أَعادَhe renewed شَكوىa complaint مِنَof الطَيفِthe phantom الَّذيthat اِعتاداhabitually visited
أَعادَ شَكوى مِنَ الطَيفِ الَّذي اِعتادا
رُشداًright guidance تَوَخَّيتَyou sought أَمor غَيّاًerror وَإِفناداand folly
رُشداً تَوَخَّيتَ أَم غَيّاً وَإِفنادا
He renewed his complaint of the phantom that visited him often.
He repeats his lament of the phantom he was accustomed to,
Did you seek right guidance, or error and folly?
Whether you sought righteousness or misguidance and perdition.
أَلَمَّit visited بيme وَبَياضُand the whiteness of الصُبحِdawn مُنتَظِرٌwaiting
أَلَمَّ بي وَبَياضُ الصُبحِ مُنتَظِرٌ
قَدalready رَقَّgrew thin عَنهُaway from it سَوادُthe darkness of اللَيلِthe night أَوor كاداalmost did
قَد رَقَّ عَنهُ سَوادُ اللَيلِ أَو كادا
It visited me while the whiteness of dawn was waiting;
The whiteness of dawn afflicted me while it was awaiting,
night's darkness had thinned away from it, or nearly had.
The blackness of night had receded from it or was about to.
فَأَيُّso what مُفتَرَقٍparting لَمdid not يَبتَعِثarouse أَسَفاًsorrow
فَأَيُّ مُفتَرَقٍ لَم يَبتَعِث أَسَفاً
وَمُلتَقىًand a meeting لَمnot يَكُنwas لِلبَثِّfor grief's outpouring ميعاداan appointed time
وَمُلتَقىً لَم يَكُن لِلبَثِّ ميعادا
What parting has not stirred sorrow,
What crossroads did not evoke sorrow,
and what meeting has not been a tryst for grief's outpouring?
And what gathering was not for separation appointed?
أَتوَيتَyou ruined لُبّيmy mind وَمِنand of شَأنِthe nature of المُحِبِّthe lover إِذاwhen
أَتوَيتَ لُبّي وَمِن شَأنِ المُحِبِّ إِذا
ماever قيدَhe was led لِلشَيءِto the thing يُتويruins لُبَّهُhis mind اِنقاداhe submitted
ما قيدَ لِلشَيءِ يُتوي لُبَّهُ اِنقادا
You have ruined my mind; and a lover, by nature, when
You twisted my heart, and it is the lover's way, when
led toward something that ruins his mind, submits.
He is fettered to something, for his heart to be led.
يَرجوhope العَواذِلُthe reproaching women إِقصاريmy desisting وَفيand in كَبِديmy liver
يَرجو العَواذِلُ إِقصاري وَفي كَبِدي
نارٌa fire تَزيدُincreases عَلىupon الإِطفاءِextinguishing إيقاداin blazing
نارٌ تَزيدُ عَلى الإِطفاءِ إيقادا
The women who reproach me hope I will desist, but in my liver
The maidens hope for my frustration, while in my liver
a fire blazes all the more when quenched.
Is a fire that increases with quenching, kindling.
ماnot حَقُّناour due مِنfrom سُلَيمىSulayma أَنthat تَقِبضَshe withhold لَناfor us
ما حَقُّنا مِن سُلَيمى أَن تَقِبضَ لَنا
بِالبَذلِthrough giving مَنعاًwithholding وَبِالإِدناءِand through drawing near إِبعاداestrangement
بِالبَذلِ مَنعاً وَبِالإِدناءِ إِبعادا
It is not our due from Sulayma that she should mete out to us
It is not our right that Sulayma should deny us
denial through giving, and distance through drawing near.
Generosity with stinginess, or degrade with disdain.
غادَتكَcame to you at dawn مِنهاfrom her غَداةَon the morning of السَبتِSaturday مُؤذِنَةٌa female herald
غادَتكَ مِنها غَداةَ السَبتِ مُؤذِنَةٌ
بِنِيَّةٍwith an intention وَأَشَقُّand the harshest الكُرهِhardship ماwhat غادىcomes at dawn
بِنِيَّةٍ وَأَشَقُّ الكُرهِ ما غادى
A herald from her met you on Saturday morning,
Your departure from her on Saturday morning
announcing her intent; the harshest adversity is what comes at dawn.
