لَكُمfor you all أَينَماwherever كُنتُمyou were مَكانٌstanding وَإِمكانُand power
لَكُم أَينَما كُنتُم مَكانٌ وَإِمكانُ
وَمَلكٌand kingship لَهُto it تَعنوbow in submission المُلوكُkings وَسُلطانُand sovereign might
وَمَلكٌ لَهُ تَعنو المُلوكُ وَسُلطانُ
Wherever you are, you have standing and power,
Wherever you may be, you have a place and means
And kingship before which kings bow, and sovereign might.
And a king whose authority kings and sultans envy
ضَرَبتُمyou pitched مِنَfrom العِزِّglory المَنيعِimpregnable سُرادِقاًa pavilion
ضَرَبتُم مِنَ العِزِّ المَنيعِ سُرادِقاً
فَأَنتُمso you are بِهِwithin it بَينَbetween السَماكينَthe two Simak stars سُكّانُdwellers
فَأَنتُم بِهِ بَينَ السَماكينَ سُكّانُ
You have pitched a pavilion of impregnable glory,
You have pitched a tent of formidable glory
And within it you dwell between the two Simak stars.
So you dwell between the two skies as inhabitants
وَليسَتand are not نُجوماًstars ماwhat تَرىyou see وَسَحائِباًand clouds
وَليسَت نُجوماً ما تَرى وَسَحائِباً
وَلَكِنَّهاbut they are مِنكُمfrom among you وُجوهٌfaces وَئيمانُand right hands
وَلَكِنَّها مِنكُم وُجوهٌ وَئيمانُ
What you see are not stars and clouds,
And it’s not stars or clouds that you see
But your faces and your right hands.
But it is your glorious faces
وَفَوقَand upon سَريرِthe throne المُلكِof kingship أَروَعُawe-inspiring قاهِرٌa conqueror
وَفَوقَ سَريرِ المُلكِ أَروَعُ قاهِرٌ
نَبيهُdistinguished المَعاليlofty deeds فيin المُلِمّاتِcalamities نَبهانُkeenly alert
نَبيهُ المَعالي في المُلِمّاتِ نَبهانُ
Upon the royal throne sits an awe-inspiring conqueror,
And above the throne of kingship is a magnificent conqueror
Distinguished in lofty deeds, keenly alert in calamities.
Noble in lofty affairs, most perceptive
هُوَhe المَلِكُthe king المَسعودُal-Mas'ud, the fortunate رَأياًin counsel وَرايَةًand in banner
هُوَ المَلِكُ المَسعودُ رَأياً وَرايَةً
لَهُhe has سَطوَةٌmight ذَلَّتsubmitted لَهاto it الإِنسُhumankind وَالجانُand jinn
لَهُ سَطوَةٌ ذَلَّت لَها الإِنسُ وَالجانُ
He is King al-Mas'ud, fortunate in counsel and banner;
He is the fortunate king, skilled in opinion and leadership
His is a might before which humankind and jinn submit.
Whose power has humbled jinn and men
غَداbecame ناهِضاًrising بِالمُلكِupholding the kingdom يَحمِلُbears عِبأَهُits burden
غَدا ناهِضاً بِالمُلكِ يَحمِلُ عِبأَهُ
وَأَقرانُهُand his peers مِلءَfilling المَكاتِبِthe schools وِلدانِboys
وَأَقرانُهُ مِلءَ المَكاتِبِ وِلدانِ
He rose to uphold the kingdom, bearing its burden,
Rising tomorrow bearing the burden of kingship
While his peers were boys filling the schools.
While his peers fill offices as boys
وَتَهتَزُّand sway أَعوادُtimbers المَنابِرِof the pulpits بِاسمِهِat his name
وَتَهتَزُّ أَعوادُ المَنابِرِ بِاسمِهِ
فَهَلso have ذَكَرَتremembered أَيّامَهاtheir days وَهيَwhile they were قُضبانُtwigs
فَهَل ذَكَرَت أَيّامَها وَهيَ قُضبانُ
The timbers of the pulpits sway at his name:
And the pillars of pulpits tremble at his name
Have they remembered their days as twigs?
Do they remember their days when they were rods?
وَإِنand if نَفَثَتbreathed فيupon الطِرسِthe parchment مِنهُfrom him يَراعُهُhis reed pen
وَإِن نَفَثَت في الطِرسِ مِنهُ يَراعُهُ
رَأَيتَyou saw عَصىthe staff موسىof Moses غَدَتbecame وَهيَand it is ثُعبانُa serpent
رَأَيتَ عَصى موسى غَدَت وَهيَ ثُعبانُ
And if his reed pen breathes upon the parchment,
And if he breathed in the tamarisk, you would see
You see Moses' staff become a serpent.
