هَل لِلأَماني عَن جَنابِكَ مَدفَعُ

هَل لِلأَماني عَن جَنابِكَ مَدفَعُ

أَم هَل لَها مِن دونِ بابِكَ مَشرَعُ

أَم هَل لَها مِن دونِ بابِكَ مَشرَعُ

Can hopes be turned away from your presence?

Have hopes from your side any defense,

Or have they a watering place anywhere short of your door?

Or is there for them any gate except yours opened?

لَكَ في العَلاءِ مَحَجَّةٌ لا يَهتَدي

لَكَ في العَلاءِ مَحَجَّةٌ لا يَهتَدي

فيها المُلوكُ وَحُجَّةٌ لا تُدفَعُ

فيها المُلوكُ وَحُجَّةٌ لا تُدفَعُ

Yours in eminence is a highway not navigated

For you in the highness an argument not to be guided to

by kings, and a claim that cannot be refuted.

By kings and an argument not to be repelled

رَكِبوا بُنَيّاتِ الطَريقِ فَضَلَّ سا

رَكِبوا بُنَيّاتِ الطَريقِ فَضَلَّ سا

لِكُها وَمَنهَجُكَ الطَريقُ المَهيَعُ

لِكُها وَمَنهَجُكَ الطَريقُ المَهيَعُ

They took the road's byways, and astray went their way-

They rode the steeds of the path so its smoothness went errant

farer; your course is the broad, open road.

And your course remained the frightful path

وَرَعَيتَ حَقَّ القاصِدينَ وَما رَعَوا

وَرَعَيتَ حَقَّ القاصِدينَ وَما رَعَوا

وَوَعَيتَ قَولَ المادِحينَ وَلَم يَعوا

وَوَعَيتَ قَولَ المادِحينَ وَلَم يَعوا

You respected the rights of seekers, while they did not;

And you shepherded the right of the purposeful though they did not shepherd

you understood the words of praisers, while they did not.

And comprehended the words of the praisers though they did not comprehend

فَرَجاؤُهُم إِلّا لِفَضلِكَ كاذِبٌ

فَرَجاؤُهُم إِلّا لِفَضلِكَ كاذِبٌ

وَمُناخُهُم إِلّا بِظِلِّكَ جَعجَعُ

وَمُناخُهُم إِلّا بِظِلِّكَ جَعجَعُ

Their hope, except in your bounty, is false;

So their hope is but for your grace a liar

their encampment, except in your shade, is barren ground.

And their harbor is but in your shade clamorous

فَاِفخَر فَإِنَّكَ واحِدٌ مِن مَعشَرٍ

فَاِفخَر فَإِنَّكَ واحِدٌ مِن مَعشَرٍ

بِهِمُ تُذادُ النائِباتُ وَتُدفَعُ

بِهِمُ تُذادُ النائِباتُ وَتُدفَعُ

So take pride: you are one of a company

Then boast for you are unique among a folk

through whom calamities are repelled and driven away.

By whom tribulations are warded off and repelled

فَرَعوا هِضابَ العِزِّ وَهيَ مَنيعَةٌ

فَرَعوا هِضابَ العِزِّ وَهيَ مَنيعَةٌ

فَرَعَوا رِياضَ الفَخرِ وَهوَ مُمَنَّعُ

فَرَعَوا رِياضَ الفَخرِ وَهوَ مُمَنَّعُ

They scaled the heights of honor, impregnable though they were,

They shepherded the plateaus of honor inviolable

and grazed the meadows of glory, well guarded though it was.

They shepherded the meadows of pride forbidden

قَومٌ إِذا راموا مَمالِكَ غَيرِهِم

قَومٌ إِذا راموا مَمالِكَ غَيرِهِم

حَصَدوا بِبيضِ الهِندِ ما لَم يَزرَعوا

حَصَدوا بِبيضِ الهِندِ ما لَم يَزرَعوا

A people who, when they seek the realms of others,

A people if they desire others’ kingdoms

reap with India's bright blades what they never sowed.

They reap with the whites of spears what they did not sow

وَرَأى المُعايِنُ مِنكَ ما يُربي عَلى

وَرَأى المُعايِنُ مِنكَ ما يُربي عَلى

أَخبارِ مَجدٍ عَن سِواكُم توضَعُ

أَخبارِ مَجدٍ عَن سِواكُم توضَعُ

The eyewitness saw in you what surpasses

And the beholders saw in you what raises

accounts of glory composed about others.

Above accounts of glory placed about others

مَعَ أَنَّكُم ما عَزَّ مِنكُم واحِدٌ

مَعَ أَنَّكُم ما عَزَّ مِنكُم واحِدٌ

إِلّا وَتاليهِ أَعَزُّ وَأَمنَعُ

إِلّا وَتاليهِ أَعَزُّ وَأَمنَعُ

Yet among you, no one ever became mighty

You have not become mighty except one mightier and impregnable followed you

without his successor being mightier and more unassailable.

Had Warbo’ saw you in a plight

لَو أَنَّ يَربوعاً رَأَتكَ بِمَأزِقٍ

لَو أَنَّ يَربوعاً رَأَتكَ بِمَأزِقٍ

عَلِمَت بِأَنَّكَ مِن عُتَيبَةَ أَشجَعُ

عَلِمَت بِأَنَّكَ مِن عُتَيبَةَ أَشجَعُ

If Yarbu' had seen you in the press of battle,

It would have known you were from Utaybah most valiant

it would have known you braver than 'Utaybah.

The dark night was refused by a zeal like a volcano’s

أَبَتِ الظَلامَةَ هِمَّةٌ كَعبِيَّةٌ

أَبَتِ الظَلامَةَ هِمَّةٌ كَعبِيَّةٌ

نامَ الأَنامُ وَرَبُّها لا يَهجَعُ

نامَ الأَنامُ وَرَبُّها لا يَهجَعُ

A Ka'bite resolve refused oppression;

People slept but its Lord did not sleep

mankind slept, while its master never slumbered.

