حسِبوا العلا خِفّاً وكُنَّ ثِقالا

حسِبوا العلا خِفّاً وكُنَّ ثِقالا

فتكلَّفوها ظالعين هزالا

فتكلَّفوها ظالعين هزالا

They thought the heights of glory light, though they were heavy.

They considered glory easy, so be burdensome,

So they undertook them, limping and emaciated.

And they tried to attain it, rising in decline.

جُبناءُ شدُّوا الحُزْمَ لسنَ وثائقاً

جُبناءُ شدُّوا الحُزْمَ لسنَ وثائقاً

فيها ومدّوا البُوعَ لسنَ طوالا

فيها ومدّوا البُوعَ لسنَ طوالا

Cowards, they tightened belts that were not secure

The cowards tightened the belts around their waists,

For those heights, and stretched arms that were not long.

Lashing them tightly, and lengthened their scabbards.

لم يعقدوا للرأي فيها حَبوةً

لم يعقدوا للرأي فيها حَبوةً

يوماً ولا اقتسموا عليها فالا

يوماً ولا اقتسموا عليها فالا

They never bound their knees to sit in counsel over them

Never did they tie wisdom into a knot there,

Even for a day, nor sought a favorable omen by lots.

Nor did they divide counsel among themselves.

فتطلّعوا هُجناءَ من أطرافها

فتطلّعوا هُجناءَ من أطرافها

فخرَ الشواحج تنسُبُ الأخوالا

فخرَ الشواحج تنسُبُ الأخوالا

So the basebreds peered up from their edges,

So they looked askance, shying from its edges,

Boasting like braying mules that cite their maternal uncles.

Thus the meteors fell, tracing their kindred.

وسعى النجيبُ مقدِّماً بشياتها

وسعى النجيبُ مقدِّماً بشياتها

عنقاً وجسماً تحتها وجمالا

عنقاً وجسماً تحتها وجمالا

The thoroughbred strove, proudly displaying their markings,

And the noble one strove, stretching his shoulders

His neck, his body beneath them, and his beauty.

And neck and body beneath it and his beauty.

يقظان يستلب الكرى من عينه

يقظان يستلب الكرى من عينه

أنفٌ حماه أن يرى الأمثالا

أنفٌ حماه أن يرى الأمثالا

Wakeful: sleep is stolen from his eye

Wakeful, rescuing valor from his eyes-

By a pride that forbids him to acknowledge equals.

A nose protected him from seeing the like.

فخراً بني عبد الرحيم بأنكم

فخراً بني عبد الرحيم بأنكم

كنتم قبيلا للحسين وآلا

كنتم قبيلا للحسين وآلا

Boast, sons of Abd al-Rahim, that you

Proudly-you, the clan of Abd al-Rahim-that you

Were kin and family to al-Husayn.

Were a tribe of al-Husayn and his house.

ما زال حتى أوطئت أعقابُكم

ما زال حتى أوطئت أعقابُكم

قِمَمَ العدا وعُددتُمُ أقيالا

قِمَمَ العدا وعُددتُمُ أقيالا

He did not cease until your heels were made to tread

You did not cease until your heels stamped

Your enemies' crowns, and you were counted as princes.

The summits of foes and you were counted knights.

فإذا توضَّح يومُ أمرٍ مشكل

فإذا توضَّح يومُ أمرٍ مشكل

يتوزَّع الأقوال والأعمالا

يتوزَّع الأقوال والأعمالا

And when the day of a perplexing affair grew clear,

When the command of a complex day is clear,

Dividing counsels and deeds,

Views and deeds will diverge.

لقِيَ الورى جبناءَ عن أقلامه

لقِيَ الورى جبناءَ عن أقلامه

وسيوفِهِ ولقيتموه رجالا

وسيوفِهِ ولقيتموه رجالا

He found mankind cowed before his pens

You met the cowards with your pens,

And swords, while you met him as men.

Swords, and you met them as men.

