أَدِرهاpass it round بِأَمنٍin safety لاnot يُغَيِّرُكَunsettles you الوَهَمdelusion
أَدِرها بِأَمنٍ لا يُغَيِّرُكَ الوَهَم
وَزُفَّand usher عَلىbefore الجُلّاسِthe seated company ماwhat خَلَّفَleft behind الكَرمُthe grapevine
وَزُفَّ عَلى الجُلّاسِ ما خَلَّفَ الكَرمُ
Pass it round in safety; let no delusion unsettle you.
Turn the cup safely, let no illusion change you,
And usher before the seated company what the vine has left behind.
Serve wine to boon-companions - bounty has not ceased.
وَداوِand remedy أَذاهاits harm بِالسَماعِwith music فَإِنَّهاfor it is
وَداوِ أَذاها بِالسَماعِ فَإِنَّها
بِلاwithout نَغَمٍmelody غَمٌّsorrow بِلاwithout دَسَمٍrich food سُمُّpoison
بِلا نَغَمٍ غَمٌّ بِلا دَسَمٍ سُمُّ
And remedy its harm with music, for it is
Cure her sickness by listening, for sans melody
Without melody, sorrow; without rich food, poison.
She's sorrow; sans sweetness, poison she's increased.
مُعَتَّقَةٌaged wine لَوif غَسَّلواthey washed مَيِتاًa corpse بِهاwith it
مُعَتَّقَةٌ لَو غَسَّلوا مَيِتاً بِها
لَماthen not ذابَwould dissolve مِنهُfrom him المُخُّthe marrow وَاِنهَشَمَand would crumble العَظمُthe bone
لَما ذابَ مِنهُ المُخُّ وَاِنهَشَمَ العَظمُ
An aged wine: were they to wash a corpse with it,
An antidote - if they'd washed a corpse with wine
His marrow would not dissolve, nor would his bones crumble.
His marrow had not melted; nor his bones decreased.
وَلولاand were it not for اِتِّقاءُfear of اللَهِGod قُلتُI would say بِأَنَّهاthat it
وَلولا اِتِّقاءُ اللَهِ قُلتُ بِأَنَّها
بِهاthrough it تَنطِقُspeak الأَمواتُthe dead أَوor تَسمَعُhear الصُمُّthe deaf
بِها تَنطِقُ الأَمواتُ أَو تَسمَعُ الصُمُّ
And were it not for fear of God, I would say that
But for my fear of God, I would have said that wine
Through it the dead speak, or the deaf hear.
Can make the dead speak out or make the deaf hear, feast.
فَلَمso did not يَرَsee يَوماًon any day كاسَهاits cup مَنone who رَأىsaw الأَذىharm
فَلَم يَرَ يَوماً كاسَها مَن رَأى الأَذى
وَلاnor مَسَّهاtouched it بِالكَفِّwith the palm مَنone whom مَسَّهُtouched him الهَمُّsorrow
وَلا مَسَّها بِالكَفِّ مَن مَسَّهُ الهَمُّ
So no one who has known harm has ever seen its cup,
None who knew sorrow raised her cup one day,
Nor has anyone whom sorrow touched touched it with his palm.
None who felt grief has touched her with his palms, at least.
فَخُذهاso take it عَلىwith طيبِthe sweetness of السَماعِmusic فَإِنَّهاfor it is
فَخُذها عَلى طيبِ السَماعِ فَإِنَّها
بَشاشَةُthe cheerfulness of وَجهِthe face of العَيشِlife إِنif عَبَسَfrowns الهَمُّsorrow
بَشاشَةُ وَجهِ العَيشِ إِن عَبَسَ الهَمُّ
So take it to sweet music, for it is
Take her, as sweet music, for she can ease
The smile on life's face when sorrow frowns.
The face of life if care has caused it grief and bleakness.
