يَا لَلرِّجالِ هَوَى أُمَيمَةَ قاتلى
بَعدَ الجَلاَلةِ وَالشَّفِيقِ العاذلِ
O men who love Ummaymah though she killed me
After glory and the setting of the sun.
وحوادثٍ تُسلِى المُحِبَّ عَنِ الهَوى
وَنوائِبٍ عَذَّبنَنَا وَشَواغِلِ
With incidents that console the lover for love
And troubles that vexed and preoccupied us.
وَتَجارِبٍ منها فأَحلَى قَائلٍ
بِلِسانِهِ قِيلاً وَأَمطَلُ مَاطلِ
And with experiences, the sweetest of which
Was spoken by the tongue, though most evasively.
أَأُمَيمُ هَل أُخبِرتِ مَتبولاً بَكَى
مِمَّا تَضَمَّنَ مِن هَوىً لِلتّابِلِ
O Ummaymah, have you been told of one made desolate, who wept
For what he felt of love for the excellent?
أَو تَعلمينَ هُدِيتِ مِن صافٍ لهُ
وُدُّ الكِرَامِ وَلاَ يَجُودُ بِنائلِ
Or did you know that you were gifted with one
Whose love is nobility, though he gives nothing?
وَزَعَمتِ أَنِّى منكِ أَهلُ كَرَامةٍ
فَرَجَوتُهُ أملَ الحَيا في قابِلِ
And you supposed that I was of noble birth,
So I hoped in life for one who fulfils.
ولقد صَحِبتُكِ لو جَزَيتش مَوَدَّةً
وخَلائقاً لَيسَت بذَاتِ غوَائلِ
I kept your company: had you repaid affection
And nature, it had not been of fleeting kind.
عَاماً فَعاماًُ ثُمَّ آخَرَ ثالثاً
فَبَلَوتُ ذلكَ مثلَ قِيلِ الباطلِ
Year after year, then a third,
I found that like the saying of the false.
وَعداً كَبارقِ خُلَّبٍ لِسمائِهِ
سُدٌّ وأكذَبُ مَنظَراً لِلخائلِ
A promise like flashes of mockery in the sky -
A cloudburst, though to the watcher most delusive.
أَيّامَ أَضمَر مِن تَذُكُّرِكِ الحَشا
فى غَمرَةٍ مِن لَهوِنَا وَغَياطِلِ
Those were days I concealed in my recollection of you
In our heedlessness and empty boasts,
شَغَفَا تَأوَّبُنِى إِلى خَطَرَاتِهِ
مُطَواءُ ذاتُ هَماهِمٍ وَمَلائلِ
An infatuation that led me to its perils,
A giddiness that imagines for the youth
وَكَذاكَ سَكراتٌ تُخايِلُ لِلفَتى
ما ليسَ للصّاحِينَ بالمُتَخَايِلِ
What is not for the wakeful in pretense.
Ummaymah said: "Women promised you,
قالت أَمَيمَةُ قَد وَعَدنَكَ نِسوَةٌ
مَلقىً وهُنَّ قَرَائِبى وخَلاَئِلى
My dear friend and intimates.
So fix us a term, for they decided me
فاضرِب لَنَا أَجَلاً فقد أَبرَمنَنى
يُعقِبنَ بَعَ رَسائلٍ بِرسائلِ
To follow messages with messages."
I thought to avoid it, and I said: "They vex me
فَهَمَمتُ أَن أَنأَى وقُلتُ يَعِبنَنِى
حَسداً لها وتحَمُّلاً لوَسائلى
With envy of her, though I can bear my condition."
I knew that if my merit were with her,
وعَلِمتُ أَنِّى إِن صفالي عِندَها
وُدٌّ فَلَيسَ لِقِيلِهِنَّ بِزَائلِ
Their words would not fail of effect.
If they vexed me with envy of her, she would know it -
إِن عِبنَنى حَسَداً لها عَلِمَت بِهِ
طِبًّا بِهِنَّ وهُنَّ غَيرُ غَوافِلِ
Gracious to them, though they were not heedless.
And I made their appointment a most blessed night,
وَجَعلتُ مَوعِدَهُنَّ لَيلةَ أَسعُدٍ
مَلقَى المُحِبِّ عنِ الغَيورِ الغافلِ
When lover meets beloved, though the jealous is oblivious,
Until, when I came, neither failing
حَتّى إِذا وافَيتُ لا بِمُقَصِّرٍ
عمّا رَقَبنَ لهُ ولا بالعاجِلِ
What they expected nor in haste,
I came to a session of soft bodies, ripe hips,
وافَيتُ مَجلِسَ بُدَّنٍ قُطُفِ الخُطا
هِيفِ البُطُونِ ذَواتِ شَطبٍ كاملِ
Deep bellies, perfectly firm.
