لَيْتَwould that عَيْنِيmy eye مَكَانَin the place of نَظْمِيmy verse وَنَثْرِيand my prose
لَيْتَ عَيْنِي مَكَانَ نَظْمِي وَنَثْرِي
فازَsucceeded شِعْرِيmy poetry فَلَمْso did not أَقُلْI say لَيْتَwould that شِعْرِيmy knowing
فازَ شِعْرِي فَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَيْتَ شِعْرِي
Would that my eye were where my verse and prose are!
My verse has succeeded, so I have not said, 'Would that I knew!'
مَنْwhoever جَزَتْهُrepaid him البَناتُthe daughters شَرّاًwith ill فَإِنِّيthen I indeed
مَنْ جَزَتْهُ البَناتُ شَرّاً فَإِنِّي
قَدْindeed جَزَتْنيrepaid me خَيْراًwith good بُنَيَّاتُthe little daughters of فِكْرِيmy thought
قَدْ جَزَتْني خَيْراً بُنَيَّاتُ فِكْرِي
If daughters have repaid someone ill, for my part,
the little daughters of my thought have repaid me well.
فَهْيَso they are إِذْwhen حُمِّلَتْwere entrusted with سَلامِيmy greeting نَسِيٌمa breeze
فَهْيَ إِذْ حُمِّلَتْ سَلامِي نَسِيٌم
وَهْيَand they are كَالطَّيفِlike a dream-phantom بيwith me إِلَيْكُمْto you يَسْرِيtravels by night
وَهْيَ كَالطَّيفِ بي إِلَيْكُمْ يَسْرِي
For they are a breeze when entrusted with my greeting,
and like a dream-phantom, they carry me to you by night.
ياO كِتَابِيmy letter وَماand not يُطِيقُcan bear كِتَابِيmy letter
يا كِتَابِي وَما يُطِيقُ كِتَابِي
حَمْلَbearing هَمِّيْmy care وَبَثَّand pouring out أَشْجانِthe sorrows of صدرِيmy breast
حَمْلَ هَمِّيْ وَبَثَّ أَشْجانِ صدرِي
O my letter! Yet my letter cannot
bear my care and pour out the sorrows of my breast.
قِفْstand مَكانِيin my place وَقَبِّلِand kiss الأَرْضَthe earth عَنِّيon my behalf
قِفْ مَكانِي وَقَبِّلِ الأَرْضَ عَنِّي
وَبِوُدّيand I wish لَوْif only كُنْتَyou were وَجْهِيmy face وَثَغْرِيand my lips
وَبِوُدّي لَوْ كُنْتَ وَجْهِي وَثَغْرِي
Stand in my place and kiss the earth on my behalf,
and I wish you were my face and lips.
قِفْstand بِدارٍat a house بِبابِهاat its door وَقَفَstood الدَّهْTime (first part)
قِفْ بِدارٍ بِبابِها وَقَفَ الدَّهْ
رُTime (completion) مُطِيعاًobedient ماwhat lies بَيْنَbetween نَهْيٍa prohibition وَأَمْرِand a command
رُ مُطِيعاً ما بَيْنَ نَهْيٍ وَأَمْرِ
Stand at a house at whose door Time has stood,
obedient between prohibition and command.
حَيثُwhere تَمْتَدُّstretch لِلعَوالِيof the tall spears ظِلالٌshadows
حَيثُ تَمْتَدُّ لِلعَوالِي ظِلالٌ
فَوْقَabove بَحْرٍa sea مِنَof المَكارِمِnoble deeds يَجْرِيflows
فَوْقَ بَحْرٍ مِنَ المَكارِمِ يَجْرِي
Where the shadows of tall spears stretch
over a flowing sea of noble deeds;
حَيْثُwhere نادَىcalled السَّماحُgenerosity حَيَّcome! عَلىto الجُوmunificence (first part)
حَيْثُ نادَى السَّماحُ حَيَّ عَلى الجُو
دِmunificence (completion) وَقامَتْand was established صَلاتُهُits prayer بِالجَهْرِaloud
دِ وَقامَتْ صَلاتُهُ بِالجَهْرِ
where generosity called, 'Come to munificence!'
