وَبَخيلَةٍand many a withholding beauty سَمَحَwas generous الرُقاsleep (first part)
وَبَخيلَةٍ سَمَحَ الرُقا
دُ(completes 'sleep') بِطَيفِهاwith her phantom فَتَأَوَّباso it returned by night
دُ بِطَيفِها فَتَأَوَّبا
And many a withholding beauty—sleep was generous
with her phantom, and it returned by night.
أَدنىbrought near مَحَلَّتَهاher dwelling عَلىdespite
أَدنى مَحَلَّتَها عَلى
شَحطِremoteness of المَزارِthe place of visitation وَقَرَّباand drew it close
شَحطِ المَزارِ وَقَرَّبا
It brought her dwelling near, despite
the distance to be traveled, and drew it close.
أَهلاًwelcome بِمَنto the one whom أَدناهُbrought him near ليto me
أَهلاً بِمَن أَدناهُ لي
طَيفُthe apparition of الخَيالِdream-fancy وَمَرحَباand welcome
طَيفُ الخَيالِ وَمَرحَبا
Welcome to the one brought near to me
by the dream's apparition, welcome!
زارَتshe visited عَلىin عَجَلٍhaste كَماjust as
زارَت عَلى عَجَلٍ كَما
خَطَرَتglided عَلىover الرَوضِthe garden الصَباthe east wind
خَطَرَت عَلى الرَوضِ الصَبا
She visited in haste, as
the east wind glides across the garden.
فَضَمَمتُso I embraced لَدناًa supple body ناعِماًsoft
فَضَمَمتُ لَدناً ناعِماً
وَلَثَمتُand I kissed عَذباًa sweet mouth أَشنَباpearly-toothed
وَلَثَمتُ عَذباً أَشنَبا
I embraced a supple, tender body
and kissed a sweet, pearly-toothed mouth.
باتَتbecame by night مُجاجَتُهُits saliva أَرَقfiner (first part)
باتَت مُجاجَتُهُ أَرَق
قَ(completes 'finer') مِنَthan المُدامِwine وَأَعذَباand sweeter
قَ مِنَ المُدامِ وَأَعذَبا
Its moisture that night was finer
than wine, and sweeter.
ياO مَنyou who إِذاwhen حَدَّثتُI spoke to قَلheart (first part)
يا مَن إِذا حَدَّثتُ قَل
بي(completes 'my heart') بِالسُلُوِّof forgetting لَهُfor him أَباit refused
بي بِالسُلُوِّ لَهُ أَبا
O you, whenever I speak to my heart
of forgetting you, it refuses.
رُمتُI sought التَنَقُّلَto turn away عَنfrom هَواlove (first part)
رُمتُ التَنَقُّلَ عَن هَوا
هُof him فَلَمbut did not أَجِدI find ليfor myself مَذهَباa way out
هُ فَلَم أَجِد لي مَذهَبا
I sought to turn away from love
of him, but found no way out.
جانٍa wrongdoer إِذاwhen عاتَبتُهُI reproached him
جانٍ إِذا عاتَبتُهُ
فيماfor what جَناهُhe committed تَعَتَّباhe reproached me in turn
فيما جَناهُ تَعَتَّبا
A wrongdoer: whenever I reproach him
for his wrongs, he reproaches me.
أَمسىhe remained عَلىdespite ماwhat كانَthere was مِنfrom
أَمسى عَلى ما كانَ مِن
هُhim مِنَof الجَفاءِcoldness مُحَبَّباًbeloved
هُ مِنَ الجَفاءِ مُحَبَّباً
Despite all that has come
from him of coldness, he remains beloved.
صَبَغَhe stained الأَنامِلَthe fingertips مِنwith دِماblood (first part)
صَبَغَ الأَنامِلَ مِن دِما
ءِ(completes 'blood') العاشِقينَthe lovers وَخَضَّباand dyed them
ءِ العاشِقينَ وَخَضَّبا
He stained his fingertips with the blood
of lovers, dyeing them red.
فَقَضَتso they condemned عَلَيهِhim بِماfor what اِستَباhe ravished (first part)
فَقَضَت عَلَيهِ بِما اِستَبا
حَ(completes 'he ravished') مِنَof القُلوبِhearts وَماand what سَباhe took captive
حَ مِنَ القُلوبِ وَما سَبا
So they condemned him for what he had ravished
of hearts, and what he had taken captive.
