أَتُنكِرُdo you condemn نَبذَcasting aside الصُبحِthe dawn فيin ماwhat تُحاوِلُهُyou attempt it
أَتُنكِرُ نَبذَ الصُبحِ في ما تُحاوِلُهُ
بِعَذلٍthrough reproach وَباكيand the weeping one العَينِthe eye جارَتacted unjustly عَواذِلُهُhis reprovers
بِعَذلٍ وَباكي العَينِ جارَت عَواذِلُهُ
Do you condemn casting dawn aside in what you attempt
through reproach, when the tearful one's reprovers have wronged him?
وَتَحجوand you deem اِنصِبابَthe pouring forth of الدَمعِtears مُنكِراًdisapproving
وَتَحجو اِنصِبابَ الدَمعِ مُنكِراً
إِذاwhen دَبَجَتembroidered خُضرَthe green expanses of الرَوابيthe hills هُوَit أَطَلُّهُits dew (unclear form)
إِذا دَبَجَت خُضرَ الرَوابي هُوَ أَطَلُّهُ
And do you judge the pouring forth of tears with disapproval,
when it has embroidered the green hills—it is their dew?
فَأَروِدso be gentle فَاِقصِرthen desist عُمرَكَyour life (an adjuration) اللَهُGod وَاِتَّئِدand take your time
فَأَروِد فَاِقصِر عُمرَكَ اللَهُ وَاِتَّئِد
فانَأىfor more remote مِنَthan العَنقاءِthe Anqa (mythical bird) ماwhat أَنتَyou آمِلُهُhope for it
فانَأى مِنَ العَنقاءِ ما أَنتَ آمِلُهُ
Be gentle, desist, for God's sake, and take your time;
for what you hope for is more remote than the Anqa.
تُحاوِلُyou attempt تَجفيفاًdrying لِدَمعيof my tears كَعامِدِlike one intent on
تُحاوِلُ تَجفيفاً لِدَمعي كَعامِدِ
لِتَجفيفِto dry بَحرِa sea مَحوَرِالأَرضِthe earth's axis ساحِلُهُits shore
لِتَجفيفِ بَحرِ مَحوَرِالأَرضِ ساحِلُهُ
You attempt to dry my tears, like one bent
on drying a sea whose shore is the earth's axis,
وَإِطفاءِand extinguishing نارٍa fire بِالحَشىwithin the breast مِثلَlike مَنone who أَتىcame to
وَإِطفاءِ نارٍ بِالحَشى مِثلَ مَن أَتى
لَظىthe blaze of سَقرَSaqar يُطفيextinguishes الصَلاthe burning heat وَهوَwhile it آكِلُهُdevours him
لَظى سَقرَ يُطفي الصَلا وَهوَ آكِلُهُ
and to extinguish a fire in my breast, like one who enters
Saqar's blaze to quench its heat, while it devours him.
أَياO لائِميmy reproacher فيover الحُزنِgrief كَلَّنيleave me لِلأَسىto sorrow
أَيا لائِمي في الحُزنِ كَلَّني لِلأَسى
شَجياًgrief-stricken فَقَدfor indeed طابَتbecame sweet لَدىbeside; with مَناهِلُهُits springs
شَجياً فَقَد طابَت لَدى مَناهِلُهُ
O you who reproach me for grief, leave me to sorrow,
grief-stricken, for its springs have become sweet to me.
وَلاand do not تَتعَبَنَّweary yourself أَوتَعتِبتَنَّor reproach تَجهَلyou do not know هَمُّهُhis sorrow
وَلا تَتعَبَنَّ أَوتَعتِبتَنَّ تَجهَل هَمُّهُ
أَلاtake heed فَاِعذُلَنّيthen reproach me بِالَّذيfor what أَنتَyou عاقِلُهُunderstand it
أَلا فَاِعذُلَنّي بِالَّذي أَنتَ عاقِلُهُ
Do not weary yourself or reproach him, ignorant of his sorrow;
take heed and reproach me for what you understand.
