أُهْدِيI offer إلَىto عَالِيexalted المَقَامِstation
أُهْدِي إلَى عَالِي المَقَامِ
بَتَأَدُِبٍwith courtesy أَزْكَىpurest السَّلامِgreetings
بَتَأَدُِبٍ أَزْكَى السَّلامِ
I offer to him of exalted station
I present to the high-stationed one
with due courtesy, the purest greetings.
With the most refined greeting
وَأَقُولُand I say حَمْداًthanks لِلأمِيto the prince (start)
وَأَقُولُ حَمْداً لِلأمِي
رِprince (end) وَقَلًّand falls short حَمْدٌthanks عَنْof مَرَامِيmy intent
رِ وَقَلًّ حَمْدٌ عَنْ مَرَامِي
And I offer thanks to the prince,
And I say, thanks be to the Prince
though thanks fall short of my intent.
Though little is my praise for his great aims
هِيَit is نِعْمَةٌa blessing جُمِعَتْwere gathered بِهَاin it
هِيَ نِعْمَةٌ جُمِعَتْ بِهَا
شَتَّىvarious kinds مِنَof النِّعَمِblessings الجِسَامِgreat
شَتَّى مِنَ النِّعَمِ الجِسَامِ
It is a blessing in which are gathered
It is a blessing in which
many kinds of mighty blessings.
Various immense blessings are combined
طَوَّقَتْنِيit encircled me طَوْقَthe collar of الْحَمَاthe dove (start)
طَوَّقَتْنِي طَوْقَ الْحَمَا
مِdove (end) فَلَيْتَso would that ليfor me سَجْعَthe cooing of الْحَمَامِdoves
مِ فَلَيْتَ لي سَجْعَ الْحَمَامِ
It has graced me with the collar of a dove;
It crowned me with the crown of protection
would that I had a dove's cooing.
Would that I had the chant of gratitude
وَمَنَحَتْنِيand it granted me شَرفاًhonor أَتِيI glory (start)
وَمَنَحَتْنِي شَرفاً أَتِي
هُI glory (end) بِهِin it عَلَىabove كُلِّall الأَنَامِhumankind
هُ بِهِ عَلَى كُلِّ الأَنَامِ
And it has granted me an honor in which I glory
And granted me an honor that I come with
above all humankind.
Upon all people
طَالَعْتُI read دِيوانَthe collected poems of الأَمِيthe prince (start)
طَالَعْتُ دِيوانَ الأَمِي
رِprince (end) بِأَيِّwith what شَوْقٍlonging وَاهتِمَامِand attention
رِ بِأَيِّ شَوْقٍ وَاهتِمَامِ
I read the prince's collected poems
I browsed the Prince’s journal
with what longing and attention!
With what longing and care!
مُتَوَرِّداًdrawing from سِفْرَيْهِhis two volumes أُسْI am given drink (start)
مُتَوَرِّداً سِفْرَيْهِ أُسْ
قىI am given drink (end) الرَّاحَwine فِيin جَامٍa goblet فجَامِthen a goblet
قى الرَّاحَ فِي جَامٍ فجَامِ
Drawing from his two volumes, I am served
Lurking in its pages, I quenched my soul’s thirst
wine, goblet after goblet.
In a cup, then a cup
وَإذَاand when مُدَامُthe wine of الرُّوحِthe spirit أَنْintoxicated us (start)
وَإذَا مُدَامُ الرُّوحِ أَنْ
شتْنَاintoxicated us (end) فَمَاthen what is رُوحُthe spirit of المُدَامِwine
شتْنَا فَمَا رُوحُ المُدَامِ
And if the wine of the spirit
And when the wine of the soul was poured for us
intoxicates us, what is the spirit of wine?
It was not the spirit of wine
مَاnot كِدْتُI nearly أَقْرأُread مُعْجِزَthe miraculous power of الْthe
مَا كِدْتُ أَقْرأُ مُعْجِزَ الْ
قُرْآنِQuran فِيin ذَاكَthat النِّظَامِverse
قُرْآنِ فِي ذَاكَ النِّظَامِ
Scarcely had I read the miraculous power of the
I had barely read the miracle
Quran in that verse,
Of the Quran in that order
حَتَّىuntil تَصَفَّحْتُI leafed through السَّمَاthe sky (start)
حَتَّى تَصَفَّحْتُ السَّمَا
ءَsky (end) وَزَهْرُهَاand its blossoms كَلِمٌwords أَمَامِيbefore me
ءَ وَزَهْرُهَا كَلِمٌ أَمَامِي
when I leafed through the sky,
Until I leafed through the sky
its blossoms words before me.
