مَن مُوصلٌ بالسؤال والقَسَمِ

مَن مُوصلٌ بالسؤال والقَسَمِ

إليّ عِلماً عن دارة العَلمِ

إليّ عِلماً عن دارة العَلمِ

Who will bring, through asking and oaths,

Who will inform me with questions and oaths

knowledge to me of Darat al-Alam?

Of the abode of knowledge and its aims

أُحدوثة تنسَخ الغليلَ فيل

أُحدوثة تنسَخ الغليلَ فيل

تام من القلب غيرُ ملتئمِ

تام من القلب غيرُ ملتئمِ

A tale that dispels the burning thirst and heals

A fresh spring that washes away sorrows

what remains unhealed within the heart.

Completely from the heart, though unhealed

هيهات نجدٌ والمخبرون به

هيهات نجدٌ والمخبرون به

قلَّ عَناءُ السؤَال من أممِ

قلَّ عَناءُ السؤَال من أممِ

Far away are Najd and those who bring news of it;

Alas! Najd and those who speak of it

little is the trouble of asking when one is near.

Few asked, though toil of asking burdens nations

ليس سوى نفحِة الصَّبا لك أو

ليس سوى نفحِة الصَّبا لك أو

لمحةِ برقٍ بالغور مبتسمِ

لمحةِ برقٍ بالغور مبتسمِ

For you there is only a breath of the east wind, or

Naught remains but a breath of breeze for you

a glimpse of lightning smiling in the Ghawr,

Or a smiling flash of lightning in the wilderness

وخادعاتٍ وهْناً يصانعك ال

وخادعاتٍ وهْناً يصانعك ال

ليلُ بها من كواذب الحُلُمِ

ليلُ بها من كواذب الحُلُمِ

and deceptive visions after nightfall, with which

And deceptions, weakness seducing you

the night humors you—lying dreams.

With lies of dreams in the night

تطرُقُ لقطَ القَطاةِ خائفةً

تطرُقُ لقطَ القَطاةِ خائفةً

مكايدَ الراصدين في الطُّعُمِ

مكايدَ الراصدين في الطُّعُمِ

They come by night like a pecking sandgrouse, afraid of

Furtively visiting remnants of residue

the watchers' snares in the bait.

Fearing the guile of lurkers in bait

نمتُ لها نومةَ المُريب وأص

نمتُ لها نومةَ المُريب وأص

حابي هجودٌ من جانبَيْ إِضمِ

حابي هجودٌ من جانبَيْ إِضمِ

For such visions I slept an uneasy sleep, while my

I slept the sleep of the wary, my companions

companions slumbered along both sides of Idam.

Despairing ones at my flanks, huddled

والليلُ تسري نجومُه الشهبُ في

والليلُ تسري نجومُه الشهبُ في

جحافلٍ من خيوله الدّهُمِ

جحافلٍ من خيوله الدّهُمِ

The night's bright stars coursed through

The night marched on, its shooting stars in

battalions of its pitch-black horses.

Regiments of its swift dark horses

فزارنا قُرِّبَتْ زيارته

فزارنا قُرِّبَتْ زيارته

من آنسٍ بالظلام محتشِمِ

من آنسٍ بالظلام محتشِمِ

Then he visited us—may that visit be brought near—

So they visited, their visit brought near

at home in darkness, yet bashful.

By one familiar with the darkness, dignified

يعرف رحلي من الركاب برجْ

يعرف رحلي من الركاب برجْ

عات التشكِّي وأنّةِ السَّقمِ

عات التشكِّي وأنّةِ السَّقمِ

He recognized my saddle among the mounts by

Who knew my journey from the riders, the refund

repeated complaints and the groan of sickness.

Of my misgivings, and the moaning of my illness

ثم دنا جاذباً عِطافِيَ وال

ثم دنا جاذباً عِطافِيَ وال

خوفُ يلوّي منه فقال قمِ

خوفُ يلوّي منه فقال قمِ

Then he drew near, pulling at my cloak, while

Then he drew near, pulling my sleeves, and

fear made him shrink back; he said, 'Rise!'

Fear twisting away from him, he said arise

قم لي فلولاك لم أجُبْ خطراً

قم لي فلولاك لم أجُبْ خطراً

قلت ولولا سراكَ لم أنمِ

قلت ولولا سراكَ لم أنمِ

'Rise for me; but for you I would not have braved danger.'

