جاءت العاذلات شيئاً فريا

جاءت العاذلات شيئاً فريا

وظمئنا إلى لقاكَ فريّا

وظمئنا إلى لقاكَ فريّا

The reproaching women have done an outrageous thing,

The reproachers came lightly

and we thirsted to meet you—so give us our fill.

And we thirsted to meet you quickly

يا قريباً من المحبِّ بعيداً

يا قريباً من المحبِّ بعيداً

وعذاباً إلى المحبِّ شهيّا

وعذاباً إلى المحبِّ شهيّا

O you who are near to the lover, yet far away,

O one near to the lover, yet far

and a torment sweet to the lover;

And a torment to the lover, yet delightful

وغزالاً لناظريه فتورٌ

وغزالاً لناظريه فتورٌ

تركا القلب كالزناد وريّا

تركا القلب كالزناد وريّا

and a gazelle whose two eyes are languid—

And a gazelle to its onlookers, yet languid

they left the heart kindled like firesticks.

Leaving the heart like tinder, ablaze

غلب الصبر في هوى ناظريه

غلب الصبر في هوى ناظريه

وضعيفان يغلبان قويّا

وضعيفان يغلبان قويّا

Patience was overcome by love of his eyes,

Patience was overcome by the passion of its glance

and two weak ones overcome a strong one.

And two weak ones overcome one strong

وعلى وجنتيه نارٌ أراني

وعلى وجنتيه نارٌ أراني

إن تسلَّيتُ عن هواها شقيّا

إن تسلَّيتُ عن هواها شقيّا

On his cheeks is a fire; I deem myself,

And upon his cheeks a fire I saw

if I turn away from loving it, wretched.

If I distracted myself from his love, miserable

يا خليليّ عندها خلِّياني

يا خليليّ عندها خلِّياني

أنا أولى بوجنتيه صليّا

أنا أولى بوجنتيه صليّا

O my two friends, leave me beside it;

O my intimate, leave me with him

I am the one most fit to burn at his cheeks.

For I am most deserving of his cheeks, pray

أنا أدري بأنَّ لي من سناها

أنا أدري بأنَّ لي من سناها

في الجبينِ طالعاً قمريّا

في الجبينِ طالعاً قمريّا

I know that from its radiance I have

I know that for me from his radiance

upon the brow a moonlike ascendant.

There is an auspicious moon on his forehead

لا أدري حينَ حلَّ عقرب صدغ

لا أدري حينَ حلَّ عقرب صدغ

سفر القلب في هواها رديّا

سفر القلب في هواها رديّا

I cannot fathom, when a temple-lock's scorpion alighted,

I know not when the scorpion of his temple arrived

the heart's ill-starred journey in its love.

The heart's journey in his love backfires

بأبي غصن معطفيه على القر

بأبي غصن معطفيه على القر

بِ وفي البعدِ جانياً وجنيّا

بِ وفي البعدِ جانياً وجنيّا

My father be ransom for the branch of his flanks, whether near

By my father, a branch pleating his cloak

or far, plucking fruit and ripe for plucking.

From afar it came, coveting and craving

ويتيم من لؤلؤِ الثغر حلوٌ

ويتيم من لؤلؤِ الثغر حلوٌ

راح في مثله الرشيد غويّا

راح في مثله الرشيد غويّا

And a sweet, peerless pearl of the mouth—

An orphan from the pearl of his smile, sweet

over whose like al-Rashid went astray.

Traveling in its likeness, the right-minded go astray

ذو ابْتسامٍ بالسهدِ أرمدَ عيني

ذو ابْتسامٍ بالسهدِ أرمدَ عيني

مع أنِّي اكْتحلتهُ لؤلؤيّا

مع أنِّي اكْتحلتهُ لؤلؤيّا

Possessor of a smile that inflamed my eye with sleeplessness,

With a smile that dazzles, he blinded my eyes

though I used it as pearly kohl.

