إلىto الملكِthe king الوهَّابِthe generous giver ماwhat فيin يمينِهِhis right hand
إلى الملكِ الوهَّابِ ما في يمينِهِ
ولكنَّهُbut he بالعِرضِregarding honor جِدُّextremely بخيلِsparing
ولكنَّهُ بالعِرضِ جِدُّ بخيلِ
To the king who freely gives what is in his right hand,
To the generous king, what is in his right hand,
yet is exceedingly sparing with his honor.
Yet with honor he is very stingy.
يمتُّclaims descent إذاwhen استَنْسَبْتَهُyou ask his lineage بأبوَّةٍthrough paternal ancestry
يمتُّ إذا استَنْسَبْتَهُ بأبوَّةٍ
تمُدُّextends بِبَاعٍwith a reach فيin الفخارِglory طويلِlong
تمُدُّ بِبَاعٍ في الفخارِ طويلِ
When you ask his lineage, he traces a paternal ancestry
He boasts when you attribute him with fatherhood,
that stretches a long reach into glory.
Stretching with a long rope in pottery.
يضمُّhe joins عليّاًAli فيin الفخارِglory وطَالباًand Talib
يضمُّ عليّاً في الفخارِ وطَالباً
إلىto جعفرٍJa'far أكرِمْhow noble بهِhe is وعقيلِand Aqil
إلى جعفرٍ أكرِمْ بهِ وعقيلِ
He joins Ali and Talib in glory
He carries Ali in pottery and Talib
with Ja'far—how noble he is!—and Aqil.
To Ja'far be generous with him and Aqeel.
فيحرزُthus he attains غاياتِthe utmost limits of العُلاَeminence بِعُمومةٍthrough paternal kin
فيحرزُ غاياتِ العُلاَ بِعُمومةٍ
مُعَرِّقَةٍdeeply rooted فيin هاشمٍHashim وخؤولِand maternal kin
مُعَرِّقَةٍ في هاشمٍ وخؤولِ
Thus he attains the utmost heights through paternal kin
So he secures the heights of glory with generosity
rooted deep in Hashim, and maternal kin.
Perspiring in Hashim and Khuza'a.
إذاwhen استُصْرِخُواthey are summoned for help كانواthey were ليوثَlions of وقائعٍbattles
إذا استُصْرِخُوا كانوا ليوثَ وقائعٍ
أوor استسمحواthey are asked for bounty كانواthey were غُيوثَrainclouds مُحُولِdroughts
أو استسمحوا كانوا غُيوثَ مُحُولِ
When summoned for help, they were lions of battle,
If they cry for help, they are lions in battle,
or asked for bounty, they were rainclouds in drought.
Or if they seek pardon, they are roaring floods.
أولئكَthose قَومٌa people لاnot يُناغَىis cooed to وليدُهمtheir infant
أولئكَ قَومٌ لا يُناغَى وليدُهم
علىin مهدِهِhis cradle إلاَّexcept بِرَجْعِwith the echo of صَهيلِneighing
على مهدِهِ إلاَّ بِرَجْعِ صَهيلِ
Those are a people whose infant is never cooed to
Those are a people whose newborn is not lulled
in his cradle except with the echo of neighing.
In his cradle unless by the neighing of a steed.
لَهُhe has عندَat مَسْمُوعِhearing الثَناpraise أَرْيحيَّةٌgenerous joy
لَهُ عندَ مَسْمُوعِ الثَنا أَرْيحيَّةٌ
ترفُّflutters علىover عِرْضٍhonor أَغَرَّradiant صَقيلِpolished
ترفُّ على عِرْضٍ أَغَرَّ صَقيلِ
At the sound of praise, he feels a generous joy
He has, when praised, gentle agreeableness
that flutters over a radiant, burnished honor.
Floating on honor the face of a filled cup.
ومَشْحُوذُand of whetted عَزْمٍresolve لمnot يُصِبْhe encounters وزنَthe pattern of فاعلٍfāʿil, an active agent
ومَشْحُوذُ عَزْمٍ لم يُصِبْ وزنَ فاعلٍ
منamong الخَطبِcalamities إلاّexcept ارتَدَّit returns وَزْنَthe pattern of فَعيلِfaʿīl, here a passive victim
من الخَطبِ إلاّ ارتَدَّ وَزْنَ فَعيلِ
With whetted resolve, he never meets a fāʿil—an agent—
And resolute determination that has never been equaled
among calamities without its returning a faʿīl—a victim.
