رُدِّيreturn التَّحِيَّةَthe greeting يَاO مَهَاةَoryx الأَجْرَعِthe sandy plain
رُدِّي التَّحِيَّةَ يَا مَهَاةَ الأَجْرَعِ
وَصِلِيand join بِحَبْلِكِwith your cord حَبْلَthe cord مَنْone who لَمْnot يَقْطَعِsevered
وَصِلِي بِحَبْلِكِ حَبْلَ مَنْ لَمْ يَقْطَعِ
Return my greeting, O oryx of the sandy plain,
Return the greeting, O Maha of fruitful bosom
and join your cord to the cord of one who has not severed his.
And join to your rope one who is not cut off
وَتَرَفَّقِيand be gentle بِمُتَيَّمٍwith a love-enslaved man عَلِقَتْhas clung بِهِto him
وَتَرَفَّقِي بِمُتَيَّمٍ عَلِقَتْ بِهِ
نَارُthe fire الصَّبَابَةِof yearning فَهْوَso he is ذَاكِيblazing الأَضْلُعِthe ribs
نَارُ الصَّبَابَةِ فَهْوَ ذَاكِي الأَضْلُعِ
Be gentle with a love-enslaved man to whom has clung
And show favor to Mutayyam, whom
the fire of yearning, so that his ribs are aflame.
The fire of youth has kindled, though frail of ribs
طَرِبِenraptured الْفُؤَادِthe heart يَكَادُalmost يَحْمِلُهُcarries him الْهَوَىlove
طَرِبِ الْفُؤَادِ يَكَادُ يَحْمِلُهُ الْهَوَى
شَوْقَاًin longing إِلَيْكِfor you مَعَwith الْبُرُوقِthe lightning flashes اللُّمَّعِgleaming
شَوْقَاً إِلَيْكِ مَعَ الْبُرُوقِ اللُّمَّعِ
His heart is enraptured; love almost carries him away,
The heart flutters, love almost bears it away
in longing for you, with the flashing lightning.
Yearning for you, amid glancing lightning
لاnot يَسْتَنِيمُfinds repose إِلَىin الْعَزاءِconsolation وَلاand not يَرَىdeems
لا يَسْتَنِيمُ إِلَى الْعَزاءِ وَلا يَرَى
حَقَّاًa due لِصَبْوَتِهِfor his passion إِذَاif لَمْnot يَجْزَعِgrieves
حَقَّاً لِصَبْوَتِهِ إِذَا لَمْ يَجْزَعِ
He finds no repose in consolation, nor does he deem
It finds no rest or solace and sees
his passion given its due unless he grieves.
No right for its passion, if you do not respond
ضَمَّتْenfolded جَوَانِحُهُhis ribs إِلَيْكِto you رِسَالَةًa message
ضَمَّتْ جَوَانِحُهُ إِلَيْكِ رِسَالَةً
عُنْوَانُهَاits heading فِيon الْخَدِّthe cheek حُمْرُcrimson الأَدْمُعِtears
عُنْوَانُهَا فِي الْخَدِّ حُمْرُ الأَدْمُعِ
His ribs have enfolded a message to you,
Its wings enfold a message for you
its heading on his cheek: crimson tears.
Whose title on the cheek is the red of tears
فَمَتَىso when يَبُوحُdiscloses بِمَاof what أَجَنَّconcealed ضَمِيرُهُhis heart
فَمَتَى يَبُوحُ بِمَا أَجَنَّ ضَمِيرُهُ
إِنْif كُنْتِyou are عَنْهُfrom him بِنَجْوَةٍat a distance لَمْnot تَسْمَعِيyou hear
إِنْ كُنْتِ عَنْهُ بِنَجْوَةٍ لَمْ تَسْمَعِي
When, then, can he disclose what his heart has hidden,
So when can it reveal what its conscience has hidden
if you remain far from him and do not hear?
If you remain heedless, not hearing?
أَصْبَحْتُI have become بَعْدَكِafter you فيin دَيَاجِرِthe deep darkness غُرْبَةٍof estrangement
أَصْبَحْتُ بَعْدَكِ في دَيَاجِرِ غُرْبَةٍ
مَاnot لِلصَّبَاحِfor morning بِلَيْلِهَاin its night مِنْany مَطْلَعِrising place
مَا لِلصَّبَاحِ بِلَيْلِهَا مِنْ مَطْلَعِ
After you, I dwell in the deep darkness of estrangement,
After you I dwell in the tents of loneliness
whose night offers morning no place to rise.
