وَجِّه خُيولَ العَزمِ علّكَ تسعدُ

وَجِّه خُيولَ العَزمِ علّكَ تسعدُ

وسُقِ المطايا حيث يافا المقصدُ

وسُقِ المطايا حيث يافا المقصدُ

Direct the steeds of resolve, that you may prosper.

Guide the steeds of resolve that you may be prosperous,

And drive the mounts where Jaffa is the destination.

And march the horses wherever the goal lies,

وَاِركَب على طِرفٍ أغرَّ مضمَّرٍ

وَاِركَب على طِرفٍ أغرَّ مضمَّرٍ

مِثلَ الرّياحِ وَإنّه لا يجهَدُ

مِثلَ الرّياحِ وَإنّه لا يجهَدُ

And ride a white-blazed, lean-trained steed,

And mount the edge of a hill with beautiful views,

like the winds, and it never tires.

Like the winds it does not tire.

وَجُبِ الفيافيَ تَحتَ أَذيالِ الدّجى

وَجُبِ الفيافيَ تَحتَ أَذيالِ الدّجى

فَالسّيرُ لَيلاً في الدّجى لا يُجهِدُ

فَالسّيرُ لَيلاً في الدّجى لا يُجهِدُ

And cross the wilderness beneath night's trailing skirts;

Travel the meadows beneath the train of darkness,

for traveling by night through darkness does not weary.

For night travel in the darkness does not exhaust.

وَلَئِن تَناءتْ فَهيَ مِنكَ قَريبَةٌ

وَلَئِن تَناءتْ فَهيَ مِنكَ قَريبَةٌ

إِذ كانَ فيها ما تَرومُ وَتَقصِدُ

إِذ كانَ فيها ما تَرومُ وَتَقصِدُ

Though she lies far away, she is near to you,

And if the goal seems far, it is near to you,

since within her lies what you seek and intend.

Since what you seek and intend is there.

وَمَحلّ قَصدِكَ حيثُ أَنتَ بِمَطلعٍ

وَمَحلّ قَصدِكَ حيثُ أَنتَ بِمَطلعٍ

للشّمس لَو كانَ في مَغربٍ لا يبعدُ

للشّمس لَو كانَ في مَغربٍ لا يبعدُ

And your destination, while you stand at the rising-place

Your goal is wherever you rise like the sun,

of the sun, is not far even if it lies in the west.

Were it in the west it would not be far.

جُدَّ المسيرَ فإن تجدَّ تَجدْ وإِنْ

جُدَّ المسيرَ فإن تجدَّ تَجدْ وإِنْ

تَزرَع فَإنّك يا اِبنَ ودّي تَحصُدُ

تَزرَع فَإنّك يا اِبنَ ودّي تَحصُدُ

Press on earnestly: if you strive, you will find; and if

Be determined in travel, for if you are determined you will attain,

you sow, O son of my affection, you will reap.

And if you sow, O son of Waddi, you will surely reap.

كُن للنّجومِ مُسامِراً حينَ السُّرى

كُن للنّجومِ مُسامِراً حينَ السُّرى

هاتيكَ خَيرُ مُسامِرٍ لَكَ يوجدُ

هاتيكَ خَيرُ مُسامِرٍ لَكَ يوجدُ

Keep the stars company during your night journey;

Be a companion to the stars in your vigils,

those are the best companions you can find.

Those are the best companions you can find.

وَاُنظُر تَلامُعَ نورِها جنحَ الدّجى

وَاُنظُر تَلامُعَ نورِها جنحَ الدّجى

فَهيَ السّيوفُ مِنَ الجُفونِ تجرّدُ

فَهيَ السّيوفُ مِنَ الجُفونِ تجرّدُ

And watch their light gleam in the depths of night:

And look at the twinkling of their light piercing the darkness,

they are swords drawn from their scabbards.

They are the swords unsheathed from their scabbards.

حَيثُ المَجرَّةُ خلتُها نَهراً بِهِ

حَيثُ المَجرَّةُ خلتُها نَهراً بِهِ

يَجري ضِياء أَو يَسيلَ العَسجَدُ

يَجري ضِياء أَو يَسيلَ العَسجَدُ

There is the Milky Way, which I imagined a river in which

Where the Milky Way made a river in it,

radiance flows, or gold streams.

In which the light flows or liquid silver runs.

حَيثُ الثريّا قارَنَت بَدرَ الدّجى

حَيثُ الثريّا قارَنَت بَدرَ الدّجى

فَأَتى لِيَخدِمَها السّهى وَالفَرقَدُ

فَأَتى لِيَخدِمَها السّهى وَالفَرقَدُ

There the Pleiades accompany the full moon of night,

Where the Pleiades joined with the moon of night,

and Suha and Farqad come to serve her.

