أَيا خَدَّدَ اللَهُ وَردَ الخُدودِ

أَيا خَدَّدَ اللَهُ وَردَ الخُدودِ

وَقَدَّ قُدودَ الحِسانِ القُدودِ

وَقَدَّ قُدودَ الحِسانِ القُدودِ

Ah, may God furrow the roses of cheeks,

O He who shaped the cheeks and returned the rosiness,

O how God has etched the roses into the cheeks,

and cleave the forms of those fair of form!

And bestowed the perfection of beauty upon the perfect ones.

And shaped the slender figures of the beauties like lances.

فَهُنَّ أَسَلنَ دَماً مُقلَتي

فَهُنَّ أَسَلنَ دَماً مُقلَتي

وَعَذَّبنَ قَلبي بِطولِ الصُدودِ

وَعَذَّبنَ قَلبي بِطولِ الصُدودِ

For they have made my eye stream blood,

So they shed my blood tearfully,

For they have made my eyes pour forth with blood,

and tormented my heart with prolonged rejection.

And tormented my heart with prolonged estrangement.

And tortured my heart with their endless estrangement.

وَكَم لِلهَوى مِن فَتىً مُدنَفٍ

وَكَم لِلهَوى مِن فَتىً مُدنَفٍ

وَكَم لِلنَوى مِن قَتيلٍ شَهيدِ

وَكَم لِلنَوى مِن قَتيلٍ شَهيدِ

And how many a youth lies wasting with love,

And how many enamored youths there are for passion,

How many a wasting youth falls victim to desire,

and how many a slain martyr to separation!

And how many slain victims there are for resolve.

And how many a martyr is claimed by separation's distance.

فَواحَسرَتا ما أَمَرَّ الفِراقَ

فَواحَسرَتا ما أَمَرَّ الفِراقَ

وَأَعلَقَ نيرانَهُ بِالكُبودِ

وَأَعلَقَ نيرانَهُ بِالكُبودِ

Alas, my sorrow! How bitter parting is,

So alas for the bitterness of parting,

O, the sorrow! How bitter is the taste of parting,

and how tightly its fires cling to livers!

And its fires clinging to the livers.

And how it kindles its fires deep within the vitals.

وَأَغرى الصَبابَةَ بِالعاشِقينَ

وَأَغرى الصَبابَةَ بِالعاشِقينَ

وَأَقتَلَها لِلمُحِبِّ العَميدِ

وَأَقتَلَها لِلمُحِبِّ العَميدِ

And how fiercely longing clings to lovers,

And it deceived the young ones with the lovers,

It incites a consuming passion against the lovers,

and how deadly it is to the love-stricken lover!

And killed them for the sake of the beloved friend.

And proves most deadly to the lovelorn heart.

وَأَلهَجَ نَفسي لِغَيرِ الخَنا

وَأَلهَجَ نَفسي لِغَيرِ الخَنا

بِحُبِّ ذَواتِ اللَمى وَالنُهودِ

بِحُبِّ ذَواتِ اللَمى وَالنُهودِ

And how engrossed my soul is, with no lewd intent,

And it made my soul desire other than reproach

It has enamored my soul—for no vice or sin—

in loving women with dusky lips and swelling breasts!

With love for the gazelles with slender waists.

With the love of dark-lipped maidens and high-breasted beauty.

فَكانَت وَكُنّا فِداءَ الأَميرِ

فَكانَت وَكُنّا فِداءَ الأَميرِ

وَلا زالَ مِن نِعمَةٍ في مَزيدِ

وَلا زالَ مِن نِعمَةٍ في مَزيدِ

May they, and we, be ransom for the emir,

So they were and we were ransomed for the prince,

Yet let them and us be a ransom for the Prince,

and may his blessings ever increase!

And his favors are never decreasing, always increasing.

And may his blessings forever continue to increase.

لَقَد حالَ بِالسَيفِ دونَ الوَعيدِ

لَقَد حالَ بِالسَيفِ دونَ الوَعيدِ

وَحالَت عَطاياهُ دونَ الوُعودِ

وَحالَت عَطاياهُ دونَ الوُعودِ

He has indeed forestalled threats with the sword,

Indeed, he came between the threat and its execution with the sword,

With the sword, he has forestalled the enemy's threat,

and his gifts have forestalled promises.

And his gifts came between the promises and fulfillment.

While his gifts arrive before a promise is even made.

فَأَنجُمُ أَموالِهِ في النُحوسِ

فَأَنجُمُ أَموالِهِ في النُحوسِ

وَأَنجُمُ سُؤَلِهِ في السُعودِ

وَأَنجُمُ سُؤَلِهِ في السُعودِ

So his wealth’s stars lie in ill fortune,

So I hope for the best in his possessions during misfortunes,

Thus the stars of his wealth are in eclipse and decline,

and his petitioners’ stars in good fortune.

And I hope for the best in his requests during ease.

While the stars of his petitioners rise in felicity.

