لَوif كانَit were يُعتَبُwere reproached هاجِرٌone who forsakes فيregarding واصِلِone who keeps ties
لَو كانَ يُعتَبُ هاجِرٌ في واصِلِ
أَوor يُستَقادُredress were exacted لِمُغرَمٍfor a lovesick one مِنfrom ذاهِلِa heedless one
أَو يُستَقادُ لِمُغرَمٍ مِن ذاهِلِ
If one who forsakes could be reproached for one who keeps faith,
If the estranged found solace in the intimate
or redress won for a lovesick man from a heedless one,
Or the ardent's yearning quenched by the indifferent
لَحَرِجتِyou would have felt remorse مِنat وَشَلٍa trickle بِعَينيin my eye سافِحٍpouring forth
لَحَرِجتِ مِن وَشَلٍ بِعَيني سافِحٍ
وَجَنَفتِand you would have recoiled مِنfrom خَبَلٍruin; derangement بِقَلبيin my heart خابِلِravaging
وَجَنَفتِ مِن خَبَلٍ بِقَلبي خابِلِ
you would have felt remorse at the trickle pouring from my eye,
I'd be abashed by my weakness and tears flowing
and recoiled from the ruin ravaging my heart.
And my aching heart pierced by confusion
إِمّاif ever فَرَغتُI turned my attention إِلىto السُلُوِّforgetting love فَإِنَّنيthen indeed I
إِمّا فَرَغتُ إِلى السُلُوِّ فَإِنَّني
مِنfrom حُبِّكُمlove for you بِإِزاءِconfronted with شُغلٍa care شاغِلِall-consuming
مِن حُبِّكُم بِإِزاءِ شُغلٍ شاغِلِ
If ever I turn to forgetting, I am
At times I withdraw into seclusion though
through love of you, faced with an all-consuming care.
Your love distracts me from all else
وَلقَدand indeed خَلَعتُI cast off لَكِfor you العِذارَthe bridle فَلَمso not أَكُنI was
وَلقَد خَلَعتُ لَكِ العِذارَ فَلَم أَكُن
مُحظيone favoring الوُشاةِthe slanderers وَلاnor مُطاعَswayed by العاذِلِthe reproacher
مُحظي الوُشاةِ وَلا مُطاعَ العاذِلِ
And I have indeed cast off the bridle for you, and have not been
I cast off blame yet find no favor
one who favors slanderers, nor one swayed by the reproacher.
With the critic or the one who condemns
وَلَئِنand if indeed أَقَمتِyou stayed بِذيat Dhu الأَراكِal-Arak (arak trees) فَبَعدَthen after ماthat اسverb fragment; continued next line
وَلَئِن أَقَمتِ بِذي الأَراكِ فَبَعدَ ما اس
تَعلَقتِyou ensnared (completes preceding fragment) مِنwith كَمَدٍgrief فُؤادَthe heart of الراحِلِthe departing one
تَعلَقتِ مِن كَمَدٍ فُؤادَ الراحِلِ
And if indeed you stayed at Dhu al-Arak, it was after you had
If you remain in a distant land after
ensnared the departing one's heart with grief.
Tying my heart with bonds before departing
ماذاwhat عَلىupon الأَيّامِthe days لَوif سَمَحَتthey allowed لَناfor us
ماذا عَلى الأَيّامِ لَو سَمَحَت لَنا
بِثِواءِwith a stay أَيّامٍdays لَدَيكِbeside you قَلائِلِfew
بِثِواءِ أَيّامٍ لَدَيكِ قَلائِلِ
What would it cost the days if they allowed us
What of days should they allow us to be
to linger a few days beside you,
Together again even for a short while
فَأَوَيتِso you took pity لِلقَلبِon the heart المُعَنّىtormented المُبتَلىafflicted
فَأَوَيتِ لِلقَلبِ المُعَنّى المُبتَلى
بِهَواكِby love for you وَالبَدَنِand the body الضَئيلِfrail الناحِلِwasted
بِهَواكِ وَالبَدَنِ الضَئيلِ الناحِلِ
so that you might pity the tormented heart, afflicted
My arms would struggle to wrap around
by love of you, and the frail, wasted body?
