عَصرُthe age of الشَبابِyouth تَصَرَّمَتhave elapsed أَوقاتُهُits times
عَصرُ الشَبابِ تَصَرَّمَت أَوقاتُهُ
وَتَبَسَّمَتand smiled عَنrevealing فَجرِهاtheir dawn لَيلاتُهُits nights
وَتَبَسَّمَت عَن فَجرِها لَيلاتُهُ
The age of youth—its hours have slipped away,
and its nights have smiled to reveal their dawn.
أَورىkindled fire بِجِدَّتِهِin its freshness المَشيبُgray hair فَأَخلَقَتso became threadbare
أَورى بِجِدَّتِهِ المَشيبُ فَأَخلَقَت
أَثوابُهُits garments وَاِستُرجِعَتand were reclaimed عاراتُهُits borrowed things
أَثوابُهُ وَاِستُرجِعَت عاراتُهُ
Gray hair set its freshness ablaze, and threadbare grew
its garments, while its borrowed finery was reclaimed.
كانَwas الشَفيعَthe intercessor إِلىwith الحِسانِbeautiful women فَمُذso since مَضىit passed
كانَ الشَفيعَ إِلى الحِسانِ فَمُذ مَضى
أَمسَتcame to be تُعَدُّcounted مَساوِياًfaults حَسَناتُهُits virtues
أَمسَت تُعَدُّ مَساوِياً حَسَناتُهُ
Youth was my intercessor with beautiful women; since it passed,
its virtues have come to be counted as faults.
وَالشَيبُand gray hair لاnot يُغضىis pardoned لَهُfor it عَنfor هَفوَةٍa lapse
وَالشَيبُ لا يُغضى لَهُ عَن هَفوَةٍ
وَأَخوand the companion of الصِبىyouth مَغفورَةٌforgiven زَلّاتُهُhis slips
وَأَخو الصِبى مَغفورَةٌ زَلّاتُهُ
Gray hair is forgiven no lapse,
while the companion of youth has his slips forgiven.
وَلَقَدand indeed عَلَوتُI mounted سَراةَthe back of أَشهَبَa gray steed تُجتَوىare detested
وَلَقَد عَلَوتُ سَراةَ أَشهَبَ تُجتَوى
وَتُعافُand are shunned عِندَamong الغانِياتِbeautiful women شِياتُهُits markings
وَتُعافُ عِندَ الغانِياتِ شِياتُهُ
Indeed, I have mounted the back of a gray steed whose markings
are loathed and shunned by beautiful women.
وَمِنَand among العَجائِبِthe wonders أَنَّهُنَّthat they أَخَذنَنيheld me answerable
وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ أَنَّهُنَّ أَخَذنَني
بِذُنوبِهِfor its sins ظُلماًunjustly وَهُنَّwhile they جُناتُهُits perpetrators
بِذُنوبِهِ ظُلماً وَهُنَّ جُناتُهُ
Strangely, they have held me answerable
for its sins unjustly, though they themselves committed them.
لاmay not يَبعَدَنbe far away زَمَنُthe time of الشَبيبَةِyouth وَالهَوىand love
لا يَبعَدَن زَمَنُ الشَبيبَةِ وَالهَوى
مِنwhat a ذاهِبٍdeparted thing بَقِيَتremained لَناfor us تَبِعاتُهُits consequences
مِن ذاهِبٍ بَقِيَت لَنا تَبِعاتُهُ
May the time of youth and love never be far away—
a departed time whose burdens remain with us!
زَمَنٌa time خَلَتhave passed أَيّامُهُits days وَعُهودُهُand its pledges
زَمَنٌ خَلَت أَيّامُهُ وَعُهودُهُ
وَتَنَكَّرَتand became strangers أَترابُهُits peers وَلِداتُهُand its age-mates
وَتَنَكَّرَت أَترابُهُ وَلِداتُهُ
A time whose days and pledges have passed,
whose companions and age-mates have become strangers.
وَأَغَنَّand many a soft-voiced beloved مَجدولِslender القَوامِof stature يَهُزُّهُsways him
وَأَغَنَّ مَجدولِ القَوامِ يَهُزُّهُ
سَكَرُthe intoxication of الصِبىyouth وَتُميلُهُand bends him نَشَواتُهُits raptures
سَكَرُ الصِبى وَتُميلُهُ نَشَواتُهُ
And many a soft-voiced, slender-formed beloved, swayed by
youth's intoxication and bent by its raptures.
مِنbefore دونِthe approach to مَنهَلِthe watering-place of ثَغرِهِhis mouth مَطرورَةٌa sharpened spear
مِن دونِ مَنهَلِ ثَغرِهِ مَطرورَةٌ
مِنfrom طَرفِهِhis glance تُحمىare guarded بِهاwith it رَشَفاتُهُits draughts
مِن طَرفِهِ تُحمى بِها رَشَفاتُهُ
Before the watering-place of his mouth stands a sharpened spear
from his glance, guarding its draughts.
يَلويhe postpones مَواعيدَpromises of الوِصالِunion فَماso why لَهُfor him
يَلوي مَواعيدَ الوِصالِ فَما لَهُ
صَحَّتproved true وَقَدwhen وَعَدَhe promised الجَفاءَestrangement عِداتُهُhis promises
صَحَّت وَقَد وَعَدَ الجَفاءَ عِداتُهُ
He delays his promises of union; why, then,
have his promises proved true when he promised estrangement?
