ياah رُبَّmany a ليلٍnight عَطِرِfragrant الأَرْدانِthe sleeves
يا رُبَّ ليلٍ عَطِرِ الأَرْدانِ
مِنْfrom نسِمthe breezes of النرَّجسِnarcissus والسُّوسانِand lilies
مِنْ نسِم النرَّجسِ والسُّوسانِ
Ah, many a night with fragrant sleeves,
O Lord of the fragrant night,
from the breezes of narcissus and lilies,
With the breeze of narcissus and lily,
كأنَّماas though أَنْجُمهits stars الدَّوانيthe low-hanging
كأنَّما أَنْجُمه الدَّواني
فيin أُفِقْهِits sky رَوْضةُa meadow of أقْحُوانdaisies
في أُفِقْهِ رَوْضةُ أقْحُوان
as though its low-hanging stars
As if its stars are the lights of lanterns
were a meadow of daisies in its sky.
In a horizon, a garden of basil.
باتتshe spent the night بهin it ساقِيَّتيmy female cupbearer نَدْمانيmy drinking companion
باتت به ساقِيَّتي نَدْماني
وباتand was through the night رَيَّاthe fragrance of رِيحِهاher scent رَيْحانيmy basil
وبات رَيَّا رِيحِها رَيْحاني
There my cupbearer spent the night as my drinking companion,
My two cups have spent the night sorrowful,
and the sweetness of her scent was my basil.
And the scent of its wind spent the night perfumed,
حتَّىuntil إذاwhen امتدَّتstretched out يدُthe hand of الإدجانِdarkness
حتَّى إذا امتدَّت يدُ الإدجانِ
والْتَحَفَand wrapped itself الجوّthe sky بطَيْلَسانin a shawl
والْتَحَفَ الجوّ بطَيْلَسان
Until, when the hand of darkness stretched out,
Until the hand of night stretched out
and the sky wrapped itself in a shawl,
And darkness covered the atmosphere,
وأَشبَهَand resembled الهلالُthe crescent نِصفَhalf of جانa serpent
وأَشبَهَ الهلالُ نِصفَ جان
قامتshe stood up كماas قامstood قضِيبُa bough of بانِa bān tree
قامت كما قام قضِيبُ بانِ
and the crescent resembled half a serpent,
And the crescent resembled half a goblet,
she stood upright like a bān-tree bough,
She arose as the erect spear arises,
ظاهرةَshowing المِنْديلthe headcloth والخَفتانand the caftan
ظاهرةَ المِنْديل والخَفتان
فيin هيئةِthe guise of المُرْدِthe beardless منamong الغِلْمانِthe boys
في هيئةِ المُرْدِ من الغِلْمانِ
her headcloth and caftan showing,
Revealing the handkerchief and the slippers,
in the guise of beardless boys:
In the stance of the well-built young men.
شاطرةroguish ساحرةbewitching اللِّسانof tongue
شاطرة ساحرة اللِّسان
ترفَّعتْshe held herself above عنfrom شَبَهِresemblance to النِّسْوانwomen
ترفَّعتْ عن شَبَهِ النِّسْوان
roguish, with a bewitching tongue.
A mischievous, charming speaker,
She disdained looking like women,
She rose above the semblance of women,
وعنand above خِضابِdyeing الكفّthe palm والبَنانand fingertips
وعن خِضابِ الكفّ والبَنان
واعتقلتْand she couched عَواليَthe tall shafts of المراّنِashwood lances
واعتقلتْ عَواليَ المراّنِ
and dye upon palm and fingertips,
And the henna on palms and fingers,
and couched tall ashwood lances:
And she wore men’s accessories,
زِيَّthe garb of شُجاعٍa brave man ولِقَاand the encounter of جبَانِa coward
زِيَّ شُجاعٍ ولِقَا جبَانِ
حتَّىuntil إذاwhen ماindeed دارتِcirculated الكأْسانِthe two cups
حتَّى إذا ما دارتِ الكأْسانِ
a brave man's garb, yet timid when confronted.
