ليوقن من يعارضني بأني

ليوقن من يعارضني بأني

سأرهق ما بنى مبنى منيفا

سأرهق ما بنى مبنى منيفا

Let whoever contests with me be certain that I

Let those who oppose me know that

shall overshadow what he has built with a lofty edifice.

I will destroy whatever splendid edifice they build.

فإن أربى عليَّ بنيتُ قصراً

فإن أربى عليَّ بنيتُ قصراً

يطول بسوره الشرف الشريفا

يطول بسوره الشرف الشريفا

And if he surpasses me, I shall build a palace

If they build above me a palace,

whose wall overtops the exalted eminence.

I will build walls of nobility higher still.

فإن أربى علي بنيت طوداً

فإن أربى علي بنيت طوداً

يجوز النجم والسقف المطيفا

يجوز النجم والسقف المطيفا

And if he surpasses me, I shall build a mountain

If they build above me a mountain,

that rises beyond the star and the encircling vault.

I will build to the stars a yet loftier roof.

نظرتُ بعين إنصاف وعدل

نظرتُ بعين إنصاف وعدل

فلم أر قط ميزاني خفيفا

فلم أر قط ميزاني خفيفا

I looked with an eye of fairness and justice,

I have looked with eyes of justice and equity

and never have I seen my scale weigh light.

And have never found my scales to favor one side.

ولم أر هائبي إلا قوياً

ولم أر هائبي إلا قوياً

ولا مستضعفي إلا سخيفا

ولا مستضعفي إلا سخيفا

Nor have I seen one who fears me but a strong man,

I have never seen my terrors as anything

nor one who deems me weak but a fool.

But mighty, or my foes as more than despicable.

فتى الكتّاب لا تعرض لشعري

فتى الكتّاب لا تعرض لشعري

فتظلم صاحباً مولىً حليفا

فتظلم صاحباً مولىً حليفا

Young man of the scribes, do not encroach upon my verse,

Student of the school, do not criticize my poetry,

lest you wrong a companion, a friend, an ally.

Lest you wrong a loyal comrade and trusted ally.

أعد نظراً وكن حكماً فإني

أعد نظراً وكن حكماً فإني

أراك فقيه طائفة حنيفا

أراك فقيه طائفة حنيفا

Look again, and be a judge, for I

Reconsider and be an impartial judge, for I see

see you as a community's jurist, upright in faith.

You are an adherent of the true Hanifite rite.

وقل في صاحب لم يلف إلا

وقل في صاحب لم يلف إلا

حكيماً في مذاهبه ظريفا

حكيماً في مذاهبه ظريفا

And speak of a companion who has only been found

And say of one who has associated with none

wise in his ways and refined,

But the wise, cultured men of noble character:

أريباً في مآربه أديباً

أريباً في مآربه أديباً

لبيباً في مخاطبه حصيفا

لبيباً في مخاطبه حصيفا

astute in his aims and cultivated,

Clever in his undertakings, refined in his doings,

discerning in his speech and sound in judgment,

Eloquent in his discourse, prudent in his counsel;

نزيهاً في مطالبه نبيهاً

نزيهاً في مطالبه نبيهاً

عفيفاً في مكاسبه نظيفا

عفيفاً في مكاسبه نظيفا

above reproach in his pursuits and distinguished,

Upright in his demands, intelligent in his acts,

scrupulous in his earnings and unstained,

Chaste in his acquisitions, immaculate in his gains;

شريفاً في مناسبه عريقاً

شريفاً في مناسبه عريقاً

خفيفاً في ملاعبه ذفيفا

خفيفاً في ملاعبه ذفيفا

noble in his lineage and of ancient stock,

Noble in his qualities, of exalted lineage,

light in his play and nimble.

Graceful in his amusements, gentle in his tread;

تفرَّد بالكتابة ثم أضحى

تفرَّد بالكتابة ثم أضحى

ينازعني القريض لكي يحيفا

ينازعني القريض لكي يحيفا

He had prose-writing to himself, then began

He excelled in writing, then aspired to vie

to contend with me over verse, seeking to wrong me.

With me in verse, seeking to do me injustice.

