سَفَهاً إِذا شُقَّت عَلَيكَ جُيوبُ

سَفَهاً إِذا شُقَّت عَلَيكَ جُيوبُ

إِن لَم تُشَقَّ مَرائِرٌ وَقُلوبُ

إِن لَم تُشَقَّ مَرائِرٌ وَقُلوبُ

It is folly if collars are rent in mourning for you,

It is foolish if chests are tightened for you,

Unless gallbladders and hearts are rent as well.

Unless hearts and minds are also troubled.

وَتَمَلُّقاً سَكبُ الدُموعِ عَلى الثَرى

وَتَمَلُّقاً سَكبُ الدُموعِ عَلى الثَرى

إِن لَم يُمازِجها الدَمُ المَسكوبُ

إِن لَم يُمازِجها الدَمُ المَسكوبُ

And pouring tears upon the dust is flattery,

And shedding tears in long grief is flattery,

Unless spilled blood mingles with them.

Unless mingled with shed blood.

يا حَمزَةَ الثاني الَّذي كادَت لَهُ

يا حَمزَةَ الثاني الَّذي كادَت لَهُ

صُمُّ الجِبالِ الراسِياتِ تَذوبُ

صُمُّ الجِبالِ الراسِياتِ تَذوبُ

O Hamza the Second, for whom almost

O Hamzah the second, for whom

The solid, firmly rooted mountains melted.

The firm mountains almost melted.

إِن ضاعَ ثارُكَ بَينَ آلِ مَحاسِنٍ

إِن ضاعَ ثارُكَ بَينَ آلِ مَحاسِنٍ

تِلكَ المَحاسِنُ كُلَّهُنَّ عُيوبُ

تِلكَ المَحاسِنُ كُلَّهُنَّ عُيوبُ

If your vengeance is lost among the house of Mahasin,

If your revenge is lost among the progeny of beauties,

Those virtues are all faults.

Those beauties are all defects.

لَم أَبكِ بِالحُزنِ الطَويلِ تَمَلُّقاً

لَم أَبكِ بِالحُزنِ الطَويلِ تَمَلُّقاً

حُزني عَليكَ وَقائِعٌ وَحُروبُ

حُزني عَليكَ وَقائِعٌ وَحُروبُ

I did not weep in prolonged grief to flatter;

I did not cry in long grief out of flattery,

My mourning for you is battles and wars.

My grief for you is real events and wars.

فَلَأَبكِيَنَّكَ بِالصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا

فَلَأَبكِيَنَّكَ بِالصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا

حَتّى يُحَطَّمَ ذابِلٌ وَقَضيبُ

حَتّى يُحَطَّمَ ذابِلٌ وَقَضيبُ

So I shall surely mourn you with sharp swords and spears,

So I will cry for you with swords and spears,

Until spear and sword-blade are shattered.

Until the weak and the strong perish.

لا يَأمَلَنَّ بَنوا أَبي الفَضلِ البَقا

لا يَأمَلَنَّ بَنوا أَبي الفَضلِ البَقا

إِنَّ الفَناءَ إِلَيهِمُ لَقَريبُ

إِنَّ الفَناءَ إِلَيهِمُ لَقَريبُ

Let the sons of Abu al-Fadl never hope to survive;

Let not the sons of Abu Al-Fadl hope for survival,

Their annihilation is indeed near.

Their demise is surely near.

وَوَراهُمُ مِن آلِ سِنبِسَ عُصبَةٌ

وَوَراهُمُ مِن آلِ سِنبِسَ عُصبَةٌ

مُردٌ وَشُبّانٌ تُهابُ وَشيبُ

مُردٌ وَشُبّانٌ تُهابُ وَشيبُ

And behind them is a band of the house of Sinbis:

And behind them are the partisans of Sinbis,

Beardless lads, feared young men, and graybeards.

Rebellious youths, feared whether young or old.

قَومٌ إِذا غَضِبوا عَلى صَرفِ القَضا

قَومٌ إِذا غَضِبوا عَلى صَرفِ القَضا

جاءَ الزَمانُ مِنَ الذُنوبِ يَتوبُ

جاءَ الزَمانُ مِنَ الذُنوبِ يَتوبُ

A people: when they rage against the turns of fate,

A people, if angry at the turns of fate,

Time comes repenting of its sins.

Time itself would turn from sin and repent.

وَإِذا دُعوا يَوماً لِدَفعِ مُلِمَّةٍ

وَإِذا دُعوا يَوماً لِدَفعِ مُلِمَّةٍ

بَسَموا وَفي وَجهِ الزَمانِ قُطوبُ

بَسَموا وَفي وَجهِ الزَمانِ قُطوبُ

And when summoned one day to repel a calamity,

And if called one day to repel adversity,

They smile while Time's face wears a frown.

They smile, though the face of time is darkened.

