ذَكَرتُكِI remembered you إِذwhen شِمتُI sighted بِالشامِin al-Sham بَرقاًlightning
ذَكَرتُكِ إِذ شِمتُ بِالشامِ بَرقاً
سُحَيراًjust before dawn فَأَشبَهَهُso it resembled it القَلبُthe heart خَفقاin beating
سُحَيراً فَأَشبَهَهُ القَلبُ خَفقا
I remembered you when I sighted lightning in al-Sham
When I sensed the lightning in Damascus,
just before dawn, and my heart matched its flickering with its beating.
It reminded my fluttering heart of you.
ذَكَرتُI remembered اِبتِسامَكِyour smile عِندَat الرِضىcontentment
ذَكَرتُ اِبتِسامَكِ عِندَ الرِضى
فَأَسبَلتُso I shed دَمعَthe tears of شَجٍa grieving person لَيسَdoes not يَرقاcease
فَأَسبَلتُ دَمعَ شَجٍ لَيسَ يَرقا
I remembered your smile when you were pleased,
I recalled your smile of contentment,
and shed a grieving man's tears that would not cease.
And shed a tear that would not dry.
فَدَيتُكِmay I ransom you شَمساًas a sun فؤاديmy heart لَهاfor her
فَدَيتُكِ شَمساً فؤادي لَها
يَبيتُspends the night وَيُصبِحُand greets the morning عُرباًlovesick وَشَرقاًand choking
يَبيتُ وَيُصبِحُ عُرباً وَشَرقاً
May I be your ransom, a sun for whom my heart
My heart rises and sets for you,
spends its nights and mornings lovesick and choking.
East and West, night and day.
تَهُزُّshe sways القَضيبَthe slender branch فُوَيقَjust above الكَثيبِthe sand dune
تَهُزُّ القَضيبَ فُوَيقَ الكَثيبِ
فَيُشبِهُهاso it resembles her الظَبيthe gazelle لَحظاًin glance وَعُنقاand neck
فَيُشبِهُها الظَبي لَحظاً وَعُنقا
She sways the slender branch just above the dune,
It sways like a branch, blown by the wind,
and the gazelle resembles her in glance and neck.
And like a gazelle turning its neck.
وَماand no قَهوَةٌwine صَيدَنانِيَّةٌSaydanani
وَما قَهوَةٌ صَيدَنانِيَّةٌ
مِنَfrom الدَنِّthe wine jar أَوسَعهاhe gave it plenty of القَسُّthe priest زَقّاquaffing
مِنَ الدَنِّ أَوسَعها القَسُّ زَقّا
No Saydanani wine—
No coffee from Sidon
which the priest quaffed deeply from the wine jar,
Is more dense or finer strained.
مُشَعشَعةًdiluted with water عُتِّقَتwas aged فيin الدِنانِthe wine jars
مُشَعشَعةً عُتِّقَت في الدِنانِ
فَفيso in الكَأسِthe cup تَعبقُit is fragrant كَالمِسكِlike musk عَبقاin fragrance
فَفي الكَأسِ تَعبقُ كَالمِسكِ عَبقا
water-tempered, aged in jars,
When the coffee is properly prepared,
and fragrant in the cup with a musk-like scent,
In the cup, it is as fragrant as musk.
فَلَوso if قوبِلَتit were compared بِنَسيمِwith the breeze of الصَباthe east wind
فَلَو قوبِلَت بِنَسيمِ الصَبا
تَهُبُّblowing سُحَيراًjust before dawn لَكانَتit would be أَرَقّاmore delicate
تَهُبُّ سُحَيراً لَكانَت أَرَقّا
so that, if compared with the east wind's breeze
If met by a morning breeze,
blowing before dawn, it would be more delicate—
It would be yet more enchanting.
