الشمسُthe sun شاهِدَةٌa witness وإِنْand though تَكُshe be وَاحِدَهُone
الشمسُ شاهِدَةٌ وإِنْ تَكُ وَاحِدَهُ
فشهادَةُfor the testimony of الإِقْرارِacknowledgment أَعدلُthe fairest شاهِدَهْwitness
فشهادَةُ الإِقْرارِ أَعدلُ شاهِدَهْ
The sun is a witness, though she is only one;
for the testimony of acknowledgment is the fairest witness.
عَرَفَتْكَshe recognized you فاعترفَتْso she acknowledged بأَنَّكَthat you are واحِدٌunique
عَرَفَتْكَ فاعترفَتْ بأَنَّكَ واحِدٌ
فيناamong us كَمَاjust as هِيَshe فيamong الكواكِبِthe stars واحِدَهْunique
فينا كَمَا هِيَ في الكواكِبِ واحِدَهْ
She recognized you and acknowledged that you are unique
among us, as she is unique among the stars.
فَغَدَوْتُمَاso you both became صِنْوَيْنِtwin peers إِنْif يُبْعِدْهُماseparates them both
فَغَدَوْتُمَا صِنْوَيْنِ إِنْ يُبْعِدْهُما
نأْيُthe remoteness of الدِّيارِthe abodes فماthen not الصِّفَاتُthe qualities مُبَاعِدَهْseparating
نأْيُ الدِّيارِ فما الصِّفَاتُ مُبَاعِدَهْ
Thus you two became twin peers: even if separated
by distant abodes, your qualities do not divide you.
متناسِبَيْنِkindred إِلَىto أُخُوَّةِa brotherhood of فِطْرَةٍnature
متناسِبَيْنِ إِلَى أُخُوَّةِ فِطْرَةٍ
لَيْسَتْare not لَهَاof it فِطَرُthe innate dispositions of العقولِminds بجاحِدَهْdenying
لَيْسَتْ لَهَا فِطَرُ العقولِ بجاحِدَهْ
Kindred through a brotherhood of nature,
which the innate dispositions of minds do not deny;
متقاسِمَيْboth sharing خُطَطِthe domains of العُلاeminence لاnot حاسِداًenvying
متقاسِمَيْ خُطَطِ العُلا لا حاسِداً
فَضْلاًan advantage عَلَيْهِover him لَهَاbelonging to her ولاnor هِيَshe حاسِدَهْenvious
فَضْلاً عَلَيْهِ لَهَا ولا هِيَ حاسِدَهْ
sharing the domains of eminence, you do not envy
her any advantage over you, nor does she envy you.
إِنif راقَdelights حاجِبُهاher brow فَيَحْيىthen Yahya حاجِبٌa chamberlain
إِن راقَ حاجِبُها فَيَحْيى حاجِبٌ
وَرِثَinherited الحجابَةَthe chamberlainship والرِّياسَةَand leadership والِدَهْhis father
وَرِثَ الحجابَةَ والرِّياسَةَ والِدَهْ
If her brow delights, Yahya is a chamberlain
who inherited chamberlainship and leadership from his father.
أَوْor تَجْلُshe dispels راكِدَةَthe settled الدُّجىnight-darkness فلكَمْfor how often جَلاhas dispelled
أَوْ تَجْلُ راكِدَةَ الدُّجى فلكَمْ جَلا
يَحْيَىYahya بِهَاthrough it ظُلَمَthe darknesses of الخطوبِcalamities الرَّاكِدَهْlingering
يَحْيَى بِهَا ظُلَمَ الخطوبِ الرَّاكِدَهْ
Or if she dispels settled night-darkness, how often has
Yahya thereby dispelled the lingering gloom of calamities!
أَوْor تَمْحُshe erases نورَthe light of النَّيِّراتِthe shining stars فكمthen how often عفاhe effaced
أَوْ تَمْحُ نورَ النَّيِّراتِ فكم عفا
نُورَthe light of الضَّلالِerror رُسُومَهُits traces ومَعاهِدَهْand its haunts
نُورَ الضَّلالِ رُسُومَهُ ومَعاهِدَهْ
Or if she erases the shining stars' light, how often has he effaced
the light of error, its traces, and its haunts!
