أَسَلَبنَdid they strip away مِنfrom فَوقِabove النَهودِthe breasts ذَوائِباtresses
أَسَلَبنَ مِن فَوقِ النَهودِ ذَوائِبا
فَجَعَلنَand so they made حَبّاتِthe cores of القُلوبِthe hearts ذَوائِباmelting
فَجَعَلنَ حَبّاتِ القُلوبِ ذَوائِبا
Did they strip tresses from above their breasts,
They let down their plaits over their necks
And so make the hearts' very cores melt?
And made the hearts' beads into plaits
وَجَلَونَand they revealed مِنfrom صُبحِthe dawn of الُوجوهِthe faces أَشِعَّةًrays
وَجَلَونَ مِن صُبحِ الُوجوهِ أَشِعَّةً
غادَرنَthey left فَودَthe temple of اللَيلِthe night مِنهاfrom them شائِباgrey-haired
غادَرنَ فَودَ اللَيلِ مِنها شائِبا
They revealed rays from the dawn of their faces
And picked rays from the dawn of faces
That left the temples of night grey-haired.
Leaving the affection of night with some gray in it
بيضٌfair maidens دَعاهِنَّhe called them الغَبِيُّthe fool كَواعِباfull-breasted maidens
بيضٌ دَعاهِنَّ الغَبِيُّ كَواعِبا
وَلوِand if اِستِبانَhe had discerned الرَشدَright judgment قالَhe would have said كَواكِباstars
وَلوِ اِستِبانَ الرَشدَ قالَ كَواكِبا
Fair maidens whom the fool called full-breasted girls;
White ones whom the fool called flirts
Had he discerned rightly, he would have called them stars.
If discernment became clear he’d have said planets
وَرَبائِبٌand pampered maidens فَإِذاand if رَأَيتَyou saw نِفارَهاtheir shying away
وَرَبائِبٌ فَإِذا رَأَيتَ نِفارَها
مِنfrom بَسطِthe offering of أُنسِكَyour familiarity خِلتَهُنَّyou would think them رَبارِباherds of wild antelope
مِن بَسطِ أُنسِكَ خِلتَهُنَّ رَبارِبا
And pampered maidens: if you saw them shy away
And girls so if you see their departure
From your offered familiarity, you would think them herds of wild antelope.
From your companionship's expanse they'd seem fluttering
سَفَهاًfolly رَأَينَthey deemed المانَوِيَّةَManichaeism عِندَماwhen
سَفَهاً رَأَينَ المانَوِيَّةَ عِندَما
أَسبَلنَthey let fall مِنfrom ظُلمِthe darkness of الشُعورِthe hair غياهِباdepths of darkness
أَسبَلنَ مِن ظُلمِ الشُعورِ غياهِبا
They deemed Manichaeism folly when
The Manichaeans foolishly saw them when
They let fall deep darkness from their dark hair.
They let down from the darkness of hair complications
وَسَفَرنَand they unveiled themselves ليto me فَرَأَينَand they saw شَخصاًa person حاضِراًpresent
وَسَفَرنَ لي فَرَأَينَ شَخصاً حاضِراً
شُدِهَتwas bewildered بَصيرَتُهُhis inner sight وَقَلباًand a heart غائِباًabsent
شُدِهَت بَصيرَتُهُ وَقَلباً غائِباً
They unveiled themselves to me and saw a man present,
And traveled to me so they saw someone present
His inner sight bewildered, and a heart absent.
Whose insight was dazed and whose heart absent
أَشرَقنَthey shone فيin حُلِلٍrobes كَأَنَّas though وَميضَهاtheir gleaming
أَشرَقنَ في حُلِلٍ كَأَنَّ وَميضَها
شَفَقٌtwilight glow تَدَرَّعُهُdons it الشُموسُthe suns جَلابِباas gowns
شَفَقٌ تَدَرَّعُهُ الشُموسُ جَلابِبا
They shone in robes whose gleaming seemed
They shone in garments as if their radiance
A twilight glow the suns had donned as gowns.
