Sol 6.1

  1. قل لمن رام ان يدانيك مجدا

    اقصر اقصر اطلت يا مغرور

    Tell whoever sought to rival you in glory:

    Desist, desist! You have gone on too long, deluded one!

  2. نحن بيت لنا التقدم بالفض

    ل على رغم من له التأخير

    We are a house that takes precedence through excellence,

    despite those whose lot is to lag behind.

  3. كل فرد منا له كل عصر

    فلك المجد بالتهاني بدور

    Each one of us, in every age, has

    full moons of congratulation in glory's firmament.

  4. نحن بيت لنا نصيب من

    النصر وحظ على العدا موفور

    We are a house with a share in

    victory, and ample fortune against our foes.

  5. نحن ما بين ناصر وأبي

    النصر ويكفيك والدي منصور

    We stand between Nasir and Abu

    al-Nasr; my father Mansur is enough for you.

  6. قدوة العلم زبدة الحلم صدر

    تعالى يا خمصيه الصدور

    An exemplar of learning, the essence of forbearance, a chief

    whose very soles exalt other chiefs [wording uncertain].

  7. كان نجم الهدى وها انا والنا

    س تراني شهابه المستنير

    He was the star of guidance; here I am, and the people

    see me as his shining meteor.

  8. انا كيد العدا وكوكب اقبا

    لي على ظلمة الحسود ينير

    I am my foes' undoing; the star of my good fortune

    shines upon the darkness of the envious man.

  9. كم عدو كالوحش ينفر من

    حيث يراني وقلبه مذعور

    Many an enemy, like a wild beast, flees from

    wherever he sees me, his heart terrified.

  10. هممي مستبدة وفخاري

    كلساني بين العدا مشهور

    My ambitions hold sway, and my glory,

    like my tongue, is renowned among my foes.

  11. قسما ان حاسديك لا موا

    ت وما يلبسون فهي القبور

    I swear: those who envy you are surely dead,

    and their garments are their graves.

  12. فاقتطفنا انت زهرة الحظ وانعم

    حيث باع الحياة منهم قصير

    So pluck the flower of good fortune, and rejoice,

    for their span of life is short.

  13. وابق واستبق نعمة اللّه بالش

    كر تزدها فقد يزاد الشكور

    Live on, and preserve God's blessing through gratitude;

    you will increase it, for the grateful are granted more.

  14. واسرح الطرف في برود مديح

    لم يحكها غيري وانت خبير

    And let your gaze roam over the striped robes of praise

    that none but I have woven—and you are discerning.

  15. لك فصلتها فجاءت على

    العيد كما شئتها وشاء المرور

    For you I tailored them, and they came for

    the feast, as you wished them and as time's passage willed.

  16. والذي حثني هو الود والاخ

    لاص لا المذق والحطام اليمير

    And what stirred me was affection and sincere

    devotion—not false friendship or worldly dross [epithet unclear].

  17. انا أولى بان تصون ودادي

    مثلما بالمديح انت جدير

    I have the greater claim to your cherishing my affection,

    just as you are worthy of praise.

  18. رب مدح يزهى به الغير كالحلي

    معارا يزهي به المستعير

    Many a eulogy in which another glories is like jewelry

    borrowed, in which the borrower preens.

  19. هان من أم بالمديح اناساً

    يستوى الشعر عندهم والشعير

    Debased is he who brings praise to people

    to whom poetry and barley are alike.

  20. همم رثة والسنة غلف

    وايد اكفهن صخور

    Threadbare ambitions and tongues sealed shut,

    and hands whose palms are rocks.

  21. ضاع شعري بين الكرام كما ضا

    ع سفاها بين المرأة البخور

    My poetry was wasted among the noble, just as

    incense was foolishly wasted among women.

  22. من محبي دهري اللئيم ام الح

    ظ المنافي ام الحبيب النفور

    Who loves me—my ignoble age, or

    hostile fortune, or the beloved who shuns me?

  23. كيف ارجو الخلاص بين ثلاث

    ويد الكل في قفاي تجور

    How can I hope for deliverance amid three,

    while each one's hand bears cruelly on my nape?