فَواتِحُthe beginnings الفَتْحِof conquest تُنْبِيforetell عَنْof تَوَالِيهِits continuation
فَواتِحُ الفَتْحِ تُنْبِي عَنْ تَوَالِيهِ
لَقَدْindeed تَمَهَّدَhas become established مُلْكٌa kingdom أَنْتَyou وَالِيهِits ruler
لَقَدْ تَمَهَّدَ مُلْكٌ أَنْتَ وَالِيهِ
The beginnings of conquest foretell its continuation.
The keys to conquest herald its continuance,
A kingdom you govern is indeed firmly established.
A kingdom prepared for you as its heir.
فيin ذِمَّةِthe keeping الغَيْبِof the unseen مِنهاof them ماwhat تُشاهِدُهُyou behold it
في ذِمَّةِ الغَيْبِ مِنها ما تُشاهِدُهُ
يَهْدِيهِpresents it صُبْحٌa dawn وإِمْسَاءٌand an evening يُنَاغِيهِspeaks tenderly to it
يَهْدِيهِ صُبْحٌ وإِمْسَاءٌ يُنَاغِيهِ
What you behold of them rests in the unseen's keeping;
In the charge of the unseen are things you witness,
a dawn presents it, and an evening speaks tenderly to it.
Lit by dawn and dusk vying to guide it.
تَزْدَادُgrow حُبّاًin love وَلَمْand have not تَجْعَلmade زِيَارَتَهاtheir visits
تَزْدَادُ حُبّاً وَلَمْ تَجْعَل زِيَارَتَها
غِبّاًat intervals وكَمْand how many زائِرٍa visitor يُقْلَىis loathed تَمَادِيهِhis lingering
غِبّاً وكَمْ زائِرٍ يُقْلَى تَمَادِيهِ
They grow more beloved, though they have not made their visits
Your love for it grows though you do not make
infrequent—yet how many a visitor's lingering is loathed!
Its absence remote, however many visitors suffer from overstaying.
أمَّتْsought إمَامَthe imam الهُدىof guidance غُرّاًwhite-blazed مُحجَّلَةًwhite-footed
أمَّتْ إمَامَ الهُدى غُرّاً مُحجَّلَةً
كَأَنَّمَاas though فيin تَبَارِيهاtheir racing مَذاكِيهِhis mature steeds
كَأَنَّمَا في تَبَارِيها مَذاكِيهِ
They sought the imam of guidance, white-blazed and white-footed,
The Imam of Guidance has bedecked his noble steed
as though, in their racing, they were his mature steeds.
As if its embellishments are its bridle straps.
يَغْشَىcovers البَسِيطَةَthe earth مِنْfrom أَنْوارِهاtheir lights وَضَحٌradiance
يَغْشَى البَسِيطَةَ مِنْ أَنْوارِها وَضَحٌ
مِلءُfilling الزَّمانِtime بِهاthrough them تُجْلَىare cleared غَوَاشِيهِits veils
مِلءُ الزَّمانِ بِها تُجْلَى غَوَاشِيهِ
A radiance from their lights spreads across the earth,
A clarity covers the plain from its lights
filling all time; through them its veils are lifted.
Filling time with it, its far horizons illuminated.
قَادَled الخَليقَةَhumankind مِنْfrom بُعْدٍafar ومِنand from كَثبٍnearby
قَادَ الخَليقَةَ مِنْ بُعْدٍ ومِن كَثبٍ
نَحْوَtoward الخَلِيفَةِthe caliph إِسجَاحٌgentleness يُوالِيهِhe keeps extending it
نَحْوَ الخَلِيفَةِ إِسجَاحٌ يُوالِيهِ
Humanity is led, from far away and close at hand,
It has led creation, from afar and near,
toward the caliph by the gentleness he continually shows.
To the Caliph in submission thronging about him.
