أُمَنِّيI fill with hope النَّفْسَthe soul وَصْلاًunion مِنْfrom سُعَادِSu'ad
أُمَنِّي النَّفْسَ وَصْلاً مِنْ سُعَادِ
وَأَيْنَand where مِنَfrom الْمُنىwishes دَرَكُattainment of الْمُرَادِwhat is desired
وَأَيْنَ مِنَ الْمُنى دَرَكُ الْمُرَادِ
I promise myself union with Su'ad,
yet how far are wishes from attaining one's desire!
وَكَيْفَand how يَصِحُّis sound وَصْلٌunion مِنْfrom خَليلٍa beloved
وَكَيْفَ يَصِحُّ وَصْلٌ مِنْ خَليلٍ
إِذَاif مَاever كَانَhe is مُعْتَلَّailing in الْوِدَادِaffection
إِذَا مَا كَانَ مُعْتَلَّ الْوِدَادِ
And how can union with a beloved be sound
when his affection is ailing?
تَمَادىhe persists فِيin الْقَطِيعَةِestrangement لاَnot لِجُرمٍfor an offense
تَمَادى فِي الْقَطِيعَةِ لاَ لِجُرمٍ
وَأَجْفىand the cruelest of الْهَاجِرِينَthose who forsake ذَوُوthose given to التَّمادِيpersistence
وَأَجْفى الْهَاجِرِينَ ذَوُو التَّمادِي
He persists in estrangement, though I have done no wrong;
and the cruelest deserters are those who persist.
يُفَرِّقُhe separates بَيْنَbetween قَلْبِيmy heart وَالتَّأَسِّيand consolation
يُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ قَلْبِي وَالتَّأَسِّي
وَيَجْمَعُand he joins بَيْنَbetween طَرْفِيmy eye وَالسُّهَادِand sleeplessness
وَيَجْمَعُ بَيْنَ طَرْفِي وَالسُّهَادِ
He parts my heart from consolation
and joins my eye to sleeplessness.
وَلَوْand if بَذَلَhe offered الْيسِيرَa little لَبَلَّhe would surely slake شَوْقيmy longing
وَلَوْ بَذَلَ الْيسِيرَ لَبَلَّ شَوْقي
وَقَدْand sometimes يَرْوىare quenched الظِّمَاءُthe thirsty مِنَby الثِّمَادِscant pools
وَقَدْ يَرْوى الظِّمَاءُ مِنَ الثِّمَادِ
Had he offered a little, he would have slaked my longing;
indeed, the thirsty may be quenched by scant pools.
أَمَلُّI weary of مَخَافَةَfor fear of الإِمْلاَلِcausing weariness قُرْبِيmy closeness
أَمَلُّ مَخَافَةَ الإِمْلاَلِ قُرْبِي
وَبَعْضُand some الْقُربِcloseness أَجْلَبُis more conducive لِلْبِعَادِto estrangement
وَبَعْضُ الْقُربِ أَجْلَبُ لِلْبِعَادِ
I tire of being near, for fear of causing weariness;
and some closeness is more apt to bring estrangement.
وَعِنْدِيand I have لِلأَحِبَّةِfor loved ones كُلُّevery جَفْنٍeyelid
وَعِنْدِي لِلأَحِبَّةِ كُلُّ جَفْنٍ
طَلِيقِunfettered in الدِّمْعِtears مَأْسُورِfettered in الرُّقَادِsleep
طَلِيقِ الدِّمْعِ مَأْسُورِ الرُّقَادِ
And for my loved ones I have every eyelid
free in its tears, its sleep held captive.
فَلاَso let not تَغْرَfasten الْحَوَادِثُcalamities بِيupon me فَحَسْبِيfor enough for me is
فَلاَ تَغْرَ الْحَوَادِثُ بِي فَحَسْبِي
جَفَاؤُكُمُyour coldness مِنَamong النُّوَبِafflictions الشِّدَادِgrievous
جَفَاؤُكُمُ مِنَ النُّوَبِ الشِّدَادِ
So let calamities not hound me; enough for me
among grievous afflictions is your coldness.
