وَصَفوا لي عِلاجَ بَرءٍ لِسَقمٍ

وَصَفوا لي عِلاجَ بَرءٍ لِسَقمٍ

قَد بَراني وَالدَهرُ ضَنَّ بِما طَب

قَد بَراني وَالدَهرُ ضَنَّ بِما طَب

They prescribed me a healing treatment for an illness

They prescribed a cure for an illness

That has worn me down, while fate withheld what could heal.

That had afflicted me, and time was unkind with what was acceptable

ثُمَّ قالوا بانَ ذَلِكَ حُبٌّ

ثُمَّ قالوا بانَ ذَلِكَ حُبٌّ

مِن نَقى الهَنا وَاِنسَ يَركَب

مِن نَقى الهَنا وَاِنسَ يَركَب

Then they said that it was love,

Then they said it was love

Compounded from pure happiness and companionship.

Of the purest affection and fellowship

وَمُضافٌ إِلَيهِ مِن خالِصِ الوُدِّ وَحُس

وَمُضافٌ إِلَيهِ مِن خالِصِ الوُدِّ وَحُس

نِ الوَلا مَزيجُ مُطيب

نِ الوَلا مَزيجُ مُطيب

And added to it, from pure affection and the good-

With the addition of pure affection and feeling

ness of loyalty, is a fragrant blend.

A pleasant, untainted blend

كُلُّ يَومٍ وَلَيلَةً أَتَعاطى

كُلُّ يَومٍ وَلَيلَةً أَتَعاطى

حَبَّةً مِنهُ أَو تُذابُ وَتَشرَب

حَبَّةً مِنهُ أَو تُذابُ وَتَشرَب

Each day and night I take

Each day and night I take

A pill of it, or it is dissolved and drunk.

A morsel of it, melted and drunk

وَإِذا ما الحَبيبُ بَلَغَ هَذا

وَإِذا ما الحَبيبُ بَلَغَ هَذا

وَهوَ أَدرى بِما يَصِح وَاِدرُب

وَهوَ أَدرى بِما يَصِح وَاِدرُب

And when the beloved learned of this—

And when the beloved reaches this point

And he knew best what worked, and was more experienced—

As he knows best what is right, and is more experienced

قَد تَوَلّى تَركيبُهُ بِيَدَيهِ

قَد تَوَلّى تَركيبُهُ بِيَدَيهِ

وَبِهِ جادَ مُنَعَّماً وَتَحَبَّب

وَبِهِ جادَ مُنَعَّماً وَتَحَبَّب

He undertook its compounding with his own two hands,

He took it upon himself to compound it with his hands

And bestowed it generously, granting favor and showing affection.

And with it he was generous, endearing, and affectionate

فاتي لِلسِقامَ أَعظَمَ بَرءٍ

فاتي لِلسِقامَ أَعظَمَ بَرءٍ

وَلَدى النَفسُ كانَ أَشهى وَأَطرَبُ

وَلَدى النَفسُ كانَ أَشهى وَأَطرَبُ

So it brought the greatest cure for ailments,

So it brought about for my illness the greatest cure

And to the soul it was more pleasing and more exhilarating.

And my soul found it the most delicious and pleasurable

وَهوَ لا شَكَّ نافِعٌ وَمُفيدُ

وَهوَ لا شَكَّ نافِعٌ وَمُفيدُ

صَنَعَ مِن طِبٍّ يا أَخي لِمَن حَب

صَنَعَ مِن طِبٍّ يا أَخي لِمَن حَب

And it is doubtless beneficial and useful,

And it is, without doubt, beneficial and advantageous

The handiwork of a healer, my brother, for one he loved—

Made from medicine, O brother, for one who loves

صاحِب صَح عَشرَةً وَوِداداً

صاحِب صَح عَشرَةً وَوِداداً

وَعَلى الصَحبِ بِالكَمالِ تَغلَب

وَعَلى الصَحبِ بِالكَمالِ تَغلَب

A friend true in companionship and affection,

A companion of good cheer and affection

Who surpassed his companions in excellence.

And excels in perfect companionship

عالَجَ الطِبَّ بِالذَكاءِ فَأَمسى

عالَجَ الطِبَّ بِالذَكاءِ فَأَمسى

خَيرَ مَن طَب راغِباً وَتَطيب

خَيرَ مَن طَب راغِباً وَتَطيب

He practised medicine with intelligence, and became

He cured with wisdom, and so became

The best of those who gladly healed and perfumed themselves.

The best to cure, eager and delighted

فَهوَ مِصداقُ ما يُقالُ مِثالا

فَهوَ مِصداقُ ما يُقالُ مِثالا

دَع سُؤالَ الطَبيبِ وَاِسأَل مُجَرِّب

دَع سُؤالَ الطَبيبِ وَاِسأَل مُجَرِّب

For he is proof of what is said proverbially:

So it is the embodiment of the proverbial saying

Leave questioning the physician, and ask someone who has tried it.

Don't ask the doctor, ask the experienced

جادَ عُلونُ ذو النَدى وَالمَعالي

جادَ عُلونُ ذو النَدى وَالمَعالي

صَيدَلاني الأَفضالِ ذاكَ المُهَذَّب

صَيدَلاني الأَفضالِ ذاكَ المُهَذَّب

ʿUlūn gave generously, a man of bounty and lofty virtues,

The exalted master of munificence and nobility

The pharmacist of favors, that refined man.

That refined apothecary of supreme virtues

وَقُلِ العَبدَ لِلصَنيعِ شَكورٌ

وَقُلِ العَبدَ لِلصَنيعِ شَكورٌ

وَعَلَيهِ الثَنا لِفَضلِكَ أَوجَب

وَعَلَيهِ الثَنا لِفَضلِكَ أَوجَب

And say: the servant is grateful for the kindness,

And say, your grateful servant

And praise for your generosity is all the more his duty.

Is obligated by your favor to praise you

فَاِجعَلَن حَبَّةَ الجَميلِ الَّتي جَد

فَاِجعَلَن حَبَّةَ الجَميلِ الَّتي جَد

دَت عَلَيهِ بِها مَعاشاً مُرَتَّب

دَت عَلَيهِ بِها مَعاشاً مُرَتَّب

So make the pill of kindness, with which you re-

So make the beautiful seed that you gave generously

newed your favor to him, a regular allowance.

With which you provided me a regular livelihood

ثُمَّ عَدلي بِما يَطمَئِنُّ بالي

ثُمَّ عَدلي بِما يَطمَئِنُّ بالي

وِعاءٌ هُوَ الَّذي أَتَرَقَّب

وِعاءٌ هُوَ الَّذي أَتَرَقَّب

Then promise me what will put my mind at ease:

Then treat me with what will give peace to my mind

A container is what I await.

The vessel that I anticipate