وَراءَكَ عَنّي يا عَذولَ الأَشايِبِ

وَراءَكَ عَنّي يا عَذولَ الأَشايِبِ

بِكُلفَةِ عَذلٍ بَعدَ شَيبِ الذَوائِبِ

بِكُلفَةِ عَذلٍ بَعدَ شَيبِ الذَوائِبِ

Away from me, O reproacher of gray-haired men,

Behind you leave me, O fickle one of hoary locks,

with your burdensome blame after the forelocks have grayed.

With the blame of one who tarries after the locks have turned hoary.

أَلَم تَعلَمي أَن لَيسَ في الأَرضِ مَرأَةٌ

أَلَم تَعلَمي أَن لَيسَ في الأَرضِ مَرأَةٌ

تَقومُ عَلى حَدِّ اِعتِدالِ المَذاهِبِ

تَقومُ عَلى حَدِّ اِعتِدالِ المَذاهِبِ

Did you not know that no woman on earth

Do you not know that there is no woman on earth

keeps to the bounds of balanced ways?

Who equals the poise of varied creeds?

أَعاذِلَ ما نَيلي مَكانَ الكَواكِبِ

أَعاذِلَ ما نَيلي مَكانَ الكَواكِبِ

بِأَبعَدَ عِندي مِن وِصالِ الكَواعِبِ

بِأَبعَدَ عِندي مِن وِصالِ الكَواعِبِ

O reproacher, my reaching the place of the stars

I shun those who attain the place of stars

is no more distant to me than union with budding-breasted maidens.

With remoteness from me beyond the union of yearning ones.

وَعَذلُكِ عِندي مِثلُ عُذرٍ فَأَقصِري

وَعَذلُكِ عِندي مِثلُ عُذرٍ فَأَقصِري

وَلَومُ القَعودِ الفَحلَ إِحدى العَجائِبِ

وَلَومُ القَعودِ الفَحلَ إِحدى العَجائِبِ

Your reproach is like an excuse to me, so desist;

And your blame to me is like the excuse of one who lingers behind,

a young riding camel's reproaching a breeding male is a wonder.

So make your rebuke brief, though the stallion's lingering is one of wonders.

أَلَستِ إِذا مُيِّزتِ نَفساً وَعُنصُراً

أَلَستِ إِذا مُيِّزتِ نَفساً وَعُنصُراً

مِنَ الواعِداتِ المُخلِفاتِ الكَواذِبِ

مِنَ الواعِداتِ المُخلِفاتِ الكَواذِبِ

Are you not, when assessed in spirit and origin,

Are you not, when you single out a soul and lineage

among the promise-givers, promise-breakers, and liars?

From among the promising ones, the truant liars,

فَلَيسَ لِمِثلي لَومُ مِثلِكِ جائِزاً

فَلَيسَ لِمِثلي لَومُ مِثلِكِ جائِزاً

لَقَد ساءَ مَسموعاً خِطابُ المُخاطِبِ

لَقَد ساءَ مَسموعاً خِطابُ المُخاطِبِ

For one like me, reproach from one like you is unacceptable;

So for one like me blaming one like you is not allowed,

the speaker's address has indeed sounded foul.

Indeed, the words of the describer have been ill-heard.

تَرَكتُ الصِبا وَالغَيَّ قَبلَ مَداهُما

تَرَكتُ الصِبا وَالغَيَّ قَبلَ مَداهُما

وَتَركُهُما إِيّايَ بَينَ النَوائِبِ

وَتَركُهُما إِيّايَ بَينَ النَوائِبِ

I abandoned youthful passion and waywardness before their full course,

I relinquished youth and love songs before reaching their limit,

and before they abandoned me amid calamities,

And they relinquished me amidst vicissitudes.

عَلى حِفظِ عَهدِ الحُبِّ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

عَلى حِفظِ عَهدِ الحُبِّ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

يُنَسّي المُحِبّينَ اِدِّكارَ الحَبائِبِ

يُنَسّي المُحِبّينَ اِدِّكارَ الحَبائِبِ

while keeping love's covenant in every place

To keep the covenant of love in every abode

that makes lovers forget their beloveds.

Which makes lovers forget the mention of loved ones.

فَيا أَيُّها الخِلُّ الَّذي لَيسَ تارِكي

فَيا أَيُّها الخِلُّ الَّذي لَيسَ تارِكي

وَمَكروهَ دَهري مِن صُدودِ المُجانِبِ

وَمَكروهَ دَهري مِن صُدودِ المُجانِبِ

O close friend, who does not leave me

So, O naughty one, whom I do not cease to avoid

with my time's hateful trials—the rejection of one who shuns me—

And who is hateful to me from warding off intimates,

فَما أَبصَرَ الدُنيا بِعَينِ دُنوِّهِ

فَما أَبصَرَ الدُنيا بِعَينِ دُنوِّهِ

وَلا وِزرَ فيها لِلمُحِبِّ المُصاقِبِ

وَلا وِزرَ فيها لِلمُحِبِّ المُصاقِبِ

how clearly one sees the world through the eye of his nearness,

You have never perceived the world with its baseness,

with no burden there for the loving friend close by.

