طرَقتْ بليلٍ من سَناها مُقْمِر

طرَقتْ بليلٍ من سَناها مُقْمِر

فأضاءَ مُعتَلَجُ الكثيبِ الأعفَرِ

فأضاءَ مُعتَلَجُ الكثيبِ الأعفَرِ

She came by night, made moonlit by her radiance;

At night a moon lit up the sandy hill,

and the heaped sands of the dust-colored dune shone.

Illuminating the desolate mound.

قَمرٌ تَدّرعَ جُنْحَ ليلٍ سارياً

قَمرٌ تَدّرعَ جُنْحَ ليلٍ سارياً

لكنْ سوى طَرْفي به لم يَشْعُر

لكنْ سوى طَرْفي به لم يَشْعُر

A moon that donned night's darkness as armor as it traveled,

A moon cloaked in the wings of night

yet none but my eye was aware of it.

Spreading, though none but I took note.

خطَرتْ ببَطْنِ الواديَيْنِ تَزورُنا

خطَرتْ ببَطْنِ الواديَيْنِ تَزورُنا

عَجَباً ونحن ببالِها لم نَخْطُر

عَجَباً ونحن ببالِها لم نَخْطُر

She glided through the hollow of the two valleys to visit us—

It wandered through the valley to visit us -

how strange, when we had never crossed her mind!

Strange, when it was not in our thoughts.

بيضاءُ تَبسِمُ عن أقاحي روضةٍ

بيضاءُ تَبسِمُ عن أقاحي روضةٍ

جُلِيَتْ وتكْسِرُ عن لواحظِ جُؤْذَر

جُلِيَتْ وتكْسِرُ عن لواحظِ جُؤْذَر

A fair beauty, smiling to reveal a meadow's daisies,

A white smile amid the meadow's blooms

unveiled, she casts languid glances with an oryx calf's eyes.

Appearing, then vanishing behind the thickets.

هجَرتْ وَوكَّل ناظري بخيالها

هجَرتْ وَوكَّل ناظري بخيالها

ذِكْري لها فكأنّها لم تَهْجُر

ذِكْري لها فكأنّها لم تَهْجُر

She deserted me; my gaze was entrusted to her phantom

It went away, leaving my watcher to its imaginary form -

by my remembrance of her—as though she had not deserted me.

My memory of it is as if it never went away.

أَهْلاً بزائرةٍ أتتْ لو لم تكُنْ

أَهْلاً بزائرةٍ أتتْ لو لم تكُنْ

من عندِ فكرٍ للمَزارِ مُزَوِّر

من عندِ فكرٍ للمَزارِ مُزَوِّر

Welcome to a visitor who came—if only she were not

Welcome to a visitor who, had she not come

from a thought that counterfeits the visit.

From a thoughtful mind, would not have visited this shrine.

واصَلْتُها والبِيضُ لم تَقطُرْ دماً

واصَلْتُها والبِيضُ لم تَقطُرْ دماً

مِن دُونِها والسُّمْرُ لم تَتَكَسّر

مِن دُونِها والسُّمْرُ لم تَتَكَسّر

I enjoyed union with her, though white swords had not dripped blood

I bid her stay, and caused no bloodshed,

on the way to her, nor had brown spears shattered.

Nor broke the fast, by her absence.

وأجبْتُ داعيةَ الصَّبابةِ نَحْوَها

وأجبْتُ داعيةَ الصَّبابةِ نَحْوَها

فلَقِيتُ عاديةَ الخميسِ المُصْحِر

فلَقِيتُ عاديةَ الخميسِ المُصْحِر

I answered passionate longing's summons toward her,

I answered the call of youthfulness towards her,

so I met the onslaught of the army out in the open.

And so met my usual Thursday eve appointment.

ولَربّما آثرتُ ما لم أَلقَه

ولَربّما آثرتُ ما لم أَلقَه

حتّى رَكِبْتُ إليه ما لم أُوثِر

حتّى رَكِبْتُ إليه ما لم أُوثِر

And how often I desired what I had not encountered,

And perhaps I preferred what I had not found

until, to reach it, I braved what I did not desire.

Until I attained what I did not choose.

