أتكتُمُdo you conceal يومَthe day of بانةَBana أمor تبوحُyou disclose
أتكتُمُ يومَ بانةَ أم تبوحُ
وأجدرُand more fitting لوif تبوحُyou disclose فتستريحُand so find relief
وأجدرُ لو تبوحُ فتستريحُ
Do you conceal it on the day at Bana, or speak?
Do you conceal the day of parting or confess it openly?
And better that you speak and find relief.
It's best if you confess, so you can find peace
حملتَyou bore البينَparting جَلْداًsteadfast والمطاياwhile the riding camels
حملتَ البينَ جَلْداً والمطايا
بَوازِلُهاtheir mature camels بماby what حَملَتْthey carried طُلوحُexhausted
بَوازِلُها بما حَملَتْ طُلوحُ
You bore parting steadfastly, while the mounts—
You've endured separation stoically, and the camels
even their mature camels—were exhausted by their burdens.
Wear out their harnesses with the burdens they carry
وقمتَand you stood وموقفُand the scene of التوديعِfarewell قلبٌa heart
وقمتَ وموقفُ التوديعِ قلبٌ
يطيرcarries aloft بهwith it الجوىanguish وحشاًdesolate تَطيحُyou wander
يطير به الجوى وحشاً تَطيحُ
You stood, a heart at the place of farewell,
You stood to bid farewell, a heart
borne aloft by anguish, while you wandered desolate.
Flying with passion, crashing wildly
تَلاوَذُyou seek refuge حيثُwhere لاno كِبدٌliver تلظَّىburns
تَلاوَذُ حيثُ لا كِبدٌ تلظَّى
بمَعتبةٍa cause for blame ولاnor جفنٌan eyelid قريحُwounded
بمَعتبةٍ ولا جفنٌ قريحُ
You seek refuge where no liver aflame
Where there is no hurting liver or weary eyelid
is cause for blame, nor any wounded eyelid.
At Mata'a, Abu Lu'lu' complains mournfully
فهلthen have لكyou غيرother than هذاthis القلبِheart تحياyou live
فهل لك غير هذا القلبِ تحيا
بهby it أوor غيرother than هذيthis الروحِsoul روحُa soul
به أو غير هذي الروحِ روحُ
Have you another heart to live
By the life of my father Al-Nawa, if it were death
by, or another soul besides this soul?
That would bring you paradise, it's a death without rest
لعمرُby the life of أبيmy father النوىseparation لوif كانit were موتاًdeath
لعمرُ أبي النوى لو كان موتاً
جَنَتْwrought لكfor you فهوthen it is موتٌa death لاnot يريحُbrings relief
جَنَتْ لك فهو موتٌ لا يريحُ
By my father's life! If it were death that separation
A lover leaves, and one alive dies
wrought for you, it is a death that brings no rest.
The better of them is the one laid to rest
يفارِقُparts عاشقٌa lover ويموتُand dies حيٌّa living man
يفارِقُ عاشقٌ ويموتُ حيٌّ
وخيرُهماand the better of the two الذيthe one whom ضَمِنَcontains الضريحُthe grave
وخيرُهما الذي ضَمِنَ الضريحُ
A lover parts, and a living man dies;
The distant said, "Separation is agreeable"
the better of the two is he whom the grave contains.
So why did your proximity double the departure?
وقالand said العاذلونthe reproachers البعدُdistance مُسْلٍconsoling
وقال العاذلون البعدُ مُسْلٍ
فماthen what ails لجواكyour anguish ضاعفهhas doubled it النزوحُdeparture
فما لجواك ضاعفه النزوحُ
The reproachers said, “Distance brings consolation.”
Rising in the dawn, a fawn of 'Ushayya
Why, then, has departure doubled your anguish?
Abu Lu'lu', a soft-haired, slender gazelle
وفيand among الأظعانِthe traveling litters طالعةًappearing أُشَيّاًat dusk
وفي الأظعانِ طالعةً أُشَيّاً
أبوpossessor of لونينِtwo colors مَنّاعٌever withholding منوحُlavishly giving
أبو لونينِ مَنّاعٌ منوحُ
Among the litters appearing at dusk
His saliva's sweetness is forbidden wine
was one of two hues, withholding yet giving.
