أَنُورَO light of سَنَاءٍsplendor لاَحَshone فِيin مَشْرقِthe rising-place of الْغَرْبِthe West
أَنُورَ سَنَاءٍ لاَحَ فِي مَشْرقِ الْغَرْبِ
وَفَرْعَand branch of اعْتِلاَءٍeminence لاَحَshone فِيin دَوْحَةِthe mighty tree of الْعُرْبِthe Arabs
وَفَرْعَ اعْتِلاَءٍ لاَحَ فِي دَوْحَةِ الْعُرْبِ
O light of splendor that shone in the West's place of sunrise,
and branch of eminence, shining in the Arabs' mighty tree,
وَوَارثَand inheritor from أَعْلاَمِthe leading men of الْعُلَىglory نَشِبَthe wealth of النَّدَىgenerosity
وَوَارثَ أَعْلاَمِ الْعُلَى نَشِبَ النَّدَى
وَمُوِقِدَand kindler of نارthe fire of الْبِشْرِgladness فِيin ظُلَمِthe darknesses of الْكَرْبِdistress
وَمُوِقِدَ نار الْبِشْرِ فِي ظُلَمِ الْكَرْبِ
and inheritor of generosity's riches from the lords of glory,
and kindler of gladness's fire in the darkness of distress!
نَطَقْتَyou spoke فَحُزْتَso you attained الْحُكْمَjudgment فَصْلاًdecisive خطَابُهُits discourse
نَطَقْتَ فَحُزْتَ الْحُكْمَ فَصْلاً خطَابُهُ
يُقَلَّبُis turned about مِنْfrom وَشْيthe embroidery of الْبَلاغِةِeloquence فِيin عَصْبِstriped cloth
يُقَلَّبُ مِنْ وَشْي الْبَلاغِةِ فِي عَصْبِ
You spoke and mastered judgment, its discourse decisive,
turned about in striped cloth of eloquence's embroidery.
وَمَنْand who كَأَبِيlike Abu بَكْرٍBakr عَمِيداًas a leader مُؤَمَّلاًlooked to with hope
وَمَنْ كَأَبِي بَكْرٍ عَمِيداً مُؤَمَّلاً
خُلاَصَةَthe choicest of شِعْبِthe clan of الْعِلْمِlearning نَاهِيكَsufficient for you مِنْas شِعْبِa clan
خُلاَصَةَ شِعْبِ الْعِلْمِ نَاهِيكَ مِنْ شِعْبِ
And who can match Abu Bakr, a leader upon whom hopes rest,
the flower of learning's clan—and what a clan!
كَفِيلٌa guarantor بِنَيْلِof attaining الْجُودِbounty قَبْلَbefore سُؤَالِهِasking for it
كَفِيلٌ بِنَيْلِ الْجُودِ قَبْلَ سُؤَالِهِ
وَصُولُever reaching إِلَىto الْغَايَاتِthe goals فِيupon الْمَرْكَبِthe mount الصَّعْبِdifficult
وَصُولُ إِلَى الْغَايَاتِ فِي الْمَرْكَبِ الصَّعْبِ
He guarantees bounty before it is asked for,
ever reaching his goals upon a difficult mount.
وَأَيُّand what انْسِكَابٍa downpour فيin سَحَائِبِthe clouds of كَفِّهِhis palm
وَأَيُّ انْسِكَابٍ في سَحَائِبِ كَفِّهِ
إِذَاwhen كَلِحَتْgrimaces شَهْبَاءُan ashen, barren year عَنْbaring نَاجِرِthe scorching heat of الْجَدْبِdrought
إِذَا كَلِحَتْ شَهْبَاءُ عَنْ نَاجِرِ الْجَدْبِ
And what a downpour in the clouds of his palm,
when an ashen year grimaces, baring drought's scorching heat!
وَأَيُّand what مَضَاءٍdetermination فِيin لَطِيفِthe gentleness of طِبَاعِهhis nature
وَأَيُّ مَضَاءٍ فِي لَطِيفِ طِبَاعِه
كَمَاas سَكَنَdwells التَّصْمِيمُfirm resolve فِيin ظُبَةِthe cutting edge of الْعَضْبِa keen sword
كَمَا سَكَنَ التَّصْمِيمُ فِي ظُبَةِ الْعَضْبِ
And what determination within his gentle nature,
as resolve dwells in a keen sword's edge!
