إِليكَ من مَلَكٍ سامٍ ومن مَلِكٍ

إِليكَ من مَلَكٍ سامٍ ومن مَلِكٍ

كانَتْ لنا الفُلْكُ مَرْقَاةً إِلى الفَلَكِ

كانَتْ لنا الفُلْكُ مَرْقَاةً إِلى الفَلَكِ

To you, a lofty angel and a king,

To you from an exalted angel and from a sublime king,

Our ships became a ladder to the celestial sphere.

Our ship was a ladder to the heavens,

فُزْنا بتقبيل أَرضٍ قد وطِئْتَ بها

فُزْنا بتقبيل أَرضٍ قد وطِئْتَ بها

باتَ السِّماكُ يراها أَرْفَعَ السُّمُكِ

باتَ السِّماكُ يراها أَرْفَعَ السُّمُكِ

We gained the joy of kissing ground you had trodden,

So we won by kissing a land you tread upon,

Al-Simak spent the night deeming it loftiest in height.

The fishes saw it, the highest of their kind.

واحْطُطْ سُرادِقَكَ المضروب عن قَمَرِ

واحْطُطْ سُرادِقَكَ المضروب عن قَمَرِ

فإِنَّما هو مَحْبُوكٌ منَ الحُبُكِ

فإِنَّما هو مَحْبُوكٌ منَ الحُبُكِ

And take down your pavilion, pitched over a moon,

And lower your tent beaten down about the moon,

For it is woven only from the celestial paths.

Since it is but woven from webs.

واسحَبْ على السُّحْبِ إِنْ كَفَّتْ وإِنْ وَكَفَتْ

واسحَبْ على السُّحْبِ إِنْ كَفَّتْ وإِنْ وَكَفَتْ

أَذيالَ منسكبٍ جارٍ بمُنْسَبِكِ

أَذيالَ منسكبٍ جارٍ بمُنْسَبِكِ

And trail over the clouds, whether they withhold or rain,

And pull over the clouds if they close in around you,

The skirts of one pouring forth, flowing with molten metal.

The trailing trains of your pouring robes.

ضَرَبْتَ من سِكَّكِ الحربِ المُبَادِ بها

ضَرَبْتَ من سِكَّكِ الحربِ المُبَادِ بها

ما صَيَّرَ اسْمَكَ مضروباً على السِّكَكِ

ما صَيَّرَ اسْمَكَ مضروباً على السِّكَكِ

Along the paths of war that lays men waste, you struck

With your unsheathed sword you struck such battle

Blows that had your name stamped upon the coins.

That it did not make your name one struck on the roads.

ما دون بأْسِكَ بالٌ غيرُ مُنْكَسِفٍ

ما دون بأْسِكَ بالٌ غيرُ مُنْكَسِفٍ

ولا دَمٌ من عدُوٍّ غيرُ مُنْسَفِكِ

ولا دَمٌ من عدُوٍّ غيرُ مُنْسَفِكِ

No mind before your might remains uneclipsed,

Naught is insignificant with your might save the high-sailing,

Nor any enemy's blood remains unshed.

Nor blood from a foe save your own blood spilled.

يفديكَ مَنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ تعلُوهُ في دَرَجٍ

يفديكَ مَنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ تعلُوهُ في دَرَجٍ

ولم يَزَلْ دُونَها ينحَطُّ في دَرَكِ

ولم يَزَلْ دُونَها ينحَطُّ في دَرَكِ

May he be your ransom whom you ever surpass, rank by rank,

He ransoms you who was never lowered in degree,

And who beneath them keeps descending into lower depths.

And was never beneath it, slipping down in worth.

أَحَلَّكَ السَّعْدُ فوق البدرِ منزِلَةً

أَحَلَّكَ السَّعْدُ فوق البدرِ منزِلَةً

من أَجْلِهَا هُوَ لا يَنْفَكُّ في الحَلَكِ

من أَجْلِهَا هُوَ لا يَنْفَكُّ في الحَلَكِ

Good fortune lodged you in a station above the full moon,

Good fortune established you above the moon in station,

Because of which it remains forever in pitch darkness.

So that it cannot detach itself from its cycle.

