حَاجَةُneed المَدحِpraise لِحُلوِfor the sweetness of الغَزَلِlove verse
حَاجَةُ المَدحِ لِحُلوِ الغَزَلِ
حَاجَةُneed الصَّبّthe ardent lover لأولَىfor the first of القُبَلِkisses
حَاجَةُ الصَّبّ لأولَى القُبَلِ
Praise's need for sweet love verse
is the ardent lover's need for the first kiss.
مَاwhat عَلَىupon مَانِعِهَاthe one withholding it لَوif سَمَحَتْwas generous
مَا عَلَى مَانِعِهَا لَو سَمَحَتْ
نَفْسَهُhis soul يَوماًone day بِهَاwith it مِنْany ثِقَلِburden
نَفْسَهُ يَوماً بِهَا مِنْ ثِقَلِ
What would fall upon the one withholding it, if
his soul granted it one day—what burden?
مُنيَةٌa wish ماpart of 'put me off' طَلَنِيput me off الدَّهرُTime بَهَاwith it
مُنيَةٌ ما طَلَنِي الدَّهرُ بَهَا
مَطْلَthe postponement of غَيلاَنGhaylan بِرَجْعِover the reply of الطلَلِthe deserted ruins
مَطْلَ غَيلاَن بِرَجْعِ الطلَلِ
A wish that Time has kept putting me off with,
as Ghaylan was kept waiting for the ruins' reply.
أكتَفِيI am content مِنْهَاwith it بِوَعْدٍwith a promise كَاذِبٍfalse
أكتَفِي مِنْهَا بِوَعْدٍ كَاذِبٍ
أشْغَلُI occupy البَالَthe mind بِهِwith it عَنْaway from عُذَّلِيmy reproachers
أشْغَلُ البَالَ بِهِ عَنْ عُذَّلِي
I am content with even a false promise of it,
occupying my mind with it, away from my reproachers.
يَقْنَعُis content المَحْرُومُthe deprived one بِالدُّونِwith the inferior كَمَاjust as
يَقْنَعُ المَحْرُومُ بِالدُّونِ كَمَا
يَقْنَعُis content الأعْمَىthe blind man بِأدْنَىwith the slightest الحَولِsquint
يَقْنَعُ الأعْمَى بِأدْنَى الحَولِ
The deprived accept what is inferior, just as
the blind accept even the slightest squint.
ثُمَّthen إنِّيindeed I لَيْتَنِيif only I إنْif لَمْdo not أنَلْattain
ثُمَّ إنِّي لَيْتَنِي إنْ لَمْ أنَلْ
مَاwhat أرَجَىI hope for سَالِماًsafe مِنْfrom عَذَلِreproach
مَا أرَجَى سَالِماً مِنْ عَذَلِ
Then, if only, should I fail to attain
what I hope for, I might be spared reproach.
يَاO عَذُولِيmy reproacher لاَnot يَضَعُgo to waste وَقْتُكَyour time فِيon
يَا عَذُولِي لاَ يَضَعُ وَقْتُكَ فِي
مَاwhat تُعَانِيyou undertake إننِيindeed I فِيin شُغُلِpreoccupation
مَا تُعَانِي إننِي فِي شُغُلِ
O my reproacher, let your time not be wasted on
what you undertake; I am already occupied.
إنْif أبَتْrefused نَفسُكَyour soul مِنْany of نُصْحِيmy advice لَهَاto it
إنْ أبَتْ نَفسُكَ مِنْ نُصْحِي لَهَا
فَأنَاthen I am ذاhere عَاذِلٌa reproacher فِيof العَذَلِreproach
فَأنَا ذا عَاذِلٌ فِي العَذَلِ
If your soul rejects my advice to it,
then here I am, reproaching your reproach.
وَإذاand if لَمْhave not تَذُقِtasted المَعْنَىthe meaning فَلاَthen do not
وَإذا لَمْ تَذُقِ المَعْنَى فَلاَ
تَنْفَرِدْstand alone بِالرَّأيِin your judgment فِيهِabout it وَسَلِand ask
تَنْفَرِدْ بِالرَّأيِ فِيهِ وَسَلِ
And if you have not tasted the meaning, do not
stand alone in your judgment of it: ask.
إنَّindeed عَقْلاًa mind وَاحِداًsingle لاَdoes not يَنْثَنِيbend
إنَّ عَقْلاً وَاحِداً لاَ يَنْثَنِي
لِعُقُولِbefore the minds of الكُلّeveryone بَادِيmanifesting الخَبَلِfolly
لِعُقُولِ الكُلّ بَادِي الخَبَلِ
Indeed, a single mind that refuses to bend
before the minds of all is plainly foolish.
لاَتقُلْdo not tell لِيme مُلْغِزاًspeaking in riddles قَدْindeed جُمِعَتْhave been gathered
لاَتقُلْ لِي مُلْغِزاً قَدْ جُمِعَتْ
كُلّall أوصَافِqualities of النُّهَىreason فِيin رَجُلِa man
كُلّ أوصَافِ النُّهَى فِي رَجُلِ
Do not tell me, speaking in riddles, 'There have been gathered
all the qualities of reason in one man.'
هَلْdo تَرَىyou see بَيْنَamong البَرَايَاall creatures ثَانِياًan equal
هَلْ تَرَى بَيْنَ البَرَايَا ثَانِياً
لِعَلِيto Ali بْنُson of حُسَينِHusayn بنِson of عَلِيAli
لِعَلِي بْنُ حُسَينِ بنِ عَلِي
Do you see among all creatures an equal
to Ali ibn Husayn ibn Ali?
