لاno اِفتِخارٌglory إِلّاexcept لِمَنfor whoever لاnot يُضامُis wronged
لا اِفتِخارٌ إِلّا لِمَن لا يُضامُ
مُدرِكٍone who achieves أَوor مُحارِبٍa fighter لاnot يَنامُsleeps
مُدرِكٍ أَو مُحارِبٍ لا يَنامُ
There is no glory except for one who suffers no wrong,
None but the tireless champion merits praise,
True glory belongs only to those who suffer no wrong,
who attains his aim, or fights and never sleeps.
The questing knight, or warrior sleep disdains,
To the achiever, or the warrior who knows no sleep.
لَيسَis not عَزماًresolve ماwhat مَرَّضَwas halfhearted المَرءُa person فيهِabout it
لَيسَ عَزماً ما مَرَّضَ المَرءُ فيهِ
لَيسَis not هَمّاًambition ماwhat عاقَhindered عَنهُfrom it الظَلامُdarkness
لَيسَ هَمّاً ما عاقَ عَنهُ الظَلامُ
What a man pursues halfheartedly is no resolve;
‘Tis no resolve when sickness makes men pause,
It is not resolve if one nurses it feebly,
what darkness keeps him from is no ambition.
No care when darkness all their power restrains,
Nor true ambition if darkness holds it back.
وَاِحتِمالُand bearing الأَذىharm وَرُؤيَةُand seeing جانيـthe perpetrator of
وَاِحتِمالُ الأَذى وَرُؤيَةُ جانيـ
ـهِit غِذاءٌnourishment تَضوىgrow wasted بِهِby it الأَجسامُbodies
ـهِ غِذاءٌ تَضوى بِهِ الأَجسامُ
And bearing harm and seeing its perpetrator
Yet bearing hurt, beholding him who dealt it,
To bear insult while seeing its perpetrator
is nourishment that wastes bodies away.
Proves food by which the body thrives and gains.
Is a bitter food that makes the body wither.
ذَلَّis abased مَنwhoever يَغبِطُenvies الذَليلَthe abased بِعَيشٍfor being alive
ذَلَّ مَن يَغبِطُ الذَليلَ بِعَيشٍ
رُبَّmany a عَيشٍlife أَخَفُّlighter مِنهُthan it الحِمامُdeath
رُبَّ عَيشٍ أَخَفُّ مِنهُ الحِمامُ
Abased is whoever envies the abased for being alive;
How sad when men the lowly lot begrudge
Low is he who envies the base their life;
many a life is harder to bear than death.
To many a life that lighter is than down!
For there are lives less bearable than death.
كُلُّevery حِلمٍforbearance أَتىcomes بِغَيرِwithout اِقتِدارٍpower
كُلُّ حِلمٍ أَتى بِغَيرِ اِقتِدارٍ
حُجَّةٌan excuse لاجِئٌtaking refuge إِلَيهاin it اللِئامُthe ignoble
حُجَّةٌ لاجِئٌ إِلَيها اللِئامُ
Every forbearance unbacked by power
Forbearance without might wins no regard,
All forbearance shown without the power to strike
is an excuse to which the ignoble flee.
Weaklings and cowards seek it for their crown.
Is but a pretext behind which cowards hide.
مَنwhoever يَهُنis abased يَسهُلِbecomes easy الهَوانُhumiliation عَلَيهِfor him
مَن يَهُن يَسهُلِ الهَوانُ عَلَيهِ
ماthere is no لِجُرحٍfor a wound بِمَيِّتٍin a dead person إيلامُcausing pain
ما لِجُرحٍ بِمَيِّتٍ إيلامُ
Whoever is abased finds humiliation easy;
Whoever bends shall wear the yoke of shame;
Those who accept base usage find humiliation ease;
a wound gives a dead man no pain.
No dead man feels the living wound’s sharp pains.
No wound can pain the dead.
ضاقَgrew distressed ذَرعاًin patience بِأَنat the fact that أَضيقَI grow distressed بِهِwith it ذَرpatience (start)
ضاقَ ذَرعاً بِأَن أَضيقَ بِهِ ذَر
عاًpatience (end) زَمانيmy time وَاِستَكرَمَتنيand deemed me noble الكِرامُthe noble
عاً زَماني وَاِستَكرَمَتني الكِرامُ
Distressed at my distress with it
Straitened my lot, an envious age denied,
Time sought to crush my spirit, but failed to stifle me,
was my time; and the noble deemed me noble.
