لَيْسَis not أَمْرُthe plight of المُفَارِقِينَthose parted كَأَمْرِيlike mine
لَيْسَ أَمْرُ المُفَارِقِينَ كَأَمْرِي
أَنَاI فِيin وَحْشَةٍloneliness بَقِيَّةthe remainder of عُمْرِيmy life
أَنَا فِي وَحْشَةٍ بَقِيَّة عُمْرِي
The plight of those parted is not like mine;
The parting of friends is not like my plight,
I am in loneliness for the rest of my life.
I live in desolation for the rest of my life.
كانَthere were لِيfor me رُفْقَةٌcompanions هُمُthey العَيْشُlife أَوْor
كانَ لِي رُفْقَةٌ هُمُ العَيْشُ أَوْ
أَطْيَبُthe sweetest مَاwhat فِيهin it مِنْof مَتَاعِthe pleasures of الفِكْرِthought
أَطْيَبُ مَا فِيه مِنْ مَتَاعِ الفِكْرِ
I had companions who were life itself, or
I had companions, they were my life,
the sweetest pleasures of thought it held.
Or the most delicious thing in it to ponder.
صَفْوَةٌan elite مِنْamong نَوَابغِthe outstanding minds of العِلمِlearning وَالآand literature (start)
صَفْوَةٌ مِنْ نَوَابغِ العِلمِ وَالآ
دَابِliterature (end) عَزَّwas rare اجْتِمَاعُهَاtheir gathering فِيin قُطْرِa land
دَابِ عَزَّ اجْتِمَاعُهَا فِي قُطْرِ
An elite of the foremost minds in learning and
An elite of the geniuses of knowledge and finesse,
letters, rarely gathered in one land.
It was rare for them to gather in one place.
نَزَحُواthey departed وَالزَّمَانُand time حِرْصاًout of solicitude عَلَيْهِمْfor them
نَزَحُوا وَالزَّمَانُ حِرْصاً عَلَيْهِمْ
عَالِقٌclinging بَعْدَafter كُلِّeach عَيْنٍliving presence بِإِثْرِto a trace
عَالِقٌ بَعْدَ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ بِإِثْرِ
They departed, while time, solicitous for them,
They went away while time insisted upon them,
clings to a trace after each living presence is gone.
Each eye clings to their traces afterwards.
كُلُّevery يَوْمٍday نَشْرٌan unfolding لَهُمْfor them بَعْدَafter طَيٍّa folding away
كُلُّ يَوْمٍ نَشْرٌ لَهُمْ بَعْدَ طَيٍّ
كُلُّevery يَوْمٍday طيa folding away لَهُمْfor them بَعْدَafter نَشْرِan unfolding
كُلُّ يَوْمٍ طي لَهُمْ بَعْدَ نَشْرِ
Each day, they are unfolded after being folded away;
Every day is a spreading out for them after folding,
each day, they are folded away after being unfolded.
Every day is a folding after spreading out.
وَتَمُرّand pass الأَيامُthe days بِيover me بَيْنَbetween تَجْديدِrenewing
وَتَمُرّ الأَيامُ بِي بَيْنَ تَجْديدِ
لِقَاءٍa meeting وَبَيْنَand between تَجْديدrenewing هَجْرِa separation
لِقَاءٍ وَبَيْنَ تَجْديد هَجْرِ
And my days pass between renewing
And days pass me by between renewing
a meeting and renewing a separation.
An encounter and renewing estrangement.
مَاnot بَقائِيmy survival بَعْدَafter الأَحِبَّاءِthe loved ones إِلاَّexcept
مَا بَقائِي بَعْدَ الأَحِبَّاءِ إِلاَّ
كَمُقامِlike the sojourn of الغَرِيبِa stranger فِيin دَارِa house of أَسْرِcaptivity
كَمُقامِ الغَرِيبِ فِي دَارِ أَسْرِ
My survival after my loved ones is nothing but
My remaining after loved ones is but
a stranger's sojourn in a house of captivity.
