تَظَلَّموا وَهُم عَقّوا وَهُم ظَلَموا

تَظَلَّموا وَهُم عَقّوا وَهُم ظَلَموا

لَمّا سَعَوا لا سَعَت يَوماً بِهِم قَدَمُ

لَمّا سَعَوا لا سَعَت يَوماً بِهِم قَدَمُ

They complained of injustice, though they had been disloyal, though they had done wrong.

They complained while they were unjust, and while they were oppressive

When they strove—may no foot ever carry them!

When they strove for what would not avail them one day

هُم أَوقَدوا نارَ حَربٍ خابَ موقِدُها

هُم أَوقَدوا نارَ حَربٍ خابَ موقِدُها

فَكَم عَلى حَدِّها مِنهُم أُريقَ دَمُ

فَكَم عَلى حَدِّها مِنهُم أُريقَ دَمُ

They lit a fire of war whose kindler came to grief;

They ignited the fire of a war whose kindling failed

So how much of their blood was spilled upon its cutting edge!

So how much blood of theirs was shed over its embers

يا اِبنَ المُحَسِّنِ إِنَّ القَومَ قَد خَسِرَت

يا اِبنَ المُحَسِّنِ إِنَّ القَومَ قَد خَسِرَت

صَفقاتُهُم فَاِستَوى الوِجدانُ وَالعَدَمُ

صَفقاتُهُم فَاِستَوى الوِجدانُ وَالعَدَمُ

O son of al-Muhassin, those people have failed

O son of the benefactor, the people have certainly lost

In their bargains; having and lacking have become alike.

Their bargains, so joy and sorrow became equal

ما أَبعَدَ الرُشدَ عَن قَومٍ أَتَوا سَفَهاً

ما أَبعَدَ الرُشدَ عَن قَومٍ أَتَوا سَفَهاً

لِيَهدِموا مَجدَهُم في الناسِ لَو عَلِموا

لِيَهدِموا مَجدَهُم في الناسِ لَو عَلِموا

How far is sound judgment from a people who acted foolishly,

How far is maturity from a people who came foolishly

To destroy their glory among men—if only they knew!

To demolish their glory among people, had they known

لَم تَألُ تَدرَأُ عَنهُم كُلَّ مُعضِلَةٍ

لَم تَألُ تَدرَأُ عَنهُم كُلَّ مُعضِلَةٍ

وَلَيسَ يُنكِرُ ذا عُرب وَلا عَجَمُ

وَلَيسَ يُنكِرُ ذا عُرب وَلا عَجَمُ

You spared no effort in warding every hardship from them,

You would not cease to ward off every hardship from them

And neither Arabs nor non-Arabs deny this.

Neither an Arab nor a non-Arab would deny it

فَإِن تُؤاخِذهُم يَوماً بِفِعلِهِمُ

فَإِن تُؤاخِذهُم يَوماً بِفِعلِهِمُ

تَذَرهُم مِثلَ لَحمٍ ضَمَّهُ وَضَمُ

تَذَرهُم مِثلَ لَحمٍ ضَمَّهُ وَضَمُ

So if one day you call them to account for their deeds,

So if you take them to account one day for their deed

You will leave them like meat resting on a butcher's block.

You would leave them like pressed meat and bone

قَومٌ سَواسِيَةٌ خَفَّت حُلومُهُمُ

قَومٌ سَواسِيَةٌ خَفَّت حُلومُهُمُ

نَأَوا عَنِ المَجدِ لَكِن ذَمُّهُم أمَمُ

نَأَوا عَنِ المَجدِ لَكِن ذَمُّهُم أمَمُ

A people all alike, whose judgment has grown light;

A fickle folk whose resolve diminished

They are far from glory, yet censure of them is close at hand.

They kept away from glory but their blame gathered

فَمِن طَريقٍ رَجَوا أَن يُنصَروا خَسِروا

فَمِن طَريقٍ رَجَوا أَن يُنصَروا خَسِروا

وَمِن مَكانٍ رَأَوا أَن يَغنَموا غَرِموا

وَمِن مَكانٍ رَأَوا أَن يَغنَموا غَرِموا

So along the path where they hoped for victory, they lost;

So from a path they hoped to be helped, they lost

And where they expected spoils, they incurred loss.

