عاش وصلاً وغيره مات صدّا

عاش وصلاً وغيره مات صدّا

مستهامٌ لسلوةِ ما تصدَّى

مستهامٌ لسلوةِ ما تصدَّى

He lived through union, while another died of rejection,

He lived united while others died divided,

a love-stricken man who never sought forgetfulness.

Aiming for the gentle pace of his steadiness.

بأبي زائرٌ وقد شرعَ الإص

بأبي زائرٌ وقد شرعَ الإص

باحُ يطوي من الدجنة برْدا

باحُ يطوي من الدجنة برْدا

My father be ransom for a visitor, as dawn began

My father visits while he starts the evening,

folding away a cloak of darkness.

The morning folds away the darkness’ cold.

ونسيم الصّبا على الأفقِ يُذكي

ونسيم الصّبا على الأفقِ يُذكي

سحراً من مجامر الزهرِ ندَّا

سحراً من مجامر الزهرِ ندَّا

And the east wind's breeze upon the horizon kindles,

The breeze of the zephyr enlivens the horizon,

at dawn, incense from the flowers' censers.

Spreading the magic of flowers’ nectar.

يا رعى الله سفحَ نعمانَ سفحاً

يا رعى الله سفحَ نعمانَ سفحاً

وسقى الله عهد نعمان عهدا

وسقى الله عهد نعمان عهدا

Ah, may God guard Na'man's hillside—what a hillside!

O Allah, make Ne’man’s valley a fertile valley,

And may God water the days of Na'man—what days!

And give Ne’man’s era its share of water.

ومهاة تعدّ نعمان داراً

ومهاة تعدّ نعمان داراً

واللوى والعقيقَ صدغاً وخدَّا

واللوى والعقيقَ صدغاً وخدَّا

And an oryx who reckons Na'man her home,

And Maha counts Ne’man as home,

and al-Liwa and al-Aqiq her temple and cheek.

The twisting roads and carnelian a cheek and bosom.

مشتهاة اللقا كما تشتهى الدن

مشتهاة اللقا كما تشتهى الدن

يا وإن أتعب النفوس وأكدى

يا وإن أتعب النفوس وأكدى

Her meeting is coveted, as the world is coveted,

Yearned for like the religion yearns for faith,

though it wearies souls and leaves them unrewarded.

Yes, though it wearies souls and subjects them.

يتثنى الأراكُ زهراً فينبي

يتثنى الأراكُ زهراً فينبي

إنَّ في ثغرها مداماً وشهدا

إنَّ في ثغرها مداماً وشهدا

The blossoming arak sways, announcing

The small pearls bend like flowers blooming,

that her mouth holds wine and honey,

In their smile is a draft of wine and honey.

ومن الجوهر الصغير يتيماً

ومن الجوهر الصغير يتيماً

لم يدع للهوى لرائيه رشدا

لم يدع للهوى لرائيه رشدا

and a peerless gem among the tiny jewels,

And a small orphaned jewel,

which leaves its beholder no sound judgment in love.

That did not leave passion for its viewer any sanity.

ما علمنا من قبله في تصاني

ما علمنا من قبله في تصاني

ف الهوى إنَّ لابن بسَّام عقدا

ف الهوى إنَّ لابن بسَّام عقدا

Never before this had we known, in the writings

We did not know before him such refinement in passion,

of love, that Ibn Bassam possessed a necklace.

Ibn Bissam has indeed a necklace in passion.

كيراعِ الوزيرِ جوداً وبأساً

كيراعِ الوزيرِ جوداً وبأساً

حين تذكو في الحالتين وتندى

حين تذكو في الحالتين وتندى

Like the minister's reed pen in generosity and might,

Like the minister’s generosity and might,

as in both states it burns bright and sheds dew.

When remembered in both situations, he aspires.

الوزير الذي نهى الخطب عنا

الوزير الذي نهى الخطب عنا

فتعدَّى عنا ولم يتعدى

فتعدَّى عنا ولم يتعدى

The minister who kept calamity away from us:

The minister who forbid us from loving,

it passed us by, and did not overstep.

