عَجِلَ الصبَّ وقد هبَّ طروبا

عَجِلَ الصبَّ وقد هبَّ طروبا

فتعدَّى لتهانيك النسيبا

فتعدَّى لتهانيك النسيبا

The lover hurried, springing up in rapture,

The morning hastened as a refreshing breeze blew,

and skipped the love-prelude to congratulate you.

Surpassing to bring you congratulations, my friend.

منكَ بدر المجد قَد ألهاه عن

منكَ بدر المجد قَد ألهاه عن

رشأٍ زرَّ على البدر الجيوبا

رشأٍ زرَّ على البدر الجيوبا

Your full moon of glory has distracted him from

The full moon of glory has distracted it from

a fawn who buttoned his collars over the full moon.

Sprinkling dew on the full moon's folds.

بدر حسنٍ في دجًى من فرعه

بدر حسنٍ في دجًى من فرعه

ما أُحيلاهُ طلوعاً وغروبا

ما أُحيلاهُ طلوعاً وغروبا

A moon of beauty amid the darkness of his locks—

A full moon of beauty in the darkness of its branches,

how sweet he is in rising and in setting!

Unchanging in its rising and setting.

كم تصبَّى من أخي حُلمٍ وكم

كم تصبَّى من أخي حُلمٍ وكم

من أخي لُبٍّ به جدَّ لعوبا

من أخي لُبٍّ به جدَّ لعوبا

How many a man of forbearance he has made lovesick, and how many

How much wise calm my brother possesses, and how much

a man of reason has turned earnestly playful through him!

Playful vigor in my brother stirs restlessly.

لستُ أدري إذ يعاطي كفُّه

لستُ أدري إذ يعاطي كفُّه

خمرةً من لونها يبدو خضيبا

خمرةً من لونها يبدو خضيبا

I cannot tell, when his hand offers

I know not when he takes the cup,

wine whose hue makes his hand look henna-dyed:

Whether bright red wine or cool water.

أَجلا لامعةً في كأسه

أَجلا لامعةً في كأسه

أم سنا وجنتهِ أبدى لهيبا

أم سنا وجنتهِ أبدى لهيبا

did he reveal a gleaming draught in his cup,

Is it a shining goblet in his cup,

or did his cheek's radiance reveal a flame?

Or gray hair whose fire is ever blazing?

شادنٌ وفرته ريحانةٌ

شادنٌ وفرته ريحانةٌ

نشرها ينفح للنُدمان طيبا

نشرها ينفح للنُدمان طيبا

A young gazelle, his locks a sprig of basil,

A branch is waving, and a sprig of basil

whose fragrance wafts sweetness to his drinking companions.

Spreads its fragrance, perfuming the reveler.

ما أدارَ الراحَ إلاَّ مثّلت

ما أدارَ الراحَ إلاَّ مثّلت

حول كسرى منه في الكأس ربيبا

حول كسرى منه في الكأس ربيبا

Whenever he passed the wine, it portrayed

The zephyr turned it as if

him in the cup as a fosterling beside Kisra.

A raisin revolved around his goblet.

لا تقل قطّب من سَورَتِها

لا تقل قطّب من سَورَتِها

مَن تعاطى رشفها كوباً فكوبا

مَن تعاطى رشفها كوباً فكوبا

Do not say its potency made him scowl—

Say not the cluster has soured its drink

the man who sipped it, cup after cup.

For him who quaffs its drafts cup by cup.

بل رآه حول كسرى فاكتسى

بل رآه حول كسرى فاكتسى

وجهُه من سورة الغيظ قُطوبا

وجهُه من سورة الغيظ قُطوبا

Rather, he saw him beside Kisra, and

Rather he saw it revolve around the goblet and so

his face donned a frown from a surge of rage.

His face is frowning from the pain of gout.

لك أخلاقٌ عدتني عن طِلاً

لك أخلاقٌ عدتني عن طِلاً

رشفها من فمه يحيي القلوبا

رشفها من فمه يحيي القلوبا

Your virtues have turned me away from wine

You have manners that distract me from a draft

whose sips from his mouth bring hearts to life.

That he sips from his mouth to enliven hearts.

ولطبعٍ فيك من رقَّته

ولطبعٍ فيك من رقَّته

لي أنفاسُ الصَبا رقَّت هبوبا

لي أنفاسُ الصَبا رقَّت هبوبا

And through the tenderness of your nature,

And a nature in you, from its gentleness,

the east wind's breaths have softened their blowing for me.

