صَبٌّan ardent lover لِلقياكَfor meeting you بالأَشواقwith yearnings معمودُstricken
صَبٌّ لِلقياكَ بالأَشواق معمودُ
فَقيدُbereft of صَبرٍpatience عَنfrom الأَحبابthe loved ones مَفقودُmissing
فَقيدُ صَبرٍ عَن الأَحباب مَفقودُ
A lover, stricken with longing to meet you,
bereft of patience, missing from his loved ones.
ناءٍfar away عَنfrom الأَهلِthe family والأَوطانand the homelands مُغتَرِبٌan exile
ناءٍ عَن الأَهلِ والأَوطان مُغتَرِبٌ
وَواجِدٌand anguished ماnot لَهُfor him فيin الصَبرpatience مَوجودُanything found
وَواجِدٌ ما لَهُ في الصَبر مَوجودُ
Far from family and homelands, an exile,
and anguished, finding nothing in patience.
مُتَيّمٌenslaved by love قَدindeed بَكىhas wept بَعدَafter الدُموعthe tears دَماًblood
مُتَيّمٌ قَد بَكى بَعدَ الدُموع دَماً
كَأَنَّماas though هوَit فيin عينيهhis eyes مَقصودُintended
كَأَنَّما هوَ في عينيه مَقصودُ
Enslaved by love, he has wept blood after tears,
as though it were what his eyes were meant to shed.
النارُthe fire ذاتُpossessing وَقودٍfuel فيin جَوانِحِهِhis breast
النارُ ذاتُ وَقودٍ في جَوانِحِهِ
شَوقاًfrom longing وَفيand in خَدِّهِhis cheek لِلدمعfor tears أخدودُa furrow
شَوقاً وَفي خَدِّهِ لِلدمع أخدودُ
Fire has its fuel within his breast,
from longing, and tears have a furrow in his cheek.
ياO مُخجلَyou who shame الشمسِthe sun بالإِشراقwith radiance إِنَّindeed فَتىًa youth
يا مُخجلَ الشمسِ بالإِشراق إِنَّ فَتىً
طلعتَyou rose فيin دارهhis house يَوماًone day لمسعودُsurely fortunate
طلعتَ في داره يَوماً لمسعودُ
O you whose radiance shames the sun, truly a youth
in whose house you rose one day is fortunate.
أَسرتَyou captured قَلبيmy heart وَقَدand already حُجِّبتَyou were veiled عَنfrom بَصريmy sight
أَسرتَ قَلبي وَقَد حُجِّبتَ عَن بَصري
تيهاًin proud disdain فَكانَso there was لَهُfor it بِالقُربin nearness تَبعيدُdistancing
تيهاً فَكانَ لَهُ بِالقُرب تَبعيدُ
You captured my heart, though you were veiled from my sight
in proud disdain; even nearness meant estrangement for it.
وبِنتَand you departed عنّيfrom me فَطَرفيso my eye فيin مجاهدةstruggle
وبِنتَ عنّي فَطَرفي في مجاهدة
مَعwith الدموعtears وَقَلبيand my heart منكfrom you مَجهودُexhausted
مَع الدموع وَقَلبي منك مَجهودُ
And you parted from me, so my eye struggles
with tears, and my heart is worn out by you.
وَقَدand indeed تَطابقhas come into accord حالُthe state of الصبّthe lover مِنfrom حزَنٍgrief
وَقَد تَطابق حالُ الصبّ مِن حزَنٍ
فَدَمعُهُso his tears مُطلَقٌunfettered وَالقَلبand the heart مصفودُchained
فَدَمعُهُ مُطلَقٌ وَالقَلب مصفودُ
The lover's state is all of a piece in sorrow:
his tears are unbound, while his heart is fettered.