Despite that I lined them with my pearl

تارةً في بضائعِ الحسنِ يأتي

تارةً في بضائعِ الحسنِ يأتي

جوهريًّا وتارةً سكَّريّا

جوهريًّا وتارةً سكَّريّا

At times, among the wares of beauty, he comes

Sometimes in the wares of beauty he comes

as a jeweler, and at times as a sugar-seller.

Precious, and other times sugary

فتنة الحسن فوقَ خدَّيه لا تب

فتنة الحسن فوقَ خدَّيه لا تب

رح قيسيّ رأيه يمنيّا

رح قيسيّ رأيه يمنيّا

Beauty's enchantment upon his cheeks never

The temptation of beauty above his cheeks does not depart

ceases—Qaysi in outlook, yet Yemeni.

It confused Qays’ perspective, right or left

أنظم الشعر وهو يبسم عجباً

أنظم الشعر وهو يبسم عجباً

ولهذا أتى به جوهريّا

ولهذا أتى به جوهريّا

I string together verse while he smiles in wonder,

I compose poetry and he smiles in wonder

and so he brought it forth jewel-like:

And so he came with it, of precious things

عامريًّا من التغزُّل فيه

عامريًّا من التغزُّل فيه

ومن المدحِ بعده قرشيّا

ومن المدحِ بعده قرشيّا

Amiri through the love-poetry about him,

Flourishing in singing his praises

and Qurashi through the praise that follows.

And after praise, Qurashi

حبَّذا من قريش في الشامِ فرع

حبَّذا من قريش في الشامِ فرع

أبطحيّ أكرم به بهنسيّا

أبطحيّ أكرم به بهنسيّا

How fine a branch of Quraysh in Syria—

Blessed among Quraysh in Syria a branch

an Abtahi; how noble a Bahnasi he is!

Abu Taheeya, most generous of the Bahnasi

شمس عليا عمَّت منافعها الخ

شمس عليا عمَّت منافعها الخ

لق قريباً من الورَى وقصيّا

لق قريباً من الورَى وقصيّا

An exalted sun whose benefits encompass

The sun of the eminent, its benefits encompassed people

creation, those near and far among humankind.

Both near and far from the lands and distant

وكريمُ زاكي الأصول هززنا

وكريمُ زاكي الأصول هززنا

منه للمكرماتِ فرعاً زكيّا

منه للمكرماتِ فرعاً زكيّا

And a generous man of pure roots: we have shaken

And the generous, pure lineage, we were shaken

from him, for noble deeds, a thriving branch.

By him for favors, a branch most pure

فإذا ما دعى رسول رجاء

فإذا ما دعى رسول رجاء

فضل أبوابه دعى خزرجيّا

فضل أبوابه دعى خزرجيّا

Whenever a messenger of hope invokes

So if a messenger of hope calls

the bounty of his gates, he invokes a Khazraji.

The plenty of his doors calls a Khazraji

وإذا ما سقى نداهُ نباتي

وإذا ما سقى نداهُ نباتي

طابَ مدحي في الحالتين رويّا

طابَ مدحي في الحالتين رويّا

And whenever his generosity waters my plants,

And if his voice gives drink to my plants

my praise is sweet in both cases, well-watered.

My praise smells good in both states, well-watered

كم سبرنا لهُ تقىً ونوالاً

كم سبرنا لهُ تقىً ونوالاً

فوجدنا في الحالتينِ وليّا

فوجدنا في الحالتينِ وليّا

How often we tested his piety and generosity,

How we traversed for him piety and intimacy

and found in both a devoted friend.

And found in both states a guardian

كم ثناءً والى لعلياه مدحاً

كم ثناءً والى لعلياه مدحاً

حسناً في الورَى وقدراً عليّا

حسناً في الورَى وقدراً عليّا

How much acclaim has lavished praise on his eminence—

How much praise and passion for his eminence in eulogy

beautiful among humankind—and lofty esteem.

Good among all people and a station most high

ومعانٍ يحيى لها فلقد أو

ومعانٍ يحيى لها فلقد أو

تي حكم الفخار فيها صبيّا

تي حكم الفخار فيها صبيّا

And virtues for which he is a Yahya; for he was given

And insights that give life, and indeed

wisdom in those matters of glory while still a boy.

