أَمّاas for الفِراقُparting فَقَدso indeed عاصَيتُهُI defied it فَأَبىbut it refused
أَمّا الفِراقُ فَقَد عاصَيتُهُ فَأَبى
وَطالَتِand lasted long الحَربُthe war إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it غَلَباprevailed
وَطالَتِ الحَربُ إِلّا أَنَّهُ غَلَبا
As for parting, I defied it, but it refused to yield;
Though I defied separation, it refused
the war dragged on, yet it prevailed.
And the battle raged, till it prevailed
أَرانِيَshowed me البَينُseparation لَمّاwhen حُمَّwas decreed عَنby قَدَرٍfate
أَرانِيَ البَينُ لَمّا حُمَّ عَن قَدَرٍ
وَداعُناour farewell كُلَّevery جِدٍّserious matter قَبلُهُbefore it لَعِباmere play
وَداعُنا كُلَّ جِدٍّ قَبلُهُ لَعِبا
Separation showed me, when fate decreed
When absence unveiled its face to me
our farewell, that all earlier earnestness was mere play.
Our every earnest game turned to play
أَشكوI lament إِلىto اللَهِGod فَقدَthe loss of السَيفِthe sword مُنصَلِتاًunsheathed
أَشكو إِلى اللَهِ فَقدَ السَيفِ مُنصَلِتاً
وَاللَيثِand the lion مُهتَصِراًseizing its prey وَالغَيثِand the rain مُنسَكِباpouring down
وَاللَيثِ مُهتَصِراً وَالغَيثِ مُنسَكِبا
I lament to God the loss of the unsheathed sword,
To God I complain of the bared sword,
the lion seizing its prey, and the rain pouring down,
The wounded lion, and the pouring rain,
وَالعِلمِand knowledge وَالحِلمِand forbearance وَالنَفسِand the soul الَّتيthat بَعُدَتkept far away
وَالعِلمِ وَالحِلمِ وَالنَفسِ الَّتي بَعُدَت
عَنِfrom الدَنيّاتِbase deeds وَالصَدرِand the breast الَّذيthat رَحُباwas spacious
عَنِ الدَنيّاتِ وَالصَدرِ الَّذي رَحُبا
knowledge, forbearance, and the soul that kept far
Knowledge and patience, the soul that strayed
from base deeds, and the breast that was spacious;
From this vile world, the heart so wide
وَمَنand the one who أَعادَrestored حَياتيmy life غَضَّةًfresh وَيَديand my hand
وَمَن أَعادَ حَياتي غَضَّةً وَيَدي
مَلأىfull وَرَدَّand returned لِيَto me العَيشَthe life الَّذيthat ذَهَباhad gone
مَلأى وَرَدَّ لِيَ العَيشَ الَّذي ذَهَبا
and him who made my life fresh again and my hand
He who revived my verdant life and filled
full, and restored to me the life that had gone.
My hand, gave back the life gone from me
قَدindeed كُنتُI used to أَكرَعُdrink deeply كاساتِcups of الكَرىsleep نُخَباًin deep draughts
قَد كُنتُ أَكرَعُ كاساتِ الكَرى نُخَباً
وَبَعدَand after بَينِكَyour departure لَمnot أَظفَرobtain بِهِany of it نُغَباin sips
وَبَعدَ بَينِكَ لَم أَظفَر بِهِ نُغَبا
Once I drank the cups of sleep in deep draughts;
I quaffed the choicest wine in plenty
after your departure, I have not obtained even sips of it.
Without you now, no cup comes to me
وَقَدand indeed أَظَلَّنِيَovershadowed me السُقمُillness المُبَرِّحُexcruciating بيto me
وَقَد أَظَلَّنِيَ السُقمُ المُبَرِّحُ بي
فَإِنso if سَلِمتُI survive فَماthen not أَدَّيتُhave fulfilled ماwhat وَجَباwas owed
فَإِن سَلِمتُ فَما أَدَّيتُ ما وَجَبا
An illness cruelly tormenting me has overshadowed me;
Illness assails me, wasting me away
if I survive, I shall not have discharged what was owed.
