قُمْrise ياO غُلاَمُboy وَدَعْand leave aside مَقالَةَthe words of مَنْwhoever نَصَحْgave advice
قُمْ يا غُلاَمُ وَدَعْ مَقالَةَ مَنْ نَصَحْ
فَالدِّيكُfor the cock قَدْalready صَدَعَsplit الدُّجىthe night's darkness لَمَّاwhen صَدَحْcrowed
فَالدِّيكُ قَدْ صَدَعَ الدُّجى لَمَّا صَدَحْ
Rise, boy, and set aside the words of whoever offers advice.
Arise, O youth, and leave the talk of the adviser,
For the cock has split the darkness with his crow.
For the rooster has split the darkness when it crowed.
خَفِيتْwere hidden تَباشِيرُthe first signs of الصَّباحِthe morning فَسَقِّنيso give me drink
خَفِيتْ تَباشِيرُ الصَّباحِ فَسَقِّني
ماwhat ضَلَّstrayed فِيin الظّلْماءِthe darkness مِنْfrom قدحِstriking sparks القَدَحْthe goblet
ما ضَلَّ فِي الظّلْماءِ مِنْ قدحِ القَدَحْ
The heralds of dawn lie hidden; give me to drink
The omens of dawn have disappeared, so pour me
what strayed into the darkness from the goblet's sparks.
What was left in the darkness of the goblet.
صَهْباءُtawny wine ماnever لَمَعَتْgleamed بِكَفِّin the hand of مُديرِهاits server
صَهْباءُ ما لَمَعَتْ بِكَفِّ مُديرِها
لِمُقَطِّبٍfor a frowning man إِلاّexcept that تَهَلّلَhe beamed وَانْشَرَحْand felt joy
لِمُقَطِّبٍ إِلاّ تَهَلّلَ وَانْشَرَحْ
Tawny wine—never does it gleam in its server's hand
The wine that sparkled in the hand of its pourer
before a frowning man without his beaming and rejoicing.
Brought joy only to one who is cheerful and delighted.
واللَّهby God ماnot مَزَجَhe mixed الْمُدامَthe wine بِمائِهاwith its water
واللَّه ما مَزَجَ الْمُدامَ بِمائِها
لكِنَّهُbut he مَزَجَmixed المَسَرَّةَdelight بِالْفَرَحْwith joy
لكِنَّهُ مَزَجَ المَسَرَّةَ بِالْفَرَحْ
By God, he did not mix the wine with its water;
By Allah, it did not mix water with the wine,
rather, he mixed delight with joy.
Rather it mixed joy with happiness.
وَضَحَتْit shone clearly فَلَوْلاَso were it not for أَنَّهاthe fact that it تُرْوِيquenches الظِّماthirst
وَضَحَتْ فَلَوْلاَ أَنَّها تُرْوِي الظِّما
قُلْناwe would say سَرابٌa mirage أوْor شَرابٌa drink قَدindeed طَفَحْoverflowed
قُلْنا سَرابٌ أوْ شَرابٌ قَد طَفَحْ
It shines; were it not that it quenches thirst,
It shone, so were it not to quench thirst,
we would say: a mirage, or a drink that has overflowed.
We would have said it is a mirage or overflowing drink.
هِيَit صَفْوَةُthe choicest essence of الكَرْمِthe grapevine الْكَريمِgenerous فَماso never سَرَتْflowed
هِيَ صَفْوَةُ الكَرْمِ الْكَريمِ فَما سَرَتْ
سَرَّاؤُهاits gladness فِيthrough باخِلٍa miser إِلاَّexcept that سَمَحْhe became generous
سَرَّاؤُها فِي باخِلٍ إِلاَّ سَمَحْ
It is the generous vine's choicest essence; never has
It is the elite of generous wine, it did not make
its gladness coursed through a miser without his growing generous.
Its drinker stingy except generous and open-handed.
مِنْfrom كَفِّthe hand of فَتَّانِone bewitching الْقوامِin stature بِوَجْهِهِin his face
مِنْ كَفِّ فَتَّانِ الْقوامِ بِوَجْهِهِ
عُذْرٌan excuse لِمَنْfor whoever خَلَعَcast off الْعِذارَthe bridle of restraint أَوِor افْتَضَحْwas disgraced
عُذْرٌ لِمَنْ خَلَعَ الْعِذارَ أَوِ افْتَضَحْ
From the hand of one of bewitching stature; in his face
The excuse for one who took off bashfulness
is an excuse for anyone who casts off the bridle or falls into disgrace.
Or was reckless, is the hand of a coquettish slender one.