بِأَطيَبَany sweeter منthan فيكِyour mouth ليto me نَكهَةًin aroma
بِأَطيَبَ من فيكِ لي نَكهَةً
وَلاnor ريقَةًin saliva لَيتَنيwould that I مِنهُfrom it أُسقىwere given to drink
وَلا ريقَةً لَيتَني مِنهُ أُسقى
is sweeter in scent to me than your mouth,
But not as delicious to me
nor in moisture—would that I could drink from it!
As your sweetest flavor, which I wish I could taste.
تَوَلّىdeparted شَبابيmy youth وَجاءَand came المَشيبُgray hair
تَوَلّى شَبابي وَجاءَ المَشيبُ
فَصارَso became بِهِbecause of it عِندِيَfor me الصَفوُclarity رَنقاmurky
فَصارَ بِهِ عِندِيَ الصَفوُ رَنقا
My youth departed, and gray hair came,
My youth has faded and old age has come,
and through it my clear joy turned murky.
Dimming the brightness of my days.
وَكانَتand were خُيولُthe horses of الصِباyouth يَستَبِقنَracing one another
وَكانَت خُيولُ الصِبا يَستَبِقنَ
بِفَوديَat my two temples دُهماًblack فَأَصبَحنَthen they became بُلقاpiebald
بِفَوديَ دُهماً فَأَصبَحنَ بُلقا
The horses of youth used to race
The steeds of youth once raced ahead,
at my temples, black, but they became piebald.
Galloping, vigorous and sleek.
فَأَعرَضَso turned away عَنfrom وَصلِيَunion with me الغانِياتُthe beauties
فَأَعرَضَ عَن وَصلِيَ الغانِياتُ
وَقَدthough indeed كُنَّthey were ليfor me مِثلَlike ماwhat كُنتُI was عِشقاin love
وَقَد كُنَّ لي مِثلَ ما كُنتُ عِشقا
So the beauties turned away from union with me,
But singers have now abandoned my love,
though they had loved me as I had loved them.
Though once I was passionate like them.
وَلماand when هُريقَwas poured away الصِبىyouth وَاِستَشَنَّand grew shriveled
وَلما هُريقَ الصِبى وَاِستَشَنَّ
أَديميmy skin وَأَوهَنَand grew weak عَظميmy bones فَدَقّاand became thin
أَديمي وَأَوهَنَ عَظمي فَدَقّا
And when youth was poured away, and shriveled
When the sap of youth dried up,
was my skin, and my bones grew weak and thin,
My skin grew loose and my bones weak.
دَرَأتُI warded off الهَوىpassion بِاِدِّراعِby donning as armor النَوىseparation
دَرَأتُ الهَوى بِاِدِّراعِ النَوى
وَماand not قُلتُI said ياO حادِيَdriver of العيسِthe pale camels رِفقاgently
وَما قُلتُ يا حادِيَ العيسِ رِفقا
I warded off passion by wearing separation as armor,
I warded off passion with determination,
nor asked the pale camels' driver for gentleness
Without saying: "Gently, oh time!"
بِحَرفٍwith a lean she-camel أُقَيلامُthe little pens of أَخفافِهاher hooves
بِحَرفٍ أُقَيلامُ أَخفافِها
تُجيدُwrite expertly عَلىon كاغِدِthe paper of البيدِthe desert مَشقاflowing script
تُجيدُ عَلى كاغِدِ البيدِ مَشقا
with a lean she-camel whose little hoof-pens
With letters my pen strokes gently,
write fine flowing script on the desert's paper.
Practicing calligraphy on paper white as skin.
وَلَمand did not تَألُshe slacken فيin وَخدِهاher swift stride وَالذَميلُand the gentle trot
وَلَم تَألُ في وَخدِها وَالذَميلُ
تُغِذُّshe speeds onward إِلىuntil أَنthat أَتَتshe brought بيme دِمَشقاDamascus
تُغِذُّ إِلى أَن أَتَت بي دِمَشقا
She spared no effort in her swift stride and gentle trot,
It did not cease until it brought me to Damascus,
speeding onward until she brought me to Damascus,
To the abode of Murad Pasha, who does good.