إِذَاif مَاever النَّارُthe fire كَانَthere was لَهاin it اضطِّرَامٌa blaze
إِذَا مَا النَّارُ كَانَ لَها اضطِّرَامٌ
فَماthen what الدَّاعِيneed is there إِلىfor قَدْحِstriking الزِّنادِthe fire-flints
فَما الدَّاعِي إِلى قَدْحِ الزِّنادِ
If a fire is already blazing,
what need is there to strike the flints?
أَرىI see الْبِيضَbright swords الْحِدَادَsharp سَتَقْتَضِينِيwill demand of me
أَرى الْبِيضَ الْحِدَادَ سَتَقْتَضِينِي
نُزُوعاًa turning away عَنْfrom هَوىlove of الْبِيضِfair women الْخِرَادَbashful
نُزُوعاً عَنْ هَوى الْبِيضِ الْخِرَادَ
I see that sharp, bright swords will demand of me
a turning away from love of fair, bashful maidens.
فَمَاfor not دَمْعِيmy tears عَلَىupon الأَطْلاَلthe ruined camps وَقْفٌreserved
فَمَا دَمْعِي عَلَى الأَطْلاَل وَقْفٌ
وَلاَnor قَلْبيmy heart مَعَwith الظُّعْنِthe camel-litters الْغَوَادِيleaving at dawn
وَلاَ قَلْبي مَعَ الظُّعْنِ الْغَوَادِي
For my tears are not reserved for ruined camps,
nor is my heart with the camel-litters leaving at dawn.
وَلاnor أَبْقىhas left جَلاَلُJalal الْمُلْكِal-Mulk يَوْماًever
وَلا أَبْقى جَلاَلُ الْمُلْكِ يَوْماً
لِغَيْرِfor any but هَوَاهُlove of him حُكْماًdominion فيin فُؤَادِيmy heart
لِغَيْرِ هَوَاهُ حُكْماً في فُؤَادِي
Nor has Jalal al-Mulk ever allowed
any love but love for him to rule my heart.
أُحِبُّI love مَكَارِمَthe noblest traits of الأَخْلاَقِcharacter مِنْهُin him
أُحِبُّ مَكَارِمَ الأَخْلاَقِ مِنْهُ
وَأَعْشَقُand I adore دَوْلَةَthe reign of الْمَلِكَthe king الْجَوَادِgenerous
وَأَعْشَقُ دَوْلَةَ الْمَلِكَ الْجَوَادِ
I love in him the noblest traits of character,
and adore the reign of the generous king.
رَجَوْتُI hoped فَماbut not تَجَاوَزَهُexceeded him رَجائِيmy hope
رَجَوْتُ فَما تَجَاوَزَهُ رَجائِي
وَكَانَand was الْماءِwater غَايَةَthe ultimate aim of كُلِّevery صَادِthirsty soul
وَكَانَ الْماءِ غَايَةَ كُلِّ صَادِ
I placed my hope in him, and my hope went no farther;
and water is the utmost goal of every thirsty soul.
إذَاif مَاever رُوِّضَتْis made verdant أَرْضِيmy land وَساحَتْand flows with water
إذَا مَا رُوِّضَتْ أَرْضِي وَساحَتْ
فَماthen what مَعْنىpoint is there in انْتِجاعِيmy seeking pasture وَارْتِيادِيand my scouting
فَما مَعْنى انْتِجاعِي وَارْتِيادِي
If my land is made verdant and runs with water,
what need have I to seek pasture and scout for it?
كَفىsufficient is بِنَدَىthe bounty of جَلالِJalal الْمُلْكِal-Mulk غَيْثاًas rain
كَفى بِنَدَى جَلالِ الْمُلْكِ غَيْثاً
إِذاwhen نَزَحَتْhas run dry قَرَارَةُthe basin of كُلِّevery وَادِvalley
إِذا نَزَحَتْ قَرَارَةُ كُلِّ وَادِ
Jalal al-Mulk's bounty is rain enough
when the basin of every valley runs dry.
