جرد سيوفكَ للجلاد وأشْهِرِ

جرد سيوفكَ للجلاد وأشْهِرِ

واعِلمْ جيادك للطرادِ وشَهِّرِ

واعِلمْ جيادك للطرادِ وشَهِّرِ

Unsheathe your swords for combat and brandish them.

Prepare your swords for execution and unsheathe,

And mark your steeds for pursuit and make them conspicuous.

Know your steeds for pursuit and unleash,

واصبرْ لضوضاء الخطوبِ فإنما

واصبرْ لضوضاء الخطوبِ فإنما

تعدو على متُبرمِ لم يصبرِ

تعدو على متُبرمِ لم يصبرِ

And endure the clamor of calamities, for they only

Be patient for the clamor of battles, for they but

assail the discontented man who will not endure.

Gallop upon the sullen who did not persevere,

وإذا نهضت إلى العدى بعزائمٍ

وإذا نهضت إلى العدى بعزائمٍ

فاحذر تمني الخفض أنْ لم تُنصر

فاحذر تمني الخفض أنْ لم تُنصر

And when you rise against your enemies with firm resolves,

And when you rise to the enemy with resolve,

beware of wishing for ease if you are not granted victory.

Beware wishing humility if not made victorious,

فالمجدُ إذ تسعى لهُ وترومهُ

فالمجدُ إذ تسعى لهُ وترومهُ

مُلْك اليمين ظفرت أو لم تظفر

مُلْك اليمين ظفرت أو لم تظفر

For glory, when you strive for it and seek it,

For glory, when seeking it and coveting it,

is your right hand's possession, whether you triumph or not.

Is kingdom of the right whether gaining victory or not,

ولتَظْفِرنَّ فكل حافرِ سابقٍ

ولتَظْفِرنَّ فكل حافرِ سابقٍ

من بعد غرب السيف موضعُ مغفر

من بعد غرب السيف موضعُ مغفر

And triumph you surely shall: every swift steed's hoof,

And you will gain victory, for every racing hoof

after the sword's edge, takes a helmet's place.

After the sunset of the sword is a place for forgiveness,

أأنِ أتَّبعت هواي أيسرَ بُرهةٍ

أأنِ أتَّبعت هواي أيسرَ بُرهةٍ

تبع المُجربِ لا اتباعِ مُغَررِ

تبع المُجربِ لا اتباعِ مُغَررِ

Is it because I followed my desire for the briefest while,

Should I follow my desire, is it easier in an instant,

following an experienced man's lead, not a reckless adventurer's,

To follow the experienced, not the pursuer of folly,

وتركتُ زوراء العراق ولا قِلىً

وتركتُ زوراء العراق ولا قِلىً

الدارُ داري والعشيرةُ معْشري

الدارُ داري والعشيرةُ معْشري

and left Iraq's Zawra, not out of aversion—

I left the farce of Iraq and no little,

the abode is my abode, and the clan my own people—

The abode is my abode and the kindred my clan,

كيما أُميتَ مطامعي بتجاربي

كيما أُميتَ مطامعي بتجاربي

وأكفَّ أخباراً كبُرْنَ بمخبري

وأكفَّ أخباراً كبُرْنَ بمخبري

so that through my experiences I might put my ambitions to rest

So I may frustrate my ambitions through my trials,

and curb reports grown grand through my proven worth,

And cease news made great in my informer,

قال العِدى عَثرَ الجوادُ ولا لَعاً

قال العِدى عَثرَ الجوادُ ولا لَعاً

وبنو الوداد لَعاً وإنْ لم يعثرِ

وبنو الوداد لَعاً وإنْ لم يعثرِ

that my foes said, 'The steed has stumbled—may he not recover!'

The enemies said the steed stumbled but no fault,

while the sons of friendship said, 'Recovery!' even though he had not stumbled?

And the people of affection, fault even if not stumbling,

فلقد وقفتُ من الملوكِ مواقِفاً

فلقد وقفتُ من الملوكِ مواقِفاً

تعْشى بهيبتها لحاظُ المُبْصر

تعْشى بهيبتها لحاظُ المُبْصر

For indeed I have stood before kings in stations

For I have stood from kings stands,

whose awe dazzled the eyes of those who saw.

