جَرىhas flown لَكَfor you بِالتَّوْفِيقِwith success أَيْمَنُthe most auspicious طائِرِbird
جَرى لَكَ بِالتَّوْفِيقِ أَيْمَنُ طائِرِ
وَمُلِّيتَand may you long enjoy مَأْثُورَstoried الْعُلىglory وَالْمآثِرِand noble deeds
وَمُلِّيتَ مَأْثُورَ الْعُلى وَالْمآثِرِ
The most auspicious bird has flown for you, bearing good fortune,
Good fortune smiled on you, auspicious bird,
and may you long enjoy storied glory and noble deeds.
And you fulfilled the heights of fame and virtues,
وَأَيَّدَكَand may He support you اللهُGod الْعِليُّexalted ثَناؤُهُHis praise
وَأَيَّدَكَ اللهُ الْعِليُّ ثَناؤُهُ
بَعاجِلِwith swift نَصْرٍvictory خالِدِeverlasting in الْعِزِّglory قاهِرِconquering
بَعاجِلِ نَصْرٍ خالِدِ الْعِزِّ قاهِرِ
And may God, whose praise is exalted, support you
And God the Most High lent you support, glory to Him,
with swift, conquering victory, everlasting in glory.
With immediate victory, strong and victorious vanquisher.
وَلاand never زِلْتَmay you cease وَرّاداًfrequently coming إِلىto كُلِّevery مَفْخَرٍsource of honor
وَلا زِلْتَ وَرّاداً إِلى كُلِّ مَفْخَرٍ
مَوارِدَwatering places مَحْمُودٍof one praised سَعِيدِfortunate in الْمَصادِرِdepartures
مَوارِدَ مَحْمُودٍ سَعِيدِ الْمَصادِرِ
And may you never cease coming to every source of honor,
And you remain replenishing every proud one,
praised at the watering places, fortunate in departure.
With praiseworthy, fortunate springs,
لَقَدْindeed دَلَّhas shown تَشْرِيفُthe honoring الْخَلِيفَةِby the caliph أَنَّهُthat he
لَقَدْ دَلَّ تَشْرِيفُ الْخَلِيفَةِ أَنَّهُ
بِخَيْرِof the finest بَنِيsons أَيّامِهِof his age خَيْرُthe best خابِرِjudge
بِخَيْرِ بَنِي أَيّامِهِ خَيْرُ خابِرِ
The caliph's honoring you has indeed shown that he
Indeed the Caliph honoring you indicates
is the best judge of the finest sons of his age,
That you are the best of the people of his days, the superior one.
وَأَنَّand that لَهُhe has فِيin حَوْطَةِsafeguarding الدِّينِthe faith هِمَّةًresolve
وَأَنَّ لَهُ فِي حَوْطَةِ الدِّينِ هِمَّةً
بِهاthrough it يَسْتَحِقُّhe deserves النَّصْرَaid مِنْfrom كُلِّevery ناصِرِhelper
بِها يَسْتَحِقُّ النَّصْرَ مِنْ كُلِّ ناصِرِ
and that he has resolve to safeguard the faith,
And that in defending the religion you have determination,
by which he deserves the aid of every helper.
With which you deserve victory from every supporter,
تَسَرْبَلْتَyou have clothed yourself عَضْبَʿAḍb (Sword) الدَّوْلَةِof the State الْمُلْكَkingship فَخْرَهُits glory
تَسَرْبَلْتَ عَضْبَ الدَّوْلَةِ الْمُلْكَ فَخْرَهُ
وَماand not الْفَخْرُglory إِلاّexcept لِلسُّيُوفِto the swords الْبَواتِرِthe cleaving
وَما الْفَخْرُ إِلاّ لِلسُّيُوفِ الْبَواتِرِ
You have donned kingship's glory, O ʿAḍb al-Dawla,
You donned the ferocity of the exalted state, the kingdom its pride,
and glory belongs only to the cleaving swords.
And pride belongs only to effective, penetrating swords.
