حَلَفتُI swore لَهَاto her بِاللَهِby God يَومَon the day of التَفَرُّقِparting
حَلَفتُ لَهَا بِاللَهِ يَومَ التَفَرُّقِ
وَبِالوَجدِand by longing مِنfrom قَلبِيmy heart بِهاto her المُتَعَلِّقِclinging
وَبِالوَجدِ مِن قَلبِي بِها المُتَعَلِّقِ
I swore to her by God on the day of parting,
I swore to her by God on the day we parted,
and by the passion of my heart, so bound to her,
And by the passion in my heart attached to her,
وَبِالعَهدِand by the pledge ماnot البَذلُthe gift القَليلُsmall بِضائِعٍwasted
وَبِالعَهدِ ما البَذلُ القَليلُ بِضائِعٍ
لَدَيَّwith me وَلاnor العَهدُthe pledge القَديمُold بِمُخلِقِworn out
لَدَيَّ وَلا العَهدُ القَديمُ بِمُخلِقِ
and by our pledge: no gift, however small, is wasted
And by the pact - little is lost to me -
on me, nor does an old pledge grow threadbare.
Nor is the old pact to me violated,
وَأَبثَثتُهاand I confided to her شَكوىa complaint أَبانَتit revealed عَنِof الجَوىburning heartache
وَأَبثَثتُها شَكوى أَبانَت عَنِ الجَوى
وَدَمعاًand tears مَتىwhenever يَشهَدbear witness بِبَثٍّto sorrow يُصَدَّقِare believed
وَدَمعاً مَتى يَشهَد بِبَثٍّ يُصَدَّقِ
And I confided to her a complaint that revealed my burning heartache,
And I confided to her my complaints that revealed my love,
and tears that, whenever they testify to sorrow, are believed.
And tears whose shedding testifies to truthful outpouring.
وَإِنّيand I indeed لَأَخشاهاI surely fear her عَلَيَّfor myself إِذاwhen نَبَتshe turns away
وَإِنّي لَأَخشاها عَلَيَّ إِذا نَبَت
وَأَخشىand I fear عَلَيهاfor her الكاشِحينَthe spiteful وَأَتَّقيand beware
وَأَخشى عَلَيها الكاشِحينَ وَأَتَّقي
And I truly fear her for myself when she turns away,
And yet I fear for her when slander springs up,
and fear the spiteful for her, and guard against them.
And I fear for her the slanderers and am wary,
وَإِنّيand I indeed وَإِنeven if ضَنَّتshe withholds عَلَيَّfrom me بِوُدِّهاher affection
وَإِنّي وَإِن ضَنَّت عَلَيَّ بِوُدِّها
لَأَرتاحُI surely rejoice مِنهاfrom her لِلخَيالِin the phantom المُؤَرِّقِsleep-banishing
لَأَرتاحُ مِنها لِلخَيالِ المُؤَرِّقِ
And I, though she withholds her affection from me,
And though she is sparing to me with her affection,
surely rejoice in her phantom that keeps me sleepless.
I find rest with her from the tormenting imagination.
يَعِزُّis grievous عَلىto الوَشينَthe slanderers لَوif يَعلُمونَهاthey knew of them
يَعِزُّ عَلى الوَشينَ لَو يَعلُمونَها
لَيالٍnights لَناof ours نَزدارُwe exchange visits فيهاduring them وَنَلتَقيand meet
لَيالٍ لَنا نَزدارُ فيها وَنَلتَقي
It would vex the slanderers, if they knew of them—
I conjure you up when sleep is banished
those nights of ours when we exchange visits and meet.
And my words fall short of "I obey you" at the moment of speaking.
فَكَمso how many غُلَّةٍa burning thirst لِلشَوقِof longing أَطفَأتُI quenched حَرَّهاits heat
فَكَم غُلَّةٍ لِلشَوقِ أَطفَأتُ حَرَّها
بِطَيفٍwith a phantom مَتىwhenever يَطرُقit visits دُجىthe darkness of اللَيلِthe night يَطرُقِit visits
بِطَيفٍ مَتى يَطرُق دُجى اللَيلِ يَطرُقِ
How many a thirst of longing have I cooled
When will the coquette ever fulfill hopes?
with a phantom that, whenever it visits, visits in the night's darkness.
