هُوit الفَتحُthe victory حَقَّاtruly مَاthere is no عَلىover الشَّمسِthe sun كَاتِمُconcealer
هُو الفَتحُ حَقَّا مَا عَلى الشَّمسِ كَاتِمُ
فَمَنso whoever لَجَّpresses his claim بِالهِندِيّwith Indian steel خصمٌan adversary وحَاكِمُand a judge
فَمَن لَجَّ بِالهِندِيّ خصمٌ وحَاكِمُ
It is victory indeed; no veil can cover the sun.
Whoever presses his claim with Indian steel is both adversary and judge.
نَجمُthe star of الأمِيرِthe emir الأوحَدِيthe peerless وَسَيفُهُand his sword
نَجمُ الأمِيرِ الأوحَدِي وَسَيفُهُ
كَذاthus تَنجَلِيclears الظَّلمَاdarkness وتُكفَىand are averted العَظَائِمُgrave dangers
كَذا تَنجَلِي الظَّلمَا وتُكفَى العَظَائِمُ
The peerless emir's star and his sword—
Thus darkness clears and grave dangers are averted.
تَغَايَرتِgrew jealous الأقطَارُthe regions فِيكover you كَأنَّهَاas though they were
تَغَايَرتِ الأقطَارُ فِيك كَأنَّهَا
ضرائِرُco-wives تَمشِيcirculate بَينَهُنَّamong them النَّمَائِمُmalicious tales
ضرائِرُ تَمشِي بَينَهُنَّ النَّمَائِمُ
The regions grew jealous over you, as though they were
Co-wives among whom malicious tales circulate.
بُعِثتyou were sent مَسِيحاًas a Messiah لِلبِلادِto the lands وقَدand already فَشَاhad spread
بُعِثت مَسِيحاً لِلبِلادِ وقَد فَشَا
بِأرجَائِهَاthroughout their reaches داءُthe sickness of الرَّدىdestruction المُتفَاقِمُworsening
بِأرجَائِهَا داءُ الرَّدى المُتفَاقِمُ
You were sent as a Messiah to the lands, when already
The worsening sickness of destruction had spread throughout their reaches.
وداويتand you cured حمصاًHims منof جُنُونِthe madness of اعتِزالِهَاits withdrawal
وداويت حمصاً من جُنُونِ اعتِزالِهَا
كَأنَّas though المَسَاعِيendeavors الصَّالِحَاتِrighteous تَمَائِمُamulets
كَأنَّ المَسَاعِي الصَّالِحَاتِ تَمَائِمُ
And you cured Hims of the madness of its withdrawal,
As though righteous endeavors were amulets.
أنَارgrew bright بِكthrough you الإظلامُdarkness فَالغَربُso the West مُشرِقٌis radiant
أنَار بِك الإظلامُ فَالغَربُ مُشرِقٌ
وأخصبand grew fertile مِنكthrough you الجَدبُbarrenness فالصَّلدُso hard rock نَاعِمُis soft
وأخصب مِنك الجَدبُ فالصَّلدُ نَاعِمُ
Through you darkness brightened, so the West is radiant;
And through you barrenness grew fertile, so hard rock is soft.
فَلَولاso, but for هُداكyour guidance الصَّلتُradiant لَمnot يُهدbe guided حَائِرٌa bewildered wanderer
فَلَولا هُداك الصَّلتُ لَم يُهد حَائِرٌ
ولَولاand but for نَداكyour bounty الغَمرُoverflowing لَمnot يُروbe quenched حَائِمُone circling for water
ولَولا نَداك الغَمرُ لَم يُرو حَائِمُ
But for your radiant guidance, no bewildered wanderer would be guided;
And but for your overflowing bounty, no thirsty wanderer would be quenched.
فَمَاso as long as دامthere remains للِسَّيفِfor the sword المُهَنَّدِIndian-forged قَائِمُa hilt
فَمَا دام للِسَّيفِ المُهَنَّدِ قَائِمُ
بِكَفِّكَin your palm فَالتَّوحِيدُthen faith in God's oneness بِالأرضِon earth قَائِمُstands firm
بِكَفِّكَ فَالتَّوحِيدُ بِالأرضِ قَائِمُ
So long as the hilt of the Indian-forged sword remains
In your palm, faith in God's oneness stands firm on earth.
