قَمَرٌ يَفوق عَلى البُدور الكُمَّلِ

قَمَرٌ يَفوق عَلى البُدور الكُمَّلِ

في البَينِ لَم يَجمُل عَلَيهِ تَجَمُّلي

في البَينِ لَم يَجمُل عَلَيهِ تَجَمُّلي

A moon surpassing the perfect full moons,

A moon surpassing full moons in splendor

in separation from him, my composure was unfitting.

None can outshine his beauty from afar

من لي بِهِ كالبَدرِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ

من لي بِهِ كالبَدرِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ

كالغُصنِ يسبي المُجتني وَالمُجتَلي

كالغُصنِ يسبي المُجتني وَالمُجتَلي

Who will bring him to me? He is like the full moon, except that he

Who is like him but the full moon yet he is

is like a bough, captivating the fruit-picker and the beholder.

Like a branch enchanting the beholder’s eye

لا عَيب فيهِ غيرَ أَنّ رَقيبه

لا عَيب فيهِ غيرَ أَنّ رَقيبه

لا يأتَلي في لَومِهِ إِن يأتِ لي

لا يأتَلي في لَومِهِ إِن يأتِ لي

He has no flaw, save that his watcher

No fault in him but his watcher cannot bear

spares no effort in reproaching him if he comes to me.

To blame him if blame should come to my door

فارَقتُهُ فَلَقيت كلّ تَذَلُّلٍ

فارَقتُهُ فَلَقيت كلّ تَذَلُّلٍ

مِن بعد عزّي عنده وَتَذَلّلي

مِن بعد عزّي عنده وَتَذَلّلي

I parted from him and encountered every humiliation,

I left him so all my gentle manners turned

after my honor by his side and my humble submission.

To pride after my lowliness with him before

بِاللَّه يا مَحبوبَ قَلبي هَل تَرى

بِاللَّه يا مَحبوبَ قَلبي هَل تَرى

بَعد القِلى عود اللِقاء الأَوّلِ

بَعد القِلى عود اللِقاء الأَوّلِ

By God, beloved of my heart, do you foresee

O beloved of my heart will you ever see

after estrangement, a return to our first meeting?

After estrangement the meeting as of yore

مَن لي بِوَجهِك وَالدِيار وَثروَةٍ

مَن لي بِوَجهِك وَالدِيار وَثروَةٍ

ورضى يَدوم لَنا وَفقد العذّلِ

ورضى يَدوم لَنا وَفقد العذّلِ

Who will grant me your face, the dwellings, and wealth,

Who will give me your face, the homes we knew

and contentment that endures for us, and the absence of reproachers?

And wealth with lasting favor free of blame

عَلّلتَني بِعَسى وَعَلَّ فَإِن يَكُن

عَلّلتَني بِعَسى وَعَلَّ فَإِن يَكُن

تَعليلُ جِسمي عَن رِضاكَ فَعَلِّلِ

تَعليلُ جِسمي عَن رِضاكَ فَعَلِّلِ

You soothed me with 'perhaps' and 'maybe'; if

You blamed me for “perhaps” though if my body fails

afflicting my body accords with your pleasure, then afflict it.

To please you, blame my body, do not blame

وَطرحتَني لِيَد النَوى وَرَمَيتَني

وَطرحتَني لِيَد النَوى وَرَمَيتَني

فأصاب سَهمُ البين قَصداً مقتلي

فأصاب سَهمُ البين قَصداً مقتلي

And you cast me into separation's hand and shot at me,

You left me to the cups and cast at me the shaft

so separation's arrow struck my vital spot directly.

That found its destined mark and proved my bane

اللَهُ في صَبٍّ جَفاهُ مَنامُهُ

اللَهُ في صَبٍّ جَفاهُ مَنامُهُ

مِن بَعدِ فَقدِ حَبيبِهِ وَالمنزلِ

مِن بَعدِ فَقدِ حَبيبِهِ وَالمنزلِ

For God's sake, pity a lovesick man whom sleep has forsaken

Woe to wakefulness since the beloved went

after losing his beloved and his dwelling.