يلوي لنصركم المخاوفَ وحدَه

يلوي لنصركم المخاوفَ وحدَه

صُلبَ الحصاةِ ويركب الأهوالا

صُلبَ الحصاةِ ويركب الأهوالا

Alone, he bends fears to secure your victory;

Alone he coils fears and the hardness of rock,

Stone-firm in resolve, he rides into terrors.

Mounting terrors, riding giants.

ما خُيِّرت بين اثنتين ركابه

ما خُيِّرت بين اثنتين ركابه

إلا تخيّر منهما الترحالا

إلا تخيّر منهما الترحالا

Whenever his mounts were offered two choices,

When offered a choice between two mounts,

He chose departure from the two.

He chose only one for the roads.

لا يمنع البطلَ المشهّر نفسَه

لا يمنع البطلَ المشهّر نفسَه

حتى يهُبَّ فيقنصَ الأبطالا

حتى يهُبَّ فيقنصَ الأبطالا

The famed champion cannot defend himself

The hero baring his blade does not refrain

Until he rises and hunts down champions.

Till he springs up and seizes the valiant.

والأُسدُ لم تظفَر بحاجِ أكفّها

والأُسدُ لم تظفَر بحاجِ أكفّها

حتى تجوبَ وتهجرَ الأغيالا

حتى تجوبَ وتهجرَ الأغيالا

Lions never win what their paws require

The lion-her claws did not gain their want-

Until they roam and leave their thickets.

Till she prowled and left the cubs.

كم يومِ بينٍ قد حمدنا آجلاً

كم يومِ بينٍ قد حمدنا آجلاً

منه ونحن نذمّه استعجالا

منه ونحن نذمّه استعجالا

How many a day of parting we praised for what came later

How many a clear day have we blamed, fearing it,

From it, though we condemned it in haste.

While we blamed it, impatient.

نجني الإياب الحلوَ من شجراته

نجني الإياب الحلوَ من شجراته

ثمراً ونسكن آمنين ظلالا

ثمراً ونسكن آمنين ظلالا

We harvest sweet homecoming from its trees

We pluck the sweet fruit from its trees,

As fruit, and dwell safely in their shade.

Then dwell secure in its shade.

كاليوم ردَّ كرىً وشدّ سواعداً

كاليوم ردَّ كرىً وشدّ سواعداً

وأعاش أفئدةً وراش نبالا

وأعاش أفئدةً وراش نبالا

Like today, which restored sleep and strengthened arms,

Like today, which repelled fate and braced

Kept hearts alive, and feathered arrows.

Spirits' strength, arousing archers.

طلعتْ سعودُك صارفاتٍ شمسه

طلعتْ سعودُك صارفاتٍ شمسه

عنا ببدرٍ غاب أمسِ هلالا

عنا ببدرٍ غاب أمسِ هلالا

Your auspicious stars rose, turning its sun

The dawn of your rule rose, its sun screening us

Away from us with a full moon that set yesterday a crescent.

With a full moon that set last night.

وسط السماء وعاد غايةَ تِمِّهِ

وسط السماء وعاد غايةَ تِمِّهِ

فأضاء لا كلفاً ولا ميّالا

فأضاء لا كلفاً ولا ميّالا

It took the sky's center, returning to its fullest orb,

At the sky's midst it regained its perfect fullness,

And shone, neither blemished nor declining.

Lighting without trouble or tilting.

دلّ الملوكَ عليك كونُك رِشدةً

دلّ الملوكَ عليك كونُك رِشدةً

لهمُ وكون العالمين ضلالا

لهمُ وكون العالمين ضلالا

Kings were led to you because you were right guidance

It showed the kings you were their uprightness,

For them, while all the world was astray.

Though the worlds were misguided.

قد جرّبوا فرأَوك أثقبَ منهُمُ

قد جرّبوا فرأَوك أثقبَ منهُمُ

زَنداً وأرجحَ فيهمُ مثقالا

زَنداً وأرجحَ فيهمُ مثقالا

They tested you and found you quicker than them

They tried you and found you sounder than they,

To strike fire, and weightier among them in the balance.

