مَنwho عَذيريmy defender مِنَagainst الظِباءِthe gazelles الغيدِthe graceful ones
مَن عَذيري مِنَ الظِباءِ الغيدِ
وَمُجيريand my protector مِنfrom ظُلمِهِنَّtheir cruelty العَتيدِready at hand
وَمُجيري مِن ظُلمِهِنَّ العَتيدِ
Who will defend me against the graceful gazelles
Who can shield me from the sly gazelles
And shelter me from the cruelty they have in store?
And protect me from their persistent darkness?
إِنَّindeed سِحرَthe magic of العُيونِthe eyes ضَلَّلَled astray لُبّيmy mind
إِنَّ سِحرَ العُيونِ ضَلَّلَ لُبّي
وَحَمانيand denied me الرُقادَsleep وَردَthe roses of الخُدودِthe cheeks
وَحَماني الرُقادَ وَردَ الخُدودِ
Indeed, the eyes' magic has led my mind astray,
The magic of eyes has led my heart astray
And the roses of their cheeks have denied me sleep.
Passion has overcome me, and blushing cheeks.
وَالأَمانِيُّand hopes ماتَزالُstill تُعَنّيtorment
وَالأَمانِيُّ ماتَزالُ تُعَنّي
ناus بِبُخلٍwith stinginess مِنَfrom الغَوانيthe beauties وَجودِand generosity
نا بِبُخلٍ مِنَ الغَواني وَجودِ
And hopes still torment
Wishes still burden me
Us with the beauties' stinginess and generosity.
With the stinginess of fleeting joys and generosity.
وَمِنَand among العَيشِlife's pleasures لَوif يُساعِدُis favorable عَيشٌlife
وَمِنَ العَيشِ لَو يُساعِدُ عَيشٌ
أَنthat يَجيءَshould come الوِصالُunion بَعدَafter الصُدودِrejection
أَن يَجيءَ الوِصالُ بَعدَ الصُدودِ
And one delight of life—if life is kind—
If life would only aid a life
Is that union should come after rejection.
Where union comes after separation.
وَبِنَفسيand with my life as ransom الَّتيher who تَوَلَّتwent away بِنَفسيwith my soul
وَبِنَفسي الَّتي تَوَلَّت بِنَفسي
ثُمَّthen ضَنَّتshe begrudged بِالنَيلِwith the gift مِنهاfrom her الزَهيدِscant
ثُمَّ ضَنَّت بِالنَيلِ مِنها الزَهيدِ
And my life be ransom for her who carried off my soul,
By my soul that turned against itself
Then begrudged me even her slightest favor.
Then was miserly in attaining it, the ascetic.
بَعُدَتgrew distant دارُهاher dwelling فَماso there is no مِنany تَلاقٍmeeting
بَعُدَت دارُها فَما مِن تَلاقٍ
غَيرَexcept طَيفٍa dream-phantom يَزورُنيvisits me فيin الهُجودِslumber
غَيرَ طَيفٍ يَزورُني في الهُجودِ
Her dwelling has grown distant, so there is no meeting,
Her dwelling grew distant, so no meeting remains
Except a phantom that visits me in slumber.
Except an apparition that visits me in solitude.
أَتُراهاdo you think she دامَتremained عَلىtrue to العَهدِthe pledge أَمor مِنamong
أَتُراها دامَت عَلى العَهدِ أَم مِن
عادَةِthe custom of الغانِياتِthe beauties نَقضُbreaking العُهودِpledges
عادَةِ الغانِياتِ نَقضُ العُهودِ
Do you think she has kept her pledge, or is it
Do I see her keeping to the pact or is it
The beauties' custom to break pledges?
The wont of singing girls to break vows?
أَمor تُرانيdo you think I مُلاقِياًmeeting مِنin قَريبٍa short time
أَم تُراني مُلاقِياً مِن قَريبٍ
سَكَناًa solace ليfor me أَشتاقُهُI long for him مِنfrom بَعيدِafar
سَكَناً لي أَشتاقُهُ مِن بَعيدِ
Or do you think I shall soon meet
Or will I soon meet a home
My solace, whom I long for from afar?