So we turned away and did not transgress.

يتقي جانب التقيّ وتخشى الإن

يتقي جانب التقيّ وتخشى الإن

سُ والجن من سليمان حدا

سُ والجن من سليمان حدا

It fears the pious man's presence; humankind

He fears the side of the devout and dreads

and jinn dread Sulayman's severity.

Ins and Jinn feared Solomon and his limits.

أوفر العالمين عزًّا وعزماً

أوفر العالمين عزًّا وعزماً

وهو أوفى العباد نسكاً وزهدا

وهو أوفى العباد نسكاً وزهدا

Of all beings, the richest in honor and resolve,

The most glorious and determined of both worlds,

and of all servants, the most faithful in devotion and abstinence.

And the most pious of worshipers in devotion and asceticism.

طالع يجتلي به الملكُ بدراً

طالع يجتلي به الملكُ بدراً

ووقور يحبه الملك أُحدا

ووقور يحبه الملك أُحدا

A rising star, in whom the king beholds a full moon,

A rising full moon in the king’s sight,

and a dignified man—an Uhud beloved by the king.

And dignified whom the king loves completely.

ومهيبٌ لو يلمح الدّمَ لم يخ

ومهيبٌ لو يلمح الدّمَ لم يخ

رج من العرق حين يفصد فصدا

رج من العرق حين يفصد فصدا

And so imposing that, were he to glimpse blood, it would not

Awe-inspiring, if he saw blood he would not

leave the vein when he was bled.

Sweat until blood flows from him forcefully.

وحليمٌ قد راقه الحلم حتى

وحليمٌ قد راقه الحلم حتى

كاد مخطي الذنوب يذنب عمدا

كاد مخطي الذنوب يذنب عمدا

And forbearing, so delighted by forbearance

Clement, so that clemency suits him,

that even an unwitting sinner almost sins deliberately.

Until the sinner of sins would intentionally sin.

وجواد لو رام فيض الغوادي

وجواد لو رام فيض الغوادي

أن يحاكيه عُدّ ذلك فردا

أن يحاكيه عُدّ ذلك فردا

And generous: if the flood of morning rainclouds sought

Generous, if the rain of generosity,

to match him, that would be counted a singular feat.

Wanted to emulate him, that would be unique.

ورئيس كما تريد المعالي

ورئيس كما تريد المعالي

لا كمن آده المسيرُ فردَّا

لا كمن آده المسيرُ فردَّا

And a leader such as lofty virtues desire,

A leader as glory wants,

not like one who turned back, burdened by the journey.

Not like whom the journey made slow and tumble.

وبليغ تنضد المدح فيه

وبليغ تنضد المدح فيه

وهو أبهى منه وأنضر نهدا

وهو أبهى منه وأنضر نهدا

And eloquent: you string praise about him,

Eloquent whom praise in him gushes,

yet he is more splendid than it, more fresh-blooming of breast.

While he is more radiant than it, brighter chested.

يرتجى سيبه ويخشى ذكاه

يرتجى سيبه ويخشى ذكاه

فيرجى نقداً ويحذَرُ نقدا

فيرجى نقداً ويحذَرُ نقدا

His bounty is sought, his sharpness feared;

Whose sword is hoped for and whose intellect feared,

his coin is hoped for, his criticism dreaded.

So his minted coins are hoped for and his coins dreaded.

خطبته وزارةٌ وجدته

خطبته وزارةٌ وجدته

في اكتساب العلى أجدَّ وأجدى

في اكتساب العلى أجدَّ وأجدى

The vizierate courted him and found him

His speech is ministry and his essence found

more earnest and more effective in attaining eminence.

In reaching the heights most productive and useful.

ورأت صَلْصَلاً بفضل علاه

ورأت صَلْصَلاً بفضل علاه

شهدت في الورى صحابٌ وأعدا

شهدت في الورى صحابٌ وأعدا

And saw a skilled shepherd, to whose lofty excellence

And it saw a necklace due to his sublime merit

friends and foes bore witness among humankind.

