لكَ ما يُرَوِّقُهُ الغَمامُ الهاطِلُ

لكَ ما يُرَوِّقُهُ الغَمامُ الهاطِلُ

إنْ ردَّ عَبْرَتهُ الجَموحَ السّائِلُ

إنْ ردَّ عَبْرَتهُ الجَموحَ السّائِلُ

Yours is the water the pouring cloud makes pure,

You deserve whatever pleasing the pouring clouds grant,

if the questioner holds back his unruly tears.

If the overflowing torrent returns its moistness.

وعليكَ يا طَلَلَ الجَميعِ تحيّةٌ

وعليكَ يا طَلَلَ الجَميعِ تحيّةٌ

أصغى ليَسْمَعَها المَحَلُّ الآهِلُ

أصغى ليَسْمَعَها المَحَلُّ الآهِلُ

And upon you, O ruin of the gathered company, a greeting—

And upon you, O relic of all, is a greeting,

the inhabited dwelling inclined its ear to hear it.

That the inhabited place listens to and comprehends.

أمِنَ البِلى هذا النُّحولُ أمِ الضّنى

أمِنَ البِلى هذا النُّحولُ أمِ الضّنى

فالحُبُّ مِنْ شِيَمي وأنتَ النّاحِلُ

فالحُبُّ مِنْ شِيَمي وأنتَ النّاحِلُ

Does this thinness come from decay, or from sickness?

Is this emaciation from affliction or sorrow?

For love is among my traits, yet you are the wasted one.

For passion is part of my nature, and you are the achiever.

خلَعَ الرَّبيعُ منْ أنوارِهِ

خلَعَ الرَّبيعُ منْ أنوارِهِ

حَلياً تَوَشَّحَهُ ثَراكَ العاطِلُ

حَلياً تَوَشَّحَهُ ثَراكَ العاطِلُ

Spring bestowed, from its blossoms,

Spring has taken off its lights

jewels your unadorned soil wore as a sash.

Adorning your abandoned remnants.

والرّوضُ في أفوافِهِ مُتَبرِّجٌ

والرّوضُ في أفوافِهِ مُتَبرِّجٌ

والزَّهْرُ في حُلَلِ السِّحائِبِ رافِلُ

والزَّهْرُ في حُلَلِ السِّحائِبِ رافِلُ

The meadow flaunts its beauty in its striped robes,

The meadow in its extremities is flourishing,

and the flowers trail proudly in the clouds' robes.

And the flowers are abundant within the rain clouds.

وغَنِيتَ في حِجْرِ الحَيا مُستَرضَعاً

وغَنِيتَ في حِجْرِ الحَيا مُستَرضَعاً

يَغْذوكَ واشِلُ طَلِّهِ والوابِلُ

يَغْذوكَ واشِلُ طَلِّهِ والوابِلُ

You dwelt as a fosterling in the lap of rain,

You were suckled in the lap of life,

nourished by its trickling dew and its downpour.

Fed by the friendly neighbor and the pouring rain.

كانت أيادي الدّهْرِ فيكَ كَثيرةً

كانت أيادي الدّهْرِ فيكَ كَثيرةً

لكنْ لَياليهِ لدَيكَ قَلائلُ

لكنْ لَياليهِ لدَيكَ قَلائلُ

Time's favors toward you were many,

The hands of fate were plenty upon you,

but its nights with you were few.

But its nights towards you were few.

في حيثُ يَقتَنصُ الأسودَ ضَوارِياً

في حيثُ يَقتَنصُ الأسودَ ضَوارِياً

لَحْظٌ تُمَرِّضُهُ المَهاةُ الخاذِلُ

لَحْظٌ تُمَرِّضُهُ المَهاةُ الخاذِلُ

There, where ravening lions are snared

Where the lions ambush their prey,

by a glance the solitary oryx makes languid.

There is a moment nursed by devastating misfortune.

