السَّيفُ مُنتَقِمٌ وَالجَدّ مُعتَذِرُ

السَّيفُ مُنتَقِمٌ وَالجَدّ مُعتَذِرُ

وَما عَلَيكَ إِذا لَم يُسعِدِ القَدَرُ

وَما عَلَيكَ إِذا لَم يُسعِدِ القَدَرُ

The sword avenges, and fortune offers its apology.

The sword is avenging, and striving is excusable,

And what blame is yours if fate does not assist?

And it is no fault of yours if fate is unkind.

وَإِن دَجَت لَيلَةً في الدَّهرِ واحِدَة

وَإِن دَجَت لَيلَةً في الدَّهرِ واحِدَة

فَطالَما أَشرَقَت أَيّامُهُ الأُخَرُ

فَطالَما أَشرَقَت أَيّامُهُ الأُخَرُ

And if a single night in time grows dark,

Though one night may be dark in the course of time,

how often its other days have shone!

Still many days after it shine bright.

وَما شَكَونا ظَلاماً مِن غَياهِبِها

وَما شَكَونا ظَلاماً مِن غَياهِبِها

حَتّى تَطَلَّعَ في أَثنائِهِ القَمَرُ

حَتّى تَطَلَّعَ في أَثنائِهِ القَمَرُ

And scarcely had we complained of darkness in its depths

We did not complain of darkness amid its depths

when the moon rose in its midst.

Until the moon peered through its midst.

وَلا يَنالُ كُسُوفُ الشَّمسِ طَلعَتَها

وَلا يَنالُ كُسُوفُ الشَّمسِ طَلعَتَها

وَإِنَّما هُوَ فيما يَزعُمُ البَصَرُ

وَإِنَّما هُوَ فيما يَزعُمُ البَصَرُ

The sun's eclipse does not touch its face,

An eclipse of the sun cannot dim its rising,

and exists only in what sight supposes.

It is only so in the claim of eyesight.

وَهَل عَلى البَطَلِ الحامي حَقيقَتَهُ عارٌ

وَهَل عَلى البَطَلِ الحامي حَقيقَتَهُ عارٌ

إِذا جَبَنَ الأَعداءُ أَو غَدَروا

إِذا جَبَنَ الأَعداءُ أَو غَدَروا

Is there disgrace upon the hero who defends his honor

Is it a disgrace if the brave protector loses heart

if the enemies turn cowardly or betray?

When the enemy shows cowardice or betrayal?

أَمّا الكِرامُ فَقَد أَبلى وَفاؤُهُمُ

أَمّا الكِرامُ فَقَد أَبلى وَفاؤُهُمُ

عَلى البُحَيرَةِ ما لَم يُبلِهِ الظَّفَرُ

عَلى البُحَيرَةِ ما لَم يُبلِهِ الظَّفَرُ

As for the noble, their loyalty achieved

But the generous have worn down their loyalty

at the lake what victory did not achieve.

On the battleground before victory makes it shabby.

ما ضَرَّهُم وَالعَوالي في نُحورِهِمُ

ما ضَرَّهُم وَالعَوالي في نُحورِهِمُ

تَعفوا الكلومُ وَتَبقى هَذِهِ السِّيَرُ

تَعفوا الكلومُ وَتَبقى هَذِهِ السِّيَرُ

What harm was it to them, with tall spears at their throats?

It did not harm them though death was in their throats -

Wounds fade, but these deeds remain.

The swords kept the traditions and this fame remains.

لاذوا بِسَيفِكِ حَتّى خالَ دونَهُمُ

لاذوا بِسَيفِكِ حَتّى خالَ دونَهُمُ

مُجَرَّبٌ في دِفاعِ الخَطبِ مُختَبَرُ

مُجَرَّبٌ في دِفاعِ الخَطبِ مُختَبَرُ

They sought refuge in your sword, till before them strode

They took refuge in your sword until it was free of them,

one tried and tested in repelling calamity.

