آبَ الرُدَينِيُّ وَالحُسامُ مَعاً
وَلَم يَؤُب حامِلُ الحُسامِ مَعَه
Both Rudaini and his sword together went,
Yet the sword bearer returned not with him.
إِنَّ الخَفيفَ الحاذَينِ جَدَّلَهُ
مُعَيَّرٌ بِالقُعودِ وَالرَتَعَه
The nimble footed blamed him, scorned at his stay,
Called him deserter who the battle forsook.
غَدا عَليهِ مَن كانَ خيفَتُه
بَرقاً عَلى الهَونِ لازِماً ضَلَعَه
At daybreak he who erst on foot did fare
Now on his mare keeps pace, her flank his guard.
لَو أَنصَفَ الحَيُّ مِن رَبيعَتِهِ
ما صافَ مُحتَلَّهُ وَلا رَبَعَه
Had he but dealt his spring time generously
He had not shrunk from autumn's narrow ways.
وَاِنتَزَعَ الثارَ مِن مَظنَّتِه
مُعاجِلاً بِالدَمِ الَّذي اِنتَزَعَه
Swift he avenged the wrong to honor done,
With blood that for like cause he erst had shed.
بِالسُمرِ تَهتَزُّ في أَسِنَّتِها
وَالخَيلِ تَعدو العَنيقَ وَالرَبَعَه
On their lips Summer glows that speech inspire,
While the steeds pasture free in field and plain.
في جَحَفَلٍ قَعقَعَت حَوافِرُه
قَعاقِعَ الرَعدِ حادِياً قُزَعَه
With thunder of their hooves his horses trod,
As thunder rends through sheeted rain.
تَملَؤُهُ عَينُ مَن رَآهُ وَتَر
تَجُّ مِنَ الرُعبِ أُذنُ مِن سَمعَه
Eyes filled on sight of him, and ears assailed
Fell trembling at the din, by terror shook.
كانَ سَناناً يَزينُ صَعدَتَهُم
شُلَّ بِذاكَ السِنانِ مَن نَزَعَه
A sharpener he that gave their swords their sheen,
With him made limp who erst unyielding stood.
وَمارِناً لَم يَزَل لَهُ ظُبَةٌ
يَجدَعُ أَعناقَ حَيِّ مَن جَدَعَه
No respite he who necks of heroes broke,
Like wand of death felling where'er he struck.
يُطلِعُهُ فَوقَ كُلِّ مَرقَبَةٍ
قَلبٌ جَرِيٌّ وَعَزمَةٌ طُلَعَه
Each heights surveys he with unflinching glance,
By fiery soul impelled to highest aim.
إِذا جَرى وَالحَسودَ في صُعُدٍ
مِنَ العُلى يَبغِيانِ مُمتَنَعَه
When others climb, envy and rancor move,
He seeks what they as unattainable rate.
خَلّى غُبارَ المَدى لَهُ وَمَضى
يَطلُبُ قوتَ العُيونِ مُنقَطَعَه
The dust of plain behind him cast, he fares
To smite the arrogant eyes uplifted high.
أَبكي نَداهُ العَريضَ أَم بِشرَه اللا
معَ لِلمُعتَفينَ أَم وَرَعَه
For him I weep, or for his name extolled,
To God resigning in admission meek?
أَيّها عُقَيلٌ وَأَيُّ مَنقَصَةٍ
كَوَضعِ مَولى الأَقوامِ مَن رَفعَه
O Ukail! what defect or loss resides
In placement meet of lands' great Lord ordained?
صارَ طِرادُ المُلوكِ عادَتَكُم
بَعدَ طِرادِ البَعوضِ وَالقَمَعَه
When scouting kings was your accustomed course,
Better than wasps and worms why feel debased?
أُلامُ أَنّي رَثَيتُ زافِرَةً
كانوا نَجومَ الفَخارِ أَو لُمَعَه
Alas! for one a wailing song I sang
Who stars of glory were, or meteors bright.
إِن لا تَكُن ذي الأُصولُ تَجمَعُنا
يَوماً فَإِنَّ القُلوبَ مُجتَمِعَه
If ancestral roots unite us not today,
Then hearts tomorrow shall again unite.
كَم رَحِمٍ بِالعُقوقِ نَقطَعُها
وَرَحِمُ الوُدِّ غَيرُ مُنقَطِعَه
How oft we sever hearts by disrespect,
While hearts through love can never be disjoined.
لا تَيأَسوا مِن ثُقوبِ زَندِهِمُ
كَأَنَّني بِالزَمانِ قَد قَرَعَه
Despair not holes their coats disclose to you,
Methinks the time itself wears threadbare grown.
لابُدَّ مِن أَن يَثوبَ حالَهُمُ
لِكُلِّ ضيقٍ مِنَ الأُمورِ سِعَه
Need is that their condition mend its course,
For straits of life are followed by relief.
