أَتُراهُdo you think he يَظُنُّنيsupposes me أَوor يَرانيsees me
أَتُراهُ يَظُنُّني أَو يَراني
ناسِياًforgetful of عَهدَهُhis pledge الَّذيwhich إِستَرعانيhe entrusted to my keeping
ناسِياً عَهدَهُ الَّذي إِستَرعاني
Does he, I wonder, think me—or see me—
Does he think I forget his pact with me,
forgetful of the pledge he entrusted to me?
Or see me as oblivious to what binds me?
لاno وَمَنby Him who مَدَّextended غايَتيmy furthest reach فيin هَواهُlove for him
لا وَمَن مَدَّ غايَتي في هَواهُ
وَبلانيand afflicted me مِنهُthrough him بِماwith what قَدindeed بَلانيHe afflicted me
وَبلاني مِنهُ بِما قَد بَلاني
No, by Him who extended my course in love for him,
No! By the one whose love rules o’er my soul,
and tried me through him as He has tried me!
And whose sweet torment pierces me whole.
سَكَنٌa beloved solace يَسكُنُdwells in الفُؤادَthe heart عَلىdespite ماwhat
سَكَنٌ يَسكُنُ الفُؤادَ عَلى ما
فيهِis in him مِنof طاعَةٍobedience وَمِنand of عِصيانِrebellion
فيهِ مِن طاعَةٍ وَمِن عِصيانِ
A beloved who dwells within the heart, despite
My heart is still, obedient to his will,
all his obedience and rebellion.
Be that submission or be it defiance.
شَدَّhow intensely ماindeed (emphatic) كَثَّرَexaggerated الوُشاةُthe slanderers وَلامَand reproached الthe
شَدَّ ما كَثَّرَ الوُشاةُ وَلامَ ال
ناسُpeople فيfor حُبِّloving ذَلِكَthat الإِنسانِperson
ناسُ في حُبِّ ذَلِكَ الإِنسانِ
How much the slanderers exaggerated, and the
Much have the scandalmongers criticized
people reproached me for loving that person!
My love for that most wondrous man.
أَيُّهاO you الآمِريwho commands me بِتَركِto abandon التَصابيyouthful dalliance
أَيُّها الآمِري بِتَركِ التَصابي
رُمتَyou sought مِنّيfrom me ماwhat لَيسَis not فيwithin إِمكانيmy power
رُمتَ مِنّي ما لَيسَ في إِمكاني
O you who order me to abandon youthful dalliance,
You who command I turn from my beloved,
you have asked of me what lies beyond my power.
Ask of me what is beyond mortal man!
خَلِّleave off عَنّيfrom me فَماfor not إِلَيكَup to you رَشاديmy right guidance
خَلِّ عَنّي فَما إِلَيكَ رَشادي
مِنout of ضَلاليmy error وَلاnor عَلَيكَupon you ضَمانيresponsibility for me
مِن ضَلالي وَلا عَلَيكَ ضَماني
Leave me alone: it is not yours to guide me
Leave me be! For I cannot be guided
out of my error, nor are you answerable for me.
By you, nor will you answer for my sins.
وَنَديمٍand a drinking companion نَبَّهتُهُI roused him وَدُجىwhile the darkness of اللَيthe night (first part)
وَنَديمٍ نَبَّهتُهُ وَدُجى اللَي
لِ(completes 'night') وَضَوءُand the light of الصَباحِmorning يَعتَلِجانِstruggle together
لِ وَضَوءُ الصَباحِ يَعتَلِجانِ
And a drinking companion I roused, while night's darkness
A friend I roused when night was pitch and black
and the light of morning struggled together:
And false dawn vied with day to reawaken.
قُمrise نُبادِرlet us forestall بِهاwith it الصِيامَthe fast فَقَدfor already أَقhas become full (first part)
قُم نُبادِر بِها الصِيامَ فَقَد أَق
مَرَ(completes 'has become full') ذاكَthat الهِلالُcrescent مِنof شَعبانِShaʿban
مَرَ ذاكَ الهِلالُ مِن شَعبانِ
“Rise! Let us forestall the fast with it, for already
“Rise, let us take our fast,” I said, “for lo!
that crescent of Shaʿban has waxed full.”
The crescent moon of Sha’ban is taken.”
