لامَ أُناسٌ أَبا العَشائِرِ في
جودِ يَدَيهِ بِالعَينِ وَالوَرَقِ
People blamed the generous chief of a tribe
Critics cast blame upon Abu al-Asha'ir for
For his openhandedness with wealth and leaves.
The bounty of his hands with gold and silver coin.
وَإِنَّما قيلَ لِم خُلِقتَ كَذا
وَخالِقُ الخَلقِ خالِقُ الخُلُقِ
But I said: "He was created generous,
Yet they effectively ask, "Why were you created thus?"
And the Creator of beings made their natures."
When the Maker of mankind is the Maker of the soul.
قالوا أَلَم تَكفِهِ سَماحَتُهُ
حَتّى بَنى بَيتَهُ عَلى الطُرُقِ
They said: "Has not his generosity sufficed
They said, "Did his benevolence not suffice him,
That he built his house blocking the roads?"
That he built his dwelling right upon the traveler's path?"
فَقُلتُ إِنَّ الفَتى شَجاعَتُهُ
تُريهِ في الشُحِّ صورَةَ الفَرقِ
I replied: "A brave youth's courage
I replied: "Indeed, the courage of the noble youth
Makes him see in meanness the image of separation."
Reveals to him the face of panic within stinginess.
بِضَربِ هامِ الكُماةِ تَمَّ لَهُ
كَسبُ الَّذي يَكسِبونَ بِالمَلَقِ
By striking the thick-necked warriors he won
By striking the skulls of armored knights, he achieved
The same gains they won by baseness and flattery.
The gains that others seek through fawning praise.
الشَمسُ قَد حَلَّتِ السَماءَ وَما
يَحجُبُها بُعدُها عَنِ الحَدَقِ
The sun has mounted the sky, and nothing
The sun has taken its residence within the sky,
Can keep it from the eyes, however far.
Yet its great distance does not veil it from our sight.
كُن لُجَّةً أَيُّها السَماحُ فَقَد
آمَنَهُ سَيفُهُ مِنَ الغَرَقِ
Be a refuge, O generous one, for your sword
Become a crushing deep, O Generosity, for truly
Has protected you from perishing.
His sword has surely saved him from the risk of drowning."