أَمَلْناwe turned أَيْنُقَthe she-camels of الآمَالِhopes مِنْهُfrom him
أَمَلْنا أَيْنُقَ الآمَالِ مِنْهُ
إِلىtoward كَنَفٍa shelter خَصِيبِfertile in الْمُسْتَرادِgrazing grounds
إِلى كَنَفٍ خَصِيبِ الْمُسْتَرادِ
We turned the she-camels of hope toward him,
toward a shelter with rich grazing grounds.
وَأَغْنَاناand enriched us نَدَاهُhis bounty علَىamid افْتِقَارٍpoverty
وَأَغْنَانا نَدَاهُ علَى افْتِقَارٍ
غَناءَthe enrichment of الْغَيْثِrain فيin السَّنَةِthe year الْجَمادِbarren
غَناءَ الْغَيْثِ في السَّنَةِ الْجَمادِ
And his bounty made us rich amid our poverty,
as rain brings plenty in a barren year.
فَمَنْthen who ذَاis the one مُبْلِغُto inform الأَمْلاَكِthe kings عَنَّاon our behalf
فَمَنْ ذَا مُبْلِغُ الأَمْلاَكِ عَنَّا
وَسُوِّاسِand the rulers of الْحَوَاضِرِthe towns وَالْبَوادِيand the deserts
وَسُوِّاسِ الْحَوَاضِرِ وَالْبَوادِي
Who, then, will convey our word to kings
and rulers of towns and deserts:
بِأَنَّاthat we قَدْindeed سَكَنَّاhave dwelt in ظِلَّthe shade of مَلْكٍa king
بِأَنَّا قَدْ سَكَنَّا ظِلَّ مَلْكٍ
مَخُوفِfeared for الْبَأْسِmight مَرْجُوِّlooked to for الأَيَادِيfavors
مَخُوفِ الْبَأْسِ مَرْجُوِّ الأَيَادِي
that we have settled beneath the shade of a king
whose might is feared, whose favors are hoped for?
صَحِبْنَاwe accompanied عنْدَهُwith him الأَيَّامَthe days بِيضاًwhite
صَحِبْنَا عنْدَهُ الأَيَّامَ بِيضاً
وَقَدْthough indeed عُمَّwas engulfed الزَّمَانُthe age مِنَin الْسَّوَادِblackness
وَقَدْ عُمَّ الزَّمَانُ مِنَ الْسَّوَادِ
With him we have passed days gleaming white,
though blackness has engulfed the age.
وَأَدْرَكْنَاand we attained بِعَدْلٍthrough justice مِنْfrom عَلِيٍّAli
وَأَدْرَكْنَا بِعَدْلٍ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ
صَلاَحَsoundness of الْعَيْشِlife فِيin دَهْرِan age of الْفسَادِcorruption
صَلاَحَ الْعَيْشِ فِي دَهْرِ الْفسَادِ
And through justice from Ali, we have attained
a sound life in an age of corruption.
فَماso not نَخْشىdo we fear مُحَارَبَةَthe warfare of اللَّيَالِيthe nights
فَما نَخْشى مُحَارَبَةَ اللَّيَالِي
وَلاَnor نَرْجُوdo we hope for مُسَالَمَةَpeace with الأَعَادِيthe enemies
وَلاَ نَرْجُو مُسَالَمَةَ الأَعَادِي
So we do not fear the warfare of the nights,
nor hope for peace with enemies.
فَقُولاَso tell, you two لِلْمُعانِدِthe defiant one وَهْوَwhile he is أَشْقَىmore wretched
فَقُولاَ لِلْمُعانِدِ وَهْوَ أَشْقَى
بِمَاthrough what تَحْبُوهُbestows upon him عَاقِبَةُthe outcome of الْعِنَادِdefiance
بِمَا تَحْبُوهُ عَاقِبَةُ الْعِنَادِ
Then you two tell the defiant foe, who is made more wretched
by what the outcome of defiance bestows on him:
رُوَيْدَكَrestrain yourself مِنْin عَدَاوَتِنَاenmity toward us سَتُرْدِيyou will ruin
رُوَيْدَكَ مِنْ عَدَاوَتِنَا سَتُرْدِي
نَوَاجِذَthe molars of مَاضِغِone chewing الصُّمِّsolid rocks الصِّلاَدِhard
نَوَاجِذَ مَاضِغِ الصُّمِّ الصِّلاَدِ
Curb your enmity toward us; you will break
the molars of one who chews hard, solid rock.
