رَبعَsettled الغَمامُthe raincloud بِرَبعِat the abode of ذاكَthat المَنزلِdwelling
رَبعَ الغَمامُ بِرَبعِ ذاكَ المَنزلِ
وَسَخاand lavished rain بِهِupon it نوءُthe rain-star السِماكal-Simak الأَعزَلِthe Unarmed
وَسَخا بِهِ نوءُ السِماك الأَعزَلِ
The raincloud settled over the precincts of that dwelling,
The clouds gathered around that abode,
and the rain-star al-Simak al-A'zal lavished its showers there.
Drenching it with the rain of high heavens.
وَغَدَتand appeared عَلَيهِupon it مِنَfrom الزَمانtime نَضارَةٌfreshness
وَغَدَت عَلَيهِ مِنَ الزَمان نَضارَةٌ
شُفِعَتwas coupled نَضارَتُهاits freshness بِشَرخwith the prime of youth مُقبِلِapproaching
شُفِعَت نَضارَتُها بِشَرخ مُقبِلِ
And time brought upon it a freshness
Youthfulness has returned to adorn it,
whose freshness was joined to an approaching prime of youth.
Its freshness enhanced by a forthcoming smile.
وَكَساand clothed مَعالِمَهُits landmarks الرَبيعُspring مَطارِفاًin bordered robes
وَكَسا مَعالِمَهُ الرَبيعُ مَطارِفاً
خُضراًgreen تُسدّيهاlay their warp رِياحُthe winds of الشَمألِthe north
خُضراً تُسدّيها رِياحُ الشَمألِ
Spring clothed its landmarks in bordered robes,
Spring has clothed its features in fluttering robes,
green, their warp laid by the north winds.
Green, donned by the winds of the north.
وَمَشَتand coursed بِعُقوتِهِthrough its precincts الرِياحُthe winds كَماas مَشَتcoursed
وَمَشَت بِعُقوتِهِ الرِياحُ كَما مَشَت
صِرفُunmixed الحُميّاpotent wine فيthrough مَجاريthe channels of المِفصَلِthe joint
صِرفُ الحُميّا في مَجاري المِفصَلِ
The winds moved through its precincts as courses
The winds blew through its branches
unmixed potent wine through the channels of the joints.
Like joints flowing in supple limbs.
فَلَرُبَّماfor how often اِرتَبَعَتmade a spring abode in رباهُits hills فتيةٌyoung men
فَلَرُبَّما اِرتَبَعَت رباهُ فتيةٌ
مِثلُlike البُدورِfull moons طَوالِعاًrising لَمdid not تَأفُلِset
مِثلُ البُدورِ طَوالِعاً لَم تَأفُلِ
How often young men made its hills their spring abode,
Thus blooming youths would sometimes gather,
like full moons rising, never setting.
Rising like full moons that never set.
طارَحتُهاI exchanged with them قِدماًlong ago حَديثَtalk of صَبابَةٍardent love
طارَحتُها قِدماً حَديثَ صَبابَةٍ
وَهوَand it was سُلافٌchoice wine كَالسُلافِlike choice wine السَلسَلِsmooth-flowing
وَهوَ سُلافٌ كَالسُلافِ السَلسَلِ
Long ago I exchanged with them tales of ardent love,
Their brisk, supple gaits newly found in youth
and it was choice vintage, like smooth-flowing wine.
Until they reached the highest rank and glory,
حَتّىuntil اِرتَقَتthey ascended شَرفَthe heights of السِيادةlordship وَالعُلاand eminence
حَتّى اِرتَقَت شَرفَ السِيادة وَالعُلا
وَبقيتُand I remained مُلقىًcast down فيin الحَضيضِthe depths الأَسفَلِlowest
وَبقيتُ مُلقىً في الحَضيضِ الأَسفَلِ
Until they ascended the heights of lordship and eminence,
While I remained abased in the lowest valley,
while I remained cast into the lowest depths,
Yearning mournfully like a spurned lover.