Nor the heart escape from the coquette's bondage!
أَضُمُّI close عَلَيهِupon it جَفنَthe eyelid of عَينيmy eye تَعَلُّقاًout of attachment
أَضُمُّ عَلَيهِ جَفنَ عَيني تَعَلُّقاً
بِهِto it عِندَat إِجلاءِthe clearing away of النُعاسِdrowsiness المُرَنِّقِhovering
بِهِ عِندَ إِجلاءِ النُعاسِ المُرَنِّقِ
I close my eyelid upon it, clinging
I used to refuse hoary swords on the day they met me
to it as the hovering drowsiness clears away.
Where instead of hoary hair there was separation.
أَجِدَّكَtruly, I ask you ماnot وَصلُunion with الغَوانيbeautiful women بِمُطمِعٍto be hoped for
أَجِدَّكَ ما وَصلُ الغَواني بِمُطمِعٍ
وَلاnor القَلبُthe heart مِنfrom رِقِّbondage to الغَوانيbeautiful women بِمُعتَقِfreed
وَلا القَلبُ مِن رِقِّ الغَواني بِمُعتَقِ
Truly, union with beautiful women is not to be hoped for,
The coquette hindered me when my term was ending
nor is the heart freed from bondage to the beauties.
And my words fell short of answering your "I obey you" at the moment of speaking.
وَدِتُّI wished بَياضَthe whiteness of السَيفِthe sword يَومَon the day لَقينَنيthey met me
وَدِتُّ بَياضَ السَيفِ يَومَ لَقينَني
مَكانَin place of بَياضِthe whiteness of الشَيبِgray hair كانَhad been بِمَفرَقيat my hair's parting
مَكانَ بَياضِ الشَيبِ كانَ بِمَفرَقي
I wished the sword's whiteness, on the day they met me,
If you want not to be hurt by fate in love,
had been at my hair's parting instead of the whiteness of gray hair.
Then fall in love on a live coal of agony.
وَصَدَّand turned away الغَوانيthe beauties عِندَat إيماضِthe flashing of لِمَّتيmy locks
وَصَدَّ الغَواني عِندَ إيماضِ لِمَّتي
وَقَصَّرنَand they held back عَنfrom لَبَّيكَat your service ساعَةَat the time of مَنطِقِspeech
وَقَصَّرنَ عَن لَبَّيكَ ساعَةَ مَنطِقِ
And the beauties turned away as my locks flashed white,
Whenever I was far from the old encampment, I would mope
and withheld their 'At your service!' when I spoke.
And whenever I moved away from the abode, I would yearn,
إِذاif شِئتَyou wish أَلّاnot to تَعذُلَreproach الدَهرَever عاشِقاًa lover
إِذا شِئتَ أَلّا تَعذُلَ الدَهرَ عاشِقاً
عَلىfor كَمَدٍgrief مِنfrom لَوعَةِthe torment of الحُبِّlove فَاعشَقِthen fall in love
عَلى كَمَدٍ مِن لَوعَةِ الحُبِّ فَاعشَقِ
If you wish never to reproach a lover
I roamed, above Damascus lofty,
for grief from love's torment, then fall in love.
Below us a mountain ridge like suspended clouds,
وَكُنتُand I used to مَتىwhenever أَبعُدI go far مِنَfrom الخِلِّthe dear friend أَكتَئِبI grieve
وَكُنتُ مَتى أَبعُد مِنَ الخِلِّ أَكتَئِب
لَهُfor him وَمَتىand whenever أَظعَنI depart عَنِfrom الدارِhome أَشتَقِI yearn
لَهُ وَمَتى أَظعَن عَنِ الدارِ أَشتَقِ
And whenever I went far from a dear friend, I would grieve
To bright Hira then Karkh, after I had decided
for him; whenever I departed from home, I yearned.
