أَجِدَّكُما لَو أَنصَفَ الصَبَّ عاذِلُهُ

أَجِدَّكُما لَو أَنصَفَ الصَبَّ عاذِلُهُ

لَأَقصَرَ لَكِن عادِمُ الشَيءِ جاهِلهُ

لَأَقصَرَ لَكِن عادِمُ الشَيءِ جاهِلهُ

In earnest, you two: if the lover's reproacher were fair,

I find that if fate were fair to the one who blames it

he would desist; but whoever lacks a thing is ignorant of it.

It would have been shorter, but the loser is ignorant of it

يَلُومُ وَما أَجرى الفِراقُ دُمُوعَهُ

يَلُومُ وَما أَجرى الفِراقُ دُمُوعَهُ

وَلا هيَّجَتهُ بِالعَشِيِّ بَلابِلُه

وَلا هيَّجَتهُ بِالعَشِيِّ بَلابِلُه

He reproaches, though parting has never made his tears flow,

He complains though separation did not shed his tears

nor have its torments stirred him in the evening.

Nor did its nights excite him with their confusions

وَهَل يَرعَوِي أَو يَسمَع العَذلَ في الهَوى

وَهَل يَرعَوِي أَو يَسمَع العَذلَ في الهَوى

كَئِيبٌ لَهُ شغلٌ مِنَ البَينِ شاغِلُه

كَئِيبٌ لَهُ شغلٌ مِنَ البَينِ شاغِلُه

And can he desist or heed reproach in love—

Can he who is blamed in love be reasonable or listen?

a sorrowful man absorbed in the cares of parting?

He is preoccupied by separation that occupies him

أَحَبُّ حَبيبٍ عِندَهُ رَسمُ مَنزِلِ

أَحَبُّ حَبيبٍ عِندَهُ رَسمُ مَنزِلِ

يُناجِيهِ أَو رَبعٌ مُحِيلٌ يُسائِلُه

يُناجِيهِ أَو رَبعٌ مُحِيلٌ يُسائِلُه

His dearest beloved is the trace of a dwelling

A lover has the abode of his beloved who converses with him

with which he communes, or a ruined encampment he questions.

Or a quarter that allures and questions him

إِذا هَتَفَت قَمرِيَّةٌ هَيَّجَت لَنا

إِذا هَتَفَت قَمرِيَّةٌ هَيَّجَت لَنا

جَوىً وَرَسيساً مِن هَوى هُوَ قاتِلُه

جَوىً وَرَسيساً مِن هَوى هُوَ قاتِلُه

When a turtledove calls, she stirs in us

When a white-cheeked gazelle aroused our

heartache and lingering pangs of a passion that kills him.

Passion and murmur of love that kills him

كَأَنَّ الحَمامَ الوُرقَ حادٍ يَشُوقُهُ

كَأَنَّ الحَمامَ الوُرقَ حادٍ يَشُوقُهُ

تَرَنُّمُهُ وَالدارُ حِبُّ يُواصِلُه

تَرَنُّمُهُ وَالدارُ حِبُّ يُواصِلُه

As though the gray doves were a camel-driver, stirring his longing

It is as if the twittering doves and the fresh foliage make him

with his song, and the dwelling a beloved he visits.

Yearn, and the house is the love that joins him

خَلِيلَيَّ ما لِي أَصطفي بَينَ أَضلُعي

خَلِيلَيَّ ما لِي أَصطفي بَينَ أَضلُعي

أَخاً لَيسَ يَخلو أَن تَغُولَ غَوائِلُه

أَخاً لَيسَ يَخلو أَن تَغُولَ غَوائِلُه

My two friends, why do I cherish within my ribs

My friend, why have I chosen in my ribs

a brother whose treacherous harms never fail to strike?

