كانwas المُنَىthe wishes إذwhen تَقَضَّىpassed away ماwhat عَهِدْناهُwe had known it
كان المُنَى إذ تَقَضَّى ما عَهِدْناهُ
لوif only كنتَyou were تَذكُرُهُremembering it أوor كنتَyou were تَنْساهُforgetting it
لو كنتَ تَذكُرُهُ أو كنتَ تَنْساهُ
The hope, when what we once knew had passed away, was
that you might remember it, or else forget it.
فلوfor had تَذكَّرتَهyou remembered it ناجَيْتَyou communed with صاحبَهits companion
فلو تَذكَّرتَه ناجَيْتَ صاحبَه
ولوand had تَناسَيْتَهyou put it from mind ماnot ذُقتَyou tasted بَلْواهُits affliction
ولو تَناسَيْتَه ما ذُقتَ بَلْواهُ
For had you remembered it, you would have communed with its companion;
and had you put it from your mind, you would not have tasted its affliction.
وكيفand how يَنْسىcan forget هوَىlove for الأحبابِthe beloved ones ذوone possessed of كَلَفٍardent passion
وكيف يَنْسى هوَى الأحبابِ ذو كَلَفٍ
لمnot يَطْرِفِblink العَيْنَthe eye إلاّexcept that هاجَstirred ذِكْراهits memory
لم يَطْرِفِ العَيْنَ إلاّ هاجَ ذِكْراه
How can one consumed by passion forget love for the beloved,
when he cannot blink without its memory stirring?
مُغرَىenamored الجفونِthe eyelids بطَيْفِwith the phantom الغادرينof the betrayers بهagainst him
مُغرَى الجفونِ بطَيْفِ الغادرين به
فلوfor even if سلاforgot قَلْبُهhis heart لمnot تَسْلُforget عَيْناهhis eyes
فلو سلا قَلْبُه لم تَسْلُ عَيْناه
His eyelids are enthralled by the phantom of those who betrayed him;
even if his heart forgot, his eyes would not forget.
هوit الخيالُthe apparition الّذيthat يَسْريtravels by night لموعدِهto its tryst
هو الخيالُ الّذي يَسْري لموعدِه
فيُقْمرُso becomes moonlit اللّيلُthe night للسّاريfor the night traveler بمَسْراهthrough its night journey
فيُقْمرُ اللّيلُ للسّاري بمَسْراه
It is the apparition that travels by night to its tryst,
making the night moonlit for the traveler through its passage.
فيin البِيِدthe deserts بُعْدٌremoteness وفيand in أحبابِناour loved ones بَخَلٌstinginess
في البِيِد بُعْدٌ وفي أحبابِنا بَخَلٌ
فمَنso who هَداهُguided it ومَنand who ياO قومُmy people أهْداهsent it as a gift
فمَن هَداهُ ومَن يا قومُ أهْداه
The deserts are vast, and our loved ones ungenerous;
who guided it, and who, my people, sent it as a gift?
سَرَىit traveled by night إلىto سرِّthe secret of ليلٍa night فيwithin جَوانحهhis breast
سَرَى إلى سرِّ ليلٍ في جَوانحه
إذاwhenever ابتغَتْهُsought it عُيونُthe eyes of القومthe people أخْفاهhe concealed it
إذا ابتغَتْهُ عُيونُ القوم أخْفاه
It traveled to the secret of a night within his breast;
whenever people's eyes sought it, he concealed it.
أمالَهُbent him النّومsleep فيbetween ثِنْيَيْthe two folds of حمائلهِhis sword-belts
أمالَهُ النّوم في ثِنْيَيْ حمائلهِ
ووسَّدَتْهand pillowed him on يداًa foreleg إحْدىone of مَطاياهhis mounts
ووسَّدَتْه يداً إحْدى مَطاياه
Sleep had bent him between the folds of his sword-belts,
and one of his mounts pillowed him on a foreleg,
منfrom بَعْدِafter كُلِّevery يَمانٍYemeni blade كانhe used to يَشْهَرهُbrandish it
من بَعْدِ كُلِّ يَمانٍ كان يَشْهَرهُ
بماaccording to what يشاءُwishes مَنthe one who بعَيْنَيْهis in his eyes ويُمْناهand his right hand
بما يشاءُ مَن بعَيْنَيْه ويُمْناه
after every Yemeni blade he had brandished,
as willed by the one in his eyes and his right hand.
