صبٌّa lovesick man تحرِّقهburn him أسىًwith sorrow لرعاتُهhis pangs (probable reading)
صبٌّ تحرِّقه أسىً لرعاتُه
وجوٍand a heart-sick man تؤرِّفهkeep him awake (probable reading) هوىًwith love روْعاتُهhis terrors
وجوٍ تؤرِّفه هوىً روْعاتُه
A lovesick man, whom his pangs burn with sorrow,
My love burns with sorrow for his gazelle,
And a heart-sick man, kept awake by love's terrors.
And my longing composes poems for his roe.
صبٌّa lovesick man إذاwhen ذكرrecalls الحبيبthe beloved تصَّدَتْrose (probable reading)
صبٌّ إذا ذكر الحبيب تصَّدَتْ
أنفاسُهhis breaths وتردَّدتand recur حسراتُهhis regrets
أنفاسُه وتردَّدت حسراتُه
A lovesick man: when he recalls the beloved, there rise
When my love recalls his beloved,
His breaths, while his regrets recur.
His breath quickens and his regrets multiply.
وتناثرتand scatter عبراتُهhis tears وتكدَّرتand become clouded
وتناثرت عبراتُه وتكدَّرت
أوقاتُهhis hours وتكاثرتand multiply زَفَرَاتهُhis sighs
أوقاتُه وتكاثرت زَفَرَاتهُ
His tears spill, and darkened are
His tears flow and his times darken,
His hours, while his sighs multiply.
His sighs increase and his torment intensifies,
ومتَّمٌand a love-enslaved man (probable reading) لعبtoyed الغرامpassion بقلبهwith his heart
ومتَّمٌ لعب الغرام بقلبه
لماسwhen (probable reading) استقلتset off بالحبيبwith the beloved سراتهُhis night-travellers
لماس استقلت بالحبيب سراتهُ
And one enslaved by love, whose heart passion toyed with
As the game of passion plays with his heart,
When his night-travellers set off with the beloved.
Since his gazelle gained independence from him.
ياO سائقَdriver of الأظعانِthe departing caravans مَهْلاًgently خلفكمbehind you
يا سائقَ الأظعانِ مَهْلاً خلفكم
صبٌّa lovesick man تقطِّعهtear him apart جَوىًwith heartache حُرُفاتهhis burning pangs (probable reading)
صبٌّ تقطِّعه جَوىً حُرُفاته
O driver of the departing caravans, gently! Behind you
O driver of the caravan, go slowly,
Is a lovesick man, torn with heartache by his burning pangs.
My love is torn apart by your separation.
ومعذّبٌand a tormented man طالَlasted long الغرامlove بهwith him وقدand already
ومعذّبٌ طالَ الغرام به وقد
مضتhave passed الدهورthe ages وماand not انقضتended حاجاتهhis needs
مضت الدهور وما انقضت حاجاته
And a tormented man, long afflicted by love, while
He is tortured by prolonged passion,
Ages have passed, yet his needs remain unmet.
Ages have passed but his needs are unfulfilled,
وطريحُand one laid low by وَجْدٍpassion مَلّهُhave wearied of him عُوَّادهhis visitors
وطريحُ وَجْدٍ مَلّهُ عُوَّاده
ومريضand one sick with شوقٍyearning أمرضتهmade him ill أُساتُهhis healers
ومريض شوقٍ أمرضته أُساتُه
And one laid low by passion, whose visitors have wearied of him,
Lying lovesick, longing has exhausted him,
And one sick with yearning, made ill by his healers.
His companionship has sickened him.
ومعَلّلٌand one soothed with hopes ذهبتhas departed حُشاشةthe last spark of life in قلبهhis heart
ومعَلّلٌ ذهبت حُشاشة قلبه
وتحركتand stirred منfrom بُعْدِكمyour absence مُهجاتهhis heart's lifeblood
وتحركت من بُعْدِكم مُهجاته
And one soothed with hopes, his heart's last spark of life gone,
When you left, the vitality of his heart faded
And his heart's lifeblood stirred by your absence.
And his inclinations stirred from your absence.
ماwhat راحةrest المشتاقfor the yearning lover بعدكمُafter you وقدand already
ما راحة المشتاق بعدكمُ وقد
ذهبتhave vanished سريعاًswiftly بعدكمafter you بُرْحاتهhis joys (probable reading)
ذهبت سريعاً بعدكم بُرْحاته
What rest has the yearning lover after you, when
The lover finds no peace after you left,
His joys have swiftly fled since you left?