نَادِرٌa rarity قَدْindeed غَلَطَerred الدَّهْرُTime بِهِin him
نَادِرٌ قَدْ غَلَطَ الدَّهْرُ بِهِ
يَمنِعُprevents النَّقِضَrefutation بِهِusing him فِيin الجَدَلِdebate
يَمنِعُ النَّقِضَ بِهِ فِي الجَدَلِ
A rarity, in whom Time erred,
too rare to serve as a counterexample in debate.
بَلْrather بِهِthrough him النَّقضُrefutation عَلَىagainst مَنْwhoever يَدَّعِيclaims
بَلْ بِهِ النَّقضُ عَلَى مَنْ يَدَّعِي
نَقْضَthe undoing of أيَّامٍdays أتَتْthat came عَنْafter أوَّلِearlier ones
نَقْضَ أيَّامٍ أتَتْ عَنْ أوَّلِ
Rather, he refutes anyone who claims
the undoing of days that followed earlier ones.
مَالِكٌa lord أمَّاwhenever يَصِفْdescribes وَاصِفُهُhis describer
مَالِكٌ أمَّا يَصِفْ وَاصِفُهُ
فَتَحَopens العَينَthe eye لِلَهوِfor the delight of المُقَلِeyes
فَتَحَ العَينَ لِلَهوِ المُقَلِ
A lord: whenever his describer portrays him,
he opens the eye for the delight of gazes.
لَوif سَعَىstrove الوَهْمِimagination إلَىtoward تَصوِيرِهِportraying him
لَو سَعَى الوَهْمِ إلَى تَصوِيرِهِ
قَبْلَbefore أنْbeing يُجلَىrevealed لَهُto it لَمْwould not يَصِلِsucceed
قَبْلَ أنْ يُجلَى لَهُ لَمْ يَصِلِ
Had imagination striven to portray him
before he was revealed to it, it would not have succeeded.
أعْجَزَmade unable المُسرِعَthe swift one أنْto يُدرِكَcatch up with مَاwhat
أعْجَزَ المُسرِعَ أنْ يُدرِكَ مَا
حَازَهُhe attained it هُوَhe himself بِسيرِat the pace of المَهَلleisure
حَازَهُ هُوَ بِسيرِ المَهَل
He made the swift unable to catch up with what
he himself attained at a leisurely pace.
أبصَرَsaw الدُّنيَاthe world بِعَينَيwith the eyes of مَنْone who رَآىsaw
أبصَرَ الدُّنيَا بِعَينَي مَنْ رَآى
كُلَّall مَاthat فِيهَاis in it كَريهَunwelcome النَّفَلِgain
كُلَّ مَا فِيهَا كَريهَ النَّفَلِ
He saw the world with the eyes of one who found
all that it held an unwelcome gain.
فَتَحَامَىso he shunned فَضْلَهَاits excess bounty إذsince لَمْdid not يَقُلْsay
فَتَحَامَى فَضْلَهَا إذ لَمْ يَقُلْ
فِيof نَفِيسٍa precious thing حَازَhe gained مِنَهاfrom it هُوَit ليَis mine
فِي نَفِيسٍ حَازَ مِنَها هُوَ ليَ
So he shunned its excess bounty, never saying
of any precious thing he gained from it, 'It is mine.'
وَاستَوىand was equal وَالنَّاسَwith the people فِيمَاin what عِندَهُhe possessed
وَاستَوى وَالنَّاسَ فِيمَا عِندَهُ
مَاexcept عَدَاapart from العِرضِhonor وَبِيضِand the fair women of الكُلَلِthe curtained alcoves
مَا عَدَا العِرضِ وَبِيضِ الكُلَلِ
He and the people were equals in what he possessed,
except his honor and the fair women behind curtains.
نَازَعَcompeted with النَّاسَthe people عَلَىover الحلمِforbearance فَلَمْand did not
نَازَعَ النَّاسَ عَلَى الحلمِ فَلَمْ
يُبْقِِleave مِنْany حَافٍbarefoot man وَلاَnor مُنتْعِلِshod man
يُبْقِِ مِنْ حَافٍ وَلاَ مُنتْعِلِ
He competed with people in forbearance, leaving
no one barefoot or shod to equal him.
خَصلَةٌa trait الحِلمِforbearance ثفِيلٌheavy حَملهَاits burden
خَصلَةٌ الحِلمِ ثفِيلٌ حَملهَا
كَبَرَتْgrew great قَدراًin worth عَلَىbeyond ذيone possessing فَشَلِfeebleness
كَبَرَتْ قَدراً عَلَى ذي فَشَلِ
Forbearance is a trait whose burden is heavy,
too mighty in worth for one of feeble resolve.
تَنْسِفُblows away الطَّودَthe towering mountain وَهَلْand can يُسطَىbe assailed عَلَىagainst
تَنْسِفُ الطَّودَ وَهَلْ يُسطَى عَلَى
جَبَلٍa mountain عَاتَdefiant بِغَيرِwithout الحِيلِstratagems
جَبَلٍ عَاتَ بِغَيرِ الحِيلِ
It blows away the towering mountain; and can one assail
a defiant mountain without stratagems?
