أهدى لك الشوقَ والتذكار والوصبا

أهدى لك الشوقَ والتذكار والوصبا

شادٍ من الورق في أوكارهِ خَطبا

شادٍ من الورق في أوكارهِ خَطبا

Longing, remembrance, and lovesickness were brought to you

Longing and memories have gifted you,

By a singer among the doves, declaiming in its nests.

A songbird in his nest composing verses.

شادٍ مِنَ الورقِ غنّى بالهديلِ وقد

شادٍ مِنَ الورقِ غنّى بالهديلِ وقد

هبّت عليه جنوبٌ غدوة وصبا

هبّت عليه جنوبٌ غدوة وصبا

A singer among the doves sang with cooing, while

A songbird in his nest singing of love when

A south wind and an east wind blew upon it in the morning.

The south winds blew at dawn and evening.

غنّى وردّد أَسجاع النشيدِ ضحىً

غنّى وردّد أَسجاع النشيدِ ضحىً

لما عَلا في فروع الأيدِ مُنتَصِبا

لما عَلا في فروع الأيدِ مُنتَصِبا

It sang and repeated the rhymed strains of song at midmorning,

He sang and repeated the rhythms of song in the morning

When it rose upright among the sturdy boughs.

When high up in the branches he stood erect.

فَأسعر الحبّ جمرَ الوجدِ في كبدي

فَأسعر الحبّ جمرَ الوجدِ في كبدي

وَغادَر الدمعَ فوقَ الخدِّ مُنسكبا

وَغادَر الدمعَ فوقَ الخدِّ مُنسكبا

Then love kindled passion's embers in my liver,

So love ignited the embers of passion in my heart,

And left tears streaming upon my cheek.

And tears flowed down my cheeks pouring out.

نَفسي الفداءُ لِمن طالبتُها صلةً

نَفسي الفداءُ لِمن طالبتُها صلةً

مِنها فَقالت أَلا ذا مطلبٌ صَعُبا

مِنها فَقالت أَلا ذا مطلبٌ صَعُبا

My soul be ransom for her; I sought affection

My soul is yours, though when I sought of it affection,

From her, but she said, 'Ah, this is a difficult request.'

It said, “Ah, what a difficult desire!”

طالبتُها قبلةً أُطفي بنضحتها

طالبتُها قبلةً أُطفي بنضحتها

ما شبّ مِن لاعجِ الأشواقِ واِلتَهبا

ما شبّ مِن لاعجِ الأشواقِ واِلتَهبا

I asked her for a kiss, to quench with its moisture

I sought of it a kiss to extinguish with its rain,

The burning longing that had flared and blazed.

What flames of longing ignited and burned within.

فَيا لها غادة لَو أنّها وعدت

فَيا لها غادة لَو أنّها وعدت

مِنها وَلو كان في ميعادِها كَذبا

مِنها وَلو كان في ميعادِها كَذبا

Ah, what a graceful maiden—if only she would promise

Oh, if only it had promised me,

One from her, even if her promise were a lie!

Even if there was falsehood in its promise.

مِنَ الكواعبِ يحوي الدرّ مبسمها

مِنَ الكواعبِ يحوي الدرّ مبسمها

وَالطلع وَالبابليّ العذب والضربا

وَالطلع وَالبابليّ العذب والضربا

Among maidens with budding breasts, her smiling mouth holds pearls,

Of maidens whose smile contains pearls,

And palm blossoms, sweet Babylonian wine, and thick white honey.

And fresh sap, and sweet fruit.

بيضاءُ في حمرةٍ تبدو محاسنُها

بيضاءُ في حمرةٍ تبدو محاسنُها

كأنّه فضّةٌ قَد خالَطت ذَهبا

كأنّه فضّةٌ قَد خالَطت ذَهبا

Fair-skinned with a red flush, her beauties appear

White with blushing charms,

Like silver that has mingled with gold.

Like silver mixed with gold.

خالستُها نظرةً منّي وَقد سفرت

خالستُها نظرةً منّي وَقد سفرت

بالوجهِ في غفلةِ الواشينَ وَالرُّقبا

بالوجهِ في غفلةِ الواشينَ وَالرُّقبا

I stole a glance at her when she had unveiled

I stole from it a glance while it journeyed on,

Her face, while the talebearers and watchers were unaware.

Veiled from watchful eyes and spies.

