أبَيْنَis between ضُلوعيmy ribs جَمْرةٌan ember تتوقَّدُburning
أبَيْنَ ضُلوعي جَمْرةٌ تتوقَّدُ
علىfor ماwhat مضىhas passed أَمْor حسرَةٌa sorrow تتجدَّدُrenewing itself
على ما مضى أَمْ حسرَةٌ تتجدَّدُ
Is there an ember burning between my ribs
My ribs refuse to contain the burning embers
For what has passed, or sorrow renewing itself?
Of longing for the past, or renewed regrets, my friend
خليليَّmy two friends ماno بعدafter الشَّبابِyouth رَزِيَّةٌcalamity
خليليَّ ما بعد الشَّبابِ رَزِيَّةٌ
يُجَمُّis gathered لهاfor it ماءwater الشؤونthe tear ducts ويُعْتَدُand stored
يُجَمُّ لها ماء الشؤون ويُعْتَدُ
My two friends, after youth there is no calamity
What comes after youth is misery
For which the tear ducts' water should be gathered and stored.
To which the tears of sorrow flow abundantly
فلاso do not تَلْحَيَاyou two reproach إنif فاضoverflowed دمْعٌtears لفقدهfor its loss
فلا تَلْحَيَا إن فاض دمْعٌ لفقده
فَقَلَّfor little suffices لهfor it بحرٌa sea منof الدمعtears يُثْمَدُdrawn upon
فَقَلَّ له بحرٌ من الدمع يُثْمَدُ
So do not reproach me if tears overflow for its loss:
So don't blame me if tears flow at its loss
Even a sea of tears drawn upon would be little for it.
For it has an abundant sea of tears stored up
ولاand do not تعجباyou two marvel لِلْجَلْدِat the steadfast man يبكيweeping فربّماfor sometimes
ولا تعجبا لِلْجَلْدِ يبكي فربّما
تفطَّرsplit open عنaround عينٍa spring منof الماءwater جَلْمدُsolid rock
تفطَّر عن عينٍ من الماء جَلْمدُ
Do not marvel that the steadfast man weeps: sometimes
And don't be surprised if my skin weeps
A solid rock splits open around a spring of water.
Rocks can be melted from the downpour of water
شبابُyouth الفتىthe young man's مجلودُهhis fortitude وعزاؤهand his consolation
شبابُ الفتى مجلودُه وعزاؤه
فكيفso how وأنَّىand whence بعدهafter it يتجلدُdoes he endure
فكيف وأنَّى بعده يتجلدُ
A young man's youth is his fortitude and consolation;
The glory of a young man is his armor and solace
How, and whence, can he find endurance after it?
So how can he be stoic after it's gone?
وفَقْدُand losing الشَّبابِyouth الموتُis death يوجدis experienced طعْمُهُits taste
وفَقْدُ الشَّبابِ الموتُ يوجد طعْمُهُ
صُراحاًundiluted وطعمُand the taste الموتِof death بالموتِthrough death يُفْقدُis lost
صُراحاً وطعمُ الموتِ بالموتِ يُفْقدُ
Losing youth is death whose taste is experienced
The loss of youth is death in essence
Undiluted; death's own taste is lost through death.
Its taste is clear while the taste of death is obscured in death
رُزِئتٌI suffered loss شبابيmy youth عَوْدةًagain بعدafter بَدْأةٍa first occurrence
رُزِئتٌ شبابي عَوْدةً بعد بَدْأةٍ
وَهُنَّand they الرزاياcalamities بادئاتٌfirst occurrences وعُوَّدُand recurrences
وَهُنَّ الرزايا بادئاتٌ وعُوَّدُ
I suffered the loss of youth again after an earlier loss;
My youth was taken abruptly after beginning
Calamities come both for the first time and repeatedly.
And misfortunes tend to begin quickly then become habitual
سُلِبتُI was robbed of سوادَblackness العارضِيْنthe two cheeks وقبلُهُand before it
سُلِبتُ سوادَ العارضِيْن وقبلُهُ
بياضَهماtheir whiteness المحمودَthe admired إذwhen أناI أمْردُwas beardless
بياضَهما المحمودَ إذ أنا أمْردُ
I was robbed of the blackness of my cheeks, and before it
The blackness of my eyebrows and eyelashes was taken from me
Of their admired whiteness when I was beardless.
Along with their praised whiteness when I became ashen
وبُدِّلْتُand I was given in exchange منfor ذاكthat البياضwhiteness وحسنِهand its beauty
وبُدِّلْتُ من ذاك البياض وحسنِه
بياضاًa whiteness ذميماًblameworthy لاnot يزالceases يُسَوَّدُbeing blackened
بياضاً ذميماً لا يزال يُسَوَّدُ
In exchange for that whiteness and its beauty, I received
And I was transformed from that whiteness and beauty
A blameworthy whiteness forever being blackened.
To a despised pallid whiteness that grows ever darker
لَشتَّانhow far apart ماwhat بينis between البياضَيْنthe two whitenesses مُعْجِبٌdelightful
لَشتَّان ما بين البياضَيْن مُعْجِبٌ
أنيقelegant ومَشْنُوءٌand hateful إلىto العينthe eye أنكدُdispleasing
أنيق ومَشْنُوءٌ إلى العين أنكدُ
How far apart the two whitenesses are: one delightful
What a contrast between the two whites! One elegant
And elegant, the other hateful and displeasing to the eye!
And the other unsightly to behold, more depressing
تضاحكit laughed فيamong أفنانbranches رأسيmy head's ولحيتيand my beard's
تضاحك في أفنان رأسي ولحيتي
وأقبحُand the ugliest ضَحَّاكَيْنtwo laughers شَيْبٌgray hair وأدْردُand a toothless man
وأقبحُ ضَحَّاكَيْن شَيْبٌ وأدْردُ
It laughs among the branches of my head and beard;
In the meadows of my temples and beard they laugh
The two ugliest laughers are gray hair and a toothless man.
Yet the two most ugly laughers are gray hair and baldness
وكنتُand I was جِلاءًa clearing للعيونfor eyes منof القذىirritation
وكنتُ جِلاءً للعيون من القذى
فقدbut indeed جعلَتْthey began تقذَيto smart بشيبيat my gray hair وتَرمَدُand become inflamed
فقد جعلَتْ تقذَي بشيبي وتَرمَدُ
Once I cleared eyes of their irritation;
I was polished to the eyes, removing their grit
Now my gray hair makes them smart and grow inflamed.
But now my gray hairs make them cloudy and bleary
هيthey are الأعينthe eyes النُّجْلwide التيwhich كنتَyou used to تشتكيlament
هي الأعين النُّجْل التي كنتَ تشتكي
مواقِعَهاtheir strikes فيupon القلبthe heart والرأسُwhile the head أسودُwas black
مواقِعَها في القلب والرأسُ أسودُ
These are the wide eyes whose
Those shining eyes whose glances you used to lament
Strikes upon your heart you lamented when your head was black.
Piercing your heart and head with blackness
فماso what لكails you تأسَىyou grieve الآنnow لماwhen رأيتهاyou saw them
فما لك تأسَى الآن لما رأيتها
وقدand indeed جعلتْthey began مَرْمىa target سِوَاكَother than you تَعَمَّدُdeliberately aiming at
وقد جعلتْ مَرْمى سِوَاكَ تَعَمَّدُ
Why, then, do you grieve now, seeing them
Why do you now grieve seeing them
Begin deliberately to aim at someone other than you?
When they intentionally glance away and avoid your gaze?
تَشَكَّىyou complain إذاwhen ماindeed أقصدتْكَstruck you down سهامُهاtheir arrows
تَشَكَّى إذا ما أقصدتْكَ سهامُها
وتأسَىand you grieve إذاwhen نكَّبْنَthey turned aside عنكfrom you وتَكْمدُand you pine
وتأسَى إذا نكَّبْنَ عنك وتَكْمدُ
You complain when their arrows strike you down,
You used to complain when their arrows struck you
And grieve and pine when they turn away from you.
And despair when they turned away from you in disdain
كذلكsuch are تلكthose النَّبْلُarrows منwhoever وقعتthey struck بهhim
كذلك تلك النَّبْلُ من وقعت به
ومنand whoever صُرِفَتthey were turned عنهfrom him منamong القومthe people مُقْصَدُis slain
ومن صُرِفَت عنه من القوم مُقْصَدُ
Such are those arrows: whoever they strike,
Such are those arrows - whoever they hit
And whoever among men they are turned from, is slain.
And whoever they avoid in the group is their intended target
إذاwhen عَدَلْتthey turned away عناfrom us وجدناwe found عُدُولهاtheir turning
إذا عَدَلْت عنا وجدنا عُدُولها
كموقعهاlike their striking فيin القلبthe heart بلrather هوit أَجهدُis more grievous
كموقعها في القلب بل هو أَجهدُ
When they turn from us, we find their turning
When they turn away from us we find their avoidance
Like their striking the heart—indeed, more grievous.
Like their blow to the heart - nay it is more potent
تَنكَّبُthey turn aside عناfrom us مرةonce فكأنماand it is as though
تَنكَّبُ عنا مرة فكأنما
مُنَكِّبُهَاtheir deflector عناfrom us إليناtoward us مُسَدِّدُis aiming
مُنَكِّبُهَا عنا إلينا مُسَدِّدُ
They avoid us once, and it is as though
They turn away sometimes as if the one who deflects them
Whoever turns them from us is aiming them at us.
Turns them away from us but directs them straight toward us
كفىsuffices حَزَناًas sorrow أنthat الشبابyouth مُعَجَّلٌis hurried away
كفى حَزَناً أن الشباب مُعَجَّلٌ
قصيرُbrief اللياليin nights والمَشِيبَand gray age مخلَّدُis lasting
قصيرُ الليالي والمَشِيبَ مخلَّدُ
It is sorrow enough that youth is hurried away,
Enough sorrow that youth is fleeting
Its nights brief, while gray age abides.
With short nights while grayness is eternal
إذاwhen حَلَّit arrives جَارَىit accompanies المرءthe man شأْوَthe span حياتهof his life
إذا حَلَّ جَارَى المرء شأْوَ حياته
إلىuntil أنthat يضمَّembraces المرءَthe man والشيبَand gray hair مَلْحَدُa grave
إلى أن يضمَّ المرءَ والشيبَ مَلْحَدُ
Once it arrives, it accompanies a man's whole lifetime
When the destiny of a man takes its course
Until a grave embraces both the man and his gray hair.
Until he and grayness are laid together in the grave
أرىI see الدهرَTime أجْرىconducting ليلهits night ونهارهand its day
أرى الدهرَ أجْرى ليله ونهاره
بعدلٍwith justice فلاso neither هذاthis ولاnor ذاكthat سَرْمدُis everlasting
بعدلٍ فلا هذا ولا ذاك سَرْمدُ
I see Time conducting its night and day
I see the days and nights of fate
Justly: neither this nor that lasts forever.
Dealing evenly - neither this nor that is everlasting
وجارَand it wronged علىagainst ليلِthe night الشبابof youth فَضَامَهُand oppressed it
وجارَ على ليلِ الشباب فَضَامَهُ
نهارُa day مشيبof gray age سَرمدٌeverlasting ليسnot يَنْفَدُrunning out
نهارُ مشيب سَرمدٌ ليس يَنْفَدُ
But it wronged youth's night, which was oppressed
And the night of youth was eclipsed
By an endless day of gray age that never runs out.
By an eternal daybreak of grayness that will never end
وعزاكand consoled you عنfor ليلthe night الشبابof youth معاشرٌsome people
وعزاك عن ليل الشباب معاشرٌ
فقالواand they said نهارُthe day الشيبof gray hair أهدىguides better وأرشدُand more rightly
فقالوا نهارُ الشيب أهدى وأرشدُ
Some people consoled you for youth's night,
Some consoled me for the night of youth saying
Saying, 'Gray age's day guides better and more rightly.'
The daybreak of gray hair is wiser and more rightly guided
وكانand was نهارُthe daylight المرءof a man أهْدَىmore guiding لسعيهfor his endeavors
وكان نهارُ المرء أهْدَى لسعيه
ولكنَّbut ظلَّthe shade الليلof night أنْدَىis moister وأبردُand cooler
ولكنَّ ظلَّ الليل أنْدَى وأبردُ
A man's daylight does better guide his endeavors,
A man's day was more rightly guided for his endeavors
But night's shade is moister and cooler.
But the shadow of night was gentler and cooler
أأيَّامَO days لَهْوِيof my pleasure هلwill مَواضيكِyour past days عُوَّدٌreturn
أأيَّامَ لَهْوِي هل مَواضيكِ عُوَّدٌ
وهلand is there لشبابfor a youth ضلَّlost بالأمسyesterday مُنْشَدُa finder
وهل لشباب ضلَّ بالأمس مُنْشَدُ
O days of my pleasure, will your past days return?
Where are the meadows of my revelry - are they accustomed
Can anyone find a youth lost yesterday?
To me, and can the one who yesterday strayed find his way back?
أقولI say وقدwhile indeed شابتْgrew gray شَوَاتِيmy scalp وَقَوَّسَتْand bent
أقول وقد شابتْ شَوَاتِي وَقَوَّسَتْ
قناتيmy shaft وأضْحَتand became كِدْنتيmy flesh تَتَخدَّدُfurrowed
قناتي وأضْحَت كِدْنتي تَتَخدَّدُ
I speak with my scalp grown gray, and bent
I say this as my power fades and my bow flexes
My shaft, while my flesh has begun to furrow;
My arrows break and my quiver cracks and frays
ودبَّand crept كَلالٌweariness فيinto عظاميmy bones أدَبَّنيmaking me creep
ودبَّ كَلالٌ في عظامي أدَبَّني
جَنِيبَbeside العصاthe staff أَنأَدُّI sway أوor أتَأيَّدُseek support
جَنِيبَ العصا أَنأَدُّ أو أتَأيَّدُ
Weariness has crept into my bones, making me creep
Exhaustion has crept into my bones, teaching me
Beside a staff, swaying or seeking support.
To lean on a staff or take the arm of another
وبُورِكand was blessed طرفيmy eyesight فالشِّخَاصُso the figures حيالهbefore it
وبُورِك طرفي فالشِّخَاصُ حياله
قَرَائنare pairs منfrom أدنىthe nearest مدىًdistance وَهْيَthough they فُرَّدُare single
قَرَائن من أدنى مدىً وَهْيَ فُرَّدُ
My eyesight has been 'blessed': the figures before it
My eyesight has dimmed so my peers appear
Appear paired at the shortest distance, though they are single.
Like faint shadows from afar that quickly fade
ولَذَّتْand found pleasant أحاديثيmy conversations الرجالُthe men وأعرضتْand turned away
ولَذَّتْ أحاديثي الرجالُ وأعرضتْ
سُليمىSulayma وريَّاand Rayya عنfrom حديثيmy conversation ومَهْدَدُand Mahdad
سُليمى وريَّا عن حديثي ومَهْدَدُ
Men find my conversation pleasant, while
My talk has become pleasing to men but spurned
Sulayma, Rayya, and Mahdad turn away from my talk.
By the likes of Sulayma and Rayya - they avoid and ignore it
وبُدِّلand was changed إعجابُadmiration الغوانيof young women تعجُّباًto astonishment
وبُدِّل إعجابُ الغواني تعجُّباً
فهنَّso they رَوانٍare gazing يَعْتَبِرْنtaking warning وصُدَّدُand turning away
فهنَّ رَوانٍ يَعْتَبِرْن وصُدَّدُ
Young women's admiration has changed to astonishment:
The infatuation of maidens has turned to wonder
They stare, taking warning, or turn away.
For they are gazelles who observe and take heed
لِمَاbecause of what تُؤذنannounces الدنياthe world بهthrough it منof صروفهاits reversals
لِمَا تُؤذن الدنيا به من صروفها
يكونoccurs بكاءُthe weeping الطفلof the child ساعةَat the hour يُولَدُhe is born
يكون بكاءُ الطفل ساعةَ يُولَدُ
Because of the reversals the world announces
Because of what the days herald in their changes
A child weeps at the hour of birth.
A newborn's crying starts as soon as he enters the world
وإلاand otherwise فماthen what يبكيهmakes him weep منهاin it وإنهاwhen it
وإلا فما يبكيه منها وإنها
لأفْسَحُis surely roomier ممَّاthan what كانhe was فيهin وأرْغَدُand more comfortable
لأفْسَحُ ممَّا كان فيه وأرْغَدُ
Otherwise, what in it makes him cry, when it
Otherwise why would he cry over it, though it is
Is roomier and more comfortable than where he was?
More spacious than what he came from and more plentiful?
إذاwhen أبصرَhe sees الدنياthe world اسْتَهلَّhe cries out كأنهas though he
إذا أبصرَ الدنيا اسْتَهلَّ كأنه
بماwith what سوفwill يلقىhe encounter منof أذاهاits harm يُهَدَّدُis threatened
بما سوف يلقى من أذاها يُهَدَّدُ
When he sees the world, he cries out, as though
When he sees the world it's as if he is threatened
Threatened with the suffering he will encounter from it.
By the harm it will inflict though it's yet unseen
وللنفسand the soul has أحْوالstates تظلُّit remains كأنهاas though it
وللنفس أحْوال تظلُّ كأنها
تشاهِدwitnesses فيهاwithin them كلَّevery غيبhidden thing سيُشهَدُto be witnessed
تشاهِد فيها كلَّ غيب سيُشهَدُ
The soul has states in which it seems
And the soul has states in which it's as if
To witness every hidden thing that will become visible.
It sees all the unseen future scenes about to unfold
رَزَحْتُI sank under burdens علىunder مرthe passing اللياليof nights وَكرِّهَاand their return
رَزَحْتُ على مر الليالي وَكرِّهَا
وهلand is there عنfrom فَنَاءٍa destruction منof فناءَيْنtwo destructions عُنْدَدُan escape
وهل عن فَنَاءٍ من فناءَيْن عُنْدَدُ
I have sunk beneath the passing and returning nights;
I suffered the succession of nights and hated them
Is there escape from either of two destructions?
But is there escape from the destruction of two destructions?
مَحَارُthe destination الفتىof a young man شيخوخةis old age أوor منيِّةٌdeath
مَحَارُ الفتى شيخوخة أو منيِّةٌ
ومرجوعُand the outcome وهَّاجof brightly burning المصابيحlamps رِمْدَدُis ashes
ومرجوعُ وهَّاج المصابيح رِمْدَدُ
A young man's destination is old age or death;
A young man's destiny is either old age or death
Brightly burning lamps end as ashes.