وَلَو لَم أَخَف غَيرَ أَعدائِهِ

وَلَو لَم أَخَف غَيرَ أَعدائِهِ

عَلَيهِ لَبَشَّرتُهُ بِالخُلودِ

عَلَيهِ لَبَشَّرتُهُ بِالخُلودِ

And had I feared only his enemies

And were I not to fear others besides his enemies over him

Were I to fear for him nothing but his foes,

for him, I would have given him tidings of immortality.

I would have given him glad tidings of immortality.

I would herald him with tidings of immortality.

رَمى حَلَباً بِنَواصي الخُيولِ

رَمى حَلَباً بِنَواصي الخُيولِ

وَسُمرٍ يُرِقنَ دَماً في الصَعيدِ

وَسُمرٍ يُرِقنَ دَماً في الصَعيدِ

He assailed Aleppo with the forelocks of horses,

He aimed Halab with the bridles of horses,

He cast the forelocks of war-horses against Aleppo,

and tawny spears spilling blood upon the ground,

And brown swords that shed blood in the plains.

And brown lances that spill blood upon the highlands,

وَبيضٍ مُسافِرَةٍ ما يُقِم

وَبيضٍ مُسافِرَةٍ ما يُقِم

نَ لا في الرِقابِ وَلا في الغُمودِ

نَ لا في الرِقابِ وَلا في الغُمودِ

and bright swords, ever journeying, never remaining—

And white traveling ones that do not settle

And white traveling blades that never settle—

neither in necks nor in scabbards.

Either in necks or in skulls.

Dwelling neither in severed necks nor in their sheaths.

يَقُدنَ الفَناءَ غَداةَ اللِقاءِ

يَقُدنَ الفَناءَ غَداةَ اللِقاءِ

إِلى كُلِّ جَيشٍ كَثيرِ العَديدِ

إِلى كُلِّ جَيشٍ كَثيرِ العَديدِ

They lead annihilation on the morning of battle

Leading to annihilation after the encounter

They lead annihilation on the morning of the clash

to every army vast in number.

To every army numerous and well-equipped.

Against every army, no matter its vast number.

فَوَلّى بِأَشياعِهِ الخَرشَنِيُّ

فَوَلّى بِأَشياعِهِ الخَرشَنِيُّ

كَشاءٍ أَحَسَّ بِزَأرِ الأُسودِ

كَشاءٍ أَحَسَّ بِزَأرِ الأُسودِ

Then al-Kharshani fled with his followers,

So Al-Kharshani fled with his supporters

So Al-Kharshani turned his back with his cohorts,

like sheep sensing the roar of lions.

Like a lion who sensed the roar of lions.

Fleeing like sheep that sense the roar of lions;

يُرَونَ مِنَ الذُعرِ صَوتَ الرِياحِ

يُرَونَ مِنَ الذُعرِ صَوتَ الرِياحِ

صَهيلَ الجِيادِ وَخَفقَ البُنودِ

صَهيلَ الجِيادِ وَخَفقَ البُنودِ

In terror they take the sound of the winds

They see in fright the sound of the winds,

In terror, they mistake the howling of the wind

for the neighing of steeds and the fluttering of banners.

The neighing of the steeds and the fluttering of the banners.

For the neighing of steeds and the fluttering of banners.

فَمَن كَالأَميرِ اِبنِ بِنتِ الأَميـ

فَمَن كَالأَميرِ اِبنِ بِنتِ الأَميـ

ـرِ أَو مَن كَآبائِهِ وَالجُدودِ

ـرِ أَو مَن كَآبائِهِ وَالجُدودِ

Who, then, is like the emir, son of the emir’s daughter,

So who is like the prince son of the daughter of the prince

Who is like the Prince, the son of the daughter of the Prince?

or who is like his fathers and grandfathers?

Or like his forefathers and ancestors?

Or who compares to his fathers and noble ancestors?

سَعَوا لِلمَعالي وَهُم صِبيَةٌ

سَعَوا لِلمَعالي وَهُم صِبيَةٌ

وَسادوا وَجادوا وَهُم في المُهودِ

وَسادوا وَجادوا وَهُم في المُهودِ

They strove for greatness while still children,

They aspired to high glories when they were children,

They strove for glory while yet but children,

and ruled and gave generously while still in cradles.

And they presided and were generous when they were infants.

And ruled and gave freely while still in their cradles.

أَمالِكَ رِقّي وَمَن شَأنُهُ

أَمالِكَ رِقّي وَمَن شَأنُهُ

هِباتُ اللُجَينِ وَعِتقُ العَبيدِ

هِباتُ اللُجَينِ وَعِتقُ العَبيدِ

O master of my bondage, whose custom is

My sovereign to whom it is proper

O master of my bondage, whose nature it is

gifts of silver and the freeing of slaves,

To give gifts and emancipate slaves.

To bestow silver gifts and set captives free:

دَعَوتُكَ عِندَ اِنقِطاعِ الرَجا

دَعَوتُكَ عِندَ اِنقِطاعِ الرَجا

ءِ وَالمَوتُ مِنّي كَحَبلِ الوَريدِ

ءِ وَالمَوتُ مِنّي كَحَبلِ الوَريدِ

I called upon you when hope was cut off,

I called upon you when hopes were cut off

I called to you when every strand of hope was cut,

while death was as close to me as the jugular vein.

