كماjust as قلُتماyou two said بُرءُthe cure of الصبابةِardent longing فيlies in الياسِdespair
كما قلُتما بُرءُ الصبابةِ في الياسِ
وليسand there is not لهاfor it غيرَother than التجلُّدِfortitude منany آسِhealer
وليس لها غيرَ التجلُّدِ من آسِ
As you two said, the cure for ardent longing lies in despair.
As you both said, youth’s innocence lies in despair,
It has no healer other than fortitude.
With no recourse but to feign composure.
فماso there is no فيin الهوىlove مَرعىًpasture يطيبُis sweet لذائقto a taster
فما في الهوى مَرعىً يطيبُ لذائق
ولاnor مَوردٌa watering place عذبٌsweet يَلذّtakes pleasure بهin it حاسِa sipper
ولا مَوردٌ عذبٌ يَلذّ به حاسِ
In love there is no pasture sweet to one who tastes,
In passion there are no sweet pastures
nor any sweet watering place a drinker savors.
Nor fresh sweet springs to delight the senses.
سؤالُquestioning مغانٍdwellings ربعُهاtheir dwelling-site أخرسُmute الصَّدَىthe echo
سؤالُ مغانٍ ربعُها أخرسُ الصَّدَى
وشكوَىand a complaint إلىto مَنone who قلبُهhis heart ليِّنٌtender قاسِhard
وشكوَى إلى مَن قلبُه ليِّنٌ قاسِ
Questioning dwellings whose precinct has a voiceless echo,
My questions to the love gurus are met with silence;
and complaining to one whose heart is tender, yet hard.
I complain to one whose heart is hard.
أيَبْيَضُّdoes ... turn white? فَرعىmy hair والجوىand burning anguish فيin جوانحىmy ribs
أيَبْيَضُّ فَرعى والجوى في جوانحى
كأَنّas though الهدىguidance ياO قلبheart مسكنُهits dwelling راسيmy head
كأَنّ الهدى يا قلب مسكنُه راسي
Does my hair turn white while burning anguish fills my breast,
My locks turned white while my heart burnt within;
as though guidance, O heart, had its dwelling in my head?
As if righteousness found its home steadfast.
وماand ... are not هذهthese اللِّمّاتُlocks of hair إلاexcept صحائفٌpages
وما هذه اللِّمّاتُ إلا صحائفٌ
محاهاerased them بياضُthe whiteness of الشَّيبgray hair عنfrom لونِthe color of قِرطاسِpaper
محاها بياضُ الشَّيب عن لونِ قِرطاسِ
These locks are nothing but pages
Yet these are but parchment pages
that gray hair's whiteness has erased, leaving the hue of paper.
Faded white by the bleach of old age.
كأَنas though الرُّقَىthe spells مماsince عدِمتI lacked شفاءَهاtheir healing
كأَن الرُّقَى مما عدِمت شفاءَها
تَعلَّمهاlearned them الراقونthe charmers منfrom بعدafter وَسواسيmy delirium
تَعلَّمها الراقون من بعد وَسواسي
As though the spells, since I found no healing in them,
As if healers learned medicine
were learned by charmers only after my delirium.
Only after much trial and error.
مَددتُI stretched يداًa hand نحوtoward الطبيبthe physician فردَّهاand he returned it
مَددتُ يداً نحو الطبيب فردَّها
إلىto النَّحرthe upper chest واستغنىand he was content بإخبارwith the report of أنفاسيmy breaths
إلى النَّحر واستغنى بإخبار أنفاسي
I stretched a hand toward the physician, who returned it
I extended a hand to the doctor but he directed it
to my upper chest, content with what my breaths reported.
To my jugular, content with monitoring my breath.
وماand ... did not زالcease هذاthis البرقُlightning حتَىuntil استفزّنىroused me
وما زال هذا البرقُ حتَى استفزّنى
سَناَthe gleam of كلِّevery وقاَّدblazing light ولوeven if ضوءُthe light of نِبراسِa lamp
سَناَ كلِّ وقاَّد ولو ضوءُ نِبراسِ
This lightning persisted until I was stirred
Still, this lightning kept provoking me
by the gleam of every blaze, even a lamp's light.
Whether a glowing ember or a shining lamp.