Dressed like a brave or a coward man,
Until, when the two cups circulated,
Until when the cups are passed around,
وارتفَعand rang out المَثْلَثُthe third lute-string والمَثانيand the second lute-strings
وارتفَع المَثْلَثُ والمَثاني
وحُثَّتand were urged along الأَقداحُthe goblets بالأَغانيby songs
وحُثَّت الأَقداحُ بالأَغاني
and the third and second lute-strings rang out,
And the triangles and zills rose,
and songs urged the goblets onward,
And the glasses were stirred with songs,
وشيّعتْهاand accompanied them نَغَمُthe melodies of القيانِthe singing girls
وشيّعتْها نَغَمُ القيانِ
والتَفتَand turned النَّشْوانُthe tipsy drinker للنَّشْوانِtoward the tipsy drinker
والتَفتَ النَّشْوانُ للنَّشْوانِ
and singing girls' melodies accompanied them,
Accompanied by the tunes of the lutes,
and one tipsy drinker turned toward the other,
And the singers turned to the singers,
بتناwe spent the night ضَجيعَينtwo bedfellows علىin مكانِone place
بتنا ضَجيعَين على مكانِ
ومالتِand leaned السَّكْرَىthe drunken woman علىupon السَّكْرانِthe drunken man
ومالتِ السَّكْرَى على السَّكْرانِ
we spent the night as bedfellows in one place.
We two remained laying in our places,
The drunken woman leaned upon the drunken man,
And drunkenness leaned toward the drunkards,
واختَلَطاand the two mingled بالضَّمّin embracing والتَّدانيand drawing near
واختَلَطا بالضَّمّ والتَّداني
لَفَّthe entwining of الصَّباthe east wind الأغصانَthe boughs بالأَغصانwith boughs
لَفَّ الصَّبا الأغصانَ بالأَغصان
and the two mingled in embraces and nearness,
And we mingled with cuddling and hugging.
as the east wind entwines boughs with boughs.
The morning breeze wrapped the branches around the branches.
ياah لكfor you منof نَوْمَيa drowsy woman ومنand of نَوْمانِa drowsy man
يا لك من نَوْمَي ومن نَوْمانِ
عُلاَّboth were plied again بِصرْفٍwith unmixed wine منfrom دَمthe blood of الدِّنانِthe wine jars
عُلاَّ بِصرْفٍ من دَم الدِّنانِ
Ah, what a drowsy woman and drowsy man!
What a sleep of mine, and what a slumber!
Both were plied again with unmixed blood from the wine jars,
Spending the night intoxicated with wine,
فاضطجَعاthen both lay down مَيْتَيْنtwo dead bodies فيat أَوانِa time
فاضطجَعا مَيْتَيْن في أَوانِ
واندَرَجاand both were enfolded للوَرْدِfor the roses فيin أكفانshrouds
واندَرَجا للوَرْدِ في أكفان
then lay down, two dead bodies at that hour,
We fell dead at that time,
and were enfolded in the roses' shrouds.
And rolled into rose petals in our shrouds.
لوif نُبِّهاboth were roused قاماboth would rise يحدِّثانِtelling
لو نُبِّها قاما يحدِّثانِ
عنof عَجَبthe wonders of الفِرْدَوْسParadise والجِنانand the gardens
عن عَجَب الفِرْدَوْس والجِنان
Had they been roused, they would have risen to tell
If awakened, we would have talked,
of the wonders of Paradise and its gardens.
