تُبrepent ياO عَذوليmy reproacher عَنfrom مَلاميblaming me وَاِتَّئِبand be ashamed
تُب يا عَذولي عَن مَلامي وَاِتَّئِب
فَلَيسَfor ... is not قَلبيmy heart عَنfrom غَراميmy passion مُنقَلِبturning away
فَلَيسَ قَلبي عَن غَرامي مُنقَلِب
Repent, my reproacher, of blaming me, and be ashamed.
For my heart will not turn away from my passion.
بيI am smitten with أَهيَفٌa slender-waisted one مِثلُlike قَضيبِa bough of البانِthe bān tree مِنfrom
بي أَهيَفٌ مِثلُ قَضيبِ البانِ مِن
أَجفانِهِhis eyelids السودِthe black اِنتَضىunsheathed بيضَwhite القُضُبthe blades
أَجفانِهِ السودِ اِنتَضى بيضَ القُضُب
I am smitten with a slender one, like a bough of the bān tree, who from
his black eyelids has unsheathed white blades.
أَودَعَlodged قَلبيmy heart أَلَماًpain بَردُthe coolness of اللَمىthe lips' dusky hue
أَودَعَ قَلبي أَلَماً بَردُ اللَمى
وَلَمand did not يَدَعleave ليfor me نَشباًwealth بَرقُthe flash of الشَنَبthe teeth's cool freshness
وَلَم يَدَع لي نَشباً بَرقُ الشَنَب
The coolness of his dusky lips lodged pain in my heart,
and the gleam of his pearly teeth left me no wealth.
أَعرَبَrevealed عَنconcerning مَحاسِنٍcharms تَحسدُهاenvy them الthe
أَعرَبَ عَن مَحاسِنٍ تَحسدُها ال
غيدُgraceful maidens وَإِنand even if أَصبَحنَthey become أَبكاراًvirgins عُرُبamorous
غيدُ وَإِن أَصبَحنَ أَبكاراً عُرُب
He revealed charms envied by the
graceful maidens, though they be amorous virgins.
ماnever اِستافَscented مِغناطيسُهُنَّtheir magnet مُهجَتيmy heart
ما اِستافَ مِغناطيسُهُنَّ مُهجَتي
إِلّاexcept وَكادَتand it nearly مِنfrom حَيازيميmy ribs تثبleaps
إِلّا وَكادَت مِن حَيازيمي تثب
Their magnet never scented my heart
without it nearly leaping from my ribs.
ياO حَبَّذاhow lovely أَرواحُناour spirits كاسِيَةًclad
يا حَبَّذا أَرواحُنا كاسِيَةً
بِراحِناin our wine تَحتَbeneath رَياحينِthe fragrant herbs of الطَرَبrapture
بِراحِنا تَحتَ رَياحينِ الطَرَب
Ah, how lovely our spirits, clad
in our wine beneath the fragrant herbs of rapture!
وَنَحنُand we فيin اِغتِباقِناour evening drinking نَدأَبُpersevere وَاِصand morning-drinking (word begins)
وَنَحنُ في اِغتِباقِنا نَدأَبُ وَاِص
طِباحِناour morning drinking (word ends) لَمnot نَخشَwe fear مِنfrom نابِthe fang of النُوَبcalamities
طِباحِنا لَم نَخشَ مِن نابِ النُوَب
And we persisted in our evening drinking and our
morning drinking, fearing no fang of calamity.
وَالعَيشُand life صافٍclear وَالأَمانيand hopes غَضَّةُfresh الthe
وَالعَيشُ صافٍ وَالأَماني غَضَّةُ ال
أَوصافِqualities تسّاقطُfall مِنهُنَّfrom them الرُطَبthe ripe dates
أَوصافِ تسّاقطُ مِنهُنَّ الرُطَب
And life was unclouded, and hopes fresh in
their qualities, ripe dates falling from them.
