مَحَلٌّ لَهُم بَينَ النَقا وَالأَجارِعِ

مَحَلٌّ لَهُم بَينَ النَقا وَالأَجارِعِ

عَدَتهُ الغَوادي فَاِستَنابَ مَدامِعي

عَدَتهُ الغَوادي فَاِستَنابَ مَدامِعي

A dwelling of theirs lies between the sand dune and the gravelly flats.

A place for them between softness and camel mounts,

The morning showers passed it by, so it appointed my tears in their stead.

Its valleys distracted me, so my tears flowed,

وَلَو أَنَّني نَهنَهتُها خَوفَ كاشِحٍ

وَلَو أَنَّني نَهنَهتُها خَوفَ كاشِحٍ

فَشَت زَفَراتٌ لَم تَسَعها أَضالِعي

فَشَت زَفَراتٌ لَم تَسَعها أَضالِعي

Even were I to restrain them for fear of a foe,

Had I tried to hold them back fearing a revealer,

sighs would escape, too great for my ribs to contain.

Sighs would burst forth that my ribs could not contain,

وَفي الجيرَةِ المُستَنفِدي الصَبرِ عُصبَةٌ

وَفي الجيرَةِ المُستَنفِدي الصَبرِ عُصبَةٌ

لَوِ اِكتَنَفوني ما مُنيتُ بِرائِعِ

لَوِ اِكتَنَفوني ما مُنيتُ بِرائِعِ

Among the neighbors who exhaust my patience is a band:

In my neighbors that exhausted my patience a group,

had they surrounded me, I would have suffered no terror.

Had they surrounded me I would not have yielded,

عَجَزتُ عَنِ الأَعداءِ بَعدَ فِراقِهِم

عَجَزتُ عَنِ الأَعداءِ بَعدَ فِراقِهِم

كَعَجزِ بَنانٍ لَم يُنَط بِأَشاجِعِ

كَعَجزِ بَنانٍ لَم يُنَط بِأَشاجِعِ

After parting from them, I became helpless against enemies,

After they left I felt incapable of facing the enemies,

like fingertips helpless when not joined to knuckles.

Like claws that were not equipped with nails,

وَمَن لي بِأَيّامٍ مَضَت لا عَزائِمي

وَمَن لي بِأَيّامٍ مَضَت لا عَزائِمي

مُفَلَّلَةٌ فيها وَلا اللَومُ رادِعي

مُفَلَّلَةٌ فيها وَلا اللَومُ رادِعي

Who can restore the days gone by, when my resolves

Who can bring back days gone by, neither my resolve

were never blunted, nor did reproach restrain me?

In them is loosened nor is blame deterring me,

لَيالِيَ لا اللاحي عَلى الوَجدِ قادِعي

لَيالِيَ لا اللاحي عَلى الوَجدِ قادِعي

بِما سَرَّ أَعدائي وَلا الشَيبُ وازِعي

بِما سَرَّ أَعدائي وَلا الشَيبُ وازِعي

Nights when no reprover checked my passion

Nights where wakefulness cannot subdue fervor

to my enemies' delight, nor did gray hair deter me.

At what made my enemies happy and old age cannot restrain me,

فَبُدِّلتُ مِن شَرخِ الشَبابِ وَعِشرَةِ ال

فَبُدِّلتُ مِن شَرخِ الشَبابِ وَعِشرَةِ ال

أَحِبَّةِ تَسآلَ الدِيارِ البَلاقِعِ

أَحِبَّةِ تَسآلَ الدِيارِ البَلاقِعِ

Thus I exchanged youthful vigor and the company of the

So I changed from the prime of youth and companionship of

beloved for questioning deserted dwellings.

Friends to homes in ruins asking,

وَقائِلَةٍ حَتّامَ يَخدَعُكَ المُنى

وَقائِلَةٍ حَتّامَ يَخدَعُكَ المُنى

وَتوسِعُها عَتباً وَلَيسَ بِنافِعِ

وَتوسِعُها عَتباً وَلَيسَ بِنافِعِ

And a woman said: How long will wishes deceive you,

And saying: Hatim, hopes will disappoint you

while you heap reproaches upon them, to no avail?

