أَمّاas for الخَيالُthe apparition فَإِنَّهُthen indeed it لَمdid not يَطرُقِvisit by night
أَمّا الخَيالُ فَإِنَّهُ لَم يَطرُقِ
إِلّاexcept بِعَقبِin the wake of تَشَوُّفٍeager watching وَتَشَوُّقِand yearning
إِلّا بِعَقبِ تَشَوُّفٍ وَتَشَوُّقِ
As for the apparition, it did not visit by night
except after eager watching and yearning.
قَدindeed زارَvisited مِنfrom بِعدٍafar فَبَرَّدَso cooled مِنof حَشاًa breast
قَد زارَ مِن بِعدٍ فَبَرَّدَ مِن حَشاً
ضَرِمٍablaze وَسَكَّنَand soothed مِنof فُؤادٍa heart مُقلِقِrestless
ضَرِمٍ وَسَكَّنَ مِن فُؤادٍ مُقلِقِ
It came from afar and cooled a breast
ablaze, and soothed a restless heart.
وَلَرُبَّماand often indeed كانَwas الكَرىsleep سَبَباًa means لَناfor us
وَلَرُبَّما كانَ الكَرى سَبَباً لَنا
بَعدَafter الفِراقِseparation إِلىto اللِقاءِmeeting فَنَلتَقيso we meet
بَعدَ الفِراقِ إِلى اللِقاءِ فَنَلتَقي
How often sleep has served us as a means,
after separation, to meet—and we meet,
مُتَذاكِرانِremembering each other عَلىdespite البِعادِdistance فَماand not يَنىceases
مُتَذاكِرانِ عَلى البِعادِ فَما يَنى
يُهديsends الغَرامَpassion مُغَرِّبٌone in the west لِمُشَرِّقِto one in the east
يُهدي الغَرامَ مُغَرِّبٌ لِمُشَرِّقِ
remembering each other despite distance; unceasingly
one in the west sends passion to one in the east.
صَدَقَتproved true مَحاسِنُهُhis beauties فَصارَتso they became فِتنَةًa temptation
صَدَقَت مَحاسِنُهُ فَصارَت فِتنَةً
لِلناظِرينَto onlookers وَوَعدُهُand his promise لَمdid not يَصدُقِprove true
لِلناظِرينَ وَوَعدُهُ لَم يَصدُقِ
His beauties proved true and became a temptation
to onlookers, though his promise proved untrue.
أَأُفيقُshall I recover? مِنfrom شَجَنٍsorrow لِعَقلِيَto my mind خابِلٍderanging
أَأُفيقُ مِن شَجَنٍ لِعَقلِيَ خابِلٍ
وَأَصُدُّand turn away عَنfrom سَكَنٍa beloved بِقَلبِيَto my heart مُلصَقِfastened
وَأَصُدُّ عَن سَكَنٍ بِقَلبِيَ مُلصَقِ
Shall I recover from sorrow that deranges my mind,
and turn away from a beloved bound to my heart?
قَدindeed رابَنيdisquieted me هَرَبُthe flight الشَبابِof youth وَراعَنيand alarmed me
قَد رابَني هَرَبُ الشَبابِ وَراعَني
شَيبٌgray hair يَدِبُّcreeps بَياضُهُits whiteness فيin مَفرَقيmy hair-parting
شَيبٌ يَدِبُّ بَياضُهُ في مَفرَقي
The flight of youth has disquieted me, and alarmed me
gray hair whose whiteness creeps through my parting.
إِمّاif تَرَينِيَyou see me قَدalready صَحَوتُI have recovered مِنَfrom الصِباyouthful folly
إِمّا تَرَينِيَ قَد صَحَوتُ مِنَ الصِبا
وَمَشَيتُand I walked فيin سَنَنِthe path المُبِلِّof the convalescent المَفرِقِrecovered from fever
وَمَشَيتُ في سَنَنِ المُبِلِّ المَفرِقِ
If you see me recovered from youthful folly,
and walking the path of one recovered, free of fever,
وَذَكَرتُand I recalled ماwhat أَخَذَtook المَشيبُgraying فَأَرسَلَتso shed
وَذَكَرتُ ما أَخَذَ المَشيبُ فَأَرسَلَت
عَينايَmy two eyes واكِفَa streaming flow ديمَةٍof steady rain مُغرَورَقِbrimming
عَينايَ واكِفَ ديمَةٍ مُغرَورَقِ
and recalling what graying stole, then there poured
from my eyes a brimming shower of steady rain.
