عَلَيَّ لَها أَن أَحفَظَ العَهدَ وَالوُدّا
وَإِن لَم يُفِد إِلّا القَطيعَةَ وَالبُعدا
It is incumbent upon me to keep the promise and affection,
Even if it yields nothing but estrangement and distance.
وَكَم عاذِلٍ فيها أَشارَ بِهَجرِها
فَأَدّى إِلى أَسماعِنا خَبَراً إِدّا
How many reproachers have hinted at their estrangement,
Bringing news to my ears insistently.
إِذا ما أَطالَ اللَومَ قُلتُ لَهُ اِتِّئِد
فَما عاشِقٌ مَن لا يَرى غَيَّهُ رُشدا
When blame is prolonged, I say to him: be composed,
For no lover sees his madness as sensible.
وَخِدنُ الهَوى مَن عَدَّ إِسخاطَهُ رِضىً
وَإِكدارَهُ صَفواً وَحَنظَلَهُ شَهدا
The mark of love is to count its displeasure as pleasure,
And its bitterness as sweetness and its sore as honey.
وَلَو لَم يَرُضني الشَوقُ وَالهَجرُ بُرهَةً
لَما كُنتُ أَرضى الوَعدَوَالنائِلُ الثَمدا
Had separation and estrangement not pleased me for a while,
I would not have been content with promises and hopes.
تَصَدَّت إِلى أَن قُلتُ ما الهَجرُ دينُها
وَسَدَّت إِلى أَن صِرتُ لا أُنكِرُ الصَدا
She was obstinate until I said estrangement is not her religion,
And she was unyielding until I ceased to deny affection.
وَبانَت فَباتَ الطَيفُ يَعصي بِحُكمِها
يُواصِلُني سَهواً وَيَهجُرُني عَمدا
It became clear, so the phantom began to disobey her rule,
Continuing to forget me, and estranging me deliberately.
عَشِيَّةَ قالَت لا يَمُتُّ بِأَنَّهُ
مُقيمٌ عَلى دَعواهُ مَن لَم يَمُت وَجدا
One evening she said: he who insists on his claim without dying, does not truly die.
We stood together, while I sought the aid of tears and grief,
وَقَفنا مَعاً أَستَنصِرُ الدَمعَ وَالضَنى
إِذا ما اِنبَرَت تَستَنصِرُ الطَرفَ وَالقَدّا
When her glances began to seek the aid of coquetry and grace.
The glance of an eye wounds the heart, while its injury
وَسَهمَ لِحاظٍ يُؤلِمُ القَلبَ جُرحُهُ
أَهانَ جِراحاً تُؤلِمُ العَظمَ وَالجِلدا
Degrades wounds that hurt bone and skin.
Apple cheeks are ashamed of my darkness, so whenever
وَتَخجَلُ مِن ظُلمي صُراحاً فَكُلّما
حَكى الوَردَ خَدّاها حَكى دَمعِيَ الوَردا
The rose narrated, her cheek narrated my rose-tinted tear.
I have continued since the beginning of my life, wishing
وَمازِلتُ مِن أولى زَمانِيَ راغِباً
بِنَفسِيَ أَن تَبغي مَآرِبَها كَدّا
That my soul would seek its whims intensely.
I will not ignite the fire that illuminates the path
وَلَن أَقدَحَ النارَ الَّتي يُهتَدى بِها
إِلى الحَظِّ ما كانَ الخُضوعُ لَها زَندا
To fortune, if submission to it was feeble.
So my desire for love, return to asceticism,
فَيا رَغبَتي في الحُبِّ عودي زَهادَةً
فَما أَنتِ أولى رَغبَةٍ رَجَعَت زُهدا
For you are not the first desire to return to asceticism.
Leave futile hope to meet its remedy
ذَري الأَمَلَ المُعتَلَّ تَلقَي صَحيحَهُ
لَدى مَلِكٍ أَفعالُهُ تَخلُقُ المَجدا
In the presence of a king whose deeds create glory.
