كَفىit is enough حزناًas sorrow أَنّيthat I عَنِabout الحَيِّthe tribe سآّلُa persistent questioner
كَفى حزناً أَنّي عَنِ الحَيِّ سآّلُ
وَقَدand already أَقفَرَتhave become desolate مِنكُمwithout you رُبوعٌdwelling grounds وَأَطلالُand ruined traces
وَقَد أَقفَرَت مِنكُم رُبوعٌ وَأَطلالُ
It is sorrow enough that I keep asking after the tribe,
Enough sorrow that I ask about the living one,
And dwellings and ruined traces have grown desolate without you.
While dwellings and ruins have become deserted of you.
وَكانَتand used to بِهاthere الآجالُthe herds of wild cattle تُحضِرُgallop غيرَةًout of envy
وَكانَت بِها الآجالُ تُحضِرُ غيرَةً
فَصارَتso came to بِهاthere فيamong الحَيِّthe tribe تَحضُرُarrive آجالُdeath's appointed times
فَصارَت بِها في الحَيِّ تَحضُرُ آجالُ
Once herds of wild cattle raced there out of envy;
And in them time would bring about ardour,
Now death's appointed times arrive there among the tribe.
So in the living one, time brings about terms.
أَسَرّواthey kept secret النَّوىdeparture لَولاbut for غَرابيبُpitch-black crows وُقَّعٌperched
أَسَرّوا النَّوى لَولا غَرابيبُ وُقَّعٌ
أَلاbehold إِنَّماnothing but الغِربانُthe crows لِلسِّرِّfor secrets غِربالُa sieve
أَلا إِنَّما الغِربانُ لِلسِّرِّ غِربالُ
They would have kept their departure secret, but for pitch-black crows perched there.
They hid the intent - were it not for bodies in winding-sheets -
Indeed, crows are but a sieve for secrets.
Verily, the ravens are but carrion birds for secrets.
لَقَدindeed سارَdeparted إِذwhen سارواthey departed الجَمالُbeauty بِأَسرِهِin its entirety
لَقَد سارَ إِذ ساروا الجَمالُ بِأَسرِهِ
تَخُبُّtrot بِهِwith it تَحتَbeneath الهَوادِجِthe howdahs أَجمالُcamels
تَخُبُّ بِهِ تَحتَ الهَوادِجِ أَجمالُ
All beauty departed when they departed,
When they traveled, beauty went in its entirety,
Carried at a trot beneath the howdahs by camels.
Beauties setting under the howdahs.
سَفَرنَthey unveiled their faces بدوراًas full moons وَاِنتَقَبنَand they veiled their faces أَهِلَّةًas crescents
سَفَرنَ بدوراً وَاِنتَقَبنَ أَهِلَّةً
وَمِسنَand they swayed غُصونَboughs of البانِthe ban-tree وَالبانُand the ban-tree مَيّالُever swaying
وَمِسنَ غُصونَ البانِ وَالبانُ مَيّالُ
Unveiled, they were full moons; veiled, crescents;
They traveled in successive turns and selected encampments,
And they swayed like ban-tree boughs—and the ban-tree ever sways.
And touched the boughs of acacia and piper, bending.
فَهُنَّso they بِأَصدافِin the shells of الهَوادِجِthe howdahs لُؤلُؤٌpearls
فَهُنَّ بِأَصدافِ الهَوادِجِ لُؤلُؤٌ
سَفائِنُهُنَّtheir ships النوقُthe she-camels وَالأَبحُرُand the seas الآلُthe mirage
سَفائِنُهُنَّ النوقُ وَالأَبحُرُ الآلُ
So they are pearls within the shells of the howdahs;
So they are, within howdah shells, pearls,
Their ships are she-camels, and their seas the mirage.
Their vessels are she-camels, and the sea is muddy.
