هيَthese are الرُبوعُthe dwellings فِقِفso stand فيin عَرصَةِthe courtyard الدارِthe house
هيَ الرُبوعُ فِقِف في عَرصَةِ الدارِ
وَحَيِّهاand greet them وَاِسقِهاand water them مِنfrom دَمعِكَyour tears الجاريflowing
وَحَيِّها وَاِسقِها مِن دَمعِكَ الجاري
These are the dwellings; stand in the courtyard of the house.
The gardens are in full bloom, so pause in the courtyard of home
These are the ruins, so stand in the courtyard of the abode,
And greet them, and water them with your flowing tears.
And give it life, and water it with your flowing tears
Greet them, and water them with your flowing tears.
مَعاهِديmy familiar haunts وَلَياليand the nights العُمرِlife مَقمرَةٌmoonlit
مَعاهِدي وَلَيالي العُمرِ مَقمرَةٌ
قَضَيتُI fulfilled فيهاin them لُباناتيmy desires وَأَوطانيand my homelands (text unclear)
قَضَيتُ فيها لُباناتي وَأَوطاني
My familiar haunts, when life's nights were moonlit;
My old dwelling, and the nights of my life lit up
My familiar haunts, where the nights of life were moonlit,
There I fulfilled my desires and [unclear: 'my homelands'].
Where I spent my youth and homeland
Where I fulfilled my heart's desires and found my home.
بَكَتwept عَلَيهاover them غَواديmorning showers المُزنِthe rain clouds باكِرَةًearly
بَكَت عَلَيها غَوادي المُزنِ باكِرَةً
وَجَرَّتِand trailed الريحُthe wind فيهاthrough them ذَيلَthe hem مِعطارِa perfumed woman
وَجَرَّتِ الريحُ فيها ذَيلَ مِعطارِ
The rain clouds' morning showers wept over them at dawn,
My love wept for it at dawn early on
The morning rainclouds wept over them early,
And the wind trailed through them a perfumed woman's hem,
As the breeze stirred its sweet fragrance
And the wind dragged across them the tail of a perfumed robe.
مَجَرَّthe trailing of أَذيالِhems غَضّاتِtender maidens الصِباyouth خُردٍbashful virgins
مَجَرَّ أَذيالِ غَضّاتِ الصِبا خُردٍ
حورِdark-eyed المَدامِعِthe eyes المَدامِعِthe eyes مِfrom (clipped form) الأَدناسِdefilements أَطهارِpure
حورِ المَدامِعِ المَدامِعِ مِ الأَدناسِ أَطهارِ
As tender, youthful, bashful maidens trail their hems,
The tresses of chaste youth fluttered
Dragging the skirts of tender, youthful maidens,
Dark-eyed, with eyes pure of defilement.
As pure as tears, cleansed of all impurities
With beautiful eyes, pure and cleansed of all stain.
كَأَنَّماas though أُفرِغَتwere poured forth مِنfrom ماءِliquid lustre لُؤلُؤَةٍa pearl
كَأَنَّما أُفرِغَت مِن ماءِ لُؤلُؤَةٍ
نوراًlight تَجَسَّدَbecame embodied فيin أَرواحِsouls أَبشارِskins; bodies
نوراً تَجَسَّدَ في أَرواحِ أَبشارِ
As though poured from the liquid lustre of a pearl,
As if poured from a pearl’s water
As though they were poured from the liquid of a pearl,
Light made flesh within the souls of human bodies.
A light embodied in joyous spirits
Light embodied within spirits of human skin.
لِلسَّمعِfor the ear مَلهىًamusement وَلِلعَينِand for the eye الطَموحeager هَوىًdesire
لِلسَّمعِ مَلهىً وَلِلعَينِ الطَموح هَوىً
فَهُنَّso they لَذَّةُthe delight أَسماعٍears وَأَبصارand eyes
فَهُنَّ لَذَّةُ أَسماعٍ وَأَبصار
For the ear, amusement; for the eager eye, desire;
A delight to the ear, the eye’s longing infatuation
A diversion for the ear and a passion for the ambitious eye,
Thus they are a delight to ears and eyes.
For they are the pleasure of hearing and seeing
For they are the delight of hearing and of sight.