وَلَوand if كُنتَyou were تَدريto know ماwhat الرَزيئَةُthe calamity لَمnot تَلُمyou would reproach
وَلَو كُنتَ تَدري ما الرَزيئَةُ لَم تَلُم
وَلَكِنَّماbut only يَستَصغِرُbelittles الأَمرُthe matter جاهِلُهُone ignorant of it
وَلَكِنَّما يَستَصغِرُ الأَمرُ جاهِلُهُ
Had you known what the calamity was, you would not have reproached me;
but only one ignorant of a matter makes light of it.
مُصابٌa calamity بَدَتappeared لِلمَوتِbelonging to death فيهِin it شَدائِدٌterrors
مُصابٌ بَدَت لِلمَوتِ فيهِ شَدائِدٌ
بِماof a kind that لَمnot تَكُنhad been تَدريهِknowing it يَوماًever غَوائِلُهُits ravages
بِما لَم تَكُن تَدريهِ يَوماً غَوائِلُهُ
A calamity in which death revealed terrors
of a kind its ravages had never known before.
بِهِthrough it ذَهَبَwent اليَومَtoday الرَدىdeath كُلَّevery مَذهَبِcourse; extreme
بِهِ ذَهَبَ اليَومَ الرَدى كُلَّ مَذهَبِ
كَأَنَّas though الرَدىdeath لَمnot يَدرِknew ماwhat هُوَit فاعِلُهُdoing it
كَأَنَّ الرَدى لَم يَدرِ ما هُوَ فاعِلُهُ
Through it, death today has gone to every extreme,
as though death did not know what it was doing.
أَزالَremoved بِأُفقِon the horizon of المَجدِglory شَمسَa sun of فَضيلَةٍvirtue
أَزالَ بِأُفقِ المَجدِ شَمسَ فَضيلَةٍ
تَميدُsway بِهاbecause of her مَنof ذاthis الزَمانُage جَلائِلُهُits great glories
تَميدُ بِها مَن ذا الزَمانُ جَلائِلُهُ
It removed from glory's horizon a sun of virtue,
at which the great glories of this age tremble.
عَقيلَةُa noblewoman صَونٍchastity; protection قَدindeed أُصيبَwas stricken بِهاthrough her العُلىlofty honor
عَقيلَةُ صَونٍ قَد أُصيبَ بِها العُلى
عَلىover مِثلِهاone like her ماتَdied العُلاlofty honor وَعَقائِلُهُand its noblewomen
عَلى مِثلِها ماتَ العُلا وَعَقائِلُهُ
A noblewoman kept inviolate, whose loss struck lofty honor;
over one like her, lofty honor and its noblewomen died.
تَعَطَّلَwas stripped of adornment خَسفاًin abasement جيدَthe neck of ذاthis الدَهرِage بَعدَماafter
تَعَطَّلَ خَسفاً جيدَ ذا الدَهرِ بَعدَما
تَحَلّىadorned itself بِهاwith her دَهراًfor an age مِنَof الدَهرِtime عاطِلُهُits unadorned one
تَحَلّى بِها دَهراً مِنَ الدَهرِ عاطِلُهُ
The neck of this age was stripped bare in abasement, after
its once-bare neck had adorned itself with her for an age.
مَضَتshe departed فَمَضىand so departed مِنهاfrom her إِلىto اللَهُGod مُمتِعاًenjoying
مَضَت فَمَضى مِنها إِلى اللَهُ مُمتِعاً
بِنُعماهُin His blessings شَخصٌa person لاnot تَعُدُّyou count كَمائِلُهُhis perfections
بِنُعماهُ شَخصٌ لا تَعُدُّ كَمائِلُهُ
She departed; from her there went to God, enjoying
His blessings, a person whose perfections are beyond counting.
فَقامَتso arose لَهاfor her فيin كُلِّevery حَيٍّquarter نَوادِبُwomen mourners
فَقامَت لَها في كُلِّ حَيٍّ نَوادِبُ
لِحُسنِfor the beauty of ثَناءٍpraise يَفعَمُfills البِرُّgoodness نائِلُهُits bounty
لِحُسنِ ثَناءٍ يَفعَمُ البِرُّ نائِلُهُ
So women mourners rose for her in every quarter,
for fair praise, its offering filled with goodness.
