أما وهواها عذرة وتنصلا — Mihyar Al Daylami

أما وهواها عِذْرَةً وتَنصُّلا

لقد نقل الواشي إليها فأمحلا

Now, by my love for her, in apology and disavowal:

the talebearer carried tales to her and falsely accused me.

سعى جهدَه لكن تجاوز حدَّه

وكثَّر فارتابت ولو شاء قلَّلا

He did his utmost, but overstepped his bounds;

he exaggerated, and she grew doubtful; had he wished, he could have said less.

وقال فلم تقبلْ ولكن تلوَّمَتَ

على أنه ما قال إلا لتقْبلا

He spoke; she did not believe him, but she hesitated,

though he spoke only to make her believe.

وطارحها أنِّي سلوتُ فهل رأى

له الذمُّ مثلي عن هوَى مثلِها سلا

He told her I had forgotten her; has he ever seen—

blame be upon him—one like me forget the love of one like her?

أأنفُض طوعاً حبَّها عن جوانحي

وإن كان حبّاً للجوانح مُثقِلا

Would I willingly shake her love from my breast,

even if that love weighed heavily upon it?

أبى اللهُ والقلبُ الوفيّ بعهدهِ

وإلفٌ إذا عُدَّ الهوى كان أوّلا

God forbids it, and the heart faithful to its pledge,

and a bond that, whenever loves are counted, comes first.

أيا صاحِبَيْ نجوايَ يومَ سويقةٍ

أناةً وإن لم تُسعِدا فتجمَّلا

O you two confidants of mine on the day at Suwayqa,

be patient; if you cannot help me, at least be gracious.

سلا ظبيةَ الوادي وما الظبيُ مثلُها

وإن كان مصقولَ الترائب أكحلا

Ask the valley's gazelle—no gazelle is her equal,

even if its breast is polished smooth and its eyes dark-rimmed—

أأنتِ أمرتِ البدرَ أن يَصدَعَ الدُّجَى

وعلَّمتِ غصنَ البان أن يتميَّلا

Did you command the full moon to cleave the darkness,

and teach the bān-tree's bough to sway?

وحرَّمتِ يومَ البين وقفةَ ساعةٍ

على عاشقٍ ظنّ الوَداعَ محلَّلا

And on the day of parting, did you forbid an hour's pause

to a lover who thought farewell permissible?

جمعتِ عليه حرُقةَ الدمع والجوى

وما اجتمع الداءان إلا ليقتلا

You brought upon him burning tears and love's anguish,

and these two maladies met only to kill.

هبي لِيَ عيني واحملي كُلْفةَ الأسى

على القلب إنّ القلبَ أصبرُ للبلا

Spare me my eyes, and lay the burden of sorrow

upon the heart: the heart endures affliction better.

أراكِ بوجهِ الشمس والبعدُ بيننا

فأقنعُ تشبيهاً بها وتَمَثُّلا

I see you in the sun's face, though distance lies between us,

and am content with its likeness and imagined semblance of you.

وأذكرُ عذباً من رُضابكِ مُسكراً

فما أشربُ الصهباءَ إلا تعلُّلا

I recall the sweet, intoxicating moisture of your lips,

and drink the tawny wine only for solace.

هنيئا لحبّ المالكيّةِ إنه

رخيصٌ له ما عزّ منيّ ما غلا

Blessed be the love of al-Malikiyya, for

whatever is precious and costly in me is cheap for its sake.

تعلّقتُها غِرّاً وليداً وناشئاً

وشِبْتُ وناشِى حبّها ما تكهَّلا

I fell in love with her innocent, a child and growing youth;

I grew gray, but my young love for her never reached middle age.

ووحدَّها في الحبّ قلبي فما له

وإن وجدَ الأبدالَ أن يتبدَّلا

My heart singled her out in love; it may not,

even if it finds replacements, exchange her.

