لَيسَnot الوُقوفُstanding بِكُفءِa match for شَوقِكَyour longing فَاِنزِلِso dismount
لَيسَ الوُقوفُ بِكُفءِ شَوقِكَ فَاِنزِلِ
تَبلُلyou may quench غَليلاًa burning thirst بِالدُموعِwith tears فَتُبلِلِand thus recover
تَبلُل غَليلاً بِالدُموعِ فَتُبلِلِ
Standing cannot do justice to your longing; dismount.
Standing still cannot quench your passion, so descend
Quench your burning thirst with tears, and so recover.
And let tears flow to wet the cheeks and flow
فَلَعَلَّfor perhaps عَبرَةَtears ساعَةٍof an hour أَذرَيتَهاyou shed them
فَلَعَلَّ عَبرَةَ ساعَةٍ أَذرَيتَها
تَشفيكَwill heal you مِنof إِربابِthe persistence of وَجدٍyearning مُحوِلِyear-long
تَشفيكَ مِن إِربابِ وَجدٍ مُحوِلِ
For perhaps an hour's tears that you have shed
Perhaps an hour's outpouring will relieve you
will heal you of a yearning that has lingered a year.
Of the anguish of enduring love transformed
وَلَقَدand indeed سَلَوتَyou would have found solace لَوَif اَنَّthat داراًa dwelling لَمhad not تَلُحappeared
وَلَقَد سَلَوتَ لَوَ اَنَّ داراً لَم تَلُح
وَحَلُمتَand you would have shown restraint لَوif أَنَّthat الهَوىlove لَمhad not يَجهَلِacted foolishly
وَحَلُمتَ لَو أَنَّ الهَوى لَم يَجهَلِ
You would have found solace, had no dwelling appeared,
You wished you had no home, or that love was not blind
and kept your composure, had love not acted foolishly.
And often your heart was a dwelling place
وَلَطالَماand how often أَمسىbecame فُؤادُكَyour heart مَنزِلاًa dwelling
وَلَطالَما أَمسى فُؤادُكَ مَنزِلاً
وَمَحَلَّةًand a lodging لِظِباءِfor the gazelles of ذاكَthat المَنزِلِdwelling
وَمَحَلَّةً لِظِباءِ ذاكَ المَنزِلِ
How often your heart has become a dwelling
For the deer of that place, like a thirsty intruder
and a lodging for the gazelles of that dwelling.
Grazing the autumn, though grazing is no intrusion
إِذwhen فيهِwithin it مِثلُthe likeness of المُطفِلِa doe with young الظَمأىthirsty الحَشاwithin
إِذ فيهِ مِثلُ المُطفِلِ الظَمأى الحَشا
رَعَتِshe grazed الخَريفَautumn pasture وَماthough not القَتولُthe deadly beloved بِمُطفِلِa mother with young
رَعَتِ الخَريفَ وَما القَتولُ بِمُطفِلِ
When within it was one like a doe with young, parched within,
I am one who gave youth its name, so I am forever
grazing autumn pasture—though that slayer had no young.
Enamored, and will not love any but the impassioned
إِنّيindeed I اِمرُؤٌam a man أَسِمُI brand الصَبابَةَardent longing وَسمَهاwith its proper mark
إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ أَسِمُ الصَبابَةَ وَسمَها
فَتَغَزُّليso my courting أَبَداًalways بِغَيرِis of one other than المُغزِلِa doe with a fawn
فَتَغَزُّلي أَبَداً بِغَيرِ المُغزِلِ
I am a man who brands ardent longing with its proper mark;
My passion soars beyond what tortures my love
so I always court one who has no fawn.
The pleasure of desire that has not been quenched
عاليlofty in الهَوىpassion مِمّاbecause of what تُعَذِّبُtorments مُهجَتيmy heart
عالي الهَوى مِمّا تُعَذِّبُ مُهجَتي
أَروِيَّةُa female mountain-goat الشَعفِof the summits الَّتيthat لَمhas not تُسهِلِdescended to the plain
أَروِيَّةُ الشَعفِ الَّتي لَم تُسهِلِ
My passion is lofty, for my heart is tormented by
I complain of the oppression of a cruel beloved
a mountain-goat of the summits that never descends to the plain.
