تَجَلَّىshone forth شِهَابُa meteor للسَّعَادَةِof good fortune آفِلُfading
تَجَلَّى شِهَابُ للسَّعَادَةِ آفِلُ
وأخصَبَand grew fertile مَرعًىa pasture لِلمَكَارِمِfor noble deeds مَاحِلُbarren
وأخصَبَ مَرعًى لِلمَكَارِمِ مَاحِلُ
A fading meteor of good fortune shone forth,
and a barren pasture of noble deeds grew fertile.
وَرَاقَand brightened مُحَيَّاthe countenance of الدَّهرِTime وَافتَرَّand smiled ثَغرُهُits mouth
وَرَاقَ مُحَيَّا الدَّهرِ وَافتَرَّ ثَغرُهُ
وَحُلِّيَand was adorned جِيدٌa neck مِنهُof it وَاشتَدَّand grew strong كَاهِلُa shoulder
وَحُلِّيَ جِيدٌ مِنهُ وَاشتَدَّ كَاهِلُ
Time's countenance brightened, and its mouth broke into a smile;
its neck was adorned, and its shoulders grew strong.
فَغُرُّso the radiant ones of اللَّيَالِيthe nights تَسحَبُtrail الأمنَsecurity حُلَّةًas a robe
فَغُرُّ اللَّيَالِي تَسحَبُ الأمنَ حُلَّةً
كَمَاas سَحَبَتtrailed وَشيَthe embroidery of البُرُودِstriped cloaks عَقَائِلُnoble ladies
كَمَا سَحَبَت وَشيَ البُرُودِ عَقَائِلُ
Thus radiant nights trail security like a robe,
as noble ladies trail embroidered cloaks.
وَقَدand indeed أخَذَتassumed كَفُّthe hand of الإمَارَةِrulership فَخرَهَاits pride
وَقَد أخَذَت كَفُّ الإمَارَةِ فَخرَهَا
كَمَاas أخَذَتassumed حُسنَthe beauty of الحُلِيّjewels العَوَاطِلُunadorned women
كَمَا أخَذَت حُسنَ الحُلِيّ العَوَاطِلُ
The hand of rulership has assumed its pride,
as unadorned women take on the beauty of jewels,
بِمَنthrough one who جَاوَزَsurpassed الغَايَاتِthe limits حَتَّىso that لَوَif أنَّهُhe
بِمَن جَاوَزَ الغَايَاتِ حَتَّى لَوَ أنَّهُ
أرَادَdesired الدَّرَارِيthe brilliant stars أمَّهَاmade for them وَهوَwhile he نَازِلُwas descending
أرَادَ الدَّرَارِي أمَّهَا وَهوَ نَازِلُ
through one who surpassed all limits, so that, if he
desired the brilliant stars, he could approach them even while descending.
فَتًىa young man لَمnot تَنَمslept إلاَّexcept بِنَائِلِهِthrough his bounty المُنَىwishes
فَتًى لَم تَنَم إلاَّ بِنَائِلِهِ المُنَى
كَأنَّas though أكُفَّthe hands of المَانِحِينَgivers بَوَاخِلُwere miserly
كَأنَّ أكُفَّ المَانِحِينَ بَوَاخِلُ
A young man whose bounty alone has lulled wishes to rest,
as though the hands of other givers were miserly.
وَلَمand not تَضحَكِsmiled الأيَّامُthe days إلاَّexcept لِوَجهِهِupon his face
وَلَم تَضحَكِ الأيَّامُ إلاَّ لِوَجهِهِ
كَأنَّas though اللَّيَالِيthe nights السَّالِفَاتِbygone ثَوَاكِلُwere bereaved mothers
كَأنَّ اللَّيَالِي السَّالِفَاتِ ثَوَاكِلُ
Days have smiled only upon his face,
as though all bygone nights were bereaved mothers.
