ساِئلْ بِيَثربَ هَل ثَوى الرَّكبُ

ساِئلْ بِيَثربَ هَل ثَوى الرَّكبُ

أَم دونَ مَثواهم بهِ السَّهْبُ

أَم دونَ مَثواهم بهِ السَّهْبُ

Ask in Yathrib whether the caravan has stayed,

Inquire in Yathrib: has the caravan settled there?

or whether the open plains still lie before its lodging there.

Or does the open plain there lie before their resting place?

وَلَقَد كَتمتُهمُ هَوايَ بِهم

وَلَقَد كَتمتُهمُ هَوايَ بِهم

وَالحبُّ داءٌ كَظمهُ صَعْبُ

وَالحبُّ داءٌ كَظمهُ صَعْبُ

Indeed, I concealed from them my passion for them,

And indeed, I concealed from them my passion for them,

for love is an illness hard to conceal.

And love is an illness hard to suppress.

يا صاحِبيَّ ومِنْ سعادَةٍ مَنْ

يا صاحِبيَّ ومِنْ سعادَةٍ مَنْ

حملَ الصبابةَ أنْ له صَحْبُ

حملَ الصبابةَ أنْ له صَحْبُ

O my two companions, it is part of a man's good fortune,

O my two companions, part of the good fortune of one

when he bears ardent passion, that he should have companions.

Who bears longing is that he has companions.

لا تَأخُذا بِدَمي مَتى أُخِذَت

لا تَأخُذا بِدَمي مَتى أُخِذَت

نَفسي سوايَ فَما له ذَنبُ

نَفسي سوايَ فَما له ذَنبُ

Do not seize anyone but me in vengeance for my blood when I am slain;

Do not exact vengeance for my blood, should

my soul—anyone other than me bears no guilt for it.

My life be taken, on anyone but me: he bears no guilt.

مِن عندِ طرفي يومَ زرتُكُمُ

مِن عندِ طرفي يومَ زرتُكُمُ

نَفذَ الغَرامُ وَزارَني الحبُّ

نَفذَ الغَرامُ وَزارَني الحبُّ

From the moment of my glance, the day I visited you,

Through my eye, the day I visited you,

longing pierced me, and love came visiting.

Passion pierced me, and love came to visit me.

وَإِذا رَأيتُ الحُسنَ عندَكُمُ

وَإِذا رَأيتُ الحُسنَ عندَكُمُ

دونَ الخَلائقِ كيفَ لا أَصبو

دونَ الخَلائقِ كيفَ لا أَصبو

And when I saw the beauty among you,

And when I see beauty with you,

set apart from all creation, how could I not yearn?

Rather than with all others, how could I not yearn?

يَجني عَليّ وَلا أُعاتبُه

يَجني عَليّ وَلا أُعاتبُه

مَن لَيسَ يَنفَعُ عندهُ العَتْبُ

مَن لَيسَ يَنفَعُ عندهُ العَتْبُ

He wrongs me, yet I do not reproach him—

He wrongs me, yet I do not reproach him—

one with whom reproach is of no avail.

One with whom reproach avails nothing.

وَيَصدُّ عَنّي غَيرَ مُحتَشِمٍ

وَيَصدُّ عَنّي غَيرَ مُحتَشِمٍ

مُتَيقّنٌ أَنّي بهِ صَبُّ

مُتَيقّنٌ أَنّي بهِ صَبُّ

He turns away from me without shame,

And he turns away from me without shame,

certain that I am infatuated with him.

Certain that I am lovesick for him.

وَوَشى إِلَيهِ بِسَلوَتي مَذِقٌ

وَوَشى إِلَيهِ بِسَلوَتي مَذِقٌ

نَغِلُ المَودَّةِ صِدقُهُ كِذْبُ

نَغِلُ المَودَّةِ صِدقُهُ كِذْبُ

A liar falsely tells him I have found consolation,

And an insincere man told him slanderously that I had ceased to love,

an ignoble man in affection, whose truth is lies.

