باكِرْtake early شَرابَكyour wine أَحلىthe sweetest الشّربdrinking باكِرُهُits morning draught
باكِرْ شَرابَك أَحلى الشّرب باكِرُهُ
وَقَدand already تَغنّىsang بِأَعلىat the top of الدّوْحِthe spreading trees طائِرُهُits bird
وَقَد تَغنّى بِأَعلى الدّوْحِ طائِرُهُ
Take your wine early; the sweetest draught is the morning one.
Drink your wine early, for the early drink is sweetest.
And already its bird has sung atop the spreading trees.
The birds have sung in melodious notes at dawn,
وَالرَّوضُand the garden تَنموgrow بِهِin it الأزهارُthe flowers زاهِيةًradiant
وَالرَّوضُ تَنمو بِهِ الأزهارُ زاهِيةً
وَالرّوضُand the garden مُثنٍpraising عَلَيهِupon it الطيبُthe fragrance شاكِرُهُthanking it
وَالرّوضُ مُثنٍ عَلَيهِ الطيبُ شاكِرُهُ
And flowers grow resplendent in the garden.
As the meadow blooms with radiant flowers,
And fragrance praises the garden and gives it thanks.
Giving thanks, the meadow smiles at its fragrance.
تَموجُsurge فيهِwithin it إِلىuntil أَنthat خِلتَهyou imagined it بَحراًa sea
تَموجُ فيهِ إِلى أَن خِلتَه بَحراً
ماجَتsurged بِهِwithin it وَهيَwhile they تَعلوهُrise above it جَواهِرُهُits jewels
ماجَت بِهِ وَهيَ تَعلوهُ جَواهِرُهُ
They surge within it, till you imagine it a sea,
It surges until its waves become an ocean,
Its jewels surging within it, rising above it.
With jewels dancing over it, rising high.
والرّوضُand the garden فيهاamid them بِساطٌa carpet حيكَwas woven مِنof دُرَرٍpearls
والرّوضُ فيها بِساطٌ حيكَ مِن دُرَرٍ
هَلwhether مِثلُهُits like الدّهرُthe ages نالَتهُattained it أَكاسِرُهُits Chosroes
هَل مِثلُهُ الدّهرُ نالَتهُ أَكاسِرُهُ
And amid them the garden is a carpet woven of pearls.
The meadow has a carpet woven with pearls.
Have the Chosroes of the ages ever attained its like?
Has time ever attained the likes of it and its wonders?
وَالنّهرُand the river فيهِin it بِثَغرِwith a mouth of الأُنسِdelight مُبتَسِمٌsmiling
وَالنّهرُ فيهِ بِثَغرِ الأُنسِ مُبتَسِمٌ
مِنfrom حيثُwhere قَدalready رَقَصَتdanced أَزاهِرُهُits blossoms
مِن حيثُ قَد رَقَصَت أَزاهِرُهُ
And in it the river smiles with a mouth of delight,
The stream in it smiles with the charm of intimacy
Where its blossoms have danced.
Where its flowers have frolicked.
وَاللّيلُand the night تَرقُصُdance بِالأَنوارِwith lights أَنجمُهُits stars
وَاللّيلُ تَرقُصُ بِالأَنوارِ أَنجمُهُ
فَلاso no ظَلامَdarkness تُلاقيناconfronts us عَساكِرُهُits armies
فَلا ظَلامَ تُلاقينا عَساكِرُهُ
And night's stars dance with light,
At night, its stars dance with lights
So no darkness confronts us with its armies.
So we encounter no darkness or its regiments.
كَأَنّماas though الفَجرُdawn سَيّافٌa swordsman عَلىupon يَدِهِhis hand
كَأَنّما الفَجرُ سَيّافٌ عَلى يَدِهِ
سَيفٌa sword مِنَof النورِlight فيin الظّلماءِthe darkness شاهرُهُbrandishing it
سَيفٌ مِنَ النورِ في الظّلماءِ شاهرُهُ
As though dawn were a swordsman, in whose hand
It's as if dawn were a sword in hand
Is a sword of light he brandishes in the darkness.
A sword of light unsheathed in the dark.
