قدْindeed قَلَّدُوكِthey put necklaces on you قَلائِدَnecklaces of الدُرِّpearls
قدْ قَلَّدُوكِ قَلائِدَ الدُرِّ
وَتَنَافسَواand they competed فِيin النَّظْمِverse وَالنَّثرِand prose
وَتَنَافسَوا فِي النَّظْمِ وَالنَّثرِ
They have adorned you with necklaces of pearls,
They adorned you with necklaces of pearls,
and vied in verse and prose.
And competed in prose and verse.
أَغْلىthe costliest الْجَوَاهِرِjewels أَرْخَضُوهُthey held it cheap وَمَاand did not
أَغْلى الْجَوَاهِرِ أَرْخَضُوهُ وَمَا
ضَنَّواthey were sparing بِديبَاجٍwith brocade وَلاnor شَذْرِgold beads
ضَنَّوا بِديبَاجٍ وَلا شَذْرِ
The costliest jewel they held cheap, and
The most precious jewels they made cheap, but
withheld neither brocade nor gold beads.
They did not spare brocade or ingots.
أَمَّاas for أَنَاme فَهَديَّتيthen my gift كَلِمٌwords
أَمَّا أَنَا فَهَديَّتي كَلِمٌ
إِنَّindeed الْكلاَمspeech هَديَّةthe gift of الفَقْرِpoverty
إِنَّ الْكلاَم هَديَّة الفَقْرِ
As for me, my gift is words:
As for me, my gift is a word,
speech is poverty's gift.
For words are the gifts of the poor.
عُذْراًpardon فَمَاfor not التقْصِيرُthe shortcoming مِنِّيon my part فِيin
عُذْراً فَمَا التقْصِيرُ مِنِّي فِي
وَدِّيmy affection فَمُنِّيso be gracious وَاقْبَليand accept عُذْرِيmy excuse
وَدِّي فَمُنِّي وَاقْبَلي عُذْرِي
Pardon me: my shortcoming is not in
Please excuse me, my shortcoming was not
my affection; be gracious and accept my excuse.
In my devotion, so believe me and accept my excuse.
كَلِمٌwords أُقَدِّمُهَاI offer them عَلىwith خَجَلٍbashfulness
كَلِمٌ أُقَدِّمُهَا عَلى خَجَلٍ
مخْبُوءَةًhidden فِيin طَاقةِa bouquet of الزَّهْرflowers
مخْبُوءَةً فِي طَاقةِ الزَّهْر
Words I offer bashfully,
A word I present in shyness,
hidden in a bouquet of flowers.
Hidden in the petals of a flower.
أَدْرِيI know بِخَفْضِof the lowliness of مَقَامِهاtheir standing وَبِمَاand of what
أَدْرِي بِخَفْضِ مَقَامِها وَبِمَا
لكِyou have مِنْof مَقَامٍrank فوْقَهَاabove them أَدْرِيI know
لكِ مِنْ مَقَامٍ فوْقَهَا أَدْرِي
I know the lowliness of their standing, and
I know the lowliness of its status, and what
I know the station you hold above them.
Exalted position you hold above it I know.
لَكِنَّbut مِرْآةًa mirror وإِنْand even if عَطَلَتْit is bare
لَكِنَّ مِرْآةً وإِنْ عَطَلَتْ
مِنْof زِينَةٍornament وَخلَتْand is devoid مِنَof التِّبرِgold
مِنْ زِينَةٍ وَخلَتْ مِنَ التِّبرِ
Yet a mirror, even if bare
But a mirror, though it lacks
of ornament and devoid of gold,
Adornment and is devoid of gold,
تُهْدَىis given إِلىto حَسْنَاءَa beautiful woman غَانِيَةٍlovely without adornment
تُهْدَى إِلى حَسْنَاءَ غَانِيَةٍ
وَضَّاءَةٍradiant كالأَنْجُمِlike the stars الزُّهرِbright
وَضَّاءَةٍ كالأَنْجُمِ الزُّهرِ
given to a fair woman, lovely without adornment,
Is gifted to a happy, radiant beauty
radiant as the shining stars,
Bright as the glowing stars.
قَدْmay تُسْتَحَبُّbe preferred مِنَfrom الْمُقِلِّone of little means عَلىto
قَدْ تُسْتَحَبُّ مِنَ الْمُقِلِّ عَلى
أَغْلىthe costliest النَّفَائِسِtreasures مِنَfrom يَدthe hand of المُثْرِيthe wealthy man
أَغْلى النَّفَائِسِ مِنَ يَد المُثْرِي
may be preferred, from one of little means, to
It may be preferred by the poor man over
the costliest treasures from a wealthy man's hand.
The most precious rarities from a wealthy hand.
فَإِذَاfor when انْجَلىappears clearly وَجْهُthe face of العَرُوسِthe bride بِهَاin it
فَإِذَا انْجَلى وَجْهُ العَرُوسِ بِهَا
فاقَتْit surpasses حُلىthe jewels of الْمَلِكَاتِqueens بِالْقَدْرِin worth
فاقَتْ حُلى الْمَلِكَاتِ بِالْقَدْرِ
For when the bride's face appears in it,
So when the bride's face is lit by it,
it surpasses queens' jewels in worth.