إِذاwhen هَزَزنَthey sway القُدودَthe figures الناعِماتsupple تَرىyou see
إِذا هَزَزنَ القُدودَ الناعِمات تَرى
أَغصانَbranches بانٍban trees تَثَنَّتswayed شبهَlike أَقمارِmoons
أَغصانَ بانٍ تَثَنَّت شبهَ أَقمارِ
When they sway their supple figures, you see
When they gently sway their delicate branches
When they shake their soft statures, you see
Branches of ban trees bending, like moons.
You’d see boughs of Bān bending like crescents
Willow branches bending, resembling moons.
تَشكوcomplain مَعاطِفُهاtheir waists إِعياweariness رَوادِفِهاtheir haunches
تَشكو مَعاطِفُها إِعيا رَوادِفِها
ياO لِلعَجائِبwhat marvels ذاthis كاسٍclothed وَذاand that عاريbare
يا لِلعَجائِب ذا كاسٍ وَذا عاري
Their waists complain of the strain their haunches cause.
Their outer garments complain of their underskirts
Their slender waists complain of the burden of their hips,
Oh, the marvels! This is clothed, and that is bare.
What wonders! One covered, the other bare
Oh, the wonder! This part is clothed, and that is bare.
فَكَمand how many صَرَعنَthey felled بِسَهمِwith an arrow اللَحظِthe glance منof بَطَلٍa hero
فَكَم صَرَعنَ بِسَهمِ اللَحظِ من بَطَلٍ
عَمداًdeliberately فَعَلنَthey did it وَماand not طولِبنَwere called to account بِالثارِfor vengeance
عَمداً فَعَلنَ وَما طولِبنَ بِالثارِ
How many a hero they have felled with an arrow of the glance!
How many heroes fell slain by their deadly glance
How many heroes have they struck down with the arrow of a glance,
They did it deliberately, yet no vengeance was demanded of them.
Intentional they did it, though not seeking vengeance
Deliberately they did it, yet no vengeance was demanded.
يَصبوyearns إِلَيهِنَّfor them مَخلوعٌa libertine وَذوand one possessing رَشَدٍsound judgment
يَصبو إِلَيهِنَّ مَخلوعٌ وَذو رَشَدٍ
وَلَيسَand not يَدنينَthey bring near مِنto إِثمٍsin وَلاnor عارِshame
وَلَيسَ يَدنينَ مِن إِثمٍ وَلا عارِ
A libertine and a man of sound judgment alike yearn for them,
Smitten men and wise men alike desire them
The dissolute and the rational alike yearn for them,
Yet they draw one toward neither sin nor shame.
Without sin or shame in their closeness
Yet they bring one near to neither sin nor shame.
تِلكَthose العُهودُthe days التيwhich ماnot زِلتُI ceased أَذكُرهاI remember them
تِلكَ العُهودُ التي ما زِلتُ أَذكُرها
فَكَيفَso how لاnot وَالذيand the one whom أَهواهُI love سَمّاريmy nighttime companions
فَكَيفَ لا وَالذي أَهواهُ سَمّاري
Those are the days I have never ceased to recall;
Those are the days I continue to remember
Those are the covenants I still remember,
How could I not, when my beloved is my nighttime company?
How not when my beloved is chatting
And how could I not, when those I love were my night-companions?
أَستَغفِرُI seek forgiveness from اللَهَGod لكِنَّbut النَسيبَlove-poetry حُلىًornaments
أَستَغفِرُ اللَهَ لكِنَّ النَسيبَ حُلىً
يُكسىis clothed بِهاwith them الشِعرpoetry فيamong بادٍa nomad وَفيand among قاريa townsman
يُكسى بِها الشِعر في بادٍ وَفي قاري
I ask God's forgiveness; yet love-poetry is an ornament
I beg God’s forgiveness, but charming poetry
I ask God’s forgiveness, but the love-prelude is an ornament
With which verse is clothed, among nomads and townspeople.
Adorns verse, whether settled or nomad
With which poetry is clothed, for the nomad and the city-dweller.
