إِذاif عَزَّovercomes نَفْسِيmy soul عَنْfrom هَواكَloving you قُصُورُهاits holding back
إِذا عَزَّ نَفْسِي عَنْ هَواكَ قُصُورُها
فَمِثْلُthen the like of النَّوىseparation يَقْضِيbrings death عَلَيَّupon me يَسِيرُهاits slightest amount
فَمِثْلُ النَّوى يَقْضِي عَلَيَّ يَسِيرُها
If holding back from loving you defeats my soul,
When my soul is too weak to reach your love,
Then the slightest separation of that kind will kill me.
It is easy for destiny to subdue it.
وَهَلْand has غادَرَleft الهِجْرانُestrangement إِلاّanything but حُشاشَةًa last remnant of life
وَهَلْ غادَرَ الهِجْرانُ إِلاّ حُشاشَةً
لِنَفْسٍof a soul بأَدْنىwith the slightest لَوْعَةٍanguish يَسْتَطِيرُهاsnatches it away
لِنَفْسٍ بأَدْنى لَوْعَةٍ يَسْتَطِيرُها
Has estrangement left anything but a last remnant of life
Does separation leave anything but desolation
In a soul it snatches away with the slightest pang?
For a soul made uneasy by the slightest distress?
هَوىًlove وَنَوىًand separation يُسْتَقْبَحُis deemed ugly الصَّبْرُpatience فِيهِماin them both
هَوىً وَنَوىً يُسْتَقْبَحُ الصَّبْرُ فِيهِما
وَحَسْبُكَand enough for you مِنْof حالٍa plight يُذَمُّis reproached صَبُورُهاits patient sufferer
وَحَسْبُكَ مِنْ حالٍ يُذَمُّ صَبُورُها
Love and separation—patience in either is deemed ugly;
Passion and destiny - patience is despised in both.
What a plight, when its patient sufferer is reproached!
Suffice it that a state that angers the patient exists.
وَقَدْand indeed كُنْتُI had been أَرْجُوhoping أَنْthat تَماسَكَwould hold together مُهْجَتِيmy heart
وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ تَماسَكَ مُهْجَتِي
وَأَنَّكَand that you مِنْfrom جَوْرِthe tyranny of الْفِراقِseparation مُجِيرُهاare its protector
وَأَنَّكَ مِنْ جَوْرِ الْفِراقِ مُجِيرُها
And I had hoped my heart would hold together,
I had hoped that my love would be steadfast
And that you would shelter it from separation's tyranny.
And that you would protect it from the tyranny of separation.
فَماso not كانَwas إِلاَّanything but غِرَّةًheedless delusion ماwhat رَجَوْتُهُI hoped for it
فَما كانَ إِلاَّ غِرَّةً ما رَجَوْتُهُ
أَلاtake heed شَرُّthe worst of ماwhat أَرْدىdestroyed النُّفُوسَsouls غُرُورُهاtheir self-deception
أَلا شَرُّ ما أَرْدى النُّفُوسَ غُرُورُها
But what I hoped for was nothing but heedless delusion;
But it was only an illusion, what I hoped for.
Indeed, the worst destroyer of souls is their self-deception.
Beware, the worst that ruins souls is delusion.
وإِنِّيand indeed I لَرَهْنُam surely a captive of الشَّوْقِlonging وَالشَّمْلُwhile the company جامِعٌis united
وإِنِّي لَرَهْنُ الشَّوْقِ وَالشَّمْلُ جامِعٌ
فَكَيْفَthen how إِذاwhen حَثَّspurs on الْحُداةَthe camel-drivers مَسِيرُهاtheir departure
فَكَيْفَ إِذا حَثَّ الْحُداةَ مَسِيرُها
And I am indeed longing's captive while we are still united;
I am bound by passion while unity brings me together.
Then how will I fare when their departure spurs the camel-drivers on?
So how can I leave when the departure time comes?
