نَبَاwas unkind بِكَto you دَهْرٌan age بِالأَفَاضِلِto the noble نَابِيunkind
نَبَا بِكَ دَهْرٌ بِالأَفَاضِلِ نَابِي
وَبُدِّلْتَand you were given instead قَفْراًbarren land مِنْin place of خَصِيبِfertile جَنَابِgrounds
وَبُدِّلْتَ قَفْراً مِنْ خَصِيبِ جَنَابِ
An age unkind to the noble has been unkind to you,
and you were given barren ground in place of a fertile abode.
بِرَغْمِto the dismay of العُلَىlofty honor أَنْthat يُمْسِيَshould become الصَّفْوَةُthe chosen ones الأُلَىwho
بِرَغْمِ العُلَى أَنْ يُمْسِيَ الصَّفْوَةُ الأُلَى
بَنَوْاbuilt شُرُفَاتِbattlements العِزِّglory رَهْنَconsigned to يَبَابِdesolation
بَنَوْا شُرُفَاتِ العِزِّ رَهْنَ يَبَابِ
It grieves greatness that the chosen ones who
built the battlements of glory should be consigned to ruin.
تَوَلَّوْاthey departed فَأَقْوَتْso grew deserted مِنْof أَنِيسٍa companion قُصُورُهُمُtheir palaces
تَوَلَّوْا فَأَقْوَتْ مِنْ أَنِيسٍ قُصُورُهُمُ
وَبَاتُواand they became سَرَاةَnoblemen الدَّهْرِthe age رَغْمَdespite تُرَابِdust
وَبَاتُوا سَرَاةَ الدَّهْرِ رَغْمَ تُرَابِ
They departed, and their palaces grew empty of companions;
yet they remain the age's noblemen, despite the dust.
أَتَمْضِيdo you depart? أَبَاO father of شَادٍShadi وَفِيwhile in ظَنِّthe belief مَنْof whoever يَرَىsees
أَتَمْضِي أَبَا شَادٍ وَفِي ظَنِّ مَنْ يَرَى
زُهُورَكَyour radiance أَنَّthat النَّجمَthe star قَبْلَكَbefore you خَالِيempty
زُهُورَكَ أَنَّ النَّجمَ قَبْلَكَ خَالِي
Do you depart, Abu Shadi, when whoever sees
your radiance thinks the star before you empty?
عَزِيزٌgrievous عَلَىfor القَوْمِthe people للَّذِينَfor those whom وَدِدْتَهُمْyou loved them
عَزِيزٌ عَلَى القَوْمِ للَّذِينَ وَدِدْتَهُمْ
وَوَدُّوكَand they loved you أَنْthat تَنْأَىyou go far away لِغَيْرِto no مَآبِreturn
وَوَدُّوكَ أَنْ تَنْأَى لِغَيْرِ مَآبِ
It is grievous to the people, to those you loved
and who loved you, that you depart with no return,
وَأَنْand that يُبْكِمَshould silence المَوْتُdeath الأَصَمُّthe deaf أَشدَّهُمْthe strongest of them
وَأَنْ يُبْكِمَ المَوْتُ الأَصَمُّ أَشدَّهُمْ
عَلَىagainst مَنْwhoever عَتَاacted tyrannically فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth فَصْلَdecisiveness of خِطَابِspeech
عَلَى مَنْ عَتَا فِي الأَرْضِ فَصْلَ خِطَابِ
and that deaf Death should silence the strongest among them
in decisive speech against those who tyrannize upon the earth.
فَتىًa man جَامِعُuniting الأَضْدَادِopposites شَتَّىvaried صِفَاتُهُhis qualities
فَتىً جَامِعُ الأَضْدَادِ شَتَّى صِفَاتُهُ
وَأَغْلَبُهاand the predominant among them الحُسْنىthe finest بِغَيْرِwithout غِلاَبِa contest
وَأَغْلَبُها الحُسْنى بِغَيْرِ غِلاَبِ
A man uniting opposites, with manifold qualities,
the finest among them prevailing without a contest.
