ما للُهدَى كالأَربُع الأَدراسِ
أو كالرُقودِ بهَبوةِ الأَرماسِ
The guidance is not like the four blind ones
Or like sleeping in the dens of foxes
ما للحقائقِ والحُقُوقِ كأَنَّها
شَبَحٌ الرُسومِ بصَفحةِ القِرطاسِ
Truths and rights are not like an apparition
Of drawings on a page of paper
أَنّي أُشِيدَت للطُغاةِ مَدارسٌ
وغدا الهُداةُ فماً بلا أَضراسِ
I saw schools built for tyrants
While the righteous became mute without teeth
وقَدِ استَسَر ضِياؤُهُ من عُصبةٍ
هم آل فوتي مع أُولي برداسِ
Its light was concealed by a horde
The descendants of Photius and the wearers of cassocks
لمّا طَوى اللَهُ انتشارَ ظلامِهِم
أرمى بهم في ظُلمةِ الأَغلاسِ
When God folded the spread of their darkness
He threw them into the gloom of shackles
كم حطَّ مرتفعَ الذُرى من بعدِ أَن
قد كانَ فوقَ أَسِرَّةٍ وكراسي
How many lofty ones were razed after
They were atop couches and chairs
قُطِعوا كعِضوٍ فاسدٍ من جِسمِهِ
فرُمُوا وكانت ضربةً في الراسِ
They were cut off like a rotten limb from its body
And were tossed away with a strike to the head
سِربٌ غداً مُتَوسوِساً مُتَدلساً
مع كل غُمرٍ ماذق دلاسر
A horde tomorrow being superstitious and deceitful
With every stupid drunk who tasted the cups
فكأَنَّما رأيُ التَناسخِ صادقٌ
أُسُدٌ تُرى في صورة النَسناسِ
It is as if the idea of reincarnation is true
A lion seen in the form of a cat
قومٌ لذُلِّهِمِ أُقِيمَ دليلُهم
ناراً يُطافُ بها على الجُلاسِ
A people whose humiliation was made an emblem
Circulated among them at the gatherings
أَضحت كأَورَشَليمَ في أَيدي الوَرى
مَثوى الرضى ومَحَلَّةَ الأَقداسِ
They became like Jerusalem in the hands of foes
An abode of pleasure and sanctum of holiness
هل إِنَّ أُورَشَلِيم عرشَ إِلهِنا
موضوعُ كلِّ خديعةٍ وتَناسِ
Is Jerusalem the throne of our God
Subject to every deceit and impiety?
ما كلُّ ساطعةِ المعادنِ عَسجَدٌ
كم بينَ إِبريزٍ وبينَ نُحاسِ
Not all that glitters is gold
What a difference between ebony and brass
فهُناكَ نورٌ غيرُ محسوسٍ وذي
نارٌ تُرى من ناظرٍ حَسَّاسِ
There, an unfelt light, one that
Can be seen by a sensitive eye
نُورٌ بصُنعِ اللَهِ لا بتَصَنُّعِ ال
مَطرانِ والقِسِيسِ والشمَّاسِ
A light made by God, not by the craft
Of patriarchs, priests, and deacons
مستقبسوهُ من الأُولى سَلَفُوا بأَن
تُستَقبَسَ النِيرانُ من مِقباسِ
They derived it from the early ones and preceded
In deriving fires from tinder
فكأَنهم ضربوا لنورِ سنائهِ
مَثَلاً من المِشكاةِ والنِبراسِ
So they made for the light of His glory
An example of lamp and lantern
ماذاكُمُ نُوراً تراهُ وَهوَ إذ
يبدو فترمُقُهُ عُيُونُ الناسِ
What light do you see and it
Appears, so eyes of people glimpse it?
