍand Naji كَاسْمِهِlike his name حَسَنُfair
دَعَاكَ نَاجٍ وَنَاجٍ كَاسْمِهِ حَسَنُ
After exploring the routes of the Zab,
After you uncovered what lay obscure in the thickets
Naji invited you—Naji, fair like his name.
Many a whisperer, well-named Hasan, called you.
فَزُرْتَهُso you visited him وَعَلَىand at خَيرَانَKhayran مَاnot نَكَصَتْturned back
فَزُرْتَهُ وَعَلَى خَيرَانَ مَا نَكَصَتْ
بِكَwith you العِتاقُthe noble mounts وَلاَand not وَلَّىturned away بِهَاwith them العْطَنُthe watering ground
بِكَ العِتاقُ وَلاَ وَلَّى بِهَا العْطَنُ
So you visited him; at Khayran there was no retreat
So you visited him, resolved on only the best,
by the noble mounts bearing you, nor did the watering ground turn them aside.
Neither did loyalty to you there swerve, nor temper give way.
وَقَدْand already تَرَقَّيْتَyou ascended فِيin أعْلاَمِthe peaks of نَازِيةٍNaziya
وَقَدْ تَرَقَّيْتَ فِي أعْلاَمِ نَازِيةٍ
مَنَازِلاًstopping places ماnot بهاin them مِنany of طَيرِهَاtheir birds وُكَنُnests
مَنَازِلاً ما بها مِن طَيرِهَا وُكَنُ
You had ascended among the peaks of Naziya
You climbed the heights of Naziat persistently
to stopping places where their birds had no nests.
Unto stations no fowl of hers inhabited.
وَجِئْتَand you came أورَاسAurès تَطوِيyou fold up كلevery شاسِعَةٍvast stretch
وَجِئْتَ أورَاس تَطوِي كل شاسِعَةٍ
تَمُرpass فِيهَاthrough them بكby you الأظلاَلُshadows وَالدّمَنُand campsite traces
تَمُر فِيهَا بك الأظلاَلُ وَالدّمَنُ
You came to the Aurès, folding up every vast stretch,
You came to Awras leveling each rugged tract
where shadows and traces of old camps passed you by.
Where shadows and wild beasts pass you.
مَدَاحِضٌslippery places قَلَّمَاrarely يَنْفَكُّbreaks free سَالِكُهَاtheir traveler
مَدَاحِضٌ قَلَّمَا يَنْفَكُّ سَالِكُهَا
عَنِfrom التوَرُّطِperil أوْor يَنْجُوsurvives بِهَاin them القَنِنُa crag-dweller
عَنِ التوَرُّطِ أوْ يَنْجُو بِهَا القَنِنُ
Slippery places: seldom does their traveler break free
Defiles few escape getting entangled in
from peril, or a crag-dweller survive them.
Or come out safely from their twisting routes.
يَرتَاعُtakes fright مِنْat وَصفِهَاtheir description مَنwhoever جَاءَcame يَسمَعُهُto hear it
يَرتَاعُ مِنْ وَصفِهَا مَن جَاءَ يَسمَعُهُ
فَكَيفَthen what of مَنْwhoever جَالَroamed فِيهَاin them وَهوَand he is مُمتَحَنُbeing tested
فَكَيفَ مَنْ جَالَ فِيهَا وَهوَ مُمتَحَنُ
Whoever comes to hear their description takes fright;
One who hears them described is filled with dread
then what of one who roamed them under trial?
How then one who travels them while being tested?
وَأنتَand you تَمْرَحُroam joyfully فِيهَاin them غَيْرَnot مُكتَرِثٍconcerned
وَأنتَ تَمْرَحُ فِيهَا غَيْرَ مُكتَرِثٍ
بِحَيثُwhere تَعْجَبُmarvel مِنكَat you الغُورُthe lowlands وَالقُنَنُand the peaks
بِحَيثُ تَعْجَبُ مِنكَ الغُورُ وَالقُنَنُ
Yet you roam joyfully through them, unconcerned,
While you nonchalantly roam them as if
where the lowlands and peaks marvel at you.
The caves and burrows there marvel at you.
