أَحَتّى إِلى الْعَلْياءِ يا خَطْبُ تَطْمَحُ

أَحَتّى إِلى الْعَلْياءِ يا خَطْبُ تَطْمَحُ

وَحَتّى فُؤَادَ الْمَجْدِ يا حُزْنُ تَجْرَحُ

وَحَتّى فُؤَادَ الْمَجْدِ يا حُزْنُ تَجْرَحُ

Do you aspire even to the heights, O calamity?

Do you aspire even to the heights, O calamity?

Do you wound—even tear—the very heart of glory?

And do you wound even glory's heart, O sorrow?

أَكُلُّ بَقاءٍ لِلفَناءِ مُؤَهَّلٌ

أَكُلُّ بَقاءٍ لِلفَناءِ مُؤَهَّلٌ

وَكُلُّ حَياةٍ لِلْحِمامِ تُرَشَّحُ

وَكُلُّ حَياةٍ لِلْحِمامِ تُرَشَّحُ

Is every continuance destined for extinction,

Is all continuance destined for extinction,

and every life marked out for death?

and every life marked out for death?

سَلَبْتَ فَلَمْ تَتْرُكْ لِباقٍ بَقِيَّةً

سَلَبْتَ فَلَمْ تَتْرُكْ لِباقٍ بَقِيَّةً

فَيا دَهْرُ هَلاَّ بِالأَفاضِلِ تَسْمَحُ

فَيا دَهْرُ هَلاَّ بِالأَفاضِلِ تَسْمَحُ

You have despoiled us, leaving no remnant for those who remain;

You have plundered, leaving no survivor any remnant;

O Time, will you not spare the virtuous?

then, O Time, will you not spare the noblest?

تَجافَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَيْحَكَ إِنَّهُ

تَجافَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَيْحَكَ إِنَّهُ

لِما يُجْتَوى مِنْ فَاسِدٍ فِيكَ مُصْلِحُ

لِما يُجْتَوى مِنْ فَاسِدٍ فِيكَ مُصْلِحُ

Keep away from goodness—woe to you! For goodness

Leave beneficence untouched—woe to you—for it

repairs whatever corruption in you makes hateful.

is a remedy for the loathsome corruption within you.

إِذا كُنْتَ عَنْ ذِي الْفَضْلِ لَسْتَ بِصافِحٍ

إِذا كُنْتَ عَنْ ذِي الْفَضْلِ لَسْتَ بِصافِحٍ

فَواحَسْرَتا عمَّنْ تَكُفُّ وَتَصْفَحُ

فَواحَسْرَتا عمَّنْ تَكُفُّ وَتَصْفَحُ

If you will not pass over a man of merit,

If you show no mercy to a man of merit,

alas for those whom you desist from and spare!

then alas for those you spare and pardon!

خَلِيلَيَّ قَدْ كانَ الَّذِي كانَ يُتَّقى

خَلِيلَيَّ قَدْ كانَ الَّذِي كانَ يُتَّقى

فَما عُذْرُ عَيْنٍ لاَ تُجُودُ وَتَسْفَحُ

فَما عُذْرُ عَيْنٍ لاَ تُجُودُ وَتَسْفَحُ

My two companions, what we feared has come to pass;

My two friends, what was feared has come to pass;

what excuse has an eye that neither pours nor spills its tears?

then what excuse has an eye that does not give freely and pour forth tears?

قِفا فَاقْضِيا حَقَّ الْمَعالِي وَقَلَّما

قِفا فَاقْضِيا حَقَّ الْمَعالِي وَقَلَّما

يَقُومُ بِهِ دَمْعٌ يَجِمُّ وَيَطْفَحُ

يَقُومُ بِهِ دَمْعٌ يَجِمُّ وَيَطْفَحُ

Stand, and discharge the debt owed to lofty deeds—though rarely

Stand, you two, and pay lofty virtues their due; yet seldom

can tears, however they brim and overflow, fulfill it.

do tears that well up and overflow suffice to pay it.