That I long for from afar?
الإِمامُthe Imam المُعتَزُّal-Muʿtazz بِاللَهِbi-llāh (in God) أَولىmost deserving
الإِمامُ المُعتَزُّ بِاللَهِ أَولى
هاشِمِيٍّa Hashimite بِالنَصرِof victory وَالتَأييدِand support
هاشِمِيٍّ بِالنَصرِ وَالتَأييدِ
The Imam al-Muʿtazz bi-llāh is the most deserving
The Imam al-Mu'tazz Billah, foremost
Hashimite of victory and support.
Of Hashim's descendants, victorious and supported.
وارِثُheir to البُردِthe mantle وَالقَضيبِand the staff وَحُكمِand the rule of الGod (word beginning)
وارِثُ البُردِ وَالقَضيبِ وَحُكمِ ال
لَهِGod (word ending) فيover كُلِّevery سَيِّدٍmaster وَمَسودِand subject
لَهِ في كُلِّ سَيِّدٍ وَمَسودِ
Heir to the mantle, the staff, and God's rule
Heir of the Mantle and Staff, whose rule
Over every master and subject.
No noble or commoner can oppose.
طابَwas noble نَفساًin soul وَأُمَّهاتٍand in mothers وَآباand fathers (word beginning)
طابَ نَفساً وَأُمَّهاتٍ وَآبا
ءًfathers (word ending) وَأَربىand surpassed فَضيلَةًin virtue فيin الجُدودِforefathers
ءً وَأَربى فَضيلَةً في الجُدودِ
He is noble in soul, in mothers, and in fathers,
Pure of soul and mothers and fathers
And surpasses others in the virtue of his forefathers.
And most virtuous in ancestry.
عَزَماتُthe resolves of المَنصورِal-Manṣūr مَصروفَةِdirected السَبthe paths (word beginning)
عَزَماتُ المَنصورِ مَصروفَةِ السَب
لِpaths (word ending) إِلَيهِtoward him وَمَكرُماتِand the noble deeds of الرَشيدِal-Rashīd
لِ إِلَيهِ وَمَكرُماتِ الرَشيدِ
Al-Manṣūr's resolves, their paths directed
Al-Mansur's resolves have turned
Toward him, and al-Rashīd's noble deeds,
Toward him and al-Rashid's favors.
فيin المَحَلِّthe station الجَليلِexalted مِنfrom سَلَفَيthe two forebears of عَبʿAbd (word beginning)
في المَحَلِّ الجَليلِ مِن سَلَفَي عَب
دِʿAbd (word ending) مَنافٍManāf وَالسُؤدَدِand lordship المَرفودِsupported
دِ مَنافٍ وَالسُؤدَدِ المَرفودِ
In the exalted station of the two forebears of ʿAbd
In the sublime station of my ancestors
Manāf's line, and in well-supported lordship.
‘Abd Manaf and the excellent, rejected idols.
مَلِكٌa king تَملَأُfills العُيونُthe eyes بَهاءًwith splendor
مَلِكٌ تَملَأُ العُيونُ بَهاءً
حينَwhen يَبدوhe appears فيin تاجِهِhis crown المَعقودِfastened
حينَ يَبدو في تاجِهِ المَعقودِ
A king who fills the eyes with splendor
A king whose eyes are filled with splendor
When he appears in his fastened crown.
When his jeweled crown is first seen.
بَرِىءَdisowns اللَهُGod مِنfrom مُحِلِّthe profaner of حَريمِthe sanctuary of الGod (word beginning)
بَرِىءَ اللَهُ مِن مُحِلِّ حَريمِ ال
لَهِGod (word ending) كُفراًin unbelief وَبَيتِهِand His House المَقصودِsought out
لَهِ كُفراً وَبَيتِهِ المَقصودِ
God disowns the profaner of God's sanctuary,
May God curse the violator of His sanctuary
In unbelief, and of His House that people seek.
And his house, however intended.
