مَنwho قالَsaid إنَّthat الدَّهرَtime ليسَdoes not يعودُreturn
مَن قالَ إنَّ الدَّهرَ ليسَ يعودُ
هذاthis زمانٌan age عادَhas returned وَهْوَwhile it is جَديدُnew
هذا زمانٌ عادَ وَهْوَ جَديدُ
Who said that time does not return?
Who said time does not return?
This is an age that has returned, yet is new.
This is a new time that has returned.
قدindeed عادَhas returned نابليونُNapoleon بعدَafter زوالهِhis passing
قد عادَ نابليونُ بعدَ زوالهِ
فكأنَّso it is as though ذلكَthat بَعْثُهُhis resurrection المَوعودُthe promised
فكأنَّ ذلكَ بَعْثُهُ المَوعودُ
Napoleon has returned after his passing,
Napoleon returned after his demise,
as though that were his promised resurrection.
As if it was his promised resurrection.
ياO مَنyou who يقولُsays لرِمَّةٍto decayed remains فيin لَحدِهِhis grave
يا مَن يقولُ لرِمَّةٍ في لَحدِهِ
إنَّindeed السَّعيدَthe fortunate one كماas عَلِمْتَyou have known سعيدُfortunate
إنَّ السَّعيدَ كما عَلِمْتَ سعيدُ
O you who say to decayed remains within his grave:
O you who say to dust in its grave,
'The fortunate one, as you know, is fortunate.'
"The fortunate one, as you knew, is fortunate."
هذاthis خليفتُهُhis successor الذيwho أحياrevived الوَرَىmankind
هذا خليفتُهُ الذي أحيا الوَرَى
أحياكِrevived you حتىuntil اخضَرَّgrew green منكِfrom you العُودُthe branch
أحياكِ حتى اخضَرَّ منكِ العُودُ
This is his successor, who has revived mankind;
This is his successor who revived the land,
he has revived you, till your branch grew green.
He revived you until the wood turned green from you.
ياO قائماًone standing فوقَabove العَمُودِthe column بشخصهِin his own person
يا قائماً فوقَ العَمُودِ بشخصهِ
عَلَماًas a landmark وأنتَand you علىon العَمُودِthe column عَمُودُa pillar
عَلَماً وأنتَ على العَمُودِ عَمُودُ
O you standing in person above the column,
O you standing on the column in your persona,
a landmark, and yourself a pillar upon the column!
A flag, while you are on the column, a pillar.
أبدَيتَyou revealed رسمَthe likeness of لويسَLouis فيin الدُّنياthe world كماjust as
أبدَيتَ رسمَ لويسَ في الدُّنيا كما
أبدىrevealed لكَfor you الاسكندرُAlexander المعهودُthe well-known
أبدى لكَ الاسكندرُ المعهودُ
You have revealed Louis's likeness in the world, just as
You manifested the image of Louis in the world, as
the well-known Alexander did for you.
Alexander the Great manifested it to you.
لاnot تُفقَدُis lost الدُّنياthe world لفَقْدِthrough the loss of عزيزِهاits cherished one
لا تُفقَدُ الدُّنيا لفَقْدِ عزيزِها
ماso long as دامَit continues يخلُفُsucceeds مَيْتهاits dead one المَولودُthe newborn
ما دامَ يخلُفُ مَيْتها المَولودُ
The world is not lost with the loss of its cherished one,
The world does not lose a beloved one
so long as the newborn succeeds its dead.
As long as its dead are replaced with newborns.
تتجدَّدُare renewed الأشخاصُthe individuals فيهاin it مثلماjust as
تتجدَّدُ الأشخاصُ فيها مثلما
يُفرَىis cut القضيبُthe branch فينبُتُso sprouts الأُملودُthe tender shoot
يُفرَى القضيبُ فينبُتُ الأُملودُ
Its people are renewed, just as
Personalities are renewed in it as
a branch is cut and a tender shoot sprouts.
The rod is rubbed and the fire rekindled.
ذَهَبَdeparted الذيhe who كانتwas بقَبْضةِin the grasp of كَفِهِhis hand الدْthe (beginning of 'the world')
ذَهَبَ الذي كانت بقَبْضةِ كَفِهِ الدْ
دُنياworld (word continued) وأشرَافُand the nobles of البلادِthe lands جنودُsoldiers
دُنيا وأشرَافُ البلادِ جنودُ
Gone is he within whose hand's grasp lay the
The one whose fist held the world is gone -
world, while the nobles of the lands were soldiers.
The lands and armies were his soldiers.