Tested in defending from catastrophes and experienced.

مِنَ السُّيوفِ الَّتي لَولا مَضارِبُها

مِنَ السُّيوفِ الَّتي لَولا مَضارِبُها

ما كانَ لِلدِّينِ لا عَينٌ وَلا أَثَرُ

ما كانَ لِلدِّينِ لا عَينٌ وَلا أَثَرُ

One of those swords without whose striking edges

Of the swords whose striking revived religion

religion would have had neither substance nor trace.

Otherwise faith would have had no essence or trace.

هِندِيَّةٌ وَبَنو حَمدانَ رُفقَتُها

هِندِيَّةٌ وَبَنو حَمدانَ رُفقَتُها

لَقَد تَخَيَّرَتِ الأَحسابُ وَالزُّبُرُ

لَقَد تَخَيَّرَتِ الأَحسابُ وَالزُّبُرُ

An Indian blade, with the sons of Hamdan for companions;

Indian, with the clan of Hamdan its company,

it has indeed chosen noble lineages and steel.

Indeed, the noble and the devout made the choices.

وَمُكبِرينَ صَغيراً مِن عُقُولِهِمُ

وَمُكبِرينَ صَغيراً مِن عُقُولِهِمُ

لَم يَركَبوا الخَيلَ إِلَّا بَعدَ ما كَبِروا

لَم يَركَبوا الخَيلَ إِلَّا بَعدَ ما كَبِروا

And men who magnify their little understanding,

And belittlers, small of mind,

who mounted horses only after they had grown old,

Did not mount horses until after they grew up.

أَخفوا بِكَيدِهِمُ غَدراً فَما عَبَأَت

أَخفوا بِكَيدِهِمُ غَدراً فَما عَبَأَت

سُمرُ الرِّماحِ بِما هَمَّت بِهِ الإِبَرُ

سُمرُ الرِّماحِ بِما هَمَّت بِهِ الإِبَرُ

concealed treachery in their plots, but no heed was paid

They hid in their cunning some treachery, but

by the brown spears to what the needles intended.

The resolve of spears did not concern what needles intended.

لا تَعجَلوا فَعَلى أَطرافِها خَلَفٌ

لا تَعجَلوا فَعَلى أَطرافِها خَلَفٌ

تُرجى عَواقِبُهُ فيكُم وَتُنتَظَرُ

تُرجى عَواقِبُهُ فيكُم وَتُنتَظَرُ

Do not hurry; on their points lies recompense,

Do not rush, for at their tips is aftermath

whose consequences for you are hoped for and awaited.

Whose consequences in you are hoped for and awaited.

أَثَرتُم أَسَداً تَدمى أَظافِرُهُ

أَثَرتُم أَسَداً تَدمى أَظافِرُهُ

طَيّانَ لا عَصَرٌ مِنهُ وَلا وَزَرُ

طَيّانَ لا عَصَرٌ مِنهُ وَلا وَزَرُ

You roused a lion whose claws drip blood,

You have provoked a lion whose claws are bloody,

famished, from whom there is neither escape nor shelter.

A beast - no age or burden for it.

حَذارِ أَن تَستَزِنَّ الحِلمَ غَضبَتُهُ

حَذارِ أَن تَستَزِنَّ الحِلمَ غَضبَتُهُ

إِن كانَ يَنفَعُ عِندَ الخائِنِ الحَذَرُ

إِن كانَ يَنفَعُ عِندَ الخائِنِ الحَذَرُ

Beware lest his anger make light of forbearance,

Beware that you do not take the anger of forbearance lightly

if caution can avail a traitor.

If caution profits with the traitor.

جَرَّبتُموهُ فَأَفنَتكُم صَوارِمُهُ

جَرَّبتُموهُ فَأَفنَتكُم صَوارِمُهُ

وَلَو عَقَلتُم كَفاكُم دونَهُ الخَبَرُ

وَلَو عَقَلتُم كَفاكُم دونَهُ الخَبَرُ

You tested him, and his keen swords annihilated you;

You tried him, so his blades destroyed you,

had you understood, mere report would have sufficed without facing him.

