أَماindeed إِنَّهُindeed it is لَولاwere it not for الحِسانُthe beautiful women الرَعابِيبُthe tender maidens
أَما إِنَّهُ لَولا الحِسانُ الرَعابِيبُ
لَماthen not كانَthere would be لِلأَرواحِfor souls هَمٌّsorrow وَتَعذيبُand torment
لَما كانَ لِلأَرواحِ هَمٌّ وَتَعذيبُ
Indeed, were it not for the lovely, tender maidens,
If it were not for the affections of loved ones
Souls would know neither sorrow nor torment.
The souls would have had no worries or torments
تَمَنَّعنّthey withheld themselves بُخلاًout of stinginess فاستَزَدنَso they increased مَحَبَّةًlove
تَمَنَّعنّ بُخلاً فاستَزَدنَ مَحَبَّةً
أَلاindeed كُلُّevery مَمنوعٍforbidden thing إِلىto النَفسِthe soul مَحبُوبُbeloved
أَلا كُلُّ مَمنوعٍ إِلى النَفسِ مَحبُوبُ
They withheld themselves miserly, thereby increasing love:
They were stingy so their love increased
Indeed, everything forbidden is beloved to the soul.
Indeed, everything forbidden becomes dear to the self
وَكَمand how many جَلَبَتshe brought مَجلوبَةٌa woman brought from afar سُقمَillness مُهجَةٍa heart
وَكَم جَلَبَت مَجلوبَةٌ سُقمَ مُهجَةٍ
فَهَلso is كُلَّevery مَجلوبٍthing brought from afar بِهِby it السُقمُthe illness مَجلُوبُbrought
فَهَل كُلَّ مَجلوبٍ بِهِ السُقمُ مَجلُوبُ
How often a woman brought from afar has brought sickness to a heart!
And how much sought thing brought sickness of passion
Is sickness, then, brought by everything brought from afar?
So is every sought thing accompanied by sickness?
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends لاno عَصرٌtime بِيَبرِينَat Yabrin عائِدٌreturning
خَلِيلَيَّ لا عَصرٌ بِيَبرِينَ عائِدٌ
فَأَبراthen Abra (apparently a place-name) وَلاand no وَصلٌunion بِوَهبينَat Wahbayn مَوهُوبُgranted
فَأَبرا وَلا وَصلٌ بِوَهبينَ مَوهُوبُ
My two friends, no time at Yabrin will return,
My two friends, no era with twilights returning
Nor at Abra; nor is union at Wahbayn granted.
So be dutiful, and no connection with gifts granted
فَماso what لَكُماwith you two لاnot تَعذُراyou two excuse بِيme عَلىfor الجَوىburning grief
فَما لَكُما لا تَعذُرا بِي عَلى الجَوى
وَحَبلِيَand my cord مِنfrom حَبلِthe cord الأَحِبَّةِof loved ones مَقنُوبsevered
وَحَبلِيَ مِن حَبلِ الأَحِبَّةِ مَقنُوب
Why, then, do you two not excuse my burning grief,
Why do you not excuse me for my love sickness
When my cord is severed from the cord of my loved ones?
And my rope of love for the loved ones is twisted
حَلَمتُI dreamed بِهَجرٍof estrangement مِنfrom سُعادَSu'ad فَلَيتَهُso would that it
حَلَمتُ بِهَجرٍ مِن سُعادَ فَلَيتَهُ
كَماas قِيلَit was said إِنَّindeed الحُلمَthe dream بِالشَرِّof evil مَقلُوبُreversed
كَما قِيلَ إِنَّ الحُلمَ بِالشَرِّ مَقلُوبُ
I dreamed of Su'ad's desertion; would that it were,
I exercised patience from Saad so if only it was
As people say, an evil dream whose meaning is reversed.
As it is said, patience in evil is inverted
يَمانِيَةُa Yemeni woman مَحجُوبَةُveiled الشَخصِin person مِثلُهاlike her
يَمانِيَةُ مَحجُوبَةُ الشَخصِ مِثلُها
رَسِيسٌdeep-rooted love بِهاfor her ماwhat is بَينَbetween جَنبَيَّmy two sides مَحجُوبُhidden
رَسِيسٌ بِها ما بَينَ جَنبَيَّ مَحجُوبُ
A Yemeni woman, her person veiled; like her,
The Yemeni woman veiled in person like her
The deep-rooted love for her between my ribs is veiled.
A leader with whom what's between my sides is veiled
إِذاwhen قُمُتُI rise يَومَthe day البَعثِof resurrection أَخفَيتُI conceal حُبَّهاmy love for her
إِذا قُمُتُ يَومَ البَعثِ أَخفَيتُ حُبَّها
فَلَمso not يُرَbe seen فيon اللَوحِthe Tablet الَّذيwhich هُوَit مَكتُوبُis written
فَلَم يُرَ في اللَوحِ الَّذي هُوَ مَكتُوبُ
If I rise on Resurrection Day, I shall conceal my love for her,
When I rise on Resurrection Day I will hide her love
So it will not be seen on the Tablet where it is written.
So it won't be seen in the tablet which is written
سَقَتmay water دارَهاher dwelling الأَنواءُthe rain-bearing star risings أَوor صَوبُthe streaming أَدمُعِيof my tears
سَقَت دارَها الأَنواءُ أَو صَوبُ أَدمُعِي
فَكُلٌّso each سَواءٌalike مُستَهِلٌّpouring down وَمَسكُوبُand poured out
فَكُلٌّ سَواءٌ مُستَهِلٌّ وَمَسكُوبُ
May the rain-bearing stars water her dwelling, or my streaming tears:
Either the hardships watered her house or my tears spill
Both are alike, pouring down or poured out.
