صَفَاran clear ليَfor me منfrom وِرْدِthe draught of الشبيبةِyouth ماwhat صَفَاran clear
صَفَا ليَ من وِرْدِ الشبيبةِ ما صَفَا
وجادَand bestowed generously زمانيmy time بالأمانيwith wishes فأنصفاand dealt fairly
وجادَ زماني بالأماني فأنصفا
I enjoyed what ran clear from the draught of youth,
The purity of youth has clarified for me what it has clarified,
and my days granted my wishes and treated me fairly.
And my time has been generous with hopes, so it has been fair.
وشنّفَand adorned أذْنيmy ear بالهوىwith love حُسْنُthe beauty of منطقٍspeech
وشنّفَ أذْني بالهوى حُسْنُ منطقٍ
بنجواهthrough its whispers غازلتُI courted الغزالthe gazelle المشنّفاadorned with earrings
بنجواه غازلتُ الغزال المشنّفا
Beautiful speech adorned my ear with love;
The melodiousness of passion has delighted my ear
through its whispers I courted the earringed gazelle.
with its coquetry; I have romanced the coquettish gazelle.
لياليَnights كانتْwere بالسرورِwith joy منيرةًradiant
لياليَ كانتْ بالسرورِ منيرةً
وكانand was قناعيmy head-covering حالكاًjet-black لاnot مُفَوّفاwhite-streaked
وكان قناعي حالكاً لا مُفَوّفا
Nights were radiant with joy,
My nights were illuminated with bliss,
and my head’s covering was jet-black, not white-streaked.
and my disposition was cheerful, not sullen.
وشربيَand my drink منfrom نَسْلِthe offspring of الغمامthe clouds سلالةًan extract
وشربيَ من نَسْلِ الغمام سلالةً
تعُودُreturns منfrom العنقودِthe grape-cluster فيin الدنّthe wine-jar قرقفاwine
تعُودُ من العنقودِ في الدنّ قرقفا
And my drink was an extract of the clouds’ offspring,
I drank from the progeny of clouds a lineage
returning from the grape-cluster as wine in the jar:
that returns from the grape cluster as pure wine.
مُعَتّقَةًaged حمراءَred ينساغُgoes down smoothly صِرْفهاits unmixed wine
مُعَتّقَةً حمراءَ ينساغُ صِرْفها
إذاwhen الماءُwater فيهاwithin it بالمزاجby blending تَصَرّفاworked freely
إذا الماءُ فيها بالمزاج تَصَرّفا
aged and red, its pure wine going smoothly down
Aged red wine whose taste is delightful
when water worked within it in the blend.
when the water mixes with it harmoniously.
كماءِlike the liquid of عقيقٍcarnelian فيin الزّجاجِglass مُنَظّمٍarrayed
كماءِ عقيقٍ في الزّجاجِ مُنَظّمٍ
عليهupon it منfrom الإزبادfoam دُرّاًpearls مجوّفاhollow
عليه من الإزباد دُرّاً مجوّفا
Like liquid carnelian in glass, arrayed
Like the water of ruby in arranged glassware
with hollow pearls of foam upon it.
with pearls carved into it hollowly.
تَوقَّدَflared فيin كفِّthe palm of المنادمthe drinking companion نورهاits light
تَوقَّدَ في كفِّ المنادم نورها
ولكنهbut it بالشربthrough drinking فيin فمهhis mouth انطفاwent out
ولكنه بالشرب في فمه انطفا
Its light flared in the drinking companion’s palm,
Its light kindles in the palm of the drinking companion
but through drinking it went out in his mouth.
but it extinguishes in his mouth when he drinks it.
تطوفُshe passes around بهاwith it مَمشوقَةُslender of القدّfigure زَرفَنَتْshe looped
تطوفُ بها مَمشوقَةُ القدّ زَرفَنَتْ
منof المِسكِmusk فيin الكافورcamphor صُدْغاًa temple-lock مُعَطَّفَاcurved
من المِسكِ في الكافور صُدْغاً مُعَطَّفَا
A slender-figured maiden carried it round, having looped
The one swaying of hips circulates it, perfumed
a curved temple-lock of musk against camphor.
from musk with camphor on her cheek blended.
