هِيَshe الشَمسُthe sun مَغرِبُهاher setting-place فيin الكِلَلthe canopies
هِيَ الشَمسُ مَغرِبُها في الكِلَل
وَمَطلَعُهاand her rising-place مِنfrom جُيوبِthe neck openings الحُلَلof the robes
وَمَطلَعُها مِن جُيوبِ الحُلَل
She is the sun: her setting-place is within the canopies,
She is the sun, her sunset in the darkness,
and her rising is from the necklines of robes.
Her rise from the horizons of beauty.
وَغُصنٌand a bough تَرَشَّفَhas sipped ماءَthe water الشَبابِof youth
وَغُصنٌ تَرَشَّفَ ماءَ الشَبابِ
ثَراهُits soil الهَوىlove وَجَناهُand its fruit الأَمَلhope
ثَراهُ الهَوى وَجَناهُ الأَمَل
And a bough that has sipped the water of youth,
A branch sipping the water of youth,
its soil is love, and its fruit is hope.
Whose foliage hope has sprinkled and dreams have made green.
تَهادىshe walks swaying لَطيفَةَslender طَيِّthe fold الوِشاحِof the sash
تَهادى لَطيفَةَ طَيِّ الوِشاحِ
وَتَرنوand she gazes ضَعيفَةَlanguid كَرِّthe turning المُقَلof the eyes
وَتَرنو ضَعيفَةَ كَرِّ المُقَل
She walks swaying, slender at the fold of her sash,
Swaying gently, wrapped in her veil’s folds,
and gazes with languid turns of her eyes.
Bending weakly, clasping her garment’s hem,
وَتَبرُزُand she appears خَلفَbehind حِجابِthe veil العَفافِof chastity
وَتَبرُزُ خَلفَ حِجابِ العَفافِ
وَتَسفِرُand she unveils her face تَحتَbeneath نِقابِthe face-veil الخَجَلof shyness
وَتَسفِرُ تَحتَ نِقابِ الخَجَل
And she appears behind the veil of chastity,
She steps out from behind the veil of chastity,
and unveils her face beneath the veil of shyness.
And is unveiled beneath the cloak of shyness.
بَدَتshe appeared فيamong لِداتٍmaidens her age كَزُهرِlike the bright ones النُجومِof the stars
بَدَت في لِداتٍ كَزُهرِ النُجومِ
حِسانِbeautiful التَحَلّيin adornment مِلاحِlovely العَطَلwithout adornment
حِسانِ التَحَلّي مِلاحِ العَطَل
She appeared among maidens her age, like radiant stars,
She appeared in gentle beauty like a blossoming star,
beautiful in adornment, lovely without it.
Adorned with the beauty of one dressed up and ready for relaxation.
مَشَينَthey walked يُهادينَexchanging gifts with رَوضَthe gardens الرُبىof the hills
مَشَينَ يُهادينَ رَوضَ الرُبى
بِيانِعِwith the fresh growth رَوضِof the garden الصِباof youth المُقتَبَلnewly budding
بِيانِعِ رَوضِ الصِبا المُقتَبَل
They walked, exchanging gifts with the gardens of the hills,
Strolling slowly through the garden of happiness
with the fresh growth of the garden of budding youth.
In the flourishing garden of blossoming youth.
فَمِنso some are قُضُبٍboughs تَتَثَنّىswaying بِريحٍin a breeze
فَمِن قُضُبٍ تَتَثَنّى بِريحٍ
وَمِنand some are قُضُبٍboughs تَتَثَنّىswaying بِدَلّwith coquetry
وَمِن قُضُبٍ تَتَثَنّى بِدَلّ
Some are boughs swaying in a breeze,
There branches swaying gracefully.
and some are boughs swaying with coquetry.
There flowers scenting delicately with basil.
