لِيَهنِكَ ما أَنالَتكَ الجُدودُ

لِيَهنِكَ ما أَنالَتكَ الجُدودُ

وَأَنَّ الدَهرَ يَفعَلُ ما تُريدُ

وَأَنَّ الدَهرَ يَفعَلُ ما تُريدُ

May what good fortune has granted you bring you joy,

Rejoice in what your ancestors attained,

and may Time's doing what you wish bring you joy.

And that fate will do as you intend,

مَرامٌ شَطَّ مَرمى العَزمِ فيهِ

مَرامٌ شَطَّ مَرمى العَزمِ فيهِ

فَدونَ مَداهُ بيدٌ لا تَبيدُ

فَدونَ مَداهُ بيدٌ لا تَبيدُ

A goal for which resolve had far to reach,

An aspiration that missed its goal through resolve,

with endless deserts lying before its bounds.

With a hand below its extent that does not perish,

وَأَمرٌ قُمتَ فيهِ بِلا ظَهيرٍ

وَأَمرٌ قُمتَ فيهِ بِلا ظَهيرٍ

وَأَهلُ الأَرضِ مِن فَشَلٍ قُعودُ

وَأَهلُ الأَرضِ مِن فَشَلٍ قُعودُ

An undertaking you rose to without a supporter,

And a matter you undertook without supporters,

while the people of the earth sat idle through weakness.

While the people of the land slump in failure,

وَمِثلُكَ لا يَضِلُّ الحَزمُ عَنهُ

وَمِثلُكَ لا يَضِلُّ الحَزمُ عَنهُ

فَهَل أَنباكَ بِالصَدَرِ الوُرودُ

فَهَل أَنباكَ بِالصَدَرِ الوُرودُ

One like you is never forsaken by sound judgment;

And your like does not lose composure,

did coming to water foretell your return from it?

Do rosy chests then prevent you?

أَبيتَ فَلَم تَنَم نومَ اِبنِ هِندٍ

أَبيتَ فَلَم تَنَم نومَ اِبنِ هِندٍ

عَلى حَنَقٍ فَنَبَّهَهُ وَليدُ

عَلى حَنَقٍ فَنَبَّهَهُ وَليدُ

You refused to sleep the sleep of Ibn Hind,

You refused to sleep the slumber of Ibn Hinda

in anger, until Walid awakened him.

In irritation, so Al-Walid woke him,

وَأَعفَيتَ المَسامِع مِن حَديثٍ

وَأَعفَيتَ المَسامِع مِن حَديثٍ

يَعِنُّ فَتَقشَعِرُّ لَهُ الجُلودُ

يَعِنُّ فَتَقشَعِرُّ لَهُ الجُلودُ

And you spared ears a report

And deafened the ears from any talk

that arises and makes the skin shudder:

That hurts, so skins bristle at it,

نَباً ضاقَت بِنِسوانٍ خُدورٌ

نَباً ضاقَت بِنِسوانٍ خُدورٌ

لَهُ وَنَبَت بِأَطفالٍ مُهودُ

لَهُ وَنَبَت بِأَطفالٍ مُهودُ

news that made women's chambers too cramped

News narrowed quarters for women,

because of it, and cradles inhospitable to children.

And sprouted in children laid down,

فَكَذَّبَ ظَنَّ مَن عاداكَ صِدقٌ

فَكَذَّبَ ظَنَّ مَن عاداكَ صِدقٌ

تَساوى فيهِ وَعدُكَ وَالوَعيدُ

تَساوى فيهِ وَعدُكَ وَالوَعيدُ

Truth belied the suspicions of those who opposed you,

So the assumption of your enemy proved true,

in which your promise and your threat were equally fulfilled.

Your promise and threat are equal,

وَعيدٌ غادَرَ المُرّاقَ صَرعى

وَعيدٌ غادَرَ المُرّاقَ صَرعى

وَعيدٌ ما أَتى مَأتاهُ عيدُ

وَعيدٌ ما أَتى مَأتاهُ عيدُ

A threat that left the renegades slain,

A threat that felled the armored prostrate

a threat no feast day matched in what it wrought.

And a threat that never came to fruition,

فَلَولا كَونُهُ مَعَ يَومِ بَدرٍ

فَلَولا كَونُهُ مَعَ يَومِ بَدرٍ

لَقُلنا إِنَّهُ اليَومُ الوَحيدُ

لَقُلنا إِنَّهُ اليَومُ الوَحيدُ

Were it not ranked alongside the day of Badr,

Otherwise, were it not for the day of Badr,

we would call it the one unrivaled day.

We would say it is the only day.

مَقامٌ آزَرَت أَسَداً نُمَيرٌ

مَقامٌ آزَرَت أَسَداً نُمَيرٌ

لَدَيهِ وَظافَرَت كَلباً عَتودُ

لَدَيهِ وَظافَرَت كَلباً عَتودُ

A stand in which Numayr supported Asad,

A stand helped the lion Numayr

and Atud joined forces with Kalb.