A brother who cannot help his perversities

أَعِفُّ وَلا أَجزِيهِ جَهلاً بِجَهلِهِ

أَعِفُّ وَلا أَجزِيهِ جَهلاً بِجَهلِهِ

وَلا آكُلُ اللَحمَ الَّذي هُوَ آكِلُه

وَلا آكُلُ اللَحمَ الَّذي هُوَ آكِلُه

I refrain, and do not repay his folly with folly,

I pardon without repaying his ignorance with ignorance

nor eat the flesh that he eats.

Nor eat the meat that eats him

وَيُصبِحُ مَطوِيّاً عَلى الغِلِّ قَلبُهُ

وَيُصبِحُ مَطوِيّاً عَلى الغِلِّ قَلبُهُ

فَلا الوَعظُ يَثنِيهِ وَلا الزَجرُ عاذِلُه

فَلا الوَعظُ يَثنِيهِ وَلا الزَجرُ عاذِلُه

Yet his heart becomes folded around rancor;

And he wakes up with hatred in his heart

neither admonition dissuades him nor rebuke checks him.

So neither sermon deters him nor censure blames him

لَعَمرُكَ ما لِلمَرءِ في المَرءِ حِيلَةٌ

لَعَمرُكَ ما لِلمَرءِ في المَرءِ حِيلَةٌ

إِذا باتَ صَدرُ المَرءِ تَغلِي مَراجِلُه

إِذا باتَ صَدرُ المَرءِ تَغلِي مَراجِلُه

By your life, a man has no power over another

By your life, man has no stratagem against man

when that man's breast spends the night with its cauldrons boiling.

When man’s chest starts boiling with its embers

سَيَزدادُ غَيظَاً كُلَّما مَدَّ باعَهُ

سَيَزدادُ غَيظَاً كُلَّما مَدَّ باعَهُ

فَقَصَّرَ عَن إِدراكِ ما أَنا نائِلُه

فَقَصَّرَ عَن إِدراكِ ما أَنا نائِلُه

His fury will grow whenever he stretches out his arms

He will grow more enraged each time his hatred spreads

and falls short of attaining what I attain.

So he falls short of what I attain

وَقَد باتَ ضَوءُ الصُبحِ مِن ظُلمَةِ الدُجى

وَقَد باتَ ضَوءُ الصُبحِ مِن ظُلمَةِ الدُجى

فَما اِشتَكَلَت أَنوارُهُ وَأَصائِلُه

فَما اِشتَكَلَت أَنوارُهُ وَأَصائِلُه

And morning's light has come from the darkness of night;

The light of dawn shone in the darkness of night

so its radiance and evening hues have not been confused.

Yet its lights did not disperse nor its clouds

فَيا مَنطِقِي أَطلِق عِنانَكَ إِنَّما

فَيا مَنطِقِي أَطلِق عِنانَكَ إِنَّما

يُعِدُّ الحُسامَ العَضبَ لِلضَربِ حامِلُه

يُعِدُّ الحُسامَ العَضبَ لِلضَربِ حامِلُه

So, my speech, loose your reins: after all,

My utterance, unleash yourself, for only

a bearer readies his keen sword only to strike.

The sword bearer makes the swords for striking

وَيا خاطِري لَجِّج إِلى الدُرِ إِنَّني

وَيا خاطِري لَجِّج إِلى الدُرِ إِنَّني

أَرى البَحرَ لا يُستَودَعُ الدُرَّ ساحِلُه

أَرى البَحرَ لا يُستَودَعُ الدُرَّ ساحِلُه

And, my thought, plunge deep for pearls, for I

My deepest thoughts, dive for pearls, for I see

see that the sea's shore is not entrusted with pearls.

The sea does not hoard pearls nor keep them from its shores

وَجازِ ابنَ فَخرِ المُلكِ بِالشُكرِ إِنَّنِي

وَجازِ ابنَ فَخرِ المُلكِ بِالشُكرِ إِنَّنِي

أَرى الشُكر لا يَجزِي الَّذي هُوَ فاعِلُه

أَرى الشُكر لا يَجزِي الَّذي هُوَ فاعِلُه

And repay Ibn Fakhr al-Mulk with thanks, for I

Appreciate the son of the pride of kings with gratitude, for I see

see that gratitude cannot repay what he does.

