لكل مقام في علاك مقال

لكل مقام في علاك مقال

تصدقه بالجود منك فعال

تصدقه بالجود منك فعال

Every station in your high glory has its fitting speech,

Every station in your exalted rank has its fitting words,

confirmed by the earnest munificence of your deeds.

borne out by the generous deeds that come from you.

وعندك إن ضاق المجال لمادح

وعندك إن ضاق المجال لمادح

محاسن فيها للمديح مجال

محاسن فيها للمديح مجال

And with you, when room grows tight for one who praises,

And with you, should a panegyrist find his scope too narrow,

your virtues still leave ample room for praise.

are beauties that give praise ample scope.

مناقب يا ذخر الأئمة أصبحت

مناقب يا ذخر الأئمة أصبحت

إليهن أعناق الثناء تمال

إليهن أعناق الثناء تمال

Virtues, O treasure of the imams, have become

Virtues, O treasure of the imams, have become

the goal toward which the necks of praise incline.

the object toward which praise turns its neck.

سما الناصر المحيي إلى الغاية التي

سما الناصر المحيي إلى الغاية التي

ينال عنان النجم حين تنال

ينال عنان النجم حين تنال

The life-giving Victor rose to the furthest height,

Al-Nasir al-Muhyi rose to that summit

seizing the star’s rein whenever he reached for it.

that, when attained, brings him to the star's height.

وألف أضداد المعالي بهمة

وألف أضداد المعالي بهمة

لها كل يوم نعمة ونكال

لها كل يوم نعمة ونكال

With a resolve he made the foes of lofty honor know

He united the opposites of high achievement through resolve

each day both its bounty and exemplary chastisement.

that brings each day both favor and punishment.

وفي كل قلب من سطاه مهابة

وفي كل قلب من سطاه مهابة

وفي كل كف من نداه سجال

وفي كل كف من نداه سجال

In every heart, awe of his might has taken root,

In every heart his might inspires awe,

and from his bounty every palm receives brimming bowls.

and into every palm his bounty pours bucketfuls.

قرى وقراع طالما فاض منهما

قرى وقراع طالما فاض منهما

على الخلق وبل دائم ووبال

على الخلق وبل دائم ووبال

Hospitality and battle—how often from them have overflowed

Hospitality and combat, from which have long poured

upon creation lasting rain and crushing ruin.

upon mankind a lasting downpour and calamity.

جفان وأجفان تدفق منهما

جفان وأجفان تدفق منهما

على قدر سجليه ردى ونوال

على قدر سجليه ردى ونوال

Great serving-bowls and weeping eyelids: from both there pours,

Bowls and sword-sheaths, from both of which flow

each in its proper stream, death and largesse.

death and largesse, in measure with his two buckets.

رأيتك لم تقنع بمنصبك الذي

رأيتك لم تقنع بمنصبك الذي

علا فنجوم الأفق عنه سفال

علا فنجوم الأفق عنه سفال

I saw that you were not content with the rank

I saw that you were not content with your station, which

whose height leaves even the horizon’s stars below.

rose so high that the horizon's stars lay low beneath it.

فباشرت مكروه الوغى في مواطن

فباشرت مكروه الوغى في مواطن

حرام المنايا بينهن حلال

حرام المنايا بينهن حلال

You plunged into the hated press of battle, in fields

So you faced the horrors of battle in places

where death, forbidden elsewhere, is lawful.

where forbidden death becomes lawful.

وهل يفخر الصمصام إلا بطعنة

وهل يفخر الصمصام إلا بطعنة

وإن راق منه جوهر وصقال

وإن راق منه جوهر وصقال

What glory can the sword claim except through a thrust,

Does a keen sword boast of anything but a thrust,

though its substance gleams and its polish charms?

though its metal and polish may delight?