That both East and West bear witness to.

ولعمري لقد دعته وزيراً

ولعمري لقد دعته وزيراً

منتهى معشرٍ لعلياهُ مبدا

منتهى معشرٍ لعلياهُ مبدا

By my life, it truly named him minister:

By his life, it has named him minister,

others' furthest reach is a beginning for his heights.

The utmost of a society whose nobility he began.

فكفى الجانبين مصراً وشاماً

فكفى الجانبين مصراً وشاماً

وأفاض العينينِ عدلاً ورِفدا

وأفاض العينينِ عدلاً ورِفدا

So he sufficed for both regions, Egypt and Syria,

So it sufficed for Egypt and Damascus,

and made both springs overflow with justice and bounty.

And made both eyes overflow with justice and plenty.

ومشى في الورى على نهج حقٍّ

ومشى في الورى على نهج حقٍّ

مستبين الهدى وساد وأسدى

مستبين الهدى وساد وأسدى

He walked among humankind on a path of truth,

And he walked in life by the path of truth,

clearly discerning guidance; he led and bestowed favors.

Clarifying guidance, dominating, lionizing.

وارتدى فيهم رداءً من الع

وارتدى فيهم رداءً من الع

زِّ وأما حسودُه فترَدَّى

زِّ وأما حسودُه فترَدَّى

And among them he donned a robe

And he wore among them a gown of honor, while his envious enemies recoiled.

of honor; as for his envier, he fell to ruin.

O envious tortured one against him,

أيها الحاسد المعذب فيه

أيها الحاسد المعذب فيه

جئت شيئاً من الشقاوَة إدَّا

جئت شيئاً من الشقاوَة إدَّا

O envier, tormented over him,

You have come with some misery, pause!

you have wrought a monstrous act of wickedness.

How do you intend to blame a master whenever

كيف ناوَيت سيداً كلما زا

كيف ناوَيت سيداً كلما زا

دَ عِداةً يزيده الله مجدا

دَ عِداةً يزيده الله مجدا

How could you oppose a lord who, whenever he gains

His enemies increase, God increases his glory?

more foes, is given greater glory by God?

If he extends his palm to the lowly,

إن يكن في العفاة ابسط كفًّا

إن يكن في العفاة ابسط كفًّا

فهو في المكرماتِ أبسط زندا

فهو في المكرماتِ أبسط زندا

If he is most open-palmed toward petitioners,

He is most generous in gifts and strengthened it.

in noble deeds his forearm stretches wider still.

Fear his meetings and be wary until

خاف خلاَّقه فخيف إلى أن

خاف خلاَّقه فخيف إلى أن

ضمَّ من عدلهِ ظباءً وأسدا

ضمَّ من عدلهِ ظباءً وأسدا

He feared his Creator, and so was feared, to the point that

He assembles you in his justice, lions and lionesses.

through his justice he brought gazelles and lions together.

And he destroyed the tyrants with might and awe,

وأبادَ الطغاةَ بأساً ورعباً

وأبادَ الطغاةَ بأساً ورعباً

وأعاد الجميل فينا وأبدَى

وأعاد الجميل فينا وأبدَى

He annihilated tyrants through might and terror,

And renewed kindness among us and initiated.

and restored kindness among us and made it manifest.

Singular in the ranks of virtue you will find,

واحداً في مراتبِ الفضلِ تلقى

واحداً في مراتبِ الفضلِ تلقى

حول أبوبهِ من الخلقِ جندا

حول أبوبهِ من الخلقِ جندا

Peerless in the ranks of excellence—you find

Around his door from mankind an army.

a host of people around his gates.

He has mercy on the group without his equal, a group

يرحم الجمع دون مغناه جمعاً

يرحم الجمع دون مغناه جمعاً

مستميراً ويتبع الرفد رفدا

مستميراً ويتبع الرفد رفدا

He pities the throng before his dwelling, a crowd

Guided and follows provision with provision.

seeking provisions, and adds gift upon gift.

