ماليwhat have I to do ومصْرَand Egypt وللمطامعِand as for ambitions إنّماonly
مالي ومصْرَ وللمطامعِ إنّما
مَلَكَتْتtook hold of قياديmy reins حيثُsince لمnot أَتنزهِI kept aloof
مَلَكَتْت قيادي حيثُ لم أَتنزهِ
What have I to do with Egypt? As for ambitions, they only
What is Egypt to me and to the greedy? My fate led me where I didn’t seek luxury.
took hold of my reins, since I did not keep aloof.
Don’t blame me, my critic, for I’m the one who followed desire and did what I was forbidden.
لاdo not تَنْهَنيforbid me ياO عاذليmy reprover فأَناfor I الذيthe one who
لا تَنْهَني يا عاذلي فأَنا الذي
تَبِعَfollowed الهوىdesire وأَتىand came بماwith what عنهfrom it نُهيhe was forbidden
تَبِعَ الهوى وأَتى بما عنه نُهي
Do not forbid me, O my reprover, for I am the one
I said to fate and called it in a task, “Make it short, you reached an arduous path.”
who followed desire and did what he was forbidden.
Allurement pulled you to the reins so release it. You leaned towards fleeing chickens so let them flee.
قدindeed قلتُI said للحاديto the camel-driver وقدand indeed ناديتُهُI called to him
قد قلتُ للحادي وقد ناديتُهُ
فيin مَهْمَةٍa wilderness أَقصِرْhalt وَصَلْتَyou have arrived مَهٍstop مَهِstop
في مَهْمَةٍ أَقصِرْ وَصَلْتَ مَهٍ مَهِ
I said to the camel-driver, calling out to him
You enjoyed being pretentious, pompous, honourable, forbearing, and vigilant.
in a wilderness: 'Halt! You have arrived—enough, enough!'
The success of hope is the answer to my purpose wherever I intend with the zeal of determination.
حَتّامَhow long جذبُكَyour tugging للزِّمامِat the reins فأَرْخهِso loosen it
حَتّامَ جذبُكَ للزِّمامِ فأَرْخهِ
فلقدfor indeed أَنختَyou made your mount kneel إلىat ذَرَىthe heights of فَرُّخْشَةِFarrukhshah
فلقد أَنختَ إلى ذَرَى فَرُّخْشَةِ
How long will you tug at the reins? Loosen them,
A king who answers the discourse of every hopeful and mends the bite of misfortunes.
for you have made your mount kneel at Farrukhshah's heights.
One who only answers “yes” to questions and “no” and “never” to the needy.
قدindeed لُذْتَyou sought refuge بالمتطوِّلِwith the beneficent المتفضِّلِthe gracious الthe (continued next line)
قد لُذْتَ بالمتطوِّلِ المتفضِّلِ ال
متكرِّمِgenerous المتحلِّمِforbearing المتنبِّهِvigilant
متكرِّمِ المتحلِّمِ المتنبِّهِ
You have taken refuge with the beneficent, gracious,
Naturally honourable, not forcibly so. What a difference between honour and force!
generous, forbearing, vigilant one.
In his hands is the success of the hopeful. To him inclines the seeker. With him is the guidance of the confused.
نُجْحُfulfillment الرَّجاءِof hope جوابُthe answer to قصديmy seeking بابَهُhis door
نُجْحُ الرَّجاءِ جوابُ قصدي بابَهُ
مهماwhenever هممتُI resolved لهto him بجوبِby traversing المَهْمَهِthe wilderness
مهما هممتُ له بجوبِ المَهْمَهِ
Hope fulfilled is the answer to my seeking his door,
The benevolence of the magnificent and the determination of the benevolent. Of glory, piety and a pious worshipper.
whenever I resolve to cross the wilderness to him.
With striking lightning in its clouds, thunder in its drizzle and downpour.
مَلكٌa king يجيبُanswers خطابَthe appeal of كلِّevery مُؤمِّلٍhopeful petitioner
مَلكٌ يجيبُ خطابَ كلِّ مُؤمِّلٍ
ويجبرُand makes whole منfrom عَضِthe bite of الخطوبِcalamities العُضّهِsavage
ويجبرُ من عَضِ الخطوبِ العُضّهِ
A king who answers every hopeful petitioner's appeal,
A cloud that shades the garden with its showers amidst the floral glitter and deception.
and heals those hurt by the bite of savage calamities.
The garden is elegant in the jewels of spring and the garden is adorned with the necklaces of anemones.
