فِراقٌ وَمَن فارَقتُ غَيرُ مُذَمَّمِ

فِراقٌ وَمَن فارَقتُ غَيرُ مُذَمَّمِ

وَأَمٌّ وَمَن يَمَّمتُ خَيرُ مُيَمَّمِ

وَأَمٌّ وَمَن يَمَّمتُ خَيرُ مُيَمَّمِ

Parting—and he whom I left is not blameworthy;

Parting, and the one I parted from was not disgraced

A departure, yet he I left is not to be blamed; a destination, and he I seek is the finest aim.

And a journey—and he whom I seek is the best one to seek.

A mother, and the one I hoped for was best to hope for

To me, a home of pleasures is no true home, if therein I am not honored and revered.

وَما مَنزِلُ اللَذّاتِ عِندي بِمَنزِلٍ

وَما مَنزِلُ اللَذّاتِ عِندي بِمَنزِلٍ

إِذا لَم أُبَجَّل عِندَهُ وَأُكَرَّمِ

إِذا لَم أُبَجَّل عِندَهُ وَأُكَرَّمِ

A dwelling of pleasures is no dwelling to me

And the abode of pleasures is not in my view a place

It is the nature of a soul, forever proud, that casts itself into peril to flee from slight.

If I am not revered there and honored.

If I am not esteemed there and honored

I departed; how many wept with the eyes of a gazelle, and how many wept with the eyes of a lion.

سَجِيَّةُ نَفسٍ ما تَزالُ مُليحَةً

سَجِيَّةُ نَفسٍ ما تَزالُ مُليحَةً

مِنَ الضَيمِ مَرمِيّاً بِها كُلُّ مَخرَمِ

مِنَ الضَيمِ مَرمِيّاً بِها كُلُّ مَخرَمِ

Such is the nature of a soul, forever wary

The nature of a soul that does not cease to be beautiful

The lady of the earring—lovely where it rests—was no more frantic than the master of the resolving sword.

Of humiliation, flung through every mountain pass.

Despite being cast by injustice upon every ungenerous one

Had my affliction come from a veiled beloved, I would forgive; but it comes from a turbaned friend.

رَحَلتُ فَكَم باكٍ بِأَجفانِ شادِنٍ

رَحَلتُ فَكَم باكٍ بِأَجفانِ شادِنٍ

عَلَيَّ وَكَم باكٍ بِأَجفانِ ضَيغَمِ

عَلَيَّ وَكَم باكٍ بِأَجفانِ ضَيغَمِ

I departed, and many a gazelle-eyed one wept

I traveled, so how many tearful ones for my eyelids

He shot, yet shielded himself from my aim; but guarding him was a love that shattered my hand, my bow, and my arrows.

For me, and many a lion-eyed one.

And how many tearful ones for the eyelids of Dhaygham

When a man’s deeds grow evil, his suspicions grow dark, and he trusts the delusions that haunt him.

وَما رَبَّةُ القُرطِ المَليحِ مَكانُهُ

وَما رَبَّةُ القُرطِ المَليحِ مَكانُهُ

بِأَجزَعَ مِن رَبِّ الحُسامِ المُصَمِّمِ

بِأَجزَعَ مِن رَبِّ الحُسامِ المُصَمِّمِ

Nor was the lady whose earring rests in a lovely place

And the lady of earrings is not more anguished in her place

He turned against those who loved him at the word of his foes, and entered into a night of darkest doubt.

More anguished than the master of the bone-cleaving sword.

Than the lord of the determined, well-forged sword

I befriend the soul of a man before his physical form, discerning it through his actions and his speech.

فَلَو كانَ ما بي مِن حَبيبٍ مُقَنَّعٍ

فَلَو كانَ ما بي مِن حَبيبٍ مُقَنَّعٍ

عَذَرتُ وَلَكِن مِن حَبيبٍ مُعَمَّمِ

عَذَرتُ وَلَكِن مِن حَبيبٍ مُعَمَّمِ

Had my suffering come from a veiled beloved,

So if what was in me were a content beloved

I bear with my friend, knowing full well that when I repay his folly with patience, he will regret.

I would have forgiven; but it comes from a turbaned beloved.

I would excuse, but it was a veiled beloved

And should one offer me a gift with a scowling face, I repay him with the generosity of one who leaves smiling.

