عَلَّلاني على اْعتدال المشيب

عَلَّلاني على اْعتدال المشيب

بحديث الصَّبِي وذكرِ الحَبيبِ

بحديث الصَّبِي وذكرِ الحَبيبِ

Console me, you two, amid the even spread of gray hair,

They blamed me for being balanced in old age

with tales of youth and remembrance of the beloved.

With the talk of a boy and the mention of a beloved

انْ تكلَّفت غَضَّ طرفٍ جموح

انْ تكلَّفت غَضَّ طرفٍ جموح

كيف أَسطيع كفَّ قلبٍ طَروبِ

كيف أَسطيع كفَّ قلبٍ طَروبِ

If I force myself to lower a wayward gaze,

If I pretended to lower an audacious glance

how can I restrain a rapturous heart?

How can I restrain a fluttering heart?

في غَرامي تشوُّقٌ في التمادي

في غَرامي تشوُّقٌ في التمادي

واعتصامي بصبريَ المغلوبِ

واعتصامي بصبريَ المغلوبِ

In my passion is a yearning to persist,

In my passion there is a desire for more and more

and I cling to my defeated patience.

And my self-control by my defeated patience

حبَّذا عهدنا وجدُ الغَواني

حبَّذا عهدنا وجدُ الغَواني

واَلمغاني بين الِّلوي والكثيبِ

واَلمغاني بين الِّلوي والكثيبِ

How lovely our days of passion for fair women,

Good were our days and the pleasures of love

and the dwellings between the winding sands and the dune,

And pleasures between sand dunes and hills

وتعلاتُنا بعيشٍ فَتيٍّ

وتعلاتُنا بعيشٍ فَتيٍّ

ومَحلاتُنا برَبْع قَشيبِ

ومَحلاتُنا برَبْع قَشيبِ

and our diversions in a youthful life,

And our nights in the company of a young man

and our camps in a fresh abode,

And our playgrounds in the wilderness of Qashib

حيثُ طار الصّبي بكّل ظريف

حيثُ طار الصّبي بكّل ظريف

واستَّقر الهَوى لكلِّ ربيبِ

واستَّقر الهَوى لكلِّ ربيبِ

where youthful passion swept every gallant away,

Where the boy flew with all grace

and love settled upon every pampered darling

And love settled for every loved one

من ظبآءِ الخبآءِ قُدر فيه

من ظبآءِ الخبآءِ قُدر فيه

وَضَح البدر واعتدال القَضيبِ

وَضَح البدر واعتدال القَضيبِ

among the tent's gazelles, in whom were apportioned

From the gazelles of the hidden tents was served

the full moon's radiance and a branch's straight grace.

The full moon and the straightness of the spear

شكِلات بعْنَ في كلِّ فنٍ

شكِلات بعْنَ في كلِّ فنٍ

بالتذاذِ العيون هَّم القُلوبِ

بالتذاذِ العيون هَّم القُلوبِ

Coquettish beauties sold, in every art,

Forms with languishing eyes in every art

the hearts' anguish for the eyes' delight,

With the delight of eyes they stole hearts

من جباهٍ غُرٍّ ولُعس شفاهٍ

من جباهٍ غُرٍّ ولُعس شفاهٍ

وثنايا موشَّرات الغروبِ

وثنايا موشَّرات الغروبِ

from radiant brows and dusky-red lips,

Of daring foreheads and sweetness of lips

and front teeth with delicately filed tips.

And folds adorned with sunsets

كم جنيناً بهّن من طيب عيشِ

كم جنيناً بهّن من طيب عيشِ

بين لَفظ الواشي وعين الرقيبِ

بين لَفظ الواشي وعين الرقيبِ

How much sweet living we reaped through them,

How many fetuses they carried of good living

between the talebearer's words and the watcher's eye!