فدَعِ الملامَ فقد نَزَعْتُ عن الصِّبا

فدَعِ الملامَ فقد نَزَعْتُ عن الصِّبا

وصحَوْتُ إلاّ طَرْبةَ المُتذَكِّر

وصحَوْتُ إلاّ طَرْبةَ المُتذَكِّر

So leave reproach: I have turned away from youthful folly

So cease blame, for I have turned from passion,

and sobered, save for the rapture of one who remembers.

And woken up, except for the dreamer's rapture.

أَ أُخيَّ مارَسْتُ الرّجالَ فلم أَجِدْ

أَ أُخيَّ مارَسْتُ الرّجالَ فلم أَجِدْ

عند الشّدائدِ صاحِباً لم يَغْدِر

عند الشّدائدِ صاحِباً لم يَغْدِر

O my dear brother, I have tested men, but never found

O brother, I have tested men, and found

in hardship a companion who did not betray.

No loyal friend in times of woe.

إنّ الصّنائعَ والأياديَ في الورَى

إنّ الصّنائعَ والأياديَ في الورَى

غَرْسُ المودّةِ والقِلَى فتدَبّر

غَرْسُ المودّةِ والقِلَى فتدَبّر

Indeed, favors and benefactions among humankind

Truly, acts of goodwill in the world

are seeds of affection and hatred—so reflect.

Are the seeds of affection and hearts' amity - consider.

وإذا اصطنَعْتَ حسيبَ قومٍ فارْجُه

وإذا اصطنَعْتَ حسيبَ قومٍ فارْجُه

وإذا اصطَنَعْتَ دَنِيءَ قومٍ فاحْذَر

وإذا اصطَنَعْتَ دَنِيءَ قومٍ فاحْذَر

If you favor a well-born man among his people, hope in him;

And if you seek the love of a people, spurn it,

and if you favor a base man among his people, beware.

Yet guard yourself if you gain a low person's love.

قُلْ للجميلِ وما سَمِعْتُ بمثْلِه

قُلْ للجميلِ وما سَمِعْتُ بمثْلِه

مظلومَ قومٍ بينَهمْ لم يُنْصَر

مظلومَ قومٍ بينَهمْ لم يُنْصَر

Say to Kindness—I have never heard of its like—

Say to the finest one, none has equaled him -

a wronged one among a people who would not defend it:

An oppressed man among his folk with none to help.

ما لِي أراك وقد خُصِصْتَ منَ الورى

ما لِي أراك وقد خُصِصْتَ منَ الورى

في حالتَيْكَ معاً بظلْمٍ مُنْكَر

في حالتَيْكَ معاً بظلْمٍ مُنْكَر

Why do I see you singled out among humankind

Why do I see you set apart from the world

in both your conditions alike for outrageous injustice?

In your two states, with injustice and tyranny?

فإذا طُلِبْتَ منَ امرئٍ لم يَصْطَنعْ

فإذا طُلِبْتَ منَ امرئٍ لم يَصْطَنعْ

وإذا اصطَنَعْتَ معَ امرئٍ لم يَشْكُر

وإذا اصطَنَعْتَ معَ امرئٍ لم يَشْكُر

When you are asked of a man, he will not bestow you;

If you seek a favor from one who has shown none,

when you are bestowed on a man, he gives no thanks.

Or do a favor for one who shows no thanks,

هلاّ شكَوْتَ إلى الوزيرِ وعَدْلِه

هلاّ شكَوْتَ إلى الوزيرِ وعَدْلِه

مِمّا لَقيتَ منَ العديدِ الأَكثَر

مِمّا لَقيتَ منَ العديدِ الأَكثَر

Why not complain to the minister and his justice

Why not complain to the Minister and his justice?

of what you have suffered from the vast majority?

Of what you faced from the many and diverse.

فهو الّذي يَرعاكَ غيرَ مُضيِّعٍ

فهو الّذي يَرعاكَ غيرَ مُضيِّعٍ

وهو الذي يُوليكَ غيرَ مُكدِّر

وهو الذي يُوليكَ غيرَ مُكدِّر

For he is the one who tends you without neglect,

For he is the one who will protect you, not neglecting,

and the one who bestows you without tainting you.

And he is the one who will favor you, not vexing.

