أخٌ لِيَ مَشكُورُ المَسَاعِي وَسَيِّدٌ

أخٌ لِيَ مَشكُورُ المَسَاعِي وَسَيِّدٌ

تَسُرُّ بَوَادِيهِ إذَا سَاءَكَ الصَّحبُ

تَسُرُّ بَوَادِيهِ إذَا سَاءَكَ الصَّحبُ

A brother of mine, praised for his endeavors, and a noble man,

A brother to me whose efforts are appreciated and a lord

A brother of mine, praised in endeavors, and a master,

Whose outward qualities delight when companions displease you,

Whose valleys delight when companionship becomes unbearable

Whose open countenance gladdens when companions bring grief.

ألَمَّ يُجَالِينِي جَلاَءَ مُجَرّبٍ

ألَمَّ يُجَالِينِي جَلاَءَ مُجَرّبٍ

عَلَى أنَّهُ حَقَّا بِيَ العَالِمُ الطَّبُّ

عَلَى أنَّهُ حَقَّا بِيَ العَالِمُ الطَّبُّ

Came to probe me with an experienced man's scrutiny,

Has he not made me face the testing of an experienced person

He came to test and appraise me with the scrutiny of the seasoned,

Though he truly knows me and is a skilled judge.

On the basis that he is truly the kindest person to me

Though he is truly the knowledgeable, expert master of my worth.

يُطَالِعُ فِي سُبلِ البَلاَغَةِ مَذهَبِي

يُطَالِعُ فِي سُبلِ البَلاَغَةِ مَذهَبِي

وَهَل يَستَوِي مَنهَا لِيَ الحَزنُ وَالسُّهبُ

وَهَل يَستَوِي مَنهَا لِيَ الحَزنُ وَالسُّهبُ

He examines my course along the paths of eloquence,

He examines my style of eloquence

He examines my path in the ways of eloquence,

And whether their rugged ground and plains are alike to me,

Can grief and joy be the same to me?

And whether the rugged terrain and flat plains are alike to me;

وَكَيفَ أنَا فِيهَأ إذَا مَا تَشَعَّبَت

وَكَيفَ أنَا فِيهَأ إذَا مَا تَشَعَّبَت

وَضَاقَ عَلَى طُلاَّبِهَا المَنهَجُ الرَّحبُ

وَضَاقَ عَلَى طُلاَّبِهَا المَنهَجُ الرَّحبُ

And how I fare there when those paths branch out,

And how can I be patient when it branches out

And how I fare within them when its branches diverge,

And the broad road narrows for those who seek them.

And the vast path becomes narrow for its seekers

And the broad highway narrows upon those who seek it.

فَلُحتُ لَهُ خربت غفل وَمَجهَلٍ

فَلُحتُ لَهُ خربت غفل وَمَجهَلٍ

يَضَلَّ لَدَيهِ النَّجمُ وَالقَشَمُ النَّكبُ

يَضَلَّ لَدَيهِ النَّجمُ وَالقَشَمُ النَّكبُ

I appeared to him as an expert guide through trackless wilderness [reading uncertain],

I shone to him, I ruined the negligence and ignorance

So I appeared to him as a trackless expanse and uncharted wilderness,

Where the star and the crooked-winged vulture lose their way.

In which the star and the shooting star go astray

Wherein the guiding star and the swiftest steed go astray.

فَيَا أيُّهَا القَأضِي المُبَجَّلُ وَالَّذِي

فَيَا أيُّهَا القَأضِي المُبَجَّلُ وَالَّذِي

مَوَارِدُهُ من سري البَاردِ العَذبُ

مَوَارِدُهُ من سري البَاردِ العَذبُ

O honored judge, you whose

So O esteemed judge, you who

O revered Judge, whose fountains of wisdom

Drinking-places draw from a cool, sweet stream,

Draw water from the fresh, cool springs

Flow with cool, sweet, subterranean springs,

وَمَن دَان أربَابُ العُلُومِ بأسرِهِم

وَمَن دَان أربَابُ العُلُومِ بأسرِهِم

لَهُ بِصَرِيحِ الرّقّوَهوَ لَهُم رَبُّ

لَهُ بِصَرِيحِ الرّقّوَهوَ لَهُم رَبُّ

And to whom the masters of learning, all of them, submit

And those whom the masters of science yield to altogether

And to whom all masters of knowledge submit

In outright bondage, while you are their master:

Plainly and humbly, and He is their Lord

In utter subservience, while he reigns as their lord:

أعِيذُكَ أن تَرتَابَ أنَّنِيَ الذِي

أعِيذُكَ أن تَرتَابَ أنَّنِيَ الذِي

أتَى سَابِقاً وَالكُلُّ يَنجُرُ أو يحبُو

أتَى سَابِقاً وَالكُلُّ يَنجُرُ أو يحبُو

I would shield you from doubting that I am the one

I seek refuge in you from doubting that I am the one

I seek refuge for you from doubting that I am the one

Who comes first while all the rest drag themselves or crawl.

