أَتُرىdo you think? الْهِلالَthe crescent أَنَارَlit up ضَوْءَthe radiance of جَبِينِهِhis brow
أَتُرى الْهِلالَ أَنَارَ ضَوْءَ جَبِينِهِ
حَتّىuntil أَبانَrevealed اللَّيْلُthe night عَنْabout مَكْنُونِهِits concealed contents
حَتّى أَبانَ اللَّيْلُ عَنْ مَكْنُونِهِ
Do you think the crescent lit the radiance of his brow,
Until the night revealed what it had concealed?
شَفَّgrew transparent الحِجابُthe veil بِنُورِهِwith his light حَتّىuntil رَأَىsaw
شَفَّ الحِجابُ بِنُورِهِ حَتّى رَأَى
مُتَأَمِّلُan attentive observer ماwhat خَلْفَهُbehind it مِنْfrom دُونِهِoutside it
مُتَأَمِّلُ ما خَلْفَهُ مِنْ دُونِهِ
The veil grew transparent in his light, until he saw—
The attentive observer—what lay behind it, from outside it.
أَوَand? ماnot رَأَيْتَyou have seen الْمُلْكَkingship تَمَّbecame complete بَهاؤُهُits splendor
أَوَ ما رَأَيْتَ الْمُلْكَ تَمَّ بَهاؤُهُ
بِضِياءِby the radiance of كَوْكَبِthe star of شَمْسِهِits sun ابْنِthe son of أَمِينِهِits Amin (trusted one)
بِضِياءِ كَوْكَبِ شَمْسِهِ ابْنِ أَمِينِهِ
And have you not seen kingship's splendor made complete
By the light of its sun's star, the son of its Amin?
نُضِيَwas unsheathed الْحُسامُthe sword فَدَلَّand showed رَوْنَقُthe gleam of صَفْحِهِits flat
نُضِيَ الْحُسامُ فَدَلَّ رَوْنَقُ صَفْحِهِ
وَظُباهُand its cutting edges أَنَّthat الْمَجْدَglory بُعْضُone of قُيُونِهِits smiths
وَظُباهُ أَنَّ الْمَجْدَ بُعْضُ قُيُونِهِ
The sword was drawn; the gleam of its flat revealed—
And its edges too—that glory was one of its smiths.
ياah حَبَّذاhow lovely الثَّمَرُthe fruit الْجَنِيُّripe بِدَوْحَةٍon a spreading tree الْthe
يا حَبَّذا الثَّمَرُ الْجَنِيُّ بِدَوْحَةٍ الْ
حَسَبِlineage الزَّكِيِّpure وَناعِماتِand tender غُصُونِهِits branches
حَسَبِ الزَّكِيِّ وَناعِماتِ غُصُونِهِ
Ah, how lovely the ripe fruit on the spreading tree of
Pure lineage, and on its tender branches!
ماwhat عُذْرُهُits excuse أَلاّnot to يَطِيبَbe pleasant مَذاقُهُits taste
ما عُذْرُهُ أَلاّ يَطِيبَ مَذاقُهُ
طِيبَthe savor of السُّلافِchoice wine وَأَنْتَand you مِنْfrom زَرَجُونِهِits grapevine
طِيبَ السُّلافِ وَأَنْتَ مِنْ زَرَجُونِهِ
What excuse has it for not tasting
As fine as choice wine, when you are of its vine?
اَلْيَوْمَtoday مَدَّstretched إلىtoward الْمَطالِبِaspirations باعَهُhis arm's reach
اَلْيَوْمَ مَدَّ إلى الْمَطالِبِ باعَهُ
مَنْone who لَمْnot تَكُنْhad خَطَرتْoccurred بِلَيْلِin the night of ظُنُونِهِhis imaginings
مَنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ خَطَرتْ بِلَيْلِ ظُنُونِهِ
Today he stretched his arm toward aspirations—
He whose night of imaginings they had never crossed.
