أَلَمْwere you not تَكُyou were لِلْمُلُوكِfor the kings الْغُرِّillustrious تاجاa crown
أَلَمْ تَكُ لِلْمُلُوكِ الْغُرِّ تاجا
وَلِلدُّنْياand for the world وَعالَمِهاand its inhabitants سِراجاa lamp
وَلِلدُّنْيا وَعالَمِها سِراجا
Were you not a crown for illustrious kings,
Were you not a crown for the virtuous kings,
and a lamp for the world and its inhabitants?
And a lamp for the world and its affairs?
أَلَمْdid you not تَحْلُلْyou dwell ذُرىthe heights of الْمَجْدِglory الْتِهاماًavidly
أَلَمْ تَحْلُلْ ذُرى الْمَجْدِ الْتِهاماً
بِغاياتِfor the utmost reaches of الْمَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالْتِهاجاand delighting
بِغاياتِ الْمَكارِمِ وَالْتِهاجا
Did you not dwell on glory's heights, avid
Did you not eagerly pursue the particles of glory
for the utmost noble deeds and delighting in them?
With the most noble and joyous of goals?
لَقَدْindeed شَرُفَwas ennobled الزَّمانُtime بِكَby you افْتِخاراًin pride
لَقَدْ شَرُفَ الزَّمانُ بِكَ افْتِخاراً
كَماjust as سَعِدَbecame happy الأَنامُmankind بِكَthrough you ابْتِهاجاًin rejoicing
كَما سَعِدَ الأَنامُ بِكَ ابْتِهاجاً
Indeed, time was ennobled by you in pride,
The era was ennobled by your pride,
as mankind found happiness in you, rejoicing.
Just as people rejoiced in your joy.
رَأَوْاthey saw مَلِكاًa king أَنامِلُهُhis fingertips بِحارٌseas
رَأَوْا مَلِكاً أَنامِلُهُ بِحارٌ
مَنَof الْمَعْروفِkindness تَلْتَجُّsurge الْتِجاجاwith surging
مَنَ الْمَعْروفِ تَلْتَجُّ الْتِجاجا
They saw a king whose fingertips were seas
They saw a king whose acts were seas
of kindness, surging wave on wave.
Of benevolence overflowing with generosity.
حَقِيقاًworthy أَنْthat يُجابَbe cut عَلَىthrough اللَّيالِيthe nights
حَقِيقاً أَنْ يُجابَ عَلَى اللَّيالِي
بِهِfor him ثَوْبُa robe of الثُّناءِpraise وَأَنْand that يُساجاbe woven
بِهِ ثَوْبُ الثُّناءِ وَأَنْ يُساجا
worthy that, through the nights, there be cut
It is truly right to reciprocate these nights
for him a robe of praise, and woven.
With the garment of praise and felicity.
يَكادُalmost الْغَيْثُrain يُشْبِهُهُresembles him سَماحاًin generosity
يَكادُ الْغَيْثُ يُشْبِهُهُ سَماحاً
إِذاwhen انْهَلَّit pours down انْسِفاحاًin spilling وَانْثِجاجاand gushing
إِذا انْهَلَّ انْسِفاحاً وَانْثِجاجا
Rain almost resembles him in generosity
The rain resembles you in its generosity
when it pours down, spilling and gushing.
When it pours forth copiously with abundance.
أَغَرُّa radiant nobleman يهِيجُarouses طِيبُthe sweetness of الذِّكْرِremembrance مِنْهُof him
أَغَرُّ يهِيجُ طِيبُ الذِّكْرِ مِنْهُ
هَوىًlonging بِرَجائِهِthrough hope in him ماnot كانَhad هاجاstirred
هَوىً بِرَجائِهِ ما كانَ هاجا
A radiant nobleman, whose sweet renown stirs
The most fragrant aroma stirs up passionate love,
a longing, through hope in him, that had not stirred.
And yearning hearts that long for you.
تَبِيتُspend the night رِكابُناour riding camels ماwhile يَمَّمَتْهُthey head toward him
تَبِيتُ رِكابُنا ما يَمَّمَتْهُ
تُخالِجُناwrestling with us أَزِمَّتَهاtheir reins خِلاجاwith tugging
تُخالِجُنا أَزِمَّتَها خِلاجا
Our riding camels spend the night, while bound for him,
My stead mounts the saddle at night
wrestling with us for their reins, tug after tug.
As anxieties churn within me.
