نَبِّهْawaken نَدِيمَكِyour drinking companion لِلصَّبُوحِfor the morning draught وَهَاتِهَاand bring her
نَبِّهْ نَدِيمَكِ لِلصَّبُوحِ وَهَاتِهَا
كَالشَّمْسِlike the sun تُشْرِقُshe shines مِنْfrom جَميِعِall جِهَاتِهَاher directions
كَالشَّمْسِ تُشْرِقُ مِنْ جَميِعِ جِهَاتِهَا
Wake your drinking companion for the morning draught, and bring her—
Awaken your companion at dawn and bring her to me
Like the sun, she shines from every direction.
Like the sun rising and shining from all her sides
وَاصْرِفْand dispel بِصِرْفِwith unmixed الرَّاحِwine هَمّاًsorrow كَامِناًhidden
وَاصْرِفْ بِصِرْفِ الرَّاحِ هَمّاً كَامِناً
وَاحِيand revive السُّرُورَdelight تَنَعُّماًin enjoyment بِحَيَاتِهَاof her vitality
وَاحِي السُّرُورَ تَنَعُّماً بِحَيَاتِهَا
And dispel hidden sorrow with unmixed wine,
And turn with the blowing wind any hidden sorrow
And revive delight, reveling in her vitality.
And revive joy and pleasure in her life
صَفْرَاءُyellow نُسْفِرُwe uncover عَنْfrom حَبَابِthe bubbles of كُؤُوسِهَاher cups
صَفْرَاءُ نُسْفِرُ عَنْ حَبَابِ كُؤُوسِهَا
رَقَّتْshe grew delicate فَرَاقَso became pleasant لَنَاto us الزَّمَانُtime بِذَاتِهَاthrough her very self
رَقَّتْ فَرَاقَ لَنَا الزَّمَانُ بِذَاتِهَا
She is golden; we uncover the bubbles in her cups.
Her yellow dress undisclosed the cups of her bosom
She grew delicate, and time became sweet to us through her.
Her slender waist made time delicate in its essence
أَبْدَىrevealed عَلَيْهَاupon her الْمَزْجُmixing دُرَّthe pearls of حَبَابِهِits bubbles
أَبْدَى عَلَيْهَا الْمَزْجُ دُرَّ حَبَابِهِ
فَتَخَالُهُso you imagine it دُرّاًpearls عَلَىupon لَبَّاتِهَاher bosoms
فَتَخَالُهُ دُرّاً عَلَى لَبَّاتِهَا
Mixing revealed upon her the pearls of its bubbles,
The blending adorned her with pearls of love droplets
So you take it for pearls upon her bosoms.
That you'd think were real pearls on her throat
وَكَأَنَّمَاand as though بَيْنَamong النَّدَامَىthe drinking companions أَطْلَعَتْshe brought forth
وَكَأَنَّمَا بَيْنَ النَّدَامَى أَطْلَعَتْ
بَدْراًa full moon بِجُنْحِin the darkness of اللَّيْلِthe night مِنْamong آيَاتِهَاher wonders
بَدْراً بِجُنْحِ اللَّيْلِ مِنْ آيَاتِهَا
And as though, among the drinking companions, she had brought forth
As if she appeared between companions in the darkness of night
A full moon in night's darkness, among her wonders.
A full moon with wings of night in its signs
أَكْرِمْhow noble بِهَاshe is فَالصًّفْوُfor purity بَعْضُsome of صِفَاتِهَاher qualities
أَكْرِمْ بِهَا فَالصًّفْوُ بَعْضُ صِفَاتِهَا
وَتَصَادُقُand friendship between الأَعْدَاءِthe enemies مِنْamong عَادَاتِهَاher habits
وَتَصَادُقُ الأَعْدَاءِ مِنْ عَادَاتِهَا
How noble she is! Purity is but one of her qualities,
Honor her, for nobleness is part of her qualities
And making friends of enemies is among her ways.
