كفَىhas spared سيفُكَyour sword الإسلامَIslam عاديةَthe onslaught الكُفرِof unbelief
كفَى سيفُكَ الإسلامَ عاديةَ الكُفرِ
وَصُلْتَand you charged علىagainst العادينَthe aggressors بالعزِّwith might والنصرِand victory
وَصُلْتَ على العادينَ بالعزِّ والنصرِ
Your sword has spared Islam the onslaught of unbelief,
Your sword sufficed to defend Islam from the aggression of disbelief
and you charged the aggressors with might and victory.
And you connected with the aggressors with might and victory
وأصبَحَand became قولُthe claim المبطلينof the falsifiers مُكذَّباًdisproved
وأصبَحَ قولُ المبطلين مُكذَّباً
ومَدَّand extended لَكَfor you الرّحمَنُthe All-Merciful فيin أمَدِthe span العُمْرِof life
ومَدَّ لَكَ الرّحمَنُ في أمَدِ العُمْرِ
The claims of falsehood's champions have been disproved,
And the words of the falsifiers became disproved
and the All-Merciful has prolonged your span of life.
And the Most Merciful extended your lifetime
وأَينَand where is الَّذيthat which حَدَّspecified المُنَجِّمُthe astrologer كَوْنَهُits occurrence
وأَينَ الَّذي حَدَّ المُنَجِّمُ كَوْنَهُ
إذاwhen مَرّhad passed لِلصُّوَّامِfor those fasting عَشْرٌten days مِنَof الشَّهرِthe month
إذا مَرّ لِلصُّوَّامِ عَشْرٌ مِنَ الشَّهرِ
Where is the event whose occurrence the astrologer fixed
And where is he who the astrologer determined his fate
for when ten days of the month had passed for those fasting?
When ten days passed for the fasting person from the month
وماand what قَرَعَstruck الأسماعَthe ears بالخبرِwith the report الَّذيwhich
وما قَرَعَ الأسماعَ بالخبرِ الَّذي
أبَىrefused اللَّهُGod إلّاexcept أنْthat يُكَذَّبَit be disproved بالخُبرِby experience
أبَى اللَّهُ إلّا أنْ يُكَذَّبَ بالخُبرِ
And what of the report he drummed into people's ears,
And the news did not reach the ears that
which God insisted be disproved by experience?
God refused except to disbelieve the news
غَداbecame الزّيجُthe astronomical tables ريحاًwind فيamid تَناقُضِthe contradictions عِلمِهِof his science
غَدا الزّيجُ ريحاً في تَناقُضِ عِلمِهِ
وتعديلُهُand his corrections عُرفاًa recognized good أحالَturned علىinto نُكْرِsomething objectionable
وتعديلُهُ عُرفاً أحالَ على نُكْرِ
The astronomical tables became wind amid his science's contradictions,
Tomorrow, the astrological calculations will be like wind in their contradiction
and his corrections turned what seemed good into ill.
And its regulation became commonly known to be rejected
فهلّاthen why not رأىforesee قَطْعاًa decisive sentence عليهِagainst him بِسَجْنِهِof his imprisonment
فهلّا رأى قَطْعاً عليهِ بِسَجْنِهِ
ومَشْياًand a walk بدُهْمٍin black fetters كانَthat was بالكَبْوِwith stumbling والعَثرِand tripping
ومَشْياً بدُهْمٍ كانَ بالكَبْوِ والعَثرِ
Why did he not foresee the sentence of his own imprisonment,
Why then did he not see his clear imprisonment
and a walk in black fetters, stumbling and tripping?
And walking in shackles as if lame and stumbling
وإِنَّand indeed عَليّاًAli يَنْتَضيdraws القُضُبَthe keen swords الَّتيwhich
وإِنَّ عَليّاً يَنْتَضي القُضُبَ الَّتي
يَرُدّhe turns بهاwith them مَدّthe expansion العُداةِof the enemies إلىinto قَصْرِcontraction
يَرُدّ بها مَدّ العُداةِ إلى قَصْرِ
Ali indeed draws the keen swords
And indeed Ali takes the sticks
with which he turns the enemies' expansion into contraction.
