حَياكِgreeted you الرَبيعُspring مِنthrough فِصاحٍeloquent ones أَعاجِمِspeechless ones
حَياكِ الرَبيعُ مِن فِصاحٍ أَعاجِمِ
بِأَخضَرَon a green one مَيّادٍswaying مِنَof البانِthe bān tree ناعِمِtender
بِأَخضَرَ مَيّادٍ مِنَ البانِ ناعِمِ
Spring greeted you through eloquent, speechless singers,
on a green, swaying, tender bān branch.
وَطِرتُنَّand you flew فيin خَضراءَa green meadow مونِقَةِdelightful الثَرىthe soil
وَطِرتُنَّ في خَضراءَ مونِقَةِ الثَرى
قَريبَةِrecent عَهدٍacquaintance بِالعِهادِwith repeated rains الرَوازِمِlingering
قَريبَةِ عَهدٍ بِالعِهادِ الرَوازِمِ
And you flew through a green meadow whose soil was delightful,
recently visited by repeated, lingering rains.
لَقَدindeed هاجَstirred ليwithin me تَغريدُbirdsong كُنَّyour (feminine plural) عَشِيَّةًone evening
لَقَد هاجَ لي تَغريدُ كُنَّ عَشِيَّةً
لَواعِجَburning pangs شَوقٍlonging مِنfrom هَوىًlove مُتَقادِمِlong-standing
لَواعِجَ شَوقٍ مِن هَوىً مُتَقادِمِ
Indeed, your birdsong one evening stirred within me
the burning pangs of longing from a long-standing love,
وَتَذكارَand remembrance أَيّامٍdays قِصارٍbrief تَصَرَّمَتhad passed away
وَتَذكارَ أَيّامٍ قِصارٍ تَصَرَّمَت
كَماas اِكتَحَلَتwere kohled بِالطَيفِwith a dream-vision أَجفانُeyelids حالِمِa dreamer
كَما اِكتَحَلَت بِالطَيفِ أَجفانُ حالِمِ
and remembrance of brief days that passed away
as a dreamer's eyelids are kohled with a dream-vision.
نَعَمyes وَاِكتَسىand clothed itself مَغناكِyour dwelling ياO دارَةَenclosed meadow الحِمىthe protected pasture
نَعَم وَاِكتَسى مَغناكِ يا دارَةَ الحِمى
مَلابِسَgarments مِنof وَشيbrocade الرِياضِthe gardens النَواجِمِsprouting
مَلابِسَ مِن وَشي الرِياضِ النَواجِمِ
Yes, your dwelling, O Dārat al-Ḥimā, clothed itself
in garments of brocade from the burgeoning gardens.
إِذاwhen أَسبَلَتlet fall فيهاwithin it الغَواديmorning rainclouds دُموعَهاtheir tears
إِذا أَسبَلَت فيها الغَوادي دُموعَها
حَكَتresembled ثَغرَa mouth مُفتَرٍّparting عَنِto reveal النَورِthe blossoms باسِمِsmiling
حَكَت ثَغرَ مُفتَرٍّ عَنِ النَورِ باسِمِ
When morning rainclouds shed their tears within it,
it resembled a smiling mouth parted to reveal blossoms.
وَفيand in عَقِداتِknotted mounds الرَملِthe sand ظَبيٌa gazelle كِناسُهُhis covert
وَفي عَقِداتِ الرَملِ ظَبيٌ كِناسُهُ
صُدورُtips العَواليthe tall spears شُرَّعاًleveled وَالصَوارِمِand the keen swords
صُدورُ العَوالي شُرَّعاً وَالصَوارِمِ
Amid the knotted sand dunes is a gazelle whose covert
is the tips of leveled spears and keen swords.
وَأَهيَفُand a slender-waisted youth مَهزوزُswaying القَوامِstature إِذاwhen اِنثَنىhe bent
وَأَهيَفُ مَهزوزُ القَوامِ إِذا اِنثَنى
وَهَبتُI pardoned لِعُذريfor my excuse فيهِconcerning him ذَنبَthe fault اللَوائِمِthe reproaching women
وَهَبتُ لِعُذري فيهِ ذَنبَ اللَوائِمِ
And a slender-waisted youth of swaying stature—when he bends,
I pardon the reproachers' fault, for my excuse in loving him.