For you quickly took away his tranquility.
إنif رامtries يكتمto conceal سرَّهhis secret عنfrom صحبهhis companions
إن رام يكتم سرَّه عن صحبه
دلَّتpointed علىto ماwhat كنَّهhe concealed عَبَراتُهhis tears
دلَّت على ما كنَّه عَبَراتُه
If he tries to conceal his secret from his companions,
If he tries to hide his secret from his friends,
His tears reveal what he has hidden.
His tears would reveal what he harbors.
ياO هاجريyou who forsake me أنكرتyou denied قتلىmy killing بعدafter ماthe fact that
يا هاجري أنكرت قتلى بعد ما
شَهِدَتْtestified عليهagainst him بقتلهto his killing وجناتُهhis cheeks
شَهِدَتْ عليه بقتله وجناتُه
O you who forsake me, you denied killing me even after
O you who emigrated, you denied killing me after
His cheeks testified against him that he had killed me.
Your glances testified against you for slaying me.
فأناfor I القتيلُthe slain one هَوَىthrough love بسيفby the sword of لحاظهhis glances
فأنا القتيلُ هَوَى بسيف لحاظه
وقساوَةًand in cruelty مثلlike الظُّباswordblades لحظاتُهhis looks
وقساوَةً مثل الظُّبا لحظاتُه
For I am the one slain through love by the sword of his glances,
I am the slain, slain by the sword of your alluring glance
And his looks, in cruelty, are like swordblades.
And the harshness of your eyes like a wild beast.
قالواthey said كبدرlike the full moon النِّمِّfullness (probable reading) غُرَّةُthe brightness of وجههhis face
قالوا كبدر النِّمِّ غُرَّةُ وجهه
كذبواthey lied فأينso where صفاؤهits clarity وصفاتُهand its qualities
كذبوا فأين صفاؤه وصفاتُه
They said the brightness of his face was like the full moon;
They said his face shines like the full moon,
They lied—how can its radiance and its qualities compare?
They lied, for where is its clarity and beauty?
هذاthis one لهhe has قَدٌّa figure رشيقslender مُذْهَبٌgilded
هذا له قَدٌّ رشيق مُذْهَبٌ
قدalready أذهبتhave taken away عقلthe mind of الورىmankind حركاتُهhis movements
قد أذهبت عقل الورى حركاتُه
He has a slender, gilded figure;
He has a slender, graceful stature
His movements have stolen the wits of mankind.
His movements have distracted the minds of all people.
هذاthis one لهhe has طرفٌa gaze غضيضٌlowered أَحْوَرٌdark-eyed with bright whites
هذا له طرفٌ غضيضٌ أَحْوَرٌ
يَفْرِىcleave النُّهَىreason مبهورةًdazzled شفراتُهhis eyelid-blades
يَفْرِى النُّهَى مبهورةً شفراتُه
He has a lowered gaze, his eyes deep black against white;
He has languid, deep brown eyes
His eyelid-blades cleave reason, leaving it dazzled.
His coy glances freely break all taboos.
نشوانُintoxicated لاnot يصحوsobers بخمرwith the wine of رَضابهhis saliva
نشوانُ لا يصحو بخمر رَضابه
تَثنيهsway him تيهاًin proud swagger فيin الصِّباyouth نَشَواتُهhis raptures
تَثنيه تيهاً في الصِّبا نَشَواتُه
Drunk, never sobering from the wine of his saliva,
He is forever drunk with wine,
His raptures sway him proudly in his youth.
Wandering lost in youth are his qualities.
لوif لمnot تكنwere صهباءُtawny wine ريقةthe saliva of ثغرهhis mouth
لو لم تكن صهباءُ ريقة ثغره
ماnot أنكرتconfounded (unclear reading) عقلَthe mind of الورىmankind خطراتُهhis swaying steps
ما أنكرت عقلَ الورى خطراتُه
Were the moisture of his mouth not tawny wine,
If not for the redness of his mouth,
His swaying steps would not have confounded people's minds.
His threatening glances would not distract all minds.
فيon خَدِّهhis cheek تَسْعَىcreep عقاربthe scorpions of صُدْغِهhis temple-locks
في خَدِّه تَسْعَى عقارب صُدْغِه
تحمىare guarded بهاby them عنfrom ثغرهhis mouth رشَفاتُهhis sips
تحمى بها عن ثغره رشَفاتُه
Across his cheek creep the scorpions of his temple-locks;
The moles on his cheek race with those on his temple
By them, the sips of his mouth are kept beyond reach.
