أَتُراكَdo you suppose تَسمَعُyou hear لِلحَمامِfrom the doves الهُتَّفِloudly cooing
أَتُراكَ تَسمَعُ لِلحَمامِ الهُتَّفِ
شَجواًsorrow يَكونُthat is كَشَجوِكَlike your sorrow المُستَطرَفِnewfound
شَجواً يَكونُ كَشَجوِكَ المُستَطرَفِ
Do you suppose you hear from the loudly cooing doves
Do you see me listening to the cooing of the doves
a sorrow like your own newfound sorrow?
Whose lament is like your charming lamentation?
لِلَّهِhow wondrous, by God حِلمٌcomposure يَومَthe day of بُرقَةِBurqat ثَهمَدٍThahmad
لِلَّهِ حِلمٌ يَومَ بُرقَةِ ثَهمَدٍ
يَهفوmakes flutter بِهِwith it بَينُparting from الغَزالِthe gazelle الأَهيَفِslender
يَهفو بِهِ بَينُ الغَزالِ الأَهيَفِ
By God, what composure on the day at Burqat Thahmad,
God is forbearing on an ominous day of darkness
which parting from the slender gazelle sends fluttering!
When it wails among the frightened gazelles.
أُنسٌcompanionship تَجَمَّعَgathered ثُمَّthen بَدَّدَscattered شَملَهُits company
أُنسٌ تَجَمَّعَ ثُمَّ بَدَّدَ شَملَهُ
شَملٌa company مِنَof الأُلّافِintimates غَيرِnot مُؤَلَّفِunited
شَملٌ مِنَ الأُلّافِ غَيرِ مُؤَلَّفِ
Companionship gathered, then its company was scattered
A company gathered then scattered its group
by a company of intimates not united.
A group of intimates though not bound together.
وَلقَدand indeed وَقَفتُI stood عَلىby الرُسومِthe traces فَلَمbut did not أَجِدI find
وَلقَد وَقَفتُ عَلى الرُسومِ فَلَم أَجِد
عَتَباًfault عَلىwith سَنَنِthe course of الدُموعِthe tears الذُرَّفِstreaming
عَتَباً عَلى سَنَنِ الدُموعِ الذُرَّفِ
And I stood by the traces, but found no
I stood at the ruins but did not find
fault with the course of streaming tears.
A threshold with traces of flowing tears.
وَسَأَلتُهاand I questioned them حَتّىuntil اِنجَذَبتُI was drawn away فَلَمbut did not تُصِخthey heed
وَسَأَلتُها حَتّى اِنجَذَبتُ فَلَم تُصِخ
فيهاtherein لِدَعوَةِto the call of واقِفٍone standing مُستَوقِفِseeking to halt others
فيها لِدَعوَةِ واقِفٍ مُستَوقِفِ
And I questioned them until I was drawn away, but they gave no ear
I asked them until I was drawn in, but they did not
there to the call of one standing and asking for a halt.
Respond to the call of a lingering visitor.
دِمَنٌruins جَنَيتُI plucked بِهاin them الهَوىlove مِنfrom غُصنِهِits branch
دِمَنٌ جَنَيتُ بِها الهَوى مِن غُصنِهِ
وَسَحَبتُand I trailed فيهاin them اللَهوَpleasure سَحبَthe trailing of المُطرَفِa bordered cloak
وَسَحَبتُ فيها اللَهوَ سَحبَ المُطرَفِ
Ruins where I plucked love from its branch,
A sanctuary in which I attained love from its branch
and trailed pleasure there as one trails a bordered cloak.
And drew amusement like a bucket from a well.
فَلأُجرِيَنَّso I shall surely make flow الدَمعَthe tears إِنif لَمnot تُجرِهِyou make them flow
فَلأُجرِيَنَّ الدَمعَ إِن لَم تُجرِهِ
وَلأَعرِفَنَّand I shall surely know الوَجدَlove's anguish إِنif لَمnot تَعرِفِyou know
وَلأَعرِفَنَّ الوَجدَ إِن لَم تَعرِفِ
So I shall surely make tears flow, if you do not make them flow,
So I will shed tears if they are not shed
and surely know love's anguish, if you do not know it.
