لَوif كانَwere يَنفَعُavails فيwith الزَمانِTime عِتابُreproach
لَو كانَ يَنفَعُ في الزَمانِ عِتابُ
لَعَتَبتُهُI would reproach it فيover الرَبعِthe dwelling وَهوَwhile it is يَبابُdesolate
لَعَتَبتُهُ في الرَبعِ وَهوَ يَبابُ
If reproach could avail with Time,
If reproach availed in this age, I would reproach it while it babbles
I would reproach it for the dwelling, now desolate.
We kneaded dough over it and asked for its form
عُجناwe turned aside عَلَيهِtoward it العِيسَthe pale camels نَسأَلasking رَسمَهُits traces
عُجنا عَلَيهِ العِيسَ نَسأَل رَسمَهُ
لَوif كانَwere مَنwhoever سَأَلَasked الطُلُولَthe ruined traces يَجابُanswered
لَو كانَ مَن سَأَلَ الطُلُولَ يَجابُ
We turned the pale camels toward it, questioning its traces—
If he who asked for long life were answered
if one who questioned ruins could ever be answered.
An era for loved ones whose abodes we love
زَمَنٌan age لِأَحبابٍof loved ones نُحِبُّwe love دِيارَهُمtheir dwellings
زَمَنٌ لِأَحبابٍ نُحِبُّ دِيارَهُم
مِنfor أَجلِهِمtheir sake فَكَأَنَّهاso as though they were أَحبابُloved ones
مِن أَجلِهِم فَكَأَنَّها أَحبابُ
An age of loved ones: we love their dwellings
Because of them it is as if they are loved ones
for their sake, as though those dwellings were loved ones.
When we made their dust in the eyes dust
لَمّاwhen جَعَلناwe put فيin العُيونِthe eyes تُرابَهاtheir dust
لَمّا جَعَلنا في العُيونِ تُرابَها
لَمnot يَبقَremained فيin تِلكَthose الرُبوعِdwellings تُرابُdust
لَم يَبقَ في تِلكَ الرُبوعِ تُرابُ
When we put their dust into our eyes,
No dust remained in those meadows
no dust remained in those dwellings.
After multitudes of tears flowed for them, tears and streams flowed for them
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat سالَتflowed شُعُوبُbranches مَدامِعٍof tear ducts
مِن بَعدِ ما سالَت شُعُوبُ مَدامِعٍ
سالَتflowed لَهُنَّfor them مَدامِعٌtear ducts وَشِعابُand ravines
سالَت لَهُنَّ مَدامِعٌ وَشِعابُ
After branching streams of tears had flowed,
O meadow, time has marred you and Zainab and Rabab have often adorned your terraces
tear ducts and ravines streamed for those dwellings.
Days when the dust is gathered when maidens with ornaments walked in your skirts
ياO رَبعُdwelling قَبَّحَكَmarred you الزَمانُTime وَطالَماand for long
يا رَبعُ قَبَّحَكَ الزَمانُ وَطالَما
زانَتadorned عِراصَكَyour courts زَينَبٌZaynab وَرَبابُand Rabab
زانَت عِراصَكَ زَينَبٌ وَرَبابُ
O dwelling, Time has marred you, though long
Like suns over the backs of gazelles they disappear from you when the raven cries
Zaynab and Rabab adorned your courts.
Their affection is not lasting with one step if wealth and youth do not last for you
أَيّامَin days يُلتَثَمُis kissed التُرابُthe dust إِذاwhen مَشَتwalked
أَيّامَ يُلتَثَمُ التُرابُ إِذا مَشَت
فيin دِمنَتَيكَyour two ruined sites كَواعِبٌfull-breasted maidens أَترابُof like age
في دِمنَتَيكَ كَواعِبٌ أَترابُ
In days when dust was kissed whenever there walked
Leave their love for they are fleeting
through your two sites full-breasted maidens of like age.
And their words are deceitful and fraudulent
مِثلُlike الشُمُوسِthe suns عَلىupon غَوارِبِthe withers أَينُقٍof she-camels
مِثلُ الشُمُوسِ عَلى غَوارِبِ أَينُقٍ
يَغرُبنَthey set عَنكَaway from you إِذاwhen يَصيحُcries غُرابُa raven
يَغرُبنَ عَنكَ إِذا يَصيحُ غُرابُ
Like suns upon she-camels' withers,
And if you seek something from time with the sword, craving will not torment you
they set away from you when a raven cries.
