أَمِنْ رُقبَةٍ عافَ السَّلامَ مُوِّدعا

أَمِنْ رُقبَةٍ عافَ السَّلامَ مُوِّدعا

ورَدَّ جُموحَ الدَّمعِ حينَ تَسَرَّعا

ورَدَّ جُموحَ الدَّمعِ حينَ تَسَرَّعا

Was it fear of being watched that made him shun the greeting as he bade farewell,

From a graceful neck that bid farewell in peace,

and check the headlong tears when they rushed forth,

And restrained the flow of tears as they hastened,

وصَدَّعَنِ البِيضِ الحِسانِ وقد بَدَت

وصَدَّعَنِ البِيضِ الحِسانِ وقد بَدَت

فأَبدَتْ لعَينيهِ المَحاسِنَ أجمَعا

فأَبدَتْ لعَينيهِ المَحاسِنَ أجمَعا

and turn from the lovely fair-skinned women, though they appeared

Appeared the beautiful white wrists, displaying

and revealed to his eyes all their charms?

Their charms completely to his eyes.

بَرَزْنَ فمِن بَدْرٍ تَقَنَّعَ بالدُّجَى

بَرَزْنَ فمِن بَدْرٍ تَقَنَّعَ بالدُّجَى

يغازلُ ليثاً بالحديدِ مُقَنَّعا

يغازلُ ليثاً بالحديدِ مُقَنَّعا

They emerged: one a full moon veiled in darkness,

Like a full moon veiled in darkness,

flirting with a lion masked in iron;

Flirting with a lion masked in iron.

ومِنْ غُصُنٍ رَطْبٍ تأزَّرَ بالنَّقا

ومِنْ غُصُنٍ رَطْبٍ تأزَّرَ بالنَّقا

إذا هَزَّ عِطْفَيْهِ القِناعُ تَزَعْزَعا

إذا هَزَّ عِطْفَيْهِ القِناعُ تَزَعْزَعا

another a supple bough girdled with a sand dune,

Or a moist branch wrapped in soft fine silk,

swaying when the veil stirred its two flanks.

Swaying gently with the stir of its trailing ends.

مَزَجْنَ له عَذْبَ الهَوى بمَرارَةٍ

مَزَجْنَ له عَذْبَ الهَوى بمَرارَةٍ

يُجَرَّعُ مِنْ مَكروهِها ما تَجرَّعا

يُجَرَّعُ مِنْ مَكروهِها ما تَجرَّعا

They mixed for him love's sweetness with bitterness;

They tempered the sweetness of love with bitterness,

he is made to swallow what he has swallowed of its anguish.

So he sipped what was disliked from her.

إذا ما الهَوى يوماً تَصَدَّعَ شَملُه

إذا ما الهَوى يوماً تَصَدَّعَ شَملُه

فأَخْلِقْ بِشَمْلِ الصَّبرِ أن يتَصَدَّعا

فأَخْلِقْ بِشَمْلِ الصَّبرِ أن يتَصَدَّعا

If one day love's bonds fall apart,

If love's union someday disintegrates,

how likely patience's bonds are to fall apart too!

Have the strength through patience to reconstruct it.

عَدَتْنيَ مِنْ زَوْرٍ إذا زارَ عاشقاً

عَدَتْنيَ مِنْ زَوْرٍ إذا زارَ عاشقاً

أَعادَ المُنى مرأىً وقد كانَ مَسمَعا

أَعادَ المُنى مرأىً وقد كانَ مَسمَعا

I was kept from a visitor who, when visiting a lover,

When an ardent lover visits, they count me

makes wishes visible, though once they were only heard of.

Among the false ones, though once I listened and saw.

يُداري عُذوبَةَ الحُليِّ وقد عَلا

يُداري عُذوبَةَ الحُليِّ وقد عَلا

تَرَنُّمُهوالمِسكَ حينَ تَضَوَّعا

تَرَنُّمُهوالمِسكَ حينَ تَضَوَّعا

He hushes the jewelry's sweetness, though rising

Evading the sweetness of my cheek's soft skin,

is its melody, and hides the musk when its fragrance spreads.

Though it murmurs musk when gently stroked.