إذ لم يكنْ والليلُ يَسحَبُ ذَيلَهُ

إذ لم يكنْ والليلُ يَسحَبُ ذَيلَهُ

لسُعادَ غيرَ يَدي وِشاحٌ جائِلُ

لسُعادَ غيرَ يَدي وِشاحٌ جائِلُ

When, as night trailed its hem, there was no

Since, while the night was dragging its tail,

sash circling Su'ad except my hand.

There was no happiness except my hand and a tilting cup.

فكأنّنا غُصنانِ يَشكو منهُما

فكأنّنا غُصنانِ يَشكو منهُما

بَرْحَ الغَرام إِلى الرّطيبِ الذّابِلُ

بَرْحَ الغَرام إِلى الرّطيبِ الذّابِلُ

We seemed like two branches, of which

It is as if we are two branches complaining

the withered told the fresh one of love's torment.

Of the harm of passion to the moist decomposer.

هَيفاءُ إنْ خَطَرَتْ فقَدٌّ رامِحٌ

هَيفاءُ إنْ خَطَرَتْ فقَدٌّ رامِحٌ

نَجلاءُ إنْ نظَرَتْ فطَرْفٌ نابِلُ

نَجلاءُ إنْ نظَرَتْ فطَرْفٌ نابِلُ

Slender-waisted—when she sways, her figure is a spearman;

If Hayfa appear, there is a penetrating longing,

wide-eyed—when she looks, her glance is an archer.

If Najla look, there is a weeping eye.

وكأنّ فاها بعدَما نَشَرَ الدُّجى

وكأنّ فاها بعدَما نَشَرَ الدُّجى

فَرْعاً يَلوحُ بهِ الخِضابُ النّاصِلُ

فَرْعاً يَلوحُ بهِ الخِضابُ النّاصِلُ

And her mouth seemed, after darkness had unfurled

And it is as if her mouth, after the darkness spreads,

a tress in which fading dye glimmered,

Is a branch flourished by the intimate blood relationship.

صَهباءُ تُعْشي النّاظِرينَ نَضَتْ بِها

صَهباءُ تُعْشي النّاظِرينَ نَضَتْ بِها

عَذَبَ الفَدامِ عنِ اللّطيمَةِ بابِلُ

عَذَبَ الفَدامِ عنِ اللّطيمَةِ بابِلُ

tawny wine that dazzles onlookers, with which was stripped

Grayish, which intoxicates the beholders,

the cloth cover's fringe from the perfume-laden caravan by Babylon.

The fresh portion of the sweet from the insipid is evident.

وأبي اللّوائِمِ لا أفَقْتُ منَ الهَوى

وأبي اللّوائِمِ لا أفَقْتُ منَ الهَوى

ولَئِنْ أفَقْتُ فأينَ قَلبٌ ذاهِلُ

ولَئِنْ أفَقْتُ فأينَ قَلبٌ ذاهِلُ

By the reproaching women's father, may I never recover from love!

And I refuse blames, I did not wake up from passion,

And if I recover, where is a heart lost in distraction?

And if I wake up, where is the inadvertent heart?

حتّى يرُدَّ قِوامَ دولَةِ هاشِمٍ

حتّى يرُدَّ قِوامَ دولَةِ هاشِمٍ

مَنْ يَرتَجيهِ لِما يَقولُ العاذِلُ

مَنْ يَرتَجيهِ لِما يَقولُ العاذِلُ

Until the strength of Hashim's dynasty is restored

Until the pillar of the Hashimite state returns

by the one the reproacher hopes will fulfill his words.

To whom the reproacher hopes for what he says.

مُرُّ الحَفيظَةِ والرِّماحُ يَشِفُّها

مُرُّ الحَفيظَةِ والرِّماحُ يَشِفُّها

ظَمَأٌ ومَنْ ثُغَرِ النُّحورِ مَناهلُ

ظَمَأٌ ومَنْ ثُغَرِ النُّحورِ مَناهلُ

Fierce in protective wrath, while the spears are worn thin

Bittersweet and spears quench it,

by thirst, with watering places in the openings of throats.