And befriending enemies is of her habits
مِنْfrom كَفِّthe hand of سَاجِيِةِlanguid الْجُفُونِthe eyelids كَأَنَّمَاas though
مِنْ كَفِّ سَاجِيِةِ الْجُفُونِ كَأَنَّمَا
هَبَّتْshe awoke وَفِيand in الأَجْفَانِthe eyelids بَعْضُsome of سِنَاتِهَاher drowsiness
هَبَّتْ وَفِي الأَجْفَانِ بَعْضُ سِنَاتِهَا
From the hand of a languid-eyed woman, as though
From the palm of her soft eyelids it's as if
She had awoken with some drowsiness still in her eyelids.
Some of her years blew away in her eyes
وَلِثَغْرِهَاand at her mouth عِنْدَwhen ابْتِسَامِthe smiling of أَقَاحِهِits daisies
وَلِثَغْرِهَا عِنْدَ ابْتِسَامِ أَقَاحِهِ
بَرْقٌlightning تَألَّقَglittered فِيin سَنَاthe radiance of وَجَنَاتِهَاher cheeks
بَرْقٌ تَألَّقَ فِي سَنَا وَجَنَاتِهَا
And her mouth, when its daisies smile,
And in her smile's dimples there is
Has lightning flashing in her cheeks' radiance.
Lightning flashing in her tooth and gum
سُقْياmay rain fall لأِرْبُعِهَاupon her dwelling-places وَإنْand even if هِيَthey أَخْلَقَتْhave grown worn
سُقْيا لأِرْبُعِهَا وَإنْ هِيَ أَخْلَقَتْ
دِيَمٌsteady rains سَقَتْهَاwatered them الْعَيْنُthe eye مِنْfrom عَبَرَاتِهَاits tears
دِيَمٌ سَقَتْهَا الْعَيْنُ مِنْ عَبَرَاتِهَا
May rain bless her dwelling-places, though they lie in decay—
Watering her four lips, though if she frowns
Steady showers the eye has poured upon them from its tears.
A shower watered her that her eyes wept from grief
دَعْleave عَنْكَaside from you هِنْداًHind وَالدِّيَارَand the dwelling-places وَمَنْand whoever بِهَاis in them
دَعْ عَنْكَ هِنْداً وَالدِّيَارَ وَمَنْ بِهَا
وَدَعِand let الْغَرَامَpassion يَكُونُbe بَعْضَone of عُفَاتِهَاher petitioners
وَدَعِ الْغَرَامَ يَكُونُ بَعْضَ عُفَاتِهَا
Leave Hind, the dwelling-places, and their inhabitants aside,
Leave India, its homes and who live there
And let passion be one of her petitioners.
And leave passion to be some of her high morals
وَانْهَضْand rise بِمِدْحَتِكَwith your praise-poem التِيwhich حَلَّيْتَهَاyou adorned it
وَانْهَضْ بِمِدْحَتِكَ التِي حَلَّيْتَهَا
بِثَنَاwith praise of أَميِرِthe Emir of الْمُسْلِمِينَthe Muslims وَهَاتِهَاand bring it forth
بِثَنَا أَميِرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَهَاتِهَا
And rise with the praise-poem you have adorned
And get up with your praise that you adorned
With praise of the Emir of the Muslims, and bring it forth.
With the excellence of the Prince of Muslims - present it
مَلِكٌa king أَعَدَّتْهُprepared him الْخِلاَفَةُthe caliphate نَاشِياًas a youth
مَلِكٌ أَعَدَّتْهُ الْخِلاَفَةُ نَاشِياً
وَالذُّعْرُand terror يبرقُflashes تَحْتَbeneath حَدِّthe edge of ظُبَاتِهَاits blades
وَالذُّعْرُ يبرقُ تَحْتَ حَدِّ ظُبَاتِهَا
A king whom the caliphate prepared in his youth,
A king the caliphate raised victorious
While terror flashes beneath the edges of its blades.
And terror flashes under the blades of his lions
فَغَدَاso he became أَحَقَّmost worthy بِهَاof it وَقَامَand rose بِعِبْئِهَاwith its burden
فَغَدَا أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَقَامَ بِعِبْئِهَا
وَسَمَاand rose بِأَقْرَبِهَاby its nearest path إِلَىto غَايَاتِهَاits goals
وَسَمَا بِأَقْرَبِهَا إِلَى غَايَاتِهَا
So he became most worthy of it and shouldered its burden,
He deserved it and took on its burden
And by its nearest path rose to its goals.