Has made the breezes of youth blow gently.

عفتُ منه وجنةً رقَّت إلى

عفتُ منه وجنةً رقَّت إلى

أن شكت من عقرب الصدغ دبيبا

أن شكت من عقرب الصدغ دبيبا

I forsook his cheek, so delicate

I refrained from it, and the tenderness crept

that it complained of the creeping scorpion at his temple.

To my earlobe, stinging it with pain.

يا نسيمَ الريح إنِّي لم أكن

يا نسيمَ الريح إنِّي لم أكن

لسواكَ اليومَ عنِّي مستنيبا

لسواكَ اليومَ عنِّي مستنيبا

O breeze of the wind, I have chosen

O breeze, I have never been

no one but you today as my deputy.

Averse to you, so approach me sweetly!

سر إلى البصرة واحمل عن فمي

سر إلى البصرة واحمل عن فمي

كلماً أعبق من ريَّاك طيبا

كلماً أعبق من ريَّاك طيبا

Go to Basra, and carry from my mouth

Go to Basra, and from my mouth

words more fragrant than your own perfume.

Convey speech more fragrant than your perfume.

إنَّ في منتدى ربِّ حجًى

إنَّ في منتدى ربِّ حجًى

أَحرزَ السؤددَ مُذ كان ربيبا

أَحرزَ السؤددَ مُذ كان ربيبا

Indeed, in the assembly of a lord of wisdom,

In the assembly of the Lord of Miná

who won supremacy while still a fosterling,

Pilgrimage has lodged since he was a child.

طف بعبد الله فيه إنَّه

طف بعبد الله فيه إنَّه

كعبةٌ حطَّت من الدهر الذنوبا

كعبةٌ حطَّت من الدهر الذنوبا

circle around Abd Allah there, for he is

Show kindness to Abdullah there; he

a Kaaba that has absolved Time of its sins.

Is a Kaaba that has removed sins from life.

واعتمد طلعتَه الغرَّا وقل

واعتمد طلعتَه الغرَّا وقل

بوركت من طلعةٍ تجلو الكروبا

بوركت من طلعةٍ تجلو الكروبا

Seek out his radiant countenance, and say:

Rely on his sublime origin, and say:

'Blessed are you, a countenance that banishes sorrows!'

May your rising that dispels sorrows be blessed!

أيُّها الثاقب نوراً كلَّما

أيُّها الثاقب نوراً كلَّما

قصدوا إطفاءه زاد ثُقوبا

قصدوا إطفاءه زاد ثُقوبا

O you of piercing light, whenever

O you whose light, whenever

they seek to extinguish it, it shines more piercingly.

They try to extinguish it, grows more intense!

أخصبت ربعَك أنواءُ الهنا

أخصبت ربعَك أنواءُ الهنا

فبنوء الجود لم يبرح خصيبا

فبنوء الجود لم يبرح خصيبا

The rain-stars of joy have made your dwelling fertile;

The winds of bliss have made your abode fertile,

through generosity's rain-star it remains ever fertile.

So the land of your generosity has remained fecund.

خير ما استثمرته غصن عُلاً

خير ما استثمرته غصن عُلاً

لك أنماه النهى غضًّا رطيبا

لك أنماه النهى غضًّا رطيبا

Your finest yield is a branch of eminence,

The best crop you have cultivated is a branch of glory

which wisdom has grown for you, tender and lush.

That abstinence has nourished delicately for you.

قد نشا في حجر علياكَ التي

قد نشا في حجر علياكَ التي

رضع السؤددَ منها لا الحليبا

رضع السؤددَ منها لا الحليبا

He grew in the lap of your high estate,

It grew in the lap of your sublime ancestress

from which he suckled supremacy, not milk.

Who suckled Sua’d and not just milk.

ذاك عَبد الواحد المالئ في

ذاك عَبد الواحد المالئ في

عزّه قلبَ أعاديه وجيبا

عزّه قلبَ أعاديه وجيبا

That is Abd al-Wahid, who fills, through

That servant of the One who filled the heart

his might, his enemies' hearts with fearful pounding.

Of his enemies with love, even when angry.

