ذِكر الصِبا بَعدَ شَيبِ الراسِ تَعليلُ

ذِكر الصِبا بَعدَ شَيبِ الراسِ تَعليلُ

وَالحُبُّ أَكثَرُهُ غَيٌّ وَتَضلِيلُ

وَالحُبُّ أَكثَرُهُ غَيٌّ وَتَضلِيلُ

Recalling youth after the head has grayed is self-consolation.

Recalling youth after gray hair is folly,

And love, for the most part, is folly and deception.

Most love is aberration and misleading.

هَوى النُفوسِ هَوانٌ لا مِراءَ بِهِ

هَوى النُفوسِ هَوانٌ لا مِراءَ بِهِ

وَفِي العِبارَةِ تَحسِينٌ وَتَجميلُ

وَفِي العِبارَةِ تَحسِينٌ وَتَجميلُ

The souls' desire is abasement, beyond dispute,

The soul's passion is disgrace, no doubt therein,

And the wording embellishes and beautifies it.

Though in speech there's embellishment and adornment.

خُذ مِن دُمى الإِنسِ حِذراً أَنَّ كُلَّ دَمٍ

خُذ مِن دُمى الإِنسِ حِذراً أَنَّ كُلَّ دَمٍ

أَرَقنَهُ مِن دِماءِ الإِنسِ مَطلُولُ

أَرَقنَهُ مِن دِماءِ الإِنسِ مَطلُولُ

Beware of human idols, for every drop of blood

Take heed of slaying humans, for every slain -

They have shed from humankind is left unavenged.

His blood by human blood will be avenged.

بِكُلِّ أَرضٍ قَتِيلٌ يُستَثارُ بِهِ

بِكُلِّ أَرضٍ قَتِيلٌ يُستَثارُ بِهِ

إِلّا قَتيلٌ بِحُبِّ الغِيدِ مَقتُولُ

إِلّا قَتيلٌ بِحُبِّ الغِيدِ مَقتُولُ

In every land, vengeance is sought for a slain man,

In every land a victim to incite revenge,

Except a victim killed by love of graceful women.

Save a love-slain, by love's sword cut down.

هُنَّ البَلِيَّةُ وَالأَرزَاءُ هَيِّنَةٌ

هُنَّ البَلِيَّةُ وَالأَرزَاءُ هَيِّنَةٌ

عَلى الفَتى وَالمُلِمُّ الصَعبُ مَحمُولُ

عَلى الفَتى وَالمُلِمُّ الصَعبُ مَحمُولُ

They are calamity itself; other misfortunes weigh lightly

Woes and calamities to men are trifles;

Upon a young man, and the hardest affliction can be borne.

The pressing task's on stalwart shoulders hauled.

مِن كُلِّ هَيفاءَ مَصقُولٍ تَرائِبُها

مِن كُلِّ هَيفاءَ مَصقُولٍ تَرائِبُها

في طَرفِها صارِمٌ لِلمَوتِ مَصقُول

في طَرفِها صارِمٌ لِلمَوتِ مَصقُول

Every slender-waisted beauty with a gleaming breast—

Of every polished Indian blade, its scabbard

In her glance is a keen sword, polished for death.

Holds at its tip a death-dealer well honed.

ما كُنتُ أَعلَمُ لَولا لَحظُ مُقلَتِها

ما كُنتُ أَعلَمُ لَولا لَحظُ مُقلَتِها

أَنَّ الحِمامَ غَريرُ الطَرفِ مَكحُولُ

أَنَّ الحِمامَ غَريرُ الطَرفِ مَكحُولُ

I would never have known, but for the glance of her eye,

The dove's fluttering eyelids, I'd not have known,

That death is innocent-eyed and lined with kohl.

Were arrows, had her glances not revealed.

يا حَبَّذا بَلَداً حَلَّت بِجانِبِهِ

يا حَبَّذا بَلَداً حَلَّت بِجانِبِهِ

بِهنانَةٌ مِن بَناتِ البَدوِ عَطُولُ

بِهنانَةٌ مِن بَناتِ البَدوِ عَطُولُ

Ah, how lovely the land beside which she has settled—

Blessed the abode, where, next to it, alighted

A soft, lovely daughter of the nomads, unadorned.