And had you been reasonable, report of him would have sufficed.

وَقَد عَلا فَوقَ أَفلاكِ النُّجومِ بِها

وَقَد عَلا فَوقَ أَفلاكِ النُّجومِ بِها

فَكَيفَ يَلحَقُ مَن في باعِهِ قِصَرُ

فَكَيفَ يَلحَقُ مَن في باعِهِ قِصَرُ

With them he has risen above the stars' orbits;

With them he transcended beyond the stars,

how can one whose reach is short catch up?

So how can one whose power falls short catch up?

حَدِّث بِبَأسِ بَني حَمدانَ في أُمَمٍ

حَدِّث بِبَأسِ بَني حَمدانَ في أُمَمٍ

تَأَتي فَقَد ظَهَرَت في هَذِهِ النُّذُرُ

تَأَتي فَقَد ظَهَرَت في هَذِهِ النُّذُرُ

Tell of the prowess of the sons of Hamdan among nations

Relate the might of the clan of Hamdan in nations

yet to come, for the warnings have already appeared among these.

Where these warnings have appeared.

وَاذكُر لَهُم سِيَراً في المَجدِ مُعجِزَة

وَاذكُر لَهُم سِيَراً في المَجدِ مُعجِزَة

لَولا الشَّريعَةُ قُلنا إِنَّها سُوَرُ

لَولا الشَّريعَةُ قُلنا إِنَّها سُوَرُ

And recount for them miraculous deeds of glory;

And recall for them extraordinary feats of glory –

but for religious law, we would call them surahs.

Had it not been for Islamic law we would have called them miracles.

قَومٌ إِذا طَلَبَ الأَعداء عَيبَهُمُ

قَومٌ إِذا طَلَبَ الأَعداء عَيبَهُمُ

فَما يَقولُونَ إِلَّا أَنَّهُم بَشَرُ

فَما يَقولُونَ إِلَّا أَنَّهُم بَشَرُ

A people whose enemies, when seeking their flaw,

A people, if enemies seek their faults,

can say only that they are human.

Say nothing but that they are human.

السّابِقونَ إِلى الدُّنيا بِمُلكِهِمُ

السّابِقونَ إِلى الدُّنيا بِمُلكِهِمُ

ما أَورَدَ النَّاسُ إِلَّا بَعدَما صَدَروا

ما أَورَدَ النَّاسُ إِلَّا بَعدَما صَدَروا

First to attain this world through their sovereignty,

The first to the world with their kingdom –

others reached the watering-place only after they had left.

The people entered only after they led.

كَأَنَّ أَيديهمُ لِلرِّزقِ ضامِنَةٌ

كَأَنَّ أَيديهمُ لِلرِّزقِ ضامِنَةٌ

فَالِلنَّدى قائِمٌ مِنهُم وَمُنتَظَرُ

فَالِلنَّدى قائِمٌ مِنهُم وَمُنتَظَرُ

As though their hands guaranteed sustenance,

As if their hands guaranteed sustenance -

so one of them stands ready for bounty, and another is awaited.

So glory stands with them and awaits.

تَسمو البِلادَ إِذا عُدَّت وَقائِعُهُم

تَسمو البِلادَ إِذا عُدَّت وَقائِعُهُم

فيها وَتَبتَسِمُ الدُّنيا إِذا ذُكِروا

فيها وَتَبتَسِمُ الدُّنيا إِذا ذُكِروا

The lands rise high when their battles are recounted

The lands are exalted when their deeds in them

within them, and the world smiles when they are mentioned.

Are counted, and the world smiles when they are recalled.

ماتوا وَأَحيا ابنُ ذي المَجدَينِ ذِكرَهُمُ

ماتوا وَأَحيا ابنُ ذي المَجدَينِ ذِكرَهُمُ

فَما يَظُنُّونَ إِلَّا أَنَّهُم نُشِروا

فَما يَظُنُّونَ إِلَّا أَنَّهُم نُشِروا

They died, but the son of Dhu al-Majdayn revived their memory,

They died, but the son of two glories revived their memory,

so none can think otherwise than that they have been resurrected.