وَكُلَّماand whenever اِفتَرَّparted his lips الحَبيبُthe beloved ضاحِكاًlaughing
وَكُلَّما اِفتَرَّ الحَبيبُ ضاحِكاً
تَبَسَّمَتsmiled كاساتُناour cups عَنِrevealing الحَبَبthe bubbles
تَبَسَّمَت كاساتُنا عَنِ الحَبَب
And whenever the beloved parted his lips, laughing,
our cups smiled, revealing bubbles.
أَراكَhe showed you هَذاthis الدرَّthe pearls فيin الياقوتِthe ruby مَنstrung (word begins)
أَراكَ هَذا الدرَّ في الياقوتِ مَن
ظوماًstrung (word ends) وَهَذاand this لُؤلُؤاًpearls عَلىupon ذَهَبgold
ظوماً وَهَذا لُؤلُؤاً عَلى ذَهَب
He showed you these pearls in ruby, strung
together, and these pearls upon gold.
يُقابِلُmatches الوَردَthe rose بِوَردٍwith a rose مِثلِهِlike it
يُقابِلُ الوَردَ بِوَردٍ مِثلِهِ
مِنfrom وَجنَتَيهِhis two cheeks إِنif صَحاhe is sober وَإِنand if شَرِبhe drinks
مِن وَجنَتَيهِ إِن صَحا وَإِن شَرِب
He matches the rose with a rose like it,
from his cheeks, whether sober or drinking.
يَمُدُّextends لِلكَأسِtoward the cup بَناناًfingers أَبيَضاًwhite
يَمُدُّ لِلكَأسِ بَناناً أَبيَضاً
فَيَنتَشيso grows tipsy مِنهاfrom it البنانُthe fingers مُختَضِبstained
فَيَنتَشي مِنها البنانُ مُختَضِب
He extends white fingers toward the cup,
and his fingers grow tipsy from it, stained.
يُخشىone fears عَلىfor الساقيthe cupbearer إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle شَجَّهاhe dilutes it
يُخشى عَلى الساقي إِذا ما شَجَّها
فيin الكَأسِthe cup مِنfrom شُعاعِهاits radiance أَنthat يَلتَهِبhe catches fire
في الكَأسِ مِن شُعاعِها أَن يَلتَهِب
One fears for the cupbearer when he dilutes it
in the cup, lest he catch fire from its rays.
وَلَّتdeparted لَياليناour nights حميداتٍpraiseworthy فَكَمand how much
وَلَّت لَيالينا حميداتٍ فَكَم
طَوَتfolded away مِنَof اللَذاتِpleasures عَنّاfrom us وَالأَرَبand desire
طَوَت مِنَ اللَذاتِ عَنّا وَالأَرَب
Our nights departed, cherished; how much
pleasure and desire they folded away from us!
فَغودِرَتso were left أَنفاسُناour breaths فيin صَعَدascent
فَغودِرَت أَنفاسُنا في صَعَد
لِفَقدِهاat their loss وَالدَمعُand tears مِنّاfrom us فيin صَبَبa downward flow
لِفَقدِها وَالدَمعُ مِنّا في صَبَب
So our breaths were left ascending,
at their loss, and our tears pouring downward.
عَلَّperhaps الزَمانَtime أَنthat يَعودَreturn عَودَةًa return
عَلَّ الزَمانَ أَن يَعودَ عَودَةً
بِهاwith them فَيَجلوthen clears الشَكَّdoubt عَنّاfrom us وَالرِيَبand misgivings
بِها فَيَجلو الشَكَّ عَنّا وَالرِيَب
Perhaps time will make a return
with them, clearing doubt and misgiving from us,
كَماas حَباendowed الرِياسَةَthe chiefship الغَرّاءَthe splendid مِنin the person of
كَما حَبا الرِياسَةَ الغَرّاءَ مِن
مُؤَيدِMu'ayyid الدينِal-Din بِكافٍwith a capable man مُنتَجَبchosen
مُؤَيدِ الدينِ بِكافٍ مُنتَجَب
as it endowed splendid leadership, in
Mu'ayyid al-Din, with a capable, chosen man:
بِالأَريَحِيِّwith the openhanded اللَوذَعِيِّthe shrewd الأَلمَعِيthe keen-witted (word continues)
بِالأَريَحِيِّ اللَوذَعِيِّ الأَلمَعِي
يِending of 'keen-witted' الشمَّرِيِّthe vigorous الهِبرِزِيِّthe sterling المُنتَخَبthe chosen
يِ الشمَّرِيِّ الهِبرِزِيِّ المُنتَخَب
with the openhanded, shrewd, keen-witted,
the vigorous, sterling, chosen one.