Before it, and the snarling dog triumphed,

وَأَيُّ حِمىً أَباحوا يَومَ باحوا

وَأَيُّ حِمىً أَباحوا يَومَ باحوا

بِما كَتَمَتهُ في السِلمِ العُمودُ

بِما كَتَمَتهُ في السِلمِ العُمودُ

What a protected domain they laid open when they revealed

And what sanctuary did they violate when they raided

what the tent-poles had concealed in peacetime!

With what the pillars concealed in obscurity?

لَقَد طاحَ الرَجاءُ بِطُغلُبِكٍّ

لَقَد طاحَ الرَجاءُ بِطُغلُبِكٍّ

وَكَم أَمَلٍ إِلى أَجَلٍ يَقودُ

وَكَم أَمَلٍ إِلى أَجَلٍ يَقودُ

Hope brought Tughlubikk down;

The hopes of Tughlub were dashed by your invasion

how many a hope leads to a death!

And how many aspirations lead to death!

كَأَشدَقِ عَبدِ شَمسٍ إِذ تَبَغّى

كَأَشدَقِ عَبدِ شَمسٍ إِذ تَبَغّى

تُراثاً لَم يُخَلِّفهُ سَعيدُ

تُراثاً لَم يُخَلِّفهُ سَعيدُ

Like the Ashdaq of Abd Shams, when he coveted

Like the longing of a worshiper of the sun when it declined

an inheritance Sa'id had not left him.

For an inheritance no Sa’eed left,

وَجاوَرَ أَهلَ تِلكَ الأَرضِ مِنهُ

وَجاوَرَ أَهلَ تِلكَ الأَرضِ مِنهُ

مَريدٌ لِاِجتِياحِهِمُ مُريدُ

مَريدٌ لِاِجتِياحِهِمُ مُريدُ

The people of that land had, in him, a neighbor—

And he settled alongside the people of that land

a rebel intent on annihilating them.

A willing raider, not a willing pilgrim,

عَجِبتُ لِمُدَّعي الآفاقِ مُلكاً

عَجِبتُ لِمُدَّعي الآفاقِ مُلكاً

وَغايَتُهُ بِبَغدادَ الرُكودُ

وَغايَتُهُ بِبَغدادَ الرُكودُ

I marvel at one who claims the horizons as his kingdom,

I am amazed by the claimant of the horizons’ rule

yet whose utmost is to stagnate in Baghdad.

While his goal in Baghdad is stagnation,

يَصولُ عَلى رَعاياها اِعتِداءً

يَصولُ عَلى رَعاياها اِعتِداءً

وَيُحجِمُ كُلَّما صَلَّ الحَديدُ

وَيُحجِمُ كُلَّما صَلَّ الحَديدُ

He assaults its subjects wrongfully,

He assaults his subjects aggressively

and shrinks back whenever iron clangs.

And recoils whenever the sword is unsheathed,

وَمِن مُستَخلَفٍ بِالهونِ راضٍ

وَمِن مُستَخلَفٍ بِالهونِ راضٍ

يُذادُ عَنِ الحِياضِ وَلا يَذودُ

يُذادُ عَنِ الحِياضِ وَلا يَذودُ

And at an appointed successor content with abasement,

And is content with an inept deputy in Hunain

driven from the watering pools, who never defends them.

Who neither defends nor restores the meadows,

لَهُ حَرَمٌ هِنالِكَ لَم يُحَرَّم

لَهُ حَرَمٌ هِنالِكَ لَم يُحَرَّم

بِهِ إِلّا السَلامَةُ وَالهُجودُ

بِهِ إِلّا السَلامَةُ وَالهُجودُ

He has a sanctuary there where nothing is forbidden

He has a sanctuary there prohibited

except safety and sleep.

Only to safety and prostration,

تَلاهُ خَوفُهُ بِأَشَدَّ مِنهُ

تَلاهُ خَوفُهُ بِأَشَدَّ مِنهُ

وَلولا الجَدبُ ما أُكِلَ الهَبيدُ

وَلولا الجَدبُ ما أُكِلَ الهَبيدُ

His fear pursued him with something fiercer still;

Fear of him is more severe than him

but for drought, no one would eat colocynth seeds.

And were it not for drought, Habeed would not be consumed,

وَدَبَّرَهُ اِبنُ مُسلِمَةٍ سَفاهاً

وَدَبَّرَهُ اِبنُ مُسلِمَةٍ سَفاهاً

بِرَأيٍ ما أَشارَ بِهِ رَشيدُ

بِرَأيٍ ما أَشارَ بِهِ رَشيدُ

Ibn Muslima foolishly directed him

And the son of Muslimeh disastrously schemed against him

with counsel no prudent man would offer.

