صَرفُunmixed المُدامِthe wine بِهِthrough it السُرورُjoy مُخَصَّصُspecially allotted
صَرفُ المُدامِ بِهِ السُرورُ مُخَصَّصُ
وَبِهِand through it الهُمومُcares عَنِfrom القُلوبِhearts تُمَحَّصُare purged
وَبِهِ الهُمومُ عَنِ القُلوبِ تُمَحَّصُ
Pure wine—to it alone is joy assigned;
Joy is reserved for unmixed wine,
and by it cares are purged from hearts.
And through it, cares are purged from hearts.
صَرِّفdrive away بِهاwith it عَنكَfrom you الهُمومَcares لِتَغتَديso they may become
صَرِّف بِها عَنكَ الهُمومَ لِتَغتَدي
فِرقاًscattered bands إِذاwhen تُملاare filled الكُؤوسُthe cups النُقَّصُpartly empty
فِرقاً إِذا تُملا الكُؤوسُ النُقَّصُ
With it, turn your cares away, so that they become
Drive cares from yourself with it, so that they become
scattered whenever the little cups are filled.
Scattered bands when the partly empty cups are filled.
صَهباءُtawny wine قَدindeed راضَtamed المَزاجُdilution مِزاجَهاits temper
صَهباءُ قَد راضَ المَزاجُ مِزاجَها
فَغَدَتso it became تُقَهقِهُlaughs aloud وَالفَواقِعُand the bubbles تَرقُصُdance
فَغَدَت تُقَهقِهُ وَالفَواقِعُ تَرقُصُ
A tawny wine whose temper blending disciplined;
Tawny wine, whose temper dilution has tamed,
then it went off laughing as the bubbles danced.
So it began to laugh aloud, while the bubbles danced.
صاغَfashioned المِزاجُdilution لَهاfor it فَواقِعَbubbles of فِضَّةٍsilver
صاغَ المِزاجُ لَها فَواقِعَ فِضَّةٍ
مِثلَlike اللَآليpearls وَهيَwhile it is تِبرٌunworked gold مُخلَصُrefined
مِثلَ اللَآلي وَهيَ تِبرٌ مُخلَصُ
Blending fashioned silver bubbles for it,
Dilution fashioned silver bubbles for it,
like pearls, though it itself is pure, refined gold.
Like pearls, while it is pure gold.
صَدَّheld back التُقىpiety قَوماًsome people فَأَبدَواso they displayed زُهدَهُمtheir abstinence
صَدَّ التُقى قَوماً فَأَبدَوا زُهدَهُم
فيهاconcerning it وَماذاand what ضَرَّهُمharmed them لَوif رَخَّصواthey were lenient
فيها وَماذا ضَرَّهُم لَو رَخَّصوا
Piety restrained some people, and they displayed their abstinence
Piety held some people back, and they showed their abstinence
from it—but what harm, had they granted themselves license?
From it; what harm would it do them if they were lenient?
صامواthey fasted وَفِطرُهُمُand their fast-breaking عَلىwith مَفسودِهاits spoiled form
صاموا وَفِطرُهُمُ عَلى مَفسودِها
جَهلٌignorance فَهَلّاso why not اِستُخلِصواthey purified ماwhat اِستَخلَصواthey extracted
جَهلٌ فَهَلّا اِستُخلِصوا ما اِستَخلَصوا
They fasted—yet to break their fast on its corrupted portion
They fasted, yet their breaking the fast with its spoiled form
is ignorance; why did they not purify what they had extracted?
Is ignorance—why not purify what they extracted?
صَفَتِbecame pure المَدامَةُthe wine وَالسُقاةُand the cupbearers فَتارَةًso at times
صَفَتِ المَدامَةُ وَالسُقاةُ فَتارَةً
تُزَجىare passed around الكُؤوسُthe cups وَتارَةًand at times تَتَرَبَّصُthey wait
تُزَجى الكُؤوسُ وَتارَةً تَتَرَبَّصُ
The wine grew clear; the cupbearers, now,
The wine and the cupbearers are pure; at times
circulate the cups, and now hold back.
The cups are passed around, and at times they wait.