فَلِلْمغَارِبso for the western lands مِنْfrom تأمِيلِhoping for دَوْلَتهِhis reign
فَلِلْمغَارِب مِنْ تأمِيلِ دَوْلَتهِ
ماwhat لِلمَشَارِقِfor the eastern lands مِنْof نُعْمَىbounty لِراجِيهِfor one hoping in him
ما لِلمَشَارِقِ مِنْ نُعْمَى لِراجِيهِ
Thus the western lands, in hoping for his reign, possess
So the West has from the favor of its rule
what the eastern lands possess of bounty for those hoping in him.
What the East has of blessings for those hopeful of it.
لاno أُفْقَhorizon إِلاexcept أَقاصِيهِits farthest reaches وَإِنْand even if شَحَطَتْthey are distant
لا أُفْقَ إِلا أَقاصِيهِ وَإِنْ شَحَطَتْ
فِيin دينِهاtheir faith بِهُداهthrough his guidance مِنْamong أَدَانِيهِthose nearest him
فِي دينِها بِهُداه مِنْ أَدَانِيهِ
There is no horizon whose farthest reaches, however remote,
No horizon but the furthest extremities of it
do not stand among his nearest, guided by him in their faith.
And if it crosses swords in His religion from its nearby.
عَلَىupon خلافَتِهِhis caliphate الإِجْمَاعُconsensus مُنْعَقدٌis established
عَلَى خلافَتِهِ الإِجْمَاعُ مُنْعَقدٌ
فحَاضِرُso the settled people الخَلقِof humankind طَوعاًwillingly مِثلُlike بَادِيهِits nomads
فحَاضِرُ الخَلقِ طَوعاً مِثلُ بَادِيهِ
Consensus is established upon his caliphate;
There is consensus on his Caliphate
the settled folk obey willingly, just like their nomadic fellows.
So the present company of people are obedient to him whether far or near.
كُلٌّeveryone يُلَبِّيanswers نِدَاءَthe call الرشْدof right guidance مِنْamong أمَمٍnations
كُلٌّ يُلَبِّي نِدَاءَ الرشْد مِنْ أمَمٍ
كَمَاjust as أهَابَcalled out لنَادِيهِto his assembly مُنَادِيهِhis herald
كَمَا أهَابَ لنَادِيهِ مُنَادِيهِ
All among the nations answer the call of right guidance,
Each nation answers the summons maturely
just as his herald summons his assembly,
As the caller gave voice in goodly manner.
مُسْتَولِياتٍgaining mastery بِمَولانَاthrough our lord الأحَقِّthe most rightful عَلَىover
مُسْتَولِياتٍ بِمَولانَا الأحَقِّ عَلَى
غَاياتِthe utmost aims كُلِّevery نَجاحٍsuccess مِنْfrom مبَادِيهِits beginnings
غَاياتِ كُلِّ نَجاحٍ مِنْ مبَادِيهِ
gaining, through our most rightful lord, mastery over
By virtue of our Master the Truest Claimant
the utmost aims of every success from its beginnings.
Upon the apex of every path to triumph from the start.
بُشْرَىglad tidings سِجِلماسَةSijilmasa أعْطَتْgave مَقَادَتَهاher reins
بُشْرَى سِجِلماسَة أعْطَتْ مَقَادَتَها
يَدَيْthe two hands إِمامٍof an imam مُعَاطِيهاbestowing upon her أَيَادِيهِhis favors
يَدَيْ إِمامٍ مُعَاطِيها أَيَادِيهِ
Glad tidings! Sijilmasa has given her reins
The good tidings Songhai yielded up its reins
into the hands of an imam who bestows his favors upon her.
To the hands of an Imam unfailing in his righteous works.
وفِيand in الدِّيانَةِreligion أَسبَابُthe means القِيامِof upholding بِهاof it
وفِي الدِّيانَةِ أَسبَابُ القِيامِ بِها
فأَقْبَلَتْso came forth عِنْدَهاat that point الدنْياthe world تُوافِيهِcomes to meet him
فأَقْبَلَتْ عِنْدَها الدنْيا تُوافِيهِ
And in religion lie the means of upholding it;
In religion lies the means to stand by it
so then the world came forth to meet him.
So the world hastened to concur with him.
