Sol 6.1

  1. يا طولَ غلَّة نفسِي المبلاهِ

    بظباء بين أَجارعٍ وجِلاهِ

    O, how long the burning thirst of my afflicted soul,

    for gazelles between sandy flats and bare slopes!

  2. منْ كُلِّ رَيَّا لا تجودُ بشَرْبةٍ

    وجنابُها مُتدفِّقٌ بمياه

    Each a well-watered beauty who grants no drink,

    though her precinct overflows with waters.

  3. تُضْحِي وتُمْسِي لا يُغِبُّ مُحِبُّها

    مَلْهَى كرىً أو مأثم استنباه

    Morning and evening, her lover is never without

    sleep's diversion or wakefulness's sin.

  4. يَحْظَى العميدُ بها ويَسْعد راقداً

    ويظَلُّ عند النُّبْهِ في إذلاه

    The lovesick man wins her favor, happy in his sleep,

    yet remains bewildered when awake.

  5. وأبَى هوايَ لقد غدا مُسْتَفرِهاً

    أعداءَ عَقْلي أيَّما استفراه

    My passion refused to yield; indeed, it now recruits

    my reason's enemies, selecting the very finest.

  6. سُقِيَ الزمانُ إذ الحسانُ يَصِلْنني

    ويُنلنني طوعاً بلا إكراه

    May that time be watered, when beauties kept close to me

    and granted me their favors willingly, without compulsion;

  7. وإذ المشيبُ شبيبةٌ منضورةٌ

    وإذ المواعظُ كلُّهُنَّ مَلاه

    when gray hair was flourishing youth,

    and all admonitions were amusements.

  8. لا والذي لو شاء بَدَّلَ صَبْوَتي

    بلهىً وطولَ صبابتي بتناه

    No, by Him who, had He wished, would have exchanged my infatuation

    for forgetfulness, and my long yearning for an end:

  9. ما قيل إن مع السمَّاك فضيلةٌ

    إلا تناولها عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ

    never was a virtue said to dwell beside al-Simak

    but Ubayd Allah reached it.

  10. ملك حلا مَخْبورُه ورواؤه

    فحلا على الأسماعِ والأفواه

    A king, sweet in his proven nature and his appearance,

    and thus sweet to ears and mouths.

  11. عَذْبُ اللسان ولن تراه كليلَه

    عضبُ اللسان وليس بالعضَّاه

    Sweet of tongue, which you will never find blunted;

    keen of tongue, yet no slanderer.

  12. ناهيك من صَمْتٍ بلا عيٍّ به

    وكفاك مِنْ لسَنٍ بغير سَفاه

    Enough for you, his silence without inarticulacy,

    and his eloquence without foolishness.

  13. مُتَيَقِّظٌ أبداً لفعلِ كريمةٍ

    وعلى الطِّلابِ لشكرِها مُتساهي

    Ever wakeful to perform a noble deed,

    yet deliberately heedless of seeking thanks for it.

  14. يَهَبُ الرغيب بِشُكْرِهِ فعُفاتُه

    مُتفاكهون وتلكَ حالُ فُكاه

    He bestows the coveted gift with his thanks; his petitioners

    are merry together—such is the state of merry folk.

  15. لكنه مع ذَلكم مُسْتَنزِهٌ

    رَوْضَ المحامِدِ أيَّما استنزاه

    Yet, for all that, he takes his pleasure

    in the garden of praiseworthy deeds, with utmost delight.

  16. مُتَظَلِّلٌ من طَوْله بحدائقٍ

    مُتَمَرِّسٌ من حده بعِضاه

    A seeker of shade finds gardens in his bounty;

    one who grapples with his sharpness meets thorn-trees.

  17. وكأَنَّ حُبْوته تُلاث بشامخ

    يَنْحطُّ عنه الصخرُ في دَهْداه

    As though his knee-binding were wrapped around a lofty peak

    from which rocks tumble, rolling down.

  18. ملكتْ سكينتُهُ عليه أمرَه

    فكأنه ساهٍ وليس بساهي

    His composure has taken command of his affairs,

    so he seems heedless, though he is not.

  19. وعفا وعامَل بالأَناةِ عَدُوَّه

    فكأنه لاهٍ وليس بلاهي

    He pardoned his enemy and dealt with him patiently,

    as though indifferent, though he is not.

  20. مِمِّنْ يراه الحَقُّ غِبْطَةَ دولةٍ

    وسعودَ مَمْلكةٍ وفضلَ إله

    One whom Truth sees as a dynasty's good fortune,

    a kingdom's blessings, and the grace of God.

  21. فإذا الزمانُ غدا وراح معبِّساً

    فزمانه متضاحِكٌ متباه

    When time comes and goes with a frown,

    his time is smiling and proud.

  22. ما زال يُؤْنِسهُ جميلُ فَعاله

    قِدْماً ويُوحشه مِنَ الأشباه

    His beautiful deeds have always kept him company

    from of old, and estranged him from his peers.

