تُريكَ مَضاءَ المُرهَفات المَضارِبُ

تُريكَ مَضاءَ المُرهَفات المَضارِبُ

وَتَكشِفُ أَسرار الأَنام التَجارب

وَتَكشِفُ أَسرار الأَنام التَجارب

Their striking edges show you the keenness of sharpened blades.

You are shown by youthful thought the hidden meanings,

And experience reveals the secrets of humankind.

And life's experiments reveal people's secrets.

بِفكر الفَتى يَبدو لَهُ كُلُ غامِضٍ

بِفكر الفَتى يَبدو لَهُ كُلُ غامِضٍ

وَتَدنو مِن العَقل الأُمور العَوازب

وَتَدنو مِن العَقل الأُمور العَوازب

Through a young man's thought, every obscurity becomes clear to him.

The obscure becomes clear to the keen-minded lad,

And elusive matters come within the mind's reach.

And the elusive draws near the sound intellect.

وَمَن جَرّب الأَشياء يَزدد بَصيرَةً

وَمَن جَرّب الأَشياء يَزدد بَصيرَةً

وَتَظهَر إِلَيهِ كُلُ يَومٍ غَرائِب

وَتَظهَر إِلَيهِ كُلُ يَومٍ غَرائِب

Whoever tests things grows in insight,

He who tests things gains more insight,

and every day new wonders appear to him.

And strange events daily show themselves to him.

وَكُن بِمراة الفكر للعقل ناظِراً

وَكُن بِمراة الفكر للعقل ناظِراً

يَبنِ لَكَ أَن الناس طُرّاً ثَعالب

يَبنِ لَكَ أَن الناس طُرّاً ثَعالب

Look upon reason through the mirror of thought;

With reason's mirror be an onlooker for the mind,

it will become clear to you that people are all foxes.

It will show you people are sly foxes.

يَعد شَريفَ القَوم ذو المال لا الَّذي

يَعد شَريفَ القَوم ذو المال لا الَّذي

قَد أَكدى وَإِن كُنتُ عُلاً وَمَناسِب

قَد أَكدى وَإِن كُنتُ عُلاً وَمَناسِب

The wealthy man is deemed the noblest of his people, not the one who

The rich man, not he of merit, is deemed noble,

has fallen into poverty, even if I possessed eminence and noble lineage.

Though I were sublime and fitting.

وَبِالأَصغَرينَ المَرءُ كانَ مُعظَماً

وَبِالأَصغَرينَ المَرءُ كانَ مُعظَماً

وَما أَصغراه اليَوم إِلا المَكاسب

وَما أَصغراه اليَوم إِلا المَكاسب

A man was once honored for his two smaller organs, heart and tongue;

And by the lesser folk, man was held in awe,

today his two smaller organs are nothing but earnings.

Yet today, only profits make one lesser.

فَكُن جامِعاً لِلمال مُقتَنياً لَهُ

فَكُن جامِعاً لِلمال مُقتَنياً لَهُ

يَكُن لَكَ ذكرٌ في العُلا وَمَراتِبُ

يَكُن لَكَ ذكرٌ في العُلا وَمَراتِبُ

So be a gatherer and possessor of wealth;

So gather wealth and greedily hoard it,

you will have renown in high places and ranks.

That you have renown of heights and ranks.

وَمَن طَلبَ الدُنيا بِغَيرِ دَراهِمٍ

وَمَن طَلبَ الدُنيا بِغَيرِ دَراهِمٍ

وَلا هِمَةٍ تَبعد عَلَيهِ المَطالب

وَلا هِمَةٍ تَبعد عَلَيهِ المَطالب

Whoever seeks worldly success without dirhams

And he who seeks the world without coins,

or ambition finds his goals beyond his reach.

Or ambition, hardships crowd around him.

فَهوّن عَلَيكَ الهَول في جَنبِ جَمعِها

فَهوّن عَلَيكَ الهَول في جَنبِ جَمعِها

فَحَيث يَكون المال ثَمَّ الرَغائب

فَحَيث يَكون المال ثَمَّ الرَغائب

So make light of terror beside the task of gathering them:

So make light of horrors beside wealth's gathering,

wherever wealth is, there are the things desired.

For where there's money, then desires flow.

وَمَن لَم يُخاطر في الجَسيم بِنَفسِهِ

وَمَن لَم يُخاطر في الجَسيم بِنَفسِهِ

يَعش مكدياً وَالفَقر بئس المُصاحب

يَعش مكدياً وَالفَقر بئس المُصاحب

Whoever does not risk himself in great undertakings

And he who risks not himself in grave affairs,

lives destitute—and poverty is a wretched companion.

Lives in toil, and poverty's a woeful mate.

