وجد الجميمَ فعافه وتبقَّلا

وجد الجميمَ فعافه وتبقَّلا

وجرى له الوادي فصدَّ وأوشلا

وجرى له الوادي فصدَّ وأوشلا

He found lush grass, but spurned it and grazed on herbs;

He found the generous man so he pardoned him, and became gentle,

the valley flowed for him, but he turned away and sought a trickle.

The valley flowed for him, so he blocked it, and became turbulent,

ورأى الكثير مع المذلَّة هادماً

ورأى الكثير مع المذلَّة هادماً

حسبَ الكريم وعرضَه فتقلَّلا

حسبَ الكريم وعرضَه فتقلَّلا

He saw abundance, when joined with humiliation, destroying

He saw much humiliation with the arrogant demolishing,

a noble man's standing and honor, so he made do with little.

The generous and his honor thus became diminished,

يا ضلَّ تغرير الحريص بنفسه

يا ضلَّ تغرير الحريص بنفسه

وهوى المطامع ما أرقَّ وأخملا

وهوى المطامع ما أرقَّ وأخملا

How misguided is the greedy man's risking of himself,

O you who are fooled by your greedy soul,

and his craving for gain—how it enslaves and brings obscurity!

And whom desires have made restless and worried,

يُلحَى على البخل الضنينُ بمالِهِ

يُلحَى على البخل الضنينُ بمالِهِ

أفلا تكونُ بماء وجهك أبخلا

أفلا تكونُ بماء وجهك أبخلا

The miser is reproached for being stingy with his money;

The stingy is forced to spend his money,

should you not be still more sparing of your dignity?

Why not be more stingy with your face's water,

أكرمْ يديك عن السؤال فإنما

أكرمْ يديك عن السؤال فإنما

قدْرُ الحياة أقلُّ من أن تسألا

قدْرُ الحياة أقلُّ من أن تسألا

Keep your two hands too honorable for begging, for

Honor your hands by not begging, for the sustenance of life,

life's worth is too little for you both to beg.

Is too little for begging,

وإذا نزعتَ إلى أرومةِ مخصبٍ

وإذا نزعتَ إلى أرومةِ مخصبٍ

زاكٍ فصنْ أغصانَها أن تُبذَلا

زاكٍ فصنْ أغصانَها أن تُبذَلا

If you trace your descent to the stock of a prosperous,

And if you are inclined towards a fertile palm tree,

virtuous man, guard its branches from being cheapened.

Flourishing, protect its branches from being picked,

ولقد أضمُّ إليَّ فضلَ قناعتي

ولقد أضمُّ إليَّ فضلَ قناعتي

وأبيتُ مشتملاً بها متزمِّلا

وأبيتُ مشتملاً بها متزمِّلا

Indeed, I clasp to myself the blessing of my contentment,

I have embraced the virtue of contentment,

and spend the night wrapped and cloaked in it.

And have decided to stay cloaked in it, bundled,

وأرى الغدوَّ على الخصاصة شارةً

وأرى الغدوَّ على الخصاصة شارةً

تصف الغنى فتخالني متموِّلا

تصف الغنى فتخالني متموِّلا

I deem going forth at dawn amid poverty a badge

And I see tomorrow's breakfast as a mark,

that proclaims riches, so you think me wealthy.

That describes wealth, making me look moneyed,

وإذا امرؤ أفنى الليالِيَ حسرةً

وإذا امرؤ أفنى الليالِيَ حسرةً

وأمانياً أفنيتُهنَّ توكُّلا

وأمانياً أفنيتُهنَّ توكُّلا

If a man wears out the nights in sorrow

And if a man spends his nights in sorrow,

and wishful longing, I wear them out in trust.

And I spend my wishes in reliance,

قعدَ المدجَّج وانياً عن نصرتي

قعدَ المدجَّج وانياً عن نصرتي

فعلامَ أنتصر الألفَّ الأعزلا

فعلامَ أنتصر الألفَّ الأعزلا

The fully armored man sat back, sluggish in coming to my aid;

The well-equipped man despaired of helping me,

why, then, should I seek help from the inept and unarmed?