In discourse unless declined like an active participle.
سَلامٌa greeting كماas افترَّتْopened in a smile مَبَاسِمُthe smiling mouths of روضةٍa garden
سَلامٌ كما افترَّتْ مَبَاسِمُ روضةٍ
فَجَاءَand came بريَّاهاwith its fragrance نَسيمُa breeze قُبولِan east wind
فَجَاءَ بريَّاها نَسيمُ قُبولِ
A greeting, as a garden's smiling mouths unfold,
Greetings like smiles that adorn a garden
and a breeze from the east brings its fragrance.
When its breeze comes laden with acceptance.
وصفْوُand the purity of ثناءٍpraise ماnot يغِبُّlapses كماas صَفَاwas clear
وصفْوُ ثناءٍ ما يغِبُّ كما صَفَا
علىupon صفحاتِthe surfaces of الكَأسِthe cup وَجْهُthe face of شَمولِwine
على صفحاتِ الكَأسِ وَجْهُ شَمولِ
And pure praise that never lapses, as clear
Describe him with praise that does not disappear as clarity
as the face of wine upon the surfaces of the cup.
Appears on the surface of a cup and all-inclusiveness.
نزلتُI lodged بهِwith him والدهرُand Time حَربٌan enemy كأنّماas though
نزلتُ بهِ والدهرُ حَربٌ كأنّما
تطالبُنيdemand of me أحداثُهُits events بذُحُولِfor blood-debts
تطالبُني أحداثُهُ بذُحُولِ
I lodged with him while Time was an enemy, as though
I descended on him while time is a war as if
its events were demanding blood-vengeance from me.
Its events require me to fight.
فكانَso was نزوليmy lodging بابْنِwith a son of عمٍّa paternal uncle ووالدٍand a father
فكانَ نزولي بابْنِ عمٍّ ووالدٍ
وصِنْوٍand a brother ومَوْلَىand a patron صَالحٍgood وخليلِand a friend
وصِنْوٍ ومَوْلَى صَالحٍ وخليلِ
So I lodged with a cousin and a father,
So my descent was to the son of an uncle and father,
and a brother, a good patron, and a friend.
Ally, patron, and righteous friend.
أَسَاغَmade easy to swallow علىin رغمِdefiance of الحوادثِcalamities مَشربيْmy drink
أَسَاغَ على رغمِ الحوادثِ مَشربيْ
وبلَّغَنيand brought me to ممّاof what أُحاولُI seek سُوليmy desire
وبلَّغَني ممّا أُحاولُ سُولي
He made my drink easy to swallow despite calamities,
He made my drinking-place pleasant despite adversities,
and brought me the desire I sought.
And conveyed me what I strive for.
وقرَّand gladdened بماwith what أَولاَهُhe bestowed it أعينَthe eyes of أُسْرَتيmy family
وقرَّ بما أَولاَهُ أعينَ أُسْرَتي
وأَكْمدَand grieved حُسَّاديmy enviers وأفرحَand delighted جيليmy people
وأَكْمدَ حُسَّادي وأفرحَ جيلي
With what he bestowed, he gladdened my family's eyes,
And brought joy through what he granted to my family,
grieved my enviers, and delighted my people.
And disappointed my enviers and delighted my generation.
وأُتبِعُand I follow up شُكريmy thanks شكرَthe thanks of قَوْميَmy people فليفزْso may he gain
وأُتبِعُ شُكري شكرَ قَوْميَ فليفزْ
بشكريَwith my thanks مَوصولاًjoined بِشكرِto the thanks of قَبيليmy tribe
بشكريَ مَوصولاً بِشكرِ قَبيلي
I follow my thanks with my people's thanks; may he gain
And my gratitude will be followed by my people's gratitude,
my thanks, joined to the thanks of my tribe.
Continuous with the gratitude of my tribe.
ويعقبُand follows مَدْحيmy praise فيهof him مدحَthe praise of ثلاثةٍthree
ويعقبُ مَدْحي فيه مدحَ ثلاثةٍ
مَرَوْاthey drew out دَرَّthe flowing milk of أخلافِthe teats of البَيانِeloquence فُحُولِmaster poets
مَرَوْا دَرَّ أخلافِ البَيانِ فُحُولِ
And my praise of him follows the praise of three
And my praise of him will be followed by praising three
master poets who drew flowing milk from eloquence's teats.
