طابَbecame pleasant الصَّبوحُthe morning draught لَناfor us فَهاكَso take this وَهاتِand give
طابَ الصَّبوحُ لَنا فَهاكَ وَهاتِ
وَاشْرَبْand drink هَنيئاًwith pleasure ياO أَخاbrother of الَّلذَّاتِpleasures
وَاشْرَبْ هَنيئاً يا أَخا الَّلذَّاتِ
The morning draught is sweet for us; so take and give.
The dawn shone brightly for us, so come here -
And drink in delight, O brother of pleasures.
And drink, O most delightful companion!
كَمْhow long ذاthis التَّوانِيْdelay وَالشَّبابُwhile youth مُطاوِعٌis willing
كَمْ ذا التَّوانِيْ وَالشَّبابُ مُطاوِعٌ
وَالدَّهْرُand time سَمْحٌis generous وَالحَبيبُand the beloved مُوَاتِيis accommodating
وَالدَّهْرُ سَمْحٌ وَالحَبيبُ مُوَاتِي
How long this delay, while youth is willing,
Why all this procrastination when youth is obedient
time is generous, and the beloved accommodating?
And time is lenient, and the beloved complies?
قُمْrise فَاصْطَبِحُso drink at dawn مِنْfrom شَمْسِthe sun of كَأْسِكَyour cup وَاغْتَبِقْand drink at dusk
قُمْ فَاصْطَبِحُ مِنْ شَمْسِ كَأْسِكَ وَاغْتَبِقْ
بِكَواكِبٍwith stars طَلَعَتْthat have risen مِنَfrom الْكاساتِthe cups
بِكَواكِبٍ طَلَعَتْ مِنَ الْكاساتِ
Rise: drink at dawn from the sun of your cup, and at dusk
Rise and start your day with the sun in your cup,
from stars that have risen out of the cups.
With stars that rose from the goblets.
صَفْراءَyellow صافِيَةٌclear تَوَقَّدَblazed بَرْدُهاits coolness
صَفْراءَ صافِيَةٌ تَوَقَّدَ بَرْدُها
فَعَجِبْتُso I marveled لِلنّيرانِat the fires فِيin الجَنَّاتِthe gardens
فَعَجِبْتُ لِلنّيرانِ فِي الجَنَّاتِ
Yellow and clear, its coolness blazed;
Pale yellow, its coldness kindled -
so I marveled at fires amid gardens.
I was amazed by fires in the heavens!
يَنْسَلُّslip out مِنْfrom قارِthe pitch of الظّروفِthe vessels حَبابُهاits bubbles
يَنْسَلُّ مِنْ قارِ الظّروفِ حَبابُها
وَالدُّرُّand pearls مُجْتَلَبٌare brought forth مِنَfrom الظّلُمَاتِdarkness
وَالدُّرُّ مُجْتَلَبٌ مِنَ الظّلُمَاتِ
Its bubbles slip from the vessels' pitch,
Its bubbles flow from the rim of cups
and pearls are brought forth from darkness.
And pearls gathered from the darkness.
وَتُريكَand it shows you خَيْطَthe thread of الصُّبْحِdawn مَفْتولاًtwisted إِذْاwhen
وَتُريكَ خَيْطَ الصُّبْحِ مَفْتولاً إِذْا
مَرَقَتْit streamed مِنَfrom الرَّاووقِthe wine-strainer فِيinto الطّاساتِthe drinking bowls
مَرَقَتْ مِنَ الرَّاووقِ فِي الطّاساتِ
And it shows you the thread of dawn, twisted, when
You see the thread of dawn spun out
it streams from the strainer into the bowls.
When it slipped from the niche onto the shelves.
عَذْراءُa virgin واقَعَهاhas bedded her المِزاجُthe mixing water أماdo you not تَرىsee
عَذْراءُ واقَعَها المِزاجُ أما تَرى
مِنْديلَthe cloth of عُذْرَتِهاher virginity بِكَفِّin the palm of سُقاةِcupbearers
مِنْديلَ عُذْرَتِها بِكَفِّ سُقاةِ
A virgin whom the mixing water has bedded—do you not see
A maiden whose temperament does this - don't you see?
the cloth of her maidenhood in the cupbearers' hands?
