تَقولُ صِحابي وَالمَطِيُّ بِنا تَخدي

تَقولُ صِحابي وَالمَطِيُّ بِنا تَخدي

وَتُحدى وَقَد شَمَّت شَميمَ رُبا نَجدِ

وَتُحدى وَقَد شَمَّت شَميمَ رُبا نَجدِ

My companions say, as the riding camels stride on with us,

My companion says, while the mat is carrying us, it challenges

Urged by song, having scented the fragrance of Najd's hills:

And taunts, having smelled the scent of high meadows in Najd.

أَما لَكَ مِن حَثِّ السُرى كُلَّ ساعَةٍ

أَما لَكَ مِن حَثِّ السُرى كُلَّ ساعَةٍ

وَإِسآدها في المَهمَهِ البيدِ مِن بُدِّ

وَإِسآدها في المَهمَهِ البيدِ مِن بُدِّ

Can you not desist from urging night travel every hour,

Don't you ever spur the caravan every hour

And driving them by night through the trackless desert?

And drive it into peril in the desert wilderness?

فَقُلتُ ذَروني لا أَبا لِأَبيكُمُ

فَقُلتُ ذَروني لا أَبا لِأَبيكُمُ

فَبِالقَدحِ يَبدو السُقطُ قَسراً مِنَ الزِندِ

فَبِالقَدحِ يَبدو السُقطُ قَسراً مِنَ الزِندِ

I said: Leave me be—may your father have no father!

I said, "Leave me be. I am not the one for your fathers."

For striking forces a spark from the fire-stick.

For with the goblet, splinters become exposed from the firestick.

وَلَولا مَسيرُ الشَمسِ في كُلِّ ساعَةٍ

وَلَولا مَسيرُ الشَمسِ في كُلِّ ساعَةٍ

لَما اِنتَقَلَت مِن بُرجِ نَحسٍ إِلى سَعدِ

لَما اِنتَقَلَت مِن بُرجِ نَحسٍ إِلى سَعدِ

And were the sun not moving with every hour,

Were it not for the sun's movement every hour,

It would not pass from an ill-starred sign to a fortunate one.

It would not have transferred from the mansion of misfortune to fortune.

وَلَو لَم تَهُزَّ الجِذعَ مَريَمُ لَم يَذُق

وَلَو لَم تَهُزَّ الجِذعَ مَريَمُ لَم يَذُق

مِنَ الرُطَبِ الحُلوِ الجَنِيِّ جَنى الشَهدِ

مِنَ الرُطَبِ الحُلوِ الجَنِيِّ جَنى الشَهدِ

Had Maryam not shaken the trunk, she would not have tasted

Had Maryam not shaken the palm trunk, she would not have tasted

The harvest of honey in sweet, freshly gathered dates.

The sweet, ripened dates, the fruit of delight.

كَذَلِكَ موسى أَنبَعَ اللَهُ بِالعَصا

كَذَلِكَ موسى أَنبَعَ اللَهُ بِالعَصا

لَهُ الماءَ بَعدَ الضَربِ مِن حَجَرٍ صَلدِ

لَهُ الماءَ بَعدَ الضَربِ مِن حَجَرٍ صَلدِ

Likewise, with Musa, God brought forth by the staff

Likewise Moses, Allah made water gush for him

Water for him, after the blow, from a solid stone.

After hitting a solid rock with his staff.

وَلَيسَ الحُسامُ الهِندوانِيُّ حائِزاً

وَلَيسَ الحُسامُ الهِندوانِيُّ حائِزاً

حَميدَ الثَنا لَولا مُفارَقَةُ الغِمدِ

حَميدَ الثَنا لَولا مُفارَقَةُ الغِمدِ

Nor would the Indian-forged sword win

The Indian sword in its sheath has no merit

Fine praise had it not left its sheath.

Nor praised virtue unless separated from its scabbard.

وَلا السَهمُ يَوماً في الكِنانَةِ نافِعاً

وَلا السَهمُ يَوماً في الكِنانَةِ نافِعاً

إِذا لَم يَلُج في كُلِّ مُحكَمَةِ السَردِ

إِذا لَم يَلُج في كُلِّ مُحكَمَةِ السَردِ

Nor is an arrow ever useful in its quiver

The arrow one day will be of no use in the quiver

Unless it pierces every tightly linked coat of mail.

Unless it penetrates into every knot-hole of the shield.