And its blossoms were words before me
عَجَباًwhat wonder لِذَاكَat that الدُّرِّpearls فِيin
عَجَباً لِذَاكَ الدُّرِّ فِي
تِلْكَthose الْعُقُودِnecklaces مِنَof الْكَلامِwords
تِلْكَ الْعُقُودِ مِنَ الْكَلامِ
What wonder at those pearls within
Wondrous is that pearl in
those necklaces of words,
Those strands of speech
وَلِرَوْعَةٍand at a splendor فِيin مَائِهِits luster
وَلِرَوْعَةٍ فِي مَائِهِ
مُتَوَهِّجاًglowing وَهْجَwith the blaze of الضِّرَامِfire
مُتَوَهِّجاً وَهْجَ الضِّرَامِ
and at the splendor in their luster,
And the splendor in its waters
glowing with the blaze of fire!
Kindled like the blaze of embers
دُرٌّpearls بَدِيعٌwondrous مِنْfrom جَنَىthe harvest of
دُرٌّ بَدِيعٌ مِنْ جَنَى
بَحْرٍa sea بِفَيْضِwith the abundance of العِلْمِknowledge طَامِيoverflowing
بَحْرٍ بِفَيْضِ العِلْمِ طَامِي
Wondrous pearls, harvested from
A wondrous pearl from the harvest
a sea overflowing with knowledge.
Of an ocean abundant with the flood of knowledge
أَلشَّرْقُthe East أَوْدَعَentrusted سِرَّهُits secret
أَلشَّرْقُ أَوْدَعَ سِرَّهُ
فِيهِin it فَعَزَّso it became unattainable عَلَىfor السِّوَامِthe bidders
فِيهِ فَعَزَّ عَلَى السِّوَامِ
The East entrusted its secret
Did the East place its secret in it
to them, beyond the bidders' reach.
So it was too hard for the ruffians
وَالْغَرْبُand the West زَادَadded بَصَوْغِهِby fashioning it
وَالْغَرْبُ زَادَ بَصَوْغِهِ
حُسْناًbeauty عَلَىto الْحُسْنِthe beauty الْقُدَامِancient
حُسْناً عَلَى الْحُسْنِ الْقُدَامِ
And the West, in fashioning them, added
And the West gained by its crafting
beauty to their ancient beauty.
Beauty atop existing beauty
يَاO مَنْyou who حَبَاbestowed بِفَرِيدِهِwith his peerless gem
يَا مَنْ حَبَا بِفَرِيدِهِ
لُغَةًa language تُرَدُّis traced back لِغَيْرِto someone other than سَامِShem
لُغَةً تُرَدُّ لِغَيْرِ سَامِ
O you who bestowed your peerless gem upon
O You who endowed His singular one
a language traced to someone other than Shem—
With a language that turns away all others
لُغَةَthe language of الْفِرِنْسِيسِthe French الأُولَىthose who
لُغَةَ الْفِرِنْسِيسِ الأُولَى
بَلَغُواthey attained بِهَاwith it حَدَّthe limit of التَّمَامِperfection
بَلَغُوا بِهَا حَدَّ التَّمَامِ
the language of the French, who
The language of the supreme French
brought it to the height of perfection.
They have reached the utmost level with it
وَمِنَand in الْبَلاغَةِeloquence وَالْفَصَاand fluency (start)
وَمِنَ الْبَلاغَةِ وَالْفَصَا
حَةِfluency (end) أَنْزَلُوهَاthey placed it فِيat السَّنَامِthe summit
حَةِ أَنْزَلُوهَا فِي السَّنَامِ
And in eloquence and fluency
And with eloquence and clarity
they set it upon the summit,
They brought it down in law
حَتَّىuntil غَدَتْit became بِفُنُونِهَاthrough its arts
حَتَّى غَدَتْ بِفُنُونِهَا
فِيin عِزَّةٍglory فَوْقَbeyond المَرَامِaspiration
فِي عِزَّةٍ فَوْقَ المَرَامِ
until, through its arts, it attained
Until with its arts
a glory beyond aspiration.