Yet bounteous souls grant me their large domains.
And the noble-hearted deemed me worthy of honor.
واقِفاًstanding تَحتَbeneath أَخمَصَيthe two soles of قَدرِworth of نَفسيmyself
واقِفاً تَحتَ أَخمَصَي قَدرِ نَفسي
واقِفاًstanding تَحتَbeneath أَخمَصَيَّmy two soles الأَنامُmankind
واقِفاً تَحتَ أَخمَصَيَّ الأَنامُ
I stood beneath the soles of my own worth,
Below my feet I see the sphere of fate,
While all creation stands beneath my heels,
while mankind stood beneath my soles.
And under mine the tread of all men’s feet.
I stand beneath the soles of my own self-worth.
أَقَراراًrepose? أَلَذَّI relish فَوقَupon شَرارٍsparks
أَقَراراً أَلَذَّ فَوقَ شَرارٍ
وَمَراماًand a goal أَبغيI seek وَظُلميwhile my oppression يُرامُis sought
وَمَراماً أَبغي وَظُلمي يُرامُ
Shall I savor repose upon sparks,
Confessed the sweetest thing by sage possessed,
Shall I seek sweet rest upon a bed of sparks?
and seek a goal while my oppression is sought,
And aspiration is the goal I meet;
Or pursue my aim while wrong is done to me?
دونَwithout أَنthat يَشرَقُchokes الحِجازُthe Hijaz وَنَجدٌand Najd
دونَ أَن يَشرَقُ الحِجازُ وَنَجدٌ
وَالعِراقانِand the two Iraqs بِالقَناon spears وَالشَآمُand al-Sham
وَالعِراقانِ بِالقَنا وَالشَآمُ
without the Hijaz and Najd choking,
Though Hijaz shine not, Nejd and Iraq’s plains,
Not until the Hijaz, Najd, the two Iraqs,
and the two Iraqs and al-Sham, on spears,
Nor Syria gleam with Kanah and Shan.
And Syria choke upon the forest of spears,
شَرَقَchoking of الجَوِّthe air بِالغُبارِwith dust إِذاwhenever ساmarches (start)
شَرَقَ الجَوِّ بِالغُبارِ إِذا سا
رَmarches (end) عَلِيُّAli اِبنُson of أَحمَدَAhmad القَمقامُthe mighty lord
رَ عَلِيُّ اِبنُ أَحمَدَ القَمقامُ
as the air chokes with dust whenever
The day shone bright in dust when Ali rode,
Choking like the air with dust when marches forth
Ali ibn Ahmad, the mighty lord, marches?
The pure, the eloquent, the brave, the polished knight
Ali, son of Ahmad, the overwhelming sea.
الأَديبُcultured المُهَذَّبُrefined الأَصيَدُproud of bearing الضَرlean (start)
الأَديبُ المُهَذَّبُ الأَصيَدُ الضَر
بُlean (end) الذَكِيُّkeen-witted الجَعدُcompactly built السَرِيُّnoble الهُمامُhigh-hearted
بُ الذَكِيُّ الجَعدُ السَرِيُّ الهُمامُ
Cultured, refined, proud of bearing, lean,
Sagacious, splendid, elegant in form,
The refined scholar, the proud striker,
keen-witted, compactly built, noble, high-hearted.
True, noble, who still his jealous foes did smite,
The sharp wit, the noble chief, the hero,
وَالَّذيand he who رَيبُcalamities of دَهرِهِhis time مِنamong أُساراcaptives (start)
وَالَّذي رَيبُ دَهرِهِ مِن أُسارا
هُhis وَمِنand among حاسِديenviers of يَدَيهِhis two hands الغَمامُthe clouds
هُ وَمِن حاسِدي يَدَيهِ الغَمامُ
And he whose time's calamities are among his captives,
With lavish generosity he cures the ill
He who holds the turns of Fate his prisoner,
and whose hands are envied by the clouds.
That oft great riches bring, as if they blight;
Whose open hands the rain-clouds view with envy.
يَتَداوىtreats himself مِنfor كَثرَةِabundance of المالِwealth بِالإِقـby impoverishment (start)
يَتَداوى مِن كَثرَةِ المالِ بِالإِقـ
ـلالِimpoverishment (end) جوداًout of generosity كَأَنَّas though مالاًwealth سَقامُillness
ـلالِ جوداً كَأَنَّ مالاً سَقامُ
He treats his excess wealth by making himself poor,
Fair in his enemies' eyes at break of day,
He cures himself of wealth by giving it away,
through generosity, as though wealth were an illness.
