تَبَسَّمَsmiled ثغرُthe mouth of الأفْقِthe horizon عَنْrevealing شَنَبِthe pearly freshness of الفَجْرِdawn
تَبَسَّمَ ثغرُ الأفْقِ عَنْ شَنَبِ الفَجْرِ
فَهَيَّجَso stirred أشْوَاقِيmy longings إلىّtoward ألْعَسِthe dusky-lipped one الثَّغْرِthe mouth
فَهَيَّجَ أشْوَاقِي إلىّ ألْعَسِ الثَّغْرِ
The horizon's mouth smiled, revealing dawn's pearly freshness,
So it stirred my longings for the one with dusky lips.
وَشَقَّتْand tore جَلاَبِيبَthe robes of الشَّقِيقِthe anemones يَدُthe hand of الصّبَاthe east wind
وَشَقَّتْ جَلاَبِيبَ الشَّقِيقِ يَدُ الصّبَا
كَمَاjust as مَزَّقَتْtore جَيْبَthe bosom of الرّيَاضِthe gardens يَدthe hand of النهرِthe river
كَمَا مَزَّقَتْ جَيْبَ الرّيَاضِ يَد النهرِ
And the east wind's hand tore the anemones' robes,
Just as the river's hand tore open the gardens' bosom.
وَنَاحتْand lamented عَلَىupon العيدَانthe boughs هاتفهُits caller الضحَىthe forenoon
وَنَاحتْ عَلَى العيدَان هاتفهُ الضحَى
فَجَالَتْso wandered دُموعُthe tears of الطَّلّdew فِيin أعْيُنِthe eyes of الزَّهْرِthe flowers
فَجَالَتْ دُموعُ الطَّلّ فِي أعْيُنِ الزَّهْرِ
And the forenoon's caller lamented upon the boughs,
So dew's tears wandered in the flowers' eyes.
وَأغْضَتْand lowered their gaze عُيُونُthe eyes of النَّرْجَسthe narcissus الغَضّtender عندماwhen
وَأغْضَتْ عُيُونُ النَّرْجَس الغَضّ عندما
تبسَمَsmiled ثغرُthe mouth of الزَّهْرِthe flowers عَنْrevealing حَبَبِthe beads of القَطْرِrain
تبسَمَ ثغرُ الزَّهْرِ عَنْ حَبَبِ القَطْرِ
And the tender narcissus's eyes drooped when
The flowers' mouth smiled, revealing beads of rain.
وَدَبَّand crept عِذَارُthe cheek-down of الاسِmyrtle فِيin وردِthe rose of خَدهits cheek
وَدَبَّ عِذَارُ الاسِ فِي وردِ خَده
كَمَاjust as جَالَwandered صدغthe temple-lock of الظِّلّshadow فيacross وجنةthe cheek of النهرِthe river
كَمَا جَالَ صدغ الظِّلّ في وجنة النهرِ
And myrtle's cheek-down crept across the rose of its cheek,
Just as shadow's temple-lock wandered across the river's cheek.
وَأبْدَتْand displayed نُهُودُthe breasts of الجُلَّنَارِthe pomegranate blossoms أشعّةًrays
وَأبْدَتْ نُهُودُ الجُلَّنَارِ أشعّةً
مُرَكَّبَةًset فِيin سُمْرِthe dusky أعْطَافِهَاtheir boughs الخُضْرِgreen
مُرَكَّبَةً فِي سُمْرِ أعْطَافِهَا الخُضْرِ
And the pomegranate blossoms' breasts displayed rays,
Set within their dusky green boughs.
لَدَىin رَوْضَةٍa garden أبْدَتْunveiled سَمَاءَa sky of زُمُردٍemerald
لَدَى رَوْضَةٍ أبْدَتْ سَمَاءَ زُمُردٍ
عَلَيْهَاupon it نُجُومٌstars قَدْalready طَلَعْنَhad risen منَfrom التِّبْرِraw gold
عَلَيْهَا نُجُومٌ قَدْ طَلَعْنَ منَ التِّبْرِ
In a garden that unveiled a sky of emerald,
Upon which stars of raw gold had risen.