رَمى وَاِتَّقى رَميِي وَمِن دونِ ما اِتَّقى

رَمى وَاِتَّقى رَميِي وَمِن دونِ ما اِتَّقى

هَوىً كاسِرٌ كَفّي وَقَوسي وَأَسهُمي

هَوىً كاسِرٌ كَفّي وَقَوسي وَأَسهُمي

He shot and guarded against my shots; yet between him and what he feared

He shot and was wary of my shooting, yet beyond what he was wary of

I love, among young warriors, every noble soul, distinct and upright as the shaft of a straightened spear.

Stood love, breaking my hand, my bow, and my arrows.

Was a breaking, passionate love for my palm, bow, and arrows

Beneath him, camels have paced the desert wastes, and with him, horses have plunged into the thick of vast armies.

إِذا ساءَ فِعلُ المَرءِ ساءَت ظُنونُهُ

إِذا ساءَ فِعلُ المَرءِ ساءَت ظُنونُهُ

وَصَدَّقَ ما يَعتادُهُ مِن تَوَهُّمِ

وَصَدَّقَ ما يَعتادُهُ مِن تَوَهُّمِ

When a man's deeds are evil, his suspicions turn evil,

When the actions of a man go bad, his suspicions go bad

There is no chastity in his sword or his spearhead, yet chastity dwells in his hand, his loins, and his tongue.

And he believes the delusions that habitually beset him.

And he believes what he is accustomed to imagine

Not everyone who loves the good performs it, nor does every performer bring it to completion.

وَعادى مُحِبّيهِ بِقَولِ عُداتِهِ

وَعادى مُحِبّيهِ بِقَولِ عُداتِهِ

وَأَصبَحَ في لَيلٍ مِنَ الشَكِّ مُظلِمِ

وَأَصبَحَ في لَيلٍ مِنَ الشَكِّ مُظلِمِ

And he antagonizes those who love him on his enemies' word,

And becomes hostile to his loved ones by the words of his enemies

May the nobles be a ransom for Abu al-Misk, for they are but trailing steeds guided by a black stallion.

And finds himself in a dark night of doubt.

And wakes in a night of utter darkness

A leader blazing with glory; eyes are fixed behind him, gazing upon a vast nature and a flawless form.

أُصادِقُ نَفسَ المَرءِ مِن قَبلِ جِسمِهِ

أُصادِقُ نَفسَ المَرءِ مِن قَبلِ جِسمِهِ

وَأَعرِفُها في فِعلِهِ وَالتَكَلُّمِ

وَأَعرِفُها في فِعلِهِ وَالتَكَلُّمِ

I befriend a man's soul before his body,

I befriend the self of a man before his body

If the art of governance denies itself to you, stand but once before him, and you shall learn.

And recognize it in his actions and speech.

And I know it through his actions and speech

He who sees him finds no room for excuse, should he be seen weak in endeavor or scant in generosity.

وَأَحلُمُ عَن خِلّي وَأَعلَمُ أَنَّهُ

وَأَحلُمُ عَن خِلّي وَأَعلَمُ أَنَّهُ

مَتى أَجزِهِ حِلماً عَلى الجَهلِ يَندَمِ

مَتى أَجزِهِ حِلماً عَلى الجَهلِ يَندَمِ

And I bear patiently with my friend, and know that

And I am forbearing of my comrade, knowing that

And who is like Kafur when the horses recoil in fear, and few are those who dare shout to them, "Charge!"?

Whenever I repay his folly with forbearance, he repents.

When I repay his ignorance with forbearance, he will regret

Unflinching is his gaze, though the dust of battle reaches the very throats of the veiled knights.

وَإِن بَذَلَ الإِنسانُ لي جودَ عابِسٍ

وَإِن بَذَلَ الإِنسانُ لي جودَ عابِسٍ

جَزَيتُ بِجودِ التارِكِ المُتَبَسِّمِ

جَزَيتُ بِجودِ التارِكِ المُتَبَسِّمِ

And if a man offers me a scowling man's generosity,

And if a man shows me reluctant generosity

O Abu al-Misk, I hope from you aid against my foes, and glory that dyes the white blades with blood.

I repay with the generosity of one who declines with a smile.

I repay with the generosity of one smiling and serene

And a day that enrages the envious, and a state where I may install comfort in the place of misery.

