سَلِ المَقاديرَ ما أَحبَبتَهُ تُجِبِ
فَما لَها غَيرُ ما تَهواهُ مِن أَرَبِ
Ask destiny for what you desire, it will answer.
It has nothing but what it wishes from the Lord.
وَاِطلُب بِهَذي الظُبى ما عَزَّ مَطلَبُهُ
فَما عَلى الأَرضِ مَن يَثنيكَ عَن طَلَبِ
And with this zeal, seek what is hard to attain,
None on earth can divert you from seeking.
وَكَيفَ تَعصي مُلوكُ الأَرضِ ذا هِمَمٍ
تَجوزُ أَحكامُهُ في السَبعَةِ الشُهُبِ
How can the kings of earth with ambitions
Disobey laws whose domains encompass the seven planets.
ريعوا فَما دَفَعوا ضَيماً وَلا كَرَبوا
أَن يَكشِفوا بَعضَ ما كَشَّفتَ مِن كُرَبِ
They raced but neither warded off injustice nor troubles,
Nor relieved any of the troubles you relieved.
طالوا مَقالاً وَفي أَفعالِهِم قِصَرٌ
وَلَن تُراعَ الخُطوبُ السُودُ بِالخُطَبِ
Long were their claims yet short were their actions,
Serious perils cannot be remedied by words.
وَحاوَلوا المَجدَ مِن طُرقٍ مُشَعَّبةٍ
وَجِئتَهُ مِن طَريقٍ غَيرِ مُنشَعِبِ
They tried attaining glory through many paths
While you came to it through a smooth untrodden path.
لا يُذهِلِ الناسَ ما خُوِّلتَ مِن شَرَفٍ
فَمَن سَعى سَعيَكَ اِستَولى عَلى القَصَبِ
The nobility you attained does not bewilder people,
Whoever sought as you did, ruled over the staff.
بَأسٌ تَحوطُ الغَريبَ الأَجنَبِيَّ بِهِ
كَما تَذودُ الأَذى عَن جارِكَ الجُنُبِ
A courage that protects a stranger or foreigner through it
As the harm is warded off a neighbour or relative.
وَنائِلٌ ظَلَّ ذو وَفرٍ كَمُفتَقِرٍ
فيهِ الغَداةَ وَناءٍ مِثلَ مُقتَرِبِ
And an asker whose plenty has dwindled like one asking,
In the early morn and nightfall like one drawing near.
كَذَلِكَ النارُ في نَفعٍ وَفي ضَرَرٍ
مُيَمَّمٌ نورُها مَرهوبَةُ اللَهَبِ
So is fire useful and harmful,
Feared is its light, blazing are its flames.
وَنَخوَةٌ ما يَزالُ الدَهرَ يَمنَعُها
مُستَحسَنُ الجِدِّ عَن مُستَقبَحِ اللَعِبِ
And a meekness that fate always prevents
Commendable is serious work unlike frivolous play.
يُرى سِواكَ إِذا ما جاءَ مُفتَخِراً
يَوماً أَحالَ عَلى آبائِهِ النُجُبِ
None but you is seen when one boasts
Making fathers’ glories a thing of the past.
فَاِعلُ الوَرى غَيرُكُ المَسؤولُ عَن نَسَبٍ
قاصٍ وَحَسبُكَ ما أوتيتَ مِن حَسَبِ
The doer of the world, not you, is questioned about lineage
Sufficient a lineage is what you were endowed with.
وَأَنتَ مَن تَرفَعُ الأَشرافَ خِدمَتُهُ
وَالإِنتِماءُ إِلَيهِ أَشرَفُ النَسَبِ
You are one who elevates the nobility, your service
And affiliation with you are the noblest of lineages.
وَما خَفيتَ عَلى ذي فِطنَةٍ نَسَباً
إِذا النَدى وَالوَغى قالا لَكَ اِنتَسَبِ
An intuitive mind does not overlook your lineage
When omnipresent fame says to you: “claim lineage!”
بَنَيتَ لِلعَجَمِ المَجدَ المُبَلِّغَهُم
مَجداً بَناهُ رَسولُ اللَهِ لِلعَرَبِ
You built glory for non Arabs conveying them
Glory built by Allah’s messenger for Arabs.
لَقَد حَمى الحاكِمُ المَنصورُ دَولَتَهُ
بِقَولِهِ اِنتَجِبِ الفُرسانَ وَاِنتَخَبِ
The Caliph al-Mansur protected his state
By saying: select horsemen and men of merit.
