نظرتُI looked ولمand did not أبغseek إلاexcept شفائيmy cure
نظرتُ ولم أبغ إلا شفائي
فداويتُso I treated سُقماa sickness بداءٍwith a disease عَياءِincurable
فداويتُ سُقما بداءٍ عَياءِ
I looked, seeking nothing but my cure,
I looked, desiring only my cure,
and treated one sickness with an incurable disease.
So I treated sickness with stubborn medicine.
تراءتshe appeared وبرقُعهاand her veil كفُّهاher palm
تراءت وبرقُعها كفُّها
لعينٍbefore an eye مبرقَعةٍveiled بالبكاءِwith weeping
لعينٍ مبرقَعةٍ بالبكاءِ
She appeared, her palm serving as her veil,
She appeared, and her veil was her palms,
before an eye itself veiled in tears.
To eyes made sore with weeping.
فكانتso she became لناfor us فتنةًa temptation ضوعفتdoubled
فكانت لنا فتنةً ضوعفت
بحسنby the beauty of المغطَّىthe veiled one وحسنِand the beauty of الغِطاءِthe covering
بحسن المغطَّى وحسنِ الغِطاءِ
She thus became for us a temptation doubled
So she was an allurement that weakened us
by the beauty of the veiled and the beauty of the veil.
With the beauty of that covered and the beauty of the covering.
تقولshe says وقدand when لُمتُهاI reproached her فيfor البعاremoteness (first part)
تقول وقد لُمتُها في البعا
دِremoteness (completion) هلdoes تسكنdwell الشمسُthe sun غيرَanywhere other than السماءِthe sky
دِ هل تسكن الشمسُ غيرَ السماءِ
She says, when I reproach her for being
She says, when I blamed her in the wilderness:
far away: 'Does the sun dwell anywhere but the sky?'
"Can the sun rest anywhere but the sky?"
وماand not زالceased تَسبىcapture وماand not إنemphasis تراrelinquish (unclear form, first part)
وما زال تَسبى وما إن ترا
كَrelinquish (completion) قلوبَthe hearts of الرجالmen جسومُthe bodies of النساءِwomen
كَ قلوبَ الرجال جسومُ النساءِ
Ever they capture, and never relinquish,
And he did not cease to insult me, and if you see
the hearts of men—the bodies of women.
Men's hearts as stubborn as women's...
وماand I continued زلتُI grieve أجزَعat منtheir parting بينهمso he taught me
وما زلتُ أجزَع من بينهم
فعلَّمنىso it taught me الصبرَpatience طولُthe length of الجفاءِestrangement
فعلَّمنى الصبرَ طولُ الجفاءِ
I kept grieving at their departure,
And I continued to grieve more than they,
until long estrangement taught me patience.
So patience taught me through prolonged estrangement.
وإنّىَand I منfrom لاعجاتِthe searing pangs of الهوىlove
وإنّىَ من لاعجاتِ الهوى
علىover مثلsomething like صدرِthe forepart of القناةa lance انثنائىmy bending
على مثل صدرِ القناة انثنائى
From the searing pangs of love, I
And I am, due to the calamities of love,
bend over as though over a spear's point.
Bent double like the canal of the bend.
أصومُI fast وماand not ماؤكمyour water للورودِfor approaching to drink
أصومُ وما ماؤكم للورودِ
وأعشوand I seek light in darkness وماand not ناركُمyour fire للصِّلاءِfor warming oneself
وأعشو وما ناركُم للصِّلاءِ
I fast, though your water is not for drinking;
I fast while your water is not for the roses,
I seek your fire in darkness, though it is not for warmth.
And I live while your fire is not for warmth.
ومنand whoever يَصْدَbecomes thirsty يخدعْهdeceives him السرابِthe mirage
ومن يَصْدَ يخدعْه السرابِ
ويَغرُرْهُand beguiles him خُلَّبdeceptive برقٍlightning خَواءِrainless
ويَغرُرْهُ خُلَّب برقٍ خَواءِ
Whoever thirsts is deceived by the mirage
Who is deceived is deceived by a mirage
and beguiled by a deceptive, rainless lightning-flash.
And is deluded by a false lightning flash.