وَحَيْثُand where تَوَلَّىwithdrew بعدهafter it القلبُthe Heart خَافِقاًfluttering
وَحَيْثُ تَوَلَّى بعده القلبُ خَافِقاً
كَقَلْبٍlike a heart كَئِيبٍsorrowful غَالَهُafflicted it حادثُa calamity of الدهرِtime
كَقَلْبٍ كَئِيبٍ غَالَهُ حادثُ الدهرِ
And where the Heart withdrew after it, fluttering,
Like a grieving heart stricken by a calamity of time.
وَحَيْثُand where بنوthe sons of نعشthe Bier تَحِنyearn لِنَعْشِهَاfor their bier
وَحَيْثُ بنو نعش تَحِن لِنَعْشِهَا
كَمَاas حنَّyearned مشتَاقٌa longing one غَرِيبٌan exile إلىfor الوكْرِthe nest
كَمَا حنَّ مشتَاقٌ غَرِيبٌ إلى الوكْرِ
And where the Sons of the Bier yearn for their bier,
As a longing exile yearned for his nest.
وَحَيْثُand where تَشَكَّىcomplained سَابحُthe swimmer of الحُوتthe Fish للدجَىto the darkness
وَحَيْثُ تَشَكَّى سَابحُ الحُوت للدجَى
عَنَاهُhis anguish كَمَاas يَشْكُوcomplains الغَرِيقُa drowning person إلىto البحرِthe sea
عَنَاهُ كَمَا يَشْكُو الغَرِيقُ إلى البحرِ
And where the Fish's swimmer complains to the darkness
Of his anguish, as a drowning man complains to the sea.
وَحَيْثُand where السُّهَىal-Suhā قدalready رَقَّgrew thin منfrom عِظْمِthe greatness of شَوْقِهِits longing
وَحَيْثُ السُّهَى قد رَقَّ من عِظْمِ شَوْقِهِ
لِرُؤْيَةِto see بَدْرِthe moon of التَّمّfullness فِيon رَابِعِthe fourth after العَشْرِten
لِرُؤْيَةِ بَدْرِ التَّمّ فِي رَابِعِ العَشْرِ
And where al-Suhā grew thin from the greatness of its longing
To see the full moon on the fourteenth night.
وَحَيْثُand where سهيلٌSuhayl مُقْتَفٍfollowing إثْرَthe trail of زُهْرَةٍZuhrah (Venus)
وَحَيْثُ سهيلٌ مُقْتَفٍ إثْرَ زُهْرَةٍ
كَحَادٍlike a camel-driver بِنُوقٍwith she-camels قَدْalready أطَلَّlooked out علىover قَفْرِa wilderness
كَحَادٍ بِنُوقٍ قَدْ أطَلَّ على قَفْرِ
And where Suhayl follows Zuhrah's trail,
Like a driver of she-camels looking out over a wilderness.
وَحَيْثُand where نجُومthe stars of الهَقْعَةِal-Haq‘ah الغُرّbright أطْلَعَتْbrought forth
وَحَيْثُ نجُوم الهَقْعَةِ الغُرّ أطْلَعَتْ
طَلاَئِعَthe vanguards of جَيْشٍan army قَدْalready سَرَيْنَjourneyed by night علىin ذُعْرِfear
طَلاَئِعَ جَيْشٍ قَدْ سَرَيْنَ على ذُعْرِ
And where the bright stars of al-Haq‘ah brought forth
An army's vanguard that had journeyed by night in fear.
وَحَيْثand where تَرَىyou see الشِّعْرَىSirius العَبُورَthe Crossing One وَقَدْand already بَدَتْappeared
وَحَيْث تَرَى الشِّعْرَى العَبُورَ وَقَدْ بَدَتْ
تُقَارِبُbringing together أجفَاناًeyelids لأدْمُعِهَاfor its tears تَذْرِيit scatters
تُقَارِبُ أجفَاناً لأدْمُعِهَا تَذْرِي
And where you see Sirius the Crossing One, now appearing,
Drawing its eyelids together to scatter its tears.
وَحَيْثُand where تَرَىyou see الجَوْزَاءَOrion فيon أفْقِthe horizon of غربَهاits setting
وَحَيْثُ تَرَى الجَوْزَاءَ في أفْقِ غربَها
وِشَاحَa sash of لُجَيْنٍsilver قَدْalready أديِرَhas been wound علىaround خَصْرِa waist
وِشَاحَ لُجَيْنٍ قَدْ أديِرَ على خَصْرِ
And where you see Orion on the horizon of its setting,
A silver sash wound around a waist.
