لتهنmay it rejoice عينan eye إلىtoward مرآكthe sight of you قدhas طمحتْlonged
لتهن عين إلى مرآك قد طمحتْ
ومهجةٌand a heart فيكfor you بالأشجانthrough sorrows قدhas صلحتbeen made whole
ومهجةٌ فيك بالأشجان قد صلحت
May the eye that has longed to behold you rejoice,
My eyes long for your beauty that I aspire,
And the heart made whole by sorrows for you.
And my love for you only grows fonder.
ياO منyou who إذاif باعتsold الأبصارthe eyes أسودهاtheir dark pupils
يا من إذا باعت الأبصار أسودها
بحبةٍfor a mole فوقupon خديهِhis two cheeks فقدthen indeed ربحتthey profited
بحبةٍ فوق خديهِ فقد ربحت
O you—if eyes sold their dark pupils
O you whose glance, if sold, would make
For a mole upon his cheeks, they would have profited.
The blackest of eyes a great bargain and wonder.
لاnot أشتكِيI complain فيكَfor you أشجانيmy sorrows وإنand even if مكثتthey lingered
لا أشتكِي فيكَ أشجاني وإن مكثت
ولاnor أكفكفI wipe dry أجفانِيmy eyelids وإنand even if نزحتthey drained dry
ولا أكفكف أجفانِي وإن نزحت
I do not complain of my sorrows for you, even if they linger,
I do not complain of my passion though it persists,
Nor wipe my eyelids, even if they drain themselves dry.
Nor do I restrain my tears though they flow plentiful.
أناI الذيthe one whose كرمتgrew precious أنفاسthe breaths of صبوتهhis ardent longing
أنا الذي كرمت أنفاس صبوته
وكلَّماand whenever مسَّtouched ناراًa fire ندّهاtheir incense نفحتthey wafted fragrance
وكلَّما مسَّ ناراً ندّها نفحت
I am he whose breaths of longing have grown precious;
I who cherished the breaths of my youth
Whenever their incense touches fire, they waft fragrance.
And stoked its fires however forceful.
يزيدنيincreases in me العذلreproach تبريحاًagonizing torment ألذّI delight بهin it
يزيدني العذل تبريحاً ألذّ به
فليتso would that عذَّالthe reproachers of حبِّيmy love فيكَfor you ماnever برحتdeparted
فليت عذَّال حبِّي فيكَ ما برحت
Reproach increases a torment in me that I delight in;
Rejection makes my love only more pleasing,
Would that those who reproach my love for you never departed.
If only my critic in you would not cease.
ويعجبُand delights الدمعُthe tears حينdoom حينَwhen يجرحهاit wounds them
ويعجبُ الدمعُ حين حينَ يجرحها
وماand not العدَالةjustice إلاexcept حيثماwherever جرحتwounding occurred
وما العدَالة إلا حيثما جرحت
And doom delights the tears when it wounds them;
And tears are wondrous whenever they flow,
Justice is found only where there is wounding.
For justice is where the injury made them release.
ماnot أدمعيmy tears فيin هواكlove for you السمحgenerous باخلةmiserly
ما أدمعي في هواك السمح باخلة
وكيفand how وهيwhile they التيwhich بالعينِwith the eye itself قدhave سمحتgiven freely
وكيف وهي التي بالعينِ قد سمحت
My tears are not miserly in their generous love for you;
My tears for your love are not in malice,
And how could they be, when they have given the eye itself away?
When it is they who from my eyes were set free.
سقياًmay rain bless لأوقاتكyour hours اللآتيwhich إذاwhen ذكرتare remembered
سقياً لأوقاتك اللآتي إذا ذكرت
حلتْbecame sweet علىdespite أنَّهاtheir being بالحسنِthrough beauty قدhave ملحتbecome charming (salty)
حلتْ على أنَّها بالحسنِ قد ملحت
May rain bless your hours, which, whenever remembered,
A drink to your times, which when remembered,
Turn sweet, though beauty has made them piquant.
Are adorned with beauty for me to see.
حيثwhere الصباthe east wind بشذَاwith the fragrance of الأزهارthe flowers نافحةwafting
حيث الصبا بشذَا الأزهار نافحة
فيin فحمةthe coal-blackness of الليلnight والأقداحand the goblets قدhave قدحتstruck sparks
في فحمة الليل والأقداح قد قدحت
Where the east wind wafts the fragrance of flowers,
Where youth and flowers' fragrance stirs,
In the coal-black night, while goblets strike sparks.