قَدindeed أَنشَدَrecited to المُصطَفىthe Chosen One حَسّانُHassan مُبتَدِئاًbeginning
قَد أَنشَدَ المُصطَفى حَسّانُ مُبتَدِئاً
قَولاًwords تَغَلغَلpenetrated فيthrough نَجدٍNajd وَأَغوارand lowlands
قَولاً تَغَلغَل في نَجدٍ وَأَغوار
Hassan recited to the Chosen One, opening with
Al-Mustafā Ḥassān poetically said
Hassan recited to the Chosen One, beginning
Words that penetrated Najd and the lowlands:
Words that echoed in Najd and its valleys
With words that penetrated the highlands of Nejd and the lowlands:
غَرّاءُradiant واضِحَةُbright الخَدَّينِboth cheeks خُرعُبَةٌa tall, supple maiden
غَرّاءُ واضِحَةُ الخَدَّينِ خُرعُبَةٌ
لَيسَتshe is not بِهَوجاungainly tall وَلاnor فيof خَمسِfive أَشبارِhandspans
لَيسَت بِهَوجا وَلا في خَمسِ أَشبارِ
Radiant, bright-cheeked, a tall and supple maiden,
“A fair one, with flushed cheeks, a bit chubby
"A radiant woman, clear-cheeked, tender,"
Neither ungainly tall nor merely five handspans high.
Not tall, nor even five handspans high
"Not reckless, nor short of stature."
كَأنَّas though ريقَتَهاher saliva منfrom بَعدِafter رَقدَتِهاher sleep
كَأنَّ ريقَتَها من بَعدِ رَقدَتِها
مِسكٌmusk يُدافُis diluted بِماwith what فيin دَنِّthe jar خُمّارa wine-seller
مِسكٌ يُدافُ بِما في دَنِّ خُمّار
As though her saliva, after she has slept,
As if her spittle after her slumber
"As if her saliva, after her slumber,"
Were musk diluted with what is in a wine-seller's jar.
Were musk she exhales from her veil
"Is musk mixed with what lies in the vintner's jar."
أَقولُI say لِلرَّكبِto the caravan لَمّاwhen فَرَبّواunclear; likely 'they brought forward' سَحَراًat dawn
أَقولُ لِلرَّكبِ لَمّا فَرَبّوا سَحَراً
لِلسَّيرِfor travel كلَّevery أَمونٍtrusty she-camel عَبرِstrong enough for أَسفارِjourneys
لِلسَّيرِ كلَّ أَمونٍ عَبرِ أَسفارِ
I say to the caravan, when at dawn they [brought forward]
I say to the riders when they set out at dawn
I say to the riders when they prepared at dawn,
For travel every trusty she-camel, strong enough for journeys,
For travel, every safe arrival across lands
To journey, on every trusty camel traversing the wilds,
عيساًpale camels كَأنَّas though نعامَostriches الدَوِّthe open wilderness ساهَمهاshared with them
عيساً كَأنَّ نعامَ الدَوِّ ساهَمها
ريشَfeathers الجَناحِthe wing فَزَفَّتso they sped بعدَafter إِحضارِgalloping
ريشَ الجَناحِ فَزَفَّت بعدَ إِحضارِ
Pale camels, as though the ostriches of the wilderness had shared with them
Quickly! As if the ostriches of Al-Daw’
White camels, as if the ostriches of the wasteland shared with them
Their wing-feathers, so they sped on after galloping.
Were flapping wings after adornment
The feathers of wings, so they glided after galloping.
حُثّواurge on المَطِيَّthe mounts فَغِبَّfor after الجِدِّexertion مَشرَبُكُمyour drinking-place
حُثّوا المَطِيَّ فَغِبَّ الجِدِّ مَشرَبُكُم
مِنfrom بحرِa sea جودٍgenerosity خَضمِّdeep الماءِwater زَخّارِoverflowing
مِن بحرِ جودٍ خَضمِّ الماءِ زَخّارِ
Urge on the mounts: after exertion, your drink awaits
Urge on the horses, as your generosity’s sea
Urge on the mounts! For after the effort is your watering place,
From a sea of bounty, deep-watered and overflowing.
With tumultuous water is an overflowing spring
From a sea of generosity, vast and surging with water.
