ليهنmay ... gladden ورقdoves الحِمىthe sanctuary فيin الأَيكthe grove تَغريدsinging
ليهن ورق الحِمى في الأَيك تَغريد
فَحَبَّذاso how lovely مِنfrom أَماليهاtheir dictations الأَناشيدُthe songs
فَحَبَّذا مِن أَماليها الأَناشيدُ
May singing gladden the sanctuary's doves in the grove.
Why does the foliage of the fever-trees twitter in the groves?
How lovely are the songs they dictate!
How excellent are their melodious songs!
صَفاgrew serene لَناfor us مِنamong أويقاتfleeting moments of الصَفاserenity زَمَنٌa time
صَفا لَنا مِن أويقات الصَفا زَمَنٌ
وَلِلحَسودand for the envious بِهاin them غَمٌّgrief وَتَنكيدُand vexation
وَلِلحَسود بِها غَمٌّ وَتَنكيدُ
A time has grown serene for us amid serenity's fleeting moments,
A time of pure joy has dawned for us,
while the envious find in them grief and vexation.
While it brings grief and vexation to the envious.
تِلكَthose اللَياليnights لَناfor us بيضwhite مَعاهدهاtheir familiar haunts
تِلكَ اللَيالي لَنا بيض مَعاهدها
خضرٌgreen عَلىdespite أَنّthe fact that أَيّامthe days of العدىthe enemies سودُblack
خضرٌ عَلى أَنّ أَيّام العدى سودُ
Those nights are white for us; their familiar haunts
Those nights are ours, their covenants white,
are green, though our enemies' days are black.
Though the days of enmity are black.
ماnever جمّعتthey gathered شَملthe company of أَفراحjoys لَدىamong مَلأan assembly
ما جمّعت شَمل أَفراح لَدى مَلأ
إِلّاexcept وَحَلَّand befell بِحزبupon the host of الهَمّsorrow تَبديدُdispersion
إِلّا وَحَلَّ بِحزب الهَمّ تَبديدُ
Never did they gather the company of joys in an assembly
No joy has gathered people together,
without scattering descending upon sorrow's host.
Without the party of sorrow quickly scattering them.
حَيثwhere الهَناhappiness تَتَهاداناcome gently to us بشائرهُits glad tidings
حَيث الهَنا تَتَهادانا بشائرهُ
بشراًcheer وَيبذلand is expended بِالأَفراحon rejoicing مَجهودُutmost effort
بشراً وَيبذل بِالأَفراح مَجهودُ
Where joy's glad tidings come gently to us,
Whenever we are delighted by good news,
bringing cheer, and utmost effort is spent on rejoicing.
Happiness makes an effort to bestow glad tidings.
فَقُمso rise بِناwith us نَجتَليlet us behold كَأسthe cup of السُرورjoy إِلىuntil
فَقُم بِنا نَجتَلي كَأس السُرور إِلى
مَتىwhen وَحتّامَand until when لاnot توفىare fulfilled المَواعيدُthe promises
مَتى وَحتّامَ لا توفى المَواعيدُ
So rise with us: let us behold the cup of joy—until
So let us rise and drink the cup of joy,
when, and how long, will promises remain unfulfilled?
Before the deadlines pass, unfulfilled.
أَماdo you not تَرىsee الزَهرthe blossoms كَالزُهرlike the radiant النُجومstars بَداappeared
أَما تَرى الزَهر كَالزُهر النُجوم بَدا
تَخالهyou imagine it عقدَa necklace of دُرٍّpearls وَهوَwhile it is مَنضودُneatly strung
تَخاله عقدَ دُرٍّ وَهوَ مَنضودُ
Do you not see the blossoms appear like the radiant stars?
Do you not see the flowers like shining stars appearing,
You would take them for a necklace of pearls, neatly strung.
You would think them a necklace of pearls, well-strung?
كَأَنَّهُas though it were حينَwhen حَيّاهgreeted it الحَياthe rain سحراًbefore dawn
كَأَنَّهُ حينَ حَيّاه الحَيا سحراً
خودٌa tender maiden بِهاin her لِلحَياfrom modesty فيin الخَدّthe cheek تَوريدُa rosy flush
خودٌ بِها لِلحَيا في الخَدّ تَوريدُ
As though, when the rain greeted them before dawn,
As if, when the living one gave it life through magic,
they were a tender maiden whose cheek modesty made rosy.