وَماand not زِلْتُhave I ceased مِنْfrom أَسْرِthe bondage of الْقَطِيعَةِestrangement باكِياًweeping
وَما زِلْتُ مِنْ أَسْرِ الْقَطِيعَةِ باكِياً
فَمَنْthen who لِيis there for me غَداةَon the morning of الْبَيْنِparting أَنِّيwhen I أَسِيرُهاam its captive
فَمَنْ لِي غَداةَ الْبَيْنِ أَنِّي أَسِيرُها
I have never ceased weeping under estrangement's bondage;
I have not stopped crying since the captivity of estrangement.
Who will help me on parting's morning, when I am its captive?
Who will be there for me on the morn after separation once I am captive?
وَكُنْتُand I had been أَرىthinking أَنَّthat الصُّدودَturning away مَنِيَّةٌwas death
وَكُنْتُ أَرى أَنَّ الصُّدودَ مَنِيَّةٌ
يَكُونُwould be مَعَwith اللَّيْلِthe night التَّمامِat its longest حُضُورُهاits arrival
يَكُونُ مَعَ اللَّيْلِ التَّمامِ حُضُورُها
I used to think your turning away was a death
I thought the rejection was temporary
Whose arrival came with the night at its longest.
And that its perfection would come with the night.
فَلَمّاbut when قضَىdecreed التَّفْرِيقُseparation بِالْبُعْدِdistance بَيْنَناbetween us
فَلَمّا قضَى التَّفْرِيقُ بِالْبُعْدِ بَيْنَنا
وَجَدْتُI found اللَّيالِيthe nights كَانَhad been حُلْواًsweet مَرِيرُهاtheir bitterness
وَجَدْتُ اللَّيالِي كَانَ حُلْواً مَرِيرُها
But when separation decreed distance between us,
But when separation by distance decreed between us,
I found that those nights—even their bitterness—had been sweet.
I found the nights to be bittersweet.
أَعُدُّI count سُرُورِيmy joy أَنْto أَراكَsee you بِغِبْطَةٍin happiness
أَعُدُّ سُرُورِي أَنْ أَراكَ بِغِبْطَةٍ
وَأَنْفَسُand most precious ماwhat يُهْدِيgives لِنَفْسٍto a soul سُرُورُهاits joy
وَأَنْفَسُ ما يُهْدِي لِنَفْسٍ سُرُورُها
I count it my joy to see you in happiness,
I count it my joy to see you delighted
And the dearest gift bestowed on a soul is its joy.
And the most blissful thing for a soul is its joy.
كَفىit is enough حَزَناًas sorrow أَنِّيthat I أَبِيتُspend the night مُعَذَّباًtormented
كَفى حَزَناً أَنِّي أَبِيتُ مُعَذَّباً
بِنارِby the fire of هُمُومٍcares لَيْسَdoes not يَخْبُوdie down سَعِيرُهاtheir blaze
بِنارِ هُمُومٍ لَيْسَ يَخْبُو سَعِيرُها
It is sorrow enough that I spend the night tormented
It is enough of sorrow that I spend my nights tortured
By a fire of cares whose blaze never dies down,
By fires of worries whose blaze does not diminish.
وَأَنَّand that عَدُوِّيmy enemy لاnot يُراعُis alarmed وَأَنَّنِيand that I
وَأَنَّ عَدُوِّي لا يُراعُ وَأَنَّنِي
أَبِيتُI spend the night سَخِينَhot with grief الْعَيْنِof eye وَهْوَwhile he قَرِيرُهاis cool and content in it
أَبِيتُ سَخِينَ الْعَيْنِ وَهْوَ قَرِيرُها
And that my enemy suffers no alarm, while I
That while my enemy does not care, I spend my nights
Spend the night hot-eyed with grief, while his eye is cool and content.
Burning with passion while he is cold.
