الآنَnow أَعرَبَتِhave spoken plainly الظُنونُconjectures
الآنَ أَعرَبَتِ الظُنونُ
وَعَلاand rose عَلىabove الشَكِّdoubt اليَقينُcertainty
وَعَلا عَلى الشَكِّ اليَقينُ
Now conjectures have spoken plainly,
and certainty has risen above doubt.
وَاِرتاحَتِand found relief الآمالُhopes فيin
وَاِرتاحَتِ الآمالُ في
أَطرافِهاtheir far reaches جَذَلٌjoy وَلينُand ease
أَطرافِها جَذَلٌ وَلينُ
Hopes have found relief, with
joy and ease throughout their reaches,
مِنfrom غُمَّةٍa gloom كَاللَيلِlike the night شاgrew gray (first part)
مِن غُمَّةٍ كَاللَيلِ شا
بَgrew gray (completion) لَهاbecause of it الذَوائِبُthe forelocks وَالقُرونُand the tresses
بَ لَها الذَوائِبُ وَالقُرونُ
from a gloom like night, which turned
forelocks and tresses gray.
وَاليَومَand today بانَbecame clear لِناظِريto my gaze
وَاليَومَ بانَ لِناظِري
ماwhat أَثمَرَتbore fruit تِلكَthose الغُصونُboughs
ما أَثمَرَت تِلكَ الغُصونُ
Today my eyes can clearly see
what those boughs have borne.
وَتَمَطَّتِand stretched herself العُشَراءُthe near-term she-camel ناrising (first part)
وَتَمَطَّتِ العُشَراءُ نا
هِضَةًrising (completion) وَقَدand already عُلِمَwas known الجَنينُthe unborn young
هِضَةً وَقَد عُلِمَ الجَنينُ
The near-term she-camel stretched,
rising, her unborn young now known.
أَلآنَis it now? لَمّاwhen اِمتَدَّextended بيbefore me
أَلآنَ لَمّا اِمتَدَّ بي
طوبىbliss وَأَصحَبَand grew compliant ليto me القَرينُthe companion
طوبى وَأَصحَبَ لي القَرينُ
Is it now, when there stretches before me
bliss, and my companion has yielded to me,
وَعَضَضتُand I bit down مِنwith نابيmy canine tooth عَلىupon
وَعَضَضتُ مِن نابي عَلى
جِذمٍa root-stump وَنَجَّذَنيand seasoned me الشُؤونُevents
جِذمٍ وَنَجَّذَني الشُؤونُ
and I have worn my canine tooth down
to a stump, and events have seasoned me,
أُغضيI turn a blind eye عَلىto خِدَعِthe deceits النَواcalamities (first part)
أُغضي عَلى خِدَعِ النَوا
ئِبِcalamities (completion) أَوor تُظَنُّare entertained بيabout me الظُنونُsuspicions
ئِبِ أَو تُظَنُّ بي الظُنونُ
that I should overlook calamity's deceits,
or have suspicions cast upon me?
وَعَلىand upon أَميرِthe Commander of المُؤمِنيthe Faithful (first part)
وَعَلى أَميرِ المُؤمِني
نَthe Faithful (completion) لِمَوئِليfor my refuge جَبَلٌa mountain حَصينُfortified
نَ لِمَوئِلي جَبَلٌ حَصينُ
And the Commander of the Faithful
is a fortified mountain where I take refuge.
إِنتاشَنيhe rescued me شِلوَa torn remnant النَواdisasters (first part)
إِنتاشَني شِلوَ النَوا
زِلِdisasters (completion) وَالنَوائِبُand calamities ليfor me شُجونُtangled cares
زِلِ وَالنَوائِبُ لي شُجونُ
He rescued me, a torn remnant of disaster,
while misfortunes were my tangled cares.
وَسَطاand dealt forcefully بِأَيّاميwith my days فَقَدso indeed
وَسَطا بِأَيّامي فَقَد
جُعِلَتwere made عَرائِكُهاtheir tempers تَلينُto soften
جُعِلَت عَرائِكُها تَلينُ
He tamed my days, and so
their stubborn tempers were made to soften.
وَأَضاءَand brightened ليfor me زَمَنيmy lifetime وَأَيand days (first part)
وَأَضاءَ لي زَمَني وَأَي
يامُdays (completion) الفَتىof a young man بيضٌwhite وَجونُand dark
يامُ الفَتى بيضٌ وَجونُ
He brightened my lifetime; and the days
of a young man are white and dark.
مُلكاًkingship بَنيsons of العَبّاسِal-Abbas فَالراfor the aspirant (first part)
مُلكاً بَني العَبّاسِ فَالرا
جيthe aspirant (completion) مَقامَكُمُyour station غَبينُa loser
جي مَقامَكُمُ غَبينُ
Kingship to you, sons of al-Abbas! Whoever seeks
your station is deluded.