With an opinion not counseled by the reasonable,

وَضاعَفَ ضَعفَهُ فَرطُ التَوَقّي

وَضاعَفَ ضَعفَهُ فَرطُ التَوَقّي

وَأَيَّدَ أَيدَكَ البَطشُ الشَديدُ

وَأَيَّدَ أَيدَكَ البَطشُ الشَديدُ

Excessive caution doubled his weakness,

And the excess precaution doubled his weakness

while fierce striking fortified your strength.

While your strong grip supported him,

وَما البَطشُ الشَديدُ مُفيدُ عِزٍّ

وَما البَطشُ الشَديدُ مُفيدُ عِزٍّ

إِذا لَم يُمضِهِ الرَأيُ السَديدُ

إِذا لَم يُمضِهِ الرَأيُ السَديدُ

Yet fierce striking brings no glory

But a strong grip does not bring power

unless sound judgment carries it through.

Unless guided by the right opinion,

وَأَعجَبُ مِنهُما سَيفٌ بِمِصرٍ

وَأَعجَبُ مِنهُما سَيفٌ بِمِصرٍ

تُقامُ بِهِ بِسِنجارَ الحُدودُ

تُقامُ بِهِ بِسِنجارَ الحُدودُ

More wondrous than either is a sword in Egypt,

And wondrous than both is a sword in Egypt

by which the prescribed penalties are enforced at Sinjar

With which punishments are carried out in Singara,

عَلى مَن وَارَتِ الديرانُ مِنهُم

عَلى مَن وَارَتِ الديرانُ مِنهُم

جُسومٌ لَيسَ يَقبَلُها الصَعيدُ

جُسومٌ لَيسَ يَقبَلُها الصَعيدُ

against those among them whom monasteries concealed—

Against those the convents received from them

bodies the earth refuses to receive.

Are corpses the ground does not accept,

أُزيلوا عَن مَواقِفِهِم بِضَربٍ

أُزيلوا عَن مَواقِفِهِم بِضَربٍ

تَزولُ بِهِ الضَغائِنُ وَالحُقودُ

تَزولُ بِهِ الضَغائِنُ وَالحُقودُ

They were dislodged from their positions by blows

They were dismissed from their positions with a blow

that dispel grudges and hatreds.

With which grudges and resentments disappear,

فَكَم غُلَلٍ خَفاها حَرُّ ضَربٍ

فَكَم غُلَلٍ خَفاها حَرُّ ضَربٍ

وَقَد أَعيا بِها الماءُ البَرودُ

وَقَد أَعيا بِها الماءُ البَرودُ

How many burning thirsts the heat of blows has quenched,

So how many shackles a burning blow concealed,

though cool water had failed against them!

And the cool water gave up on them,

لَقَد لاقَوا بِنُصرَتِهِم قُرَيشاً

لَقَد لاقَوا بِنُصرَتِهِم قُرَيشاً

كَما لاقَت بِأَشقاها ثَمودُ

كَما لاقَت بِأَشقاها ثَمودُ

They met their doom through their support of Quraysh,

They met the Quraysh with your support

as Thamud did through its most wretched man.

As Samood met their misfortune,

وَقَد سَمِعَ الظُبى فيهِم تُغَنّي

وَقَد سَمِعَ الظُبى فيهِم تُغَنّي

وَلَم تُغنِ المَواثِقُ وَالعُهودُ

وَلَم تُغنِ المَواثِقُ وَالعُهودُ

And he heard sword-edges singing among them,

And the antelope in them sang joyfully

while compacts and covenants availed nothing.

While covenants and pacts did not,

وَلا العِزُّ الطَريفُ حَماهُ مِمّا

وَلا العِزُّ الطَريفُ حَماهُ مِمّا

أَرَدتَ بِهِ وَلا العِزُّ التَليدُ

أَرَدتَ بِهِ وَلا العِزُّ التَليدُ

Neither newly acquired glory protected him from what

Nor did noble refined glory protect them

you intended for him, nor ancestral glory.

From what you wanted, nor enduring glory,

فَوَلّى يَحمَدُ الجُردَ المَذاكي

فَوَلّى يَحمَدُ الجُردَ المَذاكي

وَلَيسَ لِسَيفِهِ أَثَرٌ حَميدُ

وَلَيسَ لِسَيفِهِ أَثَرٌ حَميدُ

So he turned away, praising the sleek, seasoned horses,

So Yahmad Al-Jurd fled praiselessly

with no praiseworthy mark left by his sword.

And his sword left no good trace,

وَغَرَّ الغِرَّ أَنَّ الدينَ واهٍ

وَغَرَّ الغِرَّ أَنَّ الدينَ واهٍ

هُناكَ وَأَنَّ ناصِرَهُ بَعيدُ

هُناكَ وَأَنَّ ناصِرَهُ بَعيدُ

The gullible man was deceived by religion's weakness

And he wrongly thought the religion was feeble there

there, and by its champion's being far away.

