يَقِينيmy certainty يَقِينيprotects me حَادِثاتِthe onsets of النَّوائِبِcalamities
يَقِيني يَقِيني حَادِثاتِ النَّوائِبِ
وَحَزْمِيَand my prudence حَزْمِيmy girding فيon ظُهُورِthe backs of النَّجائِبِnoble camels
وَحَزْمِيَ حَزْمِي في ظُهُورِ النَّجائِبِ
My certainty protects me from the onsets of calamity,
and my prudence lies in girding the backs of noble camels.
سَيُنْجِدُنِيwill aid me جَيْشٌan army مِنَof الْعَزْمِresolve طَالَماoften
سَيُنْجِدُنِي جَيْشٌ مِنَ الْعَزْمِ طَالَما
غَلَبْتُI overcame بِهِwith it الْخَطْبَthe ordeal الَّذِيthat هُوَis غَالِبيmy conqueror
غَلَبْتُ بِهِ الْخَطْبَ الَّذِي هُوَ غَالِبي
An army of resolve will come to my aid; often
with it I have overcome the ordeal that overcomes me.
وَمَنْand whoever كَانَwas حَرْبَan enemy of الدَّهْرِTime عَوَّدَtrained نَفْسَهُhimself
وَمَنْ كَانَ حَرْبَ الدَّهْرِ عَوَّدَ نَفْسَهُ
قِرَاعَcombat with اللَّيَالِيthe nights لاnot قِرَاعَcombat with الْكَتَائِبِbattalions
قِرَاعَ اللَّيَالِي لا قِرَاعَ الْكَتَائِبِ
Whoever is Time's foe has trained himself
to clash with nights, not to clash with battalions.
عَلَىnotwithstanding أَنَّthat لِيI have فيin مَذْهَبِthe way of الصَّبْرِpatience مَذْهَباًa path
عَلَى أَنَّ لِي في مَذْهَبِ الصَّبْرِ مَذْهَباً
يَزِيدُincreases اتِّساعاًin breadth عِنْدَwhen ضِيقِthe narrowing of الْمَذَاهِبِthe paths
يَزِيدُ اتِّساعاً عِنْدَ ضِيقِ الْمَذَاهِبِ
Yet in the way of patience I have a path
that grows wider when other paths narrow.
وَمَاand not وَضَعَتْdiminished مِنِّيmy standing الْخُطُوبُhardships بِقَدْرِto the extent of مَاwhat
وَمَا وَضَعَتْ مِنِّي الْخُطُوبُ بِقَدْرِ مَا
رَفَعْنَthey elevated وَقَدْand indeed هَذَّبْنَنِيthey refined me بِالتَّجارِبِthrough experiences
رَفَعْنَ وَقَدْ هَذَّبْنَنِي بِالتَّجارِبِ
Hardships have not lowered me as much as
they have raised me; through experience they have refined me.
أَخَذْنَthey took ثَرآءًwealth غَيْرَnot بَاقٍlasting عَلَىdespite النَّدىgenerosity
أَخَذْنَ ثَرآءً غَيْرَ بَاقٍ عَلَى النَّدى
وَأَعْطَيْنَand they gave فَضْلاًexcellence فيin النُّهىunderstanding غيْرَnot ذَاهِبِpassing away
وَأَعْطَيْنَ فَضْلاً في النُّهى غيْرَ ذَاهِبِ
They took wealth that could not endure generosity,
and gave excellence in understanding that will not fade.
فَمَالِيَso what ails me لاَnot رَوْضُthe meadow of الْمَساعِيendeavors بِمُمْرِعٍlush
فَمَالِيَ لاَ رَوْضُ الْمَساعِي بِمُمْرِعٍ
لَدَيَّfor me وَلاَand not مَاءُthe water of الأَمَانِيwishes بِسَاكِبِflowing
لَدَيَّ وَلاَ مَاءُ الأَمَانِي بِسَاكِبِ
Why, then, is the meadow of endeavor not lush
for me, nor the water of wishes flowing?