More so than any guest their tents did light.
As though his riches were a malady.
حَسَنٌhandsome فيin عُيونِeyes of أَعدائِهِhis enemies أَقـuglier (start)
حَسَنٌ في عُيونِ أَعدائِهِ أَقـ
ـبَحُuglier (end) مِنthan ضَيفِهِhis guest رَأَتهُsaw him السَوامُgrazing herds
ـبَحُ مِن ضَيفِهِ رَأَتهُ السَوامُ
Handsome in his enemies' eyes, but uglier
Were he the death-doomed noble’s guard, vain were
Handsome in his enemies' eyes, yet to the herd
than his guest in the sight of grazing herds.
The emissary, and frustrated his might.
More dread than the guest for whom they shall be slain.
لَوif حَمىprotected سَيِّداًa lord مِنَfrom المَوتِdeath حامٍa protector
لَو حَمى سَيِّداً مِنَ المَوتِ حامٍ
لَحَماكَwould have protected you الإِجلالُreverence وَالإِعظامُand veneration
لَحَماكَ الإِجلالُ وَالإِعظامُ
If any protector could shield a lord from death,
In bowls of glory I have dipped my pen,
If any shield could guard a lord from death,
reverence and veneration would have shielded you.
After Qais signing, peace unto him! Sa’d’s son,
Then awe and reverence would have been your guard.
وَعَوارٍand bare swords لَوامِعٌgleaming دينُهاtheir creed الحِلـlawfulness (start)
وَعَوارٍ لَوامِعٌ دينُها الحِلـ
ـلُlawfulness (end) وَلَكِنَّbut زِيَّهاtheir garb الإِحرامُpilgrim consecration
ـلُ وَلَكِنَّ زِيَّها الإِحرامُ
And gleaming naked swords, whose creed permits killing,
Sharp thorns, though camels spurn them, these men are;
And shining steeds whose creed allows the raid,
though their garb is the pilgrim's sacred dress.
Their night and day - all flame and smoke in one.
Though clad in white as pilgrims in their rite.
كُتِبَتwas written فيin صَحائِفِscrolls of المَجدِglory بِسمٌ'in the name'
كُتِبَت في صَحائِفِ المَجدِ بِسمٌ
ثُمَّthen قَيسٌQays وَبَعدَand after قَيسِQays السَلامُ'peace'
ثُمَّ قَيسٌ وَبَعدَ قَيسِ السَلامُ
'In the Name' was written in the scrolls of glory,
The lofty enterprize attained by them
In Glory's book is written: 'In God's Name,'
then 'Qays'; and after Qays, 'Peace.'
Soars beyond what imagination known.
Then 'Qays'—and after Qays, the book is closed.
إِنَّماnothing but مُرَّةُMurrah اِبنُson of عَوفِAwf اِبنِson of سَعدٍSa'd
إِنَّما مُرَّةُ اِبنُ عَوفِ اِبنِ سَعدٍ
جَمَراتٌembers لاnot تَشتَهيهاcrave them النِعامُostriches
جَمَراتٌ لا تَشتَهيها النِعامُ
Murrah ibn Awf ibn Sa'd is nothing but
Valiant the souls that riding forth to war,
For Murrah, son of Awf, son of Sa'd,
embers that ostriches have no taste for.
Their onset comes before their lances gone.
Are coals so hot even ostriches refuse them.
لَيلُهاtheir night صُبحُهاtheir dawn مِنَfrom النارِfire وَالإِصـand daybreak (start)
لَيلُها صُبحُها مِنَ النارِ وَالإِصـ
ـباحُdaybreak (end) لَيلٌnight مِنَfrom الدُخانِsmoke تَمامُcomplete
ـباحُ لَيلٌ مِنَ الدُخانِ تَمامُ
Their night is dawn from fire, and daybreak
Their breasts defensive bulwarks have become,
Their night is turned to day by fires of war,
is complete night from smoke.
As though the onslaught were resignation meet.
Their day to absolute night by clouds of smoke.
هِمَمٌaspirations بَلَّغَتكُمُbrought you رُتَباتٍranks
هِمَمٌ بَلَّغَتكُمُ رُتَباتٍ
قَصُرَتfell short عَنof بُلوغِهاreaching them الأَوهامُimaginations
قَصُرَت عَن بُلوغِها الأَوهامُ
Aspirations that brought you to ranks
Chiefs of each band and steed the bridle know,
Ambitions that have raised you to such heights
which imagination fell short of reaching.