A surer, weightier measure.

وإذا هُمُ وجدوا السيوف قصيرةً

وإذا هُمُ وجدوا السيوف قصيرةً

في موطنٍ وجدوا خُطاك طِوالا

في موطنٍ وجدوا خُطاك طِوالا

And whenever they found swords too short

When they found their swords too short

On a field, they found your strides long.

In one place, they found your steps longer.

وسقيمة الأعضاء وُكِّلَ طِبُّها

وسقيمة الأعضاء وُكِّلَ طِبُّها

بك مذ تفاقم داؤها إعضالا

بك مذ تفاقم داؤها إعضالا

And one sick in her limbs had her cure entrusted

And the limbs grew sickly, and their doctoring

To you, when her disease grew incurably grave.

Was entrusted to you when their disease grew grave.

ناطوا بها وقد التوت منشورةً

ناطوا بها وقد التوت منشورةً

من حسن رأيك ساعداً وقبالا

من حسن رأيك ساعداً وقبالا

They fastened to her, twisted though she was, an outstretched

They relied on them though the tents were folded,

Arm and guiding rein from your sound judgment.

Through your fair opinion-aided and faced.

وقليلة الخُطَّاب عند نشوزها

وقليلة الخُطَّاب عند نشوزها

إن تستطيع لها الرجالُ بِعالا

إن تستطيع لها الرجالُ بِعالا

And one with few suitors when she turns unruly,

And she of meager words, when she rebelled,

If men can manage to become her husbands.

The men could not restrain her, even joined.

لا يطمع الكفءُ الشريفُ بسعيه

لا يطمع الكفءُ الشريفُ بسعيه

فيها ولو ساق المهورَ وغالى

فيها ولو ساق المهورَ وغالى

No noble, worthy match can hope through his striving

No noble, honorable in his effort, hopes to win her,

To win her, though he brings dowries and pays lavishly.

Though he proffer dowries or pay a brideprice.

ما أبصرت جيباً يجاب لها ولا

ما أبصرت جيباً يجاب لها ولا

ذيلاً على غير الملوك مذالا

ذيلاً على غير الملوك مذالا

You have never seen a collar cut for her, nor

You were granted her chastity, so you became her father,

A hem trailed over anyone but kings.

Her unlawful disdained, her lawful taken.

أُعطيتَ عُذرتَها فكنت أباً لها

أُعطيتَ عُذرتَها فكنت أباً لها

عفت الحرام وقد أخذت حلالا

عفت الحرام وقد أخذت حلالا

You were given her virginity, yet became her father;

You made your shoulders intimate with her,

You shunned the forbidden, having taken what was lawful.

Unharmed though the horizon confined the new moon.

أشعرتَ منها منكبيك خميلةً

أشعرتَ منها منكبيك خميلةً

ما ضرّها حبسُ السماء بِلالا

ما ضرّها حبسُ السماء بِلالا

You clothed your shoulders in a velvet meadow of her fabric,

And the artisans marked her chest and flanks

Unharmed when the sky withheld its moisture.

With the mark of the stamps-delicate and polished.

وسَم الصوانعُ صدرَها ومتونَها

وسَم الصوانعُ صدرَها ومتونَها

وسْمَ الطوابع رقّةً وصقالا

وسْمَ الطوابع رقّةً وصقالا

The makers stamped her breast and back,

The eyes cannot rest on her a moment

Like dies stamping, with delicacy and polish.

Before the sun's snatching a glance at the moon.

لا تثبت العينان فيها لحظةً

لا تثبت العينان فيها لحظةً

إلا اختطاف الشمس تنصف آلا

إلا اختطاف الشمس تنصف آلا

The eyes cannot rest on her for a moment,

When you filled visions with her fully,

Save a stolen glance, as at the sun centered in a mirage.

You filled hearts with majesty.

ما إن ملأتَ بها النواظر شارةً

ما إن ملأتَ بها النواظر شارةً

حتى ملأت بها القلوب جلالا

حتى ملأت بها القلوب جلالا

No sooner had you filled the eyes with her splendor

Cherishing beneath her a slender figure

Than you filled the hearts with her majesty.