and its prayer was offered aloud;
حَيْثُwhere أَعْلاَمُthe heights of جَوْشَنٍJawshan فَرُباthen the hills of المَشْal-Mashhad (first part)
حَيْثُ أَعْلاَمُ جَوْشَنٍ فَرُبا المَشْ
هَدِal-Mashhad (completion) فَالظَّاهِرِيَّتَيْنِthen of the two Zahiriyyas الخُضْرِgreen
هَدِ فَالظَّاهِرِيَّتَيْنِ الخُضْرِ
where lie Jawshan's heights and the hills of al-Mashhad,
and those of the two Zahiriyyas, all green;
حَيْثُwhere تَنْدَىgrow moist نَواسِمُthe gentle breaths of الرِّيحِthe wind ماwhat lies بَيْbetween (first part)
حَيْثُ تَنْدَى نَواسِمُ الرِّيحِ ما بَيْ
نَbetween (completion) قُوَيْقٍQuwayq وَرَوْضَةٍand a garden وَالجِسْرِand the bridge
نَ قُوَيْقٍ وَرَوْضَةٍ وَالجِسْرِ
where the gentle breaths of wind grow moist between
Quwayq, a garden, and the bridge.
فَسَقاهَاso may it water them الحَيَاrain وَإِنْalthough كانَwas يُغْنِيmakes needless
فَسَقاهَا الحَيَا وَإِنْ كانَ يُغْنِي
جُودُthe bounty of موسىMusa عَنِin place of السَّحابِthe clouds الغُرِّbright white
جُودُ موسى عَنِ السَّحابِ الغُرِّ
So may rain water them, though they have no need
of the bright white clouds, thanks to Musa's bounty.
مَلِكٌa king دِينُهُhis creed الوَفاءُfidelity إِذْاwhen دَاprofessed (first part)
مَلِكٌ دِينُهُ الوَفاءُ إِذْا دَا
نَprofessed (completion) مُلُوكُthe kings of الدُّنْيَاthe world بِنُكْثٍwith oath-breaking وَغَدْرِand treachery
نَ مُلُوكُ الدُّنْيَا بِنُكْثٍ وَغَدْرِ
A king whose creed is fidelity, when
the world's kings profess oath-breaking and treachery;
جَارُprotector of جارَيْهِhis two neighbors دَافِعٌdefending عَنْon behalf of يَتِيْمَيْtwo orphans (word begins)
جَارُ جارَيْهِ دَافِعٌ عَنْ يَتِيْمَيْ
هِhis (suffix) مُحَامٍa champion كالضَّيْغَمِlike a lion المُكْفَهِرِّglowering
هِ مُحَامٍ كالضَّيْغَمِ المُكْفَهِرِّ
protector of his two neighbors, shielding his two orphans,
a champion like a glowering lion.
صانَhe protected شَهْبَاءَShahba ذَاthis one's وَحَدْباءَand Hadba هذاthis one's
صانَ شَهْبَاءَ ذَا وَحَدْباءَ هذا
بِطِوالٍwith long spears سُمْرٍbrown وَبِيضٍand white swords بُتْرِcleaving
بِطِوالٍ سُمْرٍ وَبِيضٍ بُتْرِ
He protected this one's Shahba and the other's Hadba
with long brown spears and white, cleaving swords.
زُرْvisit ثَرَىthe earth of وَالِدَيْهِماtheir two fathers تَسْتَمِعْyou will hear طِيْsweet (first part)
زُرْ ثَرَى وَالِدَيْهِما تَسْتَمِعْ طِيْ
بَsweet (completion) ثَناءٍpraise عَلَيهِof him مِنْfrom كْلِّevery قَبْرِgrave
بَ ثَناءٍ عَلَيهِ مِنْ كْلِّ قَبْرِ
Visit the earth of their two fathers; you will hear sweet
praise of him from every grave.