رعى اللهُ قلبي ما أبرَّ بمن جفا

وأصبرهَ في النائباتِ وأحملا

May God guard my heart: how devoted it is to those who shun it,

how patient in calamities, how much it bears!

وكرَّمَ عهدي للصديق فإنه

قليلٌ على الحالات أن يتحوَّلا

And may He honor my pledge to my friend, for

it seldom changes with changing circumstances.

وليَّنَ أيّامِي عليَّ فإنني

أزاحم ثهلاناً عليه ويَذبُلا

And may He soften my days for me, for I

struggle against Thahlan and Yadhbul on that account,

وأهل زمانٍ لا هَوَادةَ بينهم

إذا استؤمنوا كانوا أخَبَّ وأختلا

and people of an age who show no leniency among themselves:

when trusted, they prove more deceitful and more treacherous.

صديقُ نفاقٍ أو عدوُّ فضيلةٍ

متى طُبّ عاد الداءُ أدهَى وأعضلا

A hypocritical friend, or an enemy of virtue:

whenever treated, the sickness returns more virulent and intractable.

وُلُوجٌ على الشرّ الذي يرصُدونه

متى وجدوا يوماً إلى الشرّ مَدخَلا

They plunge into the evil they lie in wait for,

whenever they find, one day, an entrance into evil.

إذا ما رأَوْا عند امرىءٍ زادَ يومِهِ

مَشوا حَسَداً أو باتَ جَوعان مُرْمِلا

If they see a man with provisions for his day,

they stir with envy—or he sleeps hungry and destitute.

وفي الأرضِ عنهم مَذهبٌ وتفسُّحٌ

فمن لِيَ لو أسطيعُ أن أترحَّلا

There is room on earth to leave them and roam freely;

who would help me, if only I could depart?

أهُمُّ ولكن من ورائي جواذبٌ

أخافُ على أعطانها أن تُشَلَّلا

I intend to leave, but ties behind me draw me back;

I fear they may be driven from their watering places.

وتُعْلِقُني الآمالُ في قُلَلِ العُلا

فأجعلُها منهم مَلاذاً ومَعقِلا

Hopes fasten me to the summits of eminence,

which I make a refuge and stronghold against them.

نعمْ عند ركن الدين وابنِ قوامه

غِنىً ومَرادٌ أن أُضَامَ وأُهمَلا

Yes, with the Pillar of the Faith and son of its Mainstay,

are riches and a defense against my being wronged or neglected.

وفي يدهِ البيضاءِ يقطُرُ ماؤها

ربيعٌ يَرُدُّ الجدبَ أخضرَ مُبقِلا

In his white hand, with its water dripping,

is a springtime that turns barren ground green and sprouting.

وبالقصر من دار السلام متوَّجٌ

بإشراقه أخزَى البدورَ وأَخجلا

And in the palace of Dar al-Salam is a crowned one

whose radiance shames and abashes the full moons.

ترى خرزاتِ الملكِ فوق جبينه

كواكبَ نورٍ ضوءُها يملأ الفلا

You see the jewels of sovereignty above his brow

as stars of light whose brilliance fills the wilderness.

يُميت النفوسَ قاطباً متنمِّراً

ويحيى أواناً باسماً متهلِّلا

He slays souls, scowling and fierce as a leopard,

and at times revives them, smiling and radiant.

إذا كفَروا النَّعماءَ شامَ سيوفَه

وإن سألوا الإغضاء سَامَ التفضُّلا

When they deny his favors, he draws his swords;

if they ask for forbearance, he offers generosity.

قريبٌ إلى المولى بعيدٌ بعزّه

على مَغْمَز الأعداء أن يتسهَّلا

Close to his ally, yet through his might too distant

to yield to the probing of his enemies.

إذا مَنَّ أعطَى حلمَه متبيِّناً

وإن همَّ أعطَى أمرَه متعجِّلا

When he grants favor, he offers his forbearance with discernment;

when he resolves, he gives his command without delay.