If I recover, I've not paid my debt
ماnot اِعتَضتُwould take a substitute مِنكَfor you وَلَوeven if مُلِّكتُI were granted ownership ماwhat مَلَكَتpossessed
ما اِعتَضتُ مِنكَ وَلَو مُلِّكتُ ما مَلَكَت
يَمينُthe right hand of قارونَQarun أَوor أُسكِنتُI were seated on عَرشَthe throne of سَباSheba
يَمينُ قارونَ أَو أُسكِنتُ عَرشَ سَبا
I would take no substitute for you, even if granted all that was held
No blame to you, though I owned the wealth
by Qarun's right hand, or seated upon Sheba's throne.
Of Korah or the throne of Sheba's queen
أَقولُI say هَذاthis وَقَدalthough indeed صَيَّرتَyou made ليfor me نَشَباwealth
أَقولُ هَذا وَقَد صَيَّرتَ لي نَشَبا
لَولاكَbut for you لَمnot أَرَI would see ليfor myself فيin غَيرِهِanything besides it نَسَباa lineage
لَولاكَ لَم أَرَ لي في غَيرِهِ نَسَبا
I say this though you have made wealth mine;
You've made me a branch; else for me
without you, I would see no lineage for myself beyond it.
No lineage except through you is seen
ياO اِبنَson of المُقَلَّدِal-Muqallad قَدindeed قَلَّدتَنيyou adorned me with مِنَناًfavors
يا اِبنَ المُقَلَّدِ قَد قَلَّدتَني مِنَناً
ماnot قارَبَapproached الحَمدُpraise أَدناهاthe least of them وَلاnor كَرَباcame near
ما قارَبَ الحَمدُ أَدناها وَلا كَرَبا
O son of al-Muqallad, you have garlanded me with favors
O son of one girt with kindness, graced am I
whose least no praise has approached or even come near.
With boons so high praise falls shy of them
سَأَملَأُI shall fill الأَرضَthe earth مِنwith شُكرٍgratitude يُقارِنُmatching ماwhat
سَأَملَأُ الأَرضَ مِن شُكرٍ يُقارِنُ ما
أَولَيتَنيyou bestowed on me رَضِيَis pleased الشانيكَthe one who hates you أَوor غَضِباis angry
أَولَيتَني رَضِيَ الشانيكَ أَو غَضِبا
I shall fill the earth with gratitude matching what
I'll fill the earth with thanks befitting all
you bestowed on me, whether your hater is pleased or angry.
You've granted, be you wrathful or appeased
فَيُمنُfor the blessing of جَدِّكَyour good fortune أَفضىbrought بيme إِلىto مَلِكٍa king
فَيُمنُ جَدِّكَ أَفضى بي إِلى مَلِكٍ
ماnever اِبتَزَّهُwrested bounty from him الشِعرُpoetry إِلّاexcept هَزَّهُstirred him طَرَباto delight
ما اِبتَزَّهُ الشِعرُ إِلّا هَزَّهُ طَرَبا
For your auspicious fortune brought me to a king
Thanks to your bounty, lordship came to me
from whom poetry never wrested bounty without stirring him to delight.
Beyond what poetry save in transport sings
مَحضِpure-born of القَبيلَينِboth tribes يُلفىhe is found صالِحاًworthy أَبَداًalways
مَحضِ القَبيلَينِ يُلفى صالِحاً أَبَداً
فيin حَلبَةِthe racecourse of الفَخرِglory وَثّاباًspringing ahead إِذاwhen نُسِباhis ancestry is traced
في حَلبَةِ الفَخرِ وَثّاباً إِذا نُسِبا
Of pure descent from both tribes, he is ever found worthy,
Chosen, of noble forebears, virtuous,
leaping ahead in glory's racecourse when his lineage is traced.
