وجْنَةٌ فوقَها عِذارٌ أَطلاَّ

وجْنَةٌ فوقَها عِذارٌ أَطلاَّ

روضةٌ مدَّ فوقها الحسنُ ظلاَّ

روضةٌ مدَّ فوقها الحسنُ ظلاَّ

A cheek above which a downy sideburn appears,

A garden above which a maiden peers,

a garden over which beauty has spread its shade.

A meadow over which beauty casts its shade.

وجْنَةٌ مِثلُ جنَّةِ الخلد في الحسـ

وجْنَةٌ مِثلُ جنَّةِ الخلد في الحسـ

ـن ولكن بها الأَحبةُ تَصْلَى

ـن ولكن بها الأَحبةُ تَصْلَى

A cheek like the Garden of Eternity in beauty,

A garden like the garden of eternity in charm,

yet in it lovers burn.

But in it loved ones offer their prayers.

لا عجيبَ بأَن يُسيءَ بنا الحسـ

لا عجيبَ بأَن يُسيءَ بنا الحسـ

ـنُ فقد يَقْتُل الحسامُ المحلَّى

ـنُ فقد يَقْتُل الحسامُ المحلَّى

No wonder that beauty should wrong us,

No wonder beauty does us wrong,

for an adorned sword may kill.

For even the sheathed sword may kill.

وبنفسي من لي به كلُّ شُغْلٍ

وبنفسي من لي به كلُّ شُغْلٍ

مع أَنِّي لم أَقْض لي منه شُغْلا

مع أَنِّي لم أَقْض لي منه شُغْلا

I would ransom with my soul the one who occupies me utterly,

And I - what fills my every thought

though I have fulfilled no wish of mine through him.

Is he who has not filled my thoughts at all.

بأَبي ما أَشدَّ بأساً وما أَلـ

بأَبي ما أَشدَّ بأساً وما أَلـ

ـين عِطْفاً وما أَمَرَّ وَأَحْلَى

ـين عِطْفاً وما أَمَرَّ وَأَحْلَى

My father be his ransom! How fierce in might, and how

My father - none is harsher or more gentle,

supple of flank, how bitter and how sweet!

Sweeter or more bitter.

فَبِحُسْنِ البُدورِ ليس يُضَاهَى

فَبِحُسْنِ البُدورِ ليس يُضَاهَى

وبفكِّ اليَديْن ليس يُخَلَّى

وبفكِّ اليَديْن ليس يُخَلَّى

The beauty of full moons cannot rival him,

His features need no praise;

nor is he let go when the hands unclasp.

His hands require no jewels.

وقِحُ الحسنِ غير أَني أَرى الور

وقِحُ الحسنِ غير أَني أَرى الور

دَ في وجْهه من الرَّوض خَجْلا

دَ في وجْهه من الرَّوض خَجْلا

Brazen in beauty, yet I see the rose

That fawn - I see shame

from the garden blush before his face.

Crimsoning his cheek like meadow blooms.

كَحَلٌ في جُفونِه فاضَ حتَّى

كَحَلٌ في جُفونِه فاضَ حتَّى

جَعَلوُا حَشْوَها المكاحِلَ كُحْلا

جَعَلوُا حَشْوَها المكاحِلَ كُحْلا

Natural darkness overflowed in his eyelids, until

Kohl in his eyes overflowed till

they turned the kohl-pots into kohl within them.

They made their lining all of kohl.

شَمْل دَمْعِي به تَشَتَّت لمَّا

شَمْل دَمْعِي به تَشَتَّت لمَّا

جمعَ الله فيه للحُسْنِ شَمْلا

جمعَ الله فيه للحُسْنِ شَمْلا

The company of my tears was scattered by him when

My tears were scattered at his sight,

God gathered beauty's whole company in him.

For God combined all beauty in him.

إِن تكلمتُ شاكياً قال قَد أَضـ

إِن تكلمتُ شاكياً قال قَد أَضـ

ـجَرني أَو سكتُّ قال تسلَّى

ـجَرني أَو سكتُّ قال تسلَّى

If I speak in complaint, he says, 'He has

If I complain he says I vex him; if I'm silent he says I'm cold.

vexed me'; if I fall silent, he says, 'He has found solace.'

He said: “You bear a grudge for my love”; I said: “God forbid! Never!”

قال لي قد حملتَ كَلاًّ بعشقي

قال لي قد حملتَ كَلاًّ بعشقي

فاسْلُ عَنِّي فقلتُ حاشا وكَلاَّ

فاسْلُ عَنِّي فقلتُ حاشا وكَلاَّ

He told me, 'You have taken on a burden through loving me,

O gazelle of the plain and the nightfall,

so forget me.' I said, 'Far from it! Never!'

No gazelle between the arrows and prayer niche!