شبلك المخدر في عِرِّيسةٍ

شبلك المخدر في عِرِّيسةٍ

ترهب الليث ولو مرَّ غضوبا

ترهب الليث ولو مرَّ غضوبا

Your lion-cub, sheltered in a lion's lair

Your intrepid cub in a litter

that terrifies the lion even when he passes raging.

That terrifies even an enraged lion.

اصطفى المجدُ له مُنجِبةً

اصطفى المجدُ له مُنجِبةً

واصطفى منه لها كفواً نجيبا

واصطفى منه لها كفواً نجيبا

Glory chose for him a bearer of noble offspring,

Glory has chosen for him a splendid mother,

and chose in him for her a worthy, nobly born match.

And has chosen from him for her an honorable match.

وعلى نسلهما من قبل أن

وعلى نسلهما من قبل أن

يلداه قيل بارك كي يطيبا

يلداه قيل بارك كي يطيبا

And over their offspring, even before

And over their offspring, before

they beget it, came the prayer: 'Bless it, that it may thrive.'

They were born, it was said: “Bless them to prosper!”

فلكَ البشرى بعرسٍ سعدُه

فلكَ البشرى بعرسٍ سعدُه

في محيَّا الدهر ما أبقى شحوبا

في محيَّا الدهر ما أبقى شحوبا

Yours, then, are glad tidings of a wedding whose good fortune

So congratulations to you on a wedding whose happiness

has left no pallor on the face of Time.

Will endure in the life of time without gloom.

مسحت قلبَ العُلى فرحتُه

مسحت قلبَ العُلى فرحتُه

بيدٍ ما تركت فيه نُدوبا

بيدٍ ما تركت فيه نُدوبا

Its joy has stroked the heart of eminence

I have stroked the heart of the exalted one; his joy

with a hand that left no scars within it.

With a hand that left no wounds within it.

قم فهنِّي المجدَ يا سعدُ بمن

قم فهنِّي المجدَ يا سعدُ بمن

مثله لم يصطف المجد حبيبا

مثله لم يصطف المجد حبيبا

Rise, O Fortune, and congratulate Glory on one

Rise and congratulate Glory, O Saad, for one

whose like Glory has never chosen as a beloved.

Whom Glory has not chosen as a beloved before him.

وعن الحسَّاد لا تسأل وقل

وعن الحسَّاد لا تسأل وقل

مهجٌ لاقت من الوجد مذيبا

مهجٌ لاقت من الوجد مذيبا

As for the envious, ask nothing, but say:

And do not ask about the envious, but say:

'Hearts that anguish has melted away.'

Passions that have found in love an obliterator.

قد أبات القومَ في غيظهم

قد أبات القومَ في غيظهم

يتجافون على الجمر جنوبا

يتجافون على الجمر جنوبا

He has made those men spend the night in rage,

The people have spent the night in their rancor

tossing their sides restlessly upon embers.

Tossing about on hot coals.

خطبوا مجدكَ يا مَن كم به

خطبوا مجدكَ يا مَن كم به

عنهم قد دفع الناسُ الخطوبا

عنهم قد دفع الناسُ الخطوبا

They courted your glory, O you through whom so often

They vie for your glory, O you whose

people have warded calamities away from them.

Repelling of them has impelled people to court.

وجروا خلفك للعَليا وكم

وجروا خلفك للعَليا وكم

فُتَّ مطلوباً وأدركت طَلوبا

فُتَّ مطلوباً وأدركت طَلوبا

They ran behind you toward the heights; how often

They have followed you to the Most High, and how many

you eluded pursuers and overtook as a keen pursuer!

Sought but failed, while you attained aspirations!

فاتهم منك ابن مجدٍ لم يزل

فاتهم منك ابن مجدٍ لم يزل

في العُلى أطولَهم باعاً رحيبا

في العُلى أطولَهم باعاً رحيبا

A son of glory sprung from you eluded them, ever

So they missed from you a son of glory who has not ceased

the broadest and longest in reach among them in eminence.

To have the longest arm in generosity.

أينَ من في الأرض ممَّن عقدت

أينَ من في الأرض ممَّن عقدت

بنواصي الشهب علياه الطنوبا

بنواصي الشهب علياه الطنوبا

How can one on earth compare with one whose eminence has tied

Where is one in the world whose traces

its tent-ropes to the forelocks of the bright stars?

The comets have contracted to follow?

