خَطبْنَ وأَيمانُ الكُماةِ المَنابرُ

خَطبْنَ وأَيمانُ الكُماةِ المَنابرُ

بألسُنهِنَّ الحُمْرِ بِيضٌ بَواترُ

بألسُنهِنَّ الحُمْرِ بِيضٌ بَواترُ

They preached, the warriors' right hands their pulpits—

The pulpits' speeches and oaths of the veiled women,

white, cleaving swords, with their red tongues.

With their red tongues as white messages,

فخَرّتْ سُجوداً في الثّرى لِدُعائها

فخَرّتْ سُجوداً في الثّرى لِدُعائها

رُؤوسُ عُداةٍ أَسلَمتْها المَغافر

رُؤوسُ عُداةٍ أَسلَمتْها المَغافر

At their summons, down in the dust in prostration fell

So the heads of the enemies bowed down in prostration to its prayer,

the heads of foes, surrendered by their helmets.

Submitted by the Forgiving.

وما افتَضَّ أبكارَ الفُتوحِ سوى ظُبيً

وما افتَضَّ أبكارَ الفُتوحِ سوى ظُبيً

لأغمادِها هامُ المُلوكِ ضَرائر

لأغمادِها هامُ المُلوكِ ضَرائر

Only sword-edges deflowered the virgins of conquest,

And the dawn of conquests did not reveal except gazelles

for whose sheaths kings' heads are rival wives.

For sheaths, the desires of kings flutter.

ذُكورٌ إذا الحَربُ العَوانُ تَمخّضتْ

ذُكورٌ إذا الحَربُ العَوانُ تَمخّضتْ

لها طائرُ الفَتْحِ القريبِ البشائر

لها طائرُ الفَتْحِ القريبِ البشائر

Virile blades: when seasoned battle went into labor,

When war was in labor, males were born,

for them came victory's bird, its tidings near.

The bird of imminent victory gave good tidings.

فللنّصرِ ثَغْرُ النّصْلِ يَبْسِمُ ضاحكاً

فللنّصرِ ثَغْرُ النّصْلِ يَبْسِمُ ضاحكاً

وفي الأرضِ صِدْقُ الضّرْبِ للهامِ ناثر

وفي الأرضِ صِدْقُ الضّرْبِ للهامِ ناثر

The blade's mouth smiles and laughs for victory,

So victory's blade smiles with joy,

and sure striking scatters heads upon the earth.

And the sincerity of the blows on the ground a scatterer.

بيومِ وغىً أُمُّ اللّيالي بمِثْلِه

بيومِ وغىً أُمُّ اللّيالي بمِثْلِه

غدَتْ من أَبي أيّامِها وهْي عاقر

غدَتْ من أَبي أيّامِها وهْي عاقر

On a battle-day whose like the mother of nights

On a day of battle, the mother of nights equal to it

proved barren of bearing by the father of her days.

Became, from its days, while she was barren, pregnant.

ودونَ سنا وجْهِ النّهارِ إذا بدا

ودونَ سنا وجْهِ النّهارِ إذا بدا

تَظاهَر للنّفْعِ المُثارِ سَتائر

تَظاهَر للنّفْعِ المُثارِ سَتائر

Before the radiance of daylight's face, when it appeared,

And below the brilliance of day when it appears

screens of stirred-up dust piled together.

Screens rush to bring benefit.

فما شَمسُه إلاّ شُعاعُ صفائح

فما شَمسُه إلاّ شُعاعُ صفائح

وما أَرضُه إلاّ ثَرىً فيه ثائر

وما أَرضُه إلاّ ثَرىً فيه ثائر

Its sun was nothing but the radiance of blades,

Its sun is but the rays of unsheathed swords,

its earth nothing but dust rising there—

And its land only ground in which there is a rebel.

لِمُدْنٍ ذَراها في الرياح لخيلهم

لِمُدْنٍ ذَراها في الرياح لخيلهم

بكَرٍّ وفَرّ بينهنَّ الحوافر

بكَرٍّ وفَرّ بينهنَّ الحوافر

of cities scattered to the winds by their horses'

To cities it has made as ashes in the winds by their horses

hooves, charging and retreating among them.

Separating between them the hooves.

سقاها سحابٌ والرُّؤوس لسَيله

سقاها سحابٌ والرُّؤوس لسَيله

حبابٌ تنزَّى والدِّماءُ مَواطر

حبابٌ تنزَّى والدِّماءُ مَواطر

A cloud watered them; heads upon its torrent

A cloud watered it, and the heads are for its torrent

were leaping foam, and blood its rainclouds.

Bubbles avoided, and the blood pouring.

وبالحربِ كم صُقْعٍ تناهَى خرابُه

وبالحربِ كم صُقْعٍ تناهَى خرابُه

وبالسِّلمِ عن قُربٍ غدا وهْو عامر

وبالسِّلمِ عن قُربٍ غدا وهْو عامر

Through war, how many a region reached utter ruin,

And with war how many regions were destroyed,

then, through peace, soon became flourishing again!

And with peace close ones became inhabited.

كذاك مجاري السَّيلِ غِبَّ انجِلائه

كذاك مجاري السَّيلِ غِبَّ انجِلائه

إذا عُدَّ أيّامٌ رياضٌ نواضر

إذا عُدَّ أيّامٌ رياضٌ نواضر

So floodcourses, after the flood has cleared,

So are the courses of torrents, the disappearance of its violence,

become verdant meadows after a few days.

When days have passed, gardens blossomed.