أَبدُوا الذي دبَّرتموهُ فما لَهُ
متستِّراً في الكِنِّ والديماسِ
Reveal what you conspired, for it has no
Place concealed in the fold and cloak
لو كان ذا حقاً جلياً واضحاً
ما احتاجَ للإِخفاءِ والإِلباسِ
If it were a clear and obvious right
It would have no need for concealment and dress
ذي رتبةٌ مثبوتةٌ لا حِيلةٌ
مبثوثةٌ بقبائل الأَجناسِ
This is an established position, no machinations
Scattered among tribes and nationalities
ولقد أتى فيها فُخولوجينُنا
وبهِ لها في الرُوسِ أقدمُ راسِ
In it came our theologians
And through it, it has the oldest authority in Rome
تَتَقدَّسُ النِيرانُ جَمراً مثلَما
تتقدَّسُ الأَمواهُ يومَ غطاسِ
The fires sanctify the embers as
The waters sanctify on the day of Epiphany
فكِلاهما حَلَّ الإِلهُ بهِ فَلِن
طبعاً وأَيقِن أَيُّهذا الجاسي
So both were permitted by God, let us
By nature know which of the two pollutes
واقدِم فما عُلَّيقةٌ بل جُذوةٌ
أَورى الزِنادَ بها فما من ياسِ
This has its limit and measure: its burning
With its candles and kindling of every size
وأَنس بها ناراً تُضيءُ بفندها
واخلَع نِعال المكرِ والادلاسِ
With it you see risen at the Resurrection
Folk in sin and impurities
نارٌ ذكت وخُمودُها ودخَانُها
أنواعُها دلَّت على الأجناسِ
Dragged like startled horses during
Chanting and Mass
هَضَمَت لكلِّ مَوَاددٍ غذيت بها
فقضيَّةٌ لم تفتقر لقياسِ
Where do injuries converge in the abode
Of the feared sea of sins and impurities?
ذا حدُّها وقِياسُها إحراقُها
بشُموعها ووهيجِ كل مقاسِ
Among the wonders is that sanctified wonders
Are held in the gathering of the unclean
فترى بهاتيكَ القيامةِ قائماً
أقوامَها بالإِثمِ والأَرجاسِ
So look, O knight son of knights, with insight
You will find guidance where there is misguidance
يَجُرونَ كالفَرَس الصَهُول بضَجَّةٍ
في حينما الترتيلِ والقُدَّاسِ
The sons of Rome missed their target
Their glory was marred with the blemish of Fez
أَنى الجرائحُ تُلتَقى في مُلتَقى
بحرِ الخَنا المحذورِ والأَدناسِ
They placed their hope in their calculations
So they were carried upon biers
ومن العجائبِ ان تُؤَمَّ عجائبٌ
قُدسيَّةٌ في مَجمَعِ الأَنجاسِ
They are the pagan unbelievers whose practice
Is to bow to fire and embers
فتَفرَّسَنَّ بذي الضَلالةِ والدَها
تلقى الهُدى يا فارسَ ابنَ فِراسِ
They wanted elevation by raising that elevation
So they were humbled by lowering their elevation among people
أَرمَى بنو الرومِ المَرامَ فاخطأُوا
ثُلِمَت أَرُومتُهم بأَثلَمِ فاسِ
A difficult folk, each being
Difficult to deal with and difficult to lead
وضعوا رجاءهمُ على أَحسابِهِم
فلِذاكَ قد حُمِلوا على الآياسِ
They wandered in the sea of their misguidance as if
They were ships devoid of captain and anchorage
فَهُمُ المَجوسُ المُلحِدونَ وشأنُهم
ان يَسجُدوا للنارِ والأَقباسِ
They did not necessitate by their confusion
Except seizing of morsels and clothing
راموا السَناءَ برفعِ ذيَّاكَ السَنى
فمُنُوا بخفضِ سَنائِهم في الناسِ
They kept to obeying the sinful as
The slave keeps to the orders of the slave trader
قومٌ سَواسِيَةٌ فكُلٌّ منهمُ
صعبٌ مُمارسةً وصعبُ مِراسِ
Woe to them! What will be their recompense
On the day of recompense and the balance of justice?