Kingdoms, their faces are only protected by spears and blows
لاnot يُستَدامُis sustained وَدادُهُنّtheir affection بِخُطوَةٍby a step
لا يُستَدامُ وَدادُهُنّ بِخُطوَةٍ
إِنif لَمnot يَدُمendures لَكَfor you ثَروَةٌwealth وَشَبابُand youth
إِن لَم يَدُم لَكَ ثَروَةٌ وَشَبابُ
Their affection cannot be sustained by a single step
And glory is what the glorious one has raised with his sword
if wealth and youth do not endure for you.
After time has passed with it the eras
ذَرforsake حُبَّهُنَّtheir love فَإِنَّهُنَّfor they are فَوارِكٌwomen who spurn their husbands
ذَر حُبَّهُنَّ فَإِنَّهُنَّ فَوارِكٌ
وَمَقالُهُنَّand their words خَديعَةٌdeceit وَخِلابُand beguilement
وَمَقالُهُنَّ خَديعَةٌ وَخِلابُ
Forsake their love, for they are women who spurn their mates;
His rage was kindled against his people so it regained for them
and their words are deceit and beguilement.
Kingdoms and kings - wrath
وَإِذاand when طَلَبتَyou seek مِنَfrom الزَمانِTime طِلابَةًa thing sought
وَإِذا طَلَبتَ مِنَ الزَمانِ طِلابَةً
بِالسَيفِwith the sword لَمnot يَعذُبbe out of reach عَلَيكَfor you طِلابُa thing sought
بِالسَيفِ لَم يَعذُب عَلَيكَ طِلابُ
And when you seek a prize from Time
And it restored the glory of the sons of Kilab after
with the sword, no prize will elude you.
The vicious Kilab were stripped of glory
إِنَّindeed المَمالِكَkingdoms لاnot يَصُونُpreserves وُجُوهَهاtheir faces
إِنَّ المَمالِكَ لا يَصُونُ وُجُوهَها
إِلّاexcept طِعانٌspear-thrusts دُونَهاin their defense وَضِرابُand sword-blows
إِلّا طِعانٌ دُونَها وَضِرابُ
Indeed, nothing preserves the faces of kingdoms
They witnessed to the favor of his father, so the necks
but spear-thrusts and sword-blows in their defense.
Of the vanquished armies confessed his favor
وَالعِزُّand honor مارَدَّwhat he restored المُعِزُّal-Mu'izz بِسَيفِهِwith his sword
وَالعِزُّ مارَدَّ المُعِزُّ بِسَيفِهِ
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat ذَهَبَتcarried away بِهِit الأَحقابُthe ages
مِن بَعدِ ما ذَهَبَت بِهِ الأَحقابُ
And honor is what al-Mu'izz restored with his sword
And the clan was sure that he is
after the ages had carried it away.
Victory for it in adversities and bending
غَضِبَتraged قَناهُhis spear لِقَومِهِfor his people فَاستَرجَعَتand so it recovered
غَضِبَت قَناهُ لِقَومِهِ فَاستَرجَعَت
لَهُمُfor them المَمالِكَthe kingdoms وَالمُلوكُwhile the kings غِضابُwere angry
لَهُمُ المَمالِكَ وَالمُلوكُ غِضابُ
His spear raged for his people and recovered
They slept while his eye was awake in their glory
their kingdoms, while the kings raged.
Until he built his lands while in ruins
وَأَعادَand he restored عِزَّthe honor بَنيof the sons of كِلابٍKilab بَعدَماafter
وَأَعادَ عِزَّ بَني كِلابٍ بَعدَما
عَرِيَتwas stripped مِنَof العِزِّhonor الأَشَمِّlofty كِلابُKilab
عَرِيَت مِنَ العِزِّ الأَشَمِّ كِلابُ
He restored the honor of the sons of Kilab after
And he pardoned the one who wronged him, and his pardon
Kilab had been stripped of lofty honor.