Glory does not prevent him from the lowly, nor does he

ما ثنى الجاهَ عن ذليلٍ ولا أع

ما ثنى الجاهَ عن ذليلٍ ولا أع

طى لذي حاجةٍ عطاء وأكدى

طى لذي حاجةٍ عطاء وأكدى

He never turned his influence away from the lowly, nor gave

Give the needy a gift or strengthen it.

someone in need a gift and then ceased giving.

Successful of opinion, a slayer of enemies,

مسعد الرأيِ ذابحٌ للأعادِي

مسعد الرأيِ ذابحٌ للأعادِي

فهو مهما خبرتهُ كانَ سعدا

فهو مهما خبرتهُ كانَ سعدا

His counsel brings good fortune; he slaughters foes;

However you experience him, he is always blessed.

however you put him to the test, he proves good fortune itself.

No fault in him can be counted except:

ليس فيه عيبٌ يعدُّ سوى أنَّ

ليس فيه عيبٌ يعدُّ سوى أنَّ

أياديهِ تجعلُ الحرَّ عبدا

أياديهِ تجعلُ الحرَّ عبدا

No fault can be counted in him, save that

His hands make the free man a slave.

his favors make the free man a slave.

He has resolved Damascus after a time

يمَّم الشام بعد إقتار وقت

يمَّم الشام بعد إقتار وقت

لم تجد فيه للمناجح قصدا

لم تجد فيه للمناجح قصدا

He headed for Syria after a time of privation

Where the complainers could find no purpose.

in which you could find no path to success.

How many messages we sent to the bureaus

كم بعثنا إلى الدواوين طرساً

كم بعثنا إلى الدواوين طرساً

خائباً كاده الزمان فكدا

خائباً كاده الزمان فكدا

How many a written sheet we sent to the bureaus,

Disappointed, as if fate abandoned them.

disappointed—time had thwarted it, and it grew weary.

Long did their back and forth to the people last,

طال تردَادُهُ إلى القومِ حتَّى

طال تردَادُهُ إلى القومِ حتَّى

لو بعثناه وحدَه لَتَهدَّى

لو بعثناه وحدَه لَتَهدَّى

Its repeated journeys to those men went on so long

As if we sent them alone they would have collapsed.

that, had we sent it alone, it would have found its way.

So that hardship is now ease,

فغدا الآنَ ذلك العسرُ يسراً

فغدا الآنَ ذلك العسرُ يسراً

بحقيقٍ وذلكَ المنعُ رِفدا

بحقيقٍ وذلكَ المنعُ رِفدا

So now that hardship has become ease,

With truth, and that prevention, plenty.

in truth, and that withholding has become bounty.

And money flowed from Damascus and Egypt

وسرى المال من شآمٍ ومصرٍ

وسرى المال من شآمٍ ومصرٍ

كعمومِ السحابِ قرباً وبعدا

كعمومِ السحابِ قرباً وبعدا

And wealth traveled from Syria and Egypt,

Like the downpour of rain, near and far.

like the clouds' wide reach, near and far.

Resolute actions whose blessings,

عزماتُ تحفها بركاتٌ

عزماتُ تحفها بركاتٌ

مثلها منه للممالكِ تهدى

مثلها منه للممالكِ تهدى

Resolves surrounded by blessings:

The likes of which guide kingdoms.

their like are offered by him to the kingdoms.

And he observes from his limit and bounty,

ويراعٌ من حدِّه ونداه

ويراعٌ من حدِّه ونداه

كادَ بينَ السيوف أن يتحدَّى

كادَ بينَ السيوف أن يتحدَّى

And a reed pen that, through its sharp edge and dew,

Almost challenging between the swords.

almost challenges the swords in their midst.