سُلاَلَةُoffspring of أَعْلاَمٍillustrious men وَفَرْعُand a branch of مَكَارِمِnoble virtues
سُلاَلَةُ أَعْلاَمٍ وَفَرْعُ مَكَارِمِ
بِهِمْthrough them فَلَكُthe sphere of الْعَلْيَاءِexalted glory دَارَrevolved عَلَىupon قُطْبِa pole
بِهِمْ فَلَكُ الْعَلْيَاءِ دَارَ عَلَى قُطْبِ
Offspring of illustrious men, and branch of noble virtues,
through whom the sphere of glory turned upon its pole.
عَشَوْاthey sought light نَحْوَtoward نُورِthe light of اللهِGod يَقْتَبِسُوَنَهُdrawing a spark from it
عَشَوْا نَحْوَ نُورِ اللهِ يَقْتَبِسُوَنَهُ
وَقَدْand already خَرَقُواthey pierced مِنْfrom دُونِهِbefore it ظُلَمَthe darknesses of الحجْبِthe veils
وَقَدْ خَرَقُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ ظُلَمَ الحجْبِ
They went toward God's light, seeking a spark from it,
having pierced the darkness of the veils before it.
حَمَوْاthey denied حَائِمَthe hovering visitor of التَّهْوِيمِdrowsiness وِرْدَthe watering-place of جُفُونِهمْtheir eyelids
حَمَوْا حَائِمَ التَّهْوِيمِ وِرْدَ جُفُونِهمْ
وَشَدُّواand they tightened وِثَاقَthe bonds of السُّهْدِsleeplessness فِيin شَرَكِthe snare of الْهُدْبِthe eyelashes
وَشَدُّوا وِثَاقَ السُّهْدِ فِي شَرَكِ الْهُدْبِ
They denied hovering drowsiness their eyelids' watering-place,
and bound sleeplessness fast in the snare of their lashes.
أَتَوْاthey came to دَوْحَةَthe mighty tree of التَّحْقِيقِtrue realization تَدْنُوdraw near قُطُوفُهَاits fruit-clusters
أَتَوْا دَوْحَةَ التَّحْقِيقِ تَدْنُو قُطُوفُهَا
فَحَازُواso they gathered جَنَاهَاits fruit وَهْيَwhich is مَعْرِفَةُknowledge of الَّربِّthe Lord
فَحَازُوا جَنَاهَا وَهْيَ مَعْرِفَةُ الَّربِّ
They came to realization's mighty tree, its fruit-clusters within reach,
and gathered its fruit, which is knowledge of the Lord.
وَهَزُّواand they shook فُرُوعَthe branches of الْعِلْمِknowledge وَهْيَwhile they were بَوَاسِقٌtowering high
وَهَزُّوا فُرُوعَ الْعِلْمِ وَهْيَ بَوَاسِقٌ
فَلِلهِso, to God belongs مَاwhat حَازُوهُthey gathered مِنْof رُطَبٍripe dates رَطْبِfresh
فَلِلهِ مَا حَازُوهُ مِنْ رُطَبٍ رَطْبِ
They shook the branches of knowledge as they towered high;
God be praised for the fresh ripe dates they gathered!
فَإِنْso if جَرَتِrun الأَيَّامُthe days فِيin غُلَوَائِهَاtheir headlong fury
فَإِنْ جَرَتِ الأَيَّامُ فِي غُلَوَائِهَا
وَجَرَّتْand drag وَشِيجَthe spears of الْقَسْرِcoercion فِيthrough مَأَزِقِthe narrow pass of الخطْبِcalamity
وَجَرَّتْ وَشِيجَ الْقَسْرِ فِي مَأَزِقِ الخطْبِ
If the days run on in their headlong fury,
and drag coercion's spears through calamity's narrow pass,
فَمَاthen not لَقِيَتْhave they encountered إلاَّexcept شُجَاعاًa courageous man مُجَرِّباًseasoned
فَمَا لَقِيَتْ إلاَّ شُجَاعاً مُجَرِّباً
وَلاَnor عَجَمَتْhave they tested by biting إلاَّexcept عَلَىupon عُودِكَyour wood الصلبِhard
وَلاَ عَجَمَتْ إلاَّ عَلَى عُودِكَ الصلبِ
they have encountered only a seasoned, courageous man,
and tested their teeth only upon your unyielding wood.