Announced an intention - and the most painful abandonment has departed.
كانَتwere أَثانينَMondays أَيّامُthe days of الفِراقِseparation فَقَدand indeed
كانَت أَثانينَ أَيّامُ الفِراقِ فَقَد
صارَتhave become سُبوتاًSaturdays نَخَشّاهاwe fear them وَآحاداand Sundays
صارَت سُبوتاً نَخَشّاها وَآحادا
The days of parting once were Mondays, but now
The days of separation were eighty - so they became
they are Saturdays we dread, and Sundays.
Saturdays we feared and singular days.
أَدِلَّةُthe guides of المَرءِa person أَيّامٌdays عُدِدنَcounted out لَهُfor him
أَدِلَّةُ المَرءِ أَيّامٌ عُدِدنَ لَهُ
يُرينَهُthey show him القَصدَthe right course تَقويماًcorrection وَإِرشاداand guidance
يُرينَهُ القَصدَ تَقويماً وَإِرشادا
A man's guides are the days counted out for him;
A man's evidence is days counted for him
they show him the right course through correction and guidance.
To show him rectitude, guide and direct him.
وَقَدand may يُطالِبنَthey demand back ماwhat قَدَّمنَthey advanced مِنof سَلَفٍa loan
وَقَد يُطالِبنَ ما قَدَّمنَ مِن سَلَفٍ
فيهِin him فَيَنقُصنَهُand so deprive him of الفَضلَthe surplus الَّذيthat اِزداداhe gained
فيهِ فَيَنقُصنَهُ الفَضلَ الَّذي اِزدادا
And they may demand back the loan they advanced
And they might demand what they had given before
to him, stripping him of the surplus he had gained,
Of bounty, and detract from the surplus he had gained,
حَتّىuntil يَعودَbecomes again الجَديدَthe new المُشتَرىpurchased خَلَقاًworn-out
حَتّى يَعودَ الجَديدَ المُشتَرى خَلَقاً
تَرذُلُهُscorns it العَينُthe eye وَالمُنصاتُand the upright مُنآداbent
تَرذُلُهُ العَينُ وَالمُنصاتُ مُنآدا
until what was newly bought becomes worn-out,
Until the newly purchased creature returns to its nature
scorned by the eye, and what stood upright becomes bowed.
Languishing to the eye, and the companions spurn it.
أَكثَرتَyou asked much عَنabout مُترَفيthe pampered wealthy of مِصرَEgypt السُؤالَthe questioning وَلَنand will not
أَكثَرتَ عَن مُترَفي مِصرَ السُؤالَ وَلَن
تَلقىyou find ثَموداًThamud بِواديهاin its valley وَلاnor عاداAd
تَلقى ثَموداً بِواديها وَلا عادا
You have asked much about Egypt's pampered rich; you will not
You asked excessively about the ruins of Egypt, but you will never
find Thamud in its valley, nor Ad.
Find Thamud in their valley, nor `Aad.
لَمnot أَرَI saw مِثلَlike الرَدىdeath وِرداًa watering place وَفىkept faith بِهِمِwith them
لَم أَرَ مِثلَ الرَدى وِرداً وَفى بِهِمِ
وَلاnor كَحَشدِlike the throng of بَنيthe sons of اللَكعاءِthe vile woman وُرّاداwater-seekers
وَلا كَحَشدِ بَني اللَكعاءِ وُرّادا
I have seen no watering place like death, which kept faith with them,
I did not see the likes of al-Radda a beloved, and it sufficed them,
nor water-seekers like the throng of the vile woman's sons.
Nor the hosts of Banu Lakhm's cavalry.
