زَمانَO time الحِمىof the sanctuary هَلis there مِنany مَعادreturn فنطمَعاso we may hope
زَمانَ الحِمى هَل مِن مَعاد فنطمَعا
وَنُمسكُand we hold together أَكباداًlivers تَذوبُthat melt وَأَضلُعاand ribs
وَنُمسكُ أَكباداً تَذوبُ وَأَضلُعا
O days of the sanctuary, is there a return, so we may hope
The days of fever, will there be a return so we may hope?
and keep our melting livers and ribs intact?
As we endure melting livers and ribs.
وَياand O مَنزلُabode الأَحبابِof loved ones هَلis there فيكَwithin you وَقفَةٌa pause
وَيا مَنزلُ الأَحبابِ هَل فيكَ وَقفَةٌ
تجَدّدُrenewing تَذكاريmy remembrance وَإِنeven if كانَit is موجِعاpainful
تجَدّدُ تَذكاري وَإِن كانَ موجِعا
And O abode of loved ones, is there a pause within you
O dwelling of loved ones, is there a stop in you
that renews my remembrance, even if it is painful?
Where my reminiscing is renewed, even if it is painful?
وَياand O نَسمَاتَbreezes المُنحَنىof the bend كَيفَhow are أَهلهُits people
وَيا نَسمَاتَ المُنحَنى كَيفَ أَهلهُ
وَهَلand has طابَbecome pleasant بَعديafter me ذَلِكَthat الحَيُّencampment مَرتَعاas a pasture
وَهَل طابَ بَعدي ذَلِكَ الحَيُّ مَرتَعا
And O breezes of the bend, how are its people?
O breezes of the bending riverbank, how are its people?
And since I left, is that encampment a pleasant pasture?
And did that lively place become good after me for pasturing?
قَضىdecreed الدَهرُTime فيناfor us بِالفِراقِseparation وَطالَماand so often
قَضى الدَهرُ فينا بِالفِراقِ وَطالَما
عَهِدناهُwe knew it قِدماًof old بِالجَماعاتِwith gatherings مَولَعاenamored
عَهِدناهُ قِدماً بِالجَماعاتِ مَولَعا
Time decreed separation for us, though so often
Fate decreed separation between us and for so long
we had known it of old to be enamored of gatherings.
We knew it to hasten gatherings with its feet.
نَبيتُwe pass the night وَنَغدوand go forth at dawn وَاللَياليwhile the nights بمرصدٍlie in wait
نَبيتُ وَنَغدو وَاللَيالي بمرصدٍ
تُراقبُwatching مِنّاamong us كُلَّevery شَملٍunion تَجَمَّعاthat gathered together
تُراقبُ مِنّا كُلَّ شَملٍ تَجَمَّعا
We pass the night and go forth at dawn, while the nights lie in wait,
We sleep and get up while the nights ambush
watching every union of ours that comes together.
Every collected group from us.
وَلَوeven if لَمnot تَروِّعْناthey frighten us بِتَصديعِby sundering أُلفةٍa bond
وَلَو لَم تَروِّعْنا بِتَصديعِ أُلفةٍ
كَفاناsufficed us اِرتِياعاًas fright خَوفَfear أَنthat نتَصَدَّعاwe be sundered
كَفانا اِرتِياعاً خَوفَ أَن نتَصَدَّعا
Even if they did not frighten us by sundering a bond,
If only it didn't startle us by splitting up intimacy
fear that we might be sundered would be fright enough.
Fear of splitting up was enough to frighten us.
وَياand oh رُبَّmany a يَومٍday قَدhas أَطالَprolonged تَلَهُّفيmy yearning
وَيا رُبَّ يَومٍ قَد أَطالَ تَلَهُّفي
فَلَمand did not يُرِنِيshow me إَلّاexcept حَبيباًa beloved مُودِّعاtaking leave
فَلَم يُرِنِي إَلّا حَبيباً مُودِّعا
And oh, how many a day has prolonged my yearning,
O Lord of a day whose longing I prolonged
and shown me nothing but a beloved taking leave.
