سَلامٌ كَنَشرِ الرَوضِ غِبَّ تَبَسُّمٍ

سَلامٌ كَنَشرِ الرَوضِ غِبَّ تَبَسُّمٍ

عَلى رَبعكم مَغنى الهَوى المُتَقَدِّمِ

عَلى رَبعكم مَغنى الهَوى المُتَقَدِّمِ

A greeting like a garden's fragrance after it smiles,

Peace like the blossoming of meadows with a smile's radiance,

Upon your dwelling, the abode of love of old,

Upon your abode the love song advances,

عَلى مَعهَدٍ لَم تُبقِ مِنهُ يَدُ النَوى

عَلى مَعهَدٍ لَم تُبقِ مِنهُ يَدُ النَوى

سِوى دمنَةٍ مِن عَهدِكُم لَم تُكلَمِ

سِوى دمنَةٍ مِن عَهدِكُم لَم تُكلَمِ

Upon a haunt where separation's hand has left

Upon a pact no hands but time’s remains

Only an unscarred vestige of your stay.

Save some ruins from your days that have no voice.

وَجادَت لَهُ حَيثُ الدِيارُ فَسيحَةٌ

وَجادَت لَهُ حَيثُ الدِيارُ فَسيحَةٌ

سَحابَةُ عَهدٍ عَهدُها لَم يُذمَمِ

سَحابَةُ عَهدٍ عَهدُها لَم يُذمَمِ

May it be drenched, where the dwellings spread wide,

Where the homes sprawled freely it was generous,

By a cloud of old acquaintance whose faithfulness was never faulted.

A time whose pact no flaw yet stains.

وَخصَّت مَغاني اللَهوِ مِنهُ وَألبِسَت

وَخصَّت مَغاني اللَهوِ مِنهُ وَألبِسَت

مَعالِمهُ بُردي شَبابٍ وَأَنغُمِ

مَعالِمهُ بُردي شَبابٍ وَأَنغُمِ

May it favor the haunts of pleasure there, and may

It adorned the joys of play and dressed

Its landmarks be clothed in the twin robes of youth and song.

Its features in the cloak of youth and tunes.

وَحَيّا إِلَهُ العَرشِ قاطِنَ رَبعِهِ

وَحَيّا إِلَهُ العَرشِ قاطِنَ رَبعِهِ

وَإِن كانَ لا يَرعى وِدادَ مُتَيّمِ

وَإِن كانَ لا يَرعى وِدادَ مُتَيّمِ

May the Lord of the Throne greet the dweller in its quarter,

And praised the Lord of the Throne who dwells in its precincts

Even though he does not cherish a devoted lover's affection.

Though he does not heed a pining lover's love.

تَحِيَّةَ صَبٍّ كُلَّما ذُكِرَ الغَضا

تَحِيَّةَ صَبٍّ كُلَّما ذُكِرَ الغَضا

رَمى بَينَ جَنبَيهِ بِجَمرٍ مُضَرَّمِ

رَمى بَينَ جَنبَيهِ بِجَمرٍ مُضَرَّمِ

With a lovesick man's greeting: whenever al-Ghada is recalled,

A morning greeting whenever the past is recalled

It casts fiercely burning embers between his ribs.

He hurls a flaming ember between his ribs.

يَحِنُّ لِهاتيكَ الدِيارِ وَأَهلِها

يَحِنُّ لِهاتيكَ الدِيارِ وَأَهلِها

حَنينَ مَشُوقٍ نازِحِ الدارِ مُغرَمِ

حَنينَ مَشُوقٍ نازِحِ الدارِ مُغرَمِ

He yearns for those dwellings and their people,

Yearning for those homes and folk

With the yearning of one longing, far from home and love-stricken.

The longing of one enamored, emigrant from his land.

يَروحُ عَلى بُرح الهُموم وَيَغتَدي

يَروحُ عَلى بُرح الهُموم وَيَغتَدي

بِمَفلُوذَةٍ حَرّى وَقَلبٍ مُقَسَّمِ

بِمَفلُوذَةٍ حَرّى وَقَلبٍ مُقَسَّمِ

He goes at evening amid the anguish of cares, and goes at dawn

Roaming in the wastes of cares, writhing

With a burning liver and a heart torn apart.