About the wonders of Paradise and the gardens,
وكمand how often سَبقتُI outstripped الصبحَthe dawn غيرَnot وانِflagging
وكم سَبقتُ الصبحَ غيرَ وانِ
عندat مَمِيلthe inclination of الجَدْيCapricorn والمِيزانِand Libra
عند مَمِيل الجَدْي والمِيزانِ
And how often I outstripped dawn, unflagging,
And how often I preceded dawn while stable and balanced,
when Capricorn and Libra inclined,
At the inclination of the bucket and the scale,
والفجرُwhile dawn يَحكيresembles ذَنبَthe tail of السِّرْحانthe wolf
والفجرُ يَحكي ذَنبَ السِّرْحان
بِأكلُبٍwith hounds تَمرَحfrisking فيon الأَشْطَانthe leashes
بِأكلُبٍ تَمرَح في الأَشْطَان
while dawn resembled a wolf's tail,
And dawn tells the tale of the hunting falcon,
with hounds frisking on their leashes,
With dogs frolicking in the meadows,
صَوادقِunerring الألحاظin their glances والأجفانand eyelids
صَوادقِ الألحاظ والأجفان
تَجمعthey bring together فيin الَعدْوِrunning مِنthrough الإمعانheadlong speed
تَجمع في الَعدْوِ مِن الإمعان
unerring of glance and eyelid,
Truthful glances and eyelids,
bringing together in their headlong running
Gathering in running with exertion,
بينbetween شَبَاthe sharp tips of الأظفارthe claws والآذانand the ears
بين شَبَا الأظفار والآذان
مختلفاتvaried الصِّبْغin coat فيin الألوانcolors
مختلفات الصِّبْغ في الألوان
the tips of their claws and their ears.
With the claws and ears,
Their coats varied in color:
Variegated in colors,
مِنincluding فاقعbrilliant الصُّفْرةyellow كالعِقْيانlike pure gold
مِن فاقع الصُّفْرة كالعِقْيان
وأبلَقٍand a piebald يَجمعُهcombine in it لَوْنانtwo colors
وأبلَقٍ يَجمعُه لَوْنان
one brilliantly yellow, like pure gold,
Golden yellow like chicks,
and a piebald combining two colors,
And piebald with two colors,
وحالكٍand a jet-black one نُقْبَتُهits coat يَقْظانِalert
وحالكٍ نُقْبَتُه يَقْظانِ
كأنّماas though الساعدُthe foreleg منهof it اثنانwere two
كأنّما الساعدُ منه اثنان
and an alert one whose coat was pitch-black,
And dark brown with watchful eyes,
as though its foreleg were two:
As if its forearm was double,
خاليhollow الحَشاof belly مجتمعcompact الجُثْمانof body
خالي الحَشا مجتمع الجُثْمان
ساميlofty الجِرِشَّىof spirit يَقِظِalert الجنَانِof heart
سامي الجِرِشَّى يَقِظِ الجنَانِ
hollow-bellied, compact of body,
Smooth flanked and stout bodied,
lofty of spirit, vigilant of heart,
Tall, awakening the heavens,
كأنّas though فيin فيهits mouth منamong الأسنانthe teeth
كأنّ في فيه من الأسنان
كلَّevery حُسامٍsword صارمٍsharp يمانيYemeni
كلَّ حُسامٍ صارمٍ يماني
as though among the teeth in its mouth
As if its mouth had the teeth
were every sharp, cutting Yemeni sword.
Of every unsheathed Yemeni sword,
يَختالُit struts فيin المَشْيwalking اختيالَthe strut of الرّانيthe gazer
يَختالُ في المَشْي اختيالَ الرّاني
لاnot تَسِمُmark التُّربَthe soil لهof its رِجْلانِtwo hind feet
لا تَسِمُ التُّربَ له رِجْلانِ
It struts as it walks, like a watchful gazer;
Strutting in its walk like a beautiful gazelle,
its two hind feet leave no mark on the soil,
Dust does not touch its legs,
كأنّماas though يخطوit steps علىon صَوَّانِflint
كأنّما يخطو على صَوَّانِ
يَملكِit captures ماwhatever يُدرَكcan be perceived بالعِيانِby sight
يَملكِ ما يُدرَك بالعِيانِ
as though it were stepping on flint.
As if it walks on carpets,
It captures whatever can be seen,
It possesses what is seen by the eye,
كأنَّهas though it were نادرةُthe marvel of الزّمانthe age
كأنَّه نادرةُ الزّمان
حتىuntil إذاwhen أَصْحَرَit entered open ground فيin المَيْدَانthe field
حتى إذا أَصْحَرَ في المَيْدَان
as though it were the marvel of the age.