ولما تشكى الأمن خوفاً من العدى

ولما تشكى الأمن خوفاً من العدى

وكاد الهدى يسطو عليه ضلال

وكاد الهدى يسطو عليه ضلال

When safety complained of fear before the foe,

When security complained of fear of enemies,

and error nearly overpowered right guidance,

and error almost overpowered guidance,

نهدت إلى الأفرنج تزجي كتائباً

نهدت إلى الأفرنج تزجي كتائباً

تغل بها أعناقهم وتغال

تغل بها أعناقهم وتغال

you rose against the Franks, driving battalions

you advanced against the Franks, driving forth battalions

that shackled their necks and bore them away.

by which their necks were fettered and their lives struck down.

فولوا وقد أبقت عليهم نفوسهم

فولوا وقد أبقت عليهم نفوسهم

سباسب حالت دونها ورمال

سباسب حالت دونها ورمال

They turned and fled, kept alive by their own will to live;

They turned and fled, their lives having been spared

vast wastes and sands came between you and them.

by barren plains and sands that stood in the way.

وأتبعتهم ركضاً على كل سابح

وأتبعتهم ركضاً على كل سابح

إذا لريح كلت لم يصبه كلال

إذا لريح كلت لم يصبه كلال

You pursued them at full gallop on every swimming steed;

You pursued them at a gallop on every swimming steed,

even if the wind grew weary, no weariness touched it.

which, when the wind grows weary, knows no weariness.

جياد إذا جردتها يوم غارة

جياد إذا جردتها يوم غارة

فليس لها غير الوشيج ظلال

فليس لها غير الوشيج ظلال

Horses which, when you strip them for a raid,

Fine steeds that, when you unsheathe them on a day of raiding,

have no shade except the towering spears.

have no shade but spear-shafts.

طوالع في ليل القتام غوارب

طوالع في ليل القتام غوارب

عليهن من نسج القتام جلال

عليهن من نسج القتام جلال

Stars rising through the battle’s dark night, then setting,

Rising and setting in the night of battle-dust,

clothed in robes woven from its gloom.

they wear horse-cloths woven from that dust.

يثير غباراً كلما قذي الهدى

يثير غباراً كلما قذي الهدى

بفتنة طاغ كان منه كحال

بفتنة طاغ كان منه كحال

They raise dust whenever right guidance’s eye is smarting

Each stirs up dust that, whenever guidance's eye is irritated

from a tyrant’s sedition; in them lies its salve.

by a tyrant's sedition, becomes its eye-salve.

رميت بها بهرام عن قوس عزمة

رميت بها بهرام عن قوس عزمة

تبيت لها الأقدار وهي نبال

تبيت لها الأقدار وهي نبال

With them you shot Bahram from the bow of resolve,

With them you shot at Bahram from a bow of resolve,

while fate’s decrees passed the night as arrows.

for which the fates lie at night as arrows.

وأدركتهم إدراك من لا يفوته

وأدركتهم إدراك من لا يفوته

مرام ولا ينأى عليه منال

مرام ولا ينأى عليه منال

You overtook them as one whom nothing escapes,

You overtook them with the reach of one whom

whose aim is never distant nor attainment beyond reach.

no goal eludes, and to whom no prize is distant.

سريت بها والليل وحف شبابه

سريت بها والليل وحف شبابه

فصبحتهم إذ شاب منه قذال

فصبحتهم إذ شاب منه قذال

You traveled with them while night was wrapped in youth,

You traveled with them by night while night's youthful hair was thick,

and fell upon them at dawn, when its forelock had whitened.

and struck them at dawn when the back of its head had grayed.

ولما اشتملت الليل برداً إليهم

ولما اشتملت الليل برداً إليهم

جرت بالذي تهوى صبا وشمال

جرت بالذي تهوى صبا وشمال

When night enfolded their host within its mantle,

When you wrapped yourself in night as a cloak on your way to them,

the east and north winds ran as they desired.

east and north winds blew as you desired.

