الآنَnow لانَsoftened لِيَfor me الزَمانُtime فَأَعتَباso it made amends
الآنَ لانَ لِيَ الزَمانُ فَأَعتَبا
وَاِنقادَand yielded مِنfrom بَعدِafter الشِماسِrestiveness فَأَصحَباso it became tractable
وَاِنقادَ مِن بَعدِ الشِماسِ فَأَصحَبا
Now time has softened for me and made amends;
Now is not the time for me to blame
And yielded after its restiveness, becoming tractable.
Or pull back after the sun has set, so I keep going
تَرَكَforsook الحِرانَbalking فَعادَand became عَوداًan aged camel طائِعاًobedient
تَرَكَ الحِرانَ فَعادَ عَوداً طائِعاً
وَأَبىand rejected التَّحَمُّطَarrogance فَاِمتَطَيتُso I mounted المُصعَباthe unruly beast
وَأَبى التَّحَمُّطَ فَاِمتَطَيتُ المُصعَبا
It forsook its balking and became an obedient old camel;
Leaving Hiran behind, returning obedient
It rejected arrogance, and I mounted the unruly beast.
Refusing to crawl, I mount the rugged path
فَالجِذعُso the trunk ليfor me جُمّارُهُits tender palm-heart وَالعَظمُand bone غُضcartilage (first part)
فَالجِذعُ لي جُمّارُهُ وَالعَظمُ غُض
روفٌcartilage (remainder) بِهِin it لينٌsoftness وَكانَand it was الأَصلَباthe hardest
روفٌ بِهِ لينٌ وَكانَ الأَصلَبا
For me, the trunk is its tender palm-heart, and bone is
My body remains supple and my bones still strong
Soft cartilage, though once it was the hardest.
Softened by youth though once hard and stiff
زارَvisited الخَيالُthe phantom وَلاتَand not حينَthe time for زِيارَةٍa visit
زارَ الخَيالُ وَلاتَ حينَ زِيارَةٍ
أَهلاًwelcome وَسَهلاًand be at ease بِالحَبيبِto the beloved وَمَرحَباand welcome
أَهلاً وَسَهلاً بِالحَبيبِ وَمَرحَبا
The beloved's phantom visited, though it was no time for a visit.
Imagination paid a visit when I was young
Welcome, beloved—be at ease, and welcome!
With warm greetings for my beloved and welcome
سُعدىSu'da سَعِدتُI found happiness بِهاwith her وَنُعمٌand Nu'm أَنعَمَتbestowed favor
سُعدى سَعِدتُ بِها وَنُعمٌ أَنعَمَت
وَقَرَرتُand I was gladdened عَيناًin my eyes بِالرَّبابِby al-Rabab وَزَينَباand Zaynab
وَقَرَرتُ عَيناً بِالرَّبابِ وَزَينَبا
I found happiness with Su'da, and Nu'm bestowed favor;
My happiness brought me joy and favor
And my eyes were gladdened by al-Rabab and Zaynab.
I set eyes on the neck and waist of Zainab
ياO مَنwho will help لِشَيخٍan old man مُغرَمٍenamored بِعَقيلَةٍof a noble lady
يا مَن لِشَيخٍ مُغرَمٍ بِعَقيلَةٍ
شَمطاءَgray-haired علّقَهاhe fell in love with her عَلىin عَهدِthe days of الصِّباyouth
شَمطاءَ علّقَها عَلى عَهدِ الصِّبا
Oh, who will help an old man enamored of a noble lady,
O you whose heart clings to a charming coquette
Now gray-haired, whom he loved in the days of youth?
You hung up in your youth like old rags
أَوand is لَيسَnot حُسنُgood keeping of العَهدِthe covenant فيin الدُنياthis world مِنpart of الthe
أَو لَيسَ حُسنُ العَهدِ في الدُنيا مِن ال
إيمانِfaith هَذاthis مِنfrom حَديثِa saying of المُجتَبىthe Chosen One
إيمانِ هَذا مِن حَديثِ المُجتَبى
And is not keeping faith in this world part of
Is not the beauty of faith in this world?