فَقُمso rise إِلىto ذَوبِmolten liquid ياقوتٍruby يَصبّpours عَلىupon
فَقُم إِلى ذَوبِ ياقوتٍ يَصبّ عَلى
لُجَينِsilver of كوبٍa cup يُباهيvies with الفَجرَdawn باهِرُهُits brilliance
لُجَينِ كوبٍ يُباهي الفَجرَ باهِرُهُ
So rise to molten ruby that pours upon
So rise to melted ruby poured
The silver of a cup whose brilliance rivals dawn.
Into the chalice's smooth surface, outpacing the brilliant dawn.
كَأَنّهاas though it were الشّمسُthe sun فيهِwithin it وَهْيَwhile it ظاهِرةٌvisible
كَأَنّها الشّمسُ فيهِ وَهْيَ ظاهِرةٌ
نِصفَmidpoint of النّهارِthe day وَإِنand indeed البدرَthe full moon ظاهرُهُits exterior
نِصفَ النّهارِ وَإِن البدرَ ظاهرُهُ
As though it were the sun within it, shining
It is as if the sun were in it, glowing,
At midday; indeed, its exterior is the full moon.
Though it is only midday and the moon is glowing.
حَمراءred ناوَلَهاoffered it ساقٍa cupbearer لَهhe has شنَبٌpearly tooth-lustre
حَمراء ناوَلَها ساقٍ لَه شنَبٌ
كَالبرقِlike lightning يَلمَعُflashes لَيلاًat night وَهوَwhile it سائِرُهُtraversing it
كَالبرقِ يَلمَعُ لَيلاً وَهوَ سائِرُهُ
Red wine, offered by a cupbearer whose teeth have a lustre
A red wine a leg has proffered me, whose moustache
Like lightning flashing as it courses through the night.
Gleams like lightning traveling at night.
فيin ثَغرِهِhis mouth مِثلهاits like بَلrather لاnot تُماثِلُهُequals it
في ثَغرِهِ مِثلها بَل لا تُماثِلُهُ
فيin طَرْفِهِhis gaze خِدْنُهاits companion بَلrather لاnot تُناظِرُهُrivals it
في طَرْفِهِ خِدْنُها بَل لا تُناظِرُهُ
In his mouth is wine's like—no, wine cannot equal it;
In its lip is its likeness—no, it has no equal,
In his gaze is its companion—no, wine cannot rival it.
Its eyelash cannot be compared to it.
طَوراًat times يُناوِلoffers مِنfrom هَذيthis one وَآونةًand at times
طَوراً يُناوِل مِن هَذي وَآونةً
مِنfrom تيthis one وَتاراًand at times تُعاطيناgive us drink نَواظِرُهُhis eyes
مِن تي وَتاراً تُعاطينا نَواظِرُهُ
At times he offers from this one, and at other times
It hands me a sip of this and a taste of that,
From that one; and sometimes his eyes give us drink.
Bewitching me with its glances.
فَلَستso I do not أَدريknow الّتيthe one which مِنهاfrom it سَكِرتI became drunk بِهاon it
فَلَست أَدري الّتي مِنها سَكِرت بِها
إِنّيindeed I اِمرُؤٌa man ضائِعٌlost عَقلاًin reason وَحائِرُهُand bewildered in it
إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ ضائِعٌ عَقلاً وَحائِرُهُ
So I do not know which of them has made me drunk;
I know not which of them has intoxicated me.
Indeed, I am a man, lost in reason and bewildered.
I’m a man lost of mind, confused of senses.
ساقٍa cupbearer تَكَوَّنَwas formed فيin ظَلماءِthe darkness of مَبدَرةٍa full-moon night
ساقٍ تَكَوَّنَ في ظَلماءِ مَبدَرةٍ
فَاِبيَضَّso grew white خَدّاهُhis two cheeks وَاِسودَّتand grew black غَدائِرُهُhis locks
فَاِبيَضَّ خَدّاهُ وَاِسودَّت غَدائِرُهُ
A cupbearer formed in the darkness of a full-moon night,
A leg formed in the darkness of wine skins
So his cheeks grew white and his locks grew black.
Has whitened its cheek and blackened its ringlets.