Who came first while all else lags behind or crawls

Who arrived foremost, while all others crawled or limped behind;

وَمِثلَي إذَا جَدَّ الرّجَالُ وَاتعَبُوا

وَمِثلَي إذَا جَدَّ الرّجَالُ وَاتعَبُوا

نُفُوسَهُم سَعياً وَكَدَّهُمُ الخطبُ

نُفُوسَهُم سَعياً وَكَدَّهُمُ الخطبُ

One like me, when men strive and exhaust

And the likes of me, when men strive and weary

And one like me, when men strive earnestly and exhaust

Themselves in pursuit, and hardship wears them down,

Their souls striving and their circumstances become difficult

Their souls in pursuit, worn down by grave matters,

تَقَدَّمَ سَبقاً ثَانِياً مِن عِنَانِهِ

تَقَدَّمَ سَبقاً ثَانِياً مِن عِنَانِهِ

وَغَادَرَ مَن جَارَاهُ فِي رَهجِهِ يَكبُو

وَغَادَرَ مَن جَارَاهُ فِي رَهجِهِ يَكبُو

Takes the lead even with his reins drawn back,

I advance, coming second in the lead

Surges ahead, pulling at the reins with ease,

And leaves whoever races him stumbling in his dust.

And leave behind those who raced me in their exhaustion

Leaving behind all who raced him, stumbling in his dust.

أمِثلُكَ يَعشُو عَن مَكَانِي وَيَمتَرِي

أمِثلُكَ يَعشُو عَن مَكَانِي وَيَمتَرِي

بِأنِّيَ مِن أفلاَكِ ذَا الأدَبِ القُطبِ

بِأنِّيَ مِن أفلاَكِ ذَا الأدَبِ القُطبِ

Would someone like you be blind to my standing and doubt

Do I live oblivious to my standing and boast

Could one like you be blind to my standing, or doubt

That I am the pole of the spheres of this literary art?

That I am from the celestial realm of the highest order

That I am the celestial pole in the firmament of letters?

أيَخفَى عَلَيكَ البَدرُ لَيلَةَ تَمِّهِ

أيَخفَى عَلَيكَ البَدرُ لَيلَةَ تَمِّهِ

وَلَم يَستَتِر عَنكَ البَيَازِكُ وَالشُّهبُ

وَلَم يَستَتِر عَنكَ البَيَازِكُ وَالشُّهبُ

Is the full moon hidden from you on the night of its fullness,

Can the full moon on the night of its fullness

Could the full moon on the night of its perfection be hidden from you,

When meteors and shooting stars have not been concealed from you?

Be hidden from you, and the meteors and comets concealed?

When neither distant meteors nor blazing shooting stars escape your sight?

وَأنتَ الذِي يَلقَى الخَفِيَّاتِ ظَاهِراً

وَأنتَ الذِي يَلقَى الخَفِيَّاتِ ظَاهِراً

بِعَينش نُهًى لَم تُرجَ مِن دُونِهَا الحُجبُ

بِعَينش نُهًى لَم تُرجَ مِن دُونِهَا الحُجبُ

You are the one who finds hidden things manifest,

You before whom the unseen becomes manifest

And you are the one who perceives hidden secrets clearly,

With reason's eye, before which no veils were expected.

With your insight that no veils can withstand

With an eye of intellect before which no veil is ever drawn.

فَكَيفَ بَمَا وَازَى الجَهُولَ تَمَكُّناً

فَكَيفَ بَمَا وَازَى الجَهُولَ تَمَكُّناً

ذُوُو العِلمِ فِيهِ وَاستَوَى السّودُ وَالصُّهبُ

ذُوُو العِلمِ فِيهِ وَاستَوَى السّودُ وَالصُّهبُ

What, then, of matters where the ignorant are matched in mastery

So how can that which competes with ignorance in stability

How then with matters where the scholar and the ignorant stand equal

By the learned, and the black and tawny are alike?

While those of knowledge equal the white and the black in it

In mastery, and the black and the ruddy camels are alike?

وَحَاشَايَ أن يَمتَدَّ زَهوٌ بِمَنطِقِي

وَحَاشَايَ أن يَمتَدَّ زَهوٌ بِمَنطِقِي

وَأن يَستَفِزَّ الحِلمَ فِي قَولِيَ العُجبُ

وَأن يَستَفِزَّ الحِلمَ فِي قَولِيَ العُجبُ

Far be it from me that pride should swell my speech,

And far be it from me that vain glory should extend through my speech

Far be it from me that vain pride should expand in my speech,

Or that conceit should drive forbearance from what I say.

And that calm should be provoked by my words of pride

Or that conceit should agitate forbearance in my words.

