عَذِيْرِيَmy defender مِنْagainst صَرْفِthe reversals of هَذَاthis الزَّمَنْage
عَذِيْرِيَ مِنْ صَرْفِ هَذَا الزَّمَنْ
رَمَانِيit shot at me فَأَقْصَدَنِيand struck me down بِالْمِحَنْwith afflictions
رَمَانِي فَأَقْصَدَنِي بِالْمِحَنْ
Who will defend me against the reversals of this age?
It shot at me and struck me down with afflictions.
مُنِيْخٌsettling heavily عَلَيَّupon me بِمَكْرُوهِهِwith its evils
مُنِيْخٌ عَلَيَّ بِمَكْرُوهِهِ
مُضِبٌّbrooding عَلَىover حِقْدِهِits rancor المُضْطَغِنْthe spiteful one
مُضِبٌّ عَلَى حِقْدِهِ المُضْطَغِنْ
It settles upon me with its evils,
Brooding over its rancor, full of spite.
كَثِيْرُabundant in النَّوَائِبِcalamities جَمُّteeming with الخُطُوبِgrave troubles
كَثِيْرُ النَّوَائِبِ جَمُّ الخُطُوبِ
قَدِيْمُlong-standing in التِّرَاتِvendettas شَدِيْدُfierce in الإِحَنْgrudges
قَدِيْمُ التِّرَاتِ شَدِيْدُ الإِحَنْ
Abundant in calamities, teeming with grave troubles,
Long-standing in its vendettas, fierce in its grudges.
بَخِيْلٌstingy عَلَيَّtoward me بِلَهْوِwith the pleasures of الشَّبَابِyouth
بَخِيْلٌ عَلَيَّ بِلَهْوِ الشَّبَابِ
يُهَدِّمُit destroys رَيْعَانَهُits bloom بِالْحَزَنْwith sorrow
يُهَدِّمُ رَيْعَانَهُ بِالْحَزَنْ
It begrudges me the pleasures of youth,
It destroys its bloom with sorrow.
وَيَنْفُضُand shakes bare مُورِقَthe leafy growth of أَغْصَانِهِits branches
وَيَنْفُضُ مُورِقَ أَغْصَانِهِ
فَيَذْوِيso it withers وَقَدْthough once كَانَit was نَضْرَfresh الغُصُنْthe boughs
فَيَذْوِي وَقَدْ كَانَ نَضْرَ الغُصُنْ
And shakes bare its leafy branches,
So it withers, though its boughs were once fresh.
وَيَصْرِفُand turns away عَنْهُfrom it عُيُونَthe eyes of الحِسَانِbeautiful women
وَيَصْرِفُ عَنْهُ عُيُونَ الحِسَانِ
وَقَدْthough once كُنَّthey were يَخْلَعْنَcasting off فِيْهِfor its sake الرَّسَنْthe halter
وَقَدْ كُنَّ يَخْلَعْنَ فِيْهِ الرَّسَنْ
And turns beauties' eyes away from it,
Though once they cast off the halter for its sake.
كَأَنَّas though الزَّمَانَTime فَتًىa youth عَاشِقٌin love
كَأَنَّ الزَّمَانَ فَتًى عَاشِقٌ
رَآنِيhe saw me أُعَارِضُهُrivaling him فِيfor سَكَنْa beloved
رَآنِي أُعَارِضُهُ فِي سَكَنْ
As though Time were a youth in love,
Who saw me rivaling him for a beloved.
فَشَمْلٌso a fellowship يُشَتِّتُhe scatters عَنْaway from نَظْمِهِits ordered unity
فَشَمْلٌ يُشَتِّتُ عَنْ نَظْمِهِ
وَدَارٌand a home يُبَاعِدُهَاhe distances it مِنْfrom وَطَنْa homeland
وَدَارٌ يُبَاعِدُهَا مِنْ وَطَنْ
So he scatters a fellowship, breaking its unity,
And drives a home far from its homeland.
وَعَيْنٌand an eye يُوَكُّلُهَاhe assigns it بِالْبُكَاءِto weeping
وَعَيْنٌ يُوَكُّلُهَا بِالْبُكَاءِ
وَأُخْرَىand another مُفَجَّعَةٌbereaved بِالْوَسَنْof slumber
وَأُخْرَى مُفَجَّعَةٌ بِالْوَسَنْ
And assigns one eye to weeping,
And another is bereaved of slumber.
