أَأَسكُت عَن مَولى الوَرى أَم أُعاتِبُه

أَأَسكُت عَن مَولى الوَرى أَم أُعاتِبُه

وَأُهمِلُ وَعدِي عِندَهُ أَم أُطالِبُهْ

وَأُهمِلُ وَعدِي عِندَهُ أَم أُطالِبُهْ

Shall I keep silent about the lord of mankind, or reproach him?

Shall I be silent about the Master of the worlds or blame him,

And neglect the promise I hold from him, or demand its fulfillment?

And neglect my promise with him or demand it?

أَراني بِأَدنى مَطلَبٍ هُنتُ عِندَهُ

أَراني بِأَدنى مَطلَبٍ هُنتُ عِندَهُ

وَقَد غَرَّقَت مَن لَيسَ مِثلي مَواهِبُهْ

وَقَد غَرَّقَت مَن لَيسَ مِثلي مَواهِبُهْ

I see myself held cheap by him for the slightest request,

Do I see myself with the slightest request humiliated by him

Though his gifts have inundated those who are not my equals.

While his gifts have drowned those unlike me?

أَترضى أَبا شُكرٍ بِسُحبِ غَمامَةٍ

أَترضى أَبا شُكرٍ بِسُحبِ غَمامَةٍ

لِمِثلي وَأَنتَ البَحرُ جاشَت غَوارِبُهْ

لِمِثلي وَأَنتَ البَحرُ جاشَت غَوارِبُهْ

Will you, Abu Shukr, settle for rain-bearing clouds

Are you pleased with Abu Shukr with drawing a small cloud

For one like me, when you are the sea whose wave-crests surge?

For the likes of me while you are the sea with its plunging ships?

أَلِلمدحِ أَم لِلبَيتِ أَم لِسوالِفٍ

أَلِلمدحِ أَم لِلبَيتِ أَم لِسوالِفٍ

عَلَت أَم لِوُدٍّ لَم يحُل عَنهُ صاحِبُهْ

عَلَت أَم لِوُدٍّ لَم يحُل عَنهُ صاحِبُهْ

Is it for praise, or for noble lineage, or for past deeds

Is it for praise or the house or for chitchat

That rose high, or for affection whose bearer never forsook it?

Exalted or for love from which its companion cannot be detached?

لِمَن تَذخَرُ المصرِيَّ يا اِبنَ مُحمَّدٍ

لِمَن تَذخَرُ المصرِيَّ يا اِبنَ مُحمَّدٍ

وَكُلُّ جَوادٍ أَنتَ بِالسَّيفِ كاسِبُهْ

وَكُلُّ جَوادٍ أَنتَ بِالسَّيفِ كاسِبُهْ

For whom do you hoard Egyptian coinage, O son of Muhammad,

For whom do you hoard, O Egyptian, O Son of Muhammad

When every noble steed is yours to win by the sword?

While every generous one, by the sword you have defeated?

أَتَخشى هُجومَ الفَقرِ أَم تَطلُبُ الرِّضا

أَتَخشى هُجومَ الفَقرِ أَم تَطلُبُ الرِّضا

بِهِ مِن عَدُوٍّ أَنتَ إِن شِئتَ غالبُهْ

بِهِ مِن عَدُوٍّ أَنتَ إِن شِئتَ غالبُهْ

Do you fear poverty's assault, or seek approval

Do you fear the assault of poverty or seek satisfaction

With it from an enemy you could conquer if you wished?

With it from an enemy whom, if you wish, you could vanquish?

فَلا تَبخَلَن عَنّي بِما أَنا أَهلُهُ

فَلا تَبخَلَن عَنّي بِما أَنا أَهلُهُ

فَكُلُّ نَفيسٍ أَنتَ لا بُدَّ واهِبُهْ

فَكُلُّ نَفيسٍ أَنتَ لا بُدَّ واهِبُهْ

So do not withhold from me what I deserve,

So do not be miserly with me regarding what I deserve

For every precious thing you are bound to bestow.

For every precious thing, you must inevitably grant.