وَلهانَdistraught فيin تِلكَthose المَعاهِدِfamiliar haunts مُنشِداًreciting
وَلهانَ في تِلكَ المَعاهِدِ مُنشِداً
فيin إِثرِهاtheir wake حُزناًin sorrow مَقالَthe words of مُفَضِّلِMufaddil
في إِثرِها حُزناً مَقالَ مُفَضِّلِ
distraught, reciting in those familiar haunts,
By God, that band of friends I regretted
in sorrow after them, the words of Mufaddil:
One day in the prime of my early youth,
لِلّهِto God belongs دُرُّthe excellence of عِصابةa band نادَمتُهُمI caroused with them
لِلّهِ دُرُّ عِصابة نادَمتُهُم
يَوماًone day بِجِلَّقin Jilliq فيin الزَمانtime الأَوّلِof old
يَوماً بِجِلَّق في الزَمان الأَوّلِ
God bless the band with whom I caroused
When exuberant, verdant youth was upon me
one day in Jilliq, in the days of old,
Submerged in the passions of songstresses.
حَيثُwhere الشَبابُyouth الغَضُّtender مُقتَبِلٌat its dawn وَليand I had
حَيثُ الشَبابُ الغَضُّ مُقتَبِلٌ وَلي
بِهَوىin love for الغَوانيbeautiful women غَمرةٌan engulfing passion ماnot تَنجَليsubsiding
بِهَوى الغَواني غَمرةٌ ما تَنجَلي
when tender youth was at its dawn, and I
I stood at those abodes questioning
was engulfed in love for beauties, a flood that would not recede.
The days of youth, but woe to him who does not ask.
وَلَقَدand indeed وَقَفتُI stood عَلىat المَعاهِدِthe familiar haunts سائِلاًasking about
وَلَقَد وَقَفتُ عَلى المَعاهِدِ سائِلاً
عَهدَthe days of الشَبابِyouth وَخابَand failed مَنwhoever لَمdid not يَسألِask
عَهدَ الشَبابِ وَخابَ مَن لَم يَسألِ
Indeed, I stood at the familiar haunts, asking
I recalled the days of my prime and wept for them,
after the days of youth; disappointed is he who does not ask.
Remembering a beloved the day he departed.
وَذَكَرتُand I recalled أَيّامَthe days of الصِباyouth فَبَكَيتُهاso I wept for them
وَذَكَرتُ أَيّامَ الصِبا فَبَكَيتُها
ذِكرىremembering حَبيبٍa beloved يَومَon the day بانَhe departed وَمَنزِلِand a dwelling
ذِكرى حَبيبٍ يَومَ بانَ وَمَنزِلِ
I recalled the days of youth and wept for them,
I went about reciting the vestiges of his dwelling,
remembering a beloved on parting day, and a home.
My eyes drunk with pouring tears.
وَغَدوتُand I began أُنشِدُto recite فيamid مَعالِمِthe traces of رَسمِهِits ruins
وَغَدوتُ أُنشِدُ في مَعالِمِ رَسمِهِ
وَالعَينُand the eye سَكرىdrunk بِالدموعِwith tears الهُمَّلِfreely flowing
وَالعَينُ سَكرى بِالدموعِ الهُمَّلِ
And I began to recite amid the traces of its ruins,
Greetings O abode of my youth and that house,
my eyes drunk with freely flowing tears:
Quenched by the dripping clouds' showers.
حُيّيتَmay you be greeted ياO ربعabode of الصِباyouth مِنwhat a مَنزلٍdwelling
حُيّيتَ يا ربع الصِبا مِن مَنزلٍ
وَسُقيتَand may you be watered رَيعانَthe first bounty of الغَمامِthe clouds المُسبلِpouring down
وَسُقيتَ رَيعانَ الغَمامِ المُسبلِ
Hail, O abode of youth—what a dwelling!
The morning breeze wandered about your precincts,
May the first bounty of pouring clouds water you.
Making the grounds of your house a place for meditation.
وَرَساand settled النَسيمُthe breeze بِساحَتيكَin your two courtyards فَأَصبَحَتso became
وَرَسا النَسيمُ بِساحَتيكَ فَأَصبَحَت
عَرَصاتُthe open courts of داركَyour dwelling نزهَةa delight for المُتَأمّلِthe beholder
عَرَصاتُ داركَ نزهَة المُتَأمّلِ
And the breeze settled in your two courtyards, and
O dwelling fateful events and days have descended upon,
your dwelling's open courts became a delight to the beholder.
