صِلينيgrant me union سَوادَpupil العَينِof the eye ياO مُهجَةَlifeblood الصبِّof the lovelorn
صِليني سَوادَ العَينِ يا مُهجَةَ الصبِّ
فَأَنتِfor you حَياةُlife الرّوحِof the soul رَيحانةُfragrant basil القَلبِof the heart
فَأَنتِ حَياةُ الرّوحِ رَيحانةُ القَلبِ
Grant me union, pupil of the eye, O lifeblood of the lovelorn.
The darkness of my eyes longs for you, O tormentress of passion!
For you are the soul's life, the heart's fragrant basil.
For you are the life of the soul, the basil plant of the heart.
سَلَبتِyou stole حشاءَinnermost heart الصبِّof the lovelorn مِنهُfrom him صَبابَةًthrough ardent longing
سَلَبتِ حشاءَ الصبِّ مِنهُ صَبابَةً
فَياso, O لَهفَanguish قَلبِof the heart الصبِّof the lovelorn مِنfrom ذلكَthat السّلبِtheft
فَيا لَهفَ قَلبِ الصبِّ مِن ذلكَ السّلبِ
You stole the lover's innermost heart from him through longing.
You have stolen the fervor of passion from it, robbing it of ardor,
So, alas for the lover's heart at that theft!
Oh, the yearning of the passionate heart for that theft!
سَبيتyou captured الحجىreason مِنّيfrom me وَلاand no جَورinjustice أَنّهُfor it is the case
سَبيت الحجى مِنّي وَلا جَور أَنّهُ
خُلِقتُI was created لِأَنْso that أُسبَىI might be captured وَكنتِand you were لأنْso that تسبِيyou take captive
خُلِقتُ لِأَنْ أُسبَى وَكنتِ لأنْ تسبِي
You captured my reason, with no injustice, for the truth is:
You have captured my reason, and it is no injustice, for
I was created to be captured, and you to capture.
I was created to be captured, and you were meant to capture.
عَشِقتُكI loved you مَملوءَfilled الفُؤادِin heart مِنَwith الهَوىpassion
عَشِقتُك مَملوءَ الفُؤادِ مِنَ الهَوى
بِماwith what ضاقَwas too narrow عَنهُfor it الكونُthe universe شَرقاًeastward إِلىto غَربِwest
بِما ضاقَ عَنهُ الكونُ شَرقاً إِلى غَربِ
I loved you with a heart filled with passion,
I loved you with a heart brimming with passion,
With more than the universe, from east to west, could contain.
With what the universe from east to west cannot contain.
أَهيمُI am lost in love بِكwith you الولهانlove-distraught وَجداًin longing وَصَبوةًand desire
أَهيمُ بِك الولهان وَجداً وَصَبوةً
وَسيّانand alike عِنديto me حالَتاthe two states of البعدِdistance وَالقُربِand nearness
وَسيّان عِندي حالَتا البعدِ وَالقُربِ
I am lost in you, distraught with yearning and desire,
I rave for you with fervor, ardor and madness,
And distance and nearness are alike to me.
And in my eyes, the states of distance and closeness are equal.
وَأطعمُand I eat فيكin loving you الوَجدَlonging أَطيبَthe finest مَطعَمٍfood
وَأطعمُ فيك الوَجدَ أَطيبَ مَطعَمٍ
وَأَشربand I drink خَمرَwine الوَجدِof longing مِنamong أَعذَبِthe sweetest الشّربِdraughts
وَأَشرب خَمرَ الوَجدِ مِن أَعذَبِ الشّربِ
And in loving you I eat longing as the finest food,
I feed my fervor on the most delicious food,
And drink longing's wine, among the sweetest draughts.
And drink the wine of passion, the sweetest drink.
حرقتyou burned بِنارِwith the fire of الخدِّthe cheek وَالخدُّand the cheek جَنّةٌa paradise
حرقت بِنارِ الخدِّ وَالخدُّ جَنّةٌ
ضُلوعيmy ribs وَأَحشائيand my entrails وَماand whatever حَلَّdwelt فيin جَنبيmy side
ضُلوعي وَأَحشائي وَما حَلَّ في جَنبي
You burned, with your cheek's fire—though the cheek is paradise—
I burned with the fire of your cheek, though your cheek is paradise,
My ribs, my entrails, and all that dwells within my side.