Gratitude does not reward the one who does it

فَتىً عِندَهُ عَفوٌ وَنَفلٌ لِسائِلٍ

فَتىً عِندَهُ عَفوٌ وَنَفلٌ لِسائِلٍ

وَجانٍ فَإِمّا عَفوُهُ أَو نَوافِلُه

وَجانٍ فَإِمّا عَفوُهُ أَو نَوافِلُه

A youth who has pardon and bounty for a petitioner

A knight who has pardon and largesse for the beggar

and an offender: either his pardon or his gifts.

So either his pardon or his voluntary gift

فَلا مُذنِبٌ إِلّا وَأَعطاهُ صَفحَهُ

فَلا مُذنِبٌ إِلّا وَأَعطاهُ صَفحَهُ

وَلا سائِلٌ إِلّا وَأَغناهُ نائِلُه

وَلا سائِلٌ إِلّا وَأَغناهُ نائِلُه

No offender is there but he grants him pardon,

No guilty one sought him but he forgave

no petitioner but his bounty enriches him.

No beggar sought him but he enriched the seeker

هُوَ البَدرُ لا يَخفى عَلَيكَ ضِياؤُهُ

هُوَ البَدرُ لا يَخفى عَلَيكَ ضِياؤُهُ

هُوَ الغَيثُ لا تَخفى عَلَيكَ مَخايِلُه

هُوَ الغَيثُ لا تَخفى عَلَيكَ مَخايِلُه

He is the full moon; his radiance is not hidden from you.

He is the full moon whose light you cannot miss

He is the rain; his signs are not hidden from you.

He is the rain whose rivers you cannot overlook

تَرَكنا الغَوادِي وَاِنتَجَعنا بَنانَهُ

تَرَكنا الغَوادِي وَاِنتَجَعنا بَنانَهُ

فَأَغنَت عَنِ السُحُبِ الغِزارِ أَنامِلُه

فَأَغنَت عَنِ السُحُبِ الغِزارِ أَنامِلُه

We left the morning rain-clouds and sought sustenance at his fingers;

We left the valleys and settled in his hills

his fingertips served in place of rain-laden clouds.

So his fingers sufficed instead of pouring clouds

تُغَلُّ بِنُعماهُ الرِقابُ كَأَنَّما

تُغَلُّ بِنُعماهُ الرِقابُ كَأَنَّما

صَنائِعُهُ أَغلالُهُ وَسَلاسِلُه

صَنائِعُهُ أَغلالُهُ وَسَلاسِلُه

Necks are fettered by his favors, as though

His gifts make necks submissive as if

his kindnesses were his shackles and chains.

His making is shackling and chaining

وَما تَصِلَ الأَيدي وَلَو نالَتِ السُها

وَما تَصِلَ الأَيدي وَلَو نالَتِ السُها

إِلى الشَرَفِ الأَدنى الَّذي هُوَ واصِله

إِلى الشَرَفِ الأَدنى الَّذي هُوَ واصِله

Hands cannot reach—even if they touch al-Suha—

No hands can reach, even if given lavishly,

the lowest height of honor that he attains.

The lower nobility that is his accession

وَقَد طاوَلَتهُ النَيِّراتُ فَطالَها

وَقَد طاوَلَتهُ النَيِّراتُ فَطالَها

وَأَيُّ امرِئٍ بَعدَ النُجومِ يُطاوِلُه

وَأَيُّ امرِئٍ بَعدَ النُجومِ يُطاوِلُه

The shining stars vied with him in height, and he surpassed them;

The shining stars aspire to him vainly

what man, after the stars, could rival his height?

And which man after the stars equals him?