ومَاand not المُلكُsovereignty إلاَّexcept مَفرقٌa head أنتyou تَاجُهُits crown
ومَا المُلكُ إلاَّ مَفرقٌ أنت تَاجُهُ
ويُمنَىand a right يَدٍhand فَِيهَاon which عُلاكyour eminence خَواتِمُrings
ويُمنَى يَدٍ فَِيهَا عُلاك خَواتِمُ
Sovereignty is but a head whose crown you are,
And a right hand whose rings are your exalted glory.
فَمَأso there is no لِنَجَأحِfor success راشgave wings to عَزمَكyour resolve هَايِضٌwing-breaker
فَمَأ لِنَجَأحِ راش عَزمَك هَايِضٌ
ولاnor لِعُرًىfor bonds شَدَّتfastened سُعُودكyour good fortunes فَاصِمُa severer
ولا لِعُرًى شَدَّت سُعُودك فَاصِمُ
So none can cripple the success that gave your resolve wings,
Nor can any sever bonds your good fortunes have fastened.
سَتُورِثُyou will bequeath هَذاthis المَجدglory فَرعَكyour branch مِثلَمَاjust as
سَتُورِثُ هَذا المَجد فَرعَك مِثلَمَا
قَدindeed اورثَكbequeathed to you المَجدglory الجُدُودُthe forefathers الأكَارِمُthe noble
قَد اورثَك المَجد الجُدُودُ الأكَارِمُ
You will bequeath this glory to your branch, just as
Your noble forefathers have bequeathed glory to you.
زكَاgrew pure تُربُthe soil of مَنشَاهُhis origin وطَابَتand were wholesome أصُولُهُhis roots
زكَا تُربُ مَنشَاهُ وطَابَت أصُولُهُ
وأينَعand flourished زهرٌa blossom فِيهِin him كَالنَّجمِlike a star نَاجِمُrising
وأينَع زهرٌ فِيهِ كَالنَّجمِ نَاجِمُ
The soil of his origin is pure, and his roots are good;
And a blossom has flourished in him, rising like a star.
أO آلhouse of خَلاصٍKhalas أنتُمُyou are نُكتَةُthe choicest part of الورىhumankind
أ آل خَلاصٍ أنتُمُ نُكتَةُ الورى
وهَلand is شَرفُthe glory of الأيَّامِthe days إلاanything but المَواسِمُthe festivals
وهَل شَرفُ الأيَّامِ إلا المَواسِمُ
O house of Khalas, you are the choicest of humankind;
And are feast days not the glory of all days?
أنَاسٌa people هُمُthey are لِلاَّئِذِينfor those seeking refuge سَواحِلُshores
أنَاسٌ هُمُ لِلاَّئِذِين سَواحِلُ
ولِلمُعتَفِيand for the seeker of الجَدوىbounty بُحُورٌseas خَضارِمُvast and abundant
ولِلمُعتَفِي الجَدوى بُحُورٌ خَضارِمُ
A people who are shores to those seeking refuge,
And vast oceans to the seeker of bounty.
شُمُوسٌsuns وأخداثُand the events of الزَّمَانِTime غَيَاهِبُdeep darkness
شُمُوسٌ وأخداثُ الزَّمَانِ غَيَاهِبُ
ظِلالٌshade وأنفَاسُand the breaths of الخُطُوبِcalamities سَمَائِمُscorching winds
ظِلالٌ وأنفَاسُ الخُطُوبِ سَمَائِمُ
Suns, while the events of Time are deepest darkness;
Shade, while the breaths of calamity are scorching winds.
تٌُزرُّare fastened عَلَىupon أسدِlions العَرِينthe lair دُرُوعُهُمtheir coats of mail
تٌُزرُّ عَلَى أسدِ العَرِين دُرُوعُهُم
وتُلوىand are wound عَلَىaround شُهبِthe shooting stars of الظَّلامِdarkness العَمَائِمُthe turbans
وتُلوى عَلَى شُهبِ الظَّلامِ العَمَائِمُ
Their coats of mail are fastened upon lions of the lair,
And turbans are wound around the shooting stars of darkness.