With a flaming, fragmented heart.

وَيَذكُرهُ القُمريُّ بِالأَيكِ ساحِقاً

وَيَذكُرهُ القُمريُّ بِالأَيكِ ساحِقاً

زَمانَ الصِبا مِن شَرخِهِ المُتَقَدِّمِ

زَمانَ الصِبا مِن شَرخِهِ المُتَقَدِّمِ

The turtledove in the grove reminds him, from afar,

And the Moon-like one recalls it with the ruin, crushing

Of youthful days, of his earliest prime,

The days of youth from its advancing fissure.

وَرَقراقِ عَيشٍ راقَ حُسناً وَنَضرَةً

وَرَقراقِ عَيشٍ راقَ حُسناً وَنَضرَةً

بِأَفياءِ شَرخٍ قَد ضَفا في تَنَعُّمِ

بِأَفياءِ شَرخٍ قَد ضَفا في تَنَعُّمِ

And the shimmer of a life that charmed with beauty and freshness,

And the genteel life that was beautiful and fresh

In the shade of a prime overflowing with ease,

With the flowing of an imagining poured in bliss.

وَظِلِّ شَبابٍ كانَ يَندى غَضارَةً

وَظِلِّ شَبابٍ كانَ يَندى غَضارَةً

وَوَشي رِداءٍ رَيعانُهُ لَم يُنَمنَمِ

وَوَشي رِداءٍ رَيعانُهُ لَم يُنَمنَمِ

And the shade of youth that glistened with luxuriance,

And the shade of youth which glistened with green

And a robe's rich pattern, its first bloom never embroidered.

And a cloak whose prime did not turn bleak.

طَوى بُردهُ كَرّ الجَديدينِ مِثلَ ما

طَوى بُردهُ كَرّ الجَديدينِ مِثلَ ما

طَوى وُدّ مَن أَهواه عَنّي لُوّمي

طَوى وُدّ مَن أَهواه عَنّي لُوّمي

The cycling of night and day folded up its cloak, just as

He folded his love like the bending of the lithe ones

My reproachers folded my beloved's affection away from me.

As he folded his love for her who blames and assails me.

وَرُبَّ صَديقٍ قَد نَعِمتُ بِقُربِهِ

وَرُبَّ صَديقٍ قَد نَعِمتُ بِقُربِهِ

زَماناً وَجَفنُ الدَهرِ عَن وُدِّنا عَمي

زَماناً وَجَفنُ الدَهرِ عَن وُدِّنا عَمي

Many a friend whose nearness I enjoyed

And many a friend I delighted to be near

For a time, while Time's eyelid was blind to our affection.

For years while time unknitted our bond.

تَدورُ شُموسُ الراحِ بَيني وَبَينَه

تَدورُ شُموسُ الراحِ بَيني وَبَينَه

بِمَجلِسٍ أُنس في نَدامى كَأَنجُمِ

بِمَجلِسٍ أُنس في نَدامى كَأَنجُمِ

The suns of wine revolved between me and him,

Suns of comfort revolved between me and him

In a gathering of companionship, amid drinking companions like stars,

In companionship whose intimacy rivaled stars.

إِلى أَن رَمَتنا الحادِثات بِأَسهُمٍ

إِلى أَن رَمَتنا الحادِثات بِأَسهُمٍ

وَأَقفَرَ رَبعي مِن هَواه وَمَعلَمي

وَأَقفَرَ رَبعي مِن هَواه وَمَعلَمي

Until misfortunes shot their arrows at us,

Till misfortunes struck us with their arrows

And my dwelling and familiar haunt lay empty of his love.

And my home was emptied of his love and sign.

طَوَت شَخصَهُ عَنّي اللَيالي وَأَسأَرَت

طَوَت شَخصَهُ عَنّي اللَيالي وَأَسأَرَت

بِقَلبي عَقابيلُ السقامِ المُحكَمِ

بِقَلبي عَقابيلُ السقامِ المُحكَمِ

The nights swept his presence from me and left

The nights stole him from me and imprisoned

In my heart the lingering effects of deep-rooted sickness.

