مطايبُ عيشٍ زايلَتْهُ مخابِثُهْ

مطايبُ عيشٍ زايلَتْهُ مخابِثُهْ

ومُقْبِلُ حظٍّ أطلقْته رَوائِثُهْ

ومُقْبِلُ حظٍّ أطلقْته رَوائِثُهْ

The delights of a life whose evils have departed,

The pleasures of a fleeting life have departed,

and approaching fortune, released by its hindrances,

And the favors of ascending fortune have released their knots.

ودولةُ إفضالٍ ويُمنٍ وغبطةٍ

ودولةُ إفضالٍ ويُمنٍ وغبطةٍ

كأن حُزونَ الدهر فيها دمائِثُهْ

كأن حُزونَ الدهر فيها دمائِثُهْ

and a reign of generosity, good fortune, and bliss,

The state of generosity, prosperity, and happiness

in which time's rugged ground seems its smooth ground;

Is as if the sorrows of fate have rained their tears in it.

وغيثٌ أظلّ الأرضَ شرقاً ومغرباً

وغيثٌ أظلّ الأرضَ شرقاً ومغرباً

فقيعانُهُ خُضرُ النبات أَثائثُهْ

فقيعانُهُ خُضرُ النبات أَثائثُهْ

and rain that has overspread the earth, east and west,

A rain has shaded the land, east and west,

its plains green with luxuriant vegetation;

So its drifting clouds are green with sprouting plants.

فظبيٌ له سِحرانِ طَرفٌ ونَغمةٌ

فظبيٌ له سِحرانِ طَرفٌ ونَغمةٌ

يُجدُّ بك الإغرامَ حين تعابثُهْ

يُجدُّ بك الإغرامَ حين تعابثُهْ

and a gazelle with two enchantments: a gaze and a melody,

A gazelle with magical eyes and melody for it,

making your passion earnest when you play with him.

Who awakens your passion when it plays.

يُناغمُ أوتاراً فِصاحاً يروقُنا

يُناغمُ أوتاراً فِصاحاً يروقُنا

تأَنِّيه في تصريفها وحثَاحِثُهْ

تأَنِّيه في تصريفها وحثَاحِثُهْ

He sings in harmony with eloquent strings; we delight in

It harmonizes strings articulating delightful sounds,

his measured handling of them and his bursts of speed.

Lingering as it modulates and thrums them.

ويلحظ ألحاظاً مِراضاً كأنها

ويلحظ ألحاظاً مِراضاً كأنها

تُغانجُ من يرنو لها وتُخانثُهْ

تُغانجُ من يرنو لها وتُخانثُهْ

And he casts languid glances, as though they

And it glances with love-inspiring gazes, as if

coquetted with whoever gazes at them and coyly teased him.

They wink at one who desires it and flirt.

فَيسْبيكَ بالسحر الذي في جُفونِهِ

فَيسْبيكَ بالسحر الذي في جُفونِهِ

ويُصيبك بالسِّحر الذي هو نافثُهْ

ويُصيبك بالسِّحر الذي هو نافثُهْ

Thus he captures you with the magic in his eyelids,

So it makes you cry with the magic in its eyes,

and strikes you with the magic he breathes forth.

And affects you with the spell which it emits.

يَحِنٌّ إليه القلبُ وهو سَقامُهُ

يَحِنٌّ إليه القلبُ وهو سَقامُهُ

ويألفُ ذكِراه الحشا وهو فارثُهْ

ويألفُ ذكِراه الحشا وهو فارثُهْ

The heart yearns for him, though he is its sickness,

The heart yearns for it though it is its sickness,

and the inward parts cherish his memory, though he tears them open.

And its mention is intimate though it is its separater.

يُجيعُ وِشاحَ الدرّ منهُ مَجالُهُ

يُجيعُ وِشاحَ الدرّ منهُ مَجالُهُ

ويُشبع مِرطَ الخَزِّ منه مَلاوِثُهْ

ويُشبع مِرطَ الخَزِّ منه مَلاوِثُهْ

The waist it circles leaves the pearl girdle hungry,

It starves the doe’s fawn of its pasture,

and the curves it wraps sate the silken mantle.

And satiates the young hyena of its game.

وقد طلعتْ باليُمن والسعد كلِّه

وقد طلعتْ باليُمن والسعد كلِّه

لنا والثرى ريَّان تندى مباحِثُهْ

لنا والثرى ريَّان تندى مباحِثُهْ

And there have dawned, with good fortune and all happiness,

Good fortune and all luck have risen for us,

for us, while the soil is well-watered, moist wherever dug,

While the land is verdant and its discussions grow clear.