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed لُبنانَLebanon الأَغَرَّthe radiant تَخَضَّبَتwas dyed
أَلا إِنَّ لُبنانَ الأَغَرَّ تَخَضَّبَت
رُباهُits hills دَماًwith blood مِمّاfrom what بَكَتهُwept for it قَبائِلُهits tribes
رُباهُ دَماً مِمّا بَكَتهُ قَبائِلُه
Behold, radiant Lebanon was stained—
its hills with blood from the weeping of its tribes.
تُمَثِّلُevokes دَكَّthe shattering of الطورِMount Tur فيin صَعَقاتِهِits thunderbolts
تُمَثِّلُ دَكَّ الطورِ في صَعَقاتِهِ
دَمادِمُهُits rumblings مَمّاfrom which تَميدُsway مَعاقِلُهُits strongholds
دَمادِمُهُ مَمّا تَميدُ مَعاقِلُهُ
In its thunderbolts, the shattering of Mount Tur is evoked
by its rumblings, which make its strongholds sway.
أَمصَرعَهاwas it her death? يَومَon the day of الثَلاثاTuesday وَقَدwhen already سَرىtraveled
أَمصَرعَها يَومَ الثَلاثا وَقَد سَرى
بِهاwith her نَعشَهاher bier كَالفَلَكِlike a ship وَالدَمعِand tears حامِلُهُcarrying it
بِها نَعشَها كَالفَلَكِ وَالدَمعِ حامِلُهُ
Was it her death on Tuesday, when there moved
with her a bier like a ship, borne upon tears?
تَصعَدُrise فيهِon it الناسُthe people كُلَّevery شَرارَةٍspark
تَصعَدُ فيهِ الناسُ كُلَّ شَرارَةٍ
بِماbecause of what فيهِin it قَدalready ساوَتequaled ضَحاهُits morning light أَصائِلُهُits late afternoons
بِما فيهِ قَد ساوَت ضَحاهُ أَصائِلُهُ
The people's every spark rises on that day,
for what it held had made its afternoons equal to its morning light.
فَياso O قَبرَهاher grave فيin الحازِمِيَّةِHazimiyah فَوقَهُabove it
فَيا قَبرَها في الحازِمِيَّةِ فَوقَهُ
غِطاءًa covering مِنَof العَفوِpardon المُهينُthe Humbling One سادِلُهُletting it fall
غِطاءً مِنَ العَفوِ المُهينُ سادِلُهُ
O her grave in Hazimiyah! Above it
a covering of pardon is let fall by the Humbling One.
سَقَتكَmay they water you شَآبيبُshowers of الرِضىfavor كُلِّevery غَدوَةٍmorning
سَقَتكَ شَآبيبُ الرِضى كُلِّ غَدوَةٍ
وَظَلَّand may it continue الحَياrain يَنهَلُpouring فَوقَكَabove you وابِلُهُits downpour
وَظَلَّ الحَيا يَنهَلُ فَوقَكَ وابِلُهُ
May showers of favor water you every morning,
and may rain continue, its downpour streaming above you.
أَراحِلَةٌis she departing? مِنfrom عالَمِthe world of المَوتِdeath لِلبَقاto eternity
أَراحِلَةٌ مِن عالَمِ المَوتِ لِلبَقا
وَياand O حَبَّذاhow blessed مِنfrom ذَلِكَthat الحَيِّabode راحِلُهُits departing one
وَيا حَبَّذا مِن ذَلِكَ الحَيِّ راحِلُهُ
Is she departing from the world of death to eternity?
And how blessed is the one who leaves that abode!
لَكَfor you اللَهُGod بِالصَبرِfor the patience الَّذيwhich قَدalready قَضَيتُهُI endured it
لَكَ اللَهُ بِالصَبرِ الَّذي قَد قَضَيتُهُ
بِداءَwith an illness مَدىfor the duration of السَبعِthe seven السِنينَyears يُناضِلُهُhe battles it
بِداءَ مَدى السَبعِ السِنينَ يُناضِلُهُ
May God be with you for the patience I have endured,
against an illness battled for seven years.