حَلَّloosened الرِّجاءُhope وَثاقَthe bonds of كُلِّevery مَسَرَّةٍjoy
حَلَّ الرِّجاءُ وَثاقَ كُلِّ مَسَرَّةٍ
كانَتْhad been أَسِيرَةَcaptive to هَمِّهِhis worry وَشُجُونِهِand his sorrows
كانَتْ أَسِيرَةَ هَمِّهِ وَشُجُونِهِ
Hope loosened the bonds of every joy
That had been captive to his worry and his sorrows.
قَدْindeed كَانَhad رَجَّمَhazarded ظَنَّهُits conjecture فِيكَabout you النَّدىgenerosity
قَدْ كَانَ رَجَّمَ ظَنَّهُ فِيكَ النَّدى
فَجَلاso dispelled ظَلامَthe darkness of الشَّكِّdoubt صُبْحُthe dawn of يَقِينِهِits certainty
فَجَلا ظَلامَ الشَّكِّ صُبْحُ يَقِينِهِ
Generosity had hazarded its guess about you;
Then the dawn of its certainty dispelled doubt's darkness.
أَطْلَعْتَyou made rise بَدْراًa full moon فِيin سَماءِthe sky of مَمالِكٍkingdoms
أَطْلَعْتَ بَدْراً فِي سَماءِ مَمالِكٍ
سَهِرَkept vigil الْجَمالُbeauty وَنامَand slept فِيin تَلْوِينِهِits coloring
سَهِرَ الْجَمالُ وَنامَ فِي تَلْوِينِهِ
You made a full moon rise in the sky of kingdoms;
Beauty kept vigil and slept in its coloring.
عَلِقَتْclung يَدُthe hand of الآمالِhopes يَوْمَthe day of وِلادِهِhis birth
عَلِقَتْ يَدُ الآمالِ يَوْمَ وِلادِهِ
بِمَرِيرِto the tightly twisted حَبْلِrope of الْمَكْرُماتِnoble deeds مَتِينِهِits sturdy strand
بِمَرِيرِ حَبْلِ الْمَكْرُماتِ مَتِينِهِ
The hand of hopes, on the day of his birth, clung
To the tightly twisted, sturdy rope of noble deeds—
بِأَجَلِّto the most illustrious مَوْلُودٍnewborn لأَكْرَمِto the most generous والِدٍfather
بِأَجَلِّ مَوْلُودٍ لأَكْرَمِ والِدٍ
سَمْجٍuncomely مُبارَكِblessed مَوْلِدٍbirth مَيْمُونِهِauspicious in it
سَمْجٍ مُبارَكِ مَوْلِدٍ مَيْمُونِهِ
To the most illustrious newborn of the most generous father,
Uncomely, of blessed and auspicious birth,
صَلْتِsmooth الْجَبِينِthe brow كَأَنَّas though دُرَّةَthe pearl of تاجِهِhis crown
صَلْتِ الْجَبِينِ كَأَنَّ دُرَّةَ تاجِهِ
جَعَلَتْbegan تَرَقْرَقُto shimmer فِيin مَكانِthe place of غُضُونِهِhis creases
جَعَلَتْ تَرَقْرَقُ فِي مَكانِ غُضُونِهِ
Smooth-browed, as though the pearl of his crown
Began shimmering in place of his brow's creases.
رَبِّrear الْجِيادَthe steeds لِرَبِّهاfor their master يَوْمَthe day of الْوغَىbattle
رَبِّ الْجِيادَ لِرَبِّها يَوْمَ الْوغَى
وَصُنِand preserve الْحُسامَthe sword لِخِلِّهِfor its intimate friend وَخَدِينِهِand its companion
وَصُنِ الْحُسامَ لِخِلِّهِ وَخَدِينِهِ
Rear the steeds for their master on the day of battle,
And preserve the sword for its intimate friend and companion.
قَدْindeed باتَspent the night يَشْتاقُyearns for الْعِنانُthe reins شِمالَهُhis left hand
قَدْ باتَ يَشْتاقُ الْعِنانُ شِمالَهُ
شَوْقَthe longing of الْيَراعِthe reed pen إِلىfor بَنانِthe fingers of يَمِينِهِhis right hand
شَوْقَ الْيَراعِ إِلى بَنانِ يَمِينِهِ
The reins have spent the night yearning for his left hand,
As the reed pen longs for the fingers of his right.
