عَذَلْتُI reproached امْرَءاًa man فِيfor عِشْقِهِhis love لَيْسَdoes not يَعْذُرُكْexcuse you
عَذَلْتُ امْرَءاً فِي عِشْقِهِ لَيْسَ يَعْذُرُكْ
أمَاhas ... not? عَاشَhe lived أنْto يَنْهاكَforbid you عَنْهُfrom it وَيَزْجُرُكْand rebuke you
أمَا عَاشَ أنْ يَنْهاكَ عَنْهُ وَيَزْجُرُكْ
I reproached a man for his love; he does not excuse you.
Has he not lived to warn you away from it and rebuke you?
مَتَىwhen لَمْnot تُحِطْyou encompass خُبْراًin knowledge بِماof what صَنَعَhas done الْهَوىpassion
مَتَى لَمْ تُحِطْ خُبْراً بِما صَنَعَ الْهَوى
بِمَنْto one who فارَقَparted from الأَحْبَابَloved ones فَالدَّمْعُthen tears يُخْبِرُكْtell you
بِمَنْ فارَقَ الأَحْبَابَ فَالدَّمْعُ يُخْبِرُكْ
When you do not fully know what passion has done
to one parted from loved ones, tears will tell you.
أَماindeed لَوْif بَلَوْتَyou experienced الْحُبَّlove واقْتَادَكَand led you الْهوَىpassion
أَما لَوْ بَلَوْتَ الْحُبَّ واقْتَادَكَ الْهوَى
إلَىto هَجْرِseparation from مَحْبُوبٍa beloved لَقَلَّthen would dwindle تَصَبُّرُكْyour endurance
إلَى هَجْرِ مَحْبُوبٍ لَقَلَّ تَصَبُّرُكْ
Indeed, had you experienced love, and passion led you
to separation from a beloved, your endurance would dwindle.
شَرِبْتُI drank كُؤُوسَcups of الْحُبِّlove صِرْفاًundiluted ودُونَand beneath ماwhat
شَرِبْتُ كُؤُوسَ الْحُبِّ صِرْفاً ودُونَ ما
شَرِبْتُI drank مِنَof الْمَمْزُوجِthe diluted wine ماthat which لاَdoes not يُسَكِّرُكْintoxicate you
شَرِبْتُ مِنَ الْمَمْزُوجِ ما لاَ يُسَكِّرُكْ
I drank love's cups undiluted; and beneath what
I drank lies diluted wine that would not intoxicate you.
عَلَىwith الْيُمْنِgood fortune وَالتَّوْفِيقِand success أُلْبِسْتَyou were clothed in خِلْعَةًa robe of honor
عَلَى الْيُمْنِ وَالتَّوْفِيقِ أُلْبِسْتَ خِلْعَةً
بِهاwith it المُتَّقِيal-Muttaqi لِلِهli-llah (for God) بِالْحَقِّrightfully يُؤْثِرُكْfavors you
بِها المُتَّقِي لِلِه بِالْحَقِّ يُؤْثِرُكْ
With good fortune and success, you were clothed in a robe of honor,
with which al-Muttaqi li-llah rightfully favors you.
وَفِيand at خَصْرِهاits waist قاضٍa judge كَرَأْيكَlike your judgment فيagainst الْعِدَاfoes
وَفِي خَصْرِها قاضٍ كَرَأْيكَ في الْعِدَا
بِهِthrough it تَنْقَضِيcome to an end أَعْمَارُهُمْtheir lifespans وَيُعَمِّرُكْand prolongs your life
بِهِ تَنْقَضِي أَعْمَارُهُمْ وَيُعَمِّرُكْ
And at its waist is a judge, like your judgment against foes;
through it their lives end, while it prolongs yours.