And that its supporter was distant,

فَفاتَهُمُ بِعَزمِكَ ما أَرادوا

فَفاتَهُمُ بِعَزمِكَ ما أَرادوا

وَآلَ بِهِم إِلى ما لَم يُريدوا

وَآلَ بِهِم إِلى ما لَم يُريدوا

Through your resolve, what they wanted escaped them,

So your resolve deprived them of what they wanted

and it brought them to what they did not want.

And they ended up where they did not want,

وَلَم تَزَلِ الأَماني وَهيَ بيضٌ

وَلَم تَزَلِ الأَماني وَهيَ بيضٌ

تُكَذِّبُها المَنايا وَهيَ سودُ

تُكَذِّبُها المَنايا وَهيَ سودُ

Ever have hopes, white though they are,

Desires remain unfulfilled eggs

been belied by deaths, black though they are.

Made false by fates that are black,

فَمِن جَيشٍ يَعُدُّ العَودَ فَتحاً

فَمِن جَيشٍ يَعُدُّ العَودَ فَتحاً

وَمِن جَيشٍ يَمُرُّ فَلا يَعودُ

وَمِن جَيشٍ يَمُرُّ فَلا يَعودُ

One army counts its return a victory,

So from an army that sees return as conquest,

while another passes away and never returns.

And from an army that passes and does not return,

وَما إِقدامُ قُطرُمُشٍ مُعادٌ

وَما إِقدامُ قُطرُمُشٍ مُعادٌ

وَلا عُمرٌ لَهُ عُمرٌ جَديدُ

وَلا عُمرٌ لَهُ عُمرٌ جَديدُ

Qutrumush's advance will not be repeated,

The daring of Qutrumush is not repeated

nor will Umar have a new life.

Nor does Umar have a new life,

جَناحا جارِحٍ غَرثانَ هيضا

جَناحا جارِحٍ غَرثانَ هيضا

فَأَصبَحَ لا يَطيرُ وَلا يَصيدُ

فَأَصبَحَ لا يَطيرُ وَلا يَصيدُ

The two wings of a ravenous bird of prey were broken,

A wounding wing of a carrion-eating crow

so it could neither fly nor hunt.

So it cannot fly or hunt anymore,

وَطَودُ أَذىً وَهَت بِسُطاكَ مِنهُ

وَطَودُ أَذىً وَهَت بِسُطاكَ مِنهُ

قَواعِدُ جَمَّةٌ وَوَهَت رُيودُ

قَواعِدُ جَمَّةٌ وَوَهَت رُيودُ

And a mountain of harm—your assaults weakened its

And a harm you repelled with your authority from it

many foundations, while its slopes grew weak.

Pillars and poles collapsed from it,

سُطىً سَمِعَ المُلوكُ بِها فَظَلَّت

سُطىً سَمِعَ المُلوكُ بِها فَظَلَّت

أَسِرَّتُهُم بِها خَوفاً تَميدُ

أَسِرَّتُهُم بِها خَوفاً تَميدُ

Assaults the kings heard of, so that

An authority the kings heard of so

their thrones rocked with fear of them.

Their secrets melted from fear of it,

وَشاعَ حَديثُها فَاِرتاعَ مِنها

وَشاعَ حَديثُها فَاِرتاعَ مِنها

عَميدٌ وَاِستَقامَ بِها عَنيدُ

عَميدٌ وَاِستَقامَ بِها عَنيدُ

Their report spread, striking terror into

And its story spread, so leaders shuddered from it

a chief, while setting a stubborn man straight.

And stubborn ones walked straight because of it,

رَمَيتَهُمُ بِكُلِّ سَليلِ غابٍ

رَمَيتَهُمُ بِكُلِّ سَليلِ غابٍ

يَعيشُ بِفَرسِهِ ضَبعٌ وَسيدُ

يَعيشُ بِفَرسِهِ ضَبعٌ وَسيدُ

You assailed them with every scion of the thickets,

You shot them with every descendant of an absentee

whose kills sustain a hyena and a wolf.

Who lives by his mare, a predator and master,

يَروق فُؤادَهُ نَأيٌ وَعَودٌ

يَروق فُؤادَهُ نَأيٌ وَعَودٌ

يَغُذُّ السَيرَ لا نايٌ وَعودُ

يَغُذُّ السَيرَ لا نايٌ وَعودُ

His heart delights in far travel and a return

Whose heart is gladdened by distance and return

that speeds the march, not in flute and lute.

That feeds travel, not flutes and return,

وَيُعجِبُهُ النُهوضُ إِلى الأَعادي

وَيُعجِبُهُ النُهوضُ إِلى الأَعادي

مُشيحاً لا القُدودُ وَلا النُهودُ

مُشيحاً لا القُدودُ وَلا النُهودُ

And he loves rising against enemies,

And he loves rising against the enemy

with unwavering purpose, not slender figures or breasts.

