هذِهْthis عَرُوسُbride الزَّهرِthe flowers نَقَّطَهاdotted her النَّدَىthe dew
هذِهْ عَرُوسُ الزَّهرِ نَقَّطَها النَّدَى
بالدُرِّwith pearls فابتَسَمَتْso she smiled ونادَتْand she called مَعْبَدَاMa'bad
بالدُرِّ فابتَسَمَتْ ونادَتْ مَعْبَدَا
This is the bride of flowers; dew has dotted her
This is the bride of flowers, sprinkled with dew,
With pearls, so she smiled and called to Ma'bad.
Adorned with pearls, she smiled and called out happily.
لَمَّاwhen تَفتَّقَparted سِتْرُهاher veil عنfrom رأسِهاher head
لَمَّا تَفتَّقَ سِتْرُها عن رأسِها
عَبِثَplayed الحَياءُmodesty بخَدِّهاupon her cheek فَتورَّداso it turned rosy
عَبِثَ الحَياءُ بخَدِّها فَتورَّدا
When her veil parted, revealing her head,
When her veil was lifted from her head,
Modesty played upon her cheek, and it turned rosy.
Modesty toyed with her rosy cheeks.
فَتَحَopened البَنَفْسَجُthe violet مُقلةًan eye مكحولةًlined with kohl
فَتَحَ البَنَفْسَجُ مُقلةً مكحولةً
غَمَزَwinked at الهَزازَthe nightingale بهاwith it فقامَso it rose وغَرَّداand sang
غَمَزَ الهَزازَ بها فقامَ وغَرَّدا
The violet opened an eye lined with kohl;
The violet opened a tipsy, alluring eye,
It winked at the nightingale with it, so the bird rose and sang.
The bulbul winked at her, then rose and warbled.
وتَبَرَّجَتْand displayed their adornments وُرْقُgray ones الحَمامِthe doves بطَوْقِهاwith their neck-rings
وتَبَرَّجَتْ وُرْقُ الحَمامِ بطَوْقِها
لمَّاwhen رأينَthey saw التَّاجَthe crown يعلوsurmounting الهُدْهُداthe hoopoe
لمَّا رأينَ التَّاجَ يعلو الهُدْهُدا
And the gray doves flaunted their neck-rings
The doves' leaves preened with their necklaces,
When they saw the crown surmounting the hoopoe.
When they saw the crown adorning the hoopoe.
بَلَغَreached الأزاهرَthe blossoms أنَّthat وَرْدَthe rose جِنانِهاtheir gardens
بَلَغَ الأزاهرَ أنَّ وَرْدَ جِنانِها
مَلِكُking الزُهورِthe flowers فقابَلَتْهُso they greeted him سُجَّداprostrate
مَلِكُ الزُهورِ فقابَلَتْهُ سُجَّدا
Word reached the blossoms that the rose of their gardens
The flowers reached the king of blossoms and bowed down before him,
Was king of the flowers, so they greeted him prostrate.
The anemone glared with reddened eyes,
فرَناthen gazed الشَّقيقُthe anemone بأعينٍwith eyes مُحمَرَّةٍreddened
فرَنا الشَّقيقُ بأعينٍ مُحمَرَّةٍ
غَضَباًin anger وأبدىand revealed منهُfrom within itself قَلباًa heart أسْودَاblack
غَضَباً وأبدى منهُ قَلباً أسْودَا
Then the anemone gazed with reddened eyes,
Showing its heart blackened with anger.
In anger, and revealed within itself a black heart.
The pond spread its water until
بَسَطَspread out الغَديرُthe pool الماءَthe water حَتَّىuntil مَسَّهُtouched it
بَسَطَ الغَديرُ الماءَ حَتَّى مَسَّهُ
بَرْدُthe chill النَّسائِمِthe breezes قارصاًbiting فتَجَعَّداso it wrinkled
بَرْدُ النَّسائِمِ قارصاً فتَجَعَّدا
The pool spread out its water until it was touched
The breeze's chill rippled its surface.
By the biting chill of breezes, and so it wrinkled.
It saw the plants at the edges of its ground
ورأىand it saw النَّباتَthe plants علىon جَوانِبِthe edges أرضِهِits land
ورأى النَّباتَ على جَوانِبِ أرضِهِ
مَهْداًa cradle رَطيباًmoist لَيِّناًsoft فَتَوسَّداso it pillowed its head
مَهْداً رَطيباً لَيِّناً فَتَوسَّدا
And it saw the plants along the edges of its land
As a soft, smooth mattress, and reclined upon them.
As a moist, soft cradle, so it made them its pillow.
My friend, marvel at clothes
ياO صاحبيَّmy two companions تَعَجَّباmarvel, you two لِمَلابِسٍat garments
يا صاحبيَّ تَعَجَّبا لِمَلابِسٍ
قدindeed حاكهَاwove them مَنone who لَمdid not يَمُّدَّstretch out لهاtoward them يَداa hand
قد حاكهَا مَن لَم يَمُّدَّ لها يَدا
O my two companions, marvel at garments
Woven by one whose hand never touched thread.