Arise for me, else I would not risk danger

I said, 'But for your night journey, I would not have slept.'

I said, and without your secret I'd not sleep

أُكرومةٌ للدجى وهبت ذنو

أُكرومةٌ للدجى وهبت ذنو

ب الصبح فيها لشافع الظُّلمِ

ب الصبح فيها لشافع الظُّلمِ

A kindness to night: I forgave the sins

A respected one for the darkness, who gifted the

of dawn, in it, at the plea of darkness's intercessor.

Morning winds with it, intercessor for the obscured

وعارضٍ تصبح البلادُ به

وعارضٍ تصبح البلادُ به

في نعمةٍ من مواهب الديَمِ

في نعمةٍ من مواهب الديَمِ

And a rain cloud, through which the lands awaken

An adversary, with whom the lands in bounty

in bounty bestowed by steady rains.

Become, with gifts of the priceless blood

عدَّلَ حتى تلاحق الحَزنُ بال

عدَّلَ حتى تلاحق الحَزنُ بال

سهل وسَوّى الجِفارَ بالأُطُمِ

سهل وسَوّى الجِفارَ بالأُطُمِ

It leveled all, until the rugged ground caught up with

He reformed until sorrow followed the plains

the plain, and made the hollows level with the forts.

And leveled the uneven with the flat

راخَى له المِرزمانِ وانشالت ال

راخَى له المِرزمانِ وانشالت ال

عقربُ عن كلِّ هاجم عَرِمِ

عقربُ عن كلِّ هاجم عَرِمِ

The two Mirzam stars yielded to it, and the

The reins are slackened and the hour hand stops

Scorpion lifted away from every fierce, onrushing cloud.

From every attacker, every crawling worm

يوغِلُ في الأرض ماؤه مُولِداً

يوغِلُ في الأرض ماؤه مُولِداً

منها بطونَ الحوائِل العُقُمِ

منها بطونَ الحوائِل العُقُمِ

Its water sinks deep into the earth, making fertile

Delving into the earth, his water births

her barren, sterile wombs.

From it abdomens of the infertile dunes

ترى القراراتِ منه رافلةً

ترى القراراتِ منه رافلةً

في أزُرٍ من عمائم الأكَمِ

في أزُرٍ من عمائم الأكَمِ

You see the hollows, thanks to it, sweeping along

You see settlements from him seeping

in waistcloths made of the hills' turbans.

In robes of turbans of the incomplete

تقولُ عنه الرياضُ مفصِحةً

تقولُ عنه الرياضُ مفصِحةً

أحسنَ ما قال شاكرُ النِّعمِ

أحسنَ ما قال شاكرُ النِّعمِ

The meadows speak of it, eloquently uttering

The meadows speak of him plainly

the finest words spoken by one thankful for blessings.

Best said, as the thankful say of blessings

كأنما الله قبلَه قطّ ما

كأنما الله قبلَه قطّ ما

قلّد أرضاً صنيعةً لسُمِي

قلّد أرضاً صنيعةً لسُمِي

As though God, before it, had never

As if God had never created an earth

adorned any land with a favor bestowed by rain.

More wondrous in making than his artistry

تعبث آثارُه بمُشعرةِ ال

تعبث آثارُه بمُشعرةِ ال

أعضادِ قرعَ الجنُوبِ واللِّممِ

أعضادِ قرعَ الجنُوبِ واللِّممِ

Its traces tease beasts shaggy of

Its ruins toy with the terrain of the ribs

foreleg, but bare of flank and forelock.

Smitten by the south wind and the hot breaths

قد أكلَ الجدبُ أطيبيها فلم

قد أكلَ الجدبُ أطيبيها فلم

يَبقَ سوى رسمها لمرتسمِ

يَبقَ سوى رسمها لمرتسمِ

Drought had consumed their two choicest parts, leaving

Truly famine has taken its sweetest parts

only their outline for one who would trace it.

Naught remains but its outlines for the painter

بعيدة العهدِ بالعشيب من ال

بعيدة العهدِ بالعشيب من ال

أرض ورقراقِ مائها الشَّبمِ

أرض ورقراقِ مائها الشَّبمِ

Long unacquainted with the lush grass of the

Distant from the grass of the land, and the plants

earth, and the shimmer of its cold water,

Of its fresh water sprouting slender leaves

تنهضُ أشباحُها النواحلُ في

تنهضُ أشباحُها النواحلُ في

حاجاتنا بالجسائم العُظُمِ

حاجاتنا بالجسائم العُظُمِ

their emaciated forms rise to meet

Its desolate ghosts rise up for our needs

our needs, undertaking great and mighty tasks.