Faith? This is a saying of the Chosen One.
This is from the words of the Chosen One
مِنfrom أَينَwhere تعنىcares ذاتُa woman with ثَغرٍa mouth أَشنَبٍcool and pearly-toothed
مِن أَينَ تعنى ذاتُ ثَغرٍ أَشنَبٍ
يَوماًever بِحاجَةِfor the need of ذيa man with عِذارٍside-whiskers أَشيَباgray
يَوماً بِحاجَةِ ذي عِذارٍ أَشيَبا
How could a woman with cool, pearly teeth care
Whence does one with snarling lips
Ever for the need of a gray-whiskered man?
One day need the help of a hoary elder?
يَفَنٌa decrepit old man تخدَدَbecame furrowed لَحمُهُhis flesh وَاِبيَضَّand turned white فوtemples (first part)
يَفَنٌ تخدَدَ لَحمُهُ وَاِبيَضَّ فو
داهُhis two temples (remainder) فَضاهَىso he resembled السّيدَthe wolf راعَfrightened الرَبرَباthe herd of wild cattle
داهُ فَضاهَى السّيدَ راعَ الرَبرَبا
A decrepit old man, his flesh furrowed and his hair turned white
An old rotting body, white hair
At both temples, resembling a wolf that startled a herd of wild cattle.
Presuming to rival the master, carrier of burdens
لَمّاwhen اِستَشَنَّgrew dry and shriveled أَديمُهُhis skin وهريقَand was spilled ماwater (first part)
لَمّا اِستَشَنَّ أَديمُهُ وهريقَ ما
ءُwater (remainder) شَبابِهِof his youth لَمnot يُمسِwas he مَرهوبَfeared الشَباin sharpness
ءُ شَبابِهِ لَم يُمسِ مَرهوبَ الشَبا
When his skin grew dry and shriveled, and the water
When his skin was crumpled and the water
Of his youth was spilled, his edge was no longer feared.
Of his youth dried up, he did not touch the feared one
واهاًah بِغربيبِfor the jet-black one of الشَّبيبةِyouth واقِعاًperched
واهاً بِغربيبِ الشَّبيبةِ واقِعاً
إِذwhen لَمnot يُرَعwas it frightened بوُقوعِby the alighting of بازٍa hawk أَشهَباgray-white
إِذ لَم يُرَع بوُقوعِ بازٍ أَشهَبا
Ah, for youth's jet-black bird, perched,
Alas for the foolishness of youth
When it was not startled by a gray-white hawk's landing.
Fallen while an old hawk still flew aloft
مُذever since بومَةٍan owl قَدindeed آذَنَتannounced إِذsince لَمnot تَزَلit ceased
مُذ بومَةٍ قَد آذَنَت إِذ لَم تَزَل
تَأويshelters in الخَرابَthe ruins بِأَنَّthat عَقليmy mind خُرِّباwas ruined
تَأوي الخَرابَ بِأَنَّ عَقلي خُرِّبا
Ever since an owl announced—for it has always
Since the day my herald appeared, and did not cease
Dwelt in ruins—that my mind was laid waste.
To shelter ruin, for my mind was ruined
لَمnot تحزَنِgrieved العَرَبُthe Arabs الكِرامُthe noble كَحُزنِهاlike their grief
لَم تحزَنِ العَرَبُ الكِرامُ كَحُزنِها
إِذwhen فارَقَتthey parted from زَمَنَthe time of الشَبابِyouth الأَطيَباthe sweetest
إِذ فارَقَت زَمَنَ الشَبابِ الأَطيَبا
Never did the noble Arabs grieve as they grieved
The noble Arabs were never as sad
When they parted from youth's sweetest season.
As when they left the days of sweetest youth
بَرقٌlightning يَمانٍYemeni ليfor me تَأَلَّقَflashed بِالمُنىwith hopes
بَرقٌ يَمانٍ لي تَأَلَّقَ بِالمُنى
وَلَقَدand indeed عَهِدناهُwe had known it زَماناًfor a time خُلَّباrainless
وَلَقَد عَهِدناهُ زَماناً خُلَّبا
A Yemeni lightning-flash gleamed for me with promise,
He was a Yemeni lightning that flashed with wishes
Though we had known it for a time as a rainless flash.