يُرويslakes عِطاشَthe thirsty الأَمانيhopes فَيضُthe flood نائِلِهِhis bounty
يُروي عِطاشَ الأَماني فَيضُ نائِلِهِ
إِذاwhen اِشتَكَتthey complain مِنof صدىthirst عُدمٍwant وَإِقتارand penury
إِذا اِشتَكَت مِن صدى عُدمٍ وَإِقتار
The flood of his generosity slakes thirsty hopes
It quenches the thirst of wishes for its attainer
The overflow of his giving quenches the thirsty hopes,
When they complain of the thirst of want and penury.
When it complains of the echo of destitution and dearth
When they complain of the thirst of poverty and want.
مَلكٌa king تَجَمَّلتِwas adorned الدُنياthe world بِطَلعَتِهby his appearance
مَلكٌ تَجَمَّلتِ الدُنيا بِطَلعَتِه
وَأَسفَرand unveiled الكَونُthe universe عَنهُhim أَيَّwhat an إِسفارِunveiling
وَأَسفَر الكَونُ عَنهُ أَيَّ إِسفارِ
A king whose appearance has adorned the world,
A king whose rise adorned the world
A king by whose countenance the world is beautified,
And the universe unveiled him—what an unveiling!
And the universe shone with his greatness
And the universe shines from him with radiant light.
ملكٌa king تَفَرَّعَbranched forth منfrom جُرثومَةٍa root-stock بَسَقَتgrew tall
ملكٌ تَفَرَّعَ من جُرثومَةٍ بَسَقَت
فيin باذِخِlofty المَجدِglory عَصراًan age بَعدَafter أَعصارِages
في باذِخِ المَجدِ عَصراً بَعدَ أَعصارِ
A king who branched from a root-stock that rose high
A king descended from a root that yielded
A king branched from a stock that towered high
In lofty glory, age after age.
Fruit in the generous era after eras
In lofty glory, era after era.
هُمthey جَدَّدواrenewed الدينthe faith إِذwhen خَفيَتfaded مَعالِمُهُits landmarks
هُم جَدَّدوا الدين إِذ خَفيَت مَعالِمُهُ
وَفَلَّلواand blunted حَدَّthe edge كِسرىKisra يَومthe day ذيDhu قارِQar
وَفَلَّلوا حَدَّ كِسرى يَوم ذي قارِ
They renewed the faith when its landmarks had faded,
They renewed the faith when its pillars faded
They renewed the Religion when its landmarks were hidden,
And blunted Kisra's edge on the day of Dhu Qar.
And cleft the edge of Kisrā in Dhi Qar
And they blunted the edge of Chosroes on the day of Dhi Qar.
هُمthey المُصيبونَthose who are right إِنif قالواthey speak وَإنand if حَكَمواthey judge
هُم المُصيبونَ إِن قالوا وَإن حَكَموا
وَالطَيّبونَand the noble نَثاrenown مَجدٍglory وَأَخبارِand stories
وَالطَيّبونَ نَثا مَجدٍ وَأَخبارِ
They are right when they speak and when they judge,
They who are right when they speak and judge
They are the correct ones when they speak or judge,
And fair in the renown of their glory and the tales told of them.
Goodly reports and news spread of them
And the pure ones in reputation and report.
وَالباذِلونَand those who give نَهارَthe day الرَوعِterror أَنفُسَهمtheir lives
وَالباذِلونَ نَهارَ الرَوعِ أَنفُسَهم
وَالصائِنوهاand those who guard them عَنِfrom الفَحشاءِindecency وَالعارِand disgrace
وَالصائِنوها عَنِ الفَحشاءِ وَالعارِ
They offer up their lives on the day of terror,
They who expend themselves to face the horror
And those who sacrifice their souls in the day of terror,
And guard them from indecency and disgrace.
And defend virtue from disgrace and shame
And those who guard them from indecency and shame.
مَجدٌglory تَأَثَّلَtook firm root فيin نَجدٍNajd وَسارَand spread إِلىto
مَجدٌ تَأَثَّلَ في نَجدٍ وَسارَ إِلى
مَبدىthe rising-place سُهَيلٍSuhayl وَأَقصىand the farthest أَرضland بُلغارِBulgar
مَبدى سُهَيلٍ وَأَقصى أَرض بُلغارِ
Glory that took firm root in Najd and spread to
Glory flourished in Najd and spread
Glory rooted in Nejd and traveling to
The rising-place of Suhayl and the farthest land of Bulgar.