  23. تتعاورُ العَرَبُ الكرامُ وفارِسٌ

    ذِكراه بالبَخْباخ والبَهْبَاه

    Noble Arabs and Persia take turns

    mentioning him with cries of 'Bravo!' and 'Well done!'

  24. شفعَ السماحُ إليه في سُؤَّاله

    فَمرى جداهُ لهم عريضُ الجاه

    Generosity interceded with him for his petitioners,

    and, great in influence, milked his bounty for them.

  25. يَمِّمْهُ إنك منه بين مُثَوِّب

    بالمُعْطشينَ ومِذْودٍ نَدَّاهِ

    Seek him: in him you have both a caller

    to the thirsty and a loud-voiced defender.

  26. يَشْفِي الصَّدَى ويَذُودُ كلَّ مُلِمَّةٍ

    عنا بحزمِ مُفَكِّرٍ بدَّاه

    He quenches thirst and drives every affliction

    from us, with the resolve of a thoughtful, quick-witted man.

  27. قل للأَمير حلَتْ ليالي عُمْرِه

    في غيرِ منقطع ولا متناهي

    Say to the emir—may his life's nights be sweet,

    without interruption or end—

  28. يا من أمرَّ على الحُلوقِ مذاقُه

    وحلا وطاب لألسُنٍ وشفاه

    O you whose taste has turned bitter to throats,

    yet sweet and pleasant to tongues and lips:

  29. لِيَفُزْ من الأمراء شاهنشاههمُ

    بِفَتىً من الوزراء شاهنشاه

    may the emirs' king of kings prosper

    through a youth who is king of kings among ministers.

  30. أضحَى وما ضاهاه خادمُ سيِّدٍ

    وكذاك مالك في الملوك مُضاهي

    He stands unequaled by any lord's servant;

    likewise, among kings you have no equal.

  31. انظرْ فإنكَ ناظرٌ بجلِيَّةٍ

    هل في وزيرك عن وزيرك ناهي

    Look, for you will see with clarity:

    is there anything in your minister to deter you from your minister?

  32. هل مُلِّكَ الأعداء عند قيامه

    إلا تذلُّلَ آنُفٍ وجباه

    Were enemies, when he rose to power, granted

    anything but the abasement of noses and foreheads?

  33. سَجَدُوا ولو عَنَدُوا مكانَ سجودهمْ

    لرَماهُمُ مِنْ كيدهِ بدواهي

    They prostrated themselves; had they resisted instead,

    he would have hurled calamities at them through his cunning.

  34. إن الوزيرَ إذا تَأَمَّلَ ناظرٌ

    لَعَتادُ مُحتاطٍ وتاجُ مُباه

    The minister, when an observer reflects,

    is provision for the prudent and a crown for those who take pride.

  35. نَمْ كيف شِئْتَ فما البناءُ بخاشع

    كلّا ولا أسُّ البناء بواهي

    Sleep as you wish: the building will not bow,

    nor, indeed, is its foundation weak.

  36. ظفِرتْ يداك من الوزير بقيِّم

    تأتي نصيحتُه بلا استكراه

    Your hands have secured in the minister a steward

    whose loyal counsel comes unforced.

  37. أمَّا ظِهارتُه فسلطانيَّةٌ

    وله بطانةُ مُخْبِتٍ أوَّاه

    His outer fabric is royal,

    his lining that of a humble, sighing worshipper.

  38. فاسدُدْ يديكَ بخادم من شأْنه

    عكْس الرياء إذا تَصنَّع داه

    So strengthen your hands with a servant whose way

    is the opposite of hypocrisy when a cunning man puts on an act.

  39. نامتْ على الإنباه أعيُنُ معْشرٍ

    ورعاكَ مُنتبهاً بلا إنباه

    Others' eyes slept despite being roused,

    while he watched over you, awake without a summons.

  40. يا صاحبيَّ علا الوزيرُ وأعصفت

    صعقاته بالنَّبْحِ والوَهواه

    My two companions, the minister has risen, and his thunderbolts

    have swept away the barking and howling.

  41. قومٌ على سننِ الطريق وآذِناً

    في الصادرين وواردي الأمواه

    Folk upon the beaten road, and a herald

    among those leaving and those coming to the waters.

  42. صانَ الوزارة أحمدٌ عن معشرٍ

    خُلِقُوا لِكاسبِ القُوت بالأستاه

    Ahmad has guarded the ministry against a company

    created for one who earns his bread through backsides.

  43. كانوا إذا قسطوا فأقسطُ واعظٍ

    ظلُّوا هنالك منه في فَهفاه

    When they acted unjustly, the fairest admonisher—

    there they stood before him, stammering helplessly.

  44. صانتْه صائنةٌ تُكافئُ سَعْيَهُ

    وزَهَتْهُ من شرفِ الفَعال زَواهي

    A protecting power guarded him, requiting his efforts,

    and glories of noble deeds exalted him.

  45. وجزَتْ جوازي الخيرِ صاحبَ أمرِه

    فهُوَ النَّجاةُ أمام كلِّ تجاه

    The rewards of goodness repaid the master of his affairs;

    he is salvation at every turn.

