حَيِّgreet عَلىby أَثلاتِthe tamarisks of يبريناYabrin
حَيِّ عَلى أَثلاتِ يبرينا
حوراًdark-eyed maidens حِساناًbeautiful خُرَّداًbashful عيناwide-eyed
حوراً حِساناً خُرَّداً عينا
Greet, by the tamarisks of Yabrin,
Greetings to the beauties of our Yebreen,
dark-eyed, lovely maidens, bashful and wide-eyed.
Charming, lovely dark-eyed gazelles.
يَرِشنَthey feather بِاللَحظِwith glances نِبالاًarrows لِمَنfor whoever
يَرِشنَ بِاللَحظِ نِبالاً لِمَن
يَزورُvisits يَبرينَYabrin وَيَبريناand they sharpen them
يَزورُ يَبرينَ وَيَبرينا
With their glances they feather arrows for whoever
They rain glances on whoever visits Yebreen and us,
visits Yabrin—and sharpen them.
Swaying gently whenever the soft evening breeze touches them.
يَهزُزنَthey set swaying فيamong كُثبِthe dunes of النَقاfine sand كُلَّماwhenever
يَهزُزنَ في كُثبِ النَقا كُلَّما
مِسنَthey walk swaying لَناbefore us سُمرَdusky القَناspearshafts ليناsupple
مِسنَ لَنا سُمرَ القَنا لينا
They set swaying among the sand dunes, whenever
From their dark eyelids they have unveiled
they glide before us, supple, dusky lances.
What they had sheathed of the whites in their eyes.
مِنَfrom الجُفونِthe eyelids السودِdark جَرَّدنَthey unsheathed ماwhat
مِنَ الجُفونِ السودِ جَرَّدنَ ما
أَغمَدنَthey sheathed مِنof بيضِgleaming الظُباsword-blades فيناin us
أَغمَدنَ مِن بيضِ الظُبا فينا
From their dark eyelids they unsheathed what
My love for the maidens of Najd is innate,
they sheathed in us—gleaming sword-blades.
I have made it my religion in Syria.
ليI have بِرُبىon the hills of نَجدNajd هَوىًa love تالِدٌlong-established
لي بِرُبى نَجد هَوىً تالِدٌ
تَخِذتهُI made it بِالشامِin Syria ليfor myself ديناa faith
تَخِذتهُ بِالشامِ لي دينا
On Najd's hills I have a long-established love,
If Layla were not in Najd, I would not have
which in Syria I have made my faith.
Ended up a crazed lover in Jilqah.
لَوif لَمnot تَكُنwere لَيلىLayla بِنَجدٍin Najd لَماthen not
لَو لَم تَكُن لَيلى بِنَجدٍ لَما
أَمسَيتُI became فيin جِلَّقَJilliq مَجنوناmad
أَمسَيتُ في جِلَّقَ مَجنونا
Had Layla not been in Najd, I would never
Zarood and Jur'aa are dearer to my heart
have become a Majnun in Jilliq.
Than the gates of Jerusalem.
زَرودُZarud وَالجَرعاءُand al-Jar'a أَشهىdearer إِلىto
زَرودُ وَالجَرعاءُ أَشهى إِلى
قَلبيmy heart مِنthan أَبوابِthe gates of جيروناJayrun
قَلبي مِن أَبوابِ جيرونا
Zarud and al-Jar'a are dearer to
I relax whenever the flash of fever appears,
my heart than the gates of Jayrun.
Heading to a bedouin tent, then to our tent.
أَرتاحُI yearn إِنif لاحَappears بَريقُthe gleam of الحِمىthe protected grounds
أَرتاحُ إِن لاحَ بَريقُ الحِمى
إِلىfor عُرَيبٍa dear little Arab band ثَمَّthere نائيناfar away
إِلى عُرَيبٍ ثَمَّ نائينا
I yearn, when a flash from the cherished grounds appears,
As if it is the sword - when you unsheathe it,
for the dear Arab band there, far away.
It is sheathed for a while, then seen again.