So the arrow and horseman came to serve them.

حَيثُ السّماءُ إِخالُها يَمّاً به

حَيثُ السّماءُ إِخالُها يَمّاً به

تَسري النّجومُ سَفائناً لا تركدُ

تَسري النّجومُ سَفائناً لا تركدُ

There I imagine the sky a sea on which

Where the sky, whose expanse is water in which

the stars sail as ships that never lie still,

The stars flow like ships that do not anchor.

مِن كَوكَبٍ هاوٍ وآخرَ طالعٍ

مِن كَوكَبٍ هاوٍ وآخرَ طالعٍ

هَذا يَجيء وَذاكَ مِنّا يبعُدُ

هَذا يَجيء وَذاكَ مِنّا يبعُدُ

one star falling, another rising:

Some setting and others rising,

this one comes, while that one moves away from us.

This comes and that recedes from us.

أَو أنّها فيهِ جَواهِرُ حُرِّكَت

أَو أنّها فيهِ جَواهِرُ حُرِّكَت

مِن مائِهِ وَلَها المِهادُ زُمرّدُ

مِن مائِهِ وَلَها المِهادُ زُمرّدُ

Or they are jewels within it, set in motion

Or they are the jewels set in motion

by its waters, their bed an emerald.

By its water, and it is their emerald bed.

وَالغَربُ قُرصُ الشَّمسِ عِندَ غُروبِها

وَالغَربُ قُرصُ الشَّمسِ عِندَ غُروبِها

لا شكّ يَبلعهُ ولا يَتَردّدُ

لا شكّ يَبلعهُ ولا يَتَردّدُ

And the west, at sunset, the disk of the sun

And the west is the sun’s disk at its setting,

swallows without doubt or hesitation.

Surely it swallows it without hesitation or doubt.

فَيَكادُ يَخنُقُه اِبتِلاعاً قُرصُها

فَيَكادُ يَخنُقُه اِبتِلاعاً قُرصُها

فَلِذا اِحمِراراً وَجهُهُ يَتورَّدُ

فَلِذا اِحمِراراً وَجهُهُ يَتورَّدُ

Her disk nearly chokes it as it swallows,

Nearly choking as it swallows it,

and so its face flushes red.

And so its face reddens and blushes.

وَالشّرقُ يَقذِفُ لِلنُّجومِ طَوالِعاً

وَالشّرقُ يَقذِفُ لِلنُّجومِ طَوالِعاً

يُبدينَ رَقصاً لَم تطلهُ الخُرَّدُ

يُبدينَ رَقصاً لَم تطلهُ الخُرَّدُ

And the east flings forth the stars as they rise,

While the east tosses the stars’ risings,

displaying a dance that shy maidens have never matched.

Making them dance unrestrained by belts.

هوَ ضارِبٌ بِالصّولَجانِ كراته

هوَ ضارِبٌ بِالصّولَجانِ كراته

لَكنَّها هيَ جَوهَرٌ أَو عسجَدُ

لَكنَّها هيَ جَوهَرٌ أَو عسجَدُ

It strikes its balls with a polo mallet,

It strikes them like spheres, but they

though they are gems or gold.

Are gems or molten silver.

وَالفَجرُ مِنهُ إِذ تَبدّى طالِعاً

وَالفَجرُ مِنهُ إِذ تَبدّى طالِعاً

سَيفٌ صَقيلٌ سلُّه لا يغمَدُ

سَيفٌ صَقيلٌ سلُّه لا يغمَدُ

And dawn, when it appears rising from it,

And dawn, when it appears rising from it,

is a polished sword, drawn and never sheathed.

Is an unsheathed, polished sword in its sheath.

وَالشَّمسُ كَسُلطانِ الضّياءِ أَمامَهُ

وَالشَّمسُ كَسُلطانِ الضّياءِ أَمامَهُ

جَيشُ الضّياءِ يكرُّ وَهوَ مؤيَّدُ

جَيشُ الضّياءِ يكرُّ وَهوَ مؤيَّدُ

And the sun is like light's sovereign; before him

While the sun is like the sultan of light before him,

the army of light charges, and he is supported.

The army of light attacks as he supports it.

يَغزو الظَّلامَ يَفرُّ مِنهُ هارباً

يَغزو الظَّلامَ يَفرُّ مِنهُ هارباً

فَإِذا بَدَت لا شَيءَ مِنهُ يوجَدُ

فَإِذا بَدَت لا شَيءَ مِنهُ يوجَدُ

It attacks the darkness, which flees from it;

It invades the darkness which flees from it in defeat,

when the sun appears, nothing of darkness remains.

And when it appears no trace of it can be found.

