رُوَيدَكَtake your time إِنَّindeed شَأنَكَyour concern غَيرُother than شانيmy concern
رُوَيدَكَ إِنَّ شَأنَكَ غَيرُ شاني
وَقَصرَكَand restrain yourself لَستُI am not طاعَةobedience to مَنwhoever نَهانيforbade me
وَقَصرَكَ لَستُ طاعَة مَن نَهاني
Take your time: your concern is not mine.
Restrain yourself, your status is unlike mine
And desist: I do not obey anyone who forbids me.
And your palace, I'm not obedient to the one who prohibited me
فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you لَوif رَأَيتَyou had seen كَثيبَa dune of رَملٍsand
فَإِنَّكَ لَو رَأَيتَ كَثيبَ رَملٍ
يُجاذِبُtugs at جانِباهُits two flanks قَضيبَa bough of بانِthe ban tree
يُجاذِبُ جانِباهُ قَضيبَ بانِ
For if you had seen a dune of sand,
For if you could see a sand dune
its two flanks tugging at a bough of the ban tree,
Wrestling its sides with a rod of bent wood
وَمُقتَبَلَand one in the first bloom of المَلاحَةِbeauty بِتُّI passed the night لَيليmy night
وَمُقتَبَلَ المَلاحَةِ بِتُّ لَيلي
أُعانيI suffer مِنfrom هَواهُlove for him ماwhat أُعانيI suffer
أُعاني مِن هَواهُ ما أُعاني
and one in beauty's first bloom, for whom I spent my night
And a sailor facing the saltiness at night
suffering what I suffer from loving him,
I suffer from his love what I suffer
عَذَرتَyou would excuse عَلىfor التَصابيyouthful dalliance مِنwhoever تَصابىindulged in youthful dalliance
عَذَرتَ عَلى التَصابي مِن تَصابى
وَآثَرتَand you would prefer الغَوايَةَwaywardness فيamong الغَوانيbeautiful women
وَآثَرتَ الغَوايَةَ في الغَواني
you would excuse whoever indulges in youthful dalliance,
You blamed the one who gets attached from attachment
and prefer waywardness among fair women.
And preferred misguidance in the misguided ones
وَكَمand how often غَلَّستُI went before dawn مُدَّلِجاًtraveling by night بِصَحبيwith my companions
وَكَم غَلَّستُ مُدَّلِجاً بِصَحبي
عَلىto مُتَعَصفِرِsafflower-hued الناجودِthe wine-flagon قانِdeep crimson
عَلى مُتَعَصفِرِ الناجودِ قانِ
How often I set out before dawn, traveling by night with my companions,
And how often I crept stealthily with my friends
to safflower-hued, deep-crimson wine in its flagon.
On one wearing unkempt woolen garment
أُغاديI seek at dawn أُرجُوانَthe crimson of الراحِwine صِرفاًundiluted
أُغادي أُرجُوانَ الراحِ صِرفاً
عَلىbeside تُفّاحِthe apple of خَدٍّa cheek أُرجُوانيcrimson
عَلى تُفّاحِ خَدٍّ أُرجُواني
At dawn I drink the wine's crimson, undiluted,
I sing the basil of the gentle breeze as a cure
beside the apple of a crimson cheek.
For the apple cheeks' redness that is rosy
إِذاwhenever مالَتswayed يَديmy hand بِالكَأسِwith the cup رُدَّتwas brought back
إِذا مالَت يَدي بِالكَأسِ رُدَّت
بِكَفِّby a hand خَضيبِdye-stained أَطرافِtips of البَنانِthe fingers
بِكَفِّ خَضيبِ أَطرافِ البَنانِ
Whenever my hand swayed with the cup, it was brought back
When my hand tilted with the cup it was pushed back
by a hand with dye-stained fingertips.
