مَاno لِجرْحٍfor a wound جُرِحْتُهُI was wounded with it مِنْany ضِمَادdressing
مَا لِجرْحٍ جُرِحْتُهُ مِنْ ضِمَاد
نَفَذَpierced السَّهمُthe arrow فِيinto صَمِيمِthe very core of فؤادِيmy heart
نَفَذَ السَّهمُ فِي صَمِيمِ فؤادِي
There is no dressing for the wound I have suffered.
What cure for a wound inflicted on me
The arrow has pierced the very core of my heart.
Where the arrow pierced to the core of my heart
رَحْمَةًmercy يَاO زِمَانُTime أَيْنَwhere أَمِيرِيmy prince
رَحْمَةً يَا زِمَانُ أَيْنَ أَمِيرِي
وَنَصِيرِيand my champion بَعْدَafter الحَبِيبِthe beloved الغَادِيwho has departed
وَنَصِيرِي بَعْدَ الحَبِيبِ الغَادِي
Mercy, O Time! Where is my prince,
Have mercy, O Time! Where is my prince
And my champion, now that the beloved has gone?
And my supporter after the beloved’s departure
يَاO لَيَالِيَّmy nights يَوْمَon the day أَمْسَىhe became at dusk عَلِيلاًill
يَا لَيَالِيَّ يَوْمَ أَمْسَى عَلِيلاً
قَدْindeed كَسَوْتُنَّyou clothed بِالسَّوَادِin black سَوَادِيmy dark form
قَدْ كَسَوْتُنَّ بِالسَّوَادِ سَوَادِي
O my nights, on the day he grew ill at dusk,
O nights of the day I fell ill
You clothed my dark form in black.
I shrouded you in the blackness of my gloom
بَاتَhe spent the night مِنْfrom دَائِهِhis illness حَلِيفَa companion of سُهَادٍsleeplessness
بَاتَ مِنْ دَائِهِ حَلِيفَ سُهَادٍ
وَأَنَاand I مِنْfrom جَوىًheartache حَلِيفُa companion of سُهَادِsleeplessness
وَأَنَا مِنْ جَوىً حَلِيفُ سُهَادِ
He passed the night, through his illness, a companion of sleeplessness,
My illness made me a companion of wakefulness
And I, through heartache, a companion of sleeplessness.
While yearning made me a companion of insomnia
ثُمَّthen كَانَcame الفِرَاقُseparation مَاthere is no مِنْany رَجَاءٍhope
ثُمَّ كَانَ الفِرَاقُ مَا مِنْ رَجَاءٍ
بَعْدَهُafter it لِلِّقَاءٍof a meeting قَبْلَbefore المَعادِthe Resurrection
بَعْدَهُ لِلِّقَاءٍ قَبْلَ المَعادِ
Then came separation; there is no hope
Then came the separation, after which there was no
Of meeting afterward before the Resurrection.
Hope of reunion before the final day
أَيْنَwhere أُنْسِيmy comfort إِذاwhen افْتَقَدْتُI lost أَنِيساًa companion
أَيْنَ أُنْسِي إِذا افْتَقَدْتُ أَنِيساً
آهah مِنْfor وَحْشَتِيmy loneliness وَطُولِand the length of افْتِقَاديmy bereavement
آه مِنْ وَحْشَتِي وَطُولِ افْتِقَادي
Where is my comfort when I have lost a companion?
Where can I find solace when I miss a companion?
Ah, for my loneliness and my long bereavement!
Alas! My loneliness and prolonged deprivation
جَاءَcame شَجْوِيmy grief مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere كَانَhad been سُرُورِيmy joy
جَاءَ شَجْوِي مِنْ حَيْثُ كَانَ سُرُورِي
كَيْفَhow بُدِّلْتُI was made to exchange قُرْبَهُhis nearness بِبِعَادِfor distance
كَيْفَ بُدِّلْتُ قُرْبَهُ بِبِعَادِ
My grief came from where my joy had been.
My lament came from where my joy had been
How was his nearness replaced for me by distance?
