إِنّindeed قَلبيmy heart بِغَراميwith my passion طَفَحاoverflowed
إِنّ قَلبي بِغَرامي طَفَحا
فيin هَوىlove for الظّبيِthe gazelle الأَغنِّmellow, nasal-voiced الأحسنِfairest
في هَوى الظّبيِ الأَغنِّ الأحسنِ
Indeed, my heart has overflowed with passion
My heart overflowed with passion
in love for the fairest, mellow, nasal-voiced gazelle,
For the love of the most beautiful gazelle
مَنْwho لِحُسنِthe beauty of الشّمسِthe sun وَالبدرِand the full moon مَحاeffaced
مَنْ لِحُسنِ الشّمسِ وَالبدرِ مَحا
بِجَمالٍwith beauty بارعٍdazzling مُستَحسَنِadmired
بِجَمالٍ بارعٍ مُستَحسَنِ
who effaced the beauty of the sun and full moon
None can match the radiance of sun and moon
with dazzling, lovely beauty.
With such brilliant beauty so fair
سَلَبَstole الأَلبابَminds فيthrough سِحرِthe enchantment of العُيونْthe eyes
سَلَبَ الأَلبابَ في سِحرِ العُيونْ
وَرَمَىand struck الأَحشاthe entrails بِسَهمِwith the arrow of الدعجِdeep-black eyes
وَرَمَى الأَحشا بِسَهمِ الدعجِ
He stole minds through the magic of his eyes,
It captivated minds with magic of eyes
and struck the entrails with the arrow of dark eyes;
And shot lovers with arrows of languor
وَرَمىand cast العشّاقَthe lovers فيinto داءِthe illness of الجُنونmadness
وَرَمى العشّاقَ في داءِ الجُنون
وَاِستَطابواand they relished فَتكَهُhis slaughter فيin المُهَجِhearts
وَاِستَطابوا فَتكَهُ في المُهَجِ
he cast lovers into the malady of madness,
Making crazed those passion's disease seized
and they relished his slaughter of their hearts.
Who relished its havoc with fervor
وَرَضُواand they accepted القَتلَdeath بِأَسيافِby the swords of الجُفونthe eyelids
وَرَضُوا القَتلَ بِأَسيافِ الجُفون
مِنهُfrom him تَفرِيcleave الكبدthe liver مِثلَlike الودجِthe jugular vein
مِنهُ تَفرِي الكبد مِثلَ الودجِ
They accepted death by the swords of his eyelids,
Content to face death by glance's swords
which cleave the liver as they cleave the jugular.
As livers like candles did smolder
كُلّهمall of them بِالرّوحِwith the soul منهُbecause of him سَمَحاfreely yielded
كُلّهم بِالرّوحِ منهُ سَمَحا
وَاِغتَدىand became فيin عِشقِهِhis love عَنهاof it غنيfree of need
وَاِغتَدى في عِشقِهِ عَنها غني
Each freely yielded his soul because of him,
Each soul freely offered in loving accord
and in loving him became free of need for it;
While for its love was each cheap vendor
وَلَهاand it فيin عِشقِهhis love قَدindeed طرحاhe cast
وَلَها في عِشقِه قَد طرحا
فيin لَظىthe blaze of الوَجدِlonging وَنارِand the fire of الشّجنِsorrow
في لَظى الوَجدِ وَنارِ الشّجنِ
and in loving him he cast it
Consumed with desire, all reason it scorched
into the blaze of longing and the fire of sorrow.
Ablaze with rapture and fire of yearning
ياO عَذوليmy censurer كُفَّstop لَوميblaming me وَاِتّئِدْand be measured
يا عَذولي كُفَّ لَومي وَاِتّئِدْ
أَنتَyou غَمْرٌinexperienced لَمhave not تَذُقtasted طَعمَthe taste of الغَرامْpassion
أَنتَ غَمْرٌ لَم تَذُق طَعمَ الغَرامْ
O my censurer, stop blaming me, and be measured.
My critic, cease blaming, no need to be harsh
You are inexperienced: you have not tasted passion.
