لَنا أَبَداً بَثٌّ نُعانيهِ مِن أَروى

لَنا أَبَداً بَثٌّ نُعانيهِ مِن أَروى

وَحُزوى وَكَم أَدنَتكَ مِن لَوعَةٍ حُزوى

وَحُزوى وَكَم أَدنَتكَ مِن لَوعَةٍ حُزوى

We have unending sorrow to endure from Arwa

We forever suffer the pangs of love

and Huzwa—how many a pang has Huzwa brought you!

And how much anguish brings you near

وَما كانَ دَمعي قَبلَ أَروى بِنُهزَةٍ

وَما كانَ دَمعي قَبلَ أَروى بِنُهزَةٍ

لِأَدنى خَليطٍ بانَ أَو مَنزِلٍ أَقوى

لِأَدنى خَليطٍ بانَ أَو مَنزِلٍ أَقوى

Before Arwa, my tears were no easy prey

Never before Arwa did my tears flow

for the slightest departing companion or a deserted dwelling.

For the slightest trace that appeared or dwelled stronger

حَلَفتُ لَها أَنّي صَحيحُ سِوى الَّذي

حَلَفتُ لَها أَنّي صَحيحُ سِوى الَّذي

تَعَلَّقَهُ قَلبٌ مَريضٌ بِها يَدوى

تَعَلَّقَهُ قَلبٌ مَريضٌ بِها يَدوى

I swore to her that I was sound, except for what

I swore to her I was fine except what

a heart, sick for her and ailing, had clung to.

A sick heart clung to ardently yearning

وَأَكثَرتُ مِن شَكوى هَواها وَإِنَّما

وَأَكثَرتُ مِن شَكوى هَواها وَإِنَّما

أَمارَةُ بَرحِ الحُبِّ أَن تَكثُرَ الشَكوى

أَمارَةُ بَرحِ الحُبِّ أَن تَكثُرَ الشَكوى

And I complained much of loving her; it is only

And I complained much of her love yet

abundant complaint that marks love's torment.

The wont of enduring love is plentiful complaining

وَكُنتُ وَأَروى وَالشَبابُ عُلالَةً

وَكُنتُ وَأَروى وَالشَبابُ عُلالَةً

كَنَشوانَ مِن سُكرِ الصَبابَةِ أَو نَشوى

كَنَشوانَ مِن سُكرِ الصَبابَةِ أَو نَشوى

I was, with Arwa, while youth was a lingering delight,

I was, and Arwa, reveling in the prime of youth

like a man drunk with passion's intoxication, or a drunken woman.

Intoxicated with the rapture of youth or ardently desiring

وَقَد زَعَمَت لا يَقرُبُ اللَهوَ ذو الحِجى

وَقَد زَعَمَت لا يَقرُبُ اللَهوَ ذو الحِجى

وَقَد يَشهَدُ اللَهوَ الَّذي يَشهَدُ النَوى

وَقَد يَشهَدُ اللَهوَ الَّذي يَشهَدُ النَوى

She claimed that a man of reason does not approach amusement;

She claimed one of repute does not indulge in frivolity

yet one who witnesses parting may also witness amusement.

Yet frivolity may be present where purpose is present

وَإِنّي وَإِن رابَ الغَواني تَماسُكي

وَإِنّي وَإِن رابَ الغَواني تَماسُكي

لَمُستَهتِرٌ بِالوَصلِ مِنهُنَّ مُستَهوى

لَمُستَهتِرٌ بِالوَصلِ مِنهُنَّ مُستَهوى

And I, though my composure troubles the lovely women,

Though the wanton chided my composure

am indeed besotted with union with them, enthralled.

I remained nonchalant, sought by them yet aloof

سَلا عَن عَقابيلِ الشَبابِ وَفَوتِها

سَلا عَن عَقابيلِ الشَبابِ وَفَوتِها

أَطارَت بِها العَنقاءُ أَم سَبَقَت جَلوى

أَطارَت بِها العَنقاءُ أَم سَبَقَت جَلوى

Ask, you two, about the remnants of youth and their loss:

Ask about the steeds of youth and their loss

did the 'Anqa fly off with them, or did they outstrip Jalwa?

Did the swift camels race them or the excellent surpass?

كَأَنَّ اللَيالي أُغرِيَت حادِثاتُها

كَأَنَّ اللَيالي أُغرِيَت حادِثاتُها

بِحُبِّ الَّذي نَأبى وَكُرهِ الَّذي نَهوى

بِحُبِّ الَّذي نَأبى وَكُرهِ الَّذي نَهوى

It is as though the nights' happenings were incited

As if the nights were tempted by their events

to love what we reject and hate what we desire.

