خَطرت بِقامة أَغيدٍ مَيّاسِ
متلفِّتٍ يُزري بِظبي كناسِ
With the form of a slender gazelle I was smitten,
Turning around, mocking a timid rabbit.
وَرنت إليّ بِصارمٍ مِن لَحظِها
يودي بِقسورة شَديد الباس
She glanced at me with eyes like a sharp sword,
Capable of overcoming the strongest armor.
وَرمت فؤادي عَن قَسيّ حَواجبٍ
بنبال تيه ما لها مِن آسي
She shot my heart with the arrows of her frowning brows,
Arrows that go astray and know no mercy.
قسماً بطرّتها وَصبح جَبينها
وَبِطَرفِها المَوصوف بِالنعّاس
By her braided hair, her radiant forehead,
Her languid eyelids known for drowsiness.
وَبورد خدّيها وَخالٍ قَد غَدا
لِجَمالها الزاهي مِن الحرّاس
By the rose of her cheeks and the mole that appeared
To guard her blossoming beauty.
وَبلؤلؤ يَزهو بِحُسن نِظامه
وَبريق ثَغر عاطر الأَنفاس
By the pearl that glows with the order of its form
And the fragrance of her sweet breath.
وَبجيدها مَع ما حَواه صَدرُها
مِن مَرمر يَحكي ضيا النبراس
By her neck as graceful as the stem of a flower
Adorned with pearls that rival the glow of embers.
إِني وَإِن طالَ الصدود بِمعزل
عَن سلوةٍ إِلا عَن الوسواس
Even if those who blame me fight withdrawal
From the only comfort not marred by doubts.
وَأَنا الَّذي لا أَنثني عَن عشقها
بِغواية مِن لائم خَنّاس
I won’t recoil from my love of her,
Despite the betrayal of a slanderous critic.
يا عاذِلي كَيفَ السلوّ وَإِنَّها
هَيفا قَد اِختلست جَميع حَواسي
My critic, how can I find solace when she
Has stolen all my senses in her siege?
وَتملكت مِني فؤاداً كانَ مِن
قَبل الغَرام كَصَخر طود راسي
She has conquered a heart that before love
Was like a towering mountain crag.
أَو كَالحَديد فلان مِن حرّ الجَوى
بَعدَ اِتِصافٍ بِالفُؤاد القاسي
Or like iron, safe from the heat of passion,
Before it was forged by the merciless flame.
حاشا أَميل عَن الهَوى إِلا إِلى
مَدح الوَزير وليّ عَهد الناس
Far be it from me to turn away from love
Except to praise the Minister, the Crown Prince.
تَوفيقٍ الشَهم الَّذي بِعلومه
يَسمو عَلى مَأمونها العَباسي
Tawfiq, the generous one whose knowledge
Surpasses the wisdom of Abbasid rule.
مَن رَأيُه في الحُكم أَنسى قيسه
وَذَكاؤه أَحيا ذَكاء إِياس
His views on governance made Qays seem wanting,
His intellect enlivened the brilliance of Iyas.
وَاِمتازَ عَن كُل الوَرى بِمَناقب
جلّت عَن الإحصاء في قُرطاس
He surpassed all mankind in merits
Too many to be contained in a book.
مِنها السَماحة وَالفَصاحة وَالوَفا
بِالوَعد دُون تَغافل وَتَناسي
Generosity, eloquence, loyalty to his word
Without forgetfulness or apathy.
وَالحلم وَالمَعروف وَالعَفو الَّذي
مِن وَحشة يَهدي إِلى اِستئناس
Clemency, kindness, and pardon that guides
The hostile soul to familiarity.
يا أَيُّها الصَدر الَّذي بِنَواله
مُحيت رُسوم الفَقر وَالإفلاس
O patron whose grant brought me back
From the brink of poverty and ruin.
إني رَكضت بخيل فكري في الثَنا
وَإِلى مَديحك سارَعَت أَفراسي
I spurred the steed of my thoughts into verse
And raced to sing your praises.
فَعجزت عَن شُكري لِما أَولَيتَني
مِن غَير سؤل لا لنقص جناس
I cannot fully thank your generosity
Freely given, with no plea from me.
لَكن لِأَوصافٍ سِواك ببعضها
نال المُنى وَسما عَلى الجلاس
For though others boast some virtues,
You have achieved the greatest fame.
فَاقبل معاذيري وَقابل بِالرضا
مَدحاً بِإِخلاصٍ صَحيح قياس
Accept my apology and welcome
This praise sung sincerely without artifice.
وَاسلم لِدَولة والدٍ أَركانُها
بنيت بِمصر عَلى متين أَساس
Grant success to the state of your father, founded
In Egypt on unshakable foundations.
لا زلت مَعهُ فائِزاً بِالنَصر ما
عَبث النَسيم بِمائِسات الآس
You remain victorious with him as long
As the gentle breeze stirs the banners.
أَو ما بِأَمرك طابَ وَقتك وَاِغتَدى
مِن فَيض جودك للعفاة يُواسي
As long as your command makes your time joyful
And the fountain of your kindness comforts the destitute.
أَو قُلت في حسن اِبتِداء تشكري
خَطرت بِقامة أَغيد مياس
As beautifully as I began with gratitude,
I was smitten by the form of a slender gazelle.
