أَبلغْattain بهاwith her أُمنيَّةَthe wish الطالبِof the seeker
أَبلغْ بها أُمنيَّةَ الطالبِ
فالرزقُfor livelihood بينbetween الرِّدفِthe rump والغاربِand the withers
فالرزقُ بين الرِّدفِ والغاربِ
Attain with her the seeker's wish,
Deliver her wishes, O student
for livelihood lies between rump and withers.
Though sustenance lies between uncertainty and nightfall
ولاand do not تُذمِّمfind fault لوجاهاfor her sore feet فماfor not الthe (continued next line)
ولا تُذمِّم لوجاها فما ال
راحةُrest يوماًever فيupon مَطَاthe back اللاغبِof the weary one
راحةُ يوماً في مَطَا اللاغبِ
Do not fault her for her sore feet, for
Do not let her radiant face frown, for no
rest is never upon a weary back.
Rest comes for a day to the sleepless
ليلتُهاher night فيwith الدائبِthe tireless one المنتقِيthe chooser
ليلتُها في الدائبِ المنتقِي
بُغامُهاher lowing فيwith السارِحthe roaming grazer العازبِthe far-ranging one
بُغامُها في السارِح العازبِ
Her night is with the tireless chooser;
Her nights are spent in ceaseless vigil
her lowing, with the far-roaming grazer.
Her mornings in deserted awakening
حُداؤهاher driving-song فيamong الرَّكبthe caravan أحظَىmore favorable لهاfor her
حُداؤها في الرَّكب أحظَى لها
منthan نَعقةِthe cry الراعيof the herdsman أوor الراكبِthe rider
من نَعقةِ الراعي أو الراكبِ
Her driving-song in the caravan serves her better
Her conversation among a traveling company is more gratifying to her
than the cry of herdsman or rider.
Than the barking of a shepherd or the cries of a rider
فاوتَmade different بينamong الطيرِthe birds حالاتُهاtheir circumstances
فاوتَ بين الطيرِ حالاتُها
منsome باطشٍa fierce attacker أوor فَرِقٍa timid one هائبِafraid
من باطشٍ أو فَرِقٍ هائبِ
Their circumstances set the birds apart:
So her circumstances vary among the birds
some fierce attackers, others timid and afraid.
From violence, separation, and startled flight
فالخسفُso abasement للجاثمِfor the crouching one فيin وكرِهِits nest
فالخسفُ للجاثمِ في وكرِهِ
والخِصبُand abundance للقاطعِfor the traveler والكاسبِand the earner
والخِصبُ للقاطعِ والكاسبِ
Abasement falls to the bird crouching in its nest,
For the cowering in his den is darkness
and plenty to the traveler and earner.
While for the active and the earner is fruitfulness
أفلحَprospered منwhoever داوسَtrod طُرْقَthe paths العلاof eminence
أفلحَ من داوسَ طُرْقَ العلا
موفَّقاًguided successfully للسَّنَنِto the road اللاحبِthe broad, well-trodden one
موفَّقاً للسَّنَنِ اللاحبِ
He prospers who treads the paths of eminence,
Success comes to one who travels the paths of elevation
guided to the broad, well-trodden road.
While conforming to time-honored ways
تُعجِبُهdelights him الفضلةُthe surplus فيin مالهhis wealth
تُعجِبُه الفضلةُ في ماله
ماas long as لمnot تَشُبْهاtaint it مِنّةُa reminder of favor الواهبfrom the giver
ما لم تَشُبْها مِنّةُ الواهب
The surplus in his wealth delights him,
He is pleased by surplus in his money
unless the giver's reminder of favor taints it.
If it is not resembled by a gift from the giver
ذلكthat فيin المولَىthe client غَداًtomorrow فيin الغداthe morning
ذلك في المولَى غَداً في الغدا
مَثلبةٌa blemish فاسددْso close فمَthe mouth الثالبِof the faultfinder
مَثلبةٌ فاسددْ فمَ الثالبِ
In a client, that will tomorrow morning
That will be in the morning, while tomorrow eve
be a blemish; so silence the faultfinder.
Corruption spreads - so steady your steps!
خوفيmy fear منof العائبthe faultfinder ليfor me نجوةٌan escape
خوفي من العائب لي نجوةٌ
منfrom الأذىharm تُشكَرُis gratefully credited للعائبِto the faultfinder
من الأذى تُشكَرُ للعائبِ
My fear of the faultfinder is my escape
I fear the critic, yet for me survival
from harm, for which the faultfinder deserves thanks.