وَأَهوى مِنَ الفِتيانِ كُلَّ سَمَيذَعٍ

وَأَهوى مِنَ الفِتيانِ كُلَّ سَمَيذَعٍ

نَجيبٍ كَصَدرِ السَمهَرِيِّ المُقَوَّمِ

نَجيبٍ كَصَدرِ السَمهَرِيِّ المُقَوَّمِ

And among young men I love every noble leader,

And I desire from the youths every refined, graceful one

I hoped only in those worthy of hope; for he who seeks rain from other than clouds does injustice to himself.

Wellborn, like the head of a straightened Samhari spear.

With a chest like that of the erect Samhari

Had you not been in Egypt, I would not have journeyed toward her with the heart of one yearning, enthralled, and enslaved.

خَطَت تَحتَهُ العيسُ الفَلاةَ وَخالَطَت

خَطَت تَحتَهُ العيسُ الفَلاةَ وَخالَطَت

بِهِ الخَيلُ كَبّاتِ الخَميسِ العَرَمرَمِ

بِهِ الخَيلُ كَبّاتِ الخَميسِ العَرَمرَمِ

Pale camels crossed the wilderness beneath him, and horses mingled

Under him the she-camel crossed the barren heights and mixed

Nor would the dogs of the tribes have barked at my steeds, fearing in the night the raids of the Daylam.

With him in the dense masses of the vast army.

With his horses the thundering camels of Thursday

Nor would the tracker’s eye have traced our path, seeing naught but the horse’s hoof prints upon the camel’s pads.

وَلا عِفَّةٌ في سَيفِهِ وَسِنانِهِ

وَلا عِفَّةٌ في سَيفِهِ وَسِنانِهِ

وَلَكِنَّها في الكَفِّ وَالفَرجِ وَالفَمِ

وَلَكِنَّها في الكَفِّ وَالفَرجِ وَالفَمِ

There is no restraint in his sword and spearpoint,

And there is no chastity in his sword or blades

We branded the desert with our march until our beasts drank deep of the Nile and sought shade beneath Mount Muqattam.

But it lies in his hand, his loins, and his mouth.

Rather it is in the palm, the private part, and the mouth

And many a proud lord ignores his counselor to favor me; just as I disobeyed my critics to seek him out.

وَما كُلُّ هاوٍ لِلجَميلِ بِفاعِلٍ

وَما كُلُّ هاوٍ لِلجَميلِ بِفاعِلٍ

وَلا كُلُّ فَعّالٍ لَهُ بِمُتَمِّمِ

وَلا كُلُّ فَعّالٍ لَهُ بِمُتَمِّمِ

And not everyone who loves a noble deed performs it,

And not every desirer of beauty is a doer

He drove toward me a kindness unclouded, and I drove toward him a gratitude unspoken in whispers.

Nor does everyone who performs it complete it.

Nor every doer a completer

I have chosen you above all kings; so choose for them, through my fate, a story to be told—I have made your judgment my law, so judge!

فِدىً لِأَبي المِسكِ الكِرامُ فَإِنَّها

فِدىً لِأَبي المِسكِ الكِرامُ فَإِنَّها

سَوابِقُ خَيلٍ يَهتَدينَ بِأَدهَمِ

سَوابِقُ خَيلٍ يَهتَدينَ بِأَدهَمِ

May the noble be a ransom for Abu al-Misk, for they

My father's ransoms are the generous, noble ones, for they

For the fairest face among mankind is the face of the benefactor, and the most blessed hand is the hand that bestows.

Are champion steeds guided by a black horse,

Are horses racing, guided by a bay steed

The noblest of them is he who bears the noblest ambition, and the boldest in charging against every great peril.

أَغَرَّ بِمَجدٍ قَد شَخَصنَ وَراءَهُ

أَغَرَّ بِمَجدٍ قَد شَخَصنَ وَراءَهُ

إِلى خُلُقٍ رَحبٍ وَخَلقٍ مُطَهَّمِ

إِلى خُلُقٍ رَحبٍ وَخَلقٍ مُطَهَّمِ

White-blazed with glory; they have set out behind him

He tempted with a glory that stretched behind him

For whom do you seek the world, if not to bring joy to a friend or misery to a foe?

