أقَصّرُI am brief وَالتَّطوِيلُand length فِيin الشُّكْرِgratitude وَاجِبُobligatory
أقَصّرُ وَالتَّطوِيلُ فِي الشُّكْرِ وَاجِبُ
لِمَنْfor one فَضلُهُhis excellence فيin كُلّevery ماwhat شِئتَyou wish غَالِبُprevailing
لِمَنْ فَضلُهُ في كُلّ ما شِئتَ غَالِبُ
I am brief, though length in gratitude is a duty,
To one whose excellence prevails in whatever you choose.
وأهْديand I offer اللَّبيسَthe worn robe النَّاقِصَdeficient القَدرِin worth للذيto the one who
وأهْدي اللَّبيسَ النَّاقِصَ القَدرِ للذي
عنِfrom النَّقصِimperfection فيin كُلّevery المَشاهِدscene غائبُabsent
عنِ النَّقصِ في كُلّ المَشاهِد غائبُ
And I offer a worn robe, diminished in worth, to one
From whom imperfection is absent in every scene.
إذاif لَمْnot يَكُنْwas فِيمَاin what مَضىpassed لِيَfor me وَالِدٌa father
إذا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيمَا مَضى لِيَ وَالِدٌ
وَلاَand not لِيَfor me فيin الآتيwhat is coming مِنَof الدَّهْرِtime صَاحبُa companion
وَلاَ لِيَ في الآتي مِنَ الدَّهْرِ صَاحبُ
If I had no father in days gone by,
Nor have a companion in the time to come,
تُنَاديcall out مَزَايَاvirtues لبنof Ibn (apparent typo) الحُسَينِal-Husayn ألاcome now انهَضُواrise
تُنَادي مَزَايَا لبن الحُسَينِ ألا انهَضُوا
بِواجِبِwith the duty of إطرَائيpraising me وَأينَand where المُجَاوِبُthe respondent
بِواجِبِ إطرَائي وَأينَ المُجَاوِبُ
The virtues of Ibn al-Husayn call: “Come, rise
To the duty of praising me!” But where is the one who answers?
كَأنَّas though بَنِيthe sons of الأشعَارِverse صَمُّواbecame deaf عَنْto النِّدىthe call
كَأنَّ بَنِي الأشعَارِ صَمُّوا عَنْ النِّدى
بَلَىindeed فَاتَهُمeluded them فيin ذَاكَthat طَبْعٌa poetic gift مُناسِبُsuited
بَلَى فَاتَهُم في ذَاكَ طَبْعٌ مُناسِبُ
As though the sons of verse had grown deaf to the call;
Indeed, they lacked a poetic gift suited to this.
فَوَاعَجَباًso, what wonder مِنهاat them وَمِنيand at me وَمِنْهُمُand at them
فَوَاعَجَباً مِنها وَمِني وَمِنْهُمُ
وَفِيand in كُلّevery قَولٍutterance لِلفُهُومِfor understanding مَسَارِبُpathways
وَفِي كُلّ قَولٍ لِلفُهُومِ مَسَارِبُ
How I marvel at those virtues, at myself, and at those poets!
And in every utterance are pathways for understanding.
أمَاbehold إنَّهَاthey indeed are عِينٌwide-eyed maidens حِسَانٌbeautiful تَبَرَّجَتْdisplayed their beauty
أمَا إنَّهَا عِينٌ حِسَانٌ تَبَرَّجَتْ
ولَيسَand there is not لهاfor them عَنْfrom عَينِthe eye of مرآهُbeholding him حَاجِبُa veil
ولَيسَ لها عَنْ عَينِ مرآهُ حَاجِبُ
Indeed, they are beautiful, wide-eyed maidens displaying their beauty,
And no veil hides them from the eye beholding him.
كَأنِّيas though I أنَاI وَحديalone رأيْتُsaw عُيُونَهَاtheir eyes
كَأنِّي أنَا وَحدي رأيْتُ عُيُونَهَا
تَغَامَزنَexchanged winks ليat me وَالغَمْزُand winking للِصَّبِfor the lovelorn جَالِبُenticing
تَغَامَزنَ لي وَالغَمْزُ للِصَّبِ جَالِبُ
As though I alone had seen their eyes
Exchanging winks at me—and winking draws the lovelorn.
