نبتَتْsprouted رَياحينُthe basil shoots العِذارِof the cheek-down بوردِهِamong his roses
نبتَتْ رَياحينُ العِذارِ بوردِهِ
فكسَاand clothed زمُرُّدُهاtheir emerald عَقيقةَthe carnelian خدِّهِof his cheek
فكسَا زمُرُّدُها عَقيقةَ خدِّهِ
The basil shoots of his cheek-down sprouted among his roses,
The blossoms of adoration have sprouted with their roses,
and their emerald clothed the carnelian of his cheek.
So its emerald has adorned the cheek's carnelian.
وبَداand he appeared فَلاحَand shone لناfor us الهِلالُthe crescent بتاجِهin his crown
وبَدا فَلاحَ لنا الهِلالُ بتاجِه
وسعىand he walked فمرّand passed بناby us القضيبُthe slender bough ببُردِهِin his cloak
وسعى فمرّ بنا القضيبُ ببُردِهِ
He appeared, and the crescent shone for us in his crown;
And the crescent has appeared to us resplendent with its crown,
he walked, and a slender bough passed us in his cloak.
While the Pleiades marched past us with their chill.
واِستلَّand he unsheathed مرهفَthe keen blade جفنِهof his eyelid أوَand do ماnot ترىyou see
واِستلَّ مرهفَ جفنِه أوَ ما ترى
بصفاءِin the clarity of وجنتهِhis cheek خيالَthe reflection فرِنْدِهِof its watered-steel pattern
بصفاءِ وجنتهِ خيالَ فرِنْدِهِ
He unsheathed his eyelid's keen blade—do you not see
The languid eyelid unfolded its glance or else what do you see
the reflection of its watered-steel pattern in his clear cheek?
In the clarity of its cheek, a vision of its charm?
وسرَتْand trailed أساورُthe bracelets طرَّتَيْهِof his two forelocks فغوّرَتْand descended
وسرَتْ أساورُ طرَّتَيْهِ فغوّرَتْ
فيalong الخصرِthe waist منهof him وأنْجدَتْand rose upward فيupon نَهدهِhis breast
في الخصرِ منه وأنْجدَتْ في نَهدهِ
The bracelets of his twin forelocks trailed downward
Its bracelets crept over its wrists, so they dug
along his waist, and rose upon his breast.
Into its waist, some of them, and others into its breast.
واِفْترّand parted مَبسِمُهُhis smiling mouth فشوّفناand made us yearn سَناthe radiance
واِفْترّ مَبسِمُهُ فشوّفنا سَنا
برْقِof lightning العقيقِof al-Aqiq إلىtoward العُذَيبal-Udhayb ووِردِهِand its watering-place
برْقِ العقيقِ إلى العُذَيب ووِردِهِ
His smiling mouth parted, drawing us with the gleam
Its smile parted, so we yearned for the flash
of al-Aqiq's lightning toward al-Udhayb and its watering-place.
Of carnelian to ruby and to myrtle.
رُوحيmy soul فداa ransom for الرّشأthe fawn الّذيwho بِكناسِهِin his covert
رُوحي فدا الرّشأ الّذي بِكناسِهِ
أَبداًalways تظلِّلُهshade him أسنّةُthe spearheads أُسْدِهِof his lions
أَبداً تظلِّلُه أسنّةُ أُسْدِهِ
My soul be ransom for the fawn who, in his covert,
My soul is a ransom for the archer whose quiver
is ever shaded by the spearheads of his lions.
Is forever shaded by the feathers of his arrows.
ظبيٌa gazelle تكسّبَتِearned النِصالُthe arrowheads بطَرفِهthrough his glance
ظبيٌ تكسّبَتِ النِصالُ بطَرفِه
شَرَفاًhonor إذاwhen اِنتسبتْthey claimed kinship لِفتكةِwith the deadly stroke جدِّهِof his grandfather
شَرَفاً إذا اِنتسبتْ لِفتكةِ جدِّهِ
A gazelle through whose glance the arrowheads earned
A gazelle who gilded his blades with the plunder
honor, when they claimed kinship with his grandfather's deadly stroke.
Of honor, when they trace their lineage to his glory.
حازَتْpossessed نضارةُthe freshness خدّهof his cheek روضَthe gardens الرُباof the hills
حازَتْ نضارةُ خدّه روضَ الرُبا
فثنَتْand turned back شقائِقَهاtheir anemones أعنّةُthe reins رندِهِof his laurels
فثنَتْ شقائِقَها أعنّةُ رندِهِ
The freshness of his cheek possessed the gardens of the hills,
The bloom of his cheek has won the garden of charm,
and his laurel's reins turned back their anemones.