فَلَقَدfor indeed أَرانيI see myself فيin مَخيلَةِthe proud bearing عاشِقٍof a lover
فَلَقَد أَراني في مَخيلَةِ عاشِقٍ
حَسَنِfine المَكانَةِin standing فيamong الحِسانِbeautiful women مُعَشَّقِmuch beloved
حَسَنِ المَكانَةِ في الحِسانِ مُعَشَّقِ
For I once saw myself with a lover's proud bearing,
high in favor among beauties, much beloved,
أَغدوI go out at dawn فَأَسحَبُthen I trail فيin البِطالَةِidle pleasure مِئزَريmy waistcloth
أَغدو فَأَسحَبُ في البِطالَةِ مِئزَري
وَكَذاكَand so too مَنwhoever يُصبِحbegins the morning بِبَثٍّwith sorrow يُغبِقِtakes an evening draught
وَكَذاكَ مَن يُصبِح بِبَثٍّ يُغبِقِ
going out at dawn, trailing my waistcloth in idle pleasure;
thus one who starts with sorrow at dawn drinks it at dusk.
إِنif كُنتَyou are ذاpossessed of عَزمٍresolve فَشَأنَكَso attend to your task وَالسُرىand night travel
إِن كُنتَ ذا عَزمٍ فَشَأنَكَ وَالسُرى
قَصدَheading toward الإِمامِthe Imam عَلىon عِتاقِhighbred الأَينَقِshe-camels
قَصدَ الإِمامِ عَلى عِتاقِ الأَينَقِ
If you have resolve, take to night travel,
bound for the Imam on highbred she-camels.
لاdo not تَرهَبَنَّever fear دُجىthe murk الحَنادِسِof pitch-dark nights بَعدَماafter
لا تَرهَبَنَّ دُجى الحَنادِسِ بَعدَما
صَدَعَتsplit apart خِلافَتُهُhis caliphate بِنورٍwith light مُشرِقِradiant
صَدَعَت خِلافَتُهُ بِنورٍ مُشرِقِ
Never fear the murk of pitch-dark nights, now that
his caliphate has split them with radiant light.
لِلَّهِGod be praised for مُعتَمِدٌone relying عَلىupon الِلَّهِGod اِكتَفىfound sufficiency
لِلَّهِ مُعتَمِدٌ عَلى الِلَّهِ اِكتَفى
باللَّهِin God وَالرَأيِand judgment الأَصيلِsound الأَوثَقِmost trustworthy
باللَّهِ وَالرَأيِ الأَصيلِ الأَوثَقِ
God be praised for one relying on God, content
with God and with sound, most trustworthy judgment.
لَهِجٌdevoted بِإِصلاحِto setting right الأُمورِaffairs يَروضُهاguides them
لَهِجٌ بِإِصلاحِ الأُمورِ يَروضُها
تَدبيرُهُhis governance فيin مَنهَجٍa course مُستَوسِقِwell-ordered
تَدبيرُهُ في مَنهَجٍ مُستَوسِقِ
Intent on setting affairs right, he guides them
by his governance along a well-ordered path.
مَلِكٌa king تَدينُsubmit لَهُto him المُلوكُkings وَتَقتَديand emulate
مَلِكٌ تَدينُ لَهُ المُلوكُ وَتَقتَدي
لُجُجُthe depths البِحارِof seas بِسَيبِهِhis bounty as a model المُتَدَفِّقِsurging
لُجُجُ البِحارِ بِسَيبِهِ المُتَدَفِّقِ
A king to whom kings submit, while
the ocean depths take his surging bounty as their model.
فَرَعىso he tended سَوادَthe mass المُسلِمينَof Muslims بِناظِرٍwith an eye
فَرَعى سَوادَ المُسلِمينَ بِناظِرٍ
مُتَفَقِّدٍwatchful وَحِياطِand the guarding care صَدرٍof a heart مُشفِقِcompassionate
مُتَفَقِّدٍ وَحِياطِ صَدرٍ مُشفِقِ
He tended the mass of Muslims with an eye
watchful, and the guarding care of a compassionate heart.