وماand not جَهِلَتْwas ignorant of نُعْماهُhis favor عِنْدَكَwith you قَدْرَهاits worth
وما جَهِلَتْ نُعْماهُ عِنْدَكَ قَدْرَها
وَقَدْand indeed كَشَفَتْit revealed عَمّاfrom what طَوىhe folded away فِيin الْضّمائِرِthe innermost thoughts
وَقَدْ كَشَفَتْ عَمّا طَوى فِي الْضّمائِرِ
Nor did his favor misjudge its worth with you,
You knew the value of his gifts to you,
and it revealed what he had folded away in his innermost thoughts.
And uncovered what was veiled in consciences,
وَماand not نَبَّهَتْit drew attention إِلاّexcept عَلَىto ذِيone possessing نَباهَةٍeminence
وَما نَبَّهَتْ إِلاّ عَلَى ذِي نَباهَةٍ
كَماjust as سُقِيwas watered الرَّوْضُthe garden الْخَطِيبُthe eloquent بِماطِرِby a raincloud
كَما سُقِي الرَّوْضُ الْخَطِيبُ بِماطِرِ
It drew attention only to one already eminent,
You alerted only one of vigilance,
as the eloquent garden is watered by a raincloud.
As the meadow was watered, the eloquent one, with rain.
وَماand not كانَwas إِلاّexcept الْعَنْبَرَambergris الْوَرْدَrose-hued فِعْلُهُhis deed
وَما كانَ إِلاّ الْعَنْبَرَ الْوَرْدَ فِعْلُهُ
أُضِيفَwas added إِلىto نَشْرٍa scent مِنَof الْمِسْكِmusk عاطِرِfragrant
أُضِيفَ إِلى نَشْرٍ مِنَ الْمِسْكِ عاطِرِ
And his deed was nothing but rose-hued ambergris,
It was only fragrant ambergris, its deed,
added to a fragrant waft of musk.
Added to the diffusion of aromatic musk,
وَماand not شاءَhe wished إلاّexcept أَنْthat تُحَقِّقَyou ascertain عِنْدَهُwith him
وَما شاءَ إلاّ أَنْ تُحَقِّقَ عِنْدَهُ
مَحَلَّكَyour standing مِنْwith طاوٍone folding away هَواهُhis love وَناشِرِand one unfolding
مَحَلَّكَ مِنْ طاوٍ هَواهُ وَناشِرِ
He wished only that you should ascertain, with him,
It only desired that it establish your station with him
your place, whether he folds away his love or unfolds it;
As one whose love he harbored and disseminated.
وَأَنَّكَand that you مَعْقُودٌare bound بِأَكْبرِto the greatest هِمَّةٍresolve
وَأَنَّكَ مَعْقُودٌ بِأَكْبرِ هِمَّةٍ
وَأَنَّكَand that you مَعْدُودٌare counted لَهُfor him فِيamong الذَّخائِرِthe treasures
وَأَنَّكَ مَعْدُودٌ لَهُ فِي الذَّخائِرِ
and that you are bound to the loftiest resolve,
And that you are bound with the greatest determination,
and that you are numbered among his treasures.
And counted among his treasures,
وَلَيْسَand does not يَبِينُbecome clear الدَّهْرَever إِخْلاصُsincerity باطِنٍof the inner self
وَلَيْسَ يَبِينُ الدَّهْرَ إِخْلاصُ باطِنٍ
إذاif أَنْتَyou لَمْare not تُدْلَلْguided عَلَيْهِto it بِظاهِرِby an outward sign
إذا أَنْتَ لَمْ تُدْلَلْ عَلَيْهِ بِظاهِرِ
Nor does inward sincerity ever become clear
Sincerity of inner self is not revealed by time
if you are not guided to it by an outward sign.
If you do not prove it with the outer.
