هَذي الرّبوعُ وَما بِها مِن مَنزلِ
فَاِذكُرْ عُهودكَ في الزَّمانِ الأوّلِ
These gardens and the dwellings in them
Remind you of your past in early days
أَيّامَ قَصفِكَ بِالصّبابَةِ والصِّبا
إِبّانَ وَجدِك بِالجَمالِ المُعتَلي
Of your youth with exuberance and passion
When you reveled in sublime beauty
إِذ كُنتَ ريعانَ الشّبابِ وَشَرخَه
يُسقى المَحاسِنَ وَهيَ أَعذَبُ مَنهَلِ
You were the spring of youth and its zenith
The beauties were nourished as the sweetest spring
إِذ كُنتَ تَرتَعُ في المِهادِ مَعَ المَها
سَكرانَ مِن خَمرِ الغَرامِ المُذهِلِ
You frolicked in the meadow with the lovely gazelle
Intoxicated with the maddening wine of love
مُتَعلّقاً غَيداءَ بِنتِ مَحاسِنٍ
تَدَعُ الشّموسَ كَواسِفاً لا تَنجَلي
Clinging to the branches of a beautiful gazelle
Outshining the sun, unveiled in her glory
حَوراء يَنسجُ لَحظها سِحرَ الهَوى
فَلَه العُقولُ تَقولُ ما شِئتَ اِفعَلِ
A houri whose glance weaves the magic of love
Bewitching minds to yield to her every desire
غَزّالةٌ مِن سِحرِهِ ثَوبَ الضّنى
تَكسو بِهِ جِسمَ المُولَّعِ وَالخَلي
A graceful gazelle whose charm of love
Adorns the enamored with her glittering gown
حاكَتهُ مِن غَمزاتِها لِمُتيَّمٍ
قَد صَيّرَتهُ هائِماً لَم يعقلِ
She seduced a smitten one with her glances
Rendering him utterly besotted and senseless
إِنسانُهُ وَهوَ الضّعيفُ فَإِنَّه
يَقوى لِقَتلِ الضّيغَمِ المُستَبسِلِ
His passion made the feeble man so strong
To slay the vicious beast in its violence
أَهدابُها تَبدو السّهامَ وَلَحظُها
سَيفٌ يَذوبُ لدَيهِ أَمضى صَيْقلِ
Her lashes like arrows, her gaze a sharpened blade
Melting the sturdiest sword made of finest steel
تَحمي بِه وَردَ الخُدودِ وَماءَها
أَحْصِنْ بِوَردٍ تَحتَ ظِلّ المِنْصَلِ
Her blushed cheeks and waters are fortified
With roses under the shade of branches
وَلَقَد سَرى في وَجهِها ماءُ الحَيا
وَالحسنِ فَاِمتزَجَ العقارُ بِسلسَلِ
The water of life and beauty streamed her face
Blending cosmetics in a harmonious trace
فَبَدا بِهِ وَردٌ وَنِسرينٌ هُما
كُلُّ المَحاسِنِ في المُحيَّا الأَجمَلِ
Thus blossomed a rose and narcissus fairest of all
As the crescent moon peeled back its dark veil
وَبَدا اِنشِقاقُ البَدرِ لَمّا أَسبَلَت
سود السَوالِفِ مِثلَ لَيلٍ ألْيَلِ
Beauty imprinted its seal upon her cheek
Musk its stamp, and in this meaning lies
خَتَمَ الجمالُ ختامَهُ في خَدِّها
فَخِتامُه مِسْكٌ وَفي هَذا فَلِ
Her saliva is pure pearls sipped from her sweet mouth
The most precious gems and rubies as jewelry
لَمياءُ يَشرَبُ مِن سُلافِ رُضابِها
دُرٌّ وَياقوتٌ هُما أَغلى الحلي
When she parts her lips, a flash of the brightest dawn
Radiates a gleam that beckons me
