وَغَزالٍ غازَلتُهُ بَعدَ بَينِ

وَغَزالٍ غازَلتُهُ بَعدَ بَينِ

أَلَّفَت بَينَهُ المُدامُ وَبَيني

أَلَّفَت بَينَهُ المُدامُ وَبَيني

A gazelle I courted after a long parting;

And a gazelle I wooed after parting—

wine brought him and me together.

wine brought him and me together.

صالَحَتني الأَيّامُ بِالقُربِ مِنهُ

صالَحَتني الأَيّامُ بِالقُربِ مِنهُ

بَعدَما كُنتُ مِنهُ صِفرَ اليَدَينِ

بَعدَما كُنتُ مِنهُ صِفرَ اليَدَينِ

The days made peace with me by bringing him near,

The days made peace with me through nearness to him,

after I had come away from him empty-handed.

after I had been bereft of him, empty-handed.

مِن بَني التُركِ لا أُطيقُ لَهُ تَر

مِن بَني التُركِ لا أُطيقُ لَهُ تَر

كاً وَلَو حانَ في المَحَبَّةِ حَيني

كاً وَلَو حانَ في المَحَبَّةِ حَيني

One of the sons of the Turks—I cannot bear to leave—

One of the Turks—I cannot bear to leave

him, though my hour in love should come.

him, even should my hour of death come through love.

بِتُّ أُسقى بِثَغرِهِ وَيَدَيهِ

بِتُّ أُسقى بِثَغرِهِ وَيَدَيهِ

مِن لَماهُ وَراحِهِ قَهوَتَينِ

مِن لَماهُ وَراحِهِ قَهوَتَينِ

All night I was given drink by his mouth and his hands:

All night I was given drink by his mouth and hands:

two wines—his dark-lipped sweetness and his wine.

two wines, from his dark lips and from his wine.

مَزَجَ الكَأسَ لي فَمُذ عَبَثَ السُك

مَزَجَ الكَأسَ لي فَمُذ عَبَثَ السُك

رِ بِعَطفي قَوامِهِ المُترَفَينِ

رِ بِعَطفي قَوامِهِ المُترَفَينِ

He mixed the cup for me; and when drunkenness toyed

He mixed the cup for me; when drunkenness played

with the two sides of his pampered, swaying form,

with the two pampered flanks of his figure,

قالَ لي مازِحاً وَقَد طَغَتِ الرا

قالَ لي مازِحاً وَقَد طَغَتِ الرا

حُ وَجالَ التَضريجُ في الوَجنَتَينِ

حُ وَجالَ التَضريجُ في الوَجنَتَينِ

he said to me in jest, when the wine had run riot

he said to me in jest, as wine overwhelmed him

and crimson coursed across both cheeks:

and a red flush coursed across both cheeks,

قَد مَلَلمنا فَهاتِ نَلعَبُ بِالشَط

قَد مَلَلمنا فَهاتِ نَلعَبُ بِالشَط

رَنجِ كَيما أُريحُ قَلبي وَعَيني

رَنجِ كَيما أُريحُ قَلبي وَعَيني

“We have grown bored; come, let us play at chess,

“We have grown bored; come, let us play

so I may give my heart and eyes some ease.”

chess, so I may give rest to my heart and eye.”

قُلتُ سَمعاً وَطاعَةً لَكَ مَولا

قُلتُ سَمعاً وَطاعَةً لَكَ مَولا

يَ وَلَكِن لُعبُنا في رُهَينِ

يَ وَلَكِن لُعبُنا في رُهَينِ

I said, “To hear is to obey, my lord—

I said, “I hear and obey you, my

but our game must be for a wager.

lord; but our game shall be for a small stake.

فَأَجَلُّ الشَطرَنجِ مِنّي وَلي مِن

فَأَجَلُّ الشَطرَنجِ مِنّي وَلي مِن

كَ أَقَلُّ النُقوشِ في الكَعبَتَينِ

كَ أَقَلُّ النُقوشِ في الكَعبَتَينِ

The finest chess set shall be my stake, while mine from—

I stake the greatest chess-piece, and claim from

you shall be the slightest ornament upon your two ankles.”

you the fewest pips on the two dice.”

فَاِنثَنى ضاحِكاً وَقالَ لَعَمري

فَاِنثَنى ضاحِكاً وَقالَ لَعَمري

تَنثَني راجِعاً بِخُفّي حُنَينِ

تَنثَني راجِعاً بِخُفّي حُنَينِ

He bent laughing and said, “By my life,

He turned, laughing, and said, “By my life,

you will turn back wearing Hunayn’s two sandals!”

you will turn back with Hunayn’s two slippers!”