حسدت شهبُ الدراري وجهه

حسدت شهبُ الدراري وجهه

إذ له ما وجدت فيها ضريبا

إذ له ما وجدت فيها ضريبا

The gleaming, brilliant stars envied his face,

The shooting stars envied his face

for they found no peer for him among themselves.

For he possessed what they must pay as tribute.

وغدا الأُفق الذي زِينَ بها

وغدا الأُفق الذي زِينَ بها

يتمنَّى فيه عنها أن ينوبا

يتمنَّى فيه عنها أن ينوبا

And the horizon adorned with them came

And the horizon adorned by them

to wish that he might replace them there.

Wished he would take their place.

يا بني العصر دعوا ضَربكم

يا بني العصر دعوا ضَربكم

بقداحٍ قط لم تحرز نصيبا

بقداحٍ قط لم تحرز نصيبا

O sons of this age, cease your casting

O people of the age, cease your boasting

of lottery arrows that have never won a share.

With lances that have never gained any portion!

فبأعشار العُلى فاز فتًى

فبأعشار العُلى فاز فتًى

كان كفَّاه المعلَّى والرقيبا

كان كفَّاه المعلَّى والرقيبا

For a youth has won the shares of eminence,

For with his sublime tenth, a young man has won

his two hands being al-Mu'alla and al-Raqib.

Whose sufficiency has been the Most High and Watcher.

أروعٌ وقّر ناديه النهى

أروعٌ وقّر ناديه النهى

فبصر الدهر لم يبرح مَهيبا

فبصر الدهر لم يبرح مَهيبا

A splendid man whose assembly wisdom has dignified,

More marvelous, his abstinence nurtured him,

he has ever awed the eye of Time.

So the world’s insight has not ceased to hold him in awe.

ما النسيم الغضُّ يسري سحراً

ما النسيم الغضُّ يسري سحراً

مُنعشاً في بُردِ ريَّاه القلوبا

مُنعشاً في بُردِ ريَّاه القلوبا

No fresh breeze drifting before dawn,

Is not the tender dawn breeze wandering gently at dawn,

reviving hearts in the coolness of its scent,

Reviving hearts with its cool perfume?

لكَ أذكى من سجاياه شذاً

لكَ أذكى من سجاياه شذاً

فانتشق زهر المعالي مستطيبا

فانتشق زهر المعالي مستطيبا

is more fragrant to you than his virtues;

For you is a wit sharper than its traces,

so inhale the blossoms of eminence with delight.

So the blossoms of glory have opened, sweetly fragrant.

فلبسَّام العشيَّات فِدًى

فلبسَّام العشيَّات فِدًى

أوجهٌ تدجو على الوفد قطيبا

أوجهٌ تدجو على الوفد قطيبا

For the man who smiles at evening, let these be ransom:

The greetings of the evenings are a ransom

faces that darken in scowls before visiting guests.

For faces that shine upon the delegation serenely.

ولرطب الكفّ في الجدب وقًى

ولرطب الكفّ في الجدب وقًى

كفُّ قومٍ جفَّ في الخصب جدوبا

كفُّ قومٍ جفَّ في الخصب جدوبا

And as a shield for the moist hand amid drought,

And for the wet palm in drought, a food

let there be the hand of men dried barren amid plenty.

From a people whose palms have dried up in fertility.

شنَّجته علةُ البخل فلا

شنَّجته علةُ البخل فلا

طبَّ أو يغدو له السيفُ طبيبا

طبَّ أو يغدو له السيفُ طبيبا

Avarice's sickness has cramped it; let there be no

The affliction of miserliness has emaciated him, so no

cure unless the sword becomes its physician.

Cure or sword can become his physician.

أغربت أوصاف ذي مجدٍ حوى

أغربت أوصاف ذي مجدٍ حوى

من مزايا المجد ما كان غريبا

من مزايا المجد ما كان غريبا

Marvelous are the qualities of a glorious man who has gathered

The attributes of one of glory have become strange,

all that is rare among glory's virtues.

Embodying glories that were unfamiliar.

أين ما يسري سرى شوقُ الورى

أين ما يسري سرى شوقُ الورى

فهو يقتاد الحشا منها جنيبا

فهو يقتاد الحشا منها جنيبا

Wherever he travels, mankind's longing travels too;

Wherever glory journeys, passion for people

he leads their hearts beside him like a led steed.