The veil of her chastity in the palm of the cupbearer
يَسْعىhurries بِهاwith it عَبْلُfull in الرَّوادِفِthe buttocks أَهْيَفُslender-waisted
يَسْعى بِها عَبْلُ الرَّوادِفِ أَهْيَفُ
خَنِثُeffeminate in الشَّمائِلِmanner شاطِرُnimble in الحَرَكاتِmovement
خَنِثُ الشَّمائِلِ شاطِرُ الحَرَكاتِ
One full-hipped and slender-waisted hurries with it,
Who hastens with her on the back of the mule,
effeminate in manner, nimble in movement.
Effeminate in gait, dexterous in movement.
يَهْويْhe bends down فَتَسْبقُهُso precede him ذَوائِبُthe tresses of شَعْرِهِhis hair
يَهْويْ فَتَسْبقُهُ ذَوائِبُ شَعْرِهِ
مَلْتَفَّةًcoiled كَأساوِدِlike black الحَيَّاتِsnakes
مَلْتَفَّةً كَأساوِدِ الحَيَّاتِ
He bends down, and the tresses of his hair precede him,
Her tresses tumbling down faster than him,
coiled like black serpents.
Twisted like black snakes.
يَدْريhe knows مَنازِلَthe stations of نَيِّراتِthe luminaries of كُؤوسِهِhis cups
يَدْري مَنازِلَ نَيِّراتِ كُؤوسِهِ
ماthe interval بَيْنَbetween مُنْصَرِفٍone departing وَآخَرَand another آتِarriving
ما بَيْنَ مُنْصَرِفٍ وَآخَرَ آتِ
He knows the stations of his cups' bright stars,
He knows the positions of his flasks,
between one departing and another arriving.
Between one turn and the next arrival.
لَوif قُسِّمَتْwere apportioned أَرْزَاقُناour livelihoods بِيَمينهِby his right hand
لَو قُسِّمَتْ أَرْزَاقُنا بِيَمينهِ
عَدَلَwould act justly الزَّمانُtime عَلىtoward ذَويthose with الْحَاجاتِneeds
عَدَلَ الزَّمانُ عَلى ذَوي الْحَاجاتِ
If our livelihoods were apportioned by his right hand,
If our livelihoods were dispensed by his right hand,
time would deal justly with those in need.
Time would be just to the needy.
حَظّيْmy share مِنَfrom الزَّمَنِtime القَلِيلُis little وَهذِهِand these
حَظّيْ مِنَ الزَّمَنِ القَلِيلُ وَهذِهِ
نَفَثاتُthe breathings of فِيَّmy mouth وَهذِهِand these كَلَمِاتِيmy words
نَفَثاتُ فِيَّ وَهذِهِ كَلَمِاتِي
My share from time is little, and these
My share of time is little, and these are
are the breathings of my mouth, and these are my words.
My sighs about me, and these are my words -
أَشْكوI complain إلىto شَاهَShah ارْمَنٍArman مُوسىMusa الْمَليthe ki-
أَشْكو إلى شَاهَ ارْمَنٍ مُوسى الْمَلي
كِ-ng (completes 'king') الأشْرَفِal-Ashraf السَّبَّاقِforemost لِلْغاياتِin attaining goals
كِ الأشْرَفِ السَّبَّاقِ لِلْغاياتِ
I complain to Shah Arman, Musa, the
I complain to the most noble king,
King al-Ashraf, foremost in attaining goals.
King Al-Ashraf, foremost in glory,
مَلِكٌa king إِذْاwhen اعْتَكَرَthickens العَجاجُthe battle-dust رَأَيْتَهُyou see him
مَلِكٌ إِذْا اعْتَكَرَ العَجاجُ رَأَيْتَهُ
طَلْقَcheerful of المُحَّياcountenance واضِحَclear of القَسَماتِfeatures
طَلْقَ المُحَّيا واضِحَ القَسَماتِ
A king whom, when the battle-dust thickens, you see
A king whom, when events grew obscure, you saw
cheerful of countenance, clear of features.
Bright-faced, distinct in features.