مَنْone who لمnot يُجِبْanswered بسوىwith anything other than نَعَمْyes سُؤَّالَهُhis supplicants
مَنْ لم يُجِبْ بسوى نَعَمْ سُؤَّالَهُ
ولمُعْتَفيهِand to his gift-seekers بلاwith 'no' ولنْand 'never' لمnot يَجْبَهِrebuffed
ولمُعْتَفيهِ بلا ولنْ لم يَجْبَهِ
One who answers his supplicants with nothing but 'yes',
His open-handedness at times of distress is more beneficial and forgiving than hands that never cease to give.
and never rebuffs those seeking his gifts with 'no' or 'never'.
No honour except the honour of the faith, my noble brother, the most aware.
متكرِّمٌgenerous بالطّبْعِby nature لاnot متكرِّهٌreluctant
متكرِّمٌ بالطّبْعِ لا متكرِّهٌ
شَتّانَhow far apart بينَbetween تكرُّمٍgenerosity وتكرُّهِand reluctance
شَتّانَ بينَ تكرُّمٍ وتكرُّهِ
Generous by nature, not reluctant—
He grants thousands to his petitioners thinking he has given them the least and most trivial.
how far apart are generosity and reluctance!
You, Ayyubids, are the most honourable clan. This era boasts of their necks’ glory.
بيديهِin his two hands نُجْحُsuccess المُرتجيof the hopeful وإليهand toward him قَصْaim (first part)
بيديهِ نُجْحُ المُرتجي وإليه قَصْ
دُcompletion of 'aim' المُلْتَجيof the refugee ولديهِand with him رُشْدُguidance الأَتْيَهِof the most bewildered
دُ المُلْتَجي ولديهِ رُشْدُ الأَتْيَهِ
In his hands lies the hopeful man's success; toward him is the aim
With faces, nay chests, of fresh dew from the water of joy and generosity.
of the refugee, and with him is guidance for the most bewildered.
Your springs were sweet and pure to people. They described but never exaggerated or debased.
إحسانُbeneficence ذيof one possessing مجدٍglory وهِمّةُand the resolve of مُحسنٍa benefactor
إحسانُ ذي مجدٍ وهِمّةُ مُحسنٍ
مُجْدٍbountiful وتقوىand the piety of عابدٍa worshipper متأَلِّهdevoted to God
مُجْدٍ وتقوى عابدٍ متأَلِّه
A glorious man's beneficence, a benefactor's resolve,
No king claims to reach your status unless your deeds say to him "Be quiet!"
bringing bounty, and a devout worshipper's piety.
And Al-Nasir Salah al-Din is the one by whom hardships were never too hard to bear.
ماnot بارِقٌlightning-flashing ذوpossessing عارِضٍa rain cloud منfrom وَدْقهِits downpour
ما بارِقٌ ذو عارِضٍ من وَدْقهِ
ورعودِهِand its thunder فيin نادبٍa lamenter ومُقَهقِهِand a loud laugher
ورعودِهِ في نادبٍ ومُقَهقِهِ
No lightning-flashing cloud, with its rain bank and downpour,
In God he sought refuge from worldly affairs and from failing to honour Allah’s faith one day.
and thunder, now lamenting, now laughing aloud,
He surpassed kings in ascension though they gained nothing from it but grasping and pretending.
هامٍpouring rain يَظَلُّremains الرَّوضُthe garden مِنْfrom أَمواهِهِits waters
هامٍ يَظَلُّ الرَّوضُ مِنْ أَمواهِهِ
فيin الزَّهْرِbloom بينَbetween مُذَهَّبٍgilded ومُموَّهِand silvered
في الزَّهْرِ بينَ مُذَهَّبٍ ومُموَّهِ
pouring until the garden, from its waters,
Indeed kings lagged behind while you preceded. Where are the slaves from the free and liberated!
stands in bloom, gilded here and silvered there—
I hope from your generosity a cure for every calamity. Your promise of generosity was never unfulfilled.
فالرَّوضُso the garden منin حُلَلِthe robes of الرَّبيعِspring أَنيقةٌlovely
فالرَّوضُ من حُلَلِ الرَّبيعِ أَنيقةٌ
والرَّوضُand the garden منwith حَلْيthe ornaments of الشّقائقِanemones مُزْدَهِresplendent
والرَّوضُ من حَلْي الشّقائقِ مُزْدَهِ
the garden lovely in the robes of spring,
Your enemy is fleeing to escape while your friend seeks but cannot find.
the garden radiant with anemones' jewels—
If the critic denies your ascension, can he not see the sun’s radiance is the eye of the blind?