Like the stay of a stranger in the home of captivity.
إِنْif يَسُؤْنِيgrieves me حِمَامُهُمْtheir death فَعَزَائِيthen my consolation
إِنْ يَسُؤْنِي حِمَامُهُمْ فَعَزَائِي
أَنْthat أَرَاهُمI see them فِيamong النَّاسِthe people أَحْيَاءَalive in ذِكْرِremembrance
أَنْ أَرَاهُم فِي النَّاسِ أَحْيَاءَ ذِكْرِ
If their death grieves me, my consolation
If their pigeons sadden me my solace is
is to see them alive in people's remembrance.
To see them alive in people's memories.
بَقِيَremained الشِّعرُpoetry حِقْبَةًfor an age تَحْتَbeneath لَيْلٍa night
بَقِيَ الشِّعرُ حِقْبَةً تَحْتَ لَيْلٍ
أَعْقَبَتْهُfollowed it فِيin مِصْرَEgypt طَلْعَةُthe rising of فَجْرِdawn
أَعْقَبَتْهُ فِي مِصْرَ طَلْعَةُ فَجْرِ
Poetry lay for an age beneath a night
Poetry remained for a period under the night
followed in Egypt by the rising of dawn.
Which in Egypt the dawn of a new age followed.
جَاءَcame سَامٍSami فِيهَاthere طَلِيعَةَas a herald of خَيْرٍgood
جَاءَ سَامٍ فِيهَا طَلِيعَةَ خَيْرٍ
وَتَلاهُand followed him الندَانِthe two peers شَوْقِيShawqi وَصَبْرِيand Sabri
وَتَلاهُ الندَانِ شَوْقِي وَصَبْرِي
Sami came there as a herald of good,
Sami came in it as the vanguard of good
and the two peers, Shawqi and Sabri, followed him.
Followed by Nadim and Shawqi and Sabri.
وأَتىand came حَافِظٌHafiz فَكَانso there was لِكُلٍّfor each
وأَتى حَافِظٌ فَكَان لِكُلٍّ
قِسْطَهُhis share فِيin افْتِتِاحِushering in هَذَاthis العصرِage
قِسْطَهُ فِي افْتِتِاحِ هَذَا العصرِ
And Hafiz came, and each had
And Hafez came so for each was
his share in ushering in this age.
His share in inaugurating this era.
أَيُّهاO الأَوْفِياءُfaithful ones مِمًّنamong those who أَجَابُواanswered
أَيُّها الأَوْفِياءُ مِمًّن أَجَابُوا
دَاعِيَthe call to البِرِّgoodness بِابْنِtoward the son of مِصْرَEgypt الأَبَرِّthe most dutiful
دَاعِيَ البِرِّ بِابْنِ مِصْرَ الأَبَرِّ
O faithful ones among those who answered
O you loyal ones who responded
the call to honor Egypt's most dutiful son:
To the summons of righteousness and the son of generous Egypt.
شَاعِرُthe poet of النِّيلِthe Nile شَاعِرُthe poet of الشَّرْقِthe East
شَاعِرُ النِّيلِ شَاعِرُ الشَّرْقِ
وَالتَّخصيصُand the designation بِالنِّيلِby the Nile شَامِلُembracing كُلَّevery نَهْرِriver
وَالتَّخصيصُ بِالنِّيلِ شَامِلُ كُلَّ نَهْرِ
The poet of the Nile is the poet of the East,
The poet of the Nile, poet of the East
and the designation 'Nile' embraces every river.
And singling out the Nile includes every river.
إِنْif يُمَجِّدْهُglorify him قَوْمُهُhis people فَلَهُمْthen theirs is مَجْدٌglory
إِنْ يُمَجِّدْهُ قَوْمُهُ فَلَهُمْ مَجْدٌ
بِهthrough him جَازَcrossed كُلَّevery بَحْرٍsea وَبَرِّand land
بِه جَازَ كُلَّ بَحْرٍ وَبَرِّ
If his people glorify him, theirs is a glory
If his people glorify him, theirs is the glory
that through him crossed every sea and land.