So its anemones bent the stems of his basil.
وسطَتْand assailed علىagainst حربِthe warfare الرِماحof the spears مَعاشِرُthe hosts of الْthe
وسطَتْ على حربِ الرِماح مَعاشِرُ الْ
أغصانِboughs فاِنتصرَتْand triumphed بدولةِthrough the dominion قدِّهِof his stature
أغصانِ فاِنتصرَتْ بدولةِ قدِّهِ
In battle against the spears charged the hosts of
The branches of his lances arbitrated the war of spears
boughs, triumphant through his stature's dominion.
And were victorious through the might of his worth.
قِرنٌa formidable adversary أشدُّfiercer لدىamid الوغىbattle منthan لحظهِhis glance
قِرنٌ أشدُّ لدى الوغى من لحظهِ
نَبلاًin arrows وأفتكُand deadlier صارمٍa sharp sword منthan صدِّهِhis rejection
نَبلاً وأفتكُ صارمٍ من صدِّهِ
A combatant fiercer in battle than his glance
A moon more fierce in battle than his glance,
in arrows, and a sword deadlier than his rejection.
More noble in valor and sharper than his sword.
فالشُّهْبُso the shooting stars تغرُبُset فيin كنانةِthe quiver نَبلهِof his arrows
فالشُّهْبُ تغرُبُ في كنانةِ نَبلهِ
والفجرُand dawn يَشرُقُrises فيin دجُنّةِthe darkness غِمدِهِof his sheath
والفجرُ يَشرُقُ في دجُنّةِ غِمدِهِ
The shooting stars set in the quiver of his arrows,
So the comets set in the glory of his generosity,
and dawn rises in the darkness of his sheath.
And the dawn rises in the calm of his sheath.
تهوىlove مهنّدَهُhis Indian-forged sword النُفوسُthe souls كأنّهas though it were
تهوى مهنّدَهُ النُفوسُ كأنّه
برقٌlightning تألّقgleaming منfrom مَباسِمthe smiling mouths رَعدِهِof his thunder
برقٌ تألّق من مَباسِم رَعدِهِ
Souls love his Indian-forged sword, as though it were
Souls crave his sword as if it were
lightning gleaming from his thunder's smiling mouths.
A flash of lightning from the smiles of its clouds.
وتودُّand desire أسهُمهhis arrows القُلوبُthe hearts كأنّماas though
وتودُّ أسهُمه القُلوبُ كأنّما
صيغَتْwere fashioned نِصالُthe heads نِبالهof his arrows منfrom وِرْدهِhis draught
صيغَتْ نِصالُ نِباله من وِرْدهِ
Hearts desire his arrows, as though
And hearts love his arrows as though they were fashioned
their arrowheads were fashioned from his draught.
From the buds of his generosity and not its thorns.
يَسطوhe attacks فيُشهِدُناand makes us behold السِماكَal-Simak بسرجِهin his saddle
يَسطو فيُشهِدُنا السِماكَ بسرجِه
والبدرَand the full moon مكتملاًcomplete بنثرةin the mail-coat سردهِof his linked armor
والبدرَ مكتملاً بنثرة سردهِ
He attacks, making us behold al-Simak in his saddle,
He charges so the fish acknowledge his saddlecloth
and the full moon complete within his linked coat of mail.
And the full moon through the scattering of its pearls.
فإلىso until مَwhen يطمعُhopes فيfor جِنانِthe gardens وِصالِهof union with him
فإلى مَ يطمعُ في جِنانِ وِصالِه
خلَدٌa heart تخلّدdwelling forever فيin جهنّمِthe hell بُعدِهِof his distance
خلَدٌ تخلّد في جهنّمِ بُعدِهِ
How long, then, can it hope for the gardens of union with him—
To whom can one aspire for the pleasures of his company?
a heart dwelling forever in the hell of his distance?
An eternity in hell for the misery of his absence!
ومتىand when يؤمِّلُcan hope for راحةًrelief منfrom حُبّهِloving him
ومتى يؤمِّلُ راحةً من حُبّهِ
دَنِفٌa lovesick man يكلّفُهُit burdens him with مشقّةَthe hardship وَجدِهِof his yearning
دَنِفٌ يكلّفُهُ مشقّةَ وَجدِهِ
And when can he hope for relief from loving him—
And when can one hope for rest from loving him?
a lovesick man burdened with the hardship of his yearning?