The housing have encased them and the fleet.
As imagination fails to comprehend.
وَنُفوسٌand souls إِذاwhen اِنبَرَتrose up لِقِتالٍfor battle
وَنُفوسٌ إِذا اِنبَرَت لِقِتالٍ
نَفِدَتperished قَبلَbefore يَنفَدُis exhausted الإِقدامُboldness
نَفِدَت قَبلَ يَنفَدُ الإِقدامُ
And souls that, when they rise for battle,
They trip on heads as speech aye trips on Tá’s,
And souls that, when they sally forth to fight,
perish before their boldness is exhausted.
Thy mispronouncing them indeed is long.
Perish before their daring is exhausted.
وَقُلوبٌand hearts مُوَطَّناتٌsteeled عَلىfor الرَوterror (start)
وَقُلوبٌ مُوَطَّناتٌ عَلى الرَو
عِterror (end) كَأَنَّas though اِقتِحامَهاtheir charge اِستِسلامُsurrender
عِ كَأَنَّ اِقتِحامَها اِستِسلامُ
And hearts steeled for terror,
The paper sheets enough of men contain,
And hearts so settled in the face of dread,
as though their charge were surrender.
Paper for writing exhausts pens ere long.
They charge as calmly as if they surrendered.
قائِدوleaders of كُلِّevery شَطبَةٍslender mare وَحِصانٍand stallion
قائِدو كُلِّ شَطبَةٍ وَحِصانٍ
قَدalready بَراهاwore them lean الإِسراجُsaddling وَالإِلجامُand bridling
قَد بَراها الإِسراجُ وَالإِلجامُ
They lead every slender mare and stallion
Thy varied gifts the reflective thought transcend,
Masters of every steed and mare, worn thin
that saddling and bridling have worn lean.
And inspiration finds in thee its bound.
By constant saddling and the bridle's bit.
يَتَعَثَّرنَthey stumble بِالرُؤوسِover heads كَماas مَرpassed (start)
يَتَعَثَّرنَ بِالرُؤوسِ كَما مَر
رَpassed (end) بِتاءاتِthrough the t's of نُطقِهِhis speech التَمتامُthe stammerer
رَ بِتاءاتِ نُطقِهِ التَمتامُ
They stumble over heads, as
A horse whose owner risks his life, is sold
They stumble over severed heads, like one
a stammerer does over the t's of his speech.
For ruin, yet none cry ‘Shame!’ at such a wound.
Who stammers stumbling over repeated words.
طالَgrew long غِشيانُكَyour encountering الكَرائِهَterrors حَتّىuntil
طالَ غِشيانُكَ الكَرائِهَ حَتّى
قالَsaid فيكَof you الَّذيwhat أَقولُI say الحُسامُthe sharp sword
قالَ فيكَ الَّذي أَقولُ الحُسامُ
So long have you faced terrors that
One beggar’s glance thy bounty riches gave;
So long have you frequented fields of dread
the sharp sword has said of you what I say.
So crowned thy beggary is with gifts renowned.
That the sword speaks of you as I do now.
وَكَفَتكَand protected you الصَفائِحُsword-blades الناسَpeople حَتّىuntil
وَكَفَتكَ الصَفائِحُ الناسَ حَتّى
قَدindeed كَفَتكَspared you الصَفائِحَsword-blades الأَقلامُpens
قَد كَفَتكَ الصَفائِحَ الأَقلامُ
And blades protected you from men, until
Though heads best limbs, feet by thy grace prevail,
The blades sufficed you against enemies,
pens spared you the need for blades.
Who aye directest feet where heads are bound.
Until the pens sufficed you against blades.
وَكَفَتكَand spared you التَجارِبُexperience الفِكرَthought حَتّىuntil
وَكَفَتكَ التَجارِبُ الفِكرَ حَتّى
قَدindeed كَفاكَspared you التَجارِبَexperience الإِلهامُinspiration
قَد كَفاكَ التَجارِبَ الإِلهامُ
And experience spared you the need for thought, until
Short have I fallen, crowds the approach impede
Experience spared you the need for thought,
inspiration spared you the need for experience.
And gifts to give press on from every side!
Until pure instinct spared you experience.
