كم قَدْرُ ما أُخفِي الهون وأَصونُ

كم قَدْرُ ما أُخفِي الهون وأَصونُ

والدمعُ يُعْرِب والسَّقام يُبينُ

والدمعُ يُعْرِب والسَّقام يُبينُ

How far can I hide my humiliation and guard my honor,

How great is the extent of what I hide and guard,

while tears speak plainly and sickness reveals it?

As tears render eloquent and sickness reveals.

قد كنتُ مُعتضِدا بحبل تجَلُّدى

قد كنتُ مُعتضِدا بحبل تجَلُّدى

ألقَى به الأهوالَ وهْو مَتين

ألقَى به الأهوالَ وهْو مَتين

I once drew strength from the rope of my endurance,

I used to be supported by the rope of my patience,

facing terrors with it while it held firm.

With which I faced terrors, for it was firm.

وإذا الفتى عَبَث الغرامُ بقلبه

وإذا الفتى عَبَث الغرامُ بقلبه

فالصبرُ شكٌّ والغرامُ يَقين

فالصبرُ شكٌّ والغرامُ يَقين

And when passion toys with a young man's heart,

And if passion toys with the heart of a young man,

patience is doubt, and passion certainty.

Patience is doubtful, while passion is certain.

يا قلبُ كنت أَدِلُّ منك بعزمةٍ

يا قلبُ كنت أَدِلُّ منك بعزمةٍ

حتى دَهَتْك سَوالفٌ وعيون

حتى دَهَتْك سَوالفٌ وعيون

O heart, I once drew confidence from your resolve,

O heart, I used to think you firmer

until cheeks and eyes overwhelmed you.

Until conversations and eyes shook you.

فسَبَتْك لَمْحةُ شادنٍ من بُرْقُعٍ

فسَبَتْك لَمْحةُ شادنٍ من بُرْقُعٍ

وتَصرَّفتْ بك في الفنون فنون

وتَصرَّفتْ بك في الفنون فنون

A glimpse of a young gazelle behind a veil took you captive,

The glance of a fawn from a veil enchanted you

and varied arts worked upon you in varied ways.

And played with you in various ways.

ووفيتَ لي لما صَحِبتُك في الوَغَى

ووفيتَ لي لما صَحِبتُك في الوَغَى

فإذا التمسْتُك بالسلوِّ تَخُون

فإذا التمسْتُك بالسلوِّ تَخُون

You kept faith with me when I accompanied you in battle,

And you were loyal when I kept you company in love,

but when I ask you to forget, you betray me.

But if I seek you in sobriety, you betray.

إن الهوى لَهُوَ الهوانُ وإنما اخ

إن الهوى لَهُوَ الهوانُ وإنما اخ

تصروه تَخْفيفا فزال النون

تصروه تَخْفيفا فزال النون

Passion is truly abasement; they merely

Passion itself is humiliation, though they

shortened it for ease, and the letter nūn fell away.

Made it lighter by omitting the N.

لا تَغبِطنَّ أخا الغرام فلو غَدا

لا تَغبِطنَّ أخا الغرام فلو غَدا

ملكَ الملوك فقلبُه مسكين

ملكَ الملوك فقلبُه مسكين

Never envy a man of passion, for even if he became

Do not congratulate one whose passion rules,

king of kings, his heart would be destitute.

For if he became king of kings, his heart remains poor.

يا صاحِ لا يَغْرُرْكَ ظبيٌ كانِسٌ

يا صاحِ لا يَغْرُرْكَ ظبيٌ كانِسٌ

فالظبي لَيْث والكِناس عَرين

فالظبي لَيْث والكِناس عَرين

O friend, do not let a gazelle in its covert deceive you:

O comrade, let no docile gazelle deceive you,

the gazelle is a lion, and its covert a lion's den.

For the gazelle is a wolf and the docile one a fox’s lair.

من كلِّ أَهيفَ ينثنِي لقَوامِه

من كلِّ أَهيفَ ينثنِي لقَوامِه

نَعمانُ ثم لرِدْفِه يَبْرِين

نَعمانُ ثم لرِدْفِه يَبْرِين

Each a slender beauty, before whose stature

It bends its neck to every roar for its body,

Nu'man bends, then Yabrin before whose hips.

Na’man, then for its thigh, Bareen.

كالرمحِ قَدّا غيرَ أنّ سِنانَه

كالرمحِ قَدّا غيرَ أنّ سِنانَه

لَحْظٌ له قلبُ الكَمِيِّ طعين

لَحْظٌ له قلبُ الكَمِيِّ طعين

Spear-like in stature, except that his spearhead

Like a spear, straight, except that its point

is a glance by which the armored warrior's heart is pierced.

Is a glance that pierces the heart of the reserved.