A lifetime that burdens him with the anguish of passion!
ومُقَرطَقٍand a tunic-clad youth كافورُthe camphor فجرِof the dawn جَبينهof his brow
ومُقَرطَقٍ كافورُ فجرِ جَبينه
ينشقُّparts عنهaway from it ظلامُthe darkness عنبرِof the ambergris جَعدِهِof his curls
ينشقُّ عنه ظلامُ عنبرِ جَعدِهِ
And a tunic-clad youth: from the camphor dawn of his brow
Camphor of the dawn of his brow that splits
the darkness of his ambergris curls parts.
The darkness with the scent of his curled hair.
متمنّعٍunapproachable للفتكِfor slaughter جرّدhe bared ناظراًa gaze
متمنّعٍ للفتكِ جرّد ناظراً
حُرِسَتْwere guarded قلائِدُهُhis necklaces بصارِمِby the keen blade هندِهِof his Hind
حُرِسَتْ قلائِدُهُ بصارِمِ هندِهِ
Unapproachable, he bared a gaze for slaughter,
A reluctant killer, he drew his glance armed
his necklaces guarded by the keen blade of his Hind.
So his necklaces were guarded by his Indian blade.
بادَرْتُهI hurried to him والغَربُwhile the west قدhad already ألقىcast علىupon
بادَرْتُه والغَربُ قد ألقى على
وَردِthe roses الأصيلof evening رمادَthe ash مِجمَرof the censer ندِّهِof its incense
وَردِ الأصيل رمادَ مِجمَر ندِّهِ
I hurried to him, while the west had cast upon
I met him at dusk as the west
the roses of evening the ash from its incense-censer;
Cast the embers of sunset on his rosy cheek,
واللّيلُand night قدhad already سحبَتْtrailed فُضولَthe trailing folds خِمارِهاof her veil
واللّيلُ قد سحبَتْ فُضولَ خِمارِها
ليلاهُits Layla واِنسدلَتْand hung loose ذَوائِبُthe tresses هِندِهِof its Hind
ليلاهُ واِنسدلَتْ ذَوائِبُ هِندِهِ
and night: her veil's trailing folds had been drawn
And the night drew the excess of its veil
by its Layla, and its Hind's tresses hung loose.
Spreading its ringlets and its black tresses.
لمّاwhen ولَجْتُI entered إليهِto him خِدراًa chamber ضمّthat held فيwithin
لمّا ولَجْتُ إليهِ خِدراً ضمّ في
جَنَباتهits walls صنَماًan idol فُتِنْتُI was bewitched بوردِهِby his roses
جَنَباته صنَماً فُتِنْتُ بوردِهِ
When I entered his chamber, which held within
When I entered his tent stealthily, he embraced
its walls an idol whose roses had bewitched me,
An idol, so I was seduced by his myrtle.
ونظرْتُand I beheld وجهاًa face راقَdelighted منظرُthe sight وردهِof its roses
ونظرْتُ وجهاً راقَ منظرُ وردهِ
وشهدْتُand I saw ثغراًa mouth طابwas sweet مَوردُthe fount شهدِهِof its honey
وشهدْتُ ثغراً طاب مَوردُ شهدِهِ
and beheld a face whose roses delighted the eye,
I saw a face whose sight was as lovely as its myrtle
and saw a mouth whose fount of honey was sweet,
And I witnessed a mouth whose stream was as sweet as its wine.
نهضَrose الغزالُthe gazelle إليّtoward me منهfrom within it مُسلّماًin greeting
نهضَ الغزالُ إليّ منه مُسلّماً
فزعاًstartled وطوّقَنيand encircled me الهِلالُthe crescent بزَندِهِwith his forearm
فزعاً وطوّقَني الهِلالُ بزَندِهِ
the gazelle rose from within to greet me,
The gazelle sprang up to me, surrendering
startled, and the crescent encircled me with his forearm.
In panic, and the crescent garlanded me with its forelock.
وغَداand began يزُفُّbringing إليّto me كأسَa cup مُدامةٍof wine
وغَدا يزُفُّ إليّ كأسَ مُدامةٍ
تهديthat guides الحَليمَthe prudent man إلىinto ضلالةِthe folly رُشدِهِof his good sense
تهدي الحَليمَ إلى ضلالةِ رُشدِهِ
Then he began bringing me a cup of wine
He came offering me a cup of wine
that guides the prudent into the folly of his good sense.