I was granted the judgment of pottery in them, childish

تالياً في العلى وزيراً شهدنا

تالياً في العلى وزيراً شهدنا

ه لآمالنا وفيًّا حفيّا

ه لآمالنا وفيًّا حفيّا

Following in eminence a minister whom we have seen

Ascending in the sublime, a minister we witnessed

faithful to our hopes and warmly attentive.

For our hopes, faithful, protecting

قالَ إحسانهُ تهنُّوا نوالاً

قالَ إحسانهُ تهنُّوا نوالاً

وزكاة منه وكانَ تقيّا

وزكاة منه وكانَ تقيّا

His beneficence said, 'Enjoy bounty

His benevolence said: congratulate an intimacy

and blessing from him'; and he was devout.

And purification from him, for he was devout

حبَّذا تلو ذاك شمساً تلونا

حبَّذا تلو ذاك شمساً تلونا

مدح أيامه جليلاً جليّا

مدح أيامه جليلاً جليّا

How fine, after that one, a sun! We recited

Blessed after that a sun followed us

praise of his days, majestic and clear.

Praising his days, great and splendid

خطبته مناصب الدِّين والدن

خطبته مناصب الدِّين والدن

يا كما قد نرى فكانَ الكفيّا

يا كما قد نرى فكانَ الكفيّا

The offices of religion and worldly life courted him,

His sermon the positions of religion and life

as we can see, and he proved their worthy match.

As we may see, thus he was sufficient

عن تفاريق يمنه فاسأل الجا

عن تفاريق يمنه فاسأل الجا

مع تسئل لسان صدق عليّا

مع تسئل لسان صدق عليّا

About his manifold blessings, ask the

About his right hand’s separating, so ask the entirety

mosque—you will ask a lofty tongue of truth.

You ask, and the tongue of truth will say “Ali”

يا له في الورَى فتىً قرشيًّا

يا له في الورَى فتىً قرشيًّا

عمَّ بالخيرِ جامعاً أمويّا

عمَّ بالخيرِ جامعاً أمويّا

What a Qurashi youth he is among humankind,

O for him among the people a Qurashi lad

who filled the Umayyad Mosque with goodness!

Who has spread good, a unifier, Umayyad

ورئيساً نجا ذوو القصد لما

ورئيساً نجا ذوو القصد لما

قرَّبت منها الملوك نجيّا

قرَّبت منها الملوك نجيّا

And a chief: petitioners found deliverance when

And a chief the people of purpose survived

the kings drew him close to themselves as a confidant.

For when the kings brought them near, rescued

ورأوا عزمه لدينٍ ودنيا

ورأوا عزمه لدينٍ ودنيا

شافياً كافياً غنيًّا مليّا

شافياً كافياً غنيًّا مليّا

They found his resolve, for religion and worldly life,

And they saw his resolve for faith and life

healing, sufficient, rich, and amply capable.

Healing, fulfilling, wealthy, replenished

سائرات أقلامه يوم حفظ

سائرات أقلامه يوم حفظ

وعطاءً على الصراطِ سويّا

وعطاءً على الصراطِ سويّا

His pens travel, on a day of safeguarding

The caravans of his pens the day he memorized

and giving, upright along the path.

And gifting on the path made smooth

فترى الحقّ كالصباح رواءً

فترى الحقّ كالصباح رواءً

وترى الخير كالغمام رويّا

وترى الخير كالغمام رويّا

So you see truth, like the morning, fair to behold,

You see the truth radiant like the dawn

and goodness, like the clouds, laden with rain.

And you see good like the clouds, well-watered

وترى اليراع يجري بجودٍ

وترى اليراع يجري بجودٍ

وبيان جواده العربيّا

وبيان جواده العربيّا

And you see the reed pen race with generosity

And you see generosity flowing with munificence

and eloquence—his Arabian steed.