وَحَيْثُand where الثرياthe Pleiades فِيin السَّمَاءِthe sky كَأنَّهَاas though they were
وَحَيْثُ الثريا فِي السَّمَاءِ كَأنَّهَا
قَلاَئِدُnecklaces of دُرّpearls قدalready جُلِينَhave been displayed علىupon نَحْرِa neck
قَلاَئِدُ دُرّ قد جُلِينَ على نَحْرِ
And where the Pleiades in the sky seem to be
Necklaces of pearls displayed upon a neck.
وَحَيْثُand where ترَىyou see الإكْلِيلَthe Crown فيat مفرقthe hair-parting of الضحىthe forenoon
وَحَيْثُ ترَى الإكْلِيلَ في مفرق الضحى
كَمَائِمَbud-sheaths of وَرْدٍroses كَمَّمَتْmasked أوْجُهَthe faces of النِّسْرِthe Eagle
كَمَائِمَ وَرْدٍ كَمَّمَتْ أوْجُهَ النِّسْرِ
And where you see the Crown at the forenoon's hair-parting,
Rosebud sheaths that masked the Eagle's faces.
وَحَيْثُand where الضيَاradiance يَرْوِيtransmits عَنِfrom البَدْرِthe full moon نُورَهُits light
وَحَيْثُ الضيَا يَرْوِي عَنِ البَدْرِ نُورَهُ
عنfrom الشمسِthe sun عَنْfrom وَجْهِthe face of المليكِthe king أبيAbū (father of) عَمْرِو‘Amr
عن الشمسِ عَنْ وَجْهِ المليكِ أبي عَمْرِو
And where radiance transmits its light from the full moon,
From the sun, from the face of King Abū ‘Amr.
مليكٌa king أقَامَتْهُmade him الفَضَائِلُthe virtues وَاحِداًpeerless
مليكٌ أقَامَتْهُ الفَضَائِلُ وَاحِداً
فَلمso did not يَخْتَلفْdisagree اثْنَانِtwo people فيabout فَضْلِهِhis excellence المُثْرِيenriching
فَلم يَخْتَلفْ اثْنَانِ في فَضْلِهِ المُثْرِي
A king whom the virtues made peerless,
So no two disagreed about his enriching excellence.
أجَلmost illustrious of مُلُوكِthe kings of الأرضِthe earth جداًby grandsire وَوَالِداًand by sire
أجَل مُلُوكِ الأرضِ جداً وَوَالِداً
وَحَسْبُكَand sufficient for you آبَاءًas ancestors خَضَارِمَةthe magnates of البَحْرِthe sea
وَحَسْبُكَ آبَاءً خَضَارِمَة البَحْرِ
The most illustrious of earth's kings by grandsire and sire,
And ocean-like magnates are ancestors enough for you.
وَأعْظَمُهُمْand the greatest of them فَخْراًin glory وَأوْسَعَهُمْand the broadest of them غِنىًin wealth
وَأعْظَمُهُمْ فَخْراً وَأوْسَعَهُمْ غِنىً
وَأقْرَبُand closest مِنْto حِلْمٍforbearance وَأبْعَدُand farthest عِنْfrom غَدْرِtreachery
وَأقْرَبُ مِنْ حِلْمٍ وَأبْعَدُ عِنْ غَدْرِ
The greatest of them in glory, the broadest in wealth,
And closest to forbearance, farthest from treachery.
كَرِيمٌgenerous حَبَانَاbestowed upon us فعلُهُhis deeds وَمَقَالُهُand his words
كَرِيمٌ حَبَانَا فعلُهُ وَمَقَالُهُ
بِغَيْثwith the rain of النَّدَىgenerosity المُنْهَلّpouring down عَنْfrom مُزْنَةِthe cloud of البِرّgoodness
بِغَيْث النَّدَى المُنْهَلّ عَنْ مُزْنَةِ البِرّ
Generous: his deeds and words have endowed us
With generosity's rain, pouring from the cloud of goodness.