أَوفىhe appeared فَأَضمَرَتِso harbored القُلوبُhearts مَهابَةًawe
أَوفى فَأَضمَرَتِ القُلوبُ مَهابَةً
لِمُوَقِّرِfor one dignified اللَحَظاتِin glances فَخمِstately المَنطِقِin speech
لِمُوَقِّرِ اللَحَظاتِ فَخمِ المَنطِقِ
He appeared, and hearts harbored awe
for one grave of glance and stately in speech.
وَتَهَلَّلَتand brightened لِلراغِبينَfor petitioners أَسِرَّةٌbrow-lines
وَتَهَلَّلَت لِلراغِبينَ أَسِرَّةٌ
يَضحَكنَthey smile فيin وَجهٍa face كَثيرِabundant in الرَونَقِradiance
يَضحَكنَ في وَجهٍ كَثيرِ الرَونَقِ
And brow-lines brightened for petitioners,
smiling in a face of abundant radiance.
يَتَقَيَّلُemulates المُعتَزُّal-Mu'tazz فَضلَthe excellence جُدودِهِof his forefathers
يَتَقَيَّلُ المُعتَزُّ فَضلَ جُدودِهِ
بِخِلالِthrough the qualities مَحمودِof one praised الخِلالِfor his character مُوَفَّقِaided to success
بِخِلالِ مَحمودِ الخِلالِ مُوَفَّقِ
Al-Mu'tazz emulates his forefathers' excellence
with the qualities of one praiseworthy in character, blessed with success.
وَيَظَلُّand he remains يُخشىfeared فيin the cause of الإِلَهِGod وَيُتَّقىand held in awe
وَيَظَلُّ يُخشى في الإِلَهِ وَيُتَّقى
فيهِin His cause كَماjust as يَخشىhe fears الإِلَهُGod وَيَتَّقيand is mindful of Him
فيهِ كَما يَخشى الإِلَهُ وَيَتَّقي
He remains feared in God's cause and held in awe
therein, just as he fears God and is mindful of Him.
ضَربٌlean كَنَصلِlike the blade السَيفِof a sword أُرهِفَwas honed حَدُّهُits edge
ضَربٌ كَنَصلِ السَيفِ أُرهِفَ حَدُّهُ
وَأَضاءَand shone لامِعُthe gleam رَأيِهِof his judgment المُتَرَقرِقِshimmering
وَأَضاءَ لامِعُ رَأيِهِ المُتَرَقرِقِ
Lean as a sword-blade whose edge is honed,
and bright shines the gleam of his shimmering judgment.
وَمُهَذَّبُand refined in الأَخلاقِcharacter يَعطِفُهُsways him النَدىgenerosity
وَمُهَذَّبُ الأَخلاقِ يَعطِفُهُ النَدى
عَطفَthe bending الجَنوبِof the south wind مِنَof القَضيبِthe bough المورِقِleafy
عَطفَ الجَنوبِ مِنَ القَضيبِ المورِقِ
Refined in character, generosity sways him
as the south wind sways a leafy bough.
طَلقٌopen-faced فَإِنbut if أَبدىhe shows العُبوسَa frown تَطَأطَأَتbowed low
طَلقٌ فَإِن أَبدى العُبوسَ تَطَأطَأَت
خوسُthe deep-set eyes الرِجالِof men وَخَفَّضَتand lowered their voices فيin المَنطِقِspeech
خوسُ الرِجالِ وَخَفَّضَت في المَنطِقِ
Open-faced; but if he shows a frown, down bow
men's deep-set eyes, and their voices grow hushed.
مُتَغَمِّدٌforgiving يَهَبُhe pardons الذُنوبَsins وَعَهدُهاwhile their occurrence
مُتَغَمِّدٌ يَهَبُ الذُنوبَ وَعَهدُها
لَمhas not يَستَطِلgrown distant وَجَديدُهاand their newness لَمhas not يُشلِقِbecome frayed
لَم يَستَطِل وَجَديدُها لَم يُشلِقِ
Forgiving, he pardons sins when their occurrence
is not yet distant, their freshness not yet frayed.