لَوْhad كانَhe lived قَبْلَbefore اليَوْمِtoday كانَwould have been جَبينُهُhis forehead
لَوْ كانَ قَبْلَ اليَوْمِ كانَ جَبينُهُ
أَوْلىmore fitting مِنَthan التَّمْثيلِthe comparison بِالمِشْكاةِwith the lamp-niche
أَوْلى مِنَ التَّمْثيلِ بِالمِشْكاةِ
Had he lived before today, his forehead would have been
If he had come earlier, his brow
a fitter image than the lamp-niche.
Would have been more fitting than lamps for illumination.
جَرَّارُone who drags إِذْيالِthe trains of الجُيُوشِarmies يَحُفّهاsurround them
جَرَّارُ إِذْيالِ الجُيُوشِ يَحُفّها
طَيْرُthe birds of السَّماءheaven وَكاسِرُand the predators of الفَلَواتِthe wastelands
طَيْرُ السَّماء وَكاسِرُ الفَلَواتِ
He drags the trains of armies, around which gather
A puller of the reins of vast armies, flocks of birds surround him,
the birds of heaven and predators of the wastelands.
And breaker of the expanses.
ضَمِنَتْhave guaranteed لَهاto them عاداتُthe customary ways of نَصْرِvictory granted by اللَّهِGod أَنْthat
ضَمِنَتْ لَها عاداتُ نَصْرِ اللَّهِ أَنْ
تَجْريshall flow جِرايَتُهاtheir rations عَلىaccording to الْعاداتِthe usual customs
تَجْري جِرايَتُها عَلى الْعاداتِ
God's accustomed victories have assured them that
The traditions of God's victory assured him
their rations will flow in the accustomed way.
That they would flow in their customary manner.
أُسْدٌlions بَراثِنُهاtheir claws النّصالُblade-points تَقَحَّمَتْhave plunged into
أُسْدٌ بَراثِنُها النّصالُ تَقَحَّمَتْ
أُجَمَthickets of الوَشيجِinterlaced spears فَغِبْنَso they vanished فِيin غَاباتِforests
أُجَمَ الوَشيجِ فَغِبْنَ فِي غَاباتِ
Lions whose claws are blade-points have plunged
A lion whose teeth are daggers tore through
into thickets of interlaced spears, vanishing in forests.
The most tangled thickets and disappeared into the forests.
طَلَعَتْrose مِنَfrom الخُوذِthe helmets الحَديدِof iron وُجوهُهُمْtheir faces
طَلَعَتْ مِنَ الخُوذِ الحَديدِ وُجوهُهُمْ
فَكَأَنَّهاso they seemed like الأَقْمَارُmoons فِيwithin الهَالاتِhalos
فَكَأَنَّها الأَقْمَارُ فِي الهَالاتِ
Their faces rose from iron helmets,
From their iron helmets emerged their faces,
so they seemed like moons within halos.
Like moons in halos.
وَاسْتَلأمَتْand donned armor of حَلَقَrings of الحَديدِiron جُسُومُهُمْtheir bodies
وَاسْتَلأمَتْ حَلَقَ الحَديدِ جُسُومُهُمْ
فَكَأَنَّهاso they seemed like لُجَجٌsurging seas عَلىupon هَضَباتِhills
فَكَأَنَّها لُجَجٌ عَلى هَضَباتِ
And their bodies have donned rings of iron,
Their boldness took control of the ring of iron
so they seem like surging seas upon hills.
As if they were lions on hilltops.
يَرْميhurls بِهاwith them سُبُلَthe paths of المَهالِكِdestruction ماجِدٌa noble man
يَرْمي بِها سُبُلَ المَهالِكِ ماجِدٌ
كَمْhow many خاضَhe plunged into دونَin defense of الدِّينِthe faith مِنْof غَمَراتِperils
كَمْ خاضَ دونَ الدِّينِ مِنْ غَمَراتِ
A noble man hurls them down the paths of destruction—
With them the glorious one plunges into the depths of perdition -
how many perils he has plunged into defending the faith!
How much he risked for the faith from flooding!
كَمْhow many رَكْعَةٍa bow لِقَناهُfor his spears فِيin ثُغَرِthe breaches of العِدىthe enemies
كَمْ رَكْعَةٍ لِقَناهُ فِي ثُغَرِ العِدى
وَلِسَيْفِهِand for his sword فِيamong الهَامِskulls مِنْof سَجَدَاتِprostrations
وَلِسَيْفِهِ فِي الهَامِ مِنْ سَجَدَاتِ
How many bows his spears have made in the enemy's breaches,
How many kneeling bows did his spear make in the throats of the enemy,
and how many prostrations his sword has made among skulls!