أُعَاتِبُI reproach دَهْرِيَmy age وَالدَّهْرُbut the age عَنْto
أُعَاتِبُ دَهْرِيَ وَالدَّهْرُ عَنْ
عِتَابِthe reproach of الأَدِيْبِthe man of letters أَصَمُّdeaf الأُذُنْthe ear
عِتَابِ الأَدِيْبِ أَصَمُّ الأُذُنْ
I reproach my age, but the age, to
The man of letters' reproach, turns a deaf ear.
فَطَوْرَاًso at times أَهُونُI yield إِذَاwhen عَزَّنِيit overpowers me
فَطَوْرَاً أَهُونُ إِذَا عَزَّنِي
وَطَوْرَاًand at times أَلِيْنُI soften لَهُtoward it إِنْif خَشُنْit grows harsh
وَطَوْرَاً أَلِيْنُ لَهُ إِنْ خَشُنْ
So at times I yield when it overpowers me,
And at times I soften toward it if it grows harsh.
وَإِنْand if شَامَit unsheathes سَيْفَاًa sword مِنَof الحَادِثَاتِcalamities
وَإِنْ شَامَ سَيْفَاً مِنَ الحَادِثَاتِ
جَعَلْتُI set لَهَاagainst them الصَّبْرَpatience دُونِيbefore me مِجَنْa shield
جَعَلْتُ لَهَا الصَّبْرَ دُونِي مِجَنْ
And if it draws a sword of calamities,
I set patience before me as a shield against them.
وَمَاand not خَانَنِيbetrayed me الرَّأْيُjudgment لَكِنَّنِيbut I
وَمَا خَانَنِي الرَّأْيُ لَكِنَّنِي
أَرَىsee رَأْيَهُits judgment بِيconcerning me عَيْنَthe very essence of الأَفَنْfolly
أَرَى رَأْيَهُ بِي عَيْنَ الأَفَنْ
And my judgment has not betrayed me, but I
See its judgment of me as sheer folly.
سَأَشْكُوI shall complain of الزَّمَانَTime فَقَدْfor indeed مَسَّنِيit afflicted me
سَأَشْكُو الزَّمَانَ فَقَدْ مَسَّنِي
بِنُصْبٍwith hardship إِلَىto الحَسَنِal-Hasan بِنِson of الحَسَنْal-Hasan
بِنُصْبٍ إِلَى الحَسَنِ بِنِ الحَسَنْ
I shall complain of Time—for it has afflicted me
With hardship—to al-Hasan ibn al-Hasan.
كَرِيْمٌgenerous إِذَاwhen مَاindeed (emphatic) اعْتَصَمْنَاwe sought protection بِهِin him
كَرِيْمٌ إِذَا مَا اعْتَصَمْنَا بِهِ
لَجَأْنَاwe sought refuge إِلَىin مُحْصَنَاتِimpregnable الجُنَنْshields
لَجَأْنَا إِلَى مُحْصَنَاتِ الجُنَنْ
A generous man—when we seek refuge in him,
We take shelter behind impregnable shields.
وَإِنْand if أَمْسَكَwithheld itself الغَيْثُthe rain جَادَتْpoured freely لَنَاfor us
وَإِنْ أَمْسَكَ الغَيْثُ جَادَتْ لَنَا
سَحَائِبُclouds مِنْfrom رَاحَتَيْهِhis two palms هُتُنْpouring abundantly
سَحَائِبُ مِنْ رَاحَتَيْهِ هُتُنْ
And if the rain holds back, there pour for us
Clouds from his two palms, streaming abundantly.
فَتًىa youth عَشِقَloved المَجْدَglory حَتَّىuntil لَقَدْindeed
فَتًى عَشِقَ المَجْدَ حَتَّى لَقَدْ
غَدَاhe became وَهْوَand he was صَبٌّa passionate lover بِهِwith it مُفْتَتَنْentranced
غَدَا وَهْوَ صَبٌّ بِهِ مُفْتَتَنْ
A youth who loved glory until indeed
He became a passionate lover, entranced by it.
سَلِيْلُa scion of أَكَابِرَgreat men سَنَّواthey established as tradition العُلاَloftiness
سَلِيْلُ أَكَابِرَ سَنَّوا العُلاَ
فَأَكْرِمْso how noble! بِهَاit is وَبِهِمْand they are مِنْamong سُنَنْtraditions
فَأَكْرِمْ بِهَا وَبِهِمْ مِنْ سُنَنْ
A scion of great men who made loftiness a tradition;
How noble those traditions, and those great men!