رَآكَhe saw you بِعَيْنِwith the eye اللُّبِّof the mind أَبْعَدَfarther-reaching فِيin الْعُلىglory
رَآكَ بِعَيْنِ اللُّبِّ أَبْعَدَ فِي الْعُلى
وَأَسْعَدَand more fortunate مِنْthan زُهْرِthe bright ones النُّجُومِof the stars الْبَواهِرِthe dazzling
وَأَسْعَدَ مِنْ زُهْرِ النُّجُومِ الْبَواهِرِ
He saw you, with the mind's eye, farther aloft in glory,
He saw you with the eye of affection, in the highest,
and more fortunate than the bright, dazzling stars;
And happier than the blossoms of brilliant stars,
وَأَبْهىand more splendid مَحَلاًin standing فِيin الْقُلُوبِhearts وَمَوْقِعاًand in position
وَأَبْهى مَحَلاً فِي الْقُلُوبِ وَمَوْقِعاً
وَأَشْهىand more pleasing إِلىto لَحْظِthe gaze الْعُيُونِof the eyes النَّواظِرِthe watching
وَأَشْهى إِلى لَحْظِ الْعُيُونِ النَّواظِرِ
and more splendid in place and standing within hearts,
And finest in station in hearts and position,
and more pleasing to the gaze of watching eyes;
And most delicious to the gaze of beholding eyes.
وَأَطْعَمَand more generous in feeding فِيin الَّلأْواءِhardship والدَّهْرُwhile the age ساغِبٌis hungry
وَأَطْعَمَ فِي الَّلأْواءِ والدَّهْرُ ساغِبٌ
وَأَطْعَنَand more forceful in spearing فِيinto صَدْرِthe breast الْكَمِيِّof the armored warrior الْمَغامِرِthe daring
وَأَطْعَنَ فِي صَدْرِ الْكَمِيِّ الْمَغامِرِ
and more generous with food in hardship, while the age is hungry,
And most nourishing in intimacy while time is arid,
and more forceful in spearing the daring armored warrior's breast.
And most piercing in the chest of the venturesome.
فَناهَزَso he attained فَخْراًglory باصْطِفائِكَby choosing you عاجِلاًswiftly
فَناهَزَ فَخْراً باصْطِفائِكَ عاجِلاً
عَلَىabove كُلِّevery باقٍone remaining فِيin الزّمانِtime وَغابِرِand one gone by
عَلَى كُلِّ باقٍ فِي الزّمانِ وَغابِرِ
So, by choosing you, he swiftly attained glory
So he surpassed quickly in choosing you
above all who remain in time and all who have passed.
Over all remaining in time and passing away.
وَماand not ذاكَthat مِنْof فِعْلِthe action الْخَلِيفَةِof the caliph مُنْكَرٌstrange
وَما ذاكَ مِنْ فِعْلِ الْخَلِيفَةِ مُنْكَرٌ
وَلاnor عَجَبٌa wonder فيضthe overflowing البحورof the seas الزواخرthe surging
وَلا عَجَبٌ فيض البحور الزواخر
Such a deed is no strange thing for the caliph,
This is not strange from the Caliph,
nor is the overflow of surging seas a wonder.
Nor wonder, the outpouring of stormy seas,
وماand not عدwas counted إلاexcept منamong مناقبهhis virtues التيwhich
وما عد إلا من مناقبه التي
مثلنthey embodied بِهِthrough him فِيin الفِعْلِaction طِيبَthe nobility الْعَناصِرِof the origins
مثلن بِهِ فِي الفِعْلِ طِيبَ الْعَناصِرِ
It was counted only among his virtues, which
And it counts only among his outstanding qualities,
embodied through him, in action, the nobility of his origins.
That were exemplified through him in deed, good traits.
وَماand not كانَwas تَأْثِيلٌestablished honor شَرِيفٌnoble وَسُؤْدُدٌand lordship
وَما كانَ تَأْثِيلٌ شَرِيفٌ وَسُؤْدُدٌ
لِيُنْكَرَto be denied مِنْby أَهْلِpeople النُّهَىof reason وَالْبَصائِرِand insight
لِيُنْكَرَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النُّهَى وَالْبَصائِرِ
Nor could noble, well-founded glory and lordship
It was not a noble, exalted deed,
be denied by people of reason and insight.
For it to be denied by people of ethics and insights.
