أَفي كلِّ ربع للمطيّ بنا وَقفُ

أَفي كلِّ ربع للمطيّ بنا وَقفُ

وفي كلِّ دارٍ من مدامِعنا وكفُ

وفي كلِّ دارٍ من مدامِعنا وكفُ

Must the mounts halt with us at every dwelling,

In every quarter the rider stops for us,

and must tears drip from our eyes at every home?

And in every house our tears flow.

نسائِلُ عَن أَحبابنا كلَّ دارسٍ

نسائِلُ عَن أَحبابنا كلَّ دارسٍ

وَنقفو من الآثار بالبيد ما نَقفو

وَنقفو من الآثار بالبيد ما نَقفو

We question every faded ruin about our loved ones,

We ask all who dwell

and through the deserts follow what traces we can.

And follow every trace.

أَخلّايَ إِن تعفُ الديارُ فَفي الحشا

أَخلّايَ إِن تعفُ الديارُ فَفي الحشا

رَسيسُ جَوىً لَم يعفُ يوماً ولا يعفو

رَسيسُ جَوىً لَم يعفُ يوماً ولا يعفو

My friends, though the dwellings fade, within my heart

My friends, if the homes are in ruins

a trace of burning lovesickness has never faded, nor will it.

The love in my heart is never in ruins.

حنيني إلى دارٍ قضيتُ بها الصِبا

حنيني إلى دارٍ قضيتُ بها الصِبا

وما عاقَني للدَهر منعٌ ولا صَرفُ

وما عاقَني للدَهر منعٌ ولا صَرفُ

My longing is for a home where I spent my youth,

Yearning for the house where I spent my youth,

and neither time's hindrance nor its reversals held me back.

No prevention or turning away kept me from it.

وَعَهدي بهاتيك المعاهِد وَالرُبى

وَعَهدي بهاتيك المعاهِد وَالرُبى

أَواهلُ لا ينفكُّ يَعطو بها خِشفُ

أَواهلُ لا ينفكُّ يَعطو بها خِشفُ

I remember those haunts and hills

Those first loves and passions

peopled, with a fawn forever reaching up to graze.

Are knots that will not be undone.

تُطالعنا أَقمارُ تمٍّ بأفقِها

تُطالعنا أَقمارُ تمٍّ بأفقِها

وَيَهفو علينا من شذا نشرِها عَرفُ

وَيَهفو علينا من شذا نشرِها عَرفُ

Full moons look out upon us from their horizon,

The moons rise over it, greeting us,

and fragrance wafts over us from their spreading perfume.

Its breeze blows its perfume over us.

وربَّ صَموت القُلبِ خمصانة الحشا

وربَّ صَموت القُلبِ خمصانة الحشا

لهَوتُ بها والنجمُ من أُذنها شَنفُ

لهَوتُ بها والنجمُ من أُذنها شَنفُ

Many a woman, her bracelet silent, her waist slender,

Many a silent heart in the groves

I dallied with, a star an earring at her ear.

Found joy in it while the stars inclined their ears.

لعوبٌ إِذا عاطتكَ لهوَ حديثها

لعوبٌ إِذا عاطتكَ لهوَ حديثها

ثملتَ وما دارَت معتَّقةٌ صِرفُ

ثملتَ وما دارَت معتَّقةٌ صِرفُ

Playful—when she offers you her merry talk,

When she toys with you in her conversation

you grow drunk, though no unmixed aged wine has passed around.

You are drunk though no wine is poured.

يؤوِّدُها مرُّ النَسيم فتنثني

يؤوِّدُها مرُّ النَسيم فتنثني

تثنّي غصنِ البان ما شانَه قَصفُ

تثنّي غصنِ البان ما شانَه قَصفُ

The passing breeze bends her, and she sways

The passing breeze makes it sway

as a bān-tree branch sways, unmarred by breakage.

Like a flexible branch of acacia.

سل الظبية الغنّاءَ إِذ قيلَ مثلها

سل الظبية الغنّاءَ إِذ قيلَ مثلها

أُساعفها الكشحُ المهفهفُ والردفُ

أُساعفها الكشحُ المهفهفُ والردفُ

Ask the sweet-voiced gazelle, when she is called her equal:

Ask the singing gazelle when she is compared to it

did her slender flank and her haunches come to her aid?

How the prominent collarbones make answer.

ثَقيلةُ غضِّ الطَرفِ وَسنى كأَنَّما

ثَقيلةُ غضِّ الطَرفِ وَسنى كأَنَّما

سَبَت سِنةَ العشّاق أَجفانُها الوُطفُ

سَبَت سِنةَ العشّاق أَجفانُها الوُطفُ

Languid with lowered gaze, drowsy, as though

Slow of glance, remote, as though

her thick-lashed eyelids had stolen the lovers' slumber.