And home was lost to him after our union’s end

قَد جُرتَ لمّا جُزتَ حدّك في القِلى

قَد جُرتَ لمّا جُزتَ حدّك في القِلى

وَعدَلتَ عَنّي لِلعَواذِل فاِعدلِ

وَعدَلتَ عَنّي لِلعَواذِل فاِعدلِ

You were unjust when you overstepped your bounds in disdain,

You were right to turn from me to others, turn

and turned from me toward the reproachers—so be just.

And be impartial once you crossed the line

سقياً لِعَهدِكَ مِن دموع شُبِّهَت

سقياً لِعَهدِكَ مِن دموع شُبِّهَت

لَولا ملوحتُها بِغَيث منزلِ

لَولا ملوحتُها بِغَيث منزلِ

May the days with you be watered by tears that would be likened,

To water your old pact, these tears were poured

but for their saltiness, to rain sent down.

Salt had they not been melted by the rain

صِلني تُبَدَّل مِن أجاجِ مَدامعي

صِلني تُبَدَّل مِن أجاجِ مَدامعي

بِندى المَليك الأَشرفِ بن الأَفضَلِ

بِندى المَليك الأَشرفِ بن الأَفضَلِ

Rejoin me, and you will receive, instead of the brine of my tears,

Unite me, and my bitter tears will turn to

the bounty of King al-Ashraf ibn al-Afdal,

The dew of the most noble king, most excellent

بندى العلي القدر وَالنسب الزكي

بندى العلي القدر وَالنسب الزكي

المعتلي بن المعتلي بن المعتلي

المعتلي بن المعتلي بن المعتلي

the bounty of the virtuous one, lofty in rank and lineage,

The dew of the Exalted Rod and lineage pure

the exalted, son of the exalted, son of the exalted.

Whose glory blinds enviers with honors bright

ملك الملوك حَقيقة قَد كمّلت

ملك الملوك حَقيقة قَد كمّلت

أَوصافه وَسواهُ لَيسَ بأكمَلِ

أَوصافه وَسواهُ لَيسَ بأكمَلِ

Truly the king of kings; perfected are

A king consummate whom none equals, he

his qualities, and no other is more perfect.

Perfected many great traits none perfected

يَروي أَحاديثَ النوال صَحيحَةً

يَروي أَحاديثَ النوال صَحيحَةً

بِمدبَّجٍ مِن جودِهِ وَمسلسلِ

بِمدبَّجٍ مِن جودِهِ وَمسلسلِ

He transmits authentic accounts of bounty,

He relates the sweet tales of grace with speech

through reciprocal and pattern-linked transmissions of his generosity.

Studded with his kindness and ornamented chains

يروي عَن العبّاس إِسماعيلُ ما

يروي عَن العبّاس إِسماعيلُ ما

يَروي كَما العَبّاس يَروي عَن علي

يَروي كَما العَبّاس يَروي عَن علي

Isma'il transmits from al-'Abbas what

He relates from Al-‘Abbas Isma‘il what only

he transmits, as al-'Abbas transmits from 'Ali.

Al-‘Abbas related from ‘Ali before

نَسَبٌ عليه ضياءُ سَعدٍ حاجِبٌ

نَسَبٌ عليه ضياءُ سَعدٍ حاجِبٌ

عَينَ الحَواسِد بِالسَناء المسبلِ

عَينَ الحَواسِد بِالسَناء المسبلِ

A lineage whose light of good fortune veils

A lineage whose glory outshone Sa‘d’s brow

the eye of the envious with streaming brilliance.

That blinded eyes with honor’s dangling swords

مغرى بِجَمعِ فَرائِدٍ ما جُمِّعت

مغرى بِجَمعِ فَرائِدٍ ما جُمِّعت

مِن قبل دولته لملك مقبلِ

مِن قبل دولته لملك مقبلِ

Devoted to gathering rarities never gathered

With mulct unparalleled in treasures collected

before his reign for a fortunate king.

Never before assembled for a coming king

بأسٌ يَلين لَهُ الجَمادُ يَحُفُّهُ

بأسٌ يَلين لَهُ الجَمادُ يَحُفُّهُ

حلم تزلّ لَهُ رَواسي الأَجبلِ

حلم تزلّ لَهُ رَواسي الأَجبلِ

A might before which lifeless matter softens, surrounded by

Might so awesome rocks stand soft before its force

forbearance before which the firmly rooted mountains slip.