And how many prostrations did his sword make in battle!
سُمْرٌbrown ذَوابِلُslender shafts لايُبَلُّis never quenched غَليلُهاtheir thirst
سُمْرٌ ذَوابِلُ لايُبَلُّ غَليلُها
إلاَّexcept إِذْاwhen سُقَيتْthey are given to drink دَمَthe blood of المُهُجاتِhearts
إلاَّ إِذْا سُقَيتْ دَمَ المُهُجاتِ
Brown, slender shafts, whose thirst is never quenched
Brown steeds whose thirst is only quenched
except when watered with the blood of hearts.
When watered with blood from skulls.
يُلْهيdelights مَسامِعَهُhis ears الصَّليلُthe clang وَأَيْنَand how far مِنْfrom
يُلْهي مَسامِعَهُ الصَّليلُ وَأَيْنَ مِنْ
طَبْعِthe forging by القُيونِthe smiths تَطَبُّعُthe studied performance of القَيْناتِthe songstresses
طَبْعِ القُيونِ تَطَبُّعُ القَيْناتِ
The clang delights his ears; how far from
The clash of swords distracts them - how different
the smiths' forging is the songstresses' studied art!
From the nature of grazing sheep is the nature of war horses!
ظِلُّthe shade of البُنُودِbanners مَقيلُهُhis noonday resting place وَمِهَادُهُand his bed
ظِلُّ البُنُودِ مَقيلُهُ وَمِهَادُهُ
جُرْدٌsleek steeds تَطيرُfly بِهِwith him إِلىto الْغاراتِthe raids
جُرْدٌ تَطيرُ بِهِ إِلى الْغاراتِ
The shade of banners is his noonday resting place; his bed
The shadow of tents is their rest area and bedding,
is sleek steeds that fly with him to raids.
A band flying off toward raids.
دُهْمٌblack steeds تَخَيَّرَهاchose them الصَّباحُmorning عَلىover الدُّجىdarkness
دُهْمٌ تَخَيَّرَها الصَّباحُ عَلى الدُّجى
فَغَداso it dawned وَمَطَلعُهُand its rising مِنَfrom الجَبَهاتِthe foreheads
فَغَدا وَمَطَلعُهُ مِنَ الجَبَهاتِ
Black steeds, which morning chose over darkness,
Sorrels the dawn chose over the darkness,
so it dawned, its rising from their foreheads.
So it rose, and its horizon was from the mountain peaks.
حُمْرٌchestnut steeds تَرَبَّتْwere reared بَيْنَamid مُشْتَجِرِentangled ranks of الْقَناspears
حُمْرٌ تَرَبَّتْ بَيْنَ مُشْتَجِرِ الْقَنا
لاَno بُدَّescape دُونَbefore reaching الْوَرْدِthe roses مِنْfrom شَوْكاتِthorns
لاَ بُدَّ دُونَ الْوَرْدِ مِنْ شَوْكاتِ
Chestnut steeds, reared amid entangled spears:
Reds intertwined with the branches of oleander -
there must be thorns before the roses.
There must be thorns along with roses.
شُهْبٌgray steeds بِهاwith them قُذِفَتْwere pelted شِياطينُthe devils of الْعِدىthe enemies
شُهْبٌ بِها قُذِفَتْ شِياطينُ الْعِدى
فَجَرَتْso they raced كَجَرْيِlike the racing of الشُّهْبِshooting stars مُشْتَعِلاتِblazing
فَجَرَتْ كَجَرْيِ الشُّهْبِ مُشْتَعِلاتِ
Gray steeds, with which the enemy's devils were pelted,
Meteors with which the devils of enmity were pelted
so they raced like shooting stars, ablaze.
And flowed like the flowing of flaming meteors.
هذاthis is الّذيthe one who أضْرىhas accustomed العِبادَthe servants وَرَبَّهُمْand their Lord
هذا الّذي أضْرى العِبادَ وَرَبَّهُمْ
بِغَرائِبِto marvels of الإِحْسانِbeneficence والحَسَناتِand good deeds
بِغَرائِبِ الإِحْسانِ والحَسَناتِ
This is he who has accustomed mankind and their Lord
This is he who brought abundance to servants and their Lord
to marvels of beneficence and good deeds.
