سقاها الهوى من راحةِ الوجد صَرْخَدا

سقاها الهوى من راحةِ الوجد صَرْخَدا

وشوَّقها حادي الظعائنِ إذ حَدا

وشوَّقها حادي الظعائنِ إذ حَدا

Love poured her a dark wine from longing’s palm,

Love poured her Sarkhad wine from longing's palm.

It quenched her thirst with the wine of passion so she reeled,

And the camel-train’s singer stirred her yearning when he sang.

And the driver of the women's litters stirred her longing when he sang.

And the guide of misfortunes stirred her when he turned aside.

فظلَّتْ تَرامى بين رامة والحمى

فظلَّتْ تَرامى بين رامة والحمى

وتطوي فيافيها حزوناً وفدفدا

وتطوي فيافيها حزوناً وفدفدا

All day she ranged between Rāmah and the sanctuary,

So she kept darting between Ramah and al-Hima,

So she continued to waver between longing and fever,

Crossing its wildernesses, rugged hills, and level wastes.

And traversing her deserts—rugged uplands and broad wastes.

Folding and unfolding her robe in sadness.

وتشقّها ريحُ الصبا رندَ حاجر

وتشقّها ريحُ الصبا رندَ حاجر

فكادتْ لفرط الوجد أنْ تتَّقدا

فكادتْ لفرط الوجد أنْ تتَّقدا

The east wind cleaves them, scented with the bay of Ḥājir,

And the east wind rends her with Hajir's sweet bay;

The morning breeze rends her, a desolate wind,

Till, from longing’s excess, she nearly bursts aflame.

So intense was her longing that she nearly burst into flame.

Till from excess of rapture she seemed about to flare up.

ولمَّا بَدَتْ أَعلامُ دار بذي الفضا

ولمَّا بَدَتْ أَعلامُ دار بذي الفضا

أعاد لها الشَّوق القديم كما بدا

أعاد لها الشَّوق القديم كما بدا

And when the landmarks of a dwelling at Dhū al-Faḍā appeared,

And when the landmarks of a dwelling at Dhu al-Fada appeared,

When the standards of the camp of Thi 'l-Fazā appeared,

Old yearning returned to her just as they came into view.

Her old longing was restored, just as it had first arisen.

Passion brought back to her the old desire as it was.

فلا تأمن الأَشجان يجذبن قلبها

فلا تأمن الأَشجان يجذبن قلبها

متى أَتْهَمَ البرقُ اليمانيّ وأنجدا

متى أَتْهَمَ البرقُ اليمانيّ وأنجدا

Never trust sorrows: they tug at her heart

She is never safe from sorrows that tug at her heart,

So the branches of tree-like man cannot but pull at her heart

Whenever the Yemeni lightning descends toward Tihāmah or climbs toward Najd.

Whenever the Yemeni lightning descends to Tihamah and rises to Najd.

Whenever lightning flashed in al-Yaman and Najd.

ويا سعد خذْ بالجزع من أيمنِ اللّوى

ويا سعد خذْ بالجزع من أيمنِ اللّوى

لعلِّي أرى فيها على الحبِّ مُسعِدا

لعلِّي أرى فيها على الحبِّ مُسعِدا

O Saʿd, stop at the river-bend to the right of the winding sands;

And O Sa'd, take the valley route from al-Liwa's right side,

And O Sa'd, beware of losing control from the bendings of passion,

Perhaps there I may find someone to aid me in love.

Perhaps there I may find someone to aid me in love.

Haply I may see in it one aided in love.

وذرها تروِّي بالدموع غليلها

وذرها تروِّي بالدموع غليلها

وأنَّى يبلّ الدَّمع من مغرم صدى

وأنَّى يبلّ الدَّمع من مغرم صدى

Leave her to quench her burning thirst with tears—

And leave her to quench her burning thirst with tears;

Leave her to slake her thirst for anguish with tears,

Yet how can tears slake a lover’s thirst?

