عجturn aside بالديارat the dwellings وحيّand salute ذاكthat المعهداfamiliar haunt
عج بالديار وحيّ ذاك المعهدا
واعشand seek by night لربعtoward a dwelling بالثناءthrough praise توطداmade enduring
واعش لربع بالثناء توطدا
Turn aside at the dwellings, and salute that familiar abode;
Turn aside at the dwellings and salute that familiar haunt.
may an encampment made steadfast by praise endure.
And seek by night a dwelling made enduring through praise.
وانشرand proclaim بذياكin that very الحمىsanctuary عهديmy pledge الذيwhich
وانشر بذياك الحمى عهدي الذي
ياO ابنson of المودةaffection فيهthere لنwill never يتبدداfade
يا ابن المودة فيه لن يتبددا
And proclaim at that yonder sanctuary my pledge, which—
And proclaim in that sanctuary my pledge, which—
O son of affection—shall never be scattered there.
O son of affection—will never fade there.
فسقىso may it water ربوعthe dwelling places of الحيthe community صوبthe downpour of سحابةa cloud
فسقى ربوع الحي صوب سحابة
معwith كلevery ساريةnight-rain بنمهلwith a downpour (uncertain spelling) الندىdew
مع كل سارية بنمهل الندى
May a cloud’s downpour water the tribe’s dwellings,
May a cloud's downpour water the people's dwelling places,
with every night-cloud’s abundant gift of rain.
With every night-rain, in a downpour of dew.
وحباكand may it favor you أمنٌsafety ياO ديارdwellings of احبتيmy loved ones
وحباك أمنٌ يا ديار احبتي
أنيfor I بغيرof anything but هواكlove for you لمdid not أكI was منشداa singer
أني بغير هواك لم أك منشدا
May safety embrace you, O homes of those I love;
And may safety favor you, O dwellings of my loved ones.
for without love of you, I would never have been a poet.
For I have never sung of love for any but you.
ماnever غردsang القمريّthe turtledove فوقabove أريكةa canopied couch
ما غرد القمريّ فوق أريكة
إلّاbut صباyearned قلبيmy heart المشوقlonging وردّداand echoed
إلّا صبا قلبي المشوق وردّدا
Never did the turtledove sing above a bower
Never did the turtledove sing above a canopied couch
but my yearning heart longed and echoed its song.
But my longing heart yearned and echoed its song.
رعياmay they be cherished لأيامthe days تقضتthat passed باللقاin reunion
رعيا لأيام تقضت باللقا
كانwas الزمانtime بهاduring them هنيّاpleasant مسعداjoy-giving
كان الزمان بها هنيّا مسعدا
Blessed remembrance of days that passed in meeting,
May the days spent in reunion be cherished,
when time there was delightful and gladdening—
When time was pleasant and brought us joy.
أيامdays when كناwe were والصفاءand pure affection أنيساa companion
أيام كنا والصفاء أنيسا
وهزارand a nightingale of أنسfellowship بالمسرةin delight قدindeed شداsang
وهزار أنس بالمسرة قد شدا
days when purity was our companion
Days when we lived with pure affection as our companion,
and the nightingale of fellowship sang joyfully.
And a nightingale of fellowship sang in delight.
ولناand for us بهاتيكin those الطلولruins معالمlandmarks
ولنا بهاتيك الطلول معالم
عهدhas known الفؤادthe heart لغيرهاany others لنwill never يعهداknow
عهد الفؤاد لغيرها لن يعهدا
Among those yonder deserted traces we have landmarks
And in those ruins we have landmarks
to which the heart has vowed it will never know another.
The heart has known, and will never know any others.
وإذاand when ذكرتI remember اللاءthe women who خيمنpitched their tents بهاthere
وإذا ذكرت اللاء خيمن بها
فيبيتthen spends the night طرفيmy eye بالهيامwith passionate longing مسهداkept awake
فيبيت طرفي بالهيام مسهدا
Whenever I remember the women who encamped there,
And when I remember the women who pitched their tents there,
my passion-stricken eyes spend the night sleepless.
My eyes spend the night sleepless with passionate longing.