أَنتُمyou لَهاfor it إِنif هابَfeared خُطits undertaking (first part)
أَنتُم لَها إِن هابَ خُط
طَتَهاits undertaking (completion) جَبانٌa coward أَوor ظَنينُone held suspect
طَتَها جَبانٌ أَو ظَنينُ
You are its men, should its charge daunt
a coward or one held suspect.
ماnone فيكُمُamong you إِلّاexcept أَلَدunyielding (first part)
ما فيكُمُ إِلّا أَلَد
دُunyielding (completion) عَلىin confronting عَظائِمِهاits great affairs مَرونُwell-practiced
دُ عَلى عَظائِمِها مَرونُ
None among you but one unyielding,
well-practiced in its weighty affairs,
حَتّىuntil يَزولَdepart فَحولُهاits champions
حَتّى يَزولَ فَحولُها
مِنكُمfrom among you وَقَدand already دانواruled وَدَينواand were ruled
مِنكُم وَقَد دانوا وَدَينوا
until its champions depart
from among you, having ruled and been ruled.
عَكَفواthey devoted themselves عَلىto العَلياءِeminence ماnot
عَكَفوا عَلى العَلياءِ ما
فيهِمamong them عَلىover مَجدٍglory ضَنينُgrudging
فيهِم عَلى مَجدٍ ضَنينُ
They devote themselves to eminence; not one
among them is grudging where glory is concerned.
يَنفونَthey purge شائِبَهاits dross كَماjust as
يَنفونَ شائِبَها كَما
عَكَفَتlabored steadily عَلىover البيضِbright swords القُيونُthe smiths
عَكَفَت عَلى البيضِ القُيونُ
They purge its dross, just as
smiths bend over gleaming swords.
لَهُمُtheirs are الجِيادُthe steeds مُغِذَّةًhastening
لَهُمُ الجِيادُ مُغِذَّةً
يَنتابُهاrepeatedly visits them الحَربُwar الزَبونُfierce
يَنتابُها الحَربُ الزَبونُ
Theirs are steeds pressing onward,
beset by savage war.
وَقَنيصُهاand their quarry لَهُمُfor them قِرىًa guest-feast
وَقَنيصُها لَهُمُ قِرىً
وَظُهورُهاand their backs لَهُمُfor them حُصونُfortresses
وَظُهورُها لَهُمُ حُصونُ
Their quarry is a feast for them,
and their backs are fortresses for them.
مُعتادَةٌaccustomed شُربَto drinking الدَماblood (first part)
مُعتادَةٌ شُربَ الدَما
ءِblood (completion) وَعِندَهاand beside them الماءُthe water المَعينُflowing
ءِ وَعِندَها الماءُ المَعينُ
They are accustomed to drinking blood,
though flowing water is beside them,
غَضَبىangry إِذاwhen لَمnot يَلقَmeets أَعtheir eyes (first part)
غَضَبى إِذا لَم يَلقَ أَع
يُنَهاtheir eyes (completion) ضَريبٌone struck down أَوor طَعينُone stabbed
يُنَها ضَريبٌ أَو طَعينُ
wrathful if their eyes are not met
by one struck down or pierced.
ياO مَنyou who لَهُto him belongs الرَأيُjudgment الزَنيsound (first part)
يا مَن لَهُ الرَأيُ الزَني
قُsound (completion) وَمَنand you who لَهُto him belongs الحِلمُforbearance الرَزينُweighty
قُ وَمَن لَهُ الحِلمُ الرَزينُ
O you of sound judgment
and weighty forbearance,
وَمُرَوِّحَand giver of rest to الإِبلِthe camels الطَلاweary (first part)
وَمُرَوِّحَ الإِبلِ الطَلا
حِweary (completion) رَمَتcast بِهِنَّthem away نَوىًa journey شَطونُfar-reaching
حِ رَمَت بِهِنَّ نَوىً شَطونُ
and you who give weary camels rest,
cast far afield by distant journeys,
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat خَشَعَتsank low غَواtheir withers (first part)
مِن بَعدِ ما خَشَعَت غَوا
رِبُهاtheir withers (completion) وَقَدand already قَلِقَgrew loose الوَضينُthe saddle-girth
رِبُها وَقَد قَلِقَ الوَضينُ
after their withers had sunk low
and the saddle-girth had worked loose:
لَكَyours is ذُروَةُthe summit البَيتِof the House المُعَvenerated (first part)
لَكَ ذُروَةُ البَيتِ المُعَ
ظَّمِvenerated (completion) وَالأَباطِحُand al-Abatih وَالحَجونُand al-Hajun
ظَّمِ وَالأَباطِحُ وَالحَجونُ
yours is the summit of the venerated House,
and al-Abatih and al-Hajun.