وأَنْتَand you الَّذِيthe one who مِنْthrough بَأْسِهِhis valor فِيamid جَحافِلٍarmies
وأَنْتَ الَّذِي مِنْ بَأْسِهِ فِي جَحافِلٍ
وَمِنْand through مَجْدِهِhis glory فِيamid أُسْرَةٍa family وَعَشائِرِand clans
وَمِنْ مَجْدِهِ فِي أُسْرَةٍ وَعَشائِرِ
You are the one who, through his valor, stands amid armies,
You are the one whose might in regiments,
and through his glory, amid family and clans,
And whose glory among kinfolk and clans,
بِعَزْماتِwith resolves مَجْدٍof glory ثاقِباتٌpiercing هُمُومُهاtheir aspirations
بِعَزْماتِ مَجْدٍ ثاقِباتٌ هُمُومُها
وَآراءِand counsels مَلْكٍof a king مُحْصَداتِtightly twisted الْمَرائِرِthe cords
وَآراءِ مَلْكٍ مُحْصَداتِ الْمَرائِرِ
with glorious resolves whose aspirations pierce through,
With penetrating judgments of glory, their concerns,
and a king's counsels whose cords are tightly twisted.
And views of a kingdom, reaping insights,
يَراهاsee them ذَوُوthose possessing الأَضْغانِrancor بَثَّa spreading حَبائِلٍof snares
يَراها ذَوُو الأَضْغانِ بَثَّ حَبائِلٍ
وَماand not هِيَthey إلاّexcept أَسْهُمٌarrows فِيin الْمَناحِرِthe throats
وَما هِيَ إلاّ أَسْهُمٌ فِي الْمَناحِرِ
Those harboring rancor see them as snares spread out,
Those harboring grudges see it as a web of problems,
yet they are only arrows in throats.
Yet it is only arrows in throats.
وَآياتُand signs مَجْدٍof glory باهِراتٌdazzling كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَآياتُ مَجْدٍ باهِراتٌ كَأَنَّها
بَدائِعُmarvels تَأْتِيcome بِالْمَعانِيwith meanings النَّوادِرthe rare
بَدائِعُ تَأْتِي بِالْمَعانِي النَّوادِر
And dazzling signs of glory, as though they were
And brilliant signs of evident glory, as if
marvels bringing forth rare meanings.
They are marvelous novel concepts.
وَأَخْلاقُand manners مَعْشُوقِbeloved السَّجاياthe innate traits كَأَنَّماas though
وَأَخْلاقُ مَعْشُوقِ السَّجايا كَأَنَّما
سَقاكَhe gave you drink بِهاthrough them كَأْسَthe cup النَّدِيمِof the drinking companion الْمُعاقِرِthe habitual drinker
سَقاكَ بِها كَأْسَ النَّدِيمِ الْمُعاقِرِ
And the manners of one whose traits are beloved, as though
And manners of the beloved traits, as though
he had given you, through them, a wine-loving companion's cup.
He offered you from them a cup of vintage to sip.
يَبيتُhe remains بَعِيداًfar removed أَنْthat تُوَجَّهَbe directed وَصْمَةٌa stain
يَبيتُ بَعِيداً أَنْ تُوَجَّهَ وَصْمَةٌ
عَلَىupon عِرْضِهِhis honor والدَّهْرُwhile time باقِيlasting in الْمَعايرِreproaches
عَلَى عِرْضِهِ والدَّهْرُ باقِي الْمَعايرِ
He remains far beyond any stain being cast
Far it remains that any blemish be directed
upon his honor, while time's reproaches endure.
Toward his reputation, while time remains testing morals.
إِذاwhen دَفَعَdrives الطُّلابَthe petitioners إِلْحاحُthe pressure لَزْبَةٍof dire need
إِذا دَفَعَ الطُّلابَ إِلْحاحُ لَزْبَةٍ
فأَنْتَthen you الَّذِيthe one who لاdoes not يَتَّقِيshield himself بِالْمُعاذِرِwith excuses
فأَنْتَ الَّذِي لا يَتَّقِي بِالْمُعاذِرِ
When the pressure of dire need drives petitioners forward,
When the insistence of insistent seekers is deflected,
you are the one who never shelters behind excuses.