فَلا تَحسَبُوا أَنَّ الغَمامَ يَفُوتُهُ

فَلا تَحسَبُوا أَنَّ الغَمامَ يَفُوتُهُ

بِشَيءٍ وَلا أَنَّ الجِبالَ تُعادِلُه

بِشَيءٍ وَلا أَنَّ الجِبالَ تُعادِلُه

So do not suppose the clouds surpass him

Do not think the clouds can evade him

in anything, or that the mountains equal him.

Or the mountains equate with him

فَما وَلَدَت حَوّاءُ مِن صُلبِ آدَمٍ

فَما وَلَدَت حَوّاءُ مِن صُلبِ آدَمٍ

وَلا قَبِلَت مِن كُلِّ حَيٍّ قَوابِلُه

وَلا قَبِلَت مِن كُلِّ حَيٍّ قَوابِلُه

Eve has never borne, from Adam's loins,

Since Eve gave birth to sons from Adam’s loins

nor have the midwives of any people delivered,

And all females received every pregnant one’s babies,

فَتىً كَأَبِي العُلوانِ تَندى يَمِينُهُ

فَتىً كَأَبِي العُلوانِ تَندى يَمِينُهُ

وَيَندى مُحَيّاهُ وَتَندى ذَوابِلُه

وَيَندى مُحَيّاهُ وَتَندى ذَوابِلُه

a youth like Abu al-Ulwan, whose right hand drips,

No young man like Abu Alwan was created

whose face glistens, and whose slender spears drip.

Whose right hand glistens, his cheek glistens and his sides glisten,

وَلا مِثلُهُ في العُسرِ وَاليُسرِ باذِلاً

وَلا مِثلُهُ في العُسرِ وَاليُسرِ باذِلاً

يَزيدُ لَجاجاً كُلَّما لَجَّ عاذِلُه

يَزيدُ لَجاجاً كُلَّما لَجَّ عاذِلُه

nor his equal as a giver in hardship and ease,

None like him in hardship or comfort, who spends,

ever more persistent whenever his reproacher persists.

Only to grow more stubborn the more his blamer blames him

إِذا سِيلَ أَغنى السائِلِينَ بِمالِهِ

إِذا سِيلَ أَغنى السائِلِينَ بِمالِهِ

فَلَيسَ يَرى أَن يَسألَ الناسَ سائِله

فَلَيسَ يَرى أَن يَسألَ الناسَ سائِله

When asked, he enriches petitioners with his wealth;

When adversity struck, his money enriched the needy

he does not think his petitioner should ask other people.

So he disdains people begging from beggars

أَنارَت مَغانِيهِ وَصِينَت بِلادُهُ

أَنارَت مَغانِيهِ وَصِينَت بِلادُهُ

وَهِينَت أَعادِيهِ وَعَزَّت مَعاقِلُه

وَهِينَت أَعادِيهِ وَعَزَّت مَعاقِلُه

His dwellings shine, and his lands are safeguarded;

His parties illuminated and his country was secured

his enemies are humbled, and his strongholds are mighty.

His enemies were disgraced and his forts were fortified

فَما ضاقَ نادِيهِ وَلا ذَلَّ جارُهُ

فَما ضاقَ نادِيهِ وَلا ذَلَّ جارُهُ

وَلا ضاعَ راجِيهِ وَلا خابَ آمِلُه

وَلا ضاعَ راجِيهِ وَلا خابَ آمِلُه

His assembly is never cramped, nor his neighbor abased;

Neither his call was fruitless nor his neighbor abandoned

none seeking him is forsaken, none hoping in him disappointed.

Neither his hopeful one was lost nor his dreamer disappointed

جَلا كَربَةَ الإِسلامِ وَالشِركُ دالِفٌ

جَلا كَربَةَ الإِسلامِ وَالشِركُ دالِفٌ

بِمَجرٍ تَسُدُّ الخافِقَينِ جَحافِلُه

بِمَجرٍ تَسُدُّ الخافِقَينِ جَحافِلُه

He dispelled Islam's distress as polytheism advanced

He relieved the plight of Islam while polytheism wheedled

with an army whose legions fill the two horizons.

