الحُبُّ ريحانُ المُحبِّ وراحه
وإليه إنٍ شحطتْ نَواهُ طِمَاحُهُ
Love is the sweet basil of the lover, his comfort,
To which, if his gaze inclines, his yearning rushes headlong.
يغدو المحب لشأنه وفؤادُهُ
نحوَ الحبيب غُدُوُّهُ ورواحهُ
The lover rises early for his beloved's sake, his heart
Sets out and returns towards the beloved.
عندي حديثُ أخي الصبابة عن حَشَا
لي لا تزال كثيرةً أتراحُهُ
I have a discourse, my friend, about the youthfulness
That still plentifully flows within me.
وبحيث أرْيُ النحل حَدُّ حُماتها
وبحيث لذاتُ الهوى أبراحُهُ
And where I see the bees, the limit of their hives,
And where the joys of passion spread their wings.
أصبحتُ مملوكاً لأحسن مالك
لو كان كمَّل حُسْنَهُ إسجاحُهُ
I have become a slave to the fairest master;
Had his perfection been flawed, his charm would fade.
لم يَعْنه أرَقِي وفيه لقيتَهُ
حتى أضرَّ بمقلتي إلحاحُهُ
His glance did not suffice me, though in it I found him;
Its urgency brought pain unto my eyelids.
كلا ولا دمعي وفيه سفحته
حتَّى أضرَّ بوجنتي تَسْفَاحُهُ
No, neither my tears nor their flowing down my cheeks
Ever harmed me, or caused my Lord to punish him.
لا مَسَّه بعقوبة من رَبِّه
إقْلاقُهُ قلبي ولا إقراحُه
Were it not that his abandonment makes me lean with sorrow
And takes away my joys, I would be healed.
لولا يُدَالُ من الحبيب مُحبُّهُ
فتُدال من أحزانِهِ أفراحُه
Oh, would that I knew! Does he sleep embracing me?
Is my hand free of my cloak and his mantle?
يا ليت شعري هل يبيتُ مُعانِقِي
ويدايَ من دون الوشاح وشاحهُ
Does he smell my apple or my rose,
That gazelle whose rose is an apple?
ويُشمُّني تُفَّاحهُ أو وَرْدَهُ
ذاك الجَنِيُّ ووردُه تفاحهُ
A wild goat cured, though her glances ail me,
Beauty lies where sickness and health reside.
ظَبْيٌ أُصِحَّ وأُمرضتْ ألحاظُه
والحسن حيث مِراضه وصحاحُه
Our wounds multiply when her glances fall on us,
Just as wounds multiply in hearts because of him.
يغدو فتكثر باللحاظ جراحُنا
في وجنتيه وفي القلوب جراحُه
Who says of me, to him for whom I felt passion:
"Can the board be cleaned once it is dirtied?"
مَنْ قائلٌ عني لمن أحبَبْتُهُ
هل يُنقَعُ اللَّوح الذي ألتاحُه
Are you just towards a wretched, complaining lover?
His laments and cries are his plea!
هل أنت مُنْصِفُ عاشقٍ مُتَظَلِّم
طولُ النَّحيب شَكَاتُه وصِياحُه
By God! You blamed me and settled in a home
Whose sorrow is mine, though others live there.
قَسَماً لقد خيَّمْتُ منك بِمنزلٍ
لي حَزْنُهُ ولمن سِوايَ بطاحُهُ
Why are your lips my wine, while for others
I sacrifice myself? Yet they are at peace!
ما بال ثغرِك مَشْرَباً لي سُكْرُهُ
ولمن سواي فدتك نفسي راحُهُ
My soul tortured by him, while he enjoys
What is unlawful for me, though lawful for others!
نفسي مُعَذَّبة بِهِ من دونِهِ
ويُبَاحُهُ دوني ولست أُباحُه
You named me an ascetic of passion, though the youth
And his garb have become licentious and bold.
مِن دونِ ما قد سُمْتَنِي نسكَ الهوى
وغدا الصِّبا ولَبُوسه أمساحُه
How often I refused advice regarding you, though none
Refuses fresh water when it is turbid!