How I exchanged nearness for distance
إِنْif تَقَضَّىhas passed away طِيبُthe sweetness of الحَيَاةِlife فَمَاthen what مَعْmeaning (first fragment)
إِنْ تَقَضَّى طِيبُ الحَيَاةِ فَمَا مَعْ
نَىmeaning (final fragment) حَيَاةٍa life قَدْalready أَقْفَرَتْhas become barren مِنْof مُرَادِanything desired
نَى حَيَاةٍ قَدْ أَقْفَرَتْ مِنْ مُرَادِ
If life's sweetness has passed, what is the meaning
If the sweetness of life passes, what is the purpose
Of a life left barren of all that one desires?
Of a life emptied of all I desire?
كَيْفَhow أَرْثِيهِI elegize him وَالحِجَىwhile reason أَطْفَاتْهُhas extinguished it
كَيْفَ أَرْثِيهِ وَالحِجَى أَطْفَاتْهُ
غَشْيَةُthe stupor of الحُزْنِsorrow وَالحَشَىand the heart فِيin اتِّقادِa blaze
غَشْيَةُ الحُزْنِ وَالحَشَى فِي اتِّقادِ
How can I elegize him, when reason has been quenched
How can I eulogize him when sorrow has silenced me
By sorrow's stupor, while my heart is ablaze?
As sadness and grief blaze within me?
لَوْif تُحَوَّلُwere transformed الدُّمُوعُtears شِعْراًinto poetry لَمَاwould not جَاrival (first fragment)
لَوْ تُحَوَّلُ الدُّمُوعُ شِعْراً لَمَا جَا
رَىrival (final fragment) قَوَافِيَّmy rhymes فِيهِin it صَوْبُthe downpour of العِهَادِthe successive rains
رَى قَوَافِيَّ فِيهِ صَوْبُ العِهَادِ
If tears were turned to verse, never could
Were tears to turn into hair, the elegies about him
The downpour of successive rains rival my rhymes in it.
Would not flow towards consummate mastery
يَاO بَقَايَاremnants مِنْof هِمَّةresolve تَتَلاشَىfades away
يَا بَقَايَا مِنْ هِمَّة تَتَلاشَى
لاَdo not تَضَنِّيwithhold عَلَيَّfrom me بِالإِسْعَادِwith aid
لاَ تَضَنِّي عَلَيَّ بِالإِسْعَادِ
O remnants of a resolve that is fading,
O fading remnants of my fervor
Do not withhold your aid from me.
Do not be stingy in making me happy
كَانَwas بِالجَاهِin prestige وَالعُلَىand eminence جُورْجُGeorge لُطْفُLutf اللَّAllah (first fragment)
كَانَ بِالجَاهِ وَالعُلَى جُورْجُ لُطْفُ اللَّ
هِAllah (final fragment) فَرْداًunique مِنْamong أَبْرَزِthe foremost of الأَفْرَادِindividuals
هِ فَرْداً مِنْ أَبْرَزِ الأَفْرَادِ
In prestige and eminence, George Lutfallah
George was, by God's grace, unmatched among individuals
Was unique among the foremost men.
In glory and nobility
كَانَhe was عَيْنَthe foremost of الأَعْيَانِthe notables فِيat كُلِّevery حَفْلٍgathering
كَانَ عَيْنَ الأَعْيَانِ فِي كُلِّ حَفْلٍ
كَانَhe was زَيْنَthe ornament of الفِتْيَانِthe young men فِيin كُلِّevery نَادِassembly
كَانَ زَيْنَ الفِتْيَانِ فِي كُلِّ نَادِ
He was the foremost of the notables at every gathering,
He was the best of the best at every gathering
He was the ornament of the young men in every assembly.
The most splendid of youths in every club
عَالِيَhigh الرَّأْسِthe head عَالِيَlofty النَّفسِthe soul نَهَّاvigorous (first fragment)
عَالِيَ الرَّأْسِ عَالِيَ النَّفسِ نَهَّا
ضاًvigorous (final fragment) قَوِيَّstrong الأّخْلاَقِcharacter وَالأَعْضَادِand arms
ضاً قَوِيَّ الأّخْلاَقِ وَالأَعْضَادِ
Head held high, soul lofty, ever
Tall of stature, magnanimous, refined in morals and physique
Striving, strong in character and in arm.