Were a dawn clad in suns as cloaks
وَغَرَبنَand they set فيbehind كِلَلٍcurtains فَقُلتُso I said لِصاحِبيto my companion
وَغَرَبنَ في كِلَلٍ فَقُلتُ لِصاحِبي
بَأَبيmy father as ransom for الشُموسِthe suns الجانِحاتِinclining غَوارِباsetting
بَأَبي الشُموسِ الجانِحاتِ غَوارِبا
They set behind curtains, and I told my companion:
And set in exhaustion so I said to my companion
My father be ransom for those suns inclining toward their setting!
By my father the swooping suns wandering
وَمُعَربِدِand one riotous in اللَحَظاتِglances يَثنيhe bends عِطفَهُhis side
وَمُعَربِدِ اللَحَظاتِ يَثني عِطفَهُ
فَيُخالُand so he is thought مِنfrom مَرَحِthe exuberance of الشَبيبَةِyouth شارِباdrunk
فَيُخالُ مِن مَرَحِ الشَبيبَةِ شارِبا
And one with riotous glances sways his body,
Flirting with moments bending its inclination
And seems, from youth's exuberance, to be drunk.
It imagines away from the wine of youth a drinker
حُلوِsweet in التَعَتُّبِreproach وَالدَلالِand coyness يَروعُهُalarms him
حُلوِ التَعَتُّبِ وَالدَلالِ يَروعُهُ
عَتَبيmy reproach وَلَستُand I am not أَراهُseeing him إِلّاexcept عاتِباreproaching
عَتَبي وَلَستُ أَراهُ إِلّا عاتِبا
Sweet in reproach and coyness, he is alarmed
Sweetly complaining and coquettish it frightens him
By my reproach, though I see him only reproaching.
My reproach and I don’t see it except as reproaching
عاتَبتُهُI reproached him فَتَضَرَّجَتand then flushed وَجَناتُهُhis cheeks
عاتَبتُهُ فَتَضَرَّجَت وَجَناتُهُ
وَاِزوَرَّand he turned aside أَلحاظاًhis glances وَقَطَّبَand he knitted حاجِباa brow
وَاِزوَرَّ أَلحاظاً وَقَطَّبَ حاجِبا
I reproached him, and his cheeks flushed;
I reproached it so its cheeks trembled
He turned his glances aside and knitted a brow.
And it squinted its glances and knitted its brow
فَأَذابَنيand it melted me الحَدُّthe edge الكَليمُwounded وَطَرفُهُand his glance
فَأَذابَني الحَدُّ الكَليمُ وَطَرفُهُ
ذوpossessor of النونِthe fish إِذwhen ذَهَبَhe went الغَداةَthat morning مُغاضِباin anger
ذو النونِ إِذ ذَهَبَ الغَداةَ مُغاضِبا
The wounded edge melted me, and his glance was
So the gentle reproach and its glance melted me
Dhu al-Nun, when he went off that morning in anger.
The letter Nūn when it angrily went in the morning
ذوpossessor of مَنظَرٍa countenance تَغدوbecome القُلوبُthe hearts لِحُسنِهِfor its beauty
ذو مَنظَرٍ تَغدو القُلوبُ لِحُسنِهِ
نَهباًplunder وَإِنalthough مَنَحَhe bestowed العُيونَupon the eyes مَواهِباgifts
نَهباً وَإِن مَنَحَ العُيونَ مَواهِبا
He has a countenance whose beauty makes hearts
With a look the hearts in the morning go to its beauty
Plunder, though he bestows gifts upon the eyes.
As booty even if it bestowed on the eyes gifts
لاno بِدعَwonder إِنif وَهَبَhe granted النَواظِرَthe gazing eyes حُظوَةًa favor
لا بِدعَ إِن وَهَبَ النَواظِرَ حُظوَةً
مِنfrom نورِهِhis light وَدَعاهُand called him قَلبيmy heart ناهِباa plunderer
مِن نورِهِ وَدَعاهُ قَلبي ناهِبا
No wonder if he grants the gazing eyes a favor
My king your gifts to the sights are inevitable
From his light, while my heart calls him a plunderer.
Of its light and my heart called it despoiling
فَمَواهِبُfor the gifts of السُلطانِthe sultan قَدindeed كَسَتِhave clothed الوَرىmankind
فَمَواهِبُ السُلطانِ قَد كَسَتِ الوَرى
نِعَماًin blessings وَتَدعوهُand call him القَساوِرُthe lions سالِباa despoiler
نِعَماً وَتَدعوهُ القَساوِرُ سالِبا
For the sultan's gifts have clothed mankind
So the sultan's gifts covered the earth
In blessings, yet lions call him a despoiler.