فَكَمand how many a ظَبيَةٍgazelle أَلحاظُهاher glances فيin اِصطِيادِهاtheir hunting الthe (continued)
فَكَم ظَبيَةٍ أَلحاظُها في اِصطِيادِها ال
أُسودَlions نِشاطٌlively وَهيَwhile she فيin الخِدرِthe private chamber مِكسالُlanguid
أُسودَ نِشاطٌ وَهيَ في الخِدرِ مِكسالُ
How many a gazelle, her glances keen to hunt the
How many gazelles, whose glances in hunting
Lions, though she is languid within her chamber!
Are lions, while in the enclosures they are tranquil.
تَوَدُّwish الدَراريthe brilliant stars وَالأَهِلَّةُand the crescents أَنَّهاthat they
تَوَدُّ الدَراري وَالأَهِلَّةُ أَنَّها
عُقودٌnecklaces بليتَيهاat both sides of her neck وَلِلسُّوقِand for the shins أَحجالُanklets
عُقودٌ بليتَيها وَلِلسُّوقِ أَحجالُ
The brilliant stars and crescent moons wish they were
The young she-camels wish that they are
Necklaces about her neck, and anklets upon her shins.
Necklaces sold in the markets as burdens.
سُعادٌSu'ad وَسُعدىand Su'da جادَتاboth gave generously ليto me مِنَfrom اللَمىthe lips' dark hue
سُعادٌ وَسُعدى جادَتا لي مِنَ اللَمى
بِماwith what كُنتُI was أَبغيهِI seek it لَقَدindeed سَعِدَwas fortunate الفالُthe omen
بِما كُنتُ أَبغيهِ لَقَد سَعِدَ الفالُ
Su'ad and Su'da favored me, from their dusky lips,
Saʿd and Saʿda gave me willingly from the meat
With what I sought: how fortunate the omen proved!
What I wanted, so the omen turned fortunate.
كَماjust as أَسعَدَmade fortunate الرَحمَنُthe All-Merciful جِلَّقَJilliq إِذwhen غَدَتit became
كَما أَسعَدَ الرَحمَنُ جِلَّقَ إِذ غَدَت
تُرىis seen وَهيَwhile it is دارٌa home لِلمعُظَّمِfor al-Mu'azzam مِحلالُmuch-frequented
تُرى وَهيَ دارٌ لِلمعُظَّمِ مِحلالُ
Just as the All-Merciful blessed Jilliq when it came to be
Just as the Merciful made it fortunate when it settled,
Seen as the home where al-Mu'azzam often dwells.
You see it as a residence for the August One.
دِمشقُDamascus هِيَit is الفِردَوسُParadise وَالمِسكُand musk تُربُهاits soil
دِمشقُ هِيَ الفِردَوسُ وَالمِسكُ تُربُها
وَحَصباؤُهاand its pebbles الياقوتُrubies وَالماءُand the water جِريالُred wine
وَحَصباؤُها الياقوتُ وَالماءُ جِريالُ
Damascus is Paradise, and musk is its soil;
Damascus is paradise, musk is its earth,
Its pebbles are rubies, and its water red wine.
Its pebbles are ruby and its water is running.
وَمِنand through شَرَفِSharaf (honor of) الدينِal-Din (the faith) المُعَظَّمِal-Mu'azzam (the Exalted) أَصبَحَتit became
وَمِن شَرَفِ الدينِ المُعَظَّمِ أَصبَحَت
عَلىabove المُدنِthe cities فيin وَشيِthe embroidery of التَبَجُّحِpride تَختالُstruts
عَلى المُدنِ في وَشيِ التَبَجُّحِ تَختالُ
Through Sharaf al-Din al-Mu'azzam, it has come
From the augustness of exalted religion it became
To strut above the cities in pride's embroidered robe.
Vainglorious over cities in its special garb.
