قدindeed أُهدِيَwas bestowed الإثراءُwealth فيin الإيفاضِhastening forth ليon me
قد أُهدِيَ الإثراءُ في الإيفاضِ لي
مذsince فاضَoverflowed ليfor me بالرَّحبِwith abundance بحرُthe sea of الفاضلِal-Fadil
مذ فاضَ لي بالرَّحبِ بحرُ الفاضلِ
Wealth was indeed bestowed on me as I hastened forth,
Generosity has been bestowed upon me in profusion,
since al-Fadil's sea overflowed abundantly for me.
Since the vast sea of the eminent has overflowed to me.
قدindeed عاضَgave in exchange ليto me ملقاهُmeeting him منfor فقريmy poverty غنىًwealth
قد عاضَ لي ملقاهُ من فقري غنىً
ماnot زالَceased صَرْفُthe vicissitudes of الدَّهرِtime منهfrom it عاضليbarring me
ما زالَ صَرْفُ الدَّهرِ منه عاضلي
Meeting him has indeed replaced my poverty with wealth,
Its meeting place has poured forth wealth from my poverty,
from which time's vicissitudes had always barred me.
The turns of fate have continued to favor me from it.
كمhow many منof مُنىًhopes ظَلَّتْlingered وعاودتِand returned to الهدىguidance
كم من مُنىً ظَلَّتْ وعاودتِ الهدى
بلقائهِthrough meeting him حتىuntil غلبتُI overcame مناضليmy rival
بلقائهِ حتى غلبتُ مناضلي
How many hopes lingered, then returned to guidance
How much wished-for things lingered, then returned with guidance,
through meeting him, until I overcame my rival!
Until through meeting it I overcame my rivals.
عاينتُI beheld طَوْدَa mountain of سكينةٍserenity ورأيتُand I saw شمsun (first part)
عاينتُ طَوْدَ سكينةٍ ورأيتُ شم
سsun (completion) فضيلةٍvirtue ووردتُand I came to بحرَa sea of فواضلِbounties
س فضيلةٍ ووردتُ بحرَ فواضلِ
I beheld a mountain of serenity and saw the sun
I witnessed a gentle, tranquil full moon,
of virtue, and came to an ocean of bounties.
And saw the virtue of an auspicious morning, and landed on a sea of overflowing bounty.
ولقيتُand I met سَحْبانَSahban البلاغةِof eloquence ساحباًtrailing
ولقيتُ سَحْبانَ البلاغةِ ساحباً
ببيانهِwith his eloquence ثوبَthe robe of الفخارِglory لوائلِfor Wa'il
ببيانهِ ثوبَ الفخارِ لوائلِ
And I met the Sahban of eloquence, trailing
And I met the clouds of eloquence pouring down
with his lucid speech the robe of glory for Wa'il.
With its clarity the garment of prime words.
أَبصرتُI saw قُساًQuss فيin الفصاحةِeloquence معجزاًdefying imitation
أَبصرتُ قُساً في الفصاحةِ معجزاً
فعرفتُso I knew أَنيّthat I فيin فَهاهةِthe inarticulacy of باقِلِBaqil
فعرفتُ أَنيّ في فَهاهةِ باقِلِ
I saw a Quss whose eloquence defied imitation,
I saw a bow performing miracles in rhetoric,
and knew that I was as tongue-tied as Baqil.
So I knew I was in the bloom of early youth.
حلفُa sworn ally of الفصاحةِeloquence والحصافةِand sound judgment والسّماand generosity (first part)
حلفُ الفصاحةِ والحصافةِ والسّما
حةِgenerosity (completion) والحماسةِand valor والتُّقىand piety والنائلِand bounty
حةِ والحماسةِ والتُّقى والنائلِ
A sworn ally of eloquence, sound judgment, and generosity,
The oath of eloquence, judgment, affability, zeal and piety and attainment
of valor, piety, and bounty.
A sea of abundant virtue, its abundance swelling,
بحرٌa sea منof الفضلِbounty الغزيرِabundant خِضَمُّهُits vast sea
بحرٌ من الفضلِ الغزيرِ خِضَمُّهُ
طاميswelling العُبابِthe surging tide ومالهُand it has no منany ساحلِshore
طامي العُبابِ ومالهُ من ساحلِ
A sea of abundant bounty, whose vast waters
Its water rising high, having no coast.
surge in waves and have no shore.