To protect his mouth with their alignments.
مرموقةٌadmired لفتاتهhis turns معشوقةadored
مرموقةٌ لفتاته معشوقة
حركاتُهhis movements محبوبةٌbeloved نظراتُهhis looks
حركاتُه محبوبةٌ نظراتُه
His turns are admired; adored are
His flirtations are adored, his movements loved,
His movements, and beloved are his glances.
His gazes desired, his gestures coveted.
وبنفسيَand with my soul الظبيُthe gazelle الأغَنُّsweetly nasal-voiced إذاwhen بداappears
وبنفسيَ الظبيُ الأغَنُّ إذا بدا
منfrom خدِّهhis cheek وتناوَحَتْand waft to and fro نفحاتُهhis fragrant breaths
من خدِّه وتناوَحَتْ نفحاتُه
My soul for the sweetly nasal-voiced gazelle, when a glimpse appears
And by my life, he is the most beautiful gazelle when
Of his cheek, and his fragrant breaths waft to and fro.
His cheek appears from behind his tresses and their fragrance wafts.
ياO أيهاyou الربْعُthe dwelling الذيwhich قدalready أوحشتhave grown desolate
يا أيها الربْعُ الذي قد أوحشت
منfrom بعدafter رحلةthe departure of أهلهits people عَرَصاتُهits courtyards
من بعد رحلة أهله عَرَصاتُه
O dwelling, grown desolate
O Spring, you have desolated
In its courtyards after its people's departure,
Your meadows after your people's departure.
وتنكَّرتand became unrecognizable منfrom بعدهafter him آياتُهits landmarks
وتنكَّرت من بعده آياتُه
وتكدَّرتand grew clouded منfrom فقدهمthe loss of them ساحاتُهits open spaces
وتكدَّرت من فقدهم ساحاتُه
Its landmarks became unrecognizable after him,
After they left, your symbols are unrecognizable,
And its open spaces darkened at their loss.
Your fields murky from their absence.
أمسىit became by evening فلاand no longer سُكَّانُهits dwellers سكّانُهits dwellers
أمسى فلا سُكَّانُه سكّانُه
كلاno indeed ولاand not غاداتهits maidens غاداتُهits maidens
كلا ولا غاداته غاداتُه
By evening, its dwellers were no longer its dwellers,
Yesterday, its dwellers are no longer its dwellers,
No indeed, nor its maidens its maidens.
No longer are its visitors its visitors.
وغدَاand it became by morning ولاand not فتيانُهits youths فتيانُهits youths
وغدَا ولا فتيانُه فتيانُه
كلاno indeed ولاand not ظبياتُهits gazelles ظبياتُهits gazelles
كلا ولا ظبياتُه ظبياتُه
And by morning, its youths were no longer its youths,
Today comes but its youths are no longer its youths,
No indeed, nor its gazelles its gazelles.
No longer are its gazelles its gazelles.
هلare أنتyou فيin الأحزانsorrows مثلlike متيَّمa love-enslaved man
هل أنت في الأحزان مثل متيَّم
دهمتهoverwhelmed him بعدafter فراقهمtheir parting غمراتُهhis waves of grief
دهمته بعد فراقهم غمراتُه
Are you, in sorrow, like a man enslaved by love,
Are your sorrows like those of Mutammim
Whom his waves of grief engulfed after their parting,
When waves of grief overwhelmed him after their separation?
لماwhen تَوَلّىturned away مسرعاًswiftly عصرthe age of الصِّباyouth
لما تَوَلّى مسرعاً عصر الصِّبا
وتبسَّمَتْand smiled عنrevealing ثغرهits mouth ليلاتُهits nights
وتبسَّمَتْ عن ثغره ليلاتُه
When the age of youth sped away,
When the dawn of youth departed hastily
And its nights smiled, revealing its mouth?
And nights smiled from his face.
وأخوand a man of المشيبِgray hair وإنand though تلطَّفَwas gentle فيin الهَوىlove
وأخو المشيبِ وإن تلطَّفَ في الهَوى
عندin the eyes of الحِسانِthe beauties مثالبٌfaults حسناتُهhis virtues
عند الحِسانِ مثالبٌ حسناتُه
And the gray-haired man, though gentle in love,
Old age, though refined in love
His virtues are faults to fair women.
Has ugly qualities in the eyes of the virtuous beloved.