Woven by one who stretched no hand toward them.
The dye of every garment fades,
كلُّall الثِّيابِthe garments يَحولُchanges لونُthe color صِباغِهاtheir dye
كلُّ الثِّيابِ يَحولُ لونُ صِباغِها
وصِباغُand the dye هذِهْthese حينَwhen طالَit lasted long تَجَدَّداwas renewed
وصِباغُ هذِهْ حينَ طالَ تَجَدَّدا
The dye of every garment changes color,
But the dye of this one is renewed when it wears out.
But the dye of these renews itself with age.
Why does this river beat its breast
ماwhat بالُthe matter هذاthis النَّهرthe river يَضرِبُbeats صَدرَهُits breast
ما بالُ هذا النَّهر يَضرِبُ صَدرَهُ
رَكضاًracing ويَهِدرُand bellows كالبَعيرِlike a camel مُعَرْبِداrampaging
رَكضاً ويَهِدرُ كالبَعيرِ مُعَرْبِدا
Why does this river beat its breast,
Galloping and roaring like a racing camel?
Racing and bellowing like a rampaging camel?
Is it jealous of Prince Muhammad's hand,
هلhas? غارَgrown jealous منof كَفِّthe hand الأميرِthe prince مُحمَّدٍMuhammad
هل غارَ من كَفِّ الأميرِ مُحمَّدٍ
كمmany an حاسدٍenvier حَسَدَenvied الأميرَthe prince محمَّداMuhammad
كم حاسدٍ حَسَدَ الأميرَ محمَّدا
Has it grown jealous of Prince Muhammad's hand?
Which many envied for favoring Muhammad?
Many an envious man has envied Prince Muhammad!
He who killed the enemy with his cunning
هذاthis الذيthe one who قَتَلَkilled العَدُوَّthe enemy بكَيدهِwith his stratagem
هذا الذي قَتَلَ العَدُوَّ بكَيدهِ
وأذابَand melted مِنthrough حَرِّthe heat الصُدُورِthe breasts الحُسَّداthe envious
وأذابَ مِن حَرِّ الصُدُورِ الحُسَّدا
This is he who killed the enemy with his stratagem,
And melted the frozen hearts of the envious.
And melted the envious with the heat in their breasts.
His Creator granted him what He granted no other,
أعطاهُgave him خالقُهُhis Creator الذيwhat لمdid not يُعْطِهِgive it
أعطاهُ خالقُهُ الذي لم يُعْطِهِ
أحَداًanyone فإنْso if حَسَدَenvies الحَسُودُthe envious one فماthen not اعتَدىtransgressed
أحَداً فإنْ حَسَدَ الحَسُودُ فما اعتَدى
His Creator gave him what He had not given
So if the envious are jealous, their envy is futile.
Anyone else; if the envier envies him, he does no wrong.
He granted him an old man's wisdom in a youth's body,
أعطاهُgave him حِلمَthe forbearance الشَّيخِthe elder فيat سِنِّthe age الفَتَىthe young man
أعطاهُ حِلمَ الشَّيخِ في سِنِّ الفَتَى
حَتَّىso that لَقدindeed خِلْناهُwe thought him أشْيَبَgray-haired أمرَداbeardless
حَتَّى لَقد خِلْناهُ أشْيَبَ أمرَدا
He gave him an elder's forbearance at a young man's age,
We deemed him a perfect, timeless sage.
So much so that we thought him gray-haired yet beardless.
He overlooked people's faults and united
ونَفَىand banished عيوبَthe faults الناسِpeople عنهُfrom him جامعاًgathering
ونَفَى عيوبَ الناسِ عنهُ جامعاً
ألطافَهُمْtheir graces فيin شَخصهِhis person فتَفرَّداso he became unique
ألطافَهُمْ في شَخصهِ فتَفرَّدا
And banished people's faults from him, gathering
Their virtues in his being, peerless and unmatched.
Their graces in his person, so he became unique.
Strange! His words make us thirstier when we hear them,
عَجَباًhow wondrous نَزِيدُwe grow علىupon استِماعِhearing حديثِهِhis speech
عَجَباً نَزِيدُ على استِماعِ حديثِهِ
عَطَشاًin thirst ونَشهَدُand we testify أنَّهُthat it is رِيُّthe quenching الصَّدَىthirst
عَطَشاً ونَشهَدُ أنَّهُ رِيُّ الصَّدَى
How wondrous! As we listen to his speech, we grow
Yet we acknowledge his speech is as sweet as dew.
Thirstier, yet testify that it quenches thirst.