The rose of his cheek made permissible
سلافةُthe choicest wine of ريقِهhis saliva بَسْلٌforbidden حرامٌunlawful
سلافةُ ريقِه بَسْلٌ حرامٌ
ووردةُand the rose of خدّهhis cheek مماamong what يُبيحُhe permits
ووردةُ خدّه مما يُبيحُ
The choicest wine of his saliva is forbidden, unlawful;
When he hides in modesty and languor
the rose of his cheek is among what he permits.
Musk takes the place of his perfume's diffusion
إذاwhen كتمْتهconceals him خالفةٌa tent-pole وخِدرٌand a curtained chamber
إذا كتمْته خالفةٌ وخِدرٌ
وشَىbetrayed بمكانهhis whereabouts المسكُthe musk النضيحُthe sprinkled
وشَى بمكانه المسكُ النضيحُ
When a tent-pole and a curtained chamber conceal him,
I steal him stealthily, not mixing with him
the sprinkled musk betrays his whereabouts.
The slanderers and spies
أسارقهI steal moments with him مُسارَقةًfurtively ودونand barring الthe
أسارقه مُسارَقةً ودون ال
خِلاطِmingling بهwith him الأسنّةُthe spearheads والصفيحُand the sword-blades
خِلاطِ به الأسنّةُ والصفيحُ
I steal secret moments with him; barring the
I've not seen an honest eye before me
mingling with him are spearheads and sword-blades.
Go astray, so I guided it with scent and wind
ولمand never أرَhave I seen صادقَreliable العينينthe two eyes قبليbefore me
ولم أرَ صادقَ العينين قبلي
أضلَّlost his way فدلَّهthen guided him شمٌّa sense of smell وريحُand a scent
أضلَّ فدلَّه شمٌّ وريحُ
Never before me have I seen one whose eyes were true
Oh wonder! He violates me with my weapon
lose his way, then be guided by smell and scent.
When an ardent glance shattered my composure
أياO عجباًwonder يُهتِّكُrends فيthrough سلاحيmy armor
أيا عجباً يُهتِّكُ في سلاحي
وقدand already حطمhas shattered القَنَاthe spears طرفٌa glance طموحُlofty
وقد حطم القَنَا طرفٌ طموحُ
How strange! It rends me through my armor—
He hunts me while I stumble
a lofty glance that has shattered the spears.
Though I've hunted his lions, a formidable hunter
ويقنصنيand hunts me علىat إضمIdam وقدماًand formerly
ويقنصني على إضم وقدماً
قنصتُI hunted أسودَهاits lions رشأٌa fawn سَنيحُpassing rightward
قنصتُ أسودَها رشأٌ سَنيحُ
At Idam it hunts me, though long ago
He threw my liver and left, his hands
I hunted its lions—a fawn passing to the right.
Bloodied with my blood, so they called him the wounded one
رَمىshot كبديmy liver وراحand departed وفيand on يديهhis two hands
رَمى كبدي وراح وفي يديه
نُضوحsplashes دميof my blood فقيلyet it was said هوhe الجريحُthe wounded one
نُضوح دمي فقيل هو الجريحُ
He struck my liver and departed, his hands
He sent with the consoler a phantom
spattered with my blood; yet they said, “He is the wounded one.”
Showing generosity while its sender's stingy
وأرسلَand sent ليto me معwith العُوَّادthose visiting the sick طيفاًa phantom
وأرسلَ لي مع العُوَّاد طيفاً
يُرِيshows كرماًgenerosity وصاحبُهُwhile its master شحيحُstingy
يُرِي كرماً وصاحبُهُ شحيحُ
He sent me a phantom with my visitors,
When archery becomes difficult, he shoots weakly
showing generosity, though its master is stingy.