Seen with their awe by the prudent beholder,

وعلوتُ فوق أولي الجحافل منهمُ

وعلوتُ فوق أولي الجحافل منهمُ

وأقمتُ أقوالي مقامً العسكرِ

وأقمتُ أقوالي مقامً العسكرِ

And I rose above their commanders of vast armies,

And I rose above the chiefs of their regiments,

setting my words in the place of an army.

And established my words as the stance of the army,

وولجت أسراراً تضرَّب دونها ال

وولجت أسراراً تضرَّب دونها ال

أعناقُ غير مُسارقٍ ومُتسترِ

أعناقُ غير مُسارقٍ ومُتسترِ

And I entered secrets before which they strike the

And delved into secrets which necks recoil before,

necks, neither sneaking nor concealing myself.

Except freely flowing unconstrained and unsecretive,

حتى انتهت هِمَمي إلى مولاهُمُ

حتى انتهت هِمَمي إلى مولاهُمُ

رَبَّ المقانبِ والمراتبِ سنجر

رَبَّ المقانبِ والمراتبِ سنجر

Until my aspirations reached their master,

Until my resolves ended up to their patron,

lord of squadrons and dignities, Sanjar.

Lord of viziers and ranks, Sinjar,

فأحلنَّى الشرفَ الرفيعَ وزانني

فأحلنَّى الشرفَ الرفيعَ وزانني

بأجَلِّ تشريفٍ وأكرم مفخر

بأجَلِّ تشريفٍ وأكرم مفخر

He lodged me in lofty honor and adorned me

So he graced me with the sublime honor and made me

with the greatest distinction and the noblest glory:

With the noblest ennobling and most generous pride,

بحُسامه وكِتابه وكلاهُما

بحُسامه وكِتابه وكلاهُما

مجدٌ يقيمُ على ممرِّ الأعصُرِ

مجدٌ يقيمُ على ممرِّ الأعصُرِ

with his sword and his letter, both of them

With his sword and his writing, both of which

a glory enduring through the passing ages.

Are glory lasting the passage of eras,

فالسيفُ لم يسمح لذي فضلٍ به

فالسيفُ لم يسمح لذي فضلٍ به

وكذا المِثالُ مِثالهُ لم يُسْطرِ

وكذا المِثالُ مِثالهُ لم يُسْطرِ

For he had granted that sword to no other man of merit,

For the sword did not allow the virtuous through it,

and likewise, no decree to match his decree had been written.

And so the exemplar its exemplar was not transcribed,

ولقد قضيتُ مآرباً نجديَّةً

ولقد قضيتُ مآرباً نجديَّةً

ودُجى الذؤابة صبحة لم يُسفرِ

ودُجى الذؤابة صبحة لم يُسفرِ

And I accomplished Najdi aims,

And I accomplished Najdi aims,

while my forelock was dark, its morning not yet shining.

And dark nights of early dawn not yet illumined,

وسَرى بفضلي ركبُ كم تنوفةٍ

وسَرى بفضلي ركبُ كم تنوفةٍ

من منجدٍ يطوي السُّرى ومُغوِّرِ

من منجدٍ يطوي السُّرى ومُغوِّرِ

And riders carried my renown by night through many a wilderness,

And through my merit set forth many a band,

some highland-bound, traversing the night, some lowland-bound.

From stirring to covering the distances and penetrating,

تجري المكارمُ والداء متى أفُهْ

تجري المكارمُ والداء متى أفُهْ

بالشعر ثُمَّ تغيض أنْ لم أشْعُرِ

بالشعر ثُمَّ تغيض أنْ لم أشْعُرِ

Noble deeds and illness flow whenever I speak

Generosities flow and debts when I unleash,

in verse, then ebb away if I compose no poetry.

