مَسِيلُ الصبحِ طَمَّ على الكواكبْ

مَسِيلُ الصبحِ طَمَّ على الكواكبْ

وقد ظمِئتْ إلى السَّيْرِ النَّجائِبْ

وقد ظمِئتْ إلى السَّيْرِ النَّجائِبْ

Dawn’s torrent swept over the stars,

The morning star spilt over the planets

and the noble mounts had thirsted for travel.

As they thirsted for the journey of the sailing ships

تقلَّص ذَيْلُ عَزْمِك في مَسِيرٍ

تقلَّص ذَيْلُ عَزْمِك في مَسِيرٍ

له طَيْفُ العُلَى خِدْنٌ مُصاحِبْ

له طَيْفُ العُلَى خِدْنٌ مُصاحِبْ

The hem of your resolve drew up for a journey

The train of your resolve shortened on a journey

whose close companion is the phantom of glory.

With it the lofty specter, a close companion

بِوَرْيٍ أعْوجِيٍ قَبَّلَتْهُ

بِوَرْيٍ أعْوجِيٍ قَبَّلَتْهُ

بغُرَّتِهِ الأهِلَّةُ والكواكبْ

بغُرَّتِهِ الأهِلَّةُ والكواكبْ

On an Aʿwaj-bred steed, kissed

With a twisted riverbed it kissed him

upon his white blaze by the crescents and stars.

With its crescent the auspicious one and the planets

جَرَتْ مِن خَلْفِهِ النَّسماتُ حتى

جَرَتْ مِن خَلْفِهِ النَّسماتُ حتى

سَرَتْ مُعْتلةً فيه الجَنائِبْ

سَرَتْ مُعْتلةً فيه الجَنائِبْ

The breezes raced behind him until

The breezes flowed behind it until

the south winds coursed through him, ailing.

They blew listlessly through its sides

عليه مِن لَيالِ الوصلِ بُرْدٌ

عليه مِن لَيالِ الوصلِ بُرْدٌ

وقد أهْدَتْ له الغِيدُ الذَّوائِبْ

وقد أهْدَتْ له الغِيدُ الذَّوائِبْ

Upon him is a mantle of nights of union,

Upon it is the chill of nights of union

and graceful maidens have gifted him their tresses.

And the rotating celestial sphere sent him the loops

إذا ما خَبَّ خِلْتَ الطَّيْفَ وَافَى

إذا ما خَبَّ خِلْتَ الطَّيْفَ وَافَى

لِجُنْحِ الليلِ مِن خَوْفِ المُراقِبْ

لِجُنْحِ الليلِ مِن خَوْفِ المُراقِبْ

When he trots, you imagine the phantom has arrived

When the specter waned he met

under cover of night, for fear of the watcher.

The wing of night in fear of the watchers

مَعارِفُه كأهْدابٍ تَبدَّتْ

مَعارِفُه كأهْدابٍ تَبدَّتْ

لِوَجْه الأرْضِ تَدْنُو كالْمَراقِبْ

لِوَجْه الأرْضِ تَدْنُو كالْمَراقِبْ

His mane-locks are like eyelashes that have appeared

His acquaintances appeared like gifts

upon the earth’s face, drawing near like watchtowers.

To the face of the earth, approaching like watchers

عَلاهُ مُحدِّثٌ قد جَلَّ عنه

عَلاهُ مُحدِّثٌ قد جَلَّ عنه

لجارِيه تمائمُ في التَّرائِبْ

لجارِيه تمائمُ في التَّرائِبْ

A scholar of tradition mounted him, far loftier than he;

A speaker extolled it, transcending

his rivals wear amulets upon their breasts.

For its movement the talismans among the ruins

بعَزْمٍ يَفْرَقُ الهِنْدِيُّ منه

بعَزْمٍ يَفْرَقُ الهِنْدِيُّ منه

مَضَاءً قصَّرتْ عنه القَواضِبْ

مَضَاءً قصَّرتْ عنه القَواضِبْ

With a resolve before which the Indian blade quails,

With resolve that the Indian

in keenness that the cutting swords fall short of,

Fell short of its gleam, the boats were too small

ورَأْيٍ زَفَّ بِكْرَ الفكرِ يَزْهُو

ورَأْيٍ زَفَّ بِكْرَ الفكرِ يَزْهُو

لِتخْطُبهَا المَعالِي والمراتِبْ

لِتخْطُبهَا المَعالِي والمراتِبْ

and a judgment that proudly led thought’s maiden forth as a bride,

And an opinion whose youth of thought was magnificent

so that lofty honors and ranks might seek her hand.

To seek it the high ranks and positions