That emaciation's penetration left intact.

مستبطناً من تحتها شفّافَةً

مستبطناً من تحتها شفّافَةً

جسماً يُخال من النحولِ خلالا

جسماً يُخال من النحولِ خلالا

Beneath her, transparent as she was, you enclosed

And what had not been tested before her

A body so thin it seemed a toothpick.

Rent veils wrapping mountains.

ومُلُوثة ما جُرِّبتْ من قبلها

ومُلُوثة ما جُرِّبتْ من قبلها

خرَقُ العمائم تعصِبُ الأجبالا

خرَقُ العمائم تعصِبُ الأجبالا

And a wound turban—before it, none had ever known

She took from the crown freshness, and it increased

Turban-cloths to bind mountains.

Her pride over it-her softness and beauty.

أَخذَتْ من التاج النّضارَ وزادها

أَخذَتْ من التاج النّضارَ وزادها

فخراً عليه لينُها وجمالا

فخراً عليه لينُها وجمالا

She took gold from the crown, while

She exulted in being bent compliantly to you

Her softness added pride and beauty beyond it.

And in her preciseness, imagined impossible.

جلَّت بأن لُوِيت عليك وأنها

جلَّت بأن لُوِيت عليك وأنها

من دقّةٍ حَقٌّ يُظنُّ محالا

من دقّةٍ حَقٌّ يُظنُّ محالا

She grew majestic, wound about you, and because she was,

And across from the parents her sweat's threading

In her fineness, a reality thought impossible.

A paternal uncle into the respected, venerable man.

ومقابل الأبوين ينسُجُ عرقُه

ومقابل الأبوين ينسُجُ عرقُه

عمّاً إلى متن الوجيه وخالا

عمّاً إلى متن الوجيه وخالا

And one purebred on both parents' sides, whose bloodline weaves

With what is ransomed by sons and specially chosen-

A paternal and maternal uncle into al-Wajih's back.

The daughters' sheltering themselves in cloaks and glory.

مما يفدّى بالبنين وتُصطفَى

مما يفدّى بالبنين وتُصطفَى

أزُرُ البناتِ براقعاً وجِلالا

أزُرُ البناتِ براقعاً وجِلالا

One ransomed with sons, for whom are chosen

And marriage is forbidden, though needy,

Daughters' wraps as veils and saddlecloths.

Valuing in poverty the price of possessions.

ويَحِلّ بيعُ العِرْس وهو محرّمٌ

ويَحِلّ بيعُ العِرْس وهو محرّمٌ

يُعتَدُّ في الفقر المبرِّح مالا

يُعتَدُّ في الفقر المبرِّح مالا

Selling one's wife for him becomes lawful, though forbidden;

The gazelle burst radiantly in her face

He counts as wealth in crushing poverty.

And the prey ran with it, so it was prey.

فتق الغزالة غرّةً في وجهه

فتق الغزالة غرّةً في وجهه

وجرى الطرادُ به فكان غزالا

وجرى الطرادُ به فكان غزالا

The sun burst as a white blaze upon his face,

It bent its neck onto the course of the bridle

The chase sped him along, and he became a gazelle.

Bowing, while the two were heavy upon it and bent.

وضفا على مَجرَى العنان بعنقه

وضفا على مَجرَى العنان بعنقه

قِنْوانِ قد ثقُلا عليه فمالا

قِنْوانِ قد ثقُلا عليه فمالا

Along the bridle's course upon his neck flowed

And behind it the train of the bride protecting, when

Two date-clusters, weighing on him till they drooped.

The tails surrendered some to the clutches.

ووراءه ذيلُ العروس حمى إذا ال

ووراءه ذيلُ العروس حمى إذا ال

أذناب أسلم بعضُها الأكفالا

أذناب أسلم بعضُها الأكفالا

Behind him, a bride's train sheltered him when

It flowed, looking from the lamps of an ascetic-

Some other tails abandoned their rumps.

