لَهانَ عَلَينا أَن نَقولَ وَتَفعَلا

لَهانَ عَلَينا أَن نَقولَ وَتَفعَلا

وَنَذكُرَ بَعضَ الفَضلِ عَنكَ وَتُفضِلا

وَنَذكُرَ بَعضَ الفَضلِ عَنكَ وَتُفضِلا

It is easy for us to speak while you act,

It is incumbent upon us to speak and act,

and recount some of your bounty while you bestow it.

And mention some of your merit, while you bestow favor.

أَبا جَعفَرٍ أَجرَيتَ في كُلِّ تَلعَةٍ

أَبا جَعفَرٍ أَجرَيتَ في كُلِّ تَلعَةٍ

لَنا جَعفَراً مِن فَيضِ كَفَّيكَ سَلسَلا

لَنا جَعفَراً مِن فَيضِ كَفَّيكَ سَلسَلا

Abu Ja'far, in every valley you have set flowing

Abu Ja'far, you have granted us in every barren place

for us a limpid stream from the overflow of your two palms.

A Ja'far from the overflowing of your palms, flowing down.

فَكَم قَد أَثَرنا مِن نَوالِكَ مَعدِناً

فَكَم قَد أَثَرنا مِن نَوالِكَ مَعدِناً

وَكَم قَد بَنَينا في ظِلالِكَ مَعقِلا

وَكَم قَد بَنَينا في ظِلالِكَ مَعقِلا

How many a mine we have unearthed from your gifts,

So we have gained much bounty from your gifts,

and how many a stronghold we have built beneath your shade.

And in your shade we have built many a fortress.

رَجَعتَ المُنى خُضراً تَثَنّى غُصونُها

رَجَعتَ المُنى خُضراً تَثَنّى غُصونُها

عَلَينا وَأَطلَقتَ الرَجاءَ المُكَبَّلا

عَلَينا وَأَطلَقتَ الرَجاءَ المُكَبَّلا

You made wishes green again, their branches bending

You have returned hope to us, fresh and green are its branches,

over us, and set fettered hope free.

And you have freed our hopes, though they were shackled.

وَما يَلحَظُ العافي جَداكَ مُؤَمِّلاً

وَما يَلحَظُ العافي جَداكَ مُؤَمِّلاً

سِوى لَحظَةٍ حَتّى يَؤوبَ مُؤَمِّلا

سِوى لَحظَةٍ حَتّى يَؤوبَ مُؤَمِّلا

No suppliant looks hopefully toward your bounty

The eye of the healthy man does not look to you expectantly

for more than a glance before returning a source of hope.

Except for a moment, before it turns expectantly again.

لَقَد زِدتَ أَوضاحي اِمتِداداً وَلَم أَكُن

لَقَد زِدتَ أَوضاحي اِمتِداداً وَلَم أَكُن

بَهيماً وَلا أَرضى مِنَ الأَرضِ مَجهَلا

بَهيماً وَلا أَرضى مِنَ الأَرضِ مَجهَلا

You have indeed extended my white markings; nor was I

You have increased the range of my pastures and I was not

unmarked, nor do I settle for uncharted ground.

A beast, content with ignorant grazing on the land.

وَلَكِن أَيادٍ صادَفَتني جِسامُها

وَلَكِن أَيادٍ صادَفَتني جِسامُها

أَغَرَّ فَأَوفَت بي أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلا

أَغَرَّ فَأَوفَت بي أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلا

Yet mighty favors of yours found me

But hands have befallen me, their bodies tempted me

white-blazed, and raised me to white blaze and white stockings.

And led me astray, more misguided than a lost camel.

إِذا أَحسَنَ الأَقوامُ أَن يَتَطاوَلوا

إِذا أَحسَنَ الأَقوامُ أَن يَتَطاوَلوا

بِلا نِعمَةٍ أَحسَنتَ أَن تَتَطَوَّلا

بِلا نِعمَةٍ أَحسَنتَ أَن تَتَطَوَّلا

When other men excel at acting haughtily

When the people do well to boast without merit,

without granting favors, you excel at bestowing them.