هُمُthey أَثْبْتَواestablished firmly المُلْكَthe kingdom فِيon أُسِّهِits foundation
هُمُ أَثْبْتَوا المُلْكَ فِي أُسِّهِ
وَشَادُواand they raised دَعَائِمَهُits pillars وَالرُّكُنْand the supports
وَشَادُوا دَعَائِمَهُ وَالرُّكُنْ
They established the kingdom firmly on its foundation,
And raised its pillars and supports.
وَبَيْنَand between الأَنَامِلِthe fingers مِنْof كَفِّهِhis hand
وَبَيْنَ الأَنَامِلِ مِنْ كَفِّهِ
فَصِيْحٌan eloquent one يُخَبِّرُit tells عَمَّاabout what يُجِيْunclear as written
فَصِيْحٌ يُخَبِّرُ عَمَّا يُجِيْ
And between the fingers of his hand
Is an eloquent one, telling of what [final word unclear].
إِذَاwhen مَاindeed (emphatic) بَكَىit weeps فِيon قَرَاطِيْسِهِhis sheets of paper
إِذَا مَا بَكَى فِي قَرَاطِيْسِهِ
ضَحِكْنَthey smiled مِنَfrom الرَّوْضَthe gardens عَنْrevealing كُلِّevery فَنْkind
ضَحِكْنَ مِنَ الرَّوْضَ عَنْ كُلِّ فَنْ
Whenever it weeps upon his sheets of paper,
They smile, revealing every kind of garden bloom.
وَيَنْتَشِرُand spreads الطَّلُّthe dew مِنْfrom نَقْعِهِits dust
وَيَنْتَشِرُ الطَّلُّ مِنْ نَقْعِهِ
وَيَفْعَلُand it acts فِيon الأَرْضهthe earth فَعْلَthe action of المُزُنْrainclouds
وَيَفْعَلُ فِي الأَرْضه فَعْلَ المُزُنْ
And dew spreads from its dust,
And it works upon the earth as rainclouds do.
وَفَاقَand it surpassed إِيَاسَاًIyas بِفَضْلِin excellence of الذَّكَاءِintelligence
وَفَاقَ إِيَاسَاً بِفَضْلِ الذَّكَاءِ
وَقُسَّand Quss بِنَson of سَاعِدَةٍSa'idah فِيin اللَّسَنْeloquence
وَقُسَّ بِنَ سَاعِدَةٍ فِي اللَّسَنْ
And it surpassed Iyas in keenness of mind,
And Quss ibn Sa'idah in eloquence.
مُقِيْمٌstationary وَأَفْعَالُهُand its deeds سُيَّرٌtraveling afar
مُقِيْمٌ وَأَفْعَالُهُ سُيَّرٌ
وَثَاوٍand abiding وَتَدْبِيْرُهُand its planning قَدْindeed ظَعَنْhas journeyed
وَثَاوٍ وَتَدْبِيْرُهُ قَدْ ظَعَنْ
It stays in place, while its deeds travel,
And it abides, while its designs have journeyed forth.
وَكَمْand how many مِنْof رَهِيْنٍa captive بِهِby it مُطْلَقٌfreed
وَكَمْ مِنْ رَهِيْنٍ بِهِ مُطْلَقٌ
وَكَمْand how many مِنْof طَلِيْقٍa free person بِهِby it مُرْتَهَنْheld captive
وَكَمْ مِنْ طَلِيْقٍ بِهِ مُرْتَهَنْ
And many a captive is freed by it,
And many a free person is held captive by it.
وَلَوْلاَand were it not for افْتِتَاحُthe opening of المَعَالِيlofty attainments بِهِthrough it
وَلَوْلاَ افْتِتَاحُ المَعَالِي بِهِ
لَمَاwould not افْتُتِحَتْbe conquered بِالسُّيُوفِby swords المُدُنْcities
لَمَا افْتُتِحَتْ بِالسُّيُوفِ المُدُنْ
And were it not for its opening the way to greatness,
Cities would not be conquered by swords.
وَسُمْرُand dark-brown الحُرُوفِletters تَجْلِيdispel الخُطُوبَcalamities
وَسُمْرُ الحُرُوفِ تَجْلِي الخُطُوبَ
إِذَاwhen مَاindeed (emphatic) بِسُمْرِwith the brown pens of الدُّوِيِّinkwells اسْتُعِنْhelp is sought
إِذَا مَا بِسُمْرِ الدُّوِيِّ اسْتُعِنْ
And dark-brown letters dispel calamities,
Whenever help is sought from the brown pens of inkwells.