إذاwhen أعرضتْshe turns away فيin الدّلcoquetry ذلّis humbled أخوa man of الهوىlove
إذا أعرضتْ في الدّل ذلّ أخو الهوى
وصاغَand fashioned لهاfor her لفظَthe words of الخضوعsubmission المُلطّفاsoftened
وصاغَ لها لفظَ الخضوع المُلطّفا
When she turned away in coquetry, the lover was humbled
When she flirts with the lover of passion in tenderness
and fashioned gentle words of submission for her.
and articulates to him the gentle words of surrender,
هنالكthere خَفّتْsped lightly بيwith me إلىtoward اللهوpleasure صبوَةٌa youthful longing
هنالك خَفّتْ بي إلى اللهو صبوَةٌ
وَثَقّلَتand weighed down الكاساتُthe goblets كفّيmy hand بماwith what كَفَىsufficed
وَثَقّلَت الكاساتُ كفّي بما كَفَى
There youthful longing carried me lightly toward pleasure,
My vigor for amusement then diminishes in me
and goblets weighed my hand down with enough.
and the cups weigh down my palms with what suffices.
كأنّيَas though I لمdid not أقنصْhunt نَوَاراًa shy doe منfrom among المهاthe oryx
كأنّيَ لم أقنصْ نَوَاراً من المها
ولمand did not أجنِpluck عذْبَthe sweetness of الرّشْفِsipping منfrom مُرّةthe bitterness of الجفاrebuff
ولم أجنِ عذْبَ الرّشْفِ من مُرّة الجفا
As though I had never snared a shy doe among the oryx,
It is as if I have not hunted the brilliance of meteors
nor gathered sweet kisses from the bitterness of rebuff.
or tasted the sweetness of wine from bitter lees.
ذكرتُI remembered الحمىthe sanctuary والساكنيهand its dwellers ودونهand before it
ذكرتُ الحمى والساكنيه ودونه
خِضَمّa vast sea عليهover it تنبريrushes الرّيحُthe wind حرجفاfierce and cold
خِضَمّ عليه تنبري الرّيحُ حرجفا
I recalled the sanctuary and its dwellers; before it lay
I remembered the tribe and its dwellers, upon which
a vast sea over which a fierce, cold wind rushed.
the wind blows noisily, wildly.
ولمَّاand when أقلُّواthey carried يومon the day of بينهمُtheir parting علىupon
ولمَّا أقلُّوا يوم بينهمُ على
هلالthe crescent of السُّرَىnight travel للشمسfor the sun خدراًa secluded chamber مسجفاcurtained
هلال السُّرَى للشمس خدراً مسجفا
And when, on the day of their parting, they carried upon
And when they gathered one day among themselves
the crescent of night travel a curtained bower for the sun,
around the crescent for shade from the blazing sun,
وألْقَتْand she dropped حُلاهاher ornaments منfrom يديهاher two hands وعَطّلَتْand stripped bare
وألْقَتْ حُلاها من يديها وعَطّلَتْ
منof الحليjewelry فيهwithin it جيدَthe neck of رئمa white gazelle تَشَوّفاthat looked out
من الحلي فيه جيدَ رئم تَشَوّفا
and she dropped her ornaments from her hands and stripped
And she threw off her cloak from her hands and took off
a white gazelle’s upraised neck within it of jewels,
some of her jewelry, gazing at it longingly,
سقىwatered الأقحوانthe chrysanthemum الطلُّthe dew عفّةchastely
سقى الأقحوان الطلُّ عفّة
وعضّتْand she bit منout of الحُزْنِsorrow البنانَthe fingers المُطَرّفاdyed at the tips
وعضّتْ من الحُزْنِ البنانَ المُطَرّفا
dew chastely watered the chrysanthemum,
The sunburnt earth drank the dripping rainwater
and in sorrow she bit her dyed fingertips.
and the cloven clouds bit the twigs in grief.
ولماand when جرىflowed الدرّthe pearls الرطيبfresh بِخَدّهاover her cheek
ولما جرى الدرّ الرطيب بِخَدّها
وسالand streamed إلىtoward الدرthe pearls النظيمstrung توقّفاstopped
وسال إلى الدر النظيم توقّفا
And when fresh pearls ran down her cheek
And when the moist pearls ran down her cheek
and streamed toward the strung pearls, they stopped.
and flowed to the strung pearls, pausing,
وأينand where تراهُdo you see it ذاهباًgoing عنaway from جنىthe fruit of فمٍa mouth
وأين تراهُ ذاهباً عن جنى فمٍ
كأنّas though رضابَthe nectar of الكأسthe cup منهfrom it ترشّفاhad been sipped
كأنّ رضابَ الكأس منه ترشّفا
And where could you see it going, away from a mouth’s sweet fruit,
And where did it go from the bounty of a mouth
as though the cup’s nectar had been sipped from it?
that seemed to have sipped the striking of the cup?