وَسيّانِ عَجزُ السَمهَرِيِّ وَصَدرُهُ

وَسيّانِ عَجزُ السَمهَرِيِّ وَصَدرُهُ

إِذا نَجمُهُ لَم يَسرِ في ظُلمَةِ الكَبدِ

إِذا نَجمُهُ لَم يَسرِ في ظُلمَةِ الكَبدِ

A stiff lance's butt and point are alike

The chest and back of al-Samhari are equal

Unless its star passes through the liver's darkness.

When his star does not rise in the darkness of his liver.

وَإِنَّ عِتاقَ الخَيلِ لَولا عِداؤُها

وَإِنَّ عِتاقَ الخَيلِ لَولا عِداؤُها

لَما وَسَموها بِالمُطَهَّمَةِ الجُردِ

لَما وَسَموها بِالمُطَهَّمَةِ الجُردِ

And were it not for their running, noble horses

Truly, were it not for their running, the freed horses

Would not be named finely formed, sleek-coated steeds.

Would not have been branded on their shoulders.

وَلَو أَلِفَ اللَيثُ الهَصورُ عَرينَهُ

وَلَو أَلِفَ اللَيثُ الهَصورُ عَرينَهُ

لَماتَ طوىً فيهِ وَإِن كانَ ذا لِبدِ

لَماتَ طوىً فيهِ وَإِن كانَ ذا لِبدِ

Had the fierce lion kept to its lair,

Had the formidable lion befriended its den,

It would have died there of hunger, despite its thick mane.

It would have died obscured in it, despite its boldness.

وَلَو لَم يَجُب أَبناءُ شادي مَهامِهاً

وَلَو لَم يَجُب أَبناءُ شادي مَهامِهاً

لَما مَلَكوا مِن أَرضِ قوصٍ إِلى الهِندِ

لَما مَلَكوا مِن أَرضِ قوصٍ إِلى الهِندِ

Had Shadi's sons not traversed trackless deserts,

And had the sons of Shadi not answered her behests,

They would not have ruled from the land of Qus to India.

They would not have ruled from the land of Qaush to India.

وَلا كانَ كُلٌّ مِنهُمُ في مَمالِكٍ

وَلا كانَ كُلٌّ مِنهُمُ في مَمالِكٍ

يُعايَنُ كَالأسكَندَرِ البانِيِ السَدِّ

يُعايَنُ كَالأسكَندَرِ البانِيِ السَدِّ

Nor would each of them, amid kingdoms,

Nor would each of them have been in kingdoms,

Be seen as Alexander, the builder of the barrier.

Appearing like Alexander the wall builder.

فَحَتّامَ أستَمري جَنا العَجزِ وادِعاً

فَحَتّامَ أستَمري جَنا العَجزِ وادِعاً

وَأَكرَعُ في ماءِ الخُمولِ عَلى عَمدِ

وَأَكرَعُ في ماءِ الخُمولِ عَلى عَمدِ

How long, then, shall I savor inaction's fruit at ease,

So come on, persist in the inability and pretend incapacity,

And deliberately drink deep from the waters of obscurity?

And I will plunge into the water of indolence deliberately.

فَلا أَنا ذو مالٍ فَتُؤثَر عِشرَتي

فَلا أَنا ذو مالٍ فَتُؤثَر عِشرَتي

وَلَستُ بِذي جاهٍ فَيَرهَبَني ضِدّي

وَلَستُ بِذي جاهٍ فَيَرهَبَني ضِدّي

I have no wealth to make my company sought after,

I have no wealth, so none prefers my company,

Nor rank to make my adversary fear me.

Nor status, so none fears me as an adversary.

وَلي مَنطِقٌ إِمّا سَلَلتُ غِرارَهُ

وَلي مَنطِقٌ إِمّا سَلَلتُ غِرارَهُ

يَعُد ناكِصاً عَن حَدِّهِ كلُّ ذي حَدِّ

يَعُد ناكِصاً عَن حَدِّهِ كلُّ ذي حَدِّ

Yet I have speech whose keen blade, if I unsheathe it,

I have an eloquence. Either I let its deceit flow

Makes every wielder of an edge recoil before its edge.

Or every person of merit returns from his limit.

سَأَدفَعُ في صَدرِ التَواني بِراحَتي

سَأَدفَعُ في صَدرِ التَواني بِراحَتي

وَأَلطُمُ خَدّي هَزلِهِ بِيَدَي جِدّي

وَأَلطُمُ خَدّي هَزلِهِ بِيَدَي جِدّي

I shall thrust my palm against the chest of delay,

I will push way the clouds in the breasts of glasses with my palm

And slap its frivolity's two cheeks with both hands of my earnestness.