They smiled, diffusing a cold that reddened their cheeks
يَبسِمنَ عَن بَرَدٍ أَحَمَّ رُضَابُهُ
كالشَّهدِ لارَصِفٍ ولا مُتَتثَاعِلِ
Like syrup that is neither thick nor diluted.
The meadow of their cheeks bloomed in the summer dusk
يَفتَرُّ رَوضَ حَنَاتِمٍ صَيِفيَّةٍ
بَينض الدُّجَى وغُروبِ كلِّ أصائلِ
At the setting of the Pleiades.
A wonder was the delight of the presence of those gentle,
عَجَباً لِبَهجَةِ ذاتِ دَلٍّ فَضلُها
بادٍ وهُنَّ ذَواتُ دَلٍّ فاضلِ
Excelled though they were by the excellent.
When we took turns speaking, we lowered our voices
لمّا ترَاجَعنا الحَدِيثَ نَكُفُّهُ
بالخَفضِ بعدَ تَحِيَّةٍ وَتَسَاؤلِ
After greeting and questioning.
We exchanged discreet words, no quarreling
والمُقتَراتِ مِنَ الكلامِ ولم يَكُن
بِتَجارُمٍ جِدّاً ولا بِتَباذُلِ
Or recrimination.
They shook my hand with fingers dyed
صافَحنَنِى بنَواعِمٍ مَخضُوبةٍ
شِبهِ النَّباتِ مِنَ النَّقا المُتَهايِلِ
Like the shoots of sweetbrier.
The session and incense were delightful
يانِعمَ ذلك مَجلِساً ولُبانةً
لو كانَ يَومُكَ لَيلُهُ يَتَطاوَلُ
Had your day lasted nightlong.
My heart longed for the wailings of doves -
طَرِبَ الفُؤَادُ إِلى نُواحِ حَمائمٍ
لا يَرعَوِينَ إِلى حَزِينٍ واجِلِ
It would not rest for a melancholy tone.
The stars of spring clustered on a side
نَجَّمنَ أَنواءَ الرَّبيعِ بجانبٍ
خِصبٍ فساكنُهُ بعَيشٍ باجِلِ
Of fertile growth whose dweller lived well.
Summer stretched over its firmament
والصَّيفَ حَتَّى استَنَّ فوقَ مِتانِهِ
وَهَجُ السَّمائمِ بالمَسِيلِ الحافلِ
And the heat wave flooded in a torrent.
The mirage flowed on the dunes as if
وجَرَى السَّرابُ عَلَى الحِدابِ كأنَّهُ
مَوجٌ يُرَجِّعُ فى جُنُوبِ السَّاحلِ
It were a wave restoring to the coast sands.
Then it came near the water-springs and faded -
ثُمَّ اقتَرَبنَ إِلى المَناهِلِ وانقَضى
زَرعُ المَصِيفِ مِنَ البُطُونِ الضّاهِلِ
The crop of summer from the withering bellies.
Till when autumn fell, touching the twisting
حتَّى إِذا وَقَعَ الخَرِيفُ لمسولٍ
فَلِذِى قِضِينَ إِلى بَياضِ جُلاجِلِ
Necks with its first white frosts,
They drove up all the heavily-laden beasts
قَرَّبنَ لِلأحمالِ كلَّ مُضَبَّرٍ
كالقَصرِ فَعمِ المَنكِبَينِ قُنابِلِ
Like a palace covering both shoulders.
The harsh bone-ridges of their chests are prominent,
نَهدِ المِلاطِ جُراشِعٍ حَيزُومُهُ
جَثلُ الضُّلُوعِ شَدِيدُ شَعبِ الكاهلِ
The lines of their flanks rigid from the burdens.
She-camels kneaded and their prints appeared -
عَيرانةٍ هَمَلضت وَظاهَرَ نَيَّها
عُشبٌ تَجَثَّلَ مِن رَبيع هاطِلِ
Herbage crumpled from a pouring rain.