عَلَيهِupon him للَّهِto God فيin حُكْمِthe ordinance الإمَامَةِof the imamate أَنto
عَلَيهِ للَّهِ في حُكْمِ الإمَامَةِ أَن
يَرعَىguard مَحارِمهاits sanctities واللَّهand God راعِيهِhis guardian
يَرعَى مَحارِمها واللَّه راعِيهِ
Under the ordinance of the imamate, he owes it to God
To care for its sanctities is his duty before God in leadership
to guard its sanctities, while God guards him.
And God suffices as his Keeper.
أَفاضَpoured forth رَحمَتَهُhis mercy فَانفَضَّso broke away مَعشَرُهاher people
أَفاضَ رَحمَتَهُ فَانفَضَّ مَعشَرُها
إِلَيهِto him مِنfrom حَولِaround فَظِّone harsh of القَلبِheart قاسِيهِhard in it
إِلَيهِ مِن حَولِ فَظِّ القَلبِ قاسِيهِ
He poured forth his mercy, and her people broke away
He let loose his mercy so its fellow dissidents dispersed
to him, from around one harsh and hard of heart.
Around the harsh-hearted with steely purpose.
تَضِجُّcry out مِنْهُbecause of him نَواحِيهِhis regions بِآيَةِas a sign مَاof what
تَضِجُّ مِنْهُ نَواحِيهِ بِآيَةِ مَا
تَضُخُّpour forth فِيamid الغَيْثِthe rain أَنْسَافاًdrifting dust مَنَاحِيهِhis courses
تَضُخُّ فِي الغَيْثِ أَنْسَافاً مَنَاحِيهِ
His regions cry out against him, a sign of what
Its regions pulse with signs like gushing clouds surge with showers.
his courses pour forth as drifting dust amid the rain.
And he grew certain the Truth would conquer him
وَقَدْand indeed تَيَقَّنَbecame certain أَنَّthat الحَقَّtruth غَالِبُهُwill overcome him
وَقَدْ تَيَقَّنَ أَنَّ الحَقَّ غَالِبُهُ
لمَّاwhen تَبَيَّنَbecame apparent مَيْناًfalsehood فِيin دَعَاوِيهِhis claims
لمَّا تَبَيَّنَ مَيْناً فِي دَعَاوِيهِ
And he became certain that truth would overcome him,
When he saw his authority manifest in his claims.
once falsehood became apparent in his claims.
The Righteous Mahdi no sooner rose spreading
مَاwhat أَصْبَحَbecame by morning القَائِمُal-Qa’im المَهْدِيُّthe Mahdi نَاشِرَهُspreading it
مَا أَصْبَحَ القَائِمُ المَهْدِيُّ نَاشِرَهُ
مِنَof الهِدَايَةِguidance أَمْسَىbecame by evening وَهْوَand he طاوِيهِfolding it away
مِنَ الهِدَايَةِ أَمْسَى وَهْوَ طاوِيهِ
What al-Qa’im, the Mahdi, spread in the morning
Guidance but night enshrouded its unfolding.
of guidance, he folded away by evening.
He sought victory over Rome in his denominations—
بِالرُّومِthrough the Romans رَامَsought انتِصَاراًvictory فيin مَذَاهِبهِhis pursuits
بِالرُّومِ رَامَ انتِصَاراً في مَذَاهِبهِ
أَلَيْسَis it not ماwhat قَدْindeed رآهُhe saw it مِنْfrom تَعَامِيهِhis willful blindness
أَلَيْسَ ما قَدْ رآهُ مِنْ تَعَامِيهِ
Through the Romans he sought victory in his pursuits;
Can he not see that from their accord?
is not what he has seen a consequence of his willful blindness?
Neither ravine nor lifeline counsels him
لاno حَيّtribe وادِيهِof his valley عَنْout of وِدٍّaffection يُواكِبُهُaccompanies him
لا حَيّ وادِيهِ عَنْ وِدٍّ يُواكِبُهُ
وَلاnor الحَياةُlife بِمَاof what يُنْجِيsaves تُنَاجِيهِwhispers to him
وَلا الحَياةُ بِمَا يُنْجِي تُنَاجِيهِ
No tribe of his valley accompanies him out of love,
Nor does life with what saves speak familiarly to him.
nor does life whisper to him of anything that saves.