عَطِبُوا ببحرِ ضَلالِهم فكأَنَّهم
سُفُنٌ خَلَت من ريّسٍ ومَراسي
Do not be surprised if they transgressed in what they sought
And if they were unjust and harsh without measure
ما أوجبوا باللُبسِ سالبَ أمرهم
إلّا لسلبِ مآكل ولِباسِ
For the love of worldly paper surrendered
The Most High to the crucifixion by Judas
لَزِموا الخُضوعَ لِذي المعاثرِ مثلما
لَزِمَ الرقيقُ أوامرَ النَخَّاسِ
What does hypocrisy say? A people saying
They are traditions of splendor and bankruptcy
سُحقاً لهم ماذا يكون جَزاؤُهم
يوم الجَزاءِ ومَقسِطِ القِسطاسِ
Who is best at saving the people of Hell
Through intentional deceit? He is the worst trustee
لا تَعجَبَنَّ إذا بَغَوا فيما ابتَغَوا
وإذا جَسَوا وَقَسَوا بغيرِ قياسِ
How can prostration befit the fire which
Is the trickery of opinions and senses?
فمَحَبَّةُ الوَرَقِ الدنيَّةُ اسلمت
رَبَّ العُلى للصَلبِ من يوداسِ
How can deceit be allowed from those who made
One who did not submit to their misguidance like an anvil?
ماذا النفاقُ يقولُ قومٌ إِنَّها
سُنَنٌ من الإِملاقِ والإِفلاسِ
It demolished the foundation of the covenant of Peter
Which the Merciful established, the best foundation
مَن أَحسَنَ استنقاذَ آل جهنَّمٍ
بالغِشِّ عمداً فَهوَ شَرُّ مُؤاسِ
One of good, united and holy together
Divinity in the trinity of holiness
أَنى السُجودُ يَلِيقُ بالنارِ التي
هي خُدعةُ الآراءِ والأحواسِ
And the apostles, after the three
Became the fourth pillar
أَنَّي يجوزُ المَكرُ ممَّن صَيَّروا
مَن لم يُصِخ لضَلالِهِم كمُداسِ
Those who raced in love surpassed
The running of horses, mules, and stallions
هَدماً لأُسِّ بِناءِ بِيعةِ بِطرُسٍ
مَن أَسَّها الرحمنُ خيرَ أَساسِ
Seeking, not by sword or purse, so leave
A people who raided with sword and purses
ذي خَيرُ واحدةٍ وجامعةٍ معاً
قُدسيَّةٍ بمُثلَّثِ الأَقداسِ
Fold and triple the misguidance of the folk
Who rejected the five in the hexad
والرُسلُ أَضحَوا لابتناءِ حُقوقِها
بعدَ الثلثةِ رابعَ الأَدماسِ
Great is the difference between the veracity
Of the lion of the den and the gazelle of Kinas
مَن في المَحَبَّةِ جَريُهم أَربى على
جَريِ الخُيُولِ الضُمر والأَفراسِ
And the love they display seduces you
Dressed in the garb of tenderness
ساعينَ لا سيفاً ولا كيساً فَدَع
قوماً سطوا بالسيفِ والأَكياسِ
How many hardened hearts were split open
By their love, and it was most stubborn
ثُنِّي وثُلِّثَ غَيُّ آلِ أرابعٍ
جحدوا بهنَّ الخمسَ في الأَسداسِ
They did to the hearts of people multiples of what
Diamonds did to some of the statues
شَتَّانَ فيما بينَ أَن صدَقَ النُهى
ليثُ العرينِ وبينَ ظبيِ كِناسِ
In every land grew branches of their knowledge
Which grew and so produced good plants
ويَرُوقُكَ الحُبُّ الذي يُبدُونَهُ
متوشِّحاً بملابسِ الإِيناسِ
O best of those advised by obedience to their patriarch
So honor through them the advisor and the advised
كم أفلقوا بالوعظِ قلباً جامداً
بهِمِ استلانَ وكانَ اعظمَ قاسِ
The Pope succeeded to the position of the Church, God's deputy
The conclusive judge in dew and clothing
فعلوا بأَفئِدةِ الورى أَضعافَ ما
فعلت دِما بعضِ الدُمى بالماسِ
This is the great patriarch, preceded by
Patriarchs to the last breath
وبكل قُطرٍ نمَّ قَطرُ علومِهِم
ونما فأَنمى جِيّدَ الأَغراسِ