Between the sound of the watcher and the eye of the watcher

قد بلونا الزمان طِفلاً وكهلاً

قد بلونا الزمان طِفلاً وكهلاً

ومُشاماً بالذوق والتجريبِ

ومُشاماً بالذوق والتجريبِ

We have tried time in childhood and maturity,

We tasted time as a child and an old man

and closely sampled it through taste and trial.

And experienced in taste and trial

لم تكن خفّة الشَّبيبة أْحلى

لم تكن خفّة الشَّبيبة أْحلى

عندنا اليوم من وقار المشيبِ

عندنا اليوم من وقار المشيبِ

Youth's lightheartedness is no sweeter

The lightness of youth was not sweeter

to us today than gray hair's dignity.

Than the dignity of old age today

لا يظنَّ الفتيان أن يَسبقوني

لا يظنَّ الفتيان أن يَسبقوني

بشبابِ أخذت منه نَصيبي

بشبابِ أخذت منه نَصيبي

Let young men not think they can outstrip me

The young men do not think they will outrun me

in youth, of which I have taken my share.

With the youth from which I got my share

فالغَواني صرمتُها والملاهِي

فالغَواني صرمتُها والملاهِي

قد كَفاني منها اكتسابُ الذّنوبِ

قد كَفاني منها اكتسابُ الذّنوبِ

I have broken with fair women and diversions;

So I took the pleasures and amusements

the sins I earned through them are enough for me.

I had enough of acquiring sins

وَجَيت توبةُ المُسيءِ وأَنّى

وَجَيت توبةُ المُسيءِ وأَنّى

لكِ عذرٌ يا نفسُ إِنْ لم تتوبِي

لكِ عذرٌ يا نفسُ إِنْ لم تتوبِي

Repentance is due from the wrongdoer; how

And the repentance of the sinner came to me

can you have an excuse, O soul, if you do not repent?

How can you excuse yourself, O soul, if you do not repent?

أيُّها المُتْرَفون إنّ الليّالي

أيُّها المُتْرَفون إنّ الليّالي

زاهياتٌ لكلِ لاهٍ لَعوبِ

زاهياتٌ لكلِ لاهٍ لَعوبِ

O you who live in luxury, the nights

O you who live in luxury, nights

shine bright for every heedless pleasure-seeker.

Are beautiful for every playful fun lover

كلُّ يَومِ وأن تطاوَلَ عُمر

كلُّ يَومِ وأن تطاوَلَ عُمر

يَتَقَضَّى بكّل حُسْنِ وطيبِ

يَتَقَضَّى بكّل حُسْنِ وطيبِ

Every day, however long life may be,

Every day, no matter how long a life is

passes away, taking all beauty and delight.

It passes with all goodness and kindness

فارْتَعُوا ما رتَعتُمُ لا هناكُمْ

فارْتَعُوا ما رتَعتُمُ لا هناكُمْ

رغدُ العَيش بَين عَارٍ وحُوبِ

رغدُ العَيش بَين عَارٍ وحُوبِ

So revel as you will—may it bring you no joy,

So enjoy what you have enjoyed, no regrets there

this ease of life amid disgrace and sin.

A pleasant life between shame and wars

وَتَرجُّوا أن تَندَموا والمُعافَى

وَتَرجُّوا أن تَندَموا والمُعافَى

مَنْ تَلافَي نَدامةَ من قريبِ

مَنْ تَلافَي نَدامةَ من قريبِ

And hope to feel remorse; the one spared harm

And hope that you will regret and be pardoned

is he who wards off regret in good time.

Who avoids regret that is near?

والمُعَنَّى في غَيّه مُسْتَلذٌّ

والمُعَنَّى في غَيّه مُسْتَلذٌّ

بغرُورِ كلَذّةِ المجْروبِ

بغرُورِ كلَذّةِ المجْروبِ

The man tormented in his error takes pleasure

And the one who strays finds pleasure

in delusion, like the pleasure of one afflicted with scabies.

