دَعِleave aside النَسيبَthe love prelude وَقَولَand talk of اللَّهوِdiversion وَالغَزَلِand love poetry
دَعِ النَسيبَ وَقَولَ اللَّهوِ وَالغَزَلِ
وَلاand do not تُعَرِّجturn aside عَلىto رَبعٍa dwelling site وَلاnor طَلَلِa ruin
وَلا تُعَرِّج عَلى رَبعٍ وَلا طَلَلِ
Abandon the love prelude, frivolous talk, and amorous verse,
Leave frivolous talk and sensual delight,
and do not turn aside to a dwelling site or a ruin.
No more roaming to pasture or abandoned camp.
وَاِرفَعand raise عَقيرَةَthe voice of شادٍa singer وَسطَamid أَندِيَةٍassemblies
وَاِرفَع عَقيرَةَ شادٍ وَسطَ أَندِيَةٍ
وَصَوتَand the voice of حادٍa camel-driver بِبيدٍin deserts مُطرِبِdelighting الإِبِلِthe camels
وَصَوتَ حادٍ بِبيدٍ مُطرِبِ الإِبِلِ
Raise a singer's voice amid assemblies,
Raise your voice at dawn amidst the valleys,
and a camel-driver's voice in deserts, delighting the camels,
With a singer enchanting the camels.
بِمَدحِin praise of خَيرِthe best of مُلوكِthe kings of الأَرضِthe earth قاطِبَةًwithout exception
بِمَدحِ خَيرِ مُلوكِ الأَرضِ قاطِبَةً
قُلsay ذاكَthat فيin كُلِّevery إِقليمٍregion وَلاand do not تُبَلِworry
قُل ذاكَ في كُلِّ إِقليمٍ وَلا تُبَلِ
in praise of the best of all the earth's kings.
Sing the praise of the best of earth's kings,
Say so in every region, and do not worry.
Say he is peerless everywhere in every realm.
فَالعادِلُfor al-Adil (the Just) المَلِكُthe king المَيمونُthe blessed أَجدَرُmost deserving بِالof the
فَالعادِلُ المَلِكُ المَيمونُ أَجدَرُ بِال
مَدحِpraise المُحَبَّرfinely wrought مِنfrom حافٍone barefoot وَمُنتَعِلِand one shod
مَدحِ المُحَبَّر مِن حافٍ وَمُنتَعِلِ
For al-Adil, the blessed king, is most deserving of
The just king, the blessed ruler, deserves more
finely wrought praise from barefoot and shod alike.
Than poems of yearning from singers and minstrels.
هُوَhe المَليكُthe sovereign الَّذيwho فيin الدَهرِtime سيرَتُهُhis conduct
هُوَ المَليكُ الَّذي في الدَهرِ سيرَتُهُ
أَزرَتbrought shame بِسيرَةِupon the conduct of أَهلِthe people of الأَعصرِthe ages الأُوَلِthe earlier
أَزرَت بِسيرَةِ أَهلِ الأَعصرِ الأُوَلِ
He is the sovereign whose conduct in his time
He whose deeds through time have been guided
has put the conduct of the people of earlier ages to shame.
By the ways of past folk in the early days.
وَأَصبَحَتand became بِعَميمِthrough all-embracing العَدلِjustice دَولَتُهُhis realm
وَأَصبَحَت بِعَميمِ العَدلِ دَولَتُهُ
غَرّاءَradiant باسِقَةًlofty تَسموrises عَلىabove الدُّوَلِthe realms
غَرّاءَ باسِقَةً تَسمو عَلى الدُّوَلِ
Through all-embracing justice, his realm has become
His state through the justice of his reign has thrived
radiant and lofty, rising above other realms.
To tower aloft over other realms.
يَسيرُgoverns فيهاin it أَبوAbu بَكرٍBakr بِدينِwith the faith of أَبيAbu
يَسيرُ فيها أَبو بَكرٍ بِدينِ أَبي
بَكرٍBakr وَعَدلِand the justice of أَبيAbu حَفصٍHafs وَبَأسِand the valor of عَليAli
بَكرٍ وَعَدلِ أَبي حَفصٍ وَبَأسِ عَلي
There Abu Bakr rules with the faith of Abu
In it pace Abu Bakr in his faith,
Bakr, the justice of Abu Hafs, and the valor of Ali.
And the justice of Abi Hafs and the might of Ali.
مِنهُfrom him رَأَيناwe have seen مُلوكَthe kings of الأَرضِthe earth فيin مَلِكٍa king
مِنهُ رَأَينا مُلوكَ الأَرضِ في مَلِكٍ
لاno بَلrather رَأَيناwe have seen عِبادَthe servants of اللَهِGod فيin رَجُلِa man
لا بَل رَأَينا عِبادَ اللَهِ في رَجُلِ
In him we have seen earth's kings in one king;
In him we have seen the kings of earth as one king
no, rather, we have seen God's servants in one man.