فاِستَخجلت واِنزوت في البُردِ وَاِحتجبت

فاِستَخجلت واِنزوت في البُردِ وَاِحتجبت

فَقلتُ بدرُ السما هذا قدِ اِحتَجبا

فَقلتُ بدرُ السما هذا قدِ اِحتَجبا

So she grew bashful, drew into her cloak, and veiled herself,

It became shy and withdrew into the cold, hiding itself,

And I said, 'This full moon of the sky has hidden itself.'

So I said, “Moon of the sky, you have hidden yourself.”

ولاحَ إِذ بَسمت لي كشرها فرأت

ولاحَ إِذ بَسمت لي كشرها فرأت

عَيناي في الثغرِ سمطاً يَحتوي حَببا

عَيناي في الثغرِ سمطاً يَحتوي حَببا

Her bared teeth gleamed as she smiled at me, and

But then it smiled at me, revealing its grin,

My eyes saw in her mouth a necklace containing beads.

And saw my eyes in its mouth containing a beloved.

ما لي وَللناسِ ما رقّوا ولا عذروا

ما لي وَللناسِ ما رقّوا ولا عذروا

في حبِّ مَن في هواها صِرتُ مُكتئبا

في حبِّ مَن في هواها صِرتُ مُكتئبا

What have I to do with people? They neither pitied nor excused me

Why do people criticize and not excuse

For loving her whose love has made me dejected.

My love for one whose love has made me depressed?

قالوا أَلا ما له يا قومُ ما ذُكرت

قالوا أَلا ما له يا قومُ ما ذُكرت

له أميمةُ إِلّا حنّ واِنتَحَبا

له أميمةُ إِلّا حنّ واِنتَحَبا

They said, 'Ah, what ails him, people? Never is

They say, “Why, O people, whenever her blemish

Umaymah mentioned to him without his yearning and sobbing.'

Is mentioned, does he only wail and lament?”

فَقلت ما بال سالٍ في تغافلهِ

فَقلت ما بال سالٍ في تغافلهِ

يلحى محبّاً قَضى في الحبّ ما وَجبا

يلحى محبّاً قَضى في الحبّ ما وَجبا

So I said, 'Why does one who has forgotten love, in his feigned indifference,

So I said, “Why does the questioner in his ignorance

Reproach a lover who has fulfilled love's due?'

Blame a lover who has fulfilled what love requires?

لَولا هَواها ما أَبلى الهوى جَسَدي

لَولا هَواها ما أَبلى الهوى جَسَدي

وَلا غدوتُ لورقِ الأيكِ مُصطحبا

وَلا غدوتُ لورقِ الأيكِ مُصطحبا

Were it not for love of her, passion would not have worn out my body,

Were it not for her love, passion would not have worn down my body,

Nor would I have become a companion to the doves of the grove,

Nor would I have become a companion to withered leaves.

وَلا شَجَتني رسومٌ مِن مَنازِلهم

وَلا شَجَتني رسومٌ مِن مَنازِلهم

وَلا حنّت الورقُ في أَوطانها طَربا

وَلا حنّت الورقُ في أَوطانها طَربا

Nor would the traces of their dwellings have grieved me,

Nor would traces of their dwellings have saddened me,

Nor would the doves have cooed longingly in their homes, in rapture.

Nor would the leaves in their lands sing happily.”

يا طالبَ الرزقِ والأيامُ تَمنعهُ

يا طالبَ الرزقِ والأيامُ تَمنعهُ

فيما يحاولُه في كلّما طَلَبا

فيما يحاولُه في كلّما طَلَبا

O seeker of sustenance, which the days withhold

O you who seek provision while days deny it

In what you pursue, whenever you seek it,

In all that you attempt and pursue.

بشراك لا تأسَ فيما كان من طلبٍ

بشراك لا تأسَ فيما كان من طلبٍ

في العيشِ نَفساً فمنك الرزقُ قد قَرُبا

في العيشِ نَفساً فمنك الرزقُ قد قَرُبا

Glad tidings to you! Let no sorrow over your striving

Be glad, do not despair in what you sought

For a livelihood trouble your soul, for sustenance has drawn near to you.

Of livelihood - from you provision has drawn near.

هَذا مَرابع بهلا قَد أَنخت بها

هَذا مَرابع بهلا قَد أَنخت بها

فاِلقِ العَصا واِحططن الكورَ والقببا

فاِلقِ العَصا واِحططن الكورَ والقببا

These are Bahla's spring encampments; you have made your camel kneel here.

This is a horseman's tent it has erected,

So lay down your staff and unload the camel-saddle and the domed tents.

So cast down your staff, dismantle your tent and dwelling.