بِأَسعَدunder the happiest الطالِعِascendant جاءَتit came أَسعُداًAs'ad
بِأَسعَد الطالِعِ جاءَت أَسعُداً
تَرميstriking العِداthe enemies بِسَهمِwith the arrow of سوءِan evil المُنقَلَبend
تَرمي العِدا بِسَهمِ سوءِ المُنقَلَب
Under the happiest star it came to As'ad,
striking enemies with the arrow of an evil end.
لِيَهنِهاmay it rejoice أَنthat ظَفِرَتit gained لاnot صَفِرَتit was bereft
لِيَهنِها أَن ظَفِرَت لا صَفِرَت
عَنهُof him بِجَدٍّwith earnestness نازِحٍfar removed عَنهُfrom it اللَّعِبplay
عَنهُ بِجَدٍّ نازِحٍ عَنهُ اللَّعِب
May it rejoice that it gained, and was not bereft
of him, with earnestness far removed from play.
رِئاسَةٌa chiefship أَوسَعهاhe amply supplied it سِياسَةًstatesmanship
رِئاسَةٌ أَوسَعها سِياسَةً
مُحتَسِباًseeking divine reward فيin اللَهِGod غَيرَnot مُكتَسِبseeking profit
مُحتَسِباً في اللَهِ غَيرَ مُكتَسِب
A chiefship he supplied with ample statesmanship,
seeking God's reward, not personal gain.
وَلَمand not تَزَلceased تَلوحُshining فيin أَعطافِهِhis bearing
وَلَم تَزَل تَلوحُ في أَعطافِهِ
مُذsince كانَhe was طِفلاًa child كَالفِرِندِlike the watered pattern فيin القُضُبthe swords
مُذ كانَ طِفلاً كَالفِرِندِ في القُضُب
And it has always shone in his bearing
since he was a child, like watered patterns in swords.
نَمَتgrew بِهِthrough him إِذwhen وُسِمَتwas marked بِمَجدِهِwith his glory
نَمَت بِهِ إِذ وُسِمَت بِمَجدِهِ
فَهيَso it إِلىtoward الجَوزاءِal-Jawza' (constellation) تَرنوgazes عَنfrom كَثَبnearness
فَهيَ إِلى الجَوزاءِ تَرنو عَن كَثَب
It grew through him when marked with his glory,
so it gazes toward al-Jawza' from close at hand.
سُرَّwere gladdened بِهِby him الناسُthe people فَقالواso they said كُلُّهُمall of them
سُرَّ بِهِ الناسُ فَقالوا كُلُّهُم
لِمِثلِfor the like of هَذاthis اليَومِday كُنّاwe were نَرتَقِبwaiting
لِمِثلِ هَذا اليَومِ كُنّا نَرتَقِب
The people rejoiced in him, and all said:
'We had been waiting for a day like this!'
الآنَnow أَضحىhas become الجودُgenerosity فيناamong us عامِراًflourishing
الآنَ أَضحى الجودُ فينا عامِراً
مُشَيَّداًbuilt high وَكانَand it was قِدماًlong ago قَدalready خَرِبfallen into ruin
مُشَيَّداً وَكانَ قِدماً قَد خَرِب
Now generosity has become flourishing among us,
built high, though long ago it lay in ruins.
ماnot لِلمَعاليfor noble achievements عَنهُapart from him مِنany مَندوحَةٍalternative
ما لِلمَعالي عَنهُ مِن مَندوحَةٍ
فَهيَso they إِلىto أَبيAbu المَعاليal-Ma'ali تَنتَسِبtrace their descent
فَهيَ إِلى أَبي المَعالي تَنتَسِب
Noble achievements have no way to do without him,
for they claim descent from Abu al-Ma'ali.
