أَنَوماً وَأَلحاظُ الخُطوبِ سَواهِرُ

أَنَوماً وَأَلحاظُ الخُطوبِ سَواهِرُ

وَسَعياً وَأَفراسُ الحَوادِثِ تَركُضُ

وَسَعياً وَأَفراسُ الحَوادِثِ تَركُضُ

Can you sleep while the eyes of misfortune keep vigil?

Sleepless nights and the worries of adversity keep vigil,

And hasten on foot while the steeds of calamity gallop?

And striving while the steeds of events gallop.

أَيا اِبنَ فُلانٍ وَالنَصيحَةُ آيَةُ

أَيا اِبنَ فُلانٍ وَالنَصيحَةُ آيَةُ

فَما لَكَ مِنها حينَ تُعرَضُ تُعرِضُ

فَما لَكَ مِنها حينَ تُعرَضُ تُعرِضُ

O son of so-and-so, counsel is a sign;

O son of so-and-so, advice is a clear sign -

So why do you turn away from it when it is offered?

Why do you turn away when it is offered?

إِذا أَنتَ لَم تَقبِض يَداً مَدَّها العِدا

إِذا أَنتَ لَم تَقبِض يَداً مَدَّها العِدا

فَما هِيَ إِلّا لا مَحالَةَ تَقبِضُ

فَما هِيَ إِلّا لا مَحالَةَ تَقبِضُ

If you do not seize a hand the enemies have stretched out,

If you do not take the hand outstretched by the enemy,

That hand will inevitably seize you.

It can only, inevitably, withdraw.

أَمُعتَقِدٌ أَنَّ القُلوبَ صَحيحَةً

أَمُعتَقِدٌ أَنَّ القُلوبَ صَحيحَةً

فَسَل نَظَرَ الأَقوامِ مالَكَ تَمرَضُ

فَسَل نَظَرَ الأَقوامِ مالَكَ تَمرَضُ

Do you believe that hearts are sound?

Do you believe hearts to be sound?

Then ask people's gaze: why do you fall ill?

Ask, and see what people's looks reveal to you.

سَتُعجَلُ عَن فَهمٍ إِذا صَرَّحَ الأَسى

سَتُعجَلُ عَن فَهمٍ إِذا صَرَّحَ الأَسى

فَدونَكَ ما دامَ الزَمانُ يُعَرِّضُ

فَدونَكَ ما دامَ الزَمانُ يُعَرِّضُ

You will have no time to understand when sorrow speaks plainly;

You are quick to misunderstand when sorrow speaks plainly -

So take heed while time still speaks in hints.

While time exposes you, be patient.

أَيَقطَعُ حَدُّ السَيفِ وَالسَيفُ مُغمَدٌ

أَيَقطَعُ حَدُّ السَيفِ وَالسَيفُ مُغمَدٌ

وَيَفرُسُ نابُ اللَيثِ وَاللَيثُ بَربُضُ

وَيَفرُسُ نابُ اللَيثِ وَاللَيثُ بَربُضُ

Does a sword's edge cut while the sword is sheathed?

Can a sword's edge cut when the sword's sheathed?

And does a lion's fang maul while the lion [crouches?]?

Can a lion's fang tear when the lion's curled up?

فَإِن لَم تَكُن أَحسَنتَ فِيَّ فَإِنَّني

فَإِن لَم تَكُن أَحسَنتَ فِيَّ فَإِنَّني

مُحِبٌّ وَلِلعَليا أُحِبُّ وَأُبغِضُ

مُحِبٌّ وَلِلعَليا أُحِبُّ وَأُبغِضُ

For if you have not been kind to me, I am still

If I have not been good to you, I am a lover

Devoted; for the sake of nobility I love and hate.

Who loves the noble and hates the mean.

وَإِنِّيَ في حُبّي لِمَجدِكَ مُغرِقٌ

وَإِنِّيَ في حُبّي لِمَجدِكَ مُغرِقٌ

عَلى أَنَّني مِن بَحرِهِ مُتَبَرِّضُ

عَلى أَنَّني مِن بَحرِهِ مُتَبَرِّضُ

And I go to extremes in my love for your glory,

In my love for your glory I am drowned -

Though I draw only scant drops from its sea.

Though I struggle to surface from its sea.

أَغَرَّكَ نَهضُ البِشرِ في صَفَحاتِهِم

أَغَرَّكَ نَهضُ البِشرِ في صَفَحاتِهِم

أَلَيسَ الرَدى في رَونَقِ السَيفِ يَنهَضُ

أَلَيسَ الرَدى في رَونَقِ السَيفِ يَنهَضُ

Has the rise of cheer on their faces deceived you?

Has the rise of mortals in their leaves deluded you?

Does not death rise within the sword's gleam?

Does not decay flourish in the sword's bloom?

فَدِنهُم بِيَومِ الشَرِّ ما دُمتَ قادِراً

فَدِنهُم بِيَومِ الشَرِّ ما دُمتَ قادِراً

وَلَو لَم تَدِنهُم كانَ حَبُّكَ يُفرَضُ

وَلَو لَم تَدِنهُم كانَ حَبُّكَ يُفرَضُ

So repay them with a day of woe while you have the power;

Draw them near, while you are able, on an evil day -

And if you did not repay them, your grain would be cut away.