To the horizon of Suhayl and furthest Bulgaria
The rising place of Canopus and the furthest lands of Bulgars.
مَحامِدٌpraiseworthy deeds فيin سَماءِthe sky المَجدِglory مُشرِقَةٌshining
مَحامِدٌ في سَماءِ المَجدِ مُشرِقَةٌ
مِثلَlike النُجومِthe stars التيwhich يَسريtravels by night بِهاby them الساريthe night traveler
مِثلَ النُجومِ التي يَسري بِها الساري
Praiseworthy deeds shining in the heavens of glory,
Praise in the illustrious heaven shines
Praiseworthy traits shining in the sky of glory,
Like the stars by which the night traveler makes his way.
Like the stars traversing the skies
Like the stars by which the night-traveler navigates.
لكِنَّbut تاجَthe crown مُلوكِkings الأَرضِthe earth إِنif ذُكرواthey are mentioned
لكِنَّ تاجَ مُلوكِ الأَرضِ إِن ذُكروا
يَوماًone day وَأُرجِحَand is given precedence فيin فَضلٍmerit وَمِقدارand stature
يَوماً وَأُرجِحَ في فَضلٍ وَمِقدار
But the crown of earth's kings, if they are mentioned
But the crown of earth’s kings, when mentioned
But the crown of the kings of the earth, if mentioned
One day, and he is judged foremost in merit and stature,
One day, surpassing in merit and worth
One day, and weighed in merit and worth,
عَبدُAbd (servant of) العَزيزِal-Aziz (the Mighty) الذيwho كانَتwas خِلافَتُهُhis reign
عَبدُ العَزيزِ الذي كانَت خِلافَتُهُ
مِنfrom رَحمَةِmercy اللَهِGod لِلباديfor the nomad وَلِلقاريand for the townsman
مِن رَحمَةِ اللَهِ لِلبادي وَلِلقاري
Is Abdulaziz, whose reign
Is ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, whose caliphate
Is Abdul-Aziz, whose caliphate was
Came of God's mercy to nomads and townspeople.
Was God’s mercy upon settled and nomad
A mercy from God to the nomad and the settler.
أَعطاهُمُgave them اللَهُGod أَمناًsecurity بَعدafter خَوفِهِمُtheir fear
أَعطاهُمُ اللَهُ أَمناً بَعد خَوفِهِمُ
لَمّاwhen تَوَلّىhe took power وَيُسرًand ease بَعدَafter إِعسارِhardship
لَمّا تَوَلّى وَيُسرً بَعدَ إِعسارِ
God gave them safety after their fear,
After their fear, God gave them safety
God gave them security after their fear
When he took power, and ease after hardship.
When he assumed power, and eased hardship
When he took charge, and ease after hardship.
أَشَمُّhigh-nosed; noble أَروعُawe-inspiring مَضروبٌpitched سُرادِقُهُhis pavilion
أَشَمُّ أَروعُ مَضروبٌ سُرادِقُهُ
عَلىover فَتىa young man الحَزمِresolve نَفّاعٍbeneficent وَضَرّارِand harm-dealing
عَلى فَتى الحَزمِ نَفّاعٍ وَضَرّارِ
Lofty and awe-inspiring, his pavilion is pitched
I sense the most terrifying lion whose canopy
Proud, magnificent, his pavilion is pitched
Over a resolute young man, bestowing benefit and harm.
Shields the resolute, bold, and piercing hero
Over a youth of determination, who benefits and harms.
مُظَفَّرُvictorious العَزمِresolve شَهمٌhigh-hearted غَيرُnot مُؤتَشِبٍof mixed lineage
مُظَفَّرُ العَزمِ شَهمٌ غَيرُ مُؤتَشِبٍ
مُسَدَّدُwell-guided الرَأيِjudgment فيin وِردٍcoming to water وَإِصدارِand leading away from water
مُسَدَّدُ الرَأيِ في وِردٍ وَإِصدارِ
Victorious in resolve, high-hearted, of unmixed lineage,
The victorious, valiant, undaunted in resolve
Victorious in resolve, gallant, of pure lineage,
Sound in judgment, in coming to water and leading away from it.
Sound in opinion, in issuing and enacting
Guided in opinion in every undertaking.