Moses’ staff become a snake
يَروقُكَdelights you سِحرُthe magic القَولِof speech عِندَat خِطابِهِhis address
يَروقُكَ سِحرُ القَولِ عِندَ خِطابِهِ
وَيُعجَبُand one marvels مِنat قِرطاسِهِhis page وَهوَand it is بُستانُa garden
وَيُعجَبُ مِن قِرطاسِهِ وَهوَ بُستانُ
The magic of speech delights you when he speaks,
The magic of his words enchants you when he speaks
And one marvels at his page, which is a garden.
And one is amazed by his paper which is a garden
وَكَمand how many غايَةٍa goal مِنfrom دونِهاbefore it المَوتُdeath حاسِراًbareheaded
وَكَم غايَةٍ مِن دونِها المَوتُ حاسِراً
سَماsoared نَحوَهاtoward it وَالمَوتُwhile death يَنظُرُwatches خَسرانُdefeated
سَما نَحوَها وَالمَوتُ يَنظُرُ خَسرانُ
How many a goal, with death bareheaded before it,
And how often has death been deprived of its dues
He soared toward, while death looked on defeated!
When one aspires to the heights where death watches in loss
بِحَيثُwhere لِسانُthe tongue السَيفِof the sword بِالضَربِthrough striking ناطِقٌspeaking
بِحَيثُ لِسانُ السَيفِ بِالضَربِ ناطِقٌ
فَصيحٌeloquent وَطَرفُand the tip الرُمحِof the spear لِلطَعنِfor thrusting يَقظانُwakeful
فَصيحٌ وَطَرفُ الرُمحِ لِلطَعنِ يَقظانُ
Where the sword's tongue speaks through blows,
Where the tongue of the sword speaks with the blows
Eloquent, and the spear's tip stays wakeful for thrusting.
Eloquent, and the spear’s edge is awake for stabbing
وَكَمand how often شاقَهُstirred his longing خَدٌّa cheek أَسيلٌsmooth مُوَرَّدٌrosy
وَكَم شاقَهُ خَدٌّ أَسيلٌ مُوَرَّدٌ
وَماand not ذاكَthat إِلّاbut مُرهَفاتٌsharp blades وَمُرّانُand ashwood spears
وَما ذاكَ إِلّا مُرهَفاتٌ وَمُرّانُ
How often a smooth, rosy cheek has stirred his longing—
And how many cheeks has it cleaved, smooth, rosy red
Yet it was nothing but sharp blades and ashwood spears.
That is nothing but gentle stroking and training
جَزىmay reward اللَهُGod بِالإِحسانِwith kindness سُفناًships حَمَلنَهُthey carried him
جَزى اللَهُ بِالإِحسانِ سُفناً حَمَلنَهُ
لَقَدindeed حَلَّalighted مَعروفٌgoodness لَهُنَّfor them وَإِحسانُand beneficence
لَقَد حَلَّ مَعروفٌ لَهُنَّ وَإِحسانُ
May God reward with kindness the ships that carried him:
May God reward with benevolence ships that carried him
Goodness and beneficence indeed alighted upon them.
Kindness and benevolence have indeed befallen them
حَوَينَthey contained جَميعَall الحُسنِbeauty حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
حَوَينَ جَميعَ الحُسنِ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
يَلوحُgleam بِهاin them فيupon وَجنَةِthe cheek اليَمِّof the sea خيلانُbeauty spots
يَلوحُ بِها في وَجنَةِ اليَمِّ خيلانُ
They contained all beauty, until it seemed
He possesses all beauty such that it is as though
Beauty spots gleamed in them upon the sea's cheek.
He brandishes it on his right cheek as two moles
وَماand did not هاجَrage ذاكَthat البَحرُsea لَمّاwhen سَرىtraveled by night بِهِupon it
وَما هاجَ ذاكَ البَحرُ لَمّا سَرى بِهِ
وَلَكِنbut غَداbecame مِنfrom خَوفِهِfear of him وَهوَwhile it was حَيرانُbewildered
وَلَكِن غَدا مِن خَوفِهِ وَهوَ حَيرانُ
That sea did not rage when he traveled upon it by night;
And those waves did not rage when he crossed them
Rather, in fear of him, it became bewildered.
