مَضَى اللَّهْوُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُخَبَّرَ سَائِلُ

مَضَى اللَّهْوُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُخَبَّرَ سَائِلُ

وَوَلَّى الصِّبَا إِلَّا بَوَاقٍ قَلائِلُ

وَوَلَّى الصِّبَا إِلَّا بَوَاقٍ قَلائِلُ

Dalliance has passed away, save that an inquirer may be told of it.

Merriment has passed, save that an inquirer may be told of it;

Youth too has turned away, except for a few remnants—

And youth has departed, save for a few remnants—

بَوَاقٍ تُمَارِيهَا أَفَانِينُ لَوْعَةٍ

بَوَاقٍ تُمَارِيهَا أَفَانِينُ لَوْعَةٍ

يُؤَرِّثُهَا فِكْرٌ عَلَى النَّأْيِ شَاغِلُ

يُؤَرِّثُهَا فِكْرٌ عَلَى النَّأْيِ شَاغِلُ

remnants over which the many forms of anguish contend,

Remnants with which varied forms of anguish contend,

kept wakeful by a thought preoccupied with distant separation.

Kindled by thought that engrosses me in separation.

فَلِلشَّوْقِ مِنِّي عَبْرَةٌ مُهرَاقَةٌ

فَلِلشَّوْقِ مِنِّي عَبْرَةٌ مُهرَاقَةٌ

وَخَبْلٌ إِذَا نَامَ الْخَلِيُّونَ خَابِلُ

وَخَبْلٌ إِذَا نَامَ الْخَلِيُّونَ خَابِلُ

Longing has drawn from me a streaming tear,

So longing draws from me a tear poured out,

and its haunting madness deranges me when carefree men sleep.

And a maddening frenzy when the carefree sleep.

أَلِفْتُ الضَّنَى إِلْفَ السُّهَادِ فَلَوْ سَرَى

أَلِفْتُ الضَّنَى إِلْفَ السُّهَادِ فَلَوْ سَرَى

بِيَ الْبُرْءُ غَالَتْنِي لِذَاكَ الْغَوَائِلُ

بِيَ الْبُرْءُ غَالَتْنِي لِذَاكَ الْغَوَائِلُ

I have grown as used to wasting sickness as to sleeplessness; even if recovery should come by night

I have grown used to wasting sickness as to sleeplessness; should there steal

to me, calamities would snatch me away because of it.

Through me a cure, calamities would destroy me for it.

فَلِلَّهِ هَذَا الشَّوْقُ أَيَّ جِرَاحَةٍ

فَلِلَّهِ هَذَا الشَّوْقُ أَيَّ جِرَاحَةٍ

أَسَالَ بِنَا حَتَّى كَأَنَّا نُقَاتِلُ

أَسَالَ بِنَا حَتَّى كَأَنَّا نُقَاتِلُ

By God, this longing—what a wound it is!

God, what longing this is! What a wound

It has made our blood flow until we seem to be fighting it.

It has set bleeding in us, till we seem to be fighting!

رَضِينَا بِحُكْمِ الْحُبِّ فِينَا وَإِنَّنَا

رَضِينَا بِحُكْمِ الْحُبِّ فِينَا وَإِنَّنَا

لَلُدٌّ إِذَا الْتَفَّتْ عَلَيْنَا الْجَحَافِلُ

لَلُدٌّ إِذَا الْتَفَّتْ عَلَيْنَا الْجَحَافِلُ

We have accepted Love’s judgment upon us, although we

We have consented to love's rule over us, although we

are stubborn foes when massed armies close around us.

Are stubborn foes when armies close around us.

وَإِنَّا رِجَالٌ تَعْلَمُ الْحَرْبُ أَنَّنَا

وَإِنَّا رِجَالٌ تَعْلَمُ الْحَرْبُ أَنَّنَا

بَنُوهَا وَيَدْرِي الْمَجْدُ مَاذَا نُحَاوِلُ

بَنُوهَا وَيَدْرِي الْمَجْدُ مَاذَا نُحَاوِلُ

We are men—war knows that we

And we are men whom war knows to be

are her sons, and glory knows what we seek.

Her sons, and glory knows what we strive for.