With bounty and the palaces call him depriving
الناصِرُAl-Nasir المَلِكُthe king الَّذيwho خَضَعَتbowed لَهُto him
الناصِرُ المَلِكُ الَّذي خَضَعَت لَهُ
صيدُthe proud ones among المُلوكِthe kings مَشارِقاًin the east وَمَغارِباand in the west
صيدُ المُلوكِ مَشارِقاً وَمَغارِبا
Al-Nasir, the king to whom have bowed
The victorious king whom the kings' prey
The proud kings of east and west.
East and west submitted to
مَلِكٌa king يَرىwho sees تَعَبَthe toil of المَكارِمِnoble deeds راحَةًas rest
مَلِكٌ يَرى تَعَبَ المَكارِمِ راحَةً
وَيَعُدُّand he counts راحاتِrests from القِراعِcombat مَتاعِباas hardships
وَيَعُدُّ راحاتِ القِراعِ مَتاعِبا
A king who sees the toil of noble deeds as rest,
A king who sees the toil of virtues as rest
And counts rest from combat as hardship.
And counts the rests of lazy ones as toils
بِمَكارِمَwith acts of bounty تَذرُthat leave السَباسِبَthe barren plains أَبحُراًas seas
بِمَكارِمَ تَذرُ السَباسِبَ أَبحُراً
وَعَزائِمٍand resolves تَذرُthat leave البِحارَthe seas وَمُحارِباand battlefields
وَعَزائِمٍ تَذرُ البِحارَ وَمُحارِبا
With acts of bounty that turn barren plains to seas,
With your virtues you make the seas seem shallow
And resolves that turn the seas into battlefields.
And with resolves the seas seem scant warring
لَمnot تَخلُhas lacked أَرضٌany land مِنfrom ثَناهُhis praise وَإِنand if خَلَتit lacked
لَم تَخلُ أَرضٌ مِن ثَناهُ وَإِن خَلَت
مِنfrom ذِكرِهِhis mention مُلِئَتit was filled قَناًwith spears وَقَواضِباand cutting swords
مِن ذِكرِهِ مُلِئَت قَناً وَقَواضِبا
No land lacks his praise; and if it lacks
No land was devoid of your praise and if it lacked
His mention, it is filled with spears and cutting swords.
Your mention it was filled with reedbeds and boats
تُرجىare hoped for مَواهِبُهُhis gifts وَيُرهَبُand is feared بَطشُهُhis might
تُرجى مَواهِبُهُ وَيُرهَبُ بَطشُهُ
مِثلَlike الزَمانِTime مُسالِماًat peace وَمُحارِباand waging war
مِثلَ الزَمانِ مُسالِماً وَمُحارِبا
His gifts are hoped for, and his might is feared,
Your gifts are hoped for and your power feared
Like Time, whether at peace or waging war.
Like time both peaceful and warring
فَإِذاand when سَطاhe strikes مَلَأَhe fills القُلوبَthe hearts مَهابَةًwith awe
فَإِذا سَطا مَلَأَ القُلوبَ مَهابَةً
وَإِذاand when سَخاhe gives generously مَلَأَhe fills العُيونَthe eyes مَواهِباwith gifts
وَإِذا سَخا مَلَأَ العُيونَ مَواهِبا
When he strikes, he fills hearts with awe;
So when you are generous you fill hearts with awe
And when he gives, he fills eyes with gifts.
And when you give freely you fill eyes with gifts
كَالغَيثِlike rain يَبعَثُhe sends مِنfrom عَطاهُhis bounty وابِلاًa downpour
كَالغَيثِ يَبعَثُ مِن عَطاهُ وابِلاً
سَبطاًcopious وَيُرسِلُand he sends مِنfrom سَطاهُhis might حاصِباa stone-hurling storm
سَبطاً وَيُرسِلُ مِن سَطاهُ حاصِبا
Like rain, he sends from his bounty a downpour,
Like rain whose plenty sends a pouring rain
Copious, and from his might sends a storm of stones.