So they think only that they have been resurrected.

يَثني عَلَيهِم بِما تُعطي أَنامِلُهُ

يَثني عَلَيهِم بِما تُعطي أَنامِلُهُ

وَالرَّوضُ يُحمَدُ في إِحسانِهِ المَطَرُ

وَالرَّوضُ يُحمَدُ في إِحسانِهِ المَطَرُ

He praises them through what his fingertips bestow,

He praises them with what his fingers bestow,

and for the garden's beauty, it is the rain that is praised.

And a garden is praised for the kindness of its rain.

وَسابِقٍ طَلِقِ الأَلحاظِ في أَمَدٍ

وَسابِقٍ طَلِقِ الأَلحاظِ في أَمَدٍ

لا يَنفَعُ العَينُ في إِدراكِهِ النَّظَرُ

لا يَنفَعُ العَينُ في إِدراكِهِ النَّظَرُ

And a forerunner, free-ranging in his gaze, upon a course

A release, of quick glances, in a period

where looking cannot help the eye catch him:

Where eyesight is no use in keeping up.

إِذا تَأَمَّلتَهُ في نَيلِ غايَتِهِ

إِذا تَأَمَّلتَهُ في نَيلِ غايَتِهِ

رَأَيتَ كَيفَ تُصاد الأَنجُمُ الزُهُرُ

رَأَيتَ كَيفَ تُصاد الأَنجُمُ الزُهُرُ

if you watch him reaching his goal,

If you observe him in attaining his goal

you see how the shining stars are captured.

You see how stars are plucked like flowers.

كَأَنَّما رَأيُهُ في كُلِّ مُشكِلَةٍ

كَأَنَّما رَأيُهُ في كُلِّ مُشكِلَةٍ

عَينٌ عَلى كُلِّ ما يَخفى وَيَستَتِرُ

عَينٌ عَلى كُلِّ ما يَخفى وَيَستَتِرُ

As though his judgment in every difficulty

It is as if his view in every dilemma

were an eye upon all that is hidden and concealed.

Is an eye upon all that is hidden and concealed.

يا ناصِرَ الدَّولَةِ المَشهورُ مَوقِفُهُ

يا ناصِرَ الدَّولَةِ المَشهورُ مَوقِفُهُ

في نَصرِها وَضِرامُ الحَربِ تَستَعِرُ

في نَصرِها وَضِرامُ الحَربِ تَستَعِرُ

O Nasir al-Dawla, whose stand is renowned

O supporter of the well-known state, his stance

in its defense, while the flames of war rage,

In aiding it, while the heat of war flares up.

أَنتُم صَوارِمُها وَالبيضُ نابِيَةٌ

أَنتُم صَوارِمُها وَالبيضُ نابِيَةٌ

وَشُهبُها وَظَلامُ الخَطبِ مُعتَكِرُ

وَشُهبُها وَظَلامُ الخَطبِ مُعتَكِرُ

you are its keen swords when bright blades fail to bite,

You are its swords, and gallantry is impregnable,

and its meteors when the darkness of calamity thickens.

And its gray hair, and the darkness of crises cloaks it.

وَحامِلو الرَّايَةِ البَيضاء ما بَرِحَت

وَحامِلو الرَّايَةِ البَيضاء ما بَرِحَت

عَلى رِماحِكُم تَعلوا وَتَنتَشِرُ

عَلى رِماحِكُم تَعلوا وَتَنتَشِرُ

And bearers of the white banner, which has never ceased

And bearers of the white banner—it does not cease

to rise and unfurl upon your spears.

To rise lofty upon your spears and unfold.

