لِكُلِّfor every مُجتَهِدٍstriver حَظٌّa share مِنَof الطَلَبِthe quest
لِكُلِّ مُجتَهِدٍ حَظٌّ مِنَ الطَلَبِ
فَاِسبِقso outstrip بِعَزمِكَwith your resolve سَيرَthe course of الأَنجُمِthe stars الشُهُبِthe blazing ones
فَاِسبِق بِعَزمِكَ سَيرَ الأَنجُمِ الشُهُبِ
Every striver has a share in what he seeks.
For every hard worker there is a share of seeking
So, with your resolve, outstrip the course of the blazing stars.
So hasten with your determination past the shooting stars
وَاِرقَand ascend المَعاليthe heights of glory الَّتيwhich أَوفىrose high أَبوكَyour father بِهاupon them
وَاِرقَ المَعالي الَّتي أَوفى أَبوكَ بِها
فَكَمfor how many تَناوَلَهاattained them قَومٌpeople بِغَيرِwithout أَبِa father
فَكَم تَناوَلَها قَومٌ بِغَيرِ أَبِ
And climb the heights of glory your father reached;
And aspire to the heights which your father attained
For many have attained them without a father's aid.
For how many people grasped them without a father
وَلاand do not تَجُزpass بِصُروفِthrough the vicissitudes of الدَهرِtime فيamong عُصَبٍbands
وَلا تَجُز بِصُروفِ الدَهرِ في عُصَبٍ
مِنَof القَرائِنِcompanions غَيرِother than السُمرِbrown lances وَالقُضُبِand keen swords
مِنَ القَرائِنِ غَيرِ السُمرِ وَالقُضُبِ
And do not traverse time's vicissitudes in bands
Do not be content in the turns of fate with a band
Of companions other than brown lances and keen swords.
Of spears other than those made of acacia and reed
نَدعوكَwe call on you فيin سَنَةٍa year شابَتturned gray ذَوائِبُهاits forelocks
نَدعوكَ في سَنَةٍ شابَت ذَوائِبُها
حَتّىuntil تُفَرِّجَهاrelieve it مُسوَدَّةُblackened القُصُبِreed-shafts
حَتّى تُفَرِّجَها مُسوَدَّةُ القُصُبِ
We call on you in a year whose forelocks have turned gray,
We call you in a year whose sides have grayed
Until blackened shafts bring it relief.
Until the darkness of reeds makes it cheerful
وَلَمand never تَزَلceased خَدَعاتُthe deceits of الدَهرِtime تَطرُقُهاassailing it
وَلَم تَزَل خَدَعاتُ الدَهرِ تَطرُقُها
حَتّىuntil تَعانَقَembraced one another عودُthe wood of النَبعِthe nabʿ bow-wood tree وَالغَرَبِand willow/poplar (gharab)
حَتّى تَعانَقَ عودُ النَبعِ وَالغَرَبِ
Time's deceits never ceased assailing it,
The tricks of fate did not cease to knock on it
Until nabʿ-wood and gharab-wood embraced.
Until the tent pole and the west embraced
أَتَيتَyou came تَحتَلِبُmilking الأَيّامَthe days أَشطُرَهاtheir udder-halves
أَتَيتَ تَحتَلِبُ الأَيّامَ أَشطُرَها
فَكُلُّso every حادِثَةٍcalamity مَنزوحَةُdrained of الحَلَبِmilk
فَكُلُّ حادِثَةٍ مَنزوحَةُ الحَلَبِ
You came, milking the days from every half of their udders;
You came seeking the days, halving them
So every calamity was drained of its milk.
So every incident is devoid of milk
لَولاwere it not for وَقارُكَyour composure فيin نَصلٍa blade سَطَوتَyou struck fiercely بِهِwith it
لَولا وَقارُكَ في نَصلٍ سَطَوتَ بِهِ
فاضَتoverflowed مَضارِبُهُits striking edges مِنfrom خِفَّةِthe giddiness of الطَرَبِrapture
فاضَت مَضارِبُهُ مِن خِفَّةِ الطَرَبِ
Were it not for your composure in the blade you wielded,
Had it not been for your dignity with a sword you wielded
Its striking edges would overflow with giddy rapture.