وليلand a night of وِصالٍunion أسرعَتْhastened خُطُواتُهits footsteps
وليل وِصالٍ أسرعَتْ خُطُواتُه
بهجعةِwith the dozing of سُمَّارٍnight companions وغفلةِand the heedlessness of أحراسِguards
بهجعةِ سُمَّارٍ وغفلةِ أحراسِ
And a night of union whose footsteps hastened
On a night of union, the steps of time raced heedlessly
with the dozing of night companions and the heedlessness of guards.
By the drowsiness of a wakeful guardian.
فماso ... were not قُصَّclipped للنَّسريْنof the two Eagles فيهin it قوادمٌprimary flight feathers
فما قُصَّ للنَّسريْن فيه قوادمٌ
ولاnor رُبِطتْwas bound ساقُthe leg of الثرياthe Pleiades بأمراسِwith ropes
ولا رُبِطتْ ساقُ الثريا بأمراسِ
The two Eagles' flight feathers were not clipped that night,
No horses’ hooves clattered for the two lovebirds,
nor was the Pleiades' leg bound with ropes.
No legs were shackled on a blossoming meadow.
ضحوكsmiling ثَنيّاتِthe front teeth of الصّباحdawn تخالُهyou would think it
ضحوك ثَنيّاتِ الصّباح تخالُه
ضياءَthe radiance of إمامِthe Imam of الحقّtruth منfrom آلِthe house of عباسِAbbas
ضياءَ إمامِ الحقّ من آلِ عباسِ
Smiling with dawn's front teeth, you would take it
The bright smiles of dawn are like
for the radiance of the Imam of truth, of the house of Abbas.
The radiance of the Abbasids’ rightly-guided Imam.
هوhe الوارثthe inheritor of النورthe light الذيwhich كانwas آيةa sign
هو الوارث النور الذي كان آية
لأبانهfor his forefathers (text uncertain) الماضينthe departed منsince عهدthe time of إلياسIlyas
لأبانه الماضين من عهد إلياس
He inherits the light that was a sign
He is the heir, the light that was a sign
for his departed forefathers since the time of Ilyas.
To past generations since the days of Elias.
فلوso if لمnot يكنthere were للناسfor people فيin الليلthe night راحةٌrest
فلو لم يكن للناس في الليل راحةٌ
لضوَّأَhe would illuminate منwith لألائهhis radiance كلَّevery دِيماسِdark chamber
لضوَّأَ من لألائه كلَّ دِيماسِ
Had people no need of rest at night,
Else, people would have no rest at night,
he would illuminate every dark chamber with his radiance.
His brilliance illuminating every settlement.
كأنas though رسولَthe Messenger of اللهGod ألقَىcast رداَءهhis cloak
كأن رسولَ الله ألقَى رداَءه
منin the person of القائِمal-Qa'im الهادِىthe guide علىupon جبلa mountain راسِfirmly rooted
من القائِم الهادِى على جبل راسِ
As though God's Messenger had cast his cloak
As if Allah’s messenger had bequeathed his cloak
upon al-Qa'im the guide, a firmly rooted mountain.
To the rightly-guided guide on Mount Ras.
ضميرٌa conscience جلاهpolished it صَيقلُthe burnisher of الحلمforbearance والتُّقَىand piety
ضميرٌ جلاه صَيقلُ الحلم والتُّقَى
وكفٌّand a hand حباهاendowed it اللهGod بالجودِwith generosity والباسِand valor
وكفٌّ حباها الله بالجودِ والباسِ
A conscience polished by the burnisher of forbearance and piety,
A conscience burnished by wisdom and piety,
and a hand endowed by God with generosity and valor.
And a palm endowed with munificence.
ومحتجبand one veiled بالعزّby majesty لولاwere it not for مكانهhis presence
ومحتجب بالعزّ لولا مكانه
لرُجَّتwould be shaken نواحىthe regions of هذهthis الأرضearth بالناسِwith the people
لرُجَّت نواحى هذه الأرض بالناسِ
One veiled in majesty, but for whose presence
Veiled in glory - else the corners of earth
the reaches of this earth would be shaken with their peoples.
Would swarm with people to behold him.