And attained its highest goals and purposes
وَأَتَاحَand made accessible أَنْدَلُساًal-Andalus بِحَدِّwith the edge of حُسَامِهِhis sword
وَأَتَاحَ أَنْدَلُساً بِحَدِّ حُسَامِهِ
قَسْراًby force فَأحْيَاso revived الأَرْضَthe land بَعْدَafter هَمَاتِهَاits death (apparent intended reading)
قَسْراً فَأحْيَا الأَرْضَ بَعْدَ هَمَاتِهَا
And opened al-Andalus with the edge of his sword,
And opened Andalusia by the edges of his swords
By force, reviving the land after its [death].
Forcibly, bringing life back to the land after its worries
وَأَفَاضَand poured مَاءَthe water of الْعَدْلِjustice فِيin أَقْطَارِهَاits regions
وَأَفَاضَ مَاءَ الْعَدْلِ فِي أَقْطَارِهَا
فَنَمَاso grew بِذَاكَthrough that الْمَاءِwater غَضُّtender نَبَاتِهَاits vegetation
فَنَمَا بِذَاكَ الْمَاءِ غَضُّ نَبَاتِهَا
And poured the water of justice throughout its regions,
And poured the water of justice in all its regions
So through that water its tender plants grew.
So with that water, its plants grew fresh
وَغَدَاand became بِهَاin it الْمَعْرُوفُkindness عُرْفاًa custom جَارياًprevailing
وَغَدَا بِهَا الْمَعْرُوفُ عُرْفاً جَارياً
فَارْتَاحَتِso found relief الأَيَّامُthe days مِنْfrom أَزَمَاتِهَاtheir crises
فَارْتَاحَتِ الأَيَّامُ مِنْ أَزَمَاتِهَا
And kindness there became a prevailing custom,
And benefaction became a flowing custom
So the days found relief from their crises.
So the days were relieved of their crises
حَتَّىeven السُّيُوفُthe swords غَدَتْbecame كَبَعْضِlike some of عُفَاتِهِhis petitioners
حَتَّى السُّيُوفُ غَدَتْ كَبَعْضِ عُفَاتِهِ
سَأَلَتْthey asked فَأَقْطَعَهَاso he allotted them رِقَابَthe necks of عِدَاتِهَاtheir enemies
سَأَلَتْ فَأَقْطَعَهَا رِقَابَ عِدَاتِهَا
Even the swords became like some of his petitioners:
Until swords became like some of his pardons
They asked, so he allotted them their enemies' necks.
Asking, so he granted them the necks of his enemies
كَيْفَhow اهْتَدَىhe learned قَبَضَgrasped الْعِنَانthe rein بِأَنْمُلٍwith fingers
كَيْفَ اهْتَدَى قَبَضَ الْعِنَان بِأَنْمُلٍ
نَشَأَتْthey grew up وَلَيْسand was not الْقَبْضُgrasping مِنْamong عَادَاتِهَاtheir habits
نَشَأَتْ وَلَيْس الْقَبْضُ مِنْ عَادَاتِهَا
How did he learn to grasp the reins with fingers
How did he masterfully take the reins with his fingers
That grew up with grasping never among their habits?
Born without grabbing being one of their habits
يَاO خَيْرَbest of مَنْthose who وَطِئَtrod الْعِتَاقَthe noble steeds رِكَابُهُhis stirrups
يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ وَطِئَ الْعِتَاقَ رِكَابُهُ
وَأَعَزَّand most exalted of مَنْthose whom حَمَلَتْthey carried عَلَىupon صَهَوَاتِهَاtheir backs
وَأَعَزَّ مَنْ حَمَلَتْ عَلَى صَهَوَاتِهَا
O best of those whose stirrups have trodden noble steeds,
O best of those whose stirrups honor treads
And most exalted of those they carried upon their backs!