Over power like punishment is punishment
شَهِدُواthey attested بِفَضلِto the excellence أَبيهِof his father فَاعتَرَفَتand so acknowledged لَهُto him
شَهِدُوا بِفَضلِ أَبيهِ فَاعتَرَفَت لَهُ
بِالمَنِّhis favor مِنfrom فَلِّthe routed remnants الجُيوشِof the armies رَقابُnecks
بِالمَنِّ مِن فَلِّ الجُيوشِ رَقابُ
They attested his father's excellence; to him was acknowledged
And he built for them in glory a house that Zufar and Jabaw
his favor by the necks of the armies' routed remnants.
Did not build the like, nor pegs were driven for it, nor ropes extended
وَلَقَدand indeed تَيَقَّنَتِbecame certain العَشِيرَةُthe clan أَنَّهُthat he is
وَلَقَد تَيَقَّنَتِ العَشِيرَةُ أَنَّهُ
ظُفرٌa claw لَهاfor it فيin النائِباتِcalamities وَنابand a fang
ظُفرٌ لَها في النائِباتِ وَناب
The clan was indeed certain that he was
So let them thank a king who, by him and his horse
a claw for them in calamities, and a fang.
Elders and youths of them fell
نامُواthey slept وَأَسهَرَand he kept awake عَينَهُhis eye فيfor عَزِّهِمtheir honor
نامُوا وَأَسهَرَ عَينَهُ في عَزِّهِم
حَتّىuntil بَنىhe built قُطرَيهِits two sides وَهوَwhile it was خَرابُruined
حَتّى بَنى قُطرَيهِ وَهوَ خَرابُ
They slept while he kept his eye awake for their honor,
Praise him, for they knew the nature of others
until he rebuilt both its sides, when it lay in ruins.
And honey is praised when strained from the comb
وَعَفاand he pardoned عَنِthe الجانيoffender إِلَيهِagainst him وَعَفوُهُand his pardon
وَعَفا عَنِ الجاني إِلَيهِ وَعَفوُهُ
عَنfrom قُدرَةٍpower مِثلُlike العِقابِpunishment عِقابُpunishment
عَن قُدرَةٍ مِثلُ العِقابِ عِقابُ
He pardoned one who wronged him; his pardon,
He has granted them a livelihood that did not humiliate them
given from strength, is punishment like punishment itself.
In it a food before it and a drink
وَبَنىand he built لَهُمfor them فيin العِزِّhonor بَيتاًa house ماnot بَنىbuilt
وَبَنى لَهُم في العِزِّ بَيتاً ما بَنى
شَبَهاًa likeness لَهُof it زُفَرٌZufar وَلاnor جَوّابُJawwab
شَبَهاً لَهُ زُفَرٌ وَلا جَوّابُ
He built them a house of honor, whose like
And he fulfilled what his rage had plundered and returned it
neither Zufar nor Jawwab had built.
And when are plunders ever returned from rage?
بَيتٌa house بَناهُbuilt it اللَهُGod لَمnot يُسمَكwere raised لَهُfor it
بَيتٌ بَناهُ اللَهُ لَم يُسمَك لَهُ
عَمَدٌpillars وَلَمand not تُمدَدwere stretched لَهُfor it أَطنابُtent ropes
عَمَدٌ وَلَم تُمدَد لَهُ أَطنابُ
A house God built, for which no
Had he not demanded what he had taken
pillars were raised and no tent ropes stretched.
The cravers would have taken it from his wealth
فَليَشكُرواso let them thank مَلِكاًa king بِهِin him وَبِخَيلِهِand in his horses
فَليَشكُروا مَلِكاً بِهِ وَبِخَيلِهِ
فَخَرَتtook pride كُهُولٌelders مِنهُمُamong them وَشَبابُand youths
فَخَرَت كُهُولٌ مِنهُمُ وَشَبابُ
So let them thank a king in whom and in his horses
And when the generous man encompasses the corpulent, he is generous with him
their elders and youths took pride.
Like the sea - what mastery does anything have over it?
حَمِدُوهُthey praised him إِذwhen عَرَفُواthey knew سَجِيَّةَthe nature غَيرِهِof another
حَمِدُوهُ إِذ عَرَفُوا سَجِيَّةَ غَيرِهِ
وَالشَهدُand honey يُحمَدَis praised حينَwhen يُجنىis gathered الصابُbitter sap
وَالشَهدُ يُحمَدَ حينَ يُجنى الصابُ
They praised him once they knew another's nature;
Do not wonder at what you have done, for everything
and honey is prized when bitter sap is gathered.