أَقلامُهُhis pens فيهاin them المَناياdeaths وَالمُنىand hopes
أَقلامُهُ فيها المَنايا وَالمُنى
كَوامِناًhidden وَطَعمُand the taste of صابٍbitter sap وَضَرَبand honey
كَوامِناً وَطَعمُ صابٍ وَضَرَب
His pens contain doom and hopes,
hidden, and the taste of bitter sap and honey.
نَستَنبِطُwe draw out الأَفكارَthoughts وَهوَwhile he كاتِبٌis writing
نَستَنبِطُ الأَفكارَ وَهوَ كاتِبٌ
بيضَwhite المَعانيmeanings مِنfrom سَوادِthe blackness of ماwhat كَتَبhe wrote
بيضَ المَعاني مِن سَوادِ ما كَتَب
We draw out thoughts while he is writing—
white meanings from the blackness of what he wrote.
فَلَوso if رَأَتهُsaw him مُقلَةthe eye of اِبنِIbn مُقلَةMuqla الthe
فَلَو رَأَتهُ مُقلَة اِبنِ مُقلَة ال
كاتِبِscribe نادىhe cried مُعلِناًaloud ياO للعَجَبwhat a marvel
كاتِبِ نادى مُعلِناً يا للعَجَب
Were Ibn Muqla's eye to see him, the
scribe would cry aloud, 'What a marvel!
هَذاthis هُوَit is اللؤلُؤُthe pearls مَنظوماًstrung بِلاwithout
هَذا هُوَ اللؤلُؤُ مَنظوماً بِلا
شَكٍّdoubt وَخَطيand my script عِندَهُbeside it كِالمَخشَلَبlike imitation pearls
شَكٍّ وَخَطي عِندَهُ كِالمَخشَلَب
These are strung pearls, without
a doubt; my script beside it is like imitation pearls.'
وَلَوand if رَآكَhe saw you اِبنُIbn العَميدِal-'Amid مَنشَئاًcomposing prose
وَلَو رَآكَ اِبنُ العَميدِ مَنشَئاً
ياO اِبنَIbn العَميدِal-'Amid عادَwould become مَقطوعَcut off from النَسَبlineage
يا اِبنَ العَميدِ عادَ مَقطوعَ النَسَب
And if Ibn al-'Amid saw you composing prose,
O Ibn al-'Amid, he would be left cut off from his lineage,
وَقالand he said ماnot عَبدُ'Abd الحَميدِal-Hamid هَكَذاlike this
وَقال ما عَبدُ الحَميدِ هَكَذا
وَهَلand can ...? يُقاسُbe compared النَبعُthe nab' tree يَوماًever بِالغَرَبwith the willow
وَهَل يُقاسُ النَبعُ يَوماً بِالغَرَب
and say, ''Abd al-Hamid was not like this;
can the nab' tree ever be compared with the willow?'
أَباAbu المَعاليal-Ma'ali أَنتَyou أَذكىthe most brilliant مَنwhoever كَتَبhas written
أَبا المَعالي أَنتَ أَذكى مَن كَتَب
وَمَنand whoever تَصَدّىset himself لِلقَريضِto poetry وَالخُطَبand oratory
وَمَن تَصَدّى لِلقَريضِ وَالخُطَب
Abu al-Ma'ali, you are the most brilliant of all who have written
and all who have undertaken poetry and oratory.
هاhere أَناI am كَالمُهديlike one offering a gift إِلىto بَغدادَBaghdad مِنfrom
ها أَنا كَالمُهدي إِلى بَغدادَ مِن
دِمَشقَDamascus إِذwhen أُنشِدI recite تَمراًdried dates أَوor رُطَبfresh ripe dates
دِمَشقَ إِذ أُنشِد تَمراً أَو رُطَب
Here I am, like one making a gift to Baghdad from
Damascus, when I recite: dates, dried or fresh.
