سرى طيفها حيثُ العواذل هُجَّع

سرى طيفها حيثُ العواذل هُجَّع

فنمّ علينا نشرهُ المتضوع

فنمّ علينا نشرهُ المتضوع

Her phantom came by night while the reproaching women slept;

Her phantom went where the gazelles sleep,

then its wafting fragrance betrayed us.

So it spread its blossoms over us, wilted.

وباتَ يعاطيني الأحاديث في دجىً

وباتَ يعاطيني الأحاديث في دجىً

كأنَّ الثريَّا فيه كأسٌ مرَصَّع

كأنَّ الثريَّا فيه كأسٌ مرَصَّع

It spent the night exchanging tales with me in darkness,

And it began relating tales to me in the darkness,

where the Pleiades seemed a jewel-studded cup.

As if the Pleiades in it were a jeweled cup.

أجيراننا حيى الربيع دياركُم

أجيراننا حيى الربيع دياركُم

وإن لم يكن فيها لطرفيَ مربع

وإن لم يكن فيها لطرفيَ مربع

O our neighbors, may spring greet your dwellings,

We long for the dwellings of your spring,

though my gaze finds no springtime resting place there.

Even if there is no place in them for my gaze.

شكوت إلى سفحِ النقا طول نأيكُم

شكوت إلى سفحِ النقا طول نأيكُم

وسفحُ النقا بالنأي مثلي مروَّع

وسفحُ النقا بالنأي مثلي مروَّع

I complained to al-Naqa's foot of your long absence,

I complained to the slopes of an-Naqāʾ of your long absence.

and al-Naqa's foot, like me, is terrified by separation.

And the slopes of an-Naqāʾ, like me, feared separation.

ولا بدَّ من شكوى إلى ذي مروءةٍ

ولا بدَّ من شكوى إلى ذي مروءةٍ

يواسيك أو يسليك أو يتوجَّع

يواسيك أو يسليك أو يتوجَّع

And one must complain to someone of noble character,

And I must complain to one of chivalry

who comforts you, distracts you, or shares your pain.

Who will console you, appease you, or sympathize.

فديت حبيباً قد خلا عنهُ ناظرِي

فديت حبيباً قد خلا عنهُ ناظرِي

ولم يخلُ منه في فؤاديَ موضع

ولم يخلُ منه في فؤاديَ موضع

May I be ransom for a beloved whom my eyes no longer behold,

I ransom a beloved from whom my eyes are empty,

yet no place within my heart is empty of him.

Yet no place in my heart is empty of him.

مقيم بأكنافِ الغضا وهيَ مهجةٌ

مقيم بأكنافِ الغضا وهيَ مهجةٌ

وإلا بوادِي المنحنى وهي أضلع

وإلا بوادِي المنحنى وهي أضلع

He dwells in al-Ghada's environs—my heart's core—

He stays on the edges of the meadows, shy,

or else in al-Munhana's valley—my ribs.

Or else in the valley of bending, compliant.

أطالَ حجازَ الصدِّ بيني وبينه

أطالَ حجازَ الصدِّ بيني وبينه

فمقلته الحورا ودمعي ينبع

فمقلته الحورا ودمعي ينبع

He has stretched estrangement's barrier—its Hijaz—between me and him;

The obstruction of parting extended between us,

so his eye is al-Hawra, and my tears are Yanbu, welling forth.

So my tears flow and his eyes shyly avert.

لئن عرضت من دون رؤيتهِ الفلا

لئن عرضت من دون رؤيتهِ الفلا

فيا رُبَّ روضٍ ضمَّنا فيه مجمع

فيا رُبَّ روضٍ ضمَّنا فيه مجمع

Though deserts intervene to keep me from seeing him,

If, without seeing him, I happen on some open space,

how many a garden held a gathering that united us!

Then, by the Lord of a garden, gather us there together,

محلّ ترى فيه جوامعَ لذَّةٍ

محلّ ترى فيه جوامعَ لذَّةٍ

بها تخطب الأطيار والقضب تركع

بها تخطب الأطيار والقضب تركع

A place where you see mosques of delight,

A place you see wherein is every pleasure collected,

where birds deliver sermons and boughs bow in prayer.

At which birds and grasses bow down.

قرأنا بهِ نحو الهنا فملابس

قرأنا بهِ نحو الهنا فملابس

تجرّ وأيدٍ بالمدامة ترفع

تجرّ وأيدٍ بالمدامة ترفع

There we read the grammar of bliss: garments

We will study the favors there, dressed

trailed along, and hands were raised with wine.