Through poetry then withdraw if not made aware,

ولَربَّ مُنتزحٍ بأقْصى خِطَّةٍ

ولَربَّ مُنتزحٍ بأقْصى خِطَّةٍ

ريَّان من ماء الفضائل مُغْزِرِ

ريَّان من ماء الفضائل مُغْزِرِ

And many a distant man in the remotest region,

And for many wretched at the edge of stratagem,

sated with the waters of virtue, abundant in bounty,

Flowing from water of virtues abundant,

فصلُ الخطاب إذا المقاصد أُعجمت

فصلُ الخطاب إذا المقاصد أُعجمت

كشف البهيم بواضحٍ مُسْحَنْفر

كشف البهيم بواضحٍ مُسْحَنْفر

decisive in speech when intentions grow obscure,

When speech is cryptic if aims made obscure,

dispelling darkness with a clear, rushing outpouring—

The clear elucidates to the astute abhorrent,

سارت إليه مع الرواةِ قلائدي

سارت إليه مع الرواةِ قلائدي

فاشتاق ينظرني ولو لم ينظُرِ

فاشتاق ينظرني ولو لم ينظُرِ

my necklaces of verse traveled to him with the reciters,

My necklaces came to him with the transmitters,

so he longed to see me, although he had not seen me.

So he longed to see me even if not having seen,

فضلي وبأسي في المقال وفي الوغى

فضلي وبأسي في المقال وفي الوغى

خُلقاً لصهوة سابحٍ أو مِنْبر

خُلقاً لصهوة سابحٍ أو مِنْبر

My excellence and valor, in speech and in battle,

My merit and might in speech and in battle,

were fashioned for a galloping steed's saddle or a pulpit.

In nature to a smoothly swimming or pulpit,

ومُعنفٍ في المجد يحرُق نابهُ

ومُعنفٍ في المجد يحرُق نابهُ

مُتخمطٍ في عذله مُتنمرِ

مُتخمطٍ في عذله مُتنمرِ

And a stern reprover of my quest for glory, grinding his fang,

And responder in glory scorching his fang,

raging in his reproaches, snarling like a leopard,

Disheveled in his severity scowling,

قال اتخذت الاغْترابَ مطيَّةً

قال اتخذت الاغْترابَ مطيَّةً

فارفق بنفسك من سفارك واحضرِ

فارفق بنفسك من سفارك واحضرِ

said, 'You have made wandering abroad your mount;

I answered him the crescent through its journey,

so spare yourself your journeys, and remain at home.'

Though a full moon, without its journey it would not illuminate,

فأجبتهُ أنَّ الهِلالَ بسيره

فأجبتهُ أنَّ الهِلالَ بسيره

بدرٌ ولولا سيرهُ لم يُقمِرِ

بدرٌ ولولا سيرهُ لم يُقمِرِ

I answered him: 'Through its journey the crescent

Leave your blaming me, my resolve and traveling,

becomes a full moon; without that journey it would not shine.'

Are brothers to radiance like the dew and victorious,

دعْ عنك لومي أنَّ عزمي والسرى

دعْ عنك لومي أنَّ عزمي والسرى

أخوا لِبانٍ كالنَّدى ومُظفَّر

أخوا لِبانٍ كالنَّدى ومُظفَّر

Leave off blaming me: my resolve and night travel

Rags when roused a fray and a Khassa,

are foster-brothers, like generosity and Muzaffar—

His hands generously yielded a piercing cutlass,

خِرقٌ إذا عنَّت وغىً وخصاصةٌ

خِرقٌ إذا عنَّت وغىً وخصاصةٌ

جادتْ يداهُ بهاطلٍ مُثعنجر

جادتْ يداهُ بهاطلٍ مُثعنجر

a noble man who, when war and want arise,

For the flask and the poor foot are both,

gives freely from both hands in a torrential downpour.

Drowning in peak and deep red,

فالقِرْنُ والرجلُ الفقيرُ كلاهما

فالقِرْنُ والرجلُ الفقيرُ كلاهما

غَرقانِ من عُرْفٍ وقانٍ أحمرِ

غَرقانِ من عُرْفٍ وقانٍ أحمرِ

So the adversary and the poor man, both

And when the fire of kindling goes out, its fire,

are drowned in bounty and dark crimson blood.