وَلَكِنَّ لِي فِي يُوسُفَ خَيرَ أسوَةٍ

وَلَكِنَّ لِي فِي يُوسُفَ خَيرَ أسوَةٍ

وَلَيسَ عَلَى مَن بَالنَّبِيّ ائتَسَى ذَنبُ

وَلَيسَ عَلَى مَن بَالنَّبِيّ ائتَسَى ذَنبُ

But in Joseph I have the finest example,

Rather I have in Joseph the best example

Yet in Joseph I find the finest exemplar,

And whoever follows the Prophet's example incurs no sin.

And no fault lies with one who emulates the Prophet

And no sin falls upon whoever emulates a prophet,

يَقُولُ وَقَالَ الحَقُّ وَالصّدقُ إنَّنِي

يَقُولُ وَقَالَ الحَقُّ وَالصّدقُ إنَّنِي

حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ مَا عَلَى صَادِقٍ عَتبُ

حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ مَا عَلَى صَادِقٍ عَتبُ

He says—and what he spoke was truth and honesty—'Indeed I

He says, and truth and honesty said, that I

When he said—speaking pure truth and honesty: "Indeed, I am

Am a trustworthy keeper, knowledgeable'; no honest man deserves blame.

Am a guardian, knowing - no truthful one is blamed

A guardian, knowledgeable"—and no blame rests upon the truthful.

فَلَو كُسِيَ الفُولاَذُ حِدَّةَ خَاظِرِي

فَلَو كُسِيَ الفُولاَذُ حِدَّةَ خَاظِرِي

تَسَاوَى لَدَيهِ اللَّحمُ وَالحَجَرُ الصُّلبُ

تَسَاوَى لَدَيهِ اللَّحمُ وَالحَجَرُ الصُّلبُ

If steel were clothed in the sharpness of my mind,

If steel were to acquire the sharpness of my thoughts

For if steel were clad in the sharpness of my intellect,

Flesh and hard stone would be alike to it.

Flesh and solid stone would be equal before it

Soft flesh and solid stone would be cut by it alike.

وَلَو كَانَ لِلنِّيرَانِ بَعضُ ذَكَائِهِ

وَلَو كَانَ لِلنِّيرَانِ بَعضُ ذَكَائِهِ

وَفَاضَت عَلَيهِ لُجَّة البَحرِ لَم يَخبُ

وَفَاضَت عَلَيهِ لُجَّة البَحرِ لَم يَخبُ

And if fires had some of its brilliance,

And if fire had any of its intelligence

And if fire possessed a fraction of its fiery brilliance,

And the sea's depths flooded it, it would not be extinguished.

And the sea's fury overflowed onto it, it would not be extinguished

It would not be extinguished though the depths of the ocean flooded over it.

وَمَا اختَصَّ عِلمٌ دُونَ عِلمٍ بِوِجهَتِي

وَمَا اختَصَّ عِلمٌ دُونَ عِلمٍ بِوِجهَتِي

بَلَى مَسرَحِي فِي كُلِّهَا الوَاسِعُ الخَصب

بَلَى مَسرَحِي فِي كُلِّهَا الوَاسِعُ الخَصب

No branch of knowledge, rather than another, has claimed my attention;

No branch of knowledge is specialized with my disposition

No single branch of knowledge alone claims my direction;

Rather, in all of them my pasture is broad and fertile.

Rather my domain in all is vast and fertile

Rather, in all of them, my pasture is vast and fertile.

تَظَلُّ فُنُونُ العِلمِ تَجلَى إذَا غَدَت

تَظَلُّ فُنُونُ العِلمِ تَجلَى إذَا غَدَت

بِأيدِي رِجالٍ وَهيَ مَنجُولَةٌ غَصبُ

بِأيدِي رِجالٍ وَهيَ مَنجُولَةٌ غَصبُ

The branches of knowledge keep shining forth when they come

The disciplines of knowledge begin to shine when they fall

The arts of knowledge shine unveiled, whereas when they fall

Into men's hands as brandished, keen-edged swords [reading uncertain].

Into the hands of men, and had been seized wrongfully

Into other men's hands, they are seized and disfigured by force.

وَمَا عَزَّنِي وَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ مَطلَبٌ

وَمَا عَزَّنِي وَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ مَطلَبٌ

مِنَ العِلمِ مِمَّا أبقَتِ العُجمُ وَالعُربُ

مِنَ العِلمِ مِمَّا أبقَتِ العُجمُ وَالعُربُ

No pursuit has eluded me—praise be to God—

I have not been saddened - praise be to God - by any

No quest in knowledge has ever eluded me, praise be to God,

In the learning left behind by non-Arabs and Arabs.

Quest for knowledge that the non-Arabs and Arabs left

From all that the non-Arabs and the Arabs have left behind.

