طاوِلvie in greatness بِجَدِّكَthrough your good fortune فَالأَقدارُfor destinies عُنوانُa sign
طاوِل بِجَدِّكَ فَالأَقدارُ عُنوانُ
وَاِحكُمand command فَماfor there is no لِصُروفِfor the vicissitudes of الدَهرِtime عِصيانُdisobedience
وَاِحكُم فَما لِصُروفِ الدَهرِ عِصيانُ
Vie in greatness through your good fortune, for destinies are its sign.
And command, for the vicissitudes of time cannot disobey.
عَلَيكَupon you حَزمٌresolve وَأَمرٌand a command نافِذٌeffective وَعَلىand upon
عَلَيكَ حَزمٌ وَأَمرٌ نافِذٌ وَعَلى
ريبِthe caprices of الحَوادِثِevents تَسليمٌsurrender وَإِذعانُand submission
ريبِ الحَوادِثِ تَسليمٌ وَإِذعانُ
Yours are resolve and a command that prevails, while
The caprices of events owe surrender and submission.
لَكُمfor you سُعودٌgood fortunes عَلىagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies نافِذَةٌprevailing
لَكُم سُعودٌ عَلى الأَعداءِ نافِذَةٌ
وَفَتkept faith لَكُمwith you حَيثُwhere حَدُّthe edge of السَيفِthe sword خَوّانُtreacherous
وَفَت لَكُم حَيثُ حَدُّ السَيفِ خَوّانُ
Yours are good fortunes that prevail against your enemies,
Faithful to you where the sword's edge betrays.
تَرىyou see المَقاتِلَthe body's vulnerable spots أَنصاراًallies وَرُبَّتَماand how often
تَرى المَقاتِلَ أَنصاراً وَرُبَّتَما
أَصغَتthey listened لِأَمرِto the command of المَناياdeath فَهيَso they are آذانُears
أَصغَت لِأَمرِ المَنايا فَهيَ آذانُ
You find the body's vulnerable places allies; how often
They have heeded death's command, becoming ears.
إِنَّindeed المُلوكَthe kings وَإِنand even if عَزّواthey are mighty وَإِنand even if كَثُرواthey are numerous
إِنَّ المُلوكَ وَإِن عَزّوا وَإِن كَثُروا
وَخالَفوكَand they oppose you فَقَدthen indeed ذَلّواthey are humbled وَقَدand indeed هانواthey are brought low
وَخالَفوكَ فَقَد ذَلّوا وَقَد هانوا
Kings, though mighty and though numerous,
When they oppose you, are humbled and brought low.
إِنif يَحسُدوكَthey envy you أَباAbu العَبّاسِal-Abbas فَهوَthen it is لَكُمfor you
إِن يَحسُدوكَ أَبا العَبّاسِ فَهوَ لَكُم
ذِكرٌrenown جَميلٌfair ولِلحُسّادِand for the envious أَشجانُsorrows
ذِكرٌ جَميلٌ ولِلحُسّادِ أَشجانُ
If they envy you, Abu al-Abbas, that means for you
Fair renown, but for the envious, sorrows.
وَماand there is no عَلىupon الشَمسِthe sun فيin أَنthat لاحَshone رَونَقُهاits splendor
وَما عَلى الشَمسِ في أَن لاحَ رَونَقُها
فَأَنكَرَتهُso they denied it العُيونُthe eyes الرُمدُinflamed نُقصانُdiminution
فَأَنكَرَتهُ العُيونُ الرُمدُ نُقصانُ
Nor does the sun, when its splendor shines,
Suffer any loss because sore eyes deny it.
أَعَدَّequipped تَوفيقُكَyour divinely aided success الأُسطولَthe fleet يَقدُمُهاleading it
أَعَدَّ تَوفيقُكَ الأُسطولَ يَقدُمُها
نَدبٌa gallant man أَتىcame to المُلكَthe realm عَيناًas an eye وَهوَand he is إِنسانُa human being
نَدبٌ أَتى المُلكَ عَيناً وَهوَ إِنسانُ
Your divinely granted success equipped the fleet, led by
A gallant man who came to the realm as its eye, though human.
مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad وَكَفاناand he suffices us مِنof فَتىًa youth هَرِمَتgrew old
مُحَمَّدٌ وَكَفانا مِن فَتىً هَرِمَت
بِهِthrough him اللَياليthe nights وَقاراًin dignity وَهيَwhile they are شُبّانُyoung
بِهِ اللَيالي وَقاراً وَهيَ شُبّانُ
Muhammad—a youth sufficient for us; old have grown
The nights through him in dignity, though they are young.
لَمّاwhen زَكاflourished غُصُناًas a branch فيin دَوحِthe great trees of سُؤدُدِكُمyour nobility
لَمّا زَكا غُصُناً في دَوحِ سُؤدُدِكُم
تاهَتgrew proud قَناthe spears of الخَطِّal-Khatt لَمّاwhen قيلَit was said أَغصانُbranches
تاهَت قَنا الخَطِّ لَمّا قيلَ أَغصانُ
When he flourished as a branch among the great trees of your nobility,
The spears of al-Khatt grew proud to be called branches.
القائِدُthe leader of الخَيلَthe horses مَجدولاًtightly corded أَياطِلُهاtheir flanks
القائِدُ الخَيلَ مَجدولاً أَياطِلُها
كَأَنَّماas though هِيَthey فيin الأَرسانِthe halters أَرسانُhalter-ropes
كَأَنَّما هِيَ في الأَرسانِ أَرسانُ
He who leads the horses with tightly corded flanks,
As though they themselves were halter-ropes within their halters.
وَالتارِكُand he who leaves البيضَthe bright swords مِنfrom ضَربِstriking الرُؤوسِthe heads بِهاwith them
وَالتارِكُ البيضَ مِن ضَربِ الرُؤوسِ بِها
كَأَنَّماas though هِيَthey فَوقَabove إِلهامِskulls (contextual reading) تيجانُcrowns
كَأَنَّما هِيَ فَوقَ إِلهامِ تيجانُ
And leaves bright swords, through striking heads with them,
As though they were crowns above the skulls.
رَقَّتgrew tender حَنيناًin yearning إِلىfor الإِعجابِadmiration لاno عَجَباًwonder
رَقَّت حَنيناً إِلى الإِعجابِ لا عَجَباً
أَنthat رَقَّgrew tender حُبٌّlove إِلىtoward الأَوطانِthe native lands حَنّانُyearning
أَن رَقَّ حُبٌّ إِلى الأَوطانِ حَنّانُ
They grew tender, yearning for admiration; no wonder
That yearning love grows tender toward its native lands.
حاميprotector of الذِمارِhonor and kin وَنارُwhile the fire of الحَربِwar حامِيَةٌblazing
حامي الذِمارِ وَنارُ الحَربِ حامِيَةٌ
طَلقُcheerful المُحَيّاthe countenance وَحَدُّwhile the edge of السَيفِthe sword غَضبانُangry
طَلقُ المُحَيّا وَحَدُّ السَيفِ غَضبانُ
Protector of honor and kin while war's fire burns hot,
Cheerful of countenance while the sword's edge rages.
يُبكيmakes weep الصِفاحَthe broad blades نَجيعاًfresh blood وَهوَwhile he is مُبتَسِمٌsmiling
يُبكي الصِفاحَ نَجيعاً وَهوَ مُبتَسِمٌ
وَيوسِعُand gives abundantly السُمرَthe dusky spears رِيّاًtheir fill of drink وَهوَwhile he is ظَمآنُthirsty
وَيوسِعُ السُمرَ رِيّاً وَهوَ ظَمآنُ
He makes the broad blades weep fresh blood while he smiles,
And gives the dusky spears their fill while he thirsts.