فَاِرتَضَينا بِذا الرِهانِ وَصَيَّر

فَاِرتَضَينا بِذا الرِهانِ وَصَيَّر

تُ إِلَيهِ الخِيارَ في الحِليَتَينِ

تُ إِلَيهِ الخِيارَ في الحِليَتَينِ

We accepted that wager, and I gave—

So we agreed to this wager, and I gave

him his choice between the two sets.

him the choice between the two colors.

قالَ لي السودُ لِلأَسودِ وَذي البي

قالَ لي السودُ لِلأَسودِ وَذي البي

ضِ لِمَن يَبتَغي بَياضَ اللُجَينِ

ضِ لِمَن يَبتَغي بَياضَ اللُجَينِ

He said, “Black belongs to the black one; the white—

He told me, “The black pieces are for the black one; these white

to whoever seeks the whiteness of silver.”

ones are for whoever seeks the whiteness of silver.”

فَصَفَفنا الجَيشَينِ تُركاً وَزَنجاً

فَصَفَفنا الجَيشَينِ تُركاً وَزَنجاً

وَاِعتَبَرنا تَقابُلَ العَسكَرَينِ

وَاِعتَبَرنا تَقابُلَ العَسكَرَينِ

We arrayed the two armies, Turks and Zanj,

So we arrayed the two armies, Turks and Zanj,

and surveyed the opposed hosts.

and considered how the two forces faced each other.

فَاِبتَداني بِدَفعِهِ بَيدَقَ الفِر

فَاِبتَداني بِدَفعِهِ بَيدَقَ الفِر

زانِ مِن حِرصِهِ عَلى نَقلَتَينِ

زانِ مِن حِرصِهِ عَلى نَقلَتَينِ

He opened against me by pushing the pawn of the—

He opened against me by advancing the vizier’s pawn,

vizier, eager to gain two moves.

in his eagerness to make two moves.

وَأَدارَ الفِرزانَ في بَيتِ صَدرِ ال

وَأَدارَ الفِرزانَ في بَيتِ صَدرِ ال

شاهِ نَقلاً يَظُنُّهُ غَيرَ شَينِ

شاهِ نَقلاً يَظُنُّهُ غَيرَ شَينِ

He wheeled the vizier into the square before the—

He maneuvered the vizier onto the square before the

king—a move he thought no blemish.

king—a move he thought free of fault.

فَعَقَدتُ الفِرزانَ مَعَ بَيدَقِ الصَد

فَعَقَدتُ الفِرزانَ مَعَ بَيدَقِ الصَد

رِ وَسُقتُ الفيلَينِ في الطَرَفَينِ

رِ وَسُقتُ الفيلَينِ في الطَرَفَينِ

I tied up the vizier with the central pawn—

So I linked the vizier with the pawn at the front

and drove my two elephants out along the wings.

and drove the two elephants onto the two flanks.

فَتَدانى بِالرُخِّ بيتاً وَأَجرى

فَتَدانى بِالرُخِّ بيتاً وَأَجرى

خَيلَهُ بَينَ مُلتَقى الصَفَيّنِ

خَيلَهُ بَينَ مُلتَقى الصَفَيّنِ

He brought his rook one square nearer and sent

He advanced his rook one square and galloped

his cavalry between the meeting ranks.

his horses between the confronting ranks.

فَرَدَدتُ الفِرزانَ ثُمَّ نَقَلتُ ال

فَرَدَدتُ الفِرزانَ ثُمَّ نَقَلتُ ال

فيلَ في بَيتِهِ عَلى عُقدَتَينِ

فيلَ في بَيتِهِ عَلى عُقدَتَينِ

I drove the vizier back, then moved the—

So I drew the vizier back, then moved the

elephant into its square across two stations.

elephant to its square with double protection.

ثُمَّ شاغَلتُهُ وَأَرسَلتُ فيلي

ثُمَّ شاغَلتُهُ وَأَرسَلتُ فيلي

مِنجَنيقاً يَرمي عَلى القِطعَتَينِ

مِنجَنيقاً يَرمي عَلى القِطعَتَينِ

Then I kept him occupied and launched my elephant,

Then I distracted him and launched my elephant

a catapult hurling at both pieces.

as a catapult, firing at the two pieces.