Why should I seek victory although unarmed,

لو أنَّ من مَلك النوالَ حلا له

لو أنَّ من مَلك النوالَ حلا له

عزُّ القناعةِ جاءني متنوِّلا

عزُّ القناعةِ جاءني متنوِّلا

If the man who commands bounty found sweet

If one who possesses favors would adopt,

the dignity of contentment, he would come to me seeking a gift.

The honor of contentment, and come to me satisfied,

الناسُ عندك من يكن أغنىَ يداً

الناسُ عندك من يكن أغنىَ يداً

فيهم وإن لم تُعطَ كان الأفضلا

فيهم وإن لم تُعطَ كان الأفضلا

In your eyes, whoever has the richest hand

People are to you the one with the most generous hand among them,

among people is the best, even if you receive nothing.

Even if you do not give, he would still be the best,

والعارُ كلّ العارِ في أديانهم

والعارُ كلّ العارِ في أديانهم

أن يُقتر الرجلُ الشريفُ ويُرملا

أن يُقتر الرجلُ الشريفُ ويُرملا

And shame, utter shame, in their creeds,

The greatest shame, by their faith,

is for a noble man to have scant means and become destitute.

Is when an honorable man becomes poor and stripped,

اِصنع لهم مَلَقا كما يرضونه

اِصنع لهم مَلَقا كما يرضونه

وتنحَّ عنهم سامِرِيّاً قُلقُلا

وتنحَّ عنهم سامِرِيّاً قُلقُلا

Offer them flattery as they like it,

Do the deed for them as they accept it,

and withdraw from them, a restless Samiri.

And turn away from them aloof and scornful,

كم صاحبٍ والنارُ لي في قلبه

كم صاحبٍ والنارُ لي في قلبه

خالبتُ بارقَ وجهه المتَهلّلا

خالبتُ بارقَ وجهه المتَهلّلا

Many a companion, with fire against me in his heart,

How many a friend whose heart has fire for me,

I have met with guile the lightning of his beaming face.

I have dazzled with a smiling face that glitters,

وأريتُه أنّي وإيّاه يدٌ

وأريتُه أنّي وإيّاه يدٌ

مع أختها فيما أهمَّ وأعضلا

مع أختها فيما أهمَّ وأعضلا

I showed him that he and I were as a hand

And showed him that he and I are one hand,

with its sister in matters pressing and perplexing.

In what concerns him and is most complex,

فإذا ظفرتَ من الزمانِ بماجدٍ

فإذا ظفرتَ من الزمانِ بماجدٍ

فأنخْ إليه وكنْ عليه معوِّلا

فأنخْ إليه وكنْ عليه معوِّلا

So if fortune grants you a noble man,

So if you gain some glories from fate,

alight beside him and make him your support.

Incline towards it and rely on it,

واشددْ يديك بودِّه واقنعْ به

واشددْ يديك بودِّه واقنعْ به

سكناً كما سكن العَلاءُ إلى العُلا

سكناً كما سكن العَلاءُ إلى العُلا

Clasp his friendship firmly in both hands, and be content with him

And strengthen your relationship with his love,

as a refuge, as al-ʿAlāʾ finds repose in high glory.

And settle with it as nobles settle for the heights,

نقل الرياسةَ كابراً عن كابرٍ

نقل الرياسةَ كابراً عن كابرٍ

قَرْمٌ إذا عثرَ العَجولُ تمهَّلا

قَرْمٌ إذا عثرَ العَجولُ تمهَّلا

He inherited leadership, great man from great man:

Inheriting leadership from elders,

a lord who takes his time when the impetuous stumble.

A colt when the unwise stumble, waits,

وإذا الملوكُ تدارست أنسابَها

وإذا الملوكُ تدارست أنسابَها

ألفيته فيها المعمّ المخولا

ألفيته فيها المعمّ المخولا

When kings review their lineages,

And if kings count their lineage,

you find him among them with noble uncles on both sides.

You will find it the reliable, trusted,

في ذِروة الشرفِ التي لو حلَّها

في ذِروة الشرفِ التي لو حلَّها

سعدُ الكواكب لم يُرِد متحوَّلا

سعدُ الكواكب لم يُرِد متحوَّلا

At a summit of nobility where, were it to settle,

At the peak of glory, if it were attained,

the most auspicious star would seek no other abode.