Both are equal, initiated and poured
إِلىuntil أَنthat يَبِيتَspends the night الرَوضُthe garden فِيهاin it كَأَنَّهُas though it
إِلى أَن يَبِيتَ الرَوضُ فِيها كَأَنَّهُ
إِذاwhen ماever زَهاflourishes نَوّارَهُits blossoms لِمَمٌlocks of hair شِيبُwhite
إِذا ما زَها نَوّارَهُ لِمَمٌ شِيبُ
Until the garden there spends the night as though it were,
Until the garden therein at night is as though
When its blossoms flourish, locks of white hair.
When it's lamps are illuminated, a gathered assembly
وَقَفناwe stood بِهاthere نَشكُوlamenting الجَوىlove's ache فَيُجِيبُناand answers us
وَقَفنا بِها نَشكُو الجَوى فَيُجِيبُنا
صَداهاits echo وُورُقُand the gray doves الأَيكِof the grove وَالجُردُand the lean horses وَالنِيبُand the old she-camels
صَداها وُورُقُ الأَيكِ وَالجُردُ وَالنِيبُ
We stood there lamenting love's ache, and answering us were
And we stood in it complaining of passion so it answers us
Its echo, the grove's gray doves, the lean steeds, and old she-camels:
Its reverberation, the leaves of the bushes, and the lotus trees
بُكاءٌweeping وَإِرزامٌand camel rumbling وَسَجعٌand cooing مُبَرِّحٌtormenting
بُكاءٌ وَإِرزامٌ وَسَجعٌ مُبَرِّحٌ
بِناus وَصَهيلٌand neighing لِلجِيادِof the steeds وَتَهوِيبُand loud cries
بِنا وَصَهيلٌ لِلجِيادِ وَتَهوِيبُ
Weeping, rumbling, and cooing that torments
Crying, moaning, and joyful chanting
Us, with the steeds' neighing and loud cries.
With us, the neighing of the steeds and provocation
أَخِلّايَmy friends مالِيwhat ails me لاnot يُغَرِّدُsings طائِرٌa bird
أَخِلّايَ مالِي لا يُغَرِّدُ طائِرٌ
عَلىon فَنَنٍa branch إِلّاexcept وَقَلبِيَand my heart مَرغُوبُterrified (probable intended reading)
عَلى فَنَنٍ إِلّا وَقَلبِيَ مَرغُوبُ
My friends, why does no bird sing
My intimates, why does no bird sing melodies
On a branch without my heart being terrified,
Except that my heart is thereby distracted
حِذاراًin fear وَإِشفاقاًand apprehension مِنَof البَينِparting أَنlest تُرىbe seen
حِذاراً وَإِشفاقاً مِنَ البَينِ أَن تُرى
مُخَبِّرَةًannouncing عَنهُit النِجاحُthe crows (probable intended reading) الغَرابِيبُpitch-black
مُخَبِّرَةً عَنهُ النِجاحُ الغَرابِيبُ
In fear and dread of parting, lest there be seen
Beware and apprehension of separation that it may be seen
The pitch-black crows announcing it?
Informing of it the sneaking talebearers
فَلاso no لَومَblame لِيfor me إِنif طارَflies قَلبِيmy heart صَبابَةًin longing
فَلا لَومَ لِي إِن طارَ قَلبِي صَبابَةً
لِأَنّيbecause I مِنfrom شَحطِthe remoteness الأَحِبَّةِof loved ones مَنحُوبُam grief-stricken
لِأَنّي مِن شَحطِ الأَحِبَّةِ مَنحُوبُ
Do not blame me if my heart flies away in longing,
So blame me not if my heart took flight hastily
For my loved ones' remoteness has left me grief-stricken.
For I am among those infatuated struck down
إِذاwhen فارَقُواthey departed فارَقتُI parted with قَلبِيmy heart كَأَنَّماas though
إِذا فارَقُوا فارَقتُ قَلبِي كَأَنَّما
فُؤادِيmy heart إِلىbeside تِلكَthose الهَوادِجِhowdahs مَجنُوبُled alongside
فُؤادِي إِلى تِلكَ الهَوادِجِ مَجنُوبُ
When they depart, I part with my heart, as though
When they depart, my heart departs as though
My heart were led alongside those howdahs.
My heart to those breasts were fettered
أَصاحِO friend تَرىdo you see بَرقاًlightning يَلُوحُflashing كَأَنَّهُas though it
أَصاحِ تَرى بَرقاً يَلُوحُ كَأَنَّهُ
سُلافٌfine wine بِرَقراقٍwith shimmering water مِنَfrom المُزنِthe rain clouds مَقطُوبُblended
سُلافٌ بِرَقراقٍ مِنَ المُزنِ مَقطُوبُ
O friend, do you see lightning flashing, as though it were
My friend, do you see a lightning flash appearing as though
Fine wine blended with shimmering water from the clouds?
A sword with a scabbard of refined Indian steel
بَداit appeared يَمَنِيّاًon the Yemeni side فيin الظَلامِthe darkness كَأَنَّماas though
بَدا يَمَنِيّاً في الظَلامِ كَأَنَّما
ظَلامُthe darkness الدُجىof night عَبدٌa slave مِنَof الزِنجِthe Zanj مَخضُوبُdyed
ظَلامُ الدُجى عَبدٌ مِنَ الزِنجِ مَخضُوبُ
It appeared on the Yemeni side in the darkness, as though
It appeared like a Yemeni in the darkness as though
The night's darkness were a dyed slave of the Zanj.