Decisive in resolve, unwavering in determination
وَافِرَabundant in الحَزْمِprudence وَافِيَsteadfast in العَزْمِresolve فِيin إِصْsending forth (first fragment)
وَافِرَ الحَزْمِ وَافِيَ العَزْمِ فِي إِصْ
دَارِهِhis sending forth (final fragment) حِكْمَةٌwisdom وَفِيand in الإِيرَادِbringing in
دَارِهِ حِكْمَةٌ وَفِي الإِيرَادِ
Abundant in prudence, steadfast in resolve; in his
He sought lofty goals, never deterred
Sending forth was wisdom, and in bringing in.
By the disdain of envious detractors
يَطْلُبُhe seeks المَطْلَبَthe goal البَعِيدَfar-off وَلاَand not يَثْdeter (first fragment)
يَطْلُبُ المَطْلَبَ البَعِيدَ وَلاَ يَثْ
نِيهِdeter him (final fragment) عَنْهُfrom it سَفَاسِفُthe trifles of الحُسَّادِthe envious
نِيهِ عَنْهُ سَفَاسِفُ الحُسَّادِ
He seeks the far-off goal, and is not
You would only see him cheerful, never hear
Deterred from it by the trifles of the envious.
Words hinting of arrogance
لاَnot تَرَاهُyou see him إِلاَّexcept بَشُوشاًcheerful وَلاَand not تَسْyou hear (first fragment)
لاَ تَرَاهُ إِلاَّ بَشُوشاً وَلاَ تَسْ
مَعُhear (final fragment) قَوْلاًwords يَنِمُّbetrays عَنْof أَحْفَادِgrandchildren (apparently intended: grudges)
مَعُ قَوْلاً يَنِمُّ عَنْ أَحْفَادِ
You see him only smiling, nor do you
And for the bounty he enjoyed
Hear words betraying grudges.
His soul was not content without striving
وَعَلَىand despite النِّعمَةthe prosperity الَّتِيwhich هُوَhe فِيهَاin it
وَعَلَى النِّعمَة الَّتِي هُوَ فِيهَا
لَمْdid not تَطِبْtake pleasure نَفْسُهُhis soul بِغَيْرِin anything other than الجِهَادِstriving
لَمْ تَطِبْ نَفْسُهُ بِغَيْرِ الجِهَادِ
And despite the prosperity in which he lived,
The freeborn should not fail to be ambitious
His soul found pleasure in nothing but striving.
Lest time rust unsharpened blades
مَاwhat blame عَلَىon الحُرِّa free man أَنْto يَكُونَbe طَمُوحاًambitious
مَا عَلَى الحُرِّ أَنْ يَكُونَ طَمُوحاً
تَصْدَأُrust البَاتِرَاتُkeen-edged swords فِيin الأَغْمَادِscabbards
تَصْدَأُ البَاتِرَاتُ فِي الأَغْمَادِ
What blame is there on a free man for being ambitious?
Every matter he took on
Keen-edged swords rust in their scabbards.
Its success was destined by his appointment
كُلُّevery شَأْنٍundertaking مِمَّاof what تَوَلاَّهُhe undertook it كَاwas (first fragment)
كُلُّ شَأْنٍ مِمَّا تَوَلاَّهُ كَا
نَwas (final fragment) الفَوْزُsuccess مِنْfrom غِبِّهits aftermath عَلَىat مِيعَادِan appointed time
نَ الفَوْزُ مِنْ غِبِّه عَلَى مِيعَادِ
Every undertaking he took on was
No pampered lordling rivaled his distinction
Followed in due time by success.
Nor abundance of pretenders his worth
لَمْdid not يُنَافِسْهُrival him فِيin الوَجَاهَةِprestige مَمْدُوoutspread (first fragment)
لَمْ يُنَافِسْهُ فِي الوَجَاهَةِ مَمْدُو
دُoutspread (final fragment) طِرَافٍa leather tent وَلاَnor كَثِيرُabundant in رَمادِashes
دُ طِرَافٍ وَلاَ كَثِيرُ رَمادِ
He was not rivaled in prestige by one with an outspread
In defending the helpless and the ways of righteousness
Leather tent, nor by one with abundant ashes.
Were ceaseless efforts and open hands
فِيin سَبِيلِthe cause of الحِمَىthe homeland وَفِيand in سُبُلِthe paths of البِرِّgoodness
فِي سَبِيلِ الحِمَى وَفِي سُبُلِ البِرِّ
مَسَاعٍefforts لاَnot تَنْقَضِيcease وَأَيَادِand benefactions
مَسَاعٍ لاَ تَنْقَضِي وَأَيَادِ
In the homeland's cause, and on the paths of goodness,
His manor was the meeting place of great men
His efforts and benefactions never cease.