كأَنَّas though الْعِيسَthe pale camels خابِرَةٌknow إِلىtoward مَنْwhom
كأَنَّ الْعِيسَ خابِرَةٌ إِلى مَنْ
بِناcarrying us تَطْوِيthey fold away الْمَخارِمَthe mountain passes وَالْفِجاجاand broad roads
بِنا تَطْوِي الْمَخارِمَ وَالْفِجاجا
As though the pale camels knew toward whom
It is as if the stallion gallops towards one
they carry us, folding away mountain passes and broad roads.
Who traverses the rugged terrain and clefts.
كَأَنَّas though الْفَوْزَthe attainment بِالآمالِof hopes تُمْسِيthey journey at evening
كَأَنَّ الْفَوْزَ بِالآمالِ تُمْسِي
إِلَيْهِtoward him النَّاجِياتُthe swift camels بِهِof it تُناجاare whispered to
إِلَيْهِ النَّاجِياتُ بِهِ تُناجا
As though, at evening, the fulfillment of hopes
As if attaining hopes leads those who call to you
were whispered to the swift camels journeying to him.
At night to privately confide in you.
مَلِيٌّcapable حِينَwhen يُنْذَرُhe is warned بِالأَعادِيof enemies
مَلِيٌّ حِينَ يُنْذَرُ بِالأَعادِي
وَأَمضىand the most resolute الْعالَمِينَof all people إِذاwhen يفاجاhe is caught unawares
وَأَمضى الْعالَمِينَ إِذا يفاجا
Capable when warned of enemies,
A formidable king when threatened by enemies,
and the most resolute of men when caught unawares.
And the firmest of all when embroiled in fury,
يَرُوحُhe goes forth وَخَيْلُهُand his horses تَخْتالُstrut تِيهاًin pride
يَرُوحُ وَخَيْلُهُ تَخْتالُ تِيهاً
بِأَشْجَعِbearing the bravest مَنْof those who بِهاupon them شَهِدَfaced الْهِياجاbattle
بِأَشْجَعِ مَنْ بِها شَهِدَ الْهِياجا
He goes forth, his horses strutting in pride
His horsemen roam confusedly
with the bravest rider ever to face battle upon them.
With the bravest who witnessed the battles.
وَماand not الْمِسْكُmusk السَّحِيقُfinely powdered إِذاwhen امْتَطاهاhe mounts them
وَما الْمِسْكُ السَّحِيقُ إِذا امْتَطاها
بِأَهْلٍworthy أَنْto يَكُونَbe لهَاfor them عَجاجاswirling dust
بِأَهْلٍ أَنْ يَكُونَ لهَا عَجاجا
Not even powdered musk, when he mounts them,
Pure musk is not befitting when carried
is worthy to be the dust they raise.
By the unworthy; it would be adulterated.
يَطُولُstands proud بِهاthrough them الثَّرىthe earth إِنْif صافَحَتْهُthey shake its hand
يَطُولُ بِها الثَّرى إِنْ صافَحَتْهُ
وَإِنْand if سَلَكَتْthey travel بِهِacross it سُبُلاًroads فِجاجاbroad
وَإِنْ سَلَكَتْ بِهِ سُبُلاً فِجاجا
The earth stands proud through them when they shake its hand,
The ground is lengthened when it meets him,
and when they travel broad roads across it.
And the roads expanded wherever he travels.
كَأَنَّas though بِسَهْلِهِin its plains وَالْحَزْنِand rugged ground مِنْهاfrom them
كَأَنَّ بِسَهْلِهِ وَالْحَزْنِ مِنْها
عِضاضاًbite marks لِلسَّنابِكِfrom the hooves أَوْor شِجاجاgashes
عِضاضاً لِلسَّنابِكِ أَوْ شِجاجا
As though, in its plains and rugged ground, they left
It is as if his plains and sorrows
bites from their hooves, or gashes.
Are like windows or perforated coverings.
مَدَدْتَyou extended إِلىtoward اقْتِناءِacquiring الْحَمْدِpraise كَفَّاًa hand
مَدَدْتَ إِلى اقْتِناءِ الْحَمْدِ كَفَّاً
طِمىoverflowed بَحْرُthe sea of السَّماحِgenerosity بِهاthrough it وَماجاand surged
طِمى بَحْرُ السَّماحِ بِها وَماجا
You stretched out a hand to acquire praise;
You have extended your hand to gain praise
through it the sea of generosity overflowed and surged.