يا غَزالاً بين الحَشا والحشَايا

يا غَزالاً بين الحَشا والحشَايا

لا غزالاً بين النَّقَا والمُصَلَّى

لا غزالاً بين النَّقَا والمُصَلَّى

O gazelle between the heart and the cushions,

Do not tyrannize me, be not unjust.

not a gazelle between al-Naqa and al-Musalla.

Fear tyranny and be just.

لا تَجُرْ ظالماً عَليَّ ولا تعـ

لا تَجُرْ ظالماً عَليَّ ولا تعـ

ـدِلْ عن العدل واخش جوراً وعدلا

ـدِلْ عن العدل واخش جوراً وعدلا

Do not tyrannize unjustly over me, nor

I fear that if he knows my love he'll think me fair game;

turn from justice; fear both injustice and justice.

The authorized is prone to excess.

أَنا أَخشى عليك أَن بعلم الصا

أَنا أَخشى عليك أَن بعلم الصا

حبُ قَتْلي فيستبيحُك قَتْلا

حبُ قَتْلي فيستبيحُك قَتْلا

I fear for you that the Sahib may learn

The minister who gives asylum to the frightened man in the wasteland

of my killing, and deem it lawful to kill you.

when panic has stampeded his reason,

الوزيرُ الذي يُجيرُ من الدَّهـ

الوزيرُ الذي يُجيرُ من الدَّهـ

ـرِ إِذَا جارَ في البَرِيَّة جَهْلا

ـرِ إِذَا جارَ في البَرِيَّة جَهْلا

The vizier who grants refuge from Time

The dear one whom fortune has strengthened

when it ignorantly oppresses humankind;

when he was weakest, too exalted to be called most noble,

والعزِيزُ الَّذِي إِذا عزَّه المِقـ

والعزِيزُ الَّذِي إِذا عزَّه المِقـ

ـدارُ وهو الأَغَرُّ صارَ الأَذلا

ـدارُ وهو الأَغَرُّ صارَ الأَذلا

and the mighty one—if Fate challenges him,

Too lofty to be called the Greatest, as it were.

resplendent though it is, it becomes the most abased.

He assumed the governance of men, and favors

عزَّ أَن يدعى الأَعزَّ كما قد

عزَّ أَن يدعى الأَعزَّ كما قد

جلَّ قدراً عن أَن يُسمَّى الأَجلاَّ

جلَّ قدراً عن أَن يُسمَّى الأَجلاَّ

Too mighty to be called 'the Mightiest,' just as

Turned to us when he assumed it.

his rank is too exalted for the name 'the Most Exalted.'

He took charge of the world but never sampled

قد تولَّى أَمرَ الأَنامِ وقد أَقـ

قد تولَّى أَمرَ الأَنامِ وقد أَقـ

ـبل فينا الإِقبالُ لمَّا تولى

ـبل فينا الإِقبالُ لمَّا تولى

He has taken charge of humankind, and

A dismissal ever from his exalted office.

good fortune came among us when he took charge.

He was granted wisdom with his authority

وتولَّى الدنيا فلا ذاق منها

وتولَّى الدنيا فلا ذاق منها

أَبداً عن ولاية العزِّ عَزْلا

أَبداً عن ولاية العزِّ عَزْلا

He has taken charge of the world; may he never taste from it

Even in his youth - what more need be said

dismissal from the office of glory.

When he is grown mature!

أُوتي الحُكم حِكْمةً وهو في المهـ

أُوتي الحُكم حِكْمةً وهو في المهـ

ـدِ فماذَا تقولُ إِذ صارَ كَهْلا

ـدِ فماذَا تقولُ إِذ صارَ كَهْلا

He was granted wise judgment while still in the cradle;

He followed a method of government and an exemplary, excellent approach.

what, then, would you say now that he is a mature man?

Days obeyed him in fear; had he sought breach

أَمَّ نهجا من السِّيَاسَة قَصْداً

أَمَّ نهجا من السِّيَاسَة قَصْداً

وطَرِيقاً من السِّيادَةِ مُثلَى

وطَرِيقاً من السِّيادَةِ مُثلَى

He pursued a balanced course in statecraft

He'd have turned remoteness into nearness.

and an ideal path in sovereignty.

East and west paid him homage,

طاوعَتْه الأَيَّامُ خوفاً فَلو حا

طاوعَتْه الأَيَّامُ خوفاً فَلو حا

ول نقضاً لحوَّل البَعْدَ قَبْلا

ول نقضاً لحوَّل البَعْدَ قَبْلا

The days obeyed him in fear; if he attempted

And countries came to him submissive or compliant.

a reversal, he would turn 'after' into 'before.'