إِلىto بابِthe gate of مودودٍMawdud بنِibn المبارَal-Mubarak (continued)
إِلى بابِ مودودٍ بنِ المبارَ
كِcompletion of al-Mubarak قدindeed جعلhave made المُبتَغوthe seekers of الخَيرَgood طُرقاpaths
كِ قد جعل المُبتَغو الخَيرَ طُرقا
to the gate of Mawdud ibn al-Mubarak,
O full moon that lights up the land,
to which seekers of good have made paths.
Rightly guiding the faith night and day!
فَياso O بَدرَmoon of تِمٍّfullness تُضيءُshine البِلادُthe lands
فَيا بَدرَ تِمٍّ تُضيءُ البِلادُ
بِهِby him وَلَهُand with him الدينُreligion مازالَhas always been وَفقاin accord
بِهِ وَلَهُ الدينُ مازالَ وَفقا
O full moon, the lands are illuminated
When the princes compete in glory,
by you, and faith has always been in accord with you.
You surpass them all in excellence.
إِذاif أُمَراءُthe princes of الوَرىhumankind سابَقوكَrace you
إِذا أُمَراءُ الوَرى سابَقوكَ
إِلىtoward غايَةِthe goal of المَجدِglory بَرَّزتyou excelled سَبقاin outstripping
إِلى غايَةِ المَجدِ بَرَّزت سَبقا
If the princes of humankind race you
O champion of Muslims, time bows to you,
toward the goal of glory, you outstrip them.
Kissing your feet in homage.
لَكَbefore you الدَهرُTime ياO فارِسَhorseman of المُسلِمينَthe Muslims
لَكَ الدَهرُ يا فارِسَ المُسلِمينَ
تَرَجَّلَdismounted يَلثُمُkissing رِجلَيكَyour two feet طَلقاgladly
تَرَجَّلَ يَلثُمُ رِجلَيكَ طَلقا
Before you, O horseman of the Muslims, Time
It swears that in your magnanimity,
has dismounted to kiss your feet gladly,
You have rushed to free the noble.
وَيُقسِمُand swears أَنَّكَthat you بِالمَكرُماتِthrough noble deeds
وَيُقسِمُ أَنَّكَ بِالمَكرُماتِ
غَدَوتَhave become لِأَحرارِهِof its freeborn men مُستَرِقّاthe enslaver
غَدَوتَ لِأَحرارِهِ مُستَرِقّا
and swears that through your noble deeds
No praise befits you, O King,
you have enslaved its freeborn men.
Unless you are worthy of it.
فَلاso no مَدحَpraise يَحسُنُis fitting عِندَbefore المُلوthe kings (continued)
فَلا مَدحَ يَحسُنُ عِندَ المُلو
كِcompletion of 'kings' إِلاexcept وَكُنتَand you were لَهُfor it المُستَحِقّاthe deserving one
كِ إِلا وَكُنتَ لَهُ المُستَحِقّا
No praise is fitting before kings
You are wise in the essence of matters,
unless you are the one who deserves it.
Your view makes us level-headed and rational.
أَميرٌa prince عَليمٌwell versed بِفَحوىin the import of الأُمورِaffairs
أَميرٌ عَليمٌ بِفَحوى الأُمورِ
بِرَأيwith a judgment أَراناhe showed us سَطيحاًSatih وَشِقّاand Shiqq
بِرَأي أَرانا سَطيحاً وَشِقّا
A prince well versed in the import of affairs,
No obstacle can subdue you, like a phoenix,
whose judgment has shown us Satih and Shiqq.
Whose wings beat the ground seeking cracks.
وَماand no عارِضٌraincloud هادِرٌroaring كَالفَنيقِlike a prized camel-stallion
وَما عارِضٌ هادِرٌ كَالفَنيقِ
طَروقَتُهُhis mate الأَرضَthe earth يَبغيهِseeking him طَرقاfor mating
طَروقَتُهُ الأَرضَ يَبغيهِ طَرقا
No raincloud, roaring like a prized camel-stallion,
The earth opens wider than its back,
the earth his mate, seeking him to mount her,
When the stallion pounds it at dawn.