That leads the forbearing one to the heresy of his rectitude.
نارٌa fire يَزيدُincreases الماءُwater حرَّthe heat لَهيبِهاof its blaze
نارٌ يَزيدُ الماءُ حرَّ لَهيبِها
لمّاwhen يُخالطُهاmingles with it المِزاجُthe admixture ببرْدِهِwith its coolness
لمّا يُخالطُها المِزاجُ ببرْدِهِ
A fire whose burning heat is increased by water
A fire that water increases its flames
when the cool admixture mingles with it;
When blended with its coolness.
شمطاءُa gray-haired ancient قدhad already رأتِseen الخليلَthe Friend (Abraham) وخاطبتْand addressed
شمطاءُ قد رأتِ الخليلَ وخاطبتْ
موسىMoses وكلّمتِand spoke to المسيحَthe Messiah بمهدِهِin his cradle
موسى وكلّمتِ المسيحَ بمهدِهِ
a gray-haired ancient that saw the Friend and addressed
Shamta who saw the friend and addressed
Moses, and spoke to the Messiah in his cradle;
Moses and spoke to the Messiah in his cradle.
روحٌa spirit فلوso if ولجَتْit entered بأحشاءِinto the entrails الدُجىof darkness
روحٌ فلو ولجَتْ بأحشاءِ الدُجى
لتلقّبَتْwould take the name بالفجرِof dawn طلعةَthe face عَبدهِof its slave
لتلقّبَتْ بالفجرِ طلعةَ عَبدهِ
a spirit—were it to enter the entrails of darkness,
A spirit that, were it to penetrate the darkness of night,
its slave's face would take the name of dawn.
Would dawn with the light of day.
فظلَلْتُso I remained طوراًat times منfrom خلاعةِthe abandon هَزلِهof his jesting
فظلَلْتُ طوراً من خلاعةِ هَزلِه
أجنيgathering العُقودَnecklaces وتارةًand at other times منfrom جدِّهِhis earnestness
أجني العُقودَ وتارةً من جدِّهِ
Thus, now from the abandon of his jesting
So I lingered awhile in the disgrace of his jest
I gathered necklaces, and now from his earnestness,
And at times in his earnestness, gathering its pearls.
حتّىuntil جلَتْit dispelled شفقَthe twilight الدُجىof darkness وتوقّدتْand blazed
حتّى جلَتْ شفقَ الدُجى وتوقّدتْ
فيin أبنُسيّthe ebony الليلِof night شُعلةُthe flame زَندِهِof its fire-stick
في أبنُسيّ الليلِ شُعلةُ زَندِهِ
until it dispelled night's twilight, and there blazed
Until the dusk spread its redness and ignited
in the night's ebony the flame of its fire-stick.
In my gaze the flames of his torch.
ياoh حبّذاhow lovely عيشٌa life تقلّصreceded ظِلُّهits shade
يا حبّذا عيشٌ تقلّص ظِلُّه
هَيهاتَhow far-fetched أنthat سمحwould consent الزمانُtime بردِّهِto its return
هَيهاتَ أن سمح الزمانُ بردِّهِ
Oh, how lovely a life whose shade has receded!
Would that I live a life whose shadow shrinks!
How unlikely that time should consent to its return!
Alas! Time will not favor disregarding it.
للّهِGod bless مغنىًan abode باليمامةِat al-Yamamah عاطلٌunadorned
للّهِ مغنىً باليمامةِ عاطلٌ
خلعَbestowed الغَمامُthe clouds عليهupon it حِليةَthe ornament عِقدهِof their necklace
خلعَ الغَمامُ عليه حِليةَ عِقدهِ
God bless an unadorned abode at al-Yamamah,
He has abandoned the doves of Yamamah,
on which the clouds bestowed their necklace's ornament.
So the clouds stripped him of his crown’s jewels,
وسَقىand may water الحَياrain حيَّthe settlement العقيقِof al-Aqiq وباعدَتْand have distanced
وسَقى الحَيا حيَّ العقيقِ وباعدَتْ
بعَروضهاthrough their expanses الأعراضُthe districts جوهرَthe jewel قدِّهِof his stature
بعَروضها الأعراضُ جوهرَ قدِّهِ
May rain water al-Aqiq's settlement; far away have
And the serpents of time caused him grief, his essence lost,
the districts, through their expanses, borne his stature's jewel.
