أَلاlo قُلْsay لَخِيْرِto the best النَّاسِof people نَفْساًin person وَوَالِداًand in father
أَلا قُلْ لَخِيْرِ النَّاسِ نَفْساً وَوَالِداً
وَرَهْطاًand in clan وَأجْدَاداًand forefathers مَقَالَةَthe words مُخْتَصِّof a close associate
وَرَهْطاً وَأجْدَاداً مَقَالَةَ مُخْتَصِّ
Lo, tell the best of men in himself and in his father,
Tell the best of people in self and father,
In clan and forefathers, the words of a devoted intimate:
And kin and ancestors an utterance of one specialized,
مَحمَّدٍMuhammad الْمَأْمُولِthe hoped-for وَالْمُقْتَدَىand the one emulated بهِhim as exemplar الْthe
مَحمَّدٍ الْمَأْمُولِ وَالْمُقْتَدَى بهِ الْ
أَمِيرِprince أبيAbu الْعَبَّاسِal-Abbas ذِيpossessor of الْفَضْلِexcellence لاnot النَّقْصِdeficiency
أَمِيرِ أبي الْعَبَّاسِ ذِي الْفَضْلِ لا النَّقْصِ
Muhammad, in whom hope is placed and whose example is followed, the
Muhammad the hoped for and exemplar,
Prince Abu al-Abbas, possessed of excellence, not deficiency;
The Commander Abu al-Abbas of merit not deficit.
وَمَنْand one who جَمَعَgathered الآدَابَthe arts of learning بَعْدَafter افْتِراقِهاtheir dispersal
وَمَنْ جَمَعَ الآدَابَ بَعْدَ افْتِراقِها
وَثَقَّفَهَاand refined them بِالْبَحْثِthrough research مِنْهُon his part وبِالْفَحْصِand through examination
وَثَقَّفَهَا بِالْبَحْثِ مِنْهُ وبِالْفَحْصِ
Who gathered the arts of learning after their dispersal,
And one who gathered manners after their separation,
And refined them through his research and examination;
And gained knowledge of them through research and investigation,
دقِيقِfine حَوَاشِيat the edges الذّهْنِof the mind هُذِّبَwas refined طَبْعُهُhis nature
دقِيقِ حَوَاشِي الذّهْنِ هُذِّبَ طَبْعُهُ
وَمُحِّصَand was purified فِيwithin قُرْبِa shortness الْمَدَىof span أَيَّمَاutter مَحْصِpurification
وَمُحِّصَ فِي قُرْبِ الْمَدَى أَيَّمَا مَحْصِ
Fine-edged in mind, his nature has been refined,
The subtle commentator of mentalities refined in nature,
And thoroughly purified within a brief span;
And purified through proximity however much cleansing.
بَعِيدِfar from الْقَبُولِacceptance مِنْfrom حَسُودِan envious man مُكَاشِرٍbaring his teeth
بَعِيدِ الْقَبُولِ مِنْ حَسُودِ مُكَاشِرٍ
تَخَلَّفَfell short عَنْof أُولاهُhis favors بِالنَّزْغِthrough provocation والْفَرْصِand biting attacks
تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ أُولاهُ بِالنَّزْغِ والْفَرْصِ
Far from heeding an envious man who bares his teeth,
Far from accepting the enviousness of an ignoble companion,
Who missed his favors through provocation and biting attacks.
Who lagged behind the distinguished ones in defiance and advantage-taking.
لَئِنْeven if سَاغَwent down easily لِيfor me أَكْلِيmy food وَشُرْبِيand my drink فَإِنَّنيstill I
لَئِنْ سَاغَ لِي أَكْلِي وَشُرْبِي فَإِنَّني
كَذِيlike one with شَرَقٍchoking مِنْfrom غَيْبَتِيmy absence عَنْهُfrom him مُغْتَصِّsuffocating
كَذِي شَرَقٍ مِنْ غَيْبَتِي عَنْهُ مُغْتَصِّ
Though my food and drink may go down easily, I am
If my eating and drinking are pleasant for me, then I
Like one choking, suffocated by my absence from him.
