فِدىًa ransom لِعَطفِكِfor your graceful form غُصنُa branch الرَندِof laurel والبانِand moringa
فِدىً لِعَطفِكِ غُصنُ الرَندِ والبانِ
شَتَّانَhow far apart ماwhat بَينَbetween أَعطافٍgraceful forms وأَغصانِand branches
شَتَّانَ ما بَينَ أَعطافٍ وأَغصانِ
May laurel and moringa branches be ransom for your graceful form;
In ransom for your kindness is the branch of basil and iris—
How far apart are graceful forms and branches!
Far apart are kindness and branches!
مِنهُfrom it وَمِنand from خَدِّكِyour cheek القانيcrimson وَنَهدِكِand your breast ليI have
مِنهُ وَمِن خَدِّكِ القاني وَنَهدِكِ لي
جَنّاتُgardens نَخلٍof date palms وَتُفَّاحٍand apples وَرُمَّانِand pomegranates
جَنّاتُ نَخلٍ وَتُفَّاحٍ وَرُمَّانِ
From it, and from your crimson cheek and breast, I have
For me, from your cheek, the soft, and your breast are
Gardens of date palms, apples, and pomegranates.
Gardens of palm trees, apples, and pomegranates.
فِدىًa ransom لجيدِfor a neck جيدُthe neck الظَبيof the gazelle ملتَفِتاًturning
فِدىً لجيدِ جيدُ الظَبي ملتَفِتاً
فَإِنَّماfor indeed لكِyours مِنهُof it جيدa neck إِنسانof a human being
فَإِنَّما لكِ مِنهُ جيد إِنسان
May the turning gazelle's neck be ransom for your neck;
In ransom for your neck, the neck of a gazelle turning,
For the neck you share with it is a human neck,
For it is for you, from it, the neck of a human:
صافٍclear نَقيٌّpure منof الأَكدارِblemishes لَيسَthere is not بِهِin it
صافٍ نَقيٌّ من الأَكدارِ لَيسَ بِهِ
ماwhat ثَمَّthere منof نحوِthe kind of أَوضارٍstains وأَدرانِand grime
ما ثَمَّ من نحوِ أَوضارٍ وأَدرانِ
Clear, pure of blemishes, bearing none
Pure, immaculate from murk—no
Of the stains and grime found there.
Stain of sweat or grease is on it.
يُدعىis called لديناamong us عمودَthe pillar الصبحِof dawn عنwith ثِقَةٍconfidence
يُدعى لدينا عمودَ الصبحِ عن ثِقَةٍ
فالوَجهُfor the face منكِof you وَشَمسُand the sun الافقِof the horizon سيّانِare alike
فالوَجهُ منكِ وَشَمسُ الافقِ سيّانِ
Among us it is confidently called the pillar of dawn,
It is called, for us, the pillar of dawn, confidently,
For your face and the sun on the horizon are alike.
So the face is from you, and the sun of the horizon equal.
وَجهٌa face نشبههwe liken it بالشمسِto the sun نُنصِفهwe do it justice
وَجهٌ نشبهه بالشمسِ نُنصِفه
فإِنَّماfor indeed هُوَit منof نورٍlight وَنيرانِand fires
فإِنَّما هُوَ من نورٍ وَنيرانِ
We do that face justice by likening it to the sun,
A face we compare to the sun—we do it justice—
For it consists of light and flame.
It is only of light and fire.
صَقيلُpolished صفحٍin surface يزِلُّslips الماءُthe water عنهُoff it إِذاwhen
صَقيلُ صفحٍ يزِلُّ الماءُ عنهُ إِذا
جَرىflows بهover it عَرَقٌsweat منfrom خدكِyour cheek القانيcrimson
جَرى به عَرَقٌ من خدكِ القاني
Its surface is polished; water slips off it when
Polished smooth page from which water slides
Sweat from your crimson cheek flows over it.
When the sweat of your soft cheek flows.
فِدىًa ransom لِعينكِfor your eye عينُthe eye الرَئمof the white gazelle ساجيةًlanguid
فِدىً لِعينكِ عينُ الرَئم ساجيةً
أَينَwhere الصَبابَةُpassionate longing فيin أَجفانthe eyelids غزلانِof gazelles
أَينَ الصَبابَةُ في أَجفان غزلانِ
May the white gazelle's languid eye be ransom for your eye;
In ransom for your eye, the eye of the wild cow sleepy—
Where is longing in the eyelids of gazelles?
Where is the fluttering in the eyelids of fawns?