فَلاَيَصُدُّكَso it does not deter you حَرُّthe heat of الشمسthe sun عنْfrom غَرَضٍa goal
فَلاَيَصُدُّكَ حَرُّ الشمس عنْ غَرَضٍ
وَلاَand not يَرُدُّكَturns you back عَنْهُfrom it العَارِضُthe raincloud الهَتِنُpouring
وَلاَ يَرُدُّكَ عَنْهُ العَارِضُ الهَتِنُ
So the sun's heat does not bar you from a goal,
So neither does the sun’s heat stop you from a purpose
nor does the pouring raincloud turn you from it.
Nor does a temporary impediment make you turn back.
وَتُؤثِرُand you prefer الليلَthe night عَنْover سَيرِtraveling النَهارِby day بِهَاthrough them
وَتُؤثِرُ الليلَ عَنْ سَيرِ النَهارِ بِهَا
كَأنمَاas though أنتَyou فِيin جَفْنِthe eyelid of الدُّجَىnight-darkness وَسَنُdrowsiness
كَأنمَا أنتَ فِي جَفْنِ الدُّجَى وَسَنُ
You prefer the night to traveling through them by day,
You prefer the night to travel by day through them
as though you were drowsiness in the eyelid of night.
As if you are hidden in the night’s eyelid and protected.
يَخَافُكَfears you الخَوفُfear إنْif نَازَلْتَyou confront مُعضِلَةًa difficult ordeal
يَخَافُكَ الخَوفُ إنْ نَازَلْتَ مُعضِلَةً
هَذاall this وَعَرضُكَand your honor صَافٍpure مَاnot بِهِin it دَرَنُa stain
هَذا وَعَرضُكَ صَافٍ مَا بِهِ دَرَنُ
Fear itself fears you when you confront a difficult ordeal,
Fear itself fears you if you confront a dilemma
and through all this your honor is pure, without a stain.
While your manner is smooth, in you no deceit.
حَتىuntil ظَفِرتَyou won بِإرثٍan inheritance كُنتَyou were تَطْلُبُهُseeking it
حَتى ظَفِرتَ بِإرثٍ كُنتَ تَطْلُبُهُ
وَكَانَand happened مَاwhat كَانَhappened مِماof what عِلمُهُknowledge of it عَلَنُpublic
وَكَانَ مَا كَانَ مِما عِلمُهُ عَلَنُ
Until you won the inheritance you were seeking,
Until you obtained an inheritance you sought
and what happened, happened—matters openly known.
And what transpired was known to all.
لاlet not يحسبِconsider المجدglory مَنwhoever يبغيهseeks it مَأدُبَةًa banquet
لا يحسبِ المجد مَن يبغيه مَأدُبَةً
سُكنَىdwelling in الجِنانِthe gardens of Paradise شُهيٌdesirable دُونهُbefore it الجَنَنُthe grave
سُكنَى الجِنانِ شُهيٌ دُونهُ الجَنَنُ
Let no one who seeks glory think it a banquet;
Let not one who desires glory count it a pleasure feast
dwelling in Paradise is desirable, but the grave lies before it.
Dwelling in gardens is mediocre sans madness.
يَاO مُوسِعَyou who enrich الخَلقِmankind مِنْfrom إشرَاقِthe radiance of هِمَّتِهِhis resolve
يَا مُوسِعَ الخَلقِ مِنْ إشرَاقِ هِمَّتِهِ
إلاَّexcept أناme فَنَصِيبِيso my share مِنهُof it مُمْتَهَنُslighted
إلاَّ أنا فَنَصِيبِي مِنهُ مُمْتَهَنُ
O you who enrich mankind through the radiance of your resolve,
O opener of the cosmos with the radiance of his ambition
except me—my share of it is slighted.
I alone reap but a handful of its harvest.
إنْif كَانَis حُبُّكَlove for you يُدنِيbrings near مِنكَto you مَنزِلَةًin rank
إنْ كَانَ حُبُّكَ يُدنِي مِنكَ مَنزِلَةً
فَإننِيthen I قَبلَbefore مَنْwhoever يُدنَىis brought near بِهِthrough it قَمِنُworthy
فَإننِي قَبلَ مَنْ يُدنَى بِهِ قَمِنُ
If love for you brings one nearer to you in rank,
If your love raises one in rank
then I deserve it before anyone brought near by it.
Then I, before the raised one, am most lowly.
