قَلبيmy heart فيin حُبِّكِlove for you مَعمودُstricken
قَلبي في حُبِّكِ مَعمودُ
وَحَظُّand the share عَينيof my eye مِنكِfrom you تَسهيدُsleeplessness
وَحَظُّ عَيني مِنكِ تَسهيدُ
My heart is stricken by love for you.
My heart is immersed in love for you
And my eye's share from you is sleeplessness.
And the delight of my eyes is in seeing you
ماwhy لِدُيونيfor my claims فيكَupon you مَمطولَةًdeferred
ما لِدُيوني فيكَ مَمطولَةً
أُقضىI am done for وَلاand not تُقضىare fulfilled المَواعيدُthe promises
أُقضى وَلا تُقضى المَواعيدُ
Why are my claims upon you deferred?
My debts to you have no end
I am done for, while the promises remain unfulfilled.
I pay them but the promises are never fulfilled
مَنهَلُa watering place وَصلٍof union أَناI عَنfrom وِردِهِdrinking from it
مَنهَلُ وَصلٍ أَنا عَن وِردِهِ
مُحَلَّأٌdriven from water دَهريall my life مَصدودُbarred
مُحَلَّأٌ دَهري مَصدودُ
A spring of union, from whose waters I
I am a spring of connection, denied of drinking
am driven away, barred all my life.
My lifetime has passed barred
ياعاذِليO my reproacher فيin الحُبِّlove وَالصَبُّand the lovelorn one لاnot
ياعاذِلي في الحُبِّ وَالصَبُّ لا
يَردَعُهُrestrains him لَومٌblame وَتَفنيدُand disparagement
يَردَعُهُ لَومٌ وَتَفنيدُ
O you who reproach my love—the lovelorn is not
O my reproacher in love and passion cannot
restrained by blame and disparagement.
Be curbed by blame or discouragement
حَرَّقَنيscorched me عَذلُكَyour reproach فيover شادِنٍa young gazelle
حَرَّقَني عَذلُكَ في شادِنٍ
بابُthe door سُلُوّيto my forgetting عَنهُof him مَسدودُshut
بابُ سُلُوّي عَنهُ مَسدودُ
Your reproach scorched me over a fawn;
Your rejection has burned me, while in love
the door to my forgetting him is shut.
The doors of my consolation are closed
أَغيَدَsupple يَقتادُleads زِماميmy reins لَهُhe has
أَغيَدَ يَقتادُ زِمامي لَهُ
قَدٌّa figure كَخوطِlike a branch البانِof the bān tree مَقدودُfashioned
قَدٌّ كَخوطِ البانِ مَقدودُ
A supple one who leads me by my reins; he has
An untamed camel takes away my reins
a figure fashioned like a bān tree's branch.
Its forelocks knotted like the plaited ropes
قَدindeed بَيَّضَتhave whitened قَلبيmy heart مِنthrough حُبِّهِlove for him
قَد بَيَّضَت قَلبي مِن حُبِّهِ
غَدائِرٌbraids مِنof شَعرِهِhis hair سودُblack
غَدائِرٌ مِن شَعرِهِ سودُ
Through love for him, my heart has been whitened
Your love has whitened my heart
by black braids of his hair.
With black braids of your hair
وَمِنand among أَعاجيبِthe wonders الهَوىof passion أَنَّهُthat he
وَمِن أَعاجيبِ الهَوى أَنَّهُ
يَطلُبُseeks قَتليmy killing وَهوَwhile he is مَودودُbeloved
يَطلُبُ قَتلي وَهوَ مَودودُ
And among the wonders of passion is that he
And of the wonders of love is that it
seeks my death while he is beloved.