The darkness of night were a slave from Africa clad
وَلَوand if لاحَit flashed شامِيّاًon the Syrian side لَخِلناهُwe would have thought it أَنَّهُthat it
وَلَو لاحَ شامِيّاً لَخِلناهُ أَنَّهُ
سَناthe gleam قَبَسٍof a torch flame فَوقَabove الثَنِيَّةِthe mountain pass مَشبُوبُkindled
سَنا قَبَسٍ فَوقَ الثَنِيَّةِ مَشبُوبُ
Had it flashed on the Syrian side, we would have thought it
And had it flashed like a Syrian, we'd have thought it was
The gleam of a torch kindled above the mountain pass,
A kindled torch above the hill kindled
لِأروَعfor a noble, imposing man يَهدِيwho guides الطارِقِينَthe night visitors بِوَجهِهِby his face
لِأروَع يَهدِي الطارِقِينَ بِوَجهِهِ
وَلَوeven if لَمnot يَلُحshine ضَوءٌlight مِنَfrom النارِthe fire مَثقُوبُkindled
وَلَو لَم يَلُح ضَوءٌ مِنَ النارِ مَثقُوبُ
For a noble, imposing man who guides night visitors by his face,
To the most handsome it guides the visitors with its face
Even if no light shone from a kindled fire.
Even if no light from fire pierced forth
إِذاwhen زارَهُvisit him الزُوّارُthe visitors فَرَّتflee قِلاصُهُhis young she-camels
إِذا زارَهُ الزُوّارُ فَرَّت قِلاصُهُ
لِتَنجُوto escape فَخانَتهاbut betray them الشَوىthe legs وَالعَراقِيبُand the hocks
لِتَنجُو فَخانَتها الشَوى وَالعَراقِيبُ
When visitors come to him, his young she-camels flee
When the visitors come its anklets run away
To escape, but their legs and hocks betray them.
To escape so the passion and the talebearers betrayed it
تَراهُنَّyou see them يَكرَهنَhating الوُفُودَthe arriving guests وَواجِبٌand natural
تَراهُنَّ يَكرَهنَ الوُفُودَ وَواجِبٌ
كَراهَةُthe hatred حَيٍّof a living creature لِلرَدىfor death وَهوَwhile it مَغصُوبُis forcibly seized
كَراهَةُ حَيٍّ لِلرَدى وَهوَ مَغصُوبُ
You see them hate the arriving guests; and it is natural
You see them disliking the visitors but it's incumbent
For a living creature to hate death when forcibly seized.
The dislike of the living for ruin when plundered
خُلِقنَthey were created قِرىًa guest-feast لِلطارِقِينَfor night visitors بِصارِمٍwith a sharp sword
خُلِقنَ قِرىً لِلطارِقِينَ بِصارِمٍ
تَعَوَّدَaccustomed أَنto يُقرىbe fed بِهِwith it النَسرُthe vulture وَالذِيبُand the wolf
تَعَوَّدَ أَن يُقرى بِهِ النَسرُ وَالذِيبُ
They were made a feast for night visitors, slain by a sword
They were created as dwellings for visitors with a blade
Accustomed to feeding the vulture and the wolf.
That is accustomed to prey upon eagles and wolves
لَقَدindeed مُتنَthey died مَوتاًa death أَكسَبَthat earned الحَمدَpraise أَهلَهُfor its people
لَقَد مُتنَ مَوتاً أَكسَبَ الحَمدَ أَهلَهُ
أَلاindeed كُلُّall حَمدٍpraise بِالمَشَقَّةِthrough hardship مَكسُوبُearned
أَلا كُلُّ حَمدٍ بِالمَشَقَّةِ مَكسُوبُ
They died a death that won their owners praise:
Indeed, the death which earned praise brought honor to its people
Indeed, all praise is earned through hardship.
So all praise earned with hardship is gained
إِذاif زادَincreases بِالزّادِthrough provisions الثَناءُpraise فَبُورِكَتthen blessed are
إِذا زادَ بِالزّادِ الثَناءُ فَبُورِكَت
عِشارٌten-month-pregnant she-camels عَلىover لَبّاتِهاtheir throats الدَمُthe blood مَسرُوبُstreaming
عِشارٌ عَلى لَبّاتِها الدَمُ مَسرُوبُ
If provisions increase praise, then blessed are
When praise increases with provision, blessings are poured
The pregnant she-camels whose blood streams over their throats.
Upon its moistened sides, the blood spilled
أَتاجَO crown مَعَدٍّof Ma'add صُغfashion لَكَfor yourself التاجَthe crown مُرغِماًhumiliating
أَتاجَ مَعَدٍّ صُغ لَكَ التاجَ مُرغِماً
عِداكyour foes بِأَنَّby the fact that التاجَthe crown بِالتاجِupon the crown مَعصُوبُis bound
عِداك بِأَنَّ التاجَ بِالتاجِ مَعصُوبُ
O crown of Ma'add, fashion yourself a crown, forcing
The crown of Ma'add yielded to you the crown reluctantly
Your foes to humiliation, for a crown is bound upon a crown.
Deeming the crown obtained through the crown
وَبُردُكَand your mantle لاdo not تَسحَبُهُdrag it فيon الأَرضِthe earth إِنَّهُindeed it
وَبُردُكَ لا تَسحَبُهُ في الأَرضِ إِنَّهُ
لَبُردٌis indeed a mantle عَلىover وَجهِthe face السِماكَينِof the two Simak stars مَسحُوبُdragged
لَبُردٌ عَلى وَجهِ السِماكَينِ مَسحُوبُ
Do not trail your mantle on the earth: it is
Your mantle, do not drag it on the ground, it is
A mantle dragged across the faces of the two Simak stars.