My heart with shackles of lasting sickness.

وَهَل أَنا إِلّا رَبُّ نَفسٍ معارةٍ

وَهَل أَنا إِلّا رَبُّ نَفسٍ معارةٍ

وَقَلبٍ مُعارٍ لِلجَوى وَالتَألُّمِ

وَقَلبٍ مُعارٍ لِلجَوى وَالتَألُّمِ

What am I but the possessor of a soul on loan,

Can I be other than the soul’s uneasy lord,

And a heart lent to burning grief and pain?

A heart discomforted by ardour and torment?

وَمِمّا شَجاني وَالحَوادِثُ جَمَّةٌ

وَمِمّا شَجاني وَالحَوادِثُ جَمَّةٌ

تَغَيُّرُ دَهرٍ في الكِرام مُحكَّمِ

تَغَيُّرُ دَهرٍ في الكِرام مُحكَّمِ

Among my griefs—and misfortunes are many—

And of what has pained me, many an incident,

Was the change of a Time given dominion over the noble,

Is how time changes with men of honour.

وَجَورُ أَخٍ يُبدي التَجَنّي وَيَنثَني

وَجَورُ أَخٍ يُبدي التَجَنّي وَيَنثَني

عَلَيَّ بِلَومٍ وَالكِتاب مُحَرّمِ

عَلَيَّ بِلَومٍ وَالكِتاب مُحَرّمِ

And a brother's injustice: he makes false accusations and turns

And a brother’s tyranny who shows enmity,

Upon me with blame, while correspondence is forbidden.

Berating me with blame while friendship is inviolate.

فَيا أَيُّها الجاني وَنَسأَلُهُ الرِضا

فَيا أَيُّها الجاني وَنَسأَلُهُ الرِضا

تَرَفَّق عَلى صَبٍّ بِبَينِكَ قَد رُمي

تَرَفَّق عَلى صَبٍّ بِبَينِكَ قَد رُمي

O wrongdoer, whose goodwill we nevertheless seek,

So O you who have wronged me, we ask you make peace

Be gentle with a lover stricken by your parting.

Show mercy to one whose tears have been shed.

وَأَصغِ إِلى عَتبِ الصَديقِ فَرُبَّما

وَأَصغِ إِلى عَتبِ الصَديقِ فَرُبَّما

أَعادَ عِتابٌ خُلّةَ المُتَصَرِّمِ

أَعادَ عِتابٌ خُلّةَ المُتَصَرِّمِ

Listen to a friend's reproach, for perhaps

And heed the reproach of a friend, for admonishment

A rebuke may restore the friendship of one who breaks away.

May restore the bond of one grown separate.

فَها قَد بَسَطتُ العَتبَ فَاِسمَع هَديّةً

فَها قَد بَسَطتُ العَتبَ فَاِسمَع هَديّةً

وَأَودَعتُهُ سِلكَ الجُمانِ المُنَظّمِ

وَأَودَعتُهُ سِلكَ الجُمانِ المُنَظّمِ

Here I have unfolded my reproach; hear it as a gift,

So I have expressed my displeasure, now listen to advice

And threaded it upon a string of ordered pearls.

That I have placed in verse’s figurative stratum.

لَقَد كُنتُ قَبلَ الآنِ جَلداً عَلى النَوى

لَقَد كُنتُ قَبلَ الآنِ جَلداً عَلى النَوى

أَبِيّاً وَلَم أَربع عَلى رَسم مُعلَمِ

أَبِيّاً وَلَم أَربع عَلى رَسم مُعلَمِ

Before now I was steadfast against separation,

I used to be, before now, hardy in friendship

Unbending, never stopping at a marked-out ruin.

Disdainful, not conforming to old pacts.

عَلى أَنَّني لا غالِبُ الرَأيِ بِالهَوى

عَلى أَنَّني لا غالِبُ الرَأيِ بِالهَوى

وَلا قائِلٌ لِلشَوقِ إِن ضَلَّ يَحلُمِ

وَلا قائِلٌ لِلشَوقِ إِن ضَلَّ يَحلُمِ

Yet I am not one to subdue judgment with passion,

Though I cannot resist love’s opinions with passion

Nor call longing wise when it goes astray.