Nor has one who loves and endures had a part in it.

ظَلَمتُكَ إِن شَبَّهتُكَ البَدرَ طالِعاً

ظَلَمتُكَ إِن شَبَّهتُكَ البَدرَ طالِعاً

وَبِالشَمسِ يَومُ الدَجنِ بَينَ سَحائِبِ

وَبِالشَمسِ يَومُ الدَجنِ بَينَ سَحائِبِ

I wrong you if I liken you to the rising full moon,

I wronged you when I likened you to the rising full moon,

or to the sun amid clouds on an overcast day,

And to the sun on a clouded day amidst clouds,

لِأَنَّ لِكُلٍّ مِنهُما وَقتَ غَيبَةٍ

لِأَنَّ لِكُلٍّ مِنهُما وَقتَ غَيبَةٍ

وَأَنَّكَ لا غُيِّبتَ لَستَ بِغائِبِ

وَأَنَّكَ لا غُيِّبتَ لَستَ بِغائِبِ

for each of those two has a time of absence,

Because each of them has a time of absence,

whereas you—may you never be taken away—are never absent.

While you, you are not absent, you are not absent.

وَأَنَّ بِوَجهِ البَدرِ مَحواً وَلَطخَةً

وَأَنَّ بِوَجهِ البَدرِ مَحواً وَلَطخَةً

وَوَجهَكَ ما فيهِ مَعابٌ لِعائِبِ

وَوَجهَكَ ما فيهِ مَعابٌ لِعائِبِ

And the full moon's face has an effacement and a stain,

That the full moon has defects and blemishes,

while your face offers no blemish to a faultfinder.

While your face has no shame in it to be veiled.

وَأَنَّكَ إِن قيسَت مَحاسِنُ جَمَّةٌ

وَأَنَّكَ إِن قيسَت مَحاسِنُ جَمَّةٌ

إِلَيكَ تَناهَت أَتعَبَت كُلَّ حاسِبِ

إِلَيكَ تَناهَت أَتعَبَت كُلَّ حاسِبِ

And when your abundant beauties are measured,

And that if your beauties are compared,

they reach their utmost in you, wearying every reckoner.

Every counter tires and falters.

وَلَستُ بِناسٍ عَيشَنا وَاِغتِباطَنا

وَلَستُ بِناسٍ عَيشَنا وَاِغتِباطَنا

بِعِزِّ شَبابٍ لِلحَوادِثِ غالِبِ

بِعِزِّ شَبابٍ لِلحَوادِثِ غالِبِ

I shall not forget our life and our delight

And I am not of the people whose life and joy

in the strength of youth triumphant over misfortunes,

Lie in the pride of youth victorious over vicissitudes,

وَإِدراكَنا في ظِلِّهِ كُلَّ بُغيَةِ

وَإِدراكَنا في ظِلِّهِ كُلَّ بُغيَةِ

مِنَ العَيشِ فاقَت سامِياتِ المَطالِبِ

مِنَ العَيشِ فاقَت سامِياتِ المَطالِبِ

nor our attaining, beneath its shade, every wish

And in reaching, in its shade, every object of desire,

for a life surpassing the loftiest aspirations.

Beyond the highest aspirations.

فَمِنها إِذا ما الجِدُّ كانَ أَوانُهُ

فَمِنها إِذا ما الجِدُّ كانَ أَوانُهُ

بُلوغُ المَعالي الطَيِّباتِ المَكاسِبِ

بُلوغُ المَعالي الطَيِّباتِ المَكاسِبِ

Among them, when the time for earnestness came,

Of them, when seriousness is its time,

was reaching lofty honors with wholesome gains;

Is attaining the pure, wholesome heights.

وَمِنها إِذا ما الهَزلُ حانَت هَناتُهُ

وَمِنها إِذا ما الهَزلُ حانَت هَناتُهُ

مُنى النَفسِ في سِترٍ عَنِ الفُحشِ حاجِبِ

مُنى النَفسِ في سِترٍ عَنِ الفُحشِ حاجِبِ

and among them, when the little pleasures of play arrived,

And of them, when play is its season,

were the soul's desires under a veil screening out indecency:

The soul's delight in covering decency's veil.

كُؤوسٌ مِنَ الصَهباءِ تَأبى اِجتِماعَها

كُؤوسٌ مِنَ الصَهباءِ تَأبى اِجتِماعَها

إِذا اِنتُشِحَت الهَمَّ في صَدرِ شارِبِ

إِذا اِنتُشِحَت الهَمَّ في صَدرِ شارِبِ

cups of tawny wine that refuse to coexist,

Goblets of silver unwilling to join together

once imbibed, with grief in a drinker's breast.

If worries expand in a drinker's breast.