قَمَرٌa moon شَقائِقُthe anemones of مَرْجِthe meadow of وَجْنَتِهِhis cheek حِمىًa protected pasture
قَمَرٌ شَقائِقُ مَرْجِ وَجْنَتِهِ حِمىً
ماnot شَفَّهُwore it away سَرْحُthe grazing herd العِذارِof cheek-down وَلاnor سَرَحْgrazed
ما شَفَّهُ سَرْحُ العِذارِ وَلا سَرَحْ
A moon: the anemones in his cheek's meadow are a protected pasture,
A moon, the anemones of whose garden are protected,
which the herd of cheek-down has neither worn away nor grazed.
Unpursued by gazing eyes or anyone who grazed.
وَلَّىhe turned away بِشَعْرٍwith hair كَالظَّلامِlike darkness إِذْاwhen دَجاit deepened
وَلَّى بِشَعْرٍ كَالظَّلامِ إِذْا دَجا
وَأتىand he came بِوَجْهٍwith a face كالصَّباحِlike morning إِذْاwhen وَضَحْit brightened
وَأتى بِوَجْهٍ كالصَّباحِ إِذْا وَضَحْ
He turned away, his hair like darkness when it deepens,
He came with black hair when it darkened,
and came forward, his face like morning when it brightens.
And a face like the dawn when it is bright.
يَهْتَزُّhe sways كالْغُصْنِlike a branch الرَّطيبِsupple عَلىabove النَّقاthe sand dune
يَهْتَزُّ كالْغُصْنِ الرَّطيبِ عَلى النَّقا
ذَاthis one خَفَّwas light فِيwithin طَيِّthe folds of الْوِشاحِthe sash وَذاand that one رَجَحْwas heavy
ذَا خَفَّ فِي طَيِّ الْوِشاحِ وَذا رَجَحْ
He sways like a supple branch above a sand dune:
He sways like a willowy branch on the softness
this one light within the sash's folds, and that one heavy.
Of his wrap, swaying to and fro.
النَّرْجِسُthe narcissus الْغَضُّfresh اسْتَحىgrew bashful مِنْbefore طَرْفِهِhis gaze
النَّرْجِسُ الْغَضُّ اسْتَحى مِنْ طَرْفِهِ
وَبِثَغْرِِهand in his mouth زَهْرُthe blossoms of الأَقاحِdaisies قَدِindeed اتَّضَحْappeared clearly
وَبِثَغْرِِه زَهْرُ الأَقاحِ قَدِ اتَّضَحْ
The fresh narcissus grew bashful before his gaze,
The blue narcissus is shy of his glance,
and daisy blossoms shone clearly in his mouth.
And by his smile the bud of the wild rose blossomed.
فَكَأَنَّهُso as though he مُتَبَسِّمٌwere smiling بِعُقودِهِwith his necklaces
فَكَأَنَّهُ مُتَبَسِّمٌ بِعُقودِهِ
أَوor بِالثَّناياwith the front teeth قدalready تَقَلَّدَadorned his neck وَاتشَحْand donned a sash
أَو بِالثَّنايا قد تَقَلَّدَ وَاتشَحْ
As though he were smiling with his necklaces,
So it is as if he is smiling with his dimples
or had donned his front teeth as necklace and sash.
Or as if adorned with a necklace and wraps.
فِيin وَصْفِهِdescribing him وَمَدِيحِand praising موسىMusa خاطِريmy mind
فِي وَصْفِهِ وَمَدِيحِ موسى خاطِري
مُتَقَسَّمٌdivided بَيْنَbetween الْمَلاحَةِbeauty وَالمُلَحْand witty conceits
مُتَقَسَّمٌ بَيْنَ الْمَلاحَةِ وَالمُلَحْ
In describing him and praising Musa, my mind
In describing him and praising Musa, my mind is
is divided between beauty and witty conceits.
Divided between jest and wit.
الأشْرَفِAl-Ashraf المَلِكِthe king الّذيwho صَلَحَتْbecame fit لَهُfor him الدُّthe world (first fragment)
الأشْرَفِ المَلِكِ الّذي صَلَحَتْ لَهُ الدُّ
نْياworld (second fragment) وَيَعْظُمُand he is too great أَنْto أَقُولَI say لَهُof him صَلَحْhe was worthy
نْيا وَيَعْظُمُ أَنْ أَقُولَ لَهُ صَلَحْ
Al-Ashraf, the king for whom the wor—
For the noble king, whom the world is set right for
—ld became fit; he is too great for me merely to call him worthy.
And it is hard for me to say: Be righteous.
