ما العِزُّ إِلّا في عَوالي الرِماح

ما العِزُّ إِلّا في عَوالي الرِماح

أَو في شِفارِ الباتِراتِ الصِفاح

أَو في شِفارِ الباتِراتِ الصِفاح

Glory lies only in the tips of spears,

Glory comes from spear tips thrust,

or in the edges of broad, cleaving swords.

Or edges of sharp swords that clash.

لا يَختَشي فَوتَ العُلا ضارِبٌ

لا يَختَشي فَوتَ العُلا ضارِبٌ

بِنَفسِهِ في الهَولِ ضَربَ القِداح

بِنَفسِهِ في الهَولِ ضَربَ القِداح

He fears no loss of glory who casts

He who seeks glory unafraid if it eludes him,

himself into terror, as lot-arrows are cast.

Striking his own soul with dread and terror.

إِن أَدرَكَ الأَمرَ الَّذي رامَهُ

إِن أَدرَكَ الأَمرَ الَّذي رامَهُ

فازَ وَإِن ذاقَ الحِمامَ اِستَراح

فازَ وَإِن ذاقَ الحِمامَ اِستَراح

If he achieves the aim he sought,

If he attains what he hoped, he prevails,

he triumphs; if he tastes death, he rests.

If he tastes death, he finds rest.

يا صاحِ شَمِّر في اِستِباقِ العُلى

يا صاحِ شَمِّر في اِستِباقِ العُلى

وَانهَض إِلى الرِزقِ بِباقي الجَناح

وَانهَض إِلى الرِزقِ بِباقي الجَناح

My friend, gird yourself to race for the heights,

Rouse yourself, my friend, to pursue the heights!

and rise toward sustenance with what remains of your wing.

Rise up toward sustenance with what strength remains.

عَلَيكَ أَن تَسعى لِشَيءٍ وَما

عَلَيكَ أَن تَسعى لِشَيءٍ وَما

عَلَيكَ أَن تَضمَنَ عُقبى النَجاح

عَلَيكَ أَن تَضمَنَ عُقبى النَجاح

You must strive for a goal, but need not

Yours it is to strive for something, not

guarantee a successful outcome.

Yours to guarantee success.

ما أَحسَنَ الجَدَّ إِذا نالَهُ

ما أَحسَنَ الجَدَّ إِذا نالَهُ

صاحِبُهُ بِالجِدِّ لا بِالمُزاح

صاحِبُهُ بِالجِدِّ لا بِالمُزاح

How fine good fortune is when attained

How fine is serious work if

by its possessor through earnestness, not jest!

The worker treats it seriously, not as jest.

لا يُدرِكُ العَلياءَ إِلّا فَتىً

لا يُدرِكُ العَلياءَ إِلّا فَتىً

مِثلُ أَبي العُلوانِ بَحرِ السَماح

مِثلُ أَبي العُلوانِ بَحرِ السَماح

None attains the heights but a young man

Only a hero like Abu 'l-Ulwan will gain

like Abu al-Ulwan, a sea of generosity.

Glory's summits, so free with gifts.

مُعتَسِفُ الهِمَّةِ لا يَرتَضي

مُعتَسِفُ الهِمَّةِ لا يَرتَضي

لِنَفسِهِ بِالسَلمِ دُونَ الكِفاح

لِنَفسِهِ بِالسَلمِ دُونَ الكِفاح

Unrelenting in ambition, he will not accept

His spirit loathes to accept peace

peace for himself instead of combat.

Without struggle, his due denied.

يَحتَقِرُ المَوتَ وَيَغشى الوَغى

يَحتَقِرُ المَوتَ وَيَغشى الوَغى

بِجُؤجُؤٍ ثَبتٍ وَوَجهٍ وَقاح

بِجُؤجُؤٍ ثَبتٍ وَوَجهٍ وَقاح

He scorns death and plunges into battle

He scorns death, undaunted by violence,

with a steadfast breast and an unflinching face.

Steadfast, bold-faced, nothing can shift him.

كَأَنَّما تَحتَ جَلابِيبِهِ

كَأَنَّما تَحتَ جَلابِيبِهِ

أَغلبُ لا يَثنِيهِ وَخزُ الرِماح

أَغلبُ لا يَثنِيهِ وَخزُ الرِماح

As though beneath his robes

As if his coat of mail holds

were a thick-necked lion, undeterred by spear-thrusts.