Or better yet seen God's servants in one man.
فَالعَفوُfor pardon شيمَتُهُhis nature فيin عِزِّthe might of قُدرَتِهِhis power
فَالعَفوُ شيمَتُهُ في عِزِّ قُدرَتِهِ
فَفيهِso in him يوجَدُis found طَبعُthe nature of السَهلِthe plain وَالجَبَلِand the mountain
فَفيهِ يوجَدُ طَبعُ السَهلِ وَالجَبَلِ
For pardon is his nature in the fullness of his power;
Clemency is his nature despite his mighty rule,
thus in him is found the nature of plain and mountain.
In it is found the easy temper and forbearance.
سَهلُgentle الخَلائِقِin character صَعبٌformidable فيin الوَغىbattle شَرِسٌfierce
سَهلُ الخَلائِقِ صَعبٌ في الوَغى شَرِسٌ
فيin المُلكِkingship يَجمَعُhe combines بَينَbetween الصابِbitter sap وَالعَسَلِand honey
في المُلكِ يَجمَعُ بَينَ الصابِ وَالعَسَلِ
Gentle in character, formidable and fierce in battle,
Gentle of person, fierce against foes in the fray,
in kingship he combines bitter sap and honey.
In his reign he unites agreeableness and sternness.
يَرميhe assails العِداthe foes بِوُجودِهِwith his presence الخَيلthe horses ساهِمَةًlean
يَرمي العِدا بِوُجودِهِ الخَيل ساهِمَةً
يَومَthe day of الوَغىbattle وَصُدورِand the points of البيضِbright swords وَالأَسَلِand spears
يَومَ الوَغى وَصُدورِ البيضِ وَالأَسَلِ
He assails the foes with his presence, with lean steeds,
With his munificence he showers steeds as arrows
on battle's day, and with the points of bright swords and spears.
On the day of battle and white blades and brown.
تَكادُalmost تُغنيهِsuffices him فيin الهَيجاءِbattle هَيبَتُهُthe awe he inspires
تَكادُ تُغنيهِ في الهَيجاءِ هَيبَتُهُ
عَنِin place of الصَوارِمِkeen swords وَالعَسّالَةِand the swaying الذُبُلِslender spears
عَنِ الصَوارِمِ وَالعَسّالَةِ الذُبُلِ
In battle, the awe he inspires almost suffices him
His awe of bearing could almost in the clash of arms
in place of keen swords and swaying, slender spears.
Save him from need of blades and armored jackets.
ماnot يَعرِفُknows الأَمنَsafety فيin الدُّنياthis world مُحارِبُهُhis foe
ما يَعرِفُ الأَمنَ في الدُّنيا مُحارِبُهُ
وَلاnor يَبيتُspends the night مُواليهِhis ally عَلىin وَجَلِfear
وَلا يَبيتُ مُواليهِ عَلى وَجَلِ
His foe knows no safety in this world,
His foes know no safety in this world and no
nor does his ally spend the night in fear.
Allies of his pass the night feeling secure.
قَدindeed جَرَّدَhe unsheathed الدينَthe faith سَيفاًa sword مِنfrom عَزائِمِهِhis resolves
قَد جَرَّدَ الدينَ سَيفاً مِن عَزائِمِهِ
مُهَنَّداًof Indian steel حَدُّهُits edge أَمضىkeener مِنَthan الأَجَلِdeath's appointed hour
مُهَنَّداً حَدُّهُ أَمضى مِنَ الأَجَلِ
He has unsheathed the faith as a sword from his resolves,
He has honed religion into a naked blade
of Indian steel, its edge keener than death.
With a cutting edge sharper than death itself.
إِذاwhen اِنتَضاهُhe draws it عَلىagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies فيamid رَهَجٍdust
إِذا اِنتَضاهُ عَلى الأَعداءِ في رَهَجٍ
أَبارَهُمhe annihilates them فَهوَso he فيهِمamong them سابِقُoutstripping العَذَلِreproach
أَبارَهُم فَهوَ فيهِم سابِقُ العَذَلِ
When he draws it against the enemies amid dust,
When he unsheathes it against enemies in the fray
he annihilates them: among them he outruns reproach.
He is swiftest among them to deal fatal blows.
لِلثَغرِfor the frontier مِنهُfrom him شُجاعٌa brave warrior فارِسٌa horseman بَطَلٌa hero
لِلثَغرِ مِنهُ شُجاعٌ فارِسٌ بَطَلٌ
ناهيكَenough for you مِنas فارِسٍa horseman نَدبٍgallant وَمِنand as بَطَلِa hero
ناهيكَ مِن فارِسٍ نَدبٍ وَمِن بَطَلِ
The frontier has in him a brave warrior, a horseman, a hero;
The marches have in him a courageous rider, a valiant knight
what a gallant horseman, and what a hero!