And the whip forgot the covenant of its handle.
وغداand became المحصَّبُal-Muhassab حاصِبَa pelting storm البَلوىof affliction ولاand never
وغدا المحصَّبُ حاصِبَ البَلوى ولا
خفرَتْbetrayed عِهادَthe renewing rains العزّof honor ذمّةَthe pledge عهدِهِof its covenant
خفرَتْ عِهادَ العزّ ذمّةَ عهدِهِ
Al-Muhassab became a hailstorm of affliction; yet never
Caring for her old companionship, she gave generously
have honor's renewing rains betrayed the pledge of its covenant.
Like the palm of Ibn Mansour’s son with her overflow.
رَعياًmay there be care لمألَفِهاfor its haunt القديمthe old وجادَهاand may shower it
رَعياً لمألَفِها القديم وجادَها
كفُّthe hand ابنِof the son of منصورَMansur الكريمِthe generous برَفدِهِwith his bounty
كفُّ ابنِ منصورَ الكريمِ برَفدِهِ
May its old haunt be cherished, and may it be showered
Her blessings—does the summit cease to exist through her presence,
with bounty by the hand of generous Ibn Mansur.
Bringing joy, and does the time mourn her loss?
برَكاتُBarakat لاmay not برِحَcease to be العُلاglory بوجودهِat his presence
برَكاتُ لا برِحَ العُلا بوجودهِ
فرِحاًjoyful ولاand may not فجِعbe bereaved الزّمانُtime بفَقْدهِby his loss
فرِحاً ولا فجِع الزّمانُ بفَقْدهِ
Barakat—may glory never cease, in his presence,
A sea which gushed with freshness, so it drowned
to rejoice, and may time never grieve his loss.
The beasts of oceans in the flood of its tide.
بحرٌa sea تدفّقsurging بالنُضارِwith pure gold فأغرقَand drowned السthe
بحرٌ تدفّق بالنُضارِ فأغرقَ الس
سَبعَseven البِحارَseas بلجِّin the depths of زاخرِthe swelling مدّهِof its tide
سَبعَ البِحارَ بلجِّ زاخرِ مدّهِ
A sea that surged with pure gold and drowned the
A lion escorted by eagles when he attacks,
seven seas in the depths of its swelling tide.
Until we were certain they were of his troops.
أسدٌa lion تشيّعُهescort him النُسورُthe vultures إذاwhen غَزاhe raids
أسدٌ تشيّعُه النُسورُ إذا غَزا
حتّىuntil وَثِقْناwe were sure أنّهاthat they are منamong جُندِهِhis army
حتّى وَثِقْنا أنّها من جُندِهِ
A lion whom vultures escort when he raids,
If the two-horned one sought some of his righteousness,
until we are sure they belong to his army.
Gog and Magog would never traverse his barrier.
لوif رامَsought ذوthe possessor of القَرنينthe two horns بعضَsome سَدادِهof his sound judgment
لو رامَ ذو القَرنين بعضَ سَدادِه
لمwould not يَمضِpass ياجوجٌGog غَداًtomorrow منbeyond سَدِّهِhis barrier
لم يَمضِ ياجوجٌ غَداً من سَدِّهِ
Had Dhu al-Qarnayn sought some of his sound judgment,
Or if the Select attained his strength,
Gog would not pass beyond his barrier tomorrow.
He would not have summoned Harun in his prime.
أوor حازَpossessed قوّتَهhis strength الكَليمُGod's interlocutor لماwould not have دَعاcalled
أو حازَ قوّتَه الكَليمُ لما دَعا
هارونَهhis Aaron يوماًever لشدّةِto strengthen عَضْدِهِhis arm
هارونَه يوماً لشدّةِ عَضْدِهِ
Or had God's interlocutor possessed his strength, he would not have called
A king who shows you the blessed dew of his paternal uncle
his Aaron, even once, to strengthen his arm.
And the chastity of his father and zeal of his grandfather.
ملِكٌa king يريكshows you نَدىthe generosity مَبارِكof Mubarak عمِّهhis uncle
ملِكٌ يريك نَدى مَبارِك عمِّه
وعَفافَand the chastity والدِهof his father وغيرةَand the protective zeal جدِّهِof his grandfather
وعَفافَ والدِه وغيرةَ جدِّهِ
A king who shows you the generosity of Mubarak, his uncle,
Were it not for him, intimacy would not have been known
his father's chastity, and his grandfather's protective zeal.