You do in the two worlds is wondrous
هَنّاهُمُhe gladdened them بِمَعايِشٍwith livelihoods لَمnot يَهنِهِمgave them pleasure
هَنّاهُمُ بِمَعايِشٍ لَم يَهنِهِم
فِيهاin them طَعامٌfood قَبلَهُbefore him وَشَرابُand drink
فِيها طَعامٌ قَبلَهُ وَشَرابُ
He made their lives pleasant; never had they enjoyed
You have indeed restrained from the harem and there was not
food or drink in them before him.
Within you an essence that the blamer blames
وَوَفىand he made restitution بِماfor what سَلَبَتseized قَناهُhis spear فَرَدَّهُthen he returned it
وَوَفى بِما سَلَبَت قَناهُ فَرَدَّهُ
وَمَتىand when تُرَدُّare returned مِنَfrom القَناspears أَسلابُspoils
وَمَتى تُرَدُّ مِنَ القَنا أَسلابُ
He made restitution for what his spear had seized, returning it;
And you have veiled them from the eyes with a jealousy
and when is plunder ever returned by spears?
That is a veil over them along with the veil, a veil
لَوif لَمnot يُطالَبis asked بِالَّذيfor what هُوَhe آخِذٌtakes
لَو لَم يُطالَب بِالَّذي هُوَ آخِذٌ
أَخَذَتهُtook it مِنfrom أَموالِهِhis wealth الطُلّابُthe petitioners
أَخَذَتهُ مِن أَموالِهِ الطُلّابُ
If he were not asked for what he takes,
And you disdained to accept them as wives
petitioners would take it from his own wealth.
While their husbands are young ragamuffins
وَإِذاand when الكَريمُthe noble man حَوىacquired الجَسيمَgreat wealth سَخاgave freely بِهِof it
وَإِذا الكَريمُ حَوى الجَسيمَ سَخا بِهِ
كَالبَحرِlike the sea ماnot لِلشَيءِfor anything فيهِin it رَبابُa lasting stay
كَالبَحرِ ما لِلشَيءِ فيهِ رَبابُ
When a noble man acquires great wealth, he gives it freely,
Your rage gained double what they gained
like the sea, where nothing has a lasting abode.
Truly the generous man is triumphant and victorious
لاlet not يَعجَبُواthem marvel مِمّاat what فَعَلتَyou did فَكُلُّfor all ماthat
لا يَعجَبُوا مِمّا فَعَلتَ فَكُلُّ ما
تَأتيyou bring بِهِwith it فيamong العالَمينَall peoples عُجابُmarvelous
تَأتي بِهِ في العالَمينَ عُجابُ
Let them not marvel at what you have done, for all
And you sought your revenge so you became famous and returned what
you do among mankind is marvelous.
The cutting, slashing sword had taken from you
وَلَقَدand indeed عَفَفتَyou kept chaste عَنِfrom الحَريمِthe womenfolk وَلَمand not يَكُنwas
وَلَقَد عَفَفتَ عَنِ الحَريمِ وَلَم يَكُن
لَكَfor you باطِنٌa hidden side يَغتابُهُhe maligns it المُغتابُthe backbiter
لَكَ باطِنٌ يَغتابُهُ المُغتابُ
You indeed abstained from the womenfolk, and had no
And you met with ambition and supremacy an ambition, so you are
hidden fault for a backbiter to malign.
The one who aspires and the fulfiller
وَحَجَبتَهُنَّand you veiled them عَنِfrom العُيونِeyes بِغَيرَةٍwith protective jealousy
وَحَجَبتَهُنَّ عَنِ العُيونِ بِغَيرَةٍ
هِيَit دُونَهُنَّguarding them مَعَalongside الحِجابِthe veil حِجابُa veil
هِيَ دُونَهُنَّ مَعَ الحِجابِ حِجابُ
You veiled them from eyes with protective jealousy,
itself a veil guarding them alongside their veil.
وَأَنِفتَand you disdained أَنto تَرضىaccept بِهِنَّthem حَلائِلاًas wives
وَأَنِفتَ أَن تَرضى بِهِنَّ حَلائِلاً
وَبُعُولُهُنَّwhile their husbands غَطارِفٌnoble lords أَنجابُwellborn
وَبُعُولُهُنَّ غَطارِفٌ أَنجابُ
You scorned to accept them as wives
while their husbands were noble, wellborn men.
