قالوا فَما ذاك فَقال ذكروا

قالوا فَما ذاك فَقال ذكروا

وَهوَ حَديث شائع مُشتهر

وَهوَ حَديث شائع مُشتهر

They said, “And then?” He said, “They relate

They said, ‘What is that?’ He said: They relate—

a famous, well-known tale:

and it is a widespread, well-known tale—

إِن أَميراً كانَ بِالأَهواز

إِن أَميراً كانَ بِالأَهواز

وَملكه بِالشام وَالحِجاز

وَملكه بِالشام وَالحِجاز

Once there was a prince in Ahvaz,

that an emir was in Ahwaz,

whose kingdom embraced Syria and the Hijaz.

and his kingdom lay in al-Sham and the Hijaz.

لَهُ مِن القِلاع وَالدساكر

لَهُ مِن القِلاع وَالدساكر

وَالمال وَالجُنود وَالعَساكر

وَالمال وَالجُنود وَالعَساكر

He possessed fortresses and estates,

He possessed fortresses and estates,

wealth, soldiers, and armies

wealth, troops, and armies,

ما لَيسَ في كُل الملوك لأَحد

ما لَيسَ في كُل الملوك لأَحد

وَكانَ مَع ذَلِكَ لَم يُرزق وَلد

وَكانَ مَع ذَلِكَ لَم يُرزق وَلد

such as no other king possessed;

such as no king among them all possessed.

yet with all this, he was granted no child.

Yet he had not been granted a child,

حَتَّى إِذا ما صارَ شَيخاً فانياً

حَتَّى إِذا ما صارَ شَيخاً فانياً

جاءتهُ بِنت تَستَحق الرائيا

جاءتهُ بِنت تَستَحق الرائيا

Until, when he had become a feeble old man,

until, when he had become a decrepit old man,

a daughter came to him—a delight to behold.

a daughter was born to him, worthy of a beholder’s regard.

مَليحَةٌ فشغفته حُبا

مَليحَةٌ فشغفته حُبا

وَلَم تَزَل في حجره تربى

وَلَم تَزَل في حجره تربى

Beautiful, she captivated him with love,

Lovely, she captivated him with love,

and she continued to grow, reared in his care.

and she continued to be reared in his lap.

وَهوَ عَلَيها حذر شَفيق

وَهوَ عَلَيها حذر شَفيق

ببرها وَحفظِها حَقيق

ببرها وَحفظِها حَقيق

He watched over her, wary and tender,

He was watchful over her and tender,

rightly bound to cherish and protect her.

fit to cherish and protect her.

وَقالَ لا أنكحها فَلا أَرى

وَقالَ لا أنكحها فَلا أَرى

كفوءاً لها مؤازيا بَينَ الوَرى

كفوءاً لها مؤازيا بَينَ الوَرى

He said, “I will not marry her off, for I see

He said, ‘I will not marry her off, for I see no

no equal match for her among mankind.

worthy match for her, no equal among humankind.’

وَكُل مَن يخطبها من ملك

وَكُل مَن يخطبها من ملك

يجيبه بِسَطوة المنتهك

يجيبه بِسَطوة المنتهك

Any king who seeks her hand

And every king who sought her hand

I will answer with the violence of an outraged man.”

he answered with an aggressor’s fury.

فَدخل الحَمام يَوماً فاحتجم

فَدخل الحَمام يَوماً فاحتجم

وَحَولهُ جَماعة مِن الخَدَم

وَحَولهُ جَماعة مِن الخَدَم

One day he entered the bathhouse and was cupped,

One day he entered the bathhouse and underwent cupping,

with a company of servants around him.

with a group of servants around him.

فَقالَ في الحال لَهُ الحجام

فَقالَ في الحال لَهُ الحجام

لي حاجة يا أَيُّها الهمام

لي حاجة يا أَيُّها الهمام

At once the cupper said to him,

At once the cupper said to him,

“I have a request, O valiant lord.”

‘I have a request, O noble one.’

فَغضب السلطان لَما كلمه

فَغضب السلطان لَما كلمه

وَلامَ فيما قَد جَناه خدمه

وَلامَ فيما قَد جَناه خدمه

The sultan grew angry because he had addressed him,

The sultan grew angry when he addressed him,

and blamed his servants for the offense he had dared.

and blamed his servants for the offense the man had committed.