An unconquerable army no spear can pierce.

تَمشي بِهِ سَلهَبَةٌ شَطبَةٌ

تَمشي بِهِ سَلهَبَةٌ شَطبَةٌ

أَو سَلهَبٌ شَطبٌ كَثيرُ المَراح

أَو سَلهَبٌ شَطبٌ كَثيرُ المَراح

A tall, shapely mare bears him along,

With him paces a slim-waisted beauty

or a tall, shapely stallion, full of high spirits.

Or a slender-waisted knight much inclined to jest.

كَأَنَّما دُهمَتُهُ ظُلمَةٌ

كَأَنَّما دُهمَتُهُ ظُلمَةٌ

وَوَجهُهُ أَوَّلُ فَجرِ الصَباح

وَوَجهُهُ أَوَّلُ فَجرِ الصَباح

As though its blackness were darkness,

His darkness is like the night coming on,

and its face the first dawn of morning.

His face the break of dawn.

يَجرِي وَتَجري الرِيحُ في إِثرِهِ

يَجرِي وَتَجري الرِيحُ في إِثرِهِ

فَيَلحَقُ الفُرصَةَ قَبلَ الرِياح

فَيَلحَقُ الفُرصَةَ قَبلَ الرِياح

It races, and the wind races in its wake,

He runs, the wind runs after him,

so it seizes the chance before the winds.

He outstrips chance before misfortunes arrive.

مُؤَدَّبُ الأَعضاءِ مُستَحسَنٌ

مُؤَدَّبُ الأَعضاءِ مُستَحسَنٌ

ماشِينَ بِالبُهرِ وَلا بِالجِماح

ماشِينَ بِالبُهرِ وَلا بِالجِماح

Well-disciplined in limb and pleasing to behold,

Well-trained in all his limbs, handsome,

unmarred by breathlessness or bolting.

Walking proudly, no prancing ostentation.

كَالغادَةِ الحَسناءِ أَرسانُهُ

كَالغادَةِ الحَسناءِ أَرسانُهُ

تَلعَبُ في هادِيهِ لُعبَ الوِشاح

تَلعَبُ في هادِيهِ لُعبَ الوِشاح

Like a lovely, graceful maiden, its halters

His steed's like a lovely, playful girl

play on its neck as a sash plays.

Tossing her plaits in sport.

يَكادُ أَن يَختِمَ مِن وَطئِهِ

يَكادُ أَن يَختِمَ مِن وَطئِهِ

صُخُورَ البِطاح

صُخُورَ البِطاح

Its tread almost stamps a seal upon

His horse all but seals the rocks

the rocks of the broad valleys.

With its stamp, so heavy its tread.

لَهُ سَبِيبٌ مُسبَلٌ خَلفَهُ

لَهُ سَبِيبٌ مُسبَلٌ خَلفَهُ

كَأَنَّهُ فَرعُ الفَتاةِ الرَداح

كَأَنَّهُ فَرعُ الفَتاةِ الرَداح

It has tail-hair trailing behind it,

Behind him a flowing tail that seems

like the tresses of a full-figured maiden.

A girl's plaited locks undone.

إِذا مَشى سَدَّ بِهِ فَرجَهُ

إِذا مَشى سَدَّ بِهِ فَرجَهُ

مِثلَ عَثاكِيلِ نَخيلِ القَراح

مِثلَ عَثاكِيلِ نَخيلِ القَراح

When it walks, it fills the gap between its legs with it,

When he walks his thighs close

like the fruit-clusters of palms in open fields.

Like palm trunks near springs that murmur.

وَيَسمَعُ الجَرسَ بِمَنصُوبِةٍ

وَيَسمَعُ الجَرسَ بِمَنصُوبِةٍ

كَأَنَّها قادِمَةٌ في جَناح

كَأَنَّها قادِمَةٌ في جَناح

It hears sounds with an upright ear,

His bells speak to him in rhythmic tones

like a primary feather in a wing,

As if they came on wings.