كَأَنْas though لَمْnot يَكُنْwas وَعْديthe promise to me لَدَيْهَاwith them بِحَائِنٍdue
كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ وَعْدي لَدَيْهَا بِحَائِنٍ
زَمَاناًat any time وَلاَand not دَيْنِيmy debt عَلَيْهَاupon them بَوَاجِبِbinding
زَمَاناً وَلاَ دَيْنِي عَلَيْهَا بَوَاجِبِ
As though the promise to me had never fallen due with them
at any time, nor the debt they owe me become binding.
وَحَاجَةِand many a need of نَفْسٍa soul تَقْتضِيهاdemand it مَخَايلِيmy signs of worth
وَحَاجَةِ نَفْسٍ تَقْتضِيها مَخَايلِي
وَتَقْضِيand rule بِهاin its favor لِيfor me عادلاَتٍthe just merits of مَناصِبيmy lineage
وَتَقْضِي بِها لِي عادلاَتٍ مَناصِبي
Many a need of my soul, demanded by my signs of worth,
and adjudged my due by the just merits of my lineage—
عَدَدْتُI counted لَهاfor it بَرْقَthe lightning of الْغَمَامِclouds هُنَيْدَةًa hundred
عَدَدْتُ لَها بَرْقَ الْغَمَامِ هُنَيْدَةً
وَأُخْرىand another وَمَاand not مِنْany قَطْرَةٍdrop فيin الْمَذَانِبِthe watercourses
وَأُخْرى وَمَا مِنْ قَطْرَةٍ في الْمَذَانِبِ
I counted for it a hundred flashes of cloud-lightning,
and another hundred, yet not a drop lay in the watercourses.
وَهَلْand will نَافِعيbenefit me شَيْمٌwatching for lightning مِنَof الْعَزْمِresolve صَادِقٌtrue
وَهَلْ نَافِعي شَيْمٌ مِنَ الْعَزْمِ صَادِقٌ
إِذاif كنْتُI am ذَاpossessed of بَرْقٍlightning مِنَof الْحَظِّfortune كاذِبِfalse
إِذا كنْتُ ذَا بَرْقٍ مِنَ الْحَظِّ كاذِبِ
Will a true reading of resolve's lightning benefit me
if the lightning of my fortune proves false?
وَإِنِّيand indeed I لأَغْنىam surely content بِالْحدِيثِwith conversation عَنِinstead of الْقِرىa guest's fare
وَإِنِّي لأَغْنى بِالْحدِيثِ عَنِ الْقِرى
وَبِالْبَرْقِand with lightning عَنْinstead of صوْبِthe downpour of الْغُيُوثِrains السَّواكِبِpouring
وَبِالْبَرْقِ عَنْ صوْبِ الْغُيُوثِ السَّواكِبِ
And I am content with conversation instead of a guest's feast,
and with lightning instead of the downpour of streaming rains.
قَنَاعَةُcontentment of عِزٍّhonor لاَnot طَمَاعَةُgreed of ذِلَّةٍabasement
قَنَاعَةُ عِزٍّ لاَ طَمَاعَةُ ذِلَّةٍ
تُزَهِّدُmakes disinclined فيto نَيْلِattaining الْغِنىwealth كُلevery رَاغِبِseeker
تُزَهِّدُ في نَيْلِ الْغِنى كُل رَاغِبِ
Dignified contentment, not abject greed,
turns every seeker away from attaining wealth.
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle امْتطَىmount الأَقْوَامُpeople مَرْكَبَthe mount of ثَرْوَةٍwealth
إِذَا مَا امْتطَى الأَقْوَامُ مَرْكَبَ ثَرْوَةٍ
خُضُوعاًin submission رَأَيْتُI saw الْعُدْمَpoverty خَيْرَthe best of مَرَاكِبيmy mounts
خُضُوعاً رَأَيْتُ الْعُدْمَ خَيْرَ مَرَاكِبي
When men mount wealth's steed
in submission, I see poverty as the best of my mounts.