Her eyelids were wearied by the passions of lovers.

قضيتُ بها عُمرَ الشَبيبة لاهياً

قضيتُ بها عُمرَ الشَبيبة لاهياً

وَلَم ينتبه للبَين في شملنا طَرفُ

وَلَم ينتبه للبَين في شملنا طَرفُ

I spent my youthful years with her in dalliance,

I spent my youth happily heedless there

and no eye awoke to parting while we were together.

No hint of separation disturbed our company.

لياليَ لا يَصفو ورودي لمنهلٍ

لياليَ لا يَصفو ورودي لمنهلٍ

وَلي مِن حُميّاها ومن ثَغرِها رشفُ

وَلي مِن حُميّاها ومن ثَغرِها رشفُ

Nights when my coming to a spring brought no delight,

Nights without end at a campsite

while I had sips of her intoxicating ardor and her lips.

Where I quaffed its wine and kissed its lips.

وَكَم لَيلةٍ رامَ الصَباحُ نزالها

وَكَم لَيلةٍ رامَ الصَباحُ نزالها

أَمدَّ الدُجى من فرعها الشعر الوَحفُ

أَمدَّ الدُجى من فرعها الشعر الوَحفُ

How many a night, when morning sought to battle it,

How many nights the dawn sought its lodging

her thick tresses lent reinforcements to the dark.

While the darkness lengthened the dark tresses.

لكِ اللَه هَل بعد التَباعد عطفةٌ

لكِ اللَه هَل بعد التَباعد عطفةٌ

وهل لغصونٍ قد عَبَست بعدنا عطفُ

وهل لغصونٍ قد عَبَست بعدنا عطفُ

God be with you! Is there tenderness after estrangement?

May you live! Is affection possible after separation?

And will branches that frowned since we left bend again?

Can the boughs frown at us and then bend affectionately?

أَجدَّ النوى ما زلتُ أَكدح دائباً

أَجدَّ النوى ما زلتُ أَكدح دائباً

أَمام الرَجا خَلفٌ وصدق المنى خُلفُ

أَمام الرَجا خَلفٌ وصدق المنى خُلفُ

Parting grew relentless; I kept toiling without cease:

My sorrows are renewed though I struggle on,

before hope lies retreat, and wishes' truth is broken promise.

Behind and ahead only truth and falsehood.

لعمريَ ما الآمالُ من شيم الفَتى

لعمريَ ما الآمالُ من شيم الفَتى

إِذا لم تصدِّقه الظنونُ أَو الكشفُ

إِذا لم تصدِّقه الظنونُ أَو الكشفُ

By my life, hopes are no part of a noble man's character

By my life! hopes are not a youth’s trait

if conjecture or insight does not bear him out.

Unless confirmed by intuitions or revelations.

وَما كُلُّ مرجوٍّ يُنالُ وإنَّما

وَما كُلُّ مرجوٍّ يُنالُ وإنَّما

على المَرء أَن لا يستذلَّ ولا يَهفو

على المَرء أَن لا يستذلَّ ولا يَهفو

Not everything hoped for is attained; all that is required

Not every wish is fulfilled, but one should not

of a man is to avoid humiliation and make no false step.

Be downcast or give up hope.

هُدىً للأَماني قد تبلَّج نجحُها

هُدىً للأَماني قد تبلَّج نجحُها

بجود نظام الدين واِنبلجَ العرفُ

بجود نظام الدين واِنبلجَ العرفُ

Guidance for hopes—their fulfillment has dawned

The rising fortunes of his hopes

through Nizam al-Din's generosity, and beneficence shines forth.

Through the munificence of Nijam’s order began to shine.

كَريمٌ إِذا ما اِنهلَّ وابلُ كفِّه

كَريمٌ إِذا ما اِنهلَّ وابلُ كفِّه

وصوبُ الحَيا لم تدر أَيُّهما الكفُّ

وصوبُ الحَيا لم تدر أَيُّهما الكفُّ

Generous—when the downpour of his palm pours forth,

Noble, whether bestowing from his overflowing palm,

and rain descends, you cannot tell which is the palm.

Or aiming arrows from his bow.

حليفُ نَدىً لم تأوِ مالاً بنانُه

حليفُ نَدىً لم تأوِ مالاً بنانُه

لوفرٍ ولم يألف براحته ألفُ

لوفرٍ ولم يألف براحته ألفُ

An ally of generosity: his fingers never shelter money

Ally of the dewy clouds that gave no shelter to money

for hoarding, nor does a thousand find a home in his palm.