ولربand many a أحورdark-eyed one مقلةin the eye فتكتslew بناus
ولرب أحور مقلة فتكت بنا
الحاظةhis glances (probable reading) النجلwide-eyed الصحاحunerring تعمداdeliberately
الحاظة النجل الصحاح تعمدا
Many a dark-eyed beauty’s eye has slain us,
And many a dark-eyed one has slain us
its wide, flawless glances striking deliberately—
With his wide, unerring glances, deliberately.
نشوانdrunk منon خمرthe wine of الصبابةyearning والصباand youth
نشوان من خمر الصبابة والصبا
بصميhe strikes dead (probable reading) ويسبيand takes captive أنif (probable reading) رناhe gazes وإذاand when بداhe appears
بصمي ويسبي أن رنا وإذا بدا
intoxicated with the wine of passion and youth,
Drunk on the wine of yearning and youth,
dealing mortal blows and taking captive whenever he gazed or appeared.
He slays and takes captive when he gazes and when he appears.
ماnot زالceased يرشفhe sips منfrom سلافةthe choicest wine of تيههhis pride
ما زال يرشف من سلافة تيهه
حتىuntil ترنحhe swayed بالدلالwith coquetry وعربداand grew riotous
حتى ترنح بالدلال وعربدا
He kept sipping the choicest wine of his pride
He kept sipping the choicest wine of his pride,
until he swayed coquettishly and reveled.
Until he swayed with coquetry and grew riotous.
واهتزand swayed منfrom تحتbeneath الغلايلthe thin robes قدهhis figure
واهتز من تحت الغلايل قده
ليناحكيsupple, resembling (uncertain spelling) الغصنthe bough الرطيبfresh الأملداpliant
ليناحكي الغصن الرطيب الأملدا
His figure stirred beneath the thin garments,
And beneath his thin robes his figure swayed,
supple, like a tender, smooth bough.
Supple, resembling the fresh and pliant bough.
يفترhe parts his lips عنto reveal بردhailstones وعنand revealing حببbubbles وعنand revealing
يفتر عن برد وعن حبب وعن
درpearls نظيمstrung in order بالعقيقamid carnelian تنضداarrayed in rows
در نظيم بالعقيق تنضدا
His smile revealed hailstones, bubbles, and—
His smile reveals hailstones, bubbles, and
pearls strung in order and arrayed in carnelian.
Strung pearls arrayed amid carnelian.
وافىhe arrived وقدhaving indeed فتنbewitched الظباءthe gazelles بجيدهwith his neck
وافى وقد فتن الظباء بجيده
يختالhe struts ماwhat lies بينbetween الغلائلthe delicate robes أغيداsupple
يختال ما بين الغلائل أغيدا
He came, having bewitched the gazelles with his neck,
He came, having bewitched the gazelles with his neck,
strutting gracefully amid the thin garments.
Strutting, supple, amid his delicate robes.
أسرhe captured الشجيthe lovesick one بباترwith a cutting glance منfrom فاترa languid eye
أسر الشجي بباتر من فاتر
ورمىand struck الفؤادthe heart بهجرهwith his abandonment فتوقداso it blazed
ورمى الفؤاد بهجره فتوقدا
He captured the heartsick lover with a languid glance from a languid eye,
He captured the lovesick with a cutting glance from a languid eye,
then struck the heart with his abandonment, and it blazed.
And struck the heart with his abandonment, so it blazed.
ماnever لاحflashed بارقthe lightning of ثغرهhis smiling mouth إلّاbut هماstreamed
ما لاح بارق ثغره إلّا هما
طرفيmy eye واموضand it flashed (probable reading) بالفؤادwithin the heart وأرعداand thundered
طرفي واموض بالفؤاد وأرعدا
Whenever the lightning of his smile flashed, there streamed—
Whenever the lightning of his smile flashed, tears streamed
my eyes; it anguished the heart and thundered.
From my eyes, and it flashed and thundered in my heart.
كلّاno indeed ولاnor خطرpassed النسيمthe breeze معطراperfumed
كلّا ولا خطر النسيم معطرا
إلّاbut شذتshed fragrance أوصافthe qualities of حيدرHaydar أحمداAhmad
إلّا شذت أوصاف حيدر أحمدا
Never has a fragrant breeze passed
No indeed—nor did a breeze ever pass perfumed
but the virtues of Haydar Ahmad spread their perfume—
But the qualities of Haydar Ahmad shed their fragrance.