فَمَنْ كانَ قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ يَسْتَقْبِحُ الْبُكا

فَمَنْ كانَ قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ يَسْتَقْبِحُ الْبُكا

فَقَدْ حَسُنَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي كانَ يَقْبُحُ

فَقَدْ حَسُنَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي كانَ يَقْبُحُ

Whoever before today thought weeping shameful

For whoever thought weeping ugly before today,

now finds beautiful what once seemed ugly.

what once was ugly has indeed become beautiful today.

فَلا رُزْءَ مِنْ هذا أَعَمُّ مُصِيبَةً

فَلا رُزْءَ مِنْ هذا أَعَمُّ مُصِيبَةً

وَلا خَطْبَ مِنْ هذا أَمَرُّ وَأَفْدَحُ

وَلا خَطْبَ مِنْ هذا أَمَرُّ وَأَفْدَحُ

No loss could be more universal in its calamity,

For no loss spreads affliction more widely than this,

nor any affliction more bitter and grievous.

and no calamity is bitterer and more grievous than this.

مُصابٌ لَوَ أَنَّ اللَّيْلَ يُمْنى بِبَعْضِ مَا

مُصابٌ لَوَ أَنَّ اللَّيْلَ يُمْنى بِبَعْضِ مَا

تَحَمَّلَ مِنْهُ الْمَجْدُ ما كانَ يُصْبِحُ

تَحَمَّلَ مِنْهُ الْمَجْدُ ما كانَ يُصْبِحُ

Such a blow—had night been afflicted with even part of what

A calamity—if night were afflicted with even part of what

glory bore from it, it would never have dawned.

glory has borne from it, it would never reach morning.

وَحُزْنٌ تَساوى النَّاسُ فِيهِ وَإِنَّما

وَحُزْنٌ تَساوى النَّاسُ فِيهِ وَإِنَّما

يَعُمُّ مِنَ الأَحْزانِ ما هُوَ أَبْرَحُ

يَعُمُّ مِنَ الأَحْزانِ ما هُوَ أَبْرَحُ

A grief in which all people became equal; for only

And a grief all people share alike; it is only

the most excruciating sorrow spreads to everyone.

the most agonizing of sorrows that touch everyone.

تَرى السَّيْفَ لا يَهْتَزُّ فِيه كآبَةً

تَرى السَّيْفَ لا يَهْتَزُّ فِيه كآبَةً

وَلا زاعِبِيَّاتِ الْقَنا تَتَرَنَّحُ

وَلا زاعِبِيَّاتِ الْقَنا تَتَرَنَّحُ

You see the sword no longer quivering there, despondent,

In this grief, you see the sword motionless with sorrow,

nor the long shafts of the lances swaying.

nor do the Zāʿibī spear-shafts sway.

فَيا لَلْمَعالِي وَالْعَوالِي لِهالِكٍ

فَيا لَلْمَعالِي وَالْعَوالِي لِهالِكٍ

لَهُ الْمَجْدُ باكٍ وَالْمَكارِمُ نُوَّحُ

لَهُ الْمَجْدُ باكٍ وَالْمَكارِمُ نُوَّحُ

O lofty deeds and lofty lances, mourn one who has perished:

So, alas for lofty virtues and lofty spears, for one who has perished,

glory weeps for him, and noble qualities wail.

for whom glory weeps and noble virtues wail.

مَضى مُذْ قَضى تِلْكَ الْعَشِيَّةَ نَحْبَهُ

مَضى مُذْ قَضى تِلْكَ الْعَشِيَّةَ نَحْبَهُ

وَمَا كُلُّ مَغْبُوقٍ مِنَ الْعَيْشِ يُصْبَحُ

وَمَا كُلُّ مَغْبُوقٍ مِنَ الْعَيْشِ يُصْبَحُ

He departed when, that evening, he fulfilled his appointed term;

He departed when he met his appointed end that evening;

not everyone given life’s evening draught reaches morning.

and not everyone served life's evening draught is served its morning one.