A sun-baked beauty of Bedouin descent.

كَأَنَّ فاها بِماءِ الكَرمِ خالَطَهُ

كَأَنَّ فاها بِماءِ الكَرمِ خالَطَهُ

ماءُ الغَمامِ قُبَيلَ الصُبحِ مَعلُولُ

ماءُ الغَمامِ قُبَيلَ الصُبحِ مَعلُولُ

As though her mouth, with the vine's juice mingled

As if her mouth, mixed with wine of bounty,

With cloudwater just before dawn, were moistened anew.

Was, ere dawn, mingled with clouds' sprinkled dew.

مَمكُورَةُ الخَلقِ لا أَقصى بِها قِصَرٌ

مَمكُورَةُ الخَلقِ لا أَقصى بِها قِصَرٌ

مَعَ القِصارِ وَلا أَزرى بِها طُولُ

مَعَ القِصارِ وَلا أَزرى بِها طُولُ

Shapely in build, no shortness has relegated her

Of perfect build, no palace can delimit,

To the short, nor has tallness marred her.

Neither fully contain her height.

في الطَرفِ غُنجٌ وَفِيما فَوقَهُ دَعجٌ

في الطَرفِ غُنجٌ وَفِيما فَوقَهُ دَعجٌ

وَفِي الحَقِيبَةِ تَدقِيقٌ وَتَجليلُ

وَفِي الحَقِيبَةِ تَدقِيقٌ وَتَجليلُ

Coyness is in her gaze, and deep blackness above it,

In her eyes languor; above, doe-like shyness;

And in her hips are slenderness and fullness.

Below, on hips, swaying grace and flexing joints.

كَأَنَّها ظَبيَةٌ بِالقَفِّ مُغزِلَةٌ

كَأَنَّها ظَبيَةٌ بِالقَفِّ مُغزِلَةٌ

لَولا الدَمالِجُ دُرمٌ وَالخَلاخيلُ

لَولا الدَمالِجُ دُرمٌ وَالخَلاخيلُ

As though she were a doe with a fawn upon a rocky ridge,

As if a gazelle, loosed from the herd,

But for the smooth, rounded armlets and the anklets.

But for the anklets - solid rings and chains.

حَلَّت بِسَلعٍ فَلا مَرَّ الغَمامُ بِهِ

حَلَّت بِسَلعٍ فَلا مَرَّ الغَمامُ بِهِ

إِلّا وَلِلقَصرِ عَقدٌ فِيهِ مَحلولُ

إِلّا وَلِلقَصرِ عَقدٌ فِيهِ مَحلولُ

She settled at Salʿ; may no cloud pass it

She camped, bringing wares. Thus no cloud passed by

Without a knot being untied there for the palace.

Without an anklet-gift for the palace retrieved.

تَغدُو الرُبى بِالرِياضِ الغُنِّ حالِيَةً

تَغدُو الرُبى بِالرِياضِ الغُنِّ حالِيَةً

كَأَنَّهُنَّ عَلَيهِنَّ الأَكالِيلُ

كَأَنَّهُنَّ عَلَيهِنَّ الأَكالِيلُ

The hills awake adorned with lush meadows,

At daybreak, gazelles in meadows pace,

As though wreaths lay upon them.

As if garlanded with necklaces.

يا رَبعُ ضِفناكَ فافعَل ما سَتَذكُرُهُ

يا رَبعُ ضِفناكَ فافعَل ما سَتَذكُرُهُ

لِسائِلِينَ فَإِنَّ الضَيفَ مَسُؤُولُ

لِسائِلِينَ فَإِنَّ الضَيفَ مَسُؤُولُ

O dwelling, we have come as your guests; do what you will recount

O quarter, host us! Do what guests will ask about!

To those who ask, for the guest is questioned.

For guests query hosts about entertainment.

سَقَتكَ غُرُّ الغَوادِي ما الَّذي فَعَلَت

سَقَتكَ غُرُّ الغَوادِي ما الَّذي فَعَلَت

تِلكَ الجَآذِرُ وَالعِينُ المَطافِيلُ

تِلكَ الجَآذِرُ وَالعِينُ المَطافِيلُ

May bright morning showers water you! What did they do,

Your terrain's hot winds - what have they done

Those wild-ox calves and wide-eyed cows with young?