And the return of the fading lamps is their extinguishing
وقدand often اغتدِيI go early للوحشafter game والوحشُwhile the game هُجَّدٌsleeps
وقد اغتدِي للوحش والوحشُ هُجَّدٌ
ولوand had نَذِرَتْit sensed بيme لمnot تبتwould it spend the night وهيwhile it هُجَّدُslept
ولو نَذِرَتْ بي لم تبت وهي هُجَّدُ
Often I went out early after game while it slept;
I have grown accustomed to loneliness but loneliness too
Had it sensed me, it would not have spent the night asleep.
Has become emboldened against me and unassailable
فيشقَىso suffers بيَthrough me الثورُthe wild bull القَصِيُّremote مكانُهُhis place
فيشقَى بيَ الثورُ القَصِيُّ مكانُهُ
بحيثwhere يراعيهwatches him الأَصَلُّthe slender one الخَفَيْدَدُthe swift one
بحيث يراعيه الأَصَلُّ الخَفَيْدَدُ
The wild bull, remote in his place, suffers through me
And if I vow against it, it will not desist
Where the swift, slender watcher watches him.
Rather it is boldness itself that makes the vows
ترىyou see كلevery ركَّاعbowing beast علىon كلِّevery مَرْتَعٍpasture
ترى كل ركَّاع على كلِّ مَرْتَعٍ
يخرُّfalling لرمحيbefore my spear ساجداًprostrate بلrather يُسَجَّدُforced prostrate
يخرُّ لرمحي ساجداً بل يُسَجَّدُ
You see every bowing beast in every pasture
So the young bull is uneasy in his pen
Fall prostrate before my spear—or rather, be forced prostrate.
Where the seasoned bull who herds him keeps watch
إذاwhen غازَلتهflirted with him بالصريمin the thicket نِعَاجُهhis cows
إذا غازَلته بالصريم نِعَاجُه
كماas غازلتْflirted with زِيراًa woman-loving man أوانسُsociable maidens خُرَّدُvirgins
كما غازلتْ زِيراً أوانسُ خُرَّدُ
When his cows flirted with him in the thicket,
I see every bowed head in the pastures
As sociable virgins flirt with a lover of women,
Prostrate before my spear, nay, bowing in worship
أمَرْتُI directed بهat him رمحاًa spear غيُوراًjealous فخاضهُand it pierced him
أمَرْتُ به رمحاً غيُوراً فخاضهُ
ذَليقاًsharp كماas شَكَّpierced النَّقيلةthe leather patch مِسْرَدُan awl
ذَليقاً كما شَكَّ النَّقيلة مِسْرَدُ
I sent a jealous spear at him, and it pierced him,
When I flirt with his ewes my spear, zealous
Sharp, as an awl pierces a leather patch.
And eager, plunges forth like the slick yarn of the spinner
فَخَرَّand he fell لَروْقَيْهِupon his two horns صريعاًslain تخالُهُyou would imagine him
فَخَرَّ لَروْقَيْهِ صريعاً تخالُهُ
يُعَصْفَرdyed with safflower منfrom تامُورِهِhis heart's blood أَوor يُفَرْصَدُdyed with mulberry
يُعَصْفَر من تامُورِهِ أَو يُفَرْصَدُ
He fell slain upon his two horns; you would think him
So it drops dead by the flash of my blade
Dyed with safflower or mulberry by his heart's blood.
Its collarbone yellow or clavicle crushed
كأَنas though سِنانيmy spearhead حينwhen وافاهit reached him كَوْكَبٌwas a star
كأَن سِناني حين وافاه كَوْكَبٌ
أصيبwas struck بهby it قِطْعٌa mass منof المُزْنrain clouds أَقهدُwhite
أصيب به قِطْعٌ من المُزْن أَقهدُ
My spearhead, when it reached him, seemed a star
As if my spear were a star that struck
That struck a white mass of rain cloud.
A piece of piercing iron that maimed it
وقدand often أشربI drink الكأسthe cup الغريضَfresh water مِزاجُهاits mixture
وقد أشرب الكأس الغريضَ مِزاجُها
علىto ماwhat تغناهsang الغريضُal-Gharid ومعبدُand Maʿbad
على ما تغناه الغريضُ ومعبدُ
Often I drank a cup whose mixture was fresh water,
When the deep bowl brims with well-mixed drink
To songs sung by al-Gharid and Maʿbad.
Whose flavor the deep bowl told and inspired
يطوفcirculates بهاwith it لِلشَّرْبamong the drinkers أبيضُa fair-skinned boy مُخْطَفٌslender
يطوف بها لِلشَّرْب أبيضُ مُخْطَفٌ
يجودsupplies generously لهto him بالراحwine أسودُa dark vessel أكْبَدُbroad-bodied
يجود له بالراح أسودُ أكْبَدُ
A slender, fair-skinned boy carried it around the drinkers,
A white handed cupbearer circulates it
Supplied with wine by a dark, broad-bodied vessel.
While a black handed one generously pours the draft
بِموْلِيَّةٍin a bower خضراءgreen يُنْغَمsong is sounded وسْطَهاat its heart
بِموْلِيَّةٍ خضراء يُنْغَم وسْطَها
ويُهْدَلُand cooing sounds فيin أرجَائهاits reaches ويُهَدْهَدُand hoopoe calls sound
ويُهْدَلُ في أرجَائها ويُهَدْهَدُ
In a green bower, song sounded at its heart,
In a green meadow where song rings out
And cooing and hoopoe calls throughout its reaches.
Its borders swaying and rippling in the wind
إذاwhen شئْتُI wished راقتْdelighted ناظريَّmy two eyes نظائرٌmatching beauties
إذا شئْتُ راقتْ ناظريَّ نظائرٌ
بمُصطبَحيat my morning drinking والأدْمُand pale gazelles حولِيَaround me رُوَّدُwandered
بمُصطبَحي والأدْمُ حولِيَ رُوَّدُ
Whenever I wished, matching beauties delighted my eyes
When I wish, gazelles glance at me coyly
At my morning drinking, with pale gazelles wandering around me:
While the young lambs surround me, bleating gently
وَصِيفٌa serving boy وإبريقٌand an ewer رذُومٌdripping ومُرشقٌand a slender gazelle
وَصِيفٌ وإبريقٌ رذُومٌ ومُرشقٌ
علىon شرفa rise كلُّall الثلاثةthe three أجْيَدُlong-necked
على شرف كلُّ الثلاثة أجْيَدُ
A serving boy, a dripping ewer, and a slender gazelle
Many a gazelle like them I romanced
On a rise—all three long-necked.
Lying with them briefly under their shade
وأنجبُand the noblest ماwhat ولَّدتI bred منهfrom it مسرةًdelight
وأنجبُ ما ولَّدت منه مسرةً
إذاwhen ماindeed بَنَاتُdaughters الصَّدْرof the breast ظلتkept توَلَّدُbeing born
إذا ما بَنَاتُ الصَّدْر ظلت توَلَّدُ
The noblest thing from which I bred delight,
But time stripped away my dark hair
When thoughts within the breast kept breeding,
And another took its place, grave deeds that kindle resentment
حديثُnew نتَاجoffspring منamong بنيthe children المزنof rain clouds أمُّهُits mother
حديثُ نتَاج من بني المزن أمُّهُ
مُعَنَّسَةٌan aged maiden مماamong what تُعَتِّقُages صَرخَدُSalkhad
مُعَنَّسَةٌ مما تُعَتِّقُ صَرخَدُ
Was a newborn child of the clouds, whose mother
So patience with what has become severe
Was an aged maiden among the wines Salkhad matures.
For only the firm will endure severity
وبيضاءُand a fair woman يخبوdims دُرُّهاher pearls منfrom بياضهاher whiteness
وبيضاءُ يخبو دُرُّها من بياضها
ويذكوand shines brighter لهbecause of it ياقوتهاher rubies والزبرجدُand emeralds
ويذكو له ياقوتها والزبرجدُ
And a fair woman whose pearls dimmed beside her whiteness,
Fate is like its child - it has mornings
While her rubies and emeralds shone the brighter for it.
And evenings, sweet and bitter both given in turn
لهاshe has سُنَّةٌa face كالشمسlike the sun تبرزappearing تارةًsometimes
لها سُنَّةٌ كالشمس تبرز تارةً
وطوراًand sometimes يواريهاconceals it صَبيرٌa cloud منضَّدُpiled up
وطوراً يواريها صَبيرٌ منضَّدُ
Her face was like the sun, appearing sometimes,
I saw a tyrant whom we knew overstep
And sometimes hidden by a piled-up cloud.
His bounds but his command remained binding
إذاwhen ماindeed التقىmeet السُّكرانthe two intoxications سُكراthe intoxications شبابهاof her youth
إذا ما التقى السُّكران سُكرا شبابها
وأكوابِهاand her cups كادتshe nearly منfrom اللينsoftness تُعقَدُcan be knotted
وأكوابِها كادت من اللين تُعقَدُ
When the two intoxications met—that of her youth
Arrogance led him on heedless that it would feed
And that of her cups—she nearly could be knotted from softness.
An annihilator, then he was discarded
لهوتُI played بهاwith her ليلاًa night قصيراًshort طويلُهits long span
لهوتُ بها ليلاً قصيراً طويلُه
وماليَand I had إلّاnothing except كفُّهاher palm مُتَوَسَّدُas a pillow
وماليَ إلّا كفُّها مُتَوَسَّدُ
I played with her through a night whose long span seemed short,
Abu al-Abbas protected his people each day
With nothing but her palm for my pillow.
With a cloak of rectitude, despising scandal
وكمand how many مثلِهاlike her منof ظبيةٍa gazelle قدindeed تفيّأَتْtook shelter
وكم مثلِها من ظبيةٍ قد تفيّأَتْ
ظلاليin my shades وأغصانُwhile the branches الشبيبةof youth مُيَّدُswayed
ظلالي وأغصانُ الشبيبة مُيَّدُ
How many gazelles like her took shelter
Defending them like a steadfast mountain
In my shade while youth's branches swayed!
Repelling faults and correcting misdeeds
لعبتُI played بأولىin the beginning الدهرof Time فاغْتَالand it ambushed شِرَّتيmy exuberance
لعبتُ بأولى الدهر فاغْتَال شِرَّتي
بأخرىwith an ending حَقُودٍspiteful والجرائمُand offenses تُحْقَدُare resented
بأخرى حَقُودٍ والجرائمُ تُحْقَدُ
I played in Time's beginning; it ambushed my exuberance
The people became united under his care
With a spiteful ending—and offenses breed resentment.
Though once fragmented - a shattered vessel
فصبراًso patience علىwith ماwhat اشْتَدَّgrew severe منهfrom it فإنَّمَاfor only
فصبراً على ما اشْتَدَّ منه فإنَّمَا
يقومwithstands لماwhat يشتدgrows severe منwhoever يَتَشدَّدُmakes himself steadfast
يقوم لما يشتد من يَتَشدَّدُ
So patience with its hardships: only
He sheltered them, spreading decency among them
Those who make themselves steadfast withstand what grows severe.
Forbidden vice and obliged to virtue
وماand nothing is الدهرTime إلاexcept كابنهlike its child فيهin it بُكْرَةٌis morning
وما الدهر إلا كابنه فيه بُكْرَةٌ
وهاجِرَةٌand midday heat مسمومةscorching الجوin atmosphere صَيْخدُblazing
وهاجِرَةٌ مسمومة الجو صَيْخدُ
Time is like its child, the day: it has a morning
They became secure with abundant livelihood
And a blazing midday with a scorching atmosphere.
No longer preferring death's rest over the pleasure of life
تذيقmake taste الفتىthe young man طوْرَيtwo conditions رخاءof ease وشدةand hardship
تذيق الفتى طوْرَي رخاء وشدة
حوادثُهits happenings والحولُand the year بالحولby the year يُطْرَدُis driven out
حوادثُه والحولُ بالحول يُطْرَدُ
Its happenings make a man taste ease and hardship,
So the neglected were alerted and the aggressive laid to sleep
As year is driven out by year.
Wrongs were righted, ruins rebuilt and order restored
وعزَّىand consoled أناساًsome people أنthat كلevery حديقةٍgarden
وعزَّى أناساً أن كل حديقةٍ
وإنeven if أغْدَقَتْgrew lush أفنانُهاits branches ستخضَّدُwill be cut down
وإن أغْدَقَتْ أفنانُها ستخضَّدُ
Some have found consolation in knowing every garden,
When prosperity and safety coincided
However lush its branches, will be cut down.
The jealous woke while the content fell asleep
وماليand I have عزاءno consolation عنfor شبابيmy youth علمتُهthat I know
ومالي عزاء عن شبابي علمتُه
سوىexcept أننيthat I منafter بعدهit لاnot أُخَلَّدُshall live forever
سوى أنني من بعده لا أُخَلَّدُ
I know no consolation for my youth
If you compared their fortune to your deserts
Except that I shall not live forever after it;
It would extinguish fires burning within and flare up
وأنand that مَشِيبيmy gray hair واعدٌpromises بلَحَاقهreunion with it
وأن مَشِيبي واعدٌ بلَحَاقه
وإنْeven if قالsay قومsome people إنهit يَتَوَعَّدُthreatens
وإنْ قال قوم إنه يَتَوَعَّدُ
And that my gray hair promises reunion with it,
But the rival looks to what you've attained
Though some say it threatens.
Though nobler and loftier, it angers and provokes him
علىyet أنthat فيin المأْمولwhat is hoped for منof فضلthe bounty صاعدٍof Ṣāʿid
على أن في المأْمول من فضل صاعدٍ
عزاءًbeautiful consolation جميلاًlovely بلrather شباباًyouth يُجدَّدُrenewed
عزاءً جميلاً بل شباباً يُجدَّدُ
Yet in the bounty hoped for from Ṣāʿid
He sees the brilliance of the world lifted toward you
There is lovely consolation—indeed, youth renewed.
While scorning your worth - such enmity is hated
ستظهرwill appear نُعْماهhis favor عليّupon me فأغتدِيand I shall rise early
ستظهر نُعْماه عليّ فأغتدِي
وغصنُand the branch شبابيof my youth ليّنُsupple المتنِin its back أغْيَدُgracefully swaying
وغصنُ شبابي ليّنُ المتنِ أغْيَدُ
His favor will appear upon me, and I shall rise
Yet sweeter than the necklace round the fawn's neck
With youth's branch supple-backed and gracefully swaying.
And fairer than her unadorned dress
وتَصْطَادُand hunts ليfor me جدواهhis bounty ماwhat كنتُI was صائداًhunting
وتَصْطَادُ لي جدواه ما كنتُ صائداً
بشرخin the prime الشبابof youth الغَضِّfresh بلrather هيit أصْيدُhunts better
بشرخ الشباب الغَضِّ بل هي أصْيدُ
His gifts will hunt for me what I once hunted
I thank you, as one ravaged by war thanks
In fresh youth's prime—indeed, they hunt better.
His shelter, though others took the blows
وأفضلُand the best ماwhat صِيدَتْwere hunted بهwith it العِينُwide-eyed beauties كالدُّمَىlike statues
وأفضلُ ما صِيدَتْ به العِينُ كالدُّمَى
مُهُورٌare dowries وأثْمَانٌand prices منof العينready money تُنْقدُpaid out
مُهُورٌ وأثْمَانٌ من العين تُنْقدُ
The best means of capturing wide-eyed beauties like statues
Your swords defended my land when death's shadows
Are dowries and prices paid in ready money.
Loomed, dispelling their darkness, dense and brooding
وهلand can يستويequal رامٍan archer مرامِيهhis missiles لَحْظُهُhis glance
وهل يستوي رامٍ مرامِيه لَحْظُهُ
ورامٍand an archer مراميهhis missiles لُجَيْنٌsilver وعسْجَدُand gold
ورامٍ مراميه لُجَيْنٌ وعسْجَدُ
Can an archer whose missiles are his glances equal
Though you sheltered all people with your care
An archer whose missiles are silver and gold?
I was singled out for a share I never disavow
وماand not أمليmy hope فيin المَذْحجِيَّthe Madhhijite بِمُنْتَهٍhas an end
وما أملي في المَذْحجِيَّ بِمُنْتَهٍ
ولكنَّهbut it كالشيءِis like something بُلَّتْwas moistened بِهِwith it اليَدُthe hand
ولكنَّه كالشيءِ بُلَّتْ بِهِ اليَدُ
My hope in the Madhhijite has no end,
I was one who best returned good deeds
Yet it is like something with which the hand is moistened.
Even if others were its intended target
إلىto أينwhere بِيwith me عنaway from صَاعِدٍṢāʿid وانْتِجَاعِهِand seeking his bounty
إلى أين بِي عن صَاعِدٍ وانْتِجَاعِهِ
وقدand indeed رَادَهُexplored him الروَّادُthe seekers قبليbefore me فأَحْمَدُواand found him praiseworthy
وقد رَادَهُ الروَّادُ قبلي فأَحْمَدُوا
Where could I be taken away from Ṣāʿid and seeking his bounty,
Should I now, having gained a portion be like one
When seekers before me explored him and found him praiseworthy?
Specially entitled, uniquely privileged?
وَليand I have بأبيthrough Abu عيسىIsa إليهto him وسِيلَةٌa means of approach
وَلي بأبي عيسى إليه وسِيلَةٌ
يُفَكُّare loosed بهاthrough it أصفادُfetters عانٍof a captive ويُصْفَدُand he is gifted
يُفَكُّ بها أصفادُ عانٍ ويُصْفَدُ
Through Abu Isa I have a means of approaching him
Wholesale thanks is greater when thanks
That frees a captive's fetters and brings him gifts.
Are due - and more immersive when immersed
ومَاليand why should I لاnot أغدوgo early وَهَذَانِwhile these two مَعْمَدِيare my support
ومَالي لا أغدو وَهَذَانِ مَعْمَدِي
وَمَاand there is not لَهُمَاfor them both إلّاexcept الْعَوَارِفَkind deeds مَعْمَدُa support
وَمَا لَهُمَا إلّا الْعَوَارِفَ مَعْمَدُ
Why should I not go early, with these two my support,
You are most deserving to shelter me
When their sole support is doing kindness?
In the valley of death's dark, gloomy shade
لَعَمْرِيby my life لئنalthough أضحتbecame وِزَارةُthe vizierate صاعدof Ṣāʿid
لَعَمْرِي لئن أضحت وِزَارةُ صاعد
تُثَنَّىdoubled لقدindeed أضحىhe became كريماًa generous man يُوحَّدُunique
تُثَنَّى لقد أضحى كريماً يُوحَّدُ
By my life, though Ṣāʿid's vizierate
You rescued me from its jaws after they
Has been doubled, he remains uniquely generous.
