وجَدfound الصَّباthe east wind للعاشِقينَfor lovers رسولاa messenger
وجَد الصَّبا للعاشِقينَ رسولا
فشفَىand healed بإهداءby sending السَّلامِgreetings عليلاan ailing person
فشفَى بإهداء السَّلامِ عليلا
He found in the east wind a messenger for lovers,
The morning breeze found a messenger for the lovers,
and healed an ailing lover by sending greetings.
And cured the sick with greeting of peace.
قُلْsay للأحبّةِto the beloved ones إنّنيthat I مُذْsince غِبتُمُyou were absent
قُلْ للأحبّةِ إنّني مُذْ غِبتُمُ
لمnot أَلْقَI have found وَجْهاًa face للسُّلُوِّof solace جميلاfair
لم أَلْقَ وَجْهاً للسُّلُوِّ جميلا
Tell the beloved: ever since you departed, I
Say to the loved ones since I've been away,
have found no fair face of solace.
I have not seen a beautiful face smiling.
وخلَعْتُand I took off أيّامَthe days of الوِصالِunion قصيرةًshort
وخلَعْتُ أيّامَ الوِصالِ قصيرةً
ولَبِستُand I put on ليلاًa night للفراقِof separation طويلاlong
ولَبِستُ ليلاً للفراقِ طويلا
I took off the short days of union,
I took off the short days of union,
and put on a long night of separation.
And wore the long night of separation.
وأبَىand by the father of (uncertain reading) اللَّياليthe nights ماnot ذمَمْتُI blamed أخِيرَهاtheir latest
وأبَى اللَّيالي ما ذمَمْتُ أخِيرَها
إلاّexcept that ذكَرْتُI recalled بهاthrough them العُهودَthe past days الأُولىthe earliest
إلاّ ذكَرْتُ بها العُهودَ الأُولى
By the father of nights, I never blame their latest
The nights refused except I remembered in them
without recalling through them the earliest days.
The old covenants and pacts.
سَرقstole الزّمانُTime منfrom الأوائلِthe earlier nights فانقضَتْand they passed
سَرق الزّمانُ من الأوائلِ فانقضَتْ
بدْراًa full moon وزادَتْهاand added to them الأواخِرُthe later nights طُولاlength
بدْراً وزادَتْها الأواخِرُ طُولا
Time stole from the earlier nights—and they passed—
Time has stolen the early days, so they vanished,
a full moon; the later nights added length to them.
The later days have increased in length.
أنجومَO stars of لَيْليmy night أينَwhere بَدْريmy full moon طالعاًrising
أنجومَ لَيْلي أينَ بَدْري طالعاً
أوَand do ...? منْهfrom him ماnot تَتعلّمِينَyou learn أُفولاsetting
أوَ منْه ما تَتعلّمِينَ أُفولا
O stars of my night, where is my full moon, rising?
Where is my rising full moon, O stars of my night?
And do you not learn from him how to set?
Or from it what are you learning to set?
ليتwould that الَّذيthe one who دَلَّguided البُدورَthe full moons علىtoward النَّوىseparation
ليت الَّذي دَلَّ البُدورَ على النَّوى
أَمسَىhad become عليهalong it للنُّجومِfor the stars دَليلاa guide
أَمسَى عليه للنُّجومِ دَليلا
Would that the one who guided full moons toward separation
I wish the one who showed the full moons the stars
had become the stars' guide along that way.
In the evening found the stars as guides for him.
قالواthey said عَشِقْتَyou fell in love وذاكand that شَيءٌa thing إنّماprecisely
قالوا عَشِقْتَ وذاك شَيءٌ إنّما
قدindeed كنتُI had been أَخشَىfearing أنthat يُقالَit be said فقِيلاand it was said
قد كنتُ أَخشَى أن يُقالَ فقِيلا
They said, 'You have fallen in love'—and that is precisely what
They said you fell in love, and that is something,
I had feared would be said; and it was said.
I had feared the saying until it was said.
يَشْكوcomplains إليّto me منَof الصَّبابةِpassionate longing صاحِبيmy companion
يَشْكو إليّ منَ الصَّبابةِ صاحِبي
وأبَىand refused غريقٌa drowning man أنto يُغيثَrescue بَليلاa drenched man
وأبَى غريقٌ أن يُغيثَ بَليلا
My companion complains to me of passionate longing,
My friend complains to me of youth,
but a drowning man refuses to rescue one merely drenched.
And a drowning man refuses to be saved with little water.
