بِحُسنِكِ ذاتَ الحُسنِ شَمسَ الكَواكِبِ

بِحُسنِكِ ذاتَ الحُسنِ شَمسَ الكَواكِبِ

تضيءُ شموسُ الأفق مِن كلِّ جانِبِ

تضيءُ شموسُ الأفق مِن كلِّ جانِبِ

Through your beauty, O lady of beauty, sun of the stars,

With your beauty, O you of beauty, sun of the stars,

the suns of the horizon shine from every side.

The suns of the horizons shine from every side.

أَنَرتِ الدّجى إِذ كُنتِ أَثقَبَ كَوكَبٍ

أَنَرتِ الدّجى إِذ كُنتِ أَثقَبَ كَوكَبٍ

وَما كلُّ نَجمٍ في النُّجومِ بِثاقِبِ

وَما كلُّ نَجمٍ في النُّجومِ بِثاقِبِ

You lit the darkness, for you were the brightest star,

You illuminated the darkness when you were the most luminous planet,

and not every star among the stars is radiant.

And not every star among the stars is bright.

إِلَيكِ قُلوبُ العاشِقينَ تَجاذَبَت

إِلَيكِ قُلوبُ العاشِقينَ تَجاذَبَت

وما كلّ حِبٍّ للقلوبِ بجاذِبِ

وما كلّ حِبٍّ للقلوبِ بجاذِبِ

Lovers' hearts were drawn together toward you,

Toward you, the hearts of lovers competed,

and not every beloved draws hearts.

And not every love pulls at hearts.

رَعى اللَّهُ رَبعاً كُنتِ فيهِ ذُكاءَه

رَعى اللَّهُ رَبعاً كُنتِ فيهِ ذُكاءَه

وَأَهلوكِ كانوا فيهِ أَزهى الكَواكِبِ

وَأَهلوكِ كانوا فيهِ أَزهى الكَواكِبِ

May God preserve an abode where you were its sun,

May God protect the land in which you were its intelligence,

and your family were its most resplendent stars.

And its people were in it the most radiant of planets.

وَسَقياً لِوَقتٍ كُنتُ فيهِ مُقرَّباً

وَسَقياً لِوَقتٍ كُنتُ فيهِ مُقرَّباً

لَدَيكِ وَقَد كانَ العَذولُ مُجانبي

لَدَيكِ وَقَد كانَ العَذولُ مُجانبي

And may rain bless the time when I was brought close

And a drinking companion for a time when I was favored

to you, while the reproacher kept away from me.

Next to you while keeping away was shunned.

فَلا الهَجرُ كَالسلوانِ يَجري بِخاطِري

فَلا الهَجرُ كَالسلوانِ يَجري بِخاطِري

وَلا البعدُ كَالإِبعاد مِنكِ مُقاربي

وَلا البعدُ كَالإِبعاد مِنكِ مُقاربي

So separation, like forgetfulness, never crosses my mind,

So neither does separation flow through my mind

and distance, like banishment from you, never draws near me.

Nor does distance equal separation from you, my companion.

أَسيرُ عَلى سَهلِ السّرورِ بِمَهمَهٍ

أَسيرُ عَلى سَهلِ السّرورِ بِمَهمَهٍ

وَلَستُ أَرى وَعْراً بِكلّ المَذاهِبِ

وَلَستُ أَرى وَعْراً بِكلّ المَذاهِبِ

I walk on joy's level ground in a trackless desert,

I walk the plain of bliss aimlessly,

and see no rugged ground on any path.

And I do not see any hardship in any direction.

وَأَركَبُ مَتنَ الصّفوِ وَالأنسِ راكِضاً

وَأَركَبُ مَتنَ الصّفوِ وَالأنسِ راكِضاً

وَلَيسَ كَمَتنِ الصّفوِ عزٌّ لِراكِبِ

وَلَيسَ كَمَتنِ الصّفوِ عزٌّ لِراكِبِ

And I gallop astride serenity and intimacy,

And I ride the steed of clarity and intimacy galloping,

and no rider's honor compares with serenity's back.