وأخوand a man of الشبابyouth وإنand though تزايدincreased جفوةَin coldness
وأخو الشباب وإن تزايد جفوةَ
عندin the eyes of الحِسانِthe beauties حميدةٌpraiseworthy جَفَواتُهhis slights
عند الحِسانِ حميدةٌ جَفَواتُه
And the youthful man, though he grows ever colder,
While the faults of youth, though increasing in aloofness
His slights are praised by fair women.
Are pardonable to the virtuous beloved.
وأخوand a man of المشيبِgray hair وإنand though صَفَتْwere pure أَحوالُهhis circumstances
وأخو المشيبِ وإن صَفَتْ أَحوالُه
عندin the eyes of الحِسانِthe beauties ذميمةٌblameworthy حالاتُهhis states
عند الحِسانِ ذميمةٌ حالاتُه
And the gray-haired man, however pure his circumstances,
And while old age, though its circumstances improve
His condition is blameworthy to fair women.
Its states remain despised by the virtuous beloved.
وأَخوand a man of الكهولةmiddle age لاnot يقالُis pardoned إذاif هَفَاhe slips
وأَخو الكهولة لا يقالُ إذا هَفَا
وأخوand a man of الصِّباyouth مقبولةٌacceptable هفواتُهhis slips
وأخو الصِّبا مقبولةٌ هفواتُه
And the middle-aged man is not excused if he slips,
As for middle age, no comment can be made if
But the youthful man's slips are accepted.
Its confusion lessens, unlike the confusion of youth.
وأَخوand a man of الصِّباyouth مغفورةٌforgiven ذَلاّتُهhis lapses (probable reading)
وأَخو الصِّبا مغفورةٌ ذَلاّتُه
وأَخوand a man of المشيبِgray hair عظيمةٌgrave ذَلاّتُهhis lapses (probable reading)
وأَخو المشيبِ عظيمةٌ ذَلاّتُه
And the youthful man's lapses are forgiven,
The errors of youth are forgivable,
While the gray-haired man's lapses are grave.
While the lapses of old age remain deplorable.
سَقياًrain-blessings لأيامfor the days of الشبيبةyouth والصِّباand boyhood
سَقياً لأيام الشبيبة والصِّبا
إذwhen مَفْرِقىmy hair-parting مسودَّةٌblackened شعراتُهits hairs
إذ مَفْرِقى مسودَّةٌ شعراتُه
May rain bless the days of youth and boyhood,
My salutations to the days of my youth and prime
When the hairs along my parting were black,
When the first strands of grey hair appeared.
أَيامَdays when عودthe bough of اللهوpleasure غَضٌّtender ناضِرٌfresh
أَيامَ عود اللهو غَضٌّ ناضِرٌ
والحبُّand love يائعةُripe (probable reading) الجَناthe harvest ثمراتُهits fruits
والحبُّ يائعةُ الجَنا ثمراتُه
Days when the bough of pleasure was tender and fresh,
The days of carefree play were verdant and fresh,
And love's fruits were ripe for gathering,
Love was thriving and its fruits flourishing,
والعيشُand life أغيدُsoft and supple والزمانُand time مساعِدٌhelpful
والعيشُ أغيدُ والزمانُ مساعِدٌ
والدهرand time زاهرةٌblooming لناfor us زهراتُهits blossoms
والدهر زاهرةٌ لنا زهراتُه
And life was supple, and time lent its aid,
Life was joyful, time favorable,
And time's blossoms bloomed brightly for us.
The days were vibrant with flowers.
كنتُI was الحبيبthe beloved إلىto الحسانthe beauties فمذbut once نَضَاstripped off
كنتُ الحبيب إلى الحسان فمذ نَضَا
ثوبَthe garment of الشبابِyouth تباعدتdrew away ظبياتُهits gazelles
ثوبَ الشبابِ تباعدت ظبياتُه
I was beloved of fair women; but once time stripped off
I was the beloved of the virtuous one, but after
The robe of youth, its gazelles drew far away.
The garb of youth faded, his gazelles kept their distance.
أَمسيتُI became كالملقَىlike one cast aside الطريحprostrate موسداًwith head pillowed
أَمسيتُ كالملقَى الطريح موسداً
صفرempty البنانthe fingers شديدةٌsevere لوعاتُهhis pangs
صفر البنان شديدةٌ لوعاتُه
I became like one cast aside, prostrate, his head pillowed,
I became like a fallen, lifeless body,
Empty-handed, his pangs severe.
My separation intensified my torment.
