مَغانِمُgains صَفوِserenity العَيشِlife أَسنىthe finest المَغانِمِthe gains
مَغانِمُ صَفوِ العَيشِ أَسنى المَغانِمِ
هِيَthey الظِلَّshade إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it غَيرُnot دائِمِlasting
هِيَ الظِلَّ إِلّا أَنَّهُ غَيرُ دائِمِ
The gains of untroubled life are the finest gains;
The fairest life's rewards are the finest spoils,
They are shade, yet shade that does not last.
Though they are but shadows that do not last.
مَلَكتُI held زِمامَthe reins of العَيشِlife فيهاin them وَطالَماand often
مَلَكتُ زِمامَ العَيشِ فيها وَطالَما
رَفَعتُI warded off بِهاthrough them أولىthe first وُقوعِonset الجَوازِمِdecisive blows
رَفَعتُ بِها أولى وُقوعِ الجَوازِمِ
There I held life's reins, and many a time
I held the reins of life therein, and ofttimes
Through them I warded off the first onset of crushing blows.
Raised its prime till the ballistas fell.
مَغانيdwellings الحِمىthe protected land جادَتrained generously سَحائِبُthe clouds of أَدمُعيmy tears
مَغاني الحِمى جادَت سَحائِبُ أَدمُعي
عَليكَupon you إِذاwhen جَفَّتran dry جُفونُthe eyelids of الغَمائِمِthe clouds
عَليكَ إِذا جَفَّت جُفونُ الغَمائِمِ
Dwellings of the protected land, the clouds of my tears rained
My battle steeds were roused by the tears I wept
Upon you when the clouds' eyelids ran dry.
For you when the clouds' eyes were dry.
مَلاعِبُplaygrounds لَهوٍamusement كَمhow often قَضَيتُI fulfilled بِرَبعِهاin their grounds
مَلاعِبُ لَهوٍ كَم قَضَيتُ بِرَبعِها
لُباناتِlongings أَيّامِthe days of الصِباyouth المُتَقادِمِlong-past
لُباناتِ أَيّامِ الصِبا المُتَقادِمِ
Playgrounds of delight—how often in their grounds I fulfilled
The sport I had in its gardens, how much of it
The longings of long-past youthful days.
Passed in the morn of youth now gone!
مِنَfrom الجانِبِthe side الغَربِيِّwestern مِنof أَرضِthe land of بابِلٍBabylon
مِنَ الجانِبِ الغَربِيِّ مِن أَرضِ بابِلٍ
مَعاهِدُfamiliar haunts أُنسٍcompanionship مُشرِقاتُradiant المَباسِمِsmiling mouths
مَعاهِدُ أُنسٍ مُشرِقاتُ المَباسِمِ
On the western side of the land of Babylon,
On Babylon's west side were the trysts
Haunts of companionship with radiant smiles.
Where smiles would greet me at each visit.
مَعالِمُlandmarks بَينَbetween القَلعَتَينِthe two citadels وَإِنَّماand only
مَعالِمُ بَينَ القَلعَتَينِ وَإِنَّما
مَحَلُّthe abode of المَعاليgreatness بَينَamong تِلكَthose المَعالِمِlandmarks
مَحَلُّ المَعالي بَينَ تِلكَ المَعالِمِ
Landmarks between the two citadels—and only
Between the two fortresses were the landmarks,
Among those landmarks does greatness dwell.
Though the nobility was in their people.
مَكَثتُI stayed بِهاin them دَهراًan age وَعَينيand my eye قَريرَةٌcontent
مَكَثتُ بِها دَهراً وَعَيني قَريرَةٌ
بِهاin them وَرَواقُand the pavilion of العِزِّhonor عاليlofty الدَعائِمِpillars
بِها وَرَواقُ العِزِّ عالي الدَعائِمِ
I stayed there an age, my eye content
Long I stayed there, my eye joyous,
There, while the pavilion of honor rose on lofty pillars.
While the halls of glory stood tall-pillared.
مَقيليmy midday resting place ظُهورُthe backs of الصافِناتِpoised steeds وَمُؤنِسيand my solace
مَقيلي ظُهورُ الصافِناتِ وَمُؤنِسي
رِياضُthe meadows of الكَلاherbage دونَrather than الحَشاياmattresses النَواعِمِsoft
رِياضُ الكَلا دونَ الحَشايا النَواعِمِ
My midday resting place was the backs of poised steeds, and my solace
My siesta — leaves' shade, my friends —
The grassy meadows rather than soft mattresses.
