نَشَدتُكَI adjure you اللَهَby God مِنas a بَرقٍlightning flash عَلىover إِضَمِIḍam
نَشَدتُكَ اللَهَ مِن بَرقٍ عَلى إِضَمِ
لَمّاpray, do سَقَيتَyou water جُنوبَthe southern reaches of الحَزنِal-Ḥazn فَالعَلَمِthen al-ʿAlam
لَمّا سَقَيتَ جُنوبَ الحَزنِ فَالعَلَمِ
I adjure you by God, O lightning over Iḍam:
I conjure you by God, from a lightning on a clouded night,
do water the southern reaches of al-Ḥazn, then al-ʿAlam,
When you quenched the thirst of sadness, so the banners waved.
وَصُبتَand you pour down بَينَهُماbetween them both حَتّىuntil تُسيلَهُماyou make them both flow
وَصُبتَ بَينَهُما حَتّى تُسيلَهُما
بِمُستَهَلٍّwith a downpour مِنَof الوَسمِيِّthe first autumn rain مُنسَجِمِflowing steadily
بِمُستَهَلٍّ مِنَ الوَسمِيِّ مُنسَجِمِ
and pour down between them until you make them both flow,
And you poured between them until you made them flow
with a streaming downpour of the first autumn rains.
With a torrent from Al-Wasmi, harmoniously mixed.
مَنازِلٌdwellings لاnot تُجيبُanswer الصَبَّthe lovesick man مِنbecause of خَرَسٍmuteness
مَنازِلٌ لا تُجيبُ الصَبَّ مِن خَرَسٍ
وَلاnor تَريعُturn إِلىtoward شَكواهُhis lament مِنbecause of صَمَمِdeafness
وَلا تَريعُ إِلى شَكواهُ مِن صَمَمِ
Dwellings that, mute, do not answer the lovesick man,
Abodes where the rain does not awake the deaf,
and, deaf, do not turn toward his lament.
Nor does it pasture the herds of the dumb.
أَقامَhe lingered يَنشُدُseeking شَملاًa company غَيرَnot مُتَّفِقٍunited
أَقامَ يَنشُدُ شَملاً غَيرَ مُتَّفِقٍ
مِنof آلِthe people of لَيلىLayla وَشَعباًand a fellowship غَيرَnot مُلتَئِمِreunited
مِن آلِ لَيلى وَشَعباً غَيرَ مُلتَئِمِ
He lingered, seeking a company no longer united,
He stood reciting verses, to mend a disjointed tribe
of Layla's people, and a fellowship not reunited.
Of Layla's kin, and a nation not united.
وَقَدand once تَكونُthere were بِهاthere قِضبانُslender boughs of إِسحِلَةٍan isḥil tree
وَقَد تَكونُ بِها قِضبانُ إِسحِلَةٍ
مُهتَزَّةٍswaying فيamid اِحمِرارِthe redness of الوَردِroses وَالعَنَمِand the ʿanam plant
مُهتَزَّةٍ في اِحمِرارِ الوَردِ وَالعَنَمِ
Once there stood slender boughs of an isḥil tree,
Among them may be the reddened wands of Isḥilah
swaying amid the red of roses and ʿanam,
Swaying amid the blush of roses and meadows.
إِذwhen وُدُّthe love of لَيلىLayla صَحيحٌsound غَيرُnot مُؤتَشِبٍtainted
إِذ وُدُّ لَيلى صَحيحٌ غَيرُ مُؤتَشِبٍ
وَحَبلُand the cord of لَيلىLayla جَديدٌnew غَيرُnot مُنصَرِمِsevered
وَحَبلُ لَيلى جَديدٌ غَيرُ مُنصَرِمِ
when Layla's love was sound, untainted,
Since the love of Layla is true, free of any doubt,
and Layla's cord was new, unsevered.
And the rope of Layla is new, not yet worn.
تُعديshe infects القُلوبَhearts بِعَينَيهاwith her two eyes إِذاwhenever نَظَرَتshe gazes
تُعدي القُلوبَ بِعَينَيها إِذا نَظَرَت
حَتّىuntil تُجِدَّshe creates anew لَهاfor them خَبلاًmadness مِنَfrom السَقَمِsickness
حَتّى تُجِدَّ لَها خَبلاً مِنَ السَقَمِ
She infects hearts with her eyes whenever she gazes,
With her eyes she captures hearts wherever she glances
until she brings them fresh madness born of sickness.