And from a place they saw they would gain, they were fined

ساموكَ خُطَّةَ خَسفٍ بَحرُها كَدَرٌ

ساموكَ خُطَّةَ خَسفٍ بَحرُها كَدَرٌ

لَكِن سَلِمتَ وَهُم في لُجِّهِ اِقتَحَموا

لَكِن سَلِمتَ وَهُم في لُجِّهِ اِقتَحَموا

They sought to force you onto a course of abasement, its sea murky,

They plotted for you a pit of sinking, its sea turbid

But you escaped unharmed, while they plunged into its depths.

But you were safe while they plunged into its abyss

تَوَهَّموا المَجدَ قَد حُصَّت قَوادِمُهُ

تَوَهَّموا المَجدَ قَد حُصَّت قَوادِمُهُ

فَما يُسَلُّ بِهِ سَيفٌ وَلا قَلَمُ

فَما يُسَلُّ بِهِ سَيفٌ وَلا قَلَمُ

They imagined that glory's flight feathers had been shorn,

They fancied glory's steps were counted

So that neither sword nor pen could be drawn for it.

By neither sword nor pen could they be deterred

حَتّى إِذا سَعدُ سَعدِ الدَولَةِ التَمَعَت

حَتّى إِذا سَعدُ سَعدِ الدَولَةِ التَمَعَت

أَنوارُهُ نَدِموا لَو يَنفَعُ النَدَمُ

أَنوارُهُ نَدِموا لَو يَنفَعُ النَدَمُ

Until, when the good fortune of Sa'd al-Dawla flashed

Until when the light of Saad al-Dawla shone

Its lights, they regretted—if regret could avail.

They regretted, if only regret could avail

قَناتُهُ لَم تَلِن يَوماً لِغامِزِها

قَناتُهُ لَم تَلِن يَوماً لِغامِزِها

لَكِنَّها في فُؤادِ الخَصمِ تَنحَطِمُ

لَكِنَّها في فُؤادِ الخَصمِ تَنحَطِمُ

His spear has never once yielded to whoever would bend it,

His spears never bent to their mocker

Yet it splinters within the enemy's heart.

Rather in the heart of the foe they shattered

هُوَ الأَلَدُّ خِصاماً وَالأَشَدُّ يَداً

هُوَ الأَلَدُّ خِصاماً وَالأَشَدُّ يَداً

في الحَربِ يُحجِمُ عَنهُ المِدرَهُ الخَصِمُ

في الحَربِ يُحجِمُ عَنهُ المِدرَهُ الخَصِمُ

He is the fiercest in dispute, the mightiest of hand;

He is the firmest in battle and harshest in blow

In war, the eloquent, combative champion recoils from him.

In war, the experienced foe hesitates before him

ما أَحجَمَ القَومُ إِبقاءً عَلَيكَ وَفي اِق

ما أَحجَمَ القَومُ إِبقاءً عَلَيكَ وَفي اِق

تِناصِ لَيثِ الشَرى لا تَطمَعُ الغَنَمُ

تِناصِ لَيثِ الشَرى لا تَطمَعُ الغَنَمُ

Those people did not draw back to spare you; and in hunting

How the people refrained from keeping you

The lion of al-Shara, sheep have no hope.

And seeking the flesh of the valiant lion, the sheep do not covet

أَقعَوا هُناكَ عَلى الأَذنابِ مِن جَزَعٍ

أَقعَوا هُناكَ عَلى الأَذنابِ مِن جَزَعٍ

لَمّا أَتَتهُم يَدٌ فَرّاسَةٌ وَفَمُ

لَمّا أَتَتهُم يَدٌ فَرّاسَةٌ وَفَمُ

They squatted there upon their tails in terror,

There they fell on their tails in panic

When a rending hand and mouth came upon them.

When a watchful hand and mouth came upon them

بِمَوقِفٍ كُنتَ كَالبازِ المُطِلِّ بِهِ

بِمَوقِفٍ كُنتَ كَالبازِ المُطِلِّ بِهِ

عِندَ المُلوكِ تُناجيهِم وَهُم رَخَمُ

عِندَ المُلوكِ تُناجيهِم وَهُم رَخَمُ

At an assembly where you were like a hawk overlooking it,

In a stand you were like the hovering falcon with

Before kings, conferring privately with them, while those men were vultures.

