رَبعٌa dwelling خَلاbecame empty مِنof بَدرِهِits full moon مَغناهُits dwelling place
رَبعٌ خَلا مِن بَدرِهِ مَغناهُ
وَرَعَتand grazed بِهِin it عينُwide-eyed ones المَهاthe oryx الأَشباهُthe likenesses
وَرَعَت بِهِ عينُ المَها الأَشباهُ
A dwelling whose grounds are bereft of its full moon,
A quarter left its full moon radiance,
And there wide-eyed oryx, her likenesses, have grazed—
And the doe-eyed beauties were left to pine for it.
بَدَلاًa substitute شَنيئاًugly مِنfor مَحاسِنِthe beauties of صورَةٍa form
بَدَلاً شَنيئاً مِن مَحاسِنِ صورَةٍ
وَصَلَbound القُلوبَhearts بِناظِرَيهاto her two eyes اللَهُGod
وَصَلَ القُلوبَ بِناظِرَيها اللَهُ
An ugly substitute for the beauties of a form
It showed ungainly in place of beautiful features
To whose two eyes God bound hearts.
While hearts were joined by the sight of him.
كانَتshe was مُرادَthe desire of عُيونِناour eyes فَرَمىthen struck الهَوىlove
كانَت مُرادَ عُيونِنا فَرَمى الهَوى
رَيبُthe vicissitudes of الزَمانِtime فَشَتَّand so scattered صَرفَthe full force of قُواهُits powers
رَيبُ الزَمانِ فَشَتَّ صَرفَ قُواهُ
She was our eyes' desire; then love was struck
He was the desired of all eyes but fate,
By time's vicissitudes, which scattered its full strength.
Dealing its blows, dispersed its energies about.
وَلَرُبَّماand how often أَرتَعتُI let graze رَوضَةَthe garden of حُسنِهاher beauty
وَلَرُبَّما أَرتَعتُ رَوضَةَ حُسنِها
طَرفيmy gaze وَأَعطَيتُand I gave الفُؤادَthe heart مُناهُits desires
طَرفي وَأَعطَيتُ الفُؤادَ مُناهُ
And how often I let graze in the garden of her beauty
And I would sometimes stray into the garden of his beauty
My gaze, and gave my heart its desires.
Meeting his gaze while my heart found its comfort.
ماكانَwas not عَهدُthe time of وِصالِهاunion with her لَمّاwhen نَأَتshe went far away
ماكانَ عَهدُ وِصالِها لَمّا نَأَت
إِلّاexcept كَحُلمٍlike a dream طارَflew away حُلوُthe sweetness of كَراهُits slumber
إِلّا كَحُلمٍ طارَ حُلوُ كَراهُ
The time of union with her, when she departed, was nothing
Never was the enjoyment of seeing him
But a dream whose sweet slumber had flown.
Save like a vanishing sweet dream.
فَتَناسَso forget مَنthe one whom لَمnot تَرجُyou hope for رَجعَةَthe return of وُدِّهِhis affection
فَتَناسَ مَن لَم تَرجُ رَجعَةَ وُدِّهِ
وَوَصالِهِand union with him وَتَعَزَّand console yourself عَنaway from ذِكراهُhis memory
وَوَصالِهِ وَتَعَزَّ عَن ذِكراهُ
So forget the one—you have no hope of his affection's return
So one gave up all hope of his returning love
Or reunion with him—and seek solace away from his memory
Or reunion, ceasing to mention him.
بِمُجَنَّبٍwith a wide-legged steed رَحبِspacious الفُروجِthe gaps between its limbs مُشَذَّبٍtall and lean
بِمُجَنَّبٍ رَحبِ الفُروجِ مُشَذَّبٍ
نابيprominent القَذالِthe poll حَديدَةٍpointed أُذُناهُits two ears
نابي القَذالِ حَديدَةٍ أُذُناهُ
With a wide-set steed, roomy between the limbs, tall and lean,
With smooth cheeks, a wide noble nose,
High at the poll, with pointed ears,
Sharp-tipped ears, level in length.
ضافيabundant السَبيبِthe mane and tail hair مُقَلِّصِنlong-legged and lean-bellied لَمnot تَنخَزِلweaken
ضافي السَبيبِ مُقَلِّصِن لَم تَنخَزِل
مِنهُfrom it القَطاةُthe croup وَلَمand not يَخُنهُfail it شَظاهُits splint bones
مِنهُ القَطاةُ وَلَم يَخُنهُ شَظاهُ
With full mane and tail, long-legged and lean-bellied; unweakened
Pure white skin as though brightness of his cheek
Is its croup, nor have its splint bones failed it.
Dawn had stripped away its veil before him.