And their latitude will make you fall into delusion,

فَيَأساً فَما عَهدُ الكَثيبِ بِعائِدٍ

فَيَأساً فَما عَهدُ الكَثيبِ بِعائِدٍ

إِلَيكَ وَلا أَيّامُهُ بِرَواجِعِ

إِلَيكَ وَلا أَيّامُهُ بِرَواجِعِ

Give up hope: your time by the dune will not return

So despair for the dune is not accustomed to a returning

to you, nor will its days come back.

Traveler nor are its days expected to turn back,

وَلا وُدُّ مَن أَبدى لَكَ الوُدَّ صادِقٌ

وَلا وُدُّ مَن أَبدى لَكَ الوُدَّ صادِقٌ

وَما هُوَ إِلّا خُدعَةٌ مِن مُخادِعِ

وَما هُوَ إِلّا خُدعَةٌ مِن مُخادِعِ

Nor is the affection of one who shows you affection sincere;

The affection shown you by a pretender is not sincere

it is nothing but a deceiver's trick.

Rather it is guile from those who scheme,

ذَرِ الخَلقَ لا تَتبَعهُمُ مُتَفَرِّداً

ذَرِ الخَلقَ لا تَتبَعهُمُ مُتَفَرِّداً

بِنَفسِكَ وَاِتبَع رَأيَ أَهلِ الصَوامِعِ

بِنَفسِكَ وَاِتبَع رَأيَ أَهلِ الصَوامِعِ

Leave people; do not pursue them; withdraw

Leave people be, do not pursue them alone

into yourself, and follow the counsel of the hermits.

And follow the view of the people of monasteries,

فَما الناسُ إِلّا ضاحِكٌ وَهوَ عابِسٌ

فَما الناسُ إِلّا ضاحِكٌ وَهوَ عابِسٌ

سَريرَتُهُ أَو واصِلٌ وَصلَ قاطِعِ

سَريرَتُهُ أَو واصِلٌ وَصلَ قاطِعِ

For people are only a man who laughs while scowling

For people are nothing but laughing outwardly while grieved inwardly

inwardly, or one who joins you as one who breaks ties.

Either there is dissension in his intimacy or a reconciler who has cut ties,

فَبَعضٌ سَرابٌ غَرَّ بِاللَمعِ ظامِئاً

فَبَعضٌ سَرابٌ غَرَّ بِاللَمعِ ظامِئاً

وَبَعضٌ شَرابٌ لا يَسوغُ لِجارِعِ

وَبَعضٌ شَرابٌ لا يَسوغُ لِجارِعِ

Some are mirages whose shimmer deceives a thirsty man,

Some are a mirage that misled a thirsty man with its glow

and some are a drink no drinker can swallow.

And some are an undrinkable beverage for the one who gulps it down,

مُخالِفَةٌ أَقوالُهُم وَفِعالُهُم

مُخالِفَةٌ أَقوالُهُم وَفِعالُهُم

كَما خالَفَ الصَهباءَ لَونُ الفَواقِعِ

كَما خالَفَ الصَهباءَ لَونُ الفَواقِعِ

Their words and deeds are at odds,

Their words and deeds conflict

as bubbles differ in color from tawny wine.

Like the conflict of pitch darkness and piercing light,

عَرَتني صُروفُ النائِباتِ فَقَصَّرَت

عَرَتني صُروفُ النائِباتِ فَقَصَّرَت

ذِراعي وَرَدَّت خائِباتٍ ذَرائِعي

ذِراعي وَرَدَّت خائِباتٍ ذَرائِعي

The turns of calamity assailed me and shortened

The turns of fate have weakened me, shortening

my arm, and sent my stratagems back defeated.

My arm, and futile attempts have reduced my means,

يُصيبُ الفَتى ما لَم يَكُن في حِسابِهِ

يُصيبُ الفَتى ما لَم يَكُن في حِسابِهِ

وَيَحذَرُ مِن شَيءٍ وَلَيسَ بِواقِعِ

وَيَحذَرُ مِن شَيءٍ وَلَيسَ بِواقِعِ

A man is struck by what he never reckoned,

What befalls a young man is not in his calculations

and dreads something that never happens.

