أفَيْضُa flood? دُمُوعٍof tears أَمْor سُيُولٌtorrents تَمَوَّجُsurge
أفَيْضُ دُمُوعٍ أَمْ سُيُولٌ تَمَوَّجُ
وَحَرُّand heat ضُلُوعٍof ribs أَمْor لَظىًflames تَتَأَجَّجُblaze
وَحَرُّ ضُلُوعٍ أَمْ لَظىً تَتَأَجَّجُ
Is it a flood of tears, or torrents surging?
Is it a torrent of tears or surging floods,
And heat within the ribs, or flames blazing?
Or a burning chest or blazing embers inflamed?
كَفىsuffices مِنْof شَجايَmy grief عَبْرَةٌa tear بَعْدَafter زَفْرَةٍa sigh
كَفى مِنْ شَجايَ عَبْرَةٌ بَعْدَ زَفْرَةٍ
وَلُبٌّand a mind مُطارٌdistraught أَمْor سَقامٌsickness مُهَيَّجُaggravated
وَلُبٌّ مُطارٌ أَمْ سَقامٌ مُهَيَّجُ
A tear after a sigh suffices to tell my grief,
Enough tears shed, for after one sigh
and a distraught mind—or an aggravated sickness.
My aching heart is either sick or crazed.
شَرِبْتُI drank مِنَfrom الأَيّامِthe days كَأْساًa cup رَوِيَّةًthirst-quenching
شَرِبْتُ مِنَ الأَيّامِ كَأْساً رَوِيَّةً
وَلَمْand not أَدْرِI knew أَنَّthat الصَّقْوَclear water بِالرَّنْقِwith murk يُمْزَجُis mixed
وَلَمْ أَدْرِ أَنَّ الصَّقْوَ بِالرَّنْقِ يُمْزَجُ
I drank from the days a thirst-quenching cup,
I drank deep from the cup of days,
and did not know that clear water is mixed with murk.
Unaware that joy with sorrow is interlaced.
وَلَمْand not يُبْكِنِmake me weep رَسْمٌa campsite trace بِنَعْمانَat Naʿman دارِسٌeffaced
وَلَمْ يُبْكِنِ رَسْمٌ بِنَعْمانَ دارِسٌ
وَلاnor شَفَّنِيwasted me away ظَبْيٌa gazelle بِرامَةَat Rama أَدْعَجُdark-eyed
وَلا شَفَّنِي ظَبْيٌ بِرامَةَ أَدْعَجُ
Nor did a faded campsite trace at Naʿman make me weep,
I was not lured by beauty’s smile,
nor did a dark-eyed gazelle at Rama waste me away.
Nor captivated by a graceful doe-eyed gaze.
وَلكِنْbut جُنُونٌmadness مِنْfrom زَمانٍan age مُسَفَّهٍdeemed foolish
وَلكِنْ جُنُونٌ مِنْ زَمانٍ مُسَفَّهٍ
وَدَهْرٌand a time جَهُولٌignorant أَوْلَقُcrazed الرَّأْيِin judgment أَهْوَجُreckless
وَدَهْرٌ جَهُولٌ أَوْلَقُ الرَّأْيِ أَهْوَجُ
But madness born of an age deemed foolish,
But madness from a foolish time,
and an ignorant time, crazed in judgment and reckless.
And an ignorant fate, muddled my ways.
سَلَوْتُI ceased pining وَماand not كادَnearly السُّلُوُّforgetfulness يُطِيعُنِيobey me
سَلَوْتُ وَما كادَ السُّلُوُّ يُطِيعُنِي
لَوَانَّif it were that زَماناًan age جائِراًunjust يَتَحَرَّجُfelt scruples
لَوَانَّ زَماناً جائِراً يَتَحَرَّجُ
I ceased pining; forgetfulness would scarcely have obeyed me
I found solace, but solace barely obeyed me,
had an unjust age felt any scruples.
If only time wasn’t so cruel and twisted in its ways.