Toward a generous nature and a handsome, full-built form.

To a spacious, adorned nature and character

The foal that bears your brand upon its flank has attained the fame of your name, worn like jewels on every neck and wrist.

إِذا مَنَعَت مِنكَ السِياسَةُ نَفسَها

إِذا مَنَعَت مِنكَ السِياسَةُ نَفسَها

فَقِف وَقفَةً قُدّامَهُ تَتَعَلَّمِ

فَقِف وَقفَةً قُدّامَهُ تَتَعَلَّمِ

If statesmanship denies itself to you,

When politics prevents your very self

To you belongs every creature that rides a steed, even if they bear no brand of fire upon their skin.

Stand awhile before him, and you will learn.

Then stop, stop before it to learn

If I knew the measure of my life, I would have divided it, and made two-thirds of it a vigil waiting for you—know this well.

يَضيقُ عَلى مَن رائَهُ العُذرُ أَن يُرى

يَضيقُ عَلى مَن رائَهُ العُذرُ أَن يُرى

ضَعيفَ المَساعي أَو قَليلَ التَكَرُّمِ

ضَعيفَ المَساعي أَو قَليلَ التَكَرُّمِ

One who has seen him has little excuse to be found

It is hard for one whose excuse is seen

But that part of life which passes is lost forever; so grant me quickly the share of one who seizes the fleeting chance.

Weak in endeavor or scant in generosity.

To be perceived as weak in effort or stingy in generosity

Out of love, I am content with whatever you deem fit for me; I have led my soul to you as one who submits.

وَمَن مِثلُ كافورٍ إِذا الخَيلُ أَحجَمَت

وَمَن مِثلُ كافورٍ إِذا الخَيلُ أَحجَمَت

وَكانَ قَليلاً مَن يَقولُ لَها اِقدُمي

وَكانَ قَليلاً مَن يَقولُ لَها اِقدُمي

And who is like Kafur when the horses shrink back

And who is like Kafoor when the horses hesitated

A man like you needs only his own heart as an intercessor; it has spoken to you on my behalf, though I spoke not a word.

And few are those who tell them, 'Advance!'?

And few who would say to them "Go forth!"

شَديدُ ثَباتِ الطَرفِ وَالنَقعُ واصِلٌ

شَديدُ ثَباتِ الطَرفِ وَالنَقعُ واصِلٌ

إِلى لَهَواتِ الفارِسِ المُتَلَثِّمِ

إِلى لَهَواتِ الفارِسِ المُتَلَثِّمِ

His gaze stays firmly steady while the battle-dust reaches

Firm of glance and soft of foot, a tireless trekker

To the very throat of the veiled horseman.

To the recreations of the veiled horseman

أَبا المِسكِ أَرجو مِنكَ نَصراً عَلى العِدا

أَبا المِسكِ أَرجو مِنكَ نَصراً عَلى العِدا

وَآمُلُ عِزّاً يَخضِبُ البيضَ بِالدَمِ

وَآمُلُ عِزّاً يَخضِبُ البيضَ بِالدَمِ

Abu al-Misk, I hope for your aid against my enemies,

My father, I hope from you victory over the enemies

And hope for might that dyes white swords with blood,

And I aspire to honor that dyes the white with blood

وَيَوماً يَغيظُ الحاسِدينَ وَحالَةً

وَيَوماً يَغيظُ الحاسِدينَ وَحالَةً

أُقيمُ الشَقا فيها مَقامَ التَنَعُّمِ

أُقيمُ الشَقا فيها مَقامَ التَنَعُّمِ

And a day that enrages the envious, and a state

And a day that vexes the envious and a state

In which I set hardship in the place of luxurious ease.

In which I establish pleasure in place of bliss

وَلَم أَرجُ إِلّا أَهلَ ذاكَ وَمَن يُرِد

وَلَم أَرجُ إِلّا أَهلَ ذاكَ وَمَن يُرِد

مَواطِرَ مِن غَيرِ السَحائِبِ يَظلِمِ

مَواطِرَ مِن غَيرِ السَحائِبِ يَظلِمِ

I have looked only to one worthy of that; whoever seeks

And I hoped for none but the people of that place and whoever would

Rain from anything but clouds makes an unjust demand.