وَمِنand some are زَهَراتٍblossoms تُنَدّىmoistened بِمِسكٍwith musk
وَمِن زَهَراتٍ تُنَدّى بِمِسكٍ
وَمِنand some are زَهَراتٍblossoms تُنَدّىmoistened بِطَلّwith dew
وَمِن زَهَراتٍ تُنَدّى بِطَلّ
And some are blossoms moistened with musk,
Guardians keep watch over their tribe
and some are blossoms moistened with dew.
And the square of its encampment remains pitched.
تَعاهَدَmay tend صَوبُthe downpour العِهادِof recurring rains الحِمىthe sanctuary
تَعاهَدَ صَوبُ العِهادِ الحِمى
وَلاand may not زالَcease مَربَعُهاher spring abode فيin مَلَلMalal
وَلا زالَ مَربَعُها في مَلَل
May the downpour of recurring rains tend the sanctuary,
The goal of love is protecting one’s neighbor,
and may her spring abode ever remain in Malal.
For him the approach of union has withered.
مَرادٌa haunt مِنَof الحُبِّlove غَضُّfresh and tender الجَنىin fruit
مَرادٌ مِنَ الحُبِّ غَضُّ الجَنى
لَدَيهِwith it مِنَof الوَصلِunion وِردٌa draught عَلَلrepeated drinking
لَدَيهِ مِنَ الوَصلِ وِردٌ عَلَل
A haunt of love, its fruit fresh and tender,
Nights in which a lover ceased not to send joy,
there, union offers draught after draught.
A companion conversing secretly and a guardian unaware.
لَيالِيَnights ماnot اِنفَكَّceased يُهديbringing السُرورَjoy
لَيالِيَ ما اِنفَكَّ يُهدي السُرورَ
حَبيبٌa beloved سَرىcame by night وَرَقيبٌand a watcher غَفَلwas off guard
حَبيبٌ سَرى وَرَقيبٌ غَفَل
Nights when joy was ceaselessly brought
An era as if the noble Muslim youth—
by a beloved who came by night and a watcher off guard.
Its justice encompassed him and so he grew moderate.
زَمانٌan age كَأَنَّas though الفَتىthe young man المَسلَمِيَّal-Maslami
زَمانٌ كَأَنَّ الفَتى المَسلَمِيَّ
تَكَنَّفَهُencompassed it عَدلُهُhis justice فَاِعتَدَلand so it grew just
تَكَنَّفَهُ عَدلُهُ فَاِعتَدَل
An age, as though young al-Maslami's
It began to restore through its rule,
justice had encompassed it, and it grew just.
The glory of religion from the days of loss.
تَدارَكَhe redressed matters مِنthrough حُكمِهِhis rule أَنthat يُعيدَhe restore
تَدارَكَ مِن حُكمِهِ أَن يُعيدَ
بِهِthrough it عِزَّةَthe might الدينِof religion أَيّامَin the days ذَلّit was abased
بِهِ عِزَّةَ الدينِ أَيّامَ ذَلّ
He took care through his rule to restore
And to illuminate the waymarks of piety when forgotten
thereby the might of religion in days of abasement,
And to reveal the star of guidance when it had set.
وَيوضِحَand make clear رَسمَthe outline التُقىof piety إِذwhen عَفاit had faded
وَيوضِحَ رَسمَ التُقى إِذ عَفا
وَيُطلِعَand raise نَجمَthe star الهُدىof guidance إِذwhen أَفَلit had set
وَيُطلِعَ نَجمَ الهُدى إِذ أَفَل
and clarify the outline of piety when it had faded,
We praise the Victorious when he saw
and raise the star of guidance when it had set.
For our Mansur a course of action and so took example.
حَمِدناwe praised المُظَفَّرَal-Muzaffar لَمّاwhen رَأىhe saw
حَمِدنا المُظَفَّرَ لَمّا رَأى
لِمَنصورِناof our Mansur سيرَةًconduct فَاِمتَثَلand so followed it
لِمَنصورِنا سيرَةً فَاِمتَثَل
We praised al-Muzaffar when he saw
A sovereign before whom a vision appeared—
our Mansur's conduct and followed its example.