The meteors seemed about to descend to him -

خدمته الملوكُ شرقاً وغرباً

خدمته الملوكُ شرقاً وغرباً

وأَتته البلادُ حزْناً وسَهْلا

وأَتته البلادُ حزْناً وسَهْلا

Kings served him in east and west,

Hence it was said: the meteors have minds.

and lands, rugged and level, came to him.

With loss and gain he took life and gave it;

همَّت الشهبُ بالنزولِ إِليه

همَّت الشهبُ بالنزولِ إِليه

فلذا قيل إِنّ للشُّهبِ عَقْلا

فلذا قيل إِنّ للشُّهبِ عَقْلا

The bright stars meant to descend to him;

His content and anger brought health or misery.

thus it was said that the stars have reason.

Thus we saw him dispense chastisement and forgiveness,

بالرَّدى والنَّدى أَماتَ وأَحيا

بالرَّدى والنَّدى أَماتَ وأَحيا

ورضاهُ والسخطِ عَافَى وأَبْلَى

ورضاهُ والسخطِ عَافَى وأَبْلَى

Through death and bounty he killed and gave life,

Raise up and cast down.

and through his favor and wrath he healed and afflicted.

And by his knowledge we saw him make separation

فرأَينا منه المُعِلَّ المعافي

فرأَينا منه المُعِلَّ المعافي

ورأَينَا منه المُعِزَّ المُذِلاَّ

ورأَينَا منه المُعِزَّ المُذِلاَّ

Thus we saw in him the afflicter and the healer,

In judgment, and clean-cut distinction in speech.

and in him we saw the exalter and the abaser.

Like a right hand extended with bounty

وأَرَانَا بعلمِه الحكْمَ منه

وأَرَانَا بعلمِه الحكْمَ منه

فيْصلاً في القضاءِ والقولَ فَصْلا

فيْصلاً في القضاءِ والقولَ فَصْلا

Through his knowledge he showed us his judgment

Whose hand the clouds envy out of impotence.

decisive in adjudication, and his speech conclusive.

A generous man who, in fulfilling his word, made promises

كك يدٍ مستطيلةِ منه بالجُو

كك يدٍ مستطيلةِ منه بالجُو

دِ لديها يدُ الغَمَامةِ شَلاَّ

دِ لديها يدُ الغَمَامةِ شَلاَّ

[Unclear opening] a hand of his stretches far in bounty—

into corpses and gifts into blood-prices.

beside it, the raincloud's hand is palsied.

No fault in him but that he poured out rainclouds

كرمٌ صيَّر المواعيد بالإِنـ

كرمٌ صيَّر المواعيد بالإِنـ

ـجاز صرْعى وبالمواهِب قَتلى

ـجاز صرْعى وبالمواهِب قَتلى

A generosity that made promises, through fulfillment,

And cast down treasures on the covetous.

fall stricken, and through gifts left them slain.

The son of him who is his foe in nature

عيب ما فيه أَنَّه نحلَ السُّحـ

عيب ما فيه أَنَّه نحلَ السُّحـ

ـبَ وأَلقى على الضَراغم ذُلاَّ

ـبَ وأَلقى على الضَراغم ذُلاَّ

His fault is that he has made the clouds grow lean

Is thus an orphan, and the mother of one who hates him childless.

and laid humiliation upon the lions.

O friend, who has relied on God as minister,

فلذا ابْنُ الذي يُعادِيه في الخلـ

فلذا ابْنُ الذي يُعادِيه في الخلـ

ـقِ يَتيمٌ وأُمُّ شَانِيه ثَكْلى

ـقِ يَتيمٌ وأُمُّ شَانِيه ثَكْلى

Thus, among humankind, the son of anyone who opposes him

And leaned on power as invincible blade,

is an orphan, and the mother of his hater is bereaved.

You've won men's hearts, heart after heart,

أَيُّها الصاحب الذي اعتز

أَيُّها الصاحب الذي اعتز

بالله وزيراً واهتزَّ بالبأْس نصْلا

بالله وزيراً واهتزَّ بالبأْس نصْلا

O Sahib, who grew mighty

Since you were generous to men, favor on favor.

through God as a vizier, and quivered with valor like a blade!

You became singular in the highest distinction,

قد ملكْتَ القلوبَ قلباً فَقَلْباً

قد ملكْتَ القلوبَ قلباً فَقَلْباً

إِذ وَسِعْتَ الأَنَام فضلاً ففضلا

إِذ وَسِعْتَ الأَنَام فضلاً ففضلا

You have possessed hearts, heart after heart,

And peerless in the most elevated place.

since you encompassed humankind with bounty after bounty.

To you belong the arrows of fulfilled vows,

وتفرَّدت بالذي هو أَسمى

وتفرَّدت بالذي هو أَسمى

وتوحَّدت بالذي هو أَعلى

وتوحَّدت بالذي هو أَعلى

You stood alone in what is loftiest,

And you brandish the blade of sublime ambitions.

and were unrivaled in what is highest.

