لقدindeed علمتْhas learned عُلياthe nobility لُؤيِّof Lu’ayy بنson of غالبٍGhalib
لقد علمتْ عُليا لُؤيِّ بن غالبٍ
اذاwhen عُدِّدَتٌare recounted يومon the day of النَّديِّthe assembly المآثِرُglorious deeds
اذا عُدِّدَتٌ يوم النَّديِّ المآثِرُ
The nobles of Luʾayy ibn Ghalib have indeed known,
The nobility of Lu’ayy son of Ghalib has surely learned,
when deeds of glory are one day recounted in the assembly,
when glorious deeds are recounted on the day of assembly,
بأنَّthat عليّاًAli يبْذلُgives freely الجودَgenerosity مُعْدَماdestitute
بأنَّ عليّاً يبْذلُ الجودَ مُعْدَما
ويحلمُand is forbearing عنtoward أعْدائهِhis enemies وهوwhile he is قادرُpowerful
ويحلمُ عن أعْدائهِ وهو قادرُ
that ʿAli lavishes bounty even when destitute,
that Ali gives generously even when destitute,
and forbears with his enemies though he has the power;
and is forbearing toward his enemies even when he has power.
ولاand does not يدفعُwithhold الجودَgenerosity الجزيلlavish بعُذرهِwith his excuse
ولا يدفعُ الجودَ الجزيل بعُذرهِ
اذاwhen عرضتْarise دونin the way of الزهيدthe paltry gift المَعاذِرُexcuses
اذا عرضتْ دون الزهيد المَعاذِرُ
nor does he fend off lavish giving with an excuse
Nor does he withhold lavish generosity by pleading an excuse,
when excuses arise to stand in the way of more.
when excuses stand in the way of even a paltry gift.
جَموعٌmustering his strength علىfor الأمرthe undertaking المَهيبdaunting ومُقدمٌand advancing
جَموعٌ على الأمر المَهيب ومُقدمٌ
جَريءٌbold اذاwhen كَلَّgrow dull القَناthe spears والبَواتِرُand the keen-edged swords
جَريءٌ اذا كَلَّ القَنا والبَواتِرُ
Headlong into fearsome undertakings, he presses forward,
He musters his strength for daunting deeds and presses forward,
bold when spears and cutting swords grow weary.
bold when spears and keen-edged swords grow dull.
تحمَّلهُbear him جُرْدُthe sleek steeds العَزائمof resolve تَعْتَليrise aloft
تحمَّلهُ جُرْدُ العَزائم تَعْتَلي
إِلىtoward مُبْتَغاهُhis goal والعِتاقُand the noble-bred horses الضَّوامِرُthe lean ones
إِلى مُبْتَغاهُ والعِتاقُ الضَّوامِرُ
The swift steeds of resolve bear him, climbing
The sleek steeds of resolve bear him, rising
toward his goal—the noble, lean thoroughbreds.
toward his goal, as do the lean, noble-bred horses.
هوhe المرءُthe man أماas for فضْلُهhis bounty فهوso it is شامِلٌall-embracing
هو المرءُ أما فضْلُه فهو شامِلٌ
عميمٌall-pervading وأماand as for مدْحهُpraise of him فهوso it is سائِرُwidely circulating
عميمٌ وأما مدْحهُ فهو سائِرُ
He is the man: his merit is all-embracing,
He is the man: as for his bounty, it is all-embracing,
universal; and praise of him travels everywhere.
all-pervading; and as for praise of him, it travels far.
يَقَرُّbrings delight بعَيْنيto my eye مدْحُهُpraise of him وثَناؤهُand commendation of him
يَقَرُّ بعَيْني مدْحُهُ وثَناؤهُ
وانْand even if باتspends the night جفنيmy eyelid وهوwhile it is بالنظمin composing verse ساهرُawake
وانْ بات جفني وهو بالنظم ساهرُ
Praise and acclaim of him bring peace to my eyes,
Praise and commendation of him delight my eye,
though my eyelid spends the night awake over verse.
even if composing verse keeps my eyelid awake all night.
