يا سَائِقَ الاظْعَانِ أَينَ تَسُوقُ

يا سَائِقَ الاظْعَانِ أَينَ تَسُوقُ

ما بعدَ رامةَ مَنْزِلٌ مَومُوْقُ

ما بعدَ رامةَ مَنْزِلٌ مَومُوْقُ

O driver of the caravans, where are you driving them?

O driver of lamentation, where are you leading?

Beyond Rama no dwelling is beloved.

Beyond Ramah, there is no resting place

سَلِّمْ على الدِّمنِ التي لم يَعْفها

سَلِّمْ على الدِّمنِ التي لم يَعْفها

الاَّ صَبُوحُ سَحَائِبٍ وَغَبُوْقُ

الاَّ صَبُوحُ سَحَائِبٍ وَغَبُوْقُ

Greet the camp-remains, effaced by nothing

Greet the abode I did not leave it

but the clouds' morning and evening draughts.

Except for mornings of clouds and fog

دِمَنٌ بها حُمِّلتُ أَعبَاءَ الهَوى

دِمَنٌ بها حُمِّلتُ أَعبَاءَ الهَوى

فَحَمَلتُ منه ما أَطاقَ مُطيْقُ

فَحَمَلتُ منه ما أَطاقَ مُطيْقُ

Camp-remains where I was laden with the burdens of love;

An abode in which I was laden with the burdens of passion

so I bore of it as much as one could bear.

So I carried from it what the tolerant can bear

لا عزَّني خُدَعُ الرَّبابِ فانَّهُ

لا عزَّني خُدَعُ الرَّبابِ فانَّهُ

منعَ الرقادَ خيالُها المألُوْقُ

منعَ الرقادَ خيالُها المألُوْقُ

May Rabab's wiles not overcome me, for

The deceit of tents did not cheer me

her maddened phantom has kept sleep away.

For their phantom deprived me of rest

وَلَهٌ يَرِقُّ لَهُ الغيورُ وفُرقَةٌ

وَلَهٌ يَرِقُّ لَهُ الغيورُ وفُرقَةٌ

يَشتاقُ فيها العَاشقَ المَعْشُوْقُ

يَشتاقُ فيها العَاشقَ المَعْشُوْقُ

A longing that moves even the jealous to pity, and a parting

And a passion whose ardour made the jealous love

in which the beloved yearns for the lover.

And whose separation made the lover yearn for the beloved

وهوىً ملكتُ على العُيونِ طِلابَه

وهوىً ملكتُ على العُيونِ طِلابَه

وعلى الظُّنُونِ وِصَالُه مَسْرُوْقُ

وعلى الظُّنُونِ وِصَالُه مَسْرُوْقُ

And a love I managed to pursue despite watchful eyes,

And a love I controlled over its seekers

and whose union is stolen despite suspicions.

While gaining it was stolen from suspicions

أَفنى بَشَاشَتَهُ العِتَابُ فلم يكنْ

أَفنى بَشَاشَتَهُ العِتَابُ فلم يكنْ

الاَّ تَأَوّهُ زفرةٍ وَشَهِيْقُ

الاَّ تَأَوّهُ زفرةٍ وَشَهِيْقُ

Reproach consumed its gladness, till nothing remained

Complaints erased its joy, so it was not

but a groaning sigh and a sobbing breath.

Except sighs and moans

لو كنتُ أُنْصَفُ ما لُحِيتُ وعادَني

لو كنتُ أُنْصَفُ ما لُحِيتُ وعادَني

حَدِبٌ عليَّ من الغَرَامِ شَقيْقُ

حَدِبٌ عليَّ من الغَرَامِ شَقيْقُ

Had I been treated fairly, I would not have been blamed, and would have been visited

If I were fair, I would not have been blamed

by a compassionate soul, tender toward me in my passion.

