طَرِبَrejoiced الْفُؤادُthe heart وكانَand was غَيْرَnot طَرُوبِgiven to rejoicing
طَرِبَ الْفُؤادُ وكانَ غَيْرَ طَرُوبِ
والْمَرْءُand man رَهْنُcaptive to بَشاشَةٍcheerfulness وَقُطُوبِand frowning
والْمَرْءُ رَهْنُ بَشاشَةٍ وَقُطُوبِ
The heart rejoiced, though it was not given to rejoicing;
My heart was thrilled though not with joy,
And man is captive to cheerfulness and gloom.
And man is hostage to cheer and glee.
وَرَدَarrived الْبَشِيرُthe bearer of good news فَقُلْتُso I said مِنْfrom سَرَفِthe excess of الْمُنَىhopes
وَرَدَ الْبَشِيرُ فَقُلْتُ مِنْ سَرَفِ الْمُنَى
أَعِدِrepeat الْحَدِيثَthe news عَليَّto me فَهْوَfor it is حَسِيبيenough for me
أَعِدِ الْحَدِيثَ عَليَّ فَهْوَ حَسِيبي
The bearer of good news arrived, and, overflowing with hope, I said:
When the herald came I said, from longing:
“Repeat the news to me, for it is all I need.”
Repeat the news for it delights me.
خَبَرٌnews جَلاscoured away صَدَأَthe rust of الْقُلُوبِthe hearts فَلَمْso did not يَدَعْleave
خَبَرٌ جَلا صَدَأَ الْقُلُوبِ فَلَمْ يَدَعْ
فِيهَاin them مَجالَroom for تَحَفُّزٍagitation لِوَجِيبِfor throbbing
فِيهَا مَجالَ تَحَفُّزٍ لِوَجِيبِ
News that scoured the rust from hearts and left
Tidings that polished hearts from rust,
No room in them for the stir of anxious throbbing.
Leaving no room for joy's excess.
ضَرَحَcast away الْقَذَىthe mote كَقَمِيصِlike the shirt of يُوسُفَYusuf عِنْدَمَاwhen
ضَرَحَ الْقَذَى كَقَمِيصِ يُوسُفَ عِنْدَمَا
وَرَدَcame الْبَشِيرُthe bearer of good news بِهِwith it إِلَىto يَعْقُوبِYaqub
وَرَدَ الْبَشِيرُ بِهِ إِلَى يَعْقُوبِ
It swept away the mote, like Yusuf's shirt when
Like Joseph's shirt rent wide when
The bearer of good tidings came with it to Yaqub.
The herald brought news to Jacob.
فَلْتَهْنَso may she rejoice مِصْرُEgypt وَأَهْلُهَاand her people بِسَلامَةٍin safety
فَلْتَهْنَ مِصْرُ وَأَهْلُهَا بِسَلامَةٍ
جاءَتْcame لَهَاto her بِالأَمْنِwith security بَعْدَafter خُطُوبِcalamities
جاءَتْ لَهَا بِالأَمْنِ بَعْدَ خُطُوبِ
So let Egypt and her people rejoice in safety,
Let Egypt and its folk in safety rejoice,
Which brought her security after calamities,
Returned to them after hardship's duress.
بِالْمَاجِدِthrough the noble one الْمَنْسُوبِwell-born بَلْrather بِالأَرْوَعِthrough the splendid one الْthe
بِالْمَاجِدِ الْمَنْسُوبِ بَلْ بِالأَرْوَعِ الْ
مَشْبُوبِradiant بَلْrather بِالأَبْلَجِthrough the bright-browed one الْمَعْصُوبِcrowned
مَشْبُوبِ بَلْ بِالأَبْلَجِ الْمَعْصُوبِ
Through the noble, well-born man—nay, through the splendid,
By the splendid mosques, nay by the finest,
Radiant one—nay, through the bright-browed, crowned one,
Most wondrous and brightest of edifices.
رَبِّlord of الْعُلاَeminence وَالْمَجْدِand glory إِسْمَاعِيلَIsmail مَنْwho
رَبِّ الْعُلاَ وَالْمَجْدِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ مَنْ
وَضَحَتْgrew bright بِهِthrough him الأَيَّامُthe days بَعْدَafter شُحُوبِpallor
وَضَحَتْ بِهِ الأَيَّامُ بَعْدَ شُحُوبِ
Lord of eminence and glory, Ismail, through whom
Lord of Might and Glory, Ismail, in whom
The days grew bright after their pallor.