أجَازhe crossed البِحَارthe seas الخُضرgreen سَهلاًeasily فَرُبَّمَاfor perhaps
أجَاز البِحَار الخُضر سَهلاً فَرُبَّمَا
أخَلَّتcaused a loss بِلُحin the depths of البَحرِthe sea تِلكthose المَكَأرِمُnoble gifts
أخَلَّت بِلُح البَحرِ تِلك المَكَأرِمُ
He crossed the green seas with ease; perhaps
Those noble gifts had diminished the sea's depths.
وَمَاand not يَستَوِيare equal بَحرُa sea أجَاجٌbriny مُقَطِّبٌscowling
وَمَا يَستَوِي بَحرُ أجَاجٌ مُقَطِّبٌ
واخَرُand another مَعسُولُhoney-sweet at المَوارِدِthe watering places بَاسِمُsmiling
واخَرُ مَعسُولُ المَوارِدِ بَاسِمُ
Nor are they equal: a briny, scowling sea
And another, honey-sweet at its watering places, smiling.
لَئِنif indeed كَأنhe is بَحراًa sea لِلغَمَائِمِfor the clouds مُنشِئاًbringing into being
لَئِن كَأن بَحراً لِلغَمَائِمِ مُنشِئاً
فَمَنthen from أعذبِthe sweeter of البَحرينِthe two seas تَنشَاarise الغَمائِمُthe clouds
فَمَن أعذبِ البَحرينِ تَنشَا الغَمائِمُ
If he is a sea that brings clouds into being,
It is from the sweeter of the two seas that clouds arise.
صيَالكyour onslaught حتفdeath لاnot تَقُومstand لَهُagainst it العداthe foes
صيَالك حتف لا تَقُوم لَهُ العدا
وسِربُكand your host وقَّادٌblazing وعُرفُكضand your bounty سَاجِمُpouring down
وسِربُك وقَّادٌ وعُرفُكض سَاجِمُ
Your onslaught is death, which no foes can withstand;
And your host is fiery, while your bounty pours down.
كَأنَّكَas though you were نَجمُthe star of الأفقِthe horizon أحرقburned مَارداًa rebellious demon
كَأنَّكَ نَجمُ الأفقِ أحرق مَارداً
بِهِby it وارتَوىand was watered مَحلٌparched land ونُورand was illumined فَاحِمُpitch-black darkness
بِهِ وارتَوى مَحلٌ ونُور فَاحِمُ
As though you were the horizon's star that burned a rebellious demon;
By it, parched ground was watered and pitch-darkness illumined.
هُمُامٌa magnanimous lord ثَنَاحُرُّturned the choicest الثَّنَاpraise نَحوtoward بَابِهhis door
هُمُامٌ ثَنَاحُرُّ الثَّنَا نَحو بَابِه
نَدىthe bounty of حَاتِمٍHatim إذnow that لَيسis not يُذكَرُmentioned حَاتِمُHatim
نَدى حَاتِمٍ إذ لَيس يُذكَرُ حَاتِمُ
A noble lord: the choicest praise is drawn toward his door
By Hatim's bounty, now that Hatim himself goes unmentioned.
لَقَدindeed فَتَقَsplit open المَدَّاحُthe panegyrist مِسكَةَthe musk-pod of حَمدِهِpraise of him
لَقَد فَتَقَ المَدَّاحُ مِسكَةَ حَمدِهِ
فَطَارتso flew بِرَيَّاهَأbearing its fragrance الريَاحُthe winds النَّواسِمُgently blowing
فَطَارت بِرَيَّاهَأ الريَاحُ النَّواسِمُ
The panegyrist has split the musk-pod of his praise,
And gentle winds have flown bearing its fragrance.
يُغَالِبُoutdoes بِالجدوىwith bounty اشتِطَاطthe excess of عُفَاتِهِhis petitioners
يُغَالِبُ بِالجدوى اشتِطَاط عُفَاتِهِ
فَتَفنَىso are exhausted أمَانِيهِمtheir wishes وتَبقَىand remain المَكَارِمُgenerous deeds
فَتَفنَى أمَانِيهِم وتَبقَى المَكَارِمُ
With bounty he outdoes the excess of his petitioners;
Their wishes are exhausted, while his generous deeds remain.