Gardens, sans thorns or harshness.
مَنيعُimpregnable يَقينيshields me ضَيمُoppression by كُلِّevery غَضَنفَرٍlion
مَنيعُ يَقيني ضَيمُ كُلِّ غَضَنفَرٍ
طَويلِlong نِجادِthe belt of السَيفِthe sword ماضيfirm in العَزائِمِresolves
طَويلِ نِجادِ السَيفِ ماضي العَزائِمِ
A mighty protector shields me from every lion's oppression,
My firm friendship spurns each hot-headed fool,
Long of sword-belt, unflinching in resolve.
Vain, tall in pride, rash in his aims.
مَتىwhenever جادَhe gives generously نادىcalls out مالُهُhis wealth ياO! لِطارِقٍfor a night visitor
مَتى جادَ نادى مالُهُ يا لِطارِقٍ
وَإِنand if سارَhe journeys نادىcalls out عِرضُهُhis honor ياO! لِسالِمِfor one unharmed
وَإِن سارَ نادى عِرضُهُ يا لِسالِمِ
Whenever he gives, his wealth cries, 'O for a night visitor!'
When he was generous, his wealth proclaimed ‘O Tariq!’
And if he journeys, his honor cries, 'O for one unharmed!'
When he walked, his honor proclaimed ‘O Salim!’
مَواضيpast occasions سُرورٍjoy لاno اِنتِفاعَbenefit بِذِكرِهاin recalling them
مَواضي سُرورٍ لا اِنتِفاعَ بِذِكرِها
إِذاif لَمnot أُعِدهاI renew them بِاِرتِكابِby undertaking العَظائِمِmighty deeds
إِذا لَم أُعِدها بِاِرتِكابِ العَظائِمِ
Joys gone by—there is no benefit in recalling them
No use remembering past joys
Unless I renew them by undertaking mighty deeds.
Unless I seek deeds of great renown.
مُنَبِّهُa rouser of عَزمٍresolve إِنَّهُindeed, it غَيرُnot راقِدٍslumbering
مُنَبِّهُ عَزمٍ إِنَّهُ غَيرُ راقِدٍ
وَمُوقِظُand an awakener of حَزمٍprudence إِنَّهُindeed, it غَيرُnot نائِمِasleep
وَمُوقِظُ حَزمٍ إِنَّهُ غَيرُ نائِمِ
Rousing resolve—indeed, it is not slumbering—
It rouses my resolve — no dormancy here!
And awakening prudence—indeed, it is not asleep.
It wakes my wisdom — no sleep to fear!
مَطَلتُI put off السُرىnight travel حَتّىuntil مَلَلتُI grew weary كَأَنَّماas though
مَطَلتُ السُرى حَتّى مَلَلتُ كَأَنَّما
عَليَّupon me مَقامُa stay in الذُلِّabasement ضَربَةُan imposed decree لازِمِbinding
عَليَّ مَقامُ الذُلِّ ضَربَةُ لازِمِ
I put off night travel until I grew weary, as though
My fortuned stars I watched till I was bored
Dwelling in abasement were a binding decree upon me.
As though staying lowly was fated for me.
مَنَعتُI kept back عَنِfrom التَرحالِtravel عيسيmy pale camels وَمَنعُهاand withholding them
مَنَعتُ عَنِ التَرحالِ عيسي وَمَنعُها
عَنِfrom المَلِكِthe king المَنصورِal-Mansur إِحدىone of العَظائِمِgrave wrongs
عَنِ المَلِكِ المَنصورِ إِحدى العَظائِمِ
I held my pale camels back from travel; withholding them
Jesus I hindered from roving, and my act
From King al-Mansur is one of the gravest wrongs.
Hindered the great king Mansur's travel.
مَليكٌa sovereign جِبالُthe mountains of الأَرضِthe earth مِنfrom حِلمِهِhis forbearance اِنتَشَتsprang up
مَليكٌ جِبالُ الأَرضِ مِن حِلمِهِ اِنتَشَت
وَأَبحُرُهاand its seas مِنfrom جودِهِhis generosity المُتَلاطِمِsurging
وَأَبحُرُها مِن جودِهِ المُتَلاطِمِ
A sovereign: the earth's mountains sprang from his forbearance,
A king whose mildness rent earth's mountains apart
And its seas from his surging generosity.
