قم فانتشِطْها حسبُها أن تُعقَلا

قم فانتشِطْها حسبُها أن تُعقَلا

ودَعْ لها أيديَها والأرجُلا

ودَعْ لها أيديَها والأرجُلا

Rise and untether them; enough of keeping them hobbled.

Rise and unveil her, it is enough for her to be rational

Leave them their forelegs and hind legs.

And leave her hands and feet be

وارم بها عرضَ الفلا فإنها

وارم بها عرضَ الفلا فإنها

ما خُلقتْ إلا رُجوماً للفلا

ما خُلقتْ إلا رُجوماً للفلا

Send them across the breadth of the wilderness, for they

And throw her into the open space, for she

were created only as missiles hurled against the wilderness.

Was created only to be pelted in the open space

ولا تَحَرَّجْ أن تَرى شِعارَها

ولا تَحَرَّجْ أن تَرى شِعارَها

حُصَّتْ ولا البدّنَ منها نُحَّلا

حُصَّتْ ولا البدّنَ منها نُحَّلا

Do not scruple if you see their coats

Do not hesitate to see her slogan being ripped

shorn bare, or their stout bodies grown lean.

She was examined and the body had to be undressed

فإنّ ما تنفُضُ من أوبارها

فإنّ ما تنفُضُ من أوبارها

أثمانُ ما تَنفُضُ من طُرْقِ العلا

أثمانُ ما تَنفُضُ من طُرْقِ العلا

For the hair they shed

For what she shakes of her shame

is the price of the roads to glory they traverse.

Are prices of what the sublime shakes of roads

لا يطرحُ الذلَّ وراءَ ظهرِها

لا يطرحُ الذلَّ وراءَ ظهرِها

إلا فتىً يُنْضي المطايا الذُّلُلا

إلا فتىً يُنْضي المطايا الذُّلُلا

None casts humiliation behind their backs

No one casts away humiliation behind her back

but a youth who wears out the docile mounts.

Except for a young man who trots the saddled horses

كم للظَّما تُوعَدُ بالماءِ وكم

كم للظَّما تُوعَدُ بالماءِ وكم

تَرعَى الطَّوَى وكم تُمَنَّى بالكَلا

تَرعَى الطَّوَى وكم تُمَنَّى بالكَلا

How often in thirst they are promised water, and how often

How much the thirsty is promised water and how much

they graze on hunger, and are promised pasture,

It grazes the slopes and how much it wishes for dry herbage

على ثرىً لا يُنبِت العزَّ ولا

على ثرىً لا يُنبِت العزَّ ولا

يكون للحرّ الكريم مَنزلا

يكون للحرّ الكريم مَنزلا

upon soil that grows no honor and

On a land that does not grow glory or

offers no dwelling to the noble, freeborn man.

Is a home for the generous noble

خيرٌ من امتناعها وضمِّها

خيرٌ من امتناعها وضمِّها

في الهُون أن تُطردَ أو تُشَلَّلا

في الهُون أن تُطردَ أو تُشَلَّلا

Better than holding them back and confining them

It is better than her refusal and inclusion

in humiliation is to drive them out or chase them onward.

In humiliation that she be expelled or paralyzed

ما بابلٌ بوطنٍ لعازفٍ

ما بابلٌ بوطنٍ لعازفٍ

يأنفُ أن يضامَ أو يُبتَذَلا

يأنفُ أن يضامَ أو يُبتَذَلا

Babylon is no homeland for one who keeps aloof,

What is Babylon as a homeland for a musician

disdaining oppression or debasement.

Who disdains to be blamed or degraded

دارٌ يكون الناقصَ الخطوِ بها

دارٌ يكون الناقصَ الخطوِ بها

والصوتِ من كان الأتمّ الأكملا

والصوتِ من كان الأتمّ الأكملا

A land where diminished in stride

A land where the deficient in step becomes

and voice is one once whole and perfect.

And the one with the most imperfect voice becomes the most perfect

كأنما أقسمَ خبثُ طينها

كأنما أقسمَ خبثُ طينها

لا يحمل الإنصافُ فيما حَمَلا

لا يحمل الإنصافُ فيما حَمَلا

As though the wickedness of its clay had sworn

As if the wickedness of its clay swore

that no justice should be borne among what it bore.

That fairness will not carry what it carried

وإن أرتكَ شارةً طريرةً

وإن أرتكَ شارةً طريرةً

ترضَى بها العينُ ووجهاً هَلْهَلا

ترضَى بها العينُ ووجهاً هَلْهَلا

Even if it shows you splendid attire

And if it maintained a warbling melody

pleasing to the eye, and a cheerful face,

The eye would be pleased with it and the face would smile

فغَرْ على المجدِ وواصلْ غيرها

فغَرْ على المجدِ وواصلْ غيرها

أُخرَى تليقُ الفضلَ والتفضُّلا

أُخرَى تليقُ الفضلَ والتفضُّلا

jealously guard glory, and seek another abode,

So begrudge glory and keep connected to another

one suited to excellence and liberality.

