جانِباyou two, shun لَوْميreproaching me وخافاand you two, fear لَددَيmy contentiousness
جانِبا لَوْمي وخافا لَددَي
إنَّindeed تفْنيديcalling me foolish بعضُpart of الفَنَدِfolly
إنَّ تفْنيدي بعضُ الفَنَدِ
You two, shun reproaching me, and fear my contentiousness.
Turn from blaming me, and fear my wrath,
Indeed, calling me foolish is itself a kind of folly.
For exposing me is but partial disclosure.
واحْذَراand you two, beware رَشْقةَa volley مرهوبِdreaded الشَّباweapon-points
واحْذَرا رَشْقةَ مرهوبِ الشَّبا
شأنُهُhis way الإِصْماءkilling outright بعدafter الصَّرَدِpiercing through
شأنُهُ الإِصْماء بعد الصَّرَدِ
And beware the volley of one whose weapon-points are dreaded;
Beware the arrow of a dreaded warrior,
his way is to kill outright after piercing through.
Who responds with silence after clamor.
واعْلَماand you two, know أنَّthat أناتيmy forbearance وثْبَةٌa pounce
واعْلَما أنَّ أناتي وثْبَةٌ
وإنِand even if اغْتُرَّone is deceived بطولِby the length of الأمَدِthe delay
وإنِ اغْتُرَّ بطولِ الأمَدِ
And know that my forbearance is a pounce,
Know that my patience is a sudden leap,
even if one is deceived by the long delay.
Though he may be fooled by prolonged respite.
إِنَّindeed حَزْماًprudence ألبستنيهِclothed me in it النُّهىreason
إِنَّ حَزْماً ألبستنيهِ النُّهى
كَفَّcurbed منsome of غَرْبِthe sharpness of لسانيmy tongue ويَديand my hand
كَفَّ من غَرْبِ لساني ويَدي
Indeed, prudence, in which reason clothed me,
Wisdom has clothed me with this restraint,
has tempered the sharpness of my tongue and hand.
To curb the waywardness of my tongue and hand.
خِفْتُمُyou feared المُصْلَتَthe unsheathed sword منbecause of رَوْعتِهِits terror
خِفْتُمُ المُصْلَتَ من رَوْعتِهِ
وأمِنْتُمْand you felt safe هَبَّةًa sudden spring منْfrom مُغْمَدِa sheathed sword
وأمِنْتُمْ هَبَّةً منْ مُغْمَدِ
You feared the unsheathed sword for its terror,
You feared the flashing of his sword,
yet felt safe from a sheathed sword's sudden spring.
And felt safe from the sheathed blade.
سَفَهاًfoolishly كلُّevery ظَلامٍdarkness مُسْفِرٌgiving way to light
سَفَهاً كلُّ ظَلامٍ مُسْفِرٌ
وإنِand even if استأخرَit lingers عنbeyond صُبْحِthe dawn of غَدِtomorrow
وإنِ استأخرَ عن صُبْحِ غَدِ
What folly! Every darkness will break into light,
Foolish is any growing darkness,
even if it lingers beyond tomorrow's dawn.
Though it delays till the dawn.
لاdo not يَغُرَّنَّكُماlet it deceive you two مُلْكٌkingship ثَوىhas perished
لا يَغُرَّنَّكُما مُلْكٌ ثَوى
منfrom تميمٍTamim بعدafter طولِa long span of الأسْعُدِgood fortune
من تميمٍ بعد طولِ الأسْعُدِ
Do not let fallen kingship deceive you,
Let not a lasting rule deceive you,
gone from Tamim after long years of good fortune.
After the long reign of Tamim.
مجْدُناour glory لمnot يخْلُbe devoid منْof ناجِمَةٍa rising force
مجْدُنا لم يخْلُ منْ ناجِمَةٍ
تَطْرُدُdrives away الرَهْنَweakness بِعزٍّwith might أيِّدِpowerful
تَطْرُدُ الرَهْنَ بِعزٍّ أيِّدِ
Our glory has never lacked a rising force
Our glory has never lacked a star,
that drives weakness away with mighty strength.
To banish hardship through sustained support.
كُلَّماwhenever غاضَsubsided لناfor us بحرٌa sea بَداappeared
كُلَّما غاضَ لنا بحرٌ بَدا
خِضْرِمٌa vast sea طامٍoverflowing كَريمُgenerous at المَوْرِدِthe watering-place
خِضْرِمٌ طامٍ كَريمُ المَوْرِدِ
Whenever a sea of ours subsides, there appears
Whenever a sea rages against us,
a vast, overflowing ocean, generous to those who draw from it.
A surging, billowing, generous sea appears.
ثُمَّthen لمَّاwhen أصبحتْbecame مُغْبَرَّةًdust-gray
ثُمَّ لمَّا أصبحتْ مُغْبَرَّةً
نِعْمةُthe prosperity of الأقْوامِthe peoples بعدafter الرَّغَدِease and plenty
نِعْمةُ الأقْوامِ بعد الرَّغَدِ
Then, when it grew dust-gray—
Then when it became dusty,
the peoples' prosperity, after their ease and plenty—
The bounty of the people after luxury.
