سَفَحَhe poured المِزاجَthe mixing water عَلىover حُمَيّاthe fiery strength of الكاسِthe cup
سَفَحَ المِزاجَ عَلى حُمَيّا الكاسِ
وَسَعىand went about يَطوفُcirculating بِهاwith it عَلىamong الجُلّاسِthe seated guests
وَسَعى يَطوفُ بِها عَلى الجُلّاسِ
He poured the mixing water over the cup's fiery wine,
He poured good humor into the wineglass
and went about passing it among the seated guests.
And bustled about offering it to the revelers
ساقٍa cupbearer فَلَوso if طَرَحَhe cast aside المُدامَthe wine لَأَسكَرَتwould surely intoxicate
ساقٍ فَلَو طَرَحَ المُدامَ لَأَسكَرَت
صَهباءَtawny wine فاتِرِlanguid طَرفِهِhis gaze النَعّاسِdrowsy
صَهباءَ فاتِرِ طَرفِهِ النَعّاسِ
A cupbearer—had he cast the wine aside, one would still be intoxicated by
Almost intoxicating the doe-eyed ones
the tawny wine of his languid, drowsy gaze.
With languid, drowsy eyes
سَكرانُdrunk مِنfrom خَمرِthe wine of الدِنانِthe wine jars كَأَنَّماas though
سَكرانُ مِن خَمرِ الدِنانِ كَأَنَّما
عَبَثَplayed النَسيمُthe breeze بِقَدِّهِwith his form المَيّاسِswaying gracefully
عَبَثَ النَسيمُ بِقَدِّهِ المَيّاسِ
Drunk on the wine of the jars, he seemed as though
Drunk on the wine of conviviality as though
the breeze were playing with his swaying form.
The soft breeze had tousled his flowing locks
سالَflowed العِذارُthe cheek-down عَلىover أَسيلِthe smooth surface of خُدودِهِhis cheeks
سالَ العِذارُ عَلى أَسيلِ خُدودِهِ
فَغَداso it began يُسيِّجُhedging وُردَهاtheir roses بِالآسِwith myrtle
فَغَدا يُسيِّجُ وُردَها بِالآسِ
His cheek-down flowed over his smooth cheeks,
Pleasure streamed over his cheeks’ brooks
and began to hedge their roses with myrtle.
So he started fencing his roses with wit
ساوىmatched الرِفاقَthe companions بِشُربِهاin drinking it حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen
ساوى الرِفاقَ بِشُربِها حَتّى إِذا
ثَمِلَgrew drunk المُديرُthe cupbearer وَغابَand vanished رُشدُthe judgment of الحاسيthe drinker
ثَمِلَ المُديرُ وَغابَ رُشدُ الحاسي
He matched his companions in drinking it, until, when
He made the friends equal by drinking until
the cupbearer grew drunk and the drinker's judgment fled,
The host grew heady and reason left the sober
سَكَنَتit settled in مَقَرَّthe seat of عُقولِهِمtheir minds وَتَمَكَّنَتand took firm hold
سَكَنَت مَقَرَّ عُقولِهِم وَتَمَكَّنَت
فَغَدَتso it began تَوَسوِسُwhispering فيin صُدورِthe breasts of الناسِpeople
فَغَدَت تَوَسوِسُ في صُدورِ الناسِ
it settled in the seat of their minds and took firm hold,
It settled the minds and gained control
then began to whisper in people's breasts.
So whispers began in people’s breasts
سَفَرَتit unveiled itself فَكانَتand it was تَحتَbeneath جِلبابِthe cloak of الدُجىdarkness
سَفَرَت فَكانَت تَحتَ جِلبابِ الدُجى
تُغنيsuffices عَنِin place of المِصباحِthe lamp وَالمِقباسِand the firebrand
تُغني عَنِ المِصباحِ وَالمِقباسِ
It unveiled itself, and beneath the cloak of darkness
It traveled under night’s cloak, singing,
rendered lamp and firebrand needless.
