تنفَّسَ عن وَجْدٍ تَوقَّدَ جمرُهُ
فأجرى مَسيلَ الدَّمع يَنهلُّ قَطرُهُ
He breathed a sigh for inner turmoil set aflame,
So tears flowed and droplets rained like a flood.
وبات يعاني الهَمَّ ليس ببارحٍ
على قلبه إقدامه ومكرُّه
By night he suffered endless worries and griefs
That weighed upon his heart though he showed boldness and cleverness.
تمنّى وما يغني التمنّي مطالباً
حَرِيٌّ به لولا الدَّنيَّةُ دهره
He wished in vain, for wishing brings no wants to men,
Fate would be kind, were it not for life's vileness.
ودون أمانيه عوائق جمّة
يضيق لها في المنزل الرحب صدره
Before his hopes stood barriers strong
That even in the spacious abode straitened his chest.
تحمَّل أعباءُ المتاعب والتقى
على غرّة صرف الزمان وغدره
He bore life's burdens and met
The caprice of time and its treachery.
وأشقى بني هذا الزمان أريبه
وأتعبُ من فيه من النَّاس حرُّه
Of all people in this age, he found most woe
And most weariness of spirit fell to his lot.
وربَّ خميص البطن مما يشينه
ينوءُ بأثقال الأُبوَّة ظهره
How oft, though ashamed, the poor man's belly rumbles,
While responsibilities weigh down his back!
له كلّ يوم وقفة بعد وقفة
يهيجُ جوى أحشائه وتقرّه
Daily he halts again and again,
His heart aflutter and nerves a-tremble.
يطول مع الأيام فيها عتابه
ويسهر ليلاً ما تبلّجَ فجره
As days go by his complaints grow long.
At night he wakes though dawn is at hand.
يشيم سنا برق المطامع وامضاً
تألَّقَ إلاَّ إنّه لا يغرّه
He saw in his hopes, now shattered, once
A gleam like lightning, which now deceives him not.
فأمسى يغضّ الطرف عنه ودونه
وقوف الفتى يفضي إلى الضّيم أمره
So he turns his gaze from them and their course,
For the youth's road leads but to harm and injustice.
وحالَف مختاراً إلى العزّ نفسه
إباءً ولم يُؤْخَذْ على الذُّلِّ إصره
Yet still to honour he pledges his soul
Unbowed, and no disgrace can make him yield.
بنفسي امرؤ يقسو على الدهر ما قسا
ولم يتصدَّع في الحوادث صخره
By my life! A man so hardened to fate,
Whose rock-firm soul the blows of fortune rend not!
إذا ما رأى المرعى الدنيّ تنوشُه
يَدُ الرذل يُستحلى مع الهون مرُّه
When he sees the lowly enjoy the fine pasture,
The vile made welcome, baseness showing its face,
فلا زال موصولاً من الله لطفه
إليَّ ومسبولاً من الله ستره
Still God's grace is linked to him
And God's veil spread protecting over him.
بأبلج وضاح الجبين أغرّه
فلله وضّاح الجبين أغرّه
With a face white and radiant he is dazzled.
Glory to him of the radiant visage!
كما لم يزل منِّي عليه ولم يَزلْ
ثنائي على طول الزمان وبرّه
He was always faithful to me and still is,
My praises of him lasting through the years.
كفاني مهمّات الأمور جميعها
فما سرَّني أن ساءني الدهر غيره
Worldly matters, all of them, are enough for me,
I care only that time has not marred him.
وما بات إلاَّ وهو في الخطب كالئي
بطرف يريع الدهر إذ ذاك شزره
When he speaks his words like stars shine bright,
As time sheds its light that reveals its secrets.
وما لامرئٍ عندي جميلاً أعدُّه
وكيف وقد غطّى على البحر نهره
To me no man's deeds seem fairer than his.
How could they, when his river has flooded the sea?
وإنَّ الجميل المحضَ معنىً وصورةً
خلائقه بين الأنام وذكره
True beauty of essence and form in full
Is in his nature, renown, and mention.
حياة جميل الصنع فيها حياته
وعمر المعالي والأبوّة عمره
For Sir Beautiful is life itself.
The life of high deeds and fatherliness is his age.