Had snapped shut, strong and sharp
وِزَارَتَهُhis two vizierates شَفْعٌare a pair وذاكand that بحَقِّهِis his due
وِزَارَتَهُ شَفْعٌ وذاك بحَقِّهِ
كَمَاjust as أنَّهhe وِتْرٌis unmatched إذاwhen عُدَّis counted سُؤددُlordship
كَمَا أنَّه وِتْرٌ إذا عُدَّ سُؤددُ
His two vizierates are a pair, as he deserves,
And you are my thanks, for every soul who prays
Just as he is unmatched when lordship is counted.
And everyone who bows down in worship
هوhe is الرجلُthe man المشْرُوكshared with others فيin جُلِّmost مالِهِof his wealth
هو الرجلُ المشْرُوك في جُلِّ مالِهِ
ولكنَّهbut he بالخيْرِin goodness والحمْدِand praise مفردُis unique
ولكنَّه بالخيْرِ والحمْدِ مفردُ
He is the man whose wealth is mostly shared,
After war wore out its iron
Yet goodness and praise belong to him alone.
And unraveled its woven coats of mail
يُقَرَّضُhe is praised إلاexcept أنَّthat ماwhat قيلَis said دُونهfalls short of him
يُقَرَّضُ إلا أنَّ ما قيلَ دُونه
ويوصفand he is described إلاexcept أنهhe لاnot يُحَدّدُcan be circumscribed
ويوصف إلا أنه لا يُحَدّدُ
He is praised, but everything said falls short of him;
The blades all bent and broken
He is described, but cannot be circumscribed.
Only Sa'id remained, for death itself dies from death
أرقُّgentler منthan الماءِthe water الذيwhich فيis within حُسامهhis sword
أرقُّ من الماءِ الذي في حُسامه
طِبَاعاًin temperament وأمضىand sharper منْthan شَبَاهُits edge وأنجدُand more valiant
طِبَاعاً وأمضى منْ شَبَاهُ وأنجدُ
In temperament, gentler than the water within his sword,
Your choice of him was wise, drawing him near
Yet sharper than its edge, and more valiant.
While others protested though they are more distant
وأجْدَىand more bountiful وأنْدَىand moister بطْنَin the inner surface كَفٍّof a palm منthan الحَيَاrain
وأجْدَى وأنْدَى بطْنَ كَفٍّ من الحَيَا
وآبىand more unyielding إباءًin resistance منthan صَفاةٍa rock وأجْمَدُand more solid
وآبى إباءً من صَفاةٍ وأجْمَدُ
His palm gives more bounty and moisture than rain;
For like the pupil's dark center engulfed
In resistance he is more unyielding and solid than rock.
By the eye, his place with you is well established
وأبْهَرُand more dazzling نُوراًin light للعيونto eyes منthan الَّتيshe who
وأبْهَرُ نُوراً للعيون من الَّتي
تُضَاهِيهِrivals him فيin العلياءthe heights حينwhen تَكَبَّدُreaching the sky's middle
تُضَاهِيهِ في العلياء حين تَكَبَّدُ
His light dazzles eyes more than she
The eye and its lid that hides it can reconcile
Who rivals him aloft when she reaches the sky's middle.
Though at first glance no go-between connects the two
وأوْقَرُand more steadfast منthan رَضْوَىRadwa ولوand if شاءhe wished نَسْفَهَاto uproot it
وأوْقَرُ من رَضْوَى ولو شاء نَسْفَهَا
إذنthen لمnot يُلِقْهاwould retain it طَرْفَةَfor a blink العَيْنof the eye مَرْكَدُa resting place
إذن لم يُلِقْها طَرْفَةَ العَيْن مَرْكَدُ
More steadfast than Radwa—yet, had he wished to uproot it,
Requesting him troubles you though he is best
No resting place would hold it for an eye's blink.
To fulfill the request quickly, his means more assured
طويلُlong التّأَنِّيin deliberation لاnot العَجولُthe hasty man ولاnor الذيone who
طويلُ التّأَنِّي لا العَجولُ ولا الذي
إذاwhen طرقتْهstrikes him نَوْبةٌa calamity يتبلَّدُbecomes bewildered
إذا طرقتْه نَوْبةٌ يتبلَّدُ
Long in deliberation, neither hasty nor one
With him your fortunes turned victorious
Who becomes bewildered when calamity strikes him.
Vanquishing enemies, exalted and undeterred
لهhe has سَوْرَةٌvehemence مكْتَنَّةٌconcealed فيwithin سَكِينَةٍtranquility
له سَوْرَةٌ مكْتَنَّةٌ في سَكِينَةٍ
كماas اكْتَنَّlies concealed فيin الغمْدِthe sheath الجُرازُthe cutting sword المهنَّدُIndian-made
كما اكْتَنَّ في الغمْدِ الجُرازُ المهنَّدُ
He has a vehemence concealed within tranquility,
In warfare, now and then, his strategies prevail
As a cutting Indian sword lies concealed in its sheath.
His favor upon you continues, increasing
إذاwhen شَامَهَاhe sheathes it قَرَّتْsettle قُلُوبٌhearts مَقرَّهَاin their places
إذا شَامَهَا قَرَّتْ قُلُوبٌ مَقرَّهَا
وإنand if سُلَّit is drawn منهاfrom it فالْفَرائصُthen the flesh تُرْعَدُtrembles
وإن سُلَّ منها فالْفَرائصُ تُرْعَدُ
When he sheathes it, hearts settle in their places;
When absent his deputy appears
When it is drawn forth, flesh trembles.
Both scenes alike, neither outshines the other
يُلاقيmeets العِدَاenemies والأولياءَand allies ابْنُIbn مَخْلَدٍMakhlad
يُلاقي العِدَا والأولياءَ ابْنُ مَخْلَدٍ
لقاءَthe meeting امْرىءٍof a man فيfor اللّهGod يَرْضَىpleased ويعْبَدُand worshipping
لقاءَ امْرىءٍ في اللّه يَرْضَى ويعْبَدُ
Ibn Makhlad meets enemies and allies
Whoever flees, he fiercely pursues
As a man who is pleased for God's sake and worships Him:
Fanning war's flames, a planet in combat
بِجَهْلٍwith fierceness كجهلِlike the fierceness السيفِof the sword والسيفُwhile the sword مُنْتَضىًis drawn
بِجَهْلٍ كجهلِ السيفِ والسيفُ مُنْتَضىً
وحلْمٍand forbearance كحلمlike the forbearance السيفof the sword والسيفُwhile the sword مُغْمَدُis sheathed
وحلْمٍ كحلم السيف والسيفُ مُغْمَدُ
With fierceness like a sword's when drawn,
Each attack makes their positions untenable
And forbearance like a sword's when sheathed.
His army growing as yours gains decisive wins
وليسَand it is not بِجَهْلthe folly الأغبياءof fools ذوِيpossessed of العَمَىblindness
وليسَ بِجَهْل الأغبياء ذوِي العَمَى
ولكنَّهbut it جَهْلٌis fierceness بهthrough which اللَّهُGod يُعْبَدُis worshipped
ولكنَّه جَهْلٌ به اللَّهُ يُعْبَدُ
Not the folly of fools possessed of blindness,
Had you neither gained reinforcements nor killed them
But a fierceness through which God is worshipped;
His killing of them would have quenched your vengeance
عُرَامٌa force زَعيمٌguaranteeing بالهُدَىguidance أوْor فَبِالرَّدَىelse destruction
عُرَامٌ زَعيمٌ بالهُدَى أوْ فَبِالرَّدَى
إذاwhen ماindeed اعْتَدَىstrayed قوْمٌpeople عنfrom القصْدthe proper course عُنَّدُobstinate
إذا ما اعْتَدَى قوْمٌ عن القصْد عُنَّدُ
A force guaranteeing guidance—or else destruction—
But they transgressed until you prevailed
When obstinate people stray from the proper course.
Diminishing them as your own ranks swelled
قِرىًhospitality مِنْfrom مليٍّone fully able بالقِرىto provide hospitality حِينَwhen يُبْتَغَىit is sought
قِرىً مِنْ مليٍّ بالقِرى حِينَ يُبْتَغَى
كِلاَboth نُزُلَيْهِhis offerings اللَّذُّthe pleasant والكُرْهand the bitter مُحْمَدُare praiseworthy
كِلاَ نُزُلَيْهِ اللَّذُّ والكُرْه مُحْمَدُ
Hospitality from one fully able to provide it when sought:
Wearing the sword of war at its draw
Both his offerings, pleasant and bitter, are praiseworthy.
More harmful to them than its slash or strike
عَتيدٌready لَديْهِwith him الخَيرُgood والشرُّand evil لامْرىءٍfor a man
عَتيدٌ لَديْهِ الخَيرُ والشرُّ لامْرىءٍ
بَغَىwho transgresses أوْor بَغَىseeks خيراًgood ولَلْخَيْرُand surely good أَعْتَدُis readier
بَغَى أوْ بَغَى خيراً ولَلْخَيْرُ أَعْتَدُ
Good and evil stand ready with him for a man
You cursed his lands leaving him only
Who transgresses or seeks good—and good is readier.
A wasteland, though once fertile and thriving
صموتٌsilent بلاwithout عيٍّinability to speak لهhe has منamong بلائهhis deeds
صموتٌ بلا عيٍّ له من بلائه
نَوَاطِقُspeaking witnesses تَسْتدْعِيsummoning الرَّجَاءَhope وتَزْأدُand inspiring fear
نَوَاطِقُ تَسْتدْعِي الرَّجَاءَ وتَزْأدُ
Silent without inability to speak, he has, among his deeds,
You drove him back by cunning
Voices that summon hope and inspire fear.
Separating his army though yours remained coherent
كَفَىhe spared الوعْدَpromising والإِيعَادَand threatening بالقوْلِthrough speech نَفْسَهُhimself
كَفَى الوعْدَ والإِيعَادَ بالقوْلِ نَفْسَهُ
بأفْعَالِهِthrough his actions والفِعْلand action للفِعْلto action أشْهَدُbears better witness
بأفْعَالِهِ والفِعْل للفِعْل أشْهَدُ
Through his actions he has spared himself
Had his forces not been diffuse
Spoken promises and threats: action bears better witness to action.
You would have killed him, capturing his side
إذاwhen اقْتُفِرَتْare followed آثارُهُhis tracks فَعَدُوُّهُthen his enemy
إذا اقْتُفِرَتْ آثارُهُ فَعَدُوُّهُ
وموْلاَهُand his ally مَوْعُودٌfind a promise هُنَاكthere ومُوعَدُand a threat
وموْلاَهُ مَوْعُودٌ هُنَاك ومُوعَدُ
When his tracks are followed, his enemy
Instead you besieged and weakened his power
And his ally find there a promise and a threat.
His provisions failed though he began well-prepared
عزيزٌmighty غَداhas risen فوْقَabove التَّودُّدِcourting affection عِزُّهُhis might
عزيزٌ غَدا فوْقَ التَّودُّدِ عِزُّهُ
وإحْسَانُهand his kindness فيin ظلِّهhis shade يَتَوَدَّدُcourts affection
وإحْسَانُه في ظلِّه يَتَوَدَّدُ
Mighty, his might has risen above courting affection,
Leaving him alive though constrained
While his kindness courts affection beneath its shade.
Fettered, like a tethered beast to his den
يَغُضُّhe lowers عنfrom السؤَّالِpetitioners منof طَرْفِthe gaze عَيْنهof his eye
يَغُضُّ عن السؤَّالِ من طَرْفِ عَيْنه
لِكَيْلاَso as not to يَرَىsee الأحْرَارَfree men كيُفَhow تُعَبَّدُthey are enslaved
لِكَيْلاَ يَرَى الأحْرَارَ كيُفَ تُعَبَّدُ
He lowers his gaze from petitioners
He walked on oceans almost unimpeded
So as not to see free men reduced to servitude.
While earth barely sustained him, like a burden
ويُطْرِقُand he bows his head إطْراقَwith the bowed head الذَّليلof a humbled man وإنهthough he
ويُطْرِقُ إطْراقَ الذَّليل وإنه
هُنَاكَthere لَسَامِيis surely lofty نَاظِرِin the gaze العيْنِof the eye أصْيَدُproudly upright
هُنَاكَ لَسَامِي نَاظِرِ العيْنِ أصْيَدُ
He bows his head like a humbled man, though
With a spear cast at his rock-solid chest
There he is lofty-eyed and proudly upright.
It would become the rock's resting place, embedded
إذاwhen مَنَّhe grants a favor لمnot يَمْنُنْdoes he boast بِمَنٍّwith a favor يَمُنُّهhe grants
إذا مَنَّ لم يَمْنُنْ بِمَنٍّ يَمُنُّه
وقالand he says لنفسيfor myself أيُّهاO الناسُpeople أمْهَدُI prepare comfort
وقال لنفسي أيُّها الناسُ أمْهَدُ
When he grants a favor, he does not boast of granting it,
Crossing a sea, the waters nearly parted
But says, 'People, I prepare comfort for myself.'
Setting foot on land, it nearly cracked and split
وكلand every امْتِنَانٍfavor لاnot يُمَنُّboasted of فإنهthen it
وكل امْتِنَانٍ لا يُمَنُّ فإنه
أخفُّis lighter مناطاًin attachment فيupon الرقابnecks وأوْكَدُand firmer
أخفُّ مناطاً في الرقاب وأوْكَدُ
Every favor whose giver does not boast
You did not warn but let him be, as if
Rests lighter on the neck, yet binds more firmly.
The sea's surface for him was solid ground
تَجَاوَزَhe has passed beyond أنthat يسْتأْنفhe begin anew المجدَglory بالنَّدىthrough generosity
تَجَاوَزَ أن يسْتأْنف المجدَ بالنَّدى
وفيand in كلevery ماwhat اسْتَرْفدتَهُyou ask his help for فهُوَhe أجْودُis more generous
وفي كل ما اسْتَرْفدتَهُ فهُوَ أجْودُ
He has passed beyond beginning glory anew through generosity;
You misled him toward survival but he chose
In everything you ask his help for, he is more generous.
Annihilation - an evil destination!
ومنand whoever لمْnot يَزِدْincreased فيin مجدهhis glory بذْلُthe spending مالِهِof his wealth
ومن لمْ يَزِدْ في مجده بذْلُ مالِهِ
وجادَand gave generously بهof it فَهْوthen he الجَوَادُis the generous man المقلَّدُcrowned
وجادَ به فَهْو الجَوَادُ المقلَّدُ
One whose spending cannot increase his glory,
You were still, demanding blood vengeance
Yet who gives his wealth, is the crowned generous man.
As a lion poised to pounce crouches
ترىyou see نَائلاًa gift منfrom نَائلٍa giver ثمthen ينتهيends
ترى نَائلاً من نَائلٍ ثم ينتهي
إلىwith صَاعِدٍṢāʿid إسنادُهits chain of attribution حينwhen يُسْنَدُit is traced
إلى صَاعِدٍ إسنادُه حين يُسْنَدُ
You see a gift from a giver, then its chain
And Abu al-Abbas, everywhere and always
Ends with Ṣāʿid when its origin is traced.
Wore the cloak of righteousness, pure and simple
كأنَّas though أباهhis father يومon the day سمَّاهُhe named him صاعداًṢāʿid
كأنَّ أباه يوم سمَّاهُ صاعداً
رأىsaw كيفَhow يَرْقَىhe ascends فيto المعاليlofty things ويَصْعدُand climbs
رأى كيفَ يَرْقَى في المعالي ويَصْعدُ
As though his father, when he named him Ṣāʿid,
Defending the honorable, not selfish whim
Saw how he would mount and ascend to lofty things.
Shunning scandal, guided by principle
جَرىhe raced وجرىand raced الأكْفَاءُhis peers شَأْواًa course ولمand never يزلceased
جَرى وجرى الأكْفَاءُ شَأْواً ولم يزل
مُنَازِعُهُhis rival الطُّولىfor supremacy يُضَامُbeing overcome ويُضْهَدُand humbled
مُنَازِعُهُ الطُّولى يُضَامُ ويُضْهَدُ
He raced, and his peers raced a course; always
He is the lion's cub, resembling its sire
His rival for supremacy was overcome and humbled.
Nothing strange for cubs mimic their sires
فَلَمَّاand when تناهَىreached his limit منwhoever يُبَارِيهcompeted with him فيin العلاeminence
فَلَمَّا تناهَى من يُبَارِيه في العلا
تَمادَىhe continued يُباريcompeting with أمْسَهُhis yesterday اليومُtoday والغدُand tomorrow
تَمادَى يُباري أمْسَهُ اليومُ والغدُ
When those competing with him in eminence reached their limit,
But without support in adversity, how excellent
He continued: today and tomorrow compete with his yesterday.
Was the son of Makhlad - your loyal counsel!
جَوادٌa steed ثَنَىchecked غَرْبَthe mettle الجِيادof steeds بغَرْبِهwith his mettle
جَوادٌ ثَنَى غَرْبَ الجِياد بغَرْبِه
وظَلَّand kept يُجَاريracing ظلَّهُhis shadow وهوwhile he أوْحدُwas alone
وظَلَّ يُجَاري ظلَّهُ وهو أوْحدُ
A steed who checked other steeds' mettle with his own,
He stood by you when iron assailed
And kept racing his own shadow, all alone.
Enveloping you while plots unraveled
وماand whenever أغْرَقَpraised extravagantly المُدَّاحُthe panegyrists إلاonly غَلاraised high بِهِhim
وما أغْرَقَ المُدَّاحُ إلا غَلا بِهِ
وراءbeyond مَغَاليthe furthest reaches مَدْحِهِمْof their praise فيهof him مَخْلدُMakhlad
وراء مَغَالي مَدْحِهِمْ فيه مَخْلدُ
Whenever panegyrists praised extravagantly, Makhlad raised him
All blades bend except his, undaunted by death
Beyond the furthest reaches of their praise of him;
A staunch ally, by the Almighty aided
وأسْلافُand forebears صِدقtrue منamong عَرَانِينthe chieftains مَذْحجٍof Madhhij
وأسْلافُ صِدق من عَرَانِين مَذْحجٍ
طوَالُgreat المسَاعِيin endeavors ليْسnot فيهِمْamong them مزنَّدُa narrow-handed man
طوَالُ المسَاعِي ليْس فيهِمْ مزنَّدُ
And true forebears among Madhhij's chieftains,
When God showed you unveiled favor
Great in endeavor, with no narrow-handed man among them.
Fortune you sought appeared, set and established
بَنَوْاthey built مجدَهhis glory فيupon هَضْبَةٍa height مَذْحجيَّةٍMadhhijite
بَنَوْا مجدَه في هَضْبَةٍ مَذْحجيَّةٍ
ذُؤَابَتُهَاits summit بيْنamong الفَرَاقدthe Farqadan stars فَرْقَدُis a star
ذُؤَابَتُهَا بيْن الفَرَاقد فَرْقَدُ
They built his glory on a Madhhijite height
Dispelling your injuries and doubts
Whose summit is a star among the Farqadan stars.
