قالت سَمعت أَن حُراً ضاعا

في بَلدة حَل بِها وَجاعا

She said, "I heard that a free man got lost, in a town he arrived at, sick.

So he remained for days, a friend of the mosque; he didn't see any happiness among his neighbors.

فَظَل أَياماً حَليف مسجد

لَم يَرَ في جيرانِهِ مِن مسعد

Until when he was about to die of hunger, and he avoided settlement and rest,

His soul said to him, blaming him, "The young man failed at life unfortunately."

حَتَّى إِذا كادَ يَموت جوعا

وَهَجر القَرار وَالهُجوعا

"Seek scraps to preserve your life, know that the wretch is he who died.

Go out and beg, the humiliation of asking, is better than death in any case."

قالَت لَهُ وَعنفته نَفسه

عَجز الفَتى عَن الحَياة نَحسه

He said to her, "Nay, death is sweeter, than asking for food, at any watering place."

"For Qais ibn Dharih asked, when he was old, having become needy,

اطلب حطاماً يحفظ الحياتا

إِنَّ الشقي فاعلمن مَن ماتا

So the people turned him away, and didn't give him, provision, and they fled from him when they saw him."

"My soul is content with humiliation, submitting, seeking food.

اخرج فَسَل فذلة السؤال

خَير مِن المَوت بِكُل حال

It deserves to die of hunger, so it didn't taste a meal for a week."

He died of hunger and the wailing woman eulogized him, and mentioned his generosity.

قالَ لَها بَل الحَمام أَحلى

مِن السُؤال مَورِداً وَأغلى

But I will seek and roam the roads, and it was dusk.

So he came to the door of a grocer, having apparent wealth and money.

فَإِن قَيس بن زُهير طَلَبا

وَهوَ كَبير السن لَما سَغبا

He said to the people, "Good evening, he who asks for food commits no wrong.

A stranger guest who has no dinner, his intestines are filled with hunger."

فَرده القَوم وَما أَعطوه

قوتاً وَفَروا مِنهُ إِذ رَأوه

The homeowner had food, and it was the night of fasting.

So his wife took a loaf, and rushed to feed the weak man.

فَقالَ نَفس رَضيت بِالذل

وَخَضَعت طالِبَة لِلأَكل

The husband got angry at her and jumped, whipping her severely saying in anger,

"Your reward is divorce, for this deed, after this you are not my wife!"

جَديرة بِأَن تَموت جوعا

فَلَم يَذُق مِن مَطعَم أسبوعا

The poor man rejected the home's door, and returned humiliated and broken.

Saying, "Why did you divorce the helpless, and the poor woman had to spend the night?"

وَماتَ جوعاً وَرثته النائِحة

وَذَكرت ما كانَ مِنهُ شارِحه

And he spent the night in his mosque, determined to perish of hunger, and to end this life.

The neighbors gathered for prayer, and mentioned how to distribute the alms tax.

لكنني سَأَبتَغي وَأطلب

وَطافَ في الطرق وَكانَ المَغرب

Each said, "I have an obligation to God, it's enough for me to prevent that transgression."

The Imam said, "This man most deserves his right, so stop making excuses."

فَجاءَ باب رَجل بقال

لُه ثَراء ظاهر ذو مال

So they gathered a thousand dinars from the alms tax, and the elder brought it to him secretly.

After misery and distress, he now had riches in fertility and prosperity,

فَقالَ للقوم عموا مَساء

من طَلَب القوت فَما أَساء

Until when the year passed, his money doubled to great wealth.

He went early to the market, returning as a merchant,

ضَيف غَريب ما لَهُ عَشاء

قَد حشيت بِجوعه الأَحشاء

And he wouldn't lose money among the traders.

He became one of the prominent merchants,

وَصاحب الدار عَلى الطعام

وَكانَ ذاكَ لَيلة الصيام

A leader among the great sellers.

A neighbor elder said to him, "Do you have among your family,

فَأَخَذَت زَوجته رَغيفا

وَبادَرَت لِتُطعم الضعيفا

A young beautiful girl, like the full moon, radiant as a gazelle?"

"So that when she is gifted to him, and she displays her beauty to him,

فَغضب الزوج عَلَيها وَوَثب

بِالسوط وَاِشتاطَ وَقالَ في الغَضَب

and they sit one day for the meal, and they turn to the wine to enjoy together,

A poor man comes to the door asking. His wife says, it's not nice,

جَزاؤكَ الطلاق عَن ذا الفعل

فَلَست لي مِن بَعد ذا باهل

God will give to you, I don't have, for all who ask, except refusal."

The husband gets angry at her and jumps, beating and cursing her severely,

فأنكر المسكين باب الدار

وَعادَ في ذُل وَفي انكِسار

Handing the poor man what's atop the tray, all of it, from Iraq and Maraq.

