يا ديمتي نوء الثريا دوما — Abn Hius

يا ديمَتَي نَوءِ الثُرَيّا دوما

لِتُرَوِّيا بِالأَبرَقَينِ رُسوما

O two steady rains of the Pleiades' season, endure,

to water the ruined traces at al-Abraqayn.

حُطّا رِحالَ المُزنِ فَوقَ مَعالِمٍ

جَعَلَ الهَوى مَجهولَها مَعلوما

Set down the rain-clouds' packs above landmarks

whose unknown traces love has made familiar,

وَمَعاهِدٍ عَهدي بِها مَأهولَةً

بِصَريمِ إِنسٍ لَم يَكُن مَصروما

and haunts I remember as inhabited

by a band of companions never dispersed.

وَإِذا الغَمامُ عَدا المَنازِلَ صَوبُهُ

فَغَدا عَلى أَجَإٍ أَجَشَّ هَزيما

And when the clouds' downpour passes beyond the dwellings,

then at dawn it comes over Aja, rumbling and thundering,

وَسَقى لِسَلمى دونَ سَلمى مَنزِلاً

أَضحى بِوَسمِيِّ البُكا مَوسوما

and waters a dwelling of Salma's, this side of Salma,

already marked by the first autumn rain of tears.

بانَ الفَريقُ فَكَم حَميمٍ مِنهُمُ

صارَ الفِراقُ لَهُ أَخاً وَحَميما

The company has departed; how many a dear friend among them

now has separation for a brother and an intimate!

رَحَلوا كَأَنَّ البَينَ كانَ غَمامَةً

حَجَبَت بُدوراً مِنهُمُ وَنُجوما

They journeyed away, as though parting were a cloud

that veiled full moons and stars among them.

بِقَلائِصٍ لَولا المَها وَخَدَت بِهِ

ما كانَ يَحسُدُ مُهمَلٌ مَحروما

On young she-camels—had they not sped bearing white antelopes,

no beast left free would envy one deprived.

يا غازِلَيَّ أَرى المَلامَ جَميعَهُ

في الحُبِّ لُؤماً فَاِعذِرا أَو لوما

O my two fellow lovers, I deem all reproach

in love ignoble: excuse me, then, or blame me.

وَبِنَفسِيَ القَمَرُ الَّذي في عِشقِهِ

أَلغَيتُ رَيّى وَاِطَّرَحتُ ظَلوما

I would ransom with my life that moon, for love of whom

I dismissed Rayya and cast Zalum aside.

رَشَأٌ تَشابَهَ طَرفُهُ وَمُحِبُّهُ

وَوِدادُهُ كُلٌّ أَراهُ سَقيما

A young gazelle: his eye, his lover,

and his affection resemble one another—I find each ailing.

يَحكي تَعَرُّضُهُ لَنا وَنِفارُهُ

وَالجيدُ وَالطَرفُ الكَحيلُ الريما

His advances toward us, his shying away,

his neck, and his kohl-dark eye all echo the gazelle.

وَيُشاكِلُ الشَمسَ المُنيرَةَ وَجهُهُ

نوراً وَبُعدَ تَناوُلٍ وَأَديما

His face resembles the shining sun

in radiance, remoteness, and complexion.

وَيُقايَسُ المِسكُ الذَكِيُّ بِعَرفِهِ

فَيَكونَ أَطيَبَ في الأُنوفِ نَسيما

Fragrant musk is measured against his scent,

and his fragrance proves sweeter to the nostrils.

ذو هِجرَةٍ أَيّامُها ما تَنقَضي

وَمَواعِدٍ إِنجازُها ما سيما

His is an estrangement whose days never end,

and promises whose fulfillment, whenever sought,

مَطلٌ كَما مَطَلَ البَخيلُ بِوَعدِهِ

لا مِثلَما مَطَلَ الغَريمُ غَريما

is stalling, like a miser's stalling over his promise,

not a debtor's delay with his creditor.

فَسَأَطلُبُ المَوجودَ عَن ثِقَةٍ بِما

يُجدي عَلَيَّ وَأَترُكُ المَعدوما

So I shall seek what exists, trusting in what

benefits me, and leave the nonexistent behind.

وَأَقولُ لِلحَدَثانِ نَصرٌ ناصِرِي

فَاِطلُب لِجَورِكَ مارِناً مَخطوما

And I shall tell the blows of time: Nasr is my defender;

find a bridled nose for your oppression.