إِنif أَنكَرَتdeny أَجفانُهُhis eyelids يَومَthe day of النَوىdeparture
إِن أَنكَرَت أَجفانُهُ يَومَ النَوى
قَتليmy murder فَقَدthen indeed شَهِدَتhave testified بِهِto it وَجَناتُهُhis cheeks
قَتلي فَقَد شَهِدَت بِهِ وَجَناتُهُ
If his eyelids deny, on the day of departure,
my murder, his cheeks have borne witness to it.
قالواthey said غَزالُa gazelle of نَقاًa sand dune وَخوطُand a shoot of أَراكَةٍan arak tree
قالوا غَزالُ نَقاً وَخوطُ أَراكَةٍ
ظَلَموهُthey wronged him أَينَwhere صِفاتُهاtheir qualities وَصِفاتُهُand his qualities
ظَلَموهُ أَينَ صِفاتُها وَصِفاتُهُ
They called him a dune gazelle and a shoot of the arak tree.
They wronged him: how can their qualities compare with his?
هَلdoes لِلغَزالِthe gazelle possess إِذاwhen رَناit gazes أَلحاظُهُhis glances
هَل لِلغَزالِ إِذا رَنا أَلحاظُهُ
أَوor لِلقَضيبِdoes the branch possess إِذاwhen اِنثَنىit bends خَطَراتُهُhis graceful sways
أَو لِلقَضيبِ إِذا اِنثَنى خَطَراتُهُ
Does the gazelle, when it gazes, possess his glances?
Or the branch, when it bends, his graceful sways?
عاطَيتُهُI exchanged cups with him كَرُضابِهِlike his mouth's nectar مَشمولَةًnorth-wind-cooled wine
عاطَيتُهُ كَرُضابِهِ مَشمولَةً
طافَتpassed around عَليَّto me بِمِثلِهاwith its like لَحَظاتُهُhis glances
طافَت عَليَّ بِمِثلِها لَحَظاتُهُ
I exchanged cups with him of north-wind-cooled wine, like his mouth's nectar;
his glances passed its like around to me.
فيon لَيلَةٍa night أَذكَتkindled عُيونَthe eyes of نُجونِهاits stars (apparent typo)
في لَيلَةٍ أَذكَت عُيونَ نُجونِها
فَكَأَنَّهاas though they رُقَباؤُهُhis watchers وَوَشاتُهُand his informers
فَكَأَنَّها رُقَباؤُهُ وَوَشاتُهُ
On a night that kindled the eyes of its stars,
as though they were his watchers and informers,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اِبتَسَمَsmiled الصَباحُmorning وَدَوَّمَتand circled aloft
حَتّى إِذا اِبتَسَمَ الصَباحُ وَدَوَّمَت
مِنfrom حَولِaround غِربانِthe ravens of الظَلامِdarkness بُزاتُهُits falcons
مِن حَولِ غِربانِ الظَلامِ بُزاتُهُ
until morning smiled and its falcons circled
around the ravens of darkness.
وَدَعَتand called بِحَيَّwith 'come!' عَلىto الفَلاحِsalvation فَخِلتُهاso I thought them
وَدَعَت بِحَيَّ عَلى الفَلاحِ فَخِلتُها
تَدعوcalling لِحَيَّfor 'come!' عَلىto الفِراقِseparation دُعاتُهُits callers
تَدعو لِحَيَّ عَلى الفِراقِ دُعاتُهُ
When the cry arose, 'Come to salvation,' I thought
its callers were calling, 'Come to separation.'
قَبَّلتُI kissed مَبسِمَهُhis smiling mouth بِدَمعيwith my tears فَاِلتَقىso mingled
قَبَّلتُ مَبسِمَهُ بِدَمعي فَاِلتَقى
عِندَat الوَداعِfarewell أُجاجُهُits bitter salt water وَفُراتُهُand its sweet water
عِندَ الوَداعِ أُجاجُهُ وَفُراتُهُ
I kissed his smiling mouth with my tears, and there mingled
at farewell its bitter salt water and its sweetness.
إِنif أَرقَصَmakes dance البَينُseparation المُشِتُّscattering رِكابَthe mounts of مَنthe one
إِن أَرقَصَ البَينُ المُشِتُّ رِكابَ مَن
أَهوىI love وَغَنَّتand sing لِلفِراقِof parting حُداتُهُhis camel-drivers
أَهوى وَغَنَّت لِلفِراقِ حُداتُهُ
If scattering separation makes the mounts of the one
I love dance, and his camel-drivers sing of parting,
فَلَيَسقِيَنَّthen shall surely water الرَبعَthe encampment سَحُّthe torrent of مَدامِعيmy tears
فَلَيَسقِيَنَّ الرَبعَ سَحُّ مَدامِعي
حَتّىuntil تَغُصَّchoke بِمائِهاwith their water عَرَصاتُهُits courts
حَتّى تَغُصَّ بِمائِها عَرَصاتُهُ
then the torrent of my tears shall surely water the encampment
until its courts choke upon their water.
ياO مَوقِفاًhalting-place بِالبانِat al-Ban لَمnot تُثمِرbore fruit لَناfor us
يا مَوقِفاً بِالبانِ لَم تُثمِر لَنا
غَيرَother than الصَبابَةِlonging وَالأَسىand sorrow شَجَراتُهُits trees
غَيرَ الصَبابَةِ وَالأَسى شَجَراتُهُ
O halting-place at al-Ban, whose trees bore us
nothing but longing and sorrow!
