أَبُثُّكِI confide to you وَجديmy passion لَوif أَصَختِyou listened لِمَعمودِto an afflicted man
أَبُثُّكِ وَجدي لَو أَصَختِ لِمَعمودِ
وَكَيفَand how يُرجىis hoped for عَطفُthe tenderness of صَمّاءَa deaf woman صَيخودِrock-hard
وَكَيفَ يُرجى عَطفُ صَمّاءَ صَيخودِ
I would confide my passion to you, if you would listen to one love-stricken.
I confide my passion to you though you are deaf to my complaints,
And how can tenderness be hoped for from one deaf and hard as rock?
How can I expect sympathy from one so indifferent?
لَقَدindeed سَئِمَhave tired العُوّادُthose visiting the sick فيكَover you شِكايَتيmy complaints
لَقَد سَئِمَ العُوّادُ فيكَ شِكايَتي
وَماbut not سَإِمَتhave tired فيكِover you العَواذِلُthe reproachful women تَفنيديcensuring me
وَما سَإِمَت فيكِ العَواذِلُ تَفنيدي
Those visiting my sickbed have grown weary of my complaints about you,
My friends are wearied of hearing my laments for you,
but the reproachful women never tire of censuring me over you.
Yet I am not tired of singing your praises.
فَإِنso if يَذوَwithers عوديmy bough فيin هَواكِlove for you فَرُبَّماthen once
فَإِن يَذوَ عودي في هَواكِ فَرُبَّما
عَلِقتُكِI fell in love with you فَينانَluxuriant in الصِبىyouth مورِقَleafy of العودِbough
عَلِقتُكِ فَينانَ الصِبى مورِقَ العودِ
For if my bough withers in love for you, I did once
If my affection for you remains unquenched,
fall in love with you, luxuriant in youth, my bough in leaf.
I shall hang like a necklace on the slender neck of the beloved.
لَيالِيَduring nights لَمnot يُخلِقgrow threadbare رِداءُthe mantle of شَبيبَتيmy youth
لَيالِيَ لَم يُخلِق رِداءُ شَبيبَتي
وَلَمand not تُخلِفِbreak البيضُthe fair women الحِسانُthe beauties مَواعيديmy trysts
وَلَم تُخلِفِ البيضُ الحِسانُ مَواعيدي
In nights when the mantle of my youth had not grown threadbare,
Nights of my vanished youth will never return
and the fair beauties did not break their trysts with me;
Nor broken vows of love keep their trysts with me.
وَإِذand when أَناI مِنof وَصلِunion with الَّذيthe one غَيرُnot مُضمِرٍharboring
وَإِذ أَنا مِن وَصلِ الَّذي غَيرُ مُضمِرٍ
إِياساًdespair وَعَنand from بابِthe door of الهَوىlove غَيرُnot مَطرودِbanished
إِياساً وَعَن بابِ الهَوى غَيرُ مَطرودِ
and when, concerning union with the beloved, I harbored no
Since reunion with my love seems unattainable
despair, nor was I banished from love's door.
And the door of desire barred to me,
فَياso O قَلبُheart إِنif تَجزَعyou grieve لِماضٍfor what is past مِنَof الصِبىyouth
فَيا قَلبُ إِن تَجزَع لِماضٍ مِنَ الصِبى
حَميدٍpraiseworthy وَعادٍand vanished مِنof هَوىlove for الخُرَّدِshy maidens الغيدِgraceful and swaying
حَميدٍ وَعادٍ مِن هَوى الخُرَّدِ الغيدِ
O heart, though you grieve for youth now past,
My heart, do not grieve for lost youth,
praiseworthy, and for vanished love of shy, swaying maidens,
For sweet memories of loves now faded.
فَلَيسَتfor not لَياليكَyour nights الأولىthe former بِرَواجِعٍcoming back
فَلَيسَت لَياليكَ الأولى بِرَواجِعٍ
عَلَيكَto you وَلاnor عَصرُthe season of الشَبابِyouth بِمَردودِrestored
عَلَيكَ وَلا عَصرُ الشَبابِ بِمَردودِ
your former nights will not return
Your first nights of love and rapture
to you, nor can the season of youth be restored.