From harm is owed even to the critic
والناسُand people أصحابِيَmy friends ماas long as لمnot تَمِلْlean
والناسُ أصحابِيَ ما لم تَمِلْ
وُسوقُthe loads أثقاليof my burdens علىupon صاحبِa friend
وُسوقُ أثقالي على صاحبِ
People are my friends so long as
People are my comrades unless I
the loads of my burdens do not lean upon a friend.
Weary, and my burdens rest upon their bearer
أكونI am ماas long as استغنيتُI am independent عنof رفدهمtheir support
أكون ما استغنيتُ عن رفدهم
جِلدةَa strip of skin بينbetween العينِthe eye والحاجبand the eyebrow
جِلدةَ بين العينِ والحاجب
While I have no need of their help, I am
I remain only while independent of their provision
a strip of skin between eye and eyebrow.
A skin between the eye and the brow
فإنthen if عَرَتْbefalls أوor حدَثتْarises حاجةٌa need
فإن عَرَتْ أو حدَثتْ حاجةٌ
فالحبلُthen the rope مَلْقِيٌّis cast علىupon الغاربِthe withers
فالحبلُ مَلْقِيٌّ على الغاربِ
Should a need assail me or arise,
When it is exposed or need arises
then the rope is cast upon the withers.
The rope lies upon the absent one
وكمand how many أخٍa brother غَيَّرهُchanged him يومُهhis day الthe (continued next line)
وكم أخٍ غَيَّرهُ يومُه ال
مُقبلُapproaching عنfrom أمسِyesterday بهwith him الذاهبِthe departing one
مُقبلُ عن أمسِ به الذاهبِ
How many a brother has been changed by his day—
How often a brother's day, not the
the approaching one—from yesterday that went away with him.
Coming morrow, differs from his vanished yesterday!
كنتُI was وإيّاهand with him زمانَduring the time الصدَىof thirst
كنتُ وإيّاه زمانَ الصدَى
كالماءlike water والقهوةِand wine للشاربِfor the drinker
كالماء والقهوةِ للشاربِ
He and I, in the days of thirst, were
Once he and I for a time shared sweet converse
like water and wine to the drinker.
Like water mingled with coffee by the drinker
ومَدّand he stretched باعيْهhis two arms فخلَّىso he left يدِيmy hand
ومَدّ باعيْه فخلَّى يدِي
نهباًas prey لكفّto the hand القابِضof the seizer الجاذبِthe puller
نهباً لكفّ القابِض الجاذبِ
And he stretched out both his arms, leaving my hand
But he stretched his hands, leaving mine
prey to the hand that seizes and drags.
Prey to the grasping, pulling palm
مرّhe passed فلمand did not يعطِفsoften لحُبِّfor the love الصِّباof youth الthe (continued next line)
مرّ فلم يعطِف لحُبِّ الصِّبا ال
جانيtransgressing ولاnor حقِّthe claim العلاof nobility الواجبِthe binding one
جاني ولا حقِّ العلا الواجبِ
He passed, unmoved by youthful love—
He passed by, turning not for love of youth
wayward love—or by nobility's binding claim.
That drew near, nor duty of knowledge that was due
كأنَّas though ماwhat أَحكمتُI made secure منof ودّهِhis friendship
كأنَّ ما أَحكمتُ من ودّهِ
أبرمتُهُI twisted it tight لِلمسحَلِfor the file القاضبِthe severing one
أبرمتُهُ لِلمسحَلِ القاضبِ
As though the friendship I had made secure
As though the affection I fixed with him
I had twisted tight for the severing file.
I had pledged to the overthrowing flood
اللّهَGod! (invoked) للمغصوبِfor the dispossessed فيكمamong you علىregarding
اللّهَ للمغصوبِ فيكم على
ديونِهhis dues ياO شِيعةpartisans الغاصبِof the usurper
ديونِه يا شِيعة الغاصبِ
God help the man among you deprived of
By God! For the oppressed among you, against
his dues, O partisans of the usurper!
His debtors - O party of the unjust!
قدindeed قلتُI said للخابطto the stumbling wanderer خلفَafter المُنَىthe hopes
قد قلتُ للخابط خلفَ المُنَى
مباعداًranging far قارِبْstay close بهاwith her قاربِstay close
مباعداً قارِبْ بها قاربِ
I have told the man stumbling after hopes,
To the misguided behind death I have said:
far afield: 'Stay close with her—stay close!'