With which he repels the extension of the enemies to the palace
لَقَدindeed ضَلَّwent astray عُبّادُthe worshippers النُّجومِof the stars وماand did not اهتَدواfind guidance
لَقَد ضَلَّ عُبّادُ النُّجومِ وما اهتَدوا
بِبَعثِthrough the sending رَسولٍof a messenger للأَنامِto humankind ولاnor ذِكرِrevelation
بِبَعثِ رَسولٍ للأَنامِ ولا ذِكرِ
The worshippers of stars have gone astray, finding no guidance
Indeed the worshipers of the stars went astray and were not guided
in a messenger sent to humankind, nor in revelation.
By the sending of a messenger to the people or by a mention
وَكَمand how many مَرَّpassed فيthrough الدُّنياthe world لَهمof theirs مِنْof مُمَخْرِقٍa charlatan
وَكَم مَرَّ في الدُّنيا لَهم مِنْ مُمَخْرِقٍ
مِنَfrom النَّاسِhumankind مَطوِيِّfolded الضّلوعthe ribs علىover غَمرِrancor
مِنَ النَّاسِ مَطوِيِّ الضّلوع على غَمرِ
How many a charlatan of theirs has passed through this world,
And how much in this world did the brightly shining pass by them
a man whose ribs enfold rancor!
Of bent people cloaked in ignorance
إذاwhen جالَhe ranged فيthrough عِلمِknowledge الغيوبِof the unseen حَسبْتَهُyou thought him
إذا جالَ في عِلمِ الغيوبِ حَسبْتَهُ
مُسَيلِمَةَMusaylima الكذّابَthe Liar قامَrisen منَfrom القبرِthe grave
مُسَيلِمَةَ الكذّابَ قامَ منَ القبرِ
When he ranges through knowledge of the unseen, you would think him
When he wanders in the knowledge of the unseen, you would think him
Musaylima the Liar, risen from the grave.
Musailima the liar risen from his grave
أباطيلُfalsehoods تجريcirculate بالحقائقِas truths بينهمamong them
أباطيلُ تجري بالحقائقِ بينهم
منfrom الكِذْبِlies منهمof their own لاnot عنِfrom السبعةِthe seven الزُّهرِbright planets
من الكِذْبِ منهم لا عنِ السبعةِ الزُّهرِ
Falsehoods circulate among them as truths,
Superstitions run between them instead of truths
lies of their own, not from the seven bright planets.
Of lies from them, not from the seven oft-repeated
وميلٌand an inclination إليهاtoward them بالظنونِthrough conjectures وإنّماwhereas
وميلٌ إليها بالظنونِ وإنّما
يُنَكِّبُturns aside عنهاfrom them كلُّevery يَقظانَwakeful person ذوpossessed of حِجْرِreason
يُنَكِّبُ عنها كلُّ يَقظانَ ذو حِجْرِ
They incline toward them through conjecture, whereas
And inclination towards them while in fact
every wakeful man of reason turns away from them.
Every vigilant person of reason turns away from them
وماand not الشُّهْبُthe bright stars إلّاexcept كَالمصابيحِlike lamps تلتَظيblazing
وما الشُّهْبُ إلّا كَالمصابيحِ تلتَظي
مَعَwith اللّيلِthe night للساريfor the night-traveler وتخمدُand die out فيat الفجرِdawn
مَعَ اللّيلِ للساري وتخمدُ في الفجرِ
The bright stars are only like lamps, blazing
The meteors are but like lamps that blaze
at night for the traveler, then going out at dawn.
With the night for the sleepless and fade at dawn
فَياso O أَيُّهاyou المغتَرُّthe deluded one بالنَّجمِby the star قُلْtell لَناus
فَيا أَيُّها المغتَرُّ بالنَّجمِ قُلْ لَنا
أتعلمُdo you know سرّاًa secret فيهwithin it منfrom ربّهits Lord يَسْريthat flows
أتعلمُ سرّاً فيه من ربّه يَسْري
O you deluded by the star, tell us:
So O you who are deceived by the star, tell us
do you know a secret flowing into it from its Lord?
Do you know a secret in it from its Lord made easy?
