لاdo not تَظلِمونيwrong me وَتَظلِمواand wrong الحِسْبَهthe market inspectorate
لا تَظلِموني وَتَظلِموا الحِسْبَه
فليسَfor there is not بينيbetween me وَبينهاand between it نِسْبَهa connection
فليسَ بيني وَبينها نِسْبَه
Do not wrong me and wrong the market inspectorate;
Do not wrong me and wrong virtue,
for there is no affinity between me and it.
For there is no kinship between it and me.
غيْرِيsomeone other than me فيin البيعِselling وَالشِّرَاand buying دَرِبٌskilled
غيْرِي في البيعِ وَالشِّرَا دَرِبٌ
وَليسand there is not فيin الحالتيْنِthe two activities ليfor me دُرْبَهexperience
وَليس في الحالتيْنِ لي دُرْبَه
Another is skilled in selling and buying;
Others sell and buy, but I have no occupation with either,
I have no experience in either.
In none of these conditions do I have experience.
فهوfor he is أبوfather of حَبَّةٍa grain كماas ذَكَرُواthey said
فهو أبو حَبَّةٍ كما ذَكَرُوا
لاnot يَتَغَاضَىturn a blind eye للناسِfor people فيregarding حَبهْa grain
لا يَتَغَاضَى للناسِ في حَبهْ
He is Abu Habba, as they have said;
He is Abu Habba as they mentioned,
he lets no one off over a single grain.
He does not overlook people in his love.
وَقامَand he stood فيamong قومِهِhis people لِيُنْذِرَهُمto warn them
وَقامَ في قومِهِ لِيُنْذِرَهُم
فهْوَso he is بإنْذَارِto warning قومِهِhis people أشْبَهْbetter suited
فهْوَ بإنْذَارِ قومِهِ أشْبَهْ
He stood among his people to warn them;
And he stood among his people to warn them,
he is better suited to warning his people.
So he is most like his people in warning.
والناسُand people كالزَّرْعِlike crops فيin منابِتِهِits growing places
والناسُ كالزَّرْعِ في منابِتِهِ
هذاthis one لهfor him تُرْبَةٌa soil وَذَاand that one تُرْبَهْa soil
هذا له تُرْبَةٌ وَذَا تُرْبَهْ
People are like crops in their growing places:
And people are like plants in their beds,
this one has his soil, and that one his.
This one has fertile soil while that has gravel.
تاللَّهِby God لاnot يَرْضَىconsent فضليmy merit وَلاnor أدَبيmy refinement
تاللَّهِ لا يَرْضَى فضلي وَلا أدَبي
وَلاnor طِباعِيmy nature فيto هذهِthis السُّبَّهْdisgrace
وَلا طِباعِي في هذهِ السُّبَّهْ
By God, neither my merit nor my refinement consents,
By Allah, my merit, etiquette and nature are not satisfactory
nor my nature, to this disgrace.
In this rabble.
أَجْلِسُI sit والناسُwhile people يُهْرَعُونَhurry إِلَىtoward
أَجْلِسُ والناسُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَى
فِعْلِيmy action فيin السُّوقِthe market عُصْبَةًa group عُصْبَهْa group
فِعْلِي في السُّوقِ عُصْبَةً عُصْبَهْ
I sit while people rush
I sit while people rush excitedly
to what I do in the market, group after group.
To my activity in the market forming groups.
أُوجِعُI hurt زَيْداًZayd ضَرْباًwith blows وَأُشْبِعُهُand satiate him
أُوجِعُ زَيْداً ضَرْباً وَأُشْبِعُهُ
سَبّاًwith abuse كَأنيas though I were مُرَقِّصُone who makes dance الدُّبَّهْthe she-bear
سَبّاً كَأني مُرَقِّصُ الدُّبَّهْ
I hurt Zayd with blows and satiate him
I hurt Zaid with beating and satisfy him
with abuse, as though I were making a she-bear dance.
With insults as if I am tossing him.
ويُكسِبُand gives الغيْظُrage مُقْلَتَيَّmy two eyes وخَدand cheek-
ويُكسِبُ الغيْظُ مُقْلَتَيَّ وخَد
ديَّ-s of mine احْمِراراًa redness كنامرlike nāmir (unclear term) القِرْبَهْthe waterskin
ديَّ احْمِراراً كنامر القِرْبَهْ
Rage gives my eyes and cheeks
Anger colors my eyelids and cheek
a redness like that of the waterskin's nāmir.