You are the one who does not defend with excuses.
وَماand not لِلْبُدُورِfor the full moons أَنْto تَكُفَّwithhold ضِياءَهاtheir light
وَما لِلْبُدُورِ أَنْ تَكُفَّ ضِياءَها
وَلاnor الْبُخْلُmiserliness فِيin طَبْعِthe nature الْغَمامِof the clouds البَواكِرِthe early-coming
وَلا الْبُخْلُ فِي طَبْعِ الْغَمامِ البَواكِرِ
It is not for full moons to withhold their light,
It is not for full moons to veil their illumination,
nor is miserliness in the nature of early rainclouds.
Nor is stinginess in the nature of pouring clouds.
لَعَمْرِيby my life لَقَدْindeed أَتْعَبْتَyou have wearied بِالْحَمْدِwith praise مَنْطِقِيmy speech
لَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ أَتْعَبْتَ بِالْحَمْدِ مَنْطِقِي
وَأَكْثَرتَand you increased مِنْof شُغْلِthe labor الْقَوافِيof the rhymes السَّوائِرِthe far-traveling
وَأَكْثَرتَ مِنْ شُغْلِ الْقَوافِي السَّوائِرِ
By my life, you have indeed wearied my speech with praise,
By my life, you have exhausted with thanks my rhetoric,
and increased the labor of far-traveling rhymes.
And multiplied the occupation of roving rhymes.
وَماand not نَوَّهَتْhave acclaimed مِنْكَin you الْقَوافِيthe rhymes بِخامِلٍan obscure one
وَما نَوَّهَتْ مِنْكَ الْقَوافِي بِخامِلٍ
وَلكِنْbut رَأْيْتُI have seen الشِّعْرَpoetry قَيْدَthe tether الْمَفاخِرِof glorious deeds
وَلكِنْ رَأْيْتُ الشِّعْرَ قَيْدَ الْمَفاخِرِ
Nor have the rhymes celebrated an obscure man in you;
The rhymes have not roused you with any sluggish one,
but I have found poetry to be the tether of glorious deeds.
But I saw poetry bound by pride.
إِذاif أَنْتَyou لَمْdo not تَجْعَلْgive لَهُto it مِنْكَof yourself جانِباًa share
إِذا أَنْتَ لَمْ تَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْكَ جانِباً
فَمَنْthen who يَقْتَنِيacquires الْحَمْدَpraise اقْتِناءَthe acquisition الْجَواهِرِof jewels
فَمَنْ يَقْتَنِي الْحَمْدَ اقْتِناءَ الْجَواهِرِ
If you do not give it a share of yourself,
If you do not make for it through you an aspect,
then who will acquire praise as one acquires jewels?
Then who attains praise as gathering jewels?
وَماand not زِلْتَyou have ceased مَشْغُوفاًpassionately enamored لَدَيَّin my eyes مُتَيَّماًenthralled
وَما زِلْتَ مَشْغُوفاً لَدَيَّ مُتَيَّماً
بِكُلِّby every رَداحٍfull-figured one مِنْof بَناتِthe daughters الْخَواطِرِof thoughts
بِكُلِّ رَداحٍ مِنْ بَناتِ الْخَواطِرِ
You have always been, in my eyes, love-struck and enthralled
You remain passionate toward me, infatuated
by every full-figured daughter of thought.
With every bit of inspiration from spontaneous thoughts.
لَهُنَّfor them إِذاwhen وافَيْنَthey come to مَجْدَكَyour glory قُرْبَةُcloseness الْthe
لَهُنَّ إِذا وافَيْنَ مَجْدَكَ قُرْبَةُ الْ
حِسانِbeautiful women وَدَلُّand the coy charm الآنِساتِof the charming maidens الْغَرائِرِthe innocent
حِسانِ وَدَلُّ الآنِساتِ الْغَرائِرِ
When they reach your glory, theirs is the closeness of the
They, if the favor of benevolence attends your glory,
beautiful women, and the coy charm of innocent maidens.