يَغشىdazzles العُيونَthe eyes الناظِراتِgazing إِذاwhen بَداhe appears
يَغشى العُيونَ الناظِراتِ إِذا بَدا
قَمَرٌa moon مَتالِعُهُits rising places رِباعُthe courts الجَوسَقِof al-Jawsaq
قَمَرٌ مَتالِعُهُ رِباعُ الجَوسَقِ
He dazzles gazing eyes when he appears,
a moon whose rising places are al-Jawsaq's courts.
اللَهُGod جارُكَyour protector تَبتَغيyou seek ماwhatever تَبتَغيyou seek
اللَهُ جارُكَ تَبتَغي ما تَبتَغي
فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds وَتَرتَقيand you rise ماhowever high تَرتَقيyou rise
في المَكرُماتِ وَتَرتَقي ما تَرتَقي
God be your protector as you seek what you seek
in noble deeds, and rise as high as you rise.
فَلَقَدfor indeed وَليتَyou took power فَكُنتَso you were خَيرَthe best مُجَمِّعٍuniter
فَلَقَد وَليتَ فَكُنتَ خَيرَ مُجَمِّعٍ
إِذwhen كانَwas مَنwhoever ناواكَopposed you شَرُّthe worst مُفَرِّقِdivider
إِذ كانَ مَن ناواكَ شَرُّ مُفَرِّقِ
For you took power and proved the finest uniter,
when your opponent was the worst divider.
وَلَقَدand indeed رَدَدتَyou repelled النائِباتِcalamities ذَميمَةًdisgraced
وَلَقَد رَدَدتَ النائِباتِ ذَميمَةً
وَفَسَحتَand you widened مِنof كَنفِthe shelter الزَمانِof time الضَيِّقِconstricted
وَفَسَحتَ مِن كَنفِ الزَمانِ الضَيِّقِ
You sent calamities back disgraced,
and widened time's constricted shelter.
وَعَفَوتَand you pardoned عَفواًa pardon عَمَّembraced أُمَّةَthe community أَحمَدٍof Ahmad
وَعَفَوتَ عَفواً عَمَّ أُمَّةَ أَحمَدٍ
فيin الغَربِthe west مِنof أَوطانِهِمtheir homelands وَالمَشرِقِand the east
في الغَربِ مِن أَوطانِهِم وَالمَشرِقِ
You granted a pardon embracing Ahmad's community
in their homelands west and east.
وَلَقَدand indeed رَدَدتَyou restored عَلىto الأَنامِmankind عَقولَهُمtheir minds
وَلَقَد رَدَدتَ عَلى الأَنامِ عَقولَهُم
بِهَلاكِby the downfall سُلطانِof the rule الرَكيكِof the feeble one الأَحمَقِthe fool
بِهَلاكِ سُلطانِ الرَكيكِ الأَحمَقِ
You restored mankind's reason to them
by the downfall of the feeble fool's rule.
وَالقَومُand the people خَرقىfoolish ماas long as تُطُلِّبَis sought رُشدُهُمtheir guidance
وَالقَومُ خَرقى ما تُطُلِّبَ رُشدُهُم
وَأُديرَand is managed أَمرُهُمtheir affair بِعَزمَةِwith the resolve أَخرَقِof a fool
وَأُديرَ أَمرُهُم بِعَزمَةِ أَخرَقِ
A people are foolish while their guidance is sought
and their affairs are steered by a fool's resolve.
كَيفَhow اِهتِداءُfinding the way الرَكبِof the caravan فيin ظَلمائِهِمtheir darkness
كَيفَ اِهتِداءُ الرَكبِ في ظَلمائِهِم
وَدَليلُهُمwhile their guide مُتَخَلِّفٌlags behind لَمhas not يَلحَقِcaught up
وَدَليلُهُم مُتَخَلِّفٌ لَم يَلحَقِ
How can the caravan find its way in their darkness,
when its guide lags behind and has not caught up?