بِثَغرٍwith a mouth كَماas يَبدوappears لَكَto you الصُبحُdawn باسِمٍsmiling
بِثَغرٍ كَما يَبدو لَكَ الصُبحُ باسِمٍ
وَفَرعٌand hair كَماas يَدجوgrows dark لَكَto you اللَيلُnight فاحِمِcoal-black
وَفَرعٌ كَما يَدجو لَكَ اللَيلُ فاحِمِ
With a smiling mouth like dawn appearing before you,
and hair coal-black as night deepening before you.
مَليحُlovely الرِضاin contentment وَالسُخطُand anger يَلقاكَhe meets you عاتِباًreproachful
مَليحُ الرِضا وَالسُخطُ يَلقاكَ عاتِباً
بِأَلفاظِwith the words مَظلومٍa wronged man وَأَلحاظِand the glances ظالِمِan oppressor
بِأَلفاظِ مَظلومٍ وَأَلحاظِ ظالِمِ
Lovely in contentment and anger, he meets you reproachfully,
with a wronged man's words and an oppressor's glances.
وَفيand among الجيرَةِthe neighbors الغادينَdeparting كُلُّevery خَريدَةٍshy maiden
وَفي الجيرَةِ الغادينَ كُلُّ خَريدَةٍ
تَنوءُstaggers عَلىdespite ضُعفٍfrailty بِحِملِunder a burden المَآثِمِof sins
تَنوءُ عَلى ضُعفٍ بِحِملِ المَآثِمِ
Among the departing neighbors is every shy maiden,
staggering in her frailty beneath a burden of sins.
إِذاwhen جَمَشَتcaressed أَعطافَهُنَّtheir sides يَدُthe hand الصَباof the east wind
إِذا جَمَشَت أَعطافَهُنَّ يَدُ الصَبا
تَأَوَّدنَthey bent أَمثالَlike الغُصونِthe boughs النَواعِمِtender
تَأَوَّدنَ أَمثالَ الغُصونِ النَواعِمِ
When the east wind's hand caresses their sides,
they bend like tender boughs.
وَقابَلنَand they answered سُقميmy sickness بِالخُصورِwith waists الَّتيwhose وَهَتweakened
وَقابَلنَ سُقمي بِالخُصورِ الَّتي وَهَت
مَعاقِدُهاtheir bindings وَأَدمُعيand my tears بِالمَباسِمِwith smiling mouths
مَعاقِدُها وَأَدمُعي بِالمَباسِمِ
They answered my sickness with waists whose
bindings had weakened, and my tears with smiling mouths.
وَمِمّاand among what شَجانيgrieved me أَنَّنيthat I يَومَon the day بَينَهِمof their parting
وَمِمّا شَجاني أَنَّني يَومَ بَينَهِم
شَكَوتُI complained of الَّذيwhat أَلقىI suffer إِلىto غَيرِone not راحِمِmerciful
شَكَوتُ الَّذي أَلقى إِلى غَيرِ راحِمِ
What also grieved me was that, on the day they parted,
I complained of my suffering to one without mercy,
وَحَمَّلتُand I burdened أَثقالَheavy burdens الجَوىof heartache غَيرَone not حامِلٍbearing
وَحَمَّلتُ أَثقالَ الجَوى غَيرَ حامِلٍ
وَأَودَعتُand I entrusted أَسرارَthe secrets الهَوىof love غَيرَone not كاتِمِkeeping secrets
وَأَودَعتُ أَسرارَ الهَوى غَيرَ كاتِمِ
and laid heartache's heavy burdens on one who would not bear them,
and entrusted love's secrets to one who would not keep them.
وَأَبرَحُand the bitterest ماwhat قاسَيتُهُI suffered أَنَّthat مُسقِميthe one who sickened me
وَأَبرَحُ ما قاسَيتُهُ أَنَّ مُسقِمي
بِماof what حَلَّbefell بيupon me مِنthrough حُبِّهِlove for him غَيرَnot حالِمِdreaming
بِما حَلَّ بي مِن حُبِّهِ غَيرَ حالِمِ
The bitterest thing I suffered was that the one who sickened me
never dreamed of what befell me through my love for him.