فارِسٌa horseman يَشتَريbuys بِرازَكَa duel with you لِلفَخـfor glory (start)
فارِسٌ يَشتَري بِرازَكَ لِلفَخـ
ـرِglory (end) بِقَتلٍat the price of death مُعَجَّلٍswift لاnot يُلامُis blamed
ـرِ بِقَتلٍ مُعَجَّلٍ لا يُلامُ
A horseman who buys a duel with you for glory,
Holding thy right I feared the envious might
A knight who buys the honor of your duel
at the price of swift death, is not to blame.
Seize me, when thou thy largess dost divide.
With certain, swift death—and is not to blame.
نائِلٌone who gains مِنكَfrom you نَظرَةًa glance ساقَهُdrove him الفَقـpoverty (start)
نائِلٌ مِنكَ نَظرَةً ساقَهُ الفَقـ
ـرُpoverty (end) عَلَيهِupon him لِفَقرِهِhis poverty has إِنعامُa favor
ـرُ عَلَيهِ لِفَقرِهِ إِنعامُ
One who wins a glance from you, driven by poverty,
Prudence though absent, is by distance known,
Or one whom poverty drove to seek your glance,
has been favored by his very poverty.
By slow advance the swiftest storm outvied.
Finding in your sight a wealth of grace.
خَيرُthe best of أَعضائِناour body parts الرُؤوسُheads وَلَكِنbut
خَيرُ أَعضائِنا الرُؤوسُ وَلَكِن
فَضَلَتهاsurpassed them بِقَصدِكَby heading toward you الأَقدامُfeet
فَضَلَتها بِقَصدِكَ الأَقدامُ
Our finest members are our heads, yet
Say, how much treasured verse in order set
The head is the noblest part of man, yet now
our feet surpass them by journeying to you.
Desires no better lot than with thee tied?
The feet that walked to you have surpassed it.
قَدindeed لَعَمريby my life أَقصَرتُI held back عَنكَfrom you وَلِلوَفـand for delegations (start)
قَد لَعَمري أَقصَرتُ عَنكَ وَلِلوَفـ
ـدِdelegations (end) اِزدِحامٌcrowding وَلِلعَطاياand for gifts اِزدِحامُcrowding
ـدِ اِزدِحامٌ وَلِلعَطايا اِزدِحامُ
Indeed, by my life, I held back from you, while delegations
Fearing thee, night and day would cease to be
By my life, I stayed away while crowds of men
thronged, and gifts thronged too.
Didst thou appoint them not their course and tide.
Jostled for audience and to claim your gifts.
خِفتُI feared إِنif صِرتُI came to be فيin يَمينِكَyour right hand أَنthat تَأtake (start)
خِفتُ إِن صِرتُ في يَمينِكَ أَن تَأ
خُذَنيtake me (end) فيamong هِباتِكَyour gifts الأَقوامُpeople
خُذَني في هِباتِكَ الأَقوامُ
I feared, if I came into your right hand, that
God grant thee right, misleading and misled
I feared that if I stood at your right hand,
people would take me among your gifts.
Together, in thy presence purified!
You might bestow me as a gift on others.
وَمِنَand out of الرُشدِprudence لَمdid not أَزُركَI visit you عَلىat القُرnearness (start)
وَمِنَ الرُشدِ لَم أَزُركَ عَلى القُر
بِnearness (end) عَلىat البُعدِdistance يُعرَفُis recognized الإِلمامُa visit
بِ عَلى البُعدِ يُعرَفُ الإِلمامُ
And prudently I did not visit you while nearby;
Why fear'st thou not the future’s sequence fell
It was wisdom not to visit when near;
a visit is recognized when it comes from afar.
Beyond this world wherein thou dost abide?
True devotion is proven from afar.
وَمِنَand among الخَيرِgood things بُطءُslowness of سَيبِكَyour bounty عَنّيfrom me
وَمِنَ الخَيرِ بُطءُ سَيبِكَ عَنّي
أَسرَعُthe swiftest of السُحبِclouds فيin المَسيرِtravel الجَهامُrainless clouds
أَسرَعُ السُحبِ في المَسيرِ الجَهامُ
And it is good that your bounty is slow to reach me:
What loved friend thine excuse can not refute
It is well your bounty has been slow to come;
the swiftest clouds in their course are rainless.
Whom thou dost blame, such thy fair acts provide?
The clouds that race the fastest bring no rain.