أَولَتكَgave you آراءُthe counsels المَواليof the retainers نُصرَةًsupport
أَولَتكَ آراءُ المَوالي نُصرَةً
بِسُيوفِهِمwith their swords وَالمُلكُwhile the kingdom جِدُّutterly مُمَزَّقِtorn apart
بِسُيوفِهِم وَالمُلكُ جِدُّ مُمَزَّقِ
Your retainers' counsels brought you support
through their swords, while the kingdom was utterly torn.
مِنamong ناصِرٍa supporter بِحُسامِهِwith his sharp sword وَمُخَذِّلٍand one disheartening
مِن ناصِرٍ بِحُسامِهِ وَمُخَذِّلٍ
عَنكَaway from you العَدُوَّthe enemy بِرَأيِهِwith his judgment المُستَوثَقِfirmly assured
عَنكَ العَدُوَّ بِرَأيِهِ المُستَوثَقِ
One aids you with his sharp sword, another weakens
the enemy's resolve against you through his steadfast counsel.
كُلٌّeach رِضاًworthy وَأَرىand I see ثَلاثَتَهُمthe three of them كَفَواsufficed
كُلٌّ رِضاً وَأَرى ثَلاثَتَهُم كَفَوا
قَسرَsubduing المُمانِعِthe defiant وَاِفتِتاحِand opening المُغلَقِwhat is shut
قَسرَ المُمانِعِ وَاِفتِتاحِ المُغلَقِ
All are worthy; I see the three have sufficed
to subdue the defiant and open what was shut.
لَهُمُthey have اِحتِياطُthe watchfulness المُعتَنيof the attentive one وَمُقاوِمُand the resolve الthe
لَهُمُ اِحتِياطُ المُعتَني وَمُقاوِمُ ال
كافيcapable one وَرَفرَفَةُand the hovering care النَصيحِof the sincere counselor المُشفِقِcompassionate
كافي وَرَفرَفَةُ النَصيحِ المُشفِقِ
They have the watchfulness of the attentive, the resolve of the
capable, and the hovering care of a compassionate counselor.
فَاِسلَمso remain safe لَهُمfor them وَليَسلَمواand may they remain safe لَكَfor you إِنَّهُمindeed they
فَاِسلَم لَهُم وَليَسلَموا لَكَ إِنَّهُم
لَكَfor you جُنَّةٌa shield مِنagainst كُلِّevery خَطبٍcrisis موبِقِdeadly
لَكَ جُنَّةٌ مِن كُلِّ خَطبٍ موبِقِ
May you remain safe for them, and they for you; they
are your shield against every deadly crisis.
سَبتٌSabt وَنَوروزٌand Nawruz وَنَجدَةُand Najda سَيِّدٍa lord
سَبتٌ وَنَوروزٌ وَنَجدَةُ سَيِّدٍ
ماnot خابَfailed بَهجَةُthe charm خُلقِهِof his character بِتَخَلُّقِthrough affectation
ما خابَ بَهجَةُ خُلقِهِ بِتَخَلُّقِ
Sabt, Nawruz, and Najda, a lord
whose character's charm has never failed through affectation.
وَأَرىand I see البِساطَthe carpet وَفيand amid غَرائِبِthe wonders نَبتِهِof its growth
وَأَرى البِساطَ وَفي غَرائِبِ نَبتِهِ
أَلوانُcolors وَردٍof roses فيon الغُصونِbranches مُفَتَّقِopened
أَلوانُ وَردٍ في الغُصونِ مُفَتَّقِ
And I see the carpet, among whose wondrous growth
are colors of roses opening on branches.
شَجَرٌtrees عَلىagainst خُضَرٍgreenery تَرِفُّflutter غُصونُهُits branches
شَجَرٌ عَلى خُضَرٍ تَرِفُّ غُصونُهُ
مِنsome مُزهِرٍflowering أَوor مُثمِرٍfruiting أَوor مورِقِleafy
مِن مُزهِرٍ أَو مُثمِرٍ أَو مورِقِ
Trees against greenery, their branches fluttering,
some flowering, some fruiting, some in leaf.