هَذيthese نَتَائِجُthe fruits of فِكرِيmy thought قَدalready أقَمْتُI established بِهَاwith them
هَذي نَتَائِجُ فِكرِي قَد أقَمْتُ بِهَا
دَلِيلَa proof of صِدقٍsincerity لِمَنْfor whoever يَبلُوtests وَيَمتَحِنُand examines
دَلِيلَ صِدقٍ لِمَنْ يَبلُو وَيَمتَحِنُ
These are the fruits of my thought; with them I have established
These are the fruits of my thoughts which I have erected
a proof of sincerity for whoever tests and examines.
As proof of sincerity for one who tests and examines.
أخَذتُهَاI took them مِنكَfrom you إلاَّexcept أنَّthat حِليَتَهَاtheir adornment
أخَذتُهَا مِنكَ إلاَّ أنَّ حِليَتَهَا
يَصُوغُهَاfashions it كَيفَhowever شِئْتَyou wish الحَاذِقُthe skilled one اللسِنُthe eloquent one
يَصُوغُهَا كَيفَ شِئْتَ الحَاذِقُ اللسِنُ
I took them from you, except that their adornment
I took them from you except that their adornment
is fashioned, as you wish, by the skilled, eloquent one.
Is wrought by you, O eloquent craftsman of speech.
كَفَتْكَthey spare you أنْto تَرتَجِيseek تَعدِيلَvalidation of شَاهِدِهَاtheir witness
كَفَتْكَ أنْ تَرتَجِي تَعدِيلَ شَاهِدِهَا
لاَيَسْطَعُdoes not waft الطِّيبُperfume ماas long as لمnot تُصلحِyou set right الجُوَنُthe perfume caskets
لاَيَسْطَعُ الطِّيبُ ما لم تُصلحِ الجُوَنُ
They spare you seeking validation of their witness;
It suffices you to refine the witness to their truth
perfume does not waft unless you put the caskets right.
Musk smells not sweet unless the pods are set right.
فَلْتَجْزِنِيso repay me بَعْضَsome of وِدّيmy affection كيso that أقولI may say لِمَنْto whoever
فَلْتَجْزِنِي بَعْضَ وِدّي كي أقول لِمَنْ
يَسُومُنِيmakes me an offer أنَّthat بَيعِيmy sale مَاnot بِهِin it غَبَنُunfair loss
يَسُومُنِي أنَّ بَيعِي مَا بِهِ غَبَنُ
So repay me some of my affection, that I may tell whoever
So grant me some affection that I may say to him
makes me an offer that my sale brings no loss.
Who accuses me that my sale involved no fraud.
فَإنَّfor indeed حُبكَyour love شَيءٌsomething إنْif سَمَحْتَyou give freely بِهِwith it
فَإنَّ حُبكَ شَيءٌ إنْ سَمَحْتَ بِهِ
زَكَتْgrew pure بهthrough it النفسthe soul وَانقادتْand yielded بهto it السِّحَنُthe countenances
زَكَتْ به النفس وَانقادتْ به السِّحَنُ
For your love is such a thing that, if you give it freely,
For your love is such that if you allow it
the soul grows pure through it, and faces submit to it.
The soul is purified and wild cows submit.
وَلاَand not يَقِلُّis small قَلِيلٌa little thing أنتَyou وَاهِبُهُits giver
وَلاَ يَقِلُّ قَلِيلٌ أنتَ وَاهِبُهُ
يُضِيءُlights up بِالقَبسةwith a spark الرُّسْتانthe countryside وَالمْدُنُand the cities
يُضِيءُ بِالقَبسة الرُّسْتان وَالمْدُنُ
Nothing small is small when you bestow it;
A little, gifted by you, illuminates the garden and cities
a spark makes the countryside and cities shine.
So greet me, cheerful, at peace and secure.
وَاسلَمْand remain safe هَنِيئاًhappy قَرِيرَat peace العَينِof eye فيin دَعَةٍease
وَاسلَمْ هَنِيئاً قَرِيرَ العَينِ في دَعَةٍ
وَدُمْand endure كماas دامendured فيin هَذاthis الدُّناworld حِصَنُa fortress
وَدُمْ كما دام في هَذا الدُّنا حِصَنُ
And remain safe and happy, your eyes at peace, in ease,
And live long, so long as you are in this world, protected.
and endure as long as any stronghold endures in this world.
Partial English translation: 97 of 98 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1