With wonders of benevolence and good deeds.
هذاthis is الّذيthe one who اسْتَغْنَىhas dispensed عَنِwith الوُزَراءِthe ministers فِيin
هذا الّذي اسْتَغْنَى عَنِ الوُزَراءِ فِي
تَدْبيرِmanaging عَقْدِthe binding of الرَّأيِcounsel وَالرَّاياتِand banners
تَدْبيرِ عَقْدِ الرَّأيِ وَالرَّاياتِ
This is he who has dispensed with ministers in
This is he who did without advisors in
managing the forming of plans and the tying of banners.
The management of prudent opinion and banners.
هذاthis is الإِلهيُّthe divinely inspired man الّذيwho فِيin يَوْمِهِhis day
هذا الإِلهيُّ الّذي فِي يَوْمِهِ
يُنْبِيكَhe tells you قَبْلَbefore غِدٍtomorrow بِماof what هُوَit آتِis to come
يُنْبِيكَ قَبْلَ غِدٍ بِما هُوَ آتِ
This is the divinely inspired man who, in his day,
This divine one in whose day
tells you, before tomorrow, what is to come.
You are forewarned before tomorrow of what is to come.
عَضيْنٌan eye (uncertain reading) بِنُورِby the light of اللَّهِGod تَنْقُلُconveys ماwhat تَرىit sees
عَضيْنٌ بِنُورِ اللَّهِ تَنْقُلُ ما تَرى
عَنfrom خاطِرٍa mind أَصْفَىpurer مِنَthan المِرْآةِthe mirror
عَن خاطِرٍ أَصْفَى مِنَ المِرْآةِ
An eye [uncertain reading], by God's light, conveys what it sees
Eyes illuminated by the light of God convey what they see
from a mind purer than a mirror.
From a heart purer than a mirror.
سُبْحانَglory to مَنْHim who جَمَعَgathered الْمَكارِمَnoble virtues عِنْدَهُin him
سُبْحانَ مَنْ جَمَعَ الْمَكارِمَ عِنْدَهُ
وَقَضىand decreed عَلَىupon أَمْوالِهِhis riches بِشَتاتِdispersion
وَقَضى عَلَى أَمْوالِهِ بِشَتاتِ
Glory to Him who has gathered noble virtues in him,
Glory to Him who gathered all virtues in Himself
and decreed that his riches be scattered.
And decided to disperse His wealth!
لَمّاwhen انْثَنىbent الْغُصْنُthe branch فَوْقَabove كُثْبانِهْhis dunes
لَمّا انْثَنى الْغُصْنُ فَوْقَ كُثْبانِهْ
جَبَرْتُI mended قَلْبيmy heart بكَسْرِby breaking رُمَّانِهْhis pomegranates
جَبَرْتُ قَلْبي بكَسْرِ رُمَّانِهْ
When the branch bent above his dunes,
When the branch bent over its dunes,
I mended my heart by breaking his pomegranates.
I consoled my heart by plucking its pomegranate.
وَنِلْتُand I obtained مِنْfrom رِيقِهِhis saliva وَعارِضِهِand his cheek
وَنِلْتُ مِنْ رِيقِهِ وَعارِضِهِ
أَطْيَبَwhat is sweeter مِنthan راحِهِhis wine وَرَيْحانِهْand his basil
أَطْيَبَ مِن راحِهِ وَرَيْحانِهْ
And from his saliva and his cheek I gained
I attained from its saliva and cheek
what was sweeter than his wine and basil.
Something sweeter than its scent and basil.
كَأَنَّas though دَالَthe letter dāl of الْعِذَارِthe cheek-down حَاشِيَةٌa marginal note
كَأَنَّ دَالَ الْعِذَارِ حَاشِيَةٌ
خَرَّجَهاentered it in the margin ناسِخٌa copyist لِنِسْيانِهْfor his omission
خَرَّجَها ناسِخٌ لِنِسْيانِهْ
The dāl of his cheek-down seems a marginal note,
It seemed the letter dāl in coquetry was a flourish
added by a copyist to make up for his omission.
Added by a copyist to his manuscript.