وَاعْقِدْand bind لَهُfor him التّاجَthe crown الْمُنِيفlofty فإِنَّماfor indeed
وَاعْقِدْ لَهُ التّاجَ الْمُنِيف فإِنَّما
فَخْرُthe pride of الْمَفاخِرِglories عَقْدُهاbinding them لِجَبِينِهِto his brow
فَخْرُ الْمَفاخِرِ عَقْدُها لِجَبِينِهِ
And bind the lofty crown upon him, for
All glories take pride in being bound to his brow.
لَغَدَوْتَindeed, you have become تَقْتادُyou lead الْمُنىdesires بِزمامِهاby their reins
لَغَدَوْتَ تَقْتادُ الْمُنى بِزمامِها
وَتَرُوضُand you tame سَهْلَeasy النِّيْلِto attain غَيْرِnot حَرَونِهِits stubborn one
وَتَرُوضُ سَهْلَ النِّيْلِ غَيْرِ حَرَونِهِ
Indeed, you now lead desires by their reins,
And tame what is easily won, not what balks,
بِالْعَزْمِthrough resolve إِذْwhen يُنْطِيكَit gives you عَفْوَthe unasked gift of نَجاحِهِits success
بِالْعَزْمِ إِذْ يُنْطِيكَ عَفْوَ نَجاحِهِ
والْحَزْمَand prudence إِذْwhen يُمْطِيكَit mounts you on ظَهْرَthe back of أَمُونِهِits trusty camel
والْحَزْمَ إِذْ يُمْطِيكَ ظَهْرَ أَمُونِهِ
Through resolve, when it freely grants you its success,
And prudence, when it sets you on its trusty camel's back.
فَالْيَوْمَso today هَزَّshook الْمَجْدُglory مِنْsome of أَعْطافِهِits flanks
فَالْيَوْمَ هَزَّ الْمَجْدُ مِنْ أَعْطافِهِ
تِيهاًin pride وَباحَand revealed مِنَout of الْهَوىlove بِمصُونِهِits guarded secret
تِيهاً وَباحَ مِنَ الْهَوى بِمصُونِهِ
So today glory shook its flanks
In pride, and out of love disclosed its guarded secret.
وَالآنَand now ذُدْتَyou warded off عَنِfrom الْعُلىeminence وَذَبَيْتَand you repelled عَنْfrom
وَالآنَ ذُدْتَ عَنِ الْعُلى وَذَبَيْتَ عَنْ
مَجْدٍglory يَعْدُّكَcounts you مِنْamong أَعَزِّthe strongest of حُصُونِهِits fortresses
مَجْدٍ يَعْدُّكَ مِنْ أَعَزِّ حُصُونِهِ
And now you have defended eminence and shielded
A glory that counts you among its strongest fortresses.
وَاللَّيْثُand the lion ذُوhaving الأَشْبالِcubs أَصْدَقُsurer مَنْعَةًin protection
وَاللَّيْثُ ذُو الأَشْبالِ أَصْدَقُ مَنْعَةً
لِفَرِيسَةٍfor prey وَحِمايَةًand protection لِعَرِينِهِfor his lair
لِفَرِيسَةٍ وَحِمايَةً لِعَرِينِهِ
And the lion with cubs is more steadfast in guarding
His prey and in protecting his lair.
وَالآنَand now إذْwhen نَشَأَrose الْغَمامُthe clouds وَصَرَّحَتْand became manifest
وَالآنَ إذْ نَشَأَ الْغَمامُ وَصَرَّحَتْ
نَفَحاتُthe breaths of جَوْنِيِّthe dark الرَّبابrain-clouds هَتُونِهِits pouring cloud
نَفَحاتُ جَوْنِيِّ الرَّباب هَتُونِهِ
And now, as clouds rise and there emerge
The breaths of dark, pouring rain-clouds,
فَلْيَعْلَمِso let know الْغَيْثُthe rain الْمُجَلْجِلُresounding رَعْدُهُits thunder
فَلْيَعْلَمِ الْغَيْثُ الْمُجَلْجِلُ رَعْدُهُ
أَنَّthat السَّماحَgenerosity مُعِينُهُits helper بِمَعِينِهِwith its flowing water
أَنَّ السَّماحَ مُعِينُهُ بِمَعِينِهِ
Let the rain, whose thunder resounds, know
That generosity helps it with its flowing waters.