ماnot نالَhe attained ماwhat نالhe attained إِلّاexcept بَعدَafter ماthat سَفَحَتshed
ما نالَ ما نال إِلّا بَعدَ ما سَفَحَت
سُمرُbrown shafts العَواليthe long spears دَماًblood مِنfrom كلِّevery جَبّارِtyrant
سُمرُ العَوالي دَماً مِن كلِّ جَبّارِ
He gained what he gained only after
He attained what he attained only after
He did not attain what he attained except after
The tawny lances had spilled the blood of every tyrant.
The reddened swords spilled the blood of every tyrant
The brown spears shed the blood of every tyrant.
وَجَرَّهاand he drove them شُزَّباًlean تَدمىbleed سَنابِكُهاtheir hooves
وَجَرَّها شُزَّباً تَدمى سَنابِكُها
تَشكوcomplain الوَجاhoof-soreness بَينَbetween إِقبالٍadvance وَإِدبارِand retreat
تَشكو الوَجا بَينَ إِقبالٍ وَإِدبارِ
And he drove them lean, their hooves bleeding,
And he dragged them in the dirt, their litters bloodstained
And he dragged the horses lean, their hooves bleeding,
Complaining of hoof-soreness between advance and retreat.
Complaining of assaults amid advance and retreat
Complaining of soreness between attack and retreat.
تَعدوgallop بِأُسدٍbearing lions إِذاwhen لاقَواthey meet نَظائِرَهُمtheir equals
تَعدو بِأُسدٍ إِذا لاقَوا نَظائِرَهُم
باعواsold النُفوسَtheir lives وَلكِنَّbut القَناthe spears الشاريthe buyer
باعوا النُفوسَ وَلكِنَّ القَنا الشاري
They gallop bearing lions who, when they meet their equals,
They charge with lions when facing their equals
Charging with lions who, when meeting their equals,
Sell their lives, while the spears are the buyer.
They sacrificed themselves, but the spears were the buyers
Sold their souls, but the spears were the buyers.
يَحكيresembles اِشتِعالُthe blazing المَواضيkeen blades فيin أَكُفِّهِمُtheir palms
يَحكي اِشتِعالُ المَواضي في أَكُفِّهِمُ
تَأَلُّقَthe brilliance البَدرِthe full moon فيin وَطفاءَa dense cloud مِدرارِrain-pouring
تَأَلُّقَ البَدرِ في وَطفاءَ مِدرارِ
The blazing of keen blades in their hands resembles
The blaze of battlefields in their palms tells
The flashing of sharp swords in their hands mimics
The full moon's gleam in a dense, rain-pouring cloud.
Of the moon’s radiance quenching the flames
The brilliance of the full moon in a dark, raining cloud.
وَكَمand how many مَواقِفِstands صِدقٍsteadfastness فيin مَجالِa field وَغىًbattle
وَكَم مَواقِفِ صِدقٍ في مَجالِ وَغىً
حَكَّمتَyou made judge فيهاin them سِنانَthe point الصَعدَةِthe straight lance الواريspark-striking
حَكَّمتَ فيها سِنانَ الصَعدَةِ الواري
And how many steadfast stands upon a battlefield
And how many sincere scenes amid the fray
How many stands of truth in the arena of war,
Have you made the spark-striking point of a straight lance their judge!
Where you decisive the piercing blade arbitrated
Where you made the sparking spear-point the judge.
وَكَمand how many عُلاheights of glory طَلَّقَتهاdivorced them نَفسُthe soul عاشِقِهاtheir lover
وَكَم عُلا طَلَّقَتها نَفسُ عاشِقِها
مِنfrom خَوفِfear بِأَسكَyour might لاnot تَطليقَthe divorce مُختارِone acting freely
مِن خَوفِ بِأَسكَ لا تَطليقَ مُختارِ
And how many heights of glory has a lover's soul divorced
And how many exalted ones their souls for love of you
And how many high stations the soul of their lover divorced
For fear of your might, not in a freely chosen divorce!
Freed without choice or consent
Out of fear of your might, not a divorce of choice.