You have done well to show more merit.

تَعَظَّمتَ عَن ذاكَ التَعَظُّمِ مِنهُمُ

تَعَظَّمتَ عَن ذاكَ التَعَظُّمِ مِنهُمُ

وَأَوصاكَ نُبلُ القَدرِ أَلّا تَنَبَّلا

وَأَوصاكَ نُبلُ القَدرِ أَلّا تَنَبَّلا

You rose above that self-aggrandizement of theirs,

You have risen above that boastfulness of theirs

and noble rank instructed you not to put on airs.

And the nobility of your worth has advised you not to act pretentiously.

تَبيتُ بَعيداً أَن تُوَجِّهَ حيلَةً

تَبيتُ بَعيداً أَن تُوَجِّهَ حيلَةً

عَلى نَشَبِ السُلطانِ أَو تَتَأَوَّلا

عَلى نَشَبِ السُلطانِ أَو تَتَأَوَّلا

You spend your nights far from directing a stratagem

You are far from scheming against the authority of the Sultan,

against the sovereign's wealth or contriving a pretext.

Or wrongly interpreting his actions.

إِذا ما أَصابوا غِرَّةً فَتَمَوَّلوا

إِذا ما أَصابوا غِرَّةً فَتَمَوَّلوا

بِها راحَ بَيتُ المالِ مِنكَ مُمَوَّلا

بِها راحَ بَيتُ المالِ مِنكَ مُمَوَّلا

When they seize an unguarded moment and enrich themselves

When they chance upon some gain and enrich themselves,

through it, the treasury ends up enriched by you.

The public treasury becomes full because of you.

هَزَزتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ مُحَمَّداً

هَزَزتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ مُحَمَّداً

فَكانَ رُدَينِيّاً وَأَبيَضَ مُنصُلا

فَكانَ رُدَينِيّاً وَأَبيَضَ مُنصُلا

You brandished Muhammad, Commander of the Faithful,

You have shaken the Commander of the Faithful, Muhammad,

and he became a Rudayni spear and a gleaming, unsheathed sword.

So he has been fair and straightened what was crooked.

فَما إِن تُبالي أَن تُجَهِّزَ رَأيَهُ

فَما إِن تُبالي أَن تُجَهِّزَ رَأيَهُ

إِلى ناكِثٍ أَلّا تُجَهِّزَ جَحفَلا

إِلى ناكِثٍ أَلّا تُجَهِّزَ جَحفَلا

So you care not, when you dispatch his counsel

You do not hesitate to prepare his opinion

against an oath-breaker, that you dispatch no host.

Against one who breaks allegiances, you do not prepare armies.

تَرى شَخصَهُ وَسطَ الخِلافَةِ هَضبَةً

تَرى شَخصَهُ وَسطَ الخِلافَةِ هَضبَةً

وَخُطبَتَهُ دونَ الخِلافَةِ فَيصَلا

وَخُطبَتَهُ دونَ الخِلافَةِ فَيصَلا

You see his person amid the caliphate as a mountain,

You see his person as a summit amidst the Caliphate,

and his oration defending the caliphate as a cleaving sword.

And his sermon just below the Caliphate, a separate chapter.

وَأَنَّكَ إِذ أَلبَستَهُ العِزَّ مُنعِماً

وَأَنَّكَ إِذ أَلبَستَهُ العِزَّ مُنعِماً

وَسَربَلتَهُ تِلكَ الجَلالَةَ مُفضِلا

وَسَربَلتَهُ تِلكَ الجَلالَةَ مُفضِلا

And when you clothed him in glory, bestowing favor,

When you clothed him in honor, bestowing favor,

and robed him in that majesty, giving freely,

And wrapped him in that venerable authority, preferring him,

لِتَقضي بِهِ حَقَّ الرَعِيَّةِ آخِراً

لِتَقضي بِهِ حَقَّ الرَعِيَّةِ آخِراً

وَتَقضي بِهِ حَقَّ الخِلافَةِ أَوَّلا

وَتَقضي بِهِ حَقَّ الخِلافَةِ أَوَّلا

it was to fulfill through him the subjects' due in the end,

It was so he could establish the rights of the public, finally,

and fulfill through him the caliphate's due first.

