قم بي فقد ساعدنا صرف القدر — Safi Al Din Al Hilli

قُم بي فَقَد ساعَدَنا صَرفُ القَدَر

وَجاءَ طيبُ عَيشِنا عَلى قَدَر

Rise with me: the turns of fate have favored us.

And the sweetness of our life has come in due measure.

فَكَم عَلا قَدرُ اِمرِىءٍ وَما قَدَر

فَاِرضَع بِنا دَرَّ الهَنا إِن تَلقَ دَرّ

How often a man's standing has risen though he had no power!

Suckle with us at the milk of bliss, if you find milk.

فَالشَهمُ مَن حازَ السُرورَ إِن قَدَر

وَقَد صَفا الزَمانُ وَالأَمانُ

For the noble-hearted man wins delight when he can.

Time and security have become unclouded.

وَأَسعَدَ المَكانُ وَالإِمكانُ

وَأَنجَدَ الإِخوانُ وَالأَعوانُ

Place and opportunity have brought good fortune.

Brothers and helpers have come to our aid.

وَقَد وَفَت بِعَهدِها الأَزمانُ

وَالدَهرُ تابَ مِن خَطاهُ وَاِعتَذَر

The times have indeed been faithful to their pledge.

And Time has repented of its wrongs and apologized.

يا سَعدُ فَاِترُك ذِكرَ بِانِ لَعلَعِ

وَعَيشَةً وَلَّت بِوادي الأَجرَعِ

O Sa'd, leave off recalling the ban trees of La'la',

And a life that passed away in the valley of al-Ajra'.

وَإِن تَكُن تَسمَعُ قَولي وَتَعي

فَاِجلُ صَدا قَلبي وَأَطرِب مَسمِعي

And if you hear my words and understand,

Polish away my heart's rust and delight my hearing

بِرَشقَةِ الأَوتارِ لا جَسَّ الوَتَر

وَدَع طَوالاً عُرِفَت بِوَسمِها

With a volley of bowstrings, not the plucking of a lute-string.

And leave the tall ones, known by their markings,

وَأَربُعاً لَم يَبقَ غَيرُ رَسمِها

وَاِجعَل سُرورَ النَفسِ أَسنى قَسمَها

And campsites of which only the traces remain.

Make the soul's delight its most splendid portion.

وَاِدخُل بِنا في بَحثِ إِنَّ وَاِسمِها

وَخَلَّني مِن ذِكرِ كانَ وَالخَبَر

And take us into the study of 'inna' and its noun,

And spare me mention of 'kana' and the predicate.

أَما تَرى الأَطيارَ في تِشرينِ

مُقبِلَةً بادِيَةَ الحَنينِ

Do you not see the birds in Tishrin,

Arriving, their longing plain?

فَريقُها نابَ عَنِ الأَنينِ

إِذا رَنَت نَحوَ المِياهِ الجونِ

Their flock takes the place of a moan

When they gaze toward the dark waters:

يَأمُرُها الشَوقُ وَيَنهاها الحَذَر

هَذي الكَراكي حائِماتٌ في الضُحى

Longing commands them, and caution forbids them.

These cranes circle in the forenoon,

مَنظومَةٌ أَو دائِراتٌ كَالرَحى

إِذا رَأَت في القَيضِ ماءً طَفَحا

Arrayed in lines or turning like a millstone.

When, in the summer heat, they see water brimming over,

تَفرَقُ في حالِ الوُرودِ مَرَحا

وَما دَرَت أَنَّ المَنايا في الصَدَر

They scatter merrily as they come to drink,

Unaware that death awaits their departure.

يا حُسنَها قادِمَةً في وَقتِها

تُغري الرُماةَ بِجَميلِ نَعتِها

How lovely they are, arriving in their season!

Their beautiful features entice the archers.

إِذا اِستَوَت طائِرَةً في سَمتِها

تَرشُقُها بِبُندُقٍ مِن تَحتِها

When they fly steadily along their course,

You shower them with pellets from below;

لَو أَنَّهُ مِن فَوقِها قيلَ مَطَر

فَلَو تَرانا بَينَ إِخوانِ الصَفا

Had it come from above, it would be called rain.