كُنتُم بِصِفِّينَ أَنصارَ الوَصِيِّ وَقَد

كُنتُم بِصِفِّينَ أَنصارَ الوَصِيِّ وَقَد

دَعا سِواكُم فَما لَبَّوا وَلا نَصَروا

دَعا سِواكُم فَما لَبَّوا وَلا نَصَروا

At Siffin you were helpers of the Legatee, though

You were the supporters, in two rows, of the trustee’s call

he called on others, who neither answered nor gave aid.

While it called others but they did not rally or aid.

فَهيَ الخِلافَةُ ما زالَت مَنابِرُها

فَهيَ الخِلافَةُ ما زالَت مَنابِرُها

إِلى سُيوفِكُمُ في الرَّوعِ تَفتَقِرُ

إِلى سُيوفِكُمُ في الرَّوعِ تَفتَقِرُ

For it is the caliphate, whose pulpits have never ceased

Thus the caliphate—its pulpits

to need your swords in times of terror.

Still incline towards your swords in ferocity.

هَل تَشكُرُ العَرَبُ النُّعمى الَّتي طَرَقَت

هَل تَشكُرُ العَرَبُ النُّعمى الَّتي طَرَقَت

أَم لَيسَ يَنفَعُ فيها كُلَّما شَكَروا

أَم لَيسَ يَنفَعُ فيها كُلَّما شَكَروا

Can the Arabs give thanks for the blessing that arrived,

Will the Arabs thank for blessings that have arrived?

or does it avail nothing, however often they give thanks?

Or is gratitude never useful to them?

قَومٌ أَعَدتَ إِلى الدُّنيا نُفوسَهُمُ

قَومٌ أَعَدتَ إِلى الدُّنيا نُفوسَهُمُ

فَكُلُّ عارِفَةٍ مِن بَعدِها هَدَرُ

فَكُلُّ عارِفَةٍ مِن بَعدِها هَدَرُ

A people whose souls you restored to this world:

A people whose souls incline to the world,

after that, every kindness counts for nothing.

So every mystic after them is nonsense.

تِلكَ الصَّنيعَةُ إِن خَصَّت بَني أَدَدٍ

تِلكَ الصَّنيعَةُ إِن خَصَّت بَني أَدَدٍ

فَلَيسَ تُنكِر ما في طَيِّها مُضَرُ

فَلَيسَ تُنكِر ما في طَيِّها مُضَرُ

Even if that benefaction was reserved for the sons of Adad,

If that craft singles out the clan of Adad,

Mudar does not deny what lies within its folds.

Then let none deny the harm in its fold.

أَمّا ابنُ نَصرٍ فَقَد أَخفَت ضَمائِرُهُ

أَمّا ابنُ نَصرٍ فَقَد أَخفَت ضَمائِرُهُ

مَوَدَّة لَكَ ما في صَفوِها كَدَرُ

مَوَدَّة لَكَ ما في صَفوِها كَدَرُ

As for Ibn Nasr, his innermost thoughts have concealed

As for the son of Nasr, hearts have concealed

affection for you, whose purity has no taint.

Affection for you in which there is no turbidity.

فَرع أَبانَ جَناهُ طيبَ عُنصُرِهِ

فَرع أَبانَ جَناهُ طيبَ عُنصُرِهِ

ما يُحمَدُ العودُ حَتَّى يُعرَف الثَّمَرُ

ما يُحمَدُ العودُ حَتَّى يُعرَف الثَّمَرُ

A branch whose fruit reveals the goodness of its stock;

The branch of Aban—his noble origin sheltered him—

the stem is not praised until its fruit is known.

Wood is not praised until its fruit is known.

سالمتَ مِنهُ عَلى الأَعداءِ مُرهَفَةً

سالمتَ مِنهُ عَلى الأَعداءِ مُرهَفَةً

لِمِثلِهِم كُنتَ تَقناها وَتَدَّخِرُ

لِمِثلِهِم كُنتَ تَقناها وَتَدَّخِرُ

In him you allied yourself with a keen blade against your foes,

From him, baleful to the likes of the enemy,

for whose like you acquired it and kept it in reserve.