Seeks to kill me though itself lives
وَلَيلَةٍand on a night باتَspent the night سَميريmy nighttime companion بِهاin it
وَلَيلَةٍ باتَ سَميري بِها
وَناظِريand my gaze بِالنَجمِupon the stars مَعقودُfixed
وَناظِري بِالنَجمِ مَعقودُ
And on a night he was my companion,
And a night when my companion was with me
my gaze was fixed upon the stars,
And my glances chained to the stars
يُديرُpasses around ليto me مِنfrom لَحظِهِhis glance أَكؤُساًcups
يُديرُ لي مِن لَحظِهِ أَكؤُساً
ماnot نَتَجَتهُنَّhad produced them العَناقيدُthe grape clusters
ما نَتَجَتهُنَّ العَناقيدُ
he passed me cups drawn from his glances
Your glances made me drink cups
that grape clusters had not produced,
That even grapes could not yield
حَتّىuntil اِنجَلىcleared away صِبغُthe dye الدُجىof darkness وَاِغتَدَتand became at dawn
حَتّى اِنجَلى صِبغُ الدُجى وَاِغتَدَت
كَأسُthe cup الثُرَيّاof the Pleiades وَهيَwhile it was عُنقودُa grape cluster
كَأسُ الثُرَيّا وَهيَ عُنقودُ
until the dye of darkness cleared, and dawn found
Until the darkness cleared, and the drink
the cup of the Pleiades a cluster of grapes.
Of grapes ripened on the vine glowed
وَناحَand wailed فيin البانِthe bān tree هَتوفٌa loud-calling bird لَهُit has
وَناحَ في البانِ هَتوفٌ لَهُ
عَلىupon فُروعِthe branches البانِof the bān tree تَغريدُbirdsong
عَلى فُروعِ البانِ تَغريدُ
And a loud-calling bird wailed in the bān tree, with
And the groves roared for it
song upon the bān tree's branches.
On the branches of the grove birds chirped
ماnot هاجَهُstirred it شَوقٌlonging وَلاnor عادَهُrevisited it
ما هاجَهُ شَوقٌ وَلا عادَهُ
مِنfrom ذِكرِremembering جيرانِthe neighbors الغَضاof the ghada trees عيدُa recurring pang
مِن ذِكرِ جيرانِ الغَضا عيدُ
No longing stirred it, nor did there return to it
It was stirred by no longing, nor did
a pang from recalling the neighbors by the ghada trees.
Any feast of neighbors return its memory
بَكىit wept وَلَمand did not يَدرِknow دُموعاًtears وَفيwhile in
بَكى وَلَم يَدرِ دُموعاً وَفي
خَدّيmy cheek مِنَfrom الدَمعَةِthe tear أُخدودُa furrow
خَدّي مِنَ الدَمعَةِ أُخدودُ
It wept, yet knew no tears, while
He cried but knew no tears, while in
a tear had furrowed my cheek.
My cheek tears had carved a channel
لاnot وَجدُهُits passion وَجديmy passion وَلاnor قَلبُهُits heart
لا وَجدُهُ وَجدي وَلا قَلبُهُ
مِثليlike me بِالأَشواقِwith longings مَعمودُstricken
مِثلي بِالأَشواقِ مَعمودُ
Its passion is not my passion, nor is its heart
He feels no passion like mine, nor is his
stricken with longings as I am.
Heart immersed in love like mine
هَبهُgrant it إَدَّعىclaimed الوَجدَpassion فَماthen why بالُهُits condition
هَبهُ إَدَّعى الوَجدَ فَما بالُهُ
يَندُبُlaments إِلفاa mate وَهوَwhile it is غِرّيدُa warbler
يَندُبُ إِلفا وَهوَ غِرّيدُ
Grant that it claimed passion; why then
I complained of passion, while he is
does it lament a mate while warbling?
Singing playfully and cheerfully
لِلَّهِto God be praise عَهدُthe time الوَصلِof union لَوif only أَنَّهُthat it
لِلَّهِ عَهدُ الوَصلِ لَو أَنَّهُ
دامَhad lasted وَأَيّامُand the days الهَوىof love العيدُfestive
دامَ وَأَيّامُ الهَوى العيدُ
God bless the time of union—if only it
By God, the promise of union, if only
had lasted—and the festive days of love!