By the reddish palms of the fingers of the branches
تَأَمَّلlook closely مِنthrough خِلالِthe openings of السَجفِthe curtain فَاُنظُرthen look
تَأَمَّل مِن خِلالِ السَجفِ فَاُنظُر
بِعَينِكَwith your eye ماwhat شَرِبتُI drank وَمَنand who سَقانيgave me drink
بِعَينِكَ ما شَرِبتُ وَمَن سَقاني
Look closely through the curtain, and see
Look through the transparent glass and see with your eye
with your own eyes what I drank and who gave me drink.
What I drank and who served me
تَجِدyou will find شَمسَthe sun of الضُحىmidmorning تَدنوdraws near بِشَمسٍwith a sun
تَجِد شَمسَ الضُحى تَدنو بِشَمسٍ
إِلَيَّtoward me مِنَof الرَحيقِpure wine الخُسرُوانيfit for Khosrow
إِلَيَّ مِنَ الرَحيقِ الخُسرُواني
You will find the midmorning sun bringing a sun
You find the morning sun approaches with a sun
to me, of pure wine fit for Khosrow.
To me from the ambergris Chosroes scent
سُبوتُSaturdays الإِصطِباحِmorning drinking مُعَشَّقاتٌbeloved
سُبوتُ الإِصطِباحِ مُعَشَّقاتٌ
وَأَحظَهُنَّand the most favored of them سَبتُthe Saturday of المِهرَجانِMihrajan
وَأَحظَهُنَّ سَبتُ المِهرَجانِ
Saturdays of morning drinking are cherished,
The tipsiness of the morning are lovers
and most favored of them is Mihrajan's Saturday.
And the luckiest of them is the Sabbath of festivals
أَتىit came يُهديoffering as a gift الشِتاءَwinter عَلىamid اِشتِياقٍlonging
أَتى يُهدي الشِتاءَ عَلى اِشتِياقٍ
إِلَيهِfor it وَصَيِّبَand the downpour of الدِيَمِsteady rains الدَوانيapproaching
إِلَيهِ وَصَيِّبَ الدِيَمِ الدَواني
It came offering winter, amid a longing
Winter came yearning for it
for it, and the downpour of approaching, steady rains.
And quenched the continuing thirst
يُحَيِّناit greets us بِنَرجِسِهِwith its narcissi وَيُدنيand brings near
يُحَيِّنا بِنَرجِسِهِ وَيُدني
مَكانَin place of الوَردِroses وَردَthe blossoms of الزَعفَرانِsaffron
مَكانَ الوَردِ وَردَ الزَعفَرانِ
It greets us with its narcissi and brings near
It cheers us with its narcissus and comes near
saffron blossoms in place of roses.
The place of roses and saffron
وَمِنand among إِكرامِهِhonoring it حَثُّurging on النَدامىdrinking companions
وَمِن إِكرامِهِ حَثُّ النَدامى
وَإِعجالُand hastening المَثالِثِthe third lute-strings وَالمَثانيand the second lute-strings
وَإِعجالُ المَثالِثِ وَالمَثاني
Part of honoring it is urging on the drinking companions,
From his generosity, the urging of penitents
and hastening the third and second lute-strings.
And hastening the seconds and the minutes
بِيُمنِthrough the blessing of خِلافَةِthe caliphate of المُعتَزِّal-Mu'tazz عادَتbecame
بِيُمنِ خِلافَةِ المُعتَزِّ عادَت
لَناfor us حَقّاًtruth أَكاذيبُthe lies of الأَمانيhopes
لَنا حَقّاً أَكاذيبُ الأَماني
By the blessing of al-Mu'tazz's caliphate, they became
With the auspice of Al-Mu'tazz’s caliphate
truth for us—the false promises of our hopes.
The lies of wishes became true to us
يَسُحُّpours forth عَطاؤُهُhis bounty فيناamong us فَيُغنيand frees us from need
يَسُحُّ عَطاؤُهُ فينا فَيُغني
عَنِfor القَلبِthe wells النَوازِحِdeep وَالسَوانيand water-drawing camels
عَنِ القَلبِ النَوازِحِ وَالسَواني
His bounty pours upon us and makes needless
His gifts make us self-sufficient, satisfying
the deep wells and water-drawing camels.
