هَلْwill ...? يَسْعُفِsuffice القَوْلُwords فِيin حَمْدِpraising الأُولَىthose who وَفَدُواcame as visitors
هَلْ يَسْعُفِ القَوْلُ فِي حَمْدِ الأُولَى وَفَدُوا
أَوْor يَسْعُدِsucceed العُذْرُthe excuse فِيin تَقْصِيرِfalling short كَاتِبِهِits writer
أَوْ يَسْعُدِ العُذْرُ فِي تَقْصِيرِ كَاتِبِهِ
Can words come to my aid in praising those who came as a delegation,
Will words suffice to praise those who came as visitors,
or can an excuse serve when its writer falls short?
Or will an excuse avail for its writer’s shortcomings?
سُرَاةُthe nobles قَوْمِيmy people وَمَنْand who لِيfor me أَنْto أُكَافِئَهُمْrepay them
سُرَاةُ قَوْمِي وَمَنْ لِي أَنْ أُكَافِئَهُمْ
أَتَواdid جَمِيلاًa kindness وَمَاand not رَقَّواfelt pity لِصَاحِبِهِfor its recipient
أَتَوا جَمِيلاً وَمَا رَقَّوا لِصَاحِبِهِ
The nobles of my people—and who am I to repay them?
The nobles of my people—how am I to repay them?
They did a noble deed, though no pity for its recipient moved them.
They did a kindness and felt no pity for its recipient.
جَزَاهُمُmay He reward them اللهُGod خَيْراًwith good عَنْon behalf of أَخٍa brother رَفَقَتْwas gentle
جَزَاهُمُ اللهُ خَيْراً عَنْ أَخٍ رَفَقَتْ
بِهِwith him الحياةُlife وَقَدْand indeed قَامُواstood بِجَانِبِهِat his side
بِهِ الحياةُ وَقَدْ قَامُوا بِجَانِبِهِ
May God reward them well on behalf of a brother with whom
May God reward them well on behalf of a brother treated gently
life dealt gently—yet still they stood beside him.
By life, while they stood at his side.
Sol 6.1