"Draw near with it, draw near with the ship!"
اِحبسhalt مطاياكyour mounts فماfor nothing فيin السرىnight travel
اِحبس مطاياك فما في السرى
إلاexcept جنونُthe madness الطمعِof greed الكاذبِthe delusive kind
إلا جنونُ الطمعِ الكاذبِ
Halt your mounts; night journeying holds
Restrain your mounts, for in traveling
only the madness of delusive greed.
Is but the madness of lying greed
لاdo not تطلبنَّever seek الرزقَlivelihood منfrom معدنٍa source
لا تطلبنَّ الرزقَ من معدنٍ
يَنبوعهits wellspring غيرُother than أبيAbu طالبِTalib
يَنبوعه غيرُ أبي طالبِ
Never seek livelihood at a source
Seek not sustenance from a source
whose wellspring is other than Abu Talib.
Whose springs are other than my father the chosen
فالبحُfor the sea (apparently intended) مَنwhoever خلَّفَهُleaves him behind
فالبحُ مَن خلَّفَهُ
لمdid not يقتنعbe content بالوشلِwith the trickle الناضبِthe dwindling one
لم يقتنع بالوشلِ الناضبِ
For he is the sea; whoever leaves him behind
Whoever lags behind the sea
will not be content with a dwindling trickle.
Will not be content with the streaming bucket
خاطَرَrisked a wager فيin المجدglory فغالىَthen raised the stakes فتىًa youth
خاطَرَ في المجد فغالىَ فتىً
لمdid not يخشَfear منهfrom it قَمْرةَthe winning of a wager الغالبِby the victor
لم يخشَ منه قَمْرةَ الغالبِ
A youth gambled for glory and raised the stakes,
He who ventured in glory esteemed a youth
not fearing to lose his wager to a victor.
Who did not fear the power of the victor
وكاثرَand competed in abundance الناسَwith people بإحسانِهِthrough his kindness
وكاثرَ الناسَ بإحسانِهِ
فلمso did not يحزْهُencompass it عددُthe tally الحاسبِof the reckoner
فلم يحزْهُ عددُ الحاسبِ
He outdid others through the abundance of his kindness,
He vied with the people in his benevolence
which no reckoner's tally could encompass.
Yet was not bounded by the number of the recorder
إذاwhen احتبىsits with knees clasped ينسبُtraces the lineage of علياءهhis eminence
إذا احتبى ينسبُ علياءه
دارturned عليهaround him قُطُبُthe axis الناسبِof the genealogist
دار عليه قُطُبُ الناسبِ
When he sits with knees clasped, tracing his lofty lineage,
When he is distinguished, his lofty origin
the genealogist's axis turns about him.
Returns to the noble line of his ancestors
ضمّhe joined إلىto ماwhat كسبتْearned نفسُهُhis own self
ضمّ إلى ما كسبتْ نفسُهُ
سالفةًan ancestral past فيin عرقِهِhis root الضاربِthe deep-reaching one
سالفةً في عرقِهِ الضاربِ
He joined to what his own self had earned
He joined to what his soul had earned
an ancient heritage in his deep-reaching root.
An inherited and cultivated glory
فظلَّso he remained لاnot يَشْرُفُrising in honor منfrom جانبلٍa side (apparent textual error)
فظلَّ لا يَشْرُفُ من جانبلٍ
إلاwithout دَعاهُsummoning him الفخرُglory منfrom جانبِanother side
إلا دَعاهُ الفخرُ من جانبِ
Thus he never rises in honor on one side
So he continued undeterred by any side
without glory summoning him from another.
Except that honor summoned him from that side
منfrom معشَرٍa people تضحكُlaugh أَيمانُهمtheir right hands
من معشَرٍ تضحكُ أَيمانُهم
إنif آَدَweighs heavily عامُthe year السنةِof famine الشاحبِthe pallid one
إن آَدَ عامُ السنةِ الشاحبِ
From a people whose right hands laugh
From a company whose oaths
when famine's pallid year weighs heavily.
Laugh should the lean year of dearth arrive
تُحلَبُis milked أموالُهمُtheir wealth ثَرَّةًabundantly flowing
تُحلَبُ أموالُهمُ ثَرَّةً
والضرعُand the udder مبسوسٌis gently coaxed علىfor الحالبِthe milker
والضرعُ مبسوسٌ على الحالبِ
Their wealth is milked in plentiful streams,
Their wealth is milked as a copious rain
the udder coaxed for the milker.