إِن خوطِبوا فَحَديثُهُم وَخِطابُهُم

إِن خوطِبوا فَحَديثُهُم وَخِطابُهُم

يَومَ الجِلادِ حَوادِثٌ وَخُطوبُ

يَومَ الجِلادِ حَوادِثٌ وَخُطوبُ

If they are addressed, their talk and their reply

If consulted, their talk and address

On the day of combat are disasters and calamities.

On the day of battle, are events and affairs.

فَليَبكِيَنَّكَ طَرفُ كُلِّ مُثَقَّفٍ

فَليَبكِيَنَّكَ طَرفُ كُلِّ مُثَقَّفٍ

يُزهى بِحَملِ سِنانِهِ الأُنبوبُ

يُزهى بِحَملِ سِنانِهِ الأُنبوبُ

So let the point of every straightened spear surely mourn you,

So let the eyes of every cultured man weep for you,

Whose shaft is proud to carry its spearhead.

Adorned with carrying his barrelled spear.

يَبكيكَ في يَومِ الهِياجِ بِأَعيُنٍ

يَبكيكَ في يَومِ الهِياجِ بِأَعيُنٍ

خُزرٍ مَدامِعُها الدَمُ المَصبوبُ

خُزرٍ مَدامِعُها الدَمُ المَصبوبُ

It mourns you on the day of battle with eyes

Eyes that on the day of turmoil weep with bloody tears,

Narrowed, whose tears are blood poured forth.

As the dawn is night at Al-‘Ajaj,

وَالصُبحُ لَيلٌ بِالعَجاجِ وَقَد بَدا

وَالصُبحُ لَيلٌ بِالعَجاجِ وَقَد بَدا

بِالبيضِ في فَودِ العَجاجِ مَشيبُ

بِالبيضِ في فَودِ العَجاجِ مَشيبُ

And dawn is night in the dust-cloud, though there appears

And white appears in the bosom of Al-‘Ajaj,

Gray hair, from white swords, at the dust-cloud's temple.

While you were content to live untouched,

وَلَقَد رَضَيتَ بِأَن تَعيشَ مُنَزَّهاً

وَلَقَد رَضَيتَ بِأَن تَعيشَ مُنَزَّهاً

لا غاضِباً فيها وَلا مَغصوبُ

لا غاضِباً فيها وَلا مَغصوبُ

Indeed, you were content to live untainted,

Neither angry nor dispossessed,

Neither angry in this world nor dispossessed,

In a position for God, obeying Him,

في مَنصِبٍ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ طاعَةٌ

في مَنصِبٍ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ طاعَةٌ

تُرضي وَلِلفُقَراءِ فيهِ نَصيبُ

تُرضي وَلِلفُقَراءِ فيهِ نَصيبُ

In an office where obedience to God

And for the poor was their share.

Pleases Him, and the poor have a share.

The partisans will stir your revenge, O Hamzah’s son,

سَتُثيرُ ثارَكَ يا اِبنَ حَمزَةَ عَصبَةٌ

سَتُثيرُ ثارَكَ يا اِبنَ حَمزَةَ عَصبَةٌ

شُمَّ الأُنوفِ إِلى القِراعِ تَثَوبُ

شُمَّ الأُنوفِ إِلى القِراعِ تَثَوبُ

A band will stir vengeance for you, O son of Hamza,

Nobles of the progeny of Al-‘Areeth, if they conquer one day,

With proudly lifted noses, they return to the clash of arms.

They benefit the times however they fluctuate.

نُجَباءُ مِن آلِ العَريضِ إِذا سَطوا

نُجَباءُ مِن آلِ العَريضِ إِذا سَطوا

يَوماً أَفادوا الدَهرَ كَيفَ يَنوبُ

يَوماً أَفادوا الدَهرَ كَيفَ يَنوبُ

Noble men of the house of al-Arid, who, if they attack

The countries heard of your death and trembled,

One day, teach Time how to bring calamity.

As truth and lies spread.

سَمِعَت بِمَصرَعِكَ البِلادُ فَأَرجَفَت

سَمِعَت بِمَصرَعِكَ البِلادُ فَأَرجَفَت

وَتَواتَرَ التَصديقُ وَالتَكذيبُ

وَتَواتَرَ التَصديقُ وَالتَكذيبُ

The lands heard of your slaying and rang with rumors,

The difficult and submissive wept for your loss.

And confirmation and denial came in succession.

The beast and wolf complained of your absence.

وَبَكى لِرُزئِكَ صَعبُها وَذَلولُها

وَبَكى لِرُزئِكَ صَعبُها وَذَلولُها

وَشَكا لِفَقدِكَ شاتُها وَالذَيبُ

وَشَكا لِفَقدِكَ شاتُها وَالذَيبُ

Their wild and tame alike wept for your loss,

The freed weep when the noblewomen mourn you,

And their sheep and the wolf lamented losing you.