With a flood whose surging ranks dammed the two horizons

لُهامٌ يَسُدُّ الجَوَّ بِالنَقعِ زَحفُهُ

لُهامٌ يَسُدُّ الجَوَّ بِالنَقعِ زَحفُهُ

وَتَدفَعُ أَوتادَ الجِبالِ زَلازِلُه

وَتَدفَعُ أَوتادَ الجِبالِ زَلازِلُه

A vast host whose advance chokes the air with dust,

A stalwart whose attack dams the horizon with wounds

and whose tremors dislodge the mountains' stakes.

And whose tremors make the mountains’ pegs shudder

إِذا سارَ أَذكى النارَ في حِندِسِ الدُجى

إِذا سارَ أَذكى النارَ في حِندِسِ الدُجى

مِنَ الصَخرِ حَتّى لا تَبِينُ مَشاعِلُه

مِنَ الصَخرِ حَتّى لا تَبِينُ مَشاعِلُه

When it marches, it kindles fire in the blackness of night

When he marched, he lit the fire in the darknesses of night

from the rocks, until its torches cannot be distinguished.

From the rock until its lights could not be seen

يَسيلُ بَرَجراجِ الحَديدِ كَأَنَّهُ

يَسيلُ بَرَجراجِ الحَديدِ كَأَنَّهُ

فُراتٌ جَرَت خُلجانُهُ وَجَداوِلُه

فُراتٌ جَرَت خُلجانُهُ وَجَداوِلُه

It streams with rippling iron, as though

The sparks of his iron flow as if it were

it were the Euphrates, its channels and streams flowing.

The Euphrates whose eddies and streams flowed

فَأَصبَحَ دِينُ اللَهِ قَد قامَ رُكنُهُ

فَأَصبَحَ دِينُ اللَهِ قَد قامَ رُكنُهُ

وَأَنجَحَ مَسعاهُ وَثُقِّفَ مائِلُه

وَأَنجَحَ مَسعاهُ وَثُقِّفَ مائِلُه

Thus God's religion now has its pillar standing firm;

So the religion of God was established, its pillar erected

its striving has succeeded, and its crooked parts been straightened.

And its purpose accomplished and its incliner inclined

وَأَيُّ فُخُورٍ ما بَنَتها رِماحُهُ

وَأَيُّ فُخُورٍ ما بَنَتها رِماحُهُ

وَأَيُّ ثُغُورٍ ما حَمَتها مَناصِلُه

وَأَيُّ ثُغُورٍ ما حَمَتها مَناصِلُه

What glories have his spears not built?

What arrogant one did his spears not build?

What frontiers have his blades not defended?

What frontier did his swords not guard?

وَلا عَجَباً أَن يُصبِحَ الماءُ جارِياً

وَلا عَجَباً أَن يُصبِحَ الماءُ جارِياً

مِنَ الصَخرِ في القَصرِ الَّذي هُوَ نازِلُه

مِنَ الصَخرِ في القَصرِ الَّذي هُوَ نازِلُه

It is no wonder that water flows

No wonder the water flows freely

from rock in the palace where he dwells,

In his palace from the rock that is his dwelling

وَأَن يَغتَدِي مِسكاً ثَراهُ وَلُؤلؤاً

وَأَن يَغتَدِي مِسكاً ثَراهُ وَلُؤلؤاً

حَصاهُ وَياقُوتاً ثَمِيناً جَنادِلُه

حَصاهُ وَياقُوتاً ثَمِيناً جَنادِلُه

and that its soil becomes musk, with pearls

That his throne foams musk and his pearls

for its pebbles and precious rubies for its boulders.

Are precious rubies and finest necklaces

زَها بِكَ زَهوَ الرَوضِ دَرَّت غُيُوثُهُ

زَها بِكَ زَهوَ الرَوضِ دَرَّت غُيُوثُهُ

فَحَيَّت بِوَسمِيِّ النَباتِ خَمائِلُه

فَحَيَّت بِوَسمِيِّ النَباتِ خَمائِلُه

It flourishes through you like a garden whose rains pour,

By you the garden’s blossoming was beautified and its rain poured down

its thickets revived by growth from the first autumn rains.