Their rims folded, so it was pitch dark.

يدجو فينظر من سراجَيْ راهب

يدجو فينظر من سراجَيْ راهب

فُتلت شفارهما فكنّ ذبالا

فُتلت شفارهما فكنّ ذبالا

Dark as night, he gazed through a monk's two lamps,

Like a massive tree it proceeded, wavering,

Their lashes twisted into lampwicks.

Until when the need intensified, it coiled and poured.

كالطود أتلعَ هادياً ورديفَه

كالطود أتلعَ هادياً ورديفَه

حتى إذا اشتدّ انطوى فانهالا

حتى إذا اشتدّ انطوى فانهالا

Like a mountain, with neck and all behind it towering,

It marked the rocks-it does not stop appearing

Till, gathering speed, he folded and surged forth.

In every bright spot it struck a crescent.

يسم الصخورَ فليس يبرح مُطلِعاً

يسم الصخورَ فليس يبرح مُطلِعاً

في كل واضحة أصاب هلالا

في كل واضحة أصاب هلالا

He brands the rocks, forever bringing forth

Adorned in a right, though adorned while prevented,

A crescent on each bright stone he strikes.

Bare, clarifying itself, posing.

يُزهى بحقٍّ إن زهى متعطلاً

يُزهى بحقٍّ إن زهى متعطلاً

عُريانَ يجلو نفسه واختالا

عُريانَ يجلو نفسه واختالا

He has a right to pride, even when unadorned,

You see it, how your gaze adorned it,

Naked, displaying himself and strutting.

Gathering the planets' pride, collecting Pleiades.

فتراه كيف نظرتَه متحلّياً

فتراه كيف نظرتَه متحلّياً

غُرَر الكواكب جامعاً رئبالا

غُرَر الكواكب جامعاً رئبالا

You see him, however you look, adorned

It stole from the Pleiades her cheek and chin-strap

With the brightest stars, full-bodied, a lion.

And put on the Hyades as a wrap, splendid.

سلب الثريا خدّه وعذاره

سلب الثريا خدّه وعذاره

وتوشّح الشِّعرَى وشاحاً جالا

وتوشّح الشِّعرَى وشاحاً جالا

His cheek and cheek-stripe stole the Pleiades' splendor,

As if the Jawza' backed its saddlecloth

And he wore Sirius as a flowing sash.

And its forearms lengthened when they stretched.

وكأنما الجوزاء تَردُف سرجَه

وكأنما الجوزاء تَردُف سرجَه

وتطول رُسغيه إذا ما طالا

وتطول رُسغيه إذا ما طالا

It was as though Orion rode behind his saddle,

You mounted it and avoided another like it-

And reached his pasterns whenever he stretched tall.

Two fateful arrows paired at your place of attainment.

أُركِبتَه وجَنبتَ آخر مثلَه

أُركِبتَه وجَنبتَ آخر مثلَه

سهمَيْ مصيب قارباك منالا

سهمَيْ مصيب قارباك منالا

You were mounted on him and led another like him beside you,

It gave them from sincere intent in its chest,

Two arrows from a marksman, brought within your reach.

Not compelled gave, nor deceitfully.

أعطاهما عن نيّة من صدره

أعطاهما عن نيّة من صدره

لا مكرَهاً أعطى ولا مغتالا

لا مكرَهاً أعطى ولا مغتالا

He gave them from a sincere intention in his breast,

And the white charger, the brown's sister in speed,

Neither compelled to give nor deceived.

And the son of the dark brown, sweet as honey.

والأبيضَ الماضي وأختَ الدرع مح

والأبيضَ الماضي وأختَ الدرع مح

مولَين وابنَ الأسمر العسالا

مولَين وابنَ الأسمر العسالا

And the keen white sword and the mail-coat's sister, both

With this you hit when you rode it, and that

Borne, and the swaying son of a tawny shaft.

A burden protecting you when battle was wanted.