Whose strokes overflowed from lightness of confusion
وَحُسنُand the soundness of رَأيِكَyour judgment فيin الأَرماحِthe spears يُنهِضُهاraises them
وَحُسنُ رَأيِكَ في الأَرماحِ يُنهِضُها
إِلىto الطَعانِspear combat وَلَولاand were it not for ذاكَthat لَمwould not تَثِبِleap
إِلى الطَعانِ وَلَولا ذاكَ لَم تَثِبِ
And your sound judgment raises the spears
And the excellence of your view on spears raises them
Into spear combat; without it, they would not leap.
To the thrusting even if that were not so they would not stand
كُنbe كَيفَhowever شِئتَyou wish فَإِنَّfor indeed المَجدَglory مُحتَمِلٌbears
كُن كَيفَ شِئتَ فَإِنَّ المَجدَ مُحتَمِلٌ
عَنكَon your behalf المَغافِرَthe mail helmets فيat بَدءٍthe beginning وَفيand at عَقِبِthe end
عَنكَ المَغافِرَ في بَدءٍ وَفي عَقِبِ
Be as you wish, for glory carries
Be however you wish for glory bears
Your mail helmets for you, from first to last.
The forgiving about you at the start and in the consequence
ماnot زالَceased بِشرُكَyour cheerfulness فيthrough الأَزمانِthe ages يُؤنِسُهاgladdening them
ما زالَ بِشرُكَ في الأَزمانِ يُؤنِسُها
حَتّىuntil أَضاءَتshone سُروراًwith joy أَوجُهُthe faces of الحِقَبِepochs
حَتّى أَضاءَت سُروراً أَوجُهُ الحِقَبِ
Your cheerfulness has ever gladdened the ages,
Your good tidings did not cease to comfort the times
Until the faces of epochs shone with joy.
Until they shone in happiness, the cheeks of epochs
يَفديكَmay ransom you كُلُّevery بَخيلٍmiser ماتَhas died خاطِرُهُhis mind
يَفديكَ كُلُّ بَخيلٍ ماتَ خاطِرُهُ
فَإِنfor if خَطَرتَyou come to mind عَدَدناهُwe count him مِنَamong الغِيَبِthe absent
فَإِن خَطَرتَ عَدَدناهُ مِنَ الغِيَبِ
May every miser whose mind is dead be your ransom;
Every stingy whose idea died would ransom you
For when you come to mind, we count him among the absent.
For if you were counted, we would number you from the unseen
إِذاwhen المَطامِعُhopes حامَتhover حَولَaround مَوعِدِهِhis promise
إِذا المَطامِعُ حامَت حَولَ مَوعِدِهِ
أَنَّتmoan إِلَيهِto him أَنينَwith the groan of المُدنَفِthe gravely ill الوَصِبِthe chronically ailing
أَنَّت إِلَيهِ أَنينَ المُدنَفِ الوَصِبِ
When hopes hover around his promise,
When greed hovers around its appointment
They groan to him like one worn down by sickness.
The groaning camel calls out to it
وَعُصبَةٍand many a band جاذَبوكَcontended with you for العِزِّhonor فَاِنقَبَضَتthen withdrew
وَعُصبَةٍ جاذَبوكَ العِزِّ فَاِنقَبَضَت
أَكُفُّهُمtheir hands عَنfrom دِراكِattaining المَجدِglory بِالطَلَبِthrough striving
أَكُفُّهُم عَن دِراكِ المَجدِ بِالطَلَبِ
And many a band contested honor with you, but withdrew
And a band who compete with you for honor shrink
Their hands from reaching glory through striving.
Their palms from attaining glory through seeking
شابَهتَهُمyou resembled them مَنظَراًin appearance أَوor فُتَّهُمsurpassed them خَبراًin proven worth
شابَهتَهُم مَنظَراً أَو فُتَّهُم خَبراً
إِنَّindeed الرَدَينيَّthe Rudayni lance مَعدودٌis counted مِنَamong القَصَبِreeds
إِنَّ الرَدَينيَّ مَعدودٌ مِنَ القَصَبِ
You resembled them in appearance—or surpassed them in proven worth;
Whether you equal them in appearance or outwit them in knowledge
A Rudayni lance is counted among reeds.