إرثُthe legacy of العبادِmen المالُwealth لكنْbut إرثُهُhis legacy
إرثُ العبادِ المالُ لكنْ إرثُهُ
تاجٌa crown وسيفٌand a sword قاطِعٌsharp وبُنُودُand banners
تاجٌ وسيفٌ قاطِعٌ وبُنُودُ
Men's legacy is wealth, but his legacy is
The inheritance of servants is wealth, but his inheritance
a crown, a sharp sword, and banners.
Is a crown, a cutting sword, and spears.
قدindeed نالَhas attained تاجَthe crown of المُلكِkingship منone who هوhe أهلُهُworthy of it
قد نالَ تاجَ المُلكِ من هو أهلُهُ
شَرْعاًlawfully وكلُّand all العالمينَmankind شُهودُwitnesses
شَرْعاً وكلُّ العالمينَ شُهودُ
He who is worthy of it has attained the crown of kingship,
He who deserves the crown of kingship attained it,
lawfully, with all mankind as witnesses.
Lawfully, with all people witnessing.
وأقامَand took his place فيin بُرجِthe tower of الخِلافةِsuccession كوكباًas a star
وأقامَ في بُرجِ الخِلافةِ كوكباً
بضيائهِby his radiance انجَلَتِwere dispelled اللَّياليthe nights السُّودُblack
بضيائهِ انجَلَتِ اللَّيالي السُّودُ
And he took his place, a star in the tower of succession,
In the tower of the caliphate he shone like a star,
by whose radiance the black nights were dispelled.
With his glow the dark nights gleamed.
راعتْawed شَجاعتُهُhis courage الكُماةَthe armored champions فماso did not دَرَواthey knew
راعتْ شَجاعتُهُ الكُماةَ فما دَرَوا
أفُؤادُهُis his heart أقسَىharder أمِor الجُلمودُthe boulder
أفُؤادُهُ أقسَى أمِ الجُلمودُ
His courage awed the armored champions, so they could not tell
His courage stunned the bold ones, so they did not sense
whether his heart was harder, or the boulder.
If his heart was harder than granite.
غَلَبَتْovercame عزيمتُهُhis resolve العَزائِمَthe resolves مثلماjust as
غَلَبَتْ عزيمتُهُ العَزائِمَ مثلما
غَلَبَsurpassed الطَّوالعَthe ascendant stars نجمُهُhis star المَسعودُauspicious
غَلَبَ الطَّوالعَ نجمُهُ المَسعودُ
His resolve overcame all resolves, just as
His determination overcame determinations, as
his auspicious star surpassed the ascendant stars.
His auspicious star overcame the stars.
أهدَاهُbestowed on him حِكمتَهُhis wisdom سليمانُSolomon الحِجَىwisdom
أهدَاهُ حِكمتَهُ سليمانُ الحِجَى
وحَباهُand granted him صفوَthe purity of فؤادِهِhis heart داودُDavid
وحَباهُ صفوَ فؤادِهِ داودُ
Wise Solomon bestowed his wisdom on him,
Solomon gifted him wisdom,
and David granted him his heart's purity.
And David endowed him the essence of his heart.
قامتْattended بمصلَحةِto the welfare of البلادِthe lands يمينهُhis right hand
قامتْ بمصلَحةِ البلادِ يمينهُ
وهيand it is التِّيthe one that منهاfrom it يفيضُoverflows الجودُbounty
وهي التِّي منها يفيضُ الجودُ
His right hand attended to the welfare of the lands,
His right hand stood for the betterment of the country,
and from that hand bounty overflows.
From which generosity overflows.
كالبحرِlike the sea قدindeed صَلُحَwas remedied الفسادُcorruption بمِلحِهِby its salt
كالبحرِ قد صَلُحَ الفسادُ بمِلحِهِ
واُصطِيدَand was fished منهُfrom it اللؤلؤُpearls المنضودُstrung in rows
واُصطِيدَ منهُ اللؤلؤُ المنضودُ
Like the sea, whose salt has remedied corruption,
Like the sea, corruption was cured with its salt,
and from which strung pearls are fished.
And the hidden pearls were fished from it.
قُطْبٌan axis عليهِaround him الأرضُthe earth دائرةٌrevolving كماas
قُطْبٌ عليهِ الأرضُ دائرةٌ كما
يختارُhe chooses فَهْيَso it تدورُrevolves كيفَhowever يُريدُhe wishes
يختارُ فَهْيَ تدورُ كيفَ يُريدُ
An axis about which the earth revolves, as
A pole around which the earth spins, as
he chooses: it turns however he wishes.
The millstone spins however he wants.
فَضَّاضُa solver of مُشكلةِthe perplexity of الملوكِkings برأيهِthrough his judgment
فَضَّاضُ مُشكلةِ الملوكِ برأيهِ
وبهِand through him يُحَلُّis resolved عسيرُهاits difficult part المعقودُknotted
وبهِ يُحَلُّ عسيرُها المعقودُ
A solver of kings' perplexities through his judgment,
The solver of the kings’ problems with his opinion,
and through him their tangled difficulties are resolved.