And a humpbacked love would not have bent over me

ولكنتُ أُعذَرُ في الحَنينِ اليكمُ

ولكنتُ أُعذَرُ في الحَنينِ اليكمُ

لو كانَ لي في العَالَمينَ صَدِيْقُ

لو كانَ لي في العَالَمينَ صَدِيْقُ

And I would be excused for longing for you,

I would have been excused in longing for you

if I had a friend in all the worlds.

If I had a friend in the two worlds

يحْظَى بنَيلكم البعيدُ ولا أَرى

يحْظَى بنَيلكم البعيدُ ولا أَرى

قُربى يُقرّبُ انَّ ذا لَعُقُوْقُ

قُربى يُقرّبُ انَّ ذا لَعُقُوْقُ

The distant one gains your bounty, yet I see no

The distant gains your watering place, and I do not see

kinship that draws one near: this is surely neglect of kin.

My kinship drawing nearer - that is disloyalty

وكذا الزَّمانُ يَخيبُ فيه عَاقِلٌ

وكذا الزَّمانُ يَخيبُ فيه عَاقِلٌ

ويُفيدُ فيه جاهلٌ مَرْزُوْقُ

ويُفيدُ فيه جاهلٌ مَرْزُوْقُ

Such is time: in it a wise man comes to grief,

And so is time that disappoints the reasonable

while an ignorant man, favored with fortune, prospers.

And benefits the ignorant who gains sustenance

كلُّ الملوكِ وكلُّ مَنْ طَلَبَ العُلا

كلُّ الملوكِ وكلُّ مَنْ طَلَبَ العُلا

عَمَّنْ يُقدِّمُ شَاوْهْ مَسْبُوْقُ

عَمَّنْ يُقدِّمُ شَاوْهْ مَسْبُوْقُ

Every king, and everyone who has sought high rank,

All the kings and all who sought elevation

is outstripped by someone who goes farther,

Were led by one who presented a meal

الاَّ بَهَاء الدولتينِ فانَّهُ

الاَّ بَهَاء الدولتينِ فانَّهُ

فرعٌ له زُهْرُ النجومِ عُرُوْقُ

فرعٌ له زُهْرُ النجومِ عُرُوْقُ

except Baha al-Dawlatayn, for he

Except the splendor of the two abodes, for he

is a branch whose roots are the radiant stars.

Is a branch whose flowers have celestial roots

صافيِ الهُمومِ ولم يكنْ تِلْعَابَةَ

صافيِ الهُمومِ ولم يكنْ تِلْعَابَةَ

غَلَبَتْ عليهِ الكأسُ والابرِيْقُ

غَلَبَتْ عليهِ الكأسُ والابرِيْقُ

Pure in his concerns, he was never a trifler

Pure of worries, and was not for mockery’s sake

overpowered by the cup and the pitcher,

Overcome by wine and goblet

وغناءُ مُطْربةٍ تَحثُ سُجَاحَهَا

وغناءُ مُطْربةٍ تَحثُ سُجَاحَهَا

صَهْبَاء حابى لونَها الراووْقُ

صَهْبَاء حابى لونَها الراووْقُ

and a songstress's song, her mellowness stirred

And singing of a melody arousing her passions

by tawny wine whose hue the strainer has favored.

An ivory-like beauty whose complexion is pinkish

مَلَكَ البلادَ مع العِبادِ وأَشْرَقَتْ

مَلَكَ البلادَ مع العِبادِ وأَشْرَقَتْ

بضيائهِ الدُّنْيَا وَسَاغَ الرِّيْقُ

بضيائهِ الدُّنْيَا وَسَاغَ الرِّيْقُ

He ruled the lands and their people, and there shone

He ruled the countries and creatures and shone

the world in his light; saliva went down with ease.

His light on the world and tasting was pleasant

وسَمَتْ به عند المكارمِ غايةٌ

وسَمَتْ به عند المكارمِ غايةٌ

ما تُستطاعُ وهضبةٌ أَزليْقُ

ما تُستطاعُ وهضبةٌ أَزليْقُ

And through him, amid noble deeds, rose a summit

And with nobilities, an unattainable epitome was characterized

unattainable, and a slippery hill.