صَعُبَتgrew unruly فَحَكَّمناso we put in charge السُقاةَthe cupbearers بِمَزجِهاin mixing it
صَعُبَت فَحَكَّمنا السُقاةَ بِمَزجِها
فَغَداso it began يَزيدُto increase بِهاin it المِزاجُdilution وَيَنقُصُand diminish
فَغَدا يَزيدُ بِها المِزاجُ وَيَنقُصُ
It proved potent, so we made the cupbearers arbiters of its mixing;
It grew unruly, so we put the cupbearers in charge of mixing it,
and thus the measure blended into it would rise and fall.
So dilution began to increase it and diminish it.
صَبَغَتit dyed خُدودَthe cheeks of سُقاتِهاits cupbearers مِنfrom نورِهاits light
صَبَغَت خُدودَ سُقاتِها مِن نورِها
شَفَقاًa sunset-red glow بِهِby it تُجلىare brightened العُيونُthe eyes الشُخَّصُthe staring ones
شَفَقاً بِهِ تُجلى العُيونُ الشُخَّصُ
Its radiance dyed its cupbearers’ cheeks
It dyed its cupbearers' cheeks with its light
a twilight by which staring eyes were lit.
A sunset red that brightens staring eyes.
صَدَقَspoke truly الَّذيthe one who قَدindeed قالَsaid عَنabout شَمسِthe sun of الضُحىmidmorning
صَدَقَ الَّذي قَد قالَ عَن شَمسِ الضُحى
إِنَّindeed البُدورَthe full moons بِنورِهاin its light تَتَقَمَّصُclothe themselves
إِنَّ البُدورَ بِنورِها تَتَقَمَّصُ
Truth spoke he who said of the noonday sun
He spoke truly who said of the midmorning sun:
that full moons clothe themselves in its light.
Indeed, the full moons clothe themselves in its light.
صَفراءُyellow wine مِنfrom وَقعِthe impact of المِزاجِdilution صَقيلَةٌpolished
صَفراءُ مِن وَقعِ المِزاجِ صَقيلَةٌ
يَسعىhurries بِهاwith it سَبطُslender البَنانِthe fingers مُخَرَّصُwearing earrings
يَسعى بِها سَبطُ البَنانِ مُخَرَّصُ
Red, sleek, and polished by the work of blending,
Yellow wine, polished by the stroke of dilution,
borne by a smooth-fingered, earringed youth.
A slender-fingered, earringed bearer hurries with it.
صَنَمٌan idol أَضَلَّled astray العاشِقينَthe lovers فَمَعشَرٌso one group
صَنَمٌ أَضَلَّ العاشِقينَ فَمَعشَرٌ
قَدindeed زُوِّدواthey were supplied فيهاwith it وَقَومٌand others نُقِّصواthey were given less
قَد زُوِّدوا فيها وَقَومٌ نُقِّصوا
An idol who led lovers astray: one company
An idol who led lovers astray; some
received its provision from it, while another was deprived.
Were supplied with it, while others were given less.
صادَhunted القُلوبَhearts بِمُقلَتَيهِwith his two eyes وَلَمand did not أَخَلI imagine
صادَ القُلوبَ بِمُقلَتَيهِ وَلَم أَخَل
أَنَّthat الجَآذِرَwild-ox calves لِلقَساوِرِafter lions تَقنِصُhunt
أَنَّ الجَآذِرَ لِلقَساوِرِ تَقنِصُ
He hunted hearts with his two eyes, and never did I suppose
He hunted hearts with his two eyes; I never imagined
that gazelles could hunt lions.
That wild-ox calves could hunt lions.
صَبَغَstained الأَنامِلَthe fingertips مِنfrom دِمايَmy blood وَماand not دَرىhe knew
صَبَغَ الأَنامِلَ مِن دِمايَ وَما دَرى
أَنَّthat اِبنَson of أُرتُقَArtuq عَنabout دَميmy blood يَتَفَحَّصُinvestigates
أَنَّ اِبنَ أُرتُقَ عَن دَمي يَتَفَحَّصُ
He dyed his fingertips with my blood, not knowing
He stained his fingertips with my blood, unaware
that Ibn Artuq was looking into the matter of my blood.
That Ibn Artuq is inquiring about my blood.
صُبحٌa dawn جَلاdispelled لَيلَthe night of الخُطوبِcalamities بِنورِهِwith its light
صُبحٌ جَلا لَيلَ الخُطوبِ بِنورِهِ
نَجمٌa star إِلَيهِtoward it كُلُّevery طَرفٍeye يَشخَصُlooks up
نَجمٌ إِلَيهِ كُلُّ طَرفٍ يَشخَصُ
A dawn that by his light dispelled calamity’s night,
A dawn that dispelled the night of calamities with its light,
a star toward whom every gaze is raised.