تَمَلَّكَtook possession of رِقَّthe bondage of الجُودِgenerosity وَاسْتَخْدَمَand put to service الغِنَىwealth
تَمَلَّكَ رِقَّ الجُودِ وَاسْتَخْدَمَ الغِنَى
فلمso did not يَبْقَremain عَانٍa sufferer يَشْتَكِيcomplaining of ألَمَthe pain of الفَقْرِpoverty
فلم يَبْقَ عَانٍ يَشْتَكِي ألَمَ الفَقْرِ
He made generosity his slave and wealth his servant,
So no sufferer remained to complain of poverty's pain.
ينيلُbestows upon مُحِبِّيهِthose who love him وَيُفْنِيand annihilates عِدَاتِهِhis foes
ينيلُ مُحِبِّيهِ وَيُفْنِي عِدَاتِهِ
فَيَأتِيso he comes عَلَىin الحَالَيْنِboth cases بِالنَّفْعِwith benefit وَالضَّرِand harm
فَيَأتِي عَلَى الحَالَيْنِ بِالنَّفْعِ وَالضَّرِ
He rewards those who love him and annihilates his foes,
Thus in the two cases he brings benefit and harm.
لَطِيفُrefined in المَعَانِيinner qualities كَاملُperfect in الحسنِbeauty وَالْبَهَاand splendor
لَطِيفُ المَعَانِي كَاملُ الحسنِ وَالْبَهَا
حليفُan ally of المعَالِيlofty virtues طَاهِرُpure in السِّرّthe private وَالجّهْرِand the public
حليفُ المعَالِي طَاهِرُ السِّرّ وَالجّهْرِ
Refined in character, perfect in beauty and splendor,
An ally of lofty virtues, pure in private and public.
لَهُhe has دَولَةٌa reign فَاقَتْthat surpassed عَلَىabove كُلّevery دَوْلَةٍreign
لَهُ دَولَةٌ فَاقَتْ عَلَى كُلّ دَوْلَةٍ
بِخُدَّامِwith servants of يُمْنٍgood fortune مِنْof نَجَاحٍsuccess ومنand of نَصْرِvictory
بِخُدَّامِ يُمْنٍ مِنْ نَجَاحٍ ومن نَصْرِ
His reign has surpassed every reign,
With servants of good fortune: success and victory.
فَمَاfor not الصبْحُdawn إلاّexcept مَاwhat أبَانَhe revealed مِنَof الرّضَىfavor
فَمَا الصبْحُ إلاّ مَا أبَانَ مِنَ الرّضَى
وَمَاand not اللَّيْلُnight إلاَّexcept ماwhat أبَانَhe revealed مِنَof الهَجْرِestrangement
وَمَا اللَّيْلُ إلاَّ ما أبَانَ مِنَ الهَجْرِ
For dawn is nothing but what he reveals of favor,
And night is nothing but what he reveals of estrangement.
مَبَادِيهِhis beginnings فيin العَلْيَاءِeminence غَايَاتُthe utmost goals of مَنْthose who مَضَىpassed before
مَبَادِيهِ في العَلْيَاءِ غَايَاتُ مَنْ مَضَى
مِنَof الحَائِزِينَthose who won المُلْكَkingship بِالبْيِضِwith bright swords وَالسُمْرِand brown spears
مِنَ الحَائِزِينَ المُلْكَ بِالبْيِضِ وَالسُمْرِ
His beginnings in high glory are the utmost goals of those gone before,
Of those who won kingship with bright swords and brown spears.
إذَاwhen مَاever دَعَاهُcalls him العُسْرhardship يَاO مُحْيِيَreviver of الوَفَاfidelity
إذَا مَا دَعَاهُ العُسْر يَا مُحْيِيَ الوَفَا
بَدَاhe appeared فَدَعَاهُso called him اليُسْرُease يَاO قَاتِلَslayer of العُسْرِhardship
بَدَا فَدَعَاهُ اليُسْرُ يَا قَاتِلَ العُسْرِ
Whenever hardship calls him, 'O reviver of fidelity,'
He appears, and ease calls him, 'O slayer of hardship.'
وَإنْand if سَارَtravel رُوَّادُthe seekers of النَّوَالِbounty لِبَابِهِto his gate
وَإنْ سَارَ رُوَّادُ النَّوَالِ لِبَابِهِ
رَأوْاthey saw جُودthe generosity of كَفَّيْهِhis two hands أسَحَّmore copious مِنَthan القَطْرِrain
رَأوْا جُود كَفَّيْهِ أسَحَّ مِنَ القَطْرِ
And if seekers of bounty travel to his gate,
They find his two hands' generosity more copious than rain.