Kings, conversing privately while they blinked

أَنتَ الَّذي لَم تَزَل تَهمي نَباهَتُهُ

أَنتَ الَّذي لَم تَزَل تَهمي نَباهَتُهُ

بِكُلِّ مَكرُمَةٍ وَالخامِلونَ هُمُ

بِكُلِّ مَكرُمَةٍ وَالخامِلونَ هُمُ

You are he whose eminence has never ceased to pour forth

You are the one whose brilliance

Every noble deed, while they are the obscure ones.

Continues to protect each dignity, while the others slumber

كَم خِلعَةٍ مِن دَمِ الأَعداءِ صِبغَتُها

كَم خِلعَةٍ مِن دَمِ الأَعداءِ صِبغَتُها

تَوَّجتَها شَرَفاً تُزهى بِهِ القِمَمُ

تَوَّجتَها شَرَفاً تُزهى بِهِ القِمَمُ

How many a robe of honor whose dye was enemies' blood

How many robes dyed by the blood of foes

You have crowned with honor in which lofty heads take pride!

You crowned with honor, adorning the summits

حَباكَها كُلُّ مَلكٍ أَصيَدٍ يَدُهُ

حَباكَها كُلُّ مَلكٍ أَصيَدٍ يَدُهُ

في أَنفُسِ الناسِ وَالأَموالِ تَحتَكُمُ

في أَنفُسِ الناسِ وَالأَموالِ تَحتَكُمُ

Each proud king bestowed it upon you, whose hand

Each conqueror king courted you

Rules over people's lives and wealth.

While people and wealth remained under your grasp

وَمَعشَرٍ حَلَفوا لَكِنَّهُم حَنَثوا

وَمَعشَرٍ حَلَفوا لَكِنَّهُم حَنَثوا

فَكانَ عُقبى اليَمينِ الخَوفُ وَالنَدَمُ

فَكانَ عُقبى اليَمينِ الخَوفُ وَالنَدَمُ

And a company swore oaths, yet broke them,

And a group who pledged, but broke their oath

So the oath's outcome was fear and regret.

So the consequence of the oath was fear and regret

فَكَم تُحالِفُ قَوماً لا وَفاءَ لَهُم

فَكَم تُحالِفُ قَوماً لا وَفاءَ لَهُم

وَلا عُهودٌ وَلا دِينٌ وَلا ذِمَمُ

وَلا عُهودٌ وَلا دِينٌ وَلا ذِمَمُ

How often do you ally with people who have no fidelity,

So how do you ally with a people of no loyalty

Nor covenants, nor faith, nor binding pledges?

Of no covenants, religion or conscience

وَدّوا وَقَد سَمِعوا قَولَ البَشيرِ وَقَد

وَدّوا وَقَد سَمِعوا قَولَ البَشيرِ وَقَد

رَأَوهُ لَو وُقِرَت أَسماعُهُم وَعَموا

رَأَوهُ لَو وُقِرَت أَسماعُهُم وَعَموا

They wished, after hearing the herald's words, and after

They rejected, though they heard the words of the giver of glad tidings, and though

Seeing him, that their ears had been deafened and they had gone blind.

They saw him, had their hearing been settled and they were not blind

شَقَوا بِما سَمِعوهُ مِن بِشارَتِهِ

شَقَوا بِما سَمِعوهُ مِن بِشارَتِهِ

وَالأَولِياءُ بِما وافى بِهِ نَعِموا

وَالأَولِياءُ بِما وافى بِهِ نَعِموا

They suffered from the glad news they heard from him,

They were miserable with what they heard of his good news

And the allies rejoiced in what he brought.