وَاُنظر رِياضَ الأَرضِ حين تَسيرُها

وَاُنظر رِياضَ الأَرضِ حين تَسيرُها

تَرَ ما بِهِ فَرحاً تَسرّ الأكبُدُ

تَرَ ما بِهِ فَرحاً تَسرّ الأكبُدُ

And behold the earth's gardens as you travel through them:

And look at the earth’s meadows as you pass them,

you will see what gladdens the livers with joy.

You will see what brings joy to the soul:

مِن أَحمرٍ زاهٍ وَأَصفَرَ فاقِعٍ

مِن أَحمرٍ زاهٍ وَأَصفَرَ فاقِعٍ

مِن أَخضرٍ غَضٍّ وَأَبيَض يحمدُ

مِن أَخضرٍ غَضٍّ وَأَبيَض يحمدُ

Radiant red and brilliant yellow,

Red, green, yellow, and white that is praised,

fresh green and white worthy of praise,

Pearls and rubies of varied essence,

دُرٌّ وَياقوتٌ تَنوَّعَ جِنسُهُ

دُرٌّ وَياقوتٌ تَنوَّعَ جِنسُهُ

ذَهَبٌ يُفرِّحُ فضَّةً وَزَبَرجدُ

ذَهَبٌ يُفرِّحُ فضَّةً وَزَبَرجدُ

pearls and rubies of varied kinds,

Gold that delights, silver and emerald.

gold that brings delight, silver, and peridot.

And look at the budding trees, you will see

وَتَأمَّل الأَشجارَ مورِقَةً تَرى

وَتَأمَّل الأَشجارَ مورِقَةً تَرى

مِنها قِباباً كُلُّهُنَّ زُمرّدُ

مِنها قِباباً كُلُّهُنَّ زُمرّدُ

And contemplate the leafy trees; you will see

Domes of emerald upon them.

among them domes made wholly of emerald.

Some with red blossoms, as if it were

مِن ذاتِ زَهرٍ أَحمَرٍ فَكأنَّهُ

مِن ذاتِ زَهرٍ أَحمَرٍ فَكأنَّهُ

عِقدٌ مِنَ الياقوتِ وَهوَ مُنضَّدُ

عِقدٌ مِنَ الياقوتِ وَهوَ مُنضَّدُ

Some bear red blossoms, as though they were

A necklace of ruby prepared and set.

a necklace of rubies, neatly arranged.

Others with white blossoms made like

مِن ذاتِ زَهرٍ أَبيَضٍ قَد خلتُهُ

مِن ذاتِ زَهرٍ أَبيَضٍ قَد خلتُهُ

مِثلَ الكَواكِبِ في الدّجى تَتَوقَّدُ

مِثلَ الكَواكِبِ في الدّجى تَتَوقَّدُ

Some bear white blossoms, which I imagined

The stars shining in the night sky.

like stars blazing in the dark.

And brooks flowing like lines, some white and pure,

وَجَداوِلاً تَنسابُ مِثلَ أَراقِمٍ

وَجَداوِلاً تَنسابُ مِثلَ أَراقِمٍ

ذا أَبيضٍ صافٍ وَذَلِكَ أَسودُ

ذا أَبيضٍ صافٍ وَذَلِكَ أَسودُ

And streams glide like spotted serpents:

While the others are black.

this one white and clear, that one black.

Especially the crooked one which is the greatest,

لاسِيَّما العَرجاءُ وَهوَ كَبيرُها

لاسِيَّما العَرجاءُ وَهوَ كَبيرُها

عَذبٌ فُراتٌ ساغَ منه المورِدُ

عَذبٌ فُراتٌ ساغَ منه المورِدُ

Especially al-Arja', the largest among them,

A fresh Euphrates, its drink is sweet.

sweet and fresh, with a pleasant drinking-place.

It flows on pebbles of pearl whose soil

يَجري عَلى حَصباء دُرٍّ تُربُها

يَجري عَلى حَصباء دُرٍّ تُربُها

مِسكٌ شَذيٌّ نَفحُه لا يُجحَدُ

مِسكٌ شَذيٌّ نَفحُه لا يُجحَدُ

It flows over pebbles of pearl, whose soil

Is pure musk whose scent is undeniable.

is fragrant musk, its scent undeniable.

A sea flowing into the turbulent sea at its estuary,

بَحرٌ عَلى البحرِ الأُجاجِ مصبُّهُ

بَحرٌ عَلى البحرِ الأُجاجِ مصبُّهُ

مُتبسِّماً يَسعى إِلَيهِ وَيحفدُ

مُتبسِّماً يَسعى إِلَيهِ وَيحفدُ

A sea whose mouth opens into the briny sea,

Smiling as it eagerly runs to it.

smiling, it hastens and hurries toward it.