تَخِذتُI made اللَياليthe nights النابِغِيَّةِof al-Nabighah مَألفاًa familiar haunt
تَخِذتُ اللَيالي النابِغِيَّةِ مَألفاً
فَماso what شَأنُthe condition of طَرفِan eye حالِكَpitch-black اللَيلُthe night كاحِلُهُits kohl-applier
فَما شَأنُ طَرفِ حالِكَ اللَيلُ كاحِلُهُ
I made the nights of al-Nabighah my familiar haunt;
so what of an eye kohled by pitch-black night?
وَتَصبِرُand she endures حَتّىuntil أَصبَحَbecame الداءُthe illness عِندَهاfor her
وَتَصبِرُ حَتّى أَصبَحَ الداءُ عِندَها
أَواخِرُهُits last stages قَدalready سُوِيَتwere made equal وَأَوائِلُهُand its first stages
أَواخِرُهُ قَد سُوِيَت وَأَوائِلُهُ
She endures until, for her, the illness
has its last stages made equal to its first.
فَوَيحَso woe to الرَدىdeath كَيفَhow اِنبَرىstepped forth لِاِختِطافِهاto snatch her away
فَوَيحَ الرَدى كَيفَ اِنبَرى لِاِختِطافِها
وَلَمand not تَدُمlinger مُذsince مَدَّتstretched forth يَداهُits two hands أَنامِلُهُits fingers
وَلَم تَدُم مُذ مَدَّت يَداهُ أَنامِلُهُ
Woe to death! How it stepped forth to snatch her away,
and its fingers did not tarry once its hands reached out.
تَخَرَّمَهاit carried her off لاnot يَرهَبُfears البَأسُmight مِنfrom حِمىthe protection of
تَخَرَّمَها لا يَرهَبُ البَأسُ مِن حِمى
وَزيرَa minister وَفَتproved faithful أَسيافِهِhis swords وَعَوامِلُهُand his spearheads
وَزيرَ وَفَت أَسيافِهِ وَعَوامِلُهُ
It carried her off, unafraid of might, from the protection of
a minister whose swords and spearheads had proved faithful.
فَلَمand did not يَتَهَيَّبdread لِلوَزيرِthe minister's بَسالَةًvalor
فَلَم يَتَهَيَّب لِلوَزيرِ بَسالَةً
تَسامَتrose high وَلَمand did not تُغَنِّavail الوَزيرَthe minister مَناصِلُهُhis blades
تَسامَت وَلَم تُغَنِّ الوَزيرَ مَناصِلُهُ
It did not dread the minister's valor,
which rose so high; nor did the minister's blades avail him.
أَقامَstationed السَراياthe detachments فَوقَabove لُبنانَLebanon تَنجَليstand revealed
أَقامَ السَرايا فَوقَ لُبنانَ تَنجَلي
فَأَينَso where السَراياthe detachments لِلحِمامِagainst death تَنزِلُهُbring it down
فَأَينَ السَرايا لِلحِمامِ تَنزِلُهُ
He stationed troops above Lebanon, standing in plain view;
but where are the troops that can bring death low?
أُصيبَhe was stricken لَعَمرِby the life of اللَهِGod لَيسَnot تُفيدُهُhelp him
أُصيبَ لَعَمرِ اللَهِ لَيسَ تُفيدُهُ
فَتيلاًa thread's worth عَلىin دَرءِwarding off المُصابِcalamity جَحافِلُهُhis mighty hosts
فَتيلاً عَلى دَرءِ المُصابِ جَحافِلُهُ
He was stricken, by God's life; no aid could they give him,
not a thread's worth against calamity—his mighty hosts.
وَلاand no غَروَwonder فيهِin him مِنat مُصابِan affliction مُعظَمِgreat
وَلا غَروَ فيهِ مِن مُصابِ مُعظَمِ
فَماfor no واثِبُone pouncing on الضِرغامُthe lion إِلّاexcept مُماثِلُهُits equal
فَما واثِبُ الضِرغامُ إِلّا مُماثِلُهُ
Nor is there any wonder in his grievous affliction,
for only a lion's equal leaps upon it.