أَجدَىmore giving وأَسْمحَand more generous منthan يَدَيْهِhis two hands فَجودُهُاso their bounty
أَجدَى وأَسْمحَ من يَدَيْهِ فَجودُهُا
عندwhen it comes to الغيوثِrainfalls إذاwhen انتهتْthey end لاnot يَنْتهيends
عند الغيوثِ إذا انتهتْ لا يَنْتهي
is more giving or generous than his hands; their bounty,
Many a horrific, revolting tyrant has carriers and imagines its creep to be a torrential flood.
when rainfalls end, does not come to an end.
It preys on lions for prey with the blazing fire of its white fangs.
لاno عزَّhonor إلاّexcept عندَwith عزِّIzz (honor) الدِّينِal-Din (the faith) مَوْstart of 'my lord'
لا عزَّ إلاّ عندَ عزِّ الدِّينِ مَوْ
لايَcompletion of 'my lord' الأَجلِّmost august أَخيbrother of الفَخارglory الأَنْبَهِmost renowned
لايَ الأَجلِّ أَخي الفَخار الأَنْبَهِ
There is no honor except with Izz al-Din, my
With it the hearts of hearts melted like rods in hands freed.
august lord, glory's most renowned brother.
So the dark honey describes a palm tree bending, suffering from malady without being cured.
يَهَبُhe gives الأُلوفَthousands لمجتديهِto his gift-seekers وظَنُّهُand his thought
يَهَبُ الأُلوفَ لمجتديهِ وظَنُّهُ
أَنْthat قدindeed حَباهُمْhe bestowed on them بالأَقلِّthe least الأَتْفَهِmost trifling
أَنْ قد حَباهُمْ بالأَقلِّ الأَتْفَهِ
He gives thousands to those seeking his gifts, thinking
And the white trembler resembles a young ostrich that tasted misery and was wounded without healing.
that he has bestowed on them only the least, the most trifling amount.
It is the one that evaded enmity out of fear the day it clashed with it in its den.
أَنتُمْyou بنيsons of أَيوبَAyyub أَكرمُnoblest عُصْبةٍclan
أَنتُمْ بني أَيوبَ أَكرمُ عُصْبةٍ
هذاthis الزَّمانُage بفخْرِwith the glory of سُؤْدُدِهِمْtheir lordship زُهيwas made proud
هذا الزَّمانُ بفخْرِ سُؤْدُدِهِمْ زُهي
You, sons of Ayyub, are the noblest clan;
With you its banners became victorious. Faces bowed to its face in submission.
this age is made proud by the glory of their lordship.
You have a stand in valour and firmness. Wondrous is its description from every eloquent speaker.
وأُولوand possessors of وجوهٍfaces بلnay صدورٍbreasts منwith نَدىdew
وأُولو وجوهٍ بل صدورٍ من نَدى
ماءِthe water of البشاشةِcheerfulness والسَّماحةِand generosity مُوَّهِadorned
ماءِ البشاشةِ والسَّماحةِ مُوَّهِ
And men whose faces—nay, whose breasts—with the dew
Not even the Indian sword is more ominous than the Syrian lion more dreadful.
of cheerfulness and generosity's water are adorned.
When you decide, you leave the enemies of truth between total demise and blind confusion.
عَذُبَتْbecame sweet موارِدُكمْyour watering places وطابتْand became pleasant للورَىto mankind
عَذُبَتْ موارِدُكمْ وطابتْ للورَى
وَصَفَتْand became clear فلمso not تأْسَنْstagnated ولمand not تَتَسنّهِgrew stale
وَصَفَتْ فلم تأْسَنْ ولم تَتَسنّهِ
Your watering places are sweet and pleasant to mankind;
O oath of generosity to the distressed, forever shaming and might against the lions, snarling.
they have run clear, neither stagnating nor growing stale.
My Master, my suffering is nothing but praise of you. To you alone, not kings, is my devotion.
ماnot يَدَّعيclaims مَلكٌa king بلوغَreaching مَحلِّكمْyour station
ما يَدَّعي مَلكٌ بلوغَ مَحلِّكمْ
إلاَّexcept تقولُsay لهto him مساعيكُمْyour deeds صَهِbe silent
إلاَّ تقولُ له مساعيكُمْ صَهِ
No king claims to have reached your station
I freely give praise to the glory of your house willingly selling it only to you though disliked.
without your deeds saying to him, 'Be silent!'