وقَلَّand little was فيin حَرْبِfighting مَنْone whom تَلْقاهُyou encounter him فكْرتُهhis thought
وقَلَّ في حَرْبِ مَنْ تَلْقاهُ فكْرتُه
فيماabout what بهwas in him منof هوَىlove for مَنone whom ليسdoes not يَلْقاهhe encounter him
فيما به من هوَى مَن ليس يَلْقاه
In battling those he met, little was his thought
of his love for one he did not meet.
لوif كانthere were بالدَّهرِin Time ماwhat بيَis in me منهfrom it أعجَزَنيit would outdo me
لو كان بالدَّهرِ ما بيَ منه أعجَزَني
حتّىuntil تَسُدَّblocks بهwith it الأسماعَthe ears شَكْواهits complaint
حتّى تَسُدَّ به الأسماعَ شَكْواه
Had Time suffered what I suffer from it, it would have outdone me,
until its complaints of that suffering stopped every ear.
وإنّماand indeed منamong رزاياthe calamities of الدَّهرِTime واحدةٌone
وإنّما من رزايا الدَّهرِ واحدةٌ
أنْthat يأنفِdisdains الحُرُّthe freeborn man منto شَكْوىcomplain of رزاياهhis misfortunes
أنْ يأنفِ الحُرُّ من شَكْوى رزاياه
One of Time's calamities is simply
that the freeborn man disdains to complain of his misfortunes.
لعلّperhaps أُخْرَىthe later ones of اللّياليthe nights أنthat تُساعِفَناwill aid us
لعلّ أُخْرَى اللّيالي أن تُساعِفَنا
فليسfor not كُلُّall صُبابِthe outpouring of النَّيْلbounty أُولاهtheir first
فليس كُلُّ صُبابِ النَّيْل أُولاه
Perhaps later nights will come to our aid;
not all bounty's outpouring belongs to the first.
إنَّindeed الزّمانَTime علىdespite ماwhat فيهِis in it منof نُوَبٍcalamities
إنَّ الزّمانَ على ما فيهِ من نُوَبٍ
تَمُرُّpass مَرّاًin passing علىover الإنسانِhumankind حالاهits two states
تَمُرُّ مَرّاً على الإنسانِ حالاه
Indeed, Time, despite the calamities it holds—
both its states pass over humankind in turn.
فكمand how often يَخافُfears الفتىthe young man مَنone whom كانhe once يَأْملُهhoped in him
فكم يَخافُ الفتى مَن كان يَأْملُه
وكمand how often يُرجّيhopes in الفتَىthe young man مَنone whom كانhe once يَخْشاهfeared him
وكم يُرجّي الفتَى مَن كان يَخْشاه
How often a man fears one in whom he once hoped,
and hopes in one whom he once feared!
ماnot فاتَنيeluded me قَطُّever أَدْنَىthe least of الأمرِthe aim أَقْصدُهI seek it
ما فاتَني قَطُّ أَدْنَى الأمرِ أَقْصدُه
إلاّexcept that وأَدركتُand I attained بعدَafter الصّبْرِpatience أَعْلاهits highest
إلاّ وأَدركتُ بعدَ الصّبْرِ أَعْلاه
Never have I missed a lesser aim I sought
without attaining, after patience, its highest.
مَخائلُsigns of المجدِglory فيماin what سرْتُI journeyed أَطْلُبُهseeking it
مَخائلُ المجدِ فيما سرْتُ أَطْلُبُه
بهاthrough them سلاwas consoled القلْبُthe heart عمّاaway from what بِتُّI spent the night أَهْواهloving it
بها سلا القلْبُ عمّا بِتُّ أَهْواه
The signs of glory in what I journeyed to seek—
through them my heart forgot what I had loved by night.
وبالأميرِand through the emir ولَثْميand my kissing للعُلاfor eminence يَدَهُhis hand
وبالأميرِ ولَثْمي للعُلا يَدَهُ
عنaway from الحبيبِthe beloved ولَثْميand my kissing للهوَىfor love فاهhis mouth
عن الحبيبِ ولَثْمي للهوَى فاه
And the emir, and kissing his hand for honor,
drew me from the beloved and kissing his mouth for love.
