أَسُرُّكِI gladden you يَاO مُنَايَmy heart's desire وَلاَand do not أَسُوكِgrieve you
أَسُرُّكِ يَا مُنَايَ وَلاَ أَسُوكِ
وأَنْفِيand I banish بِالْهَوَىwith love عَرَضَthe intrusion الشُّكُوكِof doubts
وأَنْفِي بِالْهَوَى عَرَضَ الشُّكُوكِ
I gladden you, O my heart's desire, and do not grieve you,
I confide in you, O consolation, and do not complain to you,
and with love dispel the intrusion of doubts.
And I deny with passion the allegation of doubts,
وأَحْمِيكِand I shield you الَّذِيthat which تَخْشَينَyou fear مِنْهُfrom it
وأَحْمِيكِ الَّذِي تَخْشَينَ مِنْهُ
كماas يَحْمِيكِshields you مِنْfrom عَارٍdisgrace أَخُوكِyour brother
كما يَحْمِيكِ مِنْ عَارٍ أَخُوكِ
I shield you from what you fear,
And protect you from what you fear,
as your brother shields you from disgrace.
As your brother protects you from dishonor.
لَقَدْindeed بُلِّغْتُI have been brought فِيكِthrough you مَدَىto the reach of الْمَنَايَاdeath
لَقَدْ بُلِّغْتُ فِيكِ مَدَى الْمَنَايَا
وَماthough not بَلَغَتْhave reached مَدَىthe span of عَشْرٍten سُنُوِكِyour years
وَما بَلَغَتْ مَدَى عَشْرٍ سُنُوِكِ
Through you, I have been brought to the brink of death,
I have been apprised of the extent of tribulations,
though your years have not yet reached ten.
And you have not reached ten years in your age.
أرَىI see الْهِجْرَانِestrangement مِنْكِfrom you يُحِيلُturns صُبْحِيmy morning
أرَى الْهِجْرَانِ مِنْكِ يُحِيلُ صُبْحِي
وَمَاand not أَذْنَبْتُI sinned لَيْلاًinto a night ذَاpossessing حُلُوكِdeep darkness
وَمَا أَذْنَبْتُ لَيْلاً ذَا حُلُوكِ
I see your estrangement turn my morning,
I see estrangement from you turns my mornings gloomy,
though I have done no wrong, into a pitch-black night.
Though I did no wrong in the nights of sweet union.
وَدَهْرُand the time of الْوَصْلِunion يحكْيresembles لِيto me رَبِيعاًa spring
وَدَهْرُ الْوَصْلِ يحكْي لِي رَبِيعاً
يُشَابِهُresembles نَبْتُهُits growth خَليَadornments (likely حَلْي) الْهَلُوكِof a wanton woman
يُشَابِهُ نَبْتُهُ خَليَ الْهَلُوكِ
And the time of union seems to me a spring
The days of union recount to me a springtime
whose growth resembles a wanton woman's adornments.
Whose plants resemble the spots of the leopard.
رِياضٌgardens نُمْرِجُwe let roam الأَلْحَاظَour glances فِيهَاin them
رِياضٌ نُمْرِجُ الأَلْحَاظَ فِيهَا
مُنَوَّرَةُbright with blossoms الأَعاليthe tops وَالسُّمُوكِand the heights
مُنَوَّرَةُ الأَعالي وَالسُّمُوكِ
Gardens in which we let our glances roam,
Gardens in which glances disport,
their tops and heights bright with blossoms:
With heights illuminated and lofty trees.
بَهَارٌyellow daisies قَدْindeed حَكَىresembled الْعُشَّاقَthe lovers لَوْناًin color
بَهَارٌ قَدْ حَكَى الْعُشَّاقَ لَوْناً
عَلَىon قُضُبٍstems حَكَتْهُمْresembled them فيin النُّهُوكِemaciation
عَلَى قُضُبٍ حَكَتْهُمْ في النُّهُوكِ
yellow daisies that resemble lovers in color,
A spring that tells the lovers’ tale to the branches
on stems resembling them in emaciation;
Which wrote them in coquetry and withdrawal.
وَوَرْدٌand roses مِثْلُlike خَدٍّa cheek مِنْكِof yours رَاضٍpleased
وَوَرْدٌ مِثْلُ خَدٍّ مِنْكِ رَاضٍ
جِوَارَbeside فَمٍa mouth تَبَسَّمَsmiled عَنْrevealing مُسُوكِmusk scents
جِوَارَ فَمٍ تَبَسَّمَ عَنْ مُسُوكِ
and roses like a pleased cheek of yours,
A rose like your cheek, content
beside a mouth that smiles, revealing musk.
Next to a mouth that smiled revealing perfect teeth.