وَكَأَنَّand as though قَصرَthe palace الساجِof teak خُلَّةُa beloved عاخِقٍof a lover (apparent typo)
وَكَأَنَّ قَصرَ الساجِ خُلَّةُ عاخِقٍ
بَرَزَتshe appeared لِوامِقِهاto her adorer بِوَجهٍwith a face مونِقِlovely
بَرَزَت لِوامِقِها بِوَجهٍ مونِقِ
And the Teak Palace seems a lover's beloved,
appearing to her adorer with a lovely face.
قَصرٌa palace تَكامَلَwas perfected حُسنُهُits beauty فيin قَلعَةٍa citadel
قَصرٌ تَكامَلَ حُسنُهُ في قَلعَةٍ
بَيضارَwhite (apparent typo) واسِطَةٍcentered لِبَحرٍin a sea مُحدِقِencircling
بَيضارَ واسِطَةٍ لِبَحرٍ مُحدِقِ
A palace whose beauty is perfected within a citadel,
white, centered in an encircling sea.
دانيnear المَهَلَّin situation فَلاso not المَزارُthe place of visiting بِشاسِعٍdistant
داني المَهَلَّ فَلا المَزارُ بِشاسِعٍ
عَمَّنfrom whoever يَزورُvisits وَلاnor الفِناءُthe courtyard بِضَيِّقِnarrow
عَمَّن يَزورُ وَلا الفِناءُ بِضَيِّقِ
Near at hand: its site is not far
from those who visit, nor is its courtyard narrow.
قَدَّرتَهُyou planned it تَقديرَwith the planning غَيرِof one not مُفَرِّطٍnegligent
قَدَّرتَهُ تَقديرَ غَيرِ مُفَرِّطٍ
وَبَنَيتَهُand you built it بُنيانَwith the building غَيرِof one not مُشَفِّقِapprehensive
وَبَنَيتَهُ بُنيانَ غَيرِ مُشَفِّقِ
You planned it as one who neglects nothing,
and built it without apprehension.
وَوَصَلتَand you linked بَينَbetween الجَعفَرِيِّal-Ja'fari وَبَينَهُand between it
وَوَصَلتَ بَينَ الجَعفَرِيِّ وَبَينَهُ
بِالنَهرِby the river يَحمِلُcarrying مِنfrom جُنوبِthe sides الخَندَقِof the moat
بِالنَهرِ يَحمِلُ مِن جُنوبِ الخَندَقِ
You linked al-Ja'fari with it
by a river bearing water from the moat's sides.
نَهرٌa river كَأَنَّas though الماءَthe water فيin حَجَراتِهِits channels
نَهرٌ كَأَنَّ الماءَ في حَجَراتِهِ
إِفرِندُthe watered pattern مَتنِof the blade's flat الصارِمِof the sharp sword المُتَأَلِّقِgleaming
إِفرِندُ مَتنِ الصارِمِ المُتَأَلِّقِ
A river whose water within its channels
is the watered pattern of a gleaming sword's blade.
وَإِذاand when الرِياهُthe winds (apparent typo) لَعِبنَplayed فيهِon it بَسَطنَthey spread مِنof
وَإِذا الرِياهُ لَعِبنَ فيهِ بَسَطنَ مِن
مَوجِنwaves (apparent typo) عَلَيهِupon it مُدَرَّجٍtiered مُتَرَقرِقِshimmering
مَوجِن عَلَيهِ مُدَرَّجٍ مُتَرَقرِقِ
And when the winds play upon it, they spread
across it tiered, shimmering waves.
أَلحِقهُjoin it ياO خَيرَbest الوَرىof mankind بِمَسيلِهِto its watercourse
أَلحِقهُ يا خَيرَ الوَرى بِمَسيلِهِ
وَاِمدُدand extend فُضولَthe surplus عُبابِهِof its flood المُتَدَفِّقِsurging
وَاِمدُد فُضولَ عُبابِهِ المُتَدَفِّقِ
Join it, best of mankind, to its watercourse,
and extend the surplus of its surging flood.
فَإِذاand when بَلَغتَyou reach بِهِwith it البَديعَal-Badi' فَإِنَّماthen in effect
فَإِذا بَلَغتَ بِهِ البَديعَ فَإِنَّما
أَنزَلتَyou brought down دِجلَةَthe Tigris فيinto فِناءِthe courtyard الجَوسَقِof al-Jawsaq
أَنزَلتَ دِجلَةَ في فِناءِ الجَوسَقِ
When you bring it to al-Badi', you will in effect
have brought the Tigris into al-Jawsaq's courtyard.
