إِذَاif لَمْnot يَكُنْthere is فِيin دَوُلَةِthe realm العِلمِof learning حَاجِبُa chamberlain
إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي دَوُلَةِ العِلمِ حَاجِبُ
أَمِيرَO prince of النُّهَىreason إِذْناًpermission فَإِنِّيfor I مُخَاطِبُam speaking
أَمِيرَ النُّهَى إِذْناً فَإِنِّي مُخَاطِبُ
If the realm of learning has no chamberlain,
O prince of reason, your leave—for I address you
خِطَابَthe speech of فَتىًa youth يَرْعَىhonors مَقَامَيْtwo stations of جَلاَلَةٍmajesty
خِطَابَ فَتىً يَرْعَى مَقَامَيْ جَلاَلَةٍ
أَعَزَّهُمَاthe nobler of them مَاwhat لَمْnot تُنِلكَbestow on you المَنَاسِبُancestry
أَعَزَّهُمَا مَا لَمْ تُنِلكَ المَنَاسِبُ
With the words of a youth who honors two stations of majesty,
The nobler of them being what ancestry did not confer on you.
أَحَلَّتْكَhas placed you مِنْهُwithin it اللَّوْذَعِيَّةُkeen wit مَنْصِباًin a station
أَحَلَّتْكَ مِنْهُ اللَّوْذَعِيَّةُ مَنْصِباً
عَلَىupon سَنَمٍa summit تَنْحَطُّsink عَنْهُbeneath it المَنَاصِبُthe ranks
عَلَى سَنَمٍ تَنْحَطُّ عَنْهُ المَنَاصِبُ
Keen wit has placed you in a rank within it,
On a summit beneath which all other ranks sink.
إِلَيْكَto you كَتَاباًa book فِيهِin it أَحْيَيْتَyou spent سَاهِراًwakeful
إِلَيْكَ كَتَاباً فِيهِ أَحْيَيْتَ سَاهِراً
لَيَالِيَnights كَانَتْwere مِنْpart of دُجَاهَاtheir darkness النَّوَائِبُcalamities
لَيَالِيَ كَانَتْ مِنْ دُجَاهَا النَّوَائِبُ
To you, a book over which you kept vigil
Through nights whose darkness held calamities.
وَقَفْتُI devoted عَلَيْهِto it سُهْدَthe wakefulness of فِكْرِيmy thought وَدُونَهُand before it
وَقَفْتُ عَلَيْهِ سُهْدَ فِكْرِي وَدُونَهُ
مَصَائِبُcalamities تَثْنِينيturn me back وَدَهْرٌand time يُحَارِبُwages war
مَصَائِبُ تَثْنِيني وَدَهْرٌ يُحَارِبُ
I devoted to it my sleepless thought, while in its way
Stood calamities to deter me, and time at war.
ثَبَاتِيmy steadfastness مِنَfrom السُّقْمِillness المُقِيمِpersistent أَفَدْتُهُI gained it
ثَبَاتِي مِنَ السُّقْمِ المُقِيمِ أَفَدْتُهُ
وَصَبْرِيَand my patience مَمَّاfrom what أَكْسَبَتْنِيgave me المَتَاعِبُhardships
وَصَبْرِيَ مَمَّا أَكْسَبَتْنِي المَتَاعِبُ
I gained my steadfastness from persistent illness,
And my patience from what hardships gave me.
لَوِif الكَوْكَبُthe star الدُّرِّيُّpearl-bright وَهْوَwhile it is مُسَاهِرِيmy companion in vigil
لَوِ الكَوْكَبُ الدُّرِّيُّ وَهْوَ مُسَاهِرِي
رَأَىsaw مَاwhat أُقَاسِيI endure لاَغْتَدَىit would become وَهْوَwhile it was شَاحِبُpale
رَأَى مَا أُقَاسِي لاَغْتَدَى وَهْوَ شَاحِبُ
If the pearl-bright star, my companion in vigil,
Saw what I endure, it would grow pale.
كِتَابٌa book أُعَانِيI struggle with جَمْعَهُits compilation حَيْثُwhile خَاطِرِيmy mind
كِتَابٌ أُعَانِي جَمْعَهُ حَيْثُ خَاطِرِي
شَتِيتٌscattered وَبِيand I have شُغْلٌa preoccupation مِنَfrom الهَمِّsorrow نَاصِبُexhausting
شَتِيتٌ وَبِي شُغْلٌ مِنَ الهَمِّ نَاصِبُ
A book I struggle to compile while my mind
Is scattered, and wearying sorrow preoccupies me.
دَعَانِيcalled me لَهُto it اسْتِكْمَالُthe fulfillment عَهْدِكَyour reign لِلْمُنَىof hopes
دَعَانِي لَهُ اسْتِكْمَالُ عَهْدِكَ لِلْمُنَى
وَنُورُكَand your light لِيfor me هَادٍa guide وَأَمْرُكَand your command غَالِبُprevailing
وَنُورُكَ لِي هَادٍ وَأَمْرُكَ غَالِبُ
Your reign's fulfillment of hopes called me to it,
And your light is my guide, and your command prevails.