And establish the rights of the Caliphate, firstly.

فَما هَضبَتا رَضوى وَلا رُكنُ مُعنِقٍ

فَما هَضبَتا رَضوى وَلا رُكنُ مُعنِقٍ

وَلا الطَودُ مِن قُدسٍ وَلا أَنفُ يَذبُلا

وَلا الطَودُ مِن قُدسٍ وَلا أَنفُ يَذبُلا

So neither Radwa's two heights nor Mu'niq's rocky flank,

Yet neither summits of Rada' are calm, nor a neck of a staunch pillar,

nor the towering mountain of Quds nor Yadhbul's jutting peak,

Nor the towering mountain of Quds, nor a towering nose withers

بِأَثقَلَ مِنهُ وَطأَةً حينَ يَغتَدي

بِأَثقَلَ مِنهُ وَطأَةً حينَ يَغتَدي

فَيُلقي وَراءَ المُلكِ نَحراً وَكَلكَلا

فَيُلقي وَراءَ المُلكِ نَحراً وَكَلكَلا

press down more heavily than he when he goes forth at dawn

With a weight heavier than his when he is unrestrained

and sets his neck and mighty breast behind the kingship.

And he throws behind the kingdom, slaughter and shackles.

مَنيعُ نَواحي السِرِّ فيهِ حَصينُها

مَنيعُ نَواحي السِرِّ فيهِ حَصينُها

إِذا صارَتِ النَجوى المُذالَةَ مَحفِلا

إِذا صارَتِ النَجوى المُذالَةَ مَحفِلا

The precincts of secrecy within him are impregnable, securely fortified,

Impregnable are the sides of secrecy with him, a fortress,

when divulged private counsel turns into a public gathering.

When dishonorable whispers become a gathering.

تَرى الحادِثَ المُستَعجِمَ الخَطبِ مُعجَماً

تَرى الحادِثَ المُستَعجِمَ الخَطبِ مُعجَماً

لَدَيهِ وَمَشكولاً إِذا كانَ مُشكَلا

لَدَيهِ وَمَشكولاً إِذا كانَ مُشكَلا

You see a calamity of unreadable import supplied with dots

You see a sudden, grave matter as coherent before him

before him, and with vowel marks when it was obscure.

And understandable if it was problematic.

وَجَدناكَ أَندى مِن رِجالٍ أَنامِلاً

وَجَدناكَ أَندى مِن رِجالٍ أَنامِلاً

وَأَحسَنَ في الحاجاتِ وَجهاً وَأَجمَلا

وَأَحسَنَ في الحاجاتِ وَجهاً وَأَجمَلا

We found you more generous of fingers than other men,

We have found you gentler than men with soft hands,

and finer, more gracious of countenance when needs arise.

And better in tribulations, of finer face and feature.

تُضيءُ إِذا اِسوَدَّ الزَمانُ وَبَعضُهُم

تُضيءُ إِذا اِسوَدَّ الزَمانُ وَبَعضُهُم

يَرى المَوتَ أَن يَنهَلَّ أَو يَتَهَلَّلا

يَرى المَوتَ أَن يَنهَلَّ أَو يَتَهَلَّلا

You shine when the times turn black, while some of them

You shine when the times darken and some of them

regard it as death to pour forth bounty or beam with a smile.

See death felling lives or creeping slowly.