شَدَّtied الكَلَهْبَنْدَthe kulah-band (cloth band) تَحْتَbeneath آسَتِهِhis myrtle sprig
شَدَّ الكَلَهْبَنْدَ تَحْتَ آسَتِهِ
فِيat مُلْقَتَىthe meeting-place of وَرْدِهِhis roses وَسوسانِهْand his lilies
فِي مُلْقَتَى وَرْدِهِ وَسوسانِهْ
He tied the kulah-band beneath his myrtle,
He tightened his cummerbund beneath his robe
where his roses and lilies meet.
Among his roses and lilies.
كأَنَّهُas though it were أَرْقَمٌa speckled serpent تَخَوَّفَtook fright فَالْso it co-
كأَنَّهُ أَرْقَمٌ تَخَوَّفَ فَالْ
تَفَّ-iled (completes 'coiled') بِالْفافِamid the tangled clusters of زَهْرِblossoms بُسِتَانِهْhis garden
تَفَّ بِالْفافِ زَهْرِ بُسِتَانِهْ
as though it were a speckled serpent that took fright and
As if he were a gazelle who feared separation,
coiled among the tangled blossoms of his garden.
So he wrapped himself in the folds of his garden.
تَرُوعًنيfrightens me فِيin الْعِناقِthe embrace شَعْرَتُهُhis garment
تَرُوعًني فِي الْعِناقِ شَعْرَتُهُ
لأِنَّهاbecause it is مِثْلُlike لَيْلِthe night of هِجْرانِهْhis estrangement
لأِنَّها مِثْلُ لَيْلِ هِجْرانِهْ
His garment frightens me in the embrace,
His single hair terrifies me in an embrace,
because it is like the night of his estrangement.
For it is like the night of his abandonment.
تَجْذِبُdraws tight أَطْرافَهاits edges حِياصَتُهُhis girdle
تَجْذِبُ أَطْرافَها حِياصَتُهُ
بُخْلاًstingily بِماwith what شَدَّhe bound تَحْتَbeneath هِمْيانِهْhis money-belt
بُخْلاً بِما شَدَّ تَحْتَ هِمْيانِهْ
His girdle draws its edges tight,
Its ends tug under his bodice
jealously guarding what he bound beneath his money-belt.
Stingily with what is tied beneath his sleeves.
ياO لائِميmy reproacher إنْif بَكَيْتُI weep كُلُّevery شَجٍgrieving lover
يا لائِمي إنْ بَكَيْتُ كُلُّ شَجٍ
مِنْamong شَأْنِهِhis traits الاِفْتِضاحُbeing exposed مِنْthrough شَانِهْhis plight
مِنْ شَأْنِهِ الاِفْتِضاحُ مِنْ شَانِهْ
O you who blame me if I weep: every grieving lover
O critic, if I cry over every separate torment,
is by nature laid bare by his plight.
It is its nature to expose from its nature.
أَنْتَyou مُعافىًare spared مِمَّاfrom what بُليتُI was afflicted بِهِwith it
أَنْتَ مُعافىً مِمَّا بُليتُ بِهِ
وَعِنْدَand in قَلْبيmy heart شُغْلٌoccupation بِأشْجانِهْwith its sorrows
وَعِنْدَ قَلْبي شُغْلٌ بِأشْجانِهْ
You are spared what I have been afflicted with,
You are spared what I have been afflicted with,
while my heart is occupied with its sorrows.
While my heart is busy with its torments.
إنَّindeed الّذيthe one who لِلْغَرامِto passion أَرْشَدَنيguided me
إنَّ الّذي لِلْغَرامِ أَرْشَدَني
أَضَلَّنيled me astray عَنْfrom طَريقِthe path of سُلْوانِهْforgetting him
أَضَلَّني عَنْ طَريقِ سُلْوانِهْ
He who guided me toward passion
Indeed, he who guided me into passion
has led me astray from the path of forgetting him.
Led me astray from the path of its diversion.
سَرَىcrept ضَنىthe languor of جَفْنِهِhis eyelid إِلىinto جَسَديmy body
سَرَى ضَنى جَفْنِهِ إِلى جَسَدي
وَالْخَدُّand the cheek أَعْدَىinfected الْحَشَىthe heart بِنيرانِهْwith its fires
وَالْخَدُّ أَعْدَى الْحَشَى بِنيرانِهْ
The languor of his eyelid crept into my body,
The suffering of his eyelids passed into my body,
and his cheek infected my heart with its fires.