With love of one I refused and desire of another I craved

وَمَن يَعرِفِ الأَيّامَ لا يَرَ خَفضَها

وَمَن يَعرِفِ الأَيّامَ لا يَرَ خَفضَها

نَعيماً وَلا يَعدُد تَصَرُّفَها بَلوى

نَعيماً وَلا يَعدُد تَصَرُّفَها بَلوى

Whoever knows the days does not regard their ease

Who knows the days sees not their abasement

as bliss, nor count their changes an affliction.

As bliss, nor counts their turns as affliction

إِذا نُشِرَت قُدّامَ رائِدِها ثَنَت

إِذا نُشِرَت قُدّامَ رائِدِها ثَنَت

مُواشِكَةَ الإِسراعِ مِن خَلفِهِ تُطوى

مُواشِكَةَ الإِسراعِ مِن خَلفِهِ تُطوى

When they unfold before their scout, they turn back,

When spread before their guide they bend

hastening swiftly, to be folded away behind him.

Hastening behind folded and stowed

لَقَد أَرشَدَتنا النائِباتُ وَلَم يَكُن

لَقَد أَرشَدَتنا النائِباتُ وَلَم يَكُن

لِيُرشَدَ لَولا ما أَرَتناهُ مَن يُغوى

لِيُرشَدَ لَولا ما أَرَتناهُ مَن يُغوى

Afflictions have indeed guided us; nor would

The misfortunes guided us though none

one who strays be guided without what they showed us.

Would guide unless one who misleads induced

إِذا نَحنُ دافَعنا الخُطوبَ بِذي الوَزا

إِذا نَحنُ دافَعنا الخُطوبَ بِذي الوَزا

رَتَينِ شَغَلناهُنَّ بِالمَرِسِ الأَلوى

رَتَينِ شَغَلناهُنَّ بِالمَرِسِ الأَلوى

When we ward off calamities through the holder of the two vizier-

When we warded off disasters with the noble

ates, we pit them against a seasoned, formidable champion.

We busied them with the gentle combat

بِأَزهَرَ تُنسي الشِعرَ أَخبارُ سُؤدُدٍ

بِأَزهَرَ تُنسي الشِعرَ أَخبارُ سُؤدُدٍ

لَهُ لا تَزالُ الدَهرَ تُؤثَرُ أَو تُروى

لَهُ لا تَزالُ الدَهرَ تُؤثَرُ أَو تُروى

With a radiant man—accounts of nobility eclipse poetry,

With the bloom of verse the tidings of a beloved

accounts of his, forever handed down or recounted.

Whose virtues persist being told and narrated

مَكارِمُ ما تَنفَكُّ مِن حَيثُ وُجِّهَت

مَكارِمُ ما تَنفَكُّ مِن حَيثُ وُجِّهَت

تَرى حاسِداً نِضواً بِئآلائِها يَضوى

تَرى حاسِداً نِضواً بِئآلائِها يَضوى

Noble deeds—wherever they are directed, you never cease

The noble deeds you direct never cease

to see a wasted envier dwindling under their blessings.

You see the envious emaciated, by them provoked

مُلَقّىً صَوابَ الرَأيِ بَغتَ بَديهَةٍ

مُلَقّىً صَوابَ الرَأيِ بَغتَ بَديهَةٍ

وَمِنهُم مُخِلٌّ بِالصَوابِ وَقَد رَوّى

وَمِنهُم مُخِلٌّ بِالصَوابِ وَقَد رَوّى

He is granted sound judgment in an instant of intuition,

Casting propriety suddenly without care

while some of them miss the right course despite having reflected.

Among them one complacent, though he deliberate

لَهُ هِمَّةٌ أَعلى النُجومِ مَحَلَّةً

لَهُ هِمَّةٌ أَعلى النُجومِ مَحَلَّةً

مَحَلٌّ لَها دونَ الأَماكِنِ أَو مَثوى

مَحَلٌّ لَها دونَ الأَماكِنِ أَو مَثوى

He has an ambition: the highest-ranking star

With an ambition higher than stars in stance

is its dwelling or abode, to the exclusion of other places.