وَلَوand if كُنتُI had been مُذsince بانواthey departed سَهِرتُkept awake لِساهِرٍfor a wakeful one
وَلَو كُنتُ مُذ بانوا سَهِرتُ لِساهِرٍ
لَهانَit would have been easier وَلَكِنّيbut I سَهِرتُkept awake لِنائِمِfor a sleeping one
لَهانَ وَلَكِنّي سَهِرتُ لِنائِمِ
Had I, since they departed, kept awake for one also wakeful,
it would have been easier; but I kept awake for one asleep.
عَذيرِيَmy defender مِنagainst قَلبٍa heart يُجاذِبُنيwrestles with me الهَوىover love
عَذيرِيَ مِن قَلبٍ يُجاذِبُني الهَوى
إِلَيكَtoward you وَمِنand against لاحٍa censor عَلَيكَon your account وَلائِمِand a reproacher
إِلَيكَ وَمِن لاحٍ عَلَيكَ وَلائِمِ
Who will defend me from a heart that wrestles with me over love
for you, and from a censor and reproacher on your account?
يُعَيِّرُنيreproaches me مَنone who لَمhas not يَذُقtasted حَرَقَthe burning الأَسىof grief
يُعَيِّرُني مَن لَم يَذُق حَرَقَ الأَسى
عَلَيكَfor you وَلاnor فَيضَthe flood الدُموعِof tears السَواجِمِstreaming
عَلَيكَ وَلا فَيضَ الدُموعِ السَواجِمِ
I am reproached by one who has never tasted grief's burning
for you, nor the flood of streaming tears,
وَلاnor باتَspent the night يَرعىwatching شارِدَa wandering one النَجمِof the stars طَرفُهُhis gaze
وَلا باتَ يَرعى شارِدَ النَجمِ طَرفُهُ
وَلاnor ظَلَّspent the day يَستَقريtracing رُسومَthe vestiges المَعالِمِof landmarks
وَلا ظَلَّ يَستَقري رُسومَ المَعالِمِ
whose gaze has never spent the night watching a wandering star,
nor spent the day tracing the vestiges of landmarks.
فَأَخجِلso put to shame بِأَجفانيwith my eyelids وَجُهدِand the effort مُحَمَّدٍof Muḥammad
فَأَخجِل بِأَجفاني وَجُهدِ مُحَمَّدٍ
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِستَهَلّاboth pour forth مُثقَلاتِthe heavily laden ones الغَمائِمِof the clouds
إِذا ما اِستَهَلّا مُثقَلاتِ الغَمائِمِ
So put to shame, with my eyelids and Muḥammad's effort,
when both pour forth, the heavily laden clouds.
أَبيAbū (father of) الفَرَجِal-Faraj (relief) الفَرّاجِthe dispeller كُلَّevery مُلِمَّةٍcalamity
أَبي الفَرَجِ الفَرّاجِ كُلَّ مُلِمَّةٍ
وَخَوّاضِand one who plunges through مَوجَthe waves المَأزِقِof peril المُتَلاطِمِcrashing
وَخَوّاضِ مَوجَ المَأزِقِ المُتَلاطِمِ
Abū al-Faraj, who dispels every calamity,
and plunges through peril's crashing waves.
إِلىto بَأسِهِhis valor تُعزىare attributed الصَوارِمُthe keen swords وَالقَناand the spears
إِلى بَأسِهِ تُعزى الصَوارِمُ وَالقَنا
وَعَنand of جودِهِhis generosity يُروىis related حَديثُthe tale الأَكارِمِof the noble
وَعَن جودِهِ يُروى حَديثُ الأَكارِمِ
To his valor are attributed keen swords and spears,
and of his generosity the tales of the noble are told.
لَهُhe possesses وَسَجاياwhile the natures الناسِof people لُؤمٌmeanness وَلَكنَةٌand faltering speech
لَهُ وَسَجايا الناسِ لُؤمٌ وَلَكنَةٌ
فَصاحَةُthe eloquence قُسٍّof Quss فيin سَماحَةِthe generosity حاتِمِof Ḥātim
فَصاحَةُ قُسٍّ في سَماحَةِ حاتِمِ
His—while men's natures are meanness and faltering speech—is
Quss's eloquence joined with Ḥātim's generosity.