حَوى حَوزةَ الدنيا فدبَّر أمرَها

مليّاً بتقويم الأمور معدِّلا

He took possession of the world's domain and ordered its affairs,

fully capable of setting matters right and restoring balance.

أطاعتْه أعناقُ البلادِ وأقبلتْ

إليه القلوبُ رغبةً لا تعمُّلا

The necks of the lands obeyed him, and

hearts turned toward him willingly, not by affectation.

ودانتْ له الأقدارُ حتى تصرَّفتْ

على أمره الماضي صُعوداً ونُزَّلا

Destinies submitted to him, until they moved

at his effective command, rising and descending.

إذا طلبَ الأعداءَ أنفذ جَحفلاً

لُهَاماً من الإقبال يَتْبَع جَحفلا

When he pursues his enemies, he sends a host,

a vast army of good fortune, following another host.

كفاه مكانَ السيفِ والرمحِ جَدُّهُ

فلو شاء يوم الروعِ حاربَ أعزلا

His fortune serves him in place of sword and spear;

if he wished, he could fight unarmed on the day of terror.

وكم عادةٍ لله في النصر عندَه

تَضمَّن باستمرارها وتَكفَّلا

How many customary favors of God in victory he has known,

whose continuance He has pledged and guaranteed!

ومن آيةٍ قامتْ بتثبيتِ مُلكه

وقد كادت الأقدامُ أن تتزيَّلا

And how many signs have served to establish his kingdom,

when feet were almost losing their footing!

ظهرتَ جلالَ الدولتين بفضلها

ومُعجِزها حتى ظنناك مُرسَلا

You emerged, Jalal al-Dawlatayn, through its grace

and its marvel, until we thought you a messenger.

رأى اللهُ أنّ الأرضَ أصلحُ سيرةً

عليك وأن الناسَ أجملُ محفِلا

God saw that the earth was better governed

under you, and its people formed a fairer gathering;

وأنك تأوِي في أمورك كلِّها

إليه مُنيباً نحوَه متبتِّلا

and that in all your affairs you seek refuge

in Him, turning penitently toward Him, wholly devoted.

فولَّاك في ضيق الشدائد فُرْجةً

وأعطاك مَنْجىً في الخطوب وموئلا

So He granted you relief amid the straits of hardship,

and gave you escape and refuge amid calamities.

وكم آبقٍ من رِقِّ مُلكك غامطٍ

لنُعماك لم ينهضْ بما قد تحمَّلا

How many a fugitive from bondage to your kingship, ungrateful

for your favors, failed to discharge the obligations he had borne!

عفوتَ مِراراً عن تمادي ذنوبه

فأنظرتَهُ بالعفو حتى توغَّلا

You repeatedly pardoned his persistence in wrongdoing,

granting him respite through forgiveness until he went further.

وبالأمس لجُّوا في الشِّقاقِ وأجلبوا

عليك وظنُّوها وحاشاك فَيْصَلا

Yesterday they persisted in discord and mustered forces

against you, thinking it—far be it from you!—decisive.

فلم يَجنِ ضعفُ الرأي إلا عليهمُ

ولا ازددتَ إلا قوّةً وتأثُّلا

Their faulty judgment injured no one but themselves,

while you gained only strength and firmer roots.

فسائْل بهم إما طريداً مشرَّداً

يلوذ بصفح أو قتيلاً مُجَدَّلا

Ask after them: either a banished, scattered fugitive

seeking shelter in pardon, or a slain man stretched on the ground.

فلا زال مَن عاداك أبعدَ شُقّةً

وأخبَث أيّاماً وأخشنَ منزلا

May whoever opposes you always be farther from home,

with fouler days and a rougher dwelling.

ولا زالت الراياتُ واسمُك حَلْيُها

خوافقَ تحوِي الأرضَ سهلاً وأَجْبُلا

And may the banners, adorned with your name, remain

fluttering, embracing the earth, both plains and mountains,

إلى أن ترى بِيضَ الملوك وسُودَها

قياماً على أُخرَى بساطك مُثَّلا

until you see white kings and black kings

standing in attendance at the far edge of your carpet.