It seared my ribs, my entrails, and all that settled in my side.
وَقَدand indeed شمتI glimpsed تِلكَthat النّارَfire تنبتُbrings forth وَردةًa rose
وَقَد شمت تِلكَ النّارَ تنبتُ وَردةً
سَقاهاwatered it كَمالَperfection الحُسنِof beauty مِنfrom مائِهِits water العَذبِsweet
سَقاها كَمالَ الحُسنِ مِن مائِهِ العَذبِ
And I saw that fire put forth a rose,
Yet I sensed that fire sprouting a rose,
Which beauty's perfection watered with its sweet water.
Watered by the perfection of beauty from its sweet water.
وَحَقّand it is fitting لِتِلكَfor that النّارِfire فيin حَرقِburning مُهجَتيmy lifeblood
وَحَقّ لِتِلكَ النّارِ في حَرقِ مُهجَتي
وَإِنباتُهاand its bringing forth وَرداًroses تَتيهُit struts مِنَfrom العجبِself-admiration
وَإِنباتُها وَرداً تَتيهُ مِنَ العجبِ
And that fire has every right, in burning my lifeblood
Rightfully that fire burned my inner self,
And bringing forth roses, to strut in self-admiration.
And sprouted a rose that wanders in wonder.
سَدَلْتِyou let fall عَلىupon الخدّينِthe two cheeks أَسنىthe most radiant سَوالِفٍsidelocks
سَدَلْتِ عَلى الخدّينِ أَسنى سَوالِفٍ
فَكنَّso they became لأَسرِfor the captivity of الصبِّthe lovelorn سلسلةَa chain الصبِّof the lovelorn
فَكنَّ لأَسرِ الصبِّ سلسلةَ الصبِّ
You let fall upon your cheeks the most radiant sidelocks,
You lowered over your cheeks finest cascading tresses,
And so, to bind the lover, they became the lover's chain.
So they became chains that shackled the passionate.
وَصلتِand you charged بِعَضبِwith a keen blade of اللّحظِthe glance حينَwhen سللتِهِyou unsheathed it
وَصلتِ بِعَضبِ اللّحظِ حينَ سللتِهِ
فَذابَتso melted قُلوبhearts الأُسدِof lions مِنfrom ذلكِthat العضبِkeen blade
فَذابَت قُلوب الأُسدِ مِن ذلكِ العضبِ
And you charged with the keen blade of your glance when you drew it,
With a glance of your eye when you shot it,
So lions' hearts melted from that keen blade.
You melted the hearts of lions with that glance.
وَفيهِand with it أَذبتِyou melted القُضْبَblades فيin جَوفِthe hollow of غمدهاtheir sheath
وَفيهِ أَذبتِ القُضْبَ في جَوفِ غمدها
وَلَيسَتand are not قُلوبُhearts الأسدِof lions أَقسىharder مِنَthan القضبِblades
وَلَيسَت قُلوبُ الأسدِ أَقسى مِنَ القضبِ
And with it you melted blades within their sheaths,
With it you melted spears in the scabbard's core,
And lions' hearts are no harder than blades.
Yet lions' hearts are not harder than spears.
وَفاضَand overflowed اِحورارblack-and-white contrast اللّحظِof the gaze سحراًmagic بَعَثْتِهِyou sent it
وَفاضَ اِحورار اللّحظِ سحراً بَعَثْتِهِ
رَسولاًas a messenger لِعَقلِto the minds of النّاسِpeople بِالخطفِwith snatching away وَالجذبِand drawing in
رَسولاً لِعَقلِ النّاسِ بِالخطفِ وَالجذبِ
And your gaze's dark-and-white beauty poured forth magic you sent
The smoldering of your glance cast a spell you awakened,
As a messenger to people's minds, to snatch and draw them.
Sending it as a messenger to people's minds, captivating and pulling.
