وَصاحِبٍ جَعَلتُهُ أَميري

وَصاحِبٍ جَعَلتُهُ أَميري

أَسكَنتُهُ في داخِلِ الضَميرِ

أَسكَنتُهُ في داخِلِ الضَميرِ

And a companion whom I made my prince—

A friend whom I made my prince

I lodged him deep within my heart.

I housed him deep within my conscience

أَودَعتُهُ الخَفِيَّ مِن أُموري

أَودَعتُهُ الخَفِيَّ مِن أُموري

فَكانَ مِثلَ النارِ في البَخورِ

فَكانَ مِثلَ النارِ في البَخورِ

I entrusted him with the secrets of my affairs,

Entrusted him with my hidden affairs

and he was like fire in incense.

So he was like fire amidst incense

صَحِبتُهُ وَلَم يَكُن نَظيري

صَحِبتُهُ وَلَم يَكُن نَظيري

قَدَّمتُهُ وَهُوَ يَرى تَأخيري

قَدَّمتُهُ وَهُوَ يَرى تَأخيري

I kept his company, though he was not my equal.

I accompanied him though he had no equal

I put him forward, while he thought I should be held back.

I put him first though he wished me advanced

نَقَصتُ إِذ جَعَلتُهُ كَبيري

نَقَصتُ إِذ جَعَلتُهُ كَبيري

كَما تُزادُ الياءُ في التَصغيرِ

كَما تُزادُ الياءُ في التَصغيرِ

I grew smaller when I made him my superior,

I was made less by making him supreme

just as the letter yā is added to form a diminutive.

As adding yā’ diminishes the small