لَمّاwhen وَقَفناهُwe halted at it نُطارِحُwe exchanged with سُمرَهُits acacias
لَمّا وَقَفناهُ نُطارِحُ سُمرَهُ
بَثَّthe outpouring of الجَوىburning grief وَتُظِلُّناwhile shading us سَمُراتُهُits acacia trees
بَثَّ الجَوى وَتُظِلُّنا سَمُراتُهُ
When we stopped there, exchanging with its acacias
our tale of burning grief, while its trees shaded us.
فَتَبَيَّناthen discern, you two ليfor me رَسمَthe traces of دارٍa dwelling ماnot عَفاhas faded
فَتَبَيَّنا لي رَسمَ دارٍ ما عَفا
وَجديmy longing عَليهِfor it وَقَدalthough عَفَتhave faded آياتُهُits landmarks
وَجدي عَليهِ وَقَد عَفَت آياتُهُ
Discern for me, you two, the traces of a dwelling; unfaded is
my longing for it, though its landmarks have faded.
هَلhave نُفِّرَتbeen driven away لاmay not نُفِّرَتbe driven away غِزلانُهُits gazelles
هَل نُفِّرَت لا نُفِّرَت غِزلانُهُ
أَوor صَوَّحَتhave withered لاmay not صَوَّحَتwither باناتُهُits ban trees
أَو صَوَّحَت لا صَوَّحَت باناتُهُ
Have its gazelles been driven away? May they never be driven away!
Or have its ban trees withered? May they never wither!
عَهديmy recollection بِهِof it يَلويdefer الدُيونَthe debts قُضاتُهُits debt-payers
عَهدي بِهِ يَلوي الدُيونَ قُضاتُهُ
وَتَصيدُand hunt أَلبابَthe hearts of الرِجالِmen مَهاتُهُits oryx-maidens
وَتَصيدُ أَلبابَ الرِجالِ مَهاتُهُ
I knew it when its debt-payers put off payment,
and its oryx-maidens hunted men's hearts.
فَاليَومَbut today لاnot جيرانُهُits neighbors جيرانُهits neighbors
فَاليَومَ لا جيرانُهُ جيرانُه
قِدماًof old وَلاnor فَتَياتُهُits young women فَتَياتُهُits young women
قِدماً وَلا فَتَياتُهُ فَتَياتُهُ
But today its neighbors are not its neighbors
of old, nor its young women the same young women.
ياحادِيَO driver of الأَظعانِthe departing caravans فيin آثارِكُمyour wake
ياحادِيَ الأَظعانِ في آثارِكُم
قَلبٌa heart تُقَطِّعُهُtear it apart جَوىًwith burning grief حَسَراتُهُits regrets
قَلبٌ تُقَطِّعُهُ جَوىً حَسَراتُهُ
O driver of the departing caravans, in your wake
is a heart whose regrets tear it apart with burning grief.
وَلَقَدand indeed يُرىis deemed بيتُthe dwelling of الحَصاةِsound judgment فَماso what لَهُails it
وَلَقَد يُرى بيتُ الحَصاةِ فَما لَهُ
أَمسَتhas begun تَذوبُto melt عَلىbecause of البِعادِseparation حَصاتُهُits judgment
أَمسَت تَذوبُ عَلى البِعادِ حَصاتُهُ
It was deemed the dwelling of sound judgment; why, then,
has its judgment begun to melt at separation?
وَمُتَيَّمٍand many a love-enslaved man كَتَمَconcealed الهَوىpassion عَنfrom صَحبِهِhis companions
وَمُتَيَّمٍ كَتَمَ الهَوى عَن صَحبِهِ
فَوَشَتbut betrayed بِسِرِّthe secret of ضُلوعِهِhis ribs زَفَراتُهُhis sighs
فَوَشَت بِسِرِّ ضُلوعِهِ زَفَراتُهُ
And many a love-enslaved man concealed his passion from his friends,
but his sighs betrayed the secret within his ribs.
صَبٌّa passionate lover إِذاwhen ذُكِرَis mentioned الفِراقُseparation تَصاعَدَتrise upward
صَبٌّ إِذا ذُكِرَ الفِراقُ تَصاعَدَت
أَنفاسُهُhis breaths وَتَحادَرَتand stream downward عَبَراتُهُhis tears
أَنفاسُهُ وَتَحادَرَت عَبَراتُهُ
A passionate lover: whenever separation is mentioned, upward rise
his breaths, and downward stream his tears.
وَمِنَand among العَجائِبِthe wonders أَنَّthat أَنوابَthe fangs of الصِبىyouth
وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ أَنَّ أَنوابَ الصِبى
بَلِيَتwore out فَزادَتyet increased جِدَّةًin freshness صَبَواتُهُhis youthful passions
بَلِيَت فَزادَت جِدَّةً صَبَواتُهُ
Strangely, the fangs of youth
wore out, yet his youthful passions grew fresher.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَعادَrestored لَهُto him الشَبابَyouth قَشيبَةًfreshly woven
وَلَقَد أَعادَ لَهُ الشَبابَ قَشيبَةً
أَبرادُهُits mantles مَوشيَّةًembroidered حَبِراتُهُits striped robes
أَبرادُهُ مَوشيَّةً حَبِراتُهُ
And youth was indeed restored to him, with freshly woven
mantles and embroidered striped robes,
بَذلُthe giving of الخَليفَةِthe caliph لِلنَوالِof bounty وَعَطفُهُand his kindness
بَذلُ الخَليفَةِ لِلنَوالِ وَعَطفُهُ
وَحُنُوُهُand his tenderness مُتَتابِعاًin succession وَصِلاتُهُand his gifts
وَحُنُوُهُ مُتَتابِعاً وَصِلاتُهُ
by the caliph's liberal giving and his kindness,
his tenderness and his gifts in succession.