Transforming wounds into triumphs, wide and flourishing
أُولئكَthose أوْعَالُare mountain goats المعَاليof lofty things مُسَهَّلٌmade easy
أُولئكَ أوْعَالُ المعَالي مُسَهَّلٌ
لهُمْfor them مُرْتَقىًan ascent فيthrough الوَعْرthe rugged terrain مِنْهاof them ومَصعَدُand a climb
لهُمْ مُرْتَقىً في الوَعْر مِنْها ومَصعَدُ
Those are the mountain goats of lofty things: made easy
So the last of your enemies were removed
For them is ascent through their rugged slopes.
Only remnants remained, scattered and finished
ألمhave you not تَرَseen زُلْفَىthe closeness صاعدof Ṣāʿid عندto رَبِّهhis lord
ألم تَرَ زُلْفَى صاعد عند رَبِّه
بلىyes قدindeed رأىhas seen السَّاهيthe inattentive ومَنْand whoever يَتَفَقَّدُkeeps watch
بلى قد رأى السَّاهي ومَنْ يَتَفَقَّدُ
Have you not seen Ṣāʿid's closeness to his lord?
As if when their structures collapsed
Yes: both the inattentive and the watchful have seen it.
It was said: They quenched, then fouled their thirst
بَدَتْappeared قِبلةُthe focal point الدنياof the world وللنُّكْرand evil has فوقَهاabove it
بَدَتْ قِبلةُ الدنيا وللنُّكْر فوقَها
ظِلالٌshadows وثَدْيُand the breast العُرْفof goodness فيهاwithin it مُجدَّدُis dried up
ظِلالٌ وثَدْيُ العُرْف فيها مُجدَّدُ
The world's focal point appeared, with evil's
And you, Abu al-Abbas, protected Ahmad's nation
Shadows over it, and goodness's breast dried up within it.
A deed his cousin Ahmad will someday praise
فَلَمَّاand when تولَّىhe assumed الأمرَauthority نُكِّرَwas repudiated مُنْكرٌwrongdoing
فَلَمَّا تولَّى الأمرَ نُكِّرَ مُنْكرٌ
وعُرِّفand was acknowledged معْرُوفgoodness وأُصْلِحَand was repaired مُفْسَدُcorruption
وعُرِّف معْرُوف وأُصْلِحَ مُفْسَدُ
When he assumed authority, wrongdoing was repudiated,
You stopped the unlawful bloodshed, setting right
Goodness acknowledged, and corruption repaired.
What was wrong, though the deviants raced ahead
وأَصْبَحand became شَمْلُthe company الناسِof people وهْوَwhile it مؤلَّفٌwas united
وأَصْبَح شَمْلُ الناسِ وهْوَ مؤلَّفٌ
وعَهْديand my recollection بشملof the company الناسof people وهْوwhile it مُبَدَّدُwas scattered
وعَهْدي بشمل الناس وهْو مُبَدَّدُ
The people's scattered company became united;
You secured the fearful nights so they can worship
I had known their company as dispersed.
Bowing between prayer niches, fervently devoted
حَمَاهُمْhe protected them وأفشىand spread العُرْفَkindness فيهمamong them فكُلُّهُمْso all of them
حَمَاهُمْ وأفشى العُرْفَ فيهم فكُلُّهُمْ
منfrom الشرِّevil مَمْنُوعٌare protected مِنَwith الخيرgood مُمْجَدُabundantly supplied
من الشرِّ مَمْنُوعٌ مِنَ الخير مُمْجَدُ
He protected them and spread kindness among them, so all
Through you Islam was revived, strengthened
Are shielded from evil and abundantly supplied with good.
Its light rekindled, the edifice rebuilt
إذاwhen أحْسَنُواthey did well جُوزُواthey were rewarded جَزَاءًwith a reward مُضَاعَفاًdoubled
إذا أحْسَنُوا جُوزُوا جَزَاءً مُضَاعَفاً
وماand what اقتَرَفُواthey committed منof سَيِّئٍwrongdoing مُتَغَمَّدُis forgiven
وما اقتَرَفُوا من سَيِّئٍ مُتَغَمَّدُ
When they do well, they receive a doubled reward;
You slew the one who raped honorable women
Whatever wrong they commit is forgiven.
His bloody corpse now tossed in land and sea
ولَمَّاand when الْتَقَىjoined خِصْبُthe abundance المرَادِof what was sought وأمْنُهُand its security
ولَمَّا الْتَقَى خِصْبُ المرَادِ وأمْنُهُ
تَيَقَّظَawakened مَسْبُوتٌthe lethargic ونامand slept مُسَهَّدُthe sleepless
تَيَقَّظَ مَسْبُوتٌ ونام مُسَهَّدُ
When abundance in what was sought joined with security,
You killed the wicked gang in cold blood
The lethargic awakened and the sleepless slept.
Though prostrating innocently, calling God's name
فلمْso not يَمتَنعْwas withheld مَرعىًa pasture علىfrom مُتعيِّشٍone seeking a living
فلمْ يَمتَنعْ مَرعىً على مُتعيِّشٍ
ولمand not يَنْقَطِعceased شِرْبٌa drinking supply ولمand not يَنْبُproved uncomfortable مَرْقَدُa bed
ولم يَنْقَطِع شِرْبٌ ولم يَنْبُ مَرْقَدُ
No pasture was withheld from anyone seeking a living;
The treasonous Jews live safely under your protection
No drinking supply ceased, and no bed proved uncomfortable.
While loyal believers suffer tyranny and pain!
فأضحُواso they became وماand not فيin راحةthe repose الموتof death مَرْغَبٌan attraction
فأضحُوا وما في راحة الموت مَرْغَبٌ
لحِيٍّfor a living person ولاnor فيin لذَّةِthe pleasure العيْشof life مَزْهَدُa reason for abstinence
لحِيٍّ ولا في لذَّةِ العيْش مَزْهَدُ
They came to a state where death's repose held no attraction
You besieged the Negro chief until his might buckled,
For the living, nor life's pleasure any reason for abstinence.
His troops lost heart though their number seemed countless
لِيَحْلُلْlet settle ذَرَاهin his shelter منwhoever تَلَدَّدَwanders حائراًbewildered
لِيَحْلُلْ ذَرَاه من تَلَدَّدَ حائراً
فماfor no فيin ذَرَاهُhis shelter حائرٌbewildered person يَتَلدَّدُwanders in perplexity
فما في ذَرَاهُ حائرٌ يَتَلدَّدُ
Let the bewildered wanderer settle in his shelter:
You kept him alive, unconquered yet confined
No bewildered person wanders in perplexity there.
Leashed though unfettered, his men may rally
وَطَاغٍand a tyrant عهدناwe knew أمرَهhis affair وهْوَwhile it حادثٌwas a new calamity
وَطَاغٍ عهدنا أمرَه وهْوَ حادثٌ
جَليلٌgreat فأمْسَىthen became أمْرُهhis affair وهوwhile it مَعْهَدُwas a remembered tale
جَليلٌ فأمْسَى أمْرُه وهو مَعْهَدُ
And a tyrant whose affair we knew as a new
His domain was dense with fighters
Great calamity—his affair became a remembered tale.
Yet you kept terrorizing and tearing it apart
تمادَتْcarried onward بِهhim الطَّغْوَىtyranny ولمand not يدْرdid he know أنَّهthat he
تمادَتْ بِه الطَّغْوَى ولم يدْر أنَّه
يُسَوِّغُwas easing the way for أكَّالاًa devourer لهof him ثمthen يُزرَدُwould be swallowed
يُسَوِّغُ أكَّالاً له ثم يُزرَدُ
Tyranny carried him onward, and he did not know
Separating his men with cunning gambits
He was feeding his devourer, then would be swallowed.
As your ranks swelled and their assembly wavered
فصادَفand he encountered قَتَّالَthe slayer الطُّغاةِof tyrants بمَرصَدٍat a watchpost
فصادَف قَتَّالَ الطُّغاةِ بمَرصَدٍ
قريبnearby وهلand can يَخْلُوbe empty منof اللّهGod مَرْصَدُa watchpost
قريب وهل يَخْلُو من اللّه مَرْصَدُ
He encountered the slayer of tyrants at a nearby
If you lacked reinforcements yet killed them off
Watchpost—and is any watchpost empty of God?
He would have mourned them, their loss is greater
أُتيحwas prepared لهfor him منfrom ذيthe possessor الغَنَاءَيْنof two efficacies صاعدٍṢāʿid
أُتيح له من ذي الغَنَاءَيْن صاعدٍ
مِصَاعcombat ومَكْرٌand a stratagem أَعْجَميٌforeign مُوَلَّدُnative-bred
مِصَاع ومَكْرٌ أَعْجَميٌ مُوَلَّدُ
From Ṣāʿid, master of two kinds of efficacy, there awaited him
But he transgressed so you gained victory
Combat and a stratagem, foreign yet native-bred.
Diminishing him as your own power proliferated
فَعُجْمتُهُso its foreignness كِتْمَانُهُis his concealment أينَwhere عَهْدُهُhis allegiance lies
فَعُجْمتُهُ كِتْمَانُهُ أينَ عَهْدُهُ
وتَوْلِيدُهُand its native breeding عِرْفَانُهis his knowledge أيْنَwhere يَعْمِدُhe aims
وتَوْلِيدُهُ عِرْفَانُه أيْنَ يَعْمِدُ
Its foreignness was his concealing where his allegiance lay;
Absent from war, your imprint remains
Its native breeding, his knowing where to aim.
Your veterans ready, committed and dutiful
رماهُstruck him بِحَوْلٍwith might لاnot يُطاقresistible وقُوَةٍand strength
رماهُ بِحَوْلٍ لا يُطاق وقُوَةٍ
وَلِيٌّan ally بكلْتَاwith both العدَّتَيْنkinds of equipment مُؤَيَّدُsupported
وَلِيٌّ بكلْتَا العدَّتَيْن مُؤَيَّدُ
An ally struck him with irresistible might and strength,
Like fate unseen yet its judgments visible
Supported with both kinds of equipment.
Upon all mankind, unavoidable, unquestioned
رأىhe judged صَيْدَهcapturing him منamong أفْضلthe best الصَّيْدِcaptures كُلِّهِof all
رأى صَيْدَه من أفْضل الصَّيْدِ كُلِّهِ
علىalthough أنَّهُhe مِنْis among شرِّthe worst ماwhat يُتَصَيَّدُis hunted
على أنَّهُ مِنْ شرِّ ما يُتَصَيَّدُ
He judged capturing him among the best of all captures,
When a sword appears, it heeds your vision
Though he was among the worst things to be hunted.
Its blow guided by your focused wisdom
فَبَثَّso spread لهfor him تِلْكthose الحَبائلsnares حَازِمٌa resolute man
فَبَثَّ له تِلْك الحَبائل حَازِمٌ
منamong القومthe people كَيَّادٌa schemer قَديماًlong مُكيَّدُpracticed in stratagems
من القوم كَيَّادٌ قَديماً مُكيَّدُ
A resolute man spread those snares for him,
A youth - his spirit a pure illumination
An experienced schemer among men, long practiced in stratagems.
His essence a temple for that light embodied
مُوَفَّقُsound آراءٍin judgments وزيرُthe vizier مُوَفَّقٍof al-Muwaffaq
مُوَفَّقُ آراءٍ وزيرُ مُوَفَّقٍ
يُعَضِّدُهُhe supports him والرُّكْنُand the pillar بالركنby another pillar يُعْضَدُis supported
يُعَضِّدُهُ والرُّكْنُ بالركن يُعْضَدُ
Sound in judgment, the vizier of al-Muwaffaq,
Refined and purged of impurities
Supporting him, as one pillar is supported by another.
A lofty apogee for minds seeking ascent
إذاwhen نَابَhe acts as deputy عنهfor him فيin الأمورِaffairs رَأَيْتَهyou see him
إذا نَابَ عنه في الأمورِ رَأَيْتَه
كِلاboth مَشْهَدَيْهِhis fields لاnot يُدَانيهِequals him مشهدُa field
كِلا مَشْهَدَيْهِ لا يُدَانيهِ مشهدُ
When he acts for him in affairs, you see him:
A wayfarer from worldly pursuits
Neither of his two fields has an equal.
Who shuns its water, diluted and brackish
عُطَارِدُهُhis Mercury ماwhile أخْبَتِhas banked الحربُwar نَارَهاits fire
عُطَارِدُهُ ما أخْبَتِ الحربُ نَارَها
ومِرِّيخُهُand his Mars ماwhile دَامَتِcontinues الحربُwar تَوقدُburning
ومِرِّيخُهُ ما دَامَتِ الحربُ تَوقدُ
His Mercury while war has banked its fire,
Had it enticed him to partake of its valley's drink
And his Mars while war keeps burning.
He would have tempered himself, restrained from excess
يَصُولُhe assails علىagainst أعدائهhis enemies كلَّevery صَوْلةassault
يَصُولُ على أعدائه كلَّ صَوْلة
يَضِيقُbecomes cramped لهاbecause of it مِنْهُمْfor them مَقَامٌa standing place ومَقْعَدُand a seat
يَضِيقُ لها مِنْهُمْ مَقَامٌ ومَقْعَدُ
He launches every assault upon his enemies
It professes love to attract him
That leaves them little room to stand or sit.
With its maidens who tend the abstemious
فطوْراًso sometimes بأَقْلاَمٍwith pens تُجَرَّدُunsheathed لِلْحِبَاfor gifts
فطوْراً بأَقْلاَمٍ تُجَرَّدُ لِلْحِبَا
وطوراًand sometimes بأسْيافٍwith swords حِدَادٍsharp تُجَرَّدُunsheathed
وطوراً بأسْيافٍ حِدَادٍ تُجَرَّدُ
Sometimes with pens unsheathed for gifts,
Yet he gains nothing save what builds his rewards
And sometimes with sharp swords unsheathed.
Or the little that suffices his needs, no more
إذاwhen ماindeed اجْتَبَىhe collects مَالاًwealth فَمَالاًthen more wealth أحَالَهُhe turns it
إذا ما اجْتَبَى مَالاً فَمَالاً أحَالَهُ
قِتَالاًinto battle وزِلْزَالاًand upheaval لمنfor whoever يَتَمَرَّدُrebels
قِتَالاً وزِلْزَالاً لمن يَتَمَرَّدُ
Whenever he collects wealth after wealth, he turns it
A man who rewards good by giving first
Into battle and upheaval for whoever rebels.
And if good returns, his giving redoubles
وإنِّيand I علىdespite رَغْمِthe wishes الأعاديof enemies لَقائلٌshall surely say
وإنِّي على رَغْمِ الأعادي لَقائلٌ
وإنeven if أبْرَقُواthey flash ليat me بالوَعِيدِthreats وأرعَدُواand thunder
وإن أبْرَقُوا لي بالوَعِيدِ وأرعَدُوا
Despite my enemies, I shall indeed say,
The hope of those who seek him
Though they flash threats at me and thunder:
Is as his promise, a covenant confirmed
لِيَشكُرْlet thank بَنُوthe sons الإسلامof Islam نعمةَthe favor صاعدٍof Ṣāʿid
لِيَشكُرْ بَنُو الإسلام نعمةَ صاعدٍ
بلrather النَّاسُmankind طُرّاًaltogether قَوْلَةًa statement لاnot تُفَنَّدُrefutable
بل النَّاسُ طُرّاً قَوْلَةً لا تُفَنَّدُ
'Let the sons of Islam thank Ṣāʿid for his favor—
A youth - the lamps of his insight guide
Indeed, all mankind': a statement that cannot be refuted.
His overflowing favor is help at hand
وإنْand if تكفُرواyou are ungrateful فاللَّهُthen God شَاكرُappreciates سَعْيهhis endeavor
وإنْ تكفُروا فاللَّهُ شَاكرُ سَعْيه
عَلَىdespite الكَافِرِيهِthose ungrateful to him والنَّبيُّand the Prophet محمدُMuhammad
عَلَى الكَافِرِيهِ والنَّبيُّ محمدُ
If you are ungrateful, God appreciates his endeavor
Each land's wise governor, every domain's noble keeper
Despite those ungrateful to him, as does the Prophet Muhammad.
His judgments make clear, his pardons make whole
لأطْفأhe surely extinguished ناراًa fire قدindeed تعالىhad risen high شُوَاظُهَاits flames
لأطْفأ ناراً قد تعالى شُوَاظُهَا
وأوْقَدَand kindled نُوراًa light كادnearly لولاهwithout him يَخْمَدُwent out
وأوْقَدَ نُوراً كاد لولاه يَخْمَدُ
He extinguished a fire whose flames had risen high,
Yet the best of all is wisdom - fortune's sister
And kindled a light that, without him, nearly went out.
Both to be sought, for in him they are found
وَمَاand not مذْحجٌMadhhij إذْsince كانhe was منهاamong its people بمَعْزِلٍis excluded
وَمَا مذْحجٌ إذْ كان منها بمَعْزِلٍ
عنfrom الحْمدِpraise مَاas long as لَمْnot يَجْحَدِdeny الحقَّthe truth جُحَّدُdeniers
عن الحْمدِ مَا لَمْ يَجْحَدِ الحقَّ جُحَّدُ
Since he belongs to Madhhij, Madhhij is not excluded
They saw him as infant and said he'd be
From praise, unless deniers deny the truth.
A leader - ten complete virtues in one embodiment
أَمَذْحجُO Madhhij أحْسنْتِyou did well النضالَin fighting فأبشِريso rejoice
أَمَذْحجُ أحْسنْتِ النضالَ فأبشِري
بِشُكرِكِin appreciation of you عندwith اللّهGod والقَرْضُand service يُشْكَدُreceives thanks
بِشُكرِكِ عند اللّه والقَرْضُ يُشْكَدُ
O Madhhij, you have fought well: rejoice
This proved true in his ten-year reign
In God's appreciation of you; service receives gratitude.
His greatness ingrained, embedded since birth
لئنif indeed نصرaided الأنْصارُthe Ansar بَدْءاًfirst نبيَّهمْtheir Prophet
لئن نصر الأنْصارُ بَدْءاً نبيَّهمْ
لقدindeed عُدْتُمyou returned بالنصرwith aid والعودُand renewal أحمدُis more praiseworthy
لقد عُدْتُم بالنصر والعودُ أحمدُ
If the Ansar first aided their Prophet,
Glory and praise encircle him
You have renewed that aid—and renewal is more praiseworthy.