لَغاضَ لَهُ مَاءُ النَّدَى وَهْوَ سائِحٌ

لَغاضَ لَهُ مَاءُ النَّدَى وَهْوَ سائِحٌ

وضاق بِهِ صَدْرُ الْعُلى وَهْوَ أَفيَحُ

وضاق بِهِ صَدْرُ الْعُلى وَهْوَ أَفيَحُ

For him, generosity’s water nearly ebbed even as it flowed,

Indeed, generosity's water sank away for him, though it was flowing,

and loftiness’s breast contracted, though it was vast.

and the breast of eminence tightened for him, though spacious.

ظَلِلْنا نُجِيلُ الْفِكْرَ هَلْ تَمْنَعُ الرَّدى

ظَلِلْنا نُجِيلُ الْفِكْرَ هَلْ تَمْنَعُ الرَّدى

كَتائِبُهُ وَالْيَوْمُ أَرْبَدُ أَكْلَحُ

كَتائِبُهُ وَالْيَوْمُ أَرْبَدُ أَكْلَحُ

We spent the day turning over the thought: could his battalions ward off death,

We kept turning this thought over: could death be warded off

when the day was lowering and grim?

by his battalions, while the day was dusky and grim?

فَما مَنَعَتْ بُتْرٌ مِنَ الْبِيضِ قُطَّعٌ

فَما مَنَعَتْ بُتْرٌ مِنَ الْبِيضِ قُطَّعٌ

وَلا نَفَعَتْ جُرْدٌ مِنَ الْخَيْلِ قُرَّحُ

وَلا نَفَعَتْ جُرْدٌ مِنَ الْخَيْلِ قُرَّحُ

Yet sharp, severing blades among the white swords did not prevent it,

But severing, keen-cutting bright swords did not ward it off,

nor did sleek steeds avail the man whose horses were seasoned.

nor did sleek, full-grown horses help.

وَلا ذادَ مَشْهُورٌ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ باهِرٌ

وَلا ذادَ مَشْهُورٌ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ باهِرٌ

وَلا كَفَّ مَعْرُوفٌ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ أَسْجَحُ

وَلا كَفَّ مَعْرُوفٌ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ أَسْجَحُ

Nor did renowned and radiant excellence fend it off,

Nor did famed, dazzling merit repel it,

nor could the most open-handed beneficence hold it back.

nor did well-known, gracious goodness hold it back.

وَهَيْهاتَ ما يَثْنِي الْحِمامَ إِذا أَتى

وَهَيْهاتَ ما يَثْنِي الْحِمامَ إِذا أَتى

جِدارٌ مُعَلَّىً أَوْ رِتاجٌ مَصَفَّحُ

جِدارٌ مُعَلَّىً أَوْ رِتاجٌ مَصَفَّحُ

Far indeed! When death arrives, nothing turns it aside—

Far from it! Death, when it comes, is not turned back

neither a towering wall nor an iron-plated gate,

by a towering wall or a plated gate,

وَلا مُشْرِعاتٌ بِالأَسِنَّةِ تَلْتَظِي

وَلا مُشْرِعاتٌ بِالأَسِنَّةِ تَلْتَظِي

وَلا عادِياتٌ فِي الأَعِنَّةِ تَضْبَحُ

وَلا عادِياتٌ فِي الأَعِنَّةِ تَضْبَحُ

nor leveled lances whose spearheads blaze,

nor by leveled spears blazing with their points,

nor racing mares panting against the reins,

nor by charging steeds panting in their reins,

وَلا سُؤْدَدٌ جَمٌّ بِهِ الْخَطْبُ يُزْدَهى

وَلا سُؤْدَدٌ جَمٌّ بِهِ الْخَطْبُ يُزْدَهى

وَلا نائِلٌ غَمْرٌ بِهِ الْقَطْرُ يَفْضَحُ

وَلا نائِلٌ غَمْرٌ بِهِ الْقَطْرُ يَفْضَحُ

nor immense sovereignty for calamity to boast of,

nor by abundant nobility before which calamity is scorned,

nor largesse so abundant that it puts the rain to shame.

nor by overflowing bounty that puts the rain to shame.