وَلَوْand if رَكِبَrode النَّاسُpeople الْغِنىwealth بِبَرَاعَةٍthrough skill
وَلَوْ رَكِبَ النَّاسُ الْغِنى بِبَرَاعَةٍ
وَفَضْلٍand excellence مُبِينٍmanifest كُنْتُI would be أَوَّلَthe first رَاكِبِrider
وَفَضْلٍ مُبِينٍ كُنْتُ أَوَّلَ رَاكِبِ
But if people rode to wealth through skill
and manifest excellence, I would be the first rider.
وَقَدْand perhaps أَبْلُغُI reach الْغَايَاتِthe goals لَسْتُI am not بِسَائِرٍtraveling
وَقَدْ أَبْلُغُ الْغَايَاتِ لَسْتُ بِسَائِرٍ
وَأَظْفَرُand I win بِالْحَاجَاتِdesired things لَسْتُI am not بِطَالِبِseeking
وَأَظْفَرُ بِالْحَاجَاتِ لَسْتُ بِطَالِبِ
I may reach the goals without traveling,
and win what I need without seeking.
وَمَاand not كُلُّevery دَانٍone near مِنْto مَرَامٍan aim بِظَافِرٍsuccessful
وَمَا كُلُّ دَانٍ مِنْ مَرَامٍ بِظَافِرٍ
وَلاَand not كُلُّevery نَآءٍone far عَنْfrom رَجآءٍa hope بِخَائِبِunsuccessful
وَلاَ كُلُّ نَآءٍ عَنْ رَجآءٍ بِخَائِبِ
Not everyone near an aim attains it,
nor does everyone far from a hope fail.
وَإِنَّand indeed الْغِنىwealth مِنِّيfrom me لأَدْنىis surely nearer مَسَافَةًin distance
وَإِنَّ الْغِنى مِنِّي لأَدْنى مَسَافَةً
وَأَقْرَبُand closer مِمَّاthan what lies بَيْنَbetween عَيْنِيmy eye وَحَاجِبِيand my eyebrow
وَأَقْرَبُ مِمَّا بَيْنَ عَيْنِي وَحَاجِبِي
Indeed, wealth lies a shorter distance from me,
closer than the space between my eye and my eyebrow.
سَأَصْحَبُI shall accompany آمَاليmy hopes إِلىto ابْنِIbn (son of) مُقَلَّدٍMuqallad
سَأَصْحَبُ آمَالي إِلى ابْنِ مُقَلَّدٍ
فَتُنْجِحُso they will prosper مَاas long as أَلْوَىmakes away الزَّمَانُTime بِصَاحِبِwith a companion
فَتُنْجِحُ مَا أَلْوَى الزَّمَانُ بِصَاحِبِ
I shall take my hopes along to Ibn Muqallad,
and they shall prosper as long as Time carries companions away.
فَماso never اشْتَطَّتِoverreached الآمَالُthe hopes إِلاَّexcept that أَبَاحَهَاgranted them
فَما اشْتَطَّتِ الآمَالُ إِلاَّ أَبَاحَهَا
سَمَاحُthe generosity of عَلِيٍّAli حُكْمَهاtheir own rule فِيover الْمَواهِبِgifts
سَمَاحُ عَلِيٍّ حُكْمَها فِي الْمَواهِبِ
Whenever hopes grow extravagant, they are granted
by Ali's generosity their own rule over gifts.
إِذَاif كُنْتَyou are يَوْماًone day آمِلاًhoping for آمِلاًone who hopes لَهُin him
إِذَا كُنْتَ يَوْماً آمِلاً آمِلاً لَهُ
فَكُنْthen be وَاهِباًa giver كُلَّall الْمُنَىwishes كُلَّevery وَاهِبgiver
فَكُنْ وَاهِباً كُلَّ الْمُنَى كُلَّ وَاهِب
If one day you place your hopes in one who hopes in him,
then give every giver all he could wish.