To those frail, slender-waisted maidens?

بِنا الَّذي بِكَ مِن أَسماءَ مُذ نَزَحَت

بِنا الَّذي بِكَ مِن أَسماءَ مُذ نَزَحَت

بِها النَوى وَالمَراسِيمُ المَراسِيلُ

بِها النَوى وَالمَراسِيمُ المَراسِيلُ

We share your suffering for Asma, since she was borne away

Who are we, associated through the ages,

By distance and the fast-trotting, free-striding camels.

As promises were made and missives sent?

لا وَصلُ أَسماءَ مَردُودٌ فَتَطلُبَهُ

لا وَصلُ أَسماءَ مَردُودٌ فَتَطلُبَهُ

يَأساً وَلا الحَبلُ مِن أَسماءَ مَوصُولُ

يَأساً وَلا الحَبلُ مِن أَسماءَ مَوصُولُ

Union with Asma is not denied, that you should seek it

No lineage connects the names; you seek in vain,

In despair; nor is the bond with Asma joined.

Nor is the rope from names connected.

دَعِ الثَناءَ عَلى مَن لا اِنتِفاعَ بِهِ

دَعِ الثَناءَ عَلى مَن لا اِنتِفاعَ بِهِ

إِنَّ الثَناءَ بِفَخرِ المُلكِ مَشغُولُ

إِنَّ الثَناءَ بِفَخرِ المُلكِ مَشغُولُ

Leave off praising those from whom no benefit comes.

Cease praising one bringing no benefit!

For praise is occupied with Fakhr al-Mulk.

For glory's prince is by such praise preoccupied.

هُوَ الجَوادُ الَّذي إِحسانُهُ سَرَفٌ

هُوَ الجَوادُ الَّذي إِحسانُهُ سَرَفٌ

وَمالُهُ لِذَوي الآمالِ مَبذُولُ

وَمالُهُ لِذَوي الآمالِ مَبذُولُ

He is the generous man whose kindness is extravagant,

He is the generous one whose kindness is lavish,

And his wealth is freely offered to those with hopes.

His wealth for those who hope is spent.

لا الخَلقُ جَهمٌ وَلا الأَخلاقُ كاسِبَةٌ

لا الخَلقُ جَهمٌ وَلا الأَخلاقُ كاسِبَةٌ

ذَمّاً وَلا العِرضُ بِالأَفواهِ مَطلُولُ

ذَمّاً وَلا العِرضُ بِالأَفواهِ مَطلُولُ

His appearance is not grim, nor do his manners earn

Neither friends are censured, nor manners faulted,

Blame, nor is his honor sullied by mouths.

Nor chastity by gossiping mouths assailed.

نَسرِي بِغَيرِ دَليلٍ في مَكارِمِهِ

نَسرِي بِغَيرِ دَليلٍ في مَكارِمِهِ

كَأَنَّهُ في طَرِيقِ المَجدِ مَدلُولُ

كَأَنَّهُ في طَرِيقِ المَجدِ مَدلُولُ

We travel by night through his noble deeds without a guide,

I spread his virtues without proof, as if

As though he were guided along the road of glory.

Upon the path of glory he's been guided.

يا واصِفِيهِ صِفُوا ما فيهِ مِن كَرَمٍ

يا واصِفِيهِ صِفُوا ما فيهِ مِن كَرَمٍ

لِلمُرمِلِينَ وَيا مُدّاحَهُ قُولُوا

لِلمُرمِلِينَ وَيا مُدّاحَهُ قُولُوا

O you who describe him, describe the generosity he shows

You who describe him, describe his qualities

To the destitute; and you who praise him, speak.

To those aspiring favor. And you who praise him, say:

إِنّي أَراهُ غَنِيّاً عَن صِفاتِكُمُ

إِنّي أَراهُ غَنِيّاً عَن صِفاتِكُمُ

لا الصُبحُ خافٍ وَلا الدَأماءُ مَجهُولُ

لا الصُبحُ خافٍ وَلا الدَأماءُ مَجهُولُ

I see him as needing none of your descriptions:

I find him needs no qualities you state.

