أُبِثُّكَ مَجدَ الدَينِ حالاً سَماعُها

أُبِثُّكَ مَجدَ الدَينِ حالاً سَماعُها

يَشُقُّ عَلى الأَمجادِ وَالكُبَراءِ

يَشُقُّ عَلى الأَمجادِ وَالكُبَراءِ

I confide to you, Majd al-Din, a plight whose very hearing

I confide in you, Majd al-Din, a plight whose news

weighs heavily upon the glorious and the great.

weighs heavily on the illustrious and the great.

رُزِئتُ بِعَينٍ طالَما سَهِرَت مَعي

رُزِئتُ بِعَينٍ طالَما سَهِرَت مَعي

لِنَظمِ مَديحٍ أَو لِرَصفِ ثَناءِ

لِنَظمِ مَديحٍ أَو لِرَصفِ ثَناءِ

I have been stricken in an eye that long kept vigil with me,

I have been bereaved of an eye that so often kept vigil with me

fashioning praise or stringing together eulogy.

to compose panegyrics or arrange words of praise.

خَدَمتُ بِها الآدابَ خَمسينَ حِجَّةً

خَدَمتُ بِها الآدابَ خَمسينَ حِجَّةً

وَأَجهَدتُها في خِدمَةِ الخُلَفاءِ

وَأَجهَدتُها في خِدمَةِ الخُلَفاءِ

With it I served letters for fifty years,

With it I served letters for fifty years,

and strained it in the service of the caliphs.

and strained it in the service of caliphs.

وَكَم سَيَّرَت مَدحَ المُلوكِ وَأَوجَبَت

وَكَم سَيَّرَت مَدحَ المُلوكِ وَأَوجَبَت

حُقوقاً عَلى الأَجوادِ وَالكُرَماءِ

حُقوقاً عَلى الأَجوادِ وَالكُرَماءِ

How often I sent it forth to praise kings, and thereby earned

And how often it sent forth praises of kings and established

claims upon the generous and the noble.

claims upon the generous and the munificent.

تَعَطَّلَ مِنها كُلُّ نادٍ وَمَجمَعٍ

تَعَطَّلَ مِنها كُلُّ نادٍ وَمَجمَعٍ

وَأَوحَشَ مِنها مُلتَقى الأُدَباءِ

وَأَوحَشَ مِنها مُلتَقى الأُدَباءِ

At its loss every salon and assembly fell idle,

Every assembly and gathering has fallen idle without it,

and the meeting place of men of letters grew desolate.

and the meeting place of the literati has grown desolate without it.

فَلَو ساعَدَتني بِالبُكاءِ شُؤونُها

فَلَو ساعَدَتني بِالبُكاءِ شُؤونُها

بَكَيتُ عَلى أَيّامِها بِدِماءِ

بَكَيتُ عَلى أَيّامِها بِدِماءِ

If only its tear ducts would help me weep,

If only its tear ducts would aid me in weeping,

I would mourn its days with blood.

I would weep blood over its days.

رَمَتني يَدُ الأَيّامِ فيها بِعائِرٍ

رَمَتني يَدُ الأَيّامِ فيها بِعائِرٍ

فَبُدِّلتُ مِنها ظُلمَةً بِضِياءِ

فَبُدِّلتُ مِنها ظُلمَةً بِضِياءِ

The hand of time struck that eye with a mote,

The hand of time struck me in that eye with an affliction,

replacing its darkness with a white glare.

so I received darkness from it in place of light.

وَرَنَّقَ عَيشي وَاِستَحالَت إِلى القَذى

وَرَنَّقَ عَيشي وَاِستَحالَت إِلى القَذى

مَشارِبُهُ عَن رِقَّةٍ وَصَفاءِ

مَشارِبُهُ عَن رِقَّةٍ وَصَفاءِ

It clouded my life, and turned to grit

And my life grew turbid, and to dregs were turned

its draughts, once delicate and clear—

its drinking waters, once limpid and clear.

جَفاءٌ مِنَ الأَيّامِ بَعدَ مَوَدَّةٍ

جَفاءٌ مِنَ الأَيّامِ بَعدَ مَوَدَّةٍ

وَسَلبٌ مِنَ الأَيّامِ غِبَّ عَطاءِ

وَسَلبٌ مِنَ الأَيّامِ غِبَّ عَطاءِ

harshness from the days after affection,

Cruelty from time after affection,

and plunder from the days after gifts.

and deprivation from time after bounty.