متى تَسْتُرُ الغبراءُ تُستَرَ كاسْمِها

متى تَسْتُرُ الغبراءُ تُستَرَ كاسْمِها

فكم ذا إليها ناظرُ السَّوء ناظر

فكم ذا إليها ناظرُ السَّوء ناظر

When will the dust-dark earth hide Tustar, as its name suggests?

Whenever the dust settles, it settles over its name,

How many an evil eye is watching it!

So how many an evil looker has looked at it.

يَسُرُّك ماضي عَهْدِ عدْلٍ إذا أتى

يَسُرُّك ماضي عَهْدِ عدْلٍ إذا أتى

على حينَ من أهليكَ لم يبقَ غابر

على حينَ من أهليكَ لم يبقَ غابر

A bygone age of justice delights you, if it comes

You like the past era of justice when it comes

when not one of your people has survived.

At a time when none of your family remains disappointed.

فلولا زمانٌ مانعٌ وزَمانةٌ

فلولا زمانٌ مانعٌ وزَمانةٌ

لطار برَحْلي منك هوجاءُ ضامر

لطار برَحْلي منك هوجاءُ ضامر

Were it not for obstructive times and infirmity,

If not for a preventing time and eras,

a headlong, lean she-camel would fly with my saddle away from you.

My saddle would have flown from you raging.

وكم لخطوبِ الدَّهر ساءتْ أوائلٌ

وكم لخطوبِ الدَّهر ساءتْ أوائلٌ

وحال بها حالٌ فسُرَّتْ أواخر

وحال بها حالٌ فسُرَّتْ أواخر

How often calamities began unhappily,

And how many good beginnings the fortune of time has corrupted

then circumstances changed, and their endings brought joy!

And a condition has changed with which last ones rejoiced.

فصابِر تصاريفَ اللّيالي إذا دهَتْ

فصابِر تصاريفَ اللّيالي إذا دهَتْ

فما يُدركُ المأمولَ إلاّ المُصابر

فما يُدركُ المأمولَ إلاّ المُصابر

Endure the changes of the nights when they strike:

So be patient with the rotation of nights when they oppress,

none attains what he hopes for except the steadfast.

For what is hoped for is only attained through patience.

وللهِ قومٌ لستُ ناسيَ عهدِهم

وللهِ قومٌ لستُ ناسيَ عهدِهم

وإن نقضَتْ عهدي اللَّيالي الغوادر

وإن نقضَتْ عهدي اللَّيالي الغوادر

What a people, by God! I do not forget their bond,

And to God is a people I do not forget their covenant

though treacherous nights have broken their bond with me.

Even if the treacherous nights have broken my covenant.

متى زاد دهري غَدْرةً زِدتُ ذُكرةً

متى زاد دهري غَدْرةً زِدتُ ذُكرةً

لأيّامهم والحرُّ للعهدِ ذاكر

لأيّامهم والحرُّ للعهدِ ذاكر

Whenever my age adds a betrayal, I add a remembrance

Whenever time betrayed me more, I increased remembering

of their days; a noble man remembers his pledges.

Their days, and the free man remembers the covenant.

أَباعِدُ أملاكٍ إذا ما طرَفْتهم

أَباعِدُ أملاكٍ إذا ما طرَفْتهم

كأنْ قد أطافتْ منهمُ بي عشائر

كأنْ قد أطافتْ منهمُ بي عشائر

Far-off kings whom, whenever I visited,

I seek refuge in the possession of a people if I saw them,

seemed to surround me with clans of their own.

As if their clans had been circling around me.

لِقُرْبيَ منهمْ لا لِقُرْبي برحلتي

لِقُرْبيَ منهمْ لا لِقُرْبي برحلتي

إليهم يُباهِي كُلُّهم ويُفاخر

إليهم يُباهِي كُلُّهم ويُفاخر

It is my closeness to them, not my approach by traveling

Not because I am near to them, but because all of them boast

to them, that each celebrates and boasts of.

And take pride in being near to my encampment.

وقد خلَطوني بالنّفوسِ كأنّما

وقد خلَطوني بالنّفوسِ كأنّما

نَماهُم أَبو الأقيالِ عَمْروٌ وعامر

نَماهُم أَبو الأقيالِ عَمْروٌ وعامر

They made me one with their own selves, as though

They have mixed me with the souls as if

Amr and Amir, fathers of the chieftains, had begotten them.

Amr and Aamer had nurtured them.

ولم يُسْلِني عنهم وإنْ عشتُ بعدهم

ولم يُسْلِني عنهم وإنْ عشتُ بعدهم

بنو زمني هذا الّذينَ أُزاوِر

بنو زمني هذا الّذينَ أُزاوِر

Though I have lived beyond them, I have not been consoled for them

And the children of my time did not ask me about them though I lived after them,

by the men of this age whom I visit.

Those whom I visit.

فكيف وقد أَصبحتُ لا أَنا مُنجدٌ

فكيف وقد أَصبحتُ لا أَنا مُنجدٌ

إلى طَرَفٍ سَيْراً ولا أَنا غائر

إلى طَرَفٍ سَيْراً ولا أَنا غائر

How could I be, now that I neither enter the uplands

So how can it be when I have become unable to support

traveling to any destination, nor descend into the lowlands?

A journey or become absent.

فإن تَكُ بابنَيْ قَيلةٍ شَطّتِ النّوى

فإن تَكُ بابنَيْ قَيلةٍ شَطّتِ النّوى

فكم قَولةٍ منّى بها الدَّهْرُ فاخر

فكم قَولةٍ منّى بها الدَّهْرُ فاخر

If separation has carried the two sons of Qayla far away,

If you pass by the sons of Qailah whose pots have boiled,

how many a saying of mine has given time something to boast of!