Verily the feeble one is counted from the reeds
هابواthey feared اِبتِسامَكَyour smile فيin دَهياءَa calamity مُظلِمَةٍdark
هابوا اِبتِسامَكَ في دَهياءَ مُظلِمَةٍ
وَلَيسَand is not يوصَفُdescribed ثَغرُthe mouth of اللَيثِthe lion بِالشَنَبِas sweet and pearly-toothed
وَلَيسَ يوصَفُ ثَغرُ اللَيثِ بِالشَنَبِ
They feared your smile amid a dark calamity;
They fear your smile in the darkness of gloom
And a lion's mouth is not described as sweet and pearly-toothed.
And the mouth of a lion cannot be described as having a moustache
سَجِيَّةٌa disposition لَكَof yours فاتَتsurpassed كُلَّevery مَنزِلَةٍrank
سَجِيَّةٌ لَكَ فاتَت كُلَّ مَنزِلَةٍ
وَضَعضَعَتand shook جَنَباتِthe flanks of الحادِثِcalamity الأَشِبِthe tangled
وَضَعضَعَت جَنَباتِ الحادِثِ الأَشِبِ
A disposition of yours has surpassed every rank,
You have a nature that transcends every high position
And shaken the flanks of tangled calamity.
And shook the ribs of ferocious events
نَسيمُهاits breeze مِنfrom طِباعِthe nature of الروضِgardens مُستَرَقٌis stolen
نَسيمُها مِن طِباعِ الروضِ مُستَرَقٌ
وَطيبُand the sweetness of لَذَّتِهاits savor مِنfrom شيمَةِthe nature of الضَرَبِwhite honey
وَطيبُ لَذَّتِها مِن شيمَةِ الضَرَبِ
Its breeze is stolen from the nature of gardens,
Its breeze stealthily stolen from the meadow’s nature
And its sweet savor from the nature of white honey.
And the fragrance of its pleasure from the trait of nobility
تَلقىyou face الخَميسَthe army إِذاwhen اِسوَدَّتgrow dark جَوانِبُهُits flanks
تَلقى الخَميسَ إِذا اِسوَدَّت جَوانِبُهُ
بِالمُستَنيرَينِwith the two shining ones مِنof رَأيٍjudgment وَذيand one bearing شُطَبِblade-grooves
بِالمُستَنيرَينِ مِن رَأيٍ وَذي شُطَبِ
You face the army when its flanks grow dark,
It meets Thursday when its sides darken
With two shining things: judgment and a grooved blade.
With the enlightened ones of opinion and refined manners
وَنَثرَةٌand a mail coat فَوقَهاover it صَبرٌsteadfastness تُظاهِرُهُyou sustain it
وَنَثرَةٌ فَوقَها صَبرٌ تُظاهِرُهُ
أَرَدُّbetter at repelling مِنهاthan it لِأَذرابِagainst the sharp tips of القَناthe lances السَلَبِthe long and slender
أَرَدُّ مِنها لِأَذرابِ القَنا السَلَبِ
And a mail coat, with steadfastness above it that you sustain—
And above it is composure whose aid it calls upon
Better than the coat at warding off long lances' sharp tips.
More naked than it for the adversaries of the spear
لَوif لَمhad not يُعَوِّضكَrepaid you هَجرُforsaking العَيشِlife's ease صالِحَةًa worthy gain
لَو لَم يُعَوِّضكَ هَجرُ العَيشِ صالِحَةً
ماnot كُنتَyou were تَخرُجُstepping out مِنof أَثوابِهِits robes القُشُبِthe fresh ones
ما كُنتَ تَخرُجُ مِن أَثوابِهِ القُشُبِ
Had forsaking life's ease not repaid you with a worthy gain,
Had the livelihood not compensated you with virtue
You would not have stepped out of its fresh robes.
You would not emerge from its dry stalks
ياO اِبنَson of الَّذينَthose who إِذاwhen عَدّواcounted فَضائِلَهُمtheir virtues
يا اِبنَ الَّذينَ إِذا عَدّوا فَضائِلَهُم
عَدّىcarried onward النَدىgenerosity ضَربَهُمtheir blows فيinto هامَةِthe crown of النَشبِwealth
عَدّى النَدى ضَربَهُم في هامَةِ النَشبِ
O son of those who, when they count their virtues,
O son of those who when their virtues were counted
Generosity carries their blows into the crown of wealth,
Dew soaked the area of their temple from abundance
بِأَلسُنٍwith tongues راضَةٍmasters لِلقَولِof speech لَوif نُضِيَتwere unsheathed
بِأَلسُنٍ راضَةٍ لِلقَولِ لَو نُضِيَت
نابَتwould stand in place عَنِof السُمرِbrown lances فيagainst الأَبدانِbodies وَالحُجُبِand veils
نابَت عَنِ السُمرِ في الأَبدانِ وَالحُجُبِ
With tongues that tame speech—if they were unsheathed,
With tongues content with speech, if let loose
They would replace brown lances against bodies and veils.