So its bushes bloomed with my tattooing and songs

كَأَنَّكَ رِضوانٌ وَقَصرُكَ جَنَّةٌ

كَأَنَّكَ رِضوانٌ وَقَصرُكَ جَنَّةٌ

يَفُوزُ بِرِضوانٍ مِنَ اللَهِ داخِلُه

يَفُوزُ بِرِضوانٍ مِنَ اللَهِ داخِلُه

You are like Ridwan, and your palace a paradise;

As if you are Heaven’s contentment and your palace a Heaven

whoever enters it wins God's good pleasure.

Winner of God’s contentment, whoever enters it

فَبُورِكَ بانِيهِ وَبُورِكَ عَصرُهُ

فَبُورِكَ بانِيهِ وَبُورِكَ عَصرُهُ

وَبُورِكَ مِن قَصرٍ وَبُورِكَ آهِلُه

وَبُورِكَ مِن قَصرٍ وَبُورِكَ آهِلُه

Blessed be its builder, and blessed his age;

Blessed is its builder and blessed is its era

blessed be the palace, and blessed its inhabitants.

Blessed the palace and blessed are its inhabitants

فَما رُفِعَت إِلّا لِسَعدٍ قِبابُهُ

فَما رُفِعَت إِلّا لِسَعدٍ قِبابُهُ

وَلا اِجتَمَعَت إِلّا لِخَيرِ مَحافِلُه

وَلا اِجتَمَعَت إِلّا لِخَيرِ مَحافِلُه

Its domes were raised only for good fortune,

None of its domes were raised but for felicity

and its gatherings assemble only for good.

None of its assemblies gathered but for the best company

لَقَد أَنطَقَ اللَهُ الزَمانَ وَأهلَهُ

لَقَد أَنطَقَ اللَهُ الزَمانَ وَأهلَهُ

بِفَضلِكَ حَتّى ما تُعَدُّ أَفاضِلُه

بِفَضلِكَ حَتّى ما تُعَدُّ أَفاضِلُه

God has made time and its people speak

God made time and its people eloquent about your merit

of your excellence, until its eminent men no longer count.

Until time’s superiorities cannot be counted

فَأجرى بِكَ الأَرزاق حَتّى كَأَنَّما

فَأجرى بِكَ الأَرزاق حَتّى كَأَنَّما

جَميعُ البَرايا واحِدٌ أَنتَ عائِلُه

جَميعُ البَرايا واحِدٌ أَنتَ عائِلُه

He has made livelihoods flow through you, as though

Through you, sustenance flowed until it was as though

all creatures were one person whom you support.

All creatures, you alone are the provider for them

وَما الجَدُّ إِلّا مَورِدٌ لَكَ صَفوُهُ

وَما الجَدُّ إِلّا مَورِدٌ لَكَ صَفوُهُ

وَمَشرَبُهُ الأَهنى وَلِلنّاسِ فاضِلُه

وَمَشرَبُهُ الأَهنى وَلِلنّاسِ فاضِلُه

Good fortune is but a watering place whose clear water is yours,

And exertion yields only the finest of its essence to you

and whose sweetest draught is yours, while others have its surplus.

While its most splendid remainder is for people

يَرى الدَهرُ قَولِي فِيكَ مِمّا يَسُرُّهُ

يَرى الدَهرُ قَولِي فِيكَ مِمّا يَسُرُّهُ

فَيَكتُبُ فيكَ الدَهرُ ما أَنا قائِلُه

فَيَكتُبُ فيكَ الدَهرُ ما أَنا قائِلُه

Time finds my words about you a source of delight,

Time sees my words about you as delightful

so Time records what I say of you:

So time will write what I say about you

ثَناءً كَنَشرِ المندَلِ الرَطبِ نَشرُهُ

ثَناءً كَنَشرِ المندَلِ الرَطبِ نَشرُهُ

وَحَمداً كَأَبهى حافِلِ الرَوضِ حافِلُه

وَحَمداً كَأَبهى حافِلِ الرَوضِ حافِلُه

praise whose fragrance is like the scent of fresh aloeswood,

Praise like the spreading of moist textiles its spreading

and thanks whose abundance is like the garden's most splendid luxuriance.