He contemplated it carefully and so was admonished.
مَليكٌa king تَجَلّىit shone forth لَهُto him غُرَّةًas a bright distinction
مَليكٌ تَجَلّى لَهُ غُرَّةً
تَأَمَّلَهاhe considered it غِرَّةًan opportunity تُهتَبَلto be seized
تَأَمَّلَها غِرَّةً تُهتَبَل
A king: it shone before him as a bright distinction,
The noblest of people in position,
and he saw in it an opportunity to be seized.
The most renowned of them in high example.
أَشَفُّhighest الوَرىof humankind فيin النُهىintellect رُتبَةًin rank
أَشَفُّ الوَرى في النُهى رُتبَةً
وَأَشهَرُهُمand their most renowned فيin المَعاليlofty achievements مَثَلas an exemplar
وَأَشهَرُهُم في المَعالي مَثَل
Highest among humankind in intellectual rank,
The most deserving of people of command and prohibition,
and their most renowned exemplar of lofty achievements.
The most knowledgeable of kings of binding pacts and loosing them.
وَأَحرىand most worthy الأَنامِof humankind بِأَمرٍto command وَنَهيٍand to forbid
وَأَحرى الأَنامِ بِأَمرٍ وَنَهيٍ
وَأَدرىand most knowledgeable المُلوكِof kings بِعَقدٍin binding وَحَلّand unbinding
وَأَدرى المُلوكِ بِعَقدٍ وَحَلّ
And of all people most worthy to command and forbid,
Yemen’s is the crown amongst them
and of all kings most skilled in binding and unbinding.
Through what its earliest Tubba’s inherited.
يَمانٍa Yemeni لَهُto him belongs التاجُthe crown مِنfrom بَينِهِمamong them
يَمانٍ لَهُ التاجُ مِن بَينِهِم
بِماby what أَورَثَbequeathed التُبَّعونَthe Tubbaʿ kings الأُوَلthe earliest
بِما أَورَثَ التُبَّعونَ الأُوَل
A Yemeni, whose is the crown among them,
Aloft, a banner of glory,
through the legacy of the earliest Tubbaʿ kings.
Beneath which enemies remain humbled.
سَنامٌa hump مِنَof المَجدِglory عاليlofty الذُراin its crests
سَنامٌ مِنَ المَجدِ عالي الذُرا
يَظَلُّremain العِداthe enemies مِنهُfrom him تَحتَbeneath الأَظَلّthe foot's sole
يَظَلُّ العِدا مِنهُ تَحتَ الأَظَلّ
A lofty-crested hump of glory,
As a babe he lay in the cradle beneath the shade of the banner,
his enemies ever beneath the sole of his foot.
And as a youth he rose up bearing it independently.
تَقَيَّلَhe rested at midday فيin المَهدِthe cradle ظِلَّthe shade اللِواءَof the banner
تَقَيَّلَ في المَهدِ ظِلَّ اللِواءَ
وَسيمَand he was charged with النُهوضَrising بِهِwith it فَاِستَقَلّand so he bore it aloft
وَسيمَ النُهوضَ بِهِ فَاِستَقَلّ
In the cradle he rested beneath the banner's shade,
His capable supporters took the place
and, charged with raising it, he bore it aloft.
Of his talismans, so he endured.
وَنيطَتand were hung حَمائِلُهُhis sword-straps الوافِياتُthe ample ones
وَنيطَت حَمائِلُهُ الوافِياتُ
مَكانَin place of تَمائِمِهِhis amulets فَاِحتَمَلand so he bore them
مَكانَ تَمائِمِهِ فَاِحتَمَل
And his ample sword-straps were hung
That blood only grew cold when in the cold was
in place of his amulets, and he bore them.
A formidable lion who battled fiercely.