Galloping, not settling or resting,

وَيُطرِبُهُ صَليلُ البيضِ فَوقَ ال

وَيُطرِبُهُ صَليلُ البيضِ فَوقَ ال

قَوانِسِ لا البَسيطُ وَلا النَشيدُ

قَوانِسِ لا البَسيطُ وَلا النَشيدُ

And he is thrilled by bright swords ringing above the

And he enjoys the tinkling of white swords above

helmets, not by the basit metre or song.

Lamps, not carpets and songs,

وَلَو أَنَّ النَعامَ بِكَ اِستَجارَت

وَلَو أَنَّ النَعامَ بِكَ اِستَجارَت

لَخافَت مِن عَواديها الأُسودُ

لَخافَت مِن عَواديها الأُسودُ

Had even ostriches sought your protection,

And had ostriches sought refuge in you

lions would have feared their assaults.

Even their chicks would fear the lions,

فَكَيفَ وَمُستَجيرُكَ أَحوَذيٌّ

فَكَيفَ وَمُستَجيرُكَ أَحوَذيٌّ

تَحَدّاهُ الحُتوفُ فَلا يَحيدُ

تَحَدّاهُ الحُتوفُ فَلا يَحيدُ

How much more, then, when your protégé is bold and resourceful,

So how, when the one seeking your refuge is a warrior

challenged by deaths, yet never turning aside.

Whom calamities challenge but he does not waver,

تَفَرَّدَ وَهوَ مُجتَنَبٌ مَخوفٌ

تَفَرَّدَ وَهوَ مُجتَنَبٌ مَخوفٌ

كَما يُتَجَنَّبُ الحَيُّ الحَريدُ

كَما يُتَجَنَّبُ الحَيُّ الحَريدُ

He stood alone, shunned and feared,

He isolates himself, fearful and cautious,

as a tribe living apart is shunned.

As live snakes avoid deaf vipers,

وَفاضَ عَلَيهِ بِالإِحسانِ حَتّى

وَفاضَ عَلَيهِ بِالإِحسانِ حَتّى

تَخَلَّصَهُ مِنَ العَدمِ الوُجودُ

تَخَلَّصَهُ مِنَ العَدمِ الوُجودُ

And he lavished beneficence upon him until

And it poured goodness upon him until

existence delivered him from nothingness.

Existence freed him from non-existence,

كَريمٌ مِن عَطاياهُ المَعالي

كَريمٌ مِن عَطاياهُ المَعالي

عَظيمٌ مِن تَحاياهُ السُجودُ

عَظيمٌ مِن تَحاياهُ السُجودُ

A generous man whose gifts include lofty honors,

A generous one whose lofty gifts

a mighty man whose greetings include prostration.

And great regards are prostration,

مُؤَمِّلُهُ يُفيدُ غِنىً وَعِزّاً

مُؤَمِّلُهُ يُفيدُ غِنىً وَعِزّاً

وَشانيهِ بِغُصَّتِهِ يَفيدُ

وَشانيهِ بِغُصَّتِهِ يَفيدُ

Whoever hopes in him gains wealth and honor,

Who gives hope of wealth and honor,

while his hater dies in choking grief.

And whoever wishes him ill gains misery,

غَمامٌ فيهِ مِن بِشرٍ بُروقٌ

غَمامٌ فيهِ مِن بِشرٍ بُروقٌ

وَلَم يَصحَبهُ مِن مَنٍّ رُعودُ

وَلَم يَصحَبهُ مِن مَنٍّ رُعودُ

A cloud with lightning flashes of cheerfulness,

A cloud containing flashes of good tidings

unaccompanied by thunderous reminders of favors.

And no accompanying shower of favors,

مُلِثٌّ ما يُبالي حَيثُ يَهمي

مُلِثٌّ ما يُبالي حَيثُ يَهمي

أُتيحَ لَهُ شَكورٌ أَم كَنودُ

أُتيحَ لَهُ شَكورٌ أَم كَنودُ

Unceasing, indifferent as it rains,

A flood not caring where it wreaks havoc

whether a grateful soul or an ingrate receives it.

Whether its recipient is thankful or silent,

وَأَعطى ما وَهَبتَ بِلا اِكتِراثٍ

وَأَعطى ما وَهَبتَ بِلا اِكتِراثٍ

عَلَيهِ أَنَّ مَبدِئَهُ مُعيدُ

عَلَيهِ أَنَّ مَبدِئَهُ مُعيدُ

He gave away what you bestowed, without concern

And he gave what you granted without care

about it, knowing its first giver would give again.

That you who started it will repeat it,

وَكَلُّ نَدىً إِلى جَدواكَ يُعزى

وَكَلُّ نَدىً إِلى جَدواكَ يُعزى

كَما تُعزى إِلى الغَيثِ المُدودُ

كَما تُعزى إِلى الغَيثِ المُدودُ

All generosity is ascribed to your bounty,

And all dew is attributed to your generosity

as rising waters are ascribed to rain.