فَهالةُso the halo of الشّمسِthe sun كانَتwas فيon معاصِمِهِhis wrists
فَهالةُ الشّمسِ كانَت في معاصِمِهِ
أَساوِراًbracelets غَيرَexcept أَنْthat خُرسٌsilent أَساوِرُهُhis bracelets
أَساوِراً غَيرَ أَنْ خُرسٌ أَساوِرُهُ
The sun's halo became, upon his wrists,
The sun’s halo was like bracelets on its wrists
Bracelets—except that his bracelets are silent.
Though dumb are the bracelets.
وَالشَّمسُand the sun فيin قُرصِهاits disk إِذْwhen صيغَwas fashioned خاتَمُهhis ring
وَالشَّمسُ في قُرصِها إِذْ صيغَ خاتَمُه
تَخَتَّمَتwore a ring فيهwith it لاnot يبلىwears out خناصِرُهُhis little fingers
تَخَتَّمَت فيه لا يبلى خناصِرُهُ
And the sun, in its disk, when his ring was fashioned,
And the sun in its disk when its ring was forged
Was worn upon his little fingers, never wearing out.
Sealed itself in it, its beauty never fading.
وَقَدand indeed تَمَنطَقَgirded himself فيat خَصرٍa waist بِلُؤلؤةٍwith a pearl
وَقَد تَمَنطَقَ في خَصرٍ بِلُؤلؤةٍ
كَذرّةٍlike a speck فَوقَatop طَودٍa mountain سُرَّwas delighted ناظِرُهُhis beholder
كَذرّةٍ فَوقَ طَودٍ سُرَّ ناظِرُهُ
And he girded his waist with a pearl,
It girded its waist in a pearl,
Like a speck atop a mountain, delighting his beholder.
Like a fleck above a bosom, delightful to behold.
مُكَحَّلُkohl-lined العَينِthe eye فيin غُنْجٍcoquetry وَفيand in حَوَرٍblack-and-white eye contrast
مُكَحَّلُ العَينِ في غُنْجٍ وَفي حَوَرٍ
مُؤنّثُfeminine الجَفنِthe eyelid ساجيtranquil الطّرفِthe gaze فاتِرُهُlanguid in it
مُؤنّثُ الجَفنِ ساجي الطّرفِ فاتِرُهُ
His kohl-lined eyes are coquettish, with dark irises against clear white;
Kohl-lined of eye, in a swoon, in passion,
Feminine of eyelid, tranquil and languid of gaze.
Feminine of lid, languorous of glance.
كَمhow often لامَنيblamed me فيfor هَواهُlove of him العَذبِsweet عاذِلُهُhis reprover
كَم لامَني في هَواهُ العَذبِ عاذِلُهُ
ياoh وَيْحَهُpity him وَأَناand I بِالجهلِfor ignorance عاذِرُهُexcusing him
يا وَيْحَهُ وَأَنا بِالجهلِ عاذِرُهُ
How often his reprover blamed me for sweet love of him!
How it blamed me for my sweet love of it!
Ah, poor fellow! I excuse him for his ignorance.
Woe to me, while I excuse it in ignorance.
لَوif ذاقَهُhe tasted it لَمdid not يَلُمنيblame me الدّهرever فيهِfor it ولاnor
لَو ذاقَهُ لَم يَلُمني الدّهر فيهِ ولا
قَدindeed كانَwas فيin لَومِهِhis reproach يَبدوappears تظاهرُهُhis posturing
قَد كانَ في لَومِهِ يَبدو تظاهرُهُ
Had he tasted it, he would never have blamed me for it, nor
Had it but tasted it, time would not blame me for it
Would his posturing have shown in his reproach.
Nor pretend to oppose it.
ياoh لَيتَif only لاحِيَّmy censurer قَدalready خلّىleft لناfor us ولهand for him
يا لَيتَ لاحِيَّ قَد خلّى لنا وله
محلَّa place for صُلحٍreconciliation كلاناboth of us قدmight يبادِرُهُhasten to it
محلَّ صُلحٍ كلانا قد يبادِرُهُ
If only my censurer had left for us and for himself
Would that this dear one had left for us
A place for reconciliation, which we both would hasten to.
A place of peace—both of us could approach it!