وَماand never بَلَّتِwetted البُردَthe mantle تِلكَthose الدُموthe tears (first fragment)
وَما بَلَّتِ البُردَ تِلكَ الدُمو
عُending of 'tears' إِلّاexcept وَفيand in البُردِthe mantle لَيثٌa lion أَبَلّdauntless
عُ إِلّا وَفي البُردِ لَيثٌ أَبَلّ
And those tears never wetted the mantle
From him we knew noble deeds—
without a dauntless lion within that mantle.
Reports giving us good tidings of bountiful gifts.
عَهِدناwe knew المَكارِمَnoble virtues فيهِin him مَعانيas inner meanings
عَهِدنا المَكارِمَ فيهِ مَعاني
تُبَشِّرُناgive us glad promise فيهِin him مِنهاof them الجُمَلthe outlines
تُبَشِّرُنا فيهِ مِنها الجُمَل
We knew noble virtues in him as inner meanings;
After glad tidings you will see clouds
their outlines in him gave us glad promise.
Whose lightning has flashed brightly and lit up.
تُرىare seen بَعدَafter بِشرٍa cheerful smile يُريكَthat shows you الغَمامَthe raincloud
تُرى بَعدَ بِشرٍ يُريكَ الغَمامَ
تَهَلَّلَgleamed بارِقُهُits lightning فَاِستَهَلّthen it poured rain
تَهَلَّلَ بارِقُهُ فَاِستَهَلّ
They appear after a smile that shows you a raincloud,
Confirming what hope told us of him,
whose lightning flashes, and then it pours.
Or what fancy informed us, perhaps.
يُصَدِّقُhe makes true ماwhat حَدَّثَتناtold us عَسى'perhaps'
يُصَدِّقُ ما حَدَّثَتنا عَسى
بِهِof it عَنهُabout him أَوor أَنبَأتَناinformed us لَعَلّ'maybe'
بِهِ عَنهُ أَو أَنبَأتَنا لَعَلّ
He makes true what 'perhaps' has told us
What anticipation promised has been fulfilled,
of him, or what 'maybe' has foretold us.
And what the soul stated has been done.
فَماso nothing وَعَدَpromised الظَنُّexpectation إِلّاexcept that وَفىhe fulfilled it
فَما وَعَدَ الظَنُّ إِلّا وَفى
وَلاand nothing قالَتِsaid النَفسُthe soul إِلّاexcept that فَعَلhe did it
وَلا قالَتِ النَفسُ إِلّا فَعَل
So expectation promised nothing he did not fulfill,
He met his adversary with what would ward him off
and the soul voiced nothing that he did not do.
And gave his aspirant what he sought.
فَلَقّىso he made encounter مُناوِئَهُhis adversary ماwhat اِتَّقىhe dreaded
فَلَقّى مُناوِئَهُ ما اِتَّقى
وَأَعطىand he gave مُؤَمِّلَهُthe one hoping in him ماwhat سَأَلhe asked for
وَأَعطى مُؤَمِّلَهُ ما سَأَل
So he made his adversary meet what he dreaded,
How oft were his gifts thanked,
and gave the one who hoped in him what he asked.
So he continued to bestow favors, one after another.
كَمِhow often اِستَوفَتِreceived in full الشُكرَthanks نَعماؤُهُhis favors
كَمِ اِستَوفَتِ الشُكرَ نَعماؤُهُ
فَأَقبَلَthen he proceeded يُنعِمُto bestow favors مِنfrom ذيa point of قَبَلbeginning
فَأَقبَلَ يُنعِمُ مِن ذي قَبَل
How often his favors received their full measure of thanks,
A raincloud shading, a sun illuminating,
then he went on bestowing favors afresh.
An overflowing sea, and a sword unleashed.
غَمامٌa cloud يُظِلُّthat shades وَشَمسٌand a sun تُنيرُthat illuminates
غَمامٌ يُظِلُّ وَشَمسٌ تُنيرُ
وَبَحرٌand a sea يَفيضُthat overflows وَسَيفٌand a sword يُسَلّthat is drawn
وَبَحرٌ يَفيضُ وَسَيفٌ يُسَلّ
A cloud that shades, and a sun that gives light,
Dividing booty with smiles, easy with generosity,
and a sea that overflows, and a sword unsheathed.