وَإِنَّand indeed امْرأًa man أَفْضىled إِلَيْهِto him رَجَاؤُهُhis hope
وَإِنَّ امْرأً أَفْضى إِلَيْهِ رَجَاؤُهُ
فَلَمْyet did not تَرْجُهُhope in him الأَمْلاَكُkings إِحْدىone of الْعَجَائِبِthe wonders
فَلَمْ تَرْجُهُ الأَمْلاَكُ إِحْدى الْعَجَائِبِ
A man whose hope has led him to him,
yet in whom kings place no hope, is one of the wonders.
مِنَof الْقَومِa people لَوْif أَنَّindeed اللَّيالِيthe nights تَقَلَّدَتْadorned themselves
مِنَ الْقَومِ لَوْ أَنَّ اللَّيالِي تَقَلَّدَتْ
بِأَحْسَابِهِمْwith their noble lineages لَمْnot تَحْتَفِلْwould care بِالْكَوَاكِبِabout the stars
بِأَحْسَابِهِمْ لَمْ تَحْتَفِلْ بِالْكَوَاكِبِ
He is of a people who, if the nights adorned themselves
with their noble lineages, would pay no heed to the stars.
إِذاwhen أَظْلَمَتْgrew dark سُبْلُthe paths of السُّرَاةِthe nobles إِلىtoward الْعُلىhigh rank
إِذا أَظْلَمَتْ سُبْلُ السُّرَاةِ إِلى الْعُلى
سَرَوْاthey journeyed by night فَاسْتَضَاءُواso found light بَيْنَهاamong them بِالْمَنَاسِبِby pedigrees
سَرَوْا فَاسْتَضَاءُوا بَيْنَها بِالْمَنَاسِبِ
When the nobles' paths toward high rank grow dark,
they journey by night, lighting their way with their pedigrees.
هُمُthey غَادَرُواleft بِالْعِزِّthrough might حَصْبَاءَthe pebbles of أَرْضِهِمْtheir land
هُمُ غَادَرُوا بِالْعِزِّ حَصْبَاءَ أَرْضِهِمْ
أَعَزَّharder مَنَالاًto reach مِنْthan نُجُومِthe stars of الْغَيَاهِبِdeep darkness
أَعَزَّ مَنَالاً مِنْ نُجُومِ الْغَيَاهِبِ
Through their might, they made the pebbles of their land
harder to reach than the stars of deep darkness.
تَرىyou see الدَّهْرَTime مَاwhenever أَفْضىcame إِلىto مُنْتَوَاهُمُtheir chosen abode
تَرى الدَّهْرَ مَا أَفْضى إِلى مُنْتَوَاهُمُ
يُنَكِّبُturns aside عَنْهُمْfrom them بِالْخُطُوبِwith calamities النَّوَاكِبِdevastating
يُنَكِّبُ عَنْهُمْ بِالْخُطُوبِ النَّوَاكِبِ
You see Time, whenever it reaches their chosen abode,
turn aside from them with its devastating calamities.
إِذَاwhen الْمُنْقِذِيُّونَthe Munqidhites اعْتَصَمْتَyou held fast بِحَبْلِهِمْto their rope
إِذَا الْمُنْقِذِيُّونَ اعْتَصَمْتَ بِحَبْلِهِمْ
خَضَبْتَyou stained الْحُسَامَthe sword الْعَضْبَkeen مِنْwith blood from كُلِّevery خَاضِبِsword-stainer
خَضَبْتَ الْحُسَامَ الْعَضْبَ مِنْ كُلِّ خَاضِبِ
When you cling to the Munqidhites' rope,
you stain your keen sword with the blood of every sword-stainer.