Thirst, and from the mouths of throats are streams.

يَرمي العُدُوَّ ودِرْعُهُ مِنْ حِلْمِهِ

يَرمي العُدُوَّ ودِرْعُهُ مِنْ حِلْمِهِ

فيَقيهِ عاديةَ المَنون القاتِلُ

فيَقيهِ عاديةَ المَنون القاتِلُ

He strikes the foe, his armor made of his composure,

It throws at the enemy while its armor is tolerance,

and it guards him from the assault of deadly fate.

Thus it protects him from the killer misfortune.

والرّايةُ السّوداءُ يخفُقُ ظِلُّها

والرّايةُ السّوداءُ يخفُقُ ظِلُّها

والرُّعْبُ يَطلُعُ والتّجَلُّدُ آفِلُ

والرُّعْبُ يَطلُعُ والتّجَلُّدُ آفِلُ

The black banner's shadow flutters,

The black flag’s shadow flutters,

and terror rises while fortitude sets.

Fright emerges and determination declines.

والقِرْنُ قَلقَلَ جأْشَهُ حَذَرُ الرّدى

والقِرْنُ قَلقَلَ جأْشَهُ حَذَرُ الرّدى

فأُعيرَ نَفْرتَهُ النَّعامُ الجافِلُ

فأُعيرَ نَفْرتَهُ النَّعامُ الجافِلُ

Fear of death shook the adversary's heart,

The horn was disturbed, fearing havoc,

so the fleeing ostrich was lent his panic.

So the ostrich lent it its hastiness.

نامَ المُلوكُ وباتَ سرحانُ الغَضى

نامَ المُلوكُ وباتَ سرحانُ الغَضى

مَرعِيُّ سَرحِهِمُ لهُ والهامِلُ

مَرعِيُّ سَرحِهِمُ لهُ والهامِلُ

Kings slept, while the wolf of the ghada scrub stayed awake,

Kings slept and the slumber of indignation stayed up,

their guarded herds and their strays all his.

Grazing their flock and bearing their burdens.

فأعادَ أكْنافُ العِراقِ على العِدا

فأعادَ أكْنافُ العِراقِ على العِدا

شَرَكاً يَدِبُّ بهِ الضَّراءَ الحابِلُ

شَرَكاً يَدِبُّ بهِ الضَّراءَ الحابِلُ

He turned the reaches of Iraq, for his enemies,

So the environs of Iraq returned the enemy

into a snare where the trapper creeps under cover.

To a partnership stirred by devastating misfortune.

ويَمُدُّ ساعِدَهُ الطِّعانُ كما لَوَتْ

ويَمُدُّ ساعِدَهُ الطِّعانُ كما لَوَتْ

للفَحْلِ مِنْ طَرَفِ العَسيبِ الشّائِلُ

للفَحْلِ مِنْ طَرَفِ العَسيبِ الشّائِلُ

Spear-thrusting extends his arm, as she curls

And the assailant extends his arm as if

her tail's tip for the stallion—the tail-raising camel.

For the stallion from the side of the tilting cup.

وطَوى إِلى أمَدِ المَكارِمِ والعُلا

وطَوى إِلى أمَدِ المَكارِمِ والعُلا

نَهْجاً تجَنَّبَ طُرَّتَيْهِ النّاعِلُ

نَهْجاً تجَنَّبَ طُرَّتَيْهِ النّاعِلُ

He traversed, toward the utmost reach of noble deeds and eminence,

And he turned to the course of glories and supremacy,

a path whose two edges the sandal-wearer shunned.

A path whose two sides the accomplished avoided.