وأوقدت نيران الوغى بذوابل

وأوقدت نيران الوغى بذوابل

سرت ولها زرق النصال ذبال

سرت ولها زرق النصال ذبال

You kindled the fires of battle with lances

You kindled the fires of battle with slender spears,

whose iron points glowed like coals and whose shafts were wicks.

traveling by night with blue spearheads for wicks.

وأتبعتها والكف تقوى بأختها

وأتبعتها والكف تقوى بأختها

ببيض تصون المجد وهي مذال

ببيض تصون المجد وهي مذال

Then followed them—one hand strengthening its sister—

And you followed them—one hand strengthened by its sister—

white blades that guard glory though their sheaths are humbled.

with bright swords that guard glory while themselves unsheathed.

إذا هجرت أغمادها لم يكن لها

إذا هجرت أغمادها لم يكن لها

سوى قطع أوصال الطغاة وصال

سوى قطع أوصال الطغاة وصال

Once they forsake their scabbards, they have no reunion

When they leave their scabbards, they have

except by severing the tyrants’ limbs.

no union save the severing of tyrants' limbs.

فهن شجا في حلق كل معاند

فهن شجا في حلق كل معاند

وهن على قلب الولي زلال

وهن على قلب الولي زلال

What a choking thorn they are in every rebel’s throat,

They are a choking bone in every opponent's throat,

though to a loyal heart they are clear, sweet water.

and cool, clear water upon the loyal friend's heart.

عماد مليك يكثر البأس والندى

عماد مليك يكثر البأس والندى

إذا قل نزل في الورى ونزال

إذا قل نزل في الورى ونزال

Mainstay of a king abundant in courage and liberality

A king's mainstay, he multiplies might and bounty,

whenever hospitality or combat grows scarce among men.

when hospitality and combat grow scarce among mankind.

هو القاسم السجلين عفواً ونقمة

هو القاسم السجلين عفواً ونقمة

وحاسم داء الدهر وهو عضال

وحاسم داء الدهر وهو عضال

He apportions two overflowing gifts: pardon and punishment,

He dispenses both buckets: pardon and vengeance,

and heals the age’s sickness though it is incurable.

and cuts away time's sickness, though it is incurable.

تكفل هم الملك عن قلب كافل

تكفل هم الملك عن قلب كافل

غدا وهو فينا عصمة وثمال

غدا وهو فينا عصمة وثمال

He took upon himself the kingdom’s care with a guardian heart,

He took kingship's burden from its guardian's heart,

and became among us a refuge and support.

now a safeguard and a refuge among us.

تقيل الأماني عنده تحت رحمة

تقيل الأماني عنده تحت رحمة

بها عثرات المسلمين تقال

بها عثرات المسلمين تقال

Hopes seek their noonday rest beneath his mercy,

Hopes take their noonday rest with him beneath a mercy

through which the Muslims’ stumbles are forgiven.

by which the Muslims' stumbles are forgiven.

تروح الأيادي من يديه خفيفة

تروح الأيادي من يديه خفيفة

وتغدو على الأعناق وهي ثقال

وتغدو على الأعناق وهي ثقال

Favors leave his hands lightly,

His favors leave his hands lightly at evening,

but settle heavily upon the necks of those obliged.

and rest heavy upon necks in the morning.

أبوك الذي تسطو الليالي بحده

أبوك الذي تسطو الليالي بحده

وأنت يمين إن سطا وشمال

وأنت يمين إن سطا وشمال

Your father is he whose blade assails the nights,

Your father is he with whose blade the nights strike,

while you are his right hand—and his left when he strikes.

and you are his right hand and his left when he strikes.

أب علم الأيام أحسن سيرة

أب علم الأيام أحسن سيرة

لعينيك منها قبلة ومثال

لعينيك منها قبلة ومثال

The schooling of the days knew no finer course

A father who taught the days the best conduct,

than the example and guidance placed before your eyes.

in which your eyes find a direction to face and a model.

