ياO بُدوراًfull moons تَغيبُvanish تَحتَbeneath التُرابِthe dust
يا بُدوراً تَغيبُ تَحتَ التُرابِ
وَجِبالاًand mountains تَمُدُّstretch out مَرَّthe passage of السَحابِthe clouds
وَجِبالاً تَمُدُّ مَرَّ السَحابِ
O full moons that vanish beneath the dust,
and mountains stretching along the clouds' passage!
إِنَّindeed فيin ذَلِكَthat اِعتِباراًa lesson وَذِكرىand a reminder
إِنَّ في ذَلِكَ اِعتِباراً وَذِكرى
يَتَوَعّىtake heed بِهاthrough it ذَوُوpossessors of الأَلبابِunderstanding
يَتَوَعّى بِها ذَوُو الأَلبابِ
Indeed, in that are a lesson and a reminder
that those of understanding take to heart.
قُلsay لِصاديto one thirsting for الأَمالِhopes لاdo not تَرِدِcome to drink from العَيlife (first part)
قُل لِصادي الأَمالِ لا تَرِدِ العَي
شَlife (final part) فَإِنَّfor indeed الحَياةَlife لَمعُthe gleam of سَرابِa mirage
شَ فَإِنَّ الحَياةَ لَمعُ سَرابِ
Tell the one thirsty for hopes: do not drink of life,
for life is the gleam of a mirage.
أَينَwhere is رَبَّthe lord of السَريرِthe throne وَالجيزَةِand al-Jiza البَيwhite (first part)
أَينَ رَبَّ السَريرِ وَالجيزَةِ البَي
ضاءُwhite (final part) ذاتِpossessing النَخيلِpalm trees وَالأَعتابِand thresholds
ضاءُ ذاتِ النَخيلِ وَالأَعتابِ
Where is the lord of the throne and white al-Jiza,
with its palm trees and thresholds?
عَرَصاتٌcourtyards كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were سَماءٌa sky
عَرَصاتٌ كَأَنَّهُنَّ سَماءٌ
قَدalready تَوارَتhave vanished شَموسُهاtheir suns فيwithin الحِجابِthe veil
قَد تَوارَت شَموسُها في الحِجابِ
Courtyards as though they were a sky,
whose suns have disappeared behind the veil.
أَينَwhere is رَبُّthe master of الآراءِcounsel وَالرُتبَةِand the rank العَلlofty (first part)
أَينَ رَبُّ الآراءِ وَالرُتبَةِ العَل
ياءِlofty (final part) وَالماجِدُand the illustrious one الرَفيعُlofty of الجَنابِstanding
ياءِ وَالماجِدُ الرَفيعُ الجَنابِ
Where is the master of counsel and exalted rank,
and the illustrious man of lofty standing?
وَالَذيand he whom لَقَّبوهُthey titled him بِالأَبلَجِas the radiant one الوَهthe lavish giver (first part)
وَالَذي لَقَّبوهُ بِالأَبلَجِ الوَه
هابِthe lavish giver (final part) طَوراًat times وَالعابِسِand the scowling one النَهّابِthe plunderer
هابِ طَوراً وَالعابِسِ النَهّابِ
And he whom they called the radiant, lavish giver
at times, and the scowling plunderer?
لَيثُthe lion of إِبناthe sons of أُرتُقَArtuq المَلِكُthe king المَنal-Mansur (first part)
لَيثُ إِبنا أُرتُقَ المَلِكُ المَن
صورُal-Mansur (final part) رَبُّlord of الإِحسانِbeneficence وَالأَنسابِand lineages
صورُ رَبُّ الإِحسانِ وَالأَنسابِ
The lion of Artuq's sons, King al-Mansur,
lord of beneficence and noble lineage.
صاحِبُpossessor of الرِتبَةِthe rank الَّتيwhich نَكَصَrecoiled العاthe scholar (first part)
صاحِبُ الرِتبَةِ الَّتي نَكَصَ العا
لِمُthe scholar (final part) مِنfrom دونِهاshort of it عَلىupon الأَعقابِthe heels
لِمُ مِن دونِها عَلى الأَعقابِ
Master of the rank before which the scholar
retreated upon his heels, falling short of it.