جَمَعنا وَأَطيارُ الصَباحِ نَواطِقٌ

جَمَعنا وَأَطيارُ الصَباحِ نَواطِقٌ

لَنا وَلَها بَينَ الذُرى وَالحَواجِبِ

لَنا وَلَها بَينَ الذُرى وَالحَواجِبِ

We gathered, while the birds of morning sang

Our gathering and the tuneful birds of morn

for us and themselves among the summits and ridges,

Speak to us and to them between homes and brows.

فَكُلِّ سُرورٍ بِالغِناءِ وَبِالغِنى

فَكُلِّ سُرورٍ بِالغِناءِ وَبِالغِنى

وَبِالفَضلِ وَالجَدوى عَلى كُلِّ راغِبِ

وَبِالفَضلِ وَالجَدوى عَلى كُلِّ راغِبِ

every delight in singing and wealth,

Every gladness, with singing and riches,

and in bounty and largesse bestowed on every seeker.

And merit and benefit over every aspirant.

أَعاذِلَ إِنَّ اللَومَ مِنكَ غَضاضَةٌ

أَعاذِلَ إِنَّ اللَومَ مِنكَ غَضاضَةٌ

عَلَيَّ وَإِنّي لائِمٌ كُلَّ جانِبِ

عَلَيَّ وَإِنّي لائِمٌ كُلَّ جانِبِ

O reproacher, your blame is a humiliation

O fickle one, blame from you is hurtful to me

to me, though I reproach every side myself.

While I blame every side.

عَرَفتُ زَماني فَاِعتَذَرتُ لِحَربِهِ

عَرَفتُ زَماني فَاِعتَذَرتُ لِحَربِهِ

وَلَمّا أَضَع عَنّي ثِيابَ المُحارِبِ

وَلَمّا أَضَع عَنّي ثِيابَ المُحارِبِ

I knew my age and made excuses for its warfare,

I knew my time so I apologized for its war,

yet have not put off the warrior's clothes.

And did not cast off the clothes of a fighter.

وَجَرَّبتُ حَتّى ما أَرى الدَهرَ مُغرِباً

وَجَرَّبتُ حَتّى ما أَرى الدَهرَ مُغرِباً

عَلَيَّ بِصَرفٍ لَم يَكُن في تَجارِبي

عَلَيَّ بِصَرفٍ لَم يَكُن في تَجارِبي

I gained experience until I no longer saw Time surprising me

And I tried until I did not see time turn

with a turn of fate absent from my experience.

Upon me with a change that was not in my trials.

وَما غَرَّني حُسنُ المَبادي لِأَنَّهُ

وَما غَرَّني حُسنُ المَبادي لِأَنَّهُ

مِنَ الدَهرِ مَحتومٌ بِسوءِ العَواقِبِ

مِنَ الدَهرِ مَحتومٌ بِسوءِ العَواقِبِ

The beauty of beginnings did not deceive me, for it

And I was not tempted by the good beginnings,

is, from Time, doomed to evil endings.

Because with time comes the evil outcomes.

وَلَو لَم يَكُن إِلّا تَوَقَّعَ هابِطٍ

وَلَو لَم يَكُن إِلّا تَوَقَّعَ هابِطٍ

إِذاً لَكَفاني مُنكَراتُ النَوائِبِ

إِذاً لَكَفاني مُنكَراتُ النَوائِبِ

Even were there nothing but anticipation of Hābiṭ,

Had it only been the expectation of a decline

the horrors of calamity would then suffice me.

That would suffice to make me hate vicissitudes.

لَقَد أَحدَثَت فيهِ اللَيالي غَريباً

لَقَد أَحدَثَت فيهِ اللَيالي غَريباً

مُصَدَّرَةً في أُمَّهاتِ الغَرائِبِ

مُصَدَّرَةً في أُمَّهاتِ الغَرائِبِ

The nights have indeed brought forth in him a strange thing,

In it, nights have brought about strange things,

ranked foremost among the greatest marvels.

Innovating in their origins the strangest things.

تَوَلّى فَصارَ الدَهرُ شَرّاً بِأَسرِهِ

تَوَلّى فَصارَ الدَهرُ شَرّاً بِأَسرِهِ

صُراحاً بِلا شَوبٍ مِنَ الخَيرِ شايِبِ

صُراحاً بِلا شَوبٍ مِنَ الخَيرِ شايِبِ

He took power, and Time became wholly evil,

It turned hostile so time became evil in its entirety,

pure and unmixed with any trace of good.

Frankly without any goodness, graying.

فَإِن نُحصِ بِالتَفصيلِ مِنهُ مَثالِباً

فَإِن نُحصِ بِالتَفصيلِ مِنهُ مَثالِباً

تَناهَينَ نَعجَز قَبلَ جَمعِ المَثالِبِ

تَناهَينَ نَعجَز قَبلَ جَمعِ المَثالِبِ

If we count his faults in detail,

If we enumerate its faults in detail,

they reach such extremes that we fail before gathering them all.

They will elude us before gathering the faults.