وَلْيَأْخُذِand let take الْجَدُّfortune الْعَلِيُّlofty مَكانَهُits place
وَلْيَأْخُذِ الْجَدُّ الْعَلِيُّ مَكانَهُ
مِنْfrom أُفْقِthe horizon of مَحْرُوسِguarded الْعَلاءِeminence مَكِينِهِits secure part
مِنْ أُفْقِ مَحْرُوسِ الْعَلاءِ مَكِينِهِ
And let lofty fortune take its place
In the secure horizon of one whose eminence is guarded.
وَلْيَضْرِبِand let pitch الْغزُّthe Ghuzz الْمَنيعُunassailable رُواقَهُtheir pavilion
وَلْيَضْرِبِ الْغزُّ الْمَنيعُ رُواقَهُ
بِجنَابِin the precinct of مَمْنُوعِprotected الْجَنابِthe precinct حَصِينِهِits fortified part
بِجنَابِ مَمْنُوعِ الْجَنابِ حَصِينِهِ
And let the unassailable Ghuzz pitch their pavilion
In the fortified precinct of one whose domain is defended.
وَلْتَبْتَنِand let build الْعَلْياءُeminence شُمَّlofty قِبابِهاits domes
وَلْتَبْتَنِ الْعَلْياءُ شُمَّ قِبابِها
بِذُرىon the summits of رُباهُhis hills أَوْor سُفُوحِthe slopes of مُتُونِهِhis ridges
بِذُرى رُباهُ أَوْ سُفُوحِ مُتُونِهِ
And let eminence build its towering domes
On the summits of his hills or the slopes of his ridges.
وَلْيَحْظَand let enjoy good fortune رَبْعُthe abode of الْمَكْرُماتِnoble deeds بِأَنْthat غَداit has become
وَلْيَحْظَ رَبْعُ الْمَكْرُماتِ بِأَنْ غَدا
شَرِقَoverflowing in الْمَنازِلَthe dwellings آهِلاًinhabited بِقَطِينِهِby its residents
شَرِقَ الْمَنازِلَ آهِلاً بِقَطِينِهِ
And let the abode of noble deeds rejoice that it has become
Overflowing in its dwellings, peopled by its residents.
وَلْتَخْلَعِand let cast off الأَفْكارُthoughts عُذْرَthe excuse for جَماحِهاtheir unruliness
وَلْتَخْلَعِ الأَفْكارُ عُذْرَ جَماحِها
بِنَظامِby stringing أَبْكارِthe virgins of الْقَرِيضِverse وَعُونِهِand its matrons
بِنَظامِ أَبْكارِ الْقَرِيضِ وَعُونِهِ
And let thoughts cast off the excuse for their unruliness
By stringing verse's virgins and its matrons.
سِرْبٌa herd مِنَof الْحَمْدِpraise الْجَزِيلِabundant غَدَوْتُمُyou all have become
سِرْبٌ مِنَ الْحَمْدِ الْجَزِيلِ غَدَوْتُمُ
مَرْعىa pasture for عَقائِلِهِits prized does وَمَوْرِدَand a watering place for عِينِهِits wide-eyed does
مَرْعى عَقائِلِهِ وَمَوْرِدَ عِينِهِ
A herd of abundant praise—you have become
The pasture of its prized does and the watering place of its wide-eyed ones.