In grand entreaties and greatest hopes

تطلب من ذي الرياستين قَرَا ال

تطلب من ذي الرياستين قَرَا ال

ركبِ ونارَ القِرَى على العلَمِ

ركبِ ونارَ القِرَى على العلَمِ

They seek from Dhu al-Riyasatayn hospitality for

Seeking from the Lord of the Two Sanctuaries rest

the caravan, and the welcome-fire upon the height;

For the riders, and the warmth of villages atop the banners

وعزّةَ الجارِ في ربيعةَ وال

وعزّةَ الجارِ في ربيعةَ وال

دارِ وأمنَ الحمام في الحرَمِ

دارِ وأمنَ الحمام في الحرَمِ

and the neighbor's inviolability among Rabi'ah and in the

And honor of the neighbor in Rabi'a and the house

dwelling, and the pigeons' safety in the Sanctuary;

Safety of the doves in sanctity of the inviolable

والقائلِ الفاعلِ الذي سِيط جُو

والقائلِ الفاعلِ الذي سِيط جُو

دُ العُرْبِ منه بطيبة العَجَمِ

دُ العُرْبِ منه بطيبة العَجَمِ

and from the man of word and deed in whom

And the speaker, doer, who prepared generosity

Arab generosity is blended with non-Arab goodness.

From the Arabs through the bouquet of non-Arabs

تزجرها باسمه الحُداة فتن

تزجرها باسمه الحُداة فتن

قاد بغير الخِشاشِ والخُطُمِ

قاد بغير الخِشاشِ والخُطُمِ

The camel-drivers urge them with his name, and they

The transgressors rebuked it with his name, so they

obey without nose-pegs or halters.

Repented without stubbornness or indignance

فخَلِّ عنها لسّاً ومَضمضَةً

فخَلِّ عنها لسّاً ومَضمضَةً

ثم استقِمْ في السُّرى بها ورُمِ

ثم استقِمْ في السُّرى بها ورُمِ

So leave their nibbling and mouth-rinsing behind;

So leave them with healing drinks and rinsing

then go straight on with them by night, and seek your goal.

Then walk straight amongst them thereby and throw

فاليومَ ترعَى وادي الغضا وغداً

فاليومَ ترعَى وادي الغضا وغداً

ترعَى بنعماه واديَ الكرمِ

ترعَى بنعماه واديَ الكرمِ

Today they graze in Wadi al-Ghada, and tomorrow

For today Ghada valley is grazed, and tomorrow

through his bounty they will graze in the valley of generosity.

Grazed through his gifts, the valley of generosity

يبلُغنَ لا ضَيِّقَ الخِناق من ال

يبلُغنَ لا ضَيِّقَ الخِناق من ال

عَيِّ ولا مسنداً من السأمِ

عَيِّ ولا مسنداً من السأمِ

They will reach no man whose throat is constricted by

They will not suffer narrowed straits of need

inarticulacy, nor one reclining from weariness;

Nor ever a pillar of boredom

ولا قصير الإزار إن جذبَ ال

ولا قصير الإزار إن جذبَ ال

جدبُ بأذيال خائِض القُحَمِ

جدبُ بأذيال خائِض القُحَمِ

nor one with a scant robe, when

Not the short of garment, if pulled by

drought tugs the hems of one who wades through hardships.

The famine, hems soaked in the mud pools

أملس لا تعلَقُ العيوبُ به

أملس لا تعلَقُ العيوبُ به

معطَّر العِرض أبيض الشِّيَمِ

معطَّر العِرض أبيض الشِّيَمِ

Smooth, with no fault that can cling to him,

Smooth, no flaws clinging to him

perfumed in honor, white in character.

Perfumes honor, purest of repute

غضبان مما غار الأبيُّ له

غضبان مما غار الأبيُّ له

وفي الرضا شُهدةٌ لملتقمِ

وفي الرضا شُهدةٌ لملتقمِ

Wrathful over what the proud man guards with jealousy,

Wrathful over the protective father's jealousy of him

but when pleased, a honeycomb for whoever takes a mouthful.