فَسَلاso he found solace وَلَولاand but for ماwhat تَغَمَّدَهُhe enfolded him بِهِwith
فَسَلا وَلَولا ما تَغَمَّدَهُ بِهِ
مِنof رَأفَةٍcompassion لَتَعَذَّرَتwould have been impossible مَسلاتُهُhis consolation
مِن رَأفَةٍ لَتَعَذَّرَت مَسلاتُهُ
So he found solace; but for what enfolded him
of mercy, consolation would have been impossible,
وَإِقالَةٍand the pardoning of عَثَراتِthe stumbles of دَهرٍtime لَمnot تَكُنcould
وَإِقالَةٍ عَثَراتِ دَهرٍ لَم تَكُن
لِتُقالَbe pardoned إِلّاexcept عِندَهُin his presence عَثَراتُهُits stumbles
لِتُقالَ إِلّا عِندَهُ عَثَراتُهُ
and the pardoning of time's stumbles, which could not
be pardoned except in his presence.
فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though عادَتreturned لَهُto him مُبيَضَّةًwhitened
فَكَأَنَّما عادَت لَهُ مُبيَضَّةً
أَيّامَهُhis days مُسوَدَّةًblackened شَعَراتُهُhis hairs
أَيّامَهُ مُسوَدَّةً شَعَراتُهُ
It was as though there had returned to him, shining white,
his days, and, jet-black, his hairs.
بِيَديat the hands of أَبيAbu العَباسِal-Abbas أَورَقَput forth leaves عودُهُhis branch
بِيَدي أَبي العَباسِ أَورَقَ عودُهُ
فَحَلاso grew sweet جَناهُits harvest وَأَينَعَتand ripened ثَمَراتُهُits fruits
فَحَلا جَناهُ وَأَينَعَت ثَمَراتُهُ
At Abu al-Abbas's hands his branch put forth leaves;
its harvest grew sweet and its fruits ripened.
الناصِرِal-Nasir اِبنِson of المُستَضيءِal-Mustadi وَمَنand the one بِهِthrough whom
الناصِرِ اِبنِ المُستَضيءِ وَمَن بِهِ
بُعِثَwas resurrected السَماحُgenerosity وَأُنشِرَتand were restored to life أَمواتُهُits dead
بُعِثَ السَماحُ وَأُنشِرَت أَمواتُهُ
Al-Nasir, son of al-Mustadi, through whom
generosity was resurrected and its dead restored to life.
طَلقُradiant المُحَيّاof face ماnever أَماطَlifted لِثامَهُhis veil
طَلقُ المُحَيّا ما أَماطَ لِثامَهُ
فيin مَأزِقٍbattle's press إِلّاwithout اِنجَلَتclearing هَبَواتُهُits dust clouds
في مَأزِقٍ إِلّا اِنجَلَت هَبَواتُهُ
Radiant of face, he never lifts his veil
in battle's press without its dust clearing.
مُرَديfeller of الكُماةِarmored warriors وَعاقِرُand slaughterer of الكَوماءِthe high-humped she-camel ماnever
مُرَدي الكُماةِ وَعاقِرُ الكَوماءِ ما
تَنفَكُّcease تَقطُرُdripping مِنwith دَمٍblood شَفَراتُهُhis blades
تَنفَكُّ تَقطُرُ مِن دَمٍ شَفَراتُهُ
Feller of armored warriors, slaughterer of high-humped she-camels, never
do his blades cease dripping blood.
مَلِكٌa king تُذِلُّhumble الأُسدَlions فيin غاباتِهاtheir thickets
مَلِكٌ تُذِلُّ الأُسدَ في غاباتِها
وَالبيضَand bright swords فيin أَغمادِهاtheir scabbards سَطواتُهُhis assaults
وَالبيضَ في أَغمادِها سَطواتُهُ
A king whose assaults humble lions in their thickets
and bright swords within their scabbards.
أَلِفَتhave grown familiar with صَواهِلُهُhis neighing horses القَناlances فَكَأَنَّماas though
أَلِفَت صَواهِلُهُ القَنا فَكَأَنَّما
نَبَتَتsprouted عَلىupon أَعرافِهاtheir manes أَسلاتُهُtheir spearpoints
نَبَتَت عَلى أَعرافِها أَسلاتُهُ
His neighing horses have grown so familiar with lances, it is as though
their points had sprouted upon their manes.
أَسَدٌa lion إِذاwhen بَعُدَتis distant عَليهِfrom him فَريسَةٌprey
أَسَدٌ إِذا بَعُدَت عَليهِ فَريسَةٌ
ضَمِنَتguarantee لَهُfor him إِدنائَهاbringing it near وَثَباتُهُhis leaps
ضَمِنَت لَهُ إِدنائَها وَثَباتُهُ
A lion: when prey lies far beyond his reach,
his leaps guarantee to bring it near.
وَإِذاand when شَكَتcomplain of قَصراًshortness مُتونُthe blades of سُيوفِهِhis swords
وَإِذا شَكَت قَصراً مُتونُ سُيوفِهِ
كَفِلَتundertake بِأَنthat سَتُطيلُهاthey will lengthen them خَطَواتُهُhis strides
كَفِلَت بِأَن سَتُطيلُها خَطَواتُهُ
When the blades of his swords complain of shortness,
his strides undertake to lengthen them.