As showers are attributed to lasting rain,

عَمَمتَ القَومَ مِن عَجَمٍ وَعُربٍ

عَمَمتَ القَومَ مِن عَجَمٍ وَعُربٍ

مَواهِبَ ما خَلا مِنهُنَّ جيدُ

مَواهِبَ ما خَلا مِنهُنَّ جيدُ

You encompassed the people, non-Arabs and Arabs alike,

You have spread favor among non-Arabs and Arabs,

with gifts from which no neck was left bare.

Gifts none of which lack excellence,

لُهىً كادَت عَدُوَّهُمُ وَكادَت

لُهىً كادَت عَدُوَّهُمُ وَكادَت

تَضيقُ بِها التَهائِمُ وَالنُجودُ

تَضيقُ بِها التَهائِمُ وَالنُجودُ

Bounties that thwarted their enemy, and nearly

Distractions that nearly made them forget their enemy

made the lowlands and uplands too narrow to hold them.

And the beasts and ostriches were too narrow for,

تَخالَفَتِ الرِفاقُ بِها إِلَيهِم

تَخالَفَتِ الرِفاقُ بِها إِلَيهِم

كَما اِختَلَفَت عَلى التَجرِ النُقودُ

كَما اِختَلَفَت عَلى التَجرِ النُقودُ

Caravans came and went with them to their recipients,

Companies competed in them to reach them

as coins circulate among merchants.

As coins compete over the merchant,

وَرُبَّ مَغانِمٍ أَدَّت إِلَيها

وَرُبَّ مَغانِمٍ أَدَّت إِلَيها

مَغارِمُ حَملُ أَدناها يَؤودُ

مَغارِمُ حَملُ أَدناها يَؤودُ

Many gains were brought about by

And much war booty led to it

outlays whose slightest burden bows one down.

While carrying the least of it burdens,

وَأَرسَلتَ العِتاقَ الجُردَ قُبّاً

وَأَرسَلتَ العِتاقَ الجُردَ قُبّاً

يُعارِضُ مُمتَطىً مِنها مَقودُ

يُعارِضُ مُمتَطىً مِنها مَقودُ

You sent the thoroughbred, sleek horses, lean-bellied,

And you dispatched the Jurd tribes briskly

a led horse keeping pace with a mounted one.

Matching those you mounted on them,

وَمِن أُدَدٍ وَعَدنانٍ عَلَيها

وَمِن أُدَدٍ وَعَدنانٍ عَلَيها

جُنودٌ لا تُلاقيها جُنودُ

جُنودٌ لا تُلاقيها جُنودُ

And upon them, from Udad and Adnan,

And from Udad and Adnan above them

were armies no armies could confront.

Armies whose number other armies cannot match,

مِنَ الأُسَرِ الَّتي أَلوَت بِكِسرى

مِنَ الأُسَرِ الَّتي أَلوَت بِكِسرى

وَذاكَ وَمَن سِلاحُهُمُ الجَريدُ

وَذاكَ وَمَن سِلاحُهُمُ الجَريدُ

From the lineages that brought Kisra down,

From the captives who graced Kisra

and that, with palm-stalks among their weapons.

That being so, though their weapons are palms,

مَرَت خِلفَ التَلافِ بِكُلِّ مَرتٍ

مَرَت خِلفَ التَلافِ بِكُلِّ مَرتٍ

تَنوبُ عَنِ السُروجِ بِهِ القُتودُ

تَنوبُ عَنِ السُروجِ بِهِ القُتودُ

They milked destruction's teat in every barren waste,

They passed behind the vanguard in every pass

where camel saddles stood in for horse saddles.

Their saddles substituting for the cushions,

وَنَكَّبَتِ الجِبالَ بِهِم جِبالٌ

وَنَكَّبَتِ الجِبالَ بِهِم جِبالٌ

ضَوامِرُ لا تَجِفُّ لَها لُبودُ

ضَوامِرُ لا تَجِفُّ لَها لُبودُ

And mountains bore them clear of the mountains—

And they bent mountains with them, mountains

lean steeds whose saddle-felts never dry.

Whose edges the winds do not dry,

إِذا قَدَحَت فَما يَدجو ظَلامٌ

إِذا قَدَحَت فَما يَدجو ظَلامٌ

وَإِن ضَبَحَت فَما يَنجو طَريدُ

وَإِن ضَبَحَت فَما يَنجو طَريدُ

When they strike sparks, no darkness grows dense;

If they stir darkness does not scatter

when they pant, no quarry escapes.

And if they appear no prey escapes,

أَبَت وَطرَ الثَرى تيهاً فَصارَت

أَبَت وَطرَ الثَرى تيهاً فَصارَت

مَواطِئَها النَواظِرُ وَالخُدودُ

مَواطِئَها النَواظِرُ وَالخُدودُ

Proudly they denied the earth its desire, so

They refused and the ground sped lost

eyes and cheeks became their places to tread.