Dawn is not hidden, nor is the dark sea unknown.

Dawn's not obscured, nor is the dark unknown.

هُوَ السَماءُ الَّتي قامَت جَوانِبُها

هُوَ السَماءُ الَّتي قامَت جَوانِبُها

فَما يُحَدُّ لَها عَرضٌ وَلا طُولُ

فَما يُحَدُّ لَها عَرضٌ وَلا طُولُ

He is the sky, whose reaches rise aloft,

He is the heaven whose sides are firmly standing;

So no limit is set to its breadth or length.

For it no width or length can be demarcated.

لَيسَ الأَمِيرُ إِلى مَدحٍ بِمُفتَقِرٍ

لَيسَ الأَمِيرُ إِلى مَدحٍ بِمُفتَقِرٍ

فَاصمُت فَلَيسَ عَلى ما قُلتَ تَعوِيلُ

فَاصمُت فَلَيسَ عَلى ما قُلتَ تَعوِيلُ

The prince has no need of praise;

The prince needs no praise; so hush! No reliance

So be silent: nothing rests on what you have said.

On what you've said can henceforth be placed.

وَإِن نَفَعتَ فَنَفعٌ لا اعتِدادَ بِهِ

وَإِن نَفَعتَ فَنَفعٌ لا اعتِدادَ بِهِ

إِنّ الطِرافَ بِعُودِ النَبعِ مَخلولُ

إِنّ الطِرافَ بِعُودِ النَبعِ مَخلولُ

And if you help, your help is of no account,

Your benefit, if gained, is no great matter;

For the leather tent is pinned with a rod of nabʿ wood.

For eyes by promise founts are entertained.

يا مَن يَرِيشُ وَيَبرِي واهِباً نِعَماً

يا مَن يَرِيشُ وَيَبرِي واهِباً نِعَماً

وَسالِباً فَهوَ مَرهُوبٌ وَمَأمُولُ

وَسالِباً فَهوَ مَرهُوبٌ وَمَأمُولُ

O you who feather and pare, bestowing blessings

O He who grants and denies, giving bounty

And taking them away—he is feared and hoped for.

And confiscating - so He's feared and hoped!

قَضى لَكَ اللَهُ سَعداً لا انقِضاءَ لَهُ

قَضى لَكَ اللَهُ سَعداً لا انقِضاءَ لَهُ

وَما لِشَيءٍ قَضاهُ اللَهُ تَبدِيلُ

وَما لِشَيءٍ قَضاهُ اللَهُ تَبدِيلُ

God has decreed for you good fortune without end,

God ordained you lasting bliss that will not wane,

And nothing God has decreed can be altered.

And nothing God ordains can be reversed.

خُلِقتَ وَجهُكَ لِلأَقمارِ مَعيَرَةٌ

خُلِقتَ وَجهُكَ لِلأَقمارِ مَعيَرَةٌ

وَجُودُ كَفِّكَ لِلأَنواءِ تَخجِيلُ

وَجُودُ كَفِّكَ لِلأَنواءِ تَخجِيلُ

You were created with a face that shames the moons,

Your face is for the moons a calibrating balance;

And your palm's generosity shames the rain-bearing stars.

Your palm's generosity puts clouds to shame.

فَأَنتَ غُرَّةُ هَذا الدَهرِ مُشرِقَةً

فَأَنتَ غُرَّةُ هَذا الدَهرِ مُشرِقَةً

في وَجهِهِ وَبَقايا الناسِ تَحجِيلُ

في وَجهِهِ وَبَقايا الناسِ تَحجِيلُ

For you are this age's white blaze, shining

So you are this age's most luminous dawn

On its face; the rest of mankind are its white leg-markings.

While all mankind remains in gloom and darkness.

وَلا كُلَيبٌ وَلا مَعنٌ وَلا هَرِمٌ

وَلا كُلَيبٌ وَلا مَعنٌ وَلا هَرِمٌ

بِمُشبِهِيكَ الصَنادِيدُ البَهالِيلُ

بِمُشبِهِيكَ الصَنادِيدُ البَهالِيلُ

Neither Kulayb, nor Maʿn, nor Harim,

No Kulayb, Ma'n or Harim equals you -

Those mighty, noble chiefs, are your equals.