And I will know passion if it is not known.
وَأَناand I المُعَنَّفُthe reproached one فيin الصَبابَةِardent longing وَالصِباand youth
وَأَنا المُعَنَّفُ في الصَبابَةِ وَالصِبا
وَعَلَيهِماand for them both إِنif كُنتَyou are غَيرَnot مُعَنَّفِreproached
وَعَلَيهِما إِن كُنتَ غَيرَ مُعَنَّفِ
And I am the one reproached amid longing and youth,
I was passionate in my youth and prime
and for them both, even if you are unreproached.
And to them if you were not passionate.
عَجِبَتshe marveled لِتَفويفِat the white streaking of القَذالِthe nape وَإِنَّماbut in truth
عَجِبَت لِتَفويفِ القَذالِ وَإِنَّما
تَفويفُهُits white streaking لَوif كانَit were غَيرَnot مُفَوَّفِwhite-streaked
تَفويفُهُ لَو كانَ غَيرَ مُفَوَّفِ
She marveled at the white streaks of my nape; yet
You were amazed at the warbling of the lute player. But
the true marvel would be if it were unstreaked.
His warbling would amaze if it were not modulated.
هَلّاwhy did you not بَكَيتِyou wept وَقَدand already رَأَيتِyou saw بُكاءَهُhis weeping
هَلّا بَكَيتِ وَقَد رَأَيتِ بُكاءَهُ
وَدَنِفتِand you pined away حينَwhen سَمِعتِyou heard شَجوَthe lament of المُدنَفِthe lovesick one
وَدَنِفتِ حينَ سَمِعتِ شَجوَ المُدنَفِ
Why did you not weep when you had seen his weeping,
Why didn’t you weep when you saw his weeping,
and pine away when you heard the lovesick one's lament?
And why didn’t you mourn when you heard the grieving of the grieving one?
أَقسَمتُI swore بِالشَرَفِby the nobility الَّذيwhich شَهِدَتbore witness لَهُto it
أَقسَمتُ بِالشَرَفِ الَّذي شَهِدَت لَهُ
أُدَدٌUdad وِراثَةَinheritance يوسُفٍYusuf عَنfrom يوسُفِYusuf
أُدَدٌ وِراثَةَ يوسُفٍ عَن يوسُفِ
I swore by the nobility to which witness was borne
I swear by the nobility which the Udad attested for him
by Udad—Yusuf's inheritance from Yusuf;
Inheriting from Joseph, son of Joseph.
وَبَهَولِand by the terror of إيعادِthe threat of الهِزَبرِthe lion فَإِنَّهُfor he
وَبَهَولِ إيعادِ الهِزَبرِ فَإِنَّهُ
قَصَفَshattered العَدُوَّthe enemy بِرَعدِهِwith his thunder المُتَقَصِّفِcrashing
قَصَفَ العَدُوَّ بِرَعدِهِ المُتَقَصِّفِ
and by the terror of the lion's threat, for he
And by the awesomeness of the promise of victory, he
shattered the enemy with his crashing thunder.
Repelled the enemy with his rumbling thunder.
لَيُصبِحَنَّwill surely attack at dawn الرومُthe Romans جَيشٌan army مُغمِدٌsheathing
لَيُصبِحَنَّ الرومُ جَيشٌ مُغمِدٌ
لِلصُبحِof the dawn فيin رَهَجانِهِits billowing dust المُتَلَفِّفِenveloping
لِلصُبحِ في رَهَجانِهِ المُتَلَفِّفِ
An army shall surely attack the Romans at dawn, sheathing
The Romans will become in the morning an army sheathing
the dawn in its enveloping dust.
Its swords for the dawn in its quilted armor,
يَسوَدُّblackens مِنهُfrom it الأُفقُthe horizon إِنif لَمnot يَنسَدِدis blocked
يَسوَدُّ مِنهُ الأُفقُ إِن لَم يَنسَدِد
وَتَمورُand reels فيهِwithin it الشَمسُthe sun إِنif لَمnot تَكسِفِis eclipsed
وَتَمورُ فيهِ الشَمسُ إِن لَم تَكسِفِ
The horizon blackens from it, if it is not blocked entirely,
The horizon will be darkened by it if it does not disband
and the sun reels within it, if it is not eclipsed.