While the udder is stroked by the milker
لهمthey have نَدِيٌّa council شَرِقٌoverflowing منهُمُwith them
لهم نَدِيٌّ شَرِقٌ منهُمُ
بكلِّwith every مخطوبٍsought-after man لهwho has خاطبِa petitioner
بكلِّ مخطوبٍ له خاطبِ
They have a council overflowing with their own,
For them the fresh east wind blows from them
with every sought-after man who has a petitioner.
To every sought-after object of desire
لاno نائمُsleeper السامرِin the night gathering فيin الليلةِthe night الthe (continued next line)
لا نائمُ السامرِ في الليلةِ ال
طُّولَىlongest ولاnor منتقِرُselectively inviting الآدبِthe banquet-giver
طُّولَى ولا منتقِرُ الآدبِ
No sleeper in the night gathering on the night
No sleepy caravan by night, and no
that is longest, nor a host who invites only chosen guests.
Settled chamber-companion left inactive
همthey وَزَرُواserved as ministers الدولاتِthe dynasties واستنصحواand were consulted
هم وَزَرُوا الدولاتِ واستنصحوا
رَعْياًin care علىover العاطفِthe returning one والساربِand the roaming one
رَعْياً على العاطفِ والساربِ
They served dynasties as ministers and trusted counselors,
They took charge of dynasties and gave counsel
caring for those who turn back and those who roam.
To preserve the emotional bond and the ties
وهمand they سيوفُthe swords الخلفاءِof the caliphs التيwhich
وهم سيوفُ الخلفاءِ التي
تُعلِّمteach الضربَstriking يدَthe hand الضاربِof the striker
تُعلِّم الضربَ يدَ الضاربِ
They are the caliphs' swords, which
They are the swords of caliphs which
teach the striker's hand to strike.
Instruct the hand of the striker in striking
غارواthey set نجوماًas stars ووفَتْand was fulfilled بابنهمthrough their son
غاروا نجوماً ووفَتْ بابنهم
شهادةُthe testimony الطالعِof the rising one للغاربِto the setting one
شهادةُ الطالعِ للغاربِ
They set like stars, and through their son was fulfilled
They rose as stars, and their son's death
the rising star's testimony to the setting one.
Bore witness to their setting
حَذَأhe followed suit (reading uncertain) وزادتهand increased him قُوَىthe powers نفسِهِof his self
حَذَأ وزادته قُوَى نفسِهِ
والمجدُand glory للموروثِfor inherited glory والكاسبِand the achiever
والمجدُ للموروثِ والكاسبِ
He followed them; his own powers increased his stature—
He donned ability, and his inherent strength increased,
glory comes through inheritance and achievement—
While glory belongs to the inherited and to the earner
زيادةَthe increase البدرِof the full moon بشَعشاعهِwith its radiance
زيادةَ البدرِ بشَعشاعهِ
علىover ضياءthe light الكوكبِof the star الثاقبِthe piercing one
على ضياء الكوكبِ الثاقبِ
like the full moon's radiant increase
The excess of the full moon with its rays
over the light of a piercing star.
Over the bright star's piercing beams
ليتَif only عيوناًeyes لهمُof theirs فيin الثرىthe soil
ليتَ عيوناً لهمُ في الثرى
مغضوضةًclosed بالقدَرِby fate اللازبِthe inescapable one
مغضوضةً بالقدَرِ اللازبِ
If only their eyes beneath the soil,
Would that for them eyes in the earth
closed by inexorable fate,
Were darkened by binding fate
تراكcould see you فيin رتبتهمtheir rank جالساًseated
تراك في رتبتهم جالساً
تأمُرُyou command فيin العارِضِthe passing matter والراتبِand the settled matter
تأمُرُ في العارِضِ والراتبِ
could see you seated in their rank,
You see yourself seated in their ranks
commanding in passing and settled affairs,
Commanding the concurrent and the fixed
حتىso that يُقِرَّmight gladden اللّهُGod منهاamong them الذيthe one which
حتى يُقِرَّ اللّهُ منها الذي
أُقذِيَhad grit cast into it بالرامسِby the burier والتاربِand the earth-strewer
أُقذِيَ بالرامسِ والتاربِ
so that God might gladden whichever of them
Until God should settle with it the one
had grit cast into it by the burier and earth-strewer.
