أَدْنىthe least of اشْتِياقِيmy longing أَنْthat أَبِيتَI pass the night عَلِيلاًill
أَدْنى اشْتِياقِي أَنْ أَبِيتَ عَلِيلاً
وَأَقَلُّand the least of وَجْدِيmy passion أَنْthat أَذُوبَI melt away نُحُولاwith emaciation
وَأَقَلُّ وَجْدِي أَنْ أَذُوبَ نُحُولا
The least of my longing is to pass the night ill,
My slightest yearning is that you fall ill,
And the least of my passion is to melt away with wasting.
And my least ecstasy is that I pine away.
كَمْhow often أَكْتُمُI conceal الشُّوْقَlonging الْمُبَرِّحَthe tormenting وَالْهَوىand love
كَمْ أَكْتُمُ الشُّوْقَ الْمُبَرِّحَ وَالْهَوى
وَكَفىand suffices بِدَمْعِيmy tears as وَالسَّقامِand sickness دَلِيلاproof
وَكَفى بِدَمْعِي وَالسَّقامِ دَلِيلا
How often I conceal tormenting longing and love,
How much longer can I conceal this cheering love,
Yet my tears and sickness are proof enough.
With my tears and sickness as evidence?
فَالْيَوْمَso today قَدْindeed أَمْضىhas sharpened الصُّدُودُrejection تَلَدُّدِيmy restless anguish
فَالْيَوْمَ قَدْ أَمْضى الصُّدُودُ تَلَدُّدِي
وَأَعادَand has rendered حَدَّthe edge of تَجَلُّدِيmy endurance مَفْلُولاblunted
وَأَعادَ حَدَّ تَجَلُّدِي مَفْلُولا
So today rejection has sharpened my restless anguish,
Today my patience is spent, exhausted -
And left the edge of my endurance blunted.
My self-restraint has failed and come undone.
أَشْكُوI lament فَيَنْصَدِعُand then splits الصَّفاhard rock لِيَfor me رِقَّةًout of tenderness
أَشْكُو فَيَنْصَدِعُ الصَّفا لِيَ رِقَّةً
لَوْif only كانَwere to يَرْحَمُpity قاتِلٌa slayer مَقْتُولاone slain
لَوْ كانَ يَرْحَمُ قاتِلٌ مَقْتُولا
I lament, and hard rock splits in tenderness for me—
I complain, and the rocks split open in pity,
If only a slayer would pity the slain.
As if a killer would pity the slain.
وَأَذِلُّand I am humbled مِنْby كَمَدٍgrief وَفَرْطِand excess of صَبابَةٍyearning
وَأَذِلُّ مِنْ كَمَدٍ وَفَرْطِ صَبابَةٍ
وَالْحُبُّand love ماwhat تَرَكَhas left الْعَزِيزَthe mighty ذَلِيلاabased
وَالْحُبُّ ما تَرَكَ الْعَزِيزَ ذَلِيلا
I am humbled by grief and excessive yearning,
I am humbler than a mat drunk with wine,
And love is what has left the mighty abased.
And love has left the mighty abased.
ياO لَيْتَنِيwould that I إِذْwhen خانَbetrayed مَنْthe one whom أَحْبَبْتُهُI loved
يا لَيْتَنِي إِذْ خانَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتُهُ
يَوْماًone day وَجَدْتُI found إِلىto السُّلُوِّforgetting سَبِيلاa path
يَوْماً وَجَدْتُ إِلى السُّلُوِّ سَبِيلا
If only, when the one I loved betrayed me,
If only, when he who I loved betrayed me one day
I had one day found a path to forgetting.
I had found my way to end it all!
ماwhat لِيis with me شُغِلْتُI am absorbed بِحُبِّin love for مَنْone who لاnot يَنْثَنِيdesists
ما لِي شُغِلْتُ بِحُبِّ مَنْ لا يَنْثَنِي
كَلِفاًinfatuated بِغَيْرِwith someone other than مُحِبَّهِhis lover مَشْغُولاengrossed
كَلِفاً بِغَيْرِ مُحِبَّهِ مَشْغُولا
Why am I absorbed in loving one who never ceases
Why was I distracted loving one who bends not to me?
To be infatuated and engrossed with someone other than his lover?