If only you saw us among brothers of purity,

حَولَ قَديمٍ مِن قَذاهُ قَد صَفا

مُشتَهِرٍ بِالصِدقِ مَخبورِ الوَفا

Around an old companion, cleansed of his dross,

Renowned for truthfulness, tested in fidelity,

لَم يُغضِ في الحَقِّ لِخَلٍّ إِن هَفا

وَلَم يَقُل يَوماً هَبوا لي ما شَجَر

Who never overlooked a friend's lapse where right was concerned,

Nor ever said, 'Waive for me what is disputed.'

مِن كُلِّ رامٍ شَبِقِ اليَدينِ

بِمُدمَجٍ مِثلِ الهِلالِ زَينِ

Among archers, each eager of hand,

With a compact bow, lovely as the crescent,

جَعدِ البَلاغِ نافِرِ الكَعبَينِ

لَو كَفَّ حَتّى مُلتَقى القُرصَينِ

Firm in its cast, with its two knobs projecting,

Even if bent until its two disks met,

ما اِنتَقَضَ الشاخُ وَلا العودُ إِنكَسَر

فَاِبرُز بِنا نَحوَ مَرامي فامِيَه

Its horn would not crack, nor its wood break.

Go out with us toward the shooting grounds of Famiyah,

بَينَ مُروجٍ وَمِياهٍ طامِيَه

تِلكَ المَرامي لَم نَزَل مَرامِيَه

Among meadows and swelling waters.

Those shooting grounds have always been my aim;

فَاِسمُ بِنا نَحوَ رُباها السامِيَه

وَخَلَّني مِن بَلدَةٍ فيها زَوَر

Rise with us toward their lofty hills,

And spare me a town where there is crookedness.

وَاِنظُر إِلى الأَطيارِ في مَطارِها

وَاِعتَبِرِ الجَفَّةَ كَاِعتِبارِها

Look at the birds in their flight,

And consider the flock as they consider it:

إِذ لا تَطيرُ مَعَ سِوى أَنظارِها

فَلا تَضَع نَفسَكَ عَن مِقدارِها

They fly with none but their peers.

So do not lower yourself beneath your worth

مَع غَيرِ ذي الجِنسِ وَكُن عَلى حَذَر

أَو مِل إِلى العُمقِ بِعَزمٍ ثاقِبِ

By joining those unlike your kind; be on guard.

Or head for al-'Umq with piercing resolve,

فَإِنَّها مِن أَحسَنِ المَناقِبِ

فَاِعجَب لِما فيهِ مِنَ الغَرائِبِ

For it is among the finest distinctions.

Marvel at the wonders it contains:

مِنَ المَراعي وَجَليلٍ واجِبِ

أَصنافُهُ مَعدودَةٌ لا تُحتَضَر

Pastures, and noble game that counts,

Its kinds numbered, though not all are at hand.

وَقائِلٍ صِفها بِرَمزٍ واضِحِ

فَإِنَّها مِن أَكبَرِ المَصالِحِ

And someone said, 'Describe them in a clear cipher,

For they are among the greatest benefits

وَالباقِياتِ بَعدَكَ الصَوالِحِ

قُلتُ تَمَنَّع وَاِعصِ كُلَّ كاشِحِ

And the good works that endure after you.'

I said, 'Stand firm and disobey every enemy.'

فَهَذِهِ عِدَّتُها إِذ تُعتَبَر

وَإِن تُرِد إِيضاحَها لِلسائِلِ

That is their number when reckoned.

And if you wish to make them plain to the questioner,

بِغَيرِ رَمزٍ لِلضَميرِ شاغِلِ

وَحَصرَ أَسماها بِعَدٍّ كامِلِ

Without a cipher that distracts the mind,

And list their names in a complete count,

فَهيَ كَشَطرِ عُدَّةِ المَنازِلِ

أَو ما عَدا المَحذورِ مِن عِدِّ السُوَر

It is half the number of the lunar mansions,

Or the surahs' count with the forbidden removed.

كَركي وَعَنّازٌ وَأَرنوقٌ وَتَمَّ

وَالوَزُّ وَاللَغلَغُ وَالكَيُّ الهَرَم

A crane, an 'annaz, an arnuq, and a swan;

And geese, storks, and the aged kayy;

وَمَرزَمٌ وَشَبطَرٌ إِذا سَلِم

وَحَبرَجٌ وَبِالأَنيسَةِ اِنتَظَم

And a marzam and a shabtar, if unharmed;

And a habraj; arrayed with the anisa are

صوغٌ وَنَسرٌ وَعُقابٌ قَد كَسَر

فَسِتَّةٌ مَحمَلُهُنَّ الأَرجُلُ

A sawgh, a vulture, and an eagle that has stooped.

