أَنُورَO light سَنَاءٍof radiance لاَحَshone فِيin مَشْرقِthe east of الْغَرْبِthe West
أَنُورَ سَنَاءٍ لاَحَ فِي مَشْرقِ الْغَرْبِ
وَفَرْعَand branch of اعْتِلاَءٍeminence لاَحَappeared فِيin دَوْحَةِthe tree of الْعُرْبِthe Arabs
وَفَرْعَ اعْتِلاَءٍ لاَحَ فِي دَوْحَةِ الْعُرْبِ
O radiant light that shone in the East of the West,
And lofty branch that appeared on the tree of the Arabs,
وَوَارثَand heir to أَعْلاَمِbanners of الْعُلَىeminence نَشِبَclung النَّدَىgenerosity
وَوَارثَ أَعْلاَمِ الْعُلَى نَشِبَ النَّدَى
وَمُوِقِدَand kindler of نارfire الْبِشْرِgladness فِيin ظُلَمِdarkness of الْكَرْبِdistress
وَمُوِقِدَ نار الْبِشْرِ فِي ظُلَمِ الْكَرْبِ
Heir to the banners of eminence, to whom generosity clings,
And kindler of the fire of gladness amid the darkness of distress.
نَطَقْتَyou spoke فَحُزْتَand so you attained الْحُكْمَthe judgment فَصْلاًdecisively خطَابُهُits utterance
نَطَقْتَ فَحُزْتَ الْحُكْمَ فَصْلاً خطَابُهُ
يُقَلَّبُis turned مِنْfrom وَشْيbrocade of الْبَلاغِةِeloquence فِيin عَصْبِstriped cloth
يُقَلَّبُ مِنْ وَشْي الْبَلاغِةِ فِي عَصْبِ
You spoke and secured the judgment, whose words are decisive,
Turned in the patterned fabric of eloquence.
وَمَنْand who كَأَبِيis like Abu بَكْرٍBakr عَمِيداًas a leader مُؤَمَّلاًhoped in
وَمَنْ كَأَبِي بَكْرٍ عَمِيداً مُؤَمَّلاً
خُلاَصَةَthe choicest of شِعْبِthe branch of الْعِلْمِknowledge نَاهِيكَwhat a fine مِنْof شِعْبِbranch
خُلاَصَةَ شِعْبِ الْعِلْمِ نَاهِيكَ مِنْ شِعْبِ
Who is like Abu Bakr, a leader in whom hopes are placed,
The finest of the branches of knowledge—what a branch!
كَفِيلٌcertain بِنَيْلِto grant الْجُودِgenerosity قَبْلَbefore سُؤَالِهِhis asking
كَفِيلٌ بِنَيْلِ الْجُودِ قَبْلَ سُؤَالِهِ
وَصُولُand reaching إِلَىto الْغَايَاتِthe goals فِيby الْمَرْكَبِthe route الصَّعْبِdifficult
وَصُولُ إِلَى الْغَايَاتِ فِي الْمَرْكَبِ الصَّعْبِ
Certain to grant generosity before he is asked,
Reaching his goals even by the difficult route.
وَأَيُّand what انْسِكَابٍpouring فيin سَحَائِبِthe clouds of كَفِّهِhis hand
وَأَيُّ انْسِكَابٍ في سَحَائِبِ كَفِّهِ
إِذَاwhen كَلِحَتْscowled شَهْبَاءُthe bleak one عَنْfrom نَاجِرِthe height of الْجَدْبِdrought
إِذَا كَلِحَتْ شَهْبَاءُ عَنْ نَاجِرِ الْجَدْبِ
How freely the clouds of his hand pour forth
When the bleak face of drought scowls!
وَأَيُّand what مَضَاءٍresolve فِيin لَطِيفِthe gentleness of طِبَاعِهhis nature
وَأَيُّ مَضَاءٍ فِي لَطِيفِ طِبَاعِه
كَمَاas سَكَنَdwelt التَّصْمِيمُdetermination فِيin ظُبَةِthe edge of الْعَضْبِthe sharp sword
كَمَا سَكَنَ التَّصْمِيمُ فِي ظُبَةِ الْعَضْبِ
And what resolve lies in his gentle nature,
As determination rests in the edge of a sharp sword.