كَأَنَّهُas though it were السَّيفُthe sword إِذاwhen شِمتَهُyou watch its flashes
كَأَنَّهُ السَّيفُ إِذا شِمتَهُ
يُغمَدُit is sheathed حيناًat times وَيُرىand is seen حيناat times
يُغمَدُ حيناً وَيُرى حينا
It is like a sword, when you watch it,
And my tears flow freely whenever
sheathed at times, and seen at times.
Leaves stir singing for us.
وَتُسلِمُand release الأَجفانُthe eyelids دَمعيmy tears مَتىwhen
وَتُسلِمُ الأَجفانُ دَمعي مَتى
ماever اِندَفَعَتburst forth وُرقٌgray doves تغنيناsinging to us
ما اِندَفَعَت وُرقٌ تغنينا
And my eyelids release my tears whenever
O my friends stop at a ridge
gray doves burst into song for us.
On the morning of travel, heading out.
ياO لأُصَيحابيfor my dear companions عَلىat حاجِرٍHajir
يا لأُصَيحابي عَلى حاجِرٍ
غَداةَon the morning of سَيرِthe departure of الظَعنِthe women's caravan غاديناsetting out at dawn
غَداةَ سَيرِ الظَعنِ غادينا
O for my dear companions at Hajir,
As if their walking above sand dunes
on the morning the women's caravan set out at dawn!
In the morning after separation, grieved me.
كَأَنَّماas though عيسُهُمُtheir pale camels فَوقَupon أَجstart of 'my eyelids'
كَأَنَّما عيسُهُمُ فَوقَ أَج
فانيend of 'my eyelids' غَداةَon the morning of البَينِparting يَمشيناthey walk
فاني غَداةَ البَينِ يَمشينا
It was as though their pale camels walked upon
Is there a suitor calling me with antimony in his glances
my eyelids on the morning of parting.
In which Harut is imprisoned?
هَلis there ناشِدٌa seeker ليfor me بِاللِّواat al-Liwa شادِناًa young gazelle
هَل ناشِدٌ لي بِاللِّوا شادِناً
فيin لَحظِهِhis glance هاروتُHarut مَسجوناimprisoned
في لَحظِهِ هاروتُ مَسجونا
Will anyone seek for me at al-Liwa a young gazelle,
He has attained such beauty, with which
in whose glance Harut lies imprisoned?
I have attained much sadness.
حازَhe gathered مِنَof الحُسنِbeauty فُنوناًvaried forms بِهاthrough them
حازَ مِنَ الحُسنِ فُنوناً بِها
حُزتُI gathered مِنَof الحُزنِgrief أَفانيناmany kinds
حُزتُ مِنَ الحُزنِ أَفانينا
He gathered forms of beauty through which
His sick eyes in their weakness
I gathered manifold forms of grief.
Have made the Almighty wretched.
أَجفانُهُhis eyelids المَرضىlanguid عَلىdespite ضَعفِهاtheir weakness
أَجفانُهُ المَرضى عَلى ضَعفِها
أَمسىhas become بِهاthrough them الجَبّارُthe mighty one مِسكيناhelpless
أَمسى بِها الجَبّارُ مِسكينا
His languid eyelids, for all their weakness—
O an idol in his beauty, the religious man almost
through them the mighty one has become helpless.
Seemed, in love, crazy.
ياO صَنَماًidol مِنbecause of حُسنِهِhis beauty كادَnearly ذوa man of الthe
يا صَنَماً مِن حُسنِهِ كادَ ذو ال
دينِfaith يُرىis seen فيin الحُبِّlove مَفتوناbewitched
دينِ يُرى في الحُبِّ مَفتونا
O idol, whose beauty nearly makes the man of
But we are in a time, in which the battle with religion is severe,
faith appear bewitched by love!
And defending faith in it protects the faith.