لَقَدindeed خَصَّهاsingled it out مُذsince حَلَّhe settled فيهاin it وَعَمَّهاand pervaded it
لَقَد خَصَّها مُذ حَلَّ فيها وَعَمَّها
جَمالٌbeauty وَإِجمالٌand graciousness وَفَضلٌand excellence وَإِفضالُand generosity
جَمالٌ وَإِجمالٌ وَفَضلٌ وَإِفضالُ
Indeed, since he settled there, it has been especially favored and filled
Indeed since he arrived in it and inhabited it
With beauty, graciousness, excellence, and generosity.
Beauty, grace, merit and favor have singled it out.
أَلاbehold أَيُّهاO المَلكُthe king المُعَظَّمُal-Mu'azzam (the Exalted) نِعمَةٌa blessing
أَلا أَيُّها المَلكُ المُعَظَّمُ نِعمَةٌ
بِجِلَّقَin Jilliq حَلَّتsettled فَاِستَقامَتso became right بِهاthrough it الحالُthe state of affairs
بِجِلَّقَ حَلَّت فَاِستَقامَت بِها الحالُ
Behold, O King al-Mu'azzam, you are a blessing
Lo, O August King, it is a blessing
That settled in Jilliq and set its affairs aright.
That Jilqaʾ arrived and affairs became orderly through it.
وَلَيسَand does not يَليقُbefit المَلكُkingship فيهاin it بِغَيرِهِanyone other than him
وَلَيسَ يَليقُ المَلكُ فيها بِغَيرِهِ
أَيُغنيcan serve? غَناءَthe function of الشَمسِthe sun فيon الأُفقِthe horizon ذُبّالُlamp-wicks
أَيُغني غَناءَ الشَمسِ في الأُفقِ ذُبّالُ
Kingship there befits none but him;
And none suits it but him,
Can lamp-wicks do the sun's work on the horizon?
Can a warbler in the horizon match the sun?
فَفيfor within صَدرِهِhis breast بَحرٌa sea مِنَof العِلمِknowledge زاخِرٌsurging
فَفي صَدرِهِ بَحرٌ مِنَ العِلمِ زاخِرٌ
وَخاطِرُهُand his mind إِذwhen يَنظِمُcomposes الشِعرَpoetry لآّلُa pearl merchant
وَخاطِرُهُ إِذ يَنظِمُ الشِعرَ لآّلُ
For within his breast is a surging sea of knowledge;
In his breast is an abundant sea of knowledge
And his mind, when composing verse, is a pearl merchant.
And his mind, when he composes poetry, is creative.
وَماand no أَسَدٌlion داميbloodied الأَظافِرِthe claws كاسِرٌrending
وَما أَسَدٌ دامي الأَظافِرِ كاسِرٌ
وَفيand in الغيلِthe thicket أَعراسٌmates لَدَيهِwith him وَأَشبالُand cubs
وَفي الغيلِ أَعراسٌ لَدَيهِ وَأَشبالُ
No lion, bloodied of claw, a ravaging beast,
He is not a vicious lion with tearing claws,
With mates and cubs beside him in the thicket,
Though around him are weddings and cubs.
هِزَبرٌa mighty lion تَحامَتهُshunned him الحُماةُthe defenders وَكَعَّتِand quailed الthe (continued)
هِزَبرٌ تَحامَتهُ الحُماةُ وَكَعَّتِ ال
كُماةُarmored warriors وَخامَتand shrank back خِيفَةًin fear مِنهُof him أَبطالُheroes
كُماةُ وَخامَت خِيفَةً مِنهُ أَبطالُ
A mighty lion whom defenders shun, before whom quail the
A formidable hero whom the protectors dread
Armored warriors, and heroes shrink from him in fear,
And the cowardly dread, fearing him, heroes.