And he is wary of what will not come to pass,

وَما خِلتُ أَنَّ الدَهرَ يُلجِئُني إِلى

وَما خِلتُ أَنَّ الدَهرَ يُلجِئُني إِلى

زَمانٍ يَبيتُ العَجزُ فيهِ مُضاجِعي

زَمانٍ يَبيتُ العَجزُ فيهِ مُضاجِعي

I never thought that fate would force me into

I never thought fate would drive me to

an age when helplessness would spend the night beside me.

A time when inability would share my bed,

صَحِبتُ أُناساً بُرهَةً ما مَرامُهُم

صَحِبتُ أُناساً بُرهَةً ما مَرامُهُم

مَرامي وَلا أَطماعُهُم مِن مَطامِعي

مَرامي وَلا أَطماعُهُم مِن مَطامِعي

For a while I kept company with people whose aim

I kept company with people whose aims

was not mine, nor were their ambitions among my own.

Were not my aims nor their desires among my desires,

وَلَو لَم يُدانِ الضِدُّ ضِدّاً لَما دَنا

وَلَو لَم يُدانِ الضِدُّ ضِدّاً لَما دَنا

مَحَلُّ الأَفاعي مِن مَحَلِّ الأَسارِعِ

مَحَلُّ الأَفاعي مِن مَحَلِّ الأَسارِعِ

Were one opposite never to approach another, never would

Had not opposite met opposite, the abode of snakes would be

the vipers' dwelling stand near the sandworms' dwelling.

Near the abode of gazelles and the roar of lions near the croaking of frogs,

وَغَيرُ قَريبٍ مِن فُؤادٍ وَمَسمَعٍ

وَغَيرُ قَريبٍ مِن فُؤادٍ وَمَسمَعٍ

زَئيرُ الأُسودِ مِن نَقيقِ الضَفادِعِ

زَئيرُ الأُسودِ مِن نَقيقِ الضَفادِعِ

To heart and ear, far apart are

Until a firm resolve squeezed me

the roar of lions and the croaking of frogs.

With which I overpowered whatever contended with me,

إِلى أَن أَبَت لي عَزمَةٌ أَعصُرِيَّةٌ

إِلى أَن أَبَت لي عَزمَةٌ أَعصُرِيَّةٌ

صَرَعتُ بِها الخَطبَ الَّذي كانَ صارِعي

صَرَعتُ بِها الخَطبَ الَّذي كانَ صارِعي

Until an A'suri resolve refused such a lot for me;

So the light of dawn turned away the darkness of night

with it I felled the calamity that had been felling me.

And the Euphrates forgot the dried up waterbeds,

فَنابَ ضِياءُ الفَجرِ عَن ظُلمَةِ الدُجى

فَنابَ ضِياءُ الفَجرِ عَن ظُلمَةِ الدُجى

وَأَنسى الفُراتُ ناضِباتِ الوَقائِعِ

وَأَنسى الفُراتُ ناضِباتِ الوَقائِعِ

Then dawn's radiance replaced the darkness of night,

And I was compensated for herding lightning and preventing it

and the Euphrates made me forget the dried-up rock pools.

With clouds that poured forth overflowing torrents,

وَعُوِّضتُ مِن رَعيِ البُروقِ وَشَيمِها

وَعُوِّضتُ مِن رَعيِ البُروقِ وَشَيمِها

غَماماً تَجَلّى عَن سُيولٍ دَوافِعِ

غَماماً تَجَلّى عَن سُيولٍ دَوافِعِ

In place of watching lightning and scanning it for rain, I was granted

My protector is Judd son of Nasr son of Saleh

a cloud that opened to reveal surging floods.

The loyal guardian of the son of Shibl son of Jama'i,

وَوَسمِيُّهُ جودُ بنِ نَصرِ اِبنِ صالِحٍ

وَوَسمِيُّهُ جودُ بنِ نَصرِ اِبنِ صالِحٍ

وَكانَ الوَلِيُّ لِاِبنِ شِبلِ اِبنِ جامِعِ

وَكانَ الوَلِيُّ لِاِبنِ شِبلِ اِبنِ جامِعِ

Its first autumn rain was Ibn Nasr ibn Salih's bounty,

They bestow before being asked and give generously

and the following rain came from Ibn Shibl ibn Jami.

