أَلْغَرْسُthe planting غَرْسُكَyour planting أَيُّهَاO البُسْتَانِيgardener
أَلْغَرْسُ غَرْسُكَ أَيُّهَا البُسْتَانِي
فَانْظُرْso look إلىat الثَّمَرَاتِthe fruits وَالأَغْصَانِand the branches
فَانْظُرْ إلى الثَّمَرَاتِ وَالأَغْصَانِ
The planting is yours, O gardener;
So look upon the fruits and branches.
أيُّwhich الرِّيَاضِgardens كَرَوْضَةٍlike a garden أَنْشَأْتَهَاyou created it
أيُّ الرِّيَاضِ كَرَوْضَةٍ أَنْشَأْتَهَا
فِيهَاin it قُطُوفٌfruit clusters لِلنُّهَىfor minds وَمجَانِيand gathered fruits
فِيهَا قُطُوفٌ لِلنُّهَى وَمجَانِي
Which garden rivals one that you have raised,
With clusters and harvests for the mind?
عِلْمُknowledge وَأَخْلاَقٌand morals وَحُسْنُand goodness شَمَائِلٍof character
عِلْمُ وَأَخْلاَقٌ وَحُسْنُ شَمَائِلٍ
مِنْof فَاكِهةٍfruit بِهَاin it زَوْجَانِtwo kinds
مِنْ فَاكِهةٍ بِهَا زَوْجَانِ
Knowledge, morals, and nobility of character
Are among its fruits, borne in pairs.
نَبَتَتْit grew نَبَاتاًa growth صَالِحاًwholesome وَتَنَوَّعَتْand became varied
نَبَتَتْ نَبَاتاً صَالِحاً وَتَنَوَّعَتْ
زِينَاتُهَاits adornments مِنْof حِكْمَةٍwisdom وَبَيانِand eloquence
زِينَاتُهَا مِنْ حِكْمَةٍ وَبَيانِ
It has flourished soundly, and varied are
Its adornments of wisdom and eloquence.
يَاO خَيْرَbest of مَنْthose who رَبَّىnurtured فَأَتْحَفَthen endowed قَوْمَهُhis people
يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ رَبَّى فَأَتْحَفَ قَوْمَهُ
بِنَوَابِغِwith prodigies الأَدَابِof literature وَالعِرْفَانِand learning
بِنَوَابِغِ الأَدَابِ وَالعِرْفَانِ
O best of those who nurtured, then enriched their people
With prodigies of letters and learning.
أَحْسَنْتَyou did good فِيat آنٍone time إلىto هَذّاthis الْحِمَىsanctuary
أَحْسَنْتَ فِي آنٍ إلى هَذّا الْحِمَى
وَإلىand to سِوَاهُothers besides it نِهَايَةَthe utmost الإحْسَانِkindness
وَإلى سِوَاهُ نِهَايَةَ الإحْسَانِ
At once you have served this sanctuary
And others with the utmost kindness.
أَلحِكْمَةُal-Hikma (Wisdom) الزَّهْرَاءُthe radiant شَادَاتْbuilt مَعْهَداًan institute
أَلحِكْمَةُ الزَّهْرَاءُ شَادَاتْ مَعْهَداً
مَاnot زِلْتَyou have ceased فِيهِin it أَثْبَتَthe firmest الأرْكَانِof pillars
مَا زِلْتَ فِيهِ أَثْبَتَ الأرْكَانِ
Radiant al-Hikma has raised an institute
Where you remain the firmest pillar.
وَمِنَand from الأُولَىthose who مَرُّواthey passed بِظِلِّكَbeneath your shade أَخْرَجَتْit brought forth
وَمِنَ الأُولَى مَرُّوا بِظِلِّكَ أَخْرَجَتْ
نُخَباًan elite يُشَارُpeople point إلَيِهِمُto them بِبَنَانِwith a finger
نُخَباً يُشَارُ إلَيِهِمُ بِبَنَانِ
And from those who passed beneath your shade, it brought forth
An elite to whom people point in admiration.
فِتْيَانُهَاits young men فِيin الْعَالَمِthe world العَرَبِيِّArab هُمْthey
فِتْيَانُهَا فِي الْعَالَمِ العَرَبِيِّ هُمْ
فَخْرُthe pride الشَّبَابِof youth وَزِينَةُand the adornment الْفِتْيَانِof young men
فَخْرُ الشَّبَابِ وَزِينَةُ الْفِتْيَانِ
Its young men, throughout the Arab world, are
The pride of youth and the adornment of young men.