تَعافُrecoil from النُّفُوسَsouls الْمُرَّbitterness مِنْin وِرْدِthe draught of عَيْشِهاtheir life
تَعافُ النُّفُوسَ الْمُرَّ مِنْ وِرْدِ عَيْشِها
وَتَكْرَهُand loathe حَتّىuntil يَسْتَمِرَّtakes lasting hold مَرِيرُهاtheir bitterness
وَتَكْرَهُ حَتّى يَسْتَمِرَّ مَرِيرُها
Souls recoil from bitterness in the draught of their lives,
Souls detest the frequent bitterness of their lives
And loathe it until its bitterness takes lasting hold.
And abhor it even if it becomes chronic.
وَلاand no والْقَوافِيby the rhymes السّائِراتِfar-traveling إِذاwhen غَلَتْrise in value
وَلا والْقَوافِي السّائِراتِ إِذا غَلَتْ
بِحُكْمِby the decree of النَّدىgenerosity عِنْدَamong الْكِرامِthe noble مُهُورُهاtheir bride-prices
بِحُكْمِ النَّدى عِنْدَ الْكِرامِ مُهُورُها
No—by the far-traveling rhymes, when they fetch high
By the concurring rhymes, when passions rise
Bride-prices among the noble, by generosity's decree:
High with the judgment of reproach among the generous, their bridled horses shy.
لَئِنْif indeed أَناI لَمْnot يَمْنَعْprotects حِمايَmy sanctuary انْتِصارُهاtheir championing
لَئِنْ أَنا لَمْ يَمْنَعْ حِمايَ انْتِصارُها
وَيَثْنِيand turns away أَذىthe harm of الْعادِينَthe aggressors عَنِّيfrom me نَكِيرُهاtheir denunciation
وَيَثْنِي أَذى الْعادِينَ عَنِّي نَكِيرُها
If their championing me does not defend my sanctuary,
If I - may his protection defend me
And their denunciation turn the aggressors' harm away from me,
And diminish the harm of enemies reviling me -
فَلاthen may not ظَلَّremain by day يُوْماًone day مُصْحِباًa companion لِيto me أَبِيُّهاtheir defiant ones
فَلا ظَلَّ يُوْماً مُصْحِباً لِي أَبِيُّها
وَلاnor باتَmay spend لَيْلاًa night آنِساًat ease بِيwith me نَفُورُهاtheir elusive ones
وَلا باتَ لَيْلاً آنِساً بِي نَفُورُها
Then may their defiant ones never accompany me for a day,
Did not live a day happily shaded
Nor their elusive ones spend a night at ease with me.
Or spend a night pleasantly intimate.
قَطَعْتُI passed through صُدُورَthe beginnings of الْعُمْرِlife لَمْnot أَدْرِdid I know لَذَّةًpleasure
قَطَعْتُ صُدُورَ الْعُمْرِ لَمْ أَدْرِ لَذَّةً
وَغَفْلَةَand the heedlessness of عَيْشٍliving كَيْفَhow كَانَwas مُرُورُهاits passing
وَغَفْلَةَ عَيْشٍ كَيْفَ كَانَ مُرُورُها
I passed through life's early years without knowing pleasure,
I severed lifetimes without knowing pleasure
Or how the heedless ease of living passed me by.
Or the heedlessness of life, however it passed.
وَلَمّاand when رَمانِيstruck me الدَّهْرُTime عُذْتُI sought refuge بِدَوْلَةٍin a realm
وَلَمّا رَمانِي الدَّهْرُ عُذْتُ بِدَوْلَةٍ
جَلاdispelled الْحادِثاتِthe calamities الْفادِحاتِcrushing مُنِيرُهاits luminary
جَلا الْحادِثاتِ الْفادِحاتِ مُنِيرُها
And when Time struck me, I sought refuge in a realm
And when fate cast me aside, I sought refuge in a state
Whose luminary dispelled the crushing calamities.
Whose shining leader makes calamities recoil.