You've never tasted love's longings that burn
إِنْif تَذُقْهُyou taste it لَحظَةًfor a moment كُنتَyou would تَجِدْfind
إِنْ تَذُقْهُ لَحظَةً كُنتَ تَجِدْ
أَنّthat لَومَcensuring الصبِّthe passionate lover فيin العِشقِlove حَرامْis forbidden
أَنّ لَومَ الصبِّ في العِشقِ حَرامْ
If you tasted it for a moment, you would find
If for an instant you felt its sweet touch
that censuring a passionate lover is forbidden.
You'd know to blame lovers is crime most stern
فَلَهُso to it بادِرhasten بِجدٍّin earnest وَاِجتَهدand strive
فَلَهُ بادِر بِجدٍّ وَاِجتَهد
وَكُنِand be الصبَّthe passionate lover غَراماًin passion وَهُيامand love-madness
وَكُنِ الصبَّ غَراماً وَهُيام
So hasten to it in earnest, and strive,
So strive my friend, be earnest and keen
and be a lover, full of passion and love-madness.
To feel love's frenzy and be ever its keen
ياoh! لَحاmay curse اللَّهGod عَذولاًa censurer قَدindeed لَحاcensured
يا لَحا اللَّه عَذولاً قَد لَحا
وَرَماهُand strike him بِسِهامِwith the arrows of المِحَنِafflictions
وَرَماهُ بِسِهامِ المِحَنِ
Oh, may God curse the censurer who has censured,
Oh what sorrow for he who spurned this love
and strike him with the arrows of affliction!
And was pierced by the darts of its fate
وَمِنَand from الأَحياءِthe living فيthrough الدَّهرِtime اِنمَحىmay be erased
وَمِنَ الأَحياءِ في الدَّهرِ اِنمَحى
اِسمُهُhis name رَسماًas a trace كَأَنas though لَمnot يَكُنِhe existed
اِسمُهُ رَسماً كَأَن لَم يَكُنِ
And from the living, through all time, may vanish
Among the living he faded away
his name's very trace, as though he never was.
Like a ghost without trace or slate
أَناI صَبٌّam lovesick بِالتّصابيwith youthful dalliance وَالهَوىand desire
أَنا صَبٌّ بِالتّصابي وَالهَوى
ذابَmelted مِنهُfrom it القَلبُthe heart وَالجِسمُand the body اِنتَحَلgrew emaciated
ذابَ مِنهُ القَلبُ وَالجِسمُ اِنتَحَل
I am lovesick with youthful dalliance and desire;
I am a youth smitten with passion's swell
from it my heart has melted and my body wasted away.
My heart and body melted in its spell
وَاِنشَوىand was roasted وَجداًwith longing عَلىon جَمرِthe coals of الجَوىheartache
وَاِنشَوى وَجداً عَلى جَمرِ الجَوى
وَإِلىand toward الوَصلِunion فَماyet not إِنat all (emphasis) قَدever وَصلreached
وَإِلى الوَصلِ فَما إِن قَد وَصل
It was roasted with longing on the coals of heartache,
I'm consumed with anguish for desire's flame
yet never attained union.
And though to union I haven't drew nigh
وَإِلَىand into الأَقفارِthe wildernesses أَلقاهُcast him النّوىseparation
وَإِلَى الأَقفارِ أَلقاهُ النّوى
وَكَساهُand clothed him ثَوبa robe of سقمٍsickness وَعلَلand ailments
وَكَساهُ ثَوب سقمٍ وَعلَل
Separation cast him into the wildernesses,
My soul has wandered to realms of the vain
and clothed him in a robe of sickness and ailments.
Robed in illness and infirmity's guise
فَاِنظُروهُso look at him فَتَروهُthen you will see him شَبحاًa specter
فَاِنظُروهُ فَتَروهُ شَبحاً
خِدنa companion of بُعدestrangement مِثلlike مَيتa dead man قَدalready فنِيperished
خِدن بُعد مِثل مَيت قَد فنِي
Look at him, then: you will see a specter,
Behold him now, a specter that looms
a companion of estrangement, like a dead man who has perished,
Gaunt form wasted like one dead and tomb-bound
أَوor هِلالٍa crescent قَلَّgrew faint شَخصvisible form لَمَحاto a glance
أَو هِلالٍ قَلَّ شَخص لَمَحا
لَوif نَضىhe shed أَثوابَهُhis clothes لَمnot يبنِbe visible
لَو نَضى أَثوابَهُ لَم يبنِ
or a crescent, its form faint to the eye;
Or a crescent whose slender curve looms
were he to shed his clothes, he would not be seen.