سواكِنٌstill لاnot يحَرّكنَthey stir الغَرامَpassion وَلاnor
سواكِنٌ لا يحَرّكنَ الغَرامَ وَلا
يَغزِلنَthey spin ماwhat غَزَلتhave spun للغيدِfor slender beauties عَينانِtwo eyes
يَغزِلنَ ما غَزَلت للغيدِ عَينانِ
They are still, stirring no passion, nor
Quiet, unstirring of love, nor
Spinning what two eyes have spun for slender beauties.
Do they entice what two eyes have enticed.
وَلَيسَand do not ينطقنَthey speak والابصارُwhile the eyes سامعةٌlisten
وَلَيسَ ينطقنَ والابصارُ سامعةٌ
ماwhat لَيسَdo not تنطقُutter أَفواهٌmouths لآذانِto ears
ما لَيسَ تنطقُ أَفواهٌ لآذانِ
Nor do they speak, while eyes listen,
They speak not, yet gazes hear
What mouths do not utter to ears.
What mouths do not speak to ears.
إِنَّindeed الحسانَfair women ضَعيفاتٌweak فقلَّدهاso it armed them ىلunclear fragment
إِنَّ الحسانَ ضَعيفاتٌ فقلَّدها ىل
جمالُbeauty أَسلحةًweapons منof سودdark اجفانِeyelids
جمالُ أَسلحةً من سود اجفانِ
Fair women are weak, so they were armed
Beauty has only the weak—so nature gave them
By beauty with weapons of dark eyelids.
As their armor eyelids black as night.
وَماand not الشَجاعَةُcourage تُغنيavails فيin مَصارعهاtheir killing grounds
وَما الشَجاعَةُ تُغني في مَصارعها
إِذاwhen سطَتthey assail بينamong ضرّابٍa fierce striker وَطعّانِand a fierce thruster
إِذا سطَت بين ضرّابٍ وَطعّانِ
And courage avails nothing on their killing grounds
Courage profits them naught in their battles
When they strike among swordsmen and spearmen.
When set between striker and piercer.
وَرُبماand often شَغَلَتthey engrossed قَلبَthe heart الكَريمِof the noble man هوىًin love
وَرُبما شَغَلَت قَلبَ الكَريمِ هوىً
لدىin الصَبابةpassionate longing قبلbefore العاجزthe helpless man الوانيthe languid
لدى الصَبابة قبل العاجز الواني
And often they have filled the noble man's heart with love,
And passion seizes the noble’s heart sometimes
In passionate longing, before the helpless, languid man's.
In the bloom before the helpless lover.
كأَنَّهاas though they were البينُparting يختارُchooses الكرامَthe noble لهُfor itself
كأَنَّها البينُ يختارُ الكرامَ لهُ
وَالكُلُّand everyone فيin قبضتيهits two fists بعدafter أَزمانِages
وَالكُلُّ في قبضتيه بعد أَزمانِ
As though they were parting, which chooses the noble for itself,
As if it the evident selects the generous for itself
And all are in its two-handed grasp after a time.
While all are in its grip after times.
عَزيزةٌa proud woman حَسِبَتshe thought جهلاًignorantly أَنِthat اِنتَسَبَتshe was related
عَزيزةٌ حَسِبَت جهلاً أَنِ اِنتَسَبَت
إِلىto العَزيزِthe mighty ruler الخَطيرthe eminent الباذخthe lofty الشانِin standing
إِلى العَزيزِ الخَطير الباذخ الشانِ
A proud woman, she foolishly thought herself related
Dear, ignorance thought it traced its line
To the mighty, eminent lord of exalted standing:
To the dear, perilous, lofty, glorious one—
عَزيزُmighty ruler مِصرَof Egypt أَميرُprince القطرِof the land سيدُهُits master
عَزيزُ مِصرَ أَميرُ القطرِ سيدُهُ
حاويpossessor الكمالينِof both perfections منof حسنٍbeauty وإحسانِand benevolence
حاوي الكمالينِ من حسنٍ وإحسانِ
Egypt's mighty ruler, prince of the land, its master,
Egypt’s noble, prince of the land, its master,
Uniting the two perfections of beauty and benevolence.
Perfect in beauty and benefaction.
مُهَذَّبُrefined النَفسِin soul والاخلاقِand character طاهرُهاpure in them
مُهَذَّبُ النَفسِ والاخلاقِ طاهرُها
صافيpure المواردin wellsprings فيin سرٍّsecrecy وإِعلانِand openness
صافي الموارد في سرٍّ وإِعلانِ
Refined in soul and character, pure in both,
Refined of spirit and character, pure of it,
Pure in his wellsprings, in secret and in public.