وَإِنْand if أَغْفَلَتْthey neglected مِنْof فَرْضِthe duty of بِرِّكَhonoring you وَاجباًan obligation
وَإِنْ أَغْفَلَتْ مِنْ فَرْضِ بِرِّكَ وَاجباً
عَلَىdespite أَنَّهَاthe fact that they قَدْalready أَوْطَأَتْكَset your feet upon ذرَىthe heights of الشُّهْبِthe bright stars
عَلَى أَنَّهَا قَدْ أَوْطَأَتْكَ ذرَى الشُّهْبِ
And if they neglect some obligation in the duty of honoring you,
though they have set your feet upon the heights of the bright stars,
فَقَدْyet indeed دَرَأَتْthey thrust aside حَقَّthe right of الْوَصِيِّthe legatee سَفَاهَةًfoolishly
فَقَدْ دَرَأَتْ حَقَّ الْوَصِيِّ سَفَاهَةً
عَلِيٍّAli وَأَعْلَتْand raised مِنْof قِدَاحِthe lot-arrows of بَنِيthe sons of حَرْبِHarb
عَلِيٍّ وَأَعْلَتْ مِنْ قِدَاحِ بَنِي حَرْبِ
they have foolishly thrust aside the legatee's right—
Ali—and lifted high the lot-arrows of the sons of Harb.
وَرُبَّتَمَاand sometimes جَادَgave generously اللَّئِيمُthe base man بِنَائِلٍwith a gift
وَرُبَّتَمَا جَادَ اللَّئِيمُ بِنَائِلٍ
وشنand was launched بأقصىagainst the farthest part of سرحهhis grazing herd غارةa raid of الغصبplunder
وشن بأقصى سرحه غارة الغصب
A base man may sometimes bestow a gift,
with a plundering raid launched against his farthest-ranging herd.
وأنتand you منamong الصيدthe proud lords الذينwho سمتrose high بهمthrough them
وأنت من الصيد الذين سمت بهم
أَرُومَةُthe ancestral stock of لَخْمٍLakhm فيin حَدَائِقَهَاits gardens الْغُلْبِthick-grown
أَرُومَةُ لَخْمٍ في حَدَائِقَهَا الْغُلْبِ
And you are of the proud lords with whom
Lakhm's stock rose high in its thick-grown gardens,
إِلَىto عَمْروAmr هِنْدٍHind حَيْثُwhere يَخْتَصِمُcontend الْعُلىthe heights of glory
إِلَى عَمْرو هِنْدٍ حَيْثُ يَخْتَصِمُ الْعُلى
وَيُشْهَدُand is called to witness نَصْلُthe blade of السَّيْفِthe sword فِيin حَوْمَةِthe thick of الْحَرْبِwar
وَيُشْهَدُ نَصْلُ السَّيْفِ فِي حَوْمَةِ الْحَرْبِ
back to Amr ibn Hind, where the heights of glory contend,
and the sword's blade is called as witness in the thick of war;
إِلِىto مُرْتَقَىthe lofty station of مَاءٍMa (Water of) السَّمَاءِal-Sama (Heaven) الَّذيwho كَسَاclothed
إِلِى مُرْتَقَى مَاءٍ السَّمَاءِ الَّذي كَسَا
زَمَانَthe time of احْتِدَامthe raging of الْمَحْلِdrought أَرْدِيَةَrobes of الْخصْبِabundance
زَمَانَ احْتِدَام الْمَحْلِ أَرْدِيَةَ الْخصْبِ
to the lofty station of Ma al-Sama, who clothed
the season of raging drought in robes of plenty.