وَإِن نَقتَصِر مِنهُ عَلى وَصفِ جُملَةٍ

وَإِن نَقتَصِر مِنهُ عَلى وَصفِ جُملَةٍ

تَدُلُّ عَلى التَفصيلِ نَعمَل بِواجِبِ

تَدُلُّ عَلى التَفصيلِ نَعمَل بِواجِبِ

And if we confine ourselves to a summary description of him

And if we limit ourselves to describing an overview

that points to the details, we do what is required.

That indicates the detail, we do our duty.

عَلى أَنَّ أَدنى القَولِ فيهِ مُضَيَّعٌ

عَلى أَنَّ أَدنى القَولِ فيهِ مُضَيَّعٌ

فَكَيفَ بِأَقصى القَولِ فَاِصدُق وَقارِبِ

فَكَيفَ بِأَقصى القَولِ فَاِصدُق وَقارِبِ

Yet even the least said about him is wasted;

Because the lowest words about it are wasted,

how, then, the fullest? Speak truthfully, and keep within bounds.

So what of the highest words? So be truthful and draw near!

وَأَعظَمُ مِمّا خَصَّني مِن أَذاتِهِ

وَأَعظَمُ مِمّا خَصَّني مِن أَذاتِهِ

عَلَيَّ بِقَولٍ صادِقٍ غَيرَ كاذِبِ

عَلَيَّ بِقَولٍ صادِقٍ غَيرَ كاذِبِ

And greater than the harm he singled me out for,

And greater than what afflicted me of its pains

upon me—as I say truly, without lying—

Upon me, in truthful words, not lies,

جِنايَتُهُ في عِدلِ نَفسي وَواحِدي

جِنايَتُهُ في عِدلِ نَفسي وَواحِدي

عَلَيَّ فَقَد كانَت أَجَلَّ المَصايِبِ

عَلَيَّ فَقَد كانَت أَجَلَّ المَصايِبِ

was his crime against my soul's equal, my only one;

Is its crime in the justice of my soul and my one,

for me, it was the gravest of calamities.

Myself - indeed it was the greatest calamity.

شَقيقي أَبي إِسحاقَ نَفسي فِداؤُهُ

شَقيقي أَبي إِسحاقَ نَفسي فِداؤُهُ

وَرَأسُ بَقايا كُلِّ حُرٍّ وَكاتِبِ

وَرَأسُ بَقايا كُلِّ حُرٍّ وَكاتِبِ

My own brother, Abū Isḥāq—may my soul ransom him—

My brother Abu Isaac - myself his ransom -

and foremost of the remaining freeborn men and scribes.

And the summit of the relics of every freeman and writer.

كَذَلِكَ كانَت نِعمَةُ اللَهِ تُمِّمَت

كَذَلِكَ كانَت نِعمَةُ اللَهِ تُمِّمَت

بِتَخليصِهِ عِندي أَجَلَّ المَواهِبِ

بِتَخليصِهِ عِندي أَجَلَّ المَواهِبِ

Thus was God's grace brought to completion,

Just so, God's blessing upon him was complete

by his deliverance, to me the greatest of gifts.

By saving him in my view, the greatest of gifts.

فَهَنّاهُ ما أَولاهُ مَولاهُ مُسبِغاً

فَهَنّاهُ ما أَولاهُ مَولاهُ مُسبِغاً

عَلَيهِ مَزيداً جامِعاً لِلرَغائِبِ

عَلَيهِ مَزيداً جامِعاً لِلرَغائِبِ

May what his Lord bestowed gladden him, lavishing

So his Master made him happy with what he granted him,

upon him further bounty encompassing every desire;

Adding abundantly, gathering wishes.

وَأَسعَدَهُ بِالصَومِ وَالفِطرِ تالِياً

وَأَسعَدَهُ بِالصَومِ وَالفِطرِ تالِياً

وَكُلِّ زَمانٍ بَعدُ جاءٍ وَذاهِبِ

وَكُلِّ زَمانٍ بَعدُ جاءٍ وَذاهِبِ

and may He gladden him with fasting and the breaking of it that follows,

And blessed him with fasting and feasting in succession,

and every time hereafter, coming and going.

And every time thereafter, coming and going.

وَقُل لِأَخي عَنّي مَقالَةَ مُخلِصِ

وَقُل لِأَخي عَنّي مَقالَةَ مُخلِصِ

لَهُ وُدَّهُ مِن دونِ أَدنى الأَقارِبِ

لَهُ وُدَّهُ مِن دونِ أَدنى الأَقارِبِ

Tell my brother on my behalf the words of one who devotes

And say to my brother from me the words of a loyal one,

his love to him above even his nearest relatives:

His affection for him, apart from the nearest kin.

لَعَمري لَقَد صادَقتَ لي مَن يَوَدُّني

لَعَمري لَقَد صادَقتَ لي مَن يَوَدُّني

وَعادَيتَ لي الأَعداءَ غَيرَ مُراقِبِ

وَعادَيتَ لي الأَعداءَ غَيرَ مُراقِبِ

By my life, you befriended for me those who love me,

By my life, you have been true to me, one who loves me,

and opposed my enemies for me without being wary.