سُلاَلَةُdescendants of أَعْلاَمٍeminent men وَفَرْعُand branch of مَكَارِمِnoble deeds
سُلاَلَةُ أَعْلاَمٍ وَفَرْعُ مَكَارِمِ
بِهِمْaround them فَلَكُthe sphere of الْعَلْيَاءِhigh honor دَارَturned عَلَىupon قُطْبِan axis
بِهِمْ فَلَكُ الْعَلْيَاءِ دَارَ عَلَى قُطْبِ
Descendants of eminent men and branches of noble deeds:
Around them the sphere of high honor turns upon its axis.
عَشَوْاthey turned toward نَحْوَtoward نُورِlight of اللهِGod يَقْتَبِسُوَنَهُto draw from it
عَشَوْا نَحْوَ نُورِ اللهِ يَقْتَبِسُوَنَهُ
وَقَدْand indeed خَرَقُواthey pierced مِنْthrough دُونِهِbefore it ظُلَمَthe darkness of الحجْبِthe veils
وَقَدْ خَرَقُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ ظُلَمَ الحجْبِ
They turned toward God's light to draw from it,
Having pierced the dark veils that stood before it.
حَمَوْاthey kept away حَائِمَthe circling التَّهْوِيمِof drowsiness وِرْدَthe watering place of جُفُونِهمْtheir eyelids
حَمَوْا حَائِمَ التَّهْوِيمِ وِرْدَ جُفُونِهمْ
وَشَدُّواand they fastened وِثَاقَthe bond of السُّهْدِwakefulness فِيin شَرَكِthe snare of الْهُدْبِthe lashes
وَشَدُّوا وِثَاقَ السُّهْدِ فِي شَرَكِ الْهُدْبِ
They kept the circling drift of sleep from watering their eyelids,
And bound wakefulness fast in the snare of their lashes.
أَتَوْاthey came to دَوْحَةَthe tree of التَّحْقِيقِtrue understanding تَدْنُوhang near قُطُوفُهَاits fruits
أَتَوْا دَوْحَةَ التَّحْقِيقِ تَدْنُو قُطُوفُهَا
فَحَازُواand so they gained جَنَاهَاits fruit وَهْيَand it is مَعْرِفَةُknowledge of الَّربِّthe Lord
فَحَازُوا جَنَاهَا وَهْيَ مَعْرِفَةُ الَّربِّ
They came to the tree of true understanding, its fruit hanging near,
And gathered its yield: knowledge of the Lord.
وَهَزُّواand they shook فُرُوعَbranches of الْعِلْمِknowledge وَهْيَand they are بَوَاسِقٌtall
وَهَزُّوا فُرُوعَ الْعِلْمِ وَهْيَ بَوَاسِقٌ
فَلِلهِand by God مَاwhat حَازُوهُthey gathered مِنْof رُطَبٍfresh dates رَطْبِfresh
فَلِلهِ مَا حَازُوهُ مِنْ رُطَبٍ رَطْبِ
They shook the branches of knowledge, tall as they were,
And what fresh dates they gathered from them!
فَإِنْso if جَرَتِrushed الأَيَّامُthe days فِيin غُلَوَائِهَاtheir fury
فَإِنْ جَرَتِ الأَيَّامُ فِي غُلَوَائِهَا
وَجَرَّتْand dragged وَشِيجَthe supple shaft of الْقَسْرِcoercion فِيin مَأَزِقِthe crisis of الخطْبِthe matter
وَجَرَّتْ وَشِيجَ الْقَسْرِ فِي مَأَزِقِ الخطْبِ
If the days rushed on in their fury
And drew the supple shaft of coercion into a crisis,
فَمَاthen they did not لَقِيَتْmeet إلاَّexcept شُجَاعاًa brave man مُجَرِّباًseasoned
فَمَا لَقِيَتْ إلاَّ شُجَاعاً مُجَرِّباً
وَلاَnor عَجَمَتْdid they test إلاَّexcept عَلَىupon عُودِكَyour wood الصلبِsturdy
وَلاَ عَجَمَتْ إلاَّ عَلَى عُودِكَ الصلبِ
They met only a brave and seasoned man,
And tested only your sturdy wood.