يَرىhe sees الدِماءَblood عُقاراًwine وَالظُبىand the sword-edges زَهَراًblossoms
يَرى الدِماءَ عُقاراً وَالظُبى زَهَراً
فَالحَربُso war فيin زَعمِهِhis view راحٌwine وَرَيحانُand sweet basil
فَالحَربُ في زَعمِهِ راحٌ وَرَيحانُ
He sees blood as wine, and sword-edges as blossoms;
So war, in his view, is wine and sweet basil.
يَرميcasts forth بِهِwith him البَحرُthe sea فيin فُلكٍships زَجَرتَyou drove into flight بِهاwith them
يَرمي بِهِ البَحرُ في فُلكٍ زَجَرتَ بِها
طَيراًbirds لَهُنَّfor them مِنَof الأَلواحِthe planks أَبدانُbodies
طَيراً لَهُنَّ مِنَ الأَلواحِ أَبدانُ
The sea casts him forth in ships with which you sent flying
Birds whose bodies are made of planks.
كَأَنَّماas though البَحرُthe sea مَعنىًa meaning مُشكِلٌobscure صَدَعَتproclaimed
كَأَنَّما البَحرُ مَعنىً مُشكِلٌ صَدَعَت
بِهاthrough them أَعاديكَyour enemies أَنَّthat المَوتَdeath أَلوانُcolors
بِها أَعاديكَ أَنَّ المَوتَ أَلوانُ
As though the sea were an obscure meaning; it was proclaimed
Through them by your foes that death has many colors.
خُضرٌgreen ones وَدُهمٌand black ones وَحُمرٌand red ones ماwhenever بَدَتthey appeared عَلِمَتlearned
خُضرٌ وَدُهمٌ وَحُمرٌ ما بَدَت عَلِمَت
بِهاthrough them أَعاديكَyour enemies أَنَّthat المَوتَdeath أَلوانُcolors
بِها أَعاديكَ أَنَّ المَوتَ أَلوانُ
Green, black, and red—whenever they appear, it is learned
Through them by your foes that death has many colors.
فَالخُضرُso the green ones قُضبٌbranches لَهاfor them الأَعلامُthe banners عَنin place of وَرَقٍleaves
فَالخُضرُ قُضبٌ لَها الأَعلامُ عَن وَرَقٍ
لَوif أَثمَرَتbore fruit قَبلَهاbefore them بِالحَتفِwith death قُضبانُbranches
لَو أَثمَرَت قَبلَها بِالحَتفِ قُضبانُ
So the green ones are branches, with banners in place of leaves—
If branches before them had borne death as fruit.
وَالحُمرُand the red ones يَرميtosses بِهاwith them المَوجُthe waves الخِضَمُّmighty كَماas
وَالحُمرُ يَرمي بِها المَوجُ الخِضَمُّ كَما
تَختالُsway proudly فيamong زَهَراتِblossoms of الوَردِroses كُثبانُdunes
تَختالُ في زَهَراتِ الوَردِ كُثبانُ
And the red ones are tossed by the mighty waves, as
Dunes strut among rose blossoms.
وَالدُهمُand the black ones تَستَوقِفُarrests الأَبصارُthe gazes حِكمَتَهاtheir artistry
وَالدُهمُ تَستَوقِفُ الأَبصارُ حِكمَتَها
كَأَنَّهاas though they were فَوقَabove خَدِّthe cheek of الماءِthe water خيلانُbeauty spots
كَأَنَّها فَوقَ خَدِّ الماءِ خيلانُ
And the black ones: their artistry arrests the gaze,
As though they were beauty spots upon the water's cheek.
كَأَنَّماas though عَدوُهاtheir racing إِثرَafter الطَريدِthe fugitive بِهاaboard them
كَأَنَّما عَدوُها إِثرَ الطَريدِ بِها
رَقصٌa dance بِحَيثُwhere صَليلُthe clang of الهِندِIndian blades أَلحانُmelodies
رَقصٌ بِحَيثُ صَليلُ الهِندِ أَلحانُ
As though their racing after the fugitive aboard them
Were dancing, where the clang of Indian blades is melody.