And hostile to me, to enemies without vigilance.

فَإِن أَنتَ والَيتَ الصَديقَ فَوالِ بي

فَإِن أَنتَ والَيتَ الصَديقَ فَوالِ بي

وَإِن أَنتَ عادَيتَ العَدُوَّ فَعادِ بي

وَإِن أَنتَ عادَيتَ العَدُوَّ فَعادِ بي

If you befriend a friend, befriend him through me;

So if you patronize a friend, then patronize me,

and if you oppose an enemy, oppose him through me.

And if you oppose a foe, then oppose for me.

وَلا يَخلُ فيما بَينَنا مِن سِفارَةٍ

وَلا يَخلُ فيما بَينَنا مِن سِفارَةٍ

مَكانُ اِبنِ إِسماعيلَ أُنسي وَصاحِبي

مَكانُ اِبنِ إِسماعيلَ أُنسي وَصاحِبي

May the role between us never lack mediation—

And let no mediation remain between us,

that of Ibn Ismāʿīl, my solace and companion.

The place of the son of Ishmael, my familiar and companion.

فَنِعمَ اِختِيارُ العالَمينَ كِلاهُما

فَنِعمَ اِختِيارُ العالَمينَ كِلاهُما

بِما حَصَّلا مِن كُلِّ غَضِّ الضَرائِبِ

بِما حَصَّلا مِن كُلِّ غَضِّ الضَرائِبِ

How excellent the choice of both learned men,

Excellent indeed is the choice of both worlds for them,

in the gentle, fresh dispositions they have acquired,

For what they gained from every rough calamity.

عَلى قَصدِ دَهرِ السوءِ إِيّاهُما مَعاً

عَلى قَصدِ دَهرِ السوءِ إِيّاهُما مَعاً

لِفَهمِهِما إِيّاهُ فِعلُ المُناصِبِ

لِفَهمِهِما إِيّاهُ فِعلُ المُناصِبِ

despite evil Time's targeting both of them together,

For understanding it while it targets them both,

for understanding it—the act of an avowed enemy—

The actions of the exalted.

وَإِعطائِهِ الكَلبَينِ ما حَظِيا بِهِ

وَإِعطائِهِ الكَلبَينِ ما حَظِيا بِهِ

عَطاءَ المُحابى لا عَطاءَ المُحاسِبِ

عَطاءَ المُحابى لا عَطاءَ المُحاسِبِ

and its granting the two dogs what they enjoyed,

And for granting the two dogs what they obtained,

a favorite's gift, not a reckoner's gift.

The gift of a loving one, not the gift of an evaluator.

وَما كانَ عَبدونُ الدَنِيُّ وَهابِطٌ

وَما كانَ عَبدونُ الدَنِيُّ وَهابِطٌ

سِوى آيَةٍ في الأَرضِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبِ

سِوى آيَةٍ في الأَرضِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبِ

Base ʿAbdūn and Hābiṭ were nothing

Abdoun the Base was only a sign on earth, from every side,

but a sign on earth, on every side,

Informing us of the world's great disdain for it beyond the like of that entourage.

تُنَبِّئُنا الدُنيا بِفَرطِ هَوانِها

تُنَبِّئُنا الدُنيا بِفَرطِ هَوانِها

عَلى اللَهِ في أَضعافِ تِلكَ المَواكِبِ

عَلى اللَهِ في أَضعافِ تِلكَ المَواكِبِ

by which the world tells us of its utter worthlessness

Had the days heard censure in speech,

before God, amid those processions.

I would have pained it with the limit of reproaches.

وَلَو سَمِعَ الدَهرُ العِتابَ بِمَنطِقٍ

وَلَو سَمِعَ الدَهرُ العِتابَ بِمَنطِقٍ

لَأَوجَعتُهُ مِنّي بِحَدِّ المُعاتِبِ

لَأَوجَعتُهُ مِنّي بِحَدِّ المُعاتِبِ

If Time could hear reproach spoken aloud,

But days gone by empowered the vile descender,

I would pain it with the sharpness of my rebuke.

Its easts connected to its wests.

وَلَكِنَّ دَهراً مَلَّكَ الوَغدَ هابِطاً

وَلَكِنَّ دَهراً مَلَّكَ الوَغدَ هابِطاً

مَشارِقَها مَوصولَةً بِالمَغارِبِ

مَشارِقَها مَوصولَةً بِالمَغارِبِ

But a Time that gave the base fellow Hābiṭ dominion

So evil spread among its people and lands,

over its eastern lands, joined to its western lands,

And afflicted those of high ranks with disaster.