حَلِيفِي وَمُحيِي هِمَّتِي وَمُنِيرُهَا

حَلِيفِي وَمُحيِي هِمَّتِي وَمُنِيرُهَا

وَرَافِعُ ذِكرِي حَيثُمَا اتَّصَلَ الرَّكبُ

وَرَافِعُ ذِكرِي حَيثُمَا اتَّصَلَ الرَّكبُ

It is my ally, reviving my resolve and illuminating it,

My ally, reviver of my zeal and its illuminator

It is my ally, the reviver and illuminator of my resolve,

And raising my renown wherever caravans make their way.

And lifter of my mention wherever the caravan traveled

Exalting my renown wherever traveling caravans unite.

وَأنسِيَ مُذ خَمسٍ وَعِشرِينَ حِجَّةً

وَأنسِيَ مُذ خَمسٍ وَعِشرِينَ حِجَّةً

أرُوحُ وَأغدُو وَهوَ صَارِمِيَ الغَصبُ

أرُوحُ وَأغدُو وَهوَ صَارِمِيَ الغَصبُ

And my companion for twenty-five years:

And my companion since twenty five pilgrimages

And my intimate companion for five and twenty years,

I go at evening and dawn, and it is my keen-edged sword.

I go and return while it is my drawn sword

Through my evenings and mornings, my sharp, unforgiving sword.

وَخِطَّتِيَ العُليَا الَّتِي لَستُ أتَّقِي

وَخِطَّتِيَ العُليَا الَّتِي لَستُ أتَّقِي

حَيَاتِيَ مِنهَأ العَزلُ مَا رَتَعَ الضَّبُ

حَيَاتِيَ مِنهَأ العَزلُ مَا رَتَعَ الضَّبُ

And my lofty office, from which I do not fear

And my lofty approach which I do not fear for my life

And my supreme station, from which I never fear

Dismissal throughout my life, so long as the lizard grazes.

To abandon - what harm did isolation bring?

Deposition in my lifetime, as long as the lizard roams the earth.

وَمَالٌ عَمِيمٌ لَستُ أخشَى نَفَادَهُ

وَمَالٌ عَمِيمٌ لَستُ أخشَى نَفَادَهُ

بِإنفَاقِهِ لاَ بَل يَزيدُ وَيَنصَبُّ

بِإنفَاقِهِ لاَ بَل يَزيدُ وَيَنصَبُّ

And abundant wealth whose exhaustion I do not fear

And an abundant wealth I do not fear its depletion

And an abundant wealth whose exhaustion I never fear

Through spending it—no, it grows and pours forth.

By spending it - rather it increases and flows

By spending; nay, it only multiplies and pours forth.

سَمَوتُ بِنَفسِي لاَ بِمَجد هَوَت بِه

سَمَوتُ بِنَفسِي لاَ بِمَجد هَوَت بِه

مِنَ الزَّمَنِ العَدَّاءِ آلاَتُهُ الحُدبُ

مِنَ الزَّمَنِ العَدَّاءِ آلاَتُهُ الحُدبُ

I rose through my own worth, not through glory cast down

I transcended myself, not with glory which

I elevated myself by my own soul, not through an ancestral glory

By the crooked instruments of hostile time.

The hostile time targeted with its instruments

Cast down by the crooked, hostile blows of relentless time.

عَلَى أنَّنِي لَو شِئتُ قُلتُ مُصَدَّقاً

عَلَى أنَّنِي لَو شِئتُ قُلتُ مُصَدَّقاً

وَأقبَحُ قَولٍ مَا ألَمَّ بِهِ الكَذبُ

وَأقبَحُ قَولٍ مَا ألَمَّ بِهِ الكَذبُ

Though, if I wished, I could speak and be believed,

Though I could have said, claiming so, and the ugliest saying

Though were I to boast of ancestry, I would speak truthfully,

And the ugliest speech is that which falsehood touches.

Is that which is touched by lies

For the ugliest speech is that which is tainted by falsehood.

وَلَكِنَّهُ مَن لَم يُشِد مَا حَلاَ لَهُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ مَن لَم يُشِد مَا حَلاَ لَهُ

رَغَا فِي مَبَانِيهِ وَضعضَعَهَا السَّقبُ

رَغَا فِي مَبَانِيهِ وَضعضَعَهَا السَّقبُ

Yet whoever does not build up what he cherishes—

But one who does not fortify what befalls him

Yet whoever fails to build what sweetens his own name

A camel calf bellows in his buildings and shakes them.

Babbles in his structures and weakness shakes them

Merely roars amidst his ruined foundations, shaken by collapse.

فَإن شِئتَ فِي عِلمِ الدّيَانَةِ تَلقَنِي

فَإن شِئتَ فِي عِلمِ الدّيَانَةِ تَلقَنِي

نِقَاباً لَهُ لَم يَخفَ عَنِّي لَهُ نَقبُ

نِقَاباً لَهُ لَم يَخفَ عَنِّي لَهُ نَقبُ

If you wish, in religious knowledge you will find me

So if you wish, question me about religious knowledge

So if you wish, in the science of religion you will find me

A penetrating investigator, with no passage in it hidden from me.

