ياO ابنson of كسرىChosroes كسرىChosroes الملوكthe kings أنوشرAnushir-
يا ابن كسرى كسرى الملوك أنوشر
وانِ-wan قلtell ليme ماwhat هذهthis الأُكرومَهْthe gracious gift
وانِ قل لي ما هذه الأُكرومَهْ
O son of Chosroes—the kings' Chosroes, Anushirwan—
O son of Kisra, Kisra of kings Anushirvan
tell me: what is this gracious gift?
And if I say what is this Okromah
قدindeed أضاءتْit shone وأشرقتْand gleamed فاهْتَدىso found his way الساthe night traveler (start)
قد أضاءتْ وأشرقتْ فاهْتَدى السا
ريnight traveler (end) بهاby it فيthrough مهالكِdeadly wastes of الديمومَهْthe vast desert
ري بها في مهالكِ الديمومَهْ
It shone and gleamed, and the night traveler found his way
It has illuminated and shone so the traveler was guided
by it through the desert's deadly wastes.
Through it in the darkness of oblivion
راقتِit pleased النَّاسthe people منظراًin appearance ومَشمّاًand in scent
راقتِ النَّاس منظراً ومَشمّاً
فهْيَso it is ريحانةٌa sprig of basil لهمْfor them مشمومهsmelled
فهْيَ ريحانةٌ لهمْ مشمومه
It pleased people in sight and scent,
People have enjoyed its sight and aroma
so it is a sprig of basil for them to smell.
So it is a basil plant for them, perfumed
قسماًI swear إنindeed خُلّةًa friendship علِقَتْclung مِنْfrom
قسماً إن خُلّةً علِقَتْ مِنْ
كَyou بحبلby a cord لخُلّةٌsurely a friendship مرحومهto be pitied
كَ بحبل لخُلّةٌ مرحومه
I swear, a friendship that hangs
I swear if a khulla was hung from you
by a cord from you is surely a friendship to be pitied.
With a rope, it would be a departed soul
ظُلِمَتْit was wronged بالرجاءby hoping فيكin you وإنand even if كنْwere (start)
ظُلِمَتْ بالرجاء فيك وإن كنْ
تَyou were (end) كنفسlike a soul فأصبحتso it became مظلومهwronged
تَ كنفس فأصبحت مظلومه
It was wronged by hoping in you, even if you were
It was wronged by hoping in you, though it was
like a soul; so it became wronged.
Like a soul, so it became wronged
ياO سميَّnamesake of الفتىthe youth الذيwho كانwas باباًa gateway
يا سميَّ الفتى الذي كان باباً
لِجحودِto denying المكارمِacts of generosity المعدومهnonexistent
لِجحودِ المكارمِ المعدومه
O namesake of the youth who was a gateway
O the finest young man who was once a gateway
to denying nonexistent acts of generosity.
To the ingratitude of non-existent virtues
كيفhow حالتْchanged بكin you الخلائقُcharacter traits حتَّىuntil
كيف حالتْ بك الخلائقُ حتَّى
أصبحتْthey became بعدafter حمدِهاtheir praise مَذْمومهcondemned
أصبحتْ بعد حمدِها مَذْمومه
How did your character change, until
How have creatures fared with you until
after being praised, it became condemned?
After their praise of you, you are now blamed
كيفhow زالتvanished تلكthose المعاليlofty glories فأضحتْand became
كيف زالت تلك المعالي فأضحتْ
بعدَماafter قدalready بنَيْتَهاyou built them مهدومَهْdemolished
بعدَما قد بنَيْتَها مهدومَهْ
How did those lofty glories vanish, becoming
How have those glories disappeared so that after
demolished after you had built them?
You built them, they are now destroyed
كيفhow مرَّتْturned bitter تلكthat المذاقةُsavor حتَّىuntil
كيف مرَّتْ تلك المذاقةُ حتَّى
أصبحتit became بعدafter طِيبهاits sweetness مسمومهpoisoned
أصبحت بعد طِيبها مسمومه
How did that savor turn bitter, until
How has that sweetness passed so that after
after its sweetness it became poisoned?
Its fragrance, it has now become poisoned
قدindeed لعمريby my life طمستَyou effaced مِنِّيَof mine وجْهاًa face
قد لعمري طمستَ مِنِّيَ وجْهاً
كنتَyou used to فيماin what مضىpassed تُقيمُmaintain رُسومهits outlines
كنتَ فيما مضى تُقيمُ رُسومه
By my life, you have effaced a face of mine
By my life, you have erased from me a face
whose outlines you once used to maintain.
