أحياrevived قدومُكyour arrival مَرعىpasture الجودabundant rain والجودِand generosity
أحيا قدومُك مَرعى الجود والجودِ
وسرّناand delighted us عيدfestival عودٍreturn منكfrom you محمودِpraiseworthy
وسرّنا عيد عودٍ منك محمودِ
Your arrival revived the pasture of rain and generosity,
Your arrival revived the pasture of generosity and munificence,
And the feast of your praiseworthy return delighted us.
And we were delighted by the return of your auspicious days.
وافيتَyou arrived وَالغيثُwhile the rain قدalready طالتgrew long مغبّتهُits absence
وافيتَ وَالغيثُ قد طالت مغبّتهُ
ماthe interval بَينَbetween غَيثينtwo showers ممطورٍrained down ومنقودِand paid in coin
ما بَينَ غَيثين ممطورٍ ومنقودِ
You arrived when rain had long kept away,
You came while the drought had prolonged its absence,
Between two showers—one rained down, the other paid in coin.
With the rainclouds continuously pouring down between two rains.
فَاِهتزّتso it stirred الأرضُthe earth واِزدانتand adorned itself ببهجتهاwith its delight
فَاِهتزّت الأرضُ واِزدانت ببهجتها
وَهشَّand brightened بالبشرِwith gladness مِنهاupon it كلّevery موجودِbeing
وَهشَّ بالبشرِ مِنها كلّ موجودِ
So the earth stirred and adorned itself in its delight,
The land shook with joy and was adorned with delight,
And every being upon it brightened with gladness.
And every creature rejoiced with glad tidings.
للّهto God, in praise طالعُrising star سعدٍgood fortune قَدindeed وَردتyou arrived بهwith it
للّه طالعُ سعدٍ قَد وَردت به
فيon يومِa day of حفلٍfestive gathering إِلىfor لقياكmeeting you مشهودِwell attended
في يومِ حفلٍ إِلى لقياك مشهودِ
Praise God for the fortunate star with which you arrived,
By Allah, the horoscope of fortune that came with you
On a festive day thronged in celebration of meeting you.
On a day of celebration, to meet you, was witnessed.
لَمdid not يستهلّbegin to appear لَناbefore us مرآكthe sight of you مقتبلاًin youthful prime
لَم يستهلّ لَنا مرآك مقتبلاً
حتّىuntil تَكاملتَyou attained fullness بدراًas a full moon غيرnot مجحودِdenied
حتّى تَكاملتَ بدراً غير مجحودِ
No sooner had your youthful presence dawned before us
Your noble visage did not rise upon us,
Than you became a full moon no one could deny,
Until you became a full moon, flawless and unmatched.
حتّىuntil رَفلتyou walked resplendently منَof الإِجلالreverence فيin حللٍrobes
حتّى رَفلت منَ الإِجلال في حللٍ
هزّتswayed لَهاfor them قبلpreviously أعطافُthe shoulders of الصناديدِthe mighty chiefs
هزّت لَها قبل أعطافُ الصناديدِ
And strode resplendently in robes of reverence,
Until you strutted about in robes of honor,
For which the mighty chiefs' shoulders had swayed before.
That made the necks of lions bow down before you.
إِنّindeed الخليفةَthe Caliph مدّmay prolong اللّهGod دولتهُhis reign
إِنّ الخليفةَ مدّ اللّه دولتهُ
رَآكhe saw you أَحرىmore deserving بتنويهٍof acclaim وتمجيدِand glorification
رَآك أَحرى بتنويهٍ وتمجيدِ
Indeed, the Caliph—may God prolong his reign—
Indeed, the Caliph—may God make his rule eternal—
Deemed you more deserving of acclaim and exaltation.
Saw you as most deserving of honor and glory.
فَلاحَظتكso looked upon you عيونٌeyes منof رعايتهِhis care
فَلاحَظتك عيونٌ من رعايتهِ
يَغدوbecomes بهاthrough them الماءُwater ماساًdiamond قبلbefore ترديدِrepetition
يَغدو بها الماءُ ماساً قبل ترديدِ
So the watchful eyes of his care looked upon you,
Eyes from his guardianship observed you,
Through which water turns to diamond before any repetition.
With which water flows smoothly before repetition.
