أَجَدَّgrew resolute الصَبرُpatience بَعدَكُمُafter your departure اِمتِناعاin refusal
أَجَدَّ الصَبرُ بَعدَكُمُ اِمتِناعا
وَجَدَّand persisted الوَصلُunion نَأياًin distance وَاِنقِطاعاand severance
وَجَدَّ الوَصلُ نَأياً وَاِنقِطاعا
Patience has stubbornly eluded me since you left,
Patience has become utterly unyielding since you left,
and union has persisted in distance and severance.
And union has become remote and out of reach.
قَضىdecreed صَرفُthe vicissitudes of الزِمانِtime لَناfor us اِفتِراقاًseparation
قَضى صَرفُ الزِمانِ لَنا اِفتِراقاً
فَهَلso, will ...? يَقضيdecree الزَمانُtime لَناfor us اِجتِماعاreunion
فَهَل يَقضي الزَمانُ لَنا اِجتِماعا
Time's vicissitudes decreed our separation;
The passage of time has decreed our separation,
will time decree our reunion?
Will time ever decree our reunion?
يَحِنُّyearns إِلىfor رِباعِكُمُyour dwellings فُؤادِيmy heart
يَحِنُّ إِلى رِباعِكُمُ فُؤادِي
فَلاso may ... not بَعُدَتbe far away رِباعُكُمُyour dwellings رِباعاas dwellings
فَلا بَعُدَت رِباعُكُمُ رِباعا
My heart yearns for your dwellings;
My heart yearns for your encampments,
so may your homes never lie far away.
Though your encampments are not remote.
وَيَلمَعُand gleams بارِقُهاtheir lightning وَاللَيلُwhile the night داجٍis dark
وَيَلمَعُ بارِقُها وَاللَيلُ داجٍ
كَماjust as عايَنتَyou beheld فيin اليَمِّthe sea الشُعاعاthe radiance
كَما عايَنتَ في اليَمِّ الشُعاعا
Their lightning gleams while the night is dark,
And their lightning flashes in the dark night
like the radiance you have seen upon the sea.
As you saw the rays in the sea's depths.
سَرىtraveled by night طَيفُthe phantom of الكَرىsleep يَجتابُtraversing فَرداًalone
سَرى طَيفُ الكَرى يَجتابُ فَرداً
مَهالِكَperilous wastes تُرهِبُthat terrify البَطَلَthe warrior الشُجاعاthe brave
مَهالِكَ تُرهِبُ البَطَلَ الشُجاعا
A phantom of sleep traveled by night, crossing alone
The specter of fate goes wandering alone
perilous wastes that terrify the brave warrior,
Threatening the brave hero with perils.
إِلىtoward رَكبٍa company of riders تَهُزُّهُمُrock them النَواجيthe swift she-camels
إِلى رَكبٍ تَهُزُّهُمُ النَواجي
كَماjust as هَزَّتswayed صَباthe easterly breeze of الرِيحِthe wind اليَراعاthe reeds
كَما هَزَّت صَبا الرِيحِ اليَراعا
toward a company of riders rocked by swift she-camels,
To a band shaken by the winds
as the east wind sways the reeds.
As the zephyr shook the slender branches.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle هَوَّمُواthey dozed وَضَعواthey placed أَكُفّاًpalms
إِذا ما هَوَّمُوا وَضَعوا أَكُفّاً
عَلىover الأَسرارِthe secrets خَوفاًfor fear أَنthat تُذاعاthey be divulged
عَلى الأَسرارِ خَوفاً أَن تُذاعا
When they doze, they place their palms
When they became excited they placed
over their secrets, for fear they might be divulged.
Their hands over the secrets, fearing disclosure.
رَجُواthey hoped for حَلَبَthe milking of الغَمامِthe clouds فَقُلتُso I said إِنّيindeed I
رَجُوا حَلَبَ الغَمامِ فَقُلتُ إِنّي
أَرىI see حَلَباًAleppo أَدَرَّyielding more abundantly لَناfor us اِنتِفاعاbenefit
أَرى حَلَباً أَدَرَّ لَنا اِنتِفاعا
They hoped for the clouds' milk; I said that I
They begged the clouds for rain, so I said:
see Aleppo yielding us a richer flow of bounty.
"I see clouds that have brought benefit to us."
