هُوَit الرَّسْمُthe trace لَوْif only أَغْنىavailed الْوُقُوفُstanding عَلَىat الرَّسْمِthe trace
هُوَ الرَّسْمُ لَوْ أَغْنى الْوُقُوفُ عَلَى الرَّسْمِ
هُوَit الْحَزْمُprudence لَوْلاwere it not for بُعْدُthe remoteness عَهْدِكَof your acquaintance بِالْحَزْمِwith prudence
هُوَ الْحَزْمُ لَوْلا بُعْدُ عَهْدِكَ بِالْحَزْمِ
It is the trace—if only standing at the trace could avail.
It is prudence—were it not so long since you knew prudence.
تَجاهَلْتُI feigned ignorance عِرْفانِيof my knowledge بِهِof it غَيْرَnot جاهِلٍignorant
تَجاهَلْتُ عِرْفانِي بِهِ غَيْرَ جاهِلٍ
وَلِلشَّوْقِand longing has آياتٌsigns تَدُلُّthat indicate عَلىto عِلْمِيmy knowledge
وَلِلشَّوْقِ آياتٌ تَدُلُّ عَلى عِلْمِي
I feigned ignorance of my knowledge of it, though not ignorant;
Yet longing has signs that reveal what I know.
وَوَاللهِand by God ماnot أَدْرِيI know أَبَوْحِيَwhether my disclosure نافِعِيhelps me
وَوَاللهِ ما أَدْرِي أَبَوْحِيَ نافِعِي
عَشِيَّةَthe evening هاجَتْنِيstirred me الْمَنازِلُthe dwellings أَمْor كَتْمِيmy concealment
عَشِيَّةَ هاجَتْنِي الْمَنازِلُ أَمْ كَتْمِي
By God, I do not know whether my disclosure will help me
That evening the dwellings stirred me, or my concealment.
عَشِيَّةَthe evening جُنَّwent mad الْقَلْبُthe heart فِيهاduring it جُنُونُهُwith its madness
عَشِيَّةَ جُنَّ الْقَلْبُ فِيها جُنُونُهُ
وَنازَعَنِيand contended with me شَوْقِيmy longing مُنازَعَةَlike the contention الْخَصْمِof an adversary
وَنازَعَنِي شَوْقِي مُنازَعَةَ الْخَصْمِ
An evening when the heart went mad with its own madness,
And my longing contended with me like an adversary.
وَقَفْتُI stood أُدارِيconcealing الْوَجْدَpassion خَوْفَfor fear of مَدامِعٍtears
وَقَفْتُ أُدارِي الْوَجْدَ خَوْفَ مَدامِعٍ
تُبِيحُreveal مِنَof السِّرِّthe secret الْمُمَنَّعِwell-defended ماwhat أَحْمِيI guard
تُبِيحُ مِنَ السِّرِّ الْمُمَنَّعِ ما أَحْمِي
I stood, masking passion for fear of tears
That would reveal what I guard of my well-defended secret.
أُغالِبُI combat بِالشَّكِّwith doubt الْيَقِينَcertainty صَبابَةًout of yearning
أُغالِبُ بِالشَّكِّ الْيَقِينَ صَبابَةً
وَأَدْفَعُand I thrust فِيagainst صَدْرِthe breast الْحَقِيقَةِof truth بِالْوَهْمِwith illusion
وَأَدْفَعُ فِي صَدْرِ الْحَقِيقَةِ بِالْوَهْمِ
In yearning, I combat certainty with doubt,
And thrust illusion against the breast of truth.
فَلَمّاthen when أَبىwould allow إِلاّnothing but البُكاءَweeping لِيَfor me الأَسىgrief
فَلَمّا أَبى إِلاّ البُكاءَ لِيَ الأَسى
بَكَيْتُI wept فَماso not أَبْقَيْتُI left لِلرَّسْمِfor the ruined dwelling مِنْany رَسْمِtrace
بَكَيْتُ فَما أَبْقَيْتُ لِلرَّسْمِ مِنْ رَسْمِ
When grief would grant me nothing but weeping,
I wept, leaving the ruined dwelling not a trace.