وَلاand do not تَخشَfear مِنof إِثمٍsin إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle شَرِبتَهاyou drink it
وَلا تَخشَ مِن إِثمٍ إِذا ما شَرِبتَها
لِظاهِرِbecause of the literal sense of قَولِthe saying of الناسِthe people إِنّindeed اِسمَهاits name الإِثمُsin
لِظاهِرِ قَولِ الناسِ إِنّ اِسمَها الإِثمُ
And do not fear any sin when you drink it
Fear no sin if you drink her, by
On the strength of people's literal claim that its name is 'sin'.
What fault-finding people say - for "sin" her name is.
فَماfor not كُلُّevery وَصفٍdescription فيin الحَقيقَةِreality ذاتُهits essence
فَما كُلُّ وَصفٍ في الحَقيقَةِ ذاتُه
وَليسَand is not المُسَمّىthe thing named فيin حَقيقَتِهِits reality الاِسمُthe name
وَليسَ المُسَمّى في حَقيقَتِهِ الاِسمُ
For not every description is, in reality, the thing itself,
Not every description's essence is the named;
Nor is the named thing, in its essence, the name.
The named is not the same as the naming, in its realness.
وَلَوand if أَنَّthat وَصفَthe description of الشَيءِthe thing عَينٌidentical لِذاتِهِto its essence
وَلَو أَنَّ وَصفَ الشَيءِ عَينٌ لِذاتِهِ
أَوِor الذِكرَmention لِلشَيءِof the thing المُرادِintended هُوَitself الجُرمُthe physical body
أَوِ الذِكرَ لِلشَيءِ المُرادِ هُوَ الجُرمُ
And if a thing's description were identical to its essence,
If attributes themselves were the essence
Or mention of the intended thing were its actual body,
Or naming was the named, where would be the difference?
لَمّاthen not ماتَwould have died مَنone whom سَمّوهُthey called him بِاللَفظِby the word خالِداًKhalid ('everlasting')
لَمّا ماتَ مَن سَمّوهُ بِاللَفظِ خالِداً
وَلاnor خَرَّwould have fallen مَلِكٌa king فيinto الثَرىthe dust وَاِسمُهُand his name نَجمُNajm ('star')
وَلا خَرَّ مَلِكٌ في الثَرى وَاِسمُهُ نَجمُ
Then one they called Khalid ('everlasting') would not have died,
Then no named "Immortal" would have died,
Nor would a king named Najm ('star') have fallen into the dust,
No king called "Star" would fall in earth, no prince's inheritance
كَماjust as خَرَّfell نَجمُNajm ('star') الدينِal-Din ('the faith') مِنfrom عَرشِthe throne of مُلكِهِhis kingdom
كَما خَرَّ نَجمُ الدينِ مِن عَرشِ مُلكِهِ
وَلَمand did not يُغنِavail عَنهُfor him الباسُvalor وَالعَزمُand resolve وَالحَزمُand prudence
وَلَم يُغنِ عَنهُ الباسُ وَالعَزمُ وَالحَزمُ
Just as Najm al-Din fell from the throne of his kingdom,
Like Prince of Faith fell from his royal throne
And valor, resolve, and prudence did not avail him.
His courage, might and wisdom could not help or assist.
مَضىdeparted المَلِكُthe king المَنصورُal-Mansur ('the Victorious') مِنfrom دَستِthe throne of مُلكِهِhis kingdom
مَضى المَلِكُ المَنصورُ مِن دَستِ مُلكِهِ
وَلَمand did not يُنجِهِsave him المُلكُthe kingdom المُمَنَّعُimpregnable وَالحُكمُand rule
وَلَم يُنجِهِ المُلكُ المُمَنَّعُ وَالحُكمُ
King al-Mansur departed from his royal throne,
King Mansur passed from his kingship's grasp.
Nor did his impregnable kingdom or his rule save him.
His guarded, mighty rule could not protect or shield this.