The days shine after dreariness.
وَرَدَentered الْبِلادَthe land ولَيْلُهاwhile its night مُتَراكِبٌlayered
وَرَدَ الْبِلادَ ولَيْلُها مُتَراكِبٌ
فأَضاءَهَاso he lit it كَالْكَوْكَبِlike the star الْمَشْبُوبِblazing
فأَضاءَهَا كَالْكَوْكَبِ الْمَشْبُوبِ
He came to the land while its night lay in layers,
Who came to the land when night engulfed it
And lit it like a blazing star,
And lit it like a flaming planet.
بِرَوِيَّةٍwith deliberation تَجْلُوreveals الصَّوَابَwhat is right وَعَزْمَةٍand a resolve
بِرَوِيَّةٍ تَجْلُو الصَّوَابَ وَعَزْمَةٍ
تَمْضِيadvances مَضاءَwith the keenness of اللَّهْذَمِthe spear الْمَذْرُوبِsharpened
تَمْضِي مَضاءَ اللَّهْذَمِ الْمَذْرُوبِ
With deliberation that reveals what is right, and a resolve
With wisdom he makes truth manifest
That advances with the keenness of a sharpened spear.
And resolve proceeding like a torrent dispersed.
مَلِكٌa king تَرَفَّعَwas exalted أَنْthat تَكُونَshould be صِفاتُهُhis qualities
مَلِكٌ تَرَفَّعَ أَنْ تَكُونَ صِفاتُهُ
إِلَّاexcept لَهُto him أَوْor لاِبْنِهِto his son الْمَحْبُوبِbeloved
إِلَّا لَهُ أَوْ لاِبْنِهِ الْمَحْبُوبِ
A king so exalted that his qualities belong
A King who disdained that his virtues
Only to him or to his beloved son.
Be aught but his or his beloved son's.
ذوpossessor of هَيْبَةٍmajesty تَكْفِيهِspares him سَوْقَmarching جُنُودِهِhis armies
ذو هَيْبَةٍ تَكْفِيهِ سَوْقَ جُنُودِهِ
وَبَدِيهَةٍand quick insight تُغْنِيdispenses عَنِwith التَّجْرِيبِtesting
وَبَدِيهَةٍ تُغْنِي عَنِ التَّجْرِيبِ
Possessed of a majesty that spares him the need to march his armies,
Of awe-inspiring mien, his troops suffice,
And quick insight that dispenses with testing.
And his wit makes testing superfluous.
نَمَّتْrevealed شَمائِلُهُhis traits عَلَىconcerning أَعْراقِهِhis lineage
نَمَّتْ شَمائِلُهُ عَلَى أَعْراقِهِ
نَمَّthe revealing of النَّسِيمِthe breeze عَلَىconcerning أَرِيجِthe fragrance of الطِّيبِperfume
نَمَّ النَّسِيمِ عَلَى أَرِيجِ الطِّيبِ
His character revealed his lineage,
His traits blossomed on his cheeks
As the breeze reveals the fragrance of perfume.
As the scent blows on perfume.
أَكْنِيI allude بِزَهْرِthrough the flowers of الرَّوْضِthe garden عَنْto أَخْلاقِهِhis character
أَكْنِي بِزَهْرِ الرَّوْضِ عَنْ أَخْلاقِهِ
وَبِنَشْرِهِand through its fragrance عَنْto فَضْلِهِhis bounty الْمَرْغُوبِdesired
وَبِنَشْرِهِ عَنْ فَضْلِهِ الْمَرْغُوبِ
I allude to his character through the garden's flowers,
I hint, from the garden's bloom, at his nature
And through its fragrance to his coveted bounty.
And, from its scattering, at his desired merit.
وأَقُولُand I say إِنَّthat الْبَرْقَlightning يَحْكِيmirrors بِشْرَهُhis cheerful mien
وأَقُولُ إِنَّ الْبَرْقَ يَحْكِي بِشْرَهُ
لَوْif كَانَwere بَرْقُthe lightning of الْمُزْنِrainclouds غَيْرَnot خَلُوبِdeceptive
لَوْ كَانَ بَرْقُ الْمُزْنِ غَيْرَ خَلُوبِ
And I say that lightning would mirror his smiling face,
And I say lightning describes his cheer
Were the lightning of rainclouds not deceptive.