Making lamps and torches redundant
سُلَّتwere unsheathed عَليهاagainst it لِلمِزاجِfor dilution صَوارِمٌsharp swords
سُلَّت عَليها لِلمِزاجِ صَوارِمٌ
لِتَروضَto tame مِنهاof it الخُلقَthe temper بَعدَafter شَماسِunruliness
لِتَروضَ مِنها الخُلقَ بَعدَ شَماسِ
Sharp swords were drawn against it for dilution,
Swords were drawn against it to tame
to tame its temper after its unruliness.
Manners after the wine’s joy
سَلِّsoothe النُفوسَsouls بِقَهوَةٍwith wine دَيرِيَّةٍmonastic
سَلِّ النُفوسَ بِقَهوَةٍ دَيرِيَّةٍ
كَالشَمسِlike the sun تُشرِقُit shines فيin يَدِthe hand of الجُلّاسِthe seated guests
كَالشَمسِ تُشرِقُ في يَدِ الجُلّاسِ
Soothe souls with monastery wine,
Give souls a cup of monastery coffee
which shines like the sun in the seated guests' hands.
Like the rising sun in the tavern-keeper’s hand
سُمهاbid for it وَلاand do not تَبخَلbe stingy إِذاwhen تَجلوyou dispel بِهاwith it
سُمها وَلا تَبخَل إِذا تَجلو بِها
خَوفاًfear مِنَof الإِقتارِpenury وَالإِفلاسِand bankruptcy
خَوفاً مِنَ الإِقتارِ وَالإِفلاسِ
Bid for it, and do not be stingy when with it you dispel
Name its price and don’t begrudge it
fear of penury and bankruptcy.
If its flavor is displayed, fearing poverty
سَمِّحmake generous كُفوفَكَyour hands فيin الشِراءِbuying فَرَأيُناfor our view is
سَمِّح كُفوفَكَ في الشِراءِ فَرَأيُنا
ثَقلُthe heaviness of الكُؤوسِthe cups وَخِفَّةُand the lightness of الأَكياسِthe purses
ثَقلُ الكُؤوسِ وَخِفَّةُ الأَكياسِ
Be open-handed in buying, for our view is:
Be generous when buying it, for we have seen
heavy cups and light purses.
The heaviness of cups and lightness of purses
سابِقrace ahead إِلىto جَنّاتِgardens of عَدنٍEden قَدalready بَدَتhave appeared
سابِق إِلى جَنّاتِ عَدنٍ قَد بَدَت
أَزهارُهاtheir blossoms بِغَرائِبِin wondrous الأَجناسِvarieties
أَزهارُها بِغَرائِبِ الأَجناسِ
Race to gardens of Eden; already visible are
Race to the gardens of Eden which have appeared
their blossoms in wondrous varieties.
With flowers of diverse, wondrous species
سَحَبَtrailed السَحابُthe clouds لَهاfor them الذُيولَthe hems فَأُلبِسَتso they were clothed
سَحَبَ السَحابُ لَها الذُيولَ فَأُلبِسَت
مِنfrom حُلَّةِa robe of الأَزهارِblossoms خَيرَthe finest لِباسِdress
مِن حُلَّةِ الأَزهارِ خَيرَ لِباسِ
The clouds trailed their hems for them, and they were clothed
The clouds have dragged their hems over it and dressed it
in the finest dress—a robe of blossoms.
In the finest garb of flowers
سَكِرَتgrew drunk قُدودُthe forms of غُصونِهاtheir boughs فَتَرَنَّمَتand sang melodiously
سَكِرَت قُدودُ غُصونِها فَتَرَنَّمَت
وُرقُgray ones of الحَمامِthe doves بِأَطيَبِwith the sweetest الأَنفاسِbreaths
وُرقُ الحَمامِ بِأَطيَبِ الأَنفاسِ
The forms of their boughs grew drunk, and there warbled
The tendrils of its branches grew tipsy and the
the gray doves with the sweetest breaths.