Guides the riders of the gloomy sparkling,

وإذا خَبَتْ نارُ اليَفاع فَنارُه

وإذا خَبَتْ نارُ اليَفاع فَنارُه

تهدي ركابَ الخابطِ المُتنور

تهدي ركابَ الخابطِ المُتنور

And when the hilltop fire dies out, his fire

A fire about to through generosities and dew,

guides the mounts of the groping traveler seeking firelight.

Be extinguished, were it not for might it would not ignite,

نارٌ تكادُ من المكارمِ والنَّدى

نارٌ تكادُ من المكارمِ والنَّدى

تخبو فلولا البأس لم تتسعَّرِ

تخبو فلولا البأس لم تتسعَّرِ

A fire that, through his virtues and generosity, would almost

Raised for Bujlah who his habit is,

die out; were it not for valor, it would never blaze.

Striking skulls under the shade of camphor trees,

رُفعتْ لأبْلجَ من كِنانةَ دأبُهُ

رُفعتْ لأبْلجَ من كِنانةَ دأبُهُ

ضربُ الجماجم تحت ظلِّ العثير

ضربُ الجماجم تحت ظلِّ العثير

Raised for a bright-faced man of Kinana, whose custom

For one blameworthy in generosity the lash of his right,

is to strike skulls beneath the canopy of dust;

Scornful of the torrent of the towering cascade,

لمُعذَّلٍ في الجودِ صَوْبُ يمينه

لمُعذَّلٍ في الجودِ صَوْبُ يمينه

يُزري بسيل الشاهق المُتحدر

يُزري بسيل الشاهق المُتحدر

for one reproached for his bounty, whose right hand's downpour

He sold well-being for praise willfully,

puts to shame the torrent descending from a lofty peak.

And bought praise through wealth, most profitable trade,

باعَ الثَّراء من الثَّناءِ بطيبهِ

باعَ الثَّراء من الثَّناءِ بطيبهِ

وشرا الثَّنا بالمال أربحُ مُتْجرِ

وشرا الثَّنا بالمال أربحُ مُتْجرِ

He sold wealth for the sweetness of praise,

For when hands are emptied in the morn, he is

and bought praise with money—the most profitable trade.

Filled from honor of the exalted and pride,

فإذا غدا صفرَ اليدينِ فإنَّهُ

فإذا غدا صفرَ اليدينِ فإنَّهُ

مَلآنُ من شرفِ العُلى والمَفخر

مَلآنُ من شرفِ العُلى والمَفخر

So when he becomes empty-handed, he is

Easy of temper and affection both,

filled with the honor of eminence and glory.

Not bored by request nor arrogant,

سهلُ الخلائفِ والودادِ كِليْهما

سهلُ الخلائفِ والودادِ كِليْهما

لا بالملول هوىً ولا المُتكبر

لا بالملول هوىً ولا المُتكبر

Gentle in his dispositions and his affection alike,

Cloaks of privacy lifted when called,

neither fickle in love nor arrogant.

To the noble from a humble bountiful,

تنجاب أستار الحجاب إذا انْتدى

تنجاب أستار الحجاب إذا انْتدى

للحيَّ عن مُتواضعٍ مُتوفرٍ

للحيَّ عن مُتواضعٍ مُتوفرٍ

The curtains of concealment draw aside when he joins the assembly,

His impact feared for the radiance of his face,

for the tribe, revealing a humble, dignified man.

And for many a lightning with warnings threatening,

تُخشى سُطاهُ على طلاقة وجههِ

تُخشى سُطاهُ على طلاقة وجههِ

ولرُبَّ بَرقٍ بالصَّواعق مُنذرِ

ولرُبَّ بَرقٍ بالصَّواعق مُنذرِ

His might is feared despite his smiling face;

His swords used to clashing with warriors,

how often lightning gives warning of thunderbolts!

So a sheathed were it not unsheathed would almost shine,

ألِفتْ قِراعَ الدارعينَ سيوفُهُ

ألِفتْ قِراعَ الدارعينَ سيوفُهُ

فيكادُ يمرقُ مغمدٌ لم يُشهرِ

فيكادُ يمرقُ مغمدٌ لم يُشهرِ

His swords are accustomed to clashing with armored men,

And his spears used to plunging into the fray,

so even a sheathed blade almost darts forth before being drawn.