وَيَضْحَكُand smiles أقحُوَانٌwhite daisies فِيهِin it يَحْكِيresembling
وَيَضْحَكُ أقحُوَانٌ فِيهِ يَحْكِي
لَنَاfor us ثَغْراًteeth تَكَشَّفَbecame uncovered عَنْهُfrom them فُوكِyour mouth
لَنَا ثَغْراً تَكَشَّفَ عَنْهُ فُوكِ
And white daisies smile there, resembling
And narcissi therein relate to us
for us the teeth revealed by your mouth.
A mouth unveiled from which emanated breath.
تَطَلَّعَrose into view بَيْنَbetween ذَاكَthat وَبَيْنَand between هَذَاthis
تَطَلَّعَ بَيْنَ ذَاكَ وَبَيْنَ هَذَا
شَقَائِقُanemones مِثْلُlike أَعْرَافِthe crests of الدُّيُوكِcocks
شَقَائِقُ مِثْلُ أَعْرَافِ الدُّيُوكِ
Between those and these, there rise
Between this and that glance anemones
anemones like cocks' crests:
Like the high grounds of wild cows.
مَدَاهِنُointment bowls مِنْof عَقِيقٍcarnelian نَظَّمَتْهَاstrung them together
مَدَاهِنُ مِنْ عَقِيقٍ نَظَّمَتْهَا
يَدَاthe two hands of خَرْقَاءَa clumsy woman وَاهِيَةِfrail السُّلُوكِthreads
يَدَا خَرْقَاءَ وَاهِيَةِ السُّلُوكِ
little ointment bowls of carnelian, strung together
Carnelians threaded by a delicate hand
by a clumsy woman's two hands, with frail threads.
Of slack ability and submissive manner.
حَلَفْتُI swore بِغُرَّةِby the radiant brow of الرَّاضِيal-Radi فإِنِّيfor I
حَلَفْتُ بِغُرَّةِ الرَّاضِي فإِنِّي
أَرَاهُI see him حَقِيقَةًtruly فَوْقَabove الْمُلُوكِkings
أَرَاهُ حَقِيقَةً فَوْقَ الْمُلُوكِ
I swore by al-Radi's radiant brow—for I
I swear by the cheek of the contented one, I see it
truly see him above kings—
In truth above kings.
بأخَّاذٍby one who eagerly grasps لِمَاwhat يُرْجَىis hoped for أَلُوفٍfondly attached
بأخَّاذٍ لِمَا يُرْجَى أَلُوفٍ
وعَيَّافٍand one who shuns لِمَاwhat يُخْشَىis feared تَرُوكِreadily forsaking
وعَيَّافٍ لِمَا يُخْشَى تَرُوكِ
by one who grasps what is hoped for, fondly drawn to it,
Captivating in what is hoped for, chaste towards
and shuns what is feared, readily forsaking it;
What is feared, coy and reserved.
عَبُوسٍgrim-faced فيat انِتْهَاكِthe violation of الْمُلْكِsovereignty فَظٍّharsh
عَبُوسٍ في انِتْهَاكِ الْمُلْكِ فَظٍّ
وطَلْقٍand open-faced فيin مَذَاهِبِهِhis ways ضَحُوكِever smiling
وطَلْقٍ في مَذَاهِبِهِ ضَحُوكِ
grim and harsh when sovereignty is violated,
Frowning in violating kingdoms, angry in that,
yet open-faced in his ways, ever smiling;
Easy-mannered in his ways, smiling and cheerful.
نَهُوضٍquick to rise بِالْخُطُوبِagainst calamities إِذَاwhen اعْتَرَتْهُthey befall him
نَهُوضٍ بِالْخُطُوبِ إِذَا اعْتَرَتْهُ
فَرَاهاhe cleaves them هَبَّةَwith a sudden sweep of السَّيفِthe sword الْبَتُوكِkeen-cutting
فَرَاها هَبَّةَ السَّيفِ الْبَتُوكِ
quick to rise against calamities when they befall him,
Rising to challenges whenever they meet him,
cleaving them with a sweep of the keen-cutting sword.
Seeing them as gifts of the sharp sword.
عَشِيقُthe beloved of الْمُلْكِkingship جَاءَhe came بِلاwithout كِتَابٍa letter
عَشِيقُ الْمُلْكِ جَاءَ بِلا كِتَابٍ
يُرَجَّىis hoped for الْوَصْلُunion مِنْهُfrom it وَلاَnor أَلُوكِa message
يُرَجَّى الْوَصْلُ مِنْهُ وَلاَ أَلُوكِ
Kingship's beloved, he came without a letter
The lover of kingship came without letter,
from which union might be hoped for, or any message.
Hoping for union but nothing in writing.
فَمَنْwho, then للْبُخْلِout of miserliness يُمْسكُkeeps ماwhat حَوَاهُhe possesses
فَمَنْ للْبُخْلِ يُمْسكُ ما حَوَاهُ
فَمَاfor not هُوَhe بالْبَخِيلِa miser ولاَnor الْمَسُوكِa hoarder
فَمَا هُوَ بالْبَخِيلِ ولاَ الْمَسُوكِ
Who, then, keeps what he owns out of miserliness?
