صدوقُ الشَّيْمِ مُنْهلُّ العَطايا
اذا ما اخْلفَ الجوُّ المُغيِمُ
True in character, a wellspring of gifts,
whenever the cloud-laden sky fails its promise;
هَزيما جودهِ والوجْهِ منهُ
ظِلامُ الحَظِّ والليلُ البَهيمُ
his bounty pours down thunderously, while from his face
the gloom of ill fortune and the pitch-black night are driven away.
اذا خَذَلَ الجحافلُ فهو حامٍ
واِنْ بَخِلَ الحَيا فهو الكريمُ
When massed armies fail, he stands protector;
and when the life-giving rain withholds, he is the generous one.
يزيد به ضياءُ الصُّبحِ حُسْناً
ويحْلو في شمائلهِ النَّعيمُ
Morning’s radiance grows lovelier through him,
and amid his noble traits, bliss grows sweet.
وتشكو النِّيبُ والأبْطالُ منهُ
ويٌثْني الضَّيْفُ والجارُ المُقيمُ
The aged she-camels and the champions complain of him,
while guest and settled neighbor speak his praise.
هو القاسي اذا اشْتَجرَ العَوالي
وعند السَّلْمِ ذو لُطْفٍ رَحيمُ
He is stern when lofty spears clash,
but in peace, a man of gentle mercy.
يمينُ الدولةِ الطُّولى ببطْشٍ
اذا ما أقْدمَ الخطْبُ الغَشومُ
The supreme state’s right hand, mighty in his stroke,
when brutal calamity presses forward.
طليقُ الوجهِ بَسَّامٌ ومنهُ
عن العوْراءِ اِنْ خَطَرتْ وجوم
Open-faced and ever smiling—yet from him
comes grave silence whenever an ugly word is uttered.
Sol 5.6