Send down rain without clouds and darken

فَلَو لَم تَكُن في مِصرَ ما سِرتُ نَحوَها

فَلَو لَم تَكُن في مِصرَ ما سِرتُ نَحوَها

بِقَلبِ المَشوقِ المُستَهامِ المُتَيَّمِ

بِقَلبِ المَشوقِ المُستَهامِ المُتَيَّمِ

For had you not been in Egypt, I would not have traveled toward it

Had it not been for what I set out for in Egypt

With the heart of one yearning, love-crazed, and love-enslaved.

With a longing, passionate heart that yearned

وَلا نَبَحَت خَيلي كِلابُ قَبائِلٍ

وَلا نَبَحَت خَيلي كِلابُ قَبائِلٍ

كَأَنَّ بِها في اللَيلِ حَملاتِ دَيلَمِ

كَأَنَّ بِها في اللَيلِ حَملاتِ دَيلَمِ

Nor would the dogs of tribes have barked at my horses,

My horses would not have barked at the dogs of tribes

As though Daylam's assaults were upon them in the night.

As if there were night raids among them by raiders

وَلا اِتَّبَعَت آثارَنا عَينُ قائِفٍ

وَلا اِتَّبَعَت آثارَنا عَينُ قائِفٍ

فَلَم تَرَ إِلّا حافِراً فَوقَ مَنسِمِ

فَلَم تَرَ إِلّا حافِراً فَوقَ مَنسِمِ

Nor would a tracker's eye have followed our traces,

Nor would the eye of a spy have followed our tracks

To see only a horse's hoofprint atop a camel's footprint.

And seen nothing but a hoofprint atop a pass

وَسَمنا بِها البَيداءَ حَتّى تَغَمَّرَت

وَسَمنا بِها البَيداءَ حَتّى تَغَمَّرَت

مِنَ النيلِ وَاِستَذرَت بِظِلِّ المُقَطَّمِ

مِنَ النيلِ وَاِستَذرَت بِظِلِّ المُقَطَّمِ

We marked the desert with them until they drank

And we made our way through the desert until we were immersed

From the Nile and took shelter in the shade of al-Muqattam

In the Nile and took shade under the scattered branches

وَأَبلَخَ يَعصي بِاِختِصاصي مُشيرَهُ

وَأَبلَخَ يَعصي بِاِختِصاصي مُشيرَهُ

عَصَيتُ بِقَصديهِ مُشيري وَلوَّمي

عَصَيتُ بِقَصديهِ مُشيري وَلوَّمي

And of a mighty, proud man who defies his adviser by singling me out.

And my guide opposed me by singling me out, so I opposed

In seeking him I defied my adviser and my reprovers.

My guide by my aim, and blamed him

فَساقَ إِلَيَّ العُرفَ غَيرَ مُكَدَّرٍ

فَساقَ إِلَيَّ العُرفَ غَيرَ مُكَدَّرٍ

وَسُقتُ إِلَيهِ الشُكرَ غَيرَ مُجَمجَمِ

وَسُقتُ إِلَيهِ الشُكرَ غَيرَ مُجَمجَمِ

So he brought me kindness, untainted,

So he brought me the customary without bitterness

And I brought him thanks, plainly voiced.

And I brought him gratitude without sullenness

قَدِ اِختَرتُكَ الأَملاكَ فَاِختَر لَهُم بِنا

قَدِ اِختَرتُكَ الأَملاكَ فَاِختَر لَهُم بِنا

حَديثاً وَقَد حَكَّمتُ رَأيَكَ فَاِحكُمِ

حَديثاً وَقَد حَكَّمتُ رَأيَكَ فَاِحكُمِ

I have chosen you over kings; so choose for them, through us,

I have chosen you as the ruler, so choose for them, my friend

A tale to tell; I have made your judgment arbiter, so judge.

A discourse, since I have made your opinion the judge, so judge

فَأَحسَنُ وَجهٍ في الوَرى وَجهُ مُحسِنٍ

فَأَحسَنُ وَجهٍ في الوَرى وَجهُ مُحسِنٍ

وَأَيمَنُ كَفٍّ فيهِمُ كَفُّ مُنعِمِ

وَأَيمَنُ كَفٍّ فيهِمُ كَفُّ مُنعِمِ

So the fairest face among humankind is a benefactor's face,

The best face in the world is the face of one who does good

And the most blessed hand among them is a giver's hand.