Until she finds in them some trace of sickness.
أَماAh! وَضِحكَتِهاby her smile عَنrevealing واضِحٍbright teeth رَتِلٍevenly set
أَما وَضِحكَتِها عَن واضِحٍ رَتِلٍ
تُنبيbespeak عَوارِضُهُits side teeth عَنof بارِدٍcool saliva شَبِمِchilled
تُنبي عَوارِضُهُ عَن بارِدٍ شَبِمِ
Ah, by her smile revealing bright, evenly set teeth,
But her laughter reveals a graceful, gentle pace,
whose side teeth bespeak cool, chilled saliva—
Its expressions disclose a refreshing, cool calm.
لَقَدindeed كَتَمتُI concealed هَواهاlove for her لَوif only يُطاوِعُنيwould obey me
لَقَد كَتَمتُ هَواها لَو يُطاوِعُني
شَوقٌlonging لَجوجٌinsistent وَدَمعٌand tears غَيرُnot مُكتَتَمِconcealed
شَوقٌ لَجوجٌ وَدَمعٌ غَيرُ مُكتَتَمِ
I would indeed have hidden my love for her, were I obeyed
I would have concealed his love if an ardent longing
by insistent longing and tears that cannot be concealed.
And unrestrained tears would allow concealment.
اللَهُGod جارُprotector of بَنيthe sons of خاقانَKhaqan إِنَّهُمُindeed they الthe
اللَهُ جارُ بَني خاقانَ إِنَّهُمُ ال
أَثرَونَwealthiest مِنin كَرَمِthe nobility of الأَخلاقِcharacter وَالشِيَمِand dispositions
أَثرَونَ مِن كَرَمِ الأَخلاقِ وَالشِيَمِ
God is the protector of Khaqan's sons; indeed, they are the
God bless the abode of Banu Khāqān, for they
wealthiest in noble character and disposition.
Have excelled in noble manners and ethics.
بَيتٌa house تَقَدَّمَwas long established فيهِin it المَجدُglory وَاِجتَمَعَتand gathered
بَيتٌ تَقَدَّمَ فيهِ المَجدُ وَاِجتَمَعَت
لَهُfor it عِظامُgreat المَساعيachievements وَالعُلاand lofty honors القُدُمُancient
لَهُ عِظامُ المَساعي وَالعُلا القُدُمُ
A house where glory was long established, and for which are gathered
A house where glory advanced and gathered
mighty achievements and ancient heights of honor.
Were great ambitions and venerable lineages.
النازِحونَthose keeping far away عَنِfrom الفَحشاءِindecency يُبعِدُهُمkeeps them distant
النازِحونَ عَنِ الفَحشاءِ يُبعِدُهُم
عَنfrom لُؤمِهاits baseness عِظَمُthe greatness of الأَخطارِstanding وَالهِمَمِand aspirations
عَن لُؤمِها عِظَمُ الأَخطارِ وَالهِمَمِ
They are far removed from indecency, kept distant
Those who flee indecency are distanced
from its baseness by the greatness of their standing and aspirations.
From its shame by their sense of dignity and resolve.
مااِنفَكَّhas never ceased مَجدُthe glory of عُبَيدِUbayd اللَهِAllah يُكسِبُهُمto win them
مااِنفَكَّ مَجدُ عُبَيدِ اللَهِ يُكسِبُهُم
مَحَبَّةًlove مِنfrom صُدورِthe hearts of العُربِArabs وَالعَجَمِand non-Arabs
مَحَبَّةً مِن صُدورِ العُربِ وَالعَجَمِ
Ubayd Allah's glory has never ceased to win them
The glory of the servants of God does not cease to earn them
love from the hearts of Arabs and non-Arabs.
Affection from the hearts of Arabs and non-Arabs alike.
ماnot إِنindeed يَزالُceases النَدىgenerosity يُدنيdraws near إِلَيهِto him يَداًa hand
ما إِن يَزالُ النَدى يُدني إِلَيهِ يَداً
مُمتاحَةًseeking gifts مِنfrom بَعيدِone distant in الدارِdwelling وَالرَحِمِand kinship
مُمتاحَةً مِن بَعيدِ الدارِ وَالرَحِمِ
Generosity keeps drawing toward him a hand
The dew continues to extend to them a hand
seeking bounty, from one distant in dwelling and kinship.
Outreached from afar, from home and womb.