ولكم أَبَيْتُ النصح فيك ولم يكن
مِثلي يَعَاف العذبَ حين يُمَاحُه
And I say to him who insists on blaming me,
Though my caution pleases him, and he importunes me:
ولقد أَقول لِمن ألحَّ يلومني
وإخاله لِحياطتي إلحاحُه
And I say to him who censures me with ridicule
As if to extract the truth, though it is his right:
ولقد أَقول لِعاذِلِي مُتَنَمِّراً
كالمسْتَغِشِّ وحقُّه استِنصاحُه
"Oh you who makes her love seem ugly to me,
Show me, may God reform you, where is its ugliness?
يا من يُقَبِّحُ عند نفسي حبَّها
أرِنِي لحاك الله أين قُبَاحُه
In his intimacy, his guidance, or his stinginess?
You have missed the marks of his beauty and radiance!"
أصدوده أم دَلُّهُ أم بُخلُه
أخطأتَ تِلك مِلاحه وصِباحُه
Were it not for my pride in the beloved and his wit,
The pretentious would not dare to pretend!
لولا التعزُّز في الحبيب وملحه
ما حَلَّ للمستملِح استملاحُه
Strong intimacy with the loved ones is forbidden
To lovers, though it would please them.
وجَدا الأحبةِ طيِّبٌ محظورُهُ
عند المحب ولن يطيب مباحُه
I have answered all your blame and silenced it,
Oh you who blame me! Let him erase it who can!
أكفأتُ لومَك كلَّه ومججتُهُ
يا لائمي فأَمِحْهُ من يمتاحُه
I hope you advise me, though no lover's eye
Sees what his advisor sees.
وعساك تنصحني وليس لعاشِق
عين تريه ما يرى نُصَّاحُه
My tormentor would not have confused me so
Were it not for his foolishness and frivolity.
ما كان أحْذَقَني بِصُرْمٍ معذِّبي
لولا مهَفْهَفُ خلقِهِ وَرَدَاحُه
But he is like pleasant life whose honey
Is drunk, though his butcher is oppressive.
لكنه كالعيشِ سائِغُ شُهدِهِ
يُصبى إليه وإن أغصَّ ذُباحُه
What business have I with you? Can I attain my pleasure
While you bear the sin? No, let not its feathers and wings burden you!
ما لي ومالَكَ هل أفوزُ بِلَذَّتي
وعليك وزر قِرافِها وجُنَاحُهُ
Do not increase your blame, and cast
Far from you this foolishness, for I am its weaver!
كلا فلا تُكْثرْ مَلامك واطّرِح
عنك الهُذَاءَ فإنني طَرَّاحُهُ
The passionate are wronged in love;
Does passion flow to them? Are its streams theirs?
وأما لقد ظُلِمَ المعذَّل في الهوى
أَإليه مصروفُ الهوى ومُتاحُهُ
How can one be as he wishes when his health
And sickness are in another's hands?
أنَّى يكون كما يشاء مُدَبَّرٌ
بِيَدَيْ سِواه سَقَامُهُ وصَحَاحُهُ
I am stubborn in passion and its path,
While the chaste are merely bleating and barking!
مِنِّي اللَّجاجة في الهوى وسبيله
وَمِن العَذولِ هِريره وَنباحُهُ
And to Ishmael's son are those who migrate from it
When the time bares its blades.
وَإِلى ابن إسماعيل مِنهُ مُهاجري
ومِن الزمان إذا أُلِيحَ سلاحُهُ
O excellent brother! Your benevolence and character
Build generosity through your seriousness and your humor!
حَسَنٍ أخي الإحسان والخُلق الذي
يبني المكارمَ جِدُّهُ ومُزَاحُهُ
I have questions for you about him, and I said:
"His ransom is, in our time, his open-handed and his stingy!"
ومُسَائِلٍ لي عنه قلت فداؤه
في عصرِنا سُمحاؤه وشِحاحُهُ
This is a man who gives you the essence of dew,
His foolishness like a camel freed of its outer garment!
ذاك امرؤ يلقاك منه فتى الندى
غِطرِيفه كَهْلُ الحجا جَحْجَاحُهُ
Fair his greeting, like his name Bringer of Joy,
His laughter makes his companion laugh.