The dawn has no morning to its night
لاnot يَهْتَدِيfinds the way فِيهَاin it لِرَحْلِيَto my dwelling طَارِقٌa night visitor
لا يَهْتَدِي فِيهَا لِرَحْلِيَ طَارِقٌ
إِلَّاexcept بِأَنَّةِby the moan of قَلْبِيَmy heart الْمُتَوَجِّعِaching
إِلَّا بِأَنَّةِ قَلْبِيَ الْمُتَوَجِّعِ
No night visitor can find my dwelling there,
No guide can find his way in it
save by the moan of my aching heart.
Except by the sighs of my anguished heart
أَرْعَىI watch الْكَوَاكِبَthe stars فِيin السَّمَاءِthe sky كَأَنَّas though لِيI have
أَرْعَى الْكَوَاكِبَ فِي السَّمَاءِ كَأَنَّ لِي
عِنْدَin the keeping of النُّجُومِthe stars رَهِينَةًa pledge لَمْnot تُدْفَعِreturned
عِنْدَ النُّجُومِ رَهِينَةً لَمْ تُدْفَعِ
I watch the stars in the sky, as though I had
I watch the stars in the sky as though I had
a pledge in the stars' keeping that has not been returned.
Among the stars a hostage not yet freed
زُهْرٌbright ones تَأَلَّقُsparkle بِالْفَضَاءِin the expanse كَأَنَّهَاas though they were
زُهْرٌ تَأَلَّقُ بِالْفَضَاءِ كَأَنَّهَا
حَبَبٌbubbles تَرَدَّدَmoved to and fro فِيin غَدِيرٍa pool مُتْرَعِbrimming
حَبَبٌ تَرَدَّدَ فِي غَدِيرٍ مُتْرَعِ
Bright stars glitter in the expanse, as though they were
A flower shining in space as though
bubbles moving to and fro in a brimming pool.
It were a love fluttering by a meadow's brink
وَكَأَنَّهَاand as though they were حَوْلَaround الْمَجَرِّthe Milky Way حَمَائِمٌdoves
وَكَأَنَّهَا حَوْلَ الْمَجَرِّ حَمَائِمٌ
بِيضٌwhite عَكَفْنَgathered عَلَىalong جَوَانِبِthe sides of مَشْرَعِa watering place
بِيضٌ عَكَفْنَ عَلَى جَوَانِبِ مَشْرَعِ
And around the Milky Way they seem like doves,
As though about the galaxy doves
white ones gathered along the edges of a watering place.
Hovered, white, upon the edges of their nest
وَتَرَىand you see الثُّرَيَّاthe Pleiades فِيin السَّمَاءِthe sky كَأَنَّهَاas though they were
وَتَرَى الثُّرَيَّا فِي السَّمَاءِ كَأَنَّهَا
حَلَقَاتُrings قُرْطٍof an earring بِالْجُمَانِwith pearls مُرَصَّعِstudded
حَلَقَاتُ قُرْطٍ بِالْجُمَانِ مُرَصَّعِ
You see the Pleiades in the sky as though they were
And you see the Pleiades in the sky like
the rings of an earring studded with pearls.
Rings of pearls with precious gems adorned
بَيْضَاءُwhite نَاصِعَةٌradiant كَبَيْضِlike the eggs of نَعَامَةٍan ostrich
بَيْضَاءُ نَاصِعَةٌ كَبَيْضِ نَعَامَةٍ
فِيin جَوْفِthe hollow of أُدْحِيٍّan ostrich's nest بِأَرْضٍon ground بَلْقَعِbarren
فِي جَوْفِ أُدْحِيٍّ بِأَرْضٍ بَلْقَعِ
Radiantly white, like an ostrich's eggs
Dazzling white like the eggs of an ostrich
in the hollow of a nest on barren ground.
In the belly of a sandgrouse on dappled ground
وَكَأَنَّهَاand as though they were أُكَرٌglobes تَوَقَّدَblazed نُورُهَاtheir light
وَكَأَنَّهَا أُكَرٌ تَوَقَّدَ نُورُهَا
بِالكَهْرَبَاءَةِby electricity فِيin سَمَاوَةِthe heights of مَصْنَعِa building
بِالكَهْرَبَاءَةِ فِي سَمَاوَةِ مَصْنَعِ
And they seem like globes whose radiance blazes
As though they were lamps lit
by electricity in the upper reaches of a building.