Nor would the people of inquiry have been guided to his principles.
لولاهwithout him ماwould not عُرِفbe known النوالُbounty ولاnor would اِهتدىbe guided
لولاه ما عُرِف النوالُ ولا اِهتدى
أهلُthe people of السؤالِpetitioning إِلىto معالِمthe landmarks نَجدهِof his highlands
أهلُ السؤالِ إِلى معالِم نَجدهِ
Without him, bounty would not be known, nor would
The Merciful has granted us glorious triumphs through him,
petitioners find the landmarks of his highlands.
And the crescent desires the rising of the glory of his renown.
قدindeed خصّناfavored us الرحمنُthe All-Merciful منهthrough him بماجدٍwith a noble lord
قد خصّنا الرحمنُ منه بماجدٍ
ودَّwished for الهِلالُthe crescent حُلولَalighting on هامةِthe crown مجدهِof his glory
ودَّ الهِلالُ حُلولَ هامةِ مجدهِ
The All-Merciful has favored us through him with a noble lord,
He has ennobled and enriched us with valor and munificence,
whose crown of glory the crescent wished to inhabit.
So our death and life are from him.
أَفنىhe destroyed وأغنىand enriched بالشجاعةِthrough courage وَالندىand generosity
أَفنى وأغنى بالشجاعةِ وَالندى
فمماتُناso our death وحياتُناand our life منcome from عِندهِhis side
فمماتُنا وحياتُنا من عِندهِ
He destroyed and enriched through courage and generosity,
Sustenance is hoped for from the clouds of his storm,
so our death and our life come from him.
And death feared from the lightning bolts of his thunder.
الرّزْقُlivelihood يُرجىis hoped for منfrom مَخايلthe rain-signs سُحبِهof his clouds
الرّزْقُ يُرجى من مَخايل سُحبِه
والموتُand death يُخشىis feared منfrom صواعِقِthe thunderbolts رَعدِهِof his thunder
والموتُ يُخشى من صواعِقِ رَعدِهِ
Livelihood is hoped for from the rain-signs of his clouds,
May he reward one who composes poetry in his honor with kindness,
and death is feared from the thunderbolts of his thunder.
So he gives him his fill from his flood.
يَجزيhe rewards الّذيwhoever يُهديoffers المَديحَpraise ببرّهwith his benevolence
يَجزي الّذي يُهدي المَديحَ ببرّه
كرَماًgenerously فيعطيand gives وَسْقَهُhis full load منfor مدِّهِhis small measure
كرَماً فيعطي وَسْقَهُ من مدِّهِ
He rewards whoever offers praise with his benevolence,
The enmity of the foe benefits him.
generously granting a full load for his small measure.
And musk is improved by the corruption of its opposite.
بَغيُthe aggression العدوِّof the enemy عليهagainst him مصلحةٌa benefit لهfor him
بَغيُ العدوِّ عليه مصلحةٌ له
والمِسكُand musk تُصلحُهimprove it مَفاسِدُthe decay ضدِّهِof its opposite
والمِسكُ تُصلحُه مَفاسِدُ ضدِّهِ
The enemy's aggression against him serves his interest,
Afflictions have assaulted the nations, but they could not
and musk is perfected by its opposite's decay.
Depart as the prisoner does with his shackles.
هجَمَتْassailed علىupon الأممthe nations الخُطوبُcalamities وماand scarcely نَشاhad he arisen
هجَمَتْ على الأمم الخُطوبُ وما نَشا
ذهبتْthey departed كماas ذهبَdeparted الأسيرُthe captive بقَيدِهِwith his fetters
ذهبتْ كما ذهبَ الأسيرُ بقَيدِهِ
Calamities assailed the nations; scarcely had he arisen
So doom descends above the uplifted sword,
when they departed as a captive departs, in fetters.
While victory serves beneath the sheath of his waist-belt.
فالحتْفُso death يهجُمattacks فوقَabove قائمthe hilt سَيفهof his sword
فالحتْفُ يهجُم فوقَ قائم سَيفه
والنصرُand victory يخدِمserves تحتbeneath صَعدَةthe lance بَندِهِof his banner
والنصرُ يخدِم تحت صَعدَة بَندِهِ
Death attacks above the hilt of his sword,
His hounds hunted down the recalcitrant, and his
and victory serves beneath his banner's lance.
Lions felled the giants of oppression.