Generous and whose power sends a pelting hail
كَاللَيثِlike a lion يَحميhe guards غابَهُhis thicket بِزَئيرِهِwith his roar
كَاللَيثِ يَحمي غابَهُ بِزَئيرِهِ
طَوراًat times وَيُنشِبُand he sinks فيinto القَنيصِthe prey مَخالِباclaws
طَوراً وَيُنشِبُ في القَنيصِ مَخالِبا
Like a lion, he guards his thicket with his roar
Like a lion guarding his thicket with his roar
At times, and sinks claws into his prey.
At times and tearing at the fleece with claws
كَالسَيفِlike a sword يُبديhe displays لِلنَواظِرِto the gazing eyes مَنظَراًa visage
كَالسَيفِ يُبدي لِلنَواظِرِ مَنظَراً
طَلقاًbright and open وَيُمضيand he drives home فيin الهَياجِbattle مَضارِباstriking edges
طَلقاً وَيُمضي في الهَياجِ مَضارِبا
Like a sword, he shows the gazing eyes a visage
Like a sword showing to sights a bright blade
Bright and open, and drives his edges home in battle.
Smoothly and smiting in the melee striking
كَالسَيلِlike a torrent يُحمَدُhe is praised مِنهُfrom him عَذباًas sweet water واصِلاًarriving
كَالسَيلِ يُحمَدُ مِنهُ عَذباً واصِلاً
وَيَعُدُّهُand count him قَومٌsome people عَذاباًas torment واصِباunceasing
وَيَعُدُّهُ قَومٌ عَذاباً واصِبا
Like a torrent, he is praised as sweet water arriving,
Like a torrent some praise its fresh water
While some count him ceaseless torment.
Flowing and some call it punishing and flooding
كَالبَحرِlike the sea يُهديhe gives لِلنُفوسِto souls نَفائِساًprecious treasures
كَالبَحرِ يُهدي لِلنُفوسِ نَفائِساً
مِنهُfrom him وَيُبديand he displays لِلعُيونِto the eyes عَجائِباmarvels
مِنهُ وَيُبدي لِلعُيونِ عَجائِبا
Like the sea, he offers souls precious treasures
Like the sea giving souls precious things
From himself, and shows the eyes marvels.
From it and showing to eyes wonders
فَإِذاand if نَظَرتَyou consider نَدىthe bounty of يَدَيهِhis hands رَأيَهُhis judgment
فَإِذا نَظَرتَ نَدى يَدَيهِ رَأيَهُ
لَمnot تُلفِwill you find إِلّاexcept صائِباًpouring forth أَوor صائِباunerring
لَم تُلفِ إِلّا صائِباً أَو صائِبا
If you consider his hands' bounty and his judgment,
So if you looked at the bounty of its hands you’d see
You find only a downpour, or judgment that hits the mark.
None but the successful or the success-giving
أَبقىleft قَلاونُQalawun الفَخارَglory لِوُلدِهِfor his children
أَبقى قَلاونُ الفَخارَ لِوُلدِهِ
إِرثاًas an inheritance وَفازواand they won بِالثَناءِpraise مَكاسِباas earnings
إِرثاً وَفازوا بِالثَناءِ مَكاسِبا
Qalawun left glory for his children
The potter left his children as inheritance
As an inheritance, and they won praise as their earnings.
Jars of clay and they won praise profiting
قَومٌa people إِذاwho when سَئِمواthey tired of الصَوافِنَthe poised steeds صَيَّرواthey made
قَومٌ إِذا سَئِموا الصَوافِنَ صَيَّروا
لِلمَجدِfor glory أَخطارَthe perils of الأُمورِaffairs مَراكِباmounts
لِلمَجدِ أَخطارَ الأُمورِ مَراكِبا
A people who, when tired of their poised steeds, make
A people when tired of sweeping to glory
The perils of great affairs their mounts toward glory.
Made dangers steeds and ships seafaring
عَشِقواthey loved الحُروبَwars تَيَمُّناًseeking good fortune بِلِقىin meeting العِدىthe foes
عَشِقوا الحُروبَ تَيَمُّناً بِلِقى العِدى
فَكَأَنَّهُمas though they حَسِبواconsidered العُداةَthe enemies حَبائِباbeloved friends
فَكَأَنَّهُم حَسِبوا العُداةَ حَبائِبا
They loved wars, seeking good fortune in meeting their foes,
They loved war inclining to meeting the foe
As though they took their enemies for beloved friends.