فَأَخَذتُ الفِرزانَ حُكماً وَوَلّى

فَأَخَذتُ الفِرزانَ حُكماً وَوَلّى

رَخُّهُ ناكِصاً عَلى العَقِبَينِ

رَخُّهُ ناكِصاً عَلى العَقِبَينِ

I took the vizier as a matter of course, and—

So I took the vizier as a forced gain, and

his rook retreated upon its heels.

his rook turned tail, retreating on its heels.

ثُمَّ حَصَّنتُ مِنهُ نَفسي عَنِ الشا

ثُمَّ حَصَّنتُ مِنهُ نَفسي عَنِ الشا

هِ بِعَقدِ الفِرزانِ بِالبَيدَقَينِ

هِ بِعَقدِ الفِرزانِ بِالبَيدَقَينِ

Then I fortified myself against his king—

Then I protected myself against his check

by knotting the vizier to the two pawns.

by linking the vizier with the two pawns.

ثُمَّ بَرطَلتُهُ بِبَيدَقِ فيلي

ثُمَّ بَرطَلتُهُ بِبَيدَقِ فيلي

وَدَفَعتُ الثاني عَلى الفَرَسَينِ

وَدَفَعتُ الثاني عَلى الفَرَسَينِ

Then I bribed him with my elephant’s pawn,

Then I bribed him with my elephant’s pawn

and drove the other forward against the two horses.

and pushed the second at the two horses.

فَأَخَذتُ اليُمنى وَأَجفَلَتِ اليُس

فَأَخَذتُ اليُمنى وَأَجفَلَتِ اليُس

رى شَروداً تَجولُ في الحَومَتَينِ

رى شَروداً تَجولُ في الحَومَتَينِ

I brought out the right-hand one, while the left broke loose—

So I captured the right-hand one, and the left

two fierce steeds coursing through the two battlefields.

bolted, wandering wildly over both battlefields.

وَتَقَدَّمتُ مِن خُيولي بِمُهرٍ

وَتَقَدَّمتُ مِن خُيولي بِمُهرٍ

أَدهَمِ اللَونِ مُصمَتِ الصَفحَتَينِ

أَدهَمِ اللَونِ مُصمَتِ الصَفحَتَينِ

From among my horses I advanced a colt,

And from among my horses I advanced a colt,

jet-black, solid on both flanks.

jet-black in color, unmarked on both flanks.

ثُمَّ سَلَّطتُهُ عَلى الشاهِ وَالرَخ

ثُمَّ سَلَّطتُهُ عَلى الشاهِ وَالرَخ

خِ فَعَجَّلتُ أَخذَهُ بَعدَ ذَينِ

خِ فَعَجَّلتُ أَخذَهُ بَعدَ ذَينِ

Then I loosed it upon the king and the rook;

Then I set it upon the king and rook,

I hastened to take the rook after that double attack.

and swiftly captured the rook after those two moves.

ثُمَّ لَقَّطتُ مِن بَيادِقِهِ الشُر

ثُمَّ لَقَّطتُ مِن بَيادِقِهِ الشُر

رَدِ خَمساً عاجَلتُهُنَّ بِحَينِ

رَدِ خَمساً عاجَلتُهُنَّ بِحَينِ

Then from his straggling pawns I picked off—

Then I picked off, from his scattered pawns,

five, swiftly sending them to their doom.

five, hastening them to their doom.

فَاِنثَنى يَطلُبُ الفِرارَ وَجَيشي

فَاِنثَنى يَطلُبُ الفِرارَ وَجَيشي

راجِعاً نَحوَهُ مِنَ الجانِبَينِ

راجِعاً نَحوَهُ مِنَ الجانِبَينِ

He turned to seek escape, while my army

He turned, seeking escape, while my army

wheeled back toward him from both sides.

wheeled back toward him from both sides.

ثُمَّ ضايَقتُهُ فَلَم يَبقَ لِلشا

ثُمَّ ضايَقتُهُ فَلَم يَبقَ لِلشا

هِ عَلى رُغمِهِ سِوى بَيتَينِ

هِ عَلى رُغمِهِ سِوى بَيتَينِ

Then I hemmed him in until nothing remained for the—

Then I hemmed him in, and for the king there remained

king, against his will, but two squares.

only two squares, against his will.

فَمَلَكتُ الأَطرافَ مِنهُ وَسلَّط

فَمَلَكتُ الأَطرافَ مِنهُ وَسلَّط

تُ عَلَيهِ تَطابُقَ الرَخَّينِ

تُ عَلَيهِ تَطابُقَ الرَخَّينِ

I mastered his flanks and set—

So I seized the flanks from him and turned

the two rooks in concert against him.

the two rooks’ combined attack upon him.