إِذاwhen زُرناwe visit ابنَson of فَخرِFakhr الدِينِal-Din بِتناwe spend the night
إِذا زُرنا ابنَ فَخرِ الدِينِ بِتنا
رِواءًwith thirst quenched فيamid مَكارِمِهِhis noble bounty شِباعاsated
رِواءً في مَكارِمِهِ شِباعا
When we visit Ibn Fakhr al-Din, we spend the night
When we visit the son of the pride of the faith,
with thirst quenched and hunger sated amid his noble bounty.
We quench our thirst with his noble deeds.
فَتىًa young man جَعَلَwho made البِلادَthe lands مِنَamong العَطاياthe gifts
فَتىً جَعَلَ البِلادَ مِنَ العَطايا
فَأَعطىso he gave المُدنَthe cities وَاحتَقَرَand considered paltry الضِياعاthe estates
فَأَعطى المُدنَ وَاحتَقَرَ الضِياعا
A young man who made whole lands part of his gifts,
A young man who made the lands
giving cities and counting estates as paltry.
Generous gifts, he gave cities but scorned hamlets.
سَمِعناwe heard بِالكِرامِof generous men وَقَدand indeed أَراناhe showed us
سَمِعنا بِالكِرامِ وَقَد أَرانا
عِياناًby direct sight ضِعفَtwice ماwhat وَصَفُواthey described سَماعاby hearsay
عِياناً ضِعفَ ما وَصَفُوا سَماعا
We have heard of generous men, but he has shown us
We heard tell of his nobility, and when we saw
with our own eyes twice what they described by hearsay.
Reality, it was weaker than what we heard.
إِذاif حَمَّلتَهُyou load him with نُوَبَthe calamities of اللَياليthe nights
إِذا حَمَّلتَهُ نُوَبَ اللَيالي
تَحَمَّلَهاhe bore them وَناءَand rose under the weight بِهاwith them اِضطِلاعاbearing the load capably
تَحَمَّلَها وَناءَ بِها اِضطِلاعا
If you load him with the calamities of the nights,
When you load him with the misfortunes of the nights,
he shoulders them and rises with them, fully bearing the load.
He bears them, groaning under their weight.
يَرىhe sees بِالظَنِّby conjecture ماwhat فيin الغَيبِthe unseen حَتّىuntil
يَرى بِالظَنِّ ما في الغَيبِ حَتّى
كَأَنَّas though لَهُhe has عَلىto الغَيبِthe unseen اِطِّلاعاaccess
كَأَنَّ لَهُ عَلى الغَيبِ اِطِّلاعا
By conjecture he sees what lies unseen, until
He sees with insight what is hidden
he seems to have access to the unseen.
As if he had clear view of the unseen.
إِذاwhen شَهِدَhe enters الوَغاbattle تَرَكَhe leaves العَواليthe lofty spears
إِذا شَهِدَ الوَغا تَرَكَ العَوالي
تَمُجُّspew كَعُوبُهاtheir shaft-joints العَلَقَthick blood المُتاعاspilled
تَمُجُّ كَعُوبُها العَلَقَ المُتاعا
When he enters battle, he leaves the lofty spears
When he witnesses wantonness he leaves eminence
with their shaft-joints spouting thick, spilled blood.
While its peaks overflow with costly wares.
سَلِask الجَمعَينِthe two hosts جَمعَthe host of بَنيthe sons of نُمَيرٍNumayr
سَلِ الجَمعَينِ جَمعَ بَني نُمَيرٍ
وَمَنand those who سَكَنَdwelt in المُدَيبِرal-Mudaybir وَالفَراعاand al-Fara'
وَمَن سَكَنَ المُدَيبِر وَالفَراعا
Ask the two hosts—the host of Banu Numayr
Ask both clans - the Banu Numayr
and those who dwelt in al-Mudaybir and al-Fara'—
And those who dwell in Mudaybir and Furʿa,
غَداةَon the morning أَتواthey came يَهُزّونَbrandishing المَواضِيthe keen blades
غَداةَ أَتوا يَهُزّونَ المَواضِي
إِلَيناtoward us وَالمُطَهَّمَةَand the well-built steeds السِراعاthe swift
إِلَينا وَالمُطَهَّمَةَ السِراعا
on the morning they came brandishing keen blades
How the next morning they shook the pastures,
toward us, and urging on swift, well-built steeds,
Galloping fiercely toward us.