Until when she had tamed them with firm handling
حتّى إِذا خَشَّعنَها بِأَزِمَّةٍ
مِن صُنعِ ماهِرةِ الأَكفِّ جَوادِلِ
By the skill of her deft palms,
And the breadth of their bodies showed, and their length,
وَارَينَ عَرضَ جِسامِهِنَّ وطُولَهَا
بِمُحَبَّرٍ مِن رَقمِهنَّ غُدَافِلِ
Marked by the pattern of their necks,
And she adorned them with all kinds of howdahs, secure,
وَعَلَونَهُنَّ بِكُلِّ أَحوَى قاتِرٍ
كالطِّرفِ لا جافٍ ولاَ مُتَضائِلِ
Like the eyelid, neither stiff nor drooping,
With drapes of purple, covered overall
بمُحَجَّبٍ بالأُرجُوانِ مُقَنَّعِ
بالرَّيطِ رَهّافِ السَّدِيفِ مُخايلِ
With rare thin gauze and pretense.
When she had prepared the finest sight,
حتى إِذا هَيَّأنَ أَحسَنَ مَنظَرٍ
حالاً بلَ عُنفٍ وَلاَ بِتَوَاكُلِ
Without violence or nonchalance,
Above the camels the litters took their place -
فَوقَ الجِمالِ تَبَوَّأَت أَخدَارَهَا
خُرُدٌ مِلاَحُ الدَّلِّ غَيرُعَوَاطِلِ
Ripe fruits of gentle birth, no vanity,
Of every swaying one the veil hangs
مِن كُلِّ بَهكَنَةٍ يَجُولُ وشاحُها
عَن خَصرِهَا وَالخَصرُ لَيسَ بجائلِ
From her waist, though the waist is no disgrace,
A scented east wind blows from its pocket -
رُعبُوبةٍ نَفحُ العَبِيرِ بِجَيبِهَا
عَبِقٌ وَلاَ تَصِلُ المُحِبَّ بِطَائِلِ
Fragrance, though it barely reaches the lover,
Unless cared for, and then a saying, and after it
إِلاّ بعَلَّ و سَوفَ قِيلٌ بعدَهُ
خُلفٌ وَلَيسَ خَيالُها بِمُزَايلى
A successor, not her image to be spurned.
This, and better, is praise for one praised
هذا وَخَيرٌ مِدحَةٌ لِمُمَدَّحٍ
بِفَضَائلٍ مَعدُودَةٍ وَنَوَافلِ
For numbered and additional virtues,
For the faithful youth who keeps his word,
لِفَتَى مَعَدٍّ ذِى الوَفاءِ بعَهدِهِ
وأخِى السِّياسَةِ والقَضاءِ الفَاصِلِ
Arbiter of rule and decisive justice,
Who wreaks punishment on those who break the staff
والمُنتَضِى لِنَكالِ مَن شَقَّ العَصَا
يومَ التَّزَايُلِ بالوَشِيجِ الذَّابل
The day they weaken and their gleam grows dim,
Who defends the protected, attacking suddenly,
وَاعصِ العَوَاذِلَ وَاقرِهَمًّا ضَائفاً
منعَ الرُّقَادَ نَجَاءَ حَرفٍ بازِلِ
Denying sleep to the shameless babbler.
O Ma'n son of the generous, who trod the pebbles
يا مَعنُ يابنَ كِرَامِ مَن وَطِىءَ الحَصَى
إِلاّ النُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ أَكرَمَ وَائلِ
Save for prophethood, then most noble ancestors,
Whose war is most feared when battle grew hot,
حَسَباً وَأَكرَهَهُم إِذَا حَمِىَ الوغَى
بَأساً وَأَصبرَهُم لِحَقِّ نازلِ
Most patient for the truth that befalls,
Fiercest in might, most faithful in allies
وَأَشَدَّهُم دَفعاً وَأَخلَصَ وَائلٍ
نَفعاً وَأَطوَلَهُم مَناطَ حَمائلِ
Bringing advantage, farthest in aspirations.
How many hateful prince of little worth
كَم مِن أَمِيرِ كَرِيهةٍ مِمَّن طَغَى
ومُقَّنَّع شاكِى السِّلاَحِ مُباسِلِ
Or pretentious, complaining of arms,
Does harm with capturing steeds, hanging up
ضَارٍ بأَسلاَبِ الفَوارِسِ مُعلِقٍ
نَفعاً تَحَرَّبَهُ بِصَدرِ العاملِ
Usefulness, which you sought in the thick of battle!
You opened a window piercing with a rusty
أَشعَرتَ نافِذَةً تَجِيشُ بناحطٍ
زَبدٍ مُعاندُهُ وآخَرَ سائلِ
Foam of one resisting, and another asking.