مَليكٌa king أَفاضَpoured forth العَدلَjustice فيamong كُلِّevery مَعشَرٍcommunity
مَليكٌ أَفاضَ العَدلَ في كُلِّ مَعشَرٍ
فَلَيسَso there is no لَهُfor him إِلّاexcept لِأَموالِهِtoward his wealth ظُلمُinjustice
فَلَيسَ لَهُ إِلّا لِأَموالِهِ ظُلمُ
A king who poured justice upon every community,
A king who dealt out justice in all tribes
So his only injustice was toward his own wealth.
Owes shadows only to his riches' gloom and darkness.
وَماand did not غَيَّبَتهُconceal him الأَرضُthe earth إِلّاexcept لِأَنَّهاbecause it
وَما غَيَّبَتهُ الأَرضُ إِلّا لِأَنَّها
لِأَقدامِهِto his feet ماnot كانَwas يُمكِنُهاpossible for it اللَثمُkissing
لِأَقدامِهِ ما كانَ يُمكِنُها اللَثمُ
And the earth concealed him only because
Earth hid him for she could not stand
It could not kiss his feet.
His feet, whose tread her surface could not clasp or kiss.
وَخَلَّفَand left behind أَشبالاًlion cubs سَعَواthey strove مِثلَlike سَعيِهِhis striving
وَخَلَّفَ أَشبالاً سَعَوا مِثلَ سَعيِهِ
لِئَلّاso that not يَعُمُّengulf الناسَthe people مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him اليُتمُorphanhood
لِئَلّا يَعُمُّ الناسَ مِن بَعدِهِ اليُتمُ
And he left lion cubs who strove as he had striven,
He left young lions who in bounty vied,
So that orphanhood would not engulf the people after him.
So, after him, men would not live in helplessness.
مُلوكاًkings حَذَواthey followed فيin الجودِgenerosity حَذوَthe example of أَبيهِمُtheir father
مُلوكاً حَذَوا في الجودِ حَذوَ أَبيهِمُ
فَفيso in كُلِّevery وَصفٍtrait مِنof نَداهُhis generosity لَهَمfor them قِسمُa share
فَفي كُلِّ وَصفٍ مِن نَداهُ لَهَم قِسمُ
Kings who followed their father's example in generosity,
Kings who in giving followed in their father's stride.
For in every trait of his bounty they have a share.
In every virtue from his liberality they inherit.
وَأَشرَقَand shone فيin الشَهباءِal-Shahba فيon الدَستِthe throne مِنهُمfrom among them
وَأَشرَقَ في الشَهباءِ في الدَستِ مِنهُم
وَقَدand already غابَhad vanished عَنهاfrom it نَجمُهاits star بِدرُهاits full moon التَمُّperfect
وَقَد غابَ عَنها نَجمُها بِدرُها التَمُّ
And from among them shone, on the throne in al-Shahba,
Amongst them shone the brightest star
Its perfect full moon, though its star had vanished from it.
Though now their guiding moon is gone, their polestar witness.
هُوَhe الصالِحُal-Salih ('the Righteous') المَلكُthe king الَّذيwho لَبِسَput on البَهاsplendor
هُوَ الصالِحُ المَلكُ الَّذي لَبِسَ البَها
وَلِلناسِand for the people مِنهُfrom him فَوقَupon ثَوبِthe robe of البَهاsplendor رَقمُembroidery
وَلِلناسِ مِنهُ فَوقَ ثَوبِ البَها رَقمُ
He is King al-Salih, who clothed himself in splendor,
The righteous king who wore the sable robe;
And from him the people receive embroidery upon splendor's robe.
Yet people have, atop the sable dress, his favors still.
جَميعُall أَماراتِthe signs of الشَهيدِthe martyr ظَواهِرٌmanifest
جَميعُ أَماراتِ الشَهيدِ ظَواهِرٌ
عَليهِupon him تَساوىare equal الباسُvalor وَالرَأيُand judgment وَالفَهمُand understanding
عَليهِ تَساوى الباسُ وَالرَأيُ وَالفَهمُ
All the martyr's signs are manifest
His martyr's marks shine clear in him;
In him; valor, judgment, and understanding stand equal.