A mantle upon the surface of the heavens outstretched
وَقُلand say لِشَآبِيبِto the showers السَماءِof the sky تَهَمَّرِيpour down
وَقُل لِشَآبِيبِ السَماءِ تَهَمَّرِي
أَوor اِنقَطِعيcease إِنّيindeed I وَأَنتِand you شَآبِيبُare showers
أَو اِنقَطِعي إِنّي وَأَنتِ شَآبِيبُ
And tell the sky's showers: pour down,
And say to the grey clouds of the sky, "Shower down rain
Or cease; you and I are showers.
Or cease, as I and you are showerers of rain
قَضىdecreed اللَهُGod لِيfor me مِنكَthrough you الغِنىwealth وَتَسَبَّبَتand became a cause
قَضى اللَهُ لِي مِنكَ الغِنى وَتَسَبَّبَت
سَعادَةُthe happiness جَدِّيof my fortune وَالسُعُودُand fortunate signs تَسابِيبُare means
سَعادَةُ جَدِّي وَالسُعُودُ تَسابِيبُ
God decreed wealth for me through you; its cause was
God has ordained for me self-sufficiency through you and the good fortune
My happy fortune—and fortunate signs are means.
Of my grandfather and prosperity were the causes
وَهَلand am أَناI إِلّاanything but مِنamong جَماعَةِa gathering أُمَّةٍof a people
وَهَل أَنا إِلّا مِن جَماعَةِ أُمَّةٍ
لَهاfor it مَشرَبٌa draught مِنfrom حَوضِكَyour pool الجَمِّbrimming مَشرُوبُdrunk
لَها مَشرَبٌ مِن حَوضِكَ الجَمِّ مَشرُوبُ
Am I not simply one among a gathered people,
Am I not but one of the community of a nation
Who drink their share from your brimming pool?
That has a drinking place from your abundant spring?
لَكَfor you الخَيرُgoodness إِنif يُجرِمoffend رَعاياكَyour subjects فاغتَفرthen forgive
لَكَ الخَيرُ إِن يُجرِم رَعاياكَ فاغتَفر
جَرائِمَهُمtheir offenses إِنَّindeed المُدَبَّرَthe governed مَربُوبُare under a lord's care
جَرائِمَهُم إِنَّ المُدَبَّرَ مَربُوبُ
Blessings on you! If your subjects offend, forgive
May goodness be yours if your subjects sin, then pardon
Their offenses: the governed are under a lord's care.
Their crimes, for the Manager is Observant
هَفَواthey erred هَفوَةًa slip مِنfrom غَيرِwithout بُغضِhatred فَأُدِّبُواso they were disciplined
هَفَوا هَفوَةً مِن غَيرِ بُغضِ فَأُدِّبُوا
بِعَفوِكَby your pardon إِنَّindeed العَفوَpardon لِلحُرِّfor the noble تَأَديبُis instruction
بِعَفوِكَ إِنَّ العَفوَ لِلحُرِّ تَأَديبُ
They made a slip without hatred, and were disciplined
They were distraught when they saw you, so discipline them
By your pardon; pardon teaches the noble.
With your pardon, for pardoning is refinement for the noble
وَلَوand if شِئتَyou wished حاشاfar be it from طِيبَthe nobility أَصلِكَof your origin أَنto تُرىbe seen
وَلَو شِئتَ حاشا طِيبَ أَصلِكَ أَن تُرى
مُسِيئاًdoing wrong لَخاضَتwould have waded فيthrough الدِماءِblood اليَعابِيبُthe swift horses
مُسِيئاً لَخاضَت في الدِماءِ اليَعابِيبُ
Had you wished—far be it from your noble stock—to appear
And if you wished, far from your good origin, you'd have been seen
A wrongdoer, the swift horses would have waded through blood.
Doing wrong, the cubs would have wallowed in blood
وَعادَتand would return سُيوفُthe swords الهِندِof India ماno لِنُصُولِهاfor their blades
وَعادَت سُيوفُ الهِندِ ما لِنُصُولِها
شِفارٌedges وَماand no لِلمارِناتِfor the supple lances أَنابِيبُshafts
شِفارٌ وَما لِلمارِناتِ أَنابِيبُ
The Indian swords would have returned with their blades bereft of
And the Indian swords, what's for their scabbards
Edges, and the supple lances bereft of shafts.
And the lances, what's for their spearheads
خُلِقتَyou were created كَرِيماًgenerous لَمnot يَفتُكَescape you تَفَضُّلٌbounty
خُلِقتَ كَرِيماً لَم يَفتُكَ تَفَضُّلٌ
وَطَولٌand lavish giving وَلاand not أَخطاكَfail you حَزمٌresolve وَتَهذِيبُand refinement
وَطَولٌ وَلا أَخطاكَ حَزمٌ وَتَهذِيبُ
You were created generous: no bounty escaped you,
You were created noble, no bounty made you transgress
Nor lavish giving; neither resolve nor refinement failed you.
Nor rectitude and discipline caused you to err
بَرَزتَyou emerged إِلَيهِمbefore them مُغضَباًangry فَتَضَرَّعُواso they pleaded
بَرَزتَ إِلَيهِم مُغضَباً فَتَضَرَّعُوا
إِلَيكَwith you وَماand no بَعدَafter التَضَرُّعِpleading تَثرِيبُreproach
إِلَيكَ وَما بَعدَ التَضَرُّعِ تَثرِيبُ
You emerged before them angry, and they pleaded
You came out to them angry so they pleaded
With you; after pleading there is no reproach.