أطَلتْappeared وأيَّامُwhile the days of المْكَارِمِnoble deeds عَنَّستْgrew old unwed
أطَلتْ وأيَّامُ المْكَارِمِ عَنَّستْ
علىحِينat a time when شاخَgrew old الدَّهرُTime فَهيso they are الغَرَائِبُthe marvels
علىحِين شاخَ الدَّهرُ فَهي الغَرَائِبُ
They appeared when the days of noble deeds had grown old unwed,
At a time when Time had aged—so they are wonders.
فأصْبَحَتِthen became الأيَّامُthe days فيin عُنفُوانِهَاtheir youthful prime
فأصْبَحَتِ الأيَّامُ في عُنفُوانِهَا
وَقَامَand rose لَهَاfor them مِنfrom مَقْعَدِthe seat of الدَّهرِTime طَارِبُa joyous one
وَقَامَ لَهَا مِن مَقْعَدِ الدَّهرِ طَارِبُ
Then the days regained their youthful prime,
And a joyous one rose for them from Time's seat.
فَلاso no خَيرَgood إلاَّexcept وَهوَand it is كَالعَدلِlike justice لاfirst part of lāzib: firmly fixed زِبُlast part of lāzib: firmly fixed
فَلا خَيرَ إلاَّ وَهوَ كَالعَدلِ لا زِبُ
ولاَand no شَرَّevil إلاَّexcept وَهوَand it is كَالظُّلْمِlike oppression عَازِبُfar removed
ولاَ شَرَّ إلاَّ وَهوَ كَالظُّلْمِ عَازِبُ
Thus every good, like justice, clings fast,
And every evil, like oppression, is far removed.
فَهَذِيso this is طَرِيقُthe path of الحَمدِpraise فِيهِof him تَوَضَّحتْhas become clear
فَهَذِي طَرِيقُ الحَمدِ فِيهِ تَوَضَّحتْ
لِمنْfor whoever هُوَhe فِيin شُكرِthanking المَزِيةِexcellence رَاغِبُdesirous
لِمنْ هُوَ فِي شُكرِ المَزِيةِ رَاغِبُ
Thus the path of praising him has become clear
To whoever wishes to give thanks for excellence.
وإنand if ألسُنُthe tongues of الأقوَالِspeech كَلَّتْgrew weary فإنَّمَاthen it is only
وإن ألسُنُ الأقوَالِ كَلَّتْ فإنَّمَا
علىupon ألْسُنِthe tongues of الأحوَالِcircumstances منهfrom him الضَّرَائِبُinnate traits
على ألْسُنِ الأحوَالِ منه الضَّرَائِبُ
And if the tongues of speech grow weary, it is only
On the tongues of circumstance that his qualities speak.
فَأغناهُthus freed him from needing فَيضْthe flood of الجودِgenerosity عنof كُلِevery مُصقِعٍeloquent speaker
فَأغناهُ فَيضْ الجودِ عن كُلِ مُصقِعٍ
وَفيand in كُلّevery صَقْعٍregion منof أيَادِيهِhis favors جانِبُa share
وَفي كُلّ صَقْعٍ من أيَادِيهِ جانِبُ
Thus his abundant generosity freed him from needing any eloquent speaker;
And in every region lies some share of his favors.