فَأَوسَعُand wider مِنthan ظَهرِهِhis back بطنُهاher belly
فَأَوسَعُ مِن ظَهرِهِ بطنُها
غَداةَon the morning when يَنوءُbears down بِهاupon her الفَحلُthe stallion وَدقاwith rain
غَداةَ يَنوءُ بِها الفَحلُ وَدقا
her belly broader than his back,
It conceived from him a delightful garden,
when the stallion bears down on her with rain,
Lovely, verdant, and thriving.
فَأَولَدَهاso he made her bear مِنهُfrom him رَوضاًa meadow أَريضاًlush
فَأَولَدَها مِنهُ رَوضاً أَريضاً
فَجَلَّso it grew grand مِنَfrom الرِيِّwatering حُسناًin beauty وَدَقّاand delicate
فَجَلَّ مِنَ الرِيِّ حُسناً وَدَقّا
and makes her bear by him a lush meadow,
How many meadows and streams are in it,
grown grand and delicate in beauty through watering—
With the wind rustling its expanse!
فَكَمand how many رَوضَةٍa garden وَغَديرٍand a pool بِهاupon her
فَكَم رَوضَةٍ وَغَديرٍ بِها
وَقَدwhile indeed صَفَّقَتhas slapped مَتنَهُits surface الريحُthe wind صَفقاrepeatedly
وَقَد صَفَّقَت مَتنَهُ الريحُ صَفقا
how many gardens and pools lie upon her,
In it, colors of white, red and yellow
with the wind slapping the pool's surface again and again!
Smile amidst the green growth.
بِهاupon her النَورُthe blossoms بيضاًwhite وَحُمراًand red وَصُفراًand yellow
بِها النَورُ بيضاً وَحُمراً وَصُفراً
يُضاحِكنَlaugh with فيamid خُضرَةِthe greenness of النَبتِthe plants زُرقاblue ones
يُضاحِكنَ في خُضرَةِ النَبتِ زُرقا
There, blossoms white and red and yellow
With more copious than your palm, if the rainclouds
laugh with blue ones amid the plants' green—
Refuse to shower the land.
بِأَغزَرmore abundant مِنthan كَفِّهِhis palm إِنif أَبَتrefuse
بِأَغزَر مِن كَفِّهِ إِن أَبَت
عُيونُthe eyes of الغَمامِthe clouds عَلىupon الأَرضِthe earth دَفَقاto pour
عُيونُ الغَمامِ عَلى الأَرضِ دَفَقا
is more lavish than his palm, even when
No wolf below your cubs
the clouds' eyes refuse to pour upon the earth.
Defends them, baring fangs and claws.
وَماand no ضَيغَمٌlion دونَin front of أَشبالِهِhis cubs
وَما ضَيغَمٌ دونَ أَشبالِهِ
يُحاميdefends فَيَفتَحُand spreads باعاًan arm-span وَشِدقاand a jaw
يُحامي فَيَفتَحُ باعاً وَشِدقا
Nor is a lion defending his cubs,
On Thursdays they return torn fleece,
protecting them with outspread forelegs and jaws,
Roaring, severing the cries of lions.
يَرُدُّdrives back الخَميسَthe army كَشاءٍlike sheep حَسَسنthat sensed
يَرُدُّ الخَميسَ كَشاءٍ حَسَسن
زَئيرَthe roaring of الأُسودِthe lions فَقَطَّعنَso they broke رِبقاtethers
زَئيرَ الأُسودِ فَقَطَّعنَ رِبقا
driving back an army like sheep that have heard
More vicious than them are the swords,
the lions' roar and snapped their tethers,
Stabbing, striking, and slashing.