قُلspeak فَكَمfor how many مِنof جَواهِرٍjewels بِنِظامٍon a string
قُل فَكَم مِن جَواهِرٍ بِنِظامٍ
وُدُّهاtheir wish أَنَّهاthat they be بِفيكَin your mouth كَلامُspeech
وُدُّها أَنَّها بِفيكَ كَلامُ
Speak! How many jewels upon a string
High character raised thee above him, yet
How many strung pearls wish that they could be
wish to be words within your mouth!
Thy heart is tempted by his speech of pride.
The eloquent words falling from your lips?
هابَكَfeared you اللَيلُnight وَالنَهارُand day فَلَوso if تَنـyou forbid (start)
هابَكَ اللَيلُ وَالنَهارُ فَلَو تَنـ
ـهاهُماyou forbid them both (end) لَمwould not تَجُزpass بِكَby you الأَيّامُdays
ـهاهُما لَم تَجُز بِكَ الأَيّامُ
Night and day feared you; if you
Some poesy is madness, nothing more,
The Night and Day so fear you, that if you
forbade them, the days would not pass you by.
And some wise judgments for our spirit’s guide
Forbade them, Time itself would cease to pass.
حَسبُكَsufficient for you اللَهُGod ماnot تَضِلُّyou stray عَنِfrom الحَقـtruth (start)
حَسبُكَ اللَهُ ما تَضِلُّ عَنِ الحَقـ
ـقِtruth (end) وَماand not يَهتَديfinds its way إِلَيكَto you أَثامُsin
ـقِ وَما يَهتَدي إِلَيكَ أَثامُ
God suffices you; you do not stray from truth,
From it a wondrous art did draw its life,
God is your sufficiency; you never stray from Truth,
nor does sin find its way to you.
And masterpieces there conspicuous glide;
Nor can sin ever find its way to you.
لِمَwhy لاnot تَحذَرُyou fear العَواقِبَconsequences فيin غَيـother than (start)
لِمَ لا تَحذَرُ العَواقِبَ في غَيـ
ـرِother than (end) الدَناياbase deeds أَماis there no عَلَيكَupon you حَرامُsomething forbidden
ـرِ الدَنايا أَما عَلَيكَ حَرامُ
Why do you not fear consequences in anything
Others mere colorist’s affectations,
Why fear you no consequence save in dishonor?
but base deeds? Is nothing forbidden to you?
Pigments and brush the painter’s skill deride.
Is cowardice alone forbidden to you?
كَمmany a حَبيبٍbeloved لاno عُذرَexcuse فيfor اللَومِblame فيهِconcerning him
كَم حَبيبٍ لا عُذرَ في اللَومِ فيهِ
لَكَyou have فيهِconcerning him مِنَfrom التُقىpiety لُوّامُreproachers
لَكَ فيهِ مِنَ التُقى لُوّامُ
For many a beloved, whom none could justly blame you for loving,
How many loved ones, whom to blame is wrong,
you have reproachers born of your piety.
Did piety compel you to renounce?
رَفَعَتraised قَدرَكَyour worth النَزاهَةُabstinence عَنهُfrom him
رَفَعَت قَدرَكَ النَزاهَةُ عَنهُ
وَثَنَتand turned aside قَلبُكَyour heart المَساعيpursuits الجِسامُmighty
وَثَنَت قَلبُكَ المَساعي الجِسامُ
Your abstinence from him raised your worth,
Your virtue raised your rank above such things;
and mighty pursuits turned your heart away.
Great enterprises turned your heart aside.
إِنَّindeed بَعضاًsome مِنَof القَريضِverse هُذاءٌdelirious babble
إِنَّ بَعضاً مِنَ القَريضِ هُذاءٌ
لَيسَis not شَيئاًanything وَبَعضَهُand some of it أَحكامُwise judgments
لَيسَ شَيئاً وَبَعضَهُ أَحكامُ
Some verse is indeed delirious babble,
Indeed, some poetry is senseless raving,
worth nothing, while some is sound judgment.
While some is wisdom, carved in lines of verse.
مِنهُof it ماwhat يَجلُبُbrings forth البَراعَةُbrilliance وَالفَضـand excellence (start)
مِنهُ ما يَجلُبُ البَراعَةُ وَالفَضـ
ـلُexcellence (end) وَمِنهُand of it ماwhat يَجلُبُbrings forth البِرسامُfeverish delirium
ـلُ وَمِنهُ ما يَجلُبُ البِرسامُ
Some is brought forth by brilliance and excellence,
Some comes from talent and a noble mind,
and some is brought forth by feverish delirium.
And some is born of fever and disease.
Partial English translation: 78 of 86 Arabic lines translated.