Everyone’s praise is directed while yours to me in truth and sincerity is not.
والناصرُand al-Nasir الملكُthe king الصلاحُSalah هوhe الذيthe one who
والناصرُ الملكُ الصلاحُ هو الذي
إلاّexcept بهِthrough him اللزَباتُadversities لمnot تَتَنْهنَهِwere checked
إلاّ بهِ اللزَباتُ لم تَتَنْهنَهِ
And al-Nasir, King Salah, is the one
The deluded, heedless era would sacrifice itself for your heedlessness and vanity’s blindness.
through whom alone adversities are held in check.
My Master, Egypt has sidelined my worth so be rewarded for my name with the best reward.
لاهٍheedless عنof اللاَّهيthe distracted one بدنياهُby his worldly life وعنand from
لاهٍ عن اللاَّهي بدنياهُ وعن
إعزازِexalting دينthe faith of اللّهِGod يوماًfor a day ماnot لَهيwas distracted
إعزازِ دين اللّهِ يوماً ما لَهي
He ignores those lost in worldly play, and from
Greed brought my address to the noble so who addresses the noble but the ungreedy?
exalting God's faith has never been distracted, even for a day.
One with no need revels in fortune unlike the troubled supplicant, the troubled.
فاقَsurpassed الملوكَthe kings عُلىًin greatness وإنْthough لمnot يَظْفَرواthey attained
فاقَ الملوكَ عُلىً وإنْ لم يَظْفَروا
منهاof it بغيرِanything other than تَشَبُّثٍgrasping وتَشَبُّهِand imitation
منها بغيرِ تَشَبُّثٍ وتَشَبُّهِ
He surpassed the kings in greatness, though they won no share
Where is the honour for the virtuous near you if not with the honourable, then where?
of it save a mere grasping and imitation.
The call of your call answered, so turn away the affliction of despair from it and drive it away.
إنَّindeed الملوكَthe kings تخلَّفُواfell behind وسَبقتُمُand you raced ahead
إنَّ الملوكَ تخلَّفُوا وسَبقتُمُ
أينَwhere السَّوامُgrazing herds منcompared with العِتاقِnoble steeds الفُرَّهِsplendid
أينَ السَّوامُ من العِتاقِ الفُرَّهِ
Indeed, the kings fell behind, while you raced ahead;
You raised my status in Egypt after it had faltered and its decree was unmoved.
what are grazing herds beside noble, splendid steeds?
Your brilliant lucky stars rose for people in blossom while I am abased from it.
راجيكمُthe one hoping in you منfrom داءِthe sickness of كلِّevery مُلمّةٍcalamity
راجيكمُ من داءِ كلِّ مُلمّةٍ
يَشْفَىis healed وَعِدُّand the perennial spring of سماحِكُمْyour generosity لمnot يُشْفَهِis drained
يَشْفَى وَعِدُّ سماحِكُمْ لم يُشْفَهِ
Whoever looks to you, from the ill of every calamity
The hand of grace mended its brokenness from my shattered, crumbling grace.
is healed; your generosity's perennial spring is never drained.
Let them know what they knew not with your familiarity and wake from the sleep of neglect.
وعدوّكُمْand your enemy فيin مَهْرَبٍa refuge for flight لمnot يُنْجِهِsaves him
وعدوّكُمْ في مَهْرَبٍ لم يُنْجِهِ
ووليكُمْand your ally فيin مَطْلَبٍa quest لمnot يُنْجَهِis rebuffed
ووليكُمْ في مَطْلَبٍ لم يُنْجَهِ
Your enemy is in a refuge for flight that cannot save him,
My grace secluded me from favour for its sake which for the writer is like long life prolonging.
and your ally pursues a quest in which he is never rebuffed.
Grace is ablaze with the fire of his trials and fortune is busy with the patch of its signs.
إنْif يجحدِdenies الشّانيthe hater عُلاكَyour greatness فماfor not تَرَىsees
إنْ يجحدِ الشّاني عُلاكَ فما تَرَى
إشراقَthe radiance of عينِthe orb of الشّمسِthe sun عَيْنُthe eye of الأَكمَهِone born blind
إشراقَ عينِ الشّمسِ عَيْنُ الأَكمَهِ
If a hater denies your greatness, no more can
Give thoughtful insight, kindly, into my poetry. Man does not feel what he does not comprehend.
an eye born blind see the radiance of the sun's orb.