Your slender waist through your flowing gown
أَمَلٌa hope تَرَجَّحَwavered بَينَbetween عامٍa year أَوَّلٍpast
أَمَلٌ تَرَجَّحَ بَينَ عامٍ أَوَّلٍ
فيin أَنthat أَراكِI see you وَبَينَand between عامٍa year قابِلِto come
في أَن أَراكِ وَبَينَ عامٍ قابِلِ
A hope has wavered between a year gone by—
May our protector reign so guidance prospers
that I might see you—and a year to come.
And falsehood fails, truth reigns overall
أَولىwoe! لَهاto her لَولاwere it not for البِعادُdistance لَعادَwould return ليto me
أَولى لَها لَولا البِعادُ لَعادَ لي
ضيقُthe tightness of العِناقِthe embrace عَلىaround الوِشاحِthe sash الجائِلِloosely moving
ضيقُ العِناقِ عَلى الوِشاحِ الجائِلِ
Woe to her! Were it not for distance, mine would again be
He still defends our faith, shields it
the tight embrace around the loosely hanging sash.
With glory and power though enfeebled he be
لِيَدُمmay he endure لَناfor us المُعتَزُّal-Mu'tazz إِنَّindeed بِمُلكِهِthrough his rule
لِيَدُم لَنا المُعتَزُّ إِنَّ بِمُلكِهِ
عَزَّgrew mighty الهُدىright guidance وَخَباand faded ضَلالُthe delusion of الباطِلِfalsehood
عَزَّ الهُدى وَخَبا ضَلالُ الباطِلِ
Long may al-Mu'tazz endure for us: indeed, through his rule
On days of giving we see his kindness pour
guidance has grown mighty, and falsehood's delusion has faded.
From open hands that overflow bountifully
مازالَhe has not ceased يَكلَأُguarding دينَناour faith وَيَحوطُهُand protecting it
مازالَ يَكلَأُ دينَنا وَيَحوطُهُ
بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِwith Mashrafi swords وَالوَشيجِand spear-shafts الذابِلِslender; seasoned
بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِ وَالوَشيجِ الذابِلِ
He has never ceased to guard our faith and protect it
When promising good, his cheerful giving
with Mashrafi swords and slender spear-shafts.
Follows quickly with gifts for the needy
يَتَخَرَّقُbursts forth المَعروفُkindness يَومَon the day of عَطائِهِhis giving
يَتَخَرَّقُ المَعروفُ يَومَ عَطائِهِ
عَنfrom جودِthe generosity of مُنخَرِقِtorn open اليَدَينِin both hands حُلاحِلِa mighty lord
عَن جودِ مُنخَرِقِ اليَدَينِ حُلاحِلِ
Kindness bursts forth on the day of his giving
Like lightning in the rain, his splendor's flash
from the bounty of an open-handed, mighty lord.
Clears away clouds bringing rain or hail
مُتَهَلِّلٍbeaming طَلقٍcheerful-faced إِذاwhen وَعَدَhe promises الغِنىwealth
مُتَهَلِّلٍ طَلقٍ إِذا وَعَدَ الغِنى
بِالبِشرِwith a cheerful face أَتبَعَhe follows بِشرَهُhis cheerful look بِالنائِلِwith a gift
بِالبِشرِ أَتبَعَ بِشرَهُ بِالنائِلِ
Beaming and cheerful-faced: when he promises wealth
Our souls we'd sacrifice, too paltry a price,
with a smile, he follows his smile with a gift.
For you against time's calamities and trials
كَالمُزنِlike rain clouds إِنif سَطَعَتshone لَوامِعُthe flashes of بَرقِهِits lightning
كَالمُزنِ إِن سَطَعَت لَوامِعُ بَرقِهِ
أَجلَتthey unveiled لَناto us عَنfrom ديمَةٍsteady rain أَوor وابِلِa downpour
أَجلَت لَنا عَن ديمَةٍ أَو وابِلِ
Like a rain cloud: when the flashes of its lightning shine,
You perfected judgment and resolve so
they reveal to us a steady rain or a downpour.