واشْمعلُّواand they scattered بعدَafter إِجْماعِهُمُtheir unity
واشْمعلُّوا بعدَ إِجْماعِهُمُ
كأبابيلِlike swarms of جَرادٍlocusts مُثْمِدِseeking scant water
كأبابيلِ جَرادٍ مُثْمِدِ
and they scattered after their unity,
They ignited, after their gathering,
like swarms of locusts seeking scant water,
Like swarms of still locusts.
أنْشِرَwas revived الهامِدُwhat lay lifeless منْof مجْدِهُمُtheir glory
أنْشِرَ الهامِدُ منْ مجْدِهُمُ
بالوزيرby the vizier العادِلِthe just ابنِson of البَلَدِيal-Baladi
بالوزير العادِلِ ابنِ البَلَدِي
what lay lifeless of their glory was revived
The slumbering glory shone again
by the just vizier Ibn al-Baladi;
Through the just minister, the son of Baladi.
بهُمامٍby a noble champion جَلَّtoo exalted عنْbeyond تَشْبيهِهcomparing him
بهُمامٍ جَلَّ عنْ تَشْبيهِه
بالحُسامِto the cutting sword العَضْبِkeen-edged أوor بالأسَدِto the lion
بالحُسامِ العَضْبِ أو بالأسَدِ
by a noble champion too exalted to be compared
With an ambition too great for similes,
to a keen-edged sword or to a lion;
To swords, lions, or cheetahs.
بمُشارٍby one looked to فيin نَدِيٍّa council ووَغَىًand battle
بمُشارٍ في نَدِيٍّ ووَغَىً
لِضرابِfor striking الهامِheads أوor للصَّفَدِfor bestowing gifts
لِضرابِ الهامِ أو للصَّفَدِ
by one looked to in council and battle,
Aiding the wretched and defending the weak,
for striking heads or bestowing gifts;
Against the blows of misfortune or shackles.
ومُباديand rivaling كُلِّevery دَجْنٍdark cloud بارقٍflashing lightning
ومُبادي كُلِّ دَجْنٍ بارقٍ
بالمُحَيَّاwith the face الطَّلْقِcheerful والكفِّand the hand النَّديdewy with generosity
بالمُحَيَّا الطَّلْقِ والكفِّ النَّدي
and one who rivals every dark cloud flashing lightning,
Vanquishing every rising injustice,
with his cheerful face and his dewy, generous hand.
With a heartening hand and a strong grip.
بِشْرُهُhis cheerfulness يُغْنيfrees مَقاديمَthe leaders of السُّرىnight travel
بِشْرُهُ يُغْني مَقاديمَ السُّرى
عنfrom needing هُدىthe guidance of النَّجمِthe star وضوءِand the light of الموْقِدِthe kindled fire
عن هُدى النَّجمِ وضوءِ الموْقِدِ
His cheerfulness frees the leaders of night journeys
His good news would suffice seekers of refuge,
from the need for the star's guidance and a kindled fire's light.
Instead of the stars' light or the campfire’s glow.
فإذاthen when ماemphatic particle أدْلَجَتْset out by night ضِيفانُهُhis guests
فإذا ما أدْلَجَتْ ضِيفانُهُ
كانَتِbecame الحَرَّةُthe lava-field مثلَlike الجَدَدِlevel, firm ground
كانَتِ الحَرَّةُ مثلَ الجَدَدِ
Then, whenever his guests set out by night,
When his guests arrive in the darkness,
the lava-field became like level, firm ground.
The ruins become like new dwellings.
راجِحٌweighty in judgment يَرْزُنُsits gravely فيin حَبْوتِهِhis knees-drawn posture
راجِحٌ يَرْزُنُ في حَبْوتِهِ
ووشيكُand swift العَزْمِin resolve عندwhen faced with النَّجَدِdistress
ووشيكُ العَزْمِ عند النَّجَدِ
Weighty in judgment, he sits composed with his knees drawn up,
Hesitating in his resolution,
and quick in resolve in times of distress.
Yet firm when decisive action is needed.
فَمَواضيso the keen blades of عَزْمِهِhis resolve مِنْfrom زَعْزعٍa tempest
فَمَواضي عَزْمِهِ مِنْ زَعْزعٍ
ورواسيand the rooted mountains of حِلْمِهِhis forbearance منْfrom أُحُدِUhud
ورواسي حِلْمِهِ منْ أُحُدِ
Thus the keen blades of his resolve come from a tempest,
The foundations of his will cannot waver,
and the rooted mountains of his forbearance from Uhud.
And the pillars of his patience cannot crack.
يتْبَعُhe follows العُرْفَbeneficence بعُذْرٍwith an apology واسِعٍample
يتْبَعُ العُرْفَ بعُذْرٍ واسِعٍ
فإذاso when جادَhe gives generously كأنْas though لمnot يَجُدِhe gave
فإذا جادَ كأنْ لم يَجُدِ
He follows his kindness with ample apology,
He follows convention with great tolerance,
so, when he gives, it is as though he had not given.
And when he is generous, it is as if it cost him nothing.