And the back of a steed is no honor for its rider.

وَأَغرِسُ وَرداً في خُدودِ حَبيبتي

وَأَغرِسُ وَرداً في خُدودِ حَبيبتي

وَأَوْلى بِغَرسِ الوَردِ خدُّ الحبائِبِ

وَأَوْلى بِغَرسِ الوَردِ خدُّ الحبائِبِ

And I plant roses in my beloved's cheeks,

And I plant a rose in the cheeks of my beloved,

and beloveds' cheeks best deserve the planting of roses.

And the cheek of loved ones is most deserving to be planted with roses.

وَأَرشُفُ خَمراً مِن لَماها وقَرقَفاً

وَأَرشُفُ خَمراً مِن لَماها وقَرقَفاً

فَأَشرَبُ شَهداً كانَ حِلّاً لِشارِبِ

فَأَشرَبُ شَهداً كانَ حِلّاً لِشارِبِ

And I sip wine from her dusky lips, a heady wine,

And I drink wine from its fermentation and tumbler,

so I drink honey, lawful for the drinker.

So I drink a honey that was pure for its drinker.

وَأَقطفُ رُمّاناً عَلا فَوقَ نَهدِها

وَأَقطفُ رُمّاناً عَلا فَوقَ نَهدِها

وَأَحلى مِنَ الرُّمّانِ نَهدُ الكَواعِبِ

وَأَحلى مِنَ الرُّمّانِ نَهدُ الكَواعِبِ

And I pluck pomegranates rising above her breast,

And I pluck a pomegranate atop her breasts,

and full-bosomed maidens' breasts are sweeter than pomegranates.

And sweeter than a pomegranate are the breasts of coquettes.

وَأَجني ثِمارَ الوَصلِ والأنس مفرداً

وَأَجني ثِمارَ الوَصلِ والأنس مفرداً

وَأَنشقُ عِطرَ القُربِ مِن كلِّ جانِبِ

وَأَنشقُ عِطرَ القُربِ مِن كلِّ جانِبِ

And I alone reap the fruits of union and intimacy,

And I reap the fruits of union and intimacy alone,

and breathe the fragrance of nearness from every side.

And I inhale the fragrance of nearness from every side.

أَتيهُ عَلى العلياءِ مِن كلِّ جانِب

أَتيهُ عَلى العلياءِ مِن كلِّ جانِب

وَتَصفو مِنَ الأَوقاتِ كلّ المَشارِبِ

وَتَصفو مِنَ الأَوقاتِ كلّ المَشارِبِ

I exult above the heights on every side,

I come to the most high from every side,

and all the draughts drawn from time grow clear.

And the times become purified of every drink.

أَطولُ الثريَّا حَيثُ قَد كنتُ قاعِداً

أَطولُ الثريَّا حَيثُ قَد كنتُ قاعِداً

وَأَلعبَ مِن تيهي بِكلِّ الكَواكِبِ

وَأَلعبَ مِن تيهي بِكلِّ الكَواكِبِ

I reach the Pleiades from where I was seated,

I extend the Pleiades where I was sitting,

and, in my pride, I play with all the stars.

And I sport with their loss to all the planets.

وَأَنظِمُ عِقداً كَاللّآلي بِمَدحِها

وَأَنظِمُ عِقداً كَاللّآلي بِمَدحِها

وَمَدحِيَ ذاتَ الحُسنِ أَسنى مَطالبي

وَمَدحِيَ ذاتَ الحُسنِ أَسنى مَطالبي

And I string a necklace like pearls in her praise,

And I string pearls like necklaces in praise of her,

and praising the lady of beauty is my loftiest aim.

And my praise of the beauty of highest virtues is my greatest request.