رَآكَhe deemed you أَحَقَّmost entitled النّاسِof people بالإِمْرَةِto command الَّتيwhich
رَآكَ أَحَقَّ النّاسِ بالإِمْرَةِ الَّتي
يَمازِجُmingles with فِيهاin it جَوْهَرَthe essence of الْمُلْكِkingship جَوْهَرُكْyour essence
يَمازِجُ فِيها جَوْهَرَ الْمُلْكِ جَوْهَرُكْ
He deemed you the worthiest of men for the command in which
your essence mingles with the essence of kingship.
يُقَدِّمُadvances لْلمَقْدُورِby fate's decree دَهْرٌan age مُعانِدٌhostile
يُقَدِّمُ لْلمَقْدُورِ دَهْرٌ مُعانِدٌ
سِواكَsomeone other than you إلَيْهاto it ظالِماًunjustly وَيُؤَخِّرُكْand holds you back
سِواكَ إلَيْها ظالِماً وَيُؤَخِّرُكْ
A hostile age, by fate's decree, would advance
someone else to it unjustly, and hold you back,
إلَىuntil أَنْthat وَفاkept faith بِالْوَعْدِwith the promise فِيكَconcerning you أَبُوAbu الوْفَاal-Wafa
إلَى أَنْ وَفا بِالْوَعْدِ فِيكَ أَبُو الوْفَا
فَكُلُّso every أَمِيرٍprince بِالصَّغارِin submission يُؤَمِّرُكْappoints you commander
فَكُلُّ أَمِيرٍ بِالصَّغارِ يُؤَمِّرُكْ
until Abu al-Wafa fulfilled his promise concerning you;
so every prince, in submission, makes you commander.
لَئِنْif indeed كانَthere is لِلأَتْراكِfor the Turks فَخْرٌpride بِهاشِمٍin Hashim
لَئِنْ كانَ لِلأَتْراكِ فَخْرٌ بِهاشِمٍ
فَقَدْthen indeed زادَهُمْhas increased them فِيin الْبَأْسِvalor وَالفَخْرِand pride مَفْخَرُكْyour glory
فَقَدْ زادَهُمْ فِي الْبَأْسِ وَالفَخْرِ مَفْخَرُكْ
If indeed the Turks take pride in Hashim,
your glory has increased their valor and pride.
مَلَكْتَyou ruled فَمَلَّكْتَthen you granted possession of الْمُنَىwishes كُلَّevery راغِبٍseeker
مَلَكْتَ فَمَلَّكْتَ الْمُنَى كُلَّ راغِبٍ
فَمَوْرِدُكَso your destination الإِحْسانُbenevolence وَالحَقُّand justice مَصْدَرُكْyour point of departure
فَمَوْرِدُكَ الإِحْسانُ وَالحَقُّ مَصْدَرُكْ
You ruled, then made every seeker master of his wishes;
so benevolence is your destination, and justice your point of departure.
إذاif كاثَرَboast superiority الأَتْراكُthe Turks يَوْماًone day بِسَيِّدٍthrough a chief
إذا كاثَرَ الأَتْراكُ يَوْماً بِسَيِّدٍ
فَماthen no أحَدٌone فِيin سالِفِbygone الدَّهْرِtime يَكْثُرُكْsurpasses you
فَما أحَدٌ فِي سالِفِ الدَّهْرِ يَكْثُرُكْ
If ever the Turks boast superiority through a chief,
no one in ages past surpasses you.
وَمَنْand whoever كانَwas مِنْهُمْamong them مَاجداًnoble مُتَقَدِّماًforemost
وَمَنْ كانَ مِنْهُمْ مَاجداً مُتَقَدِّماً
فَهُمْthen they are رَهْطَكُyour kinsmen الْغُرُّillustrious الكِرَامُnoble وَمَعْشَرُكْand your people
فَهُمْ رَهْطَكُ الْغُرُّ الكِرَامُ وَمَعْشَرُكْ
And those among them who were noble and foremost
are your illustrious, noble kinsmen, your own people.