حَسنُ المحيّا كاسمه بَسَّامه
ضَحَّاكه لجليسه وضّاحُهُ
He comes and goes from the radiance of his affairs,
As if his very name is Radiance!
يُمْسي ويُصْبِحُ من وَضاءة أمرِهِ
وكأنِّما إمساؤه إصباحُهُ
His custom, regarding wealth, is to enrich it,
And his path, regarding glory, is to increase it.
عَادَاتُه في ماله اسْتِفْسَادُهُ
وسبيلُه في مجده استصلاحُهُ
He is hoped for, and fulfills hopes,
No, he exceeds, his fulfillment inspires hope!
يُرْجَى فيُوفِي بالمُؤَمَّلِ عنده
لا بل يَفُتٌّ وفاءه إرجاحُهُ
And if a request is difficult regarding his money,
Through his influence and auspices, he accomplishes it!
ومتى تعذَّر مطلب في مالِهِ
فبجاهِهِ وبيُمنِهِ استنجاحُهُ
Son of Ishmael is a refuge for one who flees
On foot, and a sanctuary for one who seeks refuge on a mount!
إن ابن إسماعيلَ مَفْزَعُ هارب
قِدماً وَمَفْدَى طالِبٍ وَمَراحُهُ
He protects his neighbor from harm, his strength apparent,
His bark loud to guests of his generosity!
دفَّاعُ جارِ حِفاظِهِ منَّاعُهُ
نَفَّاحُ ضيفِ سَمَاحِهِ منَّاحُهُ
In his nature, firmness and peace,
The sword has a blade that gives joy when touched,
في شِيْمَتَيْهٍ صرامة وسلامة
فهناك حَدَّا مُنْصُلٍ وصِفاحُه
But it has a limit, its striking is feared!
For his men he has two that follow in succession:
والسيفُ ذو متن يَلذُّ مِسَاسُه
لكنْ له حَدٌّ يُهَاب كفاحُه
For the devotee, impatience, and for the seeker, attainment!
In his shade the despairing heart is secure
لِرجاله منه اثنتانِ تتابعتْ
بهما له وتسايرت أمداحُه
And through his generosity the broken wing is mended!
For this one, his hospitality and position,
فَلِرَاهِب ألَّا يَرِيثَ أمانُهُ
ولراغب ألّا يريث نجاحُه
For that one, the immediate supply and expenses!
To him the relative comes wearing his sandals,
في ظله أمِنَ النَّخِيبُ فؤادُه
وبجوده انجبر الكسيرُ جَنَاحُهُ
And the petitioner wiping his slippers!
How many a rider brought his mount, following
هذا له إكرامُه ومقامُه
ولذاك عاجلُ رفدِه وسراحُه
Until, through its docility, the stretcher gained its rhythm!
Yet we avoid him and his abode,
فإليه ينتعل القريبُ حذاءَه
وإليه يمسح سَبْسَبَاً مُسَّاحُه
Preferring a house empty and spacious!
So he remains, shortening for the journey his long robe,
كم سائقٍ ساقَ المطيَّ يؤمُّهُ
حتى اقتدى بذلولِهِ ممْراحُه
And spends the night grasping the mantle for sleep!
His journey folds the extended destination of the decided journey,
ولقد ترانا نَنْتَحِيهِ ودونَه
للعيس أغبرُ واسعٌ قِرْواحُه
How excellent! Drawing near to them, the aspirer's goal!
And worthier of folding the distance is one who travels
فيظل يَقْصُرُ للمسير طويلُه
ويبيت يُقْبَض للسُّرَى رحراحُه
As a merchant, profits awaiting him!
How often has the darkness of night folded his splendor
يطوي مدى السَّفر المُيَمَّم سَفْرُهُ
حَسَناً فيقرُبُ عندهم طَمَّاحُه
Like a new garment whose time of fading has not come!
Its lights guided their eyes to him,
وأحقُّ مطويٍّ مداه لقاطع
سَفَرٌ تلوح لتاجرٍ أَرْباحُه
And its breezes guided their noses to his fragrances!