How many sayings of mine the time has prided over.

وإن أَصبحَ الأنصارُ عنّيَ غُيّباً

وإن أَصبحَ الأنصارُ عنّيَ غُيّباً

فناصرُ ديِنِ اللهِ لي منه ناصر

فناصرُ ديِنِ اللهِ لي منه ناصر

Though the Ansar have become absent from me,

And if the supporters have become absent from me,

in the champion of God's faith I have a champion.

The supporter of God's religion is to me a supporter from it.

لقد شِمتُ من كفَّيهِ عَشْرَ سَحائبٍ

لقد شِمتُ من كفَّيهِ عَشْرَ سَحائبٍ

فأوردْتُ آمالي وهُنَّ عَواشر

فأوردْتُ آمالي وهُنَّ عَواشر

I have watched ten rainclouds in his two hands,

Indeed I have tasted from his palms ten clouds

and led my hopes to water, thirsty after ten days.

So I have watered my hopes, and they are collectors.

إلى أَوحدِ الدُّنيا الكبيرِ الذي غدا

إلى أَوحدِ الدُّنيا الكبيرِ الذي غدا

إلى كابرٍ يَنْميهِ في المجدِ كابر

إلى كابرٍ يَنْميهِ في المجدِ كابر

To the world's unequalled great man, whose lineage has risen

To the One, Master of the world, the great one, who has become

in glory from one great forebear to another.

In greatness, a great one nurturing.

هَجرْتُ الورَى طُرّاً وهاجرْتُ طائعاً

هَجرْتُ الورَى طُرّاً وهاجرْتُ طائعاً

فلم يَحْظَ منّي هاجِرٌ ومُهاجر

فلم يَحْظَ منّي هاجِرٌ ومُهاجر

I forsook all mankind and migrated willingly;

I have deserted the lands flying and migrated willingly

no deserter or emigrant gained anything from me.

So neither an emigrant nor immigrant has gained from me.

إمامٌ هو الشَّمسُ المنيرةُ للورى

إمامٌ هو الشَّمسُ المنيرةُ للورى

به تَهْتدي أَبصارُهم والبصائر

به تَهْتدي أَبصارُهم والبصائر

An imam, the sun that illuminates mankind:

An imam, he is the shining sun to the worlds,

by him their eyes and inner sight find guidance.

By him their sights are guided and the insights.

تَسترّتُ من رَيْبِ الزّمانِ بِظِلِّه

تَسترّتُ من رَيْبِ الزّمانِ بِظِلِّه

فما هو لي عن عَيْنِ دَهْريَ ساتر

فما هو لي عن عَيْنِ دَهْريَ ساتر

I sheltered from time's uncertainties beneath his shade,

I have concealed myself from the shame of time by his shade

yet he does not conceal me from the eye of my age.

So he is not to me a coverer from the eye of my time.

بأقضَى قضاةِ الدَّهرِ أَعزَزْتُ جانبي

بأقضَى قضاةِ الدَّهرِ أَعزَزْتُ جانبي

فأحجَم عنّي صَرْفُه وهْو صاغر

فأحجَم عنّي صَرْفُه وهْو صاغر

With the most judicious of the age's judges I strengthened my flank,

With the rightest of judges of time I have strengthened my side

and its vicissitudes shrank from me, humbled.

So its caprices have refrained from me overwhelmed.

بمَوْلى مَوالٍ رأيُه العضْبُ صائبٌ

بمَوْلى مَوالٍ رأيُه العضْبُ صائبٌ

ومُولي نوالٍ بحْرُه العَذْبُ زاخر

ومُولي نوالٍ بحْرُه العَذْبُ زاخر

With a lord of lords whose keen-edged judgment strikes true,

By the master of masters whose opinion, ripe, is correct

a giver of gifts whose sweet-water sea is brimming.

And the granter of boons, his ocean fresh overflowing.

له أَرقَمٌ ما انفَكَّ يَرقُمُ أحرُفاً

له أَرقَمٌ ما انفَكَّ يَرقُمُ أحرُفاً

بها الدِّينُ ناهٍ للعِبادِ وآمِر

بها الدِّينُ ناهٍ للعِبادِ وآمِر

He has a speckled serpent that never ceases tracing letters,

For him letters that do not cease composing

through which faith forbids and commands its servants.

By them the religion calls to His servants and commands.

تُداوِي وتُدْوي دائماً نفثاتُه

تُداوِي وتُدْوي دائماً نفثاتُه

فمِن نابِه التِّرياقُ والسُّمُّ قاطر

فمِن نابِه التِّرياقُ والسُّمُّ قاطر

Its breaths continually cure and make ill;

His breaths cure and heal always

from its fang drip antidote and poison.

So from his fang, the antidote and the poison pouring.

يُجِيبُ بفَتْوى أو بجَدْوى سؤالَهم

يُجِيبُ بفَتْوى أو بجَدْوى سؤالَهم

فما هو عنها طُرْفةَ العينِ فاتر

فما هو عنها طُرْفةَ العينِ فاتر

He answers their requests with a legal ruling or a gift,

He answers their question with a decree or wisdom

never slackening for the blink of an eye.

So he is not about them sluggish of eye at all.

مَليٌّ بتَقْريبِ البعيدِ برأيِه

مَليٌّ بتَقْريبِ البعيدِ برأيِه

إذا ما خلا يوماً بَملْكٍ يُشاور

إذا ما خلا يوماً بَملْكٍ يُشاور

He can bring the distant near through his judgment,

Bringing near the far with his opinion

when he is alone with a king in consultation.