Who deserves excellence and nobility

ولا تكن إلا أخَا صريمةٍ

ولا تكن إلا أخَا صريمةٍ

متى نَبَتْ دارٌ به تحوَّلا

متى نَبَتْ دارٌ به تحوَّلا

Be nothing but a man of firm resolve:

And do not be but a sharp sword

whenever a dwelling rejects him, he moves on.

Whenever a land sprouts change

رُمِ العلا بين بيوتِ أهلِها

رُمِ العلا بين بيوتِ أهلِها

مقلَّبا في طُرْقها مُقَلْقَلا

مقلَّبا في طُرْقها مُقَلْقَلا

Seek glory among the houses of its people,

Aim the sublime between the houses of its people

turning about along its paths, ever restless.

Wandering in its paths shaken

فقلّما يعدَم نُجحَ حاجةٍ

فقلّما يعدَم نُجحَ حاجةٍ

من يقتني الخيلَ لها والإبلا

من يقتني الخيلَ لها والإبلا

For seldom does a man fail to achieve his purpose

So it is rare that the success of a need lacks

who keeps horses and camels for its pursuit.

Who acquires horses for it and camels

كم راودت بين بيوتِ أهلِها

كم راودت بين بيوتِ أهلِها

عن رِيِّها فما سقَوْها بللا

عن رِيِّها فما سقَوْها بللا

How often you pleaded among the houses of their people

How much it courted death between the houses of its people

for their fill of water, but they gave them not a drop.

From its shepherd, yet they did not water it with water

وفي بني الأصفر أوتارٌ لها

وفي بني الأصفر أوتارٌ لها

نام وليُّ ثأرها وغَفَلا

نام وليُّ ثأرها وغَفَلا

Among Banu al-Asfar they have unavenged wrongs;

And in the children of Asfar there are strings for it

the guardian of their vengeance slept and neglected them.

That slept while its avenger slept and was heedless

وبالعراقِ عَرَبٌ أصفَتْهُمُ

وبالعراقِ عَرَبٌ أصفَتْهُمُ

مُسْلِفَةً ثناءَها المنخَّلا

مُسْلِفَةً ثناءَها المنخَّلا

And in Iraq are Arabs whom they favored,

And in Iraq there are Arabs whom

offering their finely sifted praise in advance.

Its long association chose the select

فما قَرَوْها والقِرَى ميسَّرٌ

فما قَرَوْها والقِرَى ميسَّرٌ

إلا المنى مكذوبةً والأملا

إلا المنى مكذوبةً والأملا

They offered them no hospitality—though hospitality was easy—

So they did not visit it while the homes were facilitated

except false wishes and hopes.

Except with false wishes and hopes

لم يوقِدوا نارا لها تؤنسها

لم يوقِدوا نارا لها تؤنسها

بهم ولم يُرعُوا إليها جَمَلا

بهم ولم يُرعُوا إليها جَمَلا

They lit no fire to make them feel welcome

They did not light a fire for it to warm it

among them, nor turned a camel toward them.

With them nor did they herd camels to it

لكن لها بالشرق من إخوتهم

لكن لها بالشرق من إخوتهم

حيٌّ قِرَى أضيافِهم حَيَّ هَلاَ

حيٌّ قِرَى أضيافِهم حَيَّ هَلاَ

But in the east they have, among those men's brothers,

But it has in the East brothers of them

a clan whose welcome to guests is: Come, welcome!

Its guests are alive, so welcome

وجمرةٌ من أسَدٍ ذاكيةٌ

وجمرةٌ من أسَدٍ ذاكيةٌ

تَهدِي على البعد الضيوفَ الضُّلَّلا

تَهدِي على البعد الضيوفَ الضُّلَّلا

And a glowing ember of Asad

And an ember from a clever lion

guides lost guests from afar.

That gift its guests on the distance the misguided

حيِّ وقرِّبْ من عفيفٍ أوجهاً

حيِّ وقرِّبْ من عفيفٍ أوجهاً

أسرّةُ الأقمار منها تُجتلَى

أسرّةُ الأقمار منها تُجتلَى

Greet and draw near to faces of Afif,

Come alive and bring close to the chaste faces

in which the countenances of moons are revealed.

The new moons from it light up

وفاخر المجدَ بأيدٍ سَبْطةٍ

وفاخر المجدَ بأيدٍ سَبْطةٍ

لهم تجود والحيا قد بَخِلا

لهم تجود والحيا قد بَخِلا

Vie with glory through their open hands,

And indulge the glory with capable hands

which give when even the life-giving rain grows miserly.