And most glorious of those carried on its backs
بَلَغَتْreached مُلُوكَthe kings of الرُّومِthe Rum عَنْكَfrom you مَهَابَةٌawe
بَلَغَتْ مُلُوكَ الرُّومِ عَنْكَ مَهَابَةٌ
فَغَدَتْso they became تَمُجُّspitting out الرِّيقَsaliva فِيin لَهَوَاتِهَاtheir throats
فَغَدَتْ تَمُجُّ الرِّيقَ فِي لَهَوَاتِهَا
Awe of you has reached the kings of the Rum,
Terror of you reached the kings of Rome
So they began to splutter saliva in their throats.
Who now rush confused in their pleasures
لاَno غَرْوَwonder أَنَّthat الرُّعْبَterror خَامَرَpervaded قَلْبَهَاtheir heart
لاَ غَرْوَ أَنَّ الرُّعْبَ خَامَرَ قَلْبَهَا
فَالأُسْدُfor the lions تُخَشَىare feared وَهْيَand they are فِيin أَجَمَاتِهَاtheir thickets
فَالأُسْدُ تُخَشَى وَهْيَ فِي أَجَمَاتِهَا
No wonder terror has pervaded their hearts,
No wonder that fear gripped their hearts
For lions are feared even within their thickets.
When even lions are feared in their lairs
لِمُحَمَّدِfor Muhammad بْنِson of أَبِيAbi (father of) الْوَلِيدِal-Walid شَمَائِلٌtraits
لِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْوَلِيدِ شَمَائِلٌ
غُرٌّradiant بَدَتْappeared وَالْحُسْنُand beauty بَعْضُsome of صِفَاتِهَاtheir qualities
غُرٌّ بَدَتْ وَالْحُسْنُ بَعْضُ صِفَاتِهَا
Muhammad ibn Abi al-Walid has traits
For Muhammed son of Abi Al-Walid there are traits
Radiant and manifest, with beauty but one of their qualities,
Of beauty that appeared, and beauty being some of its qualities
وَمَكَارِمٌand noble virtues قَدْindeed أَعْجَزَتْhave outstripped مَنْwhoever رَامَهَاsought them
وَمَكَارِمٌ قَدْ أَعْجَزَتْ مَنْ رَامَهَا
تَسْتَغْرِقُencompasses الدُّنْيَاthe world أَقَلُّthe least of هِبَاتِهَاtheir gifts
تَسْتَغْرِقُ الدُّنْيَا أَقَلُّ هِبَاتِهَا
And noble virtues beyond the reach of all who sought them;
And generosity that leaves helpless whoever desires it
The least of their gifts encompasses the world.
The least of its gifts occupies the whole world
أَمُحَمَّدٌO Muhammad أَبْلَيْتَyou bestowed دِينَthe faith of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
أَمُحَمَّدٌ أَبْلَيْتَ دِينَ مُحَمَّدٍ
حُسْنَىa kindness بَقَاءِthe endurance of الذِّكْرِremembrance مِنْamong حَسَنَاتِهَاits merits
حُسْنَى بَقَاءِ الذِّكْرِ مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهَا
O Muhammad, you have bestowed upon Muhammad's faith
O Muhammed did you perfect the religion of Muhammed
A kindness whose merits include enduring remembrance.
With the good of eternal remembrance being some of its virtues
هَذِيthis الْجَزِيرَةُpeninsula لاَnot تَزَالُceases to be عَزِيزَةًmighty
هَذِي الْجَزِيرَةُ لاَ تَزَالُ عَزِيزَةً
مَحْفُوظَةًprotected بِكَby you يَاO إِمَامَleader of وُلاَتِهَاits rulers
مَحْفُوظَةً بِكَ يَا إِمَامَ وُلاَتِهَا
This peninsula remains mighty,
This peninsula will remain glorious, protected by you
Protected by you, O leader of its rulers.