وَوَاللَهِ ما آتيكَ إِلّا فَريضَةً

وَوَاللَهِ ما آتيكَ إِلّا فَريضَةً

وَآتي جَميعَ الناسِ إِلّا تَنَفُّلا

وَآتي جَميعَ الناسِ إِلّا تَنَفُّلا

By God, I come to you only as an obligation,

By God, I do not come to you except out of duty,

and visit all other people only as a voluntary devotion.

And I come to all people for no other reason.

وَلَيسَ اِمرُؤٌ في الناسِ كُنتَ سِلاحَهُ

وَلَيسَ اِمرُؤٌ في الناسِ كُنتَ سِلاحَهُ

عَشِيَّةَ يَلقى الحادِثاتِ بِأَعزَلا

عَشِيَّةَ يَلقى الحادِثاتِ بِأَعزَلا

No man among people, if you have been his weapon,

No man among the people was your weapon

is unarmed on the evening he faces calamities.

As disasters descended upon him, while he was unarmed.

يَرى دِرعَهُ حَصداءَ وَالسَيفَ قاضِياً

يَرى دِرعَهُ حَصداءَ وَالسَيفَ قاضِياً

وَزُجَّيهِ مَسمومَينِ وَالسَوطَ مِغوَلا

وَزُجَّيهِ مَسمومَينِ وَالسَوطَ مِغوَلا

He sees his armor as closely wrought, his sword as decisive,

Who saw his armor reaping lives, his sword judging,

and his two spear-butts poisoned, his whip a concealed dagger.

His whips poisoned, and his lash devastating.

سَأَقطَعُ أَمطاءَ المَطايا بِرِحلَةٍ

سَأَقطَعُ أَمطاءَ المَطايا بِرِحلَةٍ

إِلى البَلَدِ الغَربِيِّ هَجراً وَموصِلا

إِلى البَلَدِ الغَربِيِّ هَجراً وَموصِلا

I shall wear down the mounts' backs on a journey

I will set out on a journey to the western land,

to the western land, parting and reuniting.

Emigrating and reaching the womb of the world that was made barren

إِلى الرَحِمِ الدُنيا الَّتي قَد أَجَفَّها

إِلى الرَحِمِ الدُنيا الَّتي قَد أَجَفَّها

عُقوقي عَسى اَسبابُها أَن تَبَلَّلا

عُقوقي عَسى اَسبابُها أَن تَبَلَّلا

To my nearest kinship, which has been parched by

By my undutifulness, perhaps its causes will be softened.

my neglect; perhaps its cords may be moistened again.

A tribe and family I did not meet with yearning

قَبيلٌ وَأَهلٌ لَم أُلاقِ مَشوقَهُم

قَبيلٌ وَأَهلٌ لَم أُلاقِ مَشوقَهُم

لِوَشكِ النَوى إِلّا فُواقاً كَلا وَلا

لِوَشكِ النَوى إِلّا فُواقاً كَلا وَلا

A clan and household whose yearning members I met,

Until the intention came close, except in passing, no, nor at all.

with departure so near, only for a milking's pause—as quick as 'no, no.'

It was as if they were, due to my brief sojourn,

كَأَنَّهُم كانوا لِخِفَّةِ وَقفَتي

كَأَنَّهُم كانوا لِخِفَّةِ وَقفَتي

مَعارِفَ لي أَو مَنزِلاً كانَ مَنزِلا

مَعارِفَ لي أَو مَنزِلاً كانَ مَنزِلا

As though, so brief was my stay, they were

Known to me, or homes where I lodged for a night.

mere acquaintances of mine, or a lodging that was only a lodging.

Had I wished, I would not have burdened them with my righteous claim

وَلَو شيتُ لَمّا اِلتاثَ بِرّي عَلَيهِم

وَلَو شيتُ لَمّا اِلتاثَ بِرّي عَلَيهِم

وَلَم يَكُ إِجمالاً لَكانَ تَجَمُّلا

وَلَم يَكُ إِجمالاً لَكانَ تَجَمُّلا

Had I wished, when my kindness toward them faltered,

And it would not have been a generality, but mere pretense.

and was not true graciousness, it would have been a graceful show.