They would refrain from the spearheads in bodies and veils
لاnot يَستَشيرونَthey consult إِلّاexcept كُلَّevery مُنصَلِتٍbold, ready warrior
لا يَستَشيرونَ إِلّا كُلَّ مُنصَلِتٍ
حاميdefender of الحَقيقَةِhonor طَلّاعٍa climber عَلىover النُقَبِmountain passes
حامي الحَقيقَةِ طَلّاعٍ عَلى النُقَبِ
They consult none but bold, ready warriors,
They consult only every unsheathed
Defenders of honor, climbers of mountain passes,
Defender of the truth, observant of gaps
ذيpossessing عَزمَةٍresolve إِنif دَعاهاcalls upon it الرَوعُterror مُنتَصِراًseeking aid
ذي عَزمَةٍ إِن دَعاها الرَوعُ مُنتَصِراً
تَلَفَّتَتturns away عَنfrom غِرارِthe edge of الصارِمِthe cutting sword الخَشِبِthe rough-forged
تَلَفَّتَت عَن غِرارِ الصارِمِ الخَشِبِ
Possessed of resolve which, if terror calls on it for aid,
Of determination - if fear calls upon him as victor
Turns away from the edge of the rough-forged sword.
He turns away from the delusions of the cutting sword
يَقرونَthey entertain guests حَتّىeven لَوَif اَنَّindeed الضَيفَthe guest فاتَهُمُpassed them by
يَقرونَ حَتّى لَوَ اَنَّ الضَيفَ فاتَهُمُ
حَثّواthey urged إِلَيهِtoward him صُدورَthe breasts of الأَينُقِthe she-camels النُجُبِthe noble
حَثّوا إِلَيهِ صُدورَ الأَينُقِ النُجُبِ
They offer hospitality; even if a guest passes them by,
They suffice even if the guest escaped them
They urge the breasts of noble she-camels toward him.
They hastened to him the chests of the delicate elite
أَوor أَعوَزَimpoverished الخَطبُhardship فيin لَيلٍa night بُيوتَهُمُtheir homes
أَو أَعوَزَ الخَطبُ في لَيلٍ بُيوتَهُمُ
مَدّواthey stretched يَدَthe hand of النارِfire فيinto الأَعمادِthe tent poles وَالطُنُبِand tent ropes
مَدّوا يَدَ النارِ في الأَعمادِ وَالطُنُبِ
Or if hardship impoverishes their homes one night,
Or if adversity was destitute in a night in their homes
They stretch fire's hand into the tent poles and ropes.
They extended the hand of fire into the pillars and logs
لَوif أَنَّindeed بَأسَهُمُtheir might جارىraced against الزَمانَTime إِذاًthen
لَو أَنَّ بَأسَهُمُ جارى الزَمانَ إِذاً
لَاِرتَدَّit would surely turn back عَنfrom شَأوِهِits course مُستَرخِيَwith slackened اللَبَبِbreast-strap
لَاِرتَدَّ عَن شَأوِهِ مُستَرخِيَ اللَبَبِ
Were their might to race against Time,
If their might rivaled time then
Time would turn back from its course, its breast-strap slack.
Those who relax would recoil from their affair
إِنif أورِدواthey were brought to الماءَwater لَمnot تَنهَلtake a first drink جِيادُهُمُtheir steeds
إِن أورِدوا الماءَ لَم تَنهَل جِيادُهُمُ
حَتّىuntil تُعَلَّare given a second drink بِرَقراقِwith shimmering الدَمِblood السَرِبِflowing
حَتّى تُعَلَّ بِرَقراقِ الدَمِ السَرِبِ
If they are brought to water, their steeds take no first draught
If they watered, their steeds would not drink
Until given a second draught of shimmering, flowing blood.