مُحَامٍa lawyer بِسِحْرِwith the enchantment of القَوْلِspeech يُصْبِيenthralls قُضَاتَهُhis judges
مُحَامٍ بِسِحْرِ القَوْلِ يُصْبِي قُضَاتَهُ
فَمَاthen what فِعْلُهُits effect فِيon سَامِعِينَlisteners طِرَابِdelighted
فَمَا فِعْلُهُ فِي سَامِعِينَ طِرَابِ
A lawyer whose enchanting speech enthralls his judges—
what, then, is its effect on delighted listeners?
فَبَيْنَاهُthen while he is غِرِّيدٌa songbird إذَاsuddenly هُوَhe ضَيْغَمٌa lion
فَبَيْنَاهُ غِرِّيدٌ إذَا هُوَ ضَيْغَمٌ
زَمَاجِرُهُhis roars لِلحَقِّfor justice جِدُّextremely غِضَابِangry
زَمَاجِرُهُ لِلحَقِّ جِدُّ غِضَابِ
One moment a songbird, suddenly he is a lion,
his roars for justice fierce indeed.
وَكَمْand how often خَلَبَcaptivated الأَلْبَابَminds مِنْهُfrom him بِمَوقِفٍat an encounter
وَكَمْ خَلَبَ الأَلْبَابَ مِنْهُ بِمَوقِفٍ
بَلِيغُeloquent حِوَارٍdialogue أَوْor سَدِيدُsound جَوَابِreply
بَلِيغُ حِوَارٍ أَوْ سَدِيدُ جَوَابِ
How often, at an encounter, minds were captivated by his
eloquent dialogue or sound reply!
رَقيقُgentle حَديثٍspeech إِنْif يُشَبَّهis compared حَدِيْثُهُhis speech
رَقيقُ حَديثٍ إِنْ يُشَبَّه حَدِيْثُهُ
فَمَاthen what is الخَمْرُwine زَانَتْهَاadorned it عُقُودُnecklaces حَبَابِbubbles
فَمَا الخَمْرُ زَانَتْهَا عُقُودُ حَبَابِ
Gentle in speech—if his speech is to be compared,
what is wine beside it, adorned with necklaces of bubbles?
يَسِيلُit flows فَيُرْوِيso quenches النَّفسَthe soul مِنْwith غَيْرِno نَشْوَةٍintoxication
يَسِيلُ فَيُرْوِي النَّفسَ مِنْ غَيْرِ نَشْوَةٍ
مَسِيلَthe flow of نطَافٍdroplets فيin الغَدَاةِthe morning عِذَابِsweet
مَسِيلَ نطَافٍ في الغَدَاةِ عِذَابِ
It flows and quenches the soul without intoxication,
like sweet droplets flowing in the morning.
بمَاwith what يُخْصِبُmakes fertile الأَذهَانَminds مُخْضَلُّlush دَرِّهِhis outpouring
بمَا يُخْصِبُ الأَذهَانَ مُخْضَلُّ دَرِّهِ
كَمَاas يُخْصِبُmakes fertile القِيعَانَthe plains دَرُّthe outpouring of سَحَابِclouds
كَمَا يُخْصِبُ القِيعَانَ دَرُّ سَحَابِ
His lush outpouring makes minds fertile,
as the outpouring of clouds makes plains fertile.
أَدِيبٌa writer إذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle درَّflowed دَرُّthe outpouring of يَرَاعِهِhis reed-pen
أَدِيبٌ إذَا مَا درَّ دَرُّ يَرَاعِهِ
تَبَيَّنتَyou discerned أنَّthat الفَيْضَthe flood فَيْضُa surge of عُبَابِbillowing waters
تَبَيَّنتَ أنَّ الفَيْضَ فَيْضُ عُبَابِ
A writer—when his reed-pen pours forth its flow,
you discern that the flood is a flood of surging waters.