Bashfulness tinged its cheek with a blush.
أَماdo you not تَرىsee عَذباتthe branch-tips of البانthe ban trees مائِسَةًswaying gracefully
أَما تَرى عَذبات البان مائِسَةً
كَأَنَّهنas though they were الجَواريthe maidens الكُنّسُwithdrawn into seclusion الغيدُgraceful and supple
كَأَنَّهن الجَواري الكُنّسُ الغيدُ
Do you not see the tips of the ban trees swaying,
Do you not see the gentle, slender maidens
as though they were graceful maidens withdrawn into seclusion?
Looking like the tidy, resting slave-girls?
قَدindeed أَعربmade eloquent اللحنَthe melody صَوتthe voice of العَندليبthe nightingale بِهاamong them
قَد أَعرب اللحنَ صَوت العَندليب بِها
فَوصفهso describing it لِبيانto clarify الفرقthe distinction تَأكيدُconfirmation
فَوصفه لِبيان الفرق تَأكيدُ
The nightingale's voice has made the melody eloquent among them;
The melody has translated the song of the nightingale,
so describing it confirms the distinction.
Describing it clearly, to remove any doubt.
فَاِطربso rejoice فَقَدfor indeed جاءَit came بِالبُشرىwith glad news فَصاحَthen cried ألاbehold
فَاِطرب فَقَد جاءَ بِالبُشرى فَصاحَ ألا
لرتبةِfor the station of المجدِglory إعلاءٌexaltation وتَشييدُand firm establishment
لرتبةِ المجدِ إعلاءٌ وتَشييدُ
So rejoice: it has brought glad news and cried, “Behold,
So rejoice! For it has brought good news, crying:
the station of glory is exalted and made firm!”
“Rise! Rise to the highest rank and position!”
عنيتI meant رُتبةthe station of مَنhim who تعلوrise بِهِthrough him الرُتبthe ranks الthe
عنيت رُتبة مَن تعلو بِهِ الرُتب ال
عُلىlofty وَتَعنوand bow لَهُto him الصيدُthe proud nobles الصناديدُthe mighty chiefs
عُلى وَتَعنو لَهُ الصيدُ الصناديدُ
I mean the station of him through whom the ranks rise—the
I mean the rank of the one whose ranks are above all ranks,
lofty ones—and before whom proud, mighty chiefs bow.
While he is assisted by mighty warriors and hunters of prey.
الصالحSalih (the righteous) الوامقWamiq (the loving) المَعروفthe renowned منwho صَلُحتflourished
الصالح الوامق المَعروف من صَلُحت
بِهِthrough him المَعاليexalted virtues وَماand no فيin القَولthe statement تَرديدُwavering
بِهِ المَعالي وَما في القَول تَرديدُ
Salih Wamiq, the renowned, through whom flourish
The righteous, eminent, well-known man, through whom
exalted virtues; there is no wavering in these words.
Glories have been set right, without any doubt.
سمتrose بِهِthrough him الرُتبةthe station العلياexalted الَّتيwhich اِفتخرتtook pride
سمت بِهِ الرُتبة العليا الَّتي اِفتخرت
بِهاin it عَلىabove النيّرِthe luminary الأَعلىhighest الأَماجيدُthe illustrious
بِها عَلى النيّرِ الأَعلى الأَماجيدُ
Through him rose the exalted rank in which took pride
It has named the supreme rank, of which I boast,
the illustrious, above the highest luminary.
Above all other high and lofty ranks.
فيin الحَزمprudence وَالعَزمand resolve مِنfrom رَأيٍjudgment وَمِنand from هِمَمٍhigh aims
في الحَزم وَالعَزم مِن رَأيٍ وَمِن هِمَمٍ
لَهُhe has مَعalongside الحلمforbearance تَشديدfirmness وَتَسديدُand sound direction
لَهُ مَع الحلم تَشديد وَتَسديدُ
In prudence and resolve, born of judgment and high aims,
In resolve and determination, in opinion and ambition,
he joins forbearance with firmness and sound direction.
He combines gentleness with firmness and direction.