To you, and after pleading there is no rebuke
لَئِنif indeed رَهِبُواthey feared لَمّاwhen رَأَوكَthey saw you لَقَدindeed رَأَواthey saw
لَئِن رَهِبُوا لَمّا رَأَوكَ لَقَد رَأَوا
بِكَin you الهَولَterror إِنَّindeed المَنظَرَthe sight الهَولَterrible مَرهُوبُis feared
بِكَ الهَولَ إِنَّ المَنظَرَ الهَولَ مَرهُوبُ
If they feared you when they saw you, they had indeed seen
Indeed when they dreaded as soon as they saw you they saw
Terror in you: a terrible sight is feared.
In you terror, for the sight of horror brings dread
فَعَفواًso pardon عَفاmay pardon عَنكَyou الإِلهGod وَرَأفَةًand mercy
فَعَفواً عَفا عَنكَ الإِله وَرَأفَةً
فَعَفوُكَfor your pardon مِنfrom عَفوِthe pardon المُهَيمِنِof the Guardian مَحسُوبُis reckoned
فَعَفوُكَ مِن عَفوِ المُهَيمِنِ مَحسُوبُ
Then grant pardon—may God pardon you—and mercy!
So pardon, as God has pardoned you, and mercy
For your pardon is counted as part of the Guardian's pardon.
For your pardon from the pardon of the Guardian is counted
فَإِنَّهُمُfor they لَمnot يَعهَدُواhave known مِنكَfrom you جَفوَةًharshness
فَإِنَّهُمُ لَم يَعهَدُوا مِنكَ جَفوَةً
وَلاand not ذُبَّwas driven away مِنهُمamong them فيin جَنابِكَyour precincts مَذبُوبُany outcast
وَلا ذُبَّ مِنهُم في جَنابِكَ مَذبُوبُ
They have never known harshness from you,
They were not accustomed to harshness from you
Nor has anyone among them been driven from your precincts.
Nor was any of them in your presence slaughtered
تَرَبّىwas raised عَلىon إِنعامِكَyour favors الطِفلُthe child مِنهُمُamong them
تَرَبّى عَلى إِنعامِكَ الطِفلُ مِنهُمُ
وَشَبَّand grew عَلىon إِحسانِكَyour kindness المُردُthe beardless وَالشَيبُand the gray-haired
وَشَبَّ عَلى إِحسانِكَ المُردُ وَالشَيبُ
The child among them was raised on your favors,
The child among them was raised on your benefaction
And the beardless and gray-haired grew under your kindness.
And the adolescent and grey hair grew under your good deed
وَأَنسىand I forget وَلاbut not أَنسىdo I forget نَصِيحاًa loyal counselor وَخادِماًand a servant
وَأَنسى وَلا أَنسى نَصِيحاً وَخادِماً
مُسِنّاًelderly لَهُfor him حَقُّa right عَلىupon المَلكِthe king مَوجُوبُbinding
مُسِنّاً لَهُ حَقُّ عَلى المَلكِ مَوجُوبُ
I may forget, yet I do not forget a loyal counselor and servant,
And I will not forget an advisor and a servant
An old man whose claim upon the king is binding.
Elderly, having a right upon the king owed
فَجُدso be generous بِالرِضاwith favor عَنهُمtoward them فَإِنَّكfor you يُوسُفٌare Yusuf
فَجُد بِالرِضا عَنهُم فَإِنَّك يُوسُفٌ
وَعَبدُكَand your servant شَيخُShaykh الدَولَةِof the State الشَيخُthe aged man يَعقُوبُYa'qub
وَعَبدُكَ شَيخُ الدَولَةِ الشَيخُ يَعقُوبُ
Be generous in granting them your favor, for you are Yusuf,
So be pleased with them, for you are Joseph
And your servant, Shaykh al-Dawla, is the aged Ya'qub.
And your servant the Sheikh of the State, Sheikh Yaqub
فَأَقسِمُso I swear لَوif حَوَّلتَyou turned وَجهَكَyour face مُعرِضاًaway
فَأَقسِمُ لَو حَوَّلتَ وَجهَكَ مُعرِضاً
عَنِfrom الأَرضِthe earth ماnot دَرَّتwould pour عَلَيهاupon it الأَهاضِيبُthe heavy showers
عَنِ الأَرضِ ما دَرَّت عَلَيها الأَهاضِيبُ
I swear, if you turned your face away
I swear, if you turned your face away angrily
From the earth, no rain showers would pour upon it.
From the earth, the clouds would not rain upon it
وَلَوand if قِيلَit were said لِلأَطوادِto the mountains إِنَّكَthat you واجِدٌare angry
وَلَو قِيلَ لِلأَطوادِ إِنَّكَ واجِدٌ
تَدَكدَكَتِwould crumble الأَطوادُthe mountains وَهيَthough they شَناخِيبُare towering peaks
تَدَكدَكَتِ الأَطوادُ وَهيَ شَناخِيبُ
If the mountains were told that you were angry,
And if you told the highlands that you are coming
They would crumble, though they are towering peaks.
The highlands would shake while they are rugged
وَلَوand if بِتَّyou spent the night لِلشُهبِthe stars المُنِيرَةِshining طالِباًpursuing
وَلَو بِتَّ لِلشُهبِ المُنِيرَةِ طالِباً
بِسُوءٍwith harmful intent لَماwould not أَعياكَdefeat you ماwhat هُوَis مَطلُوبُsought
بِسُوءٍ لَما أَعياكَ ما هُوَ مَطلُوبُ
If you spent the night pursuing the shining stars
And if you stayed up at night for the shining stars
To do them harm, what you sought would not defeat you.