قنَصَتْhunted ثَعالِبُهhis foxes البُزاةَthe hawks وصادتِand caught الْthe
قنَصَتْ ثَعالِبُه البُزاةَ وصادتِ الْ
أُسْدَlions الكُماةَthe armored warriors قَشاعِمٌmighty old beasts منamong جُرْدِهِhis lean steeds
أُسْدَ الكُماةَ قَشاعِمٌ من جُرْدِهِ
His foxes hunted the hawks, and the
He never ceased giving pearls until the
warrior lions were caught by mighty old beasts among his lean steeds.
Comets feared the requests of his delegation.
ماnot زالceased يُعطيhe gave الدُرَّpearls حتّىuntil خافتِfeared الشthe
ما زال يُعطي الدُرَّ حتّى خافتِ الش
شُهبُshooting stars الدّراريthe brilliant منfrom مَسائِلِthe requests وَفدِهِof his delegation
شُهبُ الدّراري من مَسائِلِ وَفدِهِ
He kept giving pearls, until the
And he marched on toward glory until he,
brilliant shooting stars feared the requests of his delegation.
Coveting its greatness, thought it a river desiring his reckoning.
ويسيرُand he travels نحوtoward المَجدِglory حتّىuntil ظنّهُdeemed him
ويسيرُ نحو المَجدِ حتّى ظنّهُ
نهرُthe river المَجرّةِof the Milky Way طامِعاًcovetous فيof عَدّهِits inexhaustible supply
نهرُ المَجرّةِ طامِعاً في عَدّهِ
He journeys toward glory, until he was deemed
Is there any prey of his pride but his talons
by the Milky Way's river to covet its inexhaustible waters.
Have clung to its shoulders in blood-letting?
هلis there منany فَريسةِprey مَفخرٍof renown إلّاexcept وقدand already
هل من فَريسةِ مَفخرٍ إلّا وقد
نشبَتْwas caught حُشاشَتُهاits last spark of life بمخلَبِin the claw ورْدِهِof his tawny lion
نشبَتْ حُشاشَتُها بمخلَبِ ورْدِهِ
Is there any prey of renown that has not already
The system of the organizer of his merit disclosed the necklaces,
had its last spark of life caught in his tawny lion's claw?
And the scattering of his munificent hand adorned the freshness.
فضحَput to shame العُقودَnecklaces نِظامُthe stringing ناظِمof the poet فَضلِهof his virtues
فضحَ العُقودَ نِظامُ ناظِم فَضلِه
وسَماand surpassed النُضارَpure gold نِثارُthe scattering ناثِرِof the dispenser نَقدِهِof his coin
وسَما النُضارَ نِثارُ ناثِرِ نَقدِهِ
The stringing of his virtues by their poet put necklaces to shame,
They both marched to the battlefield of the enemy, competing
and the scattering of his coin by its dispenser surpassed pure gold.
In slaughter—his brown one and the white of his grandfather.
ساراthe two advanced إلىtoward مُهَجِthe hearts العِداof the foes فتَسابَقاand raced each other
سارا إلى مُهَجِ العِدا فتَسابَقا
فيin الفتكِslaughter أسمَرُهُhis brown spear وأبيَضُand the white blade جدِّهِof his might
في الفتكِ أسمَرُهُ وأبيَضُ جدِّهِ
The two advanced toward the foes' hearts, racing one another
A moon for which I composed poetry, so its
in slaughter: his brown spear and the white blade of his might.
Horizons were adorned during its days of praise.
قمرٌa moon بهthrough him صُغْتُI fashioned القريضَpoetry فزُيّنَتْand were adorned
قمرٌ به صُغْتُ القريضَ فزُيّنَتْ
آفاقُthe horizons نَظميof my verse فيwith أهلّةthe crescents حَمدِهِof his praise
آفاقُ نَظمي في أهلّة حَمدِهِ
A moon through whom I fashioned poetry, and adorned were
Through it my state has been beautified, so my companion
the horizons of my verse with crescents of his praise.
Is the perfume of generosity, while the blindness of drowsiness has vanished.
حسُنَتْimproved بهthrough him حاليmy condition فواصلَand joined ناظريmy eye
حسُنَتْ به حالي فواصلَ ناظري
طيبُthe sweetness الكرىof slumber وجَفَتْهُand shunned it زَورةُthe visit سُهدِهِof its sleeplessness
طيبُ الكرى وجَفَتْهُ زَورةُ سُهدِهِ
My lot improved through him, and my eye enjoyed
For he is the one whose munificence has humbled my envious rivals
sweet slumber, abandoned by the visits of its sleeplessness.