So it is as if in a meadow of silver

فَكَأَنّه في لازَوَردٍ فضَّة

فَكَأَنّه في لازَوَردٍ فضَّة

أَضحَت تَسيلُ وَإِنّها لا تجمدُ

أَضحَت تَسيلُ وَإِنّها لا تجمدُ

As though it were silver within lapis lazuli,

That has melted and surely will not freeze.

flowing freely and never freezing.

When it reaches it, it congratulates itself on attaining

فَإِذا وَصَلت إِلَيهِ فَاِهنَأ بِالمُنى

فَإِذا وَصَلت إِلَيهِ فَاِهنَأ بِالمُنى

فَلَقَد ظَفِرتَ بِما تَرومُ وتقصِدُ

فَلَقَد ظَفِرتَ بِما تَرومُ وتقصِدُ

When you reach it, rejoice in your wishes fulfilled:

What it sought and intended.

you have attained what you seek and intend.

Since there lies the shore that it loved,

إِذ ثَمَّ يافاءُ الّتي قَد وَدَّها

إِذ ثَمَّ يافاءُ الّتي قَد وَدَّها

فَلَكاً لَهُ بَدرُ الدُّجى والفرقَدُ

فَلَكاً لَهُ بَدرُ الدُّجى والفرقَدُ

For there is Jaffa, which they have desired

For which the full moon and Pleiades yearned.

as their celestial sphere—the full moon of night and Farqad.

Inhale it before you, atop it the morning sun

شِمْها أَمامكَ فَوقَها شمسُ الضُّحى

شِمْها أَمامكَ فَوقَها شمسُ الضُّحى

تَعلو عَليها لا تحوِّلها يدُ

تَعلو عَليها لا تحوِّلها يدُ

Behold her before you, with the morning sun above her,

Rises above it, no hand can change it.

rising over her, unmoved by any hand.

As if the sun shed its radiance on it alone,

فَكَأنَّما قَصرت عَلَيها الشَّمسُ في

فَكَأنَّما قَصرت عَلَيها الشَّمسُ في

إِشراقِها فَبِغَيرِها لا توجَدُ

إِشراقِها فَبِغَيرِها لا توجَدُ

It is as though the sun confined itself to her

And without it, it is not found.

in its shining, appearing nowhere else.

And it adorned itself with its rays as if

وَتَزيّنت بِشعاعها فَكَأنّها

وَتَزيّنت بِشعاعها فَكَأنّها

في حلّةٍ هيَ فضّةٌ أَو عَسجَدُ

في حلّةٍ هيَ فضّةٌ أَو عَسجَدُ

And she is adorned with its rays, as though she were

It wears a gown of silver or molten silver.

in a robe that is silver or gold.

Until its buildings alternated silver-coated

حَتّى اِستَحالَ عمارُها ذا جانب

حَتّى اِستَحالَ عمارُها ذا جانب

مُتفضِّضٌ مِنه وذا متعسجدُ

مُتفضِّضٌ مِنه وذا متعسجدُ

Until her buildings are transformed, one side

And some with melted silver.

turned to silver, another to gold.

So when you look on its lights you are amazed

فإذا نظرت دُهِشتَ من أنوارها

فإذا نظرت دُهِشتَ من أنوارها

عَقلاً وَحَيَّركَ المُقيمُ المُقعِدُ

عَقلاً وَحَيَّركَ المُقيمُ المُقعِدُ

When you look, her lights dazzle you,

In mind and the resident and visitor are puzzled.

your mind confounded by what sets you rising and sitting.

And you would think you were in the sky

وَظَنَنتَ أَنّكَ في السَّماء أوَ اِن شَم

وَظَنَنتَ أَنّكَ في السَّماء أوَ اِن شَم

س الأفق في الأراضي تقعدُ

س الأفق في الأراضي تقعدُ

And you think yourself in heaven, or that the sun

Or the horizon’s sun sat on earth.

of the horizon sits upon the earth.

And look at its sanctuary, how much game is in it,

وَاُنظُر حِماها كَم بِهِ مِن مكنسٍ

وَاُنظُر حِماها كَم بِهِ مِن مكنسٍ

قد حلّه ظبيٌ أغَنُّ وأغيَدُ

قد حلّه ظبيٌ أغَنُّ وأغيَدُ

And behold her precincts: how many a gazelle's shelter there

Adorned with a herd of deer, rich and plump.

houses a soft-voiced, graceful gazelle.

And its open country where gardens are decorated

وَربوعَها فَهيَ الجنانُ تَزَخرَفَت

وَربوعَها فَهيَ الجنانُ تَزَخرَفَت

يا لَيتَها فيها الحَياةُ تُخلَّدُ

يا لَيتَها فيها الحَياةُ تُخلَّدُ

And her quarters are gardens of paradise, adorned;

Would that life there were immortalized!

would that life within them lasted forever!