O Imam of its governors, if the devil of animosity
إِنْif طَافَcircles شَيْطَانُthe devil of الْعِدَىthe enemies بِسَمَائِهَاthrough its sky
إِنْ طَافَ شَيْطَانُ الْعِدَى بِسَمَائِهَا
رَجَمَتْهُpelted him شُهْبُthe shooting stars of صَلاَتِهَاits prayer وَزَكَاتِهَاand its almsgiving
رَجَمَتْهُ شُهْبُ صَلاَتِهَا وَزَكَاتِهَا
If the enemy's devil circles its sky,
Circles its sky, the meteors of its prayers and alms will stone it
The shooting stars of its prayer and almsgiving pelt him.
When it called you for its aid, you answered
لَمَّاwhen دَعَتْكَit called you لِنَصْرِهَاto its aid لَبَّيْتَهَاyou answered it
لَمَّا دَعَتْكَ لِنَصْرِهَا لَبَّيْتَهَا
وَرَضِيتَand you consented بَذْلَthe offering of النَّفْسِlife فِيfor مَرْضَاتِهَاits satisfaction
وَرَضِيتَ بَذْلَ النَّفْسِ فِي مَرْضَاتِهَا
When it called you to its aid, you answered it,
And accepted sacrificing soul to please it
And consented to offer your life to please it.
And shook the firmness of determination in the garden of hope
وَهَزَزْتَand you shook دَوْحَthe great tree of الْعَزْمِresolve فِيin رَوْضِthe garden of الرَّجَاhope
وَهَزَزْتَ دَوْحَ الْعَزْمِ فِي رَوْضِ الرَّجَا
فَجَنَيْتَso you harvested غَضَّthe tender freshness of النَّفْسِthe soul فِيfor مَرْضَاتِهَاits satisfaction
فَجَنَيْتَ غَضَّ النَّفْسِ فِي مَرْضَاتِهَا
And shook the great tree of resolve in the garden of hope,
So you reaped refusal of soul in pleasing it
So you harvested the soul's freshness in pleasing it.
And you deemed the sea's water enough with the dew
وَحَسِبْتَand you thought بَحْرَthe sea of الْمَاءِwater كَفَّكَyour palm بِالنَّدَىin generosity
وَحَسِبْتَ بَحْرَ الْمَاءِ كَفَّكَ بِالنَّدَى
فَصَدَمْتَهَاso you met it head-on مُسْتَأْنِساًtaking comfort بِهِبَاتِهَاin its gifts
فَصَدَمْتَهَا مُسْتَأْنِساً بِهِبَاتِهَا
And took the sea of water for your palm in generosity,
So you confronted it, comforted by its gifts
So you met it head-on, reassured by its gifts.
And you came to follow your most exalted grandfather
وَأَتَيْتَand you performed فَعْلَةَthe deed of جَدِّكَyour grandfather الأَرْضَىthe most esteemed التِيwhich
وَأَتَيْتَ فَعْلَةَ جَدِّكَ الأَرْضَى التِي
لاَnot يَرْتَضِيchooses الْعَلْيَاءَlofty glory مَنْwhoever لَمْdid not يَأَتِهَاperform it
لاَ يَرْتَضِي الْعَلْيَاءَ مَنْ لَمْ يَأَتِهَا
And performed your most esteemed grandfather's deed, which
Which the haughty will not accept one who does not follow
No one who has not done it chooses the heights of glory.
Let Andalusia rejoice, your arrival is
فَلْيَهْنِso may gladden أَنْدَلُساًal-Andalus قُدُومُكَyour arrival إِنَّهُindeed it
فَلْيَهْنِ أَنْدَلُساً قُدُومُكَ إِنَّهُ
حِرْزٌa safeguard لَهَاfor it مِنْfrom طَاغِيَاتِthe outrages of عُتَاتِهَاits rebels
حِرْزٌ لَهَا مِنْ طَاغِيَاتِ عُتَاتِهَا
May your coming gladden al-Andalus, for it
A protection for it from the tyranny of its aggressors
Is a safeguard for it against the outrages of its rebels.
You make it forget your father's deeds with their fathers
تُنْسِيyou make forgotten فَعَالَthe deeds of أَبِيكَyour father فِيamong آبَائِهِمْtheir fathers
تُنْسِي فَعَالَ أَبِيكَ فِي آبَائِهِمْ
وَالشِّبْلُand the cub نِدُّthe equal of الأُسْدِthe lions فِيin فَعَلاَتِهَاtheir deeds
وَالشِّبْلُ نِدُّ الأُسْدِ فِي فَعَلاَتِهَا
You eclipse your father's deeds among their fathers,
And the cub is the equal of the lion in its actions
And the cub is the lions' equal in their deeds.