Wanting evil, nothing you desired would be unattainable for you
كَذاكَlikewise وَلَوand if أَضمَرتyou harbored لِلصُبحِagainst dawn إِحنَةًa grudge
كَذاكَ وَلَو أَضمَرت لِلصُبحِ إِحنَةً
لَحالَit would change وَأَضحىand become وَهوَwhile it أَسوَدُis black غِربِيبُutterly jet-black
لَحالَ وَأَضحى وَهوَ أَسوَدُ غِربِيبُ
Likewise, if you harbored a grudge against dawn,
Likewise, if you harbored malice toward dawn
It would change and become utterly black.
It would be obscured and become gloomily dark
وَماand not أَنتَyou إِلّاbut الدَهرُTime مُذsince كُنتَyou were غالِباًvictorious
وَما أَنتَ إِلّا الدَهرُ مُذ كُنتَ غالِباً
وَكُلُّand every عَدُوٍّenemy مِنamong أَعادِيكَyour enemies مَغلُوبُdefeated
وَكُلُّ عَدُوٍّ مِن أَعادِيكَ مَغلُوبُ
You are none other than Time, ever since you were victorious,
You are none other than time itself since you were victorious
And every enemy of yours is defeated.
And every enemy among your adversaries is defeated
وَأَنتَand you رَبيعُthe spring الناسِof the people بِرُّكَyour kindness واصِلٌreaching them
وَأَنتَ رَبيعُ الناسِ بِرُّكَ واصِلٌ
وَعِرضُكَand your honor مَوفُورٌintact وَمالُكَand your wealth مَوهُوبُgiven away
وَعِرضُكَ مَوفُورٌ وَمالُكَ مَوهُوبُ
You are the people's spring; your kindness reaches them,
You are the springtime of people, your righteousness connects
Your honor is kept intact, and your wealth is given away.
And your honor abounds and your wealth is granted
تَيَمَّمَكَhead toward you القُصّادُthe seekers مِنfrom كُلِّevery وَجهَةٍdirection
تَيَمَّمَكَ القُصّادُ مِن كُلِّ وَجهَةٍ
كَماas أَمَّتِfaced البَيتَthe House الحَرامَSacred المَحارِيبُthe prayer niches
كَما أَمَّتِ البَيتَ الحَرامَ المَحارِيبُ
Seekers head toward you from every direction,
The archers took aim at you from every direction
As prayer niches face the Sacred House.
As though you are a sun radiating rays from all its sides
كَأَنَّكَas though you شَمسٌare a sun مِنfrom جَميعِall جِهاتِهاits sides
كَأَنَّكَ شَمسٌ مِن جَميعِ جِهاتِها
تَمُدُّextends شُعاعاًradiance وَالشُعاعُand the radiance أَسالِيبُruns in courses
تَمُدُّ شُعاعاً وَالشُعاعُ أَسالِيبُ
You are like a sun that, from all its sides,
So neither gifts are prohibited nor covenants prevent
Extends its radiance, the rays running in many courses.
Nor deeds blamed nor praise deemed fabricated
فَلاso no الرَفدُgift مَمنُوعٌwithheld وَلاand no العَهدُpledge حائِلٌaltered
فَلا الرَفدُ مَمنُوعٌ وَلا العَهدُ حائِلٌ
وَلاand no الفِعلُdeed مَذمُومٌblameworthy وَلاand no المَدحُpraise مَكذُوبُfalse
وَلا الفِعلُ مَذمُومٌ وَلا المَدحُ مَكذُوبُ
No gift is withheld, no pledge altered,
And an honored lineage reached to the stars of the sky
No deed blameworthy, and no praise false.
Having its ancestry among the righteous attributed
وَطالَتand rose high فَنالَتthen reached جَبهَةَthe brow النَجمِof the star أُسرَةٌa family
وَطالَت فَنالَت جَبهَةَ النَجمِ أُسرَةٌ
لَهاit has نَسَبٌan ancestry فيamong الصالِحيِّينَthe Salihiyyin مَنسُوبُtraced
لَها نَسَبٌ في الصالِحيِّينَ مَنسُوبُ
A family rose high and reached the star's brow,
A knight Qays took pride in, like how the nobility of ʿĀmir
Its ancestry traced among the Salihiyyin.
And the Abyssinians are proud of the wandering Bedouins
فَتىًa youth فَخُرَتtook pride قَيسٌQays بِهِin him كَيفَhow much more عامِرٌ'Amir
فَتىً فَخُرَت قَيسٌ بِهِ كَيفَ عامِرٌ
وَطالَتand rose high بِهِthrough him الأَحباشُthe Abyssinians كَيفَhow much more الأَعارِيبُthe Arabs
وَطالَت بِهِ الأَحباشُ كَيفَ الأَعارِيبُ
A youth in whom Qays takes pride—how much more 'Amir!
So you don't see in him or his clan any
Through him the Abyssinians rise high—how much more the Arabs!
Disgrace, when other clans are faulted
فَلَستَso you do not تَرىsee فِيهِin him وَلاnor فيin عَشِيرِهِhis clan
فَلَستَ تَرى فِيهِ وَلا في عَشِيرِهِ
مَعاباًa fault إِذاwhen ماever مَعشَرٌa people غَيرُهُمother than them عِيبُواare criticized
مَعاباً إِذا ما مَعشَرٌ غَيرُهُم عِيبُوا
You see neither in him nor in his clan
May God reward the pride of the kingdom from one who returned him
Any fault, when peoples other than them are criticized.