As if deeming foes to be loved ones
وَكَأَنَّماand as though ظَنّواthey thought السُيوفَthe swords سَوالِفاًnecks
وَكَأَنَّما ظَنّوا السُيوفَ سَوالِفاً
وَاللُدنَand supple spears قَدّاًa slender figure وَلِلقِسِيِّand for the bows حَواجِباeyebrows
وَاللُدنَ قَدّاً وَلِلقِسِيِّ حَواجِبا
As though they thought swords were necks,
As if they thought swords were tavern friends
And supple spears slender figures, and bows eyebrows.
And spears vines and to the valiant brows
ياO أَيُّهاyou المَلِكُking العَزيزُmighty وَمَنand one who لَهُpossesses
يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ العَزيزُ وَمَن لَهُ
شَرَفٌhonor يَجُرُّthat trails عَلىacross النُجومِthe stars ذَوائِباtresses
شَرَفٌ يَجُرُّ عَلى النُجومِ ذَوائِبا
O mighty king, and you who possess
O mighty king and he of noble lineage
An honor that trails its tresses across the stars!
That trails upon the stars plaits
أَصلَحتَyou made peace بَينَamong المُسلِمينَthe Muslims بِهِمَّةٍwith resolve
أَصلَحتَ بَينَ المُسلِمينَ بِهِمَّةٍ
تَذَرُthat makes الأَجانِبَstrangers بِالوَدادِthrough affection أَقارِباkinsmen
تَذَرُ الأَجانِبَ بِالوَدادِ أَقارِبا
You made peace among the Muslims with a resolve
You reconciled the Muslims with resolve
That makes strangers kinsmen through affection.
That left foreigners in amity as kin
وَوَهَبتَهُمand you gave them زَمَنَan age of الأَمانِsafety فَمَنso who رَأىhas seen
وَوَهَبتَهُم زَمَنَ الأَمانِ فَمَن رَأى
مَلِكاًa king يَكونُbecomes لَهُamong his الزَمانُTime مَواهِباgifts
مَلِكاً يَكونُ لَهُ الزَمانُ مَواهِبا
You gave them an age of safety; who has ever seen
And you granted them days of security so who saw
A king with Time itself among his gifts?
A king to whom time grants gifts
فَرَأَواand they saw خِطاباًdiscourse كانَthat had been خَطباًa crisis فادِحاًgrievous
فَرَأَوا خِطاباً كانَ خَطباً فادِحاً
لَهُمfor them وَكُتَّباًand books كُنَّthat had been قَبلُbefore كَتائِباbattalions
لَهُم وَكُتَّباً كُنَّ قَبلُ كَتائِبا
They saw discourse where there had been a grievous crisis
So they saw a discourse that had been to them
For them, and books where battalions had stood before.
Ruinous epistles before regrouping
وَحَرَستَand you guarded مُلكَكَyour kingdom مِنagainst رَجيمٍan accursed one مارِدٍrebellious
وَحَرَستَ مُلكَكَ مِن رَجيمٍ مارِدٍ
بِعَزائِمٍwith resolves إِنthat if صُلتَyou attacked كُنَّthey became قَواضِباcutting swords
بِعَزائِمٍ إِن صُلتَ كُنَّ قَواضِبا
You guarded your kingdom against an accursed rebel
And you guarded your kingdom from a stubborn rebel
With resolves that, when you attack, become cutting swords.
With resolves that if united were boats
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen خَطِفَsnatched المَكافِحُthe assailant خَطفَةًa snatching
حَتّى إِذا خَطِفَ المَكافِحُ خَطفَةً
أَتبَعتَهُyou sent after him مِنهاfrom them شِهاباًa meteor ثاقِباpiercing
أَتبَعتَهُ مِنها شِهاباً ثاقِبا
Until, when the assailant snatched something away,
Until when the struggler snatched a snatch
You sent after him from them a piercing meteor.
You followed it with a piercing flame
لاnot يَنفَعُbenefits التَجريبُexperience خَصمَكَyour adversary بَعدَafter ماwhat
لا يَنفَعُ التَجريبُ خَصمَكَ بَعدَ ما
أَفنَيتَyou destroyed مَنthose who أَفنىused up الزَمانَtheir lifetime تَجارِباin experiments
أَفنَيتَ مَن أَفنى الزَمانَ تَجارِبا
Experience cannot help your adversary after
Experimentation benefits not your adversary after
You destroyed those who spent their lives in experiments.
