فُؤادُ المُعنّى بِالتّباعدِ مُتلَفُ

فُؤادُ المُعنّى بِالتّباعدِ مُتلَفُ

فمَنْ ليَ من جَورِ المهفهفِ ينصِفُ

فمَنْ ليَ من جَورِ المهفهفِ ينصِفُ

The tormented one's heart is destroyed by separation.

The heart of meaning is refined through separation

Who, then, will grant me justice against the slender one's tyranny?

So who will defend me from the injustice of the inflamer?

أَمرتُ فُؤادي إِذ أَضرَّ بِهِ الهَوى

أَمرتُ فُؤادي إِذ أَضرَّ بِهِ الهَوى

بِصَبرٍ لِأنَّ الصَّبرَ لا شَكَّ يسعفُ

بِصَبرٍ لِأنَّ الصَّبرَ لا شَكَّ يسعفُ

I bade my heart, when love had harmed it,

I commanded my heart, when love harmed it,

be patient, for patience surely brings relief.

To be patient, for patience will undoubtedly bring relief

تَكَلَّف صَبراً وهو فانٍ وعادمٌ

تَكَلَّف صَبراً وهو فانٍ وعادمٌ

أغبَّ فناءِ الصبرِ يُجدي التكلُّفُ

أغبَّ فناءِ الصبرِ يُجدي التكلُّفُ

It forced itself to be patient, though it was perishing and bereft;

It feigned patience, yet it is frail and lacking

can forced patience help after patience has perished?

The futility of feigned patience is unavailing

وَإِنَّ الأماني واعَدَته بوَصْلِهِ

وَإِنَّ الأماني واعَدَته بوَصْلِهِ

وَإِنَّ الأماني في المَواعيدِ تُخلِفُ

وَإِنَّ الأماني في المَواعيدِ تُخلِفُ

And hopes indeed promised it union with him,

And hopes had promised it union with the beloved

and hopes indeed fail to keep their promises.

Yet hopes in their promises are oft deficient

أَبى اللَّهُ إِلّا أَن تَذوبَ حُشاشَتي

أَبى اللَّهُ إِلّا أَن تَذوبَ حُشاشَتي

وَأَنَّ عُيوني لِلتفرُّقِ تذرُفُ

وَأَنَّ عُيوني لِلتفرُّقِ تذرُفُ

God has willed only that my life's last spark should melt,

God willed my infatuation to melt away

and that my eyes should shed tears at parting.

And that my eyes should weep in separation

تَأوَّهْتُ مِن هَجرِ الحَبيبِ تَلهُّفاً

تَأوَّهْتُ مِن هَجرِ الحَبيبِ تَلهُّفاً

وَلَم يَكُ يُجدي في الغَرامِ التلَهُّفُ

وَلَم يَكُ يُجدي في الغَرامِ التلَهُّفُ

I groaned in yearning at the beloved's abandonment,

I sighed in yearning for the absence of the beloved

yet yearning brought no relief in passionate love.

Yet sighing brings no remedy in passion

أَأَسلو هَواهُ وَالغَرامُ يثيرُهُ

أَأَسلو هَواهُ وَالغَرامُ يثيرُهُ

وَوَجدي بِهِ ما زالَ فيهِ يضعِّفُ

وَوَجدي بِهِ ما زالَ فيهِ يضعِّفُ

Can I forget my love for him while passion stirs it,

Shall I blame his love when desire provokes it?

and my longing for him keeps redoubling it?

And my will in it remains ever weak

وَحُبّي لَهُ لَم يبدُ حبّ خِيانةٍ

وَحُبّي لَهُ لَم يبدُ حبّ خِيانةٍ

ولي في هَواه عِفّةٌ وتعفُّفُ

ولي في هَواه عِفّةٌ وتعفُّفُ

My love for him has never shown itself a faithless love,

My love for him was never disloyal love

and in loving him I have chastity and self-restraint.

In his love, I have modesty and virtue

غَزالٌ مِنَ الأَتراكِ ما زالَ نافِراً

غَزالٌ مِنَ الأَتراكِ ما زالَ نافِراً

وغيرُ نِفارٍ لا يُحبُّ ويُؤلَفُ

وغيرُ نِفارٍ لا يُحبُّ ويُؤلَفُ

A gazelle of the Turks, ever shying away,

A gazelle from the Turks, ever aloof

and without aloofness, he is neither loved nor cherished.