طُبِعْتَyou were fashioned عَلَىupon عَقْلٍwisdom وَجُودٍand generosity وَنَجْدَةٍand courage
طُبِعْتَ عَلَى عَقْلٍ وَجُودٍ وَنَجْدَةٍ
فَماso not تَسْتَطِيعُcan الْحادِثاتُcalamities تُغَيِّرُكْchange you
فَما تَسْتَطِيعُ الْحادِثاتُ تُغَيِّرُكْ
You were fashioned for wisdom, generosity, and courage,
so calamities cannot change you.
وَسِيّانand the same فِيagainst الأَعْداءenemies مَخْبَرُكَyour tested mettle الَّذِيwhich
وَسِيّان فِي الأَعْداء مَخْبَرُكَ الَّذِي
بِهِthrough it يَنْصُرُgrants victory to اللهُGod الْوَليَّthe ally وَيَنْصُرُكْand grants you victory
بِهِ يَنْصُرُ اللهُ الْوَليَّ وَيَنْصُرُكْ
And ever the same against foes is your tested mettle,
by which God grants victory to the ally and to you.
وَهَلْand can ...? تَجِدُfind الأَعْدَاءُenemies عِنْدَكَin you غِرَّةًan unguarded moment
وَهَلْ تَجِدُ الأَعْدَاءُ عِنْدَكَ غِرَّةً
وَأَبْيَضُكَand your white sword الْمَوتُdeath المُرَجَّىawaited وَأَسْمَرُكْand your brown spear
وَأَبْيَضُكَ الْمَوتُ المُرَجَّى وَأَسْمَرُكْ
Can enemies find you unguarded,
while your white sword and brown spear are the awaited death?
وَماand never نَصَرَgranted victory to اللهُGod امْرَءاًa man أَنْتَyou حَرْبُهُhis foe
وَما نَصَرَ اللهُ امْرَءاً أَنْتَ حَرْبُهُ
وَأَنّىand how لَهُfor him بِالنَّصْرِwith victory وَاللهُwhile God يَنْصُرُكْgrants you victory
وَأَنّى لَهُ بِالنَّصْرِ وَاللهُ يَنْصُرُكْ
God has never granted victory to a man whose foe you are;
how could he have victory, when God grants victory to you?
تَخَيَّرَكَchose you الْبارِيthe Creator أَمِيراًa prince مُظَفَّراًvictorious
تَخَيَّرَكَ الْبارِي أَمِيراً مُظَفَّراً
تَبارَكَblessed is فِيin تَدْبِيرِهِHis governance مُتَخَيِّرُكْHe who chose you
تَبارَكَ فِي تَدْبِيرِهِ مُتَخَيِّرُكْ
The Creator chose you as a victorious prince;
blessed in His governance is He who chose you.
رَأَيْتُكَI saw you لِلسُّلْطانِfor the sovereign مُحْييَa reviver of دَوْلَةٍa dynasty
رَأَيْتُكَ لِلسُّلْطانِ مُحْييَ دَوْلَةٍ
فَهَذاso this اسْمُكَyour name الأَوْلَىmost fitting بِوَصْفِكَto your qualities يُشْهِرُكْmakes you renowned
فَهَذا اسْمُكَ الأَوْلَى بِوَصْفِكَ يُشْهِرُكْ
I saw you as a reviver of the sovereign's dynasty;
so this name of yours, best suited to your qualities, will make you renowned.
تَسَمَّname yourself بِهِwith it تَكْبِتْyou will confound عَدُوّاًa foe وَحاسِداًand an envier
تَسَمَّ بِهِ تَكْبِتْ عَدُوّاً وَحاسِداً
كماas قَدْindeed تَسَمَّىtook a name قَبْلُbefore مَنْone who لَيْسَdoes not يَعْشُرُكْequal a tenth of you
كما قَدْ تَسَمَّى قَبْلُ مَنْ لَيْسَ يَعْشُرُكْ
Take it as your name, and confound foe and envier,
as one not a tenth your worth has taken a title before.