أُولئِكَthose men لمْnot يَرْضَوْاwere content مِنَwith الْعِزِّhonor وَالْغِنىand wealth
أُولئِكَ لمْ يَرْضَوْا مِنَ الْعِزِّ وَالْغِنى
سِوىexcept مَاwhat اسْتَبَاحُواthey seized بِالْقَنَاwith spears وَالْقَوَاضِبِand cutting blades
سِوى مَا اسْتَبَاحُوا بِالْقَنَا وَالْقَوَاضِبِ
Those men accepted no honor or wealth
except what they won by spears and cutting blades.
كَأَنْas though لَمْnot يُحَلِّلْmade lawful رِزْقَهُمْtheir livelihood دِينُthe creed of مَجْدِهِمْtheir glory
كَأَنْ لَمْ يُحَلِّلْ رِزْقَهُمْ دِينُ مَجْدِهِمْ
بِغَيْرِby other than الْعَوَالِيtall spears وَالْعِتَاقِand thoroughbreds الشَّوَازِبِlean
بِغَيْرِ الْعَوَالِي وَالْعِتَاقِ الشَّوَازِبِ
As though their glory's creed permitted them no livelihood
except through tall spears and lean, noble steeds.
إِذَاwhen قَرَّبُوهَاthey brought them near لِلِّقَاءِfor battle تَبَاعَدَتْgrew farther apart
إِذَا قَرَّبُوهَا لِلِّقَاءِ تَبَاعَدَتْ
مَسَافَةُthe distance of مَاwhat بَيْنَlies between الطُّلىnecks وَالذَّوَائِبِand forelocks
مَسَافَةُ مَا بَيْنَ الطُّلى وَالذَّوَائِبِ
When they bring them near for battle, farther apart grows
the distance between necks and forelocks.
إِذَاwhen نَزَلُواthey alighted upon أَرْضاًa land بِهَاin it الْمَحْلُdrought رُوِّضَتْwas made a garden
إِذَا نَزَلُوا أَرْضاً بِهَا الْمَحْلُ رُوِّضَتْ
وَمَاand not سُحِبَتْwere dragged فِيهَاin it ذُيُولُthe skirts of السَّحَائِبِclouds
وَمَا سُحِبَتْ فِيهَا ذُيُولُ السَّحَائِبِ
When they alight on a drought-stricken land, it becomes a garden,
though no trailing skirts of clouds have been dragged across it,
بِأَنْدِيَةٍwith gathering places خضْرٍgreen فِسَاحٍspacious رِبَاعُهَاtheir quarters
بِأَنْدِيَةٍ خضْرٍ فِسَاحٍ رِبَاعُهَا
وَأَوْدِيَةٍand valleys غَزْرٍcopious عِذَابِsweet الْمَشَارِبِin drinking waters
وَأَوْدِيَةٍ غَزْرٍ عِذَابِ الْمَشَارِبِ
with green gathering places, spacious in their quarters,
and copious valleys whose drinking waters are sweet.
أَرَىI see الدَّهْرَTime حَرْباًat war لِلْمُسَالِمِwith the peaceful بَعْدَمَاafter
أَرَى الدَّهْرَ حَرْباً لِلْمُسَالِمِ بَعْدَمَا
صَحِبْناهُwe kept its company دَهْراًa long time وَهْوَwhile it سِلْمُwas at peace with الْمُحَارِبِthe warrior
صَحِبْناهُ دَهْراً وَهْوَ سِلْمُ الْمُحَارِبِ
I see Time at war with the peaceful, after
we long kept its company while it was at peace with the warrior.
فَعُذْso seek refuge بِنَهارِيِّwith one diurnal in الْعَدَاوَةِenmity أَوْحَدٍpeerless
فَعُذْ بِنَهارِيِّ الْعَدَاوَةِ أَوْحَدٍ
مِنَof الْقَوْمِthe people لَيْلِيِّnocturnal in النَّدَىgenerosity وَالرَّغَائِبِand gifts
مِنَ الْقَوْمِ لَيْلِيِّ النَّدَى وَالرَّغَائِبِ
So seek refuge with a peerless man whose enmity is by day,
one of this people, whose generosity and gifts are by night.