يُفتَنُّhe devises varied ways فيof قَتليkilling me دَلاcoquetry (first part)
يُفتَنُّ في قَتلي دَلا
لاً(completes 'coquetry') تارَةًat one time وَتَجَنُّباand aloofness
لاً تارَةً وَتَجَنُّبا
He varies his ways of killing me: through coquetry
at one time, and aloofness at another.
ياO جاعِلَyou who make الهِجرانِestrangement ديa creed (first part)
يا جاعِلَ الهِجرانِ دي
ناً(completes 'a creed') لِلمِلاحِfor the beautiful وَمَذهَباand a way of life
ناً لِلمِلاحِ وَمَذهَبا
O you who make estrangement a creed
for the beautiful, and a way of life,
حَتّامَhow long أَصحَبُshall I keep فيكَfor your sake قَلa heart (first part)
حَتّامَ أَصحَبُ فيكَ قَل
باً(completes 'a heart') بِالصُدودِby rejection مُعَذَّباtormented
باً بِالصُدودِ مُعَذَّبا
how long must I bear, for your sake, a heart
tormented by rejection?
أَلزَمتُهُI bound it to حُبَّlove of الوَفاfidelity (first part)
أَلزَمتُهُ حُبَّ الوَفا
ءِ(completes 'fidelity') وَقَلَّand seldom أَنthat يَتَقَلَّباit should waver
ءِ وَقَلَّ أَن يَتَقَلَّبا
I bound it to the love of fidelity,
and seldom does it waver.
كَمhow often تَزحَمُbuffet الأَيّامُthe days جَنa flank (first part)
كَم تَزحَمُ الأَيّامُ جَن
باً(completes 'a flank') بِالخُطوبِwith calamities مُنَدَّباscarred
باً بِالخُطوبِ مُنَدَّبا
How often the days buffet a flank
already scarred by calamities,
وَتَروعُand terrify مُرتاضاًone inured عَلىto
وَتَروعُ مُرتاضاً عَلى
أَهوالِهِنَّtheir horrors مُدَرَّباًwell trained
أَهوالِهِنَّ مُدَرَّباً
and terrify a man inured
and well trained to bear their horrors,
ثَبتاًsteadfast إِذاwhen ماindeed الدَهرُfate قَعrattles (first part)
ثَبتاً إِذا ما الدَهرُ قَع
قَعَ(completes 'rattles') بِالشِنانِwith dried waterskins وَأَجلَباand raises a clamor
قَعَ بِالشِنانِ وَأَجلَبا
steadfast when fate rattles
its dried waterskins and raises an uproar,
مُستَصحِباًcarrying with him قَلباًa heart حَموenduring (first part)
مُستَصحِباً قَلباً حَمو
لاً(completes 'enduring') لِلنَوائِبِunder calamities قُلَّباresourceful
لاً لِلنَوائِبِ قُلَّبا
carrying a heart enduring
under calamities, resourceful.
وَلَكَمand how often رَكِبتُI rode إِلىtoward المَطاambitions (first part)
وَلَكَم رَكِبتُ إِلى المَطا
مِعِ(completes 'ambitions') جامِحاًa headstrong mount مُتَصَعِّباunmanageable
مِعِ جامِحاً مُتَصَعِّبا
How often I rode toward ambitions
upon a headstrong, unmanageable mount.
وَبَلَوتُand I tested أَبناءَthe sons of الزَماthe age (first part)
وَبَلَوتُ أَبناءَ الزَما
نِ(completes 'the age') مُفَتِّشاًexamining وَمُقَلِّباand turning over
نِ مُفَتِّشاً وَمُقَلِّبا
I tested the sons of the age,
examining and turning them over,
فَوَجَدتُso I found ظَهرَthe back of اليَأسِdespair حيwhen (first part)
فَوَجَدتُ ظَهرَ اليَأسِ حي
نَ(completes 'when') يَئِستُI despaired أَوطَأَthe easiest مَركَباmount to ride
نَ يَئِستُ أَوطَأَ مَركَبا
and found despair's back, when
I despaired, the easiest mount to ride.
