بَهاءُthe splendor المُلكِof kingship مِنfrom هَذاthis البَهاءِsplendor
بَهاءُ المُلكِ مِن هَذا البَهاءِ
وَضَوءُand the light المَجدِof glory مِنfrom هَذاthis الضِياءِradiance
وَضَوءُ المَجدِ مِن هَذا الضِياءِ
The splendor of kingship springs from this splendor,
and the light of glory from this radiance.
وَماand no one يَعلوrises عَلىupon قُلَلِthe summits المَعاليof eminence
وَما يَعلو عَلى قُلَلِ المَعالي
أَحَقُّmore entitled مِنَthan المُعَرِّقِone deeply rooted فيin العَلاءِexalted rank
أَحَقُّ مِنَ المُعَرِّقِ في العَلاءِ
No one who rises to the peaks of eminence
is more entitled than one deeply rooted in greatness.
وَلاnor تَعنُsubmit الرُعاةُthe shepherds لِذيto a possessor of حُسامٍa keen sword
وَلا تَعنُ الرُعاةُ لِذي حُسامٍ
إِذاif ماindeed لَمnot يَكُنhe is راعيa shepherd رُعاءِof shepherds
إِذا ما لَم يَكُن راعي رُعاءِ
Nor do shepherds submit to a swordsman
unless he is a shepherd of shepherds.
وَماand no one اِنتَظَمَordered المَمالِكَthe kingdoms مِثلُlike ماضٍa resolute man
وَما اِنتَظَمَ المَمالِكَ مِثلُ ماضٍ
يَتِمُّis fulfilled لَهُfor him القَضاءُthe decree عَلىover القَضاءِfate
يَتِمُّ لَهُ القَضاءُ عَلى القَضاءِ
None has ordered kingdoms like a resolute man
whose decree prevails over fate.
إِذاwhen اِبتَدَرَhasten to الرِهانَthe race مُبادِروهُhis rivals
إِذا اِبتَدَرَ الرِهانَ مُبادِروهُ
تَمَطَّرَhe gallops دونَهُمahead of them يَومَon the day الجَزاءِof reward
تَمَطَّرَ دونَهُم يَومَ الجَزاءِ
When his rivals hasten to the race,
he gallops ahead of them on the day of reward.
وَإِنand if طَلَبَhe seeks النَدىgenerosity خَرَجَتcome forth يَداهُhis two hands
وَإِن طَلَبَ النَدى خَرَجَت يَداهُ
خُروجَlike the issuing الوَدقِof rain مِنfrom خَلَلِthe gaps الغَماءِin cloud cover
خُروجَ الوَدقِ مِن خَلَلِ الغَماءِ
And if he seeks generosity, his two hands come forth
as rain comes through gaps in the cloud cover.
حَذارِbeware إِذاwhen تَلَفَّعَhe wraps himself in ثَوبَa robe نَقعٍof battle dust
حَذارِ إِذا تَلَفَّعَ ثَوبَ نَقعٍ
حَذارِbeware إِذاwhen تَعَمَّمَhe makes a turban بِاللِواءِof the banner
حَذارِ إِذا تَعَمَّمَ بِاللِواءِ
Beware when he wraps himself in a robe of battle dust;
beware when he makes the banner his turban.
حَذارِbeware مِنِof اِبنِthe son غَيطَلَةٍof a dense thicket مُدِلٍّself-assured
حَذارِ مِنِ اِبنِ غَيطَلَةٍ مُدِلٍّ
يَسُدُّhe blocks مَطالِعَthe approaches البيدِof the deserts القَواءِbarren
يَسُدُّ مَطالِعَ البيدِ القَواءِ
Beware of the thicket's self-assured son,
who bars the approaches to the barren deserts.
إِذاwhen أَلقىhe casts عَلىacross لَهَواتِthe gullets ثَغرٍof a frontier
إِذا أَلقى عَلى لَهَواتِ ثَغرٍ
يَدَيthe two hands غَضبانَof a wrathful one مَرهوبِfeared الرُواءِin appearance
يَدَي غَضبانَ مَرهوبِ الرُواءِ
When he casts across a frontier's throat
the two hands of a wrathful one of fearsome appearance,
تَمُرُّsweep past قَعاقِعُthe clatters الرِزينِof heavy armament مِنهُfrom him
تَمُرُّ قَعاقِعُ الرِزينِ مِنهُ
كَمَعمَعَةِlike the roar اللَهيبِof flame مِنَfrom الأَباءِthe reed beds
كَمَعمَعَةِ اللَهيبِ مِنَ الأَباءِ
the clangor of his heavy arms sweeps past
like the roar of flame through reed beds.