It rose in glory above aspirations
أَرْبَتْincreased مَفَاخِرُهَاits glories بِعَدِّby counting
أَرْبَتْ مَفَاخِرُهَا بِعَدِّ
كَyou فِيamong مُجِيدِيهاits masters الْعِظَامِgreat
كَ فِي مُجِيدِيها الْعِظَامِ
Its glories grew by numbering you
Its glories contended with your number
among its great masters.
Among its magnificent bringers
قَاحَمْتَyou competed فِيهَاin it وَالسَّوَاand the frontrunners (start)
قَاحَمْتَ فِيهَا وَالسَّوَا
بِقُfrontrunners (end) مِنْamong بَنِيهَاits sons فِيin الْقِحَامِthe contest
بِقُ مِنْ بَنِيهَا فِي الْقِحَامِ
You raced in it, while the frontrunners
You plunged into it while the predecessors
among its own sons were in the contest.
Among its people were contending
فَغَصَبْتَso you seized جَائِزَةَthe prize of المُجَلَّيthe leading runner
فَغَصَبْتَ جَائِزَةَ المُجَلَّي
وَاللَّوَاحِقُand the followers فِيin زِحَامِa throng
وَاللَّوَاحِقُ فِي زِحَامِ
Then you seized the leading runner's prize,
So you seized the prize of the excellent
while the followers jostled in a throng.
While the followers were in a crush
وَضَرَبْتَand you shot قَبْلاًearlier فِيat مَرَاits targets (start)
وَضَرَبْتَ قَبْلاً فِي مَرَا
مِيهاits targets (end) بِمُخْتَلِفِwith various السِّهَامِarrows
مِيها بِمُخْتَلِفِ السِّهَامِ
And earlier you had shot at its targets
And you hit your mark beforehand in its
with arrows of many kinds.
Aims with all sorts of arrows
فَأَصَبْتَso you hit عَنْfrom ثِقَةٍconfidence وَلَمْand not
فَأَصَبْتَ عَنْ ثِقَةٍ وَلَمْ
تَكُbe رَمْيَةًa shot مِنْfrom غَيْرِsomeone other than رَامِan archer
تَكُ رَمْيَةً مِنْ غَيْرِ رَامِ
You struck home with confidence; it was not
You hit with confidence and were not
a shot from one who was no archer.
Once a shot of the random
تِلْكَthat الْبَراعَةُmastery لَمْnot تُتَحْwas granted
تِلْكَ الْبَراعَةُ لَمْ تُتَحْ
لَكَto you بِالتَّوَاكُلِthrough idleness وَالجَمَامِand ease
لَكَ بِالتَّوَاكُلِ وَالجَمَامِ
That mastery was not granted
That skill was not yours
to you through idleness and ease,
Through resignation and stillness
لَكِنْbut بِكَدٍّthrough toil فِيهِin which تُحْyou revive (start)
لَكِنْ بِكَدٍّ فِيهِ تُحْ
ييyou revive (end) اللَّيْلَthe night مِنْby قَتْلِkilling المَنَامِsleep
يي اللَّيْلَ مِنْ قَتْلِ المَنَامِ
but through toil in which you brought
But with toil in which you deny
the night to life by killing sleep.
Sleep the killing of sleep
كَمْhow often وَالمَدَامِعُand tears فِيin انْهِمَاstreaming (start)
كَمْ وَالمَدَامِعُ فِي انْهِمَا
لٍstreaming (end) وَالْجَوَانِحُand the breast فِيin احْتِدَامِburning passion
لٍ وَالْجَوَانِحُ فِي احْتِدَامِ
How often, with tears streaming
How often, while the tears were pouring
and your breast aflame,
And the sides were kindling,
أَخْرَجْتَyou brought forth رَوْضاًa garden مِنْfrom نَبَاgrowth (start)
أَخْرَجْتَ رَوْضاً مِنْ نَبَا
تِgrowth (end) الْعَبْقَرِيَّةِgenius لاnot الرَّغَامِdust
تِ الْعَبْقَرِيَّةِ لا الرَّغَامِ
you brought forth a garden grown from
Did you bring out a meadow from the growth
genius, not from dust!
