نفّرَتْ نوْمَكَ الظِّباءُ الأوانِسْ

ونأتْ وهْيَ في الضلوعِ كوانِسْ

The does startled your slumber, charming playmates,

And came while coquetry dwelt in their ribs,

وانْثَنَتْ للوداعِ ثمّ تولّتْ

فغَدا القلْبُ بينَ راجٍ وآيِسْ

Then turned to bid farewell, afterwards departed,

So the heart became, between hopeful and despairing.

أينَ ربْعُ الحِمى سَقى فيه عَهْداً

قد ألِفْناهُ كُل عهْدٍ باجِسْ

Where is the spring camp we inhabited, and grew accustomed to,

Every past camp of intimacy and yearning?

معْهَدُ الأنْسِ للصّبا والتّصابي

باعِثُ الوجْدِ عندَهُ الفِكْرُ هاجِسْ

The tryst of companionship for youth and gallantry,

Where thought was roused by the stirrings of rapture.

إذ تجلّتْ من الخُدورِ بدورٌ

فانجلَتْ فيه من دُجاها حَنادِسْ

When the full moons emerged from behind the curtains

And dawn broke from its darkness does free of alarm,

وانثَنى الظّبْيُ فيه غيْر مَروعٍ

يتْرك الصّبْرَ شارِداً وهْوَ آنِسْ

Leaving patience astray, open and intimate.

With smooth cheek, bright eye, and swaying gait,

مُجْتَلىً رائقٌ وطرْفٌ كَحيلٌ

وقَوامٌ لَدْنٌ وعِطْفٌ مائِسْ

Languid figure, pliant side, and promise of union.

Are they suns whose moons arose?

أوُجوهٌ أمِ البُدورُ تجلّتْ

وقُدودٌ أمِ الغُصونُ مَوائِسْ

Or branches whose twigs intimated?

With cheeks the roses would cull, were it not

وخُدودٌ يُجْنى بِها الورْدُ لَولا

أنْ علَيْها من العُيون حَوارِسْ

For the guarding eyes that rest upon them.

Eyes that pierce right through to the heart’s meaning,

وعُيونٌ تُصيبُ كُلَّ مُعنّىً

فكِلاها ما بينَ رامٍ ورامِسْ

Each halfway between willing and refusing.

Their effect in hearts, if they deign to glance,

فعْلُها في القُلوبِ إن لَحَظَتْها

أينَ منهُ فعلُ الكميِّ الممارِسْ

Where is it compared to that of the dedicated lover?

They guided unto love, confused,

قد هدَتْ للغرامِ وهْيَ حَيارَى

وأتَتْ بالسُهادِ وهْيَ نواعِسْ

And came with the weapons, predatory.

A certain maid renewed my passion,

ولقد جدّدَتْ هَوايَ فتاةٌ

تركَتْ أربُعَ السُلوِّ دَوارِسْ

Having left the four dens of lions.

So he who gauged me by a gauge, though he has spent

فالذي قاسَني بقَيْسٍ وقد ها

مَ بِلَيْلاهُ مُخْطئٌ في المَقايِسْ

His nights with me, is wrong in his measurements.

Oh rider of the fleet mount, seeking

آهِ يا راكِبَ المطّيَّةِ يَبْغي

مغربَ الشّمسِ قِفْ بها واسْتانِسْ

The setting place of the sun, stop and delight!

Ask about the encampments of the people who lodged

ولْتَسَلْ عن منازِلِ القومِ حلّوا

بينَ بحرٍ طامٍ وربْعٍ طامِسْ

Between a barren desert and an arid plain.

When dawn rose their bosoms within were hearts,

أصْبحوا والقِبابُ فيها صُدورٌ

وهُمُ كالظّنونِ فيها هَواجِسْ

While their imaginations dwelt inside apprehensive.

When the rain clouds pour down their water

فإذا ما الغَمامُ جادَ بماءٍ

خِلْتَ فيها الرّمالَ وهْيَ مَقابِسْ

You will find but barren sands baked dry.

Upon the horizon smiles dawn

أفُقٌ تَبْسِمُ البوارِقُ فيه

لدُموعٍ من الغَمامِ بَواجِسْ

For rainclouds weeping anxious tears.

Thus was Joseph shrouded in awe,

وكذا يوسُفٌ لدى الرّوْعِ يُلْفَى

باسِمَ الثّغْرِ والوجوهُ عَوابِسْ

With the name of the lips though faces frowning.

We halted on the Mount of Victory,

جبلُ الفتحِ قد حلَلْنا لدَيْهِ

طَلَلاً موحِشاً بنا مُسْتانِسْ

Ruins keeping us company, content.

The flowers there suffer yet in their suffering

يعْذُبُ الورْدُ فيهِ وهْوَ عذابٌ

مُرْسَلٌ للغَليلِ في القلْبِ حابِسْ

Unleashed captives of the heart, holding back its prisoner.