Clearwatered in intimacy and openly.
لَطيفُgentle ذاتٍin essence علىdespite ماwhat فيهِis in him منof عِظَمٍgreatness
لَطيفُ ذاتٍ على ما فيهِ من عِظَمٍ
كَلُجَّةِlike a deep expanse الماءِof water فيin إِرواءِquenching ظمآنِa thirsty man
كَلُجَّةِ الماءِ في إِرواءِ ظمآنِ
Gentle in essence, for all the greatness within him,
Delicate being for what greatness is in it
Like a deep expanse of water quenching a thirsty man.
Like water’s smoothness in quenching a thirsty one.
إِذاwhen دَعتهُthey call him المَعاليhigh endeavors بابنas the son of بجدتهاtheir heartland
إِذا دَعتهُ المَعالي بابن بجدتها
فماthen what ادَّعتهُthey claimed it عليهِfor it أَلفُa thousand برهانِproofs
فما ادَّعتهُ عليهِ أَلفُ برهانِ
When high endeavors call him their native son,
If the heights called him son of his ancestors
A thousand proofs uphold what they have claimed.
No thousand proofs claimed him against it.
سَليلُscion أَقيالِof sovereigns مصرَof Egypt الغُرِّthe illustrious منthose who بلغواattained
سَليلُ أَقيالِ مصرَ الغُرِّ من بلغوا
فيin المَجدِglory ماwhat قدindeed تسامىrose high فوقabove كيوانِSaturn
في المَجدِ ما قد تسامى فوق كيوانِ
Scion of Egypt's illustrious sovereigns, who attained
Offshoot of Egypt’s honored ancient families
In glory heights that soared above Saturn.
Who attained in glory what towered over Saturn.
شادوthey raised المفاخرglories واِقتداواand they led (corrupt spelling) العساكرarmies واand (broken fragment)
شادو المفاخر واِقتداوا العساكر وا
تمادواthey persisted مآثرَin noble deeds لمnot تبرحcease الىuntil الآنnow
تمادوا مآثرَ لم تبرح الى الآن
They raised glories and led armies, and
They built glories, followed armies,
Persisted in noble deeds that remain to this day
Persevered in glorious feats continuing till now.
لديwith محمَّدَMuhammad وَالتَوفيقُand success تابعُهُfollows him
لدي محمَّدَ وَالتَوفيقُ تابعُهُ
فيin كُلِّevery منهَجpath عُرفانٍof knowledge وَعُمرانِand civilization
في كُلِّ منهَج عُرفانٍ وَعُمرانِ
With Muhammad, whom success attends,
My protection, Muhammad, and success attends him
On every path of knowledge and civilization.
In each approach of knowledge and civilization.
بَنيbuilt الفراعنةُthe pharaohs الماضونthe bygone منfrom قِدَمٍancient times
بَني الفراعنةُ الماضون من قِدَمٍ
فيon الارضthe earth أَهرامَthe pyramids مصرٍof Egypt أَيَّwhat a بُنيانِstructure
في الارض أَهرامَ مصرٍ أَيَّ بُنيانِ
Long ago, the bygone pharaohs built
The Pharaohs of old founded in the land
On earth, Egypt's pyramids—what a structure!
Egypt’s pyramids—O what a structure!
وَفوقهاand above them فيin المَعاليlofty attainments والفَخارِand honor لَهُhe has
وَفوقها في المَعالي والفَخارِ لَهُ
أَهرامُpyramids مَجدٍof glory سَمَتrose high ماnot مسَّهاtouched them بانِa builder
أَهرامُ مَجدٍ سَمَت ما مسَّها بانِ
And above them in lofty deeds and honor he has
Above them in supremacy and pride he has
Pyramids of glory that soar, untouched by any builder.
Pyramids of glory high as any star.
أُمُّmother الحضارَةِof civilization مصرٌEgypt فيin القَديمِancient times وَلآand not
أُمُّ الحضارَةِ مصرٌ في القَديمِ وَلآ
تَزالُceases بهجةَthe delight أَمصارٍof cities وَبُلدانِand countries
تَزالُ بهجةَ أَمصارٍ وَبُلدانِ
Egypt was the mother of civilization of old, and still
Mother of civilization, Egypt in antiquity,
Remains the delight of cities and countries.
Never ceasing to be joy of nations and countries.