An aperture that has not been hidden from me, it has a hole

Its keen scrutinizer, with none of its deep paths hidden from me.

وَأمَّا أفَانِينُ الحَدِيثِ فَإنَّنِي

وَأمَّا أفَانِينُ الحَدِيثِ فَإنَّنِي

أنَا بَحرُهَا الطَّامِي وَيُنبُوعُهَا السَّكبُ

أنَا بَحرُهَا الطَّامِي وَيُنبُوعُهَا السَّكبُ

As for the branches of hadith, I

As for the springs of hadeeth, I

And as for the branches of Prophetic Traditions,

Am their swelling sea and their flowing spring.

Am their turbulent sea and their pouring well

I am its overflowing sea and its gushing spring.

وَقَيَّدت مِن فُتيَا ذَوي الفِقهِ ضَابِطاً

وَقَيَّدت مِن فُتيَا ذَوي الفِقهِ ضَابِطاً

بِحِفظِيَ مَا طَالَت بِهِ قَبلَهَا الحِقبُ

بِحِفظِيَ مَا طَالَت بِهِ قَبلَهَا الحِقبُ

I have recorded the jurists' rulings, mastering

And I compiled from the jurists' opinions a framework

And I have mastered and recorded the edicts of the jurists with precision,

In memory what long ages had carried before them.

By my memory, of what eons had elapsed with it

Retaining in my memory what took long ages to compile.

وَإن لاَذَ طُلاَّبُ الكَلاَمِ بِجَانِبِي

وَإن لاَذَ طُلاَّبُ الكَلاَمِ بِجَانِبِي

فَإنَّيَ سَاقِيهِم وَكُلُّهُمُ شَربُ

فَإنَّيَ سَاقِيهِم وَكُلُّهُمُ شَربُ

If students of theology take shelter at my side,

And if students of dialectics stand by my side

And if seekers of scholastic theology take shelter at my side,

I am their cupbearer, and all of them are drinkers.

Then I am their drink and all of them imbibe

I am their cupbearer, while they are all eager drinkers.

وَعِلمِي بِمَا فِي سِرّ خَصمِي كَعِلمِه

وَعِلمِي بِمَا فِي سِرّ خَصمِي كَعِلمِه

فَمَا غَأبَ عَنِّي مِنهُ سَهلٌ وَلاَ صَعبُ

فَمَا غَأبَ عَنِّي مِنهُ سَهلٌ وَلاَ صَعبُ

My knowledge of my opponent's secrets is like his own:

And my knowledge of what is in secret with my opponent is like his knowledge

And my knowledge of what lies in my adversary's mind equals his own;

Nothing in them, easy or hard, has escaped me.

So nothing, difficult or easy, was hidden from me

Neither the plain nor the intricate of it is veiled from me.

وَإن تُذكَرِ الأشعَأرُ لَم يَكُ خَارِجاً

وَإن تُذكَرِ الأشعَأرُ لَم يَكُ خَارِجاً

أمَامِي جَريرٌ فِي الرّهَانِ وَلاَ كَعبُ

أمَامِي جَريرٌ فِي الرّهَانِ وَلاَ كَعبُ

If poetry is mentioned, none has emerged

And if poetry is mentioned, Jarir would not be

And if poetry is mentioned, neither Jarir

Ahead of me in the race—not Jarir, nor Ka'b.

Ahead of me in wagering, nor Ka'b

Nor Ka'b could outpace me in the race.

وَمَا ضَرَّ شِعرِي ان منو شهر والذي

وَمَا ضَرَّ شِعرِي ان منو شهر والذي

وَلَم يَحظَ بِي عِلماً تَمِيمٌ وَلاَ كَلبُ

وَلَم يَحظَ بِي عِلماً تَمِيمٌ وَلاَ كَلبُ

My poetry has not been harmed by [the remaining text is unclear],

And my poetry was not harmed that it grew popular while

And it harms not my poetry if its fame was withheld

Nor have Tamim or Kalb gained knowledge of me.

Tameem and Kalb did not gain knowledge of me

And neither Tamim nor Kalb possessed knowledge of my worth.

وأمّا تُسَائِل بِاللُّغَات وَنَحوهَا

وأمّا تُسَائِل بِاللُّغَات وَنَحوهَا

فَمَا غَابَ عَنِّي مِنهُ سَهلٌ وَلاَ صَعبُ

فَمَا غَابَ عَنِّي مِنهُ سَهلٌ وَلاَ صَعبُ

As for asking about languages and their grammar,

And if you ask about languages and grammar

And if you inquire into philology and grammar,

Nothing in it, easy or hard, has escaped me.