وَماand no مُسْتَفِيضٌoutpouring مِنْfrom غُرُوبٍgreat buckets تَنازَعَتْtugged against one another
وَما مُسْتَفِيضٌ مِنْ غُرُوبٍ تَنازَعَتْ
عُراهاat their handles السَّوانِيwater-drawing camels فَهْيَso they are سُجْمٌpouring streams عَلَىupon سُجْمِpouring streams
عُراها السَّوانِي فَهْيَ سُجْمٌ عَلَى سُجْمِ
No torrent pouring from great buckets whose
Handles drawing camels tug at, streaming flood upon flood,
بِأَغْزَرَmore copious مِنْthan عَيْنَيَّmy two eyes يَوْمَon the day تَمَثّلَتْpictured
بِأَغْزَرَ مِنْ عَيْنَيَّ يَوْمَ تَمَثّلَتْ
عَلَىbased on الظَّنِّsurmise أَعْلامَthe landmarks الْحِمىof the protected pasture وَعَلىand based on الرَّجْمِconjecture
عَلَى الظَّنِّ أَعْلامَ الْحِمى وَعَلى الرَّجْمِ
Is more copious than my eyes the day they pictured
The protected pasture's landmarks through surmise and conjecture.
كَأَنِّيas though I بِأَجْزاعِat the valley bends of النَّقِيبَةِal-Naqiba مُسْلَمٌsurrendered
كَأَنِّي بِأَجْزاعِ النَّقِيبَةِ مُسْلَمٌ
إِلىto ثائِرٍan avenger لاnot يَعْرِفُknows الصَّفْحَpardon عَنْfor جُرْميmy offense
إِلى ثائِرٍ لا يَعْرِفُ الصَّفْحَ عَنْ جُرْمي
As though, at the valley bends of al-Naqiba, I were surrendered
To an avenger who knows no pardon for my offense.
لَقَدْindeed وَجَدَتْfelt وَجْدِيmy longing الدِّيارُthe dwellings بِأَهْلِهاfor their inhabitants
لَقَدْ وَجَدَتْ وَجْدِي الدِّيارُ بِأَهْلِها
وَلَوand if لَمْnot تَجِدْfeel وَجْدِيmy longing لَماthey would not سَقِمتْfall ill سُقْمِيwith my sickness
وَلَو لَمْ تَجِدْ وَجْدِي لَما سَقِمتْ سُقْمِي
The dwellings felt my longing for their inhabitants;
Had they not felt my longing, they would not suffer my sickness.
عَلَيْهِنَّupon them وَسْمٌa mark لِلْفِراقِof parting وَإِنَّماbut indeed
عَلَيْهِنَّ وَسْمٌ لِلْفِراقِ وَإِنَّما
عَلَيَّupon me لَهُfrom it ماwhat لَيْسَis not لِلنّارِfor fire مِنْof وَسْمِa brand
عَلَيَّ لَهُ ما لَيْسَ لِلنّارِ مِنْ وَسْمِ
They bear a mark of parting; but
I bear from it a brand no fire could leave.
وَكَمْand how often قَسَمَapportioned الْبَنِيْنُthe sons (likely a misprint for 'parting') الضَّنىwasting بَيْنَbetween مَنْزِلٍa dwelling
وَكَمْ قَسَمَ الْبَنِيْنُ الضَّنى بَيْنَ مَنْزِلٍ
وَجِسْمٍand a body وَلكِنَّbut الْهَوىlove جائِرُunjust الْقَسْمِin apportioning
وَجِسْمٍ وَلكِنَّ الْهَوى جائِرُ الْقَسْمِ
How often parting has divided wasting between a dwelling
And a body—but love divides unjustly.
مَنازِلُdwellings أَدْراسٌworn-out شَجانِيgrieved me نُحُولُهاtheir wasting
مَنازِلُ أَدْراسٌ شَجانِي نُحُولُها
فَهَلاّso why did not شَجاهاgrieve them ناحِلُone wasted الْقَلْبِin heart وَالْجِسْمِand body
فَهَلاّ شَجاها ناحِلُ الْقَلْبِ وَالْجِسْمِ
Worn-out dwellings: their wasting grieved me;
Why did one wasted in heart and body not grieve them?
سَقاهاwatered them الْحَياthe rain قَبْلِيbefore me فَلَمّاthen when سَقَيْتُهاI watered them
سَقاها الْحَيا قَبْلِي فَلَمّا سَقَيْتُها
بِدَمْعِيwith my tears رَأَتْthey saw فَضْلَthe superiority الْوَلِيِّof the following rain عَلَىover الْوَسْمِيthe first autumn rain
بِدَمْعِي رَأَتْ فَضْلَ الْوَلِيِّ عَلَى الْوَسْمِي
Rain watered them before me; when I watered them
With my tears, they saw the following rain surpass the first autumn rain.
وَلَوْand if أَنَّنِيI أَنْصَفْتُهاtreated them fairly ماnot عَدَلْتُهاI diverted them
وَلَوْ أَنَّنِي أَنْصَفْتُها ما عَدَلْتُها
عَنِfrom الكَرَمِgenerosity الْفَيَّاضِoverflowing والنّائِلِand bounty الْجَمِّabundant
عَنِ الكَرَمِ الْفَيَّاضِ والنّائِلِ الْجَمِّ
Had I treated them fairly, I would not have diverted them
From overflowing generosity and abundant bounty.