يَلومُهُblame him عاذِلوهُhis reproachers فيfor سَماحَتِهِhis liberality
يَلومُهُ عاذِلوهُ في سَماحَتِهِ
عَلىfor خَلائِقَcharacter traits لَمnot تُذمَمhave been censured وَلَمand not تُلَمِhave been blamed
عَلى خَلائِقَ لَم تُذمَم وَلَم تُلَمِ
His reproachers chide him for his liberality,
His critics blame him for his generosity
for traits that have never been censured or blamed.
Towards morals they have not censured or blamed.
خِرقٌa skilled master أَقامَset upright قَناةَthe spear-shaft of المُلكِkingship فَاِعتَدَلَتand so it stood straight
خِرقٌ أَقامَ قَناةَ المُلكِ فَاِعتَدَلَت
بِمُستَتِبٍّthrough sound مِنَof التَدبيرِgovernance مُنتَظِمِwell-ordered
بِمُستَتِبٍّ مِنَ التَدبيرِ مُنتَظِمِ
A master who set kingship's spear-shaft upright, and it stood straight,
Al-Khirāq established the channels of kingship, so they flowed
through sound, well-ordered governance.
With a steady stream of wise governance.
مُستَحكِمُfully formed الآيِfaculties لاnot عَهدَthe days of الصِباchildhood كَثَبٌnear
مُستَحكِمُ الآيِ لا عَهدَ الصِبا كَثَبٌ
مِنهُto him وَلاnor هُوَhe بِالموفيon the verge عَلىof الهَرَمِdecrepitude
مِنهُ وَلا هُوَ بِالموفي عَلى الهَرَمِ
His faculties fully formed: childhood's days are not close
Firm in judgment, his youth left no trace,
to him, nor is he verging on decrepitude.
Nor is he, when aged, neglectful of duties.
قَدalready أَكمَلَhe perfected الحِلمَforbearance وَاِشتَدَّتand grew strong شَكيمَتُهُhis mettle
قَد أَكمَلَ الحِلمَ وَاِشتَدَّت شَكيمَتُهُ
عَلىagainst الأَعاديfoes وَلَمand not يَبلُغhe reached مَدىthe age of الحُلُمِpuberty
عَلى الأَعادي وَلَم يَبلُغ مَدى الحُلُمِ
He had perfected forbearance, and his mettle had grown strong
He has perfected forbearance and his wisdom intensified
against his foes before he reached the age of puberty.
Against enemies, though not reaching the limits of clemency.
فَكَيفَhow much more, then إِذnow that شابَhe grew gray وَاِحتازَتand secured تَجارِبُهُhis experiences
فَكَيفَ إِذ شابَ وَاِحتازَت تَجارِبُهُ
لَهُfor him الحِجىwisdom وَتَلَقّىand he received الحَزمَresolve مِنfrom أَمَمِclose at hand
لَهُ الحِجى وَتَلَقّى الحَزمَ مِن أَمَمِ
How much more now that he has grayed and his experiences have secured
How then, now his hair grayed and his experience matured,
wisdom for him, and he has gained resolve close at hand.
Prudence is his armor and he has gained wisdom from nations?
طَرفٌa noble man مُطِلٌّoverlooking عَلىover الآفاقِthe horizons يَكلَؤُهاhe guards them
طَرفٌ مُطِلٌّ عَلى الآفاقِ يَكلَؤُها
بِناظِرٍwith a watchful eye لَمnot يَنَمhas slept عَنهاneglecting them وَلَمnor يُنِمِhas permitted sleep
بِناظِرٍ لَم يَنَم عَنها وَلَم يُنِمِ
A noble man overlooking the horizons and guarding them,
A glance overlooking horizons, prowling over them
with an eye that never sleeps on watch over them, nor permits slumber.
With an eye that did not sleep nor slumber over them.
مُذَلَّلُreadily yielded السَمعِhis hearing لِلداعينَto those calling لَيسَhe is not بِذيpossessed of
مُذَلَّلُ السَمعِ لِلداعينَ لَيسَ بِذي
بَأوٍpride عَلىtoward الصارِخِthe caller for help الأَقصىmost distant وَلاnor بُذُمِharsh temper
بَأوٍ عَلى الصارِخِ الأَقصى وَلا بُذُمِ
His ear readily yields to those who call; he has no
His hearing is gentle towards callers; he spares no effort
pride toward the most distant caller, nor harsh temper.
For the most distant screamer, and is without arrogance.