لَمnot يَكُنwas سَعيُهُhis endeavor هُناكَthere بِمَرضِيpleasing (word beginning)
لَم يَكُن سَعيُهُ هُناكَ بِمَرضِي
يٍpleasing (word ending) وَلاnor كانَwas أَمرُهُhis conduct بِرَشيدِrightly guided
يٍ وَلا كانَ أَمرُهُ بِرَشيدِ
His endeavor there was not pleasing,
His effort there was not agreeable
Nor was his course rightly guided.
Nor was his command considered judicious.
غَيرَbut أَنَّthat القُلوبَthe hearts سَكَّنَsoothed مِنهاof them
غَيرَ أَنَّ القُلوبَ سَكَّنَ مِنها
أَنthat أَتاناhe came to us مُصَفَّداًshackled فيin الحَديدِiron
أَن أَتانا مُصَفَّداً في الحَديدِ
Yet what brought some calm to the hearts
Except that it calmed hearts
Was his coming to us shackled in iron,
That he came to us shackled in irons.
عالِماًknowing أَنَّthat رايَةَthe banner of النَصرِvictory لاnot تُرraised (word beginning)
عالِماً أَنَّ رايَةَ النَصرِ لا تُر
فَعَraised (word ending) إِلّاexcept مَعَalongside البُنودِthe standards السودِblack
فَعَ إِلّا مَعَ البُنودِ السودِ
Knowing that the banner of victory is not
Knowing that the banner of victory is not raised
Raised except alongside the black standards,
Except with black standards.
وَمُقِرّاًand acknowledging أَنَّthat الخَليفَةَthe caliph مَنصوmade victorious (word beginning)
وَمُقِرّاً أَنَّ الخَليفَةَ مَنصو
رٌmade victorious (word ending) بِرُكنٍby a bulwark مِنَof المَواليthe retainers شَديدِstrong
رٌ بِرُكنٍ مِنَ المَوالي شَديدِ
And acknowledging that the caliph is made victorious
And admitting that the Caliph is supported
By a mighty bulwark of retainers.
By a pillar of loyal, mighty men.
لاnot يَهالونَthey are daunted مِنby عَدُوٍّan enemy وَلاnor يُؤthey are assailed (word beginning)
لا يَهالونَ مِن عَدُوٍّ وَلا يُؤ
تونَthey are assailed (word ending) مِنthrough عُدَّةٍequipment وَلاnor مِنthrough عَديدِnumbers
تونَ مِن عُدَّةٍ وَلا مِن عَديدِ
They are not daunted by an enemy, nor are they
Who fear no enemy, no arms, no multitude.
Vulnerable in equipment or in numbers.
God bless the Caliph in the southern conquest
بارَكَmay He bless اللَهُGod لِلخَليفَةِfor the caliph فيin الفَتvictory (word beginning)
بارَكَ اللَهُ لِلخَليفَةِ في الفَت
حِvictory (word ending) الجَنوبِيِّsouthern وَالبِناءِand the building الجَديدِnew
حِ الجَنوبِيِّ وَالبِناءِ الجَديدِ
May God bless the caliph in the victory
And the new construction.
In the south, and in the new building.
A joyous tiding and the building of Yemen
خَبَرٌnews مُبهِجٌdelightful وَبُنيانُand a building of يُمنٍgood fortune
خَبَرٌ مُبهِجٌ وَبُنيانُ يُمنٍ
فيin مُنيفٍa lofty edifice عِندَbeside السِماكِal-Simāk مَشيدِerected
في مُنيفٍ عِندَ السِماكِ مَشيدِ
Joyous news, and a building of good fortune,
In Munif by al-Simak, erected.
In a lofty edifice raised beside al-Simāk,
Above a lofty palace of wondrous composition and length
فَوقَabove صَرحٍan edifice مُمَرَّدٍsmoothly polished مِنof قَواريglass (word beginning)
فَوقَ صَرحٍ مُمَرَّدٍ مِن قَواري
رَglass (word ending) غَريبَwondrous التَأليفِin design وَالتَمديدِand extension
رَ غَريبَ التَأليفِ وَالتَمديدِ
Above a polished structure of glass,
That, were its beauty unveiled to Solomon's Jinn, they would fall prostrating.