If lightning from clouds came unmarred.
فَالْخِصْبُfor abundance فيin الدُّنْيَاthe world عَلامَةُa sign of عَدْلِهِhis justice
فَالْخِصْبُ في الدُّنْيَا عَلامَةُ عَدْلِهِ
والْغَيْثُand rain فَضْلَةُthe surplus of جُودِهِhis generosity الْمَسْكُوبِpoured forth
والْغَيْثُ فَضْلَةُ جُودِهِ الْمَسْكُوبِ
For abundance in the world is a sign of his justice,
So prosperity in life marks his justice,
And rain is the surplus of his outpoured generosity.
And rain his poured-forth, copious bounty.
أَجْرَىhe set flowing نَسِيمَthe breeze of الأَمْنِsecurity بَعْدَafter رُكُودِهِits stillness
أَجْرَى نَسِيمَ الأَمْنِ بَعْدَ رُكُودِهِ
وَأَفَاضَand he poured forth مَاءَthe water of الْعَدْلِjustice بَعْدَafter نُضُوبِdrying up
وَأَفَاضَ مَاءَ الْعَدْلِ بَعْدَ نُضُوبِ
He set the breeze of security flowing after its stillness,
He brought the winds of safety after stillness
And poured forth the water of justice after it had run dry.
And spilled the water of justice after dearth.
وَأَعَادَand he restored مِصْرَEgypt إِلَىto جَمالِthe beauty of شَبابِهاher youth
وَأَعَادَ مِصْرَ إِلَى جَمالِ شَبابِها
مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter مَاthat لَبِسَتْshe donned خِمَارَa veil of مَشِيبِgray hair
مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا لَبِسَتْ خِمَارَ مَشِيبِ
And restored Egypt to the beauty of her youth,
And restored Egypt to youth's perfection
After she had donned a veil of gray hair.
After she had worn the veil of old age.
فَتَنَعَّمَتْso she enjoyed comfort مِنْfrom فَيْضِهِhis overflowing bounty فيin غِبْطَةٍhappiness
فَتَنَعَّمَتْ مِنْ فَيْضِهِ في غِبْطَةٍ
وَتَمَتَّعَتْand she enjoyed مِنْfrom عَدْلِهِhis justice بِنَصِيبِwith a share
وَتَمَتَّعَتْ مِنْ عَدْلِهِ بِنَصِيبِ
So she lived in comfort and happiness from his abundance,
She became, through his plenitude, ecstatic,
And enjoyed a share of his justice.
And, from his justice, took her share.
وَإِذَاand when أَرادَdesires اللهُGod رَحْمَةَmercy upon أُمَّةٍa nation
وَإِذَا أَرادَ اللهُ رَحْمَةَ أُمَّةٍ
بَعَثَsends الشِّفَاءَhealing لَهَاto it بِخَيْرِthrough the finest طَبِيبِphysician
بَعَثَ الشِّفَاءَ لَهَا بِخَيْرِ طَبِيبِ
And when God desires mercy for a nation,
And when God wills to bless a nation,
He sends it healing through the finest physician.
He sends its healing in the best doctor.
فَلَقَدْfor indeed مَلَكْتَyou took hold of زِمَامَهاher reins وَسَقَيْتَهاand you gave her drink
فَلَقَدْ مَلَكْتَ زِمَامَها وَسَقَيْتَها
بَعْدَafter الصَّدَىthirst مِنْof رَحْمَةٍmercy بِذَنُوبِwith a brimming bucket
بَعْدَ الصَّدَى مِنْ رَحْمَةٍ بِذَنُوبِ
For you have indeed taken her reins and given her drink,
You held its reins and watered it
After thirst, with a brimming bucket of mercy.
After long thirst, in spite of sins.
فَغَدَتْso she became وَمَاand there is no فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth أَحْسَنُfiner بُقْعَةًa place
فَغَدَتْ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ أَحْسَنُ بُقْعَةً
مِنْهَاthan her لِمُزْدَرِعٍfor a cultivator وَلاnor لِكَسُوبِfor one earning a livelihood
مِنْهَا لِمُزْدَرِعٍ وَلا لِكَسُوبِ
So she became a land with no finer place on earth
It became, and naught upon this earth,
Than her for a cultivator or one earning a livelihood.