وَلاَand do not تَحْمِلْraise عَلَىagainst الأَيَّامِthe days سَيْفاًa sword
وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَى الأَيَّامِ سَيْفاً
فَإِنَّfor indeed الدِّهْرَTime يَقْطَعُcuts بِالنِّجادِwith the sword-belt
فَإِنَّ الدِّهْرَ يَقْطَعُ بِالنِّجادِ
And do not raise a sword against the days,
for Time cuts even with the sword-belt.
فَأَمْنَعُfor one better protected مِنْكَthan you جَاراًby a protector قَدْindeed رمَيْنَاwe have struck
فَأَمْنَعُ مِنْكَ جَاراً قَدْ رمَيْنَا
كَرِيمَتَهُhis dearest treasure بِداهِيَةٍwith a calamity نَآدِoverwhelming
كَرِيمَتَهُ بِداهِيَةٍ نَآدِ
For we have struck one more strongly protected than you
in his dearest treasure, with an overwhelming calamity.
وَمَنْand who يَحْمِيcan protect الْوِهَادَthe hollows بِكُلِّin every أَرْضٍland
وَمَنْ يَحْمِي الْوِهَادَ بِكُلِّ أَرْضٍ
إذاwhen ماever السيلthe torrent طممoverflows علىabove النجادthe heights
إذا ما السيل طمم على النجاد
And who can protect the hollows of any land
when the torrent floods above the heights?
هوhe الراميكthe one who shoots at you عنfrom أممclose range وعرضand afar
هو الراميك عن أمم وعرض
إِذاwhen مَاever الرَّأْيُjudgment قَرْطَسَhits the bull's-eye فيin السَّدَادِaccuracy
إِذا مَا الرَّأْيُ قَرْطَسَ في السَّدَادِ
He is the one who shoots at you from near and far,
when judgment hits the mark unerringly,
وَمُطْلِعُهاand he who brings them forth عَلَيْكَagainst you مُسَوَّمَاتٍmarked steeds
وَمُطْلِعُها عَلَيْكَ مُسَوَّمَاتٍ
تَضِيقُis too narrow بِهَمِّهاfor their resolve سَعَةُthe breadth of الْبِلاَدِthe lands
تَضِيقُ بِهَمِّها سَعَةُ الْبِلاَدِ
and brings against you marked war-steeds
for whose resolve the broad lands are too narrow.
إِذَاwhen مَاever الطَّعْنُthrusting أَنْحَلَهاbestows on them الْعَوَالِيthe long spears
إِذَا مَا الطَّعْنُ أَنْحَلَها الْعَوَالِي
فَدىit ransoms الأَعْجَازَthe hindquarters مِنْهاof them بِالْهَوَادِيwith the necks
فَدى الأَعْجَازَ مِنْها بِالْهَوَادِي
When thrusting bestows the tall spears on them,
it ransoms their hindquarters with their necks.
فِدَآؤُكَyour ransom كُلُّevery مَكْبُوتٍthwarted one مَغِيظٍenraged
فِدَآؤُكَ كُلُّ مَكْبُوتٍ مَغِيظٍ
يخافيكhides from you العداوةenmity أوor يباديdeclares it openly
يخافيك العداوة أو يبادي
May every thwarted, raging foe be your ransom,
whether he hides his enmity from you or displays it.
فإنكfor indeed you ماas long as بقيتyou remain لناfor us سليماًsafe and sound
فإنك ما بقيت لنا سليماً
فَماthen not نَنْفَكُّdo we cease فِيin عِيدٍa festival مُعَادِrenewed
فَما نَنْفَكُّ فِي عِيدٍ مُعَادِ
For as long as you remain safe for us,
we never cease to live in a festival renewed.