إِنّي أَبَيتُ وَغَيرُ بِدعٍ أَن أَبى

مَن في ذَراهُ أَن يُرى مَهضوما

I have refused; nor is it strange that one

within his shelter should refuse to be wronged.

في ظِلِّ أَروَعَ لا يَمُرُّ بِبُقعَةٍ

إِلّا وَكانَ تُرابُها مَلثوما

In the shade of a majestic man who passes no spot

without its dust being kissed.

تَتَناهَبُ الأَفواهُ مَوطِىءَ رِجلِهِ

قُبَلاً لِمَنعِ الهَيبَةِ التَسليما

Mouths compete for the ground beneath his foot

with kisses, since awe prevents a greeting.

وَيَبُثُّ مِن كَلِماتِهِ الفِقَرَ الَّتي

مَلَأَت قُلوبَ الحاسِديهِ كُلوما

He scatters from his speech those choice phrases

that fill his enviers' hearts with wounds.

فاقَ المُلوكَ فَصاحَةً وَسَماحَةً

وَصَباحَةً وَرَجاحَةً وَعَزيما

He surpassed kings in eloquence and generosity,

in beauty, sound judgment, and resolve.

وَبَدا الزَمانُ بِهِ أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلاً

وَلَقَد عَهِدناهُ أَغَمَّ بَهيما

Through him, the age appeared white-blazed and white-stockinged,

though we had known it shaggy-browed and pitch-black.

إِن هَمَّ بِالأَعداءِ كانَ غَشَمشَماً

وَإِذا هَمَت كَفّاهُ كانَ غَشيما

If he sets his mind on enemies, he is ruthlessly bold;

and when his palms rain gifts, he is heedless.

مِن مَعشَرٍ راعوا المَمالِكَ وَاِرتَعَوا

رَوضَ المَحامِدِ بارِضاً وَجَميما

From a people who terrified kingdoms and grazed

the meadow of praiseworthy deeds, in first shoots and lush growth,

حَتّى إِذا ذَهَبوا بِحُرِّ نَباتِهِ

تَرَكوهُ لِلمُتَعَقِّبينَ هَشيما

until, when they had taken its choicest growth,

they left it stubble for those who followed.

أَخفَوا هِباتِهِمُ وَخَفّوا لِلنَدى

وَالمُستَغيثِ وَيَثقُلونَ حُلوما

They concealed their gifts and hastened to generosity

and those crying for help, yet were weighty in forbearance.

مِن كُلِّ أَروَعَ ما اِستُقِلَّ عَطاؤُهُ

في المُمحِلاتِ وَلا اِستَقَلَّ ذَميما

Each a majestic man whose gift was never thought small

in barren years, nor did he depart disgraced.

عُدِموا فَما ضَرَّ الشَجاعَةَ وَالنَدى

وَبُغاتَهُ أَن يَظعَنوا وَتُقيما

They are gone; yet what harm to courage, to bounty,

or its seekers, if they depart while both remain?

وَأَتَيتَ في أَعقابِهِم مُتَأَخِّراً

فَأَتَيتَ فَضلاً أَوجَبَ التَقديما

You came after them, late in succession,

yet brought an excellence that earned you precedence.

ماثَلتَهُم ثُمَّ اِنفَرَدَت بِسُؤدُدٍ

تُلفى إِماماً فيهِ لا مَأموما

You equaled them, then stood alone in lordship,

in which you are found a leader, not a follower.

لا تَبكِ يَوماً بِالفُنَيدِقِ حَسبُهُ

عِزّاً وَجَدُّكَ مَن أَذَلَّ الروما

Do not mourn a day at al-Funaydiq; it is glory enough for him,

and for your grandfather, that they humbled the Romans.

وَرِثا مَضاءَ أَبي عَلِيٍّ صالِحٍ

حاوي المَآثِرِ حادِثاً وَقَديما

Both inherited the mettle of Abu Ali Salih,

possessor of glories, new and ancient.

أَوفى البَرِيَّةِ في قِراعِ مُلِمَّةٍ

حَزماً وَأَوسَعُهُم لَها حَيزوما

The foremost of mankind in confronting disaster,

in resolve, and the broadest-chested in facing it.

كَم فازَةٍ ضُرِبَت لَهُ بِمَفازَةٍ

تُردي السَوابِقَ وَالقِلاصَ الكوما

How many a pavilion was pitched for him in a desert

that lays low swift steeds and high-humped she-camels!