So God will serve you the planets honorably
فَاللهُso God يُخْدِمُكَputs at your service الْكَوَاكِبَthe stars عِزَّةًas an honor
فَاللهُ يُخْدِمُكَ الْكَوَاكِبَ عِزَّةً
لَكَfor you سَعْدُهَاtheir good fortune وَالْيُمْنُand blessing مِنْamong تَبْعَاتِهَاtheir attendant effects
لَكَ سَعْدُهَا وَالْيُمْنُ مِنْ تَبْعَاتِهَا
May God make the stars serve you in honor,
Its luck and prosperity are in its consequences
Their good fortune is yours, and blessing follows in their train.
And please the eye of the kingdom with the moon that
وَيُقِرُّand gladdens عَيْنَthe eye of الْمُلْكِkingship بِالقَمَرِwith the moon الَّذِيwhich
وَيُقِرُّ عَيْنَ الْمُلْكِ بِالقَمَرِ الَّذِي
خَضَعَتْbowed لَهُto it الأَقْمَارُthe moons فِيwithin هَالاَتِهَاtheir halos
خَضَعَتْ لَهُ الأَقْمَارُ فِي هَالاَتِهَا
And gladden the eye of kingship with the moon to which
The moons submitted to in their halos
The moons have bowed within their halos.
And presented her in happiness from its times
هَذِيthis عَرْوسُthe bride of قَصَائِدِيmy poems حَلَّيْتُهَاI adorned her
هَذِي عَرْوسُ قَصَائِدِي حَلَّيْتُهَا
وَزَفَفَتُهَاand I led her as a bride بِالسَّعْدِwith good fortune مِنْamong سَاعَاتِهَاher hours
وَزَفَفَتُهَا بِالسَّعْدِ مِنْ سَاعَاتِهَا
This is the bride of my poems; I have adorned her,
For you, O Prince of Muslims, so act on it
And led her as a bride at an auspicious hour of hers,
And for me is bliss in composing its verses
لَكَto you يَاO أَمِيرَEmir of الْمُسْلِمينَthe Muslims فَعِمْso delight بِهَاin her
لَكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُسْلِمينَ فَعِمْ بِهَا
وَلِيَand for me الْهَنَاءُjoy عَلَىfor بِنَاthe building of أَبْيَاتِهَاher verses
وَلِيَ الْهَنَاءُ عَلَى بِنَا أَبْيَاتِهَا
To you, O Emir of the Muslims; may you delight in her,
It gained value by its attribution to you, so its right
And mine is the joy of building her verses.
Is to take care in narrating it and its transmission
كَرُمَتْshe became noble بِنِسْبَتِهَاby her association إِلَيْكَwith you فَحَقُّهَاso her right is
كَرُمَتْ بِنِسْبَتِهَا إِلَيْكَ فَحَقُّهَا
أَنْthat يُعْتَنَىcare be given بِرَوِيَّهَاto her rhyme-letter وَرُوَاتِهَاand her reciters
أَنْ يُعْتَنَى بِرَوِيَّهَا وَرُوَاتِهَا
She is ennobled by her association with you, and her due is
And unto your position, a fragrant peace
That her rhyme-letter and her reciters be cared for.
Given by a house at the blowing of its breezes
وَعَلَىand upon مَقَامِكُمُyour station سَلاَمٌa greeting of peace عَاطِرٌfragrant
وَعَلَى مَقَامِكُمُ سَلاَمٌ عَاطِرٌ
تُهْدِيهshe offers it دَارِينٌDarin لَدَىamid نَفَحَاتِهَاher fragrant wafts
تُهْدِيه دَارِينٌ لَدَى نَفَحَاتِهَا
And upon your station be a fragrant greeting,
Darin offers it amid her perfumed breezes.
Partial English translation: 74 of 76 Arabic lines translated.