ولهُ شَمائِلُ أُودِعَتْ مِنْ نَشْرِها

ولهُ شَمائِلُ أُودِعَتْ مِنْ نَشْرِها

سِراً يَبوحُ بهِ النّسيمُ خَمائِلُ

سِراً يَبوحُ بهِ النّسيمُ خَمائِلُ

He has virtues whose fragrance has entrusted

And he has traits that were entrusted with concealment,

thickets with a secret the breeze reveals.

A secret the gentle breeze whispers to confidants.

ويَدٌ يَتيهُ بِها اليَراعُ على الظُّبا

ويَدٌ يَتيهُ بِها اليَراعُ على الظُّبا

ويُشابُ فيها بالنّجيعِ النّائِلُ

ويُشابُ فيها بالنّجيعِ النّائِلُ

And a hand through which the reed-pen vaunts itself over sword-edges,

A hand by which the prey wanders upon the mountain cliffs,

and in it bounty is mingled with fresh blood.

And mingles in it the attainable.

عَلِقَتْ بِكِلْتا راحتَيْهِ أربَعٌ

عَلِقَتْ بِكِلْتا راحتَيْهِ أربَعٌ

نفَضَ الأنامِلَ دونَهُنَّ الباخِلُ

نفَضَ الأنامِلَ دونَهُنَّ الباخِلُ

Four things have fastened on both his palms,

Four were attached to each of his palms

the miser shook his fingers, falling short of them:

That the stingy has shaken off his fingers.

نِعَمٌ يَشِفُّ وراءها نَيْلُ المُنى

نِعَمٌ يَشِفُّ وراءها نَيْلُ المُنى

وأعِنَّةٌ وأسِنّةٌ ومَناصِلُ

وأعِنَّةٌ وأسِنّةٌ ومَناصِلُ

favors, behind which the attainment of wishes shines,

Favors by which the wishes are fulfilled,

and reins, spearheads, and sword-blades.

And helpers, defenders, and confidants.

مِنْ مَعشَرٍ فرَعوا ذَوائِبَ سُؤْدَدٍ

مِنْ مَعشَرٍ فرَعوا ذَوائِبَ سُؤْدَدٍ

أغصانُ دَوحَتِهِ الكَميُّ الباسِلُ

أغصانُ دَوحَتِهِ الكَميُّ الباسِلُ

From a people who scaled the pinnacles of lordship,

From a group who groomed the tails of Saud,

the branches of its great tree are valiant armored warriors.

The branches of its towering fertile palm tree.

تُدْعى زُرارَةُ في أواخِرِ مَجدِهِمْ

تُدْعى زُرارَةُ في أواخِرِ مَجدِهِمْ

يومَ الفَخارِ وفي الأوائِلِ وائِلُ

يومَ الفَخارِ وفي الأوائِلِ وائِلُ

Zurarah is named in the later reaches of their glory,

Called Zarara at the end of their glory,

on the day of boasting, and Wa'il in the earliest.

On the day of pride, and during the early times, Wa'il.

يا خَيرَهُمْ حَيثُ السّيوفُ تَزيدُها

يا خَيرَهُمْ حَيثُ السّيوفُ تَزيدُها

طولاً وقَد قَصُرَتْ عليكَ حَمائِلُ

طولاً وقَد قَصُرَتْ عليكَ حَمائِلُ

O best of them, where you add to swords

O best of them wherever the swords give them

in length, though their baldrics are too short for you.

Additional length while the burdens upon you are short.

إنّ الصّيامَ يهُزُّ عِطفَيْ شَهرِهِ

إنّ الصّيامَ يهُزُّ عِطفَيْ شَهرِهِ

أجْرٌ بما زَعَمَ التّمَنّي كافِلُ

أجْرٌ بما زَعَمَ التّمَنّي كافِلُ

Indeed, the flanks of fasting's month are set swaying

Fasting certainly shakes the sides of its month,

by a reward that guarantees what longing has claimed.

A reward for what wishful thinking claimed was guaranteed.