وَالطَيفُand the dream-image ماnot زارَvisited إِذsince بابُthe door of الزِيارةvisitation منthrough
وَالطَيفُ ما زارَ إِذ بابُ الزِيارة من
فرطِexcess السهادwakefulness بِفَتحِby opening الجفنthe eyelid مَسدودُclosed
فرطِ السهاد بِفَتحِ الجفن مَسدودُ
And the dream-image has not visited, for the door to visitation, through
excessive wakefulness, is closed by the opening of the eyelid.
أَبيتُI spend the night أَرعىwatching النُجومَthe stars الزُهرَthe bright ones أحسبهsupposing him
أَبيتُ أَرعى النُجومَ الزُهرَ أحسبه
فيهاamong them إِلىuntil أَنthat حلاbecame sweet ليto me فيهِin it تَسهيدُsleeplessness
فيها إِلى أَن حلا لي فيهِ تَسهيدُ
I spend the night watching the bright stars, imagining him
among them, until sleeplessness in this grew sweet to me.
وَكَمand how often أَعدّدُI lament حُزناًin sorrow إِذas أعدُّI count لَهُfor him
وَكَم أَعدّدُ حُزناً إِذ أعدُّ لَهُ
أَيّامَdays of هجرestrangement فَدَهريso my lifetime فيهِin it تَعديدُlamentation
أَيّامَ هجر فَدَهري فيهِ تَعديدُ
How often I lament in sorrow, while counting for him
days of estrangement; my life in it is one long lament.
أَحبابَناour loved ones عبِثَتhave toyed أَيديthe hands of السقامsickness بِناwith us
أَحبابَنا عبِثَت أَيدي السقام بِنا
مِنfrom بعدكمafter you فَبماضيso by the former ودّناour affection عودواreturn
مِن بعدكم فَبماضي ودّنا عودوا
Our loved ones, the hands of sickness have toyed with us
since you left; by our old affection, return!
إِنif لَمnot يجدgives generously رَوضُthe garden of ذاكَthat الوَجهface ليto me بِجَنىًwith fruit
إِن لَم يجد رَوضُ ذاكَ الوَجه لي بِجَنىً
فَلَيتَthen would that ليfor me أَنَّthat ماءthe water of الثغرthe mouth مورودُaccessible for drinking
فَلَيتَ لي أَنَّ ماء الثغر مورودُ
If the garden of that face yields me no fruit,
would that I could drink the water of those lips.
أَوor كانَwas صَبريmy patience عَنfrom قَلبيmy heart لِبُعدكُمُbecause of your distance
أَو كانَ صَبري عَن قَلبي لِبُعدكُمُ
مخرَّجاًdriven out ليتwould that أَنَّthat النومsleep مَردودُrestored
مخرَّجاً ليت أَنَّ النوم مَردودُ
Or if my patience, through your distance, from my heart
has been driven out, would that sleep were restored.
أَوor كانَwas دهريَmy time مَذموماًblameworthy لفرقتكمbecause of separation from you
أَو كانَ دهريَ مَذموماً لفرقتكم
فَإِنّthen indeed قَصديmy journey لإِسماعيلَto Ismail مَحمودُpraiseworthy
فَإِنّ قَصدي لإِسماعيلَ مَحمودُ
Or if my time is blamed for my separation from you,
my journey to Ismail is surely praiseworthy:
الأَشرَفِal-Ashraf الملكِthe king بنِson of الأَفضَلِal-Afdal بِنson of عَليAli
الأَشرَفِ الملكِ بنِ الأَفضَلِ بِن عَلي
يِending of Ali بنِson of المؤيِّدِal-Mu'ayyad حاميprotector of المُلكِthe kingdom داودُDawud
يِ بنِ المؤيِّدِ حامي المُلكِ داودُ
King al-Ashraf, son of al-Afdal, son of Ali,
son of al-Mu'ayyad Dawud, protector of the realm.