زينthe adornment of المحامدpraiseworthy deeds والمفاخرand glories سيدa lord
زين المحامد والمفاخر سيد
قدindeed جاءhe has come فيin حسنthe beauty of المآثرnoble achievements مفرداunrivaled
قد جاء في حسن المآثر مفردا
a lord, the adornment of praiseworthy deeds and glories,
A lord, the adornment of praiseworthy deeds and glories,
peerless in the beauty of his noble works.
Who stands unrivaled in the beauty of noble achievements.
نعمexcellent is الأميرthe prince وخيرand the best مولىpatron ماجدnoble
نعم الأمير وخير مولى ماجد
بلغhe attained الكمالperfection ونالand gained عزّاًhonor أمجداmost glorious
بلغ الكمال ونال عزّاً أمجدا
How excellent an emir, and what a fine, noble lord!
Excellent is the prince, the finest noble patron,
He attained perfection and won most glorious honor.
Who attained perfection and won most glorious honor.
وقدand indeed استشبgrew to fullness الفضلexcellence فيin آدابهhis cultivated manners
وقد استشب الفضل في آدابه
ونماand grew بنشرthrough spreading خلالهhis virtues وتشيداand rose high
ونما بنشر خلاله وتشيدا
Excellence matured in his manners
And excellence has grown to fullness in his cultivated manners,
and grew as his virtues spread and rose aloft.
And grew through the spreading of his virtues, rising high.
شهمa gallant man بنورwith the light of شهابShihab نسبةthe lineage of مجدهhis glory
شهم بنور شهاب نسبة مجده
ملكhe possessed العلىthe heights رغماdespite opposition وحازand attained السودداsupremacy
ملك العلى رغما وحاز السوددا
A gallant lord whose glorious lineage shines with a meteor’s light,
A gallant man, his glorious lineage radiant with Shihab's light,
he mastered the heights despite all opposition and gained supremacy.
He gained the heights despite opposition, and won supremacy.
أربتsurpassed سجاياهhis qualities علىbeyond ريحthe wind الصباthe east breeze
أربت سجاياه على ريح الصبا
لطفاin gentleness ومالand he inclined لكلtoward every فضلvirtue واقتدىand followed its example
لطفا ومال لكل فضل واقتدى
His virtues surpassed the morning breeze
His qualities surpassed the east breeze
in gentleness; he inclined to every excellence and followed its lead.
In gentleness; he inclined toward every virtue and followed it.
فتكتvanquished بسحبthe clouds of الجودbounty كفاهhis two hands كماjust as
فتكت بسحب الجود كفاه كما
بالحزمwith resolve والآراءand counsels قدindeed قهرhe subdued العدىthe enemies
بالحزم والآراء قد قهر العدى
His hands outdid the clouds of bounty, just as
His hands vanquished the clouds of bounty, just as
with resolve and wise counsel he vanquished his foes.
With resolve and counsel he subdued his foes.
وإذاand when ذكرتyou mention المزنrain clouds عندwhen ندائهcalling upon him
وإذا ذكرت المزن عند ندائه
فترىthen you see يديهhis two hands منthan السحائبthe clouds أجوداmore generous
فترى يديه من السحائب أجودا
When rainclouds are mentioned at his summons,
And if you mention rain clouds when calling upon him,
you find his hands more generous than the clouds.
You find his hands more generous than the clouds.
وإذاand when ذكرتyou mention الأكرمينthe most generous فإنهthen indeed he
وإذا ذكرت الأكرمين فإنه
لأعزهمindeed the strongest of them عزماin resolve واسمحهمand the most generous of them يدعاin hand (uncertain reading)
لأعزهم عزما واسمحهم يدعا
And when the noblest men are named, he is
And when you name the most generous, he is
the firmest among them in resolve and the most open-handed.
Surely the strongest in resolve and the most open-handed.