فَجَاءَso it came forth قَلِيلاًlittle مِنْfrom قَلِيلٍlittle وَإِنَّمَاand only
فَجَاءَ قَلِيلاً مِنْ قَلِيلٍ وَإِنَّمَا
تَوَفَّرَabounded فِيهِin it بَحْثُهُits research وَالمَطَالِبُand subjects of inquiry
تَوَفَّرَ فِيهِ بَحْثُهُ وَالمَطَالِبُ
So it emerged a little out of little; only
Its research and subjects of inquiry abound.
عَتِيقٌancient مَعَانِيهِits meanings جَدِيدٌnew سِيَاقُهُits telling
عَتِيقٌ مَعَانِيهِ جَدِيدٌ سِيَاقُهُ
يُعِيدُrestores شَبَابَthe youth of الدَّهْرِtime وَالدَّهْرُwhile time شَائِبُis gray-haired
يُعِيدُ شَبَابَ الدَّهْرِ وَالدَّهْرُ شَائِبُ
Ancient are its meanings, new its telling;
It restores time's youth, though time is gray-haired.
يَقُصُّrecounts حَدِيثَthe story of الكَوْنِthe universe مُنْذُsince ابْتِدَائِهِits beginning
يَقُصُّ حَدِيثَ الكَوْنِ مُنْذُ ابْتِدَائِهِ
وَمَاand what َأخْلَفَتْleft behind أَحْدَاثُهُits events وَالتَّجَارِبُand experiences
وَمَا َأخْلَفَتْ أَحْدَاثُهُ وَالتَّجَارِبُ
It tells the story of the universe from its beginning,
And what its events and experiences have left behind.
وَتَمْثُلُand appear أَجْيَالُthe generations of الوَرَىhumankind فِيهِwithin it بَادِياًplainly visible
وَتَمْثُلُ أَجْيَالُ الوَرَى فِيهِ بَادِياً
خَفِيَّthe secrets of طَوَايَاهَاtheir inner folds لَدَىbefore مَنْwhoever يُرَاقِبُobserves
خَفِيَّ طَوَايَاهَا لَدَى مَنْ يُرَاقِبُ
And the generations of humankind appear within it, revealing
Their innermost secrets to whoever observes.
هُنَالِكَthere أَقْوَامٌpeoples تَجِيءُcome وَتَنْقَضِيand pass away
هُنَالِكَ أَقْوَامٌ تَجِيءُ وَتَنْقَضِي
وَتَتْبَعُهَاand follow them أَطْوَارُهَاtheir ways وَالمَذَاهِبُand doctrines
وَتَتْبَعُهَا أَطْوَارُهَا وَالمَذَاهِبُ
There, peoples come and pass away,
And their ways and doctrines follow them.
مَمَالِكَkingdoms تُبْنَىare built بِالصَّوَارِمِwith sharp swords وَالقَنَاand spears
مَمَالِكَ تُبْنَى بِالصَّوَارِمِ وَالقَنَا
وَتَهْدِمُهَاand tear them down أَوْزَارُهَاtheir sins وَالمَعَايِبُand faults
وَتَهْدِمُهَا أَوْزَارُهَا وَالمَعَايِبُ
Kingdoms are built with sharp swords and spears,
And their sins and faults tear them down.
غَرَائِبُwonders أَدْيَانٍof religions وَجِنْسٍand race وَمَشْرَبٍand outlook
غَرَائِبُ أَدْيَانٍ وَجِنْسٍ وَمَشْرَبٍ
وَخَلقٍand physical form وَأَخْلاقٍand morals تَلِيهَاfollow them غَرَائِبُwonders
وَخَلقٍ وَأَخْلاقٍ تَلِيهَا غَرَائِبُ
Wonders of religions, race, and outlook,
And of form and morals, with more wonders following them.
تَمُرُّpass وَنُورُwhile the light of النَّقْدِcriticism يُبْدِيreveals خَفِيَّهَاtheir secrets
تَمُرُّ وَنُورُ النَّقْدِ يُبْدِي خَفِيَّهَا
سِرَاعَاًswiftly كَمَاas مَرَّتْpassed بِشَمْسٍpast a sun سَحَائِبُclouds
سِرَاعَاً كَمَا مَرَّتْ بِشَمْسٍ سَحَائِبُ
They pass, while the light of criticism reveals their secrets,
Swiftly, as clouds pass before the sun.
وَلَمْand not أَرَI have seen شَيْئاًanything كَالْفَضِيلَةِlike virtue ثَابِتاًsteadfast
وَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئاً كَالْفَضِيلَةِ ثَابِتاً
نَبَتْrecoiled عَنْهُfrom it آفَاتُthe ravages البِلَىof decay وَالمَعَاطِبُand deadly perils
نَبَتْ عَنْهُ آفَاتُ البِلَى وَالمَعَاطِبُ
And I have seen nothing as steadfast as virtue,
From which decay's ravages and deadly perils recoil.