Too busy for one who loves not to notice.
ماwhat لِيis with me أَرىI see بَرْدَthe coolness of الشَّرابِthe drink مُعَرَّضاًoffered
ما لِي أَرى بَرْدَ الشَّرابِ مُعَرَّضاً
فأُذادُthen I am driven away عَنْهُfrom it وَماand not شَفَيْتُI have quenched غَلِيلاa burning thirst
فأُذادُ عَنْهُ وَما شَفَيْتُ غَلِيلا
Why do I see a cool drink offered,
Why do I see the cold drink set aside
Then find myself driven from it, my burning thirst unquenched?
Yet shun it, still unhealed of my malady?
مَنْwho مُسْعِدِيmy comforter مَنْwho عاذِرِيmy excuser مَنْwho راحِمِيmy pitier
مَنْ مُسْعِدِي مَنْ عاذِرِي مَنْ راحِمِي
مَنْwho ذاis there يُعِينُhelps مُتَيَّماًone enslaved by love مَخْبُولاmaddened
مَنْ ذا يُعِينُ مُتَيَّماً مَخْبُولا
Who will comfort me? Who will excuse me? Who will pity me?
Who will help me? Who will excuse me? Who will have mercy?
Who will help a man enslaved and maddened by love?
Who will aid the confused, overwhelmed soul?
ياO عاذِلِيmy reproacher أَرَأَيْتَhave you seen مَغْلُوبَovercome in الْحَشاthe heart
يا عاذِلِي أَرَأَيْتَ مَغْلُوبَ الْحَشا
يَعْصِيdefies الصَّبابَةَyearning أَوْor يُطِيعُobeys عَذُولاa reproacher
يَعْصِي الصَّبابَةَ أَوْ يُطِيعُ عَذُولا
O you who reproach me, have you seen one whose heart is overcome
O you who blame me! Have you seen one possessed by love
Defy longing or obey a reproacher?
Disobey his madness or heed a critic?
لَوْif كُنْتَyou were to تَعْلَمُknow ماwhat لَقِيتُI have suffered مِنَfrom الْهَوىlove
لَوْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ ما لَقِيتُ مِنَ الْهَوى
لَوَجَدْتَنِيyou would find me لِلنّائِباتِof calamities حَمُولاa patient bearer
لَوَجَدْتَنِي لِلنّائِباتِ حَمُولا
If you knew what I have suffered from love,
If you but knew what I suffer from love’s agony
You would find me a patient bearer of calamities.
You would find me borne down by fate’s blows.
ماno لِيfor me عَلَىagainst صَرفِthe vicissitudes of الْحَوادِثِevents مُسْعِدٌa helper
ما لِي عَلَى صَرفِ الْحَوادِثِ مُسْعِدٌ
إِلاّexcept رَجاءُhope of سَماحِthe generosity of إِسْماعِيلاIsma'il
إِلاّ رَجاءُ سَماحِ إِسْماعِيلا
I have no helper against the turns of fortune,
I have none who brings me joy at the whims of fate
Except the hope of Isma'il's generosity.
Save hope of forgiveness from the noble prince.
الْماجِدُthe noble الْغَمْرُthe bountiful الأَبِيُّthe unbowed الأَوْحَدَthe peerless الْthe (continued)
الْماجِدُ الْغَمْرُ الأَبِيُّ الأَوْحَدَ الْ
بَرُّbenevolent الْوَفِيُّthe faithful الْباذِلُthe bestower of الْمَأْمُولاwhat is hoped for
بَرُّ الْوَفِيُّ الْباذِلُ الْمَأْمُولا
The noble, bountiful, unbowed, peerless one,
Al-Majid, the Munificent, the Righteous, the Unique,
Benevolent and faithful, bestowing what is hoped for;
The Loyal, the Open-Handed, the Longed-For!
مَنْhe who لاdoes not يَرىthink أَنَّthat الْجَوادَthe generous man بِمالِهِwith his wealth
مَنْ لا يَرى أَنَّ الْجَوادَ بِمالِهِ
مَنْhe who لاnot يَكُونُis عَلَىin pursuit of الْعَلاءِeminence بَخِيلاmiserly
مَنْ لا يَكُونُ عَلَى الْعَلاءِ بَخِيلا
Who does not think a generous man is generous in wealth alone,
One who does not see that the generous man gains praise
Who is never miserly in pursuit of eminence;
Will never be unstinting in highest deeds.