So I did not find morals except as affectation,

فَلَم أَجِدِ الأَخلاقَ إِلّا تَخَلُّقاً

فَلَم أَجِدِ الأَخلاقَ إِلّا تَخَلُّقاً

وَلَم أَجِدِ الأَفضالَ إِلّا تَفَضُّلا

وَلَم أَجِدِ الأَفضالَ إِلّا تَفَضُّلا

For I found good character only in cultivated conduct,

Nor merit except as favor granted.

and generosity only in gracious giving.

I turn my face from lands whose tongues and hearts

وَأَصرِفُ وَجهي عَن بِلادٍ غَدا بِها

وَأَصرِفُ وَجهي عَن بِلادٍ غَدا بِها

لِسانِيَ مَشكولا وَقَلبِيَ مُقفَلا

لِسانِيَ مَشكولا وَقَلبِيَ مُقفَلا

And I turn my face from a land in which

Have been shackled and locked against me.

my tongue has become fettered and my heart locked shut.

A people like me lived there and found

وَجَدَّ بِها قَومٌ سِوايَ فَصادَفوا

وَجَدَّ بِها قَومٌ سِوايَ فَصادَفوا

بِها الصُنعَ أَعشى وَالزَمانَ مُغَفَّلا

بِها الصُنعَ أَعشى وَالزَمانَ مُغَفَّلا

Others, not I, prospered there, and found

Favor blind and fate inattentive there.

favor night-blind and time heedless.

Dogs who snatched at the prey of a fleeing hyena,

كِلابٌ أَغارَت في فَريسَةِ ضَيغَمٍ

كِلابٌ أَغارَت في فَريسَةِ ضَيغَمٍ

طُروقاً وَهامٌ أُطعِمَت صَيدَ أَجدَلا

طُروقاً وَهامٌ أُطعِمَت صَيدَ أَجدَلا

Dogs that raided a lion's prey

Gazelles who were fed the game of a vigorous youth.

by night, and owls fed a falcon's catch.

A man's sincere opinion and wisdom change

وَإِنَّ صَريحَ الرَأيِ وَالحَزمِ لَاِمرُؤٌ

وَإِنَّ صَريحَ الرَأيِ وَالحَزمِ لَاِمرُؤٌ

إِذا بَلَغَتهُ الشَمسُ أَن يَتَحَوَّلا

إِذا بَلَغَتهُ الشَمسُ أَن يَتَحَوَّلا

Surely a man of sound judgment and resolve is one

When the sun shifts, so he changes too.

who moves away when the sun reaches him.

Unless those hopes remain untainted,

وَإِلّا تَكُن تِلكَ الأَمانِيُّ غَضَّةً

وَإِلّا تَكُن تِلكَ الأَمانِيُّ غَضَّةً

تَرِفُّ فَحَسبي أَن تُصادِفَ ذُبَّلا

تَرِفُّ فَحَسبي أَن تُصادِفَ ذُبَّلا

Even if those wishes are not tender-green

Luxuriant, it is enough that they meet dry and withered.

and fluttering, it is enough for me to encounter them wilted.

The one who faced ordeals at dawn

فَلَيسَ الَّذي قاسى المَطالِبَ غُدوَةً

فَلَيسَ الَّذي قاسى المَطالِبَ غُدوَةً

هَبيداً كَمَن قاسى المَطالِبَ حَنظَلا

هَبيداً كَمَن قاسى المَطالِبَ حَنظَلا

For one who endured his quests at daybreak

Is not like the one who faced ordeals at twilight.

as edible colocynth seeds is unlike one who endured them as bitter colocynth.