أَوْor تَهْوِshe descends فيin فَلَكِthe sphere of البروجِthe zodiacal signs فكمْthen how often هَوىhe swooped
أَوْ تَهْوِ في فَلَكِ البروجِ فكمْ هَوى
بالسَّيْفِwith the sword يضربُstriking قِرْنَهُhis rival ومُعانِدَهْand his adversary
بالسَّيْفِ يضربُ قِرْنَهُ ومُعانِدَهْ
Or if she sweeps through the zodiacal sphere, how often has he swooped
with his sword, striking his rival and his adversary!
أَوْor تَشْفِshe rises high فِيin كَبِدِthe center of السَّماءِheaven فكمthen how often شفىhe healed
أَوْ تَشْفِ فِي كَبِدِ السَّماءِ فكم شفى
كَبِداًa liver لأَوجالِwith the terrors of الهمومِsorrows مُكابِدَهْstruggling
كَبِداً لأَوجالِ الهمومِ مُكابِدَهْ
Or if she rises high in heaven's heart, how often has he healed
a liver struggling with the terrors of sorrow!
ولَربماand often indeed احْتَجَبَتْwas veiled لَنَاfrom us شمسُthe sun of الضُّحىmidmorning
ولَربما احْتَجَبَتْ لَنَا شمسُ الضُّحى
فِيin دَجْنِthe murk of بارِقَةِthe lightning-flash of السَّحابِthe clouds الرَّاعِدهْthundering
فِي دَجْنِ بارِقَةِ السَّحابِ الرَّاعِدهْ
And often the midmorning sun has been veiled from us
in the murk of the clouds' thundering lightning.
فَسَحابُكَso your clouds are الرَّهَجُthe dust المثارُstirred up منby الوغىbattle
فَسَحابُكَ الرَّهَجُ المثارُ من الوغى
وبروقُكَand your lightning flashes الهنديَّةُIndian blades المتجالِدَهْclashing with one another
وبروقُكَ الهنديَّةُ المتجالِدَهْ
Your clouds, then, are the dust stirred up by battle,
and your lightning flashes are clashing Indian blades.
وإِذَاand when تناهَتْshe reaches her limit فِيin عُلُوِّthe height of بروجِهاher zodiacal houses
وإِذَا تناهَتْ فِي عُلُوِّ بروجِها
بالسَّعْدِwith good fortune بادِئَةًcoming first إِلَيْكَto you وعائِدَهْand returning
بالسَّعْدِ بادِئَةً إِلَيْكَ وعائِدَهْ
And when she reaches the utmost height of her zodiacal houses,
bringing you good fortune, at her first coming and return,
فلَكَthen yours are العواليthe lofty spears يَاO مُظَفَّرُMuzaffar أَسعُدٌauspicious stars
فلَكَ العوالي يَا مُظَفَّرُ أَسعُدٌ
ولكَand yours are المراتِبُthe ranks فِيin العُلُوِّloftiness الصَّاعِدَهْascending
ولكَ المراتِبُ فِي العُلُوِّ الصَّاعِدَهْ
your lofty spears, O Muzaffar, are auspicious stars,
and yours are the ranks ascending to the heights.
والشمسand the sun زائِلَةٌpassing away وعهدُكَand your covenant ثابتٌsteadfast
والشمس زائِلَةٌ وعهدُكَ ثابتٌ
وتغيبُand she sets عنكَfrom you ومأَثُرَاتُكَand your noble deeds شاهِدَهْbearing witness
وتغيبُ عنكَ ومأَثُرَاتُكَ شاهِدَهْ
The sun is transient, but your covenant stands firm;
she sets from your sight, but your noble deeds bear witness.
تتَناسَخُcopy from one another الأَزْمانُthe ages منfrom آياتِهاtheir signs
تتَناسَخُ الأَزْمانُ من آياتِها
سُوَراًchapters تخلِّدُهاmake them immortal القرونُthe centuries الخالدَهْeverlasting
سُوَراً تخلِّدُها القرونُ الخالدَهْ
Successive ages transcribe from the signs of those deeds
chapters that enduring centuries make immortal.