تُخبِرُهُ بِالغَيبِ في لَيلَةٍ

تُخبِرُهُ بِالغَيبِ في لَيلَةٍ

لا يَستَطِيعُ الكَلبُ فِيها النُباح

لا يَستَطِيعُ الكَلبُ فِيها النُباح

telling it of unseen things on a night

They tell him of mysteries on nights too dark

when a dog cannot bark;

For dogs even to bark.

لَيلاءَ مِثلِ العَينِ مَطمُوسَةٍ

لَيلاءَ مِثلِ العَينِ مَطمُوسَةٍ

لا تَملِكُ المُقلَةُ فيها الطِماح

لا تَملِكُ المُقلَةُ فيها الطِماح

a pitch-black night, like an eye put out,

Nights black as blinded eyes

in which the eye cannot gaze afar;

Where stars cannot glance or gleam.

مُسوَدَّةِ الأَرجاءِ مُشتَقَّةٍ

مُسوَدَّةِ الأَرجاءِ مُشتَقَّةٍ

في اللَونِ مِن لَونِ المَساعي القِباح

في اللَونِ مِن لَونِ المَساعي القِباح

blackened in its reaches, its hue derived

Darkness spreads, growing

from the color of vile deeds.

From the ugly deeds of villains.

طِرفٌ إِذا باراهُ طَرفُ الفَتى

طِرفٌ إِذا باراهُ طَرفُ الفَتى

عادَ وَما أَدرَكَهُ بِالتِماح

عادَ وَما أَدرَكَهُ بِالتِماح

A noble steed: if a young man's gaze races it,

A glance his eyes bestow on a lad

the gaze returns without catching even a glimpse of it.

Returns baffled, no audacity left in it.

عَوَّدَهُ أَبلَجُ مِن عامِرٍ

عَوَّدَهُ أَبلَجُ مِن عامِرٍ

مَغدىً إِلى مَلحَمَةٍ أَو مَراح

مَغدىً إِلى مَلحَمَةٍ أَو مَراح

A bright-browed man of Amir has trained it

The water-meadows of 'Amir accustomed him

to ride into battle at morning or evening,

To feasts or to forays and raids.

إِمّا لِعِزٍّ بِالقَنى يُبتَنى

إِمّا لِعِزٍّ بِالقَنى يُبتَنى

أَو لِحِمىً في بَلَدٍ يُستَباح

أَو لِحِمىً في بَلَدٍ يُستَباح

either for glory built with spears,

Either to honor bound fast by vows

or for a protected domain in a land laid open to invasion.

Or to defend a land given up for pillage.

وَنَصبُ عَينيّ فَتىً ماجِدٌ

وَنَصبُ عَينيّ فَتىً ماجِدٌ

سِلاحُهُ النَصرُ وَنِعمَ السِلاح

سِلاحُهُ النَصرُ وَنِعمَ السِلاح

And before my eyes stands a noble young man,

My eyes are set on a hero whose arms

whose weapon is victory—an excellent weapon!

Bring triumph - finest of trophies.

مَن قاسَ بِالسُحبِ نَدى كَفِّهِ

مَن قاسَ بِالسُحبِ نَدى كَفِّهِ

أَيقَنَ أَنَّ السُحبَ بَحرٌ شَحاح

أَيقَنَ أَنَّ السُحبَ بَحرٌ شَحاح

Whoever compares the dew of his palm with the clouds

Whoever matched his hand's rain with clouds'

knows the clouds are a miserly sea.

Knew the clouds had scant generosity.

ما لِلغَوادي نَفعُ إِحسانِهِ

ما لِلغَوادي نَفعُ إِحسانِهِ

وَإِنَّما وَصف الغَوادي اِصطِلاح

وَإِنَّما وَصف الغَوادي اِصطِلاح

Morning rain-clouds lack the benefit of his kindness;

Of no use are water-meadows' gifts -

and describing morning rain-clouds is merely convention.

The name water-meadow but borrowed finery.

وَكَم لِفَخرِ المُلكِ مِن مِنَّةٍ

وَكَم لِفَخرِ المُلكِ مِن مِنَّةٍ

بَنَت لَهُ العِزَّ الرَفيعَ النَواح

بَنَت لَهُ العِزَّ الرَفيعَ النَواح

How many favors Fakhr al-Mulk has bestowed,

Many gifts honor brought the ruler

building him glory towering on every side!

Raising glory's cry ever higher.