Subdued by the blows of a relentless time.
ياO مَنزِلاًdwelling نَزَلَتهُbefell it أَحداثُthe blows of النَوىseparation
يا مَنزِلاً نَزَلَتهُ أَحداثُ النَوى
وَخُطوبُand the calamities of دَهرٍan age لِلصِعابto hardships مُذلَّلِsubdued
وَخُطوبُ دَهرٍ لِلصِعاب مُذلَّلِ
O dwelling beset by the blows of separation
If your abode changes from a lovely damsel
and the calamities of an age subdued by hardships,
To an old woman or a fickle youth,
إِنif يُمسِnow becomes رَبعُكَyour abode مُبدلاًexchanged مِنin place of ديمةٍgentle lasting rain
إِن يُمسِ رَبعُكَ مُبدلاً مِن ديمةٍ
بِالريمِfor gazelles أَوor مِنin place of طِفلَةٍa tender girl بِالمُطفلِfor a doe with her fawn
بِالريمِ أَو مِن طِفلَةٍ بِالمُطفلِ
if your abode has now exchanged its gentle rain
I witnessed the beautiful ones gathered in you
for gazelles, or a tender girl for a doe with her fawn,
Like shining full moons, plump and round.
فَلَقَدfor indeed شَهِدتُI beheld بِكَin you الحِسانَbeautiful women كَواعِباًfull-breasted maidens
فَلَقَد شَهِدتُ بِكَ الحِسانَ كَواعِباً
بيضاًfair طَوالعrising كَالبُدورlike full moons الكُمَّلِperfect
بيضاً طَوالع كَالبُدور الكُمَّلِ
I once beheld there beauties, full-breasted maidens,
The tender branches were clothed all around
fair, rising like perfect full moons.
In the mantle of draping youth.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery غَيداءgraceful maiden التَثَنّيin her swaying ألبِسَتwere clothed
مِن كُلِّ غَيداء التَثَنّي ألبِسَت
أَعطافهاher flanks بُردin the mantle of الشَبابyouth المُسدلِtrailing
أَعطافها بُرد الشَباب المُسدلِ
Each a graceful, swaying beauty, whose
Beauties watered by comeliness
flanks were clothed in youth's trailing mantle,
Who became like flowers in a meadow tended by showers.
رُودٌa tender maiden سَقاهاwatered her الحُسنُbeauty ماءَwith the water of شَبيبةٍyouthfulness
رُودٌ سَقاها الحُسنُ ماءَ شَبيبةٍ
فَغَدَتso she became كَزَهرِlike the blossoms of الرَوضِthe garden غاداهvisited it at dawn الوَليthe following rain
فَغَدَت كَزَهرِ الرَوضِ غاداه الوَلي
a tender maiden whom beauty watered with youthful freshness,
She said, having seen my pallid complexion,
till she was like garden blossoms greeted at dawn by a following rain.
"I urge the riders on to the heights with my wandering.
قالَتshe said وَقَدand already بَصُرتshe looked بَوَجهيat my face شاحِباًpale
قالَت وَقَد بَصُرت بَوَجهي شاحِباً
أزجيI urge on الركابthe riding camels إِلىtoward العُلاhigh rank بِتَنقّلِby journeying
أزجي الركاب إِلى العُلا بِتَنقّلِ
She spoke, having seen my face grown pale,
I halt my steed at the hilltops, grief-stricken,
as I urged the mounts toward high rank, journeying on,
Weeping over vestiges in an abandoned encampment.
أَقفُI halt المُطِيَّthe riding camels عَلىat الطلولِthe ruins رَواسِماًswift-striding
أَقفُ المُطِيَّ عَلى الطلولِ رَواسِماً
أَبكيI weep over رُسوماًtraces فيin مَحلّa place مُحولِbarren
أَبكي رُسوماً في مَحلّ مُحولِ
halting the swift-striding camels at the ruined dwellings,
I aspire to attain glory by striving
weeping over traces in a barren waste:
To compose poetry whether haphazardly or deliberately.