As if it is the rarity of time,
Then, when it reached the open field,
Until when it raced in the battlefield,
عَنَّappeared لهbefore it عَشْرٌten منof الغِزْلانthe gazelles
عَنَّ له عَشْرٌ من الغِزْلان
بينamong الرُّباthe hills والكُثْبِand the dunes والقِيعانِand the plains
بين الرُّبا والكُثْبِ والقِيعانِ
ten gazelles appeared before it
Ten virgins were displayed for it,
among hills, dunes, and level plains.
Between coquetry, leaping, and running,
فانسابَthen it glided forth يَبغيseeking فُرصةَthe opportunity of الإمكانpossibility
فانسابَ يَبغي فُرصةَ الإمكان
كالبَرْقlike lightning فيamid مُغْلَوْلِبٍcoiling جِنّانserpents
كالبَرْق في مُغْلَوْلِبٍ جِنّان
It glided forth, seeking a possible opening,
It flowed seeking the opportunity,
like lightning amid coiling serpents,
Like lightning in gathered clouds,
أسرَعَquicker فيin التَّحريكmovement والإسْكانand stopping
أسرَعَ في التَّحريك والإسْكان
منthan أَنمُلthe fingers of الحُسّابthe accountants فيin الدّيوانthe bureau
من أَنمُل الحُسّاب في الدّيوان
quicker in movement and stopping
Faster in motion and stillness
than accountants' fingers in the bureau,
Than the ant moving in the registry,
كأنّهas though it were حِدّةُthe fierceness of أُفعُوانِa serpent
كأنّه حِدّةُ أُفعُوانِ
وأَرْسَلَand released الصَّقْرَيْنthe two falcons قانصانِtwo hunters
وأَرْسَلَ الصَّقْرَيْن قانصانِ
as though it were a serpent's fierceness itself.
As if it is the sharpness of snakes,
And two hunters released the two falcons,
And it released the two hawking falcons,
فَحلَّقَاthen both soared فيin الجَوِّthe air يَعْلُوانِrising
فَحلَّقَا في الجَوِّ يَعْلُوانِ
حتىuntil إذاwhen ساواهماdrew level with them كَلبانtwo hounds
حتى إذا ساواهما كَلبان
which soared aloft, rising in the air.
They flew high in the air,
Until, when two hounds drew level with them,
Until when two dogs equaled them,
صوّبswooped هَذانthese two وكَرّand charged ذَانِthose two
صوّب هَذان وكَرّ ذَانِ
كماas التقَىmet فيin الزَّحْفbattle فَيْلقَانِtwo battalions
كما التقَى في الزَّحْف فَيْلقَانِ
these two swooped, and those two charged,
It aimed them and attacked those two,
as two battalions meet in battle.
As the armies clash in battle,
وارتَفَعand rose القَسْطَلthe dust كالدُّخَانِlike smoke
وارتَفَع القَسْطَل كالدُّخَانِ
وارتجّتand reverberated الأصواتُthe cries بالإرنانِwith ringing
وارتجّت الأصواتُ بالإرنانِ
Dust rose like smoke,
And spears rose like smoke,
and cries reverberated with their ringing,
And voices were raised with the clanking of spears,
وحانand drew near حَيْنُthe doom of الظَّبيْthe gazelle والأَتانِand the wild she-ass
وحان حَيْنُ الظَّبيْ والأَتانِ
واهاًah لهfor it مِنْwhat a طَرَدٍchase مُعانِassisted
واهاً له مِنْ طَرَدٍ مُعانِ
and the doom of gazelle and wild she-ass was at hand.