With redness like the dye of wars.
وآمُرُand I command الناسَpeople بالصَّلاحِto righteousness ولاand do not
وآمُرُ الناسَ بالصَّلاحِ ولا
أُصْلِحُreform نَفْسِيmyself حُرِمْتُهاmay I be deprived of it حِسْبَهْan inspectorate
أُصْلِحُ نَفْسِي حُرِمْتُها حِسْبَهْ
I command people to be righteous, yet do not
And I order people to righteousness while I
reform myself—may I be denied that inspectorate!
Do not reform myself when I am deprived of virtue.
لَمْnot أَرَI see فيin قُبْحِthe ugliness of فِعْلِهَاits conduct حَسَناًanything good
لَمْ أَرَ في قُبْحِ فِعْلِهَا حَسَناً
كالكلبِlike the dog فِيin السُّوقِthe market يُلْقِحُimpregnates الكلْبَهْthe bitch
كالكلبِ فِي السُّوقِ يُلْقِحُ الكلْبَهْ
I have seen no good in its ugly deeds,
I have not seen any good in its ugliness
like a dog in the market impregnating a bitch.
Like the dog fertilizing the bitch in the street.
وماand not كفَاهاit sufficed for it حتىuntil يُخَيَّلَit is made to seem لِيto me
وما كفَاها حتى يُخَيَّلَ لِي
أَنthat اتِّباعِيmy following أَهْوَائِهاits whims قُرْبَهْan act of devotion
أَن اتِّباعِي أَهْوَائِها قُرْبَهْ
Nor is that enough for it, until I am made to imagine
It was not enough until it seemed to me
that following its whims is an act of devotion.
That following its whims is kinship.
أَعُوذُI seek refuge باللَّهِin God أَنْthat أَكُونَI should be كَمَنْlike one who
أَعُوذُ باللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ كَمَنْ
تَغْلِبُهُovercomes him فيin الرَّقاعَةِbuffoonery الرَّغْبَهْdesire
تَغْلِبُهُ في الرَّقاعَةِ الرَّغْبَهْ
I seek refuge in God from being like one
I seek refuge in Allah from being like one
whom desire overcomes in buffoonery.
Who is overwhelmed by desire in craving.
يمشيhe walks بهاwith it والصِّغارُand children تُنْشِدُهُchant to him
يمشي بها والصِّغارُ تُنْشِدُهُ
أميرُناour emir زارَناvisited us بِلاwithout ركْبَهْriding
أميرُنا زارَنا بِلا ركْبَهْ
He walks about in it while children chant to him:
Walking with it while children chant to him,
'Our emir has visited us without riding!'
“Our leader visited us without riding.”
وَماand not يزالُceases الغُلامُthe lad يَتْبَعُهُto follow him
وَما يزالُ الغُلامُ يَتْبَعُهُ
بدرَّةٍwith a whip مِثْلَlike رَأْسِهِhis head صُلْبَهْhard
بدرَّةٍ مِثْلَ رَأْسِهِ صُلْبَهْ
And a lad keeps following him
And the boy keeps following him
with a whip as hard as his head.
With a pearl like his head, spherical.
وَهْوَand he يقولُsays افْسَحواmake room لِمُحْتَسِبٍfor a market inspector
وَهْوَ يقولُ افْسَحوا لِمُحْتَسِبٍ
قدalready جاءكمhe has come to you مِنْfrom دِمَشْقَDamascus فيin عُلْبَهْa box
قد جاءكم مِنْ دِمَشْقَ في عُلْبَهْ
He says, 'Make way for a market inspector
And he says, “Make way for the censor
who has come to you from Damascus in a box!'
Who has come to you from Damascus in a box.”
لاdo not تَنْقَفِلْshut yourself in ياO فُلانُso-and-so فيin بَلَدٍa town
لا تَنْقَفِلْ يا فُلانُ في بَلَدٍ
لَمْnot تَنْقَفِلْhas closed منكَof yours بينهمْamong them ضَبَّهْa bolt
لَمْ تَنْقَفِلْ منكَ بينهمْ ضَبَّهْ
Do not shut yourself in, so-and-so, in a town
Do not dawdle, O so-and-so, in a country
where no bolt of yours has closed among its people.