Nor curb longing if it strays beyond dreams.

أَروحُ بِأَثوابِ العَفافِ مُسَربَلا

أَروحُ بِأَثوابِ العَفافِ مُسَربَلا

وَأَغدو بِحلمٍ مِثلَ طَودِ يَلَملَمِ

وَأَغدو بِحلمٍ مِثلَ طَودِ يَلَملَمِ

I go at evening clothed in garments of chastity,

I walk in raiments of probity, robed

And at dawn bear forbearance like Mount Yalamlam.

With forbearance like a bending branch unshakeable.

وَإِن نَكَرتني خلَّةٌ أَو نَكرتُها

وَإِن نَكَرتني خلَّةٌ أَو نَكرتُها

رَحلتُ إلى أُخرى بِغَيرِ تَنَدُّمِ

رَحلتُ إلى أُخرى بِغَيرِ تَنَدُّمِ

If a friendship disowned me, or I disowned it,

And if we fall out, I move to another

I moved on to another without regret.

Without remorse or memories that disturb.

فَبدّلَني بالعِزِّ ذُلّاً هَواكُمُ

فَبدّلَني بالعِزِّ ذُلّاً هَواكُمُ

وَلاعجُ شَوقٍ مِن نَعيمٍ مُخَيّمِ

وَلاعجُ شَوقٍ مِن نَعيمٍ مُخَيّمِ

But love for you exchanged my honor for abasement,

But your love debased me,

And burning longing displaced abiding bliss.

Distracted by passion’s bliss gone bleak.

أَقولُ إِذا نامَ الخليُّ وَلَم أَنَم

أَقولُ إِذا نامَ الخليُّ وَلَم أَنَم

عَلى حَرّ وَقدٍ لِلضُلوعِ مُقَوَّمِ

عَلى حَرّ وَقدٍ لِلضُلوعِ مُقَوَّمِ

I say, when the carefree one sleeps and I do not,

I say, as my friend sleeps and I do not,

Upon the heat of a blaze raised against my ribs:

On the glowing embers of ribs made fragile:

خَليليّ ما لِلخلِّ قَد حالَ وُدُّهُ

خَليليّ ما لِلخلِّ قَد حالَ وُدُّهُ

وَوُدِّي عَلى طُولِ المَدى لَم يُصرّمِ

وَوُدِّي عَلى طُولِ المَدى لَم يُصرّمِ

My two friends, what ails my friend, that his affection has changed,

My friend, why has our pact faded

While mine, through all this time, has never been severed?

While my love remains, however long, inviolate?

أَغَيّرَهُ صَرفُ الزِمانِ أَمِ اِرعَوى

أَغَيّرَهُ صَرفُ الزِمانِ أَمِ اِرعَوى

إِلى وَشيِ واشٍ أَم مَقال مُنَمنَمِ

إِلى وَشيِ واشٍ أَم مَقال مُنَمنَمِ

Has Time's vicissitude changed him, or has he turned

Did time’s progress change it, or did he incline

To a slanderer's whispers, or an artfully embroidered tale?

To another’s love, or an unstable, unsound saying?

فَيا مُنتَهى الآمالِ يا غايَةَ المُنى

فَيا مُنتَهى الآمالِ يا غايَةَ المُنى

وَنُزهَةَ نَفسِ الصَبِّ يا ذا التَكرُّمِ

وَنُزهَةَ نَفسِ الصَبِّ يا ذا التَكرُّمِ

O utmost reach of hopes, O goal of every wish,

O ultimate hope, O joy of the soul

Delight of the lovesick soul, O generous one!

O noble one of generosity abounding!

لَكَ اللَهُ في صَبٍّ أَضَرَّ بِحالِهِ

لَكَ اللَهُ في صَبٍّ أَضَرَّ بِحالِهِ

بِعادٌ لَهُ في قَلبِهِ فِعلُ لِهذَمِ

بِعادٌ لَهُ في قَلبِهِ فِعلُ لِهذَمِ

God be with you concerning a lover whose plight is harmed

May God favour a smitten soul

By separation, which works in his heart like a keen spearhead.