By electricity in a workshop's ceiling
وَاللَّيْلُand night مَرْهُوبُfeared الْحَمِيَّةِthe fierce ardor قَائِمٌstands
وَاللَّيْلُ مَرْهُوبُ الْحَمِيَّةِ قَائِمٌ
فِيin مِسْحِهِits haircloth كَالرَّاهِبِlike a monk الْمُتَلَفِّعِwrapped up
فِي مِسْحِهِ كَالرَّاهِبِ الْمُتَلَفِّعِ
And night, fearsome in its fierce resolve, stands
And night, dread and gloomy, stands
in its haircloth, like a monk wrapped in his cloak,
Draped in its darkness like a hooded monk
مُتَوَشِّحٌgirded بِالنَّيِّرَاتِwith bright stars كَبَاسِلٍlike a fearless warrior
مُتَوَشِّحٌ بِالنَّيِّرَاتِ كَبَاسِلٍ
مِنْof نَسْلِthe lineage of حَامٍHam بِاللُّجَيْنِin silver مُدَرَّعِarmored
مِنْ نَسْلِ حَامٍ بِاللُّجَيْنِ مُدَرَّعِ
girded with bright stars, like a fearless warrior
Clad in nebulae like an armored knight
of Ham's lineage, armored in silver.
Of Ham's progeny fully caparisoned
حَسِبَit thought النُّجُومَthe stars تَخَلَّفَتْhad fallen behind عَنْfrom أَمْرِهِits command
حَسِبَ النُّجُومَ تَخَلَّفَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ
فَوَحَىso it signaled لَهُنَّto them مِنَfrom الْهِلالِthe crescent بِإِصْبَعِwith a finger
فَوَحَى لَهُنَّ مِنَ الْهِلالِ بِإِصْبَعِ
It thought the stars had failed to heed its command,
It deemed the stars delayed its command
so signaled to them with the crescent for a finger.
So it signaled to them with its crescent finger
مَاnot زِلْتُI ceased أَرْقُبُI watch for فَجْرَهُits dawn حَتَّىuntil انْجَلَىit cleared
مَا زِلْتُ أَرْقُبُ فَجْرَهُ حَتَّى انْجَلَى
عَنْfrom مِثْلِthe likeness of شَادِخَةِa broad white blaze الْكُمَيْتِthe bay horse الأَتْلَعِlong-necked
عَنْ مِثْلِ شَادِخَةِ الْكُمَيْتِ الأَتْلَعِ
I kept watching for its dawn until night lifted,
Still I watched for its dawn until unveiled
revealing a broad blaze like that of a long-necked bay horse.
Like the tall spearwood tree's flowering crown
وَتَرَنَّمَتْand sang فَوْقَabove الأَرَاكِthe arak trees حَمَامَةٌa dove
وَتَرَنَّمَتْ فَوْقَ الأَرَاكِ حَمَامَةٌ
تَصِفُdescribes الْهَوَىlove بِلِسعانِin the tongue of صَبٍّa lover مُولَعِinfatuated
تَصِفُ الْهَوَى بِلِسعانِ صَبٍّ مُولَعِ
And a dove sang above the arak trees,
And above the couches a dove sang plaintively
describing love in the tongue of an infatuated lover.
Describing passionate love with the crazed utterance of one obsessed
تَدْعُوshe calls to الْهَدِيلَal-Hadil وَمَاand not رَأَتْهُshe has seen him وَتِلْكَand that مِنْamong
تَدْعُو الْهَدِيلَ وَمَا رَأَتْهُ وَتِلْكَ مِنْ
شِيَمِthe ways of الْحَمَائِمِdoves بِدْعَةٌa novelty لَمْnot تُسْمَعِheard of
شِيَمِ الْحَمَائِمِ بِدْعَةٌ لَمْ تُسْمَعِ
She calls to al-Hadil, though she has not seen him; and this, among
Calling to the absent one though unseen—that is
the ways of doves, is an unheard-of novelty.
Not the wont of doves, a thing unheard of
رَيَّاwell-watered الْمَسَالِكِthe paths حَيْثُwherever أَمَّتْshe headed صَادَفَتْshe found
رَيَّا الْمَسَالِكِ حَيْثُ أَمَّتْ صَادَفَتْ
مَاwhat تَشْتَهِيshe desires مِنْof مَجْثَمٍa perch أَوْor مَرْتَعِa pasture
مَا تَشْتَهِي مِنْ مَجْثَمٍ أَوْ مَرْتَعِ
Her paths are well-watered; wherever she heads, she finds
Roaming the roads wherever it came upon
the perch or pasture she desires.