Warbling of doves rang with the sweetest melodies
سَجَعَتthey cooed فَخِلناand we imagined الطَوقَthe neck-ring فيaround أَعناقِهاtheir necks
سَجَعَت فَخِلنا الطَوقَ في أَعناقِها
مِنَنُthe favors of اِبنِIbn (son of) أُرتُقَArtuq فيupon رِقابِthe necks of الناسِpeople
مِنَنُ اِبنِ أُرتُقَ في رِقابِ الناسِ
They cooed, and we took the collars around their necks
We collared them, and Ibn Urtuqa’s favors
for Ibn Artuq's favors upon the necks of men.
Collared people’s necks
سُلطانُa sultan of عَدلٍjustice بَلnay خَليفَةُa caliph in مَنصِبٍrank
سُلطانُ عَدلٍ بَل خَليفَةُ مَنصِبٍ
أَحيَتrevived مَناقِبُهُhis virtues بَنيthe sons of العَبّاسِal-Abbas
أَحيَت مَناقِبُهُ بَني العَبّاسِ
A sultan of justice—nay, a caliph in rank—
A sultan of justice, nay, successor of office
whose virtues revived the sons of al-Abbas.
Who revived the virtues of Abbasids
سَقِمَتfell sick بِهِbecause of him مُهَجُthe hearts of العُداةِthe enemies وَطالَماand often
سَقِمَت بِهِ مُهَجُ العُداةِ وَطالَما
سَقِمَfell ill الزَمانُthe age وَكانَand he was نِعمَexcellent الآسيthe healer
سَقِمَ الزَمانُ وَكانَ نِعمَ الآسي
Through him his foes' hearts fell sick; many a time
It sickened the vitals of rebels, and how often
the age fell ill, and he was a splendid healer.
The times were sick, and he was an excellent healer
سَيفٌa sword أَعَزَّrestored honor to الدينَthe faith بَعدَafter هَوانِهِits humiliation
سَيفٌ أَعَزَّ الدينَ بَعدَ هَوانِهِ
فَبَدَتso appeared رُسومُthe traces of رُبوعِهِits abodes الأَدراسِeffaced
فَبَدَت رُسومُ رُبوعِهِ الأَدراسِ
A sword that restored the faith's honor after its humiliation,
A sword who restored the religion’s honor after its disgrace
so the traces of its effaced abodes came into view.
So the emblems of its lands appeared afresh
سارَتadvanced لِخَسفِto sink الأَرضِthe earth قُبُّlean-flanked جِيادِهِhis steeds
سارَت لِخَسفِ الأَرضِ قُبُّ جِيادِهِ
فَأَمَدَّهاso he reinforced it مِنfrom حِلمِهِhis forbearance بِرَواسِwith firm mountains
فَأَمَدَّها مِن حِلمِهِ بِرَواسِ
His lean-flanked steeds advanced to make the earth sink,
Its stallions set out to cleave the earth
so he buttressed it with mountains of his forbearance.
But his forbearance restrained them with a bridle
سَهلُeasy الخَلائِقِin character لَيِّنٌgentle عِندَin النَدىgenerosity
سَهلُ الخَلائِقِ لَيِّنٌ عِندَ النَدى
لَكِنَّهُbut he عِندَin الشَدائِدِhardships قاسِis stern
لَكِنَّهُ عِندَ الشَدائِدِ قاسِ
Easy of temper, gentle in generosity,
Gentle to creatures, mild with dew
but stern in times of hardship.
But firm in adversities and harsh
سَبَقَتpreceded عَطاياهُhis gifts السُؤالَrequests فَمالُهُso his wealth
سَبَقَت عَطاياهُ السُؤالَ فَمالُهُ
فيat مَأتَمٍa funeral gathering وَالناسُand the people فيat أَعراسِweddings
في مَأتَمٍ وَالناسُ في أَعراسِ
His gifts preceded requests, so his wealth
His gifts outstripped requests, while he
is at a funeral, while people are at weddings.
Was in mourning and people at weddings
سَنَّinstituted المَواهِبَgifts وَالجِهادَand jihad فَدَهرُهُso his lifetime
سَنَّ المَواهِبَ وَالجِهادَ فَدَهرُهُ
يَومانِtwo days يَومُa day of قِرىًhospitality وَيَومُand a day of قِراسِcombat
يَومانِ يَومُ قِرىً وَيَومُ قِراسِ
He made gifts and jihad his custom, so his lifetime
He instituted charity and holy war, so his days
is two days: a day of hospitality and a day of combat.