زمانُthe time of الورىmankind فيin ظلِّهhis shade وجنابهand his protection
زمانُ الورى في ظلِّه وجنابه
كأيَّامlike the days of تشريقTashriq وليلاتِand nights of أعراسِweddings
كأيَّام تشريق وليلاتِ أعراسِ
Mankind's days in his shade and under his protection
The age resides in his shade; his company
are like the days of Tashriq and wedding nights.
Like days of celebration and nights of weddings.
رعاهمhe pastured them بروضin the meadow of الأمنsecurity غِبَّafter مخافةٍfear
رعاهم بروض الأمن غِبَّ مخافةٍ
وألبسهمand he clothed them ثوبَthe garment of الغنىwealth بعدafter إفلاسِdestitution
وألبسهم ثوبَ الغنى بعد إفلاسِ
He pastured them in security's meadow after fear,
He pastured them in safety’s meadow, spared from fear,
and clothed them in wealth after destitution.
Clothing them in riches after destitution.
وراضَand he tamed الجَموحَthe unruly للذَّلولِfor the docile برفقهِwith his gentleness
وراضَ الجَموحَ للذَّلولِ برفقهِ
فماso there is nothing بينهمbetween them إلاbut موازينُscales of قِسطاسِequity
فما بينهم إلا موازينُ قِسطاسِ
He gently tamed the unruly for the meek,
He gentled the obstinate with his grace;
so only the scales of equity stand between them.
Among them only scales of justice.
حِماهُhis sanctuary هوis البيتُthe House العتيقُthe Ancient ظباؤهits gazelles
حِماهُ هو البيتُ العتيقُ ظباؤه
حرامٌforbidden علىto عَبلthick الذراعَيْنthe two forearms فرّاسِa ravening predator
حرامٌ على عَبل الذراعَيْن فرّاسِ
His sanctuary is the Ancient House; its gazelles
He protects that Revered House - forbidden
are forbidden prey to the thick-armed, ravening beast.
To sharp-clawed eagles above its courtyard.
فلوeven if كانhad been فيهwithin it ناقةَthe she-camel of اللهِGod عاقراhamstringing
فلو كان فيه ناقةَ اللهِ عاقرا
أخوthe brother of وائلٍWa'il ماnot ذاقtasted طعنةthe spear-thrust of جَسَّاسِJassas
أخو وائلٍ ما ذاق طعنة جَسَّاسِ
Even had he hamstrung God's she-camel within it,
Else Allah’s she-camel, though barren,
Wa'il's brother would not have tasted Jassas's spear thrust.
Would have tasted no assassin’s dagger.
وماand ... does not ضرَّharm منone who كانhas الإمامُthe Imam سحابَهُhis rain cloud
وما ضرَّ من كان الإمامُ سحابَهُ
تقاعُدُthe withholding of لَمَّاعِa flasher of البوارقlightning رجَّاسِthundering
تقاعُدُ لَمَّاعِ البوارق رجَّاسِ
One whose rain cloud is the Imam is not harmed
As for one shaded by clouds releasing
by the failure of a thunderous, lightning-flashing cloud.
Bolts of lighting - what harm from warring foes?
لسيَّارةِfor travelers seeking المعروفbounty فيin صُلبِthe core of مالِهِhis wealth
لسيَّارةِ المعروف في صُلبِ مالِهِ
غنائمُspoils لمnot تُقسمwere apportioned عليهاupon them بأخماسِin fifth-shares
غنائمُ لم تُقسم عليها بأخماسِ
For those who journey seeking bounty, in the heart of his wealth
For the procession of his generosity, spoils in his funds
are spoils upon which no fifths have been levied.
Were never apportioned by fifths.
لهhe has منfrom صوابِthe accuracy of الظنِّconjecture بالغيبof the unseen مخبرٌan informant
له من صوابِ الظنِّ بالغيب مخبرٌ
ولاand no خيرَgood فيin رأىthe judgment of امرىءa man غيرِnot حسَّاسِperceptive
ولا خيرَ في رأى امرىء غيرِ حسَّاسِ
In sound conjecture he has an informant of the unseen;
From veiled knowledge he derives information;
there is no good in the judgment of an unperceptive man.
No good in a man’s opinion lacking perception.