وَماand not تريّثhe delayed أَنto ولّاكhe appointed you to منزلةًa rank
وَما تريّث أَن ولّاك منزلةً
أَضحىbecame حسودكَyour envier فيهاin it كلّevery محسودِenvied person
أَضحى حسودكَ فيها كلّ محسودِ
And he did not delay in granting you a rank
And he did not hesitate to grant you a status,
Where every envied man became one who envied you.
In which all your enviers became utterly envied.
فَاليومso today ماnot أَنتyou إلّاexcept منamong صنائعهِhis protégés
فَاليوم ما أَنت إلّا من صنائعهِ
ولاand never تزالُyou cease to be فريدَthe peerless jewel of الغادةthe fair maiden الصيدِthe proud chiefs
ولا تزالُ فريدَ الغادة الصيدِ
Today, then, you are none other than one of his protégés,
So today you are but one of his making,
And remain the fair maiden's peerless jewel among proud chiefs [wording unclear].
Remaining the unique pearl, the singular ingot.
فَاِستوزعso ask for inspiration اللّهGod شكراًgratitude تستزيدyou seek more بهthrough it
فَاِستوزع اللّه شكراً تستزيد به
نَعماءblessings ماnot ربّهاtheir possessor يوماًever بمنكودِat all ill-fated
نَعماء ما ربّها يوماً بمنكودِ
So ask God to inspire gratitude, through which you may gain more
Implore God in gratitude, thereby increasing
Blessings whose possessor is never ill-fated.
Blessings, which their Giver has never diminished.
وَارعand guard روعكَyour heart ماwhat اِستكفاكhe entrusted you with مضطلعاًcapably bearing
وَارع روعكَ ما اِستكفاك مضطلعاً
ومثلُand one like روعكyour heart راعٍa guardian غيرnot مجهودِexhausted
ومثلُ روعك راعٍ غير مجهودِ
And keep your heart alert, capably bearing what he entrusted to you;
Tend your meadows while the appointed tasks preoccupy you,
A heart like yours keeps watch without exhaustion.
For your like is a tender, unwearied and tireless.
فإنّfor indeed دولةَthe state of مَولاناour lord المشيرthe Marshal لهاit has
فإنّ دولةَ مَولانا المشير لها
مِنَfrom العنايةِprovidential care أركانٌpillars بتشييدِbeing built up
مِنَ العنايةِ أركانٌ بتشييدِ
For our lord the Marshal's state has
Indeed, the state of our Master the Counselor
Pillars built up by providential care.
Is founded on pillars of care and construction.
عَلىupon تقىreverence for اللّهGod قَدindeed أَضحتit has become مؤسّسةًfounded
عَلى تقى اللّه قَد أَضحت مؤسّسةً
فيin منعةٍdefensive strength وجباياتٍand tax revenues وتجنيدِand troop recruitment
في منعةٍ وجباياتٍ وتجنيدِ
It has been founded upon reverence for God,
It is established on the piety of God,
In defensive strength, tax revenues, and the raising of troops.
With might, taxation, and conscription.
محروسةٌguarded بِأساطينٍby pillars of power أكاسرةٍPersian kings
محروسةٌ بِأساطينٍ أكاسرةٍ
مِنof كلّeach ناشٍone raised بحجرِin the lap of الملكkingship مولودِborn
مِن كلّ ناشٍ بحجرِ الملك مولودِ
Guarded by pillars of power, men like Persian kings,
Protected by lionhearted generals,
Each born and raised in the lap of kingship.
Of every roaring lion, born in the king’s den.
ماnot منهمُamong them غيرُother than رحبِbroad الصدرِof heart مضطلعcapably shouldering
ما منهمُ غيرُ رحبِ الصدرِ مضطلع
بِالأمرِthe task ماnot ليلهhis night حزماًin prudent resolve بمجهودِat all exhausted
بِالأمرِ ما ليله حزماً بمجهودِ
None among them is other than broad-hearted, shouldering
None but large-hearted men persist
The task, his night unwearied in prudent resolve.
In command, their nights untroubled and labored.
جَهابذٌmasters of judgment لاmay not عَدِمناwe be deprived مِنof كفايتهمtheir competence
جَهابذٌ لا عَدِمنا مِن كفايتهم
لِلملكِfor the realm محمودَpraiseworthy تدبيرٍgovernance وتأييدِand support
لِلملكِ محمودَ تدبيرٍ وتأييدِ
Masters of judgment—may we never lack from their competence
Stalwarts whose competence for the nation
Praiseworthy governance and support for the realm.