وورِثْتَand you inherited عنهاfrom them يَاO مُظَفَّرُMuzaffar دَوْلَةًa dominion
وورِثْتَ عنها يَا مُظَفَّرُ دَوْلَةً
دانَتْsubmitted لِعِزَّتِهاto its might الملوكُthe kings العانِدَهْdefiant
دانَتْ لِعِزَّتِها الملوكُ العانِدَهْ
And from them, O Muzaffar, you inherited a dominion
to whose might defiant kings submitted:
مُلْكاًa kingdom رفعْتَyou raised عَلَىupon القَناthe spears شُرُفاتِهِits battlements
مُلْكاً رفعْتَ عَلَى القَنا شُرُفاتِهِ
وجعَلْتَand you made حِلْمَكَyour forbearance أُسَّهُits base وقواعِدَهْand its foundations
وجعَلْتَ حِلْمَكَ أُسَّهُ وقواعِدَهْ
a kingdom whose battlements you raised upon spears,
making your forbearance its base and foundations.
فَمَلأْتَso you filled أَحناءَthe recesses of الصُّدورِbreasts محبَّةًwith love
فَمَلأْتَ أَحناءَ الصُّدورِ محبَّةً
وسَلَلْتَand you drew out أَحقادَthe grudges of القلوبِhearts الحاقِدَهْresentful
وسَلَلْتَ أَحقادَ القلوبِ الحاقِدَهْ
So you filled the recesses of breasts with love,
and drew the grudges from resentful hearts.
ووفَيْتَand you kept faith للدُّنياwith the world بعهدِwith a covenant of مكارِمٍnoble virtues
ووفَيْتَ للدُّنيا بعهدِ مكارِمٍ
سَقَتِwatered البلادَthe lands عِهادُهاtheir renewing showers المتعاهِدَهْrecurrent
سَقَتِ البلادَ عِهادُها المتعاهِدَهْ
You kept with the world a covenant of noble virtues,
whose recurrent showers watered the lands:
شِيَماًtraits عَمِدْتَyou supported بِهَاwith them عُلاكَyour eminence فَأَصْبَحَتْso they became
شِيَماً عَمِدْتَ بِهَا عُلاكَ فَأَصْبَحَتْ
عَمَداًpillars لَهَاfor it فَوْقَabove الخلائِقِall creation عامِدَهْsupporting
عَمَداً لَهَا فَوْقَ الخلائِقِ عامِدَهْ
traits with which you supported your eminence, so they became
pillars upholding it above all creation.
وتركْتَهاand you left them فِيin كُلِّevery أُفْقٍhorizon نازِحٍdistant
وتركْتَها فِي كُلِّ أُفْقٍ نازِحٍ
موجودَةًpresent ولكُلِّand for every حَمْدٍpraise واجِدَهْwinning
موجودَةً ولكُلِّ حَمْدٍ واجِدَهْ
And you left them on every far-off horizon,
present there, and winning every praise.
فبِهاso through them وسِعْتَyou extended الأَمْنَsecurity أُمَّةَa people فِتْنَةٍof turmoil
فبِها وسِعْتَ الأَمْنَ أُمَّةَ فِتْنَةٍ
نَعِمَتْenjoyed ease بعَطْفِكَthrough your kindness فِيin الظِّلالِthe shades البارِدَهْcool
نَعِمَتْ بعَطْفِكَ فِي الظِّلالِ البارِدَهْ
Through them you extended security to a people in turmoil,
who enjoyed your kindness in the cool shade.
وبهاand through them أَنَمْتَyou put to sleep جفونَthe eyelids of عينٍan eye ساهِدَهْsleepless
وبها أَنَمْتَ جفونَ عينٍ ساهِدَهْ
وبهاand through them ذَعَرْتَyou startled جفونَthe eyelids of عَيْنٍan eye هاجِدَهْsleeping
وبها ذَعَرْتَ جفونَ عَيْنٍ هاجِدَهْ
Through them you put a sleepless eye's lids to sleep,
and through them you startled a sleeping eye's lids.