And slap my cheek with the jest of my hand, seriously.

وَأَنفُضُ كُمّي في وُجوهِ مَعاشِرٍ

وَأَنفُضُ كُمّي في وُجوهِ مَعاشِرٍ

هُمُ زَجَروني فيكَ عَن سنَنِ القَصدِ

هُمُ زَجَروني فيكَ عَن سنَنِ القَصدِ

And shake my sleeve in the faces of those people

I will shake my sleeve in the faces of companions

Who deterred me, concerning you, from the path of my quest.

Who deter me from the ways of propriety concerning you.

وَأَنظِمُ شِعراً كَالعُقودِ طَلاوَةً

وَأَنظِمُ شِعراً كَالعُقودِ طَلاوَةً

يُرى كُلُّ بَيتٍ مِنهُ واسِطَة العِقدِ

يُرى كُلُّ بَيتٍ مِنهُ واسِطَة العِقدِ

And compose poetry as lovely as necklaces,

And I will string together poetry like necklaces in eloquence,

Each verse of it seen as the necklace's central jewel.

Where each verse appears to be the centerpiece of the necklace.

وَأَكسوهُ عِزّاً أَقعَساً بِاِنتِمائِهِ

وَأَكسوهُ عِزّاً أَقعَساً بِاِنتِمائِهِ

إِلى مَجدِ مَعنٍ يا لَكَ اللَهُ مِن مَجدِ

إِلى مَجدِ مَعنٍ يا لَكَ اللَهُ مِن مَجدِ

And clothe it in unassailable honor through its affiliation

And I will dress it in blinding glory through belonging

With Ma'n's glory—God be with you, what glory!

To the glory of Ma`n – what glory from you, O Lord of glory!

إِلى دَوحَةٍ بِالمَكرُماتِ تَهَدَّلَت

إِلى دَوحَةٍ بِالمَكرُماتِ تَهَدَّلَت

فَأَغصانُها تُجنى عَلى القُربِ وَالبُعدِ

فَأَغصانُها تُجنى عَلى القُربِ وَالبُعدِ

With a great tree drooping under noble deeds,

To a palm tree laden with favors its branches

Its boughs harvested by those near and far.

Bear fruit near and far.

شَأى العُلَماءَ الراسِخينَ فَكُلُّهُم

شَأى العُلَماءَ الراسِخينَ فَكُلُّهُم

عَلى صَدرٍ مِن عِلمِهِ وَعَلى وِردِ

عَلى صَدرٍ مِن عِلمِهِ وَعَلى وِردِ

He outstripped firmly grounded scholars, and all of them

It chose the firmly established scholars, and all of them

Depart from his knowledge's waters and return to them.

Recite from its knowledge and make litanies to it.

إِلَيهِ تُنَصُّ العيسُ مِن كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

إِلَيهِ تُنَصُّ العيسُ مِن كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

فَمِن طالِبٍ عِلماً لَدَيهِ وَمُستَجدي

فَمِن طالِبٍ عِلماً لَدَيهِ وَمُستَجدي

Toward him the pale camels are sped from every land,

The fawns gather to it from every place,

Some seeking knowledge with him, others seeking gifts.

So those seeking knowledge with it and newcomers.

تَواضَعَ عَمّا يَستَحِقُّ وَإِنَّهُ

تَواضَعَ عَمّا يَستَحِقُّ وَإِنَّهُ

عَلى ذاكَ سامي القَدرِ وَالذِكرِ وَالجَدِّ

عَلى ذاكَ سامي القَدرِ وَالذِكرِ وَالجَدِّ

He humbles himself below what he deserves, though he is,

It is humble about what it deserves. Yet it

For all that, lofty in rank, renown, and fortune.

Is most sublime in worth, mention, and vigor.

فَكَم نِعَمٍ أَهدى وَكَم مِن عَمٍ هَدى

فَكَم نِعَمٍ أَهدى وَكَم مِن عَمٍ هَدى

فَبورِكَ من هادٍ وَمن ماجِدٍ مُهدي

فَبورِكَ من هادٍ وَمن ماجِدٍ مُهدي

How many blessings he bestowed, how many blind ones guided!

So how many blessings it gifted and how many days it guided!

Blessed be such a guide, such a noble giver!

Blessed is the one who guides and the one who glorifies, a leader.