It only showed me a lover bidding farewell.
فَمِنso, with عَبرَةٍa tear سالَتthat flowed بِنَحريover my throat وَزَفرةٍand a sigh
فَمِن عَبرَةٍ سالَت بِنَحري وَزَفرةٍ
بِهاwith it رُحتُI departed مِنfrom بَعدafter الوَداعِthe farewell مشيّعاescorted
بِها رُحتُ مِن بَعد الوَداعِ مشيّعا
So, with a tear that ran down my neck, and a sigh,
So from the flowing tears on my throat and a sigh
I departed after farewell, escorted by them.
With which I went after bidding farewell, seeing off.
وَباكيةand a weeping woman لَماwhen أَظَلَّloomed فراقَناour parting
وَباكية لَما أَظَلَّ فراقَنا
وَماand not أَوشَكَتshe came near to تَرجوhoping لِوَصليَfor union with me مَرجَعاa return
وَما أَوشَكَت تَرجو لِوَصليَ مَرجَعا
And a woman wept when our parting loomed,
And a crying woman whose separation darkened
and scarcely hoped for a return to union with me.
And nearly hoped for the return of our union.
تُكفكفُshe wipes away دونيbefore me عَبرةًa tear بَعدَafter عَبرةٍa tear
تُكفكفُ دوني عَبرةً بَعدَ عَبرةٍ
عَلىon صَفحِthe surface خَدٍof a cheek باتَthat became بِالدَمعِwith tears أَسفَعاdarkened
عَلى صَفحِ خَدٍ باتَ بِالدَمعِ أَسفَعا
She wiped away before me tear after tear
Lessen before me a tear after a tear
on the surface of a cheek darkened with tears.
On a cheek that spent the night shedding tears.
أَقِليweep less فَقَدfor indeed أَشجَيتِyou saddened بِالنَوحِwith lamentation أَضلُعيmy ribs
أَقِلي فَقَد أَشجَيتِ بِالنَوحِ أَضلُعي
وَغادَرتِand you left قَلبيmy heart بِالشُجونِwith sorrows مروَّعاterrified
وَغادَرتِ قَلبي بِالشُجونِ مروَّعا
Weep less! Your lament has filled my ribs with sorrow,
Calm down for you have distressed my ribs with wailing
and left my heart terrified by grief.
And left my heart frightened with passions.
وَكُفِّيand withhold أَليمَthe painfulness اللَحظِof your glance عَنfrom قَلبِa heart مُدنَفٍwasted by sickness
وَكُفِّي أَليمَ اللَحظِ عَن قَلبِ مُدنَفٍ
رمتهُstruck it النَوىseparation مِنfrom قَبلِbefore سَهميكَyour two arrows أَربَعاfour arrows
رمتهُ النَوى مِن قَبلِ سَهميكَ أَربَعا
And spare a wasting heart the pain of your glance,
And spare the painful glance on a coercible heart
which separation struck with four arrows before your two.
Pelted from before by your arrows four times.
فَماso not بِاختياريby my choice كانَwas ذاthis البُعدُdistance بَينَناbetween us
فَما بِاختياري كانَ ذا البُعدُ بَينَنا
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it شأَنٌis a matter أَبىthat refused أَنto يَضيّعاbe neglected
وَلَكِنَّهُ شأَنٌ أَبى أَن يَضيّعا
This distance between us was not of my choosing,
This distance between us was not of my choosing
but a matter that would not suffer neglect.
But it is fate that refused to be lost.
ذَرينيleave me وَهَذاwhile this الشَوقُlonging يُتلفُdestroys مُهجَتيmy lifeblood
ذَريني وَهَذا الشَوقُ يُتلفُ مُهجَتي
فَإنيfor I رَأيتُhave seen الخَسفَabasement أَعظَمَas greater مَصرَعاa death
فَإني رَأيتُ الخَسفَ أَعظَمَ مَصرَعا
Leave me, though this longing destroys my lifeblood,
Leave me as this longing keeps wasting my spirit
for I have found abasement a worse death.