فَعش مكدياً إِن شئت أَو عش مُملكاً

فَعش مكدياً إِن شئت أَو عش مُملكاً

فَلَيسَ بِغَيرِ المال تَدنو المآدب

فَلَيسَ بِغَيرِ المال تَدنو المآدب

Live destitute if you wish, or live wealthy;

So live in toil if you wish, or live a king,

banquets do not come within reach without wealth.

For only with riches do banquets draw near.

وَمَن لَم يَكسِّبه الثَواء بِبَلدة

وَمَن لَم يَكسِّبه الثَواء بِبَلدة

ثَراءً يَكسبهُ النَوى وَالسَباسِبُ

ثَراءً يَكسبهُ النَوى وَالسَباسِبُ

Whoever is not brought by residence in a town

And he whom his town enriches not with thriving,

wealth, will gain it through distant travel and wildernesses.

Thriving and spoils the world will grant.

إِذا بعُدت هِمّات قَومٍ تَغرّبت

إِذا بعُدت هِمّات قَومٍ تَغرّبت

مَشارق أَرضيه لَهُ وَالمَغارب

مَشارق أَرضيه لَهُ وَالمَغارب

When a people's aspirations reach far, foreign become

When the aims of folk are distant, for him

the eastern and western reaches of their lands to them.

The easts and wests of earth belong.

قَرين الفَتى مَرآة مَضمره الَّذي

قَرين الفَتى مَرآة مَضمره الَّذي

تَرى ما طَواه فَاِنتَقد مِن تُصاحِب

تَرى ما طَواه فَاِنتَقد مِن تُصاحِب

A man's companion is the mirror of his hidden self, in which

A lad's companion's a mirror of his hidden self,

you see what he conceals; so scrutinize whom you befriend.

Revealing what he hides, so examine your friend.

بِأَخدانِهِ تُدرى خَفيّات أَمره

بِأَخدانِهِ تُدرى خَفيّات أَمره

أَلَم تَرَ أَن الشبهَ للشبهِ جاذِبُ

أَلَم تَرَ أَن الشبهَ للشبهِ جاذِبُ

Through his close friends, his hidden affairs become known.

By his friends is his secret affair made clear,

Have you not seen that like draws like?

Don't you see like attracts its like?

فَدَع قَرناء السوء لا تدنينهم

فَدَع قَرناء السوء لا تدنينهم

فَما قرناء السوء إِلّا نَوائِبُ

فَما قرناء السوء إِلّا نَوائِبُ

Leave evil companions; do not bring them near.

So shun companions of ill, don't draw them near,

Evil companions are nothing but calamities.

For comrades of ill are but misfortunes.

أَخٌ كانَ لي قَد كُنت أَحسَبُ أَنَّهُ

أَخٌ كانَ لي قَد كُنت أَحسَبُ أَنَّهُ

دِلاصي وَسَيفي ان نَحاني طالب

دِلاصي وَسَيفي ان نَحاني طالب

I had a brother whom I used to think

I had a brother I thought a staunch ally,

my polished mail and sword, should a pursuer target me.

My sword and shield if enemies came attacking.

قَرَرتُ بِهِ عَيناً فَلَما بِلوته

قَرَرتُ بِهِ عَيناً فَلَما بِلوته

إِذا هُوَ يَبغي عثرَتي وَيُراقب

إِذا هُوَ يَبغي عثرَتي وَيُراقب

My eyes found comfort in him, but when I tested him,

I trusted him utterly, but when I tested him,

behold, he sought my downfall and lay watching.

He coveted my stumbling and kept watch.

وَمن محص الأخوان بالخَبَر تَنكشف

وَمن محص الأخوان بالخَبَر تَنكشف

بخُبرهم مِنهم إِلَيهِ عَجائب

بخُبرهم مِنهم إِلَيهِ عَجائب

Whoever thoroughly tests his brothers through experience will discover

And he who refines his brothers by experience,

wonders about them through knowing them.

By experience of them wonders show themselves to him.

وَإِني لَأَستبقي صَديقي وَإِن جَفا

وَإِني لَأَستبقي صَديقي وَإِن جَفا

وَأَرضى بِما يَأتي بِهِ وَهوَ غاضب

وَأَرضى بِما يَأتي بِهِ وَهوَ غاضب

I surely keep my friend, even if he grows distant,

Though a friend be cold, I keep up our bond

and accept what he brings, though he is angry.

And am content with all he does, even angered.

وَلَست عَلى ما قَد جَناه مُعاقِباً

وَلَست عَلى ما قَد جَناه مُعاقِباً

وَإِن غاظَني شَرُّ الرِجال المُعاقب

وَإِن غاظَني شَرُّ الرِجال المُعاقب

I do not punish him for what he has done;

Nor do I punish what wrong he's committed,

even if he enrages me, the worst of men is the punisher.

Though the evil of men should be punished.