وهو المُجيرُ لمنْ يلوذُ بظِلِّه

وهو المُجيرُ لمنْ يلوذُ بظِلِّه

من كُلِّ عَدْوةِ جائرٍ مُستَكْبِر

من كُلِّ عَدْوةِ جائرٍ مُستَكْبِر

He protects whoever takes refuge in his shade

He is the refuge for whoever seeks his shade

from every attack by an arrogant oppressor.

From every unjust and arrogant foe.

مَلِكٌ أنامَ من الأنامِ عُيونَهم

مَلِكٌ أنامَ من الأنامِ عُيونَهم

أَمْناً وقال لِعَيْنِه لَهُمُ اسْهَري

أَمْناً وقال لِعَيْنِه لَهُمُ اسْهَري

A king who lulled the people's eyes to sleep

A king whose eyes the people have lulled to sleep,

in safety, and told his own eye: 'Stay awake for them.'

Secure, while to his own eye he said "keep watch!"

ووزيرُ صِدْقٍ جازَ في دَرَج العُلا

ووزيرُ صِدْقٍ جازَ في دَرَج العُلا

غاياتِ كُّلِ مُملَّكٍ ومُؤزَّر

غاياتِ كُّلِ مُملَّكٍ ومُؤزَّر

And a true minister who, on the steps of eminence, surpassed

And the minister of sincerity has attained the highest

the highest attainments of every enthroned ruler and girded minister.

Rank of each empowered and honored realm.

وافَى به العصرُ الأخيرُ وقَصّرَتْ

وافَى به العصرُ الأخيرُ وقَصّرَتْ

عن شَأْوِه وزراءُ كُلِّ الأَعصُر

عن شَأْوِه وزراءُ كُلِّ الأَعصُر

The latest age brought him forth; falling short

The latter age has given him his due, while

of his reach were the ministers of every age.

Ministers of all eras fell short of his stature.

فكأنّما كانوا فوارسَ حَلْبةٍ

فكأنّما كانوا فوارسَ حَلْبةٍ

ركَضوا فكان السّبْقُ للمُتأخِّر

ركَضوا فكان السّبْقُ للمُتأخِّر

It was as though they were horsemen in a race:

As if they were horses charging the battlefield,

they galloped, but first place went to the latecomer.

While the victory went to the one who came last.

لا غْروَ لم تَزَلِ الوِزارةُ قَبلَهُ

لا غْروَ لم تَزَلِ الوِزارةُ قَبلَهُ

تَستَنُّ بينَ مُقَصِّرٍ أو مُقْصِر

تَستَنُّ بينَ مُقَصِّرٍ أو مُقْصِر

No wonder: before him the ministry was forever

No wonder - before him the ministry

galloping between one who fell short and one who held back:

Has faltered between inadequate and failure.

من مُسْرفٍ في البخلِ غيرِ مُوفَّقٍ

من مُسْرفٍ في البخلِ غيرِ مُوفَّقٍ

أو مُوحِشٍ بالمَطْلِ غيرِ مُنَكَّر

أو مُوحِشٍ بالمَطْلِ غيرِ مُنَكَّر

one extravagant in miserliness, not rightly guided,

With a miserly one, inept in stinginess,

or alienating through delay, yet never disavowed,

Or a recluse, heedless of condemnation.

أو ذاهبٍ في الهَزْلِ أبعدَ مَذْهبٍ

أو ذاهبٍ في الهَزْلِ أبعدَ مَذْهبٍ

أو حائرٍ في الجهلِ شَرَّ تَحَيُّر

أو حائرٍ في الجهلِ شَرَّ تَحَيُّر

or going to the furthest extreme in frivolity,

Or one frivolous, exceeding the bounds,

or lost in ignorance in the worst bewilderment,

Or ignorant, in the worst of confusion.

حتّى أُتيحَ وللأمورِ عواقبٌ

حتّى أُتيحَ وللأمورِ عواقبٌ

إقبالُ مَنْصورِ اللِواء مُظفّر

إقبالُ مَنْصورِ اللِواء مُظفّر

until there was granted—and all affairs have outcomes—

Until the affairs came to fruition

the coming of a triumphant man with a victorious banner.