وَمِطراقٍand one with lowered eyes عَلىin اللَحَظاتِthe glances صِلٍّa viper
وَمِطراقٍ عَلى اللَحَظاتِ صِلٍّ
مَريضِlanguid الناظِرَينِin both eyes مِنَfrom الحَياءِmodesty
مَريضِ الناظِرَينِ مِنَ الحَياءِ
And a viper with downcast glances,
his two eyes languid from modesty,
تَنَكَّسَhe bends his head كَالأَميمِlike one head-wounded فَإِنbut if تَسامىhe rises
تَنَكَّسَ كَالأَميمِ فَإِن تَسامى
مَضىhe darts كَالسَهمِlike an arrow شَذَّthat escaped عَنِfrom الرِماءِthe archers
مَضى كَالسَهمِ شَذَّ عَنِ الرِماءِ
he bends his head like one head-wounded; but when he rises,
he flies like an arrow escaped from its archers.
وَماand no يُنجيsaves اللَديغَthe bitten man بِهِby him تَداوٍtreatment
وَما يُنجي اللَديغَ بِهِ تَداوٍ
وَقَدand already أَمسىhe has become بِداءٍafflicted with a disease أَيِّwhat a داءِdisease
وَقَد أَمسى بِداءٍ أَيِّ داءِ
No treatment saves the man he bites,
now afflicted with a sickness—what a sickness!
وَلاnor قُضُبُthe swords الرِجالِof men الصيدِproud فَضلاًmuch less
وَلا قُضُبُ الرِجالِ الصيدِ فَضلاً
عَنِthan الأَصواتِthe sounds فيin حَليِthe jewelry النِساءِof women
عَنِ الأَصواتِ في حَليِ النِساءِ
Nor do the swords of proud men, let alone
the sounds within women's jewelry.
وَيَومُand a day وَغىًof battle عَلىto الأَعداءِthe enemies هَولٌa terror
وَيَومُ وَغىً عَلى الأَعداءِ هَولٌ
تُمازُare distinguished بِهِby it السِراعُthe swift مِنَfrom البِطاءِthe slow
تُمازُ بِهِ السِراعُ مِنَ البِطاءِ
And a battle day, a terror to the enemy,
by which the swift are distinguished from the slow:
رَمَيتُI assailed فُروجَهُits gaps حَتّىuntil تَفَرّىit split apart
رَمَيتُ فُروجَهُ حَتّى تَفَرّى
بِأَيديwith the forelegs الجُردِof sleek steeds وَالأَسَلِand the spears الظِماءِthirsty
بِأَيدي الجُردِ وَالأَسَلِ الظِماءِ
I assailed its gaps until it split apart
with the forelegs of sleek steeds and thirsty spears.
فَمِنand among them غُلبٍthick-necked men كَأَنَّهُمُas though they were أُسودٌlions
فَمِن غُلبٍ كَأَنَّهُمُ أُسودٌ
عَلىupon قُبٍّslim-bellied mounts ضَوامِرَlean كَالظِباءِlike gazelles
عَلى قُبٍّ ضَوامِرَ كَالظِباءِ
Among them, thick-necked men as though they were lions,
upon slim-bellied, lean mounts like gazelles;
وَمِنand among them بيضٍwhite blades كَأَنَّas though مُجَرِّديهاthose unsheathing them
وَمِن بيضٍ كَأَنَّ مُجَرِّديها
يُمِرّونَpass الأَكُفَّthe palms عَلىacross الأَضاءِthe pools
يُمِرّونَ الأَكُفَّ عَلى الأَضاءِ
and white blades, as though those who unsheathed them
were passing their palms across pools;
نَواحِلَslender blades لَمnot يَدَعleft ضَربُthe striking الهَواديof necks
نَواحِلَ لَم يَدَع ضَربُ الهَوادي
بِهاwith them أَبَداًever مَكاناًany room لِلجُلاءِfor polishing
بِها أَبَداً مَكاناً لِلجُلاءِ
slender blades—the striking of necks has left
no room on them, ever, for polishing.