It lasted and the days of love were festivals
هَيهاتَfar from it لاnot عَهدُthe time الصِبىof youth راجِعٌreturning
هَيهاتَ لا عَهدُ الصِبى راجِعٌ
وَلاnor زَمانُthe time الوَصلِof union مَردودُrestored
وَلا زَمانُ الوَصلِ مَردودُ
Alas, the days of youth will not return,
Alas no, the promise of the boy does not hold
nor can the time of union be restored.
And days of union are not returned
حَتّامَuntil when دَهريmy fate بِتَصاريفِهِwith its reversals
حَتّامَ دَهري بِتَصاريفِهِ
يَقصِدُنيtargets me وَالحُرُّand the noble man مَقصودُa target
يَقصِدُني وَالحُرُّ مَقصودُ
How long will my fate, with its reversals,
My lifetime plots against me while the free
target me? The noble man is a target.
Man is the plotter
عَطاؤُهُits bounty جَمٌّabundant فَماthen why بالُهُits condition
عَطاؤُهُ جَمٌّ فَما بالُهُ
عِنديwith me تَقليلٌstinting وَتَصريدُand scant giving
عِندي تَقليلٌ وَتَصريدُ
Its gifts are abundant; why, then,
His gift is bountiful, so why is he
do I meet only stinting and meager giving?
Measured and limited towards me?
كَأَنَّهُas though it أَقسَمَswore أَنthat لاnot يُرىbe seen
كَأَنَّهُ أَقسَمَ أَن لا يُرى
ذوa possessor of أَدَبlearning فيamong الناسِpeople مَجدودُfortunate
ذو أَدَب في الناسِ مَجدودُ
As though it swore that none should be seen
As if he swore no man of merit
among mankind both learned and fortunate.
Would be seen honored amongst people
وَلاand not أَرىI see الأَيّامَthe days مَذمومَةًblameworthy
وَلا أَرى الأَيّامَ مَذمومَةً
وَيوسُفُwhile Yusuf السُلطانُthe sultan مَحمودُpraiseworthy
وَيوسُفُ السُلطانُ مَحمودُ
And I do not regard the days as blameworthy,
I do not see the days as condemned
while Yusuf the sultan is praiseworthy.
When Joseph the Sultan is praised
المَلِكُthe king العادِلُthe just فيin حُكمِهِhis rule
المَلِكُ العادِلُ في حُكمِهِ
فَهوَso he is مِنَamong الأَملاكِthe angels مَعدودُcounted
فَهوَ مِنَ الأَملاكِ مَعدودُ
The king, just in his rule,
The just king in his rule
is therefore counted among the angels.
He is counted among the angels
وَكيفَand how نَخشىdo we fear جَورَthe injustice أَيّامِناof our days
وَكيفَ نَخشى جَورَ أَيّامِنا
فيin عَصرِهِhis age وَالجَورُwhile injustice مَفقودُis absent
في عَصرِهِ وَالجَورُ مَفقودُ
And how can we fear the tyranny of our days
Why should we fear the injustice of our time
in his age, when injustice is absent?
In his era when injustice is absent?
وَماand why لِآماليfor my hopes تَشكوcomplain of الظَماthirst
وَما لِآمالي تَشكو الظَما
وَبَحرُهُwhile his sea الزاخِرُsurging مَورودُis drawn from
وَبَحرُهُ الزاخِرُ مَورودُ
And why do my hopes complain of thirst,
What grieves my hopes of injustice
when his surging sea is there to be drawn from?
When his abundant sea is filled?
أَصبَحَhe became ظِلَّthe shadow اللَهِof God فيupon أَرضِهِHis earth
أَصبَحَ ظِلَّ اللَهِ في أَرضِهِ
فَهوَso he is عَلىover الأَفاقِthe horizons مَمدودُspread
فَهوَ عَلى الأَفاقِ مَمدودُ
He has become God's shadow upon His earth,
In His land God's shade emerged
and so is spread across the horizons.