أَلْبَطْرِكِيًّةُthe Patriarchal School فِيin زَمَانِكَyour time نَافَسَتْrivaled
أَلْبَطْرِكِيًّةُ فِي زَمَانِكَ نَافَسَتْ
مِنْfrom عَهْدِهَاits history المَشْهُورِrenowned خَيْرَthe finest زَمَانِage
مِنْ عَهْدِهَا المَشْهُورِ خَيْرَ زَمَانِ
The Patriarchal School, in your time, has rivaled
The finest age of its renowned history.
وَبَنُوكَand your sons فِيهَاin it ذَاكِرُواremember أُستَاذِهِمْtheir teacher
وَبَنُوكَ فِيهَا ذَاكِرُوا أُستَاذِهِمْ
بِالخَيْرِwith praise فِيin الإسُرَارِprivate وَالإعْلاَنِand public
بِالخَيْرِ فِي الإسُرَارِ وَالإعْلاَنِ
And your sons there remember their teacher
With praise, in private and in public.
مَاhow أَجْمَلَbeautiful الأَثَرَthe legacy الَّذِيwhich خَلَّفْتَهُyou left it behind
مَا أَجْمَلَ الأَثَرَ الَّذِي خَلَّفْتَهُ
فِيهَاin it وَأَبْقَاهُand how enduring it is عَلَىthrough الْحِدْثَانِtime's vicissitudes
فِيهَا وَأَبْقَاهُ عَلَى الْحِدْثَانِ
How beautiful the legacy you left
Within it, and how enduring through time's upheavals!
حَسْبِيenough for me فَخَاراًas glory أَنَّهَاthat it بِإِنَابَتِيby deputizing me
حَسْبِي فَخَاراً أَنَّهَا بِإِنَابَتِي
عَنْهَاon its behalf تُؤْدِّيit conveys شُكْرَهَاits thanks بِلِسَانِيthrough my tongue
عَنْهَا تُؤْدِّي شُكْرَهَا بِلِسَانِي
It is glory enough for me that, by appointing me
Its deputy, it voices its thanks through my tongue.
لِلْغَرْبِfor the West فِيin هَذِيthese الدِّيَارِlands مَدَارِسٌschools
لِلْغَرْبِ فِي هَذِي الدِّيَارِ مَدَارِسٌ
فَازَتْwon بِخَطّwith a line (probably 'a share') مِنْfrom جَنَاكَyour fruit الدَّانِيhanging near
فَازَتْ بِخَطّ مِنْ جَنَاكَ الدَّانِي
The West has schools within these lands
That have gained a share of your close-hanging fruit.
فَرَدَدْتَso you restored فِيamong طُلاَّبِهَاtheir students مَلَكَاتِهِمْtheir faculties
فَرَدَدْتَ فِي طُلاَّبِهَا مَلَكَاتِهِمْ
عَرَبِيَّةًArabic خَلَصَتْbecame pure مِنَof الأدْرَانِimpurities
عَرَبِيَّةً خَلَصَتْ مِنَ الأدْرَانِ
So you made their students' faculties once more
Arabic, cleansed of impurities.
آلاَفُthousands of شُبَّانِyoung men أفَادُواthey benefited others بِالَّذِيthrough what
آلاَفُ شُبَّانِ أفَادُوا بِالَّذِي
لَقَّنْتَyou taught آلاَفاًthousands مِنَof الشُّبَّانِyoung men
لَقَّنْتَ آلاَفاً مِنَ الشُّبَّانِ
Thousands of young men have benefited, through what
You taught them, thousands of other young men.
وَبِبعْضِand through some of مَاwhat أًسْدَيْتَyou bestowed عظَّgrew great (text uncertain) مَقَامُهُمْtheir standing
وَبِبعْضِ مَا أًسْدَيْتَ عظَّ مَقَامُهُمْ
فِيمَاin what نَأَىwas distant وَدَنَاand drew near مِنَof البُلْدَانِlands
فِيمَا نَأَى وَدَنَا مِنَ البُلْدَانِ
And through some of what you bestowed, their standing rose
In lands both far and near.