وَأَركَبُ مِن أَغلى القَوافي جِيادَها

وَأَركَبُ مِن أَغلى القَوافي جِيادَها

فَأَحظى لَدى سَبْقي بِأَعلى المَراتِبِ

فَأَحظى لَدى سَبْقي بِأَعلى المَراتِبِ

And I ride the steeds of the most precious rhymes,

And I mount the most precious metres like steeds,

so I attain the highest ranks when I take the lead.

So I gain the highest glory in outpacing them.

وَأُبْدي رَقيقَ النّظمِ لِلمَدحِ راغِباً

وَأُبْدي رَقيقَ النّظمِ لِلمَدحِ راغِباً

وَإِنَّ أَجَلَّ المَدحِ تمداحُ راغِبِ

وَإِنَّ أَجَلَّ المَدحِ تمداحُ راغِبِ

And I offer delicate verse, eager to praise,

And I express subtle poetry in praise passionately,

for the noblest praise is praise of Raghib,

And the greatest praise is to praise passionately.

أَخي العزِّ وَالعَلياءِ في شَرَفِ العُلى

أَخي العزِّ وَالعَلياءِ في شَرَفِ العُلى

أَبي المَجدِ شَمسِ الحُسنِ زَينِ المَواكبِ

أَبي المَجدِ شَمسِ الحُسنِ زَينِ المَواكبِ

brother to honor and loftiness in exalted nobility,

O brother of honor and highness, nobility’s sun,

father of glory, sun of beauty, ornament of processions;

My father of glory, sun of beauty, adornment of processions.

وَمَن فاقَ في جودٍ أَبا المَرأةِ الّتي

وَمَن فاقَ في جودٍ أَبا المَرأةِ الّتي

تَقولُ لِخَيرِ الخَلقِ هَبني صَواحِبي

تَقولُ لِخَيرِ الخَلقِ هَبني صَواحِبي

and he who surpassed in generosity the father of the woman who

And the one who surpassed in generosity the father of the woman

says to the best of creation, 'Grant me my female companions.'

Who said to the best of creation, “give me my companions.”

وَمَن فاقَ في الحِلمِ اِبنَ قَيسٍ وَفي الذّكا

وَمَن فاقَ في الحِلمِ اِبنَ قَيسٍ وَفي الذّكا

إِياساً وَفي إِنشائِهِ كُلَّ كاتِبِ

إِياساً وَفي إِنشائِهِ كُلَّ كاتِبِ

and who surpassed Ibn Qays in forbearance, and in intelligence

And the one who surpassed Ibn Qays in forbearance, Eeyas in intelligence,

Iyas, and in his writing every scribe;

And every writer in his composition.

هِزَبرُ الشّرى شِبلُ المَعالي أسدُ الوغى

هِزَبرُ الشّرى شِبلُ المَعالي أسدُ الوغى

وَضِرغامُنا الرِّئْبالُ مُبدي العَجائِبِ

وَضِرغامُنا الرِّئْبالُ مُبدي العَجائِبِ

the lion of al-Shara, cub of high honors, lion of battle,

Barrier of evil, noble of high ranks, lion of tumult,

and our lion, the fierce lion, revealer of wonders.

And our fierce warrior, exhibitor of wonders.

يَكِرُّ بِلا فَرٍّ وَخدعٍ مُبارِزاً

يَكِرُّ بِلا فَرٍّ وَخدعٍ مُبارِزاً

وَيَسطو كَلَيثِ الغابِ في أَيّ عاضِبِ

وَيَسطو كَلَيثِ الغابِ في أَيّ عاضِبِ

He charges without retreat or trickery, fighting in single combat,

He charges without retreating or deception, challenging,

and strikes like a forest lion at any swordsman.

And pounces like a forest lion at every passerby.

فَما صالَ إِلّا وَالأُسودَ رأيتَها

فَما صالَ إِلّا وَالأُسودَ رأيتَها

فَمِن مَيّتٍ يَبدو وَآخرَ هارِبِ

فَمِن مَيّتٍ يَبدو وَآخرَ هارِبِ

For he never charged without your seeing the lions:

So he did not depart except the lions were seen by you

one appearing dead, another fleeing.