لاno ذَنْبَfault ليfor me إلاexcept المشيبُgray hair وهَكذاand thus
لا ذَنْبَ لي إلا المشيبُ وهَكذا
كلall الأنامmankind إذاwhen انتهتended غاياتُهits limits
كل الأنام إذا انتهت غاياتُه
My only fault is gray hair; and thus it is
I am not to blame, except for old age, thus
With all mankind when their final limits are reached.
All people, when their time ends, meet this fate.
وكذاand thus الزمانtime مُفَرِّقٌa separator ومؤلِّفٌand a uniter
وكذا الزمان مُفَرِّقٌ ومؤلِّفٌ
هذاthis الزمانُtime وهذهand these عاداتُهits ways
هذا الزمانُ وهذه عاداتُه
Such is time: it separates and brings together.
Such is time, dispersing and gathering,
This is time, and these are its ways.
Such are the ways of time.
لولاwere it not for ابنson of سيفِSayf اليعربيُّal-Ya'rubi لماthere would not غداhave become
لولا ابن سيفِ اليعربيُّ لما غدا
شملُthe company of الهدىguidance مجموعةًgathered أشتاتُهits scattered parts
شملُ الهدى مجموعةً أشتاتُه
Were it not for Ibn Sayf al-Ya'rubi, never would
Were it not for the son of Ya'rub's sword,
Guidance's scattered ranks have been gathered together.
The unity of guidance would not have recollected its fragments.
فيهin him تبسَّمَsmiled كلevery دهرٍage عابسٍfrowning
فيه تبسَّمَ كل دهرٍ عابسٍ
وبهand through him انجلتcleared away عنfrom دينناour faith ظُلُماتُهits shadows
وبه انجلت عن ديننا ظُلُماتُه
In him, every frowning age smiled,
Through him, every gloomy era smiled,
And through him its shadows lifted from our faith.
Through him, the darknesses clouding our religion dispersed.
وبهand through him تبدَّدscattered شملُthe company of أَربابthe followers of الهوىcaprice
وبه تبدَّد شملُ أَرباب الهوى
بعدafter التِئامunion وانقضىand ended ميقاتُهits appointed term
بعد التِئام وانقضى ميقاتُه
And through him the company of caprice's followers was scattered,
Through him, the unity of the lovers of passion dispersed
After being united, and its appointed term expired.
After reuniting, and their time ended.
ذاكthat الإمامُthe imam العادلُjust الشهمُvaliant الذيwho
ذاك الإمامُ العادلُ الشهمُ الذي
دونbeyond الورىmankind مشهورةٌrenowned كرَّاتُهhis charges
دون الورى مشهورةٌ كرَّاتُه
That is the just and valiant imam, whose
That just Imam, noble hero, whose
Charges are renowned beyond those of all others.
Attacks against the world are well known.
وكذاand likewise ابنهhis son الزاكىvirtuous أبوAbu (father of) العربal-'Arab (the Arabs) الفَتىthe young man
وكذا ابنه الزاكى أبو العرب الفَتى
ربُّlord of النَّدَىgenerosity مرهوبةٌfeared سطواتُهhis onslaughts
ربُّ النَّدَى مرهوبةٌ سطواتُه
And likewise his virtuous son, the young Abu al-'Arab,
And likewise his son, the pure Arab hero,
Lord of generosity, whose onslaughts are feared.
Lord of dew, feared are his assaults.
ياO آلhouse of يعربَYa'rub أَنتموyou غيثُthe rain of الورىmankind
يا آل يعربَ أَنتمو غيثُ الورى
بكمthrough you استطابَbecame pleasant بدهرناin our age ساعاتُهits hours
بكم استطابَ بدهرنا ساعاتُه
O house of Ya'rub, you are mankind's life-giving rain;
O House of Ya'rub, you are the rainfall of the world,
Through you, the hours of our age became sweet.
In your time, its hours became pleasant.
أَضحىbecame الزمانtime بعدلكمthrough your justice ونوالكمand your bounty
أَضحى الزمان بعدلكم ونوالكم
وبعطفكمand through your kindness محمودةًpraiseworthy أَوقاتُهits hours
وبعطفكم محمودةً أَوقاتُه
Time has become, through your justice and your bounty,
The age, after your justice and favor,
And through your kindness, praiseworthy in its hours.
And your kindness, its times became praiseworthy.
بكمthrough you استقامwas set right الملكُthe realm واعتدلَand became equitable القَضَاjudgment
بكم استقام الملكُ واعتدلَ القَضَا
وغدتand became بكمthrough you منشورةًunfurled راياتُهits banners
وغدت بكم منشورةً راياتُه
Through you, the realm was set right and judgment made just,
Through you, the kingdom was stabilized and justice restored,
And through you its banners were unfurled.