Leading sorties, not to mention other brave cavaliers.
قَواعِدُthe foundations of المُلكِkingship مِنthrough تَدبيرِهِhis governance اِطَّأَدَتbecame firmly established
قَواعِدُ المُلكِ مِن تَدبيرِهِ اِطَّأَدَت
مُذsince ضَمَّhe united بِالعَذلِthrough reproof قُطريهِits two regions بِلاwithout خَلَلِa breach
مُذ ضَمَّ بِالعَذلِ قُطريهِ بِلا خَلَلِ
The foundations of kingship have grown firm through his governance,
The pillars of his kingdom through his governance are made firm
since he united its two regions through reproof, without a breach.
Since he united its factions competently with no flaw.
يَرُدُّhe sends back رُسلَthe envoys of مُلوكِthe kings of الأَرضِthe earth مُدهَشَةًbewildered
يَرُدُّ رُسلَ مُلوكِ الأَرضِ مُدهَشَةً
فَماso not يُبَرهِنُsubstantiates قَولاًa statement أَفصَحُthe most eloquent of الرُّسُلِthe envoys
فَما يُبَرهِنُ قَولاً أَفصَحُ الرُّسُلِ
He sends back the envoys of earth's kings bewildered,
He sends back the messengers of earth's kings confounded,
so even the most eloquent envoy cannot make his case.
No words however eloquent can equal the envoys.
وَعايَنواand they beheld مَلِكاًa king فيin دِرعِهِhis armor أَسَدٌa lion
وَعايَنوا مَلِكاً في دِرعِهِ أَسَدٌ
غَضبانُfurious مُفتَرِسٌravening بِالقَولِin word وَالعَمَلِand deed
غَضبانُ مُفتَرِسٌ بِالقَولِ وَالعَمَلِ
And they have beheld a king, a lion in his armor,
They saw a lion in his coat of mail,
furious and ravening in word and deed.
Belligerent, voracious in word and deed.
وَعايَنواand they beheld مِنهُfrom him مُرديthe slayer of كُلِّevery ذيpossessing لِبَدٍa mane
وَعايَنوا مِنهُ مُردي كُلِّ ذي لِبَدٍ
فيin الغيلِthe thicket يَكشِرُdraws back its lips عَنfrom أَنيابِهِits fangs العُصُلِcurved
في الغيلِ يَكشِرُ عَن أَنيابِهِ العُصُلِ
And they have seen in him the slayer of every maned beast
They saw one who repulses all the unrighteous
that bares its curved fangs in the thicket.
Baring his teeth with indignant rage.
يَجتابُhe dons دِرعاًa coat of mail دِلاصاًgleaming وَالفُؤادُand the heart لَهُfor him
يَجتابُ دِرعاً دِلاصاً وَالفُؤادُ لَهُ
دِرعٌarmor عَلىover الدِّرعِthe armor ملبوسٌworn بِلاwithout فَشَلِweakness
دِرعٌ عَلى الدِّرعِ ملبوسٌ بِلا فَشَلِ
He dons gleaming mail, and his heart serves him as
Donning a well-wrought coat of mail while his heart
armor worn over armor, without weakness.
Wears over it an unpierced armor.
فَكَفُّهُso his hand البَحرُthe sea فيهِwithin it جَدوَلٌa stream وَبِهِand in it
فَكَفُّهُ البَحرُ فيهِ جَدوَلٌ وَبِهِ
نارٌa fire تَوَقَّدُblazes فيin الهَيجاءِbattle بِالشُّعَلِwith flames
نارٌ تَوَقَّدُ في الهَيجاءِ بِالشُّعَلِ
So his hand is the sea, a stream within it, and in it
His palm, the sea recoils from it, in it a stream flows,
a fire blazes in battle with tongues of flame.
In the tumult a fire kindled by flaming brands.
وَالدِّرعُand the armor مِثلُlike غَديرٍa pool حَرَّكَتهُstirred it يَدُthe hand of الthe
وَالدِّرعُ مِثلُ غَديرٍ حَرَّكَتهُ يَدُ ال
صَباeast wind وَلَمّاand not yet يُصِبهاhas touched it مِنهُfrom it مِنany بَلَلِmoisture
صَبا وَلَمّا يُصِبها مِنهُ مِن بَلَلِ
And the armor is like a pool stirred by the hand of the
His coat of mail is like a pool ruffled by
east wind, though no moisture from it has yet touched that hand.
The breeze but no raindrops can penetrate it.