Until the stirrups were stained with dripping blood
قادواthey led السَوابِقَthe racing steeds مُحفاةًhoof-worn مُقَوَّدَةًreined
قادوا السَوابِقَ مُحفاةً مُقَوَّدَةً
كَأَنَّهاas though they بَحَثَتhad dug عَنfor مُضمَرِwhat is hidden in التُرَبِthe earth
كَأَنَّها بَحَثَت عَن مُضمَرِ التُرَبِ
They led the racing steeds, hoof-worn and reined,
They led the purebreds barefoot, guided
As though they had dug for what the earth conceals.
As if searching for the buried dust
أَعطافُهاtheir flanks بِالقَناwith lances الخَطّيِّfrom al-Khatt مُثقَلَةٌare weighed down
أَعطافُها بِالقَنا الخَطّيِّ مُثقَلَةٌ
تَكادُthey almost تَعصِفُsweep violently بِالساحاتِthrough the courtyards وَالرُحَبِand open spaces
تَكادُ تَعصِفُ بِالساحاتِ وَالرُحَبِ
Their flanks are laden with Khatti lances;
Their shoulders heavy with coats of mail
They almost sweep through courtyards and open spaces.
Almost blowing away the plains and open spaces
ماnot اِنفَكَّceased يَطعَنُhe thrusts فيat أَعقابِthe heels of حافِلَةٍa crowded host
ما اِنفَكَّ يَطعَنُ في أَعقابِ حافِلَةٍ
بِذابِلٍwith a slender lance مِنfrom دَمِthe blood of الأَقرانِrival warriors مُختَضِبِdyed
بِذابِلٍ مِن دَمِ الأَقرانِ مُختَضِبِ
He never ceased thrusting at the heels of a crowded host,
He did not cease to pierce the heels of a commotion
With a slender lance dyed in rival warriors' blood.
With a blood stained sword from the peers
إِذاwhen اِمتَرىmilked out عَلَقَclotted blood of الأَوداجِthe jugular veins عامِلُهُits spear-point
إِذا اِمتَرى عَلَقَ الأَوداجِ عامِلُهُ
أَعشىit blinded العَواليthe tall lances فَلَمso did not تَنظُرlook إِلىtoward سَلَبِspoils
أَعشى العَوالي فَلَم تَنظُر إِلى سَلَبِ
When its point milked the clotted blood of jugular veins,
If its worker busied the udders
It blinded the tall lances, so they had no eye for spoils.
He revived the towering heights but did not look to plunder
وَلاand never يَزالُceases يُجَلّيclearing نَقعَthe dust of قَسطَلِهِhis battle-cloud
وَلا يَزالُ يُجَلّي نَقعَ قَسطَلِهِ
بِمُحرَجِwith a finely sharpened الغَربِcutting edge مَلآنٍbrimful مِنَof الغَضَبِwrath
بِمُحرَجِ الغَربِ مَلآنٍ مِنَ الغَضَبِ
And he keeps clearing the dust of his battle-cloud
He continues to clean the rust of his armor
With a keen-edged blade brimming with wrath.
With the redness of anger, filled with rage
إِذاwhen اِنتَضاهُhe draws it لِيَومِfor the day of الرَوعِterror تَحسِبُهُyou imagine him
إِذا اِنتَضاهُ لِيَومِ الرَوعِ تَحسِبُهُ
يَسُلُّdrawing مِنfrom غِمدِهِits sheath خَيطاًa thread مِنَof الذَهَبِgold
يَسُلُّ مِن غِمدِهِ خَيطاً مِنَ الذَهَبِ
When he draws it for the day of terror, you think
When he unsheathes it for the day of battle you would think
He is pulling from its sheath a thread of gold.
He draws from its scabbard a thread of gold
أَوor إِنif أَشاحَhe brandishes بِهِwith it سالَflows الحِمامُdeath لَهُfor him
أَو إِن أَشاحَ بِهِ سالَ الحِمامُ لَهُ
فيalong مَضرَبَيهِits two striking edges فَلَمand never يَرقَأstops flowing وَلَمand never يَصُبِdrips down
في مَضرَبَيهِ فَلَم يَرقَأ وَلَم يَصُبِ
Or if he brandishes it, death flows for him
Or if he turned it aside, the pigeons would pour forth for him
Along its two striking edges, never stanching or dripping away.
In his strokes but it did not graze or strike
جَذلانُexultant يَركَعُit bows إِنif مالَbends الضِرابُswordplay بِهِwith it
جَذلانُ يَركَعُ إِن مالَ الضِرابُ بِهِ
مُطَرِّباًmaking music فيamong قِبابِthe domes of البيضِhelmets وَاليَلَبِand hide armor
مُطَرِّباً في قِبابِ البيضِ وَاليَلَبِ
Exultant, it bows when swordplay bends it,
His muscular horse kneels if the blow leans toward it
Ringing musically among domed helmets and hide armor.