وللهand to God (expressing wonder) موقفُناour meeting والعتاand reproach (first part)
ولله موقفُنا والعتا
بُreproach (completion) يُنبتُmakes grow فيon الخدِّthe cheek وَردَthe rose of الحياءِmodesty
بُ يُنبتُ في الخدِّ وَردَ الحياءِ
How wondrous our meeting, when reproach
But to God is our stance and our reproaching
made modesty's rose bloom upon her cheek.
Where shame blooms on the cheek like a rose.
وقدand indeed أترعfilled to the brim الحسنُbeauty فيهin it غديراa pool
وقد أترع الحسنُ فيه غديرا
إليهto it ورودcoming to drink العيونthe eyes الظمِّاءِthirsty
إليه ورود العيون الظمِّاءِ
Beauty had filled a pool there to the brim,
Beauty has poured in it a copious torrent
where thirsty eyes came to drink.
To which the teary eyes flock.
وطَرِفىَand my gaze يتبعُfollows هُوجthe wild ones among الرياحِthe winds
وطَرِفىَ يتبعُ هُوج الرياحِ
عساهنَّperhaps they يرفعنmay lift سِجْفَthe curtain of الحِباءِthe tent (probably الخباء)
عساهنَّ يرفعن سِجْفَ الحِباءِ
My gaze follows the wild winds,
My gaze follows the stars' paths;
hoping they may lift the tent's curtain.
Mayhap they will lift the veil of bashfulness.
أتنجوdo you escape بجسمِكwith your body فوقatop الركابthe riding-camels
أتنجو بجسمِك فوق الركاب
وتنِبذُand cast away قلبَكyour heart بينamong الظِّباءِthe gazelles
وتنِبذُ قلبَك بين الظِّباءِ
Do you escape bodily upon riding-camels,
You saunter with your body atop the mounts
yet cast your heart away among gazelles?
And toss away your heart among the wolves!
وعهدىand my knowledge بحملكof your composure (probably بحلمك) لاnot يُستطارis swept away
وعهدى بحملك لا يُستطار
برسمٍby a trace مُحيلٍdecayed وربعٍand a dwelling قَواءِdesolate
برسمٍ مُحيلٍ وربعٍ قَواءِ
I knew your composure was not easily swept away
My covenant with you bearing it cannot be denied
by a faded trace and a deserted dwelling.
By any subtle interpretation or firm obligation.
تَلَفَّتُyou turn away عنfrom لَعَسٍdusky lips بالحمىat al-Hima
تَلَفَّتُ عن لَعَسٍ بالحمى
وتُعرِضُand you turn away عنfrom كَحَلٍdark-rimmed eyes بالجِواءِat al-Jiwa
وتُعرِضُ عن كَحَلٍ بالجِواءِ
You turn away from dusky lips at al-Hima,
I turned away from a shining sword with fever,
and shun dark-rimmed eyes at al-Jiwa.
And turned away from kohl with sty.
ولولاand were it not for خيانةthe betrayal of لونِthe color of العذارِthe sideburns
ولولا خيانة لونِ العذارِ
لبعتI would have sold عُلوقthe attachment of الهوىlove بالغلاءِat a high price
لبعت عُلوق الهوى بالغلاءِ
Were it not for the treachery of my sideburns' color,
And were it not for the treason of the color of virginity,
I would have sold love's attachment at a high price.
I would have sold the bonds of love at a high price!
وربَّand many a ليالٍnight سحبتُI trailed الشبابَyouth
وربَّ ليالٍ سحبتُ الشبابَ
بأعطافهنَّwithin their folds كسَحْبىas I trail ردائيmy cloak
بأعطافهنَّ كسَحْبى ردائي
Many a night I trailed youth
And how many nights have I drawn the youths
through its folds, as I trail my cloak.
To my chest as I draw my cloak.
فلوso if كنتُI were أملِكI controlled أمرىmy affairs اشتريbought (first part)
فلو كنتُ أملِك أمرى اشتري
تُI (verb ending) ذاكthat الظلامَdarkness بهذاwith this الضياءِbrightness
تُ ذاك الظلامَ بهذا الضياءِ
If I controlled my affairs, I would have bought
Had I control of my affair, I'd buy
that darkness with this brightness.