وَإِنّي وَإِن يَمَّمتُ بِالمَدحِ غَيرَهُ

وَإِنّي وَإِن يَمَّمتُ بِالمَدحِ غَيرَهُ

لأَبعَدُ خَلقِ اللَهِ عَن طُرُقِ الرُشدِ

لأَبعَدُ خَلقِ اللَهِ عَن طُرُقِ الرُشدِ

And I, if I direct my praise to someone else,

Though I intend to praise another, I will be

Am surely God's creature farthest from the paths of right guidance.

Farther than all of Allah's creation from propriety.

لَهُ أُسرَةٌ إِن يَدعُهُم لِمُلِمَّةٍ

لَهُ أُسرَةٌ إِن يَدعُهُم لِمُلِمَّةٍ

يُلَبّوهُ بِالبيضِ الظُبى وَالقَنا المُلدِ

يُلَبّوهُ بِالبيضِ الظُبى وَالقَنا المُلدِ

He has a clan who, if he summons them for a calamity,

It has a family. If it calls them to a skirmish,

Answer him with bright-edged swords and supple lances.

They answer it with white-bladed swords and sturdy spears.

هُمُ كَبُدورِ التِمِّ في السِلمِ بَهجَةً

هُمُ كَبُدورِ التِمِّ في السِلمِ بَهجَةً

وَهُم في مَجالِ الحَربِ أَدهى مِنَ الأُسدِ

وَهُم في مَجالِ الحَربِ أَدهى مِنَ الأُسدِ

In peace they are radiant as full moons,

They are like the full moons in their splendor

And on the field of war more formidable than lions.

And on the battlefield more ferocious than lions.

إِذا اِحتَدَمَت نارُ الوَغى اِقتَحموا الرَّدى

إِذا اِحتَدَمَت نارُ الوَغى اِقتَحموا الرَّدى

عَلى كُلِّ مَحبوكِ الفَرا شَيظَمٍ نَهدِ

عَلى كُلِّ مَحبوكِ الفَرا شَيظَمٍ نَهدِ

When battle's fire blazes, they plunge into death

When the fires of turmoil rage, they plunge into the fray

On every tightly built, tall, sturdy steed.

Against every intertwined coat of mail, rending chests.

ثَبوتٌ وَأَطرافُ القَنا رُعَّفٌ دَماً

ثَبوتٌ وَأَطرافُ القَنا رُعَّفٌ دَماً

وَلِلبيضِ فَتكٌ في القَوائِس وَالسَّردِ

وَلِلبيضِ فَتكٌ في القَوائِس وَالسَّردِ

Steadfast while the spearheads drip blood,

Firmness – and the spear points shedding blood –

And bright swords ravage helmets and mail.

And the white swords have lethal strikes against the armored coats.

أَلا إِن مَعنَ بن المُحَسِّن لَم يَزَل

أَلا إِن مَعنَ بن المُحَسِّن لَم يَزَل

لَهُ المَكرُماتُ الغُرُّ في الغَورِ وَالنّجدِ

لَهُ المَكرُماتُ الغُرُّ في الغَورِ وَالنّجدِ

Behold, Ma'n ibn al-Muhassin has always

Indeed, Ma`n ibn al-Muhassin always

Had shining noble deeds in lowland and upland.

Possessed favors as precious pearls in deserts and meadows.

لَهُ رَغبَةٌ في الحَمدِ لَم تُغشَ رَهبَةً

لَهُ رَغبَةٌ في الحَمدِ لَم تُغشَ رَهبَةً

وَلَكِنَّهُ في الذَمِّ لَم يَألُ ذو زُهدِ

وَلَكِنَّهُ في الذَمِّ لَم يَألُ ذو زُهدِ

He desires praise, his desire not cloaked in fear,

He has a desire for praise without attaining conceit,

Yet he spares no effort in shunning blame.

Yet for blame he does not weary, being ascetic.

وَلَولاهُ كانَ الفَضلُ في الشامِ ضائِعاً

وَلَولاهُ كانَ الفَضلُ في الشامِ ضائِعاً

وَقَدرُ بَني الآدابِ أَحقَرَ مِن قِردِ

وَقَدرُ بَني الآدابِ أَحقَرَ مِن قِردِ

But for him, merit would be lost in the Levant,

Were it not for him, virtue in Syria would be lost

And the worth of men of letters lower than an ape's.

And the worth of the cultured considered lower than monkeys.