لمnot يُبْقِleft فيin القلبِthe heart تَقْبيليmy kissing أَناملَهhis fingertips
لم يُبْقِ في القلبِ تَقْبيلي أَناملَه
هَوًىlonging لثَغْرٍfor a mouth وإنeven if طابَتْwere sweet ثَناياهits front teeth
هَوًى لثَغْرٍ وإن طابَتْ ثَناياه
Kissing his fingertips left in my heart
no longing for a mouth, however sweet its front teeth.
ذاكthat is البَنانُthe fingers الّذيwhose أدنَىthe least of مَواهِبهhis gifts
ذاك البَنانُ الّذي أدنَى مَواهِبه
يُطبِّقُenvelops الدّينَthe faith والدُّنياand the world بنُعْماهwith his bounty
يُطبِّقُ الدّينَ والدُّنيا بنُعْماه
Those are the fingers whose least gift
envelops faith and the world in his bounty.
لثَمْتُهI kissed it ونظَمْتُand I composed القولَverse أَمدَحُهpraising him
لثَمْتُه ونظَمْتُ القولَ أَمدَحُه
ولمand not أَكنْwould I be لأُجيدَto excel at المَدْحَpraise لَولاهbut for him
ولم أَكنْ لأُجيدَ المَدْحَ لَولاه
I kissed them and composed verses to praise him;
without him I could never have excelled in praise.
وإنّماand only هوit بحرٌa sea غاصَdived فيهinto it فَميmy mouth
وإنّما هو بحرٌ غاصَ فيه فَمي
فجاءthen it brought بالدُّرِّpearls منهfrom it ثُمَّthen أَهْداهoffered them as a gift
فجاء بالدُّرِّ منه ثُمَّ أَهْداه
It is but a sea into which my mouth dived,
bringing pearls from it, then offering them as a gift.
للهِto God أَنتyou بهاءَSplendor of المُلْكِthe Realm مِنwhat a مَلكٍking
للهِ أَنت بهاءَ المُلْكِ مِن مَلكٍ
لهhis is منof الفخرِglory أَقْصاهُits farthest reach وأَدْناهand its nearest
له من الفخرِ أَقْصاهُ وأَدْناه
God bless you, Baha al-Mulk, what a king,
possessing glory in its farthest and nearest reaches!
لوif لمnot يَرِثْinherit كُلَّall هذاthis المجدِglory أَوَّلُهhis forefather
لو لم يَرِثْ كُلَّ هذا المجدِ أَوَّلُه
كَفاهwould suffice him منof ذاكthat ماwhat نالَتْهgained it كَفّاهhis two hands
كَفاه من ذاك ما نالَتْه كَفّاه
Had the first of his line not inherited all this glory,
what his own hands gained of it would have sufficed him.
واليُمنُand good fortune أَجمَعُall of it موصولٌis bound بيُمْناهُto his right hand
واليُمنُ أَجمَعُ موصولٌ بيُمْناهُ
واليُسرُand ease أَجمَعُall of it مأمولٌis hoped for بيُسْراهfrom his left hand
واليُسرُ أَجمَعُ مأمولٌ بيُسْراه
All good fortune is bound to his right hand,
and all ease is hoped for from his left.
والدّهرُand Time ثُلْمتُهits breach فيin أَخْذِtaking مُدَّتِهhis allotted span
والدّهرُ ثُلْمتُه في أَخْذِ مُدَّتِه
والمُلْكُand kingship مَفْخرُهits pride فيin خَطِّinscribing طُغْراهhis royal monogram
والمُلْكُ مَفْخرُه في خَطِّ طُغْراه
Time's breach lies in taking away his allotted span,
and kingship's pride in inscribing his royal monogram.
يأتيcomes الكتابُthe document بهbearing it والعِزُّand glory طَيَّبَهperfumed it
يأتي الكتابُ به والعِزُّ طَيَّبَه
حتّىso that كأنَّas though الّذيthe one who أَملاهُdictated it أَعْداهinfected it
حتّى كأنَّ الّذي أَملاهُ أَعْداه
A document comes bearing it, perfumed with glory,
as though its dictator had passed his glory on to it.
