تَلُومُ وأَيُّ فتىً لم يُلَمْ

تَلُومُ وأَيُّ فتىً لم يُلَمْ

وانْ كانَ حُراً كريمَ الشِّيَمْ

وانْ كانَ حُراً كريمَ الشِّيَمْ

She reproaches me—and what young man has not been reproached,

You blame, but what young man is not blamed?

even if he is freeborn and noble in character?

Though free, with noble traits and unashamed,

عييتُ ولم أَعْيَ الاَّ بِهُنَّ

عييتُ ولم أَعْيَ الاَّ بِهُنَّ

وايثارُهُنَّ سَوادَ اللِّمَمْ

وايثارُهُنَّ سَوادَ اللِّمَمْ

I was wearied, and nothing wearied me but them

I grew weary, though I did not grow weary except for them,

and their preference for raven-black tresses.

And to prefer them is the essence of glory.

ومولىً يُكاتمنى ضِغنَه

ومولىً يُكاتمنى ضِغنَه

ولا تكتمُ العَينُ ما قد كَتَمْ

ولا تكتمُ العَينُ ما قد كَتَمْ

And an ally conceals his rancor from me,

A master who hides his displeasure from me,

yet the eye cannot conceal what he has hidden.

Yet the eye cannot hide what it has concealed.

لهُ لحظةٌ غيرُ مأمونَةٍ

لهُ لحظةٌ غيرُ مأمونَةٍ

كما يَلْحَظُ الحَاسِدُونَ النِّعَمْ

كما يَلْحَظُ الحَاسِدُونَ النِّعَمْ

His glance is not to be trusted,

He has a moment not to be trusted,

like the way the envious gaze upon blessings.

As the envious look upon blessings.

عجبتُ لمبتَهِجٍ بالبقَا

عجبتُ لمبتَهِجٍ بالبقَا

ءِ يفرحُ بعدَ الصِّبا بالهَرَمْ

ءِ يفرحُ بعدَ الصِّبا بالهَرَمْ

I marvel at one delighted by survival,

I wondered at one happy with survival,

who rejoices in old age after youth;

Rejoicing after youth reaches old age.

ودارٍ يُغَرُّ بِهَا أَهُلها

ودارٍ يُغَرُّ بِهَا أَهُلها

غُرورَ المُحبِّ بطيفِ الحُلُمْ

غُرورَ المُحبِّ بطيفِ الحُلُمْ

and at an abode that beguiles its inhabitants,

And a house whose people are deluded

as a lover is beguiled by a phantom in a dream.

By the fantasies of a dreamer.

تأَمُّلهَا يقظةٌ من كَرى

تأَمُّلهَا يقظةٌ من كَرى

ولذتُها راحةٌ من أَلَمْ

ولذتُها راحةٌ من أَلَمْ

Reflecting on it is an awakening from slumber;

Contemplate it awake, rid of worries,

its pleasure is relief from pain.

And its pleasure a respite from pain.

عناءُ الحياةِ وروحُ الوفَاةِ

عناءُ الحياةِ وروحُ الوفَاةِ

تقاربَ وجدانُها والعَدَمْ

تقاربَ وجدانُها والعَدَمْ

Life's toil and death's repose—

The toil of life and the soul of death

its presence and absence are nearly alike.

Are similar in their nothingness.

طوت ألَ قيصرَ طيَّ الرِّدَاءِ

طوت ألَ قيصرَ طيَّ الرِّدَاءِ

وُأسْرَةَ اسفَنْديَارٍ وَجَمْ

وُأسْرَةَ اسفَنْديَارٍ وَجَمْ

It folded Caesar's house away like a cloak,

Time has folded Caesar’s mantle,

and the family of Isfandiyar and Jam.

And the throne of Iskandar,

أَعدوا السيوفَ لأَدائِهم

أَعدوا السيوفَ لأَدائِهم

فأينَ السُّيوفُ وأَينَ القِمَمْ

فأينَ السُّيوفُ وأَينَ القِمَمْ

They readied swords for their foes;

Prepare the swords for their tasks—

so where are the swords, and where the lofty heads?

Then where are the swords, and where the peaks?