عَجِبتُI marveled لَهُat him يَحميhe protects الثُغورَthe frontiers وَمالُهُwhile his wealth
عَجِبتُ لَهُ يَحمي الثُغورَ وَمالُهُ
تَناهَبَهُplundered it among themselves السُوّالُthe beggars نَهبَas plunder الغَنائِمِthe spoils
تَناهَبَهُ السُوّالُ نَهبَ الغَنائِمِ
I marvel at him: he guards the frontiers, yet his wealth
beggars plunder like the spoils of war.
وَيَسلَمُand is safe مِنfrom رَيبِthe hazards الحَوادِثِof misfortunes جارُهُhis neighbor
وَيَسلَمُ مِن رَيبِ الحَوادِثِ جارُهُ
وَماwhile what فيin يَديهِhis hands بِالنَدىthrough generosity غَيرُnot سالِمِsafe
وَما في يَديهِ بِالنَدى غَيرُ سالِمِ
His neighbor escapes the hazards of misfortune,
while what is in his hands is unsafe from his generosity.
وَماand not زالَceased عَدلاًjust فيin القَضِيَّةِjudgment مُنصِفاًfair
وَما زالَ عَدلاً في القَضِيَّةِ مُنصِفاً
وَلَكِنَّهُbut he فيin المالِwealth أَجوَرُthe most unjust حاكِمِjudge
وَلَكِنَّهُ في المالِ أَجوَرُ حاكِمِ
He has always been just and fair in judgment,
yet with wealth he is the most unjust of judges.
تُضيءُilluminate لَهُfor him آراؤُهُhis counsels وَسُيوفُهُand his swords
تُضيءُ لَهُ آراؤُهُ وَسُيوفُهُ
لَدىon كُلِّevery يَومٍday مُظلِمِdark الجَوِin atmosphere قاتِمِdusky
لَدى كُلِّ يَومٍ مُظلِمِ الجَوِ قاتِمِ
His counsels and his swords give him light
on every day whose air is dark and dusky.
فَيَجمَعُso he gathers بَينَtogether الطَيرِbirds وَالوَحشِand beasts فيin الوَغىbattle
فَيَجمَعُ بَينَ الطَيرِ وَالوَحشِ في الوَغى
وَقَدand already فَرَقَتhave separated بَينَbetween الطُلىthe necks وَالجَماجِمِand the skulls
وَقَد فَرَقَت بَينَ الطُلى وَالجَماجِمِ
So he gathers birds and beasts together on the battlefield,
once his swords have parted necks from skulls.
وَكَمand how many غارَةٍa raid شَعواءَfierce ضَرَّمَhe kindled نارَهاits fire
وَكَم غارَةٍ شَعواءَ ضَرَّمَ نارَها
بِكُلِّwith every أَشَّمِlofty المَنكِبَينِof both shoulders ضُبارِمِmighty warrior
بِكُلِّ أَشَّمِ المَنكِبَينِ ضُبارِمِ
How many a raging raid he has set ablaze
with every lofty-shouldered, mighty warrior!
فَوارِسُhorsemen أَمثالُlike الأُسودِlions فَوارِساًas predators
فَوارِسُ أَمثالُ الأُسودِ فَوارِساً
عَلىon ضُمَّرٍlean steeds مِثلِlike السِهامِarrows سَواهِمِgaunt
عَلى ضُمَّرٍ مِثلِ السِهامِ سَواهِمِ
Horsemen like lions pouncing on their prey,
on lean, gaunt steeds like arrows.
لَقَدindeed سيسَwas governed مِنهُby him المُلكُthe kingdom وَهوَwhile it was مُضَيَّعٌneglected
لَقَد سيسَ مِنهُ المُلكُ وَهوَ مُضَيَّعٌ
بِرَأيِwith the judgment بَصيرٍone discerning بِالعَواقِبِof consequences حازِمِprudent
بِرَأيِ بَصيرٍ بِالعَواقِبِ حازِمِ
Indeed, through him the neglected kingdom was governed
with the judgment of one discerning consequences and prudent.
