دامَendures سُهدُsleeplessness الصّبِّthe ardent lover وَالدّمعُand tears يسحُّpour down
دامَ سُهدُ الصّبِّ وَالدّمعُ يسحُّ
وَأَلحَّand pressed insistently الشوقُlonging والشوقُand longing مُلِحُّrelentless
وَأَلحَّ الشوقُ والشوقُ مُلِحُّ
The lover's sleeplessness endures, and tears pour down.
The sleeplessness of dawn persists as tears flow,
Longing presses hard, and longing is relentless.
Yearning intensifies, intensifying my grief.
أَسهرُI stay awake اللّيلَthrough the night وَأَرعىand I watch نَجمَهُits star
أَسهرُ اللّيلَ وَأَرعى نَجمَهُ
كلَّماwhenever بيpast me مرَّpassed جنحa stretch of night جاءَcame جنحُa stretch of night
كلَّما بي مرَّ جنح جاءَ جنحُ
I stay awake through the night and watch its star.
I stay up nights to gaze upon its star,
Whenever one stretch of night passes me, another arrives.
Whenever a wing passes by me, another one comes.
لاnot أَذوقُI taste النّومَsleep ذابَتmelted مُهجتيmy heart's core
لا أَذوقُ النّومَ ذابَت مُهجتي
مِنfrom ضَنىthe wasting السُّهدِof sleeplessness وَمسَّand touched العينَthe eye قرحُsoreness
مِن ضَنى السُّهدِ وَمسَّ العينَ قرحُ
I taste no sleep; my very heart has melted
I cannot taste sleep, my love is melting away
from the wasting of sleeplessness, and soreness has touched my eye.
From the anguish of insomnia and tears wounding my eye.
هلdoes ...? تَذوقُtaste العينُthe eye ياO وَيحيwoe to me الكَرىsleep
هل تَذوقُ العينُ يا وَيحي الكَرى
وَبِجَفنَيهاand within its two eyelids لَهُfor it قَدindeed كانَthere was ذبحُslaughter
وَبِجَفنَيها لَهُ قَد كانَ ذبحُ
Can the eye, alas for me, taste sleep,
Does the eye experience, O the torment of passion?!
when slumber has been slaughtered within its two lids?
While its eyelids, it was as if slaughtered by it.
مَرضَfell ill الجسمُthe body وَطالَتand grew prolonged عِلّتيmy illness
مَرضَ الجسمُ وَطالَت عِلّتي
ماnot بِقَلبيin my heart لِدواءfor any remedy كانَthere was نُجحُsuccess
ما بِقَلبي لِدواء كانَ نُجحُ
My body fell ill, and my sickness lingered;
My body is sick and my illness lingers,
no remedy found success within my heart.
In my heart, no remedy has brought me relief.
قَدindeed خَسِرتُI lost الرّوحَthe soul مُذsince ذُقتُI tasted الهَوىlove
قَد خَسِرتُ الرّوحَ مُذ ذُقتُ الهَوى
تاجِراًas a merchant فيin العِشقِpassionate love قَدindeed أَعياهexhausted him كَدحُtoil
تاجِراً في العِشقِ قَد أَعياه كَدحُ
I have lost my soul since I tasted love,
I lost my soul since I tasted passion,
a merchant in passion whom toil has exhausted.
A merchant in love, exhausted by its toil.
إِنif خَسرتُI lost الرّوحَthe soul وَجديmy ardent longing فيin الهَوىlove
إِن خَسرتُ الرّوحَ وَجدي في الهَوى
هُوَit رِبحa gain لَمnot يَكُنbe يَحكيهِmatch it رِبحُa gain
هُوَ رِبح لَم يَكُن يَحكيهِ رِبحُ
If I lost my soul, my longing in love
If I lost my soul yet found in passion,
is a gain that no gain could ever match.
It is a gain no gain has ever recounted.
فَتَحَopened العِشقُpassionate love لِقَلبيfor my heart بابَهُits door
فَتَحَ العِشقُ لِقَلبي بابَهُ
ماnot لِذاfor this البابِdoor لِغَيريfor anyone but me كانَthere was فَتحُan opening
ما لِذا البابِ لِغَيري كانَ فَتحُ
Passion opened its door to my heart;
Love opened its door to my heart,
for no one else was this door ever opened.
Never has this door opened for another.