Long ago we knew him as the adorned one
أَسدىlaid the warp بِحاشِيَةِalong the hem of الغَمامِthe clouds وَميضهُits gleam
أَسدى بِحاشِيَةِ الغَمامِ وَميضهُ
وَأَنارَand illuminated مُلتَهِباًblazing رِداءًa robe مُذهَباgilded
وَأَنارَ مُلتَهِباً رِداءً مُذهَبا
Its gleam laid the warp along the cloud's hem,
His sword gleamed at the edge of the clouds
And, blazing, illuminated a gilded robe.
And blazed, lighting up a gilded cloak
فَكَأَنَّso it was as though مَجدَMajd (glory) الدينِal-Din (religion) وَالدُنياand al-Dunya (the world) اِنتَضىdrew
فَكَأَنَّ مَجدَ الدينِ وَالدُنيا اِنتَضى
مِنهُfrom it لِقَطعِto cut down الجَدبِdrought سَيفاًa sword مِقضَباkeen-edged
مِنهُ لِقَطعِ الجَدبِ سَيفاً مِقضَبا
So it was as though Majd al-Din wa-l-Dunya drew
It was as if the glory of religion and world
From it a keen sword to cut down drought.
Arose from him to cut short the drought, a sharpened blade
وَكَأَنَّand as though صَوتَthe sound of الرَّعدِthunder رَكضُthe galloping of خُيولِهِhis horses
وَكَأَنَّ صَوتَ الرَّعدِ رَكضُ خُيولِهِ
وَالنَصرُand victory فيon جَبهاتِهنَّtheir brows مُرَكَّباmounted
وَالنَصرُ في جَبهاتِهنَّ مُرَكَّبا
And as though thunder's sound were the gallop of his horses,
As if the roar of thunder were the horses of his army
With victory mounted on their brows.
And victory upon their brows, appointed
حَسَدَenvied الأَهِلَّةُthe crescents فيin السَماءِthe sky نِعالَهاtheir horseshoes
حَسَدَ الأَهِلَّةُ في السَماءِ نِعالَها
فيon الأَرضِthe earth جاعِلَةَmaking البَعيدِthe distant الأَقرَباthe nearest
في الأَرضِ جاعِلَةَ البَعيدِ الأَقرَبا
The crescents in the sky envied their horseshoes
The celestial stars envied his shoes
On earth, turning the distant into the nearest.
Making the faraway the nearest upon earth
كَمhow often أَطلَعَتhave brought forth لَيلاًat night سَنابِكُthe hooves of خَيلِهِhis horses
كَم أَطلَعَت لَيلاً سَنابِكُ خَيلِهِ
وَالبيضُand gleaming swords شَمساًa sun وَالأَسِنَّةُand spearheads كَوكَباa star
وَالبيضُ شَمساً وَالأَسِنَّةُ كَوكَبا
How often, at night, have his horses' hooves
How many times at night did his horses’ bridles shine?
And gleaming swords raised a sun, and spearheads a star!
The white swords stars, the blades planets
إِمّاif عَزَمتَyou resolve عَلىon الرَحيلِdeparture فَلَمthen not يَزَلhas he ceased
إِمّا عَزَمتَ عَلى الرَحيلِ فَلَم يَزَل
لِلمَكرُماتِfor noble deeds مُقَوِّضاًstriking tents وَمُطَنِّباand pitching tents
لِلمَكرُماتِ مُقَوِّضاً وَمُطَنِّبا
If you resolve to travel, he has always been
Whether you are determined to depart, you have not ceased
Striking and pitching tents for noble deeds.
To undermine the honored and covetous
اللَهُGod أَكبَرُis greatest وَالزَمانُand time أَحَقُّmore entitled أَنto
اللَهُ أَكبَرُ وَالزَمانُ أَحَقُّ أَن
يُثنيspeak praise عَلَيكَof you وَأَنand that تَكونَyou be مُحَبَّباbeloved
يُثني عَلَيكَ وَأَن تَكونَ مُحَبَّبا
God is greatest! It is only right that time
God is greatest! And time is most right
Should praise you, and that you should be beloved.