فَأَظهَرَso it showed مِنamong آياتِهِits signs آيةًa sign لَناto us
فَأَظهَرَ مِن آياتِهِ آيةً لَنا
وَهاتيكَand that خطفsnatching العَقلِthe mind مِنfrom داخِلِinside القَلبِthe heart
وَهاتيكَ خطف العَقلِ مِن داخِلِ القَلبِ
So it showed us one of its wondrous signs,
It thus revealed among its signs a sign for us,
And that was snatching the mind from within the heart.
That is, your captivation of the mind from within the heart.
فَآمنتُso I believed فيin ذاthis السّحرِmagic مِنكfrom you مُصدّقاًaffirming its truth
فَآمنتُ في ذا السّحرِ مِنك مُصدّقاً
وَحدتُand I turned aside عَنِfrom التّكذيبِdenial وَالرّميand accusation بِالكذبِof lying
وَحدتُ عَنِ التّكذيبِ وَالرّمي بِالكذبِ
So I believed in this magic of yours, affirming its truth,
So I believed your spell, sincerely acknowledging it,
And turned aside from denial and accusations of lying.
And I refrained from calling it a lie or slander.
وَراشَتand feathered سِهامthe arrows of الحبّlove أَجفانَكَyour eyelids الّتيwhich
وَراشَت سِهام الحبّ أَجفانَكَ الّتي
رَمَتنيshot me بِسَهمِwith an arrow of العشقِpassion مِنfrom وطفthick growth الهدبِof eyelashes
رَمَتني بِسَهمِ العشقِ مِن وطف الهدبِ
And your eyelids fletched love's arrows—the eyelids that
The arrows of love glanced at your eyelids, which
Shot me with passion's arrow from their thick lashes.
Had shot me with love's arrow from the bent bow.
فَتيهيso strut دَلالاًcoquettishly رَبّةَmistress of الحُسنِbeauty وَالبهاand splendor
فَتيهي دَلالاً رَبّةَ الحُسنِ وَالبها
فَحُسنكfor your beauty يَمحوeffaces دَولةَthe reign of البدرِthe full moon وَالشهبِand shooting stars
فَحُسنك يَمحو دَولةَ البدرِ وَالشهبِ
So strut in coquetry, mistress of beauty and splendor,
So they wandered deliriously, the lady of beauty and splendor,
For your beauty effaces the reign of the full moon and shooting stars.
For your beauty outshines the full moon and shooting stars.
وَوَجهكَand your face شَمسthe sun of الحسنِbeauty فيin قبّةthe dome of البهاsplendor
وَوَجهكَ شَمس الحسنِ في قبّة البها
بِخَطّat the line of اِستواءِequatorial balance الحُسنِbeauty لاnot الشّرقِthe east وَالغربِand the west
بِخَطّ اِستواءِ الحُسنِ لا الشّرقِ وَالغربِ
And your face is beauty's sun in the dome of splendor,
Your face is the sun of beauty beneath the dome of splendor,
At beauty's equator, not that of east and west.
With the line of perfect beauty, not east and west.
وَماand not عُدَّwas reckoned بَدرُthe full moon of الأفقِthe horizon فيin الحُسنِbeauty مثلهits equal
وَما عُدَّ بَدرُ الأفقِ في الحُسنِ مثله
وَأَنَّىand how يُعَدُّis reckoned البدرُthe full moon فيin ذَلكَthat الضربِclass
وَأَنَّى يُعَدُّ البدرُ في ذَلكَ الضربِ
The horizon's full moon was not reckoned its equal in beauty,
The full moon on the horizon was never considered in beauty as it,
And how could the full moon be counted in that class?
How can the full moon be compared in that category?
بِروحيwith my soul الشّفاهthe lips اللعسdusky-red مِنfrom ثَغرِكِyour mouth الَّذيwhich
بِروحي الشّفاه اللعس مِن ثَغرِكِ الَّذي
قَدِhas indeed اِفتَرَّparted in a smile عَنto reveal دُرٍّfine pearls وَعَنand to reveal لُؤلُؤpearls رَطبِmoist
قَدِ اِفتَرَّ عَن دُرٍّ وَعَن لُؤلُؤ رَطبِ
My soul would ransom the dusky-red lips of your mouth, which
By my soul, your juicy lips from your mouth that
Has parted in a smile to reveal fine pearls and dewy pearls,
Surpasses pearls, pure rubies, and fine sapphire's beauty.