Through you, its banners were unfurled.
بكمthrough you استنارَshone الدينُreligion بعدafter طُموسهits effacement
بكم استنارَ الدينُ بعد طُموسه
لولاكمُwithout you ماnot أُوضحتwere made clear آياتُهits signs
لولاكمُ ما أُوضحت آياتُه
Through you, religion shone after its light was effaced;
Through you, religion was illuminated after its darkness,
Without you, its signs would not have been made clear.
Without you, its signs would not have been made clear.
وبكمand through you أُقيمwas established العدلُjustice وانتشرand spread الهدىguidance
وبكم أُقيم العدلُ وانتشر الهدى
لوif لاكمnot for you ماnot أورفتspread shade شجرانهits trees (probable reading)
لو لاكم ما أورفت شجرانه
And through you justice was established and guidance spread;
Through you, justice was established and guidance spread,
Without you, its trees would not have spread their shade.
Without you, its trees would not have thrived.
ياO سادةlords of الأملاكthe kings طراall together فيamong الورىmankind
يا سادة الأملاك طرا في الورى
طوبَىblessedness لدهرٍfor an age أنتمُyou ساداتُهits lords
طوبَى لدهرٍ أنتمُ ساداتُه
O masters of all the kings among mankind,
O masters of kingdoms, excellent in the world,
Blessed is an age whose lords you are!
Blessed is the age that had you as its masters.
لاno غروَwonder إنif دانsubmits الزمانَtime وأنتمُwhile you
لا غروَ إن دان الزمانَ وأنتمُ
أبطالُهits heroes ولَيوثهand its lions وحُماتُهand its protectors
أبطالُه ولَيوثه وحُماتُه
No wonder time submits, when you are
No wonder time and all in it surrendered to you,
Its heroes, its lions, and its defenders.
Its heroes, champions, and protectors.
فَلْيَهْنَso let it rejoice دهرٌan age أنتمُyou أَقيلُهits princes (probable reading)
فَلْيَهْنَ دهرٌ أنتمُ أَقيلُه
ومُلوكهand its kings ووُلاتُهand its governors وقُضاتُهand its judges
ومُلوكه ووُلاتُه وقُضاتُه
Let the age rejoice, for you are its princes,
So let time grieve, for you are its strongest,
Its kings, its governors, and its judges.
Its kings, governors, and judges.
مدحيmy praise لكمof you أبداًforever لأكبتَto abase حاسداًan envier
مدحي لكم أبداً لأكبتَ حاسداً
ذهبتْcarried away بفطنةwith the discernment of قلبِهhis heart سكراتُهhis drunken stupors
ذهبتْ بفطنة قلبِه سكراتُه
My praise of you is forever, to abase an envier
My praise of you will silence envious foes,
Whose drunken stupors swept away his heart's discernment,
As the wine of your praise melts their minds.
وأُذيبَand I melt قلبَthe heart of الحاسدينthe envious بمدحكمby praising you
وأُذيبَ قلبَ الحاسدين بمدحكم
وأُذِلَّand I humble مَنwhoever لعبتtoyed بهwith him شبهاتُهhis doubts
وأُذِلَّ مَن لعبت به شبهاتُه
And to melt the heart of the envious by praising you,
The hearts of envious foes melt with your praise,
And abase whoever is toyed with by his doubts.
Those troubled by doubts are disgraced by your glory.
إنif لمnot تُغنِكُمserve you راحتيmy palm بمهنَّدٍwith an Indian-steel sword
إن لم تُغنِكُم راحتي بمهنَّدٍ
فبقْوَلِيthen through my speech ترُدىbring down العِدَىthe foes كلماتُهits words
فبقْوَلِي ترُدى العِدَى كلماتُه
If my palm does not aid you with an Indian-steel sword,
If my devotion does not delight you,
Then the words of my speech will lay the foes low.
My words will repel the transgressions of enemies.
خذهاtake her عروساًas a bride تُزْدَهِىshine proudly قسماتهاher features
خذها عروساً تُزْدَهِى قسماتها
كالبدرlike the full moon زانَتْadorned نورَهits light هالاتُهits halos
كالبدر زانَتْ نورَه هالاتُه
Take her as a bride whose features glow,
Take them as a bride, her attributes beautified,
Like the full moon whose halos adorn its light.
Like the full moon adorned by its halo.