المانِحُthe bestower of الفَضلَbounty صَفواًpurely فَيضُthe outpouring of راحتِهِhis palm
المانِحُ الفَضلَ صَفواً فَيضُ راحتِهِ
وَالغَيثُand the rain إِنif جادَgives generously تَعبانٌweary وَمكدودُand toil-worn
وَالغَيثُ إِن جادَ تَعبانٌ وَمكدودُ
The outpouring of his palm bestows pure bounty,
while rain, when generous, is weary and toil-worn.
وَالمانِعُand the protector of السرحَthe grazing herds حيثwhere الأَرضُthe earth منfrom دمblood منthose who
وَالمانِعُ السرحَ حيث الأَرضُ من دم من
عاداهُopposed him فيon خَدِّهاits cheek المغَبرّdusty تَوريدُa rosy flush
عاداهُ في خَدِّها المغَبرّ تَوريدُ
And he protects the grazing herds where the earth, from the blood of those
who opposed him, bears a rosy flush upon its dusty cheek.
وَالنَقعُand the battle-dust ثارrose دُخاناas smoke وَالظُباand the sword-blades شَرَرٌsparks
وَالنَقعُ ثار دُخانا وَالظُبا شَرَرٌ
وَماand not سوىexcept حطبِthe firewood of الأَجسامbodies مَوقودُkindled
وَما سوى حطبِ الأَجسام مَوقودُ
The battle-dust rose as smoke, and sword-blades were sparks,
and nothing was kindled but the firewood of bodies.
نامslept الرَعاياthe subjects وَقَلبُand the heart of البَرقlightning يَخفقbeats منfrom
نام الرَعايا وَقَلبُ البَرق يَخفق من
رعبterror بِهbecause of him وبطرفand in the eye of النجمthe star تسهيدُsleeplessness
رعب بِه وبطرف النجم تسهيدُ
The subjects slept, while lightning's heart beat with
terror of him, and the star's eye was kept awake.
وأمّنَتهمand made them safe مِنَfrom الآفاتcalamities طلعةthe countenance of منone who
وأمّنَتهم مِنَ الآفات طلعة من
أَضحىhas become وطالعهand his ascendant بِالنصرwith victory مسعودُfortunate
أَضحى وطالعه بِالنصر مسعودُ
The countenance of one made them safe from calamities,
one whose ascendant has become blessed with victory.
وَقالَand said داعيthe herald of الندىbounty فيamong الناسthe people حيّcome عَلىto
وَقالَ داعي الندى في الناس حيّ عَلى
خَيرthe best of الصِلاتgifts فَإِنّfor indeed الوقتthe time مَشهودُwell attended
خَير الصِلات فَإِنّ الوقت مَشهودُ
The herald of bounty called among the people, 'Come to
the finest gifts, for the hour is well attended!'
وَقَدand already ناعيthe death-announcer of العداthe enemies فيat الحالthe moment مبتدراًhastening
وَقَد ناعي العدا في الحال مبتدراً
يَقولsays فيin الفقرpoverty ياO أَعداءَهhis enemies بيدواperish
يَقول في الفقر يا أَعداءَه بيدوا
And already the herald of his foes' deaths, hastening at once,
says in poverty, 'O his enemies, perish!'
سُلَّتwere plucked off رؤوسهمtheir heads بالرعبby terror مِنsince أَمَدٍlong ago
سُلَّت رؤوسهم بالرعب مِن أَمَدٍ
وَطرفُand the tip of مُرهَفِهِhis keen blade فيin الجفنthe sheath مَغمودُsheathed
وَطرفُ مُرهَفِهِ في الجفن مَغمودُ
Their heads were torn off by terror long ago,
while the tip of his keen blade was still sheathed.
وَمظلمُand the dark mass of النَقعِbattle-dust مِنthrough إِشراقthe radiance of طلعتهhis face
وَمظلمُ النَقعِ مِن إِشراق طلعته
منوِّرradiant وَلَهُand it has فيin الأُفقthe horizon تَصعيدُan ascent
منوِّر وَلَهُ في الأُفق تَصعيدُ
The dark battle-dust, through the radiance of his face,
is radiant as it rises across the horizon.