إذاwhen بداhe appears منfrom بَعيدٍafar فالخُطاthen footsteps قُبَلٌare kisses
إذا بدا من بَعيدٍ فالخُطا قُبَلٌ
إليهtoward him فيon الأرضِthe earth والأقدامُand the feet أَفواهare mouths
إليه في الأرضِ والأقدامُ أَفواه
When he appears afar, the footsteps are kisses
toward him upon the earth, and the feet are mouths.
لابُدَّinevitably مِنfrom أَنthat تَخِرَّfall الهامُthe heads ساجدةًprostrate
لابُدَّ مِن أَن تَخِرَّ الهامُ ساجدةً
إنif لمnot تكُنْthey are مِنamong مُطيعيهِthose obeying him فقَتْلاهthen his slain
إن لم تكُنْ مِن مُطيعيهِ فقَتْلاه
Heads must fall down in prostration:
if not those of his obedient subjects, then of his slain.
لمّاwhen دُعيتَyou were called بهاءَSplendor of المُلْكِthe Realm كنتَyou became لهfor it
لمّا دُعيتَ بهاءَ المُلْكِ كنتَ له
فَخْراًa pride علىover كُلِّevery مَلْكٍking كانhad باهاهvied with it in glory
فَخْراً على كُلِّ مَلْكٍ كان باهاه
When you were named Baha al-Mulk, you became its
pride over every king who had vied with it in glory.
ومُذْand since دُعيتَyou were called ظهيرَSupporter of الدّينِthe Faith صارit became حِمىًa sanctuary
ومُذْ دُعيتَ ظهيرَ الدّينِ صار حِمىً
إذاwhenever تَعرَّضَit presented itself للباغيbefore the aggressor تَحاشاهhe shunned it
إذا تَعرَّضَ للباغي تَحاشاه
Since you were named Zahir al-Din, the faith has become a sanctuary
that an aggressor shuns whenever it confronts him.
ومُذْand since دُعيتَyou were called كمالَPerfection of الدّولةِthe State اعتدلَتْwere set straight
ومُذْ دُعيتَ كمالَ الدّولةِ اعتدلَتْ
برَأْيكَthrough your judgment المُنْتَضَىunsheathed فيin الخَطْبِa crisis سَيْفاهits two swords
برَأْيكَ المُنْتَضَى في الخَطْبِ سَيْفاه
Since you were named Kamal al-Dawla, its two swords stand balanced
through your judgment, unsheathed in crisis.
ومُذْand since دُعيتَyou were called جمالَBeauty of الملّةِthe Community ابْتَهَجَتْit rejoiced
ومُذْ دُعيتَ جمالَ الملّةِ ابْتَهَجَتْ
بوَجْهِكin your face المُدَّعيlaying claim للبَدْرِagainst the full moon مَرْآهits likeness
بوَجْهِك المُدَّعي للبَدْرِ مَرْآه
Since you were named Jamal al-Milla, the community has rejoiced
in your face, which lays claim to the full moon's likeness.
أَلقابُtitles of مَجدٍglory كسَتْclothed عُلياكَyour eminence مَنْطقَهاtheir utterance
أَلقابُ مَجدٍ كسَتْ عُلياكَ مَنْطقَها
صدْقاًin truth فجاءso it came كأَنَّas though اللهَGod أَوْحاهrevealed it
صدْقاً فجاء كأَنَّ اللهَ أَوْحاه
Titles of glory: your eminence clothed their utterance
in truth, so it came as though God had revealed it.
وحُسْنُand beauty of لَفْظٍwording علىfor all ماwhat لاno خفاءَconcealment بهin it
وحُسْنُ لَفْظٍ على ما لا خفاءَ به
لكنَّbut أَحسنَmore beautiful منهthan it حُسْنُthe beauty of مَعْناهits meaning
لكنَّ أَحسنَ منه حُسْنُ مَعْناه
Beautiful wording, whose beauty is unmistakable,
yet fairer still is the beauty of its meaning.
لقدindeed حلَلْتَyou attained منwith السُّلطانِthe sultan مَنزلةًa station
لقد حلَلْتَ من السُّلطانِ مَنزلةً
تَناولتْit reached منof رفيعِthe loftiness of المَجْدِglory أَقْصاهits utmost
تَناولتْ من رفيعِ المَجْدِ أَقْصاه
You have attained with the sultan a station
that reaches the utmost heights of lofty glory.