فَعَمَّ بِشَرٍّ أَهلَها وَبِلادَها

فَعَمَّ بِشَرٍّ أَهلَها وَبِلادَها

وَخَصَّ ذَوي أَقدارِها بِالمَعاطِبِ

وَخَصَّ ذَوي أَقدارِها بِالمَعاطِبِ

and thus spread evil over its people and lands,

It is time that raised Abu Jahl, who was obeyed,

and singled out its eminent men for destruction,

In the land of the most generous, the purest.

هُوَ الدَهرُ قَد أَعلى أَبا جَهلٍِ الَّذي

هُوَ الدَهرُ قَد أَعلى أَبا جَهلٍِ الَّذي

أُطيعَ بِأَرضِ الأَكرَمينَ الأَطايِبِ

أُطيعَ بِأَرضِ الأَكرَمينَ الأَطايِبِ

is the Time that raised Abū Jahl, who

So it did not stop dictating until it took him

was obeyed in the land of the noblest and best.

To hellfire after the penetrating swords.

فَما زالَ في الإِملاءِ حَتّى أَصارَهُ

فَما زالَ في الإِملاءِ حَتّى أَصارَهُ

إِلى النارِ مِن بَعدِ السُيوفِ القَواضِبِ

إِلى النارِ مِن بَعدِ السُيوفِ القَواضِبِ

It kept granting respite until it sent him

You see people obey the sons of Nizār when in fact

to the Fire, after the cleaving swords.

You see the sons of Nizār obey the victors and conquerors.

تَرى الناسَ طَوعَ اِبنى نِزارٍ وَإِنَّما

تَرى الناسَ طَوعَ اِبنى نِزارٍ وَإِنَّما

تَرى اِبنى نِزارٍ طَوعَ فِهرٍ وَغالِبِ

تَرى اِبنى نِزارٍ طَوعَ فِهرٍ وَغالِبِ

You see the people obedient to Nizār's two sons, yet

Of the lofty Hāshimīs, whenever they draw near

you see Nizār's two sons obedient to Fihr and Ghālib,

Hāshim, they are endowed with the highest honors.

مِنَ الهاشِمِيِّينَ الأُلى كُلَّما دَنَوا

مِنَ الهاشِمِيِّينَ الأُلى كُلَّما دَنَوا

إِلى هاشِمٍ خُصّوا بِأَعلى المَناقِبِ

إِلى هاشِمٍ خُصّوا بِأَعلى المَناقِبِ

among the Hāshimites, who, whenever they draw near

And if they descend in lineage, after Hāshim,

to Hāshim, are singled out for the highest virtues.

To an ancestry, they rise high in glory.

وَإِن نَزَلوا في النَسبِ مِن بَعدِ هاشِمِ

وَإِن نَزَلوا في النَسبِ مِن بَعدِ هاشِمِ

بِبَطنٍ عَلَوا في المَجدِ أَعلى المَراتِبِ

بِبَطنٍ عَلَوا في المَجدِ أَعلى المَراتِبِ

And if they descend in lineage beyond Hāshim

And if they attend to giving, they attain the furthest extent,

by one clan, they rise to the highest ranks of glory.

And win the bowl of uninterrupted success without disappointment.

وَإِن حَضَروا الأَيسارَ حازوا مَدى العُلا

وَإِن حَضَروا الأَيسارَ حازوا مَدى العُلا

وَفازوا بِقَدحِ مُنجِحٍ غَيرَ خائِبِ

وَفازوا بِقَدحِ مُنجِحٍ غَيرَ خائِبِ

If they join the lot-drawers, they attain the utmost eminence,

And their bowl is none but the Exalted, so whoever refuses,

and win with a successful arrow, never a losing one.

His share is only the bowl of hardships.

وَما قِدحُهُم إِلّا المُعَلّى فَمَن أَبى

وَما قِدحُهُم إِلّا المُعَلّى فَمَن أَبى

فَلَيسَ لَهُ إِلّا مَنيحُ الضَوارِبِ

فَلَيسَ لَهُ إِلّا مَنيحُ الضَوارِبِ

Their lot-arrow is none but al-Muʿallā; whoever refuses

They are the first of starters, but their enemy

has only the manīḥ, the blank lot-arrow.

Is silence, when courage's race quickens.

وَهُم سُبَّقُ السُبّاقِ لَكِن عَدُوُّهُم

وَهُم سُبَّقُ السُبّاقِ لَكِن عَدُوُّهُم

سُكَيتٌ إِذا ما جَدَّ جَريُ الحَلائِبِ

سُكَيتٌ إِذا ما جَدَّ جَريُ الحَلائِبِ

They lead the leaders in the race, but their enemy

Are we not their partisans with the loyalty of their sons,

finishes last when the racing bands run in earnest.

And not their partisans with the loyalty of fighters?

أَلَسنا مَواليهِم وَلاءَ بَنِيِّهِم

أَلَسنا مَواليهِم وَلاءَ بَنِيِّهِم

وَلَسنا مَواليهِم وَلاءَ المُحارِبِ

وَلَسنا مَواليهِم وَلاءَ المُحارِبِ

Are we not their clients, with the allegiance of their sons,

For we are the progeny of Ḥusayn and Ṭāhir

and not their clients with a warrior's allegiance?