يكفيكَsuffices you إِقرارُthe acknowledgment of الأَنامِpeople كُلِّهِمall of them
يكفيكَ إِقرارُ الأَنامِ كُلِّهِم
أَنَّكَthat you خَيرُthe best اِبنٍson أَتىcame مِنfrom خَيرِthe best أَبfather
أَنَّكَ خَيرُ اِبنٍ أَتى مِن خَيرِ أَب
The acknowledgment of all people suffices you:
you are the best son to come from the best father.
قَدindeed خُصَّwas favored ذاthis المَنصِبُoffice مِنكَin you بِاِمرِئٍwith a man
قَد خُصَّ ذا المَنصِبُ مِنكَ بِاِمرِئٍ
قامَrose لَهُfor him الدَهرُTime قِياماًa standing فَاِنتَصَبthen stood erect
قامَ لَهُ الدَهرُ قِياماً فَاِنتَصَب
This office has been favored, in you, with a man
for whom Time rose and stood erect:
بِمَنwith one who مَتىwhenever ماemphatic particle سَلَّdraws سَيفَthe sword of عَزمِهِhis resolve
بِمَن مَتى ما سَلَّ سَيفَ عَزمِهِ
قَهقَرَdrove backward مِنthrough هَيبَتِةِawe of him الجَيشَthe army اللَّجِبthe clamorous
قَهقَرَ مِن هَيبَتِةِ الجَيشَ اللَّجِب
with one who, whenever he draws the sword of his resolve,
drives the clamorous army backward through awe of him;
بِمَنwith one who يَرُدُّturns back نابَthe fang of عَزميmy resolve نابِياًrecoiling
بِمَن يَرُدُّ نابَ عَزمي نابِياً
عَنّيfrom me إِذاwhen مَدَّextends ذِراعاًan arm فَوَثَبthen leaps
عَنّي إِذا مَدَّ ذِراعاً فَوَثَب
with one who turns the fang of my resolve aside,
away from me, when it extends an arm and leaps.
فَعِرضُهُso his honor فيin حَرَمٍa sanctuary وَمالُهُand his wealth
فَعِرضُهُ في حَرَمٍ وَمالُهُ
بِشَنِّby launching غاراتِthe raids of العُفاةِsupplicants فيin حَرَبplunder
بِشَنِّ غاراتِ العُفاةِ في حَرَب
So his honor is in a sanctuary, but his wealth
lies plundered by the supplicants' raids.
مُرَوِّضُa refiner of الأَخلاقِcharacter يُستَغنىone has no need بِهِthrough him
مُرَوِّضُ الأَخلاقِ يُستَغنى بِهِ
عَنof شُربِdrinking ماwhat رُوِّقَwas clarified مِنfrom ماءِthe juice of العِنَبgrapes
عَن شُربِ ما رُوِّقَ مِن ماءِ العِنَب
A refiner of character, he makes it needless
to drink the clarified juice of grapes.
تُثنيpraise سَجاياهُhis traits عَلَيهِof him مِثلَlike ماthe way
تُثني سَجاياهُ عَلَيهِ مِثلَ ما
يُثنيpraises شَذاthe fragrance of الرَوضِthe garden عَلىof صَوتِthe voice of السُحُبthe clouds
يُثني شَذا الرَوضِ عَلى صَوتِ السُحُب
His traits praise him just as
the garden's fragrance praises the voice of clouds.
مَنِwhoever اِدَّعىclaimed فيin دَهرِناour age مِثلاًan equal لَهُto him
مَنِ اِدَّعى في دَهرِنا مِثلاً لَهُ
يَوماًever فَقَدthen indeed باءَcame away بِزُورٍwith falsehood وَكَذِبand lying
يَوماً فَقَد باءَ بِزُورٍ وَكَذِب
Whoever claims an equal to him in our age,
on any day, has incurred falsehood and lies.