As some appeared dead and others fleeing.

فَأَضيافُهُ في السّلمِ أَهلُ مَكارِمٍ

فَأَضيافُهُ في السّلمِ أَهلُ مَكارِمٍ

وَضِيفانُهُ في حَربِهِ كُلُّ ناعِبِ

وَضِيفانُهُ في حَربِهِ كُلُّ ناعِبِ

Thus his guests in peace are people of noble virtue,

So his guests in peace are the people of generosity,

and his guests in war are every cawing crow.

And his guests in war are all wailers.

فَما شامَ مَنْ والاهُ غَيرَ كَرامَةٍ

فَما شامَ مَنْ والاهُ غَيرَ كَرامَةٍ

وَقَد شامَ مَنْ عاداهُ ضيق المذاهِبِ

وَقَد شامَ مَنْ عاداهُ ضيق المذاهِبِ

For whoever was loyal to him saw nothing but honor,

So whoever befriended him tasted naught but honor,

and whoever opposed him saw the paths grow narrow.

While whoever opposed him tasted but narrow paths.

تَرَدّى وَقاراً في الأنامِ وَهَيبَةً

تَرَدّى وَقاراً في الأنامِ وَهَيبَةً

تَردّى كَمالاً في الوَرى غير ذاهِبِ

تَردّى كَمالاً في الوَرى غير ذاهِبِ

He robed himself in dignity and awe among mankind,

He strode with dignity among the people and prestige,

he robed himself among mortals in unfading perfection.

He strode with perfection in the land, never fading.

وَقامَ بِأَعباءِ المَحاسِنِ وَحدَهُ

وَقامَ بِأَعباءِ المَحاسِنِ وَحدَهُ

فَحازَ مِنَ التّوفيقِ أَسنى المَراتِبِ

فَحازَ مِنَ التّوفيقِ أَسنى المَراتِبِ

And he alone bore the burdens of noble virtues,

And he carried alone the burdens of virtues,

so he attained the loftiest ranks of success.

Thus attaining the best of ranks from success.

وَتاجَرَ في المَعروفِ في كلِّ مَوسِمٍ

وَتاجَرَ في المَعروفِ في كلِّ مَوسِمٍ

فَأَلفى بَليغَ الحَمدِ خَيرَ المَكاسِبِ

فَأَلفى بَليغَ الحَمدِ خَيرَ المَكاسِبِ

And he traded in kindness in every season,

And he engaged in benevolence every season,

and found eloquent praise the best of gains.

So he attained the most eloquent praise and best profits.

مُوقّعُ ديوانِ الخَليفَةِ شاهِنا

مُوقّعُ ديوانِ الخَليفَةِ شاهِنا

وما كلُّ توقيعٍ كَتَوقيعِ راغِبِ

وما كلُّ توقيعٍ كَتَوقيعِ راغِبِ

Signatory of the chancery of the caliph, our shah,

Signatory of the caliph’s Diwan, our master,

and not every signature is like Raghib's signature.

And not every signature is like the signature of Rabi’.

يَخطّ بِسعدِ الحظّ وَهوَ اِبن مُقلَةٍ

يَخطّ بِسعدِ الحظّ وَهوَ اِبن مُقلَةٍ

لِعَينِ المَعالي وَهوَ أَسعَدُ كاتِبِ

لِعَينِ المَعالي وَهوَ أَسعَدُ كاتِبِ

He writes under fortune's favor, an Ibn Muqla

He writes with good fortune, and he is the son of Muqla,

to the eye of high honors, and he is the most fortunate scribe.

To the observant eye, and he is the happiest writer.