So those wounds bled painfully
إذاwhenever كَربَneared الرِميُّthe arrow-stricken man يُبِلُّrecovers شيئاًa little
إذا كَربَ الرِميُّ يُبِلُّ شيئاً
ألمَّit appeared فدَميَتْand so bled تلكthose القُروحُwounds
ألمَّ فدَميَتْ تلك القُروحُ
Whenever the arrow-stricken man nears a little recovery,
He said, how much despair while you live
it appears, and those wounds bleed.
And how much does the wealthy one seek from the poor?
فقالthen it said كمhow long القنوطُthe despair وأنتwhile you تحياlive
فقال كم القنوطُ وأنت تحيا
وكمand how long تأتيyou approach الغنيَّthe wealthy man وتستميحُand ask for bounty
وكم تأتي الغنيَّ وتستميحُ
It said, “How long this despair, while you live?
I complained and saw a strong man
How long will you approach the wealthy man and ask for gifts?
So I said to him, does the healthy one complain?
شكوتَyou complained ومَنand the one whom أرىI see رجلٌa man صحيحٌhealthy
شكوتَ ومَن أرى رجلٌ صحيحٌ
فقلتُso I said لهto it وهلand does يشكوcomplain الصحيحُthe healthy man
فقلتُ له وهل يشكو الصحيحُ
You complain, yet the man I see is sound.”
Why, O phantom, did your abandonment blame me
I said to it, “Does a sound man complain?”
When the far-reaching journey allowed our meeting?
فماthen what لكis with you ياO خيالُphantom خلاكmay leave you ذمٌّblame
فما لك يا خيالُ خلاك ذمٌّ
أتاحكgranted you ليto me علىdespite النأيthe distance المتيحُthe bestower
أتاحك لي على النأي المتيحُ
What ails you, O phantom—may no blame touch you!
How so, when between us a thread of love
The Bestower granted you to me despite the distance.
I approached you, and the land is vast?
فكيفthen how وبينناwith between us خيطاtwo sand-ribbons of زَرودٍZarud
فكيف وبيننا خيطا زَرودٍ
قَرُبتُI drew near عليكَto you والبلدwhile the land الفسيحُvast
قَرُبتُ عليكَ والبلد الفسيحُ
How, with Zarud's two ribbons of sand between us,
More resolute than the leader of the kingdom you travel by
have I drawn near to you, with the land so vast?
Or the dew of his hand that flows gently?
أعزمٌis it resolve منfrom زعيمthe leader of الملكthe realm تَسرِيyou journey by night
أعزمٌ من زعيم الملك تَسرِي
بهwith it أمor منfrom ندَىthe dew of يدهhis hand تميحُyou draw water
به أم من ندَى يده تميحُ
Is it resolve from the realm's leader that you journey by night
You blamed a generous king
with, or do you draw from the dew of his hand?
Whose return to my saddle the Messiah will hasten
حملتَyou laid your burden إذاًthen علىupon ملكٍa king كريمgenerous
حملتَ إذاً على ملكٍ كريم
إلىto رحليmy dwelling يعودُcomes to visit the sick بكwith you المسيحُthe Messiah
إلى رحلي يعودُ بك المسيحُ
Then you have laid your burden on a generous king:
And you came with attainments that neither the sea
the Messiah comes with you to visit my dwelling.
Nor the pouring rain could reach halfway
وجئتَand you came بنائلٍwith a gift لاneither البحرُthe sea منهof it
وجئتَ بنائلٍ لا البحرُ منه
بمنتصِفٍhalf its equal ولاnor الغيثُthe rain السَّفوحُthe pouring
بمنتصِفٍ ولا الغيثُ السَّفوحُ
You brought a gift that neither the sea
God protected the son of Manjaba protecting me
nor the pouring rain can half equal.
When the shepherd was weakened and frail
حَمَىmay protect اللّهُGod ابنَthe son of منجبةٍa mother of noble sons حمانيwho protected me
حَمَى اللّهُ ابنَ منجبةٍ حماني
وقدwhen already شُلَّتwere driven off علىagainst الراعيthe shepherd السُّروحthe grazing flocks
وقد شُلَّت على الراعي السُّروح
May God protect the noble mother's son, who protected me,
His generosity remedied my destitute state
when the shepherd's grazing flocks had been driven off.