فَفِيand within الذِّهْنِthe mind تهْدَارُroaring الأَتِيِّthe oncoming torrent وَقَدْand already جَرَىit flowed
فَفِي الذِّهْنِ تهْدَارُ الأَتِيِّ وَقَدْ جَرَى
عَلَىdespite أنَّthat مَاwhat فِيin العَيْنِthe eye صُحْفُpages كِتَابِa book
عَلَى أنَّ مَا فِي العَيْنِ صُحْفُ كِتَابِ
In the mind an oncoming torrent roars as it courses,
though all the eye sees are the pages of a book.
وَفِيand in الشِّعرِpoetry كَمْhow many قَوْلٍa saying لَهُof his رَاقَwas pleasing سَبْكُهُits crafting
وَفِي الشِّعرِ كَمْ قَوْلٍ لَهُ رَاقَ سَبْكُهُ
أَتَىcame الوَحْيُinspiration فِيin تَنْزِيلِهِits revelation بِعُجَابِwith marvels
أَتَى الوَحْيُ فِي تَنْزِيلِهِ بِعُجَابِ
And in poetry, how many a saying of his, pleasingly wrought,
bore wonders brought by inspiration in its revelation!
بِهِthrough it نَصَرَchampioned الوَهْمُimagination الحَقِيقَةَtruth نُصْرَةًa triumph
بِهِ نَصَرَ الوَهْمُ الحَقِيقَةَ نُصْرَةً
تُضِيءٌilluminates نُجُوماًstars مِنْfrom فُضُولِleftovers of ثِقَابِkindling
تُضِيءٌ نُجُوماً مِنْ فُضُولِ ثِقَابِ
Through it, imagination championed truth with a triumph
that sets stars shining with leftover kindling.
فَأَمَّاas for المَسَاعِيworthy endeavors وَالمُرُوءَاتُand noble deeds وَالنَّدَىand generosity
فَأَمَّا المَسَاعِي وَالمُرُوءَاتُ وَالنَّدَى
فَلَمْso did not يَدْعُهُcall upon him مِنْهُنَّfrom among them غَيْرُone not مُجَابِanswered
فَلَمْ يَدْعُهُ مِنْهُنَّ غَيْرُ مُجَابِ
As for worthy endeavors, noble deeds, and generosity,
none ever called upon him without being answered.
كَأَنَّas though جَنَىthe yield of كَفَّيهِhis two palms وَقْفٌan endowment مُقَسَّمٌapportioned
كَأَنَّ جَنَى كَفَّيهِ وَقْفٌ مُقَسَّمٌ
فَكُلُّso every مُرَجٍhopeful petitioner عَائِدٌreturning بِنِصَابِwith a share
فَكُلُّ مُرَجٍ عَائِدٌ بِنِصَابِ
As though the harvest of his hands were an apportioned endowment,
each hopeful petitioner returned with a share.
وَمَاand not صُدَّwas turned away عَنْfrom إسْعَادِهِhis help بَاسِطٌone extending يَداًa hand
وَمَا صُدَّ عَنْ إسْعَادِهِ بَاسِطٌ يَداً
وَلاَand not رُدَّwas refused عَنْfrom جَدْوَاهُhis bounty طَارِقُone knocking at بَابa door
وَلاَ رُدَّ عَنْ جَدْوَاهُ طَارِقُ بَاب
No outstretched hand was denied his help,
and no one knocking at his door was refused his bounty.
وَلَمْand not يَكُwas أَوْفَىmore faithful مِنْهُthan him فِيin كُلِّevery حَالَةٍcircumstance
وَلَمْ يَكُ أَوْفَى مِنْهُ فِي كُلِّ حَالَةٍ
لِمَنْto those whom يَصْطَفِيhe chooses فِيin مَحْضَرٍpresence وَغِيَابِand absence
لِمَنْ يَصْطَفِي فِي مَحْضَرٍ وَغِيَابِ
No one was more faithful than he in every circumstance
to those he chose, present or absent.