While the sea of generosity has ebbed.
وَغادَرْتَand you left الْعَوالِيَthe tall spears بِالْمَعالِيabout lofty honors
وَغادَرْتَ الْعَوالِيَ بِالْمَعالِي
كَخِيسِlike the thicket of اللَّيْثِthe lion عَزَّwas difficult بِهِinto it وِلاجاentry
كَخِيسِ اللَّيْثِ عَزَّ بِهِ وِلاجا
And you set the tall spears about lofty honors,
You have abandoned vanity for noble deeds
like a lion's thicket, hard to enter.
As a despised lion still garners might.
وَأَنْتَand you جَعَلْتَmade بَيْنَهُماbetween the two انْتِساباًa kinship
وَأَنْتَ جَعَلْتَ بَيْنَهُما انْتِساباً
بِماthrough what آلىvowed إِباؤُكَyour proud defiance وَانْتِساجاand an interweaving
بِما آلى إِباؤُكَ وَانْتِساجا
And you forged a kinship between the two,
You have made a lineage between them
and an interweaving, through the oath your proud spirit swore.
Through what your forefathers established.
ضَرَبْتَyou built مِنَfrom الظُّبىsword-edges سُوراًa wall عَلَيْهاaround them
ضَرَبْتَ مِنَ الظُّبى سُوراً عَلَيْها
وَمِنْand from شَوْكِthe thorns of الرِّماحِspears لَهاfor them سِياجاa fence
وَمِنْ شَوْكِ الرِّماحِ لَها سِياجا
You built a wall of sword-edges around them,
You have made impregnable walls against calamities
and a fence for them from the thorns of spears.
And a fence of spear thorns around them.
وَلَمْand never تَقْنُyou acquired الْقَناspears يَوْماًever لِتَقْضِيto fulfill
وَلَمْ تَقْنُ الْقَنا يَوْماً لِتَقْضِي
بَغِيْرِwith other than صُدُورِهاtheir points لِلْمَجْدِfor glory حاجاneeds
بَغِيْرِ صُدُورِها لِلْمَجْدِ حاجا
You never acquired spears intending to fulfill
You have never sheathed a sword to attain glory
glory's needs with anything but their points.
Except by boldly drawing it forth.
وَلَوْلاand were it not for الطَّعْنُthrusting فِيin الْهَيْجاءِbattle شَزْراًobliquely
وَلَوْلا الطَّعْنُ فِي الْهَيْجاءِ شَزْراً
لَماwould not فَضَلَتْhave surpassed أَسِنَّتُهاtheir spearheads الزِّجاجاthe spear-butt ferrules
لَما فَضَلَتْ أَسِنَّتُها الزِّجاجا
Were it not for oblique thrusts in battle,
If not for the piercing sparks of swords
their spearheads would not surpass the butt-ferrules.
Their blades would not have been so sharpened.
إِذاwhen داءٌan illness مِنَfrom الأَيّامِthe days أَعْياdefies
إِذا داءٌ مِنَ الأَيّامِ أَعْيا
عَلَىthrough الأَيّامِthe days طِبَّاًmedicine أَوْor عِلاجاtreatment
عَلَى الأَيّامِ طِبَّاً أَوْ عِلاجا
When an illness wrought by the days resists
When the days brought an illness,
medicine or treatment through the passing days,
You prepared a remedy or cure for them.
أَعَدْتَyou renewed لَهُfor it بِبِيضِwith the bright swords of الهِنْدِIndia كَيَّاًcautery
أَعَدْتَ لَهُ بِبِيضِ الهِنْدِ كَيَّاً
وَأَشْفىand the most healing الْكَيَّcautery أَبْلَغُهُits most thorough نِضاجاin searing
وَأَشْفى الْكَيَّ أَبْلَغُهُ نِضاجا
you renew its cautery with India's bright swords;
You made healing poultices of eggs
the most healing cautery is that which burns most thoroughly.
And the ripest cure is the most potent.
وَكَمْand how many a سَيْلٍtorrent ثَنَيْتَyou turned back بِهاwith them وَمَيْلٍand a deviation
وَكَمْ سَيْلٍ ثَنَيْتَ بِها وَمَيْلٍ
أَقَمْتَyou straightened فَلَمْand did not تَدَعْleave فِيهِin it اعْوِجاجاcrookedness
أَقَمْتَ فَلَمْ تَدَعْ فِيهِ اعْوِجاجا
And how many a torrent you turned back with them, and a deviation
How many torrents have you diverted, and slopes
you straightened, leaving no crookedness in it!