When the patches were feeble over the rents
وسدَّand filled بجودهwith his generosity خَلاَّتِthe gaps in حاليmy condition
وسدَّ بجوده خَلاَّتِ حالي
وقدwhen already ضعفتْhad proved weak علىagainst الخَرْقِthe tear النُّصوحُthe stitching threads
وقد ضعفتْ على الخَرْقِ النُّصوحُ
With his generosity he filled the gaps in my condition,
He took charge of my needs when the comforters
when stitching threads proved too weak for the tear.
Were preoccupied, and the loyal ones failed
تكفَّلَundertook منamong بنيthe sons of الدنياthe world بحاجيmy needs
تكفَّلَ من بني الدنيا بحاجي
نَتوجٌa prolific bearer فيamong عقائمهاits barren ones لَقوحُfertile
نَتوجٌ في عقائمها لَقوحُ
Among this world's sons he undertook my needs,
His ready aid triumphed, so his
fruitful and fertile amid its barren ones.
Rising stars and auspicious planets shone
تفرّغhe made time ليfor me وقدwhen already شُغِلَwas occupied المُواسيthe comforter
تفرّغ لي وقد شُغِلَ المُواسي
وخالصنيand dealt sincerely with me وقدwhen already غُشَّwas adulterated الصريحُthe pure
وخالصني وقد غُشَّ الصريحُ
He made time for me when the comforter was occupied,
My praise settled on a people who did not waver
and dealt sincerely with me when the pure was adulterated.
And he sang it, enchanted by the eulogy
وقامand rose بنصرِin support سؤددُهhis nobility فسارتْso moved on
وقام بنصرِ سؤددُه فسارتْ
مَطالعُهُhis rising stars وأنجمهمwhile their stars جُنوحُinclining to set
مَطالعُهُ وأنجمهم جُنوحُ
His nobility rose in support; onward moved
As if poetry did not speak clearly but to a living one
his rising stars, while theirs inclined to set.
Other than him, and all of it inarticulate stuttering
حَلَتْtasted sweet مِدَحِيmy praises لقومٍto people لمnot يَهشّواshow delight
حَلَتْ مِدَحِي لقومٍ لم يَهشّوا
وغنّاهand sang to him فأطربهand so delighted him المديحُthe praise
وغنّاه فأطربه المديحُ
My praises were sweet to people who showed no delight;
Generous, changing in his different states
but praise sang to him and moved him to rapture.
So neither ease nor relief could be seen
كأنّas though الشعرَpoetry لمnot يُفصحْspoke clearly لحيٍّto anyone living
كأنّ الشعرَ لم يُفصحْ لحيٍّ
سواهexcept him وكلُّهمand all of them لَحِنٌfaulty in speech فصيحُeloquent
سواه وكلُّهم لَحِنٌ فصيحُ
As though poetry had never spoken clearly to anyone
When a market for his generosity stood up
but him, all the others being eloquent bunglers.
Every merchant in it profited
جوادٌgenerous فيin تقلُّبِthe alternation of حالتيهhis two conditions
جوادٌ في تقلُّبِ حالتيه
فلاso neither سَعةٌprosperity تَبينis apparent ولاnor رُزوحُcrushing hardship
فلا سَعةٌ تَبين ولا رُزوحُ
Generous through the alternation of his two conditions,
Trained in sovereignty by the departed
he shows neither prosperity nor crushing hardship.
Never resting in his fervor
إذاwhen قامتwas established لهfor him فيin الجودgenerosity سوقٌa market
إذا قامت له في الجود سوقٌ
فكلُّthen every مُتاجرٍtrader فيهاin it رَبيحُprofiting
فكلُّ مُتاجرٍ فيها رَبيحُ
When a market of generosity is established for him,
Flowing copiously in its arenas
every trader in it makes a profit.
Like the outpouring tears of morning
تمرَّنgrew practiced فيin السيادةlordship منهwithin him ماضٍone resolute
تمرَّن في السيادة منه ماضٍ
علىon غُلَوائهhis ardent course لاnot يستريحُrests
على غُلَوائه لا يستريحُ
In him, resolute will has grown practiced in lordship,
He confused people on the path of glory
never resting from its ardent course.