وليسand he is not لأحقادٍof grudges ذُكرنَthat were recalled بذاكرٍat all mindful
وليس لأحقادٍ ذُكرنَ بذاكرٍ
ولاnor لحقوقof the rights of اللهGod يُنسَيْنَthat are forgotten بالنَّاسىat all forgetful
ولا لحقوق الله يُنسَيْنَ بالنَّاسى
He is no keeper of grudges when they are recalled,
No injustices are recalled in his recollection,
nor forgetful of God's rights when they are forgotten.
No rights of Allah forgotten for other men.
ولولاهand without him كانَwould be الدِّينreligion فقْعاًa truffle بقَرقرٍon a bare plain
ولولاه كانَ الدِّين فقْعاً بقَرقرٍ
يُداسُtrampled بأظلافٍby cloven hooves ويُفرَىand torn بأضراسِby molars
يُداسُ بأظلافٍ ويُفرَى بأضراسِ
Without him, religion would be a truffle on a bare plain,
But for him, religion would be downtrodden,
trampled by cloven hooves and torn by teeth.
Trampled underfoot, preyed on by young lions.
سقاهhe watered it مياهthe waters of العزmight فاخضرَّand it turned green مُورِقاًputting forth leaves
سقاه مياه العز فاخضرَّ مُورِقاً
وأينعتِand ripened الأفنانُthe boughs فيon عُودهِits stem العاسِىdry and hardened
وأينعتِ الأفنانُ في عُودهِ العاسِى
He watered it with the waters of might, and it greened with leaves;
He quenched it with waters of glory till it flourished,
its boughs ripened upon its once-parched stem.
And branches burgeoned with ripening fruits.
فلاso do not تنشُرواunfurl للباطلِfor falsehood اليومَtoday رايةًa banner
فلا تنشُروا للباطلِ اليومَ رايةً
وهلand can يُنشَرbe resurrected المدفونُthe buried فيin قَعرthe depths of أرماسِgraves
وهل يُنشَر المدفونُ في قَعر أرماسِ
Raise no banner for falsehood today:
So do not raise falsehood’s flag today;
can what lies buried deep in graves be raised?
Can one exhume what lies in the abyss?
يؤيدهsupports him الرحمنthe All-Merciful فيin كلِّevery موقفٍencounter
يؤيده الرحمن في كلِّ موقفٍ
بنصرwith victory يعودturns back الليثُthe lion وهوwhile it is بهbecause of it خاسِabased
بنصر يعود الليثُ وهو به خاسِ
The All-Merciful supports him at every encounter
The Merciful backs him in every tribulation,
with victory before which the lion turns back abased.
With triumph causing even lions to retreat.
جيوشٌarmies منof الأقدارِdestiny تُفْنِىannihilate عُداتهhis enemies
جيوشٌ من الأقدارِ تُفْنِى عُداته
بلاwithout ضربِthe blows of إيثاخIthakh ولاnor طعنِthe thrusts of أشناسِAshnas
بلا ضربِ إيثاخ ولا طعنِ أشناسِ
Armies of destiny annihilate his enemies,
Battalions of destiny annihilate his enemies
without Ithakh's blows or Ashnas's thrusts.
Sans stroke of Eccha’s sword or Sheesa’s spears.
وكمand how many شهدَتْthey witnessed يوماa day أغرَّwhite-blazed محجَّلاwhite-stockinged
وكم شهدَتْ يوما أغرَّ محجَّلا
تُخلِّدهimmortalize it الأقلامُthe pens ذِكراas remembrance بأطراسِon written sheets
تُخلِّده الأقلامُ ذِكرا بأطراسِ
How many a day they witnessed, white-blazed and white-stockinged,
How often you saw a day where he donned
which pens immortalize in writing upon scrolls,
Armor destined for epics by sublime poets!
يُشاresem- كِلُ-bles بدراBadr والملائكُand the angels حُضَّرٌpresent
يُشا كِلُ بدرا والملائكُ حُضَّرٌ
ويَذكُرُand recalls جنداan army أُنزِلتْwas sent down يومَon the day of أَوْطاسِAwtas
ويَذكُرُ جندا أُنزِلتْ يومَ أَوْطاسِ
resembling Badr, with angels present,
He prepares for battle as the moon gleams;
and recalling an army sent down on the day of Awtas.