But they marched in their awe, confused
لَقَدindeed كانَwas ذاكَthat المَوجُsurf يَرعِدُtrembles خيفَةًin fear
لَقَد كانَ ذاكَ المَوجُ يَرعِدُ خيفَةً
وَيَخفِقُand beats قَلبٌa heart مِنهُwithin it بِالرُعبِwith terror مَلآنُfull
وَيَخفِقُ قَلبٌ مِنهُ بِالرُعبِ مَلآنُ
Those waves indeed trembled with fear,
That wave would thunder fearfully
And its heart beat, brimming with terror.
And a heart within it would pound, filled with terror
أَياO مَلِكاًking عَمَّembraced الأَنامُall people مَكارِماًwith generous deeds
أَيا مَلِكاً عَمَّ الأَنامُ مَكارِماً
فَلَيسَso there is no لَهُfor him فيin غَيرِanything other than مَكرُمَةٍa noble deed شانُconcern
فَلَيسَ لَهُ في غَيرِ مَكرُمَةٍ شانُ
O king whose generous deeds embrace all people,
O king whose generosity encompasses all people
Who has no concern for anything but noble deeds!
He has no glory apart from magnanimity
قَدِمتَyou arrived قُدومَthe arrival اللَيثِof the lion وَاللَيثُand the lion باسِلٌfierce
قَدِمتَ قُدومَ اللَيثِ وَاللَيثُ باسِلٌ
وَجِئتَand you came مَجيءَthe coming الغَيثِof rain وَالغَيثُand the rain هَتّانُpouring steadily
وَجِئتَ مَجيءَ الغَيثِ وَالغَيثُ هَتّانُ
You arrived as a lion arrives—a lion fierce;
You arrived like the coming of the mighty lion
You came as rain comes—rain pouring steadily.
And you came like the coming of pouring rain
وَماand not بَرِحَتceased مِصرٌEgypt إِلَيكَfor you مَشوقَةٌyearning
وَما بَرِحَت مِصرٌ إِلَيكَ مَشوقَةٌ
وَمِثلُكَand one like you مَنsomeone whom يَشتاقُlong for لُقياهُmeeting him بُلدانِlands
وَمِثلُكَ مَن يَشتاقُ لُقياهُ بُلدانِ
Egypt has never ceased to yearn for you;
Egypt has not ceased yearning for you
Whole lands long to meet a man like you.
And who is there like you for countries to yearn for?
تَحِنُّshe yearns فَيُذريso sheds نيلُهاher Nile لَكَfor you دَمعَةًa tear
تَحِنُّ فَيُذري نيلُها لَكَ دَمعَةً
وَيُعوِلُand wails قُمرِيٌّa turtledove عَلىupon الدَوحِthe great trees مِرنانِresonant
وَيُعوِلُ قُمرِيٌّ عَلى الدَوحِ مِرنانِ
She yearns, and her Nile sheds a tear for you,
It sheds a tear for you so its Nile overflows
And a resonant turtledove wails upon the great trees.
And a pylon sways upon the dais bending
وَلَمّاand when أَتاهُreached it العِلمُthe news أَنَّكَthat you قادِمٌare arriving
وَلَمّا أَتاهُ العِلمُ أَنَّكَ قادِمٌ
تَهَلَّلَbrightened مِنهُbecause of it وَجهُهُits face وَهوَand it was جَذلانُjoyful
تَهَلَّلَ مِنهُ وَجهُهُ وَهوَ جَذلانُ
And when news reached it that you were coming,
And when knowledge came to it that you were coming
Its face brightened at the news, full of joy.
Its face shone joyfully though it was bashful
وَوافاكَand met you فيهاwithin her العيدُthe festival يُشعِرُsignals أَنَّهُthat it is
وَوافاكَ فيها العيدُ يُشعِرُ أَنَّهُ
دَليلٌa sign عَلىof طولِthe duration المَسَرَّةِof joy بُرهانُa proof
دَليلٌ عَلى طولِ المَسَرَّةِ بُرهانُ
The festival greeted you there, proclaiming itself
And Eid has come to you indicating
A sign and proof of lasting happiness.
That it is proof of lengthened happiness
وَهاهِيَand here she is فيin بِشرٍjoy بِقُربِكَat your nearness شامِلٍall-encompassing
وَهاهِيَ في بِشرٍ بِقُربِكَ شامِلٍ
قَدِindeed اِنتَظَمَتhave been gathered دِمياطُDamietta مِنهُfrom it وَأَسوانُand Aswan
قَدِ اِنتَظَمَت دِمياطُ مِنهُ وَأَسوانُ
And here she is in all-embracing joy at your nearness;
And here it is, in the joy of your nearing
Damietta and Aswan alike have been gathered into it.