So excel by being followed and are noble when obeyed,

هُما أَنعَما قَبلَ السُؤالِ وَأَجزَلا

هُما أَنعَما قَبلَ السُؤالِ وَأَجزَلا

فَأَعظِم بِمَتبوعٍ وَأَكرِم بِتابِعِ

فَأَعظِم بِمَتبوعٍ وَأَكرِم بِتابِعِ

Both bestowed favors before being asked, and gave abundantly:

This proves false those who thought life is narrow

how great the leader, how noble the follower!

And who said livelihood is not abundant,

لِتَكذيبِ مَن ظَنَّ المَعيشَةَ ضَنكَةً

لِتَكذيبِ مَن ظَنَّ المَعيشَةَ ضَنكَةً

وَمَن قالَ إِنَّ الرِزقَ لَيسَ بِواسِعِ

وَمَن قالَ إِنَّ الرِزقَ لَيسَ بِواسِعِ

To belie whoever thought livelihood straitened,

Through them a nation seeking help is spared

and whoever said provision was not plentiful.

Being at their doors like messengers with a wet nurse,

لَقَد أَغنَيا عَن أُمَّةٍ طالِبُ النَدى

لَقَد أَغنَيا عَن أُمَّةٍ طالِبُ النَدى

لَدَيهِم كَباغي الرِسلِ مِن يَدِ راضِعِ

لَدَيهِم كَباغي الرِسلِ مِن يَدِ راضِعِ

They have spared me recourse to a people whose seeker of bounty

Whether attaining bounty or the height of calamity

is like one seeking milk from a milk-sucking miser's hand.

The favored moans or the stricken wails,

يُراوَحُ مَن نالَ النَوالَ أَوِ القِرى

يُراوَحُ مَن نالَ النَوالَ أَوِ القِرى

بِأَدهى الدَواهي أَو بِأَنكى الفَجائِعِ

بِأَدهى الدَواهي أَو بِأَنكى الفَجائِعِ

Whoever receives their gifts or hospitality is visited in turn

They blame generosity, wait,

by the worst disasters or the most grievous calamities.

It is advice that leads to one not listening,

وَإِنّي وَإِن أَكثَرتُ وَصفَ مُبارَكٍ

وَإِنّي وَإِن أَكثَرتُ وَصفَ مُبارَكٍ

وَأَطنَبتُ ما خَبَّرتُ إِلّا بِشائِعِ

وَأَطنَبتُ ما خَبَّرتُ إِلّا بِشائِعِ

And though I speak much in praise of Mubarak

Did his actions transgress from beneficence

and dwell at length, I report only what is widely known.

Or his words from interceding?

هُمامٌ حَوى في أولَياتِ شَبابِهِ

هُمامٌ حَوى في أولَياتِ شَبابِهِ

مَآثِرَ أَعيَت كُلَّ كَهلٍ وَيافِعِ

مَآثِرَ أَعيَت كُلَّ كَهلٍ وَيافِعِ

A great-hearted man who gathered in his earliest youth

Among the people none seek help but the hyenas

glorious deeds that defeated every mature man and youth.

When the warriors seek help through the veils,

إِذا بَذَلوا خَوفاً أَتَت مَكرُماتُهُ

إِذا بَذَلوا خَوفاً أَتَت مَكرُماتُهُ

عَطايا كَريمٍ لا عَطايا مُصانِعِ

عَطايا كَريمٍ لا عَطايا مُصانِعِ

While others give out of fear, his generous deeds come as

They did not monopolize to the exclusion of every visitor or stranger

the gifts of a noble man, not of one currying favor.

What they earned with sharp spears,

نَصِيَّةُ أَنجادٍ تَخافُ وَتُتَّقى

نَصِيَّةُ أَنجادٍ تَخافُ وَتُتَّقى

وَنُخبَةُ أَمجادٍ ضِخامِ الدَسائِعِ

وَنُخبَةُ أَمجادٍ ضِخامِ الدَسائِعِ

The flower of champions whom you fear and avoid,

You like their radiant splendor

the pick of noble men of lavish bounty;

And those are the burnished Indian swords,

وَأَسرَعُ في مَنعِ الذِمارِ إِجابَةً

وَأَسرَعُ في مَنعِ الذِمارِ إِجابَةً

إِذا نادَتِ الأَبطالُ هَل مِن مُقارِعِ

إِذا نادَتِ الأَبطالُ هَل مِن مُقارِعِ

the swiftest to answer in defense of protected honor,

You meet them in ships and ardor

when champions cry: Is there anyone to fight?