For I saw perishing as a greater fate.
أَبىforbid اللَهُGod أَنthat أَرضىI consent to المقامَdwelling بِبَلدةٍin a town
أَبى اللَهُ أَن أَرضى المقامَ بِبَلدةٍ
أَرىI see الفَضلَmerit فيهاthere بِالخُمولِin obscurity ملفّعاshrouded
أَرى الفَضلَ فيها بِالخُمولِ ملفّعا
God forbid that I consent to dwell in a town
God refused that I be content residing in a town
where I see merit shrouded in obscurity.
Where I see excellence in it with laziness dressed up.
فَماfor not وَطَنيmy homeland أَرضٌis a land نَبَتْthat rejected بِفضائِليmy virtues
فَما وَطَني أَرضٌ نَبَتْ بِفضائِلي
وَلَوeven if كانَwas فيهاthere العَيشُlife أَخضَرَgreen مُمرَعاlush
وَلَو كانَ فيها العَيشُ أَخضَرَ مُمرَعا
A land that rejects my virtues is no homeland of mine,
So my homeland is not a land that grew with my merits
even if life there is green and lush.
Even if living in it was most verdant and lush.
وَلاnor أَصطَفِيdo I befriend مَنone who كانَhad فَضليmy merit عَدوَّهُas his enemy
وَلا أَصطَفِي مَن كانَ فَضلي عَدوَّهُ
وَلَوeven if جادَhe lavished لِيon me مِنfrom بَعدُafterward بِالودّaffection أَجمَعاin its entirety
وَلَو جادَ لِي مِن بَعدُ بِالودّ أَجمَعا
Nor do I befriend one who counts my merit his enemy,
Nor do I choose one whose enmity was my merit
even if he later lavishes all his affection on me.
Even if he is later generous to me altogether.
مَعاهدُhaunts فيهاwhere يُبرزُbares اللؤمُbaseness صَفحهُits face
مَعاهدُ فيها يُبرزُ اللؤمُ صَفحهُ
وَتُنكرand disown وَجهthe face الحُرّof the free man إِلّاunless مُقنَّعاmasked
وَتُنكر وَجه الحُرّ إِلّا مُقنَّعا
Haunts where baseness bares its face,
The treaty there shows meanness its face
and a free man's face is disowned unless masked.
While the face of the noble is denied unless masked.
أَناخَencamped بِهاthere رَكبthe caravan الغِوايةof error عائِشاًdwelling
أَناخَ بِها رَكب الغِواية عائِشاً
وَجاسَand roamed حِماهاits protected grounds مَربَعاًa spring pasture ثُمَthen مَربَعاa spring pasture
وَجاسَ حِماها مَربَعاً ثُمَ مَربَعا
The caravan of error has encamped there to live,
There the band of misguidance camped heedlessly
and roamed its protected grounds, pasture after pasture.
And settled protecting it square by square.
وَمَدَّand spread أَتِيُّthe torrent الجَهلِof ignorance بِالجورِinjustice فوقَهاover it
وَمَدَّ أَتِيُّ الجَهلِ بِالجورِ فوقَها
إِلىuntil أَنthat غَداbecame حَوضُthe pool الخباثِof the wicked مُترعاfilled to the brim
إِلى أَن غَدا حَوضُ الخباثِ مُترعا
And ignorance's torrent spread injustice over it,
And the ignorant's minion extended over it
until the pool of the wicked was filled to the brim.
Until the basin of wickedness became a pasture.
فَياso O لَكَyou are شَرّاًan evil أَيُّwhat أَمٍّmother تَمَخَّضتlabored
فَيا لَكَ شَرّاً أَيُّ أَمٍّ تَمَخَّضت
بِهِwith it وَغَذَتهُand nourished it الشُؤمَon ill omen حَتىuntil تَرَعرَعاit grew
بِهِ وَغَذَتهُ الشُؤمَ حَتى تَرَعرَعا
O what an evil! What mother labored
So evil be to you, which mother gave birth to it
to bear it, and fed it ill omen until it grew?