صافيunblemished الأَديمِthe hide كَأَنَّas though غُرَّةَthe white blaze of وَجهِهِits face
صافي الأَديمِ كَأَنَّ غُرَّةَ وَجهِهِ
فَلَقُthe break of الصَباحِdawn انجابَcleared away عَنهُfrom it دُجاهُits darkness
فَلَقُ الصَباحِ انجابَ عَنهُ دُجاهُ
Smooth-coated, as though the blaze upon its face
He runs, when the steeds dash to the (battle) fray,
Were the break of dawn, its darkness lifted away.
Overtaking with his first strides the last.
يَجريit runs إِذاwhen جَرَتِran الجِيادُthe noble steeds عَلىin الوَنىweariness
يَجري إِذا جَرَتِ الجِيادُ عَلى الوَنى
فَيَبُذُّand so outstrips أولىthe beginning of جَريِهاtheir running أُخراهُthe last of its running
فَيَبُذُّ أولى جَريِها أُخراهُ
It runs when noble steeds run in weariness,
He brings you near, by his charm, to a sovereign whose nature is kindness itself;
And the last of its gallop outstrips the first of theirs.
He brings you near, though you be far, by his good pleasure.
يُدنيكَit brings you near مِنto مَلِكٍa king أَغَرَّillustrious سَمَيدَعٍmagnanimous
يُدنيكَ مِن مَلِكٍ أَغَرَّ سَمَيدَعٍ
يُدنيكَbrings you near مِنto أَقصىthe utmost of مِناكَyour wishes رِضاهُhis favor
يُدنيكَ مِن أَقصى مِناكَ رِضاهُ
It brings you near an illustrious, magnanimous king,
If it were said, who has gained generosity and munificence
Whose favor brings you within reach of your utmost wishes.
On the day of glory, it would be said: that this was the prince.
لَوif قيلَit were asked مَنwho حازَpossessed السَماحَةَgenerosity وَالنَدىand bounty
لَو قيلَ مَن حازَ السَماحَةَ وَالنَدى
يَومَon the day of الفَخارِboasting لَقيلَit would surely be said ذاكَthat الشاهُthe Shah
يَومَ الفَخارِ لَقيلَ ذاكَ الشاهُ
Were it asked, 'Who possesses generosity and bounty?'
The prince, prince of glory, matchless,
On the day of boasting, they would say, 'That is the Shah.'
Possessing all generosity in his nature.
الشاهُthe Shah شاهُthe Shah of المَجدِglory غَيرَnot مُدافَعٍchallenged
الشاهُ شاهُ المَجدِ غَيرَ مُدافَعٍ
حازَencompassed المَكارِمَthe noble virtues كُلَّهاall of them بُرداهُhis two cloaks
حازَ المَكارِمَ كُلَّها بُرداهُ
The Shah is the Shah of glory, beyond dispute;
The heaving bitter sea cannot give him
His two cloaks encompass all noble virtues.
A sea overflowing with his arrows' flights.
ماnot البَحرُthe sea مُلتَطِمُclashing العُبابِthe billows يُمِدُّهُreplenishes it
ما البَحرُ مُلتَطِمُ العُبابِ يُمِدُّهُ
بَحرٌa sea يَفيضُoverflow بِسَيبِهِwith its bounty عَبراهُits two shores
بَحرٌ يَفيضُ بِسَيبِهِ عَبراهُ
No sea with clashing billows, replenished
One day with hands more generous than the hiding-places of his palms -
By a sea whose two shores overflow with its bounty,
According to his two conditions with what his hands contain
يَوماًever بِأَسمَحَany more generous مِنthan أَسِرَّةِthe creases of كَفِّهِhis palm
يَوماً بِأَسمَحَ مِن أَسِرَّةِ كَفِّهِ
فيin حالَتَيهِhis two states بِماwith what حَوَتهُheld it يَداهُhis two hands
في حالَتَيهِ بِما حَوَتهُ يَداهُ
Is ever more generous than the creases of his palm,
Never did a pouring rain cloud pour down
In either of his states, with what his two hands hold.
Upon the people of the land but (he was) like some of its pouring.
كَلّاno indeed وَلاand not غَيثٌa rain shower تَهَلَّلَbeamed مُزنُهُits rain-clouds
كَلّا وَلا غَيثٌ تَهَلَّلَ مُزنُهُ
بِحَياwith life-giving rain for الوَرىmankind إِلّاexcept كَبَعضِlike a portion of نَداهُhis bounty
بِحَيا الوَرى إِلّا كَبَعضِ نَداهُ
No indeed! Nor is a shower whose clouds beam
When Usama, as he protected his tribe,
With life-giving rain for mankind more than a portion of his bounty.