One who loves not, nor befriends

لَهُ وَجنةٌ حَسناءُ وهوَ مبَرقَعٌ

لَهُ وَجنةٌ حَسناءُ وهوَ مبَرقَعٌ

وَلَلشّمسُ مِن تَحتِ البَراقعِ تُكسَفُ

وَلَلشّمسُ مِن تَحتِ البَراقعِ تُكسَفُ

He has a beautiful cheek, though he is veiled;

He has a beautiful, radiant cheek, yet he veils it

and the sun itself is eclipsed beneath the veils.

While the sun beneath the veil is eclipsed

له مُقلَةٌ وسْناءُ بالسّحر كُحلُها

له مُقلَةٌ وسْناءُ بالسّحر كُحلُها

فكم خَطفت عَقلاً ولم يكُ يُخطَفُ

فكم خَطفت عَقلاً ولم يكُ يُخطَفُ

He has a drowsy eye whose kohl is magic;

He has a seducing glance, kohl-lined eyes

how many a mind it has stolen that had never been stolen!

That have enchanted many a mind and heart

أُلامُ عَلى سُكري بِعَذبِ كَلامهِ

أُلامُ عَلى سُكري بِعَذبِ كَلامهِ

وفي ثَغرِهِ الحالي سُلافٌ وَقَرقَفُ

وفي ثَغرِهِ الحالي سُلافٌ وَقَرقَفُ

I am blamed for being drunk on his sweet speech,

I blame his sweet talk for my drunkenness

while his sweet mouth holds choice wine and heady wine.

His moist, ruby lips like wine and nectar

عَلِقتُ به طِفلاً وصِرتُ خليلَهُ

عَلِقتُ به طِفلاً وصِرتُ خليلَهُ

لِأنَّ خَليلَ الحبِّ بِالقربِ يُتحَفُ

لِأنَّ خَليلَ الحبِّ بِالقربِ يُتحَفُ

I became attached to him in childhood and became his intimate,

I clung to him as a child, became his friend

for love's intimate is gifted with nearness.

For a lover's friend is honoured through closeness

وَقَد حَطَّني في مِنجَنيقٍ مِنَ النوى

وَقَد حَطَّني في مِنجَنيقٍ مِنَ النوى

لِنارٍ مِنَ التّغريبِ يَرمي ويحذفُ

لِنارٍ مِنَ التّغريبِ يَرمي ويحذفُ

And he has placed me in a catapult of separation,

He has flung me into a catapult of hardship

hurling and flinging me toward a fire of exile.

To a fire of exile he hurls and casts off

أَهيمُ به وَلهانَ لا أَعرفُ الكَرى

أَهيمُ به وَلهانَ لا أَعرفُ الكَرى

ومن ذاق مُرَّ الحبّ لا شكّ يَعرِفُ

ومن ذاق مُرَّ الحبّ لا شكّ يَعرِفُ

I wander distraught with love for him, knowing no sleep;

I swoon for him, crazed, not knowing prudence

and whoever has tasted love's bitterness surely knows.

And he who tastes love's bitterness surely knows

أَغارُ إِذا مَرَّ النّسيمُ بِخَدِّهِ

أَغارُ إِذا مَرَّ النّسيمُ بِخَدِّهِ

عَلى وَردِهِ مِن أَنّهُ النّفحَ يَقطفُ

عَلى وَردِهِ مِن أَنّهُ النّفحَ يَقطفُ

I grow jealous when the breeze passes over his cheek,

I grow jealous when the breeze blows on his cheek

jealous for his rose, since it plucks the fragrance.

Plucking the rose that on his cheek grows

وَيا لَيتَني كُنتُ النَّسيمَ مِنَ الصَّبا

وَيا لَيتَني كُنتُ النَّسيمَ مِنَ الصَّبا

وَما لِلصّبا في مِثلِ قَطفي تلطُّفُ

وَما لِلصّبا في مِثلِ قَطفي تلطُّفُ

Oh, would that I were the breeze of the east wind!

Would that I were the zephyr breeze from the morning

The east wind has none of my delicacy in plucking.