When alone consulting a king one day.

مَيامِنُه من غيرِ بعثٍ لعَسْكرٍ

مَيامِنُه من غيرِ بعثٍ لعَسْكرٍ

غَدتْ دونَ هذا المُلْكِ وهْي عَساكر

غَدتْ دونَ هذا المُلْكِ وهْي عَساكر

His blessings, without an army being dispatched,

His cavalry without dispatching an army

have become armies guarding this kingdom.

Have become under this kingship armies.

إذا ما رجالَ الدّهرِ عَدَّتْ أناملُ ال

إذا ما رجالَ الدّهرِ عَدَّتْ أناملُ ال

وَرى سجدَتْ عَجلَى إليك الخَناصر

وَرى سجدَتْ عَجلَى إليك الخَناصر

Whenever mankind's fingers count the men of the age,

When the men of time the fingers have counted

their little fingers hasten to bow toward you.

And hands have prostrated hastily to you the palms.

فإن يُنْوَ تَقديمٌ بها فأيامِنٌ

فإن يُنْوَ تَقديمٌ بها فأيامِنٌ

وإنْ يَنْو تَفْخيمٌ بها فالأياسر

وإنْ يَنْو تَفْخيمٌ بها فالأياسر

If precedence is meant in counting, they are the right-hand fingers;

So if a priority is intended by it then advantages,

if greatness is meant, they are the left-hand ones.

And if magnification then the left hands.

فِداؤك مِن صَرْفِ الرَّدى كُلُّ كاشحٍ

فِداؤك مِن صَرْفِ الرَّدى كُلُّ كاشحٍ

غدا وهْو عن نابِ العداوةِ كاشر

غدا وهْو عن نابِ العداوةِ كاشر

May every hater ransom you from the turns of death,

Your ransom from the caprice of time every bold

who bares the fang of enmity.

Opponent who has become in war biting his fingers.

وخاطَرَ بالنَّفْسِ امْرؤٌ باتَ ليلَه

وخاطَرَ بالنَّفْسِ امْرؤٌ باتَ ليلَه

خِلافُك منه وهْو بالبالِ خاطر

خِلافُك منه وهْو بالبالِ خاطر

A man has staked his life if he spends his night

And a man who has risked himself, spent his night

with opposition to you crossing his mind.

Opposing you and in distress pondering.

أيا رُكنَ إسلامٍ أُراقِبُ حَجَّه

أيا رُكنَ إسلامٍ أُراقِبُ حَجَّه

ولي عنه دَهْري مُحصَرٌ ومُحاصَر

ولي عنه دَهْري مُحصَرٌ ومُحاصَر

O pillar of Islam, whose pilgrimage I long to make,

O pillar of Islam, I watch over its pilgrimage

while my life away from him is hindered and besieged!

And my lifetime to it has been restricted and confined.

متى تَلْتَقي عيني بغُرّةِ وَجْهِه

متى تَلْتَقي عيني بغُرّةِ وَجْهِه

فقلبي إليه رائدُ الشَّوقِ طائر

فقلبي إليه رائدُ الشَّوقِ طائر

When will my eye meet his radiant brow?

Whenever my eye meets the brightness of his face

My heart, longing's scout, flies toward him.

My heart to it the guide of passion flies.

أأصبِرُ عن نادِيه يوماً يَمرُّ بي

أأصبِرُ عن نادِيه يوماً يَمرُّ بي

وما أنا فيه حاضِرٌ ومُحاضِر

وما أنا فيه حاضِرٌ ومُحاضِر

Can I endure a day passing me far from his assembly,

Shall I be patient from his call one day passing me by

without being there, present and conversing?

While I am in it neither present nor discoursing?

وإنّ امرأً أرجَا من العُمْرِ ساعةً

وإنّ امرأً أرجَا من العُمْرِ ساعةً

ولم يَكْتسِبْ فيها علاءً لَخاسر

ولم يَكْتسِبْ فيها علاءً لَخاسر

Indeed, a man who lets an hour of life pass

A man who expects from life an hour

without gaining distinction in it is a loser.

And does not gain in it glory is at loss.

فِدىً لك نَفْسي من كريمٍ وناصِرٍ

فِدىً لك نَفْسي من كريمٍ وناصِرٍ

تَملَّكني إنعامُه المُتَناصر

تَملَّكني إنعامُه المُتَناصر

May my soul ransom you, generous helper,

My soul's ransom from a generous helper

whose successive favors have taken possession of me.

Whose successive grace has overcome me.

له مِنَنٌ عندي جَديدٌ رُسومُها

له مِنَنٌ عندي جَديدٌ رُسومُها

وما الطَّوقُ ما عاش الحمامةُ دائر

وما الطَّوقُ ما عاش الحمامةُ دائر

His favors to me leave ever-fresh marks;

To him from me new, permanent favors

a dove's collar does not fade while it lives.

And the necklace does not remain while the dove circles.

وكم جاء بي نِضْوٌ طوَى الأرضَ ذارِعاً

وكم جاء بي نِضْوٌ طوَى الأرضَ ذارِعاً

فعاد بما أَوْقَرْتَهُ وهْو شابر

فعاد بما أَوْقَرْتَهُ وهْو شابر

How often a worn-out mount brought me, measuring the earth in cubits,

And how many a smooth journey across the land speeding

then returned, beneath your load, pacing in handspans!

Has returned with what you have made weighty and steadfast.