لا تُقْدِمنَّ إذا العيونُ تَعرضتْ

لا تُقْدِمنَّ إذا العيونُ تَعرضتْ

فالسحرْ بين جفونِهن كَمين

فالسحرْ بين جفونِهن كَمين

Do not advance when those eyes confront you,

Do not go forth when eyes accost you,

for sorcery lies in ambush between their eyelids.

For magic lies hidden between their lids,

هي مصرعُ الألبابِ تخدع ذا النُّهَى

هي مصرعُ الألبابِ تخدع ذا النُّهَى

فيروح وهْو رَهينُها المفتون

فيروح وهْو رَهينُها المفتون

They are where minds fall slain, deceiving the man of reason,

Destroying sane minds. They deceive the chaste

who departs as their bewitched captive.

So he goes while their captive, obsessed.

يا رُبَّ لائمةٍ شَجاها أنني

يا رُبَّ لائمةٍ شَجاها أنني

سَمْحٌ بمالي والزمانُ ضَنين

سَمْحٌ بمالي والزمانُ ضَنين

Ah, many a reproachful woman was distressed that I

O Lord, a blamer whose severity

am generous with my wealth while the times are stingy.

Wounded me, though I am lenient and the times miserly.

قالت أضعتَ المالَ هل لك عنه

قالت أضعتَ المالَ هل لك عنه

ما تَعتْاض قلتُ الحمدُ وهْو ثمين

ما تَعتْاض قلتُ الحمدُ وهْو ثمين

She said, 'You have squandered your wealth. Have you, in its place,

She said you have wasted wealth; do you have

anything to receive?' I said, 'Praise—and it is precious.'

Any compensation for it? I said, praise be to God, it is precious.

قالت غنيتَ فقلت حسبُك فاعلمي

قالت غنيتَ فقلت حسبُك فاعلمي

أن البخيل بما له المغبون

أن البخيل بما له المغبون

She said, 'You were rich.' I said, 'Enough! Know

She said you are rich. I said enough; know

that the one miserly with what he owns is the loser.'

That the miser is the one deprived of what he owns.

قالت فإن الفقر هُون قلت لم

قالت فإن الفقر هُون قلت لم

يَهنِ الكريمُ بل اللئيمُ يهون

يَهنِ الكريمُ بل اللئيمُ يهون

She said, 'But poverty is abasement.' I said, 'The noble man has not

She said surely poverty is disgrace. I said the noble one is not

been abased; rather, the base man is abased.'

Debased; only the despicable is disgraced.

قالت فإن المال نِعْمَ معونةُ ال

قالت فإن المال نِعْمَ معونةُ ال

إنسانِ قلتُ لها الإلهُ مُعين

إنسانِ قلتُ لها الإلهُ مُعين

She said, 'But wealth is an excellent aid to the

She said wealth is surely man’s helper.

human being.' I told her, 'God is the helper.'

I said God is my helper.

قالت فإن الوَفْرزيْنٌ قلتُ كس

قالت فإن الوَفْرزيْنٌ قلتُ كس

بُ الحمدِ يَرْفَع أهلَه ويَزين

بُ الحمدِ يَرْفَع أهلَه ويَزين

She said, 'But wealth is adornment.' I said, 'Earning

She said excellent dirhams. I said earning

praise exalts its possessors and adorns them.'

Thanks uplifts its owner and adorns him,

والمالُ يذهب والثناءُ مُخَلد

والمالُ يذهب والثناءُ مُخَلد

يَحيا به الإنسانُ وهْو دَفين

يَحيا به الإنسانُ وهْو دَفين

And wealth passes away, while praise endures forever;

Wealth passes while praise endures,

through it a person lives, even when buried.

Reviving man even when buried.

يا هذه ماذا أفاد بملكه

يا هذه ماذا أفاد بملكه

فرعونُ أو بثَرائه قارون

فرعونُ أو بثَرائه قارون

O woman, what did his kingship avail

O you, what benefit did Pharaoh gain from his kingdom,

Pharaoh, or his riches avail Qarun?

Or Korah from his wealth?

قالت فهل لك من يُعوِّضك الغِنى

قالت فهل لك من يُعوِّضك الغِنى

قلت الأجلُّ السيدُ المأمون

قلت الأجلُّ السيدُ المأمون

She said, 'Then have you someone who will restore your wealth?'

She said is there anyone to compensate your loss of riches?

I said, 'The most august lord, al-Ma'mun.'

I said the most Excellent Master provides.

مَلكٌ لوِ اقتدتِ البحارُ بجودِه

مَلكٌ لوِ اقتدتِ البحارُ بجودِه

لم يَنْجُ من تيارِهنَّ سَفين

لم يَنْجُ من تيارِهنَّ سَفين

A king—if the seas followed his generosity,

A king whose generosity if seas emulated,

no ships would escape their currents.

