عافَ الوقوفَ على المحلِّ العافي
وأقامَ إلفَ مَوَدَّةِ الأُلاّفِ
He lingers where the breeze is sweet and mild,
And fellowship abides, companions tried and true.
صَبٌّ يواصلُ للصبَّابةِ قاطعاً
ويُلِمُّ من ألمِ الغَرامِ بِحَافي
The lover pours the loved one wine, and fills
Her cup again - would that these pains I knew!
ظَامٍ إلى الوَجَنَاتِ يُوِردُهُ الرَّدَى
وَرْدٌ بها يُجنى بغيرِ قِطافِ
The darkness brings a pallor to his cheeks;
Unplucked, the fruit hangs ripe on every bough.
ويَزيدُهُ ضُعْفُ الخُصورِ إذا انثَنَتْ
للوَجْدِ أَضعافاً على أضعافِ
And when she turns, her languid grace alone
Can double and redouble lover's vow.
أيامَ يَعْطِفهُ على لَذَّاتِه
خَنِثُ الشَّمائلِ مائسُ الأَعْطافِ
The smooth of form and limb, the soft of skin -
Their days are given to pleasure and delight.
والشَّرْبُ قد صبّوا الصَّباحَ على الدُّجى
ما بينَ ضَوْءِ سوالفٍ وسُلافِ
They poured the dawn-cup, and the veil of night
Was torn between the bowls and shining white.
والبدرُ يَظهرُ في السَّحابِ كأنَّه
عَذراءُ تنظُرُ من وَراءِ سِجافِ
Behind the clouds the moon was like a maid
Who peeps from modest curtains, half afraid.
والرّاحُ قد حملَتْ لها ريحُ الصَّبا
نَفَحاتِ مِسْكٍ بالعَبيرِ مُدافِ
The morning breeze was scented as the maid
Opened the musky phials that last eve she made.
وتناهَبَتْ كاساتُها ظُلَمَ الدُّجى
نَهْبَ العُفاةِ نَدى أبي العَطَّافِ
And so they snatched the last dark from the night,
Like Abû Nuwâs, ere came the day-star's light.
حَكَمٌ على الأيَّامِ يحكُمُ في العِدا
والمالِ حُكمَ مُجانِبِ الإنصافِ
Judgment upon the days! They judge amiss
Qf wealth; equity escapes them in this.
فَمحلُّه خَضِرُ الجَنابِ من النَّدى
عَذْبُ المَوارِدِ آمِنُ الأكنافِ
The place is green, sweet are its streams and fair,
Safe its retreats from every troubling care.
حالي الثَّرى يجري النَّسيمُ إذا جرَى
صُبْحاً بأنفاسٍ عليه ِضعافِ
The wind blows o'er it when the breeze is set
That wakes perfume from hair with braids inset.
قطعَ الوفودُ به المسيرَ وطالَما
وَصَلوا الذَّميلَ إليه بالإيجافِ
The roads that lead men thither are too long.
Yet they press on apace the sands among.
عرَفوا الأميرَ مُواصِلاً معروفَه
بخلائِقٍ مِسكيِّةِ الأعرافِ
They know the prince as bounty's very fount,
The soul of high emprise and brave account.
وكَسَوه من بِدَعِ القريضِ مدائحاً
موشّيةً كبدائعِ الأفوافِ
The verses they have woven for his praise
Show like the broideries time shall not erase.
أعطى فقَصَّرَ في العَطاءِ بحاتمٍ
وسَطا فأخمَلَ سطوةَ الجحَّافِ
He gave, but ceased not giving, overpassed
Hâtim in bounty - his high name shall last.
في مَعْرَكٍ طافَ الرَّدى بكُماتِه
عندَ اختلافِ الطَّعْنِ أيَّ طَوافِ
When in the mêlée swords flash swift and fast,
His, surest-thrusting,agh the onset past.
فإذا السَّنابِكُ أنشأَتْ ليلاً به
ثَقَبَ الصَّباحَ له سَنا الأسيافِ
His many heroes carry into the night
Assault, and pierce with lances towards the light,
من أسرةٍ أَسَرَتْ لها صِيدَ العُلى
وقَفَاتُ أَصْيَدَ في الرَّدى وَقَّافِ
Of princely stock, they captured high estate,
The quarry sentinel at Fortune's gate.
جعلُوا السُّيوفَ لكلِّ خَطْبٍ مَعْقِلاً
إن السُّيوفُ معاقلُ الأشرافِ
Their swords the refuge of each lofty thing.
Swords are the seals of the most puissant king.
وكَساهُمُ صَفُو النَّجاةِ خَلائِقاً
أصفى من الماءِ الزُّلالِ الصَّافي
Pure lives have they, from sin and evil clean,
Pure as the water, spotless in its sheen.
فلهُم عَزائِمُ ما امتضَيْنَ صَوارِماً
إلا جَلَيْنَ بها دُجى الأسيافِ
The purposes they have set their hearts upon,
Not least of all is this - to blunt the sword.
ومَحلُّ عِزٍّ شاملٍ ما احتلَّه
باغٍ كَساه البغيُ ثَوبَ خِلافِ
And every place of vantage he has gained
Spoil from the niggard time he holds unchained.
إلا رأى الرَّاياتِ تَخفُقُ حولَه
ورأى الوَشيجَ مُخَضَّبَ الأطرافِ
On every side the banners rise unfurled,
The blood reddens and spatters on the world.
