أَبىrefused الهَمُّworry إِلاexcept أَنto يَكُونَbe مَعِيwith me مَعِيwith me
أَبى الهَمُّ إِلا أَن يَكُونَ مَعِي مَعِي
وَيَبقَىand remain سَميريmy night companion فِيin مَسِيريmy journey وَمَضجَعِيand my bed
وَيَبقَى سَميري فِي مَسِيري وَمَضجَعِي
Sorrow has refused all but to be with me—with me,
Worry insists on being with me, with me,
and to remain my companion on my road and in my bed.
and remaining my night companion on my journey and in my bed.
وَإِنِّيand indeed I لأَرضىsurely accept الهَمَّworry إِذsince كانَit was داعِياًcalling
وَإِنِّي لأَرضى الهَمَّ إِذ كانَ داعِياً
إِلَىto سَعيِseeking مَرضِيِّpleasing in الفِعالِdeeds سَمَيدَعِيmy noble lord
إِلَى سَعيِ مَرضِيِّ الفِعالِ سَمَيدَعِي
Yet I am content with sorrow, if it serves as a summons
And I am indeed content with worry, since it calls me
to the striving of a bold nobleman, approved in deed.
to seek my noble lord, whose deeds are pleasing.
وكمand how many هِمَّةٍan aspiration لَوif تَحمِلُwere to bear الشُّمُّlofty mountains بَعضَهاpart of it
وكم هِمَّةٍ لَو تَحمِلُ الشُّمُّ بَعضَها
لَعادَتwould become بِحالِin the state of الخاشِعِthe humbled المُتَصَدِّعِthe splitting asunder
لَعادَت بِحالِ الخاشِعِ المُتَصَدِّعِ
How many a high resolve—had the lofty peaks borne part of it,
And how many an aspiration—if lofty mountains bore part of it,
they would have sunk into the state of one humbled and broken.
they would become humbled and split asunder;
أَوor البَحرُthe sea تَيّاراًsurging لعَادَتwould become سَفِينُهُits ships
أَو البَحرُ تَيّاراً لعَادَت سَفِينُهُ
رَواكِدَmotionless فِيon وَجهٍan expanse مِنَof الأَرضِthe earth بَلقَعِbarren
رَواكِدَ فِي وَجهٍ مِنَ الأَرضِ بَلقَعِ
Or had the surging sea borne it, its ships would have become
or if the surging sea bore it, its ships would lie
motionless upon the face of a barren tract of earth.
motionless on a barren expanse of earth.
تَحَمَّلتُهاI bore them حَتّىto the point that لَوِif اسطَعتُI could كَتمَهاconcealing them
تَحَمَّلتُها حَتّى لَوِ اسطَعتُ كَتمَها
عَنِfrom القَلبِthe heart لَمnot يَشعُرbe aware بِهاof them بَينَbetween أَضلُعِيmy ribs
عَنِ القَلبِ لَم يَشعُر بِها بَينَ أَضلُعِي
I bore it, until—could I have hidden it
I have borne them—so much so that, could I conceal them
from the heart—it would not have felt it there between my ribs.
from my heart, it would not sense them between my ribs.
نَزاهَةُpurity أَخلاقٍcharacter وَغَيرَةُand protectiveness ماجِدٍa noble man
نَزاهَةُ أَخلاقٍ وَغَيرَةُ ماجِدٍ
عَلىover السِّرِّthe secret أَنthat يُبدىbe revealed إِلَىto غَيرِsomeone other than أَلمَعِيa discerning man
عَلى السِّرِّ أَن يُبدى إِلَى غَيرِ أَلمَعِي
It is purity of character, and a noble man’s jealous care
Purity of character, and a noble man's protectiveness
for a secret, lest it be revealed to any but the discerning.
over a secret, lest it be revealed to anyone but a discerning man.