True glory his, exact his pedigree
وَلادَتانِtwo lines of descent لَهُfor him مِنfrom عامِرٍAmir قَضَتاdecreed
وَلادَتانِ لَهُ مِن عامِرٍ قَضَتا
أَنthat يَشرُفَhe excel in nobility الناسَall people خالاًin maternal uncle فاقَهُمhe surpassed them وَأَباand in father
أَن يَشرُفَ الناسَ خالاً فاقَهُم وَأَبا
His two descents from Amir decreed
Two births for him from Amer decided
that he surpass all men, outdoing them in maternal uncle and father.
He should excel all kin, guide and rear them
أَغنىhe enriched وَأَقنىand endowed وَأَدنىand drew near ثُمَّthen أَرغَبَmade eager فيfor
أَغنى وَأَقنى وَأَدنى ثُمَّ أَرغَبَ في
إِنعامِهِhis bounty فَأَفادَthus imparted العَقلَunderstanding وَالأَدَباand refinement
إِنعامِهِ فَأَفادَ العَقلَ وَالأَدَبا
He enriched me, endowed me, drew me near, then made me eager for
Enrich them, train them, draw them gently to
his bounty, imparting understanding and refinement.
His grace and teach them reason and politesse
يَزيدُنيhe adds to me كُلَّماwhenever أُحضِرتُI am brought to مَجلِسهُhis assembly
يَزيدُني كُلَّما أُحضِرتُ مَجلِسهُ
فَضيلَةًa virtue لَمnot يَدَعhe leaves ليfor me غَيرَهاbeyond it أَرَباa desire
فَضيلَةً لَم يَدَع لي غَيرَها أَرَبا
Whenever I am brought to his assembly, he grants me
Each time I'm brought before him, some new grace
a virtue, leaving me no desire for anything else.
Is granted me, no other left to give
لَوif تَدَّعيwere to claim الخَمسُthe five planets يَوماًone day نورَهُhis light كُسِفَتthey would be eclipsed
لَو تَدَّعي الخَمسُ يَوماً نورَهُ كُسِفَت
وَلَوand if جَرىraced النَجمُthe star يَبغيseeking شَأوَهُhis reach لَكَباit would stumble
وَلَو جَرى النَجمُ يَبغي شَأوَهُ لَكَبا
Were the five planets one day to claim his light, they would be eclipsed;
Should the sun claim its light but for a day,
were a star to race seeking his reach, it would stumble.
It would be dimmed; should stars seek rank, they'd fall
شَمائِلٌqualities بِصُنوفِwith kinds of الفَضلِexcellence ناطِقَةٌspeaking
شَمائِلٌ بِصُنوفِ الفَضلِ ناطِقَةٌ
وَهِمَّةٌand an aspiration قارَنَتmatched بَلrather طالَتِsurpassed الشُهُباthe bright stars
وَهِمَّةٌ قارَنَت بَل طالَتِ الشُهُبا
Traits proclaiming every kind of excellence,
Tokens of every excellence speak of him,
and an ambition that matched—rather, surpassed—the bright stars.
A purpose lofty as the shooting stars
تَدنوdraw near العُلىhigh honors أَبَداًalways مِنهُto him وَإِنeven if بَعُدَتthey are remote
تَدنو العُلى أَبَداً مِنهُ وَإِن بَعُدَت
عَلىfrom سِواهُanyone else وَيَنأىand he draws away كُلَّماwhenever قَرُباhe draws near
عَلى سِواهُ وَيَنأى كُلَّما قَرُبا
High honors always draw near him, though remote
The exalted comes to him, though remote
from others; and he grows distant each time he draws near.
From others; strangers, when familiar grown
فيin المُمحِلاتِdrought-stricken lands غَمامٌa raincloud لاnot يُقالُit is said وَنىit faltered
في المُمحِلاتِ غَمامٌ لا يُقالُ وَنى
وَفيand in الحُروبِwars حُسامٌa keen sword لاnot يُقالُit is said نَباit glanced off
وَفي الحُروبِ حُسامٌ لا يُقالُ نَبا
In drought-stricken lands, a raincloud never said to falter;
In affairs, a cloud that knows no peer;
and in wars, a keen sword never said to glance off.