God’s wisdom is nothing but flawless,
وَحِكْمَةُand the wisdom اللَّهِof God لَيْسَتْis not غَيرَother than مُحْكَمَةٍfirmly ordered
وَحِكْمَةُ اللَّهِ لَيْسَتْ غَيرَ مُحْكَمَةٍ
مَاwhat الجَورُinjustice مُوجِبُهُbrings it about فالعَدْلُso justice نَافِيهِremoves it
مَا الجَورُ مُوجِبُهُ فالعَدْلُ نَافِيهِ
And God's wisdom is nothing but firmly ordered;
Inasmuch as injustice occasions it, justice negates it.
what injustice brings about, justice removes.
Though night may mantle the horizons gloomily,
وَاللَّيْلُand the night إِنْif جَلَّلَcloaks الآفاقَthe horizons ظُلْمَتُهُits darkness
وَاللَّيْلُ إِنْ جَلَّلَ الآفاقَ ظُلْمَتُهُ
وَرَاءهُbehind it نُورُthe light إِصْباحof dawn يُوارِيهِconceals it
وَرَاءهُ نُورُ إِصْباح يُوارِيهِ
Though night's darkness cloaks the horizons,
Behind it shines the light of dawn that hides it.
behind it is the light of dawn, concealing it.
To God belongs bounty then to Yahya without cease
للَّهِto God ثُمَّthen لِيَحيَىto Yahya المَنُّthe bounty متَّسِقاًin unbroken succession
للَّهِ ثُمَّ لِيَحيَى المَنُّ متَّسِقاً
عَلَىupon الأَنامِhumankind بِماthrough what تُولِيbestow مَسَاعِيهِhis endeavors
عَلَى الأَنامِ بِما تُولِي مَسَاعِيهِ
To God, then to Yahya, belongs the bounty, flowing unbroken
Upon mankind for what will make his efforts thrive.
upon humankind through what his endeavors bestow.
Dominions everywhere made up his war booty,
أَمَاare not المَمَالِكُthe kingdoms شَتَّىdiverse مِنْamong غَنَائِمهِhis spoils
أَمَا المَمَالِكُ شَتَّى مِنْ غَنَائِمهِ
أَماare not المُلوكthe kings جَميعاًall مِنْamong مَوالِيهِhis vassals
أَما المُلوك جَميعاً مِنْ مَوالِيهِ
Are not diverse kingdoms among his spoils?
Monarchs one and all his partisans.
Are not all kings among his vassals?
Good fortune counters on his behalf whoever opposes him—
يُقَابِلُconfronts السَّعْدُgood fortune عَنْهُon his behalf مَنْwhoever يُنَاصِبُهُopposes him
يُقَابِلُ السَّعْدُ عَنْهُ مَنْ يُنَاصِبُهُ
فَماthen what of صَوارِمُهُhis keen swords أَوor مَاwhat of عَوالِيهِhis long spears
فَما صَوارِمُهُ أَو مَا عَوالِيهِ
Good fortune confronts his enemies on his behalf;
What blades of his, his columns lofted high?
what need, then, of his keen swords or long spears?
God established power for him and propped him up—
بَنَىbuilt لَهُfor him اللَّهُGod سُلطَاناًa dominion وَشَيَّدَهُand raised it high
بَنَى لَهُ اللَّهُ سُلطَاناً وَشَيَّدَهُ
مَنْwho ذاis the one يُضَعْضِعهُcan shake it واللُّهُand God بَانِيهِits builder
مَنْ ذا يُضَعْضِعهُ واللُّهُ بَانِيهِ
God built him a dominion and raised it high;
Who undermines him with God as his builder?
who could shake it when God is its builder?