For the morning breeze is not so bold in plucking

وَقَد حازَ كُلَّ الحُسنِ وَالحُسنُ كامِلٌ

وَقَد حازَ كُلَّ الحُسنِ وَالحُسنُ كامِلٌ

وَلَم يَكُ فيهِ الحسنُ يَوماً ينصَّفُ

وَلَم يَكُ فيهِ الحسنُ يَوماً ينصَّفُ

He has possessed all beauty, and beauty is complete;

He has gained all beauty, and his beauty is perfect

and beauty in him has never once been halved.

Never once was his beauty deemed excessive

وَكُلُّ جَميلٍ ما حَوى الحُسنَ كلّهَ

وَكُلُّ جَميلٍ ما حَوى الحُسنَ كلّهَ

وَلَكِنَّ كُلَّ الحسنِ يَحويه يوسُفُ

وَلَكِنَّ كُلَّ الحسنِ يَحويه يوسُفُ

No beautiful one has possessed all beauty,

All beauty he contains, but his beauties

but Yusuf contains beauty in its entirety:

Surpass all others, for he is Joseph

أَخو الفَضلِ وَالعَلياءِ نَجلُ مَحاسنٍ

أَخو الفَضلِ وَالعَلياءِ نَجلُ مَحاسنٍ

أَبو المَجدِ مَنْ فيهِ الأماجِدُ تَشرُفُ

أَبو المَجدِ مَنْ فيهِ الأماجِدُ تَشرُفُ

brother of virtue and eminence, son of Mahasin,

Brother of excellence and nobility, son of charms

father of glory, through whom the noble gain honor.

Father of glory, in whom glories abound

كَريمُ المَزايا دَوحَةُ العزِّ وَالعُلا

كَريمُ المَزايا دَوحَةُ العزِّ وَالعُلا

وَغُصنُ المَعالي حَيثُ بِالحَمدِ يعطفُ

وَغُصنُ المَعالي حَيثُ بِالحَمدِ يعطفُ

Noble in qualities, a spreading tree of might and loftiness,

Generous in qualities, pillar of honour and grandeur

and a bough of high honors that bends with praise.

A branch of high virtues, where by praise he thrives

شَريفُ السّجايا وَالطّباعِ الَّتي اِنطَوَت

شَريفُ السّجايا وَالطّباعِ الَّتي اِنطَوَت

عَلى كَرَمِ الأَخلاقِ مِن حَيث تظرفُ

عَلى كَرَمِ الأَخلاقِ مِن حَيث تظرفُ

Noble in character and in the dispositions that embrace

Noble in disposition and nature, which fold

generosity of conduct in all their refinement.

Around the generosity of his manners and airs

بَليغٌ يَزينُ السّمعَ في دُرِّ لَفظِهِ

بَليغٌ يَزينُ السّمعَ في دُرِّ لَفظِهِ

ويا سَعدَ أَسماعٍ بِذاك تشنّفُ

ويا سَعدَ أَسماعٍ بِذاك تشنّفُ

Eloquent, he adorns the ear with the pearls of his words;

Eloquent, adorning hearing with his utterances

oh, happy the ears adorned with it!

Happy the ears that by such are delighted

خَدَمتكَ يا اِبنَ الأَكرَمينَ بِمدحَةٍ

خَدَمتكَ يا اِبنَ الأَكرَمينَ بِمدحَةٍ

فَأَوجَزتُ وَالإِطنابُ فيهِ تَعسُّفُ

فَأَوجَزتُ وَالإِطنابُ فيهِ تَعسُّفُ

I have served you, son of the most noble, with a poem of praise;

I have praised you, son of the most generous, with an ode

so I was brief, for elaboration here would be strained.

I was concise, though prolixity would be unjustified

وَلَم يَكُنِ الإِطنابُ يا اِبنَ مَحاسِنٍ

وَلَم يَكُنِ الإِطنابُ يا اِبنَ مَحاسِنٍ

يُفيدُ سِوى التّطويلِ وَالطول يُؤنَفُ

يُفيدُ سِوى التّطويلِ وَالطول يُؤنَفُ

Nor would elaboration, son of Mahasin,

Prolixity, O son of charms, would not avail,

yield anything but length, and length is disdained.