هذا تصيب إذا ركبت به وذا

هذا تصيب إذا ركبت به وذا

وَزَرٌ يقيك إذا أردت نزالا

وَزَرٌ يقيك إذا أردت نزالا

With this you strike when mounted, while that

Good intimate ones! Where is their like found

Is a refuge shielding you when you choose close combat.

While they fall among ignorant tribes?

نِعمٌ عوارفُ أين منك محلّها

نِعمٌ عوارفُ أين منك محلّها

ويقعن عند معاشر جُهّالا

ويقعن عند معاشر جُهّالا

Gracious blessings—what a place they have with you!

Their curved necks leaned toward you,

Yet they fall among people ignorant of their worth.

And now they stand upright, equitable.

كانت تميل إليك عُوج رقابها

كانت تميل إليك عُوج رقابها

فالآن قمن سويَّةً أعدالا

فالآن قمن سويَّةً أعدالا

They once inclined toward you, their necks bent;

Talking-that they are fiery mares

Now they stand straight and upright.

Begetting doubles and more for themselves.

متحدّثات أنهنّ لَقائحٌ

متحدّثات أنهنّ لَقائحٌ

ينتجن أضعافا لها أمثالا

ينتجن أضعافا لها أمثالا

Declaring themselves pregnant camels,

The courser flowed, and the valley suspected it

Bearing multiples, and as many again.

A trickle, then it swelled and poured.

جَرْيَ الأتيِّ توسّم الوادي به

جَرْيَ الأتيِّ توسّم الوادي به

خيطاً فخيطاً ثم مدّ فسالا

خيطاً فخيطاً ثم مدّ فسالا

Like the flow of an oncoming flood, marking the valley

Until you folded it where its length

Thread by thread; then it swelled and streamed.

Stretched the rope of hope and expanded hopes.

حتى ثنيت بحيث طوَّلَ باعُه

حتى ثنيت بحيث طوَّلَ باعُه

حبلَ الرجاء ووسَّع الآمالا

حبلَ الرجاء ووسَّع الآمالا

Until you were made second, where its reach lengthened

The envious envied, but only bared his fangs at you,

The cord of hope and broadened aspirations.

His heart churning.

حسَد الحسودُ فما عدا أنيابَه

حسَد الحسودُ فما عدا أنيابَه

نكتاً عليك وقلبَه بلبالا

نكتاً عليك وقلبَه بلبالا

The envier envied, but it went no farther than his fangs,

You deprived him of some of his business,

Carping at you, and turmoil in his heart.

So that leisure multiplied business.

أسهرته ورقدت عن أشغاله

أسهرته ورقدت عن أشغاله

بعضُ الفراغ يكثِّر الأشغالا

بعضُ الفراغ يكثِّر الأشغالا

You kept him sleepless, and slept unconcerned by his worries;

Convey with your fortune the extent of your right! Divide

Some idleness multiplies worries.

Fortunes between people and lifespans.

أبلغْ بحظّك قدرَ حقّك تقسم ال

أبلغْ بحظّك قدرَ حقّك تقسم ال

أرزاق بين الناس والآجالا

أرزاق بين الناس والآجالا

Let your fortune reach the measure of your due, and apportion

And extend your right hand that I may kiss its back-

Livelihoods among people, and lifespans.

So that perhaps it will transmit good fortune to me.

وامدد يمينك لي أقبِّلْ ظهرَها

وامدد يمينك لي أقبِّلْ ظهرَها

فلعلّها تُعدينيَ الإقبالا

فلعلّها تُعدينيَ الإقبالا

Extend your right hand to me, that I may kiss its back;

I am he whose hearing pleased you and pleases you still

Perhaps it will pass good fortune on to me.

With subtle, weighty words in speech.

أنا من سمعتَ له وتسمع آنفاً

أنا من سمعتَ له وتسمع آنفاً

غُرراً رِشاقاً في الكلامِ جِزالا

غُرراً رِشاقاً في الكلامِ جِزالا

I am the one from whom you have heard, and soon will hear,

By them your honors bloomed, widespread,

Brilliant, graceful verses, weighty in speech.