Bestowing boons or fierce in the fray,

يُلاقيهِ مَن يَرجو جَزيلَ نَوالِهِ

يُلاقيهِ مَن يَرجو جَزيلَ نَوالِهِ

بِإِدلالِ خَفضٍ لا بِذِلَّةِ طامِعِ

بِإِدلالِ خَفضٍ لا بِذِلَّةِ طامِعِ

One who hopes for his ample bounty meets him

Their weapons are stain removing unveiling

with the confidence of one at ease, not the abasement of a covetous seeker.

The livelihood of eagles, vultures and minarets,

كَفى كُلَّ راجٍ سَومَهُ العُرفَ ضارِعاً

كَفى كُلَّ راجٍ سَومَهُ العُرفَ ضارِعاً

لَهُ وَخَلَت أَفعالُهُ مِن مُضارِعِ

لَهُ وَخَلَت أَفعالُهُ مِن مُضارِعِ

He spared every hopeful man the humble begging for favor

And Indian that on every vile day

from him, and his deeds have no equal.

Distracts from joy and cheating,

وَدَرَّت لَهُ في كُلِّ أُفقٍ غَمامَةٌ

وَدَرَّت لَهُ في كُلِّ أُفقٍ غَمامَةٌ

تَدُلُّ عَلى بُخلِ الغُيوثِ الهَوامِعِ

تَدُلُّ عَلى بُخلِ الغُيوثِ الهَوامِعِ

For him, a cloud pours forth in every horizon,

Brought near through honor not purchase, all

showing the stinginess of the streaming rain clouds.

Scraps that were picked or daughters of scraps,

أَلائِمَهُ في الجودِ مَهلاً فَإِنَّها

أَلائِمَهُ في الجودِ مَهلاً فَإِنَّها

نَصائِحُ تُهديها إِلى غَيرِ سامِعِ

نَصائِحُ تُهديها إِلى غَيرِ سامِعِ

You who reproach his generosity, hold back: these are

And a gift horse they protect through times

counsels you offer to one who will not listen.

And sacrifice at settlements without a miser,

وَهَل خَرَجَت أَفعالُهُ عَن مَحاسِنٍ

وَهَل خَرَجَت أَفعالُهُ عَن مَحاسِنٍ

تُخَبِّرُ أَو أَقوالُهُ عَن شَوافِعِ

تُخَبِّرُ أَو أَقوالُهُ عَن شَوافِعِ

Have his deeds ever strayed beyond virtues

Spending nights under the wings of its white

that speak for him, or his words beyond intercessions?

Becoming a barrier beyond the meadows,

مِنَ القَومِ لا يَستَنصِرونَ سِوى الظُبى

مِنَ القَومِ لا يَستَنصِرونَ سِوى الظُبى

إِذا المانِعونَ اِستَنصَروا بِالمَقانِعِ

إِذا المانِعونَ اِستَنصَروا بِالمَقانِعِ

He belongs to a people who seek aid only from sword edges,

How many straits did their armies block

when other defenders seek aid from veils.

Repulsing the vanguard with the rearguard,

وَما اِستَأثَروا عَن كُلِّ عافٍ وَزائِرٍ

وَما اِستَأثَروا عَن كُلِّ عافٍ وَزائِرٍ

بِما كَسَبوهُ بِالرِماحِ الشَوارِعِ

بِما كَسَبوهُ بِالرِماحِ الشَوارِعِ

They never keep to themselves, denying any suppliant or visitor,

For shame if it overcomes them, delirium

what they have won with leveled spears.

Lifts the veil on what is behind the screens,

يَروقُكَ مَرآهُم مَضاءً وَرَونَقاً

يَروقُكَ مَرآهُم مَضاءً وَرَونَقاً

وَتِلكَ سَجِيّاتُ السُيوفِ القَواطِعِ

وَتِلكَ سَجِيّاتُ السُيوفِ القَواطِعِ

Their appearance delights you with keenness and luster:

Were Auf the son of Abd to lose them

such are the qualities of cutting swords.