Yet how can tears slake a lover's thirst?

And when did tears flow from a lover who revealed his secret?

تعالج بالتعليل قلباً معذَّباً

تعالج بالتعليل قلباً معذَّباً

وتدمي بوبل الدَّمع طرفاً مسهَّدا

وتدمي بوبل الدَّمع طرفاً مسهَّدا

With consoling fancies she tends a tormented heart,

She tends a tormented heart with consoling promises,

You try to cure a tortured heart with consolation,

While a torrent of tears makes her sleepless eye bleed.

And bloodies a sleepless eye with a downpour of tears.

And shed a torrent of tears from an overburthened eye!

وتنصبُّ مثل السيل في كلِّ مهمهٍ

وتنصبُّ مثل السيل في كلِّ مهمهٍ

فتحسبها من شدَّة العزم جلمدا

فتحسبها من شدَّة العزم جلمدا

She rushes like a flood through every trackless desert,

And she pours like a torrent through every trackless waste,

And you let loose a flood at every task,

So that, for firmness of resolve, you would take her for solid rock.

So fierce is her resolve that you would think her a boulder.

As if, from intensity of purpose, you were a rock!

وبي من هوى ميٍّ وإنْ شطَّ دارها

وبي من هوى ميٍّ وإنْ شطَّ دارها

هوًى يمنع العشَّاق أنْ تتجلَّدا

هوًى يمنع العشَّاق أنْ تتجلَّدا

I bear a love for Mayy, though her home lies far away—

And within me, from love of Mayy, though her dwelling is far away,

By my life! Her camp, though far off, bars the lovers from her,

A love that keeps all lovers from feigning fortitude.

Is a passion that denies lovers all fortitude.

A passion which prevents the victims from showing patience.

ولمياء لم تنجز بوعدٍ لمغرم

ولمياء لم تنجز بوعدٍ لمغرم

وهل أَنْجَزَتْ ذات الوشاحين موعدا

وهل أَنْجَزَتْ ذات الوشاحين موعدا

Nor did Lamyāʾ fulfill a promise to her lover;

And a dark-lipped beauty kept no promise to a lover;

By the life of Laylā are we undone! She has not kept her word to a lover,

But has the lady of the two sashes ever kept an appointment?

And has the woman of the two sashes ever kept a tryst?

And when did 'the fair slim-waisted ones' keep tryst?

إذا ما دنتْ ظمياءُ من سِرْبِ لعلعٍ

إذا ما دنتْ ظمياءُ من سِرْبِ لعلعٍ

أَرَتْنا الرَّدى من مقلة الرِّيم أسودا

أَرَتْنا الرَّدى من مقلة الرِّيم أسودا

Whenever the slender-waisted beauty approaches the herd at Laʿlaʿ,

Whenever a slender, dusky-lipped beauty drew near from Laʿlaʿ's herd,

When the shining light moves away from a herd of wild cows,

She shows us death, black in the gazelle’s eye.

She showed us black death through the gazelle's eye.

We see the Pleiades as inky spots.

أَلَذُّ بها وصلاً وأَشقى بهجرها

أَلَذُّ بها وصلاً وأَشقى بهجرها

ومن عاش بالهجران عاش منكَّدا

ومن عاش بالهجران عاش منكَّدا

How sweet union with her is, and how wretched her desertion!

I delight in union with her and suffer from her abandonment,

I take delight in union with her and find separation bitter,

Whoever lives in separation lives in misery.

And whoever lives in separation lives embittered.

And he who lives in parting lives wearily.

وأبلجُ لولا شعره وجبينه

وأبلجُ لولا شعره وجبينه

لما كنت أدري ما الضَّلال وما الهُدى

لما كنت أدري ما الضَّلال وما الهُدى

And a radiant beauty—were it not for his hair and brow,

And a radiant-faced beloved—were it not for his hair and brow,

By her radiance and his forehead her showed me guidance from error,

I would never know what error was and what guidance.