In the arrogance of the sweetness of the defeated

فاسْتمِدّوا من الحَياةِ بزادٍ

فاسْتمِدّوا من الحَياةِ بزادٍ

وأَعِدَو مَضاجِعاً للجُنُوبِ

وأَعِدَو مَضاجِعاً للجُنُوبِ

So draw provisions from life,

So take provision from life

and prepare resting places for your sides.

And prepare beds for bugs

أَنا مِمَّن أهْدَى الملامَ إِليهِ

أَنا مِمَّن أهْدَى الملامَ إِليهِ

واعظاتُ التَّرغيب والتَّرهيبِ

واعظاتُ التَّرغيب والتَّرهيبِ

I am among those to whom reproach has been brought

I am one who is guided by blame

by admonitions of encouragement and warning.

The preaching of encouragement and intimidation

لَسْتُ بالمدَّعىِ وقاراً وحِلماً

لَسْتُ بالمدَّعىِ وقاراً وحِلماً

وأراني أحقَّ بالتأديبِ

وأراني أحقَّ بالتأديبِ

I do not lay claim to dignity and forbearance,

I am not claimed to be dignified and forbearing

and see myself as more deserving of correction.

And I see myself more deserving of discipline

قد تحَمَّلْتُ أَو تعّلمت رشداً

قد تحَمَّلْتُ أَو تعّلمت رشداً

من أبي القاسم الحليم اللَّبيبِ

من أبي القاسم الحليم اللَّبيبِ

I have taken on—or learned—sound judgment

I have endured or learned wisdom

from Abu al-Qasim, the forbearing, discerning,

From my father Al-Qasim, the forbearing, the intelligent

من عليً الذِّي عَلا بثَبات

من عليً الذِّي عَلا بثَبات

وهباتٍ ومَكرُماتٍ ضروبِ

وهباتٍ ومَكرُماتٍ ضروبِ

from Ali, who rose high through steadfastness,

From Ali who excelled in stability

and gifts, and noble deeds of many kinds.

And grants and generous gifts of all kinds

أعجبتْنا جلالةٌ من كريمٍ

أعجبتْنا جلالةٌ من كريمٍ

ليسَ إِعجابها لنا بعجيبِ

ليسَ إِعجابها لنا بعجيبِ

A generous man's majesty has amazed us;

We were amazed by the majesty of a generous one

that it should amaze us is no surprise.

His generosity is no wonder to us

وهو أهل للمكرمات وربٌ

وهو أهل للمكرمات وربٌ

لمحّلِ الفَضَائِلِ المطلوبِ

لمحّلِ الفَضَائِلِ المطلوبِ

He is worthy of noble deeds and master

And he deserves favors and is Lord

of the coveted station of virtues.

To the position of desired virtues

من اناسٍ تَوارثوا كلَّ فَضْلٍ

من اناسٍ تَوارثوا كلَّ فَضْلٍ

ونمَاهم للمجد كلُّ نجَيبِ

ونمَاهم للمجد كلُّ نجَيبِ

He comes of people who inherited every excellence,

From people who inherited all virtue

whom every noble forebear raised to glory.

And grew them to glory, every nobleman

عَتَكيُّون أثَّر المجدُ فيهمْ

عَتَكيُّون أثَّر المجدُ فيهمْ

بيتُ عزّ بين الرُبى والدُّروبِ

بيتُ عزّ بين الرُبى والدُّروبِ

'Atakis, among whom glory has established

Glory has influenced them, the house of might

a house of might amid the hills and passes.

Between plains and roads

حُلَمَآء النُّهى كرامُ المسَاعي

حُلَمَآء النُّهى كرامُ المسَاعي

وحسان الوجُوهِ بيضُ الجُيُوبِ

وحسان الوجُوهِ بيضُ الجُيُوبِ

Forbearing in mind, noble in endeavor,

Forbearing when meeting, overwhelming victory

handsome of face, with spotless bosoms.