Which the camel litter cannot reach and a very smooth slope

يَنْفَلُّ عنها العَيْرُ وهو مُوَقَّحٌ

يَنْفَلُّ عنها العَيْرُ وهو مُوَقَّحٌ

ويَزِلُّ ظُفْرُ الطَّيْرِ وهو ذَلِيْقُ

ويَزِلُّ ظُفْرُ الطَّيْرِ وهو ذَلِيْقُ

The wild ass is beaten back by it, though hard-hoofed,

From which the camel slips and while completely saddled

and a bird's talon slips, though sharp.

And the bird's claws slip though sharp

عيهاتَ تُغنى الشَّمْسُ كلَّ مُراهِقٍ

عيهاتَ تُغنى الشَّمْسُ كلَّ مُراهِقٍ

وَيَعوقُ دونَ مَنَالِهِ العَيُّوْقُ

وَيَعوقُ دونَ مَنَالِهِ العَيُّوْقُ

Far beyond reach! The sun enriches everyone who approaches,

Alas! The sun cannot warm every adolescent

while Capella bars the way to reaching him.

And the incapable are hindered from reaching it

عَبَّى بدُولابَ الجنودَ وأَوَمضَتْ

عَبَّى بدُولابَ الجنودَ وأَوَمضَتْ

لِسيوفهِ في الدَّارعينَ بُرُوْقُ

لِسيوفهِ في الدَّارعينَ بُرُوْقُ

He arrayed the troops at Dulab, and there flashed

He rallied the regiments of soldiers and flashed

lightning from his swords among the armored men.

Against the armored were the white swords

وَسَرى لهم جِنْحَ الظَّلام مُشَمِّرٌ

وَسَرى لهم جِنْحَ الظَّلام مُشَمِّرٌ

يسْري الى حَاجَاتِهِ التَّوفيْقُ

يسْري الى حَاجَاتِهِ التَّوفيْقُ

And he marched against them under cover of darkness, girded for action;

And for them the wing of darkness proceeded, ready

success travels by night toward his aims.

To fulfill their needs through success

راضَ الخطوب وشيَّعتْهُ عَزيمةٌ

راضَ الخطوب وشيَّعتْهُ عَزيمةٌ

كالسيفِ أَيسرُ مسِّه التَّطبيْقُ

كالسيفِ أَيسرُ مسِّه التَّطبيْقُ

He tamed calamities, escorted by a resolve

Pleased with the misfortunes of fate and determination accompanied him

like a sword whose lightest touch severs joints.

Like a sword, quick to apply

فثنى جَماجِمَهم وفضَّ جموعَهم

فثنى جَماجِمَهم وفضَّ جموعَهم

ماضٍ اليهِ الجمعُ والتفريْقُ

ماضٍ اليهِ الجمعُ والتفريْقُ

So he bowed their heads and scattered their hosts,

So he bent their skulls, and scattered their groups

resolute: mustering and dispersal rest with him.

While the gathering and separation went to him

وغداً بجسرِ النَّهْرَوَانِ تَحُفُّه

وغداً بجسرِ النَّهْرَوَانِ تَحُفُّه

بيضُ الصَّوارم والطِّوالُ الرُّوْقُ

بيضُ الصَّوارم والطِّوالُ الرُّوْقُ

And tomorrow, at the bridge of Nahrawan, he will be ringed

And tomorrow at the Bridge of the Euphrates will be adorned

by white swords and long, hornlike spears.

With naked blades and extended lances

وكأَنهُ ليثٌ أَصابَ فريسةً

وكأَنهُ ليثٌ أَصابَ فريسةً

أَهدى غنيمتَها اليهِ طَريْقُ

أَهدى غنيمتَها اليهِ طَريْقُ

And as though he were a lion that had caught a prey,

As if he is a lion who caught prey

whose spoils a road had offered him.