إنّيindeed I لأُطلِعُI surely raise فيin الجُفونِthe eyelids سَحائباًclouds
إنّي لأُطلِعُ في الجُفونِ سَحائباً
وأُجِنُّand I conceal فيwithin طَيَّthe fold of الضُّلوعthe ribs مُحولاdroughts
وأُجِنُّ في طَيَّ الضُّلوع مُحولا
Indeed, I raise clouds within my eyelids,
I look at the clouds in my eyelids,
and conceal droughts within the folds of my ribs.
And reap in the fold of ribs, a twisted life.
فيَظلُّso remains قلبيmy heart للهمومِfor sorrows مَنازلاًdwelling places
فيَظلُّ قلبي للهمومِ مَنازلاً
ويَبيتُand spends the night طَرْفيmy eye للنُّجومِwith the stars نَزيلاa lodger
ويَبيتُ طَرْفي للنُّجومِ نَزيلا
So my heart remains a dwelling place for sorrows,
My heart becomes a home for worries,
and my eye spends the night lodging with the stars.
And my eyes spend the night hosting stars.
مُتملْمِلاًrestless أَرْميI cast بمُقلْةِwith the eye of ساخِطٍa resentful man
مُتملْمِلاً أَرْمي بمُقلْةِ ساخِطٍ
فلَكاًa firmament علىupon حَرْبِwar against النُّهَىreason مَجْبولاfashioned
فلَكاً على حَرْبِ النُّهَى مَجْبولا
Restlessly, I cast a resentful eye
Angrily, I throw with a burning glance,
upon a firmament fashioned to wage war on reason.
A sphere on the war of prohibition that is destined.
فيin ليلةٍa night أَسَرheld captive الظّلامُthe darkness نُجومَهاits stars
في ليلةٍ أَسَر الظّلامُ نُجومَها
فثَوتْso they stayed تَلوحُgleaming علىupon الدُّجَىthe gloom إكْليلاa crown
فثَوتْ تَلوحُ على الدُّجَى إكْليلا
On a night whose stars the darkness held captive,
On a night whose darkness captured its stars,
they remained, gleaming upon the gloom like a crown.
So they remained waving in the darkness like a crown.
وتَناهَبتْand plundered خَيلُthe horses of الوزيرِthe minister صبَاحَهاits morning
وتَناهَبتْ خَيلُ الوزيرِ صبَاحَها
فقَسمْنَهُso they divided it غُرَراًforehead blazes لهاfor themselves وحُجولاand white leg markings
فقَسمْنَهُ غُرَراً لها وحُجولا
The minister's horses plundered its morning,
And the horses of the minister competed at dawn
dividing it among themselves as forehead blazes and white stockings.
And divided it among them as beautiful unique horses.
جُرْداًsleek-coated إذاwhen حَثَّhe urges الأعِنّةَthe reins للوغَىtoward battle
جُرْداً إذا حَثَّ الأعِنّةَ للوغَى
تَركَتْthey leave دِيارَthe dwellings of المارِقينَthe renegades طُلولاruined traces
تَركَتْ دِيارَ المارِقينَ طُلولا
Sleek steeds: when he urges the reins toward battle,
When the spears were stirred for the fight,
they leave the renegades' dwellings ruined traces.
They left the lands of the rebels completely deserted.
يَرْميhurls بهاwith them الأعداءَthe enemies لَيْثُa lion of كتيبةٍa battalion
يَرْمي بها الأعداءَ لَيْثُ كتيبةٍ
يَجْتابُstrides through منof شَوْكِthe thorns of الأسِنِّةِspearpoints غِيلاa thicket
يَجْتابُ من شَوْكِ الأسِنِّةِ غِيلا
A lion of the battalion hurls them at his enemies,
The lion of the brave battalion throws them with it
striding through a thicket of spearpoint thorns.
Reaping with the thorns of the spears carnage.
مَلِكٌa king غداhas become للهِfor God سابغَample عَدْلهhis justice
مَلِكٌ غدا للهِ سابغَ عَدْله
ظِلاًّa shade يُمَدُّspread علىover العِبادِthe servants ظَليلاsheltering
ظِلاًّ يُمَدُّ على العِبادِ ظَليلا
A king whose ample justice has become, for God,
A King whose justice has been fulfilled for God
a sheltering shade spread over His servants.
Extending over the servants a shaded refuge.
فإذاand when سَخاhe is generous مطَرhe rains upon الأكُفَّthe palms مواهباًgifts
فإذا سَخا مطَر الأكُفَّ مواهباً
وإذاand when سَطاhe strikes مطَرhe rains upon الرِّقابَthe necks نُصولاblades
وإذا سَطا مطَر الرِّقابَ نُصولا
When he is generous, he rains gifts into palms;
So when the clouds rain down gifts generously,
when he strikes, he rains blades upon necks.
And when it rains necklaces on necks.