إِنif قالhe says صِدناwe hunted الثناpraise فيin السلمpeace منthrough كرمٍgenerosity
إِن قال صِدنا الثنا في السلم من كرمٍ
فَماthen what يقالis said لناto us فيin الحَربwar قلsay صيدواthey were hunted
فَما يقال لنا في الحَرب قل صيدوا
If he says, 'We hunted praise in peace through generosity;
what is said to us in war?' say, 'They were hunted.'
أَوor قالhe says سُدناwe ruled الوَرىmankind بيضَwhite الوجوهfaces فَماthen what
أَو قال سُدنا الوَرى بيضَ الوجوه فَما
أَلوانُthe colors of أَوجهِthe faces of أَعداناour enemies فَقلthen say سودواthey were blackened
أَلوانُ أَوجهِ أَعدانا فَقل سودوا
Or says, 'We ruled mankind with faces white, then what
are the colors of our foes' faces?' say, 'They were blackened.'
عَلىto التقىpiety وَالنَدىand generosity والحلمand forbearance مقتصرٌconfined
عَلى التقى وَالنَدى والحلم مقتصرٌ
فأعجبso marvel لمقصورat a confined شيءٍthing وَهوَwhile it is مَمدودُextended
فأعجب لمقصور شيءٍ وَهوَ مَمدودُ
He confines himself to piety, bounty, and forbearance—
marvel at a thing confined yet extended!—
وَفَصلِand decisive حُكمٍjudgment وَصِدقٍand truthfulness فيin الوعودِthe promises فَهَلso have
وَفَصلِ حُكمٍ وَصِدقٍ في الوعودِ فَهَل
عَلِمتمyou learned أَنَّthat إِسمعيلIsmail داودُDawud
عَلِمتم أَنَّ إِسمعيل داودُ
and decisive judgment and truthfulness in promises. Have you
learned that Ismail is Dawud?
بعُظمby the greatness of عزّتهhis might الدنياthe world تَعِزُّgrows mighty فَياso O
بعُظم عزّته الدنيا تَعِزُّ فَيا
زبيدZabid مِنهfrom him هَناكِmay it gladden you العدلjustice وَالجودُand generosity
زبيد مِنه هَناكِ العدل وَالجودُ
By his great might the world grows mighty; O
Zabid, may his justice and bounty gladden you!
إِنif يَجهلdoes not know القاصِدُthe petitioner المَعروفَkindness مِنfrom ملكٍa king
إِن يَجهل القاصِدُ المَعروفَ مِن ملكٍ
سواهother than him فالعُرفُthen kindness مِنfrom نُعماهhis bounty مَعهودُwell known
سواه فالعُرفُ مِن نُعماه مَعهودُ
If a petitioner knows no kindness from a king
other than him, kindness from his bounty is well known.
مَخايلُsigns of الجودِgenerosity لاحَتappeared يَومَon the day of مولدهhis birth
مَخايلُ الجودِ لاحَت يَومَ مولده
فيin وَجههhis face قبلbefore ماwhat تقضىdecree المَواليدُthe natal horoscopes
في وَجهه قبل ما تقضى المَواليدُ
Signs of generosity appeared on the day of his birth
in his face, before the natal horoscopes passed judgment.
اِستَسقِseek rain from يمناهhis right hand ياO منone who قَلَّhas dwindled ناصرُهُhis support
اِستَسقِ يمناه يا من قَلَّ ناصرُهُ
فأَنتَso you مِنfrom جودthe generosity of تِلكَthat الكَفِّpalm منجودُaided
فأَنتَ مِن جود تِلكَ الكَفِّ منجودُ
Seek rain from his right hand, O you whose support is scant:
you are aided by the bounty of that palm.