لكنَّناbut we فيin زَمَنٍan age بَأسُthe might of بَدstart of 'Badr'
لكنَّنا في زَمَنٍ بَأسُ بَد
رِend of 'Badr' الدِّينِal-Din فيهِin it عَصَمَprotected الدِّيناthe faith
رِ الدِّينِ فيهِ عَصَمَ الدِّينا
Yet ours is an age when the might of Badr
A staunch lion, from which enemies flee,
al-Din has safeguarded the faith.
Like sheep sensing butchers.
لَيثُa lion of وَغىًwar تَنفُرُflee مِنهُfrom him العِداthe enemies
لَيثُ وَغىً تَنفُرُ مِنهُ العِدا
كَالشاءِlike sheep أَحسَسنَthey sensed السَراحيناthe wolves
كَالشاءِ أَحسَسنَ السَراحينا
A lion of war, from whom the enemies flee
With his sword he scatters whatever was intended,
like sheep that have sensed wolves.
Compiled from battles and stocked up.
بِسَيفِهِwith his sword يَنثُرُhe scatters ماwhat كانَwas مَنstart of 'strung together'
بِسَيفِهِ يَنثُرُ ما كانَ مَن
ظوماًend of 'strung together' مِنof القِرنِthe adversary وَمَوضوناand closely woven
ظوماً مِن القِرنِ وَمَوضونا
With his sword he scatters what was strung
The gallant stabber throws with his strikes
together in his foe, and closely woven.
Spears made from dates, crafted and sharp.
الطاعِنُhe who thrusts النَّجلاءِa gaping wound تَرميit sends forth بِتَيstart of 'with a torrent'
الطاعِنُ النَّجلاءِ تَرمي بِتَي
يارٍend of 'torrent' مِنَof التامورِblood مَسنوناpoured forth
يارٍ مِنَ التامورِ مَسنونا
He deals a gaping thrust that sends forth a
He looks after a second stab
torrent of blood, poured forth.
Behind it, stabbed with a lance.
يَنظُرُhe sees مِنthrough طَعنَتِهِhis spear-thrust ثانِياًa second man
يَنظُرُ مِن طَعنَتِهِ ثانِياً
وَراءهاbehind it بِالرُمحِwith the spear مَطعوناpierced
وَراءها بِالرُمحِ مَطعونا
Through his spear-thrust he sees a second man
Whenever he marched in all his states,
behind it, pierced by the spear.
Blessed are his excellent traits.
لَمّاsince غَداhe became فيin كُلِّall حالاتِهِhis circumstances
لَمّا غَدا في كُلِّ حالاتِهِ
مُبارَكَblessed of الطَّلعَةِcountenance مَيموناfortunate
مُبارَكَ الطَّلعَةِ مَيمونا
Since in all his circumstances he proved
The son of Ayyub strengthened his determination with him,
blessed of countenance and fortunate,
And does Moses have anyone other than Aaron?
شَدَّstrengthened اِبنُthe son of أَيّوبَAyyub بِهِwith him أَزرَهُhis back
شَدَّ اِبنُ أَيّوبَ بِهِ أَزرَهُ
وَهَلand is there لِموسىfor Moses غَيرُanyone but هاروناAaron
وَهَل لِموسى غَيرُ هارونا
Ibn Ayyub strengthened his back with him—
He marched in his state with a policy
and has Moses anyone but Aaron?
With which Al-Ma'mun is not safe.
فَسارَso he followed فيin دَولَتِهِhis realm سيرَةًa course of conduct
فَسارَ في دَولَتِهِ سيرَةً
ماnot عِندَهاbeside it المَأمونُal-Ma'mun مَأموناtrustworthy
ما عِندَها المَأمونُ مَأمونا
So in his realm he pursued a course
With him the lighthouse of peace is high,
beside which al-Ma'mun is not trustworthy.
On the firmest and soundest foundation.
بِهِthrough him مَنارُthe beacon of السِلمِpeace عالٍlofty عَلىupon
بِهِ مَنارُ السِلمِ عالٍ عَلى
أَثبَتthe firmest أُسٍّfoundation وَقَوانيناand laws
أَثبَت أُسٍّ وَقَوانينا
Through him the beacon of peace rises high upon
If the opinions of the wise perished,
the firmest foundation and laws.