لرتبته العظمى وإن طال عمره

لرتبته العظمى وإن طال عمره

إليك مصير واجب ومآل

إليك مصير واجب ومآل

His highest rank, however long his life,

His highest rank, however long his life,

must come to you as its destined end and home.

has you as its inevitable destination and final home.

تخالسك اللحظ المصون ودونها

تخالسك اللحظ المصون ودونها

حجاب شريف لا انقضى وحجال

حجاب شريف لا انقضى وحجال

Its guarded gaze steals glances at you, though before it stand

She steals guarded glances at you, while before her

a noble veil and curtained chambers never breached.

stand a noble veil—may it never cease!—and bridal curtains.

لقد راقها بل شاقها واستفزها

لقد راقها بل شاقها واستفزها

إليك جلال باهر وخلال

إليك جلال باهر وخلال

Your splendor has delighted it—indeed enthralled and stirred it:

Indeed, she was charmed—rather, enthralled and stirred—

a radiant majesty and beauty drawing it toward you.

toward you by dazzling majesty and noble qualities.

جبينك حسناً بل يمينك منة

جبينك حسناً بل يمينك منة

يفيض جميل منهما وجمال

يفيض جميل منهما وجمال

Your brow is loveliness; your right hand is beneficence:

Your brow in beauty—rather, your right hand in beneficence:

from both flow beauty and gracious deeds.

kindness and beauty overflow from both.

خليلي قولا للأجل نيابة

خليلي قولا للأجل نيابة

فقد منعتني هيبة وجلال

فقد منعتني هيبة وجلال

My two companions, speak for me before the August One,

My two friends, speak on my behalf to the most august,

for awe and majesty have kept me silent.

for awe and majesty have held me back.

إخالك لا ترضى الكواكب معشراً

إخالك لا ترضى الكواكب معشراً

وأنت لأبناء الخلافة خال

وأنت لأبناء الخلافة خال

I think you would not accept the stars as your clan,

I think you would not accept the stars as companions,

though you are maternal uncle to the heirs of the caliphate.

when you are a maternal uncle to the caliphate's sons.

ستخفر غسان بكم ويزيدها

ستخفر غسان بكم ويزيدها

على أن آل المصطفى لك آل

على أن آل المصطفى لك آل

Ghassan will glory in you and take pride,

Ghassan will be sheltered by you, and gain still greater honor,

while the family of the Chosen One is your own family.

since the Chosen One's family is your own family.

فدى لبني رزيك من ليس مثلهم

فدى لبني رزيك من ليس مثلهم

وهل للنجوم النيرات مثال

وهل للنجوم النيرات مثال

May all unlike them be ransomed for the sons of Razin;

Let all unlike them be ransom for the sons of Ruzzik,

can the radiant stars have any peer?

for have the radiant stars any equal?

ملوك أرتنا كل فضل مغيب

ملوك أرتنا كل فضل مغيب

لهم شيم محمودة وخصال

لهم شيم محمودة وخصال

Kings who showed us every hidden excellence,

Kings who showed us every hidden excellence,

masters of praiseworthy ways and qualities.

possessing praiseworthy dispositions and qualities.

تقول مساعيهم لكل منافس

تقول مساعيهم لكل منافس

ترفق فما كل الرجال رجال

ترفق فما كل الرجال رجال

Their deeds say to every rival,

Their deeds say to every rival:

“Easy—mere men are not all truly men.”

Go gently: not every man is a true man.

غيوث إذا ضن السحاب بوبله

غيوث إذا ضن السحاب بوبله

ليوث إذا صل الحديد وصالوا

ليوث إذا صل الحديد وصالوا

Rainclouds when clouds withhold their downpour,

Rainstorms when the clouds withhold their downpour,

lions when iron is drawn and they charge.

lions when steel clangs and they charge.

هم علموني مدحهم بكرامة

هم علموني مدحهم بكرامة

وجود أطابوا منهما وأطالوا

وجود أطابوا منهما وأطالوا

They taught me to praise them through the honor

They taught me to praise them through honor

and generosity they made wholesome and enduring.

and generosity, lavishing both sweetly and at length.