Nothing, difficult or easy, was hidden from me

Neither their straightforward nor their difficult aspects escape me.

وَمَا إنَّ شَأنِي عِندَ ذَلِكَ سَابِقٌ

وَمَا إنَّ شَأنِي عِندَ ذَلِكَ سَابِقٌ

عَلَى أنَّنِي لَم يُغرنِي التَّعبُ وَالوَطبُ

عَلَى أنَّنِي لَم يُغرنِي التَّعبُ وَالوَطبُ

And my standing in that is not foremost,

And my position in that is not preceding

Nor was my stride in that ever surpassed,

Though neither toil nor the milk-skin has enticed me [wording unclear].

Despite that fatigue and affliction did not tempt me

Though toil and exhaustion could never distract me.

وَحَسبُكَ بِي فِي ذي الأعَارِيضِ مَمنَعاً

وَحَسبُكَ بِي فِي ذي الأعَارِيضِ مَمنَعاً

إذَا عُدَّتِ الأوتَادُ وَالشَّطرُ وَالضَّربُ

إذَا عُدَّتِ الأوتَادُ وَالشَّطرُ وَالضَّربُ

I suffice you as a stronghold in these meters,

It is enough that in rhythmic composition I forbid

And suffice it that in poetic meters I am an impregnable fortress,

When the metrical pegs, hemistich, and closing foot are counted.

When strings are counted, and refrain, and tempo

When watids, hemistichs, and rhyming feet are weighed.

وَإن شِئتَ أخبَارَ الدهُورِ فَإِنَّنِي

وَإن شِئتَ أخبَارَ الدهُورِ فَإِنَّنِي

أنَا جَامِعُ التَّارِيخ مُذ نَبَتَ الهُضبُ

أنَا جَامِعُ التَّارِيخ مُذ نَبَتَ الهُضبُ

If you wish for the chronicles of the ages, I

And if you mention history, then I

And if you seek the chronicles of the ages,

Am the compiler of history since the hills first sprang up.

Am its collector since the hillocks sprouted

I am the gatherer of history since the hills first rose from the earth.

فَمَا غَابَ عَنِّي أمرُ مَلكٍ مسونه

فَمَا غَابَ عَنِّي أمرُ مَلكٍ مسونه

وَلاَ شَدَّ دُونِي أمرُ سِلمٍ وَلاَ حَربُ

وَلاَ شَدَّ دُونِي أمرُ سِلمٍ وَلاَ حَربُ

No affair of a king has escaped me [final word unclear],

No command of a ruled king was hidden from me

No affair of a monarch has eluded me,

Nor has any matter of peace or war passed me by.

Nor was any matter of Sulaym or war concealed from me

Nor has any matter of peace or war remained barred from me.

سَوَاءٌ عَلَى ذِكرِي قَرِيبٌ وَنَازِحٌ

سَوَاءٌ عَلَى ذِكرِي قَرِيبٌ وَنَازِحٌ

وَمَن حَمَلَت أرضٌ وَمَن ضَمَّهُ التُّربُ

وَمَن حَمَلَت أرضٌ وَمَن ضَمَّهُ التُّربُ

The near and the distant are alike to my memory,

Equal to my mention are the near and the remote

Alike to my memory are the near and the far-off,

Those borne by the earth and those embraced by its dust.

And those whom earth carried and those dust covered

Those walking upon the earth and those embraced by the dust.

وَإن تُذكَرِ الأنسَابُ كُنتُ نَقِيبَهَا

وَإن تُذكَرِ الأنسَابُ كُنتُ نَقِيبَهَا

وَلم يَخفَ عَن ذِكرَايَ حَيٌّ وَلاَ شِعبُ

وَلم يَخفَ عَن ذِكرَايَ حَيٌّ وَلاَ شِعبُ

If genealogies are mentioned, I am their expert,

And if genealogies are mentioned, I was their investigator

And if genealogies are recounted, I am their foremost arbiter;

And no clan or tribe has been hidden from my memory.

And no living soul or branch was hidden from my mention

No clan or tribe is hidden from my recollection.

وَلَو أنَّ رُسطَالِيسَ حَي بَدَدتُّهُ

وَلَو أنَّ رُسطَالِيسَ حَي بَدَدتُّهُ

وَمَا عَاشَ إلاَّ وَهوَ لِي بِالحَرَى تِربُ

وَمَا عَاشَ إلاَّ وَهوَ لِي بِالحَرَى تِربُ

If Aristotle were alive, I would rout him,

Had Aristotle been alive I would have refuted him

And were Aristotle alive today, I would refute his arguments,

And throughout his life he was, in truth, my peer.

He did not live except that he was for me like ashes

Nor could he live except as my humble peer at best.