Shielded by the calm that crumbled mountain walls

وَلَهُ الكَراماتُ الشَهيرة إِن تَشأ

وَلَهُ الكَراماتُ الشَهيرة إِن تَشأ

مِن معجز أَو إِن تَشأ مِن مفضلِ

مِن معجز أَو إِن تَشأ مِن مفضلِ

His famed graces may, if you wish, be seen

His famed miracles, if he wished, were like

as a miracle-worker's, or, if you wish, as a benefactor's.

His gifts, and he was called a saint for both

جودٌ همى وَخوارِقٌ لِعَوائِدٍ

جودٌ همى وَخوارِقٌ لِعَوائِدٍ

عظُمَت فَفي الحالين يَدعى بالولي

عظُمَت فَفي الحالين يَدعى بالولي

Generosity poured down, and breaches of custom

His dark brown blade they likened though its edge

grew great; in either case he is called a saint or patron.

Was never called as weak as “toothless”

بِسنانِ أَسمرِهِ السِماكُ مشبَّهٌ

بِسنانِ أَسمرِهِ السِماكُ مشبَّهٌ

لَكِنَّهُ لَم يُدعَ مِنهُ بأعزَلِ

لَكِنَّهُ لَم يُدعَ مِنهُ بأعزَلِ

Al-Simak is likened to the point of his brown spear,

It nearly blinded the foe with lightning blows

but it is not thereby called 'the Unarmed.'

Speeding through the throngs in the clashing fray

وَيَكاد أَن يَمضي بأَبصار العدى

وَيَكاد أَن يَمضي بأَبصار العدى

ماضي بَوارِقِ سَيفِهِ في الجحفلِ

ماضي بَوارِقِ سَيفِهِ في الجحفلِ

And it all but carries away the enemies' sight—

O king who filled the world with secure shade

the piercing flash of his sword amid the great host.

From his most impregnable reign’s dominion

يا أَيُّها الملك الَّذي سكن الوَرى

يا أَيُّها الملك الَّذي سكن الوَرى

مِن ظِلّ دولته بأمنع معقلِ

مِن ظِلّ دولته بأمنع معقلِ

O king, under whom humankind has dwelt

Son of past kings, masters of bounty, resolve

in his reign's shade, within the most impregnable stronghold.

And lofty power your glorious ancestry

يا اِبن المُلوكِ السالِفين أُولي النهى

يا اِبن المُلوكِ السالِفين أُولي النهى

وَالجود وَالعزمات وَالقَدر العلي

وَالجود وَالعزمات وَالقَدر العلي

O son of bygone kings, possessed of wisdom,

The land is yours though none rose saying

and generosity, firm resolve, and lofty rank.

Welcome O noble king of all who came

الأَرضُ ملكُكَ ما نهضت لَهُ يَقُل

الأَرضُ ملكُكَ ما نهضت لَهُ يَقُل

أَهلاً وَسَهلاً بالمَليك المقبلِ

أَهلاً وَسَهلاً بالمَليك المقبلِ

The earth is your realm; whatever you set out toward says,

And people all your subjects gained under

'Welcome, welcome to the approaching king!'

Your abundant grace’s pouring cloud

وَالناسُ أَجمع من رَعاياك اِرتووا

وَالناسُ أَجمع من رَعاياك اِرتووا

مِن فَيض فضلك بِالغمام المسبلِ

مِن فَيض فضلك بِالغمام المسبلِ

And all the people among your subjects have drunk their fill

God guard you with His subtle kindness

from your bounty's flood, through the raincloud pouring down.

And your conquering troops’ open victory

واللَهُ حفّك مِنهُ باللطفِ الخَفي

واللَهُ حفّك مِنهُ باللطفِ الخَفي

وَالعسكر المَنصور بِالنَصر الجلي

وَالعسكر المَنصور بِالنَصر الجلي

And God has surrounded you with His hidden kindness,

My lord, I raised my case to you and judged

and the victorious army with manifest triumph.

My quest would surely prosper in your charge

مَولايَ نحوك قَد رَفعتُ قَضيَّتي

مَولايَ نحوك قَد رَفعتُ قَضيَّتي

وَجَزمت مِنكَ بنجح قَصدي فَاِقض لي

وَجَزمت مِنكَ بنجح قَصدي فَاِقض لي

My lord, to you I have submitted my case,

I came to you the first time but then left

and am certain my aim will succeed through you; so rule in my favor.