And the eloquence of his Arab steed

صانَ وجهي عن الورَى بأيادٍ

صانَ وجهي عن الورَى بأيادٍ

وأيادٍ غيَّرن حالي الزريّا

وأيادٍ غيَّرن حالي الزريّا

With favors he spared my face shame before humankind,

He protected my face from the people with hands

and favors transformed my wretched state.

And hands that changed my lowly state, pitiful

فأنا اليوم والزمان بخير

فأنا اليوم والزمان بخير

ها كأن السعيد كانَ شقيّا

ها كأن السعيد كانَ شقيّا

So today, I and Time are well through

So today and time for me are good

their goodness, as though the fortunate man had once been wretched.

As if the happy one had been miserable

جنَّة من دمشق نرتعُ فيها

جنَّة من دمشق نرتعُ فيها

ولنا الرزق بكرةً وعشيّا

ولنا الرزق بكرةً وعشيّا

A garden of Damascus where we feast at ease,

A paradise from Damascus we enjoy

with sustenance for us morning and evening.

And for us provision morning and evening

يا كريماً يخفي أياديهِ لو كا

يا كريماً يخفي أياديهِ لو كا

نَ شذا المسك والصباح خفيّا

نَ شذا المسك والصباح خفيّا

O generous man who would conceal his favors, if

O generous one who hides his hands, if only

musk's scent and morning could be concealed!

The chosen musk and dawn were hidden

أصلح الباطن افْتقادك والظا

أصلح الباطن افْتقادك والظا

هر إذ كنت جائعاً وعريّا

هر إذ كنت جائعاً وعريّا

Your care restored both my inward and my outward

Reforming the inward was your visit, and the outward

state, when I was hungry and naked.

When you were hungry and bare

فابْقَ ما شئت كيف شئت مرجى

فابْقَ ما شئت كيف شئت مرجى

مستفاض النعمى سنيًّا سريّا

مستفاض النعمى سنيًّا سريّا

So live as long as you wish, however you wish, a source of hope,

So remain however you wish, as you wish, hoped for

abundantly drawn upon for blessings, radiant and noble.

With overflowing blessings, fortunate, confidential

يلتقيكَ الثنا ويزداد طيباً

يلتقيكَ الثنا ويزداد طيباً

مثلما يلتقي الرياض الوليّا

مثلما يلتقي الرياض الوليّا

Praise meets you and grows more fragrant,

Praise meets you and grows more beautiful

as gardens greet the rain that follows rain.

As the meadows meet the first rains

ودعا وجهك السعيد فما كا

ودعا وجهك السعيد فما كا

نَ حمى مصر بالدعاء شقيّا

نَ حمى مصر بالدعاء شقيّا

Your blessed face prayed, and so

Your happy face prayed, it was not

Egypt's realm was not ill-fated in that prayer.

A protector of Egypt through prayer, miserable

أنتَ بين السادات كالذهب الخا

أنتَ بين السادات كالذهب الخا

لص لا غَرْوَ أن يرى مصريّا

لص لا غَرْوَ أن يرى مصريّا

Among the lords, you are like pure

You between the nobles are like pure gold

gold—no wonder it appears Egyptian.

No wonder an Egyptian sees you

أنتَ أولى مدير ومشير

أنتَ أولى مدير ومشير

قرَّبته الملوك منها نجيّا

قرَّبته الملوك منها نجيّا

You are the worthiest administrator and counselor,

You are most deserving as controller and advisor

whom kings have drawn close to themselves as a confidant.

The kings brought you near, rescued

أنتَ ترعى الأمور والله يرعا

أنتَ ترعى الأمور والله يرعا

كَ فلا زلت راعياً مرعيّا

كَ فلا زلت راعياً مرعيّا

You tend affairs, and God tends

You oversee affairs, and God looks after you

you; may you always tend and be tended.

So you remain both shepherd and flock

حبَّذا منكَ للسيادةِ كفؤٌ

حبَّذا منكَ للسيادةِ كفؤٌ

وافر الفضل والثناء وفيّا

وافر الفضل والثناء وفيّا

How fine in you is one fit for leadership,

Blessed from you for leadership is one worthy

rich in merit and praise, and faithful.