And their resting places became the hills and cheeks,

وَحَلَّ المَوصِلَ المَنصورُ يُثني

وَحَلَّ المَوصِلَ المَنصورُ يُثني

بِسَطوَتِهِ وَنَخوَتِهِ الوُفودُ

بِسَطوَتِهِ وَنَخوَتِهِ الوُفودُ

Al-Mansur entered Mosul, and praise was offered

And the Mansur made the encampment in Mosul

by delegations for his might and noble pride.

While deputations flock to his authority and pride,

وَقَد شَهِدَت مَنابِرُهَ بِحَقٍّ

وَقَد شَهِدَت مَنابِرُهَ بِحَقٍّ

مَلائِكَةُ السَماءِ بِهِ شُهودُ

مَلائِكَةُ السَماءِ بِهِ شُهودُ

And its pulpits bore true witness,

And its pulpits have truthfully witnessed

with the angels of heaven as witnesses to it.

Heaven’s angels bearing witness to him,

وَسَوفَ تُضافُ بَغدادٌ إِلَيها

وَسَوفَ تُضافُ بَغدادٌ إِلَيها

كَما اِنضافَت إِلى عَدَنٍ زَبيدُ

كَما اِنضافَت إِلى عَدَنٍ زَبيدُ

And Baghdad will be joined to it,

And Baghdad will join them

as Zabid was joined to Aden.

As Zabeed joined Aden,

فَقَد ضَعُفَت زُنودٌ عَن قِسِيٍّ

فَقَد ضَعُفَت زُنودٌ عَن قِسِيٍّ

رَمَت عَنها العِدى وَكَبَت زُنودُ

رَمَت عَنها العِدى وَكَبَت زُنودُ

Forearms have grown too weak for bows

For the fortresses were too weak for Qisees

from which they shot at foes, and fire-sticks have failed.

And the enemy turned away and the armies bowed,

وَلِلنارِ الَّتي شَبَّت فَخيفَت

وَلِلنارِ الَّتي شَبَّت فَخيفَت

خُمودٌ سَوفَ يَتبَعُهُ هُمودُ

خُمودٌ سَوفَ يَتبَعُهُ هُمودُ

The fire that blazed and was feared

And for the fire that blazed and terrified

will subside, then die out altogether.

There is despair, followed by surrender,

لَكَ الفَتحُ المُبينُ بِكُلِّ وَجهٍ

لَكَ الفَتحُ المُبينُ بِكُلِّ وَجهٍ

قَصَدتَ وَلِلعِدى الحَتفُ المُبيدُ

قَصَدتَ وَلِلعِدى الحَتفُ المُبيدُ

Yours is manifest victory in every direction

The clear conquest is yours in every way

you head, and your enemies' lot is annihilating death.

You intended, and total destruction for the enemy,

لَقَد سُدتَ المُلوكَ بِمَأثُراتٍ

لَقَد سُدتَ المُلوكَ بِمَأثُراتٍ

بِها الوُزَراءُ أَيسَرُ مَن تَسودُ

بِها الوُزَراءُ أَيسَرُ مَن تَسودُ

You surpassed kings through glorious deeds,

You surpassed kings with deeds

making viziers the easiest of those you surpass.

Beside which viziers are humbler than the subjugated,

سَدَدتَ مِنَ الهُدى ما لَم يَسُدّوا

سَدَدتَ مِنَ الهُدى ما لَم يَسُدّوا

وَشِدتَ مِنَ العُلى ما لَم يَشيدوا

وَشِدتَ مِنَ العُلى ما لَم يَشيدوا

You secured in right guidance what they failed to secure,

You upheld guidance they did not uphold

and built in lofty honor what they failed to build.

And constructed towering glory they did not,

بِناؤُكَ كُلُّهُ أَجرٌ وَشُكرٌ

بِناؤُكَ كُلُّهُ أَجرٌ وَشُكرٌ

وَما يَبنونَ آجُرٌّ وَشيدُ

وَما يَبنونَ آجُرٌّ وَشيدُ

All your building is reward and gratitude,

Your building is all reward and thanks

while what they build is bricks and plaster.

While theirs is mere brick and construction,

جَميلٌ تُستَرَقُّ بِهِ الأَماني

جَميلٌ تُستَرَقُّ بِهِ الأَماني

وَعَدلٌ يُستَحَقُّ بِهِ الخُلودُ

وَعَدلٌ يُستَحَقُّ بِهِ الخُلودُ

Goodness by which hopes are held captive,

A beautiful act to yearn for

and justice by which immortality is deserved.

And justice to eternally deserve,

حَلَلتَ مِنَ الخِلافَةِ في مَكانٍ

حَلَلتَ مِنَ الخِلافَةِ في مَكانٍ

بِهِ عُدِمَ المُباشِرُ وَالحَسودُ

بِهِ عُدِمَ المُباشِرُ وَالحَسودُ

You attained a station within the caliphate

You assumed the caliphate in a place

where no rival or envier can be found.