While countless renowned ones strive for mere crumbs
وأنتُمْand you وهُمْand they فَرْعَانْare two branches صِنْوَانِfrom one stem تلتقيmeet
وأنتُمْ وهُمْ فَرْعَانْ صِنْوَانِ تلتقي
مَناسِبُكُمْyour lineages فيin مَنْصِبٍan ancestry لاnot يُزَهَّدُto be disdained
مَناسِبُكُمْ في مَنْصِبٍ لا يُزَهَّدُ
You and they are two branches from one stem; joined
He is pure, not owing his wealth to another
Are your lineages in an ancestry none should disdain.
While others display false airs to hide lowly roots
يَمَانُونَYemenites مَيْمُونوauspicious النَّقائِبِin character فيكُمُamong you
يَمَانُونَ مَيْمُونو النَّقائِبِ فيكُمُ
مُنَاصَحَةٌis loyal counsel صِرْفٌpure لمنfor whoever يَتَمَعْدَدُclaims Maʿadd
مُنَاصَحَةٌ صِرْفٌ لمن يَتَمَعْدَدُ
Yemenites, auspicious in character: among you
No home thrives without a noble pillar
Is pure loyal counsel for those claiming Maʿadd.
Nor does a pillar stand without solid foundations
تُدَبِّرُنَاgovern us منْكمfrom among you نجومٌstars ثَوَاقبٌpiercing
تُدَبِّرُنَا منْكم نجومٌ ثَوَاقبٌ
تَبَهْرَمُact as Bahram, Mars فيin تدبيرهاtheir governance وتَعَطْرَدُand act as Mercury
تَبَهْرَمُ في تدبيرها وتَعَطْرَدُ
Piercing stars from among you govern us,
Brackish water, though pure atop
Playing Mars and Mercury in their governance.
Below is bitter and foul when tasted
حُمَاةٌdefenders وكُتَّابٌand scribes تَسُوسُwield أكُفُّكُمyour hands
حُمَاةٌ وكُتَّابٌ تَسُوسُ أكُفُّكُم
رماحاًspears وأقلاماًand pens بهاby which الملكkingship يُعْمَدُis supported
رماحاً وأقلاماً بها الملك يُعْمَدُ
Defenders and scribes: your hands wield
The rest is brine - harmful, vile
Spears and pens by which kingship is supported.
Toxic when drunk, though thirst rages
مُعرَّبَةٌArab أقلامُكمyour pens نَبَتَتْgrew لكُمْfor you
مُعرَّبَةٌ أقلامُكم نَبَتَتْ لكُمْ
بحيثwhere الْتَقَىmet طَلْحٌacacia وضَالٌand wild lote وغَرْقَدُand boxthorn
بحيث الْتَقَى طَلْحٌ وضَالٌ وغَرْقَدُ
Your pens are Arab, grown for you
I used it to water tender shrubs
Where acacia, wild lote, and boxthorn meet.
After displacement made them wither
لِذلكtherefore آخَتْهاbecame their brothers الرماحُthe spears فأصبحتْand they became
لِذلك آخَتْها الرماحُ فأصبحتْ
تَقَوَّمُstraightening فيin أيْدِيكُمُyour hands وتَأَوَّدُand bending
تَقَوَّمُ في أيْدِيكُمُ وتَأَوَّدُ
Thus spears became their brothers, and they came
Camels - when left to roam long distances
To straighten and bend in your hands.
Their slender bodies show their humps
إذاwhen ماindeed سَلَكْتُمْyou thread فيinto الصُّدورِbreasts صُدُورَهَاtheir points
إذا ما سَلَكْتُمْ في الصُّدورِ صُدُورَهَا
تَقَصَّدُthey splinter فيهاwithin them عنagainst دماءٍblood تَفَصَّدُpouring forth
تَقَصَّدُ فيها عن دماءٍ تَفَصَّدُ
When you thread their points into breasts,
Trustworthy with a far-off travelers dreams
They splinter there against blood pouring forth.
Though ifdishonest, their saddles slide askew
فأهْوِنْhow little concern عليكمyou have فيin المعاليlofty things ونَيْلِهَاand attaining them
فأهْوِنْ عليكم في المعالي ونَيْلِهَا
هناكَthere بماfor what يَدْمَىbleeds ومَاand what يَتَقَصَّدُsplinters
هناكَ بما يَدْمَى ومَا يَتَقَصَّدُ
How little you care, in seeking and attaining heights,
Of those who grow more dear and gentle
For what bleeds there and what splinters!
When polished by wandering in distant lands
ولمْand not تَسْلُكُواdid you travel فيماin what أتْيتُمْyou did مَضِلَّةًa misleading road
ولمْ تَسْلُكُوا فيما أتْيتُمْ مَضِلَّةً
وكلنْbut لكُمyou had فيهِin it طريقٌa road مُعَبَّدُbeaten
وكلنْ لكُم فيهِ طريقٌ مُعَبَّدُ
In what you did, you did not travel a misleading road;
As plaited palm fronds become strong
Rather, yours was a beaten path.
Twisted tightly by plaiters' hands
وَمَاand not نِلْتُمُdid you attain مانلتمُwhat you attained أنْbecause جُدِدْتُمُyou were lucky
وَمَا نِلْتُمُ مانلتمُ أنْ جُدِدْتُمُ
ولكنbut جَدَدْتُمْyou worked earnestly والمُضِيعُونَwhile squanderers سُمَّدُwere heedless
ولكن جَدَدْتُمْ والمُضِيعُونَ سُمَّدُ
You did not attain what you attained through good luck,
Force them and they become violent
But through earnest effort, while squanderers remained heedless.
Like a mirage hiding vacant ruins
أرىI see منْwhoever تعاطَىattempts ماwhat بلغْتُمyou achieved كَرَائمٍas one reaching
أرى منْ تعاطَى ما بلغْتُم كَرَائمٍ
مَنالَthe reach الثريَّاof the Pleiades وهوwhile he أكْمهُis born blind مُقْعَدُcrippled
مَنالَ الثريَّا وهو أكْمهُ مُقْعَدُ
I see whoever attempts your achievements as one
Stopping a shoe whose cobbler's stitch
Reaching for the Pleiades while born blind and crippled.
Leaks blood from one who has walked long years
وَضِدٍّand an opponent لكمof yours لاmay not زَالَcease يَسْفُلُsinking جَدُّهُhis fortune
وَضِدٍّ لكم لا زَالَ يَسْفُلُ جَدُّهُ
ولاand not بَرِحَتْmay cease أنفَاسُهhis breaths تَتَصَعّدُrising in sighs
ولا بَرِحَتْ أنفَاسُه تَتَصَعّدُ
And an opponent of yours—may his fortune always sink,
I drove an obedient she-camel, then broke from her
And his breaths never cease rising in sighs!
When her outpours went dry, though she had gushed
يرىhe sees زِبْرِجَthe splendor الدنياof the world يرفُّfluttering عليكُمُover you
يرى زِبْرِجَ الدنيا يرفُّ عليكُمُ
ويُغْضِيand shuts his eyes عَنto اسْتِحْقَاقِكُمْyour deserving it فهْوَso he يُفْأَدُis burned within
ويُغْضِي عَن اسْتِحْقَاقِكُمْ فهْوَ يُفْأَدُ
He sees the world's splendor fluttering over you,
I wish to deliver to Abu 'Isa al-'Ala bin Sa'id
Ignores your deserving it, and so is burned within.
A message - no need for other couriers
وَلَوْand had قَاسَhe measured باسْتِيجَابِكُمْagainst your deserts ماwhat مُنِحْتُمُyou were granted
وَلَوْ قَاسَ باسْتِيجَابِكُمْ ما مُنِحْتُمُ
لأطْفَأhe would quench ناراًa fire فيin حَشَاهhis breast تَوَقَّدُblazing
لأطْفَأ ناراً في حَشَاه تَوَقَّدُ
Had he measured what you were granted against your deserts,
To untie the knots binding this supplicant
He would have quenched a fire blazing in his breast.
My sword and spear - the best go-betweens
ولكنَّهُbut he يرنُوgazes إلىat مَالبِسْتُمُwhat you have worn
ولكنَّهُ يرنُو إلى مَالبِسْتُمُ
وماand what تحتَهis beneath it أسْنَىis brighter وأعْلىand higher وأمْجَدُand more glorious
وما تحتَه أسْنَى وأعْلى وأمْجَدُ
But he gazes at what you have put on,
By the life of he whose every virtue
While what lies beneath is brighter, higher, and more glorious.
Surpasses all others, unparalleled
وآنَقُand lovelier منthan عِقْدthe necklace العقِيلةِof a noble woman جيدُهَاis her neck
وآنَقُ من عِقْد العقِيلةِ جيدُهَا
وأحسنُand fairer منthan سِرْبالِهَاher garment المُتَجرّدُis her unclothed form
وأحسنُ من سِرْبالِهَا المُتَجرّدُ
A noble woman's neck is lovelier than her necklace,
If Sa'id's ministry gains you as partner
And her unclothed form fairer than her garment.
It will be doubly blessed, with goodness unmarred
شكرتُكُمI thanked you شكرwith the thanks امْرِىءٍof a man ذيpossessing حُشَاشةٍa remnant of life
شكرتُكُم شكر امْرِىءٍ ذي حُشَاشةٍ
بِكُمْthrough you أصبَحَتْit came فيwithin جسمهhis body تَتردّدُto circulate
بِكُمْ أصبَحَتْ في جسمه تَتردّدُ
I thanked you as a man whose remnant of life
Your partnership procures forgiveness
Through you has come to circulate within his body.
Just as an even number is indivisible when halved
أظلَّتْovershadowed سيوفُthe swords الموتof death أهلَthe people بِلادِهِof his land
أظلَّتْ سيوفُ الموت أهلَ بِلادِهِ
فَكَشَّفْتُمُand you dispersed أظْلالَهاtheir shadows وَهْيَwhile they رُكّدُwere motionless
فَكَشَّفْتُمُ أظْلالَها وَهْيَ رُكّدُ
Death's swords overshadowed the people of his land;
A aloof man who finds sufficiency in himself
You dispersed their shadows while they hung motionless.
Needing no other, for God his sole intent
وأنتُمْand you وإنalthough كنتُمْyou were عَمَمْتُمْencompassing everyone بمَنِّكُمْwith your favor
وأنتُمْ وإن كنتُمْ عَمَمْتُمْ بمَنِّكُمْ
فقدindeed خَصَّنِيsingled me out منof ذاكthat ماwhat لسْتُI do not أجحدُdeny
فقد خَصَّنِي من ذاك ما لسْتُ أجحدُ
Although your favors encompassed everyone,
He is described but cannot be bounded
Something of them singled me out that I do not deny.
His giving surpasses what is told and transmitted
وكنتand I was امْرَءاًa man أوْفَىwho paid fully الصَّنِيعةَkindness شكْرَهَاits thanks
وكنت امْرَءاً أوْفَى الصَّنِيعةَ شكْرَهَا
وإنْeven if كانwas غيريsomeone other than me بالصَّنِيعَةِby the kindness يُقصدُintended
وإنْ كان غيري بالصَّنِيعَةِ يُقصدُ
I have been a man who gives kindness its full thanks,
Dearer than pure rainwater to the thirsty
Even when that kindness is intended for someone else.
Closer to it, the distant ones are barred
أُرَانِيI see myself إذاwhen ماindeed فُزْتُI win منهاfrom it بجانبٍa share
أُرَانِي إذا ما فُزْتُ منها بجانبٍ
كأَنِّيَas though I مخْصُوصٌwere singled out بهاby it مُتَوَحّدُalone
كأَنِّيَ مخْصُوصٌ بها مُتَوَحّدُ
When I win a share of it, I see myself
A man of piercing knowledge - when absent
As though uniquely singled out by it.
His deputy appears and both scenes shine equal
ومنand whoever شَكَرَthanks النُّعمَىa favor عُمُوماًbestowed generally فشْكرُهُthen his thanks
ومن شَكَرَ النُّعمَى عُمُوماً فشْكرُهُ
إذاwhen هيَit خَصَّتْهُsingles him out أجَمُّare more abundant وأحشَدُand ampler
إذا هيَ خَصَّتْهُ أجَمُّ وأحشَدُ
Whoever thanks a favor bestowed on all gives thanks
Whichever he chooses to attend to
More abundantly and amply when it singles him out.
The other never falls short or dims
وأَوْلَىand the most deserving امْرئٍman أنْthat تَشمَلُوهُyou encompass him بفضلكمwith your bounty
وأَوْلَى امْرئٍ أنْ تَشمَلُوهُ بفضلكم
نَقِيذُكُمُis your rescued man والموتُwhile death أسْودُwas black أربَدُdust-dark
نَقِيذُكُمُ والموتُ أسْودُ أربَدُ
The man most deserving to be encompassed by your bounty
They consult, aiding each other
Is your rescued man, when death was black and dust-dark.
Each pillar propped up by the other
ومَنْand whoever تُنقِذُوهُyou rescue تَضْمَنُواyou secure ماwhat يُعِيشُهُsustains his life
ومَنْ تُنقِذُوهُ تَضْمَنُوا ما يُعِيشُهُ
وماand what تَغْرِسُوهyou plant لاnot يَزَلْceases يُتعهّدُto be tended
وما تَغْرِسُوه لا يَزَلْ يُتعهّدُ
Whomever you rescue, you secure what sustains his life;
When the sword hilt is gripped their pens ready
Whatever you plant continues to receive care.
Stirring to action, for the kingdom made upright
وإنِّيand I لَمُهْدٍsurely offer للمُوَفَّقِto al-Muwaffaq شكْرَهُhis due thanks
وإنِّي لَمُهْدٍ للمُوَفَّقِ شكْرَهُ
وشُكْرَكُمُand thanks to you عنْon behalf of كلّeveryone منْwho يتشهَّدُprofesses the faith
وشُكْرَكُمُ عنْ كلّ منْ يتشهَّدُ
I offer al-Muwaffaq the thanks due to him,
Your eloquent pens sprouted for you
And thanks to you, on behalf of everyone professing the faith.
Where flowery speech, prose and verse meet
فمنso who مُبْلِغٌwill convey عنِّيfrom me الأميرَto the prince الذيthrough whom بهby him
فمن مُبْلِغٌ عنِّي الأميرَ الذي به
رَسَاstood firm الأُسُّthe foundation وانْتَصَّand rose البناءُthe building المسنّدُbuttressed
رَسَا الأُسُّ وانْتَصَّ البناءُ المسنّدُ
Who will convey from me to the prince through whom
So the spears welcomed them, they became
The foundation stood firm and the buttressed building rose?
Guided by you - straying neither right nor left
وعَرّىand he bared لَمَرْضَاةfor the pleasure الإِلهof God مَنَاصِلاًblades
وعَرّى لَمَرْضَاة الإِله مَنَاصِلاً
غِضَاباًwrathful عِضَاباًkeen ليسnot فيهنَّamong them مُعضَدُa blunt one
غِضَاباً عِضَاباً ليس فيهنَّ مُعضَدُ
He bared, for God's good pleasure, blades
You walk the straightest path, shunning misguidance
Wrathful and keen, with none blunt among them.
Each roadmade smooth, its rough patches smoothed
أباAbu أحْمدٍAhmad أبْلَيْتَyou served أمَّةَthe community أحْمدٍof Ahmad
أبا أحْمدٍ أبْلَيْتَ أمَّةَ أحْمدٍ
بلاءًwith service سَيَرْضَاهُhe will approve ابنُthe son عمِّكof your uncle أحمدُAhmad
بلاءً سَيَرْضَاهُ ابنُ عمِّك أحمدُ
Abu Ahmad, you served Ahmad's community
You attained what you did by renewing
With service your cousin Ahmad will approve.
Not by gaining - the negligent still slumber!
حَقَنْتَyou stopped دِمَاءَthe bloodshed العَقْرِof slaughter والعُقْرِand defloration بعْدَمَاafter
حَقَنْتَ دِمَاءَ العَقْرِ والعُقْرِ بعْدَمَا
هُريقَتْit was spilled حَرَاماًunlawfully والخَليُّونwhile the unconcerned رُقّدُslept
هُريقَتْ حَرَاماً والخَليُّون رُقّدُ
You stopped bloodshed from slaughter and violation, after
I see one who mimics your lofty principles
It was unlawfully spilled while the unconcerned slept.
Reaching heights though blind and stumbling
وأمَّنْتَand you secured لَيْلَthe night الخائِفِينof the fearful فَهَاجِدٌso one sleeps
وأمَّنْتَ لَيْلَ الخائِفِين فَهَاجِدٌ
وشَاكِرُand one thankful نُعْمَىfor favor قَائِمٌstands يتَهجَّدُpraying at night
وشَاكِرُ نُعْمَى قَائِمٌ يتَهجَّدُ
You made the fearful people's night secure: one sleeps,
While your rival remains lowly
And another, thankful for favor, stands in night prayer.
His breath still rising, never fading
بكَthrough you ارْتُجِعَwas recovered الإِسْلامُIslam بعدَafter ذهابِهِits departure
بكَ ارْتُجِعَ الإِسْلامُ بعدَ ذهابِهِ
وعَادَand returned مَنَارُthe beacon الدِّينِof religion وهْوَwhile it مُشيّدُwas raised firmly
وعَادَ مَنَارُ الدِّينِ وهْوَ مُشيّدُ
Through you Islam was recovered after its departure,
He eyes what you've attained jealously
And religion's beacon returned, firmly raised.
Deeming it unworthy, though loftier and nobler
قَتَلْتَyou killed الذيthe one who اسْتَحْيَاkept alive النساءwomen وأصْبَحتْand became
قَتَلْتَ الذي اسْتَحْيَا النساء وأصْبَحتْ
وَئِيدَتُهُhis calamity فيon البَرَّland والبَحْرِand sea تُوأدُburied
وَئِيدَتُهُ في البَرَّ والبَحْرِ تُوأدُ
You slew the man who kept women alive, and now
Sweeter than the kiss of the fawn's neck
His calamity is buried on land and sea.
Lovelier than her dress, simple and sheer
وَقتَّلَand he slaughtered أجْذَالَthe pillars العِبَادَةِof worship عَنْوَةًforcibly
وَقتَّلَ أجْذَالَ العِبَادَةِ عَنْوَةً
وهُمْwhile they رُكَّعٌwere bowing بَيْنَbetween السَّوَارِيthe columns وسُجَّدُand prostrating
وهُمْ رُكَّعٌ بَيْنَ السَّوَارِي وسُجَّدُ
He forcibly slaughtered the pillars of worship
Abu 'Isa, make these paltry days submit
As they bowed and prostrated between the columns.