كُنbe ماas much as اِستَطَعتَyou can لِخادِعِto the deceit of الthe
كُن ما اِستَطَعتَ لِخادِعِ ال
طَمَعِgreed المُذِلِّhumiliating مُخَيِّباa thwarting force
طَمَعِ المُذِلِّ مُخَيِّبا
As far as you can, thwart the deceit
of humiliating greed.
وَاِختَرand choose لِنَفسِكَfor yourself ناظِراًweighing
وَاِختَر لِنَفسِكَ ناظِراً
فيbetween الحالَتَينِthe two conditions مُغَلَّباempowered to choose
في الحالَتَينِ مُغَلَّبا
Choose for yourself, weighing
the two conditions, the decision yours:
إِمّاeither فَقيراًpoor مُستَريat ease (first part)
إِمّا فَقيراً مُستَري
حاً(completes 'at ease') أَوor غَنِيّاًwealthy مُتعَباweary
حاً أَو غَنِيّاً مُتعَبا
either poor and at ease,
or wealthy and weary.
لِلَّهِto God belongs دَرُّthe excellence of فَتىًa young man رَأىwho saw
لِلَّهِ دَرُّ فَتىً رَأى
طُرُقَthe paths of الهَوانِhumiliation فَنَكَّباand turned aside
طُرُقَ الهَوانِ فَنَكَّبا
God bless the young man who sees
the paths of humiliation and turns aside,
أَوor سيمَwas subjected to حَملَbearing الضَيمِoppression فيin
أَو سيمَ حَملَ الضَيمِ في
أَوطانِهِhis homelands فَتَغَرَّباso he went abroad
أَوطانِهِ فَتَغَرَّبا
or is made to bear oppression
in his homeland, and goes abroad.
يَقليhe spurns الصَديقَthe friend إِذاwhen تَنَكhe turns hostile (first part)
يَقلي الصَديقَ إِذا تَنَك
كَرَ(completes 'he turns hostile') وَالمَحَلَّand the dwelling إِذاwhen نَباit proves inhospitable
كَرَ وَالمَحَلَّ إِذا نَبا
He spurns a friend who turns
hostile, and a dwelling that rebuffs him.
يَغدوhe goes forth عَلىon خِمسٍa fifth-day watering interval وَلاand does not
يَغدو عَلى خِمسٍ وَلا
يَرضىaccept الدَنِيَةَabasement مَشرَباas a drink
يَرضى الدَنِيَةَ مَشرَبا
He drinks only every fifth day, yet
will not take abasement for his drink.
مُتَرَفِّعٌtoo proud عِندَin the face of الحَواcalamities (first part)
مُتَرَفِّعٌ عِندَ الحَوا
دِثِ(completes 'calamities') أَنto تُطَأمِنَlower مَنكِباa shoulder
دِثِ أَن تُطَأمِنَ مَنكِبا
Too proud, amid calamities,
to let them lower his shoulder.
ياO طالِبَseeker of المَعروفِbeneficence شَرgo east (first part)
يا طالِبَ المَعروفِ شَر
رِق(completes 'go east') فيthrough البِلادِthe lands وَغَرِّباand go west
رِق في البِلادِ وَغَرِّبا
O seeker of beneficence, journey east
through the lands, and west,
يَسريtravels by night لَهُfor whom حُلمُthe dream of الرَجاhope (first part)
يَسري لَهُ حُلمُ الرَجا
ءِ(completes 'hope') مُصَدَّقاًconfirmed وَمُكَذَّباand belied
ءِ مُصَدَّقاً وَمُكَذَّبا
for whom hope's dream travels by night,
now confirmed, now belied:
كَلَّفتَyou have burdened نَفسَكَyourself مِنهُin its pursuit ماwith what
كَلَّفتَ نَفسَكَ مِنهُ ما
أَعياexhausted الرِجالَmen وَأَنصَباand wearied them
أَعيا الرِجالَ وَأَنصَبا
you have burdened yourself in its pursuit with what
has exhausted and wearied men.
مَهلاًtake your time فَإِنَّfor indeed النَجمَthe star أَقnearer (first part)
مَهلاً فَإِنَّ النَجمَ أَق
رَبُ(completes 'nearer') مِنthan مَرامِكَyour goal مَطلَباًas an object of pursuit
رَبُ مِن مَرامِكَ مَطلَباً
Take your time: the star is nearer
to attain than your goal.