Those decaying, worthless geriatrics!

وَلَو رَأَوكَ وَما أَودى الزَمانُ بِهِم

وَلَو رَأَوكَ وَما أَودى الزَمانُ بِهِم

لِيَمَّمُوكَ وَسالُوكَ الَّذي سِيلُوا

لِيَمَّمُوكَ وَسالُوكَ الَّذي سِيلُوا

Had they seen you, and time not carried them off,

If they but saw you as time brought them down,

They would have sought you out and asked what others asked of them.

They would aspire to you and ask your bounty.

وَكانَ أَفضَلَ شَيءٍ أَنتَ واهِبُهُمُ

وَكانَ أَفضَلَ شَيءٍ أَنتَ واهِبُهُمُ

لَثمٌ لِراحَتِكَ اليُمنى وَتَقبِيلُ

لَثمٌ لِراحَتِكَ اليُمنى وَتَقبِيلُ

And the finest thing you would have granted them

The best thing you could grant those men

Would have been to press their lips to your right palm and kiss it.

Is a kiss upon your right hand and a peck.

أُكمِلتَ خُلقاً وَخَلقاً مِثلَهُ حَسَناً

أُكمِلتَ خُلقاً وَخَلقاً مِثلَهُ حَسَناً

وَالخَلقُ لِلخُلقِ تَتمِيمٌ وَتَكمِيلُ

وَالخَلقُ لِلخُلقِ تَتمِيمٌ وَتَكمِيلُ

You were perfected in character, and in a form as fair;

In manners and nature perfected were you;

And outward form completes and perfects character.

Manners themselves seek to match manners.

غُلَّت يَدُ الدَهرِ بِالأَسواءِ عَن مَلِكٍ

غُلَّت يَدُ الدَهرِ بِالأَسواءِ عَن مَلِكٍ

مُتَوَّجٍ أَنا فِي نُعماهُ مَغلُولُ

مُتَوَّجٍ أَنا فِي نُعماهُ مَغلُولُ

May time's hand be shackled from bringing harm to a king,

Time's hand grasped degraded men, not kings -

Crowned, while I am shackled by his bounty.

Crowned am I, while in his gifts fettered!

تَزوَرُّ مِن نَحوِهِ الأَعداءُ مُكمَدَةً

تَزوَرُّ مِن نَحوِهِ الأَعداءُ مُكمَدَةً

كَأَنَّ أَبصارَهُم مِن نَحوِهِ حُولُ

كَأَنَّ أَبصارَهُم مِن نَحوِهِ حُولُ

His enemies turn away from him, consumed by grief,

From you enemies cower, diminished,

As though their eyes were crossed when turned his way.

As if their sights toward you are blocked.

كَأَنَّ أَعلامَ هَذا العِيدِ فَوقَهُمُ

كَأَنَّ أَعلامَ هَذا العِيدِ فَوقَهُمُ

طَيرٌ وَلَكِنَّها طَيرٌ أَبابِيلُ

طَيرٌ وَلَكِنَّها طَيرٌ أَبابِيلُ

As though the banners of this festival above them

As if above them this feast's standards

Were birds—but birds in successive flocks.

Are birds - albeit ravenous vultures.

لا يَبعُدَنَّ رِجالٌ أَنتَ بَعضُهُمُ

لا يَبعُدَنَّ رِجالٌ أَنتَ بَعضُهُمُ

بِيضُ الوُجُوهِ مَيامِينٌ مَقابِيلُ

بِيضُ الوُجُوهِ مَيامِينٌ مَقابِيلُ

May the men of whom you are one never perish,

Let no men, parts of you, be far outdistanced -

White-faced, auspicious, favored by fortune.

White faced, noble ones, engaging you.

لا نادِمُونَ عَلى آثارِ مَوهِبَةٍ

لا نادِمُونَ عَلى آثارِ مَوهِبَةٍ

إِذا أَنالُوا وَلا صُغرٌ إِذا نِيلُوا

إِذا أَنالُوا وَلا صُغرٌ إِذا نِيلُوا

Never regretting the aftermath of a gift

No regretters of bestowed bounty if granted,

When they give, nor humbled when assailed.