In contentment the sweetest of sips

إما ترى ما لديه قسراً فخذ

إما ترى ما لديه قسراً فخذ

عنه وإما سألت فاحتكمِ

عنه وإما سألت فاحتكمِ

If you see what he has, take it by force

Either you see what he has perforce, so take

from him; if you ask instead, dictate your terms.

From him, or you asked, so commit to him

عسفاً ولطفاً ويجمع الماء وال

عسفاً ولطفاً ويجمع الماء وال

نار غرار المهنّد الخَذِمِ

نار غرار المهنّد الخَذِمِ

Harshness and kindness: water and

Coercion and kindness, gathering water and

fire are united by the edge of the keen Indian sword.

Fire, cave of the polished old sword

جاد فقال اللّوام حسبُك فاز

جاد فقال اللّوام حسبُك فاز

داد فقالوا ياليت لم نَلُمِ

داد فقالوا ياليت لم نَلُمِ

He gave; his reproachers said, 'Enough!' Yet he gave

He gave generously, so the blamers said enough, and he

still more, and they said, 'Would that we had not reproached him!'

Increased, so they said would that we did not blame

وذوّقوه العقبَى فقال لها

وذوّقوه العقبَى فقال لها

عُدّةُ صبري وجامعُ الرِّممِ

عُدّةُ صبري وجامعُ الرِّممِ

They made him taste the consequences; he said, 'Against them,

And they tasted the fruit, so he said to it

I have my store of patience and the Gatherer of bones.'

My patience and He who collects rubble

أعجبُ من عاملِ الرزق عدوٌّ

أعجبُ من عاملِ الرزق عدوٌّ

قاسمُ الرزق غيرُ متَّهمِ

قاسمُ الرزق غيرُ متَّهمِ

More astonishing than the steward of bounty is an enemy:

Stranger than the granter of provision, an enemy

the dispenser of bounty is beyond suspicion.

Dividing provision, above suspicion

لله والمجدِ والحفيظة وال

لله والمجدِ والحفيظة وال

عزائم العالياتِ والهممِ

عزائم العالياتِ والهممِ

To God, to glory, to protective zeal, and to

For God, glory, protection, determination

lofty resolves and aspirations belongs

Sublime wishes, and greatest resolves

ما ضُمِّنَتْ من أبي المعالي حُبَى ال

ما ضُمِّنَتْ من أبي المعالي حُبَى ال

دستِ وأدَّتْ جوامعُ الكَلمِ

دستِ وأدَّتْ جوامعُ الكَلمِ

all of Abu al-Ma'ali held in the embraces of the

Whatever was endowed by my father, the most high gifts

dais, and conveyed by comprehensive utterances.

That perfected the treasures of speech

وربّ عوصاءَ تعصِب الفمَ بال

وربّ عوصاءَ تعصِب الفمَ بال

ريق وتهفو بالناطقِ الخصِمِ

ريق وتهفو بالناطقِ الخصِمِ

And many a knotty utterance binds the mouth with

Though an intractable foe obstructs the mouth with spittle

saliva, and trips the contentious speaker.

And babble against the speaking opponent

نافرةِ الجانبين مبهمة ال

نافرةِ الجانبين مبهمة ال

وجهِ على جامع ومنتظمِ

وجهِ على جامع ومنتظمِ

Refractory on either side, obscure of

Repelling both flanks, vague of face

aspect to compiler and versifier alike,

Over the inclusive and well-ordered

عزَّت على القائلين وهي له

عزَّت على القائلين وهي له

تَذِلُّ بين اللسان والقلمِ

تَذِلُّ بين اللسان والقلمِ

it defies those who speak, while to him

Too hard for speakers, though it submits to him

it submits, between tongue and pen.

Between tongue and pen

تفعل خرساءَ في صحائفها

تفعل خرساءَ في صحائفها

فعلَ زئير الآسادِ في الأجَمِ

فعلَ زئير الآسادِ في الأجَمِ

Though mute upon its pages, it performs

It acts as the roar of lions in his pages

the work of lions' roaring in the thickets.

As if he writes it in their savageness, in blood

كأنه من ردَى النفوس بها

كأنه من ردَى النفوس بها

يكتبها في طروسها بدمِ

يكتبها في طروسها بدمِ

As though, because of the souls it slays,

Virtues of its heritage and earnings

he writes it on its sheets in blood.