The dinner spread by its diffusion an aroma
ولكم كَسَتْ ظلماءُ ليلٍ وفدَه
ثوباً جديداً لم يَحِن إمحاحُه
That filled the air, reaching out to their nostrils!
And the darkness shone with a lamp from its light,
فهدتْ عيونهم له أضواؤه
وهدت أنوفَهمُ له أرواحُه
Revealing eyes beneath the veils.
Do not doubt it, Abu Ali is
شملَ التنوفَةَ فائحٌ من نشره
قطعَ الفضاءَ إلى الأُنوف مَفَاحُه
The gate of riches; asking him is its key!
A rain whose lightnings brought you glad tidings,
وَجَلا الدُّجُنَّةَ لائحٌ من نوره
كشف الغطاء عن العيون مِلاحهُ
And breezes from it passed as mercies!
Continuously, his blessings follow his generosity,
لا تُخْطِئنَّ أبا عليٍّ إنه
بابُ الغنى وسؤاله مفْتاحُه
As rain pursues its lightning bursting forth!
I have become thanking him, though letting me down
غيث أظلَّ فبشَّرتْك برُوقُه
وَمَرَتْ لك النفحاتِ منه رياحُه
Did not please me, nor did favoring others.
And I publicize my complaining of him, though his
ما زال يتبعُ بشرَهُ معروفُه
والغيثُ يتبعُ بَرْقَهُ تَنْضَاحُهُ
Confining and depriving me did not worry me.
I have eclipsed praise, keeping silent,
أصبحتُ أشكره وإن لم يُرضني
إسقاطُه شأوي ولا إرزاحُه
As his beauty kept my praise hidden!
So by his height he appeared eclipsed,
وأذيع شكواه وإن لم يُشكِنِي
إنزارُهُ صَفَدِي ولا إيتَاحُه
And by his garb his lights shone!
He has a resolve that pleases me,
ألقى الكسوفَ على المديح وسيْبُهُ
كاسي المديح جَمَالَه فضَّاحُه
While forbidding it seems ugly to me!
I recited my panegyric to him, so he recited its length,
فبما اعتلاه بدا عليه كسوفُه
وبما كساه تَلألأتْ أوضاحُه
The generous uneasy with his money rattling!
My heart yearns for the dew, desiring it,
كائنْ لهُ حَزْمٌ إليَّ يروقني
حُسْناً ويَقْبُحُ عندي استقباحُه
My nature delighted by the down, resting in it!
The Najd sent forth its winds, so its desires
أنشدْته مدحي فأنشد طَوْلَهُ
تَئِقُ السَّمَاح بمالِه نَفَّاحُه
Blew to me, after being difficult for me to attain!
A bewitching glance bearing away my effort,
صبُّ الفؤاد إلى الندى مُشْتَاقُه
طِرب الطِّباع إلى الثَّدَى مرتاحُه
A sea sinking my ships with its storm!
So it is as if its obtainer intended my disgrace
بعثَ الجَدا فجرت إليَّ رِغابه
من بعد ما عَسُرتْ عليَّ وِتَاحُه
From heights reached by the ladder he placed there!
And when open-handedness disgraces praise, it is ugly
طِرْفٌ يغولُ الجهدَ منِّيَ عفوُه
بحرٌ يُغَرِّقُ لُجَّتي ضَحْضَاحُه
To expect gratitude from his benevolence!
O family of Hammad, your command has lagged,
فكأَنَّ نائله أرادَ فَضِيحتي
مما اعتلى مَتْحِي هناك مِتَاحُه
Yet its sealing remains and its opening continues!
You truly represent all things virtuous,
وإذا الجدا فضح المديح فَمُقْبِحٌ
يُعْتَدُّ من إحسانه إقباحُه
While the virtuous others are merely their specters!
Knowledge is divided, so besides you
يا آل حمَّاد تَقَاعَسَ أمركم
عن خَتْمِهِ وتجدَّد استفتاحُهُ
Are its guesses, while its decisive conclusions are with you!
That which no issue's lock resisted
أنتم حقيقةُ كلِّ شيء فاضل
وذوو الفضائل غَيْرَكُمْ أَشباحُهُ
Except that those among you unlocked it!