What it desired of herbage or meadow
فَإِذَاso when عَلَتْshe rose سَكَنَتْshe settled in مَظَلَّةَthe canopy of أَيْكَةٍa thicket
فَإِذَا عَلَتْ سَكَنَتْ مَظَلَّةَ أَيْكَةٍ
وَإِذَاand when هَوَتْshe swooped down وَرَدَتْshe came to قَرَارَةَthe basin of مَنْبَعِa spring
وَإِذَا هَوَتْ وَرَدَتْ قَرَارَةَ مَنْبَعِ
When she rises, she settles in a thicket's canopy,
When aloft it rested in the shade of a tamarisk
and when she swoops down, she reaches a spring's basin.
When swooping down it settled by a spring
أَمْلَتْshe dictated عَلَيَّto me قَصِيدَةًa poem فَجَعَلْتُهَاso I made it
أَمْلَتْ عَلَيَّ قَصِيدَةً فَجَعَلْتُهَا
لِشَكِيبَfor Shakib تُحْفَةَa gift from صَادِقٍa sincere man لَمْnot يَدَّعِmade false claims
لِشَكِيبَ تُحْفَةَ صَادِقٍ لَمْ يَدَّعِ
She dictated a poem to me, and I made it
It prompted me to a poem which I made
a gift for Shakib from a sincere man who makes no pretensions.
A true friend's gift, no pretender he
هِيَit مِنْfrom أَهَازِيجِthe songs of الْحَمَامِdoves وَإِنَّمَاand only
هِيَ مِنْ أَهَازِيجِ الْحَمَامِ وَإِنَّمَا
ضَمَّنْتُهَاI included in it مَدْحَpraise of الْهُمَامِthe gallant man الأَرْوَعِawe-inspiring
ضَمَّنْتُهَا مَدْحَ الْهُمَامِ الأَرْوَعِ
It comes from the songs of doves; I have only
It is of the doves' warblings, and yet
woven into it praise of the gallant, awe-inspiring man.
I used it to praise the most splendid soul
هُوَhe ذَلِكَthat الشَّهْمُnoble-hearted man الَّذِيwho بَلَغَتْreached بِهِwith him
هُوَ ذَلِكَ الشَّهْمُ الَّذِي بَلَغَتْ بِهِ
مَسْعَاتُهُhis endeavor أَمَدَthe height of السِّمَاكِal-Simak الأَرْفَعِloftiest
مَسْعَاتُهُ أَمَدَ السِّمَاكِ الأَرْفَعِ
He is that noble-hearted man whom
He is that hero whose fame has reached
his endeavor has borne to the height of lofty al-Simak.
The furthest range of hearing
نِبْرَاسُa lamp for دَاجِيَةٍa dark night وَعُقْلَةُand a tether for شَارِدٍa stray
نِبْرَاسُ دَاجِيَةٍ وَعُقْلَةُ شَارِدٍ
وَخَطِيبُand an orator of أَنْدِيَةٍassemblies وَفَارِسُand a champion of مَجْمَعِa gathering
وَخَطِيبُ أَنْدِيَةٍ وَفَارِسُ مَجْمَعِ
A lamp for a dark night, a tether for a stray,
A lamp in the dark and mind of the confused
an orator of assemblies, a champion of gatherings.
Speaker of gatherings and knight of the forum
صَدْقُtrue الْبَيَانِin speech أَعَضَّmade bite جَرْوَلَJarwal بِاسْمِهِupon his name
صَدْقُ الْبَيَانِ أَعَضَّ جَرْوَلَ بِاسْمِهِ
وَثَنَىand reined in جَرِيرَاًJarir بِالْجَرِيرِwith the halter الأَطْوَعِmost pliant
وَثَنَى جَرِيرَاً بِالْجَرِيرِ الأَطْوَعِ
True in speech, he made Jarwal bite upon his own name,
The truth of his words made Jorol's name ring out
and reined Jarir in with the most pliant halter.