Nor belittling if attained what they request.

لَهُم سَرابِيلُ حَمدٍ غَيرُ بالِيَةٍ

لَهُم سَرابِيلُ حَمدٍ غَيرُ بالِيَةٍ

عَلى الزَمانِ إِذا تَبلى السَرابِيلُ

عَلى الزَمانِ إِذا تَبلى السَرابِيلُ

They have garments of praise that never wear out

They've reputations for praise that do not wear out

Through time, even when other garments decay.

As garments fray when reputations shred.

فَضَلتَهُم وَهُمُ شُمٌّ غَطارِفَةٌ

فَضَلتَهُم وَهُمُ شُمٌّ غَطارِفَةٌ

لَهُم عَلى الناسِ تَشرِيفٌ وَتَفضِيلُ

لَهُم عَلى الناسِ تَشرِيفٌ وَتَفضِيلُ

You have surpassed them, though they are proud, noble lords,

You've preferred them, and they are a fragrant breed -

Enjoying honor and precedence over mankind.

Above mankind they're elevated and preferred.

في العالَمينَ أَقاوِيلٌ تُقالُ وَلا

في العالَمينَ أَقاوِيلٌ تُقالُ وَلا

تُقالُ في الصالِحِيِّينَ الأَقاوِيلُ

تُقالُ في الصالِحِيِّينَ الأَقاوِيلُ

Among mankind, rumors are spoken, but no

About the righteous, tales are not told

Rumors are spoken about the Salihiyyun.

That about the people of both worlds are circulated.

يا مَن لَنا كُلَّ يَومٍ مِن فَوائِدِهِ

يا مَن لَنا كُلَّ يَومٍ مِن فَوائِدِهِ

نَيلٌ يُقَصِّرُ عَن مِعشارِهِ النِيلُ

نَيلٌ يُقَصِّرُ عَن مِعشارِهِ النِيلُ

O you from whose bounty we have each day

O you from whom each day we gain profits,

A gift of which the Nile cannot match a tenth,

Our harvest from its tenth cannot keep pace!

عِش عُمرَ حَمدِي فَحَمدِي غابِرٌ أَبَداً

عِش عُمرَ حَمدِي فَحَمدِي غابِرٌ أَبَداً

بَينَ العُرَيبِ وَبَينَ العُجمِ مَنقُولُ

بَينَ العُرَيبِ وَبَينَ العُجمِ مَنقُولُ

Live as long as my praise, for my praise endures forever,

Live Hammadi's lifespan - his praise forever

Passed among Arab folk and non-Arabs alike.

Among Arabs and non-Arabs circulates.

في كُلِّ فِترٍ مِنَ الدُنيا لَهُ وَطَنٌ

في كُلِّ فِترٍ مِنَ الدُنيا لَهُ وَطَنٌ

كَالصُبحِ كُلُّ مَكانٍ مِنهُ مَحلُولُ

كَالصُبحِ كُلُّ مَكانٍ مِنهُ مَحلُولُ

In every finger-span of the world it has a home,

To every lull in this world he has a place,

Like dawn, it alights in every place.

As dawn - every spot by it illuminated.

وَاسعَد بِعِيدِكَ إِنَّ السَعدَ لَيسَ لَهُ

وَاسعَد بِعِيدِكَ إِنَّ السَعدَ لَيسَ لَهُ

إِلى القِيامَةِ عَن مَغناكَ تَحويلُ

إِلى القِيامَةِ عَن مَغناكَ تَحويلُ

And rejoice in your festival, for good fortune has no

Joyful be on your feast day! Joy has no diverting

Departure from your dwelling until the Resurrection.

Until the final days from your blessings.

مُعِينُكَ اللَهُ فِيما أَنتَ طالِبُهُ

مُعِينُكَ اللَهُ فِيما أَنتَ طالِبُهُ

مِنَ العُلى وَأَمِينُ اللَهِ جِبرِيلُ

مِنَ العُلى وَأَمِينُ اللَهِ جِبرِيلُ

God is your helper in what you seek

God support you in what you seek -

Of greatness, and so is God's trusted one, Gabriel.

Sublimity! And God's trustee is Gabriel.