And nourished its misfortunes until it was nurtured.
وَياand O لَكِyou are أَياماًdays أَرَتناshowed us صُروفَهاtheir vicissitudes
وَيا لَكِ أَياماً أَرَتنا صُروفَها
عَجائبwonders لَمnever يَطرُقنَthey visited فيin الحلمa dream مَضجَعاa bed
عَجائب لَم يَطرُقنَ في الحلم مَضجَعا
And oh, what days! Their vicissitudes have shown us
And evil be to you, days, that showed us its phases
wonders that never visited a bed in dreams.
Miracles that did not occur to one asleep in their bed.
وَلَمand not يَبقَremains إِلّاexcept أَنthat نَرىwe see الشَمسَthe sun أَشرَقَتrise
وَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا أَن نَرى الشَمسَ أَشرَقَت
مِنَfrom الغَربthe west حَتّىso that تَجعلَit makes الغَربthe west مَطلَعاa rising-place
مِنَ الغَرب حَتّى تَجعلَ الغَرب مَطلَعا
Nothing remains but to see the sun rise
Until only remains that we see the sun rise
from the west, making the west its rising-place.
From the west until it makes the west a horizon.
فَياso O دَهرُTime جَدٌّis earnest ذاكَthat أَمor أَنتَyou هازِلٌjesting
فَيا دَهرُ جَدٌّ ذاكَ أَم أَنتَ هازِلٌ
وَكَيفَand how بِمَنfor one who لَمnot يَدرِknew لِلهَزَلِfor jesting مَنزَعاa way
وَكَيفَ بِمَن لَم يَدرِ لِلهَزَلِ مَنزَعا
O Time, is this earnest, or are you jesting?
So O time, was that serious or are you jesting?
And what of one who knows no way to jest?
And how can one not prone to jesting have an escape?
تَدَرّعتُI armored myself فيكِamid you الصَبرwith patience حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen عَفاit wore away
تَدَرّعتُ فيكِ الصَبر حَتّى إِذا عَفا
تَخذتُI took حِمىthe sanctuary العَبّاسof Abbas حِصناًas a fortress وَمَفزَعاand refuge
تَخذتُ حِمى العَبّاس حِصناً وَمَفزَعا
I wore patience as armor amid you until it wore away;
I armored myself in you with patience until when it was done
then took the sanctuary of Abbas as a fortress and refuge.
I took the Abbasid sanctuary as fort and refuge.
مَليكٌa sovereign غَداwho became قطبَthe axis المَكارمof noble deeds وَالنَدىand generosity
مَليكٌ غَدا قطبَ المَكارم وَالنَدى
وَباتَand became حماهُhis sanctuary لِلرَغائبِfor aspirations مَجمَعاa gathering place
وَباتَ حماهُ لِلرَغائبِ مَجمَعا
A sovereign who has become the axis of noble deeds and generosity,
A just king who became the axis of favors and munificence
whose sanctuary has become a gathering place for aspirations.
And his protective shadow became a place for wishes.
سُلالةُscion بَيتِof a house المَجدِof glory وَالعِزِّand might وَالعُلىand loftiness
سُلالةُ بَيتِ المَجدِ وَالعِزِّ وَالعُلى
وَصَفوةُand the choicest مَنof those who فيon دستهمtheir throne قَدhave تَرَبَّعاsat enthroned
وَصَفوةُ مَن في دستهم قَد تَرَبَّعا
Scion of a house of glory, might, and loftiness,
The descendants of the house of glory, honor, and loftiness
and the choicest of those who have occupied their throne.
And elite of those whom in their grasp became biennal.