إِذاwhen اِستَعاذَsought refuge بِهِin him المُستَصرِخونَthose crying for help رَأَواthey saw
إِذا اِستَعاذَ بِهِ المُستَصرِخونَ رَأَوا
وَجهاًa face يُجَلّيdispels سَوادَthe blackness of الظُلمِoppression وَالظُلَمِand darkness
وَجهاً يُجَلّي سَوادَ الظُلمِ وَالظُلَمِ
When those crying for help seek refuge in him, they see
When the desperate seek refuge in him, they see
a face that dispels the blackness of oppression and gloom.
A face that dispels the darkness of injustice and oppression.
إِنif قَلَّلواthey spoke little هَيبَةًout of awe أَوor أَكثَرواthey made much لَغَطاًclamor
إِن قَلَّلوا هَيبَةً أَو أَكثَروا لَغَطاً
أَصغىhe listened بِحِلمٍwith forbearance وَرَدَّand answered القَولَthe speech عَنfrom فَهَمِunderstanding
أَصغى بِحِلمٍ وَرَدَّ القَولَ عَن فَهَمِ
Whether they say little out of awe or raise a great clamor,
If they diminish his prestige or exaggerate pretense,
he listens with forbearance and answers with understanding.
He listens forbearingly and averts speech from error.
أَوor أَغفَلواthey overlooked حُجَّةًan argument لَمnot يُلفَhe was found مُستَرِقاًtaking furtive advantage
أَو أَغفَلوا حُجَّةً لَم يُلفَ مُستَرِقاً
لَهاof it وَإِنand if يَهِمواthey err فيin القَولِspeech لَمnot يَهِمِhe errs
لَها وَإِن يَهِموا في القَولِ لَم يَهِمِ
Or if they overlook an argument, he is never found taking furtive advantage
If they overlook an argument, he does not stealthily seize it,
of it; and if they err in speech, he does not err.
And if they err in speech, he does not err.
حارِسُguardian of مُلكٍa kingdom لَهُfor it مِنfrom دونِهِbefore it أَبَداًalways
حارِسُ مُلكٍ لَهُ مِن دونِهِ أَبَداً
صَدرٌa heart شَفيقٌcompassionate وَرَأيٌand a judgment غَيرُnot مُتَّهَمِsuspect
صَدرٌ شَفيقٌ وَرَأيٌ غَيرُ مُتَّهَمِ
Guardian of a kingdom, which always has in its defense
Guardian of a kingdom - beside him it forever has
a compassionate heart and a judgment beyond suspicion.
A compassionate heart and an unaccused opinion.
سُستَyou governed الخِلافَةَthe caliphate إِشرافاًwith oversight وَحَيِّطَةًand watchful care
سُستَ الخِلافَةَ إِشرافاً وَحَيِّطَةً
وَذُدتَand you defended عَنon behalf of حَقِّهاits right بِالسَيفِwith the sword وَالقَلَمِand the pen
وَذُدتَ عَن حَقِّها بِالسَيفِ وَالقَلَمِ
You have governed the caliphate with vigilant oversight and care,
You assumed the caliphate with care and vigilance
and defended its right with sword and pen.
And defended its right with sword and pen.
وَلَمand never يَزَلhas ceased لَكَfor you مُذsince وُلّيتَyou were entrusted with حَوزَتَهاits domain
وَلَم يَزَل لَكَ مُذ وُلّيتَ حَوزَتَها
غَوثٌsuccor لِلَهفانَfor the distressed أَوor نَصرٌsupport لِمُهتَضَمِfor the wronged
غَوثٌ لِلَهفانَ أَو نَصرٌ لِمُهتَضَمِ
And ever since you were entrusted with its domain, yours has been
Since you assumed it, you have not ceased to provide
succor for the distressed, or support for the wronged.
Succor for the anguished or victory for the oppressed.
تِلكَthat الرَعِيَّةُpopulace مَوفوراًkept intact جَوانِبُهاits sides
تِلكَ الرَعِيَّةُ مَوفوراً جَوانِبُها
وَقَدand once تَكونُit was كَنَهبٍlike plunder شَعَّscattered مُقتَسَمِdivided up
وَقَد تَكونُ كَنَهبٍ شَعَّ مُقتَسَمِ
That populace is now kept intact on every side,
The masses - you have secured them on all sides
though once it was like plunder, scattered and divided.
Though they would be vulnerable to pillage and division.