So when they went for the stab they did not waver,

وتعوَّدتْ خوض النُّحور رماحُه

وتعوَّدتْ خوض النُّحور رماحُه

فإذا جرتْ للطعن لم تتأطَّرِ

فإذا جرتْ للطعن لم تتأطَّرِ

His spears are accustomed to plunging into throats,

And his steeds singing from roses of blood,

and when they run to pierce, they do not bend.

In war without praising the pure green myrtle,

وغَنِينَ من وِرْدِ الدماء جيادُه

وغَنِينَ من وِرْدِ الدماء جيادُه

في الحرب عن رود النَّمير الأخضر

في الحرب عن رود النَّمير الأخضر

His steeds' draughts of blood have spared them

A youth whom the prime of face awes,

in war from seeking clear, green water.

Beneath the turban from the illumined dawn,

زَوْلٌ تعيض الحيَّ غُرةُ وجهه

زَوْلٌ تعيض الحيَّ غُرةُ وجهه

تحت اللثام عن الصباح المُسفر

تحت اللثام عن الصباح المُسفر

A wondrous man: his face's radiance serves his tribe,

Do not chide him for infatuation with youth,

beneath his veil, in place of the shining dawn.

Deceptions nor distract him with splendor of scene,

لا تَطَّبيهِ مع الشَّبيبة للْهوى

لا تَطَّبيهِ مع الشَّبيبة للْهوى

خُدعٌ ولا تلهيه بهجةُ منظر

خُدعٌ ولا تلهيه بهجةُ منظر

Despite his youth, he is not lured toward desire

From the excess of his ambition and love of dignity,

by enticements, nor does a lovely sight distract him.

His hairline has grayed though not yet aged,

من فَرْط هِمَّته وحُبِّ وقارهِ

من فَرْط هِمَّته وحُبِّ وقارهِ

قد شاب مفرقهُ ولمَّا يكبُرِ

قد شاب مفرقهُ ولمَّا يكبُرِ

From the greatness of his ambition and his love of dignity,

Calm when thanking guests for the night,

his hair-part has turned gray before he has grown old.

In darkness, yet his full moon did not thank,

قارٍ إذا شكر المَبيتَ ضُيوفُهُ

قارٍ إذا شكر المَبيتَ ضُيوفُهُ

في دُهْمَةٍ فعشاره لم تشكر

في دُهْمَةٍ فعشاره لم تشكر

A host: when his guests give thanks for their night's lodging

And when the eyelids yellow in dusty air,

in darkness, his pregnant she-camels give no thanks.

His eyelids are filled they did not yellow,

وإذا الجفانُ صَفِرْنَ في مُغبرَّة

وإذا الجفانُ صَفِرْنَ في مُغبرَّة

فجفانه مملوءةٌ لم تصفرِ

فجفانه مملوءةٌ لم تصفرِ

And when serving bowls stand empty in a dust-laden drought,

And he who repays remembering a slip,

his bowls remain full, never empty.

Did not meet with forgiveness for the sin from the rememberer,

وإذا الذي يجزي تذكُّرَ هفْوةٍ

وإذا الذي يجزي تذكُّرَ هفْوةٍ

لم تُلْفهِ للذنبِ بالمُتذكرِ

لم تُلْفهِ للذنبِ بالمُتذكرِ

And when one seeking retribution remembers a lapse,

He pardons when able over the enemy,

you will not find him remembering the offense.

As if from his forbearance unable,

يعفو إذا قدرتْ يداهُ على العِدى

يعفو إذا قدرتْ يداهُ على العِدى

فكأنه من حلمه لم يقدرِ

فكأنه من حلمه لم يقدرِ

He forgives when his hands have power over his foes,

How many stances did the prince overcome with his view,

as though his forbearance left him powerless.

Perplexing the hyenas too hasty and thoughtless,

كم موقفٍ غَلب الأميرُ برأيهِ

كم موقفٍ غَلب الأميرُ برأيهِ

بيضَ الظُّبى عجلانَ لم يتفكَّرِ

بيضَ الظُّبى عجلانَ لم يتفكَّرِ

How often, in a crisis, has the emir by his judgment surpassed

A view being vanguard over the unseen,

the white sword-edges, acting swiftly, without deliberation!