أَتَرومُdo you seek إِدراكَto attain المَعاليhigh honors جاهِداًstriving hard
أَتَرومُ إِدراكَ المَعالي جاهِداً
نِضوَa worn-out mount of القَريضِpoetry بِمَعلَمٍthrough a known place وَبِمَجهَلِand through an unknown place
نِضوَ القَريضِ بِمَعلَمٍ وَبِمَجهَلِ
Do you seek to attain high honors, striving hard,
By God, you will not ascend to a lofty position
poetry's worn-out mount, through known and unknown lands?
Until you frequent the circle of that grand assembly."
تَاللَهِby God لَنnever تَرقىwill you ascend مَحلاًa station سامِياًlofty
تَاللَهِ لَن تَرقى مَحلاً سامِياً
حَتّىuntil تُلِمَّyou visit بِصَدرat the head of ذاكَthat المحفلِassembly
حَتّى تُلِمَّ بِصَدر ذاكَ المحفلِ
By God, you will never rise to a lofty station
It is the esteemed, eminent presence of my Master,
until you approach the head of that assembly.
The Judge of the Armies, supreme in nobility.
هِيَit is حَضرةُthe court of المَولىthe lord المُعَظَّمِexalted قَدرُهُhis rank
هِيَ حَضرةُ المَولى المُعَظَّمِ قَدرُهُ
قاضيjudge of العَساكرthe armies مَنwho سَماrose high شَرَفاًin honor عَليAli
قاضي العَساكر مَن سَما شَرَفاً عَلي
It is the court of the lord whose rank is exalted,
His view assists the guided and his gifts
the Judge of the Armies, Ali, sublime in honor,
Aid the aspiring and sustain the hopeful.
مَنone who رَأيُهُhis counsel لِلمُهتَديfor the seeker of guidance وَنَوالُهُand his bounty
مَن رَأيُهُ لِلمُهتَدي وَنَوالُهُ
لِلمُجتَديfor the supplicant وَعَطاؤهُand his gifts لِلمُرمِلِfor the destitute
لِلمُجتَدي وَعَطاؤهُ لِلمُرمِلِ
whose counsel is for the seeker of guidance, whose bounty
The days were clad in the splendor of his essence
is for the supplicant, whose gifts are for the destitute.
Exultant like a bouncing, joyous colt.
كُسِيَتwere clothed بِهِin him الأَيّامthe days لِيلةon the night of تِمِّهِhis fullness
كُسِيَت بِهِ الأَيّام لِيلة تِمِّهِ
مُتَهَلّلاًbeaming كَالعارضlike a raincloud المُتَهَلِّلِshining
مُتَهَلّلاً كَالعارض المُتَهَلِّلِ
The days were robed in him on the night of his fullness,
The radiance of his smile filled him with awe,
beaming like a shining raincloud.
As if it were a veil over his light.
طلقُbright المُحيّاof face قَدalready علتهُhad covered him مَهابَةٌmajesty
طلقُ المُحيّا قَد علتهُ مَهابَةٌ
فَكَأَنَّهُso it is as though he مِنthrough نُورِهاits radiance فيamid جَحفَلِa great host
فَكَأَنَّهُ مِن نُورِها في جَحفَلِ
Bright of face, with majesty upon him,
The ample robe drags the train of piety
as though through its radiance he stood amid a mighty host.
And religion with the most perfect lion.
عَفُّchaste الإِزارِof waistcloth يَجُرُّhe trails أَذيالَthe hems of التُقىpiety
عَفُّ الإِزارِ يَجُرُّ أَذيالَ التُقى
وَالدينand faith بِالرَأيِwith judgment الأَسَدِّmost sound الأَكمَلِmost complete
وَالدين بِالرَأيِ الأَسَدِّ الأَكمَلِ
Chaste beneath his waistcloth, he trails the hems of piety
Neither worldly ambitions nor
and faith, with judgment most sound and complete.
Longing for its superficial beauty distract him.
لاnot تَزدَهيهِbeguile him مَطامِعthe temptations of الدُنياthe world وَلاnor
لا تَزدَهيهِ مَطامِع الدُنيا وَلا
يَرنوhe gazes لِزُخرُفِat the ornament of حُسنِهاits beauty المُتَعَجِّلِfleeting
يَرنو لِزُخرُفِ حُسنِها المُتَعَجِّلِ
The world's temptations do not beguile him, nor
With his munificence, generosity pitched its tents
does he gaze at the gilded splendor of its fleeting beauty.