While the loyal were content with what came to them

لَمّا رَأَوا هَضَباتِ السَعدِ شامِخَةً

لَمّا رَأَوا هَضَباتِ السَعدِ شامِخَةً

وَالعِزَّ أَقعَسَ لا تُثنى لَهُ هِمَمُ

وَالعِزَّ أَقعَسَ لا تُثنى لَهُ هِمَمُ

When they saw the heights of good fortune towering,

When they saw the lofty peaks of Saad towering

And might unbending, its resolves never turned aside,

And glory humbled, no ambitions could bend it

وَالبَدرُ غانَ عَلَيهِ الغَيمُ فَاِنحَسَرَت

وَالبَدرُ غانَ عَلَيهِ الغَيمُ فَاِنحَسَرَت

غَمّاؤُهُ وَاِنجَلَت مِن نورِهِ الغُمَمُ

غَمّاؤُهُ وَاِنجَلَت مِن نورِهِ الغُمَمُ

And the full moon, which clouds had veiled, was freed

And the full moon emerged from its clouds that dispersed

Of its dark shroud, and the gloom dispersed before its light.

While their gloom cleared and his light beamed

يا أَيُّها الحاسِدُ المُذكي عَلى حَنَقٍ

يا أَيُّها الحاسِدُ المُذكي عَلى حَنَقٍ

نارَ العِنادِ وَلا يُشفى لَهُ قَرَمُ

نارَ العِنادِ وَلا يُشفى لَهُ قَرَمُ

O envious one, who kindles in rage

O you envious one, fueling spite

The fire of defiance, whose craving finds no cure,

The fire of obstinacy, which cannot be remedied

ما دُمتَ تَنوي لِمَسعودٍ مُعانَدَةً

ما دُمتَ تَنوي لِمَسعودٍ مُعانَدَةً

فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ داءٌ لَيسَ يَنحَسِمُ

فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ داءٌ لَيسَ يَنحَسِمُ

As long as you intend to oppose Mas'ud,

As long as you intend to oppose Masoud

Then that is an illness that cannot be eradicated.

That is an illness which cannot be severed

حاشاكَ يا أَيُّها المَلكُ المُعَظَّمُ مِن

حاشاكَ يا أَيُّها المَلكُ المُعَظَّمُ مِن

أَن تَستَوي عِندَكَ الأَنوارُ وَالظُلَمُ

أَن تَستَوي عِندَكَ الأَنوارُ وَالظُلَمُ

Far be it from you, O exalted king,

Far be it from you, O honored king

To regard light and darkness as equal.

That lights and darkness be equal to you

وَأَنتَ أَكرَمُ مِن لَيثٍ بِهامَتِهِ

وَأَنتَ أَكرَمُ مِن لَيثٍ بِهامَتِهِ

عِصابَةُ التاجِ فيها الدُرُّ مُنتَظِمُ

عِصابَةُ التاجِ فيها الدُرُّ مُنتَظِمُ

And you are nobler than a lion whose head bears

You are more generous than a lion in its valor

A crown's circlet, in which pearls are strung.

The crown's band, pearls arrayed in order

أَبَت لِمَعنٍ قَبولَ الضَيمِ هِمَّتُهُ

أَبَت لِمَعنٍ قَبولَ الضَيمِ هِمَّتُهُ

وَالعَزمُ وَالحَزمُ وَالمَعروفُ وَالكَرَمُ

وَالعَزمُ وَالحَزمُ وَالمَعروفُ وَالكَرَمُ

Ma'n's lofty spirit refused to accept humiliation,

His resolve refused accepting injustice

As did his resolve, prudence, benevolence, and generosity,

As did his determination, goodness, loyalty and nobility

وَأُسرَةٌ كَأُسودِ الغيلِ ضارِيَةٌ

وَأُسرَةٌ كَأُسودِ الغيلِ ضارِيَةٌ

هُمُ لَدى الرَّوعِ إِذ يُلقى بِهِم بُهَمُ

هُمُ لَدى الرَّوعِ إِذ يُلقى بِهِم بُهَمُ

And a family, as fierce as the lions of the thicket—

And a pack of lions, ferocious

Such are they amid terror, when champions are pitted against them.

They are calm when routed and thrown in panic

شُوسٌ تَقاحَمُ في نارِ الوَغى بِهِمُ

شُوسٌ تَقاحَمُ في نارِ الوَغى بِهِمُ

خَيلٌ تَذوبُ عَلى أَشداقِها اللُّجُمُ

خَيلٌ تَذوبُ عَلى أَشداقِها اللُّجُمُ

Fierce-eyed men, carried headlong into the fire of battle

Stallions charging into the fire of fray

By horses whose bits melt at the corners of their mouths.