In dragging robes, hands lifting wine.

وقد أمنتنا دولةٌ شادَوِية

وقد أمنتنا دولةٌ شادَوِية

فما نختشِي اللأوا ولا نتخشَّع

فما نختشِي اللأوا ولا نتخشَّع

And Shadawi rule has made us secure,

And we will feel secure in an exalted, happy kingdom,

so we fear no hardship and do not cower.

Having no fear of blame or shame.

مدائحها تمحو الآثام ورفدها

مدائحها تمحو الآثام ورفدها

يعوّض من وفر الغنى ما نضيع

يعوّض من وفر الغنى ما نضيع

Poems praising it erase sins, and its bounty

Its praises blot out sins, and its overflowing generosity

makes good, from abundant riches, whatever we squander.

Makes up for squandered plenty.

رعى الله أيامَ المؤيد إننا

رعى الله أيامَ المؤيد إننا

وجدنا بها أهل المقاصد قد رُعوا

وجدنا بها أهل المقاصد قد رُعوا

May God preserve al-Mu'ayyad's days; indeed, we

God protect the days of al-Muʾayyad! We

have found those pursuing their aims well cared for in them.

Have found the people of purpose shepherded in them.

مليكٌ له في الجودِ صنعٌ تأنَّقت

مليكٌ له في الجودِ صنعٌ تأنَّقت

معانيه حتى خلتهُ يتصنَّع

معانيه حتى خلتهُ يتصنَّع

A king whose artistry in generosity grew so refined

A king whose generosity is subtly crafted -

in its meanings that I thought him practicing artifice.

Its meanings are so refined as if contrived.

وعلياء لو أنَّا وضعنا حديثها

وعلياء لو أنَّا وضعنا حديثها

وجدنا سناها فوق ما كانَ يوضع

وجدنا سناها فوق ما كانَ يوضع

And a glory—were we to invent its story,

And noble ladies - if we relate their discourse,

we would find its radiance higher than anything invented.

We find their qualities surpass what is attributed.

مُذال الغنى لو حاولت يدُ سارق

مُذال الغنى لو حاولت يدُ سارق

خزائنه ما كانَ في الشرعِ يقطع

خزائنه ما كانَ في الشرعِ يقطع

His wealth lies freely accessible: should a thief's hand seek

Wealth hangs low for a thief, but if he dared

his treasuries, he would not have it severed under religious law.

To steal its treasures, his hand would not be cut off by law.

أرانا طباقَ المال والمجد في الورى

أرانا طباقَ المال والمجد في الورى

فذلك مبذولٌ وهذا ممنَّع

فذلك مبذولٌ وهذا ممنَّع

He showed us wealth and glory set in contrast among mankind:

He showed us circles of wealth and glory in the world,

the one freely given, the other unassailable.

So this is offered, while that is guarded.

وجانس ما بين القراءة والقرى

وجانس ما بين القراءة والقرى

فللجود منه والإجادة مطلع

فللجود منه والإجادة مطلع

And he brought reading and hospitality into harmony;

And he brought together scripture and towns,

both generosity and mastery have their dawn in him.

Opening from him springs of generosity and skill.

توقَّد ذهناً واسْتفاضَ مكارماً

توقَّد ذهناً واسْتفاضَ مكارماً

فأعلم أن الشهبَ بالغيث تهمع

فأعلم أن الشهبَ بالغيث تهمع

He blazed in intellect and overflowed with noble deeds,

A mind blazed and virtues poured forth abundantly,

thus showing that meteors pour down rain.

So know that meteors flare up from rainclouds.

وصان فجاجَ الملك عدلاً وهيبةً

وصان فجاجَ الملك عدلاً وهيبةً

فلا جانبٌ إلاَّ من الروضِ مرتع

فلا جانبٌ إلاَّ من الروضِ مرتع

He safeguarded the realm's roads with justice and awe,

He protected the unruly ways of kingship through justice and awe,

so every corner is a garden pasture.

So that no side remains except as a meadow for grazing.

عزائم وضَّاح المحامد أروعٌ

عزائم وضَّاح المحامد أروعٌ

إذا قيل وضَّاح المحامد أروَع

إذا قيل وضَّاح المحامد أروَع

The resolves of the man of radiant virtues are more awe-inspiring,

The resolves of the eminent Wadaah are most sublime

when the man of radiant virtues is called awe-inspiring.