As a guide between his eyes beckoned
جَرَىhe ran متدفقاًsurging فيin حلبتيْهاits two racecourses
جَرَى متدفقاً في حلبتيْها
كماas يتدَفَّقsurges الطِّرفُthe noble steed السَّبوحُthe swimming-strided
كما يتدَفَّق الطِّرفُ السَّبوحُ
He raced in full flood through its two racecourses,
And he grasped the rope, made bitter and slackened
as the swimming-strided steed surges onward.
The brother of Tamiim, a forgiving avenger
وجمَّعand gathered مُلكُthe dominion of آلthe House of بويهBuwayh منهthrough him
وجمَّع مُلكُ آل بويه منه
علىover ماwhat شتَّتscattered الكافيthe capable one النصيحُthe loyal counselor
على ما شتَّت الكافي النصيحُ
The realm of the House of Buwayh rallied through him,
A day of safety, he's a drinker of barley broth
a capable, loyal counselor amid its scattered affairs.
A day of injustice, a bread sopper without sipping
يقلِّبُhe wields منهof his أنبوباًa reed-tube ضعيفاًfrail
يقلِّبُ منه أنبوباً ضعيفاً
تَدينُsubmit لهto it الصفائحthe sword-blades والسريحُand the sword-belts
تَدينُ له الصفائح والسريحُ
He wields a frail reed of his,
Abu Hassan, your enemy whom fate cast
to which sword-blades and sword-belts submit.
With ochre and fervent pottery
وكانand he was الفارسَthe knight القَلميَّof the pen يُبلىbeing tested
وكان الفارسَ القَلميَّ يُبلى
بحيثwhere يُعرِّدُflees البطلُthe champion المُشيحُthe resolute
بحيث يُعرِّدُ البطلُ المُشيحُ
He was the knight of the pen, tested
To the deeply rebellious beloved whom
where the resolute champion flees.
His wantonness casts into perdition
وَرَىkindled بضيائهwith his radiance والليلُwhile the night داجٍdark
وَرَى بضيائه والليلُ داجٍ
خُفوقَat the setting of النورِthe light منبلجٌdawning brightly وَضوحُradiant
خُفوقَ النورِ منبلجٌ وَضوحُ
He kindled his radiance while the night was dark
He squinted at the gazelle while blinded
and light was waning—brightly dawning, clear.
To kindle admiration in her beauties
أضلَّmade lose their way الناسَthe people فيamong طرقthe paths of المعاليgreatness
أضلَّ الناسَ في طرق المعالي
سبيلاًa road بينbetween عينيهhis two eyes يلوحُgleams
سبيلاً بين عينيه يلوحُ
He left others lost among the paths of greatness,
He charges a boulder with his most hollow lust
on a road gleaming before his eyes.
Oh how soon the charging was smashed to pieces!
وضمَّand drew together الحبلَthe cord مُحلَولىًsweetened مَريراًbitter
وضمَّ الحبلَ مُحلَولىً مَريراً
أخوone endowed with طعمينِtwo tastes منتقمٌavenging صفوحُforgiving
أخو طعمينِ منتقمٌ صفوحُ
He held the cord, sweet and bitter together,
By your right, I never confessed you from my heart
a man of two tastes, avenging yet forgiving.
A secret that no desirous ear has heard
فيومَso on the day of الأمنِpeace وَرّادٌa frequent water-seeker شروبٌa deep drinker
فيومَ الأمنِ وَرّادٌ شروبٌ
ويومand on the day of الغَبنbeing cheated عيَّافٌaverse to drinking قَموحُhead-raised, refusing water
ويوم الغَبن عيَّافٌ قَموحُ
In peace he eagerly comes to water and drinks deeply;
I concealed you from him though my love for you
when cheated, he refuses it with his head held high.