ضُرِبَت عَلى مَحضِ النِجارِ مُظَفَّرٍ

لا يَسأَمُ التَقويضُ وَالتَخيِيما

Pitched over a victorious man of pure lineage,

who never tires of striking camp and pitching tents,

بِذَوابِلٍ إِن زُرنَ أَرضَ مُعَظَّمٍ

أَكثَرنَ أَرمَلَةً بِها وَيَتيما

with slender spears that, if they visit a mighty lord's land,

multiply its widows and orphans,

وَمُبَذَّلاتٍ لِلصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا

وَمُبَدَّلاتٍ العَليقِ شَكيما

and steeds freely exposed to swords and lances,

and made to exchange fodder for bridle-bits.

طَوراً تُغيرُ وَراءَ عانَةَ شُزَّباً

تَردي وَطَوراً تَطرُقُ الداروما

Now raiding beyond Anah, lean-flanked,

galloping, and now striking al-Darum by night.

فَبَقيتَ مِن خَلَفٍ تَكَفَّلَ لِلعُلى

أَلّا يَبيتَ بِغَيرِها مَهموما

So may you endure, a successor pledged to eminence,

never to pass a night burdened with any other care,

وَحُسامِ هَيجاءٍ بِهِ اِنحَسَمَ الأَذى

وَحَياً يَسُحُّ المَكرُماتِ هَزيما

a sword of battle by which harm is severed,

and thundering rain pouring down noble deeds.

وَليَسلُ رُتبَتَكَ العَلِيَّةَ راغِماً

مَن كانَ مِن دَرِّ الثَناءِ فَطيما

Let him forget your lofty rank, humbled,

who has been weaned from the flowing milk of praise.

فَهِيَ النَباهَةُ لَن يَنالَ عَظيمَها

مَن لا يَذودُ مِنَ الخُطوبِ عَظيما

Such is distinction: none shall reach its heights

who does not repel a mighty stroke of fate.

أَقسَمتُ حِلفَةَ صادِقٍ بِمَواهِبٍ

غادَرنَني لِذَوي الثَراءِ قَسيما

I swore a truthful man's oath by gifts

that left me a peer of the wealthy.

لَولا اِبنُ مَحمودٍ لَعاوَدَ رَوضُها

مَرعى الخُطوبِ وَحَوضُها مَهدوما

But for Ibn Mahmud, their meadow would again have become

a pasture for misfortunes, and their pool a ruin.

بِنَداكَ أَصبَحَ حاسِدي مَن كانَ لي

مِن قَبلِ إِفضائي إِلَيكَ رَحيما

Through your bounty, my envier has become one who was

kind to me before I came to you.

وَلَدَيكَ قامَ بِحَقِّيَ الزَمَنُ الَّذي

ما زِلتُ أَعهَدُهُ أَلَدَّ غَشوما

At your side, time honored my due—that time

I have always known as bitterly hostile and oppressive.

فَلَأُثنِيَنَّ عَلى سَحابٍ غَيثُهُ

أَغنى الفَقيرَ وَأَنصَفَ المَظلوما

I shall surely praise a cloud whose rain

enriched the poor and gave justice to the wronged.

وَأُعيذُ مَجدَكَ مِن عَطايا جَمَّةٍ

أَبغي لَها التَكميلَ وَالتَتميما

I seek protection for your glory from plentiful gifts

whose completion and fulfillment I must still request,

أَو أَن أُرى في غَيرِ مَكَّةَ مُحرِماً

وَمِنَ الثِيابِ خَلَعتَها مَحروما

or from being seen in pilgrim's garb outside Mecca,

deprived of the robes you have bestowed.

وَلَوِ اِنقَبَضتُ عَنِ السُؤالِ لَحُقَّ لي

وَإِذا اِنسَبَطتُ فَقَد سَأَلتُ كَريما

Had I held back from asking, I would have been justified;

if I ask freely, I have asked a generous man.

عَلَّمتَنا الطَلِباتِ مِن بَعدِ الغِنى

وَرُزِقتَ شَيخاً يَقبَلُ التَعليما

You taught us to ask even after wealth,

and were granted an old man willing to learn.

فَامنُن وَلا تَلُمِ العُفاةَ إِذا هِيَ اِش

تَطَّت فَأَنتَ أَبَحتَها التَحكيما

So bestow, and do not blame petitioners if they go

too far—you have allowed them to set the terms.

هَل تُخفِقُ الآمالُ عِندَ مُمَلَّكٍ

يَهَبُ الأُلوفَ وَيُقطِعُ الإِقليما

Can hopes fail before a sovereign

who gives thousands and grants a province as a fief?