تَعدّدتhave multiplied فَهيَso they لاnot تُحصىare counted مَناقبهُhis virtues
تَعدّدت فَهيَ لا تُحصى مَناقبهُ
وَهَلand do تظنّyou suppose بِأَنّthat النجمthe stars مَعدودُcounted
وَهَل تظنّ بِأَنّ النجم مَعدودُ
His virtues have multiplied beyond counting;
His virtues are manifold, they cannot be counted,
and do you suppose the stars can be counted?
Can one assume the stars are limited in number?
فَاِرويso recount أَحاديثaccounts of آلاءٍbenefactions مُسلسلةٍlinked in succession
فَاِروي أَحاديث آلاءٍ مُسلسلةٍ
عَنهُabout him فَقَدfor indeed رَجحتcarried weight مِنهاfrom them الأَسانيدُthe chains of transmission
عَنهُ فَقَد رَجحت مِنها الأَسانيدُ
So narrate accounts of benefactions in an unbroken chain
So narrate the chronicles of his endless favours,
about him, for their chains of transmission carry weight.
For their supporting chains are well-authenticated.
فَالعَدلfor justice مُتَّصلconnected وَالظُلمand oppression مُنفَصلdisconnected
فَالعَدل مُتَّصل وَالظُلم مُنفَصل
وَالحَقّand truth وَالبطلُand falsehood مَقبولaccepted وَمَردودُand rejected
وَالحَقّ وَالبطلُ مَقبول وَمَردودُ
For justice is connected, and oppression disconnected;
Justice continues while injustice ceases,
and truth is accepted, while falsehood is rejected.
Truth and falsehood are accepted and rejected.
كَذاlikewise الثَناءpraise عَلَيهِof him وَالدعاءand prayers لَهُfor him
كَذا الثَناء عَلَيهِ وَالدعاء لَهُ
فيamong الناسpeople سيّانalike مَقصورshortened وَمَمدودُand extended
في الناس سيّان مَقصور وَمَمدودُ
Likewise praise of him and prayers for him
So, too, praise and prayer for him
are alike among people, in brief or extended form.
Among the people continue, restricted and unrestricted.
قَيّدتI tethered شاردthe wanderer of فِكريmy thought بِالمَديحwith praise لَهُfor him
قَيّدت شارد فِكري بِالمَديح لَهُ
وَهَلand can عَلىupon شارِدٍa wanderer ياO صاحfriend تَقييدُtethering
وَهَل عَلى شارِدٍ يا صاح تَقييدُ
I tethered my wandering thought with praise of him;
I have fettered my wandering thoughts by praising him,
yet can a wanderer be tethered, my friend?
But can the thoughts of one who wanders, O friend, be fettered?
أَزينI adorn عقدthe necklace of نِظاميmy verse فيin مَدائحهِpraises of him
أَزين عقد نِظامي في مَدائحهِ
وَرُبَّماand sometimes زانَadorned عقدthe necklace of الغادةthe maiden الجيدُthe neck
وَرُبَّما زانَ عقد الغادة الجيدُ
I adorn the necklace of my verse in praising him,
I have adorned the thread of my poem with his praises,
and sometimes it is the maiden's neck that adorns the necklace.
And perhaps it has decorated the necklace of poetry.
قلّدتُI hung as a necklace جيدthe neck of مَعاليهhis noble qualities جَواهرهits jewels
قلّدتُ جيد مَعاليه جَواهره
دُرّاًpearls يَتيماًpeerless لَهُfor him فيon العنقthe neck تَقليدُa neck-adornment
دُرّاً يَتيماً لَهُ في العنق تَقليدُ
I hung its jewels upon the neck of his noble qualities:
I have likened the jewels of his glories to a unique pearl,
peerless pearls, a necklace for him to wear.
Hanging solitary round his neck by way of similitude.
مَوّهتI gilded بابthe door of الرَجاhope مِنهُfrom him بتبرِwith the gold of ثناpraise
مَوّهت باب الرَجا مِنهُ بتبرِ ثنا
وَهَلand is there عَلىat بابthe door of أَهلthe people of الفَضلgenerosity تَحديدُa restriction
وَهَل عَلى باب أَهل الفَضل تَحديدُ
I gilded the door of hope in him with the gold of praise;
I have concealed my hope for favours from him
yet can any limit be set at the door of the gracious?