Who then can withhold what he possesses?
For he is neither a miser nor a hoarder.
He is neither stingy nor reserved.
أَجَلُّthe greatest of النَّاسpeople آرَاءًin judgments وَعلْماًand knowledge
أَجَلُّ النَّاس آرَاءً وَعلْماً
مَقَالٌa statement لَيْسَis not يُقْرَنُassociated بِالأُفُوكِwith a habitual liar
مَقَالٌ لَيْسَ يُقْرَنُ بِالأُفُوكِ
The greatest of men in judgment and knowledge—
The best of men in opinion and knowledge,
a statement not associated with a liar.
A speech unmatched by eulogies.
وَمَاand what أَحْياهُhe revived منْof سُنَنٍtraditions تَعَفَّتْhad faded
وَمَا أَحْياهُ منْ سُنَنٍ تَعَفَّتْ
فَدَارَso revolved صَلاحُهاtheir goodness دَوْرَlike the turning of الدَّمُوكa swift-turning millstone
فَدَارَ صَلاحُها دَوْرَ الدَّمُوك
And the traditions he revived after they had faded—
He revived forgotten norms,
their goodness revolved like a swiftly turning millstone.
So their goodness circulated like blood.
رَكُوبٌa frequent climber للْمَنَابِرِof pulpits سَارَhe went قَصْداًstraight
رَكُوبٌ للْمَنَابِرِ سَارَ قَصْداً
إلَيْهاto them وَهيَwhile they حَائِرَةُwere bewildered السُّلُوكِin their paths
إلَيْها وَهيَ حَائِرَةُ السُّلُوكِ
A frequent climber of pulpits, he went straight
Mounting the pulpits, he went seeking them
to them, though their paths were bewildered.
While they wandered astray.
فَذَكَّرنَاthen reminded us مَقَالٌan utterance مِنْهُfrom him فَصْلٌdecisive
فَذَكَّرنَا مَقَالٌ مِنْهُ فَصْلٌ
مَقَالَthe words of الْمُصْطَفَىal-Mustafa, the Chosen One بِحِرَىin the environs of تَبُوكِTabuk
مَقَالَ الْمُصْطَفَى بِحِرَى تَبُوكِ
Then a decisive utterance from him reminded us
A speech of his reminded us of a chapter
of al-Mustafa's words in the environs of Tabuk.
Like the speech of Mustafa at Hunayn.
فأَطْلَعَthus brought forth مِنْهُthrough him شَمْسُthe sun الْمُلْكِof kingship سَعْداًgood fortune
فأَطْلَعَ مِنْهُ شَمْسُ الْمُلْكِ سَعْداً
وَكَانَتْthough it had been نَحْسَةًill-omened بِشَفَاon the brink of الدُّلُوكِsetting
وَكَانَتْ نَحْسَةً بِشَفَا الدُّلُوكِ
Thus the sun of kingship brought forth good fortune through him,
The sun of kingship shone favorably from it,
though it had been ill-omened, on the brink of setting.
When it had been inauspicious with the rising of misfortune.
لأَعْتَمِدَنَّI shall surely pursue سَيْرَthe journey of الْمَدْحِpraise فِيهِconcerning him
لأَعْتَمِدَنَّ سَيْرَ الْمَدْحِ فِيهِ
بإِرِقَالٍat a swift camel-gait يَبَرُّsurpasses عَلَىbeyond الرُّتُوكِthe steady trot
بإِرِقَالٍ يَبَرُّ عَلَى الرُّتُوكِ
I shall surely pursue the journey of praising him,
I will surely adopt in praising him
at a swift pace that outstrips the steady trot.
Steps that tread upon necks.
أَحُوكُI weave مِنَfrom الْقَصَائِدِpoems وَشْيَa brocade of مَدْحٍpraise
أَحُوكُ مِنَ الْقَصَائِدِ وَشْيَ مَدْحٍ
تُفَضِّلُهُyou prefer it عَلَىto الْوَشْيِbrocade الْمَحُوكِwoven
تُفَضِّلُهُ عَلَى الْوَشْيِ الْمَحُوكِ
I weave from poems a brocade of praise
I weave from eulogies an elegant robe
that you prefer to woven brocade.
I prefer over a woven gown.
لَقَدْindeed فَتَكَravaged الزَّمَانُTime بِسُوءِwith the wretchedness of حَالِيmy condition
لَقَدْ فَتَكَ الزَّمَانُ بِسُوءِ حَالِي
فَأنْقِذْنِيso rescue me مِنَfrom الزَّمَنِTime الْفَتُوكِthe murderous
فَأنْقِذْنِي مِنَ الزَّمَنِ الْفَتُوكِ
Time has indeed ravaged me with misfortune;
Time has indeed wreaked havoc on my state
so rescue me from murderous Time.
So deliver me from the tyrannous era.
Sol 6.1