الْجاعِلُthe one making الْفِعْلَthe deed الْجَمِيلَthe noble ذَرِيعَةًa means
الْجاعِلُ الْفِعْلَ الْجَمِيلَ ذَرِيعَةً
إِبَداًalways إِلىto حَمْدِthe praise of الْوَرىhumankind وَوَسِيلاand a path
إِبَداً إِلى حَمْدِ الْوَرى وَوَسِيلا
Who makes noble deeds a means,
Who makes good deeds the means to lasting glory
Always, to mankind's praise, and a path to it;
And who counts the sea's surge as but a draught?
مَنْhe who لاdoes not يَعُدُّreckon الْبَحْرَthe sea نَهْلَةَa single draught for شابِبٍa young man
مَنْ لا يَعُدُّ الْبَحْرَ نَهْلَةَ شابِبٍ
يَوْماًon any day وَلاnor الْخَطْبَthe calamity الْجَلِيلَthe mighty جَلِيلاmighty
يَوْماً وَلا الْخَطْبَ الْجَلِيلَ جَلِيلا
Who does not reckon the sea a youth's single draught,
He has gained from the noblest acts a treasure
On any day, nor a mighty calamity mighty.
That endures though time itself fades away.
قَدْindeed نالَhe has gained مِنْfrom شَرَفِthe nobility of الْفِعالِdeeds ذَخِيرَةًa treasure
قَدْ نالَ مِنْ شَرَفِ الْفِعالِ ذَخِيرَةً
تَبْقىit endures إِذاwhen كادَis about to الزَّمانُtime يَزُولاvanish
تَبْقى إِذا كادَ الزَّمانُ يَزُولا
He has gained from the nobility of his deeds a treasure
And won great praise for himself that he embodies
That endures when time itself is about to vanish.
Having friendship itself for his companion.
وَاسْتَخْلَصَand he secured الْحَمْدَpraise الْجَزِيلَabundant لِنَفْسِهِfor himself
وَاسْتَخْلَصَ الْحَمْدَ الْجَزِيلَ لِنَفْسِهِ
فَحَواهُthen he possessed it وَاتَّخَذَand he took السَّماحَgenerosity خَلِيلاas a companion
فَحَواهُ وَاتَّخَذَ السَّماحَ خَلِيلا
He has secured abundant praise for himself,
You will not see him blaming the magnificent acts of giving -
Possessed it, and taken generosity as his companion.
Rather, he calls them most sublime when performed.
ماnot إِنْemphatic particle تَراهُyou see him الدَّهْرَthroughout time إِلاexcept قائِلاًspeaking
ما إِنْ تَراهُ الدَّهْرَ إِلا قائِلاً
لِلْمَكْرُماتِconcerning noble deeds الْباهِراتِthe dazzling فَعُولاever accomplishing
لِلْمَكْرُماتِ الْباهِراتِ فَعُولا
Never, through all time, do you see him but speaking
Resolute in purpose is he, and strong in resolve,
Of dazzling noble deeds and ever performing them.
Drawn like well-honed blades from the sheath.
إِنْif سِيلَhe is asked عِنْدَat the time of الْجُودِgenerosity كانَhe is غَمامَةًa rain cloud
إِنْ سِيلَ عِنْدَ الْجُودِ كانَ غَمامَةً
أَوْor عُدَّhe is counted يَوْمَon the day of الْبَأْسِbattle كانَhe is قَبِيلاa tribe
أَوْ عُدَّ يَوْمَ الْبَأْسِ كانَ قَبِيلا
If asked when generosity is needed, he is a rain cloud;
With virtues the stars in their setting cannot match
Or, counted on the day of battle, he is a whole tribe.
When they go down fading into the dark.