The stars would be fortunate, not changing,

بيتاً عتيقاً في السماء بناؤه

بيتاً عتيقاً في السماء بناؤه

قِدْماً ومجداً كِسرويّاً أوّلا

قِدْماً ومجداً كِسرويّاً أوّلا

An ancient house, its edifice in the heavens

An ancient house, its building in the sky,

from of old, and a primal glory like Khosrow's.

Eternal and glorious like the Kisrawi first,

جارَى مساعِيَهم وجاء مبرِّزاً

جارَى مساعِيَهم وجاء مبرِّزاً

فرعٌ أبرَّ على الأصول وأفضلا

فرعٌ أبرَّ على الأصول وأفضلا

He matched their endeavors and emerged outstanding:

It emulated their efforts and came conspicuously,

a branch that surpassed its roots and excelled.

A branch more righteous than the roots and superior,

أقسمتُ بالمتمطِّراتِ شوائلاً

أقسمتُ بالمتمطِّراتِ شوائلاً

يَذرعن بالأعضادِ أدراجَ الفلا

يَذرعن بالأعضادِ أدراجَ الفلا

I swore by the swift-striding she-camels, tails aloft,

I swear by the downpouring thunderbolts,

measuring with their forelegs the paths of the wilderness.

Storming with lightening through the empty terrain,

ينصُبن للإشخاص حُولاً عُوَّداً

ينصُبن للإشخاص حُولاً عُوَّداً

مثل الذكيِّ يرى الخفيَّ المشكلا

مثل الذكيِّ يرى الخفيَّ المشكلا

They lift for intent gazing their sidelong, practised eyes,

Building attacks for the brave,

like a discerning man who sees what is hidden and obscure.

Like the intelligent who sees the hidden, complex,

عُوج الرقاب كما اعترضتَ أهلَّةً

عُوج الرقاب كما اعترضتَ أهلَّةً

صُمّ الرءوس كما قرعتَ الجندلا

صُمّ الرءوس كما قرعتَ الجندلا

Curved of neck, as though you looked upon crescents;

The twisted necks, as you have confronted the crescent,

hard of head, as though you struck solid stones.

The deaf heads, as if you have hit the drums,

من كلِّ تاركةٍ ولم تعطف له

من كلِّ تاركةٍ ولم تعطف له

بوّاً وطارحةٍ بمضيعة سَلا

بوّاً وطارحةٍ بمضيعة سَلا

From each that left behind, without turning back toward it,

From every abandoner who has not been compassionate,

a stuffed calf, and each that dropped her afterbirth in a wasteland.

And neglectful towards a barren land,

يحملن أشباهَ العِصِيِّ تجنّبوا

يحملن أشباهَ العِصِيِّ تجنّبوا

لغوَ الحديث مكبّرا ومهلّلا

لغوَ الحديث مكبّرا ومهلّلا

They carry men resembling sticks, who have shunned

Bearing staffs, avoid the nonsense talk,

idle talk, proclaiming God's greatness and oneness.

Exaggerated and loud shouting,

لا يفرقون مكدَّراً صعِدت به

لا يفرقون مكدَّراً صعِدت به

لهم الدلاءُ إذا استقَوا أم سلسلا

لهم الدلاءُ إذا استقَوا أم سلسلا

They do not distinguish turbid water drawn up

They do not distinguish turbid water, brought up by them,

for them by buckets when they draw, from clear, sweet water.

Is it a bucket, if they drew it, or a chain?

يرجون من أيّام مكة ساعةً

يرجون من أيّام مكة ساعةً

إدراكُها أو أن تفوت كَلا وَلا

إدراكُها أو أن تفوت كَلا وَلا

They hope for one hour among the days of Mecca;

They hope for an hour of Mecca's days,

to attain it or miss it is but a 'no' and a 'no.'

Attaining it or missing both or neither,

لو لم تعوِّذْ نسلَها أمُّ العلا

لو لم تعوِّذْ نسلَها أمُّ العلا

بأبي عليٍّ أوشكت أن تَثكَلا

بأبي عليٍّ أوشكت أن تَثكَلا

Had the mother of high glory not sought protection for her offspring

If the Mother of Loftiness did not protect its progeny,

with Abū ʿAlī, she would have been near bereavement.