Abundant in merit, praise, and loyalty

عرف الملك منه أصلاً عريقاً

عرف الملك منه أصلاً عريقاً

بين أوطانه وفرعاً عليّا

بين أوطانه وفرعاً عليّا

The king recognized in him an ancient root

The king recognized in him ancient lineage

in his native lands, and a lofty branch.

Between his homelands, and a branch most high

وحوى من علاه كوكب رأيٍ

وحوى من علاه كوكب رأيٍ

طالع السعد بكرةً وعشيّا

طالع السعد بكرةً وعشيّا

And from his eminence he gained a star of counsel,

And drew from his summit a star of insight

whose rising is auspicious morning and evening.

Rising in fortune morning and evening

ناظراً ساهراً على الملك يدري

ناظراً ساهراً على الملك يدري

كيف يهدي له المرام الخفيّا

كيف يهدي له المرام الخفيّا

An overseer, watchful over kingship, who knows

Observing, wakeful over the kingdom, he knows

how to bring him his unspoken wish.

How to guide its hidden desires for him

إن أردنا التقى لديه أو الجو

إن أردنا التقى لديه أو الجو

د وجدنا في الحالتينِ وليّا

د وجدنا في الحالتينِ وليّا

If we seek piety from him, or

If we want piety from him or generosity

generosity, we find in both cases a devoted friend.

We find in both states a guardian

باهر المطلعين رأياً ومرأًى

باهر المطلعين رأياً ومرأًى

حبَّذا الفضل لامعاً ألمعيّا

حبَّذا الفضل لامعاً ألمعيّا

Dazzling in both his risings, in judgment and appearance—

Dazzling the beholders in insight and perspective

how fine is merit, radiant and perceptive!

Blessed, splendid merit, most splendid

حاملاً في مواطنِ السلم والحر

حاملاً في مواطنِ السلم والحر

ب يراعاً يردِي الزمان الردِيّا

ب يراعاً يردِي الزمان الردِيّا

Carrying, in the arenas of peace and war,

Bearing in the arenas of peace and war a shepherd

a reed pen that strikes down wicked Time,

Who makes the devious time upright

قلماً جائلاً إذا خطَّ حرفاً

قلماً جائلاً إذا خطَّ حرفاً

حمدَ الناسُ رمحه الخطّيّا

حمدَ الناسُ رمحه الخطّيّا

a ranging pen: whenever it writes a letter,

A sweeping pen, if it traces a letter

people praise his Khatti spear.

The people praise his calligrapher’s pen

يانع الغصن كلَّما هزَّه أس

يانع الغصن كلَّما هزَّه أس

قطَ مال البلاد منه جنيّا

قطَ مال البلاد منه جنيّا

Ripe of branch, whenever he shakes it, he lets fall

Budding branch, whenever it is shaken

the wealth of the lands from it, ripe for plucking.

The country’s wealth falls from it, harvested

يا رئيساً دعا الزمان لهُ الوف

يا رئيساً دعا الزمان لهُ الوف

د وقال الرجاء حثُّوا المطيّا

د وقال الرجاء حثُّوا المطيّا

O chief for whom Time summoned the

O chief, time called for him loyalty

delegation, and Hope said, 'Spur on the mounts!'

And hope said: spur on the steed!

دامَ للقاصدين شخصكَ غوثاً

دامَ للقاصدين شخصكَ غوثاً

وغماماً للواردين رويّا

وغماماً للواردين رويّا

May your person remain a succor to those who seek you,

For seekers your person remains succor

and a rain-laden cloud for those who come to drink.

And a cloud for visitors, well-watered

قالَ إحسانهُ تهنُّوا نوالاً

قالَ إحسانهُ تهنُّوا نوالاً

وزكاةً منه وكانَ تقيّا

وزكاةً منه وكانَ تقيّا

His beneficence said, 'Enjoy bounty

His benevolence said: congratulate an intimacy

and blessing from him'; and he was devout.

And purification from him, for he was devout