تَنَكَّرَتِ الدُنيا عَلَيَّ فَفَوَّقَت

تَنَكَّرَتِ الدُنيا عَلَيَّ فَفَوَّقَت

إِلَيَّ سِهامَ الغَدرِ بَعدَ وَفاءِ

إِلَيَّ سِهامَ الغَدرِ بَعدَ وَفاءِ

The world turned hostile toward me and arrayed

The world turned against me and aimed

the arrows of treachery against me after loyalty.

arrows of treachery at me after keeping faith.

فَأَضحَت وَقَد كانَت إِلَيَّ حَبيبَةً

فَأَضحَت وَقَد كانَت إِلَيَّ حَبيبَةً

وَأَبغَضُ ما فيها إِلَيَّ بَقائي

وَأَبغَضُ ما فيها إِلَيَّ بَقائي

Thus, though once beloved to me, it became

So now, though it was once beloved to me,

a place where nothing is more hateful to me than remaining alive.

the thing I hate most in it is my survival.

وَأَعهَدُها سِلمي وَيا رُبَّ زَعزَعٍ

وَأَعهَدُها سِلمي وَيا رُبَّ زَعزَعٍ

جَرَت مِن مَهَبّي سَحسَحٍ وَرُخاءِ

جَرَت مِن مَهَبّي سَحسَحٍ وَرُخاءِ

I remember it at peace—yet many a violent gale

And I remember it as my ally—yet oh, how many a gale

blew from my own quarter, gentle and mild.

blew from the two quarters of a mild wind and a gentle breeze!

وَها أَنا كَالمَقبورِ في كِسرِ مَنزِلٍ

وَها أَنا كَالمَقبورِ في كِسرِ مَنزِلٍ

سَواءٌ صَباحي عِندَهُ وَمَسائي

سَواءٌ صَباحي عِندَهُ وَمَسائي

And here I am, like one entombed in a corner of a dwelling,

And here I am, like one buried in a corner of a house,

my mornings and evenings there alike.

my morning and evening alike within it.

يَرِقُّ وَيَبكي حاسِدي لِيَ رَحمَةً

يَرِقُّ وَيَبكي حاسِدي لِيَ رَحمَةً

وَبُعداً لَها مِن رِقَّةٍ وَبُكاءِ

وَبُعداً لَها مِن رِقَّةٍ وَبُكاءِ

Even my envier softens and weeps in pity for me—

My envier softens and weeps in pity for me,

how far he had once been from tenderness and tears!

and perish such tenderness and tears!

فَيالَكَ رُزءاً عِزَّ عِندي مُصابُهُ

فَيالَكَ رُزءاً عِزَّ عِندي مُصابُهُ

أَبيتُ عَليهِ مِن قُبولِ عَزاءِ

أَبيتُ عَليهِ مِن قُبولِ عَزاءِ

O what a loss, whose blow overwhelmed me;

Oh, what a calamity you are, whose blow is so grievous to me;

I spend the night over it, refusing consolation.

I have refused to accept consolation for it.

وَوَاهاً لِظَهرٍ مِن مَشيبٍ عَلَوتُهُ

وَوَاهاً لِظَهرٍ مِن مَشيبٍ عَلَوتُهُ

وَخَلَّفتُ أَيّامَ الشَبابِ وَرائي

وَخَلَّفتُ أَيّامَ الشَبابِ وَرائي

Alas for the back of gray old age that I have mounted,

And alas for the back of gray old age that I have mounted,

leaving the days of youth behind me!

leaving the days of youth behind me!

وَيا خَيرَ مَن يُدعى لِيَومِ كَريهَةٍ

وَيا خَيرَ مَن يُدعى لِيَومِ كَريهَةٍ

وَأَكرَمَ مَن يُرجى لِيَومِ رَخاءِ

وَأَكرَمَ مَن يُرجى لِيَومِ رَخاءِ

O best of men to be summoned on a day of battle,

And O best of those called upon for a day of adversity,

and noblest of those sought on a day of ease;

and most generous of those looked to in a day of ease;

وَمَن عِندَهُ ما يَبتَغي كُلُّ آمَلٍ

وَمَن عِندَهُ ما يَبتَغي كُلُّ آمَلٍ

وَلاجٍ طَريدٍ مِن غِنىً وَغِناءِ

وَلاجٍ طَريدٍ مِن غِنىً وَغِناءِ

you who possess all that every hopeful petitioner desires,

and you who possess what is sought by every hopeful man

and all an importunate outcast, bereft of wealth and sufficiency, seeks;

and banished refugee—wealth and aid;

وَيا مُلبِسَ الدُنيا بِأَيّامِ مُلكِهِ

وَيا مُلبِسَ الدُنيا بِأَيّامِ مُلكِهِ

رِداءَ جَمالٍ رائِعٍ وَبَهاءِ

رِداءَ جَمالٍ رائِعٍ وَبَهاءِ

O you who clothed the world, throughout the days of your reign,

and O you who clothe the world, in the days of your reign,

in a mantle of splendid beauty and radiance;

in a robe of dazzling beauty and splendor;

