إن ربعاً عرفته مألوفا

إن ربعاً عرفته مألوفا

كان للبيض مربعاً ومصيفا

كان للبيض مربعاً ومصيفا

Indeed, a dwelling I once knew so well

A quarter I knew so well

Was a spring and summer retreat for fair women.

Was a square for the white birds and a summer resort

غيرت آية صروف الليالي

غيرت آية صروف الليالي

ودا عنه حسنه مصروفا

ودا عنه حسنه مصروفا

The nights' vicissitudes altered its trace,

The seasons changed its beautiful scenery

[And] its beauty was turned away from it.

And took away its beauty so smoothly

ما مررنا عليه إلا وقفنا

ما مررنا عليه إلا وقفنا

وأطلنا شوقاً إليه الوقوفا

وأطلنا شوقاً إليه الوقوفا

We never passed by it without stopping,

Whenever we passed by, we stopped

And prolonged our halt, longing for it.

And lingered longingly, stopping over

آلفاً فيه للبكاء كأني

آلفاً فيه للبكاء كأني

لم أكن فيه للغواني ألوفا

لم أكن فيه للغواني ألوفا

Accustomed there to weeping, as though I

I grew so used to crying there as if

Had not been intimate there with lovely women.

I had never indulged in frivolities there before

حاسداً للجفون لما أزالت

حاسداً للجفون لما أزالت

في مغانيه دمعها المذروفا

في مغانيه دمعها المذروفا

Envying the eyelids when they let fall

Envying the eyelids when they removed

In its dwelling-places their streaming tears.

With their overflowing tears there

إن يعقوب قد أفاد وأقنى

إن يعقوب قد أفاد وأقنى

وأعاد الندى وأغنى الضعيفا

وأعاد الندى وأغنى الضعيفا

Indeed, Yaqub has bestowed wealth and possessions,

Jacob did benefit and become wealthy

And restored generosity and enriched the weak.

And brought back moisture and enriched the poor

يل سيفاً من البصيرة والرأ

يل سيفاً من البصيرة والرأ

ي فأغناه أن يسل السيوفا

ي فأغناه أن يسل السيوفا

[He drew] a sword of insight and judg-

I have a sword of insight and opinion

ment, sparing him the need to draw swords.

So enrich it by sheathing swords

باذلاً للعزيز تخوض المنايا

باذلاً للعزيز تخوض المنايا

وترد الردى وتلقى الصفوفا

وترد الردى وتلقى الصفوفا

Giving freely for al-Aziz, you brave mortal perils,

Sacrificing himself for the noble, plunging into death

And repel death and confront the battle ranks.

Repelling harm and facing ranks

ناصحاً مشفقاً محباً ودوداً

ناصحاً مشفقاً محباً ودوداً

قائماً في رضاه صعباً عسوفا

قائماً في رضاه صعباً عسوفا

Loyal, solicitous, loving, affectionate,

Advising, caring, loving and affectionate

Striving to please him, unyielding and harsh.

Standing firm in His approval, hardly stubborn

ليس يخشى فساد أمر تولاه

ليس يخشى فساد أمر تولاه

وأضحى برأيه مكنوفا

وأضحى برأيه مكنوفا

No ruin is feared for a matter he has undertaken

He does not fear corruption in a matter he takes on

And that has become sheltered by his judgment.

And gives his opinion enveloped

ما رأيناه قط إلا رأينا

ما رأيناه قط إلا رأينا

خلقاً طاهراً وفعلاً شريفا

خلقاً طاهراً وفعلاً شريفا

We have never seen him without seeing

Whenever we saw him, we saw

Pure character and noble conduct.

Pure morals and noble deeds

ورأينا قرماً كبيراً همامً

ورأينا قرماً كبيراً همامً

منعماً مضلاً رحيماً رؤوفا

منعماً مضلاً رحيماً رؤوفا

And we saw a great, valiant chief,

And we saw a great, prestigious elder

Bestowing favors, [leading astray?], merciful and compassionate.

Gracious, guiding, compassionate and kind

لذ طعم العطاء وهو إذا جا

لذ طعم العطاء وهو إذا جا

د وأعطى يرى الكثير طفيفا

د وأعطى يرى الكثير طفيفا

He relishes the taste of giving; and when he is gener-

Sweet is the taste of his generosity, and when he comes

ous and gives, he regards abundance as trifling.

And gives, the plenty seems paltry

خلق منه منذ كان كريم

خلق منه منذ كان كريم

يستلذ الندى ويقري الضيوفا

يستلذ الندى ويقري الضيوفا

A noble disposition has been his from the beginning:

He has been generously created since he was

He delights in generosity and entertains guests.

Delighting in dew and hosting guests

ويريش الفقير بالبذل والجو

ويريش الفقير بالبذل والجو

د ويعطي ويسعف الملهوفا

د ويعطي ويسعف الملهوفا

And feathers the poor with largesse and gener-

Sheltering the poor with generosity and kindness

osity, and gives and aids the distressed.

Giving and aiding the anguished

فأرانا الإله صرف الليالي

فأرانا الإله صرف الليالي

أبداً عن فنائه مصروفا

أبداً عن فنائه مصروفا

So may God show us the turns of the nights

So God made the seasons always

Forever turned away from his courtyard.

Turn away from his courtyard smoothly