A green-feathered pen, no crookedness,

قلمٌ أخضرُ المرابع لا غرْ

قلمٌ أخضرُ المرابع لا غرْ

وَ إذا كانَ عيش راجيه رغدا

وَ إذا كانَ عيش راجيه رغدا

A pen with verdant meadows—no wonder,

When his life is prosperous, plentiful.

when one who hopes in it lives in plenty.

Carried by the minister’s hands we became

حملته أيدي الوزير فخلنا

حملته أيدي الوزير فخلنا

بارِقاً في سحابةٍ قد تبدَّى

بارِقاً في سحابةٍ قد تبدَّى

The minister's hands bore it, and we thought it

Radiant in a lofty cloud that manifested.

a flash of lightning appearing in a cloud.

O minister whose praise his career guides,

يا وزيراً يهدي الثناءَ سناه

يا وزيراً يهدي الثناءَ سناه

ولهاه إلى المقاصدِ تهدى

ولهاه إلى المقاصدِ تهدى

O minister whose radiance guides praise,

And his ingenuity to purposes is guided.

and whose gifts are guided to their destinations.

The reciters thank you on my behalf with might

شكرَتك الرُّواةُ عنِّي بعزِّ

شكرَتك الرُّواةُ عنِّي بعزِّ

قاطعات السرى آكاماً ووهدا

قاطعات السرى آكاماً ووهدا

The reciters thanked you on my behalf, with honor,

Cutting paths, biting, and leveling.

in verses crossing hills and hollows by night,

Memories beautiful in your making with me,

ذاكراتٌ جميلَ صنعك عندِي

ذاكراتٌ جميلَ صنعك عندِي

بقوافٍ بها الركائب تحدى

بقوافٍ بها الركائب تحدى

recalling your gracious deeds toward me,

In rhythms the mounts and camels compete over.

in rhymes sung to urge the riding camels on,

Traveling on the horizon among the maidens,

سائرات في الأفقِ بين الجواري

سائرات في الأفقِ بين الجواري

والجواري في حسنها كالعبدا

والجواري في حسنها كالعبدا

traveling across the horizon among the coursing stars,

And the maidens in their beauty like servants.

while maidens, beside these verses' beauty, seem like bondsmen.

Every meaning like a star, and every verse,

كلُّ معنًى كالنجمِ أو كلّ بيتٍ

كلُّ معنًى كالنجمِ أو كلّ بيتٍ

هو أهدى في الأفقِ من أن يهدى

هو أهدى في الأفقِ من أن يهدى

Each meaning is like a star—or rather, each verse

More guided on the horizon than one can guide.

is too sure a guide across the horizon to need guiding.

I give them to you to immortalize praise in meanings,

هاكها تخلد الثنا بمعانٍ

هاكها تخلد الثنا بمعانٍ

تتركُ الضدّ بالأشعَّة خلدا

تتركُ الضدّ بالأشعَّة خلدا

Take it: it makes praise immortal through meanings

Leaving my opposite faded away forever.

whose rays leave the adversary a mole.

Thus good work grows vegetation,

هكذا ينبتُ الصنيعُ نباتاً

هكذا ينبتُ الصنيعُ نباتاً

وكذا تحصد المعادي حصدا

وكذا تحصد المعادي حصدا

Thus kindness grows and flourishes,

And thus the enemy harvests his harvest.

and thus you reap the foe.

Live in the shade of love and you are hoped for,

عشْ بظلِّ الحبا وأنت المرجى

عشْ بظلِّ الحبا وأنت المرجى

وتبيدُ العدى وأنت المفدَّى

وتبيدُ العدى وأنت المفدَّى

Live in the shade of bounty, as the one we look to,

And the enemy will perish while you are the redeemer.

and destroy foes, as the one we would ransom.

The house was filled by your hand with sustenance,

ملئَ البيتُ من يديك نوالاً

ملئَ البيتُ من يديك نوالاً

فملأنا أبيات مدحك حمدا

فملأنا أبيات مدحك حمدا

The house was filled with bounty from your two hands,

So fill us with verses praising you with praise.

so we filled the verses of your praise with gratitude.