وَعَنand to reveal حُسنِthe beauty of ياقوتٍruby بِدُرٍّwith pearls مُرَصَّعٍinlaid
وَعَن حُسنِ ياقوتٍ بِدُرٍّ مُرَصَّعٍ
تَبَدّىappeared لَهُto it شَهدُhoney اللّمىof dusky lips أَفضَلَthe finest الشربِdrink
تَبَدّى لَهُ شَهدُ اللّمى أَفضَلَ الشربِ
And the beauty of a ruby inlaid with pearls.
It revealed the honey's nectar to be the best drink,
The honey of dusky lips appeared to it as the finest drink.
Your straight, supple throat that the hands of youth have played with.
وَتِلكَand those الشّفاهُlips اللّعسdusky-red صِرنَthey became بِلاwithout اِمتِراdoubt
وَتِلكَ الشّفاهُ اللّعس صِرنَ بِلا اِمتِرا
هِلالَيْtwo crescents of عَقيقٍcarnelian قَدindeed أَضاءَshone بلاwithout حجبِveils
هِلالَيْ عَقيقٍ قَد أَضاءَ بلا حجبِ
And those dusky-red lips became, without doubt,
So blame me not for my love, my fervor and my wonder,
Two crescents of carnelian shining without veils.
Or for what my passion invites me to, my strange ways.
أَقاماthey rested عَلىupon فيكyour mouth العذيبsweet وَأَغرماand they grew enamored
أَقاما عَلى فيك العذيب وَأَغرما
بِرَشفِwith sipping السّلافِchoice wine الصّرفِunmixed مِنfrom ريقكyour saliva العذبِsweet
بِرَشفِ السّلافِ الصّرفِ مِن ريقك العذبِ
They rested upon your sweet mouth and grew enamored
Accepting my advice to forget my ardor is impossible,
Of sipping pure, choice wine from your sweet saliva.
Can the advice of the passionate be accepted by the rational?
وَبيand with myself قَدّكyour stature المَيّادswaying كالغصنِlike a branch مائِساًswaying gracefully
وَبي قَدّك المَيّاد كالغصنِ مائِساً
بِهِwith it لَعِبَتplayed أَيديthe hands of الصباthe east wind أَحسنَthe loveliest اللّعبِplay
بِهِ لَعِبَت أَيدي الصبا أَحسنَ اللّعبِ
And I would ransom your swaying figure, graceful as a branch,
Blamer, do you not know that in passion I have reached
With which the hands of the east wind played their loveliest game.
A destiny unattainable by striving or earning?
فَياso, O عاذِليmy reproacher فيin الحبِّlove دَعنيleave me وَصَبوتيand my desire
فَيا عاذِلي في الحبِّ دَعني وَصَبوتي
وَنَحوَand toward الّذيthe one who يَدعوcalls لِنَحوtoward الهَوىlove عُجْturn aside بيwith me
وَنَحوَ الّذي يَدعو لِنَحو الهَوى عُجْ بي
So, reproacher of my love, leave me and my desire alone,
For in it the lovers have attained high status,
And turn with me toward the one who calls toward love.
The elders have risen, O you immersed in love!
فَنُصحِيَfor advising me عَنaway from وَجديmy yearning مُحالٌimpossible قَبولهُaccepting it
فَنُصحِيَ عَن وَجدي مُحالٌ قَبولهُ
وَهَلand has حَلَّfound a place نُصحcounsel for الصبّthe lovelorn عِندamong ذَويthose possessing اللبِّunderstanding
وَهَل حَلَّ نُصح الصبّ عِند ذَوي اللبِّ
For counsel to turn me from my yearning is impossible to accept,
My master Ali - may God honor his face -
And has counsel to the lovelorn ever found favor with the wise?
I bear him witness in my heart in recognition.