تَنَلْyou shall gain بِسَدِيدِthrough Sadid الْمُلْكِal-Mulk (the realm) ثَرْوَةَwealth for مُعْدِمٍa destitute person
تَنَلْ بِسَدِيدِ الْمُلْكِ ثَرْوَةَ مُعْدِمٍ
وَفَرْجَةَand relief for مَلْهُوفٍone anguished وَعِصْمَةَand protection for هَارِبِa fugitive
وَفَرْجَةَ مَلْهُوفٍ وَعِصْمَةَ هَارِبِ
Through Sadid al-Mulk you shall gain wealth for a pauper,
relief for the anguished, and protection for the fugitive.
سَعىstrove وَارِثُthe heir of الْمَجْدِglory التَّلِيدِancestral فَلَمْand did not يَدَعْleave
سَعى وَارِثُ الْمَجْدِ التَّلِيدِ فَلَمْ يَدَعْ
بِأَفْعَالِهِby his deeds مَجْداًglory طَرِيفاًnewly acquired لِكَاسِبِfor an earner
بِأَفْعَالِهِ مَجْداً طَرِيفاً لِكَاسِبِ
The heir of ancestral glory strove and left
by his deeds no newly won glory for another to earn.
يُغَطِّيcovers عَلَيْهِover him الْحَزْمُprudence بِالْفِكَرِwith thoughts الَّتِيthat
يُغَطِّي عَلَيْهِ الْحَزْمُ بِالْفِكَرِ الَّتِي
كَشَفْنَrevealed لَهُto him عَمَّاabout what وَرَاءَbeyond الْعَوَاقِبِoutcomes
كَشَفْنَ لَهُ عَمَّا وَرَاءَ الْعَوَاقِبِ
Prudence cloaks him with thoughts that
have revealed to him what lies beyond outcomes,
وَرَأْيٍand judgment يُريshows خَلْفَbehind الرَّدَىdeath مِنْfrom أَمَامِهِbefore it
وَرَأْيٍ يُري خَلْفَ الرَّدَى مِنْ أَمَامِهِ
فَمَاso not غَيْبُهُits unseen mystery الْمَكْنُونُconcealed عَنْهُfrom him بِغَائِبِhidden
فَمَا غَيْبُهُ الْمَكْنُونُ عَنْهُ بِغَائِبِ
and with judgment that reveals what lies beyond death before it comes;
so its concealed mystery is not hidden from him.
بَقِيتَmay you endure بَقَاءَthe endurance of النَّيِّرَاتِthe luminaries وَمِثْلَهاand like them
بَقِيتَ بَقَاءَ النَّيِّرَاتِ وَمِثْلَها
عُلُوًّاin height وَصَوْناًand protection عَنْfrom صُرُوفِthe turns of النَّوَائِبِcalamities
عُلُوًّا وَصَوْناً عَنْ صُرُوفِ النَّوَائِبِ
May you endure as long as the luminaries, and like them
in height and protection from the turns of calamity.
وَدامَand may endure بَنُوكَyour sons السِّتَّةُthe six الزُّهْرُradiant إِنَّهُمْindeed they
وَدامَ بَنُوكَ السِّتَّةُ الزُّهْرُ إِنَّهُمْ
نُجُومُthe stars of الْمَعَالِيeminence فِيin سَماءِthe sky of الْمَنَاقِبِnoble deeds
نُجُومُ الْمَعَالِي فِي سَماءِ الْمَنَاقِبِ
May your six radiant sons endure: they are
the stars of eminence in the sky of noble deeds.
سَلَلْتَyou drew سِهَاماًarrows مِنْfrom كِنَانَةَa quiver لَمْnot تَزَلْceased
سَلَلْتَ سِهَاماً مِنْ كِنَانَةَ لَمْ تَزَلْ
يُقَرْطِسhits the mark مِنْهَاfrom it فِيamong الْمُنىwishes كُلُّevery صَائِبِunerring shaft
يُقَرْطِس مِنْهَا فِي الْمُنى كُلُّ صَائِبِ
You drew arrows from a quiver; unceasingly,
each unerring shaft from it hits the mark of wishes.