ويَبذُلُ لي في النَّومِ ما لو طَلَبْتُه

ويَبذُلُ لي في النَّومِ ما لو طَلَبْتُه

على يَقْظَةٍ مني ومنه تمنَّعا

على يَقْظَةٍ مني ومنه تمنَّعا

And gives me in sleep what, were I to ask for it

And in sleep he grants me what, had I sought awake,

while he and I were awake, he would withhold.

Would have been refused by him and denied by me.

هَلِ الدَّهْرُ مُلْقٍ من مَخالب

هَلِ الدَّهْرُ مُلْقٍ من مَخالب

شجاعاً على ألاّ مشيّعا

شجاعاً على ألاّ مشيّعا

Will Time release from its claws

Does time bare its claws to pounce

a brave man, provided he is not escorted [wording unclear],

On the valiant, marching them off undetained?

صبوراً على الأحداثِ يعشَقُ عُدْمَه

صبوراً على الأحداثِ يعشَقُ عُدْمَه

وإقلالَه كيلا يَذِلَّ ويَخْضَعا

وإقلالَه كيلا يَذِلَّ ويَخْضَعا

patient under calamities, loving his poverty

Resigned to events, enamored of its own nonexistence,

and his scant means, lest he be humbled and submit?

Lessening and humiliating lest it be disgraced and submit.

ومُرتَدعٍ رامي البريءِ بِتُهْمَةٍ

ومُرتَدعٍ رامي البريءِ بِتُهْمَةٍ

فقد سارَ فيها في الأنامِ وأوضَعا

فقد سارَ فيها في الأنامِ وأوضَعا

And will the accuser who charges the innocent be deterred?

And charging the innocent with accusations,

For he has gone among humankind with it, and hastened onward.

Having already accused them falsely among people.

أَرَبَّ القَوافي الغُرِّ يُرقَى بمثلِها

أَرَبَّ القَوافي الغُرِّ يُرقَى بمثلِها

لقد فَرَّ أفعَى يَنفُثُ السُّمَّ مُنقَعا

لقد فَرَّ أفعَى يَنفُثُ السُّمَّ مُنقَعا

O master of radiant rhymes, their like is used as charms;

Oh wonder of verse! Are its strange, wondrous expressions

indeed, a viper has fled, spewing potent poison.

Like a serpent spewing poison from its dripping fangs?

وكيفَ وقد شَعْشَعْتُ كلَّ غريبةٍ

وكيفَ وقد شَعْشَعْتُ كلَّ غريبةٍ

منَ القَوْلِ تُزري بالرَّحيقِ مُشَعشَعا

منَ القَوْلِ تُزري بالرَّحيقِ مُشَعشَعا

And how, when I have blended every rare marvel

When have I not illuminated every perplexing line

of speech that puts diluted wine to shame?

With speech that glows with limpid nectar?

وأَجرَيْتُ من عَذْبِ الكَلامِ مَوارِداً

وأَجرَيْتُ من عَذْبِ الكَلامِ مَوارِداً

تروحُ وتَغْدو للبَرِيَّةِ مَشرَعا

تروحُ وتَغْدو للبَرِيَّةِ مَشرَعا

And I have set springs of sweet speech flowing,

And channeled from the river of eloquence streams

offering humankind a watering place, evening and morning.

That flow and return to nourish the wilderness.

وبرَّزْتُ سَبقاً في غَرائبِه الأُلى

وبرَّزْتُ سَبقاً في غَرائبِه الأُلى

يُقَصِّرُ عنها سابقُ القَوْمِ إن سَعى

يُقَصِّرُ عنها سابقُ القَوْمِ إن سَعى

And I have raced ahead in its rare marvels, which

I have excelled in its wondrous subtleties,

the people's foremost runner falls short of, even if he strives.

Beyond what any predecessor strove to attain.

فهَلْ سامِعٌ منّي الأميرُ بَراءَةً

فهَلْ سامِعٌ منّي الأميرُ بَراءَةً

أقومُ بها بين السِّماطَيْنِ مُسمِعا

أقومُ بها بين السِّماطَيْنِ مُسمِعا

Will the emir, then, hear from me a declaration of innocence

Is there, oh Prince, a hearer to my innocence,

which I stand to proclaim between the two rows?

Which I establish impartial between the two ranks?