وَإجلالُand honoring أهلُthe people of العِلْمِlearning طُرّاًall لأجلِهِfor its sake
وَإجلالُ أهلُ العِلْمِ طُرّاً لأجلِهِ
وإيثَارِهُمْand favoring them حَتَّىuntil يَغَارَgrow jealous الأقَارِبُthe relatives
وإيثَارِهُمْ حَتَّى يَغَارَ الأقَارِبُ
And honoring all the learned for learning's sake,
And favoring them until his relatives grow jealous,
وَدِقَّةُand subtlety of فَهْمٍunderstanding لِلعَويصَةِof a difficult question رَامَهَاsought it
وَدِقَّةُ فَهْمٍ لِلعَويصَةِ رَامَهَا
أخُوa man of فِطنَةٍdiscernment أوor لَجَّpersisted obstinately فيهَاin it المُشَاغِبُthe quarrelsome one
أخُو فِطنَةٍ أو لَجَّ فيهَا المُشَاغِبُ
And subtle understanding of a difficult question tackled
By a discerning man, or stubbornly disputed by a quarrelsome one,
وَمَعرِفَةُand recognizing الفَضْلِmerit الحَقيقِrightful لأهلِهِfor its possessors
وَمَعرِفَةُ الفَضْلِ الحَقيقِ لأهلِهِ
وإكْرَامُand honoring مَنwhoever يدنُوdraws near بهto him أوor يُجَانِبُkeeps apart
وإكْرَامُ مَن يدنُو به أو يُجَانِبُ
And recognizing the merit rightly due to its possessors,
And honoring whoever draws near to him or keeps apart,
وإنصَافُهُand his doing justice منagainst نفسهhimself غَيرَwithout being سَاخِطٍresentful
وإنصَافُهُ من نفسه غَيرَ سَاخِطٍ
ولاand not مُنْكِرٍdenying إنْif جَاءَcomes لِلحَقّfor justice طَالِبُa seeker
ولا مُنْكِرٍ إنْ جَاءَ لِلحَقّ طَالِبُ
And his doing justice against himself without resentment,
Or denial, when a seeker of justice comes,
ونَصْرَهُand his aiding مَلْهُوفٍa distressed person وإحْسَانُand kindness in عِشرَةٍcompanionship
ونَصْرَهُ مَلْهُوفٍ وإحْسَانُ عِشرَةٍ
وَكَظمٌand restraining لِغَيظٍanger حينwhen يَجْفوacts harshly المُغاضِبُthe angry disputant
وَكَظمٌ لِغَيظٍ حين يَجْفو المُغاضِبُ
And his aid to the distressed, and kindness in companionship,
And restraining anger when an angry man treats him harshly,
وَجَبرُand mending كَسِيرِthe broken القَلبِheart بَاتَتْspent the night هُمُومُهُhis cares
وَجَبرُ كَسِيرِ القَلبِ بَاتَتْ هُمُومُهُ
تُغالِبُهُwrestle with him عَنْaway from نَومِهِhis sleep وَيُغالِبُand he wrestles back
تُغالِبُهُ عَنْ نَومِهِ وَيُغالِبُ
And comforting the brokenhearted man whose cares spend the night
Wrestling him away from sleep, while he wrestles back,
وَحِفظُand guarding لِذِكرِthe remembrance of اللهGod عنfrom وَصمِthe blemish of فَترَةٍa lapse
وَحِفظُ لِذِكرِ الله عن وَصمِ فَترَةٍ
وأصْدَقُand the truest of مَاwhat فيin الذّكْرِremembrance ماthat which هُوَit is دَائِبُunceasing
وأصْدَقُ مَا في الذّكْرِ ما هُوَ دَائِبُ
And guarding the remembrance of God against the blemish of a lapse—
The truest remembrance is that which is unceasing—
وَرَعْيُand revering جَنَابُthe majesty of اللهGod فيin كُلّevery حَالَةٍcircumstance
وَرَعْيُ جَنَابُ الله في كُلّ حَالَةٍ
يُلاحِظُهَاobserves it منهُin him التَّقِيٌّthe pious man المُرَاقِبُthe vigilant one
يُلاحِظُهَا منهُ التَّقِيٌّ المُرَاقِبُ
And honoring God's majesty in every circumstance
That the pious, vigilant observer sees in him.