فَأجمَلُ ثَوبَيكَ الَّذي أَنا لابِسٌ

فَأجمَلُ ثَوبَيكَ الَّذي أَنا لابِسٌ

وَخَيرُ جَواديكَ الَّذي أَنا راكبُهْ

وَخَيرُ جَواديكَ الَّذي أَنا راكبُهْ

For the finer of your two robes is the one I wear,

So the finest of your clothes that I am wearing

And the better of your two steeds is the one I ride.

And the best of your steeds that I am riding.

وَلا تُرخِصِ الغالي وَقِف عِندَ قَدرِهِ

وَلا تُرخِصِ الغالي وَقِف عِندَ قَدرِهِ

وَقَوِّمهُ بِالأَوفى فَما اِغتَرَّ جالِبُهْ

وَقَوِّمهُ بِالأَوفى فَما اِغتَرَّ جالِبُهْ

Do not cheapen the precious; respect its worth,

And do not make the expensive one cheap, stop at its value,

And value it at the fullest price, for its bearer was not deceived.

And evaluate it with the most loyal, for the desirer was not tempted by it.

لعَمرُكَ ما مالُ الفَتى غَيرُ ما اِقتَنَت

لعَمرُكَ ما مالُ الفَتى غَيرُ ما اِقتَنَت

ذوو وُدِّهِ أَو وَفدُهُ أَو أَقارِبُهْ

ذوو وُدِّهِ أَو وَفدُهُ أَو أَقارِبُهْ

By your life, a man's wealth is only what has been acquired

By your life, the wealth of the youth is nothing but what

By his friends, his visiting guests, or his relatives.

His loved ones gained or his delegation or relatives.

أَتَحرِمُني ما أَنتَ مُعطيهِ كاشِحاً

أَتَحرِمُني ما أَنتَ مُعطيهِ كاشِحاً

عَدُوّاً طوالَ الدَّهرِ تَسري عَقارِبُهْ

عَدُوّاً طوالَ الدَّهرِ تَسري عَقارِبُهْ

Do you deny me what you give a spiteful man,

Will you deprive me of what you give abundantly to a deceitful enemy

An enemy whose scorpions creep throughout all time?

Whose tricks against me have persisted eternally?

وَلَو كُنتَ ذا بخلٍ عَذرتُ وَلَم أَفه

وَلَو كُنتَ ذا بخلٍ عَذرتُ وَلَم أَفه

بِحَرفٍ وَأَخفَيتُ الَّذي أَنا عاتِبُهْ

بِحَرفٍ وَأَخفَيتُ الَّذي أَنا عاتِبُهْ

Had you been miserly, I would have excused you and not spoken

Had you been miserly, I would have excused you and not said a word

A word, and would have concealed what I reproach.

And concealed what I blame you for.

وَلَم أُبدِ مِن نَفسي هلوعاً وَلَم أَقُم

وَلَم أُبدِ مِن نَفسي هلوعاً وَلَم أَقُم

مَقاماً مَضى عُمري وَإِنّي لَهائِبُهْ

مَقاماً مَضى عُمري وَإِنّي لَهائِبُهْ

Nor would I have shown myself panic-stricken, nor taken

I would not have shown despair nor taken

A stance I have dreaded all my life.

A stance - my life has passed and I am confused.

وَلَكِنَّكَ البَحرُ الَّذي كُلَّما طَما

وَلَكِنَّكَ البَحرُ الَّذي كُلَّما طَما

صَفا وَحَلَت لِلوارِدينَ مَشارِبُهْ

صَفا وَحَلَت لِلوارِدينَ مَشارِبُهْ

But you are the sea that, whenever it swells,

But you are the sea, the more cloudy it became

Grows clear, its drinking waters turning sweet for those who come.

The clearer it was for those arriving to drink.

فَيا اِبنَ المُلوكِ الصِّيدِ وَالذّروَةِ الَّتي

فَيا اِبنَ المُلوكِ الصِّيدِ وَالذّروَةِ الَّتي

لَها كاهِلُ المَجدِ المُعَلّى وَغارِبُهْ

لَها كاهِلُ المَجدِ المُعَلّى وَغارِبُهْ

So, son of proud kings and of the summit

So O son of Kings, of hunting and the prominence which

That possesses glory's exalted shoulder and crest,

Its shoulder of glorious elevation and its setting have.