To praise you and make you beloved
أَوand is لَيسَnot مَجدُMajd (glory) الدينِal-Din (religion) وَالدُنياand al-Dunya (the world) بِهِin it
أَو لَيسَ مَجدُ الدينِ وَالدُنيا بِهِ
أَسمىthe highest of الوَرىmankind قَدراًin worth وَاِسناand loftiest مَنصِباin rank
أَسمى الوَرى قَدراً وَاِسنا مَنصِبا
And is not Majd al-Din wa-l-Dunya, in this age,
Is not the glory of religion and this world through him
The highest of mankind in worth and the loftiest in rank,
Highest of all in worth and elevated in office?
وَأَجَلُّand the most august عاقِدِto bind حبوَةٍa knee-wrap فيin مُلكِهِhis realm
وَأَجَلُّ عاقِدِ حبوَةٍ في مُلكِهِ
وَأَعَزُّand the mightiest مَنone whom حَلَّuntied المُلوكَthe kings لَهُfor him الحباthe knee-wraps
وَأَعَزُّ مَن حَلَّ المُلوكَ لَهُ الحبا
And the most august to fasten a knee-wrap in his realm,
Noblest binder of allegiance in his kingdom
The mightiest for whom kings undo their knee-wraps?
Proudest who attracted kings to love him
سَدَّتclosed off كِتابَتُهُhis calligraphy عَلىto اِبنِIbn هِلالٍHilal الal- (the)
سَدَّت كِتابَتُهُ عَلى اِبنِ هِلالٍ ال
بَوابِBawwab (gatekeeper) ماwhat فيin الخَطِّcalligraphy قِدماًlong ago بَوَّباhe opened doors to
بَوابِ ما في الخَطِّ قِدماً بَوَّبا
His calligraphy closed to Ibn Hilal
His writings sealed the gate for Ibn Hilal
Al-Bawwab every door he had once opened in calligraphy.
Whatever was in line, a foot arranged
جَمَعَتgathered أَياديهِhis benefactions المَعاليexalted virtues كُلَّهاall of them
جَمَعَت أَياديهِ المَعالي كُلَّها
وَصفاًas attributes لَهُof him وَتَفَرَّقَتand scattered أَيديthe hands of سَباSaba
وَصفاً لَهُ وَتَفَرَّقَت أَيدي سَبا
His benefactions gathered every exalted virtue
His hands gathered all glories
As his attributes, while the hands of Saba scattered.
Then scattered while Sabah’s hands grabbed
وَإِذاand when تَحَدَّثَhe speaks غَيرَnot مُحتَفِلٍtaking pains بِماover what
وَإِذا تَحَدَّثَ غَيرَ مُحتَفِلٍ بِما
يُبديhe utters أَراناhe shows us فيin الفَصاحَةِeloquence يَعرُباYa'rub
يُبدي أَرانا في الفَصاحَةِ يَعرُبا
And when he speaks, taking no pains over what
When he spoke unselfconsciously, he showed us
He utters, he shows us Ya'rub in eloquence.
Eloquence and grammar in Arabic
وَقَفَwas devoted الثَناءُpraise عَلَيهِto him صِيتاًas renown لَمnot يَزَلceased
وَقَفَ الثَناءُ عَلَيهِ صِيتاً لَم يَزَل
بِالمَكرُماتِwith noble deeds مُشَرِّقاًgoing east ومُغَرِّباand going west
بِالمَكرُماتِ مُشَرِّقاً ومُغَرِّبا
Praise is devoted to him, a renown that never ceases
Praise of him continued sounding, it did not cease
To travel east and west with noble deeds.