Six are carried by their legs,

ثُمَّ ثَمانٍ بِالجَناحِ تُحمَلُ

وَلا اِعتَدادٌ بِسِوى ما يَحصَلُ

Then eight are carried by the wing.

Nothing counts except what is caught.

وَصِحَّةُ الأَعضاءِ شَرطٌ يَشمُلُ

كيلا يُرى في الطَيَرانِ ذو قَصَر

Soundness of the limbs is a condition applying to all,

So that no deficient bird is seen in flight.

شَرُعٌ صَحيحٌ لِلإِمامِ الناصِرِ

قيسَ عَلى الشَرعِ الشَريفِ الطاهِرِ

A sound code belonging to Imam al-Nasir,

Modeled on the noble, pure Law,

حَرَّرَهُ كُلُّ فَقيهٍ ما هِرِ

فَجاءَ كَالبَيتِ الشَريفِ العامِرِ

Codified by every skilled jurist,

It became like the noble, frequented House:

أَساسُهُ الصِدقُ وَرِكناهُ النَظِر

يَحرِمُ فيهِ الرَميَ بِالسِهامِ

Its foundation truthfulness, its twin pillars discernment.

It forbids shooting with arrows,

وَالشَربِ في البَرزَةِ لِلمُدامِ

وَبَيعَ شَيءٍ مِن صُروعِ الرامي

And drinking wine on the outing,

And selling any of the archer's kills,

وَالسَبقِ لِلصُحبِ إِلى المَقامِ

وَالشَرطُ وَالتَرخيصَ فَهوَ وَالهَدَر

And preceding one's companions to the stand,

And wagering and dispensations: it is all for naught.

وَقائِلٍ فيهِ لَعَلَّ تَسلَمُ

وَمِثلُها في غَيرِ شَيءٍ يَلزَمُ

And one who says within it, 'Perhaps you will be safe,'

And the like where nothing is binding,

أَو ذا عَلى الوَجهِ الصَحيحِ يُفهَمُ

ثَلاثَةٌ مِنَ الهِتارِ تَعصِمُ

Or this, understood in the proper way—

Three things that guard against foolish speech,

سُفُنُ النَجاةِ لِإِمرِئٍ خافَ الضَرَر

فَاِنظُر إِلى زَهرِ الرِياضِ المُقبِلِ

Ships of salvation for one who fears harm.

Look at the gardens' approaching blossoms,

إِذ جادَهُ دَمعُ السَحابِ المُسبِلِ

يَضوعُ مِن شَذاهُ عَرفُ المَندِلِ

Watered generously by the streaming cloud's tears.

From their fragrance wafts the scent of aloeswood,

كَأَنَّهُ ذِكرُ المَليكِ الأَفضَلِ

إِذا طَواهُ الوَفدُ في الأَرضِ اِنتَشَر

As though it were the renown of King al-Afdal:

When envoys fold it away, it spreads across the earth.

وَاِرثُ عَلِمِ المَلِكِ المُؤَيَّدِ

إِرثاً صَحيحاً سَيِّداً عَنِ سَيِّدِ

Heir to the knowledge of King al-Mu'ayyad,

By rightful inheritance, one lord from another,

أَطلَقَ جَريَ نُطقِيَ المُقَيَّدِ

فَإِن أَفُه فيهِ بِنَظمٍ جَيِّدِ

He released the flow of my fettered speech.

If I speak of him in fine verse,

كُنتُ كَمُهدٍ تَمرَهُ إِلى هَجَر

نَجلُ بَني أَيّوبَ أَعلامَ الهُدى

I am like one offering his dates to Hajar.

Scion of the Banu Ayyub, banners of guidance,

وَالأَنجُمِ الزُهرِ إِذا اللَيلُ هَدا

وَالسابِقينَ بِالنَدى قَبلَ النِدا

And bright stars when night grows still,

Foremost in generosity before the call:

كُلُّ فَتىً ساسَ البِلادَ فَاِغتَدى

في الحُكمِ لُقمانَ وَفي العَدلِ عُمَر

Each young man ruled the lands and became

In judgment, Luqman; in justice, Umar.