وَإنْand if رَامَsought مُدَّاحُthe praise-singers of الثّنَاpraise وَصْفَa description of مَدْحِهِhis praise
وَإنْ رَامَ مُدَّاحُ الثّنَا وَصْفَ مَدْحِهِ
فَأوْصَافُهُso his qualities تُمْلِيdictate وَأقْلاَمُهُمْand their pens تَجْرِيflow
فَأوْصَافُهُ تُمْلِي وَأقْلاَمُهُمْ تَجْرِي
And if praise-singers seek to set down his praise,
His qualities dictate, and their pens flow.
رَوَىrelated الفَضْلُexcellence أخْبَارَreports of التُّقَىpiety عَنْfrom كَمَالِهِhis perfection
رَوَى الفَضْلُ أخْبَارَ التُّقَى عَنْ كَمَالِهِ
كَمَاas نَمَّdisclosed عَنْabout طَيّthe folds of الربىthe hills طَيِّبُthe sweetness of النَشْرِfragrance
كَمَا نَمَّ عَنْ طَيّ الربى طَيِّبُ النَشْرِ
Excellence related reports of piety from his perfection,
As sweet fragrance disclosed what the hills concealed.
لَقَدْindeed ذُكِرَتْwere recorded لِلأوّلِينَfor those of old فَضَائِلٌvirtues
لَقَدْ ذُكِرَتْ لِلأوّلِينَ فَضَائِلٌ
وَلَكِنّbut هَذَاthis الفَضْلَexcellence لَمْnot يَجْرِoccur فيin ذِكْرِmention
وَلَكِنّ هَذَا الفَضْلَ لَمْ يَجْرِ في ذِكْرِ
Virtues have indeed been recorded for those of old,
But this excellence has never been recorded.
سَخَاءُthe generosity of يَدٍa hand تَرْوِيtransmit الجَدَاوِلُthe streams مَاءَهَاits water
سَخَاءُ يَدٍ تَرْوِي الجَدَاوِلُ مَاءَهَا
عنfrom السيلthe torrent عنfrom قطرthe raindrops of الغمامthe clouds عنfrom البحرthe sea
عن السيل عن قطر الغمام عن البحر
A hand's generosity, whose water the streams transmit
From the torrent, from the clouds' rain, from the sea;
وَمجدand glory كَمَاas تَرْوِيtransmit الأشعةَthe rays نُورَهَاtheir light
وَمجد كَمَا تَرْوِي الأشعةَ نُورَهَا
عَنِfrom البرقlightning عَنْfrom زهرِthe bright ones of النجُومthe stars عَنِfrom البدرِthe full moon
عَنِ البرق عَنْ زهرِ النجُوم عَنِ البدرِ
And glory, as rays transmit their light
From lightning, from the bright stars, from the full moon.
تَفَكَّرَpondered عَنْfrom عِلْمٍknowledge وحَدَّثَand spoke عَنْfrom حِجىًunderstanding
تَفَكَّرَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ وحَدَّثَ عَنْ حِجىً
وَأضْمَرَand concealed عَنْout of حِلْمٍforbearance وَأظْهَرَand revealed عَنْout of بِشْرِcheerfulness
وَأضْمَرَ عَنْ حِلْمٍ وَأظْهَرَ عَنْ بِشْرِ
He pondered from knowledge and spoke from understanding,
And concealed out of forbearance, and revealed out of good cheer.
مَعَالِيهِhis lofty virtues لاnot تُحْصَىbe counted لِفَرْطِfor the greatness of اعْتِلاَئِهِhis exaltation
مَعَالِيهِ لا تُحْصَى لِفَرْطِ اعْتِلاَئِهِ
كَذَاكَlikewise مَعَانِيهِhis qualities تَجِلtranscend عَنِbeyond الحصرِenumeration
كَذَاكَ مَعَانِيهِ تَجِل عَنِ الحصرِ
His lofty virtues cannot be counted, so great is his exaltation;
Likewise, his qualities are beyond enumeration.