When it found rest in his boundless liberality.
بِنَداهthrough his bounty أَمسىhas come to be الجودgenerosity مُلقٍlaying down رَحلَهُits saddle
بِنَداه أَمسى الجود مُلقٍ رَحلَهُ
لَماwhen اِغِتَدىbecame فيهِin him مَحَطَّa resting place for الأَرحُلِsaddles
لَما اِغِتَدى فيهِ مَحَطَّ الأَرحُلِ
Through his bounty, generosity has laid down its saddle,
I set my hopes on him as if
having found in him a resting place for saddles.
I had set my mount in the lasting home.
بَوَّأتُI lodged أَطماعيmy hopes بِهِwith him فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though
بَوَّأتُ أَطماعي بِهِ فَكَأَنَّما
بَوَّأتُI had lodged رَحليmy saddle فيin المَرادِthe pasture المبقِلِverdant
بَوَّأتُ رَحلي في المَرادِ المبقِلِ
I lodged my hopes with him, as though
O you whose pen's branches
I had set my saddle in a verdant pasture.
Are firmer than the branches of engraving styluses.
ياO مَنone لَهُto whom belongs قَلمa pen شباةُthe point of قناتِهِits shaft
يا مَن لَهُ قَلم شباةُ قناتِهِ
أَمضىkeener وَقُوعاًin striking مِنthan شباةthe point of المنصُلِa sword
أَمضى وَقُوعاً مِن شباة المنصُلِ
O master of a pen whose shaft's point
When the five senses pour forth from a sea
strikes more keenly than the point of a sword,
Of thoughts containing the pearls of speech.
إِنif يُمطِهِbear it الخمسُthe five الجَداولstreams مُفرغاًpouring forth
إِن يُمطِهِ الخمسُ الجَداول مُفرغاً
مِنfrom بَحرِa sea of فِكرٍthought فيهِin it دُرُّthe pearls of المِقوَلِthe tongue
مِن بَحرِ فِكرٍ فيهِ دُرُّ المِقوَلِ
if the five streams bear it, pouring forth
The knights of eloquence submit to him
from a sea of thought holding the pearls of the tongue,
And in his presence lower the banners of their oration.
خَضَعَتbowed لَهُbefore it فُرسانُthe champions of كُلِّevery بِلاغَةٍeloquence
خَضَعَت لَهُ فُرسانُ كُلِّ بِلاغَةٍ
وَسَطاًin the midst بِناديهاin its assembly لِخِطبةِbefore the oration of فَيصَلِan arbiter
وَسَطاً بِناديها لِخِطبةِ فَيصَلِ
the champions of every kind of eloquence bow before it
Until Abdel Hamid's words are seen to be excellent
in the midst of its assembly, before an arbiter's oration,
By the excellence of the fluidity of his expression.
حَتّىuntil يُرىis seen عَبدُ'Abd الحَميدِal-Hamid حَميدَpraising ماwhat
حَتّى يُرى عَبدُ الحَميدِ حَميدَ ما
أَنشاهit composed مِنof إِنشاءcomposition حُسنthe beauty of تَرسّلِepistolary prose
أَنشاه مِن إِنشاء حُسن تَرسّلِ
until 'Abd al-Hamid is seen praising what
And the son of the pillar, pillar of diffuse eloquence
it has fashioned in beautifully crafted epistolary prose,
In which lies the pearl of orderly prose.
وَاِبنُand Ibn العَميدِal-'Amid عَميدَsmitten with نَشرprose بَلاغةٍeloquence
وَاِبنُ العَميدِ عَميدَ نَشر بَلاغةٍ
فيwithin طَيِّهاits folds دُرُّthe pearls of النِظامِverse المُرسَلِfreely flowing
في طَيِّها دُرُّ النِظامِ المُرسَلِ
and Ibn al-'Amid is smitten with eloquent prose,
You possess the plateau of knowledge which brings forth
whose folds hold pearls of freely flowing verse.
The aspirations and the unblemished firmament.