To leave my abode between Busra and Jilliq.
تَلَفَّتُّI looked back مِنfrom عُلياthe heights of دِمَشقَDamascus وَدونَناand between us
تَلَفَّتُّ مِن عُليا دِمَشقَ وَدونَنا
لِلُبنانَof Lebanon هَضبٌrocky heights كَالغَمامِlike clouds المُعَلَّقِsuspended
لِلُبنانَ هَضبٌ كَالغَمامِ المُعَلَّقِ
I looked back from the heights of Damascus, while between us lay
To my fortress, my honor, and my dwelling,
Lebanon's rocky heights, like suspended clouds,
And to the goal of my nostalgia in love and my yearning,
إِلىtoward الحيرَةِal-Hirah البَيضاءِthe white فَالكَرخِand then al-Karkh بَعدَماafter
إِلى الحيرَةِ البَيضاءِ فَالكَرخِ بَعدَما
ذَمَمتُI condemned مُقاميmy stay بَينَbetween بُصرىBusra وَجِلِّقِand Jilliq
ذَمَمتُ مُقامي بَينَ بُصرى وَجِلِّقِ
toward white al-Hirah and then al-Karkh, after
The roofs of power whose faces
I had condemned my stay between Busra and Jilliq.
Are turned towards a perspective on the rippling Tigris,
إِلىtoward مَعقِلىthe two strongholds of عِزّيmy glory وَداريand the two homes of إِقامَتيmy residence
إِلى مَعقِلى عِزّي وَداري إِقامَتي
وَقَصدِand the goal of اِلتِفاتيmy looking back فيin الهَوىlove وَتَشَوُّقيand my longing
وَقَصدِ اِلتِفاتي في الهَوى وَتَشَوُّقي
Toward the twin strongholds of my glory, the two homes of my dwelling,
As if the gardens there are clad all around
and the goal of my loving backward gaze and yearning.
With veils of waving gossamer fabric,
مَقاصيرُpavilions مُلكٍroyal power أَقبَلَتturned toward بِوُجوهِهاwith their faces
مَقاصيرُ مُلكٍ أَقبَلَت بِوُجوهِها
إِلىtoward مَنظَرٍa view مِنof عَرصِthe open expanse of دِجلَةَthe Tigris مونِقِdelightful
إِلى مَنظَرٍ مِن عَرصِ دِجلَةَ مونِقِ
Royal pavilions turn their faces
When the breeze stirs their lights, exuding
toward a delightful view over the Tigris's open expanse.
Are their fragrances of slit musk,
كَأَنَّas though الرِياضَthe gardens الحُوَّdark-green يُكسَينَwere clothed حَولَهاaround them
كَأَنَّ الرِياضَ الحُوَّ يُكسَينَ حَولَها
أَفانينَvarieties مِنof أَفوافِstriped fabrics وَشيٍbrocade مُلَفَّقِpieced together
أَفانينَ مِن أَفوافِ وَشيٍ مُلَفَّقِ
As though the dark-green gardens around them were clothed
As if the white domes and loose sun
in varied striped fabrics of pieced-together brocade.
Mock them with split halves of eggs,
إِذاwhen الريحُthe wind هَزَّتstirred نَورَهُنَّtheir blossoms تَضَوَّعَتwafted forth
إِذا الريحُ هَزَّت نَورَهُنَّ تَضَوَّعَت
رَوائِحُهُits fragrances مِنfrom فَأرِpods of مِسكٍmusk مُفَتَّقِbroken open
رَوائِحُهُ مِن فَأرِ مِسكٍ مُفَتَّقِ
When the wind stirs their blossoms, there waft
And from balconies in the sky as if they are
their fragrances, from pods of musk broken open.