And it was time for the deer and camels,
Ah, what a chase, assisted
Woe to it from a tiring raid,
بكلّby every طرْفٍnoble steed سابحٍswimming in its gait حِصانِstallion
بكلّ طرْفٍ سابحٍ حِصانِ
يَخْطوit steps علىon أربعةٍfour مِتانِsturdy ones
يَخْطو على أربعةٍ مِتانِ
by every noble stallion, swimming in its stride,
With every swimming tip a horse,
stepping on four sturdy legs,
Stepping with four pillars,
متَّسِعِbroad المَنْخِرof nostril واللَّبانِand chest
متَّسِعِ المَنْخِر واللَّبانِ
ممزوجةٍmingled كَمْتَتُهُits bay coloring بثانِwith a second shade
ممزوجةٍ كَمْتَتُهُ بثانِ
broad of nostril and chest,
With wide nostrils and incisors,
its bay coloring mingled with a second shade
Its body dappled with scattered white,
منof البيَاضwhiteness اليَقَقdazzling الهِجانpure
من البيَاض اليَقَق الهِجان
فاحمرّso turned red أعلاهits upper body إلىdown to السِّيقانthe shanks
فاحمرّ أعلاه إلى السِّيقان
of pure, dazzling white.
So its upper part is red to the flanks,
Its upper body was red down to its shanks,
And its hands and legs are white,
وابيضّتand turned white اليدانthe two forelegs والرِّجْلانand the two hind legs
وابيضّت اليدان والرِّجْلان
والوجهُand the face ثمthen اسودّتturned black العَيْنانthe two eyes
والوجهُ ثم اسودّت العَيْنان
and its forelegs and hind legs were white,
While its face, then its eyes turned black,
and its face; then its two eyes were black.
It is the garden of the beautiful gazelle,
فهوso it is رِياضُgardens الحَدَقthe eyes الرَّوانيgazing
فهو رِياضُ الحَدَق الرَّواني
شَعْرٌhair صَقيلٌpolished وأَديمand a hide قانيcrimson
شَعْرٌ صَقيلٌ وأَديم قاني
So it is a garden for gazing eyes:
Smooth haired and soft skinned,
sleek hair and a crimson hide,
As if there is the flame of fire in it,
كأنّas though فيهwithin it لَهَبَthe flames of النِّيرانِfires
كأنّ فيه لَهَبَ النِّيرانِ
مُقابَلٌwell-bred on both sides يَمرَحfrisking فيat العِنانِthe rein
مُقابَلٌ يَمرَح في العِنانِ
as though the flames of fire were within it.
Opposing, frolicking with the bridle,
Nobly bred on both sides, frisking at the rein,
More confident in composition than a building,
أوثَقَmore solid فيin التركيبconstruction منْthan بُنْيانa building
أوثَقَ في التركيب منْ بُنْيان
كأنّماas though يداهits two forelegs طائرانwere two birds
كأنّما يداه طائران
more solid in construction than a building,
As if its hands are two birds,
as though its forelegs were two birds,
The motive connected to darkness,
مرتبطbound الحافزthe drive بالظِّلْمانto male ostriches
مرتبط الحافز بالظِّلْمان
وبالمَهَاand to oryx والأُتْنand wild she-asses فيin الغِيطانِthe lowlands
وبالمَهَا والأُتْن في الغِيطانِ
its drive bound to male ostriches,
And panic and refuge in the valleys,
and to oryx and wild she-asses in the lowlands,
Like the connection of words to meanings,
مثلَlike ارتباطthe bond of اللَّفظwords بالمعانيwith meanings
مثلَ ارتباط اللَّفظ بالمعاني
طِرْفَthe steed of العزيزِal-Aziz الملِكthe king المَنّانthe bountiful
طِرْفَ العزيزِ الملِك المَنّان
as words are bound to meanings:
The gaze of the mighty king,
the steed of al-Aziz, the bountiful king,
And its horses raced for betting,
وخَيْلُهand his horses السُّبَّقthe front-runners للرِّهانin the race
وخَيْلُه السُّبَّق للرِّهان
كلُّevery جَوادٍcharger ثابتfirm الأركانof limb
كلُّ جَوادٍ ثابت الأركان
and his horses, foremost in the race.