قَهراًby force أَبَحتَyou laid open حِماهُمtheir protected territory بِالقَناwith spears وَهُمُwhile they
قَهراً أَبَحتَ حِماهُم بِالقَنا وَهُمُ
أُسدٌlions وَلكِنbut أَتاهُمcame upon them ضَيغَمٌa mighty lion ضاريravening
أُسدٌ وَلكِن أَتاهُم ضَيغَمٌ ضاري
By force you laid open their protected lands with spears, though they
By compulsion you protected them with spears while they
By force you made their sanctuary open to spears,
Were lions; yet a ravening lion came upon them.
Were lions, but a harmful wolf attacked them
They were lions, but a fierce predator came upon them.
سَربَلتَyou clothed قَوماًa people سَرابيلَgarments الندىgenerosity فَبَغواbut they rebelled
سَربَلتَ قَوماً سَرابيلَ الندى فَبَغوا
فَسُمتَهُمso you inflicted on them حَدَّthe edge ماضيkeen الضَربِstriking بَتّارa cleaving sword
فَسُمتَهُم حَدَّ ماضي الضَربِ بَتّار
You clothed a people in the garments of generosity, but they rebelled;
You clothed a people in the garb of dew, but they wished
You clothed a people in robes of generosity, but they rebelled,
So you subjected them to the edge of a keen-striking, cleaving sword.
To cleave you with the strike of an unsheathed sword
So you branded them with the edge of a cutting sword.
نَسَختَyou superseded آياتِthe signs مَجدِglory الأَكرَمينَthe noblest وَماand nothing
نَسَختَ آياتِ مَجدِ الأَكرَمينَ وَما
يَبنيbuilds المَعاليlofty honors سِوىexcept سَيفٍa sword وَدينارِand a dinar
يَبني المَعالي سِوى سَيفٍ وَدينارِ
You superseded the signs of the noblest men's glory; nothing
You erase the verses of the glorious two, but none
You abrogated the signs of glory of the noble ones,
Builds high honor but a sword and a dinar.
Builds glory except by sword and coin
For nothing builds heights like a sword and a dinar.
ذاthis لِلمُقيمِfor one who keeps عَلىto النَهجِthe path القَويمِupright وَذاand that
ذا لِلمُقيمِ عَلى النَهجِ القَويمِ وَذا
لِكُلِّfor every باغٍrebel بِعَهدِto the covenant اللَهِGod غَدّارِtreacherous
لِكُلِّ باغٍ بِعَهدِ اللَهِ غَدّارِ
This is for whoever keeps to the straight path, and that
For he who upholds the straight path, and for
This is for the one steadfast on the right path,
For every rebel false to God's covenant.
Every betrayer of God’s covenant, a plotter
And that is for every aggressor betraying God's covenant.
فَدُمso remain شَجىًa choking bone فيin حُلوقِthe throats الحاسِدينَthe envious هُدىًguidance
فَدُم شَجىً في حُلوقِ الحاسِدينَ هُدىً
لِلمُهتَدينَfor the rightly guided غِنىًwealth لِلجارِfor the neighbor وَالطاريand the newcomer
لِلمُهتَدينَ غِنىً لِلجارِ وَالطاري
So remain a choking bone in your enviers' throats, guidance
May their blood be anguish in enviers’ throats, and guidance
So remain a choking obstruction in the throats of the envious,
For the rightly guided, wealth for neighbor and newcomer.
For the guided, wealth for settler and nomad
A guidance for the guided, wealth for the neighbor and visitor.
وَهاكَand take this مِنّيfrom me مَديحاًpraise قَدalready سَمِعتَyou have heard لهُfor it
وَهاكَ مِنّي مَديحاً قَد سَمِعتَ لهُ
نَظائِراًparallels قَبلُbefore مِنamong عونٍseasoned verses وَأَبكارِand maiden verses
نَظائِراً قَبلُ مِن عونٍ وَأَبكارِ
And take from me praise for which you have heard
You’ve heard before from ʿAwn and poetic pioneers
And take from me a panegyric... you have heard
Parallels before, among seasoned verses and maiden ones:
Wonders encircling the horizons, dispersed
Its equals before from Awn and others.
غَرائِباًmarvels طَوَّقَencircled الآفاقَthe horizons شارِدُهاtheir wandering verse
غَرائِباً طَوَّقَ الآفاقَ شارِدُها
تَبقىremain عَلىthrough الدَهرِtime طَوراًa stage بَعدafter أَطوارِstages
تَبقى عَلى الدَهرِ طَوراً بَعد أَطوارِ
Marvels whose wandering verse has encircled the horizons,
To remain across time after eras
Rare verses, whose fame has encircled the horizons,
Enduring through time, age after age.