بِأَفتَكَmore deadly مِنthan بِأسِهِhis might وَالكماةُwhile the armored warriors
بِأَفتَكَ مِن بِأسِهِ وَالكماةُ
تُماصِعُfight طَعناًwith thrusts وَضَرباًand blows وَرَشقاand volleys
تُماصِعُ طَعناً وَضَرباً وَرَشقا
deadlier than his might, when armored warriors
Harim bin Sinan was not lacking
fight with thrusts, blows, and volleys.
In generosity, he was protected from stinginess.
وَماand not هَرِمُHarim بنُibn سِنانٍSinan حَباbestowed upon
وَما هَرِمُ بنُ سِنانٍ حَبا
زُهَيراًZuhayr بِجودٍwith generosity مِنَfrom الشُحِّstinginess وَقَّىprotected
زُهَيراً بِجودٍ مِنَ الشُحِّ وَقَّى
Nor was Harim ibn Sinan, who favored
He was clothed in praise that will last
Zuhayr with bounty that warded off stinginess,
Among people till the end of time.
فَأُلبِسَso he was clothed مِنهُby him الثَناءَin praise الَّذيthat
فَأُلبِسَ مِنهُ الثَناءَ الَّذي
إِلىuntil آخِرِthe end of الدَّهرِtime فيamong الناسِpeople يَبقىremains
إِلى آخِرِ الدَّهرِ في الناسِ يَبقى
and was clothed by him in praise that
More generous than him, and in praising him
remains among people until the end of time,
I recounted poetry and skill.
بِأَسمَحَmore generous مِنهُthan he وَفيand in مَدحِهِpraising him
بِأَسمَحَ مِنهُ وَفي مَدحِهِ
حَكَيتُI emulated زُهَيراًZuhayr ثَناءًin praise وَحِذقاand skill
حَكَيتُ زُهَيراً ثَناءً وَحِذقا
more generous than he; and in praising him
His pen brings life to barren lands,
I have emulated Zuhayr in praise and skill.
From it realms are watered.
لَهُhe has قَلَمٌa pen غابَwas absent عَنfrom عابِهِits flaw
لَهُ قَلَمٌ غابَ عَن عابِهِ
ضَئيلslender وَمِنهُand from it الأَقاليمthe provinces تُسقىare watered
ضَئيل وَمِنهُ الأَقاليم تُسقى
He has a pen with no discernible flaw,
It is filled with provision for all people,
slender, yet from it the provinces are watered.
Be they pounding or confinement.
مَلِيٌّrich بِأَرزاقِwith the sustenance of كُلِّall العِبادِhumankind
مَلِيٌّ بِأَرزاقِ كُلِّ العِبادِ
وَإِنeven though دَقَّit is fine رَأساًin tip وَإِنeven though ضاقَit is narrow شِقّاin slit
وَإِن دَقَّ رَأساً وَإِن ضاقَ شِقّا
It is rich with the sustenance of all humankind,
Woe to him who drinks without pause,
though its tip is fine and its slit narrow.
With hair like the hand of fate pulling him!
فَواهاًso bravo لَهُto it شارِباًas a drinker لاmay not شَجَتchoke
فَواهاً لَهُ شارِباً لا شَجَت
لَهُbelonging to it شَعَراتٌhairs يَدَfor the span of الدَّهرِtime حَلقاa throat
لَهُ شَعَراتٌ يَدَ الدَّهرِ حَلقا
Bravo to it as a drinker! May no hairs
Subtle, it unveils momentous events
of its own ever choke a throat, for all time.
With lines more straight than spear shafts.
دَقيقٌslender يُجَلّيdispels جَليلَthe mighty الخُطوبِcalamities
دَقيقٌ يُجَلّي جَليلَ الخُطوبِ
بِخَطٍّwith writing قَناthe spears of الخَطّal-Khatt تَخشاهُfear it صدقاtruly
بِخَطٍّ قَنا الخَطّ تَخشاهُ صدقا
Slender, it dispels mighty calamities
Obedient to his Maker in all He wills,
with writing that the spears of al-Khatt truly fear.
Be it exhaustion, difficulty, or relief.