مَحمودَةٌpraiseworthy يَومَon the day of النَدىgenerosity آثارُهُhis deeds
مَحمودَةٌ يَومَ النَدى آثارُهُ
مَعروفَةٌwell known يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle كَرّاتُهُhis charges
مَعروفَةٌ يَومَ الوَغى كَرّاتُهُ
Praiseworthy on the day of generosity are his deeds;
well known on the day of battle are his charges.
يَرعىtends المَمالِكَthe realms مِنهُwithin him قَلبٌa heart أَصمَعٌresolute
يَرعى المَمالِكَ مِنهُ قَلبٌ أَصمَعٌ
تُمسيremain مُوَكَّلَةًentrusted بِهاwith them عَزَماتُهُhis resolves
تُمسي مُوَكَّلَةً بِها عَزَماتُهُ
A resolute heart within him tends the realms;
his resolves stand guard over them.
فَلِمُلكِهِso for his kingdom رَأدَat the beginning of الضُحىthe morning تَثقيفُهُhis setting straight
فَلِمُلكِهِ رَأدَ الضُحى تَثقيفُهُ
وَلِرَبِّهِand for his Lord جُنحَin the darkness of الدُجىnight إِخباتُهُhis humble devotion
وَلِرَبِّهِ جُنحَ الدُجى إِخباتُهُ
At morning's first light, he sets his kingdom straight;
in the night's darkness, he humbles himself before his Lord.
عَزَماتُresolutions of رَأيٍjudgment لاnot يَفُلُّfalters صَوابُهُits accuracy
عَزَماتُ رَأيٍ لا يَفُلُّ صَوابُهُ
وَغِرارُand the edge of بَأسٍvalor لاnot تُفَلُّare blunted شَباتُهُits points
وَغِرارُ بَأسٍ لا تُفَلُّ شَباتُهُ
Firm counsels whose accuracy never fails,
and an edge of valor whose points are never blunted.
فاتَsurpassed العَواصِفَthe storm winds فيin السَخاءِgenerosity هُبوبُهُhis rising
فاتَ العَواصِفَ في السَخاءِ هُبوبُهُ
وَشَأىand outstripped الرَواسيthe rooted mountains فيin النَديِّthe council ثَباتُهُhis firmness
وَشَأى الرَواسي في النَديِّ ثَباتُهُ
His rising generosity outstrips the storm winds,
and his firmness in council surpasses the rooted mountains.
لِإِبنِfor the son of السَبيلِthe road عَطاؤُهُhis giving وَحَباؤُهُand his bounty
لِإِبنِ السَبيلِ عَطاؤُهُ وَحَباؤُهُ
وَلِذيand for the doer of الإِساءَةِwrong حِلمُهُhis forbearance وَأَناتُهُand his patience
وَلِذي الإِساءَةِ حِلمُهُ وَأَناتُهُ
For the wayfarer are his gifts and bounty;
for the wrongdoer, his forbearance and patience.
وَإِذاand when جَفاforsook الغَيثُrain البِلادَthe lands فَأَمسَكَتand withheld
وَإِذا جَفا الغَيثُ البِلادَ فَأَمسَكَت
أَنfrom تَستَهِلَّpouring عَلىupon الثَرىthe earth قَطَراتُهُits drops
أَن تَستَهِلَّ عَلى الثَرى قَطَراتُهُ
When rain forsakes the lands and withholds
its drops from pouring upon the earth,
رَمَقَhe gazed at السَماءَheaven بِطَرفِهِwith his eye فَتَبَجَّسَتand burst forth
رَمَقَ السَماءَ بِطَرفِهِ فَتَبَجَّسَت
أَنوارُهُhis lights وَتَنَزَّلَتand descended بَرَكاتُهُhis blessings
أَنوارُهُ وَتَنَزَّلَت بَرَكاتُهُ
he looks toward heaven, and forth burst
his lights, and his blessings descend.
فَاِستَدفِعواso ward off ماwhatever رابَكُمtroubles you بِدُعائِهِthrough his prayer
فَاِستَدفِعوا ما رابَكُم بِدُعائِهِ
إِنَّindeed الإِمامَthe imam مُجابَةٌanswered دَعَواتُهُhis prayers
إِنَّ الإِمامَ مُجابَةٌ دَعَواتُهُ
Through his prayer, ward off whatever troubles you:
the imam's prayers are answered.
فَثِقواso trust بِنِيَّةِin the intention of عَدلِهِhis justice فَصَلاحُكُمfor your welfare
فَثِقوا بِنِيَّةِ عَدلِهِ فَصَلاحُكُم
يَبدوappears إِذاwhen صَلُحَتare good لَكُمtoward you نِيّاتُهُhis intentions
يَبدو إِذا صَلُحَت لَكُم نِيّاتُهُ
Trust in his intention to be just; your welfare
appears when his intentions toward you are good.
أَوضَحتُمُyou made clear ياءالَO house of عَباسٍAbbas لَناto us
أَوضَحتُمُ ياءالَ عَباسٍ لَنا
نَهجَthe path of الهُدىguidance حَتّىuntil اِنجَلَتcleared شَبَهاتُهُits uncertainties
نَهجَ الهُدى حَتّى اِنجَلَت شَبَهاتُهُ
You have made clear to us, O house of Abbas,
the path of guidance, until its uncertainties cleared.
أَيَّدتُمُyou strengthened الدينَthe religion الحَنيفِupright فَأَصبَحَتso became
أَيَّدتُمُ الدينَ الحَنيفِ فَأَصبَحَت
مَجموعَةًgathered لِسُيوفِكُمby your swords أَشتاتُهُits scattered parts
مَجموعَةً لِسُيوفِكُم أَشتاتُهُ
You strengthened the upright faith, and so
its scattered parts were gathered by your swords.