To glory, and he from glory was stripped
جَزىmay reward اللَهُGod فَخرَFakhr المُلكِal-Mulk عَمَّنon behalf of the one أَعادَهُhe restored
جَزى اللَهُ فَخرَ المُلكِ عَمَّن أَعادَهُ
إِلىto العِزِّhonor خَيراًwith goodness وَهوَwhile he لِلعِزِّof honor مَسلُوبُwas stripped
إِلى العِزِّ خَيراً وَهوَ لِلعِزِّ مَسلُوبُ
May God reward Fakhr al-Mulk on behalf of the one he restored
So he was none other than Jonah in the belly of the whale when
To honor, with goodness, when he had been stripped of honor.
He called unto his Lord while distressed
فَماso not كانَwas he إِلّاbut يُونُسَYunus الحُوتِof the whale إِذwhen دَعاhe called
فَما كانَ إِلّا يُونُسَ الحُوتِ إِذ دَعا
إِلىto رَبِّهِhis Lord فيin سِرِّهاits hidden depths وَهوَwhile he مَكرُوبُwas distressed
إِلى رَبِّهِ في سِرِّها وَهوَ مَكرُوبُ
He was none other than Yunus of the whale, when he called
And Job, when he called and his affliction was prolonged
To his Lord from its hidden depths, grief-stricken;
So what he complained of affliction was relieved for Job
وَأَيُّوبand Ayyub إِذwhen نادىhe cried out وَقَدand already طالَhad lasted long ضُرُّهُhis suffering
وَأَيُّوب إِذ نادى وَقَد طالَ ضُرُّهُ
فَفُرّجَthen was relieved ماwhat يَشكُوcomplains of مِنَof الضُرِّsuffering أَيُّوبُAyyub
فَفُرّجَ ما يَشكُو مِنَ الضُرِّ أَيُّوبُ
And Ayyub, when he cried out after long suffering,
Ancestral fortune follows it, and perhaps
Then the suffering Ayyub complained of was relieved.
For a man, his ancestral fortune has consequence
يُعَقِّبُهُfollows him الجَدُّfortune السَعِيدُhappy وَرُبَّماand sometimes
يُعَقِّبُهُ الجَدُّ السَعِيدُ وَرُبَّما
يَكُونُthere is لِجَدِّfor the fortune المَرءِof a man بِالسَعدِwith good luck تَعقِيبُa succeeding turn
يَكُونُ لِجَدِّ المَرءِ بِالسَعدِ تَعقِيبُ
Happy fortune follows him; and sometimes
So do not wonder at what you have seen, for they are
A man's fortune is followed by good luck.
Hearts which good and evil overturn
فَلاso do not تَعجَبِيmarvel مِمّاat what رَأَيتُI saw فَإِنَّهاfor they are
فَلا تَعجَبِي مِمّا رَأَيتُ فَإِنَّها
قُلُوبٌhearts لَهاfor which there is بِالخَيرِtoward good وَالشَرِّand evil تَقلِيبُturning
قُلُوبٌ لَها بِالخَيرِ وَالشَرِّ تَقلِيبُ
Do not marvel at what I have seen, for these are
And for the people in the world there is abasement and honor
Hearts that turn toward good and evil.
And for the kingdom, banishment and proximity
وَلِلناسِand for people فيin الدُنياthe world نَزُولٌdescent وَرِفعَةٌand elevation
وَلِلناسِ في الدُنيا نَزُولٌ وَرِفعَةٌ
وَلِلمُلكِand for kingship إِبعادٌexclusion وَلِلمُلكِand for kingship تَقرِيبُdrawing near
وَلِلمُلكِ إِبعادٌ وَلِلمُلكِ تَقرِيبُ
People in this world have their descents and elevations,
And how many estranged were loyalty toward him tested
And kingship brings exclusion, and kingship brings favor.
And for the people in the world there is trial and test
وَرُبَّand many a قَصِيٍّdistant man جُرِّبَwas tested الوُدُّaffection عِندَهُwith him
وَرُبَّ قَصِيٍّ جُرِّبَ الوُدُّ عِندَهُ
وَلِلناسِand for people فيin الدُنياthe world اِمتِحانٌtrial وَتَجرِيبُand testing
وَلِلناسِ في الدُنيا اِمتِحانٌ وَتَجرِيبُ
Many a distant man's affection has been tested,
And whoever lived in the world must see
And people in this world face trials and testing.
Diverse wonders, for time is full of wonders
وَمَنand whoever عاشَlives فيin الدُنياthe world فَلاthen no بُدَّescape أَنfrom يَرىseeing
وَمَن عاشَ في الدُنيا فَلا بُدَّ أَن يَرى
عَجائِبَwonders شَتّىvaried وَالزَمانُand Time أَعاجِيبُis marvels
عَجائِبَ شَتّى وَالزَمانُ أَعاجِيبُ
Whoever lives in this world must see
Abu Salih, no name and title will be absent
Many varied wonders: Time itself is wonders.
For a name has become noble and surnames have become teknonyms
أَباO Abu صالِحٍSalih لاmay not يُعدَمِbe lost اسمٌa name وَكُنيَةٌand a patronymic
أَبا صالِحٍ لا يُعدَمِ اسمٌ وَكُنيَةٌ
فَقَدfor indeed شَرُفhas become noble اسمٌa name وَاكتِناءٌand taking a patronymic وَتَلقِيبُand receiving a title
فَقَد شَرُف اسمٌ وَاكتِناءٌ وَتَلقِيبُ
O Abu Salih, may your name and patronymic never be lost,
You have remained as you are, conspicuously eminent
For name, patronymic, and title have been ennobled.
And builder of towering high sublimities
بَقِيتَmay you endure عَلىin ماwhat أَنتَyou بانٍare building مِنَof العُلىgreatness
بَقِيتَ عَلى ما أَنتَ بانٍ مِنَ العُلى
وَبانيand the builder المَعاليof glories المُشمَخِرّاتِtowering مَتعُوبُis wearied
وَباني المَعالي المُشمَخِرّاتِ مَتعُوبُ
May you endure in the heights you are building,
If you do not complain of bleakness, then indeed
Though the builder of towering glories is wearied.