For them you hoarded provisions and took precautions.

يَقظانُ ما عَلِقَت بِالنَّومِ مُقلَتُهُ

يَقظانُ ما عَلِقَت بِالنَّومِ مُقلَتُهُ

فَلا يُنَبهُ في حَربِ العِدى عُمَرُ

فَلا يُنَبهُ في حَربِ العِدى عُمَرُ

Wakeful: his eye has never been caught by sleep,

Awake, his eyelids were not seized by sleep,

so Umar needs no waking in war against the foe.

So that life in warring with foes would not rouse him.

يا واهِباً وَعَوادي المُزنِ باخِلَةٌ

يا واهِباً وَعَوادي المُزنِ باخِلَةٌ

وَصاعِداً وَعَوالي الشُّهبِ تَنحَدِرُ

وَصاعِداً وَعَوالي الشُّهبِ تَنحَدِرُ

O giver, while the oncoming rainclouds are miserly,

O bestower, though fortune be stingy with me,

and one ascending, while the loftiest meteors descend,

And riser, though the summits of glory descend.

أَمّا القَوافي فَقَد جاءَتكَ سابِقَةً

أَمّا القَوافي فَقَد جاءَتكَ سابِقَةً

كَما تَضَوَّعَ قَبلَ الدِّيمَةِ الزَّهَرُ

كَما تَضَوَّعَ قَبلَ الدِّيمَةِ الزَّهَرُ

as for the rhymes, they have come to you ahead,

As for rhymes, they came to you racing,

as flowers spread fragrance before the steady rain.

As the flowers crept before the rain.

مَنظومَةً فَإِذا فاهَ الُّدواةُ بِها

مَنظومَةً فَإِذا فاهَ الُّدواةُ بِها

ظَنَنتَ أَنَّ نُجومَ اللَّيلِ تَنتَثِرُ

ظَنَنتَ أَنَّ نُجومَ اللَّيلِ تَنتَثِرُ

Strung in verse: when the inkwell gives them voice,

As verses—when the ink flows with them

you think the stars of night are scattering.

You’d think the stars of night are scattered.

مِن مُعجِزاتي الَّتي لَولا بَدائِعُها

مِن مُعجِزاتي الَّتي لَولا بَدائِعُها

في الشِّعرِ شَبَّهَ قَومٌ بَعضَ ما سَحَروا

في الشِّعرِ شَبَّهَ قَومٌ بَعضَ ما سَحَروا

Among my miracles: were it not for their marvels

Of my miracles, which, were it not for their novelties

in poetry, some would have deemed part of their sorcery comparable.

In poetry, some likened to a kind of sorcery.

تُثني عَلَيكُم وَتُبدي عَيبَ غَيرِكُمُ

تُثني عَلَيكُم وَتُبدي عَيبَ غَيرِكُمُ

فَقَد هَجَوتُ بِها قَوماً وَما شَعَروا

فَقَد هَجَوتُ بِها قَوماً وَما شَعَروا

They praise you and reveal the faults of others;

They praise you and expose the faults of others—

with them I have satirized people who never noticed.

With them I satirized a people who did not feel it.

أَتاكَ رائِد قَوم لَيسَ عِندَهُمُ

أَتاكَ رائِد قَوم لَيسَ عِندَهُمُ

عَلى الحَقيقةِ لا ماء وَلا شَجَرُ

عَلى الحَقيقةِ لا ماء وَلا شَجَرُ

The scout of a people has come to you, a people who have,

There came to you a scout of a people with no

in truth, neither water nor trees.

Truth or water or trees.

يَلوحُ ذِكرُكَ في داجي هُمومِهِمُ

يَلوحُ ذِكرُكَ في داجي هُمومِهِمُ

كَما يَلوحُ لِعَينِ السَّاهِرِ السَّحَرُ

كَما يَلوحُ لِعَينِ السَّاهِرِ السَّحَرُ

Your mention shines in the darkness of their cares,

Your mention shines in the darkness of their worries

as dawn appears to the eye of the sleepless.