And blame it - songs that combine praise of you in elegy and song.
ولرُبَّand many a مَجْرٍarmy رائعٍterrifying حَمَلاتُهُits charges
ولرُبَّ مَجْرٍ رائعٍ حَمَلاتُهُ
وتخالُهُand you imagine it فيin الزَّحفِthe advance سيلَa torrent مُدَهدهِtumbling
وتخالُهُ في الزَّحفِ سيلَ مُدَهدهِ
And many an army, its charges terrifying,
One with beauty trembles at its beauty’s radiance and is shy to enhance any of its flourishing.
you would take, advancing, for a tumbling torrent.
The mouths of the virtuous speak of it in virtue if compared to the poetry of mouths.
يَقْريfeeds as guests العواسلَprowling wolves منfrom فرائِسِthe quarry of أُسْدِهِits lions
يَقْري العواسلَ من فرائِسِ أُسْدِهِ
لحماًmeat بنارِover the fire of البيضِwhite swords مُشْعَلَةًkindled طُهِيwas cooked
لحماً بنارِ البيضِ مُشْعَلَةً طُهِي
It feeds the prowling wolves from the quarry of its lions—
Minds are confused by it for it is protected from any comprehensible nonsense.
meat cooked over the kindled fire of white swords.
It bids its listeners farewell with ecstasy and shames the scent of musk for the smelling.
مَتَحَتْdrained بهwithin it قُلْبَthe wells of القُلوبِhearts ذوابلٌslender spears
مَتَحَتْ به قُلْبَ القُلوبِ ذوابلٌ
أَشبهنَthey resembled أَشطاناًbucket ropes بأَيديin the hands of مُتَّهِwater-drawers
أَشبهنَ أَشطاناً بأَيدي مُتَّهِ
Slender spears within it drained the wells of hearts,
Its supporter yearns and craves while its envier resents and loathes.
resembling bucket ropes in water-drawers' hands.
Live long, O son of the Shah of Shahs, a noble king dressed in the most splendid of attire.
فالأَسمرُso the brown lance العسَّالُquivering يحكيresembles ناحلاًa wasted man
فالأَسمرُ العسَّالُ يحكي ناحلاً
متلوِّباًtormented by thirst مِنْfrom سُقمهِhis sickness لمnot يَنْقَهِhas recovered
متلوِّباً مِنْ سُقمهِ لم يَنْقَهِ
The brown, quivering lance resembles a wasted man,
Adorned with the garb of Khusrow Shah, enjoying from it the melody of a noble, valiant king.
tormented by thirst, not yet recovered from his sickness.
If the Yemeni were to see your Yemeni brow, he would no longer boast of the forests of Al-Ajbah.
والأَبيضُand the white sword الرَّعافُblood-spouting يُشبهُresembles مَدْنَفاًa bedridden man
والأَبيضُ الرَّعافُ يُشبهُ مَدْنَفاً
أَلفَaccustomed to الضّنىwasting illness وأَصابَهُand afflicted him جُرْحٌa wound صَهيoozing
أَلفَ الضّنى وأَصابَهُ جُرْحٌ صَهي
The white, blood-spouting sword resembles a bedridden man,
You are the pillar of glory so continue your rule if you are to continue guidance.
accustomed to wasting illness, afflicted with an oozing wound.
وهوand it الذيthe one that تَرَكَleft العدَىthe foes منfrom رُعبهِdread of it
وهو الذي تَرَكَ العدَى من رُعبهِ
يومَon the day of اللِّقاءِbattle بصَدْمهِby its assault فيin وَهْرَهِpanic
يومَ اللِّقاءِ بصَدْمهِ في وَهْرَهِ
It is this host that left its foes, through dread of it,
panicked by its assault on the day of battle.
بكَthrough you أَصبحتْbecame راياتُهُits banners منصورةًvictorious
بكَ أَصبحتْ راياتُهُ منصورةً
ياO سَيِّداًlord عَنَتِbowed الوجوهُthe faces لوجههِbefore his face
يا سَيِّداً عَنَتِ الوجوهُ لوجههِ
Through you its banners became victorious,
O lord before whose face all faces bowed.
لكَyou have فيin الشَّهامةِgallantry والصَّرامةِand resolve مَوقِفٌa standing
لكَ في الشَّهامةِ والصَّرامةِ مَوقِفٌ
لصفاتهِin describing its qualities إعجازُthe baffling of كلِّevery مُفَوَّهِeloquent speaker
لصفاتهِ إعجازُ كلِّ مُفَوَّهِ
In gallantry and resolve you have a standing
whose qualities leave every eloquent speaker helpless.