It extends over the horizons
سَيفُthe sword أَميرَof the Commander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful الَّذيwhose
سَيفُ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ الَّذي
لِواؤُهُhis banner بِالنَصرِwith victory مَعقودُbound
لِواؤُهُ بِالنَصرِ مَعقودُ
The sword of the Commander of the Faithful, whose
The sword of the Commander of the Faithful whose
banner is bound to victory.
Banner is tied with victory
مَلَّكَهُhe gave him dominion over الدُنياthe world فَفيso in كَفِّهِhis palm
مَلَّكَهُ الدُنيا فَفي كَفِّهِ
نِيابَةًas deputy عَنهُon his behalf المَقاليدُthe keys of power
نِيابَةً عَنهُ المَقاليدُ
He gave him dominion over the world; in his hand
He owns the world so in his hand
lie the keys of power, on his behalf.
Is the succession, delegated to him
نِيابَةًa deputyship فيin راحَتَيهِhis two palms بِهاwith it
نِيابَةً في راحَتَيهِ بِها
عَهدٌa covenant مِنَfrom اللَهِGod وَتَقليدُand investiture
عَهدٌ مِنَ اللَهِ وَتَقليدُ
A deputyship in his two palms, carrying
A delegation during his comfort which
a covenant from God and an investiture.
Is a covenant from God and ordainment
تَكادُalmost أَنto تُعبَدَbe worshipped أَفعالُهُhis deeds
تَكادُ أَن تُعبَدَ أَفعالُهُ
لَوif كانَthere were فيin العالَمِthe world مَعبودُan object of worship
لَو كانَ في العالَمِ مَعبودُ
His deeds would all but be worshipped,
His actions nearly worshipped could be
were there an object of worship in the world.
If there was a worshipped one in the world
عَدلٌjustice وَجودٌand generosity وَكَذاand thus المُلكُkingship لاnot
عَدلٌ وَجودٌ وَكَذا المُلكُ لا
يُنميهِincreases it إِلّاexcept العَدلُjustice وَالجودُand generosity
يُنميهِ إِلّا العَدلُ وَالجودُ
Justice and generosity—thus kingship is not
None aspire to his rank, so apart
increased except by justice and generosity.
From him none are envied amongst men
لَهُhe has مِنَfrom اللَهِGod إِذاwhen ماever اِرتَأىhe forms a judgment
لَهُ مِنَ اللَهِ إِذا ما اِرتَأى
وَقالَand speaks تَوفيقٌsuccess وَتَسديدُand right guidance
وَقالَ تَوفيقٌ وَتَسديدُ
From God he has, whenever he forms a judgment
His abode is vast for visitors
and speaks, success and right guidance.
If he travels, the deserts confine him
تُمليdictate عَلَيهِto him الغَيبَthe unseen أَفكارُهُhis thoughts
تُملي عَلَيهِ الغَيبَ أَفكارُهُ
فَكُلُّهاso all of them وَحيٌrevelation وَتَأيِيدُand support
فَكُلُّها وَحيٌ وَتَأيِيدُ
His thoughts dictate the unseen to him;
His neighbor in residences is peaceful
all of them are revelation and support.
And well-mannered towards his neighbor
لاnot تَتَرَقّىascends نَحوَهُtoward him هِمَّةٌan aspiration
لا تَتَرَقّى نَحوَهُ هِمَّةٌ
فَغيرُهُso others than him فيamong الناسِpeople مَحسودُare envied
فَغيرُهُ في الناسِ مَحسودُ
No aspiration can ascend to him;
If his palm touched the lute
it is others among men who are envied.
