دَبَّتcrept عَقارِبُthe scorpions of صُدغِهِhis temple-lock فيacross خَدِّهِhis cheek
دَبَّت عَقارِبُ صُدغِهِ في خَدِّهِ
وَسَعىand glided عَلىover الأَردافِthe buttocks أَرقَمُthe speckled snake of جَعدِهِhis curls
وَسَعى عَلى الأَردافِ أَرقَمُ جَعدِهِ
The scorpions of his temple-lock crept across his cheek,
The scorpions crept upon his cheeks
and the speckled snake of his curls glided over his buttocks.
And the curled hair crept upon his back
وَبَداand appeared مُحَيّاهُhis face فَفَوَّقَso nocked لَحظُهُhis glance
وَبَدا مُحَيّاهُ فَفَوَّقَ لَحظُهُ
نَبلاًarrows يَذودُdefends بِشَوكِهِwith their thorns عَنaway from وَردِهِhis rose
نَبلاً يَذودُ بِشَوكِهِ عَن وَردِهِ
His face appeared, and his glance nocked
His smile appeared, so his glance excelled
arrows, defending his rose with their thorns.
A sapling warding off thorns from its rose
صَنَمٌan idol أَضَلَّled astray العاشِقينَthe lovers فَلَمso did not يَرَواthey see
صَنَمٌ أَضَلَّ العاشِقينَ فَلَم يَرَوا
مُذsince لاحَhe appeared بُدّاًan escape مِنfrom عِبادَةِworshipping بُدِّهِhis idol
مُذ لاحَ بُدّاً مِن عِبادَةِ بُدِّهِ
An idol who led lovers astray: they saw no
An idol whom the lovers went astray from
escape from worshipping his idol, once he appeared.
Since its repulsive appearance became evident
ماno بَينَbetween إِقبالِthe coming of الحَياةِlife وَوَصلِهِand union with him
ما بَينَ إِقبالِ الحَياةِ وَوَصلِهِ
فَرقٌdifference وَلاnor بَينَbetween الحِمامِdeath وَصَدِّهِand his rejection
فَرقٌ وَلا بَينَ الحِمامِ وَصَدِّهِ
Between life's coming and union with him
Between life’s coming and its reaching
there is no difference, nor between death and his rejection.
There’s a difference like that between a dove and its cooing
ظَبيٌa gazelle مِنَamong الأَتراكِthe Turks لَيسَis not بِتارِكٍone who leaves
ظَبيٌ مِنَ الأَتراكِ لَيسَ بِتارِكٍ
حُسناًbeauty لِمَخلوقٍfor a creature أَتىwho came مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him
حُسناً لِمَخلوقٍ أَتى مِن بَعدِهِ
A gazelle among the Turks, who leaves no
A Turk gazelle that does not refrain
beauty for any creature coming after him.
From beauty for a creature that came after him
غَضُّfresh الحَياin modesty قَحلُparched الوَدادِin affection كَأَنَّماas though
غَضُّ الحَيا قَحلُ الوَدادِ كَأَنَّما
نَهِلَتdrank بَشاشَةُthe cheerfulness of وَجهِهِhis face مِنfrom وُدِّهِhis love
نَهِلَت بَشاشَةُ وَجهِهِ مِن وُدِّهِ
Fresh in modesty, parched in affection, as though
Cheerless, loveless, as though
his face's cheerfulness had drunk from his love.
The radiance of his face flowed from his affection
حَمَلَhe bore السِلاحَarms عَلىupon قَوامٍa frame مُترَفٍpampered
حَمَلَ السِلاحَ عَلى قَوامٍ مُترَفٍ
كادَalmost الحَريرُsilk يُؤَدُّهُburdened him مِنthrough إِدِّهِits burden
كادَ الحَريرُ يُؤَدُّهُ مِن إِدِّهِ
He bore arms upon a pampered frame;
Bearing weapons upon a delicate body
even silk almost weighed him down with its burden.
Silk would burden it because of its fineness
فَتَرىthus you see حَمائِلَthe baldrics of سَيفِهِhis sword فيon نَحرِهِhis upper chest
فَتَرى حَمائِلَ سَيفِهِ في نَحرِهِ
أَبهىmore splendid وَأَزهىand more radiant مِنthan جَواهِرِthe jewels of عِقدِهِhis necklace
أَبهى وَأَزهى مِن جَواهِرِ عِقدِهِ
Thus you see his sword's baldrics on his breast,
So you see his swordbelt around his neck
more splendid and radiant than his necklace's jewels.
More splendid and elegant than the jewels of his necklace
مِنof آلِthe house of خاقانَKhaqan الَّذينَthose whose صَغيرُهُمyoungster
مِن آلِ خاقانَ الَّذينَ صَغيرُهُم
فيin سَرجِهِhis saddle وَكَأَنَّهُand as though he were فيin مَهدِهِhis cradle
في سَرجِهِ وَكَأَنَّهُ في مَهدِهِ
Of Khaqan's house, whose youngster
Of the house of the Khans whose small ones
sits in his saddle as though in his cradle.
In the saddle are as if in the cradle
جَعَلواthey made رُكوبَriding الخَيلِhorses حَدَّthe threshold of بُلوغِهِمtheir maturity
جَعَلوا رُكوبَ الخَيلِ حَدَّ بُلوغِهِم
هُوَit لِلفَنىfor the youth مِنهُمamong them بُلوغُthe attainment of أَشُدِّهِhis full strength
هُوَ لِلفَنى مِنهُم بُلوغُ أَشُدِّهِ
They made riding horses the threshold of their coming of age;
They made riding horses the limit of their maturity
for a youth among them, it is the attainment of full strength.