Has never lapsed in management and assistance.
لاno غروَwonder إِنif صرتَyou became بدراًa full moon بينamong زهرهمtheir bright stars
لا غروَ إِن صرتَ بدراً بين زهرهم
تَحويyou attain الكمالَperfection بسعيٍthrough effort منكfrom you محمودِpraiseworthy
تَحوي الكمالَ بسعيٍ منك محمودِ
No wonder if you have become a full moon among their bright stars,
No wonder you became a full moon among their flowers,
Attaining perfection through your own praiseworthy effort.
Achieving perfection through diligent efforts.
مَزيّةٌa distinction لَمdid not تغيّرchange وَجهthe face of سائرهمthe rest of them
مَزيّةٌ لَم تغيّر وَجه سائرهم
وَفيand in التعاضدِmutual support جمعٌa gathering ضمنwithin توحيدِunity
وَفي التعاضدِ جمعٌ ضمن توحيدِ
A distinction that has not changed the faces of the rest,
A distinction that did not change the demeanor of the rest,
And mutual support gathers all within unity.
As in solidarity, they are joined in union.
بِشهبُby the meteors of رأيكyour judgment خيرِKhayr, goodness الدينal-Din, the faith قَدindeed حُرِسَتwas guarded
بِشهبُ رأيك خيرِ الدين قَد حُرِسَت
خَضراءverdant تونسTunis مِنfrom طغيانthe tyranny of نمرودِNimrod
خَضراء تونس مِن طغيان نمرودِ
By the meteors of your counsel, Khayr al-Din, was guarded
With your insightful opinions the protector of the faith,
Verdant Tunis from Nimrod's tyranny.
Green Tunisia was shielded from the tyranny of Nimrod.
ماnot رامَهاhe sought her ماردٌa rebel demon إلّاexcept وَأَتبعهُand sent after him
ما رامَها ماردٌ إلّا وَأَتبعهُ
مُشيرُهاher Marshal بشهابٍwith a meteor منكfrom you مرصودِheld in readiness
مُشيرُها بشهابٍ منك مرصودِ
No rebel demon sought her without being pursued
No rebel coveted it unless its Counselor
By her Marshal with a meteor from you, held ready.
Pursued him with a flaming meteor of foresight.
لاdo not تَلقِمِfeed الخصمَthe adversary منof فصلِthe decisiveness of الخطابspeech سوىexcept
لا تَلقِمِ الخصمَ من فصلِ الخطاب سوى
صمّاءa hard stone حالوتَHalut, name as written مِنfrom مقلاعthe sling of داوودِDavid
صمّاء حالوتَ مِن مقلاع داوودِ
Feed the adversary no decisive reply but
In decisive speech, you offer the adversary
The hard stone of Halut, from David's sling.
Nothing but the deafness of the rocks struck by David.
فَليهنِso may rejoice مَجدكyour glory ماwhat أوليبprobably: you were granted; unclear spelling منof رتبٍranks
فَليهنِ مَجدك ما أوليب من رتبٍ
كُنتَyou were الأحقّthe most deserving بِهاof them منwith غيرno ترديدِhesitation
كُنتَ الأحقّ بِها من غير ترديدِ
May your glory rejoice in the ranks bestowed upon you,
So may your glory flourish however much ranks
You were the most deserving of them, without hesitation.
You deserved more than others without doubt.
كانَتwas لكَfor you الجيدُthe neck حسناءُthe fair maiden of الوزارةthe ministry كيso that
كانَت لكَ الجيدُ حسناءُ الوزارة كي
تُضحيmight become مَساعيكَyour endeavors مِنهاof her العقدthe necklace فيupon الجيدِthe neck
تُضحي مَساعيكَ مِنها العقد في الجيدِ
The fair maiden of the ministry served as your neck, so that
The ministry was befittingly yours
Your endeavors might become the necklace upon her neck.
That your efforts therein compose a necklace of pearls.
أَفضتshe confided إِليكَto you بسرّa secret ماnot لمرتجهِfor its locked gate
أَفضت إِليكَ بسرّ ما لمرتجهِ
غيرُexcept الأمانةِtrustworthiness يوماًever منany مقاليدِkeys
غيرُ الأمانةِ يوماً من مقاليدِ
She confided to you a secret whose locked gate
It confided in you the secret that none other
Never has any keys save trustworthiness.