لَكَyours is هَضبةُthe mountain of العِلمِlearning الَّتيwhich فرعتovertopped عُلاthe heights of
لَكَ هَضبةُ العِلمِ الَّتي فرعت عُلا
هَامَthe heads of النَعائمal-Na'a'im وَالسماكand al-Simak الأَعزَلِthe Unarmed
هَامَ النَعائم وَالسماك الأَعزَلِ
Yours is the mountain of learning, whose heights tower above
Had Aristotle endeavored to fathom its depths
the heads of al-Na'a'im and al-Simak al-A'zal.
He could not, nor the Chief Abu Ali.
لَوif رامَsought رِسطاليسُAristotle يُدركُto reach شأوَهاits utmost height
لَو رامَ رِسطاليسُ يُدركُ شأوَها
لَمnot يَستَطعhe could وَكَذاand likewise الرَئيسُthe Master أَبوAbu عليAli
لَم يَستَطع وَكَذا الرَئيسُ أَبو علي
Were Aristotle to seek to reach its heights,
My Master, O you whose palm's generosity
he could not, nor could the Master, Abu Ali.
Surpasses the rain clouds' pouring generosity.
مَولايmy lord ياO مَنone whose جُودgenerosity راحَةِthe palm of كَفِّهِhis hand
مَولاي يا مَن جُود راحَةِ كَفِّهِ
يَربُوexceeds عَلىbeyond جودِthe bounty of السَحابthe clouds الأَهطَلِpouring most heavily
يَربُو عَلى جودِ السَحاب الأَهطَلِ
My lord, you whose open palm's generosity
The seasons do not keep your abode desolate
exceeds the bounty of the most heavily pouring clouds,
It is the most impregnable fortress against the world's afflictions.
لاmay not تُغبِبُvisit intermittently الأَنواءُthe rain-stars ربعكyour abode إِنَّهindeed it is
لا تُغبِبُ الأَنواءُ ربعك إِنَّه
مِنagainst حادِثِthe accidents of الأَيّامِtime أَحصنُthe strongest مَعقَلِfortress
مِن حادِثِ الأَيّامِ أَحصنُ مَعقَلِ
may the rain-stars never miss a day at your abode; it is
May he be disgraced whom a position of authority was conferred
the strongest fortress against the accidents of time.
Graciously as it was said to the first.
وَليَهنِand may it be congratulated مَنصِبُthe office of دَولَةٍa state قُلِّدتَهُyou were entrusted with it
وَليَهنِ مَنصِبُ دَولَةٍ قُلِّدتَهُ
عَفواًunasked كَماas مِنfrom قَبلُbefore قيلَit was said لأَوّلِto a predecessor
عَفواً كَما مِن قَبلُ قيلَ لأَوّلِ
Let the office of state entrusted to you be congratulated,
No position exists but your worth is above it
bestowed unasked—as was once said to a predecessor:
Thus by your exalted glory what comes after is debased.
ماno مَنصبٌoffice إِلّاexcept وَقَدرُكَand your worth فَوقَهُabove it
ما مَنصبٌ إِلّا وَقَدرُكَ فَوقَهُ
فَبِمَجدِكَso through your glory الساميlofty يُهَنّاis congratulated ماwhatever يَليhe holds
فَبِمَجدِكَ السامي يُهَنّا ما يَلي
No office exists but your worth stands above it;
To you has come a natural poetic gift which
your lofty glory honors whatever office you hold.
Climbs by describing your praise to the greatest heights.
وَإِلَيكَand to you وافَتhas come غادةٌa maiden أَمسَتhas come to be عَلىupon
وَإِلَيكَ وافَت غادةٌ أَمسَت عَلى
فَلَكِthe sphere of القَريضِpoetry بِوَصفِthrough the expression of مَدحِكَyour praise تَعتَليshe rises
فَلَكِ القَريضِ بِوَصفِ مَدحِكَ تَعتَلي
And to you has come a maiden, now rising upon
Though of Syrian origin, she is
the sphere of poetry through the words that praise you.
Of the noblest Arab descent, no matter who is asked.
شامِيّةُSyrian المَنشاin origin غَدَتshe has become لَكِنَّهاyet she
شامِيّةُ المَنشا غَدَت لَكِنَّها
طائيّةُTa'i الأَنسابِin lineage مَهماwhenever تُسألِshe is asked
طائيّةُ الأَنسابِ مَهما تُسألِ
Syrian in origin she is, yet
If she had proposed to a woer with her odes,
of Ta'i lineage, whenever she is asked.