أماindeed وشبابٍby youth بالمشيبthrough gray hair اعتبرتُهُI learned its lesson
أما وشبابٍ بالمشيب اعتبرتُهُ
فأشْرَقْتso I flooded عينيmy eye بالدّمُوعwith tears تأسّفاin regret
فأشْرَقْت عيني بالدّمُوع تأسّفا
Indeed, by the youth whose lesson I learned through gray hair,
When I took youth into account with old age,
so I flooded my eye with tears of regret—
my eyes shone with tears of regret.
لقدindeed سرتُI journeyed فيthrough سهبthe wide plain of المديحpraise هدايةًwith guidance
لقد سرتُ في سهب المديح هدايةً
ومثليَand one like me فيهin it لاnot يسيرُtravels تعَسّفاblindly
ومثليَ فيه لا يسيرُ تعَسّفا
I have indeed crossed the plain of praise with sure guidance,
I have wandered in the wilderness of praise, guided,
and one like me does not travel blindly there.
and one like me does not wander there pretentiously.
ولوand if كنتُI had منfrom دُرِّthe pearls of الدّراريthe brilliant stars نظمتهstrung it
ولو كنتُ من دُرِّ الدّراري نظمته
لكانَwould surely be عليّAli منهthan it أعلىloftier وأشرفاand nobler
لكانَ عليّ منه أعلى وأشرفا
And had I strung it from the pearls of brilliant stars,
Had I been one who strings pearls, I would have strung it
Ali would still be loftier and nobler than it.
and it would have been nobler and more honorable for me.
همامٌa valiant man منamong الأملاكkings هزّshook لواءهَhis banner
همامٌ من الأملاك هزّ لواءهَ
وأوضَعَand made gallop حوْلَيْهِaround him الجيادَthe noble steeds وأوجفاand urged them on
وأوضَعَ حوْلَيْهِ الجيادَ وأوجفا
A valiant king, he shook his banner
An angel among angels waved his banner
and sent the steeds around him galloping and racing.
and steadied his steeds around him, neighing.
شجىًan anguish ذكرهhis name للرومto the Byzantines كالموتlike death إنif جرىpasses
شجىً ذكره للروم كالموت إن جرى
أخافَfrightens وإنand if أوفىlooms علىover النفسthe soul أتلفاdestroys
أخافَ وإن أوفى على النفس أتلفا
His name is anguish to the Byzantines, like death: if it passes,
The mention of him to the Romans is like death when he attacks
it frightens; and if it looms over a soul, it destroys it.
and if he fulfills an oath he sacrifices himself.
ذَبوبٌa staunch defender عنof الإسلامIslam مَدّhe spread لجيشِهِfor his army
ذَبوبٌ عن الإسلام مَدّ لجيشِهِ
جناحاًa wing عليهabove it بالأسِنّةِwith spearheads رفرفاfluttered
جناحاً عليه بالأسِنّةِ رفرفا
A staunch defender of Islam, he spread for his army
A tempest defending Islam stretched
a wing fluttering above it with spearheads.
its wing over it, fluttering with tongues.
يردّhe brings back عنfrom الضربstriking الحديدَthe steel مُثَلَّماًnotched
يردّ عن الضرب الحديدَ مُثَلَّماً
ويثنيand brings back عنfrom الطّعنِthrusting الوشيجَthe spear-shafts مُقَصَّفاsplintered
ويثني عن الطّعنِ الوشيجَ مُقَصَّفا
He brings the steel back from striking, its edges notched,
He repels the iron blade all broken
and brings the spear-shafts back from thrusting, splintered.
and turns back the piercing spear all shattered,
إذاwhen ظَلّلَتْهُshade him الطيرُthe birds كانتare أجورهاtheir wages
إذا ظَلّلَتْهُ الطيرُ كانت أجورها
جسوماًbodies ثَنىhe drew back عنfrom طَعنهاpiercing them الزُّرْقَthe blue spearheads رُعّفَاdripping blood
جسوماً ثَنى عن طَعنها الزُّرْقَ رُعّفَا
When birds shade him, their wages are
When birds give him shade, their bodies
bodies from which, after piercing them, he draws blue spearheads dripping blood.
are armor it avoids the striking of the coat of mail.