And the luckiest palm among them is the palm of one who grants favor

وَأَشرَفُهُم مَن كانَ أَشرَفَ هِمَّةً

وَأَشرَفُهُم مَن كانَ أَشرَفَ هِمَّةً

وَأَكبَرَ إِقداماً عَلى كُلِّ مُعظَمِ

وَأَكبَرَ إِقداماً عَلى كُلِّ مُعظَمِ

And the noblest among them is the noblest in aspiration,

And the noblest among them is he who has the noblest resolve

And the boldest in facing every formidable undertaking.

And greatest boldness against all grandeur

لِمَن تَطلُبُ الدُنيا إِذا لَم تُرِد بِها

لِمَن تَطلُبُ الدُنيا إِذا لَم تُرِد بِها

سُرورَ مُحِبٍّ أَو إِساءَةَ مُجرِمِ

سُرورَ مُحِبٍّ أَو إِساءَةَ مُجرِمِ

For whom do you seek the world, if you do not intend through it

For whom do you seek the world if you do not want by it

The joy of one who loves you, or harm to a wrongdoer?

The joy of a lover or harm of a criminal?

وَقَد وَصَلَ المُهرُ الَّذي فَوقَ فَخذِهِ

وَقَد وَصَلَ المُهرُ الَّذي فَوقَ فَخذِهِ

مِنِ اِسمِكِ ما في كُلِّ عُنقٍ وَمِعصَمِ

مِنِ اِسمِكِ ما في كُلِّ عُنقٍ وَمِعصَمِ

And the colt has arrived, upon whose thigh

And the necklace which lies above his thigh

Is a sign of your name, borne on every neck and wrist.

Bears your name in every neck and wrist

لَكَ الحَيَوانُ الراكِبُ الخَيلَ كُلُّهُ

لَكَ الحَيَوانُ الراكِبُ الخَيلَ كُلُّهُ

وَإِن كانَ بِالنيرانِ غَيرَ مُوَسَّمِ

وَإِن كانَ بِالنيرانِ غَيرَ مُوَسَّمِ

All living creatures that ride horses are yours,

For you is all the riding livestock

Though they have not been branded with fire.

Even if not marked by brands

وَلَو كُنتُ أَدري كَم حَياتي قَسَمتُها

وَلَو كُنتُ أَدري كَم حَياتي قَسَمتُها

وَصَيَّرتُ ثُلثَيها اِنتِظارَكَ فَاِعلَمِ

وَصَيَّرتُ ثُلثَيها اِنتِظارَكَ فَاِعلَمِ

And were I to know how long my life would last, I would divide it

If I had known how much of my life I divided

And devote two-thirds of it to waiting for you—know this.

I would have made two-thirds of it waiting for you, so know

وَلَكِنَّ ما يَمضي مِنَ العُمرِ فائِتٌ

وَلَكِنَّ ما يَمضي مِنَ العُمرِ فائِتٌ

فَجُد لي بِحَظِّ البادِرِ المُتَغَنِّمِ

فَجُد لي بِحَظِّ البادِرِ المُتَغَنِّمِ

But what passes of life is lost,

But what passes of life is gone

So grant me the share of one who hastens to seize his chance.

So grant me the share of the one seizing the opportunity

رَضيتُ بِما تَرضى بِهِ لي مَحَبَّةً

رَضيتُ بِما تَرضى بِهِ لي مَحَبَّةً

وَقُدتُ إِلَيكَ النَفسَ قَودَ المُسَلِّمِ

وَقُدتُ إِلَيكَ النَفسَ قَودَ المُسَلِّمِ

Out of love I accept what you approve for me,

I was content with what you were content with for me out of love

And have led my soul to you as one who surrenders.

And I led my soul to you led like one submitting

وَمِثلُكَ مَن كانَ الوَسيطَ فُؤادُهُ

وَمِثلُكَ مَن كانَ الوَسيطَ فُؤادُهُ

فَكَلَّمَهُ عَنّي وَلَم أَتَكَلَّمِ

فَكَلَّمَهُ عَنّي وَلَم أَتَكَلَّمِ

And one like you has his heart for an intermediary:

And the like of you, whose heart was the intermediary

It spoke to him on my behalf, though I did not speak.

So it spoke to him about me, and I did not speak