His by true chronology and antiquity

فضائل إرثها ومكسبها

فضائل إرثها ومكسبها

له بحق الحِدْثانِ والقِدمِ

له بحق الحِدْثانِ والقِدمِ

Virtues—both those inherited and those acquired—

Oh son of the defenders of their rights

are rightfully his, both recent and ancient.

In the dawn and the feeders in darkness

ياابن المحامين عن حقائقهم

ياابن المحامين عن حقائقهم

في الصبح والمطعمين في العَتَمِ

في الصبح والمطعمين في العَتَمِ

O son of those who defend their sacred trusts

And the strikers of enemies with their edges

at dawn, and feed others in the dark of night;

And those reaching farthest with their ancestors

والضاربين العدا بحدّهِمُ

والضاربين العدا بحدّهِمُ

والبالغين المدى بجِدّهِمِ

والبالغين المدى بجِدّهِمِ

who strike enemies with their keen blades,

Your king walked the ages in ascent

and reach the farthest goal through earnest striving.

And descent, towering over the pyramid

مشى على الدهر ملكُكم يفعاً

مشى على الدهر ملكُكم يفعاً

وعانِساً مشرِفاً على الهرَمِ

وعانِساً مشرِفاً على الهرَمِ

Your dominion walked across time in its youth

You were pleased with the best of nights before

and in maturity, approaching old age.

And enjoyed the tales of nations

ورضتُمُ أظهُرَ الليالي المقا

ورضتُمُ أظهُرَ الليالي المقا

ديمِ وطُلتُم سوالفَ الأُمَمِ

ديمِ وطُلتُم سوالفَ الأُمَمِ

You tamed the backs of the audacious

Your efforts made people righteous

nights, and outstripped the nations of old.

And your kindness to them made them corrupt

قد أصلح الناسَ سعيُكم لهمُ

قد أصلح الناسَ سعيُكم لهمُ

وأفسد الناسَ لطفُكم بهِمِ

وأفسد الناسَ لطفُكم بهِمِ

Your efforts on people's behalf set them right,

The hands of kings tossed you, but no

and your kindness toward them spoiled them.

Disgrace bruised your temples, no bond muzzled

وقلَّبتْكم أيدي الملوك فلم

وقلَّبتْكم أيدي الملوك فلم

يغمِزْ قناكم عارٌ ولم يَصِمِ

يغمِزْ قناكم عارٌ ولم يَصِمِ

Kings' hands have turned you over, yet

The weak cried for you in war, so you were

no disgrace has bent your spears or left a stain.

Allies of their king

واستصرخوكم مستضعفين على

واستصرخوكم مستضعفين على

حربٍ فكنتم أنصارَ ملكهمِ

حربٍ فكنتم أنصارَ ملكهمِ

They cried for your help when hard-pressed in

They took your opinion, so it guided them

war; you became defenders of their dominion.

Advice confused, correctness blind

واستقدحوا رأيَكم فأرشدَهم

واستقدحوا رأيَكم فأرشدَهم

والنصحُ حيرانُ والصوابُ عمِي

والنصحُ حيرانُ والصوابُ عمِي

They struck sparks from your judgment, and it guided them,

So tumult does not shake you, nor

while counsel was bewildered and right judgment blind.

Does change of blessings enter you

فلا تزعزعْكم الخطوب ولا

فلا تزعزعْكم الخطوب ولا

تدخُلْ عليكم صوارفُ النِّعمِ

تدخُلْ عليكم صوارفُ النِّعمِ

May calamities never shake you, nor

The bracelets and crowns do not slip

the forces that strip away blessings come upon you.

Above your palms and the pyramid summits

ولا تزلْ منكم الأساورُ وال

ولا تزلْ منكم الأساورُ وال

تيجانُ فوق الأكفِّ والقِممِ

تيجانُ فوق الأكفِّ والقِممِ

May you never lose the bracelets and

I made you my kin, so never did

crowns upon your hands and heads.

Disappointment rap its knuckles from regret

شريتكم بالورى فما قرَع ال

شريتكم بالورى فما قرَع ال

غبْنُ بظُفري سنِّي من الندمِ

غبْنُ بظُفري سنِّي من الندمِ

I exchanged all mankind for you; no

I became through your judgement, each lad

bad bargain made me tap my tooth with my nail in regret.

Among you, dutiful in loyalty

وصرتُ منكم بحكمِ كلِّ فتىً

وصرتُ منكم بحكمِ كلِّ فتىً

منكم لحقّ الوفاء ملتزمِ

منكم لحقّ الوفاء ملتزمِ

I became one of you, in the judgment of every noble man

I bloodied heads of enemies with your glory

among you bound to the duty of loyalty.