For gain, nor made comfort his habit.

لَه خُلقٌ كالرَوض غبَّ بها النَدى

لَه خُلقٌ كالرَوض غبَّ بها النَدى

وكفُّ سماحٍ لا يُشام لها كفُّ

وكفُّ سماحٍ لا يُشام لها كفُّ

His character is like a meadow after dew has settled on it,

He has a nature like a meadow where the dew plays

and a generous hand with no hint of withholding.

And palms of generosity beyond all palms.

فَتى المجد وثّابٌ إِلى رُتب العُلى

فَتى المجد وثّابٌ إِلى رُتب العُلى

وما عاقَه عنها خُمولٌ ولا ضعفُ

وما عاقَه عنها خُمولٌ ولا ضعفُ

Glory's young champion, leaping toward exalted ranks,

The young man of glory who rewards exalted ranks

held back from them by neither obscurity nor weakness.

Never deterred by indifference or weakness.

رقى مرتقىً لَولا تأَخُّرُ عصرِه

رقى مرتقىً لَولا تأَخُّرُ عصرِه

لجاءَت به الآياتُ والرسل والصُحفُ

لجاءَت به الآياتُ والرسل والصُحفُ

He climbed to a height such that, were his age not so late,

He climbed elevated steps which, if not for his late age,

the verses, messengers, and scriptures would have proclaimed him.

Signs and prophets and books would have advanced him to.

يروقُكَ مقداماً إذ الصيد أَحجمت

يروقُكَ مقداماً إذ الصيد أَحجمت

بحيث القَنا الخطّار من فوقه سقفُ

بحيث القَنا الخطّار من فوقه سقفُ

He wins your admiration, bold when proud nobles draw back,

He is pleasing in the attack when the prey recoils

where swaying spears form a roof above him.

Where the wild asses are, under a roof of bows.

وَيَسمو الحسامُ المشرفيّ بكفِّه

وَيَسمو الحسامُ المشرفيّ بكفِّه

إِذا ما اِلتقى الجمعان واِقترب الزحفُ

إِذا ما اِلتقى الجمعان واِقترب الزحفُ

And the Mashrafi blade rises high in his hand

And his sword rises gloriously in his hand

when the two hosts meet and the charge draws near.

When the two armies meet and the ranks draw near.

أَليفُ العُلى لم يصبُ إِلّا إِلى العُلى

أَليفُ العُلى لم يصبُ إِلّا إِلى العُلى

إِذا ما صَبا يوماً إِلى إلفه إِلفُ

إِذا ما صَبا يوماً إِلى إلفه إِلفُ

A companion of eminence, he yearns for eminence alone,

Familiar with the heights, he aspires only to the heights,

when a lover someday longs for his beloved.

When his comrades aspire to their familiar friend.

تَقَصَّت عِداهُ من مدى البين غايةً

تَقَصَّت عِداهُ من مدى البين غايةً

فَلا دَنَت القُصوى ولا بَعُد الحَتفُ

فَلا دَنَت القُصوى ولا بَعُد الحَتفُ

His foes pursued the utmost limit of distance,

He extends his bounds beyond all bounds,

but the farthest limit came no nearer, nor did death recede.

So neither drawn near nor remote.

رويداً فإن دانت رجالٌ بسلمها

رويداً فإن دانت رجالٌ بسلمها

وإِلّا فَهَذي البيضُ واليلبُ الزَغفُ

وإِلّا فَهَذي البيضُ واليلبُ الزَغفُ

Easy now—if men submit on peaceful terms,

Gently! If men approach his orbit

otherwise, here are gleaming swords and broad, supple armor.

else these are plain words and deceptive rumors.

كأَنَّ المذاكي المُقرَبات يَقودُها

كأَنَّ المذاكي المُقرَبات يَقودُها

عرائسُ تُجلى إِذ يُرادُ لها زَفُّ

عرائسُ تُجلى إِذ يُرادُ لها زَفُّ

The full-grown, favored steeds he leads seem

As if the approaching litters are led

like brides unveiled as their wedding procession is readied.

By brides DISPLAYED IN GLORY FOR THEIR PROCESSION.

وقد أُسدِلت من ثائر النَقع دونها

وقد أُسدِلت من ثائر النَقع دونها

سُتورٌ وَلَم يُرفع لمسدلها سَجفُ

سُتورٌ وَلَم يُرفع لمسدلها سَجفُ

And there have been lowered before them, from rising dust,

Over them are lowered curtains of silk

curtains; no curtain-edge was lifted for the one who lowered them.