فَالصّلحُfor reconciliation خَيرٌgood وَخَيرُand the best of النّاسpeople صالَحَهمmade peace with them
فَالصّلحُ خَيرٌ وَخَيرُ النّاس صالَحَهم
أَخوpossessor of الفَضائِلِvirtues مَنwhose جلَّتwere exalted مآثرُهُhis noble deeds
أَخو الفَضائِلِ مَن جلَّت مآثرُهُ
For reconciliation is good, and the best of men has made peace with them:
For peace is best, and best of all people
The man of virtues, whose noble deeds are exalted.
Are those who make peace, of high repute.
اللّوذَعِيُّthe keen-witted الأَديبُthe man of letters الألمعيّthe discerning وَمَنand one whose
اللّوذَعِيُّ الأَديبُ الألمعيّ وَمَن
قَدindeed كُحِّلتwere lined with kohl بالتّقىwith piety نوراًas light بصائِرُهُhis inner vision
قَد كُحِّلت بالتّقى نوراً بصائِرُهُ
The keen-witted man of letters, the discerning one, and he whose
The brilliant scholar, the shining Lumʿi,
Inner eyes have been lined with the light of piety.
Whose eyes are adorned with the kohl of piety!
بِطيبِthrough the goodness of سِيرتِهhis conduct طابتgrew pure سريرتُهhis inner nature
بِطيبِ سِيرتِه طابت سريرتُه
وَأَطيَبُand the purest of النّاسِpeople مَنone whose طابَتbecame pure سرائِرُهُhis inner thoughts
وَأَطيَبُ النّاسِ مَن طابَت سرائِرُهُ
Through his good conduct, his inner nature grew pure;
His manner refined, so his path became refined.
And the purest of men are those whose inner selves are pure.
The best of people are those of virtuous souls.
مَنْone whose فِعلُهُhis action صينَwas protected عَنfrom كَسرٍfracture وَعَنand from عِللٍdefects
مَنْ فِعلُهُ صينَ عَن كَسرٍ وَعَن عِللٍ
مَنْwhoever صِينَis protected فِعلاًin deed فَقَدthen indeed طابَتbecame pure مَصادِرُهُhis sources
مَنْ صِينَ فِعلاً فَقَد طابَت مَصادِرُهُ
One whose deeds are protected from fractures and flaws;
One whose deeds reject fracture and defect—
Whoever is protected in deed has pure wellsprings.
Deeds of integrity have upright sources.
قِسُّQuss البلاغَةِeloquence سَحبانُSahban الفَصاحَةِfluent speech مَنone who
قِسُّ البلاغَةِ سَحبانُ الفَصاحَةِ مَن
بِهِthrough him البَيانُexpression بَديعُwondrous الشّكلِthe form فاخِرُهُsplendid in it
بِهِ البَيانُ بَديعُ الشّكلِ فاخِرُهُ
The Quss of eloquence, the Sahban of fluent speech, one
Arbiter of rhetoric, essence of eloquence,
Through whom expression's form is wondrous and splendid.
By whom diction is graced, its form excellent!
أَكرِمْhow noble بِهِhe is مِنas خَطيبٍan orator مِصْقَعٍmasterful لَسِنٍfluent-tongued
أَكرِمْ بِهِ مِن خَطيبٍ مِصْقَعٍ لَسِنٍ
عَلىupon البَراعَةِmastery قَدindeed تُبْنىare built منابِرُهُhis pulpits
عَلى البَراعَةِ قَد تُبْنى منابِرُهُ
How noble an orator he is, masterful and fluent!
Reward through him the able speakers,
His pulpits are indeed built upon mastery.
For skill is built upon their pulpits.
الجَوهرُthe jewel الفردُunique بَدرُfull moon of الوقتِthe age واحدُهُits unique one
الجَوهرُ الفردُ بَدرُ الوقتِ واحدُهُ
بِالخَيرِfor goodness حامِدُهُhis praiser مِثليlike me وشاكرُهُand his thanker
بِالخَيرِ حامِدُهُ مِثلي وشاكرُهُ
The unique jewel, the age's full moon, its one and only;
Unique pearl, full moon of the age, unique in oneness,
One like me praises and thanks him for his goodness.
I thank, like me, the Good in gratitude.