يَقُولُونَthey say أَوحَشتَyou made desolate البلادَthe land وَأَهلَهاand its people
يَقُولُونَ أَوحَشتَ البلادَ وَأَهلَها
وَرَوَّعتَهاand you terrified it بالبَينِthrough parting كُلَّevery مُرَوَّعِfright
وَرَوَّعتَها بالبَينِ كُلَّ مُرَوَّعِ
They say, “You have left the land and its people desolate,
They say, 'You have left the land and its people desolate,
and with your departure frightened everyone who could be frightened.”
and filled it with every terror through parting.'
وَلَوand if عَلِمُواthey knew مَنwho ذاthis one تُشَدُّare saddled لِقَصدِهِto reach him
وَلَو عَلِمُوا مَن ذا تُشَدُّ لِقَصدِهِ
مَطايايَmy mounts قالُواthey would say قَدindeed أَصَبتَyou chose rightly فأَسرعِso hasten
مَطايايَ قالُوا قَد أَصَبتَ فأَسرعِ
But if they knew for whose sake
Yet if they knew whom I seek by saddling
my mounts are saddled, they would say, “You chose well—make haste!”
my mounts, they would say, 'You have chosen rightly—hasten!'
أَلَيسَis it not إِلَىto خَيرِthe best of المُلوكِkings وَفَخرِهِمand their pride
أَلَيسَ إِلَى خَيرِ المُلوكِ وَفَخرِهِم
وَمُحِييand the reviver of لناfor us شخصthe embodied form of النَدىgenerosity بَعدَafter ماthat نُعِيits death was announced
وَمُحِيي لنا شخص النَدى بَعدَ ما نُعِي
Is it not toward the best of kings, the pride of kings,
Is it not toward the best of kings and their pride,
the one who revived for us generosity’s very form after it had been mourned?
and him who revived generosity's embodied form for us after its death was announced?
إِلىto مَلِكٍa king يُنمَىis traced by descent لآلِto the House of خَلِيفَةٍKhalifa
إِلى مَلِكٍ يُنمَى لآلِ خَلِيفَةٍ
سُراةٌnobles لَهُمtheirs is فِيin المَجدِglory أَشرَفُthe loftiest مَوضِعِstation
سُراةٌ لَهُم فِي المَجدِ أَشرَفُ مَوضِعِ
Toward a king whose lineage is ascribed to the House of Khalifa,
Toward a king descended from the House of Khalifa,
noble lords whose station in glory is the most exalted;
nobles who hold the loftiest station in glory.
تُراثُهُمُtheir heritage الفِعلُaction الجَميلُbeautiful وَهِمَّةٌand resolve
تُراثُهُمُ الفِعلُ الجَميلُ وَهِمَّةٌ
يَذِلُّis humbled وَيَخزَىand is disgraced عِندَهاbefore it كُلُّevery مُدَّعِpretender
يَذِلُّ وَيَخزَى عِندَها كُلُّ مُدَّعِ
their inheritance is the beautiful deed and a high resolve
Their heritage is noble deeds and resolve
before which every pretender is abased and shamed.
before which every pretender is humbled and disgraced.
أُسُودٌlions إِذاwhen خاضُواthey plunge into الغِمَارَthe fray وَإِنَّهُمand indeed they
أُسُودٌ إِذا خاضُوا الغِمَارَ وَإِنَّهُم
بدُورٌfull moons إِذاwhen حَلُّواthey occupy الصُّدُورَthe seats of honor بِمَجمَعِin an assembly
بدُورٌ إِذا حَلُّوا الصُّدُورَ بِمَجمَعِ
Lions when they plunge into the battle’s depths—yet they are
They are lions when they plunge into the fray, and indeed they are
full moons when they take the seats of honor in an assembly.
full moons when they take the seats of honor in an assembly.
إِذاwhen الناسُpeople باعُواthey sell واشتَرواand they buy فيin حُطامِهِمtheir worldly debris
إِذا الناسُ باعُوا واشتَروا في حُطامِهِم
عَلواthey rise above فاشتَرواso they buy حمداًpraise عَلىto كُلِّevery مَسمَعِear
عَلوا فاشتَروا حمداً عَلى كُلِّ مَسمَعِ
When people buy and sell among the paltry wares they possess,
When people sell and buy their worldly debris,
they rise above them and purchase praise for every ear to hear.
they rise above and buy praise that reaches every ear.