For the finest garb frays while the worst endures
يَنَالُreceive اليهودُthe Jews الفاسِقُونَimpious أَمَانهُhis protection
يَنَالُ اليهودُ الفاسِقُونَ أَمَانهُ
وَيَشْقَىand suffer بهthrough him قَوْمٌpeople إلىto اللّهGod هُوَّدُturning
وَيَشْقَى به قَوْمٌ إلى اللّه هُوَّدُ
The impious Jews received his protection,
Live a life secluded in your abode
While people turning to God suffered through him.
While the best homes are but moving residences
حَصَرْتَyou besieged عميدَthe leader الزَّنْجof the Zanj حتَّىuntil تَخَاذَلَتْweakened
حَصَرْتَ عميدَ الزَّنْج حتَّى تَخَاذَلَتْ
قُواهُhis forces وأَوْدَىand perished زادُهُhis provisions المُتَزَوَّدُstored up
قُواهُ وأَوْدَى زادُهُ المُتَزَوَّدُ
You besieged the Zanj leader until weakened
In it is my tribute to those I mentioned
His forces, and his stored provisions perished.
My gaze toward you, more heartening than gifts
فَظَلَّso he remained ولمْthough not تَقْتُلْهُyou killed him يَلْفِظُbreathing out نَفْسَهُhis life
فَظَلَّ ولمْ تَقْتُلْهُ يَلْفِظُ نَفْسَهُ
وظلَّand he remained ولمthough not تأْسِرْهُyou captured him وهْوَwhile he مُقَيَّدُwas fettered
وظلَّ ولم تأْسِرْهُ وهْوَ مُقَيَّدُ
Without your killing him, he kept breathing out his life;
I came to you without provision
Without your capturing him, he remained fettered.
Telling myself the mounts are saddled for you
وَكَانَتْand were نَوَاحيهِhis territories كِثَافاًextensive فلمْbut never تزلdid you cease
وَكَانَتْ نَوَاحيهِ كِثَافاً فلمْ تزل
تَحَيّفُهَاwearing them away سَحْتاًby scraping كَأَنَّكَas though you مِبْرَدُwere a file
تَحَيّفُهَا سَحْتاً كَأَنَّكَ مِبْرَدُ
His territories were extensive, but you kept
Freed from hopes by the prospect of seeing you
Wearing them away, as though you were a file.
While hopes of others remain shackled
تُفَرِّقُyou separate عنْهُfrom him بالمكائِدِthrough stratagems جُنْدَهُhis troops
تُفَرِّقُ عنْهُ بالمكائِدِ جُنْدَهُ
وَتَزْدَادُهُمُand you add them جُنْداًas troops وجيْشُكwhile your army مُحْصَدُis firmly arrayed
وَتَزْدَادُهُمُ جُنْداً وجيْشُك مُحْصَدُ
Through stratagems you separated his troops from him,
I have no intercessor but your generosity
Adding them to your troops, your army firmly arrayed.
And no means to attain you but sincere praise
ولوand had كُنْتَyou been لمْnot تَزْدَدْهُمُadding them وَقَتَلْتَهُمْand killed them
ولو كُنْتَ لمْ تَزْدَدْهُمُ وَقَتَلْتَهُمْ
لكَانَthere would be لهُfor him فيin قَتْلهمْtheir killing مُتَبَرَّدُsome relief
لكَانَ لهُ في قَتْلهمْ مُتَبَرَّدُ
Had you not added them, but killed them instead,
Who can intercede on behalf of your petitioner
Their killing would have afforded him some relief.
Or provide provisions when you grant audience?
ولكنْbut بَغَىhe transgressed حتىuntil نُصِرْتَyou were granted victory فلمso not تَكُنْwere you
ولكنْ بَغَى حتى نُصِرْتَ فلم تَكُنْ
تُنَقِّصُهُdiminishing him إلّاexcept وأَنْتَwhile you تَزَيَّدُincreased
تُنَقِّصُهُ إلّا وأَنْتَ تَزَيَّدُ
But he transgressed until you were granted victory: never
A man made prosperous by the hope of you
Did you diminish him without yourself increasing.
Though given nothing, how excellent such fortune!
وَلاَبِسُand one wearing سَيْفِthe sword القِرْنِof the opponent عنْدَupon اسْتِلابِهِseizing it
وَلاَبِسُ سَيْفِ القِرْنِ عنْدَ اسْتِلابِهِ
أضَرُّis more harmful لَهُto him مِنْthan كَاسِرِيهِits breakers وَأَكْيَدُand more cunning
أضَرُّ لَهُ مِنْ كَاسِرِيهِ وَأَكْيَدُ
One who wears his opponent's sword after seizing it
Say these words of advice on my behalf
Harms him more, and more cunningly, than one who breaks it.
To the Prince who mended the fracture
نزلْتَyou descended بِهِupon him تَأْبَىrefusing القِرَىhospitality غيْرَother than نَفْسهhis life
نزلْتَ بِهِ تَأْبَى القِرَى غيْرَ نَفْسه
وذَاكَand that قِرىًis hospitality مِنْfrom مِثْلِهِhis like لَكَfor you مُعْتَدُprepared
وذَاكَ قِرىً مِنْ مِثْلِهِ لَكَ مُعْتَدُ
You descended upon him, refusing hospitality except his life;
Baring his blade though tolerance is difficult
Such hospitality from his like was prepared for you.
Anger intense - refusing to relent
بِأرْعَنَwith a vast army لَوْif يُرْمَىwere hurled بِهِwith it عُرْضُthe flank يَذْبُلٍof Yadhbul
بِأرْعَنَ لَوْ يُرْمَى بِهِ عُرْضُ يَذْبُلٍ
لأصْبَحَwould become مَرْسَىthe foundation صَخْرِهِof its rock وهْوَwhile it جَدْجَدُwas level ground
لأصْبَحَ مَرْسَى صَخْرِهِ وهْوَ جَدْجَدُ
With a vast army that, hurled against Yadhbul's flank,
O father of Ahmad - you tested Ahmad's nation
Would leave its rocky foundation a level plain.
A trial his cousin Ahmad will someday acclaim!
إذاwhen اجْتَازَit crossed بَحْراًa sea كَادَnearly يُنْزَحُwas drained مَاؤُهُits water
إذا اجْتَازَ بَحْراً كَادَ يُنْزَحُ مَاؤُهُ
وإنْand if ضَافَit visited بَرّاًland كَادَتِnearly الأرْضُthe earth تُجرَدُwas stripped bare
وإنْ ضَافَ بَرّاً كَادَتِ الأرْضُ تُجرَدُ
When it crossed a sea, its water nearly drained;
You stopped the unlawful bloodshed, setting right
When it visited land, the earth was nearly stripped bare.
What was wrong, though the deviants raced ahead
فَمَاso not رُمْتَهُdid you leave him حتىuntil اسْتَقَلَّlifted برأْسِهِhis head
فَمَا رُمْتَهُ حتى اسْتَقَلَّ برأْسِهِ
مكانَin place of قَنَاةِthe shaft الظَّهْرof the backbone أسْمَرُa brown spear أجْرَدُsmooth
مكانَ قَنَاةِ الظَّهْر أسْمَرُ أجْرَدُ
You did not leave him until his head was carried
You secured the fearful
By a smooth brown spear in place of his backbone.
تَطِيرُflutters عَلَيْهِupon it لِحْيةٌa beard منهfrom him أصْبَحَتْthat became
تَطِيرُ عَلَيْهِ لِحْيةٌ منه أصْبَحَتْ
لهُfor him رايةٌa banner يَهْدِيguiding بهاwith it الجَيْشَthe army مِطْرَدُa spear shaft
لهُ رايةٌ يَهْدِي بها الجَيْشَ مِطْرَدُ
His beard fluttered upon it, becoming
A banner for him, the shaft guiding the army with it.
تَرَاهُsee him عُيُونُthe eyes الناظرينof watchers ودُونهwhile before him
تَرَاهُ عُيُونُ الناظرين ودُونه
حجابٌis a veil وبابٌand a gate منof جَهنَّمَHell مُؤْصَدُbolted
حجابٌ وبابٌ من جَهنَّمَ مُؤْصَدُ
The watchers' eyes see him, while before him
Are a veil and a bolted gate of Hell.
يسيرُtravels لَهُfor him فيamid الدُّهْمthe massed host رأْسٌa head مُعَطَّنٌputrid
يسيرُ لَهُ في الدُّهْم رأْسٌ مُعَطَّنٌ
وجُثْمانُهُand his body بالْقَاعِon the plain شِلْوٌis a carcass مُقَدَّدُhacked up
وجُثْمانُهُ بالْقَاعِ شِلْوٌ مُقَدَّدُ
His putrid head travels amid the massed host,
And his body lies on the plain, a hacked-up carcass.
مَنَاكَallotted you لَهُto him مِقْدَارُهُhis fate فكأنَّمَاas though
مَنَاكَ لَهُ مِقْدَارُهُ فكأنَّمَا
تَقَوَّضَcollapsed ثَهْلاَنٌThahlan عليهupon him وَصِنْدَدُand Sindad
تَقَوَّضَ ثَهْلاَنٌ عليه وَصِنْدَدُ
His fate allotted you to him, as though
Thahlan and Sindad had collapsed upon him.
ولَمْand not تَأْلُdid you spare effort إنْذاراًin warning لَهُhim غَيْرexcept أنهthat he
ولَمْ تَأْلُ إنْذاراً لَهُ غَيْر أنه
رَأىthought أنَّthat متْنَthe surface البحرof the sea صَرْحٌwas a palace مُمَرَّدُsmoothly paved
رَأى أنَّ متْنَ البحر صَرْحٌ مُمَرَّدُ
You spared no warning for him; yet he
Thought the sea's surface a smoothly paved palace.
حَدَوْتَyou urged بِهِhim نَحْوَtoward النَّجَاةِsalvation كأنَّماas though
حَدَوْتَ بِهِ نَحْوَ النَّجَاةِ كأنَّما
مَحَجَّتُهُاits road البيْضَاءُwhite سَحْلٌwere cloth مُمَدَّدُspread out
مَحَجَّتُهُا البيْضَاءُ سَحْلٌ مُمَدَّدُ
You urged him toward salvation, as though
Its white road were a length of spread-out cloth.
فلمَّاand when أبىhe refused إلاanything except البَوَارَruin شَلَلْتَهُyou drove him
فلمَّا أبى إلا البَوَارَ شَلَلْتَهُ
إلىto النَّارِthe Fire بئسَevil is المورِدُthe watering place المُتورَّدُentered
إلى النَّارِ بئسَ المورِدُ المُتورَّدُ
When he would accept nothing but ruin, you drove him
To the Fire—an evil watering place to enter!
سَكَنْتَyou stayed still سكُوناًwith a stillness كانthat was رَهْناًpledged بِعَدْوَةٍto a charge
سَكَنْتَ سكُوناً كان رَهْناً بِعَدْوَةٍ
عَمَاسٍferocious كذاكَso اللَّيْثُthe lion للوَثْبbefore leaping يَلْبَدُcrouches
عَمَاسٍ كذاكَ اللَّيْثُ للوَثْب يَلْبَدُ
You stayed still with a stillness pledged to a charge
Ferocious: so the lion crouches before leaping.
وحَامَىand defended أبُوAbu العبّاسِal-Abbas فيin كلevery مَوْطِنٍbattlefield
وحَامَى أبُو العبّاسِ في كل مَوْطِنٍ
علىupon يَوْمِهِits day ثَوْبٌwas a garment منof الشرِّevil مُجْسَدُdyed
على يَوْمِهِ ثَوْبٌ من الشرِّ مُجْسَدُ
Abu al-Abbas defended in every battlefield
Whose day wore a garment dyed with evil.
مُحَاماةَwith the defense مِقْدامٍof a bold man حَيُودٍshunning عنfrom الهوىdesire
مُحَاماةَ مِقْدامٍ حَيُودٍ عن الهوى
ولكنَّهُbut he عنfrom جانِبِthe side العارof disgrace أحْيَدُshuns still more
ولكنَّهُ عن جانِبِ العار أحْيَدُ
With the defense of a bold man who shuns desire,
Yet shuns the side of disgrace still more.
وماand not شِبْلُthe cub ذاكَof that الْلَّيْثlion إلاexcept شَبيهُهُhis likeness
وما شِبْلُ ذاكَ الْلَّيْث إلا شَبيهُهُ
وغَيْرُand not عجيبٍa marvel أنthat تَرَىyou see الشبلthe cub يأْسَدُbecoming a lion
وغَيْرُ عجيبٍ أن تَرَى الشبل يأْسَدُ
That lion's cub is nothing but his likeness;
It is no marvel to see the cub become a lion.
وماand no بِئْسَpoor عوْنhelper المرْءِto a man كانwas ابنُIbn مَخْلدٍMakhlad
وما بِئْسَ عوْن المرْءِ كان ابنُ مَخْلدٍ
نَصِيحُكَyour loyal counselor والأعْدَاءُwhile enemies نَحْوَكَtoward you صُمَّدُheaded directly
نَصِيحُكَ والأعْدَاءُ نَحْوَكَ صُمَّدُ
Ibn Makhlad was no poor helper to a man:
Your loyal counselor, while enemies headed straight toward you.
مَضَىhe remained keen لَكَfor you إذْwhen كَلَّdulled الحديدُthe iron منَof الظُّبَاblades
مَضَى لَكَ إذْ كَلَّ الحديدُ منَ الظُّبَا
وحَاطَكَand guarded you إذْwhen رَثَّgrew worn النَّسيجُthe fabric المسَرَّدُlinked
وحَاطَكَ إذْ رَثَّ النَّسيجُ المسَرَّدُ
He remained keen for you when the blades' iron dulled,
And guarded you when the linked fabric grew worn.
وَهَتْweakened كُلُّevery دِرْعٍcoat of mail فَانْثَنَىand bent كُلُّevery مُنْصُلٍblade
وَهَتْ كُلُّ دِرْعٍ فَانْثَنَى كُلُّ مُنْصُلٍ
سِوَىexcept صَاعِدٍṢāʿid والموتُwhile death للموتagainst death يَنْهَدُadvanced
سِوَى صَاعِدٍ والموتُ للموت يَنْهَدُ
Every coat of mail weakened, every blade bent,
Except Ṣāʿid, as death advanced against death.
فلاso may not يَبْعدperish الرَّأيُthe judgment الذيby which اخْتَرْتَهُyou chose him بِهِthrough it
فلا يَبْعد الرَّأيُ الذي اخْتَرْتَهُ بِهِ
وقَرَّبْتَهُand brought him close بَلْrather مَنْwhoever أَبَىrejected ذاكَthat يَبْعدُmay perish
وقَرَّبْتَهُ بَلْ مَنْ أَبَى ذاكَ يَبْعدُ
May the judgment by which you chose him never perish,
And brought him near—rather, let its opponent perish.
أمَاindeed لَئنalthough اسْتَبْطنتَهُyou took him into confidence دُونَinstead of مَنْthose whom دَنَتْbrought close
أمَا لَئن اسْتَبْطنتَهُ دُونَ مَنْ دَنَتْ
إليْكَto you بهthrough it القُرْبىkinship وَهَنْبَثand clamored حُسّدُenvious men
إليْكَ به القُرْبى وَهَنْبَث حُسّدُ
Indeed, though you took him into your confidence over those
Whom kinship brought close to you, and envious men clamored,
لَكَمْhow many دَاخِلٍan outsider بينَbetween الخَصِيمَيْنِthe two adversaries مُصْلحٍreconciling
لَكَمْ دَاخِلٍ بينَ الخَصِيمَيْنِ مُصْلحٍ
كماas انْغَلَّslipped بيْنbetween العيْنِthe eye والجِفْنِand the eyelid مرْوَدُa kohl applicator
كما انْغَلَّ بيْن العيْنِ والجِفْنِ مرْوَدُ
Many an outsider between two adversaries brings reconciliation,
Like a kohl applicator slipping between eye and eyelid.
تَرَىyou see العيْنthe eye والمَلْمُولَwhile the slender rod يَبْطُنُgoes beneath جَفْنَهاits eyelid
تَرَى العيْن والمَلْمُولَ يَبْطُنُ جَفْنَها
إذَاwhen ماindeed غداbecame إنْسَانُهاits pupil وهوwhile it أَرْمَدُwas inflamed
إذَا ما غدا إنْسَانُها وهو أَرْمَدُ
You see the eye, with the slender rod beneath its lid,
When its pupil has become inflamed,
تَشَكَّىcomplaining فلاso not يُجْدِيhelps عَلَيْهَاit لَصِيقُهاits close companion
تَشَكَّى فلا يُجْدِي عَلَيْهَا لَصِيقُها
فَتُدْنيso it draws near الذيthe one who يُجْدِيhelps وقُرْبَاهُwhile his kinship أبْعَدُis remoter
فَتُدْني الذي يُجْدِي وقُرْبَاهُ أبْعَدُ
Complaining: its close companion cannot help it,
So it draws near the helpful one, whose kinship is remoter.
وماand never زلْتَhave you ceased مَفْتُوحاًhaving victory opened عليكfor you بِصَاعِدٍthrough Ṣāʿid
وما زلْتَ مَفْتُوحاً عليك بِصَاعِدٍ
تَفُوزُyou triumph وتَسْتعليand rise وتَحْظَىand gain favor وتَسعَدُand prosper
تَفُوزُ وتَسْتعلي وتَحْظَى وتَسعَدُ
Through Ṣāʿid, victory has always been opened to you:
You triumph, rise, gain favor, and prosper.
بتَدْبيرهthrough his governance طَوراًsometimes وطْوراًand sometimes بيمْنهthrough his auspiciousness
بتَدْبيره طَوراً وطْوراً بيمْنه
ومَاand what قادَهُleads it التَّدبيرُgovernance فاليُمْنُthen auspiciousness أقْوَدُleads better
ومَا قادَهُ التَّدبيرُ فاليُمْنُ أقْوَدُ
Sometimes through his governance, sometimes through his auspiciousness;
What governance leads, auspiciousness leads still better.
فَمنْso among يُمْنِهِhis auspiciousness إنْif غَابَhe was absent عَنْكَfrom you مُدَيْدَةًa brief while
فَمنْ يُمْنِهِ إنْ غَابَ عَنْكَ مُدَيْدَةً
فَنَالَكَand reached you دُونَbeneath الدِّرْعِthe armor أزْرَقُa blue blade مُصْرَدُpiercing
فَنَالَكَ دُونَ الدِّرْعِ أزْرَقُ مُصْرَدُ
Among signs of his auspiciousness: he was briefly absent
And a piercing blue blade reached you beneath your armor.