As a banner, and to the enemies the progeny of calamities.

فَنَحنُ لَهُم نَسلُ الحُسَينِ وَطاهِرٍ

فَنَحنُ لَهُم نَسلُ الحُسَينِ وَطاهِرٍ

لَباناً وَلِلأَعداءِ نَسلُ المَصاعِبِ

لَباناً وَلِلأَعداءِ نَسلُ المَصاعِبِ

To them, we are the offspring of al-Ḥusayn and Ṭāhir,

When people's nobility elevated through their rule,

in milk-kinship; to enemies, the brood of untamed stallion-camels.

And merit and lineage during occasions,

إِذا ما كِرامُ الناسِ ساموا بُمُلكِهِم

إِذا ما كِرامُ الناسِ ساموا بُمُلكِهِم

وَبِالفَضلِ وَالأَعراقِ عِندَ المَناسِبِ

وَبِالفَضلِ وَالأَعراقِ عِندَ المَناسِبِ

When the noble among men vie in their kingship,

Hāshim thereafter ascended the pinnacle of glory,

and in excellence and ancestry when pedigrees are weighed,

Above humankind and the preying birds.

عَلَت هاشِمٌ مِن بَعدِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ

عَلَت هاشِمٌ مِن بَعدِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ

سَنامَ العُلا فَوقَ الذُرى وَالغَوارِبِ

سَنامَ العُلا فَوقَ الذُرى وَالغَوارِبِ

Hāshim rises beyond all of that

For them is the rugged glory they ascend its back,

to the hump of eminence, above summits and withers.

And none but them will the rider humiliate.

لَهُم ذَلَّ صَعبَ المَجدِ يَعلونَ ظَهرَهُ

لَهُم ذَلَّ صَعبَ المَجدِ يَعلونَ ظَهرَهُ

وَيَأبى سِواهُم أَن يَذِلَّ لِراكِبِ

وَيَأبى سِواهُم أَن يَذِلَّ لِراكِبِ

For them glory's unruly mount submits; they climb its back,

And their just rule is newly competing

while for others it refuses to yield to a rider.

With their deeds with the ancient positions.

وَعَدلُهُمُ مِن آخِرِ المَجدِ حادِثٌ

وَعَدلُهُمُ مِن آخِرِ المَجدِ حادِثٌ

بِأَفعالِهِم يَحدو قَديمَ المَناصِبِ

بِأَفعالِهِم يَحدو قَديمَ المَناصِبِ

Their justice is a new achievement in glory's latter days,

And they were deprived of a kingdom for eighty arguments,

which, through their deeds, urges ancient dignities onward.

And their glory makes weary the hands of every usurper.

وَقَد غُصِبوا مُلكاً ثَمانينَ حِجَّةً

وَقَد غُصِبوا مُلكاً ثَمانينَ حِجَّةً

وَمَجدُهُمُ يُعيِي يَدَي كُلِّ غاصِبِ

وَمَجدُهُمُ يُعيِي يَدَي كُلِّ غاصِبِ

They were robbed of kingship for eighty years,

Eulogies of them in every direction and destination

yet their glory exhausts the hands of every usurper.

The travelers sing atop the mounts.

مَدائِحُهُم في كُلِّ أَوبٍ وَوِجهَةٍ

مَدائِحُهُم في كُلِّ أَوبٍ وَوِجهَةٍ

يُغَنّي بِها الرُكبانُ فَوقَ الرَكائِبِ

يُغَنّي بِها الرُكبانُ فَوقَ الرَكائِبِ

Their praises, in every region and direction,

The house of prophethood settled them in an abode

are sung by riders upon their mounts.

Its caliphate among the piercing stars.

أَحَلَّهُمُ بَيتُ النُبُوَّةِ مَنزِلاً

أَحَلَّهُمُ بَيتُ النُبُوَّةِ مَنزِلاً

خِلافَتُهُ بَينَ النُجومِ الثَواقِبِ

خِلافَتُهُ بَينَ النُجومِ الثَواقِبِ

The House of Prophethood placed them in a station

The homes of people's kings are built in ruins

whose caliphate lies among the piercing stars.

While Hāshim, the home of its house is in the stars.

بُيوتُ مُلوكِ الناسِ يُبنَينَ في الرُبى

بُيوتُ مُلوكِ الناسِ يُبنَينَ في الرُبى

وَهاشِمُ مَبنى بَيتِها في الكَواكِبِ

وَهاشِمُ مَبنى بَيتِها في الكَواكِبِ

The houses of men's kings are built on hilltops,

Their lives are devoted to every praiser

but Hāshim's house is built among the stars.

And their deaths are devoted to every mourner.