وبهاand through them أَهَلَّcalled aloud إِلَيْكَto you أملاكُthe kings العِدىof the enemies
وبها أَهَلَّ إِلَيْكَ أملاكُ العِدى
تدعوكَcalling upon you منfrom أَقطارِهاtheir regions المُتباعِدَهْfar apart
تدعوكَ من أَقطارِها المُتباعِدَهْ
Through them the kings of your foes cried out to you,
calling to you from their far-flung realms:
منamong them عائِذٍone seeking refuge بِكَin you منكَfrom you باتَspent the night يَؤُزُّهُgoads him
من عائِذٍ بِكَ منكَ باتَ يَؤُزُّهُ
رَوْعٌa terror تذوبُmelt لَهُbecause of it الصَّخُورُthe rocks الجامِدَهْsolid
رَوْعٌ تذوبُ لَهُ الصَّخُورُ الجامِدَهْ
one seeking refuge in you from you, goaded through the night
by a terror that makes solid rocks melt;
أَوْor نازِعٍwresting فزِعٍterrified إِلَيْكَtoward you حياتهُhis life
أَوْ نازِعٍ فزِعٍ إِلَيْكَ حياتهُ
منfrom حَيَّةٍa serpent فِيin قَلْبِهِhis heart لكَfor you راصِدَهْlying in wait
من حَيَّةٍ فِي قَلْبِهِ لكَ راصِدَهْ
or one who, terrified, turns to you, wresting his life
from a serpent in his heart that lies in wait for you;
أَوor غُرَّةٍa bright brow جُعِلَتْwas made لِسَيْفِكَfor your sword غرَّةًan unwary target
أَو غُرَّةٍ جُعِلَتْ لِسَيْفِكَ غرَّةً
إِنif لَمْnot تَخِرَّit falls إِلَىtoward جَبينِكَyour brow ساجدَهْprostrate
إِن لَمْ تَخِرَّ إِلَى جَبينِكَ ساجدَهْ
or a bright brow made an unwary target for your sword,
if it does not fall prostrate before your brow.
ولِمِثْلِهاand for the like of it قادَled ابنُson of شَنْجٍShanj نَفَسَهُhimself
ولِمِثْلِها قادَ ابنُ شَنْجٍ نَفَسَهُ
وجُنودَهُand his troops فِيin طاعَةٍobedience لَكَto you قائِدَهْleading
وجُنودَهُ فِي طاعَةٍ لَكَ قائِدَهْ
For such an end, Ibn Shanj led himself
and his troops in obedience that guided them to you.
يرتادُseeking out روضاًa meadow منof رِضاكَyour favor وَلَمْand did not يَجِدْfind
يرتادُ روضاً من رِضاكَ وَلَمْ يَجِدْ
إِلّاexcept هداياهُhis gifts إِليهاtoward it رائدَهْacting as scouts
إِلّا هداياهُ إِليها رائدَهْ
He sought a meadow of your favor, and found nothing
but his gifts, scouting the way toward it.
فَغَداso he began يُكايِدُto outwit عنover كَرَائِمِthe choicest treasures of ذُخْرِهِhis hoard
فَغَدا يُكايِدُ عن كَرَائِمِ ذُخْرِهِ
نفساًa soul لَهُof his عنagainst بَذْلِهِنَّgiving them away مُكايِدَهْscheming
نفساً لَهُ عن بَذْلِهِنَّ مُكايِدَهْ
So he strove to outwit, for his hoard's choicest treasures,
his own soul, which resisted giving them away,
حَتَّىuntil اصطفىhe selected لَكَfor you منfrom صَوَافِنِthe poised steeds among خَيْلِهِhis horses
حَتَّى اصطفى لَكَ من صَوَافِنِ خَيْلِهِ
عِلْقاًa prized possession لَهُof his لَمْnot يَدَّخِرْكَhe held back from you فوائِدَهْits benefits
عِلْقاً لَهُ لَمْ يَدَّخِرْكَ فوائِدَهْ
until he chose for you, from his poised steeds,
a prized possession of his, whose benefits he did not withhold from you:
خيلاًhorses تُصادُare hunted بِهَاwith them الظِّباءُgazelles وفَوْقَهاand upon them
خيلاً تُصادُ بِهَا الظِّباءُ وفَوْقَها
فرسانُهاtheir riders أَشْباهُlikenesses of مَاwhat هِيَthey صائدَهْare hunting
فرسانُها أَشْباهُ مَا هِيَ صائدَهْ
horses with which gazelles are hunted, while upon them
their riders resemble the very creatures they hunt.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen أَدْناهُbrought him near إِذْنُكَyour permission أَقبلَتْcame forward
حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْناهُ إِذْنُكَ أَقبلَتْ
تهفُوfluttering بِهِwith him أَنفاسُهُhis breaths المُتَصَاعِدَهْrising
تهفُو بِهِ أَنفاسُهُ المُتَصَاعِدَهْ
Then, when your permission brought him near, there came
his rising breaths, wafting him onward,
سَمْحاًwillingly بأَنْin that أَعطىhe gave يَدَيْكَyour two hands قيادَهُhis reins
سَمْحاً بأَنْ أَعطى يَدَيْكَ قيادَهُ
لَهِجاًeagerly بأَنْin that أَلقىhe cast إِلَيْكَto you مقالِدَهْhis keys
لَهِجاً بأَنْ أَلقى إِلَيْكَ مقالِدَهْ
willingly giving his reins into your hands,
eagerly casting his keys before you.