His palms would be useless without fingers,

وَتَلقاهُمُ في نائِلٍ وَحَمِيَّةٍ

وَتَلقاهُمُ في نائِلٍ وَحَمِيَّةٍ

غُيوثَ العَطايا أَو لُيوثَ الوَقائِعِ

غُيوثَ العَطايا أَو لُيوثَ الوَقائِعِ

In giving and protective zeal, you find them

The sons of Za'ida established for it

rain clouds of gifts or lions of battle.

Foundations more firmly rooted than ascending dunes,

عَتادُهُمُ خَطِّيَّةٌ قَد تَكَفَّلَت

عَتادُهُمُ خَطِّيَّةٌ قَد تَكَفَّلَت

بِرَزقِ نُسورٍ حُوَّمٍ وَخَوامِعِ

بِرَزقِ نُسورٍ حُوَّمٍ وَخَوامِعِ

Their arms are Khatti spears that have undertaken

They succeeded al-Nu'man in protecting his house

to feed circling vultures and limping hyenas,

Which without them had not triumphed over attack,

وَهِندِيَّةٌ في كُلِّ يَومِ كَريهَةٍ

وَهِندِيَّةٌ في كُلِّ يَومِ كَريهَةٍ

تُفَرِّقُ ما بَينَ اللَهى وَالأَخادِعِ

تُفَرِّقُ ما بَينَ اللَهى وَالأَخادِعِ

and Indian swords that, on every day of battle,

So Kisra turned away in his kingdom’s glory

separate the uvulas from the neck veins;

Without anything repulsive other than obedience,

وَمُقرَبَةٌ عَزَّت شِراءً فَكُلُّها

وَمُقرَبَةٌ عَزَّت شِراءً فَكُلُّها

قَلائِعُ حيزَت أَو بَناتُ قَلائِعِ

قَلائِعُ حيزَت أَو بَناتُ قَلائِعِ

and choice steeds hard to buy, all of them

Indeed Shibl and Mubarak walked among them

spoils taken in war, or daughters of such spoils;

Unlike Nahshal and those resigned to humiliation,

وَمَهرِيَّةٌ يَحمونَها الدَهرَ نَخوَةً

وَمَهرِيَّةٌ يَحمونَها الدَهرَ نَخوَةً

وَيَبذُلُها عِندَ القِرى كُلُّ مانِعِ

وَيَبذُلُها عِندَ القِرى كُلُّ مانِعِ

and Mahri camels they guard always out of proud honor,

Had Hammam seen what I saw

yet every guardian offers them up when hosting guests.

He would have agreed with what I say,

تَبيتُ حِدادُ البيضِ أَوفى حُتوفِها

تَبيتُ حِدادُ البيضِ أَوفى حُتوفِها

وَتُضحي حِجازاً دونَها في المَراتِعِ

وَتُضحي حِجازاً دونَها في المَراتِعِ

At night, keen white blades are their surest death;

They were created only to destroy the unjust

by day they become barriers guarding them at pasture.

Feared and hoped for or enrich the content,

وَكَم مَأزِقٍ سَدَّ الفَضاءَ جُيوشُهُ

وَكَم مَأزِقٍ سَدَّ الفَضاءَ جُيوشُهُ

ثَنَوها عَلى أَعقابِها بِالطَلائِعِ

ثَنَوها عَلى أَعقابِها بِالطَلائِعِ

How many a battlefield whose armies filled the open expanse—

Abu Tarjam your hands have been generous

they drove them back on their heels with their vanguards!

So the work of generous hands, accomplished and perfected,

وَلِلعارِ كَشّافونَ إِن غَشِيَتهُمُ

وَلِلعارِ كَشّافونَ إِن غَشِيَتهُمُ

وَغىً كَشَفَت عَمّا وَراءَ البَراقِعِ

وَغىً كَشَفَت عَمّا وَراءَ البَراقِعِ

They strip away disgrace whenever they are engulfed

If you entrusted gifts to people in the past

by battle that lays bare what is behind the veils.