حَياتُهُمُ وَقفٌ عَلى كُلِّ مادِحٍ

حَياتُهُمُ وَقفٌ عَلى كُلِّ مادِحٍ

وَمَوتُهُمُ وَقفٌ عَلى كُلِّ نادِبِ

وَمَوتُهُمُ وَقفٌ عَلى كُلِّ نادِبِ

Their lives are dedicated to every praiser,

Had God the Glorified - great is His Ordainment -

and their deaths to every mourner.

Deprived them while they ruled those wooden bows,

وَلَو حَرَمَ اللَهُ المُعَظَّمَ قَدرُهُ

وَلَو حَرَمَ اللَهُ المُعَظَّمَ قَدرُهُ

وَكانوا بِهِ حُكّامَ تِلكَ الأَخاشِبِ

وَكانوا بِهِ حُكّامَ تِلكَ الأَخاشِبِ

And even if God deprived the one whose rank is exalted,

And had they been the elite of the whole Era of Ignorance

they were, through Him, rulers of those rugged mountains.

Their platforms in glory are the highest platforms.

وَكانوا خِيارَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ كُلِّها

وَكانوا خِيارَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ كُلِّها

مَناكِبُهُم في المَجدَ أَعلى المَناكِبِ

مَناكِبُهُم في المَجدَ أَعلى المَناكِبِ

They were the choicest of the entire pre-Islamic age,

And Islam gave them every leadership

their shoulders in glory the loftiest of shoulders.

And from them the banners above the watchers were hoisted.

وَوَلّاهُمُ الإِسلامُ كُلَّ رِياسَةٍ

وَوَلّاهُمُ الإِسلامُ كُلَّ رِياسَةٍ

وَمِنهُم سَنا الأَعلامِ فَوقَ المَراقِبِ

وَمِنهُم سَنا الأَعلامِ فَوقَ المَراقِبِ

Islam entrusted them with every leadership,

And they were protectors of people in every panic

and from them came the radiance of banners above the watchtowers.

And their most generous at war's onset are the firmest allies.

وَكانوا حُماةَ الناسِ في كُلِّ فَزعَةٍ

وَكانوا حُماةَ الناسِ في كُلِّ فَزعَةٍ

وَأَجوادَهُم في الحِصبِ أَوفى اللَوازِبِ

وَأَجوادَهُم في الحِصبِ أَوفى اللَوازِبِ

They were the people's protectors in every alarm,

They give overflowing what Dabūr and Shammal stirred up,

and their most generous amid pelting stones, most faithful in crises.

And what they witnessed of the course of Sirius and Canopus.

يُفيضونَ ما هَبَّت دَبورٌ وَشَمأَلٌ

يُفيضونَ ما هَبَّت دَبورٌ وَشَمأَلٌ

وَما عايَنوا مَجرى الصَبا وَالجَنائِبِ

وَما عايَنوا مَجرى الصَبا وَالجَنائِبِ

They pour forth bounty whenever west and north winds blow,

For them is an established banner above creation

and whenever they see the course of the east wind and the south winds.

Raised by the hands of the generous one who platforms nobilities.

لَهُم عَلَمٌ فَوقَ البَنِيَّةِ ثابِتٌ

لَهُم عَلَمٌ فَوقَ البَنِيَّةِ ثابِتٌ

بِكَفَّي كَريمٍ لِلمَكارِمِ ناصِبِ

بِكَفَّي كَريمٍ لِلمَكارِمِ ناصِبِ

They have a standard fixed above the edifice,

But the days of evil empowered over their rising glory

in a noble man's two hands, raised for noble deeds.

The hands of a vile descender - oh for the wings and the platforms!

فَمَلَّكَ دَهرُ السوءِ صاعِدَ مَجدِهِم

فَمَلَّكَ دَهرُ السوءِ صاعِدَ مَجدِهِم

يَدَي هابِطٍ يا لِلقَنا وَالمَقانِبِ

يَدَي هابِطٍ يا لِلقَنا وَالمَقانِبِ

But evil Time delivered their soaring glory into

Until God shows him His Power which

Hābiṭ's two hands—O, for spears and squadrons!

Destroys the strongholds of firmly rooted mountains.

إِلى أَن أَراهُ اللَهُ قُدرَتَهُ الَّتي

إِلى أَن أَراهُ اللَهُ قُدرَتَهُ الَّتي

تَهُدُّ مَنيعاتِ الجِبالِ الرَواسِبِ

تَهُدُّ مَنيعاتِ الجِبالِ الرَواسِبِ

Until God showed him His power, which

So to God belongs increasing praise that does not cease,

demolishes the impregnable, deep-rooted mountains.

And to the dog, power that is depleting, not lasting.

فَلِلَّهِ حَمدٌ زائِدٌ غَيرُ زائِلِ

فَلِلَّهِ حَمدٌ زائِدٌ غَيرُ زائِلِ

وَلِلكَلبِ عِزٌّ زائِلٌ غَيرُ راتِبِ

وَلِلكَلبِ عِزٌّ زائِلٌ غَيرُ راتِبِ

So to God be praise, increasing and never fading,

and to the dog a glory that fades and never lasts.