I would not know what misguidance is, or what guidance is.

So that I knew not what misguidance was nor guidance.

تدينُ قلوب العاشقين لحكمه

تدينُ قلوب العاشقين لحكمه

على أنَّه قد جار بالحكم واعتدى

على أنَّه قد جار بالحكم واعتدى

Lovers’ hearts submit to his decree,

Lovers' hearts submit to his judgment,

The hearts of lovers bow before his decree,

Though in judgment he has dealt unjustly and transgressed.

Although he has judged unjustly and transgressed.

Though he has been unjust in his decree and exceeded due bounds.

فيا عصر ذاك اللَّهو هل أنتَ عائد

فيا عصر ذاك اللَّهو هل أنتَ عائد

ويا ريم ذاك الرّبع روحي لك الفدا

ويا ريم ذاك الرّبع روحي لك الفدا

O age of that revelry, will you ever return?

So O age of that merriment, will you return?

From that wanton one I have taken my share of bliss and joy,

O gazelle of that campsite, my soul is your ransom!

And O gazelle of that dwelling, my soul be your ransom.

I have contended with lions and sported with cubs.

تركتَ بقلبي من هواك لواعجاً

تركتَ بقلبي من هواك لواعجاً

عَصَيْتُ بها ذاك العذولَ المُفَنِّدا

عَصَيْتُ بها ذاك العذولَ المُفَنِّدا

You left within my heart the searing pangs of your love,

You left in my heart burning pangs of love for you,

At one time I found myself blamed in the east,

Through which I defied that fault-finding, rebuking censor.

Because of which I defied that fault-finding reprover.

At another fate brought me praise in the west.

لحا الله من يلحو محبًّا على الهوى

لحا الله من يلحو محبًّا على الهوى

ولا راح إلاَّ بالملام ولا اغتدى

ولا راح إلاَّ بالملام ولا اغتدى

May God condemn whoever reproaches a lover for love,

May God curse whoever reproaches a lover for his love;

I will never cease to complain of time, and cares nip me,

Who morning and evening brings nothing but blame.

He goes out neither evening nor morning without reproach.

An epoch when merit belonged to the aggregate of the enemy host.

يلوم ويفري بالهوى من يلومُه

يلوم ويفري بالهوى من يلومُه

وكم جاهلٍ رام الصَّلاح فأفسدا

وكم جاهلٍ رام الصَّلاح فأفسدا

He censures, while love cuts to the quick the very man who censures him;

He reproaches, and wounds with passion the very one he reproaches;

Were it not for the flame of the Faith naught would exalt the virtuous,

How many an ignorant man sought reform and only wrought ruin!

And how many an ignorant man sought to mend, but only spoiled!

Nor would he ever gain glory and handsomeness of praise.

أَخَذْتُ نصيبي من نعيمٍ ولذَّةٍ

أَخَذْتُ نصيبي من نعيمٍ ولذَّةٍ

وصادَمْتُ آساداً ولاعبت خرَّدا

وصادَمْتُ آساداً ولاعبت خرَّدا

I took my share of bliss and pleasure,

I took my share of bliss and pleasure,

The man of glory whom his generous deeds enrich

Clashed with lions and dallied with secluded maidens.

And faced lions and played with bashful maidens.

Will leave behind a fine tradition that endures.

فَطَوْراً أراني في المشارق متهماً

فَطَوْراً أراني في المشارق متهماً

وطوراً أتاني في المغارب منجدا

وطوراً أتاني في المغارب منجدا

At times I find myself accused in the East,

So at times I see myself in the eastern lands, entering Tihamah,

When his breast and right hand overflow,

And at times a rescuer comes to me in the West.

And at times he came to me in the western lands, entering Najd.

Take from the two seas a union of rich pearls !