إِذاwhen دَخَلَenters الْهَمَّsorrow الْغَرِيبُunfamiliar عَلَىupon فَتىًa young man
إِذا دَخَلَ الْهَمَّ الْغَرِيبُ عَلَى فَتىً
رَأَيْتَyou see الْهَوىlove مِنْfrom قَلْبِهِhis heart كَيْفَhow يَخْرُجُdeparts
رَأَيْتَ الْهَوى مِنْ قَلْبِهِ كَيْفَ يَخْرُجُ
When an unfamiliar sorrow comes upon a young man,
When sorrow afflicts a young man,
you see how love departs from his heart.
You see passion flee his heart apace.
تَعَفَّتْhave vanished رُسُومُthe traces الْمَكْرُماتِof noble deeds كَماjust as عَفاvanished
تَعَفَّتْ رُسُومُ الْمَكْرُماتِ كَما عَفا
عَلَىthrough الدَّهْرِthe ages مَلْحُوبٌMalhub وَأَفْقَرَand became deserted مَنْعِجُManʿij
عَلَى الدَّهْرِ مَلْحُوبٌ وَأَفْقَرَ مَنْعِجُ
The traces of noble deeds have vanished, just as did
The lines of magnanimity have faded,
Malhub through the ages, while Manʿij lay deserted.
As days leave the noble destitute without a trace.
فَلَوْلاso, but for بَنُوthe sons الصُّوفِيِّof al-Sufi أَعْوَزَwould be lacking مُفْضِلٌa benefactor
فَلَوْلا بَنُو الصُّوفِيِّ أَعْوَزَ مُفْضِلٌ
إِلىto بابِهِhis door لِلْوَفْدِfor deputations مَسْرىًa night journey وَمَدْلَجُand a nocturnal route
إِلى بابِهِ لِلْوَفْدِ مَسْرىً وَمَدْلَجُ
So, but for the sons of al-Sufi, no benefactor would be found
If not for the Sufis, the eminent Mufaddal
to whose door deputations journey and make their way by night.
Would have nowhere to go, no thresholds to grace.
وَلِلسَّيِّدِand for the lord الْمَأْمُولِlooked to with hope فِيهِمْamong them مَكارِمٌnoble gifts
وَلِلسَّيِّدِ الْمَأْمُولِ فِيهِمْ مَكارِمٌ
تُساحُare poured forth بِأرْزاقِwith the sustenance الْعُفاةِof petitioners وَتُمْزَجُand are mingled
تُساحُ بِأرْزاقِ الْعُفاةِ وَتُمْزَجُ
And the lord among them, on whom hope is set, has noble gifts,
For their master hoped for is magnanimity,
poured forth and mingled with the sustenance of petitioners.
With which they feed and endow the impoverished race.
لَعَمْرِيby my life لَقَدْindeed سادَbecame lord of الْكِرامَthe noble وَبَذَّهُمْand surpassed them
لَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ سادَ الْكِرامَ وَبَذَّهُمْ
أَغَرُّillustrious صَقِيلُpolished الْعِرْضِin honor أَزْهَرُradiant أَبْلَجُbright-faced
أَغَرُّ صَقِيلُ الْعِرْضِ أَزْهَرُ أَبْلَجُ
By my life, he has become lord of the noble and surpassed them:
Indeed, the vile have conquered the noble souls,
an illustrious man, polished in honor, radiant and bright-faced.
The smooth-tongued knave, the showy and loud disgrace.
حَطَطْناwe set down رِحالَthe saddles الْعِيسِof pale camels فِيin ظِلِّthe shade جُودِهِof his generosity
حَطَطْنا رِحالَ الْعِيسِ فِي ظِلِّ جُودِهِ
إِلىto خَيْرِthe best مَنْthose whom تُحْدىare driven with song إِلَيْهِto him وَتُحْدَجُand are saddled
إِلى خَيْرِ مَنْ تُحْدى إِلَيْهِ وَتُحْدَجُ
We set down the pale camels' saddles in the shade of his generosity,
We pitched out tent in the shade of his generosity,
to the best man to whom camels are driven with song and for whom they are saddled.