Of Arabs, foreigners, and noblemen
صَرْحُهُhis mansion مُلْتَقَىthe meeting place of الأَعَاظِمِthe great مِنْamong عُرْArabs (first fragment)
صَرْحُهُ مُلْتَقَى الأَعَاظِمِ مِنْ عُرْ
بٍArabs (final fragment) وَعُجْمٍand non-Arabs وَكَعْبَةُand the Kaaba of القُصَّادِvisitors
بٍ وَعُجْمٍ وَكَعْبَةُ القُصَّادِ
His mansion is the meeting place of the great among
What household among the abodes of munificence
Arabs and non-Arabs, and the Kaaba of visitors.
Rivals him in glorious deeds?
هَلْdoes يُضَاهِيهِrival it بِالمَفَاخِرِin glories بَيْتٌa house
هَلْ يُضَاهِيهِ بِالمَفَاخِرِ بَيْتٌ
فِيamong بُيُوتِthe houses of السَّرَاةthe eminent وَالأَجْوَادِand the generous
فِي بُيُوتِ السَّرَاة وَالأَجْوَادِ
Does any house rival it in glories
He was the mirror of his people, and they
Among the houses of the eminent and the generous?
Were unmatched in excellence and merit
هُوَhe مِرْآةُthe mirror of أَهْلِهِhis family وَهُمُand they بِالنُّin nobility (first fragment)
هُوَ مِرْآةُ أَهْلِهِ وَهُمُ بِالنُّ
بْلِnobility (final fragment) وَالفَضلِand virtue فَاقِدُوhaving no الأَنْدَادِequals
بْلِ وَالفَضلِ فَاقِدُو الأَنْدَادِ
He is the mirror of his family, who in
And by the esteem rightfully earned
Nobility and virtue have no peers.
Among us through reverence and affection
وَبِحَقٍّand deservedly مَاwhat أَحْرَزُوهُthey have won it جَمِيعاًall
وَبِحَقٍّ مَا أَحْرَزُوهُ جَمِيعاً
بَيْنَنَاamong us مِنْof تَجِلَّةٍreverence وَوِدَادِand affection
بَيْنَنَا مِنْ تَجِلَّةٍ وَوِدَادِ
And rightly have they all won
The engagement of this pillar of strength was an inclusive benefit
Honor and affection among us.
May God magnify its reward for the country
خَطْبُthe loss of هَذَاthis الهُمَامِthe noble man خَطْبٌa calamity عَمِيمٌuniversal
خَطْبُ هَذَا الهُمَامِ خَطْبٌ عَمِيمٌ
عَظَّمmay magnify اللهُGod فِيهin it أَجْرِthe reward of البِلادِthe land
عَظَّم اللهُ فِيه أَجْرِ البِلادِ
The loss of this noble man is a calamity for all.
May God magnify the reward of honorable men
May God magnify the land's reward for this loss.
Whose loss afflicts his splendid family
عَظَّمmay magnify اللهُGod فِيهin it أَجْرَthe reward of كِرَامٍnoble people
عَظَّم اللهُ فِيه أَجْرَ كِرَامٍ
رُزِئُوهُthey were bereaved of him مِنْfrom آلِهِhis family الأَمْجَادِthe illustrious
رُزِئُوهُ مِنْ آلِهِ الأَمْجَادِ
May God magnify, in this loss, the reward of the noble
They are his consolation, and none but they
Members of his illustrious family bereaved of him.
Are solace for the anguish of wounded hearts
هُمْthey عَزَاءٌsolace وَمَاand no سِوَاهُمanyone besides them عَزَاءٌsolace
هُمْ عَزَاءٌ وَمَا سِوَاهُم عَزَاءٌ
عَنْهُfor his loss يَأْسُوheals جَريحَةَthe wound of الأَكْبَادِhearts (literally livers)
عَنْهُ يَأْسُو جَريحَةَ الأَكْبَادِ
They are solace; no other solace
For his loss can heal wounded hearts.
Partial English translation: 56 of 58 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1