Am like one suffering from absence from you.
وَقَدْand indeed كُنْتُI was ذَاpossessed of حَظٍّfavor لَدَيْهِwith him وَزُلْفَةٍand closeness
وَقَدْ كُنْتُ ذَا حَظٍّ لَدَيْهِ وَزُلْفَةٍ
فَجَاءَthen came الَّذِيwhat حَاذَرْتُI feared فِيهِconcerning him عَلَىby غَفْصِsudden surprise
فَجَاءَ الَّذِي حَاذَرْتُ فِيهِ عَلَى غَفْصِ
I once enjoyed favor and closeness with him,
I used to have fortune and intimacy with you,
Then what I feared concerning him came suddenly:
But what I feared occurred suddenly however much cutting off.
بِفَسْخِby unraveling الَّذِيwhat سَدَّىhe warped وأَلْحَمَand wove the weft بَاطِلاًwrongfully
بِفَسْخِ الَّذِي سَدَّى وأَلْحَمَ بَاطِلاً
وَقَدand indeed وَقَصَاهُand the two broke its neck عَاجِلاًswiftly أَيَّمَاutter وَقْصِneck-breaking
وَقَد وَقَصَاهُ عَاجِلاً أَيَّمَا وَقْصِ
The wrongful unraveling of what he had warped and woven,
With negating what had mended and falsely joined together,
And the two swiftly broke its neck—an utter breaking:
And he quickly accomplished it, however much cutting.
مِنَfrom أكْلُبِthe dogs خُوِزَسَتانَof Khuzestan نَغْلٌa bastard مُحَقَّرٌdespised
مِنَ أكْلُبِ خُوِزَسَتانَ نَغْلٌ مُحَقَّرٌ
ضَئِيلٌpuny خَفِيُّscarcely visible الشَّخْصِin body فِيin صُورَةِthe form الدَّرْصof a mouse pup
ضَئِيلٌ خَفِيُّ الشَّخْصِ فِي صُورَةِ الدَّرْص
A despised bastard from the dogs of Khuzestan,
From the dogs of Khwarizm, a despised, feeble gang,
Puny, scarcely visible, shaped like a mouse's young.
Insignificant, obscure in figure, in the form of monkeys.
وَأَلْهَبَand ignited مِنهُfrom him الْجَمْرَthe embers بِالنَّفْخِby blowing حَابِلٌa snare-setter
وَأَلْهَبَ مِنهُ الْجَمْرَ بِالنَّفْخِ حَابِلٌ
عَلُوقٌclinging بِأَذْنَابِto the tails الأَكَاذِيبِof lies كَالشَّصِّlike a fishhook
عَلُوقٌ بِأَذْنَابِ الأَكَاذِيبِ كَالشَّصِّ
And a snare-setter blew his embers into flame,
And a fabricator kindled the embers with blowing,
Clinging to the tails of lies like a fishhook.
A liar, with the tails of lies like a magician.
بَنُوsons مُعْوَرَاتِof women exposing themselves الطُّرْقِon the roads جَاءُواthey came بِعَوْرَةٍwith a disgrace
بَنُو مُعْوَرَاتِ الطُّرْقِ جَاءُوا بِعَوْرَةٍ
ذَوُوpossessors of الآنفِnoses الذَّكَّاءِpungent والأَعْيُنِand eyes الرُّمْصِrheumy
ذَوُو الآنفِ الذَّكَّاءِ والأَعْيُنِ الرُّمْصِ
Sons of women who expose themselves on the roads brought a disgrace,
The bent-nosed people of bent ways came with crookedness,
With pungent noses and rheumy eyes;
Those of cunning minds and bleary eyes.
أُولُواpossessors of بِطنةٍfull bellies فِيin بَاطِلٍfalsehood وتَكَذُّبٍand fabrication
أُولُوا بِطنةٍ فِي بَاطِلٍ وتَكَذُّبٍ
وَصِدْقُهُمُand their truth يَأْوِيshelters إلَىin أَبْطُنٍbellies خُمْصempty
وَصِدْقُهُمُ يَأْوِي إلَى أَبْطُنٍ خُمْص
Gorged on falsehood and fabrication,
Owners of bellies full of falsehood and lies,
While their truth shelters in hollow bellies.