For the skillful, it is their reaching full strength
فَإِذاso when صَغيرُهُمُtheir youngster أَتىcomes مُتَخَضِّباًstained
فَإِذا صَغيرُهُمُ أَتى مُتَخَضِّباً
بِدَمِwith the blood of الفَوارِسِhorsemen قيلَit is said بالِغُhaving attained رُشدِهِhis maturity
بِدَمِ الفَوارِسِ قيلَ بالِغُ رُشدِهِ
When their youngster comes stained
So when their small one comes bloodied
with horsemen's blood, they say he has reached maturity.
With the blood of cavaliers, he is said to have reached his prime
سيّانِalike مِنهُمamong them فيin الوَقائِعِbattles حاسِرٌan unarmored warrior
سيّانِ مِنهُم في الوَقائِعِ حاسِرٌ
فيin سَرجِهِhis saddle أَوor دارِعٌan armored warrior فيin سَردِهِhis chain mail
في سَرجِهِ أَو دارِعٌ في سَردِهِ
Alike among them in battle: an unarmored warrior
Whether mounted or armored while marching
in his saddle, or an armored warrior in his mail.
Or every straight-bladed sword like his stature
مِنof كُلِّevery مَسنونِsharpened الحُسامِsword كَلَحظِهِlike his glance
مِن كُلِّ مَسنونِ الحُسامِ كَلَحظِهِ
أَوor كُلِّevery مُعتَدِلِstraight القَناةِspearshaft كَقَدِّهِlike his stature
أَو كُلِّ مُعتَدِلِ القَناةِ كَقَدِّهِ
Each with a sword sharpened like his glance,
Or every balanced spear shaft like his body
or a spear straight as his stature;
And blood-spattered with the blood of warriors, as though
وَمُخَلَّقٍand one perfumed بِدَمِwith the blood of الكُماةِchampions كَأَنَّماas though
وَمُخَلَّقٍ بِدَمِ الكُماةِ كَأَنَّما
صُبِغَتwere dyed فَواضِلُthe trailing edges of دِرعِهِhis coat of mail مِنfrom خَدِّهِhis cheek
صُبِغَت فَواضِلُ دِرعِهِ مِن خَدِّهِ
and one perfumed with champions' blood, as though
The openings of his coat of mail were dyed with his cheek
the skirts of his mail drew their dye from his cheek.
Facing the darkness of battle with his face
وَمُقابِلٍand one confronting لَيلَthe night of العَجاجِbattle-dust بِوَجهِهِwith his face
وَمُقابِلٍ لَيلَ العَجاجِ بِوَجهِهِ
فَكَأَنَّماso as though غَشّىhe veiled الظَلامَdarkness بِضِدِّهِwith its opposite
فَكَأَنَّما غَشّى الظَلامَ بِضِدِّهِ
And one who meets the night of battle-dust with his face,
As if he cloaked darkness with its opposite
as though veiling darkness in its opposite.
And meeting the breasts of swords while his face
وَمُواجِهٍand one facing صَدرَthe front of الحُسامِthe sword وَوَجهُهُwhile his face
وَمُواجِهٍ صَدرَ الحُسامِ وَوَجهُهُ
يُبديdisplays صِقالاًa polish مِثلَlike ماءِthe sheen of فِرِندِهِits watered-steel pattern
يُبدي صِقالاً مِثلَ ماءِ فِرِندِهِ
And one who confronts the sword's front, while his face
Shows the same polish as the sheen of his blade
shows a polish like the sheen of its watered steel.
He meets spears with his chest and breast
يَلقىhe meets الرِماحَspears بِنَهدِهِwith his sturdy steed وَبِصَدرِهِand with his breast
يَلقى الرِماحَ بِنَهدِهِ وَبِصَدرِهِ
وَالمُرهَفاتِand keen-edged swords بِصَدرِهِwith his breast وَبِنَهدِهِand with his sturdy steed
وَالمُرهَفاتِ بِصَدرِهِ وَبِنَهدِهِ
He meets spears with his sturdy steed and his breast,
And blades with his breast and chest
and keen-edged swords with his breast and his steed.
And when death bared her leg
وَإِذاand when المَنيَّةُDeath شَمَّرَتrolled up her garments عَنfrom ساقِهاher shin
وَإِذا المَنيَّةُ شَمَّرَت عَن ساقِها
غَشِيَhe entered الهِياجَthe fray مُشَمِّراًwith sleeves raised عَنfrom زَندِهِhis forearm
غَشِيَ الهِياجَ مُشَمِّراً عَن زَندِهِ
And when Death bares her shin,
He rushed forth bareheaded toward the fray
he enters the fray, baring his forearm.
A peer whom his peer fears from his nearness
قِرنٌa formidable opponent يَخافُfears قَرينُهُhis opponent مِنbecause of قُربِهِhis nearness
قِرنٌ يَخافُ قَرينُهُ مِن قُربِهِ
أَضعافَmany times خَوفِthe fear of مُحِبِّهِhis lover مِنbecause of بُعدِهِhis distance
أَضعافَ خَوفِ مُحِبِّهِ مِن بُعدِهِ
A champion whose opponent fears his nearness
Multiples more than his lover fears from his distance
many times more than his lover fears his distance.