وَرَأَىand he saw فرائِصَهُhis quivering flank-muscles لِسيفِكَfor your sword فُرْصَةًan opportunity
وَرَأَى فرائِصَهُ لِسيفِكَ فُرْصَةً
وفؤادَهُand his heart لسنانِfor the point of رُمْحِكَyour spear فائِدَهْa prize
وفؤادَهُ لسنانِ رُمْحِكَ فائِدَهْ
He saw his quivering flesh as an opportunity for your sword,
and his heart as a prize for the point of your spear.
فَدَناso drew near بِهِwith him زَمَعُthe tremor of الرَّجاءِhope كَأَنَّماas though
فَدَنا بِهِ زَمَعُ الرَّجاءِ كَأَنَّما
أَحشاؤهُhis entrails عَزَماتُهُhis resolves المُتفاقِدَهْlost to one another
أَحشاؤهُ عَزَماتُهُ المُتفاقِدَهْ
So hope's tremor brought him near, as though
his entrails were his resolves, lost to one another.
لاno ثَغْرَfrontier دُونَكَbefore you غَيْرَexcept ثُغْرَةِthe hollow of نَحْرِهِhis throat
لا ثَغْرَ دُونَكَ غَيْرَ ثُغْرَةِ نَحْرِهِ
إِلّاsave رجاءَhope of عوائِدٍcustomary favors لَكَof yours عائِدَهْreturning
إِلّا رجاءَ عوائِدٍ لَكَ عائِدَهْ
No frontier stood before you but the hollow of his throat,
save hope of your customary favors returning again.
ولقدand indeed لَبِسْتَyou donned إِلَيْهِbefore him منfrom حُللِthe robes of الهُدىguidance
ولقد لَبِسْتَ إِلَيْهِ من حُللِ الهُدى
نوراًa light ثَنىleft نارَthe fire of الضَّلالَةِerror خامِدَهْextinguished
نوراً ثَنى نارَ الضَّلالَةِ خامِدَهْ
Indeed, before him you donned, from guidance's robes,
a light that left the fire of error extinguished.
ومَلأْتَand you filled عينَيْهِhis two eyes بماwith what مَلأَfilled المَلاthe open plain
ومَلأْتَ عينَيْهِ بما مَلأَ المَلا
أُسْداًlions لأَقرانِagainst the peers of الحُتوفِdeath مُساوِدَهْconfronting
أُسْداً لأَقرانِ الحُتوفِ مُساوِدَهْ
And you filled his eyes with what filled the open plain:
lions confronting the peers of death.