To build with wisdom a structure grandiose
تَفديكَmay they ransom you أَنفُسُناour souls وَقَلَّتand they are scant فِديَةًas a ransom
تَفديكَ أَنفُسُنا وَقَلَّت فِديَةً
لَكَfor you مِنfrom تَصَرُّفِthe vicissitudes of كُلِّevery دَهرٍage غائِلِtreacherous
لَكَ مِن تَصَرُّفِ كُلِّ دَهرٍ غائِلِ
May our souls ransom you—though they are a scant ransom
You rose amongst kings to prosper so fated
for you—from the vicissitudes of every treacherous age.
In glory, rank and dwellings elated
لَمّاwhen كَمَلتَyou reached perfection رَوِيَّةًin deliberation وَعَزيمَةًand resolve
لَمّا كَمَلتَ رَوِيَّةً وَعَزيمَةً
أَعمَلتَyou applied رَأيَكَyour judgment فيto ابتِناءِbuilding الكامِلِal-Kamil
أَعمَلتَ رَأيَكَ في ابتِناءِ الكامِلِ
When your deliberation and resolve reached perfection,
A fearsome sight, your palace appearing
you applied your judgment to building al-Kamil.
Where doves nestled high, now trembling
وَغَدَوتَand you became مِنfrom بَينَamong المُلوكِthe kings مُوَفَّقاًfavored with success
وَغَدَوتَ مِن بَينَ المُلوكِ مُوَفَّقاً
مِنهُfrom it لِأَيمَنِto the most auspicious حِلَّةٍdwelling وَمَنازِلِand abodes
مِنهُ لِأَيمَنِ حِلَّةٍ وَمَنازِلِ
And among the kings, you were favored with success,
For piercing winds, your lofty abode is built
gaining from it the most auspicious dwelling and abodes.
Marvels of beauty and grace within it embossed
ذُعِرَwere startled الحَمامُthe doves وَقَدwhile already تَرَنَّمَthey cooed فَوقَهُabove it
ذُعِرَ الحَمامُ وَقَد تَرَنَّمَ فَوقَهُ
مِنat مَنظَرٍa lookout خَطِرِperilous in المَزَلَّةِa slip هائِلِterrifying
مِن مَنظَرٍ خَطِرِ المَزَلَّةِ هائِلِ
The doves took fright, though they had cooed above it,
Its glass panels like brilliant lakes gleaming
at a terrifying lookout where a slip would be perilous.
Along shores of marble waves streaming
رُفِعَتwere raised لِمُخترِقِto the passage of الرِياحِthe winds سُموكُهُits roofs
رُفِعَت لِمُخترِقِ الرِياحِ سُموكُهُ
وَزَهَتand shone عَجائِبُthe wonders of حُسنِهِits beauty المُتَخايِلِproudly displaying itself
وَزَهَت عَجائِبُ حُسنِهِ المُتَخايِلِ
Its roofs were raised into the winds' path,
Tile patterns interlocking in the ceiling
and the wonders of its proud beauty shone.
Arranged in sequence, matching and reeling
وَكَأَنَّand as though حيطانَthe walls of الزُجاجِglass بِجَوِّهِwithin it
وَكَأَنَّ حيطانَ الزُجاجِ بِجَوِّهِ
لُجَجٌdeep waters يَمُجنَsurging عَلىagainst جُنوبِthe sides of سَواحِلِshores
لُجَجٌ يَمُجنَ عَلى جُنوبِ سَواحِلِ
And it was as though the glass walls within it
Gilded panels shine bright as the gloom recedes
were deep waters surging against the sides of shores.
