1. كَعامر بن دارِم بن راشِد

    وَمارِح بِن سابق بِن حامد

    Like Amir son of Darim son of Rashid,

    and Marih son of Sabiq son of Hamid.

  2. قال أين لي أَمره لأعرفه

    فَقَد غَلَوت في هَواه بِالصّفه

    He said: Where can I learn his story, so I may know him?

    For I have become excessively fond of him through the description.

  3. قالَ نَعم عامر كان ملكاً

    عَلى نِزارٍ كُلها مملكا

    He said: Yes, Amir was a king,

    enthroned over all of Nizar,

  4. ذا بَسطة وَنَجدة وَقوه

    ندباً كَبير البَيت وَالأبوه

    endowed with ample power, valor, and strength,

    a gallant man of illustrious house and ancestry.

  5. كانَت لَهُ نَجد وَما يَليها

    وَذل مِن خيفته مَن فيها

    Najd and its neighboring lands belonged to him,

    and those within it submitted from fear of him.

  6. فَخَرج ابن عمه بسطام

    عَلَيهِ وَاستفزه أَقوام

    Then his cousin Bistam rose

    against him, and some people incited him.

  7. فَمر يَسعى في فَساد أَمره

    مُجتَهِداً في قَتله وَأَسره

    So he went about seeking the ruin of his rule,

    striving hard to kill him and take him captive,

  8. حَتّى أَتى بَعض مُلوك اليَمَن

    وَإِنَّني أَحسَبه ذا يَزن

    until he came to one of the kings of Yemen,

    and I believe it was Dhu Yazan.

  9. فَقالَ ضَيف مُستَجير وانتسب

    قال لَهُ أَنتَ الكَريم في العرب

    So he said, 'I am a guest seeking refuge,' and gave his lineage.

    He said to him: You are the noble one among the Arabs;

  10. فَمَرحباً انزل برَحب وَسعه

    وَجفنة عَظيمة مدعده

    so welcome! Lodge in spacious comfort and plenty,

    with a great, brimming bowl as well.

  11. حَتَّى إِذا ما حَضَر الشراب

    وَطاشَت الأَحلام وَالأَلباب

    When at last the wine was brought

    and judgment and understanding reeled,

  12. أَرهقه جَهلاً على ابن عَمه

    عامر لما كان جَد همه

    he foolishly goaded him against his cousin,

    Amir, for he was his chief concern.

  13. وَقال ملك ضائع ما فيه

    ذو نَجدة إِن رُمتَهُ تَحميه

    And he said: A neglected kingdom, with no one in it

    of valor to defend it, should you seek to take it.

  14. وَعامر قَد أَوحَش العَشائِرا

    فَعادَ كُل القَوم مِنهُ نافِرا

    And Amir has alienated the clans,

    so all the people have turned away from him.

  15. وَلو تَلاقَت في الوَغى الصفوف

    وَاِشتَكَت الرِّماح وَالسُّيوف

    And if the ranks met in battle,

    and the spears and swords complained,

  16. لانقلب القَوم إليك عَنهُ

    لِغَيظهم لما لَقوه مِنهُ

    the people would turn from him to you,

    in their anger at what they had suffered from him.

  17. فإِن مَن لا يَحفَظ القُلوبا

    يخذل حين يَشهَد الحُروبا

    For whoever does not safeguard hearts

    is forsaken when he takes part in wars.

  18. وَمن أَضاع جُندَه في السلم

    لَم يَحفَظوه في لِقاء الخَصم

    And whoever neglects his troops in peace

    will not be protected by them when he meets the foe.

  19. فَالجُند لا يَرعون من أَضاعَهُم

    كَلا وَلا يَحمونَ من أَجاعَهُم

    For troops do not care for one who neglects them;

    no indeed, nor do they protect one who starves them.

  20. وَبرهُم وَنفعهم كَالذخر

    وَحفظهم يَنفع عِندَ الذّعر

    And kindness and benefit to them are like stored treasure,

    and safeguarding them helps when panic comes.

  21. فأضعف المُلوك طراً عقدا

    مَن غَره السلم فأقصى الجُندا

    Thus the weakest of all kings in resolve

    is he whom peace deceives, so he casts his troops aside.

  22. يَرضونَهُ وَيظهرون الطاعه

    حَتَّى إِذا فادح حرب راعه

    They please him and display obedience,

    until, when war's crushing burden frightens him,

  23. أَقبل يرضيهم بِبَذل المال

    لعلهم يَحمونَ لِلقِتال

    he sets about pleasing them by giving money,

    hoping they will grow eager for battle.

  24. وَلَيسَ يغني عَنهُ ذاكَ شيا

    وَلا يَزيد القَوم إِلا غَيا

    But that avails him nothing,

    and makes the people only more wayward,

  25. حَتَّى إِذا قيل نزال فروا

    وَخلفوه وَحده وَمروا

    until, when 'To battle!' is called, they flee

    and leave him alone and go their way.

  26. وَأَسعَد المُلوك من أَرضاهم

    في حالة السلم وَمَن أَعطاهم

    And the most fortunate of kings is he who has pleased them

    in peacetime, and who has given to them.

  27. فَيَعلَمونَ إِنَّ ذاكَ دينه

    فَكُلهم بِجُهدِهِ يعينه

    So they know that this is his customary way,

    so each of them does his utmost to help him.

  28. فَيكثرونَ وَهُم قَليل

    والحر يزكو عنده الجميل

    Thus they become many, though they are few,

    and kindness flourishes with a noble man.

  29. وجاهل من يذخر الأموالا

    ويحفظ الخيول وَالبِغالا

    And ignorant is he who stores up wealth

    and keeps horses and mules

  30. لساعة الحاجة حينَ تَفدح

    إِن ادخار الناس عِندي أَصلح

    for the hour of need, when it bears down.

    Indeed, storing up people is better, in my view,

  31. مثل حَديث الأَسدين قالا

    ابن لَنا وَأَوجز المَقالا

    as in the tale of the two lions. They both said:

    'Explain it to us, and keep the account brief.'