تَرَاءَتْshe appeared لِعَيْنِيto my eye وَهيَwhile she بِالشَّعْرِby the hair تُحْجَبُis veiled
تَرَاءَتْ لِعَيْنِي وَهيَ بِالشَّعْرِ تُحْجَبُ
فَخِلْتُso I imagined شُعَاعَa ray الشَّمْسِof the sun يَعْلُوهُrises over it غَيْهَبُdarkness
فَخِلْتُ شُعَاعَ الشَّمْسِ يَعْلُوهُ غَيْهَبُ
She appeared to my eye while veiled by her hair,
She appeared before my eyes as her hair concealed her
So I imagined a ray of sunlight with darkness rising over it.
So I imagined the sun's rays rising above her hiding place
وَلَمْand did not تَحْتَجِبْbecome veiled بَعْدَafter الظُّهُورِappearing وَإنَّمَاbut rather
وَلَمْ تَحْتَجِبْ بَعْدَ الظُّهُورِ وَإنَّمَا
يِتَنْزِيهِهَاby declaring her exempt (unclear spelling) عنْfrom ذَاكَthat طَرْفِيmy gaze يُكَذّبُlies
يِتَنْزِيهِهَا عنْ ذَاكَ طَرْفِي يُكَذّبُ
She did not become veiled after appearing; rather,
And she did not conceal herself after appearing
In declaring her exempt from that, my gaze lies.
Rather, it was my glances seeking to deny that
وَمَاand not هِيَshe إلاَbut الشَّمْسُthe sun فيon الأفْقِthe horizon أشْرَقَتْshone forth
وَمَا هِيَ إلاَ الشَّمْسُ في الأفْقِ أشْرَقَتْ
بُدُورُfull moons سَنَاهَاof her radiance بَعْدَمَاafter كَادَit nearly يَغْرُبُsets
بُدُورُ سَنَاهَا بَعْدَمَا كَادَ يَغْرُبُ
She is none but the sun on the horizon; there shone forth
She was none other than the sun rising on the horizon
Full moons of her radiance, after it had nearly set.
After its splendor had almost set
مَهَاةٌan oryx رَعَتْgrazed on حَبَّthe grain القُلُوبِof hearts فَمَالَهَاso what ails her?
مَهَاةٌ رَعَتْ حَبَّ القُلُوبِ فَمَالَهَا
تَرُوعُshe alarms نِفَاراًby fleeing وَهْيَwhile she للأنْسِto humankind تُنْسَبُis ascribed
تَرُوعُ نِفَاراً وَهْيَ للأنْسِ تُنْسَبُ
An oryx that grazed on the grain of hearts—what ails her,
A gazelle who grazed on the love of hearts, so it inclined toward her
That she alarms us by fleeing, though counted among humankind?
Fearing and fleeing while being attributed to companionship
وَكَلَّمَتِand she wounded الأحْشَاthe innards بِمُوسَىwith the razor لِحَاظِهَاof her glances
وَكَلَّمَتِ الأحْشَا بِمُوسَى لِحَاظِهَا
فَأصْبَحْتُso I became مِنْهَاof her خَائِفاًafraid أتَرَقَّبُI watch anxiously
فَأصْبَحْتُ مِنْهَا خَائِفاً أتَرَقَّبُ
She wounded my innards with the razor of her glances,
And she addressed the thickets with her veil
So I became afraid of her, watching anxiously.
So I became fearful of her, waiting and watching
وَعَذَّبَand tormented قَلْبِيmy heart دَلُّهَاher coquetry بِنَعِيمِهِwith its bliss
وَعَذَّبَ قَلْبِي دَلُّهَا بِنَعِيمِهِ
وَلَمْand did not أدْرِI know أنِّيthat I بِالنَّعِيمِwith bliss أعَذَّبُam tormented
وَلَمْ أدْرِ أنِّي بِالنَّعِيمِ أعَذَّبُ
Her coquetry tormented my heart with its bliss,
And her allure tortured my heart with its delight
And I did not know that bliss could torment me.
And I did not know that I was tortured by delight
وَأبْدِلْتُand I exchanged مُزْنَthe rain-clouds الدَّمْعِof tears فيin القَلْبِthe heart جَوْهَراًfor a jewel
وَأبْدِلْتُ مُزْنَ الدَّمْعِ في القَلْبِ جَوْهَراً
ألَمْhave you not تَرَهُseen it بِالْهُدْبِby the eyelash قَدْalready عَادَhas come to be يُثْقَبُpierced
ألَمْ تَرَهُ بِالْهُدْبِ قَدْ عَادَ يُثْقَبُ
I exchanged the rain-clouds of tears in my heart for a jewel;
And I substituted the essence of tears in my heart for pearls
Have you not seen it now being pierced by the eyelash?
Did you not see it flowing at her slope, becoming pierced?