وبَينَكُماand between you both بَوْنٌa gulf بَعيدٌvast فماso what الَّذيis it that
وبَينَكُما بَوْنٌ بَعيدٌ فما الَّذي
تَقَوّلَهُhe fabricated it الغفرُthe fawn اختِلافاًin contradiction عَنِto الغفرِal-Ghafr, a lunar mansion
تَقَوّلَهُ الغفرُ اختِلافاً عَنِ الغفرِ
A vast gulf divides you two; so what is it
And between you two is a distant separation so what
that the fawn has fabricated, at variance with al-Ghafr?
Does the Pleiades dispute differently from the Pleiades?
فياso O أحْلَمَmost forbearing الأمْلاكِof kings عنtoward ذيone with حِبالَةٍa snare
فيا أحْلَمَ الأمْلاكِ عن ذي حِبالَةٍ
وإنْeven if جاءَhe came فيin الأمرِthe affair الَّذيwhich جَدّgrew serious بالإمْرِwith enormity
وإنْ جاءَ في الأمرِ الَّذي جَدّ بالإمْرِ
O most forbearing of kings toward a schemer,
O most patient of rulers over one crazed
though he brought enormity into this grave affair,
Even if he is vehement in the matter that calls for vehemence
تداركrescue جهولاًan ignorant man ضلّwho strayed أوor زلّstumbled أوْor بهhe has
تدارك جهولاً ضلّ أو زلّ أوْ به
جُنونٌmadness فماfor he does not يَرتابُfeel apprehension للسَّيفِat the sword فيat النَّحرِthe throat
جُنونٌ فما يَرتابُ للسَّيفِ في النَّحرِ
rescue an ignorant man who strayed, or stumbled, or has
Save an ignorant gone astray or slipped or possessed
madness, feeling no fear of the sword at his throat.
By madness since there is no doubting the sword in the throat
فَصَيِّرْso make جميلَthe graciousness الصَّفحِof pardon عنهُtoward him عِقابَهُhis punishment
فَصَيِّرْ جميلَ الصَّفحِ عنهُ عِقابَهُ
فقدfor indeed جَلّrose high منكَfrom you القدرُthe rank عنabove ضَعَةِthe baseness القدرِof rank
فقد جَلّ منكَ القدرُ عن ضَعَةِ القدرِ
Make gracious pardon his punishment,
So turn your fine pardoning into his punishment
for your rank is too exalted to stoop to baseness.
For your status is high above baseness of status
سُعودُكَyour good fortunes فيin نيلِattaining المُنىwishes لاmay they not تَوَقّفَتْcease
سُعودُكَ في نيلِ المُنى لا تَوَقّفَتْ
منَfrom اللَّهِGod تجريflow لاnot منَfrom الشَّمسِthe sun وَالبدرِand the full moon
منَ اللَّهِ تجري لا منَ الشَّمسِ وَالبدرِ
Your good fortunes in attaining wishes—may they never cease—
Your ease in attaining wishes did not stop
flow from God, not from the sun and full moon.
Coming from God, not from sun or moon
ملكتَyou ruled فمهّدتَand so ordered الأمورَaffairs مُجَرِّداًbringing forth
ملكتَ فمهّدتَ الأمورَ مُجَرِّداً
لتمهيدهاto order them رأيَthe judgment المجرِّبِof the experienced لاnot الغُمْرِthe novice
لتمهيدها رأيَ المجرِّبِ لا الغُمْرِ
You ruled and set affairs in order, bringing to bear
You held dominion so you smoothed the way
the judgment of the experienced, not the novice, to order them.
In order to smooth it by the view of the experienced, not the shallow
وَنَظَّمتَand you strung together حبّاتِthe beads القُلوبِof hearts مَحَبَّةًin love
وَنَظَّمتَ حبّاتِ القُلوبِ مَحَبَّةً
عَلَيكَfor you وقَدthough indeed كانَتthey had been مباينةَdisunited النَثرِin scattering
عَلَيكَ وقَد كانَت مباينةَ النَثرِ
You strung the beads of hearts together in love
And you strung together hearts in loving affection
for you, though once they had been scattered apart.