A stance for it beyond all places or haven

وَقَد فُتِحَ الأُفقانِ عَن سَيفِ مُصلِتٍ

وَقَد فُتِحَ الأُفقانِ عَن سَيفِ مُصلِتٍ

لَهُ سَطَواتٌ ما تُهَرُّ وَما تُعوى

لَهُ سَطَواتٌ ما تُهَرُّ وَما تُعوى

The two horizons have opened to reveal a drawn sword

The horizons opened before a reforming sword

whose onslaughts meet with neither growling nor howling.

With unchecked swaying assaults

مُغَطّىً عَلى الأَعداءِ ما يَقدُرونَهُ

مُغَطّىً عَلى الأَعداءِ ما يَقدُرونَهُ

بِعَزمٍ وَقَد غَوّى مِنَ الأَمرِ ما غَوّى

بِعَزمٍ وَقَد غَوّى مِنَ الأَمرِ ما غَوّى

Hidden from his enemies, he is beyond their reckoning

Covering the enemies beyond their plots

in his resolve, having confounded affairs as he has.

With resolve, accomplishing what was determined

تَعَلّى عَلى التَدبيرِ ثُمَّ اِنتَحى لَهُم

تَعَلّى عَلى التَدبيرِ ثُمَّ اِنتَحى لَهُم

بِهِ وَرَمى بِالمُعضِلاتِ فَما أَشوى

بِهِ وَرَمى بِالمُعضِلاتِ فَما أَشوى

He gained mastery over strategy, then turned against them

He surpassed in strategy then inclined towards them

with it, hurling intractable problems and never missing the vital mark.

And overwhelmed adversities, none ignited

إِذا ما ذَكَرناهُ حُبِسنا فَلَم نُفِض

إِذا ما ذَكَرناهُ حُبِسنا فَلَم نُفِض

لَهُ في نَظيرٍ في الرِجالِ وَلا شَروى

لَهُ في نَظيرٍ في الرِجالِ وَلا شَروى

When we mention him, we are stopped short and cannot speak

When we recall him we are detained and do not stop

of any peer or equal to him among men.

To his peer among men, or compare

بَلى لِأَبي عيسى شَواهِدُ بارِعٍ

بَلى لِأَبي عيسى شَواهِدُ بارِعٍ

مِنَ الفَضلِ ماكانَ اِنتِحالاً وَلا دَعوى

مِنَ الفَضلِ ماكانَ اِنتِحالاً وَلا دَعوى

Yes, Abu 'Isa has proofs of surpassing

Indeed, Abu Issa has outstanding subtle proofs

excellence that was neither falsely assumed nor merely claimed.

Of merit, not pretentiously claimed

نُمَيِّلُ بَينَ البَدرِ سَعداً وَبَينَهُ

نُمَيِّلُ بَينَ البَدرِ سَعداً وَبَينَهُ

إِذا اِرتاحَ لِلإِحسانِ أَيُّهُما أَضوا

إِذا اِرتاحَ لِلإِحسانِ أَيُّهُما أَضوا

We ponder between the auspicious full moon and him,

We incline between Saad and the full moon

when he delights in doing good: which of the two shines brighter?

When inclined to kindness, which of the two glowed?

وَما دُوَلُ الأَيّامِ نُعماً وَأَبؤُساً

وَما دُوَلُ الأَيّامِ نُعماً وَأَبؤُساً

بِأَجرَحَ في الأَقوامِ مِنهُ وَلا أَسوا

بِأَجرَحَ في الأَقوامِ مِنهُ وَلا أَسوا

Time's turns, in blessings and misery, are not

The days' turns are not prosperity and adversity

more wounding to people than he, nor more healing.

More injurious among the people than him

سُقينا بِسَجلَيهِ وَكانَ خَليفَةً

سُقينا بِسَجلَيهِ وَكانَ خَليفَةً

مِنَ الغَيثِ إِن أَسقى بِرَيِّقِهِ أَروى

مِنَ الغَيثِ إِن أَسقى بِرَيِّقِهِ أَروى

We were watered from his two buckets; he took the place

We were quenched by his outpourings, and he was

of rain: when he waters with his first outpouring, he quenches thirst.

Like rain, wherever his draft flowed, nourishing

فَأَرضٌ أَصابَت حَظَّها مِن سَمائِهِ

فَأَرضٌ أَصابَت حَظَّها مِن سَمائِهِ

وَأَرضٌ تَأَيّى الشُربَ أَو تَرقُبُ العَدوى

وَأَرضٌ تَأَيّى الشُربَ أَو تَرقُبُ العَدوى

So one land received its share from his sky,

Thus some land met its share of his heavens

and another seeks a drink or waits for aid.