Horses whose lips the emblems melted

خَيلٌ تُصَرِّفُها وَالنَّقعُ مُعتَرِضٌ

خَيلٌ تُصَرِّفُها وَالنَّقعُ مُعتَرِضٌ

أُسدٌ لَها مِن أَنابيبِ القَنا أَجَمُ

أُسدٌ لَها مِن أَنابيبِ القَنا أَجَمُ

Horses steered, while the dust stands in the way,

Horses maneuvered though the rout blocked passage

By lions whose thickets are made of spear-shafts.

A lion whose canines serve as lanterns in the dark

أَعجِب بِأَوقَصَ في خَيشومِهِ خَنَسٌ

أَعجِب بِأَوقَصَ في خَيشومِهِ خَنَسٌ

مُغرىً بِأَشوَسَ في عِرنينِهِ شَمَمُ

مُغرىً بِأَشوَسَ في عِرنينِهِ شَمَمُ

Marvel at a short-necked man with a snub nose,

Marvel at Awaqas' fang in its jaw exciting

Bent on challenging a fierce-eyed man with a proud, high-bridged nose!

Allure with Ashwas' molars in its grin enticing

سَيفٌ يَعودُ بِتَطبيقِ المَفاصِلِ لا

سَيفٌ يَعودُ بِتَطبيقِ المَفاصِلِ لا

يَعتادُهُ في الوَغى وَهنٌ وَلا سَأمُ

يَعتادُهُ في الوَغى وَهنٌ وَلا سَأمُ

A sword that returns to cleave the joints; neither

A sword returning joints to their place

Weakness nor weariness ever visits it in battle.

Unfamiliar in battle with weakness or boredom

كَم مَعشَرٍ قَلَبوا ظَهرَ المِجَنِّ لَهُ

كَم مَعشَرٍ قَلَبوا ظَهرَ المِجَنِّ لَهُ

حَتّى إِذا ما رَأَوا عَزماتِهِ اِنهَزَموا

حَتّى إِذا ما رَأَوا عَزماتِهِ اِنهَزَموا

How many a company turned the back of the shield toward him,

How many a group who turned the back of the dual sword

Until, when they saw his firm resolves, they fled!

When they saw his resolves they scattered in defeat

فَكانَ حَظُّهُمُ مِن حَربِهِ نِقَماً

فَكانَ حَظُّهُمُ مِن حَربِهِ نِقَماً

وَحَظُّهُ أَبَداً مِن رَبِّهِ نِعَمُ

وَحَظُّهُ أَبَداً مِن رَبِّهِ نِعَمُ

So their share of war with him was retribution,

So their share of his war was perdition

And his share from his Lord was always blessings.

While his share from his Lord was bounty

هُوَ اِبنُ بَجدَةِ ذي الدُنيا وَأَوحَدُها

هُوَ اِبنُ بَجدَةِ ذي الدُنيا وَأَوحَدُها

فَشَملُ كُلِّ فَخارٍ فيهِ مُلتَئِمُ

فَشَملُ كُلِّ فَخارٍ فيهِ مُلتَئِمُ

He is this world's seasoned master, its peerless one,

He is the son of singular splendor

So every kind of glory is gathered together in him.

So all pride in him coalesces

يَهونُ سَعيي عَلى رَأسي لِخِدمَتِهِ

يَهونُ سَعيي عَلى رَأسي لِخِدمَتِهِ

كَما مَشى في يَمينِ الكاتِبِ القَلَمُ

كَما مَشى في يَمينِ الكاتِبِ القَلَمُ

Going upon my head to serve him is easy for me,

My striving is easy at his service

As the pen moves in the writer's right hand.

As the pen flowed in the scribe's right hand

فَاللَهُ يَكلؤُهُ مِمّا أُحاذِرُهُ

فَاللَهُ يَكلؤُهُ مِمّا أُحاذِرُهُ

عَلى عُلاهُ وَلا زَلَّت بِهِ القَدَمُ

عَلى عُلاهُ وَلا زَلَّت بِهِ القَدَمُ

So may God guard him from what I fear

So may Allah protect him from what I fear

For his exalted rank, and may his foot never slip.

For his ascendance, may no feet slip