وبُلِّغتَ في نجميْك يا بدرُ كلَّ ما

تؤمِّل في نجمٍ على أفُقٍ علا

And may you obtain, through your two stars, O full moon, all

you hope for in a star rising high upon the horizon:

قديمُهما والطالعُ الآن قابساً

ضياءَك حتى يستقيمَ ويكمُلا

the elder of the two, and the one now rising, borrowing

your light until he stands upright and becomes complete.

فكانا على الأعداءِ سيفَيْ تناصُرٍ

شبيهَك فيما أحدثا وتقيَّلا

May they be two mutually aiding swords against your enemies,

like you in their deeds and the example they follow.

وشدَّاك والضِّرغامُ أمنعُ جانباً

وأنهضُ إقداماً إذا كان مُشبِلا

And may they strengthen you: the lion is better defended

and more vigorous in attack when he has cubs.

وكُثِّرتَ بالأولادِ تُرهِف مُنصُلاً

طريراً إلى الدنيا وتَطبعُ مُنصُلا

May you be multiplied through children, sharpening a blade

keen against the world, while forging another blade.

فإنك من قومٍ ثوَى المُلكُ فيهمُ

فلم ينوِ من بعد الحُلولِ ترحُّلا

For you belong to a people among whom kingship has settled,

never intending to depart after taking up residence.

أصولهُمُ منصورةٌ بفروعهم

إذا قام منهم آخرٌ كان أوّلا

Their roots are strengthened by their branches;

when a later member rises, he stands foremost.

لكم في رقابِ الناس أمراس ذمّةٍ

بعيدٌ على استحصافها أن تُحلَّلا

Around people's necks you have cords of obligation,

so firmly twisted that loosening them is far from possible.

مفاتيحُ هذا الرزقِ بين أكفِّهم

ونصرةُ دِين الله بِيضاً وذُبَّلا

The keys to this sustenance lie in their hands,

and the defense of God's faith, with bright swords and slender spears.

فما يشهدون الحرب إلا إذا غَلَتْ

ولا يشترون الحمدَ إلا إذا غلا

They enter battle only when it boils,

and buy praise only when its price is high.

أتعرف يا مولى الملوك كقِصِّةٍ

بُلِيتُ بها بالأمس والحرُّ يُبتلَى

Do you know, O master of kings, of a tale like the one

I was afflicted with yesterday? A free man is put to the test.

أبعدَ قنوعي بالثمادِ تعفّفاً

وهجرِيَ أبوابَ الملوك تعزُّلا

After my contentment with scant water, out of self-restraint,

and my forsaking the doors of kings, keeping myself apart,

وظُلميَ فضلي واهتضامي توحُّدي

مخافةَ أن أُوذَى وأن أتَبَذَّلا

and my wronging my own merit and slighting my singular distinction,

for fear of being harmed or debasing myself,

يُسيء رَعَاعُ الناس عندك سُمعتي

ويُشعِر أنّي حزتُ مالاً مؤثَّلا

do the rabble blacken my reputation before you,

and claim that I amassed an established fortune,

ويُغرِي بإفقاري وأنت الذي ترى

لمثلِيَ أن يغنىَ وأن يتموَّلا

and incite you to impoverish me, though you are the one who holds

that a man like me should be wealthy and possess riches?

ولكنَّها ما غيَّرتْ لك شيمةً

كرُمتَ بها إلا قليلاً كَلاَ وَلا

Yet it did not change that trait of yours

in which you are noble, save an instant—a mere 'no, and no.'

ولما سعَى الساعي فجاءك كاذباً

عليَّ بجَوْرٍ كنتَ أعلَى وأعدلا

When the informer made his attempt and came to you lying

unjustly against me, you proved loftier and more just.