For them it is generous while the living was stingy

أملْ إلى واديهمُ وادي الندى

أملْ إلى واديهمُ وادي الندى

أعناقَها تَرعَ الخصيبَ المُبقِلا

أعناقَها تَرعَ الخصيبَ المُبقِلا

Turn toward their valley, the valley of bounty,

Aim its necks to their valley, the valley of dew

their necks, to graze its fertile greenery.

Drinking the fresh dripping

ترى الرياضَ والحياضَ فعمةً

ترى الرياضَ والحياضَ فعمةً

تكرَعُ علّاً ما اشتهتْ ونَهَلا

تكرَعُ علّاً ما اشتهتْ ونَهَلا

You will see gardens and pools filled to the brim;

You see the gardens and the preserves abundant

they drink second draughts and first, as much as they desire.

It eats elevated whatever it craved and drank

أُدعُ إلى النصر الحسامَ المنتضَى

أُدعُ إلى النصر الحسامَ المنتضَى

واسأل عن الغيث الغمامَ المسبِلا

واسأل عن الغيث الغمامَ المسبِلا

Summon the unsheathed sword to victory,

I call for the desired swords for victory

and ask the pouring cloud for rain.

And ask about the rainclouds for pouring

واجلُ دجاها بفتَى خُزَيمة

واجلُ دجاها بفتَى خُزَيمة

ما صدع البرقُ الغمامَ فانجلى

ما صدع البرقُ الغمامَ فانجلى

Dispel their darkness through the young lord of Khuzayma,

And face its enemies with a Khazima youth

so long as lightning cleaves the clouds and shines forth.

The lightning did not split the clouds and clear up

وافتح بمجد الدين إن مدَّ لها

وافتح بمجد الدين إن مدَّ لها

يمينَه بابَ السماح المقفَلا

يمينَه بابَ السماح المقفَلا

Through Majd al-Din open, if he extends to them

And open with the glory of religion if it extended

his right hand, the locked gate of generosity:

Its right hand the locked door of generosity

بالعربيِّ نسباً وكرماً

بالعربيِّ نسباً وكرماً

والفارسيِّ سيرةً ومنزلا

والفارسيِّ سيرةً ومنزلا

Arab in lineage and generosity,

With the Arab in origin and generosity

Persian in conduct and dwelling.

And the Persian in conduct and abode

وقل لأبناء دُبَيْس ما طما

وقل لأبناء دُبَيْس ما طما

بالشرق واديها وما تأثّلا

بالشرق واديها وما تأثّلا

And tell the sons of Dubays how full

And say to the sons of Dubais what

their valley grew in the east, and how deeply rooted

Coursed in its valley and what lingered

فخراً ومجداً بفتىً جَذْعٍ غدا

فخراً ومجداً بفتىً جَذْعٍ غدا

من سِرِّكم ساد القروم البُزَّلا

من سِرِّكم ساد القروم البُزَّلا

in pride and glory, through a youthful lord who arose

Priding and glorying in a strong young man who became

from your choicest stock, surpassing the mature chiefs.

From your secret, he ruled the disgraced nations

شُدُّوا الحُبَى بابن الحسين وانتدُوا

شُدُّوا الحُبَى بابن الحسين وانتدُوا

فوازِنوا كلَّ فخارٍ ثقُلا

فوازِنوا كلَّ فخارٍ ثقُلا

Tighten your knee-bands in pride in Ibn al-Husayn, and assemble;

Bind closely the son of Hussein and align

weigh against him every weighty boast.

So evaluate every arrogance that is weighty

وكاثِروا كواكبَ الأفقِ به

وكاثِروا كواكبَ الأفقِ به

مباهلين واستقِلُّوا الأُصُلا

مباهلين واستقِلُّوا الأُصُلا

Through him vie in multitude with the horizon's stars,

And make the stars of the horizon abundant with him

challenging them, and reckon your ancestral roots few.

Challenging and making the origins independent

إن كنتمُ من مضر لُبابَها ال

إن كنتمُ من مضر لُبابَها ال

محضَ وصافي طينها المُصلصَلا

محضَ وصافي طينها المُصلصَلا

If, of Mudar, you are its very essence,

If you are from pure Mudar, the cream

pure, the choicest of its resonant clay,

Of its smooth and even clay

والأُسْدَ فيها نجدةً وأنفساً

والأُسْدَ فيها نجدةً وأنفساً

إن ركِبتْ أو دُعيتْ لتنزِلا

إن ركِبتْ أو دُعيتْ لتنزِلا

and its lions in courage and spirit,

And the lions in it are aid and souls

whether mounted or called upon to dismount,

If it rode or was called to descend

فمن شهابِ الدولة اليومَ لكم

فمن شهابِ الدولة اليومَ لكم

آخرُ مجدٍ فاقَ ذاك الأوّلا

آخرُ مجدٍ فاقَ ذاك الأوّلا

then through Shihab al-Dawla you have today

So from the flash of glory today for you

a later glory surpassing that earlier one.