كجنَّةٍlike a garden ضمنهاwithin it منof كُلِّevery فاكهةٍfruit
كجنَّةٍ ضمنها من كُلِّ فاكهةٍ
أَزواجُvarieties فضلٍof excellence وَمجدٍand glory لَيسَnot زوجانِtwo varieties
أَزواجُ فضلٍ وَمجدٍ لَيسَ زوجانِ
Like a garden that holds, of every fruit,
Like a garden including every fruit—
Varieties of excellence and glory, not merely two.
Pairs of excellence and glory, no two alike.
لطفُkindness الخديويof the Khedive محييهاreviving it بنعمتِهِwith his bounty
لطفُ الخديوي محييها بنعمتِهِ
إِحياءَthe reviving غيثِby rain الندىof generosity أَزهارَflowers بستانِof a garden
إِحياءَ غيثِ الندى أَزهارَ بستانِ
The Khedive's kindness gives it life through his bounty,
The Khedive’s kindness revived it with his favor
As the rain of generosity revives a garden's flowers.
Like rain’s pour reviving flowers of a garden,
وَمُنبِتٌand bringing forth منof أَفانينِvarieties الفَخارof honor بهاwithin it
وَمُنبِتٌ من أَفانينِ الفَخار بها
ماwhat لَيسَdo not تُنبِئتُهُmake it grow (corrupt form) أَنداءُdews نَيسانِof April
ما لَيسَ تُنبِئتُهُ أَنداءُ نَيسانِ
And brings forth within it varieties of honor
A grower from the vines of pride in it
That April's dews do not bring forth.
What dawns of Nisan do not foretell.
لاlet not تَفتَخرboast ارضُهاits land بالنيلof the Nile مخصبةًfertile
لا تَفتَخر ارضُها بالنيل مخصبةً
فإِنَّfor indeed للمَجدِglory has نيلاًa Nile ضمنهاwithin it ثانيa second
فإِنَّ للمَجدِ نيلاً ضمنها ثاني
Let its fertile land not boast of the Nile,
Its land boasts not of the fecundating Nile
For glory has a second Nile within it,
For glory has a Nile within confining a second.
بِحَيثُwhere نبتُthe growth العلىof eminence والمجدِand glory أَخصَبُmore fertile منthan
بِحَيثُ نبتُ العلى والمجدِ أَخصَبُ من
منابتplanting grounds النيلof the Nile يُرويهاit irrigates them بِخُلجانِthrough canals
منابت النيل يُرويها بِخُلجانِ
Where the growth of eminence and glory is richer than
Where the height and glory’s vegetation is more lush
The Nile's planting grounds, which it waters through canals.
Than the Nile’s vegetation watered by tributaries.
وَحيثُand where للعدلjustice has أَركانٌpillars معزَّزةٌstrengthened
وَحيثُ للعدل أَركانٌ معزَّزةٌ
وَرُبماand sometimes قامit stands لمnot يَحتجneeds لاركانِpillars
وَرُبما قام لم يَحتج لاركانِ
And where justice has strengthened pillars,
Where justice has pillars fortified,
And sometimes stands without needing pillars.
And perhaps stood never needing pillars.
وَحَيثُand where حَطُّthe setting down رحالof baggage العلمِof learning تحمِلهاcarry it
وَحَيثُ حَطُّ رحال العلمِ تحمِلها
ركائِبُmounts الجَهدِof striving منfrom قاصٍone far away ومنand from دانِone nearby
ركائِبُ الجَهدِ من قاصٍ ومن دانِ
And where learning's baggage is set down, carried
Where the caravan of knowledge alights, carried
By the mounts of striving from far and near.
By ships of effort from far and near.
وَحيثماand wherever لغةُthe language الأَعرابof the Bedouin Arabs قدhas indeed ضربَتpitched
وَحيثما لغةُ الأَعراب قد ضربَت
أَطنابَهاits tent-ropes بعدafter دَرسٍeffacement منذfor أَزمانِages
أَطنابَها بعد دَرسٍ منذ أَزمانِ
And wherever the Bedouin Arabs' language has stretched
Where once the Arabic of nomads struck
Its tent-ropes, after being effaced for ages.
Its tents after lessons long ago.
والأَزهرُand al-Azhar الزاهرُthe radiant الوضّاحُthe resplendent تعضدُهاsupport it
والأَزهرُ الزاهرُ الوضّاحُ تعضدُها
منهُfrom it معاقلstrongholds آدابٍof literature وعرفانِand knowledge
منهُ معاقل آدابٍ وعرفانِ
And radiant, resplendent al-Azhar upholds it
And the splendid, gleaming Azhar buttresses it
With its strongholds of literature and knowledge.
