رفع المجد راية للتهاني — Mahmoud Qabadu

رَفعَ المجدُ رايةً للتّهاني

فَاِعطفَن لِلسرور فضل العنانِ

Glory raised a banner of congratulations.

So turn the slack of the rein toward joy.

وَأَجل في مسارحِ الأنسِ طلقاً

طَرفَ طرفٍ وخاطر ولسانِ

And let roam freely in the pastures of delight

the steed of eye, mind, and tongue.

اِعر عنها العنانَ هذا مراحٌ

لِمروحٍ ومطمحٍ واِستنانِ

Strip the rein from it: this is a field

for roaming, aspiring, and galloping.

حَسبها اليومَ أن تُرى في ميادي

ن هواها مجرورة الأرسانِ

Enough today that it be seen in the arenas

of its desire, its bridles trailing.

فَلَكادت تشقّ جيب أديمٍ

مِن حبورٍ ونضرة ملآنِ

For it almost rent the bosom of a hide

brimming with gladness and freshness.

وَلكادت تَربو عنِ الأرض تيهاً

وَتُباري مصاعدَ العقبانِ

And it almost rose above the earth in pride

and rivaled the soaring of eagles.

وَتَرى موردَ المجرّة صدّاءً

وَسعد النجومِ كالسعدانِ

It saw the Milky Way's watering-place as Ṣaddāʾ,

and the auspicious stars as saʿdān grass.

إنّما هيَ ميعةٌ من نشاطٍ

خامَرتها لا جمحةٌ من حرانِ

It is only an exuberance of energy

that possessed it, not a bolt born of balking.

لَمحت مَرتع المنى وهو غضٌّ

مستجمّ في مهدهِ الثريانِ

It glimpsed the pasture of hopes, fresh

and rejuvenated in its moist cradle,

ناشرٌ بُسط رفرفٍ سندسي

سهّمتها جداول الخلجانِ

spreading carpets of fine silken hangings

striped by streams and channels.

فَاِستطارَت لَها وحنَّت لعهدٍ

مِثل عهدِ الشبيبةِ الفينانِ

So it soared toward them and yearned for a time

like the luxuriant days of youth.

يا رَعى اللّه لي بأكناف نجدٍ

مَربعاً اِنجلَت به أشجاني

Oh, may God preserve for me, on Najd's outskirts,

a spring abode where my sorrows were dispelled,

وَبِوادي العقيقِ سرحة فيءٍ

قد سقاها العقيق من أجفاني

and in the valley of al-Aqiq a shady tree

watered by the carnelian of my eyelids.

إِن هفا بِالفؤادِ نَحو حماها

بارقٌ قَد حكاهُ في الخفقانِ

If toward its sanctuary my heart is swept

by a lightning flash, it echoes the heart's flutter.

فَلكم ليلةٍ قَضيتُ بها ضح

ياً وَيومٍ محجّل أرونانِ

How many a sun-bright night I spent there,

and a white-blazoned, clamorous day,

إِذ أحيّ مِن زهرها وجَناها

بِمحيّا النيروزِ والمهرجانِ

when, with its blossoms and fruit, I was greeted

by the countenance of Nowruz and Mihrajan,

ساحباً مِن غضارةِ العيش برداً

لَم يدنّسه مسّ ريب الزمانِ

trailing a mantle of life's lush abundance

unstained by the touch of time's vicissitudes.

أَجتلي نفر المنى آنساتٍ

سافراتٍ عن أوجه غرّانِ

I beheld a company of hopes, companionable maidens,

unveiling their radiant faces.

وَتغضُّ الأيامُ عنّي جفوناً

شَأنها أن ترى لمثلي روانِ

The days lowered their eyelids for me,

though ever wont to watch men like me.

يا لَها سرحةً برفد وفيءٍ

تَتدانى لمجتن وتجاني

Oh, what a tree of bounty and shade,

drawing near the gatherer and coming within reach!

لم يَزل ظلّها عليّ مفيئاً

وَجناها وَإن تناءى مكاني

Its shade has never ceased to shelter me,

nor its fruit, however distant my dwelling.