وَأَضحَتand came to be بِهِthrough him الدُنياthe world وَقَدand already رُدَّwas entrusted أَمرُهاits affairs
وَأَضحَت بِهِ الدُنيا وَقَد رُدَّ أَمرُها
إِلىto مُحصَدِtightly woven الأَرآءِcounsels ثَبتِsteadfast العَزائِمِresolves
إِلى مُحصَدِ الأَرآءِ ثَبتِ العَزائِمِ
Through him the world came to have its affairs entrusted
to one whose counsels are tightly woven and whose resolves are firm.
رَآهُhe saw him أَميرُCommander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful لِدائِهاfor its sickness
رَآهُ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ لِدائِها
وَقَدthough already أَعضَلَتhad become intractable أَدواؤُهاits ailments خَيرَthe best حاسِمِdecisive healer
وَقَد أَعضَلَت أَدواؤُها خَيرَ حاسِمِ
The Commander of the Faithful saw in him, for its sickness,
though its ailments had proved intractable, the best healer.
تَخَيَّرَهُhe chose him مِنfrom نَبعَةٍa shoot كِسرَوِيَّةٍKhusrawian
تَخَيَّرَهُ مِن نَبعَةٍ كِسرَوِيَّةٍ
أَبىrefused عودُهاits wood أَنto يَستَلينَsoften لِعاجِمِfor one testing it
أَبى عودُها أَن يَستَلينَ لِعاجِمِ
He chose him from a Khusrawian shoot
whose wood refused to soften for anyone testing it.
وَصالَand he assailed عَلىagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies مِنfrom حَدِّthe edge بَأسِهِof his valor
وَصالَ عَلى الأَعداءِ مِن حَدِّ بَأسِهِ
بِأَبيَضَwith a bright sword مَضّاءِkeen الغِرارَينِon both edges صارِمِcutting
بِأَبيَضَ مَضّاءِ الغِرارَينِ صارِمِ
And he assailed his enemies, drawing on the edge of his valor,
with a bright, cutting sword, keen on both edges.
وَأَلقىand he handed over مَقاليدَthe keys الأُمورِof affairs مُفَوِّضاًentrusting
وَأَلقى مَقاليدَ الأُمورِ مُفَوِّضاً
إِلَيهِto him فَلَمand did not يَقرَعstrike لَهاover them سِنَّthe tooth نادِمِof a regretful one
إِلَيهِ فَلَم يَقرَع لَها سِنَّ نادِمِ
He handed over the keys of affairs, entrusting them
to him, and never gnashed his teeth over them in regret.
وَحَمَّلَand he laid أَعباءَthe burdens الوِزارَةِof the vizierate كاهِلاًa shoulder
وَحَمَّلَ أَعباءَ الوِزارَةِ كاهِلاً
حَمولاًwell able to bear لِأَعباءِthe burdens of الأُمورِaffairs العَظائِمِmomentous
حَمولاً لِأَعباءِ الأُمورِ العَظائِمِ
He laid the burdens of the vizierate upon a shoulder
well able to bear the burdens of momentous affairs.
وَزيراًa vizier يَحِنُّyearns الدَستُthe seat of office شَوقاًin longing وَصَبوَةًand desire
وَزيراً يَحِنُّ الدَستُ شَوقاً وَصَبوَةً
إِلَيهِfor him حَنينَthe yearning المُطفِلاتِof mothers with young الرَوائِمِtenderly nurturing
إِلَيهِ حَنينَ المُطفِلاتِ الرَوائِمِ
A vizier—the seat of office yearns in longing and desire
for him, as tender mothers with young yearn.
رَأىsaw الناسُthe people بَحرَthe sea الجودِof generosity مَلآنbrimming فَاِنثَنَواso they turned
رَأى الناسُ بَحرَ الجودِ مَلآن فَاِنثَنَوا
إِلَيهِtoward it بِآمالٍwith hopes عِطاشٍthirsty حَوائِمِcircling
إِلَيهِ بِآمالٍ عِطاشٍ حَوائِمِ
The people saw generosity's sea brimming, and turned
toward it with thirsty, circling hopes.
