مَن لِإِحتِراق حَشاشة المَلهوفِ

مَن لِإِحتِراق حَشاشة المَلهوفِ

وَلِدَمعِهِ الساري الهَموع الموفي

وَلِدَمعِهِ الساري الهَموع الموفي

Who can answer for the burning in the lovelorn heart’s core?

Who will soothe the anguished one's burning life-spark,

Or for his streaming tears, whose abundant flood runs full?

And his tears that course through the night, pouring in full measure?

دامي اللَواحظ في الرُسوم مُعَذب

دامي اللَواحظ في الرُسوم مُعَذب

أَودَت بِمُهجَتِهِ لَظى التَعنيف

أَودَت بِمُهجَتِهِ لَظى التَعنيف

His eyes bleed among the abandoned traces, tormented;

Bleeding-eyed among the traces of old dwellings, tormented,

the blaze of harsh torment has consumed his very soul.

The blaze of rebuke has consumed his life's blood.

غادَرتُهُ وَالشَوق يَنحل جِسمَهُ

غادَرتُهُ وَالشَوق يَنحل جِسمَهُ

كَالسَمهري أُقيم بِالتَثقيف

كَالسَمهري أُقيم بِالتَثقيف

I left him while longing wasted away his body,

I left him while longing wasted his body,

like a Samharī lance straightened by tempering.

Like a spear shaft set straight by shaping.

أَكفف مَلامك حَيثما أَحتكم الهَوى

أَكفف مَلامك حَيثما أَحتكم الهَوى

يا عاذِلي وَأَقَلَّ مِن تَعنيفي

يا عاذِلي وَأَقَلَّ مِن تَعنيفي

Restrain your blame wherever passion passes judgment,

Restrain your blame wherever love holds sway,

O you who blame me—lessen your rebuke.

O my reproacher, and lessen your rebukes of me.

لَيسَ المُلام بِنافع لاخى الهَوى

لَيسَ المُلام بِنافع لاخى الهَوى

دَنف عَلى نار الجَوى مَوقوف

دَنف عَلى نار الجَوى مَوقوف

Blame is no help to a man possessed by love,

Blame is of no use to a companion of love,

love-sick, held above the fire of passion;

Love-sick, held over the fire of heartache,

وَلهان مَسلوب الفُؤاد مُقلب

وَلهان مَسلوب الفُؤاد مُقلب

بِيد النَوى بادي الغَرام نَحيف

بِيد النَوى بادي الغَرام نَحيف

distraught, heart-ravished, ceaselessly tossed about,

Distraught, robbed of his heart, tossed about

in separation’s hand, visibly love-worn and thin.

By separation's hand, his passion plain, emaciated.

هَيهات أَن يَنسى المَواقف بِالحمى

هَيهات أَن يَنسى المَواقف بِالحمى

بَين الجَآذر وَالظِباء الهَيف

بَين الجَآذر وَالظِباء الهَيف

Far be it that he should forget the stopping places in the preserve,

Never could he forget the meeting places in the protected grounds,

amid the fawns and slender gazelles—

Among the wild-ox calves and slender-waisted gazelles—

مِن كُلِ مائسة المَعاطف غادة

مِن كُلِ مائسة المَعاطف غادة

تَختالُ بَينَ ذَوابل وَسُيوف

تَختالُ بَينَ ذَوابل وَسُيوف

every maiden with a swaying, supple figure,

Each a tender maiden whose limbs sway,

strutting among lances and swords;

Strutting among slender spears and swords.

غَيداء باهرة العُيون كَأَنَّها

غَيداء باهرة العُيون كَأَنَّها

شَمس وَلَكن لَم تَرعَ بِكُسوف

شَمس وَلَكن لَم تَرعَ بِكُسوف

a soft-limbed beauty with dazzling eyes, as though she were

A supple beauty, dazzling the eyes, as though she were

a sun that need never fear eclipse.

A sun, yet never startled by an eclipse.

فَسَقى أَخو جفني الغُمامُ معرَّساً

فَسَقى أَخو جفني الغُمامُ معرَّساً

أَحبب بِهِ مِن مُرَبع وَمَصيف

أَحبب بِهِ مِن مُرَبع وَمَصيف

May the cloud—brother to my weeping eyes—water that resting place:

So may the cloud, my eyelid's brother, water that resting place—

how beloved a spring pasture and summer dwelling!

How lovely it is as a spring and summer retreat!

قصر يُطلُّ عَلى حَديقة سُندس

قصر يُطلُّ عَلى حَديقة سُندس

غَنّاءَ ذات تَبسم وَرَفيق

غَنّاءَ ذات تَبسم وَرَفيق

A palace overlooking a garden of brocade,

A palace overlooking a garden of fine silk,

lush, smiling, and softly fluttering;

Luxuriant, with smiles and a companion.

وَبِظِلِهِ خُضر البِطاح كَأَنَّها

وَبِظِلِهِ خُضر البِطاح كَأَنَّها

حَبرَ تنمقها يَد التَفويف

حَبرَ تنمقها يَد التَفويف

beneath its shade, the green lowlands appear

And in its shade, the green plains seem like

like ink embellished by the hand of altered lettering.