إِنif شِمتَyou watch for غَيرَother than بَنيthe sons of المُظَفal-Muzaffar (first part)
إِن شِمتَ غَيرَ بَني المُظَف
فَرِ(completes 'al-Muzaffar') شِمتَyou watch بَرقاًlightning خُلَّباbringing no rain
فَرِ شِمتَ بَرقاً خُلَّبا
If you watch for any but the sons of al-Muzaffar,
you watch lightning that brings no rain.
وَمَتىand whenever اِنتَجَعتَyou seek bounty سِوىother than عِماʿImād (first part)
وَمَتى اِنتَجَعتَ سِوى عِما
دِ(completes 'ʿImād') الدينِal-Dīn فَاِرتَعthen graze مُجدِباon barren ground
دِ الدينِ فَاِرتَع مُجدِبا
Whenever you seek bounty from any but ʿImād
al-Dīn, graze on barren ground.
يَمِّمmake for ثَراهُhis ground تَجِدyou will find مَراa pasture (first part)
يَمِّم ثَراهُ تَجِد مَرا
داً(completes 'a pasture') لِلمَكارِمِfor noble deeds مُعشِباlush with grass
داً لِلمَكارِمِ مُعشِبا
Make for his ground: you will find a pasture
for noble deeds, lush with grass.
وَأَنِخand kneel your camel بِهِbeside him مُتَهَلِّلاًbeaming
وَأَنِخ بِهِ مُتَهَلِّلاً
لِلطارِقينَto night visitors مُرَحِّباwelcoming
لِلطارِقينَ مُرَحِّبا
Make your camel kneel beside him, beaming,
welcoming those who come by night.
وَاِسرَحand let graze رِكابَكَyour riding camels آمِناًsecure
وَاِسرَح رِكابَكَ آمِناً
مِمّاfrom what يَريبُكَtroubles you مُخصِباamid abundance
مِمّا يَريبُكَ مُخصِبا
Let your riding camels graze, secure
from all that troubles you, amid abundance.
وَاِدعُand call for النَوالَbounty تَجِدهُyou will find it أَدnearer (first part)
وَاِدعُ النَوالَ تَجِدهُ أَد
نى(completes 'nearer') مِنthan صَداكَyour echo وَأَقرَباand closer
نى مِن صَداكَ وَأَقرَبا
Call for bounty: you will find it nearer
than your echo, closer still.
رَبُّlord of الفَضائِلِvirtues وَالمَناand watering places (first part)
رَبُّ الفَضائِلِ وَالمَنا
هِلِ(completes 'watering places') وَالصَواهِلِand neighing steeds وَالظُباand sword-edges
هِلِ وَالصَواهِلِ وَالظُبا
Lord of virtues and watering places,
of neighing steeds and sword-edges,
مُرديslayer of الكُماةِarmored champions وَقائِدُand leader of الthe
مُردي الكُماةِ وَقائِدُ ال
جُردِsleek steeds السَوابِقِforemost racers شُزَّباlean
جُردِ السَوابِقِ شُزَّبا
slayer of armored champions, leader
of sleek, swift-racing, lean steeds.
يَفَعٌa youth تُمارِسُyou encounter مِنهُin him كَهa mature man (first part)
يَفَعٌ تُمارِسُ مِنهُ كَه
لاً(completes 'a mature man') فيin الأُمورِaffairs مُجَرَّباexperienced
لاً في الأُمورِ مُجَرَّبا
A youth, yet in him you encounter a mature man,
experienced in affairs,
يَقِظاًalert وَماand not yet نُظِمَتwere strung قَلاhis necklaces (first part)
يَقِظاً وَما نُظِمَت قَلا
ئِدُهُ(completes 'his necklaces') عَلَيهِupon him مُهَذَّباrefined
ئِدُهُ عَلَيهِ مُهَذَّبا
alert before his necklaces were strung
upon him, already refined.
يوليكَgrants you مُقتَبِلُthe first bloom of الشَباyouth (first part)
يوليكَ مُقتَبِلُ الشَبا
بِ(completes 'youth') نُهىًwisdom وَرَأياًand judgment أَشيَباgray-haired
بِ نُهىً وَرَأياً أَشيَبا
Youth in its first bloom grants you
wisdom and gray-haired judgment.