وَمَن ساسَها حَتّى اِطمَأَنَّت وَزانَها

وَمَن ساسَها حَتّى اِطمَأَنَّت وَزانَها

بِعَزمَةِ رَأيٍ ثاقِبٍ وَرُواءِ

بِعَزمَةِ رَأيٍ ثاقِبٍ وَرُواءِ

you who governed it until it rested secure, and adorned it

and you who governed it until it grew secure, and adorned it

with firm resolve, penetrating judgment, and grace.

with resolute, penetrating judgment and handsome grace.

فَضُلتَ بِآباءٍ كِرامٍ وَسودَدٍ

فَضُلتَ بِآباءٍ كِرامٍ وَسودَدٍ

قَديمٍ وَنَفسٍ مُرَّةٍ وَإِباءِ

قَديمٍ وَنَفسٍ مُرَّةٍ وَإِباءِ

Thus, through noble forefathers, there endured

You excelled through noble forefathers and a lordly eminence

ancient sovereignty, a valiant spirit, and proud dignity.

of old, an unyielding spirit, and proud self-respect.

وَأَثَّلتَ مَجداً طارِفاً غَيرَ قانِعٍ

وَأَثَّلتَ مَجداً طارِفاً غَيرَ قانِعٍ

بِمِراثِ مَجدٍ سالِفٍ وَعَلاءِ

بِمِراثِ مَجدٍ سالِفٍ وَعَلاءِ

You founded fresh glory, not content

And you established fresh glory, not content

with an inheritance of bygone glory and eminence.

with an inheritance of former glory and exalted rank.

وَأَنشَرتَ عَدلاً ضَوَّعَ الأَرضَ ذِكرُهُ

وَأَنشَرتَ عَدلاً ضَوَّعَ الأَرضَ ذِكرُهُ

تَضَوُّعَ نَشرِ الرَوضِ غَبَّ سَماءِ

تَضَوُّعَ نَشرِ الرَوضِ غَبَّ سَماءِ

You revived a justice whose fame perfumed the earth,

And you revived justice, whose fame perfumed the earth

as a garden’s fragrance spreads after rain.

as the garden's scent wafts after rain.

إِذا قيسَتِ الأَنواءُ يَوماً إِلى نَدى

إِذا قيسَتِ الأَنواءُ يَوماً إِلى نَدى

يَدَيكَ عَدَدناها مِنَ البُخَلاءِ

يَدَيكَ عَدَدناها مِنَ البُخَلاءِ

If rain clouds were ever measured against the bounty

If ever the rain-bearing stars were compared with the bounty

of your two hands, we would count them among the misers.

of your hands, we would count them among the misers.

وَأَنتَ إِذ ما العامُ ضَنَّت سَماؤُهُ

وَأَنتَ إِذ ما العامُ ضَنَّت سَماؤُهُ

رَبيعُ اليَتامى نَجعَةُ الفُقَراءِ

رَبيعُ اليَتامى نَجعَةُ الفُقَراءِ

And when the year’s sky withholds its rain, you are

And you, whenever the year's sky withholds its rain,

the orphans’ spring and the poor man’s pasture.

are the orphans' springtime, the pasture sought by the poor.

أُناديكَ مَرجُوّاً لِسَدِّ خَصاصَتي

أُناديكَ مَرجُوّاً لِسَدِّ خَصاصَتي

وَمِثلُكَ مَن لَبّى نَداهُ نِدائي

وَمِثلُكَ مَن لَبّى نَداهُ نِدائي

I call upon you, hoping that my need will be met;

I call upon you, hoping you will relieve my poverty,

and one like you answers my call.

and one like you has a bounty that answers my call.

وَما لِيَ لا أَدعوكَ في يَومِ شِدَّتي

وَما لِيَ لا أَدعوكَ في يَومِ شِدَّتي

وَأَنتَ مُجيبي في زَمانِ رَخائي

وَأَنتَ مُجيبي في زَمانِ رَخائي

Why should I not call upon you on a day of hardship,

Why should I not call upon you in my day of hardship,

when you answered me in the days of my ease?

when you answer me in my time of prosperity?

وَمِثلُكَ مَن أَولى الجَميلَ وَأَفضَلَت

وَمِثلُكَ مَن أَولى الجَميلَ وَأَفضَلَت

مَواهِبُ كَفَّيهِ عَلى الفُضَلاءِ

مَواهِبُ كَفَّيهِ عَلى الفُضَلاءِ

One like you grants kindness; and favor has been bestowed

And one like you bestows kindness and lavishes

by the gifts of his two hands upon men of merit.

the gifts of his palms upon people of merit.