And matched Jarir in the most eloquent verse
لَمْnot يَتَّخِذْtake بَدْرَthe full moon of الْمُقَنَّعِal-Muqanna' آيةًa miracle
لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ بَدْرَ الْمُقَنَّعِ آيةً
بَلْrather جَاءَbrought خَاطِرُهُhis imagination بِآيَةِwith the miracle of يُوشَعِJoshua
بَلْ جَاءَ خَاطِرُهُ بِآيَةِ يُوشَعِ
He did not take the full moon of al-Muqanna' as a miracle;
He took no model from Badr the Masked
rather, his imagination brought forth Joshua's miracle.
Rather his conception came through Joshua's miracle
أَحْيَاrevived رَمِيمَthe decayed remains of الشِّعْرِpoetry بَعْدَafter هُمُودِهِits dormancy
أَحْيَا رَمِيمَ الشِّعْرِ بَعْدَ هُمُودِهِ
وَأَعَادَand restored لِلأَيَّامِto the days عَصْرَthe age of الأَصْمَعِيal-Asma'i
وَأَعَادَ لِلأَيَّامِ عَصْرَ الأَصْمَعِي
He revived poetry's decayed remains after its dormancy,
He brought to life the worn-out art of poetry
and restored to the days the age of al-Asma'i.
And restored to the days the Age of Al-A'sha
كَلِمٌwords لَهَاthey have فِيin السَّمْعِhearing أَطْرَبُthe most delightful نَغْمَةٍmelody
كَلِمٌ لَهَا فِي السَّمْعِ أَطْرَبُ نَغْمَةٍ
وَبِحُجْرَةِand in the chamber of الأَسْرَارِsecrets أَحْسَنُthe finest مَوْقِعِplace
وَبِحُجْرَةِ الأَسْرَارِ أَحْسَنُ مَوْقِعِ
Words with the most delightful melody to the ear,
Words with the sweetest sound to the ear
and the finest place in the chamber of secrets,
And in the mind's sanctum the fairest cadence
كَالزَّهْرِlike blossoms خَامَرَهُsuffused them النَّدَىdew فَتَأَرَّجَتْso became fragrant
كَالزَّهْرِ خَامَرَهُ النَّدَى فَتَأَرَّجَتْ
أَنْفَاسُهُtheir breaths بِالْعَنْبَرِwith ambergris الْمُتَضَوِّعِdiffusing fragrance
أَنْفَاسُهُ بِالْعَنْبَرِ الْمُتَضَوِّعِ
like blossoms steeped in dew, so fragrant grow
As if the dew had touched a blossom and its
their breaths with wafting ambergris.
Breath was scented with lingering fragrance
يَعْنُوbows لَهَاto them الْخَصْمُthe adversary الأَلَدُّmost obstinate وَيَغْتَذِيand is nourished
يَعْنُو لَهَا الْخَصْمُ الأَلَدُّ وَيَغْتَذِي
بِلِبَانِهَاby their milk ذِهْنُthe mind of الْخَطِيبِthe orator الْمِصْقَعِeloquent
بِلِبَانِهَا ذِهْنُ الْخَطِيبِ الْمِصْقَعِ
The most obstinate adversary bows to them, and they nourish
The fiercest foe yields to them and the mind
with their milk the mind of the eloquent orator.
Of the ablest orator feeds on their honey
هِيَthey نُجْعَةُthe pasture of الأَدَبِliterature الَّتِيwhich مَنْwhoever أَمَّهَاseeks it
هِيَ نُجْعَةُ الأَدَبِ الَّتِي مَنْ أَمَّهَا
أَلْقَىcasts مَرَاسِيَهُhis anchors بِوَادٍin a valley مُمْرِعِlush
أَلْقَى مَرَاسِيَهُ بِوَادٍ مُمْرِعِ
They are literature's pasture; whoever seeks it
They are the feast of literature—he who tastes it
casts his anchors in a lush valley.
Will cast his anchors in a fecund valley
مَلَكَتْpossessed هَوَىthe affection of نَفْسِيmy soul وَأَحْيَتْand revived خَاطِرِيmy imagination
مَلَكَتْ هَوَى نَفْسِي وَأَحْيَتْ خَاطِرِي
وَرَوَتْand quenched صَدَىthe thirst of قَلْبِيmy heart وَلَذَّتْand delighted مسْمَعِيmy hearing
وَرَوَتْ صَدَى قَلْبِي وَلَذَّتْ مسْمَعِي
They captured my soul's affection and revived my imagination,
They captivated my soul, enlivened my thoughts
quenched my heart's thirst and delighted my ear.