أَبُوكَyour father تَدَارَكَrescued الإِسلاَمَIslam لَمَّاwhen
أَبُوكَ تَدَارَكَ الإِسلاَمَ لَمَّا
وَهَىit faltered أَوْor كَادَalmost يُؤْذِنُgave warning بِانْهِدَادِof collapse
وَهَى أَوْ كَادَ يُؤْذِنُ بِانْهِدَادِ
Your father came to Islam's rescue when
it faltered, or all but announced its collapse.
سَخَاhe was generous بِالنَّفْسِwith his life شُحّاًout of jealous care بِالْمَعَالِيfor high honors
سَخَا بِالنَّفْسِ شُحّاً بِالْمَعَالِي
وَجَاهَدَand he fought بِالطَّرِيفِwith newly acquired wealth وَبِالتِّلاَدِand with inherited wealth
وَجَاهَدَ بِالطَّرِيفِ وَبِالتِّلاَدِ
He was lavish with his life to spare his lofty honor,
and fought with wealth both newly gained and inherited.
كَيَوْمِكَas on your day إِذْwhen دَمُthe blood of الأَعْلاَجِthe foreign foes بَحْرٌa sea
كَيَوْمِكَ إِذْ دَمُ الأَعْلاَجِ بَحْرٌ
يُرِيكَshows you الْبَحْرَthe sea فِيin حُلَلٍrobes وِرَادِrose-red
يُرِيكَ الْبَحْرَ فِي حُلَلٍ وِرَادِ
As on your day, when the blood of foreign foes was a sea,
showing you the sea clad in rose-red robes.
عَزَائِمُكَyour resolves الْعَوَائِدُrecurring سِرْنَmarched فِيهِمْamong them
عَزَائِمُكَ الْعَوَائِدُ سِرْنَ فِيهِمْ
بِمَاaccording to what سَنَّتْestablished عَزَائِمُهُhis resolves الْبَوَادِيearliest
بِمَا سَنَّتْ عَزَائِمُهُ الْبَوَادِي
Your recurring resolves marched among them
along the path his earliest resolves had laid down.
وَهذاand this الْمَجْدُglory مِنْcomes from تِلْكَthose الْمَسَاعِيendeavors
وَهذا الْمَجْدُ مِنْ تِلْكَ الْمَسَاعِي
وَهذاand this الْغَيْثُrain مِنْcomes from تِلْكَthose الْغَوَادِيmorning showers
وَهذا الْغَيْثُ مِنْ تِلْكَ الْغَوَادِي
And this glory comes from those endeavors,
and this rain from those morning showers.
وَأَنْتُمْand you أَهْلُpeople of مَعْدِلَةٍjustice سَبَقْتُمْyou raced ahead
وَأَنْتُمْ أَهْلُ مَعْدِلَةٍ سَبَقْتُمْ
إِلىto أَمَدِthe goal of الْعُلىglory سَبْقَlike the racing of الْجِيَادِnoble steeds
إِلى أَمَدِ الْعُلى سَبْقَ الْجِيَادِ
And you are people of justice; you have raced ahead
to glory's goal with the speed of noble steeds.
رَعىtended مِنْكَin you الرَّعِيَّةَthe subjects خَيْرُthe best رَاعٍshepherd
رَعى مِنْكَ الرَّعِيَّةَ خَيْرُ رَاعٍ
كَرِيمِnoble in الذَّبِّdefending عَنْهُمْon their behalf وَالذِّيَادِand repelling harm
كَرِيمِ الذَّبِّ عَنْهُمْ وَالذِّيَادِ
In you the subjects have found the finest shepherd,
noble in defending them and warding danger off.
تَقَيْتَyou feared اللهَGod حَقَّwith due تُقَاهُreverence for Him فِيهِمْconcerning them
تَقَيْتَ اللهَ حَقَّ تُقَاهُ فِيهِمْ
وَتَقْوىand reverence for اللهِGod مِنْis among خَيْرِthe best الْعَتَادِprovisions
وَتَقْوى اللهِ مِنْ خَيْرِ الْعَتَادِ
You feared God as He should be feared in their affairs,
and fear of God is among the best provisions.