For you after they had been heterogeneous in compassion
لأمرٍfor a purpose أدَمتَyou prolonged الحَصرَthe siege فيin حرْبِthe war جَرْبةٍon Djerba
لأمرٍ أدَمتَ الحَصرَ في حرْبِ جَرْبةٍ
وماand not حَرْبُهاwar against it إلاexcept مُداوَمَةُmaintaining الحصرِthe siege
وما حَرْبُها إلا مُداوَمَةُ الحصرِ
For a purpose you prolonged the siege in the war on Djerba,
For a matter in which you persisted in the siege in battle
for war against it is nothing but sustained siege,
And its battle is nothing but persistence in the siege
وتَرْكُكَand your leaving بالزّرقِwith blue spears اللّهاذِمِthe keen-edged أهْلَهاits people
وتَرْكُكَ بالزّرقِ اللّهاذِمِ أهْلَها
وبالبيضِand with white swords صَرْعىslain فيon الجزيرَةthe island كالجَزْرِlike slaughtered beasts
وبالبيضِ صَرْعى في الجزيرَة كالجَزْرِ
and your leaving its people, by keen blue spears
And you left the God-destroying Zarqis alone
and white swords, slain on the island like butchered beasts.
With the whites slain in the island like pebbles
وماand not ضُويِقُواwere they hard-pressed مَنfrom قبلِbefore هذاthis وإنّماand indeed only
وما ضُويِقُوا مَن قبلِ هذا وإنّما
بقَدرِin proportion to التهابِthe blazing النّارِof the fire تَغْليَةُthe boiling القِدرِof the pot
بقَدرِ التهابِ النّارِ تَغْليَةُ القِدرِ
They had never been hard-pressed before this; indeed,
And they were not squeezed before this while in fact
a pot boils in proportion to the blazing of its fire.
The heating up of the fire produces boiling of the pot
بِسَيرby the march جُيُوشٍof armies فيacross البحُورِthe seas إليهِمُtoward them
بِسَير جُيُوشٍ في البحُورِ إليهِمُ
تُحيطُsurrounding بهمthem زَحْفاًin force معwith المَدّthe flood tide والجَزْرِand the ebb tide
تُحيطُ بهم زَحْفاً مع المَدّ والجَزْرِ
Through armies marching across the seas toward them,
With the march of armies in the seas towards them
surrounding them in force with the flood and ebb.
Encircling them in assault together with the tide and ebb
إِذاwhen انتَقَلتْthey moved بالصَّيدِbearing proud warriors قُلتُI said تَعَجُّباًin wonder
إِذا انتَقَلتْ بالصَّيدِ قُلتُ تَعَجُّباً
متىwhen انتقلdid move الآجامthe thickets بالأُسُدِwith the lions الهُصْرِthe fierce
متى انتقل الآجام بالأُسُدِ الهُصْرِ
When they sail bearing proud warriors, I ask in wonder:
When they transported prey I exclaimed in wonder
When did thickets travel bearing fierce lions?
When did ever the ferocious ones transport the lions?
مجرِّدَةًunsheathing بيضَthe white blades الحتوفِof death خوافقاًfluttering
مجرِّدَةً بيضَ الحتوفِ خوافقاً
بهاupon them العَذَباتُthe pennants الحمرُthe red فيamid اللُّجَجِthe sea-depths الخضرِthe green
بها العَذَباتُ الحمرُ في اللُّجَجِ الخضرِ
Unsheathing death's white blades, with fluttering
With white-feathered birds harmonious
red pennants upon them amid the green sea-depths.
To which the sweet waters flow red between the green thickets
وكلّand every مُديرٍhelmsman يتّقيguards himself بمَجاذِفٍwith oars
وكلّ مُديرٍ يتّقي بمَجاذِفٍ
مُشاكَلَةmatching التَّشبيهِin resemblance فيin الأنمُلِthe fingers العشرِthe ten
مُشاكَلَة التَّشبيهِ في الأنمُلِ العشرِ
Every helmsman guards himself with oars
And every captain who fears with oars
that resemble the ten fingers.
To challenge in simile the ten-fingered hand
ترىyou see الشحمَthe grease فوقabove القارِthe pitch منهof it مُمَيَّعاًliquefied
ترى الشحمَ فوق القارِ منه مُمَيَّعاً
فياso O منone who رأىhas seen ليلاًa night تَسَرْوَلَput on trousers بالفجرِof dawn
فيا من رأى ليلاً تَسَرْوَلَ بالفجرِ
You see its grease liquefied above its pitch—
You see the fat above the tar from it melted
who ever saw night wearing trousers of dawn!