حَالَthe plight of مَمطُورٍMamtur إذاwhen مَاemphatic particle ذَاقَهَاtasted it
حَالَ مَمطُورٍ إذا مَا ذَاقَهَا
ذُوone possessing حِجىًsense جَاءَتْit brought بِأمرٍa matter جَلَلِmomentous
ذُو حِجىً جَاءَتْ بِأمرٍ جَلَلِ
Mamtur's plight, when tasted
by a man of sense, brought a momentous matter.
هُوَhe مَاwhat هُوَhe was مَارِدٌa rebel قَدْindeed عَظَّمَتْmagnified
هُوَ مَا هُوَ مَارِدٌ قَدْ عَظَّمَتْ
شأنَهُhis stature أمْلاكُthe kings of مَاضِيbygone المِلَلِcommunities
شأنَهُ أمْلاكُ مَاضِي المِلَلِ
What a rebel he was! His stature
the kings of bygone communities had magnified.
جَرَّdragged ذَيْلthe train of البَغِيِoppression تِيهاًarrogantly رَافِعاًraising
جَرَّ ذَيْل البَغِيِ تِيهاً رَافِعاً
رَأيَةَthe banner of الخُلْفِfaithlessness بِأعلَىupon the highest القُلَلِpeaks
رَأيَةَ الخُلْفِ بِأعلَى القُلَلِ
He dragged oppression's train in arrogance, raising
the banner of faithlessness upon the highest peaks.
وَانْتَصَىand unsheathed مِنْfrom عَزمِهِhis resolve مَاwhat يُنتَضَىis unsheathed
وَانْتَصَى مِنْ عَزمِهِ مَا يُنتَضَى
وَرَمَتْand hurled أنْحَاؤُهُhis sides بالشُّعَلِflames
وَرَمَتْ أنْحَاؤُهُ بالشُّعَلِ
And he drew from his resolve what could be unsheathed,
and his sides hurled flames.
بَينَمَاwhile التَدْبِيرُstrategy سَوَّىreadied سَيفَهُhis sword
بَينَمَا التَدْبِيرُ سَوَّى سَيفَهُ
نَاهِضاًrising فِيin حَولِهِhis power وَالحِيلِand stratagems
نَاهِضاً فِي حَولِهِ وَالحِيلِ
While strategy readied his sword,
as he rose in his power and stratagems,
إذْthen أتَىbrought اللهُGod بِنَصرٍa victory قَاطِعاًcutting off
إذْ أتَى اللهُ بِنَصرٍ قَاطِعاً
قُوَّةًَthe strength of البِيضbright blades وَسُمْرand brown الأسَلِspears
قُوَّةًَ البِيض وَسُمْر الأسَلِ
God suddenly brought a victory, cutting off
the strength of bright blades and brown spears.
يَالَهَاwhat a blessing it is مِنْof a نِعْمَةٍblessing قَدْindeed ضُمِّنَتْwas made to contain
يَالَهَا مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ قَدْ ضُمِّنَتْ
جُمَلاًmultitudes كَمْhow many تَحْتَهَاbeneath it مِنْof جُمَلِmultitudes
جُمَلاً كَمْ تَحْتَهَا مِنْ جُمَلِ
What a blessing, containing
multitudes—how many further multitudes beneath it!
أصبَحَbegan العَاتِيthe defiant one بِهَاthrough it يَنقَضُundoing مَاwhat
أصبَحَ العَاتِي بِهَا يَنقَضُ مَا
أحكَمْhe made secure الشدَّthe binding بِهwith it مِنْof وَثَلamassed wealth
أحكَمْ الشدَّ بِه مِنْ وَثَل
Through it the defiant one began undoing what
he had bound securely with amassed wealth.
وَغَدَاand began يَقْذِفُejecting مَاwhat فِيin بَطنِهِhis belly
وَغَدَا يَقْذِفُ مَا فِي بَطنِهِ
قَذْفَthe vomiting of مَنْone who أغرقَwent to excess in عَلَّa further draught of الثمَلِthe drunkard
قَذْفَ مَنْ أغرقَ عَلَّ الثمَلِ
And he began ejecting what was in his belly,
like one who drank a drunkard's further draught to excess.
كُلّevery رِجلٍfoot فَارَقَتْleft مَركَزَهُhis station
كُلّ رِجلٍ فَارَقَتْ مَركَزَهُ
خُبِطَتْwas struck مِنْfrom حِينِهَاthat moment فيinto كَبَلِa shackle
خُبِطَتْ مِنْ حِينِهَا في كَبَلِ
Every foot that left his station
was clapped into a shackle from that moment.
سَئِمَgrew weary الأسرُمِنْcaptivity, of تَعدَادِهِمْcounting them
سَئِمَ الأسرُمِنْ تَعدَادِهِمْ
وَاشتَكَىand complained القَيدُthe fetter بِهِمْwith them مِنْof مَلَلِboredom
وَاشتَكَى القَيدُ بِهِمْ مِنْ مَلَلِ
Captivity grew weary of counting them,
and the fetter complained of boredom with them.
سَلْask فَسِيحَthe expanse of الأرضthe earth عَنْabout أفلاذهhis fragments
سَلْ فَسِيحَ الأرض عَنْ أفلاذه
أينَwhere مَرَّتْthey passed فِيalong فِجَاجthe broad passes of السُّبَلِthe pathways
أينَ مَرَّتْ فِي فِجَاج السُّبَلِ
Ask the wide earth about his fragments:
where did they pass along the broad pathways?