And in Hammad ibn Zayd you have a refuge
والعلمُ مُقْتَسَمٌ فعندَ سواكُمُ
أقْيَاضُهُ ولديكُم أَمحاحُه
In knowledge, whose agreement comes with acceptance!
The false arguers do not deceive, and the whale
أصبحتُمُ بيتَ القضاء فنحوَكُمْ
تَهْوِي بطالِب فَيْصَلٍ أطْلاحُه
In the sea does not escape the swimmer!
With the discourse of Hammad and the lamp of Malik
وبِعَدْلِكُمْ أضحى مَراداً واسعَ ال
بُنْيان فيه سُرُوحه وسَرَاحُه
The burning urgency of the insistent is healed!
They do not distance themselves from the two holy sites, both
أصحابُ مالكٍ الذي لم يَعْدُهُ
من كُلِّ علم محضُه وصُراحُه
Provide a healing whose cure flows!
And it is as if both of them drew
ذاك الذي ما اشتد قفْلُ قضية
إلا ومن أصحابه فُتَّاحُه
From the tablet of Mohammed what they inscribed!
And the dissenter became, through you, with his sword
ولكم بحمَّادِ بن زيد مَمْتَحٌ
في العِلم يصدرُ بالرضا مَتَّاحُه
Sheathed and his spears fixed in place!
You addressed him frankly, so he avoided
لا يُخْدَع المتَعلِّلُون ولا يعُمْ
في البحر إلى الحوتُ أو سُبَّاحُه
With the hand of peace, though his foolishness cast shadows!
By God, the Caliph observed closely,
بحديث حمَّادٍ ومَقْبَسِ مالكٍ
يَشْفي الأُحَاحَ من استَحَرَّ أحَاحُه
And saw by the light of God where his rectitude lay!
And if by your efforts a man attains success,
لا يَبْعُدا من حالبَيْن كلاهما
يمْرِي الشفاء فَتَسْتَدِرُّ لِقاحُه
He is suited to complete his success!
How can one sharing fail or succeed
وكأنما هذا وذاك كلاهما
من في محمّدٍ استَقَتْ ألواحُه
When the arbiters are the separating judges?!
Scholars of Mohammed's religion, its jurists,
ومُخَالِفٍ أضحى بكم مَغْمُودَةً
أسيافُه مَرْكُوزَةً أرماحُه
Reformers, resolute, sharp!
And God knows best where He places His judgment,
خاطبْتُمُوه بالجليَّةِ فاتَّقى
بيَدِ السَّلام وقد أظلَّ شِيَاحُه
Even if the obstinacy of quarreling raises its clamor!
And were you pure in advising the Caliph,
قسماً لقد نظر الخليفةُ نَظرَةً
فرأى بنور الله أين صلاحُه
Evil is that the sincere adviser quarrels!
So you provoked ibn Lith your provocation,
وإذا امرؤٌ وصل الفلاحَ بسعيكم
فهو الخليق لأن يَتمَّ فلاحُه
Until by its light his lamp kindled in the darkness!
And by it his eyes saw where his loss lay,
أنَّى يخيبُ ولا يفُوزُ مُسَاهِمٌ
والحاكمون الفاصلون قِداحُه
And by it his eyes saw where his profits lay!
When he was illuminated by your light in his matter,
علماءُ دين محمَّدٍ فقهاؤُه
صلحاؤه صُرحاؤه أقحاحُه
Amr's evening and morning shone!
Had it not been for your counsel, he would have collided
والله أعلم حيث يجعل حكمه
وإن امترى شَغِبُ المراء وقَاحُه
With a collision from which the collider does not recover!
Oh, would that I knew, when the like of you are praised,
ولئن مَحَضْتُمْ للخليفة نصحكم
ولَشرُّ ما يَقري النَّصيحَ ضَياحُه
What can an encomiast add to them!
But you are like musk whose essence is pure,
فلقد قدحتم لابن ليث قَدْحَكُمْ
حتى توقَّد في الدجى مصباحُه
Increased when the paddles churn it!
You remain, from every wholesome life,
فرأت به عيناه أين خساره
ورأت به عيناه أين رَبَاحُه
Eternally, not withering or narrowing!