If my ambitions have left me tossed in my wanderings

لَئِن هِمَمي أَوجَدنَني في تَقَلُّبي

لَئِن هِمَمي أَوجَدنَني في تَقَلُّبي

مَآلا لَقَد أَفقَدنَني مِنكَ مَوئِلا

مَآلا لَقَد أَفقَدنَني مِنكَ مَوئِلا

Though my ambitions have found me, amid my wanderings,

To a fate, they have deprived me of your shelter.

a destination, they have cost me a refuge in you.

If I choose a considered course, I will surely

وَإِن رُمتُ أَمراً مُدبِرَ الوَجهِ إِنَّني

وَإِن رُمتُ أَمراً مُدبِرَ الوَجهِ إِنَّني

سَأَترُكُ حَظّاً في فِنائِكَ مُقبِلا

سَأَترُكُ حَظّاً في فِنائِكَ مُقبِلا

Though I seek something that turns its face away, I

Leave some fortune in your courtyard, approaching.

shall leave behind a fortune facing toward me in your courtyard.

If I tread the field of the encampment, I will surely

وَإِن كُنتُ أَخطو ساحَةَ المَحلِ إِنَّني

وَإِن كُنتُ أَخطو ساحَةَ المَحلِ إِنَّني

لَأَترُكُ رَوضاً مِن جَداكَ وَجَدوَلا

لَأَترُكُ رَوضاً مِن جَداكَ وَجَدوَلا

Though I step into the expanse of drought, I

Leave a garden from your stream, and a flowing brook.

shall indeed leave a meadow and a brook of your bounty.

That is how the traveler does not cast down his baggage

كَذَلِكَ لا يُلقي المُسافِرُ رَحلَهُ

كَذَلِكَ لا يُلقي المُسافِرُ رَحلَهُ

إِلى مَنقَلٍ حَتّى يُخَلَّفَ مَنقَلا

إِلى مَنقَلٍ حَتّى يُخَلَّفَ مَنقَلا

Thus a traveler does not set down his saddle

Until he leaves a campsite behind to replace the one before.

at one stopping-place until he leaves another behind.

The pilgrim does not inhabit a halt or quarter

وَلا صاحِبُ التَطوافِ يَعمُرُ مَنهَلاً

وَلا صاحِبُ التَطوافِ يَعمُرُ مَنهَلاً

وَرَبعاً إِذا لَم يُخلِ رَبعاً وَمَنهَلا

وَرَبعاً إِذا لَم يُخلِ رَبعاً وَمَنهَلا

Nor does a wanderer occupy a watering-place

If he does not vacate a quarter and a halt.

and a dwelling unless he vacates a dwelling and a watering-place.

Who can approach or withdraw from me? Is there a young man

وَمَن ذا يُداني أَو يُنائي وَهَل فَتىً

وَمَن ذا يُداني أَو يُنائي وَهَل فَتىً

يَحُلُّ عُرى التَرحالِ أَو يَتَرَحَّلا

يَحُلُّ عُرى التَرحالِ أَو يَتَرَحَّلا

Who draws near or draws away, and is there a man

Who can loosen the reins of wandering, or wander?

who unties the bonds of travel or sets out?

Order me with a piercing, biting command—I have seen

فَمُرني بِأَمرٍ أَحوَذِيٍّ فَإِنَّني

فَمُرني بِأَمرٍ أَحوَذِيٍّ فَإِنَّني

رَأَيتُ العِدا أَثرَوا وَأَصبَحتُ مُرمِلا

رَأَيتُ العِدا أَثرَوا وَأَصبَحتُ مُرمِلا

So give me a resolute man's counsel, for I

Enemies thrive while I grow frail.

have seen my enemies grow rich while I have become destitute.

To me, it is equal whether they have prepared for me a feast

فَسِيّانِ عِندي صادَفوا لي مَطعَماً

فَسِيّانِ عِندي صادَفوا لي مَطعَماً

أُعابُ بِهِ أَو صادَفوا لي مَقتَلا

أُعابُ بِهِ أَو صادَفوا لي مَقتَلا

So it is all the same to me if they find a place to bite at me,

That I can enjoy, or whether they have prepared my death.

for which I am blamed, or find a mortal weak point in me.