Rising and setting with honor
تَنهَلُّpours forth يُمناهُhis right hand بِخَمسَةِwith five أَبحُرٍseas
تَنهَلُّ يُمناهُ بِخَمسَةِ أَبحُرٍ
وَتُلاثُand is wound حُبوَتهhis knee-wrap بِرَضوىaround Radwa ذيpossessing الرُباthe hills
وَتُلاثُ حُبوَته بِرَضوى ذي الرُبا
His right hand pours forth five seas,
His right hand draws from five oceans
And his knee-wrap is wound around Radwa with its hills.
His covenants from the pleasure of the Lord of lords
وَمَتىand whenever اِنتَدَىhe joins an assembly وَسطَamong المُلوكِthe kings بِمَحفِلٍat a gathering
وَمَتى اِنتَدَى وَسطَ المُلوكِ بِمَحفِلٍ
جَعَلوهُthey placed him واسِطَةَthe central jewel of الفِرِندِthe gems تَرَتّباin rank
جَعَلوهُ واسِطَةَ الفِرِندِ تَرَتّبا
Whenever he joins kings in an assembly,
Whenever he stood among the kings in council
They rank him as the central jewel among the gems.
They made him the intermediary, arranged in order
ماnot ذاكَthat إِلّاexcept إِذbecause رَأَوهُthey saw him بِعَزمِهِin his resolve
ما ذاكَ إِلّا إِذ رَأَوهُ بِعَزمِهِ
أَوفىfullest إِباءًin proud refusal وَهوَand he is أَشرفُهُمthe noblest of them أَباin paternal lineage
أَوفى إِباءً وَهوَ أَشرفُهُم أَبا
That is only because they saw him, in his resolve,
That only because they saw him, resolute
Most steadfast in proud refusal, and noblest of them in paternal lineage.
Most faithful in refusal, noblest father
حَجَبَbarred المُلوكُthe kings عَنِfrom النَوالِbounty وفودَهُمtheir delegations
حَجَبَ المُلوكُ عَنِ النَوالِ وفودَهُم
وَأَبىand he refused لِوَفدِfor the delegation seeking نَوالِهِhis bounty أَنto يُحجَباbe barred
وَأَبى لِوَفدِ نَوالِهِ أَن يُحجَبا
The kings barred their delegations from bounty,
Kings concealed their envoys from access, but his envoy refused
But he refused to let the seekers of his bounty be barred.
To be barred from the access of kings
وَبَنىand he built البِناءَthe building بِبَعلَبَكَّin Baalbek وَمنand whoever بَنىbuilt
وَبَنى البِناءَ بِبَعلَبَكَّ وَمن بَنى
هَذاthis البِناbuilding فَبِناؤُهُthen his building لَنwill not يُخرَباbe ruined
هَذا البِنا فَبِناؤُهُ لَن يُخرَبا
And he raised the building in Baalbek; whoever built
He built the edifice at Baalbek, and he who built
This edifice—his building shall never be ruined.
This edifice, his building will not be ruined
ياO بَعلَبَكُّBaalbek لَقَدindeed قَهَرتِyou surpassed المَشرِقَthe East الthe
يا بَعلَبَكُّ لَقَد قَهَرتِ المَشرِقَ ال
أَقصَىfarthest بِخَيرِwith the best مُمَلَّكٍcrowned ruler وَالمَغرِباand the West
أَقصَى بِخَيرِ مُمَلَّكٍ وَالمَغرِبا
O Baalbek, you have surpassed the East
O Baalbek, you have conquered East and West
At its farthest, and the West, with the finest crowned ruler.
With the best of ruled lands and the West
أَحسِنhow splendid بِهِhe is فيin كلّماall حالاتِهِhis states
أَحسِن بِهِ في كلّما حالاتِهِ
مُتَشَربِشاًwearing a sharbush cap مُتَتَوِّجاًwearing a crown مُتَعَصِّباwearing a head-wrap
مُتَشَربِشاً مُتَتَوِّجاً مُتَعَصِّبا
How splendid he is in all his states,
Treat him well in all his states
In a sharbush cap, in a crown, or in a head-wrap!