أُعيذُكَ أَن تَرضى بِنَقصٍ لِماجِدٍ

أُعيذُكَ أَن تَرضى بِنَقصٍ لِماجِدٍ

طَويلِ عِمادِ البَيتِ مَحض ضَرائِبُهْ

طَويلِ عِمادِ البَيتِ مَحض ضَرائِبُهْ

I would shield you from accepting any slight to a noble man,

I implore you not to accept any deficiency of glorious deeds

Whose house has tall pillars, whose dispositions are pure.

The pillars of the house which are purely its earnings.

جُدودُكَ أَربابُ المَعالي جُدودُه

جُدودُكَ أَربابُ المَعالي جُدودُه

وَقاضِبُكَ المُهدي لَكَ العِزَّ قاضِبُهْ

وَقاضِبُكَ المُهدي لَكَ العِزَّ قاضِبُهْ

Your forefathers, lords of lofty deeds, are his forefathers,

Your ancestors, the masters of glories, his ancestors

And your blade that brings you glory is his blade.

And your ancestor the Guided One, may he bless you, cultivated it.

تَروحُ وَتَغدو بِالثَّناءِ عَلَيكمُ

تَروحُ وَتَغدو بِالثَّناءِ عَلَيكمُ

بِكُلِّ بِلادٍ خَيلُهُ وَنَجائِبُهْ

بِكُلِّ بِلادٍ خَيلُهُ وَنَجائِبُهْ

At evening and at dawn they carry praise of you

You roam night and day praising you

Throughout every land—his horses and noble riding-camels.

In every country, its horses and its ships.

فَكَم سارَ لي في مَدحِكُم مِن غَريبَةٍ

فَكَم سارَ لي في مَدحِكُم مِن غَريبَةٍ

تَروقُ وَأَغلى الشِعرِ مَهراً غَرائِبُهْ

تَروقُ وَأَغلى الشِعرِ مَهراً غَرائِبُهْ

And how many wondrous verses of mine have traveled in your praise,

So how much estranged poetry have I composed in praising you

Delighting; and poetry's rare marvels command the highest bride-price.

Exquisite, and the finest poetry most expensive in its intricacies.

بِلا مِنَّةٍ أَسدَيتُموها وَلا يَدٍ

بِلا مِنَّةٍ أَسدَيتُموها وَلا يَدٍ

إِليَّ وقَولُ المَرءِ أَسواهُ كاذِبُهْ

إِليَّ وقَولُ المَرءِ أَسواهُ كاذِبُهْ

Without a favor you had bestowed, or a kindness

Without any obligation you granted me, or any hand

To me—and a man's worst words are his lies.

Stretching out to help me, yet the saying of a man is most false.

بَلى إِنَّني قاسَيتُ فيكُم مَصائِباً

بَلى إِنَّني قاسَيتُ فيكُم مَصائِباً

تَهُدُّ القُوى إِذ أَدرَكَ الثَأرَ طالِبُهْ

تَهُدُّ القُوى إِذ أَدرَكَ الثَأرَ طالِبُهْ

Yes, I have endured calamities for your sake,

Yes, I have suffered tribulations in you

That shatter strength, when the seeker of vengeance attained it.

That would shake the resolute when the avenger grasped.

وَلَولا هَواكُم ما شَقيتُ وَلا غَدا

وَلَولا هَواكُم ما شَقيتُ وَلا غَدا

يَصُكُّ بِرِجلي القَيدَ مَن لا أُشاغِبُهْ

يَصُكُّ بِرِجلي القَيدَ مَن لا أُشاغِبُهْ

But for my love of you, I would not have suffered, nor would

Had it not been for passion towards you, I would not have suffered misery nor

One I never antagonized have hammered a shackle onto my leg.

Would shackles have chafed my legs by one I do not fight.

وَلا اِجتاحَتِ الأَعداءُ مالي وَلا اِنبَرى

وَلا اِجتاحَتِ الأَعداءُ مالي وَلا اِنبَرى

يُطاوِلُني مَن لَيسَ تُحصى مَعائِبُهْ

يُطاوِلُني مَن لَيسَ تُحصى مَعائِبُهْ

Nor would enemies have ravaged my wealth, nor would there have risen

Nor would enemies have seized my money nor would

To rival me a man whose faults cannot be counted.