Through him the stubborn get untied.
جَبَلٌa mountain علىover باريسَParis قامَrose فأطبَقتْso closed ranks
جَبَلٌ على باريسَ قامَ فأطبَقتْ
فيon جانبيهِhis two flanks منamong الرِّجالِmen أُسودُlions
في جانبيهِ من الرِّجالِ أُسودُ
A mountain rising over Paris, encircled
A mountain over Paris stood so its sides
on both flanks by lions among men.
Were crowded with lions.
يُجنَىis gathered جَناهُhis fruit ويُستَظَلُّand shelter is sought بِظِلِّهِin his shade
يُجنَى جَناهُ ويُستَظَلُّ بِظِلِّهِ
أبداًforever ولكنbut ماthere is no إليهِto him صُعودُascent
أبداً ولكن ما إليهِ صُعودُ
His fruit is gathered, and shelter is sought in his shade
Its shade is enjoyed and its fruits are picked,
forever, yet there is no ascent to him.
But ascending it is never possible.
مَلِكٌa king أذَلَّhumbled المالَwealth وهوَthough it is جَواهرٌjewels
مَلِكٌ أذَلَّ المالَ وهوَ جَواهرٌ
وأعزَّand exalted نصلَthe blade of السَّيفِthe sword وهوthough it is حديدُiron
وأعزَّ نصلَ السَّيفِ وهو حديدُ
A king who humbled wealth, though it consists of jewels,
A king who humiliated wealth though it is gems,
and exalted the sword's blade, though it is iron.
And honored the sword though it is iron.
بَسْطٌgiving freely وقبضٌand withholding فيin يديهِhis two hands فيُرتَجَىso is hoped for
بَسْطٌ وقبضٌ في يديهِ فيُرتَجَى
وعدٌa promise لهُof his ويُخافُand is feared منهُfrom him وَعِيدُa threat
وعدٌ لهُ ويُخافُ منهُ وَعِيدُ
Giving and withholding lie in his hands, so one hopes for
In his hands are expansion and restraint, so he is hoped for
his promise, and fears his threat.
And feared, promised and warned.
دانَتْsubmitted لِهَيْبتهِto his majesty كتائبُthe battalions of دولةٍa realm
دانَتْ لِهَيْبتهِ كتائبُ دولةٍ
دانتْsubmitted لهيبتِهاto its majesty المُلوكُthe kings الصيِّدُproud
دانتْ لهيبتِها المُلوكُ الصيِّدُ
The battalions of a realm submitted to his majesty,
The regiments of a state bowed to his awe,
a realm to whose majesty proud kings submitted.
Kings bowed to his awesomeness.
قومٌa people إذاwhen تَركَleave الغُمودَthe scabbards نِصالُهمtheir blades
قومٌ إذا تَركَ الغُمودَ نِصالُهم
فكأنَّso it is as though أسيافَthe swords of العُدَاةِthe enemies غُمودُscabbards
فكأنَّ أسيافَ العُدَاةِ غُمودُ
A people whose blades, when they leave their scabbards,
A people, when the blades leave their sheaths,
make the enemies' swords seem like scabbards.
As if the enemy swords are in their sheaths.
يغزوassails القبائلَthe tribes ذكرُهمtheir renown قبلَbefore اللِّقاthe encounter
يغزو القبائلَ ذكرُهم قبلَ اللِّقا
فيَفُلُّand so blunts عَزْمَthe resolve of الجيشِthe army وَهْوَwhile it is بعيدُfar away
فيَفُلُّ عَزْمَ الجيشِ وَهْوَ بعيدُ
Their renown assails the tribes before the encounter,
The mention of them invades the tribes before the encounter,
and so blunts the army's resolve while it is far away.
So the enemy’s resolve dissolves while still far.
وإذاand when همُthey اعتَنقواgrappled with الكُماةَthe armored champions تَلاحَمواlocked together
وإذا همُ اعتَنقوا الكُماةَ تَلاحَموا
مثلَlike الحُروفِletters يضُمُّهاjoins them التَّشديدُthe doubling mark
مثلَ الحُروفِ يضُمُّها التَّشديدُ
And when they grapple with armored champions, they lock together
And when they cling to the bold ones they unite
like letters joined by the mark of doubling.
Like letters joined by sharkadation.
هُوَhe قَيْصرُthe Caesar of العَصْرِthe age الذيwho منfrom دونِهِbelow him
هُوَ قَيْصرُ العَصْرِ الذي من دونِهِ
كِسرَىKhosrow الذيwho ضاقتْbecame too narrow عليهِfor him البيدُthe deserts
كِسرَى الذي ضاقتْ عليهِ البيدُ
He is the Caesar of the age, beneath whom is
He is Caesar of the time without whom
Khosrow, for whom the deserts became too narrow.