مِنof حَينِهِمtheir doom أَنَّthat عَكسَthe reversal of الحَظَّfortune أَعلَقَهُمensnared them
مِن حَينِهِم أَنَّ عَكسَ الحَظَّ أَعلَقَهُم
حُتوفَهُمtheir deaths ماnot اِبتَغىsought مِنّاfrom us وَلاnor فادىaccepted ransom
حُتوفَهُم ما اِبتَغى مِنّا وَلا فادى
It was their doom that reversed fortune ensnared them
Since the time when the turn of fortune suspended them
in their deaths; it asked nothing of us and accepted no ransom.
And did not achieve from us what it sought, nor avail.
اللَهُGod أَعلىexalted عَلِيّاًAli فيin مَراسِهِمِcontending with them
اللَهُ أَعلى عَلِيّاً في مَراسِهِمِ
عَنّاon our behalf وَكادَand schemed against لَهُfor him الحِزبَthe faction الَّذيthat كاداschemed
عَنّا وَكادَ لَهُ الحِزبَ الَّذي كادا
God exalted Ali in battling them
God raised Ali above them during their tilting runs,
on our behalf, and schemed for him against the faction that schemed.
He schemed against us, and the party that schemed.
مازالَcontinued يَعمَلُworking وَالأَقدارُand the fates تَرفِدُهُaiding him
مازالَ يَعمَلُ وَالأَقدارُ تَرفِدُهُ
لِلسَيفِfor the sword حَصداًa harvest وَلِلهاماتِand for the heads إِحصاداripeness for reaping
لِلسَيفِ حَصداً وَلِلهاماتِ إِحصادا
He labored on while the fates lent him support,
He continues to act while the divine decrees assist him
providing a harvest for the sword and heads ripe for reaping.
To reap with the sword, and harvest skulls.
لاnot تُستَعارُis borrowed الهُوَيناleisurely ease مِنfrom صَريمَتِهِhis firm resolve
لا تُستَعارُ الهُوَينا مِن صَريمَتِهِ
إِنwhether ساتَرَdealt covertly with الحَمِرُthe wrathful man الأَعداءَthe enemies أَوor بادىacted openly
إِن ساتَرَ الحَمِرُ الأَعداءَ أَو بادى
No leisurely ease can be borrowed from his firm resolve,
Our zeal cannot be borrowed from his cold temper
whether the wrathful man faces enemies covertly or openly.
If the red hides the enemies or appears.
يَلقونَهُthey meet him عِندَat أَعلىthe highest of المُزنِthe rain clouds حِفظَتُهُhis wrath
يَلقونَهُ عِندَ أَعلى المُزنِ حِفظَتُهُ
تَتَهُّمَmakes seem low المُزنِthe rain clouds إِبراقاًin lightning وَإِرعاداand thunder
تَتَهُّمَ المُزنِ إِبراقاً وَإِرعادا
They meet him at the loftiest clouds; his wrath
They meet him at the height of the battle, his guard
makes the clouds seem low in lightning and thunder.
Flashing lightning at the height and rumbling thunder.
بَنوthe sons of الحُسَينِal-Husayn كُنوزَthe treasures of الدَهرِtime مِنof كَرَمٍgenerosity
بَنو الحُسَينِ كُنوزَ الدَهرِ مِن كَرَمٍ
لاnot يَرِثُinherits الدَهرُtime أَقصاهُنَّtheir last reserves إِنفاداthrough exhaustion
لا يَرِثُ الدَهرُ أَقصاهُنَّ إِنفادا
The sons of al-Husayn are time's treasures of generosity;
The sons of Hussein are the age's treasures of generosity
time never inherits their last reserves through depletion.
That time does not inherit - it cannot drain them.
مُكَرَّرونَreproduced عَلىthrough الأَيّامِthe days فيin شِيَمٍcharacter traits
مُكَرَّرونَ عَلى الأَيّامِ في شِيَمٍ
تَقَيَّلوهاthey emulated them أُبُوّاتٍfathers وَأَجداداand grandfathers
تَقَيَّلوها أُبُوّاتٍ وَأَجدادا
They are repeated through the ages in traits
Repeated throughout the days in qualities
they patterned on their fathers and grandfathers.
That have made them the chosen ones, and forefathers.