ماnot الصّارمُthe cutting sword الهندِيُّIndian غيرَother than مُكهّمٍblunted
ما الصّارمُ الهندِيُّ غيرَ مُكهّمٍ
والباسلُand the fearless warrior الصِّنديدُthe champion غيرَother than مُنفَّهِfeeble
والباسلُ الصِّنديدُ غيرَ مُنفَّهِ
The Indian cutting blade is nothing but a blunted sword,
and the fearless champion nothing but a weakling.
وإذاand when عزمتَyou resolve تركتَyou leave أَعداءَthe enemies of الهُدىguidance
وإذا عزمتَ تركتَ أَعداءَ الهُدى
ماanywhere بينَbetween هُلاَّكٍthe dead وحَيْرَىand the bewildered عُمَّهِblindly wandering
ما بينَ هُلاَّكٍ وحَيْرَى عُمَّهِ
When you resolve to act, you leave the enemies of guidance
either dead or bewildered, wandering blindly.
ياO حلْفَally of جُودٍgenerosity للغُيوثِto the rain clouds مُخجِّلٍshaming
يا حلْفَ جُودٍ للغُيوثِ مُخجِّلٍ
أَبداًforever وبأْسٍand valor باللُّيوثِat lions مُجَهْجَهِdriving back with cries
أَبداً وبأْسٍ باللُّيوثِ مُجَهْجَهِ
O ally of generosity that shames the rain clouds
forever, and of valor that drives back lions!
مولايَmy lord منfrom مَدْحيmy praising سواكَanyone but you توجُّعيmy pain
مولايَ من مَدْحي سواكَ توجُّعي
واليكَand to you منrather than دونِthe other الملوكِkings توجُّهيmy turning
واليكَ من دونِ الملوكِ توجُّهي
My lord, praising anyone but you is pain to me;
to you, rather than the kings, I turn.
أَهَبُI give freely الثّناءَpraise لمجدِto the glory of بيتكَyour house طائعاًwillingly
أَهَبُ الثّناءَ لمجدِ بيتكَ طائعاً
وأبيعُهُand I sell it لِسواكَto others besides you بَيْعَthe sale of المُكرَهِone compelled
وأبيعُهُ لِسواكَ بَيْعَ المُكرَهِ
I freely give praise to the glory of your house,
but sell it to others as one compelled to sell.
مَدْحُthe praise of الجميعeveryone موَجّهٌequivocal ومديحكُمْand your praise
مَدْحُ الجميع موَجّهٌ ومديحكُمْ
فيin الصِّدقِtruth والإخلاصِand sincerity غيرُnot موَجّهِequivocal
في الصِّدقِ والإخلاصِ غيرُ موَجّهِ
Everyone else's praise is equivocal; your praise,
in truth and sincerity, admits no double meaning.
يفديكَmay ransom you مغرورُone deluded by الزَّمانِtime بلَهْوِهِby its amusements
يفديكَ مغرورُ الزَّمانِ بلَهْوِهِ
وَلَهَاهُand beguiled him غَرّارُthe deceiver السّرابِthe mirage بلَهْلَهِin a barren waste
وَلَهَاهُ غَرّارُ السّرابِ بلَهْلَهِ
May one deluded by time and its amusements ransom you,
whom a treacherous mirage has beguiled in a barren waste.
مولايَmy lord مصرٌEgypt أَخملَتْobscured قَدْريmy worth فكُنso be
مولايَ مصرٌ أَخملَتْ قَدْري فكُن
باسميof my name جُزيتَmay you be rewarded الخيرَwith good خيرَthe best مُنَوِّهِherald
باسمي جُزيتَ الخيرَ خيرَ مُنَوِّهِ
My lord, Egypt has obscured my worth; be, then,
the best herald of my name—may you be rewarded with good.
شَرَهيmy hunger علىfor العلياءِeminence جَرَّbrought about معاطبيmy perils
شَرَهي على العلياءِ جَرَّ معاطبي
أَمِنَwas safe from المعاطبَperils كلُّeveryone مَنْwho لمnot يَشْرَهِhungered
أَمِنَ المعاطبَ كلُّ مَنْ لم يَشْرَهِ
My hunger for eminence brought about my perils;
all who lacked that hunger remained safe from perils.