فَلاَso not الْعزُّglory يُعْزَىis ascribed مُنْتَمَاهُits lineage لِحَاجِبٍto Hajib
فَلاَ الْعزُّ يُعْزَى مُنْتَمَاهُ لِحَاجِبٍ
وَلاَnor الْجُودُbounty يُجْديavails مَنْwhoever تُذُوكِرَis recalled فِيin connection with كَعْبِKa'b
وَلاَ الْجُودُ يُجْدي مَنْ تُذُوكِرَ فِي كَعْبِ
So glory's lineage is not traced to Hajib,
nor does bounty avail whoever is recalled in connection with Ka'b.
فكَمْso how many أَنْجَبُواthey begot مِنْof صَارِمٍa keen blade ذيِpossessing حَفيِظَةٍprotective honor
فكَمْ أَنْجَبُوا مِنْ صَارِمٍ ذيِ حَفيِظَةٍ
إِذَاwhen كَهَمَتْgrow blunt ذُلْقُthe sharp edges of الصِّفَاحِsword-blades لَدَىat الضَّرْبِstriking
إِذَا كَهَمَتْ ذُلْقُ الصِّفَاحِ لَدَى الضَّرْبِ
How many a keen blade, jealous of honor, they have begotten,
when the sharp edges of swords grow blunt in striking!
وَكَمْand how many أَعْقَبُواthey left as offspring مِنْof ضَيْغَمٍa lion يُرْغِمُforces into the dust الطُّلاَnecks
وَكَمْ أَعْقَبُوا مِنْ ضَيْغَمٍ يُرْغِمُ الطُّلاَ
وَيَهْزِمُand routs أَسْبَابَthe ranks of الْكَتَائِبِthe battalions وَالْكُتْبِand the armies
وَيَهْزِمُ أَسْبَابَ الْكَتَائِبِ وَالْكُتْبِ
And how many a lion they have sired, forcing necks into the dust,
and routing the ranks of battalions and armies!
إذَاwhen عَمَّcovers طِرْسَthe page of الْيَوْمِday نِقْسُthe ink of دُجُنَّةٍdarkness
إذَا عَمَّ طِرْسَ الْيَوْمِ نِقْسُ دُجُنَّةٍ
وَعَمَّمَand winds a turban بِرْسُthe cotton of الْقُرِّcold فِيupon هَامَةِthe crown of الْهَضْبِthe hills
وَعَمَّمَ بِرْسُ الْقُرِّ فِي هَامَةِ الْهَضْبِ
When the ink of darkness covers the page of day,
and cold's cotton winds a turban around the hills' crown,
حَشَاhe packed بَاهِظَa heavy load of الأَجْزَالِlogs وَقْدَthe blaze of ضِرَامِهَاtheir kindling
حَشَا بَاهِظَ الأَجْزَالِ وَقْدَ ضِرَامِهَا
فَأَوْرَتْso they kindled جَحِيماًa hellfire لاَفِحاًscorching أَوْجُهَthe faces of السُّحْبِthe clouds
فَأَوْرَتْ جَحِيماً لاَفِحاً أَوْجُهَ السُّحْبِ
he packs heavy logs into the blaze of their kindling,
and they kindle a hellfire scorching the faces of the clouds.
وَأَعْمَلَand set to work فِيupon الْكَوْمَاءِthe high-humped she-camel حَدَّthe edge of حُسَامِهِhis sword
وَأَعْمَلَ فِي الْكَوْمَاءِ حَدَّ حُسَامِهِ
فَخَرَّتْso she fell وَشِيكاًquickly لِلْجَبيِنonto her forehead وَلِلْجَنْبِand onto her side
فَخَرَّتْ وَشِيكاً لِلْجَبيِن وَلِلْجَنْبِ
And he sets his sword's edge to work upon the high-humped she-camel,
and quickly she falls upon her forehead and her side.
