ياO عارِضاًrain-cloud مُتَلَفِّعاًwrapped بِبُرودِهِin its striped robes
يا عارِضاً مُتَلَفِّعاً بِبُرودِهِ
يَختالُstruts بَينَamid بُروقِهِits lightning flashes وَرُعودِهِand its thunderclaps
يَختالُ بَينَ بُروقِهِ وَرُعودِهِ
O rain-cloud, wrapped in its striped robes,
O you who struts with arrogance
strutting amid its lightning flashes and its thunderclaps!
Bragging amid his lightning and thunder
لَوif شِئتَyou wished عُدتَyou revisited بِلادَthe lands of نَجدٍNajd عَودَةًa return visit
لَو شِئتَ عُدتَ بِلادَ نَجدٍ عَودَةً
فَنَزَلتَthen you alighted بَينَbetween عَقيقِهِits Aqiq وَزَرودِهِand its Zarud
فَنَزَلتَ بَينَ عَقيقِهِ وَزَرودِهِ
If you wished, you could revisit the lands of Najd,
Had you wished, you would have returned to the lands of Najd
then alight between its Aqiq and its Zarud,
And descended between Aqeeq and Zaroud
لِتَجودَto pour your bounty فيupon رَبعٍa dwelling-place بِمُنعَرَجِat the bend of اللِوىal-Liwa
لِتَجودَ في رَبعٍ بِمُنعَرَجِ اللِوى
قَفرٍdesolate تَبَدَّلَhas taken instead وَحشَهُits wild beasts مِنin place of غيدِهِits graceful maidens
قَفرٍ تَبَدَّلَ وَحشَهُ مِن غيدِهِ
to pour your bounty on a dwelling-place at al-Liwa's bend,
To be generous in a land with twisting valleys
desolate, its graceful maidens replaced by its wild beasts.
A desert whose wildness has changed because of him
رَفَعَlifted away الفِراقُseparation قِبابَهُمtheir domed tents فَتَحَمَّلواso they departed
رَفَعَ الفِراقُ قِبابَهُم فَتَحَمَّلوا
بِفُؤادِwith the heart of مُختَبِلِone maddened in الفُؤادِheart عَنيدِهِunyielding in it
بِفُؤادِ مُختَبِلِ الفُؤادِ عَنيدِهِ
Separation lifted away their domed tents, and they departed,
Separation raised its domes so they bore it
with the heart of one maddened and stubborn of heart.
With hearts that struggled, though broken within
وَأَنَand I am الفِداءُthe ransom لِمُرهَفٍfor a slender one غَضِّtender in الصِباyouth
وَأَنَ الفِداءُ لِمُرهَفٍ غَضِّ الصِبا
توهيهِweakens him حَملُthe weight of وِشاحِهِhis sash وَعُقودِهِand his necklaces
توهيهِ حَملُ وِشاحِهِ وَعُقودِهِ
And I am ransom for a slender one of tender youth,
The ransom is for a delicate youth whose charm
whom the weight of his sash and his necklaces weakens.
Is in his dress, his turban and his necklaces
قَصُرَتfell short تَحِيَّتُهُhis greeting فَجادَso he gave freely بِخَدِّهِwith his cheek
قَصُرَت تَحِيَّتُهُ فَجادَ بِخَدِّهِ
يَومَon the day of الفِراقِparting لَناto us وَضَنَّand was stingy بِجيدِهِwith his neck
يَومَ الفِراقِ لَنا وَضَنَّ بِجيدِهِ
His greeting fell short, so he offered his cheek
His greeting fell short so he was generous with his cheek
to us on the day of parting, but withheld his neck.
On the day we parted, and he blinked his eyelids
عُنِيَتwas intent بِهِon him عَينُthe eye of الرَقيبِthe watcher فَلَمso did not تَدَعallow
عُنِيَت بِهِ عَينُ الرَقيبِ فَلَم تَدَع
مِنof نَيلِهِhis favor المَطلوبِsought غَيرَother than زَهيدِهِa scant share of it
مِن نَيلِهِ المَطلوبِ غَيرَ زَهيدِهِ
The watcher's eye was intent on him, allowing
The watchman's eye was fixed on him but did not stop
only a scant share of the favor sought from him.