With the victorious Mansur's banners coming forth.

فتَحلَّتِ العلْيا بأَشرفِ حِلْيةٍ

فتَحلَّتِ العلْيا بأَشرفِ حِلْيةٍ

وتَجلَّتِ الدُّنيا بأَحسنِ مَنْظَر

وتَجلَّتِ الدُّنيا بأَحسنِ مَنْظَر

So high glory adorned itself with the noblest ornament,

The elevated were adorned with the finest decorations,

and the world appeared in its fairest aspect.

And the world shone with the best spectacle.

أنظامَ دينِ اللهِ أيّةُ رُتْبةٍ

أنظامَ دينِ اللهِ أيّةُ رُتْبةٍ

أَدركْتَ غايتَها وإنْ لم تفخَر

أَدركْتَ غايتَها وإنْ لم تفخَر

O Nizam of God's faith, what a rank

You attained the highest rank of God's religion -

you have reached at its summit, though you do not boast!

Reached its summit, though you do not boast.

هُمْ قَصّروا عنها ولم يَتواضَعُوا

هُمْ قَصّروا عنها ولم يَتواضَعُوا

وحَظِيتَ أنتَ بها ولم تَتكبَّر

وحَظِيتَ أنتَ بها ولم تَتكبَّر

They fell short of it, yet did not humble themselves;

They fell short of it, nor were humble,

you attained it, yet did not grow proud.

While you gained it, and were not arrogant.

وبَسطْتَ كفّك بالنّوالِ فطَبّقتْ

وبَسطْتَ كفّك بالنّوالِ فطَبّقتْ

بالجودِ تَطبيقَ الغمامِ المُمْطِر

بالجودِ تَطبيقَ الغمامِ المُمْطِر

You stretched your hand out in bounty, so it covered all

You extended your palm in plenty, folding

with generosity, as a rain-bearing cloud covers all.

Together openhandedness and pouring rain.

وكَسبْتَ حُسْنَ الذّكرِ في الدُّنيا التي

وكَسبْتَ حُسْنَ الذّكرِ في الدُّنيا التي

تَفْنَى ومَن يَفعَلْ كفِعْلك يُذْكَر

تَفْنَى ومَن يَفعَلْ كفِعْلك يُذْكَر

And you won fair remembrance in the world, which

You gained fair renown in this fleeting world -

perishes; whoever acts as you do is remembered.

He who does as you do will be remembered.

قد أَنقذَتْ كفّاك شِلْوَ فريسةٍ

قد أَنقذَتْ كفّاك شِلْوَ فريسةٍ

من بعدِ ما عَلِقتْ بنابِ غَضنْفَر

من بعدِ ما عَلِقتْ بنابِ غَضنْفَر

Your two hands have rescued a prey's mangled body

Your hand rescued a hostage from the claws

after it was caught upon a mighty lion's fang.

Of a ferocious lion after being caught.

فرجَعْتَ بالمُلْكِ المُطلّقِ أهلَهُ

فرجَعْتَ بالمُلْكِ المُطلّقِ أهلَهُ

وأقمتَ من خَدِّ العَدّوّ الأصعَر

وأقمتَ من خَدِّ العَدّوّ الأصعَر

You brought back the kingdom that had divorced its people,

You returned an untrammeled rule to its people,

and straightened the enemy's haughtily tilted cheek.

And set up in the enemy's breast a barrier.

حتّى كأنّك أَردَشِيرُ الفُرسِ إذْ

حتّى كأنّك أَردَشِيرُ الفُرسِ إذْ

وافَى فقَصَّ طوائفَ الإسكَنْدر

وافَى فقَصَّ طوائفَ الإسكَنْدر

Until you seemed Ardashir of the Persians, when

Until you are like the Persian Ardashir

he came and cut down Alexander's petty kingdoms.

When he conquered Alexander's companies.

لم تَدّعِ الأقوامُ دُونَك أنّهم

لم تَدّعِ الأقوامُ دُونَك أنّهم

وصَلوا إلى الفَتْحِ المُتاحِ الأَكْبَر

وصَلوا إلى الفَتْحِ المُتاحِ الأَكْبَر

No people could claim, without you, that they

The nations cannot claim to have arrived

had attained the greatest victory granted.