ثُمَّ اِنتَضاكَ اِبنُهُ سَيفاً زَمانَ طَغَت
أَعداؤُهُ فَرَماها مِنكَ بِالعَطَبِ
His son, Sword of Time, later chose you
To smite enemies raging in transgression.
فَحينَ أَربَيتَ قالَ اِبنُ اِبنِهِ اِعتَضِدي
يا دَولَتي بِفَتى جَدّي وَسَيفِ أَبي
So when you grew up, son of his son said: my state, depend
On grandfather’s knight and father’s sword.
أَرى نَصيبَكَ مِن عِزٍّ وَمِن شَرفٍ
نَصيبَ شانيكَ مِن هَمٍّ وَمِن نَصَبِ
I see your share of honour and nobility
As the equal of your intense troubles and woes.
لا ذَت بِكَ العَرَبُ العَرباءُ وَاِعتَلَقَت
مِن جودِ كَفِّكَ حَبلاً غَيرَ مُنقَضِبِ
The honourable Arab tribes have tied
To the rope of your generosity, firm and unfailing.
أَصفَيتَها المالَ شِرباً وَالعُلى كَلَأً
مِن بَعدِ أَن رَضيَت بِالماءِ وَالعُشُبِ
You gave it, after being content with water and plants,
Money to drink and heights to graze.
ناقَضتَ حُكمَهُمُ لَمّا أَبَحتَهُمُ
ما قَد سَلَبتَ بِأَطرافِ القَنا السُلُبِ
You opposed their rule when you gave them
What you had seized at the furthest ends of the bow.
فَقَد صَفا لَكَ إِعلاناً وَمُعتَقَداً
مَن لَم يَزَل في طَريقِ الخِبِّ ذا خَبَبِ
You have clearly declared in belief and creed
One who always walked the path of precision and judgment.
أَعدَمتَها الجَهلَ وَالإِعدامَ مُذ وَجَدَت
في ظِلِّكَ الرَغَبَ المَخلوطَ بِالرَهَبِ
You ended its ignorance and destruction since
It came to exist in your shade mingled with greed and fear.
في ظِلِّ أَروعَ إِن تَسأَلهُ مُنفِسَهُ
يَهَب وَإِن باشَرَ الهَيجاءَ لَم يَهَبِ
In the shade of the most wondrous – if one asks it will give,
If one comes in contact with raging, it will not rage.
نَدىً مَتى يَنزِلُ العافونَ عَقوَتَهُ
يَصُب وَعَزمٌ مَتى يَرمي العِدا يُصِبِ
Dew, when it descends on the heated, it pours,
Firm is determination when it aims arrows, it pours.
يَبُثُّ في كُلِّ أَرضٍ لِلعَدُوِّ نَأَت
ذِكراً يَقومُ مَقامَ الجَحفَلِ اللَجِبِ
It spreads in every land for the enemy
Talk that stands-in for groups of army.
إِنَّ الجَزيرَةَ بابٌ ظَلتَ توسِعُهُ
هَزّاً وَلَم يَبقَ غَيرُ الفَتحِ فَاِرتَقِبِ
The peninsula is a door whose breadth you expand
Shaking while naught remains but the opening so wait for it.
بابُ العِراقِ فَإِن جاءَ البَصيرُ بهِ
وَافى المُبَشِّرُ مِن بَغَدادَ بِالعَقِبِ
Iraq’s door, if the discerner comes to it
The herald from Baghdad will bring tidings.
وَكَم سَعَيتَ لِحَظٍّ كُنتَ تَلحَظُهُ
فَذادَكَ الجِدُّ حَظّاً غَيرَ مُرتَقَبِ
How much you strived for a moment you anticipated
Kept away by fate a share unforeseen!
وَكَم فَتَحتَ بِلاداً غَيرَ مُكتَرِثٍ
وَالسُمرُ مَركوزَةٌ وَالبيضُ في القُرُبِ
And how many lands you opened not caring
While arrows are sheathed and eggs are in nests.
فَلا يَغُرَّ نُمَيراً أَنَّها سَلِمَت
لَيسَ السَلامَةُ مِن ذا العَزمِ بِالهَرَبِ
So let not Numayr be fooled if it is safe
Safety from one with firm purpose is not through escaping.
نَحَوا فَحينَ أَحَسّوا بِاللِقاءِ نَجَوا
يا قُربَ هَذا الرِضى مِن ذَلِكَ الغَضَبِ
They approached, so when they felt the encounter was near they said:
“Oh how close is this pleasure from that anger!”
هَمّوا فَمُذ نَزَلوا بِالشَطِّ شَطَّ بِهِم
عَن سَورَةِ الحَربِ ما خافوا مِنَ الحَرَبِ
They attacked, so once they descended at the banks, the banks
Pulled them away from the form of war they had feared.
