ذاbehold أَدهَمُblack steed اللّيلِof night وَلّىturned away هاربُfleeing الغسَقِthe dusk
ذا أَدهَمُ اللّيلِ وَلّى هاربُ الغسَقِ
إِذْas أَشهَبُgray steed الصّبحof morning يَعدوgallops شاهِرَbrandishing الفلَقِdaybreak
إِذْ أَشهَبُ الصّبح يَعدو شاهِرَ الفلَقِ
Behold, night's black steed has fled, its dusk in flight,
When the dark night departed fleeing the twilight,
as morning's gray steed gallops, brandishing daybreak.
And the radiant dawn galloped cleaving the daybreak,
حَيثُwhere النّجومُthe stars لِأَرضِtoward the land of الغَربِthe west راكضةٌracing
حَيثُ النّجومُ لِأَرضِ الغَربِ راكضةٌ
مِثلlike القَناديلِlanterns فيin كَفٍّa hand لِمُستَبِقِof a racer
مِثل القَناديلِ في كَفٍّ لِمُستَبِقِ
The stars race toward the land of the west,
The stars raced to the land of the west
like lanterns in the hand of a racer.
Like lamps in the hand of one hastening to win the race,
حَيثُwhere اِبتَداbegan الفجرُdawn فَوقَabove الأُفقِthe horizon مُعتَرِضاًstretching crosswise
حَيثُ اِبتَدا الفجرُ فَوقَ الأُفقِ مُعتَرِضاً
يَمتَدُّextends مُنتَشِراًspreading فيin حُسْنِbeauty مَتَّسقِharmonious
يَمتَدُّ مُنتَشِراً في حُسْنِ مَتَّسقِ
Dawn first appeared above the horizon, stretching across it,
The dawn began to block the horizon
extending and spreading in harmonious beauty.
Spreading beautifully in well-arranged formation,
كَأَنّهُas though it وَظَلامُwhile the darkness of اللّيلِnight مُعتَكِرٌthick and murky
كَأَنّهُ وَظَلامُ اللّيلِ مُعتَكِرٌ
يَبدوappears مُقدّمهُits vanguard لِلشَّمسِfor the sun فيin الأُفُقِthe horizon
يَبدو مُقدّمهُ لِلشَّمسِ في الأُفُقِ
It was as though, while night's darkness still lay thick,
As if it and the darkness of night were wrestling
its vanguard appeared for the sun upon the horizon.
And its vanguard appeared on the horizon,
وَخَفّقَتand fluttered رايَةٌa banner بيضاءwhite إذْwhen نسَجَتwove
وَخَفّقَت رايَةٌ بيضاء إذْ نسَجَت
هاit الشَّمسُthe sun مِنfrom نورهاher light المَسبوكِcast مِنfrom ورِقِsilver
ها الشَّمسُ مِن نورها المَسبوكِ مِن ورِقِ
And a white banner fluttered when it was woven
A white flag fluttered when the sun wove it
by the sun from her light, cast from silver.
From its poured light made of thin silk,
وَقَدand indeed تَبَدَّتshe appeared بِتاجِwith a crown of الضوءِlight مُسفرِةًradiant
وَقَد تَبَدَّت بِتاجِ الضوءِ مُسفرِةً
تَجرُّtrails ذَيلَthe train of الشّعاعِthe rays الأَبيَضِwhite اليقَقِbrilliantly white
تَجرُّ ذَيلَ الشّعاعِ الأَبيَضِ اليقَقِ
And she appeared radiant, wearing a crown of light,
And it shone with the crown of light, unveiled,
trailing the train of pure, brilliant white rays.