Each steady and stable steed
Every charger is firm of limb,
More intelligent when moved than a human,
أذْكَىkeener إذاwhen حُرِّكurged on منthan إِنْسانِa human
أذْكَى إذا حُرِّك من إِنْسانِ
ضَوامِنٌguaranteeing فيin الرَّوعterror للفُرْسانto the riders
ضَوامِنٌ في الرَّوع للفُرْسان
keener than a human when urged on.
Deterrents of fear for the horsemen,
In moments of terror, they guarantee their riders
Leaving the far as the near intimate,
تَرْكَleaving الأَقاصيthe farthest reaches كالقريبlike the near الدّانيclose at hand
تَرْكَ الأَقاصي كالقريب الدّاني
كأنهمْas though they منهاby means of them علىon عِقْبانِeagles
كأنهمْ منها على عِقْبانِ
to leave the farthest reaches as near as what is close at hand,
As if they are on its heels,
as though their riders were mounted on eagles.
O son of the religion and faith,
ياO بنson of معزِّMuʿizz, exalter of الدِّينreligion والإِيمانand faith
يا بن معزِّ الدِّين والإِيمان
وابنَand son of الملوكthe kings الشُّمِّthe lofty مِنfrom عَدْنانAdnan
وابنَ الملوك الشُّمِّ مِن عَدْنان
O son of Muʿizz, exalter of religion and faith,
And son of kings of glorious Adnan,
and son of the lofty kings descended from Adnan,
And the noble Hashimites of high rank,
والهاشميِّينand the Hashimites العظامِgreat الشانِin stature
والهاشميِّين العظامِ الشانِ
ذويpossessors of المعاليhigh rank وذويand possessors of السلطانdominion
ذوي المعالي وذوي السلطان
and the Hashimites, great in stature,
With ascension and authority,
possessors of high rank and dominion,
And son of guidance, righteousness and the Criterion,
وابنand son of الهدىguidance والبِرّand piety والفُرْقانand the Criterion
وابن الهدى والبِرّ والفُرْقان
كمhow many مَرَّhave passed بينamid الضَّرْبblows والطِّعانand spear-thrusts
كم مَرَّ بين الضَّرْب والطِّعان
and son of guidance, piety, and the Criterion:
How many times between striking and stabbing
how often, amid blows and spear-thrusts,
Were days of war in which you chose
منof يومِa day of حربٍwar لكfor you أرْوَنانِtumultuous
من يومِ حربٍ لك أرْوَنانِ
آثَرْتَyou preferred فيهin it طاعةَobedience to الرّحمانthe All-Merciful
آثَرْتَ فيه طاعةَ الرّحمان
has a tumultuous day of war passed for you,
Obedience to the Merciful,
in which you chose obedience to the All-Merciful,
Until you supported the law of the Quran,
حتىuntil نصرتَyou championed شِرْعةَthe law of القرآنthe Qur'an
حتى نصرتَ شِرْعةَ القرآن
نصرَas the championing of علىٍّAli جَدِّكyour ancestor الدَّيّانِthe devout
نصرَ علىٍّ جَدِّك الدَّيّانِ
until you championed the law of the Qur'an,
Supporting your ancestor the Judge
as Ali, your devout ancestor, championed
For the religion at Badr over idols,
للدِّينfor religion فيat بَدْرٍBadr علىagainst الأوثانthe idols
للدِّين في بَدْرٍ على الأوثان
لولاكwithout you كانwould have been الناسpeople كالعميانlike the blind
لولاك كان الناس كالعميان
religion against the idols at Badr.
Were it not for you, people would be blind,
Without you, people would have been like the blind,
And Islam would be disgraced,
وأصبحand would have become الإسلامُIslam كالمُهانِlike one humiliated
وأصبح الإسلامُ كالمُهانِ
وارتجعand would have reverted المعروفُgoodness كالبهتانlike falsehood
وارتجع المعروفُ كالبهتان
and Islam would have become as one humiliated,
And good would revert to falsehood,
and goodness would have reverted to something like falsehood,
And the innocent would be tortured with deprivation.