Were it not for you, I would not be so concerned with verse
Remaining through time, era after era.
لَولاكَbut for you ماnot كُنتُI would be بِالأَشعارِwith poems ذاone possessed of كلَفٍpassion
لَولاكَ ما كُنتُ بِالأَشعارِ ذا كلَفٍ
وَلاnor شَرَيتُI bought بِهاwith them مَعروفَkindness أَحرارِnoble men
وَلا شَرَيتُ بِها مَعروفَ أَحرارِ
But for you, I would not be enamored of poems,
Or gain by it nobility's acceptance
Were it not for you, I would not be fond of poetry,
Nor buy with them the kindness of noble men.
And the station of disgrace does not satisfy a man
Nor would I have purchased with it the favor of free men.
وَمَوقِفُand a station الهونِhumiliation لاnot يَرضىaccepts بِهِwith it رَجُلٌa man
وَمَوقِفُ الهونِ لا يَرضى بِهِ رَجُلٌ
لَوeven if أَنَّهُit were بَينَamong جَنّاتٍgardens وَأَنهارِand rivers
لَو أَنَّهُ بَينَ جَنّاتٍ وَأَنهارِ
A man will not accept a station of humiliation,
Even if amid gardens and rivers
For a position of humiliation is not accepted by a man,
Even were it amid gardens and rivers.
You honored me generously, so I took pride among
Even if he were amidst gardens and rivers.
طَوَّقتَنيyou garlanded me كَرماًgenerously نُعمىa favor فَخَرتُso I took pride بِهاin it
طَوَّقتَني كَرماً نُعمى فَخَرتُ بِها
بَينَamong البَريَّةِmankind مِنof بَدوٍnomads وَحُضّارand townspeople
بَينَ البَريَّةِ مِن بَدوٍ وَحُضّار
You generously garlanded me with a favor in which I took pride
The nomads and settled folk of the wilderness
You adorned my neck with generosity and favor I boasted of
Among mankind, nomads and townspeople alike.
I will forever praise a time that was
Among all creation, nomad and city-dweller.
لَأَحمَدَنَّI shall surely praise زَماناًa time كانwas مُنقَلَبيmy return
لَأَحمَدَنَّ زَماناً كان مُنقَلَبي
فيهِin it إِلَيكُمto you وَفيكمand about you ضُغتُunclear; apparently 'I fashioned' أَشعاريmy poems
فيهِ إِلَيكُم وَفيكم ضُغتُ أَشعاري
I shall surely praise the time when my return
My frequent return to you, and you my verse’s cradle
I will surely praise a time when my return
Was to you, and about you I [fashioned] my poems.
So if I thank, your gifts that have spoken
Was to you, and among you I composed my poems.
فَإنso if شَكَرتُI gave thanks فَنُعماكَthen your favor التيwhich نَطَقَتspoke
فَإن شَكَرتُ فَنُعماكَ التي نَطَقَت
تُثنيpraises عَليكَyou بِإِعلانيthrough my public words وَإسراريand my private words
تُثني عَليكَ بِإِعلاني وَإسراري
If I give thanks, it is your favor that has spoken,
Will praise you in my proclamation and secrecy
If I give thanks, it is your favors that spoke,
Praising you through my public words and my private ones.
And bless the Lord on the guide, his partisans
Praising you publicly and in secret.
وَصلِّand bless رَبِّmy Lord علىupon الهاديthe Guide وَشيعَتهِand his followers
وَصلِّ رَبِّ على الهادي وَشيعَتهِ
وَصَحبهِand his companions وَارضَand be pleased عَنwith ثانيهِhis companion (the second of two) فيin الغارthe cave
وَصَحبهِ وَارضَ عَن ثانيهِ في الغار
And bless, my Lord, the Guide and his followers,
And companions, and be pleased with his second in the cave
And bless, O Lord, the Guide and his faction,
And his companions; and be pleased with his companion in the cave.
His companions, and be pleased with the Second in the Cave.
Partial English translation: 99 of 100 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1