That you used to establish its features
صرتَyou became قِطعاًpatches منof الظَّلامِdarkness لأفْقٍfor a horizon
صرتَ قِطعاً من الظَّلامِ لأفْقٍ
بعدماafter كنتyou were بدْرَهits full moon ونُجومهand its stars
بعدما كنت بدْرَه ونُجومه
You became patches of darkness upon a horizon
You have become pieces of darkness for a horizon
after being its full moon and stars.
After you were its full moon and stars
قلَّدَتْنيhung upon me يداكyour two hands سِمْطاًa necklace منof العاshame (start)
قلَّدَتْني يداك سِمْطاً من العا
رshame (end) خلافَinstead of اللآلئpearls المنظومهstrung together
ر خلافَ اللآلئ المنظومه
Your hands hung a necklace of shame upon me,
Your hands have saddled me with rags
instead of strung pearls.
Contrary to composed pearls
ولأنتand you indeed الشريكُthe partner فيin ذاكthat فاعْلمْso know
ولأنت الشريكُ في ذاك فاعْلمْ
غيرَnot مظْنونةٍconjectured ولاnor مَوْهومهimagined
غيرَ مظْنونةٍ ولا مَوْهومه
And you share in that—know it as a fact,
And you are the partner in that so know
neither conjectured nor imagined.
It is unforeseen and unimagined
لمnot تَضَعْنِيyou debase me إلاexcept بِوَضْعكby your debasing منfrom نفself (start)
لم تَضَعْنِي إلا بِوَضْعك من نف
سِكyourself (end) فافهمso understand جليَّةًa plain truth مفهومهintelligible
سِك فافهم جليَّةً مفهومه
You debased me only by debasing
You have only placed me in your position
yourself; understand this plain, intelligible truth.
So understand clearly what is inferred
بكَon you حلَّfell الملامُblame لاnot بيon me بلrather النَّفْthe soul (start)
بكَ حلَّ الملامُ لا بي بل النَّفْ
سُsoul (end) التيthat أمَّلتكَhoped in you عينthe very one الملومهto blame
سُ التي أمَّلتكَ عين الملومه
Blame fell on you, not me; rather, the soul
Blame has befallen you, not me, but the soul
that hoped in you is the very one to blame.
That enticed you with the eye of blame
كلماتٌwords تَذُمُّcondemn فعلكyour conduct لاnot أصancestry (start)
كلماتٌ تَذُمُّ فعلك لا أص
لكyour ancestry (end) كلاno indeed ولاnor تذمُّcondemn الأَرُومهancestral stock
لك كلا ولا تذمُّ الأَرُومه
These words condemn your conduct, not your
Words that denounce your deed, no, and do not denounce virtues
ancestry—no, nor do they condemn your stock.
You have wronged, you have wronged, what thing of yours
سَوْأتَىmy shame! سوأتَىmy shame! علىupon أيِّwhat شيءٍthing
سَوْأتَى سوأتَى على أيِّ شيءٍ
منكfrom you أضحتْbecame أنامليmy fingers مضمومهclosed together
منك أضحتْ أناملي مضمومه
My shame, my shame! Upon what thing
Have my fingers become clasped over
from you have my fingers closed?
My soul yearns for justice and wisdom both now blamed
لهفَanguish نَفْسِيmy soul علىfor الدماثةِgentleness والحكand wisdom (start)
لهفَ نَفْسِي على الدماثةِ والحك
مةِwisdom (end) كلتاهماboth of them مذْمومهcondemned
مةِ كلتاهما مذْمومه
My soul grieves for gentleness and wisdom:
How did they not dissuade you from the act of disgrace
both of them stand condemned.
Whose consequences are ill-omened
كيفhow لمnot يردعاكَboth restrain you عنfrom فعلِdoing شَنْعاa heinous deed (start)
كيف لم يردعاكَ عن فعلِ شَنْعا
ءَheinous deed (end) قبيحugly رَواؤهاits appearance مشؤومهill-omened
ءَ قبيح رَواؤها مشؤومه
How did they not restrain you from a heinous deed,
Is it worth fifty pounds of rubble, O you unjust in governance
ugly in appearance and ill-omened?
And it is a small part of what you have promised, drowned
أبقدْريby my worth? وزنتَyou weighed out خَمسينَfifty رطلاًratls (weight units)
أبقدْري وزنتَ خَمسينَ رطلاً
منof حطامrubbish ياO ظالماًone unjust فيin الحكومهjudgment
من حطام يا ظالماً في الحكومه
Did you measure out fifty ratls according to my worth,
In your allotted prayers
of rubbish, O you unjust in judgment?