وافاكَ طَلقَ المُجْتَلى فثَوابُهُ

وافاكَ طَلقَ المُجْتَلى فثَوابُهُ

لكَ آجِلٌ ونَداكَ فيهِ عاجِلُ

لكَ آجِلٌ ونَداكَ فيهِ عاجِلُ

It came to you radiant in aspect; its reward

Its voluntary act reached you so its reward is deferred for you

for you is deferred, while your bounty in it is immediate.

While its call in it is immediate.

وإذا السِّنونَ قَضى بِسَعْدِكَ حاضِرٌ

وإذا السِّنونَ قَضى بِسَعْدِكَ حاضِرٌ

مِنها تَبَلّجَ عنهُ عامٌ قابِلُ

مِنها تَبَلّجَ عنهُ عامٌ قابِلُ

Whenever the present among the years decrees your good fortune,

And when the years decree your happiness present,

a coming year dawns forth from it.

From it a fulfilling year is smiled upon.

وحَمى بِكَ المُستَظْهِرُ الشَّرَفَ الذي

وحَمى بِكَ المُستَظْهِرُ الشَّرَفَ الذي

يزوَرُّ دونَ ثَنِيَّتَيْهِ الواقِلُ

يزوَرُّ دونَ ثَنِيَّتَيْهِ الواقِلُ

Through you al-Mustazhir guarded the eminence

The one seeking help protected through you the nobility

short of whose twin passes the climber turns aside.

That double-dealing falls short of its two sides.

وبِكَ استَفاضَ العَدْلُ واعتَجَرَ الوَرى

وبِكَ استَفاضَ العَدْلُ واعتَجَرَ الوَرى

بالأمْنِ وانتَبَه الزّمانُ الغافِلُ

بالأمْنِ وانتَبَه الزّمانُ الغافِلُ

Through you justice spread, and people wrapped their heads

And through you justice has spread and the world has taken advice

in safety, and heedless Time awoke.

With security, and the inadvertent time has awakened.

لمّا أرَحْتَ إليهِ عازِبَ سِربِهِمْ

لمّا أرَحْتَ إليهِ عازِبَ سِربِهِمْ

هَدَأ الرّعيّةُ واستَقامَ الماثِلُ

هَدَأ الرّعيّةُ واستَقامَ الماثِلُ

When you drove home to him the straying part of their flock,

When you brought relief to its frightened flock,

the subjects grew calm, and those in attendance stood straight.

The commoners became calm and the course became straightforward.

ودَعاكَ للنّجْوى فكُنتَ لرَأْيِهِ

ودَعاكَ للنّجْوى فكُنتَ لرَأْيِهِ

رِدْءاً كَما عَضَدَ السِّنانَ العامِلُ

رِدْءاً كَما عَضَدَ السِّنانَ العامِلُ

He summoned you to private counsel, and you were to his judgment

And it called you for discreet counsel so you were

a support, as the spear-shaft supports the spearhead.

A shield just as the compress strengthens the staff.

وبَرَزْتَ في حُلَلِ الجَلالِ أنارَها

وبَرَزْتَ في حُلَلِ الجَلالِ أنارَها

بأنامِلِ العِزِّ النّعيمُ الشّاملُ

بأنامِلِ العِزِّ النّعيمُ الشّاملُ

You appeared in robes of majesty, lit up

And you emerged in the garments of glory illuminated

by all-embracing bliss with glory's fingers.

By the pleasures of honor, the inclusive prosperity.

متَوَشِّحاً بالمَشْرَفيِّ يُقِلُّهُ

متَوَشِّحاً بالمَشْرَفيِّ يُقِلُّهُ

أسَدٌ مَخالِبُهُ الحُسامُ القاصِلُ

أسَدٌ مَخالِبُهُ الحُسامُ القاصِلُ

Girded with a Mashrafi sword, carried

Wearing the striped garment, diminished by

by a lion whose claws are the cleaving blade.

A lion whose claws are the cutting sword.