فَأَدْرَكْتَso you attained مَاwhat فَاتَeluded الْملُوكَkings بِعَزْمَةٍthrough resolve
فَأَدْرَكْتَ مَا فَاتَ الْملُوكَ بِعَزْمَةٍ
تَقُومُtakes مَقَامَthe place of الْحَظِّfortune عِنْدَin الْمُطَالِبِpursuits
تَقُومُ مَقَامَ الْحَظِّ عِنْدَ الْمُطَالِبِ
Thus you attained what kings missed, through a resolve
that takes fortune's place in the pursuit of aims.
وَمَاand not فُقْتُهمْI surpassed them حَتّىuntil تَفَرَّدْتَyou stood alone دُونَهُمْapart from them
وَمَا فُقْتُهمْ حَتّى تَفَرَّدْتَ دُونَهُمْ
بِرَأْيِكَthrough your judgment فيin صَرْفِaverting الْخُطُوبِcalamities اللَّوَازِبِpersistent
بِرَأْيِكَ في صَرْفِ الْخُطُوبِ اللَّوَازِبِ
I did not surpass them until you stood apart from them
through your judgment in averting relentless calamities.
وَمَاand not شَرُفَتْbecame nobler عَنْabove قِيمَةthe value of الزُّبَرِiron ingots الظُّبىsword edges
وَمَا شَرُفَتْ عَنْ قِيمَة الزُّبَرِ الظُّبى
إِذَاif لَمْnot يُشَرّفْهَاennoble them مَضاءُthe keenness of الْمَضَارِبِthe striking edges
إِذَا لَمْ يُشَرّفْهَا مَضاءُ الْمَضَارِبِ
Blades rise no higher in value than iron ingots
unless the keenness of their striking edges ennobles them.
تَجَانَفْتُI turned aside عَنْfrom قَصْدِseeking الْمُلُوكِkings وَعِنْدَهُمْwhile they have
تَجَانَفْتُ عَنْ قَصْدِ الْمُلُوكِ وَعِنْدَهُمْ
رَغَائِبُcoveted gifts لَمْnot تَجْنَحْinclined إِلَيْهَاtoward them غَرَائِبِيmy rare verses
رَغَائِبُ لَمْ تَجْنَحْ إِلَيْهَا غَرَائِبِي
I turned aside from seeking kings, though they possessed
coveted gifts toward which my rare verses never inclined.
تَنَاقَلُcarry onward بِيme أيْدِيthe forelegs of الْمَهَارىMahri camels حَثِيثَةًswiftly
تَنَاقَلُ بِي أيْدِي الْمَهَارى حَثِيثَةً
كَمَاas اخْتَلَفَتْshifted فِيin الْعَقْدِfinger-counting أَنْمُلُthe fingertips of حَاسِبِa reckoner
كَمَا اخْتَلَفَتْ فِي الْعَقْدِ أَنْمُلُ حَاسِبِ
The forelegs of Mahri camels bear me swiftly onward,
as a reckoner's fingers shift in finger-counting.
إِذَاwhen الشَّوْقُlonging أَغْرَانِيurged me بِذِكْرِكَto mention you مَادِحاًpraising
إِذَا الشَّوْقُ أَغْرَانِي بِذِكْرِكَ مَادِحاً
تَرَنَّمْتُI sang مُرْتَاحاًin delight فَحَنَّتْso cried with yearning رَكَائِبِيmy riding camels
تَرَنَّمْتُ مُرْتَاحاً فَحَنَّتْ رَكَائِبِي
When longing urges me to name you in praise,
I chant in delight, and my riding camels cry in yearning,
بِمَنْظُومَةٍwith a poem مِنْof خَالِصِpure الدُّرِّpearls سِلْكُهَاits thread
بِمَنْظُومَةٍ مِنْ خَالِصِ الدُّرِّ سِلْكُهَا
عَرُوضٌpoetic meter وَلكنْbut دُرُّهَاits pearls مِنْof مَنَاقِبِnoble deeds
عَرُوضٌ وَلكنْ دُرُّهَا مِنْ مَنَاقِبِ
with a string of pure pearls whose thread
is poetic meter, though its pearls are noble deeds.