No ship would survive their currents, ever.

أَبدا يُسابق جودُه أنفاسَه

أَبدا يُسابق جودُه أنفاسَه

بالمكرمات فما لهن سكون

بالمكرمات فما لهن سكون

His generosity forever races ahead of his breaths

His generosity races his breath

with noble deeds, and they are never still.

With bounties, which know no rest.

غمَر البريةَ نائلاً فكأنه

غمَر البريةَ نائلاً فكأنه

بجميع أرزاق العباد ضَمين

بجميع أرزاق العباد ضَمين

He has flooded creation with bounty, as though

He flooded the land seeking beneficiaries, as if

he were guarantor of all mankind's sustenance.

Entrusted with provision for all people.

قاضِي القضاة ومن يُشيد بعد له

قاضِي القضاة ومن يُشيد بعد له

هادي الدُّعاةِ ومن إليه يَدين

هادي الدُّعاةِ ومن إليه يَدين

Judge of judges, and of whoever thereafter extols him;

Judge of judges - who can praise him thereafter?

guide of preachers, and of whoever owes him allegiance.

Guide of preachers - to whom is obedience due?

نَصَح الخلافةَ فهْي شاكرة له

نَصَح الخلافةَ فهْي شاكرة له

حَزْما تميد الأرضُ وهْو رزين

حَزْما تميد الأرضُ وهْو رزين

He counseled the caliphate loyally, and it thanks him

He advised the caliphate wisely so it thanks him

for his firmness: the earth sways, while he stands steady.

For his wisdom that calms the earth while he is composed.

ساس الأمورَ لها برأيٍ صائبٍ

ساس الأمورَ لها برأيٍ صائبٍ

إنْ كان منه شَراسةٌ أو لِين

إنْ كان منه شَراسةٌ أو لِين

He managed its affairs with sound judgment,

He steers its affairs with sound opinion

whether his manner was severity or gentleness.

Be it with severity or gentleness.

لا يخرج التوفيقُ عن عَزماتِه

لا يخرج التوفيقُ عن عَزماتِه

بل صاحبٌ وأخٌ لها ومُعين

بل صاحبٌ وأخٌ لها ومُعين

Success never departs from his resolves,

Success does not elude his resolutions;

but is their companion, brother, and helper.

Rather he is a companion, brother, and aide to it.

شَكرتْه حتى الطيرُ في أوكارِها

شَكرتْه حتى الطيرُ في أوكارِها

فلها بطِيبِ ثَنائِه تَلْحين

فلها بطِيبِ ثَنائِه تَلْحين

Even the birds in their nests have thanked him,

It thanked him until birds in their nests

singing melodies of sweet praise for him.

Trilled joyfully at his blessing.

للحربِ والمِحْرابِ منه مَواقفٌ

للحربِ والمِحْرابِ منه مَواقفٌ

عَمِرت بها الدنيا وعزَّ الدين

عَمِرت بها الدنيا وعزَّ الدين

In war and at the prayer niche he has taken stands

In war and worship he has heroic stands

through which the world has flourished and the faith grown mighty.

That adorned the world and strengthened faith.

للسيفِ والقلمِ النحيفِ بكَفِّه

للسيفِ والقلمِ النحيفِ بكَفِّه

فعلٌ يكون به مُنىً ومَنون

فعلٌ يكون به مُنىً ومَنون

The sword and slender pen in his palm

By his hand the sword and the slender pen have deeds

have a power that brings fulfilled desires and death.

That achieve purpose and confer boons.

نظر الإِمامُ له بعينِ حقيقةٍ

نظر الإِمامُ له بعينِ حقيقةٍ

لم تَرْمِها بين الشكوك ظنون

لم تَرْمِها بين الشكوك ظنون

The Imam looked upon him with an eye for truth,

The Imam saw him with the eye of truth,

which no conjectures assailed amid doubts.

Not blurred for him by doubts.

فرآه عينا للزمان بصيرةً

فرآه عينا للزمان بصيرةً

والناسُ هُدْبٌ حولها وجفون

والناسُ هُدْبٌ حولها وجفون

And saw him as the age's discerning eye,

He saw him as the age’s insightful eyes

with people as lashes and eyelids around it.

While people are bats around them, blind.

لو ضَلّتِ الثَّقلانِ كان على الهدى

لو ضَلّتِ الثَّقلانِ كان على الهدى

أو خان أهلُ الأرض فهْو أمين

أو خان أهلُ الأرض فهْو أمين

If humans and jinn strayed, he would remain rightly guided;

Had the two weighty ones gone astray, he would be guided

or if earth's people proved treacherous, he would stay true.

Or if the earth’s people betrayed, he is trustee.