Him gaining his sought, save for the most chaste kiss
وَلَوِand if اِستَطاعَhe could لَكانَwould have been يَومُthe day of وِصالِهِunion with him
وَلَوِ اِستَطاعَ لَكانَ يَومُ وِصالِهِ
لِلمُستَهامِfor the love-distraught one مَكانَin place of يَومِthe day of صُدودِهِhis rejection
لِلمُستَهامِ مَكانَ يَومِ صُدودِهِ
And had he been able, the day of union with him
Had it been possible, his day of union
would have replaced, for the love-distraught one, the day of his rejection.
Would have been for the swooner like his day of rejection
ماwhat تُنكِرُdoes she fault الحَسناءُthe fair woman مِنin مُتَوَغِّلٍone venturing deep
ما تُنكِرُ الحَسناءُ مِن مُتَوَغِّلٍ
فيinto اللَيلِthe night يَخلِطُmingles أَينَهُhis weariness بِسُهودِهِwith his sleeplessness
في اللَيلِ يَخلِطُ أَينَهُ بِسُهودِهِ
What can the fair woman fault in one venturing deep
A lover slipping in the night to mix his “Where?” with prostration
into the night, mingling his weariness with his sleeplessness?
Is not rejected by the beautiful lady
قَدindeed لَوَّحَتhave scorched مِنهُof him السُهوبُthe open plains وَأَثَّرَتand left marks
قَد لَوَّحَت مِنهُ السُهوبُ وَأَثَّرَت
فيon يُمنَتَيهِhis two Yemeni cloaks وَعَنسِهِand his sturdy she-camel وَقُتودِهِand his saddle-frames
في يُمنَتَيهِ وَعَنسِهِ وَقُتودِهِ
The open plains have scorched him and left their marks
The plains hinted of him and left their marks
on his two Yemeni cloaks, his sturdy she-camel, and his saddle-frames.
On his right and left hand and rolled up sleeves
فَلِفِضَّةِthus, to the silver of السَيفِthe sword المُحَلّىadorned حُسنُهُits beauty
فَلِفِضَّةِ السَيفِ المُحَلّى حُسنُهُ
مُتَقَلَّداًworn at the side وَمَضاؤُهُand its cutting power لِحَديدِهِto its iron
مُتَقَلَّداً وَمَضاؤُهُ لِحَديدِهِ
For an adorned sword owes its beauty to its silver
The beauty of his sword with ornamented silver
when worn at the side, and its cutting power to its iron.
Girded, and its flashing against its steel
أَعلىraised high بَنوthe sons of خاقانَKhaqan مَجداًglory لَمnot تَزَلhave ceased
أَعلى بَنو خاقانَ مَجداً لَم تَزَل
أَخلاقُهُمtheir virtues حُبُساًdevoted عَلىto تَشييدِهِbuilding it
أَخلاقُهُم حُبُساً عَلى تَشييدِهِ
The sons of Khaqan raised a glory; unceasingly
The clan of Khakan attained no glory higher
their virtues have been devoted to building it.
Their morals forever bound to its foundation
وَإِلىand toward أَبيAbu الحَسَنِal-Hasan اِنصَرَفتُI turned بِهِمَّتيwith my aspiration
وَإِلى أَبي الحَسَنِ اِنصَرَفتُ بِهِمَّتي
عَنaway from كُلِّevery مَنزورِscant in النَوالِbounty زَهيدِهِmeager in it
عَن كُلِّ مَنزورِ النَوالِ زَهيدِهِ
And toward Abu al-Hasan I turned my aspirations,
And to Abu Al-Hassan I turned my resolve
away from everyone whose bounty is scant and meager.
From all easily-attained plenty, though paltry
أُثنيI praise بِنِعمَتِهِfor his favor الَّتيwhich سَبَقَتcame before لَهُto his credit
أُثني بِنِعمَتِهِ الَّتي سَبَقَت لَهُ
وَمَزيدِهِand his further bounty مِنfrom قَبلِbefore حينِthe time of مَزيدِهِhis further bounty
وَمَزيدِهِ مِن قَبلِ حينِ مَزيدِهِ
I praise him for the favor he has already shown,
I praise his blessing which preceded for him
and for his further bounty before its time,
And his increase from the Bestower before his increase
وَعُلُوِّهِand his eminence فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds فَجودُهُfor his generosity
وَعُلُوِّهِ في المَكرُماتِ فَجودُهُ
فيهاin them طَوالَthroughout الدَهرِtime فَوقَbeyond وُجودِهِhis means
فيها طَوالَ الدَهرِ فَوقَ وُجودِهِ
and his eminence in noble deeds—for his generosity
And his supremacy in noble deeds, his generosity
in them, through all time, surpasses his means.