We taste its sweetness and admit it is an ocean,
ونَرَىand we perceive حَلاوتَهُhis sweetness ونَشهَدُand we testify أنَّهُthat he is
ونَرَى حَلاوتَهُ ونَشهَدُ أنَّهُ
بحرٌa sea صَدَقْناwe spoke truly إنَّهُindeed he is بحرُa sea النَّدَىgenerosity
بحرٌ صَدَقْنا إنَّهُ بحرُ النَّدَى
And we perceive his sweetness, and testify that he is
We spoke truly, he is the ocean of munificence.
A sea; we speak truly—he is a sea of generosity.
He still scatters his pearls capriciously,
ماnot زالَceased كاللآّلِlike a pearl merchant ينثُرُhe scatters دُرَّهُhis pearls
ما زالَ كاللآّلِ ينثُرُ دُرَّهُ
طَوراًat times ويَنظِمُand strings حينَwhen شاءَhe wishes مُنَضِّداarranging in rows
طَوراً ويَنظِمُ حينَ شاءَ مُنَضِّدا
He is ever like a pearl merchant, scattering his pearls
And strings them into a necklace when he pleases.
At times, and stringing them in order whenever he wills.
He forbids drunkenness to his boon companion,
يَنهَىhe forbids عنfrom السُّكْرِdrunkenness المَعِيبِdisgraceful جَليسَهُhis companion
يَنهَى عن السُّكْرِ المَعِيبِ جَليسَهُ
ويُبيحُand permits ذاكthat إذاwhen تَفَنَّنَhe shows artistry مُنشِداreciting verse
ويُبيحُ ذاك إذا تَفَنَّنَ مُنشِدا
He forbids his companion disgraceful drunkenness,
Yet permits it if one versifies with artistry.
Yet allows it when he artfully recites verse.
The eloquent scribe whose hand holds a pen
الكاتبُthe writer اللَبِقُdeft الذيwho فيin كَفِّهِhis hand
الكاتبُ اللَبِقُ الذي في كَفِّهِ
قَلَمٌa pen رأىsaw آياتِهِhis wonders فتَشَّهداso it professed the faith
قَلَمٌ رأى آياتِهِ فتَشَّهدا
The deft writer, in whose hand
That makes manifest verses that bear witness.
Is a pen that saw his wonders and professed the faith.
All blackness leads to its darkness’ misguidance,
كلُّall السَّوادِblackness ضَلالةٌmisguidance لظَلامِهِbecause of its darkness
كلُّ السَّوادِ ضَلالةٌ لظَلامِهِ
إلاّexcept سَوادَthe blackness مِدادِهِhis ink فهُوَfor it is الهُدَىguidance
إلاّ سَوادَ مِدادِهِ فهُوَ الهُدَى
All blackness is misguidance because of its darkness,
Except the blackness of his ink, which shows the way.
Except the blackness of his ink, for it is guidance.
O you whose tongue gives delegations pearls,
ياO ذاyou الذيwho يُعطِيgives الوُفُودَthe delegations لِسانُهُhis tongue
يا ذا الذي يُعطِي الوُفُودَ لِسانُهُ
دُرَراًpearls وتُعطِيand give راحتَاهُhis two palms العَسْجداgold
دُرَراً وتُعطِي راحتَاهُ العَسْجدا
O you whose tongue gives visiting delegations
While your palms give those seeking bounty rutile.
Pearls, and whose two palms give gold,
A poem came to you and I chose it,
وَفَدَتْcame as a visitor إليكَto you قصيدةٌa poem خَيَّرتُهاI gave it a choice
وَفَدَتْ إليكَ قصيدةٌ خَيَّرتُها
فتَخيَّرتْso it chose دُرَّthe pearls الجَوابِthe reply مُقلَّداas a necklace
فتَخيَّرتْ دُرَّ الجَوابِ مُقلَّدا
A poem has come to you; I gave it a choice,
Selecting a string of answers like matched pearls.
So it chose the pearls of the reply as a necklace.
Are you pleased with my sincere affection,
هلwill? أنتَyou تَرْضانيaccept me بِصدقِwith sincerity مَوَدَّةٍaffection
هل أنتَ تَرْضاني بِصدقِ مَوَدَّةٍ
عَبداًas a slave فإنيfor I قدalready رَضيتُكَhave accepted you سَيِّدِاas master
عَبداً فإني قد رَضيتُكَ سَيِّدِا
Will you accept me, with sincere affection,
A servant, when I am pleased with you as master?
As a slave? For I have already accepted you as master.
I still lean upon you speaking,
ماnot زِلتُI have ceased مُستَنِداًrelying إليكَon you مُحدِّثاًspeaking
ما زِلتُ مُستَنِداً إليكَ مُحدِّثاً
فكأنَّنيso it is as though I were خَبَرٌa predicate وأنتَand you المُبَتداthe subject
فكأنَّني خَبَرٌ وأنتَ المُبَتدا
I have always relied on you as I speak,
As if I am the news and you the first to utter.
So it is as though I were the predicate, and you the subject.
Partial English translation: 51 of 52 Arabic lines translated.