بِعُصبَةٍwith a band أُنهِضواthey were sent forth لِلمَوتِto death وَاِئتُمِنواand they were entrusted
بِعُصبَةٍ أُنهِضوا لِلمَوتِ وَاِئتُمِنوا
عَلىwith الحِفاظِdefending honor فَماso not خانواthey betrayed وَلاand not حانواthey perished
عَلى الحِفاظِ فَما خانوا وَلا حانوا
With a band sent forth to death and entrusted
With honor's defense: they neither betrayed nor perished.
أَعطافُهُمtheir flanks مِثلُlike ماwhat هَزّوهُthey brandished it مائِلَةٌbending
أَعطافُهُم مِثلُ ما هَزّوهُ مائِلَةٌ
وُجوهُهُمtheir faces مِثلُlike ماwhat سَلّوهُthey unsheathed it غُرّانُradiant
وُجوهُهُم مِثلُ ما سَلّوهُ غُرّانُ
Their flanks bend like the spears they brandish;
Their faces shine like the swords they draw.
أَعطاهُمُgave them الحَزمُresolve أَيماناًoaths مُؤَيَّدَةًfirmly supported
أَعطاهُمُ الحَزمُ أَيماناً مُؤَيَّدَةً
أَنَّthat الضَلالَerror ذَليلٌhumbled حَيثُماwherever كانواthey are
أَنَّ الضَلالَ ذَليلٌ حَيثُما كانوا
Resolve has given them firmly backed oaths:
That error lies humbled wherever they are.
إِنif شِئتَyou wished رُعتَyou terrified بِهِمthrough them أَرضَthe land of الشَقاءِmisery فَلَمand so not
إِن شِئتَ رُعتَ بِهِم أَرضَ الشَقاءِ فَلَم
يَعضُدهُsupport him مِنfrom دَولَةِthe realm of المَخذولِthe forsaken one صُلبانُcrosses
يَعضُدهُ مِن دَولَةِ المَخذولِ صُلبانُ
If you wish, you terrify with them the land of misery; no
Crosses in the forsaken one's realm could come to his aid.
فَقَبلَكُمfor before you ماemphatic particle أَتىcame موسىMoses بِآيَتِهِwith his sign
فَقَبلَكُم ما أَتى موسى بِآيَتِهِ
مِصراًto Egypt فَلَمand did not يُغنِavail عَنfor فِرعَونَPharaoh هامانُHaman
مِصراً فَلَم يُغنِ عَن فِرعَونَ هامانُ
For before you, Moses came with his sign
To Egypt; Haman was of no avail to Pharaoh.
وَهَلand can يُنازِعُكُمcontend with you مَنone who عَزمُهُhis resolve عَبَثٌfutility
وَهَل يُنازِعُكُم مَن عَزمُهُ عَبَثٌ
كَالريحِlike the wind لَمdid not يُجرِهاset it moving مِنهُfrom him سُلَيمانُSolomon
كَالريحِ لَم يُجرِها مِنهُ سُلَيمانُ
Can one whose resolve is futile contend with you,
Like wind that no Solomon on his side has set in motion?
لَولاكَwere it not for you لَمwould not يَحسُدِenvy المِلحَthe salt water الفُراتُthe Euphrates وَلاand not
لَولاكَ لَم يَحسُدِ المِلحَ الفُراتُ وَلا
جُنَّتwas driven mad بِسَبتَةَby Ceuta يَومَon the day of الفَخرِboasting بَغدانُBaghdad
جُنَّت بِسَبتَةَ يَومَ الفَخرِ بَغدانُ
But for you, the Euphrates would not envy the salt sea, nor
Would Baghdad be maddened by Ceuta on the day of boasting.
