وَأَخٍ أَملى عَلَيهِ اِختِلاطُ ال

وَأَخٍ أَملى عَلَيهِ اِختِلاطُ ال

دَهرِ طولَ التَقليبِ وَالتَصريفِ

دَهرِ طولَ التَقليبِ وَالتَصريفِ

And a friend to whom the turmoil of

A brother whom the vicissitudes of time

time dictated prolonged reversals and changes.

Have long tossed about, transforming him,

أَصلَحَتهُ لِيَ المُروءَةُ حَتّى

أَصلَحَتهُ لِيَ المُروءَةُ حَتّى

أَفسَدَتهُ اِستِطالَةُ المَعروفِ

أَفسَدَتهُ اِستِطالَةُ المَعروفِ

Nobility made him a good friend to me, until

My generosity reformed until

arrogance over favors corrupted him.

My favors’ length corrupted him.

بَغَّضَتهُ الأَيّامُ مَدحي فَأَعفى

بَغَّضَتهُ الأَيّامُ مَدحي فَأَعفى

شُكرِيَ الجَزلُ مِن نَداهُ الطَفيفِ

شُكرِيَ الجَزلُ مِن نَداهُ الطَفيفِ

The days made him hate my praise; so

The days made him hate my praise, so I forgave

my lavish thanks spared me his paltry bounty.

His sparse gratitude for my copious gifts.

لَيسَ جَدعُ الأُنوفِ جَدعاً وَلَكِن

لَيسَ جَدعُ الأُنوفِ جَدعاً وَلَكِن

بَعضُ مَن نَصطَفيهِ جَدعُ الأُنوفِ

بَعضُ مَن نَصطَفيهِ جَدعُ الأُنوفِ

Cutting off noses is not true mutilation; rather,

Not all high-minded are high-minded, but

some whom we choose are the cutting-off of noses.

Only some we single out as high-minded.

لَو بِأُسدِ العَريفِ نيطَت عُرى المَن

لَو بِأُسدِ العَريفِ نيطَت عُرى المَن

نِ لَذَلَّت رِقابُ أُسدِ العَريفِ

نِ لَذَلَّت رِقابُ أُسدِ العَريفِ

Had the bonds of reproach for favors been fastened to the lions of al-ʿArīf,

If the lion’s reins were held by lions,

the necks of al-ʿArīf’s lions would have been humbled.

The necks of lions would bow to lions.

وَطَري في فُجاءَةِ الرَدِّ ما يَع

وَطَري في فُجاءَةِ الرَدِّ ما يَع

لَمُ مِن هِمَّةٍ وَنَفسٍ عَزوفِ

لَمُ مِن هِمَّةٍ وَنَفسٍ عَزوفِ

My aim in an abrupt refusal is what he

I have, when suddenly opposed, a spirit

knows of lofty resolve and an aloof soul.

That knows no fear or hesitant resolve.

ضِئضِئي مِن بَني عَدِيِّ بنِ عَمرٍو

ضِئضِئي مِن بَني عَدِيِّ بنِ عَمرٍو

غَيرَ أَنّي في مِثلِها مِن ثَقيفِ

غَيرَ أَنّي في مِثلِها مِن ثَقيفِ

My lineage is from the sons of ʿAdī ibn ʿAmr,

I am from the clan of ʿAdī ibn ʿAmr,

yet in a matter like this, I am of Thaqīf.

Though in their likes I am of Thaqīf.

لا تَتِه إِن أَطالَ هَزَّكَ مَدحي

لا تَتِه إِن أَطالَ هَزَّكَ مَدحي

وَاِعذِرَن لَستَ بَعدَها مِن سُيوفي

وَاِعذِرَن لَستَ بَعدَها مِن سُيوفي

Do not swagger if my praise has long brandished you;

Do not blame me if my praise has wearied you;

and pardon me: after this, you are not among my swords.

Forgive me, for after it my sword is not yours.