إِن شَدتها أَو ناشدتها طباعي

فَجنيُنا منها إلى أوكانِ

If my natural gifts sing to it or appeal to it,

our harvest from it goes into our nests.

قَد أَتاني أنّ الغوادي أدرّت

في حِماها أخلاف وُطفٍ حوانِ

Word reached me that the morning clouds made flow,

within its sanctuary, the teats of heavy, tender clouds.

باكَرتها نهلاً وعلّاً شآبي

بُ تراءت بالواكف الهتّانِ

Showers visited it early, giving drink after drink,

appearing in a steady, streaming downpour.

وَكَستها أَبرادَ وشي صفيّا

تٍ حسانِ الترقيم والألوانِ

And clothed it in pure embroidered mantles,

beautiful in their patterns and colors.

وَاِدّعى بِالقطين منها حفولٌ

دعوةً أمعَنت بسمع الكيانِ

A rain-laden cloud called to its dwellers

with a cry reaching deep into the ear of existence:

ذا أوانُ السرورِ فَاِستوف منه ال

حظّ حثّاً بمترعات الأواني

'This is the season of joy; take fully from it

your portion, eagerly, with brimming vessels.

وَأدِر وَالزمانُ حانٍ برورٌ

خمرَ عتبى الزمانِ لا خمر حانِ

And pass around, while time is tender and kindly,

the wine of time's reconciliation, not tavern wine.

وَاِستبن منه فيأةً بعد جفوٍ

إِذ تبدّى بهيأة الخجلانِ

Discern its return after estrangement,

as it appears in the guise of one ashamed,

مُستقيلاً نَدمان يُتحفُ بالري

حانِ وَالنقلِ مجلس الندمانِ

asking pardon, repentant, bringing sweet herbs

and delicacies to the gathering of boon companions.'

وَتوسّمت خلسةً وتنسّم

ت اعتِساساً جلاءَ ما قد أتاني

I read the signs furtively and sought a scent,

searching for clarity about what had reached me.

فَإِذا أَكؤُس البشارةِ تُجلى

في وجوهٍ بطلعةِ اِستئمانِ

And behold, the cups of good tidings were unveiled

in faces wearing a reassuring look.

فَتَناهضت عَن قيودٍ عوادٍ

وَمشيتُ مشية النشوانِ

So I rose free of obstructing fetters

and walked with the gait of one intoxicated.

فَتحيّرت هل نَشاني بشيرٌ

أَو سواهُ أم كنت في اِستئسانِ

Then I wondered: had a bearer of tidings intoxicated me,

or someone else, or was I feeling lionlike boldness?

ثمّ سَألتهم فَقالوا تجاهل

تُ وَساءَلتنا على عرفانِ

Then I asked them; they said, 'You feigned ignorance

and questioned us despite knowing.

أَوَ لم تدرِ أنّ رُستم جلّى

وَحَوى في الكمالِ خصل الرهانِ

Did you not know that Rustum came first

and won the prize in the contest of perfection?'

أيّ فضلٍ بهِ أَحاطَت يداهُ

وَعلى ما تناولته يدانِ

What excellence his hands have encompassed,

beyond what any other hands attained!

لطفُ طبعٍ عَلى جَزالة رأيٍ

وَوقارٌ عَلى اِنبساطِ اِفتنانِ

Gentleness of nature joined to sound judgment,

and dignity joined to expansive versatility;

وَتجاريبُ حنكةٍ في شبابٍ

وَتناهي نُهى عن العنفوانِ

seasoned experience in youth,

and consummate wisdom beyond youthful ardor;

وَاِتّضاعٌ عَلى نموِّ اِعتزاز

وَتقاصٍ عَن مقتفٍ في تدانِ

humility amid growing honor,

and distance from any pursuer, despite his nearness;

وَحياءٌ يكسوهُ غضّا وصمتاً

في مضاءٍ يُنبي الصقيل اليماني

modesty clothing him in lowered eyes and silence,

amid a keenness that makes polished Yemeni steel recoil;

وَذكاءٌ قد شبّ في برد حلمٍ

عُمرك اللّه كيف يلتقيانِ

intelligence blazing in the coolness of forbearance—

by God, how do the two come together?

