أَجِدَّكَ لَم تَهتَج لِرَسمِ المَنازِلِ

أَجِدَّكَ لَم تَهتَج لِرَسمِ المَنازِلِ

وَدارِ مُلوكٍ فَوقَ ذاتِ السَلاسِلِ

وَدارِ مُلوكٍ فَوقَ ذاتِ السَلاسِلِ

In earnest, were you not stirred by the traces of the dwellings,

I find you did not get excited about the drawing of houses,

And the abode of kings above Dhat al-Salasil?

And the home of kings above those in chains,

تَجودُ الثُرَيّا فَوقَها وَتَضَمَّنَت

تَجودُ الثُرَيّا فَوقَها وَتَضَمَّنَت

لَها بَرَداً يُذري أُصولَ الأَسافِلِ

لَها بَرَداً يُذري أُصولَ الأَسافِلِ

The Pleiades rain generously above it, and have promised

The Pleiades shine above it and it contained

It hail that scatters the roots in the lower reaches.

For it a coolness that flows to the roots of the lowlands,

إِذا عَذِراتُ الحَيِّ كانَ نِتاجُها

إِذا عَذِراتُ الحَيِّ كانَ نِتاجُها

كُروماً تَدَلّى فَوقَ أَعرَفَ مائِلِ

كُروماً تَدَلّى فَوقَ أَعرَفَ مائِلِ

When the settlement's courtyards yielded

If the excuses of the living were their offspring

Vines hanging down over a sloping ridge.

Vineyards hanging above the most knowing slopes,

دِيارٌ زَهاها اللَهُ لَم يَعتَلِج بِها

دِيارٌ زَهاها اللَهُ لَم يَعتَلِج بِها

رِعاءُ الشَوِيِّ مِن وَراءِ الشَوائِلِ

رِعاءُ الشَوِيِّ مِن وَراءِ الشَوائِلِ

Dwellings God adorned, never thronged by

Homes made prosperous by God, shepherds of declination

Sheep-herders from behind the tail-raising she-camels.

Did not enter them from behind the screens,

فَمَهما يَكُن مِنّي فَلَستُ بِكاذِبٍ

فَمَهما يَكُن مِنّي فَلَستُ بِكاذِبٍ

وَلَستُ بِخَوّانِ الأَمينِ المُجامِلِ

وَلَستُ بِخَوّانِ الأَمينِ المُجامِلِ

So whatever may come from me, I am no liar,

So whatever I may be, I am not a liar,

Nor am I a habitual betrayer of a trustworthy, gracious man.

And not betraying the trusted, courteous companion,

وَإِنّي إِذا ما قُلتُ قَولاً فَعَلتُهُ

وَإِنّي إِذا ما قُلتُ قَولاً فَعَلتُهُ

وَأُعرِضُ عَمّا لَيسَ قَلبي بِفاعِلِ

وَأُعرِضُ عَمّا لَيسَ قَلبي بِفاعِلِ

And indeed, whenever I say something, I carry it out,

And if I say something I do it,

And I turn away from what my heart would not do.

And turn away from what my heart is not doing,

وَمَن مُكرِهي إِن شِئتُ أَن لا أَقولُهُ

وَمَن مُكرِهي إِن شِئتُ أَن لا أَقولُهُ

وَفَجعُ الأَمينِ شيمَةٌ غَيرُ طائِلِ

وَفَجعُ الأَمينِ شيمَةٌ غَيرُ طائِلِ

And who can compel me, if I choose not to say it?

And whoever forces me, if I want not to say it

And bringing grief to the trustworthy is a trait of no worth.

And the agony of the trusted is no use,