بِصَحراءِin the desert of الفُراتِthe Euphrates وَقَدand indeed تَوالَتthey followed one another
بِصَحراءِ الفُراتِ وَقَد تَوالَت
تَواليlike the succession of الكُدرِdusky sandgrouse تَبتَدِرُracing toward القِراعاcombat
تَوالي الكُدرِ تَبتَدِرُ القِراعا
in the Euphrates desert, following one another
On the Syrian desert, while continuously
like successive flocks of dusky sandgrouse, racing to clash.
Misfortune's sequences hurried to overtake them.
أَرَدَّdid anyone repel? جُمُوعَهُمtheir hosts إِلّاexcept ثِمالٌThimal
أَرَدَّ جُمُوعَهُم إِلّا ثِمالٌ
وَقَدand already مَلَأَتhad filled جُمُوعُهُمُtheir hosts الوَساعاthe open expanses
وَقَد مَلَأَت جُمُوعُهُمُ الوَساعا
Did anyone but Thimal repel their hosts,
He repelled their crowds except for remnants
though their hosts had filled the open expanses,
As their multitudes had filled the desert.
بِضَربٍwith blows يَصبِغُthat dye الأَمواجَthe waves حُمراًred
بِضَربٍ يَصبِغُ الأَمواجَ حُمراً
وَيَحميand protect دَرَّthe milk-yield of مَنthose who صَدَقَwere steadfast in المِصاعاcombat
وَيَحمي دَرَّ مَن صَدَقَ المِصاعا
with blows that dye the waves red
With a blow that dyed the waves blood-red
and protect the milk-yield of those steadfast in combat?
And protected the fruits of one who tilled honestly.
رَماهُمhe hurled at them بِالسَلاهِبِwith tall, slender steeds مُقرَباتٍcherished
رَماهُم بِالسَلاهِبِ مُقرَباتٍ
يُزَلزِلنَthey shake الأَباطِحَthe stony flats وَالتِلاعاand the ravines
يُزَلزِلنَ الأَباطِحَ وَالتِلاعا
He hurled at them tall, slender, cherished steeds,
He pelted them with deadly arrows
shaking the stony flats and ravines.
That convulsed the dunes and long slopes.
وَحَجَّبنَand they veiled السَناthe radiance بِالنَقعِwith dust حَتّىuntil
وَحَجَّبنَ السَنا بِالنَقعِ حَتّى
كَأَنَّas though الشَمسَthe sun لابِسَةٌwearing قِناعاa veil
كَأَنَّ الشَمسَ لابِسَةٌ قِناعا
They veiled the radiance with dust, until
And veiled the brilliance with clouds of dust
the sun seemed to be wearing a veil.
As if the sun was wearing a mask.
فَحِينَso, when تَأَمَّلُواthey observed خَبَبَthe trot of المَذاكيthe seasoned steeds
فَحِينَ تَأَمَّلُوا خَبَبَ المَذاكي
أَطارَsent flying الخَوفُfear أَنفُسَهُمtheir souls شعاعاscattered
أَطارَ الخَوفُ أَنفُسَهُم شعاعا
So when they observed the trot of those seasoned steeds,
When they looked closely at his raging attacks
fear sent their souls flying in all directions.
Fear took wing and flew from their souls.
وَسائِلand ask عَنهُabout him فيin حَلَبٍAleppo أُلوُفاthousands
وَسائِل عَنهُ في حَلَبٍ أُلوُفا
أَبَتrefused أَسوارُهُمtheir walls إِلّاanything but اِمتِناعاresistance
أَبَت أَسوارُهُم إِلّا اِمتِناعا
And ask thousands in Aleppo about him,
Ask about him in Aleppo - thousands
whose walls would offer nothing but resistance.
Whose walls refused except abstinence.
نَهاهُمhe barred them عَنfrom مَمالِكِهِhis dominions اِقتِساراًby force
نَهاهُم عَن مَمالِكِهِ اِقتِساراً
وَقَدand already مَلَكُواthey had seized المَعاقِلَthe strongholds وَالقِلاعاand the castles
وَقَد مَلَكُوا المَعاقِلَ وَالقِلاعا
He barred them from his dominions by force,
He forbade them his realms out of power
though they had seized the strongholds and castles.