ولقدand indeed تملَّىlong enjoyed بالسّعادةhappiness ذوone possessing غنىًself-sufficiency
ولقد تملَّى بالسّعادة ذو غنىً
عنaway from شَقْوَةِthe misery of المتطلِّبِthe seeker المتطلِّهِthe avidly craving
عن شَقْوَةِ المتطلِّبِ المتطلِّهِ
Those free of need have long savored happiness,
far from the misery of the grasping, avid seeker.
أَينَwhere الكرامةُhonor للأَفاضلِfor men of merit عندكمْamong you
أَينَ الكرامةُ للأَفاضلِ عندكمْ
إنif لمnot تكنْit is عندَwith الكرامِthe noble فأينَthen where هيis it
إن لم تكنْ عندَ الكرامِ فأينَ هي
Where, among you, is honor for men of merit?
If it is not with the noble, where can it be?
لَبّىanswered نداءَthe call of نَداكَyour bounty لُبُّthe heart of رجائهِhis hope
لَبّى نداءَ نَداكَ لُبُّ رجائهِ
فازْجُرْso drive off مُلَمَّthe visitation of اليأسِdespair عنهfrom him واندَهِand banish it
فازْجُرْ مُلَمَّ اليأسِ عنه واندَهِ
The heart of his hope answered your bounty's call;
so drive away despair's visitation from him, and banish it.
أَعليْتَyou raised فيin مصرٍEgypt مكانيmy standing بعدماafter
أَعليْتَ في مصرٍ مكاني بعدما
خَفَقَتْit brought low بهit ولقدرِهِand to its worth لمnot يُؤْبَهِheed was paid
خَفَقَتْ به ولقدرِهِ لم يُؤْبَهِ
You raised my standing in Egypt after
it had let it fall, and no heed was paid to its worth.
طَلَعَتْrose نجومُكُمُyour stars الثّواقبُpiercing للورَىbefore mankind
طَلَعَتْ نجومُكُمُ الثّواقبُ للورَى
زُهْراًradiant وإنِّيwhile I كالسُّهَىlike al-Suha عنهabout him سُهيwas overlooked
زُهْراً وإنِّي كالسُّهَى عنه سُهي
Your piercing stars rose before mankind,
radiant, while I, like al-Suha, was overlooked.
جَبَرتْmended يَدُthe hand of الإفضالِbeneficence منهin it كاسراًa fractured part
جَبَرتْ يَدُ الإفضالِ منه كاسراً
منof فضليَmy merit المتكَسِّرِshattered المُتَكدِّهِbruised
من فضليَ المتكَسِّرِ المُتَكدِّهِ
The hand of beneficence mended a fracture in it,
in my merit, shattered and bruised.
عَرِّفْmake known بعرفِكَby your kindness منهof it ماwhat لمnot يَعْرِفواthey knew
عَرِّفْ بعرفِكَ منه ما لم يَعْرِفوا
نبّاًannounce it (uncertain reading) وعنand from سنَةِthe drowsiness of التغافلِwillful neglect نَبِّهِawaken
نبّاً وعن سنَةِ التغافلِ نَبِّهِ
By your kindness, reveal what they have not known of it;
announce it, and rouse them from the slumber of neglect.
فضليmy merit خَلَوتُI was left without لأَجلهِbecause of it منof حُظوةٍfavor
فضلي خَلَوتُ لأَجلهِ من حُظوةٍ
هيit للأَديبِfor a man of letters كَنَبْتِlike vegetation on مَرْتٍbarren ground أجْلَهِbare
هي للأَديبِ كَنَبْتِ مَرْتٍ أجْلَهِ
Because of my merit, I am bereft of favor,
which for a man of letters is like growth on bare, barren ground.
الفضلُmerit مشتعلٌburning بنارin the fire of بلائهِits affliction
الفضلُ مشتعلٌ بنار بلائهِ
والحظُّand fortune مشتغلٌoccupied بأَخرقَwith a clumsy man أَورَهِwitless
والحظُّ مشتغلٌ بأَخرقَ أَورَهِ
Merit burns in the fire of its affliction,
while fortune is occupied with a clumsy fool.
أَعرِlend التأمُّلَreflection فِقْهَunderstanding شِعريof my poetry مُنْعماًkindly
أَعرِ التأمُّلَ فِقْهَ شِعري مُنْعماً
لاnot يَشْعُرُperceives الإنسانُa person ماso long as لمnot يَفْقَهِhe understands
لا يَشْعُرُ الإنسانُ ما لم يَفْقَهِ
Kindly lend reflection to understanding my verse;
a person cannot perceive unless he understands.