يَجُوزُsurpasses الأمَانِيwishes مِنهُthrough him غَيرُother than حَسُودِهِhis envier
يَجُوزُ الأمَانِي مِنهُ غَيرُ حَسُودِهِ
وَيُدرِكُand obtains مِنهُfrom him السُّؤلَthe desired thing إلاَّexcept المُخَاتِلُthe deceiver
وَيُدرِكُ مِنهُ السُّؤلَ إلاَّ المُخَاتِلُ
Everyone but his envier goes beyond his hopes through him,
and everyone but the deceiver obtains his desire from him.
بِهِمَّتِهِin his ambition إلاexcept عَنِfrom المَجدِglory مُعرِضturning away
بِهِمَّتِهِ إلا عَنِ المَجدِ مُعرِض
وَفِيand in حُكمِهِhis judgment إلاّexcept عَلَىagainst المَالِwealth عَاذِلُone who censures
وَفِي حُكمِهِ إلاّ عَلَى المَالِ عَاذِلُ
In his ambition he turns away from all but glory,
and in his judgment he censures nothing but wealth.
أهَانَhe debased وَأعلىand exalted وَفدَهُhis visitors وتلادهand his inherited wealth
أهَانَ وَأعلى وَفدَهُ وتلاده
فَمَاso not عزّwas hard to obtain مَطلُوبanything sought وَلاَand not ذَلَّwas humbled سَائِلُa petitioner
فَمَا عزّ مَطلُوب وَلاَ ذَلَّ سَائِلُ
He held his patrimony cheap and raised his visitors high;
nothing sought was hard to obtain, and no petitioner was humbled.
يُقِرُّacknowledges لَهُfor him بِالفَضلِexcellence وَافٍan accomplished person وَنَاقِصٌand a deficient person
يُقِرُّ لَهُ بِالفَضلِ وَافٍ وَنَاقِصٌ
وَيَقضِيand attests لَهُfor him بِالعِلمِlearning حَبرٌa scholar وَجَاهِلُand an ignorant person
وَيَقضِي لَهُ بِالعِلمِ حَبرٌ وَجَاهِلُ
The accomplished and the deficient acknowledge his excellence,
and the scholar and the ignorant attest his learning.
وَحَتَّىand even النُّجُومُthe stars الزُّهرُradiant تَجرِيmove بِأمرِهِat his command
وَحَتَّى النُّجُومُ الزُّهرُ تَجرِي بِأمرِهِ
وَحَتَّىand even لِسَانُthe tongue of الدَّهرِTime عَنهُon his behalf يُجَادِلُargues
وَحَتَّى لِسَانُ الدَّهرِ عَنهُ يُجَادِلُ
Even the radiant stars move at his command,
and even the tongue of Time argues in his defense.
ثَنَاءٌpraise بِزَهرِin the blossoms of الرَّوضِthe garden فِيon الأرضِthe earth مُرتَدٍclothed
ثَنَاءٌ بِزَهرِ الرَّوضِ فِي الأرضِ مُرتَدٍ
وَمَجدٌand glory بِفَخرِin the splendor of النَّجمِthe star فيon الأفقِthe horizon نَازِلُdwelling
وَمَجدٌ بِفَخرِ النَّجمِ في الأفقِ نَازِلُ
Praise clothed on earth in the garden's blossoms,
and glory dwelling on the horizon in the star's splendor,
وَذِهنٌand a mind هُوَit is المِصبَاحُthe lamp لَكِنbut فَرَاشُهُits moths
وَذِهنٌ هُوَ المِصبَاحُ لَكِن فَرَاشُهُ
صًرُوفُthe vicissitudes of الدُّنَاthe world وَالحَادِثَاتُand calamities النَّوَازِلُdescending
صًرُوفُ الدُّنَا وَالحَادِثَاتُ النَّوَازِلُ
and a mind that is a lamp—but its moths
are the world's vicissitudes and the calamities that descend.