وجوه لها بشر إلي تهللت

وجوه لها بشر إلي تهللت

وأيد أياديها علي تهال

وأيد أياديها علي تهال

Faces poured their gladness upon me,

Faces beamed toward me with gladness,

and hands showered me with their favors.

and hands poured their benefactions upon me.

قدمت عليهم وافداً فتفضلوا

قدمت عليهم وافداً فتفضلوا

وأعلوا محلي منعمين وعالوا

وأعلوا محلي منعمين وعالوا

I came to them as an emissary, and they bestowed grace,

I came to them as a visitor, and they showed me grace,

raising my station as benefactors while rising higher themselves.

graciously raising my station and sustaining me.

فما عذر شعر لا يجود فيهم

فما عذر شعر لا يجود فيهم

وعذري مزاح بالعطاء مزال

وعذري مزاح بالعطاء مزال

What excuse has verse if it does not flow freely for them,

What excuse has verse that is not generous toward them,

when the gifts that excuse me flow without end?

when my excuse is swept aside, removed by their gifts?

ولا شكر لي فيما أقول لأنني

ولا شكر لي فيما أقول لأنني

أعبر عما شرفوا وأنالوا

أعبر عما شرفوا وأنالوا

No thanks are owed to me for what I say,

No thanks are due to me for what I say, for I

for I merely voice the honor and favor they bestowed.

merely express the honors and gifts they bestowed.

ومستحسن للقول فيكم أجبته

ومستحسن للقول فيكم أجبته

كذا في صفات المحسنين يقال

كذا في صفات المحسنين يقال

To one who found my praise of you beautiful, I replied:

To one who admired my words about you, I replied:

“That is how one must speak of those who do good.”

Thus does one speak of benefactors' qualities.

قصائد ما باتت بهن خواطري

قصائد ما باتت بهن خواطري

على سرقات الانتحال تحال

على سرقات الانتحال تحال

Poems whose making never caused my mind

Poems in whose making my thoughts never spent the night

to be charged with plagiarism or borrowed lines.

turning toward the thefts of plagiarism.

ثقال الخطى إلا إليكم فإنها

ثقال الخطى إلا إليكم فإنها

خفاف الخطى في الارتجال عجال

خفاف الخطى في الارتجال عجال

Slow of step toward all others—but toward you

Heavy of step, except toward you, for then they are

light-footed, swift in improvisation.

light-footed and swift in improvisation.

غدت منكم في أنفها خنزوانة

غدت منكم في أنفها خنزوانة

فليست بقصد الباخلين تذال

فليست بقصد الباخلين تذال

From you they departed provisioned in their very souls,

Through you, pride now fills their nostrils,

never again to be humbled before misers.

and they are not debased by seeking out the miserly.

إذا كان رأي الناصر الملك ناصري

إذا كان رأي الناصر الملك ناصري

فإن صريح القول في حفال

فإن صريح القول في حفال

If the victorious King’s judgment is my champion,

If the judgment of King al-Nasir supports me,

then candid speech will be granted its full measure.

then my genuine words receive attentive care.

فتى عنده فضل وفصل إذا التقى

فتى عنده فضل وفصل إذا التقى

جلاد على نصر الهدى وجدال

جلاد على نصر الهدى وجدال

A young man in whom bounty and decision meet

A youth possessing excellence and judgment when they meet:

when battle comes to defend guidance and argument.

swordplay for guidance's victory, and debate.

وبين يراع الخط والخط غيرة

وبين يراع الخط والخط غيرة

على يده العليا وغى وقتال

على يده العليا وغى وقتال

Between his pen line and the battle line there is rivalry

Between the writing-reed and al-Khatt's spears is jealousy,

in the work of his exalted hand in war and combat.

over his commanding hand: warfare and combat.