ثلاثةُ أعيادٍ فللفطر واحدٌ

ثلاثةُ أعيادٍ فللفطر واحدٌ

وللعُرف ثانيه وللَّهو ثالثُهْ

وللعُرف ثانيه وللَّهو ثالثُهْ

three festivals: one for breaking the fast,

Three festivals - one for Fitr, another for the Urf,

the second for bounty, the third for merriment.

And a third for Lahw - are celebrated

يُعَيِّدُها فرعٌ من المجد طيِّبٌ

يُعَيِّدُها فرعٌ من المجد طيِّبٌ

جَناهُ إذا ما الفرعُ جَمَّت خبائثُهْ

جَناهُ إذا ما الفرعُ جَمَّت خبائثُهْ

A scion of glory celebrates them, sweet

By a fragrant branch of glory,

in his fruit when other branches' foul fruits abound.

Which yields it when the branch sheds its thorns.

ألا فاسقني في الفِطْر كأساً رَويَّةً

ألا فاسقني في الفِطْر كأساً رَويَّةً

لعلَّ لُهاثَ الصوم يُنقَعُ لاهِثُهْ

لعلَّ لُهاثَ الصوم يُنقَعُ لاهِثُهْ

Come, give me at the Fast-breaking Feast a thirst-quenching cup,

Come, serve me on Fitr a refreshing drink,

that perhaps the one panting with fasting's thirst may be quenched,

That the panting of fasting may quench its thirst!

مُشعْشَعةً يُضحي لها العُودُ ناطقاً

مُشعْشَعةً يُضحي لها العُودُ ناطقاً

تَنَاغَى مَثانيهِ لنا ومَثالثُهْ

تَنَاغَى مَثانيهِ لنا ومَثالثُهْ

diluted with water, for which the lute grows vocal,

Sparkling, while the lute sings to it,

its second and third strings singing in harmony for us,

Chanting odes for us and repeating their themes,

مع ابن وزيرٍ لم يزل ومحلُّهُ

مع ابن وزيرٍ لم يزل ومحلُّهُ

من الفضلِ يرضاهُ النبيُّ ووارِثُهْ

من الفضلِ يرضاهُ النبيُّ ووارِثُهْ

with the son of a vizier whose standing has always

Along with the son of a minister whose abode

in excellence pleased the Prophet and his heir.

The Prophet would approve and his inheritor.

وما كنتُ مكذوباً وما كنتُ كاذباً

وما كنتُ مكذوباً وما كنتُ كاذباً

لدى الله لو قلتُ النبيُّ وباعثُهْ

لدى الله لو قلتُ النبيُّ وباعثُهْ

And I would be neither deceived nor a liar

I would not be lying nor deceiving,

before God, if I said, 'the Prophet and He who sent him.'

Before God, if I said: the Prophet and his messenger

من الصالحين المُصلحينَ بيُمنهِ

من الصالحين المُصلحينَ بيُمنهِ

غدا العيشُ محموداً ولُمَّتْ مشاعِثُهْ

غدا العيشُ محموداً ولُمَّتْ مشاعِثُهْ

One of the righteous who set things right, through whose blessing

From the righteous reformers, through his prosperity,

life has become praiseworthy, its scattered parts gathered.

Life has become praiseworthy and its disgraces are erased.

إذا لم يَعِثْ في مالهِ لعُفاتهِ

إذا لم يَعِثْ في مالهِ لعُفاتهِ

فما يُعرفُ العَيْثُ الذي هو عائِثُهْ

فما يُعرفُ العَيْثُ الذي هو عائِثُهْ

If he does not ravage his wealth for his petitioners,

If he does not act immorally out of his chastity,

then no ravaging of his doing is known.

Then the sin which corrupts is not known.

تَضمَّنَ تذليلَ الزمان فأصبحتْ

تَضمَّنَ تذليلَ الزمان فأصبحتْ

أواعِرُهُ ذَلَّت لنا وأواعِثُهْ

أواعِرُهُ ذَلَّت لنا وأواعِثُهْ

He undertook to tame time, and so

He undertook to humble fate, so its

its rugged ground and its deep sands have yielded to us.

Obstacles for us have relented and its knotted ropes untied.

وأُيِّدَ بابنٍ مثلهِ في غَنائه

وأُيِّدَ بابنٍ مثلهِ في غَنائه

إذا كَثُرت من رَيب دهرٍ كوارثُهْ

إذا كَثُرت من رَيب دهرٍ كوارثُهْ

And he was strengthened by a son like him in effectiveness,

He is supported by a son like him in his riches;

when calamities from time's vicissitudes multiply.

If the misfortunes of a wicked age multiply.