It would bloom in his comfort
مَنزِلُهُhis dwelling رَحبٌspacious لِزُوّارِهِfor his visitors
مَنزِلُهُ رَحبٌ لِزُوّارِهِ
فَإِنbut if سَرىhe travels by night ضاقَتgrow narrow بِهِfor him البيدُthe deserts
فَإِن سَرى ضاقَت بِهِ البيدُ
His dwelling is spacious for his visitors;
When dawn clears the killer nights
but when he travels by night, the deserts are too narrow for him.
With its shooting star, Arcturus
وَالجارُand the neighbor فيin أَبياتِهِhis dwellings وادِعٌat ease
وَالجارُ في أَبياتِهِ وادِعٌ
وَهوَwhile he is بِرَعيِby caring for الجارِthe neighbor مَكدودُworn out
وَهوَ بِرَعيِ الجارِ مَكدودُ
And his neighbor rests at ease within his dwellings,
His shade in peace is soft
while he is worn out by caring for his neighbor.
And his rock in war firm
لَوif لَمَسَtouched العودَthe branch نَدىbounty كَفِّهِof his palm
لَو لَمَسَ العودَ نَدى كَفِّهِ
أَورَقَput forth leaves فيin راحَتِهِhis palm العودُthe branch
أَورَقَ في راحَتِهِ العودُ
If the bounty of his palm touched a branch,
He follows what his ancestors
the branch would put forth leaves within his palm.
Established, the praised Homs knights
القاتِلُthe slayer of المَحلَdrought إِذاwhen صَرَّحَتdeclared
القاتِلُ المَحلَ إِذا صَرَّحَت
بِجَدبِهاof its barrenness شَهباءُan ashen year جارودُstripping bare
بِجَدبِها شَهباءُ جارودُ
The slayer of drought, whenever
They carry spears in battles
an ashen, stripping year declares its barrenness.
For him the black lions of the forests
زُلالُهhis pure water فيin السِلمِpeace رَقراقَةٌrippling
زُلالُه في السِلمِ رَقراقَةٌ
وَصَخرُهُand his rock فيin الحَربِwar جُلمودُa solid boulder
وَصَخرُهُ في الحَربِ جُلمودُ
His pure water ripples in peace,
Intercede for him to the gazelles
and his rock in war is a solid boulder.
Not to the cheeks of the white virgins
يَتبَعُfollows ماwhat اِستَنَّestablished as a practice لَهُfor him فيin النَدىgenerosity
يَتبَعُ ما اِستَنَّ لَهُ في النَدى
آباؤُهُhis forefathers الحُمسُthe fierce الصَناديدُthe champions
آباؤُهُ الحُمسُ الصَناديدُ
In generosity he follows the course set for him by
His weapon for fear is the sword
his fierce forefathers, the champions.
Brown blades and mighty heroes
تَحمِلُbear آجامَthickets القَناof spears فيin الوَغىbattle
تَحمِلُ آجامَ القَنا في الوَغى
لَهُfor him أُسودُthe lions الغابَةِof the forest السودُblack
لَهُ أُسودُ الغابَةِ السودُ
In battle, thickets of spears are borne
The textures of weaving ordained
for him by the forest's black lions.
By David in ordering
يَشفَعُهُintercedes for him فيon صَفَحاتِthe faces الظُباof sword-blades
يَشفَعُهُ في صَفَحاتِ الظُبا
لاnot فيon خُدودِthe cheeks البيضِof fair women تَوريدُa rosy flush
لا في خُدودِ البيضِ تَوريدُ
What intercedes for him upon sword-blades,
The edges of sharpening clearly arranged
not on fair women's cheeks, is a rosy flush.