Dragging the tail of white radiant beams,
وَصاحَand sang out فيin الرَّوضِthe garden فَوقَupon الغُصنِthe branch بُلبلُهُits nightingale
وَصاحَ في الرَّوضِ فَوقَ الغُصنِ بُلبلُهُ
فَهيَّجَthus roused الصَّبَّthe lovesick lover وَالورقاءَand the gray dove فيamong الورقِthe leaves
فَهيَّجَ الصَّبَّ وَالورقاءَ في الورقِ
And the garden's nightingale sang out upon a branch,
The nightingale in the garden trilled joyously above the branch
rousing the lovesick lover and the gray dove among the leaves.
Stirring the chirp and the leaves in the foliage,
وَقامَand arose يَهتَزُّswaying فيهِwithin it مِنfrom مَحاسِنِهِhis beauties
وَقامَ يَهتَزُّ فيهِ مِن مَحاسِنِهِ
ظَبيٌa gazelle مِنَof المِسكِmusk فيin تيهٍpride وَفيand in شبَقِlust
ظَبيٌ مِنَ المِسكِ في تيهٍ وَفي شبَقِ
And there arose within it, swaying in his beauty,
A gazelle rose startled, redolent of musk
a gazelle of musk, full of pride and desire.
Wandering intoxicated in rapture and passion,
وَالمِسكُand musk بَعضُa portion of دَمٍblood لَكِنَّbut لَيسَis not لَهُfor it
وَالمِسكُ بَعضُ دَمٍ لَكِنَّ لَيسَ لَهُ
مَعناهُhis essence مُنفَتِقاًsplit open أَوor غَيرَnot مُنفَتِقِsplit open
مَعناهُ مُنفَتِقاً أَو غَيرَ مُنفَتِقِ
And musk is but a portion of blood, yet it does not possess
Musk is spilt blood but has no meaning
his essence, whether split open or left unopened.
Whether congealed or uncongealed,
عَلّقتهُI became attached to him وَأَبىbut he refused ماwhatever كانَwas مِنof عَلَقٍattachment
عَلّقتهُ وَأَبى ما كانَ مِن عَلَقٍ
حَتّىuntil عَرفتI knew بِهِthrough him أَنّيthat I أَخوa brother to العَلَقِpassionate attachment
حَتّى عَرفت بِهِ أَنّي أَخو العَلَقِ
I became attached to him, but he spurned all attachment,
I examined it but it refused what was once congealed
until through him I knew I was kin to passionate love.
Until I knew I am the brother of the clot,
وَقامَand he rose فيin الرّوضِthe garden يُعطيناgiving us سُلافتَهhis choicest wine
وَقامَ في الرّوضِ يُعطينا سُلافتَه
مِنfrom خَمرَةِthe wine of اللّفظِspeech أَوor مِنfrom خَمرةِthe wine of الحَدقِthe eyes
مِن خَمرَةِ اللّفظِ أَو مِن خَمرةِ الحَدقِ
And in the garden he rose to offer us his choicest wine,
It stood in the garden giving us its cheer
from the wine of speech, or the wine of eyes.
From the wine of speech or the wine of eyes,
وَالشّمسُand the sun مَدَّتspread حَياءًmodesty صيغَfashioned مِنfrom أَدَبٍcourtesy
وَالشّمسُ مَدَّت حَياءً صيغَ مِن أَدَبٍ
غَمامَةًa cloud فَوقَناabove us بَيضاءwhite كَالوَرقِlike silver
غَمامَةً فَوقَنا بَيضاء كَالوَرقِ
And the sun, in modesty fashioned from courtesy, spread
And the sun in modesty made of proper etiquette
a cloud above us, white as silver.
Drew above us a white cloud like a page,
وَفَصَّلتهاand she tailored it بِقَدرِto the measure of الرّوضِthe garden وَاِحتَجَبَتand she hid
وَفَصَّلتها بِقَدرِ الرّوضِ وَاِحتَجَبَت
عَنّاfrom us وَلَمand did not تَنحُdirect غيرَother than الرّوضِthe garden بِالرهَقِwith affliction
عَنّا وَلَم تَنحُ غيرَ الرّوضِ بِالرهَقِ
She tailored it to the garden's measure and hid
And screened us off with just enough for the garden
from us, burdening no place beyond the garden.