حَتّى إِذا نَزَلَت صِرّينَ مُقبِلَةً
جاشَت بِحارُ رَدىً طَمَّت عَلى القُلُبِ
Until Serene descended violently
The sea of Rida foamed overflowing the hearts.
أَلّا ثَنَوها وَقَد ظَلَّت عَجاجَتُها
أَولى بِسَترِ عَذاراهُم مِنَ النُقُبِ
Why not protect her as her arrogance still
More worthy to veil their defects than veils.
خَيلٌ أَثارَت غَداةَ العَبرِ أَرجُلُها
ماءٍ حَكى نَقعَها في المَركَضِ التَرِبِ
Horses whose morning's dust their legs evoked
Water told of their galloping in dirt.
طالَ القَنا طامِحاً حَتّى لَقَد رُكِزَت
مِن قَبلِ طَعنِ العِدى مُبتَلَّةَ العَذَبِ
The bow stretched aspiring until indeed
Wounded by spears of foes soaked with blood.
وَعادَ بَعدَ بُلوغِ الجَوِّ مُنعَكِساً
كَأَنَّما جادَ تِلكَ الأَرضَ مِن سُحُبِ
It returned after reaching the atmosphere descending
As if the ground had poured out these arrows.
تَفَرَّقَ الجَمعُ لَمّا أَقبَلَت زُمَراً
تَفَرُّقَ السِربِ لَمّا ريعَ بِالسُرَبِ
The groups dispersed when regiments approached
Like birds dispersing when eagles approach.
كَالطَيرِ تَحمِلُ آساداً تُظَلِّلُها
طَيرٌ مَوارِدها قاني الدَمِ السَرِبِ
Like birds bearing lions shading them
Birds whose watering place is blood of drinking beasts.
هَذي تَفورُ إِذا نارُ اللِقاءِ خَبَت
وَتِلكَ إِن تَخبُ مِن قَبلِ الرَدى تَخِبِ
This one rages when the fire of encounter dies down
That one rages if rage comes from afar.
وَأَحدَقوا بِأَبي كَعبٍ لِيَنصُرَهُم
وَهَل تُراعُ لُيوثُ الغابِ بِالشَبَبِ
They stared at Abi Ka`b to grant them victory
But do lions of the forest notice foxes?!
أَو يَحتَمي مُستَجيرُ الرومِ مِن مَلِكٍ
يُزجي الكَتائِبَ مِلءَ الأَرضِ بِالكُتُبِ
Or would the Romans’ seeking refuge in a king
Who hurls battalions as the ground fills with books offer safety?!
لا يَصطَلِ الرومُ جَهلاً ما يَشُبُّ لَهُم
رَبُّ العُلى لَم تُشَب وَالجودِ لَم يُشَبِ
Nor are the Romans ignorant of what maturity grants them
By God! Maturity did not dawn and generosity did not dawn.
وَلتَجتَنِب بَطشَ أَلوى حَدُّ سَطوَتِهِ
أَلوى بِمَن رَدَّها مَنكوسَةَ الصُلُبِ
And avoid the might of one whose might
Is mightiest against one whose determination reversed.
نَجمٌ بِسَيفِكَ مِن بَعدِ الوُقودِ خَبا
فَحُزتَ مالَكَ دينَ العالَمينَ خُبي
A star waned after the firewood when your sword
Kindled possessor of world’s faith.
وَأَينَ مِنكَ اِبنُ حَمدانَ المُرَوِّعُهُم
وَمِن مَماليكَكَ الوالي عَلى حَلَبِ
Where is Ibn Hamdan frightening them
Or your mamluks, the Governor of Aleppo?!
مِنَ الأُلى هَذَّبَتهُم ذي العُلى فَحَوَوا
حَظّاً مِن الجودِ وَالإِقدامِ وَالأَدَبِ
Refined by the Most High, they obtained a share
Of generosity, courage, and proper behaviour.
هُمُ المَوالي وَإِن خَوَّلتَهُم خَوَلاً
ما ضَرَّ مِن يوسُفٍ أَن بيعَ في الجَلَبِ
They are loyal even if you delegate authority,
No harm ever came from Joseph being sold into slavery.
وَلَّيتَهُم ما تَوَلَّتهُ المُلوكُ لَقَد
أَبى اِعتِزامُكَ ما نالَت مِنَ الرُتَبِ
You made them what kings have delegated
Your determination refused what they attained in positions.