Lighting darkness, shadows long and far reaching
وَكَأَنَّand as though تَفويفَthe striping of الرُخامِmarble إِذاwhen التَقىcame together
وَكَأَنَّ تَفويفَ الرُخامِ إِذا التَقى
تَأليفُهُits fitted arrangement بِالمَنظَرِin the display المُتَقابِلِmutually facing
تَأليفُهُ بِالمَنظَرِ المُتَقابِلِ
And it was as though the marble's striping, when
Eyes are dazzled by the resplendent scene
its fitted pieces met in a symmetrical display,
Of soaring ceiling and floors pristine
حُبُكُwoven bands of الغَمامِclouds رُصِفنَwere laid in rows بَينَamong مُنَمَّرٍmottled
حُبُكُ الغَمامِ رُصِفنَ بَينَ مُنَمَّرٍ
وَمُسَيَّرٍand striped وَمُقارِبٍand closely matched وَمُشاكِلِand alike
وَمُسَيَّرٍ وَمُقارِبٍ وَمُشاكِلِ
were woven cloud-bands laid out, some mottled,
As if brocade were draped over the garden stems
some striped, some closely matched, some alike.
In patterns seamless, refinement supreme
لَبِسَتwore مِنَfrom الذَهَبِgold الصَقيلِpolished سُقوفُهُits ceilings
لَبِسَت مِنَ الذَهَبِ الصَقيلِ سُقوفُهُ
نوراًa light يُضيءُshines عَلىover الظَلامِthe darkness الحافِلِdense
نوراً يُضيءُ عَلى الظَلامِ الحافِلِ
Its ceilings wore, from polished gold,
Euphrates serenades, water rushing in tides
a light shining over the dense darkness.
Like ample rain from congruent clouds gliding
فَتَرىso you see العُيونَthe eyes يَجُلنَroaming فيthrough ذيpossessing رَونَقٍsplendor
فَتَرى العُيونَ يَجُلنَ في ذي رَونَقٍ
مُتَلَهِّبِablaze العاليin its upper part أَنيقِelegant السافِلِin its lower part
مُتَلَهِّبِ العالي أَنيقِ السافِلِ
So you see eyes roaming over a place of splendor,
The breeze breathes through, trees gently dance
ablaze above and elegant below.
With lush branches and fruits enhance
فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though نُشِرَتwas spread عَلىover بُستانِهِits garden
فَكَأَنَّما نُشِرَت عَلى بُستانِهِ
سيراءُsilk-striped cloth وَشيِembroidery of اليُمنَةِYemeni cloth المُتَواصِلِcontinuous
سيراءُ وَشيِ اليُمنَةِ المُتَواصِلِ
So it is as though over its garden there were spread
Maidens float gracefully in the eve
a silk-striped cloth of unbroken Yemeni embroidery.
Between blossoming trees aligned
أَغنَتهُspared it the need دِجلَةُthe Tigris إِذas تَلاحَقَflowed in succession فَيضُهاits flood
أَغنَتهُ دِجلَةُ إِذ تَلاحَقَ فَيضُها
عَنfrom فَيضِthe outpouring of مُنسَجِمِsteadily streaming السَحابِclouds الهاطِلِrain-shedding
عَن فَيضِ مُنسَجِمِ السَحابِ الهاطِلِ
The Tigris, as its flood flowed on, freed it
Goodness gathers where your hall inspires
from needing the flow of the clouds' steady, falling rain.
Welcoming company, joy to find
وَتَنَفَّسَتand breathed فيهِthrough it الصَباthe east wind فَتَعَطَّفَتso swayed
وَتَنَفَّسَت فيهِ الصَبا فَتَعَطَّفَت
أَشجارُهُits trees مِنamong حُيَّلٍbarren ones وَحَوامِلِand fruit-bearing ones
أَشجارُهُ مِن حُيَّلٍ وَحَوامِلِ
And the east wind breathed through it, so they swayed—
You arrive as roses bloom in time together
its trees, both barren and fruit-bearing—
Your presence blessed when spring is here
مَشيَlike the walk of العَذارىmaidens الغيدِlissome رُحنَgoing out عَشِيَّةًat evening
مَشيَ العَذارى الغيدِ رُحنَ عَشِيَّةً
مِنfrom بَينِamong حالِيَةِone adorned اليَدَينِin both hands وَعاطِلِand one unadorned
مِن بَينِ حالِيَةِ اليَدَينِ وَعاطِلِ
like the walk of lissome maidens setting out one evening,
With Nayrouz bringing fortune renewed
some with hands adorned, and some without ornaments.