At the greatest open triumph but you.

وأمامَ جيشِك سار ذِكْرُك سابقاً

وأمامَ جيشِك سار ذِكْرُك سابقاً

نحوَ العُداةِ يَفُضُّ جَمْعَ العَسكَر

نحوَ العُداةِ يَفُضُّ جَمْعَ العَسكَر

Ahead of your army, your fame marched first

Before your army your fame went forth preceding,

toward the foes, scattering their assembled host.

To the foes, surpassing the assembled troops.

والشّمسُ قبل طُلوعِها من أُفْقِها

والشّمسُ قبل طُلوعِها من أُفْقِها

تَجلو الدُّجنّةَ بالصَّباح المُسفِر

تَجلو الدُّجنّةَ بالصَّباح المُسفِر

The sun, before it rises from its horizon,

The sun, before rising from its horizon,

dispels the darkness with the brightening dawn.

Dispels the gloom with the radiant dawn.

حضَرتْ مَيامِنُك التي شَملَتْهمُ

حضَرتْ مَيامِنُك التي شَملَتْهمُ

بسُعودِها فكفَتْ وإنْ لم تَحضُر

بسُعودِها فكفَتْ وإنْ لم تَحضُر

Your blessings were present, encompassing them

Your well-omened right hand that encompassed them

with their good fortune; they sufficed, though you were not present.

With its good fortune was enough, though absent.

لم يَعْصِ أمرَك رأسُ أغلبَ أبيضٍ

لم يَعْصِ أمرَك رأسُ أغلبَ أبيضٍ

إلاّ تَعّوضَ صدْرَ أعجَفَ أَسمَر

إلاّ تَعّوضَ صدْرَ أعجَفَ أَسمَر

No head of a stout, fair-skinned warrior defied your command

No white-crowned head disobeyed your command

but took a lean brown spear's breast in exchange.

Unless a swarthy spineless one took its place.

ما عاد من حَربٍ قَناك وقد سقَتْ

ما عاد من حَربٍ قَناك وقد سقَتْ

أطرافُها إلاّ كأيْكٍ مُثْمِر

أطرافُها إلاّ كأيْكٍ مُثْمِر

Your spears never returned from war, having poured forth drink

No war of yours since then but is like a fruitful cloud

through their tips, save like a fruit-bearing grove,

Announcing the bearing of heads taken in war

يَنْآدُ من حَمْلِ الرّؤوسِ المُجتنَى

يَنْآدُ من حَمْلِ الرّؤوسِ المُجتنَى

ويَرِفُّ من وَرْدِ النّجيعِ الأحمْر

ويَرِفُّ من وَرْدِ النّجيعِ الأحمْر

bending beneath a harvest of heads,

And the waving of a crimson meadow of corpses,

and shimmering with the roses of red gore.

A wonder that five fingers of your hand

عجَباً لأَنْ سُمِّينَ خَمْسَ أناملٍ

عجَباً لأَنْ سُمِّينَ خَمْسَ أناملٍ

نشأَتْ بكفِّكَ وهْي خَمسةُ أَبحُر

نشأَتْ بكفِّكَ وهْي خَمسةُ أَبحُر

How strange that they are called five fingertips,

Became five oceans that the unblemished

grown on your hand, when they are five seas!

Exposes himself to tasting until plunged into the precious essence.

يتَعرَّضُ العافِي للَثْمِ ظُهورها

يتَعرَّضُ العافِي للَثْمِ ظُهورها

حتّى يَغوصَ على نَفيسِ الجَوهر

حتّى يَغوصَ على نَفيسِ الجَوهر

The seeker of bounty approaches to kiss their backs,

Pens nearly touch their depths and coil back

so he may dive for precious jewels.

Around the oft-used green parchment.

وتكادُ أقلامٌ تمَسّ بطونَها

وتكادُ أقلامٌ تمَسّ بطونَها

تَلتَفُّ بالوَرِقِ المُعادِ الأَخضَر

تَلتَفُّ بالوَرِقِ المُعادِ الأَخضَر

And pens touching their inner surfaces almost

Say to the one who has surpassed all people - incumbent

become cloaked in renewed green leaves.