وَمُجَلّيand dispeller of لَبسَthe confusion of الأُمورِaffairs إِذاwhen بَرveiled (first part)
وَمُجَلّي لَبسَ الأُمورِ إِذا بَر
قَعَveiled (final part) قُبحُthe ugliness of الخَطاerror وُجوهَthe faces of الصَوابِwhat is right
قَعَ قُبحُ الخَطا وُجوهَ الصَوابِ
And he who dispelled the confusion of affairs whenever
the ugliness of error veiled the faces of what was right.
حازَacquired حِلمَthe forbearance of الكُهولِmature men طِفلاًas a child وَأَعطيand was granted
حازَ حِلمَ الكُهولِ طِفلاً وَأَعطي
وَرَعَthe piety of الشَيبِthe gray-haired فيin أَوانِthe season of الشَبابِyouth
وَرَعَ الشَيبِ في أَوانِ الشَبابِ
He gained the forbearance of mature men as a child, and was granted
the piety of the gray-haired in the season of youth.
جَلَّwas too exalted عَنbeyond أَنto تُقَبِّلَkiss الناسُpeople كَفَّيtwo palms
جَلَّ عَن أَن تُقَبِّلَ الناسُ كَفَّي
هِhis فَكانَso was التَقبيلُthe kissing لِلأَعتابِfor the thresholds
هِ فَكانَ التَقبيلُ لِلأَعتابِ
He was too exalted for people to kiss his palms,
so kisses were bestowed upon the thresholds.
لَمdid not تُرَنَّحsway أَعطافَهُhis sides نَشوَةُthe intoxication of المُلkingship (first part)
لَم تُرَنَّح أَعطافَهُ نَشوَةُ المُل
كِkingship (final part) وَلاnor يَزدَهيهِmake him proud فَرطُan excess of اِعتِجابِself-admiration
كِ وَلا يَزدَهيهِ فَرطُ اِعتِجابِ
The intoxication of kingship never swayed his frame,
nor did excessive self-admiration make him proud.
رافِعُraiser of النارِthe fire بِالبِقاعِin the countryside إِذاwhen أَخextinguished (first part)
رافِعُ النارِ بِالبِقاعِ إِذا أَخ
مَدَextinguished (final part) بَردُthe cold of الشِتاءِwinter صَوتَthe voices of الكِلابِthe dogs
مَدَ بَردُ الشِتاءِ صَوتَ الكِلابِ
He raised the fire across the countryside when
winter's cold silenced the voices of the dogs.
وَمُحيلُand one making fertile العامِthe year المَحيلِbarren إِذاwhen اِعتاgrew accustomed (first part)
وَمُحيلُ العامِ المَحيلِ إِذا اِعتا
دَgrew accustomed (final part) لِسانُthe tongue of الفَصيحِthe eloquent one نُطقَthe speech of الذُبابِflies
دَ لِسانُ الفَصيحِ نُطقَ الذُبابِ
And he made the barren year fruitful when
the eloquent tongue grew accustomed to the speech of flies.
عَرَفواthey recognized رَبعَهُhis abode وَقَدthough already أُنكِرَwas unrecognized الجوgenerosity (first part)
عَرَفوا رَبعَهُ وَقَد أُنكِرَ الجو
دُgenerosity (final part) بِرَفعِby raising اللِواthe banner وَنَصبِand setting forth العِتابِreproach
دُ بِرَفعِ اللِوا وَنَصبِ العِتابِ
They recognized his abode, though generosity was no longer known,
by the raised banner and the reproach set forth,
وَقُدورٍand cauldrons بِماwith what حَوَتthey contained راسِياتٍfirmly fixed
وَقُدورٍ بِما حَوَت راسِياتٍ
وَجِفانٍand large bowls مَملُوَّةٍfilled كَالجَوابيlike reservoirs
وَجِفانٍ مَملُوَّةٍ كَالجَوابي
and cauldrons firmly fixed with all they held,
and brimming bowls like reservoirs.