بَلى رُبَما أَوليتَهُ عتب مُشفِقٍ

بَلى رُبَما أَوليتَهُ عتب مُشفِقٍ

وَلَيسَ بِمستبقيك مَن لا يُعاتب

وَلَيسَ بِمستبقيك مَن لا يُعاتب

Indeed, sometimes I offer him a caring friend's reproach:

Rather you may gently chide his fault,

whoever never reproaches you does not seek to keep you.

No faithful friend rejects all reproof.

وَمَن لَم يَكُن يُغضي لِخلٍّ عَلى القَذى

وَمَن لَم يَكُن يُغضي لِخلٍّ عَلى القَذى

يَعش دونَ خِلٍّ أَو يَمت وَهُوَ عاتب

يَعش دونَ خِلٍّ أَو يَمت وَهُوَ عاتب

Whoever cannot overlook a friend's mote

He who won't overlook a blemish for an intimate

lives without a friend, or dies still reproachful.

Will live without intimates, or die complaining.

تَغَيرَ مِن أَصفيته ماء خُلَتي

تَغَيرَ مِن أَصفيته ماء خُلَتي

وَلا ذَنب إِلا أَنني فيهِ راغِبُ

وَلا ذَنب إِلا أَنني فيهِ راغِبُ

The one to whom I gave the pure water of my friendship has changed,

The water of my friendship changed for him

though my only fault is that I desire his friendship.

With no crime but my craving it.

وَما رابَهُ إِلا الوَفاء بِعدَه

وَما رابَهُ إِلا الوَفاء بِعدَه

وَحَملُ خِلالٍ كلهن مَناقِب

وَحَملُ خِلالٍ كلهن مَناقِب

Only loyalty after his departure unsettled him,

And only being true wearied him,

and my bearing qualities that are all virtues.

Though he carried all merit's attributes.

وَقَد كانَ حَقاً أَن يُراعيَ وَدَنا

وَقَد كانَ حَقاً أَن يُراعيَ وَدَنا

وَلَكن اِخوانَ الزَمان عَقارِبُ

وَلَكن اِخوانَ الزَمان عَقارِبُ

He ought indeed to have preserved our affection,

Right that he should have heeded our closeness,

but the friends of this age are scorpions.

But time's brethren are scorpions.

أَبا حَسَن إِن الحَديث مَساقُهُ

أَبا حَسَن إِن الحَديث مَساقُهُ

إِلَيكَ فَما هَذي الأُمور العَجائب

إِلَيكَ فَما هَذي الأُمور العَجائب

Abu Hasan, this discourse is directed

Abu Hasan, this talk leads straight

to you: what are these strange proceedings?

To you - what are these bizarre affairs?

أَتُبدي اخاءً ثُم تَضمر ضَده

أَتُبدي اخاءً ثُم تَضمر ضَده

وَتُظهرَ لي سِلماً وَأَنتَ محارِب

وَتُظهرَ لي سِلماً وَأَنتَ محارِب

Do you display brotherhood, then conceal its opposite,

Do you show me warmth then nurse hatred against it

and show me peace while waging war?

Displaying peace to me while making war?

وَأَسقيكَ ماءَ الود صَفواً مِن القَذى

وَأَسقيكَ ماءَ الود صَفواً مِن القَذى

وَأَنتَ لَهُ بِالغلِّ وَالحقد شائِبُ

وَأَنتَ لَهُ بِالغلِّ وَالحقد شائِبُ

I give you affection's water, clear of impurities,

I gave you friendship's water pure of motes

while you mix it with rancor and hatred.

While you taint it with rancor and malice.

وَيا عَجَباً ضِدانِ فيكَ تَجَمعا

وَيا عَجَباً ضِدانِ فيكَ تَجَمعا

فُؤادك يُقصيني وَأَنتَ تُعاقب

فُؤادك يُقصيني وَأَنتَ تُعاقب

What a wonder: two opposites have met in you!

How odd two opposites meet in you,

Your heart keeps me distant, yet you punish me.

Your heart rejects me while you punish me.

أَتنقد أَشعاري وَتَرقبُ عَثرَتي

أَتنقد أَشعاري وَتَرقبُ عَثرَتي

وَأَقربُ مِن هَذا إِلَيكَ الكَواكب

وَأَقربُ مِن هَذا إِلَيكَ الكَواكب

Do you criticize my poems and watch for my stumble?

You criticize my verse and await my stumbling

The stars are nearer your reach than that.

While stars themselves come nearer than you.

وَتُطلق في نادي ابن باقٍ بِنَقضِها

وَتُطلق في نادي ابن باقٍ بِنَقضِها

كَأَن ابن باقٍ في حبالك حاطِب

كَأَن ابن باقٍ في حبالك حاطِب

You speak freely against them in Ibn Baqi's gathering,

You unleash in Ibn Baqi's club its critique

as though Ibn Baqi gathered firewood in your snares.