Arriving white doves of flight wheeling round,
كَأَنَّas though القِبابُthe domes البيضَwhite وَالشَمسُand the sun طَلقَةٌradiant
كَأَنَّ القِبابُ البيضَ وَالشَمسُ طَلقَةٌ
تُضاحِكُهاexchanges smiles with them أَنصافُhalves of بَيضٍeggs مُفَلَّقِsplit open
تُضاحِكُها أَنصافُ بَيضٍ مُفَلَّقِ
The white domes seem, while the sun shines brightly
Encampments of Fath ibn Khāqān never ceased to be
and exchanges smiles with them, like halves of eggs split open.
Rich for the destitute or ransoming the captive,
وَمِنand some شُرُفاتٍbattlements فيin السَماءِthe sky كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَمِن شُرُفاتٍ في السَماءِ كَأَنَّها
قَوادِمُprimary flight feathers of بيضانِwhite الحَمامِdoves المُحَلِّقِsoaring
قَوادِمُ بيضانِ الحَمامِ المُحَلِّقِ
And there are battlements high in the sky, as though they were
So neither the fugitive seeking asylum with them
the primary flight feathers of soaring white doves.
Nor the suitor repelled from them goes away vanquished.
رِباعٌdwellings مِنَbelonging to الفَتحِal-Fath بنِson of خاقانِKhaqan لَمnot تَزَلceased to be
رِباعٌ مِنَ الفَتحِ بنِ خاقانِ لَم تَزَل
غِناًwealth لِعَديمٍfor the destitute أَوor فِكاكاًrelease لِموثَقِfor one in bonds
غِناً لِعَديمٍ أَو فِكاكاً لِموثَقِ
Dwellings of al-Fath ibn Khaqan, which have never ceased to be
There alights good fortune as if their giving
wealth for the destitute, or freedom for one in bonds.
Follows in succession like rending clouds,
فَلاso no الهارِبُthe fugitive اللاجيseeking refuge إِلَيهاto them بِمُسلَمٍhanded over
فَلا الهارِبُ اللاجي إِلَيها بِمُسلَمٍ
وَلاnor الطالِبُthe seeker المُمتاحُdrawing bounty مِنهاfrom them بِمُخفِقِunsuccessful
وَلا الطالِبُ المُمتاحُ مِنها بِمُخفِقِ
No fugitive seeking refuge there is handed over,
A gushing palm with generosity, copious,
nor does a seeker drawing their bounty fail.
And the unveiling of a face with brightness shining,
يَحُلُّdwells بِهاin them خِرقٌa resourceful nobleman كَأَنَّas though عَطاءَهُhis bounty
يَحُلُّ بِها خِرقٌ كَأَنَّ عَطاءَهُ
تَلاحُقُsuccessive surges of سَيلِthe flood of الديمَةِsteady rain المُتَخَرِّقِrushing through
تَلاحُقُ سَيلِ الديمَةِ المُتَخَرِّقِ
A resourceful nobleman dwells there, whose bounty seems
Their hands succeeded upon people, so
the successive surges of a steady rain's rushing flood:
Every living soul in Syria and Iraq was satisfied.
تَدَفُّقُthe outpouring of كَفٍّa hand بِالسَماحَةِwith generosity ثَرَّةٍoverflowing
تَدَفُّقُ كَفٍّ بِالسَماحَةِ ثَرَّةٍ
وَإِسفارَand the radiance of وَجهٍa face بِالطَلاقَةِwith cheerfulness مُشرِقِshining
وَإِسفارَ وَجهٍ بِالطَلاقَةِ مُشرِقِ
the outpouring of a hand overflowing with generosity,
How much spilled blood, permissible to shed,
and the radiance of a face bright with cheerfulness.
Did they stem in the conquest,
تَوالَتcame in succession أَياديهِhis favors عَلىupon الناسِthe people فَاِكتَفىso had enough
تَوالَت أَياديهِ عَلى الناسِ فَاِكتَفى
بِهاthrough them كُلُّevery حَيٍّtribe مِنof شَآمٍa Syrian وَمُعرِقِand an Iraqi
بِها كُلُّ حَيٍّ مِن شَآمٍ وَمُعرِقِ
His favors followed one another upon the people, so that
And how many despairing souls in Hims
every tribe in Syria and Iraq found enough in them.