بِنتَdaughter of كَرَمٍa vine يَدنوdraws near بِهاwith it مُرهَفُslender القَدِّof form
بِنتَ كَرَمٍ يَدنو بِها مُرهَفُ القَدِّ
غَريرُinnocent in الصِباyouth خَضيبُdyed البَنانِof fingertips
غَريرُ الصِبا خَضيبُ البَنانِ
The vine's daughter, brought near by one slender of form,
A daughter of benevolence, drawing near,
innocent in youth, with dyed fingertips;
Coy beauty, red lips like fruits ripened.
أُرجُوانِيَّةًcrimson تُشَبَّهُis likened فيin الكَأthe cup (first part)
أُرجُوانِيَّةً تُشَبَّهُ في الكَأ
سِ(completes 'cup') بِتُفّاحِto the apple of خَدِّهِhis cheek الأُرجُوانيcrimson
سِ بِتُفّاحِ خَدِّهِ الأُرجُواني
crimson, compared within the cup
Carnation-pink, in form her cheek contends
to the apple of his crimson cheek.
With apples, flushed too as if sunburnt.
باتَhe was that night أَحلىsweeter لَدَيَّto me مِنthan سِنَةِthe drowse of النَوsleep (first part)
باتَ أَحلى لَدَيَّ مِن سِنَةِ النَو
مِ(completes 'sleep') وَأَشهىand more desirable مِنthan مُفرِحاتِthe delights of الأَمانيhopes
مِ وَأَشهى مِن مُفرِحاتِ الأَماني
That night he was sweeter to me than the drowse of sleep,
To me, one night with him is sweeter far
and more desirable than the delights of hopes.
Than years of sleep and all that dreams contain,
لِلإِمامِfor the Imam المُعتَزِّal-Muʿtazz بِاللَهِin God إِعزاhonor (first part)
لِلإِمامِ المُعتَزِّ بِاللَهِ إِعزا
زٌ(completes 'honor') مِنَfrom اللَهِGod قاهِرِoverwhelming in السُلطانِsovereignty
زٌ مِنَ اللَهِ قاهِرِ السُلطانِ
For the Imam al-Muʿtazz bi-llah, honor
For the Caliph firm in his faith, made great
comes from God, whose sovereignty is overwhelming.
By God who topples tyrants without strain.
مَلِكٌa king يَدرَءُwards off الإِساءَةَwrongdoing بِالعَفwith pardon (first part)
مَلِكٌ يَدرَءُ الإِساءَةَ بِالعَف
وِ(completes 'pardon') وَيَجزيand rewards الإِحسانَkindness بِالإِحسانِwith kindness
وِ وَيَجزي الإِحسانَ بِالإِحسانِ
A king who wards off wrongdoing with pardon
A King who counters harm with pardons kind,
and rewards kindness with kindness.
And good deeds with better deeds again.
سَلask بِهِabout him تَخبَرِyou will learn العَجيبَthe wondrous وَإِنeven though كاwas (first part)
سَل بِهِ تَخبَرِ العَجيبَ وَإِن كا
نَ(completes 'was') السَماعُhearsay المَأثورُhanded down دونَshort of العِيانِseeing firsthand
نَ السَماعُ المَأثورُ دونَ العِيانِ
Ask about him: you will learn wonders, although
Ask of him, though hearsay falls short of sights
reports handed down fall short of seeing firsthand.
That amaze, of wonders plain and arcane.
وَتَأَمَّلهُand contemplate him مِلءَto the fullness of عَينَيكَyour two eyes فَاُنظُرthen see
وَتَأَمَّلهُ مِلءَ عَينَيكَ فَاُنظُر
أَيَّwhat a راضٍone pleased فيfor the sake of اللَهِGod أَوor غَضبانِone angered
أَيَّ راضٍ في اللَهِ أَو غَضبانِ
Look your fill at him, and see
Gaze on him well, see if he is devout
what a man he is, pleased or angered for God's sake!
Or wrathful; observant or newspaper?
بَسطَةٌexpansive power تَرهَقُovertakes النُجومَthe stars وَمُلكٌand a dominion
بَسطَةٌ تَرهَقُ النُجومَ وَمُلكٌ
عَظُمَتhave grown great فيهِin it مَأثُراتِthe glorious deeds of الزَمانِthe age
عَظُمَت فيهِ مَأثُراتِ الزَمانِ
A reach that overtakes the stars, and a dominion
An empire stretching the stars, a glorious reign
in which the age's glorious deeds have grown great.