The angels attend and ancient armies descend.
وقدand indeed علِمhas learned المصرىُّthe Egyptian أنَّthat جنودَهhis troops
وقد علِم المصرىُّ أنَّ جنودَه
سِنُوthe years of يوسفٍYusuf منهاamong them وطاعونُand the plague of عَمْواسِAmwas
سِنُو يوسفٍ منها وطاعونُ عَمْواسِ
The Egyptian has learned that among his troops
The Egyptian knew his soldiers
are Yusuf's years and the plague of Amwas.
Were disks of Joseph and the plague of Amwas.
أحاطتْthey surrounded بهhim حتَّىuntil استرابhe grew suspicious بنفسهِof himself
أحاطتْ به حتَّى استراب بنفسهِ
وأوجسand he sensed فيهاwithin himself خِيفةًfear أىَّthe utmost إيجاسِapprehension
وأوجس فيها خِيفةً أىَّ إيجاسِ
They surrounded him until he distrusted his very self,
They surrounded him until he doubted himself,
and felt within himself the deepest fear.
Sensing dread of some power.
قصورٌpalaces علىover الفسطاطal-Fustat أضحتْbecame كأنهاas though they were
قصورٌ على الفسطاط أضحتْ كأنها
قفارُwastes of ربوعٍdwellings بالسَّماوةin al-Samawa أدراسِeffaced
قفارُ ربوعٍ بالسَّماوة أدراسِ
Palaces over al-Fustat have become like
Palaces over the encampment now seem
the wastes of effaced dwellings in al-Samawa.
Like the wilds of Samaawa and ruins of Edhra.
سهامُthe arrows of أميرِthe Commander of المؤمنينthe Faithful مَكايدٌstratagems
سهامُ أميرِ المؤمنين مَكايدٌ
ورُبَّand many سهامٍarrows طرنflew منfrom غيرother than أقواسِbows
ورُبَّ سهامٍ طرن من غير أقواسِ
The Commander of the Faithful's arrows are stratagems;
The Prince of Faithful’s arrows are schemes,
many an arrow has flown without a bow.
Many arrowheads strike sans firing from bows.
هوhe المصطَفىِthe chooser of التقوَىpiety متاعاًas provision لنفسهfor himself
هو المصطَفىِ التقوَى متاعاً لنفسه
بجوهرِهاwith its jewels حالٍadorned بسُندُسهاin its fine silk كاسِclothed
بجوهرِها حالٍ بسُندُسها كاسِ
He chooses piety as provision for himself,
He is the Chosen, taking piety as provision,
adorned with its jewels, clothed in its fine silk.
His essence pure, his image immaculate.
إذاwhen وطِئتtrod شُوشُthe topknots of الملوكkings بساطَهhis carpet
إذا وطِئت شُوشُ الملوك بساطَه
تضاءلshrank منهاamong them كلُّevery أغلبَthick-necked هِرماسِlion
تضاءل منها كلُّ أغلبَ هِرماسِ
When the crests of kings touch his carpet,
When the train of kings steps on his carpet,
every thick-necked lion among them shrinks.
Every victorious Sasanian withers.
تَخِرُّfall بِهِupon it شُمُّproud الجماجمthe heads سُجَّداprostrate
تَخِرُّ بِهِ شُمُّ الجماجم سُجَّدا
ويخشَعُand humbles himself فيهtherein كلُّevery ذىpossessor of خُلُقa disposition جاسِharsh
ويخشَعُ فيه كلُّ ذى خُلُق جاسِ
Proud heads fall prostrate upon it,
Before him skulls and minds bow down,
and there every harsh-natured man grows humble.
Every being of dignity grows humble.
يُحيُّونthey salute منfrom جسمthe body of النبوّةِprophethood بَضعَةًa portion
يُحيُّون من جسم النبوّةِ بَضعَةً
هيit is القلبُthe heart فيin الحَيزومthe breast والعينُand the eye فيin الراسِthe head
هي القلبُ في الحَيزوم والعينُ في الراسِ
They salute a portion of prophethood's body,
They swear by the Prophet’s remnant:
the heart within the breast, the eye within the head.
The heart within the breast and the eye within the head.