As if Ibn Baqi were your partisan.

أَلم تَتَحَقق يا أَخيرقُ أَنَّهُ

أَلم تَتَحَقق يا أَخيرقُ أَنَّهُ

عَلَيكَ بِاثبات الحَقائق واثب

عَلَيكَ بِاثبات الحَقائق واثب

Did you not realize, little fool, that he

Don't you realize, O Akhiraqi, that to him

would spring upon you to establish the truths?

Truth's proof and you its champion appear?

إِذا رُمت اِخفاء الحُقوق بِباطِلٍ

إِذا رُمت اِخفاء الحُقوق بِباطِلٍ

تزخرفه فَاِنظُر بِهِ مَن تُخاطب

تزخرفه فَاِنظُر بِهِ مَن تُخاطب

If you seek to conceal truths with falsehood

When by empty words you seek to hide rights,

that you embellish, consider whom you address with it.

Examine whom you address with ornament.

لَقَد جئتَها بِلِقاءَ كَالشَمس شَهرةً

لَقَد جئتَها بِلِقاءَ كَالشَمس شَهرةً

تُشينك ما خبَّت بركب رَكائب

تُشينك ما خبَّت بركب رَكائب

You have committed a glaring disgrace, as famous as the sun,

You've brought it fame like the sun's by meeting,

which will shame you as long as mounts trot with riders.

A notoriety that shades your mount's litters.

كَفاكَ اِجتِراءً أَن نَقدتَ فَلم تَجد

كَفاكَ اِجتِراءً أَن نَقدتَ فَلم تَجد

هُنالك إِلّا مِن بِسَيفي يُضارب

هُنالك إِلّا مِن بِسَيفي يُضارب

It was audacity enough that you criticized, yet found

Enough slyness! If you have a rebuttal,

there only someone fighting with my sword.

Then I have conquered, so conquer me.

مَحاسِنُ قَولي رُمت اِخفاء فَضلِها

مَحاسِنُ قَولي رُمت اِخفاء فَضلِها

فَما أُبتَ إِلا وَهِيَ فيكَ معايب

فَما أُبتَ إِلا وَهِيَ فيكَ معايب

You sought to conceal the excellence of my verse's beauties,

Do you deny a known right, which to us

yet returned with those very beauties as blemishes upon you.

Is basic? Vain fancies mock you.

وَعِندَ ثُبوت الحَق يَزهَق باطِلٌ

وَعِندَ ثُبوت الحَق يَزهَق باطِلٌ

كَما تَنجَلي عِندَ الصَباح الغَياهب

كَما تَنجَلي عِندَ الصَباح الغَياهب

When truth is established, falsehood vanishes,

Didn't I once compare you to the like of this?

as darkness clears away at dawn.

Then raving confusions - what of tempests?

وَمَن رامَ أَن يُخفي مَحاسن غَيرِهِ

وَمَن رامَ أَن يُخفي مَحاسن غَيرِهِ

تلح مِن مساويه إِلَيهِ عَجائب

تلح مِن مساويه إِلَيهِ عَجائب

Whoever seeks to conceal another's merits

And don't the Arabs have much of this? For whom

will see wonders of his own faults appear before him.

But nomads do we follow in poetry?

إِذا ما عَدا الإِنسان في الشَيء طَوره

إِذا ما عَدا الإِنسان في الشَيء طَوره

تَعَدت إَلَيهِ بِالغموز الحَواجب

تَعَدت إَلَيهِ بِالغموز الحَواجب

When a person oversteps his bounds in a matter,

Didn't one tribe's poet say to its Nu'man,

eyebrows turn toward him with mocking signals.

"You are the sun, and kings are planets."

أَلا لَيتَ شعري وَالظُنون كَثيرَةٌ

أَلا لَيتَ شعري وَالظُنون كَثيرَةٌ

أَخانَك جَدٌّ مِنكَ أَم أَنتَ لاعب

أَخانَك جَدٌّ مِنكَ أَم أَنتَ لاعب

Ah, would that I knew—suspicions are many—

Likening him to the sun, which to them

has earnestness on your part betrayed you, or are you jesting?

Is feminine - did any critic object?

أَبت قُلةُ الانصاف إِلّا قَطيعَةً

أَبت قُلةُ الانصاف إِلّا قَطيعَةً

وَلَو أَن مَن يُبدي الخِلافَ أَقارِبُ

وَلَو أَن مَن يُبدي الخِلافَ أَقارِبُ

Lack of fairness permits nothing but estrangement,

Aren't things ascribed save for their deeds,

even if those displaying opposition are relatives.

Known only by the illuminating meteors?