ولكنَّ مرتدياً بالوَقا

ولكنَّ مرتدياً بالوَقا

رِ يمنَعهُ الجِدُّ أنْ يَبتِسمْ

رِ يمنَعهُ الجِدُّ أنْ يَبتِسمْ

Yet there is one cloaked in dignity;

But wearing the gown of dignity

his gravity forbids him to smile.

Keeps seriousness from smiling.

جَنَى وهو طفلٌ ثِمَارَ العُلا

جَنَى وهو طفلٌ ثِمَارَ العُلا

وسادَ الورى وهو لم يَحْتَلْمِ

وسادَ الورى وهو لم يَحْتَلْمِ

He reaped the fruits of eminence while still a child,

He plucked fruits while a child,

and became lord of mankind before reaching puberty.

Prevailed over the world before he matured.

تُضامُ لرؤيتهِ سُجَّداً

تُضامُ لرؤيتهِ سُجَّداً

وجوهُ الملوكِ التي لم تُضَمْ

وجوهُ الملوكِ التي لم تُضَمْ

Humbled in prostration at the sight of him

Faces of kings bow down before him,

are kings' faces never humbled before.

That never bowed down before.

كأَنَّ على خَشَبَاتِ السَّري

كأَنَّ على خَشَبَاتِ السَّري

رِ صَقْراً يُصَرْصِرُ فوقَ العَلَمْ

رِ صَقْراً يُصَرْصِرُ فوقَ العَلَمْ

As though upon the throne's wooden frame

As if on his litter were a falcon

a falcon screeches above the banner.

Screeching above the banners.

بعيدُ المَرامِ على قُربهِ

بعيدُ المَرامِ على قُربهِ

ككَيْوَانُ في بُعدهِ والعظَمْ

ككَيْوَانُ في بُعدهِ والعظَمْ

Far beyond reach, despite his nearness,

Lofty in his ambitions, though near,

like Kaywan in remoteness and grandeur.

Like a comet in remoteness and greatness.

رمى بالبديهة مَنْ ظَنَّهُ

رمى بالبديهة مَنْ ظَنَّهُ

خبيئةَ سِرهم المُكْتَتَمْ

خبيئةَ سِرهم المُكْتَتَمْ

With instant insight he struck whoever he deemed

He threw natural talent at one who thought him

the hidden repository of their concealed secret.

To hide their secret being concealed.

فكلُّهُمُ بعضُ أَعْضَائِهِ

فكلُّهُمُ بعضُ أَعْضَائِهِ

على بعض أَعضَائِهِ يُتَّهَمْ

على بعض أَعضَائِهِ يُتَّهَمْ

For all of them are parts of his body;

For they are all but limbs to each other,

each is suspected concerning another of his limbs.

Upon each other finding blame.

مَساعيهِ تأكلُ أَكبادَهُمْ

مَساعيهِ تأكلُ أَكبادَهُمْ

كما تأكلُ النارُ قلبَ الفَحَمْ

كما تأكلُ النارُ قلبَ الفَحَمْ

His endeavors devour their livers,

His efforts consume their livers

as fire consumes the heart of charcoal.

As fire consumes the heart of coal.

وفي التاج أَبلجُ زانَ الجَمَا

وفي التاج أَبلجُ زانَ الجَمَا

ل دِيباجَتَي خَدِّهِ بالشَّمَمْ

ل دِيباجَتَي خَدِّهِ بالشَّمَمْ

Within the crown, a radiant man: beauty has graced

And on the crown the brightest of diadems,

his two silken cheeks with a high-bridged nose.

Adorning his cheeks’ moles with priceless gems.

قليلٌ على المالِ ابقاؤهُ

قليلٌ على المالِ ابقاؤهُ

وما آفةُ المالِ الاَّ الكَرمْ

وما آفةُ المالِ الاَّ الكَرمْ

Little does he spare his wealth;

Little remains of wealth retaining it,

and wealth's only scourge is generosity.

And no affliction of wealth but generosity.

يُظُنُ الجهولُ به غِرَّةً

يُظُنُ الجهولُ به غِرَّةً

ولا يعلمُ الدهرُ ما قد عَلِمْ

ولا يعلمُ الدهرُ ما قد عَلِمْ

The ignorant man supposes him heedless,

The ignorant think him heedless,

yet Time does not know what he has learned.

Though time knows what it has known.