He appears, so the enemy repels him in gloom
يَبدوhe appears فَيَزجُرُهُso reads him as an omen العَدوُّthe enemy بِنَحسِهِof his misfortune
يَبدو فَيَزجُرُهُ العَدوُّ بِنَحسِهِ
خَوفاًin fear وَيَزجُرُهُand reads him as an omen المُحِبُّthe lover بِسَعدِهِof his good fortune
خَوفاً وَيَزجُرُهُ المُحِبُّ بِسَعدِهِ
He appears, and the enemy reads in him an omen of misfortune,
While the lover repels him in ecstasy
in fear, while the lover reads in him an omen of good fortune.
He strikes down warriors with his spears and sword
يُرديhe fells الكُماةَchampions بِنَبلِهِwith his arrows وَحُسامِهِand his sword
يُردي الكُماةَ بِنَبلِهِ وَحُسامِهِ
ذاthis one فيin كِنانَتِهِhis quiver وَذاand this one فيin غِمدِهِhis sheath
ذا في كِنانَتِهِ وَذا في غِمدِهِ
He fells champions with his arrows and his sword,
One sheathed, the other bared
the one in his quiver, the other in his sheath.
Until, when he met an opponent in single combat
حَتّىso that إِذاwhen لَقيَhe meets الكَميَّthe armored warrior مُبارِزاًdueling
حَتّى إِذا لَقيَ الكَميَّ مُبارِزاً
شَغَلَتهُdistracts him بَهجَةُthe radiance of حُسنِهِhis beauty عَنfrom رَدِّهِrepelling him
شَغَلَتهُ بَهجَةُ حُسنِهِ عَن رَدِّهِ
So that, when he meets an armored warrior in a duel,
The beauty of his grace preoccupied him from responding
his beauty's radiance distracts that man from repelling him.
I have always strived in cultivating his character
ماnot زِلتُI ceased أَجهَدُstriving فيin رِياضَةِtraining خُلقِهِhis character
ما زِلتُ أَجهَدُ في رِياضَةِ خُلقِهِ
وَأَحولُand turn about فيin هَذاthis العِتابِreproach وَجِدِّهِand its earnestness
وَأَحولُ في هَذا العِتابِ وَجِدِّهِ
I never ceased striving to tame his character,
And reproached in this blame and passion
turning this way and that in this earnest reproach,
Until after hardship, it was made easy for me
حَتّىuntil تَيَسَّرَbecame easy بَعدَafter عُسرٍhardship صَعبُهُhis stubbornness
حَتّى تَيَسَّرَ بَعدَ عُسرٍ صَعبُهُ
وَاِفتَرَّand opened smiling مَبسِمُthe smiling mouth of لَفظِهِhis speech عَنto reveal وَعدِهِhis promise
وَاِفتَرَّ مَبسِمُ لَفظِهِ عَن وَعدِهِ
until his stubbornness yielded after hardship,
And the smile of his expression relaxed from his promise
and the smiling mouth of his speech disclosed his promise.
And he came covering his missteps with his bough
وَأَتىand he came يُسَتِّرُconcealing سالِفَيهِthe two sides of his neck بِفَرعِهِwith his hair
وَأَتى يُسَتِّرُ سالِفَيهِ بِفَرعِهِ
حَذَراًcautiously فَيَحجُبُso he conceals سَبطَهاtheir smoothness فيin جَعدِهِhis curls
حَذَراً فَيَحجُبُ سَبطَها في جَعدِهِ
He came concealing the sides of his neck with his hair,
Shielding its clusters in his curls
cautiously hiding their smoothness in his curls.
And he began offering from intoxication the likes of
وَغَداand began يَزُفُّushering in مِنَof المُدامَةِwine مِثلَlike ماwhat
وَغَدا يَزُفُّ مِنَ المُدامَةِ مِثلَ ما
فيin فيهِhis mouth مِنof خَمرِthe wine of الرُضابِsaliva وَشَهدِهِand its honey
في فيهِ مِن خَمرِ الرُضابِ وَشَهدِهِ
And he began ushering in wine like that
What was in his cup of pleasure and nectar
in his mouth: the wine of his saliva and its honey.
I gambled with him at backgammon then between us
لاعَبتُهُI played with him بِالنَردِat backgammon ثَمَّthere وَبَينَناand between us
لاعَبتُهُ بِالنَردِ ثَمَّ وَبَينَنا
رَهنٌa wager قَدِhad اِرتَضَتِaccepted النُفوسُthe souls بِعَقدِهِits agreement
رَهنٌ قَدِ اِرتَضَتِ النُفوسُ بِعَقدِهِ
I played backgammon with him there, and between us
Was a wager our souls had agreed to
lay a wager whose terms our souls had accepted.
Until I saw the inscriptions of my luck appear
حَتّىuntil رَأَيتُI saw نُقوشَthe markings of سَعديmy good fortune قَدhad بَدَتappeared
حَتّى رَأَيتُ نُقوشَ سَعدي قَد بَدَت
وَيَدَيَّand my two hands قَدhad حَلَّتundone تَشَشدَرَthe six-point blockade of بَندِهِhis binding
وَيَدَيَّ قَد حَلَّت تَشَشدَرَ بَندِهِ
Until I saw the markings of my good fortune appear,
And my hands were freed, wearing its shackles
and my hands had undone his six-point blockade.