The best of all men, if you compare or contrast.
خَصيبُfertile مَرادِpasture الْخَيْرِof goodness وَالْخَيْرُwhile goodness مُجْدِبٌbarren
خَصيبُ مَرادِ الْخَيْرِ وَالْخَيْرُ مُجْدِبٌ
جَدِيدُnew رِداءِthe robe الفَضْلِof excellence وَالْفَضْلُwhile excellence مُنْهَجُthreadbare
جَدِيدُ رِداءِ الفَضْلِ وَالْفَضْلُ مُنْهَجُ
A fertile pasture for goodness, while goodness is barren,
The oasis of goodness, and goodness is fallow,
his robe of excellence is new, while excellence is threadbare.
The mantle of merit remade, and merit displaced.
أَبَرُّmore beneficent وَأَنْدَىand more generous مِنْthan نَدىthe dew الْمُزْنِof rainclouds راحَةًof palm
أَبَرُّ وَأَنْدَى مِنْ نَدى الْمُزْنِ راحَةً
وَأَبْهىand more splendid مِنَthan الْبَدْرِthe full moon الْمُنِيرِshining وَأَبْهَجُand more delightful
وَأَبْهى مِنَ الْبَدْرِ الْمُنِيرِ وَأَبْهَجُ
More beneficent and more generous of palm than the rainclouds' dew,
Cooler and brighter than the morning dew,
and more splendid than the shining full moon, more delightful.
More radiant than the glowing full moon’s face.
قَضىhe fulfilled حاجَتِيmy need بِالْجُودِwith generosity حَتّىso that كَأَنَّهُas though he
قَضى حاجَتِي بِالْجُودِ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ
إِلىfor بَذْلِbestowing ماwhat يُسْدِيhe gives مِنَof الْجُودِgenerosity أَحْوَجُmore in need
إِلى بَذْلِ ما يُسْدِي مِنَ الْجُودِ أَحْوَجُ
He fulfilled my need with generosity, so that it seemed
With his munificence, he fulfilled my hopes,
he had the greater need to bestow the bounty he gave.
As though impelled to expend beyond his place.
وَكُنّاand we were إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle رابَناtroubled us الدَّهْرُtime مَرَّةًonce
وَكُنّا إِذا ما رابَنا الدَّهْرُ مَرَّةً
وَلِلدَّهْرِand time has أَحْوالٌstates تَسُوءُgrieve وَتُبْهِجُand gladden
وَلِلدَّهْرِ أَحْوالٌ تَسُوءُ وَتُبْهِجُ
And whenever time troubled us on some occasion—
Whenever time troubled us even once,
and time has states that grieve and gladden—
For time has moods, both foul and fair to the taste.
دَعَوْناwe called upon لَهُagainst it جُودَthe bounty الْوَجِيهِof al-Wajih وَإِنَّماand in fact only
دَعَوْنا لَهُ جُودَ الْوَجِيهِ وَإِنَّما
دَعَوناwe summoned حَياًlife-giving rain أَوْor وابِلاًa downpour يَتَثَجَّجُgushes forth
دَعَونا حَياً أَوْ وابِلاً يَتَثَجَّجُ
we called upon al-Wajih's bounty against it, but in truth
We would call upon his exalted generosity,
we summoned life-giving rain, or a gushing downpour.
As if calling clouds, heavy laden to unlace.
وَكَمْand how often قَطَعَتْcut فِيناinto us اللَّيالِيthe nights وَغالَناand assailed us
وَكَمْ قَطَعَتْ فِينا اللَّيالِي وَغالَنا
لَهاof theirs مُقْلِقٌsomething unsettling مِنْfrom فادِحِgrievous الْخَطْبِcalamity مُزْعِجُdisturbing
لَها مُقْلِقٌ مِنْ فادِحِ الْخَطْبِ مُزْعِجُ
And how often the nights have cut into us, and assailed us
A youth whose hopes the slightest comfort sate,
with their unsettling, harrowing weight of calamity!