And resolves like swords that have often

وَعَزائِمٌ مِثلُ السُيوفِ وَطالَما

وَعَزائِمٌ مِثلُ السُيوفِ وَطالَما

قَطَعَت غَداةَ الرَوعِ ما لا يَقطَعُ

قَطَعَت غَداةَ الرَوعِ ما لا يَقطَعُ

And resolves like swords—how often

On the morrow of dread cut what does not get cut

on a morning of terror they cut what cannot be cut!

And Indian blades equal to them

وَصَوارِمٌ ذُلُقٌ سَواءٌ عِندَها

وَصَوارِمٌ ذُلُقٌ سَواءٌ عِندَها

يَومَ الكَريهَةِ حاسِرٌ وَمُقَنَّعُ

يَومَ الكَريهَةِ حاسِرٌ وَمُقَنَّعُ

And keen-edged swords, to which alike are,

Whether horseman or footman on the day of carnage

on the day of battle, the bareheaded and the helmeted.

And spears that terrify the enemy in their thrusts

وَقَناً تُرَوِّعُ في مَراكِزِها العِدى

وَقَناً تُرَوِّعُ في مَراكِزِها العِدى

رَهَباً فَماذا ظَنُّهُم إِذ تُشرَعُ

رَهَباً فَماذا ظَنُّهُم إِذ تُشرَعُ

And lances that, even planted in their rests, terrify foes

Frightfully, so what then did they think when deployed?

with dread—what, then, must they think when leveled?

They kept to the abodes and sufficed with rattles

لَزِموا المَنازِلَ وَاِكتَفَوا بِقَعاقِعٍ

لَزِموا المَنازِلَ وَاِكتَفَوا بِقَعاقِعٍ

مَسموعَةٍ لَكِنَّها لا تَنجَعُ

مَسموعَةٍ لَكِنَّها لا تَنجَعُ

They stayed in their dwellings, content with rattlings

Audible but of no avail

that can be heard but do no good.

He who as a puppy prowled with the fangs

مَن بِالسِنانِ يَصولُ مُنذُ فِطامِهِ

مَن بِالسِنانِ يَصولُ مُنذُ فِطامِهِ

لَم يَخشَ آخَرَ بِالشِنانِ يُقَعقِعُ

لَم يَخشَ آخَرَ بِالشِنانِ يُقَعقِعُ

One who charges with the spearhead from his weaning

Would not later fear one who clatters with the pots

never feared another who rattles dried waterskins.

When you left the shades of your palace traveling

لَمّا تَرَكتَ ظِلالَ قَصرِكَ ناهِضاً

لَمّا تَرَكتَ ظِلالَ قَصرِكَ ناهِضاً

أَضحى يُظَلِّلُكَ القَنا المُتَزَعزِعُ

أَضحى يُظَلِّلُكَ القَنا المُتَزَعزِعُ

When you left your palace's shade, marching forth,

The spears' thicket came to shade you waving

the swaying lances became your shade,

A cloud that did not contain hoped for rain

وَغَمامَةٌ لَم تَحوِ غَيثاً يُرتَجى

وَغَمامَةٌ لَم تَحوِ غَيثاً يُرتَجى

وَتُظِلُّ غَيثَ غَمامَةٍ لا تُقلِعُ

وَتُظِلُّ غَيثَ غَمامَةٍ لا تُقلِعُ

and a cloud containing no longed-for rain,

And shades rain of a cloud that does not depart

yet shading the rain of a cloud that never ceases pouring.

Green, red at its lower parts at times

خَضراءُ حَمراءُ الأَسافِلِ تارَةً

خَضراءُ حَمراءُ الأَسافِلِ تارَةً

تَبدو وَطَوراً بِالعَجاجِ تَلَفَّعُ

تَبدو وَطَوراً بِالعَجاجِ تَلَفَّعُ

Green, with red lower edges, at times

Appearing, and at times with hailstones crackling

it appears, and at others wraps itself in dust.

And it moves about upright though if

وَتَخالُها تَسعى بِقائِمَةٍ وَإِن

وَتَخالُها تَسعى بِقائِمَةٍ وَإِن

سارَت بِحامِلِها قَوائِمُ أَربَعُ

سارَت بِحامِلِها قَوائِمُ أَربَعُ

You imagine it moving on one leg, although

Its bearer walked, four legs there would be

four legs carry its bearer onward.

Never narrowing when the sky clouds over

أَبَداً تَضيقُ إِذا السَماءُ تَغَيَّمَت

أَبَداً تَضيقُ إِذا السَماءُ تَغَيَّمَت

وَتَعودُ إِن ظَهَرَت ذُكاءُ تَوَسَّعُ

وَتَعودُ إِن ظَهَرَت ذُكاءُ تَوَسَّعُ

It always contracts when the sky grows cloudy,

And returning spacious when brightness emerges

and spreads wide again when Dhuka' appears.

So it is as if a halo about the moon spreads

فَكَأَنَّها إِبّانَ تُنشَرُ هالَةٌ

فَكَأَنَّها إِبّانَ تُنشَرُ هالَةٌ

لَكِنَّها عَن بَدرِها تَتَرَفَّعُ

لَكِنَّها عَن بَدرِها تَتَرَفَّعُ

When unfurled, it seems a halo,

But above its full moon it is lofty

yet it rises above its full moon.

You lead squadrons none but Chosroes led the like of

قُدتَ الجَحافِلَ لَم يَقُد مِعشارَها

قُدتَ الجَحافِلَ لَم يَقُد مِعشارَها

كِسرى المُلوكِ وَلا رَآها تُبَّعُ

كِسرى المُلوكِ وَلا رَآها تُبَّعُ

You led mighty hosts, a tenth of which was never led

Nor did Sheba’s Bilqis see nor donned al-Tubbaʿ

by Kisra of the kings, nor ever seen by Tubba'.