يَرُوقُكdelights you فِيin مَثنَىthe twofold الوزارةِvizierate مَجدُهُhis glory
يَرُوقُك فِي مَثنَى الوزارةِ مَجدُهُ
كَمَاjust as راقlooked splendid فِيon مَتنِthe surface of الحَمَالَةِthe baldric صارِمُa keen sword
كَمَا راق فِي مَتنِ الحَمَالَةِ صارِمُ
His glory delights you in the double vizierate,
As a keen sword looks splendid on its baldric.
لَقَدindeed شُفِعَتwas doubled فِيهِفَزادتin him, and so increased جَلالَهُhis majesty
لَقَد شُفِعَت فِيهِفَزادت جَلالَهُ
كَمَاjust as زانadorned أفرادindividual الَّلالِىءِpearls نَاظِمُa stringer
كَمَا زان أفراد الَّلالِىءِ نَاظِمُ
It was doubled in him, and so increased his majesty,
As a stringer adorns individual pearls.
عَلَىupon رُتَبٍranks يَخفَىhides السُّهَاSuha حَسَداًout of envy لَهَاof them
عَلَى رُتَبٍ يَخفَى السُّهَا حَسَداً لَهَا
ويَصفَرُّand turns yellow وجهُthe face of البَدرِthe full moon والبَدرُand the full moon راغِمُhumbled
ويَصفَرُّ وجهُ البَدرِ والبَدرُ راغِمُ
Upon ranks that make Suha hide in envy,
And the full moon's face turns yellow, the full moon humbled.
يَرىit deems أنَّهُthat it لَوif صارbecame مَطلَعُهُits rising-place الثَّرىthe dust
يَرى أنَّهُ لَو صار مَطلَعُهُ الثَّرى
وقَبَّلand kissed يُمنَاهُhis right hand السَّعِيدةblessed غَانِمُa gainer
وقَبَّل يُمنَاهُ السَّعِيدة غَانِمُ
It deems that, if its rising-place became the dust
And it kissed his blessed right hand, it would be the gainer.
لَقَدindeed صادwon مِنهُin him صُحبَةthe companionship of الدَّهرِTime حَاطِمٌa crusher
لَقَد صاد مِنهُ صُحبَة الدَّهرِ حَاطِمٌ
وقَارعand battled مِنهُin him صعدةthe spear of البَغيِtyranny خَأطِمُa bridler
وقَارع مِنهُ صعدة البَغيِ خَأطِمُ
A crusher in him has indeed won Time's companionship;
And a bridler in him has clashed with tyranny's spear.
سَمَاrose high مَعشَرٌa company كَيto يَلحَقُوهُcatch him فَبَرَّزتbut bore ahead
سَمَا مَعشَرٌ كَي يَلحَقُوهُ فَبَرَّزت
بِهِwith him غُررٌblazes of distinction مَشهُورةٌrenowned وعَلائِمand distinguishing marks
بِهِ غُررٌ مَشهُورةٌ وعَلائِم
A company rose to catch him, but he was borne ahead
By renowned blazes and distinguishing marks.
ولَيسand are not القَنَاspears لَولاbut for الوغَىbattle غَيرُother than أغصُنٍbranches
ولَيس القَنَا لَولا الوغَى غَيرُ أغصُنٍ
ولاnor الأسدُlions لَولاbut for البَطشُfierce might إلاَّanything but بَهَائِمُbeasts
ولا الأسدُ لَولا البَطشُ إلاَّ بَهَائِمُ
And spears, but for battle, would be nothing but branches;
And lions, but for their fierceness, would be mere beasts.
وكَيفand how تُقُاسُare measured الأنجُمُthe stars الزُّهرُbright بِالحَصىagainst pebbles
وكَيف تُقُاسُ الأنجُمُ الزُّهرُ بِالحَصى
وكَيفand how تَسَامَىvie in height بِالأنُوفِwith noses المَنَاسِمُcamels' soles
وكَيف تَسَامَى بِالأنُوفِ المَنَاسِمُ
How can bright stars be measured against pebbles?
And how can camels' soles rival noses in height?