And the visiting of intimate thoughts, secrets.
يَرِدْنَthey come to رَبِيعاًspring pasture مِنْfrom جَنابِكَyour domain مُمْرِعاًlush
يَرِدْنَ رَبِيعاً مِنْ جَنابِكَ مُمْرِعاً
وَيَرْتَعْنَand they graze فِيin إِثْرِthe wake الْغُيُومِof the clouds الْمَواطِرِthe rain-bearing
وَيَرْتَعْنَ فِي إِثْرِ الْغُيُومِ الْمَواطِرِ
They come to lush spring pasture in your domain,
Return from your side a flourishing spring,
and graze in the wake of rain-bearing clouds.
And pasture in the wake of pouring rains,
وَإِنِّيand indeed I لَقَوّالٌam indeed a prolific composer لِكُلِّof every قَصِيدَةٍode
وَإِنِّي لَقَوّالٌ لِكُلِّ قَصِيدَةٍ
إِذاwhen قِيلَis recited شِعْرٌpoetry أَقْحَمَتْit overwhelms كُلَّevery شاعِرِpoet
إِذا قِيلَ شِعْرٌ أَقْحَمَتْ كُلَّ شاعِرِ
And I am indeed a composer of every ode
And I am saying to every ode,
that, when poetry is recited, overwhelms every poet.
If it is said there is poetry, it provokes every poet,
فَمِنْso some are كَلِمٍwords يَكْلُمِنْthey wound أَكْبادَthe livers جُسَّدِيof my body
فَمِنْ كَلِمٍ يَكْلُمِنْ أَكْبادَ جُسَّدِي
وَمِنْand some are فِقَرٍpassages تَرْمِيهِمْpelt them بِالفَواقِرِwith back-breaking blows
وَمِنْ فِقَرٍ تَرْمِيهِمْ بِالفَواقِرِ
Some are words that wound my body's vitals,
So from anxiety that makes my liver ache,
and some are passages that pelt them with back-breaking blows.
And from poverty that casts them with spears.
ألاah لَيْتَwould that شِعَرِيmy knowledge هَلْwhether أَفُوزُI win بِدَوْلَةٍwith a turn of fortune
ألا لَيْتَ شِعَرِي هَلْ أَفُوزُ بِدَوْلَةٍ
تُصَرِّفُsets in motion كَفِّيmy hand فِيupon عِنانِthe reins الْمَقادِرِof fate
تُصَرِّفُ كَفِّي فِي عِنانِ الْمَقادِرِ
Ah, would that I knew: shall I win a turn of fortune
Oh if only my poetry gains a state
that sets my hand to wield the reins of fate?
That guides my palm in the reins of fate,
وَهَلْand will تَنَهْضُrise الأَيّامُthe days بِيwith me فِيinto مَقاوِمٍstations
وَهَلْ تَنَهْضُ الأَيّامُ بِي فِي مَقاوِمٍ
تَطُولُrise high بِناهٍwith one who forbids لِلزَّمانِto time وَآمِرِand one who commands
تَطُولُ بِناهٍ لِلزَّمانِ وَآمِرِ
And will the days raise me to stations
And if only the days carry me to opponents
where I stand tall, forbidding and commanding time?
That stand long for time and command.
فإِنَّfor indeed مِنَof الْعَجْزِhelplessness الْمُبِينِthe evident وَأَنْتَwhile you ليare for me
فإِنَّ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ الْمُبِينِ وَأَنْتَ لي
نُزُولِيmy submission عَلَىto حُكْمِthe rule اللَّيالِيof the nights الْجَوائِرِthe unjust
نُزُولِي عَلَى حُكْمِ اللَّيالِي الْجَوائِرِ
For it is plain helplessness, when you are there for me,
For it is clear incapacity while you are for me
that I should submit to the rule of unjust nights.
My descent into the judgment of cruel nights.
Sol 6.1