Where legends flood in and wonders remain.
أَذَعَنَsubmitted الناكِثونَthe oath-breakers إِذwhen أَلقَتِcast الحَرwar (first part)
أَذَعَنَ الناكِثونَ إِذ أَلقَتِ الحَر
بُ(completes 'war') عَلَيهِمupon them بِكَلكَلٍwith a breast وَجِرانِand a camel's neck
بُ عَلَيهِم بِكَلكَلٍ وَجِرانِ
The oath-breakers submitted when war bore down
The oath-breakers humbled themselves when war
upon them with its breast and neck.
Descended on them, destructive as a hurricane.
فَفُتوحٌthus victories يَقصُصنَrecount فيon كُلِّevery يَومٍday
فَفُتوحٌ يَقصُصنَ في كُلِّ يَومٍ
شَأنَذthe fate of (unclear spelling) قاصٍa distant one مِنَamong الأَعاديthe enemies وَدانِand a near one
شَأنَذ قاصٍ مِنَ الأَعادي وَدانِ
Thus victories recount each day
Conquests told daily in wondrous detail,
the fate of enemies, far and near.
Foes bested, made to surrender or slain.
كُلُّevery رَكّاضَةٍspeeding dispatch مِنَamong البُردِpostal messages يَغدوbecomes الthe
كُلُّ رَكّاضَةٍ مِنَ البُردِ يَغدو ال
ريشُfeathers أَولىmore fitting بِهاfor it مِنَthan العُنوانِthe address
ريشُ أَولى بِها مِنَ العُنوانِ
For every speeding dispatch of the post,
When the mail was doffed, finer garb beneath
feathers are more fitting than an address.
Than ostentatious gold brocade had lain.
قَدalready أَتاناhas come to us البَشيرُthe good-news bearer عَنconcerning خَبَرِthe news of الخاthe Khabur (first part)
قَد أَتانا البَشيرُ عَن خَبَرِ الخا
بورِ(completes 'Khabur') بِالصِدقِwith truth ظاهِراًmanifest وَالبَيانِand clarity
بورِ بِالصِدقِ ظاهِراً وَالبَيانِ
The herald has reached us with news of the Khabur,
Tidings from one returned from the frontier came,
manifest in truth and clarity.
True and eloquent though not verbose or vain.
عَنabout زُحوفٍadvancing hosts مِنَof الأَعاديthe enemies وَيَومٍand a day
عَن زُحوفٍ مِنَ الأَعادي وَيَومٍ
مِنfrom أَبيAbu (father of) الساجِal-Saj فيهِمagainst them أَرونانِtumultuous
مِن أَبي الساجِ فيهِم أَرونانِ
Of advancing enemy armies, and a day
Of enemies flanking and the valor that day
of uproar dealt them by Abu al-Saj.
Of the father of candles against them did stain.
حَشَدَتmustered مَربَعاءُMarbaʿa فيهِin it مَردٌMard (uncertain name)
حَشَدَت مَربَعاءُ فيهِ مَردٌ
وَقُصورُand the castles of البَليخِthe Balikh وَالمازِجانِand al-Mazijan
وَقُصورُ البَليخِ وَالمازِجانِ
Marbaʿa and Mard mustered there,
At Marraba the foe was a seething sea
and the castles of the Balikh, and al-Mazijan.
With their towers, their courts, their walls a-reign.
وَتَوافَتand converged حَلائِبُallied bands السَلطِal-Salt (uncertain name) وَالمُرَجand al-Murajjijin (uncertain name, first part)
وَتَوافَت حَلائِبُ السَلطِ وَالمُرَج
جينَ(completes 'al-Murajjijin') مِنfrom دابِقٍDabiq وَمِنand from بُطنانِButnan
جينَ مِن دابِقٍ وَمِن بُطنانِ
And the allied bands of al-Salt and al-Murajjijin converged,
The Salt and the Merj giants rallied their clans,
from Dabiq and from Butnan.
Daabiq and Buthan answered the call amain.