إِذَا مَا ابْتَنَى النَّاسُ الْحُصُونَ فَمَا لَنَا

إِذَا مَا ابْتَنَى النَّاسُ الْحُصُونَ فَمَا لَنَا

سِوَى الْبِيضِ وَالسُّمْرِ اللِّدَانِ مَعَاقِلُ

سِوَى الْبِيضِ وَالسُّمْرِ اللِّدَانِ مَعَاقِلُ

When men build fortresses for themselves, we have

When people build fortresses, we have

no strongholds but white swords and supple, brown spears.

No strongholds but bright swords and supple brown spears.

فَمَا لِلْهَوَى يَقْوَى عَلَيَّ بِحُكْمِهِ

فَمَا لِلْهَوَى يَقْوَى عَلَيَّ بِحُكْمِهِ

أَلَمْ يَدْرِ أَنِّي الشَّمَّرِيُّ الْحُلاحِلُ

أَلَمْ يَدْرِ أَنِّي الشَّمَّرِيُّ الْحُلاحِلُ

How then can passion overpower us by its decree?

So why does passion overpower me with its rule?

Does it not know that I am al-Shammari, the mighty chief?

Does it not know I am the resolute, mighty chief?

وَإِنِّي لَثَبْتُ الْجَأْشِ مُسْتَحْصِدُ الْقُوَى

وَإِنِّي لَثَبْتُ الْجَأْشِ مُسْتَحْصِدُ الْقُوَى

إِذَا أَخَذَتْ أَيْدِي الْكُمَاةِ الأَفَاكِلُ

إِذَا أَخَذَتْ أَيْدِي الْكُمَاةِ الأَفَاكِلُ

I am firm of heart, my powers tightly knit,

Indeed, I am steadfast of heart, firmly knit in strength,

when the hands of noble champions seize hold.

When tremors seize the hands of armored warriors.

إِذَا مَا اعْتَقَلْتُ الرُّمْحَ وَالرُّمْحُ صَاحِبِي

إِذَا مَا اعْتَقَلْتُ الرُّمْحَ وَالرُّمْحُ صَاحِبِي

عَلَى الشَّرِّ قَالَ الْقِرْنُ إِنِّيَ هَازِلُ

عَلَى الشَّرِّ قَالَ الْقِرْنُ إِنِّيَ هَازِلُ

Whenever I grip the spear—and the spear is my companion—

When I couch the spear—the spear my companion

intent on battle, my adversary says that I am jesting.

In peril—my opponent says, "I am only jesting."

لَطَاعَنْتُ حَتَّى لَمْ أَجِدْ مِنْ مُطَاعِنٍ

لَطَاعَنْتُ حَتَّى لَمْ أَجِدْ مِنْ مُطَاعِنٍ

وَنَازَلْتُ حَتَّى لَمْ أَجِدْ مَنْ يُنَازِلُ

وَنَازَلْتُ حَتَّى لَمْ أَجِدْ مَنْ يُنَازِلُ

I would keep thrusting until I found no one left to thrust at,

I have indeed traded spear-thrusts until I found no opposing spearman,

and fight men hand-to-hand until I found no one left to fight.

And met men in combat until I found none to face me.

وَشَاغَبْتُ هَذَا الدَّهْرَ مِنِّي بِعَزْمَةٍ

وَشَاغَبْتُ هَذَا الدَّهْرَ مِنِّي بِعَزْمَةٍ

أَرَتْنِي سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ وَالْغَيُّ حَائِلُ

أَرَتْنِي سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ وَالْغَيُّ حَائِلُ

I have defied this age with a resolve of my own

And I have battled this age with a resolve of my own

that showed me the path of right guidance, while error stood barred.

That showed me the path of sound judgment while error barred the way.

إِذَا أَنْتَ أَعْطَتْكَ الْمَقَادِيرُ حُكْمَهَا

إِذَا أَنْتَ أَعْطَتْكَ الْمَقَادِيرُ حُكْمَهَا

فَأَضْيَعُ شَيءٍ مَا تَقُولُ الْعَوَاذِلُ

فَأَضْيَعُ شَيءٍ مَا تَقُولُ الْعَوَاذِلُ

If the decrees of fate grant you their judgment,

When the fates grant you their authority,

then nothing is more futile than what reproachers say.