أتاك بزورٍ فاتحاً فمَهُ به

فألقمته بالردِّ تُرْباً وجَنْدلا

He brought you falsehood, opening his mouth with it;

your rejection stuffed his mouth with dust and stones.

تسرَّع فيها جالباً لك إثمَها

ولكن أراك الحقُّ أن تتمهَّلا

He rushed into it, bringing you its guilt,

but truth showed you that you should take your time.

فلم تألُني كشفاً لصدقِ براءتي

ولا نظراً في قصّتي وتأمُّلا

You spared no effort in uncovering the truth of my innocence,

nor in examining my case and reflecting upon it.

وزَنْتَ بذكر المالِ مجدَك في العلا

فكان وِزانُ المجد عندك أثقلا

Against the mention of money you weighed your glory on high,

and the weight of glory proved heavier with you.

وحكَّمتَ رأياً طاهريّاً وهمَّةً

بُوَيْهِيَّةً ما طَبَّقَتْ كان مَفصِلا

You made a Tahiri judgment your arbiter, and a resolve

of Buyid mettle, striking a joint wherever it struck.

فأرضاك منّي الصدقُ لما علمتَه

ببيّنةٍ لم استعِرْها تقَوُّلا

My truthfulness pleased you when you came to know it,

through proof I had not borrowed in fabrication.

فإن فاجأتني همّةٌ من طروقها

تروَّع منها جانبي وتوجَّلا

Though a resolve surprised me, its sudden arrival

struck fear into me and made me tremble,

حُبِستُ ولكن كان حبساً مشرِّفاً

أناف بذكري واعتقالا مُجمِّلا

I was imprisoned, but it was an honorable imprisonment,

raising my name high, a confinement that graced me.

ولم أر مثلي مستضافاً مكرَّماً

ولا كاسباً للعزّ من حيث ذُلِّلا

I have never seen anyone like me, entertained and honored,

or gaining dignity from the very place of humiliation.

لئن عَدَّ قومٌ نكبةً حبسَ ليلةٍ

لقد كنتُ منكوباً من الناس مُقْبِلا

If some count a night's imprisonment a calamity,

then I was afflicted among men, yet favored by fortune.

وسبَّب لي هذا المُقامَ تروُّعي

وقد كنتُ عنه ساهياً أو مغفَّلا

My fright brought me to this station,

which I had neglected or overlooked.

مكانٌ تمناه الكواكبُ عزَّةً

فتبغي إليه مَهبَطاً وتنزُّلا

A station the stars have longed for, for its honor,

seeking a way to descend and alight there.

ومن لجبين الشمس لو خرّ ساجداً

لأرضك أو وافى ثراك مقبِّلا

And who could grant the sun's brow a chance to fall prostrate

upon your ground, or come to kiss your dust?

لبست به ثوباً ضفا لِيَ فخرهُ

بمدحك مجروراً عليّ مذيَّلا

There I put on a robe whose glory flowed amply over me,

through praising you, trailing upon me with a sweeping hem.

سيعلم مَنْ جرَّ السعايةَ أنه

بكرهي إلى ما ساق نفعي توصَّلا

Whoever set the slander in motion will learn that

through what I hated, he reached what brought me gain.

لقد غَرَس التعريضَ بي في وبيئةٍ

متى اسْتُثْمِرَتْ أجنَتْه صاباً وحنظلا

He planted his insinuations against me in pestilent soil;

whenever harvested, it yielded him bitter sap and colocynth.

إذا وسَمتْ عِرضَ اللئيم بِميسَمٍ

من الذمِّ باقٍ ودَّ لو كان أُغفِلا

When it brands the scoundrel's honor with a mark

of enduring blame, he wishes he had been left unbranded.

فكان شقيّاً خاب عندك سعيُه

وفزتُ وكنتَ المنعمَ المتفضِّلا

He was wretched: his endeavor failed before you;

I triumphed, and you were the gracious benefactor.

