ألست ترى السيف كيف انثلم

ألست ترى السيف كيف انثلم

وركن الخلافة كيف انهدم

وركن الخلافة كيف انهدم

Do you not see how the sword has been chipped,

Do you not see how the sword is chipped,

and how the pillar of the caliphate has collapsed?

and how the pillar of the caliphate has collapsed?

طوى الحسنَ بنَ بُوَيْهِ الرَّدى

طوى الحسنَ بنَ بُوَيْهِ الرَّدى

أيدري الرّدى أيَّ جيشٍ هزم

أيدري الرّدى أيَّ جيشٍ هزم

Death has folded al-Hasan ibn Buwayh away—

Death has folded away al-Hasan ibn Buwayh;

does Death know what an army it defeated?

does Death know what an army it has vanquished?

طويلُ القناة قصير العداتِ

طويلُ القناة قصير العداتِ

ذميمُ العداة حميدُ الشيم

ذميمُ العداة حميدُ الشيم

Long of lance, making short work of his foes;

Long of spear, swift to fulfill his promises;

condemned by his enemies, praised for his virtues;

reviled by foes, praised for his character;

فصيح اللسان بديع البنان

فصيح اللسان بديع البنان

رفيعُ السنان سريع القلم

رفيعُ السنان سريع القلم

eloquent of tongue, wondrous of hand;

eloquent of tongue, wondrous of fingertips;

lofty of spearpoint, noble of pen.

lofty of spearpoint, swift of pen.

يكيل الرجال بأقدارها

يكيل الرجال بأقدارها

ويرعى البيوتات رعيَ الحرم

ويرعى البيوتات رعيَ الحرم

He measured men according to their worth

He measures men according to their worth,

and guarded noble houses as one guards the Sanctuary—

and guards noble households as one guards sacred precincts.

جوادٌ عليهم بخيلٌ بهم

جوادٌ عليهم بخيلٌ بهم

إذا ساء خصَّ وإن سرّ عم

إذا ساء خصَّ وإن سرّ عم

generous toward them, yet sparing of them.

Generous toward them, yet loath to part with them;

If he caused grief, it struck a foe; if he gave joy, it spread to all.

when he harms, he singles out; if he brings joy, he spreads it to all.

فيا دهر سحقاً ولا تحتشم

فيا دهر سحقاً ولا تحتشم

فقد ذهب الرجل المحتشم

فقد ذهب الرجل المحتشم

O Time, away with you—do not trouble to feel shame,

So, O Time, away with you—show no deference,

for the man of dignity is gone.

for the man held in reverence is gone.

وخطَّ الفناء على قَبره

وخطَّ الفناء على قَبره

بخطِّ البلا وبنان السّقم

بخطِّ البلا وبنان السّقم

Extinction has written upon his grave

And destruction inscribed upon his grave,

in decay’s script, with sickness’s fingertips.

in decay's script and with sickness's fingertips:

إذا تمَّ أمرٌ دنا نقصه

إذا تمَّ أمرٌ دنا نقصه

توقع زوالاً إذا قيل تم

توقع زوالاً إذا قيل تم

When a thing is complete, its decline draws near;

When a thing reaches completion, its decline draws near;

expect its passing when it is said, “It is complete.”

expect its passing when it is said, 'It is complete.'

إذا كان يبكي الورى بالدموع

إذا كان يبكي الورى بالدموع

وتبكي بهنَّ فأين القيم

وتبكي بهنَّ فأين القيم

If he makes all creation weep tears,

If humankind is weeping with tears,

and you weep with those tears—where now is the guardian?

and you weep with those same tears—where, then, are the measures of worth?

وقد ساءني عُطَلُ الدهر منك

وقد ساءني عُطَلُ الدهر منك

وقد كنت حِلياً عليه انتظم

وقد كنت حِلياً عليه انتظم

It grieves me that Time stands stripped of you,

And Time's being bare of you has grieved me,

though you were the ornament strung upon it.

and you were an ornament strung upon it.

فما يستحق الزمان اللئيم

فما يستحق الزمان اللئيم

مقامك فيه وأنت الكرم

مقامك فيه وأنت الكرم

The ignoble age does not deserve

So base Time does not deserve

that you should dwell in it, noble as you are.

your presence within it, when you are generosity itself.