مَلِكٌa king إِذْاwhen ضاقَbecame constricting الزَّمانُtime بِأَهْلِهِfor its people
مَلِكٌ إِذْا ضاقَ الزَّمانُ بِأَهْلِهِ
بُخْلاًthrough stinginess تَوَّسعَhe expanded فِيin المَكارِمِgenerous deeds وَانْفَسَحْand opened wide
بُخْلاً تَوَّسعَ فِي المَكارِمِ وَانْفَسَحْ
A king who, when time hems its people in
A king, if times were miserly to its people
through stinginess, expands and opens wide in generosity.
With stinginess, he would be generous in munificence and expansive.
تَكْبُوstumble السَّحائِبُthe clouds إِذْwhen تُجاريthey race كَفَّهُhis palm
تَكْبُو السَّحائِبُ إِذْ تُجاري كَفَّهُ
فَالغَيْثُso the rain فِيon جَبَهاتِهاtheir brows عَرَقٌsweat رَشَحْseeped out
فَالغَيْثُ فِي جَبَهاتِها عَرَقٌ رَشَحْ
The clouds stumble as they race his palm,
The clouds bow down when his palm competes with them,
so the rain upon their brows is sweat that has seeped out.
So rain drips down from their foreheads.
وَيُكَلَّفُand is required الأَسَدُthe lion الهَصورُfierce بِعَدْلِهِby his justice
وَيُكَلَّفُ الأَسَدُ الهَصورُ بِعَدْلِهِ
فِيin الفَقْرِwant أَنْto يِرْعَىguard الْغَزالَthe gazelle إِذْاwhen سَنَحْit appeared
فِي الفَقْرِ أَنْ يِرْعَى الْغَزالَ إِذْا سَنَحْ
And by his justice the fierce lion is required,
The hissing lion is tasked with his justice
in want, to guard the gazelle whenever it appears.
To graze the gazelle when in need.
تَسْتَحْقِرُdisdain الأسيافُthe swords عاتِقَthe shoulder of غَيْرِهِanyone other than him
تَسْتَحْقِرُ الأسيافُ عاتِقَ غَيْرِهِ
وَتَقولُand they say دونَكَtake for yourself وَالقَلائِدُand necklaces وَالسُّبَحْand prayer beads
وَتَقولُ دونَكَ وَالقَلائِدُ وَالسُّبَحْ
Swords disdain the shoulder of anyone else,
Swords scorn the shoulder of other than you,
and say, 'For you, necklaces and prayer beads!'
And say, besides you are the necklaces and prayer beads.
كَمْhow many مِنْof خَطِيبٍa preacher ذاكِرٍmentioning غَيْرَother than اسْمِهِhis name
كَمْ مِنْ خَطِيبٍ ذاكِرٍ غَيْرَ اسْمِهِ
لَمَّاwhen تَنَحْنَحَhe cleared his throat قالَsaid مِنْبَرُهُhis pulpit تَنَحْstep aside
لَمَّا تَنَحْنَحَ قالَ مِنْبَرُهُ تَنَحْ
How many a preacher, mentioning a name other than his—
How many orators mentioned others than him,
when he cleared his throat, his pulpit said, 'Step aside!'
When the pulpit creaked, it said: “Get off.”
ذَكَرُواthey mentioned سِواهُsomeone other than him فَنَهَّبواso they offered up for plunder (unclear here) عَنfrom فَضْلِهِhis excellence
ذَكَرُوا سِواهُ فَنَهَّبوا عَن فَضْلِهِ
بَيْتُthe house of الْكَريمِthe generous man دَليلُهُits guide كَلْبٌa dog نَبَحْbarked
بَيْتُ الْكَريمِ دَليلُهُ كَلْبٌ نَبَحْ
They mentioned another and so offered up his excellence for plunder [wording unclear];
They mentioned others so they robbed his virtues,
a barking dog points the way to a generous man's house.
The home of the generous, his guide is a barking dog.
بَيْنَamong الأنامِhumankind تَنازُعٌdisagreement فِيover دِينِهِمْtheir religion
بَيْنَ الأنامِ تَنازُعٌ فِي دِينِهِمْ
وَعَلىand on فَضائِلِهِhis virtues الْجَميعُeveryone قَدِindeed اصْطَلحْagreed
وَعَلى فَضائِلِهِ الْجَميعُ قَدِ اصْطَلحْ
Among mankind there is dispute over their religion,
Amongst people is conflict in their religion,
but all have agreed upon his virtues.
While in his virtues all have agreed and reconciled.