المُغمِدو بيضِ الظُبى في الهامِ

وَالمُشبِعو وَحشِ الفَلا وَالهامِ

Those who sheathe gleaming blade-edges in heads,

Who sate the desert beasts and owls,

وَمُرسِلو غَيثِ السَماحِ الهامي

فَفَضلُهُم بِالإِرثِ وَالإِلهامِ

Who send forth pouring rain of generosity:

Their excellence comes by inheritance and inspiration,

لا كَاِمرِىءٍ ضَنَّ وَبِالأَصلِ اِفتَخر

يا اِبنَ الَّذي قَد كانَ في العِلمِ عَلَم

Not like a miser who boasts of his lineage.

O son of one who was a beacon in learning,

وَاِستِخدَمَ السَيفَ جَديراً وَالقَلَم

لِغَيرِ بَيتِ المالِ يَوماً ما ظَلَم

And worthily wielded sword and pen,

Who never once wronged anything except the treasury:

مَناقِباً مِثلَ النُجومِ في الظُلَم

أَضحَت حُجولاً لِلزَمانِ وَغُرَر

Virtues like stars amid the darkness

Have become Time's white stockings and forehead blazes.

أَكرَمَ مَثوايَ وَأَعلى ذِكري

حَتّى نَسيتُ عَطَني وَوِكري

He honored my abode and exalted my renown,

Until I forgot my watering-place and my nest.

وَإِن أَجَلتُ في عُلاهُ فِكري

مالي جَزاءٌ غَيرَ طيبِ الشُكرِ

And though I turn my thoughts upon his lofty worth,

I have no recompense but heartfelt thanks.

وَقَد جُزي خَيرَ الجَزاءِ مِن شَكَر

يا حامِلَ الأَثقالِ وَالأَهوالِ

Whoever gives thanks has received the finest reward.

O bearer of burdens and terrors,

وَمُتلِفَ الأَعداءِ وَالأَموالِ

وَصادِقَ الوُعودِ وَالأَقوالِ

Destroyer of enemies and wealth,

True in promises and words:

أَبدَيتَ في شَدائِدِ الأَحوالِ

صَبراً فَكانَ الصَبرُ عُقباهُ الظَفَر

In trying circumstances you displayed

Patience, and patience's outcome was victory.

أَنَلتَ باغي الجودِ فَوقَ ما بَغى

وَعَجَّلَت كَفّاكَ هَطفَ مَن بَغى

You granted the seeker of generosity more than he sought,

And your two hands hastened the downfall of whoever rebelled.

فَقَد سَمَوتَ في النَدى وَفي الوَغى

حَتّى إِذا مارَدُ مُلكٍ نَزَغا

You have risen high in generosity and battle,

Until, when a rebel of the realm stirred strife,

أَخَذتَهُ أَخذَ عَزيزٍ مُقتَدِر

إِنّي وَإِن شِدتُ لَكُم بَينَ المَلا

You seized him with the grasp of one mighty and powerful.

I, though I have raised for you among the assembly

طيبَ ثَناءٍ لِلفَضاءِ قَد مَلا

لَم أَبغِ بِالمَدحِ سِوى الوُدِّ وَلا

Fine praise that has filled the expanse,

Have sought through praise nothing but affection, nor—

إِن مِتُّ يَوماً بِسِوى صِدقِ الوَلا

وَحُسنِ نَظمِ فيكَ إِن غِبتَ حَضَر

If I die one day—anything but sincere allegiance,

And fine verse about you, present when you are absent.

فَاِسعَد بِعيدِ فِطرِكَ السَعيدِ

مُمَتَّعاً بِعَيشِكَ الرَغيدِ

Rejoice, then, in your happy Eid al-Fitr,

Blessed with your life of ease,

في الصَومِ وَالإِفطارِ وَالتَعييدِ

لِلناسِ في العامِ اِنتِظارُ عيدِ

In fasting, fast-breaking, and feast-day celebrations.

People await a feast each year,

وَأَنتَ عيدٌ دائِمٌ لا يُنتَظَر

But you are a constant feast that needs no waiting.