And whose bounty sets the seas a-surge.
مُفَرِّقُa disperser of شَملِthe gathered body of المالِwealth بَعدَafter اِجتِماعِهِits gathering
مُفَرِّقُ شَملِ المالِ بَعدَ اِجتِماعِهِ
وَفيand in راحَتَيهِhis two palms جَمعُthe gathering of شَملِthe company of المَكارِمِnoble virtues
وَفي راحَتَيهِ جَمعُ شَملِ المَكارِمِ
He scatters wealth after it has been gathered,
Who splits wealth after its accumulation
And in his two palms all noble virtues gather.
And in his comfort brings honors' union.
مَواهِبُهُhis gifts وَقفٌdedicated عَلىto كُلِّevery طالِبٍseeker
مَواهِبُهُ وَقفٌ عَلى كُلِّ طالِبٍ
وَأَسيافُهُand his swords حَتمٌcertain doom عَلىfor كُلِّevery آثِمِwrongdoer
وَأَسيافُهُ حَتمٌ عَلى كُلِّ آثِمِ
His gifts are dedicated to every seeker,
His gifts are for each seeker's taking
And his swords are certain doom for every wrongdoer.
And his swords certain for each sinner.
مُقيمٌone who raises بِآياتِwith signs of النَدىgenerosity كُلَّevery قاعِدٍseated person
مُقيمٌ بِآياتِ النَدى كُلَّ قاعِدٍ
كَماjust as أَقعَدَتmade sit أَسيافُهُhis swords كُلَّevery قائِمِstanding person
كَما أَقعَدَت أَسيافُهُ كُلَّ قائِمِ
He raises every seated man with signs of generosity,
He keeps each settled man in comfort
Just as his swords have brought every standing man low.
As his swords unseat each stirring rebel.
مَحَلُّthe abode of الرَدىdeath فيin سَيفِهِhis sword وَسِنانِهِand his spearhead
مَحَلُّ الرَدى في سَيفِهِ وَسِنانِهِ
وَبَحرُand the sea of النَدىفيgenerosity in كَفِّهِhis palm وَالبَراجِمِand the knuckles
وَبَحرُ النَدىفي كَفِّهِ وَالبَراجِمِ
The abode of death is in his sword and spearhead,
In his blade and its edge lie havoc,
And generosity's sea lies in his palm and knuckles.
In his palm and fingertips, waves of generosity.
مَحاhe erased بِسَطاهُwith his might ذِكرَthe memory of عَمروٍAmr وَعَنتَرٍand Antar
مَحا بِسَطاهُ ذِكرَ عَمروٍ وَعَنتَرٍ
وَأَحياand revived نَداهُhis generosity ذِكرَthe memory of مَعنٍMa'n وَحاتِمِand Hatim
وَأَحيا نَداهُ ذِكرَ مَعنٍ وَحاتِمِ
With his might he erased the memory of Amr and Antar,
He erased all mention of Amr and Antarah
And his generosity revived the memory of Ma'n and Hatim.
And revived the repute of Ma'n and Hatim.
مَكارِمُthe generous deeds of كَفٍّa hand لاnot تَزالُceases بِهاthrough them الوَرىhumankind
مَكارِمُ كَفٍّ لا تَزالُ بِها الوَرى
مُطَوَّقَةًringed أَعناقُهاtheir necks كَالحَمائِمِlike doves
مُطَوَّقَةً أَعناقُها كَالحَمائِمِ
The generous deeds of a hand keep humankind forever
The palms' glories, which ever bind the world
With their necks ringed like doves.
About its neck like a ringdove.
مُعَوَّدَةٍaccustomed بِالبَسطِto being open إِلّاexcept إِذاwhen غَدَتit comes to be
مُعَوَّدَةٍ بِالبَسطِ إِلّا إِذا غَدَت
بِمَتنِaround the shaft of يَراعٍa reed pen أَوor بِقائِمِaround the hilt of صارِمِa keen sword
بِمَتنِ يَراعٍ أَو بِقائِمِ صارِمِ
Accustomed to lying open, except when it closes
Unwont to hoarding, unless appearing
Around a reed pen's shaft or a keen sword's hilt.