وبات ذو التَّاجِ فيما أَنتَ تأْمُرُهُ

وبات ذو التَّاجِ فيما أَنتَ تأْمُرُهُ

يا ذا الذُّؤابةِ مشفوعاً بذِي الحُبُكِ

يا ذا الذُّؤابةِ مشفوعاً بذِي الحُبُكِ

And the crowned one spends the night at your command,

And he of the crown remains, as you command him,

O lord of the forelock, paired with the bearer of celestial paths.

O you of piercing glances, interceded for by the beloved.

دانَتْ لَكَ الصِّيدُ خوفاً أَن تَصَيَّدَهَا

دانَتْ لَكَ الصِّيدُ خوفاً أَن تَصَيَّدَهَا

لما قَذَفْتَ بأَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ في الشَّرَكِ

لما قَذَفْتَ بأَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ في الشَّرَكِ

The proud lords submitted to you, fearing you would hunt them,

The prey came near you in fear that you would hunt them

When you hurled the people of polytheism into the snare.

When you hurled the idolaters into the pit.

أَلْفَتْكَ والفَتْكُ حالٌ مُذْ شُغِفْتَ بها

أَلْفَتْكَ والفَتْكُ حالٌ مُذْ شُغِفْتَ بها

لم يُنْسِكَ الدِّينُ فيها حُرْمَةَ النُّسُكِ

لم يُنْسِكَ الدِّينُ فيها حُرْمَةَ النُّسُكِ

They found you, deadly assault your wont since you became enamored of it;

You were intimate with destruction when you were impassioned by it;

Faith did not let you forget, amid it, the sanctity of worship.

Religion did not make you forget the sanctity of devotion.

تركتَ بعد بلالٍ كُلَّ صالحةٍ

تركتَ بعد بلالٍ كُلَّ صالحةٍ

كانت له خَيْرَ ما أَبقى من التِّرَكِ

كانت له خَيْرَ ما أَبقى من التِّرَكِ

You preserved, after Bilal, every virtue

You left, after Bilal, every excellence,

That was the best of the legacies he left.

That was the best that remained of your inheritance.

والمُلْكُ أَهَّلَكَ اللُّه اللطيفُ له

والمُلْكُ أَهَّلَكَ اللُّه اللطيفُ له

من بعدِ ما كادَ أَنْ يُشْفِي على الهَلَكِ

من بعدِ ما كادَ أَنْ يُشْفِي على الهَلَكِ

As for kingship, God, the Gentle, made you worthy of it,

And the kingdom made you capable, O Gentle One, for it,

After it had almost reached the brink of ruin.

After it had almost despaired of ruin.

أَنْزَلْتَ دُونَ مطاهُ كُلَّ مرتكِبٍ

أَنْزَلْتَ دُونَ مطاهُ كُلَّ مرتكِبٍ

بناهضٍ من مُراعٍ غيرِ مُرْتَبِكِ

بناهضٍ من مُراعٍ غيرِ مُرْتَبِكِ

You brought every rider down from its back,

You laid low under its mounts every arrogant one,

With a rising force from one watchful and never bewildered.

The intrepid rider unseated from his mare.

لك الحصونُ فإِنْ كانت مُمَنَّعَةً

لك الحصونُ فإِنْ كانت مُمَنَّعَةً

ما بين مُنْتَهِكٍ بادٍ ومُنْتَهَكِ

ما بين مُنْتَهِكٍ بادٍ ومُنْتَهَكِ

The fortresses are yours, though they are impregnable,

The fortresses are yours - and if they were inaccessible,

Between an assailant in the open and one assailed.

What lies between destroyer and destroyed.

أَلقَتْ إِليك مقاليدَ الأُمورِ بها

أَلقَتْ إِليك مقاليدَ الأُمورِ بها

غاراتُ مُضْطلعٍ بالخطبِ مُحْتَنِكِ

غاراتُ مُضْطلعٍ بالخطبِ مُحْتَنِكِ

The keys to their affairs were thrown into your hands

The reins of command flung themselves to you in them,

By the raids of a seasoned man who shoulders the crisis.

With raids of an attacker, grappling in earnest.

رأَوْا حُسامَكَ ما أَضْحَكْتَ صَفْحَتَهُ

رأَوْا حُسامَكَ ما أَضْحَكْتَ صَفْحَتَهُ

إِلا وأَبْكَيْتها من شِدَّةِ الضَّحِكِ

إِلا وأَبْكَيْتها من شِدَّةِ الضَّحِكِ

They saw your sword: you never made its blade laugh

They saw your sword - it did not smile at them

Without making it weep from the intensity of laughter.