وَاِطرُدand banish همومكyour cares إِنif يُحلِلكَhe admits you to ناديَهhis court
وَاِطرُد همومك إِن يُحلِلكَ ناديَه
بِالسعدwith good fortune فَالعَكسُfor the reverse فيin ناديهhis court مَطرودُbanished
بِالسعد فَالعَكسُ في ناديه مَطرودُ
And banish your cares if he admits you to his court
with good fortune, for its opposite is banished from his court.
قَدindeed أمّنhas made safe الكونthe universe مِنfrom خَوفfear ونوّرهand illumined it
قَد أمّن الكون مِن خَوف ونوّره
أَبناؤهُhis sons الغرّradiant أَوor آباؤُهُhis forefathers الصيدُmajestic
أَبناؤهُ الغرّ أَو آباؤُهُ الصيدُ
The universe has been made safe from fear and illumined
by his radiant sons or his majestic forefathers.
وَقَدand indeed تعلّىhas risen عَلىabove بهرامَBahram منزلةin rank
وَقَد تعلّى عَلى بهرامَ منزلة
وَفاقَand surpassed ملكاًin kingship فَماso what are كسرىKisra وإفريدُand Ifrid
وَفاقَ ملكاً فَما كسرى وإفريدُ
He has risen in rank above Bahram
and excelled in kingship—what are Kisra and Ifrid?
وَقلَّدَتناand have adorned us أَياديهhis favors حلىًjewels فَشداso sang
وَقلَّدَتنا أَياديه حلىً فَشدا
بِالمَدحِwith praise مِنّاfrom us لَهُfor him عِلمٌknowledge وَتَقليدُand imitation
بِالمَدحِ مِنّا لَهُ عِلمٌ وَتَقليدُ
His favors have adorned us with jewels, so
knowledge and imitation among us sang his praise.
وَفسَّرَتand have interpreted لأمانيناfor our hopes مَكارِمهhis generous deeds
وَفسَّرَت لأمانينا مَكارِمه
وَلاِبنand for Ibn عَبّاسَAbbas فيin التَفسيرinterpretation تَجويدُmastery
وَلاِبن عَبّاسَ في التَفسير تَجويدُ
His generous deeds have interpreted our hopes,
and Ibn Abbas has mastery in interpretation.
ياO مالِكاًa sovereign مُلكُهُhis kingdom العاليlofty بِسؤددهby his nobility
يا مالِكاً مُلكُهُ العالي بِسؤدده
موطأٌmade secure وَلَهُand it has بِالعَدلthrough justice تَمهيدُa firm foundation
موطأٌ وَلَهُ بِالعَدل تَمهيدُ
O sovereign, whose lofty realm, through his nobility,
is made secure and established through justice.
ياO منyou who تطوَّلbestowed favors جوداًgenerously هاbehold بَضائِعُناour wares
يا من تطوَّل جوداً ها بَضائِعُنا
عرضَan offering of المدائحpanegyrics وَالتَقصيرand shortcomings مَوجودُare present
عرضَ المدائح وَالتَقصير مَوجودُ
O you lavish in generosity, here are our wares:
an offering of praises, though shortcomings remain.
إِلىtoward علاكyour eminence قطعتُI crossed البحرthe sea فيon سفرٍa journey
إِلى علاك قطعتُ البحر في سفرٍ
يُواصِلkeeps company with القَلبthe heart دأباًincessantly فيهِon it تَنكيدُdistress
يُواصِل القَلب دأباً فيهِ تَنكيدُ
To your eminence I crossed the sea on a journey
on which distress incessantly besets the heart.
حُرِمتُI was denied لذّةَthe pleasure of عَيشيmy life إِذwhen حللتI entered بِهِinto it
حُرِمتُ لذّةَ عَيشي إِذ حللت بِهِ
وَبانand departed عَنّيfrom me مَحبوبone beloved وَمودودُand one cherished
وَبان عَنّي مَحبوب وَمودودُ
I was denied the sweetness of my life when I entered it,
and beloved and cherished ones parted from me.