وعُذِّبand would have been tormented العافُونseekers of bounty بالحِرْمانby denial
وعُذِّب العافُون بالحِرْمان
ياO غايةَthe goal of العافيthe seeker وفَكّand release of العانيthe captive
يا غايةَ العافي وفَكّ العاني
and seekers of bounty would have been tormented by denial.
O peak of health, untying knots,
O goal of the seeker and release of the captive,
And shining star, and aid of the distressed,
وكوكبَand star of الساريthe night traveler وغَوْثَand refuge of الجانيthe offender
وكوكبَ الساري وغَوْثَ الجاني
عادتbecame again بكthrough you الأيّامُthe days كالغَوانيlike beautiful women
عادت بك الأيّامُ كالغَواني
and star of the night traveler, refuge of the offender:
With you days have returned flourishing,
through you the days have become like beautiful women,
Passing between beauty and benevolence,
يَخْطِرْنthey saunter بينbetween الحُسْنbeauty والإحسانand beneficence
يَخْطِرْن بين الحُسْن والإحسان
وأصبحand has become المُلْكُthe kingdom قليلَhaving few الشانيdetractors
وأصبح المُلْكُ قليلَ الشاني
sauntering between beauty and beneficence.
And the kingdom has become insignificant of its detractors,
The kingdom now has few detractors,
Vast in meaning, towering in buildings,
رَحْبَspacious المَغانيin dwellings مُشْرِفَlofty المبَانيin buildings
رَحْبَ المَغاني مُشْرِفَ المبَاني
عَفَوْتَyou pardoned حتّىeven عنwith regard to ذويthose guilty of العِصْيانdisobedience
عَفَوْتَ حتّى عن ذوي العِصْيان
with broad dwellings and lofty buildings.
You pardoned even the disobedient,
You have pardoned even the disobedient,
And refrained even from the aggressive,
ولنْتَand you were gentle حتّىeven لذويtoward those of العُدْوانaggression
ولنْتَ حتّى لذوي العُدْوان
سياسةًa policy بيّنةَevident الرُّجْحانin superiority
سياسةً بيّنةَ الرُّجْحان
and been gentle even toward aggressors,
With clear, evident wisdom,
in a policy plainly superior,
Mixed with severity and leniency,
مخلوطةmingled الشِّدّةseverity باللِّيانwith gentleness
مخلوطة الشِّدّة باللِّيان
والخَلقand creation منthrough عدلكyour justice فيin أمانِsafety
والخَلق من عدلك في أمانِ
mingling severity with gentleness.
And people are safe from your justice,
Through your justice, creation is secure;
You prevented them from the sorrows of grudges,
منعتَهمْyou protected them مِنfrom إحَنthe rancors of الأضْغانgrudges
منعتَهمْ مِن إحَن الأضْغان
بِسيرةٍthrough conduct راجحةweighty المِيزانِin the balance
بِسيرةٍ راجحة المِيزانِ
you have protected them from the rancor of grudges,
With conduct weighing heavy on the scale,
by conduct weighty in the balance,
And wisdom with clear proof,
وحكمةٍand wisdom واضحةِclear البُرْهانin proof
وحكمةٍ واضحةِ البُرْهان
فكلُّso everyone منwho والاكbefriended you فيin غُنْيانِabundance
فكلُّ من والاك في غُنْيانِ
and wisdom whose proof is clear.
So every ally of yours enjoys abundance,
Thus all who ally themselves with you enjoy abundance,
And every opponent of yours loses,
وكلُّand everyone مَنwho عاداكopposed you فيin خُسْرانloss
وكلُّ مَن عاداك في خُسْران
ياO منthe one who بهthrough him أَدفعُI ward off ماwhat دَهانيhas befallen me
يا من به أَدفعُ ما دَهاني
and all who oppose you suffer loss.