Can never come back to you, nor youth itself.
وَهَلand is نافِعٌuseful قَوليmy saying جَوىًheartache وَصَبابَةًand longing
وَهَل نافِعٌ قَولي جَوىً وَصَبابَةً
لَياليO nights of الهَوىlove إِنif عادَreturns عَصرُthe season of الصِبىyouth عوديreturn!
لَيالي الهَوى إِن عادَ عَصرُ الصِبى عودي
And is it any use that, in heartache and longing, I say:
What use recalling the nights of desire
'Nights of love, if youth's season returns, return!'
If the springtime of life comes not back to me?
وَأَرَّقَنيand kept me awake فيin اللَيلِthe night تَرجيعُthe trilling of وادِعٍa tranquil bird
وَأَرَّقَني في اللَيلِ تَرجيعُ وادِعٍ
مِنَamong الوُرقِthe gray doves فيon فَرعٍa branch مِنَof البانِthe ban-tree مَكدودِburdened
مِنَ الوُرقِ في فَرعٍ مِنَ البانِ مَكدودِ
The trilling of a tranquil bird kept me awake at night,
At night the rustling of leaves
one of the gray doves, on a burdened branch of the ban-tree.
In the gently waving branch of the wild plum tree
يَنوحُit mourns وَلَمthough not يُضمِرharbor غَراميmy consuming love ضُلوعُهُits ribs
يَنوحُ وَلَم يُضمِر غَرامي ضُلوعُهُ
وَلاnor عادَهُvisited it فيمَنover the one whom كَلِفتُI became enamored بِهِwith him عيديmy recurring grief
وَلا عادَهُ فيمَن كَلِفتُ بِهِ عيدي
It mourns, though its ribs have never harbored my consuming love,
Kept me awake, though from his bosom
nor has my recurring grief over the one I adore visited it.
Came no echo of my love, no hint of my loss.
وَلاnor حَكَمَتruled فيover شَملِthe union of أُلفَتِهِits affection النَوىseparation
وَلا حَكَمَت في شَملِ أُلفَتِهِ النَوى
وَلاnor قَضَتِdecreed الأَيّامِthe days فيهاconcerning it بِتَبديدِwith dispersal
وَلا قَضَتِ الأَيّامِ فيها بِتَبديدِ
Nor has separation ruled over its bond of affection,
The clustering stars reunited not those
nor have the days decreed that bond's dispersal.
Parted by fate, nor did the nights join us.
أَقولُI say وَليليwhile my night قَدalready أَظَلَّdrew near صَباحُهُits dawn
أَقولُ وَليلي قَد أَظَلَّ صَباحُهُ
وَأَجفانُand the eyelids of عَينيmy eyes قَدalready كُحِلنَwere lined with kohl بِتَسهيدِwith sleeplessness
وَأَجفانُ عَيني قَد كُحِلنَ بِتَسهيدِ
I say, as the dawn of my night draws near,
I say this while dawn dispels the night
and my eyelids are lined with the kohl of sleeplessness:
And sleep seals my eyes weighed by its touch.
أَمِنis it from غَدرِthe treachery of مَنthe one whom أَهواهُI love ياليلَO night of هَجرَةٍestrangement
أَمِن غَدرِ مَن أَهواهُ ياليلَ هَجرَةٍ
خُلِقتَyou were fashioned لَناfor us أَمor مِنfrom غَدائِرِهِhis tresses السودِthe black ones
خُلِقتَ لَنا أَم مِن غَدائِرِهِ السودِ
From the treachery of the one I love, O night of estrangement,
O night of cruel separation, did you come
were you fashioned for us, or from his black tresses?
By his betrayal, or your own dark destinies?
