للغُوطَةِ الغنّاء أشرف رَبوةٍ

للغُوطَةِ الغنّاء أشرف رَبوةٍ

أضحى بها عيشُ النزيل رغيدا

أضحى بها عيشُ النزيل رغيدا

Lush Ghouta has the noblest hill,

The singing nightingale's most sublime perch

where the guest's life has become one of ease.

Has made the sojourner's life joyful

نَشَرَ الربيعُ على حدائق دَوْحها

نَشَرَ الربيعُ على حدائق دَوْحها

حُلَلاً تزيدُ على بُرودِ تزِيدا

حُلَلاً تزيدُ على بُرودِ تزِيدا

Spring has spread over the gardens of its spreading trees

Spring has spread over Dawha's gardens

robes surpassing the striped cloaks of Tazīd.

Garments that surpass the coolness of Tazid's abode

فلو أنَّ شدّاد ابن عادٍ حلّها

فلو أنَّ شدّاد ابن عادٍ حلّها

ما شاد في ذاتِ العِماد عَمودا

ما شاد في ذاتِ العِماد عَمودا

For had Shaddād, son of ʿĀd, settled there,

If Shaddad ibn 'Ad had made it his abode

he would have raised no pillar in the City of Pillars.

He would not have erected pillars of grandeur

غنّتْ بها للوِرْق كل مُرّنةٍ

غنّتْ بها للوِرْق كل مُرّنةٍ

تَدعُ الخليَّ بشَدْوها معمودا

تَدعُ الخليَّ بشَدْوها معمودا

Every trilling gray dove sang there,

Every swaying branch sang in it

leaving the carefree love-stricken by its song.

Leaving the nightingale swooning with its melody

فكأنما غنّى الغَريضُ ومعبدٌ

فكأنما غنّى الغَريضُ ومعبدٌ

فيها الثقيلَ وردّدا ترديدا

فيها الثقيلَ وردّدا ترديدا

As though al-Gharīḍ and Maʿbad were singing

It was as though Garid the singer and Mu'abbad

the 'heavy' rhythm there, repeating it again and again;

Sang the slow tempo and repeated the chorus

وشدا زُنامٌ في اليراع وحرّكَتْ

وشدا زُنامٌ في اليراع وحرّكَتْ

معَه بنانُ بَنانَ فيها العَودا

معَه بنانُ بَنانَ فيها العَودا

and Zunām sang through the reed pipe, while

And Zunam tightened the strings of the lute and moved

Banān's fingers, beside him, stirred the lute there.

The fingers of Banan upon it to and fro