While their relatives are bursting flames
عَتادُهُhis equipment لِلرُعبِfor terror عَسّالَةٌswaying spears
عَتادُهُ لِلرُعبِ عَسّالَةٌ
سُمرٌtawny وَأَبطالٌand champions مَذاويدُstaunch defenders
سُمرٌ وَأَبطالٌ مَذاويدُ
His equipment for terror: swaying
When their doom approached them
tawny spears and champions, staunch defenders,
The headbands of the Turks, the thunderers
وَمُحكَماتُand firmly made النَسجِin weaving مَوضونَةٌclosely interlinked
وَمُحكَماتُ النَسجِ مَوضونَةٌ
قَدَّرَهاproportioned them فيin السَردِlinking the mail داوُودُDawud
قَدَّرَها في السَردِ داوُودُ
and firmly woven, closely interlinked mail,
All of them retreated humiliated
whose links Dawud proportioned in the weaving,
While dogs are shunned
وَمُرهَفاتُand finely sharpened swords الحَدِّat the edge مَطرورَةٌhoned
وَمُرهَفاتُ الحَدِّ مَطرورَةٌ
وَضُمَّرٌand lean steeds أَقرابُهاtheir flanks قودُlong
وَضُمَّرٌ أَقرابُها قودُ
and fine-edged, keenly honed swords,
So their torn corpses in the morning
and lean steeds with long flanks.
Feed the eagles and hunters
لَمّاwhen سَرَتmarched يَقدِمُهاleading them حَتفُهاtheir death
لَمّا سَرَت يَقدِمُها حَتفُها
عَصائِبُbands التُركِof Turks الرَعاديدُthe cowards
عَصائِبُ التُركِ الرَعاديدُ
When they marched, their death leading them—
Their armies defeated by fear
the cowardly bands of Turks—
And their crops harvested by the sword
وَلّىturned back عَلىupon أَعقابِهاtheir heels كُلُّهاall of them
وَلّى عَلى أَعقابِها كُلُّها
طَريدَةًhunted quarry وَالكَلبُand the dog مَطرودُdriven off
طَريدَةً وَالكَلبُ مَطرودُ
they all turned back upon their heels,
The jihad of one whose day
hunted quarry, and the dog driven off.
Was never devoid of the struggle for God’s religion
فَأَصبَحَتso by morning lay بِالدَوِّin the wilderness أَشلاؤُهُمtheir torn limbs
فَأَصبَحَت بِالدَوِّ أَشلاؤُهُم
يَشبَعُeats its fill مِنهاof them النَسرُthe vulture وَالسيدُand the wolf
يَشبَعُ مِنها النَسرُ وَالسيدُ
By morning their torn limbs lay in the wilderness;
And whom the centuries left of them
the vulture and the wolf eat their fill of them.
In prison, shackled and chained
جُيوشُهُمtheir armies بِالرُعبِby terror مَفلولَةٌshattered
جُيوشُهُم بِالرُعبِ مَفلولَةٌ
وَزَرعُهُمand their crop بِالسَيفِby the sword مَحصودُreaped
وَزَرعُهُم بِالسَيفِ مَحصودُ
Their armies are shattered by terror,
So receive tidings of imminent victory, its day
and their crop is reaped by the sword.
Witnessed in the enemies
جِهادَthe striving of مَنone who لَمnot يَبقَremained يَوماًfor a day لَهُfor him
جِهادَ مَن لَم يَبقَ يَوماً لَهُ
فيin نَصرِaiding دينِthe faith اللَهِof God مَجهودُeffort
في نَصرِ دينِ اللَهِ مَجهودُ
The struggle of one who never left, on any day,
And listen, Virgin of the Supreme House
any effort unspent in aiding God's faith.
To the like of it glory is immersed
وَمَنand whoever تَبَقّاهُspared him الرَدىdeath مِنهُمamong them
وَمَن تَبَقّاهُ الرَدى مِنهُم
فيin الأَسرِcaptivity مَكبوكٌcast down وَمَصفودُand shackled
في الأَسرِ مَكبوكٌ وَمَصفودُ
Those among them whom death spared
Gifts perish, but for its eulogized one
lie cast down and shackled in captivity.