ومُحجَّبٌand one screened from view تَغْدوcome in the morning الملوكُthe kings ببابِهat his door
ومُحجَّبٌ تَغْدو الملوكُ ببابِه
حتّىuntil تُجابَthey are admitted إلىto اللّقاءthe audience مُثولاstanding in attendance
حتّى تُجابَ إلى اللّقاء مُثولا
Screened from view, he has kings coming to his door at dawn,
And he is veiled, Kings go to his door,
standing until their request for audience is granted.
Until they are allowed to meet him and enter.
فإذاand when بداhe appears رفَلواthey walk with trailing robes إليهtoward him علىupon الثَّرىthe earth
فإذا بدا رفَلوا إليه على الثَّرى
منfrom بَعْدِafter ماthat جَعلواthey made الخدودَthe cheeks ذُيولاtrailing hems
من بَعْدِ ما جَعلوا الخدودَ ذُيولا
When he appears, they approach him with robes trailing on the earth,
So when he appears, they crawl to him on the ground,
after making their cheeks into trailing hems.
After making their cheeks the ground.
وتَخالُand you imagine طُولَthroughout الدّهْرِtime فيin عَرصاتهِhis courtyards
وتَخالُ طُولَ الدّهْرِ في عَرصاتهِ
غَيْثاًrain عليهاupon them بالوفودِwith delegations هُطولاpouring down
غَيْثاً عليها بالوفودِ هُطولا
Throughout time, you would imagine in his courtyards
You see the time on its plains through its seasons
a downpour raining delegations upon them.
Pouring on them rain of delegations and visitors.
تُزْجَىare driven إليهtoward him العِيسُthe pale camels ماas far as وَسِعَextends الفَلاthe wilderness
تُزْجَى إليه العِيسُ ما وَسِعَ الفَلا
قُوداًlong-necked يُبارِينَthey rival الرِّياحَthe winds ذَميلاat a brisk trot
قُوداً يُبارِينَ الرِّياحَ ذَميلا
The pale camels are driven toward him across the breadth of the wastes,
The camels are driven to him in multitudes
long-necked, matching the winds in a brisk trot,
As gifts competing with the winds in beauty.
حتّىuntil تُناخَthey are made to kneel بحيثُwhere يُنتجَعُis sought النّدىgenerosity
حتّى تُناخَ بحيثُ يُنتجَعُ النّدى
ويَبِيتُand spends the night عَقْدُthe knot of رِحالهاtheir saddles مَحْلولاunfastened
ويَبِيتُ عَقْدُ رِحالها مَحْلولا
until they kneel where generosity is sought,
Until they are tied down where the dew is collected
and their saddle-bindings spend the night unfastened.
And the knots of their saddles are untied.
يَغْدونَthey go in the morning أرسالاًin successive bands إليهto him وإنّماand indeed
يَغْدونَ أرسالاً إليه وإنّما
يَجِدونَthey find جُوداًgenerosity للفَخارِwith glory رَسيلاa match
يَجِدونَ جُوداً للفَخارِ رَسيلا
They come to him in successive bands, and indeed
Going to him in delegations, but they only find
find generosity paired with glory.
Generosity for the noble guests.
ومُعوِّدٌand one accustomed to سَبْقَpreceding السُّؤالِthe request برفْدِهwith his bounty
ومُعوِّدٌ سَبْقَ السُّؤالِ برفْدِه
حتّىuntil تَعذَّرit became impossible أنto يُرىhe be seen مَسْؤولاbeing asked
حتّى تَعذَّر أن يُرى مَسْؤولا
He habitually forestalls requests with his bounty,
And he who is accustomed to preceding requests with his gifts
until it becomes impossible to see him asked.
Until it becomes difficult for him to be asked.
لاno عَيبَfault فيهin him غيرَexcept أنَّthat يَمينَهُhis right hand
لا عَيبَ فيه غيرَ أنَّ يَمينَهُ
تُبْقيleaves بأغصانِin the branches of الرِّماحthe spears ذُبولاwithering
تُبْقي بأغصانِ الرِّماح ذُبولا
There is no fault in him, except that his right hand
He has no shortcoming other than that his right hand
leaves the branches of spears withered.
Keeps the branches of spears withering.
حَيّاكَmay preserve your life مَنHe who تُحْييyou revive بسَيْفِكwith your sword دِينَهHis religion
حَيّاكَ مَن تُحْيي بسَيْفِك دِينَه
مهماhowever غداbecomes خَطْبُthe crisis of الشِّقاقِdiscord جَليلاgrave
مهما غدا خَطْبُ الشِّقاقِ جَليلا
May He whose religion you revive with your sword preserve your life,
Greetings to you, who with your sword revive your religion
however grave the crisis of discord becomes.