أَكفىthe most capable of الكفاةِthe capable مَشرِقاًin the east وَمَغرِباًand in the west
أَكفى الكفاةِ مَشرِقاً وَمَغرِباً
وَأَنجَبُand best-born of العُجمthe non-Arabs نصاباًin lineage وَالعَرَبand the Arabs
وَأَنجَبُ العُجم نصاباً وَالعَرَب
The ablest of the able, east and west,
and the best-born of non-Arabs and Arabs.
سَمَتraised بِهِhim مَآثِرٌachievements شَريفَةٌnoble
سَمَت بِهِ مَآثِرٌ شَريفَةٌ
بَديعَةُwondrous in الوَصفِdescription إِلىto أَعلَىthe highest الرُتَبranks
بَديعَةُ الوَصفِ إِلى أَعلَى الرُتَب
Noble achievements raised him,
wondrous in description, to the highest ranks.
فَهَذِهِso this الدَولَةُstate دامَmay endure ظِلُّهاits shadow
فَهَذِهِ الدَولَةُ دامَ ظِلُّها
تَهتَزُّsways مِنfrom تيهٍpride بِهِin him وَمِنand from طَرَبrapture
تَهتَزُّ مِن تيهٍ بِهِ وَمِن طَرَب
So this state—may its shadow endure—
sways with pride in him and with rapture.
آراؤُهُhis counsels خَلفَbehind عَفاريتِthe demons of العِداthe foes
آراؤُهُ خَلفَ عَفاريتِ العِدا
راجِمَةٌpelting ثاقِبَةٌpiercing مِثلَlike الشُهُبthe shooting stars
راجِمَةٌ ثاقِبَةٌ مِثلَ الشُهُب
His counsels follow behind the demons of his foes,
pelting and piercing like shooting stars.
وَسَّعَwidened لِلعُفاةِfor supplicants ماwhat ضاقَwas narrow وَقَدand indeed
وَسَّعَ لِلعُفاةِ ما ضاقَ وَقَد
ضاقَbecame narrow عَلىfor الحُسّادِthe envious مِنهُthrough him ماwhat رَحُبwas spacious
ضاقَ عَلى الحُسّادِ مِنهُ ما رَحُب
He widened for supplicants what was narrow, while
through him, what was spacious grew narrow for the envious.
لاnot تَرتَضيaccept سُحبُthe clouds of جَداهُhis bounty أَنto ترىsee
لا تَرتَضي سُحبُ جَداهُ أَن ترى
مُصَوِّحاًwithered مِنfrom ظَمَأٍthirst زَهرَthe blossoms of الأَدَبliterature
مُصَوِّحاً مِن ظَمَأٍ زَهرَ الأَدَب
The clouds of his bounty cannot bear to see
the flowers of literature withered by thirst.
وَالدَهرُand Time قَدalready أَصبَحَhas become طَوعَobedient to أَمرِهِhis command
وَالدَهرُ قَد أَصبَحَ طَوعَ أَمرِهِ
فَلَوso if عَصاهُdisobeyed him الدَهرُTime أَبصَرتyou would see العَجَبwonder
فَلَو عَصاهُ الدَهرُ أَبصَرت العَجَب
And Time has become obedient to his command;
if Time disobeyed him, you would see wonders.
سَعادَةٌgood fortune تَبَّتwere ruined يَداthe two hands of حاسِدِهِhis envier
سَعادَةٌ تَبَّت يَدا حاسِدِهِ
بِهاby it كَماas تَبَّتwere ruined يَداthe two hands of أَبيAbu لَهَبLahab
بِها كَما تَبَّت يَدا أَبي لَهَب
Good fortune—his envier's hands were ruined
by it, as Abu Lahab's hands were ruined.
مُكتَهلٌmature حِلماًin forbearance وَرَأياًand in judgment وَنُهىًand in reason
مُكتَهلٌ حِلماً وَرَأياً وَنُهىً
فَاِعجَبso marvel لَهُat him مُكتَهِلاًmature لمّاnot yet يَشِبgrown to youth
فَاِعجَب لَهُ مُكتَهِلاً لمّا يَشِب
Mature in forbearance, judgment, and reason:
marvel at him—mature, though not yet grown to youth.
