إِنَّindeed الظِباءَthe gazelles غَداةَthat morning سَفحِthe slope of مُحَجَّرِMuhajjar
إِنَّ الظِباءَ غَداةَ سَفحِ مُحَجَّرِ
هَيَّجنَthey stirred حَرَّthe heat of جَوىًheartache وَفَرطَand excess of تَذَكُّرِremembrance
هَيَّجنَ حَرَّ جَوىً وَفَرطَ تَذَكُّرِ
Indeed, the gazelles that morning on Muhajjar's slope
Stirred the heat of heartache and a flood of remembrance.
مِنof كُلِّeach ساجيlanguid الطَرفِof gaze أَغيَدَsupple أَجيَدٍlong-necked
مِن كُلِّ ساجي الطَرفِ أَغيَدَ أَجيَدٍ
وَمُهَفهَفِand slender الكَشحَينِin both flanks أَحوىdark-lipped أَحوَرِdark-eyed
وَمُهَفهَفِ الكَشحَينِ أَحوى أَحوَرِ
Each languid-eyed, supple, long-necked one,
And each slender-flanked, dark-lipped, dark-eyed one.
أَقبَلنَthey approached بَينَamong أَوانِسٍgentle maidens مالَswayed الصِباyouthful passion
أَقبَلنَ بَينَ أَوانِسٍ مالَ الصِبا
بِقُلوبِهِنَّtheir hearts وَبَينَand among حورٍdark-eyed gazelles نُفَّرِskittish
بِقُلوبِهِنَّ وَبَينَ حورٍ نُفَّرِ
They came—some gentle maidens, youthful passion swaying
Their hearts, and some shy, dark-eyed gazelles.
فَبَعَثنَso they stirred وَجداًlonging لِلخَلِيِّin the carefree one وَزِدنَand increased فيin
فَبَعَثنَ وَجداً لِلخَلِيِّ وَزِدنَ في
بُرَحاءَthe agony of وَجدِlonging العاشِقِthe lover المُستَهتِرِlove-besotted
بُرَحاءَ وَجدِ العاشِقِ المُستَهتِرِ
So they stirred longing in the carefree, and added to
The agony of the besotted lover's longing.
لِلحُبِّfor love عَهدٌa covenant فيin فُؤاديmy heart لَمnot يَهِنhas weakened
لِلحُبِّ عَهدٌ في فُؤادي لَم يَهِن
مِنهُof it السُلُوُّforgetfulness وَذِمَّةٌand a pledge لَمnot تُخفَرِhas been broken
مِنهُ السُلُوُّ وَذِمَّةٌ لَم تُخفَرِ
Love has a covenant in my heart, never weakened
By forgetfulness, and a pledge never broken.
لاnot أَبتَغيI seek أَبَداًever بِسَلمىin place of Salma خُلَّةًa sweetheart
لا أَبتَغي أَبَداً بِسَلمى خُلَّةً
فَلتَقتَرِبso let her draw near بِالوَصلِwith union أَوor فَلتَهجُرِso let her forsake
فَلتَقتَرِب بِالوَصلِ أَو فَلتَهجُرِ
I never seek a sweetheart in Salma's stead;
So let her draw near in love, or let her forsake me.
قَدalready تَمَّis complete حُسنُthe beauty of الجَعفَريِّal-Ja'fari وَلَمand not يَكُنwas
قَد تَمَّ حُسنُ الجَعفَريِّ وَلَم يَكُن
لِيَتِمَّto be completed إِلّاexcept بِالخَليفَةِthrough the Caliph جَعفَرِJa'far
لِيَتِمَّ إِلّا بِالخَليفَةِ جَعفَرِ
The beauty of al-Ja'fari is complete; it could not
Have been perfected save by the Caliph Ja'far.
مَلِكٌa king تَبَوَّأَtook up residence in خَيرَthe finest دارِabode of إِقامَةٍresidence
مَلِكٌ تَبَوَّأَ خَيرَ دارِ إِقامَةٍ
فيin خَيرِthe finest مَبداًopen-country abode لِلأَنامِfor humankind وَمَحضَرِand settled abode
في خَيرِ مَبداً لِلأَنامِ وَمَحضَرِ
A king who has made the finest abode his dwelling,
In humankind's finest setting, in open country or town.
فيon رَأسِthe summit of مُشرِفَةٍa height حَصاهاits pebbles لُؤلُؤٌpearls
في رَأسِ مُشرِفَةٍ حَصاها لُؤلُؤٌ
وَتُرابُهاand its soil مِسكٌmusk يُشابُis mingled بِعَنبَرِwith ambergris
وَتُرابُها مِسكٌ يُشابُ بِعَنبَرِ
Atop a height whose pebbles are pearls,
And whose soil is musk mingled with ambergris.
مُخضَرَّةٌgreen وَالغَيثُand the rain لَيسَis not بِساكِبٍpouring
مُخضَرَّةٌ وَالغَيثُ لَيسَ بِساكِبٍ
وَمُضيأَةٌand radiant وَاللَيلُand the night لَيسَis not بِمُقمِرِmoonlit
وَمُضيأَةٌ وَاللَيلُ لَيسَ بِمُقمِرِ
Green though no rain is pouring down,
And radiant though the night is moonless.