With strongholds of literature and mystic knowledge.
لسانُthe tongue قَومٍof a people رُعاةٍshepherds لِلجَمالof beauty وَفيand in
لسانُ قَومٍ رُعاةٍ لِلجَمال وَفي
رَعيwatching النجومِthe stars أَدارturned واطرفَplural ending + a gaze (misdivided text) سهرانِof a sleepless watcher
رَعي النجومِ أَدار واطرفَ سهرانِ
The tongue of a people who shepherd beauty, and, in
Tongue of a people shepherds of beauty,
Watching the stars, turn a sleepless gaze.
And in herding stars most wakeful of watchmen.
هيَit اللسانُthe tongue الَّذيwhich كادَتalmost تفوهُspeak بِهِin it الthe (split article)
هيَ اللسانُ الَّذي كادَت تفوهُ بِهِ ال
عُقولُminds لاnot اللسنُtongues منbecause of لطفٍsubtlety وَتبيانand clarity
عُقولُ لا اللسنُ من لطفٍ وَتبيان
It is the tongue that was almost uttered by the
The tongue almost articulated by
Minds, not tongues, for its subtlety and clarity.
Minds, not tongues, in subtlety and clarity.
عَجيبُmarvelous وضعٍin formation غَريبٌwondrous فيin تصرُّفِهِits inflections
عَجيبُ وضعٍ غَريبٌ في تصرُّفِهِ
حتىّso that ليُحسَبُit is indeed thought موضوعاًdevised منby الجانِthe jinn
حتىّ ليُحسَبُ موضوعاً من الجانِ
Marvelous in formation, wondrous in its inflections,
A wondrous, strange composition in its turns
So that it is thought to have been devised by the jinn.
One would think it the creation of jinn.
ياO ناشِراًyou who unfurl رايةًa banner للعلمfor learning خافقةًfluttering
يا ناشِراً رايةً للعلم خافقةً
فيin دَولَةٍa realm قدhas indeed أَعادَتrestored مجدthe glory عَدنانِof Adnan
في دَولَةٍ قد أَعادَت مجد عَدنانِ
O you who unfurl a fluttering banner of learning,
O spreader of knowledge’s banner fluttering
In a realm that has restored Adnan's glory,
In a state returned to glory of Adnan,
إِليكَto you أَرفعُI offer ديواناًa poetry collection أُزَيِّنُهُI adorn it
إِليكَ أَرفعُ ديواناً أُزَيِّنُهُ
باسمٍwith a name لشخصكَof your person بالأَلطافِwith graciousness مُزدانِadorned
باسمٍ لشخصكَ بالأَلطافِ مُزدانِ
To you I offer a collection of verse, adorning it
To you I raise a collection adorned
With your name, adorned with graciousness.
With your name in favors arrayed.
ديوانa collection شعرٍof poetry ثناpraise عَلياكof your eminence صيَّرَهُhas made it
ديوان شعرٍ ثنا عَلياك صيَّرَهُ
عقودَnecklaces درٍّof pearls وَياقوتٍand rubies وَمرجانِand coral
عقودَ درٍّ وَياقوتٍ وَمرجانِ
A collection of verse that praise of your eminence has made
A collection of poetry we tailored for you,
Into necklaces of pearls, rubies, and coral.
Strands of pearls, rubies, coral arrayed.
وَالشَمسُand the sun تَلقىmeets قِطارَdrops الماءِof water تُبرِزُهاreveals them
وَالشَمسُ تَلقى قِطارَ الماءِ تُبرِزُها
أَحجارَstones ماسٍof diamond بأنوارٍwith radiance وأَلوانand colors
أَحجارَ ماسٍ بأنوارٍ وأَلوان
And the sun meets drops of water, revealing them
The sun meets the train of water displaying it
As diamonds, with radiance and colors.
Stones of diamond in lights and colors.
لاmay you never زِلتَcease تنظِمُbring together شملَthe company المكرُماتِof noble deeds وَفيand in
لا زِلتَ تنظِمُ شملَ المكرُماتِ وَفي
ثناكَyour praise يُنظمُis composed منّاby us كُلُّevery ديوانpoetry collection
ثناكَ يُنظمُ منّا كُلُّ ديوان
May you ever gather noble deeds together, and in
Still you unite the sum of honors, and in
Your praise every book of verse is composed by us.
Praising you every collection is arrayed.
Sol 6.1