فيا مالِكي عطفاً عليَّ بنَظْرةٍ

فيا مالِكي عطفاً عليَّ بنَظْرةٍ

لها منكَ في ماضي الزَّمانِ نظائر

لها منكَ في ماضي الزَّمانِ نظائر

O my master, turn kindly toward me with a glance,

So O my protector, show me kindness with a glance

like those you granted me in former days.

That has from you in the past of time like ones.

تَماسَكْتُ حتّى لم أَجِدْ لي تماسُكاً

تَماسَكْتُ حتّى لم أَجِدْ لي تماسُكاً

فها هيَ صارتْ بي إليك المصائر

فها هيَ صارتْ بي إليك المصائر

I held myself together until I could hold on no longer;

I have held myself together until I have found no composure

now my destinies have brought me to you.

So here it is, the destinies have become to you my resort.

ولي شِبْلُ صِدْقٍ غيرَ أنْ ليس حاضري

ولي شِبْلُ صِدْقٍ غيرَ أنْ ليس حاضري

فَتُنجِدُني أَنيابُه والأظافر

فَتُنجِدُني أَنيابُه والأظافر

I have a true lion-cub, but he is not here with me

And I have a young cub of sincerity but my presence

so that his fangs and claws might aid me.

Cannot help me, so your power and might.

وصَعْبٌ بلا إسعادِ صَحبٍ نفائسٍ

وصَعْبٌ بلا إسعادِ صَحبٍ نفائسٍ

إذا لم يكنْ بعضٌ لبعضٍ يُضافر

إذا لم يكنْ بعضٌ لبعضٍ يُضافر

It is hard without the help of precious companions,

And it is difficult without happy companions of value

if some do not lend others their support.

When some are not assisting each other and cooperating.

وإنّي لَتُضْنيني حَوالَيَّ أنْ أرَى

وإنّي لَتُضْنيني حَوالَيَّ أنْ أرَى

معاشرَ كُلٌّ لي خليلٌ مُعاشر

معاشرَ كُلٌّ لي خليلٌ مُعاشر

It truly wears me down to see around me

My companions' plight distresses me that I see

groups, each man a close friend and companion.

A group where each to me a friend associating.

فأشكوهُمُ يَشْكونَ أيضاً إضاقةً

فأشكوهُمُ يَشْكونَ أيضاً إضاقةً

عُمومُ الأذى منها على النّاسِ ظاهر

عُمومُ الأذى منها على النّاسِ ظاهر

I complain of them; they too complain of hardship,

I complain of them, they also complain of hardship

whose harm plainly extends to everyone.

The general harm from it on the people is evident.

وقد أكّدوا الشَّكْوَى بنادرةٍ حكَوا

وقد أكّدوا الشَّكْوَى بنادرةٍ حكَوا

وتُبدي خَفّياتِ النّفوسِ النَّوادر

وتُبدي خَفّياتِ النّفوسِ النَّوادر

They reinforced their complaint with an anecdote they told;

And they have emphasized the complaint with a strange narration they told

anecdotes reveal the hidden things in souls.

And the rare qualities of the souls reveal.

حكَوا أنّ في مِصْرٍ صلاةَ جماعةٍ

حكَوا أنّ في مِصْرٍ صلاةَ جماعةٍ

رأتْ عينَ بادٍ وهْو إذْ ذاكَ حاضر

رأتْ عينَ بادٍ وهْو إذْ ذاكَ حاضر

They told of a congregational prayer in Egypt

They told that in Egypt was a group prayer

seen by a Bedouin who happened to be there.

Attended by a Bedouin while he was present.

فخالطَهمْ حتّى يصلِّي وما درَى الصْ

فخالطَهمْ حتّى يصلِّي وما درَى الصْ

صَلاةَ فأضحى واقِفاً وهْو حائر

صَلاةَ فأضحى واقِفاً وهْو حائر

He joined them to pray, though he knew nothing of

So he joined them until he prays, and he did not know the ritual

prayer; he stood there, bewildered.

Of prayer, so he became standing confused.

فقالوا له افْعَلْ ما فعَلْنا ولا تخَفْ

فقالوا له افْعَلْ ما فعَلْنا ولا تخَفْ

إذا لم تكُن منه لشَيْءٍ تُغادر

إذا لم تكُن منه لشَيْءٍ تُغادر

They said, 'Do what we do, and do not fear,

They said to him, do what we have done, and do not worry

provided you omit no part of it.'

If you have not neglected anything from it.

فلمّا استَوى خلْفَ الإمام وصارَ في الرْ

فلمّا استَوى خلْفَ الإمام وصارَ في الرْ

رُكوعِ تَدلَّى ما حوَتْه المَآزر

رُكوعِ تَدلَّى ما حوَتْه المَآزر

When he stood behind the imam and entered

So when he stood behind the imam and came during the bowing

the bow, what the waistwraps concealed dangled.

He lowered what his pants contained.

فأَمسكَ خِصْيَيْهِ فتىً كان خلْفَه

فأَمسكَ خِصْيَيْهِ فتىً كان خلْفَه

لَيضْحكَ منه وهْو حَيرانُ سادر

لَيضْحكَ منه وهْو حَيرانُ سادر

A young man behind him seized his testicles

A young man who was behind him held

to laugh at him, bewildered and oblivious.

His testicles to laugh at him overwhelmed.

ومن بعضِ أركانِ الصَّلاة لجَهْلِه

ومن بعضِ أركانِ الصَّلاة لجَهْلِه

تَوهَّمَهُ رُكناً فأَهوَى يُبادر

تَوهَّمَهُ رُكناً فأَهوَى يُبادر

Out of ignorance, among the pillars of prayer

And from some of the pillars of prayer in his ignorance

he imagined this a pillar, and swiftly bent down.