ظَفِرَتwon قَناكَyour spear بِضِعفِtwice ماwhat ظَفِرُواthey won بِهِit
ظَفِرَت قَناكَ بِضِعفِ ما ظَفِرُوا بِهِ
إِنَّindeed الكَريمَthe noble man مُظَفَّرٌgranted victory غَلّابُever conquering
إِنَّ الكَريمَ مُظَفَّرٌ غَلّابُ
Your spear won twice what they had won;
the noble man is victorious, ever conquering.
وَطَلَبتَand you sought ثَأرَكَyour vengeance فاشتَهَرتَand so won renown وَرَدَّand restored ماwhat
وَطَلَبتَ ثَأرَكَ فاشتَهَرتَ وَرَدَّ ما
أَخَذَتhad taken عِداكَyour foes الصارِمُthe keen sword القِرضابُthe cleaving blade
أَخَذَت عِداكَ الصارِمُ القِرضابُ
You sought vengeance and won renown; what
your foes had taken was restored by the keen, cleaving sword.
وَلَقِيتَand you encountered فيin نَصبِraising المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالعُلىand lofty eminence
وَلَقِيتَ في نَصبِ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلى
نَصَباًtoil فَأَنتَso you are الناصِبُthe raiser النَصّابُthe mighty raiser
نَصَباً فَأَنتَ الناصِبُ النَصّابُ
You met, in raising noble deeds and lofty eminence,
toil: you are the raiser, the mighty raiser.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَتَتكَcame to you مِنfrom الإِمامِthe Imam مَواهِبٌgifts
وَلَقَد أَتَتكَ مِن الإِمامِ مَواهِبٌ
ضاقَتgrew cramped بِهاwith them الفَلَواتُthe deserts وَهِيَthough they are رِحابُvast
ضاقَت بِها الفَلَواتُ وَهِيَ رِحابُ
Gifts indeed came to you from the Imam,
so many that the deserts, though vast, grew cramped with them.
تَمشيmove بِهاwith them القُبُّthe slim-bellied horses العِتاقُthe thoroughbreds وَخُنَّقٌand long-necked she-camels
تَمشي بِها القُبُّ العِتاقُ وَخُنَّقٌ
مِثلُlike الأَهِلَّةِcrescents فَوقَهُنَّabove them قِبابُcanopies
مِثلُ الأَهِلَّةِ فَوقَهُنَّ قِبابُ
With them move lean thoroughbreds and long-necked she-camels,
like crescents, with canopies above them.
وَمُخَلَّقٌand a perfumed scroll شَختُslender النِطاقِof girth خِتامُهُits seal
وَمُخَلَّقٌ شَختُ النِطاقِ خِتامُهُ
مِسكُmusk العَتيرَةِof the musk-pouch وَالحَريرُand silk إِهابُskin
مِسكُ العَتيرَةِ وَالحَريرُ إِهابُ
And a perfumed scroll, slender of girth, whose seal
is musk from its pouch, and whose skin is silk.
سُطِرَتwere scored رِقابُthe necks عِداكُمُof your foes بِسُطُورِهِwith its lines
سُطِرَت رِقابُ عِداكُمُ بِسُطُورِهِ
مُذsince فُضَّit was unsealed فَهوَso it is مُهَنَّدٌan Indian-forged sword وَكِتابُand a letter
مُذ فُضَّ فَهوَ مُهَنَّدٌ وَكِتابُ
Your enemies' necks were scored with its lines
since it was unsealed: both an Indian-forged sword and a letter.
وَكَأَنَّand as though هالاتِthe halos البُدورِof full moons عَمائِمٌturbans
وَكَأَنَّ هالاتِ البُدورِ عَمائِمٌ
لَكُمُfor you وَأَنوارُand the radiance الشَموسِof the suns ثِيابُgarments
لَكُمُ وَأَنوارُ الشَموسِ ثِيابُ
As though full moons' halos were turbans
for you, and the suns' radiance garments.
لِلّهِto God دَرُّكُمُyour excellence فَأَنتُمfor you are مَعشَرٌa people
لِلّهِ دَرُّكُمُ فَأَنتُم مَعشَرٌ
ماnot فِيكُمُamong you لِلعائِبِينَfor critics مَعابُa fault
ما فِيكُمُ لِلعائِبِينَ مَعابُ
God bless your excellence! You are a people
in whom critics can find no fault.