While their truthfulness retreats to the deepest interiors.
فَمَاso not أَسْنَدُواthey ascribed قَوْلاًa claim إلَيto ذِيone possessing تَمَاسُكٍsound standing
فَمَا أَسْنَدُوا قَوْلاً إلَي ذِي تَمَاسُكٍ
ولاَnor شَيَّدُواthey built زُورَthe falsehood الْمَقَالِof speech عَلَىupon إِصِّa foundation
ولاَ شَيَّدُوا زُورَ الْمَقَالِ عَلَى إِصِّ
They ascribed no claim to anyone of sound standing,
They did not prop up a saying to one of solidity,
Nor built their false speech on a foundation.
Nor construct the vanity of speech upon a basis.
وَبِالْقَصْرِand at the palace قَوْمٌa group إِنْif رَأَوْنَاthey see us تَبَلَّغُواthey affect eloquence
وَبِالْقَصْرِ قَوْمٌ إِنْ رَأَوْنَا تَبَلَّغُوا
وَحَطُّواand dropped لَنَاfor us الأَعْيَاقَdroppings كَالرَّخَمِlike vultures الْقُصِّshort-necked
وَحَطُّوا لَنَا الأَعْيَاقَ كَالرَّخَمِ الْقُصِّ
At the palace are men who, on seeing us, affect eloquence,
And in the palace people, if they saw us eminent
And drop their droppings for us like short-necked vultures.
And leveled their necks at us like an old camel's.
تَلاَقَتْmet بِتَأَلِيبٍin conspiracy عَلْينَاagainst us جُفُونُهُمْtheir eyelids
تَلاَقَتْ بِتَأَلِيبٍ عَلْينَا جُفُونُهُمْ
وَفَرَّقَتِand scattered الأَقْوَالَwords بِالثَّلْبِwith slander والْغَمْصِand disparagement
وَفَرَّقَتِ الأَقْوَالَ بِالثَّلْبِ والْغَمْصِ
Their eyelids met in conspiracy against us,
Their eyelids met in inciting against us
And scattered words of slander and disparagement.
And the words scattered with provocation and plunging.
وَمَاand not قَبِلواthey accepted نُصْحَthe counsel الْعَرُوضِيِّof al-Arudi فِيconcerning الَّذِيwhat
وَمَا قَبِلوا نُصْحَ الْعَرُوضِيِّ فِي الَّذِي
رآهُhe saw وَرَصُّواand packed tightly إفْكَهُمْtheir lies أَيّمَاutter رَصِّpacking
رآهُ وَرَصُّوا إفْكَهُمْ أَيّمَا رَصِّ
They did not accept al-Arudi's counsel concerning what
They did not accept the advice of the proposer in what
He saw, but packed their lies tightly—most tightly.
He saw, and they buttressed their slander, however much consolidation.
وَقَدْand indeed هَطَلَتْهُrained upon him غَيْبَةٌbackbiting مِنْfrom سَحَابِهِمْtheir clouds
وَقَدْ هَطَلَتْهُ غَيْبَةٌ مِنْ سَحَابِهِمْ
وَكَالُواand they measured لَهُfor him صَاعاًa measure مِنَof النَّثِّgossip والْقَصّand tale-telling
وَكَالُوا لَهُ صَاعاً مِنَ النَّثِّ والْقَصّ
Backbiting rained upon him from their clouds,
Absence from their clouds rained on him,
And they measured him a measure of gossip and tale-telling.
And they measured out for him a measure of carping and cutting off.
وَهَبَّand blew لهُover him فِيin بُعْدِهhis distance لَكَfor you قَاصِفٌa storm
وَهَبَّ لهُ فِي بُعْدِه لَكَ قَاصِفٌ
مِنَof الْحزْنِsorrow يُنْئِيdrives far away صبرَهُhis patience عَنْكَfrom you بَلْrather يُقْصِيbanishes
مِنَ الْحزْنِ يُنْئِي صبرَهُ عَنْكَ بَلْ يُقْصِي
In his distance from you, a storm broke over him,
And there blew for you, in your absence, a desiccating wind
Of grief that drives his patience from you—rather, banishes it.