He who has countless faults assail me.

وَلا نَبَحَت شَخصي كلابُ اِبنِ ماجِدٍ

وَلا نَبَحَت شَخصي كلابُ اِبنِ ماجِدٍ

غِلاباً ولا بالَت عَلَيَّ ثَعالِبُهْ

غِلاباً ولا بالَت عَلَيَّ ثَعالِبُهْ

Nor would Ibn Majid's dogs have barked at me

Nor would the dogs of the son of Majid have barked at me

In rivalry, nor his foxes have urinated on me.

Aggressively, nor would his calamities have afflicted me.

وَكانَ اِبن عَمّي دُنيَةً وَمَناسِبي

وَكانَ اِبن عَمّي دُنيَةً وَمَناسِبي

إِذا نَصَّتِ الأَنسابُ يَوماً مَناسِبُهْ

إِذا نَصَّتِ الأَنسابُ يَوماً مَناسِبُهْ

Yet he was my close paternal cousin, and my ancestral ties were—

The son of my uncle would have been a pillar and my compatriots

Whenever pedigrees were traced—the same as his.

If genealogy one day matched its compatriots.

فَلا تَرضَ لي غَيراً واِعلَم أَنّني

فَلا تَرضَ لي غَيراً واِعلَم أَنّني

غَيورٌ وَما ضاقَت بِمِثلي مَذاهِبُهْ

غَيورٌ وَما ضاقَت بِمِثلي مَذاهِبُهْ

So do not consent to another patron for me; know that I

So do not accept for me other than yourself, and know that I

Am jealous, and the paths of one like me have never narrowed.

Am jealous, and none like me can tolerate deviation.

فَأَنتَ الَّذي لَم يَبقَ إِلّاهُ سَيِّدٌ

فَأَنتَ الَّذي لَم يَبقَ إِلّاهُ سَيِّدٌ

نُناجيهِ في حاجاتِنا وَنُخاطِبُهْ

نُناجيهِ في حاجاتِنا وَنُخاطِبُهْ

For you are the only master who remains

You are the only master left whom we intimately address

For us to confide our needs to and to address.

Regarding our needs and speak to.

وَغَيرُكَ قَد عِفتُ الوُقوفَ بِبابِهِ

وَغَيرُكَ قَد عِفتُ الوُقوفَ بِبابِهِ

عَلانِيَةً فَليَرشمِ البابَ حاجِبُهْ

عَلانِيَةً فَليَرشمِ البابَ حاجِبُهْ

As for anyone but you, I have spurned standing at his door

As for others, I have refrained from standing openly at their doors

Openly; let his doorkeeper seal the door.

So let their doors be sealed by their guards.

وَقُلتُ لِعيسي نَكّبي كُلَّ مَورِدٍ

وَقُلتُ لِعيسي نَكّبي كُلَّ مَورِدٍ

مِنَ الأَجنِ يَزوي الوَجهَ وَالأَنفَ شارِبُهْ

مِنَ الأَجنِ يَزوي الوَجهَ وَالأَنفَ شارِبُهْ

And I told my pale camels: 'Avoid every watering place

And I said to Isa: “Avoid every deathly spring

Of stagnant water whose drinker wrinkles his face and nose.'

From hell that would quench the face and snout of its drinker.”

فَإِن يُنسَ لي في العُمرِ لَم يَبقَ مَأكَلٌ

فَإِن يُنسَ لي في العُمرِ لَم يَبقَ مَأكَلٌ

وَلا مَشرَبٌ إِلّا وَعِندي أَطايِبُهْ

وَلا مَشرَبٌ إِلّا وَعِندي أَطايِبُهْ

If my lifespan is prolonged, no food will remain,

For if I forget in this life, there would be no food left

Nor any drink, but I shall possess its choicest kinds.

Nor drink unless I had the finest of it.