You did not dawdle in while they were buzzing around you.
فمنْso whoever تَبَاهَىboasts بأَنَّهُthat he is وتدٌa peg
فمنْ تَبَاهَى بأَنَّهُ وتدٌ
فلْيَحْتَمِلْthen let him bear دَقَّthe hammering of كلِّevery مِرْزَبَّهْsledgehammer
فلْيَحْتَمِلْ دَقَّ كلِّ مِرْزَبَّهْ
Whoever boasts that he is a peg
So whoever boasts of being a peg
must bear the hammering of every sledgehammer.
Must endure being pounded by every sledgehammer.
ماwhat بالُهis his condition خايَلَswaggered before الزّمانَTime بهاwith it
ما بالُه خايَلَ الزّمانَ بها
كَمْhow many كانَthere were لِلَّيْلِfor the night فيكupon you مِنْof صَبَّهْa downpour
كَمْ كانَ لِلَّيْلِ فيك مِنْ صَبَّهْ
Why did he swagger before Time with it?
Why did the times make him wistful?
How many a downpour the night has sent upon you!
How much yearning did the night have for you!
وقائلٍand a speaker لَمْnot يَقُلْsaid أَتاهُbefell him كَذَاsuch-and-such
وقائلٍ لَمْ يَقُلْ أَتاهُ كَذَا
يَسْفَهُspeaks foolishly فيin قولِهِhis words ولاand not يُجبَهْis rebuffed
يَسْفَهُ في قولِهِ ولا يُجبَهْ
And a speaker who did not say, 'Such-and-such befell him,'
And someone saying something came to him,
speaks foolishly, yet is not rebuffed.
Senselessly, and he does not answer him.
معناهits meaning مَنْwhoever لَمْnot يكنْis كَوالدِهِlike his father
معناه مَنْ لَمْ يكنْ كَوالدِهِ
فَهْوَthen he is لَقيطٌa foundling رَمَتْthrew بهhim away قَحْبَهْa whore
فَهْوَ لَقيطٌ رَمَتْ به قَحْبَهْ
His meaning is: whoever does not resemble his father
Its meaning is: whoever is not like his father
is a foundling tossed away by a whore.
Is a foundling thrown by a whorish woman.
قلتُI said لهمto them عندَwith صاحبيmy companion حُمقٌfoolishness
قلتُ لهم عندَ صاحبي حُمقٌ
فيat كُلِّevery حينٍmoment يُلْقِيهِcasts him فيinto نَكْبَهْa calamity
في كُلِّ حينٍ يُلْقِيهِ في نَكْبَهْ
I told them, 'My companion has a foolishness
I said to them: “There is stupidity in my companion
that at every turn casts him into calamity.'
That throws him into distress at every moment.”
حَصَّلَhe amassed مالاًwealth جَمَّاًabundant وعَدَّدَهand counted it
حَصَّلَ مالاً جَمَّاً وعَدَّدَه
مِنْfrom أَصْلِthe principal of مَالِthe funds of الزَّكاةِzakat والوهْبَهْand gifts
مِنْ أَصْلِ مَالِ الزَّكاةِ والوهْبَهْ
He amassed abundant wealth and counted it,
He accumulated much wealth and counted it
from the funds of zakat and gifts.
From the money of alms and grants.
وَصارَand he became عَدْلاًa certified witness وعاقِداًand a contract drafter وَأَمِيand trust-
وَصارَ عَدْلاً وعاقِداً وَأَمِي
نَ-ee (ending of 'trustee') الحُكْمِthe court دونto the exclusion of العدولِthe certified witnesses فيin حِقْبَهْa span of time
نَ الحُكْمِ دون العدولِ في حِقْبَهْ
He became a certified witness, a contract drafter, and trustee
And he became a judge and contractor and took
of the court, to the exclusion of the witnesses, within a span.
The rule without counsel in a period of time.
مُنَبِّهٌone who alerts قومَهُhis people عَلَىto شُغُلٍsome business
مُنَبِّهٌ قومَهُ عَلَى شُغُلٍ
وساعدَand aided الوقْتُTime سَعْدَthe good fortune of مَنْthose whom نَبَّهْhe alerted
وساعدَ الوقْتُ سَعْدَ مَنْ نَبَّهْ
He alerts his people to some business,
Cautioning his people about preoccupation,
and Time aided the good fortune of those he alerted.