أَغرُّ يكنَّى بالحُسين تضمَّنت

أَغرُّ يكنَّى بالحُسين تضمَّنت

محاسنهُ ألا تُغِبَّ مغاوِثُهْ

محاسنهُ ألا تُغِبَّ مغاوِثُهْ

Radiant, styled al-Husayn; a pledge is given

I boast, named for Al-Husayn, comprising

by his virtues that his acts of succor shall never lapse.

His virtues. Will his saviors be absent?

إذا ما عُبيدُ اللَّه ضاهاهُ قاسمٌ

إذا ما عُبيدُ اللَّه ضاهاهُ قاسمٌ

فثَمَّ قديمُ المجد ضاهاه حادِثُهْ

فثَمَّ قديمُ المجد ضاهاه حادِثُهْ

When Qasim matches Ubayd Allah,

When servant of God Ubayd Allah is matched by Qasim,

there ancient glory finds its match in the new.

The ancient glory is matched by its modern counterpart.

ألا بُورك الزرعُ الذي هو زارعٌ

ألا بُورك الزرعُ الذي هو زارعٌ

من البِرِّ والحرثِ الذي هو حارثُهْ

من البِرِّ والحرثِ الذي هو حارثُهْ

Blessed be the planting that he sows

Bless the crop which he plants,

of kindness, and the field that he tills!

Of righteousness and plowing which he harvests!

ويا حالفاً أنْ ما رأى مثلَ قاسمٍ

ويا حالفاً أنْ ما رأى مثلَ قاسمٍ

على ظهريَ الحِنثُ الذي أنت حانثُهْ

على ظهريَ الحِنثُ الذي أنت حانثُهْ

And you who swear you have seen no one like Qasim,

By the one who swears, none has seen the like of Qasim

upon my back be the breach of oath that you incur.

On the back of effort, which you have harvested.

بَرِرتَ وعهدِ اللَّه بِرّاً مُبيَّناً

بَرِرتَ وعهدِ اللَّه بِرّاً مُبيَّناً

وإن كثُرت من ذي شِقاقٍ هَنابثُهْ

وإن كثُرت من ذي شِقاقٍ هَنابثُهْ

You have kept your oath—by God's covenant—plainly and truly,

You were dutiful, fulfilling the manifest covenant of God,

even if a contentious man's clamors multiply.

Even if the discord of one who betrays and breaks covenants is abundant.

أبى أن يُرى الحقُّ الذي هو باخسٌ

أبى أن يُرى الحقُّ الذي هو باخسٌ

أخاهُ أو العهدُ الذي هو ناكثُهْ

أخاهُ أو العهدُ الذي هو ناكثُهْ

He refuses to let any right be seen that he withholds

The wrongful one refused to see the truth he usurps

from his brother, or any covenant that he breaks.

From his brother, or the covenant which he violates.

حليمُ عليم إن تجاهلَ دهرُهُ

حليمُ عليم إن تجاهلَ دهرُهُ

جوادٌ كريمٌ إن ألحت مغَارِثُهْ

جوادٌ كريمٌ إن ألحت مغَارِثُهْ

Forbearing and wise when his age acts ignorantly,

Forbearing, Wise. If his time ignores him,

generous and noble when its famines press hard.

Generous, noble, even if its disasters plague him.

يظلُّ وتدبيرُ الممالِك جِدُّهُ

يظلُّ وتدبيرُ الممالِك جِدُّهُ

وبذل العطايا المُنفِساتِ معَابثُهْ

وبذل العطايا المُنفِساتِ معَابثُهْ

He spends his days with governing kingdoms as his serious work,

He is shaded while managing the kingdoms is his work,

and dispensing precious gifts as his play.

And bestowing overflowing gifts is his hobby.

فتى يقتلُ الأموال في سُبل العلا

فتى يقتلُ الأموال في سُبل العلا

لتُورثَهُ المجدَ السنِيَّ مَوارثُهْ

لتُورثَهُ المجدَ السنِيَّ مَوارثُهْ

A youth who slaughters wealth on the paths to greatness,

A young man who spends wealth in the path of loftiness,

so that its legacies may bequeath him lofty glory.

That glorious age-old glory may inherit him.

ضرورٌ نفوعٌ عاجلُ النفع ثَرُّهُ

ضرورٌ نفوعٌ عاجلُ النفع ثَرُّهُ

على مُعتفيه آجلُ الضَّرِّ رائثُهْ

على مُعتفيه آجلُ الضَّرِّ رائثُهْ

He harms and helps; his benefit is swift and abundant

An urgent need, beneficial immediately, manifold his benefit

for his petitioners, while his harm is deferred and slow.

To his loyalists, postponing harm which awaits him.