So who saw a night crawl with the dawn
سَوادُthe blackness غُرابٍof a raven فيwithin بَياضِthe whiteness حَمامَةٍof a dove
سَوادُ غُرابٍ في بَياضِ حَمامَةٍ
تَطيرُit flies بِهِwith it سَبحاًswimming علىover الماءِthe water أوor تَجريruns
تَطيرُ بِهِ سَبحاً على الماءِ أو تَجري
A raven's blackness within a dove's whiteness,
Blackness of crows amid the whiteness of doves
which flies with it, swimming over water or speeding on.
Flying with it gloriously on the water or running
قَطَعتَyou cut off بِهِمfor them فيin العيشِlivelihood منfrom كلِّevery جانِبٍside
قَطَعتَ بِهِم في العيشِ من كلِّ جانِبٍ
فَقَدso indeed أَقصرواthey fell short فيهاtherein عنِof النظمِstringing together بالنثرِthrough scattering
فَقَد أَقصروا فيها عنِ النظمِ بالنثرِ
You cut off their livelihood on every side,
You cut them off in life from every side
so, scattered there, they could no longer string themselves together.
So they fell short in it from a systematic composition
وكمand how many طائرٍa bird منهمamong them قصصتَyou clipped جناحَهُits wing
وكم طائرٍ منهم قصصتَ جناحَهُ
فأصبحَso it became مسجوناًconfined عنِfrom النَهضِrising فيin الوكرِthe nest
فأصبحَ مسجوناً عنِ النَهضِ في الوكرِ
How many a bird among them have you clipped the wing of,
And how many a bird whose wing you clipped
leaving it confined in its nest, unable to rise!
And he became imprisoned from flight in the nest
لمّاwhen رأواthey saw أنَّthat المخنَّقthe choking passage منهمُof theirs
لمّا رأوا أنَّ المخنَّق منهمُ
سَدَدْتَyou blocked بهwith it مجرىthe passage التنفُّسِof breathing فيin الصدرِthe chest
سَدَدْتَ به مجرى التنفُّسِ في الصدرِ
When they saw the stranglehold upon them,
When they saw that the ones among them choked
by which you blocked the breathing passage in their breasts,
You plugged with it the passage of breath in the chest
أنابواthey returned وتابواand repented عنof ذنوبٍsins تَقَدّمَتْthat had preceded
أنابوا وتابوا عن ذنوبٍ تَقَدّمَتْ
بزعمهمُas they claimed منof قطعهمtheir cutting off سُبُلَthe routes البحرِof the sea
بزعمهمُ من قطعهم سُبُلَ البحرِ
they turned back and repented of former sins—
They relented and repented of sins that preceded
as they claimed—their cutting off the sea routes.
According to their claim, from cutting off the sea routes
فَإِنso if نَشَرُواthey unfold ماwhat بَينَهمْis among them لَكَto you طاعَةًas obedience
فَإِن نَشَرُوا ما بَينَهمْ لَكَ طاعَةً
وقدthough already طُوِيَتwere folded مِنهُمamong them صُدورٌbreasts علىover غَمرِrancor
وقد طُوِيَت مِنهُم صُدورٌ على غَمرِ
If they unfurl among themselves obedience to you,
So if they spread out obedience to you between them
while breasts among them are folded over rancor,
After breasts had been cloaked in ignorance
فَعِندَكَthen you possess نارٌa fire تَركَبُthat rides الماءَthe water نَحوَهمْtoward them
فَعِندَكَ نارٌ تَركَبُ الماءَ نَحوَهمْ
لَهاit has زُنُدٌfire-sticks يَقدَحنَthat strike sparks مِنfrom زُنُدٍforearms بُتْرِsevered
لَها زُنُدٌ يَقدَحنَ مِن زُنُدٍ بُتْرِ
you have fire that rides the water toward them,
Then in your possession is a fire that rides the water towards them
with fire-sticks striking sparks from severed forearms,
To which there are matches that are struck from struck matches
ونبلٌand arrows كنبلlike the arrows الأعْيُنِof eyes النُّجْلِwide أُرْسِلَتْlet loose
ونبلٌ كنبل الأعْيُنِ النُّجْلِ أُرْسِلَتْ
تطيرُflying بريشٍwith feathers مُستعارborrowed مِنَfrom النَّسرِthe vulture
تطيرُ بريشٍ مُستعار مِنَ النَّسرِ
and arrows loosed like the arrows of wide eyes,
And arrows not unlike the arrows of spying eyes
flying with feathers borrowed from the vulture.