By God, I will not cease to guide stray arrows

وَوَاللَهِ لا أَنفَكُّ أُهدي شَوارِداً

وَوَاللَهِ لا أَنفَكُّ أُهدي شَوارِداً

إِلَيكَ يُحَمَّلنَ الثَناءَ المُنَخَّلا

إِلَيكَ يُحَمَّلنَ الثَناءَ المُنَخَّلا

By God, I shall never cease sending wandering verses

To you, loaded with polished praise.

to you, laden with finely sifted praise.

You reckon it a necklace, strung together,

تَخالُ بِهِ بُرداً عَلَيكَ مُحَبَّراً

تَخالُ بِهِ بُرداً عَلَيكَ مُحَبَّراً

وَتَحسَبُهُ عِقداً عَلَيكَ مُفَصَّلا

وَتَحسَبُهُ عِقداً عَلَيكَ مُفَصَّلا

You would fancy it a richly patterned mantle upon you,

Cooling to you, embroidered and tailored.

and think it a necklace upon you, its gems set apart.

Sweeter than sweet nectar, more fragrant than musk

أَلَذَّ مِنَ السَلوى وَأَطيَبَ نَفحَةً

أَلَذَّ مِنَ السَلوى وَأَطيَبَ نَفحَةً

مِنَ المِسكِ مَفتوقاً وَأَيسَرَ مَحمَلا

مِنَ المِسكِ مَفتوقاً وَأَيسَرَ مَحمَلا

More delicious than quail, more fragrant in its waft

Gently steamed, lighter to carry.

than musk opened up, and easier to carry;

Lighter on the heart, weightier in meaning,

أَخَفَّ عَلى قَلبٍ وَأَثقَلَ قيمَةً

أَخَفَّ عَلى قَلبٍ وَأَثقَلَ قيمَةً

وَأَقصَرَ في سَمعِ الجَليسِ وَأَطوَلا

وَأَقصَرَ في سَمعِ الجَليسِ وَأَطوَلا

lighter upon the heart, and weightier in worth,

Shorter to a listening friend, longer in verses.

briefer to a companion's ear, yet longer.

A people shine through it though they were not praised by it

وَيُزهى لَهُ قَومٌ وَلَم يُمدَحوا بِهِ

وَيُزهى لَهُ قَومٌ وَلَم يُمدَحوا بِهِ

إِذا مَثَلَ الراوي بِهِ أَو تَمَثَّلا

إِذا مَثَلَ الراوي بِهِ أَو تَمَثَّلا

People take pride in it though they have not been praised in it,

When the narrator represents it, or shapes representation from it.

when the reciter stands forth with it or quotes it.

Though excessive shyness has inclined me to you

عَلى أَنَّ إِفراطَ الحَياءِ اِستَمالَني

عَلى أَنَّ إِفراطَ الحَياءِ اِستَمالَني

إِلَيكَ وَلَم أَعدِل بِعِرضِيَ مَعدِلا

إِلَيكَ وَلَم أَعدِل بِعِرضِيَ مَعدِلا

Yet excessive modesty has drawn me

And I have not made my honor deviate or change course.

toward you; I have deemed no alternative equal to my honor.

I have been burdensome to you by lightening my load, while some

فَثَقَّلتُ بِالتَخفيفِ عَنكَ وَبَعضُهُم

فَثَقَّلتُ بِالتَخفيفِ عَنكَ وَبَعضُهُم

يُخَفِّفُ في الحاجاتِ حَتّى يُثَقِّلا

يُخَفِّفُ في الحاجاتِ حَتّى يُثَقِّلا

So I have burdened you by sparing you, while some of them

Lighten loads in their needs until the loads become heavy.

lighten their requests until they become burdensome.