قَدindeed شَرِبتُI drank الخَمرَwine مِنfrom كوبِthe cup of الهَوىlove
قَد شَرِبتُ الخَمرَ مِن كوبِ الهَوى
وَبِهاand with it لِلكوبِfor the cup فيضٌoverflowing ثمَّthen رَشحُdripping
وَبِها لِلكوبِ فيضٌ ثمَّ رَشحُ
I have drunk wine from the cup of love,
I drank the wine from the chalice of passion,
and with it the cup overflows, then drips.
And from it the chalice overflowed then dripped.
خَمرَةُthe wine of العِشقِpassionate love بِهاthrough it الصبّthe ardent lover صَحاawoke
خَمرَةُ العِشقِ بِها الصبّ صَحا
لِلهَوىto love ماnot لِسواهُto anything else كانَwould يَصحوawaken
لِلهَوى ما لِسواهُ كانَ يَصحو
Love's wine has awakened the lover
The wine of love brings sobriety with it,
to love; to nothing else would he awaken.
Nothing else could ever bring sobriety for passion.
أَناI كالوُرْقِlike the gray doves كِلاناboth of us نائِحٌa mourner
أَنا كالوُرْقِ كِلانا نائِحٌ
يَملأُfills الكَونَthe world نُواحاًwith lamentation حَيثُwherever يَنحوhe turns
يَملأُ الكَونَ نُواحاً حَيثُ يَنحو
I am like the gray doves: each of us laments,
I am like the leaves, both of us grieving,
filling the world with mourning wherever he turns.
Sorrow fills the universe wherever it turns.
إِنّindeed نَوحيmy lament هُوَit نَوحٌlamentation وبكاand weeping
إِنّ نَوحي هُوَ نَوحٌ وبكا
لَيسَis not بِالصّدحِsong وَنوحُand the lament الوُرقِof gray doves صَدحُsong
لَيسَ بِالصّدحِ وَنوحُ الوُرقِ صَدحُ
My lament is truly lament and weeping,
My lamenting is pure sorrow and crying,
not song; the gray doves' lament is song.
Not like the rustling of leaves, the rustling of leaves echoes.
ياO لقَوميmy people, help! ضاعَwas lost عَقليmy reason بِالهَوىthrough love
يا لقَومي ضاعَ عَقلي بِالهَوى
فَجُنونيso my madness فيهِin it نَبعٌa spring لاnot يَشحُّruns dry
فَجُنوني فيهِ نَبعٌ لا يَشحُّ
O my people, my reason has been lost to love;
O my people, my mind is lost in passion,
my madness in it is a spring that never runs dry.
My madness in it is a spring that never dries up.
مَنْwho مُعينيmy helper بِالّذيwith the one who ينميmakes grow الهَوىlove
مَنْ مُعيني بِالّذي ينمي الهَوى
فيَّwithin me تِهياماًinto infatuation بِهِfor him الوجدُpassionate longing يلحُّpresses insistently
فيَّ تِهياماً بِهِ الوجدُ يلحُّ
Who will help me with the one who makes love grow
Who will help me with that which grows passion in me?
within me into frenzy, as longing for him presses hard?
With it, fervor persists, insistence persists.
إِنّindeed مَتنَthe back الصبّof the lover أَوهاهُweakened it الهَوىlove
إِنّ مَتنَ الصبّ أَوهاهُ الهَوى
وَلِصَدريand for my breast بِالهَوىthrough love ماnot زالَceased شَرحُexpansion
وَلِصَدري بِالهَوى ما زالَ شَرحُ
Love has weakened the lover's back,
The text of dawn, passion has confused it,
yet through love my breast is ever opened.
And my chest continues to expand with passion.
لَمnot يَكُنbe عَيشيmy life سِوىother than عَيشِthe life of الهَوىlove
لَم يَكُن عَيشي سِوى عَيشِ الهَوى
ياO عَذوليmy reproacher كَمhow much لِهَذاin this العَيشِlife مِلحُsavor
يا عَذولي كَم لِهَذا العَيشِ مِلحُ
My life has been nothing but the life of love.
My life has only been the life of passion,
O my reproacher, how much savor this life holds!
O you who blame me, how delicious is this life!