With which he traversed every sea and land.
بَارَكَmay bless اللّهُGod فِيin مَسَاعِيكمُyour endeavors الحُسْنَىthe noble
بَارَكَ اللّهُ فِي مَسَاعِيكمُ الحُسْنَى
وَفِيand in ذلِكَthat الشُّعورِsentiment الطُّهرِpure
وَفِي ذلِكَ الشُّعورِ الطُّهرِ
May God bless your noble endeavors
May God bless your good endeavors
and that pure sentiment.
And that pure feeling.
لَيْسَthere is not فِيamong أَجرِthe rewards for مَاwhat صنَعْتُمْyou did كَمَاlike what تُوbestows (start)
لَيْسَ فِي أَجرِ مَا صنَعْتُمْ كَمَا تُو
لِيكُمُbestows on you (end) النَّفسُthe soul مِنْof كَرِيمِnoble الأَجْرِreward
لِيكُمُ النَّفسُ مِنْ كَرِيمِ الأَجْرِ
No reward for what you have done equals what
The reward for what you have done is not as
the soul bestows on you in noble recompense.
The self aspires to noble reward.
يَاO وَزِيراًminister أَهْدَىgave إِلىto الضَّادḌād, symbolizing Arabic مَاwhat شَاdesired (start)
يَا وَزِيراً أَهْدَى إِلى الضَّاد مَا شَا
ءَdesired (end) لَهَاfor it البَعْثُthe revival مِنْof مَآثِرَachievements غُرِّshining
ءَ لَهَا البَعْثُ مِنْ مَآثِرَ غُرِّ
O minister who gave the tongue of Ḍād what
O vizier who guided the restoration of what it wished
its revival desired of shining achievements.
For it achievements from glorious history.
كُلُّall أَمْرِthe affairs of العِرْفَانِlearning مَاwhat تَتَوَلَّىyou oversee
كُلُّ أَمْرِ العِرْفَانِ مَا تَتَوَلَّى
وَعَلِيٌّand Ali يُرْجَىis looked to لِكُلِّfor every الأَمْرِaffair
وَعَلِيٌّ يُرْجَى لِكُلِّ الأَمْرِ
All the affairs of learning are under your charge,
Everything you undertake in gratitude
and Ali is looked to for every affair.
And Ali is hoped for every matter.
إِنْif تَكُنْyou are نَاصِرَthe champion of القَديمِthe old فَماthen not
إِنْ تَكُنْ نَاصِرَ القَديمِ فَما
كُنْتَhave you been ضَنِيناًsparing عَلىtoward الحَديثِthe new بِنَصْرِin support
كُنْتَ ضَنِيناً عَلى الحَديثِ بِنَصْرِ
If you champion the old, you have not
If you support old ways you have not
withheld your support from the new.
Been stingy to the modern with support.
لَيْسَis not شَأْنُthe significance of القَديمِthe old بِالنَّزْرِof little worth فِيin الفُصْحَىliterary Arabic
لَيْسَ شَأْنُ القَديمِ بِالنَّزْرِ فِي الفُصْحَى
وَشَأْنُand the significance of الحَديثِthe new لَيْسَis not بِنَزْرِof little worth
وَشَأْنُ الحَديثِ لَيْسَ بِنَزْرِ
The old is no slight thing in literary Arabic,
The status of old ways is not paltry in eloquence
nor is the new of slight worth.
And the status of the modern is not paltry.
بَيْنَbetween فَرْعٍa branch وَبَيْنَand between أَصْلٍa root زكِيٍflourishing
بَيْنَ فَرْعٍ وَبَيْنَ أَصْلٍ زكِيٍ
هَلْcan يَتِمُّbe perfected النَّماءُgrowth مِنْfrom غَيْرِother than إِصْرِa bond
هَلْ يَتِمُّ النَّماءُ مِنْ غَيْرِ إِصْرِ
Between a branch and a flourishing root,
Between branch and pure origin
can growth be perfected without a bond?