As dawn shines to the eyes of one staying up.

فَاِستَجلِها دُرَّةَ الغَوَّاصِ أَخرَجَها

فَاِستَجلِها دُرَّةَ الغَوَّاصِ أَخرَجَها

مِن بَعدِ ما غَمَرَتهُ دونَها الفِكَرُ

مِن بَعدِ ما غَمَرَتهُ دونَها الفِكَرُ

So behold it, the diver's pearl, which he brought forth

So entertain it—the diver’s pearl he extracted

after thoughts had engulfed him before he reached it.

After concerns submerged him except for it.

ما تَشتَكي غُربَةُ المَثوى وَرُفقَتُها

ما تَشتَكي غُربَةُ المَثوى وَرُفقَتُها

أَفعالُكَ الشُّهبُ أَو أَخلاقُكَ الغُرَرَ

أَفعالُكَ الشُّهبُ أَو أَخلاقُكَ الغُرَرَ

It does not complain of a foreign abode, for its companions are

It does not complain of the misery of exile, and its company—

your radiant deeds or your shining virtues.

Are your actions the gray hair, or are your natures the caves?

وَاِسمَع أَبُثُّكَ أَخباري فَإِنَّ لَها

وَاِسمَع أَبُثُّكَ أَخباري فَإِنَّ لَها

شَرحاً وَإِن كُنتُ أَرويهِ وَأَختَصِرُ

شَرحاً وَإِن كُنتُ أَرويهِ وَأَختَصِرُ

And listen as I share my news with you, for it has

And listen as I inform you, for my news has

a fuller account, though I recount it in brief.

Explanation, though I narrate and summarize it.

جادَت لِقَومي سَحابٌ مِنكَ هاطِلَةٌ

جادَت لِقَومي سَحابٌ مِنكَ هاطِلَةٌ

ما غُيبَت مِنَّةٌ مِنها وَقَد حَضَروا

ما غُيبَت مِنَّةٌ مِنها وَقَد حَضَروا

Pouring clouds from you rained generosity upon my people;

For my people, clouds poured from you,

no favor of theirs was withheld, since they were present.

No favor from them was absent, though they attended.

شَكَرتُ عَنهُم وَإِن أَحسَنتَ عِندَهُمُ

شَكَرتُ عَنهُم وَإِن أَحسَنتَ عِندَهُمُ

فَإِنَّني ناظِمٌ بَعضَ الَّذي نَثَروا

فَإِنَّني ناظِمٌ بَعضَ الَّذي نَثَروا

I thanked you on their behalf, though your goodness was shown to them;

I thanked in their name, and even if you were good to them,

for I string in verse some of what they scattered.

I compose some of what they scattered.

وَغادَرَتني صُروفُ الدَّهرِ بَعدَهُمُ

وَغادَرَتني صُروفُ الدَّهرِ بَعدَهُمُ

كَالصِّلِّ أَطرَقَ لا نابٌ وَلا ظُفُرُ

كَالصِّلِّ أَطرَقَ لا نابٌ وَلا ظُفُرُ

After them, the turns of time left me

The turns of fate deserted me after them

like a viper, head lowered, with neither fang nor claw,

Like chameleon—no claws or nails.

في بَلدَةٍ تَحتَوي الأَحرارَ ساحَتُها

في بَلدَةٍ تَحتَوي الأَحرارَ ساحَتُها

فَما لَهُم وَطَنٌ فيها وَلا وَطَرُ

فَما لَهُم وَطَنٌ فيها وَلا وَطَرُ

in a town whose precincts hold free men,

In a land whose arena contains the noble—

yet they have neither a homeland there nor fulfillment.

They have therein no homeland or abode.