فَيا لَلَّيالِي كَيْفَ أَنْجُو مِنَ الرَّدى

فَيا لَلَّيالِي كَيْفَ أَنْجُو مِنَ الرَّدى

وَخَلْفِي وَقُدَّامِي لَهُ أَيْنَ أَسْرَحُ

وَخَلْفِي وَقُدَّامِي لَهُ أَيْنَ أَسْرَحُ

O nights, how can I escape death

Then, O nights, how can I escape death,

when it is behind me and before me—where can I roam?

when all behind and before me belongs to it—where can I roam?

أََأَرْجُو انْتِصاراً بَعْدَ ما خُذِلَ النَّدَى

أََأَرْجُو انْتِصاراً بَعْدَ ما خُذِلَ النَّدَى

وَآمُلُ عِزّاً والْكِرامُ تُطَحْطَحُ

وَآمُلُ عِزّاً والْكِرامُ تُطَحْطَحُ

Can I hope for victory after generosity has been forsaken,

Can I hope for victory after generosity has been forsaken,

or hope for honor while the noble are dashed down?

and hope for honor while the noble are crushed?

أَرى الإِلْفَ ما بَيْنَ النُّفُوسِ جَنى لهَا

أَرى الإِلْفَ ما بَيْنَ النُّفُوسِ جَنى لهَا

جَوانِحَ تُذْكَى أَوْ مَدامِعَ تَقْرَحُ

جَوانِحَ تُذْكَى أَوْ مَدامِعَ تَقْرَحُ

I see that affection between souls brings them only

I see that affection between souls has brought them

ribs set ablaze or tear ducts wounded open.

ribs set aflame, or tear ducts grown sore.

فَيا وَيْحَ إِخْوانِ الصَّفاءِ مِنَ الأَسَى

فَيا وَيْحَ إِخْوانِ الصَّفاءِ مِنَ الأَسَى

إِذا ما اسْتَرَدَّ الدَّهْرُ ما كانَ يَمْنَحُ

إِذا ما اسْتَرَدَّ الدَّهْرُ ما كانَ يَمْنَحُ

Alas for brothers of pure friendship in their sorrow

So, alas for brothers of pure friendship in their grief,

when Time takes back what it once bestowed.

when Time takes back what it used to grant.

وَمَنْ عاشَ يَوْماً سَاءَهُ ما يَسُرُّهُ

وَمَنْ عاشَ يَوْماً سَاءَهُ ما يَسُرُّهُ

وَأَحْزَنَهُ الشَّيْءُ الَّذِي كانَ يُفْرِحُ

وَأَحْزَنَهُ الشَّيْءُ الَّذِي كانَ يُفْرِحُ

Whoever lives a single day is pained by what delights him,

And whoever lives a day is distressed by what delights him,

and saddened by the very thing that used to bring joy.

and the thing that once delighted him makes him sad.

عَزاءً جَلالَ الْمُلْكِ إِنَّكَ لَمْ تَزَلْ

عَزاءً جَلالَ الْمُلْكِ إِنَّكَ لَمْ تَزَلْ

بِفَضْلِ النُّهَى فِي مَقْفَلِ الْخَطْبِ تَفْتَحُ

بِفَضْلِ النُّهَى فِي مَقْفَلِ الْخَطْبِ تَفْتَحُ

Take solace, Majesty of Kings; you have never ceased

Take solace, Jalal al-Mulk, for you have never ceased

through excellence of judgment to unlock affliction’s closed door.

through the excellence of reason, to open what calamity locks shut.

فَذا الدَّهْرُ مَطْوِيٌّ عَلَى الْبُخْلِ بَذْلُهُ

فَذا الدَّهْرُ مَطْوِيٌّ عَلَى الْبُخْلِ بَذْلُهُ

يَعُودُ بِمُرِّ الْمَذْقِ حِينَ يُصَرِّحُ

يَعُودُ بِمُرِّ الْمَذْقِ حِينَ يُصَرِّحُ

For Time’s giving is folded within its miserliness;

For this Time is wrapped in stinginess; its giving

it returns bitterly adulterated just when it seems clear.

comes back with bitter watered milk when it serves pure milk.