Then the most wasted thing is what reproachers say.

وَمَا الْمَرْءُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَعِيشَ مُحَسَّدَاً

وَمَا الْمَرْءُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَعِيشَ مُحَسَّدَاً

تَنَازَعُ فِيهِ النَّاجِذَيْنِ الأَنَامِلُ

تَنَازَعُ فِيهِ النَّاجِذَيْنِ الأَنَامِلُ

A man is truly a man only if he lives envied,

A man is nothing unless he lives much envied,

with molars and fingertips contending over him.

As fingertips wrestle with molars over him.

لَعَمْرُكَ مَا الأَخْلاقُ إِلَّا مَوَاهِبٌ

لَعَمْرُكَ مَا الأَخْلاقُ إِلَّا مَوَاهِبٌ

مُقَسَّمَةٌ بَيْنَ الْوَرَى وَفَوَاضِلُ

مُقَسَّمَةٌ بَيْنَ الْوَرَى وَفَوَاضِلُ

By your life, virtues are nothing but gifts,

By your life, character is nothing but gifts,

apportioned among humankind, with some surpassing others.

Apportioned among humankind, and bounties.

وَمَا النَّاسُ إِلَّا كَادِحَانِ فَعَالِمٌ

وَمَا النَّاسُ إِلَّا كَادِحَانِ فَعَالِمٌ

يَسِيرُ عَلَى قَصْدٍ وَآخَرُ جَاهِلُ

يَسِيرُ عَلَى قَصْدٍ وَآخَرُ جَاهِلُ

People are only two kinds of striver: one learned,

People are but two kinds of toilers: one who knows

who travels a purposeful course, and another ignorant.

And follows a straight course, and another who is ignorant.

فَذُو الْعِلْمِ مَأْخُوذٌ بِأَسْبَابِ عِلْمِهِ

فَذُو الْعِلْمِ مَأْخُوذٌ بِأَسْبَابِ عِلْمِهِ

وَذُو الْجَهْلِ مَقْطُوعُ الْقَرينَةِ جَافِلُ

وَذُو الْجَهْلِ مَقْطُوعُ الْقَرينَةِ جَافِلُ

Thus the learned man is held fast by the reins of his knowledge,

The learned man is bound by the ties of his knowledge,

while the ignorant man, cut loose from the tether, bolts away.

While the ignorant man, his tether severed, bolts away.

فَلا تَطْلُبَنْ فِي النَّاسِ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ

فَلا تَطْلُبَنْ فِي النَّاسِ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ

مِنَ الْوُدِّ أُمُّ الْوُدِّ فِي النَّاسِ هَابِلُ

مِنَ الْوُدِّ أُمُّ الْوُدِّ فِي النَّاسِ هَابِلُ

So never seek among people even an atom’s weight

So never seek among people even a speck's weight

of love from one for whom love among men is his undoer.

Of affection: affection's mother among mankind is bereaved.

مِنَ الْعَارِ أَنْ يَرْضَى الْفَتَى غَيْرَ طَبْعِهِ

مِنَ الْعَارِ أَنْ يَرْضَى الْفَتَى غَيْرَ طَبْعِهِ

وَأَنْ يَصْحَبَ الإِنْسَانُ مَنْ لا يُشَاكِلُ

وَأَنْ يَصْحَبَ الإِنْسَانُ مَنْ لا يُشَاكِلُ

It is a disgrace for a young man to accept what is alien to his nature,

It is shameful for a man to embrace a nature not his own,

or for a person to keep company with someone unlike himself.

And for a person to befriend one unlike himself.

بَلَوْتُ ضُرُوبَ النَّاسِ طُرّاً فَلَمْ يَكُنْ

بَلَوْتُ ضُرُوبَ النَّاسِ طُرّاً فَلَمْ يَكُنْ

سِوَى الْمَرْصَفِيِّ الْحَبْرِ فِي النَّاسِ كَامِلُ

سِوَى الْمَرْصَفِيِّ الْحَبْرِ فِي النَّاسِ كَامِلُ

I tested every kind of person, one and all, and found no one

I have tested all kinds of people, and there was

but al-Marsafi, the freeborn man, perfect among men:

None perfect among them save the learned al-Marsafi.