Of grief that diminished your patience from you, rather cut it off.
فَغَصَّso he choked بِشُربٍon a draught مِنْof فِرَاقِكَseparation from you آجنٍstagnant
فَغَصَّ بِشُربٍ مِنْ فِرَاقِكَ آجنٍ
عَصُوفٍdevastating بِجَدْوَاهُto his gains أَمَرَّmore bitter مِنَthan الْعَفْصِgallnuts
عَصُوفٍ بِجَدْوَاهُ أَمَرَّ مِنَ الْعَفْصِ
He choked on a stagnant draught of separation from you,
So he was anguished by a draught of parting from you, restless,
Sweeping away his gains, more bitter than gallnuts.
Writhing, bitterer than aloes.
وَإِنْand if أَنْجَزَgranted الإِمْكَانُopportunity يَوْماًone day بِجَلْسَةٍwith a sitting
وَإِنْ أَنْجَزَ الإِمْكَانُ يَوْماً بِجَلْسَةٍ
لَدَيْكَin your presence أَتَاكَreaches you الْقَوْلُthe account بِالشَرْحِwith explanation واللَّخْصِand summary
لَدَيْكَ أَتَاكَ الْقَوْلُ بِالشَرْحِ واللَّخْصِ
If opportunity one day grants a sitting
If accomplishment one day allows a sitting
With you, the account will reach you, explained and summarized.
With you, speech will come to you with explanation and summarization.
فَأَدْنَيْتَthen you drew near حَقّاًa truth قَدْalready أُطِيحَwas overthrown بِشَخْصِهِin its person
فَأَدْنَيْتَ حَقّاً قَدْ أُطِيحَ بِشَخْصِهِ
إلَىto نزَوَانِthe lunging الْقَوْمِof the people بِالزُّورِwith falsehood والْقَنْصِand hunting
إلَى نزَوَانِ الْقَوْمِ بِالزُّورِ والْقَنْصِ
Then you would draw close a truth whose person had been brought down,
So you granted audience to the appearance of truth when
Prey to the people's pouncing with falsehood and snares.
Its face turned toward you until proximity directed precise speech.
فَأَقْتَبَلُthen I begin anew الْعَيْشَlife الْغَرِيرَcarefree بِقُرْبِكُمْthrough nearness to you
فَأَقْتَبَلُ الْعَيْشَ الْغَرِيرَ بِقُرْبِكُمْ
وَأَسْحَبُand I trail فِيin لَذَّاتِهِits pleasures أَذْيُلَthe hems الْقُمْصِof shirts
وَأَسْحَبُ فِي لَذَّاتِهِ أَذْيُلَ الْقُمْصِ
Then I would begin a carefree life anew near you,
The suspicion of time has bent me with your absence,
And trail the hems of my shirts through its pleasures.
The bending of one gambling with metaphor in cutting off.
بِحَقّin truth أَفَاضَpoured out الْقَلْبُthe heart فَاضِلthe surplus شَرْبَةٍof a draught
بِحَقّ أَفَاضَ الْقَلْبُ فَاضِل شَرْبَةٍ
مِنَof الهَمِّsorrow حَتَّىuntil جَاءَنِيcame to me الأَمْرُthe matter مِنْfrom فَصِّthe core
مِنَ الهَمِّ حَتَّى جَاءَنِي الأَمْرُ مِنْ فَصِّ
Truly, my heart poured out the surplus of a draught
Toward you my hopes stretched in resolve
Of sorrow, until the matter's true core reached me.
For the companionship of kin, holding firm, pining.