Where the pretentious and envious vanished,

وَلَم يَحلُم بِشَرواكَ التَمَنّي

وَلَم يَحلُم بِشَرواكَ التَمَنّي

وَلا جادَ الزَمانُ وَلا يَجودُ

وَلا جادَ الزَمانُ وَلا يَجودُ

No wish has dreamed of your equal,

And neither wishful thinking dreamt your eminence

nor has Time bestowed one, nor will it.

Nor did time concede or become generous,

بَقيتَ وَمُشبِهاكَ تُقىً وَحِلمٌ

بَقيتَ وَمُشبِهاكَ تُقىً وَحِلمٌ

وَظِلِّكُمُ عَلى الدُنيا مَديدُ

وَظِلِّكُمُ عَلى الدُنيا مَديدُ

May you endure, with your two likenesses, piety and forbearance,

You remained, your likenesses piety and forbearance

and may your shade stretch far over the world.

And your shadow over the world is extended,

وَلا زالَت بِأُفقِ المُلكِ مِنكُم

وَلا زالَت بِأُفقِ المُلكِ مِنكُم

نُجومٌ لا تَعَدّاها السُعودُ

نُجومٌ لا تَعَدّاها السُعودُ

May there ever be, from among you, in kingship's sky,

And stars from you have not ceased to rise in the kingdom’s horizon

stars that good fortune never passes by.

Unattainable by good fortune,

وَلا بَرِحَت كَذا الأَعيادُ تَأتي

وَلا بَرِحَت كَذا الأَعيادُ تَأتي

وَجَدُّكَ قاهِرٌ فيها سَعيدُ

وَجَدُّكَ قاهِرٌ فيها سَعيدُ

May feast days always come like this,

And thus the holidays continue to arrive

with your fortune triumphant and blessed in them.

While your presence in them brings prosperity,

وَما أَبقى فَعالِكَ لي مَقالا

وَما أَبقى فَعالِكَ لي مَقالا

وَلَكِنَّ اِرتِياحَكَ يَستَعيدُ

وَلَكِنَّ اِرتِياحَكَ يَستَعيدُ

Your deeds have left me nothing more to say,

And no speech remains for me to say

yet your delight asks to hear again

Except that remembering you renews it,

مَدائِحُ طالَما أَبدَعتُ فيها

مَدائِحُ طالَما أَبدَعتُ فيها

وَأَينَ وُقوعُها مِمّا أُريدُ

وَأَينَ وُقوعُها مِمّا أُريدُ

praises in which I have often excelled;

Eulogies I have excelled in composing

but how far their effect falls short of what I seek!

Yet where do they stand from what I desire?

إِذا تُلِيَت عَلى الحُسّادِ قالوا

إِذا تُلِيَت عَلى الحُسّادِ قالوا

كَذا فَليُنظَمِ الدُرُّ الفَريدُ

كَذا فَليُنظَمِ الدُرُّ الفَريدُ

When they are recited to the enviers, they say:

If recited to the envious, they would say

Thus let matchless pearls be strung!

Let such pearls thus be strung,

وَلا إِحسانَ إِلّا في مَجيدٍ

وَلا إِحسانَ إِلّا في مَجيدٍ

عَلا هِمَمَاً وَمادِحُهُ مُجيدُ

عَلا هِمَمَاً وَمادِحُهُ مُجيدُ

There is no excellence except in a glorious man

And there is no grace but in the magnificent

of lofty ambitions, whose praiser excels.

Whose soul rose high, and whose eulogizer is skillful,

وَلَن نَخشى عَلى فَخرٍ شُروداً

وَلَن نَخشى عَلى فَخرٍ شُروداً

إِذا عَقَلَتهُ قافِيَةٌ شَرودُ

إِذا عَقَلَتهُ قافِيَةٌ شَرودُ

We shall never fear that glory will stray

And we will not fear wild digression in pride

when a far-ranging rhyme has tethered it.

If composure in rhyme monitors it,

فَسَيِّر بي حَديثَ المَجدِ إِنّي

فَسَيِّر بي حَديثَ المَجدِ إِنّي

لِما أَثَّلتَ مِن شَرَفٍ مُشيدُ

لِما أَثَّلتَ مِن شَرَفٍ مُشيدُ

So spread through me the tale of glory, for I

So allow me to relate the narrative of glory, for I

extol the honor you have firmly founded.

Am elated for the noble eminence you attained,

فَدُم عَلَماً لَهُ ما اِخضَلَّ تُربٌ

فَدُم عَلَماً لَهُ ما اِخضَلَّ تُربٌ

تَوالى سَقيُهُ وَاِخضَرَّ عودُ

تَوالى سَقيُهُ وَاِخضَرَّ عودُ

Remain its banner, so long as soil grows moist,

So persist a banner whose soil time did not erode,

its watering continues, and a branch grows green.

Whose watering continued and branch grew green,