لَقَد كُنتُ أَرجو مِنكَ يَوماً أَعُدُّهُ

لَقَد كُنتُ أَرجو مِنكَ يَوماً أَعُدُّهُ

لِمَولىً أُباهِيهِ وَخَصمٍ أُحارِبُهْ

لِمَولىً أُباهِيهِ وَخَصمٍ أُحارِبُهْ

I had hoped from you for a day I could count to my credit

I used to hope to have a day I prepare

Before a friend I vie with in glory, and a foe I fight.

For a master to boast to and a challenger to battle.

وَإِنَّكَ للَملكُ الَّذي تَسلُبُ العِدى

وَإِنَّكَ للَملكُ الَّذي تَسلُبُ العِدى

قَناهُ وَلَكِن جُودُهُ الغَمرُ سالِبُهْ

قَناهُ وَلَكِن جُودُهُ الغَمرُ سالِبُهْ

And you are indeed the king whose foes are despoiled

You are indeed the King who can deprive violence

By his spears, yet his overflowing generosity despoils him.

Of its canal, but his generosity is the one depriving it.

وَإِنّي بِمَدحي عَن سِواكَ لَراغِبٌ

وَإِنّي بِمَدحي عَن سِواكَ لَراغِبٌ

وَلَو باكَرتني كُلَّ يَومٍ رَغائِبُهْ

وَلَو باكَرتني كُلَّ يَومٍ رَغائِبُهْ

And I turn my praise away from anyone but you,

Through my praise, I am averse to any but you

Even if his lavish gifts reached me at dawn each day.

Even if estrangement befalls me every day with its oddities.

فَإِن تَجفُني فَالبَحرُ عِندي كَثيرَةٌ

فَإِن تَجفُني فَالبَحرُ عِندي كَثيرَةٌ

مَراكِبُهُ وَالبَرُّ عِندي رَكائِبُهْ

مَراكِبُهُ وَالبَرُّ عِندي رَكائِبُهْ

But if you shun me, the sea offers me many

If you spurn me, I have aplenty with me

Ships, and the land offers me its riding-camels.

Ships of the sea and land convoys.

وَلا تُنكرَن عتبي عَلَيكَ فَإِنَّهُ

وَلا تُنكرَن عتبي عَلَيكَ فَإِنَّهُ

جَميلٌ وَشَرُّ النّاسِ مَن لا تُعاتِبُهْ

جَميلٌ وَشَرُّ النّاسِ مَن لا تُعاتِبُهْ

Do not reject my reproach of you, for it

Do not deny my reproach upon you, for it is

Is honorable; the worst of men is one you do not reproach.

Beautiful, and the worst of people is he who cannot be blamed.

أُعاتِبُ مَن أَهوى عَلى قَدرِ وُدِّهِ

أُعاتِبُ مَن أَهوى عَلى قَدرِ وُدِّهِ

وَلا وُدَّ عِندي لِلَّذي لا أُعاتِبُهْ

وَلا وُدَّ عِندي لِلَّذي لا أُعاتِبُهْ

I reproach the one I love in proportion to his affection,

I blame those I passionately love according to my devotion

And I have no affection for one I do not reproach.

And I have no devotion to those I do not blame.

وَأَكرَمُ أَبناءِ المُلوكِ سجِيَّةً

وَأَكرَمُ أَبناءِ المُلوكِ سجِيَّةً

كَريمٌ مَتى عاتَبتَهُ لانَ جانِبُهْ

كَريمٌ مَتى عاتَبتَهُ لانَ جانِبُهْ

And the noblest in nature among the sons of kings

And I treat the noble sons courteously

Is a generous man whose manner softens when you reproach him.

A generous man, if you blame him, would be pliant.

بَقيتَ وَأُعطيتَ السَّعادَةَ ما شَدا

بَقيتَ وَأُعطيتَ السَّعادَةَ ما شَدا

حَمامٌ وَما لاحَت بِلَيلٍ كَواكِبُهْ

حَمامٌ وَما لاحَت بِلَيلٍ كَواكِبُهْ

May you live on and be granted happiness as long as there is song

You have remained and been given good fortune whenever

From doves, and as long as the night's stars gleam.

A pigeon has cooed and stars shone at night.