And of having no arms to embrace the dearest one
شاكيaching in الجَوانِحِthe breast مِنbecause of جَوانِحِthe heart of ظالِمٍa tyrant
شاكي الجَوانِحِ مِن جَوانِحِ ظالِمٍ
شاكيfully armed with السِلاحِweapons عَلىagainst المُحِبِّthe lover الأَعزَلِthe unarmed
شاكي السِلاحِ عَلى المُحِبِّ الأَعزَلِ
My breast aches because of a tyrant's heart,
You shun me without fulfilling your anger
fully armed against the unarmed lover.
And poison kills though it is not made visible
تُردىyou are slain وَلَمthough not تُبلِغكَshe has brought you to آخِرَthe utmost of سُخطِكَyour anger
تُردى وَلَم تُبلِغكَ آخِرَ سُخطِكَ
وَالسُمُّand poison يَقتُلُkills وَهُوَwhile it is غَيرُnot مُثَمَّلِfully steeped
وَالسُمُّ يَقتُلُ وَهُوَ غَيرُ مُثَمَّلِ
You are slain, though she has not roused your utmost anger;
Al-Hasan ibn Wahb kindled a fire with his beauty
and poison kills even without being fully steeped.
Which scorched the soul of one fascinated by his eyes
قَدindeed أَثقَبَhas kindled الحَسَنُal-Hasan بنُson of وَهبٍWahb فيin النَدىgenerosity
قَد أَثقَبَ الحَسَنُ بنُ وَهبٍ في النَدى
ناراًa fire جَلَتthat brightened إِنسانَthe pupil of عَينِthe eye of المُجتَليthe beholder
ناراً جَلَت إِنسانَ عَينِ المُجتَلي
Al-Hasan ibn Wahb has kindled, in generosity,
A fire destined for the transgressor, marked
a fire that has brightened the pupil of the beholder's eye,
For the guided, unjust for the unjustly accused
مَأدومَةًsupplied with food لِلمُجتَديfor the suppliant مَوسومَةًclearly marked
مَأدومَةً لِلمُجتَدي مَوسومَةً
لِلمُهتَديfor the seeker of guidance مَظلومَةًwronged لِلمُصطَليfor the seeker of warmth
لِلمُهتَدي مَظلومَةً لِلمُصطَلي
supplied with food for the suppliant, clearly marked
You are no fire like it when you count yourself so
for the seeker of guidance, wronged by the seeker of warmth.
Just lines of a surah not yet revealed
ماnot أَنتَyou حينَwhen تَعُدُّyou reckon ناراًa fire مِثلَهاits equal
ما أَنتَ حينَ تَعُدُّ ناراً مِثلَها
إِلّاexcept كَتاليlike a reciter of سورَةٍa surah لَمnever تُنزَلِrevealed
إِلّا كَتالي سورَةٍ لَم تُنزَلِ
When you count another fire its equal, you are
His gifts have brought the rain clouds to me
nothing but a reciter of a surah never revealed.
Commanding the clouds to let loose the rains
قَطَعَتcrossed إِلَيَّto reach me الزابِيَينِthe two Zabs هِباتُهُhis gifts
قَطَعَت إِلَيَّ الزابِيَينِ هِباتُهُ
إِلثاثَwith the persistence of مَأمورِabundant السَحابِcloud المُسبِلِpouring down
إِلثاثَ مَأمورِ السَحابِ المُسبِلِ
His gifts crossed the two Zabs to reach me,
With renowned kindness and fine service
with the persistence of an abundant, pouring cloud:
That dazzle the veil-wearing ladies
مِنof مِنَّةٍa favor مَشهورَةٍrenowned وَصَنيعَةٍand a kindness
مِن مِنَّةٍ مَشهورَةٍ وَصَنيعَةٍ
بِكرٍunprecedented وَإِحسانٍand bounty أَغَرَّwhite-blazed مُحَجَّلِwhite-stockinged
بِكرٍ وَإِحسانٍ أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلِ
a renowned favor, a kindness
I have seen--and I have not seen--hosts like this
never before bestowed, and bounty white-blazed and white-stockinged.