That darkness with this illumination!
وقالواand they said أصبتَyou were bereaved بعصرِof the age of الصَّباyouth
وقالوا أصبتَ بعصرِ الصَّبا
ومنand whoever لمhas not يشِبْgrown gray لمhas not يفُزwon بالبقاءِlong life
ومن لم يشِبْ لم يفُز بالبقاءِ
They said: 'You have suffered the loss of youth;
And they said: "You have reached the prime of youth,
yet none who has not gone gray has won long life.'
And whoever does not grow old will not attain survival."
وماand not منِبتُthe growing-place of العزّglory إلآexcept ظهورُthe backs of
وما منِبتُ العزّ إلآ ظهورُ
نواعجَswift she-camels منعَلةٍshod بالنَّجاءِwith swift escape
نواعجَ منعَلةٍ بالنَّجاءِ
Glory grows nowhere but upon the backs
And the source of glory springs up only from
of swift she-camels shod in speed,
The sides of a tall, smooth-bodied mare.
يخلَّفنthey leave خلِفىَbehind me دارَthe abode of الهوانhumiliation
يخلَّفن خلِفىَ دارَ الهوان
مُناخاa kneeling-place ومضْطَرَباand an encampment للبِطاءِfor the slow
مُناخا ومضْطَرَبا للبِطاءِ
leaving behind me the abode of humiliation,
Who lag behind me in the house of disgrace,
an encampment and lodging for the slow.
Restless there and stumbling in slowness.
أفرُّI flee بعرضِىَwith my honor عمّنfrom those whom ترىyou see
أفرُّ بعرضِىَ عمّن ترى
منfrom النافقاءِthe jerboa's concealed exit إلىto القاصِعاءِits main burrow entrance
من النافقاءِ إلى القاصِعاءِ
I flee with my honor from those you see,
I fled with my honor from those you see
from the jerboa's concealed exit to its main burrow entrance.
Of the hypocrites to the firm ones.
ولستُand I am not وإنeven though كنتُI am ربَّthe master of القريضِverse
ولستُ وإن كنتُ ربَّ القريضِ
كمنlike one who يستجيبsolicits القِرىhospitality بالعُواءِby howling
كمن يستجيب القِرى بالعُواءِ
Though I am a master of verse, I am not
And were it not for the noble chieftain
like one who solicits hospitality by howling.
The promise would not have walked the roads of loyalty.
عدمتُmay I be rid of مَعاشرَgroups of people لاnot يفرِقوdistinguish (first part)
عدمتُ مَعاشرَ لا يفرِقو
نdistinguish (verb ending) بينbetween الصّهيِلthe neighing وبينand between الرُّغاءِthe camel's bellowing
ن بين الصّهيِل وبين الرُّغاءِ
May I be rid of folk who cannot distinguish
But through the generosity of my father Qasim
between a horse's neigh and a camel's bellow.
Glories were lived after decay.
إذاwhen صافحتنىshake hands with me أكفُّthe palms of اللئامِthe base
إذا صافحتنى أكفُّ اللئامِ
لطمتُI slapped بهنwith them خَدودَthe cheeks of الرجاءِhope
لطمتُ بهن خَدودَ الرجاءِ
When the palms of the base shake my hand,
He is of manifest lineage in the high pursuits,
I slap with them the cheeks of hope.
While others in pretense are counted.
وقِدماand long ago عصرتُI squeezed وجوهَthe faces of الرجالِmen
وقِدما عصرتُ وجوهَ الرجالِ
فلمyet I did not أرsee فيهنَّamong them وجهاa face بماءِwith water
فلم أر فيهنَّ وجها بماءِ
Long ago I squeezed men's faces,
His bounties shine resplendent,
yet found among them no face with any moisture.
And through him the heights of loftiness gape wide.
ولولاand were it not for الجنابُthe august presence الزعيمىُّal-Za'imi ماnot
ولولا الجنابُ الزعيمىُّ ما
مشىَwalked الوعدُthe promise فيin طُرُقاتِthe paths of الوفاءِfulfillment
مشىَ الوعدُ في طُرُقاتِ الوفاءِ
Were it not for al-Za'imi's august presence, no
Eyes roam when they discern him
promise would walk the paths of fulfillment.