And he says, "What's your excuse, O fool, for this terrible saying?"

يَقول لم طلقت الظعينه

بِسَببي وَباتَت المسكينه

She said to him, " I refused a beggar, that wasn't, if you consider, harmful.

And I had before you another husband, so he got angry

وَباتَ في مَسجده وَقَد عَزم

عَلى الردى جوعاً وَلِلعَيش حسم

And the bond between us broke because of him."

He said to her, "I recognize the story, don't mention to me the vile despicable man."

فَاِجتَمع الجيران للصلاة

وَذَكَروا مَصارف الزكاة

She said, "He passed away while you're safe, and he's regretting his actions since."

So the husband prostrated saying, "Thanks! Ill will only breeds more ill will!"

وَقالَ كُل إِن عِندي حَقا

للَّه حَسبي منع ذاكَ فسقا

"Do you recognize that beggar, when he came to you suffering and blind?"

I am that beggar wretch! And there's no despair of God's kindness!"

قالَ الإِمام إِنَّ هَذا الرجُلا

أَحَق بِالحَق فَخلوا العللا

"Praise God who gave me his place, and endowed me with riches.

His home, his wedding, his money!" He feared when he heard her words.

فَجَمَعوا مِن الزكاة أَلفا

فَجاءهُ الشَّيخ بِها وَخَفا

So the cock came to me and said, "What do you complain of, and what do you desire to eat?"

I said to him, "I'm sickly and frail, thrown without feathers, captive of time."

فَباتَ بَعد البُؤس وَالضرَّاء

ذا ثَروة في الخَصب وَالرخاء

He said, "Who did this to you tell me, and speak the truth if talking to me fully."

So when I clarified all my matter, he came attacking me severely with his beak,

حَتَّى إِذا الحَول عَلَيهِ حالا

تَضاعف المال لَهُ أَموالا

Striking me, an angered beating, saying: misery comes upon the wretched!

His hand is paralyzed, who didn't leave you! Damn him, what made him destroy you?!

وَباكر السوق وَعادَ تاجِرا

وَلَم يَكُن بَينَ التجار خاسِرا

Killing to me, is part of what you deserve, to leave you transgressor is not deemed right!

And now I've come to my household, get out to torture and hell!"

وَصارَ في مَشايخ التجار

مُقَدما في الباعة الكِبار

He dragged me after beating me painfully, making me hear hurtful suffering.

So I got up not knowing where to go, confused in my purposes, doubtful.

قالَ لَهُ شَيخ مِن الجِيران

هَل لَكَ في خود مِن النسوان

Then I met a fox in my path so I shunned him to escape.

Behind me was the son of my protector, with ferocious attacking dogs!

صبية فائِقة الجَمال

كَالبَدر وَالقَضيب وَالغَزال

So I said "who can save me and help me flee?" Then I prayed to God, dispeller of distresses,

He is gentle to His creation, answering despair with imminent relief.

حَتّى إِذا ما أهديت إلَيهِ

وَنَفَضَت مِن حُسنِها عَلَيه

So I fell into their hands while they pulled with all their might

And only my Lord's subtle kindness could overcome them

وَجَلَسا يَوماً عَلى الطعام

وَاِستَظهَرا في الشُرب للمدام

Until when I despaired of my life, and no means of salvation were built for me,

They disputed among themselves which would hunt me down,

جاءَ إِلى الباب فَقير يَسأَل

قالَت لَهُ الزوجة ما لا يجمل

And they all had come wanting me, so I slipped away while they busied themselves,

Their sworn allies had surrounded me closely stacked.

اللَّهُ يُعطيكَ فَلَيسَ عِندي

لِكُل مَن يَسأل غَير الرَد

And I remained among them for a time until my wings grew back,

After they had molted. So that's the strangest of wonders,

فَغَضب الزَّوج عَلَيها وَوثب

يوسعها مِن قَولِها ضَرباً وَسَب

And nothing in the eras is unbelievable!

So tell me the story of your affairs, and reveal your secrets!"

وَناول المسكين ما فَوقَ الطبَق

جَميعه مِن العِراق وَالمَرَق

He said to me "I was set loose to graze, and I wouldn't stop looking."

Nightfall forced me into an owl's nest, so I spent the night an inauspicious owl guest.

وَقالَ ما عُذرك يا رَقيعه

في هَذِهِ المَقالة الشَّنيعه

They brought food and drink, feigning honor and admiration.

And they recounted what wonders they'd seen, and said "Tell me without sinning."

قالَت لَهُ إِني أَنلت سائِلا

ما لَم يَكُن إِذا اِعتَبَرت طائِلا

So when he slept, drunk, I killed his chicks - he didn't thank me!