وَلَيلٍand many a night بِطيءِslow-moving of النَجمِstars قَصَّرتَyou shortened طولَهُits length
وَلَيلٍ بِطيءِ النَجمِ قَصَّرتَ طولَهُ
بِوارِدَةِwith long-flowing الفِرعَينِtwo tresses ناعِمَةٍsoft رودِtender
بِوارِدَةِ الفِرعَينِ ناعِمَةٍ رودِ
And many a night of slow-moving stars—you shortened its length
O long night of tardy stars, your length shortened
with a soft, tender woman whose two tresses flowed long.
By two waving branches of the wild plum, delicate and slender.
لَهَوتُI dallied بِهاwith her حَتّىuntil تَجَلّىcleared ظَلامُهُits darkness
لَهَوتُ بِها حَتّى تَجَلّى ظَلامُهُ
تَجولُwanders يَديmy hand بَينَbetween القَلائِدِthe necklaces وَالجيدِand the neck
تَجولُ يَدي بَينَ القَلائِدِ وَالجيدِ
I dallied with her until its darkness cleared,
I toyed with them until the darkness lifted,
my hand wandering between her necklaces and her neck,
My hands wandering over necklaces and plaits.
بِمُرتَشَفٍwith a mouth to sip from كَالأُقحُوانَةِlike a daisy blossom بارِدٍcool
بِمُرتَشَفٍ كَالأُقحُوانَةِ بارِدٍ
وَمُعتَنَقٍand a form to embrace كَالخيزُرانَةِlike a bamboo stem أُملودِsupple
وَمُعتَنَقٍ كَالخيزُرانَةِ أُملودِ
with a cool mouth like a daisy blossom,
Sipping from a cup as cool as crystal,
and a supple form to embrace, like a bamboo stem.
Embracing a form slender as a sapling.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle أَظَلَّتنيshaded me عَناقيدُthe clusters of فَرعِهاher hair
إِذا ما أَظَلَّتني عَناقيدُ فَرعِها
سَقَتنيshe gave me to drink بِكَأسِfrom the cup of الثَغرِthe mouth ماءَthe juice of العَناقيدِthe grape-clusters
سَقَتني بِكَأسِ الثَغرِ ماءَ العَناقيدِ
Whenever the clusters of her hair shaded me,
When her tresses cast shadows over me,
she gave me grape-juice to drink from the cup of her mouth.
Her lips gave me wine from the cup to drink.
وَباتَتand she spent the night تُعاطينيoffering me عُقاراًwine كَأَنَّهاas though it were
وَباتَت تُعاطيني عُقاراً كَأَنَّها
خَلائِقُthe virtues of مَجدِMajd الدينِal-Din ذيpossessor of البَأسِvalor وَالجودِand generosity
خَلائِقُ مَجدِ الدينِ ذي البَأسِ وَالجودِ
And all night she offered me wine, as though it were
She made me taste a magic potion
the virtues of Majd al-Din, lord of valor and generosity.
As if she were a houri of Paradise, heavenly and pure.
فَتىًa young man أَقسَمَتhas sworn مِنfrom حُبِّهاits love of الجودَgenerosity كَفُّهhis hand
فَتىً أَقسَمَت مِن حُبِّها الجودَ كَفُّه
لِسُؤآلِهاto its petitioners أَنthat لاnot تَضَنَّit begrudge بِمَوجودِanything possessed
لِسُؤآلِها أَن لا تَضَنَّ بِمَوجودِ
A young man whose hand, in its love of generosity, has sworn
A prince whose generous hand swore
to its petitioners never to begrudge anything it possesses.
To grant her whatever she asked.
رَفيعُlofty of عِمادِthe pillar of البَيتِthe house يَأويhe takes shelter مِنَfrom العُلىthe heights
رَفيعُ عِمادِ البَيتِ يَأوي مِنَ العُلى
إِلىto كَسرِthe side of بَيتٍa tent بِالسَماحَةِby generosity مَعمودِupheld
إِلى كَسرِ بَيتٍ بِالسَماحَةِ مَعمودِ
Lofty is his house's pillar; from the heights he takes shelter
Of lofty lineage, a pillar of his house,
at the side of a tent upheld by generosity.