In them, lifelong, above his munificence
إِنif قَلَّgrows scant حَمدٌpraise عادَhe returns فيto تَكثيرِهِincreasing it
إِن قَلَّ حَمدٌ عادَ في تَكثيرِهِ
أَوor رَثَّgrows threadbare مَجدٌglory عادَhe returns فيto تَجديدِهِrenewing it
أَو رَثَّ مَجدٌ عادَ في تَجديدِهِ
If praise grows scant, he returns to increasing it;
If praise falls short, it is revived in its repetition
or if glory grows threadbare, he returns to renewing it,
Or glory decays, it is renewed in its pursuit
حِفظاًsteadfast adherence عَلىto مِنهاجِهِhis path المُفضيleading إِلىto
حِفظاً عَلى مِنهاجِهِ المُفضي إِلى
أَمَدِthe furthest reach of العُلىglory وَتَقَيُّلاًand in emulation لِجُدودِهِof his forefathers
أَمَدِ العُلى وَتَقَيُّلاً لِجُدودِهِ
keeping to his path, which leads to
To preserve his exemplary approach, leading
glory's furthest reach, and emulating his forefathers.
To endless supremacy and humbling his ancestors
وَإِذاand when أَشارَhe points إِلىto الأَعاجِمِthe non-Arabs أَعرَبَتthey speak plainly
وَإِذا أَشارَ إِلى الأَعاجِمِ أَعرَبَت
عَنof طارِفِnewly acquired الحَسَبِnobility الكَريمِnoble تَليدِهِits ancient heritage
عَن طارِفِ الحَسَبِ الكَريمِ تَليدِهِ
And when he points to the non-Arabs, they speak plainly
When he points to the non-Arabs, he expresses
of fresh-won nobility whose ancient heritage is noble,
The noble lineage, long-standing in its descendants
عَنof مُستَقِرٍّone firmly established فيamong مَراتِبِthe ranks of مَجدِهِمtheir glory
عَن مُستَقِرٍّ في مَراتِبِ مَجدِهِم
فيon بازِخٍa towering height نائيremote in المَحَلِّstation بَعيدِهِfar removed in it
في بازِخٍ نائي المَحَلِّ بَعيدِهِ
of one firmly established among the ranks of their glory,
Of one established in the ranks of their glories
on a towering height, remote and far removed in station.
In a distant, far-removed place
تَجريflow خَلائِقُهُhis virtues إِذاwhen جَمَدَstops flowing الحَياthe rain
تَجري خَلائِقُهُ إِذا جَمَدَ الحَيا
بِغَليلِto the burning anguish of شانِئِهِhis hater وَغَيظِand the rage of حَسودِهِhis envier
بِغَليلِ شانِئِهِ وَغَيظِ حَسودِهِ
His virtues flow when the rain is stilled,
His morals flow even if life freezes
to his hater's burning anguish and his envier's rage.
With the agony of his foe and spite of his envious
يَفديmay ransom عُبَيدَUbayd اللَهِAllah مِنfrom among حُسّادِهِhis enviers
يَفدي عُبَيدَ اللَهِ مِن حُسّادِهِ
مَنthose whom باتَhe has come to يَربَأُdeem too noble عَنهُمُfor them بِعَبيدِهِhis slaves
مَن باتَ يَربَأُ عَنهُمُ بِعَبيدِهِ
May Ubayd Allah be ransomed by those among his enviers
He ransoms the slaves of God from their haters
above whom he holds even his slaves.
Who become estranged from them through their own slaves
أَرِجُthe fragrance of النَدىgenerosity يَنبَثُّspreads فيthrough مَعروفِهِhis kindness
أَرِجُ النَدى يَنبَثُّ في مَعروفِهِ
مِنfrom عَرفِهِhis fragrance وَيَزيدُand adds فيto تَوكيدِهِits confirmation
مِن عَرفِهِ وَيَزيدُ في تَوكيدِهِ
The fragrance of bounty spreads through his kindness
The dew of favour springs from his custom
from his own sweet scent, and confirms it still more.
Increasing in its affirmation and concentration
وَمُبَجَّلٌand revered وَسَطَamong الرِجالِmen خُفوفُهُمtheir hastening
وَمُبَجَّلٌ وَسَطَ الرِجالِ خُفوفُهُم
لِقِيامِهِat his rising وَقِيامُهُمand their standing لِقُعودِهِat his sitting
لِقِيامِهِ وَقِيامُهُم لِقُعودِهِ
And he is revered among men, who hasten
Revered amid the easygoing and the solemn
when he rises, and stand when he sits.