His opinion would not be forgotten.
إِنif أَفنَتfalter آراءُthe judgments of أَهلِpeople of النُهىunderstanding
إِن أَفنَت آراءُ أَهلِ النُهى
فَرَأيُهُthen his judgment لَمnot يَكُwas مَأفوناunsound
فَرَأيُهُ لَم يَكُ مَأفونا
If the judgments of the wise falter,
The house of justice wears for two days a week,
his judgment has never been unsound.
Embellishments from his justice.
تلبسُdons دارُthe House of العَدلِJustice مِنfrom عَدلِهِhis justice
تلبسُ دارُ العَدلِ مِن عَدلِهِ
يَومَينِtwo days فيin الأُسبوعِthe week تَزييناadornment
يَومَينِ في الأُسبوعِ تَزيينا
Through his justice the House of Justice dons
He did not slip in words or actions
adornment two days each week.
From what was prescribed and legal.
فَلَمand did not يَحِدdeviate فيin القَولِspeech وَالفِعلand action عمfrom
فَلَم يَحِد في القَولِ وَالفِعل عم
ماwhat كانَwas مَفروضاًobligatory وَمَسنوناand sanctioned by tradition
ما كانَ مَفروضاً وَمَسنونا
And he has not strayed in word or deed from
The full moon is perfect with him,
what is obligatory and sanctioned by tradition.
And the secrets of the month are coupled with him.
لَيسَthere is not بِبدرِin Badr الدينِal-Din نَقصٌwaning; deficiency وَلاnor
لَيسَ بِبدرِ الدينِ نَقصٌ وَلا
بِهِwith him سِرارُthe moonless nights of الشَّهرِthe month مَقروناjoined
بِهِ سِرارُ الشَّهرِ مَقرونا
There is no waning in Badr al-Din, nor
He continues to excel in attaining supremacy
is the month's moonless phase joined to him.
While all other people are praying.
مازالَhe has always been فيin كَسبِgaining العُلاglory سابِقاًforemost
مازالَ في كَسبِ العُلا سابِقاً
وَسائِرُand all the rest of الناسِthe people مُصَلّيناcoming second
وَسائِرُ الناسِ مُصَلّينا
He has always led the race for glory,
His generosity revived me from my time
while all other people come second.
When I was despondent and buried.
اِنتاشَنيrescued me مِنfrom زَمَنيmy age جودُهُhis generosity
اِنتاشَني مِن زَمَني جودُهُ
وَكُنتُand I was مَخمولاًobscure فَمَدفوناand thus buried
وَكُنتُ مَخمولاً فَمَدفونا
His generosity rescued me from my age,
So my time shunned me when it dressed
when I was obscure, and thus buried.
My state with improvement and fortification.
فَصَدَّso it turned away عَنّيfrom me زَمَنيmy age إِذwhen كَسىhe clothed
فَصَدَّ عَنّي زَمَني إِذ كَسى
حالِيَmy condition تَحسيناًin improvement وَتَحصيناand protection
حالِيَ تَحسيناً وَتَحصينا
So my age turned away from me when he clothed
I then became powerful and prestigious through him
my lot in improvement and protection.
That’s how it is for one who befriends sultans.
وَصِرتُand I became ذاpossessed of عِزٍّmight وَجاهٍand standing بِهِthrough him
وَصِرتُ ذا عِزٍّ وَجاهٍ بِهِ
كَذاكَso it is مَنfor whoever والىallies himself with السَلاطيناthe sultans
كَذاكَ مَن والى السَلاطينا
And through him I became a man of might and standing;
One who bestows favors and one not bestowed with favors
so it is with whoever allies himself with sultans.
And favors from him are not scarce.
مَنَّhe bestowed وَماbut not مَنَّhe reproached بِمَعروفِهِwith his kindness
مَنَّ وَما مَنَّ بِمَعروفِهِ
وَلَيسَand is not مِنهُfrom him المَنُّthe bestowal مَنوناdoom
وَلَيسَ مِنهُ المَنُّ مَنونا
He gave, yet never made his kindness a reproach;
My poems will surely guide to Badr’s virtues,
nor is his bounty a doom.