For the concealed concealed is like the apparent,

رأيٌ يكون على الغُيوبِ طليعةً

رأيٌ يكون على الغُيوبِ طليعةً

فالمُضمرُ المكنونُ مثلُ المُظْهَر

فالمُضمرُ المكنونُ مثلُ المُظْهَر

A judgment that scouts out things unseen,

That Ibn Hammad is refuge for the fearful,

so what is hidden and concealed is like what is revealed.

And a dove for enemies and wealth for the destitute,

أنَّ ابنَ حمَّادٍ لَمَلَجْأ خائفٍ

أنَّ ابنَ حمَّادٍ لَمَلَجْأ خائفٍ

وحمامُ أعداءٍ وثروةُ مُعسر

وحمامُ أعداءٍ وثروةُ مُعسر

Indeed, Ibn Hammad is a refuge for the fearful,

Faithful when pledging covenants to the taker,

death to enemies, and wealth to the impoverished.

The excuse for loyalty while his soul was not excused,

وافٍ إذا بذل العُهود لآخذٍ

وافٍ إذا بذل العُهود لآخذٍ

عذرَ الوفاءُ ونفسهُ لم تُعذرِ

عذرَ الوفاءُ ونفسهُ لم تُعذرِ

Faithful when he gives covenants to one who accepts them:

And thunderer in the plains darkening his dawn,

fidelity excuses him, yet his own soul is not excused.

From what he stirs of the gloomy dusty air,

ومُزمْجرٍ بالقاعِ يُظْلِمُ صبحه

ومُزمْجرٍ بالقاعِ يُظْلِمُ صبحه

مما يثير من العجاجِ الأكدر

مما يثير من العجاجِ الأكدر

And a roaring host upon the plain, whose morning darkens

A torrent as if his horses and his men,

from the murky dust it stirs up—

Are gazelles in the dense shaded vale,

مَجْرٍ كأنَّ خيولهُ ورجالَهُ

مَجْرٍ كأنَّ خيولهُ ورجالَهُ

غزلانُ وجْرةَ تحت جِنَّة عبقر

غزلانُ وجْرةَ تحت جِنَّة عبقر

an army whose horses and men seem

The darkness blinded the warriors so his horses,

like Wajra's gazelles beneath the jinn of Abqar.

Were it not for the gleam of his steel would not be seen,

أعمى القتامُ به الكُماةَ فخيلُهُ

أعمى القتامُ به الكُماةَ فخيلُهُ

لولا بريقُ حديده لم تنظر

لولا بريقُ حديده لم تنظر

Its dust blinded the armored warriors; its horses,

They race so a hawk follows and you see with it,

but for the gleam of its iron, could not be seen.

Raining so the duration of a rainstorm,

تجري فيتْبعُ جارحٌ فترى بهِ

تجري فيتْبعُ جارحٌ فترى بهِ

مُتمطراً يتلو مدى مُتمطرِ

مُتمطراً يتلو مدى مُتمطرِ

They race, and a bird of prey follows; within it you see

In him are the long gowns and armors as if they are,

one swift racer following the course of another.

Mirages of the deserts glimpsing the observer,

فيه السَّوابغُ والدِّلاصُ كأنها

فيه السَّوابغُ والدِّلاصُ كأنها

غُدُرُ الفَلاة تلوحُ للمتبصر

غُدُرُ الفَلاة تلوحُ للمتبصر

Within it, long, smooth coats of mail seem

I stirred them slain in the first charge,

like desert pools gleaming to the attentive eye.

Without repeating and without recurrence,

غاردتهم صرْعى بأوَّلِ حملة

غاردتهم صرْعى بأوَّلِ حملة

من غير تثنيةٍ وغير تكرُّر

من غير تثنيةٍ وغير تكرُّر

You left them fallen at the first charge,

And to the high glory you reached band after band,

without a second assault or repetition.