In fray, a blade no equal has e'er struck
وَقَبلَand before قَلعَتِهِhis citadel دامَتmay it remain مُمَنَّعَةًimpregnable
وَقَبلَ قَلعَتِهِ دامَت مُمَنَّعَةً
ماnever إِنindeed رَأَيناwe saw سَماءًa sky تُمطِرُraining الذَهَباgold
ما إِن رَأَينا سَماءً تُمطِرُ الذَهَبا
Before his citadel—may it remain impregnable—
His holdfast, while unbreached, rained down no gold
we had never seen a sky raining gold.
That we have seen-else every rain were gold!
فَكُلُّso every نَوءٍrainstorm بِمِصرٍin Egypt جادَنيrained generously on me زَمَناًfor a time
فَكُلُّ نَوءٍ بِمِصرٍ جادَني زَمَناً
فِداءُa ransom for نَوءٍa rainstorm سَقانيgave me to drink الرِيَّmy fill فيin حَلَباAleppo
فِداءُ نَوءٍ سَقاني الرِيَّ في حَلَبا
So every rainstorm in Egypt that drenched me for a time
Each threatening sky in Egypt once gave me
is ransom for the rainstorm that quenched me fully in Aleppo.
Rainwater at Aleppo-ah, sweet the change!
أَرىI see المَطامِعَaspirations ضَلَّتwent astray وَهيَwhile they were رائِدَتيmy scout
أَرى المَطامِعَ ضَلَّت وَهيَ رائِدَتي
قِدماًformerly وَقَدbut now هُدِيَتwere guided aright فَاِختارَتِso they chose السُحُباthe clouds
قِدماً وَقَد هُدِيَت فَاِختارَتِ السُحُبا
I see my hopes went astray while serving as my scout
My hopes went astray, though my guides;
of old; now rightly guided, they have chosen the clouds.
My feet were led right to the clouds' domain
يَعِنُّarises ذِكرُكَmention of you أَحياناًsometimes فَيُخبِرُنيand tells me
يَعِنُّ ذِكرُكَ أَحياناً فَيُخبِرُني
فَرطُintensity of الإِصاخَةِattentive listening عَنof قَلبٍa heart إِلَيكَtoward you صَباyearned
فَرطُ الإِصاخَةِ عَن قَلبٍ إِلَيكَ صَبا
Your mention sometimes arises, and I am told
Recalling you gives me a message from
by my eager listening of a heart that yearns for you.
A heart afire, parted erstwhile from you
يُصغيit listens لَهُto it فيin حَديثٍa conversation جاءَthat came مُقتَضِياًrequiring
يُصغي لَهُ في حَديثٍ جاءَ مُقتَضِياً
لَهُfor it وَيَبغيهِand seeks it إِنif لَمnot يَأتِit comes مُقتَضِباunprompted
لَهُ وَيَبغيهِ إِن لَم يَأتِ مُقتَضِبا
It listens for it in conversation that calls
It listens as some talk relates, and longs
for it, and seeks it if it does not come up unprompted.
For more, unless the talk itself prohibits
أُثنيI praise فَيُعجِبُهُso delights it قَوليmy words وَيُكثِرُand increases مِنat
أُثني فَيُعجِبُهُ قَولي وَيُكثِرُ مِن
سَلامَتيmy survival بَعدَأَنafter فارَقتُكَI parted from you العَجَباamazement
سَلامَتي بَعدَأَن فارَقتُكَ العَجَبا
I praise you; my words delight it, and it greatly marvels at
I praise you; it delights him; greetings flow
my survival after I parted from you.
Now we are parted-ah, how strange it is!
ياO مُحرِزَwinner of المَجدِglory مَوروثاًinherited وَمُبتَدَعاًand newly created
يا مُحرِزَ المَجدِ مَوروثاً وَمُبتَدَعاً
وَحائِزَand possessor of الفَضلِexcellence مَولوداًinborn وَمُكتَسَباand acquired
وَحائِزَ الفَضلِ مَولوداً وَمُكتَسَبا
O winner of glory both inherited and newly forged,
O you who harbour glory, inherited
and possessor of excellence both inborn and acquired!
