إلى من حلّ في أفق السّعادة

إلى من حلّ في أفق السّعادة

و خصّص بالرّياسة والسّياده

و خصّص بالرّياسة والسّياده

To him who has alighted on felicity’s horizon,

To him who has settled on the horizon of good fortune,

distinguished by leadership and sovereignty;

and been singled out for leadership and lordship,

ومن وطئ السّماك باخمصيه

ومن وطئ السّماك باخمصيه

ومبسوط الذّراع لهُ وساده

ومبسوط الذّراع لهُ وساده

who has trodden al-Simāk beneath his soles,

and who has trodden al-Simak with the soles of his feet,

the outstretched Arm serving him as a pillow:

while the Outstretched Arm serves him as a pillow:

لعدلك أشتكي من جُور دهر

لعدلك أشتكي من جُور دهر

يُبالغ في مُعاندتي اجتهاده

يُبالغ في مُعاندتي اجتهاده

To your justice I complain of the tyranny of Fortune,

To your justice I complain of the tyranny of time,

straining to the utmost in opposing me,

which redoubles its efforts to oppose me,

لأنّك قد ملكت لهُ قيادا

لأنّك قد ملكت لهُ قيادا

وكفُّ سواك ما ملكت قياده

وكفُّ سواك ما ملكت قياده

for you have taken hold of its reins,

for you have taken hold of its reins,

and no hand but yours has ever held them.

and no hand but yours has held its reins.

ومن بلد تأكّد فيه ذمّي

ومن بلد تأكّد فيه ذمّي

على أن لا يذُمّ فتى بلاده

على أن لا يذُمّ فتى بلاده

I complain, too, of a country where my censure stands confirmed,

And of a land where my censure has proved well founded,

though a man does not speak ill of his native land:

though a man should not disparage his homeland.

ومن عجب رأيتُ الحرّ عبدا

ومن عجب رأيتُ الحرّ عبدا

بها والعبد يُدعى بالسّيادة

بها والعبد يُدعى بالسّيادة

What a wonder—I saw the free man made a slave

And, strange to say, I have seen the free man a slave

there, while the slave is hailed as lord;

there, while the slave is styled a lord.

وقد شاهدتُ فيها الفضل نقصا

وقد شاهدتُ فيها الفضل نقصا

وفيها النّقص فضلا والزّيادة

وفيها النّقص فضلا والزّيادة

there I witnessed merit counted deficiency,

And I have seen merit reckoned a deficiency there,

and deficiency counted merit—even increase;

and there, deficiency reckoned merit and surplus.

وكم من شاهد قد غاب فيها

وكم من شاهد قد غاب فيها

وكم من غائب نال الشّهاده

وكم من غائب نال الشّهاده

how many a man present has vanished there,

And how many a witness has gone absent there,

and how many an absentee has won the certificate;

and how many an absent man has gained a witness's standing.

وكم في النّاس من فطن لبيبن

وكم في النّاس من فطن لبيبن

ولم يبلغ بفطنته مُراده

ولم يبلغ بفطنته مُراده

how many among the people are shrewd and discerning,

And how many a man among the people is perceptive and discerning,

yet through their wit have never reached their aim;

yet has not attained his desire through his insight.

وكم من غائب الإدراك أمست

وكم من غائب الإدراك أمست

تُقادُ لهُ بغيبته الشّهاده

تُقادُ لهُ بغيبته الشّهاده

and how many a man bereft of understanding has come

And how many a man devoid of understanding has come

to have the certificate brought to him in his absence.

to have a witness's standing brought to him through his very heedlessness.

فها أنا ميّتٌ ممّا ألاقي

فها أنا ميّتٌ ممّا ألاقي

بها فادرك مماتي بالشّهاده

بها فادرك مماتي بالشّهاده

Here I am, dying from all I suffer

So here I am, dead from what I suffer

there—come in time to save me with the certificate.

there; so save me from death with a witness's standing.

فلا أخشى وأنت معي شقاء

فلا أخشى وأنت معي شقاء

وهل يشقى فتى ولهُ سعاده

وهل يشقى فتى ولهُ سعاده

I fear no misery while you are with me:

So I fear no misery while you are with me;

can a man be miserable when he has felicity?

and can a man be wretched when good fortune is his?