مِنْfrom سَفْحِthe slope لُبْنَانٍof Lebanon تَعَالَىrose صَوْتُهُمْtheir voice
مِنْ سَفْحِ لُبْنَانٍ تَعَالَى صَوْتُهُمْ
وَصَدَاهُand its echo فِيمَاin what رَدَّدَrepeated الْهَرَمَانِthe two pyramids
وَصَدَاهُ فِيمَا رَدَّدَ الْهَرَمَانِ
From Lebanon's slope their voice rose,
And its echo sounds in what the two pyramids repeat.
فِيin عُودِthe lute دَوُدَof David الَّذِيwhich خَلَبَcaptivated النُّهَىminds
فِي عُودِ دَوُدَ الَّذِي خَلَبَ النُّهَى
مَاsomething فِيهِin it مِنْof ذَاكَthat الصَّدَىecho الرَّنَّانِringing
مَا فِيهِ مِنْ ذَاكَ الصَّدَى الرَّنَّانِ
In David's lute, which captivated minds,
Is something of that ringing echo.
مَاnot زِلْتَyou have ceased مِنْfor خَمْسِينَfifty عَاماًyears بَانِياًbuilding
مَا زِلْتَ مِنْ خَمْسِينَ عَاماً بَانِياً
لِلضَّادِfor Arabic, the tongue of ḍād مَاwhat لَمْdid not يَبْنِbuild قَبْلَكَbefore you بَانِيa builder
لِلضَّادِ مَا لَمْ يَبْنِ قَبْلَكَ بَانِي
For fifty years you have kept building
For Arabic, the tongue of ḍād, what no builder before you built.
فَإذَاso when نَظَمْتَyou compose verse فَأَنْتَthen you أَوَّلُthe foremost شَاعِرٍpoet
فَإذَا نَظَمْتَ فَأَنْتَ أَوَّلُ شَاعِرٍ
وَإذَاand when نَثَرْتَyou write prose فَأيْنَthen where مِنْكَcompared with you الثَّانِيthe second
وَإذَا نَثَرْتَ فَأيْنَ مِنْكَ الثَّانِي
When you compose verse, you are the foremost poet;
And when you write prose, where is a second to match you?
صُغْتَyou fashioned الُقَرِيضَverse وَمَنْand who يَصُوغُfashions فَرِيدَهُits rare pearls
صُغْتَ الُقَرِيضَ وَمَنْ يَصُوغُ فَرِيدَهُ
إلاَّكَexcept you صَوْغَthe fashioning قَلاَئِدِof necklaces الْعِقْبَانِeagles (probably 'pure gold')
إلاَّكَ صَوْغَ قَلاَئِدِ الْعِقْبَانِ
You fashioned verse; who can fashion its rare pearls
But you, as necklaces of pure gold are fashioned?
لَفْظٌdiction إِلَىto حُسْنِthe beauty الْبَدَاوَةِof Bedouin life جَامِعٌuniting
لَفْظٌ إِلَى حُسْنِ الْبَدَاوَةِ جَامِعٌ
مَاwhat لِلْحَضَارَةِbelongs to civilization مِنْof جَدِيدِnew مَعَانِيmeanings
مَا لِلْحَضَارَةِ مِنْ جَدِيدِ مَعَانِي
Diction that joins to the beauty of Bedouin life
The fresh meanings that civilization offers.
مُتَرَقْرِقُrippling المَجْرَىin its course تَرَقْرُقَlike the rippling جَدْوَلٍof a brook
مُتَرَقْرِقُ المَجْرَى تَرَقْرُقَ جَدْوَلٍ
مُتَمَاسِكُfirmly joined الأَجْزَاءِin its parts كَالْبُنْيَانِlike a building
مُتَمَاسِكُ الأَجْزَاءِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ
Rippling in its course like a brook,
Firmly joined in all its parts, like a building.
نَثْرٌprose مِنَof الجَزْلِthe vigorous kind الَّذِيwhich أَسْلُوبُهُits style
نَثْرٌ مِنَ الجَزْلِ الَّذِي أَسْلُوبُهُ
يَلِجُenters النُّفُوسَsouls بِغَيْرِwithout مَاany اسْتِئْذَانِasking permission
يَلِجُ النُّفُوسَ بِغَيْرِ مَا اسْتِئْذَانِ
Prose of the vigorous kind, whose style
Enters souls without asking leave,
وَيَذُودُand keeps away مَنْwhoever جَارَاكَrivals you عَنْfrom غَاياتِهِits heights
وَيَذُودُ مَنْ جَارَاكَ عَنْ غَاياتِهِ
بِبُلُوغِهِby its attaining الْغَايَاتِthe utmost limits فِيin الإِتْقَانِmastery
بِبُلُوغِهِ الْغَايَاتِ فِي الإِتْقَانِ
And keeps whoever rivals you from its heights
By reaching the utmost bounds of mastery.