وَكَيْفَand how يَخافُcould fear الدَّهْرُTime رَبُّa master of مَحامِدٍpraiseworthy deeds
وَكَيْفَ يَخافُ الدَّهْرُ رَبُّ مَحامِدٍ
غَداbecame كَرَمُthe generosity of الْمَنْصُورِal-Mansur وَهْوَwhile it نَصِيرُهاwas their champion
غَدا كَرَمُ الْمَنْصُورِ وَهْوَ نَصِيرُها
How could a master of praiseworthy deeds fear Time,
How can the days fear fate when the Lord of praise
When al-Mansur's generosity has become their champion?
Tomorrow, the Victorious' generosity is its aid?
إِلىto عَضُدِAdud (support) الْمُلْكِal-Mulk (the kingdom) امْتطَيْتُI mounted غَرائِباًrare wonders
إِلى عَضُدِ الْمُلْكِ امْتطَيْتُ غَرائِباً
مُحَرَّمَةٌforbidden إِلاّexcept عَلّيto me ظُهُورُهاtheir backs
مُحَرَّمَةٌ إِلاّ عَلّي ظُهُورُها
To Adud al-Mulk I mounted rare wonders
I mounted wonders through the arm of the kingdom
Whose backs none but I may mount;
Forbidden to all but me is scaling them.
ِإلىto مَلِكٍa king تَعْنُوbow الْمُلُوكُkings لِبَأْسِهِto his might
ِإلى مَلِكٍ تَعْنُو الْمُلُوكُ لِبَأْسِهِ
ويَقْصُرُand falls short يَوْمَon the day of الْفَخْرِboasting عَنْهُof him فَخُورُهاtheir boastful one
ويَقْصُرُ يَوْمَ الْفَخْرِ عَنْهُ فَخُورُها
To a king before whose might other kings bow,
To a king whose severity makes kings revere
And whose boastful peers fall short of him on the day of pride:
And pride's day falls short of his superiority.
أَعَمُّهُمُthe most encompassing of them غَيْثاًin rain إِذاwhen بَخِلَwithholds الْحيَاthe rain
أَعَمُّهُمُ غَيْثاً إِذا بَخِلَ الْحيَا
وَأَطْعَنُهُمْand their fiercest spearman وَالْخَيْلُwhile the horses تُدْمىare bloodied نُحُورُهاtheir throats
وَأَطْعَنُهُمْ وَالْخَيْلُ تُدْمى نُحُورُها
The most lavish of them in rain when the rain grows miserly,
The most generous with rain when the living withhold it
And their fiercest spearman when the horses' throats are bloodied.
And the most willing when steeds are bloodied in battle.
إِلىto حَيْثُwhere تَلْقىyou find الْجُودَgenerosity هَيْناًeasy مَرامُهُits attainment
إِلى حَيْثُ تَلْقى الْجُودَ هَيْناً مَرامُهُ
لِباغِيهِfor its seeker وَالْحاجاتِand needs سَهْلاًeasy عَسِيرُهاtheir difficult ones
لِباغِيهِ وَالْحاجاتِ سَهْلاً عَسِيرُها
To where you find generosity easy to attain
Where benevolence easily meets his pursuits
For its seeker, and even difficult needs easily met,
And needs find mild his harshness.
لَدىbefore مَلِكٍa king ماnot انْفَكَّhas ceased مِنْfrom مَكْرُماتِهِhis generous deeds
لَدى مَلِكٍ ما انْفَكَّ مِنْ مَكْرُماتِهِ
مَوارِدُwater-sources يَصْفُوruns clear عَذْبُهاtheir sweet water وَنَمِيرُهاand their wholesome water
مَوارِدُ يَصْفُو عَذْبُها وَنَمِيرُها
Before a king whose generous deeds have never ceased to yield
With a king whose virtues never cease flowing
Water-sources whose sweet, wholesome waters run clear.
Whose fresh springs pour clear and murmuring streams.
يَزِيدُincreases عَلَىdespite غُوْلِthe ravages of الطُّرُوقِnight visits صَفاؤُهاtheir clarity
يَزِيدُ عَلَى غُوْلِ الطُّرُوقِ صَفاؤُها
وَيَنْمِيand grows عَلَىdespite طُولِthe length of الْوُرُودِdrawing water غَزِيرُهاtheir abundant flow
وَيَنْمِي عَلَى طُولِ الْوُرُودِ غَزِيرُها
Their clarity grows despite the ravages of night visits,
Whose loftiness increases however long the outpour
And their abundance grows despite long drawing of water.