Of genius, not weeds
أَزْهَارُهُits blossoms تَسْبِيcaptivate النُّهَىthe mind
أَزْهَارُهُ تَسْبِي النُّهَى
بَيْنَbetween انْفِرَادٍstanding alone وَانْضِمَامِand gathering together
بَيْنَ انْفِرَادٍ وَانْضِمَامِ
Its flowers captivate the mind,
Its flowers vie in charm
whether standing alone or gathered together.
Between separation and union
وَand وُرُودُهُits roses بِعقائقٍwith carnelians
وَ وُرُودُهُ بِعقائقٍ
سَالَflowed الْفِدَاءُself-sacrifice بِهَاthrough them دَوَامِيblood-red
سَالَ الْفِدَاءُ بِهَا دَوَامِي
And its roses, carnelian-hued,
And its roses with carnations
ran blood-red with sacrifice.
For which my redemption flowed eternally
يَشْتَمُّinhales فِيin نَسَماتِهِits breezes
يَشْتَمُّ فِي نَسَماتِهِ
رُوَّادُهُits visitors عَبْقَthe fragrance of الْخَزَامِlavender
رُوَّادُهُ عَبْقَ الْخَزَامِ
In its breezes is inhaled
Its visitors scent the aroma of meadows in its breeze
by its visitors the fragrance of lavender.
And its narcissi are like the vision
وَكَأَنَّand as though نَرْجِسَهُits narcissus بِمَرْwithin sight (start)
وَكَأَنَّ نَرْجِسَهُ بِمَرْ
أىwithin sight (end) مِنْهُمُof them نَادٍdewy ونامِand growing
أى مِنْهُمُ نَادٍ ونامِ
And its narcissus seems, before
Of a caller in its sleep
their eyes, dewy and growing.
Poetry is nothing but your honest description
مَاnot الشِّعْرُpoetry إلاَّexcept صِدْقُthe truth of وَصyour portrayal (start)
مَا الشِّعْرُ إلاَّ صِدْقُ وَص
فِكَyour portrayal (end) بَيْنَbetween رَسْمٍdrawing وَارْتِسَامِand taking shape
فِكَ بَيْنَ رَسْمٍ وَارْتِسَامِ
Poetry is only truth in your portrayal,
Between depicting and being depicted
between drawing and taking shape;
Or that imaginary creative world
أَوْor ذلِكَthat الخَلْقُcreation الْخَيَاimaginative (start)
أَوْ ذلِكَ الخَلْقُ الْخَيَا
لِيُّimaginative (end) الْحَقِيقِيُّtrue الْقِوَامِsubstance
لِيُّ الْحَقِيقِيُّ الْقِوَامِ
or that imaginative creation
The true ever upright
whose substance is true;
Or that harmony in the measure
أَوْor ذلِكَthat التَّوْفِيقُapt accord فِيin
أَوْ ذلِكَ التَّوْفِيقُ فِي
قَدْرِthe measure of المَقَالِspeech عَلَىaccording to المَقَامِthe occasion
قَدْرِ المَقَالِ عَلَى المَقَامِ
or that apt accord in
Of speech for the situation
fitting speech's measure to the occasion;
Or that delicate phrasing
أَوْor ذلِكَthat اللَّفْظُwording الرَّقِيdelicate (start)
أَوْ ذلِكَ اللَّفْظُ الرَّقِي
قُdelicate (end) مَعَwith الْجَلاَءِclarity وَالاِنْسِجَامِand harmony
قُ مَعَ الْجَلاَءِ وَالاِنْسِجَامِ
or that tender wording,
With clarity and coherence
with clarity and harmony;
Or each original draft whose qualities
أَوْor كُلُّevery بِكْرٍmaiden تُجْتَلَىis unveiled
أَوْ كُلُّ بِكْرٍ تُجْتَلَى
قَسَمَاتُهَاher features فِيin غَيْرِabsence of ذَامِblemish
قَسَمَاتُهَا فِي غَيْرِ ذَامِ
or every maiden whose
Are unleashed without blemish
features are unveiled without blemish,
From the presented chances of genius
مِنْfrom سَانِحَاتِthe inspirations of الْعَبْقَرِيَّgenius (start)
مِنْ سَانِحَاتِ الْعَبْقَرِيَّ
ةِgenius (end) فِيin حِجَىthe intellect of قَيْلٍa prince هُمَامِvaliant
ةِ فِي حِجَى قَيْلٍ هُمَامِ
from the inspirations of genius
In an arena of protective zeal
in the mind of a valiant prince,
It raids the slaves with an inclination and
تَغْزُوconquers الْعِبَادَpeople هَوىًthrough love وَيَلْand meet her (start)
تَغْزُو الْعِبَادَ هَوىً وَيَلْ
قَاهَاmeet her (end) الْغُزَاةُthe conquerors هَامِlovestruck
قَاهَا الْغُزَاةُ هَامِ
conquering people through love, while
Its raiders meet it with passion
conquerors meet her lovestruck.