وَأَطْلَعَand revealed شَخْصُthe person الْحَقِّof truth عنْدَكَbefore you وَجْهَهُits face
وَأَطْلَعَ شَخْصُ الْحَقِّ عنْدَكَ وَجْهَهُ
إلَىuntil أَنْthat يَقُودَguides الْقُرْبُnearness مَنْطِقَthe speech مُسْتَقْصِيof a thorough inquirer
إلَى أَنْ يَقُودَ الْقُرْبُ مَنْطِقَ مُسْتَقْصِي
And truth's person showed its face before you,
And anguished whom the family's cup made drink
Until nearness guides the speech of a thorough inquirer.
A draught, so it wasted him in nearing ecstasy and trembling.
تَحَيَّفَنِيwore me away رَيْبُthe vicissitudes الزَّمَانِof time بِبُعْدِكُمْthrough distance from you
تَحَيَّفَنِي رَيْبُ الزَّمَانِ بِبُعْدِكُمْ
تَحَيُّفَthe cutting away مِقْراضِof the shears الْمُجَازِفِof a reckless man فِيin الْقَصِّcutting
تَحَيُّفَ مِقْراضِ الْمُجَازِفِ فِي الْقَصِّ
Time's vicissitudes have worn me away in my distance from you,
To the son of him who revived the wilderness, his justice,
As a reckless cutter's shears cut away.
So he was compared with al-Faruq among them, Abu Hafs.
إِلَيْكَtoward you تَرَامَتْranged far بِيwith me الأَمَانِيّhopes هِمَّةٌhigh resolve
إِلَيْكَ تَرَامَتْ بِي الأَمَانِيّ هِمَّةٌ
عَلَىupon لُحُقdrawn-in الأَقْرَابِflanks ضَامِرَةٍlean حُصِّshort-haired
عَلَى لُحُق الأَقْرَابِ ضَامِرَةٍ حُصِّ
My hopes bore me toward you, with high resolve,
And I had a promise to you with a ring
On lean, short-haired mounts with drawn-in flanks,
Studded, pleasing to behold in appearance and person.
وَخُوصٍand sunken-eyed mounts سَقَتْهَاmade them drink الآلَthe mirage كَأْسُthe cup هَجِيرِهِof its noon heat
وَخُوصٍ سَقَتْهَا الآلَ كَأْسُ هَجِيرِهِ
فَأَفْنَتْهُso they consumed it بِالْوَجْدِwith ardor الْمُواشِكِswift والرَّقْصِand bounding strides
فَأَفْنَتْهُ بِالْوَجْدِ الْمُواشِكِ والرَّقْصِ
And sunken-eyed mounts which noon's heat-cup made drink the mirage,
Noble, when they would sign it for a lord
Then consumed it in swift ardor and bounding strides.
Whose nobility and elevation through it increased.
إلَىto ابْنِthe son الَّذِيof him who أَحْيَاrevived الْبَرِيَّةَmankind عَدْلُهُhis justice
إلَى ابْنِ الَّذِي أَحْيَا الْبَرِيَّةَ عَدْلُهُ
فَشُبِّهَso he was likened بِالْفَارُوقِto al-Faruq فِيهمْamong them أَبِيAbu حَفْصِHafs
فَشُبِّهَ بِالْفَارُوقِ فِيهمْ أَبِي حَفْصِ
To the son of him whose justice revived mankind,
So I have not glimpsed the Commander with mention
Who was likened among them to al-Faruq, Abu Hafs.
Of it by insinuation in speech nor directly.
وَقَدْand indeed كَانَthere was لِيfor me وَعْدٌa promise عَلَيْكَbinding upon you بِخَاتَمٍof a ring
وَقَدْ كَانَ لِي وَعْدٌ عَلَيْكَ بِخَاتَمٍ
عَلُوقٍclinging بِلَحْظِto the glance الْعَيْنِof the eye مُسْتَمْلَحdeemed lovely الشَّخْصِin form
عَلُوقٍ بِلَحْظِ الْعَيْنِ مُسْتَمْلَح الشَّخْصِ
I had a promise binding you: a ring,
Favor with him did not avail me in that
Catching the eye, lovely in form;
To remind of fulfillment, and I am not greedy.