وَبِيand I am afflicted by سَاحِرُan enchanter الأجْفَانِof eyelids أمَّاas for قَوَامُهُhis figure
وَبِي سَاحِرُ الأجْفَانِ أمَّا قَوَامُهُ
فَلَدْنٌthen it is supple وَأمَّاand as for ثَغْرُهُhis mouth فَهْوَthen it is كَوْكَبُa star
فَلَدْنٌ وَأمَّا ثَغْرُهُ فَهْوَ كَوْكَبُ
I am afflicted by an enchanter of eyelids; as for his figure,
And the sorcerer of eyelids - as for his stature, it is softness
It is supple; as for his mouth, it is a star.
And as for his mouth, it is a planet
حَكَىimitated حُسْنَهُhis beauty بَدْرُthe full moon الدجَىof darkness مُتَكَلِّفاًwith effort
حَكَى حُسْنَهُ بَدْرُ الدجَى مُتَكَلِّفاً
وَرَاحَand went on بِهَاتِيكَthrough that الحِكَايَةِimitation يُعْرِبُmaking clear
وَرَاحَ بِهَاتِيكَ الحِكَايَةِ يُعْرِبُ
The full moon of darkness strained to imitate his beauty,
The full moon related his beauty pretentiously
And went on making that imitation plain.
And went about with this story becoming Arabicized
وَظَنَّand it imagined دُخَاناًsmoke مِثْلَlike حُمْرَةِthe redness خَدّهِof his cheek
وَظَنَّ دُخَاناً مِثْلَ حُمْرَةِ خَدّهِ
ألَيْسَdid it not رَآهَاsee it جَمْرَةًas an ember تَتَلَهَّبُblazing
ألَيْسَ رَآهَا جَمْرَةً تَتَلَهَّبُ
And it imagined smoke like the redness of his cheek;
And he thought it was smoke like the redness of his cheek
Did it not see that redness as a blazing ember?
Is it not truly an ember blazing?
أعِدْrepeat نَظَراًa look فِيat خَدّهِhis cheek وَعِذَارِهِand his sideburns
أعِدْ نَظَراً فِي خَدّهِ وَعِذَارِهِ
تَرَyou will see عَسْجَداًgold بِالاَّزَوَرْدِيّwith lapis-lazuli blue يُكْتَبُbeing inscribed
تَرَ عَسْجَداً بِالاَّزَوَرْدِيّ يُكْتَبُ
Look again at his cheek and his sideburns:
Take another look at his cheek and beard
You will see gold being inscribed with lapis-lazuli blue.
You see a threshold inscribed with lapis lazuli
وَسَلْand ask ثَغْرَهُhis mouth المَعْسُولَhoney-sweet عَنْabout لَعَسa dusky hue بِهِin it
وَسَلْ ثَغْرَهُ المَعْسُولَ عَنْ لَعَس بِهِ
وَإلاَّor else عَنِabout الصَّهْبَاءِamber wine بالمِسْكِwith musk تُرْسَبُbeing settled
وَإلاَّ عَنِ الصَّهْبَاءِ بالمِسْكِ تُرْسَبُ
Ask his honey-sweet mouth about the dusky hue within it,
And ask his sweet mouth about the delicacy in it
Or else about amber wine settled with musk.
Otherwise, about pure musk it is perfumed
فَوَجْنَتُهُso his cheek وَالثَّغْرُand the mouth نَارٌfire وَكَوْكَبٌand a star
فَوَجْنَتُهُ وَالثَّغْرُ نَارٌ وَكَوْكَبٌ
وَطَلْعَتُهُand his countenance وَالشَّعْرُand the hair صُبْحٌdawn وَغَيْهَبُand darkness
وَطَلْعَتُهُ وَالشَّعْرُ صُبْحٌ وَغَيْهَبُ
His cheek and mouth are fire and a star;
So I kissed him while his mouth was fire and a planet
His countenance and hair are dawn and darkness.
And his visage was dawn and hiding
وَقَامَتُهُand his stature وَالرِّدْفُand his haunch غُصْنٌa branch وَبَانَةٌand a ban-tree
وَقَامَتُهُ وَالرِّدْفُ غُصْنٌ وَبَانَةٌ
وَمُقْلَتُهُand his eye وَالصدْغُand the temple-lock سَيْفٌa sword وَعَقْرَبُand a scorpion
وَمُقْلَتُهُ وَالصدْغُ سَيْفٌ وَعَقْرَبُ
His stature and haunch are a branch and a ban-tree;
And his stature and nape were a branch and sprouts
His eye and temple-lock are a sword and a scorpion.
And his eyelash and temple were a sword and a scorpion
حَمَانِيhe denied me اللَّمَىthe dusk of lips فَاعْتَضْتُso I took in exchange عَنْهُfor it مُدَامَةًwine
حَمَانِي اللَّمَى فَاعْتَضْتُ عَنْهُ مُدَامَةً
وَخَمْرُand the wine اللَّمَىof dusky lips عِنْدِيto me ألَذmore delicious وَأعْذَبُand sweeter
وَخَمْرُ اللَّمَى عِنْدِي ألَذ وَأعْذَبُ
He denied me those dusky lips, so I took wine instead;
The glances intoxicated me, so I resisted them with a cup
Yet the wine of dusky lips is more delicious and sweeter to me.