He assumed it a pillar so reached to take it.

وأمسَك بالشّيخ الإمامِ أمامَه

وأمسَك بالشّيخ الإمامِ أمامَه

كذلك فاسودَّتْ عليهِ المَناظر

كذلك فاسودَّتْ عليهِ المَناظر

He seized the elderly imam before him

And he grabbed the sheikh imam in front of him

likewise, and all sights went black before him.

Thus did the sights for him blacken.

وظلَّ البُدَيْوِيُّ المُعنَّى وماجِنٌ

وظلَّ البُدَيْوِيُّ المُعنَّى وماجِنٌ

من الظّهْرِ خِصْيَيْهِ إلى العَصْرِ عاصر

من الظّهْرِ خِصْيَيْهِ إلى العَصْرِ عاصر

The tormented Bedouin stayed there, while a prankster

And the uncultured one remained clinging

squeezed his testicles from noon until afternoon prayer.

From noon to afternoon grasping.

وخَلَّى الإمامَ حينَ خَلّوهُ بعدَما

وخَلَّى الإمامَ حينَ خَلّوهُ بعدَما

أضاعَتْ من الضِّحكِ الصّلاةَ المَعاشر

أضاعَتْ من الضِّحكِ الصّلاةَ المَعاشر

He let go of the imam when they let go of him, after

And they released the imam when they left him after

the gathering had ruined the prayer with laughter.

He had spoiled the communal prayer by laughing.

وما شَبّهوا إلاّ الحواشي بما حكَوا

وما شَبّهوا إلاّ الحواشي بما حكَوا

فجَلَّ عن الشِّبْهِ المَوالي الأكابر

فجَلَّ عن الشِّبْهِ المَوالي الأكابر

Their tale likened only the attendants;

And they did not compare except the marginal notes to what they told

the great lords stood far above such a comparison.

So the eminent lords refrained from resemblance.

وثقْلُ اللّيالي لا الحواشي شِكايَتي

وثقْلُ اللّيالي لا الحواشي شِكايَتي

فهل عاذِلٌ لي لو تَحقّقَ عاذر

فهل عاذِلٌ لي لو تَحقّقَ عاذر

The weight of the nights, not the attendants, is my complaint;

But the burden of nights, not the marginal notes, are my complaint

would a reproacher excuse me if he knew the truth?

So is there someone to excuse me if he is reasonable?

وحاشا حواشي سَيّدٍ أنا عَبْدُه

وحاشا حواشي سَيّدٍ أنا عَبْدُه

له ولهم ودّاً صفتْ لي الضمائر

له ولهم ودّاً صفتْ لي الضمائر

Far be it from the attendants of a lord whose servant I am!

And far be it that the marginal notes of a master whose servant I am

My inmost thoughts are clear with love for him and them.

To him and to them affection have described my consciousness.

مكاريمُ للأضياف في عَرصاته

مكاريمُ للأضياف في عَرصاته

سقَى عهدَهم عنّي الغُيوث البواكر

سقَى عهدَهم عنّي الغُيوث البواكر

Generous hosts to guests within his courtyards:

The generous to guests in his courtyard

may early rains water their remembered days on my behalf!

Their covenant from me the early rains have watered.

فما قصَّروا بي عن مدىً من كرامةٍ

فما قصَّروا بي عن مدىً من كرامةٍ

ولكنّني عن شُكْرِهم أنا قاصر

ولكنّني عن شُكْرِهم أنا قاصر

They withheld from me no measure of honor,

So they have not been miserly to me from a measure of benevolence

but I fall short of thanking them.

But I from thanking them have been deficient.

إليك إذَنْ لامنكَ نُنْهي شِكايةً

إليك إذَنْ لامنكَ نُنْهي شِكايةً

ولا مُشتكَي إلاّ اللّيالي الجَوائر

ولا مُشتكَي إلاّ اللّيالي الجَوائر

To you, then—not against you—we submit a complaint;

To you then, not blaming you, we end a complaint

none is complained of except the unjust nights.

And none complains but the oppressive nights.

فهَبْ نظرةً عَدْلاً يَصِخْ لك ناظِراً

فهَبْ نظرةً عَدْلاً يَصِخْ لك ناظِراً

بَواطِنُ من أَحوالنا وظَواهر

بَواطِنُ من أَحوالنا وظَواهر

Grant a fair look: while you gaze, there will respond to you

So grant an equitable look that to you a looker cries out

the hidden and outward aspects of our affairs.

The essences of our conditions and the appearances.

إذا ما علَى النُّوّابِ ثُقِّلَ ثَقّلوا

إذا ما علَى النُّوّابِ ثُقِّلَ ثَقّلوا

عَلّى فلِي ما ضّرَّ صَحْبِيَ ضائر

عَلّى فلِي ما ضّرَّ صَحْبِيَ ضائر

When burdens are laid upon the deputies, they lay burdens

When the deputies are burdened they burden

upon me; whatever harms my companions harms me.

Afflict me with what has harmed my companions.

يقولون نحن الغارمون فما لنا

يقولون نحن الغارمون فما لنا

يُساهِمُنا ذو تُرْفةٍ ويُشاطر

يُساهِمُنا ذو تُرْفةٍ ويُشاطر

They say, 'We bear the costs; why should

They say we are the losers so what do we have

a man living comfortably share our portions and divide them with us?'

To share with one of luxury and partner?