عَذوليmy reproacher أَلَمdid you not تَعلَمknow بِأَنّيَthat I فيin الهَوىlove
عَذولي أَلَم تَعلَم بِأَنّيَ في الهَوى
تَسامَيتُI rose high قَدراًin rank لَيسَnot يُدرَكُis attained بِالكسبِthrough effort
تَسامَيتُ قَدراً لَيسَ يُدرَكُ بِالكسبِ
My reproacher, did you not know that in love
Abu al-Hasan, pillar of knowledge and piety,
I rose to a rank unattainable through effort?
Beauty of perfect virtue in his inspired knowledge.
أَماhave not فيهِthrough it قَدindeed نالَattained المُحِبّونَlovers رِفعَةًexaltation
أَما فيهِ قَد نالَ المُحِبّونَ رِفعَةً
أَماhave not عَلَتِrisen الأَشياخthe sheikhs ياO غمرُnaive one بِالحبِّthrough love
أَما عَلَتِ الأَشياخ يا غمرُ بِالحبِّ
Have lovers not gained exaltation through it?
He who the flags of elevation were hoisted for,
Have the sheikhs not risen through love, O simpleton?
Atop the banner of the highest in excellence.
فَشَيخيfor my sheikh عَليٌّAli كَرَّمmay He honor اللَّهGod وجههُhis face
فَشَيخي عَليٌّ كَرَّم اللَّه وجههُ
وَأَشهَدهand let Him show him العِرفانَgnosis فيin حَضرَةِthe presence of القلبِthe heart
وَأَشهَده العِرفانَ في حَضرَةِ القلبِ
For my sheikh is Ali—may God honor his face
He pioneered in guidance a star for the wayfarer,
And let him witness gnosis in the heart's presence.
Clarifying in his guidance the knowledge of the Lord.
أَبوAbu (father of) حَسنHasan خدنِintimate of المَعارِفِspiritual knowledge وَالتّقىand piety
أَبو حَسن خدنِ المَعارِفِ وَالتّقى
جَمالthe beauty of كمالِthe perfection of الفَضلِexcellence فيin عِلمهhis knowledge الوَهبيdivinely bestowed
جَمال كمالِ الفَضلِ في عِلمه الوَهبي
Abu Hasan, intimate of spiritual knowledge and piety,
Father of glory and the highest, glory of the eminent
The beauty of consummate excellence in his God-given knowledge.
And their famous honor among non-Arabs and Arabs.
وَمَنand he who نُصِبتwere raised لِلفَتحِfor spiritual opening أَعلامُbanners رَفعِهِof his exaltation
وَمَن نُصِبت لِلفَتحِ أَعلامُ رَفعِهِ
عَلىupon عَلمِthe summit of العَلياءِeminence مِنof أَحسَنِthe finest النّصبِsetting-up
عَلى عَلمِ العَلياءِ مِن أَحسَنِ النّصبِ
And he whose banners of exaltation were raised for spiritual opening,
Peerless and unique in his time, singular in his age,
Upon the summit of eminence, most beautifully planted.
Compared to him, how many bygone ages lie vacant?
تَصَدَّرَtook the lead للإِرشادِin guidance نَجماًas a star لسالكٍfor a wayfarer
تَصَدَّرَ للإِرشادِ نَجماً لسالكٍ
فَأَوضَحَso he clarified بِالإِرشادthrough guidance مَعرِفَةknowledge of الربِّthe Lord
فَأَوضَحَ بِالإِرشاد مَعرِفَة الربِّ
He rose to lead in guidance, a star for the wayfarer,
Brave lion unafraid of any critic's blame,
And through guidance made knowledge of the Lord clear.
Brandishing the sword of truth, fearing no blows.
أَبوfather of المَجدِglory وَالعلياءِand eminence مَجدthe glory of بَنيthe sons of العُلىexaltation
أَبو المَجدِ وَالعلياءِ مَجد بَني العُلى
وَعِزّهمand their honor المَشهورَrenowned فيamong العجمِnon-Arabs وَالعربِand Arabs
وَعِزّهم المَشهورَ في العجمِ وَالعربِ
Father of glory and eminence, the glory of the sons of exaltation,
Noble traits, seal of generosity and munificence,
And their honor, renowned among non-Arabs and Arabs.
With a welcoming face and spacious chest.