Pastures of lions and jungle of leopards

وَمصالُ آسادٍ وغِيل غَضَنفَرٍ

وَمصالُ آسادٍ وغِيل غَضَنفَرٍ

يَعدو وَيَسطو حينَما يَستَأسِدُ

يَعدو وَيَسطو حينَما يَستَأسِدُ

And a hunting-ground of lions, a mighty lion's thicket,

Who prey and leap when they hunt.

where he races and strikes when he shows his lion's might.

And racetracks of horses like towering camels

وَمَجالَ خَيلٍ كَالبخاتى ضَخمَةٍ

وَمَجالَ خَيلٍ كَالبخاتى ضَخمَةٍ

في غَمرَةِ الهَيجاءِ ظلَّت تَسعَدُ

في غَمرَةِ الهَيجاءِ ظلَّت تَسعَدُ

And a field for horses huge as Bactrian camels,

Lost in the clamor of stampede.

that remain triumphant in the thick of battle.

Every brave lion gallops them

يَعدو عَلَيها كلُّ لَيثٍ باسلٍ

يَعدو عَلَيها كلُّ لَيثٍ باسلٍ

خاضَ الكَريهَةَ لَيسَ عَنها يَشرُدُ

خاضَ الكَريهَةَ لَيسَ عَنها يَشرُدُ

Upon them races every valiant lion,

Who plunged into fray and does not wander.

who has plunged into war and never flees it.

And when his solitude carries him

فَإِذا عَلاهُ خِلتهُ مُتناولاً

فَإِذا عَلاهُ خِلتهُ مُتناولاً

رَأسَ الثّريّا إِذ لها يتعمّدُ

رَأسَ الثّريّا إِذ لها يتعمّدُ

When he mounts one, you imagine him reaching

To the Pleiades which he aims for,

the head of the Pleiades, aiming straight for them.

At Jaffa’s gate I smelled all submitting

وَبِبابِ يافا شِمتُ كلّاً خاضعاً

وَبِبابِ يافا شِمتُ كلّاً خاضعاً

ولِغيلِ لَيثِ الغابِ كلٌّ يَسجُدُ

ولِغيلِ لَيثِ الغابِ كلٌّ يَسجُدُ

And at Jaffa's gate I beheld everyone humbled,

And bowing to the roar of the king of the jungle.

and everyone bows before the forest lion's lair.

And it befits the lion to bow at its gate

وَيَحِقُّ لِلأُسدِ الخضوعُ بِبابِها

وَيَحِقُّ لِلأُسدِ الخضوعُ بِبابِها

إذ كان داخلَها الأمير محمّدُ

إذ كان داخلَها الأمير محمّدُ

It is right for lions to submit at her gate,

Since within it dwells the Prince Muhammad.

for within her is Emir Muhammad,

Lion of the lair, of perfect manners

أَسدُ العَرين بِحسنِ خلقٍ كاملٍ

أَسدُ العَرين بِحسنِ خلقٍ كاملٍ

ووجاهةٍ ووسامةٍ لا تُجحَدُ

ووجاهةٍ ووسامةٍ لا تُجحَدُ

the lion of the den, with perfect, noble character,

And prominence, beauty that cannot be denied.

and undeniable dignity and beauty.

If he ascends above his steed you will see him

فَإِذا عَلا فَوقَ الجَوادِ رَأَيتَهُ

فَإِذا عَلا فَوقَ الجَوادِ رَأَيتَهُ

لَيثاً عَلى فَلَكِ الثريّا يَقعُدُ

لَيثاً عَلى فَلَكِ الثريّا يَقعُدُ

When he rises upon his steed, you see him

A lion atop the Pleiades’ orbit.

a lion seated on the sphere of the Pleiades.

Returning to roses, red, bursted,

وَرد على وَردٍ أَغرَّ محجَّلٍ

وَرد على وَردٍ أَغرَّ محجَّلٍ

أَسد الشّرى حَوضَ المنيَّةِ يوردُ

أَسد الشّرى حَوضَ المنيَّةِ يوردُ

A tawny lion on a bay steed, white-blazed and white-socked,

The lion of evil at the basin of misfortune takes drink.

he drives the lion of al-Shara to the pool of death.

Sturdy, not minding the lions of evil,

قِرْمٌ فَلا يِعتَدّ آسادَ الشّرى

قِرْمٌ فَلا يِعتَدّ آسادَ الشّرى

جَلدٌ عَلاهُ تثبُّتٌ وَتجلُّدُ

جَلدٌ عَلاهُ تثبُّتٌ وَتجلُّدُ

A mighty chief, he takes no account of al-Shara's lions;

His skin is hardened and resilient.

stalwart, clad in firmness and endurance.