The assembly of Ukaz would shake with barrenness.
لَوif أَنَّهاthat she عَرَضَتappeared لِقُسٍّbefore Quss خاطِباًwhile orating
لَو أَنَّها عَرَضَت لِقُسٍّ خاطِباً
بِعكاظهِat his 'Ukaz لعرَتهwould have seized him هِزّةُa shudder of أَفكلِtrembling
بِعكاظهِ لعرَته هِزّةُ أَفكلِ
Had she appeared before Quss as he declaimed
She approached your lofty abode hoping
at his 'Ukaz, a shudder would have seized him.
That a glance of good fortune might shine upon her.
قَصَدَتshe sought إِلىtoward عُلياthe highest of ذُراكَyour summits لَعَلَّin the hope أَنthat
قَصَدَت إِلى عُليا ذُراكَ لَعَلَّ أَن
يَرنُوmight gaze لَهاat her لَحظُthe eye of السَعادَةِfortune مِنfrom عَلِon high
يَرنُو لَها لَحظُ السَعادَةِ مِن عَلِ
She has sought your highest summits, in the hope that
To return satiated, drawing from your overflowing
fortune's eye might turn toward her from on high,
Spring the sweetest watering-place.
فَتَعودُso she returns صادِرَةًdeparting from the water وَقَدand already أَنهَلتهاyou have given her drink
فَتَعودُ صادِرَةً وَقَد أَنهَلتها
مِنfrom وَردِكَyour watering place الفَيّاضِoverflowing أَعذبَthe sweetest مَنهَلِspring
مِن وَردِكَ الفَيّاضِ أَعذبَ مَنهَلِ
and she may return from the water, her thirst quenched by you
You remain protected in state, rising
from your overflowing spring, the sweetest watering place.
With the splendor of its lasting magnificent glory.
لاmay not زِلتَyou cease to be مَحروسَguarded الجَنابِin your precinct بِدَولةٍby a sovereign power
لا زِلتَ مَحروسَ الجَنابِ بِدَولةٍ
تَسموrising بِسُؤددthrough the nobility of مَجدِهاits glory المُتَأَثِّلِdeep-rooted
تَسمو بِسُؤدد مَجدِها المُتَأَثِّلِ
May your precinct remain guarded by a sovereign power
And your abode is a destination for delegations
rising through the nobility of its deep-rooted glory,
Where hopes of every aspirant alight.
وَعراصُand the courtyards of رَبعِكَyour abode لِلوُفودِfor delegations مَحَطَّةٌa stopping place
وَعراصُ رَبعِكَ لِلوُفودِ مَحَطَّةٌ
تَأويseek refuge لَهاin it آمالُthe hopes of كُلِّevery مُؤمّلِhopeful person
تَأوي لَها آمالُ كُلِّ مُؤمّلِ
and your dwelling's courtyards remain a stopping place for delegations,
No praise in your loftiness was pleasing
where every hopeful person's aspirations find refuge,
Nor did doves' leaves stir on the bending branches.
ماas long as راقَdelights مَدحٌpraise فيin عُلاكَyour exalted rank وَماand as long as شَدَتsing
ما راقَ مَدحٌ في عُلاكَ وَما شَدَت
وُرقُgray الحَمائمdoves فيamong الغُصونِthe boughs المُيَّلِswaying
وُرقُ الحَمائم في الغُصونِ المُيَّلِ
as long as praise delights in your exalted rank, and
The breeze of your subtle kindness blew announcing
gray doves sing among the swaying boughs,
The fulfillment of my hopes without resistance.
وَسَرىand travels by night نَسيمُthe breeze of اللُطفِkindness مِنكَfrom you مُبَشِّراًbringing glad tidings
وَسَرى نَسيمُ اللُطفِ مِنكَ مُبَشِّراً
بِبلوغِof the fulfillment of آماليmy hopes بِغَيرِwithout تَعلُّلِevasion
بِبلوغِ آمالي بِغَيرِ تَعلُّلِ
and the breeze of your kindness travels by night, bringing glad tidings
of my hopes fulfilled without evasion.
Partial English translation: 102 of 104 Arabic lines translated.