Another year passes since your palace imbued
وَالخَيرُand goodness يُجمَعُis gathered وَالنَشاطُand merriment لِمَجلِسٍfor a hall
وَالخَيرُ يُجمَعُ وَالنَشاطُ لِمَجلِسٍ
قَمَنِworthy المَحَلِّin standing مِنَwith السَماحَةِgenerosity آهِلِfilled
قَمَنِ المَحَلِّ مِنَ السَماحَةِ آهِلِ
And goodness and delight are gathered for a hall,
You lived long in the comforts home provides
worthy in standing and filled with generosity.
A thousand years of your reign now abides
وافَيتَهُyou reached it وَالوَردُand the roses فيat وَقتٍa time مَعاًtogether
وافَيتَهُ وَالوَردُ في وَقتٍ مَعاً
وَنَزَلتَand you settled فيهِin it مَعَwith الرَبيعِspring النازِلِarriving
وَنَزَلتَ فيهِ مَعَ الرَبيعِ النازِلِ
You and the roses reached it together, at the same time,
Saw Abdullah in his aging stride
and you settled there with the arriving spring.
Many by his years more would hide
وَغَداand became بِنَيروزٍwith Nowruz عَلَيكَfor you مُبارَكٍblessed
وَغَدا بِنَيروزٍ عَلَيكَ مُبارَكٍ
تَحويلُthe turning of عامٍa year إِثرَafter عامٍa year حائِلِgone by
تَحويلُ عامٍ إِثرَ عامٍ حائِلِ
And with a Nowruz blessed for you came
A moon they await to fulfill at last
the turn of a year after a year gone by.
What hopes had craved and dreams forecast
مُلِّيتَهُmay you long enjoy it وَعَمِرتَand may you live فيin بَحبوحَةٍspacious ease
مُلِّيتَهُ وَعَمِرتَ في بَحبوحَةٍ
مِنwithin دارِthe abode of مُلكِكَyour sovereignty أَلفَa thousand حَولٍyears كامِلِcomplete
مِن دارِ مُلكِكَ أَلفَ حَولٍ كامِلِ
May you long enjoy it, and live in spacious ease
Yearning he'd prove his noble traits known
in your royal abode for a thousand full years.
By witnesses' proofs and signs shown
وَرَأيتَand may you see عَبدَAbd (servant of) اللَهِAllah (God) فيat السِنِّthe age الَّتيthat
وَرَأيتَ عَبدَ اللَهِ في السِنِّ الَّتي
تَعِدُpromises الكَثيرَmuch بِدَهرِهاthrough its span المُتَطاوِلِlong-extended
تَعِدُ الكَثيرَ بِدَهرِها المُتَطاوِلِ
And may you see Abd Allah at an age that
His generosity rivals any other
promises much in its long, unfolding span.
The meritorious surpasses the mediocre
قَمَرٌa moon تُؤَمِّلُهُthey hope in him المَواليthe retainers لِلَّتيfor that which
قَمَرٌ تُؤَمِّلُهُ المَوالي لِلَّتي
يَقضيfulfills بِهاthrough it المَأمولُthe one hoped in حَقَّthe due of الآمِلِthe hopeful one
يَقضي بِها المَأمولُ حَقَّ الآمِلِ
A moon on whom the retainers pin their hopes for that
A venerable man whom wisdom extols
by which the one they look to fulfills the hopeful one's due.
Dignity radiating like grey hair that folds
يَرجونَthey hope for مِنهُfrom him نَجابَةًnobility شَهِدَتbore witness بِهاto it
يَرجونَ مِنهُ نَجابَةً شَهِدَت بِها
فيهِin him عُدولُtrustworthy شَواهِدٍsigns وَدَلائِلِand proofs
فيهِ عُدولُ شَواهِدٍ وَدَلائِلِ
They hope for nobility from him, attested to
I've tested his character time and again
within him by trustworthy signs and proofs.