And the wine of the glances is for me sweeter and more delicious
وَأذْهَبَand carried off عَقْلِيmy reason مِنْهُof his ثَغْرٌa mouth مُفَضَّضٌsilvered
وَأذْهَبَ عَقْلِي مِنْهُ ثَغْرٌ مُفَضَّضٌ
فَلِلَّهِso, by God عَقْلٌa mind بِالْمُفَضَّضِby the silvered one مُذْهَبُcarried off; gilded
فَلِلَّهِ عَقْلٌ بِالْمُفَضَّضِ مُذْهَبُ
A silvered mouth of his carried off my reason;
And a dimpled mouth takes away my mind
By God, a mind carried off—and gilded—by silver!
So for God is a mind taken away by a dimple
وَأقْسِمُand I swear لَوْلاَwere it not that شَاقَنِيmade me yearn خَمْرُthe wine رِيقِهِof his saliva
وَأقْسِمُ لَوْلاَ شَاقَنِي خَمْرُ رِيقِهِ
لَمَاwould not have رَاقَنِيdelighted me ثَغْرٌa mouth or rim مِنَof الكَأسِthe cup مُذْهَبُgilded
لَمَا رَاقَنِي ثَغْرٌ مِنَ الكَأسِ مُذْهَبُ
I swear, had the wine of his saliva not made me yearn,
And I swear if not for his saliva inebriating me
The gilded mouth of a cup would not have delighted me.
No mouth from a cup would have made me drunk
أيَاO زَائِراًvisitor وَاللَّيْلُwhile night يَخْضبُdyes فودَهُits temple-lock
أيَا زَائِراً وَاللَّيْلُ يَخْضبُ فودَهُ
وَوَلَّىand he departed وَفَرْعُwhile the tresses اللَّيْلِof night بِالصبْحِwith dawn أشْيَبُare gray
وَوَلَّى وَفَرْعُ اللَّيْلِ بِالصبْحِ أشْيَبُ
O visitor, while night was dyeing its temple-lock,
Oh visitor, and the night paints its cheek
Who departed when night's tresses were gray with dawn,
And the branch of night has turned white at dawn
لَدَىbeside رَوْضَةٍa garden لَوْلاَwere it not for فَصَاحَةُthe eloquence وُرْقِهَاof its gray doves
لَدَى رَوْضَةٍ لَوْلاَ فَصَاحَةُ وُرْقِهَا
لَقُلْنَاwe would have said كُنَاسٌan antelope's covert وَالْحَمَائِمand the doves رَبْرَبُa herd of antelope
لَقُلْنَا كُنَاسٌ وَالْحَمَائِم رَبْرَبُ
Beside a garden—were it not for its gray doves' eloquence,
At a garden, if not for the clamor of its leaves
We would have called it an antelope's covert, and the doves a herd.
We would have said turtle doves and fattened pigeons were cooing
إذَاwhen أحْدَقَتْsurround أحْدَاقُthe eyes نَرْجِسِهَاof its narcissi تَرَىyou see
إذَا أحْدَقَتْ أحْدَاقُ نَرْجِسِهَا تَرَى
دَنَانِيرَgold dinars فيin وَسْطِthe midst الدَّرَاهِمِof silver dirhams تُضْرَبُare minted
دَنَانِيرَ في وَسْطِ الدَّرَاهِمِ تُضْرَبُ
When the eyes of its narcissi surround you, you see
When the pupils of its narcissi glare
Gold dinars being minted amid silver dirhams.
You see dinars being struck amid the dirhams
كَأنَّas though بِهَاwithin it الأنْهَارَthe rivers رُقْشٌspeckled أرَاقِمٌserpents
كَأنَّ بِهَا الأنْهَارَ رُقْشٌ أرَاقِمٌ
إذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle جَرَتْthey flow فِيهَاwithin it تَخُوضُthey wade وَتَلْعَبُand play
إذَا مَا جَرَتْ فِيهَا تَخُوضُ وَتَلْعَبُ
As though the rivers within it were speckled serpents,
It is as if its rivers have silver anklets
Wading and playing whenever they flow through it.
Playing and swimming delightedly in them
تُهَدّدُهَاthreaten them أغْصَانُهَاits branches بِرُؤُوسِهَاwith their heads
تُهَدّدُهَا أغْصَانُهَا بِرُؤُوسِهَا
فتَنْظُرُso they look مِنْfrom طَرْفٍan eye خَفِيّfurtive وَتَهْرَبُand flee
فتَنْظُرُ مِنْ طَرْفٍ خَفِيّ وَتَهْرَبُ
Its branches threaten them with their heads,
Its branches threaten it with their heads
So they look with a furtive eye and flee.
So it looks from the corner of its eye and flees
كَأنَّas though بِهَاwithin it النِّسْرِينَthe wild roses أقْدَاحُgoblets فِضَّةٍof silver
كَأنَّ بِهَا النِّسْرِينَ أقْدَاحُ فِضَّةٍ
بِتِبْرِwith the gold-dust المُحَيَّاof the face لِلْحُمَيَّاfor wine تُذَهَّبُare gilded
بِتِبْرِ المُحَيَّا لِلْحُمَيَّا تُذَهَّبُ
As though its wild roses were goblets of silver,
It is as if its myrtles are silver goblets
Gilded for wine with the gold-dust of their faces.