وَمَنْand whoever يَصْطَحِبْهَاkeeps its company كَاصْطِحَابِكَas you keep company رَاشِداًwisely
وَمَنْ يَصْطَحِبْهَا كَاصْطِحَابِكَ رَاشِداً
فَإِنَّthen indeed لَهُfor him المَجْدَglory المُخَلَّدَeverlasting صَاحِبُa companion
فَإِنَّ لَهُ المَجْدَ المُخَلَّدَ صَاحِبُ
And whoever wisely keeps its company, as you do,
Has immortal glory for his companion.
سَيَدْرِيwill know بَنُوthe sons الأَيَّامِof days آخِرَat the end of دَهْرِهِمْtheir age
سَيَدْرِي بَنُو الأَيَّامِ آخِرَ دَهْرِهِمْ
مَنَاقِبَthe virtues of عَبَّاسٍAbbas وَنِعْمَand how excellent المَنَاقِبُthe virtues
مَنَاقِبَ عَبَّاسٍ وَنِعْمَ المَنَاقِبُ
The sons of days will know, at the end of their age,
The virtues of Abbas—and how fine those virtues are!
وُتُرْوَىand will be recounted لَهُمْto them عَنْهُabout him فِعَالٌdeeds جَمِيلَةٌbeautiful
وُتُرْوَى لَهُمْ عَنْهُ فِعَالٌ جَمِيلَةٌ
تُضِيءُilluminate سَمَاءَthe sky الذِّكْرِof remembrance مِنْهَاfrom them كَوَاكِبُstars
تُضِيءُ سَمَاءَ الذِّكْرِ مِنْهَا كَوَاكِبُ
And beautiful deeds of his will be recounted to them,
From them, stars illuminate the sky of remembrance.
أَطَالَmay prolong لَكَfor you الرَّحْمَنُthe All-Merciful عَهْداًa reign مُبَارَكاًblessed
أَطَالَ لَكَ الرَّحْمَنُ عَهْداً مُبَارَكاً
فَوَاتِحُهُits beginnings غُنْمٌgain لَنَاfor us وَالعَوَاقِبُand the outcomes
فَوَاتِحُهُ غُنْمٌ لَنَا وَالعَوَاقِبُ
May the All-Merciful prolong your blessed reign,
Whose beginnings and endings are gain for us.
فَحُكْمُكَfor your rule شَمْسُthe sun الحَقِّof truth فِينَاamong us إِضَاءَةًin radiance
فَحُكْمُكَ شَمْسُ الحَقِّ فِينَا إِضَاءَةً
وَكُلُّand every مُضِيءٍshining thing مَاwhat is سِوَىother than الحَقِّtruth كَاذِبُfalse
وَكُلُّ مُضِيءٍ مَا سِوَى الحَقِّ كَاذِبُ
For your rule is truth's sun, shining among us,
And all that shines apart from truth is false.
وَفَضْلُكَand your bounty فِينَاamong us لِلفَضَائِلِfor virtues مَنْبِتٌa seedbed
وَفَضْلُكَ فِينَا لِلفَضَائِلِ مَنْبِتٌ
مَشَارِقُthe eastern regions مِصْرٍof Egypt رَوْضُهُits garden وَالمَغَارِبُand the western regions
مَشَارِقُ مِصْرٍ رَوْضُهُ وَالمَغَارِبُ
And your bounty among us is a seedbed for virtues,
Egypt's east and west are its garden.
فَمَنْso whoever شَاعرٌis a poet مِنَّاamong us فَحَمْدُكَthen praise of you نَاظِمٌa verse-maker
فَمَنْ شَاعرٌ مِنَّا فَحَمْدُكَ نَاظِمٌ
وَمَنْand whoever نَاثِرٌis a prose writer مِنَّاamong us فَمَجْدُكَthen your glory كَاتِبُa writer
وَمَنْ نَاثِرٌ مِنَّا فَمَجْدُكَ كَاتِبُ
So if any of us is a poet, praise of you composes the verse;
And if any of us writes prose, your glory is the writer.
مَتَىwhenever تَصْدَحِsing out الأَطْيَارُthe birds فَالفَجْرُthen the dawn صَادِحٌis singing
مَتَى تَصْدَحِ الأَطْيَارُ فَالفَجْرُ صَادِحٌ
وَإِنْand if تَسْكُبِpour down الأَمْطَارُthe rains فَالبَحْرُthen the sea سَاكِبُis pouring
وَإِنْ تَسْكُبِ الأَمْطَارُ فَالبَحْرُ سَاكِبُ
Whenever the birds sing out, it is the dawn that sings;
And if the rains pour down, it is the sea that pours.
Sol 6.1