Can growth be complete without tending?
أَنْتِyou أَنْصَفْتَdid justice to حَافِظاًHafiz دُمْتَmay you remain مِنْas a قَاjudge (start)
أَنْتِ أَنْصَفْتَ حَافِظاً دُمْتَ مِنْ قَا
ضٍjudge (end) نَزِيهٍupright وَمِنْand as a وَزِيرٍminister حُرِّfree-spirited
ضٍ نَزِيهٍ وَمِنْ وَزِيرٍ حُرِّ
You have done Hafiz justice; may you remain
You were fair to Hafez, remaining an impartial judge,
an upright judge and a free-spirited minister.
And a liberal minister.
جَمْعُcollecting آثَارِهhis works وَتَمْثِيلُهَاand reproducing them بِالطَّبعِin print
جَمْعُ آثَارِه وَتَمْثِيلُهَا بِالطَّبعِ
فَضْلٌa meritorious service يَبْقَىendures بَقَاءَfor the duration of الدَّهْرِtime
فَضْلٌ يَبْقَى بَقَاءَ الدَّهْرِ
Collecting his works and reproducing them in print
Collecting his works and copying them in print
is a service enduring as long as time.
Is a merit that remains forever.
إِنَّindeed دِيوَانَthe collected poems of حَافِظٍHafiz لهْوَare indeed تَارِيخُthe history of
إِنَّ دِيوَانَ حَافِظٍ لهْوَ تَارِيخُ
زَمَانٍan age يَحْوِيهcontains it دِيوَانُa volume of شِعْرِverse
زَمَانٍ يَحْوِيه دِيوَانُ شِعْرِ
Hafiz's collected poems are indeed the history
The Diwan of Hafez is truly the history
of an age held within a volume of verse.
Of a time contained in a book of poetry.
عَرَبِيُّArabic in الأُسْلُوبِstyle مُمْتَنِعٌinimitable سَهْلٌeffortless
عَرَبِيُّ الأُسْلُوبِ مُمْتَنِعٌ سَهْلٌ
لَهُit has فِيupon النُّهىthe minds أَفَاعِيلُfeats of سِحْرِmagic
لَهُ فِي النُّهى أَفَاعِيلُ سِحْرِ
Arabic in style, inimitable yet effortless,
Arabic in style, strong yet easy,
it performs feats of magic upon the mind.
In rhetoric having snakes of sorcery.
مُسْتَعِيرٌborrowing مِنfrom الحِلىadornments مَاwhat أَعَارَlent
مُسْتَعِيرٌ مِن الحِلى مَا أَعَارَ
اللَّهُGod فَصْحَاهُits eloquent Arabic فِيin حَكِيمِthe wise الذِّكْرِScripture
اللَّهُ فَصْحَاهُ فِي حَكِيمِ الذِّكْرِ
Borrowing of adornment what
Borrowing from fineries what God lent him eloquence
God lent its eloquent Arabic in the wise Scripture.
In the Wise Remembrance.
صَاغَتِfashioned الفِطْنَةُthe insight البَديعَةُwondrous فِيهwithin it
صَاغَتِ الفِطْنَةُ البَديعَةُ فِيه
أَنْفَسَthe most precious الدُّرِّpearls فِيin قَلائِدِnecklaces of تِبْرِgold
أَنْفَسَ الدُّرِّ فِي قَلائِدِ تِبْرِ
Wondrous insight fashioned within it
Ingenuity fashioned in it the finest pearls
the most precious pearls in necklaces of gold.
Into necklaces of matched gems.