يُخْبِرُreports الصَّادقُthe truthful one عَنْabout أحوَالِهhis circumstances
يُخْبِرُ الصَّادقُ عَنْ أحوَالِه
إنهَاthat they سَاخَتْsank وَلَمْand did not تَنْتَقِلِmove away
إنهَا سَاخَتْ وَلَمْ تَنْتَقِلِ
The truthful witness reports his circumstances:
they sank into the ground and did not move away.
دُفْعَةًall at once قَدْindeed طُمِسَتْwere erased أعْلامُهُhis standards
دُفْعَةً قَدْ طُمِسَتْ أعْلامُهُ
عَجَباًwhat a marvel مِنْof عَجْلَةٍswiftness فِيin العَجَلhaste
عَجَباً مِنْ عَجْلَةٍ فِي العَجَل
At one stroke his standards were erased—
what a marvel of swiftness in such haste!
سُنَةٌa law مَاضِيةٌenduring فِيمَنْfor whoever بَغَىrebelled
سُنَةٌ مَاضِيةٌ فِيمَنْ بَغَى
أنْto يَرَىsee فِيin البَغْيrebellion عَكسْthe opposite of الأمَلِhope
أنْ يَرَى فِي البَغْي عَكسْ الأمَلِ
It is an enduring law for whoever rebels
to see in rebellion the opposite of his hope.
أكذَبَbelied الحِسَّthe senses بِجَمَالٍat Jamal وَقَدْalthough
أكذَبَ الحِسَّ بِجَمَالٍ وَقَدْ
كَانَit was مَشهُوراًrenowned كَيَومlike the Day of الجَمَلِthe Camel
كَانَ مَشهُوراً كَيَوم الجَمَلِ
He confounded the senses at Jamal, though
it had been as renowned as the Day of the Camel.
فَتَحَhe opened الحَيْنَdeath لَهَاto it إذْwhen فَتَحَتْit opened
فَتَحَ الحَيْنَ لَهَا إذْ فَتَحَتْ
بِارتِكَابِby committing الخُلْفِfaithlessness بَابَthe door of الزَّلَلِerror
بِارتِكَابِ الخُلْفِ بَابَ الزَّلَلِ
He opened death to it when it opened,
by breaking faith, the door to error.
فَغَدَتْso it passed مِنْthrough جَهْلِهَاits ignorance الفَاحِشِoutrageous مِنْfrom
فَغَدَتْ مِنْ جَهْلِهَا الفَاحِشِ مِنْ
بَابِthe chapter of الاعرَابِgrammatical inflection لِبابِto the chapter of البَدَلِsubstitution
بَابِ الاعرَابِ لِبابِ البَدَلِ
Through its outrageous ignorance it passed from
the chapter of grammatical inflection to that of substitution.
كَيفَhow تُخْطِيcould miss مَنْone who تَعَدَىexceeded طَورَهُhis bounds
كَيفَ تُخْطِي مَنْ تَعَدَى طَورَهُ
صَرْعَةٌa fall يَهُوىhe plunges بِهاthrough it فِيinto التُّلَلِthe mounds
صَرْعَةٌ يَهُوى بِها فِي التُّلَلِ
How could one who exceeded his bounds be missed
by a fall that plunges him among the mounds?
فَمَضَىso passed السيفُthe sword بِهِمْthrough them فِيin غُلةٍburning thirst
فَمَضَى السيفُ بِهِمْ فِي غُلةٍ
وَاشتَفَىand slaked itself مِنْfrom دَمِهِمtheir blood بِالعَلَلِwith repeated draughts
وَاشتَفَى مِنْ دَمِهِم بِالعَلَلِ
So the sword passed through them, burning with thirst,
and slaked itself with repeated draughts of their blood.
فَاذكُرِso recall الأيامَthe days فِيamong الناسِpeople تَجِدْyou will find
فَاذكُرِ الأيامَ فِي الناسِ تَجِدْ
يَومَهُمْtheir day هَذاthis كَيَومِlike the Day of الظُّلَلِthe Canopies
يَومَهُمْ هَذا كَيَومِ الظُّلَلِ
Recall the days that befell people, and you will find
this day of theirs like the Day of the Canopies.
مَاwhat لِعَمدُونَails Amdun عَمَواthey were blind عَنْto شَأنِهِhis might
مَا لِعَمدُونَ عَمَوا عَنْ شَأنِهِ
وَهْوَalthough he كَالشَمسِlike the sun دَنَتْdrew near لِلطَّفلِto dusk
وَهْوَ كَالشَمسِ دَنَتْ لِلطَّفلِ
What ails Amdun, that they were blind to his might,
when he was like the sun drawing near dusk?
أوor نَسَواthey forgot مِنْof أمرِهِhis affair الهَائِلِterrifying مَاwhat
أو نَسَوا مِنْ أمرِهِ الهَائِلِ مَا
كَانَhappened وَالعَهدُalthough the elapsed time بِهِsince it لَمْhad not يَطُلِbeen long
كَانَ وَالعَهدُ بِهِ لَمْ يَطُلِ
Or did they forget, of his terrifying deeds, what
had happened, though not long had passed since?