If a lynx saw a band of them

لَو أَبصَرَت فِهرٌ فَريقاً مِنهُمُ

لَو أَبصَرَت فِهرٌ فَريقاً مِنهُمُ

ما قيلَ لِلفِهرِيِّ أَنتَ مُجَمَّعُ

ما قيلَ لِلفِهرِيِّ أَنتَ مُجَمَّعُ

Had Fihr seen even a division of them,

It would not be said to the lynx, “You are the assembler.”

no one would have told the Fihri, 'You are Mujamma', the Gatherer.'

And braves who filled the Euphrates with ships

وَعَصائِباً مَلَأوا الفُراتَ سَفائِناً

وَعَصائِباً مَلَأوا الفُراتَ سَفائِناً

لَمّا نَبا بِهِمُ الفَضاءُ الأَوسَعُ

لَمّا نَبا بِهِمُ الفَضاءُ الأَوسَعُ

And bands who filled the Euphrates with ships

When the vast firmament was informed of them it expanded

when the widest open land grew too cramped for them,

In a place where the plains cannot contain their assembly

في حَيثُ لا تَسَعُ الفَيافي جَمعَهُم

في حَيثُ لا تَسَعُ الفَيافي جَمعَهُم

إِلّا كَما يَسَعُ الإِناءُ المُترَعُ

إِلّا كَما يَسَعُ الإِناءُ المُترَعُ

where deserts could contain their multitude

Except as a vessel contains the overflow

only as a brimful vessel contains its fill.

A torrent of resolve piercing its billows

طوفانُ عَزمٍ لا يَشُقُّ عُبابَهُ

طوفانُ عَزمٍ لا يَشُقُّ عُبابَهُ

فُلكٌ وَلا الجودِيُّ مِنهُ يَمنَعُ

فُلكٌ وَلا الجودِيُّ مِنهُ يَمنَعُ

A flood of resolve whose surge cannot be cleft

No ship can contain nor Jawdi withhold

by ships, nor can al-Judi protect against it.

The two camps at Ṣiffīn’s clash did not see

ما عايَنَت صِفّينُ عِندَ تَقارُعِ ال

ما عايَنَت صِفّينُ عِندَ تَقارُعِ ال

صَفَّينِ جَيشاً جامِعاً ما تَجمَعُ

صَفَّينِ جَيشاً جامِعاً ما تَجمَعُ

Siffin never saw, at the clash of the

An army uniting what you unite

two ranks, an army gathering all that you gather:

Mixed Arabs and non-Arabs who often

خِلطَينِ مِن عَرَبٍ وَعُجمٍ طالَما

خِلطَينِ مِن عَرَبٍ وَعُجمٍ طالَما

نُدِبوا لِصَرفِ النَائِباتِ فَأَسرَعوا

نُدِبوا لِصَرفِ النَائِباتِ فَأَسرَعوا

two mingled kinds, Arabs and non-Arabs, who so often

Were called to repel afflictions so they hastened

were summoned to avert calamities and hastened forward.

Factions differing in tongues and origin

فِرَقٌ تَخالَفُ أَلسُناً وَعَناصِراً

فِرَقٌ تَخالَفُ أَلسُناً وَعَناصِراً

لَكِن تَشابَهَ ما اِنتَضَوا وَتَدَرَّعوا

لَكِن تَشابَهَ ما اِنتَضَوا وَتَدَرَّعوا

Bands differing in tongues and origins,

But resembling in how they readied and armored

yet alike in the blades they draw and the armor they don.

When serious fighting sparked not like rabble in their difference

لَيسوا إِذا شُبَّت وَغىً كَجَمائِعٍ

لَيسوا إِذا شُبَّت وَغىً كَجَمائِعٍ

بِخِلافِهِم عُصِيَ البُطَينُ الأَنزَعُ

بِخِلافِهِم عُصِيَ البُطَينُ الأَنزَعُ

When battle is kindled, they are not like the multitudes

Whose camel-humps the sword’s blade lightly detaches

whose dissent brought disobedience to the round-bellied, bald-fronted one.

They followed your approval so you walked among them secure

تَبِعوا رِضاكَ فَسِرتَ فيهِم آمِناً

تَبِعوا رِضاكَ فَسِرتَ فيهِم آمِناً

مِن حيلَةٍ فيها المَصاحِفُ تُرفَعُ

مِن حيلَةٍ فيها المَصاحِفُ تُرفَعُ

They followed your pleasure, and you marched among them secure

From any trickery in which scriptures would be raised

from a ruse in which Qur'an copies are raised.

Your two judges are pliant, bending

حَكَماكَ لَدنٌ ذابِلٌ وَمُهَنَّدٌ

حَكَماكَ لَدنٌ ذابِلٌ وَمُهَنَّدٌ

ما فيهِما إِن حُكِّما مَن يُخدَعُ

ما فيهِما إِن حُكِّما مَن يُخدَعُ

Your two arbiters are a supple, slender lance and an Indian blade;

In them is no deceit if they judge

neither, when appointed judge, can be deceived.

None who entered Mālik’s expanse saw

ما إِن رَأى مَن حَلَّ رَحبَةَ مالِكٍ

ما إِن رَأى مَن حَلَّ رَحبَةَ مالِكٍ

شَمساً سِواكَ مِنَ المَغارِبِ تَطلُعُ

شَمساً سِواكَ مِنَ المَغارِبِ تَطلُعُ

No one who dwelt in Rahbat Malik ever saw

A sun but yours rising from the west

a sun but you rise out of the west.

Never did they see before it armies in which

كَلّا وَلا نَظَروا جُيوشاً قَبلَها

كَلّا وَلا نَظَروا جُيوشاً قَبلَها

في ضِمنِها عَضَدَ اللِثامَ البُرقُعُ

في ضِمنِها عَضَدَ اللِثامَ البُرقُعُ

No, nor did they ever see armies before this one

The fold's aid donned attire

within which the face veil lent support to the face-wrap.