تَغُورُsink الدَّرَارِيthe brilliant stars غَيرَةًout of jealousy مِنof صِفَاتِهِhis qualities
تَغُورُ الدَّرَارِي غَيرَةً مِن صِفَاتِهِ
وَتَلبَسُand put on أثوَابَthe robes of الخُمُولِobscurity الخَمَائِلُleafy groves
وَتَلبَسُ أثوَابَ الخُمُولِ الخَمَائِلُ
The brilliant stars sink from jealousy of his qualities,
and leafy groves put on robes of obscurity.
جَزَىhe repaid السُّوءَevil بِالحُسنَىwith good سَمَاحاًgenerously كَأنَّمَاas though
جَزَى السُّوءَ بِالحُسنَى سَمَاحاً كَأنَّمَا
لَدَيهِin his eyes ذُنُوبُthe sins of المُجرِمِينَoffenders وَسَائِلُmeans of approach
لَدَيهِ ذُنُوبُ المُجرِمِينَ وَسَائِلُ
He repaid evil with good, so generously that it seemed
the sins of offenders were means of gaining his favor.
وَدَاوَىand cured جُنُونَthe madness of الحَادثَاتِcalamities وإنَّمَاand indeed
وَدَاوَى جُنُونَ الحَادثَاتِ وإنَّمَا
تَمَائِمُهَاtheir amulets مِنهُfrom him السَّجَايَاthe character traits الفَوَاضِلُnoble
تَمَائِمُهَا مِنهُ السَّجَايَا الفَوَاضِلُ
He cured the madness of calamities, and indeed
his noble qualities are the amulets he gives them.
بِمُلكِunder the rule of أبِيAbu عُثمَانَUthman أًنشِرَwas revived غَابِرٌwhat had passed
بِمُلكِ أبِي عُثمَانَ أًنشِرَ غَابِرٌ
وَشُيِّدَand was rebuilt مُنهَدٌwhat had collapsed وَجُدّدَand was renewed مَاثِلُwhat stood
وَشُيِّدَ مُنهَدٌ وَجُدّدَ مَاثِلُ
Under Abu Uthman's rule, what had passed was revived,
what had collapsed was rebuilt, and what stood was renewed.
تَعَجَّبتُI marveled مِنat إيجَازِهِhis brevity وَهوَwhile he قَائِلُspeaks
تَعَجَّبتُ مِن إيجَازِهِ وَهوَ قَائِلُ
عَلَىdespite كَثرَةِthe abundance of استِغرَاقِهِhis comprehensiveness وَهوَwhile he فَاعِلُacts
عَلَى كَثرَةِ استِغرَاقِهِ وَهوَ فَاعِلُ
I marveled at his brevity when he speaks,
despite the vast scope of his deeds when he acts.
فَلَوso were it لاَnot for غُرُورُthe deceit of الدَّهرِTime شَبَّهتُهُI would liken him بِهِto it
فَلَو لاَ غُرُورُ الدَّهرِ شَبَّهتُهُ بِهِ
وَلَكِنَّbut ذَاthis one وَافٍis faithful وَذَلِكَand that one خَاتِلُis treacherous
وَلَكِنَّ ذَا وَافٍ وَذَلِكَ خَاتِلُ
Were it not for Time's deceit, I would liken him to it,
but this man is faithful, and that is treacherous.
فَلَوso if لَمnot يُفَرَّجbe traced (unclear reading) عَنto قُرَيشٍQuraysh قَبِيلَةًby tribe
فَلَو لَم يُفَرَّج عَن قُرَيشٍ قَبِيلَةً
لَكَانَhe would have لَهُfor him فيin المُكرَمَاتشnoble deeds قَبَائِلُtribes
لَكَانَ لَهُ في المُكرَمَاتش قَبَائِلُ
Were he not traced to Quraysh by tribe [reading uncertain],
his noble deeds would furnish him with tribes.