Decorated with youths for the youths
كَأنَّas though بِهَاwithin it الرَّيْحَانَthe basil نَقَشُpatterns أنَامِلٍof fingertips
كَأنَّ بِهَا الرَّيْحَانَ نَقَشُ أنَامِلٍ
تُطَرَّقُhave their tips marked بِالْمِسْكِwith musk الذَّكِيّfragrant وَتُخْضَبُand are dyed
تُطَرَّقُ بِالْمِسْكِ الذَّكِيّ وَتُخْضَبُ
As though its basil were patterns on fingertips,
It is as if its sweet basil is traced by fingers
Marked at their tips and dyed with fragrant musk.
Dripping with pure musk and dyed
كَأنَّas though بِهَاwithin it لِلْبَانِfor the ban-trees جَيْشاًan army يَحُفُّهَاsurrounding it
كَأنَّ بِهَا لِلْبَانِ جَيْشاً يَحُفُّهَا
كَمَاjust as حَفَّencircled لِلْمَسْعُودِfor al-Mas'ud بالسُّمْرِwith tawny spears مَوْكِبُa procession
كَمَا حَفَّ لِلْمَسْعُودِ بالسُّمْرِ مَوْكِبُ
As though the ban-trees there had an army encircling it,
It is as if its incense has an army surrounding it
As a procession surrounded al-Mas'ud with tawny spears.
As the procession surrounded Al-Mas`oud with musk
مَلِيكٌa king أفَادَتْtaught سُمْرُهُhis tawny spears كُلَّevery خَاطِبٍorator
مَلِيكٌ أفَادَتْ سُمْرُهُ كُلَّ خَاطِبٍ
علىupon كُلّevery عُودٍwooden pulpit كيفَhow يَدْعُوhe invokes وَيَخْطُبُand preaches
على كُلّ عُودٍ كيفَ يَدْعُو وَيَخْطُبُ
A king whose tawny spears taught every orator,
A ruler whose generosity included every suitor
Upon every wooden pulpit, how to invoke and preach.
At every musical instrument, teaching him how to pray and propose
وَبَدْرٌand a full moon لَهُhe has وَجْهٌa face تَهَلَّلَthat beamed بِالْحَيَاwith modesty; with rain
وَبَدْرٌ لَهُ وَجْهٌ تَهَلَّلَ بِالْحَيَا
كَمْاjust as انْهَلَّpoured down مِنْfrom كَفَّيْهِhis two palms بالجودِwith generosity صَيِّبُa rainstorm
كَمْا انْهَلَّ مِنْ كَفَّيْهِ بالجودِ صَيِّبُ
And a full moon whose face beamed with modesty,
And a full moon whose face beamed with delight
As a rainstorm of generosity poured from his two palms.
As the clouds poured from his palms generously
وَغَيْثٌand life-giving rain لَهُhe has فِيin كُلّevery أفْقٍhorizon مَوَاهِبٌgifts
وَغَيْثٌ لَهُ فِي كُلّ أفْقٍ مَوَاهِبٌ
تَكَادُalmost بِهَاthrough them الأرْضُthe earth الجَدِيبَةُbarren تُخْصِبُgrows fertile
تَكَادُ بِهَا الأرْضُ الجَدِيبَةُ تُخْصِبُ
And life-giving rain with gifts upon every horizon,
And a rain whose gifts opened every horizon
Through which the barren earth almost grows fertile.
The barren earth almost flourishes by them
وَلَيْثٌand a lion أرَادَwished اللَّيْثُthe lion يَحْكِيهِto imitate him شِدَّةًin strength
وَلَيْثٌ أرَادَ اللَّيْثُ يَحْكِيهِ شِدَّةً
وَكَيْفَand how يُضَاهِيcan rival الصّيدَthe proud lions فيin البَأسِmight ثعْلبُa fox
وَكَيْفَ يُضَاهِي الصّيدَ في البَأسِ ثعْلبُ
And a lion whom the lion wished to imitate in strength—
And a lion whom the lion wanted to imitate in severity
How can a fox rival proud lions in might?
And how can a fox equal the prey inmight?
إذَاwhen انْسَابَhe glides فِيinto تَدْبِيرِdevising رَأيٍa plan تَرَادَفَتْfollow one another
إذَا انْسَابَ فِي تَدْبِيرِ رَأيٍ تَرَادَفَتْ
لَهُfor him فِكَرٌideas يَنْجَحْنَthey succeed أيَّانَwhenever يَذْهَبُhe proceeds
لَهُ فِكَرٌ يَنْجَحْنَ أيَّانَ يَذْهَبُ
When he glides into devising a plan, there follow one another
When he flowed in managing wise opinion, thoughts succeeded for him
Ideas that succeed for him whenever he proceeds.