If his clothes fell, no flesh would be found
ياO وُلوعيmy infatuation فيin هَوىlove for هَذاthis الغَزالْgazelle
يا وُلوعي في هَوى هَذا الغَزالْ
وَهوَand he is الظّبيُthe gazelle الأَخَنُّnasal-voiced الأَوطَفُlong-lashed
وَهوَ الظّبيُ الأَخَنُّ الأَوطَفُ
Oh, my infatuation with this gazelle!
Oh my burning desire for this gazelle
He is the nasal-voiced, long-lashed gazelle.
Most gentle and beautiful of them all
وَردُthe roses of خَدَّيهِhis two cheeks بَهاءٌsplendor وَجَمالand beauty
وَردُ خَدَّيهِ بَهاءٌ وَجَمال
غَيرهُother than him بِالحُسنِwith beauty ماnot إِنat all (emphasis) يوصَفُis described
غَيرهُ بِالحُسنِ ما إِن يوصَفُ
The roses of his cheeks are splendor and beauty;
His cheeks, glory and beauty endow
none but him can be described as beautiful.
None can compare to such beauty at all
ثَغرهُhis mouth يَحويcontains جُماناًpearls وَزلالand pure water
ثَغرهُ يَحوي جُماناً وَزلال
فَهوَso it is شَهدٌhoney وَرَحيقٌand unmixed wine قَرقفُchill-inducing wine
فَهوَ شَهدٌ وَرَحيقٌ قَرقفُ
His mouth holds pearls and clear, sweet water;
His mouth contains wine and pure honey
it is honey and pure, shiver-bringing wine.
He is sweet nectar most luscious and bright
لَوif سَقانيhe gave me to drink مِنfrom لَماهُhis dusky lips قَدحاًa cup
لَو سَقاني مِن لَماهُ قَدحاً
دُمتُI would remain سَكراناًdrunk بكلِّfor all الزَّمنِtime
دُمتُ سَكراناً بكلِّ الزَّمنِ
If he poured me a cup from his dusky lips,
If he gave me one draft of his lips
I would remain drunk for all time,
I'd stay drunk for the rest of my life
يَملأُfills الكَونَthe universe بِرقصٍwith dancing فَرَحاًjoyfully
يَملأُ الكَونَ بِرقصٍ فَرَحاً
مُنعشrefreshed الرّوحِthe soul وَرطبand supple البدنِthe body
مُنعش الرّوحِ وَرطب البدنِ
filling the universe with joyous dancing,
Dancing with joy, the whole world I would thrill
refreshed in soul and supple in body.
Refreshing the soul and plumping the build
أَلَهُdoes he have مِثلٌan equal وَذاand this is شَمسُthe sun of النّهارday
أَلَهُ مِثلٌ وَذا شَمسُ النّهار
وَهوَand he is بَدرٌa full moon ماnot لَهُfor him الدّهرَfor all time نَظيرْan equal
وَهوَ بَدرٌ ما لَهُ الدّهرَ نَظيرْ
Has he an equal, this sun of day?
Does he have an equal, with day's beaming light?
He is a full moon without an equal for all time.
He is a moon without peer in this world
بِأَبيwith my father as ransom هالَتهhis halo آسthe myrtle of العِذارcheek-down
بِأَبي هالَته آس العِذار
وَتَأَمّلand look closely فَهوَfor it is مِسكٌmusk وَحَريرand silk
وَتَأَمّل فَهوَ مِسكٌ وَحَرير
My father be the ransom of his halo—the myrtle of his cheek-down!
By his halo of charm that steals hearts
Look closely: it is musk and silk,
He is musk, silk and incense when unfurled
فَوقَabove نارِthe fire of الخدِّthe cheek عِندَbeside الصّدغِthe temple دارcircled
فَوقَ نارِ الخدِّ عِندَ الصّدغِ دار
لَيتَنيwould that I ثَغراًa mouth لِذيfor this النّارِfire أَصيرbecame
لَيتَني ثَغراً لِذي النّارِ أَصير
circling above the cheek's fire beside the temple.