And whose abundance grows however abundant the downpour.
أَغَرُّradiant لَوَif أَنَّthat الشَّمْسَthe sun يَحْظَىwere favored جَبِينُهاits brow
أَغَرُّ لَوَ أَنَّ الشَّمْسَ يَحْظَى جَبِينُها
بِبَهْجَتِهِwith his splendor ماnot كَانَwould be يُكْسَفُeclipsed نُورُهاits light
بِبَهْجَتِهِ ما كَانَ يُكْسَفُ نُورُها
A radiant man—if the sun's brow were blessed
I would think it more wondrous if the sun's orb
With his splendor, its light would never be eclipsed.
Were delighted by his splendor and its light unextinguished.
غَنِيٌّrich الْعُلىin high honor مِنْin كُلِّevery فَضْلٍexcellence وَسُؤْدَدٍand nobility
غَنِيٌّ الْعُلى مِنْ كُلِّ فَضْلٍ وَسُؤْدَدٍ
وَلكِنَّهُbut he مِنْin كُلِّany مِثْلٍequal فَقِيرُهاis poor in them
وَلكِنَّهُ مِنْ كُلِّ مِثْلٍ فَقِيرُها
His heights are rich in every excellence and nobility,
Wealthy in every merit and fortune
Yet he is poor in any peer who could match them.
Yet, in any equal, needy of them.
يُعُدُّhe reckons الْمَناياdeaths مُسْتَساغاًpalatable كَرِيههُاtheir horrors
يُعُدُّ الْمَنايا مُسْتَساغاً كَرِيههُا
وَبِيضَand shining الْعَطاياgifts مُسْتَقَلاًّdeemed little كَثِيرُهاtheir abundance
وَبِيضَ الْعَطايا مُسْتَقَلاًّ كَثِيرُها
He reckons the horrors of death palatable,
Deeming deaths palatable however bitter
And shining gifts, however abundant, all too few.
And gifts ample however plentiful.
سَقىmay water اللهُGod أَيّامَthe days of الْمُؤَيَّدِal-Mu'ayyad ماas long as سَقَتْpour rain
سَقى اللهُ أَيّامَ الْمُؤَيَّدِ ما سَقَتْ
حَوافِلُladen masses of مُزْنٍrain-clouds لاnot يُغِبُّlapses مَطِيرُهاtheir rainfall
حَوافِلُ مُزْنٍ لا يُغِبُّ مَطِيرُها
May God water al-Mu'ayyad's days for as long as rain pours
God watered the days of the Supported one - no shower
From laden clouds whose showers never cease.
Of pouring rainclouds pouring omitted to water it.
فَماfor not نَقَلَتْhas carried جَرْداءُa sleek mare سابِحَةٌswift-gliding لَهُfor him
فَما نَقَلَتْ جَرْداءُ سابِحَةٌ لَهُ
شَبِيهاًan equal وَلاnor وَجْناءُa sturdy she-camel يَقْلَقُsways كُورُهاits saddle
شَبِيهاً وَلا وَجْناءُ يَقْلَقُ كُورُها
No sleek, swift-gliding mare has ever carried
So neither bare desert wandering nor bracelet blazing
His equal, nor a sturdy she-camel whose saddle sways.
Moved alike nor circled its plains.
سَقىhe gave drink لهذِهto this الدُّنْياworld مِنَof الْعَدْلِjustice رَيَّهاits fill of water
سَقى لهذِه الدُّنْيا مِنَ الْعَدْلِ رَيَّها
فَأَصْبَحَso became لاnot يَخْشَىfears الذَّواءَwithering نَضِيرُهاits fresh growth
فَأَصْبَحَ لا يَخْشَى الذَّواءَ نَضِيرُها
He gave this world its fill of justice to drink,
He quenched the land with justice until its gift
So its fresh growth now fears no withering.