نَصَبواthey set up الحَربَwar لِمَنْagainst one who ألوَىswept away بِهِit
نَصَبوا الحَربَ لِمَنْ ألوَى بِهِ
وَاحتَسَاهُand gulped it down أكلَةًas a morsel فِيamong الأُكَلِmeals
وَاحتَسَاهُ أكلَةً فِي الأُكَلِ
They made war on one who swept it away
and gulped it down, one morsel among his meals.
وَتَنَادُواand called to one another كُلُّevery رَهطٍband يَدَّعِيclaims
وَتَنَادُوا كُلُّ رَهطٍ يَدَّعِي
أنهُthat it يَفعَلُwould do مَاwhat لَمْhad not يَقُلِsaid
أنهُ يَفعَلُ مَا لَمْ يَقُلِ
And they called to one another, every band claiming
it would do what it had not even spoken of.
وَاسَتتَمُّواand completed الرَّأيَthe plan حَتىuntil عَايَنُواthey beheld
وَاسَتتَمُّوا الرَّأيَ حَتى عَايَنُوا
نِقْمَةَthe vengeance of اللهِGod التِيwhich لَمْhad not تَزَلِceased
نِقْمَةَ اللهِ التِي لَمْ تَزَلِ
They completed their plan until they beheld
God's vengeance, which had never ceased.
عَايَنُواthey beheld الأرضَthe land التِيwhich كانتwas لَهُمْtheirs
عَايَنُوا الأرضَ التِي كانت لَهُمْ
شِركَةًa shared possession مَاlinking particle بَيْنَهُمْbetween them وَالوَعَلِand the ibex
شِركَةً مَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَالوَعَلِ
They beheld the land that had been theirs,
shared between themselves and the ibex:
كُلُّevery شِبْرٍhandspan كَاشِفٍrevealing عَنْa أجْرَدٍsleek horse
كُلُّ شِبْرٍ كَاشِفٍ عَنْ أجْرَدٍ
كُلُّevery فِتْرٍfinger-span كَاشِفٍrevealing عَنْa بَطَلِchampion
كُلُّ فِتْرٍ كَاشِفٍ عَنْ بَطَلِ
every handspan revealed a sleek horse,
every finger-span revealed a champion.
فَإذاand suddenly أبصَارُهُمْtheir eyes زَائِغَةٌwandering in fright
فَإذا أبصَارُهُمْ زَائِغَةٌ
مِنْfrom بَلاَيَاcalamities مَاnot لَهَاfor them مِنْany قِبَلِpower to withstand
مِنْ بَلاَيَا مَا لَهَا مِنْ قِبَلِ
Suddenly their eyes were wandering in fright
at calamities they had no power to withstand.
ثمَّthen نَاطَتْfastened غَايَةُthe outcome of الحَربwar بِهمْupon them
ثمَّ نَاطَتْ غَايَةُ الحَرب بِهمْ
حَلقَthe shaving of الأذقَانِchins وَصَفْعَand slapping of القذلnapes
حَلقَ الأذقَانِ وَصَفْعَ القذل
Then the war's outcome imposed upon them
the shaving of chins and slapping of napes.
غُمَّةٌdistress مَاdid not انكَشَفَتْlift حَتىuntil انجَلَتit cleared
غُمَّةٌ مَا انكَشَفَتْ حَتى انجَلَت
عَنْrevealing سدَىthe futility of الرَّأيjudgment وَمَحْضِand sheer الخَلَلerror
عَنْ سدَى الرَّأي وَمَحْضِ الخَلَل
A cloud of distress did not lift until it cleared
to reveal fruitless judgment and sheer error.
يتْعبُgrows weary النُّصحُcounsel وَلاَand does not يَنْفَعُbenefit فيin
يتْعبُ النُّصحُ وَلاَ يَنْفَعُ في
فَاسدcorrupted الأذهَانminds ضَربُthe offering of المَثَلِan example
فَاسد الأذهَان ضَربُ المَثَلِ
Counsel grows weary, and no benefit comes to
corrupted minds from the offering of examples.
يَاO أميراًprince طَلَعَتْrose دَولَتهُhis reign
يَا أميراً طَلَعَتْ دَولَتهُ
تَتَسَامىtowers غرَّةًas a bright distinction فيamong الدُّولِreigns
تَتَسَامى غرَّةً في الدُّولِ
O prince whose reign has risen,
towering as a bright distinction among reigns,
تَبسطُgladdens النفْسَthe soul بِسِنwith a tooth بَاسمٍsmiling
تَبسطُ النفْسَ بِسِن بَاسمٍ
وَمَحَيَّاًand a countenance مَاnot بهِin it منْany بَسَلِsternness
وَمَحَيَّاً مَا بهِ منْ بَسَلِ
it cheers the soul with a smiling tooth
and a countenance free of sternness.
يُنشدُrecites المْنْصِفُthe fair-minded one فيin تَوصِيفهَاdescribing it
يُنشدُ المْنْصِفُ في تَوصِيفهَا
شعرَthe poetry of تَمامٍTammam وَبَيتَand the verse of الهُذَليal-Hudhali
شعرَ تَمامٍ وَبَيتَ الهُذَلي
The fair-minded recite, in describing it,
the poetry of Tammam and the verse of al-Hudhali.
نلْتَهَاyou attained it لاَnot مُعملاًexerting yourself فيwith ذَابِلٍa slender spear
نلْتَهَا لاَ مُعملاً في ذَابِلٍ
لاَno ولاَnor فيwith اليَعْمَلاَتِhardy she-camels الذُّبُلِlean
لاَ ولاَ في اليَعْمَلاَتِ الذُّبُلِ
You attained it without exerting yourself with a slender spear,
no, nor with lean, hardy she-camels.