And who drowns in his bounty those who never debase.
فَذادَso warded off أَبُوfather of الذَوّادِal-Dhawwad عَنّاfrom us صُرُوفَهاtheir vicissitudes
فَذادَ أَبُو الذَوّادِ عَنّا صُرُوفَها
وَفَرَّجَand dispelled غَمّاءَthe crushing gloom الْخُطُوبِof calamities الْمُفَرِّجُal-Mufarrij
وَفَرَّجَ غَمّاءَ الْخُطُوبِ الْمُفَرِّجُ
So Abu al-Dhawwad warded off their vicissitudes from us,
A youth who was always the crown of glory,
and al-Mufarrij dispelled the crushing gloom of calamities.
When the glorious with pride are laced.
فَتىًa young man يَسَعُencompasses الآمالَthe hopes أَدْنىthe slightest ارْتِياحِهِhis impulse to give
فَتىً يَسَعُ الآمالَ أَدْنى ارْتِياحِهِ
وَيَغْرَقُand drowns فِيin نُعْماهُhis bounty مَنْone who لاnot يُلَجِّجُventures into deep water
وَيَغْرَقُ فِي نُعْماهُ مَنْ لا يُلَجِّجُ
A young man whose slightest impulse to give encompasses hopes,
The rain of his palms has sufficed me,
and even one who never ventures into deep water drowns in his bounty.
Behind assemblies where words and deeds displace.
فَتىًa young man لَمْnot يَزَلْceased لِلْمَجْدِfor glory تاجاًa crown وَمَفْخَراًand a source of pride
فَتىً لَمْ يَزَلْ لِلْمَجْدِ تاجاً وَمَفْخَراً
إِذاwhen ماجِدٌa noble man بِالْفَخْرِwith renown أَمْسىcomes to be يُتَوَّجُis crowned
إِذا ماجِدٌ بِالْفَخْرِ أَمْسى يُتَوَّجُ
A young man who has ever been glory's crown and pride,
I turned to their munificence, no longer craving
when a noble man comes to be crowned with renown.
A miser’s fare overcooked till the morn’s first rays.
كَفانِيspared me نَدىthe bounty كَفَّيْهِof his two palms خُلْفَthe breaking مَواعِدٍof promises
كَفانِي نَدى كَفَّيْهِ خُلْفَ مَواعِدٍ
بِهاin them يَسْتَقِيمُis straight الْقَوْلُspeech وَالْفِعْلُwhile action أَعْوَجُcrooked
بِها يَسْتَقِيمُ الْقَوْلُ وَالْفِعْلُ أَعْوَجُ
The bounty of his two palms spared me broken promises,
I swear you have granted me such a boon,
in which speech is straight but action crooked.
That gratitude is tempted and praises race.
وَأَغْنىand made me independent عَنِof الْبُخّالِthe misers راجَعْتُI sought again جُودَهُمْtheir bounty
وَأَغْنى عَنِ الْبُخّالِ راجَعْتُ جُودَهُمْ
فَلَمْbut not أَرَI saw جُلْمُوداًa boulder عَلَىthrough الطَّبْخِcooking يَنْضَجُgrow tender
فَلَمْ أَرَ جُلْمُوداً عَلَى الطَّبْخِ يَنْضَجُ
And freed me from need of misers; I had sought their bounty,
Better than you, was the benefactor before,
but never saw a boulder grow tender through cooking.
From whom glory will never efface.
حَلَفْتُI swore لَقَدْindeed أَوْلَيْتَنِيyou bestowed on me مِنْكَfrom you نِعْمَةًa blessing
حَلَفْتُ لَقَدْ أَوْلَيْتَنِي مِنْكَ نِعْمَةً
بِهاthrough it الشُّكْرُgratitude يُغْرىis stirred وَالْمَحامِدُand praises تَلْهَجُsound unceasingly
بِها الشُّكْرُ يُغْرى وَالْمَحامِدُ تَلْهَجُ
I swear: you have indeed bestowed upon me a blessing from yourself,
Your father who continues to welcome with open arms,
through which gratitude is stirred and praises sound unceasingly.