تَفتَرُّ ثَغراً عَنهُما فَإِذا أَرى
بَرقاً مِنَ الشّفقِ البهيِّ يَلوحُ لي
She sways with a delicate body so elegant
Beyond any fantasy my mind can tell
هَيفاءُ ناعِمَةٌ بِجِسمٍ مُترَفِ
يُدميهِ منْ مِثلي أَقلُّ تخيُّلِ
Coy, gentle, graceful, swaying in her trailing gown
Strutting so composed in her natural poise
خَوْدٌ رَداحٌ غادَةٌ رُعبولَةٌ
تَختَالُ في ثَوبِ الدّلالِ المسبِلِ
Her figure wrapped in a delicate thin veil
Never did such a slender waist bear
تَهتَزُّ عِطفاً وَالقناةُ قَوامُها
فَالاِعتِدالُ لِمَيلِها دَوماً يَلي
The waters of youth and wine course through her
Flowing smoothly like liquid in pliant joints
عَلِقتُها روداً دَقيقٌ إِطلُها
قَد قَلَّ طَوْداً مِثلُهُ لَم يحملِ
My earnest love recounts to her engrossed
Every detail of my fervent passion
يَسري بِها ماءُ الشّبيبَةِ وَالبَها
جَرْيَ المُدامَةِ في مَجاري المِفْصَلِ
I implored her for mercy with my fervent love
To remove my distress and burning anguish within
طارَحتُها بِحَديثِ وَجدي هائِماً
مِن كلِّ مُتّصِلِ الهَوى وَمسلسلِ
I said "have mercy on me, halt my suffering"
"I am a man of glorious lineage that built
وَسَأَلتُها بِجَمالِها وَصَبابَتي
رَفعَ التجَنّي وَالسّماعِ لعُذَّلي
A structure atop the most solid foundation
Of honorable repute, esteemed by all peoples
وَطَلَبتُ مِنها أَن تزوّلَ لَوعَتي
وَلَهيبَ أَحشائي وَقلتُ لَها صِلي
Of noble origin, preferred among all men
None is exalted but he who comes from the most high
إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ مِن أَهلِ مَجدٍ أَسَّسوا
بُنيانَهُ فَوقَ السِّماكِ الأَعزَلِ
Sublime and eminent, his edifice constructed
Above the summits for the most splendid abode
مِن أَهلِ عِزٍّ في الأَنامِ مُوطَّدٍ
مِن أَهلِ أَصلٍ في الأَنامِ مفضَّلِ
He reached the greatest heights leading the preeminent
With the honor of sublime perfected glory
وَعَليِّ قَدرٍ ما العُلى إِلا لَهُ
إِذ لَم تَكُ العَلياءُ إِلّا في عَلي
He earned majesty with his lofty deeds, this youth
Reaping the fruits of his spear and sword
سامي الذُّرى عالي الجنابِ قَدِ اِبتَنى
فَوقَ السّهى لِلمَجدِ أَرفعَ منزلِ
A lion among men, his claws and fangs
And spears and teeth, if he bears them
وَقَدِ اِمتَطى العَلياءَ وَهيَ يَقودُها
شَرفُ السّيادَةِ بِالفَخارِ الأَكمَلِ
His claws not trimmed but rather
Bared with the fierceness of lions in their attack
مَلكَ المَعالي بِالعَوالي وَالفَتى
يَجني المَعالي بِالقَنا وَالقَسطَلِ
He fiercely charges atop his steed in ferocious onslaught
Galloping with passion no armor can arrest
أَسَدُ الشَّرى أَسيافُهُ أَظفارُهُ
وَرِماحُهُ أَنيابُهُ إِنْ يحملِ
When he charges atop his thoroughbred courser