نسورٌvultures وعقبانٌand eagles إذاwhen هيthey أقبلتْapproach
نسورٌ وعقبانٌ إذا هي أقبلتْ
محلِّقَةًsoaring سَدّتْblocked منof الجوِّthe sky نَفْنَفاan open expanse
محلِّقَةً سَدّتْ من الجوِّ نَفْنَفا
Vultures and eagles, when they approach
Eagles and hawks, when they approach
soaring, block a broad expanse of the sky.
flying, plugging the sky twittering.
وتحسبهاand you think them فيin نقعِهِhis dust cloud رَقْمَthe embroidery of بُرْقُعٍa veil
وتحسبها في نقعِهِ رَقْمَ بُرْقُعٍ
يجولُmoving علىover وجهٍa face منof الشمسthe sun مُسْدَفاdarkened
يجولُ على وجهٍ من الشمس مُسْدَفا
And you think them, amid his dust cloud, the embroidery of a veil
You would think them in his pounding a piece
moving darkly over a face of sunlight.
of armor wandering on a sunlit face.
حمىguarded ماwhat حمىit guarded منof بَيْضَةِthe heart of الدّينthe faith سيفُهُhis sword
حمى ما حمى من بَيْضَةِ الدّين سيفُهُ
وأشفقand showed compassion فيfor ذاتِthe sake of الإلهGod وعنَّفاand dealt sternly
وأشفق في ذاتِ الإله وعنَّفا
His sword guarded all it guarded of the heart of the faith,
His sword has protected what it has protected
and for God’s sake he showed compassion and severity.
of the religion's egg and cared for the deity's being.
ومنand from عَدَمٍpoverty أغنىhe enriched ومنand from حيرةٍbewilderment هدىhe guided
ومن عَدَمٍ أغنى ومن حيرةٍ هدى
ومنand from ظمإٍthirst أروىhe quenched thirst ومنand from مرضٍillness شفىhe healed
ومن ظمإٍ أروى ومن مرضٍ شفى
And from poverty he brought wealth, and from bewilderment guidance,
From non-existence he has enriched and from confusion guided,
and from thirst relief, and from illness healing.
From thirst he has watered and from illness healed.
كريمُnoble of السجاياcharacter لوذَعِيُّthe keen wit of زَمانِهِhis age
كريمُ السجايا لوذَعِيُّ زَمانِهِ
تَهَذّبَgrew refined منthrough أخلاقهhis character وتظرّفاand became urbane
تَهَذّبَ من أخلاقه وتظرّفا
Noble in character, the keen wit of his age,
Noble in qualities, refined in his time,
his age grew refined and urbane through his character.
he has refined himself in morals and manners.
إذاif عَنّarose رأيٌan idea كالسهاlike al-Suha فيin ضيائهِits brightness
إذا عَنّ رأيٌ كالسها في ضيائهِ
ولمand did not يكفِsuffice أذكىkindled رأيُهُhis judgment الشمسthe sun فاكتفىand then was satisfied
ولم يكفِ أذكى رأيُهُ الشمس فاكتفى
If an idea arose, like al-Suha in its light,
When an opinion shone like the sun in its light
and proved insufficient, his judgment kindled the sun, and he was satisfied.
and the brightest of opinions did not eclipse the sun but sufficed,
سماrose فيin العلاhigh honor قدراًin rank فأدركand attained ماwhat سماhe aspired
سما في العلا قدراً فأدرك ما سما
إليهtoward it وأصمىand struck dead سَهْمُهُhis arrow ماwhatever تهدفاpresented itself as a target
إليه وأصمى سَهْمُهُ ما تهدفا
He rose in rank to the heights and attained what he aspired
He ascended high in the horizon and attained what he ascended to
to; his arrow struck dead whatever offered itself as a target.
and his arrow precisely hit what it targeted.
سكوبُpouring freely حياthe rain of الكفينboth palms لاnot ناضبُrunning dry in النّدىbounty
سكوبُ حيا الكفين لا ناضبُ النّدى
ولاand not مخلفٌbreaking وعداًa promise إذاwhen الغيثthe rain أخلفاfails
ولا مخلفٌ وعداً إذا الغيث أخلفا
His palms’ rain pours freely; his bounty never runs dry,
A handful of bounty not withholding dew
nor does he break a promise when the rain fails.
nor breaking a promise when the rain is broken.