And I didn't know he intended, or plot against me with his words.

وَكانَ لي بَعل سِواك فَغضب

وَعادَ حبل الوَصل مِنهُ مُنقَضب

I slept drunk and the old hen said "Do not fall asleep!" I said "Quiet, you ignorant one!"

She said "It's ugly that the home's owner sleep, while the awake guest didn't sleep!"

قالَ لَها وَعرفَ الحَديثا

لا تَذكُري لي السفله الخَبيثا

But drunkenness overwhelmed me so I slept, and he jumped,

Attacking my chicks who then faced destruction from him.

قالَت لَقَد ماتَ وَأَنتَ سالم

وَإِنَّهُ مِن وَقتِهِ لَنادم

The peacock said: "Evil is what you have done, your story is an innovation!"

"This isn't customary hospitality, to betray after affection and food!"

فَسَجَدَ الزوج وَقالَ شُكراً

لَيسَ يَجُر النكر إِلا النكرا

"We don't know anyone like this among our kind, our minds lead us more than our beauty!"

Maybe he's someone who one day accompanied, the debauched who taught him immorality.

هَل تَعرِفين ذَلِكَ الفَقيرا

لما أَتاكُم بائِساً ضَريرا

For accompanying evildoers is an infectious disease, like traits, from father and grandfather.

So describe him and trace his lineage if you know him, perhaps he may be recognized if you depict him."

إِني أَنا ذاك الفَقير البائس

وَلَيسَ مِن لُطف الإِله يائس

So the owl said "He named himself Morning, and said his father's name is Pretty."

And he used to be called Father Qamash, entrusted with nests by all birds.

الحَمدُ للَّه الَّذي أَعطاني

مَكانه وَبالغنى حَباني

And my dwelling was Penguin Island, famous in the North African region.

So I was a blessing and money, such wealth the governor coveted.

وَدارَهُ وَعُرسه وماله

فَخافَ لَما سَمع المَقاله

For my enviers crept toward it, and with the poor money is a sin.

So they all strove to uproot it, until they accomplished its extraction.

فَجاءَني الديك وَقالَ ما الَّذي

تَشكو وَماذا تَشتَهي وَتَغتَدي

My enviers were of two types, both actively seeking my demise at one time.

Some were spoiled by favors I gave ignorant of motives and doubts that occurred to me.

قُلت لَهُ إِني عَليل ضمن

ملقى بِلا ريش أَسير زَمَن

I preferred them over all birds, until when I singled them out favorably,

They transgressed and assumed it was their right, and sustenance duty-bound for them.

قالَ وَمَن ذا نالَ منكَ قُل لي

وَاصدق إِذا حَدثتَني في الكُل

I have no right to obligate them, for it is provision for people taken forcibly.

Thus is he who patronizes fools and prefers lowly rogues.

فَحينَ أَوضَحت جَميع أَمري

نَحا إِليَّ جاهِداً بالنقر

Some I distanced due to assumption and excessive corruption in collecting.

For my nature disowned them, and recoiled from their temperament.

يَضرِبُني ضَرب مغيظ محنق

إِن الشقاء نازِل عَلى الشقي

I never liked them naturally so I always deprived them of gifts.

Among them are honorable noble minds, with intellect and dreams.

وَقالَ شلت يَده لم تَرَكك

تَباً لَهُ ما بالهُ ما أَهلكك

My coldness angered them - for aloofness causes enmity indeed.

Especially when they saw my cordiality towards the indecent and boorish.

فَالقَتل عِندي بَعض ما تستَوجب

تركك يا فاسق لا يَستصوب

Nothing corrupts behavior like elevating the inferior and defective,

And denying virtue for passion, not qualities.

وَالآن قَد جئت إِلى حريمي

أَخرج إِلى العَذاب وَالجَحيم

He who deprives a stranger and guards distant and near

Deserves condemnation and blame, his actions are like Abu Nama's.