بَلrather وَلاَand did not اسْتَعْجَلتَyou hasten فيin تَحصِيلهَاattaining it
بَل وَلاَ اسْتَعْجَلتَ في تَحصِيلهَا
عَمَلَthe deed of الغَادِرِthe traitor بَعضَsome الغِيَلِassassinations
عَمَلَ الغَادِرِ بَعضَ الغِيَلِ
Nor did you hasten to obtain it
through a traitor's deed, some act of assassination.
طَهَرَتْwas pure منْof نَجَسِthe filth of السَّفكِbloodshed وَمِنْand of
طَهَرَتْ منْ نَجَسِ السَّفكِ وَمِنْ
صَرخَةِthe cry of النَّاعيthe death-herald بصَوتِin the voice of الثَّكَلِbereavement
صَرخَةِ النَّاعي بصَوتِ الثَّكَلِ
It was pure of the filth of bloodshed, and of
the death-herald's cry in the voice of bereavement.
صَدَقَتْspoke truly إذwhen ذكَرَتْit spoke فيin فَخرِهَاits boast
صَدَقَتْ إذ ذكَرَتْ في فَخرِهَا
عَنْabout سوَاهَاothers than it مثلَlike قولِthe words of الجِيَلِيal-Jili
عَنْ سوَاهَا مثلَ قولِ الجِيَلِي
It spoke truly when, boasting, it said
of others something like the words of al-Jili.
وَهيَand it أعلَىtoo exalted أنْto تُرَىbe seen مخطئَةًmissing
وَهيَ أعلَى أنْ تُرَى مخطئَةً
رُشْدَهَاits right course فِيin قَولِهَاits speech وَالعَمَلِand deed
رُشْدَهَا فِي قَولِهَا وَالعَمَلِ
It is too exalted to be seen missing
its right course in speech or deed.
حَيثُwhere رَدَّتْit rejected كلَّeveryone مَنْwho يَخطُبُهَاcourted it
حَيثُ رَدَّتْ كلَّ مَنْ يَخطُبُهَا
وَاستَجَابَتْكَand answered you وَقَالَتْand said بَجَلِyes
وَاستَجَابَتْكَ وَقَالَتْ بَجَلِ
For it rejected everyone who courted it,
and answered you, saying, 'Yes.'
فَاستَوَىso agreed الإشْهَادُthe attestation وَالحَاكِمُand the judge فِيon
فَاستَوَى الإشْهَادُ وَالحَاكِمُ فِي
أنَّكَthat you الأكْفَىthe worthiest match وَبِالمَهرِand for the dowry مَلِيwell able to pay
أنَّكَ الأكْفَى وَبِالمَهرِ مَلِي
Thus the testimony and the judge agreed
that you were the worthiest match, well able to pay the dowry.
أيُّwhat عَقلٍmind بَعدَafter هَذاthis يَمتَريdoubts
أيُّ عَقلٍ بَعدَ هَذا يَمتَري
فِيabout وُضُوحِthe clarity of الحَقّtruth وَالحَقُّwhile the truth جَلِيis plain
فِي وُضُوحِ الحَقّ وَالحَقُّ جَلِي
What mind, after this, could doubt
the truth's clarity, when the truth is plain?
أيُّهَاO المَولىlord الذيwhose أمدَاحُهُpraises of him
أيُّهَا المَولى الذي أمدَاحُهُ
قَصَرَتْfell short عَنهُof him فَهِيso they are فِيin خَجَلِshame
قَصَرَتْ عَنهُ فَهِي فِي خَجَلِ
O lord whose praises
fall short of him and stand ashamed,
إنَّindeed فَتْحاًa victory جَاءَكَcame to you المأمونal-Ma'mun فِيwithin
إنَّ فَتْحاً جَاءَكَ المأمون فِي
طَيِّهِits folds فَتحٌa victory بِرِبحwith gain عَجِلِswift
طَيِّهِ فَتحٌ بِرِبح عَجِلِ
a victory that brought you al-Ma'mun within
its folds is a victory yielding swift gain:
سَعدُgood fortune of إقبَالٍadvancement وَبَخْتٌand luck مؤذنٌheralding
سَعدُ إقبَالٍ وَبَخْتٌ مؤذنٌ
بِالأمَانِيwishes وَالهَنَاand happiness المُتَّصِلِuninterrupted
بِالأمَانِي وَالهَنَا المُتَّصِلِ
good fortune advancing, and luck heralding
wishes fulfilled and uninterrupted happiness.
مَلِكٌa king مِنْfrom مَلِكٍa king مِنْfrom مَلِكa king
مَلِكٌ مِنْ مَلِكٍ مِنْ مَلِك
أنشَطَunfettered المُلكَkingship بِهthrough him مِنْfrom عَقَلِfetters
أنشَطَ المُلكَ بِه مِنْ عَقَلِ
A king, sprung from a king, sprung from a king,
through whom kingship was released from its fetters.