Until the times feel straitened in their space.
وَأَحْسَنَand was kind بِيto me مِنْfrom قَبْلِكَbefore you الْحَسَنُal-Hasan الَّذِيwho
وَأَحْسَنَ بِي مِنْ قَبْلِكَ الْحَسَنُ الَّذِي
تَوَلىdeparted وَماand not لِلْمَجْدِfor glory عَنْهُaway from him مُعَرَّجُa turning aside
تَوَلى وَما لِلْمَجْدِ عَنْهُ مُعَرَّجُ
And before you al-Hasan was kind to me, he who
He built you a lofty house on pillars raised,
has departed, though glory has no turning away from him.
That the stars themselves climb and pace.
أَبُوكَyour father الَّذِيwho ماnot زالَceased يَرْحَبُis expansive هِمَّةًin aspiration
أَبُوكَ الَّذِي ما زالَ يَرْحَبُ هِمَّةً
يَضِيقُgrows narrow بِهاby it صَدْرُthe breast الزَّمانِof time وَيَحْرَجُand is constrained
يَضِيقُ بِها صَدْرُ الزَّمانِ وَيَحْرَجُ
Your father, ever vast in aspiration,
Its shade doesn’t stint the seeker of shade,
before which time's breast grows narrow and constrained.
Nor does its door bar the seeker of grace.
بَنىhe built لَكُمُfor you all بَيْتاًa house رَفِيعاًlofty عِمادُهُits pillar
بَنى لَكُمُ بَيْتاً رَفِيعاً عِمادُهُ
تَرَقَّىclimb إِلَيْهِto it النَّيِّراتُthe heavenly lights وَتَعْرُجُand ascend
تَرَقَّى إِلَيْهِ النَّيِّراتُ وَتَعْرُجُ
He built for you all a house whose pillar stands high,
Despite the foe, it came to be yours by right,
to which the heavenly lights climb and ascend.
A truth from which none deviate or displace.
فَلاso not ظِلُّهُits shade عَنْfor مُسْتَظِلٍّone seeking shade بِقاصِرٍat all insufficient
فَلا ظِلُّهُ عَنْ مُسْتَظِلٍّ بِقاصِرٍ
وَلاnor بابُهُits door عَنْagainst مُرْتجِيone hoping for الْخَيْرِgoodness مُرْتَجُbarred
وَلا بابُهُ عَنْ مُرْتجِي الْخَيْرِ مُرْتَجُ
So its shade is never too scant for anyone seeking shelter,
Though difficult it was, your back remained unbowed,
nor is its door barred to one who hopes for good.
For you rise above such things with poise and grace.
بِرُغْمِto the chagrin of الْعِدىthe foes أَنْthat بِتَّyou became وارِثَheir to مَجْدِهِhis glory
بِرُغْمِ الْعِدى أَنْ بِتَّ وارِثَ مَجْدِهِ
وَذلِكَand that حَقٌّa right لَمْnot تَكُنْyou were عَنْهُfrom it تُفْرجُkept away
وَذلِكَ حَقٌّ لَمْ تَكُنْ عَنْهُ تُفْرجُ
To the foes' chagrin, you have become the heir to his glory,
You continue to scale the shoulder of resolve victorious,
and that is a right from which you could not be kept.
Curbing with wisdom fine, and spurring the race.
وَماand not هِيَit إِلاّexcept صَعْبَةٌa restive mount عَزَّdefied mastery ظَهْرُهاits back
وَما هِيَ إِلاّ صَعْبَةٌ عَزَّ ظَهْرُها
وَأَنْتَand you عَلَىupon أَمْثالِهاthe likes of it تَتَفَحَّجُsit astride
وَأَنْتَ عَلَى أَمْثالِها تَتَفَحَّجُ
And it is but a restive mount whose back is hard to master,
You surpass the times in glory and brilliance,
yet you sit astride the likes of it.