حمَيْتَyou protected دولتَهhis state فاعتزَّso grew mighty جانبُهاits side
حمَيْتَ دولتَه فاعتزَّ جانبُها
وذُدْتَand you defended عنagainst harm to مُلْكهhis kingdom فاشتدَّso grew strong رُكْناهits two pillars
وذُدْتَ عن مُلْكه فاشتدَّ رُكْناه
You guarded his state, and its side grew mighty;
you defended his kingdom, and its two pillars grew strong.
وبَركَيارُقُand Barkiyaruq فيكin you اليومَtoday مُلْتَمِسٌseeks
وبَركَيارُقُ فيك اليومَ مُلْتَمِسٌ
ماwhat فيin أَبيكَyour father رأَىsaw قِدْماًlong ago مَلِكْشاهMalikshah
ما في أَبيكَ رأَى قِدْماً مَلِكْشاه
Today Barkiyaruq seeks in you
what Malikshah saw long ago in your father.
فدُمْتُماso may you both endure مثلماjust as داماthey both endured علىin نَسَقٍharmony
فدُمْتُما مثلما داما على نَسَقٍ
ولاand may not تَزولاyou both pass away كماas زالاthey both passed away بعُقْباهat its end
ولا تَزولا كما زالا بعُقْباه
May you both endure, as they endured, in harmony,
and not pass away, as they did, at its end.
ولاand may not سعَىscheme فيكماagainst you both بالبَغْيِwrongfully ذوone possessed of حَسدٍenvy
ولا سعَى فيكما بالبَغْيِ ذو حَسدٍ
إلاّexcept that وردَّand turns back عليهupon him اللهُGod مَسْعاهhis scheming
إلاّ وردَّ عليه اللهُ مَسْعاه
May no envious man scheme unjustly against you both
without God turning his scheme back upon him.
ولاand may not عداbypass المَرْقَدَthe resting place المَغْبوطَblessed ساكنُهits dweller
ولا عدا المَرْقَدَ المَغْبوطَ ساكنُه
مُضاعفٌa redoubling منof صَلاةِthe blessings of اللهِGod يَغْشاهenfolding him
مُضاعفٌ من صَلاةِ اللهِ يَغْشاه
May the grave whose dweller is blessed never lack
redoubled blessings from God to enfold him.
وأَنتand you أحيَيْتَrevived منfrom أَخلاقِthe traits of سُؤْدَدِهhis nobility
وأَنت أحيَيْتَ من أَخلاقِ سُؤْدَدِه
وقدthough already مضَىhe passed away ماwhat علىin التَّحقيقِtruth أَحْياهrevived him
وقد مضَى ما على التَّحقيقِ أَحْياه
You have revived those traits of his nobility—
though he is gone—which truly brought him back to life.
لقدindeed فقَدْناهُwe lost him مَعْدوماًnowhere to be found مُقارِنُهhis equal
لقد فقَدْناهُ مَعْدوماً مُقارِنُه
وجئْتَناand you came to us فكأنّاso it was as though we ماnot فَقدْناهhad lost him
وجئْتَنا فكأنّا ما فَقدْناه
Indeed, we lost him, his equal nowhere to be found;
but you came to us, and it was as though we had not lost him.
نازعْتَهyou rivaled him in الشَّبْهَresemblance فيin خَلْقٍphysical form وفيand in خُلُقٍcharacter
نازعْتَه الشَّبْهَ في خَلْقٍ وفي خُلُقٍ
حتّىso much so لَماcertainly not زِدْتَناwould you add for us لوeven if كنتَyou were إيّاهhim himself
حتّى لَما زِدْتَنا لو كنتَ إيّاه
You matched his likeness in both form and character,
so that, had you been he himself, you could have given us no more.
ولاand not يُعَدُّis deemed نظامُthe order of المُلكِthe realm مُنْقَطِعاًsevered
ولا يُعَدُّ نظامُ المُلكِ مُنْقَطِعاً
ماas long as دامremains مثْلُكone like you فيناamong us منfrom بَقاياهthose he left behind
ما دام مثْلُك فينا من بَقاياه
Nor is Nizam al-Mulk's line deemed severed
while one like you remains among us of those he left behind.