أَعزَزتُموهُyou made it mighty فَماso not يَلينُcan be bent قَتادُهُits thorn-tree
أَعزَزتُموهُ فَما يَلينُ قَتادُهُ
وَدَعَمتُموهُand you supported it فَماso not تَلينُcan bend قَناتُهُits spear-shaft
وَدَعَمتُموهُ فَما تَلينُ قَناتُهُ
You made it mighty, so its thorn-tree cannot be bent;
you supported it, so its spear-shaft cannot bend.
رُفِعَتwere raised بِبيضِby the bright نِصالِكُمblades of yours أَعوادُهُits timbers
رُفِعَت بِبيضِ نِصالِكُم أَعوادُهُ
وَتَحَصَّنَتand were fortified بِأُسودِكُمby your lions غاباتُهُits thickets
وَتَحَصَّنَت بِأُسودِكُم غاباتُهُ
Its timbers were raised by your bright blades,
and its thickets fortified by your lions.
أَوcan يَطمَعُcovet الأَعداءُthe enemies فيهِit وَأَنتُمwhile you
أَو يَطمَعُ الأَعداءُ فيهِ وَأَنتُم
أَبطالُهُits champions وَلُيوثُهُand its lions وَكُماتُهُand its armored warriors
أَبطالُهُ وَلُيوثُهُ وَكُماتُهُ
Can enemies covet it when you are
its champions, its lions, its armored warriors?
فَالحَقُّso truth مُشرِقَةٌradiant بِهِمthrough them أَنوارُهُits lights
فَالحَقُّ مُشرِقَةٌ بِهِم أَنوارُهُ
وَالمُلكُand sovereignty مُشرِفَةٌlofty بِكُمthrough you هَضَباتُهُits heights
وَالمُلكُ مُشرِفَةٌ بِكُم هَضَباتُهُ
Through them the lights of truth shine bright,
and through you the heights of sovereignty rise lofty.
أَلقىcast الزَمانُtime إِلَيكُمُto you بِعِنانِهِits reins
أَلقى الزَمانُ إِلَيكُمُ بِعِنانِهِ
فَغَدَتso became مُذَلَّلَةًtamed لَكُمfor you صَهَواتُهُits saddlebacks
فَغَدَت مُذَلَّلَةً لَكُم صَهَواتُهُ
Time has cast its reins to you,
and its saddlebacks have become obedient to you.
وَمَلَكتُموهُand you mastered it فَأَصبَحَتso became مَوسومَةًbranded
وَمَلَكتُموهُ فَأَصبَحَت مَوسومَةً
بِجَميلِwith beautiful آثارٍdeeds لَكُمof yours جَبَهاتُهُits foreheads
بِجَميلِ آثارٍ لَكُم جَبَهاتُهُ
You mastered it, and its foreheads became branded
with the beauty of the deeds you left upon it.
أَردَيتُمُyou laid low كِسرىKisra وَتُبَّعَand Tubba of حِميَرٍHimyar
أَردَيتُمُ كِسرى وَتُبَّعَ حِميَرٍ
وَالمُلكُand kingship مَعصوبٌbound بِكُمabout you خَرزاتُهُits beads
وَالمُلكُ مَعصوبٌ بِكُم خَرزاتُهُ
You laid low Kisra and Tubba of Himyar,
with the beads of kingship bound about you.
وَكَفاكُمُand sufficed you شَرَفاًas honor وَمُعجِزَةًand a miracle
وَكَفاكُمُ شَرَفاً وَمُعجِزَةً
تَضاؤُلُهُits shrinking لَكُمbefore you حَتّىuntil هَوَتfell شُرُفاتُهُits battlements
تَضاؤُلُهُ لَكُم حَتّى هَوَت شُرُفاتُهُ
Enough for you as honor and a miracle
was its shrinking before you until its battlements fell.
وَالمَسجِدُand the Mosque البيتُthe House الحَرامِthe Sacred فَأَنتُمُyou are
وَالمَسجِدُ البيتُ الحَرامِ فَأَنتُمُ
جيرانُهُits neighbors وَقَديمُكُمand your forebears ساداتُهُits lords
جيرانُهُ وَقَديمُكُم ساداتُهُ
And the Mosque, the Sacred House—you are
its neighbors, and your forebears its lords.
طَفتُمyou circumambulated بِهِit فَمَسَحتُمُthen you touched أَركانَهُits corners
طَفتُم بِهِ فَمَسَحتُمُ أَركانَهُ
وَحَطيمَهُand its Hatim enclosure فَتَأَكَّدَتso were affirmed حُرَماتُهُits sanctities
وَحَطيمَهُ فَتَأَكَّدَت حُرَماتُهُ
You circled it and touched its corners
and its Hatim, so its sanctities were affirmed.
وَبِكُمand through you سَقىwatered اللَهُGod البِلادَthe lands وَأَنتُمُand you
وَبِكُم سَقى اللَهُ البِلادَ وَأَنتُمُ
أُمَناؤُهُHis trustees فيamong خَلقِهِHis creatures وَثِقاتُهُand His trusted ones
أُمَناؤُهُ في خَلقِهِ وَثِقاتُهُ
Through you God watered the lands, and you are
His trustees among His creatures, His trusted ones.
وَعَلَيكُمُand upon you نَزَلَdescended الكِتابُthe Book مَثانِياًin oft-repeated verses
وَعَلَيكُمُ نَزَلَ الكِتابُ مَثانِياً
وَبِفَضلِكُمand of your excellence نَطَقَتspoke لَناto us آياتُهُits verses
وَبِفَضلِكُم نَطَقَت لَنا آياتُهُ
Upon you the Book descended in oft-repeated verses,
and its verses proclaimed your excellence to us.