وَيَزينُand adorns عِطفَيهِhis two sides وَقاthe dignity of (first part)
وَيَزينُ عِطفَيهِ وَقا
رُ(completes 'the dignity of') الشَيبِgray hair فيin عَطفِthe embrace of الصِباyouth
رُ الشَيبِ في عَطفِ الصِبا
The dignity of gray hair adorns his shoulders
within the embrace of youth.
لَيثٌa lion وَبَدرٌand a full moon إِنwhen تَنَمhe grows fierce (first part)
لَيثٌ وَبَدرٌ إِن تَنَم
مَرَ(completes 'he grows fierce') أَوor تَصَدَّرَheads مَوكِباa procession
مَرَ أَو تَصَدَّرَ مَوكِبا
A lion and a full moon, whether he grows fierce
or heads a procession.
حُلوُsweet الجَناof fruit ثَبتٌsteadfast إِذاwhen
حُلوُ الجَنا ثَبتٌ إِذا
حُلَّتare loosened مِنَfrom القَومِthe men الحُباthe knee-bands
حُلَّت مِنَ القَومِ الحُبا
Sweet of fruit, steadfast when
the men's knee-bands come undone.
صَدَقتَproved true مَواعِدُهُhis promises وَقَدeven when
صَدَقتَ مَواعِدُهُ وَقَد
خابَfailed الرَجاءُhope وَكُذِّباand was belied
خابَ الرَجاءُ وَكُذِّبا
His promises prove true, even when
hope has failed and been belied.
يُعطيكَhe gives you مُعتَذِراًapologetically فَتَحso you think him (first part)
يُعطيكَ مُعتَذِراً فَتَح
سِبُهُ(completes 'so you think him') أَساءَdid wrong أَوor أَذنَباcommitted a sin
سِبُهُ أَساءَ أَو أَذنَبا
He gives to you apologetically, so you think
he has done wrong or committed a sin,
خَجِلاًbashful وَقَدalthough أَعطىhe has given فَأَبand excelled (first part)
خَجِلاً وَقَد أَعطى فَأَب
دَعَ(completes 'and excelled') فيin العَطاءِgiving وَأَغرَباand surpassed the ordinary
دَعَ في العَطاءِ وَأَغرَبا
bashful, although his giving has been
marvelous and beyond the ordinary.
مُتَبَسِّمٌsmiling كَرَماًout of generosity إِذاwhen
مُتَبَسِّمٌ كَرَماً إِذا
كَلَحَscowls الزَمانُtime وَقَطَّباand frowns
كَلَحَ الزَمانُ وَقَطَّبا
Smiling in generosity when
time scowls and frowns,
جوداًin generosity يُباريhe rivals الغَيثَthe rain سَحpours (first part)
جوداً يُباري الغَيثَ سَح
حَ(completes 'pours') عَلىupon البِلادِthe lands وَصَوَّباand streams down
حَ عَلى البِلادِ وَصَوَّبا
in generosity he rivals rain that pours
over the lands and streams down.
غَمرٌa flood of bounty تَساوَتbecame equal فيin مَواhis gifts (first part)
غَمرٌ تَساوَت في مَوا
هِبِهِ(completes 'his gifts') المَذانِبُthe valley channels وَالرُباand the hills
هِبِهِ المَذانِبُ وَالرُبا
A flood whose gifts make equal
the valley channels and the hills.
وَتُقىًand piety إِذاwhen سَفَرَتunveiled لَهُbefore him
وَتُقىً إِذا سَفَرَت لَهُ
الصُوَرُfaces الحِسانُthe beautiful تَنَقَّباhe veiled himself
الصُوَرُ الحِسانُ تَنَقَّبا
And piety: when there are unveiled before him
beautiful faces, he veils himself.
وَحِجىًand wisdom يُريكَshows you هِضابَthe heights of قُدQuds (first part)
وَحِجىً يُريكَ هِضابَ قُد
سٍ(completes 'Quds') فيin النَدِيِّthe assembly إِذاwhen اِحتَباhe sits with knees bound
سٍ في النَدِيِّ إِذا اِحتَبا
And wisdom that shows you the heights of Quds
in the assembly, when he sits with knees bound.