تُعَمَّرُwill endure عُمْرَthe lifespan of الدَّهْرِTime حَتّىuntil إِذَاwhen مَضىit has passed
تُعَمَّرُ عُمْرَ الدَّهْرِ حَتّى إِذَا مَضى
أقَامَتْit remained وَمَاand not أَرْمَتْadvanced علَىbeyond سِنِّthe age of كَاعِبِa budding maiden
أقَامَتْ وَمَا أَرْمَتْ علَى سِنِّ كَاعِبِ
It shall live for Time's whole span; then, when Time has passed,
it will remain, no older than a budding maiden.
شَعَرْتُI composed poetry وَحَظُّand the lot of الشِّعْرِpoetry عِنْدَamong ذَوِيthose possessing الْغِنىwealth
شَعَرْتُ وَحَظُّ الشِّعْرِ عِنْدَ ذَوِي الْغِنى
شَبِيهٌsimilar بِحَظِّto the lot of الشِّيْبِgray hair عِنْدَamong الْكَواعبِbudding maidens
شَبِيهٌ بِحَظِّ الشِّيْبِ عِنْدَ الْكَواعبِ
I composed poetry, though poetry's lot among the wealthy
is like gray hair's lot among budding maidens.
وَمَاand no بِيَin me تَقْصِرٌfalling short عَنِof الْمَجْدِglory وَالْعُلىand high rank
وَمَا بِيَ تَقْصِرٌ عَنِ الْمَجْدِ وَالْعُلى
سِوَىexcept أَنَّنِيthat I صَيَّرْتُهُmade it مِنْone of مَكَاسِبيmy means of earning
سِوَى أَنَّنِي صَيَّرْتُهُ مِنْ مَكَاسِبي
There is no falling short in me of glory and high rank,
except that I made it one of my sources of income.
يُعَدُّis counted منَamong الأَكْفَآءِpeers مَنْwhoever كَانَis عَنْهُمُof them
يُعَدُّ منَ الأَكْفَآءِ مَنْ كَانَ عَنْهُمُ
غَنِيًّاindependent وَإِنْand even if لَمْnot يَشْأَهُمْoutstripped them فيin الْمَرَاتِبِranks
غَنِيًّا وَإِنْ لَمْ يَشْأَهُمْ في الْمَرَاتِبِ
Counted among their equals is the man who is
independent of them, though he has not outstripped them in rank.
وَلَوْand if خَطَرتْcrossed بِيabout me فِيin ضَمِيرِكَyour mind خَطْرَةٌa thought
وَلَوْ خَطَرتْ بِي فِي ضَمِيرِكَ خَطْرَةٌ
لَعَادَتْit would surely return بِتَصْدِيقِwith confirmation of الظُّنُونِexpectations الكَواذبِfalse
لَعَادَتْ بِتَصْدِيقِ الظُّنُونِ الكَواذبِ
If a thought of me were to cross your mind,
it would return proving false expectations true,
وَأَصْبَحَand would become مُخْضَرّاًgreen بِسَيْبِكَthrough your bounty مُمْرِعاًlush
وَأَصْبَحَ مُخْضَرّاً بِسَيْبِكَ مُمْرِعاً
جَنَابِيmy grounds ومَمْنُوعاًand protected بِسَيْفِكَby your sword جَانِبِيmy side
جَنَابِي ومَمْنُوعاً بِسَيْفِكَ جَانِبِي
and through your bounty green and lush would become
my grounds, and through your sword my side would be protected.
Sol 6.1