Leave a cloud that spurts, a hill that flows,

ولك السَّهم في الوفاءِ الموفَّى

ولك السَّهم في الوفاءِ الموفَّى

ولك القِدْحُ في المعَالي المُعلَّى

ولك القِدْحُ في المعَالي المُعلَّى

Yours is the full share in fidelity,

A pool that glitters, and a moon that wanes.

and yours the highest-winning lot-arrow in noble attainments.

You are open-handed, kindly companion, passionate protector,

دع غماماً هَمَى ودُرّاً تلالا

دع غماماً هَمَى ودُرّاً تلالا

وهِزَبْراً عَدا وبَدْراً تَجَلَّى

وهِزَبْراً عَدا وبَدْراً تَجَلَّى

Leave aside the pouring cloud and glittering pearls,

Lofty-minded - and your glory is sublime.

and the charging lion and radiant full moon.

When you are resolute your exploits are amazing,

أَنت أَسْخَى كفّاً وأَحسن أَلفا

أَنت أَسْخَى كفّاً وأَحسن أَلفا

ظاً وأَحمى حِمىً وأَعلى مَحَلاَّ

ظاً وأَحمى حِمىً وأَعلى مَحَلاَّ

You are more generous of hand, more beautiful in

And when others are resolute it is mere pretence.

words, more protective of your domain, and higher in station.

There the feast day that is yours -

فإِذا جُدْتَ كان طَلُّك وَبْلا

فإِذا جُدْتَ كان طَلُّك وَبْلا

بالأَيادي وَوَبْلُ غَيرِكَ طَلاًّ

بالأَيادي وَوَبْلُ غَيرِكَ طَلاًّ

So when you give, your drizzle is a downpour

It has come in your august precinct.

of favors, while another's downpour is a drizzle.

Witness that what you have raised to God,

وهناك العيدُ الذي لك قد أَمَّ

وهناك العيدُ الذي لك قد أَمَّ

وفي رَبْعك المعظَّمِ حَلاَّ

وفي رَبْعك المعظَّمِ حَلاَّ

May the feast that has come to you bring you joy,

Uttered by angels' tongues, is recited!

having settled in your exalted abode,

One who has not your probity

شَاهِدٌ أَنَّ ما رفعتَ إِلى الله

شَاهِدٌ أَنَّ ما رفعتَ إِلى الله

على أَلْسُنِ الملائكِ يُتْلَى

على أَلْسُنِ الملائكِ يُتْلَى

bearing witness that what you have raised to God

Could not obtain it though he fasted a thousand years and prayed.

is recited upon the angels' tongues.

Your gifts have overwhelmed me; in my eyes

لن ينالَ البِرَّ الَّذِي نِلْت مَخْلو

لن ينالَ البِرَّ الَّذِي نِلْت مَخْلو

قٌ ولو صامَ أَلفَ عام وصلَّى

قٌ ولو صامَ أَلفَ عام وصلَّى

No creature will attain the righteousness you have attained,

Each day offers me bright-faced brides.

even if he fasts for a thousand years and prays.

I am fit to gain high rank

وهَنَتْني منكَ الأَيادِي فعندي

وهَنَتْني منكَ الأَيادِي فعندي

كلَّ يومٍ منها عرائسُ تُجلَى

كلَّ يومٍ منها عرائسُ تُجلَى

And your favors have gladdened me: before me

When your words make me worthy.

each day, brides among them are unveiled.

Then live forever, safe and sound, and wear

صرتُ أَهلاً لأَنْ أَنالَ الثُّريا

صرتُ أَهلاً لأَنْ أَنالَ الثُّريا

حين صيَّرْتَني بقولِكَ أَهْلا

حين صيَّرْتَني بقولِكَ أَهْلا

I became worthy to reach the Pleiades

Ever-renewed robes of honor from my eulogies that do not wear out.

when you made me worthy by saying, 'Welcome!'

All poetry said of you apart from mine

فَابقَ واسْلَم في الدَّهر والْبَسْ ثِياباً

فَابقَ واسْلَم في الدَّهر والْبَسْ ثِياباً

جُدداً من مدائحي ليس تَبْلى

جُدداً من مدائحي ليس تَبْلى

So live on, stay safe through time, and wear garments

Is more fit to be recited as rhymed prose and then burnt up.

new, made of my praises, that never wear out.

كلُّ شعر يقالُ فيك سوى شعـ

كلُّ شعر يقالُ فيك سوى شعـ

ـرِي يُقرَا سَرْداً وفي الحال يُقْلى

ـرِي يُقرَا سَرْداً وفي الحال يُقْلى

Every poem spoken about you, apart from my verse,

is read straight through and instantly despised.