نهى جودُهُ عن كل سمحٍ وباخلٍ

نهى جودُهُ عن كل سمحٍ وباخلٍ

شَذى القولِ حتى أحسنَ القولَ رافثُهْ

شَذى القولِ حتى أحسنَ القولَ رافثُهْ

His generosity shields every generous man and miser

His generosity prevented all reproach and stinginess.

from the sting of words, till even the foul-mouthed speaks well.

The fragrance of speech, until he perfected speech and depleted it.

ترى صاحبَيْه ذا سؤالٍ يَميحُهُ

ترى صاحبَيْه ذا سؤالٍ يَميحُهُ

فواضلهُ أو ذا سؤالٍ يُباحِثُهْ

فواضلهُ أو ذا سؤالٍ يُباحِثُهْ

You see his two companions: a petitioner, supplied by

You see his companions, one asking and he dignifies him,

his bounties, or a questioner who discusses with him.

Or another consulting him and engaging him in discourse.

وما يجتني الميسورَ من لا يزورُهُ

وما يجتني الميسورَ من لا يزورُهُ

ولا اللؤلؤَ المنثور من لا يُحادثُهْ

ولا اللؤلؤَ المنثور من لا يُحادثُهْ

No one who does not visit him harvests wealth,

He does not hoard surplus wealth from one who never visits him,

nor does one who never converses with him gather scattered pearls.

Nor scattered pearls from one who never speaks to him.

وإما أغذَّ السيرَ في إثر خُطَّةٍ

وإما أغذَّ السيرَ في إثر خُطَّةٍ

فلا العَجزُ ثانيه ولا الشكُّ رائثُهْ

فلا العَجزُ ثانيه ولا الشكُّ رائثُهْ

And whenever he hastens his pace in pursuit of a plan,

Either he marched ahead vigorously on a plan,

neither incapacity turns him back nor doubt delays him.

With neither frustration nor doubt awaiting him.

إذا ما تلاقى كيدُهُ وعداتُه

إذا ما تلاقى كيدُهُ وعداتُه

فثَمَّ تلاقى أجدلٌ وأباغثُهْ

فثَمَّ تلاقى أجدلٌ وأباغثُهْ

When his stratagem meets his enemies,

If his plot and enemies meet,

there a falcon and its feeble prey-birds meet.

The result is a barren wasteland and desolate ruins.

وإمّا أراغَ الحزمَ للخطب مرّةً

وإمّا أراغَ الحزمَ للخطب مرّةً

فلا الحزمُ معييهِ ولا الخطبُ كارثُهْ

فلا الحزمُ معييهِ ولا الخطبُ كارثُهْ

And if ever he seeks a prudent course for a crisis,

Or if he resolved prudence for adversity once,

neither prudence baffles him nor the crisis overwhelms him.

Neither fatigue exhausts him, nor does adversity harm him.

أظلُّ إذا لاقيتُ غُرَّةَ وجههِ

أظلُّ إذا لاقيتُ غُرَّةَ وجههِ

ولَيلي نهارٌ ساكنُ الظلِّ ماكِثُهْ

ولَيلي نهارٌ ساكنُ الظلِّ ماكِثُهْ

When I meet the radiance of his face, I pass my day

I live in his shadow when I meet the radiance of his face,

with my night made day, its dweller tranquil in the shade.

And my night is a day, settled with its permanent shade.

ليقْصُرْ عليه اليوم في ظلّ غِبطةٍ

ليقْصُرْ عليه اليوم في ظلّ غِبطةٍ

ولا يَقْصُرِ العمرُ الذي هو لابثُهْ

ولا يَقْصُرِ العمرُ الذي هو لابثُهْ

May the day seem short to him in the shade of bliss,

So the day in the shadow of joy is shortened for him

but may the lifetime he spends never be short.

And age which lasts is not shortened.

ولا زال قَصرُ القُفْصِ أعمرَ مَنزلٍ

ولا زال قَصرُ القُفْصِ أعمرَ مَنزلٍ

به وبدهرٍ صالح لا يُماغثُهْ

به وبدهرٍ صالح لا يُماغثُهْ

And may the palace of al-Qufs ever be the most thriving dwelling,

The palace cage remains his most enduring abode

with him there, and with a benign age that does not harass him.

In it and in an era which suits him and does not trouble him.

فما فضلُهُ والمدحُ دعوى ومُدَّعٍ

فما فضلُهُ والمدحُ دعوى ومُدَّعٍ

ولكنْ هما مِسكٌ ذكيٌّ ومَائِثُهْ

ولكنْ هما مِسكٌ ذكيٌّ ومَائِثُهْ

For his merit and praise are not a claim and a claimant,

His merit and praise are pretentious claims,

but fragrant musk and the one who blends it.

Rather they are pure musk and its fragrance.