خَيشُ ابنِ رستمَ يَحمى وهو ممطورُ

خَيشُ ابنِ رستمَ يَحمى وهو ممطورُ

أخنى الهجيرُ عليه فهو مهجورُ

أخنى الهجيرُ عليه فهو مهجورُ

Ibn Rustam’s sackcloth grows hot, though it is rained upon.

Khaysh, son of Rustam, protects while fully armed,

The noonday heat has ravaged it, so it lies abandoned.

The abandoned one complained of him, so he was shunned,

ولو يَطيبُ ولو عُلَّتْ شَرائِجُه

ولو يَطيبُ ولو عُلَّتْ شَرائِجُه

بالرَّاحِ خالطَها مِسْكٌ وكافورُ

بالرَّاحِ خالطَها مِسْكٌ وكافورُ

Even if it grows pleasant, even if its woven panels are soaked anew

And if only his nature would improve, even if his traits

With wine mingled with musk and camphor.

Were scented with musk and camphor when the wind mixed with them,

يَرُشُّهُ والنُّدامى يَعْرَقُونَ به

يَرُشُّهُ والنُّدامى يَعْرَقُونَ به

كأنه لدوامِ الرَّشِّ ممطورُ

كأنه لدوامِ الرَّشِّ ممطورُ

He sprinkles it while his drinking companions sweat in it,

He would perfume himself while the repentants sweat from him,

As though, from the constant sprinkling, it were rained upon.

As if from the continuity of perfuming he is fully armed,

فإنْ يَكُنْ خيشُه في الحَرِّ مُلتَهِباً

فإنْ يَكُنْ خيشُه في الحَرِّ مُلتَهِباً

فإنَّ كانونَه في القُرِّ مقرورُ

فإنَّ كانونَه في القُرِّ مقرورُ

So if his sackcloth is ablaze in the heat,

So if his personality in heat is inflamed,

Then his brazier is chilled in the cold.

Then his December in cold is frozen.