قَدindeed طابَgrew sweet ذِكرُكَyour renown حَتّىuntil الشَهدُhoney مُطَّرَحٌcast aside
قَد طابَ ذِكرُكَ حَتّى الشَهدُ مُطَّرَحٌ
وَفاحَand spread its fragrance حَتّىuntil اِستُبينَwas clearly discerned المِسكُmusk وَالبانُand moringa
وَفاحَ حَتّى اِستُبينَ المِسكُ وَالبانُ
Your renown has grown so sweet that honey is cast aside,
And diffused its scent until musk and moringa were clearly discerned.
وَالناسُand the people شَتّىdivided أَعادٍenemies فيin مَذاهِبِهِمtheir beliefs
وَالناسُ شَتّى أَعادٍ في مَذاهِبِهِم
لَكِنَّهُمbut they فيin هَواكَlove for you اليَومَtoday إِخوانُbrothers
لَكِنَّهُم في هَواكَ اليَومَ إِخوانُ
People are divided, enemies in their beliefs,
Yet today, in their love for you, they are brothers.
يَأويseeks refuge لِظِلِّكَin your shade مَحمِيٌّa protected person وَمُطَّرَدٌand an outcast
يَأوي لِظِلِّكَ مَحمِيٌّ وَمُطَّرَدٌ
كَالرَوضِlike a meadow يَرتادُهُfrequents it ظَبيٌa gazelle وَسِرحانُand a wolf
كَالرَوضِ يَرتادُهُ ظَبيٌ وَسِرحانُ
The protected and the outcast seek shelter in your shade,
Like a meadow visited by gazelle and wolf.
وَيَشتَهيand desires جودَكُمyour generosity مُثرٍa wealthy person وَذوand one possessed of عَدَمٍdestitution
وَيَشتَهي جودَكُم مُثرٍ وَذو عَدَمٍ
كَالخَمرِlike wine يَعشَقُهاloves it صاحٍa sober person وَنَشوانُand an intoxicated person
كَالخَمرِ يَعشَقُها صاحٍ وَنَشوانُ
Both rich and destitute long for your generosity,
As wine is loved by the sober and the drunk.
مَلِكٌa king فَتىyoung in البَأسِvalor كَهلُmature in الرَأيِjudgment مُتَّضِحٌplainly eminent
مَلِكٌ فَتى البَأسِ كَهلُ الرَأيِ مُتَّضِحٌ
عاليhigh of الذُؤابَةِcrest رَحبُbroad of الباعِarm-span يَقظانُvigilant
عالي الذُؤابَةِ رَحبُ الباعِ يَقظانُ
A king, youthful in valor, mature in counsel, illustrious,
Lofty of crest, broad of reach, vigilant.
أَغَرُّradiant لِلجاهِfor high rank مِنهُfrom him مَنطِقٌspeech سَدَدٌrightly directed
أَغَرُّ لِلجاهِ مِنهُ مَنطِقٌ سَدَدٌ
إِلىtoward الصَوابِcorrectness وَبَعضُand some الجاهِhigh rank إِلحانُfaulty speech
إِلى الصَوابِ وَبَعضُ الجاهِ إِلحانُ
Radiant: through him high rank has a voice directed
Toward correctness, though some high rank speaks amiss.
كَأَنَّماas though الناسُpeople أَلفاظٌwords لَهُنَّfor them بِهِthrough him
كَأَنَّما الناسُ أَلفاظٌ لَهُنَّ بِهِ
رَفعٌraising (nominative case) وَخَفضٌand lowering (genitive case) وَتَحريكٌand movement (vowel-marking) وَإِسكانُand stillness (lack of vowels)
رَفعٌ وَخَفضٌ وَتَحريكٌ وَإِسكانُ
As though people were words, receiving from him
Raising and lowering, movement and stillness,
مِنthrough كُلِّevery قَولٍutterance لَهُof his فَصلٍdecisive يُصيبُhe hits the mark بِهِwith it
مِن كُلِّ قَولٍ لَهُ فَصلٍ يُصيبُ بِهِ
وَكُلِّand every فِعلٍdeed لَهُof his بِالعَدلِby justice ميزانُa scale
وَكُلِّ فِعلٍ لَهُ بِالعَدلِ ميزانُ
Through every decisive utterance of his with which he strikes the mark,
And every deed of his, with justice as its scale.