Veiling herself from us without leaning to one side,
تَبغيseeking بِذاthereby رَفعِremoval of إِيهامٍambiguity لِمُبصرهاfor her beholder
تَبغي بِذا رَفعِ إِيهامٍ لِمُبصرها
وَمُبصِرُand the beholder of الحبِّthe beloved أيٌّwhich one كَوكبُthe star of الأفقِthe horizon
وَمُبصِرُ الحبِّ أيٌّ كَوكبُ الأفقِ
seeking thereby to dispel the doubts of one who saw her,
She wanted this to raise an illusion for her beholder
and of one who saw the beloved: which was the horizon's star?
And the beholder of love is like the planet Venus,
للَّهto God دَرُّكyour excellence ياO شَمسَsun of السّماءِheaven فَقَدfor indeed
للَّه دَرُّك يا شَمسَ السّماءِ فَقَد
فَعَلتِyou have done فعلَthe deed of ذَويthose endowed with الإِحسانِkindness والخُلقِand good character
فَعَلتِ فعلَ ذَوي الإِحسانِ والخُلقِ
How splendid you are, O sun of heaven! For indeed
Blessed are you O sun of the sky, for you have
you have acted like those endowed with kindness and virtue.
Acted like those of utmost grace and manners!
وَقُمتُand I rose فيin الرّوضِthe garden وَالصّهباءُwhile the tawny wine تُقعِدُناkeeps us seated
وَقُمتُ في الرّوضِ وَالصّهباءُ تُقعِدُنا
إِذاwhen الغُصونُthe branches تَدانَتdrew close نَحوَtoward معتنقِan embrace
إِذا الغُصونُ تَدانَت نَحوَ معتنقِ
And I rose in the garden, while the tawny wine kept us seated,
And I stood in the garden while the yellow rose seated us
as the branches drew close toward an embrace.
When the branches leaned toward an embrace,
وَالزّهرُand the flowers يَنشُرُspread ماthat which تَبقىendures الحَياةُlife بِهِthrough it
وَالزّهرُ يَنشُرُ ما تَبقى الحَياةُ بِهِ
وَلَمand did not يَكُنbe تارِكاًleaving داءًan illness بمنتشقِin one inhaling it
وَلَم يَكُن تارِكاً داءً بمنتشقِ
And the flowers spread that by which life endures,
The flowers spread what remains of life
leaving no illness in anyone who inhaled it.
Leaving no sickness in one bursting with health,
وَقَدand indeed أَخَذناwe took up بِأَطرافِby the threads of الحَديثِconversation ضُحىًin the late morning
وَقَد أَخَذنا بِأَطرافِ الحَديثِ ضُحىً
وَقَدand indeed تَبسَّمَsmiled ثَغرُthe mouth of الأُنسِdelight عَنrevealing يَققpure whiteness
وَقَد تَبسَّمَ ثَغرُ الأُنسِ عَن يَقق
And late in the morning we took up the threads of conversation,
We had started pleasant chitchat in the morning
while the mouth of delight smiled, revealing pure whiteness.
When the mouth of companionship smiled revealing teeth,
وَالحِبُّand the beloved مِنout of لُطفِهِhis gentleness أَضحىbegan يُحدِّثُنيhe speaks to me
وَالحِبُّ مِن لُطفِهِ أَضحى يُحدِّثُني
فَردَّthus restored روحيmy soul وَماand what قَدhad فاتَdeparted مِنof رَمَقيmy life-breath
فَردَّ روحي وَما قَد فاتَ مِن رَمَقي
And the beloved, in his gentleness, began to speak to me,
And love in its gentleness started conversing with me
restoring my soul and the life-breath that had left me.