That fly by borrowed feathers from eagles
تُنَصَّلُthey are tipped للأعْداءِfor enemies فيin الحربwar بالرّدىwith death
تُنَصَّلُ للأعْداءِ في الحرب بالرّدى
إذاwhereas نُصِّلَتْwere tipped هاتيكَthose others فيin السلمِpeace بالسِّحرِwith enchantment
إذا نُصِّلَتْ هاتيكَ في السلمِ بالسِّحرِ
They are tipped with death for enemies in war,
Targeted for the enemies in war with destruction
while those others in peace are tipped with enchantment.
When those are targeted in peace with sorcery
وَلَنand never will يخدعواthey deceive فيin الحربِwar وهوَwhile he is مُبيدُهُمtheir destroyer
وَلَن يخدعوا في الحربِ وهوَ مُبيدُهُم
فتىًa youth كانwho was مولوداًborn مِنَof الحربِwar فيin حِجْرِa lap
فتىً كان مولوداً مِنَ الحربِ في حِجْرِ
Never in war will they deceive their own destroyer,
And they are not going to deceive in war while he who destroys them
a youth born of war within its lap.
Is a youth who was born amid war in the womb
وأَنتَand you مِنَthan الأَعداءِthe enemies أَدهىare more cunning خديعةًin stratagem
وأَنتَ مِنَ الأَعداءِ أَدهى خديعةً
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle صَدَمْتَyou hurled الجَّيشَthe army فيagainst الجَّيشِthe army بالمَكرِthrough guile
إذا ما صَدَمْتَ الجَّيشَ في الجَّيشِ بالمَكرِ
You are more cunning in stratagem than your enemies
And you are more cunning than the enemies
when you hurl army against army through guile.
When you strike the army with the army in strategy
وكُنتَand you were عنِwithout need of التَّحريضِexhortation بِالحَزمِthrough resolve غانِياًself-sufficient
وكُنتَ عنِ التَّحريضِ بِالحَزمِ غانِياً
وهلand does يَعْدَمُlack الإحراقَburning مُتَّقِدُthe glowing الجمرِcoal
وهل يَعْدَمُ الإحراقَ مُتَّقِدُ الجمرِ
Your resolve spared you any need for urging;
And you have sufficed in not provoking with prudence
do glowing embers ever lack the power to burn?
Can one who set embers aflame avoid burning?
خُلِقْتَyou were created لناfor us منfrom جَوهَرِthe substance الفضلِof excellence سَيِّداًas a lord
خُلِقْتَ لنا من جَوهَرِ الفضلِ سَيِّداً
وَيُمناكَand your right hand منfrom يُمْنٍgood fortune وَيُسْراكَand your left hand منfrom يُسْرِease
وَيُمناكَ من يُمْنٍ وَيُسْراكَ من يُسْرِ
You were created our lord from the substance of excellence,
You were created for us from the essence of virtue, O leader
your right hand from good fortune, your left from ease.
Your good fortune is from good fortune and your ease is from ease
وَعَوّلَand relied فيin العسرِhardship الفَقيرُthe poor man علىupon نَدىthe bounty
وَعَوّلَ في العسرِ الفَقيرُ على نَدى
يَدَيكَof your two hands وَهَلand can يَغْنىbe independent الكسيرُthe broken عَنِof الجبرِmending
يَدَيكَ وَهَل يَغْنى الكسيرُ عَنِ الجبرِ
In hardship the poor relied upon the bounty
And the meek have depended in hardship upon the dew
of your hands; can the broken do without mending?
Of your hands and can one shattered ever do without splinting?
زَمانُكَyour time لاnot يَنفَكُّceases يَفتَرِسُdevouring العدىthe enemies
زَمانُكَ لا يَنفَكُّ يَفتَرِسُ العدى
كذيlike one with لِبْدَةٍa mane مُسْتَعْظَمِformidable النابِin fang وَالظفرِand claw
كذي لِبْدَةٍ مُسْتَعْظَمِ النابِ وَالظفرِ
Your time ceaselessly devours enemies,
Your time never ceases to descend upon prey
like a maned beast with formidable fang and claw.