And eulogy like the most glorious garden’s beauty

تَفُوحُ عِيابُ الرَكبِ مِنهُ كَأَنَّما

تَفُوحُ عِيابُ الرَكبِ مِنهُ كَأَنَّما

تُضَمَّخُ بِالمِسكِ الذَكِيِّ رَواحِلُه

تُضَمَّخُ بِالمِسكِ الذَكِيِّ رَواحِلُه

The caravan's baggage smells sweet with it, as though

The traveling party’s robes therefrom emit fragrance as though

its mounts were drenched in fragrant musk.

Their camels were scented with pure musk

وَما الشِعرُ إِلّا مَركَبٌ لِي ظَهرُهُ

وَما الشِعرُ إِلّا مَركَبٌ لِي ظَهرُهُ

وَغارِبُهُ وَمَنكِباهُ وَكاهِلُه

وَغارِبُهُ وَمَنكِباهُ وَكاهِلُه

Poetry is but a mount; its back is mine,

Poetry is but a steed I mount, its back

and so are its upper back, its two shoulders, and its withers.

And driving force, its shoulder, and its carrier

سَبُوقٌ إِلى الغاياتِ مَرّاً أَحُثهُ

سَبُوقٌ إِلى الغاياتِ مَرّاً أَحُثهُ

وَمَرّاً أُعَفِّيهِ وَمَرّاً أُناقِلُه

وَمَرّاً أُعَفِّيهِ وَمَرّاً أُناقِلُه

It races ahead to the goals; at times I urge it on,

I urge it to the farthest goals time and again

at times I let it rest, at times I vary its gait.

And time and again I spur it and transport it

بَلَغتُ بِهِ أَقصى مُرادِي مِنَ الغِنى

بَلَغتُ بِهِ أَقصى مُرادِي مِنَ الغِنى

لَدَيكَ فَأَدرَكتُ الَّذي أَنا آمِلُه

لَدَيكَ فَأَدرَكتُ الَّذي أَنا آمِلُه

On it I reached my utmost desire for wealth

I attained through it my ultimate wish of wealth

with you, and attained what I hoped for.

From you, and grasped what I hoped for

فَمَالي وَلِلحُسّادِ تَغلِي صُدُورُهُم

فَمَالي وَلِلحُسّادِ تَغلِي صُدُورُهُم

عَلَيَّ وَهَذا البَحرُ زُرقٌ مَناهِلُه

عَلَيَّ وَهَذا البَحرُ زُرقٌ مَناهِلُه

What have I to do with the envious, whose breasts boil

Why care I what the envious, whose hearts boil against me, say

against me, while this sea's watering places are blue?

When this sea’s expanse is the destination for my attainments

فَإِن يَصدُقُوا فَليَلحَقُوا شَأَوَ مارِدٍ

فَإِن يَصدُقُوا فَليَلحَقُوا شَأَوَ مارِدٍ

مِنَ الجِنِّ لا يَدرُونَ أَينَ مَخاتِلُه

مِنَ الجِنِّ لا يَدرُونَ أَينَ مَخاتِلُه

If they speak truly, let them match the pace of a mighty rebel

If they are truthful then let them attain the ranks of rebellious

among the jinn, whose hiding places they do not know.

Demons who know not where their lurking places are

خَلِيلَيَّ أَيُّ الطَيرِ يَحلُو قَنِيصُهُ

خَلِيلَيَّ أَيُّ الطَيرِ يَحلُو قَنِيصُهُ

أَغِربانُهُ أَم بُومُهُ أَم أَجادِلُه

أَغِربانُهُ أَم بُومُهُ أَم أَجادِلُه

My two friends, which birds are sweetest to hunt:

My friend, which bird's dress is lovelier

their crows, their owls, or their falcons?