Fairer than it, for planter or gainer.
يَسْتَنُّcourses فِيهَاthrough her النِّيلُthe Nile بَيْنَamong حَدَائِقٍgardens
يَسْتَنُّ فِيهَا النِّيلُ بَيْنَ حَدَائِقٍ
غُلْبٍdense with trees ورَفَّافِand luxuriant النَّباتِvegetation خَصِيبِfertile
غُلْبٍ ورَفَّافِ النَّباتِ خَصِيبِ
The Nile courses through her among gardens
Wherein the Nile prides itself amid gardens,
Dense with trees, and lush, fertile vegetation.
Lush, leafy, thick-grown greenery.
وتَرَىand you see السَّفِينَthe ships يَجُولُcourse فَوْقَover سَراتِهِits back
وتَرَى السَّفِينَ يَجُولُ فَوْقَ سَراتِهِ
زَفَّthe scurrying of الرِّئَالِostrich chicks تَمَطَّرَتْraced بِسُهُوبِacross open plains
زَفَّ الرِّئَالِ تَمَطَّرَتْ بِسُهُوبِ
And you see ships coursing over its back,
And you see the dhows cruise above its waters,
Like ostrich chicks scurrying swiftly across open plains.
Swaying 'tween provocation and coyness.
مِنْof كُلِّevery راقِصَةٍdancing vessel عَلَىto نَقْرِthe tapping of الصَّبَاthe east wind
مِنْ كُلِّ راقِصَةٍ عَلَى نَقْرِ الصَّبَا
تَخْتَالُsways proudly بَيْنَbetween شَمائِلٍnorth winds وَجَنُوبِand the south wind
تَخْتَالُ بَيْنَ شَمائِلٍ وَجَنُوبِ
Each a dancer to the tapping of the east wind,
From each dancer to the rhythm of the breeze,
Swaying proudly between north winds and the south wind.
Wriggling between shapes and bendings.
مَلَكَتْhave taken control of أَزِمَّتَهاits reins الرِّيَاحُthe winds فَسَيْرُهاso its motion
مَلَكَتْ أَزِمَّتَها الرِّيَاحُ فَسَيْرُها
ضَرْبَانِtwo modes بَيْنَbetween تَحَفُّزٍsurging وَدَبِيبِand creeping
ضَرْبَانِ بَيْنَ تَحَفُّزٍ وَدَبِيبِ
The winds have taken its reins; so its motion
The winds controlled its pace so it glides,
Has two modes: a surge forward and a slow creep.
Bobbing between hustle and subtlety.
فَإِذاso if أَطَلْتَyou lengthen عِنَانَهاits rein وَقَفَتْit stops وإِنْand if
فَإِذا أَطَلْتَ عِنَانَها وَقَفَتْ وإِنْ
أَقْصَرْتَهُyou shorten it سَارَتْit sails بِغَيْرِwithout لُغُوبِweariness
أَقْصَرْتَهُ سَارَتْ بِغَيْرِ لُغُوبِ
So if you lengthen its rein, it stops; and if
Give it free rein and it halts; and if
You shorten it, it sails without weariness.
You shorten it, sails without swerving.
فَانْعَمْso enjoy بِخَيْرِthe finest وِلايَةٍrule وَلّاكَهاentrusted it to you
فَانْعَمْ بِخَيْرِ وِلايَةٍ وَلّاكَها
رَبُّthe Lord of الْعِبادِmankind بِرَغْمِdespite كُلِّevery رَقِيبِwatchful rival
رَبُّ الْعِبادِ بِرَغْمِ كُلِّ رَقِيبِ
So enjoy the finest rule, entrusted to you
Receive this best trusteeship and rule it;
By the Lord of mankind, despite every watchful rival.
The Lord of servants gave you it despite each rival.