None can tell if he comes or goes
ما قُلِّمَت أَظفارُهُ لَكِنّها
فُلَّتْ بِفَلقِ الأُسْدِ لمّا تَعتَلي
The light of his awe and eminence shines upon him
Enlarging him to foes watching his advance
يَسطو هِزَبْراً تَعتَليهِ وَسامَةٌ
يَعدو عَلى طِرفٍ أَغرَّ محجَّلِ
How often in the battle arena did he stand alone
Facing the difficult and deadly confrontation
فَإِذا عَدا فَوقَ الجَوادِ وَشَتمِهِ
لم تَدْرِهِ أَبِمُدبرٍ أَم مُقبلِ
Then he would slowly approach the bringer of death
With the gait of one set to slaughter with his feet
يَعلوهُ نورُ مَهابَةٍ وَوجاهَةٍ
فَتَظنُّهُ الأَعداءُ أَعظَمَ جَحفَلِ
In one swift stroke the slain falls upon the earth
As a feast is laid out for the eating
كَم جالَ في مِضمارِ حَربٍ جائِلاً
أَمبارِز صَعب اللّقا وَالمَقتلِ
The birds of the sky called down to eat their fill
Gorging without restraint or hesitation
فَيُجيبهُ داني المَنيّةِ ماشِياً
مَشيَ الشّياهِ لِذَبحِها بِالأَرجُلِ
He is an ocean of generosity, replenished
By a source of virtue unmatched and untold
فَبِلَمحَةٍ يَبدو الصّريعُ عَلى الثّرى
وَوَليمَةٍ قَد هُيِّئَت لِلمَأكَلِ
The hearths of people have tasted his fires
As I witnessed a portion with discerning eyes
تُدعى إِلَيها الطّيرُ مِن كَبِدِ السّما
يُفنينها أَكلاً بِدونِ تَمَهُّلِ
His lands were without mountains, now transformed
Into a place itself of mountains
بَحرُ النّدى سَحُّ العَطايا رِفدُهُ
عَن مِثلِ مَعنٍ مثله لَم ينقلِ
These mountains formed from the ashes of his ashes
Were made for him as for no other
يُقري الضّيوفَ فَشِمْت نيران الوَرى
مِن نارِهِ جُزءاً بِعَينِ تَأمُّلِ
No shortcoming but that his hospitality
Distinguished guests while his sword fell upon the lowliest
فَبِلادُهُ كانَت بِلا جَبلٍ لَها
وَالآنَ قَد صارَت بِذاتِ الأجبلِ
The glory of gallantry, bastion of every manliness
Essence of chivalry, spirit of all refinement
تِلكَ الجِبالُ مِنَ الرَّمادِ رَمادِهِ
قَد كُوِّنَت وَلِغَيرهِ لَم تحصلِ
Clad in the garb of piety girding his loins
Adorned with the best of manners in garb
لا عَيبَ فيه غَيرَ أَنَّ نَوالَهُ
بَينَ الكِرامِ وَسيفُهُ في الأرذلِ
Of excellent discernment, never deviating
Inclining always towards the soundest direction
خِدنُ الشّهامَةِ صِنْوُ كلِّ مُروءَةٍ
عَينُ الفُتوّةِ روحُ كلّ تَجمّلِ
With wisdom in governance and penetrating intellect
Placing matters upon the most proper course
عَفُّ الإِزارِ بحلّةِ التَّقوى اِكتَسى
بِمَحاسِنِ الأَخلاقِ خيرُ مُسربَلِ
In astute understanding, how he grasped the ambiguous
No distinction between the obvious and the obscure
في حُسنِ رَأيٍ لا يَضلُّ وكَيفَما
قَد مالَ مالَ إِلى السّدادِ الأَكمَلِ
He attained such forbearance, surpassing Al-Ahnaf