By my father, your hands have wrought
لمَّا استضاء بنوركم في أمره
عَمْروٌ أضاء مساؤه وصباحُه
A creation, improving my life though my hands despaired of improving it!
It laughed white and blameless, and its playfulness
لولا مشورتكم لَنَاطَحَ جَدَّه
جدٌّ يُبِيرُ مُنَاطِحِيه نِطاحُه
Made my life laugh and brought me joy!
By God, I do not forget your hands' defense
يا ليت شعري حين يُمْدَحُ مِثْلُكُمْ
ماذا تَراه يزيده مُدَّاحُه
Of me against humiliation when it collapsed!
And if tribulation shades me, I call upon you,
لكنكم كالمسك طاب لعينه
ويزيد حين تخوضه جُدَّاحُه
And through you comes its departure and relief!
And a roaming praise poet who does not cease
لا زلتُمُ من كل عيشٍ صالحٍ
أبداً بحيث دِماثُهُ وفِسَاحُه
To extol the hands that defended me!
I have said it regarding you, and I have not seen one say:
بأبي يَدٌ لَكُمُ صَنَاعٌ أصلحت
دهري وقد أعيا يدي إصلاحُهُ
"You reported the unseen, but its explication..."!
Gratitude is incumbent upon me, compelled by
بيضاءُ وَادَعَني بها وثَّابُه
عمري وضاحكني بها مِكْلاحُهُ
Its intimate knowledge of you!
Convention is dumbfounded when drastically altered,
تالله لا أنسى دفاع أكُفِّكُم
عنِّي البوارَ وقد هوى مِرْضَاحُه
And that a poet join it adorns his expression!
Listen, O excellent pillar! And hear,
وإذا أظلَّنيَ البلاءُ دعوتكم
فَبِكُمْ يكون زواله ورواحُه
And catch up with your enemy, though his lamentations deafened!
Show him your virtues which never cease
وشريدِ مدحٍ لا يزال مبارياً
سَيّاحُ سَيْبِ أكفِّكم سيّاحُه
To prolong his envy and morning hunger!
Take them as a gift from a poet thanking you,
قد قُلْتُهُ فيكم ولم أر قائلاً
أنْبَأتَ عن غيبٍ فما إيضاحُه
Whose vocal and eloquent praise spoke of your praise!
His hearing is ever inclined to the beloved in your words,
والشكر مَنْتُوجٌ عليَّ نَتَاجُه
وعليكُمُ بالعارفاتِ لِقَاحُه
And to your breeze his breathing always turns!
He brought you a maiden poem from his poetry,
والعرفُ أعجمُ حين يُولَى مُفْحَماً
وبأن يُضَمَّنَ شَاعِراً إفصاحُه
A maiden whose like rarely lets go her mantle!
So endow his generous lady whom you married,
أسْمَعْت يا حَسنَ المكارم فاستمعْ
واكبِتْ عدوَّك أُسْمِعَتْ أنواحُه
That the marriage be beautiful for the bridegroom!
Do not refuse the bride-price from her dowry,
أرِهِ مكارمَكَ اللواتي لم تزل
منها يطول ضُغاؤُهُ وضُباحُه
For it is surely licit for the noble to take it from the commoner!
Well-being and generosity came early upon you,
خُذْهَا هديةَ شاعرٍ لك شاكرٍ
نطقت بمدحك عُجْمُهُ وفِصَاحُه
While ruin befell your enemy, destroying him!
نحوَ المُعَشَّقِ من حديثك سَمْعُهُ
أبداً ونحو نسيمِكِ استِرْواحُه
أهدى إليك عقيلةً من شعره
بكْراً يَقِلُّ بمثلها إسماحُه
فَامْهَرْ كريمَتَه التي أُنْكِحْتَها
كَيْمَا يطيب لدى النِّكاحِ نِكاحُه
لا تمنعنَّ مَهيرَةً من مهْرها
إن السَّرِيَّ من الفرِيِّ سِفَاحُهُ
بَكَرَتْ عليك سلامةٌ وكرامةٌ
وعلى عدوِّك آفةٌ تجتاحُه