وَجر رجلي بَعدَ ما أَوجَعَني

ضَرباً وَمَكروه الأَذى أسمَعني

فَقمت لا أَعرف أَين أَذهب

حَيران في مَقاصِدي مذبذب

ثُم لَقيت في طَريقي ثَعلَبا

فَحدت عَن طَريقه لأهربا

فَمَن لي مِن خَلفي اِبن آوى

وَأكلب ضارية تعاوى

فَقُلتُ مَن لي بِالخَلاص وَالهَرَب

ثُم دَعَوت اللَّه كَشاف الكرب

فَهوَ لَطيف بِالوَرى مُجيب

عِندَ القُنوط الفَرج القَريب

فَقَصَدت أَخذي وَشدت كلها

وَلطف رَبي وَحده يغلها

حَتَّى إِذا يَئست مِن حَياتي

وَلَم يَبن لي سَبب النجاة

فَاِختَصَمت في أَيُّها يَصيدني

وَقَد أَتَت وَكُلها تريدني

فَاِنسبتُ لَما شُغلوا في أجمه

حُلَفاؤُها مطبقة مُرتَكمه

وَظلت فيها مُدة حَتّى نبت

ريش جَناحي بَعدَ ما كانَ انسلت

فَذاكَ مِن كُل عَجيب أَعجَب

وَلَيسَ في الأَيام ما يستَغرب

فَهات حدثني عَن أَموركا

وَاظهر المَكنون مِن تاموركا

فَقالَ لي سرحت أَبغي الرعيا

وَلَم أَكُن بِمَطلَب لأَعيا

فَاِضطرني الليل إِلى ناووس

فبت ضَيف البوم ذي النحوس

فَقدم الطعام وَالشرابا

وَأظهر الإكرام وَالإعجابا

وَقصَّ ما لاقى مِن العَظائم

وَقالَ حدثني غَير آثم

حَتّى إِذا نامَ وَقَد أَسكَرتهُ

قَتلت فرخيه وَما شَكرته

وَما علمت أنَّهُ يريدني

بِذَلك القَول وَلا يَكيدني

وَنمت سُكراً وَالعَجوز قائله

لا تَرقُدن قُلت اسكتي يا جاهله

قالَت قَبيح نَوم رَب المَوضع

وَضيفه مُستَيقظ لَم يهجَع

وَغَلب السكر فنمت فوثب

إِلى فِراخي فَلَقوا مِنهُ العطب

قالَ لَهُ الطاووس بئس ما صَنَع

وَإِن ما حَكيته مِن البَدع

وَلَيسَ ذا مِن عادة الكِرام

الغَدر بَعدَ الود وَالطعام

وَما عَرَفنا مثله في جنسنا

عُقولنا أَولى بِنا مِن حسنا

لَعله صاحب يَوماً صاحِباً

علمه الفسوق وَالمعايبا

فَصحبة الأَشرار داء يعدي

مثل السجايا عَن أَب وَجد

فَسمه وَانسبه إِن عَرفته

لعله يَعرف إِن وَصفته

فَقالَ سمى نَفسه صَبيحا

وَقالَ يُدعى وَالدي مَليحا

وَكانَ يُكنى بِأَبي قماش

مؤتمن الطير عَلى الأَعشاش

وَمَنزلي جَزيرة الصقالبه

مَشهورة في بَلَد المَغارِبَه

فَكُنتُ رَب نعمة وَمال

وَثَروة جار عَلَيها الوَالي

لأَن حُسادي إِلَيها دَبوا

وَالمال عندَ الفُقَراء ذَنب

فَاِجتَهَدوا جَميعهُم في قَلعِها

فَبَلغوا ما طَلَبوا مِن نَزعِها

وَكانَ حُسادي بِها صنفين

كِلاهُما مُجتَهد في حيني

وَبَعضهُم أَفسَده الإكرام

وَبِالجَميل تُفسد اللئام

لأَنني قَدمتهُم لِجَهلي

لِشَهوَةٍ وَشُبهَةٍ بَدَت لي

آثرتهُم عَلى جَميع الطير

حَتَّى إِذا خَصصتهم بِالخَير

بَغوا وَظَنوا ذاكَ بَعض حَقهم

وَإِنّهُ فَرض لَهم بِرزقهم

لأَحمد لي فيهِ عَليهم يَجب

إِذ هُو رزق للأنام يغلب

كَذاكَ مَن يَصطَنع الجهالا

وَيُؤثر الأَرذال وَالأنذالا

وَبَعضهُم أَقصيته بِالظن

وَكَثرَة الإِفساد بِالتجني

لأَن طَبعي كانَ يَنبو عَنهُم

سَجية وَيَشمَئز مِنهُم

وَلَم أَكُن أحبهُم بِالطبع

فَلَم أَزَل أَخصهم بِالمَنع

وَمِنهُم أفاضل كِرام

لَهُم عُقول وَلَهُم أَحلام

فَاحفَظتهم جَفوَتي فَغَضِبوا

إِن الجَفاء لِلتعادي سَبب

لا سِيما وَقَد رَأوا تَقريبي

من لَيسَ بِالحر وَلا الأَديب

فَإِنَّهُ لَن يُفسد الأَحوالا

وَيوحش الأَحرار وَالرِّجالا

شَيء كَتَفضيل الدنيء الناقص

وَالبر للشهوة لا الخَصائص

وَإِن من يَمنعُ الغَريبا

وَيَحفظُ البعيدَ والقَريبا

يَستَوجب التعنيف وَالملامة

وَفعله مثل أَبي نعامه