By Abi Ali, it would have almost collapsed,

وجهٌ كما وضح النهارُ وهمَّةٌ

وجهٌ كما وضح النهارُ وهمَّةٌ

أمرتْ نجومَ الليل أن تتزيَّلا

أمرتْ نجومَ الليل أن تتزيَّلا

A face as bright as daylight, and an ambition

A face radiant as daylight, and determination,

that commanded the stars of night to disperse.

That ordered the stars of night to withdraw,

وكفايةٌ تقضي الملوكُ أمورَهم

وكفايةٌ تقضي الملوكُ أمورَهم

بنفاذِها أخذاً بها وتقبُّلا

بنفاذِها أخذاً بها وتقبُّلا

And a competence by which kings accomplish their affairs,

And adequacy that accomplishes the affairs of kings

through its effectiveness, adopting and accepting it.

By its efficacy, undertaking it and approving,

وإذا الخطوبُ تقلَّبت أحوالُها

وإذا الخطوبُ تقلَّبت أحوالُها

وجدوه فيها القُلَّبيَّ الحُوَّلا

وجدوه فيها القُلَّبيَّ الحُوَّلا

When calamities change their states,

And if tribulations change their circumstances,

they find him adaptable and resourceful amid them.

They will find in it the transforming, solution maker,

يَبري لهم ويَريشُ من آرائه

يَبري لهم ويَريشُ من آرائه

سهماً إذا علِق الرميّةَ أشكلا

سهماً إذا علِق الرميّةَ أشكلا

He whittles and feathers for them, from his counsels,

It shoots from its opinions for them,

an arrow that fetters its quarry once it lodges in it.

An arrow, when archery is difficult,

وتنوبُ عن بيض الظُّبا في كفِّه

وتنوبُ عن بيض الظُّبا في كفِّه

سودُ المضاربِ لا تكذِّبُ مَقتَلا

سودُ المضاربِ لا تكذِّبُ مَقتَلا

In his hand, in place of white sword-edges, serve

And it takes the place of the white pearls in his palm,

black striking edges that never fail a deathblow.

Black arrows that do not lie when killing,

تمضي أذيّتَها إذا هي جُرِّدتْ

تمضي أذيّتَها إذا هي جُرِّدتْ

في حيث لا تجدُ السيوفُ توغُّلا

في حيث لا تجدُ السيوفُ توغُّلا

Their harm penetrates, when they are unsheathed,

Its harm passes through when unsheathed,

where swords can find no way to enter.

Where swords cannot penetrate at all,

من كل خاوي الصدرِ أجوفَ لو رمى

من كل خاوي الصدرِ أجوفَ لو رمى

بلعابه الصخرَ الأصمَّ لزلزلا

بلعابه الصخرَ الأصمَّ لزلزلا

Each hollow-chested and empty within—were it to cast

From every fainthearted empty chest,

its spittle at solid rock, it would make it quake.

If he spits his saliva on solid rock, he would shake it,

يتناول الغرضَ البعيدَ ولم يَرِمْ

يتناول الغرضَ البعيدَ ولم يَرِمْ

وطناً ولم يقطع لسيرٍ منزلا

وطناً ولم يقطع لسيرٍ منزلا

It reaches the distant target without leaving

He takes on the distant goal but has not aimed,

its home, without traversing a stage of any journey.

At a homeland, or traveled stages on a journey,

يمضي ورِيقَتُهُ المِدادُ وينثنى

يمضي ورِيقَتُهُ المِدادُ وينثنى

وقد استعاض مكانَها ماءَ الطُّلى

وقد استعاض مكانَها ماءَ الطُّلى

It goes forth, its saliva ink, and returns

It goes on and the ink is his extension, bending,

having taken in its place the blood of throats.

And he substitutes it with the ink,

سمَّوه بالعاداتِ في أمثاله

سمَّوه بالعاداتِ في أمثاله

قلماً ولولا الظلمُ سُمِّيَ مُنصُلا

قلماً ولولا الظلمُ سُمِّيَ مُنصُلا

They named it, by convention for its kind,

They named it with traditions, in its examples,

a pen; but for injustice, it would be called a sword.