إذَاwhen هَوَhe وَالَىbefriended فَهْوَthen he is أَوَّلُthe first مَنْwho يُرَىis seen
إذَا هَوَ وَالَى فَهْوَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يُرَى
مُعِيناًhelping أَخَاهُhis brother حِينَat the time of دَْعِan onslaught (unclear form) مُصَابِa calamity
مُعِيناً أَخَاهُ حِينَ دَْعِ مُصَابِ
When he pledged friendship, he was the first to be seen
helping his brother when calamity pressed upon him.
وَمَاand not كُلُّall مَنْwhom صَادَقْتَهُمْyou befriended them بِأَصَادِقٍِtrue friends
وَمَا كُلُّ مَنْ صَادَقْتَهُمْ بِأَصَادِقٍِ
وَمَاand not كُلُّall مَنْwhom صَاحَبْتَهُمْyou accompanied them بِصِحَابِcompanions
وَمَا كُلُّ مَنْ صَاحَبْتَهُمْ بِصِحَابِ
Not all whom you befriend are true friends,
and not all whom you accompany are companions.
يَعِفُّhe restrains himself فَيَعْفُوso pardons عَنْfor كَثِيرٍmuch مُؤَمِّلاًhoping
يَعِفُّ فَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ مُؤَمِّلاً
لَهُfor him الْعَفْوُpardon مِنْfrom رَبٍa Lord قَرِيبnear مَتَابٍreturn in repentance
لَهُ الْعَفْوُ مِنْ رَبٍ قَرِيب مَتَابٍ
He restrains himself and pardons much, hoping
for pardon from a Lord readily approached in repentance.
وَمَاand not عَهْدُهُhis pledge إِنْif مَحَّصتْهُtested it حَقِيقَةٌreality
وَمَا عَهْدُهُ إِنْ مَحَّصتْهُ حَقِيقَةٌ
بِزَيْفٍcounterfeit وَمَاand not مِيْثَاقُهُhis covenant بِكِذَابِa lie
بِزَيْفٍ وَمَا مِيْثَاقُهُ بِكِذَابِ
His pledge, when reality puts it to the test,
is no counterfeit, and his covenant is no lie.
وَفِيand among النَّاسِpeople مَنْone who يُحْلِيsweetens لَكَfor you المُرَّbitterness خِدْعَةًdeceitfully
وَفِي النَّاسِ مَنْ يُحْلِي لَكَ المُرَّ خِدْعَةً
وَتَرْجِعُand you return مِنْfrom جَنَّاتِهِhis gardens بِعَذَابِwith torment
وَتَرْجِعُ مِنْ جَنَّاتِهِ بِعَذَابِ
Among people is one who deceitfully sweetens bitterness for you,
and you return from his gardens with torment.
تَذَكَّرْتُI remembered عَهْداًa time خَالِياًbygone فَبَكَيْتُهُso I wept for it
تَذَكَّرْتُ عَهْداً خَالِياً فَبَكَيْتُهُ
وَهَيْهَاتَand how far away طِيبُthe sweetness of العَيشِlife بَعْدَafter شَبَابِyouth
وَهَيْهَاتَ طِيبُ العَيشِ بَعْدَ شَبَابِ
I remembered a bygone time and wept for it;
how far away is life's sweetness after youth!
كَأَنِّيas though I بِاسْتِحْضَارِهِby recalling it نَاظِرٌwere gazing إلىat
كَأَنِّي بِاسْتِحْضَارِهِ نَاظِرٌ إلى
حُلاَهُits adornments وَمُسْتَافٌand inhaling زَكِيَّfragrant مَلاَبِperfume
حُلاَهُ وَمُسْتَافٌ زَكِيَّ مَلاَبِ
As though, by summoning it, I were gazing upon
its ornaments and inhaling fragrant perfume.