فوقَ الأغرِّ يَلوحُ في أعطافِهِ

فوقَ الأغرِّ يَلوحُ في أعطافِهِ

مِنْ آلِ أعوَجَ والصّريحِ شَمائِلُ

مِنْ آلِ أعوَجَ والصّريحِ شَمائِلُ

Upon a white-blazed steed, in whose flanks appear

Above the thick hair, the traits of

traits of the stock of A'waj and al-Sarih.

The family of Aquj and the honest shine.

ومُعرَّسُ النُّعْمى دَواةٌ حلْيُها

ومُعرَّسُ النُّعْمى دَواةٌ حلْيُها

حَسَبٌ تحُفُّ بهِ عُلاً وفضائِلُ

حَسَبٌ تحُفُّ بهِ عُلاً وفضائِلُ

Bounty's resting-place is an inkwell, whose ornament

The star of good fortune is a jewel whose adornment

is noble lineage, surrounded by eminence and virtues.

Is enough lineage and virtues.

نَشَرَ الصّباحُ بِها الجَناحَ ورَقْرَقَتْ

نَشَرَ الصّباحُ بِها الجَناحَ ورَقْرَقَتْ

فيها منَ الشَّفَقِ النُّضارَ أصائِلُ

فيها منَ الشَّفَقِ النُّضارَ أصائِلُ

Morning spread its wing over it, and late afternoons rippled

The morning spread its wings and sparkled upon it

within it the gold of twilight.

The sprouts of dawn, the fine threads.

وكأنما أقلامُها هِندِيّةٌ

وكأنما أقلامُها هِندِيّةٌ

بيضٌ أحدَّ مُتونَهُن الصّاقِلُ

بيضٌ أحدَّ مُتونَهُن الصّاقِلُ

Its pens seemed like Indian swords,

As if its pens are Indian white

bright, their bodies sharpened by the polisher.

Whose surfaces the polished ironed.

والعِزُّ مُقتَبَلٌ بحيثُ صَريرُها

والعِزُّ مُقتَبَلٌ بحيثُ صَريرُها

وصَليلُ سَيفِكَ والجَوادُ الصّاهِلُ

وصَليلُ سَيفِكَ والجَوادُ الصّاهِلُ

Glory is youthful wherever their scratching resounds,

And glory faces whereby the clanking of it

with your sword's clang and the neighing steed.

And the clashing of your sword and the neighing horse.

فَفداكَ منْ رَيْبِ الحَوادثِ ناقِصٌ

فَفداكَ منْ رَيْبِ الحَوادثِ ناقِصٌ

في المَكْرُماتِ وفي المَعايِبِ كامِلُ

في المَكْرُماتِ وفي المَعايِبِ كامِلُ

May your ransom from fate's calamities be one deficient

May you be spared from the suspicion of misfortunes, complete

in noble deeds, but complete in faults.

In generosity and perfect in reputation.

بِيَدٍ يُشامُ لَها بُرَيْقٌ خُلَّبٌ

بِيَدٍ يُشامُ لَها بُرَيْقٌ خُلَّبٌ

عَلِقَتْ بهِ ذَيلَ الجَهامِ مَحائِلُ

عَلِقَتْ بهِ ذَيلَ الجَهامِ مَحائِلُ

With a hand whose faint, false lightning-flash is watched for;

By a hand which is perfumed with musk,

through it barren lands clung to the rainless cloud's hem.

The tails of skulls have clung to it.

غُلَّتْ عن المَعروفِ فهْيَ بكِيَّةٌ

غُلَّتْ عن المَعروفِ فهْيَ بكِيَّةٌ

والضَّرْعُ تَغْمُرُهُ الأصِرَّةُ حافِلُ

والضَّرْعُ تَغْمُرُهُ الأصِرَّةُ حافِلُ

Shackled against charity, it yields little milk,

It was stingy with good deeds so it is tearful

while the udder, covered by bindings, is full.