إِذا جالَ في الأَوراقِ أَقلامَ خطِّهِ

إِذا جالَ في الأَوراقِ أَقلامَ خطِّهِ

تَرى السُّمرَ تَعلو فَوقَ بِيضِ القَواضِبِ

تَرى السُّمرَ تَعلو فَوقَ بِيضِ القَواضِبِ

When he sends his writing pens roaming across the pages,

When his pens glide on the pages,

you see the tawny spears rise above the white, cutting swords.

You see the fishrise above the white dhows.

وَما خَطّ غَيرَ المِسكِ مِن فَوقِ فِضّةٍ

وَما خَطّ غَيرَ المِسكِ مِن فَوقِ فِضّةٍ

أَو الضّوء ذي الإِشراقِ بَينَ الغَياهِبِ

أَو الضّوء ذي الإِشراقِ بَينَ الغَياهِبِ

And he has written nothing but musk upon silver,

And none write musk on silver,

or radiant light amid the deepest darkness.

Or light with brilliance between the darknesses but him.

فَيا أَيّها المَولى الّذي طابَ صِيتُهُ

فَيا أَيّها المَولى الّذي طابَ صِيتُهُ

عَلى حُسنِ سَمتٍ لَم يُثَبْ بِمَثالِبِ

عَلى حُسنِ سَمتٍ لَم يُثَبْ بِمَثالِبِ

So, O master whose renown is sweet,

So O master whom his reputation is good

for fine bearing never repaid with reproach;

For excellent traits that have no flaws.

إِلَيكَ اِنتِسابي وَهوَ لا شكَّ نِسبَةٌ

إِلَيكَ اِنتِسابي وَهوَ لا شكَّ نِسبَةٌ

تَفوقُ مِنَ المَجدِ اِنتِساباً إِلى أبِ

تَفوقُ مِنَ المَجدِ اِنتِساباً إِلى أبِ

My affiliation is with you; it is, without doubt, a kinship

To you is my lineage, which is undoubtedly a lineage

that surpasses descent from a father in glory.

That surpasses the glory of lineage to a father.

لَبِستُ العُلى إِذ كنتُ مَحسوبَ مَجدِكُم

لَبِستُ العُلى إِذ كنتُ مَحسوبَ مَجدِكُم

أَجرُّ ثِيابَ الفَخرِ لَست بِراهِبِ

أَجرُّ ثِيابَ الفَخرِ لَست بِراهِبِ

I donned high honors when I was counted as belonging to your glory,

I wore the garments of honor when I was counted among your glories,

I trail the robes of pride; I am unafraid.

I am adorned in the clothes of pride, I am no monk.

وَلي الشّرفُ الأَعلى إِلَيك بِنِسبَتي

وَلي الشّرفُ الأَعلى إِلَيك بِنِسبَتي

وَتِلكَ لَدى الأَشرافِ أَعلى مَناقِبي

وَتِلكَ لَدى الأَشرافِ أَعلى مَناقِبي

And mine is the highest honor through my affiliation with you,

And for me is the highest honor through you,

and among the nobles that is my highest distinction.

And that among the nobility are my greatest traits.

وَإِنّي عَلى فَخري بِها لَمزاحِمٌ

وَإِنّي عَلى فَخري بِها لَمزاحِمٌ

عَلى رِفعَتي شَمسَ الضّحى بِالمَناكِبِ

عَلى رِفعَتي شَمسَ الضّحى بِالمَناكِبِ

And, in my pride in it, I indeed jostle

And I in boasting of it am a rival

the midmorning sun with my shoulders from my exalted height.

For my prestige the sun at dawn with shoulders.

وَها غادَةٌ تُهدى لِأَعتابِك الّتي

وَها غادَةٌ تُهدى لِأَعتابِك الّتي

أَقامَت بِها العَلياءُ أَحسَنَ حاجِبِ

أَقامَت بِها العَلياءُ أَحسَنَ حاجِبِ

And here is a graceful maiden offered to your thresholds, where

And here is a gift sent to your threshold,

lofty glory has stationed the finest chamberlain.

At which the supreme erected the best eyebrows.