فما وَلَدَتْ أُمّهاتُ الرِّجا

فما وَلَدَتْ أُمّهاتُ الرِّجا

لِ مِثلكَ في العُربِ أَوفى العَجمْ

لِ مِثلكَ في العُربِ أَوفى العَجمْ

No mothers of men have borne

For no mothers of men in Arabs or non-Arabs

your like, among Arabs or non-Arabs:

Have given birth to one as faithful as you.

أَشدَّ ارتياحاً ببذلِ اللُّها

أَشدَّ ارتياحاً ببذلِ اللُّها

وأَوفى يمنياً بِعَقْدِ الذِّمَمْ

وأَوفى يمنياً بِعَقْدِ الذِّمَمْ

more joyful in lavishing great gifts,

Most delighted in giving, most faithful in pact,

and more faithful in binding covenants by oath,

And firmest advancing though aims betray.

وأَمضى على غرَرٍ مُقْدِماً

وأَمضى على غرَرٍ مُقْدِماً

اذا ما العَزائمُ خُنَّ الهِمَمْ

اذا ما العَزائمُ خُنَّ الهِمَمْ

and more resolute in advancing into peril,

Horses have filled up and squadrons thinned out,

when resolutions betray ambitions,

After armaments, accustomed to stillness.

وملَّ الجيادُ وجيفَ القيادِ

وملَّ الجيادُ وجيفَ القيادِ

وأَلفَينَ بَعْد السُّروجِ اللُجُمْ

وأَلفَينَ بَعْد السُّروجِ اللُجُمْ

and steeds tire of galloping under the reins,

Thirsty, until the protectors see them

and, after saddles, they find bridles,

Crowding at the watering-place.

ظِماء الى أَنْ يَراها الحِمَا

ظِماء الى أَنْ يَراها الحِمَا

مُ هِيْماً على وِرْدِهِ المُزْدَحِمْ

مُ هِيْماً على وِرْدِهِ المُزْدَحِمْ

thirsting until Death sees them

Ruin saw them before the watering flock

maddened with thirst at his crowded watering-place.

Crowding at the basin.

رآها الردى قبلَ وِرْدِ المياهِ

رآها الردى قبلَ وِرْدِ المياهِ

كرُوْعاً على حَوضِهِ تَزدَحِمْ

كرُوْعاً على حَوضِهِ تَزدَحِمْ

Death saw them, before they reached water,

You rose and were the dawn’s splendor,

bending to drink, crowding at his pool.

You helped and were salvation of nations.

طلعتَ فكنتَ بهاءَ العلا

طلعتَ فكنتَ بهاءَ العلا

وَجُدتَ فكنتَ غِياثَ الأُمَمْ

وَجُدتَ فكنتَ غِياثَ الأُمَمْ

You rose and became the splendor of eminence;

You walked as the full moon walks

you gave generously and became the succor of nations.

Between stars, dispelling darkness.

وسرتَ كما سارَ بينَ النُّجُو

وسرتَ كما سارَ بينَ النُّجُو

مِ بَدْرٌ تَصَدَّعُ عنه الظُّلَمْ

مِ بَدْرٌ تَصَدَّعُ عنه الظُّلَمْ

And you marched as there moves among the stars

With unchecked momentum in battle,

a full moon from which darkness breaks away,

Where leg knows not foot.

بأَرعنَ ملتَئِمٍ بالقَتَا

بأَرعنَ ملتَئِمٍ بالقَتَا

مِ لا تَعْرِفُ الساقُ القَدَمْ

مِ لا تَعْرِفُ الساقُ القَدَمْ

with a vast host massed amid dust,

Squadrons are blinded by his color

where shank cannot recognize foot.

And deafened by his voice.

تُصابُ الكتائبُ من لونِهِ

تُصابُ الكتائبُ من لونِهِ

ومن جَرسهِ بالعَمى والصَّممْ

ومن جَرسهِ بالعَمى والصَّممْ

Battalions are struck by its hue

You wanted in the morning

and by its din with blindness and deafness.

To wed one of the slender-waisted.

وأَنتَ تُريدُ غَداةَ الصَّباحِ

وأَنتَ تُريدُ غَداةَ الصَّباحِ

بأَهِلكَ احدى بَنَاتِ الرَّقِمْ

بأَهِلكَ احدى بَنَاتِ الرَّقِمْ

And at daybreak you intended

But when the shooting of the archers

for your kin one of the spotted serpent's daughters.