فيَاso O أيُهَاyou المْوَلَىthe lord الذيwhose يَقَظَاتُنَاour waking hours
فيَا أيُهَا المْوَلَى الذي يَقَظَاتُنَا
بِدَولَتِهِunder his rule حِلْمٌa dream وحَاشَاكَand far be it from you كَاذِبُfalse
بِدَولَتِهِ حِلْمٌ وحَاشَاكَ كَاذِبُ
O lord, under whose rule our waking hours
Are a dream—but, far be it from you, no false one.
لَكَfor you اللهGod مِنwhat a قُطْبِpole تَدوُرُrevolve بأوجِهِaround its zenith
لَكَ الله مِن قُطْبِ تَدوُرُ بأوجِهِ
مَشَارِقٌthe easts of أمدَاحِthe praises of الوَرَىmankind وَالمْغَارِبُand the wests
مَشَارِقٌ أمدَاحِ الوَرَى وَالمْغَارِبُ
God be with you, a pole around whose zenith revolve
The easts of mankind's praises and their wests.
لِمَاbecause أنَّكَyou indeed استَوجَبَتْهَاhave merited them بِشَماَئِلٍthrough qualities
لِمَا أنَّكَ استَوجَبَتْهَا بِشَماَئِلٍ
يُسَلِمُهَاacknowledges them الرَّاضيthe pleased person وَمَنْand whoever هُوhe is غَاضِبُangry
يُسَلِمُهَا الرَّاضي وَمَنْ هُو غَاضِبُ
Because you have earned them through qualities
Acknowledged alike by the pleased and the angry.
دَفَعْتْyou thrust بِهَاwith them فيinto صَدرِthe breast of كُلevery مُمَلَّكٍcrowned ruler
دَفَعْتْ بِهَا في صَدرِ كُل مُمَلَّكٍ
يَرىthinks أنَهُthat he is فَوقَabove السُّهَاal-Suhā (a star) أوor يُقَارِبُcomes close
يَرى أنَهُ فَوقَ السُّهَا أو يُقَارِبُ
With them you thrust against the breast of every crowned ruler
Who thinks himself above al-Suhā, or near it.
فَمَرَّتْthen passed عَلَىinto أسمَاعِهِhis ears فِيكَabout you مِدحَةٌa eulogy
فَمَرَّتْ عَلَى أسمَاعِهِ فِيكَ مِدحَةٌ
تَقَبَّضَcontracted مِنْهَاbecause of it جِيدُهُhis neck والعَرَاقِبُand the hamstrings
تَقَبَّضَ مِنْهَا جِيدُهُ والعَرَاقِبُ
Then praise of you passed into his ears,
At which his neck and hamstrings tightened.
فَمَاso did not وَسِعَتْهُcontain him الأرضُthe earth حتىuntil أرَاحَهُrelieved him
فَمَا وَسِعَتْهُ الأرضُ حتى أرَاحَهُ
عنfrom الفِكْرِthinking فيabout اسْتِعْلامِinquiring into شأنِكَyour affairs نائِبُa deputy
عن الفِكْرِ في اسْتِعْلامِ شأنِكَ نائِبُ
The earth could not contain him, until he was relieved
Of pondering how to investigate your affairs—by a deputy.
فَوَجَّهَso he dispatched مُرتَاداًa scout يُخَلِّفُleaving behind أهْلَهُhis family
فَوَجَّهَ مُرتَاداً يُخَلِّفُ أهْلَهُ
علىwith رَغْبَةeagerness فِيfor رَجعِهِhis return وَهْوَwhile he was رَاهِبُafraid
على رَغْبَة فِي رَجعِهِ وَهْوَ رَاهِبُ
So he dispatched a scout who left his family behind,
Eager for his return, while he himself was afraid.
فَجَاءَthen he came وَمِنْand from قُدَّامِهِbefore him الأمنُsafety قَائِدٌa guide
فَجَاءَ وَمِنْ قُدَّامِهِ الأمنُ قَائِدٌ
وَمِنْand from خَلفِهِbehind him حَبْلُthe rope of المَخَافَةِfear جَاذِبُpulling
وَمِنْ خَلفِهِ حَبْلُ المَخَافَةِ جَاذِبُ
He came, with safety leading him from before,
And the rope of fear drawing him from behind.