Became a breeze making even its warmth cool.
وَهَبَّand blew لَهُfor him فِيهاwithin it نَسِيمُa breeze of غَضارَةٍprosperity
وَهَبَّ لَهُ فِيها نَسِيمُ غَضارَةٍ
مِنَof الْعَيْشِlife حَتّىuntil عادَbecame بَرْداًcool هَجِيرُهاits midday heat
مِنَ الْعَيْشِ حَتّى عادَ بَرْداً هَجِيرُها
And for him there blew within it a breeze of prosperity
Pardoning - after pardon I saw no felon's
In life, until its midday heat turned cool.
Crime insignificant or grave before forgiveness.
عَفُوٌّforgiving فَماso not عايَنْتُhave I seen زَلَّةَthe fault of مُجْرِمٍan offender
عَفُوٌّ فَما عايَنْتُ زَلَّةَ مُجْرِمٍ
لَدىbeside عَفْوِهِhis pardon إِلاّexcept صَغِيراًsmall كَبِيرُهاits gravest part
لَدى عَفْوِهِ إِلاّ صَغِيراً كَبِيرُها
Forgiving: never have I seen an offender's fault
With opinion and might he undertook
Beside his pardon without even its gravest part seeming small.
To reveal to his enemies the onslaughts that devastate them.
لَهُhis are الرَّأْيُjudgment وَالْبَأسُand might اللَّذانِthe two that تَكَفَّلاhave guaranteed
لَهُ الرَّأْيُ وَالْبَأسُ اللَّذانِ تَكَفَّلا
لأَعْدائِهِfor his enemies أَوْحىthe swiftest حِمامٍdeath يُبِيرُهاdestroys them
لأَعْدائِهِ أَوْحى حِمامٍ يُبِيرُها
His are the judgment and might that have guaranteed
Swords of strategy and conquest continuously
His enemies the swiftest death to destroy them.
Sheathed at his waist and bared.
سُيُوفٌswords مِنَof التَّدْبِيرَstrategy والْفَتْكِand slaughter لَمْnot يَزَلْhave ceased
سُيُوفٌ مِنَ التَّدْبِيرَ والْفَتْكِ لَمْ يَزَلْ
وَمُغْمَدُهاand their sheathed ones فِيin كَفِّهِhis hand وَشَهِيرُهاand their drawn ones
وَمُغْمَدُها فِي كَفِّهِ وَشَهِيرُها
Swords of strategy and slaughter have always remained,
He saw the land of Tyre a prize to a conqueror
Both sheathed and drawn, within his hand.
Assailing it daily and raiding nightly.
رَأَىhe saw أَرْضَthe land of صُورٍTyre نُهْبَةًplunder لِمُغالِبٍfor an assailant
رَأَى أَرْضَ صُورٍ نُهْبَةً لِمُغالِبٍ
يُنازِلُهاbesieges it يَوْماًone day وَيَوْماًand another day يُغِيرُهاraids it
يُنازِلُها يَوْماً وَيَوْماً يُغِيرُها
He saw the land of Tyre as plunder for an assailant
He reclaimed it and victory resides in the heart of his sword -
Who besieged it one day and raided it another.
A brother of might who does not fear its loosening.
تداركهاhe rescued it والنصرand victory فيin صدرthe breast of سيفهhis sword
تداركها والنصر في صدر سيفه
أخوa man of عزmight ماتdied لاnot يخافfears فتورهاits flagging
أخو عز مات لا يخاف فتورها
He rescued it, with victory in the breast of his sword;
Ambitions - when war befalls a land,
A man of might died, fearing no flagging in it [wording unclear].
Its moats are the limit of swords and its walls.