رَأَوكَthey saw you حِرزاًa stronghold لَهُمfor them مِنagainst كُلِّevery بائِقَةٍcalamity
رَأَوكَ حِرزاً لَهُم مِن كُلِّ بائِقَةٍ
وَعِصمَةًand a safeguard فيهِمِamong them مِنamong أَوثَقِthe surest العِصَمِsafeguards
وَعِصمَةً فيهِمِ مِن أَوثَقِ العِصَمِ
They saw you as their stronghold against every calamity,
They saw you as their fortress against every remaining threat
and a safeguard in their midst, among the surest safeguards.
And their protection among the strongest of protections.
وَماand not اِنفَكَكتَhave you ceased وَلاnor اِنفَكَّتhas ceased أَناتُكَyour patient restraint مِنfrom
وَما اِنفَكَكتَ وَلا اِنفَكَّت أَناتُكَ مِن
تَوفيرِpreserving وَفرِthe wealth of اِمرِئٍa person مِنهُمamong them وَحَقنِand sparing دَمِblood
تَوفيرِ وَفرِ اِمرِئٍ مِنهُم وَحَقنِ دَمِ
And neither you nor your patient restraint has ever ceased from
You did not waver, nor did your aid cease,
safeguarding the wealth of any one of them, and sparing blood,
From fulfilling the wants of each one, and staunching blood.
تَوَخِّياًseeking deliberately لِاِصطِناعِto bestow العُرفِkindness تَصنَعُهُyou perform it
تَوَخِّياً لِاِصطِناعِ العُرفِ تَصنَعُهُ
فيupon الصالِحينَthe righteous وَإِبقاءًand preservation عَلىof النِعَمِblessings
في الصالِحينَ وَإِبقاءً عَلى النِعَمِ
seeking to confer the kindness you bestow
Seeking propriety's demand, you make it
upon the righteous, and to preserve blessings.
Among the righteous, and maintain blessings.
أَظَلَّهُمhas shaded them مِنكَfrom you جودٌgenerosity لَوif وَسَمتَyou marked with rain بِهِwith it
أَظَلَّهُم مِنكَ جودٌ لَو وَسَمتَ بِهِ
مَنابِتَthe growing places of الأَرضِthe earth لَاِستَغنَتthey would surely be independent عَنِof الدِيَمِsteady rains
مَنابِتَ الأَرضِ لَاِستَغنَت عَنِ الدِيَمِ
Your bounty has shaded them; were you to water with it
Your munificence has shaded them - if you were to adorn
the earth's growing grounds, they would need no steady rains.
The earth’s surfaces with it, they would lack no moisture.
ماnot كُنتَyou were فيهِمamong them بِمَنزورِscant in النَوالِbounty وَلاnor
ما كُنتَ فيهِم بِمَنزورِ النَوالِ وَلا
رَثِّshabby in الفَعالِdeeds وَلاnor مُستَحدَثِnewly possessed of الكَرَمِgenerosity
رَثِّ الفَعالِ وَلا مُستَحدَثِ الكَرَمِ
You have never been among them scant in bounty, nor
You have not been with them fleeting in bestowal,
shabby in deeds, nor a newcomer to generosity.
Nor careless in action, nor improvising in generosity.
إِنّيindeed I أَمُتُّclaim a bond بِوُدٍّthrough affection قَدalready تَقادَمَhas grown old عَنbeyond
إِنّي أَمُتُّ بِوُدٍّ قَد تَقادَمَ عَن
حُدثِthe new happenings of اللَياليthe nights وَلَمand not يُخلِقhas worn out عَلىdespite القِدَمِage
حُدثِ اللَيالي وَلَم يُخلِق عَلى القِدَمِ
I claim a bond through affection that long predates
Indeed, I profess a love for you, enduring, transcending
the vicissitudes of nights, yet has not worn out with age,
The newness of nights, not formed in recent times.
وَذِمَّةٍand a covenant بِكَwith you لَمnot يُشبِهhas matched تَأَكُّدُهاits firmness
وَذِمَّةٍ بِكَ لَم يُشبِه تَأَكُّدُها
إِلّاexcept وَفاؤُكَyour faithfulness لِلأَقوامِto people بِالذِمَمِin covenants
إِلّا وَفاؤُكَ لِلأَقوامِ بِالذِمَمِ
and through a covenant with you, whose firmness is matched
And an obligation to you that its constancy
only by your fidelity to covenants with other folk.
Resembles only your loyalty to pacts and covenants.
Sol 6.1