Is the last glory that surpassed the first

قدّمه الله على علمٍ به

قدّمه الله على علمٍ به

واللهُ من فضَّل كان الأفضلا

واللهُ من فضَّل كان الأفضلا

God advanced him with full knowledge of him;

May God put him above knowledge with him

and whoever God favors is the finest.

And God who graced was the most gracious

أمَّره بحقِّه عليكُمُ

أمَّره بحقِّه عليكُمُ

أسخَطَ أو أرضاكُمُ ما فعلا

أسخَطَ أو أرضاكُمُ ما فعلا

He appointed him over you by his rightful claim,

He mandated him with his right over you

whether his deeds angered or pleased you.

Whether he angered or pleased you with what he did

فإن تطيعوا تجتنوها نحلةً

فإن تطيعوا تجتنوها نحلةً

بيضاءَ طاب مجتناها وحلا

بيضاءَ طاب مجتناها وحلا

If you obey, you will harvest it as a gift,

So if you obey, you will reap it as a

pure and bright, its harvest wholesome and sweet.

White bee whose collection and dissolution was good

وإن تميلوا حيداً عن أمره

وإن تميلوا حيداً عن أمره

وحسداً فانتقفوها حنظلا

وحسداً فانتقفوها حنظلا

But if you turn aside from his command,

And if you deviate, enviously from his order

out of envy, then gather it as bitter colocynth.

Then pick it as bitter herbs

أو لا فُسدُّوا ثَمَّ ثغراً سدَّه

أو لا فُسدُّوا ثَمَّ ثغراً سدَّه

واحتمِلوا من مَغرَمٍ ما احتملا

واحتمِلوا من مَغرَمٍ ما احتملا

Otherwise, close there a frontier breach that he has closed,

Or else corrupt then mend a breach

and bear the burden of expense that he has borne.

He repaired and endure from a laden what he endured

من لكُمُ بني أبيه من لكُمْ

من لكُمُ بني أبيه من لكُمْ

لولاه يبني ماابتنى من العلا

لولاه يبني ماابتنى من العلا

Who is there for you, sons of his father—who is there,

Who do you have from his father’s children who do you have

without him, to build the heights of glory he has built?

If not for him, he would not build what he built from sublimity

ومَن لكم يغدو بها مغيرةً

ومَن لكم يغدو بها مغيرةً

تُحْسَبُ في باقي الظلام شُعَلا

تُحْسَبُ في باقي الظلام شُعَلا

And who will ride out for you with raiding steeds,

And who do you have that travels in it as an invader

taken for flames in the lingering darkness,

That is considered in the remaining darkness as flames

نوازياً نزوَ الدَّبَى مُطلِعةً

نوازياً نزوَ الدَّبَى مُطلِعةً

على الأعادي أجَلاً فأجلا

على الأعادي أجَلاً فأجلا

bounding like young locusts, bringing

A consoler the dew descends revealing

death upon death upon the enemies?

Upon the enemies periods then periods

يقدُمها منكم همامُ غابةٍ

يقدُمها منكم همامُ غابةٍ

يعلِّم الطعنَ الأشلَّ الأعزلا

يعلِّم الطعنَ الأشلَّ الأعزلا

A bold lord of the thicket, one of you, leads them,

It presents it from you the zeal of a forest

teaching the man with a withered arm, unarmed, to thrust.

Who teaches the thrusting to the unarmed and unequipped

إذا حمَى ليثُ الشرَى عرينَه

إذا حمَى ليثُ الشرَى عرينَه

حمى بها الملكَ وأحيا الدولا

حمى بها الملكَ وأحيا الدولا

When the lion of al-Shara guards his lair,

If the lion of evil protected its lair

he guards the kingdom with them and revives dynasties.

It protected the kingdom and revived the state

ومَن سواه مشبِعٌ أضيافَه

ومَن سواه مشبِعٌ أضيافَه

غُلُبَّةً من حيث يُروِي الأسلا

غُلُبَّةً من حيث يُروِي الأسلا

And who but he feeds his guests

And whoever other than him is someone who saturates his guests

with stout-necked beasts from where he slakes his spears,

Overpowered from wherever he quenched the thirsty

وآخذٌ بيده وسيفه

وآخذٌ بيده وسيفه

نفائساً يسلُبها ما نوّلا

نفائساً يسلُبها ما نوّلا

and takes, with his own hand and sword,

And takes by his hand and sword

precious treasures that his giving carries away?

Precious items he loots that are transported

وأين أبياتُكُمُ من بيته

وأين أبياتُكُمُ من بيته

إن طلبَ الوفدُ العماد الأطولا

إن طلبَ الوفدُ العماد الأطولا

What are your tents beside his tent

And where are your abodes from his abode

when a delegation seeks the tallest tentpole?