She surpasses the beauty of queens.
أَسَلِيلَةُO daughter الأَصْليْنِof both ancestral lines مِنْof شَرَفٍhonor
أَسَلِيلَةُ الأَصْليْنِ مِنْ شَرَفٍ
مَحْضٍpure وَنُبْلٍand nobility خَالِصٍunalloyed حُرِّgenuine
مَحْضٍ وَنُبْلٍ خَالِصٍ حُرِّ
O daughter of both ancestral lines, sprung from honor
Offspring of two noble roots, of pure
unsullied, and nobility pure and true,
And unsullied lineage and freedom.
مَنْwho لِيfor me بِمَقْدَرَةٍwith ability تَعِينُthat helps عَلىto
مَنْ لِي بِمَقْدَرَةٍ تَعِينُ عَلى
تَمْثِيلِportraying بَعْضِsome of حَلاكِyour beauty فِيin شِعْرِverse
تَمْثِيلِ بَعْضِ حَلاكِ فِي شِعْرِ
who can grant me the power that helps me
Who can empower me to portray some
portray some of your beauty in verse?
Of your beauty in verse?
جُورجيتُGeorgette هَلْcan وَصْفٌa description يُصَوِّرُهاportray her
جُورجيتُ هَلْ وَصْفٌ يُصَوِّرُها
مَاذاwhat يُصَوِّرُportrays وَاصِفُone describing البَدْرِthe full moon
مَاذا يُصَوِّرُ وَاصِفُ البَدْرِ
Georgette—can a description portray her?
Georgina, what description could depict her?
What can one who describes the full moon portray?
What can the describer of the full moon depict?
لَوْif قُلْتُI said إِنَّthat بَهَاءَthe splendor of طَلْعَتِهَاher countenance
لَوْ قُلْتُ إِنَّ بَهَاءَ طَلْعَتِهَا
صَافٍclear أَغَرُّradiant كَطَلْعَةlike the countenance of الْفَجْرِdawn
صَافٍ أَغَرُّ كَطَلْعَة الْفَجْرِ
If I said that the splendor of her countenance
If I said the radiance of her countenance
is clear and radiant as the face of dawn,
Is brighter and rosier than the dawn,
أَوْor قُلْتُI said إِنَّthat الشَّمسَthe sun قَدْalready عَقَدَتْfashioned
أَوْ قُلْتُ إِنَّ الشَّمسَ قَدْ عَقَدَتْ
تاجاًa crown لَهَاfor her مِنْfrom مَذْهبِgolden الشِّعْرِhair
تاجاً لَهَا مِنْ مَذْهبِ الشِّعْرِ
or said that the sun had fashioned
Or said that the sun crowned her
a crown for her of golden hair,
With a diadem of golden hair,
أَوْor قُلْتُI said إِنَّthat الرَّوْضَthe garden أَلْبَسَهَاclothed her in
أَوْ قُلْتُ إِنَّ الرَّوْضَ أَلْبَسَهَا
أَزْهَىthe brightest لُبُوسَraiment of الأَغْصُنِthe boughs النُّضرِfresh green
أَزْهَى لُبُوسَ الأَغْصُنِ النُّضرِ
or said that the garden had clothed her in
Or said that the garden dressed her
the brightest raiment of fresh green boughs,
In the loveliest robes of tender green,
أَوْor قُلْتُI said إِنَّthat الطَّيرَthe birds عَلَّمَهَاtaught her
أَوْ قُلْتُ إِنَّ الطَّيرَ عَلَّمَهَا
غرْدَthe song of الهِزَارِthe nightingale وَخِفَّةand the lightness of القُمْرِيthe turtledove
غرْدَ الهِزَارِ وَخِفَّة القُمْرِي
or said that the birds had taught her
Or said that the birds taught her
the nightingale's song and the turtledove's lightness,
The warbling of the free and the grace of the dove,
فَأَجَدْتُand so I perfected فِيهَاin her case النَّقْلَthe portrayal وَارْتَسَمَتْand she was depicted
فَأَجَدْتُ فِيهَا النَّقْلَ وَارْتَسَمَتْ
كَالأَصلِlike the original فِيin قَسَمَاتِهَاher features الغُرِّradiant
كَالأَصلِ فِي قَسَمَاتِهَا الغُرِّ
and thus rendered her faithfully, so that she appeared
Then I found the metaphor fallen short
like the original in her radiant features,
And she remained as she is, in her essence.
مَاذَاwhat تُبَيِّنهُreveals it الْمقَالَةُthe utterance مِنْof
مَاذَا تُبَيِّنهُ الْمقَالَةُ مِنْ
عَليَاءِthe loftiness of تِلْكَthat الشِّيمَةِcharacter الطُّهرِpure
عَليَاءِ تِلْكَ الشِّيمَةِ الطُّهرِ
what could such words reveal of
What can words convey of the nobility
the loftiness of that pure character,
Of that most pure nature?