However he went, they succeeded
أرَانَاhe showed us طِبَاقَthe antithesis المَالِof wealth وَالْمَجْدِand glory فِيamong الوَرَىhumankind
أرَانَا طِبَاقَ المَالِ وَالْمَجْدِ فِي الوَرَى
فَذَلِكَso that مَبْذُولٌis freely given وَهَذَاwhile this مُحَجَّبُis veiled
فَذَلِكَ مَبْذُولٌ وَهَذَا مُحَجَّبُ
He showed us the contrast of wealth and glory among mankind:
He showed us the spheres of wealth and glory in the world
The former freely given, the latter kept veiled.
So this is offered and that is hidden
وَجَانَسَand he made wordplay مَاwhat lies بَيْنَbetween القِرَاءَةِrecitation والْقِرَىand hospitality
وَجَانَسَ مَا بَيْنَ القِرَاءَةِ والْقِرَى
فَلِلْجُودِso for generosity مِنْهُfrom him وَالإجَادَةِand mastery مَذْهَبُa path
فَلِلْجُودِ مِنْهُ وَالإجَادَةِ مَذْهَبُ
And linked recitation and hospitality in wordplay;
And he frequented what is between reading and reciting poetry
For generosity and mastery alike have a path in him.
So grace and excellence are attributed to his generosity
إذَاwhen اسْتَمْسَكَتْhold fast مِنْهُin him الأمَانيwishes بِنَاصِرٍto a supporter
إذَا اسْتَمْسَكَتْ مِنْهُ الأمَاني بِنَاصِرٍ
فَبُشْرَىthen glad tidings الأمَانِيfor wishes أنَّهَاthat they لَيْسَare not تُكْذَبُbelied
فَبُشْرَى الأمَانِي أنَّهَا لَيْسَ تُكْذَبُ
When wishes cling to a champion in him,
When hopes cling to him for support
Glad tidings for those wishes: they will not be belied.
Good tidings to the hopes for they will not be denied
أذَلَّhe humbled خُطُوبَthe calamities الدَّهْرِof time قَهْراًby force فَكَفَّهَاso he restrained them
أذَلَّ خُطُوبَ الدَّهْرِ قَهْراً فَكَفَّهَا
بِبَأسٍwith might يُعَيِّيthat baffles كُلَّevery خَطْبٍcalamity وَيُتْعِبُand exhausts
بِبَأسٍ يُعَيِّي كُلَّ خَطْبٍ وَيُتْعِبُ
He humbled Time's calamities by force and restrained them,
He defeated the setbacks of fate forcibly so he clapped his hands over them
With might that baffles and exhausts every calamity.
With might that frustrates every suitor and tires him
رَمَاهَاhe struck them بِعَزْمٍwith resolve فَانْجَلَىso dispersed خُطَبَاؤُهَاtheir spokesmen
رَمَاهَا بِعَزْمٍ فَانْجَلَى خُطَبَاؤُهَا
فَلَوْso had رَامَهَاsought them الإصْبَاحُdaybreak أعْيَاهُwould have wearied it مَطْلَبُthe pursuit
فَلَوْ رَامَهَا الإصْبَاحُ أعْيَاهُ مَطْلَبُ
He struck them with resolve, and their spokesmen dispersed;
He shot them with resolve so their suitors retreated
Had daybreak sought them, the pursuit would have wearied it.
If he shot them at dawn, hopes would exhaust him
وَلِلنَّقْعِand the battle-dust has فَرْعٌtresses بِالْعَجَاجَةِwith swirling dust أسْحَمٌjet-black
وَلِلنَّقْعِ فَرْعٌ بِالْعَجَاجَةِ أسْحَمٌ
وَلِلْجَوّand the sky has فَرْقٌa hair-parting بِالأسِنَّةِwith spearheads أشْيَبُgray
وَلِلْجَوّ فَرْقٌ بِالأسِنَّةِ أشْيَبُ
The battle-dust has tresses jet-black with swirling dust;
And the falcon has a fresh twig with loud feathers
The sky has a hair-parting grayed by spearheads.
And war has a cohort with graying tongues
وَلِلْعَضْبِand the sharp sword has مَتْنٌa back بِالْفُلُولِwith notches مُنَقَّشٌengraved
وَلِلْعَضْبِ مَتْنٌ بِالْفُلُولِ مُنَقَّشٌ
وَلِلرمْحِand the spear has كَفa palm بِالنَّجِيعِwith fresh blood مُخَضَّبُdyed
وَلِلرمْحِ كَف بِالنَّجِيعِ مُخَضَّبُ
The sharp sword has a back engraved with notches;
And the sword has a blade engraved with steeds
The spear has a palm dyed with fresh blood.
And the spear has a palm dyed with blood
إذَاwhen دَعَتِsummons الحَرْبُwar العَوَانُseasoned سِنَانَهُhis spearhead
إذَا دَعَتِ الحَرْبُ العَوَانُ سِنَانَهُ
جَلاَit clears أفْقَهَاher horizon وَاللَّيْلُwhile night بِالْهَامِwith heads يَلْعَبُplays
جَلاَ أفْقَهَا وَاللَّيْلُ بِالْهَامِ يَلْعَبُ
When seasoned war summons his spearhead,
When war invites its supporters, it bares its teeth
It clears her horizon while night toys with heads.