مُهَفهَفَةٌ بِكرٌ وَخوطَةُ بانَةٍ

مُهَفهَفَةٌ بِكرٌ وَخوطَةُ بانَةٍ

وَبَيضَةُ خِدرٍ لا تُشان بِعائِبِ

وَبَيضَةُ خِدرٍ لا تُشان بِعائِبِ

Slender-waisted, a virgin, and a shoot of a ban tree,

White and pure, the wrapping of Bana,

and an egg sheltered in a chamber, unmarred by any fault.

And an unblemished egg of Khadir.

وَتَرجو قَبولاً مِنكَ فَضلاً وَلَم يَكُن

وَتَرجو قَبولاً مِنكَ فَضلاً وَلَم يَكُن

عَلَيكَ أَخا المَجدِ القبولُ بِواجِبِ

عَلَيكَ أَخا المَجدِ القبولُ بِواجِبِ

And she hopes for acceptance from you as a favor, though it is not

It hopes for acceptance from you as a grace, and you were not

incumbent on you, O brother of glory, to accept.

O brother of glory, obligated to accept.

وَتَبغي الرّضا حَيثُ الرضاءُ رَجاؤُها

وَتَبغي الرّضا حَيثُ الرضاءُ رَجاؤُها

وَلَستَ بِمَن ردّ الرّجاء بِخائِبِ

وَلَستَ بِمَن ردّ الرّجاء بِخائِبِ

And she seeks approval, since approval is her hope,

And it seeks approval where its approval is hoped,

and you are not one to send hope away disappointed.

And you are not one who disappoints hope.

وَلا أعتب الأفلاكَ أَن لَو رَدَدتها

وَلا أعتب الأفلاكَ أَن لَو رَدَدتها

وَلَستُ على الأفلاكِ يَوماً بعاتِبِ

وَلَستُ على الأفلاكِ يَوماً بعاتِبِ

Nor would I reproach the celestial spheres if you rejected her,

And I do not blame the celestial spheres, if they sent it back,

nor would I ever blame the celestial spheres.

And I am not one to reproach the celestial spheres.

وَلَكِنّما عَتبي عَلى الحظّ وحدَهُ

وَلَكِنّما عَتبي عَلى الحظّ وحدَهُ

وِإنّي لِغَيرِ الحظّ غير مُعاتِبِ

وِإنّي لِغَيرِ الحظّ غير مُعاتِبِ

But my reproach is for fortune alone,

Rather, my reproach is to fortune alone,

and I reproach nothing other than fortune.

And I do not reproach other than fortune.

عَلى كلِّ حالٍ أَنتَ أَكرَمُ قابلٍ

عَلى كلِّ حالٍ أَنتَ أَكرَمُ قابلٍ

وَتَعلَمُ أَنّ الردَّ غَيرُ مُناسِبِ

وَتَعلَمُ أَنّ الردَّ غَيرُ مُناسِبِ

In any case, you are the most generous recipient,

In any case, you are the most honorable acceptor,

and you know that rejection is unfitting.

And you know refusal is not appropriate.

وَدُمْ بِأَمانِ اللَّهِ ما دامَتِ السّما

وَدُمْ بِأَمانِ اللَّهِ ما دامَتِ السّما

وَأَنجمُها ما بَينَ بادٍ وغارِبِ

وَأَنجمُها ما بَينَ بادٍ وغارِبِ

And may you remain in God's protection as long as heaven endures,

Live in God's safety as long as the sky

and its stars range between appearing and setting,

And its stars last between disappearing and setting.

وَحَيثُ اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ أَبدى بِمَدحِهِ

وَحَيثُ اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ أَبدى بِمَدحِهِ

لِأَوصافِك الحَسناءِ كُلَّ الغرائِبِ

لِأَوصافِك الحَسناءِ كُلَّ الغرائِبِ

and wherever Ibn Fath Allah sets forth in his praise

And wherever the son of Fathallah expressed in his praise

of your beautiful qualities every marvel.

Of your good traits all wonders.