Leveled, leaving no crookedness?
وَقِيلٍand a chieftain قَدْindeed دَلَفْتَyou advanced لَهُagainst him بِخَيْلٍwith horses
وَقِيلٍ قَدْ دَلَفْتَ لَهُ بِخَيْلٍ
كَشُهْبِlike the meteors of الْقَذْفِhurling تَرْتَهِجُstirring up dust ارْتِهاجاin billows
كَشُهْبِ الْقَذْفِ تَرْتَهِجُ ارْتِهاجا
And many a chieftain you advanced upon with horses
How many enemies have you confronted with horses
like hurled meteors, billowing clouds of dust.
Like sparks of flint colliding and scattering?
كَأَنَّas though دَبىًyoung locusts وَرِجْلاًand a swarm مِنْof جَرادٍlocusts
كَأَنَّ دَبىً وَرِجْلاً مِنْ جَرادٍ
بِهاamong them وَالْغابَand the woods يُرْقِلُgallop وَالْحِراجاand the thickets
بِها وَالْغابَ يُرْقِلُ وَالْحِراجا
As though young locusts and a swarm of locusts
It is as if there are locusts swarming
and woods and thickets galloped among them.
Making the thorns and bushes rustle.
عَصَفْنَthey stormed بِعِزِّهِagainst his might وَضَرَبْنَand struck منْهُfrom him
عَصَفْنَ بِعِزِّهِ وَضَرَبْنَ منْهُ
مَعَalong with الهامِthe heads الْمَعاقِدَthe joints وَالْوِداجاand jugular veins
مَعَ الهامِ الْمَعاقِدَ وَالْوِداجا
They swept away his might and struck from him
They have ravaged his glory and struck
heads, joints, and jugular veins together.
The tightly-knotted alliances.
وَكُنْتَand you were إِذاwhen عَلَوْتَyou mounted مَطاthe back of جَوادٍa steed
وَكُنْتَ إِذا عَلَوْتَ مَطا جَوادٍ
مَلأْتَyou filled الأَرْضَthe earth أَمْناًwith safety وانْزِعاجاand alarm
مَلأْتَ الأَرْضَ أَمْناً وانْزِعاجا
And whenever you mounted a steed's back,
When you rode the backs of noble steeds,
you filled the earth with safety and alarm.
You filled the land with safety and tremors.
وَكَمْand how many أَحْصَدْتَyou made firm مِنْof عَقْدٍa covenant لِجارٍfor a neighbor
وَكَمْ أَحْصَدْتَ مِنْ عَقْدٍ لِجارٍ
وَلاand no كَرَباًbucket head-rope شَدَدْتَyou tied وَلاnor عِناجاbucket bottom-rope
وَلا كَرَباً شَدَدْتَ وَلا عِناجا
And how many a covenant you made firm for a neighbor,
How many have you liberated from the shackles of neighbors,
yet tied neither a bucket's head-rope nor its bottom-rope!
Without tightening or unbinding a knot?
إِذاwhen باتَتْpassed the night لأبناءٍfor sons عِظامٍmighty
إِذا باتَتْ لأبناءٍ عِظامٍ
بَناتُthe daughters of الصَّدْرِthe breast تَعْتَلِجُwrestled اعْتِلاجاfiercely
بَناتُ الصَّدْرِ تَعْتَلِجُ اعْتِلاجا
When, through the night, for mighty sons,
When the noble ladies are sleepless at night
the daughters of the breast wrestled fiercely.
With breasts churning restlessly,
جَزاكَmay he reward you اللهُGod نَصْراًwith victory عَنْfor مَساعٍendeavors
جَزاكَ اللهُ نَصْراً عَنْ مَساعٍ
حَمَيْنَthey protected الدِّينَthe faith عِزّاًwith might أَنْfrom being يُهاجاassailed
حَمَيْنَ الدِّينَ عِزّاً أَنْ يُهاجا
May God reward you with victory for endeavors
May God reward you with victory over exertions
that guarded the faith in might against assault.
To preserve the dignity of the faith.