And the sun will be eclipsed by it if it does not veil itself.
لَوif أَنَّthat لَيلىLayla الأَخيَلِيَّةَal-Akhyaliyya شاهَدَتwitnessed
لَو أَنَّ لَيلى الأَخيَلِيَّةَ شاهَدَت
أَطرافَهُits outer ranks لَمnot تُطرِshe extolled آلَthe house of مُطَرِّفِMutarrif
أَطرافَهُ لَم تُطرِ آلَ مُطَرِّفِ
Had Layla al-Akhyaliyya witnessed
If Layla the fawn-like saw
its outer ranks, she would not have extolled the house of Mutarrif.
Its horsemen, she would not reproach the family of him who finds fault.
خَيلٌhorses كَأَمثالِlike the likenesses of الرِماحِspears وَفِتيَةٌand young men
خَيلٌ كَأَمثالِ الرِماحِ وَفِتيَةٌ
مِثلَlike السُيوفِswords إِذاwhen دُعينَthey are summoned لِمَشرَفِto a height
مِثلَ السُيوفِ إِذا دُعينَ لِمَشرَفِ
Horses like spears, and young men
Horses like spears and youths
like swords when summoned to a height.
Like swords when summoned for an excursion.
زُهرٌbright-faced إِذاwhen اِلتَهَبَتflare up بِهِمabout them شُعلُthe flames of الظُباsword-edges
زُهرٌ إِذا اِلتَهَبَت بِهِم شُعلُ الظُبا
عَطَفواthey wheeled عَلىagainst أولىthe wielders of القَناspears المُتَعَطِّفِbending
عَطَفوا عَلى أولى القَنا المُتَعَطِّفِ
Bright-faced, when the flames of sword-edges blaze about them,
Blossoms - when the flames of youth kindled them
they wheel upon the wielders of bending spears.
They turned to the first of sand dunes bending.
يَهديهِمِleads them الأَسَدُthe lion المُطاعُobeyed كَأَنَّهُas though he were
يَهديهِمِ الأَسَدُ المُطاعُ كَأَنَّهُ
عِندَat اِجتِماعِthe assembly of الجَحفَلِthe host المُتَأَلِّفِunited
عِندَ اِجتِماعِ الجَحفَلِ المُتَأَلِّفِ
The lion they obey leads them, as though he were,
The lion obeyed guides them as if he were
when the united host assembles,
Among the assembling throng harmonious.
عَمرُوAmr القَناof the spears فيamong مَذهِجٍMadhhij أَوor عامِرٌAmir
عَمرُو القَنا في مَذهِجٍ أَو عامِرٌ
فيamong طَيِّئٍTayy أَوor حاجِبٌHajib فيamong خِندِفِKhindif
في طَيِّئٍ أَو حاجِبٌ في خِندِفِ
Amr of the Spears among Madhhij, or Amir
Amr Al-Qina in battle gear or Amer
among Tayy, or Hajib among Khindif.
In Tai or Hajib in Khindif.
كَاللَيثِlike the lion إِلّاexcept أَنَّthat هَذاthis one صائِلٌattacking
كَاللَيثِ إِلّا أَنَّ هَذا صائِلٌ
بِمُهَنَّدٍwith an Indian-steel sword ذَرِبٍkeen-edged وَذاكَand that one بِمِخصَفِwith an awl
بِمُهَنَّدٍ ذَرِبٍ وَذاكَ بِمِخصَفِ
Like a lion, except that this one attacks
Like a lion except that this one attacks
with a keen Indian-steel sword, and that one with an awl.
With Indian sword but that with claws.
ثَبتُfirm العَزيمَةِresolve مُصمَتُunyielding الأَحشاءِinner parts فيamid
ثَبتُ العَزيمَةِ مُصمَتُ الأَحشاءِ في
أَهوالِthe terrors of ذاكَthat العارِضِcloud المُتَكَشِّفِunfolding
أَهوالِ ذاكَ العارِضِ المُتَكَشِّفِ
Firm of resolve, inwardly unyielding amid
Steadfast in purpose, taciturn in mind amidst
the terrors of that unfolding cloud.