I am their trustee for safekeeping deposits,

وَلَو مُنِيَت عَوفُ اِبنُ عَبدٍ بِفَقدِهِم

وَلَو مُنِيَت عَوفُ اِبنُ عَبدٍ بِفَقدِهِم

لَكانَت أَكُفّاً لَم تُعَن بِأَصابِعِ

لَكانَت أَكُفّاً لَم تُعَن بِأَصابِعِ

Had Awf ibn Abd been afflicted by their loss,

You refused and did not break your word or deviate

it would have been palms unaided by fingers.

From the path to leadership, not so spacious,

لَقَد أَسَّسَت أَبناءُ زائِدَةٍ لَها

لَقَد أَسَّسَت أَبناءُ زائِدَةٍ لَها

قَواعِدَ أَرسى مِن هِضابِ مُتالِعِ

قَواعِدَ أَرسى مِن هِضابِ مُتالِعِ

The sons of Za'ida have indeed laid for it

A colony of ostriches feared and revered

foundations firmer than the heights of Mutali'.

When you sought elevation and ascent,

وَهُم خَلَفوا النُعمانَ في صَونِ بَيتِهِ

وَهُم خَلَفوا النُعمانَ في صَونِ بَيتِهِ

وَما ظَفِرَت لَولاهُمُ بِمُمانِعِ

وَما ظَفِرَت لَولاهُمُ بِمُمانِعِ

They succeeded al-Nu'man in guarding his household,

Establishing justice caused those led astray to avoid extent

and but for them it would have found no defender.

So they are between erring in the past and returning,

فَنَكَّبَها كِسرى عَلى عِزِّ مُلكِهِ

فَنَكَّبَها كِسرى عَلى عِزِّ مُلكِهِ

وَما شاعَ مِنهُ مُكرَهاً غَيرَ طائِعِ

وَما شاعَ مِنهُ مُكرَهاً غَيرَ طائِعِ

So Kisra avoided it, despite the might of his kingdom

You have attained the farthest extent without a companion

and his widespread renown—compelled, not willing.

And protected people from it without contention,

وَقَد سارَ شِبلٌ فيهِمُ وَمُبارَكٌ

وَقَد سارَ شِبلٌ فيهِمُ وَمُبارَكٌ

بِمالَم يَسِر عَن نَهشَلٍ وَمُجاشِعِ

بِمالَم يَسِر عَن نَهشَلٍ وَمُجاشِعِ

Shibl and Mubarak have become renowned among them

I will give thanks, as long as speech obeys me,

for deeds never related of Nahshal and Mujashi'.

For the continuous kinds that came from your generosity,

وَلَو أَنَّ هَمّاماً رَأى ما رَأَيتُهُ

وَلَو أَنَّ هَمّاماً رَأى ما رَأَيتُهُ

لَكانَ عَلى هَذا المَقالِ مُشايِعي

لَكانَ عَلى هَذا المَقالِ مُشايِعي

Had Hammam seen what I have seen,

Bestowed on one who does not indicate service to you

he would have supported me in saying this.

Or send an intercessor to you,

وَما خُلِقا إِلّا لِإِفناءِ قاسِطٍ

وَما خُلِقا إِلّا لِإِفناءِ قاسِطٍ

يُخافُ وَيُرجى أَو لِإِغناءِ قانِعِ

يُخافُ وَيُرجى أَو لِإِغناءِ قانِعِ

The two were created only to destroy a tyrant

So it saved you from the effort and heat of verse

who is feared and whose favor is hoped for, or to enrich a supplicant.

Merchandise in which custom recognizes no merchandise,

أَبا تَرجَمٍ جادَت يَداكَ تَبَرُّعاً

أَبا تَرجَمٍ جادَت يَداكَ تَبَرُّعاً

فَعالَ كَريمِ الصُنعِ جَمِّ الصَنائِعِ

فَعالَ كَريمِ الصُنعِ جَمِّ الصَنائِعِ

Abu Tarjam, your two hands have given freely,

From it strange wonders will spread through every land

with the deeds of one noble in action, rich in favors.