فقلتُ هما صِنْفانِ صِنْفٌ مَغارِمٌ

فقلتُ هما صِنْفانِ صِنْفٌ مَغارِمٌ

بها استَوجَبوا سَهْماً وصِنْفٌ مَفاقر

بها استَوجَبوا سَهْماً وصِنْفٌ مَفاقر

I said, 'There are two classes: one has expenses

I said they are two types, a type has incurred losses

by which they merit a share; the other has poverty.'

By which they deserve a share, and a type destitute.

ولا تَخْرِقُ العاداتِ أنظارُ مُعْسِرٍ

ولا تَخْرِقُ العاداتِ أنظارُ مُعْسِرٍ

شكا زمَناً حتّى تَعودَ مَياسر

شكا زمَناً حتّى تَعودَ مَياسر

A destitute man's hopeful looks do not overturn custom;

And the sights of a penniless one do not tear conventions

he laments his times until prosperity returns.

Complaining an era until ease returns.

وغير بعيدٍ حيثُ كُذِّبَ أَوّلٌ

وغير بعيدٍ حيثُ كُذِّبَ أَوّلٌ

لطالعِ فَجرٍ أنْ يُصَدَّقَ آخِر

لطالعِ فَجرٍ أنْ يُصَدَّقَ آخِر

Nor is it far-fetched, when the first was belied,

And soon where a first was denied

for a later dawning to prove true.

The dawn of a new light believed another.

لعلّ لعاً إن قلتَ يَرجِعُ ناهِضاً

لعلّ لعاً إن قلتَ يَرجِعُ ناهِضاً

بإقْبالِك الجَدُّ الّذي هو عاثر

بإقْبالِك الجَدُّ الّذي هو عاثر

Perhaps, if you say, 'Rise!' it will get up again—

Perhaps misfortune, if you say, will return vigorous

through your favor, the fortune that has stumbled.

With your favorable decree that has stumbled.

فمُرْ لي بتَسْويغ القضاء ومُرْهُمُ

فمُرْ لي بتَسْويغ القضاء ومُرْهُمُ

بقَسْمٍ سواءٍ دامَ منك الأَوامر

بقَسْمٍ سواءٍ دامَ منك الأَوامر

Command that I be granted the judgeship, and command them

So order me the justification of fate and order them

to divide equally; may your commands endure!

With an equal division, so long as your command remains.

لِيجمعَ كُلاً ظِلُّ دولتِكَ التي

لِيجمعَ كُلاً ظِلُّ دولتِكَ التي

علينا الغِنَى من سُحْبِها مُتَقاطر

علينا الغِنَى من سُحْبِها مُتَقاطر

Let the shade of your rule gather everyone together,

So that each the shade of your state that

from whose clouds wealth rains down upon us.

Wealth from its clouds on us is pouring may gather.

فأنت لنا المَولَى العظيمُ جلالُه

فأنت لنا المَولَى العظيمُ جلالُه

ونحن فأَسعِدْنا العَبيدُ الأصاغر

ونحن فأَسعِدْنا العَبيدُ الأصاغر

You are our lord, great in majesty,

For you are to us the great guardian, majestic His glory,

and we—grant us good fortune!—are your lowly servants.

And we are the happy servants, the young.

ومادُمْتَ حيّاً فالحقوقُ قديمةٌ

ومادُمْتَ حيّاً فالحقوقُ قديمةٌ

لبَحْرِك يا ابنَ الأكرمينَ أُجاور

لبَحْرِك يا ابنَ الأكرمينَ أُجاور

As long as you live, the claims are long-established;

And so long as you live the rights are old

I dwell beside your sea, O son of the noblest.

To your ocean, O son of the most generous, I neighbor.

فإنّ مَعاشي في بقيّةِ عيشتي

فإنّ مَعاشي في بقيّةِ عيشتي

عليك فلا تَشْغَلْكَ عنّي المَعاذر

عليك فلا تَشْغَلْكَ عنّي المَعاذر

My livelihood throughout the rest of my life

For my livelihood for the remainder of my life

rests upon you; let no excuses distract you from me.

Is upon you so do not let excuses preoccupy you.

ضَياعي كذا عارٌ على كُلِّ صاحبٍ

ضَياعي كذا عارٌ على كُلِّ صاحبٍ

وحاشاك أن تغْشَى عُلاكَ المَعاير

وحاشاك أن تغْشَى عُلاكَ المَعاير

My being left destitute thus shames every companion;

My loss is such a disgrace upon every companion

far be it from you that reproaches should cover your eminence!

And far be it from you to be overcome by blames.

وإلاّ فَطَيّاً للفيافي تَجوزُ بي

وإلاّ فَطَيّاً للفيافي تَجوزُ بي

عُذافِرَةٌ أَجوازَها أَو عُذافر

عُذافِرَةٌ أَجوازَها أَو عُذافر

Otherwise, folding up the deserts, there will bear me through

Or else long live the open deserts that locusts cross

their heartlands a mighty she-camel, or a mighty male.

Camels whose pacing or the trotting.

ولا عَيْبَ أنّي من جنابِكَ راحلٌ

ولا عَيْبَ أنّي من جنابِكَ راحلٌ

إلى جانبٍ لي فيه تُرعَى أواصر

إلى جانبٍ لي فيه تُرعَى أواصر

There is no shame in my departing from your presence

And there is no shame that I am traveling from your side

to a place where my bonds of kinship are honored.

To a side for me in which ties are pastured.