The terrors of that barefaced incident.
مُستَظهِرٌstrengthened بِذَخيرَةٍby a reserve مِنfrom رَأيِهِhis judgment
مُستَظهِرٌ بِذَخيرَةٍ مِن رَأيِهِ
يُمضيhe carries through الأُمورَaffairs وَبَحرُهاand its sea لَمnot يُنزَفِis drained
يُمضي الأُمورَ وَبَحرُها لَم يُنزَفِ
Drawing strength from a reserve of his judgment,
Drawing on support from a store of his opinion
he carries affairs through, while its sea remains undrained.
He resolves matters though their sea was not drained.
إِلّاif not يَكُنhe is كَهلَmature in السِنينَyears فَإِنَّهُthen he
إِلّا يَكُن كَهلَ السِنينَ فَإِنَّهُ
كَهلُmature in التَجارِبِexperience فيamid ضَجاجِthe clamor of المَوقِفِthe battlefield
كَهلُ التَجارِبِ في ضَجاجِ المَوقِفِ
If he is not mature in years, he is
Unless he is advanced in years, he is then
mature in experience amid the battlefield's clamor.
Advanced in experience in the tumult of crises.
تَبدوappear مَواقِعُthe marks of رَأيِهِhis judgment وَكَأَنَّهاand as though they were
تَبدو مَواقِعُ رَأيِهِ وَكَأَنَّها
غُرَرُthe white blazes of السَوابِقِleading steeds مِنfrom يَفاعٍa height مُشرِفِcommanding
غُرَرُ السَوابِقِ مِن يَفاعٍ مُشرِفِ
The marks of his judgment appear, as though they were
The places of his opinion appear as if they are
the blazes of leading steeds from a commanding height.
The deceptions of bygones from a towering cliff.
وَإِذاand when اِستَعانَhe seeks help بِخَطرَةٍwith a passing impulse مِنfrom فِكرِهِhis mind
وَإِذا اِستَعانَ بِخَطرَةٍ مِن فِكرِهِ
عَنَنٍarising unbidden فَسِترُthen the veil of الغَيبِthe unseen لَيسَis not بِمُسجِفِdrawn shut
عَنَنٍ فَسِترُ الغَيبِ لَيسَ بِمُسجِفِ
And when he draws upon an impulse from his mind,
When he consults a thought of his mind
arising unbidden, the veil of the unseen is not drawn.
He hits upon mysteries though the veil is not unveiled.
وَإِذاand when خِطابُthe speech of القَومِthe people فيin الخَطبِthe crisis اِعتَلىrose high
وَإِذا خِطابُ القَومِ في الخَطبِ اِعتَلى
فَصَلَhe settled القَضِيَّةَthe issue فيin ثَلاثَةِthree أَحرُفِletters
فَصَلَ القَضِيَّةَ في ثَلاثَةِ أَحرُفِ
And when the people's speech in a crisis rises high,
And when the speech of men in sermons mounted,
he settles the issue in three letters.
He summarized the case in three letters.
فيin كُلِّevery دَربٍpass قَدalready أَباتَhe lodged overnight جِيادَهُhis noble steeds
في كُلِّ دَربٍ قَد أَباتَ جِيادَهُ
تَهويswooping هُوِيَّthe swooping of جَنادِبٍgrasshoppers فيin حَرجَفِa bitter gale
تَهوي هُوِيَّ جَنادِبٍ في حَرجَفِ
In every pass he has lodged his noble steeds overnight,
In every road his steeds raced,
swooping like grasshoppers in a bitter gale.
Swooping down with the swoop of eagles in a thicket.
جازَتthey passed عَلىover الجَوزاتِal-Jawzat وَانكَدَرَتand swooped down عَلىupon
جازَت عَلى الجَوزاتِ وَانكَدَرَت عَلى
ظَهرٍopen ground مِنَof الصَفصافِal-Safsaf قاعٍa plain صَفصَفِbare and level
ظَهرٍ مِنَ الصَفصافِ قاعٍ صَفصَفِ
They passed over al-Jawzat and swooped down upon
They passed through the terebinth trees and churned
open ground at al-Safsaf, a bare, level plain.