ما نَظَرَ الناظِرُ في وَجهِهِ

ما نَظَرَ الناظِرُ في وَجهِهِ

إِلّا وَأَيقَنتَ لَهُ بِالفَلاح

إِلّا وَأَيقَنتَ لَهُ بِالفَلاح

No observer looks upon his face

None looked him in the face

but you are certain that he will prosper.

But knew good fortune was his.

فَتىً إِذا ضاقَت سَجايا الفَتى

فَتىً إِذا ضاقَت سَجايا الفَتى

كانَت سَجاياهُ الرِحابَ الفِساح

كانَت سَجاياهُ الرِحابَ الفِساح

A young man who, when another man's qualities narrow,

A hero, if other heroes' souls are cramped,

has qualities that are broad, spacious expanses.

His soul is spacious and lavish.

تَكادُ أَن تَشرَبَ أَخلاقُهُ

تَكادُ أَن تَشرَبَ أَخلاقُهُ

مِن طِيبِها شُربَ الزُلالِ القَراح

مِن طِيبِها شُربَ الزُلالِ القَراح

You could almost drink his character,

His noble traits could almost

so sweet it is, as one drinks pure, clear water.

Drink up the limpid rainwater and have their fill.

لَولاهُ لَم يَبقَ فَتىً يُرتَجى

لَولاهُ لَم يَبقَ فَتىً يُرتَجى

وَلا جَوادٌ مُفضِلٌ يُستَماح

وَلا جَوادٌ مُفضِلٌ يُستَماح

Without him no young man worthy of hope would remain,

But for him no lad of promise would remain

nor any generous benefactor from whom gifts could be sought.

No steed of worth men ask to borrow.

يا مَلِكاً طَوّحَ إِحسانُهُ

يا مَلِكاً طَوّحَ إِحسانُهُ

شُكري إِلى كُلِّ مَكانٍ فَطاح

شُكري إِلى كُلِّ مَكانٍ فَطاح

O king whose kindness has hurled

O king whose gifts of bounty sent

my thanks to every place, where they have flown;

My thanks scattering everywhere.

وَباتَ في الآفاقِ حَمدي لَهُ

وَباتَ في الآفاقِ حَمدي لَهُ

يَشكُو اِغتِراباً دائِماً وَانتِزاح

يَشكُو اِغتِراباً دائِماً وَانتِزاح

and my praise of him spends the night across the horizons,

While my praise of him remains in every region

complaining of endless exile and remoteness.

Complaining of banishment and long exile.

لِلناسِ مُدّاحٌ فَما بالُهُم

لِلناسِ مُدّاحٌ فَما بالُهُم

يَعمَونَ عَن هَذي القَوافي الفِصاح

يَعمَونَ عَن هَذي القَوافي الفِصاح

People have their panegyrists; why, then, do they

People have one who praises them - why then

remain blind to these eloquent verses?

Ignore these eloquent verses?

ما الفَضلُ لِلأَصواتِ في حُسنِها

ما الفَضلُ لِلأَصواتِ في حُسنِها

الفَضلُ في نَظمِ المَعاني المِلاح

الفَضلُ في نَظمِ المَعاني المِلاح

Merit does not lie in the beauty of sounds;

No merit lies in pleasant voices -

merit lies in weaving lovely meanings.

Merit lies in apt construction.

سَلني عَنِ الشِعرِ وَسَلهُم تَجِد

سَلني عَنِ الشِعرِ وَسَلهُم تَجِد

أَكثَرَنا ذا خَجَلٍ وَافتِضاح

أَكثَرَنا ذا خَجَلٍ وَافتِضاح

Ask me about poetry, and ask them; you will find

Ask me of poetry, ask them, you will find

most of us ashamed and exposed.

Most tongue-tied, abashed, not free-spoken.

وَلَيلَةٍ كَلَّفتُ صَحبي بِها

وَلَيلَةٍ كَلَّفتُ صَحبي بِها

خَبطَ الدُجى باليَعمَلاتِ الطِلاح

خَبطَ الدُجى باليَعمَلاتِ الطِلاح

And on a night I charged my companions

One night I tasked my companions and they

to grope through darkness on swift, weary she-camels,

Blundered in the dark against tent pegs.