همامٌa valiant man تَولَّىwho assumed الأَمرَcommand وَهوَwhile it عَلىwas on شَفاa brink
همامٌ تَولَّى الأَمرَ وَهوَ عَلى شَفا
فَشيّدَso he rebuilt مِنof أَركانِهِits pillars ماwhat تَضَعضَعاhad tottered
فَشيّدَ مِن أَركانِهِ ما تَضَعضَعا
A valiant man who assumed command when it was on the brink,
A vigilant one who assumed command while he
and rebuilt the pillars of it that had tottered.
Was on the brink so he built what was crumbling.
وَناهضَand confronted جَيشَthe army الحادِثاتof calamities بِهمّةٍwith resolve
وَناهضَ جَيشَ الحادِثات بِهمّةٍ
قَدalready اِتَخَذَتْhad taken أُفْقthe horizon السماكينِof the two Simak stars مَوضِعاas a station
قَد اِتَخَذَتْ أُفْق السماكينِ مَوضِعا
He confronted the army of calamities with resolve
And confronted the army of events with resolve
that had made the horizon of the two Simak stars its station.
That made the horizon of the heavens its position.
يَقودُhe leads لَهاagainst them جَيشاًan army مِنَof الرَأيjudgment غازياًinto battle
يَقودُ لَها جَيشاً مِنَ الرَأي غازياً
يَلِيcommanding خُلقاًa character رَحباًgenerous وَقَلباًand a heart مشيّعاcourageous
يَلِي خُلقاً رَحباً وَقَلباً مشيّعا
He leads an army of judgment against them in battle,
Leading it an army of wisdom marching
commanding a generous nature and a courageous heart.
Of easy character and receptive conscience.
تَفُلُّblunts شباةُthe edge الخَطْبِof calamity فيin كُلِevery غَمرةٍcrisis
تَفُلُّ شباةُ الخَطْبِ في كُلِ غَمرةٍ
لَهُof his نَظرةٌa glance تَصميstrikes dead الحَديدَiron الموتّعاhardened
لَهُ نَظرةٌ تَصمي الحَديدَ الموتّعا
The edge of calamity is blunted in every crisis
The youths of ordeals recoil in every murky incident
by a glance of his that slays hardened iron.
With a look that binds fast the mobilized iron.
فَتىًa man خاضَwho braved لَجَّthe depths الحادِثاتِof calamities وَضحلهاand their shallows
فَتىً خاضَ لَجَّ الحادِثاتِ وَضحلها
وَماand whatever شَرharm ريحيهاtheir two winds رَخاءa gentle breeze وَزَعزَعاand a gale
وَما شَر ريحيها رَخاء وَزَعزَعا
A man who braved calamities' depths and shallows,
A young man who waded into the shallows of events and its depths
and whatever harm their two winds brought, gentle breeze and gale.
And the evil of its winds are neither ease nor turmoil.
فَماso not زالَceased فيin الحالينِboth conditions مَرفوعَraised رايةٍa banner
فَما زالَ في الحالينِ مَرفوعَ رايةٍ
تُلاقيهِmeet him أَعناقُthe necks الطَوارقِof sudden calamities خَضَّعاbowed
تُلاقيهِ أَعناقُ الطَوارقِ خَضَّعا
In both conditions his banner has always remained aloft,
So he did not cease to raise high an emblem
while the necks of sudden calamities meet him bowed.
That meets him with necks of nomads bowed down.
تَقَلدhe shouldered أَعباءَthe burdens السِياسةِof governance أَمرَداًbeardless
تَقَلد أَعباءَ السِياسةِ أَمرَداً
وَقَدand already عَرَفَتَهُit had known him قَبلَbefore ذَلِكَthat مرضعاas a suckling
وَقَد عَرَفَتَهُ قَبلَ ذَلِكَ مرضعا
He shouldered the burdens of governance while still beardless,
He assumed the burdens of politics with fortitude
and it had known him before that as a suckling.
Having known him before that as a suckling infant.