كَمِيُّa mailed warrior تَجَلَّتgleamed مِنfrom بَنِيthe sons of حَكَمٍHakam بِهِthrough him
كَمِيُّ تَجَلَّت مِن بَنِي حَكَمٍ بِهِ
ظُباًblades مَاnot لَهَاfor them غَيرَother than المَعَانِيnoble qualities صَيَاقِلُpolishers
ظُباً مَا لَهَا غَيرَ المَعَانِي صَيَاقِلُ
A mailed warrior through whom, from Banu Hakam, shone
blades that have no polishers but noble qualities.
أنَاسٌa people هُمُthey لِلمُعتَفِينَfor petitioners نَدَاهُمُtheir bounty
أنَاسٌ هُمُ لِلمُعتَفِينَ نَدَاهُمُ
بُحُورٌseas وَلِلمُستَضعَفِينَand for the oppressed سَوَاحِلُshores
بُحُورٌ وَلِلمُستَضعَفِينَ سَوَاحِلُ
A people whose bounty, for those who seek it,
is seas, and for the oppressed, shores.
شَبَابٌyoung men إذَاwhen جَاشَتsurged عَلَيهِمagainst them مَلاَحِمٌfierce battles
شَبَابٌ إذَا جَاشَت عَلَيهِم مَلاَحِمٌ
كُهُولٌmature men إذَاwhen انضَمَّتgathered عَلَيهِمaround them مَحَافِلُassemblies
كُهُولٌ إذَا انضَمَّت عَلَيهِم مَحَافِلُ
Young men when fierce battles surge against them,
mature men when assemblies gather around them.
وَلَولاَand but for النَّدَىdew-like bounty فيهِمwithin them لَذَابَتwould have melted سِلاَحُهُمtheir weapons
وَلَولاَ النَّدَى فيهِم لَذَابَت سِلاَحُهُم
فَهُمfor they تَحتَهَاbeneath them يَومَon the day of الهِيَاجِbattle fury مَشَاعِلُare torches
فَهُم تَحتَهَا يَومَ الهِيَاجِ مَشَاعِلُ
But for the dew of their generosity, their weapons would melt,
for beneath them, on the day of battle, they are torches.
وَلَولاَand but for اضطِرَابُthe stirring of البَأسِvalor بَينَbetween بَنَانِهمtheir fingers
وَلَولاَ اضطِرَابُ البَأسِ بَينَ بَنَانِهم
إذَنthen أَثمَرَتwould have borne fruit فِيهَاin them الرّمَاحُthe spears الذَوَابِلُslender
إذَن أَثمَرَت فِيهَا الرّمَاحُ الذَوَابِلُ
But for the stirring of valor between their fingers,
the slender spears would bear fruit in their hands.
أمِيرَO prince of الهُدَىguidance إنَّindeed الزَّمَانَTime هَجِيرَةٌis a scorching noon
أمِيرَ الهُدَى إنَّ الزَّمَانَ هَجِيرَةٌ
وَأنتَand you مَقِيلٌare a noonday shelter غَيرُother than ظِلِّكَyour shade زَائِلُpassing away
وَأنتَ مَقِيلٌ غَيرُ ظِلِّكَ زَائِلُ
O prince of guidance, Time is a scorching noon,
and you a noonday shelter; all shade but yours fades.
لِيَهنِكَmay it gladden you عِيدٌa festival فيfor لِقَائِكَmeeting you عَاشِقٌenamored
لِيَهنِكَ عِيدٌ في لِقَائِكَ عَاشِقٌ
وَلَيسَand there is no لِصَبّfor a passionate lover هَامَbecame infatuated فيwith المضجدِglory عَاذِلُone who reproaches
وَلَيسَ لِصَبّ هَامَ في المضجدِ عَاذِلُ
May a festival enamored of meeting you bring you joy;
no one reproaches a lover passionately lost in glory.