تريهshows him خفيّاتِthe hidden aspects of الأمورِaffairs بصيرةٌinsight
تريه خفيّاتِ الأمورِ بصيرةٌ
كأنّas though حجابَthe veil of الغيبthe unseen عنهاfrom it تكشّفاhad been lifted
كأنّ حجابَ الغيب عنها تكشّفا
Insight shows him the hidden aspects of affairs,
An insight into the unseen things
as though the veil of the unseen had been lifted from it.
as if the veil of the unseen is lifted from it.
بذكْرِby mentioning ابنson of يحيىYahya عَطّرَperfumed الدهرَthe age مَدحُنَاour praise
بذكْرِ ابن يحيى عَطّرَ الدهرَ مَدحُنَا
وَخَلّدَand immortalized فيهin it ذكرناour memory وتشرّفاand gained honor
وَخَلّدَ فيه ذكرنا وتشرّفا
By mentioning Ibn Yahya, our praise perfumed the age
With the mention of Ibn Yahya our praise has perfumed time
and immortalized our memory in it, itself gaining honor.
and immortalized our mention in it, ennobling it.
جوادُgenerous بنانِthe fingers of البذلِgiving منهfrom him غمائمٌclouds
جوادُ بنانِ البذلِ منه غمائمٌ
تَصُوبُrain down علىupon أيديthe hands of بنيthe sons of الدّهرtime وُكّفاpouring abundantly
تَصُوبُ على أيدي بني الدّهر وُكّفا
A generous man, whose giving fingers are clouds
Clouds of the palm trees of generosity pour from it
raining abundantly upon the hands of the sons of time.
upon the hands of people of all times as palms-full.
عليمwell-versed بسرّin the secrets of الحربwar منfrom قبلbefore جهرهاits open outbreak
عليم بسرّ الحرب من قبل جهرها
وقرعand the striking of الصفاhard rock بينbetween الفريقينthe two sides بالصفاagainst hard rock
وقرع الصفا بين الفريقين بالصفا
He knows war’s secrets before it breaks into the open,
Knowledgeable about the secret of war before its emergence
and before rock clashes with rock between the two sides.
and clashing the swords between the two armies with the sword.
يقارعhe combats منهمamong them حاسراًunarmored كلّevery مُعْلَمٍmarked warrior
يقارع منهم حاسراً كلّ مُعْلَمٍ
أفاضَdraped عليهover himself الفارسيَّPersian mail المضعفاdouble-layered
أفاضَ عليه الفارسيَّ المضعفا
Unarmored, he confronts every marked warrior among them
He confronts among them defeating every learned one
who has draped himself in double-layered Persian mail.
who has outpoured upon him the doubled Persian verse.
عصاهُhis staff لتأديبِfor disciplining العُصاةِthe rebels إِذاwhen بَغَوْاthey transgress
عصاهُ لتأديبِ العُصاةِ إِذا بَغَوْا
غِرَارُthe edge of حسامٍa saber يَقْرَعُstriking الهامَheads مرهفاrazor-sharp
غِرَارُ حسامٍ يَقْرَعُ الهامَ مرهفا
His staff for disciplining rebels when they transgress
His stick to discipline the disobedient when they rebel,
is a saber’s edge that strikes heads, razor-sharp.
a fiery sword that strikes resolve and cleaves it open.
علىdespite أنّهthat he is راسيfirmly rooted in الأناةpatience مُخَدَّعٌreadily beguiled
على أنّه راسي الأناة مُخَدَّعٌ
إذاwhen زاغstrays حلمforbearance عنfrom ذويthose possessing الحزمresolve أوor هفاfalters
إذا زاغ حلم عن ذوي الحزم أو هفا
Yet he is firmly rooted in patience, readily beguiled,
Yet firmly rooted in patience, though appearing enraged
when forbearance strays from men of resolve or falters.
when patience strays from those firm of resolve or declines.
بنوsons of الحربwar أنتُمyou are أَرضعَتكُمsuckled you ثديّهاits breasts
بنو الحرب أنتُم أَرضعَتكُم ثديّها
فمفترقso the scattered الأقدامfeet فيكمamong you تألّفاcame together
فمفترق الأقدام فيكم تألّفا
You are war’s sons; its breasts suckled you,
O people of war! His breasts have suckled you,
so scattered feet came together among you.
so the diverging legs among you are united.
إذاwhen ماever بداappeared طعْنُthe thrusting of الكماةِthe champions وضربهمand their striking
إذا ما بدا طعْنُ الكماةِ وضربهم
كنَقْطٍlike dots وشكلٍand vowel marks منهwith it أعجمتyou dotted أحرفاletters
كنَقْطٍ وشكلٍ منه أعجمت أحرفا
When the champions’ thrusts and blows appear
When the thrusts of the brave appear and their strikes
like dots and vowel marks, you dot letters with them.
like dots and shapes from him letters are rendered illegible.