With praise, but can giving be limited at the door of the noble?
يَجلوpolishes away صَداthe rust of القَلبthe heart وردٌa draught مِنfrom مَناهلهِhis springs
يَجلو صَدا القَلب وردٌ مِن مَناهلهِ
وَالمَنهلand the watering place العَذبsweet للصادينfor the thirsty مَورودُfrequented
وَالمَنهل العَذب للصادين مَورودُ
A draught from his springs polishes the rust from the heart,
The coolness of his springs clears the heat of the heart,
and the thirsty seek the sweet watering place.
And the sweet spring is free-flowing for the thirsty.
لاno بدعwonder لَوif تحسدenvy الأَنواءُthe rain-bearing stars نائِلَهُhis bounty
لا بدع لَو تحسد الأَنواءُ نائِلَهُ
فَكُلُّfor every ذيpossessor of نعمةa blessing فيamong الخَلقmankind مَحسودُis envied
فَكُلُّ ذي نعمة في الخَلق مَحسودُ
It is no wonder if the rain-bearing stars envy his bounty,
It would be no wonder if the stars envy its drinkers,
for every blessed person among mankind is envied.
For every possessor of blessings is envied among creation.
لِلّهto God خَلقٌa form بَديعwondrous زانَهُadorned it خُلقٌcharacter
لِلّه خَلقٌ بَديع زانَهُ خُلقٌ
مكرَّمheld in honor فَهوَso he is مَمدوحpraised وَمَحمودُand commended
مكرَّم فَهوَ مَمدوح وَمَحمودُ
God be praised for a wondrous form adorned by character
God created a wondrous being, honoured by good character,
held in honor; he is praised and commended.
So he is praised and lauded and thanked.
وَطالعand a rising star فَوقabove فرقthe crown of الفرقدينthe two Farqad stars لَهُfor him
وَطالع فَوق فرق الفرقدين لَهُ
أَنارshone فَهوَso he is بِحَمدwith praise to اللَهِGod مَسعودُfortunate
أَنار فَهوَ بِحَمد اللَهِ مَسعودُ
And his rising star, above the crown of the two Farqad stars,
He rose above the Pleiades, and for him
has shone; thus, praise be to God, he is fortunate.
The star of good fortune shone, by God’s praise, auspiciously.
فرعa branch ذكاflourished أَصلهits root عزّاًin honor وَمُنتَسباand in lineage
فرع ذكا أَصله عزّاً وَمُنتَسبا
فَماso no لِقامةin the stature of غُصنthe bough of المَجدglory تَأويدُbending
فَما لِقامة غُصن المَجد تَأويدُ
A branch whose root flourished in honor and lineage,
A branch of sharp wit, whose origin is glory and nobility,
so the stature of glory's bough admits no bending.
So how can the stature of a branch of majesty be propped up?
أَعلىraised اِنتظامthe ordering of العُلىeminence أحكامthe judgments of حكمتهhis wisdom
أَعلى اِنتظام العُلى أحكام حكمته
وَزانand adorned عقدthe necklace of طُلىthe necks of الأَحكامthe rulings تَنضيدُorderly arrangement
وَزان عقد طُلى الأَحكام تَنضيدُ
The judgments of his wisdom exalted the ordered ranks of eminence,
The perfection of his wisdom is the utmost coherence of the lofty,
and orderly array adorned the necklace on the necks of rulings.
The necklace of his judgments is of the finest threading.
رَأيٌcounsel تَعوَّدَis accustomed to حلَّunraveling المُشكلاتdifficulties كَماjust as
رَأيٌ تَعوَّدَ حلَّ المُشكلات كَما
عَلىupon عُلاهhis eminence لِواءُthe banner of العزّhonor مَعقودُfastened
عَلى عُلاه لِواءُ العزّ مَعقودُ
Counsel accustomed to unraveling difficulties, just as
An opinion accustomed to solving problems
the banner of honor is fastened upon his heights.
As the banner of glory over his mind is fastened.