وَإِنْand if أَغْفَلَتْthey neglected مِنْof فَرْضِthe duty of بِرِّكَhonoring you وَاجباًan obligation
وَإِنْ أَغْفَلَتْ مِنْ فَرْضِ بِرِّكَ وَاجباً
عَلَىthough أَنَّهَاthey indeed قَدْhad أَوْطَأَتْكَset your feet on ذرَىthe heights of الشُّهْبِthe stars
عَلَى أَنَّهَا قَدْ أَوْطَأَتْكَ ذرَى الشُّهْبِ
And if they neglected a duty owed to your goodness,
Though they had set your feet upon the heights of the stars,
فَقَدْthen indeed دَرَأَتْthey cast aside حَقَّthe right of الْوَصِيِّthe legatee سَفَاهَةًfoolishly
فَقَدْ دَرَأَتْ حَقَّ الْوَصِيِّ سَفَاهَةً
عَلِيٍّAli وَأَعْلَتْand raised مِنْfrom قِدَاحِthe lots of بَنِيthe sons of حَرْبِHarb
عَلِيٍّ وَأَعْلَتْ مِنْ قِدَاحِ بَنِي حَرْبِ
They foolishly cast aside the rightful claim of the legatee,
Ali, and raised the lot of the sons of Harb.
وَرُبَّتَمَاand sometimes جَادَgives اللَّئِيمُthe base man بِنَائِلٍwith a gift
وَرُبَّتَمَا جَادَ اللَّئِيمُ بِنَائِلٍ
وشنand launched بأقصىat the farthest سرحهhis pasture غارةa raid الغصبof seizure
وشن بأقصى سرحه غارة الغصب
At times a base man may offer a gift
Yet launch a raid of seizure at the far end of his pasture.
وأنتand you منamong الصيدthe noble ones الذينwho سمتrose high بهمthrough them
وأنت من الصيد الذين سمت بهم
أَرُومَةُthe stock of لَخْمٍLakhm فيin حَدَائِقَهَاits groves الْغُلْبِluxuriant
أَرُومَةُ لَخْمٍ في حَدَائِقَهَا الْغُلْبِ
You are among the noble ones whom
The stock of Lakhm raised high among its luxuriant groves,
إِلَىdown to عَمْروAmr هِنْدٍHind حَيْثُwhere يَخْتَصِمُcontends الْعُلىeminence
إِلَى عَمْرو هِنْدٍ حَيْثُ يَخْتَصِمُ الْعُلى
وَيُشْهَدُand is called to witness نَصْلُthe blade of السَّيْفِthe sword فِيin حَوْمَةِthe thick of الْحَرْبِbattle
وَيُشْهَدُ نَصْلُ السَّيْفِ فِي حَوْمَةِ الْحَرْبِ
Down to Amr ibn Hind, where claims to eminence contend
And the sword's blade is called to witness in the thick of battle,
إِلِىdown to مُرْتَقَىthe exalted descendant of مَاءٍMaʾ السَّمَاءِal-Samāʾ الَّذيwho كَسَاclothed
إِلِى مُرْتَقَى مَاءٍ السَّمَاءِ الَّذي كَسَا
زَمَانَthe time of احْتِدَامraging الْمَحْلِdrought أَرْدِيَةَwith robes of الْخصْبِfertility
زَمَانَ احْتِدَام الْمَحْلِ أَرْدِيَةَ الْخصْبِ
And down to the exalted descendant of Maʾ al-Samāʾ, who clothed
A time of raging drought in robes of fertility.