Above his cheek by his temple I wish
Would that I became a mouth for this fire,
My lips could become, by that fireside to relish
قاطِناًdwelling فيin الضّوءِthe radiance مِنfrom شَمسِthe sun of الضّحىmidmorning
قاطِناً في الضّوءِ مِن شَمسِ الضّحى
فيin مُحيّاهُhis face الجميلbeautiful الحَسنِlovely
في مُحيّاهُ الجميل الحَسنِ
dwelling in the radiance of the morning sun
To dwell in the glow of the sun at dawn
in his beautiful, lovely face,
On that beautiful, perfect cheek's expanse
وَأَنالُand I receive الدّهرَfor all time هَذيthese المنحاgifts
وَأَنالُ الدّهرَ هَذي المنحا
وَلِوَردِand the rose of الخدّthe cheek دَوماًalways أَجتنيI pluck
وَلِوَردِ الخدّ دَوماً أَجتني
and received these gifts for all time,
And gain through the ages this boon
and forever plucked the rose of his cheek!
To press lips to that rosy cheek's glance
ياO لَقَوميmy people, help! فيin هَواهُlove for him منfrom جفاهْhis cruelty
يا لَقَومي في هَواهُ من جفاهْ
وَأَناand I am الصبّthe passionate lover الشجيُّsorrowful المولعُinfatuated
وَأَنا الصبّ الشجيُّ المولعُ
O my people, help me against his cruelty in love!
My people, how harshly to me you've behaved
I am the sorrowful, infatuated lover.
Though I'm the love-struck and passionate knave
طارَflew away عَقليmy reason بِغَراميthrough my passion فيin هَواهُlove for him
طارَ عَقلي بِغَرامي في هَواهُ
أَخبِرونيtell me ماwhat الّذيthat which قَدmight أَصنَعُI do
أَخبِروني ما الّذي قَد أَصنَعُ
My reason flew away through my passion for him.
For his love did my reason take flight
Tell me, what can I do?
Tell me, what is it I should do?
وَاِسأَلوهُand ask him وَصلَهُunion with him ليfor me وَلِقاهand meeting him
وَاِسأَلوهُ وَصلَهُ لي وَلِقاه
فَبِوَصليso for my union وَلقاهُand meeting him أَطمَعُI yearn
فَبِوَصلي وَلقاهُ أَطمَعُ
Ask him for union with me, and a meeting,
Ask him for a union and meeting's delight
for I yearn for union with him and to meet him.
For in that prospect my hopes now imbue
فَلَكمfor how often قَدindeed شامَنيhe looked at me مِنّيbefore me اِستَحىhe grew shy
فَلَكم قَد شامَني مِنّي اِستَحى
وَبَداand appeared فيin خَدّهِhis cheek الوردthe rose الجَنيfresh
وَبَدا في خَدّهِ الورد الجَني
How often he looked at me and grew shy before me,
How often by me was he shyly perceived
and the fresh rose appeared upon his cheek!
As roses on his cheek were sweetly conceived
فَعَلىso in حبّيmy love لَهُfor him لَنnever أَبرَحاshall I cease
فَعَلى حبّي لَهُ لَن أَبرَحا
عاكِفاًdevoted فيthrough الدّهرِtime ماnot إِنat all (emphasis) أَنثَنيI turn away
عاكِفاً في الدّهرِ ما إِن أَنثَني
So I shall never cease loving him,
For my love of him, ever will I pine
devoted for all time, never turning away.
Devoted through all of time's advance
ياO لَقَوميmy people, help! فيin هَوىlove for مَنher who مَلكتْconquered
يا لَقَومي في هَوى مَن مَلكتْ
مِثلَjust like قَلبيmy heart فيin الهَوىlove صِيْدthe proud المُلوكْkings
مِثلَ قَلبي في الهَوى صِيْد المُلوكْ
O my people, for love of her who has conquered
My people, for one who has seized my heart's reigns
proud kings in love, just as she conquered my heart!