مَلِكٌa king أَصبَحَbecame الخَلائِقُthe creatures وَالأَيand the days (first part)
مَلِكٌ أَصبَحَ الخَلائِقُ وَالأَي
يامُdays (final part) وَالأَرضُand the earth بَعدَهُafter him فيin اِضطِرابِturmoil
يامُ وَالأَرضُ بَعدَهُ في اِضطِرابِ
A king—all creatures, and the days,
and the earth fell into turmoil after him.
فَاِعتَبِرso consider خُضرَةَthe greenness of الرِياضِthe gardens تَجِدهاyou will find it
فَاِعتَبِر خُضرَةَ الرِياضِ تَجِدها
أَثَرَthe mark of اللَطمِslapping فيon خُدودِthe cheeks of الرَوابيthe hills
أَثَرَ اللَطمِ في خُدودِ الرَوابي
Consider the greenness of the gardens: you will find it
the mark of slaps upon the cheeks of the hills.
حَمَلوهُthey carried him عَلىupon الرِقابِthe necks وَقَدalthough already كاhad been (first part)
حَمَلوهُ عَلى الرِقابِ وَقَد كا
نَhad been (final part) نَداهُhis bounty أَطواقَcollars around تِلكَthose الرِقابِnecks
نَ نَداهُ أَطواقَ تِلكَ الرِقابِ
They bore him upon their necks, yet
his bounty had been collars around those necks.
ماnot أَظُنُّI think المَنونَDeath تَعلَمُknows ماذاwhat
ما أَظُنُّ المَنونَ تَعلَمُ ماذا
قَصَفَتit shattered بَعدَهُafter him مِنَof الأَصلابِbackbones
قَصَفَت بَعدَهُ مِنَ الأَصلابِ
I do not think Death knows what
backbones it shattered in his wake.
ياO رَجيمَyou who are pelted الخُطوبِby calamities فَاِستَرِقِso steal السَمhearing (first part)
يا رَجيمَ الخُطوبِ فَاِستَرِقِ السَم
عَhearing (final part) فَأُفقُfor the horizon of العُلىglory بِغَيرِwithout شِهابِa shooting star
عَ فَأُفقُ العُلى بِغَيرِ شِهابِ
O you pelted by calamities, steal a hearing,
for the horizon of glory has no shooting star.
فَليَطُلso let be prolonged بَعدَهُafter him عَلىagainst الدَهرِTime عَتبيmy reproach
فَليَطُل بَعدَهُ عَلى الدَهرِ عَتبي
رُبَّmany a ذَمٍّcensure مُلَقَّبٍcalled بِعِتابِby the name of reproach
رُبَّ ذَمٍّ مُلَقَّبٍ بِعِتابِ
So let my reproach of Time linger after him;
many a censure goes by the name of reproach.
أَيُّهاO الذاهِبُdeparted one الَّذيwho عَرَّضَexposed الأَمwealth (first part)
أَيُّها الذاهِبُ الَّذي عَرَّضَ الأَم
والَwealth (final part) وَالناسَand people بَعدَهُafter him لِلذَهابِto loss
والَ وَالناسَ بَعدَهُ لِلذَهابِ
O departed one, who exposed wealth
and people, after him, to loss.
طارَflew away لُبُّthe mind of السَماحِgenerosity يَومَthe day تُوَفّيdied (verb stem)
طارَ لُبُّ السَماحِ يَومَ تُوَفّي
تَyou (verb ending) وَشُقَّتand were torn مَرائِرُthe gallbladders of الآدابِlearning
تَ وَشُقَّت مَرائِرُ الآدابِ
Generosity's wits flew away the day you died,
and the vitals of learning were torn apart.
وَعَلاand rose فيin المَلاthe assembly عَويلُthe wailing of العَواليthe tall spears
وَعَلا في المَلا عَويلُ العَوالي
وَنَحيبُand the sobbing of اليَراعِthe reed pen وَالقِرضابِand the keen sword
وَنَحيبُ اليَراعِ وَالقِرضابِ
And through the assembly rose the wailing of tall spears,
and the sobbing of the reed pen and the keen sword.