You made their bodies deposit it

وَلِذاكَ ما ظَنّوا نُفوسُهُمُ لَهُم

وَلِذاكَ ما ظَنّوا نُفوسُهُمُ لَهُم

إِلّا وَأَنتَ عَلى التَرَحُّلِ مُزمِعُ

إِلّا وَأَنتَ عَلى التَرَحُّلِ مُزمِعُ

That is why they never thought their lives their own

And upon them to safeguard what was deposited

until you had resolved to depart.

And resolve for you had undertaken it

عَمري لَقَد أَودَعتَها أَجسامَهُم

عَمري لَقَد أَودَعتَها أَجسامَهُم

وَعَلَيهِمُ أَن يَحفَظوا ما أودِعوا

وَعَلَيهِمُ أَن يَحفَظوا ما أودِعوا

By my life, you entrusted those lives to their bodies,

If it were a person no space would contain it

and they must preserve what they were entrusted with.

So you traveled from it certain

وَلَقَد تَضَمَّنَها لَكَ العَزمُ الَّذي

وَلَقَد تَضَمَّنَها لَكَ العَزمُ الَّذي

لَو كانَ شَخصاً لَم يَسَعهُ مَوضِعُ

لَو كانَ شَخصاً لَم يَسَعهُ مَوضِعُ

Your resolve has surely guaranteed them to you—

After your killing they would not benefit it

a resolve that, were it a person, no place could contain.

And left it miserly regarding

فَرَحَلتَ عَنها عَن يَقينٍ أَنَّها

فَرَحَلتَ عَنها عَن يَقينٍ أَنَّها

مِن بَعدِ قَتلِكَ أَهلَها لا تَنفَعُ

مِن بَعدِ قَتلِكَ أَهلَها لا تَنفَعُ

So you departed from it, certain that it

That it be seen and in it a hoarse preacher

would be useless once you had killed its people.

You combined zeal with piety desiring

وَتَرَكتَها ضَنّاً بِها عَن أَن تُرى

وَتَرَكتَها ضَنّاً بِها عَن أَن تُرى

وَمِنَ البِلى فيها خَطيبٌ مِصقَعُ

وَمِنَ البِلى فيها خَطيبٌ مِصقَعُ

You left it, cherishing it too much to see

Reward, excelling in beauty and innovating

decay become an eloquent preacher within it.

Time obeyed Ṣāliḥ so he stripped it

ذُدتَ الحَمِيَّةَ بِالتَقِيَّةِ راغِباً

ذُدتَ الحَمِيَّةَ بِالتَقِيَّةِ راغِباً

في الأَجرِ تُغرِبُ في الجَميلِ وَتُبدِعُ

في الأَجرِ تُغرِبُ في الجَميلِ وَتُبدِعُ

You checked zeal with pious restraint, desiring

With the strokes of events, yet it is to you more obedient

reward, working wonders and creating marvels in goodness.

And by your grandfather’s rule you walked among them when

طاعَ الزَمانُ لِصالِحٍ فَاِبتَزَّها

طاعَ الزَمانُ لِصالِحٍ فَاِبتَزَّها

بِيَدِ الخُطوبِ وَإِنَّها لَكَ أَطوَعُ

بِيَدِ الخُطوبِ وَإِنَّها لَكَ أَطوَعُ

Time obeyed Salih, and he wrested it away

He craved seizing it before while it refused

with the hand of calamities; it is even more obedient to you.

It silenced the swords and elicited afflictions

وَبِحُكمِ جَدِّكَ سِرتَ فيهِم إِذ بَغى

وَبِحُكمِ جَدِّكَ سِرتَ فيهِم إِذ بَغى

إِحرازَها مِن قَبلُ وَهيَ تَمَنَّعُ

إِحرازَها مِن قَبلُ وَهيَ تَمَنَّعُ

You dealt with them by your grandfather's ruling, when he sought

In the people one after another interceding

to secure it before, while it resisted.

Three years passed in which they were prohibited

كَفَّ الصَوارِمَ وَاِستَنابَ نَوائِباً

كَفَّ الصَوارِمَ وَاِستَنابَ نَوائِباً

في القَومِ واحِدَةٌ بِأُخرى تَشفَعُ

في القَومِ واحِدَةٌ بِأُخرى تَشفَعُ

He restrained the swords and deputized calamities

To sow and prevented from sleeping

against the people, one reinforcing another.

Until they relented with spirits sound

فَمَضَت ثَلاثٌ مِن سِنينَ أَبَت لَهُم

فَمَضَت ثَلاثٌ مِن سِنينَ أَبَت لَهُم

أَن يَزرَعوا وَنَهَتهُمُ أَن يَهجَعوا

أَن يَزرَعوا وَنَهَتهُمُ أَن يَهجَعوا

Three years passed, refusing them

And the guide of the guide surrendered willingly

leave to sow, and forbidding them to sleep,

So you headed without ceasing right-guided

حَتّى أَنابوا وَالنُفوسُ سَليمَةٌ

حَتّى أَنابوا وَالنُفوسُ سَليمَةٌ

وَقِيادُ مَن مَنَعَ المَقادَةَ طَيِّعُ

وَقِيادُ مَن مَنَعَ المَقادَةَ طَيِّعُ

until they returned to obedience, their lives unharmed,

In what you grant and what you refuse

and the reins of those who refused submission became pliant.

You split a mass that had you cast some of it

وَلِذا قَصَدتَ فَلا بَرِحتَ مُوَفَّقاً

وَلِذا قَصَدتَ فَلا بَرِحتَ مُوَفَّقاً

فيما تَجودُ بِهِ وَفيما تَمنَعُ

فيما تَجودُ بِهِ وَفيما تَمنَعُ

This is what you sought; may you ever be guided aright

On the Throne’s pillars they would have shaken wavering

in what you bestow and what you withhold.