Shaking to the bases of white and speckles
ياO أَيُّهاyou النَدبُvaliant lord إِنَّindeed السَعدَgood fortune مُتَّضِحٌis manifest
يا أَيُّها النَدبُ إِنَّ السَعدَ مُتَّضِحٌ
بِطَلقَةِthrough a radiant girl الوَجهِof face جَلَّتdispelled سُدفَةَthe dusk of الرِيَبِdoubts
بِطَلقَةِ الوَجهِ جَلَّت سُدفَةَ الرِيَبِ
O valiant lord, good fortune is manifest
O you who are called! Success is evident
In a radiant-faced girl who has dispelled the dusk of doubt,
In the cheer of face - its coverings of suspicion disperse
مَولودَةٍa newborn girl سَقَطَتfell عَنfrom حِجرِthe lap of والِدَةٍa mother
مَولودَةٍ سَقَطَت عَن حِجرِ والِدَةٍ
جاءَتcame بِهاwith her مِلءَfilling حِجرِthe lap of المَجدِglory وَالحَسَبِand noble descent
جاءَت بِها مِلءَ حِجرِ المَجدِ وَالحَسَبِ
A newborn who slipped from the lap of a mother
Born to a mother who fell from the lap of a mother
Who brought her to fill the lap of glory and noble descent.
Who was fully granted it in the lap of glory and pedigree
لَمّاwhen ظَمِئَتyou thirsted إِلَيهاfor her قَبلَbefore رُؤيَتِهاseeing her
لَمّا ظَمِئَت إِلَيها قَبلَ رُؤيَتِها
أُعطيتَyou were given لَذَّةَthe delight of ماءِwater of الوَردِroses بِالقَرَبِwhile approaching water
أُعطيتَ لَذَّةَ ماءِ الوَردِ بِالقَرَبِ
When you thirsted for her before seeing her,
When she thirsted for it before being seen
You were given rosewater's delight while still on the approach.
You were given the pleasure of rose water in nearness
باشِرembrace بِطَلعَتِهاwith her appearance العَلياءَthe heights مُقتَبِلاًfacing them anew
باشِر بِطَلعَتِها العَلياءَ مُقتَبِلاً
فَإِنَّهاfor she is دُرَّةٌa pearl فيin حِليَةِthe adornment of النَسَبِlineage
فَإِنَّها دُرَّةٌ في حِليَةِ النَسَبِ
With her coming, embrace the heights afresh;
Embrace its brilliant rising, drawing near
For she is a pearl in the adornment of lineage.
For it is a pearl in the jewelry of lineage
وَاِسعَدand rejoice بِهاin her وَاِشكُرِand thank الأَقدارَthe fates أَنfor having حَمَلَتcarried
وَاِسعَد بِها وَاِشكُرِ الأَقدارَ أَن حَمَلَت
إِلَيكَto you قُرَّةَthe delight عَينِof the eye of العُجمِnon-Arabs وَالعَرَبِand Arabs
إِلَيكَ قُرَّةَ عَينِ العُجمِ وَالعَرَبِ
And rejoice in her, and thank the fates for bringing
And delight in it and thank the fates that carried
To you the joy of non-Arab and Arab eyes.
To you the comfort of the eyes of non-Arabs and Arabs alike
وَحُثَّand spur خَيلَthe steeds of كُؤوسِthe cups of العِزِّhonor جامِحَةًheadstrong
وَحُثَّ خَيلَ كُؤوسِ العِزِّ جامِحَةً
إِلىtoward السُرورِjoy بِخَيلِwith the steeds of اللَهوِmirth وَاللَعِبِand play
إِلى السُرورِ بِخَيلِ اللَهوِ وَاللَعِبِ
And spur the headstrong steeds of honor's cups
And urge the steeds of the cups of honor, impetuous
Toward joy, with the steeds of mirth and play.
