بمثل فخاري فليجئني المُفاخر

بمثل فخاري فليجئني المُفاخر

فبي فَخَرَت دون الأنام المَفاخِرُ

فبي فَخَرَت دون الأنام المَفاخِرُ

Let the rival in boasting come to me with glory like mine.

With my poetry let the boastful come to me,

For glories themselves have taken pride in me, above all mankind.

For through me the boastful have prided themselves over people,

وبي تُكشَفُ الجلّى وبي يُدرأ الردى

وبي تُكشَفُ الجلّى وبي يُدرأ الردى

ومني لمن خاف المهالك جائر

ومني لمن خاف المهالك جائر

Through me great calamity is dispelled, and through me death is averted.

And through me mysteries are unveiled and misfortunes averted,

And from me, for whoever fears deadly perils, comes an unjust man [wording unclear].

And through me salvation comes to those who fear perdition.

وبي تجلب النعماء قومي ولم تطق

وبي تجلب النعماء قومي ولم تطق

عليهم من الأعداء تعدو العشائر

عليهم من الأعداء تعدو العشائر

Through me my people gain prosperity, and never could

Through me my people gained blessings, and

the clans among their enemies raid them.

No enemies could subjugate them or conquer their clans,

بِيَ الحيُّ حيٌّ والأعادي هوالك

بِيَ الحيُّ حيٌّ والأعادي هوالك

بيَ الوغد قومٌ والصغار أكابر

بيَ الوغد قومٌ والصغار أكابر

Through me the clan lives, while enemies perish.

Through me the living live and the hostile perish,

Through me the lowly man counts as a whole people, and the small become great.

Through me the vile become a people and the small become great.

إذا شِمتُ برقَ الضيم من أي وجهة

إذا شِمتُ برقَ الضيم من أي وجهة

غدا نحوه مني على الغور غائر

غدا نحوه مني على الغور غائر

If I glimpse the lightning of oppression from any quarter,

When I sense the lightning of injustice from any direction,

a raider of mine advances toward it, into the lowlands.

A horseman from me charges forth into the darkness,

على ضامر شوهاء تعدو بضيغم

على ضامر شوهاء تعدو بضيغم

لرؤيته تبدي الخفيَّ الغمائر

لرؤيته تبدي الخفيَّ الغمائر

On a lean, broad-mouthed mare galloping with a lion,

Against a miserable coward who exceeds proper bounds,

at whose sight grudges reveal what lay concealed.

So that the hidden coward may be exposed.

له السمهري اللون خدن ملازم

له السمهري اللون خدن ملازم

له الصارم الهندي حب مسامر

له الصارم الهندي حب مسامر

The Samhari spear [color-description unclear] is his inseparable companion.

For him is a reddish-white steed, a constant companion,

The keen Indian sword is his beloved companion by night.

For him is the Indian sword, tied and bound,

له الدهر عبدٌ والسعود مساعد

له الدهر عبدٌ والسعود مساعد

له المجد دارٌ والثناء مجاور

له المجد دارٌ والثناء مجاور

Time is his slave, and good fortune his helper.

For him is fate a slave, and fortune a supporter,

Glory is his home, and praise his neighbor.

For him is glory a home, and praise a neighbor.

ولست بدار الضيم أبقى وإن يكن

ولست بدار الضيم أبقى وإن يكن

فمقدار قولي يا غلام نسافر

فمقدار قولي يا غلام نسافر

I do not remain in a land of humiliation; and if that should happen,

And I will not remain in the land of injustice, even if

it is only long enough to say, 'Boy, we are leaving.'

The extent of my words, O boy, is that we should depart.

فما لي عن الأوباش لم أُمسِ قافلاً

فما لي عن الأوباش لم أُمسِ قافلاً

وأبعد عن أهل الخنا وأُهاجر

وأبعد عن أهل الخنا وأُهاجر

Why, then, have I not turned away from the rabble by evening,

So why should I move away from the wicked, and not

and moved far from the shameless and emigrated?

Distance myself from deceitful people, and emigrate?

جفاني أقوام لئام زعانف

جفاني أقوام لئام زعانف

وأنكر أفضالي قرود أزاعر

وأنكر أفضالي قرود أزاعر

Vile folk, mere riffraff, have shunned me,

Vile people estranged me, they were unjust,

and ruffian apes have denied my favors.

And base monkeys denied my merits.