When he is generous, he does not fail to grant his gifts,
إِذا جادَ لَم يَخلُف مَواهِبَهُ الحَيا
وَإِن قالَ لَم يُخلِف وَعيداً وَلا وَعدا
And when he speaks, he fails neither his threats nor promises.
Even if the clouds are stingy with rain in the land, they miss it,
وَإِن جادَتِ الأَنواءُ في الخِصبِ فاتَها
وَإِن بَخِلَت في المَحلِ كانَ لَها ضِدّا
And if they are miserly in the place, it has its compensation.
If he punishes the guilty, he is just and did not transgress,
وَإِن عاقَبَ الجانينَ صالَ وَما اِعتَدى
وَإِن سُئِلَ الإِنعامَ أَغنى وَما اِعتَدّا
And if asked for grace, he enriches and does not exceed.
He is wise when speech avoids confusion,
سَديدٌ إِذا ما القَولُ نابَ عَنِ الظُبى
شَديدٌ عَلى رَيبِ الزَمانِ إِذا اِشتَدّا
And firm against the doubts of time when it is intense.
The horses of kings were sacrificed for him, for he deserves
فَدَت سابِقاً شوسُ المُلوكِ فَإِنَّهُ
حَقيقٌ بِأَن يُثنى عَلَيهِ وَأَن يُفدا
To be praised and ransomed.
Their glory in honor makes the furthest of them in extent
وَعِزُّهُمُ في المَجدِ أَبعَدُهُم مَدىً
عَلى أَنَّهُ بِالمَهدِ أَقرَبُهُم عَهدا
Closest in lineage.
The purest in thought, most munificent in hand,
وَأَصفاهُمُ ذِهناً وَأَنداهُمُ يَداً
وَأَضفاهُمُ ظِلّاً وَأَوفاهُمُ رِفدا
Most affluent in shade, and most abundant in aid.
He points without being pointed to, on the path of highborn persons,
يَدُلُّ وَلَم يَدلُل عَلى نَهجِ سُؤدُدٍ
كَذاكَ النُجومُ الزُهرُ تَهدي وَلا تُهدى
Thus are the stars: floral, guiding without being guided.
The progeny of the exalted dissolved the knots of glory with spears,
سَليلُ الأُلى حَلّوا ذُرى المَجدِ بِالقَنا
وَخَلّوا لِمَن يَرجو لَحاقَهُمُ الوَهدا
And left the path open for whoever hopes to join them.
How many envious enemies have laid traps for them,
وَكَم لَهُمُ مِن حاسِدٍ بَسَطَ المُنى
وَلَكِنَّهُ أَودى وَما نالَ ما وَدّا
But those enemies failed and did not attain what they wanted!
The virtues of this lineage are too numerous for nights
وَتُنطِقُ أَهلَ العَيِّ أَوصافُ مَجدِهِم
عَلى أَنَّهُم إِن فاخَروا أَخرَسوا اللُدّا
That wrap themselves in trains to darken what was illuminated.
A king inherited the rule after Salih;
بَني صالِحٍ أَقصَدتُمُ مَن رَمَيتُمُ
وَأَحيَيتُمُ مَن أَمَّ مَعروفَكُم قَصدا
You were given succession after him as young men.
So you unfurled before him and behind him
سَقى الَلهُ دَوحاً يُثمِرُ الحَتفَ وَالغِنى
وَلا مَلَكَت أَيدي الخُطوبِ لَهُ عَضدا
Swords that vanquish enemies and straight undeviating spears.
Horses that when the battle cry is raised
فَما وَخَدَت كُومُ المَطيِّ بِراغِبٍ
وَلا راهِبٍ إِلّا بِمَدحِكُمُ تُحدا
Hasten to it, carrying heavy loads and lions.
Bedouins whom the wool they wear adorns
أَفَضتُم عَلى هَذا الوَرى أَنعُماً أَبى
تَواتُرُها أَن يَستَطيعوا لَها جَحدا
With majesty, although they were naked without garments before.
And two fires for kindness and might were ignited
وَأَنّى يَهُمُّ الأَولِياءُ بِطَيِّها
وَلَم يَجِدِ الأَعداءُ مِن نَشرِها بُدّا
For the needy they protect and the transgressor they shun.