And perfected it by remaining completely unknowing
في حُسنِ تَدبيرٍ بِفِكرٍ ثاقِبٍ
يَضَعُ الأمورَ عَلى الصّوابِ الأَفضَلِ
Of praiseworthy repute among peoples like amber
Souls thrive on its diffusion unceasing
في حِذقِ فَهمٍ كَم أَلَمَّ بِغائِبٍ
لا فَرقَ فيه لواضحٍ عن مُشكلِ
It spread through horizons carried by the winds
Diffusing it like the fragrance of jasmine
قَد نالَ حِلماً فاقَ فيهِ أَحنفاً
وَتَمامُهُ في أَنَّهُ لَم يجهلِ
Of elegant diction adorned like precious gems
The magic of rhetoric, the most splendid attire
وَحَميدِ صيتٍ في الأَنامِ كَعَنبَرٍ
تَحيا النُّفوسُ بِنشرهِ المُتَسلسِلِ
Resolve shining like lightning in its hastening
When unhurried it does not flash
قَد سادَ في الآفاقِ تَحمِلُهُ الصَّبا
وَتُذيقُه عَرفاً كَعَرفِ المندلِ
My Lord! His is a precious pearl perfected
Gathering all perfection, part and whole
وَبَديعِ لَفظٍ كَالجَواهِرِ مُكتَسٍ
سحرَ البَيانِ أَجلَّ ثَوبٍ مسدَلِ
I am sent to him with an immaculate gift
A beautiful, innocent, doe-eyed darling
وَمَضاءُ عَزمٍ كلّ عَضبٍ دونهُ
كَالبَرقِ إِسراعاً إِذا لَم يعجلِ
The daughter of eloquence and rhetoric robed
In the finest rhetorical gowns
للَّهِ رَبّي دَرُّه مِن كامِلٍ
جَمَعَ الكَمالَ بمجملٍ ومفصَّلِ
She walks modestly, shyness her cloak
Nothing shown but her smile and kohl
إِنّي إِلَيهِ مُرسَلٌ بِخَريدَةٍ
حَسناءَ بِكرٍ ذاتِ طَرفٍ أَشكَلِ
Riding the harmony of verse gently controlled
Goaded by charms and talismans
بِنت الفَصاحَةِ وَالبلاغَةِ تَكتَسي
حُلَلَ البَيانِ مِنَ البَديعِ الأَجمَلِ
She hastens to him, hoping for acceptance
Oh what despair if she is not accepted!
تَمشي الهُوَينا وَالحَياءُ خِباؤُها
لَم تُبدِ غَيرَ تَبسّمٍ وَتكحّلِ
Far be it from him to refuse
He grants acceptance even to the hopeless
أَركَبتها نِضْوَ القَريضِ مذَلّلاً
يَحدوهُ كلّ مُعوّذٍ وَمبسملِ
Still open are the gates of his abode
A refuge for seekers, the sturdiest stronghold
تَسعى إِلَيهِ وَالقَبولُ رَجاؤُها
يا خَيبَةَ المَسعى إِذا لم تُقبَلِ
May my Lord maintain him with lofty glory
At the peak of grandeur atop the loftiest summit
حاشاهُ مِن عَدَمِ القَبولِ وَمثله
يَهَبُ القَبولَ ولو لغير مؤمِّلِ
No branch swayed by the breeze as it blew
Nor meadow gladdened by the nightingale's song
لا زالَ رَحبُ رِحابِهِ لِلمُرتَجي
كَهفاً وَلِلّاجينَ أَحصنَ معقلِ
No lover immersed in rapture was told “Awaken!”
These gardens and dwellings remind you of the past
وَأَدامَهُ رَبّي بِمجدٍ راقياً
أَوجَ المَعالي عَلى السّماكِ الأعزلِ
ما ماسَ غُصنٌ بِالنّسيمِ إِذا سَرى
ما طابَ في رَوضٍ غناءُ البُلبلِ
ما هامَ ذو وَجدٍ فَقيلَ لَه اِنتَبِه
هَذي الرّبوعُ وَما بِها مِن مَنزِلِ