فَلَمَّاand when أراكَshowed you اللَّهُGod غُرَّةَthe radiance وَجْهِهِof his face
فَلَمَّا أراكَ اللَّهُ غُرَّةَ وَجْهِهِ
تراءىappeared لكَto you السَّعْدُgood fortune الذيwhich كنْتyou used to تَعْهَدُknow
تراءى لكَ السَّعْدُ الذي كنْت تَعْهَدُ
But when God showed you his radiant face,
The good fortune you knew appeared to you.
بَرأتَyou recovered بِهِthrough him مِنْfrom كُلِّevery ماwhat أنْتَyou ضَامنٌwere ailing from
بَرأتَ بِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ ما أنْتَ ضَامنٌ
وأنتَand you لِشَرْوىto the like تلْكَof that منْهُfrom him مُعَوّدُare accustomed
وأنتَ لِشَرْوى تلْكَ منْهُ مُعَوّدُ
Through him you recovered from every ailment you bore;
You are accustomed to such things from him.
وبُدِّلْتَand you were given in exchange منْfor قَرْحٍa wound بِفَتْحa victory مُسَيَّرٍfar-renowned
وبُدِّلْتَ منْ قَرْحٍ بِفَتْح مُسَيَّرٍ
بأمْثَالهwith its like غاظenraged الحسُودَthe envious man الْمَحَسَّدُthe envied man
بأمْثَاله غاظ الحسُودَ الْمَحَسَّدُ
Your wound was exchanged for a far-renowned victory,
With whose like the envied man enraged the envious.
أَلاَindeed ذلكَthat الفتْحُvictory المبينmanifest هَنَاؤهits rejoicing
أَلاَ ذلكَ الفتْحُ المبين هَنَاؤه
فَتَمَّwas completed وَلاَقَاهُand met it يَزِيدٌincrease ومَزْيَدُand more
فَتَمَّ وَلاَقَاهُ يَزِيدٌ ومَزْيَدُ
That is the manifest victory, its rejoicing
Completed and met with increase and yet more.
ومنْand among يُمْنِهِhis auspiciousness أنthat دُمِّرَperished العَبْدُthe slave وابْنُهُand his son
ومنْ يُمْنِهِ أن دُمِّرَ العَبْدُ وابْنُهُ
وَمَلّاحُand a sailor قُنٍّa bondslave فالثَّلاثَةُso the three هُمَّدُwere lifeless
وَمَلّاحُ قُنٍّ فالثَّلاثَةُ هُمَّدُ
Among signs of his auspiciousness: the slave and his son perished,
And a bondslave sailor—all three lay lifeless.
وأُتْبعَand were made to follow أهْلُthe people الفِسْقِof impiety مِنْamong أَوْلِيَائهhis allies
وأُتْبعَ أهْلُ الفِسْقِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائه
فَوَافَاهُand rejoined him والباقُونَwhile the remaining فَلٌّwere fugitives مُشَرَّدُscattered
فَوَافَاهُ والباقُونَ فَلٌّ مُشَرَّدُ
The impious among his allies were made to follow,
Rejoining him; the rest were scattered fugitives.
كَأنِّيas though I بهمconcerning them قدْindeed قيلheard it said عندat بَوارِهِمtheir destruction
كَأنِّي بهم قدْ قيل عند بَوارِهِم
رَعَوْاthey tended ظِمْأَهُمْtheir thirst حتَّىuntil إذاwhen تَمَّit matured أوْرَدُواthey were brought to water
رَعَوْا ظِمْأَهُمْ حتَّى إذا تَمَّ أوْرَدُوا
At their destruction, I seem to hear it said of them:
'They tended their thirst until it matured, then were brought to water.'
زُرُوعٌcrops سقاهاwatered them اللّهGod رِيّاًabundantly فَأثْمرَتْand they bore fruit
زُرُوعٌ سقاها اللّه رِيّاً فَأثْمرَتْ
عُتِيّاًrebellion فأضْحَتْthen became وَهْيَwhile they للنَّارِfor the Fire تُحْصَدُwere harvested
عُتِيّاً فأضْحَتْ وَهْيَ للنَّارِ تُحْصَدُ
Crops God watered abundantly, which bore
Rebellion as fruit, then were harvested for the Fire.
يَقُولُsays مَقَالِيmy words فيabout نَصيحِكyour counselor مَنْwhoever مَشَىwalks
يَقُولُ مَقَالِي في نَصيحِك مَنْ مَشَى
وَيقْدُمُهُمْand leads them فيin ذَاكَthat مَنْwhoever يَتَبَغْدَدُbelongs to Baghdad
وَيقْدُمُهُمْ في ذَاكَ مَنْ يَتَبَغْدَدُ
Everyone who walks says what I say about your counselor;
Foremost among them are those who belong to Baghdad.
وماand what قيلَis said فيهof him مِنْof مديحpraise فإنهthen it
وما قيلَ فيه مِنْ مديح فإنه
مديحُكَis your praise والنِّيَّاتُand intentions نَحْوَكَtoward you عُمَّدُare directed
مديحُكَ والنِّيَّاتُ نَحْوَكَ عُمَّدُ
Whatever praise is spoken of him is
Praise of you, with intentions directed toward you.
إذاwhen ماindeed الأعادِيenemies حاولَتْattempt كَيْدَplotting against صَاعِدٍṢāʿid
إذا ما الأعادِي حاولَتْ كَيْدَ صَاعِدٍ
غَداhe becomes يَتَعَالىrising high والأعادِيwhile enemies تَوَهَّدُsink low
غَدا يَتَعَالى والأعادِي تَوَهَّدُ
When enemies attempt to plot against Ṣāʿid,
He rises high while his enemies sink low.
وحارَبَand fought عَنْin defense of نَعْمَائِهِhis favors رَيْبَthe uncertainties دَهْرهof his time
وحارَبَ عَنْ نَعْمَائِهِ رَيْبَ دَهْره
منof البرrighteousness والمعروفand kindness جُندٌan army مُجنَّدُmustered
من البر والمعروف جُندٌ مُجنَّدُ
Against Time's uncertainties, defending his favors, fought
An army mustered from righteousness and kindness.
وأهْلٌand deserving لذاكof that المَذْحجِيُّthe Madhhijite ابنُIbn مَخْلَدٍMakhlad
وأهْلٌ لذاك المَذْحجِيُّ ابنُ مَخْلَدٍ
مَعَwith الخُلْدِimmortality لَوْif أَنَّindeed ابنَthe son آدمَof Adam مُخْلَدُwere immortal
مَعَ الخُلْدِ لَوْ أَنَّ ابنَ آدمَ مُخْلَدُ
The Madhhijite Ibn Makhlad deserves this,
And immortality, were Adam's son immortal.
حَلَفْتُI swore بمنْby Him who حَلّاهُadorned him with كلَّevery فَضِيلةvirtue
حَلَفْتُ بمنْ حَلّاهُ كلَّ فَضِيلة
بأمْثَالِهاby their like سَادَruled المَسُودَthe ruled المُسَوَّدُthe appointed chief
بأمْثَالِها سَادَ المَسُودَ المُسَوَّدُ
I swore by Him who adorned him with every virtue
By whose like the chief rules those he leads:
لقدْindeed نَالَhe attained مَنْهاةَthe utmost العَلاَءِheights وإنَّهand he
لقدْ نَالَ مَنْهاةَ العَلاَءِ وإنَّه
بأنَّin that ابْنَهُhis son مِثْلَis like العَلاءِal-Ala لأسْعَدُis surely happier
بأنَّ ابْنَهُ مِثْلَ العَلاءِ لأسْعَدُ
He has attained the utmost heights; yet he
Is happier still to have a son like al-Ala.
ألاَindeed ذَلِكَthat الفوْزis the triumph الذيwhich لاnot إخالهI think it
ألاَ ذَلِكَ الفوْز الذي لا إخاله
علىfor غيرهanother than him منamong سائرall القومthe people يُحْشَدُcould be gathered
على غيره من سائر القوم يُحْشَدُ
That is the triumph I do not think
Could be gathered for anyone else among all men.
فتىthe young champion الدِّينof religion والدُّنْيَاand the world الذيwho أذْعَنَاboth yielded لهto him
فتى الدِّين والدُّنْيَا الذي أذْعَنَا له
ففيso upon خِنْصَرٍa little finger منْهُof his لِصَعْبَيْنِfor two unruly steeds مِقْودُis a rein
ففي خِنْصَرٍ منْهُ لِصَعْبَيْنِ مِقْودُ
The young champion of religion and the world, both yielding to him:
Upon his little finger lies a rein for those two unruly steeds.
هُوhe is التَّاجُthe crown والإِكْلِيلُand the diadem فيin كلِّevery مَحْفِلٍassembly
هُو التَّاجُ والإِكْلِيلُ في كلِّ مَحْفِلٍ
بلrather السَّيْفُthe sword سيْفُthe sword الدولةof the state المُتَقَلّدُworn at the side
بل السَّيْفُ سيْفُ الدولة المُتَقَلّدُ
He is the crown and diadem in every assembly—
Rather, the sword, the state's sword worn at the side.
يَزِينُhe adorns ويَحْمِيand protects وَهْوَand he فيin السِّلْمpeace زينةٌis an ornament
يَزِينُ ويَحْمِي وَهْوَ في السِّلْم زينةٌ
لمنfor whoever يَرْتَدِيهwears him وهوwhile he فيin الحربwar مِزودُis a provision bag
لمن يَرْتَدِيه وهو في الحرب مِزودُ
He adorns and protects: in peace he is an ornament
For his wearer, and in war a provision bag.
وليْسَand not بأنْthrough يَلْقَىmeeting ولكِنْbut بأنْthrough يَرَىseeing
وليْسَ بأنْ يَلْقَى ولكِنْ بأنْ يَرَى
بآرائهthrough his judgments اللَّاقُونthose meeting the foe والهامُwhile heads تُجْلَدُare struck
بآرائه اللَّاقُون والهامُ تُجْلَدُ
Not through meeting the foe himself, but through seeing:
Those who meet them act by his judgments, while heads are struck.
تراهُyou see him عنfrom الحربwar العَوَانrenewed بِمَعزلٍapart
تراهُ عن الحرب العَوَان بِمَعزلٍ
وآثارُهُand his effects فيهاwithin it وإنْeven if غابَhe is absent شُهَّدُbear witness
وآثارُهُ فيها وإنْ غابَ شُهَّدُ
You see him apart from battle renewed,
Yet his effects within it bear witness despite his absence.
كماas احْتَجَبَis hidden المِقْدارُdestiny والحُكْمُwhile the decree حُكْمُهُis its decree
كما احْتَجَبَ المِقْدارُ والحُكْمُ حُكْمُهُ
علىover الناسpeople طُرّاًaltogether ليسthere is no عنهfrom it مُعَرَّدُescape
على الناس طُرّاً ليس عنه مُعَرَّدُ
As destiny is hidden, yet its decree rules
All people, with no escape from it.
إذاwhen ماindeed نَبَاfailed to strike سَيْفٌa sword فلاَحَظَthen consulted رأْيَهُhis judgment
إذا ما نَبَا سَيْفٌ فلاَحَظَ رأْيَهُ
فَمَوْقِعُهُthen its stroke مِمَّنْagainst whoever تَوَخَّىit intended مُمَهَّدُis made easy
فَمَوْقِعُهُ مِمَّنْ تَوَخَّى مُمَهَّدُ
When a sword fails to strike, then consults his judgment,
Its stroke against the intended victim is made easy.
فتىًa young man رُوحُهُhis soul ضوْءٌis light بَسِيطٌsimple كيَانُهُits essence
فتىً رُوحُهُ ضوْءٌ بَسِيطٌ كيَانُهُ
ومَسْكَنُand the dwelling تلكَof that الرُّوحsoul نُورٌis radiance مٌجَسَّدٌembodied
ومَسْكَنُ تلكَ الرُّوح نُورٌ مٌجَسَّدٌ
A young man whose soul is light, simple in essence;
That soul's dwelling is embodied radiance.
صَفَاhe became pure ونَفَىand cast out عنهfrom himself القَذَىimpurity فكأنَّهُso as though he
صَفَا ونَفَى عنه القَذَى فكأنَّهُ
إذاwhen ماindeed اسْتَشَفَّتْهُlook through him العُقُولُminds مُصَعَّدُwere distilled
إذا ما اسْتَشَفَّتْهُ العُقُولُ مُصَعَّدُ
He became pure and cast out impurity, as though,
When minds look through him, he were distilled.
فتىًa young man هَاجَرabandoned الدُنْيَاthe world وحرَّمَand forbade رِيقَهَاits saliva
فتىً هَاجَر الدُنْيَا وحرَّمَ رِيقَهَا
وَهَلْand is رِيقُهاits saliva إلاanything but الرَّحيقُnectar الموَرَّدُrose-colored
وَهَلْ رِيقُها إلا الرَّحيقُ الموَرَّدُ
A young man who abandoned the world and forbade its saliva:
What is its saliva but rose-colored nectar?
وَلَوْand if طَعِمَتْit hoped فيfor عطْفِهhis affection وَوِصَالِهِand his embrace
وَلَوْ طَعِمَتْ في عطْفِه وَوِصَالِهِ
أبَاحَتْهُit would offer him منْهاfrom itself مَرْشفاًa draught from the lips لاnot يُصَرَّدُrestricted
أبَاحَتْهُ منْها مَرْشفاً لا يُصَرَّدُ
Had it hoped for his affection and embrace,
It would have offered him an unrestricted draught from its lips.
أبَاهَاhe refused it وقدthough indeed عَنَّتْappeared لهto him منamong بَنَاتِهَاits daughters
أبَاهَا وقد عَنَّتْ له من بَنَاتِهَا
كَوَاعِبُbudding-breasted maidens يُصْبينَcaptivating الحلِيمَthe forbearing man ونُهَّدُand full-breasted maidens
كَوَاعِبُ يُصْبينَ الحلِيمَ ونُهَّدُ
He refused it, though among its daughters appeared to him
Budding-breasted maidens who captivate the forbearing, and full-breasted ones.
فَمَاso not حَظُّهُhis share ممَّاof what حَوَتْit contains غيرother than أنهthat he
فَمَا حَظُّهُ ممَّا حَوَتْ غير أنه
يُؤَثِّلُbuilds up فيهاwithin it الأجْرreward أوor يَتَحمَّدُearns praise
يُؤَثِّلُ فيها الأجْر أو يَتَحمَّدُ
His share of what it contains is only that
He builds up heavenly reward within it or earns praise.
فتىًa young man يَبْدَأُbegins with العَافِينَpetitioners بالبَذْلِby giving مُعْفِياًsparing them asking
فتىً يَبْدَأُ العَافِينَ بالبَذْلِ مُعْفِياً
فإنْand if عَادَreturns عَافٍa petitioner فهْوَthen he بالبذْلِto giving أعْودُreturns more readily
فإنْ عَادَ عَافٍ فهْوَ بالبذْلِ أعْودُ
A young man who begins giving to petitioners, sparing them asking;
If a petitioner returns, he returns still more to giving.
رَجَاءُthe hope مُرَجِّيهِof his hopeful petitioner لَدَيْهِwith him كَوَعْدِهِis like his promise
رَجَاءُ مُرَجِّيهِ لَدَيْهِ كَوَعْدِهِ
ومَوْعِدُهُand his promise إيَّاهُto him عهْدٌis a covenant مُؤكَّدُconfirmed
ومَوْعِدُهُ إيَّاهُ عهْدٌ مُؤكَّدُ
His hopeful petitioner's hope is like his promise;
His promise to him is a confirmed covenant.
فَتىًa young man لاno هُدىًguidance إلّاexcept مصابِيحُthe lamps رَأْيِهِof his judgment
فَتىً لا هُدىً إلّا مصابِيحُ رَأْيِهِ
ولاَand no غوْثَrelief إلاexcept فَضْلُهُhis bounty المُتَعَوَّدُaccustomed
ولاَ غوْثَ إلا فَضْلُهُ المُتَعَوَّدُ
A young man: no guidance but the lamps of his judgment,
No relief but his accustomed bounty.
حَكِيمُthe sage أقاليمِof the regions البلادِof the country كَريمُهاtheir generous man
حَكِيمُ أقاليمِ البلادِ كَريمُها
مُسِائلُهُhis questioner يُهْدَىis guided وعَافِيهِand his petitioner يُرْفَدُis supplied
مُسِائلُهُ يُهْدَى وعَافِيهِ يُرْفَدُ
The sage of the country's regions, their generous man:
His questioner is guided, his petitioner supplied.
وأحْسَنُand the finest شيءٍthing حكمةٌis wisdom أخْتُsister نِعْمَةٍto beneficence
وأحْسَنُ شيءٍ حكمةٌ أخْتُ نِعْمَةٍ
وكِلْتاهُماand both تُبْغَىare sought لديْهْwith him فَتُوجَدُand found
وكِلْتاهُما تُبْغَى لديْهْ فَتُوجَدُ
The finest thing is wisdom sister to beneficence;
Both are sought with him and found.
رَآهُsaw him رَضِيعاًas an infant كلُّevery مَاضِيpenetrating بَصِيرَةٍin insight
رَآهُ رَضِيعاً كلُّ مَاضِي بَصِيرَةٍ
فقالُواand they said جميعاًall قُنَّةٌa summit ستُطوَّدُthat will become a mountain
فقالُوا جميعاً قُنَّةٌ ستُطوَّدُ
Every man of penetrating insight saw him as an infant
And all said, 'A summit that will become a mountain.'
فَصَدَّقهُمْand confirmed them مِنْهُfrom him لَعَشْرٍafter ten كَوَامِلٍfull years
فَصَدَّقهُمْ مِنْهُ لَعَشْرٍ كَوَامِلٍ
خَلَوْنَhad passed لَهُfor him طَوْدٌa mountain بِهِthrough which الأرضُthe earth تُوتَدُis anchored
خَلَوْنَ لَهُ طَوْدٌ بِهِ الأرضُ تُوتَدُ
When ten full years had passed for him, there confirmed them
A mountain through which the earth is anchored.
غداcame to be المجْدُglory والتَّمجِيدُand glorification يكْتَنِفَانِهِsurrounding him
غدا المجْدُ والتَّمجِيدُ يكْتَنِفَانِهِ
جميعاًtogether وكمand how many منa ماجدٍglorious man لاnot يُمَجَّدُis glorified
جميعاً وكم من ماجدٍ لا يُمَجَّدُ
Glory and glorification came to surround him
Together—how many glorious men go unglorified!