رَئِيسٌa chief مِنَamong الأيَّامَthe days أكرَمَhonored نُزلَهُits welcome
رَئِيسٌ مِنَ الأيَّامَ أكرَمَ نُزلَهُ
رَئِيسٌa chief مِنَamong الأملاَكِkings ضَخمٌmighty حُلاَحِلُnoble
رَئِيسٌ مِنَ الأملاَكِ ضَخمٌ حُلاَحِلُ
A chief among days, generously entertained
by a chief among kings, mighty and noble.
تَلَقَّىmet بِعِيدِwith the festival of الفِطرِbreaking the fast دُونَكَbefore reaching you رَاجِعاًreturning
تَلَقَّى بِعِيدِ الفِطرِ دُونَكَ رَاجِعاً
فَأخبَرَهُso it told it مَاwhat أنتَyou بِالوَفدِwith visiting delegations فَاعِلُdo
فَأخبَرَهُ مَا أنتَ بِالوَفدِ فَاعِلُ
Before reaching you, it met Eid al-Fitr returning,
which told it how you treat visiting delegations.
فَأغرَاهُso it enticed it مَاwhat أثنَىpraised عَلَيكَabout you شَقِيقُهُits brother
فَأغرَاهُ مَا أثنَى عَلَيكَ شَقِيقُهُ
فَجَاءَكَso it came to you لَمnot تَبعُدwere distant عَلَيهِfor it المَرَاحِلُthe journey's stages
فَجَاءَكَ لَم تَبعُد عَلَيهِ المَرَاحِلُ
Its brother's praise of you enticed it,
so it came to you, finding the stages of the journey short.
كَصَادِرِlike a departing party of رَكبٍa caravan عَنكَfrom you لاَقَاهُmet it وَارِدٌan arriving party
كَصَادِرِ رَكبٍ عَنكَ لاَقَاهُ وَارِدٌ
فَرَغَّبَso inspired desire فِيكَfor you الآخِرِينَin the later ones الأَوَائِلُthe earlier ones
فَرَغَّبَ فِيكَ الآخِرِينَ الأَوَائِلُ
Like a caravan departing from you, met by an arriving one,
the earlier travelers stirred the later ones to seek you.
ألاَindeed كُلُevery يَومٍday فيin جَنَابِكَyour presence مَوسِمٌis a festival
ألاَ كُلُ يَومٍ في جَنَابِكَ مَوسِمٌ
جَدِيدٌnew وَلَكِنbut أنتَyou لِلضَّيفِto a guest قَابِلُare welcoming
جَدِيدٌ وَلَكِن أنتَ لِلضَّيفِ قَابِلُ
Indeed, every day in your presence is a festival
new, yet you are always ready to welcome a guest.
بَرَزتَyou appeared لَهُbefore it مَاamid بَينَbetween بَأسٍmartial might وَزِينَةٍand adornment
بَرَزتَ لَهُ مَا بَينَ بَأسٍ وَزِينَةٍ
وَفيand in الرُّعبِterror عَنfrom أنthat يَنظُرَone should behold الحُسنَbeauty شَاغِلُa distraction
وَفي الرُّعبِ عَن أن يَنظُرَ الحُسنَ شَاغِلُ
You appeared before it amid martial might and adornment,
and terror leaves no leisure to behold beauty.
وَلاَand no شَجَرٌtrees فِيon الأرضِthe earth إلاَّexcept مِنَof القَنَاspear shafts
وَلاَ شَجَرٌ فِي الأرضِ إلاَّ مِنَ القَنَا
وَلاَand no أنجُمٌstars فِيon الأفقِthe horizon إلاَّexcept المَنَاصِلُblades
وَلاَ أنجُمٌ فِي الأفقِ إلاَّ المَنَاصِلُ
No trees on earth but shafts of spears,
and no stars on the horizon but blades.
وَحَولَكَand around you مِنfrom عُوجِthe curves of القِسِيّbows أهِلَّةٌcrescents
وَحَولَكَ مِن عُوجِ القِسِيّ أهِلَّةٌ
تَوَسَّطَهَاstood at their center بَدرٌa full moon لِوَجهِكَof your face كَامِلُperfect
تَوَسَّطَهَا بَدرٌ لِوَجهِكَ كَامِلُ
Around you, crescents formed by curved bows,
with your face's perfect full moon at their center.