إِذاwhen ماindeed نَدىthe largesse تاجِof the Crown الْمُلُوكِof Kings انْبَرىcomes forward لَهاfor them
إِذا ما نَدى تاجِ الْمُلُوكِ انْبَرى لَها
فَماthen what is عارِضٌa raincloud يَنْهَلُّpouring down أَوْor دِيمَةٌa steady rain تَهْمِيstreaming down
فَما عارِضٌ يَنْهَلُّ أَوْ دِيمَةٌ تَهْمِي
When Taj al-Muluk's largesse comes forward for them,
What is a pouring raincloud or a streaming steady rain?
هُوَhe الْمَلْكُthe king أَمّاas for حاتِمُHatim الْجُودِof generosity عِنْدَهُbeside him
هُوَ الْمَلْكُ أَمّا حاتِمُ الْجُودِ عِنْدَهُ
فَيُلْغىis then disregarded وَيُنْسىand is forgotten عِنْدَهُbeside him أَحْنَفُAhnaf الْحِلْمِof forbearance
فَيُلْغى وَيُنْسى عِنْدَهُ أَحْنَفُ الْحِلْمِ
He is the king: Hatim of generosity beside him
Is disregarded, and Ahnaf of forbearance forgotten beside him.
يَجِلُّhe is too great عَنِfor التَّمْثِيلِcomparison بِالْماطِرِwith rain-bearing clouds الرِّوىthirst-quenching
يَجِلُّ عَنِ التَّمْثِيلِ بِالْماطِرِ الرِّوى
وَيَعْلُوand he is too lofty عَنِfor التَّشْبِيهِcomparison بِالْقَمَرِwith the moon النِّمِّrevealing
وَيَعْلُو عَنِ التَّشْبِيهِ بِالْقَمَرِ النِّمِّ
He is too great to be likened to the thirst-quenching raincloud,
Too lofty to be compared to the revealing moon.
ويكرمand he is too noble أنthat نرجوهwe seek him للأمرfor a matter هيناًtrivial
ويكرم أن نرجوه للأمر هيناً
ويشرفand he is too exalted أنthat ندعوهwe call him بالماجدa noble man القرمa chief
ويشرف أن ندعوه بالماجد القرم
He is too noble for us to seek him for a trivial matter,
Too exalted for us to call him a noble chief.
إِذاif نَحْنُwe قُلْناsay الْبَدْرُthe full moon وَالْبَحْرُand the sea وَالْحَياand the rain
إِذا نَحْنُ قُلْنا الْبَدْرُ وَالْبَحْرُ وَالْحَيا
فَقَدْthen indeed ظُلِمَتْhave been wronged أَوْصافُهُhis qualities غايَةَto the utmost الظُّلْمِof wrong
فَقَدْ ظُلِمَتْ أَوْصافُهُ غايَةَ الظُّلْمِ
If we say, 'the full moon, the sea, the rain,'
His qualities have been wronged to the utmost.
وَأَيْسَرُand the least حَقٍّright لِلْمكارِمِof noble deeds عِنْدَهُupon him
وَأَيْسَرُ حَقٍّ لِلْمكارِمِ عِنْدَهُ
إِذاwhen هُوَhe عَدَّcounts الْغُرْمَloss فِيهاincurred for them مِنَamong الْغُنْمِgain
إِذا هُوَ عَدَّ الْغُرْمَ فِيها مِنَ الْغُنْمِ
The least claim noble deeds have upon him
Is that he counts loss incurred for them among his gains.
يَرُوحُhe goes at evening سَلُوباًa plunderer لِلنُّفُوسِof souls مَعَamid الْوَغىbattle
يَرُوحُ سَلُوباً لِلنُّفُوسِ مَعَ الْوَغى
وَيَغْدُوand goes at morning سَلِيباًdespoiled لِلثَّناءِby praise مَعَamid السِّلْمِpeace
وَيَغْدُو سَلِيباً لِلثَّناءِ مَعَ السِّلْمِ
He goes at evening, a plunderer of souls amid battle,
And at morning, plundered by praise amid peace.
وَلاand not يَعْرِفُhe knows الإِحْجامَretreat إِلاexcept عَنِfrom الْخَناindecency
وَلا يَعْرِفُ الإِحْجامَ إِلا عَنِ الْخَنا
وَلاand not يُنْكِرُhe rejects الإِقْدامَbold advance إِلاّexcept عَلَىtoward الذَّمَّdisgrace
وَلا يُنْكِرُ الإِقْدامَ إِلاّ عَلَى الذَّمَّ
He knows retreat only from indecency,
And rejects bold advance only toward disgrace.