A poetry that has the most delicious trembling in the souls and bones
شِعْرٌpoetry لَهُit has أَشْهَىthe sweetest التَّغَلْpenetration (start)
شِعْرٌ لَهُ أَشْهَى التَّغَلْ
غُلِpenetration (end) فِيinto الجَوَانِحِthe breast وَالْعِظَامِand bones
غُلِ فِي الجَوَانِحِ وَالْعِظَامِ
Poetry whose penetration is sweetest
Unbound thought in which
into the breast and bones.
No meter confines it by commitment
أَلْفِكْرُthought طَلْقٌunfettered لاnot تُقَيِّrestrains it (start)
أَلْفِكْرُ طَلْقٌ لا تُقَيِّ
دُهُrestrains it (end) عَرُوضٌmeter بِالتِزَامِthrough binding rules
دُهُ عَرُوضٌ بِالتِزَامِ
Thought is free, not fettered
And words that are clothed in imaginings
by meter's binding rules.
From the rainbow's cloak
وَاللَّفْظُand wording تَكْسُوهُclothe it مَبَاsplendors (start)
وَاللَّفْظُ تَكْسُوهُ مَبَا
هِجُsplendors (end) مِنْfrom حُلَىthe adornments of قَوْسِthe bow of الْغَمَامِclouds
هِجُ مِنْ حُلَى قَوْسِ الْغَمَامِ
And the wording is clothed in splendors
And feeling that senses the unseen
from the adornments of the rainbow.
From behind the veils of darkness
وَالحِسُّand feeling لُطْفٌdelicacy يَسْتَشِفُّdiscerns
وَالحِسُّ لُطْفٌ يَسْتَشِفُّ
الْغَيْبَthe unseen مِنْthrough حُجُبِthe veils of الظَّلامِdarkness
الْغَيْبَ مِنْ حُجُبِ الظَّلامِ
And feeling is a delicacy that discerns
In solid structures of rhymes
the unseen through the veils of darkness,
With consonance, possessing adjustment
فِيin مُحْكَمَاتٍfirmly crafted lines مِنْof قَوَاrhymes (start)
فِي مُحْكَمَاتٍ مِنْ قَوَا
فٍrhymes (end) بِالنُّهَىto reason ذَاتِpossessing احْتِكَامِrecourse for judgment
فٍ بِالنُّهَى ذَاتِ احْتِكَامِ
in firmly fashioned rhymes
With these the revelation throws
that take reason as their arbiter.
Resolutely to the farthest hopes
يَرْمِيshoots بِهِنَّwith them الْوَحْيُinspiration عَنْfrom
يَرْمِي بِهِنَّ الْوَحْيُ عَنْ
كَثَبٍnearby إِلَىto أَقْصَىthe farthest المَرَامِيtargets
كَثَبٍ إِلَى أَقْصَى المَرَامِي
Inspiration shoots them from
These are the sufficient from a pact
close at hand to the farthest targets.
These are the healing from afflictions
هُنَّthey الْكَوَافِيsufficient مِنْagainst طَوىًhunger
هُنَّ الْكَوَافِي مِنْ طَوىً
هُنَّthey الشَّوَافِيhealing مِنَّagainst أُوَامِburning thirst
هُنَّ الشَّوَافِي مِنَّ أُوَامِ
They suffice against hunger;
These are the grasps for advancement
they cure burning thirst.
The truth of lawful and unlawful
هُنَّthey الأَوَاخِذُthose that wrest لِلرُّقىfor incantations
هُنَّ الأَوَاخِذُ لِلرُّقى
حَقَّthe right of الْحَلالِthe lawful مِنَfrom الْحَرَامِthe forbidden
حَقَّ الْحَلالِ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ
They wrest for incantations
In everything it contains
the rights of the lawful from the forbidden.