حياض العطاء المستفاض أكفُّه
ومن فيضها جزل العطاء وغمره
His palms overflow with never-ending bestowal,
And from their plenitude pours copious bounty.
يمينٌ كصوب المزن يهرق جودها
ووجه كروض الحزن قد راق بشره
A hand that pours its generosiy like rain,
A face as lovely as a meadow in bloom.
دعاه إلى المعروف من نفسه لها
وتلك سجاياه وذلك طوره
To righteousness his soul gently calls him,
Such is his way and his nature's balance.
أدَرَّتْ له أخلاف كُلِّ حَلوبَةٍ
من المجد حتَّى قيل لله دَرُّه
For him successive generations of nobility
Have rolled like pearls so that God is his precious pearl.
تنصّل هذا الدهر من ذنبه به
فلا تعتبنّ اللَّيل والصبح عذره
Time excuses itself through him for its own sins,
So do not blame the night or dawn for its neglect.
فما ذنبه من بعد ذلك ذنبه
ولا وزره من بعد ذلك وزره
For after that, none of its sins are really sins,
Nor any burden it bears a real burden.
ولي منه ما أهدي لديه وأبتغي
ومنِّي له المدح الَّذي طاب نشره
From him I receive what gifts are bestowed on me
And praise that spreads fair by his merit.
فيا قمراً في أُفق كلّ أبيّةٍ
سريع إلى المعروف والبرّ سيره
O moon in the sky of all glory!
Quick to righteous deed and kindness is his steed.
فداؤك نفسي والمناجيب كلّها
ومن سرَّه في النَّاس أنَّك فخره
Soul and all the stars are his ransom!
For he is the pride of people far and wide.
أفي النَّاس إلاَّ أنتَ من عَمَّ خيرُه
بيوم على الدنيا تطايَرَ شرّه
But for you, who would spread good amongst mankind
And scatter the evil of the day when it flies?
وما غيرك المدعوُّ إن شبَّ جمرها
وأنشبَ نابُ الخطب فينا وظفره
When events flare up angry and fierce
Who else is called but you to confront and subdue them?
قواضٍ على صرف الحوادث بيضه
مواضٍ لعمري في الكريهة سمره
A righter of time's caprice, a white rock
When fate turns dark, its glint brings light.
إذا ما غزا معروفه النكر مَرَّةً
فلله مغزاه وبالله نصره
Whenever his good meets with rejection,
God grant him victory for God is his aid!
تدفَّق في حوض المكارم جوده
وحَلَّق في جَوٍّ من الفخر صقره
His generoisity flows in the basin of glory,
His falcon soars through the air in a halo of honor.
فهل يَعْلَمَنَّ المجدُ أنَّك فخره
وهل يعْلَمنَّ الجود أنَّك بحره
Will glory not realise that you are its pride?
Will generosity not realise that you are its sea?
ومستعصم بالعزِّ منك وثوقه
إليك إذا هاب الدنايا مفره
Certain of your power, dignity seeks refuge in you
When the world is full of fear and has nowhere to flee.
وما خَفَيت حال عليك ظهورها
وكيف وسرُّ العَبد عندك جهره
No state of affairs remains hidden from you.
How could it when a man's secret is plain before you?
فلا تحسبنِّي من ثراك مملّقاً
ورُبَّ غنيٍّ ليس يبرح فقره
Think not that I flatter for gain,
Though many a wealthy man remains ever poor.
وليس فقيراً من رآك له غنىً
ولا آيساً مَن أنتَ ما عاش ذخره
None who behold you are poor, for in you they have riches,
Nor lost who live, for in you lies their treasure.
فشكراً لأيديك الَّتي قد تتابعت
إليَّ بما يستوجب الحمد شكره
Thanks be for your hands that unceasingly
Bring blessings that deserve praise and gratefulness.
ولو نظم الجوزاء فيك لما وفى
بها نظمه المُثني عليك ونثره
If the stars sought to praise you in verse
Their stringing of pearls would not begin to express you.
وما يملأ الأقطار إلاَّ ثناؤه
ويعذُب إلاَّ في مديحك شعره
The horizons can barely contain your praise,
And only hymns to you make poetry sweet.