Restoring my soul and what had passed of my vigor,
ماwhat بَينَbetween لَفظٍspeech وَإِيماءٍand a signal بِحاجِبِهِwith his eyebrow
ما بَينَ لَفظٍ وَإِيماءٍ بِحاجِبِهِ
وَبَينَand between غَمزٍa wink وَميلand a tilt of الجيدِthe neck والعنقِand the throat
وَبَينَ غَمزٍ وَميل الجيدِ والعنقِ
through words and gestures of his eyebrow,
Between words and winks of his eyebrows,
and through winks and tilts of his neck and throat.
And between amorous glances, tilts of the neck and swing,
وَقَدand indeed جَلَسناwe sat بِذاكin that الرّوضِgarden فيupon سُرُرٍcouches
وَقَد جَلَسنا بِذاك الرّوضِ في سُرُرٍ
مِنَof السّرورِjoy بِلاwithout غَمٍّgrief ولاnor حَنقrancor
مِنَ السّرورِ بِلا غَمٍّ ولا حَنق
And we sat in that garden upon couches
We sat in that garden happily free of sorrow or discontent
of joy, without grief or rancor.
And remained thus until the evening not feeling the time pass,
وَلَمand did not نَزَلwe cease هكَذاthus حَتّىuntil المَساءevening وَقَدand already
وَلَم نَزَل هكَذا حَتّى المَساء وَقَد
وَلَّىdeparted النَّهارُday وَلَمand did not نَشعُرwe notice ولمand did not نفقِwe sober
وَلَّى النَّهارُ وَلَم نَشعُر ولم نفقِ
And so we remained until evening, while
The sun disappeared into the belly of the west
day slipped away unnoticed, and we never sobered.
And the army of darkness arrived in the twilight,
وَالشّمسُand the sun أَمسَتat evening became بِجَوفِin the heart of الغَربِthe west غائِبةًhidden
وَالشّمسُ أَمسَت بِجَوفِ الغَربِ غائِبةً
وَجاءَand came جَيشُthe army of الدّجىdarkness فيunder دَولَةِthe dominion of الغسَقِdusk
وَجاءَ جَيشُ الدّجى في دَولَةِ الغسَقِ
And the sun, at evening, vanished into the heart of the west,
Where the crescent like a golden bracelet
and the army of darkness came under dusk's dominion.
Adorned the wrist of the west in a carnelian sunset,
حَيثُwhere الهِلالthe crescent سِوارٌa bracelet صِيغَfashioned مِنfrom ذَهَبٍgold
حَيثُ الهِلال سِوارٌ صِيغَ مِن ذَهَبٍ
بِمِعصَمِupon the wrist of الغَربthe west فيamid ياقوتَةِthe ruby of الشّفَقِtwilight
بِمِعصَمِ الغَرب في ياقوتَةِ الشّفَقِ
There the crescent was a bracelet fashioned from gold,
Or it was the sword erect and brandished
upon the west's wrist, amid the ruby of twilight.
But more beautiful as the full moon rising,
أَوor أَنّهُit is السّيفُthe sword مَسلولاًunsheathed وَمُنتَصِباًand upright
أَو أَنّهُ السّيفُ مَسلولاً وَمُنتَصِباً
لَكِنّهbut it وَهوَwhile it is بَدرٌa full moon أَحسنthe finest of الدرقِshields
لَكِنّه وَهوَ بَدرٌ أَحسن الدرقِ
or else a sword, unsheathed and held upright;
Its rise reminded me of the superiority
yet as a full moon it is the fairest of shields.
Of the one who left no chance for a competitor,
طُلوعُهُits rising كَطلوعِlike the rising of الشّمسِthe sun أَذكَرَنيreminded me
طُلوعُهُ كَطلوعِ الشّمسِ أَذكَرَني
فَضلَthe excellence of الَّذيthe one who لَمdid not يدعleave شَأواًa lead لِمُستَبِقِfor a rival racer
فَضلَ الَّذي لَم يدع شَأواً لِمُستَبِقِ
Its rising, like the sun's, reminded me
The full moon of Algiers, who was its ruler
of the excellence of one who left no lead to any rival racer:
And won precedence and succession in it,
بَدرُthe full moon of الجَزائِرِAlgiers مَنthe one who كانَwas الأَميرَthe emir بِهاin it
بَدرُ الجَزائِرِ مَن كانَ الأَميرَ بِها
وَفازَand won فيهاin it بِنَيلِby attaining السّبْقِprecedence وَالسَّبَقِand the prize
وَفازَ فيها بِنَيلِ السّبْقِ وَالسَّبَقِ
the full moon of Algiers, who was its emir,
Who ruled it with the beauty of justice and wisdom
and won there both precedence and the prize.