No matter how great the discord becomes.
وَسقاكَand may water you مَنHe who يَسقيwaters بكَفِّكَwith your palm خَلْقَهHis creation
وَسقاكَ مَن يَسقي بكَفِّكَ خَلْقَه
دِيَماًlasting rains إذاwhen انْهَلَّpours down الغمامُthe cloud هُمولاin torrents
دِيَماً إذا انْهَلَّ الغمامُ هُمولا
And may He who waters His creatures through your hand water you
And quench your thirst, you who with your palm give drink to your people
with lasting rains, when the clouds pour down in torrents.
A rain, when the clouds pour heavily.
وفَداكَand may ransom you مَنhe who يَفْديransoms برِفْدِكwith your bounty نَفْسَهhimself
وفَداكَ مَن يَفْدي برِفْدِك نَفْسَه
إذْwhen لاno خليلَfriend بهاthere يُجيرُprotects خَليلاa friend
إذْ لا خليلَ بها يُجيرُ خَليلا
And may he who ransoms himself through your bounty ransom you,
And sacrifice for you, he who ransoms himself with your ransom
when no friend there can shelter a friend.
When he has no intimate friend to protect an intimate friend.
مِنof ماجدٍa noble man صَعْبِunyielding in الإباءpride مُناجِدٍa helper in battle
مِن ماجدٍ صَعْبِ الإباء مُناجِدٍ
حَلُمَgrew forbearing الزّمانُTime بهthrough him وكانand had been جَهولاignorant
حَلُمَ الزّمانُ به وكان جَهولا
Such a noble man, proudly unyielding, a helper in battle:
From the glorious and steadfast Majid
Time grew forbearing through him, though it had been ignorant.
Time is dreamy with him, and he was ignorant.
ومضَتْand went forth صَرائمهُhis firm resolves فكُنَّso they became صَوارماًsharp swords
ومضَتْ صَرائمهُ فكُنَّ صَوارماً
وصفَتْand grew pure شمائلُهhis traits فكُنَّso they became شَمولاwine
وصفَتْ شمائلُه فكُنَّ شَمولا
His firm resolves went forth and became sharp swords;
And his poems have passed and were like swords,
his traits grew pure and became wine.
And his features were described, and they were like moles.
وسَطاand he struck فماso not ينفَكُّceases طَرْفُthe gaze of عُداتِهhis enemies
وسَطا فما ينفَكُّ طَرْفُ عُداتِه
بظُباهُwith his blades أوor بخَيالهاwith their phantom مَكْحولاkohl-lined
بظُباهُ أو بخَيالها مَكْحولا
He struck, and his enemies' eyes never cease to be
His eyes do not fail to watch his enemies
kohl-lined with his blades or their phantoms.
Or his imagination with his horse bridled.
ولكَمْand how often رأوْاthey saw فيin النّومِsleep جَيشَكyour army ليلةًone night
ولكَمْ رأوْا في النّومِ جَيشَك ليلةً
صَدَقواthey found true قُبَيلَjust before صَباحِهاits dawn التَّأْويلاthe interpretation
صَدَقوا قُبَيلَ صَباحِها التَّأْويلا
How often they saw your army in sleep one night,
And how often they saw your army in a dream at night
and just before its dawn found the interpretation true.
Believing its interpretation before dawn.
لمnot يَشْعرواthey knew حتّىuntil طرَقْتَyou came by night كأنّماas though
لم يَشْعروا حتّى طرَقْتَ كأنّما
حَوَّلْتَyou transformed فيin الحَدَقِthe eyes الخَيالthe dream-image خُيولاinto horses
حَوَّلْتَ في الحَدَقِ الخَيال خُيولا
They knew nothing until you came by night, as though
They were not aware until you knocked as if
you had turned the dream-image in their eyes into horses.
You turned imagination in the eyelids into horses.
يَبْغيseeks الوُثوبَleaping علىupon الجيادِthe steeds خَفيفُهمْtheir nimblest man
يَبْغي الوُثوبَ على الجيادِ خَفيفُهمْ
فيَرىso he finds لهits وَطْأًa trampling عليهِupon him ثَقيلاheavy
فيَرى له وَطْأً عليهِ ثَقيلا
The nimblest of them seeks to spring upon the steeds,
Their nimble horses long to race fiercely,
but finds their tread heavy upon him.
So one sees for it a heavy tread upon it.