With the open plains of your victory

بمجاني الفَتحِ التي قدْ أُتيحَتْ

لجوادِ المجالِ بدْرِ المجالِسْ

Wherein the steeds of plains roam, and the chief of assemblies.

The sovereign of the two realms, east and west,

ملكُ العُدْوَتَيْنِ شرْقاً وغَرْباً

مَنْ يُضاهِيه في العُلَى أو يُنافِسْ

Who can rival his sublimity or vie with him?

Joseph, true defender of the caliphs,

يوسُفٌ ناصِرُ الخلائِفِ حقّاً

مَنْ يُجاري خِلالَهُ أو يُجانِسْ

Who can match his glory or be his equal?

Fulfilling promises while time betrays,

يُنْجِزُ الوعْدَ والزّمانُ خَؤونٌ

ويوفّي الحُقوقَ والدّهْرُ باخِسْ

And keeping oaths while fate is breachful.

If an aggressor rebels, or a herald of war cries out,

إنْ طَغى معْتَدٍ وصوّحَ مرْعىً

أسدٌ عابسٌ وغيْثٌ باجِسْ

He is a grumbling lion, a pouring raincloud.

He has showered rain, fought the lion, and greeted

صابَ غيثاً وصالَ ليْثاً وحيّا

صبْحَ هدْيٍ يجْلو الخُطوبَ الروامِسْ

The morn of guidance, dispelling the dark tribulations.

His lofty feats are talked about,

لعَواليهِ في المَعالي حَديثٌ

صحّ إسْنادُهُ لأيْدي الفَوارِسْ

Their telling authenticated by the hands of horsemen.

The gloomy darkness recoils from their brightness,

يتثنّى الخَطّيُّ منها فيجْلو

ظُلَمَ الرّوْعِ منهُ جِذوةُ قابِسْ

Leaving but an ember, burning low.

His sword is slender, yet from it, were it not

وكذا سَيفُهُ نَحيلٌ ولكن

تتجافَى عنهُ الأسودُ العوابِسْ

For a secret minder holding its scabbard

You would think, within the breast of the sheath,

رقّ حتّى كأنّ منهُ بصدْرِ ال

غِمْدِ لوْ لمْ يَشِمْهُ سرٌّ هاجِسْ

It is the dawn unveiling the gloom, illuminating.

Bringing you the morn when night is draped,

هو فجْرٌ يجْلو الدّياجي مُنيرٌ

ومُثيرٌ من العَجاجِ حَنادِسْ

And returning the darkness when day is radiant.

How many multitudes of departers vanished

فيُريكَ الصّباحَ والليْلُ داجٍ

ويُعيدُ الظّلامَ واليوْمُ شامِسْ

On his battlefield, fallen refugees?

They awoke from heedlessness, when

كم جُموعٍ للغادِرينَ تلاشَتْ

في مجالِ الأسودِ منهُمْ هَجارِسْ

The watcher of time had turned from them neglectful.

What is their concern, as destiny lies with the lion,

قد أفاقُوا منْ غفْلةٍ كان فيها

ناظِرُ الدّهْرِ عنهُم مُتَناعِسْ

Whose might makes even wild cats recoil?

Each rebel among them was damned by betrayal,

ما لهُمْ والكَرى لدى الأسَدِ الوَرْ

دِ الذي تتّقي سُطاهُ الكَرادِسْ

And met his misery, distraught and mourning.

He dragged the train of arrogance and confusion

دانَ بالغَدْرِ منهُمُ كلُّ باغٍ

حيثُ أمْسى وهْوَ الشّقيُّ البائِسْ

Until time stripped him of those robes.

One whose nature has become deceit

جرّ ذيْلَ الغُرورِ والتّيهِ حتّى

خلعَ الدّهْرُ عنهُ تلك المَلابِسْ

Cannot aspire to the heights of magnanimity.

Your opinion wandered midst the valley of death,

مَن غَدا المَكْرُ فيه طبْعاً يُنافي

شيَمَ المَكْرُماتِ كيفَ يُنافِسْ

Bending between the two states of perishing.

So divine guidance took him into its care,

حالِك الرّأي تحت بيضٍ مَواضٍ

يَنثني وهْوَ بينَ دامٍ ودامِسْ

And the strike of death drew near through his schemes.

Joseph, guardian of guidance, spared him

فهُدَى اللهِ قد تَحامَى حِماهُ

ومَدا الحتْفِ قرّبتْهُ المداعِسْ

The rejection of a denier of kind deeds.

Oh Imam, whose mention adorns

يوسُفٌ ناصرُ الهُدى كَفَّ منهُ

كَفَّ ناهٍ عنِ المكارِمِ ناهِسْ

The loftiest minbars and schools.

The Mount of Victory - your soldiers

يا إماماً بذكْرِه يتحلّى

ما عَلا من مَنابرٍ ومَدارِسْ

Have come to it, drawing near and intimate.

Battalions throng around it, nurturing

جبلُ الفتحِ قد أتَيتَ يُوالي

جُنْدُك السيْرَ نحوَهُ ويُوالِسْ

For the grandeur of Yusuf everlasting triumphs.