وَكُلُّand every شُجَاعٍbrave man سَيفُهُhis sword حَاسِدٌis envious لَهُof him
وَكُلُّ شُجَاعٍ سَيفُهُ حَاسِدٌ لَهُ
وَعاشِقُand a lover of هَامٍheads فَهوَso it مِنfrom ذَينِthose two ناحِلُis wasted thin
وَعاشِقُ هَامٍ فَهوَ مِن ذَينِ ناحِلُ
Every brave man's sword envies him
and is a lover of heads, grown thin from both.
وُجُوهٌfaces كَمَاlike what سَلوهُthey unsheathed غُرُّradiant بَوَاسِمُsmiling
وُجُوهٌ كَمَا سَلوهُ غُرُّ بَوَاسِمُ
قُدُودٌfigures كَمَاlike what هَزُّوهُthey brandished لُدنٌsupple مَوَائِلُswaying
قُدُودٌ كَمَا هَزُّوهُ لُدنٌ مَوَائِلُ
Faces, like the sword they unsheathe, radiant and smiling;
figures, like the sword they brandish, supple and swaying.
عَزَزتَyou are mighty فَإنso if تَخشَعyou bow humbly فَمِنit is from كَثرَةِthe abundance of العُلاَloftiness
عَزَزتَ فَإن تَخشَع فَمِن كَثرَةِ العُلاَ
وَسِلكُand the thread of العُلاَglory فِيwithin دُرّةِa pearl مُتَضَائِلُdwindling
وَسِلكُ العُلاَ فِي دُرّةِ مُتَضَائِلُ
You are mighty; if you bow, it is from so much loftiness,
and the thread of glory grows small within a pearl.
وَلَمand not أدرِI knew أنَّthat الشَّمسَthe sun قَبلَكَbefore you صُورَةٌwas an image
وَلَم أدرِ أنَّ الشَّمسَ قَبلَكَ صُورَةٌ
لشَخصٍof a person وَلاَnor أنَّthat النُّجُومَthe stars شَمَائِلُwere character traits
لشَخصٍ وَلاَ أنَّ النُّجُومَ شَمَائِلُ
Before you, I did not know the sun could be the image
of a person, or that stars could be character traits.
وَلَولاَكَand but for you لمnot يسكُنwould grow quiet منَamong الشِّركِpolytheism طَائِشٌa reckless one
وَلَولاَكَ لم يسكُن منَ الشِّركِ طَائِشٌ
وَلاَand not ذَلَّwas humbled مُعتَزُّa proud one وَلاَand not لاَنَwas softened صَائِلُan assailant
وَلاَ ذَلَّ مُعتَزُّ وَلاَ لاَنَ صَائِلُ
But for you, no reckless adherent of polytheism would be stilled,
no proud one humbled, no assailant softened.
فَمَنso whoever خَذلَتهُdeserted him فيin الحُرُوبِwars جُنُودُهُhis troops
فَمَن خَذلَتهُ في الحُرُوبِ جُنُودُهُ
فَأنتَthen you الَّذِيare the one who الأعدَاءُthe enemies عَنهُon his behalf تُنَاضِلُfight
فَأنتَ الَّذِي الأعدَاءُ عَنهُ تُنَاضِلُ
While another finds his troops deserting him in war,
you are the one whose very enemies fight in his defense.
وَمَنand whoever حَازgained لَفظَthe word النَّصرِvictory منfrom لَفظِthe word قَاهِرٍQahir (conqueror)
وَمَن حَاز لَفظَ النَّصرِ من لَفظِ قَاهِرٍ
فَقَدthen indeed حُزتَyou gained مَعنَىthe meaning of النَّصرِvictory وَاسمُكَand your name فَاضِلُis Fadil
فَقَد حُزتَ مَعنَى النَّصرِ وَاسمُكَ فَاضِلُ
Others gain the word 'victory' from the word Qahir ('conqueror');
you have gained victory's meaning, and your name is Fadil.