Corrupt in affection, his truthfulness a lie.

وَشَجاهُمُ أنّي فَضَلتُهُمُ

وَشَجاهُمُ أنّي فَضَلتُهُمُ

وَعلى الفَضائِلِ يُحسَدُ النَّدْبُ

وَعلى الفَضائِلِ يُحسَدُ النَّدْبُ

It distressed him that I preferred them,

And it grieved them that I surpassed them,

yet the noble man is envied for his virtues.

For the noble man is envied for his virtues.

أَتَرَوْن أَنّي مِنكُمُ كثِبٌ

أَتَرَوْن أَنّي مِنكُمُ كثِبٌ

هَيهاتَ ما إِنْ بَينَنا قُربُ

هَيهاتَ ما إِنْ بَينَنا قُربُ

Do you suppose that I am near you?

Do you suppose that I am close to you?

Far from it—there is no nearness between us.

Far from it! There is no closeness between us.

الغابُ يُضمِرُني مَكامِنهُ

الغابُ يُضمِرُني مَكامِنهُ

ما لَيسَ يُضمر مِثلَه الزِّرْبُ

ما لَيسَ يُضمر مِثلَه الزِّرْبُ

The thicket conceals me in its lairs,

The forest's lairs conceal me—

concealing what no sheepfold holds the like of.

One whose like no sheepfold shelters.

كَلّا وَلا الأَعضاءُ واحدةٌ

كَلّا وَلا الأَعضاءُ واحدةٌ

وَالرأسُ لَيسَ يُعَدّ والعَجْبُ

وَالرأسُ لَيسَ يُعَدّ والعَجْبُ

No indeed—the limbs are not all alike;

No indeed; nor are the body's members all alike,

the head is not counted among them—and what a wonder!

And the head is not ranked with the tailbone.

وَإِلى فَخارِ المُلكِ أُصدِرُها

وَإِلى فَخارِ المُلكِ أُصدِرُها

كَلِماً تَسيرُ بِذِكرِها الكُتْبُ

كَلِماً تَسيرُ بِذِكرِها الكُتْبُ

Toward the proud glory of kingship I dispatch

And to Fakhar al-Mulk I send them forth,

verses whose renown travels through books.

Words whose mention books carry abroad.

وَبِها عَلى أَكوارِ ناجيةٍ

وَبِها عَلى أَكوارِ ناجيةٍ

نصَّ المنازل عنّيَ الرّكبُ

نصَّ المنازل عنّيَ الرّكبُ

By them, borne upon the saddle-bows of a swift she-camel,

And with them, on swift she-camels' saddles,

the caravan swiftly crosses the stages on my behalf.

The caravan sped through the stages on my behalf.

وَالكأسُ لولا أَنّها جذبَت

وَالكأسُ لولا أَنّها جذبَت

سُمّارَها ما ذاقها الشَّرْبُ

سُمّارَها ما ذاقها الشَّرْبُ

As for the goblet, had it not drawn

And had the cup not drawn

its evening companions, the drinkers would never have tasted it.

Its evening companions, the drinkers would not have tasted it.

شَبّوا سَناها مُفسدينَ لَها

شَبّوا سَناها مُفسدينَ لَها

فَكأَنَّ مِسكَ لَطيمَةٍ شبَّوا

فَكأَنَّ مِسكَ لَطيمَةٍ شبَّوا

They kindled its radiance, only spoiling it,

They kindled its radiance, ruining it,

as though they had set the musk of a perfume caravan ablaze.

As though they had set alight the musk of a perfume caravan.

ملكٌ إِذا بصرَ الرجال بهِ

ملكٌ إِذا بصرَ الرجال بهِ

عَنَتِ الوجوهُ وقُبّلَ التّربُ

عَنَتِ الوجوهُ وقُبّلَ التّربُ

A king whom, when men behold him,

A king: when men catch sight of him,

faces bow before him and kiss the dust.