And self-acquired; merit inborn, and earned;
وَكَلُّand all ماthat نِلتُI attained مِنof عِزٍّhonor وَتَكرِمَةٍand distinction
وَكَلُّ ما نِلتُ مِن عِزٍّ وَتَكرِمَةٍ
وَثَروَةٍand wealth فَإِلىthus to آلائِكَyour favors اِنتَسَباtraced its origin
وَثَروَةٍ فَإِلى آلائِكَ اِنتَسَبا
All the honor and distinction I have attained,
By your kind acts what rank I have attained
and wealth, trace their lineage to your favors.
And wealth and honour all to you revert
لَمnot يَعدُmissed مَنwhoever شامَlooked to نَصراًNasr عِندَamid نائِبَةٍa calamity
لَم يَعدُ مَن شامَ نَصراً عِندَ نائِبَةٍ
خيفَتwere feared بَوائِقُهاits perils إِدراكَattaining ماwhat طَلباhe sought
خيفَت بَوائِقُها إِدراكَ ما طَلبا
No one who looked to Nasr amid a calamity
None facing hardship finds Syrian succour swift;
whose perils were feared failed to attain what he sought.
Its paths are blocked;-not all who wield the sword can strike!
سَلَلتُهُI unsheathed him وَضَرَبتُand I struck النائِباتُcalamities بِهِwith him
سَلَلتُهُ وَضَرَبتُ النائِباتُ بِهِ
ماnot كُلُّeveryone مَنwho سَلَّdraws سَيفاًa sword صارِماًkeen ضَرَباstrikes
ما كُلُّ مَن سَلَّ سَيفاً صارِماً ضَرَبا
I unsheathed him and struck calamities with him;
He brandished his sword-like an arrow he flew,
not everyone who draws a keen sword strikes.
Undistracted by obstacles dense as crowds
فَمَرَّso he sped كَالسَهمِlike an arrow إِسراعاًswiftly لِوِجهَتِهِtoward his destination
فَمَرَّ كَالسَهمِ إِسراعاً لِوِجهَتِهِ
إِنif هيجَhe is roused عَنَّhe springs forth وَإِنand if سيلَhe is asked for الجَزيلَlavish bounty حَباhe gives
إِن هيجَ عَنَّ وَإِن سيلَ الجَزيلَ حَبا
He sped like an arrow swiftly toward his goal;
With zeal and resolve that is unequalled,
if roused, he springs forth; if asked for lavish bounty, he gives.
Through plain and mountain undelayed he rode
بِهِمَّةٍwith an ambition لاnot تُجارىis rivaled فيin اِكتِسابِwinning عُلاًhigh honors
بِهِمَّةٍ لا تُجارى في اِكتِسابِ عُلاً
وَعَزمَةٍand a resolve لاnot تَشَكّىcomplains of الأَينَweariness وَالوَصَباand suffering
وَعَزمَةٍ لا تَشَكّى الأَينَ وَالوَصَبا
With an ambition unrivaled in winning high honors,
Those who encountered him met only woe,
and resolve that never complains of weariness or suffering.
Success and repute his companions were
تَلقىencounter أَعاديهِhis enemies مِنهُin him شَرَّthe worst of مَنthose لَقَيَتthey have met
تَلقى أَعاديهِ مِنهُ شَرَّ مَن لَقَيَت
وَيَصحَبُand accompanies المَجدُglory مِنهُin him خَورَthe weakness of مَنthose صَحِباit has accompanied
وَيَصحَبُ المَجدُ مِنهُ خَورَ مَن صَحِبا
His enemies meet in him the worst of those they have met;
In valour like the Turks; should a call come
and glory accompanies in him the weakness of those it has accompanied.
Of loyalty, to Arabs he returns
وَيُشبِهُand he resembles التُركَthe Turks إِقداماًin boldness وَمَحمِيَةًand protective zeal
وَيُشبِهُ التُركَ إِقداماً وَمَحمِيَةً
فَإِنbut if دَعاهُcalls him وَفاءٌloyalty عاوَدَhe returns to العَرَباthe Arabs
فَإِن دَعاهُ وَفاءٌ عاوَدَ العَرَبا
He resembles the Turks in boldness and protective zeal;
I met his uprighteous son who seizes
but when loyalty calls him, he returns to the Arabs.