Like he has, captor of souls and of kings
وَلَكمْand how many صَبa lover بِوجدٍwith longing أهلكتshe destroyed
وَلَكمْ صَب بِوجدٍ أهلكت
لَيسَthere is no فيin هَذاthis اِرتِيابٌuncertainty وَشُكوكand doubts
لَيسَ في هَذا اِرتِيابٌ وَشُكوك
How many a lover has she destroyed with longing!
How many passionate youths has he slain
There is no uncertainty or doubt in this.
Of this there can be no doubting
شَمسُa sun of حُسنٍbeauty حينَwhen فيهِwithin it دلكتshe set
شَمسُ حُسنٍ حينَ فيهِ دلكت
سَبَتِshe captured الأَلبابَminds فيin ذاكَthat الدّلوكsetting
سَبَتِ الأَلبابَ في ذاكَ الدّلوك
A sun of beauty, when she set within that heart,
A beauty whose rays shone upon me
captured minds in that setting.
All minds were enslaved by its blinding luminosity
تُثنيshe bends عِطفاًher side وَتَمشيand walks مَرَحاmerrily
تُثني عِطفاً وَتَمشي مَرَحا
تَزدَريshe scorns بِالميلwith her sway مَيلthe sway of الغُصُنِthe bough
تَزدَري بِالميل مَيل الغُصُنِ
She bends her waist and walks merrily;
With a sway and a stride floating on air
her swaying puts the bough's swaying to shame.
Scornful of the bending bough's lean
سَعدُgood fortune صبّa lover فيin هَواهاlove for her اِفتَضحاwas exposed
سَعدُ صبّ في هَواها اِفتَضحا
وَبِهاand through her قَدindeed دامَhe remained بِالمفتتنِas one enthralled
وَبِها قَد دامَ بِالمفتتنِ
Fortunate is the lover exposed through love for her,
Happy the lad for his love when laid bare
who has remained enthralled by her.
And for him was by rapture sustained
غادَةٌa tender maiden غَيداءsupple and swaying ذاتُpossessor of الهيفِa slender waist
غادَةٌ غَيداء ذاتُ الهيفِ
بِنتُa maiden of خِدرٍa curtained chamber ذاتُwith عقدٍa necklace وَوِشاحْand a sash
بِنتُ خِدرٍ ذاتُ عقدٍ وَوِشاحْ
A tender, supple maiden with a slender waist,
Radiant princess of the lithe form
a maiden of the curtained chamber, with necklace and sash,
Daughter of Khadir, in necklace and veil
مِنfrom حَلاgrew sweet فيهاfor her غَراماًin love شَغَفيmy ardor
مِن حَلا فيها غَراماً شَغَفي
وَبِذاكَand for that الظّبيgazelle مِنfrom بَينِamong المِلاحْthe beautiful
وَبِذاكَ الظّبي مِن بَينِ المِلاحْ
through her my ardor has grown sweet with love,
Whoever felt passion for that gazelle
and for that gazelle among the beautiful.
Amongst flocks was by love curtailed
قُلتI said أَهلَthe people of الحُسنِbeauty أَهلthe people of الشّرفِhonor
قُلت أَهلَ الحُسنِ أَهل الشّرفِ
مِثلُlike قَوليmy saying صالِحٌSalih أَهلَworthy of الصّلاحْrighteousness
مِثلُ قَولي صالِحٌ أَهلَ الصّلاحْ
I called the people of beauty the people of honor,
The fairest of folk are the noble ones' bail
as I call Salih one of the righteous:
Such words are approved and prevail
مَنhe who إِلَيهِtoward him كلُّevery حِذقٍskill قَدindeed نَحاinclined
مَن إِلَيهِ كلُّ حِذقٍ قَد نَحا
فَتَبَدّىand he appeared بِالذّكيas the intelligent one الفطِنِdiscerning
فَتَبَدّى بِالذّكي الفطِنِ
he toward whom every skill has inclined,
All minds sharpest he did hail
appearing as the intelligent, discerning one;
Standing out by his wit so avail
مَنhe who بِحِذقٍwith skill وَذَكاءٍand intelligence رَجَحاsurpassed
مَن بِحِذقٍ وَذَكاءٍ رَجَحا
أَذكياءَthe clever men of العَصرِthe age أَهلَpossessors of الفطنِdiscernment
أَذكياءَ العَصرِ أَهلَ الفطنِ
he who, in skill and intelligence, surpassed
No has disputed with good cause to assail
the clever men of the age, the discerning.