أخُوpossessor حَسَبٍof noble lineage ماnot عدَّهُhe counted it قَطُّever فَاخِراًboastfully
أخُو حَسَبٍ ما عدَّهُ قَطُّ فَاخِراً
علىalthough أنهit فيin كلِّevery حَيٍّtribe مُعَدَّدُis recounted
على أنه في كلِّ حَيٍّ مُعَدَّدُ
A man of noble lineage, never counting it boastfully,
Though it is recounted in every tribe.
فَمُطَّرِفٌso newly acquired مِمَّاfrom what تَكَسَّبَhe earned مُحْدَثٌrecent
فَمُطَّرِفٌ مِمَّا تَكَسَّبَ مُحْدَثٌ
وآخَرُand another قُدْمُوسٌancient علىthroughout الدَّهْرtime مُلْتَدُrooted
وآخَرُ قُدْمُوسٌ على الدَّهْر مُلْتَدُ
One part newly acquired through his own achievements,
Another ancient, rooted throughout time.
وَلاand no خَيْرَgood فيin البُنْيانِa building غيْرَnot مُشَرَّفٍraised high
وَلا خَيْرَ في البُنْيانِ غيْرَ مُشَرَّفٍ
ولاand no خيْرَgood فيin تشْرِيفِهِraising it أوْuntil يُوَطَّدُit is firmly founded
ولا خيْرَ في تشْرِيفِهِ أوْ يُوَطَّدُ
No good lies in a building not raised high,
Nor in raising it until it is firmly founded.
ومَاءٍand water كفَقْدِlike the absence الماءِِof water أعْلاَهُits surface عَرْمَضٌis algae
ومَاءٍ كفَقْدِ الماءِِ أعْلاَهُ عَرْمَضٌ
وأسْفَلُهُand its bottom لِلمُستَمِيحينَfor those drawing water حَرْمَدُis black mud
وأسْفَلُهُ لِلمُستَمِيحينَ حَرْمَدُ
And water like the absence of water: algae on its surface,
And black mud beneath for those seeking to draw it.
وسائرُهُand the rest of it مِلْحٌis salty أُجَاجٌbitter مُرَنَّقٌmuddied
وسائرُهُ مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ مُرَنَّقٌ
خَبيثٌfoul كَريهٌunpleasant وِرْدُهُits watering place حِينَwhen يُوَرَدُit is approached
خَبيثٌ كَريهٌ وِرْدُهُ حِينَ يُوَرَدُ
The rest of it salty, bitter, muddied,
Foul, its watering place unpleasant when approached.
سَقَيْتُI watered بهwith it خُوصاًsunken-eyed camels حَرَاجِيحَlean بعْدَمَاafter
سَقَيْتُ به خُوصاً حَرَاجِيحَ بعْدَمَا
سقَىdrank مَاءهاtheir moisture التَّهْجِيرmidday travel خِمْسٌa five-day watering interval عَمَرَّدُlong
سقَى مَاءها التَّهْجِير خِمْسٌ عَمَرَّدُ
With it I watered lean, sunken-eyed camels, after
A long five-day watering interval of midday travel drank their moisture.
مَرَاسِيلُeasy-moving camels ماnot فيهنَّamong them إلاexcept نَجِيبَةٌa noble mount
مَرَاسِيلُ ما فيهنَّ إلا نَجِيبَةٌ
مَطُولٌenduring long travel إذاwhen مَاطَلْتَهاyou prolong for her السَّيْرَthe journey جَلْعَدُhardy
مَطُولٌ إذا مَاطَلْتَها السَّيْرَ جَلْعَدُ
Easy-moving camels, with none but a noble mount among them,
Enduring long travel when you prolong it, hardy.
أمُونٌtrustworthy علىfor الحَاجthe need البعيدdistant مَرَامُهُits goal
أمُونٌ على الحَاج البعيد مَرَامُهُ
وإنeven if خانdeserted مَتْنَيْهاher two flanks السَّديفُfat المُسَرهَدُrich
وإن خان مَتْنَيْها السَّديفُ المُسَرهَدُ
Trustworthy for a need whose goal lies far away,
Though rich fat has deserted her two flanks.
مِنَamong اللائيthose which تَزْدادُincrease انْدماجاًin compactness ومُنَّةًand strength
مِنَ اللائي تَزْدادُ انْدماجاً ومُنَّةً
إذاwhen هِيَthey أنْضَاهاare made lean by السِّفَارُjourneys العَطوَّدُarduous
إذا هِيَ أنْضَاها السِّفَارُ العَطوَّدُ
Among those that grow more compact and strong
When arduous journeys make them lean.
كَمَاas جُدِّلَتْthey were twisted فاسْتَحْكَمَتْand grew firm عنْدَduring جَدْلِهاtheir twisting
كَمَا جُدِّلَتْ فاسْتَحْكَمَتْ عنْدَ جَدْلِها
مرائرُstrong ropes فيin أيْدِيthe hands المُمرِّينof rope-makers تُمسَدُbeing braided
مرائرُ في أيْدِي المُمرِّين تُمسَدُ
As, when twisted, they grow firm in their twisting:
Strong ropes braided in rope-makers' hands.
إذاwhen اسْتُكْرهَتْshe is driven hard فهْيَthen she is الصُّوَارُa wild-cattle herd وَرَاءهُbehind it
إذا اسْتُكْرهَتْ فهْيَ الصُّوَارُ وَرَاءهُ
مَكَاسِيبُare hunting dogs أمثالُlike اليعاسِيبِdragonflies تُوسَدُset upon it
مَكَاسِيبُ أمثالُ اليعاسِيبِ تُوسَدُ
When driven hard, she is a herd of wild cattle pursued
By hunting dogs like dragonflies set upon it.
وَقُفٍّand a stony height يَرُدُّsending back الخُفَّthe hoof يَدْمَىbleeding فَمَرْوُهُso its flint
وَقُفٍّ يَرُدُّ الخُفَّ يَدْمَى فَمَرْوُهُ
بِمَاwith what عُلَّit repeatedly drank مِنْof تِلْكَthat الدِّماءِblood مُجَسَّدُis dyed
بِمَا عُلَّ مِنْ تِلْكَ الدِّماءِ مُجَسَّدُ
And a stony height that sends the hoof back bleeding: its flint
Is dyed by repeated draughts of that blood.
عَسَفْتُI traversed ودَوٍّand a waste كالسَّماءِlike the sky قَطَعْتُهُI crossed it
عَسَفْتُ ودَوٍّ كالسَّماءِ قَطَعْتُهُ
إذاwhen انْجَابَcleared منْهُfrom it فَدْفَدٌan open expanse عَنَّappeared فدْفَدُanother open expanse
إذا انْجَابَ منْهُ فَدْفَدٌ عَنَّ فدْفَدُ
I traversed it, and crossed a waste like the sky:
Whenever one open expanse cleared, another appeared.
لألْقَىto meet أباAbu عِيسىIsa العلاءal-Ala بنَibn صَاعِدٍṢāʿid
لألْقَى أبا عِيسى العلاء بنَ صَاعِدٍ
أَجَلَّthe greatest فتىًyoung man يُسْمَىapproached إليهtoward him ويُوفَدُand visited
أَجَلَّ فتىً يُسْمَى إليه ويُوفَدُ
To meet Abu Isa, al-Ala ibn Ṣāʿid,
The greatest young man to approach and visit.
فَيَعذبُso becomes sweet ليfor me مِلْحٌsaltiness منof العيْشِlife آسِنٌstagnant
فَيَعذبُ لي مِلْحٌ من العيْشِ آسِنٌ
ويَسْهُلُand becomes easy ليfor me وعْرٌrugged ground منof الدهرTime قَرْدَدٌelevated
ويَسْهُلُ لي وعْرٌ من الدهر قَرْدَدٌ
Then life's stagnant salt water becomes sweet for me,
And Time's rugged, elevated ground becomes easy.
بنيsons مخَلدٍof Makhlad أهْلاًwelcome بأيَّامِto the days دَهْركُمْof your reign
بني مخَلدٍ أهْلاً بأيَّامِ دَهْركُمْ
وَبُعْداًand away لمنwith whoever يَشْجَىgrieves بهاat them وهوwhile he مُبْعَدُis cast out
وَبُعْداً لمن يَشْجَى بها وهو مُبْعَدُ
Sons of Makhlad, welcome to the days of your reign,
And away with whoever grieves at them, cast out!
شَكَىcomplained of طُولَهَاtheir length مُسْتَثْقلُوthose burdened by العُرفِkindness إذْsince غَدَتْthey became
شَكَى طُولَهَا مُسْتَثْقلُو العُرفِ إذْ غَدَتْ
وفيand in كُلِّهاall of them للعرفfor kindness عِيدٌa festival مُعَيَّدُrecurring
وفي كُلِّها للعرف عِيدٌ مُعَيَّدُ
Those burdened by kindness complained of their length, since
Every one of them became a recurring festival of kindness.
بِكُمْthrough you عَمَرَتْflourished أوْطَانُthe homelands كُلِّof every مُرُوءةٍnoble virtue
بِكُمْ عَمَرَتْ أوْطَانُ كُلِّ مُرُوءةٍ
وقدthough indeed جَعَلتbegan تلكthose المغانيdwellings تَأبَّدُto become desolate
وقد جَعَلت تلك المغاني تَأبَّدُ
Through you the homelands of every noble virtue flourished,
Though those dwellings had begun to become desolate.
لَكُمْyours is كلُّevery فيَّاضٍlavish giver يَبيْتُspending the night لِنَارِهِat his fire
لَكُمْ كلُّ فيَّاضٍ يَبيْتُ لِنَارِهِ
مُنادٍa caller يُنادِيcalling الحائرينthe bewildered ألاcome اهْتَدُواfind the way
مُنادٍ يُنادِي الحائرين ألا اهْتَدُوا
Yours is every lavish giver whose fire has
A caller at night calling the bewildered: 'Come, find the way!'
إذاwhen ماindeed شَتَاwinter comes كادتْnearly أنامِلُthe fingertips كَفِّهِof his hand
إذا ما شَتَا كادتْ أنامِلُ كَفِّهِ
تذوبُmelt سَمَاحاًwith generosity والأنامِلُwhile fingertips جُمَّدُare frozen
تذوبُ سَمَاحاً والأنامِلُ جُمَّدُ
When winter comes, his fingertips nearly
Melt with generosity while other fingers are frozen.
ومنكمand among you أبُوAbu عيسىIsa الذيwho بَاكَرَsought early العُلاeminence
ومنكم أبُو عيسى الذي بَاكَرَ العُلا
ولمand not يُلْهِهِdistracted him عَيْشٌliving رَفِيهٌcomfortable ولاnor دَدُamusement
ولم يُلْهِهِ عَيْشٌ رَفِيهٌ ولا دَدُ
Among you is Abu Isa, who sought eminence early;
Neither comfortable living nor amusement distracted him.
علىat بَحْرِهِhis sea يُرْوَىare watered الظِّمَاءُthe thirsty ونَحْوَهُand toward him
على بَحْرِهِ يُرْوَى الظِّمَاءُ ونَحْوَهُ
يشيرُpoints إذاwhen ماindeed غُصَّchokes بالماءon water مَزْرَدُa throat
يشيرُ إذا ما غُصَّ بالماء مَزْرَدُ
At his sea the thirsty are watered; toward him
Points a throat whenever it chokes on water.
ألاindeed تلكُمُthat النُّعْمَىis the favor التيwhose ليسnot شكرُهاits thanks
ألا تلكُمُ النُّعْمَى التي ليس شكرُها
سوىexcept مِنَنٍobligations أضحتhave become لكمfor you تُتَقَلَّدُworn upon the neck
سوى مِنَنٍ أضحت لكم تُتَقَلَّدُ
That is the favor whose thanks are nothing
But obligations that come to be worn for you.
وحَاكَةُand weavers شِعْرٍof poetry أحسنواexcelled المدحin praise فيكُمُof you
وحَاكَةُ شِعْرٍ أحسنوا المدح فيكُمُ
بماthrough what امْتَثَلُواthey patterned ممَّاupon what فعلتُمْyou did وجوَّدُواand fashioned well
بما امْتَثَلُوا ممَّا فعلتُمْ وجوَّدُوا
Weavers of poetry excelled in praising you
Through what they patterned upon your deeds and fashioned well.
فباعوهand they sold it منكمto you بالرغائبfor coveted rewards نافقاًfinding a market
فباعوه منكم بالرغائب نافقاً
لديكمwith you هنيئاًpleasant نَقْدكُمْyour payment لاnot يُنكَّدُvexed
لديكم هنيئاً نَقْدكُمْ لا يُنكَّدُ
They sold it to you for coveted rewards, finding a market
With you: pleasant payment, free of vexation.
ولَولاand were it not for مسَاعِيكمyour endeavors وجُودُand the generosity أَكُفِّكُمْof your hands
ولَولا مسَاعِيكم وجُودُ أَكُفِّكُمْ
إذاthen ماnot أجادُواwould they excel أَوْor أَجَادُواwould excel وأكْسَدُواand go unsold
إذا ما أجادُوا أَوْ أَجَادُوا وأكْسَدُوا
Were it not for your endeavors and your hands' generosity,
They would not have excelled—or would have, yet gone unsold.
فلاso do not تَحْمَدُواpraise مُدَّاحَكُمْyour panegyrists إنif تغَلْغَلواthey penetrate
فلا تَحْمَدُوا مُدَّاحَكُمْ إن تغَلْغَلوا
إلىto مَمْدَحٍa theme of praise فيكمin you بلrather اللّهGod فاحْمَدُواthen praise
إلى مَمْدَحٍ فيكم بل اللّه فاحْمَدُوا
Do not praise your panegyrists if they penetrate
To a theme of praise in you: rather, praise God.
كرمْتُمْyou were generous فَجَاشَso poured forth المعْجِمُونthe inarticulate بمدحكمyour praise
كرمْتُمْ فَجَاشَ المعْجِمُون بمدحكم
إذاwhen رجَزُواthey recited rajaz فيكمabout you أَثَبْتُمْyou rewarded them فَقَصَّدُواand they composed odes
إذا رجَزُوا فيكم أَثَبْتُمْ فَقَصَّدُوا
You were generous, and the inarticulate poured forth your praise;
When they recited rajaz about you, you rewarded them, and they composed odes.
كماas أزْهَرَتblossomed جنَّاتthe gardens عدنٍof Eden وأثمرتْand bore fruit
كما أزْهَرَت جنَّات عدنٍ وأثمرتْ
فأضْحتand became وعُجْمُwhile speechless الطيرbirds فيهاwithin them تُغَرِّدُsang
فأضْحت وعُجْمُ الطير فيها تُغَرِّدُ
As Eden's gardens blossomed and bore fruit,
And speechless birds came to sing within them.
أذِلْهَاwear it freely أباAbu عيسىIsa لَبُوساًas a garment فإنهاfor it
أذِلْهَا أبا عيسى لَبُوساً فإنها
سَتبقىwill remain ويَبْلىand wears out الأتْحَمِيُّstriped cloth المعَضَّدُembroidered
سَتبقى ويَبْلى الأتْحَمِيُّ المعَضَّدُ
Wear it freely as a garment, Abu Isa, for it
Will remain while embroidered striped cloth wears out.
وعِشْand live عيْشthe life مَحْبُورٍof one delighted بدارin a dwelling إقامةof permanence
وعِشْ عيْش مَحْبُورٍ بدار إقامة
وأمثالُهَاwhile its like سَيَّارةٌtravel فيكabout you شُرَّدُfar and wide
وأمثالُهَا سَيَّارةٌ فيك شُرَّدُ
Live the life of one delighted in a lasting dwelling,
While poems like it travel far and wide about you.
وفيهاand within it لمنfor him whose قدَّمْتُI mentioned earlier ذكراهremembrance مَلْبَسٌis a garment
وفيها لمن قدَّمْتُ ذكراه مَلْبَسٌ
تظلُّyou remain بهwearing it والطَّرفُwhile the gaze نَحْوكtoward you أقْوَدُis more readily led
تظلُّ به والطَّرفُ نَحْوك أقْوَدُ
Within it is a garment for him I mentioned earlier,
Which you wear, drawing the gaze more readily toward you.
وكلُّand every مديحٍpraise فيof امرِئٍa man فهوthen it is فيof ابنِهِhis son
وكلُّ مديحٍ في امرِئٍ فهو في ابنِهِ
وإنeven if كانit is موسُوماًmarked بهwith him حينَwhen يُنْشَدُrecited
وإن كان موسُوماً به حينَ يُنْشَدُ
Every praise of a man is praise of his son,
Though marked with the father's name when recited.
إليكَto you بلاwithout زادٍprovisions رحلتُI traveled مؤمِّلاًhopeful
إليكَ بلا زادٍ رحلتُ مؤمِّلاً
وقلتُand I said لنفسيto myself والركائبwhile the mounts وُخَّدُstrode swiftly
وقلتُ لنفسي والركائب وُخَّدُ
I traveled to you without provisions, full of hope,
And said to myself as the mounts strode swiftly:
عُتِقْتِyou are freed منfrom الأطْمَاعcravings يومon the day لقائهof meeting him
عُتِقْتِ من الأطْمَاع يوم لقائه
ورِقُّand the servitude ذويof those with الأطماعcravings رقٌّis servitude مُؤَبَّدُeverlasting
ورِقُّ ذوي الأطماع رقٌّ مُؤَبَّدُ
'You are freed from cravings on the day you meet him;
The servitude of those with cravings is everlasting servitude.'
وماand not شافِعيmy intercessor إلاexcept سَماحُكyour generosity وحدَهalone
وما شافِعي إلا سَماحُك وحدَه
ولاand not وُصْلَتيmy means of approach إلاexcept المديحُpraise المجوَّدُwell-fashioned
ولا وُصْلَتي إلا المديحُ المجوَّدُ
My only intercessor is your generosity alone;
My only means of approach is well-fashioned praise.
ومنand who ذاis that الذيwho يعْفُوseeks نداكyour bounty بشافِعٍwith an intercessor
ومن ذا الذي يعْفُو نداك بشافِعٍ
ويصحبُهُand accompanies him عندwhen انْتِجاعِكَseeking your bounty مِزْوَدُa provision bag
ويصحبُهُ عند انْتِجاعِكَ مِزْوَدُ
Who seeks your bounty with an intercessor,
Or carries a provision bag when seeking your gifts?
وإنَّand indeed امرءاًa man أضحىhas become رجاؤكhope in you زادَهhis provisions
وإنَّ امرءاً أضحى رجاؤك زادَه
وإنْeven if لمnot يُزَوَّدْhe is supplied غَيْرَهُanything else لمُزَوَّدُis surely provisioned
وإنْ لم يُزَوَّدْ غَيْرَهُ لمُزَوَّدُ
A man whose provisions have become hope in you,
Though supplied with nothing else, is truly provisioned.
Partial English translation: 365 of 560 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1