To gladness with the steeds of play and amusement
وَاِنثُرand scatter عَلىover الشَربِthe drinkers سِمطاًa necklace مِنof فَواقِعِهاtheir bubbles
وَاِنثُر عَلى الشَربِ سِمطاً مِن فَواقِعِها
وَاِبنَand the son of الغَمامِthe clouds مُسَمّىًcalled بِاِبنَةِas the daughter of العِنَبِthe grape
وَاِبنَ الغَمامِ مُسَمّىً بِاِبنَةِ العِنَبِ
And scatter over the drinkers a necklace of their bubbles,
And strew the drinking with fruits fallen from it
And the cloud's son, called the daughter of the grape.
And the son of the cloud named after the grape
وَاِصدُمand strike بِكَأسِكَwith your cup صَدرَthe breast of الدَهرِTime مُعتَقِلاًarmed
وَاِصدُم بِكَأسِكَ صَدرَ الدَهرِ مُعتَقِلاً
بِصارِمِwith the keen sword of اللَهوِmirth يَجلوclearing قَسطَلَthe dust-cloud of الكُرَبِgrief
بِصارِمِ اللَهوِ يَجلو قَسطَلَ الكُرَبِ
And strike Time's breast with your cup, armed
And clash your cup against the era's chest in solitude
With mirth's keen sword, which clears the dust-cloud of grief.
With the sword of play, worry's armor becomes clear
كَأسٍa cup إِذاwhen خُضِبَتare dyed بِالماءِwith water لِمَّتُهاits locks
كَأسٍ إِذا خُضِبَت بِالماءِ لِمَّتُها
شابَتturn gray وَإِنand if ذَلَّrecedes عَنهاfrom it الماءُwater لَمnot تَشِبِturn gray
شابَت وَإِن ذَلَّ عَنها الماءُ لَم تَشِبِ
A cup whose locks, when dyed with water,
A cup which when dyed with water, held fast
Turn gray; if water recedes from it, they do not.
And if the water declined from it, it would not turn grey
نَفسيmy soul تَقيكَmay shield you فَكَمfor how often وَقَّيتَنيyou shielded me بِيَدٍwith a hand
نَفسي تَقيكَ فَكَم وَقَّيتَني بِيَدٍ
وَقَدwhile indeed أَلَظَّpressed relentlessly بِيَupon me الرامونَthe archers عَنfrom كَثَبِclose range
وَقَد أَلَظَّ بِيَ الرامونَ عَن كَثَبِ
May my soul shield you; how often you shielded me with a helping hand,
My soul protects you - so how you have protected me with a hand
While archers pressed me relentlessly at close range.
While the archers intensely unleashed at me
إِذاwhen اِتَّقَيتُI sheltered myself بِكَbehind you الأَعداءَthe enemies رامِيَةًshooting
إِذا اِتَّقَيتُ بِكَ الأَعداءَ رامِيَةً
فَواجِبٌthen it is a duty أَنto أُوَقّيكَshield you from النَوائِبَcalamities بيwith myself
فَواجِبٌ أَن أُوَقّيكَ النَوائِبَ بي
When I sheltered behind you from enemies shooting at me,
If I seek refuge in you from the enemies shooting
It became my duty to shield you from calamities with myself.
Then it is necessary that I protect you from adversities
أَباO father of الحُسَينِal-Husayn أَعِرlend شِعريmy poetry إِصاخَةَthe attentive listening of مَنone who
أَبا الحُسَينِ أَعِر شِعري إِصاخَةَ مَن
يَرويrelate مَسامِعُهُhis ears عَنfrom مَسمَعٍsomething heard عَجَبِwondrous
يَروي مَسامِعُهُ عَن مَسمَعٍ عَجَبِ
Abu al-Husayn, lend my poetry the attentive ear of one
O Abu Hussein, inform my poetry of the fault of one
Whose ears relay a wondrous thing they have heard.
Whose hearing recounts of hearing wonders
إِذاwhen مَدَحتُكَI praise you لَمnot أَمنُنclaim a favor عَلَيكَover you بِهِfor it
إِذا مَدَحتُكَ لَم أَمنُن عَلَيكَ بِهِ
فَالمَدحُfor the praise بِاِسمِكَin your name وَالمَعنىand what is meant بِهِby it نَسَبيmy lineage
فَالمَدحُ بِاِسمِكَ وَالمَعنى بِهِ نَسَبي
When I praise you, I do not hold it over you as a favor;
When I praise you I do not obligate you with it
For praise bears your name, and what it celebrates is my lineage.
For praise is through your name and meaning is my lineage
Sol 6.1