وَأَسكَرَتنيand intoxicated me كؤوسُthe cups of الهمّgrief فيهِon it ومنand from
وَأَسكَرَتني كؤوسُ الهمّ فيهِ ومن
أَمواجِهِits waves الرَقصُdancing فيناamong us وَالعَرابيدُand drunken revelers
أَمواجِهِ الرَقصُ فينا وَالعَرابيدُ
The cups of grief upon it made me drunk, and from
its waves came dancing among us and drunken revelry.
وَفُطِّرَand was broken القَلبthe heart مَمّاbecause of what صامit fasted عَنfrom فرحjoy
وَفُطِّرَ القَلب مَمّا صام عَن فرح
فيهِin it وَيَومَand the day أَرىI see ناديكyour court ليfor me عيدُa feast-day
فيهِ وَيَومَ أَرى ناديك لي عيدُ
And the heart was broken by its fasting from joy
upon it; the day I see your court is my feast-day.
نظرتَyou looked نَحويtoward me بعينwith an eye of العطفkindness منout of كرمٍgenerosity
نظرتَ نَحوي بعين العطف من كرمٍ
فَاِسمعso hear مَديحاًa panegyric لَهُit has فيin الصدقtruthfulness تَوكيدُconfirmation
فَاِسمع مَديحاً لَهُ في الصدق تَوكيدُ
You looked toward me with an eye of kindness, out of generosity;
so hear a panegyric firmly grounded in truth.
إِنif كُنتُI was بِالحُسنِwith beauty لَمnot أُطلِقset free قَوافيَهُits rhymes
إِن كُنتُ بِالحُسنِ لَم أُطلِق قَوافيَهُ
فَبالكلالthen through fatigue لِذِهنيfor my mind اليومtoday تَقييدُfettering
فَبالكلال لِذِهني اليوم تَقييدُ
If I have not let its rhymes run free in beauty,
today fatigue has fettered my mind.
وَفكرتيand my thought عَقِمَتhas grown barren مِمّاfrom what لَقيتُI endured فَلَمso not
وَفكرتي عَقِمَت مِمّا لَقيتُ فَلَم
يُنتَجwas produced لَهاfor it مِثلَlike ماwhat أَرضاهُI approve of تَوليدُgeneration
يُنتَج لَها مِثلَ ما أَرضاهُ تَوليدُ
My thought has grown barren from what I endured, so no
offspring has been born to it of the kind I would approve.
ولطفُand the graciousness of خيركyour kindness لِلعافيto the supplicant الغَريبthe stranger لَهُit has
ولطفُ خيرك لِلعافي الغَريب لَهُ
فيthroughout الأَرضِthe earth سَيرٌa course وَفيand throughout الآفاقthe horizons تَخليدُimmortalization
في الأَرضِ سَيرٌ وَفي الآفاق تَخليدُ
And your gracious kindness to the stranger seeking aid has
traveled the earth and become immortal across the horizons.
طَوِّقencircle بِحليwith the jewels of النَدىgenerosity عُنقيmy neck يَكُنthere will be لَكَfor you مِنfrom
طَوِّق بِحلي النَدى عُنقي يَكُن لَكَ مِن
نظميmy verse وَسَجعيand my rhymed prose عَلىupon الأَوراقِthe pages تَغريدُbirdsong
نظمي وَسَجعي عَلى الأَوراقِ تَغريدُ
Circle my neck with bounty's jewels, and you shall have from
my verse and rhymed prose birdsong upon the pages.
وَدمand remain مَليكاًa king عَلىin الجدّgood fortune ترتعgraze فيin
وَدم مَليكاً عَلى الجدّ ترتع في
رَبيعthe spring of عدلكyour justice شاةُthe sheep of القَومthe people وَالسّيدُand the wolf
رَبيع عدلك شاةُ القَوم وَالسّيدُ
May you remain a king in good fortune, while in
the spring of your justice the people's sheep and the wolf graze.
Sol 6.1