Upon a back of willow in a hollow valley.
صَبَّحنَthey raided at dawn مِنfrom طَرَسوسَTarsus خَرشَنَةَKharshana الَّتيwhich
صَبَّحنَ مِن طَرَسوسَ خَرشَنَةَ الَّتي
بَعُدَتlay far off عَلىbeyond الأَمَلِhope البَعيدِfar-ranging الموجِفِat a gallop
بَعُدَت عَلى الأَمَلِ البَعيدِ الموجِفِ
From Tarsus they raided Kharshana at dawn, which
They took breakfast from Tarsus - very far
lay beyond the reach of far-ranging hope at full gallop.
For hopes on a remote horizon bringing anxiety.
وَتَرَكنَand they left ماوَةَMawa وَهيَwhile it was مَأوىًa refuge لِلصَدىfor the owl
وَتَرَكنَ ماوَةَ وَهيَ مَأوىً لِلصَدى
مَشفوعَةًaccompanied بِصَدىby the echo of الرِياحِthe winds العُصَّفِraging
مَشفوعَةً بِصَدى الرِياحِ العُصَّفِ
And they left Mawa a refuge for owls,
They left Mawah though it is a dwelling place for echo
accompanied by the echo of raging winds.
escorted by the echo of rustling winds.
وَعَلىand upon قُذاذِيَةَQudhadhiyya اِنحَطَطنَthey descended بِرايَةٍwith a banner
وَعَلى قُذاذِيَةَ اِنحَطَطنَ بِرايَةٍ
أَوفَتrose high بِقادِمَتيwith the two leading wing-feathers of عُقابٍan eagle مُنكَفِstooping
أَوفَت بِقادِمَتي عُقابٍ مُنكَفِ
And upon Qudhadhiyya they descended with a banner
Upon Qudhaidhiyah they descended with a banner
that rose high with the two foremost wing-feathers of a stooping eagle.
Fulfilling the coming of two swooping eagles.
جُزنَthey outstripped الخَصِيَّthe eunuch وَقَدand already تَقَحَّمَhe plunged in طالِباًseeking
جُزنَ الخَصِيَّ وَقَد تَقَحَّمَ طالِباً
ثَأرَrevenge for الخَصِيَّthe eunuch بِرَكضِwith the gallop of جَدٍّfortune مُقرِفِill-bred
ثَأرَ الخَصِيَّ بِرَكضِ جَدٍّ مُقرِفِ
They outstripped the eunuch, who had plunged in, seeking
Al-Khasi was recompensed and he risked himself seeking
revenge for the eunuch, galloping on ill-bred fortune.
Revenge for Al-Khasi with the galloping pace of a grandsire.
بَهَتَتهُstunned him أَهوالُthe terrors of الوَغىbattle فَلَوَso if اَنَّهُhe were
بَهَتَتهُ أَهوالُ الوَغى فَلَوَ اَنَّهُ
عَينٌan eye لِشِدَّةِfrom the severity of رُعبِهِhis terror لَمnot تَطرِفِblinked
عَينٌ لِشِدَّةِ رُعبِهِ لَم تَطرِفِ
The terrors of battle stunned him; had he been
The terrors of battle confused him, and if he
an eye, such was his terror, he would not have blinked.
Were an eye, because of his terrible fright it would not blink.
ياO يوسُفَYusuf بنَson of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad ماnot أَحمَدَwelcomed الthe
يا يوسُفَ بنَ مُحَمَّدٍ ما أَحمَدَ ال
رومَRomans اِنصِلاتَكَyour sudden charge بِالحُسامِwith the cutting sword المُرهَفِkeenly sharpened
رومَ اِنصِلاتَكَ بِالحُسامِ المُرهَفِ
O Yusuf son of Muhammad, no welcome gave the
O Yusuf ibn Muhammad! How excellent is not
Romans to your charge with the keen-edged sword.
Reconciling the Romans by the sharpened sword!