ويَغشَونand they visit قَرْماa chieftain منof لؤىّLu'ayy بنson of غالبٍGhalib
ويَغشَون قَرْما من لؤىّ بن غالبٍ
يعدِّدhe counts فيamong أنسابهhis lineages كلَّevery قِنعاسِmighty chief
يعدِّد في أنسابه كلَّ قِنعاسِ
And they visit a chieftain descended from Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib,
And they vie for a bite of Luayy son of Ghalib -
who counts every mighty chief within his lineage,
His lineage counts every ancient house.
منamong الخلفاءِthe caliphs الرافعينwho raise بِناءهمtheir edifice
من الخلفاءِ الرافعين بِناءهم
بأطولِwith the tallest أعمادٍpillars وأثبتِand the firmest أساسِfoundation
بأطولِ أعمادٍ وأثبتِ أساسِ
among the caliphs who raised their edifice
Of caliphs who built its edifice,
with the tallest pillars and the firmest foundation.
With the tallest pillars and firmest foundations.
رعَتْguarded ذممَthe covenants of الإسلامIslam منهمamong them كوالىءٌguardians
رعَتْ ذممَ الإسلام منهم كوالىءٌ
وسيستand were governed أمورُthe affairs of الملكِkingship منهمfrom among them بسُوَّاسِby skilled rulers
وسيست أمورُ الملكِ منهم بسُوَّاسِ
Guardians among them tended Islam's covenants,
Their states nurtured Islam’s law
and kingship's affairs were governed by their statesmen.
And steered the nation’s affairs sagely.
نجومٌstars إذاwhen السارونnight travelers ضلُّواstrayed هدتهُمُguided them
نجومٌ إذا السارون ضلُّوا هدتهُمُ
هدايةَthe guidance of نِيرانfires رُفعنraised بِقُرناسِon a mountain peak
هدايةَ نِيران رُفعن بِقُرناسِ
Stars who guide night travelers when they stray,
Stars - when deluded astrologers lose their way,
as fires raised upon a mountain peak give guidance.
Their fires raised upon minarets provide guidance.
قِداحُهُمُtheir lot-arrows يومَon the day of الفخارboasting فوائزٌwinners
قِداحُهُمُ يومَ الفخار فوائزٌ
وأسهمُهمand their arrows إنif نازلواthey join battle غيرُnot أنكاسِfeeble shafts
وأسهمُهم إن نازلوا غيرُ أنكاسِ
Their lots win on the day of boasting,
On days of turmoil their goblets are triumphs;
and, when they fight, their arrows are no feeble shafts.
If they fight, their arrows never fail.
همُthey ملؤاfilled الدنياthe world بطيبِwith the sweetness of حديثهمtheir renown
همُ ملؤا الدنيا بطيبِ حديثهم
كماjust as ملأfilled الأسماعَthe ears قعقاعُthe clanging of أجراسِbells
كما ملأ الأسماعَ قعقاعُ أجراسِ
They filled the world with their fair renown,
They filled the world with their speech’s fragrance
as the clanging of bells fills the ears.
As rattles fill ears in a bridal procession.
كرهبانِlike monks of ليلٍnight لاnot تلائمُtake to مضجَعاa bed
كرهبانِ ليلٍ لا تلائمُ مضجَعا
وأُسْدِand lions of صباحٍmorning ماnot تَقِرُّstay بأخياسِin lairs
وأُسْدِ صباحٍ ما تَقِرُّ بأخياسِ
Like monks by night, who find no comfort in a bed,
Ascetics of the night who spurn repose,
and lions at dawn, who never linger in their lairs.
Lions of dawn who flout the jackals.
وماand not منهمُamong them منone who ملَّكgave dominion to البِيضَfair women قلبَهhis heart
وما منهمُ من ملَّك البِيضَ قلبَه
ولاnor طمِعتْaspired فيto لُبهِّhis reason وثبةُthe assault of الكاسِthe cup
ولا طمِعتْ في لُبهِّ وثبةُ الكاسِ
None of them gave fair women dominion over his heart,
None who enslaved his heart to passion,
nor did the cup's assault aspire to seize his reason.
Nor did the brimming cup make advances.