Spreading the horizon while night plays with anxiety
وَإنْand if ألْقَتِcasts aside الهَيْجَاbattle القِنَاعَthe veil تَبَشَّرَتْrejoice
وَإنْ ألْقَتِ الهَيْجَا القِنَاعَ تَبَشَّرَتْ
وُجُوهُthe faces عِدَاهُof his foes بِالْحُتُوفِwith deaths تُنَقِّبُveil themselves
وُجُوهُ عِدَاهُ بِالْحُتُوفِ تُنَقِّبُ
And if battle casts aside her veil, there rejoice
And if anxiety casts off its mask, the faces of its enemies
His foes' faces, masking themselves in death.
Are delighted, digging up graves with pickaxes
وَإنْand if ضَحِكَتْlaugh بِشْراًwith gladness مَبَاسِمُthe smiles ثَغْرِهِof his mouth
وَإنْ ضَحِكَتْ بِشْراً مَبَاسِمُ ثَغْرِهِ
رَأيْتَyou see وُجُوهَthe faces السُّمْرِof tawny spears كَيْفَhow تُقَطِّبُthey frown
رَأيْتَ وُجُوهَ السُّمْرِ كَيْفَ تُقَطِّبُ
And if the smiles of his mouth laugh with gladness,
And if it laughs good tidings with the smiles of its mouth
You see how the faces of tawny spears frown.
You see the faces of warriors - see how they frown
وَإنْand if أمَّhe leads صَفَّاa rank لِلْقِتَالِfor combat مُكَبِّراًproclaiming God's greatness
وَإنْ أمَّ صَفَّا لِلْقِتَالِ مُكَبِّراً
يُصَلِّيhe makes burn العِدَىthe foes نَاراًa fire مِنَof الحَرْبِwar تُلْهِبُblazing
يُصَلِّي العِدَى نَاراً مِنَ الحَرْبِ تُلْهِبُ
And if he leads a battle rank, proclaiming 'God is greatest,'
And if it lines up rows for battle, glorifying,
He makes his foes burn in a blazing fire of war.
Its enemies pray with a fire of war kindling
وَإنْand if قَادَhe leads أبْطَالَthe champions العَسَاكِرَof the armies حَلَّقَتْcircle aloft
وَإنْ قَادَ أبْطَالَ العَسَاكِرَ حَلَّقَتْ
نُسُورٌvultures عَلَيْهَاabove them حَوْمُهُنَّtheir circling مُجَرّبُis practiced
نُسُورٌ عَلَيْهَا حَوْمُهُنَّ مُجَرّبُ
And if he leads the armies' champions, there circle
And if it leads the heroes of armies, vultures circle above it
Vultures above them, their wheeling long practiced.
Testing their swooping repeatedly
جَوَارِحُbirds of prey قَدْalready أيْقَنَّare certain أنَّthat جُيُوشَهُhis armies
جَوَارِحُ قَدْ أيْقَنَّ أنَّ جُيُوشَهُ
إذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle الْتَقَىmeet الجَيْشَانِthe two armies لاَno بُدَّalternative تَغْلِبُthey prevail
إذَا مَا الْتَقَى الجَيْشَانِ لاَ بُدَّ تَغْلِبُ
Birds of prey already certain that his armies,
Birds of prey who are certain that its armies,
When the two armies meet, must inevitably prevail.
When the two armies meet, will inevitably defeat
لَهُنَّfor them عَلَيْهِwith him عَادَةٌa custom قَدْalready عَرَفْنَهَاthey have known it
لَهُنَّ عَلَيْهِ عَادَةٌ قَدْ عَرَفْنَهَا
إذَاwhen أصْبَحَbegins الخَطِّيُّthe Khatti spear بِالدَّمِwith blood يَكْتُبُto write
إذَا أصْبَحَ الخَطِّيُّ بِالدَّمِ يَكْتُبُ
They have a custom with him that they have come to know,
For them over it is a custom they have recognized
When the Khatti spear begins to write in blood.
That when the honorable writes in blood
مِنَof القَوْمِa people فَاتُواthey outstripped النَّاسَmankind سَبْقاًin racing إلَىto العُلَىthe heights
مِنَ القَوْمِ فَاتُوا النَّاسَ سَبْقاً إلَى العُلَى
ألَيْسَis it not لَهُمْto them تُعْزَيare attributed المَعَالِيexalted achievements وَتُنْسَبُand ascribed
ألَيْسَ لَهُمْ تُعْزَي المَعَالِي وَتُنْسَبُ
He belongs to a people who outstripped mankind in racing to the heights;
Of the people, they surpassed mankind in the precedence to sublimity
Are not exalted achievements attributed and ascribed to them?
Are not the high places congratulated and attributed to them?
كَأنَّas though لَهُمْthey have فِيهَاin them طَرِيقاًa path مُسَهَّلاًmade easy
كَأنَّ لَهُمْ فِيهَا طَرِيقاً مُسَهَّلاً
وَغَيْرُهُمُand others than them فِيon الحَزْنِrugged ground يَأتِيcome وَيَذْهَبُand go
وَغَيْرُهُمُ فِي الحَزْنِ يَأتِي وَيَذْهَبُ
As though they had an easy path to those heights,
It is as if for them there is an easy path therein
While others come and go over rugged ground.