Of wisdom or passion
فِيin كُلِّall مَاthat ضُمِّنَّهُthey were imbued with it
فِي كُلِّ مَا ضُمِّنَّهُ
مِنْof حِكْمَةٍwisdom أَوْor مِنْof غَرَامِpassion
مِنْ حِكْمَةٍ أَوْ مِنْ غَرَامِ
In everything they contain,
Or craving for the Prince
whether wisdom or passionate love,
With every mighty sought thing
أوْor مِنْof وُلُوعٍardent devotion لِلأَمِيof the prince (start)
أوْ مِنْ وُلُوعٍ لِلأَمِي
رِprince (end) بِكُلِّto every مطْلُوبٍaspiration جُسَامِlofty
رِ بِكُلِّ مطْلُوبٍ جُسَامِ
or the prince's ardent devotion
The Prince’s concern with his status
to every lofty aspiration.
And passion above passions
هَمُّthe ambition of الأَمِيرِthe prince بِقَدْرِهِbefitting his stature
هَمُّ الأَمِيرِ بِقَدْرِهِ
وَهُيَامِهِand his ardor فَوْقَabove الْهُيَامِardor
وَهُيَامِهِ فَوْقَ الْهُيَامِ
The prince's ambition matches his stature,
A concern with wings that
and his ardor surpasses all ardor.
The galaxies court while he is towering
هَمٌّan ambition بِأَجْنِحَةٍwith wings تُرَاcourts it (start)
هَمٌّ بِأَجْنِحَةٍ تُرَا
وِدُهُcourts it (end) المَجَرَّةُthe Milky Way وَهْوَwhile it is ظَامِthirsty
وِدُهُ المَجَرَّةُ وَهْوَ ظَامِ
A winged ambition, courted
So his is the flight of an eagle, he does not
by the Milky Way, yet still athirst.
Swerve at anything while high
فَلَهُso it has انْطِلاقُthe flight of النَّسْرِthe eagle لاnot
فَلَهُ انْطِلاقُ النَّسْرِ لا
يَلْوِيturns aside بِشَيءٍfor anything وَهْوَwhile it is سَامِيsoaring
يَلْوِي بِشَيءٍ وَهْوَ سَامِي
It has the eagle's soaring flight, never
Not to mention the peaks of
turning aside for anything as it rises.
Nobility, merit, and determination
نَاهِيكَsuffice it for you بِالْغَايَاتِwith the goals مِنْof
نَاهِيكَ بِالْغَايَاتِ مِنْ
نُبْلٍnobility وَفَضْلٍand virtue وَاعْتِزامِand resolve
نُبْلٍ وَفَضْلٍ وَاعْتِزامِ
How admirable the goals of
To which the lion calls, rousing
nobility, virtue, and resolve!
Those sleeping
يَدْعُوcalls إلَيْهَاto them اللَّيْثُthe lion إِيawakening (start)
يَدْعُو إلَيْهَا اللَّيْثُ إِي
قَاظاًawakening (end) لأَقْوَامٍfor peoples نِيَامِasleep
قَاظاً لأَقْوَامٍ نِيَامِ
The lion calls to them, awakening
And the lion’s roar would be more beloved
peoples sunk in sleep.
Than the howl of beasts
وَلَزَأْرُand indeed the roar of لَيُثٍa lion يَكُوis (start)
وَلَزَأْرُ لَيُثٍ يَكُو
نُis (end) أحَبَّmore pleasing وَقْعاًin impact مِنْthan بُغَامِbleating
نُ أحَبَّ وَقْعاً مِنْ بُغَامِ
And a lion's roar is
Praise be to God for a prince
more pleasing to the ear than a bleat.
Whose manners are above blame
للهِto God (in praise) حَيْدَرُHaydar مِنْwhat a فَتَىًyouth
للهِ حَيْدَرُ مِنْ فَتَىً
أَخْلاقُهُhis character فَوقَabove المَلامِreproach
أَخْلاقُهُ فَوقَ المَلامِ
God bless Haydar—what a youth,
He is the adornment of Egypt’s youths and the cub
whose character is above reproach!
Of its honorable kings
هُوَhe زَيْنُthe pride of فِتْيَةِthe young men of مِصْرَEgypt وَابْand son (start)
هُوَ زَيْنُ فِتْيَةِ مِصْرَ وَابْ
نُson (end) مُلوكِهَاits kings الصِّيْدُmajestic الكِرَامِnoble
نُ مُلوكِهَا الصِّيْدُ الكِرَامِ
He is the pride of Egypt's young men, and the son
He elevated leadership through magnanimity
of its majestic, noble kings.