ياO عَذوليmy reproacher لاdo not تَلُمنيblame me فيfor الهَوىlove
يا عَذولي لا تَلُمني في الهَوى
إِنّindeed لَوميblaming me فيfor الهَوىlove وَاللَّهby God قُبحُugliness
إِنّ لَومي في الهَوى وَاللَّه قُبحُ
O my reproacher, do not blame me for love;
O you who blame me, do not blame me for passion,
blaming me for love is ugliness, by God.
Blaming me for passion, by God, is despicable.
عاذِليmy reproacher إِنْif لُمتَنيyou blamed me لَمnot أَفُتهمI understand
عاذِلي إِنْ لُمتَني لَم أَفُتهم
أَيُّwhat فَهمٍunderstanding لِمُعنّىًfor a tormented man لَيسَnot يَصحوsobers
أَيُّ فَهمٍ لِمُعنّىً لَيسَ يَصحو
My reproacher, if you blame me, I do not understand:
You who blame me, if you blame me, do not understand,
what understanding has a tormented man who never sobers?
What understanding is there for what cannot be fathomed?
أَترىdo you see فيin اللَّومِreproach نُصحاًgood counsel فيin الهوىlove
أَترى في اللَّومِ نُصحاً في الهوى
عَنهُfrom it فَاِرجِعthen turn away لَمnot يَكُنbe فيin اللَّومreproach نُصحُgood counsel
عَنهُ فَاِرجِع لَم يَكُن في اللَّوم نُصحُ
Do you see good counsel in reproach over love?
Do you see any advice in blaming passion?
Then turn away from it: there is no good counsel in reproach.
Abandon it, there is no advice in blame.
منwho عَذيريmy defender فيin هَوىlove of شَمسِthe sun الضّحىof morning
من عَذيري في هَوى شَمسِ الضّحى
حُسنهُhis beauty كَمhow much قَدalready مَحاeffaced حُسناًbeauty وَيَمحوand still effaces
حُسنهُ كَم قَد مَحا حُسناً وَيَمحو
Who will defend me in my love of the morning sun?
What is my excuse in the passion for the sun of daybreak?
His beauty has effaced so much beauty, and still effaces it.
Its beauty, how much beauty it has erased and continues to erase!
بَدرُa full moon تِمٍّat fullness كلّevery شَمسsun كاسِفeclipsing
بَدرُ تِمٍّ كلّ شَمس كاسِف
هَلcan ...? يُضاهىbe matched وَهوَwhile he لاnot تَحكيهِmatches him ضِحُّsunlight
هَل يُضاهى وَهوَ لا تَحكيهِ ضِحُّ
A moon at its fullest, eclipsing every sun—
The full moon that outshines every sun,
can he be matched, when sunlight cannot rival him?
Can it be compared? It cannot be described by the sun.
جَوهَرِيُّjewel-like الثَّغرِof mouth خَمريُّwine-like اللّمىof dusky lip-color
جَوهَرِيُّ الثَّغرِ خَمريُّ اللّمى
وَهوَand it is عَذبٌsweet وَبِهِand from it لِلمِسكِof musk نَفحُa waft
وَهوَ عَذبٌ وَبِهِ لِلمِسكِ نَفحُ
His mouth is jeweled, his dusky lips wine-like;
Ruby lipped, wine colored, so sweet,
and it is sweet, with musk's fragrance wafting from it.
Musk exudes from it.
لَحظُهُhis glance الهِنديIndian-bladed قَلبيmy heart جارِحٌwounding
لَحظُهُ الهِندي قَلبي جارِحٌ
مِنهُbecause of it قَلبيmy heart فيin حِسابيmy reckoning لاnot يَصِحُّcomes right
مِنهُ قَلبي في حِسابي لا يَصِحُّ
His Indian-bladed glance wounds my heart;
His Indian glance splits my heart,
because of it, my heart will not come right in my reckoning.
My heart cannot compute his calculations of it.
قَسَمَdivided القَلبَthe heart وَأَفنىand destroyed جَمعَهُits sum
قَسَمَ القَلبَ وَأَفنى جَمعَهُ
حَيثُwhere مِنهُfrom it نالَهbefell it ضَربٌmultiplication وَطَرحُand subtraction
حَيثُ مِنهُ نالَه ضَربٌ وَطَرحُ
It divided the heart and wiped out its sum,
It divided the heart and destroyed its entirety,
subjecting it to multiplication and subtraction.
Wherever it struck from it and subtracted.