Has been entrusted with its keys.
وَمنand whoever أَبوAbu, father of النخبةِal-Nukhba, the elite الأعلىthe exalted مريستهُunclear word with his
وَمن أَبو النخبةِ الأعلى مريستهُ
يَرقىrises to العلىthe heights دونَwithout تدريجٍgradual steps وتمهيدِand preparation
يَرقى العلى دونَ تدريجٍ وتمهيدِ
And one whose [unclear term] is the exalted Abu al-Nukhba
And who but the elite’s most exalted could attain its height,
Rises to the heights without stages or preparation.
Rising to the heights without gradual ascent?
فَاِنعمso rejoice بهاin it وَتليّدand become long-established فيin مزارتهاits place of visitation
فَاِنعم بها وَتليّد في مزارتها
نموَّthe growth of نبعكyour bow-wood tree لمnot يطرفbe newly acquired بتجديدِthrough renewal
نموَّ نبعك لم يطرف بتجديدِ
So enjoy it, and grow long-established in its place of visitation;
So delight in it, ensconce yourself in its intimacy,
Your bow-wood tree's growth is no new acquisition brought by renewal.
As your fresh wellspring flows without renewal.
وَاِنعَمand rejoice بريحانةٍin a basil sprig وافَتكreached you نفحتهاits fragrance
وَاِنعَم بريحانةٍ وافَتك نفحتها
مِنfrom روضةِthe garden of الملكِthe king فيamong أزكىthe purest الأماليدِtender shoots
مِن روضةِ الملكِ في أزكى الأماليدِ
And rejoice in a basil sprig whose fragrance reached you
Delight in a basil plant whose breeze reached you
From the king's garden, among the purest tender shoots.
From the garden of the King, among the most fragrant buds.
لَمnot تَسمُrise معطسُnostril عرنينa proud nose لهبّتهاtoward its waft
لَم تَسمُ معطسُ عرنين لهبّتها
هيباًout of awe وماand not كلُّeverything مَرغوبٍdesired بموجودِto be found
هيباً وما كلُّ مَرغوبٍ بموجودِ
No proud nose's nostril had risen toward that fragrant waft,
Never did the spark of its heated passion
Out of awe—and not everything desired is to be found.
Breathe reverence, though all that is sought is found.
ماhow أَقربclose القطبَthe leading figure منto شيمٍnoble traits وأوقعand more deeply affecting فيin
ما أَقرب القطبَ من شيمٍ وأوقع في
نفسِthe soul of الفتىthe young man نيلُattaining مرجوّthe hoped-for المواعيدِpromises
نفسِ الفتى نيلُ مرجوّ المواعيدِ
How close the chief is to noble traits, and how deeply in
How near is the pole star to traits and most effective
A young man's soul the fulfillment of hoped-for promises is felt!
In inspiring the youth to attain hoped-for fortunes.
فَاِسلمso be safe وَدُمand endure لمسرّاتfor joys مجدّدةٍever renewed
فَاِسلم وَدُم لمسرّات مجدّدةٍ
تفتضّyou deflower منهنّfrom among them عذراءthe virgin of المنىwishes الرودِtender and graceful
تفتضّ منهنّ عذراء المنى الرودِ
So live in safety, and endure for ever-renewed joys,
So submit, and persist for renewed glories
From them you deflower the tender virgin of desire,
From which you may pluck the chaste fruits of desire.
مُسدّدwell-directed السهمِthe arrow ماضيunwavering in العزمِresolve متّشحاًcloaked
مُسدّد السهمِ ماضي العزمِ متّشحاً
بِالحزمِin prudence متّزراًgirded بالبأسwith valor والجودِand generosity
بِالحزمِ متّزراً بالبأس والجودِ
Your arrow well aimed, your resolve unwavering, cloaked
With steady aim, decisive determination, wearing
In prudence, girded with valor and generosity,
Resolute wisdom, and girt with might and munificence.
مبلّغاًbrought بأميرِthrough the Commander of المؤمنينthe Faithful إلىto
مبلّغاً بأميرِ المؤمنين إلى
سَعادةٍhappiness وكمالٍand perfection غيرnot محدودِbounded
سَعادةٍ وكمالٍ غير محدودِ
Brought through the Commander of the Faithful to
Conveying to the Prince of the Faithful
Happiness and perfection without limit.
Bliss and perfection unlimited.
Sol 6.1