وَتَأَمَّلْand ponder مَآثِرَthe great deeds of النَّاسِpeople هَلْwhether (question) أَفْspoke clearly (first part)
وَتَأَمَّلْ مَآثِرَ النَّاسِ هَلْ أَفْ
صَحَspoke clearly (completion) عَنْof مِثْلِهَاtheir like كِتَابُthe book of الدَّهْرِTime
صَحَ عَنْ مِثْلِهَا كِتَابُ الدَّهْرِ
And ponder people's great deeds: has
the book of Time spoken of any like these?
فَهْوَthus he is لِلّهِfor God مِنْin respect of عَفافٍchastity وَتَقْوَىand piety
فَهْوَ لِلّهِ مِنْ عَفافٍ وَتَقْوَى
وَهْوَand he is لِلنَّاسِfor people مِنْin respect of حِفَاظٍloyalty وَبِرِّand kindness
وَهْوَ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ حِفَاظٍ وَبِرِّ
Thus he is devoted to God through chastity and piety,
and to people through loyalty and kindness.
مُحْسنٌdoing good لِلْمُسِيْءِto the wrongdoer يَعفوhe pardons بِقَلْبٍwith a heart
مُحْسنٌ لِلْمُسِيْءِ يَعفو بِقَلْبٍ
فِيهِin it كِبْرٌgreatness عَنْabove حَمْلِharboring حِقْدٍrancor وَكِبْرِand arrogance
فِيهِ كِبْرٌ عَنْ حَمْلِ حِقْدٍ وَكِبْرِ
Kind to the wrongdoer, he forgives with a heart
too great to harbor rancor or arrogance.
ماnever ارْتَقَىascended فَهْمُهُhis understanding عَلىto شَرَفِthe heights of الرَّأْjudgment (first part)
ما ارْتَقَى فَهْمُهُ عَلى شَرَفِ الرَّأْ
يِjudgment (completion) فَأَبْقَىand then left مُغَيَّباًanything hidden خَلْفَbehind سِتْرِa veil
يِ فَأَبْقَى مُغَيَّباً خَلْفَ سِتْرِ
His understanding has never climbed the heights of judgment
while leaving anything hidden behind a veil.
لَيْسَdoes not يَرْضَىconsent لِبَاسَto wear حُلَّةِa robe of مُلْكٍkingship
لَيْسَ يَرْضَى لِبَاسَ حُلَّةِ مُلْكٍ
لَمْnot تُطَرَّزْbe embroidered لَهُfor him بِحَمْدٍwith praise وَشُكْرِand gratitude
لَمْ تُطَرَّزْ لَهُ بِحَمْدٍ وَشُكْرِ
He will not consent to wear a robe of kingship
that is not embroidered for him with praise and gratitude.
جائِرُunjust السَّيْفِwith the sword عادِلُjust الحُكْمِin judgment لاnot يَبْceases (first part)
جائِرُ السَّيْفِ عادِلُ الحُكْمِ لا يَبْ
رَحُceases (completion) فِيin حَالَتَيْهِhis two states طَالِبَseeking أَجْرِreward
رَحُ فِي حَالَتَيْهِ طَالِبَ أَجْرِ
Unjust with the sword, just in judgment, he never ceases
in either state to seek reward.
تَتَلَقَّاهُyou meet him يَوْمَon a day of حَرْبٍwar وَعَدْلٍand justice
تَتَلَقَّاهُ يَوْمَ حَرْبٍ وَعَدْلٍ
مُسْتَبِدّاًholding sole sway مَكانَin the place of قَلْبٍa heart وَصَدْرِand a breast
مُسْتَبِدّاً مَكانَ قَلْبٍ وَصَدْرِ
You meet him on a day of war and justice,
holding sole sway in the place of heart and breast.