بِرُوْحِيَwith my soul ذَاكَthat الْعَهْدُtime كَمْhow many خَطَرٍa danger بِهِduring it
بِرُوْحِيَ ذَاكَ الْعَهْدُ كَمْ خَطَرٍ بِهِ
رَكِبْنَاwe braved وَكَانَand was الجِدُّearnestness مَزْجَa mixture with لِعَابِplay
رَكِبْنَا وَكَانَ الجِدُّ مَزْجَ لِعَابِ
My soul would ransom that time! How many a danger then
we braved, while earnestness mingled with play!
وَهَلْand have مَنْany أُمُورٍmatters فِيin الحَيَاةِlife عَظِيمَةٍgreat
وَهَلْ مَنْ أُمُورٍ فِي الحَيَاةِ عَظِيمَةٍ
بَغَيْرِwithout صِباyouth تَمَّتwere accomplished وغَيْرِand without تَصَابِيyouthful play
بَغَيْرِ صِبا تَمَّت وغَيْرِ تَصَابِي
Have any great matters in life
been accomplished without youth or youthful play?
زَمَانٌa time قَضَيْنَاwe paid المَجْدَglory فِيهِin it حُقُوقَهُits dues
زَمَانٌ قَضَيْنَا المَجْدَ فِيهِ حُقُوقَهُ
وَلَمْand not نَلْهُwe neglected عَنْfrom لَهْوٍpleasure وَرَشْفِand sipping رَُضَابِsweet saliva
وَلَمْ نَلْهُ عَنْ لَهْوٍ وَرَشْفِ رَُضَابِ
A time when we paid glory all its dues,
and did not neglect pleasure or sipping the nectar of lips.
مَحَضْنَاwe gave purely بِهِin it مِصْرَEgypt الهَوَىlove لاَnot تَشُوبُهُtaint it
مَحَضْنَا بِهِ مِصْرَ الهَوَى لاَ تَشُوبُهُ
شَوَائِبُimpurities مِنْof سُؤْلٍa wish لناof ours وطِلاَبِand seeking
شَوَائِبُ مِنْ سُؤْلٍ لنا وطِلاَبِ
In it we gave Egypt pure love, untainted
by any wish or demand of our own.
وَمَاand not مِصْرَEgypt إلاbut جَنَّةthe paradise of الأَرْضِthe earth سُيِّجتْhedged about
وَمَا مِصْرَ إلا جَنَّة الأَرْضِ سُيِّجتْ
بِكُلِّby every بَعِيدِfar-reaching الهَمِّambition غَضِّtender إِهَابِskin
بِكُلِّ بَعِيدِ الهَمِّ غَضِّ إِهَابِ
Egypt is nothing but earth's paradise, hedged about
by every far-aspiring youth of tender skin.
فَدَاهَاhe gave himself for her وَلَمْand not يَكْرُثْهُtroubled him أْنthat جَارَwas unjust حُكْمُهَاher rule
فَدَاهَا وَلَمْ يَكْرُثْهُ أْن جَارَ حُكْمُهَا
فَذًَلَّso was humbled مُحَامِيهَاher defender وَعَزَّand was exalted مُحَابيone showing favoritism
فَذًَلَّ مُحَامِيهَا وَعَزَّ مُحَابي
He gave himself for her, untroubled that her rule was unjust,
so her defender was humbled and a partisan exalted.
فَكَمْso how many وَقْفَةٍa stand إذْat the time of ذَاكَthat وَand المَوْتُdeath دُونَهَاbefore it
فَكَمْ وَقْفَةٍ إذْ ذَاكَ وَ المَوْتُ دُونَهَا
وَقَفْنَاwe stood وَمَاand not نَلْوِيwe swerved اتِّقاءَto avoid عِقَابِpunishment
وَقَفْنَا وَمَا نَلْوِي اتِّقاءَ عِقَابِ
How many a stand, in those days, with death barring the way,
we took, never swerving to escape punishment!