Bent toward you, the womb turned compassionate.

فلما اشْرَأَبَّتْ صدورُ الرما

فلما اشْرَأَبَّتْ صدورُ الرما

ح للطعنِ أَطَّتْ اليكَ الرَّحِمْ

ح للطعنِ أَطَّتْ اليكَ الرَّحِمْ

But when the breasts of the spears stretched upward

You envied blessings granted

to thrust, kinship groaned in appeal to you.

Lest blame change them.

تَغارُ على النِّعَمِ السَّابغَا

تَغارُ على النِّعَمِ السَّابغَا

تِ من أَنْ تُغيرَ عليها النِّقَمْ

تِ من أَنْ تُغيرَ عليها النِّقَمْ

You jealously guard abundant blessings

Until you saw the insistent sinner

against calamities raiding them,

Erase his misdeeds through regret.

الى أَن رأيتَ المُسيءَ المُصِرْ

الى أَن رأيتَ المُسيءَ المُصِرْ

رَ يَمحو اسَاءَ تَهُ بالنَّدَمْ

رَ يَمحو اسَاءَ تَهُ بالنَّدَمْ

until you saw the persistent wrongdoer

Their books blaming you never ceased

wipe away his offense with remorse.

To batter your heart until it ached.

وما بَرحَتْ كتبهم بالعِتَا

وما بَرحَتْ كتبهم بالعِتَا

بِ تَقرعُ قلبَكَ حتى أَلَمْ

بِ تَقرعُ قلبَكَ حتى أَلَمْ

Their letters of reproach kept

They gain the peak of glory in gifts

knocking at your heart until it ached.

Yet the sword cannot match the pen.

يَفُلُونَ حدَّ الظُّبى بالرُّقَى

يَفُلُونَ حدَّ الظُّبى بالرُّقَى

ولا يَبلُغُ السيف كيدَ القَلَمْ

ولا يَبلُغُ السيف كيدَ القَلَمْ

They blunt the edges of blades with incantations,

You gave and connected, so wealth became cheap,

and the sword cannot match the pen's guile.

And the land’s celebrations of feasts diminished.

بَذلتَ وصُلتَ فهان الغِنى

بَذلتَ وصُلتَ فهان الغِنى

وقلَّ احتفالُ الثَّرى بالدِّيَمْ

وقلَّ احتفالُ الثَّرى بالدِّيَمْ

You gave and charged, so wealth grew trifling,

And she who bore them feared you

and the soil cared little for steady rains.

Even the beasts in the thickets.

وخافَكَ من وَلَدَتْهُ النِّسَا

وخافَكَ من وَلَدَتْهُ النِّسَا

ءُ حتى السباعُ التي في الأَجَمْ

ءُ حتى السباعُ التي في الأَجَمْ

All whom women bore feared you,

I see her as if intoxicated

even the beasts in the thickets.

Or afflicted with dumbness;

أراها كأنَّ بها نَشْوَةً

أراها كأنَّ بها نَشْوَةً

من السكرِ أَوْ عارضاً من لَمَمْ

من السكرِ أَوْ عارضاً من لَمَمْ

I see them as though seized by giddiness

So free her with drops from the steeds

from drunkenness, or a passing fit of madness.

And bridle her members with force.

فَخَلِّ لها نزراتِ الجيا

فَخَلِّ لها نزراتِ الجيا

دِ وارمِ جوانِحَها بالجَذمْ

دِ وارمِ جوانِحَها بالجَذمْ

So leave them a few of the steeds,

When you fight, blot out ruin

and hurl swift chargers against their flanks.

And take the souls of enemies forcibly.

اذا أَنتَ حاربتَ فاجفُ الكَرى

اذا أَنتَ حاربتَ فاجفُ الكَرى

وخذْ من نفوسِ العِدَى بالكَظَمْ

وخذْ من نفوسِ العِدَى بالكَظَمْ

When you wage war, shun sleep,

For war’s brother is watchful,

and grasp your foes' souls by the throat.

Not sleeping when it sleeps.

فانَّ أَخا الحَربِ مُسْتَيقِظٌ

فانَّ أَخا الحَربِ مُسْتَيقِظٌ

اذا هي نامتْ له لم يَنَمْ

اذا هي نامتْ له لم يَنَمْ

For war's brother remains wakeful;

when she sleeps for him, he does not sleep.