And the cheek most savagely burned my breast.
إنْif لَمnot تَرَyou have seen الْبَدْرَthe full moon بَيْنَamong أَنْجُمِهِits stars
إنْ لَم تَرَ الْبَدْرَ بَيْنَ أَنْجُمِهِ
فَانْظُرْthen look إليَهِat him ماthere بَيْنَamong أَقْرانِهْhis peers
فَانْظُرْ إليَهِ ما بَيْنَ أَقْرانِهْ
If you have not seen the full moon among its stars,
If you do not see the full moon among its stars,
then look at him among his peers.
Look at it among its peers.
أَغَارُI am jealous فِيin حَلْبَةِthe arena of الطِّرادِthe chase عَلىover
أَغَارُ فِي حَلْبَةِ الطِّرادِ عَلى
خُدُودِهِhis cheeks مِنof غُبارِthe dust of مَيْدانِهْhis field
خُدُودِهِ مِن غُبارِ مَيْدانِهْ
In the arena of the chase, I jealously resent
I am jealous in the racetrack of his cheeks
the dust of his field upon his cheeks.
Of the dust from its racecourse.
تَلْقَىmeet أَعاديthe enemies of موسىMusa كَماjust as لَقِيَتْmet
تَلْقَى أَعادي موسى كَما لَقِيَتْ
كُرَاتُهُhis balls عِنْدَat ضَرْبِthe striking by جُوكانِهْhis polo-mallet
كُرَاتُهُ عِنْدَ ضَرْبِ جُوكانِهْ
Musa's enemies meet what
Your enemies, O Moses, receive
his balls met when struck by his polo-mallet.
What his rotating spheres gave at their striking.
المَلِكُthe king الأَشْرَفُal-Ashraf الكَرِيمُgenerous يَداًof hand
المَلِكُ الأَشْرَفُ الكَرِيمُ يَداً
شَاهَShah ارْمَنِArman دامَmay endure عِزُّthe glory of سُلْطَانِهْhis rule
شَاهَ ارْمَنِ دامَ عِزُّ سُلْطَانِهْ
King al-Ashraf, generous of hand,
The most noble, generous king, may the glory
Shah Arman—may the glory of his rule endure!
Of his reign last, O King Al-Ashraf!
مَلْكٌa king زِمَامُthe rein of الزَّمانِtime فِيin يَدِهِhis hand
مَلْكٌ زِمَامُ الزَّمانِ فِي يَدِهِ
فَاخْتَلَفَتْso it changes كاخْتِلافِlike the changing of أَلْوانِهْhis colors
فَاخْتَلَفَتْ كاخْتِلافِ أَلْوانِهْ
A king with time's rein in his hand,
A king the reins of time are in his hand,
so it changes as his colors change:
And so it changed like the changing of its colors -
بَيْضاءٌwhite يَوْمَon the day of انْطِلاَقِthe release of أَنْعُمِهِhis favors
بَيْضاءٌ يَوْمَ انْطِلاَقِ أَنْعُمِهِ
حَمْراءُred يَومَon the day of اعْتِقالِthe gripping of مُرَّانِهْhis ash-wood spears
حَمْراءُ يَومَ اعْتِقالِ مُرَّانِهْ
white on the day his favors are released,
White the day his favors set forth,
red on the day he grips his ash-wood spears.
Red the day his lances were seized.
تَحْكُمُpronounce أَعْداؤُهُhis enemies بِنُصْرَتِهِin favor of his victory
تَحْكُمُ أَعْداؤُهُ بِنُصْرَتِهِ
إِذْاwhen اسْتَهَلَّتْshine forth نُجُومُthe stars of خِرْصانِهْhis spearheads
إِذْا اسْتَهَلَّتْ نُجُومُ خِرْصانِهْ
His enemies proclaim his victory
His enemies rule by his aid
when the stars of his spearheads shine forth.
When the stars of his arrows rise.