To rule by the Chosen Guiding Friend no glory boasts
لِلْمُلكِfor kingship بِالمُرتَضَىthrough al-Murtada الهَادِيthe guide مُفاخَرةٌa cause for pride
لِلْمُلكِ بِالمُرتَضَى الهَادِي مُفاخَرةٌ
لَمْnot تَبْدُappeared مِنهُfrom it بِهَادِيهِthrough its Hadi ورَاضِيهِand its Radi
لَمْ تَبْدُ مِنهُ بِهَادِيهِ ورَاضِيهِ
Kingship takes pride in al-Murtada, the guide,
Without initiator or satisfied approver.
a pride it never showed through its Hadi or its Radi.
Eh, from inborn eminence he gained it, never claimed
إيهٍsay more عَنof الشَّرفِthe nobility العَادِيancient أحْرَزَهُhe attained it
إيهٍ عَن الشَّرفِ العَادِي أحْرَزَهُ
فَماfor not ادَّعَتْهُclaimed it وَلاnor كَادَتْcame close أَعَادِيهِhis enemies
فَما ادَّعَتْهُ وَلا كَادَتْ أَعَادِيهِ
Speak on of the ancient nobility he attained;
By contender nor vied for by envier.
his enemies never claimed it, nor came close.
It suffices that Abū Ḥafṣ his ancestor
كَفَاهُsufficed him أَنَّthat أَبَاAbu حَفْصٍHafs لهُfor him سَلَفٌa forebear
كَفَاهُ أَنَّ أَبَا حَفْصٍ لهُ سَلَفٌ
وَأَنَّand that سَالِفَformer نَصْرِaid اللَّهِof God كَافِيهِsuffices him
وَأَنَّ سَالِفَ نَصْرِ اللَّهِ كَافِيهِ
Enough for him that Abu Hafs is his forebear,
And preceding victory-helper God suffices as his supply.
and that God's former aid suffices him.
An Imam of justice courted by his humility
إِمامُan imam عَدْلٍof justice تَدَانَىdrew near مِنْthrough تَواضُعِهِhis humility
إِمامُ عَدْلٍ تَدَانَى مِنْ تَواضُعِهِ
والنَّجْمُand the star فيin مُرْتقَاهُits ascent لاnot يُدانِيهِcan approach him
والنَّجْمُ في مُرْتقَاهُ لا يُدانِيهِ
An imam of justice, made approachable by his humility,
With the star in its heights no peer to him.
yet the star, in its ascent, cannot approach him.
High-stepping the sphere up past the celestial orbits
رَاقِيlofty الرِّواقِthe pavilion علَىabove الأَفْلاكِthe celestial spheres صَاعِدُهُits rising summit
رَاقِي الرِّواقِ علَى الأَفْلاكِ صَاعِدُهُ
فَمَنْso who يُعَالِيهِcan rival him in height فَرداًpeerless فيin مَعَالِيهِhis lofty attainments
فَمَنْ يُعَالِيهِ فَرداً في مَعَالِيهِ
His pavilion is lofty, its summit rising above the celestial spheres;
So who sublimes him singly in his lofty places?
who, then, can rival him, peerless in his lofty attainments?
Since he stood for religion and the world, protecting them,
مُذْsince قَامَrose للدِّينِfor faith والدنْيَاand the world بِنَصْرِهِماby championing them both
مُذْ قَامَ للدِّينِ والدنْيَا بِنَصْرِهِما
قَامَتrose علَىover الشِّرْكِidolatry تَنْعَاهُannouncing its death نَواعِيهِits mourners
قَامَت علَى الشِّرْكِ تَنْعَاهُ نَواعِيهِ
Since he rose to champion faith and the world,
His allies rose against unbelief suppressing its paths.
idolatry's mourners have risen over it to announce its death.
Conquest is third in carrying out his desire—
الفَتْحُconquest ثَالِثُthe third مَاwhat تُمْضِيcarries through إِرَادَتُهُhis will
الفَتْحُ ثَالِثُ مَا تُمْضِي إِرَادَتُهُ
وَالحَزْمُand prudence أَوَّلُهits first والعَزْمُand resolve ثَانِيهِits second
وَالحَزْمُ أَوَّلُه والعَزْمُ ثَانِيهِ
Conquest is the third thing his will brings to pass;
Resolve its first and intention its second.
prudence comes first, and resolve second.