Faces bow low, and the dust is kissed.

وَإِذا اِحتبى في رَجعِ مَظْلَمَةٍ

وَإِذا اِحتبى في رَجعِ مَظْلَمَةٍ

فَوَقارُهُ لَم يُعطَه الهَضْبُ

فَوَقارُهُ لَم يُعطَه الهَضْبُ

And when he sits with knees drawn up in a darkened traveling lodge,

And when he sits with knees clasped to redress a grievance,

the mountains did not bestow his dignity upon him.

His dignity is one the rocky hills were not granted.

مَن ذا الّذي نالَ السماءَ كَما

مَن ذا الّذي نالَ السماءَ كَما

نالَت يَداكَ فَفاتهُ العُجْبُ

نالَت يَداكَ فَفاتهُ العُجْبُ

Who is there that has attained heaven as

Who has reached the heavens as

your two hands have, thereby surpassing wonder?

Your hands have, and yet escaped conceit?

وَمن الّذي ما حلّ مَوضِعَه

وَمن الّذي ما حلّ مَوضِعَه

عُجمٌ بِذي الدُنيا ولا عُربُ

عُجمٌ بِذي الدُنيا ولا عُربُ

And whose station has never been occupied

And who is he whose station has never been reached

by non-Arab or Arab in this world?

By non-Arabs in this world, nor by Arabs?

وَمن الّذي لَمّا عَلا قِمَمَ ال

وَمن الّذي لَمّا عَلا قِمَمَ ال

تَدبير دانَ الشّرقُ والغربُ

تَدبير دانَ الشّرقُ والغربُ

And who, when he mounted the summits of—

And who, when he rose to the heights of

statecraft, made East and West submit?

Governance, saw East and West submit?

يا مَن تُعزّ بِهزِّ راحَتِهِ

يا مَن تُعزّ بِهزِّ راحَتِهِ

سُمْرُ الرّماحِ وتَفخرُ الحربُ

سُمْرُ الرّماحِ وتَفخرُ الحربُ

O you through whose brandished palm are strengthened

O you, at the sweep of whose palm

the dusky spear-shafts, while war takes pride!

The brown spears gain honor, and war takes pride,

وَيُضيءُ في إِظلامِ داجِيَةٍ

وَيُضيءُ في إِظلامِ داجِيَةٍ

ما لا تُضيءُ لَنا بهِ الشُّهبُ

ما لا تُضيءُ لَنا بهِ الشُّهبُ

And in the darkness of a pitch-black night there shines

And who shines in the gloom of a murky night

through him for us what meteors cannot illumine.

With light the bright stars cannot shed for us.

وَإِذا ذَكرناهُ فَلا وَجَلٌ

وَإِذا ذَكرناهُ فَلا وَجَلٌ

يُخشى وَلا همٌّ ولا نَصبُ

يُخشى وَلا همٌّ ولا نَصبُ

When we invoke him, there is no fear

And when we mention him, there is no dread

to be feared, no anxiety, and no weariness.

To fear, nor anxiety, nor weariness.

وَتُذاد أَدواء الزّمانِ بهِ

وَتُذاد أَدواء الزّمانِ بهِ

عَنّا وَيُطرد بِاِسمهِ الجَدْبُ

عَنّا وَيُطرد بِاِسمهِ الجَدْبُ

Through him Time's maladies are warded

And through him the ills of time are driven

from us, and famine is banished at his name.

Away from us, and drought is banished by his name.

وَلَقد بَلوك خِلالَ مُعضلةٍ

وَلَقد بَلوك خِلالَ مُعضلةٍ

دَهَمَتْ يُقضُّ بِمِثلها الجَنْبُ

دَهَمَتْ يُقضُّ بِمِثلها الجَنْبُ

They tested you amid a grave crisis

And indeed, they tested you amid a crisis

that, when it strikes, makes even the flank lie restless,

That struck, whose like leaves one's side no rest.

