بنَفسى من الفتيانِ كلَّ سَميَدَعٍ

يُصابُ فلا يشكو ولا يَتَضَعْضَعُ

With my own self from the youths, every submissive weakling

Who is stricken but does not complain or fret

وممتَعِضٌ لما دعا وسطَ رهطهِ

فلم تحمه أَيدٍ طوالٌ وأَذرعُ

And disgusted with what he called amidst his group

Yet no long arms or hands protected him

رأَى سيفَه أوَفى له من حَمِيمِهِ

فعاذَ به أنَّ العَزِيزَ مُمَنَّعُ

He saw his sword more loyal to him than his bosom friend

So he took refuge in it, for the dear one is forbidden

إذا اصْطكتِ الاحسابُ وابتدر المدى

وهابَ جَسيماتِ الأمورِ المُروَّعُ

When reputations clash and the distance is jumped

And the tremendous matters are frightening

فما مثلُ صَمْصَامِ الخِلافةِ صَارمٌ

يُفَلُّ به حَدُّ الخُطُوبِ ويُقطَعُ

None is like the Indian sword of the Caliphate, sharp

With it the limit of tribulations is turned back and cut off

شديدُ نياطِ القلبِ لا يستخِفَّهُ

وميضُ المواضي والوشيجُ المزَعْزِعُ

Firm of the sheaths of the heart, not made little of him

By the flashing of foreheads and the tottering commotion

تَراهُ إذا ما جئتَ تطلُبُ رِفَدَهُ

جميلَ المحيا وهو في الرَّوِعِ أَروعُ

You see him when you come seeking his help

Beautiful of smile, while in commotion, most comely

رعابيلُ وشي العبقريِّ ثيابُهُ

إذا ما تمطى والدِّلاصُ المُضَلَّعُ

Rbcc, the perfume merchant, his clothes

When he walks proudly dressed and the intermingled

وفيكَ لمن عاديتَه واصطفيتَهُ

خلائقُ فيها الخيرُ والشر أَجمَعُ

In you for whoever opposed you and took you as a confidant

Are traits in which good and evil are all gathered

دُنُوٌّ لمن يَدنو إليكَ بقلْبهِ

ولو أَنَّهُ ذو اللبدتين المُشَيَّعُ

Close to whoever draws near you with his heart

Even if he is one whose two wrapper garments are raveled

ونأيٌ عن المُهدى لعينكَ ثَغرَهُ

ومبسمُه بينَ الجَوانحِ يَلْذَعُ

And remote from the misguided one, though his mouth appeals to you

And his smile amid the breasts bites sharply

أَبوكَ يُلافى الملكَ ليلةَ جَازِرٍ

ويومَ دُجيلٍ وهو بالرِّدفِ يَظلَعُ

Your father contends with the king on a night of slaughter

And a day of deluge while holding to the saddle strap

وقالَ لبيضِ الهندِ كلُّ مناجزٍ

بغيرِكَ في الجُلى يُخَانُ ويُجْدَعُ

And said to the whites of India, every contender

Without you in conflicts is betrayed and severed

ضَغَائنُ لو لم يُحْسِنِ السيفُ داءَها

لضرَّتْ وهلْ شيءٌ سِوى السيفِ يَنْفَعُ

Grudges, if the sword did not cure their illness,

Would have harmed, and what thing other than the sword avails?

إذا الحِلْمُ لم يَعْطِف عليكَ فَدَاوِهِ

بخُرقكَ أنَّ الشرَّ بالشرِّ يُدْفَعُ

When forbearance does not turn to you, so treat it

By slashing it, for evil is dispelled with evil

وكن مثلَ ركنٍ الدولةِ الحلوِ واصطنعْ

كما كان تاجُ الملَّةِ المرُّ يصنعُ

And be like the pillar of the state, the sweet, and act

As the crown of the faith, the bitter, was wont to act

هما أَوْرَثا عِزَّ الحَيَاةِ ورفَّعا

إلى غايةِ ما فوقَها مُتَرفَّعُ

They both bequeathed the glory of life and exalted

To the ultimate height above which is no ascent

وماتا وما ماتَ امرؤٌ خَلَدَتْ له

مناقبُ يُحْييها الحَدِيثُ المُرَجَّعُ

And they died but no man died who has virtues

That discourse revives, transmitted and rehearsed