مَاnot آثَرُوكَthey chose you لَهاfor it بِغَيرِwithout رَوِيَّةٍdeliberation
مَا آثَرُوكَ لَها بِغَيرِ رَوِيَّةٍ
بَلْrather لاِعْتِصامِهِمُbecause of their reliance بِخَيْرِon the finest لَبِيبِwise man
بَلْ لاِعْتِصامِهِمُ بِخَيْرِ لَبِيبِ
They did not choose you for it without deliberation,
Not for you did they choose it undeliberately,
But because they held fast to the finest man of wisdom.
But for clinging to the best of counsels.
فَاسْمَعْso hear مَقالَةَthe words of صادِقٍa truthful man لَمْdid not يَنْتَسِبْclaim affiliation
فَاسْمَعْ مَقالَةَ صادِقٍ لَمْ يَنْتَسِبْ
لِسِوَاكَwith anyone other than you فيin أَدَبٍlearning وَلاnor تَهْذِيبِrefinement
لِسِوَاكَ في أَدَبٍ وَلا تَهْذِيبِ
So hear the words of a truthful man who credits no one
Then hear the saying of a truthful man
But you for his learning or refinement.
Who claims no manners or courtesy but yours.
أَوْلَيْتَهُyou bestowed upon him خَيْراًkindness فَقَامَso he rose بِشُكْرِهِwith thanks for it
أَوْلَيْتَهُ خَيْراً فَقَامَ بِشُكْرِهِ
وَالشُّكْرُand gratitude لِلإِحْسَانِfor kindness خَيْرُthe finest ضَرِيبِcounterpart
وَالشُّكْرُ لِلإِحْسَانِ خَيْرُ ضَرِيبِ
You bestowed kindness on him, so he duly gave thanks for it;
You have done him good and he gave thanks,
And gratitude is kindness's finest counterpart.
And thankfulness for favor is the best tax.
فَاعْطِفْso show kindness عَلَيْهِto him تَجِدْyou will find سَلِيلَa scion of كَرَامَةٍnobility
فَاعْطِفْ عَلَيْهِ تَجِدْ سَلِيلَ كَرَامَةٍ
أَهْلاًworthy لِحُسْنِof gracious الأَهْلِreception وَالتَّرْحِيبِand welcome
أَهْلاً لِحُسْنِ الأَهْلِ وَالتَّرْحِيبِ
So show him kindness; you will find a scion of nobility,
So turn to him—you will find a noble scion
Worthy of gracious reception and welcome.
Worthy of fair kith and welcome.
يُنْبِيكَtells you ظاهِرُهُhis outward bearing بِوُدِّof the affection in ضَمِيرِهِhis heart
يُنْبِيكَ ظاهِرُهُ بِوُدِّ ضَمِيرِهِ
وَالْوَجْهُand the face وَسْمَةُthe distinguishing mark of مُخْلِصٍa sincere man وَمُرِيبِand a suspect man
وَالْوَجْهُ وَسْمَةُ مُخْلِصٍ وَمُرِيبِ
His outward bearing tells you of the affection in his heart,
His face reveals his heart's affection.
And the face is the mark of the sincere man and the suspect.
The face reveals the sincere and the crafty.
وَإِلَيْكَand here for you مِنْfrom حَوْكِthe weaving of اللِّسَانِthe tongue حَبِيرَةًa brocade
وَإِلَيْكَ مِنْ حَوْكِ اللِّسَانِ حَبِيرَةً
يُغْنِيكَspares you رَوْنَقُهاits splendor عَنِthe need for التَّشْبِيبِan amorous prelude
يُغْنِيكَ رَوْنَقُها عَنِ التَّشْبِيبِ
And here for you is a brocade from the tongue's weaving,
And you have, from the weaving of his words, a gift
Its splendor spares you the need for an amorous prelude.
Whose elegance makes painting superfluous.
حَضَرِيَّةَurban الأَنْسَابِancestry إِلَّاexcept أَنَّهاthat it
حَضَرِيَّةَ الأَنْسَابِ إِلَّا أَنَّها
بَدَوِيَّةٌBedouin فيin الطَّبْعِnature وَالتَّرْكِيبِand composition
بَدَوِيَّةٌ في الطَّبْعِ وَالتَّرْكِيبِ
Urban in lineage, yet it
Urbane yet bedouin in nature and composition,
Is Bedouin in nature and composition.
For the soul is enamored of all exotic things.