أَيَضِلُّcan go astray أَوor يَصلىburn in لَظىًa blaze مَنone whom أَنتُمُyou
أَيَضِلُّ أَو يَصلى لَظىً مَن أَنتُمُ
شَفُعاؤُهُhis intercessors وَإِلىand to الصِراطِthe Path هُداتُهُhis guides
شَفُعاؤُهُ وَإِلى الصِراطِ هُداتُهُ
Can one go astray or burn in the blaze when you are
his intercessors and his guides to the Path?
وَاللَهِby God لاnot وَرَدَshall arrive at القِيامَةَResurrection ظامِياًthirsty
وَاللَهِ لا وَرَدَ القِيامَةَ ظامِياً
مَنone whose أَنتُمُyou are آلَO family of النَبِيِّthe Prophet سُقاتُهُwater-bearers
مَن أَنتُمُ آلَ النَبِيِّ سُقاتُهُ
By God, none shall arrive at Resurrection thirsty
whose water-bearers you are, O family of the Prophet.
كَلّاno indeed وَلاand not خابَshall fail اِمرُؤٌa man وَالاكُمُwho befriended you
كَلّا وَلا خابَ اِمرُؤٌ وَالاكُمُ
فيin كَفَّتَيthe two pans of ميزانِهِhis balance حَسَناتُهُhis good deeds
في كَفَّتَي ميزانِهِ حَسَناتُهُ
No indeed! Nor shall the man who befriends you fail,
his good deeds lying in both pans of his balance.
فَليَنصُرَنَّso shall surely uphold اللَهُGod ديناًa faith أَنتُمُyou are
فَليَنصُرَنَّ اللَهُ ديناً أَنتُمُ
أَنصارُهُits supporters مِنin دونِهِits defense وَحُماتُهُand its protectors
أَنصارُهُ مِن دونِهِ وَحُماتُهُ
God shall surely uphold a faith whose
supporters and defenders you are.
وَليَطوِيَنَّand He shall surely fold الأَرضُthe earth مِنfrom أَقطارِهاits borders
وَليَطوِيَنَّ الأَرضُ مِن أَقطارِها
وَلِواكُمُand your banner مَنشورَةٌunfurled حَذَباتُهُits swelling folds
وَلِواكُمُ مَنشورَةٌ حَذَباتُهُ
And He shall surely fold the earth in from its borders,
while your banner's swelling folds remain unfurled.
فَأَصِخso listen أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful لِشاعِرٍto a poet
فَأَصِخ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِشاعِرٍ
سارَتtraveled بِمَدحِكَwith your praise فيthrough البِلادِthe lands رُواتُهُhis reciters
سارَت بِمَدحِكَ في البِلادِ رُواتُهُ
Listen, Commander of the Faithful, to a poet
whose reciters have traveled the lands with your praise.
عَهدٌa pledge لَكُمto you تَقريظُهُhis eulogy وَثَناؤُهُand his praise
عَهدٌ لَكُم تَقريظُهُ وَثَناؤُهُ
وَعَلَيكُمُand upon you تَسليمُهُhis salutations وَصَلاتُهُand his prayers
وَعَلَيكُمُ تَسليمُهُ وَصَلاتُهُ
His eulogy and praise are a pledge to you,
and upon you are his salutations and prayers.
وَإِلَيكَand to you مَدحاًpraise عَزَّwas difficult مَطلَبُهُits attainment وَليyet for me
وَإِلَيكَ مَدحاً عَزَّ مَطلَبُهُ وَلي
فيamong الناسِpeople وَحديalone ذُلِّلَتwere tamed كَلِماتُهُits words
في الناسِ وَحدي ذُلِّلَت كَلِماتُهُ
To you I offer praise, hard to attain, yet for me
alone among men its words have been tamed.
مَدحاًpraise لَكُمfor you خيطَتwere sewn مَلابِسُهُهits garments (apparent typo) فَماso not
مَدحاً لَكُم خيطَت مَلابِسُهُه فَما
يَعتامُchoose غَيرَother than بِيوتِكُمyour houses أَبياتُهُits verses
يَعتامُ غَيرَ بِيوتِكُم أَبياتُهُ
Praise whose garments were sewn for you, whose verses
choose no houses but your houses.
آلَيتُI swore لاnot اِمتَدَّتshall stretch out يَديmy hand إِلّاexcept إِلىtoward
آلَيتُ لا اِمتَدَّت يَدي إِلّا إِلى
مَنone whose تَملَأُfill الأَرضَthe earth الفَضاءَwide-open هِباتُهُgifts
مَن تَملَأُ الأَرضَ الفَضاءَ هِباتُهُ
I have sworn that my hand shall stretch out only toward
one whose gifts fill the wide-open earth.
لاnot أَعتَفيI seek bounty from غَيرَother than الخَليفَةِthe caliph طالِباًseeking
لا أَعتَفي غَيرَ الخَليفَةِ طالِباً
رِفداًassistance كَفانيhas sufficed me بِرُّهُhis kindness وَصِلاتُهُand his gifts
رِفداً كَفاني بِرُّهُ وَصِلاتُهُ
I seek bounty from none but the caliph;
his kindness and gifts have sufficed me.