شَرِيفnoble إِذَاwhen ماever وَقَّعوهthey inscribe it لسيدٍfor a lord
شَرِيف إِذَا ما وَقَّعوه لسيدٍ
تعاظمgrows great واستعلىand rises high بهthrough him شرفُthe honor الفَصِّof the gem
تعاظم واستعلى به شرفُ الفَصِّ
Noble: when they inscribe it for a lord,
I do not exaggerate praise except for one
Its gem's honor grows great and rises through him.
Who exaggerates in giving, and I am no deficient.
فَلاَso not أَنَاI طَالَعْتُI informed الأَمِيرَthe prince بِذِكْرِهِby mentioning it
فَلاَ أَنَا طَالَعْتُ الأَمِيرَ بِذِكْرِهِ
بِتَعْرِيضِby hinting قَوْلٍwords فِيin الْخِطَابِthe address وَلاَnor نَصِّan explicit statement
بِتَعْرِيضِ قَوْلٍ فِي الْخِطَابِ وَلاَ نَصِّ
I have not raised its mention with the prince,
Not with an insignificant heart, nor with a little branch
By hinting in conversation or by speaking outright.
Where a fresh twig sways upon the thickets.
وَلاَnor أَنْجَدَتْنِيaided me مِنْهُfrom him فِيin ذَاكَthat حُظْوَةٌfavor
وَلاَ أَنْجَدَتْنِي مِنْهُ فِي ذَاكَ حُظْوَةٌ
تُذَكِّرُreminding إِنْجَازاًof fulfillment وَلَسْتُand I am not بذِيpossessed of حِرْصِgreed
تُذَكِّرُ إِنْجَازاً وَلَسْتُ بذِي حِرْصِ
Nor did favor with him help me in that,
The firm resolve of her heart is like rock,
To remind him of fulfillment; I am not a man of greed.
Though it hides in a contemptible body.
وإِنِّيand I لأَرْجُوindeed hope أَنْthat يُسَرِّيَbrings relief لُبْسُهُwearing it
وإِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ يُسَرِّيَ لُبْسُهُ
فَيَأْخُذَand so takes مِنْهُfrom it اللَّبْسَconfusion أَخْذَةَthe grasp مُقْتَصِّof an avenger
فَيَأْخُذَ مِنْهُ اللَّبْسَ أَخْذَةَ مُقْتَصِّ
I indeed hope that wearing it will bring relief,
Nor with absorption in the pleasure of taste of a finch
And wrench confusion from it with an avenger's grasp.
Whose compatibility is in the age of shrikes and cages.
وَإِنand if لَمْnot يَكُنْthere is كَرْعٌdeep drinking يُقَاوِمُcounteracts غُلَّتِيmy thirst
وَإِن لَمْ يَكُنْ كَرْعٌ يُقَاوِمُ غُلَّتِي
بِرِيٍّwith quenching قَنِعْناwe are content فِيهin it بِالرَّشْفِwith sipping والْمَصِّand sucking
بِرِيٍّ قَنِعْنا فِيه بِالرَّشْفِ والْمَصِّ
If no deep draught can overcome my thirst
If the like of chickpeas were hoped for in Homs
By quenching it, we are content with sipping and sucking.
The men would lead my camels to Homs.
إِذاif لَمْnot يَكُنْthere is كُلُّall الَّذِيthat which يَشْتَهِيdesires الْفَتَىthe young man
إِذا لَمْ يَكُنْ كُلُّ الَّذِي يَشْتَهِي الْفَتَى
فَفِيthen in الرَّأيِsound judgment أَنْthat يَرْضَىhe be satisfied ويَقنَعَand he be content بالَشِّقْصِwith a share
فَفِي الرَّأيِ أَنْ يَرْضَى ويَقنَعَ بالَشِّقْصِ
If not everything a young man desires is available,
I lean toward drinking deep of the noble ones in my anguish,
Wisdom lies in being satisfied and content with a share.
And am not a remedy for the wretched ones' ulcers.