So I collected my pieces masterfully there
فَأَجَلُّso the greatest of شِطرَنجيmy chessmen هُنالِكَthere بِعتُهُI sold it
فَأَجَلُّ شِطرَنجي هُنالِكَ بِعتُهُ
بِأَقَلِّfor the least ماthat which أَبدَتهُdisplayed it كَعبَةُthe die of نَردِهِhis backgammon
بِأَقَلِّ ما أَبدَتهُ كَعبَةُ نَردِهِ
So there I sold the greatest of my chessmen
With the least that the dice cup manifested
for the least his backgammon die displayed.
Then I inclined toward happiness and luxuriated
وَلَقَدand indeed أَروحُI go at evening إِلىto السَرورِjoy وَأَغتَديand go at morning
وَلَقَد أَروحُ إِلى السَرورِ وَأَغتَدي
وَأَقيلُand take my midday rest فيin ظِلِّthe shade of النَعيمِbliss وَبَردِهِand its coolness
وَأَقيلُ في ظِلِّ النَعيمِ وَبَردِهِ
Indeed, I would go to joy at evening and at morning,
And reposed in the shade of bliss and its expanse
and take my midday rest in bliss's shade and coolness.
I hastened enduring glory and did not sell
وَأُعاجِلُand hasten toward العِزَّglory المُقيمَabiding وَلَمand did not أَبِعI sell
وَأُعاجِلُ العِزَّ المُقيمَ وَلَم أَبِع
نَقدَthe ready coin of المَسَرَّةِjoy وَالهَناءِand contentment بِفَقدِهِfor losing it
نَقدَ المَسَرَّةِ وَالهَناءِ بِفَقدِهِ
I hastened to abiding glory and did not trade
The cash of joy and delight for its loss
the ready coin of joy and contentment for its loss.
Until, when glory diminished its shade
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle العِزُّglory قَلَّصَdrew back ظِلَّهُits shade
حَتّى إِذا ما العِزُّ قَلَّصَ ظِلَّهُ
وَخَلاand became empty عَرينُthe den of مَعاشِريmy companions مِنof أُسدِهِits lions
وَخَلا عَرينُ مَعاشِري مِن أُسدِهِ
Until, when glory drew back its shade,
And the den of my social circle was devoid of its lion
and my companions' den was empty of its lions,
With concealment, I quenched the breaths of separation
أَخمَدتُI stilled بِالإِدلاجِthrough night travel أَنفاسَthe breaths of الفَلاthe wilderness
أَخمَدتُ بِالإِدلاجِ أَنفاسَ الفَلا
وَكَحَلتُand kohled طَرفيmy eye فيin الظَلامِdarkness بِسُهدِهِwith its sleeplessness
وَكَحَلتُ طَرفي في الظَلامِ بِسُهدِهِ
through night travel I stilled the wilderness's breaths,
And lined my eyes in the darkness with its ashes
and kohled my eye in darkness with its sleeplessness,
With a reddish dark steed with four white fetlocks
بِأَغَرَّon a white-blazed horse أَدهَمَjet-black ذيwith حُجولٍwhite stockings أَربَعٍfour
بِأَغَرَّ أَدهَمَ ذي حُجولٍ أَربَعٍ
مُبيَضُّهاtheir whiteness يَزهوshines splendidly عَلىagainst مُسوَدِّهِits blackness
مُبيَضُّها يَزهو عَلى مُسوَدِّهِ
on a white-blazed black horse with four white stockings,
Whose whiteness flourishes over its blackness
whose white shone splendidly against its black.
The dawn dressed it in a robe of first light
خَلَعَbestowed الصَباحُdawn عَليهِupon it سائِلَa flowing غُرَّةٍforehead blaze
خَلَعَ الصَباحُ عَليهِ سائِلَ غُرَّةٍ
مِنهُfrom itself وَقَمَّصَهُand clothed it الظَلامُdarkness بِجِلدِهِin its skin
مِنهُ وَقَمَّصَهُ الظَلامُ بِجِلدِهِ
Dawn bestowed on it a flowing forehead blaze
While darkness clothed it in its skin
of its own, and darkness clothed it in its skin.
So it was as if, when it was clad in darkness
فَكَأَنَّهُso as though it لَمّاwhen تَسَربَلَclothed itself بِالدُجىin darkness
فَكَأَنَّهُ لَمّا تَسَربَلَ بِالدُجى
وَطىءَtrod الضُحىthe morning light فَاِبيَضَّso turned white فاضِلُthe trailing edge of بُردِهِits cloak
وَطىءَ الضُحى فَاِبيَضَّ فاضِلُ بُردِهِ
As though, when it clothed itself in darkness,
And dawn broke, its outstanding cloak turned white
it trod the morning light, whitening the hem of its cloak.
Restless, so if its pace fluctuates
قَلِقُrestless المِراحِin high spirits فَإِنso if تَلاطَمَsurged خَطوُهُits steps
قَلِقُ المِراحِ فَإِن تَلاطَمَ خَطوُهُ
ظَنَّthought المُطارِدُthe pursuing rider أَنَّهُthat he was فيin مَهدِهِhis cradle
ظَنَّ المُطارِدُ أَنَّهُ في مَهدِهِ
Restlessly spirited; when its steps surged,
The pursuer thinks it is in its cradle
the pursuing rider thought himself in his cradle.
I cast pebbles from its hooves thereby
أَرميI fling الحَصىpebbles مِنfrom حافِرَيهِits two hooves بِمِثلِهِwith their like
أَرمي الحَصى مِن حافِرَيهِ بِمِثلِهِ
وَأَروعُand startle ضَوءَthe light of الصُبحِdawn مِنهُfrom it بِضِدِّهِwith its opposite
وَأَروعُ ضَوءَ الصُبحِ مِنهُ بِضِدِّهِ
I flung pebbles from its two hooves with their like,
And startle the dawnlight with its opposite
and startled dawn's light with its dark opposite.