ظَهَرَتrose into view بِمُنخَرِقِin the passage of الشَمالِthe north wind وَجاوَرَتand neighbored
ظَهَرَت بِمُنخَرِقِ الشَمالِ وَجاوَرَت
ظُلَلَcanopies of الغَمامِthe clouds الصَيِّبِrain-pouring المُستَعزِزِtowering
ظُلَلَ الغَمامِ الصَيِّبِ المُستَعزِزِ
It rose in the north wind's path, and stood beside
The canopies of towering clouds pouring rain.
تَقريرُthe planning of لُطفِكَyour subtle skill وَاختِيارُكَand your choice أَغنَياdispensed
تَقريرُ لُطفِكَ وَاختِيارُكَ أَغنَيا
عَنwith كُلِّevery مُختارٍchooser لَهاfor it وَمُقَدَّرِand planner
عَن كُلِّ مُختارٍ لَها وَمُقَدَّرِ
Your subtle planning and your choice dispensed
With any other chooser or planner for it.
وَسَخاءُand the generosity of نَفسِكَyour soul بِالَّذيwith what بَخِلَتwere miserly بِهِwith it
وَسَخاءُ نَفسِكَ بِالَّذي بَخِلَت بِهِ
أَيديthe hands of المُلوكِkings مِنَof التِلادِancestral wealth الأَوفَرِmost abundant
أَيدي المُلوكِ مِنَ التِلادِ الأَوفَرِ
And your soul's generosity with what
Kings' hands withheld from their richest ancestral stores,
وَعُلُوِّand the loftiness of هِمَّتِكَyour ambition الَّتيwhich دَلَّتpointed عَلىto
وَعُلُوِّ هِمَّتِكَ الَّتي دَلَّت عَلى
صِغَرِthe smallness of الكَبيرِthe great وَقِلَّةِand the littleness of المُستَكثَرِwhat is thought plentiful
صِغَرِ الكَبيرِ وَقِلَّةِ المُستَكثَرِ
And your lofty ambition, which revealed
How small the great was, how little what seemed much—
فَرَفَعتَso you raised بُنياناًa structure كَأَنَّas though زُهاءَهُits towering bulk
فَرَفَعتَ بُنياناً كَأَنَّ زُهاءَهُ
أَعلامُthe peaks of رَضوىRadwa أَوor شَواهِقُthe towering heights of صَنبَرِSanbar
أَعلامُ رَضوى أَو شَواهِقُ صَنبَرِ
So you raised a structure whose towering bulk seemed
The peaks of Radwa or the lofty heights of Sanbar.
أَزرىcast shame عَلىupon هِمَمِthe ambitions of المُلوكِkings وَغَضَّand diminished مِنfrom
أَزرى عَلى هِمَمِ المُلوكِ وَغَضَّ مِن
بُنيانَthe buildings of كِسرىKisra فيin الزَمانِtime قَيصَرِCaesar
بُنيانَ كِسرى في الزَمانِ قَيصَرِ
It put kings' ambitions to shame, and diminished
The buildings of Kisra and Caesar in ages past.
عالٍhigh عَلىabove لَحظِthe gaze of العُيونِthe eyes كَأَنَّماas though
عالٍ عَلى لَحظِ العُيونِ كَأَنَّما
يَنظُرنَthey gaze مِنهُfrom it إِلىtoward بَياضِthe whiteness of المُشتَريJupiter
يَنظُرنَ مِنهُ إِلى بَياضِ المُشتَري
High beyond the reach of eyes, as though
They beheld in it the white radiance of Jupiter.
بانيهِits builder بانيthe builder of المَكرُماتِnoble deeds وَرَبُّهُand its lord
بانيهِ باني المَكرُماتِ وَرَبُّهُ
رَبُّlord of الأَخاشِبِal-Akhashib وَالصَفاand al-Safa وَالمَشعَرِand al-Mash'ar
رَبُّ الأَخاشِبِ وَالصَفا وَالمَشعَرِ
Its builder is the builder of noble deeds, and its lord
Is lord of al-Akhashib, al-Safa, and al-Mash'ar.
مَلَأَتfilled جَوانِبُهُits sides الفَضاءَthe open air وَعانَقَتand embraced
مَلَأَت جَوانِبُهُ الفَضاءَ وَعانَقَت
شُرُفاتُهُits battlements قِطَعَmasses of السَحابِcloud المُمطِرِrain-bearing
شُرُفاتُهُ قِطَعَ السَحابِ المُمطِرِ
Its sides filled the open air, and
Its battlements embraced masses of raincloud.
وَتَسيرُand flows دِجلَةُthe Tigris تَحتَهُbeneath it فَفَناؤُهُso its forecourt
وَتَسيرُ دِجلَةُ تَحتَهُ فَفَناؤُهُ
مِنof لِجَّةٍa body of water غَمرٍdeep وَرَوضٍand meadow أَخضَرِgreen
مِن لِجَّةٍ غَمرٍ وَرَوضٍ أَخضَرِ
And the Tigris flows beneath it, so its forecourt
Is deep water and green meadow.