وَلَسْتُand I am not كَمَنْlike one who يُمْضِيpasses عَلَىon الظَّنِّconjecture حُكْمَهُhis judgment
وَلَسْتُ كَمَنْ يُمْضِي عَلَى الظَّنِّ حُكْمَهُ
وَيَجْعَلُand makes إِسْنَادَthe attribution of lineage الرِّجَالِof men إلىَto حَصِّHass (referent unclear)
وَيَجْعَلُ إِسْنَادَ الرِّجَالِ إلىَ حَصِّ
I am not one who passes judgment on conjecture,
So say to whoever compared the Commander to other than him,
And traces men's pedigrees back to Hass.
"You have made an effort, but measured out grain is not like crushed."
وإِنِّيand I لَأُغلِيindeed price highly الْمَدْحَpraise إِلاexcept عَلَىfor الَّذِيone who
وإِنِّي لَأُغلِي الْمَدْحَ إِلا عَلَى الَّذِي
يُغَالِيis lavish بِإِعَطَاءٍin giving وَلَسْتُand I am not بِذِيpossessed of نَقْصِdeficiency
يُغَالِي بِإِعَطَاءٍ وَلَسْتُ بِذِي نَقْصِ
I set praise at a high price, except for one
You went blindly into vanity in speech and falsehood
Who is lavish in giving; I am not lacking.
By a gap that surmounted the rocks in vertigo.
بِذِيwith this one هامَis enamored قَلْبٌa heart لاَnot بِخَرِيَدةٍwith a secluded maiden بِهَاin her
بِذِي هامَ قَلْبٌ لاَ بِخَرِيَدةٍ بِهَا
يَميسُsways بِهَاin her غُصْنٌa bough رَطِيبُfresh عَلَىupon دعْصِa sand dune
يَميسُ بِهَا غُصْنٌ رَطِيبُ عَلَى دعْصِ
A heart is enamored of this one, not of a secluded maiden in whom
The beauties of this creation began with you
A fresh bough sways upon a sand dune.
And one of meagre means drags them like a thief.
صَليبَةُfirm عَزْمِin resolve الْقَلْبِof heart كَالصَّخْرِlike rock قَلْبُهَاher heart
صَليبَةُ عَزْمِ الْقَلْبِ كَالصَّخْرِ قَلْبُهَا
عَلَىdespite أَنَّهُthe fact that it يَكْتَنُّis concealed فِيin جَسَدٍa body رَخْصِtender
عَلَى أَنَّهُ يَكْتَنُّ فِي جَسَدٍ رَخْصِ
Firm in the heart's resolve, her heart is like rock,
Thus glory cannot be gathered by wealth,
Though it lies concealed in a tender body.
And by abodes the structures were built of bricks and plaster.
وَلاَnor بِشَمُولٍwith wine لَذَّةِdelicious الطَّعْمِin taste قَرْقَفٍshiver-inducing wine
وَلاَ بِشَمُولٍ لَذَّةِ الطَّعْمِ قَرْقَفٍ
مَنَاسِبُهَاits pedigrees فيin عُمْرِthe age كَركِينَof Karkin وَالْقُفْصِand al-Qufs
مَنَاسِبُهَا في عُمْرِ كَركِينَ وَالْقُفْصِ
Nor of sweet-tasting wine that makes one shiver,
You have not ceased to be for the eternal realm its ruler,
Whose pedigree reaches the age of Karkin and al-Qufs.
Obeyed by it in what you desire, and it does not disobey.
فَلَوْso if كَانَthere were فيin حِمْصٍHoms يُرَجَّىcould be hoped for شَبِيهُهُhis equal
فَلَوْ كَانَ في حِمْصٍ يُرَجَّى شَبِيهُهُ
لَسَاقَsurely would drive مَطَايَايَmy mounts الرِّجَالُthe men إليَto حِمْصِHoms
لَسَاقَ مَطَايَايَ الرِّجَالُ إليَ حِمْصِ
If his equal could be hoped for in Homs,
You attained the furthest limit of lifetimes
Men would surely drive my mounts to Homs.
Beyond the reach of enumeration, before which the enumerator's hand falls short.