And I wander in the expanse of the lands as if I were
وَأَظَلُّand keep فيin جَوبِtraversing البِلادِthe lands كَأَنَّنيas though I were
وَأَظَلُّ في جَوبِ البِلادِ كَأَنَّني
سَيفُthe sword of اِبنِthe son of أُرتُقَArtuq لاnot يَقَرُّrests بِغِمدِهِin its sheath
سَيفُ اِبنِ أُرتُقَ لا يَقَرُّ بِغِمدِهِ
I kept traversing the lands as though I were
The sword of Ibn Urtuqa that does not settle in its sheath
the sword of Ibn Artuq, never resting in its sheath.
The righteous king whom the ranks of the exalted
الصالِحُal-Salih المَلِكُthe king الَّذيthrough whom صَلُحَتwere perfected بِهِthrough him
الصالِحُ المَلِكُ الَّذي صَلُحَت بِهِ
رُتَبُthe ranks of العَلاءِeminence وَلاحَand shone طالِعُthe ascendant of سَعدِهِhis good fortune
رُتَبُ العَلاءِ وَلاحَ طالِعُ سَعدِهِ
Al-Salih, the king through whom were perfected
Prospered through, and the star of his fortune shone
the ranks of eminence, and whose lucky star shone.
The victorious king who attained glory through his effort
مَلِكُa king حَوىwon رُتَبَthe ranks of الفَخارِglory بِسَعيِهِthrough his striving
مَلِكُ حَوى رُتَبَ الفَخارِ بِسَعيِهِ
وَالمُلكَand kingship إِرثاًas an inheritance عَنfrom أَبيهِhis father وَجَدِّهِand his grandfather
وَالمُلكَ إِرثاً عَن أَبيهِ وَجَدِّهِ
A king who won the ranks of glory through his striving,
And the kingdom an inheritance from his father and grandfather
and kingship as an inheritance from his father and grandfather.
Easygoing in reaching the station of his rule
مُتَسَهِّلٌaffable فيon دَستِthe throne of رُتبَةِthe rank of مُلكِهِhis sovereignty
مُتَسَهِّلٌ في دَستِ رُتبَةِ مُلكِهِ
مُتَصَعِّبٌformidable مِنfrom فَوقِabove صَهوَةِthe backs of جُردِهِhis sleek steeds
مُتَصَعِّبٌ مِن فَوقِ صَهوَةِ جُردِهِ
Affable on the throne of his sovereign rank,
And formidable atop the platform of his saddle
formidable atop the backs of his sleek steeds.
So when he appeared, he filled the eyes with awe
فَإِذاso when بَداhe appears مَلَأَhe fills العُيونَeyes مَهابَةًwith awe
فَإِذا بَدا مَلَأَ العُيونَ مَهابَةً
وَإِذاand when سَخاhe gives generously مَلَأَhe fills الأَكُفَpalms بِرِفدِهِwith his gifts
وَإِذا سَخا مَلَأَ الأَكُفَ بِرِفدِهِ
When he appears, he fills eyes with awe;
And when he was munificent, he filled the palms with his gifts
when he gives generously, he fills palms with his gifts.
Like rain that grants people generosity after
كَالغَيثِlike rain يوليbestows on الناسَpeople جَوداًgenerosity بَعدَماafter
كَالغَيثِ يولي الناسَ جَوداً بَعدَما
بَهَرَhe dazzled العُقولَminds بِبَرقِهِwith his lightning وَبِرَعدِهِand with his thunder
بَهَرَ العُقولَ بِبَرقِهِ وَبِرَعدِهِ
Like rain, he bestows generosity on people after
Dazzling minds with its lightning and thunder
dazzling minds with his lightning and thunder.
So time swears that it is of its compassion
فَالدَهرُso time يُقسِمُswears أَنَّهُthat it is مِنamong رِقِّهِhis slaves
فَالدَهرُ يُقسِمُ أَنَّهُ مِن رِقِّهِ
وَالمَوتُand Death يَحلِفُswears أَنَّهُthat it is مِنamong جُندِهِhis troops
وَالمَوتُ يَحلِفُ أَنَّهُ مِن جُندِهِ
Time swears it is among his slaves,
And death vows that it is of its troops
and Death swears it is among his troops.
And beasts proclaim that it is of their kind
وَالوَحشُand wild beasts تُعلِنُproclaim أَنَّهاthat they are مِنamong رَهطِهِhis clan
وَالوَحشُ تُعلِنُ أَنَّها مِن رَهطِهِ
وَالطَيرُand birds تَدعوdeclare أَنَّهاthat they are مِنamong وَفدِهِhis delegation
وَالطَيرُ تَدعو أَنَّها مِن وَفدِهِ
Wild beasts proclaim they belong to his clan,
And birds call that it is of their delegation
and birds declare they belong to his delegation.
Intoxicated with the wine of munificence while sober
نَشوانُintoxicated مِنwith خَمرِthe wine of السَماحِgenerosity وَسُكرُهُand his drunkenness
نَشوانُ مِن خَمرِ السَماحِ وَسُكرُهُ
ماnot إِنemphatic particle يُغَيِّبُdiverts رَأيَهُhis judgment عَنfrom رُشدِهِhis sound guidance
ما إِن يُغَيِّبُ رَأيَهُ عَن رُشدِهِ
Intoxicated with the wine of generosity, yet his drunkenness
It does not distract his reason from maturity
never draws his judgment away from sound guidance.