He is just, no valid plaint to unveil
الأَديبthe man of letters اللّوذَعيّkeen-witted الفاضلُvirtuous
الأَديب اللّوذَعيّ الفاضلُ
فَضلهُhis merit فيthrough الدّهرِtime ماnot إِنat all (emphasis) يجحدُis denied
فَضلهُ في الدّهرِ ما إِن يجحدُ
The man of letters, keen-witted and virtuous,
What he stated correct, we will not curtail
whose merit is never denied through all time;
By the experts of creed it will not fail
الأَريبُthe sagacious الأَلمَعِيّkeenly perceptive الكاملُaccomplished
الأَريبُ الأَلمَعِيّ الكاملُ
مَنhe who بِحُسنٍfor beauty وَكَمالٍand perfection يحمَدُis praised
مَن بِحُسنٍ وَكَمالٍ يحمَدُ
the sagacious, perceptive, accomplished one,
God bless him, the orator vociferous
who is praised for beauty and perfection;
The astute whom astutes hold as glorious
مَنhe who لَهُfor him بِالفضلِto merit حتّىeven الجاهلُthe ignorant
مَن لَهُ بِالفضلِ حتّى الجاهلُ
كلُّevery ذيpossessor of فَضلٍmerit ذَكيٍّintelligent يشهدُtestifies
كلُّ ذي فَضلٍ ذَكيٍّ يشهدُ
he whose merit even the ignorant,
The eloquent, unique phrases so wondrous
and every intelligent man of merit, attest.
Each smooth, lovely, and curious meaning
ماno بِهذاconcerning this شاهِدwitness قَدever جرحاwas discredited
ما بِهذا شاهِد قَد جرحا
فَهوَso he is عَدلٌupright ماnot بِهِin him مِنany مطعنِground for objection
فَهوَ عَدلٌ ما بِهِ مِن مطعنِ
No witness to this has been discredited;
The sage, accomplished, who brought into light
he is upright, with no ground for objection.
Strange manners of rhyme and insights so bright
فَهوَso he is مَقبولٌaccepted عَلىaccording to ماwhat صُحِّحاhas been deemed sound
فَهوَ مَقبولٌ عَلى ما صُحِّحا
عِندَamong أَهلِscholars of الفِقهِjurisprudence وَالشّرعِand the sacred law السّنيsublime
عِندَ أَهلِ الفِقهِ وَالشّرعِ السّني
His testimony is therefore accepted, as established
He refined poetry, wonderfully exhibitive
among scholars of jurisprudence and the sublime sacred law.
With consistent, refined, and cohesive narrative
ياoh! لَهُwhat a man he is اللَّهGod خَطيباًan orator مصقعاresoundingly eloquent
يا لَهُ اللَّه خَطيباً مصقعا
وَلَبيباًand a wise man قَدindeed سَماsurpassed كلّevery لَبيبْwise man
وَلَبيباً قَد سَما كلّ لَبيبْ
By God, what a commanding orator he is!
Like finest eulogies, affirmative
A wise man who has surpassed every wise man,
Of goodness, virtues impressively descriptive
وَبَليغاًand eloquent فيin القَريضِpoetry اِختَرَعاinvented
وَبَليغاً في القَريضِ اِختَرَعا
كلّevery مَعنىmeaning سَلسfluent حلوٍsweet عَجيبْwondrous
كلّ مَعنى سَلس حلوٍ عَجيبْ
eloquent in poetry, inventing
My friend of noble temper, understanding so keen
every fluent, sweet, wondrous meaning;
Brother of kindness, morals pristine
وَذَكيّاًand intelligent بارِعاًbrilliant قَدindeed أبدعاcreated
وَذَكيّاً بارِعاً قَد أبدعا
فيin القَوافيrhymes كلّevery أُسلوبٍmanner غَريبْnovel
في القَوافي كلّ أُسلوبٍ غَريبْ
brilliant and skillful, creating
My learned friend, genuine and serene
every novel manner in rhyme.
