سَلِ المَعشَرَ الأَعداءَ إِن رُمتَ صَرفَهُم

عَنِ القَصدِ إِن أَعياكَ مِنهُ مَرامُ

Ask the host of enemies if you wish to turn them away,

From their purpose if their scheme troubles you,

أَتوكَ كَآسادِ الثَرى فَرَدَدتَهُم

كَما أَجفَلَت وَسطَ الفَلاةِ نَعامُ

They came to you like vipers of the earth yet you repelled them

As the ostriches were scattered amidst the barren valley,

مَضَوا يَسأَلونَ الناسَ عَمّا وَراءَهُم

فَيُخبِرُهُم بِالمُبكِياتِ عِصامُ

They went asking people about what was behind them,

So he informs them with grievous news, blade.

وَما ضاقَ عَنهُم جانِبُ العُذرِ إِنَّهُم

كَمِثلِ القَطا لَو يُترَكونَ لَناموا

Nor was the side of excuse too narrow for them, they are

Like cats, if left alone, they would sleep.

فِداءٌ لِباديسَ النُفوسُ وَجادَهُ

مِنَ الشُكرِ في أُفقِ الوَفاءِ غَمامُ

The souls are ransomed and their generosity overflowed

With gratitude on the horizon of loyalty, cloud.

فَما لَحَقَت تِلكَ العُهودَ مَلامَةٌ

وَلا ذَمَّ مِن ذاكَ الحِفاظِ ذِمامُ

So those covenants were not blamed,

Nor did any flaw from that preservation get blamed.

وَمِثلُكَ والى مِثلَهُ فَتَصافَيا

كَما صافَتِ الماءَ القَراحَ مُدامُ

And the like of you, loyal to the like of him, so you matched,

As the rainwater matched the valley’s runnel.

رَسيلُكَ في شَأوِ المَعالي كِلاكُما

بَعيدُ المَدى صَعبُ الهُمومِ هُمامُ

Your messages in the matter of noble deeds, both of you

Far-reaching, having lofty aspirations, resolute.

لَعَمري لَقَد أَحظَيتَهُ بِوِفادَةٍ

لِأَسنى كَريمٍ أَنجَبَتهُ كِرامُ

By my life, you have endowed him with such loyalty

That the noblest parentage produced, honor.

فَما اِنفَكَّ إِلّا عَدلَ نَفسِكَ إِن يَسِر

فَلِلجِسمِ لا لِلنَفسِ مِنكَ مُقامُ

So it didn’t cease unless your fair soul relented, if possible

For the body not the soul from you has its abode.

حُسامُكَ مَهما تَختَرِطهُ لِمِثلِها

فَقَلَّ غَناءُ السَيفِ حينَ يُشامُ

Your sword, however much you unsheathe it for its like

The glory of the sword when unsheathed is little.