They sacrificed their souls, pleased with your loftiness,

وأحاطَتْ بهِ كتائِبُ تُنْمى

لعُلَى اليوسُفيِّ غُلْبٌ أشاوِسْ

Though they had refused to be base or vile.

The faces of war flocked to it,

بذلَتْ في رِضى عُلاكَ نُفوساً

قد أبَتْ أن تذِلّ وهيَ نفائِسْ

Where in wars of Jallawi and Dahis?

Long had it dwelled in bliss, secure,

وجَلَتْ أوجُهُ الحُروبِ علَيْهِ

أينَ منها حُروبُ جَلوى وداحِسْ

As the shadow of your peace kept guard over it.

Grown used to living without fear or need

طالما كان في نعيمٍ مُقيمٍ

وعليْهِ من ظِلِّ أمْنِكَ حارِسْ

To satisfy in the pleasure of God every tranquil soul.

It became an inheritance from the Opulent to You,

تألَفُ السُهْدَ كيْ تؤمّنَ منهُ

في رِضى اللهِ كلّ جَفْنٍ ناعِسْ

All that Ali and Faris had built.

And God ordained that one time

صارَ إرْثاً منَ الغنيّ لعَلْيا

ئِكَ ما شادَهُ عليٌّ وفارِسْ

It would reject the rule of an untrustworthy plotter.

All this so that a kingdom for you would be seen

وقضى اللهُ أن تنكّرَ حِيناً

طوْعَ حادٍ في القومِ للمَكْرِ حادِسْ

With banners, nobles, and horsemen.

To dispel fears as they came,

كُلُّ هذا لأن يُرى لكَ مِلْكاً

برقاقٍ فوارِثٍ وفَوارِسْ

And fulfill rights as they diminished.

This is a more beloved and lofty gift

وتُوَقّي الخُطوبَ وهْيَ عوادٍ

وتُوَفّي الحُقوقَ وهْيَ بواخِسْ

Than any other kingship, which would despair of it.

Whoever desired or rivaled its breadth,

هذه منحةٌ أعزُّ وأسْنى

كلُّ مَلْكٍ منها خِلافكَ آيسْ

Time opposed their aim and failed them.

Often the tribulations were overcome

كُلُّ منْ أمَّها ورامَ سِباقاً

في مداهَا لقَصْدِه الدّهرُ عاكِسْ

By one patiently garbed to serve the nation.

Yet since you have come to it protected,

طالَما روّعَ الحوادِثَ قهْراً

ذو أناةٍ لِلَأْمَةِ الصّبْرِ لابِسْ

It is enough with you from hypocrites and rivals.

With a dissenter who drank the cup of ruin,

ولكمْ بتَّ إذْ حلَلْتَ حِماهُ

كافياً من مُنافقٍ ومُنافِسْ

Subjugated by your conquests, silenced in his babbling.

And a defector whom they enclosed where

بمُعاطٍ كاسَ الحُتوفِ عِداهُ

مُرْغِمٍ بالفتوحِ منهُمْ مَعاطِسْ

The refuge of security was hoped for.

They met you while eyes were trained

وخميسٍ حفّوا بهِ حيثُ يُرْجَى

موْرِدُ الأمْنِ كالعِشارِ الخَوامِسْ

Upon the watching of fear, hope, and spying.

Their crime troubles souls, but from you

وتلقّوْكَ والعُيون تُوالي

نظَر الخوْفِ والرَّجا وتُخالِسْ

In wisdom and consent souls find peace.

So dawn broke with your pardon, erasing

ذنبهُمْ يوحِشُ النفوسَ ولكنْ

منكَ بالحِلْمِ والرّضَى تسْتانِسْ

The darkness of sin like a perpetual night.

And from your bounty came a cloud

فتجلّى صَباحُ عفْوِكَ يمْحو

من دُجَى الذّنْبِ كلّ ليْلٍ دامِسْ

Where is it compared to seasonal rainclouds?

Your brother Al-Muizz, where is his state

وهَمَى من نداكَ صوْبُ غمامٍ

أينَ منهُ نَدى الغُيوثِ الهواجِسْ

In the heights compared to Al-Muizz ibn Badis?

He strove for your victory, consenting,

وأخوكَ المعزُّ أينَ حُلاهُ

في العُلى منْ حُلا المُعزِّ بنِ بادِسْ

So how much did he strive for each conquest?

Glad tidings to you for arriving at a horizon

جَدَّ للفتْحِ في رضاكَ فكَمْ جدْ

دَدَ للنّصْرِ منْ عُهودٍ دَوارِسْ

Whose lofty aspects have no match.

Generosity has planted through you a stately palm,

فهنيئاً لكَ الحُلولُ بأفقٍ

في مَعاليهِ ما لهُ من مجانِسْ

And you will reap what your palm has sown.

غرَسَ الجودُ منكَ دوْحةَ عزٍّ

وستَجْني ما جُودُ كفّكَ غارِسْ