And led its booty to it

طيَّانُ يجمعُ للوقيعةِ نَفْسَهُ

طيَّانُ يجمعُ للوقيعةِ نَفْسَهُ

واذا مشَى الخُيلاءَ فهو لَبِيْقُ

واذا مشَى الخُيلاءَ فهو لَبِيْقُ

Hungry, he gathers himself for the assault;

A wolf gathering itself for the raid

and when he walks with pride, he is graceful.

And when the brave walked, he is a howling

يُقْضَى الاهمُّ وَحَاجَتي مَحْبُوْسَةٌ

يُقْضَى الاهمُّ وَحَاجَتي مَحْبُوْسَةٌ

انَّ الطَّليقَ من الهَوانِ طليْقُ

انَّ الطَّليقَ من الهَوانِ طليْقُ

The weightiest matter is settled, while my need is held back;

The important is accomplished, while my need is imprisoned

surely one freed from humiliation is truly free.

Release from humiliation is release

قَصُرَتْ يدُ الأَيامِ عنكَ فانَّها

قَصُرَتْ يدُ الأَيامِ عنكَ فانَّها

طالتْ بطولكَ والمَعانُ رَفْيقُ

طالتْ بطولكَ والمَعانُ رَفْيقُ

The hand of days has fallen short of you, for it

The days fell short of reaching you, for they

has grown long through your bounty, and one aided is gentle.

Lengthened due to your length, and time is a friend

ولقد رأيتُكَ طالعاً في مَجْلِسٍ

ولقد رأيتُكَ طالعاً في مَجْلِسٍ

أَفضى اليهِ الحُسْنُ والتَّأنيْقُ

أَفضى اليهِ الحُسْنُ والتَّأنيْقُ

And indeed I saw you rising in a hall

And I saw you rising in a gathering

to which beauty and adornment had come.

To which beauty and grace led

حَصباؤُه الدرُّ المُبدَّدُ نَظمُه

حَصباؤُه الدرُّ المُبدَّدُ نَظمُه

وَثَراهُ مِسْكُ التُبَّت المفتُوْقُ

وَثَراهُ مِسْكُ التُبَّت المفتُوْقُ

Its pebbles were pearls, scattered from their string,

Its pebbles are scattered pearls, its structure

and its earth was musk of Tibet, unsealed.

And its carpet is shredded musk

ما كان أَكملَ منكَ فيهِ منظراً

ما كان أَكملَ منكَ فيهِ منظراً

يُرضى العيونَ جَمَالُهُ وَيَروْقُ

يُرضى العيونَ جَمَالُهُ وَيَروْقُ

There was no sight there more perfect than you,

None were more perfect than you in it, in appearance

its beauty pleasing and delighting the eyes.

Pleasing eyes is his beauty and agreeable

حياكَ يومُ المِهرجانِ فانَّهُ

حياكَ يومُ المِهرجانِ فانَّهُ

يومٌ بتَهْنِئَةِ الملوكِ حَقيْقُ

يومٌ بتَهْنِئَةِ الملوكِ حَقيْقُ

May the day of Mihragan salute you, for it

Your life on the feast day, for it is

is a fitting day for congratulating kings.

A day of congratulating kings, true

وبقيتَ تخلقُ كلَّ عامٍ مِثلَهُ

وبقيتَ تخلقُ كلَّ عامٍ مِثلَهُ

ما دامَ فوقَ سَرَاتِها مخلوْقُ

ما دامَ فوقَ سَرَاتِها مخلوْقُ

And may you live, wearing out its like each year,

You remained creating the like of it every year

as long as a creature remains upon the earth's heights.

As long as there is a creature above the ground

بِالشَّمسِ حينَ تغيبُ عن أَبصارِنا

بِالشَّمسِ حينَ تغيبُ عن أَبصارِنا

كَلَفٌ وبالبيداءِ بَعدَكَ ضِيْقُ

كَلَفٌ وبالبيداءِ بَعدَكَ ضِيْقُ

For the sun, when it vanishes from our sight,

By the sun when it disappears from our sights

there is yearning; after your departure, the desert feels cramped.

A grievance, and after you the wilderness is narrow