When it is said, “The resolves of the eminent Wadaah!”

تفرق أحمال النّضار يمينه

تفرق أحمال النّضار يمينه

لمَّا راح بالسمر الطوال يجمَّع

لمَّا راح بالسمر الطوال يجمَّع

His right hand scatters loads of pure gold,

The burdens of prosperity emptied from his right hand

when he goes forth gathering them with long, dusky spears.

When it set out, gathering long ropes.

ولا عيبَ في أخلاقه غير أنه

ولا عيبَ في أخلاقه غير أنه

إذا عذلوه في الندى ليس يرجع

إذا عذلوه في الندى ليس يرجع

There is no fault in his character except that,

He has no fault in his character other than

when they reproach him for generosity, he will not turn back.

When reproached for benefaction, he does not refrain.

له كلّ يوم في السيادة والعلى

له كلّ يوم في السيادة والعلى

أحاديثَ تملي المادحين فتبدع

أحاديثَ تملي المادحين فتبدع

Every day, in lordship and high distinction, he has

Every day for him sovereignty and sublimity

tales that dictate to his praisers and work wonders.

Relate tales that inspire panegyrists to create.

إذا دَعتِ الحربُ العوانُ حسامه

إذا دَعتِ الحربُ العوانُ حسامه

جلا أفقها والرُّمح للسن يقرع

جلا أفقها والرُّمح للسن يقرع

When seasoned war calls upon his sword,

When war calls for helpers, his swords

it clears her horizon, while the spear taps its tooth in regret.

Flash, and spear blades ring against teeth.

وإن مشت الآمال نحو جنابه

وإن مشت الآمال نحو جنابه

رأت جود كفَّيه لها كيفَ يهرع

رأت جود كفَّيه لها كيفَ يهرع

And if hopes walk toward his presence,

And if hopes proceed toward his side,

they see how his hands' generosity hastens to meet them.

They see the palm of his hand rushing to provide.

فلا تفتخر من نيل مصر أصابع

فلا تفتخر من نيل مصر أصابع

فما النيل إلا من يمينك أصبع

فما النيل إلا من يمينك أصبع

So let no fingers of Egypt's Nile boast,

Do not boast of obtaining fingers of the Nile,

for the Nile is but a finger of your right hand.

For the Nile is but a finger of your right hand.

أيا ملكاً لما دعته ضراعتي

أيا ملكاً لما دعته ضراعتي

تيقنت أن الدهر لي سوف يضرع

تيقنت أن الدهر لي سوف يضرع

O king, when my supplication called upon you,

O king - when my pleading called upon him

I knew that Time would bow humbly before me.

I was certain fate itself would plead to me.

قصدتك ظمآناً فجدت بزاخرٍ

قصدتك ظمآناً فجدت بزاخرٍ

أشقّ كما قد قيل فيه وأذرع

أشقّ كما قد قيل فيه وأذرع

I sought you thirsty, and you gave a surging sea,

I sought you thirsty and found, in deepest affliction,

through which I cleave, as has been said, and ply my arms.

One who, as they say of him, is most generous.

وفي بعض ما أسديت قُنعٌ وإنما

وفي بعض ما أسديت قُنعٌ وإنما

فتىً كنت مرمى ظنّه ليس يقنع

فتىً كنت مرمى ظنّه ليس يقنع

In some of what you bestowed there is enough; yet

In some of what you gave I gained satisfaction, but in truth

a youth whose hopes were fixed on you is not content.

I was one whose hopes were boundless.

لك الله ما أزكى وأشرف همةً

لك الله ما أزكى وأشرف همةً

وأحسن في العلياء ما تتنوع

وأحسن في العلياء ما تتنوع

God be with you! How pure and noble your aspiration,

May God preserve what most pure, noble intention,

and how splendid your varied forms of high distinction!

And most excellent diversified supreme glory, are yours.

مديحك فرضٌ لازمٌ لي دينه

مديحك فرضٌ لازمٌ لي دينه

ومدح بني العليا سواكَ تطوّع

ومدح بني العليا سواكَ تطوّع

Praising you is a religious duty binding upon me,

My praise of you is an obligation, binding in religion,

and praising other sons of eminence is voluntary devotion.

While praising others of the supreme house is voluntary.