اهْنَrejoice بِالفَتْحin victory وَبِالرّبْحand in gain مَعَاًtogether
اهْنَ بِالفَتْح وَبِالرّبْح مَعَاً
فِيin هَنَاthe joy of مَولِدِthe birth of خَيرthe best of الرُّسلِmessengers
فِي هَنَا مَولِدِ خَير الرُّسلِ
Rejoice in victory and gain together,
amid the joy of the best of messengers' birth,
عَائِداًreturning مِنْهَاfrom it إلَىto أمثَالِهَاothers like it
عَائِداً مِنْهَا إلَى أمثَالِهَا
صَالِحَsound الحَالِin condition بَعِيدَfar away الأجَلِlife's appointed end
صَالِحَ الحَالِ بَعِيدَ الأجَلِ
returning from this occasion to others like it,
sound in condition, with life's end far away.
يُصْبِحُgreets the morning المُلكُkingship بِكُمْthrough you مُبتَسِماًsmiling
يُصْبِحُ المُلكُ بِكُمْ مُبتَسِماً
ثُمَّthen يُمْسِيgreets the evening مَائِساًswaying فِيin جَذَلِdelight
ثُمَّ يُمْسِي مَائِساً فِي جَذَلِ
Kingship greets the morning smiling through you,
then greets the evening swaying in delight.
لاَيَرَىsees no فِيin رُمحِكُمْyour spear منْany قِصَرٍshortness
لاَيَرَى فِي رُمحِكُمْ منْ قِصَرٍ
لاَno وَلاَnor فيin سَيفِكُمْyour sword مِنْany كَلَلِdullness
لاَ وَلاَ في سَيفِكُمْ مِنْ كَلَلِ
It sees no shortness in your spear,
no, nor any dullness in your sword.
إيindeed وَلاَand not أعْرَضتُمُyou turned away عَنْfrom شَاعِرٍa poet
إي وَلاَ أعْرَضتُمُ عَنْ شَاعِرٍ
جَاءَbrought بِالأجْمَلِthe most beautiful غِبَّfollowing الأجمَلِthe most beautiful
جَاءَ بِالأجْمَلِ غِبَّ الأجمَلِ
Indeed, you have not turned away from a poet
who brought beauty after beauty.
عَادَةُthe custom of السُّوقِthe market إذاwhen مَاemphatic particle جَاءَهَاcame to it
عَادَةُ السُّوقِ إذا مَا جَاءَهَا
عارِفُone versed in التَّجْرِtrade بَداbegan بِالدَّقَلِwith inferior dates
عارِفُ التَّجْرِ بَدا بِالدَّقَلِ
It is the market's custom: when it receives
a man versed in trade, he begins with inferior dates.
ضَؤُلَwas feeble الذهْنُthe intellect وَلَكِنْbut مَدحكمpraising you
ضَؤُلَ الذهْنُ وَلَكِنْ مَدحكم
يُلبِسُclothes الخَامِلَthe obscure one أبهَىthe most splendid الحلَلِrobes
يُلبِسُ الخَامِلَ أبهَى الحلَلِ
The intellect was feeble, but praising you
clothes the obscure in the most splendid robes.
رُمتَهَاI sought it دُرّاًas pearls بِبحْرٍin a sea زَاخِرٍsurging
رُمتَهَا دُرّاً بِبحْرٍ زَاخِرٍ
أوْor دَرَارِيbrilliant stars طَلَعَتْrose فِيin الحَمَلِAries
أوْ دَرَارِي طَلَعَتْ فِي الحَمَلِ
I sought it as pearls in a surging sea,
or brilliant stars rising in Aries,
نَازِلاًdescending لِلنُّونِto the great fish فِيهَاwithin it تَارَةًat one time
نَازِلاً لِلنُّونِ فِيهَا تَارَةً
ثمَthen أخرَىat another time صَاعِداًascending عَنْabove زُحَلِSaturn
ثمَ أخرَى صَاعِداً عَنْ زُحَلِ
now descending within it to the great fish,
then, at another time, rising above Saturn,
كَيso that أحَلِّيهَاI adorn it بِأحلَىwith the sweetest ذِكرِكُمْmention of you
كَي أحَلِّيهَا بِأحلَى ذِكرِكُمْ
وَأحَاشِيand shield زَيْنَهَاits adornment عَنْfrom عَطَلِbareness
وَأحَاشِي زَيْنَهَا عَنْ عَطَلِ
so that I might adorn it with the sweetest mention of you
and shield its beauty from bareness.
فَإذاso whenever أُنْشِدَis recited مِنهَاof it جَانِبٌa portion
فَإذا أُنْشِدَ مِنهَا جَانِبٌ
سَارَtravels فِيthrough الآفاقِthe horizons سَيْرَlike the journey of المَثَلِa proverb
سَارَ فِي الآفاقِ سَيْرَ المَثَلِ
Whenever a portion of it is recited,
it travels through the horizons like a proverb.
شُكْرُgratitude for نعمَاكَyour favor التِيwhich قَلبيmy heart لَهَاbefore it
شُكْرُ نعمَاكَ التِي قَلبي لَهَا
خَاضِعٌsubmissive عَنْfrom ذِكرِهَاrecalling it لَمْhas not يَحُلِturned aside
خَاضِعٌ عَنْ ذِكرِهَا لَمْ يَحُلِ
Gratitude for your favor, before which my heart
bows, has never turned aside from recalling it.