ثناءً إذا عايَنْتَ عِقدَ نِظامِه

ثناءً إذا عايَنْتَ عِقدَ نِظامِه

توهَّمْتَه للجَوهرِ التِّبرِ مَجمَعا

توهَّمْتَه للجَوهرِ التِّبرِ مَجمَعا

A song of praise—if you behold its strung necklace,

Praise, that when you see the polish of its composition,

you would take it for a gathering of gems and gold.

You imagine it joined like gems of pure brilliance.

فَتىً ساورَ العَلياءَ قبلَ فِطامِه

فَتىً ساورَ العَلياءَ قبلَ فِطامِه

وراعَ العِدا من قَبلِ أن يَتَرَعْرَعا

وراعَ العِدا من قَبلِ أن يَتَرَعْرَعا

A youth who stormed the heights before his weaning,

A knight who vied with the lofty before he was weaned,

and terrified his enemies before he began to grow.

And shepherded justice before he could walk steadily.

جَوادٌ إذا أدَّى الفريضةَ جُودُه

جَوادٌ إذا أدَّى الفريضةَ جُودُه

تَنَفَّلَ من حَبِّ النَّدى فتطَوَّعا

تَنَفَّلَ من حَبِّ النَّدى فتطَوَّعا

A generous man whose bounty, after fulfilling its duty,

A steed who when he fulfills his duty generously,

makes extra offerings from love of giving, freely volunteering.

Does supererogatory acts out of love for bounty.

نُقابِلُ منه الشَّمسَ في قُربِ ضَوْئِها

نُقابِلُ منه الشَّمسَ في قُربِ ضَوْئِها

وإنْ بَعُدَتْ في صَفحَةِ الجوِّ مَطلَعا

وإنْ بَعُدَتْ في صَفحَةِ الجوِّ مَطلَعا

In him we face the sun, its light close at hand,

We seek his closeness like the sun at its zenith,

though its rising-place lies far across the sky's expanse.

And when far on the horizon, like the rising sun.

ونسألُ منه بارِعاً في سَماحَةٍ

ونسألُ منه بارِعاً في سَماحَةٍ

فإنْ نحنُ أغفَلْنا السؤالَ تبرَّعا

فإنْ نحنُ أغفَلْنا السؤالَ تبرَّعا

And we ask of him, preeminent in generosity;

Asking with expertise in nobility,

and if we neglect to ask, he gives unbidden.

And if we forget to ask, he volunteers.

إذا أبدَعَ المُدَّاحُ أبدَعَ عُرْفُه

إذا أبدَعَ المُدَّاحُ أبدَعَ عُرْفُه

فكانَ بما يُسْدي من العُرْفِ أبدَعا

فكانَ بما يُسْدي من العُرْفِ أبدَعا

When the panegyrists excel, his kindness excels,

When the talented panegyrist is inspired, his discernment

and he is more wondrous still in the kindness he bestows.

Also excels, enhanced by his excellent gifts.

وإنْ لَجَّ في إضرارِهِ الدَّهْرُ أَصبحَتْ

وإنْ لَجَّ في إضرارِهِ الدَّهْرُ أَصبحَتْ

خَلائِقُهُ فيها أَضَرَّ وأَنفَعا

خَلائِقُهُ فيها أَضَرَّ وأَنفَعا

And if Time persists in harming him, then

And if time injures with its harms,

his qualities become, therein, more harmful and more helpful—

His manners within it become most harmful and beneficial.

مكارِمُ وَضَّاحٍ إذا ما تذرَّعَتْ

مكارِمُ وَضَّاحٍ إذا ما تذرَّعَتْ

ملوكُ الوَرَى في المَكرُماتِ تَذَرَّعا

ملوكُ الوَرَى في المَكرُماتِ تَذَرَّعا

the noble deeds of a radiant man, when

The noble deeds of the famed performer, when rulers

the kings of humankind stretch to the utmost in noble deeds.

Don them, excel even rulers in nobility.

له راحةٌ ما قيسَ بالغَيْثِ صَوبُها

له راحةٌ ما قيسَ بالغَيْثِ صَوبُها

لَدى المِحْلِ إلاّ كانَ أندى وأوسَعا

لَدى المِحْلِ إلاّ كانَ أندى وأوسَعا

He has a palm whose downpour is never compared with rain

His rest whose direction, when clouds pour,

in drought without proving more generous and abundant.

The shelter cannot compare, so cool and ample.