Is the care of the elder for the junior kinsman.

قُلْ للّذي فَضَلَ الأنامَ فواجبٌ

قُلْ للّذي فَضَلَ الأنامَ فواجبٌ

عَطْفُ الكبيرِ على الوَلِيّ الأصغَر

عَطْفُ الكبيرِ على الوَلِيّ الأصغَر

Say to him who surpasses humankind—for it is a duty—

I am like the lost deer, so gather me in,

for the great to care for his lesser friend:

O bowl loud called, to the son of Na'sh made to see!

أنا كالسُّها خافي المكانِ فضُمَّني

أنا كالسُّها خافي المكانِ فضُمَّني

يا صاح منكَ إلى ابْنِ نَعشٍ أُبْصَر

يا صاح منكَ إلى ابْنِ نَعشٍ أُبْصَر

I am like al-Suha, obscure in my place; draw me close,

How long this wandering through the lands futilely,

O friend, beside you as Ibn Na'sh, so I may be seen.

Perplexed, bringing my watering place nearer to my source?

كم ذا التّطَوُّفُ في البلادِ مُضيَّعاً

كم ذا التّطَوُّفُ في البلادِ مُضيَّعاً

حَيرانَ يَقرُبُ مَوْردى من مَصْدَري

حَيرانَ يَقرُبُ مَوْردى من مَصْدَري

How long this roaming through the lands, neglected,

I plunge into the deeps of oceans along with thirst

bewildered, my watering-place near my point of departure?

Only to return with the darkest skin.

وأخوضُ في لُجَجِ البحار معَ الظّما

وأخوضُ في لُجَجِ البحار معَ الظّما

فأعودُ منها ذا أديمٍ أَغْبَر

فأعودُ منها ذا أديمٍ أَغْبَر

I wade through the depths of seas while thirsty,

When fickle fortune changes, the world changes -

yet return from them with dust-covered skin.

Though it itself does not change - frequently.

حالٌ من الحظِّ المُضاعِ تَغَيَّرُ الدْ

حالٌ من الحظِّ المُضاعِ تَغَيَّرُ الدْ

دُنْيا مِراراً وهْي لم تَتغَيّر

دُنْيا مِراراً وهْي لم تَتغَيّر

A state of squandered fortune: change comes to the

Between a ruler's command that none carries out,

world time and again, while that state remains unchanged.

And a subject's obedience no one commands.

ما بينَ آمرِ دولةٍ لم يُمتثَلْ

ما بينَ آمرِ دولةٍ لم يُمتثَلْ

منه ومالِكِ طاعةٍ لم يأْمُر

منه ومالِكِ طاعةٍ لم يأْمُر

Between a state's commander whose orders are not obeyed

I have come to your courtyard, so give me to drink

and a master of obedience who gives no orders.

From the overflowing cup of your hand the greatest sins.

وقد انتَهيْتُ إلى فِنائك فاسْقني

وقد انتَهيْتُ إلى فِنائك فاسْقني

من سَيْبِ كَفِّكَ بالذَّنوبِ الأوفر

من سَيْبِ كَفِّكَ بالذَّنوبِ الأوفر

I have now reached your courtyard, so give me drink

My wish is that you live a life of luxury,

from your hand's bounty, with the fullest bucket.

Bounteous, and remain enduringly long in life.

فَمُنايَ أن تَحْيا حياةَ مُنعَّمٍ

فَمُنايَ أن تَحْيا حياةَ مُنعَّمٍ

جَذِلٍ وأن تَبْقَى بَقَاءَ معمَّر

جَذِلٍ وأن تَبْقَى بَقَاءَ معمَّر

My wish is that you live the life of one blessed with ease,

That you live for the kingdom which you have restored,

joyful, and endure like one granted a long life;

And last in it like an ankle ring on a leg.

وتَعيشُ للمُلْكِ الّذي أَحْيَيْتَهُ

وتَعيشُ للمُلْكِ الّذي أَحْيَيْتَهُ

وتَدومُ فيه كمُقْلةٍ في مَحْجَر

وتَدومُ فيه كمُقْلةٍ في مَحْجَر

and live for the kingdom you brought back to life,

and remain within it like an eye in its socket.