Damietta and Aswan have been adorned by it
تُصَفِّقُclap أَوراقٌleaves وَتَشدوand sing حَمائِمٌdoves
تُصَفِّقُ أَوراقٌ وَتَشدو حَمائِمٌ
وَتَرقُصُand dance أَغصانٌbranches وَتَفتَرُّand smile غُدرانُpools
وَتَرقُصُ أَغصانٌ وَتَفتَرُّ غُدرانُ
Leaves clap, and doves sing;
Leaves clap and doves sing
Branches dance, and pools smile.
Branches dance and buds burst open
وَقَدand indeed فَرَشَتhave spread أَقطارُهاher regions لَكَfor you سُندُساًfine silk
وَقَد فَرَشَت أَقطارُها لَكَ سُندُساً
لَهُit has مِنof فُنونِvarieties الزَهرِof blossoms وَالنَورِand flowers أَلوانُhues
لَهُ مِن فُنونِ الزَهرِ وَالنَورِ أَلوانُ
Her regions have spread fine silk for you,
And its regions have spread out brocade for you
With many hues of blossoms and flowers.
With varieties of floral hues and light
يُوافيكَmeets you فيهاwithin her أَينَماwherever كُنتَyou are رَوضَةٌa garden
يُوافيكَ فيها أَينَما كُنتَ رَوضَةٌ
وَيَلقاكَand meets you أَنّىwherever كُنتَyou are رَوحٌrepose وَرَيحانُand sweet basil
وَيَلقاكَ أَنّى كُنتَ رَوحٌ وَرَيحانُ
Wherever you are within her, a garden comes to meet you,
Wherever you may be, a meadow comes to meet you
And wherever you may be, repose and sweet basil greet you.
And wherever you may be, a spirit and a basil plant come to you
وَإِنand if تَكُthere are فيin سُلطانِهاher sultan مِنany مَحاسِنٍfine qualities
وَإِن تَكُ في سُلطانِها مِن مَحاسِنٍ
سَتَزدادُthey will increase حُسناًin beauty إِنif قَدِمتَyou arrive وَيَزدانُand he will be adorned
سَتَزدادُ حُسناً إِن قَدِمتَ وَيَزدانُ
And if her sultan has any fine qualities,
And if of its sultanate you possess such beauty
They will gain in beauty if you come, and he in splendor.
It will increase in beauty if you come and adorn it
فَحَسبُكَso enough for you قَدindeed وافاكِhas come to you ياO مِصرُEgypt يوسُفٌYusuf
فَحَسبُكَ قَد وافاكِ يا مِصرُ يوسُفٌ
وَحَسبُكَand enough for you قَدindeed وافاكَhas come to you ياO نيلُNile طوفانُa flood
وَحَسبُكَ قَد وافاكَ يا نيلُ طوفانُ
So enough for you, O Egypt: Yusuf has come to you;
It suffices you, O Egypt, that Joseph has come to you
And enough for you, O Nile: a flood has come to you.
It suffices you, O Nile, that a deluge has come to you
وَيُشرِقُand shines وَجهُthe face الأَرضِof the earth حينَwhen تَحُلُّهاyou settle upon it
وَيُشرِقُ وَجهُ الأَرضِ حينَ تَحُلُّها
كَأَنَّكَas though you were تَوحيدٌmonotheism حَوَتهُit has embraced it وَإيمانُand faith
كَأَنَّكَ تَوحيدٌ حَوَتهُ وَإيمانُ
The face of the earth shines when you settle upon it,
And the face of the land beams when you settle it
As though you were monotheism and faith that it has embraced.
As though you are the divine oneness it encompasses and faith
لِأَنَّكَbecause you قَدindeed بُرِّئتَhave been absolved مِنof كُلِّevery مَأثَمٍsin
لِأَنَّكَ قَد بُرِّئتَ مِن كُلِّ مَأثَمٍ
وَأَنَّكَand you are فيregarding الدينِthe faith الحَنيفِيِّupright and monotheistic غَيرانُfiercely protective
وَأَنَّكَ في الدينِ الحَنيفِيِّ غَيرانُ
For you have been absolved of every sin,
For you have been absolved of all sin
And you are fiercely protective of the upright faith.