O son of one who guaranteed people as if
ياO اِبنَson of الَّذيthe one who كَفَلَcared for الأَنامَhumankind كَأَنَّماas though
يا اِبنَ الَّذي كَفَلَ الأَنامَ كَأَنَّما
أَوصاهُcharged him آدَمُAdam فيwith كِلايَةِsafeguarding وُلدِهِhis offspring
أَوصاهُ آدَمُ في كِلايَةِ وُلدِهِ
O son of the one who cared for humankind, as though
Adam entrusted him at the demise of his children
Adam had charged him with safeguarding his offspring.
The sovereign, the victorious, the king who
المالِكُthe sovereign المَنصورُal-Mansur وَالمَلِكُand the king الَّذيwho
المالِكُ المَنصورُ وَالمَلِكُ الَّذي
حازَwon الفَخارَglory بِجَدِّهِthrough his good fortune وَبِجِدِّهِand through his diligence
حازَ الفَخارَ بِجَدِّهِ وَبِجِدِّهِ
The sovereign al-Mansur, the king who
Attained glory through his grandfather and ancestors
won glory through his good fortune and his diligence.
A root through which the glories of your honor thrived
أَصلٌa root بِهِthrough him طابَتgrew sweet مَآثِرُthe noble deeds of مَجدِكُمyour glory
أَصلٌ بِهِ طابَت مَآثِرُ مَجدِكُم
وَالغُصنُand the branch يَظهَرُappears طيبُهُits sweetness مِنthrough وَردِهِits rose
وَالغُصنُ يَظهَرُ طيبُهُ مِن وَردِهِ
A root through whom your glorious deeds grew sweet,
And a branch whose goodness appears from its flowers
and a branch's sweetness is revealed by its rose.
You gave abundantly for little praise
بَذَلَhe gave الجَزيلَabundant gifts عَلىfor القَليلِa little مِنَof الثَناpraise
بَذَلَ الجَزيلَ عَلى القَليلِ مِنَ الثَنا
وَأَتَيتَand you came تُنفِقُspending فيamong الوَرىhumankind مِنfrom نَقدِهِhis coin
وَأَتَيتَ تُنفِقُ في الوَرى مِن نَقدِهِ
He gave abundantly for little praise,
And you came spending in creation from your treasury
and you came spending his coin among humankind.
And he who preoccupied the enemy with himself
وَهوَand he الَّذيis the one who شَغَلَoccupied العَدوَّthe enemy بِنَفسِهِwith himself
وَهوَ الَّذي شَغَلَ العَدوَّ بِنَفسِهِ
عَنّيaway from me كَماas شَغَلَhe occupied الصَديقَthe friend بِحَمدِهِwith praising him
عَنّي كَما شَغَلَ الصَديقَ بِحَمدِهِ
He kept the enemy absorbed in himself,
From me as he preoccupied the friend with his praise
away from me, as he kept the friend absorbed in praising him.
And sheltered me when enmity coveted my blood
وَأَجارَنيand sheltered me إِذwhen حاوَلَتsought دَمِيَmy blood العِدىthe enemies
وَأَجارَني إِذ حاوَلَت دَمِيَ العِدى
وَرَأَتand saw شِفاءَthe cure of صُدورِهاtheir breasts فيin وِردِهِdrinking it
وَرَأَت شِفاءَ صُدورِها في وِردِهِ
He sheltered me when enemies sought my blood
And saw the healing of their breasts in shedding it
and saw their breasts' cure in drinking it.
Every tasted pleasure smiled from his mouth
مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَذّاقٍfalse friend تَبَسَّمَsmiled ثَغرُهُhis mouth
مِن كُلِّ مَذّاقٍ تَبَسَّمَ ثَغرُهُ
وَتَوَقَّدَتand blazed فيin الصَدرِthe breast جُذوَةُthe ember of حِقدِهِhis rancor
وَتَوَقَّدَت في الصَدرِ جُذوَةُ حِقدِهِ
From every false friend whose mouth smiled
And a burning coal kindled in the heart from his hatred
while the ember of his rancor blazed in his breast.
And that is why he did not see me as a poet
وَلِذاكَand therefore لَمdid not يَرَنيhe see me بِمَنظَرِin the guise of شاعِرٍa poet
وَلِذاكَ لَم يَرَني بِمَنظَرِ شاعِرٍ
تَبغيseek قَصائِدُهُhis poems جَوائِزَthe rewards of قَصدِهِhis visit
تَبغي قَصائِدُهُ جَوائِزَ قَصدِهِ
Therefore he did not view me as a poet
Whose poems seek the rewards of his purpose
whose poems seek rewards for his visit,
But as one who bestowed generosity upon him
بَلrather بِاِمرِىءٍas a man أَسدىhe bestowed إِلَيهِupon him سَماحَةًgenerously
بَل بِاِمرِىءٍ أَسدى إِلَيهِ سَماحَةً
نِعَماًfavors فَكانَso was المَدحُpraise غايَةَthe utmost of جُهدِهِhis effort
نِعَماً فَكانَ المَدحُ غايَةَ جُهدِهِ
but as a man upon whom he generously bestowed
So praise became the extent of his effort
favors, so praise was the utmost that man could offer.