Like a lion immense of fangs and claws
وطَعْماكَand your two flavors منof شَهدٍhoney وطابَand it was sweet لأَهلِهِto those worthy of it
وطَعْماكَ من شَهدٍ وطابَ لأَهلِهِ
وخُلقاكَand your two natures منof سَهلٍgentleness عَلَيهِمtoward them وَمِنand of وَعرِruggedness
وخُلقاكَ من سَهلٍ عَلَيهِم وَمِن وَعرِ
Your two flavors are of honey, sweet to those it suits,
And your taste is of honey and so delights his people
and your two natures are gentle toward them, or rugged.
While your manner is of ease upon them and of war
حَياةَthe life ابنَIbn, son of يَحيىYahya للأَعاديto enemies مَنِيَّةٌis death
حَياةَ ابنَ يَحيى للأَعادي مَنِيَّةٌ
وأَعمارُهمْand their lifespans مَبتُورةٌare cut short مِنهُthrough him بِالعمرِby his life
وأَعمارُهمْ مَبتُورةٌ مِنهُ بِالعمرِ
The life of Ibn Yahya is death to enemies,
The lives of the son of Yahya are demise
and their lifespans are cut short by the span of his life.
For the enemies and their lifespans are truncated in lifespan
لَقَدindeed فَخَرتboasted مِنهُin him العلىthe heights of glory بِسَمَيْذَعٍof a noble chief
لَقَد فَخَرت مِنهُ العلى بِسَمَيْذَعٍ
لإحسانهhis beneficence has وَجْهٌa face تَبَرْقَعَveiled itself بالبِشرِin smiling joy
لإحسانه وَجْهٌ تَبَرْقَعَ بالبِشرِ
In him the heights of glory boast of a noble chief,
Indeed from him the lofty ones have prided
whose kindness has a face veiled in smiling joy;
With a fraying mottled face shining with good news
بأكبرَof a greater one يستخذيhumbles himself لهbefore him كلّevery أكبرٍgreat man
بأكبرَ يستخذي له كلّ أكبرٍ
فيُطرِقُand bows his head إطراقَlike the bowed head البُغاثَةِof a weak bird للصَّقرِbefore the falcon
فيُطرِقُ إطراقَ البُغاثَةِ للصَّقرِ
a mighty one before whom every mighty man humbles himself,
With greatest who entreats any greatest
bowing his head like a weak bird before the falcon.
And he bows, bowing of humility to the hawk
إذاwhen مُدِحَare praised الأملاكthe kings قامstands بمدحِهِto praise him
إذا مُدِحَ الأملاك قام بمدحِهِ
لهُfor him قَدَمُthe foot الدنياof the world علىupon قَدَمِthe footing الفخرِof glory
لهُ قَدَمُ الدنيا على قَدَمِ الفخرِ
When kings are praised, there rises to praise him
When kings are praised he stands in praise of him
the world, its foot upon the footing of glory.
The world stands by his virtues in pride
إِلَيكَtoward you امتَطَيناwe rode كُلَّevery راغٍroaring one بِمَوجِهِwith its waves
إِلَيكَ امتَطَينا كُلَّ راغٍ بِمَوجِهِ
كَماjust as جَرجَرَrumbled القَرْمُthe camel-stallion الحقودُthe spiteful علىat المكريthe camel-lessor
كَما جَرجَرَ القَرْمُ الحقودُ على المكري
Toward you we rode each sea roaring with its waves,
Towards you we have ridden every riding horse with its surge
like a spiteful camel-stallion rumbling at the camel-lessor.
As the stubborn donkey stubbornly dragged itself
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle طماit swelled وامتدّand stretched بالرّيحwith the wind مدُّهُits tide
إذا ما طما وامتدّ بالرّيح مدُّهُ
ذَكرناwe recalled بهthrough it فيَّاضَthe overflowing نائِلكof your bounty الغمرِthe abundant
ذَكرنا به فيَّاضَ نائِلك الغمرِ
When it swells and its tide stretches out with the wind,
When it swells and extends in the wind, its extension
we recall through it the abundant flood of your bounty.