The heart from worries and griefs
أَغَرُّradiant كَبارِقِlike the lightning of الغَيثِrain المُرَجّىlonged-for
أَغَرُّ كَبارِقِ الغَيثِ المُرَجّى
يُحَبَّبُis made beloved فيamong الأَباعِدِthose far away وَالأَدانيand those nearby
يُحَبَّبُ في الأَباعِدِ وَالأَداني
Radiant as the lightning of longed-for rain,
More enticing than the lightning of hoped rain
he is beloved among those far and near.
Making loved ones near and far dear
تَخاضَعَتِbowed humbly الوُجوهُfaces لِحُسنِbefore the beauty of وَجهٍa face
تَخاضَعَتِ الوُجوهُ لِحُسنِ وَجهٍ
يَدُلُّpoints عَلىto خَلائِقِهِhis character traits الحِسانِbeautiful
يَدُلُّ عَلى خَلائِقِهِ الحِسانِ
Faces bowed before the beauty of a face
The faces bowed to the beauty of a face
that reveals his noble qualities.
Indicating his good morals
وَعايَنتِand witnessed الرَعِيَّةُthe subjects مِنfrom قَريبٍclose at hand
وَعايَنتِ الرَعِيَّةُ مِن قَريبٍ
مَقامَthe standing of مُوَفَّقٍone granted success فيهاamong them مُعانِaided
مَقامَ مُوَفَّقٍ فيها مُعانِ
And the subjects saw, close at hand,
And the subjects saw up close
the presence among them of one granted success and aid.
The successful position among them
لَرُدَّتsurely was restored بَهجَةُthe splendor of الدُنياthe world إِلَيهاto it
لَرُدَّت بَهجَةُ الدُنيا إِلَيها
وَعادَand returned كَعَهدِهِas it once was حُسنُthe beauty of الزَمانِtime
وَعادَ كَعَهدِهِ حُسنُ الزَمانِ
Surely the world's splendor was restored to it,
Joy would have returned to them
and time's beauty returned as it once was.
And the beauty of time returned as before
وَأَضحىand became المُلكُsovereignty أَزهَرَradiant مُستَنيراًilluminated
وَأَضحى المُلكُ أَزهَرَ مُستَنيراً
بِأَزهَرَthrough a radiant one مِنfrom بَنيthe sons of فِهرٍFihr هِجانِpure of lineage
بِأَزهَرَ مِن بَني فِهرٍ هِجانِ
And sovereignty became radiant and illumined
And the kingdom became more splendid and illuminated
by a radiant man of Fihr's sons, pure of lineage,
With the most splendid of the fierce tribe of Hinjan
وَمَنصورٍand a victorious one أُعينَwas aided عَلىagainst الأَعاديthe enemies
وَمَنصورٍ أُعينَ عَلى الأَعادي
بِكَرِّthrough the recurrence of عَواقِبِthe outcomes of الحَربِwar العَوانِrenewed
بِكَرِّ عَواقِبِ الحَربِ العَوانِ
and a victorious one, aided against his enemies
And Mansur who was helped against the enemies
through the returning fortunes of renewed war.
With the harm of the most violent war
لَقَدindeed جاءَcame البَريدُthe courier يَنُثُّspreading قَولاًwords
لَقَد جاءَ البَريدُ يَنُثُّ قَولاً
شَهِيَّsweet اللَفظِin wording مَفهومَunderstood المَعانيin meaning
شَهِيَّ اللَفظِ مَفهومَ المَعاني
Indeed, the courier came spreading words
Indeed, the postman came narrating a saying
sweet in wording, clear in meaning.
Eloquent in wording, clear in meaning
إِذاif الخَبَرُthe news اِستَخَفَّكَthrilled you مِنfrom بَعيدٍfar away
إِذا الخَبَرُ اِستَخَفَّكَ مِن بَعيدٍ
نَثاهُits telling فَكَيفَthen how ظَنُّكَyour expectation بِالعَيانِof seeing firsthand
نَثاهُ فَكَيفَ ظَنُّكَ بِالعَيانِ
If news from afar has thrilled you
If the news belittled you from afar
through its telling, what would you think of seeing it yourself?