In the garden of his grace and plentiful watering.
ولكنbut بجودthrough the generosity of أبيAbu قاسمٍQasim
ولكن بجود أبي قاسمٍ
عُمرنَflourished المكارمَnoble deeds بعدafter العفاءِeffacement
عُمرنَ المكارمَ بعد العفاءِ
But through Abu Qasim's generosity,
If you scent his lightning then attachment-
noble deeds flourished after their effacement.
Yearning shines like the gleam of illumination.
لهhe has فيin المعاليlofty achievements انتسابthe lineage of الصريحِthe true-born
له في المعالي انتساب الصريحِ
إذاwhile غيرهُothers besides him عُدّare counted فيamong الأدعياءِpretenders
إذا غيرهُ عُدّ في الأدعياءِ
In lofty deeds his lineage is that of the true-born,
That people were imprinted with dew
while others are numbered among pretenders.
Upon the path of the constant downpour.
أغرّradiant تضىءshine بهthrough him المكرماتُnoble deeds
أغرّ تضىء به المكرماتُ
وتفترُّand smile عنهrevealing him ثغورُthe mouths of العَلاءِeminence
وتفترُّ عنه ثغورُ العَلاءِ
Radiant, through him noble deeds shine,
He counts providing the means of praise
and the mouths of eminence smile to reveal him.
With abundant gifts as alchemy.
وترعَىand graze العيونُthe eyes إذاwhen لاحظتْthey behold
وترعَى العيونُ إذا لاحظتْ
هُhim فيin روِضthe meadow of رونِقهِhis radiance والرُّواءِand beauty
هُ في روِض رونِقهِ والرُّواءِ
Eyes graze, whenever they behold
His hands pour without sieving
him, in the meadow of his radiance and beauty.
When the scum seeks the strainer of the cupbearer.
إذاwhen شِمتَyou watch for بارقَهhis lightning فالتِّلاthen the valleys (first part)
إذا شِمتَ بارقَه فالتِّلا
عُvalleys (completion) تشرقshine مثلَlike حلوقthe throats of الإضاءِpools
عُ تشرق مثلَ حلوق الإضاءِ
When you watch for his lightning, the valleys
He quivers at the wafting of a request
shine like the throats of pools.
As the litters quiver with the hired camel-drivers.
منof القومِthe people قدindeed طُبعواwere stamped فيin الندىgenerosity
من القومِ قد طُبعوا في الندى
علىon سِكّةthe die of الغادياتِmorning rainclouds الرِّواءِrain-laden
على سِكّة الغادياتِ الرِّواءِ
He belongs to a people stamped in generosity
So his glories are like a watering place,
with the die of rain-laden morning clouds.
And the tone of his asker like warbling.
يَعُدُّhe considers ابتياعَthe purchase of بسيرِa little (probably يسير) الثناءpraise
يَعُدُّ ابتياعَ بسيرِ الثناء
بجزلwith plentiful العطاءgiving منa kind of الكيمياءِalchemy
بجزل العطاء من الكيمياءِ
He reckons buying a little praise
Created from excellent stock molded
with lavish gifts to be a kind of alchemy.
With the incense of praise added to it.
تدِرّflow abundantly يداهhis two hands بلاwithout حالبٍa milker
تدِرّ يداه بلا حالبٍ
إذاwhen التَمسseeks الزُّبدَbutter مخضُthe churning of السِّقاءِthe milk-skin
إذا التَمس الزُّبدَ مخضُ السِّقاءِ
His hands flow freely, without a milker,
You’d think the wine and the clear
while the churning of a milk-skin seeks its butter.
Sky-blue drink are pressed of their scent and clarity.
ويهتزُّand he sways عندupon هبوبِthe blowing of السؤالa request اهswaying (first part)
ويهتزُّ عند هبوبِ السؤال اه
تزازَswaying (completion) الأراكةِthe arak tree بالجِريباءِin the north wind
تزازَ الأراكةِ بالجِريباءِ
He sways when a request blows upon him,
As if the knotting of kinship ties with him
as an arak tree sways in the north wind.
Were upon a withering or a ruin.