عَتادُهمtheir equipment فيin حَجِّهمtheir pilgrimage وجِهادهمand their holy war
عَتادُهم في حَجِّهم وجِهادهم
جراجرُthe rumbling of أجمالٍcamels وتَصهالُand the neighing of أفراسِhorses
جراجرُ أجمالٍ وتَصهالُ أفراسِ
Their equipment on pilgrimage and in holy war
Their gear whether for hajj or jihad
is the rumbling of camels and the neighing of horses.
Was embroidered robes and noble steeds.
أولئكthose آباءthe forefathers of الإمامِthe Imam ورهطُهُand his clan
أولئك آباء الإمامِ ورهطُهُ
أصولُroots of كرامٍnoble men زَيَّنتْadorned خيرَthe finest أغراسِshoots
أصولُ كرامٍ زَيَّنتْ خيرَ أغراسِ
Those are the Imam's forefathers and his clan,
They are the Imam’s forebears and kin -
noble roots that adorned the finest shoots.
Noble roots producing excellent branches.
عَمِرتَmay you live long أميرَO Commander of المؤمنينthe Faithful بنعمةٍin blessing
عَمِرتَ أميرَ المؤمنين بنعمةٍ
وعيشٍand a life صفيقِdense of الظلِّshade أخضرَgreen ميَّاسِgracefully swaying
وعيشٍ صفيقِ الظلِّ أخضرَ ميَّاسِ
May you live long, Commander of the Faithful, in blessing
You have graced the Prince of Faithfuls with bounty
and a life of dense shade, green and gracefully swaying.
And wholesome life in shade ever-verdant.
ولاand may ... not زالتcease العلياءُhigh honor عندكwith you وفدُهاits delegations
ولا زالت العلياءُ عندك وفدُها
يروحgo at evening بأنواعٍin many sorts ويغدوand go at morning بأجناسِin many kinds
يروح بأنواعٍ ويغدو بأجناسِ
May exalted honor ever dwell with you, its delegations
Still the eminent come on deputations
coming each evening and morning in every sort and kind.
With gifts arriving in continual caravans.
ابحتَyou opened حِمىَthe sanctuary of الإحسانِbenevolence حتّىuntil أصابهreached it
ابحتَ حِمىَ الإحسانِ حتّى أصابه
معاشرُgroups منin matters of نَيلattaining المنىwishes غيرُnot أكياسِclever
معاشرُ من نَيل المنى غيرُ أكياسِ
You opened beneficence's sanctuary until it was reached
You announced sanctuary till pilgrims of wishes
by groups unskilled in attaining their desires.
Could attain their wants, unlike the destitute.
وماand no نعمةٌblessing إلاbut أفضتَyou spread لباسَهاits robe
وما نعمةٌ إلا أفضتَ لباسَها
علىupon منone whom عهدناهwe knew him لهاof it غيرَnot لبَّاسِa habitual wearer
على من عهدناه لها غيرَ لبَّاسِ
There is no blessing whose robe you have not draped
No boon but you extravagantly clothed its folk
upon one we knew was no wearer of it.
Save the reticent you appointed its attire.
مواهبُgifts فيهاin which لابنِfor Ibn حِصنٍHisn وحابسand Habis
مواهبُ فيها لابنِ حِصنٍ وحابس
نصيبٌa share فهلاَّso why not مثلُهthe like of it لابنfor Ibn مِرداسِMirdas
نصيبٌ فهلاَّ مثلُه لابن مِرداسِ
Gifts in which Ibn Hisn and Habis have
Favors wherein gifts to the Heesan and Haabis line
a share—why not the same for Ibn Mirdas?
While would that the Mirdas clan had its equal!
فماso what ليfor me وبحرُwhile the sea of الفضلbounty عندكwith you زاخرٌsurges
فما لي وبحرُ الفضل عندك زاخرٌ
يطاوَلare kept long فيin دارthe abode of المُقامةresidence أحلاسىmy saddlecloths
يطاوَل في دار المُقامة أحلاسى
Why, while your sea of bounty surges,
What grievance have I when your sea of grace teems,
do my saddlecloths linger so long in my lodging?
Its waves lapping in the hall of hospitality?