قالَ لَهُم أَيحسن الكَلام

قالَ لَهُم أَيحسن الكَلام

عِندي من ذا العلج يا طغام

عِندي من ذا العلج يا طغام

He said to them, “Do you deem it fitting for this brute

He said to them, ‘Is it fitting for speech

to speak in my presence, you rabble?

to come from this lout in my presence, you rabble?

فَإِن يَكُن شَيخاً قَديم الخدمه

فَإِن يَكُن شَيخاً قَديم الخدمه

لَه حُقوقٌ جَمة وَحرمه

لَه حُقوقٌ جَمة وَحرمه

Though he is an old man, long in service,

Even if he is an old man long in service,

owed abundant rights and reverence,

with many rights and a claim to respect,

وَهوَ رَبيب نعمَتي وَقصري

وَهوَ رَبيب نعمَتي وَقصري

وَهوَ غَذيُّ دَولَتي وَبري

وَهوَ غَذيُّ دَولَتي وَبري

raised amid my favor and my palace,

and a fosterling of my bounty and my palace,

the nursling of my dynasty and benevolence,

and nourished by my reign and my kindness,

فَإِنَّهُ لَيسَ لَهُ أَن يَنطِقا

فَإِنَّهُ لَيسَ لَهُ أَن يَنطِقا

بِحَضرَتي وَإِنَّهُ ما وفقا

بِحَضرَتي وَإِنَّهُ ما وفقا

even so, he has no right to utter a word

he still has no right to speak

in my presence—and he has acted wrongly.”

in my presence; he has not been rightly guided.’

وَسَكَن الطيش وَثابَ حُلمه

وَسَكَن الطيش وَثابَ حُلمه

وَقالَ ردوه لما يهمه

وَقالَ ردوه لما يهمه

His rage subsided and his clemency returned;

His rashness subsided, and his forbearance returned;

he said, “Send him back to the work that concerns him.”

he said, ‘Send him back to his task.’

فَحينَ عادَ ثُم قامَ يحجمه

فَحينَ عادَ ثُم قامَ يحجمه

عادَ إِلى عادته يُكلمه

عادَ إِلى عادته يُكلمه

When he returned and stood to cup him,

When he returned and rose to cup him,

he resumed his habit of addressing him:

he returned to his habit of addressing him:

لي حاجة قالَ وَما حاجتكا

لي حاجة قالَ وَما حاجتكا

اذكر وَأوضح ذاكَ قالَ ابنتكا

اذكر وَأوضح ذاكَ قالَ ابنتكا

“I have a request.” He said, “What is your request?”

‘I have a request.’ He said, ‘What is your request?’

“State it and make it clear.” He said, “Your daughter—

‘State it and make it clear.’ He said, ‘Your daughter—

أريدها لابني نجاح فَعجب

أريدها لابني نجاح فَعجب

لِقَوله وَجَهله وَما غَضب

لِقَوله وَجَهله وَما غَضب

I want her in marriage for my son.” The king marveled

I want her for my son Najah.’ He was astonished

at his words and ignorance, yet did not grow angry,

at his words and his ignorance, but did not grow angry,

لأن ما كانَ مِن الأَمر عَجَب

لأن ما كانَ مِن الأَمر عَجَب

لا يَقتَضي في حكمة العَقل الغَضب

لا يَقتَضي في حكمة العَقل الغَضب

because what had happened was a wonder,

for what was astonishing in the matter

and wisdom does not call for anger at wonders.

does not, in reason’s wisdom, call for anger.

قالَ أَعد ما قُلتهُ فظَنه

قالَ أَعد ما قُلتهُ فظَنه

مُختَبِلاً قَد اعترته جنه

مُختَبِلاً قَد اعترته جنه

He said, “Repeat what you said,” thinking him

He said, ‘Repeat what you said,’ thinking him

deranged, overtaken by madness.

deranged, afflicted with madness.

فَعادَ لِلقَول فَقالَ جَنا

فَعادَ لِلقَول فَقالَ جَنا

لا شَك هَذا البائس المعنى

لا شَك هَذا البائس المعنى

So he repeated the claim and committed the offense.

He repeated his words; the king said, ‘He has gone mad—

“No doubt this wretched man is afflicted.”

no doubt, this wretched, tormented fellow.’