So a fire of villages that guide to it - how often
جَنَوا فَعَفَوتُم وَاِعتَفَوكُم فَجُدتُمُ
فَأَحسَنتُمُ البُقيا وَأَجزَلتُمُ الرِفدا
It has led a lost family and ransomed a delegation.
And a fire of battle in which every traitor is burned
وَذَلَّلتُمُ صَعبَ الزَمانِ لِأَهلِهِ
فَذَلَّ وَقَد كانَ الجِماحُ لَهُ وَكدا
When he desires to extinguish it, it blazes more.
And beneath this honor is the sword of caliphate
وَمالَ إِلى الإِنصافِ من بَعدِ جَورِهِ
فَأَبدى الَّذي أَخفى وَأَخفى الَّذي أَبدا
That surpasses confusion in extent and exceeds it in sharpness.
It distinguishes between intimate and distant
وَصَيَّرتُمُ البَذلَ الَذي شاعَ ذِكرُهُ
مُضافاً إِلى العَدلِ الَّذي يوجِبُ الخُلدا
When matters get serious and leave their sheaths.
O you who protected my gratitude with abundant reward,
دُروعاً عَلى الأَعراضِ لا قَومُ تُبَّعٍ
قَضوها وَلا داوُدُ أَحكَمَها سَردا
When I attempt to enumerate it, it is like counting stars.
You were good to me, succeeding your father without transgressing,
مَناقِبُ لَو أَنَّ اللَيالي تَوَشَّحَت
بِأَذيالِها لَاِبيَضَّ مِنهُنَّ ما اِسوَدّا
And you were excessive in doing good without exceeding.
Are you not the son of those whose gifts made all forget -
وَمُلكٌ حَواهُ بَعدَما شابَ صالِحٌ
وَخُوِّلتُموهُ بَعدَهُ غِلمَةً مُردا
Whether their hands stretched voluntarily or reluctantly?
The reward of praise to them was a delay
فَأَشرَعتُمُ قُدّامَهُ وَوَراءَهُ
صَوارِمَ تَجتاحُ العِدى وَقَناً مُلدا
Postponed for a time - so you made it immediate cash.
They gave little, then confirmed, so
وَخَيلاً إِذا نادى الصَريخُ تَهافَتَت
إِلَيهِ سِراعاً تَحمِلُ الغابَ وَالأُسدا
My feet were set by those who gave much, not those who confirmed.
I was compensated by their uncertain hopes with honor,
عِراباً كَساها النَقعُ مِمّا يَحوكُهُ
جِلالاً وَقَد سَدَّتهُ عارِيَةً جُردا
Safety for fear, and gain for lack.
In the shade of the generous, noble in aid, whose equal
وَنارَينِ لِلمَعروفِ وَالبَأسِ شُبَّتا
لِذي فاقَةٍ يُحبا وَذي إِحنَةٍ يُردا
No ostrich begot, nor good fortune brought into being.
Among those acts of kindness is an honor
فَنارُ قِرىً دَلَّت عَلَيهِ وَطالَما
هَدَت عائِلاً قَد ضَلَّ وَاِستَوفَدَت وَفدا
I attained freely, so I became its slave.
So here I am, beside you, without hoping
وَنارُ وَغىً يَصلَى بِها كُلُّ حائِنٍ
إِذا ما بَغى إِطفاءَها زادَها وَقدا
For any hope to be fulfilled or any favor to be renewed.
He shuns the thorns of roads who found life,
وَمِن دونِ هَذا العِزِّ سَيفُ خِلافَةٍ
يَفوقُ الظُبى سَفحاً وَيَفضُلُها حَدّا
And refuses to be content with gifts, he who dwelt with enemies.
Congratulations on a second and a first feast day,
وَيَفرُقُ ما بَينَ المَفارِقِ وَاللَهى
إِذا ما عَرا خَطبٌ وَما فارَقَ الغِمدا
Upon which monarchs wish to be its cradle!