Did they rescue from death seizing by strangulation!
فَكَمso how much حَقَنَتthey spared فيamong تَغلِبِTaghlib الغُلبِthe mighty مِنof دَمٍblood
فَكَم حَقَنَت في تَغلِبِ الغُلبِ مِن دَمٍ
مُباحٍlawful to shed وَأَدنَتand they drew together مِنof شَتيتٍthe scattered مُفَرَّقِdispersed
مُباحٍ وَأَدنَت مِن شَتيتٍ مُفَرَّقِ
How much blood they saved among mighty Taghlib,
By them they resumed the freshness of life
blood lawful to shed—and reunited the scattered and dispersed.
And leaned upon the shade of a life reviving,
وَكَمand how many نَفَّسَتthey eased distress فيin حِمصَHims عَنfor مُتَأَسِّفٍa grieving man
وَكَم نَفَّسَت في حِمصَ عَن مُتَأَسِّفٍ
غَداhad come to be المَوتُdeath مِنهُof him آخِذاًtaking hold بِالمُخَنَّقِby the throat
غَدا المَوتُ مِنهُ آخِذاً بِالمُخَنَّقِ
How many a grieving man in Hims they relieved,
So thankfulness, O Banū Kalhān, to the Benefactor
whom death had come to grip by the throat.
Who secured for you the view of the rightly-guided Imam,
وَقَدand already قَطَعَتhad crossed عَرضَthe breadth of الأُرُندِal-Urund إِلَيهِمِtoward them
وَقَد قَطَعَت عَرضَ الأُرُندِ إِلَيهِمِ
كَتائِبُbattalions تُزجىbeing driven onward فَيلَقاًa legion بَعدَafter فَيلَقِa legion
كَتائِبُ تُزجى فَيلَقاً بَعدَ فَيلَقِ
Across the breadth of al-Urund toward them had already passed
Turned from you the march of the caliphate after the gleaming
battalions, driven forward legion after legion.
Of the dazzling meteors,
بِهِthrough him اِستَأنَفواthey renewed بَردَthe coolness of الحَياةِlife وَأَسنَدواand leaned back
بِهِ اِستَأنَفوا بَردَ الحَياةِ وَأَسنَدوا
إِلىinto ظِلِّshade فَينانٍspreading مِنَof العَيشِlife مورِقِleafy
إِلى ظِلِّ فَينانٍ مِنَ العَيشِ مورِقِ
Through him they renewed life's coolness and leaned back
And white swords were bared, and the breasts
beneath the spreading, leafy shade of life.
Of Khumayt and Ablaq were offered.
فَشُكراًso give thanks بَنيsons of كَهلانَKahlan لِلمُنعِمِto the benefactor الَّذيwho
فَشُكراً بَني كَهلانَ لِلمُنعِمِ الَّذي
أَتاحَmade available لَكُمto you رَأيَthe judgment of الإِمامِthe imam المُوَفَّقِwell-guided
أَتاحَ لَكُم رَأيَ الإِمامِ المُوَفَّقِ
So give thanks, sons of Kahlan, to the benefactor who
There, had he not cared for you, you would have been
secured for you the judgment of the well-guided imam.
Borne toward the breast of the routed Dhahami,
ثَنىhe turned aside عَنكُمُfrom you زَحفَthe advance of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate بَعدَماafter
ثَنى عَنكُمُ زَحفَ الخِلافَةِ بَعدَما
أَضاءَتshone بُروقُthe lightning flashes of العارِضِthe storm cloud المُتَأَلِّقِglittering
أَضاءَت بُروقُ العارِضِ المُتَأَلِّقِ
He turned the caliphate's advance away from you, after
So do not ungratefully deny the blessings of a Benefactor
the dazzling storm cloud's lightning had blazed.
You were saved by them from the straitened bosom of dearth.