In the darkness of night and cups raised in glee,
وللقيانand the singing girls have بوُرقِwith the gray ones among الطيرthe birds مشتبهٌa resemblance
وللقيان بوُرقِ الطير مشتبهٌ
هذيthese وتلكَand those علىupon العيدانِthe lutes / boughs قدhave صدحتsung out
هذي وتلكَ على العيدانِ قد صدحت
The singing girls resemble the gray doves:
And birdsong confuses with harp's melody,
These and those sing upon lutes and boughs.
As both from the branches pour forth so free.
والزهرand the flowers كالضيفlike a guest أمسىmet evening وهوwhile it was مبتسمsmiling
والزهر كالضيف أمسى وهو مبتسم
علىover زِقاقٍwineskins منof الصهباءِgolden-red wine قدhad ذُبحتbeen slaughtered
على زِقاقٍ من الصهباءِ قد ذُبحت
The flowers meet evening like a smiling guest,
The flowers smile like guests in the eve,
Over slaughtered wineskins of golden-red wine.
In the orange street where their scent spilled its wine.
والرَّاحand the wine فيin يدِthe hand of ساقيهاits cupbearer مشعشعةradiant
والرَّاح في يدِ ساقيها مشعشعة
كأنَّas though وجنةthe cheek of ساقِيهاits cupbearer بهاwith it نضحتhad exuded
كأنَّ وجنة ساقِيها بها نضحت
The wine gleams in its cupbearer's hand,
The wind flutters the cup bearer's clothes
As though its cupbearer's cheek had exuded it.
As if his cheeks were splashed with such wine.
ساقٍa cupbearer إذاwhen اغْتبقتdrank at evening ندمانdrinking companions قهوتهِhis wine
ساقٍ إذا اغْتبقت ندمان قهوتهِ
أضاءshone مبسمهhis smiling mouth الصبحيّdawnlike فاصطبحتso they drank at morning
أضاء مبسمه الصبحيّ فاصطبحت
A cupbearer—when his companions drink his wine at evening,
His leg, when he twines it, reveals his robe,
His dawnlike smile shines, and they drink at morning.
His morning smile shines however confined.
لدنsupple المعاطفof limb يمناهhis right hand ومقلتهand his eye
لدن المعاطف يمناه ومقلته
تسقيكَgive you drink إنif حملتit carries راحاًwine وإنand if لمحتit glances
تسقيكَ إن حملت راحاً وإن لمحت
Supple of limb, his right hand and his eye
His sleeve serves you wine whenever you hint,
Give you drink, whether bearing wine or casting a glance.
Whether he carries or has left it behind.
ذوpossessed of ناظرٍan eye بالحياwith modesty والسحرand magic مكتحلlined with kohl
ذو ناظرٍ بالحيا والسحر مكتحل
فالموتthen death إنif غضتlowered الأجفانthe eyelids أوor فتحتopened
فالموت إن غضت الأجفان أو فتحت
His eye wears the kohl of modesty and magic;
With a gaze shy yet bewitching,
Death comes whether the eyelids lower or open.
Death cannot dim it open or shut tight.
كمhow many قابلتهfaced him لكيin order to تحكيهimitate him نرجسةa narcissus
كم قابلته لكي تحكيه نرجسة
فصحso it proved true أنthat عيونthe eyes of النرجسthe narcissi انفتحتopened
فصح أن عيون النرجس انفتحت
How many a narcissus has faced him to imitate him,
How often I've seen it and wished to recount,
So it is true that the eyes of narcissi have opened.
But the narcissus' eyes opened in the light.
إذاwhen اعتبرتI pondered معانيthe qualities of منthe one whom كلفتI was enamored بهof him
إذا اعتبرت معاني من كلفت به
عجبتI marveled منat حسنthe beauty of ماthose which دقتwere subtle وماand those which وضحتwere clear
عجبت من حسن ما دقت وما وضحت
When I ponder the qualities of the one I am enamored of,
When I consider the work of my devotion,
I marvel at their beauty, subtle and clear.
I marvel at what flows and illuminates so bright.
تلكthose التيwhich خلَّفتleft عينايmy two eyes غارقةdrowned
تلك التي خلَّفت عيناي غارقة
ترعىkeeping watch over نجومthe stars of اللياليthe nights كلماwhenever سبحتthey swam
ترعى نجوم الليالي كلما سبحت
Those have left my two eyes drowned,
The one whose memory leaves my eyes awash,
Watching night's stars whenever they swim.
To graze the stars whenever they take flight.