وَعَايَنَand saw ماwhat بَينَbetween السّماطَينِthe two ranks بَرزَخاًan isthmus
وَعَايَنَ ما بَينَ السّماطَينِ بَرزَخاً
تَدِبُّcreep بِهِalong it رِجلاهُhis two feet والرأسُand the head راسِبُsinking
تَدِبُّ بِهِ رِجلاهُ والرأسُ راسِبُ
And he saw, between the two ranks, an isthmus
Along which his feet crept, while his head sank.
وَقدand indeed حَسَدتْenvied عَيناهُhis two eyes رِجلَيهِhis two feet إذas سَعَتْmoved
وَقد حَسَدتْ عَيناهُ رِجلَيهِ إذ سَعَتْ
بِبَهوٍthrough a hall تَوَدُwish for السَّعيَwalking فِيهِin it الثَّواقِبُthe bright stars
بِبَهوٍ تَوَدُ السَّعيَ فِيهِ الثَّواقِبُ
His eyes had envied his feet as they moved
Through a hall where the bright stars would wish to walk.
وماand did not شَغَلَتُهُdistract him الدَّارُthe palace تَلْعَبُplaying بِالنُّهَىwith minds
وما شَغَلَتُهُ الدَّارُ تَلْعَبُ بِالنُّهَى
عَنِfrom الفِكْرِthinking فيabout تَزوِيرِcontriving قَولٍa speech يُناسِبُis fitting
عَنِ الفِكْرِ في تَزوِيرِ قَولٍ يُناسِبُ
Yet the palace, playing with minds, did not distract him
From thinking how to devise suitable words.
وَلَمَّاand when افْتَتَحَتُI began القَولَthe speech طَيَّرتُI dispelled سِحرَهُhis magic
وَلَمَّا افْتَتَحَتُ القَولَ طَيَّرتُ سِحرَهُ
وَضَاقَتْand narrowed عَلَيهِfor him فيin الخَلاصِescape المَذَاهِبُthe paths
وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيهِ في الخَلاصِ المَذَاهِبُ
And when I began to speak, I dispelled his magic,
And all routes of escape narrowed about him.
وَشَاهَدَand he witnessed مَاwhat لَمْdid not يَنْخَرِطْenter فيinto حِسَابِهِhis reckoning
وَشَاهَدَ مَا لَمْ يَنْخَرِطْ في حِسَابِهِ
وَأسْمَعَand was made to hear ماwhat لمhad not تَنْتَخِبْهُselected it الأعارِبُthe desert Arabs
وَأسْمَعَ ما لم تَنْتَخِبْهُ الأعارِبُ
He witnessed what had never entered his reckoning,
And was made to hear what the desert Arabs had never selected.
وَوَلَىand turned back علىon الأعْقَابِthe heels تَصْغُرُdwindling نَفْسُهُhis self
وَوَلَى على الأعْقَابِ تَصْغُرُ نَفْسُهُ
وَمَخْدُومُهُand his master والْمُنتَهَىand the goal وَالمُصَاحِبُand the companion
وَمَخْدُومُهُ والْمُنتَهَى وَالمُصَاحِبُ
He turned back on his heels, his own self dwindling,
His master, his goal, and his companion too.
وَأنْذَرَand warned مَولاهُhis lord بِأنَّthat وَرَاءَهُbehind him
وَأنْذَرَ مَولاهُ بِأنَّ وَرَاءَهُ
تَمَامperfection of جَلالٍmajesty هَذَّبَتْهُrefined it التَجَارِبُexperiences
تَمَام جَلالٍ هَذَّبَتْهُ التَجَارِبُ
He warned his lord that behind him lay
Perfect majesty, refined by experience;
وإنَّand indeed مُلُوكَthe kings of الأرضِthe earth قِسْمانِtwo kinds بَعْدَهُafter him
وإنَّ مُلُوكَ الأرضِ قِسْمانِ بَعْدَهُ
فذوso the man of الهَزلِfrivolity ممقوتٌdetested وذوand the man of الجِدّearnestness تَاعِبُweary
فذو الهَزلِ ممقوتٌ وذو الجِدّ تَاعِبُ
And that, after him, earth's kings fall into two kinds:
The frivolous is detested, and the earnest is exhausted.