وَمِنand among them هاوٍa falling man تَرَنَّحَwho reeled فيamid العَواليthe spearheads
وَمِن هاوٍ تَرَنَّحَ في العَوالي
وَعارٍand one stripped naked قَدalready أَقامَlay عَلىupon العَراءِthe bare ground
وَعارٍ قَد أَقامَ عَلى العَراءِ
And one falling, reeling among the spearheads,
and one naked, lying upon bare ground;
وَآخَرَand another مالَleaned كَالنَشوانِlike a drunkard مالَتwas swayed
وَآخَرَ مالَ كَالنَشوانِ مالَت
بِهامَتِهِupon his head شَآبيبُshowers الطِلاءِof wine
بِهامَتِهِ شَآبيبُ الطِلاءِ
and another swayed like a drunkard, bowed
by showers of wine upon his head.
وَعُدتُand I returned وَقَدand already خَبَأتُI kept away الحَربَthe war عَنهُfrom him
وَعُدتُ وَقَد خَبَأتُ الحَربَ عَنهُ
إِلىto سِلمِthe peace الرَغائِبِof rich gifts وَالعَطاءِand giving
إِلى سِلمِ الرَغائِبِ وَالعَطاءِ
And I returned, having kept war away from him,
to the peace of rich gifts and largesse.
فَيَومٌso one day لِلمَكارِمِfor noble deeds وَالعَطاياand gifts
فَيَومٌ لِلمَكارِمِ وَالعَطايا
وَيَومٌand one day لِلحَمِيَّةِfor ardor وَالإِباءِand proud defiance
وَيَومٌ لِلحَمِيَّةِ وَالإِباءِ
One day, then, for noble deeds and gifts,
and one day for ardor and proud defiance.
تَقودُyou lead الخَيلَthe horses أَرشَقَmore slender مِنthan قَناهاtheir lances
تَقودُ الخَيلَ أَرشَقَ مِن قَناها
شَوازِبَlean horses كَالقِداحِlike arrow shafts مِنَof السَراءِsarā wood
شَوازِبَ كَالقِداحِ مِنَ السَراءِ
You lead the horses, more slender than their lances,
lean steeds like arrow shafts of sarā wood,
بِغاراتٍwith raids كَوَلغِlike the lapping الذِئبِof the wolf تَترىin succession
بِغاراتٍ كَوَلغِ الذِئبِ تَترى
عَلىagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies بَيِّنَةِplain العَداءِin hostility
عَلى الأَعداءِ بَيِّنَةِ العَداءِ
with raids like a wolf's lapping, following one another
against the enemy, plain in their hostility.
عَزائِمُresolves كَالرِياحِlike winds مَرَرنَthey passed رَهواًunhindered
عَزائِمُ كَالرِياحِ مَرَرنَ رَهواً
عَلىover الأَقطارِthe regions مِنfrom دانٍnear وَناءِand far
عَلى الأَقطارِ مِن دانٍ وَناءِ
Resolves like winds that passed unhindered
over regions near and far;
وَقَلبٌand a heart كَالشُجاعِlike a serpent يَسورُsprings عَزماًwith resolve
وَقَلبٌ كَالشُجاعِ يَسورُ عَزماً
وَيَجذِبُand draws بِالعُلىat lofty rank جَذبَlike pulling الرَشاءِa well-rope
وَيَجذِبُ بِالعُلى جَذبَ الرَشاءِ
and a heart like a serpent, springing with resolve,
drawing in greatness as one draws a well-rope;
وَكَفٌّand a hand كَالغَمامِlike a raincloud يَفيضُpouring حَتّىuntil
وَكَفٌّ كَالغَمامِ يَفيضُ حَتّى
يَعُمُّit covers الأَرضَthe earth مِنwith كَلَإٍherbage وَماءِand water
يَعُمُّ الأَرضَ مِن كَلَإٍ وَماءِ
and a hand like a raincloud, pouring until
it covers the earth with herbage and water;
وَوَجهٌand a face ماجَsurged ماءُthe water الحُسنِof beauty فيهِwithin it
وَوَجهٌ ماجَ ماءُ الحُسنِ فيهِ
وَلاحَand shone عَلَيهِupon it عُنوانُthe emblem الوَضاءِof radiance
وَلاحَ عَلَيهِ عُنوانُ الوَضاءِ
and a face where beauty's water surged,
and the emblem of radiance shone upon it.