Its cranes, its owls, or its partridges?

إِذا قامَ سَحبانٌ خَطِيباً بِمَوقِفٍ

إِذا قامَ سَحبانٌ خَطِيباً بِمَوقِفٍ

تَبَلَّدَ مَعذوراً عَلى الصَمتِ باقِلُه

تَبَلَّدَ مَعذوراً عَلى الصَمتِ باقِلُه

When Sahban stands as an orator in an assembly,

Whenever Suhban stands to speak eloquently

its Baqil falters, excused for keeping silent.

His reasonable silence on stillness becomes his responder

سَأَلتُكَ شَرِّفنِي بِسَمعِكَ مُقبِلاً

سَأَلتُكَ شَرِّفنِي بِسَمعِكَ مُقبِلاً

عَلَيَّ لَيَبدُو حَقُّ أَمرٍ وَباطِلُه

عَلَيَّ لَيَبدُو حَقُّ أَمرٍ وَباطِلُه

I ask you: honor me with your listening, attentive

I asked you to honor me by listening closely

to me, so that a matter's truth and falsehood may appear.

To reveal the truth of a matter and its falseness

وَحَكِّم عَلى النُطقِ الَّذي أَنتَ سامِعٌ

وَحَكِّم عَلى النُطقِ الَّذي أَنتَ سامِعٌ

جَميلَكَ وَالبَذلَ الَّذي أَنتَ باذِلُه

جَميلَكَ وَالبَذلَ الَّذي أَنتَ باذِلُه

And appoint as judges over the speech you hear

And judge the speech you are hearing

your kindness and the generosity you bestow.

By your beauty and open-handedness you are known for

فَما تَخذِلُ الأَيّامُ ما أَنتَ ناصِرٌ

فَما تَخذِلُ الأَيّامُ ما أَنتَ ناصِرٌ

وَلا تَنصُرُ الأَيّامُ ما أَنتَ خاذِلُه

وَلا تَنصُرُ الأَيّامُ ما أَنتَ خاذِلُه

The days do not forsake what you support,

For the days do not fail what you defend

nor do the days support what you forsake.

Nor do the days assist what you abandon

وَهُنِّيتَ بِالعِيدِ الَّذي أَنتَ حُسنُهُ

وَهُنِّيتَ بِالعِيدِ الَّذي أَنتَ حُسنُهُ

كَما أَنَّ حُسنَ الذابِلِ اللَدنِ عامِلُه

كَما أَنَّ حُسنَ الذابِلِ اللَدنِ عامِلُه

May you be blessed in the feast whose beauty you are,

You were felicitated for the holiday which is your beauty

as the supple, slender spear's beauty is its point.

Just as the beauty of the languid doe is made by her caretaker

إِذا ما مَضى عامٌ تَسَربَلتَ سَعدَهُ

إِذا ما مَضى عامٌ تَسَربَلتَ سَعدَهُ

وَوافاكَ بِالإِقبالِ وَالسَعدِ قابِلُه

وَوافاكَ بِالإِقبالِ وَالسَعدِ قابِلُه

Whenever a year passes, you clothe yourself in its good fortune,

When a year passes, you dress in its prosperity

and the next comes to you with prosperity and good fortune.

And its auspiciousness and felicity come to greet you

وَلا عَدِمَت خَفقَ البُنُودِ جُيوشُهُ

وَلا عَدِمَت خَفقَ البُنُودِ جُيوشُهُ

وَلا فارَقَت عَركَ الوُفودِ مَنازِلُه

وَلا فارَقَت عَركَ الوُفودِ مَنازِلُه

May his armies never lack the flutter of banners,

The quivering flags’ battalions never receded

and may his dwellings never be without the jostling of delegations.

Nor did the pilgrims’ caravans leave their stations