ثُمَّ صِحتُ اِعتَزِل فَشاهُكَ قَد ما

ثُمَّ صِحتُ اِعتَزِل فَشاهُكَ قَد ما

تَ بِلا مِريَةٍ وَقَد حَلَّ ديني

تَ بِلا مِريَةٍ وَقَد حَلَّ ديني

Then I cried, “Resign! Your king has—

Then I shouted, “Resign! Your king is

died, beyond doubt, and my debt is due.”

dead beyond a doubt, and the debt owed me is now due.”

فَكَسا وَجهَهُ الحَياءُ وَأَمسى

فَكَسا وَجهَهُ الحَياءُ وَأَمسى

نادِماً سادِماً يَعَضُّ اليَدَينِ

نادِماً سادِماً يَعَضُّ اليَدَينِ

Shame covered his face, and he became

Shame clothed his face, and he became

remorseful, stunned, biting both hands.

remorseful and distraught, biting both hands.

وَاِنثَنى باكِياً يُقَبِّلُ كَفَّي

وَاِنثَنى باكِياً يُقَبِّلُ كَفَّي

يَ وَيَهوي طَوراً عَلى القَدَمَينِ

يَ وَيَهوي طَوراً عَلى القَدَمَينِ

He turned away weeping, kissing both my palms,

He turned, weeping, and kissed my two palms,

and now and again falling at my feet,

and at times flung himself down at my feet,

قائِلاً إِن عَفَوتَ قيلَ كَما قي

قائِلاً إِن عَفَوتَ قيلَ كَما قي

لَ وَما شاعَ عَنكَ في الخافِقَينِ

لَ وَما شاعَ عَنكَ في الخافِقَينِ

saying, “If you pardon, it will be said—as has been said—

saying, “If you pardon me, they will say—as has been

and as your fame has spread through both horizons:

said and spread about you across both horizons—

إِنَّ في رُتبَةِ الفُتُوَّةِ أَصلاً

إِنَّ في رُتبَةِ الفُتُوَّةِ أَصلاً

لَكَ يُعزى إِلى أَبي الحَسَنَينِ

لَكَ يُعزى إِلى أَبي الحَسَنَينِ

that in the order of chivalry you have a root—

that, in the rank of chivalry, there is a root

traced to Abu al-Hasanayn,

of yours traced back to the father of al-Hasan and al-Husayn,

صاحِبِ النَصِّ وَالأَدِلَّةِ وَالإِج

صاحِبِ النَصِّ وَالأَدِلَّةِ وَالإِج

ماعِ في المَشرِقَينِ وَالمَغرِبَينِ

ماعِ في المَشرِقَينِ وَالمَغرِبَينِ

the man of the text, the proofs, and the consensus—

the one upheld by the authoritative text, the proofs, and

throughout the two easts and the two wests;

consensus in the two Easts and the two Wests,

وَمُجَلّي الكُروبِ عَن سَيِّدِ الرُس

وَمُجَلّي الكُروبِ عَن سَيِّدِ الرُس

لِ بِبَدرٍ وَخَيبَرٍ وَحُنَينِ

لِ بِبَدرٍ وَخَيبَرٍ وَحُنَينِ

and the dispeller of troubles from the Master of the

and who dispelled sorrows from the master of the messengers

Messengers at Badr, Khaybar, and Hunayn.”

at Badr, Khaybar, and Hunayn.”

قُلتُ بُشراكَ قَد أَقَلتُكَ إِكرا

قُلتُ بُشراكَ قَد أَقَلتُكَ إِكرا

ماً لِذِكرِ المَولى أَبي السِبطَينِ

ماً لِذِكرِ المَولى أَبي السِبطَينِ

I said, “Rejoice—I have let you off, in honor—

I said, “Good news for you! I have released you, in honor

of your mention of the lord Abu al-Sibtayn.”

of the mention of the lord, father of the two grandsons.”

فَعَلَيهِ السَلامُ ما جَنَّ لَيلٌ

فَعَلَيهِ السَلامُ ما جَنَّ لَيلٌ

وَأَنارَ الصَباحُ في المَشرِقَينِ

وَأَنارَ الصَباحُ في المَشرِقَينِ

Peace be upon him whenever night draws its veil,

So peace be upon him for as long as night falls

and morning shines in the two easts.

and morning shines in the two Easts.