أَحْسَنُthe fairest of النَّاسِpeople تَحْتَbeneath أَعْلاَمِthe banners of جَيْشٍan army
أَحْسَنُ النَّاسِ تَحْتَ أَعْلاَمِ جَيْشٍ
خافِقَاتٍfluttering وَفَوْقَand upon طِرْفٍa noble steed طِمِرِّswift and nimble
خافِقَاتٍ وَفَوْقَ طِرْفٍ طِمِرِّ
The fairest of men beneath an army's banners,
fluttering, and upon a swift, noble steed.
يَتَجَلَّىclears away عَنْهُfrom him العَجاجُthe battle-dust كَماjust as انْجَاparted (first part)
يَتَجَلَّى عَنْهُ العَجاجُ كَما انْجَا
بَparted (completion) دُجَىthe darkness of اللَّيْلِnight عَنfrom جَبِيْنِthe brow of البَدْرِthe full moon
بَ دُجَى اللَّيْلِ عَن جَبِيْنِ البَدْرِ
The battle-dust clears from him, just as
night's darkness parts from the full moon's brow.
أَيْنَwhere يَمْضِيgoes حَيَاؤُهُhis modesty وَالعَوالِيwhile the tall spears
أَيْنَ يَمْضِي حَيَاؤُهُ وَالعَوالِي
ناظِراتٌgazing لَهُat him بِطَرْفٍwith a glance شَزْرِfierce and sidelong
ناظِراتٌ لَهُ بِطَرْفٍ شَزْرِ
Where does his modesty go, as the tall spears
gaze at him with a fierce sidelong glance?
يَقْطَعُhe cleaves الجَيْشَthe army بِالمُهَنَّدِwith the Indian-steel sword ضَرْباًstriking
يَقْطَعُ الجَيْشَ بِالمُهَنَّدِ ضَرْباً
ضَرْبَlike the stroke of موسىMusa (Moses) يَوْمَon the day of انْفِلاقِthe splitting of البَحْرِthe sea
ضَرْبَ موسى يَوْمَ انْفِلاقِ البَحْرِ
He cleaves the army with strokes of his Indian-steel sword,
like Musa's stroke on the day the sea split.
آلُthe house of شاذِيShadhi شَهْرُthe month of الصَّيامِfasting جَلاَلاًin majesty
آلُ شاذِي شَهْرُ الصَّيامِ جَلاَلاً
وَأَبُوand Abu (father of) الفَتْحِal-Fath (victory) فِيْهِwithin it لَيْلَةُthe Night of قَدْرِDecree
وَأَبُو الفَتْحِ فِيْهِ لَيْلَةُ قَدْرِ
The house of Shadhi, in majesty, is the month of fasting,
and Abu al-Fath within it is the Night of Decree.
مَعْشَرٌa clan فِيin وِفاقِهِمْaccord with them كُلُّevery خَيْرٍgood
مَعْشَرٌ فِي وِفاقِهِمْ كُلُّ خَيْرٍ
مِثْلَماjust as فِيin شِقاقِهِمْstrife with them كُلُّevery شَرِّevil
مِثْلَما فِي شِقاقِهِمْ كُلُّ شَرِّ
A clan: in accord with them lies every good,
just as in strife with them lies every evil.
خُضْرُgreen أَكْنَافِthe precincts of السِّلْمِpeace بيضُwhite الأيادِيthe hands
خُضْرُ أَكْنَافِ السِّلْمِ بيضُ الأيادِي
سُودُblack أَيَّامِthe days of الحرْبwar حُمْرُred البُتْرِthe cleaving swords
سُودُ أَيَّامِ الحرْب حُمْرُ البُتْرِ
Green are their peaceful precincts, white their hands;
black their days of war, red their cleaving swords.