With the best composure, not foolishness and turmoil,
مَنthe one who ساسَهاgoverned it حسنَfine عدلٍjustice مِنهُfrom him فيin حِكَمٍwise judgments
مَن ساسَها حسنَ عدلٍ مِنهُ في حِكَمٍ
بِأَحسَنِwith the finest الحلمِforbearance لاnot بِالحمقِwith foolishness وَالخرَقِand rashness
بِأَحسَنِ الحلمِ لا بِالحمقِ وَالخرَقِ
who governed it with his fair justice in wise judgments,
None but a manifestation was created from his essence of beauty
with the finest forbearance, not with foolishness and rashness.
For he stood perfect in his make and manners,
مِنfrom جَوهرِthe substance of الحسنِbeauty لَمnot يُخلقwas created سِوىexcept عرضٍan accidental attribute
مِن جَوهرِ الحسنِ لَم يُخلق سِوى عرضٍ
مِنهُof him لَقَدindeed قامَwas established فيin خَلْقٍoutward form وَفيand in خُلُقِcharacter
مِنهُ لَقَد قامَ في خَلْقٍ وَفي خُلُقِ
From the substance of beauty, nothing was created but an attribute
The most noble, the most eloquent, unique in his time
of him, indeed embodied in both form and character.
The brilliant, the literary, the judicious, the courteous,
الكامِلُthe perfect one الفَخمُthe magnificent فردُthe unique one of الوقتِthe age نادِرُهُits rarest one
الكامِلُ الفَخمُ فردُ الوقتِ نادِرُهُ
الأَلمَعِيُّthe keen-witted الأَديبُthe cultured الحاذِقُthe skillful اللّبِقُthe tactful
الأَلمَعِيُّ الأَديبُ الحاذِقُ اللّبِقُ
The perfect, magnificent one, his age's unique and rarest man,
Muhammad, of excellent qualities and traits
keen-witted, cultured, skillful, and tactful.
Pearl of praise, in him all merits combine,
مُحَمّدٌMuhammad بِحَميدِwith praiseworthy الذّاتِessence مَعalong with صِفَةٍquality
مُحَمّدٌ بِحَميدِ الذّاتِ مَع صِفَةٍ
دُرُّthe pearls of المَحامِدِpraiseworthy qualities فيهin him خَيرُbest مُتّسقِharmoniously strung
دُرُّ المَحامِدِ فيه خَيرُ مُتّسقِ
Muhammad, praiseworthy in essence and quality,
Lord of the forehead whose light like the dawn
in whom the pearls of praiseworthy qualities are most finely strung.
Radiantly beams each morn cleaving the dark,
ربّpossessor of الجبينthe brow الّذيwhose مِصباحُthe lamp of غُرَّتِهhis forehead's radiance
ربّ الجبين الّذي مِصباحُ غُرَّتِه
كَالصّبحِlike dawn يَزهوshines proudly صَباحاًin the morning نيِّرَbright الفرقِthe hair-parting
كَالصّبحِ يَزهو صَباحاً نيِّرَ الفرقِ
Possessor of a brow whose forehead's lamp
Lord of the morning prayer, bright of face is his dawn
shines like dawn at morning, bright at the parting of his hair.