فَكانَتso it was لَهُto him أُماًa mother وَكانَand he was لَهاto it أَباًa father
فَكانَت لَهُ أُماً وَكانَ لَها أَباً
غَذتهُit nourished him وَربَّاهاand he nurtured it وَقَدand indeed نَشأاthey both grew مَعاtogether
غَذتهُ وَربَّاها وَقَد نَشأا مَعا
It was his mother, and he was its father;
So to him was a mother and to her was a father
it nourished him, and he nurtured it, and they grew up together.
Who nourished him and nurtured her while both grew up together.
فَسِيحُbroad ظِلالthe shades المُلكِof kingship أَضحىhas become فِناؤُهُhis courtyard
فَسِيحُ ظِلال المُلكِ أَضحى فِناؤُهُ
مَلاذاًa refuge لِأَحرارِfor free النُفوسِsouls وَمَنجَعاand a fertile haven
مَلاذاً لِأَحرارِ النُفوسِ وَمَنجَعا
His kingship's shade is broad; his courtyard has become
The shadows of the kingdom became plentiful, so its end
a refuge for free souls and a fertile haven.
Became a refuge for the free souls and asylum.
بِهِin him اِعتَصَمَتْsought shelter آمالُthe hopes قَومof a people أَنالَهُمhe bestowed on them
بِهِ اِعتَصَمَتْ آمالُ قَوم أَنالَهُم
مِنَfrom الفَضلِbounty ماwhat لَمdid not يُبقِleave فيin النَفسِthe soul مَطمَعاanything to desire
مِنَ الفَضلِ ما لَم يُبقِ في النَفسِ مَطمَعا
In him a people's hopes sought shelter; he bestowed on them
Through it the hopes of a people gained
such bounty as left the soul nothing more to desire.
What they did not leave in themselves of wishes.
وَعَزَّand gained might بِهِthrough him مَنone whom لَمdid not يَعزِّزْهُstrengthen him مَعشَرٌa clan
وَعَزَّ بِهِ مَن لَم يَعزِّزْهُ مَعشَرٌ
فَأَصبَحَso he became ذاpossessed of ظُفرٍa claw وَإِنeven if كانَhe was أَقطَعاhandless
فَأَصبَحَ ذا ظُفرٍ وَإِن كانَ أَقطَعا
Through him one whom no clan supported became mighty,
And through it one who was not empowered by a group became mighty
and gained a claw, even if he was handless.
And became, though he was crippled, victorious.
وَأَصبَحَand became نابُthe fang البَغيِof tyranny فيin ظِلِّthe shade عَدلِهِof his justice
وَأَصبَحَ نابُ البَغيِ في ظِلِّ عَدلِهِ
كَليلاًblunted وَعِرنينand the nose المَظالمِof oppression أَجدَعاcropped
كَليلاً وَعِرنين المَظالمِ أَجدَعا
Under the shade of his justice, the fang of tyranny has become
And the fangs of aggression under the shade of his justice became
blunted, and the nose of oppression cropped.
At night, while the voices of injustice became barren.
كَذاthus كانَwere آباءُthe forefathers الأَميرِof the prince وَإِنَّهُand indeed he
كَذا كانَ آباءُ الأَميرِ وَإِنَّهُ
لَيَجريsurely proceeds عَلىalong آثارِهِمtheir footsteps مُتَتَبِّعاfollowing closely
لَيَجري عَلى آثارِهِم مُتَتَبِّعا
Such were the prince's forefathers, and he
Thus were the prince's forefathers and he
surely follows closely in their footsteps.
Still flows upon their traces, following.
سُراةٌnoble lords بَنواwho built صِرحاًan edifice مِنَof المَجدglory باذِخاًtowering
سُراةٌ بَنوا صِرحاً مِنَ المَجد باذِخاً
وَشادواand raised لَهُfor it بِالعزِّwith might سُوراًa wall مُمنَّعاimpregnable
وَشادوا لَهُ بِالعزِّ سُوراً مُمنَّعا
Noble lords who built a towering edifice of glory
Nobles who built a lavish citadel of glory
and raised for it an impregnable wall of might.
And erected for it with might an impregnable wall.