شَجَرٌtrees تُلاعِبُهُplay with it الرِياحُthe winds فَتَنثَنيso bend
شَجَرٌ تُلاعِبُهُ الرِياحُ فَتَنثَني
أَعطافُهُits boughs فيin سائِحٍflowing water مُتَفَجِّرِgushing
أَعطافُهُ في سائِحٍ مُتَفَجِّرِ
Trees the winds play with, bending
Their boughs into a flowing, gushing stream.
فَاِسلَمso remain safe أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful مُسَربَلاًclad
فَاِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ مُسَربَلاً
سِربالَthe robe of مَنصورِone granted victory اليَدَينِin both hands مُظَفَّرِtriumphant
سِربالَ مَنصورِ اليَدَينِ مُظَفَّرِ
So remain safe, Commander of the Faithful, clad
In the robe of one victorious in both hands, triumphant.
وَاِستَأنِفِand begin anew العُمُرَlife الجَديدَnew بِبَهجَةِwith the splendor of الthe
وَاِستَأنِفِ العُمُرَ الجَديدَ بِبَهجَةِ ال
قَصرِpalace الجَديدِnew وَحُسنِهِand its beauty المُتَخَيَّرِexquisite
قَصرِ الجَديدِ وَحُسنِهِ المُتَخَيَّرِ
And begin life anew amid the splendor of the
New palace and its exquisite beauty.
أَعطَيتَهُyou gave it مَحضَpure الهَوىlove وَخَصَصتَهُand singled it out
أَعطَيتَهُ مَحضَ الهَوى وَخَصَصتَهُ
بِصَفاءِwith the purity of وُدٍّaffection مِنكَfrom you غَيرِnot مُكَدَّرِclouded
بِصَفاءِ وُدٍّ مِنكَ غَيرِ مُكَدَّرِ
You gave it pure love, and singled it out
For your clear affection, entirely unclouded.
اللَهُGod أَعطاكَgave you المَحَبَّةَlove فيamong الوَرىhumankind
اللَهُ أَعطاكَ المَحَبَّةَ في الوَرى
وَحَباكَand endowed you بِالفَضلِwith excellence الَّذيwhich لَمnot يُنكَرِhas been denied
وَحَباكَ بِالفَضلِ الَّذي لَم يُنكَرِ
God has granted you love among humankind,
And endowed you with excellence none has denied.
وَاِسمٍand a name شَقَقتَyou derived لَهُfor it مِنِfrom اِسمِكَyour name فَاِكتَسىso it donned
وَاِسمٍ شَقَقتَ لَهُ مِنِ اِسمِكَ فَاِكتَسى
شَرَفَthe honor of العُلُوِّeminence بِهِthrough it وَفَضلَand the distinction of المَفخَرِglory
شَرَفَ العُلُوِّ بِهِ وَفَضلَ المَفخَرِ
And you drew a name for it from your own; thus it donned
Through it, lofty honor and surpassing glory.
خَفَتَsubsided الغُبارُthe dust وَقَدand already عَلَوتَyou ascended تُريدُهُseeking it
خَفَتَ الغُبارُ وَقَد عَلَوتَ تُريدُهُ
وَسَرىand moved by night الغَمامُthe clouds بِوابِلٍwith heavy rain مُثعَنجِرِtorrential
وَسَرى الغَمامُ بِوابِلٍ مُثعَنجِرِ
The dust subsided as you ascended, making for it,
And clouds passed by night with a surging downpour.
وَتَحَلَّتِand adorned itself الدُنياthe world بِأَحسَنِwith the finest of حَليِهاits jewels
وَتَحَلَّتِ الدُنيا بِأَحسَنِ حَليِها
وَغَدَتand came forth بِوَجهٍwith a face ضاحِكٍsmiling مُستَبشِرِjoyful
وَغَدَت بِوَجهٍ ضاحِكٍ مُستَبشِرِ
The world adorned itself with its finest jewels,
And came forth with a smiling, joyful face.
قَدindeed جِئتَهُyou came to it فَنَزَلتَso you alighted أَيمَنَthe most auspicious مَنزِلٍabode
قَد جِئتَهُ فَنَزَلتَ أَيمَنَ مَنزِلٍ
وَرَأَيتَهُand you saw it فَرَأَيتَso you beheld أَحسَنَthe finest مَنظَرِsight
وَرَأَيتَهُ فَرَأَيتَ أَحسَنَ مَنظَرِ
You have come to it and alighted in the most auspicious abode,
And seen it, beholding the fairest sight.
فَاِعمُرهُso inhabit it بِالعُمرِwith a life الطَويلِlong وَنِعمَةَand bliss
فَاِعمُرهُ بِالعُمرِ الطَويلِ وَنِعمَةَ
تَبقىendures بَشاشَتُهاits freshness بَقاءَfor as long as الأَعصُرِthe ages
تَبقى بَشاشَتُها بَقاءَ الأَعصُرِ
So dwell in it for a long life, in bliss
Whose freshness endures as long as the ages.
Sol 6.1