قالَ لَهُ شَيخ مِن الخدام

قالَ لَهُ شَيخ مِن الخدام

قَد لَجَ في ذا القَول وَالكَلام

قَد لَجَ في ذا القَول وَالكَلام

An old servant said to him,

An old servant said to him,

“He persists in this speech and talk,

‘He has persisted in this statement and talk,

وَلَيسَ مَجنوناً وَلا سَكرانا

وَلَيسَ مَجنوناً وَلا سَكرانا

إِن لَهُ لقصة وَشانا

إِن لَهُ لقصة وَشانا

yet he is neither mad nor drunk;

yet he is neither mad nor drunk.

surely there is some story and matter behind him.”

Surely there is a story and some circumstance behind him.’

فَفَكروا في أَمرِهِ وَقالوا

فَفَكروا في أَمرِهِ وَقالوا

أَنطقه بِما سَمعنا المال

أَنطقه بِما سَمعنا المال

They pondered his affair and said,

They considered his case and said,

“Wealth made him utter what we heard.

‘Wealth made him utter what we heard.

فَتحته كَنز بِغَير شَك

فَتحته كَنز بِغَير شَك

هُوَ الَّذي أَنطقه بِالإفك

هُوَ الَّذي أَنطقه بِالإفك

Beneath him is surely a treasure;

Beneath him lies a treasure, beyond doubt;

it is what made him speak this falsehood.”

that is what made him speak this falsehood.’

فَحَفَروا الحَمام تَحتَ رجله

فَحَفَروا الحَمام تَحتَ رجله

فَوَجَدوا ما قَد بَغى لأَجله

فَوَجَدوا ما قَد بَغى لأَجله

So they dug up the bathhouse beneath his feet

They dug into the bathhouse beneath his foot,

and found that for whose sake he had transgressed:

and found what had prompted his transgression:

خَزائن الجَبابر العاديه

خَزائن الجَبابر العاديه

كانَت بِها متينة قَويه

كانَت بِها متينة قَويه

treasuries of the tyrants of old,

ancient treasuries of mighty rulers

once firmly secured there.

were there, solid and strong.

وَسألوه بَعدها عَن حاجَتِه

وَسألوه بَعدها عَن حاجَتِه

فَحجد السالف مِن لجاجته

فَحجد السالف مِن لجاجته

Afterward they asked him about his request,

Afterward they asked him about his request,

and he renewed the former part of his importunity.

but he denied his earlier insistence.

وَقالَ ما قُلت وَلا لي علم

وَقالَ ما قُلت وَلا لي علم

بِما جَرى مني وَلا لي جُرم

بِما جَرى مني وَلا لي جُرم

He said, “I did not say it, nor do I know

He said, ‘I said nothing, and I know nothing

what happened through me; I bear no guilt.”

of what came from me, nor have I done any wrong.’

قالوا صَدَقت المال قالَ ذَلِكا

قالوا صَدَقت المال قالَ ذَلِكا

لَولاه ما كُنت لرشدٍ تارِكا

لَولاه ما كُنت لرشدٍ تارِكا

They said, “You speak truly.” Wealth said, “That was my doing;

They said, ‘You speak truth: wealth said that.

but for me, you would not have abandoned the path of good sense.”

Without it, you would not have abandoned good sense.’

وَهَكَذا صبيح يا رِجال

وَهَكَذا صبيح يا رِجال

أنهضه إِلى العَلاء المال

أنهضه إِلى العَلاء المال

Thus, Ṣubayḥ, O men—

And so it is with Sabih, gentlemen:

wealth raised him to the heights.

wealth raised him to eminence.

لَو كانَ مهتماً بِقوت أَهلِه

لَو كانَ مهتماً بِقوت أَهلِه

ما كانَ مَشغولاً بِغَير شُغله

ما كانَ مَشغولاً بِغَير شُغله

Had he been concerned with feeding his family,

Had he been concerned with his family’s sustenance,

he would have been occupied with nothing but his work.

he would not have busied himself with anything but his own work.

لَكنه مِن هَمه تَفَرغا

لَكنه مِن هَمه تَفَرغا

فَتاه بِالمال عَلَينا وَطَغى

فَتاه بِالمال عَلَينا وَطَغى

But, freed from that concern,

But he became free of his cares,

he grew proud against us through wealth and transgressed.

so he lorded it over us with wealth and grew tyrannical.