While they ruled the citadels and fortified hills.
وَحَطَّهُمُand brought them down وَقَدand indeed كَرِهُواthey loathed المَناياdeath
وَحَطَّهُمُ وَقَد كَرِهُوا المَنايا
وَماand not كانُواthey were الظِماءَthirsty وَلاnor الجِياعاhungry
وَما كانُوا الظِماءَ وَلا الجِياعا
And brought them down, though they loathed death
He subjugated them while they hated death
and had been neither thirsty nor hungry.
And were neither thirsty nor hungry.
وَأَحسَنَand acted kindly بِالمُسيءِtoward the wrongdoer وَكَفَّand refrained عَمّاfrom what
وَأَحسَنَ بِالمُسيءِ وَكَفَّ عَمّا
تَبِيتُspends the night النَفسُthe soul تَتَبَعُهُpursuing it اتِّباعاin persistent pursuit
تَبِيتُ النَفسُ تَتَبَعُهُ اتِّباعا
He dealt kindly with the wrongdoer and refrained from what
He was good to the wrong-doer and ignored
the soul spends the night pursuing relentlessly.
What the soul craves to seek.
وَخَلّىand let go المالَthe wealth قَدalready أَوهىhad weakened المَطاياthe mounts
وَخَلّى المالَ قَد أَوهى المَطايا
وَلَمand did not يَعصِdisobey الإِمامَthe imam وَقَدand indeed أَطاعاhe obeyed
وَلَم يَعصِ الإِمامَ وَقَد أَطاعا
He left the wealth that had worn the mounts down,
He relinquished wealth that enfeebled the proud
and did not disobey the imam, but obeyed him.
And obeyed the Imam though it was hard.
وَأَطلَقَand released جَعفَراًJa'far وَبَنيand the sons of أَبيهِhis father
وَأَطلَقَ جَعفَراً وَبَني أَبيهِ
وَقَلَّدَهُمand garlanded them with جَميلاًkindness وَاِصطِناعاand favor
وَقَلَّدَهُم جَميلاً وَاِصطِناعا
He released Ja'far and his father's sons,
He released Jaʿfar and the sons of his father
and garlanded them with kindness and favor.
Appointing them custodians of the beautiful and refined.
وَمَنَّand showed favor عَلىto بَنيthe sons of الجَراحِal-Jarrah جَمعاًall together
وَمَنَّ عَلى بَني الجَراحِ جَمعاً
وَلَمand not تَكُwas it مِنَّةًa favor ذَهَبَتthat went ضَياعاto waste
وَلَم تَكُ مِنَّةً ذَهَبَت ضَياعا
He showed favor to all of Banu al-Jarrah,
He bestowed grace on the clan of Jarrah in full
and that was no favor squandered in vain.
His grace was no fleeting favor.
وَرَدَّand restored المُلكَthe kingdom حَتّىso that ماnot رَأَيناwe saw
وَرَدَّ المُلكَ حَتّى ما رَأَينا
لَمُلكٍfor a kingdom غَيرِother than ذاthis المُلكِkingdom اِرتِجاعاa restoration
لَمُلكٍ غَيرِ ذا المُلكِ اِرتِجاعا
He restored the kingdom, so that we have never seen
He restored the kingdom until we saw
any kingdom but this one restored.
No rule but his had resurgence.
وَأَمَّنَand allayed خَوفَناour fear حَتّىuntil أَمِنّاwe felt safe
وَأَمَّنَ خَوفَنا حَتّى أَمِنّا
بِكَثرَةِthrough the abundance of ماnominalizing particle يُراعيhe takes care أَنlest نُراعاwe be frightened
بِكَثرَةِ ما يُراعي أَن نُراعا
He allayed our fear until we felt safe,
He secured us from fear until we felt safe
through his constant care lest we be frightened.
With his great heed for our security.
وَسَنَّand established العَدلَjustice فيin حَلَبٍAleppo فَأَخلَتand so emptied
وَسَنَّ العَدلَ في حَلَبٍ فَأَخلَت
بِحُسنِthrough the beauty of العَدلِjustice بُقعَتُهاits land البِقاعاthe other lands
بِحُسنِ العَدلِ بُقعَتُها البِقاعا
He established justice in Aleppo, and so
He instituted justice in Aleppo, so its regions
its land, through justice's beauty, emptied all other lands.
