لا جفا البرق منزلا بالبراق

وسقاه من صيّب المزن ساقي

May lightning not forsake a dwelling at al-Birāq,

and may a waterer drench it with the rainclouds' downpour.

فلقد كان موسما للصبابا

ت وانسا للهائم المشتاق

For it was a season of longing,

and solace for the wandering, yearning lover.

حيث شمل الفريق ما أصبح الده

ر له مؤذنا بوشك فراق

Where the company was united, and time had not yet

heralded to them an imminent parting.

والمغاني غنية بشموس

قد فضلن الشموس في الأشراقِ

And the dwellings were rich with suns

that outshone the suns in radiance.

كالظبي أعينا يرينك أعنا

ق ظباء مخلوقة للعناقِ

Gazelle-eyed, they show you necks

of gazelles, fashioned for embraces.

كل خود تعذب المغرم الصب

ب بعذب من ثغرها البراقِ

Each tender maiden torments the passionate lover

with sweetness from her gleaming mouth.

تنثنى تثني الغصن الأهيف

راق العيون بالإيراقِ

She sways as a slender bough sways,

that charmed the eyes with its foliage.

أوسعتني صدا فخدَّت الخد

د دموع تضيق عنها المآقي

She lavished rejection on me, and my cheek was furrowed

by tears the corners of my eyes could not contain.

أكثر العاذلون فيها ولكن

خرسوا عند نطق ذاك النطاقِ

The reproachers spoke much of her, yet

fell mute when that girdle spoke.

بعدت سلوتي يلها بعد ما

بين عفاة الوزير والإملاق

My consolation is far away—oh, as far as the distance

between the vizier's petitioners and destitution.

ملك تبصر الملوك له الصي

د خشوعا خواضع الأعناق

A king before whom you behold the proud monarchs,

humbled, with their necks bowed.

معرق في الفخار طاب أصولا

وفروعا كريمة الأعراق

Deep-rooted in glory, noble in his roots

and branches, of illustrious lineage.

واهب البدن الخرائد والبدن

هجانا والصافنات العتاق

Giver of full-bodied maidens and camels,

white and purebred, and noble steeds standing poised.

مطعم الضيف خاضب الرمح والسي

ف لدى الروع بالدم المهراق

Feeder of guests, dyeing spear and sword

amid battle's terror with blood poured out.

كسروى موفق الحل والعق

د وفي بالعهد والميثاق

Khusraw-like, fortunate in loosing and binding,

faithful to pledges and covenants.

شاد ما شاده الرفيل من المج

د وأحيا من ذكره فهو باقي

He built the glory that al-Rafīl had built,

and revived his memory, so it lives on.

نشر الجود في الورى وطوى ال

جور بعدل قد سار في الآفاق

He spread generosity among humankind and folded away

injustice with a justice that traveled the horizons.

أغلق الرزق دوننا فوجدنا

في يديه مفاتح الأرزاقِ

Livelihood was shut away from us, and we found

in his hands the keys to sustenance.

رب جود غض إذا اخلق ال

جود وغاضت مكارم الأخلاقِ

Master of ever-fresh generosity when generosity grows worn,

and the virtues of noble character run dry.

وإلى ضوء بشره طوت العي

س بنا كل قاتم الأعماقِ

Toward the light of his cheer, the pale camels crossed

every wilderness of dark depths, carrying us.

نلاقي من جوده الجم بحرا

ساقت المجتي إليه السواقي

In his abundant generosity we encounter a sea,

to which the watercourses have led the bounty-seeker.

ترتوي الأنفس العطاش يعدّ

راق من صفو مائه الرقراقِ

Thirsty souls drink their fill from a spring [uncertain reading],

delightful in the clarity of his shimmering water.

ليث حرب ضار إذا شبت ال

حرب وغيث شؤبوبه ذو اندفاقِ

A fierce lion of battle when war blazes,

and life-giving rain whose downpour gushes forth.

مصدر البيض قانيات كان قد

كسيت خجلة الخدود الرقاق

He brings bright blades back crimson, as though they had

been clothed in the blush of delicate cheeks.

كفه بالنوال اسمح للعا

فين من صوب واكف غيداق

His hand is freer with gifts to petitioners

than a streaming, abundant downpour.

ثبتت في رقابنا من نداه

عارفات أبقى من الأطواق

From his bounty, fixed upon our necks are

kindnesses more enduring than necklaces.

لم يسد غلظة ولكن بحق

واجب لم يزل وباستحقاقِ

He attained lordship not through harshness, but through a right

ever his due, and through deserved merit.

راتق فاتق وما أبهر المل

ك وأبهى بالفاتق الرتاقِ

A mender and sunderer—how dazzling is kingship,

how radiant with one who sunders and mends!

عد شكر الرجال من خير ذخر

ورآه من أنفس الأعلاقِ

He counted men's gratitude among the finest stores,

and deemed it among the most precious possessions.

عضد الدين دعوة من ولي

خالص الود غير ما مذاقِ

ʿAḍud al-Dīn, a prayer from a friend

whose affection is pure, not feigned.

أنت خولتني النفيس من الوف

ر ونفست منعما من خناقي

You endowed me with precious wealth,

and graciously eased the grip about my throat.

وتداركتني برفدك لما

كنت من اسرفاقتي في وثاقِ

And you rescued me with your aid when

I lay in bonds, captive to my poverty.

فسآتيك بالقوافي الجليلا

ت تهادى بين المعاني الدقاقِ

So I shall bring you majestic rhymes,

swaying gracefully amid subtle meanings.

وأسوق القريض نحوك إذ كا

ن بناديك نافق الأسواقِ

And I shall drive poetry toward you, for

its markets have thrived in your assembly.

وأزف الثناء صدقا على مج

دك يا مجزلا له في الصداقِ

And I shall lead true praise as a bride to your glory,

O you who lavish on it a rich bridal dower.

أخفق المجتدي سواك ومن رجا

ك في مأمن من الإخفاقِ

The seeker who turns to anyone but you fails; whoever hopes in

you is safe from disappointment.

فالق ما شئت من منى وابق فينا

مستماحا عمر الليالي البواقي

So attain whatever wishes you desire, and remain among us,

your bounty sought for all the nights to come.