فَرَّقتَ جَمعاً لَو رَمَيتَ بِبَعضِهِ

فَرَّقتَ جَمعاً لَو رَمَيتَ بِبَعضِهِ

أَركانَ رَضوى لَاِنبَرَت تَتَضَعضَعُ

أَركانَ رَضوى لَاِنبَرَت تَتَضَعضَعُ

You dispersed a host, part of which, had you hurled it

And contained diverting the afflictions leaving

at Radwa's pillars, would have set them shaking.

Their turbidities amidst the mortals dispersing

وَحَوَيتَ صِرفَ المَأثُراتِ مُغادِراً

وَحَوَيتَ صِرفَ المَأثُراتِ مُغادِراً

أَكدارَها بَينَ الوَرى تَتَوَزَّعُ

أَكدارَها بَينَ الوَرى تَتَوَزَّعُ

You gathered the purest noble deeds, leaving

So the shade is overflowing and the gifts plenty

their dregs to be divided among mankind.

The roses pristine and the gifts volunteering

فَالظِلُّ ضافٍ وَالهِباتُ جَزيلَةٌ

فَالظِلُّ ضافٍ وَالهِباتُ جَزيلَةٌ

وَالوِردُ صافٍ وَالعَطاءُ تَبَرُّعُ

وَالوِردُ صافٍ وَالعَطاءُ تَبَرُّعُ

The shade is ample, and the gifts abundant;

And you were singled out in life’s time with a paradise

the watering place is clear, and the giving freely bestowed.

Pleasant is its summer and good its courtyard

وَخُصِصتَ في زَمَنِ الحَياةِ بِجَنَّةٍ

وَخُصِصتَ في زَمَنِ الحَياةِ بِجَنَّةٍ

حَسُنَ المَصيفُ بِها وَطابَ المَربَعُ

حَسُنَ المَصيفُ بِها وَطابَ المَربَعُ

You were favored during your lifetime with a paradise

A house Damascus adorned with it gained beauty

whose summer abode is pleasant and whose spring abode is delightful.

While the most wondrous of its adornments is you

دارٌ بِها اِكتَسَتِ البَسيطَةُ زينَةً

دارٌ بِها اِكتَسَتِ البَسيطَةُ زينَةً

وَيَزينُها مِنكَ الهُمامُ الأَروَعُ

وَيَزينُها مِنكَ الهُمامُ الأَروَعُ

An abode through which the earth has clothed itself in beauty,

The onlooker comes back reflecting

and which you, the bold and splendid lord, adorn.

Complaining of weariness and the viewer cannot be sated

ما زالَ مُبصِرُها يَعودُ بِخاطِرٍ

ما زالَ مُبصِرُها يَعودُ بِخاطِرٍ

يَشكو الكَلالَ وَناظِرٍ لا يَشبَعُ

يَشكو الكَلالَ وَناظِرٍ لا يَشبَعُ

Its beholder always comes away with a mind

And the birds of the air on its sides

complaining of exhaustion, and an eye that cannot have its fill.

Some hovering others perching

وَتَرى طُيورَ الجَوِّ في جَنَباتِها

وَتَرى طُيورَ الجَوِّ في جَنَباتِها

بَعضٌ مُحَلَّقَةٌ وَبَعضٌ وُقَّعُ

بَعضٌ مُحَلَّقَةٌ وَبَعضٌ وُقَّعُ

You see birds of the air along its sides,

And purebreds not leaving its land

some soaring and others perched,

As if they under horsemen rear

وَسَوابِقاً لَيسَت تُفارِقُ أَرضَها

وَسَوابِقاً لَيسَت تُفارِقُ أَرضَها

وَكَأَنَّها تَحتَ الفَوارِسِ تَمزَعُ

وَكَأَنَّها تَحتَ الفَوارِسِ تَمزَعُ

and fleet horses that never leave its ground,

With the reformers lightning that does not aggress

yet seem to gallop beneath their riders,

And the well-armed well-knitted coats of mail not removed

بِالمُصلِتينَ صَواعِقاً لا تَعتَدي

بِالمُصلِتينَ صَواعِقاً لا تَعتَدي

وَاللابِسينَ يَلامِقاً لا تُنزَعُ

وَاللابِسينَ يَلامِقاً لا تُنزَعُ

who brandish thunderbolts that never strike,

A group polished the swords’ blades and another

and wear coats that are never taken off.

Drew a bow in which there is no deviation

رَهطٌ نَضَوا بيضَ السُيوفِ وَآخَرٌ

رَهطٌ نَضَوا بيضَ السُيوفِ وَآخَرٌ

قَد جَرَّ قَوساً لَيسَ فيها مَنزِعُ

قَد جَرَّ قَوساً لَيسَ فيها مَنزِعُ

One troop has drawn bright swords, and another

And its arrows cannot withstand separation from it

has drawn a bow from which no arrow can be released.

While its bowstrings never are a bird’s perch

وَسِهامُهُ لا تَستَطيعُ فِراقَها

وَسِهامُهُ لا تَستَطيعُ فِراقَها

وَحِبالُهُ أَبَداً لِطَيرٍ مَصرَعُ

وَحِبالُهُ أَبَداً لِطَيرٍ مَصرَعُ

His arrows cannot part from it,

Game is caught and wars a habit

and his cords are forever a deathtrap for birds.

Lengthy through time which I do not see it fearing

وَالأَيمُ يُؤخَذُ وَالحُروبُ لَدودَةٌ

وَالأَيمُ يُؤخَذُ وَالحُروبُ لَدودَةٌ

طولَ الزَمانِ وَما أَراهُ يَجزَعُ

طولَ الزَمانِ وَما أَراهُ يَجزَعُ

The serpent is seized, and battles are fierce,

And of game some is permitted and some prohibited

throughout all time, yet I never see it panic.