Brother of words most delightful and sheen
هَذَّبrefined الشِّعرَpoetry وَأَبدىand revealed المِلَحاwitticisms
هَذَّب الشِّعرَ وَأَبدى المِلَحا
بِاِنسِجامٍwith harmony مُستَطابٍpleasing مُتقَنِmasterly
بِاِنسِجامٍ مُستَطابٍ مُتقَنِ
He refined poetry and revealed its witty charms
You were gracious to gift me these verses seen
with pleasing, masterly harmony,
Unmatched by finest Arabian lute strings
مُحكماًperfecting مِثلَlike النّسيبlove verse المِدَحاpanegyrics
مُحكماً مِثلَ النّسيب المِدَحا
مِثلَlike مَدحِthe praise by الزّهرِblossoms حسنthe beauty of الفننِthe bough
مِثلَ مَدحِ الزّهرِ حسن الفننِ
perfecting panegyrics as he does love verses,
These skillful lines were praised by eloquence deans
as blossoms praise the beauty of the bough.
Amongst eloquent folk of pleasant miens
ياO سَليمَsound of الطّبعِnatural disposition ذاpossessor of الفَهمِunderstanding الدّقيقْprecise
يا سَليمَ الطّبعِ ذا الفَهمِ الدّقيقْ
وَأَخاand possessor of اللّطفِgentleness وَحسنَand goodness of الأدبِmanners
وَأَخا اللّطفِ وَحسنَ الأدبِ
O you of sound poetic instinct and precise understanding,
You honored me by this gift so pristine
possessor of gentleness and good manners,
Crowning me with these generous deeds
ياO حَرِيّاًworthy بِكَمالٍof perfection وَحَقيقand deserving
يا حَرِيّاً بِكَمالٍ وَحَقيق
وَأَخاand master of اللّفظِexpression البديعِwondrous الأعذبِsweetest
وَأَخا اللّفظِ البديعِ الأعذبِ
O worthy of perfection and truly deserving it,
Remain the sea of gems, your gifts ever glean
master of wondrous, sweetest expression!
Be to the age bountiful of your artisan's ream
جُدتَyou were generous إِذْwhen أَهديتَنيyou gifted me النّظمَverse الرّقيقdelicate
جُدتَ إِذْ أَهديتَني النّظمَ الرّقيق
لَمnot تَطُلهُattain it بُلغاءُthe eloquent of العَربِthe Arabs
لَم تَطُلهُ بُلغاءُ العَربِ
You were generous when you gifted me delicate verse
Bringing joy, comfort, prosperity's beam
that the eloquent Arabs could not match.
With life pleasant, mostly blissful dream
بِالبديعِwith rhetorical artistry اِمتَدَحَتهpraised it الفُصَحاthe eloquent
بِالبديعِ اِمتَدَحَته الفُصَحا
مِنamong ذَويpossessors of الأَلسنِtongues أَهلmasters of اللسنِeloquence
مِن ذَوي الأَلسنِ أَهل اللسنِ
The eloquent praised it with rhetorical artistry,
A star for glory, rising with fate's esteem
those masters of speech, the men of eloquence.
Rising fortunes at time most supreme
وَبِهِand in it قَدindeed كنتyou were ليme مُمتَدحاpraising
وَبِهِ قَد كنت لي مُمتَدحا
وَبِهِand with it طَوَّقْتَنِيyou encircled me بِالمننِwith favors
وَبِهِ طَوَّقْتَنِي بِالمننِ
In it you had praised me,
No meadow lark trilled at the thickets' seam
and with it you encircled me in favors.