وَإِنand if غَيرُهُمُothers besides them باهَىboasted بِكُلِّof every سَفاهةٍfolly
وَإِن غَيرُهُمُ باهَى بِكُلِّ سَفاهةٍ
وَسابَقَand raced فيin مَيدانِهاits arena غَيرُwithout مُقلِعِdesisting
وَسابَقَ في مَيدانِها غَيرُ مُقلِعِ
And while others boast of every folly
And if others boast of every folly
and race through its arena without relenting,
and race in its arena without ever desisting,
تَباهَواthey boasted بِأَحلامٍof wise minds ثِقَالٍweighty وسابَقُواand vied
تَباهَوا بِأَحلامٍ ثِقَالٍ وسابَقُوا
إِلَىtoward أَدَبٍrefinement كالعَنبَرِlike ambergris المُتَضَوِّعِwafting fragrance
إِلَى أَدَبٍ كالعَنبَرِ المُتَضَوِّعِ
they boast of weighty forbearance, and race
they boast of weighty wisdom, and vie
toward refinement fragrant as amber.
for refinement like ambergris wafting its fragrance.
بِآدابِهِمthrough their manners يَرتَاضُis schooled كُلُّevery مُهَذَّبٍrefined person
بِآدابِهِم يَرتَاضُ كُلُّ مُهَذَّبٍ
وَعِندَand at نَداهُمtheir bounty يَنتَهِيreaches its end كُلُّevery مَطمَعِaspiration
وَعِندَ نَداهُم يَنتَهِي كُلُّ مَطمَعِ
By their courtly ways every well-bred person is trained,
Through their manners every refined person is schooled,
and at their generosity every desire finds its utmost reach.
and in their bounty every aspiration finds fulfillment.
وَلاand not سِيَّماthe equal of عِيسَىIsa الهُمامُthe magnanimous الَّذيwho بِهِthrough him
وَلا سِيَّما عِيسَى الهُمامُ الَّذي بِهِ
أَوَالٌAwal تَناهَتreached the utmost فِيin العُلاeminence وَالتَّرَفُّعِand exaltation
أَوَالٌ تَناهَت فِي العُلا وَالتَّرَفُّعِ
Most especially ʿIsa, the valiant lord through whom
And especially magnanimous Isa, through whom
Awal has reached the utmost height and exaltation.
Awal has reached the utmost in eminence and exaltation.
تَطاوَلَتِit rivaled الشِّعرَىSirius عُلُوّاًin height وَرِفعَةًand elevation
تَطاوَلَتِ الشِّعرَى عُلُوّاً وَرِفعَةً
وَباهَتand it boasted بِهِof him فَخراًproudly عَلَىover كُلِّevery مَوضِعِplace
وَباهَت بِهِ فَخراً عَلَى كُلِّ مَوضِعِ
Sirius has stretched upward in height and splendor,
It rivaled Sirius in height and elevation,
and, proud of him, has boasted over every place.
and boasted proudly of him above every other place.
هُوَhe الجَبَلُthe mountain الرَّاسِيfirmly fixed وَقاراًin dignity وَهَيبَةًand awe
هُوَ الجَبَلُ الرَّاسِي وَقاراً وَهَيبَةً
وَحَزماًand firmness وَعَزماًand resolve مَعwith سِياسَةِthe statecraft of أَلمَعِيa discerning man
وَحَزماً وَعَزماً مَع سِياسَةِ أَلمَعِي
He is the mountain anchored firm in dignity and awe,
He is the steadfast mountain in dignity and awe,
in prudence and resolve, with the governance of a discerning mind.
and firmness and resolve, with a discerning man's statecraft.
تُذَكِّرُناremind us of أَوصافُهُhis qualities حِلمَthe forbearance of أَحنَفٍAhnaf
تُذَكِّرُنا أَوصافُهُ حِلمَ أَحنَفٍ
وَبأسَand the might of كُلَيبٍKulayb فِيin جَلالَةِthe majesty of تُبَّعِTubba'
وَبأسَ كُلَيبٍ فِي جَلالَةِ تُبَّعِ
His qualities recall to us the forbearance of al-Ahnaf,
His qualities remind us of Ahnaf's forbearance
and Kulayb’s valor, joined to the majesty of a Tubbaʿ.
and Kulayb's might in the majesty of Tubba'.