Their skulls bowed before my feet

دستُ رؤوسَ العدا بمجدكُمُ

دستُ رؤوسَ العدا بمجدكُمُ

وهان هاماتُهم على قدمي

وهان هاماتُهم على قدمي

With your glory I trod upon the enemies' heads,

You wrapped me in your cloak, so the veins

and their skulls became nothing beneath my foot.

Of Abd al-Rahim pulsed in my womb

لففتموني بعِيصكم فسرَت

لففتموني بعِيصكم فسرَت

عروقُ عبد الرحيم في رحمي

عروقُ عبد الرحيم في رحمي

You enfolded me in your lineage's thicket, so

But distractions that bare, turning

Abd al-Rahim's roots spread through my kinship.

From my right, excluding a relative from duties

لكن هَناتٌ تعرو فتلفِتُ عن

لكن هَناتٌ تعرو فتلفِتُ عن

حقّي وتُقصي القريبَ من ذممي

حقّي وتُقصي القريبَ من ذممي

But lapses arise, turning you away from

And preoccupations, events, distracted

my due, and pushing away my closest bonds.

Your faces from my long-held rights

وشاغلاتٌ حوادثٌ صَرفتْ

وشاغلاتٌ حوادثٌ صَرفتْ

وجوهَكم عن حقوقِيَ القُدُمِ

وجوهَكم عن حقوقِيَ القُدُمِ

And distracting events have turned

I met you in intimacy, then estrangement

your faces away from my long-established rights.

Returned me in garments of dignity

ألقاكُمُ آنساً فيرجعُ بي

ألقاكُمُ آنساً فيرجعُ بي

إعراضُكم في ثيابِ محتشمِ

إعراضُكم في ثيابِ محتشمِ

I meet you at ease, but am sent back

Weariness, and the tombs are absent, and

by your aversion, clothed in bashfulness.

Seclusion without stumbling or crime

ملالةٌ والمزار غِبٌّ وإق

ملالةٌ والمزار غِبٌّ وإق

صاءٌ بلا زَلَّةٍ ولا جُرُمِ

صاءٌ بلا زَلَّةٍ ولا جُرُمِ

Boredom, though the visits are infrequent, and

And disdain, had I drank it in the vessel of water

exclusion without a slip or a crime;

My arteries would not heal from its chill

وجفوةٌ لو شربتُها في إنا

وجفوةٌ لو شربتُها في إنا

ء الماءِ صَديانَ ما شَفى قَرَمي

ء الماءِ صَديانَ ما شَفى قَرَمي

and coldness: were I to drink it from a

It was not softened by my deception in words

water-vessel while parched, it would not quench my craving.

Or actions, though magic is in my hands and mouth

لم تَرقِها خُدعتي بقولي ولا

لم تَرقِها خُدعتي بقولي ولا

فعليَ والسحرُ في يدي وفمي

فعليَ والسحرُ في يدي وفمي

My artifice could not charm it, by my words or

My sincere hopes in healing my state in you

deeds, though magic is in my hand and mouth.

Mocked the sickness, and glory is amazed by you

تشمتُ آماليَ الصحائح في

تشمتُ آماليَ الصحائح في

إشفاءِ حالي فيكم على السَّقَمِ

إشفاءِ حالي فيكم على السَّقَمِ

It exposes my sound hopes to gloating,

In wealth of power, and my poverty

as my state with you verges upon sickness.

What do I say, the seas foamed in your hands

ويعجَب المجدُ من وجودكمُ

ويعجَب المجدُ من وجودكمُ

على الغنى قدرةً ومن عَدَمي

على الغنى قدرةً ومن عَدَمي

And glory marvels at your possessing

The temperaments of time surely shifted

the power to enrich, and at my destitution.

But my blame is on fortunes, and my doubt

وما أقول البحارُ غاضت بأي

وما أقول البحارُ غاضت بأي

ديكم وحالت طبائعُ الدِّيَمِ

ديكم وحالت طبائعُ الدِّيَمِ

I do not say the seas have ebbed in your

To you the crooked dealing of fate

hands, or that the nature of the steady rains has changed.