And all that is on earth is seven seas,
وجميعand all ماthat is فيin الأرضthe earth سبعةseven أَبحرseas
وجميع ما في الأرض سبعة أَبحر
وبحورهand his seas تُسمْىare named بعشرby ten أَناملfingertips
وبحوره تُسمْى بعشر أَنامل
And all the seas on earth number seven,
And its seas are called by ten fingers.
while his seas are known as ten fingertips.
In his palm is a pen that hastens its course
فيin كفِّهِhis palm قلمٌa pen يُعجِّلُhastens جريُهُits course
في كفِّهِ قلمٌ يُعجِّلُ جريُهُ
ماwhatever كانthere was منof أجلٍan appointed end ورزقٍand provision آجلِdeferred
ما كان من أجلٍ ورزقٍ آجلِ
In his hand is a pen whose course hastens
What was late has come early by its provision.
every appointed end and every provision yet to come.
It flows not like the flow of a drawn sword when it strikes,
يجريit runs ولاbut not جَرْيَwith the course of الحسامthe sword إذاwhen مضىadvanced
يجري ولا جَرْيَ الحسام إذا مضى
حدّاهُits two edges بلrather جَرْيَwith the course of القضاءfate's decree النازلِdescending
حدّاهُ بل جَرْيَ القضاء النازلِ
It runs—not as a sword runs when onward sweep
But the flow of descending destiny.
its two edges, but as the decree of fate descends.
Its writing has sprung up like a lofty battalion,
نابتْacted as a substitute كتابتُهُhis writing منابَin place of كتيبةٍa battalion
نابتْ كتابتُهُ منابَ كتيبةٍ
كُفِلَتْwas guaranteed بهزمِto rout كتائبٍbattalions وجحافلِand vast armies
كُفِلَتْ بهزمِ كتائبٍ وجحافلِ
His writing has taken the place of a battalion
Entrusted with the defeat of battalions and regiments.
guaranteed to rout battalions and vast armies.
How much relief its aid has brought, and how much
كمhow often جادَhe gave generously إسعافاًassistance لعافيهِto his petitioner وكمand how often
كم جادَ إسعافاً لعافيهِ وكم
أَملىhe dictated التجاحَsuccess (uncertain reading) علىto رجايَmy hope الآملِexpectant
أَملى التجاحَ على رجايَ الآملِ
How often he has granted help to his petitioner, and how often
It has dictated success to the hopes of the hopeful!
has he dictated success [uncertain reading] to my expectant hope.
With his insight, a scholar is forever heeded
بيراعهِwith his reed pen أَبداًever يُراعىis cared for عالمٌa scholar
بيراعهِ أَبداً يُراعى عالمٌ
فيin سِرْبهِhis abode ويُراعُand is frightened سربُthe company of الجاهلِthe ignorant man
في سِرْبهِ ويُراعُ سربُ الجاهلِ
By his reed pen, a scholar is ever cared for
In his flock, and the flock of the ignorant is led.
in his abode, while the ignorant man's company is frightened.
His enemy is an enemy in his enmity, his friend and ally
فعدُّوهُso his enemy فيin عَدْوهِhis assault ووليُّهُand his ally
فعدُّوهُ في عَدْوهِ ووليُّهُ
فيin عَدْلهِhis justice ياO حُسْنَthe beauty of عادٍan assailant عادلِjust
في عَدْلهِ يا حُسْنَ عادٍ عادلِ
So his enemy faces his assault, and his friend
In his justice - O excellent, equitable habits!
his justice—how fine a just assailant!
A meadow watered from the spring of piety, flowing to
ريّانُsated منwith ماءِthe water of التُّقىpiety صادthirsty إلىfor
ريّانُ من ماءِ التُّقى صاد إلى
كَسْبِacquiring المحامدِmerits وهيand they are خيرُthe best of مناهلِwatering places
كَسْبِ المحامدِ وهي خيرُ مناهلِ
Sated with piety's water, yet thirsty for
The earning of praise, which are the best watering places.
acquiring merits, the finest watering places.
His merit covered the contrary nature of our time from us
غَطّتْveiled فضيلتُهُhis virtue نقيضةَthe perversity of دهرِناour age
غَطّتْ فضيلتُهُ نقيضةَ دهرِنا
عنّاfrom us وأَذهبَand did away حَقُّهُhis truth بالباطلِwith falsehood
عنّا وأَذهبَ حَقُّهُ بالباطلِ
His virtue has veiled the perversity of our age
And his truth did away with falsehood.
from us, and his truth has swept away falsehood.