While other land evaded drinking or awaited harm

وَوادٍ مِنَ المَعروفِ عِندَكَ لَم يَكُن

وَوادٍ مِنَ المَعروفِ عِندَكَ لَم يَكُن

مُعَرَّجُنا مِنهُ عَلى العُدوَةِ القُصوى

مُعَرَّجُنا مِنهُ عَلى العُدوَةِ القُصوى

And you have a valley of bounty; it was not

No valley of kindness from you has not been

on its farthest bank that we made our halt.

Our winding path upon the farthest bend

إِذا ما تَحَمَّلنا يَداً عَنهُ خِلتَنا

إِذا ما تَحَمَّلنا يَداً عَنهُ خِلتَنا

لِنُقصانِنا عَنها حَمَلنا بِها رَضوى

لِنُقصانِنا عَنها حَمَلنا بِها رَضوى

Whenever we accept a favor from him, you would think

When we refrain in the least from it we are

that, being unequal to it, we had borne Radwa with it.

Deficient, yet abstaining from it brings acceptance

أَجِدَّكَ إِنّا وَالزَمانُ كَما جَنَت

أَجِدَّكَ إِنّا وَالزَمانُ كَما جَنَت

عَلى الأَضعَفِ المَوهونِ عادِيَةُ الأَقوى

عَلى الأَضعَفِ المَوهونِ عادِيَةُ الأَقوى

In truth, we and time are as when

I find you, as time is, predator upon

the stronger's assault wrongs the weaker, enfeebled one.

The weakest, undistinguished, the strong overpowering

مَتى وَعَدَتنا الحادِثاتُ إِدالَةً

مَتى وَعَدَتنا الحادِثاتُ إِدالَةً

فَأَخلِق بِذاكَ الوَعدِ مِنهُنَّ أَن يُلوى

فَأَخلِق بِذاكَ الوَعدِ مِنهُنَّ أَن يُلوى

Whenever events promise us a turn in our favor,

When misfortunes promise to bring us down

how likely that promise of theirs is to be put off!

Meet that promise, so it may be bent

لَئِن زُوِيَت عَنّا الحُظوظُ فَمِثلُها

لَئِن زُوِيَت عَنّا الحُظوظُ فَمِثلُها

إِذا خَسَّ فِعلُ الدَهرِ عَن مِثلِنا يُزوى

إِذا خَسَّ فِعلُ الدَهرِ عَن مِثلِنا يُزوى

If good fortune has been withheld from us, its like,

If fortunes are folded from us, the like of them

when time acts basely, is withheld from the likes of us.

When the action of fate declines the like folds

إِذا قُلتُ أَجلَت سَدفَةُ العَيشِ عارَضَت

إِذا قُلتُ أَجلَت سَدفَةُ العَيشِ عارَضَت

شُفافاتُ ما أَبقى الزَمانُ وَما أَتوى

شُفافاتُ ما أَبقى الزَمانُ وَما أَتوى

When I say life's gloom has cleared, I am confronted by

When I say the vessels of life approach their end

remnants of what time has left and what it has destroyed.

The transience of what time leaves and takes appears

مَغارِمُ يُسلى في تَرادُفِها الصِبا

مَغارِمُ يُسلى في تَرادُفِها الصِبا

وَيُتلَفُ في أَضعافِها الرَشَأُ الأَحوى

وَيُتلَفُ في أَضعافِها الرَشَأُ الأَحوى

Debts, in whose succession youth is forgotten,

Costs wherein youth is shackled in succession

and amid whose folds the dusky fawn is destroyed.

And the noblest temperaments destroyed in multiples

يَظَلُّ رَشيدٌ وَهوَ فيها مُعَلَّقٌ

يَظَلُّ رَشيدٌ وَهوَ فيها مُعَلَّقٌ

عَلى خَطَرٍ في البَيعِ مُقتَرِبُ المَهوى

عَلى خَطَرٍ في البَيعِ مُقتَرِبُ المَهوى

Rashid remains suspended amid them,

A man of wisdom remains suspended in them

in peril at the sale, approaching the abyss.

Upon jeopardy in sale, nearing his desire

إِذا حَلَّ دَينٌ مِن غَريمٍ تَضاءَلَت

إِذا حَلَّ دَينٌ مِن غَريمٍ تَضاءَلَت

لَهُ مِنَّةٌ تَرتاعُ أَو كَبِدٌ تَجوى

لَهُ مِنَّةٌ تَرتاعُ أَو كَبِدٌ تَجوى

When a debt to a creditor falls due, there shrinks

When a debt from a creditor comes due

before him strength that quails, or a liver aching with grief.