فقد خِفْتُ حتّى خِفْتُ أنْ ستقولُ لي

فقد خِفْتُ حتّى خِفْتُ أنْ ستقولُ لي

وأنت على ما شئْتَ لو شئتَ قادر

وأنت على ما شئْتَ لو شئتَ قادر

I have feared so much that I fear you will tell me—

For I have feared until I have feared that you may say to me

and you could do whatever you wished, if you wished—

While you over what you will, if you will, are capable:

كما قال زَيْدُ الخيلِ يومَ حفيظةٍ

كما قال زَيْدُ الخيلِ يومَ حفيظةٍ

غدا وهْو فيه للحُطَيئةِ آسر

غدا وهْو فيه للحُطَيئةِ آسر

as Zayd al-Khayl said on a day of indignation,

As Zayd the knight said the day of Hufayzah

when he became al-Hutay'a's captor:

When he captured al-Hutay'ah made him prisoner:

أقولُ لعَبْدَيْ جَرْوَلٍ إذْ أسَرْتُه

أقولُ لعَبْدَيْ جَرْوَلٍ إذْ أسَرْتُه

أَثِبْني ولا يَغْرُرْكَ أنّك شاعر

أَثِبْني ولا يَغْرُرْكَ أنّك شاعر

'I say to my slave Jarwal, when I captured him:

I say to my slave Jarwal when I captured him:

Reward me, and do not let being a poet deceive you.'

"Ransom me and do not be fooled that you are a poet."

فقال ألا لا مالَ عندي وإنّما

فقال ألا لا مالَ عندي وإنّما

ثَوابي ثناءٌ في البسيطةِ سائر

ثَوابي ثناءٌ في البسيطةِ سائر

He replied, 'Listen: I have no wealth; my only

So he said: "But I have no money, rather

reward is praise that travels across the earth.'

My reward is fame in the ode spreading."

فأَطلَقَ عن قَيْنَيهِ قَيْدَيهِ مُسرعاً

فأَطلَقَ عن قَيْنَيهِ قَيْدَيهِ مُسرعاً

وعاد إلى أصحابهِ وهْو شاكر

وعاد إلى أصحابهِ وهْو شاكر

He hurriedly removed the two fetters from his two shanks,

So he released from his fetters his two feet speedily

and he returned to his companions, grateful.

And returned to his companions thanking.

فيا أيُّها الصّدْرُ الّذي بَحْرُ جُودِه

فيا أيُّها الصّدْرُ الّذي بَحْرُ جُودِه

له الواردُ التّأميلُ والشكرُ صادر

له الواردُ التّأميلُ والشكرُ صادر

O chief, whose sea of generosity

O breast whose sea of generosity

has hope arriving at it and gratitude departing!

The coming and thanking to it the source.

سريرتُك الإحسانُ والعَدْلُ والتُّقَى

سريرتُك الإحسانُ والعَدْلُ والتُّقَى

وفي كُلِّ صَدْرٍ إن نظرنا سَرائر

وفي كُلِّ صَدْرٍ إن نظرنا سَرائر

Your inner nature is beneficence, justice, and piety;

Your conscience is benevolence, justice and piety

in every breast, if we look, are hidden things.

And in every breast, if we look, secrets.

حياؤك يَطْوِي ما يُفيدُ منَ الّلها

حياؤك يَطْوِي ما يُفيدُ منَ الّلها

ولكنّ ما يَطْويِه شُكريَ ناشر

ولكنّ ما يَطْويِه شُكريَ ناشر

Your modesty conceals the gifts it bestows,

Your shyness conceals what would benefit the reputation

but my gratitude unfolds what it conceals.

But my gratitude publicizes what it conceals.

فزِدْني جميلاً منك وازْدَدْ بشُكْرِه

فزِدْني جميلاً منك وازْدَدْ بشُكْرِه

جمالاً فَمولِيُّ الجميلِ مُتَاجر

جمالاً فَمولِيُّ الجميلِ مُتَاجر

Give me more kindness, and through thanks for it gain

So increase me in bounty from you, and increase

more beauty: the giver of kindness is a trader.

In beauty from thanking it, so the master of bounty trades.

ومُكْرِمُ مثْلي مُكْرِمٌ بي نفسَه

ومُكْرِمُ مثْلي مُكْرِمٌ بي نفسَه

إذا أَعملَ الفِكْرَ الفقيهُ المُناظر

إذا أَعملَ الفِكْرَ الفقيهُ المُناظر

Whoever honors someone like me honors himself through me,

And one honoring the likes of me honors himself

if the learned disputant sets his mind to work.

When the wise jurist ponders.

وسيّانِ معنىً أن يُنَوَّلَ ناظِمٌ

وسيّانِ معنىً أن يُنَوَّلَ ناظِمٌ

مديحَ جوادٍ أو يُقَبّلَ ناظر

مديحَ جوادٍ أو يُقَبّلَ ناظر

They are alike in meaning: rewarding a poet

And it is equal in meaning whether a composer

for a generous man's praise, or kissing an eye.

Praises a generous one or a looker kisses.

فدُمْ للعُلا والمجدِ مادام دِيمةٌ

فدُمْ للعُلا والمجدِ مادام دِيمةٌ

تُرَجّي البوادي صَوْبَها والحَواضر

تُرَجّي البوادي صَوْبَها والحَواضر

Endure for eminence and glory as long as steady rain

So persist for supremacy and glory as long as

has deserts and towns hoping for its downpour.

Hoping you the wildernesses and the settlements yearn for.

ودام شهابٌ أنت مَطْلعُ سَعْدِه

ودام شهابٌ أنت مَطْلعُ سَعْدِه

وأَنوارُهُ للنّاظرِينَ بَواهر

وأَنوارُهُ للنّاظرِينَ بَواهر

And may Shihab endure—you are the rising-place of his good fortune—

And so long as a comet remains whose rise of fortune you are

his lights dazzling those who look.

And its lights to the beholders insights.