He whose mandate came in Noah
And Jacob, with every resemblance and pun
يا خيرَ من سِيسوا بطاعةِ حِبرِهِم
فاكرِم بِهِم من سائسٍ ومُساسِ
His authority in the two worlds, and his rule
In the two abodes, is fate itself
خَلَفَ الصَفا رأَسَ الكنيسةِ نائبَ اللَهِ
المحكَّمَ في النَدَى والباسِ
O you who thickened the wound of disobedience, rejoice in
His obedience, it will heal your festering wound
هذا هُوَ الحِبرُ العظيمُ مُقدَّمُ ال
أَحبارِ حتى آخِرِ الأَنفاسِ
General jurisdiction is reserved to him, so everyone
Appointed by him is an absolute trustee
مَن رَسمهُ قد جاءَ في نُوحٍ
ويعقوبٍ بكلِّ تشابُهٍ وجِناسِ
O companion, cast off the garb of wickedness
And remove the gown of anxiety and whisperings
سُلطانُهُ في العالَمينَ وحُكمُهُ
في الخافِقَينِ مسيِّرٌ أوراسِ
And give glad tidings of what you attained of the attainment of guidance
Give mankind tidings of the measured attainment
يا مُثخِناً جُرحَ المعاصي لُذَّ بطا
عتهِ فيُوسِي جُرحَك المتماسي
Do not neglect the benevolence of God forgetfully
But be to evil people the greatest consoler
ان القَضاءَ العامَ خُصَّ بهِ فكلٌّ
من ولاهُ مجردٌ أوكاسِ
And beware neglecting truth intentionally, for it
Is worse than forgetfulness, that neglect
يا صاح فاطرح عنكَ جِلبابَ الردى
واخلَع رِداءَ الهمِّ والوَسواسِ
Perceive piety from the cup of his covenant
Of which none has savored its first draught but the taster
وابشِر بما قد نِلتَ من نَيلِ الهُدى
بِشرَ الوَرى بالنِيل ذي المِقياسِ
And if you are invited to diversion, be the brother
Of Anasah, not her devilish seducer
لا تُلغِ إِحسانَ الإِلهِ تَناسِياً
بل كُن لسُوءِ الناسِ أكبَرَ ناسِ
Behold, I cannot get my fill of its cup
Give me to drink from the decanter, not the cup
واحذَر تَناسي الحقِّ عمداً انهُ
شَرٌّ من الناسي هو المُتَناسي
How many a sober mind did it intoxicate
The wine of life from the noblest cups
واحسُ التُقى من كأسِ بِيعتِهِ التي
ما لَذَّ غيرُ سُلافِها للحاسي
How many crooked ones did it straighten
Burdened with an awful, twisted staff
وإذا دُعِيتَ إلى السلوّ فكن اخا ال
خَنساءِ عن شَيطانِها الخنَّاسِ
Awakening drowsy eyelids, forbidden sights
From every withering, drowsy glance
ها إِنَّني لا أَرتَوِي من كأسِها
هاتِ اسقِني بالزِقِّ لا بالكاسِ
How much were they persecuted and overcome, yet they
Were victorious without spear or breastplate
كم اسكرَت عقلاً حسا من حانِها
خمرَ الحِجى من أَشرفِ الاكواسِ
How many hearts were the sermons of its messengers able to divert
Deaf without arrow or bow
كم قَوَّمَت متعوّجاً عن رُشدِهِ
كَلِفاً بقَدٍّ اهيفٍ ميّاسِ
How many minds did wickedness control with ignorance
But it is a remedy for every illness
مستهّدَ الأَجفانِ ممنوعَ الكَرى
من كل لحظٍ ذابلٍ نَعّاسِ
It wed me in the arenas of its glory
So I have no need for a wedding or weddings
كم ذا قَدِ اضطُهِدَت وما غُلِبَت وقد
ظَفِرَت بغيرِ أَسنَّةٍ وتِراس
In it the stars of faith were built after
Guidance was empty like the four blind ones
كم أَغرَضَت قلباً مواعظُ رُسلِها
فصُمي بلا سهمٍ ولا أَقواس
كم حكَّمت عقلاً تَحكَّمَهُ الرَدى
بالجهلِ فَهيَ لكلِّ سُقمٍ آس
عَرَّستُ في أَرجاءِ حَلبةِ مجدِها
فَغِنيتُ عن عِرسٍ وعن أعراسِ
فيها ذُرى الإِيمانِ شِيدت بعدَما
خِلتُ الهُدى كالأَربعِ الأَدارسِ