تَرى طَمَعَ العافينَ يَحتاجُ وَفرَه

تَرى طَمَعَ العافينَ يَحتاجُ وَفرَه

وليسَتْ ترى أعدؤه فيه مَطمَعا

وليسَتْ ترى أعدؤه فيه مَطمَعا

You see the petitioners' hopes in need of his ample wealth,

You see the hopes of the prosperous need his overflowing stream,

yet his enemies see in it no prospect of gain.

Yet you never see his enemies hoping in him.

صَنائعُ مَشهورِ الصَّنائعِ يَبتَدي

صَنائعُ مَشهورِ الصَّنائعِ يَبتَدي

طِباعاً إذا المَسْؤُولُ يوماً تصَّنعا

طِباعاً إذا المَسْؤُولُ يوماً تصَّنعا

Favours from one famed for favours: he initiates them

The feats of the master of feats begin

naturally, when one day the man being petitioned merely puts on a show.

Naturally when the questioner one day pretends.

إذا ما مضى صَدْرُ النَّهارِ بسَيلِه

إذا ما مضى صَدْرُ النَّهارِ بسَيلِه

تولَّى وأبقى آخرَ اللَّيلِ مَربَعا

تولَّى وأبقى آخرَ اللَّيلِ مَربَعا

When the first part of day passes with its torrent,

When the morning passes in its torrents,

it departs, leaving a spring pasture at the night's end.

It turns away, leaving the late night squared.

شمائلُ أبهى من حِلَى الرَّوْضِ مَنْظَراً

شمائلُ أبهى من حِلَى الرَّوْضِ مَنْظَراً

وأحسَنُ من فِعْلِ السَّحائبِ مَرتَعا

وأحسَنُ من فِعْلِ السَّحائبِ مَرتَعا

Traits lovelier to behold than the garden's ornaments,

Features fairer than the garden's adornments to behold,

and better pasturage than the clouds' handiwork.

And better than the work of clouds as pasture.

أبا تغلبٍ لا زِلْتَ للقِرْنِ غالباً

أبا تغلبٍ لا زِلْتَ للقِرْنِ غالباً

إذا ارتدَّ للرَّوْعِ الكَمِيُّ مُرَوَّعا

إذا ارتدَّ للرَّوْعِ الكَمِيُّ مُرَوَّعا

Abu Taghlib, may you never cease vanquishing your opponent,

O father of Taghlib, you remain conquering the age,

when the armored warrior recoils, stricken with terror.

When the multitude turn and flee terrified.

تُنازِلُه بالسَّيفِ غيرَ مُخادِعٍ

تُنازِلُه بالسَّيفِ غيرَ مُخادِعٍ

فتُورِدُه منه وَريداً وأَخدَعا

فتُورِدُه منه وَريداً وأَخدَعا

You meet him with the sword, using no deceit,

You engage them with the sword without deceit,

and lead it to drink from his jugular and his neck vein.

And stab them deeply with mortal wounds.

أَعِدْ دارِساً من رِسْمِ بِرِّكَ واضحاً

أَعِدْ دارِساً من رِسْمِ بِرِّكَ واضحاً

فقد وَضَحَ العُذْرُ انكشافاً وأقنَعا

فقد وَضَحَ العُذْرُ انكشافاً وأقنَعا

Restore to clarity the faded trace of your kindness,

Prepare one studying your exemplary deeds,

for the excuse has come plainly to light and proved convincing.

For the excuse has been clearly exposed and convinced.

فلي فيكَ من حُسْنِ الثَّناءِ ذَريعَةٌ

فلي فيكَ من حُسْنِ الثَّناءِ ذَريعَةٌ

تُمَكِّنُ عندي للصَّنيعَةِ مَوْضِعا

تُمَكِّنُ عندي للصَّنيعَةِ مَوْضِعا

For I have, in fine praise of you, a means of approach

In you I have means to praise handsomely,

that gives your kindness a secure place with me.

Enabling me to properly place the craft.

وثانيةٌإنَّ ابنَ عمِّكَ شافعي

وثانيةٌإنَّ ابنَ عمِّكَ شافعي

ولو ناشدَ الغَيْثَ استهَلَّ فأسرَعا

ولو ناشدَ الغَيْثَ استهَلَّ فأسرَعا

And a second: your cousin is indeed my intercessor;

And secondly, your cousin Saifi,

and were he to implore the rain, it would pour forth and hasten.

Were he to implore the rain, it would quickly pour.