فيَقِلso he lifts ظَهْراًa back بالحوافِرِwith hooves مُنْعَلاًshod
فيَقِل ظَهْراً بالحوافِرِ مُنْعَلاً
ويُديرُand he turns طَرْفاًan eye بالسِّنانِwith a spearpoint كحيلاkohl-lined
ويُديرُ طَرْفاً بالسِّنانِ كحيلا
Then he lifts a back shod by their hooves,
So its back bends with the hooves tied,
and turns an eye kohl-lined with a spearpoint.
And its eye turns with the spear blinking.
إنif يَلْتَمِسْhe seeks يدَهُhis hand لتَلْحَقso it may reach عَيْنَهhis eye
إن يَلْتَمِسْ يدَهُ لتَلْحَق عَيْنَه
يَرhe sees بَعْضَهone part of him عنfrom بَعْضِهanother part of him مَشْغولاoccupied
يَر بَعْضَه عن بَعْضِه مَشْغولا
If he seeks his hand to make it reach his eye,
If its hand reaches to meet its eye,
he finds one part of himself too occupied for another.
It sees some of it busy away from the other.
وكأنّand as though قَرْعَthe striking of شِفاهِهمْtheir lips بنِعالِهاwith their shoes
وكأنّ قَرْعَ شِفاهِهمْ بنِعالِها
حتّىso that تُعلِّمَهمْthey teach them لهاto them التَّقْبيلاkissing
حتّى تُعلِّمَهمْ لها التَّقْبيلا
As though the pounding of their lips with the steeds' shoes
As if the striking of their lips with its shoes,
were to teach them to kiss those shoes.
Until it teaches them to kiss it.
مَنwhoever لمnot يَضَعْlays فيماwhere يَطأْنَthey tread جَبينَهhis brow
مَن لم يَضَعْ فيما يَطأْنَ جَبينَه
غادرْنَهthey leave him مِمّنْamong those whom يَطأْنthey trample قَتيلاdead
غادرْنَه مِمّنْ يَطأْن قَتيلا
Whoever does not lay his brow where they tread,
Do not place on what treads your forehead,
they leave dead among those they trample.
One who does not make those it treads a martyr.
ماnot يَعثُرُstumbles الباغيthe rebel بحَرْبِكin war against you عَثْرةًa stumble
ما يَعثُرُ الباغي بحَرْبِك عَثْرةً
فيرَىand finds منfrom الموتِdeath الزُّؤامِsudden and deadly مُقيلاa deliverer
فيرَى من الموتِ الزُّؤامِ مُقيلا
No rebel stumbles once in war against you
The transgressor does not stumble in your war,
and finds a deliverer from sudden death.
And see from death an inviting bed.
إنْif حادَhe swerves بَلّدهُthey immobilize him الجِيادُthe steeds فلمso not يَفُتْhe escapes
إنْ حادَ بَلّدهُ الجِيادُ فلم يَفُتْ
أوor ذادَhe resists غافَصَهtakes him unawares الرَّدىdeath فاغْتِيلاso he is slain
أو ذادَ غافَصَه الرَّدى فاغْتِيلا
If he swerves, the steeds immobilize him, and he cannot escape;
If his horse took him away, and he did not escape,
or if he resists, death surprises him, and he is slain.
Or his destiny attracted him, so he was killed.
فهوَىso fell انْطِلاقُthe freedom of يَمينِهhis right hand وجَوادُهand his steed
فهوَى انْطِلاقُ يَمينِه وجَوادُه
مُتقدِّماًadvancing للضّرْبِto strike أوor مَفْلولاrouted
مُتقدِّماً للضّرْبِ أو مَفْلولا
The freedom of his right hand and his steed falls away,
So the release of his right hand and his steed fell,
whether he advances to strike or is routed.
Going forward to strike or defeated.
فتَخالُهاso you imagine them بحُجولهاby their white leg markings مشكولةًfettered
فتَخالُها بحُجولها مشكولةً
وتَظُنُّهand you think him بحُسامِهby his sword مَغْلولاshackled
وتَظُنُّه بحُسامِه مَغْلولا
You would think the steeds fettered by their white stockings,
You imagine them with their horse armor
and him shackled by his sword.
And think of him with his sword as captured.
أنَصيرَO champion of دينِthe religion of اللهِGod والمَلكِand kingship الّذيwho
أنَصيرَ دينِ اللهِ والمَلكِ الّذي
ماnot شاهدواthey have seen لكَto you فيamong المُلوكِthe kings عَديلاan equal
ما شاهدوا لكَ في المُلوكِ عَديلا
O champion of God's faith and kingship, you whose
To support the religion of God and the King whom
equal among kings they have never seen.
They did not see your equal among kings.