وَإِلّا أَروني فاضِلاً لَيسَ عِندَه

وَإِلّا أَروني فاضِلاً لَيسَ عِندَه

لِمَعنٍ يَدٌ يَوماً وَلا سِيَّما عِندي

لِمَعنٍ يَدٌ يَوماً وَلا سِيَّما عِندي

Otherwise, show me a worthy man who has never received

Or show me a superior if with him

A favor from Ma'n—myself least of all.

Ma`n does not one day even have a hand, let alone me.

لبيدٌ بَليدٌ إِن رَوى الشِعرَ مُنشِداً

لبيدٌ بَليدٌ إِن رَوى الشِعرَ مُنشِداً

أَجل وَعَبيدٌ ثُمَّ أَصغَرُ مِن عَبدِ

أَجل وَعَبيدٌ ثُمَّ أَصغَرُ مِن عَبدِ

Labid is a dullard when Ma'n declaims poetry,

Labid is a foolish poet if he recites poetry as a rawi,

Yes, and Ubayd then is lower than a slave.

More insignificant even than a slave.

وَعَى صَدرُهُ ما في خَزائِنِ كُتبِهِ

وَعَى صَدرُهُ ما في خَزائِنِ كُتبِهِ

وَإِن كُنَّ كتباً زائِداتٍ عَنِ العَدِّ

وَإِن كُنَّ كتباً زائِداتٍ عَنِ العَدِّ

His breast retains all that is in his storehouses of books,

His chest encompasses what is in his library’s treasuries

Though those books exceed all counting.

Even if they are books beyond count.

تَضَمَّنَ أَبكارَ المَعاني وُعونَها

تَضَمَّنَ أَبكارَ المَعاني وُعونَها

فَجُدنَ لِقاريهِنَّ بِالعيشَةِ الرَغدِ

فَجُدنَ لِقاريهِنَّ بِالعيشَةِ الرَغدِ

It embraces meanings both virgin and seasoned,

It includes the finest virgin meanings and helps them,

And they grant their reader a life of ease.

So they charm their female reciters with prosperous living.

وَسيرَتُهُ في الناسِ أَحسَنُ سيرَةٍ

وَسيرَتُهُ في الناسِ أَحسَنُ سيرَةٍ

مُقَصِّرَةٌ عَن شَأوِها سيرَة المَهدي

مُقَصِّرَةٌ عَن شَأوِها سيرَة المَهدي

His conduct among people is the finest conduct;

His conduct among people is the best conduct,

Al-Mahdi's conduct falls short of its reach.

Fall short of his stature even the conduct of al-Mahdi.

وَقَد كانَ جَدّي نائِماً قَبلَ قَصدِهِ

وَقَد كانَ جَدّي نائِماً قَبلَ قَصدِهِ

فَمُذ جِئتُهُ أَصبَحتُ منتَبِهَ الجَدِّ

فَمُذ جِئتُهُ أَصبَحتُ منتَبِهَ الجَدِّ

My fortune lay asleep before I sought him,

My grandfather was asleep before visiting him.

But since I came to him, my fortune has awakened.

Since I came to him, I have been wakeful and serious.

أَياديهِ أَنسَتني دِمَشقَ وَأَهلَها

أَياديهِ أَنسَتني دِمَشقَ وَأَهلَها

وَإِن أَشبَهَت في حُسنِها جَنَّةَ الخُلدِ

وَإِن أَشبَهَت في حُسنِها جَنَّةَ الخُلدِ

His favors made me forget Damascus and its people,

His hands made me forget Damascus and its inhabitants

Though its beauty resembles the Garden of Eternity.

Even though its beauty resembles the eternal Garden.

وَما ذا عَجيبٌ بَل سَلَوتُ بِنَشرِهِ

وَما ذا عَجيبٌ بَل سَلَوتُ بِنَشرِهِ

وَمَعروفِهِ عَن إِخوَتي وَذَوي وُدّي

وَمَعروفِهِ عَن إِخوَتي وَذَوي وُدّي

Nor is that strange: through his fragrance I have forgotten,

What is surprising? Rather, I have been diverted by his company

And through his kindness, my brothers and those I love.

And kindness from my brothers, loved ones, and friends.

فَعَكسُ اِسمِهِ لا نيطَ عَكسٌ بِجِسمِهِ

فَعَكسُ اِسمِهِ لا نيطَ عَكسٌ بِجِسمِهِ

جَوابٌ لِمَن يَستَنجِزُ الوَعدَ بِالنَقدِ

جَوابٌ لِمَن يَستَنجِزُ الوَعدَ بِالنَقدِ

His name reversed—may no reversal befall his body—

The inverse of his name – there is no inverse to his body.