Above leadership through the sword
أَعْلَىexalted الإِمَارَةَprincely power بِالْيَرَاthrough the reed pen (start)
أَعْلَى الإِمَارَةَ بِالْيَرَا
عِreed pen (end) عَلَىabove الإِمَارَةِprincely power بِالحُسَامِthrough the sword
عِ عَلَى الإِمَارَةِ بِالحُسَامِ
He exalted princely power through the reed pen
He gave dignity its due right
above princely power through the sword.
More faithful with kindness and reverence
أَعْطَىgave الْكَرَامَةَdignity حَقَّهَاits due الthe
أَعْطَى الْكَرَامَةَ حَقَّهَا ال
أَوْفَىfullest بِلُطفٍwith gentleness وَاحْتِشَامِand modesty
أَوْفَى بِلُطفٍ وَاحْتِشَامِ
He gave dignity its due,
Free in noble traits, not
in fullest measure, with gentleness and modesty.
Bitter and not vengeful
حُرُّnoble in الشَّمَائِلِcharacter غَيْرُnot مَنَّاflaunting favors (start)
حُرُّ الشَّمَائِلِ غَيْرُ مَنَّا
نٍflaunting favors (end) وَلَيْسَand is not بِذِيa man of انْتِقَامِvengeance
نٍ وَلَيْسَ بِذِي انْتِقَامِ
Noble in character, never flaunting his favors,
Goodness is his whole purpose
and not a man of vengeance.
In the war of time and in peace
أَلْخَيْرُgoodness كُلُّall مُنَاهُhis wishes فِيin
أَلْخَيْرُ كُلُّ مُنَاهُ فِي
حَرْبِthe warfare of الزَّمَانِtime وَفِيand in السَّلاَمِpeace
حَرْبِ الزَّمَانِ وَفِي السَّلاَمِ
Goodness is all he seeks in
And through him there is salvation for the weak
the warfare of time, and in peace.
And aid for the oppressed
وَبِهِand through him غِيَاثٌsuccor لِلَّهِيfor the distressed (start)
وَبِهِ غِيَاثٌ لِلَّهِي
فِdistressed (end) وَنَجْدَةٌand aid لِلْمُسْتَضَامِfor the oppressed
فِ وَنَجْدَةٌ لِلْمُسْتَضَامِ
In him is succor for the distressed,
O poet, the language of hearts
and aid for the oppressed.
Has cast its reins to you
يَاO شَاعِراًpoet لُغَةُthe language of الْقُلُوhearts (start)
يَا شَاعِراً لُغَةُ الْقُلُو
بِhearts (end) إِلَيْهِto him أَلْقَتْhas yielded بِالزِّمَامِthe reins
بِ إِلَيْهِ أَلْقَتْ بِالزِّمَامِ
O poet to whom the language of hearts
Who can enable me
has yielded its reins,
To fulfill what is owed you in my charge
مَنْwho لِيfor me بِمَقْدِرَةٍwith the ability عَلَىto
مَنْ لِي بِمَقْدِرَةٍ عَلَى
إِيفَاءِrepaying مَاwhat لَكَis owed to you فِيin ذِمَامِيmy obligation
إِيفَاءِ مَا لَكَ فِي ذِمَامِي
who can grant me the power
That I may take on the burden
to repay what I owe you?
You have loaded me with some undertaking
فَأَقُومَso I may shoulder بِالْعَبْءِthe burden الَّذِيthat
فَأَقُومَ بِالْعَبْءِ الَّذِي
حَمَّلْتَنِيyou laid on me بَعْضَsome الْقِيَامِfulfillment
حَمَّلْتَنِي بَعْضَ الْقِيَامِ
So I might shoulder the burden that
Thanks for what you have granted me
you have laid on me, at least in part,
Of that tremendous pride
شُكْراًin gratitude لِمَاfor what أَوْلَيْتَنِيyou bestowed on me
شُكْراً لِمَا أَوْلَيْتَنِي
مِنْof ذلِكَthat الْفَخْرِhonor الْعُظَامِimmense
مِنْ ذلِكَ الْفَخْرِ الْعُظَامِ
in gratitude for what you bestowed on me,
In a eulogy marked by the traits
that immense honor,
Of the most honorable eulogizer of sublime features
فِيin مِدْحَةٍa praise-poem بِسِمَاتِwith the traits of أَشْthe noblest (start)
فِي مِدْحَةٍ بِسِمَاتِ أَشْ
رَفَnoblest (end) مَادِحٍpraiser ذَاتِhaving اتَّسَامِdistinctive marks
رَفَ مَادِحٍ ذَاتِ اتَّسَامِ
in a praise-poem bearing the traits
Its verses are strung like
of the noblest giver of praise.