وَإِباءٌ صعبُ الشكائمِ وعرٌ

في اِنقيادٍ للحقّ بالإِذعانِ

Proud refusal, unyielding to the bits, unassailable,

joined to willing submission to truth;

وَنفورٌ عَنِ السفاسفِ نابٍ

في ثباتٍ لمزعجِ الامتحانِ

recoiling aversion to trivialities,

joined to steadfastness against unsettling trials;

وَوفورُ حزمٍ على حسن ظنٍّ

وَنفاذُ عزمٍ على اِطمئنانِ

abundant prudence joined to good opinion,

and effective resolve joined to calm;

وَمرامٍ بعيدةٌ للمعالي

في اِقتصادٍ في حظّه الحيواني

far-reaching aims toward high honors,

with moderation in his animal appetites;

وَهيامٌ بكسبِ حمدٍ ومجدٍ

في سلوٍّ عَنِ اِكتسابٍ لفانِ

passion for gaining praise and glory,

with indifference to acquiring what perishes;

وَاِنجذاب لربّه واِدّكارٌ

في عوادٍ يشغلن ملء الزمانِ

devotion to his Lord and remembrance,

amid hindrances that occupy all his time.

شيمٌ قادَها إليه تقاهُ

وَالتقى قائدُ الهدى للجنانِ

Virtues his piety brought to him,

and piety guides the way to paradise;

وَصفاتٌ صَفت عَن الشوب لطفاً

وَتَعالت عَن وصمة النقصانِ

qualities refined clear of admixture

and raised beyond the stain of imperfection;

عَظُمَت أن تُنال إلّا لفردٍ

خصّصته عناية الرحمنِ

too exalted to be attained except by a unique man

singled out by the All-Merciful's care.

راكبُ الجدّ حازمٌ لا ترى

منهُ المَطايا مجرورة الأرسانِ

A resolute rider of diligence: never will you see

his mounts trailing their bridles.

وَتودّ الأطيارُ بثّ أغانٍ

مِن ثناءٍ أثناءه وهو غانِ

The birds wish to broadcast songs

of praise around him, though he needs none.

يا لَها اللّه مِن مغانٍ تبدّت

مُشرقاتٍ مِن لمعانِ المعاني

Oh, by God, what abodes have appeared,

radiant with the gleam of meanings!

فَهوَ حيثُ اِغتدى أميرُ لواءٍ

مُصعدٌ باللّوا إِلى كيوانِ

Now that he has become commander of a brigade,

he carries its banner upward to Saturn.

وَهو لمّا حَوى اِفتخار فريقٍ

سَتراه أميره بعد آنِ

And having gained a division's distinction,

you will soon see him its commander.

ذو يدٍ مدّها عفاف فطالت

حيثُ لم تَستطل يد الجردُبانِ

His is a hand extended by chastity, reaching far

where the food-hoarder's hand could not reach.

إِن تبدّى في دستِ حكمٍ محيّا

هُ تراه كالبدر في الميزانِ

If his countenance appears upon the seat of judgment,

you see it like the full moon in Libra.

لا تَرى منهُ ما يشقّ على النف

سِ ولا ما تمجّه الآذانِ

You see from him nothing that burdens the soul,

nor anything the ears reject.

لا وَلا غرّةً فيخدعَ إلّا

بِثناءٍ محدّرٍ كالجمانِ

No, nor an unguarded moment in which he can be beguiled, except

by praise descending like pearls.

هَكذا هَكذا تكونُ المعالي

وَيكون الكمالُ للإنسانِ

Thus, thus are high virtues formed,

and perfection comes to humankind.

يا لَها اللّهُ مِن فَضاضة فضلٍ

قلّبته بِطاهرات الأواني

Oh, by God, what a fragment of excellence

fashioned him in vessels pure,

ثمّ أبدتهُ كاملَ الخلقِ والخُل

قِ سريّاً سبطَ القفا والبنانِ

then brought him forth, perfect in form and character,

noble, slender of neck and fingers!

ينقعُ اللّحظُ منه غلّة صادٍ

بِمحيّا مِن الحَيا ريّانِ

The sight of him quenches a thirsty one's thirst

with a countenance steeped in life-giving rain.