أَوْor مِنْof صَفَاءِthe purity of الرُّوحِthe spirit فِيin مَلكٍan angel
أَوْ مِنْ صَفَاءِ الرُّوحِ فِي مَلكٍ
عَصَمَتْهُhas protected him فِطْرَتُهُhis innate nature عَنِfrom الوِزْرِsin
عَصَمَتْهُ فِطْرَتُهُ عَنِ الوِزْرِ
or of the spirit's purity in an angel
Or the purity of spirit in one whose
whose inborn nature has guarded him from sin,
Nature protected her from sin?
أَوْor مِنْof شَمائِلَvirtues فِيin النُّفُوسِsouls لهَاthey have
أَوْ مِنْ شَمائِلَ فِي النُّفُوسِ لهَا
نَفَحَاتُwafts أَشْتَاتٍof varied kinds مِنَof العِطْرِperfume
نَفَحَاتُ أَشْتَاتٍ مِنَ العِطْرِ
or of virtues whose presence in souls brings
Or charms in a soul that exudes
wafts of many kinds of perfume,
Scattered fragrances of perfume?
أَوْor مِنof طِبَاقٍa contrast شَأْنُهُits nature عَجَبٌa wonder
أَوْ مِن طِبَاقٍ شَأْنُهُ عَجَبٌ
فِيin هَذهthis الْحُورِيَّةhouri البِكْرِvirgin
فِي هَذه الْحُورِيَّة البِكْرِ
or of a contrast whose nature is wondrous
Or the marvel in the harmony
in this virgin houri:
Of this delicate, virgin beauty?
أَلْحَاظُهَاher glances بِالسِّحرِwith enchantment آمِرَةٌcommanding
أَلْحَاظُهَا بِالسِّحرِ آمِرَةٌ
وَحَيَاؤُهَاand her modesty نَاهٍforbidding عَنِfrom السِّحرِenchantment
وَحَيَاؤُهَا نَاهٍ عَنِ السِّحرِ
her glances command enchantment,
Her glances are bewitching,
while her modesty forbids enchantment?
And her modesty turns away from witchcraft.
جَبْرِيلُGabriel يَاO ابْنَson of المَاجِدينَthe noble إِلىto
جَبْرِيلُ يَا ابْنَ المَاجِدينَ إِلى
أَسْمَىthe loftiest الْمَنَاسِبِlineages فِيat ذُرَىthe summits of الفَخْرِglory
أَسْمَى الْمَنَاسِبِ فِي ذُرَى الفَخْرِ
Gabriel, O son of noble forebears, linked to
Gabriel, O son of the glorious,
the loftiest lineages, at the heights of glory,
To the highest compatibility in the progeny of honor,
هِيَshe نِعْمَةٌa blessing لِلّهof God وَاحِدَةٌa single one
هِيَ نِعْمَةٌ لِلّه وَاحِدَةٌ
أُعْطِيْتهَاyou were given her فَزَكَتْand so she grew عنِbeyond الْحَصْرِreckoning
أُعْطِيْتهَا فَزَكَتْ عنِ الْحَصْرِ
she is a single blessing of God,
She is a blessing from God, matchless,
bestowed on you, yet grown beyond all reckoning,
Given to you, so she excelled all limits,
بِدُعَاءِthrough the prayers of خَيْرِthe best of الْوَالِدَيْنِthe parents وفِيand in
بِدُعَاءِ خَيْرِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وفِي
يُمْنِthe blessing of الَّذينَthose who دَعَوكَcalled you بِالصِّهرِas a son-in-law
يُمْنِ الَّذينَ دَعَوكَ بِالصِّهرِ
through the prayers of the best of parents, and with
With the prayer of the best of parents, and at the right hand of those
the blessing of those who called you son-in-law.
Who asked you for marriage,
أَعْطَىHe gave فَأَرْضَىand so satisfied تِلْكَthat مَكْرُمَةٌa favor
أَعْطَى فَأَرْضَى تِلْكَ مَكْرُمَةٌ
جَلَّتْis exalted فَمَاso how أَحْرَاكَfitting for you بِالشُّكرِto give thanks
جَلَّتْ فَمَا أَحْرَاكَ بِالشُّكرِ
He gave and brought contentment—such a favor
He gave and pleased—such generosity!
is sublime; how fitting that you give thanks!
It moved you to gratitude.
فَاهْنَأْso rejoice بِزَوْجِكَin your wife وَاسْعدَاand be happy, both of you وَرِدَاand drink, both of you
فَاهْنَأْ بِزَوْجِكَ وَاسْعدَا وَرِدَا
وِرْدَthe wellspring of الْمُنَىwishes صَفْواًpure مَدَىthroughout الْعُمْرِlife
وِرْدَ الْمُنَى صَفْواً مَدَى الْعُمْرِ
So rejoice in your wife; be happy together, and drink
So congratulations on your wife, and happiest life,
from the clear wellspring of wishes, throughout life.
Returning to the wished-for oasis, pure, for all your life.
Sol 6.1