يُشارِكُit shares فيin السَنىradiance قَمَرَwith the moon الدَياجيof dark nights
يُشارِكُ في السَنى قَمَرَ الدَياجي
وَيَفضُلُهُand surpasses it بِزائِدَةِwith added السَناءِeminence
وَيَفضُلُهُ بِزائِدَةِ السَناءِ
It shares its radiance with the moon of dark nights
and surpasses it with added eminence.
وَمُعتَلِجِand one seething with الجَلالِmajesty نَزَعتَyou stripped عَنهُfrom him
وَمُعتَلِجِ الجَلالِ نَزَعتَ عَنهُ
عَلىin عَجَلٍhaste رِداءَthe cloak الكِبرِياءِof arrogance
عَلى عَجَلٍ رِداءَ الكِبرِياءِ
And one in whom majesty seethed—you stripped from him
in haste the cloak of arrogance.
فَأَصبَحَso he became خارِجاًbereft مِنof كُلِّall عِزٍّpower
فَأَصبَحَ خارِجاً مِن كُلِّ عِزٍّ
خُروجَlike the emergence العودِof a branch بُزَّstripped مِنَof اللِحاءِthe bark
خُروجَ العودِ بُزَّ مِنَ اللِحاءِ
So he was left bereft of all his power,
like a branch stripped of its bark.
وَحُزتَand you seized جِمامَthe full reserves نِعمَتِهِof his fortune وَكانَتand it had been
وَحُزتَ جِمامَ نِعمَتِهِ وَكانَت
غِماراًdeep waters لاnot تُكَدَّرُmuddied بِالدِلاءِby buckets
غِماراً لا تُكَدَّرُ بِالدِلاءِ
And you seized his fortune's full reserves, which had been
deep waters no buckets could muddy,
بِرَأيٍwith a judgment ثُقِفَwas honed الإِقبالُgood fortune مِنهُthrough it
بِرَأيٍ ثُقِفَ الإِقبالُ مِنهُ
فَأَقدَمَso it advanced كَالسِنانِlike a spearhead إِلىto اللِقاءِthe encounter
فَأَقدَمَ كَالسِنانِ إِلى اللِقاءِ
through a judgment that honed good fortune,
so it advanced like a spearhead to the encounter.
إِذاif أَشِرَacts insolently القَريبُa kinsman عَلَيكَtoward you فَاِقطَعthen sever
إِذا أَشِرَ القَريبُ عَلَيكَ فَاِقطَع
بِحَدِّwith the edge السَيفِof the sword قُربىthe kinship الأَقرِباءِof kinsmen
بِحَدِّ السَيفِ قُربى الأَقرِباءِ
If a kinsman acts insolently toward you, sever
with the sword's edge the kinship of your kin.
وَكُنand be إِنif عَقَّكَbetray you القُرَباءُyour kinsmen مِمَّنamong those who
وَكُن إِن عَقَّكَ القُرَباءُ مِمَّن
يَميلُinclines عَلىagainst الأُخوَّةِblood brotherhood لِلإِخاءِtoward friendship
يَميلُ عَلى الأُخوَّةِ لِلإِخاءِ
And if your kinsmen betray you, be one
who favors friendship over blood brotherhood.
فَرُبَّfor many a أَخٍbrother خَليقٍdeserving بِالتَقاليof mutual hatred
فَرُبَّ أَخٍ خَليقٍ بِالتَقالي
وَمُغتَرِبٍand a stranger جَديرٍworthy بِالصَفاءِof sincere affection
وَمُغتَرِبٍ جَديرٍ بِالصَفاءِ
For many a brother deserves mutual hatred,
and many a stranger deserves sincere affection.