That I am in your prime

لكن عتابي على الحظوظ وشك

لكن عتابي على الحظوظ وشك

واي إليكم تَحيُّفُ القِسَمِ

واي إليكم تَحيُّفُ القِسَمِ

But I reproach fortune, and my complaint

Yet it is my time, in a compressed state

to you is the unjust division of shares;

I thought if days served your prosperity

وأنني في زمان عزّكُمُ

وأنني في زمان عزّكُمُ

وهو زماني بحالِ مهتضَمِ

وهو زماني بحالِ مهتضَمِ

and that, in the age of your might,

It would be of my service

which is also mine, I live as one wronged.

That your fires if rising

كنت أظنّ الأيامَ إن خَدمتْ

كنت أظنّ الأيامَ إن خَدمتْ

إقبالكم أن يكون من خدمي

إقبالكم أن يكون من خدمي

I thought the days, if they served

I'd be the first catching in my embers

your good fortune, would become my servants too;

That the world vanish while you

وأن نيرانكم إذا ارتفعت

وأن نيرانكم إذا ارتفعت

أوَّل ما يعتلقن في فَحَمي

أوَّل ما يعتلقن في فَحَمي

and that, when your fires rose high,

Kept your promise to me, neither ending nor collapsing

the first coals they caught would be mine;

Let not that hope fade, nor

وأن تزولَ الدنيا وأنت على

وأن تزولَ الدنيا وأنت على

عهدك لي لم تَزُل ولم تَرِمِ

عهدك لي لم تَزُل ولم تَرِمِ

and that the world would pass away while you, upon

Be breached the privacies of those sanctums

your pledge to me, had neither shifted nor moved.

I have debts deferred with you, they

فلا يخبْ ذلك الرجاء ولا

فلا يخبْ ذلك الرجاء ولا

تُهتَكْ مصوناتُ تلكم الحُرَمِ

تُهتَكْ مصوناتُ تلكم الحُرَمِ

Then let that hope not fail, nor

Ate my flesh and drank my blood

the guarded sanctities of those bonds be violated.

So repay, for ability came, and lighten

ولي ديونٌ أُجِّلن عندك قد

ولي ديونٌ أُجِّلن عندك قد

أكَلن لحمي وقد شرِبن دمي

أكَلن لحمي وقد شرِبن دمي

I have debts deferred with you, which have

Your back, debts are burdens

eaten my flesh and drunk my blood.

And seek with it the epitome of beauty

فاقض فقد أمكنَتْ وخفِّفْ بها

فاقض فقد أمكنَتْ وخفِّفْ بها

ظهرَك إن الديون في الذّممِ

ظهرَك إن الديون في الذّممِ

So pay them, now that it is possible, and thereby lighten

As is custom, not monetary epitome

your back, for debts rest on one's pledged honor.

And wear of celebrations an ample garment

واقصِد بها غايةَ الجمال على ال

واقصِد بها غايةَ الجمال على ال

عادة فيها لا غايةَ القِيَمِ

عادة فيها لا غايةَ القِيَمِ

And aim in them at the utmost grace, according to your

In glory, its train upon the feet

custom in such things, not the highest monetary value.

Knit by fortune, however long and wide

والبس من المهرجان ضافيةً

والبس من المهرجان ضافيةً

في العزّ أذيالُها على القَدَمِ

في العزّ أذيالُها على القَدَمِ

And don for Mihrjan a flowing robe

In the lion pelts and fish remains

of glory, its hems falling to your feet.

Tied with eternity, its embroidery

ينسُجُها السعدُ ما أطال وما

ينسُجُها السعدُ ما أطال وما

أعرض في الأَسْدِياتِ واللُّحَمِ

أعرض في الأَسْدِياتِ واللُّحَمِ

Good fortune weaves it through all its length and

So the world cannot say to it “unravel”

breadth, in warp and weft.

And meet the fast with whitened cheeks, and flowing hair

معقودةً بالخلود طرّتُها

معقودةً بالخلود طرّتُها

فما تقول الدنيا لها انفصِمي

فما تقول الدنيا لها انفصِمي

Its border is knotted to eternity,

Celebrate the supported, and fast

so the world never tells it, 'Break apart.'

وقابلِ الصومَ أبلجَ الوجه جذ

وقابلِ الصومَ أبلجَ الوجه جذ

لانَ وعيِّدْ مؤيَّداً وصُمِ

لانَ وعيِّدْ مؤيَّداً وصُمِ

And meet the fast bright-faced and

joyful; celebrate the feast, upheld, and fast.