Who was harmed by the firmly-binding cord
قدindeed عَرَفَhas known القائمُal-Qa'im بالأمرِin command مذsince
قد عَرَفَ القائمُ بالأمرِ مذ
سَلَّكَhe unsheathed you أنَّthat القطعَcutting للقاضبِbelongs to the keen blade
سَلَّكَ أنَّ القطعَ للقاضبِ
Al-Qa'im, who holds command, has known ever since
The minister has known since
he unsheathed you that cutting belongs to the keen blade.
You tread the path that cutting is for the executor
ظَهَرتَyou upheld بالعفَّةِthrough integrity سلطانَهُhis sovereignty
ظَهَرتَ بالعفَّةِ سلطانَهُ
هذاthis وماand not الزاهدُthe self-denying one كالراغبِlike the covetous one
هذا وما الزاهدُ كالراغبِ
Through integrity you upheld his sovereignty—
By your probity his authority appeared
this very sovereignty; the self-denying are not like the covetous.
Even as the ascetic differs from the desirous
وصنتَand you guarded وماand what حَسَّنَenhanced منof ذكرِهِhis renown
وصنتَ وما حَسَّنَ من ذكرِهِ
عنfrom دنَسِthe stain القادحِof the detractor والقاصبِand the reviler
عن دنَسِ القادحِ والقاصبِ
You guarded it, and what enhanced his renown,
You were virtuous, and no fair renown
from the stain of the detractor and reviler.
Was soiled by the detractor and the defamer
فلاso may not تَزَلْyou cease عندكwith you منof طَوْلِهِhis bounty
فلا تَزَلْ عندك من طَوْلِهِ
ماwhat عندهhe has منof رأيكyour counsel الصائبِthe sound kind
ما عنده من رأيك الصائبِ
May you always have of his bounty
So may you never lack near you from his length
as much as he has of your sound counsel.
What is present in him from your truthful view
ولاand may not خَلاَbe empty دَستُكyour dais منof مركبٍa cavalcade
ولا خَلاَ دَستُك من مركبٍ
غاشٍarriving ومنand of one راحٍdeparting ومنand of one هائبِstanding in awe
غاشٍ ومن راحٍ ومن هائبِ
May your dais never lack a cavalcade
Never empty of vessels, hordes, or startled beasts
arriving, or one departing, or one standing in awe.
Be your hands for smiting, oar, or startling
وعامand a year ليfor me منكfrom you ربيعof spring الذيwhich
وعام لي منك ربيع الذي
يُرضِيdelights رياضِيmy gardens بالحَيَاwith the rain الساكبِthe pouring kind
يُرضِي رياضِي بالحَيَا الساكبِ
And may I have from you a year of spring, which
And for me from you be a spring like that
delights my gardens with pouring rain.
Which contents my garden with abundant showers
وجُنَّتِيand my armor الحصداءُthe close-woven kind إنif صاحَshouted بيat me
وجُنَّتِي الحصداءُ إن صاحَ بي
دهريَmy fate لاno سَلْمَpeace فقمso rise حاربِfight
دهريَ لا سَلْمَ فقم حاربِ
And you are my close-woven armor if it shouts at me—
Should my barren garden cry out to me
my fate—'No peace! Rise and fight!'
In my life - no peace, so rise and fight!
ماnot ليَfor me فيin فقريmy need إلىfor ناصرٍa defender
ما ليَ في فقري إلى ناصرٍ
سواكمَنْexcept you, one whom أحمِيI defend بهthrough him جانبيmy flank
سواكمَنْ أحمِي به جانبي
In my need of a defender, I have none
For in my poverty what other defender have I
but you, through whom I guard my flank.
Besides you to guard my flanks?
فيin ودّكlove for you استبليتُI wore out ثوبَthe garment الصِّباof youth
في ودّك استبليتُ ثوبَ الصِّبا
وفيهand in it أنضوI shed بُردةَthe cloak الشائبِof the gray-haired one
وفيه أنضو بُردةَ الشائبِ
In my love for you I wore out youth's garment,
In your love my youthful garb I donned
and in it I shall shed the gray-haired man's cloak.
And in it I wrap myself in the cloak of old age
قلبيmy heart لكis yours المأمونُsecure تقليبُهُits changing
قلبي لك المأمونُ تقليبُهُ
ماas long as قامstands ريّانُRayyan علىabove ماربِMarib
ما قام ريّانُ على ماربِ
My heart is yours, safe from any reversal,
My heart I give to your safekeeping, its
as long as Rayyan stands above Marib.