Between tested knights and old age

فهمُ المُفْعمونَ سودُ المَقاري

فهمُ المُفْعمونَ سودُ المَقاري

وهمُ المُطعمون عامَ الجدُوبِ

وهمُ المُطعمون عامَ الجدُوبِ

They fill the blackened vessels to the brim,

They rode brought-up she-camels

and feed others in the year of drought.

Competing in endurance and coming closer

وإِذا استُمطِروا غيوثُ الأيادي

وإِذا استُمطِروا غيوثُ الأيادي

وإذا استُنْصِروا ليوثُ الحُروبِ

وإذا استُنْصِروا ليوثُ الحُروبِ

When asked for rain, they are rainclouds of bounty;

Of the daughters of the dignitary, a necklace

when asked for aid, they are lions of war.

Every swollen breast, long-necked

صُبُرٌ في اللّقآءِ غُلبٌ شدادٌ

صُبُرٌ في اللّقآءِ غُلبٌ شدادٌ

بين مْردٍ مُجَّربين وشيبِ

بين مْردٍ مُجَّربين وشيبِ

Steadfast in battle, mighty and strong,

The gathered side, following it

both battle-tested youths and gray-haired men.

Overlooking the racers, overflowing with youth

ركبوا الخَيل مُقْرَبَاتٍ عتاقاً

ركبوا الخَيل مُقْرَبَاتٍ عتاقاً

تتَبارى في الشدِ والتَّقريبِ

تتَبارى في الشدِ والتَّقريبِ

They rode cherished, purebred horses,

And in their hands Indian swords

vying at the gallop and the canter.

And the slender curves of the ibex

من بناتِ الوَجيهِ جُردٌ عتاقٌ

من بناتِ الوَجيهِ جُردٌ عتاقٌ

كل نَهد مُطَهمٍ سُرحوبِ

كل نَهد مُطَهمٍ سُرحوبِ

Of the daughters of al-Wajih, sleek and purebred,

And they are the refuge of the needy and the refuge

each robust, finely formed, and long-bodied,

Of every weak and safeguard of the distressed

مُجْفَر الجنب لاحقٌ أيْطَلاهُ

مُجْفَر الجنب لاحقٌ أيْطَلاهُ

مُشْرِفُ الحاركين ضافي السَّبيبِ

مُشْرِفُ الحاركين ضافي السَّبيبِ

broad of barrel, its flanks tucked in,

To Ali I have a hand that excels with more

high at the withers, with flowing mane and tail.

Generosity to generous gifts pouring

وبأيديهم الأسنَّة زُرقاً

وبأيديهم الأسنَّة زُرقاً

ورقاق الظُّبا وصُمُّ الكُعوبِ

ورقاق الظُّبا وصُمُّ الكُعوبِ

In their hands are blue-bright spearheads,

I inherited from my long-lived father, length

and fine-edged swords and solid-jointed shafts.

And breadth in the virtue of a vast good doer

وهُمُ ملجأُ اللّهيف ومَأوى

وهُمُ ملجأُ اللّهيف ومَأوى

كلِّ عانٍ وعصمةُ المكروبِ

كلِّ عانٍ وعصمةُ المكروبِ

They are the anguished man's refuge and the shelter

And arts from the crafts that stood up

of every captive, and protection for the distressed.

In the provinces, he takes the place of the preacher

لِعليَّ يدٌ علت بايادٍ

لِعليَّ يدٌ علت بايادٍ

من جَوادٍ للمكرمات سكوبِ

من جَوادٍ للمكرمات سكوبِ

Ali has a hand exalted by its benefactions,

And they praise his good morals

the hand of a generous man pouring forth noble deeds.

And pure natural dispositions and enough glory

وَرثت من أبي المعمّر طُولاً

وَرثت من أبي المعمّر طُولاً

وانبساطاً بفضل باعٍ رَحيبِ

وانبساطاً بفضل باعٍ رَحيبِ

It inherited its long reach from Abu al-Mu'ammar,

Glory and favors have become a share

and its openness through the bounty of an ample armspan.