أَمِيلُI incline إلَىtoward شُرْبِthe draughts الْكِرَامِof the generous بِغُلَّتيwith my thirst
أَمِيلُ إلَى شُرْبِ الْكِرَامِ بِغُلَّتي
وَلَسْتُand I am not لأَوْشَالِfrom the trickles اللِّئَامِof the base بِمُمْتَصِّone who sucks
وَلَسْتُ لأَوْشَالِ اللِّئَامِ بِمُمْتَصِّ
In my thirst I turn to the draughts of the generous,
And do not suck at the paltry trickles of the base.
فَقُولُواso say لِمَنْto whoever قَاسَcompared الأَمِيرَthe prince بِغَيْرِهِwith someone other than him
فَقُولُوا لِمَنْ قَاسَ الأَمِيرَ بِغَيْرِهِ
تَأَيَّدْbe deliberate فَمَاfor not الْكَيْلُthe measure الْمُحَصَّلُverified كَالخَرْصِlike guesswork
تَأَيَّدْ فَمَا الْكَيْلُ الْمُحَصَّلُ كَالخَرْصِ
So tell whoever compares the prince with another:
Be deliberate: verified measure is not guesswork.
تَيَمَّمْتَyou aimed at زُوراًfalsehood فِيin الْمَقَالِspeech وَبَاطِلاًand falsity
تَيَمَّمْتَ زُوراً فِي الْمَقَالِ وَبَاطِلاً
لَدَىbefore خُرقٍa generous man سَادَsurpassed الصُّخُورَthe rocks عَلَىupon رَهْصِa stone foundation
لَدَى خُرقٍ سَادَ الصُّخُورَ عَلَى رَهْصِ
You aimed at falsehood in speech and empty lies,
Before a generous man who surpasses rocks upon their foundations.
مَحَاسِنُthe beauties هَذَاof this الْخَلْقِcreation مِنْكَfrom you ابْتَداؤُهاtheir beginning
مَحَاسِنُ هَذَا الْخَلْقِ مِنْكَ ابْتَداؤُها
وَيَجْذبُهاand draws them ذُوone possessed of كُلْفَةstrained effort مِنْكَfrom you كَاللِّصِّlike a thief
وَيَجْذبُها ذُو كُلْفَة مِنْكَ كَاللِّصِّ
The beauties of this creation have their beginning in you,
And one who strains for them draws them from you like a thief.
كَذَاsuch is الْمَجْدُglory لاَnot بِالْمَالِby wealth يُجْمَعُis gathered شَمْلُهُits unity
كَذَا الْمَجْدُ لاَ بِالْمَالِ يُجْمَعُ شَمْلُهُ
وبِالدُّورِand by houses شِيدَتْwere built بِالقَرَامِيدِwith tiles وَالْجِصِّand plaster
وبِالدُّورِ شِيدَتْ بِالقَرَامِيدِ وَالْجِصِّ
Such is glory: it is not brought together by wealth,
Nor by houses built of tiles and plaster.
فَلاَso never زِلْتَmay you cease للدَّهْرِof Time الْمُمَلَّكِmade king مَالِكاًmaster
فَلاَ زِلْتَ للدَّهْرِ الْمُمَلَّكِ مَالِكاً
يَطيعُكَit obeys you فِيمَاin what تَشْتَهِيهِyou desire it وَلاَand not يَعْصِيdisobeys
يَطيعُكَ فِيمَا تَشْتَهِيهِ وَلاَ يَعْصِي
So may you ever remain master of enthroned Time,
Which obeys you in what you desire and does not disobey.
وَحُزْتَand may you attain مِنَof الأَعْمَارِlifetimes أَقْصَىthe farthest نِهَايَةٍlimit
وَحُزْتَ مِنَ الأَعْمَارِ أَقْصَى نِهَايَةٍ
تفُوتُsurpasses مَدَىthe reach الإِحْصَاءِof counting فِيهَاwithin it يَدُthe hand الْمُحصِيof the reckoner
تفُوتُ مَدَى الإِحْصَاءِ فِيهَا يَدُ الْمُحصِي
And may you attain the farthest limit of lifetimes,
Surpassing the reach of counting by the reckoner's hand.
Partial English translation: 82 of 96 Arabic lines translated.