أَفرادُpeerless ones of أُكرومَةٍnobility لاnot يُشرَكونَare equaled وَقَدand indeed
أَفرادُ أُكرومَةٍ لا يُشرَكونَ وَقَد
تُدعىare called الصَوارِمُkeen swords فيin الأَجفانِthe scabbards أَفراداsingle
تُدعى الصَوارِمُ في الأَجفانِ أَفرادا
Peerless in nobility, with no equals; indeed,
Unique ones of greatness, who accept no partners, and indeed
keen swords in their scabbards are also called single.
Swords are called unique among blades.
إِنif ساوَقَkept pace with المَحلَdrought أَقوامٌsome people بِبُخلِهِمِthrough their stinginess
إِن ساوَقَ المَحلَ أَقوامٌ بِبُخلِهِمِ
جاؤواthey came مَعَwith المَطَرِthe rain الرَبعِيِّof spring أَجواداgenerous
جاؤوا مَعَ المَطَرِ الرَبعِيِّ أَجوادا
If some people keep pace with drought through their stinginess,
If the cheap company vie in meanness,
they come, generous, with the spring rain.
They come with the spring rain, open-handed.
مُخَيِّمونَencamped عَلىbeside سيحِthe flowing waters of العِراقِIraq أَبَتrefused
مُخَيِّمونَ عَلى سيحِ العِراقِ أَبَت
إِلّاexcept سُمُوّاًloftiness مَساعيهِمtheir endeavors وَإِنجاداand ascent to high ground
إِلّا سُمُوّاً مَساعيهِم وَإِنجادا
Encamped beside Iraq's flowing waters, their endeavors refuse
Encamped on the plain of Iraq, their efforts refused
anything but loftiness and ascent to the heights.
Anything but loftiness and support.
تَخَيَّرواthey chose الأَرضَthe land قَبلَbefore الناسِthe people أَمor عَمَرواthey inhabited
تَخَيَّروا الأَرضَ قَبلَ الناسِ أَم عَمَروا
لَدىbeside الدَساكِرِthe villages تِلكَthat الأَرضَland رُوّاداas pioneers
لَدى الدَساكِرِ تِلكَ الأَرضَ رُوّادا
Did they choose the land before other people, or settle
They chose the land before the people, or did they inhabit
that land beside the villages as pioneers?
Alongside the advance guards that land, steadfast?
تُمسيit is at evening سُهولاًplains لَهُمfor them يَرضَونَthey enjoy بَسطَتَهاits breadth
تُمسي سُهولاً لَهُم يَرضَونَ بَسطَتَها
وَيُصبِحونَand at morning they become لَهاfor it بِالعِزِّthrough might أَوتاداstakes
وَيُصبِحونَ لَها بِالعِزِّ أَوتادا
At dusk it lies open and level for them; they enjoy its breadth,
It becomes a plain for them at night, pleased by its expanse,
and at dawn they are its anchoring stakes through their might.
And in the morning they become its tent pegs with honor.
يُرَفَّهونَthey live at ease بِسيحِby the flowing waters of النَهرَوانِthe Nahrawan إِذاwhen
يُرَفَّهونَ بِسيحِ النَهرَوانِ إِذا
ضَنَّwithheld السَحابُthe clouds بِجاريwith the flowing water of سَيلِهِits flood جاداit gave generously
ضَنَّ السَحابُ بِجاري سَيلِهِ جادا
They live at ease beside the flowing Nahrawan; when
They disdain the plain of Nahrawan when
the clouds withhold, it gives freely of its running flood.
The clouds are stingy in pouring out their torrents.
فازواthey won بِأَرحَبِthe broadest دارٍabode مِنهُfrom it أَفنِيَةًin courtyards
فازوا بِأَرحَبِ دارٍ مِنهُ أَفنِيَةً
فيحاًspacious وَأَقدَمَand the oldest مُلكٍdominion مِنهُfrom it ميلاداin origin
فيحاً وَأَقدَمَ مُلكٍ مِنهُ ميلادا
They won its broadest abode, with courtyards
They won the most spacious abode, with arches,
spacious, and its most ancient dominion in origin.