Stay silent over what I see from you, for I have
وهوand it is جزءٌa fraction مماof what وعدتَyou promised ضئيلٌpaltry
وهو جزءٌ مما وعدتَ ضئيلٌ
غَرِقٌdrowned فيamong صِلاتكyour gifts المقسومهapportioned
غَرِقٌ في صِلاتك المقسومه
And it is a paltry fraction of what you promised,
No need in a gift with discord
drowned among your apportioned gifts.
And relieve yourself of worry and be happy with my advice
دُمpersist علىin ماwhat أراهI see it منكfrom you فماليso I have no
دُم على ما أراه منك فمالي
حاجةٌneed فيfor هديّةٍa gift بخصومهwith a dispute
حاجةٌ في هديّةٍ بخصومه
Persist in what I see from you; I have no
May God relieve your anguished soul
need of a gift entangled in dispute.
The men are not to blame, but I with suffering
واطْرَحِand cast away الهمَّcare عنكfrom you وافرحand rejoice بنصحيin my counsel
واطْرَحِ الهمَّ عنك وافرح بنصحي
فرَّجَmay relieve اللهGod نفسكyour soul المهمومهcareworn
فرَّجَ الله نفسك المهمومه
Cast care away, and rejoice in my counsel;
And a bent-over back worn out by loads
may God relieve your careworn soul.
Or have you not realized that when my soul is mixed
للئامِto the base ones الرجالamong men لاnot ليto me وجوهٌfaces
للئامِ الرجال لا لي وجوهٌ
عانياتٌsubjugated وآنُفٌand noses مخزومهpierced for reins
عانياتٌ وآنُفٌ مخزومه
To base men—not me—belong faces
With motes it remains incorruptible?
bowed in submission, and noses pierced for reins.
No man prospers who counts sins
أَوَand...? لمْnot تدْرyou know أنthat نفسيmy soul عنfrom الماthe water (start)
أَوَ لمْ تدْر أن نفسي عن الما
ءwater (end) إذاwhen شابهُtainted it القذىa mote of dirt معصومهkept from it
ء إذا شابهُ القذى معصومه
Did you not know that my soul will not touch water
Among the glories to be war spoils
when a mote of dirt has tainted it?
My craving for you has been weaned, O Abu Yahya
لاnot يسودُbecomes a lord امرؤٌa man يَعُدُّcounts الرزاياcalamities
لا يسودُ امرؤٌ يَعُدُّ الرزايا
فيin المعاليlofty virtues مغانماًspoils مغنومهwon
في المعالي مغانماً مغنومه
No man becomes a lord who counts calamities
By God, a weaned craving
to his noble standing as spoils won.
And truthfully, a soul has deprived me of even
فُطِمتْwas weaned رغبتيmy longing إليكtoward you أباAbu (father of) يحْYah-
فُطِمتْ رغبتي إليك أبا يحْ
يى-ya وياand oh رُبَّmany a رغْبةٍlonging مفْطومهweaned
يى ويا رُبَّ رغْبةٍ مفْطومه
My longing for you has been weaned, Abu Yahya,
The slightest enjoyment of the deprived one
and oh, how many a longing has been weaned!
And when you have mocked me
ويميناًand by an oath مَبْرورةًkept true إنَّindeed نفساًa soul
ويميناً مَبْرورةً إنَّ نفساً
حَرَمَتْنيdenied me الطفيفَthe trifle للمَحْرومهsurely the deprived one
حَرَمَتْني الطفيفَ للمَحْرومه
And by an oath kept true, a soul
With contempt, then it is you who are mocked
that denied me a trifle is surely the deprived one.
No man slighted my worth until he placed
ومتىand whenever ماever (emphasis) غدتْwent forth وقدand already شتَمتْنِيinsulted me
ومتى ما غدتْ وقد شتَمتْنِي
باحتقارٍwith contempt فإنهاthen it is indeed المشتومهthe insulted one
باحتقارٍ فإنها المشتومه
And whenever it goes forth, having insulted me
The soul in the position of the deceased one
with contempt, it is itself the insulted one.
And I see you full of words, if I speak a saying
ماnot استخفَّbelittled امرؤٌa man بقدريَmy worth حتَّىuntil
ما استخفَّ امرؤٌ بقدريَ حتَّى
بوَّأplaced النفسَthe soul موقفَthe position of المرحومهone to be pitied
بوَّأ النفسَ موقفَ المرحومه
No man has slighted my worth without
For the inescapable requital foreordained
placing his soul where it must be pitied.