ولا بتُّ أَشكو والخطوب تنوشني

ولا بتُّ أَشكو والخطوب تنوشني

زماناً لأهل الفضل من جملة العدى

زماناً لأهل الفضل من جملة العدى

Never have I spent the night complaining while calamities snatched at me

Nor did I spend the night complaining, though calamities assailed me,

High shall he ever float on the clouds of glory and favour,

Of an age that ranks men of merit among its enemies.

Of an age that stood among the enemies of men of merit.

Until in isolation aloft he unites the chief grace.

ولولا شهاب الدِّين ما اعتزَّ فاضل

ولولا شهاب الدِّين ما اعتزَّ فاضل

ولا نالَ إلاَّ فيه عِزًّا وسؤددا

ولا نالَ إلاَّ فيه عِزًّا وسؤددا

Were it not for Shihāb al-Dīn, no worthy man would attain honor,

And were it not for Shihab al-Din, no man of merit would attain honor,

I saw his radiance, his glory and his praise,

Nor gain, save through him, might and eminence.

Nor gain honor and eminence except through him.

I witnessed all that eye had ever seen most glorious.

فتى المجد يغني بالمكارم ما لَه

فتى المجد يغني بالمكارم ما لَه

ويبقي له الذكرَ الجميل مُخلَّدا

ويبقي له الذكرَ الجميل مُخلَّدا

A youth of glory, whose wealth brings sufficiency through generous deeds

A youth of glory, he enriches what is his through noble deeds,

Who congratulates newcomers on entering his court

And preserves for him a fair renown forever.

And preserves for himself a fair remembrance, immortal.

With gifts more generous than he gave, guidance better than he guided?

إذا فاضَ منه صدرُه ويمينه

إذا فاضَ منه صدرُه ويمينه

فخذ من كلا البحرين درًّا منضَّدا

فخذ من كلا البحرين درًّا منضَّدا

When his breast and his right hand overflow,

When his breast and his right hand overflow,

Nor has the pearl of the mouth ceased to smile at men

Take from both those seas strings of pearls: eloquence and gifts.

Then take from both seas pearls strung in order.

Till his palm rained bounty prostrate in humble obeisance.

وما زال يسمو رفعةً وتَفَضُّلاً

وما زال يسمو رفعةً وتَفَضُّلاً

ويَجْمَعُ شمل الفضل حتَّى تفرَّدا

ويَجْمَعُ شمل الفضل حتَّى تفرَّدا

He has never ceased to rise in rank and graciousness,

And he has never ceased rising in rank and beneficence,

Who can be more immaculate than dear Jadd of exalted lineage?

Gathering every excellence into himself until he stands alone.

And gathering all excellence into one, until he stood peerless.

No wonder if he cleanse and purify a Najjār and dustman!

رأيت محيَّاه البهيّ ومجدَه

رأيت محيَّاه البهيّ ومجدَه

فشاهدت أبهى ما رأيت وأمجدا

فشاهدت أبهى ما رأيت وأمجدا

I beheld his radiant countenance and his glory,

I saw his radiant countenance and his glory,

O ocean of bounty, never have we seen thee troubled,

And saw the most splendid and glorious sight I had ever seen.

And witnessed the fairest and most glorious I had ever seen.

O star of munificence, when hast thou been clouded?

فمن ذا يهنّي الوافدين لبابه

فمن ذا يهنّي الوافدين لبابه

بأكرمَ من أعطى وأرشدَ من هدى

بأكرمَ من أعطى وأرشدَ من هدى

Who, then, can congratulate those arriving at his door

Who, then, will congratulate those arriving at his door

None but thy sublime ambitions are sought after,

On one more generous in giving, more rightly guiding than any guide?

On reaching the most generous giver and the wisest guide?

None but thy propitious fingers pointed out are asked for.

وما افترَّ عن دُرِّ الثنايا تبسُّماً

وما افترَّ عن دُرِّ الثنايا تبسُّماً

من البِشر حتَّى أمطر الكفّ عسجدا

من البِشر حتَّى أمطر الكفّ عسجدا

His lips had scarcely parted in a smile, revealing pearly front teeth

Nor did he smile, revealing the pearls of his front teeth,

In truth thou camest to this age as a mercy to men,

In welcome, before his hand showered gold.