Patterned fabrics adorned by the hand of variegation.

باكرتهُ وَالظلُ يَنثُر دَمعُهُ

باكرتهُ وَالظلُ يَنثُر دَمعُهُ

مُتناسِقاً كَاللؤلؤ المَرصوف

مُتناسِقاً كَاللؤلؤ المَرصوف

I came to it at dawn, while the shade scattered its tears,

I visited it at dawn while the shade scattered its tears,

harmoniously arrayed like pearls in rows.

In orderly succession, like pearls set in rows.

وَالراح تُشرق مِن سَماءِ كُؤُسها

وَالراح تُشرق مِن سَماءِ كُؤُسها

في كَف مَجدول الوِشاح قَصيف

في كَف مَجدول الوِشاح قَصيف

Wine shone from the heaven of its cups,

And wine shone from the sky of its cups,

held in the hand of a slender-sashed, delicate youth;

In the hand of a delicate youth with a braided sash.

شادٍ إِذا عَبث الشُمول بِعِطفِهِ

شادٍ إِذا عَبث الشُمول بِعِطفِهِ

حَلّى المسامع لَفظُهُ بِشنوفِ

حَلّى المسامع لَفظُهُ بِشنوفِ

a singer—when the north wind played with his bending form,

A singer—when wine toyed with his frame,

his words adorned the ears with earrings;

His words adorned the ears with earrings.

نَشوان يُرسل خيفة مِن كاشِحٍ

نَشوان يُرسل خيفة مِن كاشِحٍ

لِحظاتِهِ كَالناظرِ المطروف

لِحظاتِهِ كَالناظرِ المطروف

tipsy, he cast—fearful of some spiteful watcher—

Tipsy, for fear of a spiteful foe, he sent forth

glances like the sidelong looks of one wounded in the eye.

His glances like an onlooker struck in the eye.

أَهفو إِلَيهِ مَع العَفاف وَأَثني

أَهفو إِلَيهِ مَع العَفاف وَأَثني

وَالوَجد ملئ فُؤاديَ المَشغوف

وَالوَجد ملئ فُؤاديَ المَشغوف

I yearn toward him chastely, and I praise him,

I yearn toward him, yet remain chaste and turn back,

while passion fills my enamored heart.

While passion fills my love-struck heart.

لَولا هَواهُ لَم أَبت مُتوشحاً

لَولا هَواهُ لَم أَبت مُتوشحاً

بِالدَمع مَطويّاً عَلى التَسويف

بِالدَمع مَطويّاً عَلى التَسويف

Were it not for love of him, I would not spend the night mantled

Were it not for my love of him, I would not spend the night girdled

in tears, folded up in endless postponement.

In tears, folded inward upon delay.

أَني عَرَفتُ بِهِ كَما عرفت يَدا

أَني عَرَفتُ بِهِ كَما عرفت يَدا

قاضي قُضاة الشام بِالمَعروف

قاضي قُضاة الشام بِالمَعروف

Through him I came to know, as I had known before, a generous hand:

Indeed, I became known through him, as the two hands are known

Syria’s Chief Judge, renowned for beneficence.

Of al-Sham's chief judge, for their beneficence.

أَعني بِهِ مَولايَ عَبد اللَهِ مِن

أَعني بِهِ مَولايَ عَبد اللَهِ مِن

أَوصافَهُ تُغني عَن التعَريف

أَوصافَهُ تُغني عَن التعَريف

By him I mean my lord Abd Allah, whose

I mean by this my lord Abd Allah, whose

qualities make all introduction needless—

Qualities make any introduction unnecessary.

ذو همة عُلوية مِن دَأبِها

ذو همة عُلوية مِن دَأبِها

أَكماد حُساد وَرَغم أُنوف

أَكماد حُساد وَرَغم أُنوف

possessed of lofty aspiration, whose constant way

He has lofty ambition, whose wont is

is to grieve enviers and abase proud noses;

To sadden enviers and rub noses in the dust;

وَخَليقة إِن جئتَها مُستَخبِراً

وَخَليقة إِن جئتَها مُستَخبِراً

عَبقت بِنَشر كَالعَبير مَذوف

عَبقت بِنَشر كَالعَبير مَذوف

and of a character which, should you inquire into it,

And a nature which, if you approached it inquiring,

breathes fragrance like blended perfume;

Would exhale a fragrance like blended perfume;

وَعَزيمة تَردي الزَمان إِذا اِعتَدى

وَعَزيمة تَردي الزَمان إِذا اِعتَدى

وَتُزيل زيغ نَوائب وَصُروف

وَتُزيل زيغ نَوائب وَصُروف

and of a resolve that fells Time when it trespasses

And a resolve that fells Time when it oversteps,

and straightens the wayward blows of calamities and reversals;

And removes the crookedness of calamities and turns of fate;

وَفضائل قَد أَينَعَت ثَمَراتِها

وَفضائل قَد أَينَعَت ثَمَراتِها

فَعَطا إِلَيها كَف كُل قُطوف

فَعَطا إِلَيها كَف كُل قُطوف

and virtues whose fruits have ripened,

And virtues whose fruits have ripened,

toward which the hand of every deft gatherer reaches.