ماnever شامbeheld كفيهhis two palms عسيرٌa hard-pressed man مرسلٌsent as an emissary
ما شام كفيه عسيرٌ مرسلٌ
إلّاbut تحققascertained منهماfrom both of them صدقthe genuineness of الجدىbounty
إلّا تحقق منهما صدق الجدى
No man, hard-pressed or prosperous, has looked toward his hands
No hard-pressed emissary ever beheld his palms
without finding their promised benefit fulfilled.
Without finding their bounty genuine.
ليثa lion إذاwhen الهيجاءbattle عبّsurges عبابهاits billowing tide
ليث إذا الهيجاء عبّ عبابها
غوثٌa rescuer إذاwhen ماever حلbefalls خطبa calamity واعتدىand assails
غوثٌ إذا ما حل خطب واعتدى
A lion when the flood of battle surges;
A lion when battle's billowing tide surges,
a source of succor when calamity descends and assails.
A rescuer whenever calamity descends and assails.
مولىa lord لهfor him الأدبrefinement الرفيعlofty سجيةan innate trait
مولى له الأدب الرفيع سجية
منذsince الفطامweaning وزادand he grew فيهin it تودّداin affection
منذ الفطام وزاد فيه تودّدا
A lord to whom lofty refinement comes by nature
A lord whose lofty refinement is innate
from the time of weaning, and whose devotion to it only grew.
Since weaning, and whose devotion to it has grown.
ومهذبand a refined man أبداًalways تراهyou see him مثقفاًcultivated
ومهذب أبداً تراه مثقفاً
خلقاin character لغيرtoward anything other than ربيthe heights of العلاglory لنnever يعمداwill he turn
خلقا لغير ربي العلا لن يعمدا
Ever refined, you see him cultivated
A refined man, whom you always find cultivated
in character, never aspiring to anything but glory’s heights.
In character; he will seek nothing but the heights of glory.
ذوpossessing فطنةacumen تزكوthat flourishes بخيرthrough the finest فراسةdiscernment
ذو فطنة تزكو بخير فراسة
ونباهةand sagacity قرنتjoined برايwith judgment سدداguided aright
ونباهة قرنت براي سددا
A man of intelligence sharpened by excellent discernment,
Endowed with acumen that flourishes through the finest discernment,
with alertness joined to sound judgment.
And sagacity joined to rightly guided judgment.
ضاءتshone ربوعthe abodes of العزhonor فيهthrough him وقدand indeed سماrose high
ضاءت ربوع العز فيه وقد سما
منهfrom him الحجىwisdom رشداin right guidance وفاقand surpassed الفرقداthe star Farqad
منه الحجى رشدا وفاق الفرقدا
The realms of honor shine through him, and from him
The abodes of honor shone through him, and there rose
reason has risen in rectitude and surpassed Polaris.
From him rightly guided wisdom, surpassing Farqad.
ياO أيهاyou المولىlord المشيدloftily raised مجدهhis glory
يا أيها المولى المشيد مجده
لاmay you never زلتcease to be شهماvaliant بالعنايةby providence منجداaided
لا زلت شهما بالعناية منجدا
O master whose glory is exalted,
O lord whose glory towers high,
may you remain gallant, aided by Providence.
May you ever remain valiant, aided by providence.
خذهاaccept it لقدindeed وافتit has arrived منfrom ابنIbn (son of) كرامةKarama
خذها لقد وافت من ابن كرامة
ولسانهاand its tongue فيin نظمcomposing verse of مدحكyour praise غرّداsang sweetly
ولسانها في نظم مدحك غرّدا
Take this poem: it has come from Ibn Karama,
Accept it: it has come from Ibn Karama,
its tongue warbling in verse in praise of you.
And its tongue has sung sweetly in verses of your praise.
فاسلمso remain safe ودمand endure ياO ماجداnoble one نالwho attained المنىwishes
فاسلم ودم يا ماجدا نال المنى
عزّاin glory بأوصافwith qualities فلنfor they will never تتعدداbe counted
عزّا بأوصاف فلن تتعددا
Live safely and endure, O glorious one who attained his desires—
So remain safe and endure, O noble one who attained his wishes,
in honor, with qualities beyond all counting.
In glory, with qualities beyond all counting.
Sol 6.1