In gladness, until his palm had showered gold.

So that the buttress of the Faith by thee was strengthened.

ومن يكُ أزكى صفوة الله جدّه

ومن يكُ أزكى صفوة الله جدّه

فلا غروَ أنْ يزكو نجاراً ومحتدا

فلا غروَ أنْ يزكو نجاراً ومحتدا

When the choicest of God’s creation is a man’s forefather,

And he whose forefather is the purest of God's elect,

And thou revivedst in the land of Irāq its sciences,

No wonder he is pure in lineage and ancestral stock.

It is no wonder that he is noble in stock and lineage.

Otherwise, my lord, the case would have remained in loss.

فيا بحر فضلٍ ما رأيناك مزبدا

فيا بحر فضلٍ ما رأيناك مزبدا

ويا مزن جود ما رأيناك مرعدا

ويا مزن جود ما رأيناك مرعدا

O sea of excellence, we have never seen you foam;

So O sea of excellence, we have never seen you foam;

I see everyone who transmits praise and eulogy

O rain cloud of generosity, we have never seen you thunder.

And O raincloud of generosity, we have never seen you thunder.

Therein relating to thee fair temper and supports.

أَيُطلَبُ إلاَّ من مفاخرك العُلى

أَيُطلَبُ إلاَّ من مفاخرك العُلى

ويسأل إلاَّ من أَنامِلكَ النَّدى

ويسأل إلاَّ من أَنامِلكَ النَّدى

Is loftiness sought anywhere but among your glories?

Is eminence sought anywhere but in your glorious deeds,

Honour be thine! Baffled are the describers in describing thee,

Is bounty asked anywhere but from your fingertips?

And bounty asked anywhere but from your fingertips?

And the ideas fail to define thine attributes.

لقد جئت هذا العصر للناس رحمة

لقد جئت هذا العصر للناس رحمة

فأصبَحَ ركنُ الدِّين فيك مشيَّدا

فأصبَحَ ركنُ الدِّين فيك مشيَّدا

You have come in this age as a mercy to humankind,

Indeed, you came to the people of this age as a mercy,

When from thee gleams a ray of eloquence, however slight,

And through you the pillar of religion stands firmly raised.

And in you religion's pillar became firmly established.

Pens fall to the ground before thee prostrate.

وأحْيَيْتَ من أرض العراق علومَه

وأحْيَيْتَ من أرض العراق علومَه

ولولاك كانَ الأَمر يا سيِّدي سدى

ولولاك كانَ الأَمر يا سيِّدي سدى

You revived learning from the soil of Iraq;

And you revived its sciences in the land of Iraq;

Through thee freshness and bounty slake his eyes,

Without you, my master, the whole endeavor would have come to nothing.

Without you, my master, the endeavor would have been in vain.

Nor hath he blackened them save with thy writing in gall-nut ink.

أرى كلّ من يروي ثناءً ومدحةً

أرى كلّ من يروي ثناءً ومدحةً

ففيك روى حسن السَّجايا وأسندا

ففيك روى حسن السَّجايا وأسندا

I see everyone who recites praise and panegyric

I see that everyone who recites praise and eulogy

Thou hast visited all the perfect the whole band,

Relating and transmitting the beauty of your virtues.

Thus recounts your fine traits and cites their authority.

And the wont of the great is to make personal inquiries.

لك العزّ حار الواصفون بوصفه

لك العزّ حار الواصفون بوصفه

وجلَّت معاني ذاته أن تحدَّدا

وجلَّت معاني ذاته أن تحدَّدا

Yours is a glory whose description bewilders those who would describe it,

Yours is a glory whose description bewilders all describers,

How many a bounty thou hast conferred and then bestowed!

And the meanings of its essence are too sublime to be circumscribed.

And the meanings of its essence are too lofty to be bounded.