When favor faded and humility failed

إِنّي قصدت حماك أَوّل مَرَّةٍ

إِنّي قصدت حماك أَوّل مَرَّةٍ

فَلَقيت عزّاً زالَ مَعهُ تَذَلُّلي

فَلَقيت عزّاً زالَ مَعهُ تَذَلُّلي

Indeed, I sought your sanctuary for the first time,

I left you though my thanks were inadequate

and found honor that dispelled my abasement.

While my bags were full and I was filled

وَرحلت عنك وَنطقُ شُكري عاجِز

وَرحلت عنك وَنطقُ شُكري عاجِز

وَحَقائبي مَملوءَة وَأَنا الملي

وَحَقائبي مَملوءَة وَأَنا الملي

And I left you, my words of thanks falling short,

For I fell short in praising your sublime state

and my bags were full, and I was wealthy.

When it welcomed me with such greater good

فَلَقَد قصرت عَلى علاك مَدائحي

فَلَقَد قصرت عَلى علاك مَدائحي

لمّا تلقَّتني بِباعٍ أَطولِ

لمّا تلقَّتني بِباعٍ أَطولِ

So I have confined my praises to your exalted glory,

And versified your rule in eulogies

when it welcomed me with arms spread wider.

Lest I live heedless in my days

وَنظمتُ في مَدحي لملكك معجماً

وَنظمتُ في مَدحي لملكك معجماً

لأكونَ في دُنياي لست بِمُهملِ

لأكونَ في دُنياي لست بِمُهملِ

And in praise of your kingship I composed an alphabetic collection,

I hope you grant me title to refute

so that in my earthly life I would not be left neglected.

Any foe’s ire and please my guardian king

وَرَجايَ تَشريفي بِمَرسوم بِهِ

وَرَجايَ تَشريفي بِمَرسوم بِهِ

غَضَبُ العَدوّ إِذا بَدا ورضى الوَلي

غَضَبُ العَدوّ إِذا بَدا ورضى الوَلي

And my hope is to be honored with a decree through which

That I gain both your bounty and delight

the enemy is angered when it appears, and the friend is pleased,

And my obligation be complete through zeal

لأَفوز بِالغُنمين جاهك وَالنَدى

لأَفوز بِالغُنمين جاهك وَالنَدى

وَيَكون فَرضي كامِلاً بِتَنفّلي

وَيَكون فَرضي كامِلاً بِتَنفّلي

that I may win both prizes: your prestige and bounty,

No blame if I seek your bounty for myself

and my fixed allowance be completed by my extra grant.

But blame me if I do not seek at all

لا لَومَ إِن أَسأل نَداك عَليّ بَل

لا لَومَ إِن أَسأل نَداك عَليّ بَل

كلّ الملامِ عليّ إِن لَم أَسألِ

كلّ الملامِ عليّ إِن لَم أَسألِ

No blame falls on me if I ask for your bounty; rather,

It would be odd if I found myself unfit

all blame is mine if I do not ask.

For what I wish from you, so make me fit

حاشى مَكارِمَك الغَريبة أَن أُرى

حاشى مَكارِمَك الغَريبة أَن أُرى

مِمّا أرجّي مِنكَ غير مؤهَّلِ

مِمّا أرجّي مِنكَ غير مؤهَّلِ

Far be it from your extraordinary generosity that I should be deemed

Time is yours, command it and it hears, make

unworthy of what I hope for from you.

Its sons bow and bitter taste sweet

فالدَهرُ طوعُك قُل لَهُ يَسمَع وَطُل

فالدَهرُ طوعُك قُل لَهُ يَسمَع وَطُل

أَبناءَهُ يَخضع وَمُرهُ يَفعَلِ

أَبناءَهُ يَخضع وَمُرهُ يَفعَلِ

For time obeys you: speak to it and it will listen; surpass

You ascend to the highest unmatched limit

its sons and it will submit; command it and it will act.

And attain the most sublime through the Sublime

وَترقَّ أَعظَم غايَة لا تَنتَهي

وَترقَّ أَعظَم غايَة لا تَنتَهي

وَتناول الزُهرَ العليّة من علي

وَتناول الزُهرَ العليّة من علي

And ascend to the greatest goal, never stopping,

and take the lofty stars from above.