Spoils as a father greedy for sweet fruit
صاحَبتُهُI accompanied him وَلَداًas a son بَرّاًdutiful يُعينُwho helps عَلىwith
صاحَبتُهُ وَلَداً بَرّاً يُعينُ عَلى
قَطعِtraversing الطَريقِthe road فَكانَand he proved الوالِدَthe father الحَدِباsolicitous
قَطعِ الطَريقِ فَكانَ الوالِدَ الحَدِبا
I accompanied him—a dutiful son who helped me
Favour our friendship; drive away all care;
traverse the road—yet he proved a solicitous father.
Bring joy; remove exhaustion and distress
تَلاكَhe followed you فِيَّin dealing with me فَأَكرِمهاso honor it مُصاحَبَةًas companionship
تَلاكَ فِيَّ فَأَكرِمها مُصاحَبَةً
تُعطيit grants المُنىwishes وَتُزيلُand removes الهَمَّcare وَالتَعَباand fatigue
تُعطي المُنى وَتُزيلُ الهَمَّ وَالتَعَبا
He followed your example toward me; so honor that companionship,
O scion of warriors who, when the frays
which grants wishes and removes care and fatigue.
Lit up, filled their armour and spent the pure silver coins
ياO اِبنَson of الَّذينَthose who إِذاwhen شَبَّتflared up وَغىًwarfare مَلَؤاthey filled
يا اِبنَ الَّذينَ إِذا شَبَّت وَغىً مَلَؤا
دُروعَهُمtheir armor نَجدَةًwith courage وَاِستَفرَغواand emptied العَيَباthe coffers
دُروعَهُم نَجدَةً وَاِستَفرَغوا العَيَبا
O son of those who, when warfare flared, filled
So kings shuddered like bird flocks
their armor with courage and emptied their coffers,
When the stealthy creature passes by
وَخَوَّفواand they frightened الناسَpeople فَاِرتاعَتso took fright مُلوكُهُمُtheir kings
وَخَوَّفوا الناسَ فَاِرتاعَت مُلوكُهُمُ
تَرَوُّعَthe fright of السِربِthe herd لَمّاwhen عارَضَit encountered السَرِباthe lion
تَرَوُّعَ السِربِ لَمّا عارَضَ السَرِبا
and frightened men, so their kings took fright,
If he hears your voice, he loses his wits;
like a herd terrified when it encounters a lion.
Trembling, watching, all thoughts discarded, he comes
مَنwhoever أَمَّaimed at مَسعاكَyour achievement أَنضىexhausted فِكرَهُhis mind سَفَهاًfoolishly
مَن أَمَّ مَسعاكَ أَنضى فِكرَهُ سَفَهاً
وَلَستَand you do not تَلقاهُmeet him إِلّاexcept خائِفاًfearful وَصِباailing
وَلَستَ تَلقاهُ إِلّا خائِفاً وَصِبا
Whoever aims at your achievement foolishly exhausts his mind;
You forced through a mouth no easier than
you meet him only fearful and ailing.
The Well-Guarded; with your gifts all doubts dispelled
وَقَدand indeed حَلَلتَyou settled بِثَغرٍin a frontier stronghold عَزَّbecame mighty ساكِنُهُits inhabitant
وَقَد حَلَلتَ بِثَغرٍ عَزَّ ساكِنُهُ
سَدَدتَهُyou secured it بِسَدادٍwith sound judgment صَحَّحَvindicated اللَقَباthe title
سَدَدتَهُ بِسَدادٍ صَحَّحَ اللَقَبا
You have settled in a frontier stronghold whose inhabitant is mighty;
Your friend: may his bliss last! No qualm
you secured it with sound judgment that vindicated your title.