لِلْعِلْمِto knowledge لُحْمَتُهُits weft وَلِلْفَنِّand to art السَّدَيthe warp
لِلْعِلْمِ لُحْمَتُهُ وَلِلْفَنِّ السَّدَي
فَاظْنُنْso think بِوَشْيٍof a brocade فِيهِin it يَلْتَقِيَانِthe two meet
فَاظْنُنْ بِوَشْيٍ فِيهِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ
Knowledge is its weft, and art its warp;
Imagine, then, a brocade in which the two unite.
فِيهِin it الرَّصَانَةُdignity وَالمَتَانَةُand strength تَزْدَهِيshine
فِيهِ الرَّصَانَةُ وَالمَتَانَةُ تَزْدَهِي
بِهِمَاthrough both الْحِلَىthe ornaments وَبِهِنَّand through them تَزْدَهِيَانِthe two shine
بِهِمَا الْحِلَى وَبِهِنَّ تَزْدَهِيَانِ
It holds dignity and strength, giving splendor
To ornaments that give them splendor in return.
أَمَّاas for اللِسَانthe language فَانتَthen you فِيamong النَّفَرِthe company الأُولَىwho
أَمَّا اللِسَان فَانتَ فِي النَّفَرِ الأُولَى
نَصَرُوهُthey championed it حَتَّىuntil بَزَّit surpassed كُلَّevery لِسَانِtongue
نَصَرُوهُ حَتَّى بَزَّ كُلَّ لِسَانِ
As for the language, you are among those
Who championed it until it surpassed every tongue.
فَإِذَاso when الْعُلَىglory عَدَّتْcounts فَوَارِسَthe horsemen شَوْطِهِof its race
فَإِذَا الْعُلَى عَدَّتْ فَوَارِسَ شَوْطِهِ
عَدَّتْكَit counts you فِيهِin it أَوَّلَthe foremost الْفُرْسَانِof horsemen
عَدَّتْكَ فِيهِ أَوَّلَ الْفُرْسَانِ
So when glory counts the riders of its course,
It counts you foremost among its horsemen.
للهِto God (in admiration) مُعْجَمُكَyour dictionary الَّذِيwhich أَخْرَجْتَهُyou brought it forth
للهِ مُعْجَمُكَ الَّذِي أَخْرَجْتَهُ
مُسْتَكْمِلَcomplete in التَّفْصِيلِdetail وَالتِّبْيَانِand elucidation
مُسْتَكْمِلَ التَّفْصِيلِ وَالتِّبْيَانِ
God bless your dictionary, which you brought forth,
Complete in detail and elucidation.
يُصْطَادُare fished أَغْلَىthe costliest الدُّرِّpearls مِنْfrom قَامُوسِهِits ocean
يُصْطَادُ أَغْلَى الدُّرِّ مِنْ قَامُوسِهِ
وَمَنَالُهُand its attainment مِنْfrom أَقْرَبِthe nearest الشُّطْآنِshores
وَمَنَالُهُ مِنْ أَقْرَبِ الشُّطْآنِ
The costliest pearls are fished from its ocean,
And are within reach of the nearest shores.
قَيَّدْتَyou captured فِيهِin it أَوَابِدَelusive words الْفُصْحَىof classical Arabic بماby what
قَيَّدْتَ فِيهِ أَوَابِدَ الْفُصْحَى بما
فَاتَeluded الأُولَىthose who سَبَقُواthey preceded مِنَamong الأَقْرَانِpeers
فَاتَ الأُولَى سَبَقُوا مِنَ الأَقْرَانِ
You captured within it the wild strays of classical Arabic, in ways
That eluded your peers who came before.
وَنَهَجْتَand you laid out لِلطُّلاَّبِfor students نَهْجاًa path وَاضِحاًclear
وَنَهَجْتَ لِلطُّلاَّبِ نَهْجاً وَاضِحاً
يُدْنِيbrings near أَقَاصِيَهَاits farthest reaches إِلَىto الأَذْهَانِminds
يُدْنِي أَقَاصِيَهَا إِلَى الأَذْهَانِ
And you laid out for students a clear path
Bringing its remotest reaches close to their minds.
