قُلْ للكمال مقال مُولي حِلْفَةٍ

قُلْ للكمال مقال مُولي حِلْفَةٍ

كذب الوشاةُ وغيْركَ المَذْمومُ

كذب الوشاةُ وغيْركَ المَذْمومُ

Speak to al-Kamāl in words whose ornament is lucid expression:

Tell al-Kamal, in the words of one swearing an oath:

The tale-bearers lied, and the blameworthy one changed you.

The slanderers lied; it is someone other than you who is censured.

أحْفظتموني في المعاش فلم أجُزْ

أحْفظتموني في المعاش فلم أجُزْ

لُطفَ العِتابِ ولا اطبَّاني اللُّوم

لُطفَ العِتابِ ولا اطبَّاني اللُّوم

You made me indignant over my livelihood, yet I did not go beyond—

You angered me over my livelihood, yet I did not go beyond

the gentleness of reproach, nor did censure beguile me.

gentle reproach, nor did blame entice me.

وقطعتُ عامي ساغباً مُتلدِّداً

وقطعتُ عامي ساغباً مُتلدِّداً

والقولُ سِلْمٌ والفؤادُ سليمُ

والقولُ سِلْمٌ والفؤادُ سليمُ

I spent my year famished, looking about in bewilderment,

I passed my year hungry, looking about in bewilderment,

while my words were peaceable and my heart untainted.

while my speech remained peaceful and my heart untainted.

وبدون ما لاقيتُ خَفَّ موَقَّرٌ

وبدون ما لاقيتُ خَفَّ موَقَّرٌ

قَبْلي وطارَ إِلى السَّفاهِ حليمُ

قَبْلي وطارَ إِلى السَّفاهِ حليمُ

For less than what I endured, a revered man would have lost his gravity

For less than I endured, a respected man grew frivolous

before me, and a forbearing man would have flown into folly.

before me, and a forbearing man flew into folly.

فعلامَ ساءَ الظنُّ فيَّ وهِمَّتي

فعلامَ ساءَ الظنُّ فيَّ وهِمَّتي

معلومةٌ وتماسُكي مَعْلومُ

معلومةٌ وتماسُكي مَعْلومُ

Why, then, was I thought ill of, when my mettle

So why was I thought ill of, when my resolve

is known, and my self-command is known?

is known, and my self-restraint is known?

حاشا أبا الرَّيانِ يُهجى عِرضهُ

حاشا أبا الرَّيانِ يُهجى عِرضهُ

والوجهُ أبْلجُ والبنانُ كريمُ

والوجهُ أبْلجُ والبنانُ كريمُ

Far be it from Abu al-Rayyan to revile his honor,

Far be it that Abu al-Rayyan's honor should be reviled in verse,

when his countenance is radiant and his hand generous.

while his face is radiant and his fingers generous.

جَمُّ المناقبِ لاحِماهُ محَلَّلٌ

جَمُّ المناقبِ لاحِماهُ محَلَّلٌ

يوماً ولا باغي النَّدى محرومُ

يوماً ولا باغي النَّدى محرومُ

Abounding in virtues, his protected honor is never fair game,

Rich in virtues, his protected domain is not open to trespass

nor is any seeker of bounty ever turned away.

on any day, nor is a seeker of bounty denied.

عَذْبُ المكاسِر سهلةٌ أخْلاقُهُ

عَذْبُ المكاسِر سهلةٌ أخْلاقُهُ

غيْرانُ ينهضُ بالعُلى ويقومُ

غيْرانُ ينهضُ بالعُلى ويقومُ

Gracious in close dealings, gentle in his ways;

Sweet in disposition, his manners are gentle;

jealous for honor, he rises for lofty glory and stands firm.

zealous for honor, he champions noble deeds and upholds them.