يُسَافِرُ عِلمِي حَيثُ سَافضرتُ ظَاعِناً

يُسَافِرُ عِلمِي حَيثُ سَافضرتُ ظَاعِناً

وَيَصحَبُنِي حَيثُ استَقَلَّت بِيَ الرَّكبُ

وَيَصحَبُنِي حَيثُ استَقَلَّت بِيَ الرَّكبُ

My knowledge travels wherever I journey,

My knowledge travels wherever I traveled, wandering about

My knowledge journeys wherever I travel abroad,

And accompanies me wherever the caravan bears me away.

And accompanies me wherever the caravan lightened its load

Accompanying me wherever the mounts carry me.

مَحَلَّتُهُ صَدرِي وَمَسكَنُ عُمرِهِ

مَحَلَّتُهُ صَدرِي وَمَسكَنُ عُمرِهِ

بِحَيثُ التَقَى مِنِّي التَّرَائِبُ وَالتِّربُ

بِحَيثُ التَقَى مِنِّي التَّرَائِبُ وَالتِّربُ

Its dwelling is my breast, and its lifelong abode

Its place is my chest and the dwelling of its life

Its abode is my breast and its lifelong dwelling

Is where my breastbones and abdominal membrane meet [reading uncertain].

Where my sides meet from me, and the dust

Where my collarbones and ribs meet within.

إذَا مَا الجَنوبُ استَوطَأت فِي ضِجَاعِهَا

إذَا مَا الجَنوبُ استَوطَأت فِي ضِجَاعِهَا

فَعَنهُ نَبَا عَن مَضجَعِي مِنِّيَ الجَنبُ

فَعَنهُ نَبَا عَن مَضجَعِي مِنِّيَ الجَنبُ

When sides settle comfortably upon their beds,

When slumber settles into its bed

When others find comfort in the soft repose of their sides,

Because of it, my side recoils from my resting-place.

It alerts about my bedding - I turn my side from it

My flank recoils from the resting-place, restless for truth.

أنَا الشَّمسُ فِي جَوّ العُلُومِ مُنِيرَةٌ

أنَا الشَّمسُ فِي جَوّ العُلُومِ مُنِيرَةٌ

وَلَكِنَّ عَيبِي أنَّ مَطلَعِيَ الغَربُ

وَلَكِنَّ عَيبِي أنَّ مَطلَعِيَ الغَربُ

I am the sun, shining in the firmament of learning,

I am the sun in the atmosphere of sciences, illuminating

I am the sun shining in the skies of knowledge,

But my fault is that my rising-place is the West.

But my defect is that my rise is the west

But my only flaw is that my rising is in the West.

وَلَو أنَّهُ مِن جَانِبِ الشَّرقِ طَالِعٌ

وَلَو أنَّهُ مِن جَانِبِ الشَّرقِ طَالِعٌ

لَجَدَّ عَلَى مَا ضَاعَ من ذِكرِيَ النَّهبُ

لَجَدَّ عَلَى مَا ضَاعَ من ذِكرِيَ النَّهبُ

If it were rising from the eastern side,

If it were rising from the east

Yet had it risen from the horizon of the East,

The fame of mine now wasted would be eagerly snatched up.

It would find what was lost of my mention returned

Men would have rushed in plunder to seize all my neglected fame.

وَلِي نَحوَ أكنَافِ العِرَاقِ صَبَابَةٌ

وَلِي نَحوَ أكنَافِ العِرَاقِ صَبَابَةٌ

وَلاَ غَروَ أن يَستَوحِشَ الكَلِفُ الصَّبُّ

وَلاَ غَروَ أن يَستَوحِشَ الكَلِفُ الصَّبُّ

I have a passionate longing for the regions of Iraq,

And I have some yearning towards the sides of Iraq

And I harbor a deep longing for the lands of Iraq,

And no wonder that the ardently enamored feel lonely.

No wonder the frigid longs for the morning warmth

And no wonder that the ardent, impassioned lover feels desolate.

فَإن يُنزِلِ الرَّحمَانُ رَحلِيَ دُونَهُم

فَإن يُنزِلِ الرَّحمَانُ رَحلِيَ دُونَهُم

فَحِينَئِذٍ يَمضِي التَّأسُّفُ وَالكَربُ

فَحِينَئِذٍ يَمضِي التَّأسُّفُ وَالكَربُ

If the Most Merciful sets my baggage down near them,

If the Merciful should settle my belongings among them

So if the Merciful brings my caravan to their gates,

Then regret and anguish will depart.

Then sorrow and anguish would pass

Then at last all regret and sorrow will depart.

فَكَم قَائِلٍ أغفَلتُهُ وَهوَ حَاضِرٌ

فَكَم قَائِلٍ أغفَلتُهُ وَهوَ حَاضِرٌ

وَأطلُبُ مَا عَنهُ تَجِيءُ بِهِ الكُتبُ

وَأطلُبُ مَا عَنهُ تَجِيءُ بِهِ الكُتبُ

How many a speaker have I ignored while he was present,

How many have I neglected while present

For how often is one neglected while present among his people,

While seeking whatever the books bring from him!