بَنُوهُhis sons لَدَيهِbeside him كَالبُدُورِlike full moons كَوامِلاًin their perfection
بَنُوهُ لَدَيهِ كَالبُدُورِ كَوامِلاً
مَتىwhenever تَرَهُمit sees them عَينٌan eye تَذِلّis humbled وَتَخشَعِand bows in awe
مَتى تَرَهُم عَينٌ تَذِلّ وَتَخشَعِ
His sons beside him are like full moons;
His sons beside him are like full moons in their perfection;
whenever an eye sees them, it is humbled and bows.
whenever an eye sees them, it is humbled and bows in awe.
أَقُولُI say وَقَدand already مَتَّعتُI gladdened قَلبِيmy heart بِذِكرِهِمby remembering them
أَقُولُ وَقَد مَتَّعتُ قَلبِي بِذِكرِهِم
يُنازِعُbattles هَمِّيmy worry هِمَّتِيmy ambition وَتَمَنُّعِيand my proud reserve
يُنازِعُ هَمِّي هِمَّتِي وَتَمَنُّعِي
I say, after delighting my heart with remembrance of them,
I say, having gladdened my heart by remembering them,
my sorrow contends against my aspiration and proud restraint.
while my worry battles my ambition and my proud reserve:
متَىwhen لثَمَتwill kiss أَقدامُناour feet تُربَthe dust of دارِهِمtheir abode
متَى لثَمَت أَقدامُنا تُربَ دارِهِم
أَياO هِمَّتيmy ambition زِيدِيincrease وَياand O هَمُّworry أَقلعِcease
أَيا هِمَّتي زِيدِي وَيا هَمُّ أَقلعِ
When will our feet kiss the dust of their abode?
'When shall our feet kiss the dust of their abode?
O my aspiration, rise; O sorrow, let go!
O my ambition, grow; and O worry, cease!'
أَبَاO father of حَمَدٍHamad أَلقَىhas cast بِنَاus الشَّوقُlonging إِنَّناindeed we
أَبَا حَمَدٍ أَلقَى بِنَا الشَّوقُ إِنَّنا
رَأَينَاكَwe have seen you فَرداًpeerless فِيin الفَضائِلِvirtues أَجمَعِall of them
رَأَينَاكَ فَرداً فِي الفَضائِلِ أَجمَعِ
Abu Hamad, longing has cast us toward you; indeed,
O Abu Hamad, longing has cast us here; indeed, we
we have seen you peerless in every virtue.
have seen you peerless in every virtue.
أَباO father of حَمَدٍHamad لَولاكَbut for you لَمnot يَبقَremain مُرشِدٌa guide
أَبا حَمَدٍ لَولاكَ لَم يَبقَ مُرشِدٌ
إِلَىto شِيَمِthe traits of السَّادَاتِlords مِنamong كُلِّevery أَروَعِawe-inspiring noble
إِلَى شِيَمِ السَّادَاتِ مِن كُلِّ أَروَعِ
Abu Hamad, but for you no guide would remain
O Abu Hamad, but for you no guide would remain
to the virtues of noble lords among all illustrious men.
to the traits of lords, each an awe-inspiring noble.
رَأَيناكَwe have seen you حُرّاًnoble هامِعَpouring forth الجُودِgenerosity كلِّهِall of it
رَأَيناكَ حُرّاً هامِعَ الجُودِ كلِّهِ
وَحُبُّand love of الجَوادِthe generous man الشَّهمِnoble-hearted شِيمَةُa trait of مَنone who يَعِيunderstands
وَحُبُّ الجَوادِ الشَّهمِ شِيمَةُ مَن يَعِي
We have seen you freeborn, pouring forth generosity in its entirety;
We have seen you noble, pouring forth generosity in all its fullness,
and love of the noble, generous man is the mark of one who understands.
and love for the generous, noble-hearted man is a trait of one who understands.