فتُضحِىso become مكارمُهhis generous deeds كالمطىّlike riding-camels
فتُضحِى مكارمُه كالمطىّ
ونغْمةُand the voice of سائلهhis petitioner كالحُداءِlike the camel-driver's chant
ونغْمةُ سائله كالحُداءِ
His generous deeds then become like riding-camels,
They meet misfortunes when he tries them
and his petitioner's voice like the camel-driver's chant.
With ample room and a capacious breast,
خلائقُvirtues منfrom مندلٍMandal aromatic wood مُثِّلتْfashioned
خلائقُ من مندلٍ مُثِّلتْ
وزِيدَand was added عليهاto them بَخورُthe incense of الثَّناءِpraise
وزِيدَ عليها بَخورُ الثَّناءِ
Virtues fashioned from Mandal incense-wood,
And resolve as the whirlwinds solidified in air
with the incense of praise added to them.
Poured into the atmosphere.
يكادalmost المدامُwine وصفوُand the pure essence of الغماclouds (first part)
يكاد المدامُ وصفوُ الغما
مِclouds (completion) يُعصَرis pressed منfrom طِيبهاtheir sweetness والصفاءِand purity
مِ يُعصَر من طِيبها والصفاءِ
Wine and the pure essence of clouds could almost
You see in him resolve, discretion,
be pressed from their sweetness and purity.
Wisdom united in one vessel.
كأنّas though الحُبَىthe knee-bands يومَwhen تَعقادِهاthey are tied
كأنّ الحُبَى يومَ تَعقادِها
عليهaround him علىaround يذبُلٍYadhbul أوor حِراءِHira
عليه على يذبُلٍ أو حِراءِ
As though the knee-bands, when tied
Nothing captivates the eye like a man
around him, were tied around Yadhbul or Hira.
Who contends with him in splendor.
يلاقىhe meets الخطوبَcalamities إذاwhen مارستْهthey beset him
يلاقى الخطوبَ إذا مارستْه
بباعٍwith an armspan رحيبٍample وصدرٍand a breast فضاءِspacious
بباعٍ رحيبٍ وصدرٍ فضاءِ
He meets calamities, when they beset him,
In him are proofs that have grown insolent
with ample reach and a spacious breast,
Of the two testifiers testifying to him in song.
وعزمٍand resolve كماas صفَّقتflapped بالجَناwith the wing (first part)
وعزمٍ كما صفَّقت بالجَنا
حwing (completion) شَغواءُa hooked-beaked eagle مصبوبةٌplunging فيin الهواءِthe air
ح شَغواءُ مصبوبةٌ في الهواءِ
and resolve like the wingbeats
In the blade's gleam the onlookers find
of a hooked-beaked eagle plunging through the air.
Evidence of its sharpness and polish.
تراهyou see him فتنظرُand behold عزماresolve وحزماand prudence
تراه فتنظرُ عزما وحزما
وحلماand forbearance قدindeed ائتلفتْhave united فيin وِعاءِa vessel
وحلما قد ائتلفتْ في وِعاءِ
You see him and behold resolve and prudence,
The ransom might be paid before flight
and forbearance, united in one vessel.
And the race might be judged before contention.
وماand nothing أسرَcaptivated الطَّرفَthe gaze مثلُlike امرىءa man
وما أسرَ الطَّرفَ مثلُ امرىء
يبارزُchallenges لامِحَهhis beholder بالبهاءِwith splendor
يبارزُ لامِحَه بالبهاءِ
Nothing so captivates the eye as a man
Nor does the caravan's desire guide them,
who challenges his beholder with splendor.
Your brilliance in a standard or flag.
عليهupon him شواهدُproofs منهfrom himself اغتدتْhave become
عليه شواهدُ منه اغتدتْ
عنdispensing with الشاهدينِthe witnesses لهon his behalf فيin غَناءِsufficiency
عن الشاهدينِ له في غَناءِ
Upon him are proofs drawn from himself, which have become
Goodness to you belongs, from one saying and doing,
enough to dispense with witnesses on his behalf.
Who built the highest edifice with glories.
وفيand in رونقthe luster of السيفthe sword للناظرينfor onlookers
وفي رونق السيف للناظرين
دليلٌproof علىof حدّهits edge والمَضاءِand cutting power
دليلٌ على حدّه والمَضاءِ
In the sword's luster, onlookers find
You vowed, should you attain grand affairs,
proof of its edge and cutting power.