خَفِيفٌswift إِلىtoward الْعَلْياءِhigh honor وَالْحَمْدِand praise وَالنَّدىand generosity
خَفِيفٌ إِلى الْعَلْياءِ وَالْحَمْدِ وَالنَّدى
ثَقِيلٌslow عَنِregarding الْفَحْشاءِobscenity وَالبَغْيِand oppression وَالإثْمِand sin
ثَقِيلٌ عَنِ الْفَحْشاءِ وَالبَغْيِ وَالإثْمِ
Swift toward high honor, praise, and generosity,
Slow toward obscenity, oppression, and sin.
سَرِيعٌswift إِلىtoward الدّاعِيthe caller بَطِيءٌslow عَنِregarding الأَذىharm
سَرِيعٌ إِلى الدّاعِي بَطِيءٌ عَنِ الأَذى
قَرِيبٌnear مِنَto الْعافِيthe supplicant بَعِيدٌfar مِنَfrom الوَصْمِdishonor
قَرِيبٌ مِنَ الْعافِي بَعِيدٌ مِنَ الوَصْمِ
Quick to answer a caller, slow to cause harm,
Near to the supplicant, far from dishonor.
هُمامٌa valiant man إِذاwhen ماindeed ضافَهُvisits him الْهَمُّanxiety لَمْnot يَجِدْhe finds
هُمامٌ إِذا ما ضافَهُ الْهَمُّ لَمْ يَجِدْ
سِوىexcept الْمَجْدَglory شَيْئاًanything باتَhe spends the night مِنْهُbecause of it عَلَىin هَمِّanxiety
سِوى الْمَجْدَ شَيْئاً باتَ مِنْهُ عَلَى هَمِّ
A valiant man: when anxiety visits him, he finds
Nothing but glory to keep him anxious through the night.
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَare mentioned الأَحْبابُloved ones كانَis ادِّكارُهُhis recollection
إِذا ذُكِرَ الأَحْبابُ كانَ ادِّكارُهُ
شِفارَthe edges الْمَواضِيof keen swords أَوْor صُدُورَthe heads الْقَناof spears الصُّمِّhard
شِفارَ الْمَواضِي أَوْ صُدُورَ الْقَنا الصُّمِّ
When loved ones are mentioned, he remembers
The edges of keen swords or the heads of hard spears.
يَرىhe considers الْمالَwealth بَسلاماًforbidden (form unclear) ماwhatever عَداهاis apart from them وَلَمْand not يَكُنْwould be
يَرى الْمالَ بَسلاماً ما عَداها وَلَمْ يَكُنْ
لِيَطْعَمَto eat لَيْثٌa lion دُونَwithout فَرْسٍkilling prey وَلاnor ضَغْمِbiting
لِيَطْعَمَ لَيْثٌ دُونَ فَرْسٍ وَلا ضَغْمِ
He regards wealth as forbidden unless won through them; nor would
A lion feed without killing and biting its prey.
وَكَمْand how many فِيin ظُباهاtheir blade-edges مِنْof ظِباءٍgazelles غَرِيرَةٍguileless
وَكَمْ فِي ظُباها مِنْ ظِباءٍ غَرِيرَةٍ
وَفِيand in قَصَبِthe shafts الْمُرّانِof ashwood مِنْof قَصَبٍlimbs فَعْمِplump
وَفِي قَصَبِ الْمُرّانِ مِنْ قَصَبٍ فَعْمِ
How many guileless gazelles are held in their blade-edges,
And plump limbs in the ashwood shafts!
إِذاwhen قارَعَhe strikes against الأَعْداءَthe enemies وَالْخَصْمَand the adversary لَمْnot يَقِفْhe stops
إِذا قارَعَ الأَعْداءَ وَالْخَصْمَ لَمْ يَقِفْ
عَلَىat غايَةٍa boundary بَيْنَbetween الشَّجاعَةِcourage وَالْحَزْمِand prudence
عَلَى غايَةٍ بَيْنَ الشَّجاعَةِ وَالْحَزْمِ
When he strikes against enemies and adversaries, he does not stop
At any boundary between courage and prudence.
يُعَوِّلُrelies مِنْهُin him الْعَسْكَرُthe army الدَّهْمُvast فِيin الْوَغىbattle
يُعَوِّلُ مِنْهُ الْعَسْكَرُ الدَّهْمُ فِي الْوَغى
عَلَىon واحِدٍone man كَمْhow many فيهِwithin him مِنْof عَسْكَرٍan army دَهْمِvast
عَلَى واحِدٍ كَمْ فيهِ مِنْ عَسْكَرٍ دَهْمِ
The vast army, in battle, relies upon
One man—how many vast armies are in him!