طُلتُمyou rose high بِأَلقابِthrough the titles الإِمامِof the Imam وَطُلتُمand you rose high
طُلتُم بِأَلقابِ الإِمامِ وَطُلتُم
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore ذاكَthat وَمالَكُمwhile you had no أَلقابُtitles
مِن قَبلِ ذاكَ وَمالَكُم أَلقابُ
You rose high through the Imam's titles, and rose high
before that, when you had no titles.
لَوif لَمnot تَكُنwere أَلقابُكُمyour titles مَذكُورَةًmentioned
لَو لَم تَكُن أَلقابُكُم مَذكُورَةً
أَغنَتكُمُwould suffice you عَنinstead of ذِكرِهاmentioning them الأَحسابُancestral honors
أَغنَتكُمُ عَن ذِكرِها الأَحسابُ
Had your titles never been mentioned,
your ancestral honors would have made their mention needless.
قالَsaid العِداthe foes لِلشّامِto al-Sham لَمّاwhen عُدتُمُyou returned
قالَ العِدا لِلشّامِ لَمّا عُدتُمُ
هَذيthese الأُسُودُthe lions بِهاthrough them اِحتَمىwas protected ذاthis الغابُforest
هَذي الأُسُودُ بِها اِحتَمى ذا الغابُ
Your foes said to al-Sham when you returned,
"These are the lions by whom this forest was protected."
أَبناءُsons مِرداسٍof Mirdas وَأَيُّand what مَعاشِرٍa people
أَبناءُ مِرداسٍ وَأَيُّ مَعاشِرٍ
جُبِلُواwere fashioned عَلىupon طِيبِthe goodness الأُصولِof their roots فَطابُواand so became noble
جُبِلُوا عَلى طِيبِ الأُصولِ فَطابُوا
Sons of Mirdas—and what a people!
Fashioned from noble roots, and therefore noble themselves.
لاnot يَقلَقونَthey waver إِذاwhen تُلِمُّstrikes مُلِمَّةٌa calamity
لا يَقلَقونَ إِذا تُلِمُّ مُلِمَّةٌ
وَكَأَنَّهُمand they are like فيamid النائِباتِcalamities هِضابhills
وَكَأَنَّهُم في النائِباتِ هِضاب
They do not waver when a calamity strikes,
and in calamities they are like hills.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen حَضَرواthey are present الثَناءَpraise عَلَيهِمُof them
قَومٌ إِذا حَضَروا الثَناءَ عَلَيهِمُ
فيin مَحفِلٍan assembly حَضَرُواthey are present وَهُمthough they are غُيّابُabsent
في مَحفِلٍ حَضَرُوا وَهُم غُيّابُ
A people who, when praise of them appears
in an assembly, are present though absent.
مِنamong كُلِّeach مَيمُونِauspicious النَقِيبَةِin character مُسفِرٍrevealing
مِن كُلِّ مَيمُونِ النَقِيبَةِ مُسفِرٍ
عَنof حُرِّa noble وَجهٍface حُطَّwas lifted عَنهُfrom it نِقابُa veil
عَن حُرِّ وَجهٍ حُطَّ عَنهُ نِقابُ
Each of auspicious character, revealing
a noble face from which a veil has been lifted.
يَهديكَhe guides you فيin اللَيلِthe night البَهيمِpitch-black بِنُورِهِby his light
يَهديكَ في اللَيلِ البَهيمِ بِنُورِهِ
وَكَأَنَّماand as though يَهديكَguides you مِنهُfrom him شِهابُa meteor
وَكَأَنَّما يَهديكَ مِنهُ شِهابُ
His light guides you through the pitch-black night,
as though a meteor from him were guiding you.
سَهلُeasy القِيادِof rein وَرُبَّماyet sometimes لاقَيتُهُI encountered him
سَهلُ القِيادِ وَرُبَّما لاقَيتُهُ
صَعبَhard to subject to الظُلامَةِinjustice وَالخُطُوبُand hardships صِعابُare severe
صَعبَ الظُلامَةِ وَالخُطُوبُ صِعابُ
Easy of rein, yet at times I have found him
hard to wrong, when hardships are severe.