إِنif هِجتَهُyou rouse him عِندَat الكَريbattle (first part)
إِن هِجتَهُ عِندَ الكَري
هَةِ(completes 'battle') هِجتَyou rouse لَيثاًa lion أَغلَباthick-necked
هَةِ هِجتَ لَيثاً أَغلَبا
If you rouse him in battle,
you rouse a thick-necked lion.
صَعبُhard المَرامِto assail وَإِنand if عَجَمyou test (first part)
صَعبُ المَرامِ وَإِن عَجَم
تَ(completes 'you test') عَجَمتَyou test عوداًa wooden shaft صُلَّباhard
تَ عَجَمتَ عوداً صُلَّبا
Hard to assail; if you test him,
you test a shaft of solid wood.
وَتَشيمُand you discern مِنin عَزمَيهِhis two resolves مَضkeen-edged (first part)
وَتَشيمُ مِن عَزمَيهِ مَض
ضاءَ(completes 'keen-edged') المَضارِبِin its striking edges مِقضَباa sharp-cutting sword
ضاءَ المَضارِبِ مِقضَبا
And in his two resolves you glimpse a keen-edged,
sharp-cutting sword.
وَإِذاand when اِحتَبىhe sits with knees bound فيin مَحفَلٍa gathering
وَإِذا اِحتَبى في مَحفَلٍ
عَدَّhe counts الكِرامَnoble men أَباًfather أَباby father
عَدَّ الكِرامَ أَباً أَبا
When he sits with knees bound in a gathering,
he numbers noble men, father after father.
وَأَبَرُّand most kindly ماwhen تَلقاهُyou meet him مُعacknowledging (first part)
وَأَبَرُّ ما تَلقاهُ مُع
تَرِفَ(completes 'acknowledging') الإِساءَةِwrongdoing مُذنِباguilty
تَرِفَ الإِساءَةِ مُذنِبا
He is kindest when you meet him acknowledging
your wrongdoing, a guilty man.
فَتِخالُso you imagine جانيهِthe one who wronged him إِلَيto
فَتِخالُ جانيهِ إِلَي
هِhim بِذَنبِهِthrough his offense مُتَقَرِّباdrawing near
هِ بِذَنبِهِ مُتَقَرِّبا
You would think the one who wronged him
was drawing near to him through that very fault.
فَضَلَhe surpassed الوَرىmankind شَرَفاًin nobility كَماas
فَضَلَ الوَرى شَرَفاً كَما
فَضَلَrises above السِنانُthe spearhead الأَكعُباthe shaft's joints
فَضَلَ السِنانُ الأَكعُبا
He surpasses mankind in nobility, as
the spearhead rises above the shaft's joints.
وَشَآهُمُand he outstripped them بَيتاًin lineage قَديancient (first part)
وَشَآهُمُ بَيتاً قَدي
ماً(completes 'ancient') فيin الفَخارِglory وَمَنصِباand rank
ماً في الفَخارِ وَمَنصِبا
He outstrips them through an ancient house
in glory and rank.
فَاِلتَفَّso grew thick فيin غابِthe forest of المَكاnoble deeds (first part)
فَاِلتَفَّ في غابِ المَكا
رِمِ(completes 'noble deeds') عيصُهُhis ancestral grove وَتَأَشَّباand became densely intertwined
رِمِ عيصُهُ وَتَأَشَّبا
So thick, within the forest of noble deeds,
grew his ancestral grove, densely intertwined.
ياO مَنyou for whom أَقادَbecame tractable حَرونُthe balking mount of حَظmy fortune (first part)
يا مَن أَقادَ حَرونُ حَظ
ظي(completes 'my fortune') فيin يَدَيهِhis two hands وَأَصحَباand grew docile
ظي في يَدَيهِ وَأَصحَبا
O you—my balking fortune yielded
in your hands and became docile.
يَجريit runs وَكُنتُand I used to إِذاwhenever نَهَضI rose (first part)
يَجري وَكُنتُ إِذا نَهَض
تُ(completes 'I rose') بِهِwith it إِلىtoward أَمَلٍa hope كَباit stumbled
تُ بِهِ إِلى أَمَلٍ كَبا
It runs; once, whenever I rose
with it toward a hope, it stumbled.