He scattered it, so what do you think of seeing it?
أُبيدَwere annihilated المارِقونَthe rebels وَمَزَّقَتهُمand tore them apart
أُبيدَ المارِقونَ وَمَزَّقَتهُم
سُيوفُthe swords of اللَهِGod مِنincluding ثاوٍone lying slain وَعانِand a captive
سُيوفُ اللَهِ مِن ثاوٍ وَعانِ
The rebels were annihilated and torn apart
The rebels were destroyed and torn apart
by God's swords—some lying slain, others captive.
By Allah's swords from Thaw and Aan
وَقَدand indeed شَرِقَتchoked جِبالُthe mountains of الطيبِal-Tib مِنهُمon them
وَقَد شَرِقَت جِبالُ الطيبِ مِنهُم
بِيَومٍon a day مِثلِlike يَومِthe day of النَهرَوانِNahrawan
بِيَومٍ مِثلِ يَومِ النَهرَوانِ
And the mountains of al-Tib choked on them
And the mountains of incense cracked from them
on a day like the day of Nahrawan.
On a day like the day of Nahrawan
وَفَرَّand fled الحائِنُthe doomed man المَغرورُdeluded يَرجوhoping for
وَفَرَّ الحائِنُ المَغرورُ يَرجو
أَماناًsafety أَيَّwhat a ساعَةِtime for ماemphatic particle أَمانِsafety
أَماناً أَيَّ ساعَةِ ما أَمانِ
And the doomed, deluded man fled, hoping
The treacherous deluded one fled seeking
for safety—what an hour to seek safety!
Safety at any moment, no safety
يَهابُhe fears الإِلتِفاتَturning around وَقَدand already تَأَيّاlay in wait
يَهابُ الإِلتِفاتَ وَقَد تَأَيّا
لِلَفتَةِfor a turn of طَرفِهِhis eye طَرفُthe point of السِنانِthe spearhead
لِلَفتَةِ طَرفِهِ طَرفُ السِنانِ
He fears to turn around, for already lying in wait
Fearing to glance back, though he readied
for a turn of his eye is the point of a spear.
His glance for the glance of the spearhead
تَبَرَّأَhe disavowed مِنfrom خِلافَتِهِhis caliphate وَوَلّىand turned away
تَبَرَّأَ مِن خِلافَتِهِ وَوَلّى
كَأَنَّas though العَبدَthe slave يَركُضُruns فيin رِهانِa wagered race
كَأَنَّ العَبدَ يَركُضُ في رِهانِ
He renounced his caliphate and fled,
He disowned his caliphate and turned away
as though the slave were running in a wagered race.
As if the slave runs in a bet
وَماand not كانَتwere رَعِيَّتُهُhis subjects قَديماًformerly
وَما كانَت رَعِيَّتُهُ قَديماً
سِوىexcept خِلطَينِtwo mixed herds مِنof مَعَزٍgoats وَضانِand sheep
سِوى خِلطَينِ مِن مَعَزٍ وَضانِ
And his subjects of old were
And his subjects before were only
nothing but two mixed herds of goats and sheep.
A mix of goats and sheep
أَميرَO Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful عَمِرتَmay you live long فيناamong us
أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عَمِرتَ فينا
عَزيزَmighty in المُلكِsovereignty مَحروسَprotected in المَكانِthe station
عَزيزَ المُلكِ مَحروسَ المَكانِ
Commander of the Faithful, may you live long among us,
Commander of the Faithful, you have lived among us
mighty in sovereignty, protected in your station.
The dear kingdom, protected in position
فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you أَوَّلٌfirst فيin كُلِّevery فَضلٍexcellence
فَإِنَّكَ أَوَّلٌ في كُلِّ فَضلٍ
نُعَدِّدُهُwe enumerate it وَعَبدُand Abd اللَهِAllah ثانِsecond
نُعَدِّدُهُ وَعَبدُ اللَهِ ثانِ
For you are first in every excellence
You are the first in every virtue
we recount, and Abd Allah is second.
We count and Abdullah is second
Sol 6.1