هُمامٌvaliant إِذاwhen ماever حَلَّsettles يَوْماًone day بِبَلْدَةٍin a town
هُمامٌ إِذا ما حَلَّ يَوْماً بِبَلْدَةٍ
فَخَنْدَقُهاthen its trench حَدُّthe edge of الْحُسامthe keen sword وَسُورُهاand its wall
فَخَنْدَقُها حَدُّ الْحُسام وَسُورُها
A valiant man who, whenever he settles in a town,
And a destinied blade that does not turn from havoc
Has the keen sword's edge for its trench and wall.
Unless it shatters in the chest what subdues it.
وَسُمْرٌand brown spears مِنَof الْخَطِّيِّKhatti spears لاnot تَرِدُenter الْوَغىbattle
وَسُمْرٌ مِنَ الْخَطِّيِّ لا تَرِدُ الْوَغى
فَتُحْطَمَand be shattered إِلاّexcept فِيin الصُّدُورِbreasts صُدُورُهاtheir points
فَتُحْطَمَ إِلاّ فِي الصُّدُورِ صُدُورُها
And brown spears of al-Khatt do not enter battle
I see the princes as the epitome of pride
To be shattered except with their points in breasts.
While you, when the proud are counted, are its prince.
أَرىI see أُمَراءِthe princes of الْمُلْكِthe realm لِلْفَخْرِfor pride غايَةًa highest limit
أَرى أُمَراءِ الْمُلْكِ لِلْفَخْرِ غايَةً
وَأَنْتَand you إِذاwhen عُدَّare counted الْفَخارُglories أَمِيرُهاare their prince
وَأَنْتَ إِذا عُدَّ الْفَخارُ أَمِيرُها
I see the princes of the realm as pride's highest reach,
You continued to rise to the heights with resolve
And you, when glories are counted, are their prince.
Making the world too narrow no matter its breadth.
وَماand not زِلْتَhave you ceased تسْمُوrising لِلْعَلاءِtoward greatness بِهِمَّةٍwith an ambition
وَما زِلْتَ تسْمُو لِلْعَلاءِ بِهِمَّةٍ
تَقِلُّis small لَكَfor you الدُّنْياthe world بِهاthrough it كيْفَthen what of صُورُهاits Tyre
تَقِلُّ لَكَ الدُّنْيا بِها كيْفَ صُورُها
You have never ceased rising toward greatness with an ambition
I swear, if you attempted your destiny in sublime elevation,
That makes the world small for you—then what of its Tyre?
The heavens would not prefer their spheres to you.
وَأَقْسِمُand I swear لَوْif حاوَلْتَyou sought قَدْرَكَyour worth فِيin الْعُلىthe heights
وَأَقْسِمُ لَوْ حاوَلْتَ قَدْرَكَ فِي الْعُلى
لَماwould not آثَرَتْprefer عَنْكَover you السَّماءَthe heavens بُدُورُهاits full moons
لَما آثَرَتْ عَنْكَ السَّماءَ بُدُورُها
And I swear, if you sought your due rank in the heights,
With your sword, you empowered lands you fortified
Heaven's full moons would not prefer it to you.
And like them your equal prospered.
وَإِنَّand indeed بِلاداًa land أَنْتَyou حائِطُare guardian of ثَغْرِهاits frontier
وَإِنَّ بِلاداً أَنْتَ حائِطُ ثَغْرِها
بِسَيْفِكَwith your sword قَدْindeed عَزَّتْhas grown mighty وَعَزَّand is rare نَظِيرُهاits equal
بِسَيْفِكَ قَدْ عَزَّتْ وَعَزَّ نَظِيرُها
And a land whose frontier you guard
Happy the possessions relying upon you
With your sword has grown mighty, and its equal is rare.
And proud the days fateful to you.
فَسَعْداًso good fortune لأَمْلاكٍto kings عَلَيْكَon you اعْتمِادُهاtheir reliance
فَسَعْداً لأَمْلاكٍ عَلَيْكَ اعْتمِادُها
وَفَخْراًand glory لأيّامٍto days إِلَيْكَtoward you مَصِيرُهاtheir destiny
وَفَخْراً لأيّامٍ إِلَيْكَ مَصِيرُها
So good fortune to the kings whose reliance rests on you,
Your praise perfumed the world folding
And glory to the days whose destiny leads to you.