For which the virgins and allies yearn.
لَتَهدِيَنshall surely offer فيconcerning فَضلِthe excellence of بَدرٍBadr مداstart of 'my praises'
لَتَهدِيَن في فَضلِ بَدرٍ مدا
ئِحيend of 'my praises' لَهُto him الأَبكارvirgins وَالعوناand matrons
ئِحي لَهُ الأَبكار وَالعونا
My praises of Badr's excellence shall surely offer
If I were not in his shade, I would be in
him virgins and matrons alike.
Damascus, wronged amongst people.
لَوif لَمnot أَكُنI were فيin ظِلِّهِhis shade كُنتُI would be فيin
لَو لَم أَكُن في ظِلِّهِ كُنتُ في
دِمَشقَDamascus دونَunlike الناسِother people مَغبوناcheated of my due
دِمَشقَ دونَ الناسِ مَغبونا
Had I not been beneath his shade, I would have been in
Honoring me has sufficed to show his merits
Damascus, cheated of my due unlike other men.
An indication from him and clarification.
كَفاهُsuffices him تَقريبيbringing me near عَلىof فَضلِهِhis excellence
كَفاهُ تَقريبي عَلى فَضلِهِ
دَلالَةًas evidence مِنهُfrom him وَتَبييناand clarification
دَلالَةً مِنهُ وَتَبيينا
His bringing me close is enough to attest his excellence—
You have dressed Badr al-Din in your beauty, the
a sign from him and a clear demonstration.
Fineries and shops.
كَسَوتَyou clothed بَدرَBadr الدينِal-Din مِنfrom حُسنِكَyour beauty الthe
كَسَوتَ بَدرَ الدينِ مِن حُسنِكَ ال
دُسوتَthrones حُسناًin beauty والدَّواويناand the chancelleries
دُسوتَ حُسناً والدَّواوينا
Badr al-Din, with your beauty you have clothed
You have triumphed, despite the enemies’ noses
the thrones and chancelleries in beauty.
In the year five hundred eighty seven.
هُنِّتَmay you be felicitated رَغماًin defiance لِأُنوفِof the noses of العِداthe enemies
هُنِّتَ رَغماً لِأُنوفِ العِدا
بِعامِon the year خَمسٍfive وَثَمانيناand eighty
بِعامِ خَمسٍ وَثَمانينا
May you be felicitated, to your foes' chagrin,
And you have lived safely from all
on the year eighty-five.
That you fear for ninety three.
وَعِشتَand may you live فيin أَمنِكَyour safety مِنfrom كُلِّall ماthat
وَعِشتَ في أَمنِكَ مِن كُلِّ ما
تَخشاهُyou fear it تِسعينَninety وَتِسعيناand ninety
تَخشاهُ تِسعينَ وَتِسعينا
And may you live safe from all
Until we see the like of you, your sons
you fear, for ninety years and ninety more,
The generous, the fine blood horses.
حَتّىuntil نَرىwe see مِثلَكَlike you أَبناءَكَyour sons الthe
حَتّى نَرى مِثلَكَ أَبناءَكَ ال
أَفاضِلَexcellent ones الغُرَّthe radiant ones المَياميناthe blessed ones
أَفاضِلَ الغُرَّ المَيامينا
until we see your sons, like you,
May God debase your enemies
excellent, radiant, and blessed.
As He debased the enemies with volcanoes.
حَطَّmay He lay عَلىupon أَعدائِكَyour enemies اللَهُGod ماwhat
حَطَّ عَلى أَعدائِكَ اللَهُ ما
حَطَّHe laid عَلىupon العِداthe enemies بِحِطّيناat Hittin
حَطَّ عَلى العِدا بِحِطّينا
May God lay upon your enemies what
He laid upon the foes at Hittin.
Partial English translation: 82 of 84 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1