كَمْhow many مِنْبَرٍa pulpit شَوْقاًin longing إِلَيْهِfor him قَدِindeed انْحَنَتْbent
كَمْ مِنْبَرٍ شَوْقاً إِلَيْهِ قَدِ انْحَنَتْ
أَعْوادُهُits timbers مِنْfrom وَجْدِهِits passion وَحَنِينِهِand its longing
أَعْوادُهُ مِنْ وَجْدِهِ وَحَنِينِهِ
How many a pulpit, yearning for him, has bent
Its timbers from its ardor and longing!
وَمُطَهَّمٍand a splendid steed قَدْindeed وَدَّwished أَنَّthat سَراتَهُits back
وَمُطَهَّمٍ قَدْ وَدَّ أَنَّ سَراتَهُ
مَهْدٌa cradle لَهُfor him فِيin سَيْرِهِhis travel وَقُطُونِهِand his stays
مَهْدٌ لَهُ فِي سَيْرِهِ وَقُطُونِهِ
And a splendid steed has wished that its back
Were a cradle for him, in his journeys and his stays;
وَمُخَزَّمٍand a nose-ringed camel ناجَتْwhispered to ضَمائِرُهُits inner thoughts الْمُنىwishes
وَمُخَزَّمٍ ناجَتْ ضَمائِرُهُ الْمُنى
طَمَعاًin hope بِقَطْعِof crossing سُهُولِهِhis plains وَحُزُونِهِand his rugged ground
طَمَعاً بِقَطْعِ سُهُولِهِ وَحُزُونِهِ
And a nose-ringed camel, whose thoughts have whispered to wishes,
Hoping to cross his plains and his rugged ground;
وَمُهَنَّدٍand an Indian-forged sword قَدْindeed وامَرتْهُconferred with it شِفارُهُits cutting edges
وَمُهَنَّدٍ قَدْ وامَرتْهُ شِفارُهُ
بِطُلىabout the necks of الْعَدُوِّthe enemy أَمامَهُbefore him وَشُؤُونِهِand their skull-seams
بِطُلى الْعَدُوِّ أَمامَهُ وَشُؤُونِهِ
And an Indian-forged sword, whose edges have conferred with it
About the enemy's necks before him, and their skull-seams;
وَمُثَقَّفٍand a straightened spear قَدْalready كَانَwas قَبْلَbefore طِعانِهِits thrusting
وَمُثَقَّفٍ قَدْ كَانَ قَبْلَ طِعانِهِ
تَنْدَقُّwere shattering أَكْعُبُهُits joints بِصَدْرِagainst the breast of طَعِينِهِits pierced victim
تَنْدَقُّ أَكْعُبُهُ بِصَدْرِ طَعِينِهِ
And a straightened spear, even before it struck—
Its joints were shattering against its victim's breast.
وَكَأَنَّand as though عَبْدَservant of اللهِGod عَبْدُservant of اللهِGod فِيin
وَكَأَنَّ عَبْدَ اللهِ عَبْدُ اللهِ فِي
حَرَكاتِthe movements of هِمَّتِهِhis resolve وَفَضْلِand the excellence of سُكُونِهِhis repose
حَرَكاتِ هِمَّتِهِ وَفَضْلِ سُكُونِهِ
And it is as though Abd Allah were Abd Allah in
The movements of his resolve and the excellence of his repose.
لَمْnot تَرْضَyou were content أَنْthat كُنْتَyou were الْكَفِيلَthe guardian بشَخْصِهِfor his person
لَمْ تَرْضَ أَنْ كُنْتَ الْكَفِيلَ بشَخْصِهِ
حَتّىuntil شَفَعْتَyou paired كَفِيلَهُhis guardian بِضَمِينِهِwith his guarantor
حَتّى شَفَعْتَ كَفِيلَهُ بِضَمِينِهِ
You were not content to be the guardian of his person,
Until you paired his guardian with his guarantor.
نَشَرَrevived الأَمِينَal-Amin (the trusted one) وِلادُهُhis birth فَجَنَيْتَهُso you plucked him
نَشَرَ الأَمِينَ وِلادُهُ فَجَنَيْتَهُ
منْfrom غَرْسِهِhis planting وَجَبَلْتَهُand you molded him مِنْfrom طِينِهِhis clay
منْ غَرْسِهِ وَجَبَلْتَهُ مِنْ طِينِهِ
His birth revived al-Amin; so you plucked him
From his planting, and molded him from his clay.