And my hopes for union reached him
أباO father of حسنٍHasan عدوّكyour enemy منone whom تَرامَىtossed back and forth
أبا حسنٍ عدوّك من تَرامَى
بهwith him الرَّجوَانِthe two brinks والقدَرُand fate الجَموحُthe unbridled
به الرَّجوَانِ والقدَرُ الجَموحُ
Abu Hasan, your enemy is he whom
So if you mute the days' doubts about me
the two brinks and unbridled fate have hurled
With your aid, though disasters scream at me
إلىinto متمرِّدa fierce المهوَىabyss عميقٍdeep
إلى متمرِّد المهوَى عميقٍ
فتطرحهso fling him down مَهالِكَهُits deadly hazards الطُّروحُthe hurling
فتطرحه مَهالِكَهُ الطُّروحُ
into a fierce, deep abyss,
And overlapping needs did not test you against me
whose deadly hazards fling him down.
Coming and going by day or by night
تفرَّسَgazed intently فيat الغزالةِthe sun وهوthough he was أعشىdim-sighted
تفرَّسَ في الغزالةِ وهو أعشى
ليقدَحَto find fault فيwith محاسنهاits beauties القَدوحُthe faultfinder
ليقدَحَ في محاسنها القَدوحُ
He scrutinized the sun though his sight was dim,
While others carried my hopes thirstily
seeking, faultfinder that he was, to fault its beauties.
Upon them, though no tablets bore them
يناطحُhe butts صخرةًa rock بأجَمَّwith a hornless head خاوٍhollow
يناطحُ صخرةً بأجَمَّ خاوٍ
أياO سَرْعانَhow swiftly ماthat حُطِمَwas shattered النطيحُthe butted beast
أيا سَرْعانَ ما حُطِمَ النطيحُ
He butts a rock with a hollow, hornless head;
You visited, turning away from my virtues
how swiftly the butted beast was shattered!
So my morning stars were lost to you
بحقكby your right ماwhat أبحتكI opened to you منof فؤاديmy heart
بحقك ما أبحتك من فؤادي
مضايقَnarrow recesses لمnot ينلهاhas reached them مستميحُa seeker of gifts
مضايقَ لم ينلها مستميحُ
By your right, what I have opened to you in my heart
You abandoned me, not counting a sin against me
are recesses no seeker of gifts has reached.
With excuses, though they lack clarity
أصاركbrought you وهيthough they were خافيةٌhidden إليهاinto them
أصارك وهي خافيةٌ إليها
ودادُكyour affection ليfor me ونائلُكand your bounty السجيحُthe easy-flowing
ودادُك لي ونائلُك السجيحُ
What brought you into them, hidden as they were,
I blame him to transfer and awaken him
was your love for me and your freely flowing bounty.
As the painful day tosses and turns
فإنfor if أخرستَyou silenced ريبَthe afflictions of الدهرtime عنّيaway from me
فإن أخرستَ ريبَ الدهر عنّي
بعونكwith your help والنوائبُwhile calamities بيagainst me تَصيحُcry out
بعونك والنوائبُ بي تَصيحُ
For if you silenced time's afflictions on my behalf
How much you've overlooked to preserve what
with your aid, while calamities cried out against me,
Came, covering up what's shameful if hidden
ولمand did not تَبعْلَكconfound you بيon my account مترادفاتٌsuccessions
ولم تَبعْلَك بي مترادفاتٌ
منof الحاجاتِneeds تغدوcome in the morning أوor تروحُgo in the evening
من الحاجاتِ تغدو أو تروحُ
and you were not confounded on my account by successive
So endless repeating tales do not miss you
needs, coming each morning or going each evening,
Dwelling in horizons or wandering round
وغيركwhile another حامَcircled آماليmy hopes عِطاشاًthirsty
وغيرك حامَ آمالي عِطاشاً
عليهaround him وماyet not يُبَلُّis moistened لهنّfor them لُوحُburning thirst
عليه وما يُبَلُّ لهنّ لُوحُ
while my hopes circled another, thirsty,
They have a climbing path in your eminence each day
and none of their burning thirst was cooled by him;
Shedding over reputations their stinking scent
تَزاورَhe turned aside جانباًto one side عنfrom وجهthe face of فضليmy worth
تَزاورَ جانباً عن وجه فضلي
فضاعand so was lost عليهto him كَوكَبيَmy star الصبيحُthe radiant
فضاع عليه كَوكَبيَ الصبيحُ
he turned aside from the face of my worth,
They rise in mountains endlessly
and my shining star was lost to him.