While others are in sorrow, coming and going
بِعَدْلِهِمُthrough their justice صُلْحُpeace الضَّرَاغِمِbetween lions وَالظِّبَاand gazelles
بِعَدْلِهِمُ صُلْحُ الضَّرَاغِمِ وَالظِّبَا
وَبَيْنَand between النَدَىgenerosity وَالوَفْرِand abundant wealth بَكْرٌBakr وَتَغْلِبُand Taghlib
وَبَيْنَ النَدَى وَالوَفْرِ بَكْرٌ وَتَغْلِبُ
Through their justice, lions and gazelles make peace,
By their justice, settlement of disputes and difficult straights
While between generosity and wealth stand Bakr and Taghlib.
And between prosperity and abundance are virginity and defeat
أيَاO مَلِكاًking لَمْnot يَعْرِفِhas known القَدْرfate مِثْلَهُhis like
أيَا مَلِكاً لَمْ يَعْرِفِ القَدْر مِثْلَهُ
وَهَلْand is هُوَhe إلاَّanything but مِنْof كَمَالٍperfection مُرَكَّبُcomposed
وَهَلْ هُوَ إلاَّ مِنْ كَمَالٍ مُرَكَّبُ
O king whose like fate has never known,
Oh King whom merit does not recognize his equal
Is he composed of anything but perfection?
And is he not truly comprised of perfection?
كَتَبْتَyou wrote بِسُمْرِwith tawny spears الخَطّof al-Khatt فيupon أظْهُرِthe backs العِدَىof the foes
كَتَبْتَ بِسُمْرِ الخَطّ في أظْهُرِ العِدَى
سُطُوراًlines رَأيْنَاwe saw ضِمْنَهَاwithin them النَّصْرَvictory يُكْتَبُbeing written
سُطُوراً رَأيْنَا ضِمْنَهَا النَّصْرَ يُكْتَبُ
You wrote with the tawny spears of al-Khatt upon your foes' backs
You wrote with your sword in the chests of enemies
Lines within which we saw victory being written.
Lines which we see victory inscribed within
وَسَنَّنْتَand you sharpened لِلأعْدَاfor the foes سُيُوفاًswords كَأنَّهَاas though they
وَسَنَّنْتَ لِلأعْدَا سُيُوفاً كَأنَّهَا
إلَيْهِمْtoward them بِإهْدَاءِby presenting المَنَايَاdeaths تُقَرّبُare brought near
إلَيْهِمْ بِإهْدَاءِ المَنَايَا تُقَرّبُ
You sharpened swords for your enemies, as though they
And you drew swords for the enemies as if
Were brought near to them, offering deaths as gifts.
Drawing near to give them deaths
وَقُمْتَand you stood مَقَامَin the place الجَيْشِof the army فيin مَعْرَكٍa battlefield بِهِin it
وَقُمْتَ مَقَامَ الجَيْشِ في مَعْرَكٍ بِهِ
سَنَاthe gleam البِيضِof bright blades يَطْفُوfloats فِيin الغُبَارِthe dust وَيَرْسُبُand sinks
سَنَا البِيضِ يَطْفُو فِي الغُبَارِ وَيَرْسُبُ
You stood in an army's stead on a battlefield where
And you took the stance of the army in a battle wherein
The gleam of bright blades floats and sinks in dust.
The teeth of white swords float and settle in the dust
وَقَلَّدْتَand you adorned نَحْرَthe neck الدَّهْرِof time دُرّاًwith pearls سُلُوكُهُtheir strings
وَقَلَّدْتَ نَحْرَ الدَّهْرِ دُرّاً سُلُوكُهُ
سُطُورٌlines لَهَاthey have فَوْقَupon الطُّرُوسِthe pages تَذَهُّبُa golden gleam
سُطُورٌ لَهَا فَوْقَ الطُّرُوسِ تَذَهُّبُ
You hung pearls around Time's neck, their strings
And you collared the neck of fate with pearls whose wayfaring
Being lines that gleam gold upon the pages.
Is lines above the heads inscribed
وَحَرَّكْتَand you set in motion مِنْfrom إسْمِthe name المَكَارِمِof noble deeds سَاكِناًa still, unvoweled letter
وَحَرَّكْتَ مِنْ إسْمِ المَكَارِمِ سَاكِناً
لأنَّكَbecause you بِالأفْعَالِthrough deeds or verbs لِلْجُودِfor generosity تَنْصبُraise; put in the accusative
لأنَّكَ بِالأفْعَالِ لِلْجُودِ تَنْصبُ
You set a still letter in the name of noble deeds in motion,
And you moved from the name of virtues one who settled
For through deeds you raise generosity aloft.