With wine flowing between them and the bowl
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيتُI have seen وَماbut never رَأَيتُhave I seen كَوارِدٍthe like of a water-seeker
وَلَقَد رَأَيتُ وَما رَأَيتُ كَوارِدٍ
وَالخِمسُwith a five-day watering interval بَينَbetween لَهاتِهِhis throat وَالمَنهَلِand the watering place
وَالخِمسُ بَينَ لَهاتِهِ وَالمَنهَلِ
Indeed I have seen, but never seen the like of this water-seeker,
And have you heard--for if you heard--of any house
with five days' thirst between his throat and the watering place.
In the land of Iraq that hosts like Mosul
وَلَقَدand indeed سَمِعتَyou have heard فَهَلbut have سَمِعتَyou heard بِمُوطِنٍof one dwelling in
وَلَقَد سَمِعتَ فَهَل سَمِعتَ بِمُوطِنٍ
أَرضَthe land of العِراقِIraq يُضيفُwho hosts مَنsomeone بِالمَوصِلِin Mosul
أَرضَ العِراقِ يُضيفُ مَن بِالمَوصِلِ
You have indeed heard; but have you heard of one dwelling in
By God we had days of joy in its shade
the land of Iraq who gives hospitality to someone in Mosul?
At the melodious Khondaris brook
لِلَّهِblessed are أَيّامٌdays خَطَبناwe courted لينَهاtheir ease
لِلَّهِ أَيّامٌ خَطَبنا لينَها
فيin ظِلِّهِhis shade بِالخَندَريسِwith vintage wine السَلسَلِsmooth-flowing
في ظِلِّهِ بِالخَندَريسِ السَلسَلِ
Blessed were the days whose ease we courted
With music whose gentle rhythm stirs the heart
in his shade, with smooth-flowing vintage wine!
No good in song not paired with composition
بِمُدامَةٍwith wine نَغَمُthe strains of السَماعِmusic خَفيرُهاare its guardian
بِمُدامَةٍ نَغَمُ السَماعِ خَفيرُها
لاno خَيرَgood فيin المَعلولِa drinker served another draught غَيرَnot مُعَلَّلِentertained
لا خَيرَ في المَعلولِ غَيرَ مُعَلَّلِ
With wine guarded by the strains of music:
Spending the night listening to singing birds
no good comes of a drinker left unentertained.
Oblivious though not neglectful
يَعشىhe grows dim-eyed عَلَيهاover it وَهوَwhile he يَجلوbrightens مُقلَتَيthe two eyes of
يَعشى عَلَيها وَهوَ يَجلو مُقلَتَي
بازٍa falcon وَيَغفَلُand grows heedless وَهوَwhile he is غَيرُnot مُغَفَّلِfooled
بازٍ وَيَغفَلُ وَهوَ غَيرُ مُغَفَّلِ
He grows dim-eyed over it, yet keeps bright the eyes of
Not reckless though his manners overflow
a falcon; he grows heedless, yet is never fooled.
As if he were in a dignified assembly
لاnot طائِشٌfrivolous تَهفوflutter unsteadily خَلائِقُهُhis manners وَلاnor
لا طائِشٌ تَهفو خَلائِقُهُ وَلا
خَشِنُstiff in الوَقارِsolemnity كَأَنَّهُas though he were فيin مَحفِلِan assembly
خَشِنُ الوَقارِ كَأَنَّهُ في مَحفِلِ
Neither frivolous, his manners flying loose, nor
Lighthearted, he can be serious sometimes
stiffly solemn, as though in a formal assembly.
And lively, for the life of the unwavering
فَكِهٌmerry يُجِمُّhe rests الجِدَّseriousness أَحياناًat times وَقَدand indeed
فَكِهٌ يُجِمُّ الجِدَّ أَحياناً وَقَد
يُنضىis worn out وَيُهزَلُand grows lean عَيشُthe life of مَنone who لَمdoes not يَهزِلِjest
يُنضى وَيُهزَلُ عَيشُ مَن لَم يَهزِلِ
Merry, he lets seriousness rest at times; indeed,
The rein of speech, his tongue a fortress
the life of one who never jests grows worn and lean.