And their meats prohibited so they are not sliced

وَمِنَ الصُيودِ مُحَلَّلٌ وَمُحَرَّمٌ

وَمِنَ الصُيودِ مُحَلَّلٌ وَمُحَرَّمٌ

وَلُحومُها حُرُمٌ فَما تُتَبَضَّعُ

وَلُحومُها حُرُمٌ فَما تُتَبَضَّعُ

Among the quarry are lawful and forbidden kinds,

On the west side therein a palm tree

but their flesh is forbidden, never cut into portions.

Bent, its fruit ripened guarded

بِالجانِبِ الغَربِيِّ فيها نَخلَةٌ

بِالجانِبِ الغَربِيِّ فيها نَخلَةٌ

ناءٍ جَناها وَهوَ آنٍ مونِعُ

ناءٍ جَناها وَهوَ آنٍ مونِعُ

On its western side stands a palm tree,

And your eye overlooks from its west a basin

its fruit out of reach, though mature and fully ripe.

Wherein crops under shade wide-spreading

وَتَروقُ عَينَكَ دَوحَةٌ مِن غَربِها

وَتَروقُ عَينَكَ دَوحَةٌ مِن غَربِها

فيها جَنىً يَحميهِ ظِلٌّ مُسبِعُ

فيها جَنىً يَحميهِ ظِلٌّ مُسبِعُ

A great tree to its west delights your eye,

And two giraffes erected both

bearing fruit protected by a shade teeming with beasts of prey.

Gazing at you with eyelids not sleeping

وَزَرافَتانِ أُقيمَتا كِلتاهُما

وَزَرافَتانِ أُقيمَتا كِلتاهُما

رانٍ إِلَيكَ بِمُقلَةٍ لا تَهجَعُ

رانٍ إِلَيكَ بِمُقلَةٍ لا تَهجَعُ

Two giraffes stand erected, each one

As if Egypt gifted Aleppo them

gazing at you with an eye that never sleeps.

Previously as they for beauties are a place of congregation

وَكَأَنَّ مِصراً أَتحَفَت حَلَباً بِها

وَكَأَنَّ مِصراً أَتحَفَت حَلَباً بِها

مِن قَبلُ إِذ هِيَ لِلمَحاسِنِ مَجمَعُ

مِن قَبلُ إِذ هِيَ لِلمَحاسِنِ مَجمَعُ

As though Egypt had bestowed it upon Aleppo

The elephant beats its skin which soothes it

long ago, for it is a meeting-place of beauties.

From every drop but it does not sway

وَالفيلُ يَقرَعُ جِلدَهُ سُوّاسُهُ

وَالفيلُ يَقرَعُ جِلدَهُ سُوّاسُهُ

مِن كُلِّ قُطرٍ وَهوَ لا يَتَزَعزَعُ

مِن كُلِّ قُطرٍ وَهوَ لا يَتَزَعزَعُ

The elephant's keepers strike its hide

And gazelles fearing the eyes and avoiding

from every side, yet it never budges.

The glance of the suspicious so their time is veiled

وَظَعائِنٌ تَخشى العُيونَ وَتَتَّقي

وَظَعائِنٌ تَخشى العُيونَ وَتَتَّقي

نَظَرَ المُريبِ فَدَهرَها تَتَبَرقَعُ

نَظَرَ المُريبِ فَدَهرَها تَتَبَرقَعُ

And women in howdahs fear watching eyes and avoid

Never led but walking with charm

the suspicious man's gaze, so they stay veiled forever.

A cheek stimulating the onlookers beguiling

أَبَداً يُقادُ بِها وَتَخدي عيسُها

أَبَداً يُقادُ بِها وَتَخدي عيسُها

وَخداً حَثيثاً لِلنَواظِرِ يَخدَعُ

وَخداً حَثيثاً لِلنَواظِرِ يَخدَعُ

They are forever led onward, and their pale camels hasten

Has what they witnessed tempted them and they walked unworried

at a brisk trot that deceives the eyes.

Or has this honorable side enamored them?

هَل عاقَها ما عايَنَتهُ فَلَم تَسِر

هَل عاقَها ما عايَنَتهُ فَلَم تَسِر

أَم راقَها هَذا الجَنابُ المُمرِعُ

أَم راقَها هَذا الجَنابُ المُمرِعُ

Did what they saw obstruct them, so they did not move,

The sea is afloat therein its whales

or did this lush domain delight them?

And for them from the nets poison is scattered

وَالبَحرُ عائِمَةٌ بِهِ حيتانُهُ

وَالبَحرُ عائِمَةٌ بِهِ حيتانُهُ

وَمِنَ الشِباكِ لَها سِمامٌ مُنقَعُ

وَمِنَ الشِباكِ لَها سِمامٌ مُنقَعُ

The sea has its fish swimming within it,

Foaming but not feared for its riders

and from the nets comes steeped poison for them.

To drown, its ship erect unfurling

طامٍ وَما يُخشى عَلى رُكّابِهِ

طامٍ وَما يُخشى عَلى رُكّابِهِ

غَرَقٌ وَمَركَبُهُ مُقيمٌ مُقلِعُ

غَرَقٌ وَمَركَبُهُ مُقيمٌ مُقلِعُ

It brims, yet its passengers need not fear

And the lovesick, his lovesickness evident

drowning; its vessel stays still while setting sail.

Complaining to Layla of love by gesture

وَاِبنُ المُلَوَّحِ قائِمٌ وَسَقامُهُ ال

وَاِبنُ المُلَوَّحِ قائِمٌ وَسَقامُهُ ال

بادي طَلَيعَةُ ما تُجِنُّ الأَضلُعُ

بادي طَلَيعَةُ ما تُجِنُّ الأَضلُعُ

Ibn al-Mulawwah stands; his sickness is

A complaint your life that tears do not avail

plain to see, a herald of what his ribs conceal.