عَساكِرُthe armies of المُوْصِلِMosul الّتيthat انْكَسَرَتْwere shattered
عَساكِرُ المُوْصِلِ الّتي انْكَسَرَتْ
تُخْبِرُtell عَنْof نَفْسِهِhimself وَفُرْسانِهْand his horsemen
تُخْبِرُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ وَفُرْسانِهْ
The armies of Mosul that were shattered
The Mosul armies that were shattered
tell of him and his horsemen.
Tell of themselves and his horsemen -
يَوْمَon the day of أَبوAbu شَزَّةٍShazza وَقَدand when قَدَحَتْstruck sparks
يَوْمَ أَبو شَزَّةٍ وَقَد قَدَحَتْ
سَنابِكُthe hooves of الْخَيْلِthe horses زَنْدَthe firesteel of نِيرانِهْhis flames
سَنابِكُ الْخَيْلِ زَنْدَ نِيرانِهْ
On the day of Abu Shazza, when sparks were struck
The day of Abu Shazza when the spark of horses flashed
by the horses' hooves from the firesteel of his flames.
And lit the fires of his spears.
تَفَرْعَنُواthey acted like Pharaoh بِاجْتِماعِby combining كَيْدِهِمْtheir schemes
تَفَرْعَنُوا بِاجْتِماعِ كَيْدِهِمْ
فَالْتَقَفَتْهُمْso swallowed them آياتُthe miracles of ثُعْبانِهْhis serpent
فَالْتَقَفَتْهُمْ آياتُ ثُعْبانِهْ
They acted like Pharaoh, uniting their schemes,
They were arrogant in their gathered stratagems,
so the miracles of his serpent swallowed them.
So his serpent miracles confronted them.
أَغْرَقَهُمْdrowned them بَحْرُthe sea of جَيْشِهِhis army فَهُمُso they are
أَغْرَقَهُمْ بَحْرُ جَيْشِهِ فَهُمُ
كَآلِlike the people of فِرْعَوْنَPharaoh تَحْتَbeneath طُوفانِهْhis flood
كَآلِ فِرْعَوْنَ تَحْتَ طُوفانِهْ
The sea of his army drowned them; thus they are
The sea of his army drowned them, and so they were
like Pharaoh's folk beneath his flood.
Like the people of Pharaoh beneath its flood.
ياO وارِثَinheritor of الأَرضِthe earth وَهْوَwhile he is وَاهِبُهاits giver
يا وارِثَ الأَرضِ وَهْوَ وَاهِبُها
ياO مَلِكاًking دامَmay endure عِزُّthe glory of سُلْطانِهْhis rule
يا مَلِكاً دامَ عِزُّ سُلْطانِهْ
O inheritor of the earth, yet also its giver,
O heir of the earth, and its grantor!
O king, may the glory of your rule endure!
O king, may the glory of his reign endure!
لاnot يُمكِنُis possible for الْخَلْقَcreatures هَدْمُdemolishing مَجْدِكَyour glory وَالْand the
لا يُمكِنُ الْخَلْقَ هَدْمُ مَجْدِكَ وَالْ
خالِقُCreator قَدhas شَادَraised أُسَّthe foundation of بُنيانِهْits edifice
خالِقُ قَد شَادَ أُسَّ بُنيانِهْ
No creature can tear down your glory, for the
None can accomplish destroying your glory unless
Creator has raised the foundation of its edifice.
The Creator has built the foundation of its pillar.
ماnot تاجُthe crown of كِسْرىKisra نَظيرُequal to كَمَّتِهِhis cap
ما تاجُ كِسْرى نَظيرُ كَمَّتِهِ
وَلَيْسِand is not إِيوانُهُhis vaulted hall كَديوانِهْlike his court
وَلَيْسِ إِيوانُهُ كَديوانِهْ
Kisra's crown is no match for this king's cap,
The crown of Chosroes is no match for his turban,
nor his palace for this king's court.
And his palace is not like his court.
ياO آلَhouse of شإِذْيShadhi زِدْتِمْyou have increased بِهِthrough him شَرَفاًin honor
يا آلَ شإِذْي زِدْتِمْ بِهِ شَرَفاً
كُلُّevery كِتابٍbook يُقْراis read بِعُنْوانِهْby its title
كُلُّ كِتابٍ يُقْرا بِعُنْوانِهْ
O house of Shadhi, through him you have grown in honor;
O people whose nobility increased whenever
every book is read by its title.
A volume was read bearing its title!
Sol 6.1