إِذاwhen حَلَّhe settles فَالأَمْوالُthen wealth لِلْبَذْلِis for giving وَالنَّدىand generosity
إِذا حَلَّ فَالأَمْوالُ لِلْبَذْلِ وَالنَّدى
وَإِنْand if سارَhe marches فَالأَعْداءُthen enemies لِلذُّلِّare for humiliation وَالْوَقَمِand crushing
وَإِنْ سارَ فَالأَعْداءُ لِلذُّلِّ وَالْوَقَمِ
When he settles, wealth is for giving and generosity;
When he marches, enemies are for humiliation and crushing.
حُسامُthe sharp sword أَمِيرِof the Commander الْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful ابْنُson سَيْفِهِof his sword
حُسامُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ابْنُ سَيْفِهِ
فَياso O لَكَyou مِنْwhat a فَرْعٍbranch وَياand O لَكَyou مِنْwhat a جِذْمِroot
فَيا لَكَ مِنْ فَرْعٍ وَيا لَكَ مِنْ جِذْمِ
The sharp sword of the Commander of the Faithful, son of his sword:
What a branch you are, and what a root!
مُكابِدُendurer of أَيّامِthe days الْجِهادِof holy struggle وَمَوْئِلُand refuge of الْthe
مُكابِدُ أَيّامِ الْجِهادِ وَمَوْئِلُ الْ
عِبادِservants وَحامِيهِمْand their protector وَقْدْand indeed قَلَّfew are مَنْthose who يَحْمِيprotect
عِبادِ وَحامِيهِمْ وَقْدْ قَلَّ مَنْ يَحْمِي
Endurer of the days of holy struggle, and refuge of the
Servants, and their defender when few defend.
وَمُقْتَحِمُand stormer of الأَجْبالِthe mountains يَوْمَon the day تَمَنَّعَتْtook refuge
وَمُقْتَحِمُ الأَجْبالِ يَوْمَ تَمَنَّعَتْ
ذِئابُthe wolves الأَعادِيof the enemies فِيupon ذَوائِبِهاtheir peaks الشُّمِّlofty
ذِئابُ الأَعادِي فِي ذَوائِبِها الشُّمِّ
And stormer of the mountains, on the day
The enemies' wolves took refuge upon their lofty peaks.
غَداةَthe morning يَغُورُplunges السَّهْمُthe arrow فِيinto السُّهْمِthe gaunt warriors وَالقَناand spears
غَداةَ يَغُورُ السَّهْمُ فِي السُّهْمِ وَالقَنا
بِحَيْثُwhere الْقَناspears are وَالْكَلْمُand wounds فِيin مَوْضِعِthe place الْكَلْمِof wounds
بِحَيْثُ الْقَنا وَالْكَلْمُ فِي مَوْضِعِ الْكَلْمِ
The morning arrows sink into gaunt warriors, and spears
Meet spears, and wounds fall upon wounds.
وَلاand no فَرْقَdistinction فِيهاin it بَيْنَbetween عَزْمٍresolve وَصارِمٍand a sharp sword
وَلا فَرْقَ فِيها بَيْنَ عَزْمٍ وَصارِمٍ
كَأَنَّas though الظُّبىthe blade-edges فِيهاin it طُبِعْنَwere forged مِنَfrom الْعَزْمِresolve
كَأَنَّ الظُّبى فِيها طُبِعْنَ مِنَ الْعَزْمِ
There is no distinction there between resolve and a cutting sword,
As though the blade-edges there were forged of resolve.
وَماand not يَوْمُهُhis battle-day فِيagainst الْمُشْرِكِينَthe polytheists بِواحِدٍa single one
وَما يَوْمُهُ فِي الْمُشْرِكِينَ بِواحِدٍ
فَنَجْهَلَهُso we would not know it وَالْعالَمُونَwhile the world's peoples ذَوُوpossess عِلْمِknowledge
فَنَجْهَلَهُ وَالْعالَمُونَ ذَوُو عِلْمِ
His battle against the polytheists was not a solitary one,
That we should be ignorant of it, while all the world knows.
وَقَدْand indeed عَجَمَtested by biting الأَعْداءُthe enemies مِنْfrom قَبْلُbefore عُودَهُhis wood
وَقَدْ عَجَمَ الأَعْداءُ مِنْ قَبْلُ عُودَهُ
فَأَدْرَدْهُمbut he made them toothless وَالنَّبْعُand nab' wood مُمْتَنِعُresistant to الْعَجْمِtesting by biting
فَأَدْرَدْهُم وَالنَّبْعُ مُمْتَنِعُ الْعَجْمِ
Enemies had tested his wood before,
But he made them toothless: nab' wood resists biting.