وَدّواthey wished وِداداًa fervent wish لَوif only جَدَعتَyou had cut off أُنوفَهُمtheir noses
وَدّوا وِداداً لَو جَدَعتَ أُنوفَهُم
جَدعُsevering الرُؤوسِheads خِلافُunlike جَدعِsevering الآنُفِnoses
جَدعُ الرُؤوسِ خِلافُ جَدعِ الآنُفِ
They wished fervently that you had cut off their noses;
They would cement a bond if you cut off their noses -
severing heads is unlike severing noses.
Unlike cutting off heads unlike cutting off noses.
خَطَبَتpetitioned إِلَيكَyou السِلمَpeace رَبَّةُthe mistress of مُلكِهِمtheir kingdom
خَطَبَت إِلَيكَ السِلمَ رَبَّةُ مُلكِهِم
لَوif كانَit were يُطلَبُsought نائِلٌa boon مِنfrom مُسعِفِa willing giver
لَو كانَ يُطلَبُ نائِلٌ مِن مُسعِفِ
The mistress of their kingdom petitioned you for peace,
The mistress of their kingdom proposed peace to you
if a boon could be sought from a willing giver.
If an attainment were sought from a helper.
وَكَأَنَّنيand as though I بِكَwith you قَدalready أَتَيتَyou came بِعَرشِهاwith her throne
وَكَأَنَّني بِكَ قَد أَتَيتَ بِعَرشِها
وَالسَيفُand the sword أَسرَعُswifter هِبَةًin giving مِنthan آصِفِAsif
وَالسَيفُ أَسرَعُ هِبَةً مِن آصِفِ
And I seem to see you already bringing her throne,
As if I see you came with her throne
and the sword is swifter in giving than Asif.
While the sword is swifter to grant than a chieftain.
أَنزَلتَyou brought down بِالإِنجيلِupon the Gospel ثُمَّthen بِأَهلِهِupon its people
أَنزَلتَ بِالإِنجيلِ ثُمَّ بِأَهلِهِ
ذُلّاًhumiliation أَراهُمshowed them عِزَّthe might of أَهلِthe people of المُصحَفِthe Qur'an
ذُلّاً أَراهُم عِزَّ أَهلِ المُصحَفِ
You brought down upon the Gospel, then upon its people,
You brought down the Bible then brought down its people
a humiliation that showed them the might of the people of the Qur'an.
Humiliated - I see them mighty people of the Scripture.
أَسخَطَتهُyou angered it بِالبارِقاتِwith the flashing blades وَإِنَّماbut in truth
أَسخَطَتهُ بِالبارِقاتِ وَإِنَّما
أَرضَيتَهُyou pleased it لَوif كانَit were غَيرَnot مُحَرَّفِdistorted
أَرضَيتَهُ لَو كانَ غَيرَ مُحَرَّفِ
You angered it with flashing blades, yet in truth
You were angry with it by lightning bolts yet
you would have pleased it, were it not distorted.
You would have pleased it if it were uncorrupted.
فَتحٌa conquest سَبَقتَyou surpassed بِهِwith it الفُتوحَconquests فَجاءَso it came فيat
فَتحٌ سَبَقتَ بِهِ الفُتوحَ فَجاءَ في
ميلادِthe birth of مُلكِthe reign of العاشِرِthe tenth المُستَخلَفِappointed as caliph
ميلادِ مُلكِ العاشِرِ المُستَخلَفِ
A conquest with which you outstripped conquests; it came at
A conquest you achieved unprecedented in the
the birth of the reign of the tenth caliph.
Birth of the tenth king's reign as successor.
يَومَthe day مَحاerased عَنfrom أَسوَدانَAswadan سَوادَthe blackness of ماwhat
يَومَ مَحا عَن أَسوَدانَ سَوادَ ما
فَعَلَdid النَبِيُّthe Prophet بِكَعبٍto Ka'b بنِson of الأَشرَفِal-Ashraf
فَعَلَ النَبِيُّ بِكَعبٍ بنِ الأَشرَفِ
on the day it erased from Aswadan the blackness of what
The day you erased from Aswadan the blackness of what
the Prophet did to Ka'b son of al-Ashraf.