A pen, and were it not for injustice, it would be named a blade,

تعِبَ الرجالُ مراهنين وراءه

تعِبَ الرجالُ مراهنين وراءه

فتناكصوا لا يلحقون الشمألا

فتناكصوا لا يلحقون الشمألا

Men grew weary racing in its wake,

Men have struggled competing behind it,

then fell back, unable to catch the north wind.

Then recoiled, unable to catch up,

يفَديك معتلُّ المكارمِ جودُه

يفَديك معتلُّ المكارمِ جودُه

قولٌ إذا ما أنت قلتَ لتفعلا

قولٌ إذا ما أنت قلتَ لتفعلا

May the man of ailing virtues be your ransom, whose generosity

Your generosity will ransom the pretender of virtues,

is words, whereas when you speak, you mean to act;

A saying, if you say to do it, he will do it,

ومُزنَّد الكفّين غايةُ رأيه

ومُزنَّد الكفّين غايةُ رأيه

عجزٌ وغاية وعده أن يمطُلا

عجزٌ وغاية وعده أن يمطُلا

and the tightfisted man, whose utmost counsel

And the helpless hands are the utmost of his view,

is helplessness, whose utmost promise is delay.

Incapacity and the utmost of his promise is to stall,

أنا من أَسرَّ لك المودّة قلبُه

أنا من أَسرَّ لك المودّة قلبُه

وطوى لذاك لسانَه متجمّلا

وطوى لذاك لسانَه متجمّلا

I am one whose heart secretly cherished affection for you,

I am who has secretly loved you in his heart,

and who, for that, held his tongue with dignified restraint.

And folded his tongue for you gracefully,

ورأى بقربك ما يرى بحبيبه

ورأى بقربك ما يرى بحبيبه

صبُّ الفؤاد شفاؤه أن يوصَلا

صبُّ الفؤاد شفاؤه أن يوصَلا

He saw in nearness to you what a lover sees in his beloved,

And sees in your proximity what he sees in his beloved,

lovesick at heart, whose healing lies in union.

The pouring of his soul, its remedy is to join,

وإذا ذُكرتَ له تحفّزَ قلبُه

وإذا ذُكرتَ له تحفّزَ قلبُه

طرَباً إليك ومرَّ نحوك مجفِلا

طرَباً إليك ومرَّ نحوك مجفِلا

When you are mentioned to him, his heart leaps

And when you are mentioned to him his heart flutters,

in rapture toward you and rushes your way.

Restlessly towards you, and turns to you twisting,

ورأى جنابَك للفضائِل روضةً

ورأى جنابَك للفضائِل روضةً

أُنُفاً ودارَك للمكارم مَوئلا

أُنُفاً ودارَك للمكارم مَوئلا

He saw your presence as a meadow for virtues,

And sees your side as a garden for merits,

fresh and ungrazed, and your house a haven for noble deeds.

Elegant, and your home a place for virtues to take refuge,

وصوارف الحظّ القصير تعوقُه

وصوارف الحظّ القصير تعوقُه

من طالبٍ إعجالَ أمرٍ أُجِّلا

من طالبٍ إعجالَ أمرٍ أُجِّلا

The hindrances of scant fortune hold him back,

And the limiting turns of short-lasting fortune impede him,

a man seeking to hasten an affair deferred.

From a seeker urgent for a postponed matter,

وأظنّ إصرارَ الزمان قد ارعوى

وأظنّ إصرارَ الزمان قد ارعوى

شيئاً ومُعرضَ وجهه قد أقبلا

شيئاً ومُعرضَ وجهه قد أقبلا

Yet I think time's obstinacy has relented

And I think the insistence of fate has become,

a little, and its averted face has turned my way.

Somewhat delirious, and its face has turned kind,

وأظنّ أنّ محاسناً سأرودها

وأظنّ أنّ محاسناً سأرودها

نظراً وتجريها لديّ تفضُّلا

نظراً وتجريها لديّ تفضُّلا

And I think there are beauties I shall explore

And I think I will regain some beauties,

with my eyes, and you will bestow them on me graciously.