O you through whom I repel what harms me,
O you through whom I ward off what has befallen me,
And through whom I aspired over planets,
ومَنand the one who بهthrough him طُلْتُI towered علىabove كِيوانِKaywan (Saturn)
ومَن به طُلْتُ على كِيوانِ
متىwhen أؤَدّيshall I render شكَرthanks to منthe one who كَفانيmet my needs
متى أؤَدّي شكَر من كَفاني
and through whom I tower over Kaywan (Saturn),
When will I fulfill gratitude to one who sufficed me,
when shall I render thanks to the one who has met my needs,
And favoured me with affection and chose me,
وخصّنيand singled me out بالوُدِّfor affection واصطفانيand chose me
وخصّني بالوُدِّ واصطفاني
ومنand the one who بنُعمَىwith the bounty of فضلِهhis favor حَبانيgifted me
ومن بنُعمَى فضلِه حَباني
singled me out for affection and chosen me,
And from whose grace he gifted me,
who has granted me the bounty of his favor,
And from whose protection he shepherds me,
ومنand the one who بعينِwith the eye of حِفظِهِhis protection يرعانيwatches over me
ومن بعينِ حِفظِهِ يرعاني
فيin السِرّthe secrecy مِنof نَجْواهhis private counsel والإعلانِand public declaration
في السِرّ مِن نَجْواه والإعلانِ
and watches over me with his protecting eye,
Secretly through his whispers and publicly,
in his secret confidences and in public,
And he who when he sees me, brings me near,
ومنand the one who إذاwhen أبصَرَنيhe sees me أدْنانيdraws me near
ومن إذا أبصَرَني أدْناني
ومَنand the one who إذاwhen سألتُهI ask him أرضانيpleases me
ومَن إذا سألتُه أرضاني
who draws me near whenever he sees me,
And he whom when I ask, pleases me,
and pleases me whenever I ask him,
As if he is a loving father to me,
كأنّهas though he were أبٌa father عليَّtoward me حانيtender
كأنّه أبٌ عليَّ حاني
ومَنand the one who بهthrough him سعادتيmy happiness تغْشانيenfolds me
ومَن به سعادتي تغْشاني
as though he were a father tender toward me,
And through whom my happiness overwhelms me,
through whom my happiness enfolds me?
Were it not for him, I would not have attained my hopes,
لولاهwithout him ماnot نِلْتُI attained مَدَىthe extent of الأمانيwishes
لولاه ما نِلْتُ مَدَى الأماني
ولاand not احتلَبْتُI milked دِرّةَthe flowing milk of الزّمانtime
ولا احتلَبْتُ دِرّةَ الزّمان
Without him I would not have reached the farthest bounds of my wishes,
Nor milked the pearl of time,
nor milked the flowing bounty of time.
O best hope and source of help,
ياO خيرَbest of مَرْجُوٍّone hoped in ومستعانِand one sought for help
يا خيرَ مَرْجُوٍّ ومستعانِ
عليكَon you فيin كلِّevery ثأىًcalamity تُكْلانيmy reliance
عليكَ في كلِّ ثأىً تُكْلاني
O best of those hoped in and sought for help,
Upon you I rely in every absence,
on you I rely in every calamity;
You are my request and through you my riches,
وأنتand you سَؤليmy desire وبِكand through you ازديانيmy adornment
وأنت سَؤلي وبِك ازدياني
وهاكَهاand here it is for you واضحةَclear التِّبْيانin exposition
وهاكَها واضحةَ التِّبْيان
you are my desire, and through you my adornment.
It appeared in the morning in the form of clouds,
Here it is for you, clear in its expression:
Non-existent, the miracle of existence,
بِكراًa virgin بدتshe appeared فيin هيئةِthe guise of الغوانيlovely women
بِكراً بدت في هيئةِ الغواني
معدومةًnonexistent معجزَةmiraculous الكيانin being
معدومةً معجزَة الكيان
a virgin, appearing in the guise of lovely women,
Too narrow for it the perceptions of minds.
once nonexistent, miraculous in its being,
تَضِيقis too narrow عنهاfor it سَعَةُthe breadth of الأذهانminds
تَضِيق عنها سَعَةُ الأذهان
beyond even the vastness of minds to contain.
Partial English translation: 143 of 145 Arabic lines translated.