سَمَوْتُI rose إِلىtoward الْفَخْرِglory الشَّرِيفِnoble مَقامُهُin its station
سَمَوْتُ إِلى الْفَخْرِ الشَّرِيفِ مَقامُهُ
وَمِثْلِيَand one like me مَنْone who يَسْمُوrises إِلَيْهِtoward it وَمَنْand one who يُسْمِيraises high
وَمِثْلِيَ مَنْ يَسْمُو إِلَيْهِ وَمَنْ يُسْمِي
I rose toward glory whose station is noble;
One like me rises to it and raises it higher.
وَكُنْتُand I was عَلَىunder حُكْمِthe rule النَّوائِبِof calamities نازِلاًsubmitting
وَكُنْتُ عَلَى حُكْمِ النَّوائِبِ نازِلاً
فَأَنْزَلَهاso he brought them تاجُthe Crown الْمُلُوكof Kings عَلَىunder حُكْمِيmy rule
فَأَنْزَلَها تاجُ الْمُلُوك عَلَى حُكْمِي
I had submitted to the rule of calamities;
Taj al-Muluk brought them under my rule.
وَماand what is الْعُذْرُthe excuse عِنْدِيfor me بَعْدَafter أَخْذِيmy taking hold بِحَبْلِهِof his rope
وَما الْعُذْرُ عِنْدِي بَعْدَ أَخْذِي بِحَبْلِهِ
إِذاif قَدَميmy foot لَمْnot أُوْطِهاI make it tread هامَةَthe crown النَّجْمِof a star
إِذا قَدَمي لَمْ أُوْطِها هامَةَ النَّجْمِ
What excuse have I, after taking hold of his rope,
If I do not set my foot upon the crown of a star?
إِذاwhen ماindeed نَظَمْتُI string الْحَمْدَpraise عِقْداًas a necklace لِمَجْدِهِfor his glory
إِذا ما نَظَمْتُ الْحَمْدَ عِقْداً لِمَجْدِهِ
تَمَنَّتْwish نُجُومُthe stars اللَّيْلِof night لَوْif only كُنَّthey were مِنْamong نَظْمِيmy strung verses
تَمَنَّتْ نُجُومُ اللَّيْلِ لَوْ كُنَّ مِنْ نَظْمِي
When I string praise into a necklace for his glory,
The stars of night wish they were strung among my verses.
وَكَمْand how many لِلْمَعالِيfor exalted deeds مِنْof مَعالٍheights بِمَدْحِهِthrough praising him
وَكَمْ لِلْمَعالِي مِنْ مَعالٍ بِمَدْحِهِ
وَلِلشَّرَفِand for honor الْمَذْكُورِcelebrated مِنْof شَرَفٍhonor فَخْمِtowering
وَلِلشَّرَفِ الْمَذْكُورِ مِنْ شَرَفٍ فَخْمِ
How many heights exalted deeds attain through praising him,
And celebrated honor gains towering honor!
أَلاah لَيْتَif only لِيI had ماwhat حاكَهُhas woven it كُلُّevery قائِلٍspeaker
أَلا لَيْتَ لِي ما حاكَهُ كُلُّ قائِلٍ
وَماand what سارَhas circulated فِيamong عُرْبٍArabs مِنَof الْمَدْحِpraise أَوْor عُجْمِnon-Arabs
وَما سارَ فِي عُرْبٍ مِنَ الْمَدْحِ أَوْ عُجْمِ
Would that I possessed all that every speaker has woven,
And all praise that has passed among Arabs or non-Arabs,
فَأُثْنِيso I may praise عَلىupon الْعِيسِthe pale camels الْعِتاقِnoble-bred لِقَصْدِهِfor journeying to him
فَأُثْنِي عَلى الْعِيسِ الْعِتاقِ لِقَصْدِهِ
بِماwith what جَلَّis grand مِنْof فِكْرِيmy thought وَماand what دَقَّis subtle مِنْof فَهْمِيmy understanding
بِما جَلَّ مِنْ فِكْرِي وَما دَقَّ مِنْ فَهْمِي
So I could praise the noble pale camels for journeying to him,
With my grandest thoughts and my subtlest understanding.
فَلَمْyet not أَقْضِI paid إِبْلاًcamels أَوْصَلَتْنِيهِbrought me to him حَقَّهاtheir due
فَلَمْ أَقْضِ إِبْلاً أَوْصَلَتْنِيهِ حَقَّها
وَلوْeven if عُفِّيَتْwere worn away مِنْهاof them الْمَناسِمُthe hoof-pads بِاللَّثْمِwith kisses
وَلوْ عُفِّيَتْ مِنْها الْمَناسِمُ بِاللَّثْمِ
I have not paid the camels that brought me to him their due,
Even if their hoof-pads were worn away with kisses.