  46. لا كابن بلبلٍ الدعيِّ وعُصبةٍ

    عَدِمُوا خِلالَ الخيرِ غيرَ هَواه

    Not like Ibn Bulbul, the pretender, and a band

    who lacked all good qualities save a love of goodness.

  47. يا سائلي بابنِ اللَّبون وقد ثوى

    في النارِ تَطْهاه هُناكَ طواهي

    O you who ask me about Ibn al-Labun, now lodged

    in the fire, where cooks are cooking him:

  48. كانَ المُحيَّنُ ذئبَ رَدْهةِ دَهْرِه

    ورجالُ دولتهِ ذئاب رِداهِ

    the doomed man was the wolf of his age's hollow,

    and the men of his regime were wolves of hollows.

  49. ثم اعتدَى فإذا هُوْ ضَيْغَمُ غابةٍ

    وزهاه من فَرْطِ الجهالة زاهي

    Then he overreached, and suddenly he was a thicket's lion,

    swollen with a pride born of sheer ignorance.

  50. فعتا ويَهْيَهَ في الكلامِ تَعارُباً

    حتى كنيناه أبا اليهْياه

    He grew insolent and shouted 'yah-yah,' affecting Bedouin speech,

    until we nicknamed him Abu al-Yahyah.

  51. مُتصامِماً متكامهاً عن ربه

    فرماهُ بالإصمام والإكماه

    Feigning deafness and blindness toward his lord,

    he was struck by him with deafness and blindness.

  52. غابَ المُوَفَّقُ فاستراب بغيبهِ

    وأتى فصادف منه مِرْجلَ طاهي

    Al-Muwaffaq departed, and he grew suspicious at his absence;

    he came, and met at his hands a cook's cauldron.

  53. ومعانِدُ التقوى مُعِدُّ مغالةٍ

    لخلافةٍ ووقاحةٍ لوَجاه

    The defier of piety prepares a challenge

    to the caliphate, and insolence toward high station.

  54. قال المُوَفَّقُ إذْ تبين غَوْلَه

    قسماً لقد ساهيت غير مساهي

    Al-Muwaffaq said, when his treachery became clear,

    'I swear, you have trifled with one who does not trifle.'

  55. وغدا أبو العباس يطلب ثأره

    فرمَى الزمانُ مُداهياً بدواهي

    Abu al-Abbas set out to seek his vengeance,

    and Time struck a schemer with calamities.

  56. كُفءُ المُخاتِل والمبارز قَسْورٌ

    لا ينثني للزجر والجَهْجاهِ

    A match for trickster and open challenger, a lion

    who does not turn aside at rebukes or threatening cries.

  57. رَكِب الأميرُ قَرَا المحجَّةِ فاهتدى

    وطغَى الدَّعيُّ فتاه في أَتْواهِ

    The emir rode the highway's spine and found the way;

    the pretender rebelled and strayed into trackless wastes.

  58. لا يَعجَبَن أحَدٌ لخيْبةِ وجهِهِ

    هل كان عَبْداً مُقْرناً بخُذاه

    Let no one marvel at his face's undoing:

    was he ever a servant bound to his lord?

  59. وجهٌ كما للصالحين وما عنى

    للصالحين فشاهَ كلَّ مَشاه

    A face like the righteous have, yet it did not bow

    to the righteous, and grew utterly hideous.

  60. ولقد نهتْه لو أُعينَ بنهيةٍ

    وحِجَىً نواهٍ بعدهُنَّ نواه

    They surely warned him—had he been aided by judgment

    and reason—warnings followed by more warnings.

  61. تجِهُ الصنيعةِ والصنيعةُ حرةٌ

    فثنتْ أعِنتها عن التُّجَّاه

    He was churlish toward benefaction, and benefaction is freeborn;

    so it turned its reins away from churls.

  62. وأتتْ فتىً ما سارَ سيرةَ تائهٍ

    في حِفْظِ نعمتهِ ولا تَيَّاه

    It came to a youth who never followed an arrogant man's path

    in safeguarding his blessings, nor a swaggerer's.

  63. إنْ تائهٌ جَبَهَ الوجوهَ ببشرِهِ

    ولُهَى يديهِ فليس بالجَبَّاه

    If a proud man greets faces with his cheer

    and his hands' gifts, he is no browbeater.

  64. وترشَّفَتْهُ ولم تكن مكروهةً

    نكهاتُ مِسكٍ عند ذي استنكاهِ

    It sipped him; never were unwelcome

    breaths of musk to one who takes their scent.

  65. كَلأَتْهُ نيَّتُهُ التي منْ سُوسها

    صِدْق الكَلاءة والقلوبُ سواهي

    His intention guarded him, for its very nature

    is faithful guardianship, while hearts are heedless.

  66. ورعاهُ معروفٌ يُخامِرُ نَفسَهُ

    ويفيضُ عنها والنفوسُ لواهي

    Goodness that pervades his soul protected him,

    overflowing from it while souls are distracted.