تنيتُ عناني عن مطاردة الهوى

تنيتُ عناني عن مطاردة الهوى

وهل للهوى بعد الشبيبة باعثُ

وهل للهوى بعد الشبيبة باعثُ

I turned my reins away from pursuing desire.

I turned my reins from pursuing passions,

And what stirs desire after youth has passed?

For what inspires passion after youth?

تكلت فؤاداً بعد سبعين حِجَّةً

تكلت فؤاداً بعد سبعين حِجَّةً

تُجدُّ المثاني لهوَهُ والمثالثُ

تُجدُّ المثاني لهوَهُ والمثالثُ

May I be bereft of a heart that, after seventy years,

I committed a heart after seventy proofs -

has its amusement renewed by the second and third strings.

The sixties renew its passion and the fifties.

ثضوابُ إله الخلقِ أَولى بثائب

ثضوابُ إله الخلقِ أَولى بثائب

وإن مُدَّ حين وهو للعَهدِ ماكثُ

وإن مُدَّ حين وهو للعَهدِ ماكثُ

The Creator’s reward is more fitting for one who repents,

The rewards of the God of creation are worthier of the chaste -

even if his days are prolonged, while he remains true to the pledge.

Though if extended at times, it is lasting for the era.

ثق الآن يا قلبي بمدح محمد

ثق الآن يا قلبي بمدح محمد

فإني عليه باقيَ العمر مكث

فإني عليه باقيَ العمر مكث

Trust now, my heart, in praising Muhammad,

Trust now, my heart, in praising Muhammad -

for I shall persist in it for the rest of my life.

For I for the rest of my life will remain steadfast.

ثبتُّ على مدحي لهُ ولآله

ثبتُّ على مدحي لهُ ولآله

ثُبوتاً به تنجَابُ عنِّي الحوادثُ

ثُبوتاً به تنجَابُ عنِّي الحوادثُ

I stood firm in praising him and his family,

I stand firm in my praise of him and his progeny -

with a steadfastness through which misfortunes are dispelled from me.

With firmness through which accidents are warded off from me.

ثمالُ اليتامى مثلما قال عمُّه

ثمالُ اليتامى مثلما قال عمُّه

وهل أنتَ عن تلك المفاخر باحثُ

وهل أنتَ عن تلك المفاخر باحثُ

A refuge for orphans, just as his uncle said—

The bounty of orphans, as his uncle said -

and are you inquiring about those glorious merits?

Are you from those glories seeking?

نفيتُ بمدحي فيه وسواسَ خاطرٍ

نفيتُ بمدحي فيه وسواسَ خاطرٍ

يَرى وهو بالاهواء للهو عَابثُ

يَرى وهو بالاهواء للهو عَابثُ

Through my praise of him, I banished the whisperings of a mind

I dispelled with my praise of him the whisperings of thought -

that sees, while toying with desires for amusement.

That sees while with passions playing, to passion inclined.

ثمارُ غراسِ المدح فيه كواعب

ثمارُ غراسِ المدح فيه كواعب

لهنَّ حقوق ماتلات بواعثُ

لهنَّ حقوق ماتلات بواعثُ

The fruits of planting praise of him are full-bosomed maidens,

The fruits of planting praise in him are maidens -

with cup-like breasts, apparently standing forth and stirring desire.

For them rights that three incentives inspire.

ثملت ولا واللَه ما أنا آثمٌ

ثملت ولا واللَه ما أنا آثمٌ

بنشوةِ ما أحسُو ولا أنا حانِثُ

بنشوةِ ما أحسُو ولا أنا حانِثُ

I am intoxicated—no, by God, I am not sinning

I have been fruitful and no, by God, am I sinful -

through the rapture of what I sip, nor am I breaking an oath.

With the bliss of what I sense, nor am I violating trusts.

ثنائي عليه يفضحُ المسكَ نشرُهُ

ثنائي عليه يفضحُ المسكَ نشرُهُ

وإني به في الحشر والبعث وارث

وإني به في الحشر والبعث وارث

The fragrance of my praise of him puts musk to shame,

My praise of him exposes musk when spread -

and through it I shall be an heir at the Gathering and Resurrection.

And through it on the Day of Resurrection and Return, I inherit.