In reason, counsel, wisdom - attributes not meaningless.
وَأَهوَنُand the least prized شَيءٍthing عِندَهُto him الخَيلُhorses وَاللُهىand lavish gifts
وَأَهوَنُ شَيءٍ عِندَهُ الخَيلُ وَاللُهى
وَأَنفَقُand the most prized شَيءٍthing عِندَهُto him النَثرُprose وَالنَظمُand verse
وَأَنفَقُ شَيءٍ عِندَهُ النَثرُ وَالنَظمُ
And what he values least are horses and lavish gifts,
Most trivial to him are steeds and frivolous sport;
And what he prizes most are prose and verse.
Most noble, lavish generosity and rhyming words.
وَأَحسَنُand the finest أَيّامِdays of السَماحِgenerosity وَلودُهاits fertile ones
وَأَحسَنُ أَيّامِ السَماحِ وَلودُها
إِذاwhen أَعجَبَplease النُجالَunclear; apparently 'the misers' أَيّامُهاits days العُقمُbarren
إِذا أَعجَبَ النُجالَ أَيّامُها العُقمُ
And generosity's finest days are its fertile ones,
The best, most generous days are when
When its barren days please the [misers].
Fine horses gladden days once thought to be unfruitful.
وَرَبُّand many a حَديثٍtale مِنof عُلاهُhis greatness سَمِعتُهُI heard it
وَرَبُّ حَديثٍ مِن عُلاهُ سَمِعتُهُ
لِحُلوِfor the sweetness of جَناهُits fruit مِنfrom حُلوقِthe throats of النُهىunderstanding طَعمُa taste
لِحُلوِ جَناهُ مِن حُلوقِ النُهى طَعمُ
And many a tale of his greatness I have heard,
Full many a tale of lofty deeds I've heard from him,
Whose sweet fruit has a savor in the throats of understanding.
That, for its charm, seemed honeyed by the lips of youth.
وَفَيضِand a flood of نَوالٍbounty مِنfrom يَديهِhis two hands أَفَدتُهُI received it
وَفَيضِ نَوالٍ مِن يَديهِ أَفَدتُهُ
لَهُit has فيin قُلوبِthe hearts of الناسِthe people مِنfrom جَسَديmy body وَسمُan imprint
لَهُ في قُلوبِ الناسِ مِن جَسَدي وَسمُ
And a flood of bounty from his hands I have received,
I've tasted of his bounty, from his hand,
Whose imprint in people's hearts comes from my body.
And in men's hearts - because of me - he has both vein and muscle.
وَلَمّاand when أَرادَsought الدَهرُfate كَيديmy undoing فَزُرتُهُso I visited him
وَلَمّا أَرادَ الدَهرُ كَيدي فَزُرتُهُ
وَبِتُّand I spent the night وَلِيَand for me فيin صُحُفِthe registers of إِنعامِهِhis favors رَسمُan entry
وَبِتُّ وَلِيَ في صُحُفِ إِنعامِهِ رَسمُ
And when fate sought to harm me, I visited him,
When fate plotted against me, I sought refuge;
And passed the night with an entry for me in the registers of his bounty.
I passed the night; my name was written in his scroll.
فَأَخَّرَso he deferred صَرفَthe reversals of الدَهرِfate عَنّيfrom me فَلاso it does not يَرىconsider
فَأَخَّرَ صَرفَ الدَهرِ عَنّي فَلا يَرى
مُقابَلَتيconfronting me لَمّاsince دَرىit learned أَنَّهُthat he is الخَصمُthe adversary
مُقابَلَتي لَمّا دَرى أَنَّهُ الخَصمُ
So he kept fate's reversals away from me; it no longer considers
So he held off the blows of time and death;
Confronting me, since it learned that he was its adversary.
No more can death, my foe, spy out my hiding place.
Sol 6.1