وَأَنَّand indeed الَّذيone who جَلَّennobled الزَمانَthe age بِفَضلِهِthrough his excellence
وَأَنَّ الَّذي جَلَّ الزَمانَ بِفَضلِهِ
لاindeed (unclear fragment) حَرىworthy بِأَنthat هانَتbecame slight عَلَيهِto him نَوازِلُهُits calamities
لا حَرى بِأَن هانَت عَلَيهِ نَوازِلُهُ
And one who ennobled the age with his excellence
is surely worthy of finding its calamities light.
لَقَدindeed جَلَّbecame too exalted أَنto يَخشىfear مِنَfrom الدَهرِthe age بَأسُهُhis might
لَقَد جَلَّ أَن يَخشى مِنَ الدَهرِ بَأسُهُ
بَلrather الدَهرُthe age يَخشاهُfears him فَلَيسَfor it does not يُعادِلُهُequal him
بَل الدَهرُ يَخشاهُ فَلَيسَ يُعادِلُهُ
His might is too exalted to fear the age;
rather, the age fears him, for it cannot match him.
وَزيرٌa minister إِذاif قَلَّis scant الثَناءُpraise فَإِنَّماthen only
وَزيرٌ إِذا قَلَّ الثَناءُ فَإِنَّما
شَمائِلُهُhis qualities بِالالتِفاتِin attentiveness شَوامِلُهُhis all-embracing traits
شَمائِلُهُ بِالالتِفاتِ شَوامِلُهُ
A minister—if praise is scant, it is only
his qualities of attentiveness that embrace all.
هَنيئاًblessed be لِلُبنانَLebanon بِهِin him أَنَّfor ذِكرُهُhis renown
هَنيئاً لِلُبنانَ بِهِ أَنَّ ذِكرُهُ
يَضوعُgives off fragrance بِأَذكىwith the sweetest fragrance ماthat which تَضوعُexhale fragrance خَمائِلُهُits groves
يَضوعُ بِأَذكى ما تَضوعُ خَمائِلُهُ
Blessed is Lebanon in him, for his renown
gives off the sweetest fragrance its groves exhale.
تَوَلّاهُgoverned it واصاًWasa حَيثُwhere واصىcommended; bequeathed أَيادِياًdeeds of kindness
تَوَلّاهُ واصاً حَيثُ واصى أَيادِياً
تَواصيpass on الثَناpraise طولَthroughout المَدىall time وَتُواصِلُهُand perpetuate it
تَواصي الثَنا طولَ المَدى وَتُواصِلُهُ
Wasa governed it, bequeathing deeds of kindness
that pass on praise through all time and perpetuate it.
فَدُنياكَso your worldly life طَراًentirely لاdo not تُطِعobey باعِثَthe instigator of الأَسىsorrow
فَدُنياكَ طَراً لا تُطِع باعِثَ الأَسى
فَإِنَّكَfor you لاnot يَعينكَhelps you فيin الخَطبِcalamity هائِلُهُits terror
فَإِنَّكَ لا يَعينكَ في الخَطبِ هائِلُهُ
So throughout your worldly life, do not heed sorrow's instigator;
for the terror of misfortune will not help you face it.
وَأَنَّand indeed الَّذيthat which قَدalready صَلَّتَتهُhas unsheathed it يَدُthe hand of القَضاfate
وَأَنَّ الَّذي قَد صَلَّتَتهُ يَدُ القَضا
حُسامٌa keen sword غَدَتbecame أَمرَthe command of الإِلَهِGod حَمائِلُهُits baldrics
حُسامٌ غَدَت أَمرَ الإِلَهِ حَمائِلُهُ
And what the hand of fate has unsheathed
is a keen sword whose baldrics have become God's command.