فَلَمْthus not تَكُyou were إِذْwhen تَمُورُheaved الأَرْضُthe earth مَوْراًviolently
فَلَمْ تَكُ إِذْ تَمُورُ الأَرْضُ مَوْراً
وَتَرْتَجُّand shook الْجِبالُthe mountains بِهاupon it ارْتِجاجاviolently
وَتَرْتَجُّ الْجِبالُ بِها ارْتِجاجا
Thus you were, when the earth heaved mightily
So you have not been, when the earth quakes,
and the mountains shook violently upon it,
And mountains tremble and shake,
لِثَغْرِfor the breach of مَخُوفَةٍdanger إِلاّexcept سِداداًa barrier
لِثَغْرِ مَخُوفَةٍ إِلاّ سِداداً
وَبابِand for the door of مُلِمَّةٍcalamity إِلاّexcept رِتاجاa barred gate
وَبابِ مُلِمَّةٍ إِلاّ رِتاجا
nothing but a barrier sealing danger's breach,
Like a fearful gap, except a barrier,
and a barred gate at calamity's door.
And a closed door, except its bolt.
وَلَمْand never تَضِقِclosed in الْخُطُوبُcalamities السُّودُthe black إِلاexcept that
وَلَمْ تَضِقِ الْخُطُوبُ السُّودُ إِلا
جَعَلْناwe made مِنْfrom نَداكَyour bounty لَهاfor them انْفِراجاan opening
جَعَلْنا مِنْ نَداكَ لَها انْفِراجا
No black calamities ever closed in
Adversities' darkness did not narrow
but we made from your bounty an opening through them.
Except that your aid made an opening for us.
كَفىsuffices for ظُلَمَthe darknesses of النَّوائِبِcalamities واللَّيالِيand nights
كَفى ظُلَمَ النَّوائِبِ واللَّيالِي
بِبَهْجَتِكَthrough your splendor انْحِساراًretreat وَانْبِلاجاand daybreak
بِبَهْجَتِكَ انْحِساراً وَانْبِلاجا
The darkness of calamities and nights needs only
Your joy diminishing gloom and nights
your splendor to recede and give way to dawn.
Is enough, like the unveiling of dawn.
وَحَسْبُand sufficient for الْعِيدِthe feast عِيدٌa feast مِنْكَfrom you يَحْظىit gains favor
وَحَسْبُ الْعِيدِ عِيدٌ مِنْكَ يَحْظى
بِهِwith it ماwhenever عادَit returns مُرْتَقِباًexpectant وَعاجاand turns aside
بِهِ ما عادَ مُرْتَقِباً وَعاجا
And enough for the feast is a feast it gains from you,
A feast with you is the only holiday needed,
whenever it returns, expectant, and turns your way.
Not expecting any other celebration.
فَدُمْتَso may you endure لَهُfor it وَلِلنِّعَمِand for the blessings اللَّواتِيwhich
فَدُمْتَ لَهُ وَلِلنِّعَمِ اللَّواتِي
غدَوْتَyou became بِهاthrough them لِرَبِّfor the lord of التَّاجِthe crown تاجاa crown
غدَوْتَ بِها لِرَبِّ التَّاجِ تاجا
So may you endure for it and for the blessings
So may you remain, and your bounties
through which you became a crown to the lord of the crown.
With which you came to your Lord as a crown,
تَجِلُّyou are sublime حِلىًin adornments إِذاwhen ماemphasis الْقَطْرُrain حَلىadorns
تَجِلُّ حِلىً إِذا ما الْقَطْرُ حَلى
بِرَيِّقِهِwith its first pure drops الأَناعِمَal-Anāʿim وَالنَّباجاand al-Nabāj
بِرَيِّقِهِ الأَناعِمَ وَالنَّباجا
You are sublime in adornment when the rain decks
That shine brilliantly when the rain drips
al-Anāʿim and al-Nabāj with its first pure drops.
With its soft droplets and showers.
إِذاif ماemphasis كُنْتَyou are تاجَthe crown of عُلىًglory فَمَنْthen who ذاis it
إِذا ما كُنْتَ تاجَ عُلىً فَمَنْ ذا
يَكُونُcan be لَكَfor you الْجَبِينَthe side of the forehead أَوِor الْحَجاجاthe brow-ridge
يَكُونُ لَكَ الْجَبِينَ أَوِ الْحَجاجا
If you are the crown of glory, who then
If you are a crown above all others, then who
can be your forehead or brow-ridge?
Could be the forehead or the pulpit for you?