طَرفُهhis gaze عَضبٌa sharp sword وَفيand in أَجفانِهِhis eyelids
طَرفُه عَضبٌ وَفي أَجفانِهِ
لِيَfor me نَبلarrows وَلِطَعنيand to pierce me القدُّthe stature رمحُa spear
لِيَ نَبل وَلِطَعني القدُّ رمحُ
His gaze is a sharp sword, and in his eyelids
His eyelash is anger, and in his eyelids,
are arrows for me; his stature is a spear to pierce me.
For me are arrows, and for my wound, spears.
لَمnot يَدَعleave فيin الجِسمِthe body منِّيof me وَالحَشاand the vitals
لَم يَدَع في الجِسمِ منِّي وَالحَشا
مَوضِعاًa spot إِلّاexcept وَفيهِand in it منهُfrom him جرحُa wound
مَوضِعاً إِلّا وَفيهِ منهُ جرحُ
He left within my body and my vitals
It left no place in my body or senses,
not a single place without a wound from him.
Except in it were wounds from him.
أَخجَلَput to shame الأَغصانَthe branches مَيلاًin swaying قَدُّهُhis stature
أَخجَلَ الأَغصانَ مَيلاً قَدُّهُ
بِالتَّثنّيby bending إِذwhen تَثنّىswayed مِنهُof him كَشحُthe waist
بِالتَّثنّي إِذ تَثنّى مِنهُ كَشحُ
His swaying stature put the branches to shame,
It bent the branches with its leaning,
with its bending, when his waist swayed.
As it leaned, a bending appeared from it.
وَدَّdesired قَتليkilling me وَوِصاليand union with me قَدindeed أَبىrefused
وَدَّ قَتلي وَوِصالي قَد أَبى
ياO فُؤاديmy heart لِرِضاtoward accepting ماwhat ودّhe desired فَاِنحُthen turn
يا فُؤادي لِرِضا ما ودّ فَاِنحُ
He desired to kill me and refused union with me;
It wanted my killing and my union, but my heart refused,
O my heart, turn toward accepting what he desired.
O my heart, it never acquiesced to what it desired.
ياO سَقاكَmay water you العِزّglory ياO بُرجَtower of العُلىloftiness
يا سَقاكَ العِزّ يا بُرجَ العُلى
غَيثa rain مَجدٍof honor فَوقَكabove you الدّهرَforever يَسِحُّpours down
غَيث مَجدٍ فَوقَك الدّهرَ يَسِحُّ
O tower of loftiness, may you be watered with glory
O you watered by glory, O tower of loftiness,
by a rain of honor pouring above you forever.
A rain cloud of honor hovering over you through time.
لاnot تَزالُcease الدّهرَforever ياO بُرجَtower of العُلىloftiness
لا تَزالُ الدّهرَ يا بُرجَ العُلى
لِلمِعاليfor noble deeds فيكَwithin you شَمسٌa sun ثمَّthen صبحُdawn
لِلمِعالي فيكَ شَمسٌ ثمَّ صبحُ
Forever, O tower of loftiness, may there remain
You shall never cease, O tower of loftiness,
a sun for noble deeds within you, and then a dawn.
To have within you a sun, then the dawn.
فيin دِيارِthe abode of العزِّglory عِكّارAkkar الّتيwhich
في دِيارِ العزِّ عِكّار الّتي
فيon ذُراهاits heights لِهزارِfor the nightingale of السّعدِgood fortune صَدحُsong
في ذُراها لِهزارِ السّعدِ صَدحُ
In the abode of glory, Akkar, where
In the land of glory and honor that
the nightingale of good fortune sings upon its heights,
In its atoms, the ringing of happiness echoes.
حَلَّentered هَذاthis البرجَtower مِنfrom أَوجِthe zenith of السّهىSuha
حَلَّ هَذا البرجَ مِن أَوجِ السّهى
بَدرٌa full moon جاهٍof prestige نورهُhis light حلمforbearance وَصفحُand pardon
بَدرٌ جاهٍ نورهُ حلم وَصفحُ
this tower was entered, from the zenith of Suha,
This tower ascended from the summit of highness,
by a full moon of prestige whose light is forbearance and pardon.
An eminent full moon, its light is dream and clemency.