وَكَمْand how many كَرَّةٍa charge فِيin الصُّحفِthe newspapers وَالسَّوْطُwhile the whip مُرْهِقٌpressing hard
وَكَمْ كَرَّةٍ فِي الصُّحفِ وَالسَّوْطُ مُرْهِقٌ
كَرَرْنَاwe charged وَمَاand not نَرْتَاضُwe accustom ourselves to غَيْرَother than صِعَابِhardships
كَرَرْنَا وَمَا نَرْتَاضُ غَيْرَ صِعَابِ
How many a charge in the press, with the whip bearing down,
we made, accustoming ourselves only to hardships!
وَكَمْand how many مَجْلِسٍa gathering مَمَّamong what (unclear spelling) تَوَخَّتsought لَناfor us المُنَىwishes
وَكَمْ مَجْلِسٍ مَمَّ تَوَخَّت لَنا المُنَى
غَنِمْنَاwe won بِهِin it اللَّذَاتِpleasures غُنْمَthe gains of نِهَابِplundering
غَنِمْنَا بِهِ اللَّذَاتِ غُنْمَ نِهَابِ
And how many a gathering our wishes sought out for us,
where we won pleasures as plunderers win their spoils!
لَنَاwe have مَذْهَبٌa creed فِيin العَيْشِlife وَالمَوْتِand death تَارِكٌdiscarding
لَنَا مَذْهَبٌ فِي العَيْشِ وَالمَوْتِ تَارِكٌ
قُشُورَhusks القَضَايَاmatters آخِذٌtaking بِلُبَابِhold of the core
قُشُورَ القَضَايَا آخِذٌ بِلُبَابِ
We have a creed in life and death that discards
the husks of matters and takes their core.
يَرَىit sees فَوْقَabove حُسْنِthe beauty of النَّجمِthe star وَهْوَwhile it is مُحَيِّرٌbewildering
يَرَى فَوْقَ حُسْنِ النَّجمِ وَهْوَ مُحَيِّرٌ
سَنَىthe radiance of الرَّجْمِthe hurled missile يَنْقَضُّswooping انْقِضَاضَthe plunge of شِهَابِa shooting star
سَنَى الرَّجْمِ يَنْقَضُّ انْقِضَاضَ شِهَابِ
It sees above the star's bewildering beauty
the radiance of a missile plunging like a shooting star.
وَمَاand what is هُلْكُthe death of أَفْرَادٍindividuals وَمِصرُwhile Egypt عَزِيزَةٌmighty
وَمَا هُلْكُ أَفْرَادٍ وَمِصرُ عَزِيزَةٌ
أَمَاis not أَجَُthe appointed end (damaged word) الإِنْسَانِof a person مِنْهُfrom him بِقَابِat a bow's span
أَمَا أَجَُ الإِنْسَانِ مِنْهُ بِقَابِ
What is the death of individuals, if Egypt remains mighty?
Is not man's appointed end but a bow's span from him?
كَذاthus كَانَwas إِلْفِيmy bond لِلفَقِيدِwith the departed وَلَمand not يَكُنْcould be
كَذا كَانَ إِلْفِي لِلفَقِيدِ وَلَم يَكُنْ
لِيَضْرِبَto draw خِلْفٌdiscord بَيْنَنَاbetween us بِحِجَابِa veil
لِيَضْرِبَ خِلْفٌ بَيْنَنَا بِحِجَابِ
Such was my bond with the departed; no
discord could ever draw a veil between us.
حَفِظْتُI kept لهُfor him عَهْدِيmy pledge وَلَوْeven if بَانَwas exposed مَقْتَلِيmy mortal weakness
حَفِظْتُ لهُ عَهْدِي وَلَوْ بَانَ مَقْتَلِي
لِدَهْرٍto an age بِهِin which جَدُّthe fortune of المُرُوءَةِnobility كَابِيfaltering
لِدَهْرٍ بِهِ جَدُّ المُرُوءَةِ كَابِي
I kept my pledge to him, even were my mortal weakness exposed
to an age in which nobility's fortune falters.