وَلَقَدand indeed بَنىbuilt مَجدُthe glory الإِمامِof the Imam لِقَومِهِfor his people
وَلَقَد بَنى مَجدُ الإِمامِ لِقَومِهِ
مَجداًa glory تَحِيرُare bewildered لِمِثلِهِby its like الأَلبابُminds
مَجداً تَحِيرُ لِمِثلِهِ الأَلبابُ
The Imam's glory has indeed built for his people
a glory whose like bewilders minds.
مَلِكٌa king يَضُرُّharms كَماas يَسُرُّgladdens بِرِفدِهِwith his bounty
مَلِكٌ يَضُرُّ كَما يَسُرُّ بِرِفدِهِ
وَالدُرُّand pearls فيin المُرِّbitter water الأُجاجِbriny يُصابُare found
وَالدُرُّ في المُرِّ الأُجاجِ يُصابُ
A king who harms, as he gladdens with his gifts;
and pearls are found in bitter, briny waters.
ثَبتُfirm العَزيمَةِin resolve لاnot يَطيشُunsettles بِلُبِّهِhis mind
ثَبتُ العَزيمَةِ لا يَطيشُ بِلُبِّهِ
جَهلٌignorance وَلاnor يَخفىis hidden عَلَيهِfrom him صَوابُthe right course
جَهلٌ وَلا يَخفى عَلَيهِ صَوابُ
Firm in resolve: his mind is not unsettled by
ignorance, nor is the right course hidden from him.
ياO أَيُّهاyou المَلِكُking الَّذيwho شَهِدَتbore witness لَهُfor him
يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ الَّذي شَهِدَت لَهُ
طَيٌّTayy بِكُلِّto every فَضيلَةٍvirtue وَجَنابand Janab
طَيٌّ بِكُلِّ فَضيلَةٍ وَجَناب
O king, for whom testimony was given
by Tayy and Janab to every virtue.
لاno يَومَday أَسعَدُhappier مِنهُthan it يَوماًa day حَلَّقَتsoared
لا يَومَ أَسعَدُ مِنهُ يَوماً حَلَّقَت
فيهِon it وَراءَكَbehind you رايَةٌa banner وَعُقابُand an eagle
فيهِ وَراءَكَ رايَةٌ وَعُقابُ
No day is happier than that day when there soared
behind you a banner and an eagle.
نَشَرَتspread لَهاfor it ريحُthe wind الشِمالِof the north ذَوائِباًstreamers
نَشَرَت لَها ريحُ الشِمالِ ذَوائِباً
شَتّىvaried عَلَيهِنَّupon them النُضارُpure gold مُذابُmolten
شَتّى عَلَيهِنَّ النُضارُ مُذابُ
The north wind spread its streamers,
varied, with molten gold upon them.
مَعقُودَةٌbound بِالعِزِّto glory إِلّاexcept أَنَّهاthat they are
مَعقُودَةٌ بِالعِزِّ إِلّا أَنَّها
عَذَبٌstreamers لِحاسِدِكُمfor your envier بِهِنَّthrough them عَذابُtorment
عَذَبٌ لِحاسِدِكُم بِهِنَّ عَذابُ
Bound to glory, yet they are
streamers that bring torment to your envier.
فَاسعَدso rejoice بِماin what خُوِّلتَyou were granted وَابقَand remain مُخَلَّداًimmortal
فَاسعَد بِما خُوِّلتَ وَابقَ مُخَلَّداً
ماno لِلسَعادَةِfor happiness عَنaway from ذَراكَyour lofty shelter ذَهابُdeparture
ما لِلسَعادَةِ عَن ذَراكَ ذَهابُ
Rejoice in what you have been granted, and live forever;
happiness can never leave your lofty shelter.
وَالبَسand wear حُلىthe ornaments مَدحيof my praise فَلَيسَfor it is not بِعاطِلٍunadorned
وَالبَس حُلى مَدحي فَلَيسَ بِعاطِلٍ
جِيدٌa neck لَهُfor which هَذاthis المَديحُpanegyric سِخابُan aromatic-bead necklace
جِيدٌ لَهُ هَذا المَديحُ سِخابُ
Wear the jewels of my praise; never is bare
a neck whose scented necklace is this panegyric.
Partial English translation: 58 of 116 Arabic lines translated.