The aroma of aromatic plants in morning's breath.

عِبقت بها أعراضُكم منشورةً

عِبقت بها أعراضُكم منشورةً

عَبَقَ الخزامَى باكرته شَمالا

عَبَقَ الخزامَى باكرته شَمالا

Your reputations, spread abroad, were scented by them

When they passed through ears they were keys

Like lavender visited at dawn by a north wind.

And over hearts but yours were locks.

ما اجتزن بالآذان كنَّ مفاتحا

ما اجتزن بالآذان كنَّ مفاتحا

وعلى قلوب عداكُمُ أقفالا

وعلى قلوب عداكُمُ أقفالا

Whenever they passed through ears, they were keys,

They compile your news in residence

And locks upon your enemies' hearts.

And travel, sending you examples.

تقتصّ وهي مقيمةٌ أخبارَكم

تقتصّ وهي مقيمةٌ أخبارَكم

وتسير تُرسل فيكم الأمثالا

وتسير تُرسل فيكم الأمثالا

Staying at home, they recount your news,

They distract the forbearing, assert their own direction,

And travel abroad, spreading sayings about you.

And drag the ignorant's rope of frivolity.

تُلهى الحليمَ فتستقلُّ وقارَه

تُلهى الحليمَ فتستقلُّ وقارَه

وتجرُّ حبلَ عُرامه البطَّالا

وتجرُّ حبلَ عُرامه البطَّالا

They divert the sober man, making his gravity seem light,

I did not surpass people in correct understanding

And tug the cord of his playful wildness.

As I wished until I surpassed in bounties.

ما فقتُ فيها الناسَ فضلَ إصابةٍ

ما فقتُ فيها الناسَ فضلَ إصابةٍ

ما شئت حتى فقتُمُ أفضالا

ما شئت حتى فقتُمُ أفضالا

No sooner did I outdo men in these, in hitting

You poured me the reward of good will from it-

Whatever mark I wished, than you outdid them in generosity.

Pure, white-and increased gifts.

ساقيتني عنها الجزاءَ مودّةً

ساقيتني عنها الجزاءَ مودّةً

بيضاءَ صافيةً وزدتَ نوالا

بيضاءَ صافيةً وزدتَ نوالا

You gave me, in recompense for them, a draught of affection,

So I swore I will never see one who speaks like me,

Unblemished and pure, and added bounty.

Saying, Nor one who acts, what they said.

فحلفتُ لا أبصرت مثلى قائلاً

فحلفتُ لا أبصرت مثلى قائلاً

أبداً ومثلك فاعلاً ما قالا

أبداً ومثلك فاعلاً ما قالا

So I swore: never have I seen my equal as a speaker,

Nor your equal in carrying out what he said.

لا كالمخادع بِشرُهُ عن لؤمه

لا كالمخادع بِشرُهُ عن لؤمه

إن سرّ قول منه ساء فعالا

إن سرّ قول منه ساء فعالا

Not like the cheat whose smiles conceal his baseness:

If a word from him delights, his deeds dismay.

ضحك كنار ابن الحباحب خدعة

ضحك كنار ابن الحباحب خدعة

لا جذوة تعطي ولا إشعالا

لا جذوة تعطي ولا إشعالا

Laughter like Ibn al-Hubahib's fire, a deception,

Yielding neither an ember nor a flame.

أوفَى بنارٍ أعجبته وما درى

أوفَى بنارٍ أعجبته وما درى

جهلاً أيوقد مَندَلاً أم ضالا

جهلاً أيوقد مَندَلاً أم ضالا

He raised a fire that pleased him, not knowing,

In ignorance, whether he burned aloeswood or wild lote.

يُعطي على الغرض الخبيث وبخلُه

يُعطي على الغرض الخبيث وبخلُه

عند الحقوق ويعذل البخَّالا

عند الحقوق ويعذل البخَّالا

He gives for wicked purposes, but is miserly

Where rights are due, while reproaching misers.