When tongues turn to prattle like slaughter
قَيدُa restraint upon الكَلامِspeech لِسانُهُhis tongue حِصنٌa fortress إِذاwhen
قَيدُ الكَلامِ لِسانُهُ حِصنٌ إِذا
أَضحىbecomes اللِسانُthe tongue اللَغبُclumsy مِثلَlike المَقتَلِa fatal weak point
أَضحى اللِسانُ اللَغبُ مِثلَ المَقتَلِ
His tongue restrains speech, a fortress when
An ear open, not to be shut by baseness
the clumsy tongue becomes a fatal weak point.
And fingers not to be closed
أُذُنٌan ear صَفوحٌforgiving لَيسَnot يَفتَحُhe opens سَمعَهاits hearing
أُذُنٌ صَفوحٌ لَيسَ يَفتَحُ سَمعَها
لِدَنِيَّةٍto baseness وَأَنامِلٌand fingers لَمnever تُقفَلِclosed
لِدَنِيَّةٍ وَأَنامِلٌ لَم تُقفَلِ
A forgiving ear, whose hearing he does not open
Not petty, envious, scheming, as you see
to baseness, and fingers never closed.
Miserliness of a friend or cunning of enemies
لاnot ذوa bearer of الحُقودِgrudges اللُقَّحِpregnant اللاتيthat تَرىyou see
لا ذو الحُقودِ اللُقَّحِ اللاتي تَرى
كَشحَthe breast of الصَديقِa friend وَلاnor العِداتِpromises الحُيَّلِbarren
كَشحَ الصَديقِ وَلا العِداتِ الحُيَّلِ
He bears no pregnant grudges of the kind you see
Would that my soul ransom my father Ali
within a friend's breast, nor any barren promises.
He is the morning star of hope, star of contemplation
نَفسيmy life فِداءُa ransom for أَبيAbu عَلِيٍّAli إِنَّهُindeed he
نَفسي فِداءُ أَبي عَلِيٍّ إِنَّهُ
صُبحُthe dawn of المُؤَمِّلِthe hopeful كَوكَبُthe star of المُتَأَمِّلِthe contemplative
صُبحُ المُؤَمِّلِ كَوكَبُ المُتَأَمِّلِ
May my life ransom Abu Ali—he is
You were to the pretentious cheater a brother
dawn to the hopeful, a star to the contemplative.
And joined him against the deserving
قَدonce كُنتَyou were لِلمُتَمَوِّهِto the pretender المُكديthe penniless أَخاًa brother
قَد كُنتَ لِلمُتَمَوِّهِ المُكدي أَخاً
مِثلاًan equal فَأَوجَفَthen he sped بيme مَعَalongside المُتَمَوِّلِthe wealthy man
مِثلاً فَأَوجَفَ بي مَعَ المُتَمَوِّلِ
You were once a brother to the penniless pretender,
Honor me with your grace and my grace to you
his equal; then he sped me alongside men of wealth.
Is my ancestors' bounty and veil
أَكرِمhow noble بِنِعمَتِهِis his favor عَلَيَّto me وَنِعمَتيand my favor
أَكرِم بِنِعمَتِهِ عَلَيَّ وَنِعمَتي
مِنهاdrawn from it عَلىto عافٍone seeking جَدايَmy bounty وَمُرمِلِand a destitute man
مِنها عَلى عافٍ جَدايَ وَمُرمِلِ
How noble his favor to me, and my favor,
By God, how sweet are its cushions to the mouth
drawn from it, to seekers of my bounty and the destitute!
And how beautiful on the made-up face
تَاللَهِby God ماhow أَحلىsweet are مَراشِفَهاits lips عَلىupon
تَاللَهِ ما أَحلى مَراشِفَها عَلى
حَنَكٍa palate وَأَجمَلَهاand how beautiful it is عَلىupon مُتَجَمِّلِone adorned
حَنَكٍ وَأَجمَلَها عَلى مُتَجَمِّلِ
By God, how sweet its lips upon
He did not couple me with the stinginess of the mean
the palate, how lovely it is upon one adorned with it!