You destroyed those time destroyed experimenting
صَرَّمتَyou scattered شَملَthe company of المارِقينَthe rebels بِصارِمٍwith a sharp sword
صَرَّمتَ شَملَ المارِقينَ بِصارِمٍ
تُبديهِyou display it مَسلوباًstripped bare فَيَرجِعُand so it returns سالِباdespoiling
تُبديهِ مَسلوباً فَيَرجِعُ سالِبا
You scattered the rebels' company with a sharp sword:
You scattered the group of the schismatics with a sword
You display it stripped bare, and it returns a despoiler.
You show it looted and it returns depriving
صافيclear in الفِرِندِblade-patterning حَكىit resembled صَباحاًa morning جامِداًmade solid
صافي الفِرِندِ حَكى صَباحاً جامِداً
أَبدىit revealed النَجيعَfresh blood بِهِupon it شُعاعاًas a ray ذائِباmolten
أَبدى النَجيعَ بِهِ شُعاعاً ذائِبا
Its blade-pattern clear, it resembled a morning made solid;
The dawn's clarity told of a frozen morn
It revealed the blood upon it as a molten ray.
Revealing languor in it a melting radiance
وَكَتيبَةٍand a battalion تَذَرُthat makes الصَهيلَneighing رَواعِداًthunderclaps
وَكَتيبَةٍ تَذَرُ الصَهيلَ رَواعِداً
وَالبيضَand white blades بَرقاًlightning وَالعَجاجَand dust سَحائِباclouds
وَالبيضَ بَرقاً وَالعَجاجَ سَحائِبا
And a battalion that turns neighing into thunder,
And a band making the neighing pillars
White blades into lightning, and dust into clouds.
And the white lightning and clouds dense
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ريحُthe wind of الجِلادِcombat حَدَثَarose لَهاabout it
حَتّى إِذا ريحُ الجِلادِ حَدَثَ لَها
مَطَرَتit rained فَكانَand was الوَبِلُthe downpour نَبلاًarrows صائِباstriking true
مَطَرَت فَكانَ الوَبِلُ نَبلاً صائِبا
Until, when the wind of combat rose about it,
Until when the wind of blades spoke to them
It rained: its downpour was arrows striking true.
It rained so the pouring was striking arrows
بِذَوائِبٍwith forelocks مُلدٍsupple يُخَلنَthey seem أَراقِماًspotted snakes
بِذَوائِبٍ مُلدٍ يُخَلنَ أَراقِماً
وَشَوائِلٍand upraised tails جُردٍbare يُخَلنَthey seem عَقارِباscorpions
وَشَوائِلٍ جُردٍ يُخَلنَ عَقارِبا
With supple forelocks that seemed spotted snakes,
With twisted plaits rending frames
And bare, upraised tails that seemed scorpions.
And bare tresses rending spider veins
تَطَأُit tramples الصُدورَchests مِنَfrom الصُدورِthe front ranks كَأَنَّماas though
تَطَأُ الصُدورَ مِنَ الصُدورِ كَأَنَّما
تَعتاضُit substitutes مِنfor وَطءِtreading التُرابِthe earth تَرائِباbreastbones
تَعتاضُ مِن وَطءِ التُرابِ تَرائِبا
From its front ranks it tramples chests, as though
Treading on breasts from breasts as if
It traded treading earth for breastbones.
Trampling earth's soil in succession
فَأَقَمتَand you stayed تَقسِمُallotting لِلوُحوشِto the wild beasts وَظائِفاًrations
فَأَقَمتَ تَقسِمُ لِلوُحوشِ وَظائِفاً
فيهاthere وَتَصنَعُand you prepare لِلنُسورِfor the vultures مَآدِباbanquets
فيها وَتَصنَعُ لِلنُسورِ مَآدِبا
You stayed to allot rations to the wild beasts
So you remained dividing tasks among the beasts
There, and to prepare banquets for the vultures.
There and making for the eagles banquets
وَجَعَلتَand you made هاماتِthe heads of الكُماةِthe warriors مَنابِراًpulpits
وَجَعَلتَ هاماتِ الكُماةِ مَنابِراً
وَأَقَمتَand you installed حَدَّthe edge of السَيفِthe sword فيهاupon them خاطِباas a preacher
وَأَقَمتَ حَدَّ السَيفِ فيها خاطِبا
You made the warriors' heads into pulpits,
And you made the towering vultures platforms
And set the sword's edge upon them as a preacher.