A star toward which every eye looks up.
صَعبُunyielding العَريكَةِin temper سَهلَةٌgentle أَخلاقُهُhis manners
صَعبُ العَريكَةِ سَهلَةٌ أَخلاقُهُ
قَومٌsome people بِهِthrough him سَعِدواthey were happy وَقَومٌand others نُغِّصواthey were embittered
قَومٌ بِهِ سَعِدوا وَقَومٌ نُغِّصوا
Hard in mettle, yet gentle in nature;
Unyielding in temper, yet gentle in his ways;
through him some prospered, while others were ill-starred.
Some were happy through him, while others were embittered.
صابَتpoured down يَداهُhis two hands فَلاso not السَماحُgenerosity بِرَبعِهِin his dwelling
صابَت يَداهُ فَلا السَماحُ بِرَبعِهِ
وانٍflagging وَلاnor ظِلُّthe shade of الأَمانِsafety يَقلِصُshrinks
وانٍ وَلا ظِلُّ الأَمانِ يَقلِصُ
His hands strike true: generosity at his court never
His hands rained bounty; generosity in his dwelling never
flags, nor does the sheltering shade contract.
Flags, nor does the shade of safety shrink.
صَدَرَتcame forth مَناقِبُهُhis virtues الحِسانُsplendid فَأَصبَحَتso they became
صَدَرَت مَناقِبُهُ الحِسانُ فَأَصبَحَت
تُغريincite الأَنامَmankind بِمَدحِهِto praise him وَتُحَرِّصُand spur on
تُغري الأَنامَ بِمَدحِهِ وَتُحَرِّصُ
His splendid virtues went forth and came
His splendid virtues came forth, and began
to incite all humankind to praise him and spur them on.
To entice mankind to praise him and spur them on.
صَعِدَتrose مَراتِبُthe ranks of مَجدِهِhis glory فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though
صَعِدَت مَراتِبُ مَجدِهِ فَكَأَنَّما
تَعلوrises لَهُfor him فَوقَabove المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way أَخمَصُa foot's arch
تَعلو لَهُ فَوقَ المَجَرَّةِ أَخمَصُ
The ranks of his glory climbed until it seemed
The ranks of his glory rose, as though
the sole of his foot rose above the Milky Way.
The arch of his foot were rising above the Milky Way.
صاحَبتَyou accompanied نَجمَStar of الدينِthe Faith دَهرَكَyour age صائِلاًcharging forth
صاحَبتَ نَجمَ الدينِ دَهرَكَ صائِلاً
بِعَزيمَةٍwith a resolve مِنfrom كَيدِهِits guile لاnot تَنكُصُrecoils
بِعَزيمَةٍ مِن كَيدِهِ لا تَنكُصُ
O Najm al-Din, you fought your Time as it assailed,
You accompanied your age, Najm al-Din, charging forth,
with a resolve that never recoils before its guile.
With a resolve that never recoils before its guile.
صَقَلَتpolished تَجاريبُthe trials of الأُمورِaffairs مُتونَهاits surfaces
صَقَلَت تَجاريبُ الأُمورِ مُتونَها
كَالسَيفِlike a sword يُصلِحُهُperfects it الصِقالُpolishing وَيُخلِصُand purifies
كَالسَيفِ يُصلِحُهُ الصِقالُ وَيُخلِصُ
The trials of affairs polished its broad blade,
The trials of affairs have polished its substance,
as a polisher burnishes and refines a sword.
Like a sword that polishing perfects and purifies.
صَرَمَتcut through شِمالُthe left hand of المُسلِمينَthe Muslims بِصارِمٍwith a keen sword
صَرَمَت شِمالُ المُسلِمينَ بِصارِمٍ
غالٍcostly بِهِthrough it مُهَجُthe lifeblood of القُلوبِhearts تُرَخَّصُis made cheap
غالٍ بِهِ مُهَجُ القُلوبِ تُرَخَّصُ
The Muslims’ left hand cut with a keen blade,
The Muslims' left hand hewed with a keen sword,
precious—by it, the heart’s dear lifeblood is made cheap.