وَكُلُّand every وَقتٍmoment رَبيعٌspring مِنfrom خَلائِقِهِhis virtues
وَكُلُّ وَقتٍ رَبيعٌ مِن خَلائِقِهِ
وَكُلُّand every رَوضٍmeadow بِهِthrough him فيin الطيبِfragrance بُستانُa garden
وَكُلُّ رَوضٍ بِهِ في الطيبِ بُستانُ
Every moment is spring through his virtues,
And every meadow, through him, is a fragrant garden.
حَملُbearing الأَمانَةِthe trust هَيِنٌeasy فيin سَجِيَّتِهِhis innate character
حَملُ الأَمانَةِ هَيِنٌ في سَجِيَّتِهِ
وَهَلand does يحُسُّfeel حَصاةًa pebble فيهِwithin it ثَهلانُThahlan
وَهَل يحُسُّ حَصاةً فيهِ ثَهلانُ
Bearing the trust is easy for his nature;
Does Thahlan feel a pebble within it?
إِذاwhen تَكَلَّمَhe speaks أَصغىinclines its ear الدَهرُtime مُستَمِعاًlistening
إِذا تَكَلَّمَ أَصغى الدَهرُ مُستَمِعاً
كَماas يُصيخُlistens intently لِداعيto one calling to الماءِwater ظَمآنُa thirsty person
كَما يُصيخُ لِداعي الماءِ ظَمآنُ
When he speaks, time inclines its ear to listen,
As a thirsty man hearkens to one calling him to water.
كَأَنَّماas though بُردَتاthe two cloaks of أَثوابِthe robes of هَيبَتِهِhis awe-inspiring majesty
كَأَنَّما بُردَتا أَثوابِ هَيبَتِهِ
كِسرىKisra وَيَأخُذُand takes عَنهُfrom him الرَأيَcounsel لُقمانُLuqman
كِسرى وَيَأخُذُ عَنهُ الرَأيَ لُقمانُ
As though the twin cloaks of his robes of awe
Were Kisra, while Luqman takes counsel from him.
جَزىrepaid الإِساءَةَwrongdoing بِالحُسنىwith kindness مُسامَحَةًforgivingly
جَزى الإِساءَةَ بِالحُسنى مُسامَحَةً
حَتّىuntil تَخَيَّلَit seemed أَنَّthat الذَنبَsin قُربانُan offering
حَتّى تَخَيَّلَ أَنَّ الذَنبَ قُربانُ
He repaid wrongdoing with kindness, forgivingly,
Until sin seemed an offering.
ياO دَهرُTime شُدَّclasp tightly عَلَيهِaround him كَفَّthe hand of ذيone possessed of مِقَةٍaffection
يا دَهرُ شُدَّ عَلَيهِ كَفَّ ذي مِقَةٍ
وَاِبخَلand be miserly بِهِwith him إِنَّindeed بَعضَsome البُخلِmiserliness إِحسانُkindness
وَاِبخَل بِهِ إِنَّ بَعضَ البُخلِ إِحسانُ
O Time, clasp him with a loving hand,
And be miserly with him: some miserliness is kindness.
وَأَنتَand you مُتَّهَمٌsuspect إِلّاexcept عَلَيهِconcerning him فَهاso behold
وَأَنتَ مُتَّهَمٌ إِلّا عَلَيهِ فَها
عَلِقَclung بِهِto him سَبتَةَCeuta تَحظىshe gains favor وَتَزدانُand she is adorned
عَلِقَ بِهِ سَبتَةَ تَحظى وَتَزدانُ
And you are suspect, except where he is concerned; behold,
Ceuta has clung to him and gains favor and adornment.
Translation model: Sol 6.1