Passionate for war yet his sword ever
صادٍthirsting إِلَىfor الحَربِwar لَكِنْbut سَيْفُهُhis sword أَبَداًalways
صادٍ إِلَى الحَربِ لَكِنْ سَيْفُهُ أَبَداً
رَيَّانُsated مِنwith دَمِthe blood قالِيهِof his hater بِقَانِيهِwith its crimson
رَيَّانُ مِن دَمِ قالِيهِ بِقَانِيهِ
He thirsts for war, yet his sword is always
Is wet with noble Roman blood by his hand’s spilling.
sated with his hater's blood, with its deep crimson.
Whenever enemies’ banners loom into view
إِذَاwhen تَراءىcaught sight of العِدَىthe enemies رَاياتِهِhis banners نَخِبَتْare emptied of courage
إِذَا تَراءى العِدَى رَاياتِهِ نَخِبَتْ
قُلوبُهُمtheir hearts بِبَئِيسِby one fierce of القَلبِheart مَاضِيهِunflinching in it
قُلوبُهُم بِبَئِيسِ القَلبِ مَاضِيهِ
When enemies sight his banners, terror drains
Minds fail before craven hearts proceeding.
their hearts before one fierce and unflinching of heart.
And if he countermands driving them back divine decree is his
وَإنْand if تَوَخَّىsought رَداهُمtheir ruin فَالقَضاءُthen destiny لَهُfor him
وَإنْ تَوَخَّى رَداهُم فَالقَضاءُ لَهُ
إِلَىtoward انقِضَائِهِمtheir end رِدْءٌa helper يُؤاخِيهِacts as his brother
إِلَى انقِضَائِهِم رِدْءٌ يُؤاخِيهِ
And if he seeks their ruin, destiny stands for him
To their defeat—a covering enfolds him.
as a brotherly helper in bringing them to their end.
By your honor, fairness and grace are stirred
بِحرمِكَin your sanctuary العُرفُbeneficence وَالعِرْفانُand knowledge مُعتَلِجٌsurging
بِحرمِكَ العُرفُ وَالعِرْفانُ مُعتَلِجٌ
إِنْif يَسْتَشِطْrages غَضَباًin anger فَالحِلمُthen forbearance شَاطِيهِits shore
إِنْ يَسْتَشِطْ غَضَباً فَالحِلمُ شَاطِيهِ
In your sanctuary, beneficence and knowledge surge;
If wrath is provoked then patience smoothes it.
if it rages in anger, forbearance is its shore.
He hurls unions of supple and coral verse,
بِاللؤلُؤِwith pearls الرطبِfresh والمرجَانِand coral يقْذِفُhe casts forth مِنْfrom
بِاللؤلُؤِ الرطبِ والمرجَانِ يقْذِفُ مِنْ
أَسْجاعِهِhis rhymed prose نَاثِراًwriting prose أَوْor مِنْfrom قَوافِيهِhis rhymes
أَسْجاعِهِ نَاثِراً أَوْ مِنْ قَوافِيهِ
He casts forth fresh pearls and coral from
Lavish in its prose and rhymes.
his rhymed prose, as a prose writer, or from his rhymes.
Its necklaces pass hands for days
ثَنَتْmade قَلائِدُهُhis necklaces الأَيَّامَthe days حَالِيَةًadorned
ثَنَتْ قَلائِدُهُ الأَيَّامَ حَالِيَةً
حَتَّىeven الليالِيthe nights حُلِيٌّornaments مِنْof لآلِيهِhis pearls
حَتَّى الليالِي حُلِيٌّ مِنْ لآلِيهِ
His necklaces have left the days adorned;
Till nights are adornment of its jewels.
even the nights are ornaments made from his pearls.
His epoch gilds what immortalizes him—
لِدَهْرِهِfor his age حَبْرَةٌjoy ممَّاfrom what يُحَبِّرُهُhe embellishes it
لِدَهْرِهِ حَبْرَةٌ ممَّا يُحَبِّرُهُ
فَمِنْso among أمَانيهِits wishes أَنْthat تُتْلَىbe recited أَمَالِيهِhis dictations
فَمِنْ أمَانيهِ أَنْ تُتْلَى أَمَالِيهِ
His age finds joy in what he composes so finely;
Among his wishes lies having his oeuvre recited.
among its wishes is that his dictations be recited.