Emptied through the good of justice.
حَليمٌforbearing عَنtoward جَرائِمِناour offenses إِلَيهِagainst him
حَليمٌ عَن جَرائِمِنا إِلَيهِ
وَحَتّىand even عَنregarding ثَنِيَّتِهِhis incisor اِنقِلاعاbeing knocked out
وَحَتّى عَن ثَنِيَّتِهِ اِنقِلاعا
He is forbearing toward our offenses against him,
Clement, he turns away from our crimes,
even the knocking out of his front tooth.
Even his reproach he refrains.
إِذاwhen فَعَلَperforms الكَريمُthe noble man بِلاwithout قِياسٍa precedent
إِذا فَعَلَ الكَريمُ بِلا قِياسٍ
فِعالاًdeeds كانَis ماwhat فَعَلَhe did اِبتِداعاan innovation
فِعالاً كانَ ما فَعَلَ اِبتِداعا
When a noble man acts without a precedent,
When the noble acts without precedent
the deeds he does are an invention of his own.
His deed is still an innovation.
مَكارِمُnoble deeds ماnot اِقتَدىhe took his example فيهاin them بِخَلقٍfrom any mortal
مَكارِمُ ما اِقتَدى فيها بِخَلقٍ
وَلَكِنbut رُكِّبَتwere built فيهِinto him طِباعاas innate traits
وَلَكِن رُكِّبَت فيهِ طِباعا
Noble deeds in which he followed no mortal's example,
The noble qualities he modeled were not
but which were built into him as innate traits.
From a human exemplar but inborn nature.
فَيالَلَّهِso, by God! أَنتَyou كَريمُthe noble one of قَومٍa people
فَيالَلَّهِ أَنتَ كَريمُ قَومٍ
بِسَيفِكَthrough your sword أَدرَكُواthey attained الرُتَبَthe ranks الرِفاعاthe lofty
بِسَيفِكَ أَدرَكُوا الرُتَبَ الرِفاعا
So, by God, you are the noble one of a people
By God, you are the noble one of a people
who attained lofty ranks through your sword.
Who by your sword have attained lofty ranks.
عَلَوتَyou rose إِلىto السَماءِthe sky بِكُلِّwith every فَضلٍexcellence
عَلَوتَ إِلى السَماءِ بِكُلِّ فَضلٍ
فَكادَso nearly الجَوُّthe air يُخفيكَhides you اِرتِفاعاthrough height
فَكادَ الجَوُّ يُخفيكَ اِرتِفاعا
You rose to the sky with every excellence,
You ascended into the sky with every grace
so high that the air almost hid you.
Nearly concealed from view by your towering height.
وَأَحيَيتَand you revived النَدىliberality وَالجُودَand generosity حَتّىuntil
وَأَحيَيتَ النَدى وَالجُودَ حَتّى
حَسِبناwe thought أَنَّthat بَينَكُماbetween you both رِضاعاmilk-kinship
حَسِبنا أَنَّ بَينَكُما رِضاعا
You revived liberality and generosity until
You revived dew and munificence until
we thought the two of you shared a bond of milk-kinship.
We fancied a nurturing bond between you.
إِذاwhen مَدَّتstretched out بُغاةُthe seekers of المَجدِglory يَدّاًa hand
إِذا مَدَّت بُغاةُ المَجدِ يَدّاً
إِلىtoward طَلَبِseeking العَلاءِeminence مَدَدتَyou stretched out باعاan armspan
إِلى طَلَبِ العَلاءِ مَدَدتَ باعا
When the seekers of glory stretch out a hand
When the arrogant stretch out a hand
to seek eminence, you stretch out a full armspan.
To seek the heights you instantly extend a forearm.
أَطَعتَyou obeyed اللَهَGod مُنذُsince خُلِقتَyou were created حَتّىuntil
أَطَعتَ اللَهَ مُنذُ خُلِقتَ حَتّى
غَدَوتَyou became بِأَمرِهِby His command المَلِكَthe king المُطاعاwho is obeyed
غَدَوتَ بِأَمرِهِ المَلِكَ المُطاعا
You obeyed God from the time you were created, until
You obeyed God since you were created
by His command you became the king whom others obey.