For my father Al-Qasim the generous, the grantor

وفنُونٌ من الصنَّائع قامتْ

وفنُونٌ من الصنَّائع قامتْ

في النواحي لَه مقامَ الخطيبِ

في النواحي لَه مقامَ الخطيبِ

And many forms of kindness have served

Every day he comes with a wonderful kindness

throughout the lands as his orator,

From his qualities and a strange favor

وهي تُثني على عوائدِ حُسنىَ

وهي تُثني على عوائدِ حُسنىَ

وطباعٍ محض ومجدٍ حسيبِ

وطباعٍ محض ومجدٍ حسيبِ

praising his habits of goodness,

And reward to the loyal, hitting the target

his pure dispositions, and his glory of noble lineage.

And punishment on enmity, poured

أَصبح المجدُ والمكارم قِسْماً

أَصبح المجدُ والمكارم قِسْماً

لأبي القاسم الجواد الوَهوبِ

لأبي القاسم الجواد الوَهوبِ

Glory and noble deeds have become the allotted share

And the poor neighbors with him

of Abu al-Qasim, the generous, lavish giver.

Are always from him in a fertile time

كلَّ يوم ياتي بحُسنٍ بديع

كلَّ يوم ياتي بحُسنٍ بديع

من سَجيَّاته وفضلٍ غريبِ

من سَجيَّاته وفضلٍ غريبِ

Each day he brings some wondrous excellence

Between an elegant garden of beauty

from his character, and some rare distinction,

Under a rain of generosity pouring

وثوابٍ للاوليآء مصيبٍ

وثوابٍ للاوليآء مصيبٍ

وعذابٍ على العِدَى مصبوبِ

وعذابٍ على العِدَى مصبوبِ

and fitting rewards for his allies,

O master referred to

and punishment poured down upon his foes.

In seeking wealth and warding off disasters

والعفاةُ المجاورونَ لديه

والعفاةُ المجاورونَ لديه

أبداً مُنه في زمانٍ خصيبِ

أبداً مُنه في زمانٍ خصيبِ

The supplicants who dwell beside him

O Abu Al-Qasim, the distributor of his

are always, thanks to him, in a season of abundance,

Comfort among the people, a compulsory share

بين روَضٍ من الجمال أنيق

بين روَضٍ من الجمال أنيق

تحتَ غيث من السَّماحِ سَكوبِ

تحتَ غيث من السَّماحِ سَكوبِ

amid a lovely meadow of beauty,

God has privileged you with the mentioned perfection

beneath a downpour of generosity.

When He cleaned you of all faults

أيّها السَّيدُ المشارُ إليه

أيّها السَّيدُ المشارُ إليه

في التماسِ الغِنى ودَفع الخطوبِ

في التماسِ الغِنى ودَفع الخطوبِ

O lord to whom men point

So stay in ease and the shade of bliss

when seeking wealth and warding off calamities,

Walking straight with its trailing train

يا أبا القاسِم المُقَسّم جَدْوى

يا أبا القاسِم المُقَسّم جَدْوى

راحتيهِ في النآس قَسْم الوجُوبِ

راحتيهِ في النآس قَسْم الوجُوبِ

O Abu al-Qasim, who apportions the bounty

of his two palms among people as a binding duty,

خَصَّكَ اللهُ بالكَمالِ المذُكَّى

خَصَّكَ اللهُ بالكَمالِ المذُكَّى

حينَ نقَّاكَ من جميعِ العيوبِ

حينَ نقَّاكَ من جميعِ العيوبِ

God has singled you out for consummate perfection,

when He cleansed you of every flaw.

فابْقَ في سُؤدَد وظِل نعيمٍ

فابْقَ في سُؤدَد وظِل نعيمٍ

مُستَقيمٍ بذيلهِ المسْحوبِ

مُستَقيمٍ بذيلهِ المسْحوبِ

So live on in lordly honor and the shade of bliss,

unbroken, its hem trailing long.