Whose heart has no ally but thoughts of you.

مُقيمٌ عَلى رَعيِ الذِمام وَطالَ ما

مُقيمٌ عَلى رَعيِ الذِمام وَطالَ ما

غَذاكَ لِبانَ الوُدِّ غَيرَ مُذَمَّمِ

غَذاكَ لِبانَ الوُدِّ غَيرَ مُذَمَّمِ

Steadfast in keeping the bond, he has long

Remaining by enduring fidelity’s tether

Nourished you with love's milk, free from blame.

You were fed only unsoured affection.

صَفَت مِنهُ أَخلاقٌ لَدَيكَ خَليقَةٌ

صَفَت مِنهُ أَخلاقٌ لَدَيكَ خَليقَةٌ

بِحُسنِ ثَناءٍ مِن فَصيحٍ وَأَعجَمِ

بِحُسنِ ثَناءٍ مِن فَصيحٍ وَأَعجَمِ

His virtues have proved pure before you, deserving

From you, manners were distilled, with you a nature

Of fine praise from eloquent and inarticulate alike.

Was praised in fair words of eloquent Arab and foreigner.

كَزَهرِ الرُبا قَد فَتَّحَتهُ يَدُ الصَبا

كَزَهرِ الرُبا قَد فَتَّحَتهُ يَدُ الصَبا

وَجَرَّت عَلَيهِ ذَيلَها في تَبَسُّمِ

وَجَرَّت عَلَيهِ ذَيلَها في تَبَسُّمِ

Like hillside flowers opened by the east wind's hand,

Like a chamomile flower opened by the dawn’s hand

As it trailed its hem across them in a smile.

Brushing it with its trailing hem in a smile.

وَراعَ لَهُ حُسن الوِدادِ وَإِن نَبا

وَراعَ لَهُ حُسن الوِدادِ وَإِن نَبا

زَمانٌ وَلا تَسمَع مَقالَةَ مُجرِمِ

زَمانٌ وَلا تَسمَع مَقالَةَ مُجرِمِ

Honor for him the beauty of affection, even if

It heeded the goodness of love, and should enmity

Time grows harsh; do not heed a wrongdoer's words.

Rise one day, you’d hear no criminal’s talk.

أُعيذُكَ مِمَّن قالَ في وَصفِ شَأنِهِ

أُعيذُكَ مِمَّن قالَ في وَصفِ شَأنِهِ

أَديبٌ لَهُ في الشعرِ فَضلُ تَقَدُّمِ

أَديبٌ لَهُ في الشعرِ فَضلُ تَقَدُّمِ

I seek protection for you from one whose ways were described

I seek refuge for you from one who says your affair

By a man of letters preeminent in poetry:

Is a literary man excelling others in verse.

إِذا ساءَ فِعلُ المَرءِ ساءَت ظُنونُهُ

إِذا ساءَ فِعلُ المَرءِ ساءَت ظُنونُهُ

وَصَدّق ما يَعتادُهُ مِن تَوَهُّمِ

وَصَدّق ما يَعتادُهُ مِن تَوَهُّمِ

When a man's deeds are evil, his suspicions turn evil,

When someone’s actions are base, so are his opinions,

And he believes the delusions that habitually beset him;

And he believes the suspicions he imagines.

وَعادى مُحِبّيهِ بِقَولِ عداتِهِ

وَعادى مُحِبّيهِ بِقَولِ عداتِهِ

وَأَصبَح في شَكٍّ مِنَ اللَيلِ مُظلِمِ

وَأَصبَح في شَكٍّ مِنَ اللَيلِ مُظلِمِ

He makes enemies of those who love him at his enemies' word,

He turns against his loving friends with his hostility

And finds himself in doubt as dark as night.

And wakes in darkest doubt from the night.