Except to make them weep violently from laughing.

فَسَلَّمُوها وتَهْنيِهِمْ مُسَالَمَةٌ

فَسَلَّمُوها وتَهْنيِهِمْ مُسَالَمَةٌ

رَمَتْ بِمُعْتَكَرٍ عنهم ومُعْتَرَكِ

رَمَتْ بِمُعْتَكَرٍ عنهم ومُعْتَرَكِ

So they surrendered them, and a peace gladdens them

So they surrendered to peaceful coexistence with you

That flung swirling turmoil and combat away from them.

Aiming their army away from you and battle.

ما أدركوا سَعْيَكَ العالي وما بَلَغُوا

ما أدركوا سَعْيَكَ العالي وما بَلَغُوا

فهَلْ عليهم إِذا خافوك من دَرَكِ

فهَلْ عليهم إِذا خافوك من دَرَكِ

They did not match your lofty striving, nor attain it;

They could not attain your lofty ambition nor gain your heights -

So is there any blame on them if they feared you?

So what fault lies with them if they fear you and your might?

يهنى الأَميرَيْنِ أَنَّ الملكَ مُتَّصِلٌ

يهنى الأَميرَيْنِ أَنَّ الملكَ مُتَّصِلٌ

حتى تقومَ ملوكُ الأرْضِ للمَلِكِ

حتى تقومَ ملوكُ الأرْضِ للمَلِكِ

It gladdens the two princes that dominion endures,

It gives the two rulers joy that the kingdom continues unbroken

Until the kings of the earth rise for the king.

Until the kings of earth rise for the King.

بدرانِ جاءَا منَ العَلْيَا بمُشْتَبِهٍ

بدرانِ جاءَا منَ العَلْيَا بمُشْتَبِهٍ

منَ العوالي عليه كُلُّ مُشْتَبِكِ

منَ العوالي عليه كُلُّ مُشْتَبِكِ

Two full moons, who came from the heights with a mingled array

Two moons came from the Highest with something in common -

Of tall spears, upon which every combatant is entangled.

From the heights over them is each partaker.

فكُلَّما استركا فيما به انفردا

فكُلَّما استركا فيما به انفردا

جِئْنَا بمنفردٍ منهم ومُشْتَرِكِ

جِئْنَا بمنفردٍ منهم ومُشْتَرِكِ

So whenever they shared what made them unique,

So whenever they alone partake in what distinguishes them,

We brought forth what was individual to them and what was shared.

We come with one distinguished among them and partaking.

يا من يُحَدِّثُ عن يامٍ بمُؤْتَنِفٍ

يا من يُحَدِّثُ عن يامٍ بمُؤْتَنِفٍ

من مَجْدِها قُلْ وبالِغْ غَيْرَ مُؤْتَفِكِ

من مَجْدِها قُلْ وبالِغْ غَيْرَ مُؤْتَفِكِ

O you who tell of Yam with fresh accounts

O you who brings renewed news of days gone by,

Of its glory: speak, and go to extremes without lying.

Say - and do not stint - from their glory, other than your own.

أَوصافُ آلِ زُرَيْعٍ رَفَّ مَنْبِتُها

أَوصافُ آلِ زُرَيْعٍ رَفَّ مَنْبِتُها

فبات حاسِدُها الأَشقى على الحَسَكِ

فبات حاسِدُها الأَشقى على الحَسَكِ

The qualities of the house of Zurayʿ flourished at their root,

The attributes of Zurei's house raised up their growth,

So their most wretched envier spent the night upon thorns.

And so their envious enemies spent the night in misery.

والمُلْكُ شمسٌ ولولا ياسِرٌ أُخِذَتْ

والمُلْكُ شمسٌ ولولا ياسِرٌ أُخِذَتْ

كما أُدُلكت تلكَ الشمسُ في الدَّلَكِ

كما أُدُلكت تلكَ الشمسُ في الدَّلَكِ

Kingship is a sun; but for Yasir it would have been seized,

The kingdom is a sun - and were it not for the helping hand

As that sun was made to decline at sunset.

It would have been eclipsed like that sun in its decline.