حَيْثُwherever قَلَّبْتَyou turn نَاظِرَِيْكَyour two eyes تجَلَّتْappear
حَيْثُ قَلَّبْتَ نَاظِرَِيْكَ تجَلَّتْ
لِلقَوَافِيfor the rhymes فِيهin it مَطَالِعُvistas of زَهْرِblossoms
لِلقَوَافِي فِيه مَطَالِعُ زَهْرِ
Wherever you turn your eyes, there unfold
Wherever you turned your eyes springs of rhyme appeared,
vistas of blossoms in its rhymes.
Gardens of beauties adorned with blossoms.
وَرِيَاضٌand gardens مِنَof المَحَاسِنِbeauties زِينَتْwere adorned
وَرِيَاضٌ مِنَ المَحَاسِنِ زِينَتْ
بِالأَفَانِينِwith varieties مِنْof غِرَاسٍplantings وَزَهْرِand blossoms
بِالأَفَانِينِ مِنْ غِرَاسٍ وَزَهْرِ
And gardens of beauty adorned
In it is the secret of Egypt none can match
with diverse plantings and blossoms.
Explaining with the subtlety of that mystery.
فِيهin it مِنْof سِرِّthe mystery of مِصْرَEgypt مَاthat which لاnot
فِيه مِنْ سِرِّ مِصْرَ مَا لا
يُجَارِيهmatches it بَيَانٌeloquence بِلطْفِin the subtlety of ذَاكَthat السِّرِّmystery
يُجَارِيه بَيَانٌ بِلطْفِ ذَاكَ السِّرِّ
Within it is something of Egypt's mystery that
Its heart pulses with it, and the source of the Nile
no eloquence can match in that mystery's subtlety.
From it overflows into every sea.
قلْبُهَاher heart نَابِضٌbeating بِهin it وَمَعِينُand the wellspring of النَّيلِthe Nile
قلْبُهَا نَابِضٌ بِه وَمَعِينُ النَّيلِ
مِنْهُfrom it يَفِيضُflows فِيinto كلِّevery بَحْرِsea
مِنْهُ يَفِيضُ فِي كلِّ بَحْرِ
Her heart beats in it, and the Nile's wellspring
Hafez gave poetry every commendation and purified it
flows from it into every sea.
With deliberation and patience.
جَوَّدَperfected الشِّعرَpoetry حَافِظٌHafiz كُلَّall تَجْوِperfection (start)
جَوَّدَ الشِّعرَ حَافِظٌ كُلَّ تَجْوِ
يدٍperfection (end) وَصَفَّاهُand refined it فِيwith أَنَاةٍdeliberation وَصَبْرِand patience
يدٍ وَصَفَّاهُ فِي أَنَاةٍ وَصَبْرِ
Hafiz perfected poetry to the utmost
He was not distracted by the lateness of the age
and refined it with deliberation and patience.
From the manner of a beloved in his time, al-Ma'arri.
لَمْdid not يَعقْهُhinder him تَأَخُّرُthe lateness of العَصْرِthe age عَنْfrom شَأْattainment (start)
لَمْ يَعقْهُ تَأَخُّرُ العَصْرِ عَنْ شَأْ
وattainment (end) حَبِيبٍHabib فِيin عَصْرِهhis age وَالمَعَرِّيand al-Ma'arri
و حَبِيبٍ فِي عَصْرِه وَالمَعَرِّي
His age's lateness did not bar him from the attainments
To that he was peerless but in the bedizening of prose
of Habib in his own age and of al-Ma'arri.
He was unique in the bedizening of verse.
وَإِلىand in addition to ذَاكَthat لَمْnot يَكُنْwas he فِيin بَديعِexquisite
وَإِلى ذَاكَ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي بَديعِ
النَّظمِverse إِلاَّهُother than himself فِيin بَديعِexquisite النَّثرِprose
النَّظمِ إِلاَّهُ فِي بَديعِ النَّثرِ
And besides, he was in exquisite
He crafted what he crafted, selecting and excelling,
verse the same as he was in exquisite prose.
The practice of one who picks the unique pearl.