And death was as near to me as my jugular vein.

And death loomed closer than my jugular vein.

دَعَوتُكَ لَمّا بَراني البَلاءُ

دَعَوتُكَ لَمّا بَراني البَلاءُ

وَأَوهَنَ رِجلَيَّ ثِقلُ الحَديدِ

وَأَوهَنَ رِجلَيَّ ثِقلُ الحَديدِ

I called upon you when affliction had worn me away,

I called upon you when affliction befell me

I called you when affliction had whittled me away,

and the weight of iron had weakened my legs.

And the weight of iron weakened my legs.

And the heavy weight of iron had weakened my legs.

وَقَد كانَ مَشيُهُما في النِعالِ

وَقَد كانَ مَشيُهُما في النِعالِ

فَقَد صارَ مَشيُهُما في القُيودِ

فَقَد صارَ مَشيُهُما في القُيودِ

They once used to walk in sandals,

While their walking was in slippers

Once their custom was to walk in soft sandals,

but now they walk in fetters.

Their walking became in shackles.

But now they must drag themselves forward in chains.

وَكُنتُ مِنَ الناسِ في مَحفِلٍ

وَكُنتُ مِنَ الناسِ في مَحفِلٍ

فَها أَنا في مَحفِلٍ مِن قُرودِ

فَها أَنا في مَحفِلٍ مِن قُرودِ

And I was in a gathering of people,

While I was among people in an assembly

I was once in a gathering among noble men,

but here I am in a gathering of monkeys,

Hastening the applicability of penal laws upon me

But behold me now, surrounded by a troop of apes.

تُعَجِّلُ فِيَّ وُجوبَ الحُدودِ

تُعَجِّلُ فِيَّ وُجوبَ الحُدودِ

وَحَدّي قُبَيلَ وُجوبِ السُجودِ

وَحَدّي قُبَيلَ وُجوبِ السُجودِ

who hasten to make prescribed punishments binding on me,

And my limit just before prostration.

You hasten to execute the sentence upon me,

though I am just short of the age when prostration is required.

And it was said you transgressed upon people

While my rank predates the command to bow in prayer.

وَقيلَ عَدَوتَ عَلى العالَميـ

وَقيلَ عَدَوتَ عَلى العالَميـ

ـنَ بَينَ وِلادي وَبَينَ القُعودِ

ـنَ بَينَ وِلادي وَبَينَ القُعودِ

And they said I had assailed all mankind

Between me sitting and standing up.

They say I transgressed against all the world—

between my birth and my first sitting up!

So why do you accept the untruthful words

From the moment of my birth to the days of my youth.

فَما لَكَ تَقبَلُ زورَ الكَلامِ

فَما لَكَ تَقبَلُ زورَ الكَلامِ

وَقَدرُ الشَهادَةِ قَدرُ الشُهودِ

وَقَدرُ الشَهادَةِ قَدرُ الشُهودِ

So why do you accept false speech,

When the value of testimony is that of witnesses?

Why then do you listen to words spoken falsely,

when testimony’s worth is its witnesses’ worth?

So do not listen to the false accusers,

When a testimony is only as true as the witness?

فَلا تَسمَعَنَّ مِنَ الكاشِحينَ

فَلا تَسمَعَنَّ مِنَ الكاشِحينَ

وَلا تَعبَأَنَّ بِمَحكِ اليَهودِ

وَلا تَعبَأَنَّ بِمَحكِ اليَهودِ

So never listen to the spiteful,

And do not care for the judgement of Jews.

Do not lend your ear to the haters' malice,

and pay no heed to the Jews’ wrangling.

And distinguish between a claim I wanted

And pay no heed to the stubborn disputes of the Jews.

وَكُن فارِقاً بَينَ دَعوى أَرَدتُ

وَكُن فارِقاً بَينَ دَعوى أَرَدتُ

وَدَعوى فَعَلتُ بِشَأوٍ بَعيدِ

وَدَعوى فَعَلتُ بِشَأوٍ بَعيدِ

And distinguish between the claim 'I intended'

And a claim I did in a far fetched manner.

Distinguish the gulf between the claim "I intended,"

and the claim 'I did,' by a wide gulf.

And in your generous hands is what you gifted me

And the claim "I performed"—a vast distance lies between.

وَفي جودِ كَفَّيكَ ما جُدتَ لي

وَفي جودِ كَفَّيكَ ما جُدتَ لي

بِنَفسي وَلَو كُنتُ أَشقى ثَمودِ

بِنَفسي وَلَو كُنتُ أَشقى ثَمودِ

And in your hands’ bounty lies the gift you grant me:

With myself even if I were the most wretched Thamud.

In the bounty of your hands lies the gift you granted me:

my own life, even were I the most wretched of Thamud.

My very life—even were I the most wretched of Thamud.