لِلمَهرَجانِto Mihrjan's credit يَدٌa kindness بِماfor what أَولاهُit bestowed upon it مِنof
لِلمَهرَجانِ يَدٌ بِما أَولاهُ مِن
هَطلانِpouring وَسمِيَّof autumn rain السَحابِfrom clouds المُغدِقِrain-laden
هَطلانِ وَسمِيَّ السَحابِ المُغدِقِ
Mihrjan has shown it kindness by bestowing
the autumn downpour of rain-laden clouds.
ماnot إِنat all تَرىyou see إِلّاexcept تَعَرُّضَthe appearance مُزنَةٍof a raincloud
ما إِن تَرى إِلّا تَعَرُّضَ مُزنَةٍ
مُخضَرَّةٍgreen-hued أَوor عارِضٍa cloudbank مُتَأَلِّقِgleaming
مُخضَرَّةٍ أَو عارِضٍ مُتَأَلِّقِ
You see nothing but an approaching raincloud,
green-hued, or a gleaming cloudbank.
فَسعَدso rejoice أَميرَCommander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful مُمَتَّعاًenjoying
فَسعَد أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ مُمَتَّعاً
بِالعِزِّin glory ماas long as عَمِرَendures الزَمانُtime وَماand as long as بَقيit remains
بِالعِزِّ ما عَمِرَ الزَمانُ وَما بَقي
So rejoice, Commander of the Faithful, enjoying
glory as long as time endures and remains.
هَلshall? أَطلُعَنَّI indeed appear عَلىin الشَآمِSyria مُبَجَّلاًhonored
هَل أَطلُعَنَّ عَلى الشَآمِ مُبَجَّلاً
فيin عِزِّthe glory دَولَتِكَof your reign الجَديدِnew المونَقِdelightful
في عِزِّ دَولَتِكَ الجَديدِ المونَقِ
Shall I yet appear in Syria, held in honor,
in the fresh, fair glory of your reign,
فَأَرُمَّthen I mend خَلَّةَthe want ضَيعَةٍof an estate تَصِفُdescribing اسمَهاits name
فَأَرُمَّ خَلَّةَ ضَيعَةٍ تَصِفُ اسمَها
وَأُلِمَّand I pay a visit ثَمَّthere بِصِبيَةٍto little children ليof mine دَردَقِvery young
وَأُلِمَّ ثَمَّ بِصِبيَةٍ لي دَردَقِ
and mend the want of an estate true to its name,
and visit there my little children?
شَهرانِtwo months إِنif يَسَّرتَyou make easy إِذنِيَmy leave فيهُماduring them
شَهرانِ إِن يَسَّرتَ إِذنِيَ فيهُما
كَفَلاthe two guarantee بِأُلفَةِthe reunion شَملِيَof my household المُتَفَرِّقِscattered
كَفَلا بِأُلفَةِ شَملِيَ المُتَفَرِّقِ
Two months, if you make my leave possible,
would guarantee my scattered household's reunion.
قَدindeed زادَincreased فيin شَوقِlonging الغَمامُthe clouds وَهاجَنيand stirred me
قَد زادَ في شَوقِ الغَمامُ وَهاجَني
زَجَلُthe rumble الرَواعِدِof thunderclaps تَحتَbeneath لَيلٍa night مُطرِقِbrooding
زَجَلُ الرَواعِدِ تَحتَ لَيلٍ مُطرِقِ
The clouds have increased my longing, and I am stirred by
the thunder's rumble beneath a brooding night.
لَمّاwhen اِستَطارَspread swiftly البَرقُthe lightning قُلتُI said لِنائِلٍto Na'il
لَمّا اِستَطارَ البَرقُ قُلتُ لِنائِلٍ
كَيفَhow السَبيلُthe way إِلىto عِنانٍa rein مُطلِقِlet loose
كَيفَ السَبيلُ إِلى عِنانٍ مُطلِقِ
When lightning flashed abroad, I said to Na'il,
"How may I gain a free rein?"
Sol 6.1