صَاغَfashioned مَاwhat صَاغَهُhe fashioned مُقِلاًّproducing little مُجِيداًmasterfully
صَاغَ مَا صَاغَهُ مُقِلاًّ مُجِيداً
شَأْنُin the manner of مَنْone who يَنْتَقِيselects فَرِيدَthe rarest الدُّرِّpearls
شَأْنُ مَنْ يَنْتَقِي فَرِيدَ الدُّرِّ
He fashioned what he fashioned, sparingly but masterfully,
So when he intoned rhymes in
as one who selects the rarest pearls.
A gathering, his verse was “which pearl? which gem?”
فَإِذَاand when اسْتُنْشِدَwas asked to recite القَوَافِيَthe rhymes فِيat
فَإِذَا اسْتُنْشِدَ القَوَافِيَ فِي
حَفْلٍa gathering للّهto God belongs دَرُّهُhis excellence أَيُّwhat دَرِّexcellence
حَفْلٍ للّه دَرُّهُ أَيُّ دَرِّ
And when he was asked to recite his rhymes at
The pulpit he mounted fluttered
a gathering—God bless him, how splendid he was!
Like hearts fluttering in every chest.
يَخْفُقُthrobs المِنْبَرُthe pulpit الَّذيwhich يَعْتَلِيهِhe ascends
يَخْفُقُ المِنْبَرُ الَّذي يَعْتَلِيهِ
كَخُفُوقِlike the beating of القُلُوبِhearts فِيin كُلِّevery صَدْرِbreast
كَخُفُوقِ القُلُوبِ فِي كُلِّ صَدْرِ
The pulpit he ascends throbs
He excelled in rhetoric, gesture and voice
like the beating of hearts in every breast.
Between soft and loud.
بَرَعَsurpassed البَارِعِينَthe masters بِالنُّطقِin speech وَالإِيمَاءِand gesture
بَرَعَ البَارِعِينَ بِالنُّطقِ وَالإِيمَاءِ
وَالصَّوْتِand voice بَيْنَbetween خَفْضٍsoftness وَجَهْرِand loudness
وَالصَّوْتِ بَيْنَ خَفْضٍ وَجَهْرِ
He surpassed the masters in speech and gesture,
Advancing and retreating, confronting and wheeling,
and in voice, between softness and loudness.
Loud, resounding utterance.
ذَاهِباًgoing آيِباًreturning يُوَاجِهُhe faces forward أَوْor يَلوِيhe turns aside
ذَاهِباً آيِباً يُوَاجِهُ أَوْ يَلوِي
فَصِيحَeloquent الأَدَاءِthe delivery فَخْمَgrand النَّبرِthe intonation
فَصِيحَ الأَدَاءِ فَخْمَ النَّبرِ
Moving to and fro, facing forward or turning,
Galloping in the arena, charging and wheeling,
eloquent in delivery, grand in intonation,
Captivating minds amid charges and retreats.
صَائِلاًcharging فِيin المَجَالِthe field كَرّاًadvancing وَفَرّاًand retreating
صَائِلاً فِي المَجَالِ كَرّاً وَفَرّاً
يَأْسِرُhe captivates اللُّبَّthe mind بَيْنَbetween كَرّadvance وَفرِّand retreat
يَأْسِرُ اللُّبَّ بَيْنَ كَرّ وَفرِّ
he charges across the field, advancing and retreating,
He tells tales, entertaining his friends
capturing the mind between advance and retreat.
With delicious conversation without affectation.
وَلَقَدْand indeed يَسْرُدُhe recounts الحَديثَthe tale فَيُنْشِيand intoxicates
وَلَقَدْ يَسْرُدُ الحَديثَ فَيُنْشِي
صَحْبَهُhis companions بِالسَّلافِwith pure wine مِنْfrom غَيْرِother than وِزْرِsin
صَحْبَهُ بِالسَّلافِ مِنْ غَيْرِ وِزْرِ
And indeed, he would tell a tale, intoxicating
Those addicted to wine among them prefer
his companions with pure wine, without sin.