Generous, open-handed, a castle of munificence.
أَحَدُّsharper مِنَthan البيضِgleaming swords الرِقاقِthe slender ones عَزائِماًin resolve
أَحَدُّ مِنَ البيضِ الرِقاقِ عَزائِماً
وَأَمضىand more intrepid جَناناًof heart مِنthan أُسودِthe lions of الشَرىal-Shara السودِthe black ones
وَأَمضى جَناناً مِن أُسودِ الشَرى السودِ
Sharper in resolve than slender, gleaming swords,
Braver than the keenest blade, resolute in purpose,
and bolder of heart than al-Shara's black lions.
More decisive in judgement than even the swarthy fates.
يَضيقُnarrows إِذاwhen سارَhe travels الفَضاءُthe open expanse وَإِنَّهُyet he indeed
يَضيقُ إِذا سارَ الفَضاءُ وَإِنَّهُ
لَأَرحَبُsurely broader صَدراًof breast فيin سُراهُhis night-journey مِنَthan البيدِthe deserts
لَأَرحَبُ صَدراً في سُراهُ مِنَ البيدِ
When he advances, the open expanse narrows, yet he
The horizons narrow when he travels on his way
is broader of breast on his night-journey than the deserts.
Though his heart is broader than the wilds themselves.
وَيَلقىand he confronts الجِبالَthe mountains الشُمَّthe lofty ones مِنfrom عَزَماتِهِhis resolves
وَيَلقى الجِبالَ الشُمَّ مِن عَزَماتِهِ
بِأَثبَتَwith something firmer مِنthan أَطوادِهاtheir great masses الشُمَّخِtowering القودِtall
بِأَثبَتَ مِن أَطوادِها الشُمَّخِ القودِ
He confronts the lofty mountains with a resolve
He shatters mountains as effortlessly as
firmer than their towering, tall masses.
Their summits, firm-rooted, cleave the skies.
مِنَof القَومِa people لاnot سَعيُthe striving of الرَجاءِhope بِمُخفِقٍfailing
مِنَ القَومِ لا سَعيُ الرَجاءِ بِمُخفِقٍ
لَدَيهِمwith them وَلاnor بابُthe door of العَطاءِgiving بِمَسدودِbarred
لَدَيهِم وَلا بابُ العَطاءِ بِمَسدودِ
Of a people: the endeavor of hope never fails
For him no gates of favour remain closed
with them, nor is the gate of giving barred.
Nor doors of bounty locked, by that noble people,
كِرامُnoble in المَساعيendeavors يَستَهِلُّpours down نَوالُهُمtheir bounty
كِرامُ المَساعي يَستَهِلُّ نَوالُهُم
إِذاwhen سُؤِلواthey are asked الجَدوىfor aid كِرامُnoble in المَواليدِbirth
إِذا سُؤِلوا الجَدوى كِرامُ المَواليدِ
Noble in endeavor, their bounty rains down
Whose generous nature overflow their gifts
when they are asked for aid; noble too in birth.
As freely as the new-born's innocence.
تَشيمُyou look for إِذاwhen اِستَجدَيتَهُمyou seek their bounty واكِفَthe pouring of الحَياrain
تَشيمُ إِذا اِستَجدَيتَهُم واكِفَ الحَيا
وَتَدعوand you call إِذاwhen اِستَنجَدتَهُمyou seek their help بِالمَناجيدِupon champions
وَتَدعو إِذا اِستَنجَدتَهُم بِالمَناجيدِ
You behold pouring rain when you seek their bounty,
They respond at once when you call them
and call upon champions when you seek their help.
And run to help when you need their aid.