وَاِقصد فلاحاً وقبّل دستَ مجلسهِ

وَاِقصد فلاحاً وقبّل دستَ مجلسهِ

وَاِنشد بِمفخرهِ الأشعارَ وَالأدَبا

وَاِنشد بِمفخرهِ الأشعارَ وَالأدَبا

And seek Falah; kiss the seat of honor in his assembly,

Set out to a farmer, kiss the hands in his company,

And recite poems and literature celebrating his glory.

And recite the glorious verses and literature.

ممجّدٌ فيض جداوه ونائله

ممجّدٌ فيض جداوه ونائله

إِذا هما مستهلا يفضح السحبا

إِذا هما مستهلا يفضح السحبا

Exalted is he; the flood of his largesse and gifts,

Glorious is its flowing bounty and the one who attains it,

When it pours forth, puts the clouds to shame.

When they begin, the clouds pour forth.

كالغيثِ في الجودِ يومَ الجود إن سمحت

كالغيثِ في الجودِ يومَ الجود إن سمحت

كفّاه كالليثِ يومَ الحربِ إِن وثبا

كفّاه كالليثِ يومَ الحربِ إِن وثبا

Like rain in bounty on the day of giving, when generous

As rain in generosity on a day of generosity if it is forgiving,

Are his hands; like a lion on the day of war, when he leaps.

As a lion in war if provoked.

لَم يَرقَ فيما رقى مِن مجده رتباً

لَم يَرقَ فيما رقى مِن مجده رتباً

إِلّا سَمى واِرتَقى مِن بعدِها رُتَبا

إِلّا سَمى واِرتَقى مِن بعدِها رُتَبا

He never climbed ranks in the ascent of his glory

He did not rise through the ranks he rose in glory,

Without rising and ascending to further ranks beyond them.

Except he was appointed and rose even higher in rank.

يا سائِلاً عنه هَل تَخفى على أَحدٍ

يا سائِلاً عنه هَل تَخفى على أَحدٍ

شمسُ النهارِ لقَد ضيّقت ما رحبا

شمسُ النهارِ لقَد ضيّقت ما رحبا

O you who ask about him, can anyone fail to see

O you who ask about him - can the sun at midday

The sun of day? You have indeed narrowed what was broad.

Be hidden from anyone? You have narrowed what is vast.

هَذا اِبن نبهان ذا الزاكي المفاخرِ ذا

هَذا اِبن نبهان ذا الزاكي المفاخرِ ذا

ضَخمُ الدسيعةِ ذا من للسماحِ صَبا

ضَخمُ الدسيعةِ ذا من للسماحِ صَبا

This is Ibn Nabhan, of unsullied glories; this is

This is the son of Nehan - of glorious pride,

He of vast bounty, he who yearns for generosity.

Of generous lineage, of those the heavens have poured forth.

ذا خيرُ من شيّد العليا وأَسبقُ من

ذا خيرُ من شيّد العليا وأَسبقُ من

حازَ وَأَسمحُ مَن أَعطى ومَن وَهَبا

حازَ وَأَسمحُ مَن أَعطى ومَن وَهَبا

He is the best of those who built lofty glory, and the foremost of those who

The best of those who built high places and swifter than

Attained it, and the most generous of those who gave and bestowed.

Those who won and more generous than those who gave and granted.

يا أيّها الملكُ القرمُ الهمام ومن

يا أيّها الملكُ القرمُ الهمام ومن

جهته من الدهر منه الفضل قد كتبا

جهته من الدهر منه الفضل قد كتبا

O king, noble chief, valiant lord, and you whose

O King so resolute, so bold, and he from whom

Side bears, through time, the inscription of your excellence [wording unclear].

Favor has been decreed, this is your due.

تَهنا بما نلتَ إنّ اللّه واهبك ال

تَهنا بما نلتَ إنّ اللّه واهبك ال

ملك الشريف وَتاج الفخرِ وَالحَسبا

ملك الشريف وَتاج الفخرِ وَالحَسبا

May you rejoice in what you have attained; God grants you the

Be delighted in what you have attained, truly God is the grantor

Noble kingship, the crown of glory, and ancestral honor.

Of noble kingship, crown of pride and lineage.

وَقد حَباك بِمجدٍ سامكٍ وعلا

وَقد حَباك بِمجدٍ سامكٍ وعلا

وَعزّةٍ في سَماها تنطحُ الشهبا

وَعزّةٍ في سَماها تنطحُ الشهبا

And He has endowed you with lofty glory and eminence,

And He has graced you with towering glory and highness,

And majesty that, in its heaven, butts against the shooting stars.

And honor - in its loftiness the stars crash.