Swords, horsemen, arrows and spears have complained
فَإِنso if كُنتَyou are لاnot تَشكُوcomplaining of عَياءًexhaustion فَقَدthen indeed شَكاhas complained
فَإِن كُنتَ لا تَشكُو عَياءً فَقَد شَكا
حُسامٌa keen sword وَعَسّالٌand a quivering lance وَسَهمٌand an arrow وَيَعبُوبُand a swift steed
حُسامٌ وَعَسّالٌ وَسَهمٌ وَيَعبُوبُ
If you do not complain of exhaustion, it has been felt by
Wandering in the desert as though they are
A keen sword, a quivering lance, an arrow, and a swift steed;
Scrolls, some of which are bound and some poured out
وَهامٌand skulls عَلىupon البَيداءِthe desert مُلقىًstrewn كَأَنَّهُas though they
وَهامٌ عَلى البَيداءِ مُلقىً كَأَنَّهُ
صِحافُare dishes قِرىًfor a guest-feast مِنهاamong them سَوِيٌّupright وَمَكبُوبُand overturned
صِحافُ قِرىً مِنها سَوِيٌّ وَمَكبُوبُ
And skulls strewn upon the desert, as though they were
And were it not for avoiding sin, I'd have said scrolls
Dishes for a feast, some upright and some overturned.
Scattered with the traces of steeds and tents
وَلَولاand were it not for اجتِنابُavoiding الإِثمِsin قُلتُI would say صَحائِفٌscrolls
وَلَولا اجتِنابُ الإِثمِ قُلتُ صَحائِفٌ
تُفَضُّbeing opened وَآثارُand the tracks الجِيادِof the steeds مَحارِيبُprayer niches
تُفَضُّ وَآثارُ الجِيادِ مَحارِيبُ
Were I not avoiding sin, I would call them scrolls
So the Kilabi house boasts through you, it is indeed
Being opened, and the steeds' tracks prayer niches.
A house above the galaxy placed high
لِيَسمُmay rise high بِكَthrough you البَيتُthe house الكِلابِيُّKilabi إِنَّهُindeed it
لِيَسمُ بِكَ البَيتُ الكِلابِيُّ إِنَّهُ
لَبَيتٌis indeed a house بِكُمthrough you all فَوقَabove المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way مَنصُوبُraised
لَبَيتٌ بِكُم فَوقَ المَجَرَّةِ مَنصُوبُ
May the Kilabi house rise high through you; indeed, it is
Lofty in lineage, the servant has not pitched his affection
A house raised through you above the Milky Way,
But it is affection from God that is pitched
رَفِيعُlofty الذُرىin its summits لَمnot يَضرِبِdrove العَبدُthe servant وَدَّهُits tent peg
رَفِيعُ الذُرى لَم يَضرِبِ العَبدُ وَدَّهُ
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it وَدٌّis a tent peg مِنَby اللَهِGod مَضرُوبُdriven
وَلَكِنَّهُ وَدٌّ مِنَ اللَهِ مَضرُوبُ
Its summits lofty: no servant drove its peg,
Buried beneath the earth while its rope reaches
But it is a peg driven by God.
To the highest of the celestial spheres is looped
رَساstood firmly rooted تَحتَbeneath أَطباقِthe layers الثَرىof earth وَلِحَبلِهِand for its rope
رَسا تَحتَ أَطباقِ الثَرى وَلِحَبلِهِ
إِلىto مُنتَهىthe utmost height السَبعِof the seven الطَوالِعِrising stars تَطنِيبُstretching taut
إِلى مُنتَهى السَبعِ الطَوالِعِ تَطنِيبُ
It is rooted beneath the earth's layers, and its rope
And I found in your sublime qualities enabling me
Stretches to the utmost height of the seven rising stars.
To speak, while praise and poetry visited me
وَجَدتُI found مَقالاًscope for speech فيabout مَعالِيكَyour lofty deeds مُمكِناًavailable
وَجَدتُ مَقالاً في مَعالِيكَ مُمكِناً
فَقُلتُso I spoke وَواتانِيand came readily to me مَدِيحٌpraise poetry وَتَشبيبُand amorous verse
فَقُلتُ وَواتانِي مَدِيحٌ وَتَشبيبُ
I found room to speak of your lofty deeds,
So I clothed you in a robe of praise, seldom
So I spoke, and praise and love poetry came readily to me.
Does it wear out and fade when garments fade
فَدُونَكَso take for yourself جِلباباًa cloak مِنof الحَمدِpraise قَلَّماrarely
فَدُونَكَ جِلباباً مِن الحَمدِ قَلَّما
يَرِثُّgrows threadbare وَيَبلىحِينَand wears out when تَبلىwear out الجَلابِيبُthe cloaks
يَرِثُّ وَيَبلىحِينَ تَبلى الجَلابِيبُ
Take, then, a cloak of praise that rarely
It angers your detractor until it is as though
Grows threadbare or wears out when other cloaks wear out.
Your enemy by the praise in you is attributed
يُغاظُis enraged بِهِby it شانِيكَyour hater حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
يُغاظُ بِهِ شانِيكَ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
عَدُوُّكَyour enemy بِالمَدحِby the praise الَّذيwhich فِيكَis about you مَنسُوبُis named
عَدُوُّكَ بِالمَدحِ الَّذي فِيكَ مَنسُوبُ
It enrages your hater, until it is as though
Your enemy were the one named in the praise spoken of you.
Partial English translation: 144 of 146 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1