Save undue length which would be cumbersome

وَمَن ذا الَّذي يُحصي المَحاسِنَ كُلَّها

وَمَن ذا الَّذي يُحصي المَحاسِنَ كُلَّها

وَيَأتي بِها مَدحاً يَرِقّ وَيطرفُ

وَيَأتي بِها مَدحاً يَرِقّ وَيطرفُ

Who could count all the virtues,

Who can enumerate all your charms

and present them in praise both delicate and fresh?

And compose a panegyric which captivates and overjoys?

وَلَيسَ عَجيباً أَنَّكَ اِبنُ مَحاسِنٍ

وَلَيسَ عَجيباً أَنَّكَ اِبنُ مَحاسِنٍ

وَأَنتَ بِها دونَ البَريَّةِ توصَفُ

وَأَنتَ بِها دونَ البَريَّةِ توصَفُ

It is no wonder that you are the son of Mahasin,

It is no wonder you are son of charms

and you alone among humankind are described by those virtues.

You by them, beyond all mankind, are described

نُسِبتَ إِلَيها وَهيَ فيكَ تَشرَّفت

نُسِبتَ إِلَيها وَهيَ فيكَ تَشرَّفت

ويا فخرَها من حيثُ فيك تُشرَّفُ

ويا فخرَها من حيثُ فيك تُشرَّفُ

You are ascribed to them, and in you they have gained honor;

You are attributed to them and they are honoured by you

what pride is theirs in being honored through you!

O pride of them, in you they are honoured and prized

وَلَستَ لَها يا اِبنَ الكرامِ مُغايراً

وَلَستَ لَها يا اِبنَ الكرامِ مُغايراً

وَلَم تَكُ إِلّا فيكَ تُدرى وتُعرَفُ

وَلَم تَكُ إِلّا فيكَ تُدرى وتُعرَفُ

You do not differ from them, son of the noble,

You are not different from them, O son of generosity

and only in you are they understood and known.

Save that through you they are known and recognized

فَهاكَ مِنَ الأَبكارِ غَيداءَ غادةٍ

فَهاكَ مِنَ الأَبكارِ غَيداءَ غادةٍ

بِعقدِ لآلي المَدحِ فيكَ تزخرفُ

بِعقدِ لآلي المَدحِ فيكَ تزخرفُ

So take a graceful, tender maiden from among the virgins,

So take from the virgins a necklace of unfading verse

adorned with a necklace of praise's pearls in your honor.

Adorned in its strands with the jewels of your praise

وَأَخَّرها مِنكَ الحَياءُ كَما غَدا

وَأَخَّرها مِنكَ الحَياءُ كَما غَدا

يُؤخِّرُها مِن حَيثُ ماسَت تقصُّفُ

يُؤخِّرُها مِن حَيثُ ماسَت تقصُّفُ

And modesty before you held her back, just as

Modesty has deferred it from you, as if

languor has come to slow her whenever she sways.

From whence it came, it returned in reserve

فَأَقْبِلْ عَلَيها بِالقَبولِ تَلَطُّفاً

فَأَقْبِلْ عَلَيها بِالقَبولِ تَلَطُّفاً

وَمِنكَ أَخا الإِحسانِ يَحلو التلطُّفُ

وَمِنكَ أَخا الإِحسانِ يَحلو التلطُّفُ

So turn toward her with gracious acceptance,

So accept it with kindly grace, as befits you,

and kindness from you, brother of beneficence, is sweet.

For from you, noble brother, kindness is sweet.

وَدُمْ في أَمانِ اللَّهِ ما لاح كَوكَبٌ

وَدُمْ في أَمانِ اللَّهِ ما لاح كَوكَبٌ

وَما قامَتِ الوَرقاء في الغُصنِ تَهتفُ

وَما قامَتِ الوَرقاء في الغُصنِ تَهتفُ

Remain in God's protection as long as a star shines,

Remain in God's safety, for as long as a star shines

and as long as the gray dove stands calling on the bough,

And the leaves on branches flutter and wave.

وَحَيثُ اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّه أَضحى بِشِعرِهِ

وَحَيثُ اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّه أَضحى بِشِعرِهِ

عَلى مَدحِهِ أَوصافَ ذاتِكَ يعكفُ

عَلى مَدحِهِ أَوصافَ ذاتِكَ يعكفُ

and while Ibn Fath Allah now, through his verse,

Where the son of Fathallah with his poetry

devotes himself to praising the qualities of your person.

Has composed odes describing your qualities and traits.