داجانِيَ الكَلِمَ العِذابَ وكدَّني

داجانِيَ الكَلِمَ العِذابَ وكدَّني

وعداً تحنظلَ طعمُه ومِطالا

وعداً تحنظلَ طعمُه ومِطالا

He dissembled with me in sweet words, and wore me down

With promises whose taste turned bitter as colocynth, and delays.

وأرادني أن يستدرّ شفاعةً

وأرادني أن يستدرّ شفاعةً

رزقي وآخذَ ما لديه سؤالا

رزقي وآخذَ ما لديه سؤالا

He wanted intercession to draw forth

My livelihood, and me to take what he had by begging.

هيهات أعدتني إذن أخلاقه

هيهات أعدتني إذن أخلاقه

سَفَهاً وكنتُ على الرجال عيالا

سَفَهاً وكنتُ على الرجال عيالا

Far from it! His character would then have infected me

With folly, and made me a burden upon men.

ولقد نصحتُ له لوَ انّ مكلَّفاً

ولقد نصحتُ له لوَ انّ مكلَّفاً

بالعجب أرعَى سمعَه العذّالا

بالعجب أرعَى سمعَه العذّالا

I gave him sincere advice—if only one obsessed

With self-admiration would lend his ear to reprovers.

قلت انتهز بصنيعة إمكانها

قلت انتهز بصنيعة إمكانها

إن الزمان يحوّل الأحوالا

إن الزمان يحوّل الأحوالا

I said: seize the chance to do a good deed;

Time indeed transforms circumstances.

لو كان بقّى الشكر سرّ عطائه

لو كان بقّى الشكر سرّ عطائه

فمضى وبقّى السوءة الأقوالا

فمضى وبقّى السوءة الأقوالا

If only he had kept gratitude as the secret of his giving;

But he passed away and left disgrace in words.

جمح الغرورُ به فمرّ برأسه

جمح الغرورُ به فمرّ برأسه

فكأنّه بالأمس ظلٌّ زالا

فكأنّه بالأمس ظلٌّ زالا

Delusion bolted with him, and he rushed headlong;

He seemed a shadow that vanished yesterday.

بكَرتْ عليك وروَّحتْ بقصائدي

بكَرتْ عليك وروَّحتْ بقصائدي

سُحبُ الثناء مجدَّةً إسبالا

سُحبُ الثناء مجدَّةً إسبالا

Morning and evening, with my poems, there came to you

Clouds of praise, earnestly pouring down.

تُجري التهانىء ماءها وهواءها

تُجري التهانىء ماءها وهواءها

عطرَ النسيم وبارداً سَلسالا

عطرَ النسيم وبارداً سَلسالا

They pour congratulations as water, and as air

A fragrant breeze, and cool, sweet-flowing water.

ينبتن عِرضَكَ زهرةً موشِيّةً

ينبتن عِرضَكَ زهرةً موشِيّةً

تبقَى وأرضَك روضةً مِحلالا

تبقَى وأرضَك روضةً مِحلالا

They make your honor sprout as a many-colored flower

That lasts, and your land as a meadow welcoming dwellers.

يُمزَجن إذكاراً بمدحٍ شاكرٍ

يُمزَجن إذكاراً بمدحٍ شاكرٍ

والماءُ يُصلِح مزجُه الجريالا

والماءُ يُصلِح مزجُه الجريالا

They blend reminders with grateful praise,

As water's mixing improves red wine.

زدني كما قد زدتُ يزددْ حسنُها

زدني كما قد زدتُ يزددْ حسنُها

إن المكارم تبعث الأَقوالا

إن المكارم تبعث الأَقوالا

Give me more, as I have given more, and their beauty will grow;

Generous deeds inspire words.

حتى تفوتَ الناسَ جَدًّا صاعداً

حتى تفوتَ الناسَ جَدًّا صاعداً

وأفوتُهم بندَى يمينك حالا

وأفوتُهم بندَى يمينك حالا

Until you surpass men in ever-rising fortune,

And I surpass them in prosperity through your right hand's bounty.