إِلى فَتىً مُنَشِرحٍ صَدرُهُ

إِلى فَتىً مُنَشِرحٍ صَدرُهُ

لِطالِبي المَعرُوف أَيَّ اِنشِراح

لِطالِبي المَعرُوف أَيَّ اِنشِراح

toward a young man whose breast is open

A lad with generous heart greets them

to seekers of kindness—how wide it opens!

At dawn - radiant his visage.

لاحَ مَعَ الصُبحِ لَهُم وَجهُهُ

لاحَ مَعَ الصُبحِ لَهُم وَجهُهُ

فَما دَرَوا أَيَّ الصَباحَينِ لاج

فَما دَرَوا أَيَّ الصَباحَينِ لاج

His face shone for them alongside the dawn,

They know not which dawn shines brighter,

so they did not know which of the two dawns had appeared.

His or the one that comes with early morning.

يا عُدَّةَ الدَولَةِ يا مَن لَهُ

يا عُدَّةَ الدَولَةِ يا مَن لَهُ

مالٌ مُباحٌ وَحِمىً لا يُباح

مالٌ مُباحٌ وَحِمىً لا يُباح

O Uddat al-Dawla, O you who possess

O mainstay of the state, you who own

wealth open to all, and a domain none may violate!

Wealth none forbid, and others hold inviolate.

عِرضُكَ أَعدى الأَرضَ حَتّى غَدَت

عِرضُكَ أَعدى الأَرضَ حَتّى غَدَت

بَيضاءَ تُزهى في قَميصٍ لَياح

بَيضاءَ تُزهى في قَميصٍ لَياح

Your honor has spread to the earth, until it has become

Your virtue made the world so bright

white, resplendent in a gleaming-white shirt.

It gleams like white robes washed clean.

تُظَنُّ بِالكافُورِ مَفروشَةً

تُظَنُّ بِالكافُورِ مَفروشَةً

أَو بِرِياضِ النَورِ نَورِ الأَقاح

أَو بِرِياضِ النَورِ نَورِ الأَقاح

One would think it carpeted with camphor,

You'd think it sprinkled with camphor

or with flower-gardens, with the blossoms of daisies.

Or graced with gardens filled with light.

اُنظُر إِلى الأَجيالِ مَبيَضَّةً

اُنظُر إِلى الأَجيالِ مَبيَضَّةً

كَأَنَّها في العَينِ بَيضُ الأَداح

كَأَنَّها في العَينِ بَيضُ الأَداح

Look at the generations, all whitened,

Behold generations made white

like eggs in ostrich nests to the eye.

Like eggs in the eye of the cook.

أَحسَنُ مِنها مَنظَراً راحَةٌ

أَحسَنُ مِنها مَنظَراً راحَةٌ

كَرِيمَةٌ حامِلَةٌ كاسَ راح

كَرِيمَةٌ حامِلَةٌ كاسَ راح

More lovely to behold than these is a palm,

Lovelier than these to look upon

a generous one, holding a cup of wine.

Is a generous goblet brimming with joy.

فَاِنهَض إِلى اللَذَةِ مُستَمتِعاً

فَاِنهَض إِلى اللَذَةِ مُستَمتِعاً

بِالعَيشِ لا ذُقتَ الحِمامَ المُتاح

بِالعَيشِ لا ذُقتَ الحِمامَ المُتاح

So rise to pleasure, enjoying

Arise, take your pleasure, make merry,

life—may you never taste allotted death!

Taste the permitted, leave the forbidden untried.

وَاسعَد بِعيدٍ شابَ مِن طُولِ ما

وَاسعَد بِعيدٍ شابَ مِن طُولِ ما

لاقاهُ مِن شَوقٍ وَفَرطِ اِرتِياح

لاقاهُ مِن شَوقٍ وَفَرطِ اِرتِياح

And rejoice in a festival grown gray from the long

Rejoice in a feast that dispelled by its length

yearning and overflowing delight it has endured.

Yearning heaped on yearning.

لا زِلتَ مَسعوداً بِأَمثالِهِ

لا زِلتَ مَسعوداً بِأَمثالِهِ

في نِعمَةٍ قالَت لَنا لا بَراح

في نِعمَةٍ قالَت لَنا لا بَراح

May you always be fortunate in festivals like it,

Still may you remain blessed by its like

in a bliss that has told us, 'There is no departure.'

While bounty tells us - no parting.