But none raise the veil covering them.

وما أَينعت يوماً رؤوسُ عداتِهِ

وما أَينعت يوماً رؤوسُ عداتِهِ

بروض الوَغى إِلّا وحانَ لها قَطفُ

بروض الوَغى إِلّا وحانَ لها قَطفُ

Never have his foes' heads ripened

Never have the heads of his foes ripened

in battle's garden without their time for plucking coming.

In the meadow of battle but their plucking was at hand.

أَربَّ العُلى وَالمجدِ والبأس والندى

أَربَّ العُلى وَالمجدِ والبأس والندى

إِليكَ فَلَولا أَنتَ ما اِستغرق الوصفُ

إِليكَ فَلَولا أَنتَ ما اِستغرق الوصفُ

O lord of eminence, glory, valor, and generosity,

Highest of the lofty, glorious, daring, and brilliant

to you—for without you, praise could never be complete.

None other exhausts praise of you.

شهدتُ لأنت الواحد الفرد في العُلى

شهدتُ لأنت الواحد الفرد في العُلى

وقد أُنكر الإنكارُ أَو عُرِفَ العُرفُ

وقد أُنكر الإنكارُ أَو عُرِفَ العُرفُ

I testify: you indeed are the one, the peerless, in eminence,

I bear witness that you are peerless in the heights

and denial has been denied, or goodness recognized.

Though understanding denies or understands this.

إِليكَ الهُدى أَلقى مقاليدَ أَمره

إِليكَ الهُدى أَلقى مقاليدَ أَمره

فأَيقظتَه من بعد ما كادَ أَن يَغفو

فأَيقظتَه من بعد ما كادَ أَن يَغفو

Guidance has entrusted you with the keys of its affairs,

To you I commit the reins of its affair

and you awakened it after it had almost fallen asleep.

And you rouse it after it had almost slumbered.

فأَنتَ لِهَذا الخلق إِن دان مؤئلٌ

فأَنتَ لِهَذا الخلق إِن دان مؤئلٌ

وَللدين والدُنيا إِذا نُكبا كَهفُ

وَللدين والدُنيا إِذا نُكبا كَهفُ

Thus you are a refuge for these people, if they submit,

For these people you are a refuge if times are corrupt

and a shelter for faith and the world when calamity strikes them.

And for religion and world you are a cave if they stumble.

رقيتَ من العلياء أَرفعَ رتبةٍ

رقيتَ من العلياء أَرفعَ رتبةٍ

ففقتَ الوَرى قِدماً وكلُّهم خَلفُ

ففقتَ الوَرى قِدماً وكلُّهم خَلفُ

You have climbed to the highest rank of eminence,

You attained in the highest the most exalted rank,

and outstripped mankind in precedence, all of them behind.

Surpassing all mankind, who trail behind you.

فَلا برحت علياؤُك الدهرَ عضَّةً

فَلا برحت علياؤُك الدهرَ عضَّةً

غلائلُها تَضفو ومشربُها يَصفو

غلائلُها تَضفو ومشربُها يَصفو

May your eminence remain forever fresh,

Your elevated princely line continues forever

its robes flowing amply, its drinking-place clear.

Casting fine rain, its draft is clear.

وأمَّكَ عيدُ النحر بالسعد مُقبلاً

وأمَّكَ عيدُ النحر بالسعد مُقبلاً

وأَمَّ عِداك النَحرُ والذُلُّ والخَسفُ

وأَمَّ عِداك النَحرُ والذُلُّ والخَسفُ

May the Feast of Sacrifice approach you with good fortune,

The feast of sacrifice comes to you in good fortune,

and may slaughter, humiliation, and ruin seek your foes.

While for your enemies sacrifice means disgrace and perishing.

ودونكها عذراء بكراً زففتُها

ودونكها عذراء بكراً زففتُها

إِليكَ وداداً حَليُها النظمُ والرَصفُ

إِليكَ وداداً حَليُها النظمُ والرَصفُ

And take her, an untouched maiden whom I have brought as a bride

To you I led the virgin bride of my poetry

to you in affection, her adornment verse and ordered composition.

Adorned with composition and well-arranged.

ودم وابقَ واسلم آمر الدهر ناهياً

ودم وابقَ واسلم آمر الدهر ناهياً

مَدى الدَهر إجلالاً عليك العُلى وقفُ

مَدى الدَهر إجلالاً عليك العُلى وقفُ

Live on, endure, and be safe, commanding Time and forbidding it:

Blood, and remain, and submit! Command the age, forbidding,

through all time, in homage, eminence is reserved for you.

Revering you always, you are supreme.