وَمَن نازع الأَخوانَ يَكثر عَدوه

وَمَن نازع الأَخوانَ يَكثر عَدوه

بِحَق وَتَستَحوذ عَلَيهِ المَثالِب

بِحَق وَتَستَحوذ عَلَيهِ المَثالِب

Whoever quarrels with his brothers multiplies his enemies,

If there is no understanding, study profits not,

indeed, and faults gain mastery over him.

Nor minds, which are only God-given gifts.

مَتى لَم يَكُن عَقلُ الفَتى هادياً لَهُ

مَتى لَم يَكُن عَقلُ الفَتى هادياً لَهُ

تَضق في مَساعيهِ عَلَيهِ المَذاهب

تَضق في مَساعيهِ عَلَيهِ المَذاهب

Whenever a young man's reason does not guide him,

Since you have sound criticism and experience,

the paths of his endeavors narrow before him.

A connoisseur of poetic critique and its author,

وَمَن كانَ مُغتاباً صَديقاً فَبُعدُهُ

وَمَن كانَ مُغتاباً صَديقاً فَبُعدُهُ

عَلى كُلِ حالٍ لا مَحالة واجِبُ

عَلى كُلِ حالٍ لا مَحالة واجِبُ

Whoever backbites a friend must be avoided:

Then rebut with argument him who spoke this,

in every circumstance, this is unavoidable.

That each may know your conception cuts deep.

يَريكَ عَليٌّ عَفةً وَدَماثَةً

يَريكَ عَليٌّ عَفةً وَدَماثَةً

وَصَفو وِدادٍ جَمرُ وَاريهِ ذائِبُ

وَصَفو وِدادٍ جَمرُ وَاريهِ ذائِبُ

Ali shows you chastity and gentleness,

If in this you call me wrong,

and pure affection, while its kindler's embers melt.

Then all truth from you is absent.

وَذاكَ رِياءٌ كُلُهُ وَتَصنّعٌ

وَذاكَ رِياءٌ كُلُهُ وَتَصنّعٌ

تَغذى عَلَيهِ لا طِباعٌ تُناسِبُ

تَغذى عَلَيهِ لا طِباعٌ تُناسِبُ

All that is ostentation and affectation,

When you claim dawn is night, it appears

on which he was nurtured—not matching innate traits.

To all possessed of eyes that you are lying.

وَقَد يَتَحَلّى ذو الرِياء بِعادَةٍ

وَقَد يَتَحَلّى ذو الرِياء بِعادَةٍ

فَتُحسَبُ طَبعاً لَكن الطَبع ذاهب

فَتُحسَبُ طَبعاً لَكن الطَبع ذاهب

An ostentatious man may adorn himself with a habit,

Your club held secrets sweet,

so it is mistaken for nature, but nature has departed.

But when broadcast, fate made them bitter.

وَكُل اِختِلافٍ مُستَحيلٌ وَذاهِبٌ

وَكُل اِختِلافٍ مُستَحيلٌ وَذاهِبٌ

يُفارق أَهليهِ وَما الطَبع ذاهِبُ

يُفارق أَهليهِ وَما الطَبع ذاهِبُ

Every variation changes and passes away,

You left poetic critique a tattered gown

leaving those who bear it; but nature never passes away.

Patched by one from whom its edge hangs.

أَلَم تَدرِ أَني يا عَليٌّ مهندٌ

أَلَم تَدرِ أَني يا عَليٌّ مهندٌ

بِهِ مِن شَبا الهنديّ تَفري المَضارب

بِهِ مِن شَبا الهنديّ تَفري المَضارب

Did you not know, Ali, that I am an Indian-forged sword,

Hold back, man! Rashness brings no miracles,

whose striking edges cleave with an Indian blade's sharpness?

Nor is knowledge seized, nor ignorance victorious.

وَإِن عَفاريت القَصائد مُرَّدٌ

وَإِن عَفاريت القَصائد مُرَّدٌ

لَها أَسهم في كُل غَيبٍ صَوائب

لَها أَسهم في كُل غَيبٍ صَوائب

The demons of verse are rebellious spirits;

But for modesty, since I avoid paths

their arrows hit every unseen target.

Of censure, I'd unleash from my speech's clouds

أَمير القَوافي بَينَ فَكيَّ آمِرٌ

أَمير القَوافي بَينَ فَكيَّ آمِرٌ

إِذا شئت لَم يَحجبه عَنيَ حاجِبُ

إِذا شئت لَم يَحجبه عَنيَ حاجِبُ

The prince of rhymes commands between my jaws;

Lightning-bolts of verse, whose clouds are thoughts,

when I wish, no chamberlain bars him from me.

I'd fell with them from the sky stars and planets.