وَسَنُّواand instituted النَدىgenerosity وَالعَدلَand justice لِلناسِfor the people فَاِقتَدىso followed
وَسَنُّوا النَدى وَالعَدلَ لِلناسِ فَاِقتَدى
بِهِمafter them مَنwhoever بَغيsought فيon ذِروةِthe summit المَجدِof glory مَفرعاa lofty station
بِهِم مَن بَغي في ذِروةِ المَجدِ مَفرعا
They established generosity and justice for the people, and were followed
And they exemplified chivalry and justice for the people, so emulated them
by whoever sought a lofty station on glory's summit.
Whoever sought glory at the peak of glory.
لَهُمtheirs are فيin حِمىthe sanctuary مَصرٍof Egypt عَظائمُmighty deeds لَمhave not تَزَلceased
لَهُم في حِمى مَصرٍ عَظائمُ لَم تَزَل
لَدَيهنَّbefore them أَبصارُthe eyes الحَوادثِof calamities خُشَّعاdowncast
لَدَيهنَّ أَبصارُ الحَوادثِ خُشَّعا
Theirs are mighty deeds in Egypt's sanctuary, and still
For them in the sanctuary of Egypt are magnificent deeds that have not ceased
the eyes of calamities are lowered before them.
To humble before them the sights of events.
غَطارفةٌnoble lords تَمضيpass العُصورُthe ages وَذكرُهُمand their memory
غَطارفةٌ تَمضي العُصورُ وَذكرُهُم
فتيُّfresh شَبابٍwith youth كُلَماwhenever شِخنَthey grew old أَيفَعاit blossomed into youth
فتيُّ شَبابٍ كُلَما شِخنَ أَيفَعا
Noble lords: the ages pass, while their memory
Gallants whom the ages pass while their memory
stays fresh with youth, blossoming whenever the ages grow old.
Is like the prime of youths, the older it becomes the more vigorous.
وَلَوeven if أَغفَلَneglected التاريخُhistory ذكرَthe record فِعالِهمof their deeds
وَلَو أَغفَلَ التاريخُ ذكرَ فِعالِهم
دَعاcalled out ناطقُthe speaking voice الآثارِof the monuments مِنهاof them فَأسَمَعاand made itself heard
دَعا ناطقُ الآثارِ مِنها فَأسَمَعا
Even if history neglected the record of their deeds,
And if history forgot to mention their deeds
their speaking monuments would call out and make themselves heard.
The voice of relics there called out and made heard.
وَدونَكَand take ياO مَولايَmy lord مَدحةُa praise-poem عاجزٍof one inadequate
وَدونَكَ يا مَولايَ مَدحةُ عاجزٍ
بِهاwith it لِوفاto discharge حَقِّthe debt الجَميلِof kindness تَذرَّعاhe took as a means
بِها لِوفا حَقِّ الجَميلِ تَذرَّعا
Take, my lord, the praise-poem of a man unequal to the task,
And unto you, my Master, is the inadequate praise of an incapable one
with which he has sought to repay the debt of kindness.
With which to clothe the right of your favor he manned up.
لَئِنif indeed عِيبwas faulted بِالتَّقصيرِfor falling short فيكَof you ثَناؤُهُhis praise
لَئِن عِيب بِالتَّقصيرِ فيكَ ثَناؤُهُ
فَقَدthen indeed أمِنَwas safe from التَزويرَfalsehood فيماin what لَكَfor you اِدَّعىit claimed
فَقَد أمِنَ التَزويرَ فيما لَكَ اِدَّعى
If his praise of you is faulted for falling short,
If praised deficiently for your inadequacy
it is safe from falsehood in what it claims for you.
He avoided forgery in what he claimed of you.