And time assisted whoever cautioned.
وَخِفْتُand I feared مِنْfrom عَتْبِهِمْtheir reproach عَلَيَّagainst me كماjust as
وَخِفْتُ مِنْ عَتْبِهِمْ عَلَيَّ كما
خافَfeared العَتاهِيal-Atahi العَتْبَreproach مِنْfrom عُتْبَهْUtba
خافَ العَتاهِي العَتْبَ مِنْ عُتْبَهْ
I feared their reproach of me, just as
And I feared their blame on me as
al-Atahi feared reproach from Utba.
The dim-witted fear the blame of bright ones.
فَطَارَso flew بُرْغُوثُهُhis flea لِخِفَّتِهِbecause of its lightness
فَطَارَ بُرْغُوثُهُ لِخِفَّتِهِ
وَرامَand sought يَحْكِيto imitate الأسودَthe lions فيin الوثْبَهْthe leap
وَرامَ يَحْكِي الأسودَ في الوثْبَهْ
His flea took flight because of its lightness,
So his flea took flight out of fear,
and sought to imitate lions in its leap.
And it attempted to mimic the lion in a leap.
فَلَمْso not يَرمit aspired إذْwhen رَمَتْهُit hurled him بِفِطْنَتِهِthrough his cleverness
فَلَمْ يَرم إذْ رَمَتْهُ بِفِطْنَتِهِ
إلىinto وُهودِthe hollows of الْخمولِobscurity مِنْfrom هَضْبَهْa hilltop
إلى وُهودِ الْخمولِ مِنْ هَضْبَهْ
But it aspired no more, when its cleverness hurled it
But when it leaped, it threw him with its perception
from a hilltop into the hollows of obscurity.
To the pits of inaction from a slope.
أَغْرَقَهُdrowned him جَهْلُهُhis ignorance وَماwhile not سُتِرَتْhad been covered
أَغْرَقَهُ جَهْلُهُ وَما سُتِرَتْ
قَطُّever لَهُfor him سُرَّةٌa navel وَلاnor رُكْبَهْa knee
قَطُّ لَهُ سُرَّةٌ وَلا رُكْبَهْ
His ignorance drowned him, although never had
His ignorance drowned him, and no veil
his navel or knee been covered.
Was ever drawn over him, nor clothing.
وَعَادَand rebounded تَمْوِيهُهُhis deception عليهupon him وكَمْand how often
وَعَادَ تَمْوِيهُهُ عليه وكَمْ
أَخْجَلَshamed شَيْبُthe gray hair of الذقونِbeards منْwhoever خَضبهْdyed it
أَخْجَلَ شَيْبُ الذقونِ منْ خَضبهْ
His deception rebounded upon him; how often
And his deception went back to him, and how
the gray of beards has shamed whoever dyed it!
The gray hair of his temples was put to shame by dye!
وَرَاحَand he went مِثْلَlike النَّواتِthe sailor فيin سُفُنٍships
وَرَاحَ مِثْلَ النَّواتِ في سُفُنٍ
خَيْرٌbetter لَهُfor him مِنْthan سُلافَةٍchoice wine عَطْبَهْa tuft of cotton
خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ سُلافَةٍ عَطْبَهْ
He went away like a sailor aboard ships;
And he went away like bats in vessels -
a tuft of cotton is better for him than choice wine.
Better for him than rotten carrion.
وَسَاءَنِيand distressed me ماwhat جَرَىhappened عليهto him مِنَfrom النِّسْthe wom-
وَسَاءَنِي ما جَرَى عليه مِنَ النِّسْ
وَةِ-en (ending of 'women') يومَon the day of الخميسِThursday فيin التُّرْبَهْthe burial ground
وَةِ يومَ الخميسِ في التُّرْبَهْ
What befell him at the hands of the women distressed me,
And I hated what happened to him from women
on Thursday in the burial ground.
The day of Thursday in the cemetery.
فلاso do not تَسَلْنِيask me فماfor not حَضَرْتُI attended لهاit
فلا تَسَلْنِي فما حَضَرْتُ لها
لكِنْbut سمِعْتُI heard الصِّيَاحَthe shouting والنُّدْبَهْand lamentation
لكِنْ سمِعْتُ الصِّيَاحَ والنُّدْبَهْ
Do not ask me: I was not there for it,
So do not ask me, for I did not attend it,
but I heard the shouting and lamentation.