With his young lions behind their leader,
وَلَماand certainly not أُسامَةُUsama, the lion وَهوَwhile he يَحميguards غيلَهُhis thicket
وَلَما أُسامَةُ وَهوَ يَحمي غيلَهُ
وَوَراءَهُand behind him مَعَwith عُرسِهيhis mate شِبلاهُhis two cubs
وَوَراءَهُ مَعَ عُرسِهي شِبلاهُ
Nor is Usama, the lion, as he guards his thicket,
Faced perils more terrible in the fight,
With his two cubs behind him alongside his mate,
While death burned hot increasing its flames
بِأَشَدَّany fiercer مِنهُthan him فيamid الزَعازِعِthe turmoil مُقدِماًadvancing boldly
بِأَشَدَّ مِنهُ في الزَعازِعِ مُقدِماً
وَالمَوتُwhile death مُحتَدِمٌraging يَشُبُّflares up لَظاهُits blaze
وَالمَوتُ مُحتَدِمٌ يَشُبُّ لَظاهُ
Fiercer than he, advancing amid the turmoil,
O pillar of glory whose deeds
While death rages and its blaze flares up.
Founded the buttresses of its structure!
ياO كاهِلَshoulder of المَجدِglory الَّذيwho بِفَعالِهِthrough his deeds
يا كاهِلَ المَجدِ الَّذي بِفَعالِهِ
أَرسىset firmly قَواعِدَthe foundations of طَودِهِits mountain رُكناهُits two pillars
أَرسى قَواعِدَ طَودِهِ رُكناهُ
O shoulder of glory, through whose deeds
Its pinnacle, its crown-star, its system,
Its two pillars set firm the foundations of its mountain,
The place of the pole of its tents.
وَسَنامَand the summit of مَفخَرِهِits pride وَشَمسَةَand the sun-shaped jewel of تاجِهِits crown
وَسَنامَ مَفخَرِهِ وَشَمسَةَ تاجِهِ
وَنِظامَهُand its binding thread وَمَكانَand the seat of قُطبِthe axle of رَحاهُits millstone
وَنِظامَهُ وَمَكانَ قُطبِ رَحاهُ
And summit of its pride, and sun-jewel of its crown,
No nobility but on whom some favor was conferred
And its binding thread, and the seat of its millstone's axle!
Which was revealed to it on the day of glory.
لَمnot يَبقَremains حُرٌّa freeborn man لَمnot تَسِمهُbrands him نِعمَةٌa boon
لَم يَبقَ حُرٌّ لَم تَسِمهُ نِعمَةٌ
جُلِيَتwere burnished لَهاfor it يَومَon the day of الفَخارِboasting حُلاهُhis ornaments
جُلِيَت لَها يَومَ الفَخارِ حُلاهُ
No freeborn man remains unmarked by a boon,
But for you, so cleave to one tried and true to his allegiance
For which his ornaments were burnished on the day of boasting,
Whose path no swerves of it deceived him;
إِلّاexcept وَلِيَّكَyour loyal follower فَاِعتَبِدهُso enslave him بِشاحِجٍwith a braying mule
إِلّا وَلِيَّكَ فَاِعتَبِدهُ بِشاحِجٍ
لِطَريقِهِfor his journey لَمnot يَحوِهِcontain it شَطَناهُits two tether-ropes
لِطَريقِهِ لَم يَحوِهِ شَطَناهُ
Except your loyal follower; enslave him with a braying mule
Or honored, of ample nostrils, swimming
For his journey, one its two tether-ropes cannot hold,
To meet him on the day of the encounter.
أَوor مُقرَبٍa prized steed رَحبِwide المَناخِرِthe nostrils سابِحٍswimming in its stride
أَو مُقرَبٍ رَحبِ المَناخِرِ سابِحٍ
يَشجىsuffer grief بِهِthrough it يَومَon the day of اللِقاءِbattle عِداهُhis foes
يَشجى بِهِ يَومَ اللِقاءِ عِداهُ
Or a prized steed, broad-nostrilled, swimming in its stride,
To you belong the ancient, the abundant glory,
That brings his foes grief on the day of battle.
Its mountain-passes, its fields, and its sands.
لَكَyours are هامَةُthe summit of المَجدِglory التَليدِancestral وَهَضبُهُand its plateaus
لَكَ هامَةُ المَجدِ التَليدِ وَهَضبُهُ
وَشِعابُهُand its ravines وَنُجودُهُand its uplands وَرُباهُand its hills
وَشِعابُهُ وَنُجودُهُ وَرُباهُ
Yours are the summit of ancestral glory and its plateaus,
Still you remain for the noblest an impregnable refuge
And its ravines, and its uplands, and its hills.
Where the most honorable seek the protection of your hand.
مازِلتَyou have always been لِلأَحرارِfor freeborn men أَحرَزَthe most secure مَلجَإٍa refuge
مازِلتَ لِلأَحرارِ أَحرَزَ مَلجَإٍ
يَحتَلُّdwell upon مِنكَin you الأَكرَمونَthe noblest ذُراهُits heights
يَحتَلُّ مِنكَ الأَكرَمونَ ذُراهُ
You have always been the safest refuge for freeborn men;
In you, the noblest dwell upon its heights.
Partial English translation: 48 of 50 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1