تَذَكّر رَعاكَ اللَهُ سابِقَ خلّةٍ

تَذَكّر رَعاكَ اللَهُ سابِقَ خلّةٍ

وَلاحِق عَهدٍ بِالقِلى لَم يُهَدّمِ

وَلاحِق عَهدٍ بِالقِلى لَم يُهَدّمِ

Remember—may God preserve you—our former friendship,

Recall, may God shepherd you, previous comrades

And the later covenant, not demolished by aversion.

And later ones whose hearts are bound in amity.

جَحَدتَ وَلاءً مِن وَلِيٍّ غَدا لَهُ

جَحَدتَ وَلاءً مِن وَلِيٍّ غَدا لَهُ

عَلى كُلِّ مَولىً فيكَ فَضلُ المُقَدَّمِ

عَلى كُلِّ مَولىً فيكَ فَضلُ المُقَدَّمِ

You denied the loyalty of a friend who has gained

You disavowed a loyal ally, though for him

Precedence over every other ally in devotion to you.

You are preferred over all who love you early.

وَأَنكَرتُ مِنهُ الوُدَّ يُزهى نَضارَةً

وَأَنكَرتُ مِنهُ الوُدَّ يُزهى نَضارَةً

وَأَقبلتَهُ صَدرَ الحُسامِ المُصَمَّمِ

وَأَقبلتَهُ صَدرَ الحُسامِ المُصَمَّمِ

And I denied his affection, radiant in its freshness,

I denied his unspoiled love which glistens with freshness

And you faced him with the point of a sword that cuts clean through.

And you faced the keen swords with steadfastness.

فَمَهلاً عَلِيَّ القَدرِ يا مَن بِحُبِّهِ

فَمَهلاً عَلِيَّ القَدرِ يا مَن بِحُبِّهِ

نَفوزُ غَداً مِن ذي الجَلال بِمَغنَمِ

نَفوزُ غَداً مِن ذي الجَلال بِمَغنَمِ

Gently, O exalted in rank, O you through whose love

Patience with my fate, O you whose love

We shall win tomorrow a prize from the Lord of Majesty.

Gains us reward from the Majestic Sovereign!

أَتَجحَد مَن والاكَ وَالرَبعُ شاسِعٌ

أَتَجحَد مَن والاكَ وَالرَبعُ شاسِعٌ

لعاً لَك هَل هَذا فعالُ مُكَرّمِ

لعاً لَك هَل هَذا فعالُ مُكَرّمِ

Do you disown one who kept faith with you, though your dwellings lie far apart?

Do you disavow an ally while the expanse is vast?

May you rise again! Is this the conduct of an honored man?

Shame on you! Is this the work of one noble?

أَعد ما مَضى يَوماً إِلَيهِ لَعَلّهُ

أَعد ما مَضى يَوماً إِلَيهِ لَعَلّهُ

يَريشُ العَواري مِن نِبالي وَأَسهُمي

يَريشُ العَواري مِن نِبالي وَأَسهُمي

Restore to him one day what has passed, that perhaps it

Restore for me one day to it, perhaps

May feather the bare shafts among my arrows and darts.

It will ward off the arrows of my attack.

وَإِن لَم يَكُن في غَورِ وُدِّكَ مَطمَعٌ

وَإِن لَم يَكُن في غَورِ وُدِّكَ مَطمَعٌ

وَهَبّت لَهُ النَكباءُ بِالبينِ تَرتَمي

وَهَبّت لَهُ النَكباءُ بِالبينِ تَرتَمي

If no hope remains in the depths of your affection,

And if the bosom of your love offers no hope

And a crosswind lashes it with separation,

And misfortune assails with parting’s blades,

سأُعمل عِيسِي عَن بِلادِكَ راحِلاً

سأُعمل عِيسِي عَن بِلادِكَ راحِلاً

لِقَولٍ شَريفٍ في العُلا مُتَقَدّمِ

لِقَولٍ شَريفٍ في العُلا مُتَقَدّمِ

I shall spur my pale camels, departing your land,

I will act with selflessness, leaving your lands

In keeping with the saying of a noble man foremost in greatness:

For an exalted saying advancing aloft.