Like the dawn gleaming through the gloom’s dark glaze.
وَماand not زِلْتَyou ceased تَعْلُوyou mount مَنْكِبَthe shoulder الْعَزْمِof resolve ظافِراًvictorious
وَما زِلْتَ تَعْلُو مَنْكِبَ الْعَزْمِ ظافِراً
وَتُلْجِمُand you bridle بِالْحَزْمِwith prudence الْحَمِيدِpraiseworthy وَتُسْرِجُand you saddle
وَتُلْجِمُ بِالْحَزْمِ الْحَمِيدِ وَتُسْرِجُ
And you have always mounted resolve's shoulder in triumph,
You are ennobled while these days are ignoble,
and you bridle and saddle it with praiseworthy prudence.
You are sincere while the people are worthless and base.
تَزِيدُyou increase عَلَىdespite وَعْكِthe fever الزَّمانِof time نَباهَةًin eminence
تَزِيدُ عَلَى وَعْكِ الزَّمانِ نَباهَةً
كَأَنَّكَas though you were صُبْحٌdawn فِيamid دُجىًdarkness يَتَبَلَّجُbreaks brightly
كَأَنَّكَ صُبْحٌ فِي دُجىً يَتَبَلَّجُ
You grow in eminence despite the fever of time,
The resolves of the lofty one are envied,
as though you were dawn breaking brightly amid darkness.
As if they were racers swift, enflamed in their pace.
تُشَرَّفُyou are exalted وَالأَيّامُwhile the days فِيهاin them دَناءَةٌbaseness
تُشَرَّفُ وَالأَيّامُ فِيها دَناءَةٌ
وَتَخْلَصُand you are pure وَالأَقْوامُwhile people زَيْفٌcounterfeit coin وَبَهْرَجُand worthless coin
وَتَخْلَصُ وَالأَقْوامُ زَيْفٌ وَبَهْرَجُ
You are exalted, while the days are full of baseness,
Temperaments that conquer tribulations,
and you remain pure, while men are counterfeit and worthless coin.
As if they gored with the blood of needy disgrace.
عَزائِمُthe resolves مَحْسُودِof one envied for الْمَعالِيhigh attainments كَأَنَّهاas though they were
عَزائِمُ مَحْسُودِ الْمَعالِي كَأَنَّها
سَوابِقُswift steeds تَرْدِيgallop بِالْكُماةِwith armored warriors وَتَمْعَجُand race onward
سَوابِقُ تَرْدِي بِالْكُماةِ وَتَمْعَجُ
The resolves of one envied for his high attainments are like
They came to you with the musk of praise,
swift steeds galloping with armored champions and racing onward.
As though its fragrance was lifted by your renown’s grace.
خَلائِقُcharacter traits تَجْتاحُsweep away الْخَطُوبَcalamities كَأَنَّهاas though they were
خَلائِقُ تَجْتاحُ الْخَطُوبَ كَأَنَّها
ظُبىًsword-edges بِدَمِwith the blood الْفَقْرِof poverty الْمُضِرِّharmful تُضَرَّجُare stained
ظُبىً بِدَمِ الْفَقْرِ الْمُضِرِّ تُضَرَّجُ
Character traits that sweep away calamities, as though they were
With strands of pearls, unparalleled in their worth,
sword-edges stained with the blood of harmful poverty.
Their value beyond what is threaded or laced.
أَتَتْكَshe came to you بِمِسْكِيِّwith musk-scented الثَّناءِpraise كَأَنَّماas though
أَتَتْكَ بِمِسْكِيِّ الثَّناءِ كَأَنَّما
أَطابَsweetened شَذاهاher scent عِرْضُكَyour honor الْمُتَأَرِّجُfragrant
أَطابَ شَذاها عِرْضُكَ الْمُتَأَرِّجُ
She has come to you bearing musk-scented praise, as though
Veiled, until you came, no eyes could discern
your fragrant honor had sweetened her scent.