And you are unmatched in the Hanifi religion
فَقُدتُso I led إِلَيهِtoward it الخَيلَthe horses بِالخَيرِwith goodness كُلِّهِall of it
فَقُدتُ إِلَيهِ الخَيلَ بِالخَيرِ كُلِّهِ
وَطارَتand flew بِأُسدِbearing lions الغابِof the forest مِنهُنَّamong them عِقبانُeagles
وَطارَت بِأُسدِ الغابِ مِنهُنَّ عِقبانُ
So I led the horses toward it, bearing every good,
I have sent to him the best horses
And eagles among them flew with lions of the forest.
And lionesses have flown from them like eagles
بِعَزمٍwith resolve تَخافُfears الأَرضُthe earth شِدَّةَthe severity وَقعِهِof its impact
بِعَزمٍ تَخافُ الأَرضُ شِدَّةَ وَقعِهِ
وَيَرتاعُand trembles ثَهلانٌThahlan لَهُbefore it وَهوَthough it is ثَهلانُThahlan
وَيَرتاعُ ثَهلانٌ لَهُ وَهوَ ثَهلانُ
With a resolve whose force of impact the earth fears,
With resolve the ground quakes from the impact of their hooves
And Thahlan trembles before it, though it is Thahlan.
And steeds tremble at them while they tremble
وَتُملَأُand are filled أَحشاءَthe bowels البِلادِof the lands مَخافَةًwith fear
وَتُملَأُ أَحشاءَ البِلادِ مَخافَةً
وَتَرتَجُّand shake بَغدادٌBaghdad لَهُbefore it وَخُراسانُand Khurasan
وَتَرتَجُّ بَغدادٌ لَهُ وَخُراسانُ
The bowels of the lands are filled with dread,
The regions of the land fill with awe
And Baghdad and Khurasan shake before it.
And Baghdad and Khorasan quake for him
فَأَمَّنتَso you made safe تِلكَthat الأَرضَland مِنfrom كُلِّevery رَوعَةٍterror
فَأَمَّنتَ تِلكَ الأَرضَ مِن كُلِّ رَوعَةٍ
وَقَدalthough already عَمَّهاpervaded it ظُلمٌinjustice كَثيرٌmuch وَطُغيانِand tyranny
وَقَد عَمَّها ظُلمٌ كَثيرٌ وَطُغيانِ
Then you made that land safe from every terror,
You have given security to that land from every fear
Though great injustice and tyranny had engulfed it.
Though great oppression and tyranny had afflicted it
وَكانَand there was بِهاin it مِنfrom أَهلِthe people شُعبَةَof Shu'bah شُعبَةٌa branch
وَكانَ بِها مِن أَهلِ شُعبَةَ شُعبَةٌ
مِنَof الجَورِinjustice وَالعُدوانِand aggression بَغيٌoppression وَعُدوانِand hostility
مِنَ الجَورِ وَالعُدوانِ بَغيٌ وَعُدوانِ
And there was in it a branch of Shu'bah's people,
And in it there was a group from Shu’ba
Of injustice and aggression, oppression and hostility.
Engaged in injustice, enmity, and aggression
فَسَكَّنتَهاso you stilled it حَتّىuntil مَتىwhen هَبَّتِblew الصَباthe east wind
فَسَكَّنتَها حَتّى مَتى هَبَّتِ الصَبا
بِنَعمانَat Na'man لَمdid not يَهتَزَّsway بِالأَيكِin the thicket نَعمانُan anemone
بِنَعمانَ لَم يَهتَزَّ بِالأَيكِ نَعمانُ
So you stilled it until, when the east wind blew
You have settled it such that whenever the north wind blew
At Na'man, no anemone swayed in the thicket.
Namman did not sway in the grove of Namman
فَلَمso not يَكُthere was فيهاin it مُقلَةٌan eye تَعرِفُknows الكَرىslumber
فَلَم يَكُ فيها مُقلَةٌ تَعرِفُ الكَرى
فَلَوso if زارَهاvisited it طَيفٌa dream-phantom مَضىdeparted وَهوَwhile it was غَضبانُangry
فَلَو زارَها طَيفٌ مَضى وَهوَ غَضبانُ
For no eye there had known slumber;
There was no one there who knew adversity
If a dream-phantom had visited it, it would have left in anger.
So that if a departed angry ghost were to visit it
تَقَبَّلَmay accept فيكَon your behalf اللَهُGod بِالحَرَمَينِin the Two Sanctuaries ماwhat
تَقَبَّلَ فيكَ اللَهُ بِالحَرَمَينِ ما
دَعاprayed لَكَfor you حُجّاجٌpilgrims هُناكَthere وَقُطّانُand residents
دَعا لَكَ حُجّاجٌ هُناكَ وَقُطّانُ
May God accept for you, in the Two Sanctuaries, what
May God allow the pilgrims in the Two Holy Sanctuaries to invoke for you
Pilgrims and residents there have prayed for you.