إذاwhen الْتَفَّتِclose in combat الأَقْرانُmatched warriors وَاحْتَدَمَand rages الوْغَاbattle
إذا الْتَفَّتِ الأَقْرانُ وَاحْتَدَمَ الوْغَا
فَسَيْفُكَthen your sword بِالنَّصْرِof victory الْقَرِيبُimminent يُبَشِّرُكْbrings you glad tidings
فَسَيْفُكَ بِالنَّصْرِ الْقَرِيبُ يُبَشِّرُكْ
When matched warriors clash and battle rages,
your sword brings you tidings of imminent victory.
عُرِفْتَyou are known بِإقْدامٍfor bold advance وَفَتْكٍand deadly assault وَجُرْأَةٍand daring
عُرِفْتَ بِإقْدامٍ وَفَتْكٍ وَجُرْأَةٍ
فَماso no أَحَدٌone فِيin كُلِّall ذَلِكَthat يُنْكِرُكْdenies you
فَما أَحَدٌ فِي كُلِّ ذَلِكَ يُنْكِرُكْ
You are known for bold advance, deadly assault, and daring;
so none denies you any of these.
وَإنْand if جَرَّleads يَوْماًone day عَسْكَراًan army ذُوone with تَجَمُّعٍgathered forces
وَإنْ جَرَّ يَوْماً عَسْكَراً ذُو تَجَمُّعٍ
فَسَيْفُكَthen your sword فَرْداًalone فيin قتَالِكَyour fighting عَسْكَرُكْyour army
فَسَيْفُكَ فَرْداً في قتَالِكَ عَسْكَرُكْ
If one who gathers forces should ever lead an army,
your sword alone is your army in battle.
تُدَبِّرُyou manage فيamid تُرْبِthe dust of السِّنينthe years أُمُورَناour affairs
تُدَبِّرُ في تُرْبِ السِّنين أُمُورَنا
بِرَأْيٍwith judgment مُصِيبٍsound وَالإلهُand God يُدَبِّرُكْdirects you
بِرَأْيٍ مُصِيبٍ وَالإلهُ يُدَبِّرُكْ
You manage our affairs amid the dust of years,
with sound judgment, while God directs you.
وَعَدْتُكَI promised you هذَاthis الأَمْرَoutcome مِنْfrom قَبْلbefore كَوْنِهِits coming to be
وَعَدْتُكَ هذَا الأَمْرَ مِنْ قَبْل كَوْنِهِ
وَوَعْدُكَand your promise لِيto me بِالبذْلِof bounty لاَno شَكَّdoubt يُنْذِرُكْwarns you
وَوَعْدُكَ لِي بِالبذْلِ لاَ شَكَّ يُنْذِرُكْ
I promised you this outcome before it came about;
and your promise of bounty to me surely warns you.
وَهذَاand this مَسِيحِيٌّa Christian بقَوْلِيَto my words شاهِدٌa witness
وَهذَا مَسِيحِيٌّ بقَوْلِيَ شاهِدٌ
وَحَسْبِيand sufficient for me بِهِis he عَدْلاًas an upright witness بِوَعْدِكَof your promise يُذْكِرُكْhe reminds you
وَحَسْبِي بِهِ عَدْلاً بِوَعْدِكَ يُذْكِرُكْ
And this Christian bears witness to my words;
he suffices me as an upright witness, reminding you of your promise.
وَمَاand not زِلْتُI ceased مُذْsince عَايَنْتُI beheld شَخْصَكَyour person دَائبِاًtirelessly
وَمَا زِلْتُ مُذْ عَايَنْتُ شَخْصَكَ دَائبِاً
لِماfor what نِلْتَهُyou attained it أُثْنيI bestow praise عَلَيْكَupon you وَأَشْكُرُكْand thank you
لِما نِلْتَهُ أُثْني عَلَيْكَ وَأَشْكُرُكْ
Ever since I beheld you, I have tirelessly continued
to praise you and thank you for what you have attained.