وَمَنand whoever كَانَhad يَسعَىseeking لِلمَقَاتِلِvital spots سَهمُهُhis arrow
وَمَن كَانَ يَسعَى لِلمَقَاتِلِ سَهمُهُ
فَأسهُمُكُمbut your arrows تَسعَىseek إلَيهَاtoward them المَقَاتِلُthe vital spots
فَأسهُمُكُم تَسعَى إلَيهَا المَقَاتِلُ
Another's arrow may seek out vital spots,
but vital spots themselves seek out your arrows.
تدَاويyou heal بلينwith gentleness تحتهbeneath it شدّةseverity وَمَاand not
تدَاوي بلين تحته شدّة وَمَا
يدُومlasts خضابٌdye عَنfrom سوَىanything other than الشَّيبgray hair ناصِلُfading
يدُوم خضابٌ عَن سوَى الشَّيب ناصِلُ
You heal with gentleness beneath which lies severity; no
dye lasts on anything but gray hair: elsewhere it fades.
تُضَاهِيyou rival فَتُغنِيand make needless عنto dispense with مَقَالِthe speech of مُرَجَّحٍan arbiter
تُضَاهِي فَتُغنِي عن مَقَالِ مُرَجَّحٍ
أيُحكَمُis judgment needed? وَالخَصمَانِwhen the two disputants are قِسُّQuss وَبَاقِلُand Baqil
أيُحكَمُ وَالخَصمَانِ قِسُّ وَبَاقِلُ
You rival others, making an arbiter's speech needless:
need judgment be passed when the disputants are Quss and Baqil?
هَبِsuppose المُلكَkingship شَيئاًsomething يُشرِthey share (word fragment) كُونَكَwith you (word continuation) فيin اسمهِits name
هَبِ المُلكَ شَيئاً يُشرِ كُونَكَ في اسمهِ
فَهَلthen are? يَستَوِيequal فِيin الرُّمحشthe spear زُجُّa butt-spike وَعَامِلُand a striking end
فَهَل يَستَوِي فِي الرُّمحش زُجُّ وَعَامِلُ
Suppose kingship were something they share with you in name:
are a spear's butt-spike and striking end then equal?
وَلَوand if كُلُّevery حُسنٍbeauty رَاقَpleased فيin كلّevery مَوضِعٍplace
وَلَو كُلُّ حُسنٍ رَاقَ في كلّ مَوضِعٍ
إذَنthen حَسَدَتwould envy سُودَthe dark pupils of العُيُونِthe eyes المَكَاحِلُkohl-pots
إذَن حَسَدَت سُودَ العُيُونِ المَكَاحِلُ
If every beauty pleased in every place,
then kohl-pots would envy the dark pupils of eyes.
إذَاwhen مَاindeed جَبَانٌa coward حُمِّلَwas burdened with الدّرعَarmor لَمnot يُفِدgained
إذَا مَا جَبَانٌ حُمِّلَ الدّرعَ لَم يُفِد
سِوَىexcept أنَّهُthat he مِنfrom عَضّهَاits bite مُتَثَاقِلُis weighed down
سِوَى أنَّهُ مِن عَضّهَا مُتَثَاقِلُ
When a coward is loaded with armor, he gains
nothing but being weighed down by its bite.
ألاَindeed كُلُّevery مُلكٍkingdom لَمnot تَسُسهُyou govern it مُضَيَّعٌis squandered
ألاَ كُلُّ مُلكٍ لَم تَسُسهُ مُضَيَّعٌ
وَكُلُّand every إحتجَاجٍargument لَمnot يَقُمis founded بكَon you بَاطِلُis false
وَكُلُّ إحتجَاجٍ لَم يَقُم بكَ بَاطِلُ
Indeed, any kingdom you do not govern is squandered,
and any argument not founded on you is false.