ولم يبق لي خِلٌّ صديق وبم يكن

ولم يبق لي خِلٌّ صديق وبم يكن

بهم غير عبد الله للحقّ ناصر

بهم غير عبد الله للحقّ ناصر

No loyal friend remains to me; nor was there [wording uncertain]

And no sincere friend remained for me, nor was

among them a champion of truth other than Abd Allah.

There anyone among them except Abdullah as my defender for truth.

يميني إذا بان الكمين من العدى

يميني إذا بان الكمين من العدى

حامي الذي عند الردى أنا شاهر

حامي الذي عند الردى أنا شاهر

He is my right hand when the enemy ambush is revealed,

My right hand, when ambushes appear from the enemy,

my defender, whom I brandish when death draws near.

Is my protector, who in times of adversity I unsheathe.

مشيري إذا جَلَّت خطوبٌ فوادح

مشيري إذا جَلَّت خطوبٌ فوادح

معيني إذا قَلَّت ليوث نواصر

معيني إذا قَلَّت ليوث نواصر

My counselor when crushing calamities loom large,

My advisor, when great tribulations occur,

my helper when lion-like defenders are few.

My supporter, when fierce lions are few.

همام فلم تأخذه لومة لائم

همام فلم تأخذه لومة لائم

على الحقّ ماضي العزم ناهٍ وآمر

على الحقّ ماضي العزم ناهٍ وآمر

A man of resolve, never seized by any reproacher's blame,

They are men whom no blame of a blamer seizes

steadfast in resolve upon the truth, forbidding and commanding.

Upon the truth, resolute in purpose, proceeding and commanding.

له زاجر من عقله سوى العلى

له زاجر من عقله سوى العلى

وليس له عن وارد الجود زاجر

وليس له عن وارد الجود زاجر

His reason restrains him from all but lofty pursuits,

He has a deterrent from his reason other than highness,

and nothing holds him back from those who come seeking his bounty.

And he has no deterrent from the incoming genrosity.

إذا الوفد جاؤوا يستميمون نائلاً

إذا الوفد جاؤوا يستميمون نائلاً

عشاءً على الأعتاب والجو ماطر

عشاءً على الأعتاب والجو ماطر

When the delegation comes seeking a gift,

When delegations come seeking hospitality

in the evening at his thresholds, while the sky rains,

In the evening at the thresholds while the sky is raining,

هنالك يكفي حاتم بعض حشده

هنالك يكفي حاتم بعض حشده

ويُبصِر منه البحر بالعين زاخر

ويُبصِر منه البحر بالعين زاخر

there, a portion of his gathered bounty suffices Hatim,

There Hatim is sufficient for some of his army

and in him one sees, with one's own eyes, a surging sea.

And the sea sees his generosity through the eye as abundant.

شجاع إذا اسودَّ القتام وزمجرت

شجاع إذا اسودَّ القتام وزمجرت

غيوم الوغى كانت لديه الزماجر

غيوم الوغى كانت لديه الزماجر

Brave: when the battle-dust blackens and there rises a roar

Valiant, when darkness intensifies and the clouds

from the clouds of war, the mighty roars are his.

Of turmoil thunder, he holds the reins.

فيرصع رصعاً رمحه وهو ناظم

فيرصع رصعاً رمحه وهو ناظم

ويصرع صرعاً سيفه وهو ناثر

ويصرع صرعاً سيفه وهو ناثر

Then his spear pierces, thrust upon thrust, as it strings together,

So he strikes with his spear again and again

and his sword fells, blow upon blow, as it scatters apart.

And fells with his sword scattering blows.

فترجع عنه الخيل كلمى شوارداً

فترجع عنه الخيل كلمى شوارداً

نكوصاً على أعقابها تتدابر

نكوصاً على أعقابها تتدابر

So the horses retreat from him, wounded and fleeing,

The horses then turn back from him as if fleeing,

falling back upon their heels, turning their backs on one another.

Retreating backwards on their heels in disarray.

لديه رنين القوس نغمة شادنٍ

لديه رنين القوس نغمة شادنٍ

لديه صليل السيف في الهام زامر

لديه صليل السيف في الهام زامر

To him the bow's twang is a young gazelle's song,

For him is the hum of the bow singing joyfully

to him the sword's ring within skulls is a piper.

For him is the ringing of the sword in battles clamoring.

كريم السجايا طيب النَّجر شامخ

كريم السجايا طيب النَّجر شامخ

شريف المزايا معدن الفخر طاهر

شريف المزايا معدن الفخر طاهر

Noble in character, pure in lineage, lofty,

Noble in character, good in lineage, towering,

honorable in qualities, a source of glory, pure.