And the outpouring rain hurls them into seas
جفانيhe shunned me لاnot يَعدُّcounting عليَّagainst me ذنباًa fault
جفاني لا يَعدُّ عليَّ ذنباً
بأعذارٍwith excuses وليسand there was no لهاin them وضوحُclarity
بأعذارٍ وليس لها وضوحُ
He shunned me though he counted no fault against me,
Days of celebration pass over you
offering excuses that had no clarity.
Among them the blessed and the auspicious
أعاتبُهI reproach him لأنقلَهto move him ويعياbut is powerless
أعاتبُه لأنقلَه ويعيا
بنقلِto move يَلَملَمَYalamlam اليومُthe day المُريحُthe wind-bringing
بنقلِ يَلَملَمَ اليومُ المُريحُ
I reproach him to move him—but powerless
With the beauty of splendid festivities that were
to move Yalamlam is even a wind-bringing day.
Necklaces adorned with beads and pendants
وكمand how often أغضيتَyou overlooked إبقاءًout of forbearance علىregarding ماwhat
وكم أغضيتَ إبقاءً على ما
أتىhe did وسترتَand you veiled لوif only خَفِيَcould be hidden القبيحُthe ugly
أتى وسترتَ لو خَفِيَ القبيحُ
How often you looked away, out of forbearance, from what
Tidings that your lifetime of glory
he did, and veiled it—if only the ugly could be hidden!
Counts double what Noah's centuries numbered
فلاso may not تعدَمكlack you أنتَyou yourself مكرراتٌoft-repeated praises
فلا تعدَمك أنتَ مكرراتٌ
علىacross الآفاقthe horizons تقطُنُthey dwell أوor تَسيحُthey roam
على الآفاق تقطُنُ أو تَسيحُ
So may you never lack oft-repeated praises,
dwelling across the horizons or roaming.
لهاthey have أَرجٌa fragrance بنشركfrom your renown كلّevery يومٍday
لها أَرجٌ بنشرك كلّ يومٍ
علىover الأعراضreputations ضَوعتهُits wafted scent تفوحُdiffuses
على الأعراض ضَوعتهُ تفوحُ
Each day they carry a fragrance from your renown,
its wafted scent spreading over reputations.
تَصاعَدُthey ascend فيinto الجبالِthe mountains بلاwithout مَراقٍsteps
تَصاعَدُ في الجبالِ بلا مَراقٍ
ويَقذِفُand casts فيinto البحارthe seas بهاthem السُّبوحُthe swift swimmer
ويَقذِفُ في البحار بها السُّبوحُ
They ascend the mountains without steps,
and the swimmer casts them into the seas.
تمرُّpass عليكَover you أيّامُthe days of التهانيcongratulations
تمرُّ عليكَ أيّامُ التهاني
ومنهنّand among them المبارَكُthe blessed والنجيحُand the successful
ومنهنّ المبارَكُ والنجيحُ
Days of congratulations pass over you,
among them the blessed and the successful.
بجيدِupon the neck of المهرجانMihrjan وكانwhich was عُطْلاًunadorned
بجيدِ المهرجان وكان عُطْلاً
قلائدُnecklaces منfrom حلاهاtheir ornaments أوor وُشوحُsashes
قلائدُ من حلاها أو وُشوحُ
Upon Mihrjan's neck, once unadorned,
are necklaces of their jewels, or sashes.
بشائرُglad tidings أنَّthat عمركَyour life فيamid المعاليgreatness
بشائرُ أنَّ عمركَ في المعالي
يَعُدُّcounts مُضاعِفاًmany times over ماwhat عَدَّcounted نوحُNoah
يَعُدُّ مُضاعِفاً ما عَدَّ نوحُ
Glad tidings that your life amid greatness
will number many times the years that Noah numbered.
Partial English translation: 112 of 124 Arabic lines translated.