ذاكَthat one الَّذِيwho لُوْif خَلَّدَmade immortal اللهُGod النَّدىgenerosity
ذاكَ الَّذِي لُوْ خَلَّدَ اللهُ النَّدى
وَالْبَأْسَand valor ماnot مُنِياthey both were afflicted بِيُوْمِby the day of مَنُونِهِhis death
وَالْبَأْسَ ما مُنِيا بِيُوْمِ مَنُونِهِ
That is the one who, had God made generosity immortal
And valor, they would not have suffered the day of his death.
وَإِذاand when أَرَدْتُI wish لِقَبْرِهِfor his grave أَزْكىthe most blessed حَياًrain
وَإِذا أَرَدْتُ لِقَبْرِهِ أَزْكى حَياً
يُرْوِيهِto water it قُلْتُI say سَقاهُmay it water it فَضْلُthe bounty of دَفِينِهِthe one buried in it
يُرْوِيهِ قُلْتُ سَقاهُ فَضْلُ دَفِينِهِ
And when I wish the most blessed rain upon his grave
To water it, I say: may the bounty of the man buried there water it.
أَمّاas for الْهَناءُcongratulations فَلِلزَّمانِthey are for the age وَأَهْلِهِand its people
أَمّا الْهَناءُ فَلِلزَّمانِ وَأَهْلِهِ
كُلٌّeveryone يَدِينُadheres مِنَof الزَّمانِthe age بِدِينِهِto its creed
كُلٌّ يَدِينُ مِنَ الزَّمانِ بِدِينِهِ
As for congratulations, they belong to the age and its people;
Everyone in the age adheres to its creed.
كَالْغَيْثِlike rain جادَpoured generously فَعَمَّand so covered أَرْضَthe land of شَرِيفِهِits noble folk
كَالْغَيْثِ جادَ فَعَمَّ أَرْضَ شَرِيفِهِ
وَدَنِيِّهِand its lowly وَصَرِيحِهِand its pure-born وَهَجِينِهِand its mixed-born
وَدَنِيِّهِ وَصَرِيحِهِ وَهَجِينِهِ
Like rain that gave freely, covering the land of its noble folk
And its lowly, its pure-born and its mixed-born.
لكِنّbut أَهْلَthe people of الْفَضْلِexcellence أَوْلاهُمْthe most entitled of them بِهِto it
لكِنّ أَهْلَ الْفَضْلِ أَوْلاهُمْ بِهِ
مَنْwho ذاis it أحَقُّmore entitled مِنَthan الصَّفاal-Safa بِحَجُونِهِto its Hajun
مَنْ ذا أحَقُّ مِنَ الصَّفا بِحَجُونِهِ
But people of excellence are the most entitled to it;
Who is more entitled than al-Safa to its Hajun?
عِيدٌa feast-day وَمَوْلُودٌand a newborn كَأَنَّas though بَهاءَهُhis splendor
عِيدٌ وَمَوْلُودٌ كَأَنَّ بَهاءَهُ
زَهْرُthe blossoms of الرَّبِيعِspring وَمُعْجِباتُand the wonders of فُنُونِهِits varied forms
زَهْرُ الرَّبِيعِ وَمُعْجِباتُ فُنُونِهِ
A feast-day and a newborn, as though his splendor were
Spring's blossoms and the wonders of its varied forms.
فَتَمَلَّهُso enjoy him عُمْرَthe lifespan of الزَّمانِtime مُمَتَّعاًgranted enjoyment
فَتَمَلَّهُ عُمْرَ الزَّمانِ مُمَتَّعاً
بِفَتىwith the youth of الْعُلىeminence وَأَخِيand the brother of النَّدىgenerosity وَقَرِينِهِand its companion
بِفَتى الْعُلى وَأَخِي النَّدى وَقَرِينِهِ
So enjoy him as long as time endures, blessed
With the youth of eminence, generosity's brother and companion.
Sol 6.1