غادرني صبّا حليف الوصب
نصيبي الهمّ وطول النصب
My young companion of morning draughts has left me,
My lot is care, and toil without relief.
غض الصبا معتدل قده
كالحصن هزته صبا فاضطرب
He was erect in frame, and beautifully moulded,
Like a castle that the breeze shakes into ripples.
كأنما في فيه غب الكرى
خمر لها در الثنايا حبب
As though in his mouth lay, beyond the white fence,
Wine whose seal musk had set on the flasks.
لم أنسه إذ زارني سالبا
لبي وعقد الأفق لم يستلب
When he came in his beauty to visit me,
Snatching my reason, but not my heart's troth,
والليل لم يطو بنود الدجى
والفجر ما لشر بيض العذب
The night was not long in its cover of gloom,
And the daybreak not bright in its silver whiteness;
بدر إذا قابلني سافرا
حسبته بالجلنار انتقب
The full moon, when it faced me, travelling,
Seemed to carry his tent-ropes over its shoulder.
يمزج لي بالصفو من ريقه
عذبا وبابن المزن بنت العنب
He mingled for me, from his saliva, gentle wine
Sweetened by the son of al-Muzain, perfect in grape.
في روضة راض ثراها الحيا
فأضحك الزهر بها وانتحب
In a garden I had not known, he left his traces,
Making the rose smile there, and the branches lament.
سلت على الفضة من مائها
أنامل البرق ظبي من ذهب
Lightning slips played on the stream from his hand,
Willow-wand, fashioned of silver, tipped with gold.
كأنما جدولها أرقم
أذعر في رملته فانسرب
As though his runnel were lines of writing
Flowing over the gravel that carried their form.
فناظر النرجس ساه إلى
ثغر أقاح راق منه الشنب
The narcissus looked at his bent branch and leaned
Toward lips opened in thirst at the pool.
والمورق المخضر قد هزه
إذ غنت الورق عليه طر ب
The anemone, freshened in color, was shaken
As the melody alighted and stirred on its stem.
والورد يحكي نشره ضائعا
نشر أبي الفضل المضاع النشب
The rose tells the story of his cheek’s down,
Scattered, O prodigal loosener of hair!
الصاحب الساحب ذيل العلى
والواهب الخرق الكريم الحسب
He is friend of high places, drawer of trains
Bestower of lavish gifts, worthy in deeds.
فارس بيض الهند مذروبة
والخيل قبّا والقنا واليلب
A horseman whose steed is whitest of all,
Ostrich-plumed; neither boon-fellow nor outcast.
اعلب مشحوذ غرارا النهى
والعزم ما غالب الا غلب
My heart is on fire from his maxim, deterring
Transgression; his purpose vanquishes armies.
رواؤه يكسف شمس الضحى
ورأيه يكشف داجي الكرب
His radiance outshines the full light of morning,
His wisdom shows dark tribulation the way.
طامي بحار الجود هامي الندى
عالي منار المجد زاكي الحسب
Diver in seas of munificence, rain-cloud of gifts,
Star of glory's height, scion of noblest stock,
مبيض وجه الرفد يوم الرضا
محمر متن السيف يوم الغضب
Of countenance white foretelling delight,
Of sword-blade red speaking of wounds.
قد فاز من سالمه بالمنى
وباء من حاربه بالحر ب
By his safety is gained all that we hope for,
By contention with him comes heavy defeat.
تلقاه قيس الرأي إما عرا
خطب وقص القول إما خطب
The best in wisdom hastens to greet him.
Orator mounted on pride for a camel-ride,
إن فضل الأجواد طرا فلا
مرية إن يفضل نبع غرب
If those who surpass in their gifts have precedence,
There is no doubt by whose spring men take water.
محتقب للشكر لا للهمى
والشكر من أنفس ما يحتقب
Graceful toward gratitude, not toward ignorance,
Gratitude, in the noble, itself is expected.
مؤيد الإسلام يا منعما
سمت معالي مجده والرتب
Upholder of Islam, from whom I have gained
High excellence, lordly position and rank!
يا من نرى أخلاقه حلوة
كأنها مخلوقة من ضرب
O whose nature is sweetness composed,
As if molded from a magical compound,
لله بشراك قبل الندى
يبشر الوفد بنجح الطلب
By God, ere the dew has descended from night,
The embassy travelers take joyful leave,
وعزمة كالنار وقادة
لو رمي الماء بها لالتهب
Resolute like fire, chieftains
Who, if cast in the sea, would enflame it!
أصبحت كالليث حمى غيله
بأسا وكالغيث همى وانسكب
Lion for protectors, when roused to anger,
Deluging rain when defenders show weakness.
ما بعد الرزق على مقتر
ناداك إلا ودنا واقترب
Not one who appealed to you at the shrines
Came for naught or departed denied.
يا راكبا شبت غداة السرى
برحله ذعلبة كالشّبب
O rider who leaves in the dawn, travelling
On his she-camel, more nimble than fox,
يحاول الري لدى معشر
ورد الندى بينهم قد نضب
Stay far from that tribe, and incline
To one never implored for a gift.
خذ جانبا عنهم ومل بالمنى
إلى جناب قط لم يجتنب
The shelter of praiseworthy religion and laws
Killer of despots, lover of noble minds,
جناب مجد الدين خدن العلى
وقاتل المحل ومحبي الأدب
Whose clouds, when they drop on the hills
Embrace them, and bow, and then slip away,
فما السحاب الجون مس الثرى
هيد به معتنقا وانسحبِ
Whose lightning smiles and laughs,
Whose thunder steps out and is gone.
فبرقه مبتسم ضاحك
ورعده وتجز في صخبِ
One day may he rain on the seeker his gifts
Like the downpour of clouds in flood.
يوما بأندى منك للمجتدي
صوب بنان سيله في صبب
Then wisdom will show you no bound to his thought,
And none will have trodden his precinct before.
فلا نبا حد لرأي ترى
ولا تمشت في حماك النوب