I seek refuge for him in God of mankind and daybreak,
ربُّpossessor of الصّباحَةِbeauty طَلقُcheerful الوجهِof face أَصبَحُهits most radiant
ربُّ الصّباحَةِ طَلقُ الوجهِ أَصبَحُه
أُعيذُهI seek protection for him بِإِلهِwith the God of النّاسِhumankind والفلَقِand daybreak
أُعيذُه بِإِلهِ النّاسِ والفلَقِ
Possessor of beauty, open-faced, with the most radiant face,
In his face flows the water of modesty so for him
I commend him to the protection of the God of humankind and daybreak.
Being veiled was never a barrier to union,
يَسيلُflows فيin وَجهِهِhis face ماءُthe water of الحَياءِmodesty فَمِنْyet from
يَسيلُ في وَجهِهِ ماءُ الحَياءِ فَمِنْ
هُhim لَمnot يَكُنbe وَهوَwhile it is مَكفوفٌheld back بمندفقِgushing forth
هُ لَم يَكُن وَهوَ مَكفوفٌ بمندفقِ
The water of modesty flows in his face, yet from
Lord of generosity, who rains gifts freely
him it never gushes forth, being held in check.
And of munificence like clouds heavy with rain,
ربُّmaster of السّماحَةِgenerosity هَطّالُpouring forth البَنانِthe fingertips نَدىًdew-like bounty
ربُّ السّماحَةِ هَطّالُ البَنانِ نَدىً
وَذوand possessor of السّخاءِliberality الّذيwho كَالعارِضِlike a raincloud العَذِقِrain-laden
وَذو السّخاءِ الّذي كَالعارِضِ العَذِقِ
Master of generosity, his fingertips raining dew,
Stalwart of valor, no rival challenges him
and possessed of bounty, like a rain-laden cloud.
But falls from the blow of shock and dismay,
طَوْدُa mountain of الشّجاعَةِcourage ماno قِرنٌrival يُبارِزُهُduels with him
طَوْدُ الشّجاعَةِ ما قِرنٌ يُبارِزُهُ
إِلّاexcept وَقَدand already خَرَّfell ذاكَthat القِرنُrival مِنfrom صَعقِshock
إِلّا وَقَد خَرَّ ذاكَ القِرنُ مِن صَعقِ
A mountain of courage: no rival meets him in combat
Of excellent patience, he is calm in his tranquility
without that rival collapsing from shock.
So was never anxious in the turns of fate,
ذيpossessed of الاِصطِبارِendurance تَردّىhe robed himself فيin سَكينَتِهِhis serenity
ذي الاِصطِبارِ تَردّى في سَكينَتِهِ
فَلَمand not يَكُنwas عِندَamid رَيْبِthe vicissitudes of الدَّهرِtime ذاpossessed of قلَقِanxiety
فَلَم يَكُن عِندَ رَيْبِ الدَّهرِ ذا قلَقِ
Possessed of endurance, he has robed himself in serenity,
No sooner did the king of the jungle see him
never anxious amid the vicissitudes of time.
Than the beasts of the wild died of fright,
ماnot إِنْindeed تَبَدَّىhe appeared وَلَيثُand the lion of الغابِthe forest أَبصَرهُsaw him
ما إِنْ تَبَدَّى وَلَيثُ الغابِ أَبصَرهُ
إِلّاexcept وَماتَand died هِزَبرُthe mighty lion of الغابِthe forest مِنfrom فَرقِfear
إِلّا وَماتَ هِزَبرُ الغابِ مِن فَرقِ
Whenever he appears and the forest lion sees him,
Lord of eloquence built on wisdom
the mighty lion of the forest dies of terror.
My brother of righteousness and clear logic,
رَبُّmaster of البَلاغَةِeloquence إِذas تُبنىis founded عَلىupon حكمwisdom
رَبُّ البَلاغَةِ إِذ تُبنى عَلى حكم
أَخيpossessed of السّدادِsound judgment وَحُسنand excellence of المَنطِقِspeech الذَّلقِfluent
أَخي السّدادِ وَحُسن المَنطِقِ الذَّلقِ
Master of eloquence founded upon wisdom,
When he speaks, pearls spill scattered
possessed of sound judgment and fine, fluent speech.