For his rising and their rising when he sits
وَالدَهرُand time يَضحَكُlaughs مِنfrom بَشاشَةِthe brightness of بِشرِهِhis smiling welcome
وَالدَهرُ يَضحَكُ مِن بَشاشَةِ بِشرِهِ
وَالعَيشُand life يَرطُبُgrows moist عَنfrom نَضارَةِthe freshness of عودِهِhis bough
وَالعَيشُ يَرطُبُ عَن نَضارَةِ عودِهِ
And time laughs at the brightness of his smile,
Time smiles at the cheer of his happy news
and life grows lush from the freshness of his bough.
And life is moistened by the lushness of his return
وَنَصيحَةُand loyal counsel to السُلطانِthe sovereign مَوقِعُthe focus of طَرفِهِhis gaze
وَنَصيحَةُ السُلطانِ مَوقِعُ طَرفِهِ
وَنَجِيُّand the confidant of فِكرَتِهِhis thought وَحُلمُand the dream of هُجودِهِhis sleep
وَنَجِيُّ فِكرَتِهِ وَحُلمُ هُجودِهِ
And loyal counsel to the sovereign is the focus of his gaze,
The advice of the Sultan focuses his gaze
the confidant of his thought and the dream of his sleep.
His deliverance, wisdom and restraint
إِنif أَوقَعَcasts الكُتّابَthe scribes أَمرٌa matter مُشكِلٌdifficult
إِن أَوقَعَ الكُتّابَ أَمرٌ مُشكِلٌ
فيinto حَيرَةٍperplexity رَجَعواthey return إِلىto تَسديدِهِhis sure guidance
في حَيرَةٍ رَجَعوا إِلى تَسديدِهِ
If a difficult matter casts the scribes
If some confusing matter befalls the writers
into perplexity, they turn to his sure guidance.
Perplexed, they turn to him for guidance
وَالحَزمُand prudence يَذهَبُproceeds غَيرَwithout being مُلتاثٍconfused إِلىtoward
وَالحَزمُ يَذهَبُ غَيرَ مُلتاثٍ إِلى
تَصويبِهِhis downward course فيin الرَأيِdeliberation أَوor تَصعيدِهِhis upward course
تَصويبِهِ في الرَأيِ أَو تَصعيدِهِ
And prudence proceeds, free of confusion, toward
And sagacity unerringly travels
his downward or upward course in deliberation.
To correct it in view or elevate in counsel
أَوفىrose up عَلىover ظُلَمِthe darkness of الشُكوكِdoubts فَشَقَّهاso cleft it
أَوفى عَلى ظُلَمِ الشُكوكِ فَشَقَّها
كَالصُبحِlike dawn يَضرِبُstrikes فيthrough الدُجىthe gloom بِعَمودِهِwith its shaft
كَالصُبحِ يَضرِبُ في الدُجى بِعَمودِهِ
He rose above the darkness of doubts and cleft it,
He dispelled the darkness of doubts like
like dawn striking through the gloom with its shaft of light.
Dawn striking the gloom with its pillars
نَعتَدُّهُwe reckon him ذُخرَthe treasure of العُلاglory وَعَتادَهاand its armament
نَعتَدُّهُ ذُخرَ العُلا وَعَتادَها
وَنَراهُand we see him مِنas from كَرَمِthe generosity of الزَمانِtime وَجودِهِand its bounty
وَنَراهُ مِن كَرَمِ الزَمانِ وَجودِهِ
We count him glory's treasure and its armament,
We count him the treasure of supremacy and its apparatus
and see him as a gift of time's generosity and bounty.
And see him as the age's nobility and generosity
فَاللَهُso may God يُبقيهِpreserve him لَناfor us وَيَحوطُهُand guard him
فَاللَهُ يُبقيهِ لَنا وَيَحوطُهُ
وَيُعِزُّهُand exalt him وَيَزيدُand increase فيin تَأييدِهِsupporting him
وَيُعِزُّهُ وَيَزيدُ في تَأييدِهِ
So may God preserve him for us and guard him,
So may God sustain him for us and surround him
and exalt him, and increase His support for him.
And strengthen and increase him in his support
Sol 6.1