With melodies floating atop the tree screens
دُمتَmay you remain بَحرَa sea of الدّرّpearls تَهديهِyou gift them لَناto us
دُمتَ بَحرَ الدّرّ تَهديهِ لَنا
وَتَجودُand you bestow generously الدّهرَfor all time مِنهُfrom it بِالفَريدwith the rare pearl
وَتَجودُ الدّهرَ مِنهُ بِالفَريد
May you remain a sea of pearls, gifting them to us,
Nor has dawn's glow poured out its gleam
and forever bestowing its rare pearls,
Visible, apparent to all eyes keen
مُنعّمat ease البالِin mind سُروراًhappiness وَهَناand contentment
مُنعّم البالِ سُروراً وَهَنا
ناعِماًenjoying comfort فيthrough الدَّهرِtime بِالعَيشِwith life الرّغيدabundant
ناعِماً في الدَّهرِ بِالعَيشِ الرّغيد
at ease in mind, in happiness and contentment,
God bless and bestow special peace
forever enjoying a life of abundance,
Upon your chosen Mustafa, the best emissary
كَوكَباًa star لِلمَجدِfor glory يَعلوهُcrowns it السّناradiance
كَوكَباً لِلمَجدِ يَعلوهُ السّنا
طالِعاًrising بِالسّعدِwith good fortune فيat الوَقتِthe time السّعيدauspicious
طالِعاً بِالسّعدِ في الوَقتِ السّعيد
a star of glory crowned with radiance,
Who all prophets led on night journey
rising with good fortune at an auspicious hour,
To Holiest Place, to ascent most hallowed
ماas long as هِزارٌa nightingale فيupon الرّوابيthe hills صَدَحاsang
ما هِزارٌ في الرّوابي صَدَحا
بِبَديعِwith the wondrous beauty of الصّدحِsong فَوقَabove الأَغصنِthe boughs
بِبَديعِ الصّدحِ فَوقَ الأَغصنِ
as long as a nightingale sings upon the hills
And upon his companions, the approvals
with wondrous song above the boughs,
And his family, so noble and laudable
ماas long as ضِياءُthe light of الفَجرِdawn شَرقاًeastward فَضحاshone forth
ما ضِياءُ الفَجرِ شَرقاً فَضحا
وَعَياناًand plainly قَدindeed بَداappeared لِلأَعيُنِto the eyes
وَعَياناً قَد بَدا لِلأَعيُنِ
as long as dawn's light breaks forth in the east
As ears were filled with pleasant word streams
and appears plainly to the eyes.
And son of opening, my Lord do for me deem
صَلِّbless ياO ربِّmy Lord وَخَصِّصْand single out بِالسّلامfor peace
صَلِّ يا ربِّ وَخَصِّصْ بِالسّلام
مُصطَفاكYour chosen one المُجتبىthe elect خَيرَthe finest رَسولْMessenger
مُصطَفاك المُجتبى خَيرَ رَسولْ
Bless, O my Lord, and single out for peace
With acceptance and seal beautifully supreme
Your chosen, elect one, the finest Messenger,
مَنhe who لِرُسلِfor the messengers of اللَّهGod قَدindeed كانَwas الإِمامthe leader
مَن لِرُسلِ اللَّه قَد كانَ الإِمام
لَيلَةَthe night of الإِسراءِthe Night Journey فيin لَيلِthe night of الوُصولarrival
لَيلَةَ الإِسراءِ في لَيلِ الوُصول
who was the leader of God's messengers
on the night of the Night Journey, the night of arrival
حَضرَةَthe presence of القُدسِholiness إِلىto أَسنىthe loftiest مَقامstation
حَضرَةَ القُدسِ إِلى أَسنى مَقام
وَعَلىand upon أَصحابِهِhis companions أَهلthose worthy of القَبولacceptance
وَعَلى أَصحابِهِ أَهل القَبول
at the Holy Presence, to the loftiest station;
and bless his companions, those granted acceptance,
وَعَلىand upon الآلِthe family الكِرامِnoble الصُّلحاrighteous
وَعَلى الآلِ الكِرامِ الصُّلحا
ماas long as مَلاfilled الأَسماعَthe ears قَرعُthe striking of الألسنِtongues
ما مَلا الأَسماعَ قَرعُ الألسنِ
and his noble, righteous family,
as long as the sound of tongues fills the ears.
وَابنand the son of فَتحِFath اللَّهِAllah رَبّيmy Lord فَاِمنَحاso grant
وَابن فَتحِ اللَّهِ رَبّي فَاِمنَحا
بِقَبولwith acceptance وَخِتامand an ending حَسنِgood
بِقَبول وَخِتام حَسنِ
And Ibn Fath Allah, my Lord, grant him
acceptance and a good ending.
Partial English translation: 125 of 134 Arabic lines translated.