ذو الحِلْمِ يُرْمَى حِراكٌ بالسُّكونِ له

ذو الحِلْمِ يُرْمَى حِراكٌ بالسُّكونِ له

والكيدِ يُرْمَى سكونٌ منه بالحَرَكِ

والكيدِ يُرْمَى سكونٌ منه بالحَرَكِ

A man of forbearance: motion is met by his stillness,

The forbearing are assailed with stillness for its sake,

And of cunning: stillness is met by motion from him.

And malice is assailed with stillness from it, by its motion.

في آلةِ البأْسِ والأَيامُ باسِمَةٌ

في آلةِ البأْسِ والأَيامُ باسِمَةٌ

فإِنْ شَكَكْتَ فَسَلْ مَسْرُودَةَ الشِّكَكِ

فإِنْ شَكَكْتَ فَسَلْ مَسْرُودَةَ الشِّكَكِ

In the gear of war, while the days are smiling;

In the implement of might - and days are mighty -

If you doubt, ask the linked coats of mail.

If you doubt, then ask the outspread earth.

وقُلْ لمَنْ ورِثَتْ أَعمارَهُمْ يَدُهُ

وقُلْ لمَنْ ورِثَتْ أَعمارَهُمْ يَدُهُ

أَفناكُمُ السَّعْيُ في السَّمُّورِ والفَنَكِ

أَفناكُمُ السَّعْيُ في السَّمُّورِ والفَنَكِ

And say to those whose lifespans his hand inherited:

And say to those who inherited that their lifetimes' work

Your pursuit of sable and fennec fur has destroyed you.

Did effort in exultation and zeal exhaust you?

هذا هُوَ العُرْوَةُ الوُثْقَى لمُمْسِكِها

هذا هُوَ العُرْوَةُ الوُثْقَى لمُمْسِكِها

عزًّا فلا انفصَمَتْ في كفِّ مُمْتَسِكِ

عزًّا فلا انفصَمَتْ في كفِّ مُمْتَسِكِ

He is the firmest handhold for whoever grasps it

This is the firm handhold for whoever grasps it,

For strength—may it never break in a steadfast holder's hand.

Glory - so it did not snap in the hand of one who held to it.

هذا هُوَ البَحْرُ لم تُتْرَكْ مواهِبُهُ

هذا هُوَ البَحْرُ لم تُتْرَكْ مواهِبُهُ

والبحرُ من آخِذٍ منه ومُتَّركِ

والبحرُ من آخِذٍ منه ومُتَّركِ

He is the sea whose gifts are never left untaken,

This is the sea - its gifts were not neglected,

While the sea has those who take from it and those who leave it.

And it is a sea, whether one draws from it or leaves it.

لم يَحْكِ جُودَ يَدَيْهِ الغيثُ منهمِراً

لم يَحْكِ جُودَ يَدَيْهِ الغيثُ منهمِراً

ومثلَ ما حِكْتَ فيه الرَّوْضُ لَمْ يَحِكِ

ومثلَ ما حِكْتَ فيه الرَّوْضُ لَمْ يَحِكِ

The pouring rain has never matched the generosity of his hands,

The rain did not scratch its pouring generosity,

Nor has the garden woven the like of what you wove about him.

And the meadow did not scratch the like of what you scratched in it.

شِعْرٌ هُوَ المِسْكُ مفتونًا لنا شِقِهِ

شِعْرٌ هُوَ المِسْكُ مفتونًا لنا شِقِهِ

تَضُوعُ من رَبَّةِ الخَلْخَالِ والمَسَكِ

تَضُوعُ من رَبَّةِ الخَلْخَالِ والمَسَكِ

Poetry that is musk—'bewitched for us, its half' [wording unclear]—

Poetry - it is musk intoxicating us, a rending of its pods,

Wafting from the lady of anklet and bracelets.

Flowing without reserve in the cheeks when

يَجْرِي بغيرِ حجابٍ في اللَّهَاةِ إِذا

يَجْرِي بغيرِ حجابٍ في اللَّهَاةِ إِذا

ما غَيْرُهُ كان منشوباً على الحَنَكِ

ما غَيْرُهُ كان منشوباً على الحَنَكِ

It flows unhindered past the uvula, when

Nothing else is pure, mixed on the palette.

Other verse is lodged upon the palate.