وَقَدand already شُهِرَتwere unsheathed بيضُthe bright blades of السُيوفِthe swords وَأُعرِضَتand were displayed
وَقَد شُهِرَت بيضُ السُيوفِ وَأُعرِضَت
صُدورُthe breasts of المَذاكيfull-grown steeds مِنamong كُمَيتٍdark bay ones وَأَبلَقِand piebald ones
صُدورُ المَذاكي مِن كُمَيتٍ وَأَبلَقِ
The bright swords had already been drawn, and displayed were
Return to Him with gratitude - that from you promises
the breasts of full-grown steeds, dark bay and piebald.
A streaming open-handed gift from God.
هُنالِكَthere لَوif لَمnot يَفتَلِتكُمhe had snatched you free حُمِلتُمُyou would have been thrust
هُنالِكَ لَو لَم يَفتَلِتكُم حُمِلتُمُ
عَلىonto مِثلِthe like of صَدرِthe point of اللَهذَمِيِّa broad-bladed lance المُذَلَّقِsharpened
عَلى مِثلِ صَدرِ اللَهذَمِيِّ المُذَلَّقِ
There, had he not snatched you free, you would have been thrust
In generosity he has a nature no men
onto something like the point of a sharpened, broad-bladed lance.
Aspiring high can manage by self-discipline,
فَلاso do not تَكفُرُنَّever be ungrateful to الفَتحَal-Fath آلاءَfor the favors of مُنعِمٍa benefactor
فَلا تَكفُرُنَّ الفَتحَ آلاءَ مُنعِمٍ
نَجَوتُمyou escaped بِهاthrough them مِنfrom لاحِجِa constricted place القُطرِbounds ضَيِّقِnarrow
نَجَوتُم بِها مِن لاحِجِ القُطرِ ضَيِّقِ
So do not be ungrateful to al-Fath for a benefactor's favors,
When they are ignorant of the source from which highness is mustered,
through which you escaped a cramped and narrow strait.
He knows how one rises high in its homes and ascends.
وَعودواand return لَهُto him بِالشُكرِwith thanks مِنكُمfrom you يَعُدhe will return لَكُمto you
وَعودوا لَهُ بِالشُكرِ مِنكُم يَعُد لَكُم
بِسَيبِwith the bounty of جَوادٍa generous man بِاللُهىwith rich gifts مُتَدَفِّقِoverflowing
بِسَيبِ جَوادٍ بِاللُهى مُتَدَفِّقِ
And renew your thanks to him, and he will return to you
He attacked the enemies from every direction,
with a generous man's bounty, streaming with rich gifts.
Drawing near them from every west and east,
لَهُhe has خُلُقٌa nature فيin الجودِgenerosity لاnot يَستَطيعُهُcan attain it
لَهُ خُلُقٌ في الجودِ لا يَستَطيعُهُ
رِجالٌmen يَرومونَseek العُلاgreatness بِالتَخَلُّقِthrough assumed virtues
رِجالٌ يَرومونَ العُلا بِالتَخَلُّقِ
His generosity is an inborn trait that cannot be matched
With white swords when brandished against a people they are defeated,
by men who seek greatness through assumed virtues.
And steeds when they race to victory outstrip,
إِذاwhen جَهِلواthey do not know مِنfrom أَينَwhere تُحتَضَرُis sought out العُلاgreatness
إِذا جَهِلوا مِن أَينَ تُحتَضَرُ العُلا
دَرىhe knows كَيفَhow يَسموhe rises فيamong ذُراهاits summits وَيَرتَقيand ascends
دَرى كَيفَ يَسمو في ذُراها وَيَرتَقي
When they do not know where greatness is to be found,
The Abbasids through him obtained sharp swords
he knows how to rise among its summits and ascend.