Who have excelled the progeny of rhetoric and are masters.
إذاwhen استرسُلواthey run freely فيin حَلْبةِthe racecourse of النظمِverse أحْرَزواthey win
إذا استرسُلوا في حَلْبةِ النظمِ أحْرَزوا
مَدَاهاits farthest reach فلمso not يعلقْcould cling لهمto them بذُيولby the trailing hems
مَدَاها فلم يعلقْ لهم بذُيول
When they run freely in the racecourse of verse, they win
If they let loose in the arena of prosody they gain
its farthest goal; none can cling to their trailing hems.
Its full extent, with no tails clinging to them.
كَريمٌa generous man متىwhenever ألقىlays down العَصَاthe staff بفنائِهِin his courtyard
كَريمٌ متى ألقى العَصَا بفنائِهِ
أخوa man of العُدْمِpoverty لمnot يأذَنْhe permits لهto him بقُفُولِto return home
أخو العُدْمِ لم يأذَنْ له بقُفُولِ
A generous man: whenever a staff is laid down in his courtyard
A noble man, when he casts his staff in his courtyard,
by a man in need, he gives him no leave to return home.
His brother nothingness is not allowed to enter.
وإنْand if أعثَرَtrips الدَّهرُTime امرءاًa man فاستقالهand he asks him for relief
وإنْ أعثَرَ الدَّهرُ امرءاً فاستقاله
لعثرتِهِfrom his stumble ألفاهُhe finds him خَيرَthe best مَقيلِone who remedies a fall
لعثرتِهِ ألفاهُ خَيرَ مَقيلِ
And if Time trips a man, and he asks him for relief
And if time trips up a man, and he falls,
from his fall, he finds him the best at lifting the fallen.
He finds him best at guiding to correct his stumbling.
مُضِيءُilluminating نَوَاحيthe reaches of السَّيلthe torrent ماnot أَمَّهُsought him امرؤٌa man
مُضِيءُ نَوَاحي السَّيل ما أَمَّهُ امرؤٌ
فأحوجَهand made him need فيin قَصْدِهhis quest لدَلِيْلِa guide
فأحوجَه في قَصْدِه لدَلِيْلِ
He lights the torrent's reaches; no man has sought him
Illuminating the regions of torrents, none like the man
and needed a guide on his way to him.
Who guided him in his purpose to a guide.
وإنَّand indeed الذيthe one who سَمَّاهُnamed him بَدراًBadr, full moon لَصَادقٌcertainly truthful
وإنَّ الذي سَمَّاهُ بَدراً لَصَادقٌ
علىdespite أنَّهُthe fact that he لمnot يُكْسَwas clothed ثَوبَthe robe of أُفُولِsetting
على أنَّهُ لم يُكْسَ ثَوبَ أُفُولِ
And whoever named him Badr—the full moon—spoke truly,
And the one called "full moon" spoke truly,
though he has never been clad in the robe of setting.
For he has never worn the garb of setting.
صَليبٌhard علىunder عَجْمِthe biting test of الحوادثِcalamities عُودُهُhis wood
صَليبٌ على عَجْمِ الحوادثِ عُودُهُ
جريءٌbold علىagainst الأعداءِenemies غَيرُwithout نَكُولِflinching
جريءٌ على الأعداءِ غَيرُ نَكُولِ
His wood stands firm against the biting tests of calamities,
A cross over the non-Arabs, his post
bold against enemies, never shrinking.
Bold against enemies, not refusing.
إذاwhen اكتنفتهُsurround him النائباتُmisfortunes نَكَصْنَthey recoil عنfrom
إذا اكتنفتهُ النائباتُ نَكَصْنَ عن
نَهوضٍone who rises vigorously بأَعْباءِwith the burdens of الخُطُوبِcalamities حَمُولِa stalwart bearer
نَهوضٍ بأَعْباءِ الخُطُوبِ حَمُولِ
When misfortunes surround him, they recoil from
If catastrophes surround him, they recoil from
one who rises to bear the burdens of calamity.
His standing up with the burdens of difficulties carried.