Or lurking doubt-but love and purity alone
ظافَرتَyou allied with مالِكَهُits ruler دامَتmay it endure سَعادَتُهُhis good fortune
ظافَرتَ مالِكَهُ دامَت سَعادَتُهُ
بِمَحضِwith pure وُدٍّaffection أَزالَdispelled الشَكَّdoubt وَالرِيَباand suspicions
بِمَحضِ وُدٍّ أَزالَ الشَكَّ وَالرِيَبا
You allied with its ruler—may his good fortune endure—
You two, his hold secure; for him, sheltering spears
with pure affection that dispelled doubt and suspicion.
And a buttress firmer than high-reaching branches
فَأَنتُماso you two are فيهِin it سَيفاtwo swords of عِصمَةٍprotection وَرَدىًand destruction
فَأَنتُما فيهِ سَيفا عِصمَةٍ وَرَدىً
أَمضىkeener مِنَthan المُرهَفاتِthe finely honed swords الباتِراتِthe severing ones شَباin edge
أَمضى مِنَ المُرهَفاتِ الباتِراتِ شَبا
So there you two are swords of protection and destruction,
If either should rise or excel, make war or court, address affairs
sharper-edged than finely honed, severing blades.
I say - no coward am I - that I am party to it, stakeholder too
إِنif طاوَلاboth vie in height عَلَواboth rise above أَوor فاضَلاboth vie in merit فَضَلاboth excel
إِن طاوَلا عَلَوا أَو فاضَلا فَضَلا
أَوor حارَباboth wage war حَرَباboth despoil أَوor خاطَباboth address خَطَباboth deliver orations
أَو حارَبا حَرَبا أَو خاطَبا خَطَبا
If they vie in height, they rise above; if in merit, they excel;
When I had dire word of my guide, cares stirred,
if they wage war, they despoil; if they address, they deliver orations.
Grief was provoked, to the full consumed me
إِنّيindeed I أَقولُsay وَلَيسَand is not المَينُfalsehood مِنamong شيمَيmy traits
إِنّي أَقولُ وَلَيسَ المَينُ مِن شيمَي
إِنّيindeed I am شَريكُكَyour partner فيماin whatever عَنَّarises أَوor حَزَباafflicts
إِنّي شَريكُكَ فيما عَنَّ أَو حَزَبا
I say—and lying is no trait of mine—
But then the tidings of his health gave rest
I am your partner in whatever arises or afflicts.
To a heart that so long had been bereaved
لَمّاwhen اِشتَكىfell ill مُرشِدٌMurshid أَعظَمتُهُI deemed it grave نَبَأًas news
لَمّا اِشتَكى مُرشِدٌ أَعظَمتُهُ نَبَأً
ذادَbanished الكَرىsleep وَاِستَثارَand stirred الهَمَّcare وَالوَصَباand suffering
ذادَ الكَرى وَاِستَثارَ الهَمَّ وَالوَصَبا
When Murshid fell ill, I deemed it grave news,
You never shrank, though the foe raged on,
banishing sleep and stirring care and suffering.
But met disasters with resolve to break them
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen جاءَتِcame البُشرىthe glad tidings بِصِحَّتِهِof his recovery
حَتّى إِذا جاءَتِ البُشرى بِصِحَّتِهِ
قَضَتdecreed بِتَسكينِthe calming of قَلبٍa heart طالَماfor so long وَجَباtrembled
قَضَت بِتَسكينِ قَلبٍ طالَما وَجَبا
At last, when glad tidings of his recovery came,
they calmed a heart that had so long trembled.
فَلاso may not بَرِحتَyou cease وَإِنeven if ساءَit displeases العِدىthe enemies أَبداًever
فَلا بَرِحتَ وَإِن ساءَ العِدى أَبداً
تَلقىyou meet الخُطوبَcalamities بِجَدٍّwith good fortune يَخرُقُpierces الحُجُباthe veils
تَلقى الخُطوبَ بِجَدٍّ يَخرُقُ الحُجُبا
May you never cease, though it vex your foes,
to meet calamities with good fortune that pierces veils.
Partial English translation: 90 of 94 Arabic lines translated.