That you would not be adorned with arrogance.
وقدand indeed يُفرفُis recognized (probably يُعرف) العِتقُnoble breeding قبلَbefore الفرارexamining a horse's teeth
وقد يُفرفُ العِتقُ قبلَ الفرار
ويُحكَمand judgment is made بالسَّبقof victory قبلَbefore الجِراءِracing
ويُحكَم بالسَّبق قبلَ الجِراءِ
Noble breeding may be known before the teeth are examined,
So had your soul been granted all it desired
and victory judged before the race.
You'd not have increased it beyond this loftiness.
وماand no رغبةdesire of الركبthe riders يهديهمُguides them
وما رغبة الركب يهديهمُ
ضياؤكyour radiance فيfor رايةٍa standard أوor لواءِa banner
ضياؤك في رايةٍ أو لواءِ
The riders have no desire—guided as they are by
In everything we found disagreement,
your radiance—for a standard or banner.
Yet in you we saw no contention for them.
لكto you الخيرُgoodness منas a قائلٍspeaker فاعلٍdoer
لك الخيرُ من قائلٍ فاعلٍ
بنَىhe built بالمكارمِwith noble deeds أعلىَthe loftiest بِناءِedifice
بنَى بالمكارمِ أعلىَ بِناءِ
May good be yours, speaker and doer,
Therefore sincere devotion inclined to you
who built the loftiest edifice of noble deeds.
Until it halted at this courtyard.
نذرتَyou vowed إذاwhen نلتَyou attained هامَthe summits of الأموaffairs (first part)
نذرتَ إذا نلتَ هامَ الأمو
رaffairs (completion) أنthat لاnot تُوشَّحbe cloaked بالكِبرياءِin arrogance
ر أن لا تُوشَّح بالكِبرياءِ
You vowed, should you attain the summits of
Without you it would be like a swing
affairs, never to be cloaked in arrogance.
Swaying between dawn and evening:
فلوso if رِزقُthe fortune of نفسِكyour soul أمسىcame to be إليكin your hands
فلو رِزقُ نفسِك أمسى إليك
لماyou would not زدتَهاhave increased it فوقabove هذاthis السَّناءِeminence
لما زدتَها فوق هذا السَّناءِ
Were your own fortune entrusted to you,
If the north star ties it, the sun of the Haba'
you would not raise it beyond this eminence.
Tears it; if the sun ties it, the north star tears it.
ففيand in كلّevery شيءthing وجدناwe found مِراءًdisputation
ففي كلّ شيء وجدنا مِراءً
ولمand we did not نرsee فيكconcerning you لهمamong them منany مِراءِdispute
ولم نر فيك لهم من مِراءِ
In everything we have found disputation,
And how many yearnings I have in Baghdad
but no dispute among them concerning you.
Asking about your quarters - what are my lodgings?
لذلكfor that حنَّتyearned ٌَلوصىmy young she-camel (probably قلوصي) إليto
لذلك حنَّت ٌَلوصى إلي
كyou حتّىuntil أناختshe knelt بهذاin this الفِناءِcourtyard
ك حتّى أناخت بهذا الفِناءِ
Therefore my young she-camel yearned for
I said: a resident who fulfills wishes
you, until she knelt in this courtyard.
And unites wealth with song.
ولولاكand but for you كانتshe would have been كأُرجوحةٍlike a swing
ولولاك كانت كأُرجوحةٍ
تَقلقَلُrocks بينbetween الضّحَىlate morning والمَساءِand evening
تَقلقَلُ بين الضّحَى والمَساءِ
But for you she would have been like a swing,
With a magnificent man whose buckets in the sky
rocking between late morning and evening.
Follow his hand in the showers.
إذاwhen زمَّهاreins her نجمُthe star of ذاthis one بالشُّعاwith rays (first part)
إذا زمَّها نجمُ ذا بالشُّعا
عrays (completion) تخطُّمهاhalters her شمسُthe sun of ذاthat one بالهَباءِwith dust
ع تخطُّمها شمسُ ذا بالهَباءِ
When this one's star reins her with its rays,
When the pens compete, his palms
that one's sun halters her with dust.