حوى دوني الحليلة ثم أنحى

حوى دوني الحليلة ثم أنحى

يُريغ إلى حليلته اللطيفا

يُريغ إلى حليلته اللطيفا

He possessed the wife to my exclusion, then turned

He brought together trinkets, then inclined

seeking to add the delicate one to his wife.

To add them to his necklace, so delicate.

كرب التسع والتسعين أضحى

كرب التسع والتسعين أضحى

ينازع رب واحدة ضعيفا

ينازع رب واحدة ضعيفا

Like the owner of the ninety-nine, he began

Having reached ninety-nine, he aspires

contending with the weak owner of a single one.

To rival the One, the All-Powerful.

إخالك تؤنس العدوان منه

إخالك تؤنس العدوان منه

وترضى بالملام له رديفا

وترضى بالملام له رديفا

I suppose you perceive his aggression,

Your disapproval only encourages his wrongdoing

and are content that blame should be his companion.

And you are satisfied to let it pass without rebuke.

وأنت الخصم والحكم المنادى

وأنت الخصم والحكم المنادى

فقل سدداً وأنجد مستضيفا

فقل سدداً وأنجد مستضيفا

Yet you are the adversary and the judge called upon;

You are both adversary and judge, so speak justly

so speak rightly, and aid one seeking hospitality.

And aid me as a stranger seeking justice.

وسدِّد في معاملتي وقارب

وسدِّد في معاملتي وقارب

ولا تك في محاربتي عنيفا

ولا تك في محاربتي عنيفا

Be just in your treatment of me, and be moderate,

Judge me fairly and draw near me with sincerity

and do not be fierce in warring against me.

And be not harsh in opposing me.

ولا تعرض لواحدتي وأقبل

ولا تعرض لواحدتي وأقبل

على الكبرى وكن رجلاً عفيفا

على الكبرى وكن رجلاً عفيفا

Do not encroach upon my only one, but turn

Do not attack my unity, but turn

to the greater one, and be a chaste man.

To the greater whole and be virtuous.

ولم أمنعك ورد البحر كلا

ولم أمنعك ورد البحر كلا

ولا إلطافَهُ اللطف الطريفا

ولا إلطافَهُ اللطف الطريفا

I have not barred you from drawing at the sea—no indeed—

I have not prevented you sailing the endless sea,

nor from presenting him with a novel gift.

Or reveling in its subtle, gentle pleasures.

ولكن دع زحامي في طريقي

ولكن دع زحامي في طريقي

فإنك واجد سعة وريفا

فإنك واجد سعة وريفا

But cease jostling me on my path,

But leave me to walk my path,

for you will find ample space and fertile country.

For you can find ample breadth and space.

وإن لم تهو إلا السير فيه

وإن لم تهو إلا السير فيه

فإنك لن تصادفه مخيفا

فإنك لن تصادفه مخيفا

And if you desire only to travel along it,

If you insist walking there,

then you will not find it frightening.

You will not find it frightening.

رضيت وإن قذيت بكل شيء

رضيت وإن قذيت بكل شيء

رضيت به ولم أخلق طفيفا

رضيت به ولم أخلق طفيفا

I accept, though grit stings my eye, whatever

I am content, though pelted with everything;

you accept; I was not created insignificant.

I am content and have not been fickle.

فدونك طاعتي وصريح ودي

فدونك طاعتي وصريح ودي

وهبت لك الوصيفة والوصيفا

وهبت لك الوصيفة والوصيفا

So take my obedience and my sincere affection:

My obedience and sincere friendship are yours.

I have given you the maidservant and the servant boy.

I have given you the handmaid and the page.

ولو خصم سواك أراد ظلمي

ولو خصم سواك أراد ظلمي

لأسمعت الأصمَّ له حفيفا

لأسمعت الأصمَّ له حفيفا

But had an adversary other than you sought to wrong me,

Had any but you sought to wrong me,

I would have made even the deaf hear a rustling on his account,

The deafest ear would hear my angry buzzing

بأمثال من المَثُلات شنعٍ

بأمثال من المَثُلات شنعٍ

تسير فتخرق الأفق المطيفا

تسير فتخرق الأفق المطيفا

with hideous examples of exemplary punishment

With proverbs and parables to shame and rebuke,

that travel forth and pierce the encircling horizon.

Rending the horizon like lightning.