يَهَبُ الثَناءَ وَمالَهُ لِلمُجتَدي

نَهباً فَكانَ الغانِمَ المَغنوما

He gives praise, and his wealth to the petitioner

as plunder—thus a plunderer himself despoiled.

وَالوَفرُ نافِعُهُ الَّذي يُحبى كَما

نَفعُ المُثَقَّفِ أَن يُرى مَحطوما

Wealth's useful portion is what is bestowed, just as

a straightened spear's use is to be seen shattered.

بِأَبي المُظَفَّرِ عادَ ذُلّي عِزَّةً

وَالخَوفُ أَمناً وَالشَقاءُ نَعيما

Through Abu al-Muzaffar, my abasement became honor,

fear became safety, and misery delight.

بِمُصَدِّقِ الأَمَلِ الَّذي أَنضَيتُهُ

أَرجو البَخيلَ وَأَحمَدُ المَذموما

Through him who fulfilled the hope I had exhausted

by hoping for the miser and praising the blameworthy,

وَأَميلُ طَوعَ نَوائِبٍ لَم يَستَطِع

عَضُّ الثِقافِ لِمَيلِها تَقويما

and bowing to calamities whose crookedness

the straightening clamp's bite could not correct.

أُحضِرتُ مَجلِسَهُ فَجادَ بِنائِلٍ

بارى بِهِ التَقريبَ وَالتَكريما

I was brought into his assembly, and he lavished a gift

that rivaled the favor and honor he showed.

دَرَّت خُلوفٌ ما مَراها حالِبٌ

وَهَمَت غُيوثٌ ما اِمتَطَينَ غُيوما

Teats yielded milk though no milker had coaxed them,

and rains poured down that had ridden no clouds.

تُهدي بِريحِ المِسكِ لا ريحِ الصَبا

نَشراً وَتَسقي الحَمدَ لا التَنّوما

They bring, with musk's scent and not the east wind,

fragrance, and water praise, not tannum plants.

وَرَأَيتُ ثَغرَ مَواهِبٍ مُتَبَسِّماً

أَبَداً وَثَغرَ مَناقِبٍ مَعصوما

I saw a mouth of gifts smiling

forever, and a frontier of virtues kept inviolate.

لَو شامَ ذي الشِيَمَ اِبنُ أَوسٍ لَم يَبِت

جاراً لِإِسحَقَ بنَ اِبراهيما

Had Ibn Aws beheld these traits, he would not have stayed

as a neighbor of Ishaq ibn Ibrahim.

أَوَراءَ أَحنَفُ وَهوَ أَحلَمُ مَن مَضى

ذا الحِلمَ آيَسَ أَن يُعَدَّ حَليما

Or had Ahnaf seen—he, the most forbearing of the past—

this forbearance, he would despair of being called forbearing.

أَو عايَنَت ذا الجودَ سُعدى وَاِبنُها

أَوسٌ لَوَدَّت أَن تَكونَ عَقيما

Or had Su'da seen this generosity—her son is

Aws—she would have wished that she were barren.

أَيّامُ هَذا المَلكِ أَعيادٌ لَنا

تَستَغرِقُ التَبجيلَ وَالتَعظيما

The days of this king are festivals for us,

calling for the fullest reverence and exaltation.

فَلَقَلَّ ما نَشتاقُ عيداً ظاعِناً

ما دُمتَ عيداً لِلأَنامِ مُقيما

Little do we miss a festival that passes,

while you remain a lasting festival for mankind.

إِنَّ القَوافي لا عَدَتكَ مَوادِحاً

أَمِنَت بِكَ الإِخفاقَ وَالتَأثيما

These rhymes—may their praises never pass you by—

are safe through you from failure and incurring sin.

فَمَنَعتَها مَن كانَ مَشرَبُها بِهِ

كَدِراً وَمَرتَعُها لَدَيهِ وَخيما

You barred them from one with whom their drinking-place was

muddy, and their pasture unwholesome.

لِلَّهِ قَولٌ فيكَ لَم أَكسِب بِهِ

إِثماً وَظَنٌّ لَم يَكُن تَرجيما

How fine the words about you by which I earned

no sin, and the judgment that was no blind conjecture!

فَلَقَد أَنَلتَ وَما مَطَلتَ بِنائِلٍ

وَأَرى مِطالَكَ بِالمَحامِدِ لوما

You have indeed given, without delaying a gift,

and I deem delay in praising you blameworthy.