وَهوَand he is الصاحِبُal-Sahib اِبنُson of الصاحِبِal-Sahib القَرمُthe noble chief مُغمِدُone who sheathes
وَهوَ الصاحِبُ اِبنُ الصاحِبِ القَرمُ مُغمِدُ
الصَوارِمِkeen swords فيin هامِthe heads of الكُماةِarmored warriors الصَناديدِstalwart champions
الصَوارِمِ في هامِ الكُماةِ الصَناديدِ
He is al-Sahib, son of al-Sahib, the noble chief who sheathes
He is the son of heroes, swords sheathed
keen swords in the heads of stalwart, armored warriors.
In the shoulders of warriors gigantic in frame.
رَأَتهُshe saw him لَهاfor herself بَغداذُBaghdad أَمنَعَthe mightiest ذائِدٍdefender
رَأَتهُ لَها بَغداذُ أَمنَعَ ذائِدٍ
فَأَلقَتso she surrendered إِلىto تَدبيرِهِhis governance بِالمَقاليدِthe keys
فَأَلقَت إِلى تَدبيرِهِ بِالمَقاليدِ
Baghdad saw in him her mightiest defender,
Baghdad saw in him her staunchest defender
so she surrendered her keys to his governance.
And gave over her affairs to his sound judgement;
أَعادَhe restored لَهاto her بِالعَدلِthrough justice أَيّامَهاher days الأولىthe former
أَعادَ لَها بِالعَدلِ أَيّامَها الأولى
فَأَضحَتso she became بِهِthrough him غَنّاءَlush مَورِقَةَleafy of العودِbough
فَأَضحَت بِهِ غَنّاءَ مَورِقَةَ العودِ
Through justice he restored to her her former days,
He restored her former glory through justice
and through him she became lush, her bough in leaf.
And her voice grew sweet as the lute.
فَعَبَّدَso he smoothed لِلمُستَرفِدينَfor seekers of largesse طَريقَهاher road
فَعَبَّدَ لِلمُستَرفِدينَ طَريقَها
وَوَطَّدَand he fortified مِنof أَكنافِهاher flanks أَيَّutmost تَوطيدِfirmness
وَوَطَّدَ مِن أَكنافِها أَيَّ تَوطيدِ
He smoothed her road for those seeking largesse,
He opened the roads for those seeking relief
and fortified her flanks with utmost firmness.
And strengthened her walls on every side,
وَرَدَّand he turned back لِحاظَthe glances of الدَهرِTime عَنهاfrom her كَليلَةًblunted
وَرَدَّ لِحاظَ الدَهرِ عَنها كَليلَةً
وَكانَتthough they had been لَهاfor her أَحداثُهُits calamities بِالمَراصيدِin ambush
وَكانَت لَها أَحداثُهُ بِالمَراصيدِ
He turned Time's glances away from her, blunted,
Saving her from the blows of fate.
though its calamities had lain in ambush for her.
Through him she foresaw whatever was to come.
عَلىdespite أَنَّهُthat he لَمnot يَعلُrose إِلّاexcept بِنَفسِهِby himself
عَلى أَنَّهُ لَم يَعلُ إِلّا بِنَفسِهِ
فَأَربىso he surpassed عَلىabove عَلياءِthe eminence of آبائِهِhis ancestors الصيدِthe lordly ones
فَأَربى عَلى عَلياءِ آبائِهِ الصيدِ
Yet he rose by his own merit alone,
Yet he relied not on others but on himself
surpassing the eminence of his lordly ancestors.
To raise his fathers' glory yet higher;
وَلَمand not يَقتَنِعhe was content مِنهُwith it بِماwith what شادَhad built قَومُهُhis people
وَلَم يَقتَنِع مِنهُ بِما شادَ قَومُهُ
وَماand what أَحكَموهُthey made firm مِنof بِناءٍbuilding وَتَشيِيدِand lofty construction
وَما أَحكَموهُ مِن بِناءٍ وَتَشيِيدِ
Nor, in this, was he content with what his people had erected,
Nor was he content to live as his people had,
and the buildings and lofty structures they had made secure.
Or build and manage as they did.