Even if you do not, your love is still a duty.

وَكَم شيمَ يَومٌ في يَدِ الصَبرِ أَسوَدٌ

وَكَم شيمَ يَومٌ في يَدِ الصَبرِ أَسوَدٌ

وَأُغمِدَ لَيلٌ مِن يَدِ النَصرِ أَبيَضُ

وَأُغمِدَ لَيلٌ مِن يَدِ النَصرِ أَبيَضُ

How many a black day has been sheathed in patience's hand,

How much an auspicious day darkens in patience's hand,

And a white night sheathed by victory's hand.

And a night is sheathed radiant by victory's hand!

فَما بَينَ عَينَيهِم وَلا في ضُلوعِهِم

فَما بَينَ عَينَيهِم وَلا في ضُلوعِهِم

قُلوبٌ تُرَضّى بَل وُجوهٌ تَرَضَّضُ

قُلوبٌ تُرَضّى بَل وُجوهٌ تَرَضَّضُ

For neither between their eyes nor within their ribs are there

Between their eyes, and in their breasts,

Hearts to be appeased—only faces to be battered.

Are no hearts content - rather, faces contorted.

وَلا يَدُ باعِ الرُمحِ عَنهُم قَصيرَةٌ

وَلا يَدُ باعِ الرُمحِ عَنهُم قَصيرَةٌ

وَلا عَينُ جَفنِ السَيفِ عَنهُم تُغَمِّضُ

وَلا عَينُ جَفنِ السَيفِ عَنهُم تُغَمِّضُ

Nor does the hand of the spear's reach fall short of them,

No hand selling spears falls short for them,

Nor does the eye of the sword's sheath close against them.

No eye closing a sword's eyelid blinks for them.

أَأَومَضَ تَثرٌ لِلتَبَسُّمِ كاشِرٌ

أَأَومَضَ تَثرٌ لِلتَبَسُّمِ كاشِرٌ

وَسَلِّ لِساناص لِلعَليلِ يُنَضنِضُ

وَسَلِّ لِساناص لِلعَليلِ يُنَضنِضُ

Has a [mouth?] flashed, its teeth bared in a smile?

Has a flash of a smile creased a frowning face?

And draw out a [tongue?] that flickers for the ailing.

Has a smooth tongue soothed for one who is ill?

وَقَد تُنقِضُ الأَحلامُ صِبغَةَ لَونِها

وَقَد تُنقِضُ الأَحلامُ صِبغَةَ لَونِها

كَما يَلبَسُ اللَيلُ النَهارَ فَيُنفِضُ

كَما يَلبَسُ اللَيلُ النَهارَ فَيُنفِضُ

And forbearance may undo the dye of its own color,

Dreams change their dye

As night wears the day, then shakes it off.

As night dons day and strips it off.

لَم أَرَ مِثلَ السَيفِ لِلعِزِّ عاقِداً

لَم أَرَ مِثلَ السَيفِ لِلعِزِّ عاقِداً

بِهِ عُقَدُ الأَضغانِ تُرخى وَتُنقَضُ

بِهِ عُقَدُ الأَضغانِ تُرخى وَتُنقَضُ

I have seen nothing like the sword for securing honor;

I have not seen the like of the sword, binding honor -

Through it, the knots of rancor are loosened and undone.

By it hatred's knots are loosened and untied.

وَلا مِثلَ أَخبارِ الضَغينَةِ تَختَبي

وَلا مِثلَ أَخبارِ الضَغينَةِ تَختَبي

وَلا مِثلَ آثارِ النَصيحَةِ تُرفَضُ

وَلا مِثلَ آثارِ النَصيحَةِ تُرفَضُ

Nor anything so hidden as tidings of rancor,

Nor the like of the talk of malice, lurking -

Nor anything so rejected as the traces of counsel.

Nor the like of the tracks of advice, refused.

وَما العِزُّ إِلّا أَن تُقَبِّلَ كَفَّهُ

وَما العِزُّ إِلّا أَن تُقَبِّلَ كَفَّهُ

وَما الحِلمُ إِلّا الذُلُّ يَومَ تُعَضَّضُ

وَما الحِلمُ إِلّا الذُلُّ يَومَ تُعَضَّضُ

Honor is nothing but kissing its palm;

Honor is but to kiss the palm,

And forbearance is only abasement the day you are repeatedly bitten.

Clemency but humiliation when you are wronged.

وَلا أَنتَ بِالقَولِ الَّذي قُلتُ جاهِلٌ

وَلا أَنتَ بِالقَولِ الَّذي قُلتُ جاهِلٌ

وَلَكِن مَقاديرُ الإِلَهِ تُقَيَّضُ

وَلَكِن مَقاديرُ الإِلَهِ تُقَيَّضُ

Nor are you ignorant of the words I have spoken,

You are not ignorant in what I have said,

But God's decrees are ordained.

But the measures of God ordain.