Were two days: one of visits and one of battle
سَعيٌstriving أَساسُthe foundation of المَجدِglory مِنهُfrom it ثابِتٌfirm
سَعيٌ أَساسُ المَجدِ مِنهُ ثابِتٌ
وَالمَجدُand glory لاnot يُبنىis built بِغَيرِwithout أَساسِa foundation
وَالمَجدُ لا يُبنى بِغَيرِ أَساسِ
Striving makes the foundation of glory firm,
Effort is the foundation of glory on which
and glory cannot be built without a foundation.
Glory is built and nothing else
سَهَّدتَyou kept sleepless نَجمَNajm (star) الدينِal-Din (the faith) طَرفَكَyour eye لِلعُلىfor greatness
سَهَّدتَ نَجمَ الدينِ طَرفَكَ لِلعُلى
فَحَفِظتَso you guarded دَوحَتَهاits spreading tree مِنَfrom الإِيباسِwithering
فَحَفِظتَ دَوحَتَها مِنَ الإِيباسِ
You kept your eye sleepless, Najm al-Din, in pursuit of greatness,
You have set your eyes to lofty goals
and guarded its spreading tree against withering.
Preserving its star from extinction
سُرَّتwere gladdened بِسَعيِكَby your striving وَاِطمَأَنَّتand grew tranquil أَنفُسٌsouls
سُرَّت بِسَعيِكَ وَاِطمَأَنَّت أَنفُسٌ
كانَتhad been مِنَbecause of الأَيّامِthe days فيin وَسواسِanxiety
كانَت مِنَ الأَيّامِ في وَسواسِ
Your striving gladdened and reassured souls
Your efforts have delighted souls
that had been troubled by the days.
Which were anxious and full of doubts
سَعِدَتgrew happy بِكَthrough you الدُنياthe world وَعادَand turned نِفارُهاits estrangement
سَعِدَت بِكَ الدُنيا وَعادَ نِفارُها
مِنfrom بَعدِafter وَحشَتِهاits loneliness إِلىto الإيناسِcompanionship
مِن بَعدِ وَحشَتِها إِلى الإيناسِ
The world found happiness through you, and its estrangement turned,
The world prospered through you, and its hatred
after its loneliness, into companionship.
Returned to intimacy after its desolation
سُدrule فيamong الأَنامِhumankind فَلاso may you never بَرَحتَcease to be مُؤَمَّلاًlooked to with hope
سُد في الأَنامِ فَلا بَرَحتَ مُؤَمَّلاً
تَسويyou treat equally الخَلائِقَpeople فيin النَدىgenerosity وَتُواسيand offer aid
تَسوي الخَلائِقَ في النَدى وَتُواسي
Rule among humankind; may you always remain their hope,
A barrier among people, you have not ceased to be hoped for
treating people equally in generosity and offering aid.
Making creatures equal in bounty and consoling
سَمحُgenerous الأَكُفُّhands تَرومُseeks نائِلَكَyour bounty الوَرىhumankind
سَمحُ الأَكُفُّ تَرومُ نائِلَكَ الوَرى
وَتَخافُكَand fear you الآسادُthe lions فيin الأَخياسِthe thickets
وَتَخافُكَ الآسادُ في الأَخياسِ
You are open-handed; mankind seeks your bounty,
The noble-palmed aspire to your attainments
and lions fear you in their thickets.
And the lions cower from you in the thickets
سَعدٌgood fortune أَتاكَhas come to you مِنَfrom الإِلَهِGod مُؤَيَّدٌsupported
سَعدٌ أَتاكَ مِنَ الإِلَهِ مُؤَيَّدٌ
فَاُخلُدso live forever وَدُمand remain فيin نِعمَةٍblessing وَغِراسِand planted trees
فَاُخلُد وَدُم في نِعمَةٍ وَغِراسِ
Good fortune has come to you from God, with divine support;
Good fortune came to you from God, supported
so live forever, and remain blessed amid planted trees.
So be eternal, continuing in bounty and cultivation
Sol 6.1