أَتُرىdo you suppose أَمينُthe trustee اللَهِof God إِلexcept (first part)
أَتُرى أَمينُ اللَهِ إِل
لاexcept (completion) مَنthe one who لَهُto him belongs البَلَدُthe city الأَمينُsecure
لا مَن لَهُ البَلَدُ الأَمينُ
Who could be God's trustee but
the one to whom the secure city belongs?
لِلَّهِto God دَرُّكَyour excellence حَيثُwhere لاnot
لِلَّهِ دَرُّكَ حَيثُ لا
تَسطوholds sway الشَمالُthe left وَلاnor اليَمينُthe right
تَسطو الشَمالُ وَلا اليَمينُ
How splendid you are, where neither
left nor right holds sway,
وَالأَمرُand command أَمرُكَis your command لاno فَمٌmouth
وَالأَمرُ أَمرُكَ لا فَمٌ
يوحيwhispers وَلاnor قَولٌutterance يُبينُspeaks plainly
يوحي وَلا قَولٌ يُبينُ
and command is yours: no mouth
whispers, no utterance speaks out.
لَمّاwhen رَأَيتُكَI saw you فيin مَقاa station (first part)
لَمّا رَأَيتُكَ في مَقا
مٍa station (completion) يُستَطارُis unnerved بِهِby it الرَكينُthe steadfast man
مٍ يُستَطارُ بِهِ الرَكينُ
When I saw you in a station
that unnerves even the steadfast,
وَاليَومُand the day أَبلَجُradiant تَستَضيdraws light (first part)
وَاليَومُ أَبلَجُ تَستَضي
ءُdraws light (completion) لَهُfrom it ظُهورٌbacks أَوor بُطونُbellies
ءُ لَهُ ظُهورٌ أَو بُطونُ
and the day was radiant, illumining
backs or bellies alike,
وَرَأَيتُand I saw لَيثَthe lion الغابِof the forest مُعstanding athwart (first part)
وَرَأَيتُ لَيثَ الغابِ مُع
تَرِضاًstanding athwart (completion) لَهُfor him الدُنياthe world عَرينُa lair
تَرِضاً لَهُ الدُنيا عَرينُ
and I saw the forest's lion standing
across the way, the world his lair,
أَقَدَمتُI advanced إِقدامَwith the boldness الَّذيof one who
أَقَدَمتُ إِقدامَ الَّذي
يَدنوdraws near وَشافِعُهُand his intercessor مَكينُinfluential
يَدنو وَشافِعُهُ مَكينُ
I advanced as boldly as one
approaching with an influential intercessor.
فَلِذاكَso for that reason ماnot اِرتَعَدَtrembled الجَناthe heart (first part)
فَلِذاكَ ما اِرتَعَدَ الجَنا
نُthe heart (completion) حَياًfrom shyness وَلاnor عَرِقَsweated الجَبينُthe brow
نُ حَياً وَلا عَرِقَ الجَبينُ
Thus my heart did not tremble
with shyness, nor did my brow sweat.
وَسَمَتand rose high بِفَضلِكَthrough your bounty غُرَّةٌa radiant brow
وَسَمَت بِفَضلِكَ غُرَّةٌ
تُغضيlower لِهيبَتِهاat its majesty الجُفونُthe eyelids
تُغضي لِهيبَتِها الجُفونُ
Through your bounty a radiant brow rose high,
before whose majesty eyelids lowered.
وَاِمتَدَّand spread مِنfrom نورِthe light النَبِthe Prophet (first part)
وَاِمتَدَّ مِن نورِ النَبِ
يِّthe Prophet (completion) عَلَيكَover you عُنوانٌa sign مُبينُclear
يِّ عَلَيكَ عُنوانٌ مُبينُ
From the Prophet's light there spread
over you a manifest sign.
وَجَمالُand the beauty وَجهِكَof your face ليfor me بِنَيof attaining (first part)
وَجَمالُ وَجهِكَ لي بِنَي
لِattaining (completion) جَميعِall ماthat أَرجوI hope for ضَمينُa guarantor
لِ جَميعِ ما أَرجو ضَمينُ
Your face's beauty guarantees me
the attainment of all I hope for.
فَأُفيضَتthen were poured out الخِلَعُthe robes of honor السَواblack (first part)
فَأُفيضَت الخِلَعُ السَوا
دُblack (completion) عَلَيَّupon me تَرشُقُهاpelt them العُيونُthe eyes
دُ عَلَيَّ تَرشُقُها العُيونُ
Then black robes of honor were poured
over me, eyes pelting them with glances:
شَرَفٌan honor خُصِصتُI was singled out بِهِfor it وَقَدand already
شَرَفٌ خُصِصتُ بِهِ وَقَد
دَرَجَتpassed away بِغُضَّتِهِamid its freshness القُرونُgenerations
دَرَجَت بِغُضَّتِهِ القُرونُ
an honor granted me alone, though
generations have passed while it stayed fresh.