فَهَلcan then فيunder قَضاءِthe decree of اللَهِGod تُنجيكَsave you حيلَةٌa stratagem
فَهَل في قَضاءِ اللَهِ تُنجيكَ حيلَةٌ
إِذاwhen نَصَبَتare set لِلاقتِناصِfor catching prey حَبائِلُهُits snares
إِذا نَصَبَت لِلاقتِناصِ حَبائِلُهُ
Can any stratagem save you from God's decree
when its snares are set for the hunt?
وَهَلand does كُلُّevery شَأَنٍundertaking مُبتَغيهِits seeker وَسائِلُهُand its petitioner
وَهَل كُلُّ شَأَنٍ مُبتَغيهِ وَسائِلُهُ
يَصِحُّsucceed بِهِthrough it فيماin what يَرومُhe seeks وَسائِلُهُhis means
يَصِحُّ بِهِ فيما يَرومُ وَسائِلُهُ
And does the seeker and petitioner in every undertaking
find his means succeed in what he desires?
فَجَدَلتُso I felled ذاthe possessor of العُدوانِaggression بِالسَيفِwith the sword عُنوَةًby force
فَجَدَلتُ ذا العُدوانِ بِالسَيفِ عُنوَةً
وَلَكِنbut هَذاthis المَوتُdeath لَيسَdoes not يَشاresembles (word fragment) كُلُّهُhim (word continuation)
وَلَكِن هَذا المَوتُ لَيسَ يَشا كُلُّهُ
So I felled the aggressor by force with the sword,
but this death does not resemble him.
فَعَطفٌso a turning عَلىtoward المَكروهِadversity نَفساًthe soul فَإِنَّهُfor it
فَعَطفٌ عَلى المَكروهِ نَفساً فَإِنَّهُ
قَضاءٌa decree عَميمٌuniversal مَقصِداتُstriking fatally مُقاتِلُهُits vital spots
قَضاءٌ عَميمٌ مَقصِداتُ مُقاتِلُهُ
So incline your soul toward adversity, for it
is a universal decree, striking fatally at the vital spots.
فَمِثلَكَfor one like you لاnot يَعنوbows لاnot ثِقالَheavy burdens نَكبَةٍa calamity
فَمِثلَكَ لا يَعنو لا ثِقالَ نَكبَةٍ
عَلىprovided أَنthat حَزَمَfirmness of الرَأىjudgment إِذاthen ذاكَthat كاهِلُهُhis shoulder
عَلى أَن حَزَمَ الرَأى إِذا ذاكَ كاهِلُهُ
For one like you does not bow, not to a calamity's heavy burdens,
provided that resolute judgment then serves as his shoulder.
وَمِثلُكَand one like you فيin لُبنانَLebanon هِمَّتُهُhis resolve اِنتَضَتlaid bare
وَمِثلُكَ في لُبنانَ هِمَّتُهُ اِنتَضَت
فَوائِفٌdesert tracts (unclear form) ماnot كانَتhad been تَرجىhoped for أَواهِلُهُits inhabitants
فَوائِفٌ ما كانَت تَرجى أَواهِلُهُ
And one like you in Lebanon, through his resolve, laid bare
desert tracts whose habitation had not been hoped for.
نَشَرتُI unfurled لِواءَthe banner of العَدلِjustice فَوقَabove هِضابِهِits hills
نَشَرتُ لِواءَ العَدلِ فَوقَ هِضابِهِ
خَفوقاًfluttering بِآلاءِwith blessings غَدَتbecame لاnot تُزايِلُهُleave it
خَفوقاً بِآلاءِ غَدَت لا تُزايِلُهُ
I unfurled the banner of justice above its hills,
fluttering with blessings that now never leave it.
فَدُمتَso may you remain عَلَيهِover it والِياًas governor تُسعِدُyou gladden الوَرىhumankind
فَدُمتَ عَلَيهِ والِياً تُسعِدُ الوَرى
كَماjust as دُمتَyou have remained جوداًbounty; generous rain فيهِin it يَخضَرُّgrows green وابِلُهُits downpour
كَما دُمتَ جوداً فيهِ يَخضَرُّ وابِلُهُ
May you remain its governor, bringing happiness to humankind,
as you remain a bounty whose downpour makes it green.
Sol 6.1