Goodly praise and goodly origin,

وإلى عُلا بكْرٍ نَمتْكَ عِصابةٌ

وإلى عُلا بكْرٍ نَمتْكَ عِصابةٌ

طيبُ الثَّناء وطيبِ العُنْصُر

طيبُ الثَّناء وطيبِ العُنْصُر

And a clan traced your descent to Bakr's heights,

A people when disdaining silk as cowardice,

sweet in praise and pure in stock.

Wore for their adornment clothes of leopards,

قومٌ إذا كرهوا الحرير بَسالةً

قومٌ إذا كرهوا الحرير بَسالةً

لبسوا لزينتهم ثيابَ سَنوَّرِ

لبسوا لزينتهم ثيابَ سَنوَّرِ

A people who, when valor makes them scorn silk,

Vying in hosting guests when night’s darkness,

dress for adornment in garments of armor.

Blocked its horizons with wind cold and bleak,

يتقارعون على الضيوفِ إذا الدجى

يتقارعون على الضيوفِ إذا الدجى

سُدَّتْ مطالعُه بريحٍ صَرْصَر

سُدَّتْ مطالعُه بريحٍ صَرْصَر

They vie for guests when the darkness

From every flag’s followed desiring,

has its openings sealed by a bitter, howling wind.

In stance the pasture of dew pouring down,

من كل متْبوع اللواءِ مؤمَّلٍ

من كل متْبوع اللواءِ مؤمَّلٍ

في المحل مُنتجع النَّدى مُستمطرِ

في المحل مُنتجع النَّدى مُستمطرِ

Each with a banner men follow, a hoped-for benefactor,

Wolves follow the rear of its encampment,

sought in drought for bounty, entreated for rain.

Trusting their food is from his store,

تتلوا الذئاب المُعْط كُبَّةَ خليهِ

تتلوا الذئاب المُعْط كُبَّةَ خليهِ

ثقةً بأنَّ طعامها من مَنْسِرِ

ثقةً بأنَّ طعامها من مَنْسِرِ

The hairless wolves follow the press of his horses,

Your father was called Abu Al-Jabr the generous,

sure that their food comes from a raiding troop.

Where inadequacy through other was not remedied,

سُمِّي أبا الجبْر الجواد أبوكُمُ

سُمِّي أبا الجبْر الجواد أبوكُمُ

حيث الكسيرُ بغيرِه لم يُجْبر

حيث الكسيرُ بغيرِه لم يُجْبر

Your generous father was called Abu al-Jabr,

Freshest praise in the presence of the noble, as if,

where the broken one could be mended by no other.

Praises of his honor are recited from ember,

أرجُ الثناء لدى النَّديِّ كأنما

أرجُ الثناء لدى النَّديِّ كأنما

تُتْلى مدائحُ عِرْضه من مجمرِ

تُتْلى مدائحُ عِرْضه من مجمرِ

Praise is fragrant in the assembly, as though

O supporter of the faith, you hoarded from sublime,

the eulogies of his honor were recited from a censer.

A treasure, and the like of my affection you did not store,

يا ناصرَ الدين ادَّخرْتَ من العُلى

يا ناصرَ الدين ادَّخرْتَ من العُلى

كنزاً ومثلَ مودتي لم تذخَرِ

كنزاً ومثلَ مودتي لم تذخَرِ

O Nasir al-Din, you have stored up from eminence

I enrich you with praise when saying, though affluent,

a treasure, yet nothing like my affection have you stored.

I did not enrich him with praise, for he is no affluent,

أغنيك حمداً إذْ أقولُ وموسرٌ

أغنيك حمداً إذْ أقولُ وموسرٌ

لم أُغْنه حمداً فليس بموسِرِ

لم أُغْنه حمداً فليس بموسِرِ

I enrich you with praise when I speak; and any wealthy man

And if the doves enumerated me, perhaps,

I have not enriched with praise is no wealthy man.

I was the store for the majestic most perilous.

ولئنْ تَعدَّاني الحِمامُ فربما

ولئنْ تَعدَّاني الحِمامُ فربما

كنُ الذخيرَةَ للجليلِ الأخْطرِ

كنُ الذخيرَةَ للجليلِ الأخْطرِ

And if death should pass me by, perhaps

I am held in reserve for some great, weightier affair [text uncertain].