An ancient kingdom from it, of oldest founding.
وَماand not نُخِلُّwe neglect بِتَقريظٍin praise نَخُصُّwe single out بِهِwith it
وَما نُخِلُّ بِتَقريظٍ نَخُصُّ بِهِ
أَباAbu مُحَمَّدِهِمtheir Muhammad شُكراًin gratitude وَإِحماداand commendation
أَبا مُحَمَّدِهِم شُكراً وَإِحمادا
Nor do we neglect praise that we reserve
We will not fail to praise the one whom we peculiarly
for their Abu Muhammad, in gratitude and commendation.
Thank and praise - their father Muhammad.
مِنamong خَيرِهِمtheir best خُلُقاًin character سَمحاًgenerous وَأَقعَدِهِمand their most firmly rooted
مِن خَيرِهِم خُلُقاً سَمحاً وَأَقعَدِهِم
فَضلاًin merit وَأَكثَرِهِمand the greatest of them فيin السَروِnobility إِسناداin ancestral grounding
فَضلاً وَأَكثَرِهِم في السَروِ إِسنادا
One of their finest in generous character, and most firmly grounded
Of their nobility, kindly and most seated in merit,
in merit, with the strongest lineage in nobility.
And greatest in aiding in confidence.
يُرضيكَpleases you مِنfrom حَسَنٍHasan قَصدٌa purpose إِلىtoward حَسَنٍHasan
يُرضيكَ مِن حَسَنٍ قَصدٌ إِلى حَسَنٍ
أَخلَدَhe devoted himself يَرميaiming إِلىtoward عُلياهُhis highest rank إِخلاداsteadfastly
أَخلَدَ يَرمي إِلى عُلياهُ إِخلادا
Hasan's purpose, directed toward Hasan, pleases you;
Your seeking of good, aiming for good, satisfies you,
he remains devoted, aiming steadfastly at his highest rank.
Everlasting, aspiring to the most high, perpetual.
ماnot دَيرُDayr (monastery) عاقولَكُمyour Aqul بِالبُعدِby distance مانِعَناpreventing us
ما دَيرُ عاقولَكُم بِالبُعدِ مانِعَنا
مِنfrom أَنthat نَجيأَكَwe come to you مِنfrom بَغدادَBaghdad عُوّاداas returning visitors
مِن أَن نَجيأَكَ مِن بَغدادَ عُوّادا
Your Dayr Aqul, for all its distance, cannot prevent us
The distance of your monastery does not prevent us
from coming to you from Baghdad as returning visitors.
From hailing you from Baghdad, time after time.
نُجِدُّwe renew عَهداًa bond بِأَوفىwith the most unstinting of المُفضِلينَbenefactors نَدىًin generosity
نُجِدُّ عَهداً بِأَوفى المُفضِلينَ نَدىً
وَأَقوَمِand the steadiest of القَومِthe people فيin خُطبٍa crisis وَإِنeven if آداit weighed heavily
وَأَقوَمِ القَومِ في خُطبٍ وَإِن آدا
We renew our bond with the most generous of benefactors,
We renew a pact with the most faithful of chosen friends,
and the steadiest of men in a crisis, even when it weighs heavily.
And most upright of people, whether covenants or violates agreements.
عَلَيَّit is my duty أَنthat يَلحَقَreach الأَقصَينَthe farthest people سُؤدُدُكُمyour nobility
عَلَيَّ أَن يَلحَقَ الأَقصَينَ سُؤدُدُكُم
إِذsince كانَwas قَدalready سادَattained eminence مِنthrough أَدناهُits least share مَنwhoever ساداattained eminence
إِذ كانَ قَد سادَ مِن أَدناهُ مَن سادا
It is my duty to make your nobility reach the farthest people,
I must join the two extremes - your gifts -
since those who gained eminence did so through even its least share.
When the lesser has already been surpassed by the giver.