But I heard the screaming and lamenting.
وقالتِand said الناسُpeople عندماwhen وَرَدَتْarrived
وقالتِ الناسُ عندما وَرَدَتْ
لِعَزْلِهِfor his dismissal الكُتْبُthe letters هانَتِwas slight الوَجْبَهْthe crashing fall
لِعَزْلِهِ الكُتْبُ هانَتِ الوَجْبَهْ
People said, when the letters arrived
And when the note arrived removing him,
for his dismissal, 'The crash was slight.'
The people said: The duty has been carried out.
فالحمدُso praise للَّهِto God فاحْمدُوهُso praise Him مَعِيwith me
فالحمدُ للَّهِ فاحْمدُوهُ مَعِي
علىfor خَلاصِيmy release مِنْfrom هذهِthis النِّسْبَهْassociation
على خَلاصِي مِنْ هذهِ النِّسْبَهْ
Praise be to God—praise Him with me
So praise be to Allah; praise Him with me
for freeing me from this association.
For my deliverance from this lineage.
اليوْمَtoday حَقَّقْتُI ascertained أَنَّthat أَمْرَكَyour command بالحسto market inspec-
اليوْمَ حَقَّقْتُ أَنَّ أَمْرَكَ بالحس
بَةِ-tion (ending of 'inspection') لِيfor me ليسَnot كانwas لِيfor me لُعْبَهْa game
بَةِ لِي ليسَ كان لِي لُعْبَهْ
Today I realized that your assigning me to market inspection
Today I realized your order to take account
was no game for me.
Of me was not jest or play to me.
ياO ماجِداًnoble man ماnot يَزالُceases يُنْقِذُrescuing مَنْwhoever
يا ماجِداً ما يَزالُ يُنْقِذُ مَنْ
رَماهُcast him رَيْبُthe vicissitudes of الزَّمانِTime فِيinto كُرْبَهْdistress
رَماهُ رَيْبُ الزَّمانِ فِي كُرْبَهْ
O noble man, who never ceases to rescue those
O Majid, who still saves whoever
whom the vicissitudes of Time have cast into distress,
The caprice of time throws into distress.
إِنِّيindeed I امْرُؤٌam a man حِرْفَتِيmy profession الحِسابُaccounting فَلاso no
إِنِّي امْرُؤٌ حِرْفَتِي الحِسابُ فَلا
يَدْخُلُenters رَيْبٌdoubt عليَّupon me فيin حِسْبَهْa calculation
يَدْخُلُ رَيْبٌ عليَّ في حِسْبَهْ
I am a man whose trade is accounting, so no
I am a man whose profession is accounting, so
doubt enters my calculations.
No doubt enters me in accounting.
ولاand not تَرُدُّreject الكُتَّابُthe clerks جائزةًan allowance
ولا تَرُدُّ الكُتَّابُ جائزةً
علىon حِسابٍan account منِّيfrom me ولاnor شَطْبَهْa crossing-out
على حِسابٍ منِّي ولا شَطْبَهْ
Nor do the clerks reject an allowance
And the writers do not return a prize
on an account of mine, nor any crossing-out.
To me for accounting or cross anything out.
يَشْرَقُchokes منيbecause of me بِرِيقِهِon his saliva رَجُلٌa man
يَشْرَقُ مني بِرِيقِهِ رَجُلٌ
يَشْرَبُdrinks مالَthe money of العُمالِthe officials فِيin شَرْبَهْone draught
يَشْرَبُ مالَ العُمالِ فِي شَرْبَهْ
Because of me a man chokes on his own saliva—
A man whose saliva is radiant drinks
one who drinks down the officials' money in a single draught.
The wealth of employees in one draught.
وَالشِّعْرُand poetry مِيزَانُهُits meter أُقَوِّمُهُI straighten it
وَالشِّعْرُ مِيزَانُهُ أُقَوِّمُهُ
وليسand not تَنْقَامُis straightened منهby it ليfor me حَدْبَهْa hump
وليس تَنْقَامُ منه لي حَدْبَهْ
As for poetry, I set its meter straight,
And poetry is my scale - I adjust it,
but it straightens no hump of mine.