And carried out the sword's sentence speaking among them
ياO راكِبَrider of الخَطَرِperil الجَليلِmighty وَقَولُهُand its words
يا راكِبَ الخَطَرِ الجَليلِ وَقَولُهُ
فَخراًproudly بِمَجدِكَof your glory لاnot عَدَمتَmay you lack الراكِباthe rider
فَخراً بِمَجدِكَ لا عَدَمتَ الراكِبا
O rider of mighty peril—and its words,
O rider of great and perilous risk and his words
Proud of your glory: 'May you never lack the rider!'
Are pride in your glory may the rider not be lost
صَيَّرتَyou turned أَسحارَthe predawn hours of السَماحِgenerosity بِواكِراًinto mornings
صَيَّرتَ أَسحارَ السَماحِ بِواكِراً
وَجَعَلتَand you made أَيّامَthe days of الكِفاحِbattle غَياهِباdepths of darkness
وَجَعَلتَ أَيّامَ الكِفاحِ غَياهِبا
You turned generosity's predawn hours into mornings,
You made dawns of bounty daybreaks
And made the days of battle depths of darkness.
And made days of struggle disappearances
وَبَذَلتَand you lavished لِلمُدّاحِon the praisers صَفوَthe purity of خَلائِقٍcharacter
وَبَذَلتَ لِلمُدّاحِ صَفوَ خَلائِقٍ
لَوif أَنَّهاit were لِلبَحرِthe sea's طابَit would be sweet مَشارِباto drink
لَو أَنَّها لِلبَحرِ طابَ مَشارِبا
You lavished on your praisers purity of character
And you gave the praiser choice of creation
That, were it the sea's, would make its waters sweet to drink.
If it were for the sea its drink would be pure
فَرَأَوكَand they saw you فيin جَنبِregard to النُضارِpure gold مُفَرِّطاًprodigal
فَرَأَوكَ في جَنبِ النُضارِ مُفَرِّطاً
وَعَلىand in صِلاتِكَyour gifts وَالصَلاةِand prayer مُواظِباsteadfast
وَعَلى صِلاتِكَ وَالصَلاةِ مُواظِبا
They found you prodigal where gold was concerned,
So they saw you next to the delicate freely spending
And steadfast in your gifts and prayers.
And steadfast in your prayers and praying
إِنif يَحرُسِguard الناسُpeople النُضارَpure gold بِحاجِبٍwith a gatekeeper
إِن يَحرُسِ الناسُ النُضارَ بِحاجِبٍ
كانَwas السَماحُgenerosity لِعَينِfor the eye of مالِكَyour wealth حاجِباan eyebrow
كانَ السَماحُ لِعَينِ مالِكَ حاجِبا
If people guard their gold with a gatekeeper,
If people guard delicacy with a brow
Generosity was the eyebrow over your wealth's eye.
Bounty was to your eye a brow
لَمnot يَملَأواdid they fill فيكَabout you البُيوتَthe verses غَرائِباًwith marvels
لَم يَملَأوا فيكَ البُيوتَ غَرائِباً
إِلّاexcept وَقَدwhen already مَلَأواthey had filled البُيوتَthe houses رَغائِباwith coveted gifts
إِلّا وَقَد مَلَأوا البُيوتَ رَغائِبا
They never filled their verses about you with marvels
They did not fill houses with wonders about you
Without having filled their houses with coveted gifts.
Unless they filled houses with ruins
أَوor لَيتَنيwould that I قَبلَbefore المَديحِthe praise عِنايَةًcare
أَو لَيتَني قَبلَ المَديحِ عِنايَةً
وَمَلَأتَand you filled عَينيmy eyes هَيبَةًwith awe وَمَواهِباand gifts
وَمَلَأتَ عَيني هَيبَةً وَمَواهِبا
Or would that I had received care before the praise,
Oh would that before praise I had care
And you filled my eyes with awe and gifts.