Finding virtue from your guidance attained
وَمَذاهِبٌand paths فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds بِمِثلِهاby the like of them
وَمَذاهِبٌ في المَكرُماتِ بِمِثلِها
يَتَبَيَّنُrecognizes المَفضولُthe lesser man سَبقَthe lead of الفاضِلِthe superior man
يَتَبَيَّنُ المَفضولُ سَبقَ الفاضِلِ
And paths of noble action, by the like of which
I asked him for help and he offered his hand
the lesser man recognizes the better man's lead.
Readily providing aid on demand
حَدَثٌa youth يُوَقِّرُهُmakes him dignified الحِجىreason فَكَأَنَّهُso it is as though he
حَدَثٌ يُوَقِّرُهُ الحِجى فَكَأَنَّهُ
أَخَذَtook الوَقارَdignity مِنَfrom المَشيبِgray hair الشامِلِall-covering
أَخَذَ الوَقارَ مِنَ المَشيبِ الشامِلِ
A youth whom wisdom makes dignified, as though he
Your noble deeds he recounts with care
had drawn that dignity from hair turned wholly gray.
Matching your magnanimity, compassion and care
وَلَقَدand indeed بَلَوتُI tested خِلالَهُhis qualities فَوَجَدتُهُso I found him
وَلَقَد بَلَوتُ خِلالَهُ فَوَجَدتُهُ
مُعطىendowed with خِلالٍqualities مِنfrom لَدَيكَyour presence جَلائِلِexalted
مُعطى خِلالٍ مِن لَدَيكَ جَلائِلِ
And I have indeed tested his qualities and found him
You showed me kindness beyond measure
endowed with exalted traits that came from you.
My needs and hopes your favors did treasure
وَسَأَلتُهُand I asked him ليfor myself آنِفاًjust now فَوَجَدتُهُso I found him
وَسَأَلتُهُ لي آنِفاً فَوَجَدتُهُ
أَندىmost moist; most generous أَسِرَّةِlines of راحَةٍa palm وَأَنامِلِand fingertips
أَندى أَسِرَّةِ راحَةٍ وَأَنامِلِ
And I asked him for myself just now, and found him
Your pledge of loyalty and word I see
most moist with bounty in palm-lines and fingertips.
Can only mean success soon for me
يَحكيكَhe mirrors you فيin كَرَمِthe nobility of الفَعالِdeeds خَلائِقاًtraits
يَحكيكَ في كَرَمِ الفَعالِ خَلائِقاً
بِخَلائِقٍwith traits وَشَمائِلاًand dispositions بِشَمائِلِwith dispositions
بِخَلائِقٍ وَشَمائِلاً بِشَمائِلِ
He mirrors you in the nobility of deeds, trait
for trait, and disposition for disposition.
قَدَّمتَyou first offered فِيَّconcerning me عِنايَةًcare مَشكورَةًworthy of thanks
قَدَّمتَ فِيَّ عِنايَةً مَشكورَةً
كانَتit was لَدَيهِwith him ذَرائِعيmy grounds وَوَسائِليand my means
كانَت لَدَيهِ ذَرائِعي وَوَسائِلي
You first showed me a care worthy of thanks,
which served as my grounds and means with him.
وَأَرىand I see ضَمانَكَyour guarantee لِلوَفاءِof fulfillment وَوَعدَهُand his promise
وَأَرى ضَمانَكَ لِلوَفاءِ وَوَعدَهُ
لاnot يَرضَيانِthe two are content سِوىwith anything but النَجاحِsuccess العاجِلِimmediate
لا يَرضَيانِ سِوى النَجاحِ العاجِلِ
And I see your guarantee of fulfillment and his promise
will be content with nothing but swift success.
Partial English translation: 78 of 84 Arabic lines translated.