مُطيعٌobedient لِباريهِto its sharpener فيماin whatever يَشاءُhe wishes
مُطيعٌ لِباريهِ فيما يَشاءُ
وَإِنeven though كانَhe is يَفنيهِwearing it away عَقراًby cutting وَعَرقاand scraping
وَإِن كانَ يَفنيهِ عَقراً وَعَرقا
Obedient to its sharpener in whatever he wishes,
A glance His command falls short of,
though he wears it away by cutting and scraping.
Winds gasp in helplessness and tearing.
وَطِرفٌand a noble steed تُقَصِّرُfall short عَنof شَأوِهِhis pace الthe
وَطِرفٌ تُقَصِّرُ عَن شَأوِهِ ال
رِياحُwinds فَتَلهَثُso they pant عِيّاًfrom weariness وَخَرقاand bewilderment
رِياحُ فَتَلهَثُ عِيّاً وَخَرقا
And a noble steed whose pace outstrips the
A sword splitting the resolve of foes
winds, leaving them panting in weariness and bewilderment;
With a strike that splits the earth.
وَسَيفٌand a sword يُفَلِّقُcleaves هامَthe heads of العِداthe enemies
وَسَيفٌ يُفَلِّقُ هامَ العِدا
بِضَربٍwith a stroke يَشُقُّit splits بِهِwith it التُربَthe earth شَقاapart
بِضَربٍ يَشُقُّ بِهِ التُربَ شَقا
and a sword that cleaves the enemies' heads
A spear piercing the chest of the valiant,
with a stroke that splits the earth apart;
To please on Sunday the One, the Unique.
وَرُمحٌand a spear يُدَقُّis driven hard بِصَدرِinto the breast of الخَميسِthe army
وَرُمحٌ يُدَقُّ بِصَدرِ الخَميسِ
لِتُرضيso that you may please بِهِwith it الأَحَدَthe One الفَردَthe Unique دَقاby pounding
لِتُرضي بِهِ الأَحَدَ الفَردَ دَقا
and a spear driven hard into the army's breast
A canal whose streams are thirsty wolves,
to please, through its pounding, the One, the Unique;
Drinking the blood of lions.
قَناةٌa spear أَنابيبُهاits joints ظامِئاتٌare thirsty
قَناةٌ أَنابيبُها ظامِئاتٌ
بِهاon it ثَعلَبٌa fox مِنfrom دَمِthe blood of الأُسدِthe lions يُسقىis given to drink
بِها ثَعلَبٌ مِن دَمِ الأُسدِ يُسقى
a spear whose joints are thirsty,
A coat of mail like locusts' eyes,
bearing a fox given lions' blood to drink;
Shedding rust, fragmenting and scattering.
وَفَضفاضَةٌand a roomy coat of mail كَعُيونِlike the eyes of الجَرادِlocusts
وَفَضفاضَةٌ كَعُيونِ الجَرادِ
تَفُلُّblunts الحِدادَsharp weapons فَتُقلاso they are despised وَتُلقىand cast aside
تَفُلُّ الحِدادَ فَتُقلا وَتُلقى
and a roomy coat of mail, like locusts' eyes,
A mare appearing at dawn
that blunts sharp weapons, leaving them scorned and cast aside;
From darkness, rising above the full moon.
وَعادِيَةٌand raiding cavalry تُطلِعُbring forth الشَمسَthe sun فيamid
وَعادِيَةٌ تُطلِعُ الشَمسَ في
دجىthe darkness of النَقعِthe dust تَعلوrising above مِنَthan البَدرِthe full moon فَرقاby a head's height
دجى النَقعِ تَعلو مِنَ البَدرِ فَرقا
and raiding cavalry that brings forth the sun in
A bow singing behind arrows
the darkness of dust, rising a head above the full moon;
That strike dead those who are hit.