وَمِثلُكَand one like you مَنone whose لاnot يَبلغِcan reach المَدحَpraise وَصفُهُhis description
وَمِثلُكَ مَن لا يَبلغِ المَدحَ وَصفُهُ
وَلَوeven if أَسهَبspoke at length المُثنِيthe praiser عَلَيكَof you وَأَبدَعاand excelled creatively
وَلَو أَسهَب المُثنِي عَلَيكَ وَأَبدَعا
One such as you has qualities that praise cannot encompass,
And the like of you, whose traits praise does not reach
however long and artfully your praiser speaks.
Even if the praiser is prolix toward you creating.
وَحسبُand sufficient is مَديحيmy praise فيكَof you أَنِّيَthat I زنتُهُweighed it
وَحسبُ مَديحي فيكَ أَنِّيَ زنتُهُ
بِماby what فيكَis in you مِنof حُسنِthe beauty الخَلائقِof character traits أَودَعاwas lodged
بِما فيكَ مِن حُسنِ الخَلائقِ أَودَعا
It is enough for my praise of you that I have weighed it
And enough of my praise of you is that I weighed it
against the beauty of the qualities lodged in you.
With what of excellent traits are latent in you.
صِفاتٌqualities زَهَتْshone حُسناًwith beauty فَكانَتso they were كَرَوضةٍlike a garden
صِفاتٌ زَهَتْ حُسناً فَكانَت كَرَوضةٍ
وَكُنتُand I was بِمَدحِيهاin praising them الهِزارُthe nightingale المَرجِّعاtrilling
وَكُنتُ بِمَدحِيها الهِزارُ المَرجِّعا
Qualities radiant with beauty, like a garden,
Attributes that shone in beauty and so were like a meadow
and in praising them I was the trilling nightingale.
While I, in praising it, was the frequenter returning.
إِلىto بابكَyour gate العاليlofty سَرَيتُI traveled by night وَقِبلَتيand my bearing
إِلى بابكَ العالي سَرَيتُ وَقِبلَتي
نُجومُthe stars المُنىof hopes فيin أُفْقِthe horizon فَضلِكَof your bounty طُلَّعاrisen
نُجومُ المُنى في أُفْقِ فَضلِكَ طُلَّعا
To your lofty gate I journeyed by night, my bearing set toward
To your noble court I walked and my hopes
the stars of hope risen on the horizon of your bounty.
Were the stars of wishes in the horizon of your nobility that arose.
وَأَنزَلتُand I set down رحليmy saddle مِنكَwith you فيin خَيرِthe best بُقعةٍplace
وَأَنزَلتُ رحلي مِنكَ في خَيرِ بُقعةٍ
أَرىI see أُمماًpeoples فيهاthere بظلِّكَin your shade رُتَّعَاgrazing freely
أَرى أُمماً فيها بظلِّكَ رُتَّعَا
I set down my saddle with you in the best of places,
And I descended from you in the best spot
where I see peoples grazing freely in your shade.
Where I see nations through your shade stabled.
فَدُمْso endure وَاِبقَand live on وَاِسلمْand be safe وَاِرْقَand rise وَانعمْand prosper ولاand never تَزلْcease
فَدُمْ وَاِبقَ وَاِسلمْ وَاِرْقَ وَانعمْ ولا تَزلْ
مُقابِلةًmet in return نعماكَyour bounty بِالحَمدِwith praise وَالدُّعاand prayer
مُقابِلةً نعماكَ بِالحَمدِ وَالدُّعا
Endure, live on, be safe, rise, prosper, and may there always be
So continue and stay and surrender and rise and enjoy and never cease
praise and prayer in return for your bounty.
Reciprocating your blessings with thanks and supplication.
فَلَوfor if كانَتِwere الآمالُhopes طَيراًbirds بَرَوضةٍin a garden
فَلَو كانَتِ الآمالُ طَيراً بَرَوضةٍ
لَمَاthen not كنَّwould they be إَلّاexcept فيin فَنائِكَyour courtyard وُقَّعاperched
لَمَا كنَّ إَلّا في فَنائِكَ وُقَّعا
For if hopes were birds in a garden,
For if hopes were birds in a meadow
they would perch nowhere but in your courtyard.
They would never roost except in your courtyard.