There would be distress like with Kisra.
لسعودِهِfor his good fortune الفَلَكُthe celestial sphere المُسخَّرُmade subservient خادِمٌa servant
لسعودِهِ الفَلَكُ المُسخَّرُ خادِمٌ
ولَوجْههِand of his face القَمَرُthe moon المنيرُluminous حَسودُenvious
ولَوجْههِ القَمَرُ المنيرُ حَسودُ
The subservient celestial sphere serves his good fortune,
For his good fortune the orbits are subservient,
and the luminous moon envies his face.
And for his luminous face the shining moon envious.
ملِكٌa king لدولتهِfor his realm العظيمةِmighty هيبةٌmajesty
ملِكٌ لدولتهِ العظيمةِ هيبةٌ
تهتزُّtrembles منهاbecause of it الأرضُthe earth وهيَwhile it تَميدُsways
تهتزُّ منها الأرضُ وهيَ تَميدُ
A king whose mighty realm inspires an awe
A king whose great kingdom has such awe
at which the earth trembles and sways.
That the earth quakes from it as it sways.
فيin الغربِthe West طالعةٌrising سحائبُthe clouds of جيشهاits army
في الغربِ طالعةٌ سحائبُ جيشها
ولهاand it has بروقٌlightning flashes عندَناhere with us ورُعودُand thunderclaps
ولها بروقٌ عندَنا ورُعودُ
In the West the clouds of its army are rising,
In the west are the clouds of his armies,
and here among us are its lightning flashes and thunder.
For them by us lightning and thunder.
حَمَلتْbore رُبَىthe hills of لبنانَLebanon منهاfrom it مِنَّةًa boon
حَمَلتْ رُبَى لبنانَ منها مِنَّةً
مِثْلَlike الجِبالِmountains علىupon الجِبالِmountains تزيدُgrows
مِثْلَ الجِبالِ على الجِبالِ تزيدُ
The hills of Lebanon have borne from it a boon
They carried the saplings of Lebanon as a favour,
like mountains piled upon mountains, ever growing.
Like mountains over mountains they increase.
سالتflowed بنعمتِهاwith its bounty البِطاحُthe plains فأخصَبَتْso they grew fertile
سالت بنعمتِها البِطاحُ فأخصَبَتْ
وجرَىand flowed عليهاover them ظِلُّهاits shade المَمْدودُoutstretched
وجرَى عليها ظِلُّها المَمْدودُ
The plains flowed with its bounty and grew fertile,
The plains flowed with their bounty and became fertile,
and its outstretched shade flowed over them.
And their extended shade streamed over them.
حياgreeted الصَّباthe east breeze أزْهارَهاits flowers فتبسَّمتْso they smiled
حيا الصَّبا أزْهارَها فتبسَّمتْ
ومنand of النَّدَىdew فيaround جِيدهِنَّtheir necks عُقودُnecklaces
ومن النَّدَى في جِيدهِنَّ عُقودُ
The east breeze greeted its flowers, and they smiled,
The morning breeze revived their flowers, so they smiled,
and necklaces of dew lay about their necks.
With necklaces of dew on their cheeks.
رَقَصتْdanced حمائمُهاits doves وصَفَّقَand clapped دَوْحُهاits spreading trees
رَقَصتْ حمائمُها وصَفَّقَ دَوْحُها
فأجابَهُنَّso answered them منfrom الهَزَازِthe swaying نشيدُa song
فأجابَهُنَّ من الهَزَازِ نشيدُ
Its doves danced, and its spreading trees clapped,
Their doves danced and their mounts stomped,
and from the swaying boughs a song answered them.
Answered by the warblers with a song.
هذاthis هُوَhe المَلِكُthe king السَّعيدُfortunate وإنَّناand indeed we
هذا هُوَ المَلِكُ السَّعيدُ وإنَّنا
نِلناhave attained السَّعادةَhappiness حيثsince نَحنُwe عبيدُslaves
نِلنا السَّعادةَ حيث نَحنُ عبيدُ
This is the fortunate king, and we
This is the fortunate king, and we
have attained happiness, for we are his slaves.
Have attained fortune being his servants.
للنَّاسِfor the people منهُfrom him كلَّevery يومٍday بَهجةٌdelight
للنَّاسِ منهُ كلَّ يومٍ بَهجةٌ
فيin المَكرُماتِgenerous deeds فكلَّso every يومٍday عيدُa festival
في المَكرُماتِ فكلَّ يومٍ عيدُ
For people, each day brings delight from him
From him for the people everyday is delight
through acts of generosity; so every day is a festival.
With gifts, so everyday is celebration.
Sol 6.1