هِمَماًaspirations تَطُولُrise high بِحَزْمِهِthrough his resolve وَعَزائِماand resolutions
هِمَماً تَطُولُ بِحَزْمِهِ وَعَزائِما
بُتْكاًsharp-cutting كَماjust as اخْتَرَطَunsheathed الْكُماةُarmored warriors نُصُولاblades
بُتْكاً كَما اخْتَرَطَ الْكُماةُ نُصُولا
Aspirations that rise high through his resolve, and resolutions
And to the state's exalted minister, worthy scion
Sharp-cutting, like blades drawn by armored warriors;
Is due unstinting praise and gratitude
وَمَناقِباًand virtues لاnever يَأْتَلِينَfalter طَوالِعاًin rising
وَمَناقِباً لا يَأْتَلِينَ طَوالِعاً
أَبَداًforever إِذاwhen هَوَتِfell النّجُومُthe stars أُفُولاin setting
أَبَداً إِذا هَوَتِ النّجُومُ أُفُولا
And virtues that never cease rising,
From a people who were always gallant men
Forever, even when the stars plunge down to set.
Siring heroes, and husbands without peer.
وَإِلىand to وَجِيهِWajih الدَّوْلَةِthe state ابْنِson of رَشِيدِهاits Rashid
وَإِلى وَجِيهِ الدَّوْلَةِ ابْنِ رَشِيدِها
حَمْداًpraise كَنائِلِهِlike his bounty الْجَزِيلِabundant جَزِيلاabundant
حَمْداً كَنائِلِهِ الْجَزِيلِ جَزِيلا
And to Wajih al-Dawla, son of Rashid al-Dawla,
Noble in deed, lavish in plenty, of purest stock -
Abundant praise, like his abundant bounty.
O best of all the house of Raashid!
مِنْfrom مَعْشَرٍa people كانُواthey were لأُماتِto the mothers of الْعُلىeminence
مِنْ مَعْشَرٍ كانُوا لأُماتِ الْعُلى
أَبَداًalways فُحُولاًsires أَنْجَبَتْwho bred noble offspring وَبُعُولاand husbands
أَبَداً فُحُولاً أَنْجَبَتْ وَبُعُولا
Of a people who were, to the mothers of eminence,
For long have you shown me favor undeserved
Ever sires of noble offspring, and husbands;
A kindness that endures as time flows by.
الْباهِرِينَthose dazzling فَضائِلاًin virtues وَالْغامِرِيand those overflowing (continued)
الْباهِرِينَ فَضائِلاً وَالْغامِرِي
نَplural ending (continued) نَوافِلاًwith gifts وَالطَّيِّبِينَand those pure أُصُولاin ancestry
نَ نَوافِلاً وَالطَّيِّبِينَ أُصُولا
Dazzling in their virtues, overflowing
If my poor verse falls short of your due praise
With gifts, and pure in their ancestry.
Know that for all but you it would be great.
يَابْنَO son of الْمُحَسِّنِal-Muhassin طالَlong ماemphatic particle أَحْسَنْتِyou have treated kindly بِيtoward me
يَابْنَ الْمُحَسِّنِ طالَ ما أَحْسَنْتِ بِي
كَرَماًin generosity يَبِيتُit remains through the night مِنَover الزَّمانِtime مُدِيلاgranting victory
كَرَماً يَبِيتُ مِنَ الزَّمانِ مُدِيلا
O son of al-Muhassin, long have you treated me kindly,
Who can thank you for the gifts you have granted me?
With generosity that nightly grants victory over time.
You have laden me with bounty I cannot bear!
إِنْif كانَit is يَقْصُرُfalls short عَنْكَof you ثَوْبُthe garment of مَدائِحِيmy praises
إِنْ كانَ يَقْصُرُ عَنْكَ ثَوْبُ مَدائِحِي
فَلَقَدْthen surely يَكُنُit would be عَلَىon سِواكَanyone other than you طَوِيلاlong
فَلَقَدْ يَكُنُ عَلَى سِواكَ طَوِيلا
If the garment of my praises falls short of you,
So I will thank you as long as the singer trills his song
It would surely be long on anyone else.
And the dove fills the air with his mournful song.
مَنْwho ذاis there يَقُومُcan fulfill بِشُكْرِthe thanks for ماwhat أَوْلَيْتَهُyou have bestowed
مَنْ ذا يَقُومُ بِشُكْرِ ما أَوْلَيْتَهُ
حَمَّلْتَنِيyou have burdened me with مَنّاًa favor عَلَيَّupon me ثَقِيلاheavy
حَمَّلْتَنِي مَنّاً عَلَيَّ ثَقِيلا
Who can give due thanks for what you have bestowed?