إِلَيْكَtoward you ثَنَيْتُI turned عِنَانَthe reins of الرَّجَاءِhope
إِلَيْكَ ثَنَيْتُ عِنَانَ الرَّجَاءِ
ياO ابْنَson of رَجَاءٍRaja' عَلَىwith حُسْنِgood ظَنْexpectation
يا ابْنَ رَجَاءٍ عَلَى حُسْنِ ظَنْ
To you I have turned the reins of hope,
O son of Raja', with hopeful trust.
وَلِيand I have خِدْمَةٌservice يَكْتِشِفُreveals الامْتِحَانُtesting
وَلِي خِدْمَةٌ يَكْتِشِفُ الامْتِحَانُ
عَنْهَاconcerning it فَيَحْمَدُهُso he praises it المُمْتَحِنْthe examiner
عَنْهَا فَيَحْمَدُهُ المُمْتَحِنْ
And I have service that testing brings
To light, and the examiner praises it.
وَمَوْشِيُّand richly patterned خَطٍّscript يُضَاهَىis matched بِهِby it
وَمَوْشِيُّ خَطٍّ يُضَاهَى بِهِ
غَرَائِبُthe marvels of مَوْشِيِّembroidered نِسْجِthe weaving of اليَمَنْYemen
غَرَائِبُ مَوْشِيِّ نِسْجِ اليَمَنْ
And richly embroidered script that rivals
The marvels of Yemen's embroidered weave.
وَمَنْثُورُand prose لَفْظٍspeech كَمَعْروفِكَlike your kindness الthe (split article)
وَمَنْثُورُ لَفْظٍ كَمَعْروفِكَ ال
جَمِيْلِbeautiful الَّذِيwhich لَمْnot يُكَدَّرْwas sullied بِمَنْby reminders of favors
جَمِيْلِ الَّذِي لَمْ يُكَدَّرْ بِمَنْ
And prose phrasing like your kindness—
Beautiful, never sullied by reminders of favors.
صَبُورٌpatient أُلاَزِمُI remain in attendance حَتَّىuntil أُمَلْI am found tiresome
صَبُورٌ أُلاَزِمُ حَتَّى أُمَلْ
سَرِيْعَاًquickly وَأَنْصَحُand I counsel sincerely حَتَّىuntil أُظَنْI am suspected
سَرِيْعَاً وَأَنْصَحُ حَتَّى أُظَنْ
Patient, I persist until others tire of me,
Quickly; and I counsel sincerely until I am suspected.
قَنُوعٌcontent عَلَىdespite أَنَّthe fact that لِيI have هِمَّةًan ambition
قَنُوعٌ عَلَى أَنَّ لِي هِمَّةً
تُنَاطُare tethered النُّجُومُthe stars بِهَاto it فِيon قَرَنْa shared tether
تُنَاطُ النُّجُومُ بِهَا فِي قَرَنْ
Content, though I have an ambition
To which the stars are bound on a single tether.
وَأَنْسَىand I forget السَّرَائِرَsecrets حَتَّىuntil تَكُونَthey become
وَأَنْسَى السَّرَائِرَ حَتَّى تَكُونَ
عِنْدِيto me سَوَاءًthe same وَمَاand what لَمْdid not يَكُنْexist
عِنْدِي سَوَاءً وَمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ
And I forget secrets until they become
To me, the same as what never existed.
وَأَنْتand you إِذَاif شِئْتَyou wish أَنْto تَصْطَفِيchoose
وَأَنْت إِذَا شِئْتَ أَنْ تَصْطَفِي
نَصِيْحَاًa sincere adviser وَأَنْand to تَجْتَبِيselect مُؤْتَمَنْa trusted man
نَصِيْحَاً وَأَنْ تَجْتَبِي مُؤْتَمَنْ
And you, if you wish to choose
A sincere adviser, and select a trusted man,
وَضَعْتَyou placed الصَّنِيْعَةَthe favor فِيin حَقِّهَاits rightful place
وَضَعْتَ الصَّنِيْعَةَ فِي حَقِّهَا
وَأَحْمَدْتَand you found praiseworthy عِنْدِيin me زَكَاءَthe growth of المِنَنْfavors
وَأَحْمَدْتَ عِنْدِي زَكَاءَ المِنَنْ
Will have placed your favor where it belongs,
And found in me the praiseworthy growth of your favors.
Sol 6.1