If the delegation sought the tallest pillar

تَخْمُدُ أُولَى الليل نيرانُكُمُ

تَخْمُدُ أُولَى الليل نيرانُكُمُ

والشمسُ مع نيرانه كلا ولا

والشمسُ مع نيرانه كلا ولا

Your fires die out at the beginning of the night,

Your fires that light the beginning of the night dim

while the sun beside his fires is but a fleeting 'no, no.'

While the sun’s fires neither light nor flame

وتَحْطِبون وإماءُ بيته

وتَحْطِبون وإماءُ بيته

يَقذِفْنَ فوق الجَمراتِ المَندَلا

يَقذِفْنَ فوق الجَمراتِ المَندَلا

You gather firewood, while his housemaids

And you break while the slave girls of his house

toss sandalwood upon the glowing coals.

Throw over the embers the bundles

ومن قِرَى أضيافه أن تُنْحَرَ ال

ومن قِرَى أضيافه أن تُنْحَرَ ال

بُدورُ حين تَنْحَرون الإبلا

بُدورُ حين تَنْحَرون الإبلا

Part of his hospitality to guests is to slaughter

And of his guests’ homes that are slaughtered

full moons, while you slaughter camels.

Are the homes when you slaughter the camels

كذاك ما فاض فصارت معه

كذاك ما فاض فصارت معه

بحارُكم مخائضاً ووشلا

بحارُكم مخائضاً ووشلا

Such was his outpouring that, beside him,

That is how what overflowed so with him

your seas became shallow fords and trickles.

Your seas became birthing and deaf

أعطاكُمُ فجار في أمواله

أعطاكُمُ فجار في أمواله

وقام فيكم حاكماً فعدَلا

وقام فيكم حاكماً فعدَلا

He gave to you, dealing unjustly with his wealth,

He gave you immoral in his money

then stood among you as a judge and dealt justly.

And stood among you governing so he was just

فسلِّموا الإقرارَ بالفضل لمن

فسلِّموا الإقرارَ بالفضل لمن

راهن في السبق ففاتَ المُقَلا

راهن في السبق ففاتَ المُقَلا

Acknowledge superiority, then, to him who

So submit to recognizing the merit to he who

wagered in the race and sped beyond the watching eyes.

Wagered in the race so missed the swifter

واتَّبِعوا لواءَه فإنما ال

واتَّبِعوا لواءَه فإنما ال

مُقبِلُ منكم من أطاع المقبِلا

مُقبِلُ منكم من أطاع المقبِلا

Follow his banner, for the

And follow his banner for only

fortunate among you is he who obeys the fortunate lord.

Those facing towards you who obeyed the facing are good

فخيرُ من قادكُمُ من لو سرى

فخيرُ من قادكُمُ من لو سرى

بنفسه كان الخميسَ الجحفَلا

بنفسه كان الخميسَ الجحفَلا

The best man to lead you is one who, if he marched

For the best who led you is he who if traveled

alone, would be a vast army.

By himself would be the Thursday of collectiveness

العلَم المنصورُ منصوبٌ لكم

العلَم المنصورُ منصوبٌ لكم

فاجتنبوا المنكوسَ المُخْذَّلا

فاجتنبوا المنكوسَ المُخْذَّلا

The victorious banner is raised for you;

The victorious flag is erected for you

shun the overturned, forsaken one.

So avoid the defeated miserable

مَن موصلٌ على النوى ألوكةً

مَن موصلٌ على النوى ألوكةً

يُفصِحُها مؤدّياً ومرسَلا

يُفصِحُها مؤدّياً ومرسَلا

Who will carry a message across the distance,

Who can convey on the intention an eloquence

expressing it clearly as its bearer and envoy,

Clarifying it, communicating and dispatching

يُبْلِغُ عني حَمَلتْ ناجية

يُبْلِغُ عني حَمَلتْ ناجية

ما ضمّ في عِيابه وحملا

ما ضمّ في عِيابه وحملا

conveying my words—a fleet she-camel carrying

To convey from me, the soliloquy carried

what he has stowed in his bags and borne?

What it contained in its folds and carried

إذا الفِجاجُ صعُبتْ تذكَّر ال

إذا الفِجاجُ صعُبتْ تذكَّر ال

فوزَ الذي يُدركُه فاستسهلا

فوزَ الذي يُدركُه فاستسهلا

When the mountain passes grow difficult, he remembers

If the perils become difficult, remember

the success he will attain, and finds them easy.

The success that is attained so consider it easy

يمّمْ أميرَ الأمراء جانباً

يمّمْ أميرَ الأمراء جانباً

بجانب الأهواز تلك الحِلَلا

بجانب الأهواز تلك الحِلَلا

Make for the Commander of Commanders, toward

Aim the prince of princes a side

those encampments in the region of al-Ahwaz.