إِلَيْكَto you زَفَفْتُI led in bridal procession أَبْكارَthe virgins of الْقَوافِيrhymes
إِلَيْكَ زَفَفْتُ أَبْكارَ الْقَوافِي
وُحاداًsingly كَالْفَرائِدِlike choice pearls أَوْor زَواجاin pairs
وُحاداً كَالْفَرائِدِ أَوْ زَواجا
To you I led the virgin rhymes in bridal procession,
I have presented to you the prime of my poems
singly like choice pearls, or in pairs.
Pristine, like chaste brides or pairs.
سَوامِيlofty الْهَمِّin aspiration لاnot تَعْدُوكَthey go beyond you مَدْحاًin praise
سَوامِي الْهَمِّ لا تَعْدُوكَ مَدْحاً
إِذاwhen اخْتَلَجَtrembles الضَّمِيرُthe inward heart بهاwith them اخْتِلاجاintensely
إِذا اخْتَلَجَ الضَّمِيرُ بها اخْتِلاجا
Lofty in purpose, they never go beyond you in praise,
The summits of my concerns do not transcend you in praise
when the inward heart trembles deeply with them.
When the heart churns with them restlessly.
تَزُورُthey visit عُلاكَyour heights مَرَّاًin passing وانْثِناءًand returning
تَزُورُ عُلاكَ مَرَّاً وانْثِناءً
وَقَصْداًand directly بِالْمَحامِدِwith praises وانْعِراجاand circuitously
وَقَصْداً بِالْمَحامِدِ وانْعِراجا
They visit your heights, passing and turning back,
They visit your ascension time and again
directly with praises, and by winding paths.
With purpose, eulogies, and devotion.
فَكَمْso how many a شادٍsinger لَهاof them طَرِبٍdelighted وَحادٍand a camel-driver
فَكَمْ شادٍ لَها طَرِبٍ وَحادٍ
بهاwith them غَرِدٍmelodious بُكُوراًin early morning وادِّلاجاand in late-night travel
بها غَرِدٍ بُكُوراً وادِّلاجا
How many a joyful singer of them, and a camel-driver
How many have been ecstatic and enraptured by them,
chanting them sweetly, at dawn and late at night!
Singing praises at dawn and twilight!
وَكَمْand how many a راوٍreciter كَأَنَّas though بِفِيهِin his mouth مِنْهاfrom them
وَكَمْ راوٍ كَأَنَّ بِفِيهِ مِنْها
مُجاجَthe spittle of النَّحْلِbees حُبَّhow delightful بِهِit is مُجاجاas spittle
مُجاجَ النَّحْلِ حُبَّ بِهِ مُجاجا
And how many a reciter seems to have in his mouth from them
How many conveyors are as though by them
the spittle of bees—how delightful that spittle!
Is the buzzing of bees dripping with honey!
يَزِيدُgrows بِهاthrough them الشَّجِيُّthe sorrowful شَجىًin sorrow وَبَثّاًand anguish
يَزِيدُ بِها الشَّجِيُّ شَجىً وَبَثّاً
وَيَهْتاجُand is stirred الْخَلِيُّthe carefree بِهاby them اهْتِياجاto passion
وَيَهْتاجُ الْخَلِيُّ بِها اهْتِياجا
Through them the sorrowful grow in sorrow and anguish,
They increase the lover's passion and fervor,
and the carefree are stirred to passion by them.
And the dreamer is frenzied by their rapture.
أَقُولُI speak بِحَقِّas is due to ماwhat تُسْدِيyou confer وَتُولِيand bestow
أَقُولُ بِحَقِّ ما تُسْدِي وَتُولِي
وَلَيْسَand not بِحَقّas befits مَنْone who حابىflatters وَداجاand dissembles
وَلَيْسَ بِحَقّ مَنْ حابى وَداجا
I speak as what you grant and bestow truly deserves,
I say in truth without reserve or bias,
not as one who flatters and dissembles.
Not in the right of one who stubbornly refused.
وَأَنْتَand you أَعَدْتَyou transformed لِيfor me بِيضاًwhite حِساناًbeautiful
وَأَنْتَ أَعَدْتَ لِي بِيضاً حِساناً
لَيالِيَthe nights of دَهْرِيَmy lifetime السُّودَblack السِّماجاugly
لَيالِيَ دَهْرِيَ السُّودَ السِّماجا
And you turned white and lovely for me
You have prepared radiant white nights for me
the black, ugly nights of my life.
To replace my gloomy bleak nights.