أَعلتraised بِهِthrough him الدَولةthe state العلياexalted مَراتبهhis ranks
أَعلت بِهِ الدَولة العليا مَراتبه
لِماbecause of what لَهُhe has مِنof بَديعremarkable الصدقsincerity مَعهودُis known
لِما لَهُ مِن بَديع الصدق مَعهودُ
The exalted state has elevated him in rank,
The Supreme State elevated his ranks,
because of the remarkable sincerity he is known to possess.
Because he is known for his wonderful sincerity.
فَزادهso may He increase him اللَهُGod إِسعاداًin good fortune وَتكرمةand honor
فَزاده اللَهُ إِسعاداً وَتكرمة
وَزانand may ... adorn إِسعادهhis good fortune بالعزّwith honor تَخليدُperpetuity
وَزان إِسعاده بالعزّ تَخليدُ
So may God increase his good fortune and honor,
So may God increase his good fortune and honour,
and may enduring honor adorn his good fortune,
And may his good fortune be adorned with glory and eternity!
حَتّىso that نَنالwe attain بِهِthrough him خلعthe casting off of العَناhardship بِهناin happiness
حَتّى نَنال بِهِ خلع العَنا بِهنا
إِلىto قَديمthe old التَهانيcongratulations فيهِconcerning him تَجديدُrenewal
إِلى قَديم التَهاني فيهِ تَجديدُ
so that through him we may cast off hardship in happiness,
That we may gain, through him, the robe of favour,
with renewed congratulations for him added to the old.
With, in it, renewal of ancient congratulations.
وَأيّدَand may ... strengthen اللَهُGod سُلطانthe sovereign of الوَرىmankind لِنَرىso that we may see
وَأيّدَ اللَهُ سُلطان الوَرى لِنَرى
بِهِthrough him لعزمةfor the resolve of هذاthis الدينthe faith تَأييدُsupport
بِهِ لعزمة هذا الدين تَأييدُ
And may God strengthen the sovereign of mankind, that we may see
And may God support the Sultan of mankind, that we may see,
through him the resolve of this faith upheld.
Through him, aid for the pillar of this religion.
وَدامand may he endure بِالعزِّin might وَالتَوفيقand success فيin شَرَفٍhonor
وَدام بِالعزِّ وَالتَوفيق في شَرَفٍ
لَهُfor him بِأَوجat the summit of تَراقيthe ascent of السَعدِgood fortune تَأبيدُperpetuity
لَهُ بِأَوج تَراقي السَعدِ تَأبيدُ
And may he endure in might, success, and honor,
And may he continue in glory and success, in nobility
forever at the summit of fortune's ascent.
For which, at the peak of rising fortunes, is permanence.
عَلىthroughout المَدىall time ماas long as تَغنّىsang فَوقabove غُصنa branch نَقاa sand dune
عَلى المَدى ما تَغنّى فَوق غُصن نَقا
مِنamong الحَمائمthe doves صدّاحa ringing singer وَغَرّيدُand a melodious warbler
مِن الحَمائم صدّاح وَغَرّيدُ
For all time, while above a branch on a dune there sing
For as long as the ring-doves coo above the branches,
ringing singers and warblers among the doves;
Or the morning breeze of youth reminds
أَوor ماas long as نَسيمُthe breeze of صباthe east wind الأسحارthe predawn hours ذكّرهُreminded him
أَو ما نَسيمُ صبا الأسحار ذكّرهُ
إِلفاًa beloved فحنَّso yearned فوادa heart مِنهُof his مَفؤودُstricken
إِلفاً فحنَّ فواد مِنهُ مَفؤودُ
or while the predawn east-wind breeze reminds him
A heart that pines, and so increases its longing,
of a beloved, and his stricken heart yearns;
Or the caller to congratulations sings his song:
أَوor قامarose داعيthe herald of التَهانيcongratulations وَهوَwhile he يُنشدهُrecites to him
أَو قام داعي التَهاني وَهوَ يُنشدهُ
ليهنmay ... gladden ورقَdoves الحِمىthe sanctuary فيin الأيكthe grove تَغريدُsinging
ليهن ورقَ الحِمى في الأيك تَغريدُ
or a herald of congratulations rises, reciting to him:
“Why does the foliage of the fever-trees twitter in the groves?
“May singing gladden the sanctuary's doves in the grove.”
How excellent are their melodious songs!”
Sol 6.1