Is the answer to whoever seeks a promise fulfilled in ready coin.

A retort to one who fulfills a promise with the cash at hand.

إِذا كانَ في قَومٍ وَأَصلَدَ زَندُهم

إِذا كانَ في قَومٍ وَأَصلَدَ زَندُهم

فَما زَندُهُ يَوماً بِكابٍ وَلا صَلدِ

فَما زَندُهُ يَوماً بِكابٍ وَلا صَلدِ

If he stands among a people whose fire-stick has failed,

If he frowns among a people and his frown is stern,

His fire-stick is never dull or sparkless.

His frown is never with a sullen face and without vigor.

عَطاياهُ لِمَن تمنَن بِمَنٍّ وَلَم يَكُن

عَطاياهُ لِمَن تمنَن بِمَنٍّ وَلَم يَكُن

بِمُعطٍ قَليلاً إِذ يَجودُ وَلا مُكدِ

بِمُعطٍ قَليلاً إِذ يَجودُ وَلا مُكدِ

His gifts are for whoever has conferred a favor, and he has never

His gifts are for those hoping with nostalgia while he

Given little in his generosity, nor let his bounty fail.

Is neither miserly when he gives nor stingy.

يَرى بِصَوابِ الرَّأيِ في اليَومِ كُلَّ ما

يَرى بِصَوابِ الرَّأيِ في اليَومِ كُلَّ ما

يَجيءُ غَداً من حلّ أَمرٍ وَمن عَقدِ

يَجيءُ غَداً من حلّ أَمرٍ وَمن عَقدِ

Through sound judgment, he sees today all that

He sees with sound opinion in the day all that

Tomorrow brings of affairs' untying and knotting.

Comes tomorrow, whether settled or knotted.

نَهوضٌ بِأَعباءِ السِيادَةِ لَم يَكُن

نَهوضٌ بِأَعباءِ السِيادَةِ لَم يَكُن

بِوانٍ وَلا واهي العُرى واهِنِ الشَدِّ

بِوانٍ وَلا واهي العُرى واهِنِ الشَدِّ

He shoulders leadership's burdens with vigor and has never been

Undertaking the burdens of authority, he was never

Sluggish, loose in his bonds, or weak in his fastening.

Languid, enfeebled, or frail in his strength.

إِذا اِفتَرَّ ثَغرُ الهَزلِ عَبَّسَ جِدُّهُ

إِذا اِفتَرَّ ثَغرُ الهَزلِ عَبَّسَ جِدُّهُ

فَيالَكَ مِن هَزلٍ وَيا لَكَ مِن جِدِّ

فَيالَكَ مِن هَزلٍ وَيا لَكَ مِن جِدِّ

When jesting's mouth smiles, his earnestness frowns:

When the lip of jest parts, his seriousness scowls.

Oh, what jesting! Oh, what earnestness!

What jest and what seriousness you have!

مفيضٌ عَلى قُصّادِهِ وَعُفاتِهِ

مفيضٌ عَلى قُصّادِهِ وَعُفاتِهِ

بِسَحّينِ من صَوتَي نَوالٍ وَمِن رِفدِ

بِسَحّينِ من صَوتَي نَوالٍ وَمِن رِفدِ

He pours abundance upon his visitors and seekers of bounty,

Bestowing on his readers and the chaste among them

In two torrents—the twin voices of largesse and aid.

With two spreading springs of voice and stream.

فَوَرَّثَهُ اللَهُ السَعادَةَ سَرمَداً

فَوَرَّثَهُ اللَهُ السَعادَةَ سَرمَداً

عَلى رغمِ آنافِ العِدا وَذَوي الحِقدِ

عَلى رغمِ آنافِ العِدا وَذَوي الحِقدِ

May God bequeath him happiness forever,

So Allah granted him everlasting good fortune,

In spite of his foes and the spiteful, their noses humbled.

Despite the hostility of enemies and those of envy.

وَلا بَرِحَت أَيّامُهُ مُستَطيلَةً

وَلا بَرِحَت أَيّامُهُ مُستَطيلَةً

مُشَيَّدَةَ البُنيانِ بِالعِزِّ وَالسَّعدِ

مُشَيَّدَةَ البُنيانِ بِالعِزِّ وَالسَّعدِ

And may his days never cease to lengthen,

His days have not ceased to stretch out,

Their edifice raised high in honor and good fortune.

Built with might and fortune.