هُوَhe خَيرُthe best of مَنthose who وَطَأَtrod الثَرىthe earth وَأَعَزُّهُمand their mightiest
هُوَ خَيرُ مَن وَطَأَ الثَرى وَأَعَزُّهُم
جاراًas a protector فَخَيرُso the best of المُعتَفينَbounty-seekers عُفاتُهُhis petitioners
جاراً فَخَيرُ المُعتَفينَ عُفاتُهُ
He is the best who ever trod the earth, and the mightiest
as a protector; the best petitioners are his.
ماwhat ليhave I وَمَدحَto do with praising مُبَخَّلٍa reputed miser مُغبَرَّةٍdust-gray
ما لي وَمَدحَ مُبَخَّلٍ مُغبَرَّةٍ
أَكنافُهُhis surroundings مُحمَرَّةٍfamine-red سَنَواتُهُhis years
أَكنافُهُ مُحمَرَّةٍ سَنَواتُهُ
What have I to do with praising a reputed miser, dust-gray
in his surroundings, famine-red in his years?
مُتَجَهِّمٍscowling أَصفَتhave run dry مَكارِمُهُhis noble gifts فَماso not
مُتَجَهِّمٍ أَصفَت مَكارِمُهُ فَما
تَندىmoistens عَلىdespite طولِthe length of السُؤالِbegging صَفاتُهُhis rock
تَندى عَلى طولِ السُؤالِ صَفاتُهُ
A scowling man whose noble gifts have run dry, so never
does his rock moisten, however long one begs.
فَلَأَصرِso I shall turn— فَنَّ—away (split verb) الشِعرَpoetry إِلّاexcept عَنfrom فَتىًa young man
فَلَأَصرِ فَنَّ الشِعرَ إِلّا عَن فَتىً
كَالسَيفِlike a sword تَلمَعُgleam بِالضُحىin the morning جَفَناتُهُhis serving-bowls
كَالسَيفِ تَلمَعُ بِالضُحى جَفَناتُهُ
I shall withhold poetry from all but a young man
like a sword, whose serving-bowls gleam in the morning.
هِيَit بِنتُthe daughter of فِكريmy thought وَالكَريمُand the noble man يَغارُresents أَنthat
هِيَ بِنتُ فِكري وَالكَريمُ يَغارُ أَن
تُهدىbe given إِلىto غَيرِsomeone other than الكَريمِthe noble بَناتُهُhis daughters
تُهدى إِلى غَيرِ الكَريمِ بَناتُهُ
It is the daughter of my thought, and a noble man resents
his daughters being given to anyone but the noble.
فَاِسلَمso remain safe لِمَوتورٍfor a wronged man أَبَتrefused أَنto تُقتَضىbe settled
فَاِسلَم لِمَوتورٍ أَبَت أَن تُقتَضى
عِندَby الزَمانِtime دُيونُهُhis debts وَتِراتِهِand his claims for redress
عِندَ الزَمانِ دُيونُهُ وَتِراتِهِ
Remain safe for a wronged man whose
debts and claims for redress time refuses to settle.
ضاقَتnarrowed مَذاهِبُهُhis avenues وَقورِبَand was shortened خَطوُهُhis stride
ضاقَت مَذاهِبُهُ وَقورِبَ خَطوُهُ
فَكَأَنَّماas though سُدَّتwere closed عَلَيهِagainst him جِهاتُهُhis directions
فَكَأَنَّما سُدَّت عَلَيهِ جِهاتُهُ
His avenues have narrowed, his stride been shortened,
as though every direction had been closed against him.
يُمسيhe remains حَبيساًconfined فيin قَرارَةِthe depths of مَنزِلٍa house
يُمسي حَبيساً في قَرارَةِ مَنزِلٍ
سِيّانِalike مَحياهُhis living بِهِin it وَمَماتُهُand his dying
سِيّانِ مَحياهُ بِهِ وَمَماتُهُ
He remains confined in the depths of a house,
where his living and his dying are alike.
وَهُناكَand there مُلكٌa kingdom لاnot يَرِثُّwears out جَديدُهُits newness
وَهُناكَ مُلكٌ لا يَرِثُّ جَديدُهُ
مُمتَدَّةٌfar-stretching لاnot تُنتَهىcan be reached غاياتُهُits limits
مُمتَدَّةٌ لا تُنتَهى غاياتُهُ
And there is a kingdom whose newness never wears out,
whose bounds stretch far beyond all reaching,
مَنصوبَةٌplanted أَعلامُهُits standards مَحفوضَةٌabased (apparent typo)
مَنصوبَةٌ أَعلامُهُ مَحفوضَةٌ
أَعداؤُهُits enemies مَرفوعَةٌraised راياتُهُits banners
أَعداؤُهُ مَرفوعَةٌ راياتُهُ
its standards planted, laid low
its enemies, its banners raised.
وَأَطاعَكَand may obey you الفَلَكُthe heavens المُدارولاthe revolving—and not جَرَتrun
وَأَطاعَكَ الفَلَكُ المُدارولا جَرَت
إِلّاexcept بِماas تَختاتُهُyou choose it (text uncertain) حَرَكاتُهُtheir movements
إِلّا بِما تَختاتُهُ حَرَكاتُهُ
May the revolving heavens obey you, and may
their movements run only as you choose.
وَتَمَلَّهُand enjoy it long عيداًas a feast مُبارَكَةًblessed
وَتَمَلَّهُ عيداً مُبارَكَةً
عَشاياهُits evenings عَلَيكَfor you سَعيدَةًhappy غَدَواتُهُits mornings
عَشاياهُ عَلَيكَ سَعيدَةً غَدَواتُهُ
Enjoy it long—a feast blessed
in its evenings for you, happy in its mornings.
Sol 6.1