Distinguished in traits, the essence of pride is pure in him.

فصيحٌ إذا أملى كتاباً فكاتب

فصيحٌ إذا أملى كتاباً فكاتب

بليغ إذا أنشأ قريضاً فشاعر

بليغ إذا أنشأ قريضاً فشاعر

Articulate when he dictates a letter—a writer;

Eloquent, if he dictates a letter the scribe

eloquent when he composes verse—a poet.

Articulate, if he composes a poem the poet

يقر له بالسبق من هو أول

يقر له بالسبق من هو أول

ويغبطه للفضل من هو آخر

ويغبطه للفضل من هو آخر

The foremost acknowledges his precedence,

Admits his precedence, whoever is first,

and the last envies him for his excellence.

And the last envy him for his merit.

إذا أنشدَ الأبيات خلت بلفظه

إذا أنشدَ الأبيات خلت بلفظه

سُلافاً لأرباب العقول تخامر

سُلافاً لأرباب العقول تخامر

When he recites the verses, I imagine in his utterance

When he recites verses, his words prompt

choice wine, intoxicating those endowed with reason.

A saliva in the minds of rational people to stir.

أديب اريب لوذعي كأنه

أديب اريب لوذعي كأنه

لدى الظنّ يدري ما تجنّ الضمائر

لدى الظنّ يدري ما تجنّ الضمائر

Cultured, discerning, keen-witted, as though

Learned, intuitive, it's as if he knows

by intuition he knew what hearts conceal.

What lurks in conscience when suspected.

ذكي له توضيح كل عويصة

ذكي له توضيح كل عويصة

إذا خَطَرت واستشكلتها الخواطر

إذا خَطَرت واستشكلتها الخواطر

Intelligent, able to elucidate every knotty problem,

Brilliant, he clarifies every obscure matter,

when it arises and minds find it perplexing.

When it crosses the mind and makes thoughts perplexed.

له العلم دأبٌ والمباحث ديدنلا

له العلم دأبٌ والمباحث ديدنلا

وفي كل ما يدري من العلم ماهر

وفي كل ما يدري من العلم ماهر

Learning is his pursuit, and inquiry his constant habit,

Knowledge is his habit, dialectics his way,

and in every field of knowledge he knows, he is adept.

And in all he knows of knowledge he is skilled.

من اللائي قد شادوا البيوت على السها

من اللائي قد شادوا البيوت على السها

وحلوا مكان النسر والنسر طائر

وحلوا مكان النسر والنسر طائر

He is of those who built their houses above Suha,

As for those who built edifices on the winds

and settled in the Eagle's place, while the Eagle flies.

And settled in the place of eagles while the eagles fly,

وكان لهم نهر المَجرَّة مورداً

وكان لهم نهر المَجرَّة مورداً

لهم وارد منهم عليه وصادر

لهم وارد منهم عليه وصادر

The river of the Milky Way was their watering-place,

And for them the river of Majarra was a watering place,

with men of their own coming to it for water and departing.

With water coming and going from it,

بنو هاشم عمرو الذي ساد قومه

بنو هاشم عمرو الذي ساد قومه

قريشاً بجورٍ فهو كالبحر زاخر

قريشاً بجورٍ فهو كالبحر زاخر

The sons of Hashim—Amr, who became lord of his people,

It was the Bani Hashim, Amr who excelled his people,

Quraysh, through injustice [as written]; he is like a surging sea.

The Quraish, with tyranny, so he is like a sea teeming,

قليل إذا عُّدوا كثيرون في اللقا

قليل إذا عُّدوا كثيرون في اللقا

جبال إذا شَدَّوا ليوث زوائر

جبال إذا شَدَّوا ليوث زوائر

Few when counted, many in the clash of battle,

Few when counted, but many during the encounter,

mountains when they charge, roaring lions.

Mountains when firm, fierce lions wandering.

فيا ابن الكرام الكاتبين بمجدهم

فيا ابن الكرام الكاتبين بمجدهم

على صفحات الدهر أن لا يفاخَروا

على صفحات الدهر أن لا يفاخَروا

So, O son of noble men who wrote through their glory

So O son of the generous, those who write their glory

on time's pages that none could rival them in boasting,

On the pages of time, let them not boast,

ويا ابن الألى مات الندى بانتقالهم

ويا ابن الألى مات الندى بانتقالهم

وأنت له دون البرية ناشر

وأنت له دون البرية ناشر

and O son of those whose passing killed generosity,

And O son of the exalted, their charm died when they passed away

you alone, among mankind, restore it to life.