And you filled my eye with awe and gifts
وَرَفَعتَand you raised قَدريmy standing فيamong الأَنامِmankind وَقَدand indeed رَأَواthey saw
وَرَفَعتَ قَدري في الأَنامِ وَقَد رَأَوا
مِثليone like me لِمِثلِكَto one like you خاطِباًaddressing وَمُخَطِباand prompting speech
مِثلي لِمِثلِكَ خاطِباً وَمُخَطِبا
You raised my standing among mankind, and they saw
And raised my worth among people though they saw
One like me addressing one like you, and prompting speech.
The like of me to the like of you praising and praised
فيin مَجلِسٍan assembly ساوىthat equalized الحَلائِقَthe people فيin النَدىbounty
في مَجلِسٍ ساوى الحَلائِقَ في النَدى
وَتَرَتَّبَتand were arranged فيهِwithin it المُلوكُthe kings مَراتِباًin ranks
وَتَرَتَّبَت فيهِ المُلوكُ مَراتِباً
In an assembly that treated all people equally in bounty,
In a session that equaled creations in dew
While kings within it were arranged in ranks.
And kings were ranked in it by degrees
وَافيتُهُI reached it فيin الفُلكِthe boat أَسعىmoving جالِساًseated
وَافيتُهُ في الفُلكِ أَسعى جالِساً
فَخراًproudly عَلىover مَنone who جاءَcame يَمشيwalking راكِباmounted
فَخراً عَلى مَن جاءَ يَمشي راكِبا
I reached it in a boat, moving while seated,
I came to him in the ship hurrying seated
Proud over him who came walking while mounted.
Pride on one who came walking mounted
فَأَقَمتُand I stayed أُنفِذُenforcing فيupon الزَمانِTime أَوامِراًcommands
فَأَقَمتُ أُنفِذُ في الزَمانِ أَوامِراً
مِنّيfrom me وَأُنشِبُand I sink فيinto الخُطوبِcalamities مَخالِباclaws
مِنّي وَأُنشِبُ في الخُطوبِ مَخالِبا
Then I stayed to enforce commands upon Time,
So I remained executing in time commands
Of my own, and sink my claws into calamities.
From me and tearing into afflictions with claws
وَسَقَتنِيَand gave me drink الدُنياthe world غَداةَon the morning أَتَيتُهُI came to him
وَسَقَتنِيَ الدُنيا غَداةَ أَتَيتُهُ
رَيّاًto full satisfaction وَماand not مَطَرَتdid it rain عَلَيَّupon me مَصائِباdisasters
رَيّاً وَما مَطَرَت عَلَيَّ مَصائِبا
The world gave me drink on the morning I came to him,
And the world on the day I came to him gave me
Enough to quench me, and rained no disasters upon me.
To drink and did not pour misfortunes on me
فَطَفِقتُand I began أَملَأُfilling مِنwith ثَناكَyour praise وَنَشرِهِand its spreading
فَطَفِقتُ أَملَأُ مِن ثَناكَ وَنَشرِهِ
حِقَباًages وَأَملَأُand I fill مِنwith نَداكَyour bounty حَقائِباbags
حِقَباً وَأَملَأُ مِن نَداكَ حَقائِبا
So I began filling, with your praise and its spreading,
So I took to filling from your branch and scattering
Ages, and filling bags with your bounty.
Satchels and filling from your bounty bags
أُثنيI praise فَتَثنيbut turn me back صِفاتُكَyour qualities مُظهِراًrevealing
أُثني فَتَثني صِفاتُكَ مُظهِراً
عِيّاًinability to speak وَكَمand how often أَعيَتhave baffled صِفاتُكَyour qualities خاطِباa speaker
عِيّاً وَكَم أَعيَت صِفاتُكَ خاطِبا
I offer praise, but your qualities turn me back, revealing
I list so your attributes list showing
My inadequacy—how many a speaker your qualities have baffled!
Wearily though how your attributes tire the praiser
لَوif أَنَّindeed أَغصاناًbranches جَميعاًall أَلسُنٌّwere tongues
لَو أَنَّ أَغصاناً جَميعاً أَلسُنٌّ
نُثنيwe praise عَلَيكَyou لَماthey still would not قَضَينَfulfill الواجِباwhat is due
نُثني عَلَيكَ لَما قَضَينَ الواجِبا
If all branches were tongues,
If branches altogether were tongues
We would praise you, yet they would not fulfill what is due.
Praising you they'd not fulfill the duty
Sol 6.1