وَآضَتand became فُحولُstallions of الخَيلِthe horses مُقرَبَةَdrawn close at الكُلاthe flanks
وَآضَت فُحولُ الخَيلِ مُقرَبَةَ الكُلا
وَقَدand already كُلِمَتwere wounded مِنهاof them صُدورٌchests وَأَكفالُand rumps
وَقَد كُلِمَت مِنها صُدورٌ وَأَكفالُ
And the stallions become drawn tight at the flanks,
The steeds of heroes stumbled over an obstruction
Their chests and rumps already wounded,
And from it chests and shoulders were wounded.
بِأَشجَعَbraver مِنهُthan him حينَwhen يُشهِرُhe brandishes سَيفَهُhis sword
بِأَشجَعَ مِنهُ حينَ يُشهِرُ سَيفَهُ
وَيَهتَزُّand sways فيin يُمناهُhis right hand لِلطَّعنِfor thrusting عَسّالُa supple spear
وَيَهتَزُّ في يُمناهُ لِلطَّعنِ عَسّالُ
Is braver than he when he brandishes his sword
More valiant than him when he brandishes his sword
And a supple spear sways in his right hand for thrusting.
And his right hand trembles, eager to stab.
وَلاnor الغَيثُthe rain مُنهَلَّpouring from العَزاليthe spouts مُجَلجِلاًthundering
وَلا الغَيثُ مُنهَلَّ العَزالي مُجَلجِلاً
وَقَدand already سُحِبَتwere dragged لِلسُحبِof the clouds فيacross الأَرضِthe earth أَذيالُskirts
وَقَد سُحِبَت لِلسُحبِ في الأَرضِ أَذيالُ
Nor is rain, pouring from its spouts with rolling thunder—
Nor is the pouring rain more continuous, stormy,
The clouds' skirts dragged along the earth,
When tails are dragged over the earth by clouds.
فَماfor scarcely زَعزَعَتهُshook it الريحُthe wind حَتّىuntil تَعادَلَتbecame level
فَما زَعزَعَتهُ الريحُ حَتّى تَعادَلَت
سُهولٌplains بِدُفّاعِby the onrush of السُيولِthe torrents وَأَجبالُand mountains
سُهولٌ بِدُفّاعِ السُيولِ وَأَجبالُ
Scarcely stirred by the wind before there stand level
The wind did not shake it until plains were made equal
Plains and mountains beneath the torrents' onrush—
With mountains by the striking of torrents.
بِأَغزَرَmore abundant مِنthan يُمناهُhis right hand تَنهَلُّpouring forth بِالنَدىwith bounty
بِأَغزَرَ مِن يُمناهُ تَنهَلُّ بِالنَدى
فَلَيسَso there is no بِأَرضٍin a land حَلَّهاhe settled in it الدَهرever إِمحالُdrought
فَلَيسَ بِأَرضٍ حَلَّها الدَهر إِمحالُ
More copious than his right hand, pouring forth bounty;
More generous than his right hand which pours with dew,
For no land he settles ever knows drought.
There is no place in the ages it did not settle.
وَقورٌdignified مَهيبٌawe-inspiring فيin النُفوسِsouls وَخُلقُهُand his character
وَقورٌ مَهيبٌ في النُفوسِ وَخُلقُهُ
بِهِin him سَلسَبيلٌSalsabil (sweet water) لِلجَليسِfor the companion وَسَلسالُand sweet-flowing water
بِهِ سَلسَبيلٌ لِلجَليسِ وَسَلسالُ
Dignified, awe-inspiring to souls, yet his character
Solemn and revered in souls, his nature
Is Salsabil and sweet-flowing water to his companion.
With it, is gentle to the companion and soft.
إِذاwhen اِشتَغَلَتbusy themselves شوسُthe haughty ones among المُلوكِthe kings بِلَهوِهاwith their diversion
إِذا اِشتَغَلَت شوسُ المُلوكِ بِلَهوِها
فَلَيسَthen there are no لَهُfor him إِلّاexcept المَكارِمَnoble deeds أَشغالُoccupations
فَلَيسَ لَهُ إِلّا المَكارِمَ أَشغالُ
When haughty kings busy themselves with their diversions,
If the entourage of kings are busy with their leisure,
He has no occupations but noble deeds.