هُمَامٌ أَرَانِي الدَّهْرَ فِي طَيِّ بُرْدِهِ

هُمَامٌ أَرَانِي الدَّهْرَ فِي طَيِّ بُرْدِهِ

وَفَقَّهَنِي حَتَّى اتَّقَتْنِي الأَمَاثِلُ

وَفَقَّهَنِي حَتَّى اتَّقَتْنِي الأَمَاثِلُ

a high-souled man whom Time showed me within the folds of its mantle,

A noble man who showed me time within the folds of his cloak,

and he taught me understanding until even the noblest were wary of me;

And taught me wisdom until the foremost men stood in awe of me.

أَخٌ حِينَ لا يَبْقَى أَخٌ وَمُجَامِلٌ

أَخٌ حِينَ لا يَبْقَى أَخٌ وَمُجَامِلٌ

إِذَا قَلَّ عِنْدَ النَّائِبَاتِ الْمُجَامِلُ

إِذَا قَلَّ عِنْدَ النَّائِبَاتِ الْمُجَامِلُ

a brother when no brother remains, and a gracious friend

A brother when no brother remains, and an obliging friend

when gracious friends grow scarce amid calamities;

When obliging friends are scarce amid calamities.

بَعِيدُ مَجَالِ الْفِكْرِ لَوْ خَالَ خِيْلَةً

بَعِيدُ مَجَالِ الْفِكْرِ لَوْ خَالَ خِيْلَةً

أَرَاكَ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ مَا الدَّهْرُ فَاعِلُ

أَرَاكَ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ مَا الدَّهْرُ فَاعِلُ

far-ranging in thought’s field—were he to loose his horses,

Far-ranging in thought: if he formed a conjecture,

he would show you, without divination, what Time will do.

He would show you, beyond sight, what time would do.

طَرَحْتُ بَنِي الأَيَّامِ لَمَّا عَرَفْتُهُ

طَرَحْتُ بَنِي الأَيَّامِ لَمَّا عَرَفْتُهُ

وَمَا النَّاسُ عِنْدَ الْبَحْثِ إِلَّا مَخَايِلُ

وَمَا النَّاسُ عِنْدَ الْبَحْثِ إِلَّا مَخَايِلُ

I cast aside the sons of this age once I knew them;

I cast aside the sons of days once I knew him;

under close examination, people are nothing but deceptive appearances.

For people, upon examination, are mere appearances.

فَلَوْ سَامَنِي مَا يُورِدُ النَّفْسَ حَتْفَهَا

فَلَوْ سَامَنِي مَا يُورِدُ النَّفْسَ حَتْفَهَا

لأَوْرَدْتُهَا وَالْحُبُّ لِلنَّفْسِ قَاتِلُ

لأَوْرَدْتُهَا وَالْحُبُّ لِلنَّفْسِ قَاتِلُ

Were he to demand of me what leads the soul to its death,

Were he to demand of me what would lead the soul to its death,

I would lead it there—for love is fatal to the soul.

I would lead it there, and love is deadly to the soul.

فَلا بَرِحَتْ مِنِّي إِلَيْهِ تَحِيَّةٌ

فَلا بَرِحَتْ مِنِّي إِلَيْهِ تَحِيَّةٌ

تَنَاقَلُهَا عَنِّي الضُّحَى وَالأَصَائِلُ

تَنَاقَلُهَا عَنِّي الضُّحَى وَالأَصَائِلُ

May a greeting from me never cease to reach him,

So may a greeting from me to him never cease,

relayed on my behalf by morning and evening.

Borne from me by forenoons and late afternoons.

وَلا زَالَ غَضَّ الْعُمْرِ مُمْتَنِعَ الذُّرَا

وَلا زَالَ غَضَّ الْعُمْرِ مُمْتَنِعَ الذُّرَا

مَرِيعَ الْفِنَا تُطْوَى إِلَيْهِ الْمَرَاحِلُ

مَرِيعَ الْفِنَا تُطْوَى إِلَيْهِ الْمَرَاحِلُ

May he remain fresh in life’s bloom, his heights unassailable,

And may he stay youthful in years, his heights unassailable,

his courtyard flourishing, while the stages of journeys fold toward him.

His courtyard lush, with journey-stages folded away to reach him.