ماnever أَشرَعَhe leveled الرُمحَthe spear إِلّاexcept that غاصَplunged ثَعلَبُهُits shaft-tip
ما أَشرَعَ الرُمحَ إِلّا غاصَ ثَعلَبُهُ
يَومَthe day of الوَغىbattle والِغاًlapping فيin مُهجَةِthe lifeblood of البَطَلِthe hero
يَومَ الوَغى والِغاً في مُهجَةِ البَطَلِ
He never levels the spear but its shaft-tip plunges
When he couched his lance it pierced deep
on battle's day, lapping at the hero's lifeblood.
On the day of battle goring the hero's insides.
وَقَوسُهُand his bow تَنبُضُtwangs out الأَنباءthe tidings صارِخَةًcrying out
وَقَوسُهُ تَنبُضُ الأَنباء صارِخَةً
عَنfrom كِبدِهاits center وَعَنِand from الأَكبادِthe livers لَمhas not تَزُلِdeparted
عَن كِبدِها وَعَنِ الأَكبادِ لَم تَزُلِ
And his bow twangs out tidings, crying
His bow thunders news crying out
from its center, and never departing from livers.
Of its own and others' deepest passions.
كَأَنَّماas though صَوتُهاits sound البازيthe goshawk يُصَرصِرُscreeches فَالso the
كَأَنَّما صَوتُها البازي يُصَرصِرُ فَال
فُرسانُhorsemen تَنفُرُscatter مِنهُfrom it نَفرَةَthe scattering of الحَجَلِpartridges
فُرسانُ تَنفُرُ مِنهُ نَفرَةَ الحَجَلِ
Its sound is like a goshawk's screech, so the
As if its twanging voice whirring announced
horsemen scatter from it as partridges scatter.
That the horsemen are panicking in headlong flight.
ياO آمِلَseeker of الخَيرِgood يَمِّمهُseek him out تَجِدyou will find مَلِكاًa king
يا آمِلَ الخَيرِ يَمِّمهُ تَجِد مَلِكاً
مُحَقِّقَfulfilling الظَنِّexpectation فيin جَدواهُhis bounty وَالأَمَلِand hope
مُحَقِّقَ الظَنِّ في جَدواهُ وَالأَمَلِ
O seeker of good, seek him out: you will find a king
O you who hope for good, set your course toward him,
who fulfills expectations and hopes of his bounty.
You will find a king making good on your hopes.
تَزدادُincrease أَيامُهُhis days حُسناًbeauty وَمَكرُمَةًand nobility
تَزدادُ أَيامُهُ حُسناً وَمَكرُمَةً
كَأَنَّهاas though they were مِلَّةُthe faith of الإِسلامِIslam فيamong المِلَلِthe faiths
كَأَنَّها مِلَّةُ الإِسلامِ في المِلَلِ
His days grow in beauty and nobility,
His days ever increase in goodness and bounty,
as though they were the faith of Islam among other faiths.
As if Islam itself in its diverse sects.
أَبناؤُهُhis sons الصّيدُthe proud سُحبٌclouds عِندَat the time of جودِهِمُtheir generosity
أَبناؤُهُ الصّيدُ سُحبٌ عِندَ جودِهِمُ
غَيثٌrain وَهُمand they أُسُدٌlions فيin الحادِثِcalamity الجَلَلِgrave
غَيثٌ وَهُم أُسُدٌ في الحادِثِ الجَلَلِ
His proud sons are clouds; in their generosity,
His sons, the prey of his munificence, clouds
they are rain, and lions amid grave calamity.
Of rain, and lions in acts of mighty import.
فَكُلُّso all أَيّامِهِمtheir days مِثلُlike العَرائِسِbrides إِذwhen
فَكُلُّ أَيّامِهِم مِثلُ العَرائِسِ إِذ
تَبدوappear لأَعيُنِناto our eyes فيin الحَليِjewelry وَالحُلَلِand fine robes
تَبدو لأَعيُنِنا في الحَليِ وَالحُلَلِ
So all their days are like brides when
All their days are like brides when
they appear to our eyes in jewelry and fine robes.
They show themselves to us in ornament and finery.
هُمthey حِليَةُthe adornment of المُلكِkingship لاmay not زالواthey cease بِهِin it أَبَداًever
هُم حِليَةُ المُلكِ لا زالوا بِهِ أَبَداً
لَولاwere it not for هُمُthem فيهِin it كانَwould be المُلكُkingship ذاhaving عَطَلِa lack of adornment
لَولا هُمُ فيهِ كانَ المُلكُ ذا عَطَلِ
They are kingship's adornment; may they remain in it forever.
They are the adornment of the kingdom, may they endure,
Were they not in it, kingship would lack adornment.
Without them the kingdom would be in default.
Sol 6.1