مِنَof القومِa people حَلُّوwho inhabited كُلَّall آفَاقِthe horizons of دَوْلَةٍa realm
مِنَ القومِ حَلُّو كُلَّ آفَاقِ دَوْلَةٍ
فهمْso they فِيin سَمَاءِthe sky of العِزّhonor كَالأنْجُمِlike the stars الزهرِshining
فهمْ فِي سَمَاءِ العِزّ كَالأنْجُمِ الزهرِ
He is of a people who inhabited every horizon of a realm,
For in the sky of honor they are like shining stars.
مُلُوكٌkings أعَزواstrengthened الملكَkingship صَوْناًto safeguard it وَشَيَّدُواand built up
مُلُوكٌ أعَزوا الملكَ صَوْناً وَشَيَّدُوا
حِمَىthe sanctuary of الدينreligion إجْلاَلاًin reverence وَبَتُّواand severed عُرَىthe bonds of الكُفْرِunbelief
حِمَى الدين إجْلاَلاً وَبَتُّوا عُرَى الكُفْرِ
Kings who strengthened kingship to safeguard it, and built up
Religion's sanctuary in reverence, and severed unbelief's bonds.
سَرَاةُthe chiefs of المَعَالِيlofty virtues زُهْرthe bright stars of آفَاقِthe horizons of سَعْدِهَاtheir fortune
سَرَاةُ المَعَالِي زُهْر آفَاقِ سَعْدِهَا
جَبَابِرَةُthe titans of الهَيْجَاbattle أكَاسِرَةُthe Chosroes of الدَّهْرِthe age
جَبَابِرَةُ الهَيْجَا أكَاسِرَةُ الدَّهْرِ
Chiefs of lofty virtues, bright stars on the horizons of their fortune,
Titans of battle, the Chosroes of their age.
إذَاwhen أسْرَةُthe family of الفَارُوقal-Fārūq قَامَتْrose لِمَفْخَرٍto a glorious deed
إذَا أسْرَةُ الفَارُوق قَامَتْ لِمَفْخَرٍ
أقَرَّتْacknowledged لعليَاهَاits eminence السَّرَاةُthe nobles بِلاَwithout نُكْرِdenial
أقَرَّتْ لعليَاهَا السَّرَاةُ بِلاَ نُكْرِ
When the family of al-Fārūq rises to a deed of glory,
The nobles acknowledge its eminence without denial.
وَإنْand if تَجَرُواthey traded فيin سُؤْدَدٍnobility وَتَزَايَدُواand bid higher
وَإنْ تَجَرُوا في سُؤْدَدٍ وَتَزَايَدُوا
فَأنْفَسُthen the most precious مَاwhat يُهْدَيis offered لَهُمْto them جَوْهَرُthe jewel of الشِّعْرِpoetry
فَأنْفَسُ مَا يُهْدَي لَهُمْ جَوْهَرُ الشِّعْرِ
And if they trade in nobility and bid ever higher,
The most precious gift offered them is poetry's jewel.
فحسبكso sufficient for you يَاO فرعbranch of المكَارمnoble virtues وَالعُلَىand high glory
فحسبك يَا فرع المكَارم وَالعُلَى
أصُولٌroots زَكَتْflourished فِيin روْضةِthe garden of المجدglory والفخرِand pride
أصُولٌ زَكَتْ فِي روْضةِ المجد والفخرِ
Sufficient for you, O branch of noble virtues and high glory,
Are roots that flourished in the garden of glory and pride.
إلَيْكto you رَعَاكَmay protect you اللَّهُGod مدْحَةَthe praise of مُقْتِرٍa poor man
إلَيْك رَعَاكَ اللَّهُ مدْحَةَ مُقْتِرٍ
يُحَاشِيكَdeems you above أنْto تَلْقَىreceive المَدِيحَpraise بلاَwithout بِرّbounty
يُحَاشِيكَ أنْ تَلْقَى المَدِيحَ بلاَ بِرّ
To you—may God guard you—a poor man's praise,
Who deems you above receiving praise without bounty.
شَكَوْتُI complained of بِهَاthrough it جورَthe oppression of الزَّمَانِtime وَإنَّمَاand only
شَكَوْتُ بِهَا جورَ الزَّمَانِ وَإنَّمَا
شَكَوْتُI complained of أخَاa brother in رِقّbondage إلَىto الملكِthe king البَرّbenevolent
شَكَوْتُ أخَا رِقّ إلَى الملكِ البَرّ
In it I complained of time's oppression, but I only
Complained of a fellow bondsman to the benevolent king.