Or pride himself on the merit of the generous
لَمnot يَقرِنيhe served me بِشرَthe smile of البَخيلِthe miser يُغيرُmaking raids فيupon
لَم يَقرِني بِشرَ البَخيلِ يُغيرُ في
أَمَليmy hope وَلَمand did not يَشمَخraise haughtily بِأَنفِthe nose of المُفضِلِthe benefactor
أَمَلي وَلَم يَشمَخ بِأَنفِ المُفضِلِ
He did not serve me a miser's smile, making raids upon
And the next day did not glance at me sullenly
my hope, nor lift his nose with a benefactor's pride.
Though the gracious look from on high
وَغَداand he came forth فَلَمwithout يُطلِلlooking down عَلَيَّat me بِطَرفِهِwith his gaze
وَغَدا فَلَم يُطلِل عَلَيَّ بِطَرفِهِ
شَوَساًaskance وَذوthough the giver of المَعروفِfavors يَنظُرُlooks مِنfrom عَلِabove
شَوَساً وَذو المَعروفِ يَنظُرُ مِن عَلِ
He came forth without looking down at me
Lowering himself, acting entitled—such manners
askance, though a benefactor looks from above.
Are waywardness and excess in the self-debaser
مُتَقَيِّلاًfollowing the example of وَهباًWahb وَتِلكَand those are خَلائِقٌqualities
مُتَقَيِّلاً وَهباً وَتِلكَ خَلائِقٌ
فَضفاضَةٌample شَطَطٌoverburdensome عَلىto المُتَقَيِّلِthe imitator
فَضفاضَةٌ شَطَطٌ عَلى المُتَقَيِّلِ
Following Wahb's example—and those are qualities
The son of the generous is owed his past deeds
so ample that they overtax an imitator.
Closed off, while the son of the disliked lives easy
وَاِبنُand the son of الكَريمِthe generous man مُطالَبٌis held answerable بِقَديمِهِfor his inherited virtues
وَاِبنُ الكَريمِ مُطالَبٌ بِقَديمِهِ
غَلِقٌheld in pledge وَصافيand the ease of العَيشِlife لِاِبنِbelongs to the son of الزُمَّلِthe craven
غَلِقٌ وَصافي العَيشِ لِاِبنِ الزُمَّلِ
The generous man's son is answerable for his father's past virtues,
Thanks are honey whose pressed juice
held in pledge; life's ease belongs to the craven's son.
None reap but from the cardamom shrub
وَالحَمدُand praise شَهدٌis honey لاnever تَرىyou see مُشتارَهُits gatherer
وَالحَمدُ شَهدٌ لا تَرى مُشتارَهُ
يَجنيهِharvest it إِلّاexcept مِنfrom نَقيعِan infusion of الحَنظَلِcolocynth
يَجنيهِ إِلّا مِن نَقيعِ الحَنظَلِ
Praise is honey; you never see its gatherer
A burden to its bearer, deemed light
harvest it except from an infusion of bitter colocynth.
By one whose shoulders never bore the load
غُلٌّa fetter لِحامِلِهِto its bearer وَيَحسَبُهُyet deems it الَّذيthe one who
غُلٌّ لِحامِلِهِ وَيَحسَبُهُ الَّذي
لَمhas not يوهِweakened عاتِقَهُhis shoulder خَفيفَlight in المَحمَلِcarrying
لَم يوهِ عاتِقَهُ خَفيفَ المَحمَلِ
A fetter to its bearer, yet it seems, to one whose
Will manliness thank you that you let
shoulder it has not weakened, a burden light to bear.
Its mantle slip, unraveling the embroidered?
هَلwill تَشكُرَّنsurely thank لَكَyou المُروءَةُnoble virtue أَنbecause جَلَتpolished
هَل تَشكُرَّن لَكَ المُروءَةُ أَن جَلَت
كَفّاكَyour two hands داثِرَهاits faded remains جِلاءَwith the polishing of المُنصُلِa sword blade
كَفّاكَ داثِرَها جِلاءَ المُنصُلِ
Will noble virtue thank you for the way
Without you it would be a tear never mended
your two hands have polished its tarnish as a sword is polished?
And a virtue never perfected
لَولاكَwithout you كانَتit would have been ثُلمَةًa breach لَمnever تَنسَدِدclosed
لَولاكَ كانَت ثُلمَةً لَم تَنسَدِد
أَبَداًever وَكانَتand would have been عِدَّةًa tally لَمnever تَكمُلِcompleted
أَبَداً وَكانَت عِدَّةً لَم تَكمُلِ
Without you, it would have been a breach never closed,
When will I quench my thirst to meet you
ever, and a tally never brought to completion.