Whatever the pilgrims and caravans invoke for you there
أَيُذكَرُis mentioned? عَمرٌوAmr إِنif سَطَوتَyou strike وَعَنتَرٌand Antar
أَيُذكَرُ عَمرٌو إِن سَطَوتَ وَعَنتَرٌ
وَهَيهاتَand far indeed مِنfrom كِسرىKisra هُناكَthere وَخاقانُand Khaqan
وَهَيهاتَ مِن كِسرى هُناكَ وَخاقانُ
Is Amr mentioned, or Antar, when you strike?
Is ‘Amr mentioned when you have prevailed and dominated?
And far from that are Kisra and Khaqan!
And alas for Chosroe over there and the Khan
وَهُمand they يَصِفونَdescribe الرُمحَthe spear أَسمَرَbrown ظامِياًthirsty
وَهُم يَصِفونَ الرُمحَ أَسمَرَ ظامِياً
فَهاso behold هُوَit مُحمَرٌّreddened لَدَيكَwith you وَرَيّانُand thirst-quenched
فَها هُوَ مُحمَرٌّ لَدَيكَ وَرَيّانُ
They describe the spear as brown and thirsty,
They describe smoothing the brown spear
Yet here it is with you, reddened and thirst-quenched.
Yet here it is red before you and well-honed
لَقَدindeed كُنتُI was أَرجوhoping أَنto أَزورَكَvisit you فيin الدُجىdarkness
لَقَد كُنتُ أَرجو أَن أَزورَكَ في الدُجى
وَإِنّيand I am عَلىfor ماwhat فاتَنيI missed مِنكَof you نَدمانُregretful
وَإِنّي عَلى ما فاتَني مِنكَ نَدمانُ
I had indeed hoped to visit you in the darkness,
I had hoped to visit you in the darkness of night
And I regret what I have missed of you.
And I regret what I have missed of you
أُعَلِّلُI console نَفسيmyself بِالمَواعيدِwith promises وَالمُنىand wishes
أُعَلِّلُ نَفسي بِالمَواعيدِ وَالمُنى
وَقَدand indeed مَرَّhave passed أَزمانٌages لِذاكَfor that وَأَزمانُand ages
وَقَد مَرَّ أَزمانٌ لِذاكَ وَأَزمانُ
I console myself with promises and wishes,
I excuse myself with promises and good intentions
And ages upon ages have gone by in this.
Though time for that has passed and times
أَرىI see أَنَّthat عِزّيmy honor مِنfrom سِواكَanyone but you مَذَلَّةٌhumiliation
أَرى أَنَّ عِزّي مِن سِواكَ مَذَلَّةٌ
وَأَنَّand that حَياتيmy life مِنfrom سِواكَanyone but you لَحِرمانُindeed deprivation
وَأَنَّ حَياتي مِن سِواكَ لَحِرمانُ
I see my honor from anyone but you as humiliation,
I see my glory apart from you as humiliation
And my life from anyone but you as sheer deprivation.
And my life apart from you is deprivation
وَقالَتand spoke لِيَto me الآمالُhopes بِاليُمنِof good fortune وَالمُنىand wishes
وَقالَت لِيَ الآمالُ بِاليُمنِ وَالمُنى
وَماand not بَعُدَتwas far أَرضُthe land الكَثيبِof al-Kathib وَغُمدانُand Ghumdan
وَما بَعُدَت أَرضُ الكَثيبِ وَغُمدانُ
And hopes spoke to me of good fortune and wishes,
And hopes told me of good fortune and intentions
Nor were the lands of al-Kathib and Ghumdan far away.
Yet the land of sand dunes and meadows is not far
وَكُنتُand I used to أَرىsee البَرقَthe lightning اليَمانِيَYemeni موهِناًlate at night
وَكُنتُ أَرى البَرقَ اليَمانِيَ موهِناً
فَأَهتَزُّso I tremble مِنfrom شَوقيmy longing كَأَنِّيَas though I were نَشوانُintoxicated
فَأَهتَزُّ مِن شَوقي كَأَنِّيَ نَشوانُ
I would see the Yemeni lightning late at night,
I would see the Yemeni lightning submissive
And tremble with longing, as though intoxicated.