وَمَاand not خِفْتُI feared فِيin أنْthat أُلْفىI should be found كَغَيْرِيَlike others besides me مُولَعاًaddicted
وَمَا خِفْتُ فِي أنْ أُلْفى كَغَيْرِيَ مُولَعاً
بِخَلْعِto casting off أَحِبَّائيmy loved ones كَخَلْعِlike casting off ثِيَابِيmy clothes
بِخَلْعِ أَحِبَّائي كَخَلْعِ ثِيَابِي
Nor have I feared being found, like others, addicted
to casting off my loved ones as I cast off my clothes.
فَمَاfor not أَنَاI مَنْone who فِيon كُلِّevery يَوْمٍday لَهُhe has هَوىًa passion
فَمَا أَنَا مَنْ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ لَهُ هَوىً
وَلاَand not كُلَّevery يَوْمٍday لِيI have جَدِيدُa new صَوَابِright judgment
وَلاَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ لِي جَدِيدُ صَوَابِ
I am not one who has a new passion every day,
nor do I have a new notion of what is right each day.
يَرَانِيsees me صَدِيقِيmy friend مِنْهُtoward him حِينَat the time of إيَابِهِhis return
يَرَانِي صَدِيقِي مِنْهُ حِينَ إيَابِهِ
بِحَيْثُwhere رَآنِيhe saw me مِنْهُtoward him حِينَat the time of ذَهَابِdeparture
بِحَيْثُ رَآنِي مِنْهُ حِينَ ذَهَابِ
My friend finds me, toward him, on his return
where he found me, toward him, when he departed.
وَمَاand not ضَاقَgrew narrow صَدْرِيmy breast بِالذِينَtoward those whom وَدِدْتُهُمْI loved them
وَمَا ضَاقَ صَدْرِي بِالذِينَ وَدِدْتُهُمْ
وَلاَand not حَرِجَتْgrew cramped بِالنَّازِلينَfor those staying رِحَابِيmy spacious courts
وَلاَ حَرِجَتْ بِالنَّازِلينَ رِحَابِي
My breast has never grown narrow toward those I loved,
nor have my spacious courts grown cramped for their guests.
وَآنَفُand I disdain سَعْياًhurrying فِيin رِكَابٍa retinue فَكَيْفَso how بِيabout me
وَآنَفُ سَعْياً فِي رِكَابٍ فَكَيْفَ بِي
وَِليand I have كُلَّevery حَوْلٍyear آَخْذَةٌa grasp بِرِكَابِon a stirrup
وَِلي كُلَّ حَوْلٍ آَخْذَةٌ بِرِكَابِ
I disdain running in a retinue—how, then, could I
have, every year, a hold upon a stirrup?
حَرَامٌforbidden عَلَيْنَاto us الْفَخْرُboasting بالشِّعْرِof poetry إنْif تَقَعْshould alight
حَرَامٌ عَلَيْنَا الْفَخْرُ بالشِّعْرِ إنْ تَقَعْ
نُسُورُthe eagles of مَعَالِيهِits heights وُقُوعَthe landing of ذُبَابِflies
نُسُورُ مَعَالِيهِ وُقُوعَ ذُبَابِ
Boasting of poetry is forbidden us if
the eagles of its heights alight like flies.
وَمَاand what is كِبْرِيَاءُthe pride of القَوْلِspeech حِينَwhen نُفُوسُنَاour souls
وَمَا كِبْرِيَاءُ القَوْلِ حِينَ نُفُوسُنَا
تَجَاوِيفُcavities أَرْضٍof earth فِيin انْتِفَاخِthe swelling of رَوَابيhills
تَجَاوِيفُ أَرْضٍ فِي انْتِفَاخِ رَوَابي
What is the pride of speech, when our souls
are earthen hollows with the puffed-up shape of hills?