Thou hast made the Grandees docile slaves.

إذا ما تجلَّت منك أدنى بلاغةً

إذا ما تجلَّت منك أدنى بلاغةً

تخرُّ لك الأَقلام في الطّرس سجَّدا

تخرُّ لك الأَقلام في الطّرس سجَّدا

When even the least eloquence from you reveals itself,

Whenever even the least of your eloquence shines forth,

Had it not been for thee, I had obtained no glory and no rest,

Pens fall prostrate before you upon the page.

Pens fall prostrate to you upon the page.

Nor reached but by thy heights a goal.

وفيك النَّدى والفضل قرَّت عيونه

وفيك النَّدى والفضل قرَّت عيونه

ولم يكتَحِل إلاَّ بخطّك إثمدا

ولم يكتَحِل إلاَّ بخطّك إثمدا

In you, generosity and excellence have found repose,

And in you, bounty and excellence have found comfort for their eyes,

Still am I, if in the world thou art my patron;

And generosity adorns its eyes only with the antimony of your script.

And have worn no antimony kohl but your handwriting.

And whosoever is thy protege continues lordly.

تَفَقَّدْتَ أربابَ الكمال جميعَهم

تَفَقَّدْتَ أربابَ الكمال جميعَهم

ومن عادة السَّادات أن تَتَفقَّدا

ومن عادة السَّادات أن تَتَفقَّدا

You have attended to every master of perfection,

You have attended to every master of accomplishment,

Ever thou remainest, though the new moons wax, unharmed,

For it is the custom of noble lords to look after others.

And attending to others is the custom of noble lords.

Through thy munificence needing naught, through thy decrees followed.

وكم نعمةٍ أسدَيْتَها فبَذَلْتها

وكم نعمةٍ أسدَيْتَها فبَذَلْتها

وصيَّرْتَ أحرار البريَّة أعبدا

وصيَّرْتَ أحرار البريَّة أعبدا

How many a blessing you bestowed and freely lavished,

And how many a favor you bestowed and freely gave,

And thou remainest as long as the antimony blackens the eyelids sound,

Making the freeborn of creation your grateful servants!

And turned creation's free men into slaves.

by thy gifts independent and through thy judgments imitated.

ولولاك لم أظْفر بعزٍّ ولا منًى

ولولاك لم أظْفر بعزٍّ ولا منًى

ولا نلتُ إلاَّ من معاليك مقصدا

ولا نلتُ إلاَّ من معاليك مقصدا

Without you I would have won neither honor nor desire,

Without you I would have won neither honor nor my desires,

Nor attained any aim except through your high favors.

Nor reached any goal except through your high virtues.

أَسودُ إذا ما كنتَ مولايَ في الورى

أَسودُ إذا ما كنتَ مولايَ في الورى

ومن كنتَ مولاه فلا زالَ سيِّدا

ومن كنتَ مولاه فلا زالَ سيِّدا

I prevail when you are my patron among humankind;

I attain high rank among mankind when you are my patron,

Whomever you patron shall remain a lord.

And may whoever has you as patron always remain a lord.

وما زلتَ كهفاً يُستَظَلُّ بظلِّه

وما زلتَ كهفاً يُستَظَلُّ بظلِّه

كما لم تزل أيديك للنَّاس موردا

كما لم تزل أيديك للنَّاس موردا

You have ever been a refuge beneath whose shade men shelter,

And you have always been a cave in whose shade one shelters,

And your hands have ever been a wellspring for the people.

Just as your hands have always been a watering place for people.

ولا زلت ما كرّ الجديدان سالماً

ولا زلت ما كرّ الجديدان سالماً

بجدواك يُستَغْنى وفتواكَ يُقتدى

بجدواك يُستَغْنى وفتواكَ يُقتدى

May you remain safe as long as day and night return—

And may you remain safe as long as day and night recur;

Your bounty granting independence, your legal judgment guiding all.

Through your bounty one finds sufficiency, and your legal ruling is followed.