لكfor you الخيلُthe steeds تسريjourney by night الليلَthe night منfrom كلevery سلهبٍlong-limbed horse
لك الخيلُ تسري الليلَ من كل سلهبٍ
ترىyou see بطنهits belly منfrom شدةthe force of الركضgalloping مُخْطَفاtucked up
ترى بطنه من شدة الركض مُخْطَفا
For you the steeds travel through the night, each long-limbed;
To you belong the steeds running night from every dark,
you see its belly tucked up by the force of its gallop.
their bellies appear detached from the intensity of galloping.
لهit has قلمa pen فيin الأذنthe ear تحسَبُyou think أنهthat it
له قلم في الأذن تحسَبُ أنه
بِنَصركwith your victory للتوقيعfor signing فيin الجيشthe army حُرِّفاwas beveled
بِنَصرك للتوقيع في الجيش حُرِّفا
It has a pen in its ear; you would think that it
He has a pen in the ear you would think
had been beveled to sign your victory amid the army.
was tailored in the army for signing with your support.
إذاwhen وطئتthey tread شمَّthe lofty heights of الجبالthe mountains نَسَفْنَهاthey blast them away
إذا وطئت شمَّ الجبال نَسَفْنَها
وغادَرنَهاand they leave them قاعاًa plain لعينيكbefore your eyes صفصفاsmooth and level
وغادَرنَها قاعاً لعينيك صفصفا
When they tread the lofty mountains, they blast them away
If they trod the summits of mountains, he would blast them away
and leave them a smooth, level plain before your eyes.
and leave them as a plain visible to your eyes wide open.
فياso O ملكَking of العصرthe age الذيwhose ظلّremained عدلهhis justice
فيا ملكَ العصر الذي ظلّ عدله
علىover الدينfaith والدنياand worldly life صفاgrew pure منهthrough it ماwhat صفاgrew pure
على الدين والدنيا صفا منه ما صفا
O king of the age, whose justice has endured
O ruler of the era whom justice has shaded
over faith and world: through it, all that is pure grew pure.
over religion and life - from it emanated what emanated.
نداكyour bounty بطبعٍby natural impulse للعفاةِfor petitioners ارتَجَلْتَهُyou offered it spontaneously
نداك بطبعٍ للعفاةِ ارتَجَلْتَهُ
وغيركand another رَوّىdeliberated فيover نداهhis bounty تَكَلُّفَاwith strained effort
وغيرك رَوّى في نداه تَكَلُّفَا
You bestowed your bounty on petitioners by spontaneous instinct,
Your generosity has freely composed for the destitute
while another deliberated over his bounty with strained effort.
while others artificially composed theirs.
وكمand how many منof فقيرa poor man بائسwretched قدalready وصلتهyou gave him aid
وكم من فقير بائس قد وصلته
فأضحىso he became غنيّاًwealthy يسحبtrailing الذيلthe hem مترفاliving in luxury
فأضحى غنيّاً يسحب الذيل مترفا
And how many a wretched poor man you have helped,
And how many wretched poor you have connected
so he became rich, trailing his hem in luxury!
who then became wealthy, dragging his tail in luxury!
لمدحكfor praising you أضحتhas become كلّevery فكرةِthought of شاعرٍa poet
لمدحك أضحت كلّ فكرةِ شاعرٍ
مصنّفةًa composer منهfrom it غريباًa wondrous مصنفاcomposition
مصنّفةً منه غريباً مصنفا
In praising you, every poet’s thought has become
For your praise every idea of a poet
a composer, drawing from it a wondrous composition.
has become a strange classification composed by him.
وإنand though كنتُI am عنaway from حَفْلِthe gathering of العُلىhigh honor غائباًabsent فليyet I have
وإن كنتُ عن حَفْلِ العُلى غائباً فلي
ثناءٌpraise كعَرْفِlike the fragrance of المسكِmusk بالفضلfor excellence عَرّفَاmade known
ثناءٌ كعَرْفِ المسكِ بالفضل عَرّفَا
And though I am absent from the gathering of high honor, I have
And if I am absent from the assembly of the eminent
praise like musk’s fragrance, making me known for excellence.
then for me is praise like the scent of musk conferred nobility.
Sol 6.1