أَشتاقُكُم وَيَحولُ العَجزُ دونَكُمُ

أَشتاقُكُم وَيَحولُ العَجزُ دونَكُمُ

فَأَدَّعي بُعدَكُم عَنّي وَأَعتَذِرُ

فَأَدَّعي بُعدَكُم عَنّي وَأَعتَذِرُ

I long for you, and helplessness keeps me from you,

I long for you, but inability prevents me,

so I plead your distance from me and make excuses.

So I claim your distance from me and apologize.

وَأَشتَكي خَطَراً بَيني وَبَينَكُمُ

وَأَشتَكي خَطَراً بَيني وَبَينَكُمُ

وَآيَةُ الشَّوقِ أَن يُستَصغَرَ الخَطَرُ

وَآيَةُ الشَّوقِ أَن يُستَصغَرَ الخَطَرُ

And I complain of danger between me and you,

And I complain of danger between me and you,

though the sign of longing is to make light of danger.

Though the sign of longing is to make light of danger.

فَهَل لِرَأيِكَ أَن يُنتاشَ مُطّرحاً

فَهَل لِرَأيِكَ أَن يُنتاشَ مُطّرحاً

لَهُ مِنَ الفَضلِ ذَنبٌ لَيسَ يُغتَفَرُ

لَهُ مِنَ الفَضلِ ذَنبٌ لَيسَ يُغتَفَرُ

Will you see fit to have one cast aside rescued,

Is it possible for your view to revive one fallen

whose merit is a sin that cannot be forgiven?

Whose merit is a crime that cannot be forgiven?

فَعِندَكَ الجودُ لا مَنٌّ وَلا كَدَرُ

فَعِندَكَ الجودُ لا مَنٌّ وَلا كَدَرُ

وَعِندَهُ الحَمدَ لا عيٌّ وَلا حَصَرُ

وَعِندَهُ الحَمدَ لا عيٌّ وَلا حَصَرُ

For with you is generosity, without reproach or taint,

With you is bounty—no defect or turbidity.

and with him is praise, without faltering or speechlessness.

And with him is praise—no flaw or limit.

وَإِن ضَرَبتَ بِهِ في وَجهِ نائِبَةٍ

وَإِن ضَرَبتَ بِهِ في وَجهِ نائِبَةٍ

فَفي يَمينِكَ مِنهُ صارِمٌ ذَكَرُ

فَفي يَمينِكَ مِنهُ صارِمٌ ذَكَرُ

And if you strike with him at the face of calamity,

And if you brandish it against an affliction,

then in your right hand he is a keen, hard-tempered sword.

In your right hand is a blade remembered.

مَحاسِنٌ هِيَ عِندَ السّامِعينَ بِها

مَحاسِنٌ هِيَ عِندَ السّامِعينَ بِها

دَعوى وَمِثلُكَ يَتلوها وَيَعتَبِرُ

دَعوى وَمِثلُكَ يَتلوها وَيَعتَبِرُ

Virtues that, to those who hear of them, are

Virtues which are, to hearers, a claim

mere claims; one like you reads them and weighs them.

And the like of you follows and considers.

فَما أَخافُ مَطالَ الحَظِّ تَحرِمُني

فَما أَخافُ مَطالَ الحَظِّ تَحرِمُني

نَداكَ إِن طالَ في أَيّامِكَ العُمُرُ

نَداكَ إِن طالَ في أَيّامِكَ العُمُرُ

So I do not fear fortune's delays depriving me

So I do not fear the blows of fate depriving me

of your bounty, if life lasts long in your days.

Of your help, if you live long in your days.

وَلا يَفوتُ غِنى أَنتَ الكَفيلُ بِهِ

وَلا يَفوتُ غِنى أَنتَ الكَفيلُ بِهِ

وَإِنَّما غَفَلاتُ الدَّهرِ تُبتَدَرُ

وَإِنَّما غَفَلاتُ الدَّهرِ تُبتَدَرُ

Nor will wealth elude me when you guarantee it;

Nor does missing wealth get by you—you guarantee it,

only time's unguarded moments must be seized.

Though the oversights of fate are sudden.