And I will grant you praise in my words - praise
You have laid upon me a heavy burden of favor.
That never before this day was given.
فَلأَشْكُرَنَّكَso I shall surely thank you ماas long as تَغَنّىsings تائِقٌone yearning
فَلأَشْكُرَنَّكَ ما تَغَنّى تائِقٌ
طَرِبٌenraptured وَماand as long as دَعَتِcalled الْحَمامُthe doves هَدِيلاin cooing
طَرِبٌ وَما دَعَتِ الْحَمامُ هَدِيلا
I shall surely thank you as long as a yearning man sings,
Give me to drink from no hand but yours; for only
In rapture, and as long as doves utter their cooing.
The best clouds are those that bear abundant rain.
ولأَمْنَحَنَّكَand I shall surely grant you مِنْfrom ثَنائِيmy praise مِقْوَلاًan eloquent tongue
ولأَمْنَحَنَّكَ مِنْ ثَنائِي مِقْوَلاً
ماnot كانَwas قَبْلَكَbefore you فِيin الزَّمانِtime مَقُولاspoken
ما كانَ قَبْلَكَ فِي الزَّمانِ مَقُولا
And I shall surely grant you, through my praise, an eloquent tongue,
Your gifts know well that I could never
With words never spoken in all time before you.
Make another my evening friend and guest.
لاdo not تَسْقِنِيgive me drink إِلاّexcept بِكَفِّكَfrom your palm إِنَّماindeed
لا تَسْقِنِي إِلاّ بِكَفِّكَ إِنَّما
خَيْرُthe best of السَّحائِبِthe clouds ماthose that يَبِيتُremain through the night هَمُولاpouring rain
خَيْرُ السَّحائِبِ ما يَبِيتُ هَمُولا
Give me drink only from your palm, for
Far be it from your companion whom you accustomed
The best clouds are those that pour rain all night.
To see in you a parallel or a match!
قَدْindeed آمَنَتْكَhave made you safe الْمَكْرُماتُnoble deeds الْغُرُّthe radiant أَنْthat
قَدْ آمَنَتْكَ الْمَكْرُماتُ الْغُرُّ أَنْ
أُمْسِيI become at evening لِغَيْرِكَto someone other than you عافِياًa seeker of bounty وَنَزِيلاand a guest
أُمْسِي لِغَيْرِكَ عافِياً وَنَزِيلا
Your radiant noble deeds have made you safe from my
Grant me a share of those noble traits of yours that,
Becoming another's petitioner and guest.
If drunk, would leave me drunk without surcease.
حاشاfar be it لِنائِلِكَfrom your bounty الَّذِيwhich عَوَّدْتَنِيyou have accustomed me to
حاشا لِنائِلِكَ الَّذِي عَوَّدْتَنِي
مِنْfrom أَنْthat أَرىI see لَكَto you مُشْبِهاًsomeone resembling وَمَثِيلاand an equal
مِنْ أَنْ أَرى لَكَ مُشْبِهاً وَمَثِيلا
Far be it from the bounty to which you have accustomed me
And surrender the days to trample on envious foes,
That I should see anyone resembling you or your equal.
Debase your enemies, and attain your wants!
هَبْgrant لِيto me نَصِيباًa share مِنْof شَمائِلِكَyour qualities الَّتِيwhich
هَبْ لِي نَصِيباً مِنْ شَمائِلِكَ الَّتِي
لَوْif كُنَّthey were مَشْرُوباًa drink لَكُنَّthey would surely be شَمُولاwine
لَوْ كُنَّ مَشْرُوباً لَكُنَّ شَمُولا
Grant me a share of those qualities of yours which,
If they were a drink, would surely be wine.
وَاسْلَمْand remain safe عَلَىthroughout الأَيّامِthe days تَكبِتُyou confound حاسِداًan envier
وَاسْلَمْ عَلَى الأَيّامِ تَكبِتُ حاسِداً
وَتُذِلُّand you humble أَعْداءًenemies وَتَبْلُغُand you attain سُولاa desire
وَتُذِلُّ أَعْداءً وَتَبْلُغُ سُولا
And remain safe through the days, confounding the envious,
Humbling enemies and attaining your desire.
Partial English translation: 66 of 70 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1