تَثَنّىsway الرِماحُthe spears وَالحَربُwhile war مَشبوkindled (first part)
تَثَنّى الرِماحُ وَالحَربُ مَشبو
بُن(completes 'kindled') لَظاهاits blaze تَثَنّىthe swaying of الخَيزُرانِbamboo
بُن لَظاها تَثَنّى الخَيزُرانِ
The spears sway, while war's blaze
Lances bent where raging battle bowed them low
is kindled, as bamboo sways.
As snakes that hiss bend low but rise again.
كُلَّماwhenever مالَleaned جانِبٌa flank مِنof خَميسٍan army
كُلَّما مالَ جانِبٌ مِن خَميسٍ
عَدَّلَتهُstraightened it شَواجِرُinterlacing shafts of الخِرصانِthe spears
عَدَّلَتهُ شَواجِرُ الخِرصانِ
Whenever a flank of an army leaned,
Whenever their left flank stumbled and lost men,
the interlaced spears set it straight.
The brave swords of Khorasan righted them plain.
فَلَجَتprevailed حُجَّةُthe case of المَواليthe retainers ضِراباًby striking
فَلَجَت حُجَّةُ المَوالي ضِراباً
وَطِعاناًand spear-thrusting لَمّاwhen إِلتَقىmet الخَصمانِthe two opponents
وَطِعاناً لَمّا إِلتَقى الخَصمانِ
The retainers' case prevailed through blows
Our stalwart friends charged the gap, stabbing through,
and spear-thrusts when the two opponents met.
When the two armies finally did meet and engage.
فَقَتيلٌthen a slain man تَحتَbeneath السَنابِكِthe hooves يَدمىbleeds
فَقَتيلٌ تَحتَ السَنابِكِ يَدمى
وَأَسيرٌand a captive يُراقِبُawaits القَتلَbeing killed عانِin bondage
وَأَسيرٌ يُراقِبُ القَتلَ عانِ
One slain man bleeds beneath the hooves,
Below the portico the slain soaked the dust with red,
and a captive in bondage awaits death.
While captives eyed the living with a mixture of dread and disdain.
لَمnot تَكُنwas صَفقَةُthe bargain of الخِيارِchoice عَشِيّاًthat evening
لَم تَكُن صَفقَةُ الخِيارِ عَشِيّاً
لِاِبنِfor Ibn (son of) عَمرٍوʿAmr فيهاin it وَلاnor صَفوانِSafwan
لِاِبنِ عَمرٍو فيها وَلا صَفوانِ
It was no favorable bargain that evening
For Ibn Amr no lucky gambles were thrown last eve,
for Ibn ʿAmr there, nor for Safwan.
Naught remained for them but disaster and bane.
جَلَبتَهُمbrought them إِلىto مَصارِعِthe death-grounds of بَغيٍrebellion
جَلَبتَهُم إِلى مَصارِعِ بَغيٍ
عَثَراتُthe stumblings of الشَقاءِmisery وَالخِذلانِand abandonment
عَثَراتُ الشَقاءِ وَالخِذلانِ
They were brought to rebellion's death-grounds
Missteps mid calamity and fortunes forlorn
by the stumblings of misery and abandonment.
Had lured them to fields where they were destined to wane.
أَسَفاًalas لِلحُلومِfor good judgment كَيفَhow إِستَخَّفَتit grew reckless
أَسَفاً لِلحُلومِ كَيفَ إِستَخَّفَت
بِغُلُوِّthrough the extremity of الإِسرافِexcess وَالطُغيانِand tyranny
بِغُلُوِّ الإِسرافِ وَالطُغيانِ
Alas for their judgment! How it grew reckless
Alas for minions foolish, having mocked
through the extremity of excess and tyranny!
Moderation, now choked with blood-mortal stain.
كَيفَhow لَمnot يَقبَلواdid they accept الأَمانَsafe-conduct وَقَدwhen indeed كاwas (first part)
كَيفَ لَم يَقبَلوا الأَمانَ وَقَد كا
نَت(completes 'was') حَياةٌlife لِمِثلِهِمfor the likes of them فيin الأَمانِsafe-conduct
نَت حَياةٌ لِمِثلِهِم في الأَمانِ
How did they not accept safe-conduct, when
Why, when offered, security spurned they,
safe-conduct meant life for the likes of them?
Choosing demise when lasting life did remain?!