وَفِيand in كُلّevery صَدرٍbreast مِنكَinspired by you حُبُّlove مُخَامِرٌtaking hold
وَفِي كُلّ صَدرٍ مِنكَ حُبُّ مُخَامِرٌ
يُمَازِجُهُmingles with it رَوعٌawe هُنَاكَthere مُدَاخِلُpenetrating
يُمَازِجُهُ رَوعٌ هُنَاكَ مُدَاخِلُ
In every breast, a love of you is deeply rooted,
mingled with an awe that enters there.
وَلَوand if أمِنَwere safe الإنسَانُa human being مِنfrom شَرّthe evil of نَفسِهِhis own soul
وَلَو أمِنَ الإنسَانُ مِن شَرّ نَفسِهِ
لَمَاwould not هَابَfear حَدَّthe edge of المُرهَفِthe honed blade العَضبِsharp حَامِلُa bearer
لَمَا هَابَ حَدَّ المُرهَفِ العَضبِ حَامِلُ
Were a man safe from the evil of his own soul,
no bearer would dread the edge of a keen, cutting blade.
أتَتنَاbrought us بِكَyou الأيَّامُthe days عِندَat مَشِيبِهَاtheir graying
أتَتنَا بِكَ الأيَّامُ عِندَ مَشِيبِهَا
كَمَاas جَلَبَتbrought عُرفَthe fragrance of الرّيَاضِgardens الأصَائِلُlate afternoons
كَمَا جَلَبَت عُرفَ الرّيَاضِ الأصَائِلُ
The days brought you to us when they had grown gray,
as late afternoons bring the fragrance of gardens.
فَإنso if يَتَقَدَّمcomes first مَنsomeone سِوَاكَother than you فَمِثلَit is like مَاwhat
فَإن يَتَقَدَّم مَن سِوَاكَ فَمِثلَ مَا
تُقَدَّمُare offered مِنfrom قَبلِbefore الفًرُوضِobligatory duties النَّوَافِلُvoluntary prayers
تُقَدَّمُ مِن قَبلِ الفًرُوضِ النَّوَافِلُ
If someone other than you comes first, it is like
voluntary prayers offered before the obligatory ones.
وَإنand if يَتَأخَّرfalls behind وَهُوَwhile he أخزَىis more abased فَإنَّمَأthen it is only
وَإن يَتَأخَّر وَهُوَ أخزَى فَإنَّمَأ
تَأخَّرَhe fell behind لَمَّاwhen قَدَّمَتكَadvanced you الفَوَاضِلُvirtues
تَأخَّرَ لَمَّا قَدَّمَتكَ الفَوَاضِلُ
And if he falls behind, more abased, it is only
because he lagged when virtues placed you first.
كَسَوتُI clothed سَوَادَthe blackness of الحبرِink باسمِكَwith your name رَونَقاًin splendor
كَسَوتُ سَوَادَ الحبرِ باسمِكَ رَونَقاً
فَقَالَso said الدُّجَىdarkness ياO صُبحُdawn لَونُكَyour color حَائِلُis fading
فَقَالَ الدُّجَى يا صُبحُ لَونُكَ حَائِلُ
I clothed the ink's blackness in splendor with your name,
and darkness said, 'O dawn, your color is fading.'
وَهَذِيand these قَضَايَاare judgments عَنconcerning عُلاَكَyour eminence رَوَيتُهَاI related them
وَهَذِي قَضَايَا عَن عُلاَكَ رَوَيتُهَا
فَإنِّيfor indeed I بِهَأthrough them وَهِيَthough they are الكوَاكبُthe stars نَائِلُam receiving bounty
فَإنِّي بِهَأ وَهِيَ الكوَاكبُ نَائِلُ
These are judgments concerning your eminence that I have related,
for through them—stars though they are—I gain my reward.
Sol 6.1