And knew that the prose of my poetry is a jewel
وَدَرىand knew بِأَنَّthat نِظامَthe stringing of شِعريmy poetry جَوهَرٌjewels
وَدَرى بِأَنَّ نِظامَ شِعري جَوهَرٌ
وَسِواهُand anyone but him نَحرٌa neck لاnot يَليقُis worthy بِعِقدِهِof its necklace
وَسِواهُ نَحرٌ لا يَليقُ بِعِقدِهِ
He knew that my verse was a string of jewels,
And other than it, prose unfit for his necklace
and no neck but his was worthy of its necklace.
And indeed I have forbidden the brides of my thoughts
وَلَقَدand indeed عَهِدتُI gave instructions إِلىto عَرائِسِthe brides of فِكرَتيmy thought
وَلَقَد عَهِدتُ إِلى عَرائِسِ فِكرَتي
أَنthat لاnot تُزَفَّbe led as brides لِمُنعِمٍto a benefactor مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him
أَن لا تُزَفَّ لِمُنعِمٍ مِن بَعدِهِ
Indeed, I charged the brides of my thought
To be wed to a benefactor after him
not to be led to any benefactor after him.
But you are the branch whose root he is
لَكِنَّكَbut you الفَرعُthe branch الَّذيwhich هُوَhe أَصلُهُits root
لَكِنَّكَ الفَرعُ الَّذي هُوَ أَصلُهُ
شَرَفاًin honor وَمَجدُكَand your glory بِضعَةٌa portion مِنof مَجدِهِhis glory
شَرَفاً وَمَجدُكَ بِضعَةٌ مِن مَجدِهِ
But you are the branch of which he is the root
In nobility, and your glory a portion of his glory
in honor, and your glory is a portion of his.
His confidante in his secret, his successor
وَنَجيُّهُand his confidant فيin سِرِّهِhis secrets وَوَصيُّهُand his trustee
وَنَجيُّهُ في سِرِّهِ وَوَصيُّهُ
فيin أَمرِهِhis affairs وَصَفيُّهُand his chosen intimate مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him
في أَمرِهِ وَصَفيُّهُ مِن بَعدِهِ
And his confidant in his secrets, and his trustee
In his matter, his chosen one after him
in his affairs, and his chosen intimate after him.
And to you the kingdom aspired after him
وَإِلَيكَand toward you كانَwas المُلكُsovereignty يَطمَحُaspiring بَعدَهُafter him
وَإِلَيكَ كانَ المُلكُ يَطمَحُ بَعدَهُ
يَبغيseeking جَواباًan answer لَوif سَمَحتَyou consented بِرَدِّهِto replying to it
يَبغي جَواباً لَو سَمَحتَ بِرَدِّهِ
Sovereignty aspired toward you after him,
Seeking a response, had you been forgiving to answer it
seeking an answer, had you consented to reply.
Yet you left it voluntarily while enabled
فَتَرَكتَهُso you left it طَوعاًwillingly وَكُنتَand you were مُمَكَّناًempowered
فَتَرَكتَهُ طَوعاً وَكُنتَ مُمَكَّناً
مِنto فَكِّsevering مِعصَمِthe wrist of كَفِّهِits hand عَنfrom زَندِهِits forearm
مِن فَكِّ مِعصَمِ كَفِّهِ عَن زَندِهِ
Yet you left it willingly, though you had the power
To unclasp its wrist from its bracelet
to sever its hand at the wrist from its forearm.
And you bolstered your brother's resolve, O Aaron
وَشَدَدتَand strengthened أَزرَthe back of أَخيكَyour brother ياO هارونَهُhis Harun
وَشَدَدتَ أَزرَ أَخيكَ يا هارونَهُ
لَمّاwhen تَوَقَّعَhe expected مِنكَfrom you شَدَّةَthe strengthening of عَضدِهِhis upper arm
لَمّا تَوَقَّعَ مِنكَ شَدَّةَ عَضدِهِ
You strengthened your brother's back, O his Harun,
When he feared severity from you in your support
when he looked to you to strengthen his arm.
Until the sons of all the kingdoms altogether
حَتّىuntil أَحاطَbecame fully aware بَنوthe sons of المَمالِكِthe kingdoms كُلِّهاall of them
حَتّى أَحاطَ بَنو المَمالِكِ كُلِّها
عِلماًin knowledge بِأَنَّكَthat you قَدhad وَفَيتَfulfilled بِعَهدِهِhis covenant
عِلماً بِأَنَّكَ قَد وَفَيتَ بِعَهدِهِ
Until the sons of all the kingdoms became
Knew you had fulfilled his pledge
fully aware that you had kept his covenant.
Fate was generous to you while miserly
سَمَحَتwas generous بِكَin giving you الأَيّامُthe days وَهيَwhile they are بَواخِلٌmiserly
سَمَحَت بِكَ الأَيّامُ وَهيَ بَواخِلٌ
وَلَرُبَّماand sometimes جادَgives generously البَخيلُthe miser بِعَمدِهِof his own accord
وَلَرُبَّما جادَ البَخيلُ بِعَمدِهِ
The days bestowed you, though they are miserly;
And sometimes the miser is deliberate in his purpose
sometimes even a miser gives of his own accord.
And time promised we would see in you what we long for
وَعَدَpromised الزَمانُtime بِأَنthat نَرىwe would see فيكَin you المُنىhopes
وَعَدَ الزَمانُ بِأَن نَرى فيكَ المُنى
وَالآنَand now قَدindeed أَوفىhas fulfilled الزَمانُtime بِوَعدِهِits promise
وَالآنَ قَد أَوفى الزَمانُ بِوَعدِهِ
Time promised that we would see our hopes in you,
And now time has fulfilled its promise
and now time has fulfilled its promise.