And they grieve for you when separation appears.

تَبكي العِتاقُ إِذا نَعَتكَ عَواتِقٌ

تَبكي العِتاقُ إِذا نَعَتكَ عَواتِقٌ

وَيَحِنَّ بينَكَ إِذ أَبانَ النُوَّبُ

وَيَحِنَّ بينَكَ إِذ أَبانَ النُوَّبُ

Thoroughbreds weep when maidens announce your death,

The world was aggrieved by you, so there is no brightening of faces,

And yearn at your parting, when calamities tore you away.

Nor is the chest of time spacious.

فَجُعَت بِكَ الدُنيا فَلا وَجهُ العُلى

فَجُعَت بِكَ الدُنيا فَلا وَجهُ العُلى

طَلُقٌ وَلا صَدرُ الزَمانِ رَحيبُ

طَلُقٌ وَلا صَدرُ الزَمانِ رَحيبُ

The world was bereaved of you: neither glory's face

Since you, on the day of battle, in confronting the enemies,

Is cheerful, nor is Time's breast spacious.

Are events, and on the day of argument, an orator.

إِذ أَنتَ في يَومِ الجِلادِ عَلى العِدى

إِذ أَنتَ في يَومِ الجِلادِ عَلى العِدى

خَطبٌ وَفي يَومِ الجِدالِ خَطيبُ

خَطبٌ وَفي يَومِ الجِدالِ خَطيبُ

For on the day of combat you were to your foes

O sun of a horizon that before it

A calamity, and on the day of debate an orator.

The sun in the bosom of Sa’eed had no setting.

يا شَمسَ أُفقٍ لَم يَكُن مِن قَبلِها

يا شَمسَ أُفقٍ لَم يَكُن مِن قَبلِها

لِلشَمسِ في طَيِّ الصَعيدِ غُروبُ

لِلشَمسِ في طَيِّ الصَعيدِ غُروبُ

O sun of a horizon, before whom never

If those beauties are blamed in the earth,

Had the sun set within the folds of earth.

The remembrance of you in the countries circles around.

إِن عُيَّبَت تِلكَ المَحاسِن في الثَرى

إِن عُيَّبَت تِلكَ المَحاسِن في الثَرى

فَجَميلُ ذِكرِكَ في البِلادِ يَجوبُ

فَجَميلُ ذِكرِكَ في البِلادِ يَجوبُ

If those beauties are faulted in the dust,

You seized praise with good deeds when dead,

Yet your fair remembrance travels through the lands.

So eulogizing you was not rebuke.

حُزتَ المَحامِدَ بِالمَكارِمِ مَيِّتاً

حُزتَ المَحامِدَ بِالمَكارِمِ مَيِّتاً

فَغَدا لَكَ التَأبينُ لا التَأنيبُ

فَغَدا لَكَ التَأبينُ لا التَأنيبُ

You won praise through your noble deeds in death,

Rejoice, for you are immortalized by praise,

So yours became eulogy, not reproach.

None is absent except your veiled person.

فَاِبشِر فَإِنَّكَ بِالثَناءِ مُخَلَّدٌ

فَاِبشِر فَإِنَّكَ بِالثَناءِ مُخَلَّدٌ

ما غابَ إِلّا شَخصُكَ المَحجوبُ

ما غابَ إِلّا شَخصُكَ المَحجوبُ

So rejoice: through praise you are immortal;

You lived alive and decayed, until your earth perfumed,

Nothing has vanished but your concealed form.

So its diffusion is fragrant and good.

حَيّا الحَيا جَدثاً حَلَلتَ بِتُربِه

حَيّا الحَيا جَدثاً حَلَلتَ بِتُربِه

حَتّى تَعَطَّرَ نَشرُهُ فَيَطيبُ

حَتّى تَعَطَّرَ نَشرُهُ فَيَطيبُ

May rain greet the grave in whose soil you settled,

Eyes of clouds will continue to weep for him,

Till its fragrance is perfumed and grows sweet.

For the lightning in their edges there is flame.

لازالَ تَبكيهِ عُيونُ سَحائِبٍ

لازالَ تَبكيهِ عُيونُ سَحائِبٍ

لِلبَرقِ في حافاتِهِنَّ لَهيبُ

لِلبَرقِ في حافاتِهِنَّ لَهيبُ

May the eyes of clouds never cease to weep for it,

Tears attack him for the clouds,

With lightning's blaze along their edges.

So breasts are split for the pouring rain.

تَهمي عَليهِ لِلسَحابِ مَدامِعٌ

تَهمي عَليهِ لِلسَحابِ مَدامِعٌ

فَتُشَقَّ فيهِ لِلشَقيقِ جُيوبُ

فَتُشَقَّ فيهِ لِلشَقيقِ جُيوبُ

The clouds' tears stream down upon it,

So the anemones' collars are rent there.