While abundance fills its udder.

قَسَماً بخُوصٍ شَفَّها عَقْبُ السُّرى

قَسَماً بخُوصٍ شَفَّها عَقْبُ السُّرى

حتى رَثى لابنِ اللَّبونِ البازِلُ

حتى رَثى لابنِ اللَّبونِ البازِلُ

I swear by sunken-eyed camels worn thin by repeated night travel,

By the sadness thatgrayed its good-bye,

until the full-grown camel pitied the two-year-old.

Until the son of Laboun's lion mourned.

وفَلَتْ بأيديهنَّ ناصِيةَ الفَلا

وفَلَتْ بأيديهنَّ ناصِيةَ الفَلا

فشَكا الكَلالَ إِلى الأظَلِّ الكاهلُ

فشَكا الكَلالَ إِلى الأظَلِّ الكاهلُ

And with their forefeet they deloused the desert's forelock,

And by their hands the horse's lead slipped away

so the withers complained of weariness to the hoof's sole.

So the already graying darkness complained to the shady thin.

والليلُ بحرٌ والغَياهِبُ لُجّةٌ

والليلُ بحرٌ والغَياهِبُ لُجّةٌ

والشُّهْبُ دُرٌ والصّباحُ السّاحِلُ

والشُّهْبُ دُرٌ والصّباحُ السّاحِلُ

Night was a sea, its dense darkness the deep,

The night is a sea and the depths are surging,

the bright stars pearls, and morning the shore.

The stars are pearls and the dawn is the coast.

ومُرنَّحينَ سَقاهُمُ خَدَرُ الكَرى

ومُرنَّحينَ سَقاهُمُ خَدَرُ الكَرى

نُطَفاً يَعافُ كُؤوسَهُنَّ الواغِلُ

نُطَفاً يَعافُ كُؤوسَهُنَّ الواغِلُ

And by swaying men, whom sleep's stupor gave to drink

The intoxication of distress made them gulp

drops whose cups the unbidden drinker shuns.

A drink which its very concentrated cup allows.

نَزَلوا بمُعْتَلِجِ البِطاحِ وعِندَهُ

نَزَلوا بمُعْتَلِجِ البِطاحِ وعِندَهُ

لُفَّت على الحَسَبِ الصّميمِ وَصائِلُ

لُفَّت على الحَسَبِ الصّميمِ وَصائِلُ

They alighted where the broad valleys meet, and there

They descended at the valley’s slopes, and there

striped robes were wrapped around unalloyed noble lineage.

The tested sincere loyalty was wrapped.

لأُقلِّدَنّكَ مِدْحَةً أمَويَّةً

لأُقلِّدَنّكَ مِدْحَةً أمَويَّةً

فانْظُرْ مَنِ المُهدي لَها والقائِلُ

فانْظُرْ مَنِ المُهدي لَها والقائِلُ

I shall surely hang an Umayyad praise-poem around your neck;

I will bestow upon you an Umayyad praise poem

so look who offers it, and who speaks it.

So look who is appropriate for it and its sayer.

فالوِرْدُ إلا في ذَراكَ مُرَنَّقٌ

فالوِرْدُ إلا في ذَراكَ مُرَنَّقٌ

والظِّلُّ إلا في جَنابِكَ زائلُ

والظِّلُّ إلا في جَنابِكَ زائلُ

For drinking water is turbid except beneath your shelter,

The flowers are only fresh in your presence,

and shade is fleeting except within your domain.

And shade is only fleeting without your side.

والحقُّ أنتَ وكُلُّ ما نُثْني بهِ

والحقُّ أنتَ وكُلُّ ما نُثْني بهِ

إلا عَليكَ منَ المَدائِحِ باطِلُ

إلا عَليكَ منَ المَدائِحِ باطِلُ

You are the truth; and all the praise we utter,

The truth is you, and everything we praise with

unless it is of you, is false.

Is falsehood unless it is about you.