Turning is restless atop its bending peg
أبيضُwhite ثوبِthe garment الودّof affection صافٍpure علىin
أبيضُ ثوبِ الودّ صافٍ على
لونَيْهِits two colors منof راضٍone approving ومنand of عائبِone finding fault
لونَيْهِ من راضٍ ومن عائبِ
White in its robe of affection, pure in
Pure white is the garment of love upon
both its colors—approving or finding fault.
Both its surfaces, both agreeable and blamable
وكُلَّماand whenever أُنسيتُمُyou were made to forget صُحبتيmy companionship
وكُلَّما أُنسيتُمُ صُحبتي
ذكَّرنيكُمْreminded me of you زَمنُthe time الصاحبِof the companion
ذكَّرنيكُمْ زَمنُ الصاحبِ
Whenever you are made to forget my companionship,
And whenever I forget your company
the days of companionship remind me of you.
The time of companionship reminds me of you
وخُرَّداًand bashful maidens أرسلتُهاI sent them forth شُرَّداًroaming free
وخُرَّداً أرسلتُها شُرَّداً
منfrom حابلٍa net-setter منكمamong you ومنand from حائبِan unsuccessful hunter (reading uncertain)
من حابلٍ منكم ومن حائبِ
And shy maidens I sent forth, roaming free,
Like pearls I sent them scattered
beyond any net-setter among you and any unsuccessful hunter.
From every loving and escaping cord
كلّeach فتاةٍmaiden مَعَdespite تعنيسهاher long maidenhood
كلّ فتاةٍ مَعَ تعنيسها
تفضَحُshames حُسنَthe beauty الغادةِof the graceful maiden الكاعبِthe budding-breasted one
تفضَحُ حُسنَ الغادةِ الكاعبِ
Each maiden, despite her long-unmarried age,
Each maiden though concealed
shames the beauty of a graceful, budding-breasted girl.
Reveals the beauty of the wanton glancing eye
ضوافياًflowing amply منfrom فوقِabove أعراضِكمyour honor
ضوافياً من فوقِ أعراضِكم
للمُسدِلِfor whoever drapes المُرخِيthe one slackening وللساحبِand for whoever trails
للمُسدِلِ المُرخِي وللساحبِ
Flowing amply over your honor,
Glances from above your honorable limits
for whoever lets them hang, slackens them, or trails them.
To the lowering, the winking, the ardent admirer
سارتْthey traveled معwith الشمسthe sun وعمَّتand spread everywhere معwith الthe (continued next line)
سارتْ مع الشمس وعمَّت مع ال
غيثrain فمنso some are ذاكٍblazing ومنand some هاضبِpouring down
غيث فمن ذاكٍ ومن هاضبِ
They journeyed with the sun and spread with the
They traveled with the sun, and coupled with the
rain—some blazing, some pouring down.
Rain, so who compares to that or this?
تعلَقُcling بالآذانto the ears موصولةًjoined continuously
تعلَقُ بالآذان موصولةً
غَشْماًby force بلاwithout إذنٍpermission ولاand without حاجبِa doorkeeper
غَشْماً بلا إذنٍ ولا حاجبِ
They cling to ears in unbroken succession,
They cling to ears connected
forcibly, without permission or doorkeeper.
Shamelessly without leave or veil
تنضُبُdries up; apparently intended 'erects' أعلاماًbanners لكمfor you سَيرُهاtheir traveling
تنضُبُ أعلاماً لكم سَيرُها
فيthroughout الأرضِthe earth فلتُشكَرْso let be thanked يَدُthe hand الناصبِof the banner-raiser
في الأرضِ فلتُشكَرْ يَدُ الناصبِ
Their travels raise banners for you
They raise banners for you, the course of which
throughout the earth; let the raiser's hand be thanked.
In earth - so thank the banner's raiser!
كَرَّرتِrepeated الأعيادُthe feast days أعدادَهاtheir numbers
كَرَّرتِ الأعيادُ أعدادَها
والمهرجاناتُand the Mihragan festivals علىfor الحاسبِthe reckoner
والمهرجاناتُ على الحاسبِ
Feast days have repeated their numbers,
The seasons repeat their counts
and Mihragan festivals, for the reckoner,
And festivals against the calendar
حتىuntil لقدindeed خافتthey feared بماbecause of how أكثرتْthey grew numerous
حتى لقد خافت بما أكثرتْ
ملالةَthe weariness القارىءof the reader والكاتبِand the writer
ملالةَ القارىء والكاتبِ
until, because they grew so numerous, they feared
Until even the reader and the writer fear
the weariness of reader and writer.
The boredom of their excess
Sol 6.1