أَباO Abu الفَضلِal-Fadl ماnot مَأثورُthe renowned فَضلٍexcellence وَسُؤدَدِand nobility
أَبا الفَضلِ ما مَأثورُ فَضلٍ وَسُؤدَدِ
خُصِصتَyou were singled out بِهِwith it بَينَamong الأَنامِhumankind بِمَجحودِdenied
خُصِصتَ بِهِ بَينَ الأَنامِ بِمَجحودِ
O Abu al-Fadl, the renowned excellence and nobility
Abu'l Fadl, your excellence remains unmatched,
that distinguish you among mankind cannot be denied.
Your peerlessness acknowledged by all mankind.
عَتادُكَyour weaponry لِلأَعداءِagainst enemies كُلُّevery مُهَنَّدٍIndian-forged sword
عَتادُكَ لِلأَعداءِ كُلُّ مُهَنَّدٍ
وَمُطَّرِدٍand a straight spear لَدنِsupple of الأَنابيبِjoints أُملودِpliant
وَمُطَّرِدٍ لَدنِ الأَنابيبِ أُملودِ
Your arms against foes are every Indian-forged sword,
To your enemies you are death, irresistible,
and every straight spear with supple joints and a pliant shaft,
Pursuing them relentlessly, allowing no escape.
وَلاand [start of 'lean'] حِقَهُ[completion of 'lean'] الإِطلَينِin both flanks مِنfrom نَسلِthe offspring of أَعوَجٍA‘waj
وَلا حِقَهُ الإِطلَينِ مِن نَسلِ أَعوَجٍ
وَمُحكَمَةُand tightly wrought armor السَردَينِthe two chain-weaves مِنof نَسجِthe weaving of داوُودِDavid
وَمُحكَمَةُ السَردَينِ مِن نَسجِ داوُودِ
and a lean-flanked mare from A‘waj's progeny,
No tribe of misshapen outcasts can equal you
and armor of tightly wrought, double chainwork, woven by David.
Nor human artifacts match God's flawless design.
يِبيدُhe annihilates العِدىthe foes فيin كُلِّevery جَأواءَdark-armored فَيلَقٍgreat army
يِبيدُ العِدى في كُلِّ جَأواءَ فَيلَقٍ
وَيُجريand he makes flow النَدىgenerosity فيin كُلِّevery شَهباءَashen drought-year جارودِstripping all bare
وَيُجري النَدى في كُلِّ شَهباءَ جارودِ
He destroys the foes in every great, dark-armored host,
You destroy all hostile hosts,
and makes generosity flow in every ashen, ravaging drought.
And defeat each attacking army.
فَيَومِso many a day of سَماحٍgenerosity بِالنَدىwith bounty لَكَfor you شاهِدٍbearing witness
فَيَومِ سَماحٍ بِالنَدى لَكَ شاهِدٍ
وَيَومِand many a day of كِفاحٍcombat فيagainst العِدىthe foes لَكَfor you مَشهودِwitnessed
وَيَومِ كِفاحٍ في العِدى لَكَ مَشهودِ
Many a day of generosity bears witness to your bounty,
You are mild when peaceful, a gift of God,
and many a day of combat against foes is renowned as yours.
And fierce when warlike, leading the brave.
فَنَدعوكَso we call you يَومَon the day of السِلمِpeace ياواهِبَO giver of اللُهىrich gifts
فَنَدعوكَ يَومَ السِلمِ ياواهِبَ اللُهى
وَيَومَand on the day of الوَغىbattle ياقائِدَO leader of الضُمَّرِlean steeds القودِlong-necked
وَيَومَ الوَغى ياقائِدَ الضُمَّرِ القودِ
So in peace we call you: O giver of rich gifts!
So I string these feeble verses
And in battle: O leader of lean, long-necked steeds!