With a lion's blow or erect, blade-wielding.
مُشيدُa builder of العُلىglory لاnot تارِكٌforsaking خِلَّةَfriendship with النَدىgenerosity
مُشيدُ العُلى لا تارِكٌ خِلَّةَ النَدى
وَلاand not سامِعٌheeding فيin الجودِgenerosity لَومَةَthe rebuke of لائِمِa censurer
وَلا سامِعٌ في الجودِ لَومَةَ لائِمِ
A builder of glory, never forsaking friendship with generosity,
The exalted one leaves no lack of moisture
Nor heeding a censurer's blame for giving.
And hears no blamer's rebuke in his munificence.
مُصِرٌّpersistent عَلىin بَذلِbestowing الهِباتِgifts يَسُرَّهُit delights him
مُصِرٌّ عَلى بَذلِ الهِباتِ يَسُرَّهُ
إِذاwhen أَصبَحَتcomes to be أَموالُهُhis wealth بِالمَآتِمِamid mourning assemblies
إِذا أَصبَحَت أَموالُهُ بِالمَآتِمِ
Persistent in bestowing gifts, he is delighted
Bent on sacrificing wealth, made happy
When his wealth finds itself amid mourning assemblies.
When his riches greet the morning shrouded.
مَزيدُabundant in العَطاgiving لاnot يُلحِقُhe appends الجودَgenerosity مِنَّةًa reminder of favors
مَزيدُ العَطا لا يُلحِقُ الجودَ مِنَّةً
وَلاand not يُتبِعُhe follows with الأَموالَwealth حَسرَةَthe sorrow of نادِمِone who regrets
وَلا يُتبِعُ الأَموالَ حَسرَةَ نادِمِ
Abundant in gifts, he never appends reminders of favor to generosity,
Increased giving cannot match his bounty
Nor follows his wealth with the sorrow of one who regrets.
Or trail regret like a repentant man.
مَضيفُa host to الوَرىhumankind مِثلُlike الرَبيعِspring بِرَبعِهِin his dwelling
مَضيفُ الوَرى مِثلُ الرَبيعِ بِرَبعِهِ
وَأَيّامُهُمand their days فيin ظِلِّهِhis shade كَالمَواسِمِlike festivals
وَأَيّامُهُم في ظِلِّهِ كَالمَواسِمِ
A host to humankind, like springtime in his dwelling,
A host for all, like springtime in its prime,
And their days beneath his shade are like festivals.
Its days in his shade like seasons fair.
مَرَرناwe passed حُفاةًbarefoot فيthrough مَقادِسِthe sacred precincts of رَبعِهِhis dwelling
مَرَرنا حُفاةً في مَقادِسِ رَبعِهِ
كَأَنّاas though we مُشاةٌwalkers فَوقَover هامِthe heads of النَعائِمِthe Ostriches (stars)
كَأَنّا مُشاةٌ فَوقَ هامِ النَعائِمِ
We passed barefoot through his dwelling's sacred precincts,
Barefoot we trod his land's holy ground
As though we walked over the heads of the Ostriches.
As though treading lofty riches.
مَشَيناwe walked وَلَوand if أَنّاthat we وَفَيناwe fulfilled بِحَقِّهِwith his due
مَشَينا وَلَو أَنّا وَفَينا بِحَقِّهِ
مَشَيناwe walked عَلىon الأَحداقِeyeballs دونَrather than المَناسِمِfootpads
مَشَينا عَلى الأَحداقِ دونَ المَناسِمِ
We walked; yet had we paid him his due,
Though we fulfilled his due, we'd have walked
We would have walked on our eyeballs rather than our footpads.
Upon live coals instead of cushions.
مَدىthroughout الدَهرِtime لاmay not زالَتcease تَحُجُّmake pilgrimage بَنوthe sons of الرَجاhope
مَدى الدَهرِ لا زالَت تَحُجُّ بَنو الرَجا
إِلَيهِto him وَتَحظىand win بِالغِنىriches وَالغَنائِمِand spoils
إِلَيهِ وَتَحظى بِالغِنى وَالغَنائِمِ
For all time, may the sons of hope never cease their pilgrimage
Time without end, men of pride journey to him
To him, and may they win riches and spoils.
And gain wealth and spoils.
Sol 6.1