شَمسُa sun مَجدٍof glory بيتهاits house مِنof شَرَفٍhonor
شَمسُ مَجدٍ بيتها مِن شَرَفٍ
سَقفُهُits ceiling السّؤددeminence وَالعَلياءُand loftiness سَطحُa roof
سَقفُهُ السّؤدد وَالعَلياءُ سَطحُ
A sun of glory, whose house is made of honor,
The sun of glory, its home is of nobility,
its ceiling is eminence, its roof exaltation.
Its ceiling is the stars, and the highest is its roof.
سَيّدٌa lord أَفخمُmost imposing شَهمٌgallant ماجِدٌillustrious
سَيّدٌ أَفخمُ شَهمٌ ماجِدٌ
فيon ذُرىthe heights of المجدِglory لهُfor him قَدalready شِيدwas raised صَرحُa palace
في ذُرى المجدِ لهُ قَد شِيد صَرحُ
A most imposing lord, gallant and illustrious,
A master most generous, courageous with glory,
for whom a palace has been raised on glory's heights.
In the atoms of glory, a palace was built for him.
وَعَليُّand Ali اِسمٌname أَبوهُhis father أَسعَدٌAs'ad
وَعَليُّ اِسمٌ أَبوهُ أَسعَدٌ
مُرعبterrifying الأُسدِthe lions وَلَوeven if لَمnot يَكُنbe كَفحُa clash
مُرعب الأُسدِ وَلَو لَم يَكُن كَفحُ
His name is Ali, and his father is As'ad,
And Ali is a name, his father is Asaad,
terrifying lions even without a clash.
Frightening the lion, even if there were no battle.
آصِفAsif الهِمّةِin resolve مَعنMa'n فيin السّخاgenerosity
آصِف الهِمّةِ مَعن في السّخا
سَمحgenerous كَفٍّof hand لَمnot يَكُنbe يَحكيهِmatch him سَمحُa generous man
سَمح كَفٍّ لَم يَكُن يَحكيهِ سَمحُ
An Asif in resolve, a Ma'n in generosity,
Keen of ambition, gentle in generosity,
open-handed, unmatched by any generous man.
A palm that was never described as being generous.
يَستَقِلُّdeems paltry البحرthe sea لَوif جادَhe bestowed بِهِit
يَستَقِلُّ البحر لَو جادَ بِهِ
وَلَديهِand in his view بَذلُgiving مثلthe equivalent of البحرِthe sea شُحُّstinginess
وَلَديهِ بَذلُ مثل البحرِ شُحُّ
He would count the sea a paltry gift if he gave it,
He could cross the sea if he headed towards it,
and to him, giving a sea's equal is stinginess.
And he has generosity like the sea, never stingy.
فارِسُa knight of الغَبراءِthe dusty field يبديdisplays عَجباًwonders
فارِسُ الغَبراءِ يبدي عَجباً
أَيany مَيدانarena بِهِin it لِلخَيلِfor horses ضبحُpanting
أَي مَيدان بِهِ لِلخَيلِ ضبحُ
A knight of the dusty field, displaying wonders
The knight of dusty (battle) shows wonder,
in any arena where horses pant.
What battlefield for horses has a meadow?
هازِمُvanquisher of الفُرسانِhorsemen يَكسوclothes رَعشةa tremor
هازِمُ الفُرسانِ يَكسو رَعشة
لَهُمُfor them فيهاin it بِطولِthroughout the length of الدّهرِtime فضحُdisgrace
لَهُمُ فيها بِطولِ الدّهرِ فضحُ
Vanquisher of horsemen, he clothes them in trembling,
Vanquisher of knights, he clothes trembling in them,
in which they are disgraced for all time.
For eternity, exposing them.
أَسدُlion of الغابِthe thicket وَضِرغامand mighty lion of الوَغىbattle
أَسدُ الغابِ وَضِرغام الوَغى
لَمnot يَكُنbe فيin حَربِهِwar against him لِلأسدِfor the lions رِبحُgain
لَم يَكُن في حَربِهِ لِلأسدِ رِبحُ
Lion of the thicket, mighty lion of battle,
The lion of the forest and the roaring of war,
lions find no gain in waging war against him.
In his war, the lion had no gain.
بَلrather لَهُمfor them مِنfrom خَوفِهمtheir fear قَصدٌa wish بِأَنthat
بَل لَهُم مِن خَوفِهم قَصدٌ بِأَن
دامَmay last مِنهُfrom him لَهمُfor them سِلمٌpeace وَصلحُand reconciliation
دامَ مِنهُ لَهمُ سِلمٌ وَصلحُ
Rather, in their fear, they seek
Rather, their aim in fearing him is that,
enduring peace and reconciliation from him.