To make a necklace praising you alone
فَدونَكَso take مِنfrom رِقراقِthe rippling flow of شِعريmy poetry قَلائِداًnecklaces
فَدونَكَ مِن رِقراقِ شِعري قَلائِداً
مِنَof الحَمدِpraise لَمnot يُنظَمwere strung لِغَيرِكَfor anyone but you فيupon جيدِa neck
مِنَ الحَمدِ لَم يُنظَم لِغَيرِكَ في جيدِ
Take, then, from my rippling verse, necklaces
And tell of your magnificence, weakening not
of praise, never strung upon a neck for anyone but you.
In relating the noble deeds I have heard.
أَحاديثَtales of مَجدٍglory عَنof عُلاكَyour eminence رَوَيتُهاI related them
أَحاديثَ مَجدٍ عَن عُلاكَ رَوَيتُها
فَماand not ضَعُفَتgrew weak فيهِنَّin them طُرقُthe routes of أَسانيديmy chains of transmission
فَما ضَعُفَت فيهِنَّ طُرقُ أَسانيدي
Tales of glory I have related of your eminence,
My hesitant and stumbling words cannot capture
and none of my chains of transmission in them is weak.
The sublime beauty of your noble qualities.
كَرائِمُprecious verses لَمnot تُخلِقwear away نَضارَةَthe freshness of حُسنِهاtheir beauty
كَرائِمُ لَم تُخلِق نَضارَةَ حُسنِها
ضَراعَةُthe abasement of تِسآلٍbegging وَخَجلَةُand the shame of تَرديدِrepetition
ضَراعَةُ تِسآلٍ وَخَجلَةُ تَرديدِ
Precious verses whose beauty's freshness has not been worn away
I have compared you to none but yourself,
by abject begging or the shame of repeated pleas.
For none can equal your unmatched excellence.
عَدَلتُI turned away بِهاwith them عَمَّنfrom anyone سِواكَother than you وَلَمand not يَكُنthere was
عَدَلتُ بِها عَمَّن سِواكَ وَلَم يَكُن
سِوىother than جودِكَyour generosity المَأمولِhoped for كُفؤٌan equal لِتَجويديto my fine craftsmanship
سِوى جودِكَ المَأمولِ كُفؤٌ لِتَجويدي
I turned them from all but you, and nothing was
So spare no effort in your generosity,
equal to my fine craftsmanship but your hoped-for generosity.
For I have strained my utmost in praising you.
فَلاso do not تُبقِspare فيin الإِحسانِkindness جُهداًany effort فَإِنَّنيfor indeed I
فَلا تُبقِ في الإِحسانِ جُهداً فَإِنَّني
بَذَلتُكَI devoted to you فيin التَقريظِeulogy غايَةَthe utmost of مَجهوديmy effort
بَذَلتُكَ في التَقريظِ غايَةَ مَجهودي
Spare no effort in kindness, for I
Live on shedding luster on the nights
have offered you, in praise, the utmost of my effort.
In a glory and fame that will never fade,
وَعِشand live مُخلِقاًwearing out ثَوبَthe garment of اللَياليthe nights مُجَدِّداًrenewing
وَعِش مُخلِقاً ثَوبَ اللَيالي مُجَدِّداً
لِباسَthe robe of المَعاليnoble deeds فيin بَقاءٍendurance وَتَخليدِand immortality
لِباسَ المَعالي في بَقاءٍ وَتَخليدِ
Live on, wearing out the garment of the nights, renewing
Showing might beyond all reverse,
the robe of noble deeds in endurance and immortality,
Power unlimited by hostile forces.
مُظاهِرَclad in عِزٍّglory لاnot يَرِثُّgrows threadbare جَديدُهُits newness
مُظاهِرَ عِزٍّ لا يَرِثُّ جَديدُهُ
وَمُلكٍand dominion عَلىdespite رَغمِthe opposition of العِدىthe foes غَيرِnot مَحدودِlimited
وَمُلكٍ عَلى رَغمِ العِدى غَيرِ مَحدودِ
clothed in glory whose newness never grows threadbare,
and in dominion without limit, despite your foes.
Partial English translation: 90 of 92 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1