أقمْ فيَّ من عاداتِ سيبك سُنّةً

هي الغيثُ أو كانت أعمَّ وأجزلا

Establish for me a custom among your accustomed gifts,

like rain—or still more widespread and abundant.

فكم من نوالٍ مُسرفٍ قد حقَرته

وفلَّلتَ من جُمَّاعِهِ فتفلَّلا

How many an extravagant gift you have deemed small,

and chipped away at its amassed abundance until it shattered!

وعارفةٍ لو يُسأَلُ البحرُ بعضَها

تعذَّر من إخراجها وتمحَّلا

And how many a kindness, if the sea were asked for part of it,

it would plead inability to produce it and contrive excuses.

فمْر فيّ بالمعروف من سيب راحةٍ

معوّدةٍ أن تستهلَّ وتهطِلا

So command kindness toward me from the bounty of a palm

accustomed to pour down and rain abundantly.

وكن مرغِماً خَصمي بأمر مشَرِّفٍ

تُوفِّرُ لي منه الضمان المعَجَّلا

Humiliate my adversary with an ennobling command,

securing for me through it a guarantee fulfilled at once,

وتجبرُ من جاهي الكسير وخَلَّتي

فأجدرُ من أسمنتَ من كنتَ مُهزلا

restoring my broken standing and relieving my need;

the worthiest for you to fatten is he whom you made lean.

وثِقْ بجزاءٍ شعرُ عبدِك ضامنٌ

لما طاب منه في الشِّفاهِ وما حلاَ

Trust in a recompense guaranteed by your servant's poetry,

in what is pleasing and sweet upon the lips:

من الباقياتِ الصالحاتِ أروضُها

بنفسي إذا طابت وقلبي إذا خلا

enduring good works, which I train

with my spirit when serene, and my heart when unburdened,

سوائرَ يقطعن البلاد حواملاً

دعاءً مجاباً أو ثناءً مُنَخَّلا

to travel through the lands, bearing

an answered prayer or praise sifted pure.

إذا ما كسوتُ العيدَ منهنَّ لِبْسةً

ترفَّلَ فيها تائهاً وتخَيَّلا

Whenever I clothe the feast day in a garment of them,

it struts in it proudly, swaying in delight,

ومدّ يدَ الراجي نوالَك مدلياً

بحرمتها مستشفعاً متوسِّلا

and stretches out the hand of one hoping for your bounty, invoking

their sanctity as intercessor and means of approach,

يبشِّرُ عنها أنه عائدٌ بها

عليك مدى الأيام عمراً مطوَّلا

announcing on their behalf that it will return with them

to you throughout the days, for a long lifetime.

هو اليومُ أعطاه الإله فضيلةً

كما كنتَ ممّن يحمِلُ الأمرَ أفضلا

It is the day to which God gave special merit,

just as you are the best of those who bear authority.

فقابْل به وجهَ الخُلود مبلَّغاً

شروطَ المنى ما كَرَّ عيدٌ وأقبلا

So meet the face of eternity with it, granted

the fulfillment of your wishes whenever a feast returns and arrives.

وكن مفطراً بالبِرِّ والبَس على التقى

ثوابكَ وانزِع صومَك المتقبَّلا

And break your fast with goodness; over your piety put on

your reward, and cast off your accepted fast.

تزخرف جنات العلا لك مفطراً

وصائم فرضٍ كنت أو متنفّلا

The gardens on high are adorned for you, whether breaking fast

or fasting, whether by obligation or of your own accord,

إلى أن ترى صُمَّ الجبال فلائقاً

مسيَّرةً والجوَّ ماءً مسلسَلا

until you see the solid mountains split into fragments,

set moving, and the sky become flowing water.

إذا ما انجلى صبحٌ ولستَ مملَّكاً

علينا فلا انشقَّ الظلامُ ولا انجلَى

If dawn should break while you are not sovereign

over us, then may darkness never split or lift.