فَلاَso neither الْعزُّhonor يُعْزَىtraces مُنْتَمَاهُits highest lineage لِحَاجِبٍto Hajib
فَلاَ الْعزُّ يُعْزَى مُنْتَمَاهُ لِحَاجِبٍ
وَلاَnor الْجُودُgenerosity يُجْديbenefits مَنْone who تُذُوكِرَwas recalled فِيalongside كَعْبِKaʿb
وَلاَ الْجُودُ يُجْدي مَنْ تُذُوكِرَ فِي كَعْبِ
Honor cannot trace its highest lineage to Hajib,
Nor does generosity profit one who is recalled alongside Kaʿb.
فكَمْand how many أَنْجَبُواthey produced مِنْof صَارِمٍa resolute man ذيِpossessing حَفيِظَةٍfierce pride
فكَمْ أَنْجَبُوا مِنْ صَارِمٍ ذيِ حَفيِظَةٍ
إِذَاwhen كَهَمَتْgrew blunt ذُلْقُthe keen edges of الصِّفَاحِsword blades لَدَىduring الضَّرْبِstriking
إِذَا كَهَمَتْ ذُلْقُ الصِّفَاحِ لَدَى الضَّرْبِ
How many resolute, fiercely proud men they produced
When the keen edges of swords grew blunt in battle!
وَكَمْand how many أَعْقَبُواthey brought forth مِنْof ضَيْغَمٍa lion يُرْغِمُwho humbles الطُّلاَthe lofty ones
وَكَمْ أَعْقَبُوا مِنْ ضَيْغَمٍ يُرْغِمُ الطُّلاَ
وَيَهْزِمُand routs أَسْبَابَthe forces of الْكَتَائِبِthe battalions وَالْكُتْبِand the companies
وَيَهْزِمُ أَسْبَابَ الْكَتَائِبِ وَالْكُتْبِ
How many lions they brought forth, humbling the lofty
And routing the forces of battalions and companies!
إذَاwhen عَمَّcovered طِرْسَthe parchment of الْيَوْمِday نِقْسُthe ink of دُجُنَّةٍgloom
إذَا عَمَّ طِرْسَ الْيَوْمِ نِقْسُ دُجُنَّةٍ
وَعَمَّمَand crowned بِرْسُthe down of الْقُرِّfrost فِيon هَامَةِthe crown of الْهَضْبِthe hill
وَعَمَّمَ بِرْسُ الْقُرِّ فِي هَامَةِ الْهَضْبِ
When the ink of gloom covered the parchment of day
And frost's down crowned the hilltop,
حَشَاhe stuffed بَاهِظَgreat الأَجْزَالِlogs وَقْدَwith fuel for ضِرَامِهَاtheir blaze
حَشَا بَاهِظَ الأَجْزَالِ وَقْدَ ضِرَامِهَا
فَأَوْرَتْand so they kindled جَحِيماًa furnace لاَفِحاًscorching أَوْجُهَthe faces of السُّحْبِthe clouds
فَأَوْرَتْ جَحِيماً لاَفِحاً أَوْجُهَ السُّحْبِ
He packed great logs into the blazing fire
Until it kindled a furnace whose heat struck the clouds' faces.
وَأَعْمَلَand he applied فِيto الْكَوْمَاءِthe humped she-camel حَدَّthe edge of حُسَامِهِhis sword
وَأَعْمَلَ فِي الْكَوْمَاءِ حَدَّ حُسَامِهِ
فَخَرَّتْand she fell وَشِيكاًsoon لِلْجَبيِنupon the brow وَلِلْجَنْبِand the side
فَخَرَّتْ وَشِيكاً لِلْجَبيِن وَلِلْجَنْبِ
He put the edge of his sword to the humped she-camel,
And she soon fell upon her brow and side.