إِلَيْكَtoward you ابْنَO son النّاسِof the people ظَلَّتْkept moving رِكابُناour mounts
إِلَيْكَ ابْنَ النّاسِ ظَلَّتْ رِكابُنا
كَأَنَّas though عَلَيْهاupon them السَّيْرَtravel حَتْمٌa decree مِنَof الْحَتْمِinevitability
كَأَنَّ عَلَيْها السَّيْرَ حَتْمٌ مِنَ الْحَتْمِ
Toward you, son of the people, our mounts kept moving,
As though travel were an inexorable decree laid upon them.
إِلىtoward مَلِكٍa king ماnever حَلَّrested مِثْلُthe like وَقارِهِof his dignity
إِلى مَلِكٍ ما حَلَّ مِثْلُ وَقارِهِ
عَلَىupon مَلِكٍa king صَتْمٍformidable وَلاnor سَيِّدٍa lord ضَخْمِmighty
عَلَى مَلِكٍ صَتْمٍ وَلا سَيِّدٍ ضَخْمِ
Toward a king whose like in dignity has never rested
Upon any formidable king or mighty lord.
جَوادٌgenerous وَماeven though not جادَتْhas bestowed سَماءٌa sky بِقَطْرِهاits rain
جَوادٌ وَما جادَتْ سَماءٌ بِقَطْرِها
كَرِيمٌnoble وَماeven though not دارَتْhas circulated عَلَيْهِto him ابْنَةَthe daughter الْكَرْمِof the vine
كَرِيمٌ وَما دارَتْ عَلَيْهِ ابْنَةَ الْكَرْمِ
Generous, even when the sky has not bestowed its rain;
Noble, though the daughter of the vine has not passed round to him.
تَخَوَّنَتِdepleted الأَيّامُthe days حالِيmy condition وَأَقْسَمَتْand swore
تَخَوَّنَتِ الأَيّامُ حالِي وَأَقْسَمَتْ
عَلَيَّagainst me اللَّيالِيthe nights أَنْthat أَعِيشَI should live بِلاwithout قِسْمِa share
عَلَيَّ اللَّيالِي أَنْ أَعِيشَ بِلا قِسْمِ
The days depleted my condition, and the nights swore
Against me that I should live without a share.
وَلَمْand not يُبْقِleft مِنِّيof me الدَّهْرُtime إِلاّexcept حُشاشَةًa remnant of life
وَلَمْ يُبْقِ مِنِّي الدَّهْرُ إِلاّ حُشاشَةً
وَإِلاّand except كَماas much as أَبْقىhas left نَداكَyour largesse مِنَof الْعُدْمِpoverty
وَإِلاّ كَما أَبْقى نَداكَ مِنَ الْعُدْمِ
Time left me only a remnant of life,
And no more than your bounty has left of poverty.
رَمىshot at غَرَضَthe target الدُّنْياof the world هَوايَmy desire فَلَمْbut not يُصِبْhit
رَمى غَرَضَ الدُّنْيا هَوايَ فَلَمْ يُصِبْ
وَكَمْand how many غَرَضْa target مِنْهاof it أُصِيبَwas hit وَلَمْand not أَرْمِI shot
وَكَمْ غَرَضْ مِنْها أُصِيبَ وَلَمْ أَرْمِ
My desire shot at the world's target and missed;
How many of its targets were hit when I had not shot!
وَماand there is no بَعْدَafter إِفْضائِيmy reaching إِلَيْكَyou وَمَوْقِفِيand my standing
وَما بَعْدَ إِفْضائِي إِلَيْكَ وَمَوْقِفِي
بِرَبْعِكin your dwelling مِنْany شَكْوىًcomplaint لِدَهْرٍagainst time وَلاnor ذَمِّblame
بِرَبْعِك مِنْ شَكْوىً لِدَهْرٍ وَلا ذَمِّ
After reaching you and standing
In your dwelling, I have neither complaint against time nor blame.
وَهاand behold أَناI ذاhere قَدْalready قُدْتُhave led وُدِّيmy affection وَمُهْجَتِيand my life's blood
وَها أَنا ذا قَدْ قُدْتُ وُدِّي وَمُهْجَتِي
إِلىto ذاthis النَّدىbounty قَوْدَas one leads الذَلُولa docile beast بِلاwithout خَزْمِnose-piercing
إِلى ذا النَّدى قَوْدَ الذَلُول بِلا خَزْمِ
Here I am: I have led my affection and my life's blood
To this bounty, as one leads a docile beast without piercing its nose,
لِتَبْسُطَso you may open بالْمَعْرُوفِwith kindness ماwhat كَفَّhas been restrained مِنْof يَدِيmy hand
لِتَبْسُطَ بالْمَعْرُوفِ ما كَفَّ مِنْ يَدِي
وَتَجْبُرَand may you mend بِالإِحْسانِwith beneficence ماwhat هاضَhas fractured مِنْof عَظْمِيmy bone
وَتَجْبُرَ بِالإِحْسانِ ما هاضَ مِنْ عَظْمِي
So that with kindness you may open my closed hand,
And with beneficence mend what has fractured in my bone.