جَذَبَتْهُdrew him أَنْوارُthe lights of الْخِلافَةِthe caliphate فَاعْتَلىso he rose
جَذَبَتْهُ أَنْوارُ الْخِلافَةِ فَاعْتَلى
عَنْabove نارِthe fire of طُورِthe Mount of سَمِيِّهِhis namesake لَّمَاwhen لَمَحْhe glimpsed
عَنْ نارِ طُورِ سَمِيِّهِ لَّمَا لَمَحْ
The lights of the caliphate drew him, and he rose
The lights of the caliphate drew him, so he ascended
above the fire on his namesake's Mount when he glimpsed them.
From the fire of his semite mountain when it kindled.
هذاكَthat one كَلَّمَهُHe spoke to him عَلَىon جَبَلٍa mountain وَذاand this one
هذاكَ كَلَّمَهُ عَلَى جَبَلٍ وَذا
بِيَدِat the hand of ابْنِthe son of عَمَّthe paternal uncle of الْمُصْطَفىal-Mustafa, the Chosen One نَالَobtained الْمِنَحْthe gifts
بِيَدِ ابْنِ عَمَّ الْمُصْطَفى نَالَ الْمِنَحْ
That one was addressed upon a mountain; this one
That one spoke to him on a mountain, and with
received gifts at the hand of al-Mustafa's cousin.
The hand of the Prophet’s cousin he attained favor.
سَعَتِstrove الْمُلوكُthe kings كماas سَعَىhe strove لكِنَّهُمْbut they
سَعَتِ الْمُلوكُ كما سَعَى لكِنَّهُمْ
خابُواfailed فَقالَso said نَجاحُSuccess سَعْيِكَyour striving قَدْindeed نَجَحْhas succeeded
خابُوا فَقالَ نَجاحُ سَعْيِكَ قَدْ نَجَحْ
Kings strove as he strove, but they
Kings strived as he strived but they failed,
failed; Success said, 'Your striving has succeeded.'
So he said: success of your striving has succeeded.
لِلَّهِto God (in admiration) كَمْhow many مِنْof نِعْمَةٍa blessing فِيamid نَقْمِةٍa punishment
لِلَّهِ كَمْ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ فِي نَقْمِةٍ
أَسْدَىhe bestowed وَكمْand how often قَتَلَhe killed العَدَّوthe enemy ومَاand did not جَرَحْwound
أَسْدَى وَكمْ قَتَلَ العَدَّو ومَا جَرَحْ
God be praised—how many a blessing amid retribution
To Allah, how many blessings are in wrath
has he bestowed, and how often slain the foe without wounding!
He has granted, and how many enemies he killed without being wounded.
سَيْفٌa sword تَرَقْرَقَshimmered صَفْحُهُits flat side فِيin خَدِّهِhis cheek
سَيْفٌ تَرَقْرَقَ صَفْحُهُ فِي خَدِّهِ
وَالْمَوْتُand death خَلْفَbehind غِرارِهِits cutting edge لَمَّاwhen صَفَحْhe pardoned
وَالْمَوْتُ خَلْفَ غِرارِهِ لَمَّا صَفَحْ
A sword whose flat shimmered in his cheek,
A sword which blade gleamed in his cheek,
with death behind its edge when he pardoned.
While death is behind its sheath when it flashed.
مَوْلايَmy lord إِنْif ماتَتْhas died بِبُعْدِكَthrough distance from you هِمَّتيmy resolve
مَوْلايَ إِنْ ماتَتْ بِبُعْدِكَ هِمَّتي
فَنَداكَthen your bounty مِثْلُlike يَدِthe hand of الْمَسيحِthe Messiah إِذْاwhen مَسَحْhe touched
فَنَداكَ مِثْلُ يَدِ الْمَسيحِ إِذْا مَسَحْ
My lord, if my resolve has died through distance from you,
My lord, if my resolve dies in your absence,
then your bounty is like the Messiah's hand at its touch.
Then your call is like the hand of Jesus when he wiped.
هُنِّيتَmay you be congratulated بِالعامِon the year السَّعِيدِhappy الْمُبْتَداin its beginning
هُنِّيتَ بِالعامِ السَّعِيدِ الْمُبْتَدا
بِدَوامِwith the continuance of دَوْلَتِكَyour reign الْحميدِpraiseworthy الْمفْتَتَحْin its opening
بِدَوامِ دَوْلَتِكَ الْحميدِ الْمفْتَتَحْ
May you have joy of the happy year now beginning,
You were congratulated for the blessed new year,
with your reign enduring, the year's opening worthy of praise.
With the continuance of your praiseworthy state which commenced.
Sol 6.1