فَخُذْهَاso take it بِتفوِيفِwith the striping of الوَلاَdevotion كُلَّevery حُلَّةٍrobe
فَخُذْهَا بِتفوِيفِ الوَلاَ كُلَّ حُلَّةٍ
مُعَطَّرَةِperfumed الأرْدَانِat the sleeves بِالحَمْدِwith praise وَالشُّكْرِand gratitude
مُعَطَّرَةِ الأرْدَانِ بِالحَمْدِ وَالشُّكْرِ
So take it, each robe striped with devotion,
Perfumed at the sleeves with praise and gratitude.
تُهَنِّيكَit congratulates you بِالإسْلاَمِon Islam's behalf يَاO ركنَpillar of عِزّهِits might
تُهَنِّيكَ بِالإسْلاَمِ يَا ركنَ عِزّهِ
بِمَوْتِon the death of عَدُوّthe enemy of اللَّهِGod طَاغِيَةِthe tyrant of الكُفْرِunbelief
بِمَوْتِ عَدُوّ اللَّهِ طَاغِيَةِ الكُفْرِ
It congratulates you on Islam's behalf, O pillar of its might,
On the death of God's enemy, the tyrant of unbelief.
وَتُعْلِمُand announces بِالشهرِabout the month المُبَارَكblessed صوْمهُits fasting
وَتُعْلِمُ بِالشهرِ المُبَارَك صوْمهُ
فَبُورِكَso blessed be منas صوْمٍfasting وَبُورِكَand blessed be منas شهرِa month
فَبُورِكَ من صوْمٍ وَبُورِكَ من شهرِ
And announces the month whose fast is blessed;
Blessed be that fast, and blessed be that month!
وتبسمُand it smiles عَنْrevealing ثغرa mouth تَنَضَّدَwere arrayed دُرهُits pearls
وتبسمُ عَنْ ثغر تَنَضَّدَ دُرهُ
فَأزْرَىso put to shame بِعقدthe necklace of الدرّpearls وَالكَوْكَبِand the star الدرّيّradiant
فَأزْرَى بِعقد الدرّ وَالكَوْكَبِ الدرّيّ
And it smiles, revealing a mouth whose pearls are arrayed,
Thus putting the pearl necklace and the radiant star to shame.
وَتَفْخَرُand boasts بِالنظْمِof verse البديِعِwondrous عَلَىover السِّوَىothers
وَتَفْخَرُ بِالنظْمِ البديِعِ عَلَى السِّوَى
وكَيْفَand how يُقَاسُis compared الجَزْعُonyx فيin الحُسْنِbeauty بالبَدْرِwith the full moon
وكَيْفَ يُقَاسُ الجَزْعُ في الحُسْنِ بالبَدْرِ
And it boasts of its wondrous verse over all others—
And how can onyx be compared in beauty with the full moon?
بَقِيتَmay you remain بَقَاءَas long as الدَّهْرِtime فِينَاًamong us إذَاwhenever انْقَضَتْended
بَقِيتَ بَقَاءَ الدَّهْرِ فِينَاً إذَا انْقَضَتْ
أوَاخِرُthe final days of عَصْرٍan age عَاوَدَتْreturned to مُبْتَدَاthe beginning of عَصْرِan age
أوَاخِرُ عَصْرٍ عَاوَدَتْ مُبْتَدَا عَصْرِ
May you endure among us as long as time; whenever an age ends,
Its closing days return to the beginning of an age.
وَلاَand may you not زِلْتَcease to be ذَاa possessor of فعلٍa deed جَمِيلٍbeautiful مُصَدَّقٍconfirmed
وَلاَ زِلْتَ ذَا فعلٍ جَمِيلٍ مُصَدَّقٍ
بِقَوْلٍby words مُطَاعَobeyed in النَهْيِprohibition مُمْتَثَلَheeded in الأمْرِcommand
بِقَوْلٍ مُطَاعَ النَهْيِ مُمْتَثَلَ الأمْرِ
And may you ever possess noble deeds, confirmed
By words, your prohibitions obeyed and your commands fulfilled.
Sol 6.1