بِالأَعوَرَينِ المُعوِرَينِ أَخَلَّ بي

بِالأَعوَرَينِ المُعوِرَينِ أَخَلَّ بي

أَمَلي وَعاوَدَني تَمَكُّن ياسي

أَمَلي وَعاوَدَني تَمَكُّن ياسي

In those two one-eyed, flawed men, I was let down

With the wicked one-eyed I was misled

by my hope, and despair once more took firm hold of me.

My hopes betrayed, and tyranny’s yoke instead

وَمِنَ الضَلالَةِ أَن رَجَوتُ لِحاجَتي

وَمِنَ الضَلالَةِ أَن رَجَوتُ لِحاجَتي

إِخلاصَ مَسعودٍ وَرِفدَ طِماسِ

إِخلاصَ مَسعودٍ وَرِفدَ طِماسِ

And it was folly that I hoped, in my need, for

Lost in error I, seeking my own needs

Masʿud's sincerity and Timas's bounty—

Prayed for the aid of Mas'ud, that cur of breeds

لا يَبرَحُ المَضّاضُ كُحلَ صَحيحَتي

لا يَبرَحُ المَضّاضُ كُحلَ صَحيحَتي

رِجسَينِ مَرذولَينِ في الأَرجاسِ

رِجسَينِ مَرذولَينِ في الأَرجاسِ

(may stinging pain ever remain the kohl of my sound eye!)—

My eyes yet smart with pains that will not quit

two foul creatures, despised among the foul.

Two filthy knaves, they revel in their pits

وَإِذا عَدَدتُ عَلى طِماسٍ عَيبَهُ

وَإِذا عَدَدتُ عَلى طِماسٍ عَيبَهُ

لَم أَرضَ أَلفاظي وَلا أَنفاسي

لَم أَرضَ أَلفاظي وَلا أَنفاسي

And when I count Timas's faults against him,

And when I count the faults of Timas out

I am satisfied neither with my words nor with my breaths.

My words, my breath find not their way about

أَدنو وَأُقصِرُ عَن مَداهُ وَإِنَّما

أَدنو وَأُقصِرُ عَن مَداهُ وَإِنَّما

أَرمي مِنَ المَلعونِ في بُرجاسِ

أَرمي مِنَ المَلعونِ في بُرجاسِ

I draw near, yet fall short of his full measure; I only

I draw near and stop short of his full extent

shoot at a target in that accursed man.

From that cursed one, far distant is my bent

هَلّا أَبو الفَرَجِ اِستَعارَ مَدائِحي

هَلّا أَبو الفَرَجِ اِستَعارَ مَدائِحي

أَو رَدَّنا فيها إِلى العَبّاسِ

أَو رَدَّنا فيها إِلى العَبّاسِ

Why did Abu al-Faraj not borrow my praise-poems,

Would that Abu Faraj borrow my rhymes

or refer us, concerning them, to al-Abbas?

Or we restore them to the Abbas' times

قَمَرٌ جَلا ظُلَمَ الخُطوبِ ضِياؤُهُ

قَمَرٌ جَلا ظُلَمَ الخُطوبِ ضِياؤُهُ

عَنّا وَبَدرٌ راهِنُ الإيناسِ

عَنّا وَبَدرٌ راهِنُ الإيناسِ

A moon whose light dispelled the darkness of calamities

A moon shone out, dispelling gloom full bright

from us, a full moon of enduring comfort.

Lighting our path, a waxing orb of light

لَم أَنسَ ما سَبَقا إِلَيهِ وَلَم أَكُن

لَم أَنسَ ما سَبَقا إِلَيهِ وَلَم أَكُن

لِيَدِ الصَديقِ المُستَماحِ بِناسِ

لِيَدِ الصَديقِ المُستَماحِ بِناسِ

I have not forgotten what those two were first to do, nor have I been

Not forgetting what came before me then

forgetful of the kindness of a friend whose bounty is sought,

For friendship's hand I'll never grasp again

وَنُبُوَّ ضِدِّهِما وَلَستُ بِواجِدٍ

وَنُبُوَّ ضِدِّهِما وَلَستُ بِواجِدٍ

عِندَ الكِلابِ رَضِيَّ فِعلِ الناسِ

عِندَ الكِلابِ رَضِيَّ فِعلِ الناسِ

nor of their opposite's coldness; I cannot find

Their opposites we become, and I'll not find

among dogs the worthy conduct of men.

With curs the deeds of men to please my mind