Gentle in discourse, cultivated in debate.
قَسيمُhandsome المُحَيّاof face ضَحوكُsmiling السَماحِin generosity
قَسيمُ المُحَيّا ضَحوكُ السَماحِ
لَطيفُgentle الحِوارِin conversation أَديبُcultured الجَدَلin debate
لَطيفُ الحِوارِ أَديبُ الجَدَل
Handsome of face, smiling in his generosity,
His pens adorn rhetoric
gentle in conversation, cultured in debate.
Whenever the heart turns its attention to it.
تُوَشّيembroider البَلاغَةَeloquence أَقلامُهُhis pens
تُوَشّي البَلاغَةَ أَقلامُهُ
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الضَميرُinner thought عَلَيهاto them أَمَلّdictated
إِذا ما الضَميرُ عَلَيها أَمَلّ
His pens embroider eloquence
An eloquence making clear to listeners
when his inward thought dictates to them.
That for sorcery some license is allowable.
بَيانٌeloquence يُبَيِّنُthat makes clear لِلسامِعيto the listeners (first fragment)
بَيانٌ يُبَيِّنُ لِلسامِعي
نَending of 'listeners' أَنَّthat مِنَamong السِحرِmagic ماwhat يُستَحَلّis deemed lawful
نَ أَنَّ مِنَ السِحرِ ما يُستَحَلّ
An eloquence that makes clear to its listeners
But is there scope for faulting him?
that some magic is deemed lawful.
For how many an eye has attained perfection because of him!
أَلاmark this هَلis there سَبيلٌa way إِلىto العَيبِfinding fault فيهِin him
أَلا هَل سَبيلٌ إِلى العَيبِ فيهِ
فَكَمfor how many عينَwas struck by the evil eye مِنfrom قَبلِهِbefore him مَنone who كَمَلwas perfect
فَكَم عينَ مِن قَبلِهِ مَن كَمَل
Tell me, is there any way to find fault in him?
If the dominion of kings he donned, wearing it spaciously,
For many a perfect man before him was struck by the evil eye.
Verily he has trailed behind it a splendid train.
لَئِنeven if لَبِسَhe donned المُلكَsovereignty رَحبَample المُلاthe robes (first fragment)
لَئِن لَبِسَ المُلكَ رَحبَ المُلا
إِending of 'robes' فَاِختالَthen strode proudly مِنهُof it بِذَيلٍwith a train رَفَلtrailing lavishly
إِ فَاِختالَ مِنهُ بِذَيلٍ رَفَل
Though he donned sovereignty's ample robes,
His preparation for lofty deeds
and strode proudly in its sweeping train,
And his zeal for grand accomplishments—
فَإِنَّyet surely تَزَوُّدَهُhis taking provisions لِلمَعاليis for lofty achievements
فَإِنَّ تَزَوُّدَهُ لِلمَعالي
وَإِنَّand surely تَأَهُّبَهُhis preparations لِلأَجَلّare for the most exalted
وَإِنَّ تَأَهُّبَهُ لِلأَجَلّ
yet his provisions are for lofty achievements,
O best regulator of these affairs
and his preparations are for what is most exalted.
And advisor to the holders of this authority!
فَياso O خَيرَbest سُوّاسِof governors هَذيthese الأُمورِaffairs
فَيا خَيرَ سُوّاسِ هَذي الأُمورِ
وَناسِكَand the devout one أَربابِamong the lords هَذيthese الدُوَلrealms
وَناسِكَ أَربابِ هَذي الدُوَل
So, O best of those who govern these affairs,
Would that I had fortified the frontiers, then they would not
and the devout one among the lords of these realms,
Have been breached, and restored what had fallen into disrepair.