By the side of Ahvaz, those hillocks

فحَيّ عنهم وجهَه المقبولَ بال

فحَيّ عنهم وجهَه المقبولَ بال

جهد وصافح كفَّه المقبَّلا

جهد وصافح كفَّه المقبَّلا

Greet his welcome face on their behalf with all

Greet him and his acceptable face without

your zeal, and clasp his much-kissed hand.

Effort and shake his hand the kissed

وقل له تحدَّثتْ فشوَّقتْ

وقل له تحدَّثتْ فشوَّقتْ

عنك الرواةُ مطلِقاً ومُرسِلا

عنك الرواةُ مطلِقاً ومُرسِلا

Tell him: the narrators spoke, awakening longing,

And say to him the storytellers made me yearn

of you, freely and without restraint.

For you, detached and dispatching

تحدَّثُوا أنَّ يديك مُزنةٌ

تحدَّثُوا أنَّ يديك مُزنةٌ

تستضحك العامَ القَطوبَ المُمحِلا

تستضحك العامَ القَطوبَ المُمحِلا

They related that your two hands are a rain cloud

They told that your hands are scales

that makes the scowling, barren year smile;

That mock the laden year the fulfilling

وأَنك المرءُ تَقَرُّ عينُه

وأَنك المرءُ تَقَرُّ عينُه

بفقره لسائل تموّلا

بفقره لسائل تموّلا

and that you are the man whose eye finds delight

And that you are the man whose eye

in his own poverty when a petitioner grows rich.

Is content with his poverty when you give

تُعطي حياءً مطرِقاً ملثَّماً

تُعطي حياءً مطرِقاً ملثَّماً

وقد وهبتَ مُسنياً ومُجزِلا

وقد وهبتَ مُسنياً ومُجزِلا

You give shyly, with lowered head and veiled face,

You give shyly, head bowed, face veiled

though you have bestowed splendidly and abundantly.

While you gave freely to the elderly and plenty

ويُسفِر الناسُ على بخلهمُ

ويُسفِر الناسُ على بخلهمُ

لأنهم لا يعرفون الخَجلا

لأنهم لا يعرفون الخَجلا

Others bare their faces despite their stinginess,

And people show their stinginess

because they do not know shame.

Because they do not know shame

وأَن أخلاقَك ماءُ نُطفةٍ

وأَن أخلاقَك ماءُ نُطفةٍ

رقَّت لها الريح صَباً وشَمَلا

رقَّت لها الريح صَباً وشَمَلا

And that your character is water, a pure drop,

And that your morals are spring rain water

for which the winds grow gentle, east and north.

For which the wind blew gently and it covered

فلو سكبتَ خُلْقَك المطرِبَ في ال

فلو سكبتَ خُلْقَك المطرِبَ في ال

كاسات ما غادرتَ إلا ثَمِلا

كاسات ما غادرتَ إلا ثَمِلا

If you poured your exhilarating character into

So if you poured your gentle morals in

cups, you would leave none but the intoxicated.

Glasses, you would leave nothing but full

وقيل إنّ الليثَ لا يحمِي كما

وقيل إنّ الليثَ لا يحمِي كما

تحمي البلادَ غابَه والأشبُلا

تحمي البلادَ غابَه والأشبُلا

It was said that the lion does not guard, as

And it was said that a lion does not protect as

you guard the lands, his thicket and his cubs.

You protect lands, its forest, and cubs

لو حَرَص الموتُ على إيغاله

لو حَرَص الموتُ على إيغاله

يطلبُ مَنْ تمنَعُهُ ما وصَلا

يطلبُ مَنْ تمنَعُهُ ما وصَلا

Even if Death were intent on penetrating your domain,

If death coveted its penetration

seeking someone you protect, it would not reach him.

It would seek who prevents it from reaching

يَزْورُّ عن سَرحك سِرحان الغضا

يَزْورُّ عن سَرحك سِرحان الغضا

فما يشُمُّ التُّربَ إلا وجِلا

فما يشُمُّ التُّربَ إلا وجِلا

The wolf of the ghada trees swerves away from your grazing herds,

It visits away from your enclosure the enclosure of docility

and sniffs the dust only in dread.

So it does not smell the dust except scared

وأنّ مُلْكَ الدّيْلميّ روضةٌ

وأنّ مُلْكَ الدّيْلميّ روضةٌ

لولاك كانت بالسيوف تُخْتَلى

لولاك كانت بالسيوف تُخْتَلى

And that the Daylamite's kingdom is a garden

And that the kingdom of Daylam is a meadow

which, but for you, would be mown by swords.

If not for you, it would be slashed by the swords

أطمعتَه وفارسٌ سريرهُ

أطمعتَه وفارسٌ سريرهُ

أرضَ العراق عَنْوَةً والجبلا

أرضَ العراق عَنْوَةً والجبلا

You made him aspire, with Fars his throne,

You gave him hope while a Persian, his throne

to take the land of Iraq and al-Jabal by force.