And its Giver, the Asked, to show it to you
أَيا مَن حَمى شُكري بِفائِضِ نائِلٍ
إِذا رُمتُ إِحصاءً لَهُ كَزَرَ العَدّا
As an auspicious, most fortunate son of his son's son.
He remains attributed with the name of his ancestor
وَأَحسَنَ بي يَتلو أَباهُ فَما اِعتَدى
وَأَسرَفَ في فِعلِ الجَميلِ وَما اِعتَدّا
While his news is narrated and his well-being echoed.
Why do I not gift you strange things
أَلَستَ اِبنَ مَن أَنسَت عَطاياهُ كُلَّ مَن
هَمَت يَدُهُ طَوعاً وَكَرهاً وَمَن أَجدا
That the highborn preserved from being sold or gifted?
Implicitly containing praise which, if published, would be lost,
وَكانَ ثَوابُ المَدحِ فيهِم نَسيئَةً
تُناسى إِلى حينٍ فَعَجَّلَهُ نَقدا
For printing is not suitable to have a counterpart.
The rhymed prose of al-Tibr did not survive eras,
وَأَعطَوا قَليلاً ثُمَّ أَكدَوا فَيَمَّمَت
رِكابِيَ مَن أَعطى كَثيراً وَما أَكدا
And the poem of Najd - its composer did not come from Najd.
How much poetry has flowed that no lover authored,
فَعُوِّضتُ مِن ذُلِّ المَطامِعِ عِزَّةً
وَمِن خيفَةٍ أَمناً وَمِن عَدَمٍ وَجدا
And how many swords were forged that knew no warfare!
Speech cannot reach what you actually do,
بِظِلِّ كَريمِ النَجرِ وَاليَدِ لَم تَلِد
لَهُ مامَةٌ مِثلاً وَلا نَجَلَت سُعدا
Even if it reached the utmost in describing your feats.
The least you grant fulfills wishes,
وَفي ضِمنِ تِلكَ المَكرُماتِ كَرامَةٌ
ظَفِرتُ بِها حُرّاً فَصِرتُ لَها عَبدا
And the easiest role you assume encompasses praise.
فَها أَنا ثاوٍ في جَنابِكَ لَم أَمِل
إِلى أَمَلٍ يُنحى وَلا مِنَّةٍ تُسدا
يَعافُ وُرودَ الطَرقِ مَن وَجَدَ الحَيا
وَيَأبى الرِضى بِالرَشحِ مَن جاوَرَ العِدّا
هَنيئاً لَكَ العيدانِ ثانٍ وَأَوَّلٌ
تَوَدُّ الثُرَيّا أَن تَكونَ لَهُ مَهدا
وَواهِبُهُ المَسؤولُ في أَن يُريكَهُ
هُماماً سَعيدَ الجَدِّ وَاِبنَ اِبنِهِ جَدّا
وَلا زالَ مَنعوتاً بِنَعتِ سَميِّهِ
وَأَخبارُهُ تُروى وَراحَتُهُ تَندا
وَمالِيَ لا أُهدي إِلَيكَ غَرائِباً
بِكَ اِعتَصَمَت عَن أَن تُباعَ وَأَن تُهدى
مُضَمَّنَةً مَدحاً إِذا ضاعَ نَشرُهُ
فَما النَدُ أَهلاً أَن يَكونَ لَهُ نِدّا
وَطائِيَّةَ التَحبيرِ لَم تَعدُ أَعصُراً
وَنَجدِيَّةً لَم يَأتِ قائِلُها نَجدا
وَكَم راقَ شِعرٌ ما حَبيبٌ أَتى بِهِ
وَقَدَّ الطُلى سَيفٌ وَما عَرَفَ الهِندا
وَلَن تَبلُغَ الأَقوالُ ما أَنتَ فاعِلٌ
وَلو بَلَغَت في وَصفِ آلائِكَ الجُهدا
فَأَنزَرُ ما تُعطيهِ يوفي عَلى المُنى
وَأَيسَرُ ما توليهِ يَستَغرِقُ الحَمدا