وَليتَyou governed الثُغورَthe frontiers فَلَمand you did not تَعدُgo beyond أَنthat
وَليتَ الثُغورَ فَلَم تَعدُ أَن
رَأَبتَyou mended الثَأىthe breaches وَسَدَدتَand you closed الخَلَلthe gaps
رَأَبتَ الثَأى وَسَدَدتَ الخَلَل
you took charge of the frontiers and did nothing but
Other than you, when entrusted with command he transgressed,
mend the breaches and close the gaps.
And other than you, if the windfall of booty was possessed by him, he was prodigal.
سِواكَsomeone other than you إِذاwhen قُلِّدَis entrusted with الأَمرَauthority جارَacts unjustly
سِواكَ إِذا قُلِّدَ الأَمرَ جارَ
وَغَيرُكَand someone other than you إِنif مُلِّكَis given possession of الفَيءَthe public revenues غَلّembezzles
وَغَيرُكَ إِن مُلِّكَ الفَيءَ غَلّ
Another, when entrusted with authority, acts unjustly,
A sanctuary, never ceasing, belonging to its settler,
and another, if given the public revenues, embezzles.
Refuge from nonexistence or dread.
حِمىًa sanctuary لاnot يَزالُceases لِمَنfor whoever حَلَّهُdwells in it
حِمىً لا يَزالُ لِمَن حَلَّهُ
أَمانانِtwo safeguards مِنagainst عَدَمٍwant أَوor وَجَلfear
أَمانانِ مِن عَدَمٍ أَو وَجَل
A sanctuary whose dwellers always have
So the stars of their days are auspicious,
two safeguards against want or fear.
And the sun of their time continues rising.
فَأَنجُمُso the stars دَهرِهُمُof their age سَعدَةٌauspicious
فَأَنجُمُ دَهرِهُمُ سَعدَةٌ
وَشَمسُand the sun زَمانِهِمُof their time فيin الحَمَلAries
وَشَمسُ زَمانِهِمُ في الحَمَل
Thus the stars of their days are auspicious,
O Abu Bakr, hear accounts which if
and the sun of their time is in Aries.
They were related to the ears of one infirm, he would recover!
أَباO father of بَكرٍBakr اِسمَعhear أَحاديثَwords لَوif
أَبا بَكرٍ اِسمَع أَحاديثَ لَو
تُبَثُّwere conveyed بِسَمعِto the hearing of عَليلٍa sick person أَبَلّhe would recover
تُبَثُّ بِسَمعِ عَليلٍ أَبَلّ
Abu Bakr, hear words which, if
I will thank you for elevating me
spoken into a sick man's ear, would heal him.
To the most coveted place and nearest position.
سَأَشكُرُI shall give thanks أَنَّكَthat you أَعلَيتَنيyou raised me
سَأَشكُرُ أَنَّكَ أَعلَيتَني
بِأَحظىto the most favored مَكانٍplace وَأَدنىand the nearest مَحَلّseat
بِأَحظى مَكانٍ وَأَدنى مَحَلّ
I shall give thanks that you have raised me
That when I visit, you do not veil yourself
to the most favored place and the nearest seat,
And when I sit with you long, you do not weary.
وَأَنّيand that I إِنif زُرتُI visited لَمdid not تَحتَجِبyou conceal yourself
وَأَنّي إِن زُرتُ لَم تَحتَجِب
وَإِنand if طالَgrew long بيfor me مَجلِسٌan audience لَمdid not تَمَلّyou grow weary
وَإِن طالَ بي مَجلِسٌ لَم تَمَلّ
and that, when I visited, you did not withdraw,
You smiled and then bent the cushion,
and if my audience ran long, you did not grow weary.
So for me that subtle gesture suffices from familiarity.
تَبَسَّمتَyou smiled ثُمَّthen ثَنَيتَyou folded الوِسادَthe cushion
تَبَسَّمتَ ثُمَّ ثَنَيتَ الوِسادَ
فَحَسبِيَso enough for me مِنof خَطَرٍhonor ماhow أَجَلّexalted it is
فَحَسبِيَ مِن خَطَرٍ ما أَجَلّ
You smiled, then folded the cushion,
If dust touched my cheek, it would melt,
and that is honor enough for me—how exalted!