آهاًah لذكرِat the memory of ليالٍnights ماnot فطنتI took heed لهاof them
آهاً لذكرِ ليالٍ ما فطنت لها
حتَّىuntil أناخَencamped عليهاupon them الدهرTime فانتزحتso they departed
حتَّى أناخَ عليها الدهر فانتزحت
Ah, for the memory of nights I took no heed of,
Alas! For nights I was unaware,
Until Time encamped upon them and they departed.
Until time had saddled and left them behind.
كمhow often يقصدseeks الدهرTime إغضابِيto anger me بقادحةٍwith a damaging calamity
كم يقصد الدهر إغضابِي بقادحةٍ
فيin الحالmy circumstances لكنَّهاbut it فيin الصبرِpatience ماhas not قدحتcaused harm
في الحال لكنَّها في الصبرِ ما قدحت
How often Time seeks to anger me with a stroke
How often fate sought to upset me,
Against my circumstances; yet it has not impaired my patience.
Yet with patience lit no fires in my mind.
إنif عابfaulted رونقthe luster of ألفاظيmy words ذووthose with إحَنٍgrudges
إن عاب رونق ألفاظي ذوو إحَنٍ
ففيthen in السماءِheaven بدورfull moons طالماoften نُبحتwere barked at
ففي السماءِ بدور طالما نُبحت
If those bearing grudges fault the luster of my words,
If those unrefined found flaws in my words,
Full moons in heaven have often been barked at.
The heavens still blessed them however maligned.
دعleave alone اللياليthe nights إنيindeed I قدhave غفرتforgiven لهاfor them
دع الليالي إني قد غفرت لها
بالأفضلbecause of al-Afdal الملكthe king ماwhat كانتthey had قدalready اجترحتcommitted
بالأفضل الملك ما كانت قد اجترحت
Leave the nights alone: I have forgiven them,
Let the nights be, I've pardoned them,
Because of King al-Afdal, all the wrongs they committed.
For the best King is flawless in all he designed.
جاءتthey brought بهhim مغربwondrous in الأوصافqualities مشرقهاradiant in them
جاءت به مغرب الأوصاف مشرقها
مثالthe embodiment of ماwhat اقترحhe asked of العلياlofty glory وماand what اقترحتit asked
مثال ما اقترح العليا وما اقترحت
They brought him, wondrous in his qualities and radiant in them,
He came with the rest of amazing traits,
The embodiment of what he asked of glory and what glory asked of him.
An example of all that is aspirational and right.
ملكa king لهاهُhis gifts عنon behalf of الآمالhopes قدhave فصحتspoken eloquently
ملك لهاهُ عن الآمال قد فصحت
وراحتاهand his two palms عنwith regard to الأيامthe days قدhave صفحتpardoned
وراحتاه عن الأيام قد صفحت
A king whose gifts have given eloquent voice to hopes,
A King whose fame of hopes is resplendent,
And whose two palms have pardoned the days.
Whose days of ease all tension unfurled.
لهhe has خطىًsteps جازتpassed beyond العلياthe heights وماand never فخرتboasted
له خطىً جازت العليا وما فخرت
وأنملand fingers كفتprovided for الدنياthe world وماand never بجحتvaunted themselves
وأنمل كفت الدنيا وما بجحت
His steps have passed beyond the heights without boasting,
With steps above all others, never a boast,
And his fingers have provided for the world without vaunting themselves.
With palms that grasped the world, never a fight.
تنديgrows moist حياءًwith modesty غداةَon the morning of الجودgiving طلعتهhis face
تندي حياءً غداةَ الجود طلعته
كأنماas if منعتwithheld كفاهhis two palms ماwhat منحتthey bestowed
كأنما منعت كفاه ما منحت
His face grows moist with modesty on the morning of giving,
Morning's shyness as generosity rises anew,
As if his palms had withheld what they bestowed.
As if his palms restrain the gifts brought to light.
كانتwere بنوthe children of الدهرTime غضبىangry معwith زمانهمُtheir age
كانت بنو الدهر غضبى مع زمانهمُ
لكنbut علىthrough يدهhis hand الفيّاضةoverflowing اصطلحتthey made peace
لكن على يده الفيّاضة اصطلحت
Time's children were angry with their age,
While others in their time drew my ire,
But through his overflowing hand they made peace.
His generous hands brought us back to unite.
كمhow many منطقan utterance فصَّحتهit made it eloquent بالثناءِwith praise وكمand how many
كم منطق فصَّحته بالثناءِ وكم
نحوٍa manner منof الجودgenerosity فيamong أهلthe people of الرجاءِhope نحتit pursued
نحوٍ من الجود في أهل الرجاءِ نحت
How many an utterance it made eloquent in praise, and how many
With his name, all houses overflow with wealth,
Ways of giving it pursued among those who hope!