وَقَوسٌand a bow تَرِنُّtwangs وَراءَbehind السِهامِthe arrows
وَقَوسٌ تَرِنُّ وَراءَ السِهامِ
فَتُصميso it kills outright الرَماياthe targets فَتَنفَضُّand they scatter صُعقاthunderstruck
فَتُصمي الرَمايا فَتَنفَضُّ صُعقا
and a bow that twangs behind its arrows
And you, when we consider the qualifications
and kills its targets outright, so they fall thunderstruck.
Of rulers, are the most pious, purest and eternal.
وَأَنتَand you إِذاwhen ماever اِعتَبَرناwe assess أَوليholders of الthe
وَأَنتَ إِذا ما اِعتَبَرنا أَولي ال
ولاياتِoffices أَتقىmost God-fearing وَأَنقىand purest وَأَبقىand most enduring
ولاياتِ أَتقى وَأَنقى وَأَبقى
And you, when we assess the holders of
Your affection is manifest and sincere
office, are the most pious, purest, and most enduring.
Unlike the feigned affection of false friends.
وِدادُكَyour affection مَحضٌunmixed صَريحٌpure إِذاwhen
وِدادُكَ مَحضٌ صَريحٌ إِذا
رَأَيناwe see وِدادَthe affection of الأَخِلّاءِfriends مَذقاadulterated
رَأَينا وِدادَ الأَخِلّاءِ مَذقا
Your affection is unmixed and pure when
You are the loyal one, you are the faithful one,
we find the affection of friends adulterated.
When companions shun you out of insincerity.
وَأَنتَand you الحَفِيُّthe solicitous one وَأَنتَand you الوَفِيُّthe faithful one
وَأَنتَ الحَفِيُّ وَأَنتَ الوَفِيُّ
إِذاwhen الأَصدِقاءُfriends طَوَواfolded away عَنكَfrom you صِدقاsincerity
إِذا الأَصدِقاءُ طَوَوا عَنكَ صِدقا
You are solicitous, and you are faithful,
You surpassed the heights in the heights,
when friends fold their sincerity away from you.
With those below drowned in your torrent.
تَرَكتَyou left الأُلىthose who فيin العُلىeminence سابقوكَraced you
تَرَكتَ الأُلى في العُلى سابقوكَ
بِفَيضِwith the flood of سَحابِكَyour cloud فيin اليَمِّthe sea غَرقىdrowned
بِفَيضِ سَحابِكَ في اليَمِّ غَرقى
You left those who raced you in eminence
No sane person doubts
drowned in the sea by the flood of your cloud.
That they were foolish to oppose you.
وَلَيسَand does not يَشُكُّdoubt اِمرُؤٌa person عاقِلٌrational
وَلَيسَ يَشُكُّ اِمرُؤٌ عاقِلٌ
بِأَنَّهُمُthat they حينَwhen سامَوكَrivaled you حَمقىwere fools
بِأَنَّهُمُ حينَ سامَوكَ حَمقى
No rational person doubts
The gap between you is like the gap
that they were fools when they rivaled you.
Between a man's brow and nose, if you take aim.
وَبَينكُمand between you مِثلُthe like of ماwhat بَينَlies between أَخthe arch (continued)
وَبَينكُم مِثلُ ما بَينَ أَخ
مَصِcompletion of 'arch' الرِجلِthe foot وَالفَرقِand the crown of the head إِنif رُمتَyou seek فَرقاa distinction
مَصِ الرِجلِ وَالفَرقِ إِن رُمتَ فَرقا
Between you lies the distance between the arch
My God, I praise you for granting me
of the foot and the crown, if you seek a distinction.
A fine provision through him.
حَمَدتُI praised إِلَهيmy God عَلىfor ماwhat بِهِwith it
حَمَدتُ إِلَهي عَلى ما بِهِ
حَبانيHe favored me فَأَحسَنَand made good ليfor me مِنكَfrom you رِزقاprovision
حَباني فَأَحسَنَ لي مِنكَ رِزقا
I praised my God for that with which
Your servant has wearied you too long
He favored me, granting me fine provision through you.
And does not seek from you manumission.