فَكَيفَ عَلى اللَيث اِجترأت مخاطِراً

فَكَيفَ عَلى اللَيث اِجترأت مخاطِراً

أَلَم تَخشَ أَن تُرديكَ مِنهُ مَخالب

أَلَم تَخشَ أَن تُرديكَ مِنهُ مَخالب

How, then, did you dare risk an assault upon the lion?

But I pardon, too shy before the noble

Did you not fear that his claws would lay you low?

Though you taint the waters we share.

أَرادَ عَليٌ أَن يُجرب سَيفَنا

أَرادَ عَليٌ أَن يُجرب سَيفَنا

فَهُز عَلَيهِ مِنهُ أَبتَرُ قاضِب

فَهُز عَلَيهِ مِنهُ أَبتَرُ قاضِب

Ali wanted to test our sword,

I was wronged, so if you spit, my excuse

and a severing, keen-cutting blade was brandished against him.

Has perished, and oppressors seek vengeance.

أَقول لَهُ وَالمُقتُ يُزري بِعجبه

أَقول لَهُ وَالمُقتُ يُزري بِعجبه

مَتى ساجلت فَيضَ البُحور المَزائب

مَتى ساجلت فَيضَ البُحور المَزائب

I tell him, while loathing belittles his conceit:

I planted this - it's what I've harvested - so blame me not,

when have gutters rivaled the overflowing seas?

Think not that over you I've conquered.

نَقدت عَلَينا التبر وَهُوَ مُسجرَّ

نَقدت عَلَينا التبر وَهُوَ مُسجرَّ

قَد أَخلَصَهُ مِن نار فكري لاهب

قَد أَخلَصَهُ مِن نار فكري لاهب

You assayed our raw gold while it was furnace-hot,

If self-admiration and passion lead your speech,

purified by a blaze from the fire of my thought.

Don't quarrel with one who'll dispute you.

أَيا صَيرفيَّ الشعر هَذا نضارُنا

أَيا صَيرفيَّ الشعر هَذا نضارُنا

وَهَذي عذارانا فَهَل أَنتَ خاطب

وَهَذي عذارانا فَهَل أَنتَ خاطب

O money-changer of poetry, here is our pure gold;

Rather it's rebuke for your sin, with which

and here are our maidens—are you a suitor?

My excuse sides - will you turn to God?

وَيا ابن العَميدِ المُنتَضي سَيفَ نَقده

وَيا ابن العَميدِ المُنتَضي سَيفَ نَقده

إَلَيكَ طُلى شعري فَهَل أَنتَ ضارب

إَلَيكَ طُلى شعري فَهَل أَنتَ ضارب

O Ibn al-Amid, drawing the sword of his criticism,

I showed warmth and this is what I've gained,

here are the necks of my verse—will you strike?

So blame me not, think not that I've defeated you.

وَيا جَعسويه اُحسنُ الَّذي قَد سَقَيتَنا

وَيا جَعسويه اُحسنُ الَّذي قَد سَقَيتَنا

فَمثلك حاسٍ ما سَقاه وَشارب

فَمثلك حاسٍ ما سَقاه وَشارب

And, Ja‘sawayh, improve what you have given us to drink;

If self-love and passion lead your words,

one like you sips and drinks what he has served.

Do not oppose one who will dispute you.

أإِن صَحَ ب الفَتخاء تَشبيهنا الفَتى

أإِن صَحَ ب الفَتخاء تَشبيهنا الفَتى

زُهَيراً بَدَت في النَقد منكَ غَرائِبُ

زُهَيراً بَدَت في النَقد منكَ غَرائِبُ

Is it because our likening the young man to the broad-winged she-eagle is sound—

Rather, it is a rebuke for your sin,

Zuhayr—that strange criticisms have come from you?

For which my excuse contends - will you repent?

وَطارَت طُيور العَجب حَولك سَنحاً

وَطارَت طُيور العَجب حَولك سَنحاً

وَهَبَت عتاق مِن هَواك شَوازب

وَهَبَت عتاق مِن هَواك شَوازب

Birds of wonder flew around you, passing on the right,

and lean thoroughbreds sprang up from your fancy.

وَقُلتَ لِمَن حاداكَ مِن غَير فكرَةٍ

وَقُلتَ لِمَن حاداكَ مِن غَير فكرَةٍ

لِتَوهم كلاً أَن فهمك ثاقب

لِتَوهم كلاً أَن فهمك ثاقب

Without a thought, you said to your challenger,

to make everyone imagine your understanding was penetrating:

أَيعزوه ب الفَتخاء وَهِيَ بِذاتها

أَيعزوه ب الفَتخاء وَهِيَ بِذاتها

مُؤنتة هَذا الثَناء المُثالب

مُؤنتة هَذا الثَناء المُثالب

Does he associate him with the broad-winged she-eagle, when it itself is

feminine? This praise is disparagement!