Suffice over both, wading into blood.
وكمand many ليI have ببغدادَin Baghdad منa كاشحenemy
وكم لي ببغدادَ من كاشح
يسائلquestions فيin ربعكمyour abode ماwhat ثَوائىّmy stay
يسائل في ربعكم ما ثَوائىّ
Many an enemy have I in Baghdad,
The leaders called him "chieftain" through him,
questioning my stay in your abode.
And that was from their severity and peace.
فقلتso I said مقيمٌstaying يجيبُanswering المنَىwishes
فقلت مقيمٌ يجيبُ المنَى
ويجمعand combining بينbetween الغِنىwealth والغَناءِand sufficiency
ويجمع بين الغِنى والغَناءِ
I said: 'I stay, answering my desires,
After trials they praised his traits
and combining wealth with sufficiency,
And praise comes after tribulation.
لدىbeside ماجدٍa noble man دلُوهhis bucket فيin السماgenerosity (first part)
لدى ماجدٍ دلُوه في السما
حِgenerosity (completion) تتْبعُهاfollows it يدُهhis hand فيalong الرَّشاءِthe rope
حِ تتْبعُها يدُه في الرَّشاءِ
beside a noble man, whose bucket in generosity
May God water your house with the water of bliss
his hand follows along the rope.'
And embroider it with the gardens of splendor!
إذاwhen خاصتwaded (probably خاضت) النِّقسَink أقلامهُhis pens
إذا خاصت النِّقسَ أقلامهُ
كَفَيْنthey spared الذوابلَslender spears خوضَwading into الدّماءِblood
كَفَيْن الذوابلَ خوضَ الدّماءِ
When his pens wade in ink,
May cups of joy always circle around you,
they spare slender spears from wading in blood.
Drawing from plentiful meadows.
دعاsummoned الرؤساءُthe chiefs زعيماًas a leader بهhim
دعا الرؤساءُ زعيماً به
فكانso he was لشدّتهمfor their hardship والرَّخاءِand ease
فكان لشدّتهم والرَّخاءِ
The chiefs summoned him as a leader,
You were congratulated for feast and festival,
and he was theirs in hardship and ease.
Both prospered by one greeting with delight.
وبعدَand after التجاربtrials قدindeed أحمَدواthey found praiseworthy
وبعدَ التجارب قد أحمَدوا
سجاياهhis character traits والحمدُand praise بعدafter البلاءِtesting
سجاياه والحمدُ بعد البلاءِ
After trials they found
We found them to be as you love
his character praiseworthy—and praise comes after testing.
And as you desire with sincerity of prayer.
سقَىmay water اللهُGod دارَكyour house ماءَwith the water of النعيمbliss
سقَى اللهُ دارَك ماءَ النعيم
وطرَّزهاand embroider it برياضwith gardens of البهاءِsplendor
وطرَّزها برياض البهاءِ
May God water your house with the water of bliss,
and embroider it with gardens of splendor.
ودارتand may circle عليكaround you كئوسُthe cups of السروjoy (first part)
ودارت عليك كئوسُ السرو
رjoy (completion) يَغرِفنَthey draw منfrom مُترَعاتٍbrimful vessels مِلاءِfull
ر يَغرِفنَ من مُترَعاتٍ مِلاءِ
May cups of joy circle about you,
drawing from brimful, brimming vessels.
وهُنئتَand may you be blessed بالعيدِat Eid والمِهرجانِand Mihrajan
وهُنئتَ بالعيدِ والمِهرجانِ
وسعدُهماand their good fortune سائقٌa driver بالهناءِbringing happiness
وسعدُهما سائقٌ بالهناءِ
May you be blessed at Eid and Mihrajan,
their good fortune driving happiness to you.
وجَدناهماwe found them both فَعَلاhave done ماwhat تحبُّyou love
وجَدناهما فَعَلا ما تحبُّ
وماand what تبتغيyou seek بخُلوصِwith the sincerity of الدُّعاءِprayer
وما تبتغي بخُلوصِ الدُّعاءِ
We found that both have done what you love,
and what you seek through sincere prayer.
Partial English translation: 122 of 130 Arabic lines translated.