وَأَولى بِلادٍ بِالمَقامِ مِن الأُلى

وَأَولى بِلادٍ بِالمَقامِ مِن الأُلى

بِلادٌ مَتى يَنزل بِها الحُرّ يَغنَمِ

بِلادٌ مَتى يَنزل بِها الحُرّ يَغنَمِ

The lands most worthy of residence, among all others,

Better for me to stay in a place where the free reside

Are those where a free man gains whenever he settles.

And gain, rather than lose, that abode of plunder.

وَقَد مَحّضَتكَ النُصحَ نَفسٌ لِصُحبَةٍ

وَقَد مَحّضَتكَ النُصحَ نَفسٌ لِصُحبَةٍ

رعايتها فَرضٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُسلِمِ

رعايتها فَرضٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُسلِمِ

A soul has offered you sincere counsel for a friendship

I have given you candid counsel from a soul seeking

Whose preservation is a duty upon every Muslim.

Companionship whose care is incumbent on all Muslims.

إِذا ما صَحِبتَ المَرءَ فَاِصحَب مُهَذَّباً

إِذا ما صَحِبتَ المَرءَ فَاِصحَب مُهَذَّباً

كَريمَ السَجايا لِلفَضائل مُنتَمي

كَريمَ السَجايا لِلفَضائل مُنتَمي

When you keep company with a man, choose one refined,

When you take a friend, befriend the well-mannered,

Noble in character, devoted to virtues.

Noble, inclined towards virtues.

وَعاشر بِخُلقٍ ما اِستَطَعتُ مُحَبَّب

وَعاشر بِخُلقٍ ما اِستَطَعتُ مُحَبَّب

وَجانب فَدَتكَ النَفسُ كُلَّ مُذَمَّمِ

وَجانب فَدَتكَ النَفسُ كُلَّ مُذَمَّمِ

And deal with others in a winning spirit, as far as I can,

Conduct yourself in a way likeable as you are able,

And shun—may my soul ransom you—all that is blameworthy.

And avoid, may your soul be ransom, the blemished.

وَراعِ لِإخوانِ الصَفاءِ حُقوقَهُم

وَراعِ لِإخوانِ الصَفاءِ حُقوقَهُم

وَإِن أَنتَ ضَيّعتَ الوَفا خِلِّ تَندَمِ

وَإِن أَنتَ ضَيّعتَ الوَفا خِلِّ تَندَمِ

Honor the rights of brothers in pure affection;

Consider the rights of brethren of loyalty

If you neglect fidelity, my friend, you will regret it.

Lest you forget allegiance and come to regret.

فَيا لا رَعى الرَحمَنُ مَن لَيسَ راعِياً

فَيا لا رَعى الرَحمَنُ مَن لَيسَ راعِياً

حُقوقَ إِخاءٍ مِن صَديق مُقَدَّمِ

حُقوقَ إِخاءٍ مِن صَديق مُقَدَّمِ

May the Merciful never protect one who fails to honor

So he who does not obey the Merciful’s pact

The rights of brotherhood with a cherished friend.

Of a preceding loyal friend’s rights has no shepherd!

وَأَحسِن إِلى الأَيّام وَاِعلَم بِأَنَّها

وَأَحسِن إِلى الأَيّام وَاِعلَم بِأَنَّها

مَطايا إِلى لَحدٍ بِغَبراءَ مُقتَمِ

مَطايا إِلى لَحدٍ بِغَبراءَ مُقتَمِ

Treat the days well, and know that they

Do good to the days and know they are

Are mounts toward a dark grave in dusty earth.

Steeds to the dark grave’s final absolutism.

فَما الدَهرُ إِلّا مِثلُ أَحلامِ نائِمٍ

فَما الدَهرُ إِلّا مِثلُ أَحلامِ نائِمٍ

وَعِزُّ الفَتى فيهِ كَطَيفٍ مُسَلّمِ

وَعِزُّ الفَتى فيهِ كَطَيفٍ مُسَلّمِ

For Time is nothing but a sleeper's dreams,

For time is but like a sleeper’s dreams

And a young man's glory in it is like a phantom offering greeting.

And a man’s glory in it like a vanishing specter.