Wondrous in its design and extent.
We counted the day you came as too fair,
لَوif بَداappeared حُسنُهُits beauty لِجِنِّto the jinn of سُلَيماSolomon (word beginning)
لَو بَدا حُسنُهُ لِجِنِّ سُلَيما
نَSolomon (word ending) لَخَرّواthey would surely fall مِنamong رُكَّعٍthose bowing وَسُجودِand those prostrating
نَ لَخَرّوا مِن رُكَّعٍ وَسُجودِ
If its beauty appeared to Solomon's jinn,
Marking it as a feast day.
They would fall down, bowing and prostrating.
I visited it after the new moon with auspicious stars
قَدindeed عَدَدناwe reckoned اليَومَthe day الَّذيwhich جِئتَهُyou came to it فيin
قَد عَدَدنا اليَومَ الَّذي جِئتَهُ في
هِit لِإِفراطِهِfor its excess حُسنِهِof its beauty يَومَa day of عيدِcelebration
هِ لِإِفراطِهِ حُسنِهِ يَومَ عيدِ
We have reckoned the day on which you came to it
In a time when its radiant narcissus is a dangling pearl and unique.
A feast day, for its surpassing beauty.
Between the light of spring greeting you
زُرتُهُI visited it تِلوَjust after غُرَّةِthe beginning of الشَهرِthe month بِالطَيwith the birds (word beginning)
زُرتُهُ تِلوَ غُرَّةِ الشَهرِ بِالطَي
رِbirds (word ending) المَيامينِauspicious وَالنُجومِand the stars السُعودِpropitious
رِ المَيامينِ وَالنُجومِ السُعودِ
I visited it just after the month's beginning, with
And the pleasant season of winter.
Auspicious birds and propitious stars,
So the chastity, forbearance, and surrender of Islam may endure
فيin زَمانٍa season كَأَنَّas though نَرجِسَهُits narcissi الغَضfresh (word beginning)
في زَمانٍ كَأَنَّ نَرجِسَهُ الغَض
ضَfresh (word ending) سُموطٌnecklaces مِنof لُؤلُؤٍpearls وَفَريدِand choice gems
ضَ سُموطٌ مِن لُؤلُؤٍ وَفَريدِ
In a season when its fresh narcissi resembled
And life be for the dew and generosity.
Necklaces of pearls and choice gems,
And God perpetuate your prosperity among us
بَينَbetween نورٍblossoms مِنَof الرَبيعِspring يُحَيِّgreets (word beginning)
بَينَ نورٍ مِنَ الرَبيعِ يُحَيِّ
يكَyou (completes 'greets you') وَعَهدٍand a lingering spell مِنَof الشِتاءِwinter حَميدِpleasant
يكَ وَعَهدٍ مِنَ الشِتاءِ حَميدِ
Between spring blossoms that greet
With perfect bounty and excellent increase.
You and a pleasant lingering spell of winter.
فَاِبقَso live on يَبقَwill endure العَفافُchastity وَالحِلمُand forbearance وَإِسلَمand stay safe
فَاِبقَ يَبقَ العَفافُ وَالحِلمُ وَإِسلَم
يَسلَمِwill stay safe العُمرُlife لِلنَدىfor bounty وَالجودِand generosity
يَسلَمِ العُمرُ لِلنَدى وَالجودِ
So live on, and chastity and forbearance will live on; stay safe,
And life will stay safe for bounty and generosity.
وَعَلىand upon اللَهِGod أَنto يُمِدَّكَsustain you فيناamong us
وَعَلى اللَهِ أَن يُمِدَّكَ فينا
بِتَمامِwith the fullness of النُعمىblessing وَحُسنِand the beauty of المَزيدِfurther increase
بِتَمامِ النُعمى وَحُسنِ المَزيدِ
And it rests with God to sustain you among us
With complete blessing and a gracious increase.
Partial English translation: 55 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1