كَأَنَّكَas though you لاَdo not تَرىdeem فِعْلاًa deed شَرِيفاًnoble
كَأَنَّكَ لاَ تَرى فِعْلاً شَرِيفاً
سِوىexcept مَاwhat كَانis ذُخْراًa treasure لِلْمَعادِfor the afterlife
سِوى مَا كَان ذُخْراً لِلْمَعادِ
It is as though you deem no deed noble
save what is stored as treasure for the afterlife.
مَكَارِمُnoble qualities بَعْضُهاsome of them فِيهِin it دَلِيلُproof
مَكَارِمُ بَعْضُها فِيهِ دَلِيلُ
عَلَىof ماwhat فِيكَis in you مِنْof كَرَمِnobility of الْوِلاَدِbirth
عَلَى ما فِيكَ مِنْ كَرَمِ الْوِلاَدِ
Noble qualities, some of which bear witness
to the nobility of birth that is in you.
هَجَرْتَyou forsook sleep لَهاfor them شَغَفاًin passion وَوَجْداًand longing
هَجَرْتَ لَها شَغَفاً وَوَجْداً
وَكُلُّand every أَخِيpossessor of هَوىًlove قَلِقُis restless on الْوِسَادِthe pillow
وَكُلُّ أَخِي هَوىً قَلِقُ الْوِسَادِ
You forsook sleep for them, in passion and yearning,
and every lover is restless on his pillow.
غَنِيتُI have no need بِسَيْبِكَthrough your bounty الْمَرْجُوِّhoped-for عَنْهُof it
غَنِيتُ بِسَيْبِكَ الْمَرْجُوِّ عَنْهُ
كَمَاjust as يَغْنىhas no need الْخَصِيبُfertile ground عَنِof الْعِهَادِsuccessive rains
كَمَا يَغْنى الْخَصِيبُ عَنِ الْعِهَادِ
I have no need of it, thanks to your hoped-for bounty,
as fertile ground has no need of successive rains.
وَرَوَّانِيand quenched me سَمَاحُكَyour generosity مَاas much as بَدَالِيI wished
وَرَوَّانِي سَمَاحُكَ مَا بَدَالِي
فَمَاso not أَرْتَاحُdo I yearn لِلْعَذْبِfor sweet water الْبُرادِcool
فَمَا أَرْتَاحُ لِلْعَذْبِ الْبُرادِ
And your generosity has quenched me as much as I wished,
so I feel no longing for sweet, cool water.
إِذَاwhen نَفَقَfinds a market الثَّناءُpraise بِأَرْضِin the land of قَوْمٍa people
إِذَا نَفَقَ الثَّناءُ بِأَرْضِ قَوْمٍ
فَلَسْتُthen I am not بِخَائِفٍafraid of فِيهَاthere كَسادِيmy going unsold
فَلَسْتُ بِخَائِفٍ فِيهَا كَسادِي
When praise finds a market in a people's land,
I have no fear of going unsold there.
فَلاَso may not تَزَلِcease اللَّيَالِيthe nights ضَامِنَاتٍguaranteeing
فَلاَ تَزَلِ اللَّيَالِي ضَامِنَاتٍ
بَقَاءَكَyour continued life مَاas long as حَدَاchants onward الأَظْعَانَthe caravans حَادِa camel-driver
بَقَاءَكَ مَا حَدَا الأَظْعَانَ حَادِ
So may the nights never cease to guarantee
your life, as long as a driver sings the caravans onward.
ثَنائِيmy praise لاَnot يُكَدِّرُهُclouds it عِتَابيmy reproach
ثَنائِي لاَ يُكَدِّرُهُ عِتَابي
وَقَوْلِيand my speech لاَnot يَخَالِفُهُcontradicts it اعْتِقَادِيmy belief
وَقَوْلِي لاَ يَخَالِفُهُ اعْتِقَادِي
My praise is not clouded by my reproach,
and my belief does not contradict my words.
Sol 6.1