Leads the valiant caravan.

وهو بحرٌ ولهذا فمه

وهو بحرٌ ولهذا فمه

يقذف اللؤلؤَ في النادي رطيبا

يقذف اللؤلؤَ في النادي رطيبا

He is a sea, and thus his mouth

He is an ocean, and thus his mouth

casts fresh pearls into the assembly.

Casts pearls into the assembly pure.

وهو الغيثُ وأجدر أن ترى

وهو الغيثُ وأجدر أن ترى

علّم الغيثَ نداه أن يصوبا

علّم الغيثَ نداه أن يصوبا

He is the rain—more fitting, though, to see

He is the rain, and most fitting that you see

his bounty as having taught the rain to pour.

The rain emulate his aim and strike true!

أين منه معدل الضيف إذا

أين منه معدل الضيف إذا

لِقراه التمس المسنى المطيبا

لِقراه التمس المسنى المطيبا

Where could a guest turn away from him, when

Where is one like him, the host, when

seeking lavish, delightful fare for his welcome?

The land of his towns sought delicious food?

وإذا ضرع الغوادي جفَّ في

وإذا ضرع الغوادي جفَّ في

شتوةٍ واغبرَّت الأرض جَدوبا

شتوةٍ واغبرَّت الأرض جَدوبا

And when the udder of the morning rainclouds dries during

When the valleys were barren in wintry desolation

a winter, and the earth turns dusty and barren,

And the land was desiccated, dry.

بسط الكفَّ بها ثم دعى

بسط الكفَّ بها ثم دعى

دونكم حافلةَ الضرع حلوبا

دونكم حافلةَ الضرع حلوبا

he stretches out his hand upon it, then calls:

He extended his palms therein, then called

'Here for you—a milk-giver with a brimming udder!'

The camels heavy with milk closer.

وغدا يطربُ إذ يسمعها

وغدا يطربُ إذ يسمعها

للقِرى هدَّارة الغلي غضوبا

للقِرى هدَّارة الغلي غضوبا

And he rejoices when he hears it

Then he was joyous when he heard

roaring in an angry boil for the guests' feast.

The copious milk gurgling angrily for the towns.

رثّ بردُ الحمدِ لولا ملِكٌ

رثّ بردُ الحمدِ لولا ملِكٌ

كلّ آن يلبسُ الفخرَ قشيبا

كلّ آن يلبسُ الفخرَ قشيبا

The mantle of praise would have worn thin, but for a king

The cold of praise would perish were it not for a king

who at every moment dons glory fresh and new.

Who at every moment wears the mantle of glory.

أطربَ المدحَ إليه أنَّه

أطربَ المدحَ إليه أنَّه

فاتحٌ سمعاً إلى المدح طروبا

فاتحٌ سمعاً إلى المدح طروبا

Praise is drawn to him in rapture, for

He has delighted praise, for he

he opens an eager ear to praise.

Is one who lends an ear to praise eagerly.

عربيّ الذوق يستحلي التي

عربيّ الذوق يستحلي التي

من عَذارى الشعر جاءته عَروبا

من عَذارى الشعر جاءته عَروبا

Arab in taste, he savors the one

Refined in taste, he loves the

among poetry's maidens who comes to him ardently loving.

Maidens of poetry who have come to him as Arabs.

خطب الأبكارَ مشغوفاً بها

خطب الأبكارَ مشغوفاً بها

فأقام الجودَ في الدنيا خطيبا

فأقام الجودَ في الدنيا خطيبا

He courted the virgins, enamored of them,

He has proposed to the virgins, enamored with them,

and made generosity a suitor throughout the world.

So he has made generosity endure in life as a suitor.

فهو عذريّ الهوى في عذرها

فهو عذريّ الهوى في عذرها

وهي من شوقٍ له تطوي السهوبا

وهي من شوقٍ له تطوي السهوبا

His is a chaste passion for her virgin purity,

He is chaste in his love for her chastity,

and in longing for him she crosses the wide plains.

While she longingly traverses the plains for him.

أبداً تدعو له قائلةً

أبداً تدعو له قائلةً

لا رأت شمسُ معاليكَ الغروبا

لا رأت شمسُ معاليكَ الغروبا

Forever she prays for him, saying:

She will forever invoke for him, saying:

'May the sun of your noble qualities never see its setting.'

May I never see the sunset of your glories!