عَديمwithout نَظيرٍpeer واحدthe only one of الدّهرِthe age فَردهits unique one
عَديم نَظيرٍ واحد الدّهرِ فَرده
فَعنso without مِثلهِhis like كَمhow many قَدindeed خَلاpassed empty سالفbygone الحقبِages
فَعن مِثلهِ كَم قَد خَلا سالف الحقبِ
Peerless, the only one of his age, its matchless man,
The one through whom the country gained its bride,
How many bygone ages have passed without his like!
Protector, displaying through him the height of wonders.
هِزَبرa lion of الثّرىthe earth لَمdid not يَخشfear لَومَةa reproach from لائِمٍa reproacher
هِزَبر الثّرى لَم يَخش لَومَة لائِمٍ
يَصولُhe charges بِسَيفِwith the sword of الحقِّtruth لَمdid not يَخشfear فيin الضرِّبstriking
يَصولُ بِسَيفِ الحقِّ لَم يَخش في الضرِّب
A lion of the earth, he feared no reproacher's reproach,
A noble kinsman, generous of soul, his origin is pure,
Charging with truth's sword, fearless in striking.
An honored lineage, lofty in earth and sky.
شَريفnoble in المَزاياqualities حاتمHatim الجودِof generosity وَالنّدىand bounty
شَريف المَزايا حاتم الجودِ وَالنّدى
بِبِشرِwith the cheer of مُحيّاهhis countenance وَمَعand with صَدرِهِhis breast الرّحبِspacious
بِبِشرِ مُحيّاه وَمَع صَدرِهِ الرّحبِ
Noble in qualities, a Hatim of generosity and bounty,
He is the son of Yasin, Fathallah Muhammad,
With the cheer of his face and his spacious breast.
Upon him the prayers of God, family, and companions.
وَمَنand he who فيهِthrough him أَضحَتbecame لِلبِلادِfor the lands عَروسَهاtheir bride
وَمَن فيهِ أَضحَت لِلبِلادِ عَروسَها
حماةُHama الّتيwhich أَبدتdisplayed بِهِthrough him غايَةَthe utmost العجبِwonder
حماةُ الّتي أَبدت بِهِ غايَةَ العجبِ
And he through whom the lands gained their bride:
Thus his grandfather the sultan in every place,
Hama, which through him displayed the utmost wonder.
And pole of the gnostics - needless to mention the pole.
نَسيبٌof noble lineage كَريمُnoble in النّفسِsoul طابَwas good نِجارُهُhis stock
نَسيبٌ كَريمُ النّفسِ طابَ نِجارُهُ
حَسيبٌof honored descent فَخيمُmagnificent in الأَصلِorigin فيin الأَرضthe earth والسحبِand the clouds
حَسيبٌ فَخيمُ الأَصلِ في الأَرض والسحبِ
Noble-born and noble-souled, his stock is fine,
This Shihāb al-Dīn without ignorance,
Of honored descent and magnificent origin, on earth and in the clouds.
Transcended the world and its shooting stars.
هُوَhe اِبنٌa son لياسينٍof Yasin فطهthen Taha مُحمَّدMuhammad
هُوَ اِبنٌ لياسينٍ فطه مُحمَّد
عَليهِupon him صَلاةُblessing اللَّهof God وَالآلِand the family وَالصّحبِand the companions
عَليهِ صَلاةُ اللَّه وَالآلِ وَالصّحبِ
He is a descendant of Yasin—of Taha, Muhammad—
O my Master whom I am his servant,
God's blessings be upon him, his family, and his companions.
And whose praise is found in the best books.
كَذاlikewise جَدُّهُhis grandfather السّلطانُthe sultan فيin كُلِّevery مَوطنplace
كَذا جَدُّهُ السّلطانُ في كُلِّ مَوطن
وَقُطبِand the spiritual pole of ذَويthose possessing العرفانِgnosis ناهيكَenough for you مِنas قُطبِa spiritual pole
وَقُطبِ ذَوي العرفانِ ناهيكَ مِن قُطبِ
Likewise his grandfather is the sultan in every place,
To you, O brother of the highest, a virgin comes needily,
And the pole of the gnostics—what a pole he is!