حَيثُ اِسترَثّتْ كُلُّ مُحكَمةٍ

حَيثُ اِسترَثّتْ كُلُّ مُحكَمةٍ

مِن عَقده وَتزايَل الشَّعْبُ

مِن عَقده وَتزايَل الشَّعْبُ

when it frayed every firmly fastened thing

Where every firm fastening grew threadbare

from its bonds, while the breach kept widening.

Among its bonds, and the people fell apart.

فَفرجتها وَعَلى يَديك بِلا

فَفرجتها وَعَلى يَديك بِلا

بَشَرٍ يُعينك نُفّس الكربُ

بَشَرٍ يُعينك نُفّس الكربُ

So you dispelled it—and at your hands, without

So you dispelled it, and through your hands, with no

a mortal aiding you, the anguish was relieved.

Human to aid you, distress was relieved.

قَد كانَ قَبلك من له سِيَرٌ

قَد كانَ قَبلك من له سِيَرٌ

عوجُ المُتونِ ظُهورها حُدْبُ

عوجُ المُتونِ ظُهورها حُدْبُ

Before you there were men whose campaigns

Before you there was one whose ways had

left their mounts' backs crooked and humped.

Crooked spines and humped backs.

دَرَستْ فَلا خبَرٌ ولا أثرٌ

دَرَستْ فَلا خبَرٌ ولا أثرٌ

مِثلَ الهشيمِ هَفَتْ به النُّكْبُ

مِثلَ الهشيمِ هَفَتْ به النُّكْبُ

They vanished, leaving neither report nor trace,

They were effaced: no tidings and no trace,

like dry brushwood tossed by hostile winds.

Like dry stubble swept away by crosswinds.

فَالآنَ قَد ساسَ الأمورَ فتىً

فَالآنَ قَد ساسَ الأمورَ فتىً

بِمِراسِها وَعلاجها طَبُّ

بِمِراسِها وَعلاجها طَبُّ

But now a young man has mastered affairs,

But now a young man has governed affairs,

skilled through long practice in handling them.

Expert in handling them and setting them right.

أَلقَتْ عَصاها فهيَ آمنةٌ

أَلقَتْ عَصاها فهيَ آمنةٌ

وَلِغَيرِها التخويفُ والرُّعبُ

وَلِغَيرِها التخويفُ والرُّعبُ

In him they have laid down their staff, secure;

It has laid down its staff and is secure,

for others remain intimidation and dread.

While intimidation and terror are for others.

وَنَأَتْ فَقَرَّبها عَلى عَجَلٍ

وَنَأَتْ فَقَرَّبها عَلى عَجَلٍ

مِن راحتيك الطَعن والضّربُ

مِن راحتيك الطَعن والضّربُ

What had drawn far away, you swiftly brought near

It drew away, but was swiftly brought near

by the thrust and blow of your two hands.

By thrusts and blows from your two palms.

قَد عَبَّ فيها الشارِبونَ على

قَد عَبَّ فيها الشارِبونَ على

ظَمإٍ وَلَولا أَنتَ ما عبُّوا

ظَمإٍ وَلَولا أَنتَ ما عبُّوا

The drinkers drank deeply from it despite

Drinkers have drunk deeply of it, in

their thirst; but for you, they would not have drunk.

Thirst; but for you, they would not have drunk.

وَتَلاعَبوا فيما أَبَرْتَ لهم

وَتَلاعَبوا فيما أَبَرْتَ لهم

والجِدُّ يوجَدُ بعدهُ اللِّعْبُ

والجِدُّ يوجَدُ بعدهُ اللِّعْبُ

They frolic amid what you secured for them,

And they frolicked amid what you laid waste for them;

for after earnest labor comes play.

After earnest effort comes play.

وَتَراهُمُ يَتَمعّكون بها

وَتَراهُمُ يَتَمعّكون بها

أَشَراً كَما يَتَمعّك الجُربُ

أَشَراً كَما يَتَمعّك الجُربُ

You see them wallowing in those favors,

And you see them rolling about in it,

exultantly, as mangy camels rub themselves.