وَما هُوَ إِلّا الحَزمُ يُسرِعُ وَالحِجا

وَما هُوَ إِلّا الحَزمُ يُسرِعُ وَالحِجا

يُحَجُّ وَأَطنابُ المَقالِ تُقَوَّضُ

يُحَجُّ وَأَطنابُ المَقالِ تُقَوَّضُ

It is only resolve that hastens, while reason

It is but resolve hastening and pilgrimage hastening

Is refuted, and the tent-ropes of speech are pulled down.

While digressions in speech undermine.

أَيَظهَرُ في الأَجفانِ عَقدٌ مُصَحَّحٌ

أَيَظهَرُ في الأَجفانِ عَقدٌ مُصَحَّحٌ

وَيَكمُنُ في الأَجفانِ سَيفٌ مُمَرَّضُ

وَيَكمُنُ في الأَجفانِ سَيفٌ مُمَرَّضُ

Can a sound covenant appear in the eyelids,

Can a gaze show a fond gaze while a sword festers in it?

While a sickened sword lurks within the sheaths?

Review the glances in the corner of an eye -

أَعِد نَظَراتٍ في ثَوِيَّةِ مُقلَةِ

أَعِد نَظَراتٍ في ثَوِيَّةِ مُقلَةِ

تَجِد فيهِ أَشخاصَ المَنونِ تُحَرِّضُ

تَجِد فيهِ أَشخاصَ المَنونِ تُحَرِّضُ

Look again into the dwelling of an eye;

You will find there the forms of death instigating.

You will find there the figures of death, goading you on.

Love appears only on your tongue

وَما الوُدُّ إِلّا في لِسانِكَ ظاهِرٌ

وَما الوُدُّ إِلّا في لِسانِكَ ظاهِرٌ

وَلَكِن وَراءَ الغَيبِ قَلبُكَ مُبغِضُ

وَلَكِن وَراءَ الغَيبِ قَلبُكَ مُبغِضُ

Affection shows itself only on your tongue,

While your heart behind the unseen hates.

But behind the unseen, your heart harbors hatred.

If the king has no fearsome limit,

إِذا لَم يَكُن لِلمُلكِ حَدُّ مَهابَةٍ

إِذا لَم يَكُن لِلمُلكِ حَدُّ مَهابَةٍ

فَكَيفَ يُراضُ المُعتَدي وَيُرَوَّضُ

فَكَيفَ يُراضُ المُعتَدي وَيُرَوَّضُ

If sovereignty has no edge of awe,

How can he satisfy the aggressive and tame them?

Then how can the aggressor be tamed and trained?

And take blood-price from them and enjoy his palm

وَيَروي دَماً مِنهُم وَيَحظى بِكَفِّهِ

وَيَروي دَماً مِنهُم وَيَحظى بِكَفِّهِ

فَيُصقَلُ حَدٌّ أَو يُعَطَّرُ مَقبَضُ

فَيُصقَلُ حَدٌّ أَو يُعَطَّرُ مَقبَضُ

And it drinks its fill of their blood and finds favor in his palm,

So a blade is polished or a hilt perfumed.

So an edge is polished, or a hilt perfumed.

Until the sword views their heads swapped

وَكَيما تَصِحُّ الكيمياءُ بِضَربِهِ

وَكَيما تَصِحُّ الكيمياءُ بِضَربِهِ

فَتُذهِبُ مِنهُ الصَفحَ وَهوَ مُفَضَّضُ

فَتُذهِبُ مِنهُ الصَفحَ وَهوَ مُفَضَّضُ

And so that alchemy may prove true through its stroke,

For different bodies, paid in compensation.

Thus gilding its flat, though it is silvered.

These pages cast by the pages

وَلا نَومَ حَتّى يَنظُرُ السَيفُ روسَهُم

وَلا نَومَ حَتّى يَنظُرُ السَيفُ روسَهُم

تُبَدَّلُ جِسماً مِن قَناً وَتُعَوَّضُ

تُبَدَّلُ جِسماً مِن قَناً وَتُعَوَّضُ

And no sleep until the sword beholds their heads,

Redden with anger while those whiten.

Given a body of spear-shafts in exchange and recompense.

It sheathed anger in the page of consent

صَحائِفُ تَرميها الصَفائِحُ هَذِهِ

صَحائِفُ تَرميها الصَفائِحُ هَذِهِ

تُحَمِّرُ مِن سُخطِ وَهَذي تُبَيِّضُ

تُحَمِّرُ مِن سُخطِ وَهَذي تُبَيِّضُ

Pages cast forth by blades: these

While my eye sees though my eyelid blinks.

Redden with wrath, while these whiten.

وَأَغمِدَ سُخطَ القَلبِ في صَفحَةِ الرِضا

وَأَغمِدَ سُخطَ القَلبِ في صَفحَةِ الرِضا

وَعَيني تَرى لَكِنَّ جَفني يُغَمِّضُ

وَعَيني تَرى لَكِنَّ جَفني يُغَمِّضُ

And sheathe the heart's wrath in the page of contentment;

And my eye sees, but my eyelid closes.