Upon her the veil of beauty from the finest habits.
وَذاand this أَشهَبُthe ash-gray one among البازاتِfalcons مِنfrom غَيرabsence of مَجهلobscurity
وَذا أَشهَبُ البازاتِ مِن غَير مَجهل
تَسامىrose exalted عَلىabove الدّنياthe world وَبازاتهاand its falcons الشهبِash-gray
تَسامى عَلى الدّنيا وَبازاتها الشهبِ
And he is the Ash-Gray Falcon among falcons, plainly known,
Seeking your praise she has straightened up and softened,
Who rose above the world and its gray falcons.
And in her suppleness she has borne the branch of ripe dates.
فَياso, O أَيّهاyou المَولىmaster الّذيwho أَناI عَبدُهُhis servant
فَيا أَيّها المَولى الّذي أَنا عَبدُهُ
وَمَنْand he whose مَدحُهُhis praise قَدindeed جاءَcame فيin أَفضَلِthe finest الكتبِbooks
وَمَنْ مَدحُهُ قَد جاءَ في أَفضَلِ الكتبِ
So, O master whose servant I am,
So grant her acceptance, O you called to help, perhaps
And whose praise has come in the finest of books,
She may wander proudly among her Arabic peers.
إِلَيكَto you أَخاbrother of العَلياءِeminence بِكراًa virgin يَتيمَةpeerless
إِلَيكَ أَخا العَلياءِ بِكراً يَتيمَة
عَلَيهاupon her نِقابُveil الحُسنِof beauty مِنamong أَحسَنِthe loveliest النُّقبِveils
عَلَيها نِقابُ الحُسنِ مِن أَحسَنِ النُّقبِ
To you, brother of eminence, a peerless maiden,
Stay in God's security as long as meteors shine
Wearing beauty's veil, among the loveliest of veils.
And stars travel from east to west.
بِمَدحِكin praising you قَدindeed ماسَتshe swayed قواماًin stature وَتعطفاand graceful bending
بِمَدحِك قَد ماسَت قواماً وَتعطفا
وَفيand in مَيسِهاher swaying أَزرَتshe put to shame بِغُصنِwith the branch of الرّبىthe hills الرطبِfresh
وَفي مَيسِها أَزرَت بِغُصنِ الرّبى الرطبِ
In praising you she swayed in stature and supple turns,
Thus has spoken the son of Fathallah, fervently saying:
And in her swaying put the fresh branch of the hills to shame.
The darkness of my eyes longs for you, O tormentress of passion!
فَهَبهاso grant her قَبولاًacceptance أَيّهاO النَّدبnoble man علَّهاperhaps she may
فَهَبها قَبولاً أَيّها النَّدب علَّها
تَتيهُshe struts فَخاراًproudly بَينَamong أَترابِهاher peers العربِArab
تَتيهُ فَخاراً بَينَ أَترابِها العربِ
So grant her acceptance, O noble man; perhaps she may
Strut proudly among her Arab peers.
وَدُمand remain فيin أَمانِthe protection of اللَّهِGod ماas long as لاحَflashed بارقٌlightning
وَدُم في أَمانِ اللَّهِ ما لاحَ بارقٌ
وَنَجمٌand a star سَرىtraveled by night مِنfrom نَحوِthe direction of شَرقٍeast إِلىto غَربِwest
وَنَجمٌ سَرى مِن نَحوِ شَرقٍ إِلى غَربِ
And remain in God's protection as long as lightning flashes
And a star travels by night from east to west,
كَذاlikewise ماas long as اِبنُIbn (son of) فَتحِFath اللَّهAllah قَدindeed قالَsaid واجِداًyearning
كَذا ما اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّه قَد قالَ واجِداً
صلينيgrant me union سَوادpupil العَينِof the eye ياO مُهجَةَlifeblood الصبِّof the lovelorn
صليني سَواد العَينِ يا مُهجَةَ الصبِّ
And as long as Ibn Fath Allah declares in yearning:
Grant me union, pupil of the eye, O lifeblood of the lovelorn.
Partial English translation: 88 of 94 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1