By God, how many favors you have burdened me with
لِلَّهِby God كَمhow many قَلَّدتَنيyou hung upon me مِنof مِنَّةٍfavors
لِلَّهِ كَم قَلَّدتَني مِن مِنَّةٍ
وَالقَطرُand rain أَعظَمُtoo vast أَنto يُحاطَbe encompassed بِعَدِّهِby counting it
وَالقَطرُ أَعظَمُ أَن يُحاطَ بِعَدِّهِ
By God, how many favors you have hung about my neck!
While a raindrop is greatest to be encompassed in its number
And rain is too abundant to be counted.
And you knew what was in my conscience for you of devotion
وَعَلِمتَand you knew ماwhat فيin خاطِريmy mind لَكَfor you مِنof وَلاloyalty
وَعَلِمتَ ما في خاطِري لَكَ مِن وَلا
حَتّىso much that كَأَنَّكَas though you حاضِرٌare present فيin وُدِّهِits affection
حَتّى كَأَنَّكَ حاضِرٌ في وُدِّهِ
You knew what loyalty my mind held for you,
As if you were present in its affection
as though you were present within its affection.
If my distance from your eminence is a sin
إِنif كانَis بُعديmy distance عَنfrom عُلاكَyour exalted rank خَطيَّةًa sin
إِن كانَ بُعدي عَن عُلاكَ خَطيَّةً
قَدmay يَغفِرُforgive المَولىthe master خَطيَّةَthe sin of عَبدِهِhis slave
قَد يَغفِرُ المَولى خَطيَّةَ عَبدِهِ
If my distance from your exalted rank is a sin,
The Master may forgive the sin of His servant
a master may forgive his slave's sin.
The distance of the loyal is like his nearness
بُعدُthe distance of الوَفيِّthe faithful one كَقُربِهِlike his nearness إِذsince وُدُّهُhis love
بُعدُ الوَفيِّ كَقُربِهِ إِذ وُدُّهُ
باقٍendures كَماjust as قُربُthe nearness of المَلولِthe fickle one كَبُعدِهِlike his distance
باقٍ كَما قُربُ المَلولِ كَبُعدِهِ
The faithful one's distance is like his nearness, since his love
Since his affection remains as the nearness of the resentful is his distance
endures, just as the fickle one's nearness is like his distance.
My praise of your glory is out of pure devotion
مَدحيmy praise لِمَجدِكَof your glory عَنfrom وَدادٍaffection خالِصٍpure
مَدحي لِمَجدِكَ عَن وَدادٍ خالِصٍ
وَسِوايَand someone other than me يُضمِرُconceals صابَهُhis bitter sap فيin شَهدِهِhis honey
وَسِوايَ يُضمِرُ صابَهُ في شَهدِهِ
My praise of your glory springs from pure affection,
While my equal harbors spite in its sweetness
while another hides his bitter sap in his honey.
For I do not intend with it repayment, since it
إِذfor لاnot أَرومُI seek بِهِthrough it الجَزاءَreward لِأَنَّهُbecause it is
إِذ لا أَرومُ بِهِ الجَزاءَ لِأَنَّهُ
بَحرٌa sea أُنَزِّهُI keep aloof غُلَّتيmy thirst عَنfrom وِردِهِdrawing from it
بَحرٌ أُنَزِّهُ غُلَّتي عَن وِردِهِ
For I seek no reward through it, since it is
Is an ocean I chasteen my rendered goods from reaching
a sea from whose waters I keep my thirst aloof.
Not like one who made poetry merchandise
لاnot كَالَّذيlike one who جَعَلَmade القَريضَpoetry بِضاعَةًmerchandise
لا كَالَّذي جَعَلَ القَريضَ بِضاعَةً
مَتَوَقِّعاًexpecting كَسبَto gain الغِنىriches مِنfrom كَدِّهِhis toil
مَتَوَقِّعاً كَسبَ الغِنى مِن كَدِّهِ
Not like one who makes poetry merchandise,
Anticipating profiting from its toil
expecting to gain riches from his toil.
So seek a pearl, you who are the essence of its sea
فَاِستَجلِso behold دُرّاًpearls أَنتَyou لُجَّةُthe deep waters of بَحرِهِtheir sea
فَاِستَجلِ دُرّاً أَنتَ لُجَّةُ بَحرِهِ
وَاِلبَسand wear ثَناءًpraise أَنتَyou ناسِجُthe weaver of بُردِهِits cloak
وَاِلبَس ثَناءً أَنتَ ناسِجُ بُردِهِ
So behold pearls: you are the deep waters of their sea;
And wear praise, you who are the weaver of its cloak
and wear praise: you are the weaver of its cloak.
It increases in beauty whenever you repeat it
يَزدادُgrows حُسناًin beauty كُلَّماwhenever كَرَّرتَهُyou repeat it
يَزدادُ حُسناً كُلَّما كَرَّرتَهُ
كَالتِبرِlike raw gold يَظهَرُappears حُسنُهُits beauty فيin نَقدِهِits assay
كَالتِبرِ يَظهَرُ حُسنُهُ في نَقدِهِ
It grows more beautiful whenever you repeat it,
Like musk whose beauty appears in its coinage
like raw gold whose beauty is revealed in its assay.
Partial English translation: 149 of 150 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1