So blessed are the listeners and eavesdroppers!
إِذاwhen تَكَلَّمhe speaks خِلتَyou imagine الدُّرَّpearls مُنتَثِراًscattered
إِذا تَكَلَّم خِلتَ الدُّرَّ مُنتَثِراً
ياO فَوزَthe good fortune of مُستَمِعٍa listener مِنهُto him وَمُستَرِقِand an eavesdropper
يا فَوزَ مُستَمِعٍ مِنهُ وَمُستَرِقِ
When he speaks, you think pearls are being scattered:
Lord of argument, intelligence, sweetness of manner
how fortunate his listener and the one who listens secretly!
And subtlety, grace in nature and deeds,
رَبُّmaster of الحِجىreason وَالذَّكاand intelligence واللُّبّand understanding فيwith أَدَبٍrefinement
رَبُّ الحِجى وَالذَّكا واللُّبّ في أَدَبٍ
وَاللّطفand gentleness وَالظّرفand wit فيin طَبعٍnature وفيand in خُلُقِcharacter
وَاللّطف وَالظّرف في طَبعٍ وفي خُلُقِ
Master of reason, intelligence, and understanding, with refinement,
His reputation is fragrant as musk spilled forth
and of gentleness and wit, in nature and character.
And musk is the finest perfume with scent,
قَدindeed طابَbecame sweet صيتاًin reputation كعَرفِlike the fragrance of المِسكِmusk مُنفَتِقاًreleased
قَد طابَ صيتاً كعَرفِ المِسكِ مُنفَتِقاً
وَالمِسكُand musk أَفضلُthe finest of طِيبٍperfume طيّبٍsweet عَبقِfragrant
وَالمِسكُ أَفضلُ طِيبٍ طيّبٍ عَبقِ
His reputation is sweet, like the scent of musk released,
With glory he trod upon the heights with steps
and musk is the finest perfume, sweet and fragrant.
That shine as he firmly planted them without slip,
بِالمَجدِthrough glory داسَhe trod عَلىupon العَلياءِthe heights فيwith قدمٍa foot
بِالمَجدِ داسَ عَلى العَلياءِ في قدمٍ
تَجِلُّis too noble إذْas ثَبتَتit stood firm فيهاtherein عَنِfor الزّلَقِslipping
تَجِلُّ إذْ ثَبتَت فيها عَنِ الزّلَقِ
Through glory he trod the heights with a foot
Who can equal him in honor and nobility?
too noble to slip, firmly planted there.
Only an ignorant one heading to ruin,
فَمَنso whoever يُضاهيهِrivals him فيin عِزٍّmight وفيand in شَرفٍhonor
فَمَن يُضاهيهِ في عِزٍّ وفي شَرفٍ
فَهوَthen he is الجَهولُthe ignorant fool الّذيwho يَنحوheads إِلىtoward الوَبَقِruin
فَهوَ الجَهولُ الّذي يَنحو إِلى الوَبَقِ
Whoever seeks to rival him in might and honor
The truth judges that none can compare with him
is an ignorant fool heading toward ruin.
And the words of one claiming parity are void,
وَالحقّand truth يَحكُمُjudges فيconcerning أَنthat لاthere is no نَظيرَequal لَهُto him
وَالحقّ يَحكُمُ في أَن لا نَظيرَ لَهُ
وَلَيسَand is not قَولُthe claim of المُضاهيthe rival غَيرother than مُمتَحِقِeffaced
وَلَيسَ قَولُ المُضاهي غَير مُمتَحِقِ
And truth judges that he has no equal,
I have praised his merits that enhanced
and the rival's claim can only come to nothing.
