شمسthe sun المعارفof knowledge قدindeed زانتlent beauty ببهجتهاwith its splendor
شمس المعارف قد زانت ببهجتها
لماwhen اضاءتit illuminated سماءthe sky العلمof learning والادبand letters
لما اضاءت سماء العلم والادب
The sun of knowledge lent beauty with its splendor
The sun of knowledge has adorned with its splendor
When it lit the sky of learning and letters.
When it illuminated the sky of science and literature
تلوحit shines منfrom مشرقthe rising-place of الآدابletters فيin فلكa celestial sphere
تلوح من مشرق الآداب في فلك
ماnot انindeed (reinforcing negation) لهit has غيرother than إبراهيمIbrahim منany (emphatic) قطبpole
ما ان له غير إبراهيم من قطب
It shines from the rising-place of letters, in a sphere
It shines from the horizon of literature in an orbit
Whose only pole is Ibrahim.
That has no pole but Ibrahim
كانهاas though she وهيwhile she is بكرa maiden فيin محاسنهاher beauty
كانها وهي بكر في محاسنها
تفترshe smiles عنrevealing لؤلؤpearls رطبmoist وعنand revealing شنبthe mouth’s cool sweetness
تفتر عن لؤلؤ رطب وعن شنب
As though she, a maiden in her beauty,
As if it were a young maiden in her beauty
Were smiling to reveal moist pearls and cool sweetness.
Taking off a moist pearl and ambergris