And if a shower equaled my gratitude, it would be paltry.
فَلَوso even if صافَحَtouched التِبرَunminted gold خَدّيmy cheek لَهانَit would be paltry
فَلَو صافَحَ التِبرَ خَدّي لَهانَ
وَلَوand even if كاثَرَoutnumbered القَطرَthe raindrops شُكريmy thanks لَقَلّit would be too little
وَلَو كاثَرَ القَطرَ شُكري لَقَلّ
Even if my cheek touched gold, it would count for little,
With its like, the noble one is flattered
and if my thanks outnumbered the raindrops, it would still be scant.
When an aspirant seeks him with other than it.
بِأَمثالِهاby the like of them يُستَرَقُّis enslaved الكَريمُthe noble man
بِأَمثالِها يُستَرَقُّ الكَريمُ
إِذاwhen مَطمَعٌa lure of gain بِسِواهُsomeone other than him أَخَلّhas undermined
إِذا مَطمَعٌ بِسِواهُ أَخَلّ
By such courtesies the noble man is enslaved,
Do not neglect the efforts through which
when a lure of gain has brought another low.
To the mother of cubs fighting fiercely you have inclined.
فَلاso may not تَعدَمَنكَever lack you المَساعيthe undertakings الَّتيwhich
فَلا تَعدَمَنكَ المَساعي الَّتي
لِأُمِّfor the mother of المُناويكَyour opponent فيهاin them الهَبَلbereavement
لِأُمِّ المُناويكَ فيها الهَبَل
May those undertakings never lack you—
For you are the bold one when the lion cubs have fled,
those in which your foe's mother suffers bereavement.
You are the guide when the stars have strayed.
فَأَنتَfor you are الجَريءُthe bold one إِذاwhen الشِبلُthe lion cub هابَis afraid
فَأَنتَ الجَريءُ إِذا الشِبلُ هابَ
وَأَنتَand you are الدَليلُthe guide إِذاwhen النَجمُthe star ضَلّloses its way
وَأَنتَ الدَليلُ إِذا النَجمُ ضَلّ
For you are the bold one when the lion cub is afraid,
Your son is none but the radiance of eyes
and you are the guide when the star loses its way.
When looking to other than him, one would apply kohl.
وَماand nothing is اِبنُكَyour son إِلّاbut جِلاءُa brightening العُيونِof the eyes
وَما اِبنُكَ إِلّا جِلاءُ العُيونِ
إِذاwhen ناظِرٌan eye بِسِواهُwith someone other than him اِكتَحَلhas applied kohl
إِذا ناظِرٌ بِسِواهُ اِكتَحَل
And your son is nothing but clarity for the eyes,
A suckling of sovereignty at her breast—
when an eye has taken another as its kohl.
She offers him her teat when it has filled.
رَبيبُthe fosterling السِيادَةِof lordship فيin حِجرِهاher lap
رَبيبُ السِيادَةِ في حِجرِها
تُدِرُّshe makes flow لَهُfor him ثَديَهاher breast إِذwhen حَفَلit is full
تُدِرُّ لَهُ ثَديَها إِذ حَفَل
The fosterling of lordship in her lap,
He kept to your footsteps in righteous deeds,
she makes her breast flow for him when it brims.
Never did he vary from them and never flag.
تَمَكَّنَhe has established himself يَتلوكَhe follows you فيin الصالِحاتِrighteous deeds
تَمَكَّنَ يَتلوكَ في الصالِحاتِ
فَلَمّاso not yet تَفُتهُhave you left him behind وَلَمّاand not yet يَنَلhas he caught up
فَلَمّا تَفُتهُ وَلَمّا يَنَل
He stands firmly, following you in righteous deeds,
so you have not yet left him behind, nor has he yet caught up.
Partial English translation: 102 of 104 Arabic lines translated.