And melted their vitals with the embers of their malice.
فهوfor he الّذيis the one who بِنَداهُthrough his generosity أكْبَتَhumbled حاسِديmy envier
فهو الّذي بِنَداهُ أكْبَتَ حاسِدي
وأذابَand melted مهجتَهُhis heart بجَذوةِwith the ember حِقدِهِof his spite
وأذابَ مهجتَهُ بجَذوةِ حِقدِهِ
For he, through his generosity, humbled my envier,
O pillar, sanctified by the peninsula through the intention of your approach,
and melted his heart with the ember of his spite.
And O glorious hero who sought the summit, climbing above the plateau of your grandfather,
ياO أيّهاyou الرُكنُpillar الّذيwho قدindeed شُرِّفَتْwas honored
يا أيّها الرُكنُ الّذي قد شُرِّفَتْ
كلُّall البريّةcreation منthrough تيمُّنِthe blessing قَصدِهِof seeking him
كلُّ البريّة من تيمُّنِ قَصدِهِ
O pillar through whom honor has been bestowed
Sovereignty is a necklace whose gem you are,
on all creation, by the blessing of seeking him,
And glory a heavenly body whose essence you are.
والماجدُand the noble lord البطلُthe hero الّذيwho طلبَsought العُلاhigh glory
والماجدُ البطلُ الّذي طلبَ العُلا
فسَرىand journeyed إليهto it فوقَupon صهوةِthe saddle-back جَدِّهِof his good fortune
فسَرى إليه فوقَ صهوةِ جَدِّهِ
and noble hero who sought high glory,
You were congratulated on the Feast of Fasting and its celebration,
then journeyed to it on his good fortune's saddle-back,
Forevermore, as the crescent greeted you with its fortune.
المُلكُsovereignty جيدٌa neck أنتَyou are حِليةُthe ornament نَحرِهof its throat
المُلكُ جيدٌ أنتَ حِليةُ نَحرِه
والمجدُand glory جسمٌa body أنتyou are جنّةُthe paradise خُلدِهِof its eternity
والمجدُ جسمٌ أنت جنّةُ خُلدِهِ
sovereignty is a neck: you are the ornament of its throat;
The feast is but a day in time, while you are, for Islam,
and glory is a body: you are its eternal paradise.
A feast that has not ceased to exist since it began.
هُنِّئتَmay you be congratulated فيon عيدِthe feast الصّيامِof fasting وفِطرِهand its breaking
هُنِّئتَ في عيدِ الصّيامِ وفِطرِه
أبداًforever وقابلَكand may greet you الهِلالُthe crescent بسَعدِهِwith its good fortune
أبداً وقابلَك الهِلالُ بسَعدِهِ
May you be congratulated on the feast of fasting and its breaking,
If the world judged you fairly, offering itself for sacrifice,
forever, and may the crescent greet you with its good fortune.
Adam would ransom you with the remainder of his children.
العيدُthe feast يومٌa day فيin الزمانtime وأنتbut you are للْfor the
العيدُ يومٌ في الزمان وأنت للْ
إسلامِIslam عيدٌa feast لمhave not تزَلْceased to be منfrom بَعدِهِafter it
إسلامِ عيدٌ لم تزَلْ من بَعدِهِ
The feast is one day in time, but you are, for
Destiny would remain facilitative of your intents
Islam, a feast that endures ever afterward.
And time would allow you its eternity.
لوif تُنصِفُwere just الدُنياthe world وقَتْكَwould shield you بنفسِهاwith its own self
لو تُنصِفُ الدُنيا وقَتْكَ بنفسِها
وفداكَand would ransom you آدمُAdam فيamong بقيّةthe rest وُلْدِهِof his offspring
وفداكَ آدمُ في بقيّة وُلْدِهِ
Were the world just, it would shield you with its own self,
and Adam, with the rest of his offspring, would be your ransom.
لاmay never زالتِcease to be الأقدارُthe decrees of fate نافذةًeffectual بماin what
لا زالتِ الأقدارُ نافذةً بما
تَنويyou intend ومتّعَكand may delight you الزمانُtime بخُلدِهِwith its eternity
تَنوي ومتّعَك الزمانُ بخُلدِهِ
May the decrees of fate always take effect in what
you intend, and may time let you enjoy its eternity.
Partial English translation: 124 of 128 Arabic lines translated.