And my words awake, none but you in my speech
فَمَتىso when أُرَوّيshall I slake مِنthrough لِقائِكَmeeting you هِمَّتيmy aspiration
فَمَتى أُرَوّي مِن لِقائِكَ هِمَّتي
وَيُفيقُand sobers قَوليmy speech مِنfrom سِواكَanyone but you وَمِقوَليand my tongue
وَيُفيقُ قَولي مِن سِواكَ وَمِقوَلي
When shall I slake my aspiration by meeting you,
The morning breeze stirs for me, with the trotting
and my speech and tongue sober from their talk of others?
Of your entourage—nobleness under that banner
وَتَهُبُّand blows ليtoward me بِعَجاجِwith the dust of مَوكِبِكَyour cavalcade الصَباthe east wind
وَتَهُبُّ لي بِعَجاجِ مَوكِبِكَ الصَبا
إِنَّindeed السَماحَةَgenerosity تَحتَlies beneath ذاكَthat القَسطَلِdust cloud
إِنَّ السَماحَةَ تَحتَ ذاكَ القَسطَلِ
And when will the east wind bring me your cavalcade's dust?
With dancing girls like fleet-footed messengers
For generosity lies beneath that cloud of dust.
And maidens, with them like red fox
بِالراقِصاتِwith dancing camels كَأَنَّهاas though they were رَسَلُflocks of القَطاsandgrouse
بِالراقِصاتِ كَأَنَّها رَسَلُ القَطا
وَالمُقرَباتِand cherished steeds بِهِنَّin them مِثلُthe likeness of الأَفكَلِa shudder
وَالمُقرَباتِ بِهِنَّ مِثلُ الأَفكَلِ
With dancing camels, as though they were flocks of sandgrouse,
Of purebred stock, their origins noble
and cherished steeds, a shudder seeming to run through them,
Lively eyes in competing to lead
مِنfrom نَجلِthe offspring of كُلِّeach تَليدَةٍancient أَعراقُهُits bloodlines
مِن نَجلِ كُلِّ تَليدَةٍ أَعراقُهُ
طِرفٍa noble steed مُعَمٍّof noble paternal kin فيamong السَوابِقِthe foremost racers مُخوَلِof noble maternal kin
طِرفٍ مُعَمٍّ في السَوابِقِ مُخوَلِ
from the offspring of each one with ancient bloodlines—
Like the wide-eyed deer, no defect in their eyes
a noble steed, its paternal and maternal kin among the foremost racers.
While you upon it are like an ibex
كَالأَجدَلِlike a falcon الغِطريفِnoble لاحَappeared لِعَينِهِto its eye
كَالأَجدَلِ الغِطريفِ لاحَ لِعَينِهِ
خُزَزٌa male hare وَأَنتَwhile you عَلَيهِare astride it مِثلُlike الأَجدَلِa falcon
خُزَزٌ وَأَنتَ عَلَيهِ مِثلُ الأَجدَلِ
Like a noble falcon that has caught sight of
Frolicking at its best, receiving guests
a hare, while you, astride it, are like a falcon.
And visitors into the thicket
يَرديit gallops بِأَروَعَbearing a splendid man يَغتَديwho goes forth in the morning وَيَروحُand returns in the evening مِنof
يَردي بِأَروَعَ يَغتَدي وَيَروحُ مِن
زُوّارِهِhis visitors وَضُيوفِهِand his guests فيin جَحفَلِa great host
زُوّارِهِ وَضُيوفِهِ في جَحفَلِ
It gallops with a splendid man who goes forth morning and evening
Until our eyes and hearts are content
in a host composed of his visitors and guests.