You hit the Yemeni with a white-bladed sword
وَرمَيتَ ذَا يَمَنٍ بشَيبَانِيَّةٍ
طَحَنَت جَنَاجِنَ مَن طَغَى بِكَلاَكِلِ
That crushed the wings of those who were excessive.
You trampled the armies of every land possessed
وَوَطِئتَ عَسكَرَ كُلِّ ثَغرٍ حَازَهُ
أَهلُ المَخَبَّةِ وِطأَةَ المُتَثَاقِلِ
By owners of ignorance with the trampling of one heavy laden,
And the refugee who feared the enemy nearby
وَمُشَرَّدٍ خَافَ العَدُوَّ بِجَانبٍ
وَالجَورَ مُنقَطِعٍ إِلَيكَ مُوائِلِ
While wrongdoing ended its roads in you.
You secured his fear, and on an evil day
آمَنتَ خِيفتَهُ وَيَومِ كَرِيهةٍ
فَرَّجتَ غُمَّتَهَا فَكَم مِن قائلِ
Eased his worry - how many could say it!
The delegations from all the tribes,
إِنَّ الوُفُودَ مِنَ القَبَائلِ كلِّهَا
مِمَّن تَضَعضَعَ مالُهُ والخاملِ
Those whose wealth was shaken, and the inert,
Sought the dew of Ma'n, so most laden riders
طَلَبُوا نَدَى مَعنٍ فَأوثَقُ رَاحِلٍ
بِنَجَاحِ حاجَتِهِ وَأَحمَدُ قَافلِ
Succeeded through your bounty, and caravans blessed.
The sea is not vaster than the Euphrates in flood
سَمحُ المَوَدَّةِ فى العَطاءِ حَرِيمُهُ
عِندَ الثُّرَيّا مِن يَدِ المُتَناوِلِ
Between rivulets and gatherings.
Your boon is more beneficial than your dew to the transgressor
مَا اليَمُّ مِن بَحرِ الفُرَاتِ إِذا طَمَى
بِالسَّيلِ بَينَ جَدَاوِلٍ ومَحافِلِ
Whose distinction withered the indigent man.
Were it not for hoping in you, I would not have traveled
بأَعَمَّ نَفعاً مِن نَدَاكَ لِمَن بَغَى
فَضلاً وَاثمَلَ لِلضَّعِيفِ العائلِ
The expanse of Iraq with young men and riders.
How much did they cut across to you from a land
لَولاَ رَجَاؤُكَ لَم أسِر مِن بِيشةٍ
عَرضَ العِرَاقِ بِفِتيَةٍ وَرَواحِلِ
Whose guide through the plain is the ignorant!
Joined are the stages joined, their regions
كَم قَد قَطَعنَ إِلَيكَ مِن دَاوِيَّةٍ
سَهلٍ يَظَلُّ دَلِيلُهَا كَالجاهِلِ
Linked by howdahs succeeding.
A time of disasters they crossed continuously
مَوصُولةٍ بِتَنائفٍ مَوصُولةٍ
أَقطَارُهُنَّ بِسَبسَبٍ مُتَماحِلِ
And sank into sorrow, frail.
O son of the lofty Ghassan whose heights for them
وَزَمَانِ آفاتٍ قَطَعنَ تمادِياً
وَخَبَبنَ فى الحزّانِ ذَاتَ هَزَائلِ
Were noble, with pillars and columns!
Their foundations were firm, their branches flourishing -
يابنَ الغَطَارِفَةِ الذِينَ سَمَت لهم
قُلَلٌ ذَوَاتُ أُرومةٍ وَعُدَامِلِ
Excellence preventing indulgence in the harvest.
May your sacrifice bring wretchedness to him who envies me
ثَبتَت رَوَاسِيها وَزَانَ فُرُوعَها
فَضلٌ يمنّعُ مِن تَعَاطِى الحاصِلِ
And joy to him who blames you though hopeful!
For declining favor, in the view of one gazing
حَقِّق فِدَاكَ أبى مَغِيظةَ حاسِدِى
وَسُرورَ مُعتَرٍّ لسَيبِكَ آملِ
At your dew; you are truly of high merit.
Make wretched my father's envier and gladden
لجمال مُنقَلَبٍ بزَعمٍ ناظرٍ
لِنَدَاكَ إِنَّكَ ذُو ندىً وَفَوَاضِلِ
The giver of false blame though expectant of you.
You are of aid and additional virtues.