Looking at them, and you will generously let them flow to me,

وأبيت أعلَق من يديك مودّةً

وأبيت أعلَق من يديك مودّةً

تأبى مرائرُ فتلها أن تُسحَلا

تأبى مرائرُ فتلها أن تُسحَلا

I shall spend the night holding fast to affection from your hands,

And I have held onto affection from your hands,

whose stout, twisted strands refuse to unravel.

That refuses the twisting of its strands to be undone,

وتسير فيك مع الرياح شواردٌ

وتسير فيك مع الرياح شواردٌ

لا يأتلين إقامةً وتنقُّلا

لا يأتلين إقامةً وتنقُّلا

Wandering verses about you will travel with the winds;

And feelings for you blow within me like the winds,

they spare no effort, at rest or on the move.

Not settling for residency or migration,

يحملن عِرضَك كلّما أدّينه

يحملن عِرضَك كلّما أدّينه

في منزلٍ عطَّرن منه المنزِلا

في منزلٍ عطَّرن منه المنزِلا

They bear your good name; whenever they deliver it

Carrying your honor wherever I sing your praises,

at a dwelling, they perfume that dwelling with it.

Having scented the abode from it,

موسومةً بعلاك فوق جباههم

موسومةً بعلاك فوق جباههم

ما ضاع شعرُ الخاملين وأُغفِلا

ما ضاع شعرُ الخاملين وأُغفِلا

Marked with your glory above their foreheads,

Branded with your sublimity above their brows,

while the poetry of obscure men is lost and neglected.

The hair of the submissive has not been lost or ignored,

ومصونةٍ منهنّ قد أعجلتُها

ومصونةٍ منهنّ قد أعجلتُها

لك لم تكن لولا هواك لتُبذَلا

لك لم تكن لولا هواك لتُبذَلا

And one treasured poem among them I have hastened

And protected from them I have presented to you hastily,

to you; but for my love of you, it would not have been offered.

It would not have been, were it not for your love, to be spent,

قدّمتُ بين يديّ عندك جاهَها

قدّمتُ بين يديّ عندك جاهَها

قبل اللقاء ممهَّدا ومؤثَّلا

قبل اللقاء ممهَّدا ومؤثَّلا

I sent its prestige ahead of me into your presence,

I have placed before you their prestige,

before our meeting, prepared and firmly established.

Prepared and arranged before the meeting,

ومنحتُ جيدَ المهرجان قلادةً

ومنحتُ جيدَ المهرجان قلادةً

منها فحلَّتهُ وكان معطَّلا

منها فحلَّتهُ وكان معطَّلا

I gave the neck of Mihragān a necklace

And given the necklace of the festival’s crown,

of its verse, which adorned it when it had been bare.

By which it was adorned, and had been suspended,

فاستجلِه فيها وقل من بعده

فاستجلِه فيها وقل من بعده

ما كان أحسنَها عليه وأجملا

ما كان أحسنَها عليه وأجملا

So behold it in that necklace, and afterward say:

So display it, and then say what would be,

How lovely and beautiful that necklace was upon it!

More beautiful on it than it, and more graceful,

وتملَّه ذكراً لقومك باقياً

وتملَّه ذكراً لقومك باقياً

يصفُ العُلا عَلَماً لهم متمثّلا

يصفُ العُلا عَلَماً لهم متمثّلا

Enjoy it long, a lasting remembrance of your people,

And let it preoccupy you, mentioning your people lasting,

portraying high glory as their embodied emblem.

Describing the heights as a banner represented for them,

من غُبَّر السِّيَرِ التي سلفتْ لكم

من غُبَّر السِّيَرِ التي سلفتْ لكم

والمجدِ آخرهم يريك الأوّلا

والمجدِ آخرهم يريك الأوّلا

From the surviving histories of your past,

From the dust of travels past for you all,

and glory: the last of your line shows you the first.

And the glory - the last of them makes you see the first,

واصحب مدى الأيّام ما عُدَّتْ مدىً

واصحب مدى الأيّام ما عُدَّتْ مدىً

واسلم إذا أفنت عزيزاً مقبلا

واسلم إذا أفنت عزيزاً مقبلا

Live through the span of days, as long as time is counted,

And accompany the expanse of days however long they are counted,

and stay safe when they destroy a mighty man in his prime.

And submit gracefully if you outlive one dear,