فَقالَ شَيخ ما الَّذي يَمنعه

فَقالَ شَيخ ما الَّذي يَمنعه

مِن خطبة الملك وَما يَدفعه

مِن خطبة الملك وَما يَدفعه

An elder said, “What prevents him

An old man said, ‘What prevents him

from seeking the king’s daughter, and what can repel him?

from asking the king for a bride, and what would bar him?

مِن أَهل بَيت الملك وَالإِماره

مِن أَهل بَيت الملك وَالإِماره

وَخَلفه عَساكر جَراره

وَخَلفه عَساكر جَراره

He belongs to the house of kingship and emirate,

He is of a royal and princely house,

and behind him stand massed armies;

with vast armies behind him,

وثم أَموال وَفَضل وَأَدَب

وثم أَموال وَفَضل وَأَدَب

وَمَنصب ذاكَ وَبَيت وَحَسَب

وَمَنصب ذاكَ وَبَيت وَحَسَب

he also has riches, merit, and refinement,

and there is wealth, merit, and refinement,

rank, a noble house, and illustrious lineage.”

and such rank, a house and noble lineage.’

فَقالَ شَيخ مِنهُم هَذا كَذب

فَقالَ شَيخ مِنهُم هَذا كَذب

ما هو مِمَن لِلمحال يَضطَرب

ما هو مِمَن لِلمحال يَضطَرب

Another elder among them said, “This is a lie;

An old man among them said, ‘This is false;

he is not one to rave over impossibilities.”

he is not one to strive after the impossible.’

وَقالَ بَعض القَوم مثل ذَلِكا

وَقالَ بَعض القَوم مثل ذَلِكا

وَانَّهُ لا يعرف التماسُكا

وَانَّهُ لا يعرف التماسُكا

Some of the people said the same,

Some of the people said the same,

and said that he knew no self-restraint.

and that he knew no self-restraint.

وَإِنَّما قالوا الَّذي قالوه

وَإِنَّما قالوا الَّذي قالوه

وَالمَقصد الحيلة وَالتمويه

وَالمَقصد الحيلة وَالتمويه

Yet they said what they said only

They said what they said only

as a stratagem, concealing their intent:

with trickery and misdirection as their aim,

لِيَسمَعوا جَماعة هنالِكا

لِيَسمَعوا جَماعة هنالِكا

كَأَنَّهُم لَم يَعمَدوا لِذالِكا

كَأَنَّهُم لَم يَعمَدوا لِذالِكا

so that a gathering there might hear them,

to let a group there hear it,

as though they had not intended it.

as though they had not done so deliberately,

فَيظهر القَول وَيمضي شائِعا

فَيظهر القَول وَيمضي شائِعا

بَينَ الرجال سائِراً وَذائِعا

بَينَ الرجال سائِراً وَذائِعا

Then the tale would emerge and spread abroad,

so the talk would emerge and spread,

circulating and disseminating among men.

among men, circulating and spreading.

فَكانَ مِن ذَلِكَ ما أَرادوا

فَكانَ مِن ذَلِكَ ما أَرادوا

وَبَلغوا من نكبتي ما كادوا

وَبَلغوا من نكبتي ما كادوا

What they desired thereby came about,

Thus what they wanted came about,

and through my ruin they achieved what they had plotted.

and in my downfall they achieved what they had plotted.

وَهكَذا الحازم إِذ يَكيدُ

وَهكَذا الحازم إِذ يَكيدُ

يبلغ في الأعداء ما يريدُ

يبلغ في الأعداء ما يريدُ

Thus, when a prudent man devises a scheme,

Thus a shrewd man, when he schemes,

he attains against his enemies what he desires,

achieves what he wants against his enemies,

وهوَ بريء مِنهُم في الظاهِر

وهوَ بريء مِنهُم في الظاهِر

وغَيرهُ مختضب الأَظافِر

وغَيرهُ مختضب الأَظافِر

while outwardly innocent of them,

while outwardly innocent of harming them,

and another’s claws are stained with blood.

and another’s fingernails are stained,

كَقصة القادر وَالخَباز

كَقصة القادر وَالخَباز

وَالكَيد داء ما له مُؤاز

وَالكَيد داء ما له مُؤاز

Like the tale of al-Qadir and the baker:

as in the story of al-Qadir and the baker;

guile is a malady for which there is no cure.

scheming is a sickness without an equal.