What he served them to old vintages.
يُؤْثِرُprefer المُولَعُونَthose enamored بِالخَمْرِof wine مِنْهُمْamong them
يُؤْثِرُ المُولَعُونَ بِالخَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ
مَاwhat سَقَاهُمْhe gave them to drink عَلىover عَتِيقِaged الخَمْرِwine
مَا سَقَاهُمْ عَلى عَتِيقِ الخَمْرِ
The wine-lovers among them preferred
Overlook that in his merits and say of
what he poured them to well-aged wine.
His generosity, loyalty, or righteousness,
عَدِّpass over عَنْfrom تِلْكَthose فِيamong المَزَايَاthe virtues وَقُلْand speak فِيof
عَدِّ عَنْ تِلْكَ فِي المَزَايَا وَقُلْ فِي
الجُودgenerosity أَوْor فِيof الوَفَاءِloyalty أَوْor فِيof البِرِّgoodness
الجُود أَوْ فِي الوَفَاءِ أَوْ فِي البِرِّ
Pass beyond those virtues, and speak of
And his firmness, forbearance, and dignity in hardship
generosity, or loyalty, or goodness.
And munificence in ease.
وَاشْدُand sing بِالإِبَاءِof dignity وَالحِلمِand forbearance وَالعِزَّand honor (start)
وَاشْدُ بِالإِبَاءِ وَالحِلمِ وَالعِزَّ
ةِhonor (end) فِيin العُسْرِhardship والنَّدَىand generosity فِيin اليُسْرِease
ةِ فِي العُسْرِ والنَّدَى فِي اليُسْرِ
And sing of dignity, forbearance, and honor
That dear departed was of the noblest character
in hardship, and generosity in ease.
And they are few.
كَانَwas ذَاكَthat الفَقِيدُdeparted man مِنْamong أَكْرَمِthe noblest
كَانَ ذَاكَ الفَقِيدُ مِنْ أَكْرَمِ
الخَلقِpeople بِأَخْلاقِهِin his character وَلَيْسُواand they are not بِكُثْرِmany
الخَلقِ بِأَخْلاقِهِ وَلَيْسُوا بِكُثْرِ
That departed man was among the noblest
A man abundant in manliness who
of people in character—and they are not many.
Heeds only praiseworthy traits abundantly.
رُجُلٌa man وَافِرُabundant in المُروءَةintegrity لاnot
رُجُلٌ وَافِرُ المُروءَة لا
يَعْتَدُّhe values إِلاَّexcept لِلمَحْمَدَاتِfor praiseworthy deeds بِوَفْرِwealth
يَعْتَدُّ إِلاَّ لِلمَحْمَدَاتِ بِوَفْرِ
A man rich in integrity, who
And he loves life, fulfilled for ages,
valued wealth only for praiseworthy deeds.
All means of it incentive for pride.
وَيُحِبُّand he loves الحَيَاةَlife مَلأَىfilled عُهوداًwith pledges
وَيُحِبُّ الحَيَاةَ مَلأَى عُهوداً
كُلُّall أَسْبابِهَاits ties بَوَاعِثُoccasions for فَخْرِpride
كُلُّ أَسْبابِهَا بَوَاعِثُ فَخْرِ
And he loved life full of pledges,
O King, it was as if the tenderness of the world to him
all its ties occasions for pride.
Was Egypt's tenderness to him.
يَاO مَلِيكاًking كَأَنَّas though مُهْجَةَthe heart of دُنْيَاworld (start)
يَا مَلِيكاً كَأَنَّ مُهْجَةَ دُنْيَا
هُhis (suffix) حَنَاناًin tenderness عَلَيْهtoward him مُهْجَةُthe heart of مِصْرِEgypt
هُ حَنَاناً عَلَيْه مُهْجَةُ مِصْرِ
O king, as though the heart of his world,
It revealed to him the secret of how it withered
in tenderness toward him, were the heart of Egypt.
And how his prime still thrived.