So I would tremble in my yearning as though I am bending branches
وَأَستَنشِقُand I inhale الريحَthe wind الجَنوبيsouthern وَأَنثَنيand I turn back
وَأَستَنشِقُ الريحَ الجَنوبي وَأَنثَني
وَليand I have أَنَّةٌa moan مِنهاfrom it كَماas أَنَّmoaned وَلهانُa lovesick man
وَلي أَنَّةٌ مِنها كَما أَنَّ وَلهانُ
I breathe in the southern wind and turn back,
And I would smell the southern wind and bend over
And it draws from me a moan, like a lovesick man's.
Passionately like the bending of a bough
وَماand not فَتَنَتbewitched قَلبيmy heart البِلادُthe lands وَإِنَّماbut rather
وَما فَتَنَت قَلبي البِلادُ وَإِنَّما
نَدىthe generosity المَلِكِof the king المَسعودِal-Mas'ud لِلناسِfor people فَتّانُbewitching
نَدى المَلِكِ المَسعودِ لِلناسِ فَتّانُ
It was not the lands that bewitched my heart; rather,
And countries did not tempt my heart, but only
The bounty of King al-Mas'ud bewitches people.
The call of the fortunate king tempting people
فَتىًa youth مِثلَماsuch as يَختارُهُchooses him المُلكُkingship ماجِدٌnoble
فَتىً مِثلَما يَختارُهُ المُلكُ ماجِدٌ
وَمَرعىًand a pasture كَماas يَختارُهُchooses it الفالُa good omen سَعدانُsa'dan forage
وَمَرعىً كَما يَختارُهُ الفالُ سَعدانُ
A noble youth, just as kingship would choose,
A young man that kingship would choose glorious
And a pasture of sa'dan, just as a good omen would choose.
And pasture that fate would choose as fortunate
وَلَيسَand is not غَريباًa stranger مَنwhoever إِلَيكَtoward you اِغتِرابُهُhis journey abroad
وَلَيسَ غَريباً مَن إِلَيكَ اِغتِرابُهُ
لَهُhe has مِنهُfrom it أَهلٌkin حَيثُwherever كانَhe is وَأَوطانُand homelands
لَهُ مِنهُ أَهلٌ حَيثُ كانَ وَأَوطانُ
Whoever journeys abroad to you is no stranger;
It is not strange that he whose estrangement is towards you
From that journey he has kin and homelands wherever he is.
Has family wherever he was and homelands
وَقَدand indeed قَرَّبَbrought closer اللَهُGod المَسافَةَthe distance بَينَناbetween us
وَقَد قَرَّبَ اللَهُ المَسافَةَ بَينَنا
فَهاso here أَناI am يَحوينيcontains me وَإِيّاهُand him إيوانُa vaulted hall
فَها أَنا يَحويني وَإِيّاهُ إيوانُ
God has shortened the distance between us,
And God has brought close the distance between us
So here I am: one vaulted hall holds him and me.
So here I am, encompassing him and it in a hall
أَشُكُّI doubt وَقَدalthough عايَنتُهُI have seen him فيabout قُدومِهِhis arrival
أَشُكُّ وَقَد عايَنتُهُ في قُدومِهِ
وَأَمسَحُand I wipe عَنfrom عَينَيَّmy two eyes هَلwhether أَناI am وَسنانُdrowsy
وَأَمسَحُ عَن عَينَيَّ هَل أَنا وَسنانُ
Though I have seen him, I doubt his arrival,
I doubt and suspect that when he arrives
And wipe at my eyes: am I half asleep?
I wipe my eyes – am I asleep or forgetful?
فَهَلso is قانِعٌcontent مِنّيfrom me البَشيرُthe bearer of good news بِمُهجَتيwith my heart's blood
فَهَل قانِعٌ مِنّي البَشيرُ بِمُهجَتي
عَلىdespite ماwhat بِهاin it مِنof دائِهاits illness وَهيَand it is أَشجانُsorrows
عَلى ما بِها مِن دائِها وَهيَ أَشجانُ
Will the bearer of good news be content with my heart,
Will the herald be pleased with my gift
Despite the sickness within it, made up of sorrows?
Despite the afflictions with it as it is branches?
سَأَشكُرُI shall thank هَذاthis الدَهرَage يَومَon the day لِقائِهِof meeting him
سَأَشكُرُ هَذا الدَهرَ يَومَ لِقائِهِ
وَإِنalthough كانَit was دَهراًan age لَمnot يَزَلceased وَهوَwhile it is خَوّانُtreacherous
وَإِن كانَ دَهراً لَم يَزَل وَهوَ خَوّانُ
I shall thank this age on the day I meet him,
I will thank this life on the day I meet him
Though it has always been a treacherous age.