أَتَيْتُكَI came to you لَمْnot أَدَعْI left لِلْحَظِّfor fortune عُذْراًan excuse
أَتَيْتُكَ لَمْ أَدَعْ لِلْحَظِّ عُذْراً
إِلَيَّto me وَلاnor عَلَيَّagainst me لَهُfor it احْتِجاجاan argument
إِلَيَّ وَلا عَلَيَّ لَهُ احْتِجاجا
I came to you, leaving fortune no excuse
I came to you without making excuses
to offer me, nor any argument against me.
For fate against me or using it as a plea.
وَلَمْand did not أَجْعَلْكَI make you دُونَrather than الْخَلْقِmankind قَصْدِيmy goal
وَلَمْ أَجْعَلْكَ دُونَ الْخَلْقِ قَصْدِي
لِتَجْعَلَfor you to cause لِيfor me إِلىtoward الْخَلْقِmankind احتِياجاneed
لِتَجْعَلَ لِي إِلى الْخَلْقِ احتِياجا
And I did not choose you, rather than mankind, as my goal
I did not make you my sole pursuit
for you to make me dependent on mankind.
So you would make me need all the people.
أُقِيمُI remain عَلَىin الصَّدىthirst ماso long as لَمْnot يُهَبْa call is made بِيto me
أُقِيمُ عَلَى الصَّدى ما لَمْ يُهَبْ بِي
إِلىto الْوِرْدِthe watering-place الْكَرِيمِnoble وَلَمْand not يُجاجاbe made briny
إِلى الْوِرْدِ الْكَرِيمِ وَلَمْ يُجاجا
I remain thirsty unless I am summoned
I will settle for longing as long as I am not
to a noble watering-place, not made briny.
Deprived of the dear rose and objected to.
فَكَمْso how many جاوَزْتُI passed مِنْof عَذْبٍsweet water زُلالٍclear
فَكَمْ جاوَزْتُ مِنْ عَذْبٍ زُلالٍ
إِلَيْكَtoward you أَعُدُّهُI consider it ملْحاًsalty أُجاجاbitter
إِلَيْكَ أَعُدُّهُ ملْحاً أُجاجا
For how many a sweet, clear water I passed by
How much sweet delicate water have I passed
on my way to you, deeming it salty and bitter!
To reach you, counting it as briny!
إِلىto مَلِكٍa king سَقىgave to drink الإِحْسانَkindness صِرْفاًunmixed
إِلى مَلِكٍ سَقى الإِحْسانَ صِرْفاً
فَلَمْand did not يَذَرِleave الْمِطالَdelay لَهُfor it مِزاجاa mixture
فَلَمْ يَذَرِ الْمِطالَ لَهُ مِزاجا
To a king who served kindness unmixed,
To a king who freely bestowed kindness
and allowed no delay to mingle with it.
Without leaving a remainder or portion.
سَنِيِّsplendid in الْبَذْلِgiving ماnot حَمَلَتْhave carried تَماماًto full term
سَنِيِّ الْبَذْلِ ما حَمَلَتْ تَماماً
مَواعِدُهُhis promises وَلاnor وَضَعَتْgiven birth خِداجاprematurely
مَواعِدُهُ وَلا وَضَعَتْ خِداجا
Splendid in giving: no full-term pregnancy
Of beautiful giving - his promises
have his promises carried, nor have they borne prematurely.
Did not carry unfulfilled, nor any burden.
وَخَيْرُand the best لَقائِحِpregnant she-camels of الْمَعْرُوفِkindness عِنْدَin النَّgener- (fragment)
وَخَيْرُ لَقائِحِ الْمَعْرُوفِ عِنْدَ النَّ
دىosity (completion) ماwhatever كانَis أَسْرَعهاthe quickest of them نَتاجاin giving birth
دى ما كانَ أَسْرَعها نَتاجا
And the best pregnant she-camels of kindness, in gener-
The swiftest requitals for good deeds are
osity, are those quickest to give birth.
With you the finest offspring.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis عاتَبَreproaches الأَيّامَthe days حُرٌّa noble man
إِذا ما عاتَبَ الأَيّامَ حُرٌّ
بِغَيْرِكَthrough anyone but you لَمْnot تَزِدْthey grow إِلاّexcept in لَجاجاobstinacy
بِغَيْرِكَ لَمْ تَزِدْ إِلاّ لَجاجا
When a noble man reproaches the days
When a freeman complains of days
through anyone but you, they only grow more obstinate.
To other than you, it only increases anguish.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.