رَمَقُواthey eyed صفوفَthe ranks of جنودِهِhis troops منfrom فَرْسَخٍa farsakh
رَمَقُوا صفوفَ جنودِهِ من فَرْسَخٍ
فأَرَتْكَso they showed you إِجفالَthe stampede of النَّعامِthe ostriches الشَّارِدَهْfleeing
فأَرَتْكَ إِجفالَ النَّعامِ الشَّارِدَهْ
They eyed his troops' ranks from a farsakh away,
and their ranks showed you the stampede of fleeing ostriches,
حَتَّىuntil بَسَطْتَyou extended لخاضِعٍto one submitting ومُقَبِّلٍand one kissing
حَتَّى بَسَطْتَ لخاضِعٍ ومُقَبِّلٍ
كفّاًa hand لسيفِfor the sword of البأْسِbattle عنهُمْaway from them غامِدَهْsheathing
كفّاً لسيفِ البأْسِ عنهُمْ غامِدَهْ
until you stretched out to those bowing and kissing
a hand that sheathed the sword of battle, sparing them.
فَدَنَوْاso they drew near يَرَوْنَseeing الأرضَthe earth مائِدَةًswaying بِهِمْbeneath them
فَدَنَوْا يَرَوْنَ الأرضَ مائِدَةً بِهِمْ
ذُعْراًin terror وَوَشْكاًand soon مَاemphatic particle رأَوْهاthey saw it مائِدَهْa table
ذُعْراً وَوَشْكاً مَا رأَوْها مائِدَهْ
So they drew near, seeing the earth sway beneath them
in terror; soon they saw it as a table,
خِصْباًabundant لَهُمْfor them بالنُّزْلِwith guest-provisions أُرغِدَwas made plentiful أُكْلُهاits food
خِصْباً لَهُمْ بالنُّزْلِ أُرغِدَ أُكْلُها
للمعتَفِينَfor those seeking bounty وللجنودِand for the troops الوافِدَهْarriving
للمعتَفِينَ وللجنودِ الوافِدَهْ
rich for them in guest-provisions, its food made plentiful
for those seeking bounty and the arriving troops.
وموارِدٌand watering places حَطَّset down ابْنُson of شَنْجَShanj رِحالَهُhis baggage
وموارِدٌ حَطَّ ابْنُ شَنْجَ رِحالَهُ
ورجالَهُand his men فِيهَاin them مَحَطَّthe alighting of الوارِدَهْthose coming to water
ورجالَهُ فِيهَا مَحَطَّ الوارِدَهْ
And watering places where Ibn Shanj set down his baggage
and his men, as those coming to water alight:
صُنْعاًa work لمنof the one who أَحْياgave life بدولَتِكَthrough your reign الورىto humankind
صُنْعاً لمن أَحْيا بدولَتِكَ الورى
فَسَقىand so watered بيُمْنِكَthrough your good fortune كُلَّevery أرضٍland هامِدَهْlifeless
فَسَقى بيُمْنِكَ كُلَّ أرضٍ هامِدَهْ
a work of the one who revived mankind through your reign,
and through your good fortune watered every lifeless land.
فاسْلَمْso live secure ولاand may not زالَتْcease قُصورُكَyour palaces للمُنىfor hopes
فاسْلَمْ ولا زالَتْ قُصورُكَ للمُنى
مقصودَةًsought out وسِهامُand the arrows of عزمِكَyour resolve قاصِدَهْtrue to their aim
مقصودَةً وسِهامُ عزمِكَ قاصِدَهْ
So live secure; may your palaces, for every hope, remain
sought-out goals, and may your resolve's arrows fly true,
تُصْمِيstriking fatally بِسَعْيِكَthrough your efforts كُلَّevery أَنْفٍnose شامِخٍhaughtily raised
تُصْمِي بِسَعْيِكَ كُلَّ أَنْفٍ شامِخٍ
قَهْراًby force وتَفْقَأُand gouging out كُلَّevery عينٍeye حاسِدَهْenvious
قَهْراً وتَفْقَأُ كُلَّ عينٍ حاسِدَهْ
striking dead, through your efforts, every haughty nose,
by force, and gouging out every envious eye.
واسْلَمْand live secure وَلاand may not نَقَصَتْbe diminished لِدَهْرِكَfrom your lifetime ساعَةٌan hour
واسْلَمْ وَلا نَقَصَتْ لِدَهْرِكَ ساعَةٌ
إِلّاunless وكانتand it was فِيin بقائِكَyour continued life زَائِدَهْan increase
إِلّا وكانت فِي بقائِكَ زَائِدَهْ
And live secure; may no hour be lost from your lifetime
unless it adds to your enduring life.
Sol 6.1