As long as peace and reconciliation from him remain.
كَيفَhow يَخشىcould he fear الأسدَthe lions لَوeven if قَدindeed زَأَرتthey roared
كَيفَ يَخشى الأسدَ لَو قَد زَأَرت
وَلَديهِand to him فَزئيرُso the roaring of الأُسْدِthe lions نبحُbarking
وَلَديهِ فَزئيرُ الأُسْدِ نبحُ
How could he fear lions, even if they roared,
How can the lion fear if it roared,
when to him the lions' roar is barking?
And its roar is the bark of lions!
سَيفُهُhis sword الهِنديّIndian حَيثُwherever اِستَلَّهُhe drew it
سَيفُهُ الهِنديّ حَيثُ اِستَلَّهُ
فيهِin it لِلسُّوقfor the shins وَالأَعناقِand the necks مَسحُa sweeping stroke
فيهِ لِلسُّوق وَالأَعناقِ مَسحُ
His Indian sword, wherever he draws it,
His Indian sword wherever he unsheathed it,
sweeps through shins and necks.
Had the effect of sweeping the markets and necks.
رُمحُهُhis spear لَوif هَزَّهُhe brandished it ذابَتmelted بِهِthrough it
رُمحُهُ لَو هَزَّهُ ذابَت بِهِ
سُمُرُthe brown spears of القَومِthe warriors فَلاso not يَسلَمُsurvives رمحُa spear
سُمُرُ القَومِ فَلا يَسلَمُ رمحُ
His spear, if he brandishes it, melts
And if he shook his spear, its (tip) would melt
the warriors' brown spears; no spear survives.
The summers of people, so no spear remains.
مِنwith دِماءِthe blood of الأسدِthe lions رَوَّىhe slaked سَيفَهُhis sword
مِن دِماءِ الأسدِ رَوَّى سَيفَهُ
حَيثُwhere مِنهُfrom it نالَهاbefell it سفكٌshedding وَسَفحُand spilling
حَيثُ مِنهُ نالَها سفكٌ وَسَفحُ
He has slaked his sword with lions' blood,
He quenched his sword with the blood of lions,
as it shed their blood and poured it out.
Wherever it attained it, spilling and pouring.
مِنfrom قُلوبِthe hearts of الأسدِthe lions غَذّىhe fed رُمحَهُhis spear
مِن قُلوبِ الأسدِ غَذّى رُمحَهُ
حَيثُwhere مِنهُfrom it نالَهاbefell them طَعنٌpiercing وَجرحُand wounding
حَيثُ مِنهُ نالَها طَعنٌ وَجرحُ
He has fed his spear on lions' hearts,
He fed his spear with the hearts of lions,
for it dealt them piercing and wounds.
Wherever it attained them, piercing and wounding.
الأَميرُthe emir الصّدرُthe foremost رَأسُchief of الأُمراthe emirs
الأَميرُ الصّدرُ رَأسُ الأُمرا
غَيرother than هَذاthis فَهوَthen it is وَهْمٌan illusion لاnot يَصِحُّholds true
غَير هَذا فَهوَ وَهْمٌ لا يَصِحُّ
The foremost emir, chief of emirs—
The foremost chief, head of matters,
anything else is an illusion that cannot hold true.
Other than this one, it is delusion that cannot be correct.
صائِبُsound الرّأيِin judgment سَديدٌright ماwhat يرىhe thinks
صائِبُ الرّأيِ سَديدٌ ما يرى
لاnot يُرىis seen فيماin what يراهُhe thinks الدّهرَever قَدحُa fault
لا يُرى فيما يراهُ الدّهرَ قَدحُ
Sound in judgment, right in what he thinks,
Keen of opinion, precise in what he envisions,
no fault is ever found in his views.
No fault can be seen in what he sees throughout time.
إِنif يَقُلْhe says شَيئاًanything يُصبْhe is right فيin قَولِهِhis speech
إِن يَقُلْ شَيئاً يُصبْ في قَولِهِ
فَلِهذاtherefore قَولهhis word القَولُthe word الأَصَحُّtruest
فَلِهذا قَوله القَولُ الأَصَحُّ
If he says anything, he speaks correctly;
If he says something, precision hits his words,
thus his word is the truest word.