And taking revenge on it is no concern of mine.
فإننيfor indeed I لاnot أرَىsee المدِيحَpraise بهthrough it
فإنني لا أرَى المدِيحَ به
لِلْمَالِfor money بلْbut rather لِلْوِدَادِfor affection والصُّحْبَهْand companionship
لِلْمَالِ بلْ لِلْوِدَادِ والصُّحْبَهْ
For I do not regard praise in it
For I do not see praise of wealth through it
as being for money, but for affection and companionship.
But of affection and companionship.
وَالشِّعْرُand poetry عنديin my view أَخُوa brother of العَدالةِintegrity لاnot
وَالشِّعْرُ عندي أَخُو العَدالةِ لا
أحسِبُI reckon أَقْوَالَهُits utterances وَلاnor كَسْبَهits earnings
أحسِبُ أَقْوَالَهُ وَلا كَسْبَه
Poetry, to me, is brother to integrity; I do not
And to me poetry is the brother of justice -
reckon its utterances or its earnings.
I do not calculate its words or earnings.
فَلَمْso not أَكُنْI was أَتْبَعُI follow العَذُولَthe reproacher إلَىto
فَلَمْ أَكُنْ أَتْبَعُ العَذُولَ إلَى
عَقْدٍa contract إذاwhen ماever (emphatic) دُعَاؤُهُhis invitation خُطْبَهْan oration
عَقْدٍ إذا ما دُعَاؤُهُ خُطْبَهْ
I never followed the reproacher to
So I was not one who followed
a contract, when his summons was an oration,
Every fool whose call was courtship.
مِنْfrom كلِّeveryone مَنْwho لاnot يخافُfears عاقِبَةًa consequence
مِنْ كلِّ مَنْ لا يخافُ عاقِبَةً
كأنّهas though he فيin ذهابِهِhis passing عُقْبَهْUqba
كأنّه في ذهابِهِ عُقْبَهْ
from anyone who fears no consequence,
Whoever does not fear consequences
as though, in his passing, he were Uqba.
Will be slaughtered by his injustice and slain by
يَذْبَحُهُslaughters him ظُلْمُهُhis injustice وَيَنْحَرُهُand butchers him الْthe
يَذْبَحُهُ ظُلْمُهُ وَيَنْحَرُهُ الْ
جَهْلُignorance بِلاwithout شَفْرَةٍa blade ولاnor حَرْبَهْa lance
جَهْلُ بِلا شَفْرَةٍ ولا حَرْبَهْ
His injustice slaughters him, and he is butchered by
Ignorance without a knife or war.
ignorance, without blade or lance.
How much misleading testimony did the witness bring you
كَمْhow many غَيَّةٍa wicked deed قدْindeed أتَاكَhas come to you بهاwith it الthe
كَمْ غَيَّةٍ قدْ أتَاكَ بها ال
شاهدُwitness فيin سَلَمٍa forward sale وَفيand in كِذْبَهْa lie
شاهدُ في سَلَمٍ وَفي كِذْبَهْ
How many a wicked deed has been brought to you by
In peace and in lies?
the witness, in a forward sale and in a lie!
Draining the spigot of immorality from his mouth -
يُنِيلُbestows نَيْلَthe gains of الفُسوقِwickedness مِنْfrom فَمهِhis mouth
يُنِيلُ نَيْلَ الفُسوقِ مِنْ فَمهِ
لاmay not بارَكَbless اللَّهُGod فيهِhim مِنْas جعْبَهْa quiver
لا بارَكَ اللَّهُ فيهِ مِنْ جعْبَهْ
He dispenses the gains of wickedness from his mouth—
May Allah not bless him, what a leather bag!
may God not bless him, that quiver!
So I have no profit from the witnesses
فليسَfor there is not لِيfor me فِيamong الشُّهودِthe witnesses مِنْany أرَبٍdesire
فليسَ لِي فِي الشُّهودِ مِنْ أرَبٍ
إذْsince وُصِفُواthey were described كاليهودِlike the Jews بالأُرْبَهْwith cunning
إذْ وُصِفُوا كاليهودِ بالأُرْبَهْ
I have no desire for the company of witnesses,
When they are described like the Jews as blind.
since they have been described, like the Jews, as crafty.