Costly, yet through it the lifeblood of hearts is cheapened.
صافيpure الحَديدَةِthe iron blade فيon مَضارِبِهِits striking edges الرَدىdeath
صافي الحَديدَةِ في مَضارِبِهِ الرَدى
بادٍplain to see وَشَكلُand the form of المَوتِdeath فيهِin it مُشخَصُembodied
بادٍ وَشَكلُ المَوتِ فيهِ مُشخَصُ
A blade of pure temper: wherever it strikes, death
Of pure iron; on its striking edges, death
appears, the very form of doom embodied in it.
Is plain to see, and death's form is embodied in it.
صادَمتَهُمyou clashed with them فيin نَقعِthe dust of لَيلٍa night حالِكٍpitch-black
صادَمتَهُم في نَقعِ لَيلٍ حالِكٍ
طَرفُthe eye of المَنِيَّةِDeath فيin دُجاهُits darkness أَخوَصُnarrowed
طَرفُ المَنِيَّةِ في دُجاهُ أَخوَصُ
You met them in a cloud of dust, in a pitch-black night;
You clashed with them in the dust of a pitch-black night,
the eye of Death within its gloom was narrowed.
Within its darkness, Death's eye squints.
صُفَّتwere arrayed صِفاحُthe broad blades of الهِندِIndia حَولَaround أَديمِهِits skin
صُفَّت صِفاحُ الهِندِ حَولَ أَديمِهِ
فَكَأَنَّهُso it seemed بِالبيضِwith the white swords عَبدٌa slave أَبرَصُleprous
فَكَأَنَّهُ بِالبيضِ عَبدٌ أَبرَصُ
Broad Indian blades were arrayed across its face,
India's broad blades were arrayed around its skin,
until, amid the white swords, it seemed a black slave mottled white with leprosy.
So, amid the white swords, it seemed a leprous slave.
صَكَّتstruck hard ظُباكَyour sword-edges رُؤوسَهُمtheir heads وَجُسومَهُمand their bodies
صَكَّت ظُباكَ رُؤوسَهُم وَجُسومَهُم
فَالهامُso the skulls تُنثَرُare scattered وَالضُلوعِand the ribs تُقَصَّصُare cut to pieces
فَالهامُ تُنثَرُ وَالضُلوعِ تُقَصَّصُ
Your blade-points smote their heads and bodies;
Your sword-edges struck their heads and bodies;
skulls were scattered and ribs hacked apart.
So skulls are scattered, and ribs are cut to pieces.
صَرفُthe turning of الفَضاءِthe heavens' expanse ياO اِبنَson of أُرتُقَArtuq خادِمٌa servant
صَرفُ الفَضاءِ يا اِبنَ أُرتُقَ خادِمٌ
لِعُلُوِّكُمto your exalted rank وَالدَهرُand Time داعٍa supplicant مُخلِصُsincere
لِعُلُوِّكُم وَالدَهرُ داعٍ مُخلِصُ
The expanse of heaven, O Ibn Artuq, is a servant
The turning of the heavens, O Ibn Artuq, is a servant
to your loftiness, and Time a sincere herald.
To your exalted rank, and Time is a devoted supplicant.
صَوَّبتُI directed نَحوَكُمُtoward you عِنانَthe rein of مَدايِحيmy praises
صَوَّبتُ نَحوَكُمُ عِنانَ مَدايِحي
فَمُدَفَّقٌso copiously flowing مِنof نَظمِهاtheir verse وَمُلَخَّصُand condensed
فَمُدَفَّقٌ مِن نَظمِها وَمُلَخَّصُ
I turned toward you the reins of my praises:
I directed the rein of my praises toward you;
some of their verse pours forth abundantly, and some is condensed.
So some of their verse flows freely, and some is concise.
صَحَّتproved sound مَعانيهاtheir meanings وَشُرِّفَand was ennobled لَفظُهاtheir wording
صَحَّت مَعانيها وَشُرِّفَ لَفظُها
بِكُمby you وَطابَand became pleasant خِتامُهاtheir ending وَالمُخلَصُand the transition
بِكُم وَطابَ خِتامُها وَالمُخلَصُ
Through you, their meanings proved sound and their wording was ennobled;
Their meanings are sound, and their wording is ennobled
their close and their summation are sweet.
By you; their ending and transition are delightful.
Sol 6.1