درَسواthey taught لناto us سِيَرَthe histories of الكرامِthe noble وإنّماand indeed
درَسوا لنا سِيَرَ الكرامِ وإنّما
كانَwas النّدىgenerosity حتّىuntil فَعْلتَyou acted مَقولاmere words
كانَ النّدى حتّى فَعْلتَ مَقولا
They taught us the histories of noble men; yet
They studied for us the ways of the generous, but
generosity was mere words until you acted.
It was rare until you made it common.
ففدَتْكَso may ransom you أملاكٌkings تُريكَshow you فَعالُهمْtheir deeds
ففدَتْكَ أملاكٌ تُريكَ فَعالُهمْ
حسَباًnobility علىdespite سِمَنِthe fatness of الجسومِthe bodies هَزيلاmeager
حسَباً على سِمَنِ الجسومِ هَزيلا
May kings ransom you whose deeds reveal
Noble possessions make you see their actions
meager nobility despite their bodies' fatness.
As enough against the fat of lean bodies.
نَفَرٌa band of men أُعايِنُهمْI behold them وأَمسَحُand I wipe ناظريmy eye
نَفَرٌ أُعايِنُهمْ وأَمسَحُ ناظري
مِمّاbecause أَظُنُّI suppose شُخوصَهمtheir figures تَنْبيلاennoblement (sense uncertain)
مِمّا أَظُنُّ شُخوصَهم تَنْبيلا
A band of men I behold, then wipe my eyes,
Some, their eyes and my gazing at them
for I imagine their imposing figures confer nobility.
From what I think their rising is nobility.
ياO أَيُّهاyou المَولَىthe lord الأجلُّmost exalted دُعاءَthe plea of مَنone who
يا أَيُّها المَولَى الأجلُّ دُعاءَ مَن
أَضحَىhas come to يُوجِّهُdirects نَحْوكَtoward you التَّأْميلاhope
أَضحَى يُوجِّهُ نَحْوكَ التَّأْميلا
O most exalted lord, hear the plea of one
O most glorious master, the prayer of one
who now turns his hope toward you.
Who has come to direct his hopes to you.
ماwhat للمَصالحِfor public works يَنتظِرْنَthey await مَواعِداًappointed times
ما للمَصالحِ يَنتظِرْنَ مَواعِداً
سَبقتْthat have passed ولمand not تكُyou were للعفاةto petitioners مَطولاone who delays
سَبقتْ ولم تكُ للعفاة مَطولا
Why do public works await appointed times
The interests do not wait for appointed times
already past, when you have never put petitioners off?
And your generosity has not ceased to flow.
وعِمارةُand the rebuilding of الدُّولابِthe waterwheel عُوِّقَwas delayed أمْرُهاits undertaking
وعِمارةُ الدُّولابِ عُوِّقَ أمْرُها
عجَباًastonishingly ورِفْدُكand your bounty لمnot يَزَلْhas ceased مَبْذولاfreely given
عجَباً ورِفْدُك لم يَزَلْ مَبْذولا
The rebuilding of the waterwheel has been held up—
Astonishingly, the running of affairs has been hindered
astonishingly, though your bounty remains freely given,
While your support continues to be given.
صِلةًa gift لوَجْهِfor the sake of اللهِGod فيهfor it فماso what لَناfor us
صِلةً لوَجْهِ اللهِ فيه فما لَنا
لمnot نَلْقَwe have found بَعْدُyet لِماof what وصَلْتَyou bestowed وُصولاreceipt
لم نَلْقَ بَعْدُ لِما وصَلْتَ وُصولا
a gift for God's sake toward it; why, then, have we
As a connection to the face of God in it, so why
not yet received what you bestowed?
Have we not yet reached what you have reached?
وإذاand when جلَوْتَyou unveil منfrom المَواهبِgifts غادةًa maiden
وإذا جلَوْتَ من المَواهبِ غادةً
ألفَيْتَyou find أحسَنَthe finest of حَلْيِهاher adornment التَّعْجِيلاpromptness
ألفَيْتَ أحسَنَ حَلْيِها التَّعْجِيلا
When you unveil a maiden from among your gifts,
And if you have advanced from gifts departing,
you find her finest adornment is promptness.
You would find hastening its best adornment.
هيit غُرَّةٌa white blaze فيon وَجْهِthe face of عَسْكَرِAskar مُكْرَمٍMukram
هي غُرَّةٌ في وَجْهِ عَسْكَرِ مُكْرَمٍ
فُقِدَتْwas lost فشانَتْand marred حُسْنَهits beauty المَقْبولاpleasing
فُقِدَتْ فشانَتْ حُسْنَه المَقْبولا
It is a white blaze upon the face of Askar Mukram;
It is an atom on the face of the honored army
its absence has marred that pleasing beauty.
It was lost, so its beauty spread and was accepted.