The excellent separating of consonants and vowels,

مَواهِبُ إِن أَودَعتَها الناسَ سالِفاً

مَواهِبُ إِن أَودَعتَها الناسَ سالِفاً

فَإِنِّيَ أَولاهُم بِحِفظِ الوَدائِعِ

فَإِنِّيَ أَولاهُم بِحِفظِ الوَدائِعِ

Gifts: if you entrusted them to people before,

Were it recited, its eloquence would nearly

I am the worthiest of them to preserve those deposits.

Make hearts comprehend before the hearings,

أَبَيتَ فَلَم تَنكُث وَلا أَنتَ ناكِبٌ

أَبَيتَ فَلَم تَنكُث وَلا أَنتَ ناكِبٌ

طَريقاً إِلى العَلياءِ لَيسَ بِشاسِعِ

طَريقاً إِلى العَلياءِ لَيسَ بِشاسِعِ

You stood firm and did not break faith, nor do you turn aside from

a road to lofty honor that is not far away.

نَصِيَّةُ أَنجادٍ تَخافُ وَتُتَّقى

نَصِيَّةُ أَنجادٍ تَخافُ وَتُتَّقى

إِذا ما سَعَيتَ مِن حَسيرٍ وَظالِعِ

إِذا ما سَعَيتَ مِن حَسيرٍ وَظالِعِ

The flower of champions whom you fear and avoid,

when you strive, from among the weary and the lame.

إِقامَةُ عَدلٍ لِلأُلى اِستَبعَدوا المَدى

إِقامَةُ عَدلٍ لِلأُلى اِستَبعَدوا المَدى

فَهُم بَينَ ماضٍ في الضَلالِ وَراجِعِ

فَهُم بَينَ ماضٍ في الضَلالِ وَراجِعِ

Establishing justice for those who deemed the goal far off:

some continue in error, while others turn back.

لَقَد جُزتَ أَقصاهُ بِغَيرِ مُرافِقٍ

لَقَد جُزتَ أَقصاهُ بِغَيرِ مُرافِقٍ

وَذُدتَ الوَرى عَنهُ بِغَيرِ مُنازِعِ

وَذُدتَ الوَرى عَنهُ بِغَيرِ مُنازِعِ

You have indeed passed its farthest point without a companion,

and kept mankind away from it without a rival.

سَأَشكُرُ ما دامَ الكَلامُ يُطيعُني

سَأَشكُرُ ما دامَ الكَلامُ يُطيعُني

صُنوفاً أَتَت مِن جودِكَ المُتَتابِعِ

صُنوفاً أَتَت مِن جودِكَ المُتَتابِعِ

I shall give thanks, as long as speech obeys me,

for the many kinds of favor flowing from your ceaseless generosity.

تَوالَت عَلى مَن لا يُدِلُّ بِخِدمَةٍ

تَوالَت عَلى مَن لا يُدِلُّ بِخِدمَةٍ

عَلَيكَ وَلا يُدلي إِلَيكَ بِشافِعِ

عَلَيكَ وَلا يُدلي إِلَيكَ بِشافِعِ

They followed one another for a man who claims no service

to you, nor pleads before you through an intercessor.

فَأَجنَتكَ مِن مَحضِ القَريضِ وَحُرِّهِ

فَأَجنَتكَ مِن مَحضِ القَريضِ وَحُرِّهِ

بَضائِعَ لَيسَ العُرفُ فيها بِضائِعِ

بَضائِعَ لَيسَ العُرفُ فيها بِضائِعِ

Thus they yielded you, from poetry's purest and noblest,

wares in which generosity is never wasted.

سَتَطرُقُ مِنها كُلَّ أَرضٍ غَرائِبٌ

سَتَطرُقُ مِنها كُلَّ أَرضٍ غَرائِبٌ

حِسانُ المَبادي رائِعاتُ المَقاطِعِ

حِسانُ المَبادي رائِعاتُ المَقاطِعِ

Wondrous verses from them will visit every land,

beautiful in their beginnings, splendid in their endings.

إِذا أُنشِدَت كادَت لِفَرطِ بَيانِها

إِذا أُنشِدَت كادَت لِفَرطِ بَيانِها

تَعيها القُلوبُ قَبلَ وَعيِ المَسامِعِ

تَعيها القُلوبُ قَبلَ وَعيِ المَسامِعِ

When recited, so great is their eloquence that they are almost

grasped by hearts before ears can comprehend them.