رَبُّmaster of القَوافيrhymes بِحُسْنِwith fine السّبكcasting فيin غَزلٍlove poetry
رَبُّ القَوافي بِحُسْنِ السّبك في غَزلٍ
يَحلوis sweet وَمَنand one who هوَhe فيin ذاthis الوَقتِage شاعِرُهُits poet
يَحلو وَمَن هوَ في ذا الوَقتِ شاعِرُهُ
Master of rhymes, with finely wrought love poetry
Lord of rhyme, excellent in subtle composition
That is sweet, and he is the poet of this age.
Who composes sweetly in these times as poet?
ياoh ذاpossessor of الكَمالِperfection الّذيwhose تَعلوrise مَراتبُهُhis ranks
يا ذا الكَمالِ الّذي تَعلو مَراتبُهُ
وَذاand possessor of الجَمالِbeauty الّذيwhose تَغلوgrow precious مَفاخِرُهُhis glories
وَذا الجَمالِ الّذي تَغلو مَفاخِرُهُ
O possessor of perfection, whose ranks rise high,
O you whose perfection has the highest ranks,
And possessor of beauty, whose glories grow in worth,
And beauty the most glorious treasures!
فيin كَفِّكyour palm الدرُّpearls طَوراًat times أَنتَyou ناظِمُهُstringing it
في كَفِّك الدرُّ طَوراً أَنتَ ناظِمُهُ
إِنif شِئتَyou wish نَظماًverse وَطَوراًand at times أَنتَyou ناثِرُهُscattering it as prose
إِن شِئتَ نَظماً وَطَوراً أَنتَ ناثِرُهُ
In your hand are pearls: at times you string them,
In your hand, you arrange the pearls into a necklace,
If you desire verse; at times you scatter them as prose.
Or scatter them about, as you so please.
أَهدَيتَنيyou gifted me مِنof بَديعِwondrous الشّعرِpoetry جَوهَرةًa jewel
أَهدَيتَني مِن بَديعِ الشّعرِ جَوهَرةً
وَأَحسَنُand the finest of الشّعرِpoetry ماthat whose تُهدىare gifted جَواهِرُهُits jewels
وَأَحسَنُ الشّعرِ ما تُهدى جَواهِرُهُ
You gave me a jewel of wondrous poetry,
You have gifted me a pearl of wondrous poetry,
And the finest poetry is that whose jewels are offered as gifts.
And the best poetry has jewels gifted.
يَتَيمَةًan orphan gem بِنتdaughter of فِكرٍthought لاno مِثالَequal لهاto it
يَتَيمَةً بِنت فِكرٍ لا مِثالَ لها
وَأَحسَنُand the finest of الشّيءa thing فيin الدّنياthe world نَوادِرُهُits rarities
وَأَحسَنُ الشّيء في الدّنيا نَوادِرُهُ
An orphan gem, a daughter of thought, with no equal;
An orphaned daughter of matchless thought,
And the finest things in the world are the rare ones.
For the best of things in life are rare.
لاmay not فُضَّbe shattered فوكَyour mouth ولاnor خانَتكَbetray you فيat زَمَنٍany time
لا فُضَّ فوكَ ولا خانَتكَ في زَمَنٍ
أَفكارُكyour thoughts الغرُّradiant فيماin whatever أَنتَyou فاكرُهُpondering it
أَفكارُك الغرُّ فيما أَنتَ فاكرُهُ
May your mouth never be shattered, nor may you ever be betrayed
You have never failed me in a time
By your radiant thoughts in whatever you ponder.
When your ideas were precious as I recalled them.
وَاِسلَمْand be safe ودُمْand endure ماas long as اِبنُson of فتحِFath اللَّهِAllah أَنشدَكمrecites to you
وَاِسلَمْ ودُمْ ما اِبنُ فتحِ اللَّهِ أَنشدَكم
باكِرْtake early شَرابكyour wine أَحلىthe sweetest الشّربdrinking بِاكِرُهُits morning draught
باكِرْ شَرابك أَحلى الشّرب بِاكِرُهُ
And be safe and endure, as long as Ibn Fath Allah recites to you:
And do hear what the son of Fathallah has sung to you:
Take your wine early; the sweetest draught is the morning one.
“Drink your wine early, for the early drink is sweetest.”
Sol 6.1