جَنَتِwronged السُّيولُthe floods عليهit حتّىuntil أنّهindeed it
جَنَتِ السُّيولُ عليه حتّى أنّه
سفَحتْpoured out لعُطْلتِهover its disuse العُيونُthe eyes سُيولاtorrents
سفَحتْ لعُطْلتِه العُيونُ سُيولا
The floods ravaged it, to the point that
The torrents flowed over it until
eyes shed torrents over its disuse.
Its springs poured in weeping torrents.
كانتْthere was لهfor it قدَمٌa foot تُريحُthat rests بسَعْيِهاthrough its striving
كانتْ له قدَمٌ تُريحُ بسَعْيِها
أقدامَthe feet of قَومٍa people بُكْرَةًin the morning وأَصيلاand in the evening
أقدامَ قَومٍ بُكْرَةً وأَصيلا
It had a foot whose striving gave rest to
It had a foot that rested with its effort
the feet of a people, morning and evening.
The feet of a people morning and evening.
وبُكاءُand the weeping of عَيْنٍan eye كانwas منهfrom it لأهلِهاfor its people
وبُكاءُ عَيْنٍ كان منه لأهلِها
ضَحِكٌlaughter فأصبحَthen became رَنّةًlament وعَويلاand wailing
ضَحِكٌ فأصبحَ رَنّةً وعَويلا
An eye's weeping there had brought its people
And the crying of an eye that made those of its people
laughter; now it has become lament and wailing.
Laugh, but it became moaning and wailing for them.
ولأنتَand you are indeed أكرمُtoo generous أنto تُخَيِّبَdisappoint مَعشَراًa people
ولأنتَ أكرمُ أن تُخَيِّبَ مَعشَراً
قدindeed حاولواthey have tried أنto يَبْلُغواattain بكَthrough you سُولاa wish
قد حاولوا أن يَبْلُغوا بكَ سُولا
You are far too generous to disappoint a people
But you are too generous to disappoint a group
who have tried through you to attain their desire.
Who tried to reach you in requesting.
بَلْrather لوif رَجَوْكَthey hoped of you بأنthat تُديرَyou turn مكانَهin its place
بَلْ لو رَجَوْكَ بأن تُديرَ مكانَه
منof عَسجدٍgold فلَكاًa wheel لكانsurely would be قَليلاlittle
من عَسجدٍ فلَكاً لكان قَليلا
Indeed, even if they hoped you would turn in its place
But if the one who prostrated aspired for you
a wheel of gold, even that would be little.
To turn his place from a temple into a sphere, it would be little.
فابْعَثْso send بماwhat تُوليyou bestow تَكُنْmay become أُهُباتُهاits preparations
فابْعَثْ بما تُولي تَكُنْ أُهُباتُها
مَأْخوذةًsecured أنwhen أَلقَوْاthey cast الشّاقُولاthe plumb line
مَأْخوذةً أن أَلقَوْا الشّاقُولا
So send what you bestow, so its preparations may be
So send with what you turn, their landmarks be
secured when they lower the plumb line.
Taken after they cast the spears.
وتَهنَّand take delight بالعيدِin the feast السّعيدِhappy ولَقِّهand greet it
وتَهنَّ بالعيدِ السّعيدِ ولَقِّه
منَfrom بِشْرِكyour cheerfulness التّرحيبَwelcome والتّأْهيلاand hospitality
منَ بِشْرِك التّرحيبَ والتّأْهيلا
Enjoy the happy feast, and greet it
And congratulate with the auspicious feast, and meet it
with the welcome and hospitality of your cheerful face.
With your greeting and reception and honor.
واجْعَلْand make عِداكَyour enemies منamong الأضاحيthe sacrifices الّتيthat
واجْعَلْ عِداكَ من الأضاحي الّتي
يَدْمَىruns with blood لَهاfor them خَدُّthe cheek of الحسامِthe sword صَقيلاpolished
يَدْمَى لَها خَدُّ الحسامِ صَقيلا
And make your enemies among the sacrificial victims
And make your enemies sacrifices for which
for whom the polished cheek of the sword runs with blood.
The cheek of the sword bleeds, sharpened.
فيon كلِّevery يومٍday ذَرَّrises شارِقُهits morning sun تَرَىyou see
في كلِّ يومٍ ذَرَّ شارِقُه تَرَى
فَتْحاًa conquest بآخَرَwith another غيرِهbesides it مَوْصولاjoined
فَتْحاً بآخَرَ غيرِه مَوْصولا
On every day whose morning sun rises, may you see
You see every day whose rising brings
a conquest joined to another after it.
A victory connected to another continuously.