فَهَذاso this is حَدِيِثيmy account عنهof him أسْنَدْتُI have substantiated بَعْضَهُsome of it
فَهَذا حَدِيِثي عنه أسْنَدْتُ بَعْضَهُ
وَعِشand live لِتَرىto see البَاقِيthe rest عَدَتْكَmay they pass you by النَّوائِبُcalamities
وَعِش لِتَرى البَاقِي عَدَتْكَ النَّوائِبُ
This is my account of him; some of it I have substantiated.
Live to see the rest—may calamities pass you by!
وَلَسْتُand I am not بِراضٍcontent منwith مَديحِكَpraising you بالذيwith that which
وَلَسْتُ بِراضٍ من مَديحِكَ بالذي
يُباهِتُنيmaligns me فِيهِover it إذاَwhen غِبْتُI am absent عَاتِبُa reprover
يُباهِتُني فِيهِ إذاَ غِبْتُ عَاتِبُ
I am not content, in praising you, with words
For which a reprover could malign me in my absence.
وهلand is there ليfor me اعتذارan excuse فيfor انتحاليmy claiming as my own ناقصاًsomething deficient
وهل لي اعتذار في انتحالي ناقصاً
ومادحand one praising ذيa possessor of زيدabundance بأنقصwith something lesser عائبa faultfinder
ومادح ذي زيد بأنقص عائب
And have I an excuse for claiming deficient verse as my own?
One who praises a man of abundance with less is a faultfinder.
عَلىwith the proviso أنَّthat منwhoever أهدىoffered لِغَيرِكَto someone other than you مِدحَةًa eulogy
عَلى أنَّ من أهدى لِغَيرِكَ مِدحَةً
علىin قَدرِproportion to ماwhat أسدَىhe bestowed لهfor him العُذْرexcuse ُواجِبُdue
على قَدرِ ما أسدَى له العُذْر ُواجِبُ
Yet whoever offers someone other than you a eulogy
In proportion to what was bestowed deserves to be excused.
كَعِذْرِlike the excuse of نُصَيْبٍNusayb إذْwhen تَبَجَّحَboasted لِلذيto the one whom
كَعِذْرِ نُصَيْبٍ إذْ تَبَجَّحَ لِلذي
قَضَاهُrepaid him نُصَيبٌNusayb ضَمَّهُembraced him وَهوwhile he was َرَاكِبُmounted
قَضَاهُ نُصَيبٌ ضَمَّهُ وَهو َرَاكِبُ
Like Nusayb's excuse, when he boasted to the man
Whom Nusayb repaid; he embraced him while mounted.
فَقَالَthen he said وَلوْand had لاقَاكَmet you ياO بَحْرُsea لَمْwould not يَقُلْhave said
فَقَالَ وَلوْ لاقَاكَ يا بَحْرُ لَمْ يَقُلْ
وَقَدْand indeed أفْعَمَتْfilled to the brim دُنيَاكَyour world مِنهُfrom him المَنَاقِبُnoble deeds
وَقَدْ أفْعَمَتْ دُنيَاكَ مِنهُ المَنَاقِبُ
Then he said—had he met you, O sea, he would not have said it—
And his noble deeds have filled your world to the brim:
فَعَاجُواso they turned aside فَأثنَواthen praised بِالذيwith what أنتَyou are أهْلُهُworthy of it
فَعَاجُوا فَأثنَوا بِالذي أنتَ أهْلُهُ
وَلَوand had سَكَتُواkept silent أثْنَتْwould have praised عَلَيكَyou الحَقائِبُthe saddlebags
وَلَو سَكَتُوا أثْنَتْ عَلَيكَ الحَقائِبُ
“They turned aside and praised you as you deserve;
Had they kept silent, the saddlebags would have praised you.”
Sol 6.1