وتَملّهاand savor it غَرّاءَradiant جامعةًbringing together لكمfor you
وتَملّها غَرّاءَ جامعةً لكم
فيin النّعْتِdescription بينَbetween تَمدُّحٍpraise وتمدُّهِand eulogy
في النّعْتِ بينَ تَمدُّحٍ وتمدُّهِ
And savor it, radiant, bringing together for you
in description both praise and eulogy.
يهتزُّthrills ذوthe possessor of الحُسنىexcellence لجلوةِat the unveiling of حُسنهاits beauty
يهتزُّ ذو الحُسنى لجلوةِ حُسنها
وتَجِلُّand rises above عنbeyond تحسينِthe embellishment of كلِّevery مُزَهْرِهِlute-player
وتَجِلُّ عن تحسينِ كلِّ مُزَهْرِهِ
A man of excellence thrills at its beauty's unveiling,
and it surpasses every lute-player's embellishment.
أَفواهُthe mouths of أَهلِpeople of الفَضْلِmerit ناطقةٌdeclaring لهاfor it
أَفواهُ أَهلِ الفَضْلِ ناطقةٌ لها
بالفَضْلِexcellence إنif قيسَتْit is compared بشِعرِwith the poetry of الأَفوهِal-Afwah
بالفَضْلِ إن قيسَتْ بشِعرِ الأَفوهِ
The mouths of men of merit declare its
excellence, if compared with al-Afwah's poetry.
وإنِand if العقولُminds لَهتْwere delighted لهاby it فلأَنّهاthen because it
وإنِ العقولُ لَهتْ لها فلأَنّها
مَحميّةٌis guarded عنagainst كلِّevery معنىًmeaning لَهْلَهِflimsy
مَحميّةٌ عن كلِّ معنىً لَهْلَهِ
And if minds delight in it, that is because it is
guarded against every flimsy meaning.
صَهْباءُtawny wine تودِعُinstills سامعيهاin its listeners نَشْوَةًintoxication
صَهْباءُ تودِعُ سامعيها نَشْوَةً
وتعيرُand lends عَرْفَthe fragrance of المسكِmusk للمُسْتَنْكهِto one smelling the breath
وتعيرُ عَرْفَ المسكِ للمُسْتَنْكهِ
A tawny wine, it instills intoxication in its listeners,
and lends musk's fragrance to whoever scents its breath.
فوليُّهاso its devotee بتشوُّقٍwith longing وتشوُّفٍand eager expectation
فوليُّها بتشوُّقٍ وتشوُّفٍ
وحسودُهاand its envier بتَشَوُّرٍwith shame وتشوُّهِand grimacing
وحسودُها بتَشَوُّرٍ وتشوُّهِ
Its devotee is full of longing and eager expectation,
and its envier full of shame and grimacing.
دُمْremain ياO ابنَson of شاهنشاهَShahanshah مَلْكاًa king سَيِّداًa lord
دُمْ يا ابنَ شاهنشاهَ مَلْكاً سَيِّداً
مُتَوشِّحاًgirded بالسُّؤْدُدِwith majesty الشّاهنْشَهيof a king of kings
مُتَوشِّحاً بالسُّؤْدُدِ الشّاهنْشَهي
Remain, O son of Shahanshah, a king and lord,
girded with the majesty of a king of kings,
مُتملِّياًlong delighting in بهرامَBahram شاهShah مُمَتّعاًgranted enjoyment
مُتملِّياً بهرامَ شاه مُمَتّعاً
منهin him بنَدْبٍwith a gallant man سيدٍnoble شَهْمٍspirited شَهيpleasing
منه بنَدْبٍ سيدٍ شَهْمٍ شَهي
long delighting in Bahram Shah, blessed
in him with a gallant, noble, spirited, pleasing man.
لوhad شاهَدَbeheld اليَمَنيُّal-Yamani جَبْهةَthe brow of يُمنكُمْyour good fortune
لو شاهَدَ اليَمَنيُّ جَبْهةَ يُمنكُمْ
ماnot ظَلَّcontinued مُفتخراًboasting بخيلِof the horses of الأَجْبَهِal-Ajbah
ما ظَلَّ مُفتخراً بخيلِ الأَجْبَهِ
Had al-Yamani beheld the brow of your good fortune,
he would not have kept boasting of al-Ajbah's horses.
Partial English translation: 65 of 128 Arabic lines translated.