Except those who refuse gifts despite his might.
كمhow many نعمةa favor سبحتsailed عنfrom بيتthe house of سؤددهhis glory
كم نعمة سبحت عن بيت سؤدده
فيthrough الخافقينeast and west وكمand how many منof مدحةa panegyric سرحتroamed
في الخافقين وكم من مدحة سرحت
How many a favor sailed from the house of his glory
His thoughts excel with sword and pen alike,
Through East and West, and how many a panegyric roamed!
To find success whether he plans or takes to fight.
لاno عيبَflaw فيin مجدهhis glory العاليlofty سوىexcept أذُنٍan ear
لا عيبَ في مجده العالي سوى أذُنٍ
فيin الجودgenerosity لاdoes not تسمعhear العذَّالthe reproachers إنif نصحتthey advise
في الجود لا تسمع العذَّال إن نصحت
His lofty glory has no flaw except an ear
A nature that shunned the Ayyubids,
That, in giving, hears no reproachers when they advise.
And in Taki al-Din's household saw its right.
أماas for الرعاياthe subjects فقدthen indeed ردَّتwere restored بدولتهunder his rule
أما الرعايا فقد ردَّت بدولته
لهاto them وجوهthe faces of الأمانيwishes بعدafter ماhaving جمحتbolted
لها وجوه الأماني بعد ما جمحت
As for the subjects, his reign has turned back
He extends help to the heights effortlessly,
Toward them the faces of wishes that had once bolted.
Lighting the way however others take flight.
كلall البيوتthe houses منwith الأموالwealth باسمةsmiling
كل البيوت من الأموال باسمة
إلاexcept بيوتاًhouses منof الأموالwealth قدhave كلحتscowled
إلا بيوتاً من الأموال قد كلحت
All houses are smiling with wealth,
When a generous one delays his promise,
Except the houses of wealth, which have scowled.
He shortens it, and unlocks hearts shut tight.
بينbetween الصوارمkeen swords والأقلامand pens فكرتهhis thought
بين الصوارم والأقلام فكرته
إنif دبرتit plans أفلحتit succeeds أوor صاولتit attacks فلحتit cleaves
إن دبرت أفلحت أو صاولت فلحت
His thought moves between keen swords and pens:
O son of Kings, your glory outshone
If it plans, it prospers; if it attacks, it cleaves.
The clouds of slander on guidance and light.
سجيةan inborn trait فيamong بنيthe sons of أيوبAyyub قدhas نفرتshied away
سجية في بني أيوب قد نفرت
وبينand among آلthe house of تقيّTaqi الدينal-Din قدhas رجحتprevailed
وبين آل تقيّ الدين قد رجحت
An inborn trait that has shied away among Banu Ayyub,
If you had no claim to rule from ancestry,
But has prevailed within the house of Taqi al-Din.
Still your right remains in the soul you ignite.
يمدُّhe extends زنداًa forearm / fire-stick إلىtoward العلياءِthe heights واريةًblazing
يمدُّ زنداً إلى العلياءِ واريةً
أنوارهاtheir lights وهيwhile they ماwere not عيبتblemished وماand not قدحتstruck into flame
أنوارها وهي ما عيبت وما قدحت
He extends an arm toward the heights, where blaze
If your exalted name adorned a banner,
Their lights, neither blemished nor struck into flame.
The fortresses of earth would fall at first sight.
إذاif أطالprolonged كريمa generous man وعدهhis promise اختصرتit shortened it
إذا أطال كريم وعده اختصرت
وإنand if طوىconcealed قلبthe heart of باغa rebel غلهاits rancor شرحتit laid it open
وإن طوى قلب باغ غلها شرحت
If a generous man prolongs his promise, it cuts it short;
You who brought my praise to the fore,
And if a rebel's heart conceals its rancor, it lays it bare.
A pride to follow after those I recite.
ياO ابنson of الملوكkings جلتdispelled أنوارthe lights of غرتهمtheir radiant brows
يا ابن الملوك جلت أنوار غرتهم
غياهبthe darkness of الإفكfalsehood عنfrom طرقthe paths of الهدىguidance ومحتand erased it
غياهب الإفك عن طرق الهدى ومحت
O son of kings, the lights of their brows have cleared
You who paved your father's path of ease,
The gloom of lies from guidance's paths, and erased it.
Freeing my present and thoughts kept uptight.