وَلا تَكُ مَغروراً بِعِزٍّ تَنالُهُ

وَلا تَكُ مَغروراً بِعِزٍّ تَنالُهُ

بِهِ وَاِخشَ يَوماً أَن يَطاك بِمنسَمِ

بِهِ وَاِخشَ يَوماً أَن يَطاك بِمنسَمِ

Do not be deceived by glory you attain

Do not be deluded by power you attain

Through it; fear a day when it tramples you with a camel's hoof.

Lest a day come to erase you with erasure.

وَراقِب إِلَهَ العَرشِ وَاعلَم بِأَنَّهُ

وَراقِب إِلَهَ العَرشِ وَاعلَم بِأَنَّهُ

يَرى ما خَفي مِن كُلِّ أَمرٍ مُكَتَّمِ

يَرى ما خَفي مِن كُلِّ أَمرٍ مُكَتَّمِ

Be mindful of the Lord of the Throne, and know that He

And keep in mind the Lord of the Throne, and know

Sees what is hidden in every closely guarded matter.

He sees what is hidden of every concealed affair.

وَهاكَ قَريضاً قَد بَدا عَن رَويَّةٍ

وَهاكَ قَريضاً قَد بَدا عَن رَويَّةٍ

تَضمّنَ عَتباً مِثلَ عِقدٍ مُنَظّمِ

تَضمّنَ عَتباً مِثلَ عِقدٍ مُنَظّمِ

Take this poem, born of deliberation,

And here is a poem emerging from gentle invention,

Containing reproach like a well-strung necklace.

Containing reproach like a string of pearls.

خِلالَ سُطُورِ الشَوقِ يَبدو كَأَنَّهُ

خِلالَ سُطُورِ الشَوقِ يَبدو كَأَنَّهُ

لَمى شادِنٍ يَبدُو خِلالَ تَبَسُّمِ

لَمى شادِنٍ يَبدُو خِلالَ تَبَسُّمِ

Amid lines of longing it appears as though it were

Between the lines of yearning it appears

The dusky tint of a young gazelle's lips showing through a smile.

Like the shining teeth displayed in a smile.

أَرَقُّ مِنَ الصَهباءِ شُجّت عَشِيَّةً

أَرَقُّ مِنَ الصَهباءِ شُجّت عَشِيَّةً

بِمُزنٍ مَرَت أَخلافُهُ يَدُ مِرزَمِ

بِمُزنٍ مَرَت أَخلافُهُ يَدُ مِرزَمِ

More delicate than tawny wine mixed one evening

More subtle than mirage it sang mournfully one evening,

With rain from clouds whose udders Mirzam's hand had milked.

Passed down by the hand of a vintner.

وَدُم في نَعيمٍ دائِمٍ وَمَسَرَّةٍ

وَدُم في نَعيمٍ دائِمٍ وَمَسَرَّةٍ

بِعَيشٍ هَنيءٍ مِن ذُرا العِزِّ وَاِسلَمِ

بِعَيشٍ هَنيءٍ مِن ذُرا العِزِّ وَاِسلَمِ

Remain in lasting bliss and happiness,

Live in lasting, unending bliss and joy,

In a pleasant life upon glory's heights, and fare well.

In a life made easy with power and peace.

مَقامُكَ مَحمودٌ وَبابُكَ مَلجَأٌ

مَقامُكَ مَحمودٌ وَبابُكَ مَلجَأٌ

وَظِلُّكَ مَمدودٌ لَهُ السَعد يَنتَمي

وَظِلُّكَ مَمدودٌ لَهُ السَعد يَنتَمي

Your station is praised, your door a refuge,

Your abode is praiseworthy and your door a refuge,

And your shade stretches far; good fortune claims kinship with it.

Your shade outstretched, towards it good fortune inclines.

مَدى الدَهر ما بَكّى القَريض بِسَجعِهِ

مَدى الدَهر ما بَكّى القَريض بِسَجعِهِ

هَديلُ وَفاءٍ قَد مَضى بِتَرَنّمِ

هَديلُ وَفاءٍ قَد مَضى بِتَرَنّمِ

For all time, while poetry is made to weep by the cadence

Never in time did the ode weep in its chant

Of a cooing that sings of faithfulness now gone.

A song of loyalty gone by in melody.