فَأَثْقَلَand so he loaded أَكْتَاداًbacks وَعَمَّand filled حَقَائِباًsaddlebags
فَأَثْقَلَ أَكْتَاداً وَعَمَّ حَقَائِباً
وَأَنْهَلand he slaked ظِمْئاًthirst نَبْعَfrom a spring of مُطَّرِدٍflowing عَذْبٍsweet water
وَأَنْهَل ظِمْئاً نَبْعَ مُطَّرِدٍ عَذْبٍ
He loaded backs heavily and filled saddlebags,
And quenched thirst from a spring of flowing, sweet water.
يَرُومُhe seeks بِسَكْبِby pouring out الْجُودِgenerosity كَسْبَto gain ثَنَائِهمْtheir praise
يَرُومُ بِسَكْبِ الْجُودِ كَسْبَ ثَنَائِهمْ
فَللَّهِand by God مِنْwhat سَكْبٍa pouring كَرِيمٍnoble وَمِنْand what كَسْبِa gain
فَللَّهِ مِنْ سَكْبٍ كَرِيمٍ وَمِنْ كَسْبِ
By pouring out generosity, he seeks to win their praise;
What noble giving, and what a gain!
مَآثِرُكُمْyour noble deeds آلَO family of الْحَكِيمal-Hakim بَقِيتُمُmay you endure
مَآثِرُكُمْ آلَ الْحَكِيم بَقِيتُمُ
بَلَغْنَhave reached مَدَىthe limit of الْحَظِّfortune الْمُوَاصلِlasting وَالْكَسْبِand gain
بَلَغْنَ مَدَى الْحَظِّ الْمُوَاصلِ وَالْكَسْبِ
Your noble deeds, O family of al-Hakim—may you endure—
Have reached the furthest bounds of lasting fortune and achievement.
فَمَاذَاso what عَسَىmight I أُحْصِيcount وَمَاذَاand what عَسَىmight I أَفِيfulfill
فَمَاذَا عَسَى أُحْصِي وَمَاذَا عَسَى أَفِي
أَيُنْضِبُcan it drain لُجَّthe depths of الْيَمِthe sea مُسْتَنْزَرُa scant الشُّرْبِdrink
أَيُنْضِبُ لُجَّ الْيَمِ مُسْتَنْزَرُ الشُّرْبِ
What could I count, and how could I do justice to it all?
Can a meager drink drain the depths of the sea?
عَلَىthough أَنَّنِيI مَهْمَاhowever اقْتَضَبْتُspeak briefly بَديِهَةًoffhand
عَلَى أَنَّنِي مَهْمَا اقْتَضَبْتُ بَديِهَةً
عَلَىbeyond خَبَرِthe tale of الْعَنْقَاءِthe phoenix إِنْif ذُكْرَتْit were mentioned تُرْبِيit surpasses
عَلَى خَبَرِ الْعَنْقَاءِ إِنْ ذُكْرَتْ تُرْبِي
Yet however briefly I speak offhand,
My words would outdo tales of the phoenix, were it mentioned.
وَمَاand الشِّعْرُpoetry إِلاَّis only مِنْfrom قَوَافٍrhymes نَظَمْتُهَاthat I strung together
وَمَا الشِّعْرُ إِلاَّ مِنْ قَوَافٍ نَظَمْتُهَا
وَمَاand not خَلَصَتْhas refined إِبْرِيزَهُits pure gold شُعْلَةُthe flame of اللُبِّintellect
وَمَا خَلَصَتْ إِبْرِيزَهُ شُعْلَةُ اللُبِّ
Poetry is only rhymes that I have strung together;
The flame of intellect has not refined their pure gold.
وَلَسْتُand I am not كَمنlike one who يَعْتَدُّregards بِالشِّعْرِpoetry مَكْسَباًas gain
وَلَسْتُ كَمن يَعْتَدُّ بِالشِّعْرِ مَكْسَباً
هُبِلتُmay I perish رَضِيعَnursling of الْمَجْدِglory إِنْif كَانَit is مِنْfrom كَسْبِيmy gain
هُبِلتُ رَضِيعَ الْمَجْدِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ كَسْبِي
I am not one who treats poetry as a source of gain;
May I perish, nursling of glory, if it is my livelihood.
Translation model: Sol 6