وَلاand do not تُدنِbring close الحَسودَthe envious فَذاكَfor that is عُرٌّmange
وَلا تُدنِ الحَسودَ فَذاكَ عُرٌّ
مَضيضٌpainfully burning لاnot يُعالَجُtreated بِالهِناءِwith tar
مَضيضٌ لا يُعالَجُ بِالهِناءِ
Do not bring the envious close: that is mange,
painful and incurable with tar.
كَفاكَhas spared you نَوائِبَthe calamities الأَيّامِof days كافٍa capable man
كَفاكَ نَوائِبَ الأَيّامِ كافٍ
طَريرُkeen العَزمِin resolve مَشحوذُsharpened المَضاءِin decisiveness
طَريرُ العَزمِ مَشحوذُ المَضاءِ
A capable man has spared you the calamities of time,
keen in resolve, his decisiveness whetted;
أَمينُfaithful الغَيبِin absence لاnot يوكىis tied shut حَشاهُhis breast
أَمينُ الغَيبِ لا يوكى حَشاهُ
لِآمِنِهِagainst one trusting him عَلىover الداءِa disease العَياءِincurable
لِآمِنِهِ عَلى الداءِ العَياءِ
faithful in absence, his breast harbors no
incurable ill against the one who trusts him.
أَقامَhe persisted يُنازِلُdueling with الأَبطالَthe champions حَتّىuntil
أَقامَ يُنازِلُ الأَبطالَ حَتّى
تَفَلَّلَbecame notched كُلُّevery مَشهورِrenowned المَضاءِfor sharpness
تَفَلَّلَ كُلُّ مَشهورِ المَضاءِ
He kept dueling with champions until
every blade of renowned sharpness was notched.
إِزاءَin the face of الحَربِwar يَعتَنِقُhe embraces العَواليthe tall spears
إِزاءَ الحَربِ يَعتَنِقُ العَوالي
وَيَغتَبِقُand drinks at evening النَجيعَdark, thick blood مِنَfrom الدَماءِblood
وَيَغتَبِقُ النَجيعَ مِنَ الدَماءِ
Facing war, he embraces the tall spears
and takes dark, thick blood for his evening draught.
إِذاwhen ماever قيلَit is said مَلَّhe is weary رَأَيتَyou see مِنهُin him
إِذا ما قيلَ مَلَّ رَأَيتَ مِنهُ
نَوازِعَurges تَشرَئِبُّcraning their necks إِلىtoward اللِقاءِthe encounter
نَوازِعَ تَشرَئِبُّ إِلى اللِقاءِ
When someone says, 'He is weary,' you see in him
impulses craning their necks toward the encounter.
فَجَرِّبنيthen test me تَجِدنيyou will find me سَيفَa sword عَزمٍof resolve
فَجَرِّبني تَجِدني سَيفَ عَزمٍ
يُصَمِّمُdrives home غَربَهُits edge وَزِنادَand a firestick راءِof counsel
يُصَمِّمُ غَربَهُ وَزِنادَ راءِ
Then test me: you will find me a sword of resolve
that drives its edge home, and a firestick of counsel;
وَأَسمَرَand a brown spear شارِعاًthrusting فيinto كُلِّevery نَحرٍthroat
وَأَسمَرَ شارِعاً في كُلِّ نَحرٍ
شُروعَlike the plunging الصَلِّof a viper فيinto يَنبوعِa spring ماءِof water
شُروعَ الصَلِّ في يَنبوعِ ماءِ
and a brown spear thrusting into every throat,
as a viper plunges into a spring of water.
إِذاwhen عَلِقَتcling يَداكَyour two hands بِهِto it حِفاظاًin defense of honor
إِذا عَلِقَت يَداكَ بِهِ حِفاظاً
مَلَأتَyou fill يَدَيكَyour two hands مِنfrom كَنزِa treasury العَناءِof toil
مَلَأتَ يَدَيكَ مِن كَنزِ العَناءِ
When your hands hold fast to it in defense of honor,
you fill your hands from a treasury of service.
يُعاطيكَhe offers you الصَوابَcorrect judgment بِلاwithout نِفاقٍhypocrisy
يُعاطيكَ الصَوابَ بِلا نِفاقٍ
وَيَمحَضُكَand gives you purely السَدادَsound counsel بِلاwithout رِياءِpretense
وَيَمحَضُكَ السَدادَ بِلا رِياءِ
He offers you correct judgment without hypocrisy
and gives you sound counsel without pretense.