يروقك في يمنى يديه يراعة

يروقك في يمنى يديه يراعة

تراع بها أسد الشرى وتهال

تراع بها أسد الشرى وتهال

Fair in his right hand is a white reed-pen,

A reed-pen in his right hand delights you,

before which the lions of the thicket shrink in fear and awe.

yet by it the lions of al-Shara are terrified and awed.

توهمتها مخلوقة في بنانه

توهمتها مخلوقة في بنانه

لها من عروق الأشجعين حبال

لها من عروق الأشجعين حبال

I fancied it was created within his fingertips,

I imagined it created within his fingers,

its cords formed from the veins of the bravest.

with cords drawn from the veins of the two hand-tendons.

تبيت بها الآجال وهي قصيرة

تبيت بها الآجال وهي قصيرة

وتضحي بها الآمال وهي طوال

وتضحي بها الآمال وهي طوال

Through it, lifespans pass a night made short,

Through it, lifespans pass the night shortened;

while hopes greet a morning made long.

through it, hopes rise with the morning, long.

إذا اعتلقتها خمسة في ملمة

إذا اعتلقتها خمسة في ملمة

تحلل مكروه وحل عقال

تحلل مكروه وحل عقال

When five fingers grasp it in a crisis,

When five fingers clasp it in a crisis,

it resolves what is hated and loosens bonds.

trouble is untangled and the tether loosed.

ليهنك صوم ترتجى بركاته

ليهنك صوم ترتجى بركاته

وتوزن أعمال به وتكال

وتوزن أعمال به وتكال

Blessed be your fast, whose blessings are awaited

May your fast bring you joy, its blessings hoped for,

when deeds are weighed and measured.

and deeds weighed and measured through it.

رأت عينه منك الكمال الذي به

رأت عينه منك الكمال الذي به

تهلل فيه النور وهو هلال

تهلل فيه النور وهو هلال

My eyes beheld in you the perfection by which

Its eye beheld in you the perfection through which

light rejoices even while it is only a crescent.

its light beamed forth while it was still a crescent.

وأمطرت فيه المسلمين وغيرهم

وأمطرت فيه المسلمين وغيرهم

سحاب ندى لا يقتضيه سؤال

سحاب ندى لا يقتضيه سؤال

You rained upon Muslims and others alike

And in it you showered Muslims and others

a cloud of generosity unprompted by any plea.

with clouds of bounty no request need summon.

كأنك في الدنيا وصي لآدم

كأنك في الدنيا وصي لآدم

وأولاده فيه عليك عيال

وأولاده فيه عليك عيال

In this world you seem trustee for their forefather,

As though in this world you were Adam's trustee,

all his descendants dependents in your care.

and his children in it were your dependents.

أباحك حسن الذكر والأجر منهم

أباحك حسن الذكر والأجر منهم

ومن ربهم عدل أتيح ومال

ومن ربهم عدل أتيح ومال

From them came to you fair renown and reward,

Fair remembrance and reward from them are yours,

and from their Lord, justice, prosperity, and wealth.

and from their Lord, through justice and wealth bestowed upon you.

لقد ملت السؤال مما أتيتها

لقد ملت السؤال مما أتيتها

ومالك من بذل النوال ملال

ومالك من بذل النوال ملال

I have tired of asking after all that I have received,

The petitioners have tired of all you have given them,

while you never tire of bestowing gifts.

but you know no weariness in lavishing gifts.

وأنت إذا عد الكرام حقيقة

وأنت إذا عد الكرام حقيقة

وكل كريم ما عداك مخال

وكل كريم ما عداك مخال

When the truly noble are counted, you are the one;

When the generous are counted, you are the reality,

every other “noble” beside you is an impossibility.

and every generous man except you is imagined.

بقيت وما للملك عنك معرج

بقيت وما للملك عنك معرج

وما لنعيم الدهر منك زوال

وما لنعيم الدهر منك زوال

May you remain while God’s care never turns from you,

May you remain, with kingship finding no turning away from you,

and may the age’s delight never depart from you.

and time's blessings never leaving you.