The stagnance of its musk and fragrance within it.
لَقَدْindeed عَطَّرَhas perfumed الدُّنْياthe world ثَناؤُكَyour praise فَانْثَنىso became
لَقَدْ عَطَّرَ الدُّنْيا ثَناؤُكَ فَانْثَنى
بِهِthrough it ذاpossessing كَسادٍpoor demand مِسْكُهاits musk وَعَبِيرُهاand its blended perfume
بِهِ ذا كَسادٍ مِسْكُها وَعَبِيرُها
Your praise has indeed perfumed the world, leaving
The lands and its people wandered in your memory
Its musk and blended perfume without a market because of it.
And the morning and evening breezes raved in your winds.
فَتاهَتْso exulted بِذِكْراهُin its mention الْبِلادُthe lands وَأَهُلُهاand their people
فَتاهَتْ بِذِكْراهُ الْبِلادُ وَأَهُلُها
وَهَبَّتْand blew بِرَيّاهُwith its fragrance الصِّباthe east wind وَدَبُورُهاand their west wind
وَهَبَّتْ بِرَيّاهُ الصِّبا وَدَبُورُها
The lands and their people exulted in its mention,
You filled the horizons with sweetness whenever ambitions
And the east wind and west wind blew with its fragrance.
To spread it stirred the tranquil and grave.
مَلأْتَyou filled بِهِwith it الآفاقَthe horizons طِيباًwith fragrance مَتىwhenever دَعاit called
مَلأْتَ بِهِ الآفاقَ طِيباً مَتى دَعا
إِلىto نَشْرِهِspreading it الآَمالَhopes خَفَّgrew swift وَقُورُهاtheir stateliest
إِلى نَشْرِهِ الآَمالَ خَفَّ وَقُورُها
You filled the horizons with its scent; whenever it called
So I came to you with a soul fettered by yearning
On hopes to spread it, even their stateliest hurried.
And dreams of you had nearly released it.
فَجِئتُكَso I came to you ذاpossessing نَفْسٍa soul يُقَيِّدُهاfetters it الْجَوىheartache
فَجِئتُكَ ذا نَفْسٍ يُقَيِّدُها الْجَوى
وَقَدْand indeed كادَalmost حُسْنُgoodness of الظَّنِّopinion فِيكَof you يُطِيرُهاsent it soaring
وَقَدْ كادَ حُسْنُ الظَّنِّ فِيكَ يُطِيرُها
So I came to you with a soul fettered by heartache,
I air my grievances hoping
Though confidence in you had almost sent it soaring:
In your gracious care it will find life again.
رَمِيمٍa crumbling remnant أُزَجِّيهاI urge it along إِلَيْكَtoward you لَعَلَّهُperhaps it
رَمِيمٍ أُزَجِّيها إِلَيْكَ لَعَلَّهُ
يَكُونُwill be بِنُعْمىthrough the bounty of راحَتَيْكَyour two palms نُشُورُهاits resurrection
يَكُونُ بِنُعْمى راحَتَيْكَ نُشُورُها
A crumbling remnant I urge toward you, in hope
I do not doubt that the conclusion of this period
That the bounty of your two palms may bring its resurrection.
Will be as auspicious as its beginning with you.
وَلَسْتُand I am not بِشاكٍcomplaining of مُدَّةَthe duration of الْخَطْبِcalamity بَعْدَهاafter it
وَلَسْتُ بِشاكٍ مُدَّةَ الْخَطْبِ بَعْدَها
وَأَوَّلُand the first إِفْضائِيof my coming إِلَيْكَto you أَخِيرُهاwill be its last
وَأَوَّلُ إِفْضائِي إِلَيْكَ أَخِيرُها
Nor shall I complain of calamity's duration after that;
My first coming to you will be its end.
Partial English translation: 98 of 100 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1