وَما أَقبَح الاعجابَ في المَرء وَالهَوى

وَما أَقبَح الاعجابَ في المَرء وَالهَوى

وَأَحسَنُ مِنهُ القَول لَولا المُجاوب

وَأَحسَنُ مِنهُ القَول لَولا المُجاوب

How ugly are self-admiration and caprice in a man!

Speech would be fairer than that, were there no one to answer.

فَياذا الَّذي عَن قَوس إِعجابِهِ رَمى

فَياذا الَّذي عَن قَوس إِعجابِهِ رَمى

فَخابَت مَراميهِ وَذو العُجَبِ خائب

فَخابَت مَراميهِ وَذو العُجَبِ خائب

O you who shot from the bow of his self-admiration,

your shots failed—and the self-admiring fail.

طَغى لَكَ اِعجاب هَوى لَكَ نجمُهُ

طَغى لَكَ اِعجاب هَوى لَكَ نجمُهُ

إِلى هوةٍ في قُعرِها أَنتَ راسب

إِلى هوةٍ في قُعرِها أَنتَ راسب

Your self-admiration ran wild; its star fell

into an abyss, at whose bottom you are sinking.

أَصخ لِشهودي ثُمَ ان كانَ مدفعٌ

أَصخ لِشهودي ثُمَ ان كانَ مدفعٌ

لَدَيكَ فَغالَبَني فَإِني مَغالِب

لَدَيكَ فَغالَبَني فَإِني مَغالِب

Listen to my witnesses; then, if you have a rebuttal

at hand, contest me, for I am a contender.

أَتنكرُ مَعروفاً هُوَ الأَصل عِندَنا

أَتنكرُ مَعروفاً هُوَ الأَصل عِندَنا

لَقَد سخِرت مِنكَ الظنون الكَواذب

لَقَد سخِرت مِنكَ الظنون الكَواذب

Do you deny an established practice, fundamental among us?

False suppositions have indeed made a fool of you.

أَما شبُهت مِن قَبل ذاكَ بمثل ذا

أَما شبُهت مِن قَبل ذاكَ بمثل ذا

فَحَولٌ بَهاليل فَكَيفَ الصَقالب

فَحَولٌ بَهاليل فَكَيفَ الصَقالب

Before this, were not such comparisons made of

eminent, noble men? What, then, of the Slavs?

وَللعرب مِن هَذا كَثيرٌ وَهَل لَنا

وَللعرب مِن هَذا كَثيرٌ وَهَل لَنا

بِمَن نَقتَدي في الشعر إِلا الأَعارب

بِمَن نَقتَدي في الشعر إِلا الأَعارب

The Arabs have many such examples; have we

anyone to follow in poetry but the Arabs?

أَما قالَ للنعمان شاعر قَومِهِ

أَما قالَ للنعمان شاعر قَومِهِ

لِأَنك شَمس وَالمُلوك كَواكب

لِأَنك شَمس وَالمُلوك كَواكب

Did not his people's poet say to al-Nu‘man:

For you are a sun, and kings are stars?

فَشبههُ بِالشَمس وَهِيَ لَدَيهُم

فَشبههُ بِالشَمس وَهِيَ لَدَيهُم

مُؤنثةٌ هَل عابَ ذَلِكَ عائب

مُؤنثةٌ هَل عابَ ذَلِكَ عائب

He likened him to the sun, which among them is

feminine: did any critic find fault with that?

وَهَل تُنسب الأَشياء إِلّا لفعلها

وَهَل تُنسب الأَشياء إِلّا لفعلها

وَتعرفُ إِلّا بِالمَضاء القَواضب

وَتعرفُ إِلّا بِالمَضاء القَواضب

Are things characterized by anything but their actions?

Are cutting swords known by anything but their keenness?

إِذا لَم يَكُن فهمٌ فَما الدَرس نافِعٌ

إِذا لَم يَكُن فهمٌ فَما الدَرس نافِعٌ

ذَويه وَما الأَفهام إِلّا مَواهب

ذَويه وَما الأَفهام إِلّا مَواهب

Without understanding, study does not benefit

those who pursue it; powers of understanding are gifts alone.

وَإِذ أَنتَ ذو نَقدٍ صَحيح وَدربَةٍ

وَإِذ أَنتَ ذو نَقدٍ صَحيح وَدربَةٍ

وَتِرب لنقاد الكَلام وَصاحب

وَتِرب لنقاد الكَلام وَصاحب

Since you possess sound criticism and experience,

and are a peer and companion of critics of speech,

فَرد عَلى مَن قالَ هَذا بِحجَةٍ

فَرد عَلى مَن قالَ هَذا بِحجَةٍ

لِيعلم كل أَن خطرَك خاضِب

لِيعلم كل أَن خطرَك خاضِب

answer whoever said this with a proof,

so all may know your standing is 'staining' [wording unclear].