وَخَرَجتُand I went out أَسحَبُهاtrailing them وَليand mine is
وَخَرَجتُ أَسحَبُها وَلي
فَوقَabove العُلىthe heights وَالنَجمُand the star دونُbelow
فَوقَ العُلى وَالنَجمُ دونُ
I went out trailing them, with a station
above the heights, the star beneath,
جَذِلاًjoyful وَلِلحُسّادِand for the envious مِنfrom
جَذِلاً وَلِلحُسّادِ مِن
أَسَفٍgrief زَفيرٌa deep sigh أَوor أَنينُa groan
أَسَفٍ زَفيرٌ أَو أَنينُ
rejoicing, while the envious uttered,
from grief, deep sighs or groans.
وَحَمَلتُand I carried مِنof نُعماكَyour bounty ماwhat
وَحَمَلتُ مِن نُعماكَ ما
لاnot تَحمِلُcould carry الأُجدُthe sturdy she-camel الأَمونُtrusty
لا تَحمِلُ الأُجدُ الأَمونُ
And I carried of your bounty what
no sturdy, trusty she-camel could bear.
وَكَفَفتَنيand you spared me عَنfrom مَعشَرٍa people
وَكَفَفتَني عَن مَعشَرٍ
خُطَطُthe paths المُنىof hopes فيهِمamong them حُزونُrugged ground
خُطَطُ المُنى فيهِم حُزونُ
You spared me a people
among whom the paths of hope are rugged:
مِشنَunclear; probably 'of' كُلِّevery جَهمِgrim الصَفحَتَيboth cheeks (first part)
مِشنَ كُلِّ جَهمِ الصَفحَتَي
نِboth cheeks (completion) كَأَنَّas though وَجنَتَهُhis cheek وَجينُstony ground
نِ كَأَنَّ وَجنَتَهُ وَجينُ
every grim-faced man,
whose cheek is like stony ground.
هُناكَmay it gladden you (reading هَناكَ) عيدُكَyour festival سَعدُهُits good fortune
هُناكَ عيدُكَ سَعدُهُ
ماwhat كانَhas been مِنهُof it وَماand what يَكونُwill be
ما كانَ مِنهُ وَما يَكونُ
May your festival's good fortune gladden you,
all that has been of it and all that is to come.
وَالعَيدُand the festival أَنthat تَبقىremain لَكَyours العَلeminence (first part)
وَالعَيدُ أَن تَبقى لَكَ العَل
ياءُeminence (completion) وَالحَسَبُand ancestral honor المَصونُinviolate
ياءُ وَالحَسَبُ المَصونُ
The festival is that there should endure for you
eminence and inviolate ancestral honor:
عِزٌّglory بِلاwithout كَدَرٍtaint مِنَfrom الthe
عِزٌّ بِلا كَدَرٍ مِنَ ال
دُنياworld وَبَعضُand some العِزِّglory هونُhumiliation
دُنيا وَبَعضُ العِزِّ هونُ
glory unclouded by the
world—though some glory is humiliation.
وَأَرىand I see العُلىeminence جَدّاءَdry-uddered إِلexcept (first part)
وَأَرى العُلى جَدّاءَ إِل
لاexcept (completion) أَنَّهاthat she لَكُمfor you لَبونُmilk-giving
لا أَنَّها لَكُم لَبونُ
And I see eminence dry-uddered,
yet for you she yields milk.
حَمداًpraise لِماfor what توليyou bestow فَإِنَّfor indeed الحَمpraise (first part)
حَمداً لِما تولي فَإِنَّ الحَم
دَpraise (completion) لِلنَعماءِfor bounty دينُa duty owed
دَ لِلنَعماءِ دينُ
Praise for what you bestow, for praise
is bounty's due.
وَبَقيتَand may you endure طولَthroughout الدَهرِall time لاnot
وَبَقيتَ طولَ الدَهرِ لا
يَجتاحُكَsweeps you away الأَجَلُthe appointed end الخَؤونُtreacherous
يَجتاحُكَ الأَجَلُ الخَؤونُ
May you endure throughout all time, never
swept away by treacherous death,
وَعَلَيَّand upon me مِنُّكَyour bounty ضافِياًspread abundantly
وَعَلَيَّ مِنُّكَ ضافِياً
وَعَلىand upon أَعاديكَyour enemies المَنونُdeath
وَعَلى أَعاديكَ المَنونُ
with your bounty spread abundantly over me,
and doom upon your enemies.