Robed, crowned, and boot-girt
ياO مَنone who يُجاوِرُهُdwells beside him لَقَدindeed جاوَرتyou have dwelt beside مِنfrom
يا مَن يُجاوِرُهُ لَقَد جاوَرت مِن
هُhim البَحرَthe sea يَقذِفُcasts up بِالجَواهِرwith jewels مُحسِباgiving abundantly
هُ البَحرَ يَقذِفُ بِالجَواهِر مُحسِبا
O neighbor of his, you have found in
O you who dwell next to him, you have dwelt alongside
Him an ocean for a neighbor, casting forth jewels in abundance.
An ocean casting forth pearls, thinking them pebbles
لاdo not تَخشَfear مِنfrom سَيلِthe flood of الخُطوبِcalamities أَذىharm إِذاwhen
لا تَخشَ مِن سَيلِ الخُطوبِ أَذى إِذا
جاوَرتَهُyou dwell beside him وَالسَيلُand the flood قَدindeed بَلَغَhas reached الزُّباthe high ground
جاوَرتَهُ وَالسَيلُ قَد بَلَغَ الزُّبا
Fear no harm from the flood of calamities when
Fear no harm from floods of misfortune while dwelling beside him
You dwell beside him, though the flood has reached the high ground.
For the torrent has reached a flood
أَوand have ماnot تَلاrecited حُسّادُهُhis enviers ياO وَيحَهُمwoe to them
أَو ما تَلا حُسّادُهُ يا وَيحَهُم
عَمّاabout what فَكَمso how often يَتَساءَلونَthey ask one another عَنِabout النَباthe tidings
عَمّا فَكَم يَتَساءَلونَ عَنِ النَبا
And have his enviers not recited—woe to them—
Or have not his enviers - woe to them - asked
'About what?' So how often they ask one another about the tidings!
How much they inquire about the news?
هَذاthis الَّذيis he who بَذَّoutstripped المُلوكَthe kings بِأَسرِهِمall of them
هَذا الَّذي بَذَّ المُلوكَ بِأَسرِهِم
فَضلاًin excellence فَأَعجَزَso he baffled واصِفيهِthose describing him وَأَتعَباand exhausted
فَضلاً فَأَعجَزَ واصِفيهِ وَأَتعَبا
This is he who surpassed all kings
This one who routed all the kings
In excellence, baffling and exhausting those who describe him.
Outdoing describers, exhausting them
هَذاthis الَّذيis he who حيزَتwas secured لَهُfor him العَلياsupreme honor فَماso not
هَذا الَّذي حيزَت لَهُ العَليا فَما
جَعَلَmade الإِلَهُGod لَهُfor him سِواهاother than it مَكسَباa gain
جَعَلَ الإِلَهُ لَهُ سِواها مَكسَبا
This is he for whom supreme honor was secured, so
This one for whom the highest spheres were allotted
God made nothing else his gain.
God did not allot him other acquirement
هَذاthis الَّذيis he who اِنقادَتsubmitted لَهُto him شوسُthe haughty ones of العِداthe enemies
هَذا الَّذي اِنقادَت لَهُ شوسُ العِدا
إِذsince لَمnot يُوافُواthey found مِنهُfrom him يَوماًever مَهرَباan escape
إِذ لَم يُوافُوا مِنهُ يَوماً مَهرَبا
This is he to whom the haughty foes submitted,
This one submitted before whom the lions of armies
For they never once found a way to escape him.
When they could never find escape from him
ياO حَبَّذاhow delightful ذاكَthose البَنانُfingers مُقَبَّلاًbeing kissed
يا حَبَّذا ذاكَ البَنانُ مُقَبَّلاً
يَجريruns بِهِin them القَلَمُthe pen الضَئيلُslender مُقَلَّباbeing turned
يَجري بِهِ القَلَمُ الضَئيلُ مُقَلَّبا
Ah, how lovely those fingers are when kissed,
Would that the one who kissed that form
In which the slender pen moves, turned this way and that.
With a feeble pen flowed and ebbed!