And resolute courage like flaming fire,
أَطَلَّhe looked down عَلىupon الأَعداءِthe enemies مِنfrom كُلِّevery وِجهَةٍdirection
أَطَلَّ عَلى الأَعداءِ مِن كُلِّ وِجهَةٍ
وَشارَفَهُمand towered over them مِنfrom كُلِّevery غَربٍwest وَمَشرِقِand east
وَشارَفَهُم مِن كُلِّ غَربٍ وَمَشرِقِ
He loomed over his enemies from every direction,
And a loyal breast that guides them
and towered above them from every west and east,
To the sincere advice of protective Hārān,
بِبيضٍwith bright swords مَتىwhenever تُشهَرthey are drawn عَلىagainst القَومِthe people يُغلَبواthey are defeated
بِبيضٍ مَتى تُشهَر عَلى القَومِ يُغلَبوا
وَخَيلٍand steeds مَتىwhenever تُركَضthey are spurred إِلىtoward النَصرِvictory تَسبِقِthey race ahead
وَخَيلٍ مَتى تُركَض إِلى النَصرِ تَسبِقِ
with bright swords: whenever drawn against a people, that people is defeated,
So around them, through his counsel and defense,
and steeds that, whenever spurred toward victory, race ahead.
Mountains crowd, coveting the caliphate,
أُعينَwere aided بَنوthe sons of العَبّاسِal-Abbas مِنهُby him بِصارِمٍwith a keen sword
أُعينَ بَنو العَبّاسِ مِنهُ بِصارِمٍ
جُرازٍall-cleaving وَعَزمٍand resolve كَالشِهابِlike a meteor المُحَرِّقِscorching
جُرازٍ وَعَزمٍ كَالشِهابِ المُحَرِّقِ
The sons of al-Abbas were aided by him with a keen sword,
I saw you - he who seeks your place goes back
all-cleaving, and resolve like a scorching meteor,
Infamous, and he who seeks your attainment succeeds,
وَصَدرٍand a heart أَمينِfaithful in الغَيبِabsence يُهديit offers إِلَيهِمِto them
وَصَدرٍ أَمينِ الغَيبِ يُهدي إِلَيهِمِ
نَصيحَةَthe sincere counsel of حَرّانِone burning الجَوانِحِin the breast مُشفِقِsolicitous
نَصيحَةَ حَرّانِ الجَوانِحِ مُشفِقِ
and a heart faithful in private, offering them
To you belong the merit and clear bounty upon me,
the counsel of one with a burning breast, full of concern.
While mine is only the love of my heart and my words.
فَحَولَهُمُso around them مِنthrough نُصحِهِhis counsel وَدِفاعِهِand his defense
فَحَولَهُمُ مِن نُصحِهِ وَدِفاعِهِ
تَكَهَّفُa cave-like shelter طَودٍof a mountain بِالخِلافَةِaround the caliphate مُحدِقِencircling
تَكَهَّفُ طَودٍ بِالخِلافَةِ مُحدِقِ
Around them, through his counsel and defense,
is the cave-like shelter of a mountain encircling the caliphate.
رَأَيتُكَI have seen you مَنwhoever يَطلُبseeks مَحَلَّكَyour station يَنصَرِفturns away
رَأَيتُكَ مَن يَطلُب مَحَلَّكَ يَنصَرِف
ذَميماًdisgraced وَمَنand whoever يَطلُبseeks بِسَعيِكِthrough your efforts يَلحَقِattains his goal
ذَميماً وَمَن يَطلُب بِسَعيِكِ يَلحَقِ
I have found that whoever seeks your station turns away
disgraced, while whoever seeks through your efforts attains his goal.
لَكَyours is الفَضلُexcellence وَالنُعمىand favor عَلَيَّto me مَبينَةٌmanifest
لَكَ الفَضلُ وَالنُعمى عَلَيَّ مَبينَةٌ
وَماand not لِيَI have إِلّاexcept وُدُّthe affection of صَدريmy breast وَمَنطِقيand my speech
وَما لِيَ إِلّا وُدُّ صَدري وَمَنطِقي
Yours is the merit, and your favor to me is plain;
and I have only my heart's love and my words.
Partial English translation: 84 of 90 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1