While you in the wilderness spread it.

ويا أبن الأُلى ماتوا ورام جميلهم

ويا أبن الأُلى ماتوا ورام جميلهم

له أبداً حي مدى الدهر ذاكر

له أبداً حي مدى الدهر ذاكر

And O son of those who died, whose kindness was sought

And O son of the exalted, they died but their beauty

by a living man who remembers it forever, through all time.

For him forever alive throughout time remembers.

ويا أبن الأُلى ما دمت حياً بحيهم

ويا أبن الأُلى ما دمت حياً بحيهم

أناضل في وريّ لهم وأناظر

أناضل في وريّ لهم وأناظر

And O son of those—for their clan, as long as I live,

And O son of the exalted, as long as you live through their life

I contend in kindling their flame [wording uncertain], and debate.

I will struggle in a passionate zeal for them and engage.

لك العذر إني ذو فؤاد مشيّع

لك العذر إني ذو فؤاد مشيّع

وقد درست للهمِّ مني السرائر

وقد درست للهمِّ مني السرائر

You have my excuse: I am a man of dauntless heart,

You are excused, I have a heart escorting

yet sorrow has effaced my inner depths.

And the worries have erased my secret thoughts,

فلو كان لي مثل الأنام مرارة

فلو كان لي مثل الأنام مرارة

هلكتُ ولكن دون هميّ مرائر

هلكتُ ولكن دون هميّ مرائر

If, like other men, I had but one gallbladder,

For if I had bitterness like other people, I would have perished,

I would have perished; but against my grief stand many gallbladders.

But above my worries are those who console.

وإن بقائي للمصائب عرضة

وإن بقائي للمصائب عرضة

تباكر في منها خطوب بواكر

تباكر في منها خطوب بواكر

My continued life is a target for calamities;

And my survival is prone to misfortunes

their early-coming woes assail me at dawn.

That come one after another, with the first heralding the next.

كأني وايدي النائبات تنوشني

كأني وايدي النائبات تنوشني

صريع وعى صلَّت عليه الكواسر

صريع وعى صلَّت عليه الكواسر

As the hands of misfortunes snatch at me, I seem

It is as if the hands of troubles drink me down

a fallen man [word unclear], over whom the birds of prey pray.

A slain man on whom the breakers have prayed.

فطوراً لحفظ الروح يرفع رجله

فطوراً لحفظ الروح يرفع رجله

ليدفعها عنه وطَوراً تكاشر

ليدفعها عنه وطَوراً تكاشر

At times, to preserve his life, he raises his leg

At times to preserve himself he lifts his leg

to drive them off; at other times they bare their teeth.

To fend them off, and at times they converge.

فيدركه منها حداة برائن

فيدركه منها حداة برائن

ويدركها منه حراكٌ وزاجر

ويدركها منه حراكٌ وزاجر

Then their sharp claws reach him [reading uncertain],

So cutting swords reach him in sudden blows

while his movement and repelling cries reach them.

And he reaches them with movement and resistance.

فكيف ومن ذا الحالُ أصبح حاله

فكيف ومن ذا الحالُ أصبح حاله

على نظم شعرٍ مفلق وهو قادر

على نظم شعرٍ مفلق وهو قادر

How, then, could one whose state has become like this

How can I then, in this state, compose

be capable of composing dazzling verse?

Splitting poetry verses when I'm able?

ولكن ولائي حثني ومحبتي

ولكن ولائي حثني ومحبتي

لكم وادّكاري العيش والعيش غابر

لكم وادّكاري العيش والعيش غابر

But my loyalty urged me on, and my love

But my loyalty and love for you all

for you, and my remembrance of life—a life now past.

Have made me forget what is with me, and life is fleeting,

فأُنسيتُ ما عندي فبضَّت قريحتي

فأُنسيتُ ما عندي فبضَّت قريحتي

بهذا وقبلاً ماء فكري غائر

بهذا وقبلاً ماء فكري غائر

So I was made to forget my troubles, and my poetic gift seeped forth

So I forgot what was within me, and my mind gushed forth

with this, though earlier the water of my thought lay sunken.

With this, while before my thought was immersed.

فلا زلتُ أهلاً للجميل ومنشداً

فلا زلتُ أهلاً للجميل ومنشداً

بمثل فخاري فليجئني المُفاخر

بمثل فخاري فليجئني المُفاخر

May I never cease to be worthy of kindness and to recite:

I still deserve favors and yearn to chant,

Let the rival in boasting come to me with glory like mine.

With my poetry let the boastful come to me.