In a string of priceless verses well-arranged,
إِنّيindeed I اِمتَدحتpraised مَزاياهُhis virtues الّتيwhich حَسُنَتwere beautiful
إِنّي اِمتَدحت مَزاياهُ الّتي حَسُنَت
فيin درِّpearls of نَظمٍverse أَتىcame فيin أَحسَنِthe finest النَّسقِarrangement
في درِّ نَظمٍ أَتى في أَحسَنِ النَّسقِ
I have praised his beautiful virtues
Organized from the gems of words, harmonious
in pearls of verse, arranged in the finest order,
Combining words, meaning, concordant and consistent,
مُنظّمٍstrung مِنfrom لَآليpearls of اللَّفظِlanguage مُنسجمٍharmonious
مُنظّمٍ مِن لَآلي اللَّفظِ مُنسجمٍ
مُؤلّفِunited in اللّفظِwording وَالمَعنىand meaning وَمتّفقِand concordant
مُؤلّفِ اللّفظِ وَالمَعنى وَمتّفقِ
strung from pearls of language, harmonious,
Splendor flows on the illuminated brow
with word and meaning joined in accord.
With decisiveness, a dress not substandard,
تَجريflows الوسامَةُbeauty فيacross وَضّاحِradiant جَبهَتِهِits brow
تَجري الوسامَةُ في وَضّاحِ جَبهَتِهِ
لَهُfor it الجَزالَةُstately eloquence ثَوبٌa robe لَيسَis not بِالخَلِقِthreadbare
لَهُ الجَزالَةُ ثَوبٌ لَيسَ بِالخَلِقِ
Beauty flows across its radiant brow;
In praising the praised he rejoices happily
its robe is stately eloquence, never threadbare.
For praise is the finest necklace to be adorned,
يَزدانُis adorned فيin مَدحِهِits praise مَمدوحهthe one it praises فَرَحاًjoyfully
يَزدانُ في مَدحِهِ مَمدوحه فَرَحاً
وَالمَدحُand praise أَحسنُthe finest عَقدٍnecklace نيطَhung بِالعنقِabout the neck
وَالمَدحُ أَحسنُ عَقدٍ نيطَ بِالعنقِ
Through its praise, its subject is joyfully adorned,
May his envier remain eternally vexed in fury
and praise is the finest necklace hung about the neck.
And his detractor remain in utter misery,
لاmay not زالَcease حاسِدُهُhis envier سَكرانَdrunk مِنwith حَنقrancor
لا زالَ حاسِدُهُ سَكرانَ مِن حَنق
لاmay not زالَcease شانِئهhis hater فيin مُنتهىthe utmost السُّحُقِremoteness
لا زالَ شانِئه في مُنتهى السُّحُقِ
May his envier remain drunk with rancor,
The birds have not trilled over the branches joyfully
may his hater remain utterly cast away,
Where the sun of dawn rises high on the horizon,
ماas long as غَرَّدَsang الطّيرُthe birds فَوقَabove الأَيْكِthe thickets مِنfrom طَرَبٍdelight
ما غَرَّدَ الطّيرُ فَوقَ الأَيْكِ مِن طَرَبٍ
وَحَيثand while شَمسُthe sun of الضّحىlate morning تَعلوrises عَلىover الأفقِthe horizon
وَحَيث شَمسُ الضّحى تَعلو عَلى الأفقِ
as long as birds sing with delight above the thickets,
And where the son of Fathallah continues praising him
and as long as the morning sun rises over the horizon,
All day and in darkness and dusk,
وَحَيثُand while ظَلّcontinued اِبنُIbn (son of) فَتحِFath اللَّهِAllah يَمدَحهُpraising him
وَحَيثُ ظَلّ اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ يَمدَحهُ
طولَthroughout النّهارِthe day وَفيand in الظّلماءِdarkness وَالغَسَقِand dusk
طولَ النّهارِ وَفي الظّلماءِ وَالغَسَقِ
and as long as Ibn Fath Allah continues to praise him
throughout the day, and in darkness and dusk.
Partial English translation: 102 of 104 Arabic lines translated.