وَأَنتَ جَديرٌ بِاِصطِناعي وَقادِرٌ

وَأَنتَ جَديرٌ بِاِصطِناعي وَقادِرٌ

عَلى حَسمِ دائي عارِفٌ بِدَوائي

عَلى حَسمِ دائي عارِفٌ بِدَوائي

You are worthy of taking me into your favor, and able

And you are well suited to be my patron, and able

to end my malady, knowing its cure.

to end my malady, knowing my remedy.

وَلا ضامَني دَهرٌ وَرَأيُكَ عُدَّتي

وَلا ضامَني دَهرٌ وَرَأيُكَ عُدَّتي

وَلا خابَ لي سَعيٌ وَأَنتَ رَجائي

وَلا خابَ لي سَعيٌ وَأَنتَ رَجائي

I have no guarantor against fate; your judgment is my support,

Time cannot wrong me while your counsel is my resource,

nor has any endeavor of mine failed while you were my hope.

nor can my striving fail while you are my hope.

أَتَقطَعُ فيكَ الأَرضَ غُرُّ مَدائِحي

أَتَقطَعُ فيكَ الأَرضَ غُرُّ مَدائِحي

وَيَقرَعُ أَبوابَ السَماءِ دُعائي

وَيَقرَعُ أَبوابَ السَماءِ دُعائي

My radiant praises of you traverse the earth,

Do my radiant praises of you cross the earth,

and my prayer knocks upon the gates of heaven.

and my prayers knock at the gates of heaven,

وَأَخشى وَرَبعي في جِوارِكَ ضَيعَةً

وَأَخشى وَرَبعي في جِوارِكَ ضَيعَةً

وَضيماً إِذاً يا ضَلَّتي وَشَقائي

وَضيماً إِذاً يا ضَلَّتي وَشَقائي

Yet though my dwelling is under your protection, I fear for my estate—

while, with my dwelling under your protection, I fear neglect

and fear oppression: what then of my forlornness and misery?

and oppression? Then alas for my folly and misery!

فَلا عَرَفَت أَخلاقُكَ الغُرُّ جَفوَةً

فَلا عَرَفَت أَخلاقُكَ الغُرُّ جَفوَةً

وَحاشا لَها مِن قَسوَةٍ وَجَفاءِ

وَحاشا لَها مِن قَسوَةٍ وَجَفاءِ

May your illustrious character never know estrangement—

So may your radiant virtues never know coldness,

far be cruelty and harshness from it!

and far be cruelty and harshness from them.

وَلا كَذَبَت آمالُ راجٍ أَمامَها

وَلا كَذَبَت آمالُ راجٍ أَمامَها

شَفيعانِ إِخلاصٌ وَصِدقُ وَلاءِ

شَفيعانِ إِخلاصٌ وَصِدقُ وَلاءِ

Nor may a petitioner’s hopes before it prove false,

Nor may a suppliant's hopes prove false, when before them stand

when sincerity and true loyalty are his two intercessors.

two intercessors: sincerity and true allegiance.

وَيا اِبنَ الكِرامِ الأَوَّلينَ تَعَطُّفاً

وَيا اِبنَ الكِرامِ الأَوَّلينَ تَعَطُّفاً

عَليَّ فَإِنّي آخِرُ الشُعَراءِ

عَليَّ فَإِنّي آخِرُ الشُعَراءِ

O son of the noble forefathers of old, show kindness

And O son of the noble men of old, show compassion

to me—for I am indeed the last of the poets.

toward me, for I am the last of the poets.

وَكُن لي إِلى جودِ الخَليفَةِ شافِعاً

وَكُن لي إِلى جودِ الخَليفَةِ شافِعاً

أَنَل حاجَتي ما كُنتَ مِن شُفَعائي

أَنَل حاجَتي ما كُنتَ مِن شُفَعائي

Be my intercessor for the caliph’s bounty,

And be my intercessor in seeking the caliph's bounty;

and obtain my request, so long as you are among my intercessors.

I shall gain what I need, so long as you are among my intercessors.

وَقُل صالِحاً تُجزى بِهِ صالِحاً غَداً

وَقُل صالِحاً تُجزى بِهِ صالِحاً غَداً

فَما هَذِهِ الدُنيا بِدارِ جَزاءِ

فَما هَذِهِ الدُنيا بِدارِ جَزاءِ

Speak a good word, for which tomorrow you will be repaid with good:

And speak a good word; for it you will be rewarded with good tomorrow,

this world is no abode of recompense.

for this world is no abode of recompense.