قريعُa champion of وغَىًbattle لوif بارَزَhe dueled with الموتَDeath لمnot يكنْwould be
قريعُ وغَىً لو بارَزَ الموتَ لم يكنْ
ليرجعَto return إلاّexcept فيin ثيابِthe garments of قَتيلِone slain
ليرجعَ إلاّ في ثيابِ قَتيلِ
A champion of battle: were he to duel with Death, it would not
A reprimand for disorder, had he confronted death, he would not
return except in the garments of one slain.
Have returned except in the clothes of a slain man.
أخوa wearer of زَرَدٍchain mail مَوْضُونَةٍclosely woven ومَغَافرٍand mail hoods
أخو زَرَدٍ مَوْضُونَةٍ ومَغَافرٍ
وَرَبُّand master of قَناًlances عَسَّالةٍquivering ونُصُولِand blades
وَرَبُّ قَناً عَسَّالةٍ ونُصُولِ
A wearer of closely woven mail and mail hoods,
Brother of Zarada and Maghafir
and master of quivering lances and blades.
And Lord of Kan horses, swift and attacking.
إذاwhen ضَاقَare hard-pressed بالخيلِwith horses الرجالُthe men مشَىhe advances بهاwith them
إذا ضَاقَ بالخيلِ الرجالُ مشَى بها
علىalong مثلِthe like of حَدِّthe edge of المشرفيِّa Mashrafi sword دَليلِa guide
على مثلِ حَدِّ المشرفيِّ دَليلِ
When men are hard-pressed with their horses, he leads them
If the men are too few for the horses, he walks them
along a path like a Mashrafi sword's edge, as their guide.
On the like of Mashrafi's thin guide rope.
إذاwhen حَرَّhe grows hot بالضغنِwith rancor استراحَhe finds relief إلىin الوغَىbattle
إذا حَرَّ بالضغنِ استراحَ إلى الوغَى
كأنّas though هجيرَthe midday heat of الكرِّthe charge بردُthe coolness of مُقيلِa midday resting-place
كأنّ هجيرَ الكرِّ بردُ مُقيلِ
When rancor sets him burning, he finds relief in battle,
If hot zeal tires him, he takes rest in battle,
as though the noon heat of charging were a cool midday rest.
As if the neighing of the war stallion lulls him.
أخوa man of مَنعةٍprotective might لوif تصبحُwere to become الأسْدُlions عُوَّداًvisitors
أخو مَنعةٍ لو تصبحُ الأسْدُ عُوَّداً
بذمتِهِunder his protection لمnot يَعتصِمْنَthey would seek refuge بِغِيْلِin a thicket
بذمتِهِ لم يَعتصِمْنَ بِغِيْلِ
A man of protective might: were lions to become visitors
Brother of protection, if lions were accustomed
under his protection, they would seek no refuge in thickets.
To his pledge they would not seek refuge in a forest.
ألاah هلwhether أتَىhas reached بدراًBadr علىdespite النأيthe distance إننيthat I
ألا هل أتَى بدراً على النأي إنني
أُكابدُI suffer وجداًlonging فيهِfor him غيرَnot قليلِlittle
أُكابدُ وجداً فيهِ غيرَ قليلِ
Ah, has Badr heard, despite the distance, that I
Will the full moon come to remote me? I suffer
suffer no little longing for him?
Separation's love pain not a little.
وإنّيَand indeed I ماnot استحْدثتُhave made anew بعدafter فراقِهِparting from him
وإنّيَ ما استحْدثتُ بعد فراقِهِ
خليلاًa friend ولاnor استبدلتُهُhave exchanged him بِبَدِيلِfor a substitute
خليلاً ولا استبدلتُهُ بِبَدِيلِ
And truly, since parting from him, I have made no new
And I have not, since his absence, made
friend, nor exchanged him for a substitute.
A friend nor substituted him with a replacement
فَصَافَحَهُso shook his hand عَنّيon my behalf علىdespite بُعْدِthe distance of دارِهِhis home
فَصَافَحَهُ عَنّي على بُعْدِ دارِهِ
بِمدحيَthrough my praise كَفَّاthe two hands of غُدوةٍmorning وأصيلِand evening
بِمدحيَ كَفَّا غُدوةٍ وأصيلِ
So his hand was clasped on my behalf, despite his home's distance,
So greet him from me, though his house is far,
through my praise, by the two hands of morning and evening.
With my praise, morning and evening.