He did not meet enemies but they became

ما قابَلَ الأَعداءَ إِلّا أَصبَحوا

ما قابَلَ الأَعداءَ إِلّا أَصبَحوا

وَرُؤوسُهم فَوقَ المصارِعِ سُجَّدُ

وَرُؤوسُهم فَوقَ المصارِعِ سُجَّدُ

He never meets his enemies but they end up

With their heads bowed over the battlefields.

with their heads prostrate over the places where they fall.

As if each of them before him

فَكَأَنّه وَكَأنَّ كلّاً مِنهُمُ

فَكَأَنّه وَكَأنَّ كلّاً مِنهُمُ

بازٌ لَدَيهِ غَدا يَخِرُّ الهُدهُدُ

بازٌ لَدَيهِ غَدا يَخِرُّ الهُدهُدُ

As though he and each one of them were, respectively,

Is a falcon humbled tomorrow by the hoopoe.

a hawk and a hoopoe falling before him.

So when you look upon their battlefields, you see

فَإِذا نَظَرت إِلى مَصارِعِهم تَرى

فَإِذا نَظَرت إِلى مَصارِعِهم تَرى

جُثَثاً هناكَ بِلا رُؤوسٍ أوجدوا

جُثَثاً هناكَ بِلا رُؤوسٍ أوجدوا

When you look at the places where they fell, you see

Headless corpses strewn about.

bodies there, left without heads.

How much blood of theirs the battleground drank

كَم قَد سَقى أَرضاً نَجيعُ دِمائِهِم

كَم قَد سَقى أَرضاً نَجيعُ دِمائِهِم

وَدَعا الطّيورَ بِلَحمِهِم تَتَزوَّدُ

وَدَعا الطّيورَ بِلَحمِهِم تَتَزوَّدُ

How often has the gore of their blood watered the earth,

And called the birds to feed on their flesh.

and summoned birds to provision themselves with their flesh!

Ask the enemies about the taste of their wars,

فَسَلِ الأَعادي عَن مَذاقِ حُروبِهِم

فَسَلِ الأَعادي عَن مَذاقِ حُروبِهِم

فَهُنالِكَ الخَبرُ الصَّحيحُ المسنَدُ

فَهُنالِكَ الخَبرُ الصَّحيحُ المسنَدُ

Ask his enemies about the taste of their wars:

For there lies the true, verified, and proven news.

there lies the true, substantiated account.

And the testimony of enemies against their enemies

وَإِذا أَرَدتَ دَليلَ قَولي فَاِستَمِعْ

وَإِذا أَرَدتَ دَليلَ قَولي فَاِستَمِعْ

مِنّي الّذي أُملي عَلَيكَ وأُوردُ

مِنّي الّذي أُملي عَلَيكَ وأُوردُ

If you desire proof of my words, listen

Is a clear, correct, and firm truth.

to what I dictate and present to you.

The horse, the hero, his glory immense,

فَالخَيلُ وَالأَسيافُ مَعَ سُمرِ القَنا

فَالخَيلُ وَالأَسيافُ مَعَ سُمرِ القَنا

وَالعَقلُ قاضٍ وَالوَقائِعُ تَشهَدُ

وَالعَقلُ قاضٍ وَالوَقائِعُ تَشهَدُ

The horses and swords, along with the tawny spears;

Is the pride of the white when he is girdled.

reason is the judge, and battles bear witness.

And by it the glory of the Sumar is contained,

وَكَذا أَعاديهِ كَما نَقَلوا لَنا

وَكَذا أَعاديهِ كَما نَقَلوا لَنا

نَقلاً صَحيحاً شاعَ لَيسَ يفنَّدُ

نَقلاً صَحيحاً شاعَ لَيسَ يفنَّدُ

And likewise his enemies, as they have related to us

It dodges doom with its strikes.

a true report, widely known and never refuted.

A sea of generosity, nobility, and dew,

وَشَهادَةُ الأَعدا لِمَن عاداهُمُ

وَشَهادَةُ الأَعدا لِمَن عاداهُمُ

حَقٌّ جَلِيٌّ صائِبٌ وَمُسدَّدُ

حَقٌّ جَلِيٌّ صائِبٌ وَمُسدَّدُ

The testimony of enemies on behalf of one who opposes them

Easy to access and from it clear water is drawn.

is plain truth, sound and rightly aimed.

If it were the era of antiques, they would not

الفارِسُ البطَلُ الطويلُ نِجادُهُ

الفارِسُ البطَلُ الطويلُ نِجادُهُ

مَن فيهِ فَخرُ البيض إذ يتقلَّدُ

مَن فيهِ فَخرُ البيض إذ يتقلَّدُ

The heroic horseman with the long sword-belt,

Have praised Hatim’s generosity, or be praised.

in whom white blades take pride when he girds them,

And if the generous preceded him,

وَبِهِ اِفتِخارُ السُّمرِ مُعتَقِلاً لَها

وَبِهِ اِفتِخارُ السُّمرِ مُعتَقِلاً لَها

وَلَمى المنونِ بِزَجِّها يَتَجعَّدُ

وَلَمى المنونِ بِزَجِّها يَتَجعَّدُ

and in whom tawny spears boast when he holds them,

With his generosity and aid they were not aided.

while death's dark lips wrinkle at their butt-spikes.