يَفضحُ البدرَ بِالطلاقةِ والبش

رِ وَيَعلوه بِالسَجايا الحسانِ

He outshines the full moon in openness and cheerfulness,

and surpasses it in beautiful virtues.

يا رَعى اللّه ناظرَ المجدِ والفخ

رِ الّذي حاطَ حُرمتي ورعاني

Oh, may God preserve the guardian of glory and pride

who protected my inviolability and cared for me,

وَسَقاني منهُ بكفٍّ كريمٍ

وَشَفاني بِمسحها وَرَقاني

and gave me drink from it with a generous hand,

healed me by its touch, and charmed me to health,

وَأَراني بَنانها يتجلّى

كلّ يومٍ بخاتمٍ من بنانِ

and showed me its fingers shining forth

each day with a signet from those fingers.

يعبقُ الطيبُ مِن نَداها ويطفي

بَردُها لفحةَ الحشى الحرّانِ

Perfume wafts from its dew, and quenches

its coolness the scorching of the burning heart.

وَيَكادُ اليراعُ يورق منها

حَيث يُدلي السطور كالأغصانِ

The reed pen almost puts forth leaves from it

as it hangs down lines like branches.

يَحسدُ الروضُ طرسَها وهي أدرى

بِمُداراةِ صارمٍ وعنانِ

The garden envies its written sheet, while it is more skilled

in handling a sharp sword and a rein.

تَقتَني الحمدَ مِن شفارٍ قصارٍ

إِذ يَطولُ للرّوعِ رمح الجبانِ

It earns praise through short blades

when fear lengthens the coward's spear.

فَهيَ تَفري ملامحاً بضرابٍ

وَتُفاجي مراوغاً بطعانِ

It cleaves a confronting foe with blows

and surprises a dodging foe with thrusts.

لَو رَأته عَيناكَ يومَ عجاجٍ

قَد تَوارت سَماؤهُ بدخانِ

Had your eyes seen him on a day of dust,

its sky already obscured by smoke,

وَاِكتَست أرضهُ نجيعاً مغمّاً

لِلحصى فهيَ وردةٌ كالدهانِ

its earth clothed in fresh blood covering

the pebbles—a rose, red as oil—

وَالوغى تسفعُ الوجوهَ وأيدي ال

خيلِ تَكبو وَالهام كالكثبانِ

while battle scorches faces, and the forelegs

of horses stumble, and heads lie like dunes,

وَعيونُ الحتوفِ ترمقُ شزراً

لاِنتهابِ النفوسِ من أبدانِ

and the eyes of death gaze askance

to snatch souls from bodies,

وَصلالُ المكاحلِ الرقشِ يزفر

نَ نذارَ المدافعِ الخفّانِ

and the serpents of ornamented muskets exhale

warnings from the light cannons,

وَكأنّ الفضا سدىً ألحمتهُ

أُكر المنجنيقِ والصولجانِ

and space seems a warp whose weft is woven

by the balls of catapult and mallet,

وَكأنّ الأشلاءَ فيهِ زآبي

رُ تطايرن عن مشوط السنان

and severed limbs within it seem like shards

flying from a fire-scorched spearhead;

زُلزلت مِن صواعقٍ ورعودٍ

أَرضهُ بالخسوفِ والرجفانِ

shaken by thunderbolts and thunder

is its earth, with sinkings and tremors,

فَهيَ كالفلكِ في بُلكان نارٍ

في سواءِ الخضمّ ذي الطغيانِ

like a ship within a volcano of fire

in the midst of the raging ocean.

وَهو إذ ذاكَ رابطُ الجأشِ وضّا

حُ الجبينِ قرنٌ لغير الجبانِ

And then he, steadfast of heart and radiant

of brow, is a worthy rival to the brave.

لاحَ بَدراً عَلى المجرّةِ موفٍ

يَقذفُ المارِدين بالشهبانِ

He appeared as a full moon high above the Milky Way,

hurling meteors at rebellious demons,

باذلٌ وفرَه لغنيةِ دينٍ

وَأناسٌ لقينةٍ ودنانِ

spending his surplus to enrich religion,

while others spend on a singing-girl and wine-jars.