Because you construct generosity by deeds
سَجِيَّةُa disposition آبَاءٍof forefathers كِرَامٍnoble وَرِثْتَهَاyou inherited it
سَجِيَّةُ آبَاءٍ كِرَامٍ وَرِثْتَهَا
حَدِيثٌtradition وَفِقْهٌand jurisprudence عَنْهُfrom him يَرْوِيtransmits المُهَذَّبُal-Muhadhdhab (the refined)
حَدِيثٌ وَفِقْهٌ عَنْهُ يَرْوِي المُهَذَّبُ
A disposition of noble forefathers that you inherited;
The manners of noble fathers you inherited
Tradition and jurisprudence that al-Muhadhdhab transmits from him;
Are discourse narrated by the well-mannered from it
وَنَحْوٌand grammar بِهِthrough which لِلْفَارِسِيّfor al-Farisi تَرَجُّلٌa dismounting
وَنَحْوٌ بِهِ لِلْفَارِسِيّ تَرَجُّلٌ
وَنُطْقٌand speech بِهِthrough which لِلْمَنْطِقِيّfor the logician تَأدبُlearning refinement
وَنُطْقٌ بِهِ لِلْمَنْطِقِيّ تَأدبُ
And grammar before which al-Farisi dismounts,
And grammar by which the expert wanders untethered
And speech through which the logician learns refinement.
And diction disciplined by logic
لَكَfor you اللَّهَGod يَاO مَوْلاَيَmy lord مِنْwhat a مَالِكٍsovereign غَدَاhas become
لَكَ اللَّهَ يَا مَوْلاَيَ مِنْ مَالِكٍ غَدَا
يَلِينُis gentle وَيَسْطُوand strikes fiercely فَهْوَso he يُرْجَىis hoped in وَيُرْهَبُand feared
يَلِينُ وَيَسْطُو فَهْوَ يُرْجَى وَيُرْهَبُ
God be with you, my lord—what a sovereign, who has come to
May Allah favor you, my Master, from a King who tomorrow
Be gentle and strike fiercely, inspiring both hope and fear.
Inclines gently - he is hoped for and feared
تَوَقَّدْتَyou blazed ذِهْناًin intellect وَاسْتَقَضْتَand abounded (uncertain reading) مَكَارِماًin noble deeds
تَوَقَّدْتَ ذِهْناً وَاسْتَقَضْتَ مَكَارِماً
فَأعْلَمْتَso you showed أنَّthat الشُّهْبَshooting stars بِالغَيْثِwith rain تَسْكُبُpour forth
فَأعْلَمْتَ أنَّ الشُّهْبَ بِالغَيْثِ تَسْكُبُ
You blazed with intellect and abounded in noble deeds,
You ignited a mind and awoke virtues
Thus showing that shooting stars pour forth rain.
So you knew shooting stars spill with rain
وَشَيَّدْتَand you built up حَظِّيmy fortune بَعْدَمَاafter كَانَit had been وَاقِعاًfallen
وَشَيَّدْتَ حَظِّي بَعْدَمَا كَانَ وَاقِعاً
وَغَلَّبْتَand you made victorious سِرّيmy inner self; my secret بَعْدَمَاafter كَادَit nearly يَذْهَبُvanished
وَغَلَّبْتَ سِرّي بَعْدَمَا كَادَ يَذْهَبُ
You built up my fortune after it had fallen,
And you built my fortune after it had fallen
And made my inner self prevail after it had almost vanished.
And you empowered my secret after it had almost vanished
وَمَاand not أنْتَyou إلاbut رَحْمَةa mercy سَاقَهَاbrought it الثَّنَاpraise
وَمَا أنْتَ إلا رَحْمَة سَاقَهَا الثَّنَا
إلَيْنَاto us وَدُنْيَانَاand our world أتَتْcame وَهْيَwhile it تَخْصَبُgrows fertile
إلَيْنَا وَدُنْيَانَا أتَتْ وَهْيَ تَخْصَبُ
You are nothing but a mercy brought by praise
You are none other than a mercy its branches brought
To us; and our world came forth, growing fertile.
To us, and our world became prosperous
فَدُمْso endure كَافِلُthe guardian العَلْيَاof high rank لِسَعْدِكَfor your good fortune عَاضِدٌa supporter
فَدُمْ كَافِلُ العَلْيَا لِسَعْدِكَ عَاضِدٌ
وَعَزْمُكَand your resolve مَنْصُورٌvictorious وَجِدُّكَand your earnest effort أغْلَبُmore triumphant
وَعَزْمُكَ مَنْصُورٌ وَجِدُّكَ أغْلَبُ
So live on, with the guardian of high rank supporting your good fortune,
So the guardian sustaining the most high lasts as support for your joy
Your resolve victorious and your earnest effort triumphant,
And your resolve is supported and your presence defeats
وَشَانِيكَand your hater مَفْقُودٌabsent وَمِثْلُكَand your equal مُعْدَمٌnot to be found
وَشَانِيكَ مَفْقُودٌ وَمِثْلُكَ مُعْدَمٌ
وَبَابُكَand your door مَقْصُودٌsought out وَبَذْلُكَand your giving يُرْقَبُawaited
وَبَابُكَ مَقْصُودٌ وَبَذْلُكَ يُرْقَبُ
Your hater gone and your equal nowhere to be found,
And your equal is lost and your likeness nonexistent
Your door sought out and your giving awaited.
And your door sought and your bestowal observed
Sol 6.1