إِذا كُنت لي في مثل هَذا مُخطِّئاً

إِذا كُنت لي في مثل هَذا مُخطِّئاً

فَكُل صَواب وَجهِهِ عَنكَ غائب

فَكُل صَواب وَجهِهِ عَنكَ غائب

If you deem me mistaken in something like this,

the face of every right judgment is hidden from you.

مَتى رُمت أَن الصُبح لَيل فَقَد بَدا

مَتى رُمت أَن الصُبح لَيل فَقَد بَدا

إِلى كُل ذي عَينين أَنك كاذب

إِلى كُل ذي عَينين أَنك كاذب

Whenever you would make dawn into night, it becomes clear

to everyone with two eyes that you are lying.

الارُب أَسرارٍ بِناديك حُلوة

الارُب أَسرارٍ بِناديك حُلوة

فَلَما أَذيعت مررتها العَواقب

فَلَما أَذيعت مررتها العَواقب

Ah, how many sweet secrets there were in your gathering!

When they were divulged, the consequences made them bitter.

أَخلت اِنتِقاد الشعر فَرواً ممزَقاً

أَخلت اِنتِقاد الشعر فَرواً ممزَقاً

مُرقِّعه مِمَن وَهى مِنهُ جانب

مُرقِّعه مِمَن وَهى مِنهُ جانب

Did you take criticism of poetry for a tattered fur,

whose patcher is someone with a fraying side of his own?

رُوَيدك يا هَذا فَما الطَيشُ معجز

رُوَيدك يا هَذا فَما الطَيشُ معجز

وَلا العلم مَغصوب وَلا الجَهل غاصب

وَلا العلم مَغصوب وَلا الجَهل غاصب

Take your time, sir: recklessness is no difficult feat,

nor is knowledge stolen, nor ignorance a usurper.

أَما أَنَّهُ لَولا الحَياءُ وَأَنَّني

أَما أَنَّهُ لَولا الحَياءُ وَأَنَّني

بخيميَ عَن سُبل المثالب ناكب

بخيميَ عَن سُبل المثالب ناكب

Indeed, were it not for modesty, and the fact that I

by nature turn away from the paths of fault-finding,

لَأَرسلت مِن شَؤبوب نُطقي صَواعِقاً

لَأَرسلت مِن شَؤبوب نُطقي صَواعِقاً

عَلَيك بِأَفكاري لَهن سَحائب

عَلَيك بِأَفكاري لَهن سَحائب

I would send thunderbolts from the downpour of my speech

against you, with my thoughts as their clouds.

سِهام قَوافٍ لَو لثهلانَ فَوقَت

سِهام قَوافٍ لَو لثهلانَ فَوقَت

لَهُدت بِها مِنهُ الذُرى وَالمَناكب

لَهُدت بِها مِنهُ الذُرى وَالمَناكب

Arrows of rhyme, if aimed at Thahlan,

would demolish its peaks and shoulders.

وَلَكِنَّني أَغضي حَياءً مِن العلا

وَلَكِنَّني أَغضي حَياءً مِن العلا

وَأَصفو وَإِن لَم تَصفُ منكَ المَشارب

وَأَصفو وَإِن لَم تَصفُ منكَ المَشارب

But I overlook things out of reverence for eminence,

and remain clear, though your drinking waters are not clear.

وَإِني لَمصدور فَإِن كُنت نافِثاً

وَإِني لَمصدور فَإِن كُنت نافِثاً

فَعذريَ باد وَالظُلوم المُطالب

فَعذريَ باد وَالظُلوم المُطالب

My breast is indeed sore; if I spit forth,

my excuse is plain, and the wrongdoer must answer.

زَرَعت وَهَذا ما حَصَدت فَلا تلمُ

زَرَعت وَهَذا ما حَصَدت فَلا تلمُ

وَلا تَحسَبَنّي إِنَّني لَكَ غالب

وَلا تَحسَبَنّي إِنَّني لَكَ غالب

You sowed, and this is what you reaped; do not blame.

And make no mistake about me: I shall prevail over you.

إِذا قادَكَ الاعجاب بِالقَول بِالهَوى

إِذا قادَكَ الاعجاب بِالقَول بِالهَوى

فَلا تَتَعرض مِن عَلَيهِ يُجارب

فَلا تَتَعرض مِن عَلَيهِ يُجارب

If conceit leads you to speak out of caprice,

do not challenge one against whom men test their strength.

بَلى هُوَ تَوبيخ عَلى ذَنبك الَّذي

بَلى هُوَ تَوبيخ عَلى ذَنبك الَّذي

يَقومُ بِهِ عُذري فَهَل أَنتَ تائب

يَقومُ بِهِ عُذري فَهَل أَنتَ تائب

Rather, this is a rebuke for your sin, which

establishes my excuse; will you repent?