So have mercy on an intelligent man who called you one day
فارْحَمْso have mercy on لبيباًa discerning man يَوْماًone day دَعَاكَcalled on you وَقدand already
فارْحَمْ لبيباً يَوْماً دَعَاكَ وَقد
بَلَّغَتِbrought الجوعhunger رُوحَهُhis soul اللَّبَّهْthe hollow of the throat
بَلَّغَتِ الجوع رُوحَهُ اللَّبَّهْ
So have mercy on a discerning man who once called on you when
When hunger made his soul ravenous.
hunger had brought his soul to the hollow of his throat.
If the son of the builder were given succession
لوْif عُمِّرَhad been granted long life ابنُson of المِعمارal-Mi'mar خَوَّلهُhe would have entrusted him
لوْ عُمِّرَ ابنُ المِعمار خَوَّلهُ
نِيَابَةَthe deputyship of الخِدْمَتَيْنِthe two services والخُطْبَهْand preaching
نِيَابَةَ الخِدْمَتَيْنِ والخُطْبَهْ
Had Ibn al-Mi'mar lived longer, he would have entrusted him with
To both services and courtship,
the deputyship of the two services and the preaching,
And did not burden anyone
وَلَمْand not يَدَعْهُhe left him كَلًّاa burden عَلَىon أَحَدٍanyone
وَلَمْ يَدَعْهُ كَلًّا عَلَى أَحَدٍ
بغَيْرِwithout نَفْعٍbenefit كأنهُas though he were وَلْبَهْa walba (unclear term)
بغَيْرِ نَفْعٍ كأنهُ وَلْبَهْ
and would not have left him a burden on anyone,
With harm, as if he were a plaything,
without benefit, like a walba.
You are too gracious; your doors are my homeland.
حاشاكَfar be it from you ياO مَنْone who أَبوابُهُhis gates وَطنِيmy homeland
حاشاكَ يا مَنْ أَبوابُهُ وَطنِي
تَخْتَارُyou choose لِيfor me أَنْthat أَموتَI die فِيin الغُرْبَهْexile
تَخْتَارُ لِي أَنْ أَموتَ فِي الغُرْبَهْ
Far be it from you, you whose gates are my homeland,
Choose for me to die in alienation!
to choose that I should die in exile.
And my situation and my family’s
وَأَنَّand that حالِيmy condition وَحالَand the condition of عائلَتيmy family
وَأَنَّ حالِي وَحالَ عائلَتي
لاnot يَحْمِلُونَthey bear النُّوَىseparation ولاnor الغُرْبَهْexile
لا يَحْمِلُونَ النُّوَى ولا الغُرْبَهْ
My circumstances and those of my family
Cannot endure exile and alienation.
cannot bear separation or exile.
If the times were pleased with our separation,
إنْif كانَwas أَرْضَىpleased الزَّمانَTime فُرْقَتناour separation
إنْ كانَ أَرْضَى الزَّمانَ فُرْقَتنا
فاغْضَبْthen be angry علىat صَرْفِهِits reversal لناupon us غَضْبَهْa fit of anger
فاغْضَبْ على صَرْفِهِ لنا غَضْبَهْ
If our separation has pleased Time,
Be angry with its changing us for anger.
then be angry at its reversal of our fortunes.
For you are from a group the days obey
فأَنْتَfor you are مِنْfrom مَعْشَرٍa people تُطِيعُهُمُobey them الthe
فأَنْتَ مِنْ مَعْشَرٍ تُطِيعُهُمُ ال
أَيَّامُdays عنْout of رَغْبَةٍwillingness وَلاand not رَهْبَهْfear
أَيَّامُ عنْ رَغْبَةٍ وَلا رَهْبَهْ
For you are of a people whom
Out of desire, not awe or fear.
the days obey willingly, not in fear,
And from a sovereign above whose rank
وَمِنْand from مَلِيكٍa monarch ماnot فَوْقَabove رُتْبَتِهِhis station
وَمِنْ مَلِيكٍ ما فَوْقَ رُتْبَتِهِ
علىdespite عظيمgreat اتِّضاعِهِhis humility رُتْبَهْa station
على عظيم اتِّضاعِهِ رُتْبَهْ
and of a monarch above whose station,
There is the utmost humility in rank.
despite his great humility, no station stands.