Quenched the echo of my heart, and delighted my hearing
فَاسْلَمْso be well ِشَكِيبُShakib وَلاand not بَرِحْتَmay you cease بِنِعْمَةٍin a blessing
فَاسْلَمْ ِشَكِيبُ وَلا بَرِحْتَ بِنِعْمَةٍ
تَحْنُوbends lovingly عَلَيْكَover you بِأَيْكِهَاwith its grove الْمُتَفَرِّعِbranching
تَحْنُو عَلَيْكَ بِأَيْكِهَا الْمُتَفَرِّعِ
So be well, Shakib, and may you ever dwell in a blessing
Submit, Shakib! Abide in bounty
that bends lovingly over you with its branching grove.
Inclining over you, branchy and burgeoning
فَلأَنْتَfor you indeed أَجْدَرُmore deserving بِالثَّنَاءِof praise لِمِنَّةٍfor a favor
فَلأَنْتَ أَجْدَرُ بِالثَّنَاءِ لِمِنَّةٍ
أَوْلَيْتَهَاyou bestowed it وَالْبِرُّand kindness أَفْضَلُthe best مَاwhat رُعِيis cherished
أَوْلَيْتَهَا وَالْبِرُّ أَفْضَلُ مَا رُعِي
For you are indeed most deserving of praise for a favor
For you are most deserving of praise for a kindness
you bestowed; kindness is the finest thing to cherish.
You have shown, and duty kept is best
أَرْهَفْتَyou sharpened حَدِّيmy edge فَهْوَso it is غَيْرُnot مُفَلَّلٍchipped
أَرْهَفْتَ حَدِّي فَهْوَ غَيْرُ مُفَلَّلٍ
وَرَعَيْتَand safeguarded عَهْدِيmy covenant فَهْوَمso it is غَيْرُnot مُضَيَّعِneglected
وَرَعَيْتَ عَهْدِي فَهْوَم غَيْرُ مُضَيَّعِ
You honed my edge, so it remains unchipped,
You sharpened my wit unblunted still
and safeguarded my covenant, so it is not forsaken.
And observed my covenant, unbroken
وَبَثَقْتَand you released لِيfor me مِنْfrom فَيْضِthe overflow of بَحْرِكَyour sea جَدْوَلاًa stream
وَبَثَقْتَ لِي مِنْ فَيْضِ بَحْرِكَ جَدْوَلاً
غَمَرَengulfed الْبِحَارَthe seas بِسَيْلِهِwith its flood الْمُتَدَفِّعِsurging
غَمَرَ الْبِحَارَ بِسَيْلِهِ الْمُتَدَفِّعِ
You released for me, from your sea's overflow, a stream
And channeled from your sea's abundance a stream for me
that engulfed the seas with its surging flood.
Its rushing torrent overwhelmed the oceans
عَذُبَتْgrew sweet مَوَارِدُهُits watering places فَلَوْso if أَلْقَتْlowered بِهِinto it
عَذُبَتْ مَوَارِدُهُ فَلَوْ أَلْقَتْ بِهِ
هِيمُthe thirsty ones of السَّحَابِthe clouds دِلاءَهَاtheir buckets لَمْnot تُقْلِعِdesist
هِيمُ السَّحَابِ دِلاءَهَا لَمْ تُقْلِعِ
Its waters grew sweet; were they to lower into it
Sweet are its springs—if the rainclouds had cast
their buckets, the thirsty clouds would never desist.
Their water skins into them they would not have left
وَزَهَتْand shone فَرَائِدُهُits peerless pearls فَصَارَتْso became غُرَّةًa bright forehead mark
وَزَهَتْ فَرَائِدُهُ فَصَارَتْ غُرَّةً
لِجَبِينِon the brow of كُلِّevery مُتَوَّجٍcrowned one وَمُقَنَّعِand veiled one
لِجَبِينِ كُلِّ مُتَوَّجٍ وَمُقَنَّعِ
Its peerless pearls shone, becoming a radiant blaze
And its surging billows became the prime
on the brow of every crowned and veiled man.