أَمّاas for الْعُفاةُthe supplicants فَأَنْتَyou are خَيْرُthe best رَجائِهاof their hopes
أَمّا الْعُفاةُ فَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ رَجائِها
وَالْمَكْرُماتُand noble deeds فَأَنْتَyou are بَدْرُthe full moon سَمائِهاof their sky
وَالْمَكْرُماتُ فَأَنْتَ بَدْرُ سَمائِها
As for the supplicants, you are their best hope;
And for noble deeds, you are the full moon of their sky.
ماnever أَحْسَنَتْthought well بِكَof you ظَنَّهاtheir opinion فِيin رَغْبَةٍhope
ما أَحْسَنَتْ بِكَ ظَنَّها فِي رَغْبَةٍ
أَوْor رَهْبَةٍfear فَعَداكَthen passed you by حُسْنُthe beauty ثَنائِهاof their praise
أَوْ رَهْبَةٍ فَعَداكَ حُسْنُ ثَنائِها
Never did they trust you, in hope
Or fear, only for their fair praise to pass you by.
لَوْلاكَbut for you ياO تاجَCrown الْمُلُوكِof Kings لَعَزَّهاwould be scarce for them
لَوْلاكَ يا تاجَ الْمُلُوكِ لَعَزَّها
مَلِكٌa king يُجِيبُanswers نَداهُhis largesse قَبْلَbefore نِدائِهاtheir call
مَلِكٌ يُجِيبُ نَداهُ قَبْلَ نِدائِها
Were it not for you, O Taj al-Muluk, they would find it hard to obtain
A king whose bounty answers before their call.
أَحْيَيْتَهاyou revived them قَبْلَbefore السُّؤالِasking بِأَنْعُمٍwith favors
أَحْيَيْتَها قَبْلَ السُّؤالِ بِأَنْعُمٍ
رَدَّتْrestored وُجُهَthe faces السّائِلِينَof petitioners بِمائِهاwith their water of dignity
رَدَّتْ وُجُهَ السّائِلِينَ بِمائِها
You revived them, before they asked, with favors
That restored the water of dignity to the petitioners' faces.
حَمْداًpraise لأَيامٍto days سَماrose بِكَthrough you فَخْرُهاtheir pride
حَمْداً لأَيامٍ سَما بِكَ فَخْرُها
أَنىhow تُذَمُّcan they be blamed وَأَنْتَwhen you مِنْare among أَبْنائِهاtheir sons
أَنى تُذَمُّ وَأَنْتَ مِنْ أَبْنائِها
Praise to days whose pride rose through you;
How could they be blamed when you are one of their sons?
مَنْwho ذاis there يقُومُcan fulfill بِشُكْرِهاtheir due thanks وَعُلاكَand your eminence مِنْis among
مَنْ ذا يقُومُ بِشُكْرِها وَعُلاكَ مِنْ
حَسَناتِهاtheir good deeds وَنَداكَand your largesse مِنْis among آلائِهاtheir blessings
حَسَناتِها وَنَداكَ مِنْ آلائِها
Who can render them thanks, when your eminence is among
Their good deeds, and your bounty among their blessings?
مَعَalthough أَنَّنِيI أَبْغيseek دُيُوناًdebts عِنْدَهاowed by them
مَعَ أَنَّنِي أَبْغي دُيُوناً عِنْدَها
مَمْطُولَةًlong unpaid هذاthis أَوانُthe time قَضائِهاfor their repayment
مَمْطُولَةً هذا أَوانُ قَضائِها
Although I seek debts they owe me,
Long unpaid: now is the hour for their repayment.
وَكَفىand enough بِزَفِّيis my bridal escorting كُلَّevery بِكرٍvirgin حُرَّةٍfreeborn
وَكَفى بِزَفِّي كُلَّ بِكرٍ حُرَّةٍ
لَوْلاكمَbut for you ماnot زُفَّتْwas led as a bride إِلىto أَكْفائِهاher equals
لَوْلاكمَ ما زُفَّتْ إِلى أَكْفائِها
It suffices that I escort each freeborn virgin as a bride;
Without you, she would not be wed to her equals.
Sol 6.1