ثابتُsteadfast in الوُدِّaffection وَكِيدٌfirm عَهْدُهُhis covenant
ثابتُ الوُدِّ وَكِيدٌ عَهْدُهُ
سالِمُblameless in الصُّحْبَةِcompanionship وافيtrue to المَوْعِدِthe promise
سالِمُ الصُّحْبَةِ وافي المَوْعِدِ
Steadfast in affection, his covenant firm,
Constant in affection, his promise is sincere,
blameless in companionship, true to his promise.
A companion of good cheer, true to his word.
فلوso if أنَّthat الغَدْرَtreachery ماءٌwater سَلْسَلٌsweet-flowing
فلو أنَّ الغَدْرَ ماءٌ سَلْسَلٌ
وهوand he صاديparched خمسَةٍfive days لمnot يَرِدِwould come to drink
وهو صادي خمسَةٍ لم يَرِدِ
So, if treachery were sweet-flowing water,
If betrayal were a torrential flood,
and he were five days parched, he would not come to drink.
And he a linen robe, it would not soak through.
يَطْرُدُhe routs الأحْبارَlearned scholars فيin حُجَّتِهِhis argument
يَطْرُدُ الأحْبارَ في حُجَّتِهِ
وفتاويهِand his legal rulings بسهْمٍwith an arrow مُقْصِدِkilling outright
وفتاويهِ بسهْمٍ مُقْصِدِ
He puts learned scholars to flight in his argument
He routs scholars in argument,
and his legal rulings, with an arrow that kills outright.
And his judgments strike straight like arrows.
فإذاthen if رامواthey seek فِراراًescape مُنْجياًsaving them
فإذا راموا فِراراً مُنْجياً
وقَفَstands الحُكْمُjudgment لهُمءfor them بالمَرْصَدِin ambush
وقَفَ الحُكْمُ لهُمء بالمَرْصَدِ
Then, if they seek a flight that might save them,
When they attempt escape through trickery,
judgment stands in ambush for them.
Justice stands in ambush for them.
ذوa man of غِشاشٍscant sleep يَتَحاماهُavoids him الكَرىslumber
ذو غِشاشٍ يَتَحاماهُ الكَرى
عازبُremote الصُّبْحِthe dawn مُقَضُّunsettling المَرْقَدthe bed
عازبُ الصُّبْحِ مُقَضُّ المَرْقَد
A man of scant sleep, whom slumber shuns,
A protector enveloped in dignity,
with dawn far away and a bed that denies him rest.
Rising early, retiring late.
مَضْجَعٌa bed خالٍempty ودسْتٌand a council-seat آهِلٌthronged
مَضْجَعٌ خالٍ ودسْتٌ آهِلٌ
ورَوِيٌّand a thoughtful man لائِذٌtaking refuge بالسَّهَدِin sleeplessness
ورَوِيٌّ لائِذٌ بالسَّهَدِ
His bed is empty, his council-seat thronged,
A bare dwelling, but a crowded office,
and a thoughtful man taking refuge in sleeplessness.
A well-watered sheltering palm tree.
ووزيرٌand a vizier سابِغٌall-encompassing إِحْسانُهُhis beneficence
ووزيرٌ سابِغٌ إِحْسانُهُ
ليسَhe is not بالنِّكْسِa weakling ولاnor بالمُسْنَدِa false claimant to lineage
ليسَ بالنِّكْسِ ولا بالمُسْنَدِ
And a vizier whose beneficence is all-encompassing,
A minister whose benevolence is perfect,
neither a weakling nor a man of spurious lineage.
Neither deficient nor pretentious.
واضِحٌradiant يأتَلِقُgleams الدَّهْرُthe age بهthrough him
واضِحٌ يأتَلِقُ الدَّهْرُ به
كَسَنىlike the radiance of الجَوْنَةِthe sun عندover الفَدْفَدِthe open plain
كَسَنى الجَوْنَةِ عند الفَدْفَدِ
Radiant, the age gleams through him,
Radiant, the age shines because of him,
like the sun's radiance over the open plain.
Like the brocade's sheen with each new fold.
شَرَفُhonor of الدينthe faith وهلْand is there منany شَرفٍhonor
شَرَفُ الدين وهلْ من شَرفٍ
مثلُlike زاكيpure in السَّعْيstriving زاكيpure in المَحْتِدlineage
مثلُ زاكي السَّعْي زاكي المَحْتِد
Sharaf al-Din—and is there any honor
The glory of religion—and what glory
like that of one pure in striving, pure in lineage?
Compares to one whose efforts lead to guidance?
دامَmay he remain مرْهوباًfeared مُطاعاًobeyed أمْرُهُhis command
دامَ مرْهوباً مُطاعاً أمْرُهُ
سالماًsafe فيin ظِلِّthe shade of عِزٍّglory سَرْمَدِeverlasting
سالماً في ظِلِّ عِزٍّ سَرْمَدِ
May he remain feared, his command obeyed,
May his authority remain feared and obeyed,
safe beneath the shade of everlasting glory.
In lasting honor's shade, for eternity!
Sol 6.1