جَريٌّbold يَومَon the day تَبعَثُهُyou send him لِحَربٍto war
جَريٌّ يَومَ تَبعَثُهُ لِحَربٍ
وَقورٌdignified يَومَon the day تَبحَثُهُyou question him لِراءِfor counsel
وَقورٌ يَومَ تَبحَثُهُ لِراءِ
Bold on the day you send him to war,
dignified on the day you question him for counsel.
إِذاif كانَare الكُفاةُthe capable men لِذاto this man عَبيداًservants
إِذا كانَ الكُفاةُ لِذا عَبيداً
فَذاthen this man is كافيthe mainstay الكُفاةِof the capable بِلاwithout مِراءِdispute
فَذا كافي الكُفاةِ بِلا مِراءِ
If the capable are this man's servants,
he is the mainstay of the capable, beyond dispute.
بَهاءَO Baha الدَولَةِal-Dawla المَنصورَthe victorious إِنّيindeed I
بَهاءَ الدَولَةِ المَنصورَ إِنّي
دَعَوتُكَI called upon you بَعدَafter لَأيٍhardship مِنfrom دُعائيmy pleading
دَعَوتُكَ بَعدَ لَأيٍ مِن دُعائي
O Baha al-Dawla, the victorious, I
have called upon you after hardship in my pleading.
وَكُنتُand I had أَظُنُّthought أَنَّthat غِناكَyour wealth يَسريwould flow
وَكُنتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ غِناكَ يَسري
إِلَيَّto me بِماbecause of what تَبَيَّنَbecame evident مِنof غِناءِuseful service
إِلَيَّ بِما تَبَيَّنَ مِن غِناءِ
And I had thought your wealth would flow
to me for the useful service I have plainly shown.
فَلِمso why أَناI كَالغَريبِlike a stranger وَراءَbehind قَومٍmen
فَلِم أَنا كَالغَريبِ وَراءَ قَومٍ
لَوِif اِختُبِرواthey were tested لَقَدsurely كانواthey would be وَرائيbehind me
لَوِ اِختُبِروا لَقَد كانوا وَرائي
Why, then, am I like a stranger behind men
who, if tested, would surely stand behind me?
بَعيدٌfar عَنfrom حِماكَyour sanctuary وَليand I have حُقوقٌrights
بَعيدٌ عَن حِماكَ وَلي حُقوقٌ
قَواضٍrequiring أَنthat يَطولَbe prolonged بِهِwithin it ثَوائيmy stay
قَواضٍ أَن يَطولَ بِهِ ثَوائي
Far from your sanctuary, though I have rights
requiring that my stay within it be prolonged.
أَأَبلىmust I wear away? ثُمَّthen يَبدوit occurs بِاِصطِناعيto favor me
أَأَبلى ثُمَّ يَبدو بِاِصطِناعي
كَفانيsuffices for me ماwhat تَقَدَّمَcame before مِنof بَلائيmy proven service
كَفاني ما تَقَدَّمَ مِن بَلائي
Must I wear away before the thought of favoring me arises?
My earlier proven service should suffice,
وَذَبّيand my defense عَنof حِمىthe precincts بَغدادَof Baghdad قِدماًlong ago
وَذَبّي عَن حِمى بَغدادَ قِدماً
بِفَضلِthrough the excellence العَزمِof resolve وَالنَفسِand the soul العِصاءِunyielding
بِفَضلِ العَزمِ وَالنَفسِ العِصاءِ
and my defense of Baghdad's precincts long ago
through surpassing resolve and an unyielding soul.
غَداةَon the morning أَظَلَّتِovershadowed الأَقطارُthe regions مِنهاfrom it
غَداةَ أَظَلَّتِ الأَقطارُ مِنها
مُضَرَّجَةًbloodstained تَبَزَّلُgushing بِالدِماءِwith blood
مُضَرَّجَةً تَبَزَّلُ بِالدِماءِ
On the morning the regions were overshadowed by it,
bloodstained and streaming with blood:
دُخانٌsmoke تَلهَبُblaze الهَبَواتُthe dust clouds مِنهُfrom it
دُخانٌ تَلهَبُ الهَبَواتُ مِنهُ
مَدىacross the expanse بَينَbetween البَسيطَةِthe earth وَالسَماءِand the sky
مَدى بَينَ البَسيطَةِ وَالسَماءِ
smoke, from which dust clouds flared,
across the expanse between the earth and sky.