فرَعاه واسْتَرْعاه سائرَ أمرِه

فرَعاه واسْتَرْعاه سائرَ أمرِه

فكَفاه معْ ما كان ما سيكون

فكَفاه معْ ما كان ما سيكون

So he cherished him and entrusted him with all his affairs,

So he cared for and protected him in all his affairs,

and he met his needs in what had been and what would come.

Sparing him what was and what will come.

إنْ هَمَّ فهْو جَنانُه أو قال فهْ

إنْ هَمَّ فهْو جَنانُه أو قال فهْ

و لسانُه أو صال فهْو يَمين

و لسانُه أو صال فهْو يَمين

If he resolves, he is his heart; if he speaks,

If he becomes angry, it is his paradise, or speaks, his tongue,

he is his tongue; if he attacks, he is his right hand.

Or is loyal, it is his right hand.

وكَفاك من يُثنِي عليه خليفةٌ

وكَفاك من يُثنِي عليه خليفةٌ

أحدُ الرواةِ لمدحِه جِبرين

أحدُ الرواةِ لمدحِه جِبرين

It is enough that he is praised by a caliph,

It suffices you that a caliph praises him,

one of the transmitters of whose praise is Jibrin.

One of the transmitters of his praise, like Gabriel.

أصبحتَ سيفا للخلافةِ حاليا

أصبحتَ سيفا للخلافةِ حاليا

حيث ازدهى بك عاتقٌ وجبين

حيث ازدهى بك عاتقٌ وجبين

You have become an adorned sword for the caliphate,

You have become the caliphate’s sword, protecting

where shoulder and brow alike glory in you.

Its authority, which shines with your effort.

فافخرْ فأنتَ وزيرُها ومُشيرُها

فافخرْ فأنتَ وزيرُها ومُشيرُها

وأمينُها وظَهيرها الميمون

وأمينُها وظَهيرها الميمون

So take pride: you are its vizier and counselor,

So boast, for you are its minister and advisor,

and its trusted keeper and auspicious supporter.

Its trustee and backer, its blessed pillar.

غَرستْك في النَّعَمِ الغزيرةِ ناشئا

غَرستْك في النَّعَمِ الغزيرةِ ناشئا

فتفرَّعتْ لك في العَلاء غصون

فتفرَّعتْ لك في العَلاء غصون

It planted you, while young, amid abundant blessings,

It planted you in abundant bounty, thriving,

and branches spread for you in the heights of glory.

So branches flourished for you at the summit.

فجَنَتْ لها منك التجاربُ مُجْتَنىً

فجَنَتْ لها منك التجاربُ مُجْتَنىً

كلُّ الأَطايبِ حين تُذْكَر دون

كلُّ الأَطايبِ حين تُذْكَر دون

Then experience reaped from you for it a harvest

It harvested from you mature experiences,

beside which all choice delights, when named, fall short.

The finest perfumes when mentioned alone.

فتَهَنَّ عيدَ الفطرِ والسعدِ الذي

فتَهَنَّ عيدَ الفطرِ والسعدِ الذي

لك فيه فهْو بكَوْنِه مقرون

لك فيه فهْو بكَوْنِه مقرون

So enjoy Eid al-Fitr and the good fortune that

So it delighted in your feast of breaking fast and good fortune

is yours in it, for it is bound to the feast's very being.

Coupled with your existence.

قد حَثَّه شوقٌ لفضلك مُقِلقٌ

قد حَثَّه شوقٌ لفضلك مُقِلقٌ

وله إليك صَبابةٌ وحنين

وله إليك صَبابةٌ وحنين

Restless longing for your excellence has spurred it on,

Longing for your excellence anxiously stirred it

and it has ardent yearning and longing for you.

And it yearns for you and loves you.

لقد كان هذا العيدُ شخصا ناطِقا

لقد كان هذا العيدُ شخصا ناطِقا

هَنَّى بك الحُضّار حين تبين

هَنَّى بك الحُضّار حين تبين

Indeed, this feast was a speaking person,

This holiday was a personified being

who congratulated those present on you when it appeared.

Who congratulated you when it saw you clearly.

فاسلمْ له مُستقبِلا ومُشيِّعا

فاسلمْ له مُستقبِلا ومُشيِّعا

وقَدْرُك في العَلاء مكين

وقَدْرُك في العَلاء مكين

May you remain safe to welcome it and bid it farewell,

So greet it, welcoming and bidding farewell,

and your rank remain firmly established on high,

As your station in the heights is firmly established.

والآمرُ المنصورُ يُوِليك الذي

والآمرُ المنصورُ يُوِليك الذي

يغتاظ منه حسودُك المحزون

يغتاظ منه حسودُك المحزون

while al-Amir al-Mansur grants you what

And the Victorious Commander entrusts you, provoking

enrages your sorrowful envier.

Your envious enemies’ sorrow.