ياO مُلُوكَkings of الإِسْلامِIslam عنْهُمْaway from them قَعَدْتُمْyou sat idle
يا مُلُوكَ الإِسْلامِ عنْهُمْ قَعَدْتُمْ
كَقُعودِlike the sitting idle of الكُفَّارِthe unbelievers فِيon يَوْمِthe day of بَدْرِBadr
كَقُعودِ الكُفَّارِ فِي يَوْمِ بَدْرِ
O kings of Islam, you have sat aloof from them,
as the unbelievers sat idle on the day of Badr.
وَجُيوشُand the armies of الفَرَنْجِthe Franks فِيat ثَغْرِthe frontier port of دِمْياDamietta (first part)
وَجُيوشُ الفَرَنْجِ فِي ثَغْرِ دِمْيا
طَDamietta (completion) يُساقُونَهُمْthey make them drink بِكَأْسٍwith a cup مُرِّbitter
طَ يُساقُونَهُمْ بِكَأْسٍ مُرِّ
And the armies of the Franks at the frontier port of Damietta—
the clan makes them drink a bitter cup.
سَيَنالُونَthey will attain دُونَكُمْwithout you شَرَفَthe honor of الفَتْconquest (first part)
سَيَنالُونَ دُونَكُمْ شَرَفَ الفَتْ
حِconquest (completion) وَيَحْوونَand they will gain عِزَّthe glory of يَوْمِthe day of النَّصْرِvictory
حِ وَيَحْوونَ عِزَّ يَوْمِ النَّصْرِ
They will win, without you, the honor of conquest,
and gain the glory of the day of victory.
مِنْكَfrom you مَدْحِيْكَmy praise of you أَيُّهَاO المَلِكُking الأْشal-Ashraf (first part)
مِنْكَ مَدْحِيْكَ أَيُّهَا المَلِكُ الأْش
رَفُal-Ashraf (completion) وَالدُّرُّand pearls بَعْضُpart of فَضْلِthe bounty of البَحْرِthe sea
رَفُ وَالدُّرُّ بَعْضُ فَضْلِ البَحْرِ
From you comes my praise of you, O King al-Ashraf;
and pearls are part of the sea's bounty.
وَثَنائِيand my praise عَلَيْكَof you مِنْكَfrom you وَنَشْرُand the fragrance of الرَّthe garden (first part)
وَثَنائِي عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ وَنَشْرُ الرَّ
وْضِthe garden (completion) شُكْرٌgratitude لِمُسْتَهَلِّfor the onset of القَطْرِrain
وْضِ شُكْرٌ لِمُسْتَهَلِّ القَطْرِ
And my praise of you comes from you; the garden's fragrance
is thanks for the onset of rain.
أَنْتَyou قَرَّبْتَنِيyou brought me near فَأَعْلَيْتَand so you raised قَدْرِيmy rank
أَنْتَ قَرَّبْتَنِي فَأَعْلَيْتَ قَدْرِي
أَنْتَyou خَوَّلْتَنِيyou endowed me فَأَغْنَيْتَand so you enriched فَقْرِيmy poverty
أَنْتَ خَوَّلْتَنِي فَأَغْنَيْتَ فَقْرِي
You brought me near, and so raised my rank.
You endowed me, and so enriched my poverty.
فَلْيَجُدْso let him give generously مْنَwhoever يَشَاhe wishes وَيَبْخَلْand let him withhold بِمَاwith whatever شَاhe wished (first part)
فَلْيَجُدْ مْنَ يَشَا وَيَبْخَلْ بِمَا شَا
ءَhe wished (completion) حَرامٌforbidden عَلَيْهِto him ذَمِّيmy censure وَشُكْرِيand my thanks
ءَ حَرامٌ عَلَيْهِ ذَمِّي وَشُكْرِي
So let whoever wishes give, and withhold whatever he wishes;
my censure and my thanks are forbidden to him.
Sol 6.1