لَوَif أَنَّindeed لِلغَضبِfor wrath (likely 'the sword') الصَقيpolished (first part)
لَوَ أَنَّ لِلغَضبِ الصَقي
لِ(completes 'polished') مَضاءَthe keenness of عَزمِكَyour resolve ماnot نَباwould it fail to cut
لِ مَضاءَ عَزمِكَ ما نَبا
Had the polished sword
the keenness of your resolve, it would never fail to cut.
أَوor كانَwere ضَوءُthe light of النَجمِthe star مِنfrom
أَو كانَ ضَوءُ النَجمِ مِن
لَألاةِthe radiance of وَجهِكَyour face ماnot خَباwould it fade
لَألاةِ وَجهِكَ ما خَبا
Or had the star its light from
the radiance of your face, it would never fade.
وَلَوِand if اِقتَدىfollowed بِجَميلِthe beauty of سيyour conduct (first part)
وَلَوِ اِقتَدى بِجَميلِ سي
رَتِكَ(completes 'your conduct') الزَمانُtime تَأَدَّباwould learn courtesy
رَتِكَ الزَمانُ تَأَدَّبا
Had time followed your beautiful
conduct, it would have learned courtesy.
بِنَداكَthrough your bounty ياO اِبنَson of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
بِنَداكَ يا اِبنَ مُحَمَّدٍ
رَفَّgrew fresh الحَديثُspeech وَأَعشَباand sprouted grass
رَفَّ الحَديثُ وَأَعشَبا
Through your bounty, O son of Muhammad,
speech has grown fresh and put forth grass.
ياO مُنقِذيmy rescuer بِنَوالِهِthrough his bounty
يا مُنقِذي بِنَوالِهِ
وَالسَيلُwhile the flood قَدhad بَلَغَreached الزُباthe hilltops
وَالسَيلُ قَد بَلَغَ الزُبا
O you who rescued me with your bounty
when the flood had reached the hilltops,
وَالدَهرُand fate قَدhad أَضرىset loose حَواits calamities (first part)
وَالدَهرُ قَد أَضرى حَوا
دِثَهُ(completes 'its calamities') عَلَيَّagainst me وَأَلَّباand rallied them
دِثَهُ عَلَيَّ وَأَلَّبا
and fate had set its calamities
against me and rallied them,
فَلّأَشكُرَنَّso I shall surely thank نَداكَyour bounty ماas long as
فَلّأَشكُرَنَّ نَداكَ ما
غَنّىsings الحَمامُthe dove وَطَرَّباand trills
غَنّى الحَمامُ وَطَرَّبا
I shall surely thank your bounty as long as
the dove sings and trills.
وَلَأَملَأَنَّand I shall surely fill الأَرضَthe earth فيabout
وَلَأَملَأَنَّ الأَرضَ في
كَyou مُشَرِّقاًjourneying east وَمُغَرِّباand journeying west
كَ مُشَرِّقاً وَمُغَرِّبا
I shall surely fill the earth with praise of
you, journeying east and west:
مِدَحاًwith praises كَنَوّارِlike the blossoms of الرِياgardens (first part)
مِدَحاً كَنَوّارِ الرِيا
ضِ(completes 'gardens') مُفَضَّضاًsilvered وَمُذَهَّباand gilded
ضِ مُفَضَّضاً وَمُذَهَّبا
praises like the blossoms of gardens,
silvered and gilded.
فَاِسحَبso trail ذُيولَthe skirts of سَعادَةٍhappiness
فَاِسحَب ذُيولَ سَعادَةٍ
تَثنيthat send back عَدُوَّكَyour enemy أَخيَباutterly disappointed
تَثني عَدُوَّكَ أَخيَبا
So trail the skirts of happiness
that send your enemy back utterly disappointed.
يُمسيbecomes لِسابِغِfor the ample length of ذَيلِهاits train
يُمسي لِسابِغِ ذَيلِها
ظَهرُthe back of المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way مَسحَباa trailing-ground
ظَهرُ المَجَرَّةِ مَسحَبا
For its long, flowing train,
the Milky Way's back becomes a trailing-ground.
Sol 6.1