فَأَثْقَلَso he weighed down أَكْتَاداًshoulders وَعَمَّand filled all حَقَائِباًsaddlebags
فَأَثْقَلَ أَكْتَاداً وَعَمَّ حَقَائِباً
وَأَنْهَلand gave drink to ظِمْئاًthe thirsty نَبْعَspring water مُطَّرِدٍsteadily flowing عَذْبٍsweet
وَأَنْهَل ظِمْئاً نَبْعَ مُطَّرِدٍ عَذْبٍ
Then he weighs down shoulders and fills the saddlebags all round,
and quenches thirst with sweet, steadily flowing spring water.
يَرُومُhe seeks بِسَكْبِby pouring forth الْجُودِbounty كَسْبَto win ثَنَائِهمْtheir praise
يَرُومُ بِسَكْبِ الْجُودِ كَسْبَ ثَنَائِهمْ
فَللَّهِso, God be praised مِنْfor سَكْبٍan outpouring كَرِيمٍnoble وَمِنْand for كَسْبِa gain
فَللَّهِ مِنْ سَكْبٍ كَرِيمٍ وَمِنْ كَسْبِ
He seeks, by pouring forth bounty, to win their praise;
God be praised for such a noble outpouring and such a gain!
مَآثِرُكُمْyour glorious deeds آلَO house of الْحَكِيمal-Hakim بَقِيتُمُmay you endure
مَآثِرُكُمْ آلَ الْحَكِيم بَقِيتُمُ
بَلَغْنَhave reached مَدَىthe utmost extent of الْحَظِّgood fortune الْمُوَاصلِunceasing وَالْكَسْبِand achievement
بَلَغْنَ مَدَى الْحَظِّ الْمُوَاصلِ وَالْكَسْبِ
Your glorious deeds, O house of al-Hakim—may you endure—
have reached the utmost in unbroken good fortune and achievement.
فَمَاذَاso what عَسَىmight أُحْصِيI count وَمَاذَاand what عَسَىmight أَفِيI do justice to
فَمَاذَا عَسَى أُحْصِي وَمَاذَا عَسَى أَفِي
أَيُنْضِبُcan drain لُجَّthe depth of الْيَمِthe ocean مُسْتَنْزَرُa scant amount of الشُّرْبِdrinking
أَيُنْضِبُ لُجَّ الْيَمِ مُسْتَنْزَرُ الشُّرْبِ
What, then, could I count, and what could I do justice to?
Can a scant draught drain the ocean's depths?
عَلَىalthough أَنَّنِيI indeed مَهْمَاwhatever اقْتَضَبْتُI improvise بَديِهَةًspontaneously
عَلَى أَنَّنِي مَهْمَا اقْتَضَبْتُ بَديِهَةً
عَلَىbeyond خَبَرِthe tale of الْعَنْقَاءِthe Anqa إِنْif ذُكْرَتْit is recounted تُرْبِيit surpasses
عَلَى خَبَرِ الْعَنْقَاءِ إِنْ ذُكْرَتْ تُرْبِي
Yet whatever verse I fashion on the instant
surpasses, when recounted, the tale of the Anqa.
وَمَاand not الشِّعْرُpoetry إِلاَّexcept مِنْsome قَوَافٍrhymes نَظَمْتُهَاI strung them together
وَمَا الشِّعْرُ إِلاَّ مِنْ قَوَافٍ نَظَمْتُهَا
وَمَاand not خَلَصَتْhas refined إِبْرِيزَهُits pure gold شُعْلَةُthe flame of اللُبِّintellect
وَمَا خَلَصَتْ إِبْرِيزَهُ شُعْلَةُ اللُبِّ
Poetry is only some rhymes I have strung together,
and the flame of intellect has not refined its gold.
وَلَسْتُand I am not كَمنlike one who يَعْتَدُّreckons بِالشِّعْرِpoetry as مَكْسَباًa livelihood
وَلَسْتُ كَمن يَعْتَدُّ بِالشِّعْرِ مَكْسَباً
هُبِلتُmay my mother lose me رَضِيعَa nursling of الْمَجْدِglory إِنْif كَانَit is مِنْamong كَسْبِيmy earnings
هُبِلتُ رَضِيعَ الْمَجْدِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ كَسْبِي
I am not like one who counts poetry a livelihood;
may my mother lose me, a nursling of glory, if it is among my earnings.
Sol 6.1