إلَىtoward الحَسَنِal-Hasan الوهَّابِthe lavish giver أعمَلتُI exerted عَزمَةًa resolve
إلَى الحَسَنِ الوهَّابِ أعمَلتُ عَزمَةً
تُنَافِسُهَاrival it فِيمَاin what انتَحَتهُit sought it العَزائِمُresolves
تُنَافِسُهَا فِيمَا انتَحَتهُ العَزائِمُ
I set my resolve toward al-Hasan the Bestower,
A resolve others rival in the goal it sought.
خَطَتstrode بِيwith me لَهُtoward him المَوجthe waves الأشَمَّtowering سَفَائِنships
خَطَت بِي لَهُ المَوج الأشَمَّ سَفَائِن
كَمَاjust as وخَدتstrode swiftly فَوقover الرَّواسِيthe firmly rooted mountains الرَّواسِمُswift-pacing camels
كَمَا وخَدت فَوق الرَّواسِي الرَّواسِمُ
Ships strode with me toward him over towering waves,
As swift camels stride over firmly rooted mountains.
فَبَشَّرتُso I gave glad tidings to آمَالِيmy hopes بِحَضرةِof the court of أوحَدٍa peerless one
فَبَشَّرتُ آمَالِي بِحَضرةِ أوحَدٍ
تُبَاعُare sold المُنَىwishes فِيهَاwithin it وتُحمَىand are protected المحارِمُsacred things
تُبَاعُ المُنَى فِيهَا وتُحمَى المحارِمُ
So I gave my hopes glad tidings of a peerless one's court,
Where wishes are sold and sacred things protected.
بِلادُthe lands of كَرِيمِa generous man تُربُهَاtheir soil يُنبِتُbrings forth الغِنَىwealth
بِلادُ كَرِيمِ تُربُهَا يُنبِتُ الغِنَى
وقُطرٌand a country عَدُوُّhostile الدَّهرِTime فِيهِin it مُسَالِمُat peace
وقُطرٌ عَدُوُّ الدَّهرِ فِيهِ مُسَالِمُ
A generous man's lands, whose soil brings forth wealth,
And a country where hostile Time makes peace.
فَقَبَّلتُso I kissed مِنهُfrom him الجودgenerosity فِيin بَطنِthe hollow of راحَةٍa palm
فَقَبَّلتُ مِنهُ الجود فِي بَطنِ راحَةٍ
تُنَاجِيwhisper to المُنَىwishes فِيهَاwithin it الثُّغُورُmouths اللَّواثِمُkissing
تُنَاجِي المُنَى فِيهَا الثُّغُورُ اللَّواثِمُ
So I kissed his generosity in the hollow of a palm,
Where kissing mouths whisper to wishes.
وأوطَأنِيand made me tread نَجمthe star of السُّرىnight travel مِنof بِسَاطِهِhis carpet
وأوطَأنِي نَجم السُّرى مِن بِسَاطِهِ
ثَرًىsoil تَحسِدُenvy الأقدامَfeet فِيهِupon it المَنَاسِمُcamels' soles
ثَرًى تَحسِدُ الأقدامَ فِيهِ المَنَاسِمُ
And the star of night travel set my feet upon his carpet,
On soil where camels' soles envy human feet.
وقُلتُand I said لِنَفسِيto my soul بَعدafter جُهدٍtoil تَودَّعِيtake your ease
وقُلتُ لِنَفسِي بَعد جُهدٍ تَودَّعِي
فَقَدfor indeed كَفَّرتexpiated ذنبthe sin of الحُرُوبِwars المَغَانِمُthe spoils
فَقَد كَفَّرت ذنب الحُرُوبِ المَغَانِمُ
And after toil I told my soul, 'Take your ease:'
For the spoils have expiated the sin of wars.
تَيَقَّظstayed awake لِيfor me مَعرُوفُهُhis kindness واعتِنَاؤُهُand his care
تَيَقَّظ لِي مَعرُوفُهُ واعتِنَاؤُهُ
وسَعيِيand my striving وسنَانٌdrowsy وحِرصِيَand my eagerness نَائِمُasleep
وسَعيِي وسنَانٌ وحِرصِيَ نَائِمُ
His kindness and care stayed awake for me,
While my striving was drowsy and my eagerness asleep.