And I seek what reports would bring about books

Only to have men seek after what the books record of him?

هُنَالِكَ يُدرَى أنَّ لِلبُعدِ قِصَّةً

هُنَالِكَ يُدرَى أنَّ لِلبُعدِ قِصَّةً

وَأنَّ فَسَادَ العِلمِ آفَتُهُ القُربُ

وَأنَّ فَسَادَ العِلمِ آفَتُهُ القُربُ

Then it is known that distance has its story,

There it will be realized that distance has a story

Then it is known that distance weaves its own renown,

And that closeness is the blight that corrupts learning.

And that the corruption of knowledge has proximity as its detriment

And the bane that corrupts true knowledge is being too near.

فَيَا عَجَباً مَن غَابَ عَنهُم تَشَوَّقُوا

فَيَا عَجَباً مَن غَابَ عَنهُم تَشَوَّقُوا

لَهُ وَدَنَوا لِمُزمِنِ دَرَاهِم ذَنبُ

لَهُ وَدَنَوا لِمُزمِنِ دَرَاهِم ذَنبُ

How strange: whoever is absent from them, they long

So strange are those who when absent, they yearned

O wonder of wonders: for him who is absent they yearn,

For him, and draw near to a long-time resident [ending unclear].

For him, and drew near to the sinner with coins of sin

Yet they scorn the one near, as though proximity were a fault!

وَإنَّ مَكَاناً ضَاقَ عَنِّي لَضَيِّقٌ

وَإنَّ مَكَاناً ضَاقَ عَنِّي لَضَيِّقٌ

عَلَى أنَّهُ فَيحٌ مَذَاهِبُهُ سُهبُ

عَلَى أنَّهُ فَيحٌ مَذَاهِبُهُ سُهبُ

A place that is too narrow for me is truly narrow,

A place too narrow for me is constricting

Indeed, any land that proves too narrow for me is confined,

Though it is spacious and its paths are broad plains.

Though its horizons are spacious and its directions vast

Even if its expanses are wide and its tracts open plains.

وَإنَّ رِجَالاً ضَيَّعُونِي لَضُيَّعٌ

وَإنَّ رِجَالاً ضَيَّعُونِي لَضُيَّعٌ

وَإنَّ زَمَاناً لَم أنَل خِصبَهُ جَدبُ

وَإنَّ زَمَاناً لَم أنَل خِصبَهُ جَدبُ

Men who have neglected me are truly worthless,

And men who lost me are lost

And men who have squandered me are the truly ruined,

And an age whose abundance I have not enjoyed is barren.

And a time whose fertility I did not attain is barren

And an age whose abundance I have not attained is utter drought.

وَلَو إنَّنِي خضاطَبتُ فَي النَّاسِ جَاهِلاً

وَلَو إنَّنِي خضاطَبتُ فَي النَّاسِ جَاهِلاً

لَقِيلَ دَعَأوٍ لاَ يَقُوم لَهَا طُنبُ

لَقِيلَ دَعَأوٍ لاَ يَقُوم لَهَا طُنبُ

Had I addressed an ignorant man among the people,

If I had addressed the people ignorantly

Had I addressed an ignorant fool among the people,

They would have said, 'Claims with no tent-rope to support them.'

It would be said, "This claim stands on no sand dune"

It would be dismissed as idle boasts that have no pillar to stand on.

وَلَكِنَّنِي خَاطَبتُ أعلَمَ مَن مَشَى

وَلَكِنَّنِي خَاطَبتُ أعلَمَ مَن مَشَى

وَمَن كُلُّ عِلمٍ فَهوَ فِيهِ لَنَا حَسبُ

وَمَن كُلُّ عِلمٍ فَهوَ فِيهِ لَنَا حَسبُ

But I have addressed the most learned man who walks,

But I addressed the most knowledgeable of those who walked

Yet I have addressed the most learned of all who walk the earth,

One who, in every science, is sufficient for us.

For whom all knowledge, we have enough of it

One in whom every branch of knowledge is our highest pride.

يُصَدّقُنِي فِي وَصفِهِ كُلُّ سَامِعٍ

يُصَدّقُنِي فِي وَصفِهِ كُلُّ سَامِعٍ

يَقِيناً وَلاَ يَأبَى لِسَانٌ وَلاَ قَلبُ

يَقِيناً وَلاَ يَأبَى لِسَانٌ وَلاَ قَلبُ

Every listener affirms what I say in describing him,

Every listener believes me in describing him

Every listener confirms my praise of him with certainty,

With certainty; no tongue or heart denies it.

With certainty, no tongue or heart refuses

Nor does any tongue or heart ever deny it.