كَاشَفَتْهُshe revealed to him بِسِرِّthe secret of ماwhat هَرِمَتْshe grew old فِيهin it
كَاشَفَتْهُ بِسِرِّ ما هَرِمَتْ فِيه
وَمَاand not زَالَceased فِيin صِبَاهُhis youth النَّضرِfresh
وَمَا زَالَ فِي صِبَاهُ النَّضرِ
She revealed to him the secret of what she had grown old in,
Virtue untainted, character discreet,
while he still remains in his fresh youth:
Genius beaming from the face of a full moon.
خُلُقٌcharacter طَاهِرٌpure وَخلْقٌand form سرِيٌّnoble
خُلُقٌ طَاهِرٌ وَخلْقٌ سرِيٌّ
وَنُبُوغٌand genius يَهُلُّdawns مِنْfrom وَجْهa face بَدْرِa full moon
وَنُبُوغٌ يَهُلُّ مِنْ وَجْه بَدْرِ
Pure character, noble form,
Your lofty patronage ennobled Hafez
and genius dawning from a full-moon face.
In it the memory has the finest treasure.
شَرَّفتْhonored حَافِظاًHafiz رِعَايَتُكَyour patronage العَليَاexalted
شَرَّفتْ حَافِظاً رِعَايَتُكَ العَليَا
وَفِيهَاand in it لِلذكْرِfor remembrance أَنْفَسُthe most precious ذُخْرِtreasure
وَفِيهَا لِلذكْرِ أَنْفَسُ ذُخْرِ
Your exalted patronage honored Hafiz,
It is as if a drop of the dew of mercy
and in it remembrance has its most precious treasure.
Revived his remains in the grave.
فكأنِّيso it is as though I بِقَطْرَةٍwith a drop مِنْfrom ندَىthe dew of الرَّحْمَةmercy
فكأنِّي بِقَطْرَةٍ مِنْ ندَى الرَّحْمَة
تحْيِيrevives رَمِيمَهُhis crumbling remains فِيin القَبْرِthe grave
تحْيِي رَمِيمَهُ فِي القَبْرِ
It is as though I see a drop from the dew of mercy
And as if from beyond the unseen he dictated
reviving his crumbling remains in the grave.
While the echoes repeat verses of thanks.
وَكَأَنِّيand it is as though I بِهwith him مِنَfrom الغَيْبِthe unseen يُمْلِيhe dictates
وَكَأَنِّي بِه مِنَ الغَيْبِ يُمْلِي
فَتُعِيدُso repeat الأصدَاءُthe echoes آيَاتِverses of شُكْرِgratitude
فَتُعِيدُ الأصدَاءُ آيَاتِ شُكْرِ
And it is as though I hear him dictating from the unseen,
May Farouk live sovereign and king
while echoes repeat verses of gratitude:
And mighty for Egypt the longest life.
عَاشَmay live فَارُوقFarouk سيِّداًas a lord وَمَلِيكاًand as a king
عَاشَ فَارُوق سيِّداً وَمَلِيكاً
وَعَزِيزاًand as a mighty one لِمِصْرَfor Egypt أَطْوَلَthe longest عُمْرِlifetime
وَعَزِيزاً لِمِصْرَ أَطْوَلَ عُمْرِ
May Farouk live as lord and king,
And may bountiful God protect him and support him
and as Egypt's mighty one, for the longest lifetime!
Whenever he seeks any victory.
وَرَعَاهُand may protect him اللّهُGod الكَريمُthe gracious وَأَوْلاand grant (start)
وَرَعَاهُ اللّهُ الكَريمُ وَأَوْلا
هُhim (suffix) إِذَاwhen مَاever (emphasis) اسْتَعَانَهُhe seeks His aid كُلَّevery نَصْرِvictory
هُ إِذَا مَا اسْتَعَانَهُ كُلَّ نَصْرِ
May gracious God protect him and grant
him every victory whenever he seeks His aid.
Partial English translation: 108 of 110 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1