Adornment for every crowned and turbaned head
هُوَit ذَلِكَthat النَّظْمُverse الَّذِيwhich شَهِدَتْtestified لَهُfor it
هُوَ ذَلِكَ النَّظْمُ الَّذِي شَهِدَتْ لَهُ
أَهْلُthe masters of الْبَرَاعَةِartistry بِالْمَقَالِfor the expression الْمُبْدَعِinventively crafted
أَهْلُ الْبَرَاعَةِ بِالْمَقَالِ الْمُبْدَعِ
It is that verse which earned the testimony
That is the poetry which the masters of eloquence
of masters of eloquence for its wondrous expression.
Bore witness was most excellently created
أَبْصَرْتُI saw مِنْهُin it أَخَاthe kinsman of إِيَادٍIyad خَاطِبَاًorating
أَبْصَرْتُ مِنْهُ أَخَا إِيَادٍ خَاطِبَاً
وَسَمِعْتُand I heard عَنْتَرَةَAntarah الْفَوَارِسِof the horsemen يَدَّعِيproclaiming himself
وَسَمِعْتُ عَنْتَرَةَ الْفَوَارِسِ يَدَّعِي
In it I saw the kinsman of Iyad delivering an oration,
Through it I saw Akh of Iyad declaiming
and heard Antarah of the horsemen proclaiming himself.
And heard Antarah the knight make his boast
وَحَلَمْتُand I dreamed أَنِّيthat I فِيin خَمَائِلِthe lush groves of جَنَّةٍa garden
وَحَلَمْتُ أَنِّي فِي خَمَائِلِ جَنَّةٍ
وَمِنَand among الْعَجَائِبِwonders حَالِمٌa dreamer لَمْnot يَهْجَعِslept
وَمِنَ الْعَجَائِبِ حَالِمٌ لَمْ يَهْجَعِ
I dreamed I was in the lush groves of a garden,
And dreamed I was in the gardens of Paradise
and among wonders is a dreamer who has not slept.
Wondrous dreamer, never having slept!
فَضْلٌa bounty رَفَعْتَyou raised بِهِby it مَنَارَa beacon of كَرَامَةٍhonor
فَضْلٌ رَفَعْتَ بِهِ مَنَارَ كَرَامَةٍ
صَرَفَturned away الْعُيُونَthe eyes عَنِfrom الْمَنَارِthe beacon لِتُبَّعِof Tubba'
صَرَفَ الْعُيُونَ عَنِ الْمَنَارِ لِتُبَّعِ
A bounty by which you raised a beacon of honor,
A merit you raised the banner of greatness
turning eyes away from the beacon of Tubba'.
Eyes turned from other banners, yours to follow
فَمَتَىso when أَقُومُcan I undertake بِشُكْرِgiving thanks for مَاwhat أَوْلَيْتَنِيyou bestowed on me
فَمَتَى أَقُومُ بِشُكْرِ مَا أَوْلَيْتَنِي
وَالنَّجْمُand the star أَقْرَبُnearer غَايَةًas a goal مِنْthan مَنْزِعِيmy aspiration
وَالنَّجْمُ أَقْرَبُ غَايَةً مِنْ مَنْزِعِي
When, then, can I give thanks for what you bestowed on me,
So when can I give thanks for your favor to me
when a star is a nearer goal than the one I strive for?
Though the stars are closer to my reach?
فَاعْذِرْso forgive إِذَاif قَصَرَfalls short الثَّنَاءُthe praise فَإِنِّنِيfor I
فَاعْذِرْ إِذَا قَصَرَ الثَّنَاءُ فَإِنِّنِي
رُزْتُI tested الْمَقَالَspeech فَلَمْso did not أَجِدْfind مِنْany مَقْنَعِadequate expression
رُزْتُ الْمَقَالَ فَلَمْ أَجِدْ مِنْ مَقْنَعِ
So forgive me if my praise falls short, for I
Excuse me if praise falls short. I made
have tested speech and found no adequate expression.
The attempt but found no means.
لاnot زِلْتَmay you cease تَرْفُلُwalk proudly فِيin وِشَاءِthe embroidery of سَعَادَةٍhappiness
لا زِلْتَ تَرْفُلُ فِي وِشَاءِ سَعَادَةٍ
وَحَبِيرِand the brocade of عَافِيَةٍwell-being وَعَيْشٍand a life أَمْرَعِabundant
وَحَبِيرِ عَافِيَةٍ وَعَيْشٍ أَمْرَعِ
May you ever walk proudly in happiness's embroidered robes,
May you continue to enjoy the joy of happiness
and health's brocade, and in a life of plenty.
And the comfort of well-being and abundant life.
Sol 6.1