In wanton glee, as the mange-stricken roll.

أَنتَ الّذي أَوليت مبتدئاً

أَنتَ الّذي أَوليت مبتدئاً

نِعَماً يَطيشُ بِبعضها اللبُّ

نِعَماً يَطيشُ بِبعضها اللبُّ

You were the one who first bestowed, unprompted,

You are the one who bestowed, of your own accord,

favors at some of which the mind reels.

Boons, even a portion of which makes the mind reel.

وَأَتيتَ مُعتذراً إِلى زَمنٍ

وَأَتيتَ مُعتذراً إِلى زَمنٍ

فَكَأنّها لكَ عِنده الذّنبُ

فَكَأنّها لكَ عِنده الذّنبُ

And you came to me apologizing for Time,

And you came apologizing to Time,

as though, in your judgment, its fault were yours.

As though these boons were your offense in its eyes.

ما أنسَ لا أنسَ اِهتزازَك لي

ما أنسَ لا أنسَ اِهتزازَك لي

وَاليوم تُرفعُ دونهُ الحُجْبُ

وَاليوم تُرفعُ دونهُ الحُجْبُ

Never shall I forget—never—your eager rising for me,

Whatever I forget, I shall not forget your joyful stirring for me,

though today barriers are raised before that sight.

And the day when the veils were raised before him,

في مَجلِسٍ لي فيهِ دونهُمُ

في مَجلِسٍ لي فيهِ دونهُمُ

سَعَةُ المَحلّة منكَ والرُّحْبُ

سَعَةُ المَحلّة منكَ والرُّحْبُ

In an assembly where I alone, apart from them all, had

In an assembly where I, apart from the others, had

ample room in your abode and generous welcome.

A spacious place with you and ample room.

وَعَلى الأَسرَّةِ منكَ بدْرُ دُجَىً

وَعَلى الأَسرَّةِ منكَ بدْرُ دُجَىً

لي منهُ عِندَ وسادِه القُربُ

لي منهُ عِندَ وسادِه القُربُ

And upon the couches you were a full moon amid darkness;

And on the couches you were a full moon in darkness;

I had closeness to him beside his cushion.

I was close to him beside his cushion.

فَاِسعَدْ بِهذا المِهْرَجانِ ودُمْ

فَاِسعَدْ بِهذا المِهْرَجانِ ودُمْ

أَبداً تنيرُ لَنا ولا تَخبو

أَبداً تنيرُ لَنا ولا تَخبو

Rejoice, then, in this Mehragan, and remain

So rejoice in this Mihrjan festival, and remain

forever shining for us, never growing dim.

Forever shining for us, never growing dim.

وَتهنّأ الأيام آنفةً

وَتهنّأ الأيام آنفةً

فَاليومَ فيك لأمّه القربُ

فَاليومَ فيك لأمّه القربُ

Delight in days made new;

And enjoy the days afresh,

today, through you, they draw near to their mother.

For through you this day is close to its mother.

وَأَطالَ عُمرَ الأشرَفين لَنا

وَأَطالَ عُمرَ الأشرَفين لَنا

وَكَفاهُما وَوقاهُما الرَّبُّ

وَكَفاهُما وَوقاهُما الرَّبُّ

May the lives of the two noblest men be prolonged for us,

And may the lives of the two noblest ones be prolonged for us,

and may the Lord suffice them both and preserve them,

And may the Lord sustain and protect them both,

حَتّى تَرى لَهُما الّذي نَظَرتْ

حَتّى تَرى لَهُما الّذي نَظَرتْ

عَيناكَ مِنكَ فَإِنّه حَسْبُ

عَيناكَ مِنكَ فَإِنّه حَسْبُ

until you see for them what

Until you see in them what

your own eyes have beheld in you—for that is enough.

Your eyes have seen in you—for that is enough.