لَوif يُرَدُّcould be repelled الرَدىdeath بِقوَّةِby the strength of بَأسٍvalor
لَو يُرَدُّ الرَدى بِقوَّةِ بَأسٍ
لَوَقَيناكَwe would have protected you فيin الأُمورِthe circumstances الصِعابِdifficult
لَوَقَيناكَ في الأُمورِ الصِعابِ
If death could be repelled by strength of valor,
we would have shielded you through difficult trials
بِأُسودٍwith lions بيضِwhite of الوُجوهِthe faces طِوالِlong of الthe
بِأُسودٍ بيضِ الوُجوهِ طِوالِ ال
باعِreach شُمِّhigh of الأُنوفِthe noses غُلبِthick of الرِقابِthe necks
باعِ شُمِّ الأُنوفِ غُلبِ الرِقابِ
with white-faced lions, long of reach,
high of nose and thick of neck.
تَرَكواthey left اللَهوَdiversion لِلغُواةِto the misguided وَأَفنواand spent
تَرَكوا اللَهوَ لِلغُواةِ وَأَفنوا
عُمرَهُمtheir lives فيin كَتائِبٍbattalions أَوor كِتابِa book
عُمرَهُم في كَتائِبٍ أَو كِتابِ
They left diversion to the misguided and spent
their lives among battalions or over a book.
وَجِيادٍand steeds مِثلِlike العَقارِبِscorpions نَحوَtoward الthe
وَجِيادٍ مِثلِ العَقارِبِ نَحوَ ال
رَوعِterror تَسعىthey hasten شَوائِلَraising الأَذنابِthe tails
رَوعِ تَسعى شَوائِلَ الأَذنابِ
And steeds like scorpions, toward
terror they hastened, their tails raised high.
كُلِّevery طِرفٍnoble steed مُطَهَّمٍwell-formed سائِلِflowing الغُرthe forehead blaze (first part)
كُلِّ طِرفٍ مُطَهَّمٍ سائِلِ الغُر
رَةِforehead blaze (final part) جَعدِshort and thick in الرِسغَينِboth pasterns سِبطِsmooth of الإِهابِhide
رَةِ جَعدِ الرِسغَينِ سِبطِ الإِهابِ
Every noble steed, well-formed, with a flowing forehead blaze,
stout in both pasterns, sleek of hide.
كُنتَyou were ذُخراًa treasure لَناfor us لَوَif only اَنَّthat المَناياthe fates of death
كُنتَ ذُخراً لَنا لَوَ اَنَّ المَنايا
جُنِّبَتwere kept away عَنfrom رَفيعِthe exaltedness of ذاكَthat الجَنابِpresence
جُنِّبَت عَن رَفيعِ ذاكَ الجَنابِ
You were our treasure—if only the fates of death
had been kept away from that exalted presence!
لَمnot أَكُنI was جازِعاًdistressed وَأَنتَwhile you were قَريبٌnear
لَم أَكُن جازِعاً وَأَنتَ قَريبٌ
لِبُعادِat the distance of الأَهلينَfamily وَالأَنسابِand kindred
لِبُعادِ الأَهلينَ وَالأَنسابِ
I was not distressed, while you were near,
by the distance of family and kindred.
كانَwas ليto me جودُكَyour generosity العَميمُall-embracing أَنيساًa companion
كانَ لي جودُكَ العَميمُ أَنيساً
فيin اِنفِراديmy solitude وَمَوطِناًand a homeland فيin اِغتِرابيmy life abroad
في اِنفِرادي وَمَوطِناً في اِغتِرابي
Your all-embracing generosity was my companion
in my solitude, and a homeland in my life abroad.
ماnot بَقائيmy survival مِنfrom بَعدِafter فَقدِكَlosing you إِلّاexcept
ما بَقائي مِن بَعدِ فَقدِكَ إِلّا
كَبَقاءِlike the survival of الرِياضِgardens بَعدَafter السَحابِthe clouds
كَبَقاءِ الرِياضِ بَعدَ السَحابِ
My survival after losing you is only
like the survival of gardens after the clouds have passed.
Sol 6.1