And places in it like your courtyard apparent

يَشكو إِلى لَيلى الغَرامَ إِشارَةً

يَشكو إِلى لَيلى الغَرامَ إِشارَةً

شَكوى لَعَمرُكَ لَم تُعِنها أَدمُعُ

شَكوى لَعَمرُكَ لَم تُعِنها أَدمُعُ

He gestures his complaint of passion to Layla—

Snow white in color rather more immaculate

a complaint, by your life, helped by no tears.

And of marble adjacent, composed

وَمَواضِعٌ فيها كَعِرضِكَ وُضَّحٌ

وَمَواضِعٌ فيها كَعِرضِكَ وُضَّحٌ

ثَلجِيَّةُ الأَلوانِ بَل هِيَ أَنصَعُ

ثَلجِيَّةُ الأَلوانِ بَل هِيَ أَنصَعُ

And places there are bright as your honor,

And pleated, geometrical, and tree-like

snow-white in color—indeed, still purer.

And of brassware therein darkened clouds

وَمِنَ الرُخامِ مُقابَلٌ وَمُؤَلَّفٌ

وَمِنَ الرُخامِ مُقابَلٌ وَمُؤَلَّفٌ

وَمُفَوَّفٌ وَمُضَلَّعٌ وَمُجَزَّعُ

وَمُفَوَّفٌ وَمُضَلَّعٌ وَمُجَزَّعُ

There is marble matched and joined,

That lodged their places so do not scatter

striped, ribbed, and veined like agate.

Still clouds that shaded inclining

وَمِنَ النُضارِ بِها سَحائِبُ جَمَّةٌ

وَمِنَ النُضارِ بِها سَحائِبُ جَمَّةٌ

لَزِمَت أَماكِنَها فَما تَتَقَشَّعُ

لَزِمَت أَماكِنَها فَما تَتَقَشَّعُ

Within it are abundant clouds of gold,

Reviving the lands with their downpour and suckling

fixed in their places, never dispersing:

Grapevines that humiliated the crop until

سُحُبٌ جَوامِدُ قَد أَظَلَّت عارِضاً

سُحُبٌ جَوامِدُ قَد أَظَلَّت عارِضاً

تَحيى بِصَيِّبِهِ البِلادُ وَتُمرِعُ

تَحيى بِصَيِّبِهِ البِلادُ وَتُمرِعُ

solid clouds that have shaded a rain-cloud

From speaker or mute they cannot be prevented

whose downpour revives the lands and makes them flourish.

You brought out from its walls and ceilings

كَرَمٌ أَهانَ التِبرَ حَتّى أَنَّهُ

كَرَمٌ أَهانَ التِبرَ حَتّى أَنَّهُ

مِن ناطِقٍ أَو صامِتٍ لا يُمنَعُ

مِن ناطِقٍ أَو صامِتٍ لا يُمنَعُ

A generosity that has so humbled gold that it

A sun that from every horizon has a rising

is withheld from neither speaking creature nor silent thing.

Transcending the sun’s light during its emergence

أَطَلَعتَ مِن جُدرانِها وَسُقوفِها

أَطَلَعتَ مِن جُدرانِها وَسُقوفِها

شَمساً لَها مِن كُلِّ أُفقٍ مَطلَعُ

شَمساً لَها مِن كُلِّ أُفقٍ مَطلَعُ

You made rise from its walls and ceilings

While darkness pervades it and it remains glittering

a sun with a rising-place on every horizon.

Whoever entered it weak imagined its night

تَعلو ضِياءَ الشَمسِ عِندَ شُروقِها

تَعلو ضِياءَ الشَمسِ عِندَ شُروقِها

وَيَعُمُّها الإِظلامُ وَهيَ تَشَعشَعُ

وَيَعُمُّها الإِظلامُ وَهيَ تَشَعشَعُ

It surpasses the sun's radiance at sunrise,

Morning and the dying of night in it saturated

and shines even when darkness envelops it.

And at its top appeared gardens depicting it

مَن حَلَّها وَهناً تَوَهَّمَ لَيلَها

مَن حَلَّها وَهناً تَوَهَّمَ لَيلَها

صُبحاً وَصِبغُ اللَيلِ فيها مُشبَعُ

صُبحاً وَصِبغُ اللَيلِ فيها مُشبَعُ

Whoever enters it late at night imagines its night

The beauty of your conception not rains hurrying

to be morning, though night's dye lies deep within it.

A meadow beyond the mouths’ reach to graze

وَبَدَت بِأَعلاها رِياضٌ حاكَها

وَبَدَت بِأَعلاها رِياضٌ حاكَها

حُسنُ اِقتِراحِكَ لا الغُيوثُ الهُمَّعِ

حُسنُ اِقتِراحِكَ لا الغُيوثُ الهُمَّعِ

Gardens have appeared in its heights, woven

But for sights therein a pasture

by the beauty of your design, not by pouring rains.

My life, what proves me and surprises the kingdoms in what you create?

رَوضٌ عَلى الأَفواهِ يَعسُرُ رَعيُهُ

رَوضٌ عَلى الأَفواهِ يَعسُرُ رَعيُهُ

لَكِنَّ لِلأَبصارِ فيهِ مَرتَعُ

لَكِنَّ لِلأَبصارِ فيهِ مَرتَعُ

A meadow whose grazing is difficult for mouths,

The Caliph's oversight of kings dressed them

but where the eyes find pasture.

A crown with which they rose and humbly yielded

يا مُعجِزَ الأَملاكِ فيمَ يَبتَني

يا مُعجِزَ الأَملاكِ فيمَ يَبتَني

وَمُعَجِّبَ الأَفلاكِ مِمّا يَصنَعُ

وَمُعَجِّبَ الأَفلاكِ مِمّا يَصنَعُ

O you who outstrip kings in what you build,

Above the headband therein a sword whose edge

and astonish the celestial spheres with what you make!