وتَخالُand you imagine سُكّانَthe inhabitants of الحُصونِthe fortresses تُطيعُهobey him
وتَخالُ سُكّانَ الحُصونِ تُطيعُه
قَطْراًrain يَزِلُّflows منfrom الغمامِthe clouds هُمولاin torrents
قَطْراً يَزِلُّ من الغمامِ هُمولا
You would take the dwellers of the fortresses that obey him
And you imagine the inhabitants of citadels obeying it
for rain streaming from the clouds in torrents.
Drop by drop, falling from the pouring clouds.
هيit دَولةٌa realm أحيَيْتَهاyou revived it فاسلَمْso remain safe لهاfor it
هي دَولةٌ أحيَيْتَها فاسلَمْ لها
حتّىuntil تَنالَyou attain بهاthrough it المُنَىdesires وتُنيلاand grant them
حتّى تَنالَ بها المُنَى وتُنيلا
This is a realm you have revived; remain safe for it,
It is a state you have revived, so submit to it
until through it you attain desires and grant them to others.
Until you reach the purpose through it.
ياO مَنْthe one whom عَلِقْتُI clung بذَيْلِto the hem of خِدْمتِهhis service الّتيwhich
يا مَنْ عَلِقْتُ بذَيْلِ خِدْمتِه الّتي
ألقَتْcast جَلالَتُهاits grandeur عليَّupon me قَبولاacceptance
ألقَتْ جَلالَتُها عليَّ قَبولا
O you, to the hem of whose service I have clung,
O you whose service skirt I clung to
whose grandeur has cast favor upon me,
And its majesty bestowed acceptance on me.
جَدِّدْrenew كَرامتيَmy honor الّتيwhich عَوَّدْتَنيyou accustomed me to
جَدِّدْ كَرامتيَ الّتي عَوَّدْتَني
بالكُتْبِwith letters تُودَعُentrusted with بِرَّكَyour kindness المَأمولاhoped for
بالكُتْبِ تُودَعُ بِرَّكَ المَأمولا
renew the honor you have accustomed me to,
Renew my generosity that you have accustomed me to
through letters entrusted with your hoped-for kindness.
Through scriptures bestowing your expected kindness.
فلوِso if استطَعْتُI could لمَاI would not التفَتُّI turned aside بنَظْرةٍwith a glance
فلوِ استطَعْتُ لمَا التفَتُّ بنَظْرةٍ
حتّىuntil أَزورَI visit جَنابَكyour court المَأْهولاwell-peopled
حتّى أَزورَ جَنابَك المَأْهولا
If I could, I would not look aside even once
If I could, I would not glance
until I visited your well-peopled court,
Until I visit your populated abode.
ورَكِبْتُand I would ride أجنحةَthe wings of الرّياحِthe winds حَثيثةًswift
ورَكِبْتُ أجنحةَ الرّياحِ حَثيثةً
أَبْغيseeking بِهنَّon them إلىto ذُراكَyour heights رَحيلاa journey
أَبْغي بِهنَّ إلى ذُراكَ رَحيلا
and would ride the winds' wings in haste,
And I rode the winds hurrying
seeking on them a journey to your heights.
Seeking with it to travel to your place of dwelling.
ولئنand even if أقَمْتُI remain فإنّthen indeed مَدْحيmy praise سائرٌtravels
ولئن أقَمْتُ فإنّ مَدْحي سائرٌ
تَجِدُfind الرُّواةُthe reciters بهthrough it إليكto you سَبيلاa path
تَجِدُ الرُّواةُ به إليك سَبيلا
Even if I remain here, my praise travels;
And if I stay, my praise goes on
its reciters find through it a path to you.
The narrators find through it a way to you.
فأَعِدْso turn back إليناtoward us دامَmay endure مُلْكُكَyour reign نَظْرةًa glance
فأَعِدْ إلينا دامَ مُلْكُكَ نَظْرةً
للفَضْلِfor merit منfrom سُوقِthe market of الكَسادِstagnation مُديلاrestoring fortune
للفَضْلِ من سُوقِ الكَسادِ مُديلا
So turn a glance back toward us—may your reign endure—
So turn your eyes back to us, may your reign last,
restoring merit's fortunes from the market of stagnation.
To preferring virtue in the market of recession.
لمnot يَشْدُدِtightened الفَلَكُthe firmament المُدارُrevolving نِطاقَهits belt
لم يَشْدُدِ الفَلَكُ المُدارُ نِطاقَه
إلاّexcept ليَسْمعَto listen طائعاًobediently وتَقولاand you speak
إلاّ ليَسْمعَ طائعاً وتَقولا
The revolving firmament has tightened its belt
The sphere of orbit did not tighten its belt
only to listen obediently while you speak.
Except to hear you willingly saying:
Sol 6.1