Though it is a life that does not cease to betray
وَحَلبَةِand many a racecourse نَصرٍof victory لاnot أَرىI see فيهِin it لاحِقاًone catching up
وَحَلبَةِ نَصرٍ لا أَرى فيهِ لاحِقاً
وَقَدand already سَبَقَتهُمoutstripped them فيin الفَضائِلِvirtues فُرسانُhorsemen
وَقَد سَبَقَتهُم في الفَضائِلِ فُرسانُ
And many a racecourse of victory, where I see none catching up,
And I do not see in the arena of victory anyone catching up
And horsemen have already outstripped them in virtues.
As thoroughbreds have surpassed them in merits
لَقَدindeed عَدِمَwere missing الغَبراءُal-Ghabra' فيهاin it وَداحِسٌand Dahis
لَقَد عَدِمَ الغَبراءُ فيها وَداحِسٌ
وَلَمand not يَعدِمِhave lacked الأَعداءُenemies عَبسٌAbs وَذُبيانُand Dhubyan
وَلَم يَعدِمِ الأَعداءُ عَبسٌ وَذُبيانُ
Al-Ghabra' and Dahis are indeed missing from it,
There the outstanding horse is not missed, nor Dahis
Yet Abs and Dhubyan have not lacked enemies.
Nor do the enemies miss ‘Abs and Dhubyan
لَعَمرُكَby your life مافيthere is none among القَومِthe people بَعدِيَafter me قائِلٌa poet
لَعَمرُكَ مافي القَومِ بَعدِيَ قائِلٌ
فَهَذاso this is مَجالٌan arena لِلجِيادِfor noble steeds وَمَيدانُand a racecourse
فَهَذا مَجالٌ لِلجِيادِ وَمَيدانُ
By your life, there is no poet among them to follow me;
By your life, after me among the people there is no speaker
For this is an arena and a racecourse for noble steeds.
So this is an arena for steeds and a racecourse
فَدَعso leave كُلَّevery ماءٍwater حينَwhen يُذكَرُis mentioned زَمزَمٌZamzam
فَدَع كُلَّ ماءٍ حينَ يُذكَرُ زَمزَمٌ
وَدَعand leave كُلَّevery وادٍvalley حينَwhen يُذكَرُis mentioned نَعمانُNa'man
وَدَع كُلَّ وادٍ حينَ يُذكَرُ نَعمانُ
So leave all other water when Zamzam is mentioned,
Leave every water when Zamzam is mentioned
And leave every other valley when Na'man is mentioned.
And leave every valley when Nu’man is mentioned
وَماكُلُّand not every أَرضٍland مِثلُlike أَرضٍa land هِيَit is الحِمىthe protected preserve
وَماكُلُّ أَرضٍ مِثلُ أَرضٍ هِيَ الحِمى
وَماand not كُلُّevery نَبتٍplant مِثلُlike نَبتٍa plant هُوَit is البانُthe ban tree
وَما كُلُّ نَبتٍ مِثلُ نَبتٍ هُوَ البانُ
Not every land is like the land that is the protected preserve,
And no land is like a land that is a protected sanctuary
Nor is every plant like the plant that is the ban tree.
And no vegetation like vegetation that is grazing lands
وَمِثليand one like me وَلِيٌّa loyal friend هَزَّstirred عِطفَيكَyour two sides مَدحُهُhis praise
وَمِثلي وَلِيٌّ هَزَّ عِطفَيكَ مَدحُهُ
وَإِنand if شِئتَyou wish سَلمانٌSalman وَإِنand if شِئتَyou wish حَسّانُHassan
وَإِن شِئتَ سَلمانٌ وَإِن شِئتَ حَسّانُ
And one like me is a loyal friend whose praise swayed your shoulders;
And the like of me, a guardian whose praise shook your shoulder
If you wish, a Salman; if you wish, a Hassan.
And if you wish then Salman and if you wish then Hasan
أَلاindeed هَكَذاlike this فَليُحسِنِso let perfect القَولَspeech قائِلٌa speaker
أَلا هَكَذا فَليُحسِنِ القَولَ قائِلٌ
وَمِثلُand like صَلاحِSalah الدينِal-Din قَدindeed قَلَّis rare سُلطانُa sultan
وَمِثلُ صَلاحِ الدينِ قَد قَلَّ سُلطانُ
Indeed, let a speaker excel in speech like this!
Indeed, thus should a speaker speak well
And few are sultans like Salah al-Din.
And the like of Salah ad-Din, little is left of his dominion
Sol 6.1