Thus his words are the most proper words.
أَيّهاO التاجُthe crown لِأَبناءِfor the sons of العُلىloftiness
أَيّها التاجُ لِأَبناءِ العُلى
مَنhe who بهِthrough him الدّهرَforever سَماhas risen حَمدٌpraise وَمدحُand commendation
مَن بهِ الدّهرَ سَما حَمدٌ وَمدحُ
O crown of the sons of loftiness,
O Crown of the eminent sons,
through whom praise and commendation have ever risen,
The one through whom time ascended in praise and eulogy!
مَنhe who عَلىupon رايَتهِhis banner حيثُwherever سَرَتit traveled
مَن عَلى رايَتهِ حيثُ سَرَت
دائِماًalways نَصرٌvictory مِنَfrom اللَّهِGod وَفتحُand conquest
دائِماً نَصرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفتحُ
upon whose banner, wherever it goes,
The one whose banner wherever it went,
are always victory and conquest from God,
Constant victory from God and openings were upon it!
هاكَtake بِكراًa maiden بِنتdaughter of فِكرٍthought غادَةًa graceful maiden
هاكَ بِكراً بِنت فِكرٍ غادَةً
حُسنُهاher beauty حسنَthe beauty of بَناتِthe daughters of النّظمِverse يَمحوeffaces
حُسنُها حسنَ بَناتِ النّظمِ يَمحو
take this maiden, a graceful daughter of thought,
Her beauty erases the beauty of the daughters of poetry.
whose beauty effaces the beauty of verse's daughters.
So accept her from you, with approval and consent,
فَاِحبُهاso grant her مِنكَfrom you قَبولاًacceptance وَرِضاًand approval
فَاِحبُها مِنكَ قَبولاً وَرِضاً
فَهوَfor it is مَنحa gift مثلهُlike it لَمnot يَكُbe منحُa gift
فَهوَ مَنح مثلهُ لَم يَكُ منحُ
Grant her your acceptance and approval,
For it is a bestowal the like of which has not been bestowed.
for that is a gift no other gift can match.
And of chivalry, protect her from time,
وَمِنَand as الفَضلِkindness فَصُنهاso protect her الدّهرَforever أنْlest
وَمِنَ الفَضلِ فَصُنها الدّهرَ أنْ
يَتَلقّاهاgreet her إِذاwhen وافَتكَshe comes to you طرحُrejection
يَتَلقّاها إِذا وافَتكَ طرحُ
And, as a kindness, forever protect her lest
When it comes across her as if to throw her down.
rejection greet her when she comes to you.
And let the time be in enjoyable livelihood,
وَاِسلَمِand live safely الدّهرَforever بِراضيwith a pleasing عيشَةٍlife
وَاِسلَمِ الدّهرَ بِراضي عيشَةٍ
ماas long as بَداappears بَدرٌa full moon وَماand as long as قَدindeed لاحَbreaks صُبحُdawn
ما بَدا بَدرٌ وَما قَد لاحَ صُبحُ
And live in safety forever, enjoying a pleasant life,
Neither has the full moon appeared, nor has dawn emerged.
as long as a full moon appears and dawn breaks,
Neither has the foliage in slopes rustled,
ماas long as تَغَنَّتsings فيon الرُّبىthe hills الورقاءُthe gray dove ماas long as
ما تَغَنَّت في الرُّبى الورقاءُ ما
طابَis sweet مِنهاfrom it وَهيَwhile it is فَوقَabove الغصنِthe branch صدحُsong
طابَ مِنها وَهيَ فَوقَ الغصنِ صدحُ
as long as the gray dove sings upon the hills, as long as
Nor has its freshness sounded while atop the branch.
its song is sweet while it is above the branch,
As long as the sleeplessness of dawn persists, and tears flow!
ماas long as مِنَfrom العِشقِpassionate love غَراماًin ardor وَجَوىand heartache
ما مِنَ العِشقِ غَراماً وَجَوى
دامَendures سُهدُsleeplessness الصبِّthe ardent lover وَالدَّمعُand tears يَسِحُّpour down
دامَ سُهدُ الصبِّ وَالدَّمعُ يَسِحُّ
as long as, through love, in passion and heartache,
the lover's sleeplessness endures, and tears pour down.
Partial English translation: 112 of 114 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1