We liken it to your abundant, flooding beneficence
ولولاكand were it not for you لمnot نركبwe would ride غواربَthe crests زاخرٍof a swelling sea
ولولاك لم نركب غواربَ زاخرٍ
مسنَّمَةًraised like humps فيinto اللَّحمِthe flesh مِنهُfrom it إلىtoward العمرِlife
مسنَّمَةً في اللَّحمِ مِنهُ إلى العمرِ
Were it not for you, we would never ride a swelling sea's crests,
And if not for you, we would not ride ample ships
humped high, threatening flesh and life itself.
Flecked with meat therein to the age
وَإِنand though فاتَنيI missed إِعذارُthe circumcision feast شِبليكَof your two lion cubs بِالغنىwith wealth
وَإِن فاتَني إِعذارُ شِبليكَ بِالغنى
فإنَّthen indeed بتركfor abandoning العزمthe resolve مُتّضِحَplain العُذرِis the excuse
فإنَّ بترك العزم مُتّضِحَ العُذرِ
Though I missed your two lion cubs' lavish circumcision feast,
And if articulating your glory with wealth eluded me
my excuse for abandoning my purpose is plain.
Then leaving the resolve clears the excuse
ضَعُفتُI grew too weak عنfor النّهْضِrising القويvigorously زَمَانَةًthrough infirmity
ضَعُفتُ عن النّهْضِ القوي زَمَانَةً
وَنُقّلَand was shifted بعدafter الباعthe armspan خَطويmy stride إِلىto شِبرِa handspan
وَنُقّلَ بعد الباع خَطوي إِلى شِبرِ
Infirmity has left me too weak to rise vigorously,
I have weakened from the strong resolve over time
and my stride has dwindled from an armspan to a handspan.
And my stride was transferred after length to a span
وَإِنّيand I indeed لأهديsurely offer فيon سُلوكِthe strings غَرائِبيof my rare creations
وَإِنّي لأهدي في سُلوكِ غَرائِبي
ومُعجِزِand the inimitability نَظميof my verse كُلَّevery جَوهَرَةjewel بِكرِvirgin
ومُعجِزِ نَظمي كُلَّ جَوهَرَة بِكرِ
Yet I offer, on the strings of my rare inventions
And I guide in navigating the marvels of my wanderings
and my inimitable verse, every virgin jewel.
And the miracle of my composition every pristine gem
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle بَنىbuilds بَيتاًa house مِنَof الشِّعرِpoetry مِقوَليmy tongue
إِذا ما بَنى بَيتاً مِنَ الشِّعرِ مِقوَلي
ثنىit turns back نابياًrecoiling عنfrom هَدْمِهِdestroying it معولَthe pickaxe الدَّهرِof Time
ثنى نابياً عن هَدْمِهِ معولَ الدَّهرِ
Whenever my tongue builds a house of poetry,
That whenever one builds a house of poetry from my utterances
it turns back Time's pickaxe, recoiling from its demolition.
Fate's pick turns away from demolishing it
وَماand not الشِّعرُpoetry ماthat which يخلوis free منof الكَسْرِmetrical breaks وَزْنُهُits meter
وَما الشِّعرُ ما يخلو من الكَسْرِ وَزْنُهُ
ولكنَّهُbut it is سحرٌmagic وبابِلُهُand its Babylon فكريis my mind
ولكنَّهُ سحرٌ وبابِلُهُ فكري
Poetry is not merely verse whose meter never breaks;
And poetry is not devoid of metrical defects
rather, it is magic, and my mind is its Babylon.
But it is magic and its builder is my mind
وَإِنِّيand I indeed بماof what فَوقَis beyond المُنىwishes مُوقِنٌam certain
وَإِنِّي بما فَوقَ المُنى مُوقِنٌ
وكمand how often شَرَقٍchoking لِلَّيثٍfor a lion مِنfrom وابِلa downpour القطرِof rain
وكم شَرَقٍ لِلَّيثٍ مِن وابِل القطرِ
I am certain of more than my wishes;
And indeed I am certain beyond wishes
how often a lion chokes on a downpour of rain!
And how much sunrise has the lion had of downpour clouds?
Sol 6.1