So if someone donates the world thinking it

بَحرُ السَّماحَةِ وَالمَكارِمِ وَالنّدى

بَحرُ السَّماحَةِ وَالمَكارِمِ وَالنّدى

سَهلُ الورودِ وَمِنهُ يَحلو المورِدُ

سَهلُ الورودِ وَمِنهُ يَحلو المورِدُ

An ocean of generosity, noble deeds, and bounty,

A small thing, as much as the hand can hold,

easy to approach, whose watering-place is sweet.

The master al-Samsam, most generous of the magnificent,

لَو كانَ في زَمَنِ الأُلى لَم يَمدَحوا

لَو كانَ في زَمَنِ الأُلى لَم يَمدَحوا

فيهِ سَماحَةَ حاتَمٍ لَم يُحمدوا

فيهِ سَماحَةَ حاتَمٍ لَم يُحمدوا

Had he lived in the age of the ancients, they would not have praised

Sublime of lineage, he is the mighty, the most glorious.

Hatim's generosity then, nor been praised themselves.

He trod with one foot on the Pleiades of glory

وَلَئِن تَقدَّم قبله أَهلُ النّدى

وَلَئِن تَقدَّم قبله أَهلُ النّدى

فَبِبَذلِهِ وَبرِفْده لم يرفدوا

فَبِبَذلِهِ وَبرِفْده لم يرفدوا

Though the generous lived before him,

In the honor of highness, and by his sun shelters,

they never gave with his largesse or bestowed his gifts.

Compared to this position, another is remiss,

فَلَو أَحدٌ يَهَبُ الدُّنى وَيَظنّها

فَلَو أَحدٌ يَهَبُ الدُّنى وَيَظنّها

شَيئاً قَليلاً قَدر ما تَسع اليدُ

شَيئاً قَليلاً قَدر ما تَسع اليدُ

For if anyone gives away the worlds and deems them

By your life, among the people he is most wretched.

a trifle, no more than a hand can hold—

The glory of supremacy is not his glory,

السيّدُ الصمصامُ أَكرَمُ ماجدٍ

السيّدُ الصمصامُ أَكرَمُ ماجدٍ

سامي الذُّرى وهو العَزيزُ الأمجَدُ

سامي الذُّرى وهو العَزيزُ الأمجَدُ

it is this lord, this keen blade, the noblest of the noble,

And compared to the supreme, he is the one glorified.

lofty in station, mighty and most glorious.

Great is the difference between a youth overcome by supremacy,

قَد داسَ في قَدمٍ ثريّا المَجدِ في

قَد داسَ في قَدمٍ ثريّا المَجدِ في

شَرفِ العُلى وَبِشَمسِهِ يَتَوسَّدُ

شَرفِ العُلى وَبِشَمسِهِ يَتَوسَّدُ

He has trodden underfoot the Pleiades of glory amid

And a youth in whom supremacy has been blackened!

the heights of honor, and takes its sun as his pillow.

He built the emirate when he strengthened its pillar,

فَسِواهُ عَن هَذا المَقامِ مقصِّرٌ

فَسِواهُ عَن هَذا المَقامِ مقصِّرٌ

هَذا لَعَمرُكَ في الأنامِ السؤددُ

هَذا لَعَمرُكَ في الأنامِ السؤددُ

All others fall short of this station;

Indeed, the emirate is built by the prince.

this, by your life, is eminence among mankind.

In time, its capable hands were paralyzed,

مَجدُ المَعالي لَيسَ فيها مَجدُهُ

مَجدُ المَعالي لَيسَ فيها مَجدُهُ

وَسِواهُ أضحى بالمعالي يمجُدُ

وَسِواهُ أضحى بالمعالي يمجُدُ

He is the glory of high honors; his glory does not lie in them,

And by him its broken unity is gathered.

while others gain their glory through high honors.

He governed it with wisdom and then with his justice,

شَتّانَ بَينَ فَتىً تَسوّده العُلى

شَتّانَ بَينَ فَتىً تَسوّده العُلى

وَفتىً غَدت فيه المعالِ تسوَّدُ

وَفتىً غَدت فيه المعالِ تسوَّدُ

How far apart are a youth whom high rank ennobles

With fine opinion among the people he is guided.

and a youth through whom high honors become ennobled!