Victorious and a crown with praise adorned

نَظَرُ الخَليفَةِ لِلمُلوكِ كَساهُمُ

نَظَرُ الخَليفَةِ لِلمُلوكِ كَساهُمُ

تاجاً بِهِ تَسمو وَطَوراً تَخضَعُ

تاجاً بِهِ تَسمو وَطَوراً تَخضَعُ

The caliph's favor toward kings clothed them

You opposed and gifted them what they hoarded stingily

in a crown by which they rise, and sometimes bow.

And preserved without challenger what they squandered

فَوقَ المَفارِقِ مِنهُ سَيفٌ حَدُّهُ

فَوقَ المَفارِقِ مِنهُ سَيفٌ حَدُّهُ

ماضٍ وَتاجٌ بِالثَناءِ مُرَصَّعُ

ماضٍ وَتاجٌ بِالثَناءِ مُرَصَّعُ

Above the partings of their hair, from him, is a sword whose edge

So you gave in adversities what they did not give

is keen, and a crown studded with praise.

And refused with resolves what they did not refuse

ناقَضتَهُم فَوَهَبتَ ما ضَنّوا بِهِ

ناقَضتَهُم فَوَهَبتَ ما ضَنّوا بِهِ

وَحَفِظتَ غَيرَ مُنازِعِ ما ضَيَّعوا

وَحَفِظتَ غَيرَ مُنازِعِ ما ضَيَّعوا

You opposed them, giving what they grudged,

Then boast for you are the time’s unique one whom

and preserved, without contention, what they squandered.

No disunity regarding its people occurred in

فَبَذَلتَ في الأَزَماتِ ما لَم يَبذُلوا

فَبَذَلتَ في الأَزَماتِ ما لَم يَبذُلوا

وَمَنَعتَ بِالعَزَماتِ ما لَم يَمنَعوا

وَمَنَعتَ بِالعَزَماتِ ما لَم يَمنَعوا

You gave in times of crisis what they never gave,

You continuously clothe every new feast

and defended by firm resolves what they never defended.

With beauty while your kingdom with continuance is enjoyed

فَاِبجَح فَإِنَّكَ أَوحَدُ الزَمَنِ الَّذي

فَاِبجَح فَإِنَّكَ أَوحَدُ الزَمَنِ الَّذي

لَم يَفتَرِق في أَهلِهِ ما تَجمَعُ

لَم يَفتَرِق في أَهلِهِ ما تَجمَعُ

So rejoice: you are the peerless one of an age in which

You secured me from innovations until I

what you unite is not found even scattered among its people.

Have no occurring feared or expected

لا زِلتَ تَكسو كُلَّ عيدٍ قادِمٍ

لا زِلتَ تَكسو كُلَّ عيدٍ قادِمٍ

حُسناً وَمُلكُكَ بِالبَقاءِ مُمَتَّعُ

حُسناً وَمُلكُكَ بِالبَقاءِ مُمَتَّعُ

May you ever clothe each coming festival

And obliged what did not pass in the mind’s eternity

in beauty, your kingdom granted lasting life.

A day and what no ambition aspired to

أَمَّنتَني الحَدَثانِ حَتّى أَنَّني

أَمَّنتَني الحَدَثانِ حَتّى أَنَّني

لا واقِعٌ أَخشى وَلا مُتَوَقَّعُ

لا واقِعٌ أَخشى وَلا مُتَوَقَّعُ

You secured me against time's vicissitudes, until

And gifted me a kinship that attained loftiness

I fear neither present calamity nor calamity yet to come.

While time is not one to debase whom you raise

وَأَفَدتَ ما لَم يَجرِ في خَلَدِ المُنى

وَأَفَدتَ ما لَم يَجرِ في خَلَدِ المُنى

يَوماً وَلَم يَطمَح إِلَيهِ مَطمَعُ

يَوماً وَلَم يَطمَح إِلَيهِ مَطمَعُ

You bestowed what never crossed the mind of wishes

And a bequest Mārwān did not attain

on any day, nor drew any ambition toward it.

In the presence of al-Rashīd nor did Ashjaʿ attain

وَوَهَبتَ لي قُربى أَنالَت رِفعَةً

وَوَهَبتَ لي قُربى أَنالَت رِفعَةً

وَالدَهرُ لَيسَ بِخافِضٍ مَن تَرفَعُ

وَالدَهرُ لَيسَ بِخافِضٍ مَن تَرفَعُ

You granted me closeness that bestowed high rank,

But your subject was prodigal in it certain

and time cannot lower anyone you raise.

That he will later be bestowed or else cut off

وَعَطِيَّةً ما فازَ مَروانٌ بِها

وَعَطِيَّةً ما فازَ مَروانٌ بِها

عِندَ الرَشيدِ وَلَم يَنَلها أَشجَعُ

عِندَ الرَشيدِ وَلَم يَنَلها أَشجَعُ

And a gift that Marwan never obtained

And in your comfort what makes him hopeful though

from al-Rashid, nor Ashja' ever gained.

The latter is difficult, in the former he sufficed

لَكِنَّ عَبدَكَ عاثَ فيها موقِناً

لَكِنَّ عَبدَكَ عاثَ فيها موقِناً

أَن سَوفَ يُرزَقُ بَعدَها أَو يُقطَعُ

أَن سَوفَ يُرزَقُ بَعدَها أَو يُقطَعُ

But your servant squandered it, certain

that afterward he would receive provision or be granted an estate.

وَعَلى اِرتِياحِكَ ما يُؤَمِّلُهُ وَإِن

وَعَلى اِرتِياحِكَ ما يُؤَمِّلُهُ وَإِن

عَزَّ الأَخيرُ فَفي المُقَدَّمِ مَقنَعُ

عَزَّ الأَخيرُ فَفي المُقَدَّمِ مَقنَعُ

What he hopes for rests on your generosity; and if

the latter proves hard to obtain, the former suffices.