يَكتمُ الحاسدونَ عنّي علاهُ

وَهو شمسٌ تأبى على الكتمانِ

The envious conceal his eminence from me,

yet he is a sun that defies concealment.

وَيودّون وهو إنسانُ عيني

لَو تَجافى بالطيف عن أجفاني

They wish, though he is the pupil of my eye,

that even his phantom would withdraw from my eyelids.

عَلموا أنّ نعمةً شملته

هِيَ لي موردُ الحيا النيساني

They know that a blessing embracing him

is for me a watering-place of April rain.

لا أَرى غيرهُ ولا أنتويه

ما رَنا ناظري وأوعى جناني

I see no one else, nor seek another,

as long as my eye gazes and my heart comprehends.

عَلمَ اللّه أنّني كلّ حينٍ

أَجتلي شخصَه بكلّ مكانِ

God knows that at every moment

I behold his person in every place,

مِلء قَلبي وَمُهجتي وَوجودي

وَحَياتي وَمَسمعي وعياني

filling my heart, my soul, my being,

my life, my hearing, and my sight.

فَإذا ما اِفتكرتُ فهوَ ضَميري

وَإِذا ما نَطقت فهو لساني

Whenever I think, he is my inner thought;

whenever I speak, he is my tongue.

لَو على يقظةٍ توهّمت جفواً

مِنهُ أَضحت مَلابسي أكفاني

If, while awake, I imagined estrangement

from him, my clothes would become my shrouds.

أَو بَدا لي في الحلمِ طيفُ سلوٍّ

عَنهُ ضلّت نفسي عن الجثمانِ

Or if in a dream a phantom of forgetting

him appeared, my soul would stray from my body.

لَستُ أَنسى مراجعاتٍ تقضّت

في عُلاه بيني وبينَ فلانِ

I do not forget the exchanges that took place

about his eminence between me and so-and-so.

قالَ لي رُستمُ تناهى علوّاً

قُلتُ ذا من علاه كالعنوانِ

He said to me, 'Rustum has reached the summit of greatness.'

I said, 'That is merely a heading for his greatness.'

قالَ جلّت مراتب قَد حَواها

قلتُ وهو الأجلُّ في الميزانِ

He said, 'Exalted are the ranks he has attained.'

I said, 'Yet he is greater still in the balance.'

قالَ يَرقى مكانةً بعد حينٍ

قلتُ مَن لي بيومها الأصحيانِ

He said, 'He will rise in rank after a while.'

I said, 'Who will bring me its radiantly clear day?'

قالَ حتّى يحينَ منه وفاءٌ

قُلت هذي باكورة الأحيانِ

He said, 'Until its fulfillment comes.'

I said, 'This is the first fruit of those times.'

قال تهدي إليهِ فيها هناءً

قُلت أهدي به إِليها التهاني

He said, 'You will offer him congratulations on that day.'

I said, 'Through him I will congratulate the day itself.'

قالَ ماذا جزا البشارة فيه

قلت ما لي في حيّز الإمكانِ

He said, 'What reward for the good news about him?'

I said, 'Whatever lies within my power.'

قالَ ماذا وجدتَ منها سروراً

قُلت بردَ الشرابِ للظمآنِ

He said, 'What joy did you find in it?'

I said, 'The coolness of drink for the thirsty.'

قالَ هَل هزّك اِشتياقٌ إليهِ

قلتُ أي واِستفزّني وشجاني

He said, 'Did longing for him move you?'

I said, 'Yes, and stirred me and grieved me.'

قال يُغنيك عن لقاهُ كتابٌ

قلتٌ إن يغنِ مسمعٌ عن عيانِ

He said, 'A letter will suffice instead of meeting him.'

I said, 'If hearing can suffice in place of seeing!'

قالَ فارفه ففي غدٍ سيوافي

قُلت تُدني غد قُطوفاً لجانِ

He said, 'Rest, then; tomorrow he will arrive.'

I said, 'Tomorrow brings fruit-clusters near the gatherer.'