وَمَاand what is زَعْمُنَاour claim رَعْيَsafeguarding الذِّمَامِpledged obligations وَشَدُّنَاand our pouncing
وَمَا زَعْمُنَا رَعْيَ الذِّمَامِ وَشَدُّنَا
بِظُفْرٍwith a claw عَلَىupon مَنْthose who فِيin الأَمَامِfront وَنَابِand a fang
بِظُفْرٍ عَلَى مَنْ فِي الأَمَامِ وَنَابِ
What is our claim to keep faith, while we pounce
with claw and fang upon those ahead?
زَكِيٍّZaki لَكَyours is الإِرْثُthe inheritance العَظِيمُgreat مِنof العُلَىlofty honor
زَكِيٍّ لَكَ الإِرْثُ العَظِيمُ مِن العُلَى
وَمَاand not ثَرْوَةٌwealth فِيin جَنْبِهِits side بِحِسَابِof any account
وَمَا ثَرْوَةٌ فِي جَنْبِهِ بِحِسَابِ
Zaki, yours is the great inheritance of lofty honor;
beside it, wealth counts for nothing.
فَكُنْso be لأَبِيكَto your father الْبَاذِخِtowering القَدْرِin worth مُخْلَفاًa successor
فَكُنْ لأَبِيكَ الْبَاذِخِ القَدْرِ مُخْلَفاً
بِأَكْرَمِwith the noblest ذِكْرَىremembrance عَنْaway from مَظِنَّةsuspicion of عَابِreproach
بِأَكْرَمِ ذِكْرَى عَنْ مَظِنَّة عَابِ
Be, then, a successor to your father, exalted in worth,
with the noblest remembrance, beyond suspicion of reproach.
وَعِشْand live نَابِهاًdistinguished بِالْعِلْمِthrough learning وَالْفَنِّand art نَابِغاًa genius
وَعِشْ نَابِهاً بِالْعِلْمِ وَالْفَنِّ نَابِغاً
فَخَرُكَyour honor مَوْفُورٌabundant وَفَضْلُكَand your merit رَابِيgrowing
فَخَرُكَ مَوْفُورٌ وَفَضْلُكَ رَابِي
Live renowned for learning and art, a man of genius;
your honor is abundant, and your merit ever growing.
أَلاَbehold إِنَّنيindeed I أَبْكيweep بُكَاءَكَyour weeping فَقْدَهُhis loss
أَلاَ إِنَّني أَبْكي بُكَاءَكَ فَقْدَهُ
وَمَاand what بِكَin you مِنْof حُزْنٍsorrow عَلَيْهِfor him كَمَاas بِيin me
وَمَا بِكَ مِنْ حُزْنٍ عَلَيْهِ كَمَا بِي
Indeed, I weep for his loss as you weep,
and your sorrow for him is like the sorrow in me.
قَضَىdecreed لِيfor me بِهَذَاwith this الْخَطْبِcalamity فِيمَنْconcerning one whom أُحِبُّهُI love him
قَضَى لِي بِهَذَا الْخَطْبِ فِيمَنْ أُحِبُّهُ
إلهٌGod إلَيْهِto whom فِيin الخُطُوبِcalamities مَنَابِيmy return
إلهٌ إلَيْهِ فِي الخُطُوبِ مَنَابِي
This calamity concerning one I love was decreed for me
by God, to whom I turn in calamities.
فَفِيso in رَحْمَةِthe mercy of المَوْلَىthe Lord أَبُوكَyour father أَبُوfather of النَّدَىgenerosity
فَفِي رَحْمَةِ المَوْلَى أَبُوكَ أَبُو النَّدَى
وَفِيand in عَفْوِهِHis pardon أَحْرَىthe most deserving امْرئٍman بِثَوَابِof reward
وَفِي عَفْوِهِ أَحْرَى امْرئٍ بِثَوَابِ
So your father, father of generosity, is in the Lord's mercy,
and in His pardon—the man most worthy of reward.
Translation model: Sol 6.1