حَيَّاكَmay He bless you رَبُّكَyour Lord مِنْas a أِمَامٍmaster مُعْجِزٍinimitable
حَيَّاكَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ أِمَامٍ مُعْجِزٍ
فِيin عَبْقَرِيَّتِهِhis genius وَمِنْand as a إِنْسَانِhuman being
فِي عَبْقَرِيَّتِهِ وَمِنْ إِنْسَانِ
May your Lord bless you—a master beyond compare
In his genius, and a man
مُتَبَتِّلٍwholly devoted لِلْعِلْمِto learning مَشْغُولٍengrossed بِهِin it
مُتَبَتِّلٍ لِلْعِلْمِ مَشْغُولٍ بِهِ
عَنْaway from رَشْفِsipping كَاسَاتٍgoblets وَعِشْقِand loving غَوَانِbeautiful women
عَنْ رَشْفِ كَاسَاتٍ وَعِشْقِ غَوَانِ
Devoted to learning, engrossed in it,
Rather than sipping goblets or loving beauties.
سَمْحِgracious in المُحَيَّاcountenance وَالضَّمِيرِand conscience سِرَارُهُhis private self
سَمْحِ المُحَيَّا وَالضَّمِيرِ سِرَارُهُ
كَجِهَارِهِlike his public self مِمَّاof what تَرَىsee العَيْنَانِthe two eyes
كَجِهَارِهِ مِمَّا تَرَى العَيْنَانِ
Gracious in face and conscience; his private self
Is like his public self, which both eyes see.
فَكِهِwitty الْحَدِيثِin conversation وَإِنْand even if أَقَلَّhe says little مَكَانُهُhis place
فَكِهِ الْحَدِيثِ وَإِنْ أَقَلَّ مَكَانُهُ
مُتَفَقَّدٌlooked for فِيin مَجْلِسِthe gathering الإِخْوَانِof friends
مُتَفَقَّدٌ فِي مَجْلِسِ الإِخْوَانِ
Witty in conversation, though sparing of words; his place
Is looked for in the gathering of friends.
لَمْdid not يَلْتَمِسْseek فِيin الْعَيْشِlife إِلاَّexcept غَايَةًan aim
لَمْ يَلْتَمِسْ فِي الْعَيْشِ إِلاَّ غَايَةً
تُرْضِيsatisfies الإِبَاءَself-respect وَطَاهِرِand pure الْوِجْدَانِconscience
تُرْضِي الإِبَاءَ وَطَاهِرِ الْوِجْدَانِ
He sought nothing in life but an aim
That satisfies self-respect and a pure conscience.
يَاO أَيُّهَاyou العَلاَّمَةُgreat scholar الْعَلَمُthe beacon الَّذِيwho
يَا أَيُّهَا العَلاَّمَةُ الْعَلَمُ الَّذِي
يَدْرِيknow مَكَانَتَهُhis standing بَنُوthe sons of عَدْنَانِAdnan
يَدْرِي مَكَانَتَهُ بَنُو عَدْنَانِ
O great scholar, the beacon whose
Worth is known to the sons of Adnan.
هَذِيthese إِلَيْكَto you تَوافَدَتْhave flocked
هَذِي إِلَيْكَ تَوافَدَتْ
تَلْقَاكَto meet you مِنْfrom مُتَعَدِّدِmany الأَوْطَانِhomelands
تَلْقَاكَ مِنْ مُتَعَدِّدِ الأَوْطَانِ
These have come flocking to you,
To meet you from many homelands.
تُهْدِيoffers تَهَانِئَهَاits congratulations وَفَضْلُكَand your merit عِنْدَهَاin its eyes
تُهْدِي تَهَانِئَهَا وَفَضْلُكَ عِنْدَهَا
مَاwhat لاnot يُوَفَّىis paid in full حَقُّهُits due بِتَهَانِيby congratulations
مَا لا يُوَفَّى حَقُّهُ بِتَهَانِي
Offering their congratulations, though your merit, to them,
Cannot be given its due by congratulations.
حَمَلَbore التَّحِيَّةَthe greeting شَيْخُهَاits elder وَتَضَاعَفَتْand multiplied
حَمَلَ التَّحِيَّةَ شَيْخُهَا وَتَضَاعَفَتْ
بَرَكَاتُهَاits blessings بتَحِيَّةِthrough the greeting المُطْرَانِof the bishop
بَرَكَاتُهَا بتَحِيَّةِ المُطْرَانِ
Their elder bore the greeting, and multiplied were
Its blessings through the bishop's greeting.
Sol 6.1