صَبَرتُI held steadfast النَفسَthe soul ثُمَّthen عَلىin the face of المَناياdeaths
صَبَرتُ النَفسَ ثُمَّ عَلى المَنايا
إِلىto أَقصىthe utmost الثَميلَةِremaining nourishment وَالذَماءِand remaining life
إِلى أَقصى الثَميلَةِ وَالذَماءِ
I then held my soul steadfast in the face of death,
to the last remnants of sustenance and life,
رَجاءًhoping أَنthat تَفوزَwould win قِداحُthe lot-arrows ظَنّيof my expectation
رَجاءً أَن تَفوزَ قِداحُ ظَنّي
وَتَلويand twist tight بِالنَجاحِwith success قُوىthe strands رَجائيof my hope
وَتَلوي بِالنَجاحِ قُوى رَجائي
hoping the lot-arrows of my expectation would win
and twist tight the strands of my hope with success.
وَليand I have حَقٌّa claim عَلَيكَupon you فَذاكَfor that is جِدّيmy earnest effort
وَلي حَقٌّ عَلَيكَ فَذاكَ جِدّي
قَديمٌlong-standing فيin رِضاكَpleasing you وَذاand this is ثَنائيmy praise
قَديمٌ في رِضاكَ وَذا ثَنائي
I have a claim upon you: there is my earnest effort,
long devoted to pleasing you, and here is my praise.
وَمِنand among شِيَمِthe customs المُلوكِof kings عَلىthroughout اللَياليthe nights
وَمِن شِيَمِ المُلوكِ عَلى اللَيالي
مُجازاةُrewarding الوَليِّthe loyal ally عَلىfor الوَلاءِloyalty
مُجازاةُ الوَليِّ عَلى الوَلاءِ
Among the customs of kings throughout the ages
is rewarding the loyal ally for loyalty.
سَيَبلوwill find مِنكَin you هَذاthis الصَومُfast خِرقاًan accomplished man
سَيَبلو مِنكَ هَذا الصَومُ خِرقاً
رَحيبَwide الباعِof reach فَضفاضَample الرِداءِof robe
رَحيبَ الباعِ فَضفاضَ الرِداءِ
This fast will find in you an accomplished man,
broad of reach and ample of robe.
تَصومُyou fast فَلاyet do not تَسومُturn away عَنِfrom العَطاياgifts
تَصومُ فَلا تَسومُ عَنِ العَطايا
وَعَنand from بَذلِbestowing الرَغائِبِrich gifts وَالحِباءِand favors
وَعَن بَذلِ الرَغائِبِ وَالحِباءِ
You fast, yet do not abstain from gifts
or from bestowing rich gifts and favors.
أَلاbehold فَاِسعَدso rejoice بِهِin it وَبِكُلِّand in every يَومٍday
أَلا فَاِسعَد بِهِ وَبِكُلِّ يَومٍ
يُفَوِّقُهُnocks it الصَباحُthe morning إِلىtoward المَساءِevening
يُفَوِّقُهُ الصَباحُ إِلى المَساءِ
Ah, rejoice in it and in every day
that morning nocks toward evening.
وَدُمand endure أَبَدَfor all الزَمانِtime فَأَنتَfor you are أَولىmost deserving
وَدُم أَبَدَ الزَمانِ فَأَنتَ أَولى
بَنيamong the sons الدُنياof this world بِعارِيَةِto the loan البَقاءِof enduring life
بَني الدُنيا بِعارِيَةِ البَقاءِ
And endure for all time, for you are most entitled
among this world's sons to the loan of lasting life:
عَلَيَّexalted الجَدُّin fortune مُقتَرِبَnear الأَمانيto wishes
عَلَيَّ الجَدُّ مُقتَرِبَ الأَماني
عَزيزَsecure الجارِthe neighbor مَطروقَmuch visited الفِناءِthe courtyard
عَزيزَ الجارِ مَطروقَ الفِناءِ
high in fortune, with wishes within reach,
your neighbor secure, your courtyard much visited.
Sol 6.1