قالَ تلقاهُ في عظيم اِحتفالٍ

قُلت أَلقى به محيّا الأماني

He said, 'You will meet him at a great celebration.'

I said, 'Through him I meet the face of my wishes.'

قالَ سوفَ تغلو بِمدح علاهُ

قُلت علّي أوفي به وعساني

He said, 'You will go too far in praising his eminence.'

I said, 'Perhaps I may do it justice; may I indeed!'

قالَ تَحوي بِمدحهِ كلّ قصدٍ

قُلتُ حَسبي هو له وكفاني

He said, 'By praising him you will attain every aim.'

I said, 'Enough for me that it is for him; that suffices.'

قال للّه منك فيه وفاءٌ

قلتُ بَل منه لي وأوفى اِمتنانِ

He said, 'By God, what loyalty you show him!'

I said, 'Rather, his to me, and the fullest kindness.'

وَاِستقرّت منّي على سكناتٍ

مُزعجاتُ الظنونِ والحسبانِ

And settled within me into stillness

the disturbances of suspicions and conjectures.

إنّما أسندوا إِليه أموراً

هيَ منه إهالة الحقّانِ

They have merely entrusted him with affairs

that are to him as melted fat in little jars.

منجد أَنت في المعالي وهذا

حصنٌ منكَ صار نصب العيانِ

You climb the highlands of honor, and this

has become your fortress, plain before the eyes.

إنّما اِستحفظوا حفيظاً عليماً

مُخبراً بالأمور ذا اِستبطانِ

They have entrusted a vigilant, knowing guardian,

well-informed in affairs, possessing inward insight.

لَيس يُؤتى إِذا اِستقلّ ولا ين

زو بِه لِلفجور عرض البطانِ

He is not assailed when he takes sole charge, nor does

ample girth make him leap toward wickedness.

فَإِذا ما قرنتَ نوناً بميم

كانَ منّا فيا له من قرانِ

When you join a nūn to a mīm,

it makes minnā, 'of us'—what a union!

سَترى منزهاً بمجردةٍ ير

بي عَلى الأربعِ الجنان الحسانِ

You will see a pleasure-ground by the Medjerda

surpassing the four fair gardens.

وَتَرى مَصنعاً يحوكُ نسيجاً

يَزدهي عطفَ كلّ قرم هجانِ

And you will see a factory weaving cloth

to adorn the side of every noble, purebred lord.

أشبهت غرفةُ المشيرِ بأرضٍ

غُرفاتٍ مرفوعة بالجنانِ

The Marshal's chamber on earth resembled

the lofty chambers of paradise.

قَد حَوت ما يقرّ عيناً ويزهى

أنفساً من ملابسٍ ألوانِ

It held garments that delight the eye

and gladden souls, in many colors:

خلعٌ لا تزالُ فوقَ كفاةٍ

وَعفاةٍ مَسحوبةَ الأردانِ

robes of honor ever upon capable men

and petitioners, their sleeves trailing.

عاثَ فيها شيطانُ إنسٍ كما عا

ثَ بدار الخلود شيطان جانِ

A human devil wreaked havoc there, just as

a jinn devil wreaked havoc in the eternal abode.

أَخرجتهُ مِنها خروجَ أخيهِ

لعنةٌ أَسكَنته دار الهوانِ

A curse expelled him from it, like his brother's expulsion,

and lodged him in the abode of humiliation.

وَحَباها إِلى حفيظٍ عليمٍ

من حَبا أختها إِلى رضوانِ

And it was bestowed on a watchful, knowing guardian

by him who bestowed its sister on Ridwan.

خططٌ نُظّمت لهُ نظمَ عقدٍ

ثمّ باهَت من جيده بمكانِ

Offices were strung for him like a necklace,

then boasted of their place upon his neck.

إنّما حظُّ نفسِهِ من هواها

حظُّ آسٍ من قرصةِ الأفعوانِ

His soul's share in its desire

is a healer's share in a serpent's bite.

يَتقضّى أَدواءها منه عدلٌ

بَرزخٌ بينَ صولة وليانِ

Its ailments are cured by justice from him,

a barrier between severity and gentleness.