The King of Rome in his supremacy
ماnot مَلِكُthe king of الرُّومِthe Romans فيin جَلالَتِهِhis majesty
ما مَلِكُ الرُّومِ في جَلالَتِهِ
أَحَقَّmore entitled منهthan him بالطَّيْرِto the bird والقُبَّهْand the dome
أَحَقَّ منه بالطَّيْرِ والقُبَّهْ
The king of the Romans, for all his majesty,
Is no more deserving of the feathers and dome.
has no greater claim than he to the bird and the dome.
You are the prince who restores our tongues
أَنْتَyou الأميرُthe emir المُعيدُwho makes again أَلْسُنَناour tongues
أَنْتَ الأميرُ المُعيدُ أَلْسُنَنا
كالعُودِlike a branch منهfrom him بِذِكْرِهِthrough the mention of him رَطْبَهْmoist
كالعُودِ منه بِذِكْرِهِ رَطْبَهْ
You are the emir who makes our tongues
Like a moist branch through mention of him.
moist as a branch, through the mention of him;
And the foremost of the early ones in generosity
والسابِقُand who outstrips الأَوَّلِينَthe foremost فيin كَرَمٍgenerosity
والسابِقُ الأَوَّلِينَ في كَرَمٍ
لَمَّاwhen جَرَىhe raced والكِرامُwhile the generous فيin حَلْبَهْa racecourse
لَمَّا جَرَى والكِرامُ في حَلْبَهْ
who outstrips the foremost in generosity
When it flowed, and the generous are in Aleppo.
when he races, and the generous are in the racecourse;
And the defeater of the army and battalions with
والهازِمُand who defeats الجَيْشَthe army والكَتائِبَand battalions بالwith the
والهازِمُ الجَيْشَ والكَتائِبَ بال
طَّعْنَةthrust يَوْمَon the day of الوَغَىbattle وبالضَّرْبَهْand with the blow
طَّعْنَة يَوْمَ الوَغَى وبالضَّرْبَهْ
who defeats the army and battalions with
Stabbing the day of battle and with striking.
a thrust on the day of battle, and with a blow;
And the pure of train and retinue - or
والطاهرُand pure of الذَّيْلِthe hem والطَّوِيَّةِand inward thought أَوْor
والطاهرُ الذَّيْلِ والطَّوِيَّةِ أَوْ
يَكْفِيis enough for السَّعِيدَthe fortunate man الحَراكَmovement والنَّصْبَهْand bearing
يَكْفِي السَّعِيدَ الحَراكَ والنَّصْبَهْ
and unsullied in hem and inward thought—or
It suffices the happy one trial and effort.
do movement and bearing suffice for the fortunate?
One whose nature is like the breeze spreading fragrance
مَنْone whose خُلْقُهُhis character كالنَّسِيمِlike the breeze يَنْشُرُspreads fragrance إنْif
مَنْ خُلْقُهُ كالنَّسِيمِ يَنْشُرُ إنْ
هَبَّblew عليهover it مِنْof نشرهِhis fragrance هَبَّهْa gust
هَبَّ عليه مِنْ نشرهِ هَبَّهْ
whose character is like a breeze that spreads fragrance if
When it blows over it with its gusts.
a gust of his scent blows upon it;
And one who, when you mention his amiability,
وَمَنْand one who إذاwhen ذَكَرْتَyou mention سُؤْدُدَهُhis nobility
وَمَنْ إذا ذَكَرْتَ سُؤْدُدَهُ
يَهُزُّنيstirs me عندَat ذِكْرِهِthe mention of him طَرْبَهْa thrill of delight
يَهُزُّني عندَ ذِكْرِهِ طَرْبَهْ
and whose nobility, whenever you mention it,
Shakes me in rapture at his mention.
stirs me with a thrill of delight at his mention.
His righteousness utilized time for him
صَلاحُهُhis righteousness اسْتَخْدَمَput into service الزَّمانَTime لَهُfor him
صَلاحُهُ اسْتَخْدَمَ الزَّمانَ لَهُ
فصارَso it became يَمْشِيwalking قُدَّامَهُbefore him حَجْبَهْchamberlain service
فصارَ يَمْشِي قُدَّامَهُ حَجْبَهْ
His righteousness has put Time in his service,
So it walks before him covering him.
so it walks before him as chamberlain.
Partial English translation: 129 of 130 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1