ياO إِمامَImam of الهُدىguidance نُصِرتَmay you be granted victory وَلاand may you not زِلcease (first part)
يا إِمامَ الهُدى نُصِرتَ وَلا زِل
تَyou (completes 'you cease') مُعاناًaided بِالِيُمنِby good fortune وَالإيمانِand faith
تَ مُعاناً بِالِيُمنِ وَالإيمانِ
O Imam of guidance, may you be victorious, and never cease
O Leader True! Victory and aid belong to you,
to be aided by good fortune and faith.
Blessings and faith will ever pleasure sustain.
عَزَّgrew mighty دينُthe religion of الإِلَهِGod فيin الشَرقِthe East وَالغَرand the West (first part)
عَزَّ دينُ الإِلَهِ في الشَرقِ وَالغَر
بِ(completes 'West') بِبيضِthrough the white ones of الأَيّامِthe days مِنكَfrom you الحِسانِthe beautiful
بِ بِبيضِ الأَيّامِ مِنكَ الحِسانِ
God's religion grew mighty in the East and West
In East and West the faith of God now stands supreme,
through the white, beautiful days you have given.
Thanks to your perfect reign's enduring gain.
وَاِضمَحَلَّand vanished الشِقاقُdiscord فيon الأَرضِthe earth مُذsince طاobeyed (first part)
وَاِضمَحَلَّ الشِقاقُ في الأَرضِ مُذ طا
عَ(completes 'obeyed') لَكَyou المَشرِقانِthe two Easts وَالمَغرِبانِand the two Wests
عَ لَكَ المَشرِقانِ وَالمَغرِبانِ
And discord vanished from the earth once
Strife fades from this earth since you came to command
the two Easts and the two Wests obeyed you.
All that lies east and all that westward lain.
لَمnot تَزَلhave you ceased تَكلأُguarding البِلادَthe lands بِقَلبٍwith a heart
لَم تَزَل تَكلأُ البِلادَ بِقَلبٍ
أَلمَعِيٍّkeenly perceptive وَناظِرٍand an eye يَقظانِwatchful
أَلمَعِيٍّ وَناظِرٍ يَقظانِ
You have never ceased guarding the lands with a heart
You have held the realm with mind judicious,
keenly perceptive, and a watchful eye.
Gaze circumspect, consideration never vain.
إِنَّماonly يَحفَظُone safeguards الأُمورَaffairs وَيُتويand ruins
إِنَّما يَحفَظُ الأُمورَ وَيُتوي
هِنَّthem بِحَزمٍby resolve مُواشِكٍprompt أَوor تَوانِdelay
هِنَّ بِحَزمٍ مُواشِكٍ أَو تَوانِ
Affairs are only safeguarded—or ruined—
None but you owns my heart, none but you
by prompt resolve or by delay.
Inspires my praise, by lips and song heralded fain.
ماnot تَوَلّىhas pledged itself قَلبيmy heart سِواكُمto anyone but you وَلاnor ماinclined (first part)
ما تَوَلّى قَلبي سِواكُم وَلا ما
لَ(completes 'inclined') إِلىtoward غَيرِكُمanyone other than you بِمَدحٍwith praise لِسانيmy tongue
لَ إِلى غَيرِكُم بِمَدحٍ لِساني
My heart has pledged itself to none but you, nor has
I have thanked and loved you since my youth;
my tongue turned in praise to anyone else.
And it is but right that you now raise me again
شَأنيmy way الشُكرُgratitude وَالمَحَبَّةُand love مُذsince كُنwas (first part)
شَأني الشُكرُ وَالمَحَبَّةُ مُذ كُن
تُI (completes 'I was') وَحَقٌّand a duty عَلَيكَupon you تَعظيمُexalting شانيmy standing
تُ وَحَقٌّ عَلَيكَ تَعظيمُ شاني
Gratitude and love have been my way since I came to be;
From my low station, else ingratitude
and it is your duty to exalt my standing.
And baseness in lieu of grace will remain.
ضَعَةٌabasement بيfor me إِنif لَمnot أَنَلI attain بِمَكانيthrough my standing
ضَعَةٌ بي إِن لَم أَنَل بِمَكاني
مِنكَfrom you عِزّاًhonor مُستَأنَفاًrenewed فيin مَكانيmy station
مِنكَ عِزّاً مُستَأنَفاً في مَكاني
It is abasement for me if I fail to gain, through my standing,
from you, renewed honor in my own station.
Partial English translation: 76 of 78 Arabic lines translated.