فَأَضحَواso they became عَلىdespite الإِطلاقِfreedom فيin أَسرِcaptivity جودِهِof his generosity
فَأَضحَوا عَلى الإِطلاقِ في أَسرِ جودِهِ
بِبيضِby the white الأَياديhands of favor لاnot بِسودِby the black الأَداهِمِfetters
بِبيضِ الأَيادي لا بِسودِ الأَداهِمِ
So, though free, they became captives of his generosity,
bound by white hands of favor, not black fetters.
أَقائِدَهاO their leader قُبَّlean البُطونِbellies إِذاwhen سَمَتthey rose
أَقائِدَها قُبَّ البُطونِ إِذا سَمَت
إِلىin طَلَبٍpursuit طارَتthey flew بِغَيرِwithout قَوادِمِflight-feathers
إِلى طَلَبٍ طارَت بِغَيرِ قَوادِمِ
O leader of those lean-bellied steeds, when they rise
in pursuit, they fly without flight-feathers.
تُدافِعُthey surge بِالأَبطالِbearing heroes فيthrough كُلِّevery مَأزِقٍperil
تُدافِعُ بِالأَبطالِ في كُلِّ مَأزِقٍ
تَدافُعَlike the surging سَيلِtorrent العارِضِof the raincloud المُتَراكِمِpiled-up
تَدافُعَ سَيلِ العارِضِ المُتَراكِمِ
They surge bearing heroes through every peril,
like the surging torrent from a piled-up raincloud.
إِذاwhen أَصبَحَتthey reached at dawn أَرضَthe land العَدُوِّof the enemy لِغارَةٍfor a raid
إِذا أَصبَحَت أَرضَ العَدُوِّ لِغارَةٍ
أَقامَتthey established مَعَby الإِمساءِevening سوقَa marketplace المَآتِمِof mourning
أَقامَت مَعَ الإِمساءِ سوقَ المَآتِمِ
When they reach enemy ground at dawn on a raid,
by evening they establish a marketplace of mourning.
تُدَمّيthey make bleed خُدودَthe cheeks الغانِياتِof beautiful women كَأَنَّماas though
تُدَمّي خُدودَ الغانِياتِ كَأَنَّما
رَكَضتَyou galloped بَهِنَّwith them فيacross وُجوهِthe faces اللَواطِمِof cheek-beating women
رَكَضتَ بَهِنَّ في وُجوهِ اللَواطِمِ
They make beautiful women's cheeks bleed, as though
you had galloped them across the faces of women beating their cheeks.
بِعَدلِكَthrough your justice أَمسىbecame الدينُreligion بَعدَafter اِعوِجاجِهِits crookedness
بِعَدلِكَ أَمسى الدينُ بَعدَ اِعوِجاجِهِ
قَويماًupright وَأَضحىand became المُلكُthe kingdom عاليlofty الدَعائِمِin pillars
قَويماً وَأَضحى المُلكُ عالي الدَعائِمِ
Through your justice, religion, after its crookedness, became
upright, and the kingdom rose on lofty pillars.
وَماand not كُنتَyou were إِلّاexcept العارِضَthe raincloud الجَونِdark جَلجَلَتresounded
وَما كُنتَ إِلّا العارِضَ الجَونِ جَلجَلَت
رَواعِدُهُits thunders حَتّىuntil اِرتَوىdrank his fill كُلُّevery حائِمِthirsty seeker
رَواعِدُهُ حَتّى اِرتَوى كُلُّ حائِمِ
You were but the dark raincloud, resounding
with its thunders until every thirsty seeker drank his fill.
تَمَنّىwished الأَعاديthe enemies أَنthat يُصيبَكَstrike you كَيدُهُمtheir plotting
تَمَنّى الأَعادي أَن يُصيبَكَ كَيدُهُم
وَمِنand from دونِshort of ماwhat راموهُthey sought it حَزُّthe slitting الغَلاصِمِof throats
وَمِن دونِ ما راموهُ حَزُّ الغَلاصِمِ
The enemies wished their plotting would strike you,
but between them and their aim lay the slitting of throats.
وَدَسّواand they hid لَكُمfor you تَحتَbeneath التُرابِthe earth مَكائِداًplots
وَدَسّوا لَكُم تَحتَ التُرابِ مَكائِداً
فَلَمbut did not يَظفَرواthey gain إِلّاexcept بَعَدِّby counting الأَباهِمِthumbs
فَلَم يَظفَروا إِلّا بَعَدِّ الأَباهِمِ
They hid plots for you beneath the earth,
but gained nothing save counting their thumbs.