مُحتَجِبٌshielded عَنfrom كُلِّevery ذامٍdetractor عِرضُهُhis honor
مُحتَجِبٌ عَن كُلِّ ذامٍ عِرضُهُ
وَلَيسَand is not عَنfrom حُسنِthe beauty of الثَناpraise بِمُحتَجَبshielded
وَلَيسَ عَن حُسنِ الثَنا بِمُحتَجَب
His honor is shielded from every detractor,
but it is not shielded from fair praise.
أَصدَقُtruer فيin وُعودِهِhis promises مِنَthan القطاthe sandgrouse
أَصدَقُ في وُعودِهِ مِنَ القطا
إِنif شيبَis mixed وَعدٌa promise بِالغُرورِwith deceit وَالكَذِبand falsehood
إِن شيبَ وَعدٌ بِالغُرورِ وَالكَذِب
Truer in his promises than the sandgrouse,
if a promise is mixed with deceit and falsehood.
مازالَhas always been مغرىًeagerly devoted حيثُwherever كانَhe was مُغرماًburdened with expense
مازالَ مغرىً حيثُ كانَ مُغرماً
يَجمَعُهُgathers him الحَمدُpraise بِتَفريقِby scattering النَشَبwealth
يَجمَعُهُ الحَمدُ بِتَفريقِ النَشَب
He has always been eager wherever he bore expense;
praise gathers him in through the dispersal of wealth.
أَبلَجُbright-faced وَضّاحُradiant of الجَبينِbrow ماجِدٌillustrious
أَبلَجُ وَضّاحُ الجَبينِ ماجِدٌ
يَهُزُّهُsways him المَدحُpraise اِهتِزازَthe swaying of ذيone possessed of الطَرَبrapture
يَهُزُّهُ المَدحُ اِهتِزازَ ذي الطَرَب
Bright-faced, with a radiant brow, illustrious,
praise sways him like one moved by rapture.
يَحنوbends tenderly عَلىtoward سائِلِهِhis petitioner تَلَطُّفاًgently
يَحنو عَلى سائِلِهِ تَلَطُّفاً
بِهِtoward him حُنُوَّthe tenderness of الوالِدِa father البَرِّthe kind الحَدِبthe solicitous
بِهِ حُنُوَّ الوالِدِ البَرِّ الحَدِب
He bends to his petitioner with gentleness
toward him, as a kind, caring father bends.
بَرقُthe lightning of أَساريرِthe lines of مُحَيّاهُhis face مَتىwhenever
بَرقُ أَساريرِ مُحَيّاهُ مَتى
ماemphatic particle لاحَflashes غَيرُnot خلَّبٍrainless لِمَنfor whoever رَغِبseeks
ما لاحَ غَيرُ خلَّبٍ لِمَن رَغِب
The lightning in the lines of his face, whenever
it flashes, is never rainless for one who seeks.
وَبابُهُand his gate حِصنٌa fortress حَصينٌstrong لَمnot يُسَمis forced
وَبابُهُ حِصنٌ حَصينٌ لَم يُسَم
منwhoever أَمَّهُseeks it حَسوsipping أَفاويقِsuccessive draughts of العطَبruin
من أَمَّهُ حَسو أَفاويقِ العطَب
And his gate is a mighty fortress; never is
one who seeks it made to sip successive draughts of ruin.
مَنابِرُthe pulpits of المَدحِpraise بِهِthrough him عامِرَةٌflourishing
مَنابِرُ المَدحِ بِهِ عامِرَةٌ
وَصِيتُهُand his fame فيamong الناسِpeople مَنشورُunfurled العَذَبthe streamers
وَصِيتُهُ في الناسِ مَنشورُ العَذَب
The pulpits of praise flourish through him,
and his fame unfurls its streamers among the people.
وَمَدحُهُand his praise سارٍtravels مَسيرَthe course of جُودِهِhis generosity
وَمَدحُهُ سارٍ مَسيرَ جُودِهِ
فيناamong us فَعَمَّand so encompassed مَنwhoever نَأىwas far وَمَنand whoever قَرُبwas near
فينا فَعَمَّ مَن نَأى وَمَن قَرُب
And his praise travels as his generosity travels
among us, embracing those far away and those near.