كَأَنَّ مَجدَكَ وَهوَ الدَهرَ في صُعُدٍ
مِن فَرطِ إِسراعِهِ يَنحَطُّ في صَبَبِ
As if your glory, while time ascended,
From its swiftness fell into a slippery place.
مَلَكتَنا مُلكَ مَولىً عَزَّ مَقدِرَةً
وَحُطتَنا حانِياً كَالوالِدِ الحَدِبِ
We possessed, Master, glory of a Master mighty in decree
We were brought low, as humble as an affectionate father.
لا يَرضَ عَزمُكَ شَطرَ الأَرضِ مَملَكَةً
فَشَطرُها في ضَمانِ السُمرِ وَالقُضُبِ
Your determination is not pleased with half a kingdom ruled
Half is guaranteed by red and yellow arrows.
وَلا تُسالِم عَدُوّاً أَنتَ قاهِرُهُ
قَد أَمكَنَتكَ كُؤوسُ الحَمدِ فَاِنتَخِبِ
Nor will you make peace with a foe you subdue
Cups of praise enabled you so select!
فَكُلُّ مَلكٍ دَعاكَ اليَومَ مِن بُعُدٍ
فِإِنَّهُ في غَدٍ يَدعوكَ مِن كَثَبِ
Thus every king inviting you today from afar
Will tomorrow invite you from nearby.
هَواكَ أَذهَلَني عَن ذِكرِ كُلِّ هَوىً
فَما أَجيءُ بِشِعرٍ غَيرِ مُقتَضَبِ
Your zeal has distracted me from mentioning any passion
I cannot come with poetry that lacks harmony or balance.
أَمَّنتَني بِالعَطاءِ الغَمرِ مِن عَدَمٍ
وَبِالمَساعي إِذا أَثنَيتُ مِن كَذِبِ
You secured me with copious favour from nothingness
And interceding honour for me despite deficient lineages.
وَقَد شَفَعتَ الغِنى لي بِالعُلى كَرَماً
فَصِرتُ ذا نَسَبٍ في المَجدِ وَالنَسَبِ
So I gained through you lineage and glory
Which burden should I carry - your creating or your making me?
فَدُلَّني أَيَّما الثِقلَينِ أَحمِلُهُ
ثِقلِ اِصطِناعِكَ لي أَم ثِقلِ صُنعِكَ بي
My strength lied in that poetry is a reason for me
And this, providing without reason, weights heavy on me.
قَد شَدَّ أَزرِيَ أَنَّ الشِعرَ لي سَبَبٌ
وَأَنَّ هَذا الَّذي يُغني بِلا سَبَبِ
If my ideas do not fail me in praise
It may entice the distant with yearning.
إِن لَم تَغُص لِيَ أَفكاري عَلى مِدَحٍ
تُغري البَعيدَ مِنَ الأَطرابِ بِالطَرَبِ
Never have I reached the extent of my life’s hope
Or gained pardon on the day I return.
فَلا بَلَغتُ مَدى مَحيايَ أَيسَرَ ما
أَرجو وَلا نِلتُ عَفواً يَومَ مُنقَلَبي
The fast has gone and no reward remains for one who discards
Nor sin remains for one anticipating.
مَضى الصِيامُ وَما أَجرٌ بِمُطَّرَحٍ
فيما فَعَلتَ وَلا وِزرٌ بِمُحتَقَبِ
The feast has returned so deliver what came and went
Revered by fate, protected from flaws.
وَعاوَدَ العيدُ فاِّسلَم ما أَتى وَمَضى
مُعَظَّمَ القَدرِ مَحروساً مِنَ النُوَبِ
As for pilgrims, you clarified their path
Between those with homelands, faiths or Expatriates.
أَمّا الحَجيجُ فَقَد أَوضَحتَ نَهجَهُمُ
ما بَينَ ذي وَطَنٍ دانٍ وَمُغتَرِبِ
The Creator will not waste their efforts
You have heard the nation’s prayer from all places.
وَلا يُخيبُ إِلَهُ الخَلقِ سَعيَهُمُ
وَقَد سَمِعتَ دُعاءَ القَومِ مِن كَثَبِ
Sword of caliphate and blood kinship alliance thus
Calamities when neglected are not neglected.
سَيفَ الخِلافَةِ دُم حِلفَ المَضاءِ كَذا
إِنَّ الخُطوبَ إِذا لَم تَنبُ لَم تَنُبِ
May you live for a state whose rights you supported
It orbits around you like the celestial sphere.
وَعِش لِدَولَةِ حَقٍّ ظَلتَ تَعضُدُها
فَإِنَّها مِنكَ قَد دارَت عَلى قُطُبِ