صَباgrew enamored جُودُهُhis bounty حَتَّىuntil عَجِبتُI marveled لِظَامِىءat a thirsty man
صَبا جُودُهُ حَتَّى عَجِبتُ لِظَامِىء
يَحِنُّyearns إلَيهِfor him العارِضُthe raincloud المَتَراكِمُheaped up
يَحِنُّ إلَيهِ العارِضُ المَتَراكِمُ
His bounty grew enamored, till I marveled at a thirsty man
For whom the towering raincloud yearns.
ولَمand did not أدرِI know أنَّthat الجُودgenerosity صبُّenamored بِآمِلٍof a hopeful seeker
ولَم أدرِ أنَّ الجُود صبُّ بِآمِلٍ
وأنَّand that النَّدىbounty فِيمَنover whoever يُرجِّيهِhopes for it هَائِمُmadly enamored
وأنَّ النَّدى فِيمَن يُرجِّيهِ هَائِمُ
I did not know that generosity loved a hopeful seeker,
And that bounty was love-maddened over one who hopes for it.
بَذلتُI offered لِمَاfor what أهواهُI love it نَفسِيmy soul ولمand did not تَهُنbecome cheap
بَذلتُ لِمَا أهواهُ نَفسِي ولم تَهُن
عَلَيَّto me ولَكِنbut عَزَّwas precious فِيهَاfor it المُسَاوِمُthe bidder
عَلَيَّ ولَكِن عَزَّ فِيهَا المُسَاوِمُ
I offered my soul for what I love; it was not cheap
To me, but the bidder for it was precious.
فَغَرَّدتُso I sang فِيin ظِلِّthe shade of المَواهِبِgifts مِثلَمَاjust as
فَغَرَّدتُ فِي ظِلِّ المَواهِبِ مِثلَمَا
تُغَرّدُsing فِيin أطواقِهِنَّtheir collars الحَمَائِمُthe doves
تُغَرّدُ فِي أطواقِهِنَّ الحَمَائِمُ
So I sang in the shade of gifts, just as
Doves sing within their collars.
فَدُونَكso take for yourself مِنfrom مَدحِيmy praise أزاهِيرthe blossoms of روضةٍa garden
فَدُونَك مِن مَدحِي أزاهِير روضةٍ
تُشَقُّare split open مِنfrom الأفكَارِthoughts عنهَاoff them كَمَائِمُbud-sheaths
تُشَقُّ مِن الأفكَارِ عنهَا كَمَائِمُ
Take, then, from my praise the blossoms of a garden,
Whose sheaths of thought are split open.
نَظمتُI strung بِهَاwith it دُرَّاpearls وبَاعِيand my reach مُقَصّرٌfalls short
نَظمتُ بِهَا دُرَّا وبَاعِي مُقَصّرٌ
ولَوeven if أنَّنِيthat I فِيكin your praise الدَّرارِيradiant stars نَاظِمُstringing
ولَو أنَّنِي فِيك الدَّرارِي نَاظِمُ
With it I strung pearls, though my reach falls short,
Even were I stringing radiant stars in your praise.
لَئِنif indeed كَانis فَرضُthe duty of الحَجِّpilgrimage يَمحُوeffaces مَآثِماًsins
لَئِن كَان فَرضُ الحَجِّ يَمحُو مَآثِماً
فَلُقيَاكthen meeting you حَجُّa pilgrimage والخُطُوبُand hardships مَآثِمُsins
فَلُقيَاك حَجُّ والخُطُوبُ مَآثِمُ
If the obligatory pilgrimage effaces sins,
Then meeting you is pilgrimage, and hardships are sins.
فَكُلُّso every اقتِراحِrequest عِندbefore جُودِكyour generosity صادقٌcomes true
فَكُلُّ اقتِراحِ عِند جُودِك صادقٌ
وكُلُّand every رجاًhope لاnot يَضمَنُguarantees النُّجحsuccess غَارِمُa debtor
وكُلُّ رجاً لا يَضمَنُ النُّجح غَارِمُ
So every request before your generosity comes true,
And every hope that fails to guarantee success is a debtor.
Sol 6.1