His adequacy guaranteed every merit
كفلتْguaranteed كفايتُهhis competence بكلِّevery فضيلةٍvirtue
كفلتْ كفايتُه بكلِّ فضيلةٍ
أَكرمْhow noble! بكافٍa capable man للفضائلِfor virtues كافلِa guardian
أَكرمْ بكافٍ للفضائلِ كافلِ
His competence has guaranteed every virtue;
The most generous with enough merits, embracing.
how noble a capable guardian of virtues!
The most generous with him from a treasure trove of favor and
أَكرمْhow noble! بهhe is منas خِدْنِa companion of إفضالgenerosity وذيand one endowed with
أَكرمْ به من خِدْنِ إفضال وذي
فَضْلٍbounty لأهلfor the people of الشامal-Sham شافٍhealing شاملِall-embracing
فَضْلٍ لأهل الشام شافٍ شاملِ
How noble he is, a companion of generosity, endowed
Merit to the people of Syria, healing, inclusive.
with healing, all-embracing bounty for the people of al-Sham!
Whenever he lodged in a country, his dwelling
ماnever حلَّhe settled فيin بلدٍa land فكانَthen was مَحَلُّهُhis arrival
ما حلَّ في بلدٍ فكانَ مَحَلُّهُ
إلاّexcept محلَّthe arrival of حياًrain بروضٍin a meadow ماحلِparched
إلاّ محلَّ حياً بروضٍ ماحلِ
He never settled in a land without his arrival being
Was none other than a pleasant garden.
that of rain upon a parched meadow.
So may every bold transgressor ransom your resolve,
ففداءُso a ransom for حزمِكَyour resolve كلُّevery غاشٍinvader غاشمٍtyrannical
ففداءُ حزمِكَ كلُّ غاشٍ غاشمٍ
وفداءُand a ransom for فضلكَyour bounty كلُّevery غافٍdozing man غافلِheedless
وفداءُ فضلكَ كلُّ غافٍ غافلِ
May every invading tyrant be ransom for your resolve,
And may every neglectful heedless one ransom your favor!
and every dozing, heedless man ransom for your bounty.
O unique one of the age, who adorned the world
ياO أَوحدَunrivaled one of العصرِthe age الذيwho بزَّsurpassed الورىhumankind
يا أَوحدَ العصرِ الذي بزَّ الورى
فضلاًin excellence بغيرِwithout مشاكهٍa peer ومشاكلِand an equal
فضلاً بغيرِ مشاكهٍ ومشاكلِ
O unrivaled one of the age, who surpassed humankind
With merit without any disputes or controversies!
in excellence, with neither peer nor equal!
O most eloquent of orators, indeed O most eloquent
ياO أفضلَbest of الفصحاءِeloquent speakers بلnay ياO أَفصحَmost eloquent of الthe
يا أفضلَ الفصحاءِ بل يا أَفصحَ ال
بلغاءِmasters of rhetoric منفرداًstanding alone بغيرِwithout مساجلِa rival
بلغاءِ منفرداً بغيرِ مساجلِ
O best of eloquent speakers—nay, O most eloquent of the
Of the eloquent, unparalleled without any debates!
masters of rhetoric, standing alone without a rival!
O eminent in merit, show further grace to me
ياO حالياًone adorned بالفضلِwith excellence حلِّadorn تفضلاًas a favor
يا حالياً بالفضلِ حلِّ تفضلاً
منِّيfrom me بجدِّكwith your good fortune جيدَthe neck of خطٍّwriting عاطلِunadorned
منِّي بجدِّك جيدَ خطٍّ عاطلِ
O you adorned with excellence, graciously adorn
With your generosity, O excellent unfettered script!
with your good fortune the unadorned neck of my writing.
How many deficient ones going into decline have you returned me from,
كمhow many ناقصٍan unworthy man إدبارهُhis turning away قدindeed ردَّنيrebuffed me
كم ناقصٍ إدبارهُ قد ردَّني
لكنّماbut إقبالُthe favorable approach of فضلكَyour bounty قابليwelcoming me
لكنّما إقبالُ فضلكَ قابلي
Many an unworthy man's turning away has rebuffed me,
But the access of your favor has met me!
but your bounty's turning toward me welcomes me.