O prince, and sanctuary for every brother in need,

شادَ الإِمارةَ حين أَقوى رُكنَها

شادَ الإِمارةَ حين أَقوى رُكنَها

إِنّ الإِمارَةَ بِالأَميرِ تُشَيَّدُ

إِنّ الإِمارَةَ بِالأَميرِ تُشَيَّدُ

He raised the emirate when he strengthened its pillar;

O Kaaba, the goal runs to you!

indeed, the emirate is built up by its emir.

I am directing to you a virgin poem,

حَلَّت بِهِ في الدَّهرِ عاطِلَ جيدِها

حَلَّت بِهِ في الدَّهرِ عاطِلَ جيدِها

وَبِهِ تجمّع شَملُها المتبدِّدُ

وَبِهِ تجمّع شَملُها المتبدِّدُ

Through him it adorned its bare neck in this age,

The like of which is not born.

and through him its scattered company was reunited.

A doe, innocent, beautiful in her looks,

قد ساسها بالحِلم ثم بعدلِه

قد ساسها بالحِلم ثم بعدلِه

في حسن رأيٍ في الأنام يسدّدُ

في حسن رأيٍ في الأنام يسدّدُ

He has governed it with forbearance, and then with his justice,

The moon and planets are bashful before her.

with sound judgment that sets people aright.

Welcome her and accept her kindly,

يا ذا الأميرُ وكهفَ كلّ أخي لتِجا

يا ذا الأميرُ وكهفَ كلّ أخي لتِجا

يا كعبةً يسعى إليها المقصدُ

يا كعبةً يسعى إليها المقصدُ

O emir, and haven of all who seek refuge,

For kindness is expected from you, O father of bounty!

O Kaaba toward which the seeker hastens!

And turn your noble gaze from what does not suit her,

إِنّي إِلَيكَ موجِّهٌ ميّاسةً

إِنّي إِلَيكَ موجِّهٌ ميّاسةً

بِنتَ اِفتِكارٍ مثلُها لا يولَدُ

بِنتَ اِفتِكارٍ مثلُها لا يولَدُ

I am sending to you a gracefully swaying maiden,

For turning away befits the generous and is praiseworthy.

a daughter of thought whose like is never born.

Submit, and remain forever mighty and supreme,

غَيداءَ بِكراً غادَةً في حُسنِها

غَيداءَ بِكراً غادَةً في حُسنِها

مِنها لَقَد خَجِل المَها والخُرَّدُ

مِنها لَقَد خَجِل المَها والخُرَّدُ

A slender virgin, a tender maiden in her beauty,

And you will have an eternal, pleasant life.

before whom the oryx and shy maidens blush.

No dawn has shone, no eastern wind has blown,

أَقْبِلْ عَلَيها وَاِقبَلَنْها مِنّةً

أَقْبِلْ عَلَيها وَاِقبَلَنْها مِنّةً

فَالفَضلُ مِنكَ أَبا النَّدى مُتعوَّدُ

فَالفَضلُ مِنكَ أَبا النَّدى مُتعوَّدُ

Turn toward her, and graciously accept her;

No bird has stood singing in the branches,

for favor from you, O father of bounty, is customary.

No son of Fathallah has become eloquent,

وَاِغضُضْ شَريفَ الطّرفِ عَمّا شانَها

وَاِغضُضْ شَريفَ الطّرفِ عَمّا شانَها

فالغضُّ يحسُنُ في الكرام ويُحمدُ

فالغضُّ يحسُنُ في الكرام ويُحمدُ

Lower your noble gaze from whatever mars her:

Reciting your praises among the people.

such overlooking befits the noble and is praised.

وَاِسلَمْ وَدُم بِالعِزِّ في أَوجِ العُلى

وَاِسلَمْ وَدُم بِالعِزِّ في أَوجِ العُلى

وَلَكَ الزّمانُ يَدومُ عَيشٌ أَرغَدُ

وَلَكَ الزّمانُ يَدومُ عَيشٌ أَرغَدُ

Remain safe, and endure in honor at the summit of greatness;

and may a life of greater ease endure for you through time,

ما لاحَ صُبحٌ ما سَرَت ريح الصَّبا

ما لاحَ صُبحٌ ما سَرَت ريح الصَّبا

ما قام طيرٌ في الغصون يغرِّدُ

ما قام طيرٌ في الغصون يغرِّدُ

as long as dawn shines and the east wind blows,

as long as a bird rises to sing among the branches,

أَو ما اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ أَصبحَ أَلسناً

أَو ما اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ أَصبحَ أَلسناً

تَشدو بِمَدحِكَ في الأنامِ وَتنشِدُ

تَشدو بِمَدحِكَ في الأنامِ وَتنشِدُ

or as long as Ibn Fath Allah becomes tongues

that sing your praise among mankind and declaim.