وَعَبدُكَand your servant قَدindeed طالَhas grown long تَثقيلُهُhis burdening
وَعَبدُكَ قَد طالَ تَثقيلُهُ
عَلَيكَupon you وَماbut does not يَبتَغيhe seek مِنكَfrom you عتقاemancipation
عَلَيكَ وَما يَبتَغي مِنكَ عتقا
Your servant has long been a burden
If you prefer to relieve him,
upon you, yet seeks no emancipation from you.
Your view is loftier, proper, and soothing.
وَإِنand if أَنتَyou آثَرتَprefer تَسريحَهُhis release
وَإِن أَنتَ آثَرتَ تَسريحَهُ
فَرَأيُكَthen your judgment أَسمىis loftier وَأَسنىand more splendid وَأَرقىand higher
فَرَأيُكَ أَسمى وَأَسنى وَأَرقى
And if you prefer to release him,
Listen to the wondrous ode
your judgment is loftier, more splendid, and higher.
Purer than pearls in description and essence.
أَصِخlisten لِقَريضٍto verse بَديعِof wondrous النِظامِcomposition
أَصِخ لِقَريضٍ بَديعِ النِظامِ
أَصفىclearer مِنthan الدُرِّpearls وَصفاًin description وَأَنقىand purer
أَصفى مِن الدُرِّ وَصفاً وَأَنقى
Listen to verse of wondrous composition,
Its meanings with its words
clearer than pearls in description, and purer.
Are like lovely maidens in form and manners.
كَأَنَّas though المَعانيthe meanings بِأَلفاظِهِin its words
كَأَنَّ المَعاني بِأَلفاظِهِ
عَقائِلُnoble ladies كَالحورِlike houris خَلقاًin form وَخُلقاand character
عَقائِلُ كَالحورِ خَلقاً وَخُلقا
It is as though the meanings within its words
It delights the Minister, but it
are noble ladies, like houris in form and character.
Is those who would drown you pulling at your feet.
يَسرُّit delights الوَلِيَّthe friend وَلَكِنَّهُbut it
يَسرُّ الوَلِيَّ وَلَكِنَّهُ
هُوَis النازِعاتُthe soul-snatchers لِشانيكَfor your hater غَرقىplunging deep
هُوَ النازِعاتُ لِشانيكَ غَرقى
It delights the friend, but
You came and brought joy
for your hater it is the soul-snatchers, plunging deep.
And longing to my heart.
قَدِمتَyou arrived فَأَقدَمتَand brought near نائيthe far-off السُرورِjoy
قَدِمتَ فَأَقدَمتَ نائي السُرورِ
وَآتَيتَand gratified شَوقاًa longing عَلىupon القَلبِthe heart شَقّاweighed heavily
وَآتَيتَ شَوقاً عَلى القَلبِ شَقّا
You arrived and brought far-off joy near,
You have success in all that you seek,
and gratified a longing that weighed upon the heart.
So you have conformed to the King's decree.
وَأَنتَand you المُوَفَّقُthe divinely favored فيin كُلِّall ماthat
وَأَنتَ المُوَفَّقُ في كُلِّ ما
تَرومُyou seek فَلِلمُلكِso for sovereignty أَصبَحتَyou have become وَفقاa fitting match
تَرومُ فَلِلمُلكِ أَصبَحتَ وَفقا
You are favored with success in all that
Live as long as you wish in what we desire,
you seek; you have become a fitting match for sovereignty.
For time vanishes enemies but you remain.
فَعِشso live ماas long as تَشاءُyou wish عَلىaccording to ماwhat نَشاءُwe wish
فَعِش ما تَشاءُ عَلى ما نَشاءُ
مَدىthroughout الدَهرِtime تَفنىperish الأَعاديthe enemies وَتَبقىand you remain
مَدى الدَهرِ تَفنى الأَعادي وَتَبقى
So live as long as you wish, in the way we wish,
throughout time: enemies perish, and you endure.
Partial English translation: 120 of 122 Arabic lines translated.