إذاwhen رُفِعتis raised نارُthe fire of القِرَىhospitality لكfor you أُوقدتْare kindled
إذا رُفِعت نارُ القِرَى لك أُوقدتْ
مَصابيحُlamps لمnot يُستدنَis brought near فيهنَّamong them مِقباسىmy firebrand
مَصابيحُ لم يُستدنَ فيهنَّ مِقباسى
When hospitality's fire is raised for you, they kindle
For you ritually kindle lamps
lamps to which my firebrand is never brought near.
In which no wicks were lit aforetime.
أوذُI seek refuge (apparently intended) بواديكin your valley المقدِّسِthe sacred أنthat أُرىI be seen
أوذُ بواديك المقدِّسِ أن أُرى
فريسةَthe prey of قنّاصٍa hunter منof الدهرTime نهَّاسِravenous
فريسةَ قنّاصٍ من الدهر نهَّاسِ
I seek refuge in your sacred valley from being seen
I seek haven in your sacrosanct valley
as prey to that ravenous hunter, Time.
Lest I fall prey to the era’s peering archer.
للاwithout (text uncertain) رِقبةٍregard جَورُthe tyranny of الزمانTime وعدلُهُand its justice
للا رِقبةٍ جَورُ الزمان وعدلُهُ
وتحريجُهand its constraining جارٍproceeds علىaccording to غيرno مقياسِmeasure
وتحريجُه جارٍ على غير مقياسِ
Without regard, Time's tyranny and its justice,
By God! The days’ caprice and justice
and its harsh constraints, proceed without measure.
And vexations exceed all bounds.
فإنso if تصطنعْyou bestow نُعْمىa favor فأنتَthen you وليُّهاits patron
فإن تصطنعْ نُعْمى فأنتَ وليُّها
وهيهاتand far be it تُقضَىbe worn out منfrom رجائكhoping in you أحلاسىmy saddlecloths
وهيهات تُقضَى من رجائك أحلاسى
If you bestow a blessing, you are its patron,
If you resurrect my bliss, you are its guardian;
and far be it that my saddlecloths wear out hoping for you.
My wishes from your assistance are never disjointed.
ننالwe attain بأدنىwith the slightest القولِspeech منكfrom you مدَىthe utmost reach of العلاglory
ننال بأدنى القولِ منك مدَى العلا
ولاand no عجبٌwonder أنthat يُحضرbe brought forth الدُّرُّpearls بالماسِwith diamonds
ولا عجبٌ أن يُحضر الدُّرُّ بالماسِ
With the slightest word we gain from you the utmost heights;
With the slightest praise you grant us heights;
no wonder pearls are brought forth with diamonds.
No wonder pearls may be strung using diamonds.
وإنand though كانis ثدىُthe breast of الجودbounty عندكwith you حافلاfull of milk
وإن كان ثدىُ الجود عندك حافلا
فقدyet may يُمتَرىbe milked دَرُّthe milk of اللَّبونthe milch-camel بإبساسِby soothing calls
فقد يُمتَرى دَرُّ اللَّبون بإبساسِ
Though the breast of your bounty is full,
If the breast of generosity for you is abundant,
a milch-camel's milk may still be drawn by soothing calls.
Pearls of Labun may be threaded using ebony.
تعامتfeigned blindness لناfor us الأيامُthe days عنكtoward you وأبلستْand despaired
تعامت لنا الأيامُ عنك وأبلستْ
نوائبُهاtheir calamities عنof قصدهاtheir aim أىَّthe utmost إيلاسِdespair (apparently intended)
نوائبُها عن قصدها أىَّ إيلاسِ
For our sake, the days overlook you, and into despair have fallen
The days have shunned us, but you remain unscathed,
their calamities, utterly frustrated in their purpose.
Safe from their schemes to undo our union.
فليستso ... are not صروفُthe reversals of الدهرTime ماas long as دمتyou remain سالماsafe
فليست صروفُ الدهر ما دمت سالما
مُعاشرَO communities of أهليهاits people بخوفٍany fear ولاnor باسِharm
مُعاشرَ أهليها بخوفٍ ولا باسِ
Time's reversals, so long as you remain safe,
So long as you are sound, the days’ changing fortunes
bring neither fear nor harm, O people of this world.
Do not threaten your family with fear or harm.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.