So the hand of every fruit-picker reached toward them.

قاض إِذا التَبَسَت أُمور جَدِها

قاض إِذا التَبَسَت أُمور جَدِها

بِحسام حُكم بِالمَضا مَوصوف

بِحسام حُكم بِالمَضا مَوصوف

A judge who, when grave affairs become entangled,

A judge who, when affairs grow tangled, cuts through them

cuts through with a sword of judgment famed for sharpness.

With a sword of judgment renowned for its sharpness.

ضمن الحَياة لِمُعتِفيهِ يَراعهُ

ضمن الحَياة لِمُعتِفيهِ يَراعهُ

وَرَمى عَداه قَضاؤُهُ بِحتوف

وَرَمى عَداه قَضاؤُهُ بِحتوف

His pen guarantees life to whoever seeks his bounty,

His reed pen guaranteed life to those seeking his bounty,

while his decree casts his enemies to their deaths.

And his judgment struck his foes with doom.

يا واهب الخَير الجَزيل وَصاحب العَزم

يا واهب الخَير الجَزيل وَصاحب العَزم

الصَقيل وَذا الحِمى المَوصوف

الصَقيل وَذا الحِمى المَوصوف

O giver of abundant good, possessor of

O giver of abundant good and possessor of resolve

the burnished blade, and lord of the familiar refuge!

Burnished bright, and lord of the renowned protected domain,

لَكَ فَوق أَفلاك النَعائِمِ رُتبة

لَكَ فَوق أَفلاك النَعائِمِ رُتبة

لِسموّها قَد دانَ كُل شَريف

لِسموّها قَد دانَ كُل شَريف

Above the spheres of al-Naʿāʾim you hold a station

Yours is a rank above the spheres of al-Na‘a’im,

before whose loftiness every noble submits.

To its loftiness every noble has bowed.

وَسَجية حَلفت بِأَنَّكَ لَم تَكُن

وَسَجية حَلفت بِأَنَّكَ لَم تَكُن

لِسوى المَعارف وَالنَدى بِحَليف

لِسوى المَعارف وَالنَدى بِحَليف

You have a nature—I swear—that has never been

And a nature that has sworn you were never

allied with anything but knowledge and liberality.

An ally of anything but learning and generosity.

وَنَشَأت وَالمَجدَ المؤَثل وَالعُلا

وَنَشَأت وَالمَجدَ المؤَثل وَالعُلا

في حَجر كُل ممجد غَطريف

في حَجر كُل ممجد غَطريف

You were reared amid deep-rooted glory and eminence,

And you grew up with deep-rooted glory and high honor

in the care of every illustrious, high-born lord.

In the lap of every honored, noble lord.

فَإِلَيكَ مَدحاً مِن نِظاميَ فاخِراً

فَإِلَيكَ مَدحاً مِن نِظاميَ فاخِراً

يُزري بِنَظم الدُرّ في التَأليف

يُزري بِنَظم الدُرّ في التَأليف

So to you I offer proud praise from my verse,

So take a splendid tribute from my verse,

outshining pearls strung together in composition.

Putting strings of pearls to shame in its composition.

سَبكت مَعانيهِ البَديعة فَأَغتَدي

سَبكت مَعانيهِ البَديعة فَأَغتَدي

لِعُلاك حلياً لَم يَنَل بِأُلوف

لِعُلاك حلياً لَم يَنَل بِأُلوف

I cast its exquisite meanings until it became

I cast its wondrous meanings, and thus become

an ornament for your loftiness, unattainable for thousands.

An ornament for your high station, unattainable for thousands.

فِقَرٌ بِها جَيد الزَمان مُقَلدٌ

فِقَرٌ بِها جَيد الزَمان مُقَلدٌ

وَفَرائِدٌ نَظمت بِلا تَكليف

وَفَرائِدٌ نَظمت بِلا تَكليف

These are passages with which the neck of Time is collared,

Verses adorning Time's neck as a necklace,

rare pearls strung without strain.

And matchless pearls strung without strain.

هِيَ بَعض وَصفِكَ وَالخَلائق كُلَها

هِيَ بَعض وَصفِكَ وَالخَلائق كُلَها

تَثني عَلى مَجد لَدَيك مُنيف

تَثني عَلى مَجد لَدَيك مُنيف

They are only part of your description; all creation

They describe only part of you, while all creation

praises the towering glory that is yours.

Praises the towering glory that is yours.

وَبَقيت ما أَبدى مَديحك شاعِرٌ

وَبَقيت ما أَبدى مَديحك شاعِرٌ

وَتَلاهُ مَحفوظاً مِن التَحريف

وَتَلاهُ مَحفوظاً مِن التَحريف

May you remain as long as a poet gives voice to your praise

And may you live on as long as a poet voices your praise,

and recites it, preserved from distortion.

And recites it, kept safe from distortion.