كَيفَhow أنسَىcould I forget لَيلَةَthe night when نَادَيْتَنِيyou called to me
كَيفَ أنسَى لَيلَةَ نَادَيْتَنِي
ثِقْtrust بِكَفِّيmy hand يَاO غَرِيقَone drowning in الوَجَلِfear
ثِقْ بِكَفِّي يَا غَرِيقَ الوَجَلِ
How could I forget the night you called to me:
'Trust my hand, O you drowning in fear!'
وَأناwhile I أحجِلُhop فِيwithin حِجلِthe anklet of الرَّدَىdeath
وَأنا أحجِلُ فِي حِجلِ الرَّدَى
يَاoh لَهُwhat a thing it is بعداًbanishment لَهُto it مِنْof an حِجِلِanklet
يَا لَهُ بعداً لَهُ مِنْ حِجِلِ
While I hopped within death's anklet—
what an anklet! Away with it!
بَينَbetween أنْيَابٍfangs وَظُفرٍand a claw نَاشِبٍembedded
بَينَ أنْيَابٍ وَظُفرٍ نَاشِبٍ
تَنْشُرُsaw through الأعظُمَbones بَعدَafter العَضَلِmuscles
تَنْشُرُ الأعظُمَ بَعدَ العَضَلِ
between fangs and a claw sunk deep,
sawing through bones after the muscles.
أسألُI ask الليلَthe night عَنِabout النجمِthe star وَلَوand if
أسألُ الليلَ عَنِ النجمِ وَلَو
طَلَعَrose النجمُthe star شَفَىwould cure مِنْof عِلَلِيmy ailments
طَلَعَ النجمُ شَفَى مِنْ عِلَلِي
I ask the night about the star; if
the star rose, it would cure my ailments.
أمسَحُI wipe الجَفْنَthe eyelid وَلاَyet no دَمعَtear بِهِupon it
أمسَحُ الجَفْنَ وَلاَ دَمعَ بِهِ
يُقلِقُtorments الدَّمْعُtears إذاwhen لَمْdo not يَسِلِflow
يُقلِقُ الدَّمْعُ إذا لَمْ يَسِلِ
I wipe my eyelid, though no tear is there;
tears torment when they fail to flow.
فَاغْتَنَمْتُso I gained الأجرَthe reward مُمتَازاًdistinguished بِهِby it
فَاغْتَنَمْتُ الأجرَ مُمتَازاً بِهِ
جَاذِباًdrawing لِيme مِنْfrom عَظِيمِoverwhelming الوَجَلِfear
جَاذِباً لِي مِنْ عَظِيمِ الوَجَلِ
Thus I gained the reward, distinguished by it,
drawing me out of overwhelming fear,
قَالِباًturning قَلبِيmy heart إلَىto مُعْتَادِهِits accustomed state
قَالِباً قَلبِي إلَى مُعْتَادِهِ
جابراًmending كسريmy brokenness بحملِby bearing الحملِthe burden
جابراً كسري بحملِ الحملِ
turning my heart back to its accustomed state,
mending my brokenness by bearing the burden.
رحمةًmercy ليfor me بهمwith them الحالُthe situation مضواthey passed on
رحمةً لي بهم الحالُ مضوا
بعدafterward شتىscattered فيamong عدادthe ranks of الهملِthe neglected
بعد شتى في عداد الهملِ
Mercy for me; with them, the situation—they passed on [text unclear],
afterward, scattered among the neglected.
لَوif تَمَادَتْcontinued بِهِمُfor them الحَالُthe situation مَضَواthey would have gone
لَو تَمَادَتْ بِهِمُ الحَالُ مَضَوا
بَعدُafterward شَتىscattered فِيamong عِدَادِthe ranks of الهَمَلِthe neglected
بَعدُ شَتى فِي عِدَادِ الهَمَلِ
Had their situation continued, they would have gone
afterward, scattered among the neglected.
إنمَاonly يَبنِيbuilds كَذاthus مَنْone whose خُلِقَتْwas created
إنمَا يَبنِي كَذا مَنْ خُلِقَتْ
نَفسُهُhis soul سَالِمَةًfree مِنْof دَغَلِdeceit
نَفسُهُ سَالِمَةً مِنْ دَغَلِ
Only one whose soul was created
free of deceit builds in this way.
يَعْلَمُknows اللهُGod تَعَالَىexalted is He حَالِفاًswearing
يَعْلَمُ اللهُ تَعَالَى حَالِفاً
إنَّمَاindeed أنتَyou أمِيرٌa prince وَوَلِيand a saint
إنَّمَا أنتَ أمِيرٌ وَوَلِي
God Most High knows, as I swear,
that you are indeed a prince and a saint.
فَابقَso remain فِيin الخَيرِgood fortune المُهَنَّاblessed غَادِياًgoing out in the morning
فَابقَ فِي الخَيرِ المُهَنَّا غَادِياً
رَائِحاًreturning in the evening فِيamong خَيلِهِits steeds وَالخَوَلِand servants
رَائِحاً فِي خَيلِهِ وَالخَوَلِ
So remain in blessed good fortune, going out in the morning
and returning in the evening among its steeds and servants.
وَاصحَبِand accompany الدَّهرَTime كَمَاas تَختَارُهُyou choose it
وَاصحَبِ الدَّهرَ كَمَا تَختَارُهُ
ظَافِراًattaining فِيهِwithin it بِأقصَىthe utmost of الأمَلِhope
ظَافِراً فِيهِ بِأقصَى الأمَلِ
And keep company with Time as you choose,
attaining within it the utmost of your hopes.
Sol 6.1