Except that I see your soldiers, if they
وأراكand I see you المليءَwell able إنْif قُلْتI utter قولاًa word
وأراك المليءَ إنْ قُلْت قولاً
لمجازاةِto requite حتمةٍbinding محتومهinevitable
لمجازاةِ حتمةٍ محتومه
And I see you as well able, if I utter a word,
Waged war on us, then ours would be the defeated one
to give a requital binding and inevitable.
Who did evil in deeds and words turned away
غيرhowever أنيthat I أرىsee جنودَكyour armies إنif طاlasted long (start)
غير أني أرى جنودَك إن طا
لتlasted long (end) بناfor us حربُناour war هيthey are المهزومهthe defeated ones
لت بنا حربُنا هي المهزومه
Yet I see your armies, if
From his brother of proven disputed case
our war drags on, as the defeated ones.
I am one whom you have known, O Abu Yahya, when
منwhoever أساءdid wrong الفِعالin conduct والقولَand speech ولَّىturned away
من أساء الفِعال والقولَ ولَّى
عنfrom أخيهhis brother ذاpossessing حُجَّةٍan argument مخصومهrefuted
عن أخيه ذا حُجَّةٍ مخصومه
He who wrongs in deed and word turns away
Wanton insults were heaped on sanctuaries
from his brother with a refuted argument.
My tyranny is the tyranny of one who flaunts, not with
أناI مِنْthe one whom قدalready عرفتَهُyou have known him ياO أباAbu (father of) يحYah-
أنا مِنْ قد عرفتَهُ يا أبا يح
يى-ya إذاwhen استهدرmade bellow الهجاءُsatire قُرومهits camel stallions
يى إذا استهدر الهجاءُ قُرومه
I am the one you have known, Abu Yahya,
Hidden enmity from a secret adversary
when satire makes its camel stallions bellow.
To gain victory and it clamored vehemently
سطوتيmy assault سطوةُthe assault of المجاهرthe open assailant لاnot ذيone with
سطوتي سطوةُ المجاهر لا ذي
بَغْيةٍan aim منfrom مُناوئٍan adversary مكتومهconcealed
بَغْيةٍ من مُناوئٍ مكتومه
My assault is an open assailant's, not that of one
It has been restrained from you for what you have done and laid waste
with an aim concealed from an adversary.
To the days of your marked glory
هاكهاtake it حرَّةًfreeborn لحرٍّfor a freeborn man تبدتappeared
هاكها حرَّةً لحرٍّ تبدت
لانتصارfor redress فجعجعتْthen was held fast مزمومهbridled
لانتصار فجعجعتْ مزمومه
Take it, freeborn, revealed to a freeborn man,
I have attained satisfaction from you even if
to seek redress, then held fast, bridled.
It remained shut to my open eyes
زمَّهاbridled it عنكaway from you ماwhat فعلتَyou did وماand what أسbestowed (start)
زمَّها عنك ما فعلتَ وما أس
دَيْتَyou bestowed (end) أيامَin the days of مجدكَyour glory الموسومهdistinguished
دَيْتَ أيامَ مجدكَ الموسومه
What you did reined it back from you, and what you
A discourse which if I held back would have been more appropriate
bestowed in the distinguished days of your glory.
For me but a bitter time of restraint
بلغتit brought بيme رضايَmy satisfaction منكfrom you وإنand although كاwas (start)
بلغت بي رضايَ منك وإن كا
نتْit was (end) بعينيin my eye مفتوحةًopen مختومهsealed
نتْ بعيني مفتوحةً مختومه
It brought me to contentment with you, though
And peace be upon you from one of separation
to my eye it was open, yet sealed.
And farewell to a severed khulla
خُطبةٌa speech لوif كظمتُهاI stifled it كانَwould have been أوْلىbetter
خُطبةٌ لو كظمتُها كانَ أوْلى
بيfor me ولكنْand yet مرةٌbitter مكظومهstifled
بي ولكنْ مرةٌ مكظومه
A speech that, had I stifled it, would have been better
for me; yet it is bitter when stifled.
وعليكand upon you السلامpeace منfrom ذيone with فراقٍparting
وعليك السلام من ذي فراقٍ
ووداعٍand farewell لخُلَّةٍto a friendship مَصْرومهsevered
ووداعٍ لخُلَّةٍ مَصْرومه
And peace be upon you, from one who parts
and bids farewell to a friendship severed.
Partial English translation: 76 of 80 Arabic lines translated.