لَقَدْindeed ظَفِرَتْhave triumphed كَفَّاكَyour two hands بِالْمَالِin gaining wealth وَالْعِداand foes
لَقَدْ ظَفِرَتْ كَفَّاكَ بِالْمَالِ وَالْعِدا
بِرَأْيthrough the counsel of ابْنِIbn (son of) يَحْيَىYahya الْقَرْمِthe noble chief وَاللهُand God يُظْفِرُكْgrants you victory
بِرَأْي ابْنِ يَحْيَى الْقَرْمِ وَاللهُ يُظْفِرُكْ
Your hands have indeed secured wealth and conquered foes,
through the counsel of Ibn Yahya, the noble chief; God grants you victory.
وَثِقْتُI trusted بِإدْبارِin the retreat of النُّحُوسِill fortune عَنِfrom الوْرَىmankind
وَثِقْتُ بِإدْبارِ النُّحُوسِ عَنِ الوْرَى
وَإقبْالand the arrival of سَعْدٍgood fortune حينَwhen صارَhe began يُدَبِّرُكْdirecting you
وَإقبْال سَعْدٍ حينَ صارَ يُدَبِّرُكْ
I trusted in ill fortune's retreat from mankind
and good fortune's coming, when he began directing you.
أَبُوAbu جَعْفَرٍJa'far فِيin الرَّأْيjudgment وَالْعَقْلِand intellect وافِرٌrichly endowed
أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ فِي الرَّأْي وَالْعَقْلِ وافِرٌ
بِهِthrough him اللهُGod بَعْدَafter الانِتقاصِdiminution يُوَفِّرُكْrestores your abundance
بِهِ اللهُ بَعْدَ الانِتقاصِ يُوَفِّرُكْ
Abu Ja'far is richly endowed with judgment and intellect;
through him God restores you to abundance after decline.
سَيُورِدُكَwill lead you to water الْعَذْبَthe sweet water الزُّلالَcrystal-clear مُجَرِّبٌan experienced man
سَيُورِدُكَ الْعَذْبَ الزُّلالَ مُجَرِّبٌ
عَليمٌwell versed بِتَدْبِيرِin governing الوَرَىmankind كَيْفَhow يُصْدِرُكْhe leads you from water
عَليمٌ بِتَدْبِيرِ الوَرَى كَيْفَ يُصْدِرُكْ
An experienced man will lead you to sweet, clear water,
versed in governing mankind and knowing how to lead you back.
لَقَدْindeed ظَفَرَتْhave gained كَفّاكَyour two hands مِنْهُfrom him بِفاضِلٍa man of merit
لَقَدْ ظَفَرَتْ كَفّاكَ مِنْهُ بِفاضِلٍ
بِهِthrough him اللهُGod مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter القَلِيلِscarcity يُكَثِّرُكْincreases you
بِهِ اللهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ القَلِيلِ يُكَثِّرُكْ
Your hands have indeed gained in him a man of merit,
through whom God grants you plenty after scarcity.
فَلاso may ... not زَالتِcease الأَيّامُthe days سِلْماًpeaceful مُطِيعَةًobedient
فَلا زَالتِ الأَيّامُ سِلْماً مُطِيعَةً
تُوَقِّيكَprotecting you from ماwhat تَخْشاهُyou fear it فِيهاin them وتَخْفُرُكْand guarding you
تُوَقِّيكَ ما تَخْشاهُ فِيها وتَخْفُرُكْ
May the days never cease to be peaceful and obedient,
shielding you from what you fear in them, and guarding you;
وَفُزْتَand may you attain بِماwhat تَهْوىyou desire وَصالَتْand may assail عَلَىagainst الْعِدَاfoes
وَفُزْتَ بِما تَهْوى وَصالَتْ عَلَى الْعِدَا
سُنُوكَyour years بِتَمْلِيكٍby granting dominion عَلَيْهِمْover them وَأَشْهُرُكْand your months
سُنُوكَ بِتَمْلِيكٍ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَشْهُرُكْ
and may you win what you desire, and may they assail your foes—
your years and months—by granting you dominion over them.