Victory in them, as beauty hides her face.
لَهاshe has مِنْof نِظامِstrings الدُّرِّof pearls ماthat which جَلَّis exalted قَدْرُهُits worth
لَها مِنْ نِظامِ الدُّرِّ ما جَلَّ قَدْرُهُ
وَقِيمَتُهُand its value لاnot ماwhat يُحاكُis woven وَيُنْسَجُand is interlaced
وَقِيمَتُهُ لا ما يُحاكُ وَيُنْسَجُ
She has strings of pearls of exalted worth
Any praise besides yours, its worth however high,
and value—not what is woven and interlaced.
If it adorns people, is mere wish and disgrace.
مُحَجَّبَةٌveiled لَوْلاكَbut for you لَمْnot يَحْوِwould attain ناظِرٌa beholder
مُحَجَّبَةٌ لَوْلاكَ لَمْ يَحْوِ ناظِرٌ
بِهاthrough her الْفَوْزَsuccess وَالْحَسْناءُand the fair one لاnot تَتَبَرَّجُdisplays herself
بِها الْفَوْزَ وَالْحَسْناءُ لا تَتَبَرَّجُ
She is veiled: but for you, no beholder would attain
In you I see the promise of hopes,
success through her; the fair one does not display herself.
Which are naught but fantasies soon displaced.
وَكُلُّand every ثَناءٍpraise دُونَbelow قَدْرِكَyour worth قَدْرُهُits worth
وَكُلُّ ثَناءٍ دُونَ قَدْرِكَ قَدْرُهُ
وَإِنْand even if زانَadorns قَوْماًsome men وَشْيُهُits embroidery والْمُدَبَّجُand brocade
وَإِنْ زانَ قَوْماً وَشْيُهُ والْمُدَبَّجُ
And all praise has a worth beneath your own,
May God water the beauty of good thoughts of you,
even if its embroidery and brocade adorn some men.
For it is the path to fortune and its embrace.
أَرىI see فِيكَin you لِلآمالِfor hopes وَعْدَthe promise مَخِيلَةٍof a promising raincloud
أَرى فِيكَ لِلآمالِ وَعْدَ مَخِيلَةٍ
وَماand not هِيَthey إِلاّexcept مُقْبِبٌa pregnant she-camel سَوْفَwill تُنْتَجُgive birth
وَما هِيَ إِلاّ مُقْبِبٌ سَوْفَ تُنْتَجُ
I see in you, for hopes, a raincloud's promise,
Of your munificence, the miserly is stingy,
and they are but a pregnant she-camel that will give birth.
And the best deed seems flawed in its place.
سَقىmay water اللهُGod حُسْنَthe goodness الظَّنِّof opinion فِيكَof you فَإِنَّهُfor indeed it
سَقى اللهُ حُسْنَ الظَّنِّ فِيكَ فَإِنَّهُ
طَرِيقٌa path إِلىto الْغُنْمِgain الْكَرِيمِnoble وَمَنْهَجُand a clear road
طَرِيقٌ إِلى الْغُنْمِ الْكَرِيمِ وَمَنْهَجُ
May God water the good opinion held of you, for it is
a path to noble gain and a clear road.
فَأَسْمَحُfor the most generous خَلْقٍof creatures عِنْدَbeside جُودِكَyour generosity باخِلٌa miser
فَأَسْمَحُ خَلْقٍ عِنْدَ جُودِكَ باخِلٌ
وَأَحْسَنُand the finest فِعْلٍdeed عِنْدَbeside فِعْلِكَyour deed يَسْمُجُlooks ugly
وَأَحْسَنُ فِعْلٍ عِنْدَ فِعْلِكَ يَسْمُجُ
For the most generous of creatures is a miser beside your bounty,
and the finest deed looks ugly beside yours.
Partial English translation: 80 of 84 Arabic lines translated.