أَرَيتَهُمُyou showed them حُمرَred المَناياdeaths سَوافِراًunveiled
أَرَيتَهُمُ حُمرَ المَنايا سَوافِراً
تُطالِعُهُمlooking out at them مِنfrom بَينِamong زُرقِblue اللَهاذِمِsharp spearheads
تُطالِعُهُم مِن بَينِ زُرقِ اللَهاذِمِ
You showed them red deaths, unveiled,
looking out at them among blue spearheads.
وَكُنتَand you were لَهُمto them لَمّاwhen رَموكَthey assailed you بِمَكرِهِمwith their cunning
وَكُنتَ لَهُم لَمّا رَموكَ بِمَكرِهِم
قَذىًa mote فيin العُيونِthe eyes بَلrather شَجىa lodged bone فيin الحَلاقِمِthe throats
قَذىً في العُيونِ بَل شَجى في الحَلاقِمِ
When they assailed you with their cunning, you became to them
a mote in the eyes—rather, a bone lodged in the throats.
حَرَمتَهُمُyou deprived them of طيبَthe sweetness الحَياةِof life فَلَمand did not تَدَعleave
حَرَمتَهُمُ طيبَ الحَياةِ فَلَم تَدَع
لَهُمfor them عيشَةًa life فيهاin it تَلَذُّis sweet لِطاعِمِto a taster
لَهُم عيشَةً فيها تَلَذُّ لِطاعِمِ
You deprived them of life's sweetness, leaving
them no life with any savor for a taster.
فَماتواso they died بِهاin it مَوتَthe death الكِلابِof dogs أَذِلَّةًabased
فَماتوا بِها مَوتَ الكِلابِ أَذِلَّةً
وَعاشواand they lived بِهاin it فيin الجَهلِignorance عَيشَthe life البَهائِمِof beasts
وَعاشوا بِها في الجَهلِ عَيشَ البَهائِمِ
So there they died the death of dogs, abased,
and there lived in ignorance the life of beasts.
فَياso O عَضُدَʿAḍud (support) الدينِal-Dīn (the faith) اِستَمِعهاlisten to them غَرائِباًrare marvels
فَيا عَضُدَ الدينِ اِستَمِعها غَرائِباً
مِنَof المَدحِpraise تَستَغنيyou can dispense عَلىwith respect to كُلِّevery ناظِمِpoet
مِنَ المَدحِ تَستَغني عَلى كُلِّ ناظِمِ
So, O ʿAḍud al-Dīn, listen to these rare marvels
of praise, with which you need no other poet.
إِذاwhen سُمتَهاyou tasked them تَقريظَcommendation مَدحِكَyour praise أَصبَحَتbecame
إِذا سُمتَها تَقريظَ مَدحِكَ أَصبَحَت
مَصاعِبُهاtheir unruly ones تَنقادُsubmit طَوعَwilling obedience الخَزائِمِto the nose-rings
مَصاعِبُها تَنقادُ طَوعَ الخَزائِمِ
When you bid them extol your praise,
their unruly ones become docile, yielding willingly to the nose-rings.
تَزورُكَthey visit you أَيّامَon the days التَهانيof congratulations فَتَجلِبُso they bring الthe
تَزورُكَ أَيّامَ التَهاني فَتَجلِبُ ال
ثَناءَpraise إِلىto أَسواقِكُمyour markets فيin المَواسِمِfestive seasons
ثَناءَ إِلى أَسواقِكُم في المَواسِمِ
They visit you on days of congratulation, bringing the
praise to your markets at festive seasons.
وَعِشand live فيin نَعيمٍbliss لاnot يَحولُfades جَديدُهُits freshness
وَعِش في نَعيمٍ لا يَحولُ جَديدُهُ
وَمَجدٍand glory يَجولُranges فيacross ظُهورِthe backs النَعائِمِthe Naʿāʾim stars
وَمَجدٍ يَجولُ في ظُهورِ النَعائِمِ
And live in bliss whose freshness never fades,
and glory that ranges across the backs of the Naʿāʾim stars.
Sol 6.1