وَلِعَتْbecame enamored بِمَنْطِقِهَاof its speech النُّفُوسُsouls غَرَابَةًfor its novelty
وَلِعَتْ بِمَنْطِقِهَا النُّفُوسُ غَرَابَةً
وَالنَّفْسُand the soul مُولَعَةٌenamored بِكُلِّof every غَرِيبِstrange thing
وَالنَّفْسُ مُولَعَةٌ بِكُلِّ غَرِيبِ
Souls became enamored of its speech for its novelty,
I sent it out as an exemplar praising you.
And the soul is enamored of all that is strange.
And the arrow is attributed to each archer true.
أَرْسَلْتُهاI sent it forth مَثَلاًas a proverb بِمَدْحِكَin your praise فِيamong الْوَرَىmankind
أَرْسَلْتُها مَثَلاً بِمَدْحِكَ فِي الْوَرَى
وَالسَّهْمُand the arrow مَنْسُوبٌattributed لِكُلِّto every مُصِيبِone who hits the mark
وَالسَّهْمُ مَنْسُوبٌ لِكُلِّ مُصِيبِ
I sent it forth as a proverb in your praise among mankind,
I have plied, with them, a steed of skill
And the arrow is credited to whoever hits the mark.
That none can catch in field or track.
كَلِمٌwords أَثَرْتُI roused بِهاwith them جَوَادَa steed of بَراعَةٍartistry
كَلِمٌ أَثَرْتُ بِها جَوَادَ بَراعَةٍ
لاnot يُقْتَفَىcan be followed فيat الْحُضْرِthe gallop وَالتَّقْريبِand the canter
لا يُقْتَفَى في الْحُضْرِ وَالتَّقْريبِ
Words with which I roused a steed of artistry,
It left Al-Walid choked in its dust
That cannot be followed at a gallop or a canter.
And passed as its rider pulled at the rein.
تَرَكَleft الْوَلِيدَal-Walid مُلَثَّماًveiled بِغُبارِهِin its dust
تَرَكَ الْوَلِيدَ مُلَثَّماً بِغُبارِهِ
وَمَضَىand went on فَكَفْكَفَso it checked مِنْfrom عِنَانِthe rein of حَبِيبِHabib
وَمَضَى فَكَفْكَفَ مِنْ عِنَانِ حَبِيبِ
It left al-Walid veiled in its dust,
Decode it and you will glimpse yourself therein,
And pressed on, checking Habib's rein.
In the splendor of cool speech for one grown old.
فَاسْتَجْلِهَاso examine it تَلْمَحْyou will glimpse خِلالَكَyour virtues بَيْنَهَاwithin it
فَاسْتَجْلِهَا تَلْمَحْ خِلالَكَ بَيْنَهَا
فِيin وَشْيِthe embroidery of بُرْدٍa mantle لِلْكَلامِof speech قَشِيبِfresh
فِي وَشْيِ بُرْدٍ لِلْكَلامِ قَشِيبِ
So examine it; you will glimpse your virtues within it,
Like a camera lucida—it has clearly reflected
In the embroidery of a fresh mantle of speech.
From its description what was unclear.
كَزُجَاجَةِlike the glass of التَّصْوِيرِimage-making شَفَّتْbecame transparent فَاجْتَلَتْand so revealed
كَزُجَاجَةِ التَّصْوِيرِ شَفَّتْ فَاجْتَلَتْ
مِنْfrom وَصْفِهِits depiction ماwhat كانَhad been غَيْرَnot قَرِيبِnear
مِنْ وَصْفِهِ ما كانَ غَيْرَ قَرِيبِ
Like an imaging lens that grew clear and revealed
You remain in the sphere of high virtues a star,
Through its depiction what had been far away.
Shedding light for eyes and hearts.
لاmay not زِلْتَyou cease to be فِيin فَلَكِthe sphere of الْمَعَالِيlofty honors كَوْكَباًa star
لا زِلْتَ فِي فَلَكِ الْمَعَالِي كَوْكَباً
تُهْدِيyou bestow الضِّياءَlight لأَعْيُنٍto eyes وَقُلُوبِand hearts
تُهْدِي الضِّياءَ لأَعْيُنٍ وَقُلُوبِ
May you ever remain a star in the sphere of lofty honors,
Bestowing light upon eyes and hearts.
Partial English translation: 80 of 82 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1