لاnot تَنظُرَنَّever look إِلىat الفَيّاضِal-Fayyad, the bountiful مِنfor صِغَرٍsmallness
لا تَنظُرَنَّ إِلى الفَيّاضِ مِن صِغَرٍ
فيin السِنِّage وَاِنظُرand look إِلىat المَجدِthe glory الَّذيthat شاداhe built
في السِنِّ وَاِنظُر إِلى المَجدِ الَّذي شادا
Do not judge al-Fayyad by his smallness
Do not look to al-Fayyad as small
in age; look instead at the glory he has built.
In years, but look to the glory he built.
إِنَّindeed النُجومَthe stars نُجومَthe stars of اللَيلِthe night أَصغَرُهاthe smallest of them
إِنَّ النُجومَ نُجومَ اللَيلِ أَصغَرُها
فيto العَينِthe eye أَذهَبُهاthe farthest-going of them فيin الجَوِّthe sky إِصعاداin ascent
في العَينِ أَذهَبُها في الجَوِّ إِصعادا
Indeed, among the stars, the stars of night, the smallest
The stars are the stars of night - the smallest
to the eye are those that climb farthest into the sky.
Is most luminous in the sky, soaring.
لَناfor us عَوارِفُkindly gifts نُعمىof favor مِنfrom تَطَوُّلِهِhis generosity
لَنا عَوارِفُ نُعمى مِن تَطَوُّلِهِ
يُضعِفنَthey multiply فَوقَbeyond صُروفِthe vicissitudes of الدَهرِtime أَعداداin number
يُضعِفنَ فَوقَ صُروفِ الدَهرِ أَعدادا
We have gifts of favor from his generosity,
We have intimate knowledge of your favors whose lengthening
multiplying in number beyond time's vicissitudes.
Makes double over the turns of fate and its counts.
تَدَفُّقَthe outpouring of البَحرِthe sea إِنif بادَهتَyou come upon جُمَّتَهُits gathered waters
تَدَفُّقَ البَحرِ إِن بادَهتَ جُمَّتَهُ
سَقَتكَit gave you drink رِيّاًyour fill وَإِنand if عاوَدتَهُyou returned to it عاداit gave again
سَقَتكَ رِيّاً وَإِن عاوَدتَهُ عادا
Like the sea's surge: if you come upon its brimming waters,
The sea's surge - if its immensity wanes -
they quench your thirst; if you return to it, it gives again.
Has watered you copiously, and if it repeats, repeats.
وَكَمand how many أَنافَتrose high مِنَfrom الأَبناءِthe sons مَكرُمَةٌa noble deed
وَكَم أَنافَت مِنَ الأَبناءِ مَكرُمَةٌ
مَشهودَةٌwitnessed تَدَعُleaves الآباءَthe fathers حُسّاضاenvious
مَشهودَةٌ تَدَعُ الآباءَ حُسّاضا
How many a noble deed has risen high from sons,
And how many glories of children have surpassed
plainly witnessed, leaving the fathers envious.
Their famous fathers, witnesses, proofs!
أَنتُمyou مَيامينُbringers of good fortune فيin الحاجاتِthe needs نَطلُبُهاwe seek them
أَنتُم مَيامينُ في الحاجاتِ نَطلُبُها
وَلَستُمُand you are not مُستَقِلّيscant in النَفعِbenefit أَنكاداgrudging
وَلَستُمُ مُستَقِلّي النَفعِ أَنكادا
You bring good fortune in the needs we seek to meet,
You are the sheltering wings in needs - we seek them,
and you are not grudging men of scant benefit.
But you are not dependent in benefaction, closefisted.
ثَلاثَةٌthree تُسرِعُhasten النُجحَsuccess المَكيثَslow إِذاwhen
ثَلاثَةٌ تُسرِعُ النُجحَ المَكيثَ إِذا
تَسانَدواthey supported one another فيهِin it أَعواناًas helpers وَرُفّاداand sustainers
تَسانَدوا فيهِ أَعواناً وَرُفّادا
Three men who hasten slow success when
Three hasten assured success, though it tarries,
they support one another in it, as helpers and sustainers.
If they ally in it as supporters and buttresses.
Sol 6.1