The Prophet did to Ka'b ibn Al-Ashraf.
لَيُكافِئَنَّكَhe will surely reward you عَنfor كِفايَتِكَyour effective service الَّتيwhich
لَيُكافِئَنَّكَ عَن كِفايَتِكَ الَّتي
كانَتwas أَمانَthe security of الدينِthe faith بَعدَafter تَخَوُّفِfear
كانَت أَمانَ الدينِ بَعدَ تَخَوُّفِ
He will surely reward you for your effective service, which
He will reward you for your adequacy
was the faith's security after fear.
Which was the safety of the religion after fear.
أَكَّدتَyou strengthened بَيعَتَهُallegiance to him وَلَمand did not تَركَنyou incline إِلىtoward
أَكَّدتَ بَيعَتَهُ وَلَم تَركَن إِلى
جَدَلِthe wrangling of السَفيهِthe fool وَلاnor كَلامِthe speech of المُرجِفِthe alarmmonger
جَدَلِ السَفيهِ وَلا كَلامِ المُرجِفِ
You confirmed allegiance to him and did not incline toward
You affirmed your pledge to him and did not incline
the fool's wrangling or the alarmmonger's talk.
To the disputing of the fool or words of the agitator.
أُيِّدتَyou were strengthened بِالحَظِّby the fortune الَّذيwhich لَمnot يُنتَقَضwas undone
أُيِّدتَ بِالحَظِّ الَّذي لَم يُنتَقَض
وَنُصِرتَand you were aided بِالفِئَةِby the band الَّتيwhich لَمnot تَضعُفِweakened
وَنُصِرتَ بِالفِئَةِ الَّتي لَم تَضعُفِ
You were upheld by fortune that never unraveled,
You were supported by fortune which did not reverse
and aided by a band that never weakened.
And aided by group which did not weaken.
كَرَماًgenerosity دَعَتكَcalled you بِهِfor it القَبائِلُthe tribes مُسرِفاًextravagant
كَرَماً دَعَتكَ بِهِ القَبائِلُ مُسرِفاً
ماnot مُسرِفٌone extravagant فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds بِمُسرِفِextravagant
ما مُسرِفٌ في المَكرُماتِ بِمُسرِفِ
A generosity for which the tribes called you extravagant;
Generosity the tribes invited you to extravagantly -
one extravagant in noble deeds is not extravagant.
No extravagance in bestowing gifts upon the extravagant.
جَدٌّgood fortune كَجَدِّlike the fortune of أَبيAbu سَعيدٍSa'id إِنَّهُindeed it
جَدٌّ كَجَدِّ أَبي سَعيدٍ إِنَّهُ
تَرَكَleft السَماكَal-Simak كَأَنَّهُas though it لَمnot يُشرِفِrose high
تَرَكَ السَماكَ كَأَنَّهُ لَم يُشرِفِ
Fortune like Abu Sa'id's fortune: it
A grandfather like Abu Saeed's grandfather, he
left al-Simak as though it had never risen high.
Abandoned loftiness as if he did not ascend.
قاسَمتَهُyou shared with him أَخلاقَهُhis qualities وَهيَand they are الرَدىdeath
قاسَمتَهُ أَخلاقَهُ وَهيَ الرَدى
لِلمُعتَديfor the aggressor وَهِيَand they are النَدىbounty لِلمُعتَفيfor the petitioner
لِلمُعتَدي وَهِيَ النَدى لِلمُعتَفي
You shared his qualities with him: they are death
His character matched him and it is destruction
to the aggressor, and bounty to the petitioner.
For the transgressor and it is dew for the virtuous.
فَإِذاso when جَرىhe runs مِنfrom غايَةٍone goal وَجَرَيتَand you run مِنfrom
فَإِذا جَرى مِن غايَةٍ وَجَرَيتَ مِن
أُخرىanother التَقىmeet شَأواكُماyour two courses فيat المَنصِفِthe midpoint
أُخرى التَقى شَأواكُما في المَنصِفِ
So when he runs from one goal, and you run from
So when you went to an extreme and he went
another, your two courses meet at the midpoint.
To another, your manner meets in the fair one.
Sol 6.1