يُساوِي لَدَيْهِ الْفَضْلَ بِالنَّقْصِ جَهْلُهُ

يُساوِي لَدَيْهِ الْفَضْلَ بِالنَّقْصِ جَهْلُهُ

وَسيَّانِ لِلْمَكْفُوفِ مُمْسىً وَمُصْبَحُ

وَسيَّانِ لِلْمَكْفُوفِ مُمْسىً وَمُصْبَحُ

In its ignorance, it makes merit equal to deficiency;

Its ignorance equates merit with deficiency in its eyes,

to the blind, evening and morning are the same.

and evening and morning are alike to the blind.

وَمِثْلُكَ لا يُعْطِي الدُّمُوعَ قِيادَهُ

وَمِثْلُكَ لا يُعْطِي الدُّمُوعَ قِيادَهُ

وَلَوْ أَنَّ إِدْمانَ الْبُكا لَكَ َأرْوَحُ

وَلَوْ أَنَّ إِدْمانَ الْبُكا لَكَ َأرْوَحُ

A man like you does not surrender the reins to tears,

And one like you does not surrender his reins to tears,

even if unceasing weeping would bring you greater relief.

even if continual weeping would bring you greater relief.

وَلَوْ كانَ يُبْكي كُلُّ مَيْتٍ بِقَدْرِهِ

وَلَوْ كانَ يُبْكي كُلُّ مَيْتٍ بِقَدْرِهِ

إِذاً عَلِمَتْ جَمَّاتُها كَيْفَ تُنْزَحُ

إِذاً عَلِمَتْ جَمَّاتُها كَيْفَ تُنْزَحُ

If every dead man were mourned in measure to his worth,

And if every dead man drew tears in proportion to his worth,

the brimming reservoirs of tears would learn how to be drained.

then their brimming pools would learn how to be drained:

لَسالَتْ نُفُوسٌ لا دُمُوعٌ مُرِشَّةٌ

لَسالَتْ نُفُوسٌ لا دُمُوعٌ مُرِشَّةٌ

وَعَمَّ حَمامٌ لا سَقامٌ مُبَرِّحُ

وَعَمَّ حَمامٌ لا سَقامٌ مُبَرِّحُ

Souls—not a mere sprinkling of tears—would flow,

souls would flow out, not sprinklings of tears,

and death—not a tormenting sickness—would spread to all.

and death would spread to all, not agonizing sickness.

وَما كُنْتَ إِذْ تَلْقى الْخُطُوبَ بِضارِعٍ

وَما كُنْتَ إِذْ تَلْقى الْخُطُوبَ بِضارِعٍ

لَها أَبَداً أَنّي وَحِلْمُكَ أَرْجَحُ

لَها أَبَداً أَنّي وَحِلْمُكَ أَرْجَحُ

You never cringed when you encountered calamities,

And when you meet calamities, you have not bowed

never before them—for how could you, when your forbearance outweighs them?

to them, ever—how could you, when your forbearance outweighs them?

وَكَمْ عَصَفَتْ فِي جانِبِيْكَ فَلَمْ تَبِتْ

وَكَمْ عَصَفَتْ فِي جانِبِيْكَ فَلَمْ تَبِتْ

لَها قَلِقاً وَالطَّوْدُ لا يَتَزَحْزَحُ

لَها قَلِقاً وَالطَّوْدُ لا يَتَزَحْزَحُ

How often they stormed on either side of you, yet you did not spend the night

And how often they have stormed against your sides, yet you did not spend the night

troubled by them, while the mountain stands unmoved.

anxious over them; the mighty mountain does not budge.

وَأَيُّ مُلِمٍّ فِي عَلائِكَ يَرْتَقِي

وَأَيُّ مُلِمٍّ فِي عَلائِكَ يَرْتَقِي

وَأَيُّ الرَّزايا فِي صَفاتِكَ يَقْدَحُ

وَأَيُّ الرَّزايا فِي صَفاتِكَ يَقْدَحُ

What grave blow could ever climb to your heights?

And what affliction can climb to your heights,

What misfortune could ever mar your virtues?

and what disaster can mar your solid rock?