Took Iraq by force and the mountain

سمّاك إذ نصرتَه نصيرَه

سمّاك إذ نصرتَه نصيرَه

ويده وسيفُه قد خَذَلا

ويده وسيفُه قد خَذَلا

He named you his champion when you aided him,

You named him, when you supported him, his supporter

after his own hand and sword had failed him.

While his hand and sword had failed

يَهُزّ منك صَعْدةً خَطَّارةً

يَهُزّ منك صَعْدةً خَطَّارةً

على العِدا وينتضيك مُنصُلا

على العِدا وينتضيك مُنصُلا

In you he brandishes a swaying lance

He takes from you a dangerous prelude

against the foes, and unsheathes you as a blade.

Against the enemies and seeks you prepared

محاسنٌ تواترتْ أخبارُها

محاسنٌ تواترتْ أخبارُها

وعدَلَ الناقلُ فيما نقَلا

وعدَلَ الناقلُ فيما نقَلا

Merits whose reports came in succession,

Virtues that are sequentially narrated

the transmitter being just in what he related.

And the narrator was just in what he conveyed

فَطبَّقتْ سائرةً أوصافُها

فَطبَّقتْ سائرةً أوصافُها

في الأرض حتّى ملأَتْ عرضَ الفلا

في الأرض حتّى ملأَتْ عرضَ الفلا

Their descriptions spread and covered

So its qualities circulated successively

the earth, until they filled the breadth of the wilderness.

In the land until it filled the width of the expanse

فهزّني نحوَك قلبٌ لم يزلْ

فهزّني نحوَك قلبٌ لم يزلْ

بالأكرمين كَلِفاً موَكَّلا

بالأكرمين كَلِفاً موَكَّلا

So a heart stirred me toward you, one ever

So a heart that did not stop being

enamored of the noblest and devoted to them.

Assigned to the generous moved me toward you

تيمَّه أهلُ العُلا لكنّهم

تيمَّه أهلُ العُلا لكنّهم

حاشاك قد ماتوا معاً وقد سلا

حاشاك قد ماتوا معاً وقد سلا

The men of eminence enslaved it, but they—

Yearning for the people of sublimity but they

except for you—have all died, and it has ceased to pine.

excluding you, perished together and flowed away

وكانت الفَوزةُ في زيارةٍ

وكانت الفَوزةُ في زيارةٍ

تشفِي الغليلَ وتسُدُّ الخللا

تشفِي الغليلَ وتسُدُّ الخللا

True success would lie in a visit

And it would be a prize to visit

that quenches burning thirst and fills the gaps.

That alleviates the anguish and mends the rift

فمن بها لو سمح الدهرُ بها

فمن بها لو سمح الدهرُ بها

ودِينُه في مثلها أن يبخلا

ودِينُه في مثلها أن يبخلا

Then grant that visit, if fate would allow it,

So for one with it, if fate allowed with it

though its habit in such things is to be stingy.

And his religion in its like to be stingy

أرى مَطاراً وجناحي ناقصٌ

أرى مَطاراً وجناحي ناقصٌ

فكيف لي نحوَكُمُ أن أصِلا

فكيف لي نحوَكُمُ أن أصِلا

I see a place to fly, but my wing is impaired;

I see an airport but my wings are deficient

how, then, can I reach you?

So how can I reach you

وما الفؤادُ خانني لكنّها

وما الفؤادُ خانني لكنّها

حوادثٌ عاقت وجسمٌ نَكَلا

حوادثٌ عاقت وجسمٌ نَكَلا

My heart has not betrayed me, but

And the heart did not betray me but they are

events have hindered me, and my body has shrunk back.

Incidents that prevented and a body that failed

فقُدتُها نواهضاً خفائفاً

فقُدتُها نواهضاً خفائفاً

تطوِي الطريقَ مُحزِناً ومُسهِلا

تطوِي الطريقَ مُحزِناً ومُسهِلا

So I led them forth, rising and fleet,

I lost it as quick, agile steeds

folding up the road over rough ground and smooth,

That fold the road sorrowful and smooth

ناطقةً في الصُّحْف عن آياتها

ناطقةً في الصُّحْف عن آياتها

على البعاد صامتاتٍ قُوَّلا

على البعاد صامتاتٍ قُوَّلا

speaking on the pages of their wondrous signs,

Speaking in the pages about its signs

across the distance, silent yet eloquent:

Silent to the distant, spoken

غرائباً أبعثُ منها مُعجِزاً

غرائباً أبعثُ منها مُعجِزاً

كأنني بُعثتُ فيها مُرسَلا

كأنني بُعثتُ فيها مُرسَلا

marvels from which I send forth a miracle,

Wondrous things I send from it miraculous

as though I had been sent among them as a messenger,

As if I were sent in it as a messenger

مطبِّقاتٍ مَفصِلاً فمَفصِلا

مطبِّقاتٍ مَفصِلاً فمَفصِلا

وناطقات فَيصلاً ففيصلا

وناطقات فَيصلاً ففيصلا

cleaving cleanly, joint after joint,

Precisely articulated and precisely articulated

and voicing decisive judgment after judgment.