With the glorious future ahead
حَتّىuntil تَقَرَّfind joy عُيونُناour eyes وَقُلوبُناand our hearts
حَتّى تَقَرَّ عُيونُنا وَقُلوبُنا
بِالماجِدِin the noble man المُستَقبَلِthe one met المُستَقبَلِthe one welcomed
بِالماجِدِ المُستَقبَلِ المُستَقبَلِ
Until our eyes and hearts find joy
With Muhammad belittled, resented, maligned
in the noble man, met and welcomed,
Defamed, praised, disgraced
بِمُحَمَّدٍin one much praised وَمُكَفَّرٍand repaid with ingratitude وَمُحَسَّدٍand much envied
بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَمُكَفَّرٍ وَمُحَسَّدٍ
وَمُسَوَّدٍand made a chief وَمُمَدَّحٍand much lauded وَمُعَذَّلِand much reproached
وَمُسَوَّدٍ وَمُمَدَّحٍ وَمُعَذَّلِ
in one much praised, yet repaid with ingratitude and envied,
The garden of literature fortified with reason
made a chief, much lauded, and much reproached,
For reason is the firmest stronghold
بِحَديقَةِin the garden of الأَدَبِlearning الَّتيthat قَدhas already حُصِّنَتbeen fortified
بِحَديقَةِ الأَدَبِ الَّتي قَد حُصِّنَت
بِاللُبِّwith understanding إِنَّindeed العَقلَreason أَحرَزُis the most secure مَعقِلِstronghold
بِاللُبِّ إِنَّ العَقلَ أَحرَزُ مَعقِلِ
in the garden of learning that has been fortified
The lamp of every doctrine, in its color
with understanding—for reason is the surest stronghold,
Deceit, and guide of every unknown land
بِسِراجِin the lamp of كُلِّevery مُلِمَّةٍcalamity فيin لَونِهاits color
بِسِراجِ كُلِّ مُلِمَّةٍ في لَونِها
كَلَفٌdark stains وَمَعلَمِand the landmark of كُلِّevery أَرضٍland مَجهَلِunknown
كَلَفٌ وَمَعلَمِ كُلِّ أَرضٍ مَجهَلِ
in the lamp of every calamity whose color holds
So arise, even if empty-handed this winter, determined
dark stains, and the landmark of every unknown land.
To dispel the caliph's sorrow, plunging into the fray
فَاِنهَضso set out وَإِنeven if خِلتَyou deem الشِتاءَwinter مُصَمِّماًunyielding
فَاِنهَض وَإِن خِلتَ الشِتاءَ مُصَمِّماً
حَزنَharsh الخَليفَةِthe caliph (possibly 'temperament' is intended) جامِحاًbolting فيagainst المِسحَلِthe bit
حَزنَ الخَليفَةِ جامِحاً في المِسحَلِ
So set out, even if you deem winter unyielding,
For you have the means, armies completely
harsh of temper, bolting against the bit.
Shatter with the firmest of them the rigid enemy
فَلَدَيكَfor at your disposal آلاتٌare means جَنوبٌsouth winds كُلُّهاall of them
فَلَدَيكَ آلاتٌ جَنوبٌ كُلُّها
فَاِحطِمso break بِأَصلَبِهِنَّwith the strongest of them صُلبَthe backbone of الشَمأَلِthe north wind
فَاِحطِم بِأَصلَبِهِنَّ صُلبَ الشَمأَلِ
For at your disposal are means, all south winds;
A year and approaching month, both
so break the north wind's backbone with the strongest of them.
Gathered only for the opportune moment
عامٌa year وَشَهرٌand a month مُقبِلانِapproaching كِلاهُماboth of them
عامٌ وَشَهرٌ مُقبِلانِ كِلاهُما
ماnot اِستَجمَعاthey have come together إِلّاexcept لِحَظٍّfor good fortune مُقبِلِapproaching
ما اِستَجمَعا إِلّا لِحَظٍّ مُقبِلِ
A year and a month are approaching, both;
And time smiles, announcing
they come together only for good fortune coming your way.
It is part of the era's prime joint
وَالوَقتُand the season بَسّامٌis smiling يُخَبِّرُannounces أَنَّهُthat it is
وَالوَقتُ بَسّامٌ يُخَبِّرُ أَنَّهُ
مِنamong خَيرِthe finest عُضوٍa limb فيin الزَمانِtime وَمَفصِلِand a joint
مِن خَيرِ عُضوٍ في الزَمانِ وَمَفصِلِ
The season smiles, announcing that it is
among the finest limbs and joints of time.
Partial English translation: 98 of 100 Arabic lines translated.