Thus you became the sovereign obeyed.
إِذاwhen طَلَبَsought العِدىthe enemies لَكُمُfor you اِنحِطاطاًa downfall
إِذا طَلَبَ العِدى لَكُمُ اِنحِطاطاً
أَبَتrefused راحاتُكُمyour palms إِلّاanything but اِرتِفاعاascent
أَبَت راحاتُكُم إِلّا اِرتِفاعا
When enemies seek your downfall,
When the foe desires your decline into debasement
your palms refuse anything but ascent.
Your repose refuses all but loftiness.
غَدَوتُمyou became عَنregarding مَكارِهِناwhat we dislike بِطاءًslow
غَدَوتُم عَن مَكارِهِنا بِطاءً
وَفيماand in what سَرَّناdelighted us مِنكُمfrom you سِراعاswift
وَفيما سَرَّنا مِنكُم سِراعا
You are slow to do what we dislike,
You evaded our hate gracefully
and swift in whatever from you delights us.
And whatever delighted us you hastened to.
إِذاwhen ضاقَتclosed in tightly مُلِمّاتُthe afflictions of اللَياليthe nights
إِذا ضاقَت مُلِمّاتُ اللَيالي
أَبَتrefused أَخلاقُكُمyour character إِلّاanything but اِتِّساعاexpansiveness
أَبَت أَخلاقُكُم إِلّا اِتِّساعا
When the nights' afflictions close in tightly,
When the nights' afflictions narrow
your character insists on being expansive.
Your noble ways refuse all but breadth.
فَدَتmay ... ransom رُوحيmy soul فَتىًa young man ماnever ضاقَfell short ذَرعاًin endurance
فَدَت رُوحي فَتىً ما ضاقَ ذَرعاً
بِنائِبَةٍbefore a calamity تَنوبُthat befalls وَلاnor ذِراعاin arm's reach
بِنائِبَةٍ تَنوبُ وَلا ذِراعا
May my soul be ransom for a youth whose endurance never fails
May my soul be sacrificed for a young man who never
when calamity strikes, nor does his arm.
Was troubled by a misfortune, not one moment.
مَدَحتُI praised فَماso did not أَضَعتُI waste المَدحَthe praise فيهِon him
مَدَحتُ فَما أَضَعتُ المَدحَ فيهِ
وأَولانيand he bestowed on me الجَميلَkindness فَماso did not أَضاعاhe squander it
وأَولاني الجَميلَ فَما أَضاعا
I praised him and did not waste my praise on him;
I praised him and did not diminish the praise,
he bestowed kindness on me and did not squander it.
I inclined to beauty and did not neglect it.
فَلَوso if داسَhe trod التُرابَthe dust بِأَخمَصَيهِwith the hollows of his feet
فَلَو داسَ التُرابَ بِأَخمَصَيهِ
وَجَدتُI would find لِناظِرَيَّfor my two eyes بِهِin it اِنتِفاعاbenefit
وَجَدتُ لِناظِرَيَّ بِهِ اِنتِفاعا
For if he trod the dust with the hollows of his feet,
If he trampled dust with his sandals
I would find in it a benefit for my eyes.
My eyes still gained benefit from looking on him.
كَلاكَmay ... guard you اللَهُGod مِنfrom نُوَبِthe calamities of اللَياليthe nights
كَلاكَ اللَهُ مِن نُوَبِ اللَيالي
فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you تَكَلأُguard الأَدَبَliterature المُضاعاthe neglected
فَإِنَّكَ تَكَلأُ الأَدَبَ المُضاعا
May God guard you from the calamities of the nights,
May God shelter you from the nights' afflictions,
for you guard neglected literature,
For you embody the most refined manners.
وَتَكسُوand you clothe المَدحَpraise وَالمُداحَand the panegyrists فَخراًin honor
وَتَكسُو المَدحَ وَالمُداحَ فَخراً
إِذاwhen أَصغَيتَyou inclined your ear لِلمَدحِto praise اِستِماعاlistening
إِذا أَصغَيتَ لِلمَدحِ اِستِماعا
and clothe praise and panegyrists in honor
You clothe praise and praiser with pride
when you incline your ear to listen to praise.
When you lend an ear to hear praise.
Sol 6.1