Reconstruction and eternity amongst people
فَاِبشِرso rejoice بِنَصرٍin victory عاجِلٍswift يَومُهُits day
فَاِبشِر بِنَصرٍ عاجِلٍ يَومُهُ
بِالنَصرِwith triumph فيover الأَعداءِthe enemies مَشهودُwitnessed
بِالنَصرِ في الأَعداءِ مَشهودُ
Rejoice, then, in swift victory, whose day
It makes the clothes of nights, and in
is marked by triumph over the enemy.
Reminding of it, renewal
وَاِنصِتand listen لَهاto her عَذراءَa virgin بَيتُthe house العُلىof eminence
وَاِنصِت لَها عَذراءَ بَيتُ العُلى
بِمِثلِهاby her like وَالفَخرِand glory مَعمودُsupported
بِمِثلِها وَالفَخرِ مَعمودُ
And listen to her, a virgin poem: the house of eminence
Like aloes, a taste in the flavor of foes
and glory is upheld by the likes of her.
And honey in the mouths of nobles
تَفنىperish العَطاياthe gifts وَلِمَمدوحِهاand for the man she praises
تَفنى العَطايا وَلِمَمدوحِها
فيamong الناسِpeople تَعميرٌlong life وَتَخليدُand immortality
في الناسِ تَعميرٌ وَتَخليدُ
Gifts perish, but for the man she praises
It was not contaminated by asking, nor
there is long life and immortality among men.
Did greed or hesitation create it
يُخلِقُhe wears out أَثوابَthe garments اللَياليof the nights وَفيand in
يُخلِقُ أَثوابَ اللَيالي وَفي
بَقائِهاher survival لِلذِكرِfor remembrance تَجديدُrenewal
بَقائِها لِلذِكرِ تَجديدُ
He wears out the garments of the nights, while
The two learned are pleased with reciting it
her enduring renews his remembrance.
And in you is some of the words of God’s oneness
كَالصابِlike spurge طَعماًin taste فيin مَذاقِthe taste العِدىof the enemies
كَالصابِ طَعماً في مَذاقِ العِدى
وَفيand in فَمِthe mouth العَلياءِof eminence قَنديدُsweet wine
وَفي فَمِ العَلياءِ قَنديدُ
Bitter as spurge to the enemies' taste,
Stallions, which were not cheapened
and sweet wine in the mouth of eminence.
Nor worn out like an overused camel
لَمnot تَتَدَنَّسwas sullied بِسُؤالٍby begging وَلاnor
لَم تَتَدَنَّس بِسُؤالٍ وَلا
أَخلَقَهاwore her out كَرُّrepetition وَتَرديدُand reiteration
أَخلَقَها كَرُّ وَتَرديدُ
She has not been sullied by begging, nor
If fortune missed me, it did not miss
worn out by repetition and reiteration.
Favor and excellence from them
تَرضىare pleased الحَفيظانِthe two guardian angels بِإِنشادِهاby her recitation
تَرضى الحَفيظانِ بِإِنشادِها
وَفيكَand about you بَعضُsome القَولِspeech تَوحيدُaffirmation of God's oneness
وَفيكَ بَعضُ القَولِ تَوحيدُ
The two guardian angels are pleased by her recitation,
I recited it in you, to the glorious one
and some words about you proclaim God's oneness.
Through the like of it, lineages are transmitted
عَقائِلٌnoble ladies مِنهاamong them الحَصانُthe chaste woman الَّتيwho
عَقائِلٌ مِنها الحَصانُ الَّتي
لَمnot تُبتَذَلwas cheapened وَالكاعِبُand the budding-breasted maiden الرودُtender
لَم تُبتَذَل وَالكاعِبُ الرودُ
Noble ladies: among them the chaste woman who
A young man whom goodness became innate
has not been cheapened, and the tender, budding-breasted maiden.