He has no occupation but noble deeds.
تَقَمَّصَhe donned أَثوابَthe garments of المَعاليeminence قَشيبَةًnew
تَقَمَّصَ أَثوابَ المَعالي قَشيبَةً
وَهَلand can يَستَويbe equal بُردٌa mantle قَشيبٌnew وَأَسمالُand rags
وَهَل يَستَوي بُردٌ قَشيبٌ وَأَسمالُ
He has donned the new robes of eminence;
He wore the clothes of glory plainly,
And can a new mantle and worn rags be equal?
Can a plain cloak equal fine raiment?
هَنيئاًmay it be joyful لَهُfor him الحَولُthe year البَشيرُbringing glad tidings حُؤولُهُits return
هَنيئاً لَهُ الحَولُ البَشيرُ حُؤولُهُ
بِمُلكٍwith sovereignty مُقيمٍenduring لَمdid not تُحَوِّلهُalter it أَحوالُcircumstances
بِمُلكٍ مُقيمٍ لَم تُحَوِّلهُ أَحوالُ
May the year, auspicious in its return, bring him joy,
Happy is the auspicious year of his succession
With enduring sovereignty, unaltered by changing fortunes.
To an enduring kingdom, not changed by circumstances.
وَلاand may never بَرِحَتcease فيهِin it مَساعيهِhis endeavors تَجتَليbehold
وَلا بَرِحَت فيهِ مَساعيهِ تَجتَلي
وُجوهَthe faces of المُنىwishes بيضاًwhite فَتُدرَكَso may be attained آمالُhopes
وُجوهَ المُنى بيضاً فَتُدرَكَ آمالُ
May his endeavors within it never cease to behold
His efforts did not cease to uncover
The radiant faces of wishes, so that hopes may be attained.
The facets of purpose, white, and so hopes are met.
مَتىwhenever قابَلَmet العافونَthe petitioners غُرَّةَthe radiance of وَجهِهِhis face
مَتى قابَلَ العافونَ غُرَّةَ وَجهِهِ
تَلَقّاهُمُgreeted them مِنهُfrom him قَبولٌacceptance وَإِقبالُand welcome
تَلَقّاهُمُ مِنهُ قَبولٌ وَإِقبالُ
Whenever petitioners meet the radiance of his face,
Whenever he faces the afflicted ones the innocence of his face,
Acceptance and welcome from him greet them.
He meets them with acceptance and inclination.
وَكَمand how many a مُعسِرٍneedy man وافاهُcame to him يَرجوhoping for نَوالَهُhis bounty
وَكَم مُعسِرٍ وافاهُ يَرجو نَوالَهُ
فَعادَso returned مُرَجّيone hoping for جودِهِhis generosity وَلَهُand he has مالُwealth
فَعادَ مُرَجّي جودِهِ وَلَهُ مالُ
How many a needy man came to him hoping for his bounty,
How many destitutes has he come upon hoping for his bestowal,
And the seeker of his generosity returned possessing wealth!
Then he returned, hoping for his munificence, and owning wealth.
فَلاso may never زالَcease to be ذاpossessing مُلكٍsovereignty تُمَدُّbe extended ظِلالُهُits shades
فَلا زالَ ذا مُلكٍ تُمَدُّ ظِلالُهُ
عَلَيهِover him وَبِالنَّعماءِand in bounty تَقصُرُfall short أَسجالُfull water-buckets
عَلَيهِ وَبِالنَّعماءِ تَقصُرُ أَسجالُ
May he ever possess sovereignty whose shade is outspread
He continues possessing a kingdom whose shadows
Over him, while full buckets fall short of his bounty.
Stretch over him, and alongside bounties, favors are too short.
Sol 6.1