أَسعَدُAs'ad أَسعِدنيhelp me عَلىagainst دَهرٍTime غَداhas become
أَسعَدُ أَسعِدني عَلى دَهرٍ غَدا
عَدوَّthe enemy of كُلِّevery فاضِلٍvirtuous person بِلاwithout سَبَبreason
عَدوَّ كُلِّ فاضِلٍ بِلا سَبَب
As'ad, help me against a Time that has become
the enemy of every virtuous person without reason.
وَاِكسَبand earn ثَناءًpraise مِنfrom بَنيthe sons of الفَضلِvirtue فَماfor ... not
وَاِكسَب ثَناءً مِن بَني الفَضلِ فَما
زِلتَyou have ceased تَرىyou consider ذَلِكَthat نِعمَexcellent is المُكتَسَبthe gain
زِلتَ تَرى ذَلِكَ نِعمَ المُكتَسَب
And earn praise from the sons of virtue, for you
have always considered that an excellent gain.
تَفنىperish العَطاياthe gifts مِنof نضارٍgold وَكُسىًand garments
تَفنى العَطايا مِن نضارٍ وَكُسىً
وَشُكرُهُمand their gratitude يَبقىremains عَلىthrough مَرِّthe passage of الحِقَبages
وَشُكرُهُم يَبقى عَلى مَرِّ الحِقَب
Gifts of gold and garments perish,
but their gratitude lasts through the passing ages.
جُزيتَmay you be rewarded خَيراًwell عَنهُمُon their behalf فَكُلَّماand whenever اِسrain-seeking (word begins)
جُزيتَ خَيراً عَنهُمُ فَكُلَّما اِس
تَسقَواthey sought rain (word ends) جَداكَyour bounty كانَwas غَيثاًrain مُنسَكِبpouring
تَسقَوا جَداكَ كانَ غَيثاً مُنسَكِب
May you be rewarded well on their behalf; whenever
they sought rain from your bounty, it was a pouring shower.
بَدَّلتَyou exchanged أَسمالَهُمtheir rags وَقَدand indeed عَرَواthey visited
بَدَّلتَ أَسمالَهُم وَقَد عَرَوا
فِناءَكَyour courtyard الرَّحبَthe spacious بِأَبرادٍfor robes قُشُبnew
فِناءَكَ الرَّحبَ بِأَبرادٍ قُشُب
You exchanged their rags, when they had visited
your spacious courtyard, for new robes.
وَلَمand not تَزَلyou have ceased تَنشُرُspreading إِنعاماًfavors عَلىupon
وَلَم تَزَل تَنشُرُ إِنعاماً عَلى
مُدَوِّنيrecorders of مَدحِكَyour praise فيin طَيِّthe folds of الكُتُبbooks
مُدَوِّني مَدحِكَ في طَيِّ الكُتُب
And you have never ceased spreading favors upon
those who record your praise within the folds of books.
فَهاكَهاso take it طَيِّبَةَsweet in النَشرِfragrance حَكَتit mirrored
فَهاكَها طَيِّبَةَ النَشرِ حَكَت
ذِكراكَthe mention of you فيin الناديthe assembly إِذاwhen الفَخرُglory نَسَبtraces lineage
ذِكراكَ في النادي إِذا الفَخرُ نَسَب
So take it, sweet in fragrance, mirroring
your mention in the assembly when glory traces its lineage.
لَوif طَرَقَتit reached سَمعَthe hearing of السَرِيِّal-Sari لَمnot يَقُلhe would say
لَو طَرَقَت سَمعَ السَرِيِّ لَم يَقُل
عَرجturn aside عَلىtoward ذاكَthat الكَثيبِdune مِنfrom كَثَبnearby
عَرج عَلى ذاكَ الكَثيبِ مِن كَثَب
If it had reached al-Sari's ear, he would not have said:
'Turn aside toward that nearby dune.'
Sol 6.1