And benevolence inborn in man
إِنif فاتَنيeluded me الحَظُّgood fortune فَماthen not فاتَنيeluded me
إِن فاتَني الحَظُّ فَما فاتَني
فيهِنَّin them إِحسانٌexcellence وَتَجويدُand fine craftsmanship
فيهِنَّ إِحسانٌ وَتَجويدُ
If fortune has eluded me, I have not been denied
Your prosperity appears on his face
excellence and fine craftsmanship in them.
While the fortunate man is fortunate
أَنشَدتُهاI recited her فيكَin your praise إِلىto ماجِدٍa noble man
أَنشَدتُها فيكَ إِلى ماجِدٍ
عَنfrom مِثلِهِone like him تُروىare narrated الأَسانيدُchains of transmission
عَن مِثلِهِ تُروى الأَسانيدُ
I recited her, in your praise, to a noble man,
Though from him I learned tenacity
from whose like chains of transmission are narrated.
No wood hardened in the non-Arabs like his
فَتىًa young man غَداbecame الإِحسانُbeneficence طَبعاًa disposition لَهُfor him
فَتىً غَدا الإِحسانُ طَبعاً لَهُ
وَالخَيرُand goodness فيin الإِنسانِa human being مَولودُinborn
وَالخَيرُ في الإِنسانِ مَولودُ
A young man for whom beneficence has become instinct,
He took up the matter learned, and indeed
and goodness in man is inborn.
The mighty champions took it up
يَلوحُshines إِقبالُكَyour favor فيin وَجهِهِhis face
يَلوحُ إِقبالُكَ في وَجهِهِ
وَالرَجُلُand the man المَسعودُfortunate مَسعودُMas'ud
وَالرَجُلُ المَسعودُ مَسعودُ
Your favor shines in his face,
He has loyalty planted from early on
and the fortunate man is Mas'ud.
By your fathers, O hunters
عَجَمتُI tested مِنamong آرائِهِhis judgments صُلَّباًfirm ones
عَجَمتُ مِن آرائِهِ صُلَّباً
ماnot خارَweakened فيin العَجَمِthe testing لَهُbelonging to him عودُa rod
ما خارَ في العَجَمِ لَهُ عودُ
I put the firmest of his judgments to the test;
His feet were created loving you
not one rod of his weakened in the testing.
He has manners and traits
فَقامَso he rose بِالأَمرِto the task ضَليعاًfully capable وَقَدand already
فَقامَ بِالأَمرِ ضَليعاً وَقَد
قامَتhad risen بِهِto it البُزلُthe mature camels الجَلاعيدُthe sturdy ones
قامَت بِهِ البُزلُ الجَلاعيدُ
He rose to the task, fully capable, and
The kingdom has in their management a pillar
sturdy, mature camels had already borne it.
Sufficient, and for the state, foundation
لَهُhe has وَلاءٌallegiance غَرَسَتهُplanted it لَدىamong
لَهُ وَلاءٌ غَرَسَتهُ لَدى
آبائِهِhis forefathers آباؤُكَyour forefathers الصيدُthe majestic
آبائِهِ آباؤُكَ الصيدُ
His allegiance was planted among
his forefathers by your majestic forefathers.
قَدindeed جُبِلَتwere molded قِدَماًlong ago عَلىupon حُبِّكُمlove for you
قَد جُبِلَت قِدَماً عَلى حُبِّكُم
لَهُhis طِباعٌdispositions وَمَواليدُand offspring
لَهُ طِباعٌ وَمَواليدُ
Long ago, in love for you were shaped
his dispositions and offspring.
لِلمُلكِfor kingship مِنfrom تَدبيرِهِمtheir governance عَضُدٌa supporting arm
لِلمُلكِ مِن تَدبيرِهِم عَضُدٌ
كافٍsufficient وَلِلدَولَةِand for the state تَمهيدُa firm foundation
كافٍ وَلِلدَولَةِ تَمهيدُ
For kingship, their governance is a supporting arm
that suffices, and for the state a firm foundation.
Partial English translation: 130 of 136 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1