Favors cower or composure smolders

وَقَد سامَ طَعمَ المَنِّ ذَوقاً فَلَم يَجِد

وَقَد سامَ طَعمَ المَنِّ ذَوقاً فَلَم يَجِد

بِهِ المَنَّ مَرضِيَّ المَذاقِ وَلا السَلوى

بِهِ المَنَّ مَرضِيَّ المَذاقِ وَلا السَلوى

And he has sampled the flavor of reproachful bounty, but has not found

Having tasted the flavor of obligation unsavory

in it manna pleasing to the palate, nor quails.

He finds neither pleasure in the favor nor solace

أَسِفتُ لِغَضّاتٍ مِنَ الحُسنِ شارَفَت

أَسِفتُ لِغَضّاتٍ مِنَ الحُسنِ شارَفَت

لِذُعرِ الفِراقِ أَن تَغَيَّرَ أَو تَذوى

لِذُعرِ الفِراقِ أَن تَغَيَّرَ أَو تَذوى

I grieved for tender beauties that were close,

I grieve for the frowning of beauty nearing

from terror of parting, to changing or withering.

The dread of parting, changing or withering

وَقُلتُ وَقَد هَمَّت خَصائِصُ بَينَنا

وَقُلتُ وَقَد هَمَّت خَصائِصُ بَينَنا

مِنَ الوُدِّ أَن تُمنى لِغَيرِيَ أَو تُحوى

مِنَ الوُدِّ أَن تُمنى لِغَيرِيَ أَو تُحوى

And I said, as the intimate bonds between us

I said, as the exclusive intimacies between us

of love were about to be allotted to another or possessed,

Were determined to be wished for others or dissolved

لَعَلَّ أَبا عيسى يَفُكُّ بِطَولِهِ

لَعَلَّ أَبا عيسى يَفُكُّ بِطَولِهِ

رِقاباً مِنَ الأَحبابِ قَد كَرَبَت تَتوى

رِقاباً مِنَ الأَحبابِ قَد كَرَبَت تَتوى

“Perhaps Abu 'Isa will free, through his bounty,

Perhaps Abu Issa will loose with his stature

the necks of loved ones already close to perishing.”

Necks of loved ones that buckled twisting

وَما شَطَطٌ أَن أُتبِعَ الرُغبَ أَهلَهُ

وَما شَطَطٌ أَن أُتبِعَ الرُغبَ أَهلَهُ

وَأَن أَطلُبَ الجَدوى إِلى واهِبِ الجَدوى

وَأَن أَطلُبَ الجَدوى إِلى واهِبِ الجَدوى

It is no overreaching to direct my desire to those fit for it,

No transgression to pursue ones hopes

and to seek bounty from the giver of bounty.

And seek bounty from the Giver of bounty

دَنانيرُ تُجزى بِالقَوافي كَأَنَّما

دَنانيرُ تُجزى بِالقَوافي كَأَنَّما

مُمَيِّزُها بِالقَسمِ عَدَّلَ أَو سَوّى

مُمَيِّزُها بِالقَسمِ عَدَّلَ أَو سَوّى

Dinars repaid with rhymes, as though

Dirhams rewarded for rhymes as if

their apportioner had divided them justly or equally.

Distinguishing them by shares, justice was equated

إِذا ما رَحَلنا يَسَّرَت زادَ سَفرِنا

إِذا ما رَحَلنا يَسَّرَت زادَ سَفرِنا

وَإِمّا أَقَمنا وَطَّتِ الرَحلَ وَالمَأوى

وَإِمّا أَقَمنا وَطَّتِ الرَحلَ وَالمَأوى

When we depart, they make our journey's provisions easy to obtain;

Whether we travel, ease our journey

and when we stay, they make home and shelter comfortable.

Or stay, halting travel and dwelling

وَيَكفيكَ مِن فَضلِ الدَنانيرِ أَنَّها

وَيَكفيكَ مِن فَضلِ الدَنانيرِ أَنَّها

إِذا جُعِلَت في الزادِ ثانِيَةُ التَقوى

إِذا جُعِلَت في الزادِ ثانِيَةُ التَقوى

And this is enough to show you the merit of dinars:

And it suffices of the dirhams' merit that they

when included in provisions, they rank second to piety.

When placed in provisions, come second to piety