In him strange wonders so should wonders return
فيهِin him البَدِيعُwondrous eloquence فَلَوْso if عادَreturned البَديعُal-Badi’ رَأَىwould deem
فيهِ البَدِيعُ فَلَوْ عادَ البَديعُ رَأَى
حَتْماًinevitable علَىfor مِثْلِهِone like himself خَتْماًa seal علَىupon فِيهِhis mouth
حَتْماً علَى مِثْلِهِ خَتْماً علَى فِيهِ
In him is wondrous eloquence; were al-Badi’ to return, he would deem
Surely wonders return to close on the likes of him.
a seal upon his mouth inevitable for one like himself.
If the lofty excused me I would claim dawn’s spell
ولَوْand if تُسامِحُنِيwould indulge me العَليَاءُlofty dignity قُلتُI would say صَباfell in love
ولَوْ تُسامِحُنِي العَليَاءُ قُلتُ صَبا
سحْرُthe magic البَيَانِof eloquence إلَيْهِwith him دُونَrather than صَابِيهِits Sabi’
سحْرُ البَيَانِ إلَيْهِ دُونَ صَابِيهِ
Were lofty dignity to indulge me, I would say: enamored
To it beyond its charms the poetry of youth.
of him is eloquence's magic, rather than of its Sabi’.
Alas, among princes is no peer to him,
هَيْهاتَfar from it مَاnot فِيamong المُلوكِthe kings الصِّيدِproud مُشْبِهُهُone resembling him
هَيْهاتَ مَا فِي المُلوكِ الصِّيدِ مُشْبِهُهُ
أَنَّىhow تَرَاهُمcan you see them وَإنْand even if حَاكَوْاthey imitated مُحَاكِيهِhis imitator
أَنَّى تَرَاهُم وَإنْ حَاكَوْا مُحَاكِيهِ
Far from it! Among the proud kings, none resembles him;
However they may pattern themselves as his copiers.
how could you deem them so, even if they emulated his imitator?
Poetry was ennobled only when ennobled by
لَمْnot يَشْرُفgained honor الشِّعرpoetry إِلاexcept حِينَwhen شَرَّفَهُhe honored it
لَمْ يَشْرُف الشِّعر إِلا حِينَ شَرَّفَهُ
نَظْماًby composing لِعَالِيهِof its lofty verse أَوْor سَمعْاًby listening لِغَالِيهِto its precious verse
نَظْماً لِعَالِيهِ أَوْ سَمعْاً لِغَالِيهِ
Poetry gained honor only when he honored it,
Composing his glory or hearing his elite.
by composing its lofty verse or listening to its precious verse.
What heights can praise reach from any ruler
وَمَاand how much عَسَىmight تَبْلُغُreach الأَمْداحُpraises مِنْof مَلِكٍa king
وَمَا عَسَى تَبْلُغُ الأَمْداحُ مِنْ مَلِكٍ
أَقْصَىthe furthest نِهَايَتِهاtheir limit أَدْنَىthe nearest تَنَاهِيهِhis utmost extent
أَقْصَى نِهَايَتِها أَدْنَى تَنَاهِيهِ
And how far can praises reach in describing a king,
When its ultimate ends fall short of its aspirations?
when their furthest limit is but his nearest bound?
Time donned fine garb but has doffed it
تَقَيَّلَemulated الدهْرُtime مَنْحاهُhis manner الكَرِيمَgenerous فَقَدand indeed
تَقَيَّلَ الدهْرُ مَنْحاهُ الكَرِيمَ فَقَد
رَاقَتْbecame lovely حُلاهُits adornments وَقَدand indeed رَقَّتْgrew soft حَوَاشِيهِits edges
رَاقَتْ حُلاهُ وَقَد رَقَّتْ حَوَاشِيهِ
Time has emulated his generous manner, and now
Its situation grave as are its situations.
its adornments delight, and its edges have grown soft.
Partial English translation: 91 of 92 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1