خُلقْتَyou were created بينَamong بَنيهِhis sons الغُرِّthe illustrious واسطةًa central jewel
خُلقْتَ بينَ بَنيهِ الغُرِّ واسطةً
منfrom حَوْلهاaround it الدُّرُّthe pearls ملْءَfilling العِقْدِthe necklace يَزْهاهadorning it
من حَوْلها الدُّرُّ ملْءَ العِقْدِ يَزْهاه
Among his illustrious sons you were fashioned as the central jewel,
with pearls around it filling the necklace and adorning it.
كلٌّeach نَفيسٌprecious فليسso there is no الفَرقُdifference بينكماbetween you two
كلٌّ نَفيسٌ فليس الفَرقُ بينكما
إلاّexcept بأنّكthat you فَرْدٌare unique وهْيَwhile it أَشْباهhas counterparts
إلاّ بأنّك فَرْدٌ وهْيَ أَشْباه
Each is precious; the difference between you two
is only that you are unique, while it has counterparts.
ونَسألُand we ask اللهَGod جَمْعَto gather الشَّمْلِthe company بينكمُamong you all
ونَسألُ اللهَ جَمْعَ الشَّمْلِ بينكمُ
فذاكfor that أَشْرَفُthe noblest شَمْلٍcompany يَجْمَعُunites اللهGod
فذاك أَشْرَفُ شَمْلٍ يَجْمَعُ الله
We ask God to reunite you all,
for that is the noblest company God could unite.
فزادso may He increase نعمةَthe blessing of مَوْلاناour master وضاعفَهاand multiply it
فزاد نعمةَ مَوْلانا وضاعفَها
لدينِfor the faith of كُلِّevery فتىًman منّاamong us ودُنْياهand his worldly life
لدينِ كُلِّ فتىً منّا ودُنْياه
May He increase our master's blessing and multiply it
for the faith and worldly life of every man among us.
وَلْيَهْنِهand may it gladden him العِيدُthe feast أَعنيI mean الدّهْرَTime أَجمعَهُall of it
وَلْيَهْنِه العِيدُ أَعني الدّهْرَ أَجمعَهُ
وقدsince indeed تَساوىhave become equal بهthrough him فيin الحُسْنbeauty وَقْتاهits two phases
وقد تَساوى به في الحُسْن وَقْتاه
May the feast bring him joy—by which I mean all time,
for both its phases are equally fair through him.
ولمand not نَخُصَّwe singled out لهfor him يوماًa day بتَهْنئةٍfor congratulations
ولم نَخُصَّ له يوماً بتَهْنئةٍ
أَيّامُهhis days كلُّهاall of them مِمّاamong what نُهنّاهwe congratulate him on
أَيّامُه كلُّها مِمّا نُهنّاه
We have not singled out a day to congratulate him;
all his days are occasions for our congratulations.
أَعيادُthe feasts of عامكَyour year ياO عبدservant of الرّحيمthe Merciful أَتَتْhave come
أَعيادُ عامكَ يا عبد الرّحيم أَتَتْ
بعِدَّةِin the number of اسْمِكyour name فيماin what قدalready حَسِبْناهwe reckoned it
بعِدَّةِ اسْمِك فيما قد حَسِبْناه
The feasts of your year, O Abd al-Rahim, have come
to the number of your name, as we have reckoned it.
أَمّاnow وقدthat indeed سَعدتhas rejoiced عَيْنيmy eye بطَلْعتهِat his appearance
أَمّا وقد سَعدت عَيْني بطَلْعتهِ
وأدركَand attained القَلْبُthe heart منهاfrom it ماwhat تَمنّاهit wished for
وأدركَ القَلْبُ منها ما تَمنّاه
Now that my eye has rejoiced at his appearance,
and my heart has gained from it what it wished,
فلاthen may not طلبْتَyou seek سواهanyone but him بعدَafter رُؤْيتهseeing him
فلا طلبْتَ سواه بعدَ رُؤْيته
لاnot يَحْسُنُis at his best العَبْدُthe servant إلاّexcept عندwith مَوْلاهhis master
لا يَحْسُنُ العَبْدُ إلاّ عند مَوْلاه
may you seek no other after beholding him:
a servant is at his best only with his master.
Sol 6.1