Without you this Levant would have frightened
قدindeed كانwould have been هذاthis الشّامُal-Sham لولاwere it not for أنتمُyou
قد كان هذا الشّامُ لولا أنتمُ
روعَthe terror of المقيمِthe resident بهِin it وروحَand the relief of الرَّاحلِthe departing traveler
روعَ المقيمِ بهِ وروحَ الرَّاحلِ
This land of al-Sham would have been, but for you,
The dweller in it, and saddened the departing one.
terror for those dwelling in it and relief for those departing.
What is the way to the success of my aims
كيفhow السّبيلُthe path إلىto نجاحِthe success of مقاصديmy aims
كيف السّبيلُ إلى نجاحِ مقاصدي
ومحاسنيand my merits وهيand they are العيوبfaults وسائليmy means
ومحاسني وهي العيوب وسائلي
How can I find a path to fulfill my aims,
And my virtues, which are the channels of my faults?
when my merits—which are faults—are my means?
I have no need of the prestige of the ignorant, so enrich me
ماwhat ليto me وجاهand the influence of الجاهلينthe ignorant فأغننيso make me independent
ما لي وجاه الجاهلين فأغنني
عنهمof them كفيتَهُمُmay you be spared them وجُدْand be generous بالجاهِwith influence ليfor me
عنهم كفيتَهُمُ وجُدْ بالجاهِ لي
What have I to do with the ignorant men's influence? Make me independent
Beyond them - you have sufficed them - and be generous to me with prestige!
of them—may you be spared them—and be generous with influence for me.
Be generous to me through your meager blessing my blessing
جُدْbe generous ليto me بمنّتكَwith your favor الضعيفةtoo feeble مُنّتيmy strength
جُدْ لي بمنّتكَ الضعيفة مُنّتي
عنهاfor it وأَثقلْand weigh down منwith جميلكyour kindness كاهليmy shoulders
عنها وأَثقلْ من جميلك كاهلي
Bestow your favor on me, my strength too feeble
Beyond it, and weigh down my shoulders with your beauty!
to bear it, and weigh my shoulders down with your kindness.
I hope you will patronize me with the Sultan
أَرجوكI look to you معتنياًattending لدىbefore السُّلطانthe sultan بيto me
أَرجوك معتنياً لدى السُّلطان بي
كرماًout of generosity فمثلُكَfor one like you يَعتنيcares بأَماثليfor men like me
كرماً فمثلُكَ يَعتني بأَماثلي
I hope you will attend to me before the sultan,
With kindness - for the like of you patronizes the like of me.
out of generosity, for one like you attends to men like me.
Discharge the debt of glory your patron owes,
تُوفيyou repay وليّكَyour friend دَيْنَa debt of مَجْدٍglory عاقَهُhindered it
تُوفي وليّكَ دَيْنَ مَجْدٍ عاقَهُ
ليُّthe stalling of الوعودِpromises منfrom الزَّمانِtime الماطلِprocrastinating
ليُّ الوعودِ من الزَّمانِ الماطلِ
You repay your friend a debt of glory that was delayed
The promise-keeper of promises from the procrastinating days.
by the stalling of promises from procrastinating time.
Appoint for me the prestigious occupation, leaving
قرِّرْsecure ليَfor me الشُّغلَthe post المبجّلَhonored مخلياًfreeing
قرِّرْ ليَ الشُّغلَ المبجّلَ مخلياً
باليmy mind منfrom الهمِّworry المقيمabiding الشّاغلِpreoccupying
بالي من الهمِّ المقيم الشّاغلِ
Secure for me the honored post, freeing
My mind free from the persisting, preoccupying concerns,
my mind from the abiding worry that engrosses it.
You remain a cloud of virtues, and stay a
لاmay you never زلتَcease to be غيثَa rain of مكارمٍnoble deeds وبقيتَand may you remain غَوْsuccor (first part)
لا زلتَ غيثَ مكارمٍ وبقيتَ غَوْ
ثَsuccor (completion) أَكارمٍnoble men وسلمتَand may you be safe كهفَa refuge for أَفاضلِthe virtuous
ثَ أَكارمٍ وسلمتَ كهفَ أَفاضلِ
May you ever be a rain of noble deeds, and remain the succor
Cloud of utmost virtues, and remain a cave of the eminent!
of noble men, and live unharmed as a refuge for the virtuous.
Partial English translation: 65 of 66 Arabic lines translated.