لَوif أَنَّthat لِلشُّهُبِfor the meteors الثَّواقِبِthe piercing رَميُهُhis shooting
لَو أَنَّ لِلشُّهُبِ الثَّواقِبِ رَميُهُ
لَمnot يَلقَwould find مُستَرِقٌan eavesdropper لِسَمعٍfor listening مذهَباa way out
لَم يَلقَ مُستَرِقٌ لِسَمعٍ مذهَبا
If the piercing meteors had his shot,
If shooting stars had his cast, no eavesdropper
No eavesdropper would find a way to escape.
Would find a stolen hearing, rapt and robbed
عُذراًpardon أَبَيتَmay you reject اللَّعنَthe curse فيماfor what قُلتُهُI said it
عُذراً أَبَيتَ اللَّعنَ فيما قُلتُهُ
وَاِصفَحand pardon فَبالتَقصيرِfor, with shortcomings جِئتُكَI came to you مُذنِباguilty
وَاِصفَح فَبالتَقصيرِ جِئتُكَ مُذنِبا
Pardon me—may you be above reproach—for what I have said,
Forgive my curses in what I have said
And pardon me, for I have come to you guilty of falling short.
Excuse me, for deficient I have sinned against you
مَنwho ذاis it that يُحيطُencompasses بِكُنهِthe essence of وَصفِكَyour description فيin العُلىeminence
مَن ذا يُحيطُ بِكُنهِ وَصفِكَ في العُلى
هَيهاتَfar beyond reach ذاكَthat وَعزَّand is hard ذَلِكَthat مَطلَباas a quest
هَيهاتَ ذاكَ وَعزَّ ذَلِكَ مَطلَبا
Who can encompass the true nature of your lofty qualities?
Who can encompass the essence of your lofty description?
Far beyond reach is that, and hard is that pursuit!
Never! That is difficult to attain
أَمسَيتُI became مَمنُوّاًafflicted بِحمّىwith a fever صالِبٍfierce
أَمسَيتُ مَمنُوّاً بِحمّى صالِبٍ
فيin بَعلبَكَّBaalbek كَمَنlike one who بِخَيبَرَin Khaybar غَرّباwent far from home
في بَعلبَكَّ كَمَن بِخَيبَرَ غَرّبا
I have become afflicted with a fierce fever
I have become intoxicated with ardent love in Baalbek
In Baalbek, like a traveler far from home in Khaybar.
Like one drunk with pleasure in Khaibar long ago
وَأَرىand I see الأَذىsuffering فيin حُبِّlove of مَولاناour lord بِهاthere
وَأَرى الأَذى في حُبِّ مَولانا بِها
أَحلىsweeter مِنَthan الثَمَرِthe fruit الجَنِيِّfreshly picked وَأَطيَباand more delicious
أَحلى مِنَ الثَمَرِ الجَنِيِّ وَأَطيَبا
And I find the suffering there, in love of our lord,
And I see the pain in loving our master as sweeter
Sweeter than freshly picked fruit, and more delicious.
Than fruits and grapes so fresh and ripe
وَهوَand he الجَديرُthe one worthy بِأَفعَلِof the af'al form of التَفضيلِthe superlative فيin الthe
وَهوَ الجَديرُ بِأَفعَلِ التَفضيلِ في ال
مَجدِglory المُؤَثَّلِdeep-rooted فيamong المُلوكِthe kings مُلَقَّباas a title
مَجدِ المُؤَثَّلِ في المُلوكِ مُلَقَّبا
And he is worthy of the superlative form in
He deserves most excellent preference in rank
Deep-rooted glory, as his title among kings.
Named glorious among honored kings
لاmay he not زالَcease فيin فَتحٍconquest وَنَصرٍand victory ماas long as شَدتsings
لا زالَ في فَتحٍ وَنَصرٍ ما شَدت
قُمرِيَّةٌa turtledove أُصُلاًin the evenings وَماand as long as هَبَّتblows صَباthe east wind
قُمرِيَّةٌ أُصُلاً وَما هَبَّت صَبا
May he ever enjoy conquest and victory as long as
Still opening and victorious whenever
A turtledove sings in the evenings and the east wind blows.
An enemy stirred and youth took up arms
Sol 6.1