The pearls of splendor, what stringing!
أَبْيَاتُهَاits verses انْتُظِمَتْwere strung أَفَاvarieties (start)
أَبْيَاتُهَا انْتُظِمَتْ أَفَا
نِينَvarieties (end) الحُلَىjewels أيَّwhat an انْتِظَامِarrangement
نِينَ الحُلَى أيَّ انْتِظَامِ
Its verses were strung as varied
They shine like lights between the tears
jewels—how beautifully strung!
Of overwhelming pride
تَفْتَرُّsmile open كَالأَنْوَارِlike blossoms بَيْamong (start)
تَفْتَرُّ كَالأَنْوَارِ بَيْ
نَamong (end) مَدَامِعِthe tears of الْفَخْرِpride السِّجَامِstreaming
نَ مَدَامِعِ الْفَخْرِ السِّجَامِ
They smile like blossoms amid
In each verse is a marvel
the streaming tears of pride.
Adorned with twin merit
فِيin كُلِّevery بَيْتٍverse رَوْعَةٌa splendor
فِي كُلِّ بَيْتٍ رَوْعَةٌ
تَزْدَانُis adorned بِالْفَضْلِwith excellence التُّؤامِtwin
تَزْدَانُ بِالْفَضْلِ التُّؤامِ
In every verse is a splendor
Beauty and benevolence inscribe it
adorned with twin virtues:
The most splendid division
أَلَحُسْنِbeauty وَالإِحْسَانُand beneficence يَقْthey both share it (start)
أَلَحُسْنِ وَالإِحْسَانُ يَقْ
تَسِمَانِهَاthey both share it (end) أَبْهَىmost splendid اقْتِسَامِsharing
تَسِمَانِهَا أَبْهَى اقْتِسَامِ
beauty and beneficence share it
That eulogy is my garb
in the most splendid sharing.
On the day of boasting or my medal
تِلْكَthat الْقَصِيدَةُpoem رُتْبَتِيmy rank
تِلْكَ الْقَصِيدَةُ رُتْبَتِي
يَوْمَon the day of التَّبَاهِيproud display أَوْor وِسَامِيmy medal
يَوْمَ التَّبَاهِي أَوْ وِسَامِي
That poem is my rank
It guaranteed for me fame that will be
on the day of proud display, or my medal.
Repeated by narrators forever
ضَمِنَتْguaranteed لِيَfor me الِّكْرَىremembrance يُرَدِّrepeats it (start)
ضَمِنَتْ لِيَ الِّكْرَى يُرَدِّ
دُهَاrepeats it (end) الرُّوَاةُthe reciters عَلَىfor الدَّوَامِall time
دُهَا الرُّوَاةُ عَلَى الدَّوَامِ
It secured me remembrance, repeated
And it revealed to my eyes
by reciters forever.
Descendants who smile to me
وَجَلَتْand revealed لِعَيْنِيَّto my eyes الْخُلُوimmortality (start)
وَجَلَتْ لِعَيْنِيَّ الْخُلُو
دَimmortality (end) إِليَّtoward me يَرْنُوgazes بِابْتِسَامِwith a smile
دَ إِليَّ يَرْنُو بِابْتِسَامِ
And it revealed immortality to my eyes,
I will make its text my imam
gazing toward me with a smile.
Until I fulfill it
فَلأَجْعَلَنَّso I shall surely make كِتَابَهَاits text
فَلأَجْعَلَنَّ كِتَابَهَا
حَتَّىuntil أُحَقِّقَهُI fulfill it إِمَامِيmy guide
حَتَّى أُحَقِّقَهُ إِمَامِي
So I shall surely make its text
my guide, until I fulfill it.
Partial English translation: 148 of 150 Arabic lines translated.