لوif لمnot يكنthere were لكfor you حقa right to الملكkingship منfrom قدمantiquity
لو لم يكن لك حق الملك من قدم
لكنyet حقكyour right بالنفسthrough the soul التيwhich طمحتaspired
لكن حقك بالنفس التي طمحت
Had you no age-old right to kingship,
Who deposited in me the use of your palm,
Still, your right would rest in the soul that aspired.
As if pouring from my own eyelids at night.
لوif خطwere written بعضpart of اسمكyour name العاليexalted علىon علمa banner
لو خط بعض اسمك العالي على علم
وقابلتهand faced it حصونthe fortresses of الأرضthe earth لافتتحتwould surely be conquered
وقابلته حصون الأرض لافتتحت
If part of your exalted name were written on a banner,
What praises from the traces of your gifts,
And the earth's fortresses faced it, they would be conquered.
Roving stars when night truths are brought to light.
أنتyou الذيthe one whose قدمتadvanced أمداحهpraises of him فكريmy thought
أنت الذي قدمت أمداحه فكري
فخراًin pride علىabove فكرٍthoughts منfrom بعدafterward قدhad مدحتpraised
فخراً على فكرٍ من بعد قد مدحت
You are he whose panegyrics set my thought
With auspicious stars - no planets or zodiacs -
Proudly ahead of thoughts that praised you afterward.
That traversed the cosmos no wishing in spite.
أنتyou الذيthe one whose فسَّحتbroadened نعماءthe bounty of والدهhis father
أنت الذي فسَّحت نعماء والده
حاليmy circumstances وفكرتيَand my thought الغماءclouded فانفسحتso it opened out
حالي وفكرتيَ الغماء فانفسحت
You are he whose father's bounty broadened
God's gift are you, O King of noble lineage,
My circumstances and my clouded thought, and it opened out.
Our minds fall short however hard we might.
وأودعتنَىand lodged within me جدوىthe bounty of كفهhis hand منناًfavors
وأودعتنَى جدوى كفه منناً
كأنهاas though they بعدُafterward منfrom جفنيّmy two eyelids قدhad رشحتseeped
كأنها بعدُ من جفنيّ قد رشحت
His hand's bounty lodged within me favors
May the times of plenitude persist for your reign,
As though they later seeped from my two eyelids.
When Fortune's gems adorn us shiny and bright.
كمhow many مدحةa panegyric ليof mine منfrom آثارthe effects of أنعمهhis favors
كم مدحة لي من آثار أنعمه
سيّارةfar-ranging لنجومto the stars of الليلnight قدhas فضحتput to shame
سيّارة لنجوم الليل قد فضحت
How many a panegyric of mine, born of his favors,
And may the Martyr's tomb overflow with rain,
Far-ranging, has put the stars of night to shame!
Calling those who cry at the hillside's sight.
بطالعwith an ascendant of السعدgood fortune لاnot جدْيٌCapricorn / a young goat ولاnor حملٌAries / a lamb
بطالع السعد لا جدْيٌ ولا حملٌ
جازتpassed beyond مدىthe reach of الشهبthe meteors والغفرانand the young wild goats ماdid not انتطحتlock horns
جازت مدى الشهب والغفران ما انتطحت
With an ascendant of good fortune—neither Capricorn nor Aries—
O dwellers of the valley, how many eyes have spilled,
It passed beyond the meteors' reach, while the young wild goats never locked horns.
Their tears on it however it remained upright!
للهto God belongs دركyour excellence منas ملكa king لهhe possesses شرفhonor
لله درك من ملك له شرف
ثنىturned back قرائحناour poetic gifts عنهfrom it وإنand even if كدَحتthey labored
ثنى قرائحنا عنه وإن كدَحت
How excellent you are—a king whose honor
Turns our poetic gifts back from it, however hard they labor.
دامتmay they endure لملككfor your reign أوقاتthe hours of الحبورjoy إذاwhen
دامت لملكك أوقات الحبور إذا
تقلدتthey adorned their necks منwith حُلىthe jewels of إقبالهاtheir good fortune اتشحتthey draped themselves
تقلدت من حُلى إقبالها اتشحت
May hours of joy endure for your reign, whenever
They wear necklaces of fortune's jewels and drape themselves in them.
وجادand may it water generously قبرَthe grave of الشهيدthe martyr الغيثrain ينشدهchanting to him
وجاد قبرَ الشهيد الغيث ينشده
ياO ساكنيdwellers of السفحthe slope كمhow many عينan eye بكمfor you سفحتshed tears
يا ساكني السفح كم عين بكم سفحت
And may rain lavish bounty on the martyr's grave, chanting to him:
O dwellers of the slope, how many an eye has shed tears for you!
Partial English translation: 88 of 94 Arabic lines translated.