And speaking clauses and clauses

من كلّ بيتٍ لو دَعَا بسحره

من كلّ بيتٍ لو دَعَا بسحره

أمَّ النجوم طامنتْ أن تنزِلا

أمَّ النجوم طامنتْ أن تنزِلا

Each verse, if through its magic it summoned

From every abode that if called by its magic

the mother of the stars, would make her bow to descend.

The mother of the stars would believe to descend

إنْ دار دار فَلَكاً أو حلَّ حل

إنْ دار دار فَلَكاً أو حلَّ حل

لَ جبلا أو سار سار مثلا

لَ جبلا أو سار سار مثلا

If it turns, it turns as a celestial sphere; if it settles, it settles

If it revolved a galaxy or landed a landmark

as a mountain; if it travels, it travels as a proverb.

Or traveled, traveled an example

ودَّ الملوكُ نازحاً ودانياً

ودَّ الملوكُ نازحاً ودانياً

فِقَرَهُ جدَّ بها أو هزلا

فِقَرَهُ جدَّ بها أو هزلا

Kings love it, far away and near,

The kings loved it, disputing and courting

its passages, whether earnest or playful.

Its poverty made it serious or facetious

كأنني حكّمتُ في قلوبهم

كأنني حكّمتُ في قلوبهم

من لفظه الحلوِ العيونَ النُّجُلا

من لفظه الحلوِ العيونَ النُّجُلا

As though I set over their hearts,

As if I arbitrated in their hearts

through its sweet words, wide, lovely eyes.

From its sweet words the blinking eyes

تَعضِلُه الغَيرةُ من خُطَّابِه

تَعضِلُه الغَيرةُ من خُطَّابِه

إذا القريضُ طلبَ التبعُّلا

إذا القريضُ طلبَ التبعُّلا

Jealousy keeps it from its suitors

Jealousy makes it difficult with its address

when poetry seeks a husband.

When the suitor seeks fickleness

كم سامه من مرغب أو مرهب

كم سامه من مرغب أو مرهب

فلم يُجِبْ حبّاً ولا تجمُّلا

فلم يُجِبْ حبّاً ولا تجمُّلا

How many sought it with inducements or threats,

How much it named him from a persuader or deterrent

but it answered neither from love nor polite compliance.

Yet he did not respond with love or pretense

لكنني أراك من خُطَّابِه

لكنني أراك من خُطَّابِه

أكرمَ مُلكاً وأقلَّ ملَلا

أكرمَ مُلكاً وأقلَّ ملَلا

Yet among its suitors I see you as

But I see you from its address

noblest in kingship and least prone to boredom.

The most generous king and the least bored

لذاك أمكنْتُكَ من عِنانه ال

لذاك أمكنْتُكَ من عِنانه ال

صعبِ وأرخصتُ عليك ما غلا

صعبِ وأرخصتُ عليك ما غلا

Therefore I gave you control of its

For that I enabled you over its

unyielding reins, and made cheap for you what was dear.

Unruly rein and made easy for you what is expensive

أهديتُه من قبلِ أن تخطُبَه

أهديتُه من قبلِ أن تخطُبَه

تبرُّعاً بالوصل أو تنفُّلا

تبرُّعاً بالوصل أو تنفُّلا

I presented it before you sought its hand,

I gifted it before you sought it

as a free gift of union, or an offering beyond duty.

Volunteering the connection or being chosen

فاشكر لمسعاي الذي سعيتُه

فاشكر لمسعاي الذي سعيتُه

متى شكرتَ شاعراً مطفِّلا

متى شكرتَ شاعراً مطفِّلا

Then thank me for the endeavor I undertook,

So thank my efforts which I made effort for

if ever you have thanked an unbidden poet.

When you thank a meddling poet

محضتُك النصحَ وما انتصحتَني

محضتُك النصحَ وما انتصحتَني

قولاً فكايلْني الجزاءَ عملا

قولاً فكايلْني الجزاءَ عملا

I offered you sincere counsel, though you did not seek it,

I advised you sincerely and you did not advise me

in words; repay me in equal measure through deeds.

So suffice me its reward with deed

ومن شهودِ طرَبي إليكُمُ

ومن شهودِ طرَبي إليكُمُ

أني تركتُ للمديح الغزَلا

أني تركتُ للمديح الغزَلا

Among the proofs of my eagerness for you

And from witnesses of my estrangement to you

is that I left love verse for panegyric.

Is that I left composing love poetry