قُلْ للمليكِ ابنِ الملوكِ الصِّيدِ

قُلْ للمليكِ ابنِ الملوكِ الصِّيدِ

قوْلاً يسدُّ عليه عَرْضَ البيدِ

قوْلاً يسدُّ عليه عَرْضَ البيدِ

Say to the king, son of proud kings,

Say to the royal son of kings, the hunter,

words that fill the desert's breadth before him:

Words that close his wide net,

لَهفي عليكَ أما ترِقُّ على العُلى

لَهفي عليكَ أما ترِقُّ على العُلى

أم بينَ جانِحتَيكَ قلبُ حديد

أم بينَ جانِحتَيكَ قلبُ حديد

Alas for you! Will you not show tenderness toward lofty honor,

I yearn for you - don't you care for the exalted?

or does a heart of iron lie between your ribs?

Or is there a heart of iron between your wings?

ما حَقُّ كفِّكَ أن تُمَدَّ لمِبضَعٍ

ما حَقُّ كفِّكَ أن تُمَدَّ لمِبضَعٍ

من بعد زَعزعةِ القَنا الأملود

من بعد زَعزعةِ القَنا الأملود

Your palm does not deserve to be held out to a lancet,

It is not right for your hand to be extended to a prey,

after brandishing the supple spears.

After the shaking of the bent spear,

ما كان ذاك جزاؤها بمجالِهَا

ما كان ذاك جزاؤها بمجالِهَا

بينَ النَّدى والطعنةِ الأخدود

بينَ النَّدى والطعنةِ الأخدود

That was not its recompense for ranging

That was not its reward in its sanctuary,

between generosity and the trench-gouging thrust.

Between dew and the deep wound.

لو نابَ عنها فصدُ شيءٍ غيرِهَا

لو نابَ عنها فصدُ شيءٍ غيرِهَا

لوَقيْتُ مِعصَمَها بحبل وريدي

لوَقيْتُ مِعصَمَها بحبل وريدي

If bleeding something else could take its place,

If it turned away from it, other game would be caught -

I would shield its wrist with the cord of my own vein.

I would have protected its wrist with my arteries.

فارْدُدْ إليك نجيعَها المُهْراق إنْ

فارْدُدْ إليك نجيعَها المُهْراق إنْ

كان النجيعُ يُرَدُّ بعدَ جُمود

كان النجيعُ يُرَدُّ بعدَ جُمود

Then return to yourself its spilled lifeblood, if

So return its bleeding carcass to me, if

lifeblood can be returned after congealing.

The carcass can be returned after rigidity.

أو فاسقِنِيه فإنّني أولى به

أو فاسقِنِيه فإنّني أولى به

من أن يُرَاقَ على ثَرىً وصَعيد

من أن يُرَاقَ على ثَرىً وصَعيد

Or give it to me to drink, for I am more entitled to it

Or let me drink its blood, for I am more deserving of it

than that it should be spilled on damp earth and bare ground.

Than it being shed on earth and land.

ولئِنْ جرى من فضَّةٍ في عسجدٍ

ولئِنْ جرى من فضَّةٍ في عسجدٍ

فبغَيرِ علم الفاصدِ الرِّعْديد

فبغَيرِ علم الفاصدِ الرِّعْديد

And if indeed it flowed from silver into gold,

And if it flowed from silver vessels in a gown,

it was without the craven bloodletter's knowledge.

Without the thunder-like shooter knowing.

فصَدتْكَ كفّاهُ وما دَرَتَا ولو

فصَدتْكَ كفّاهُ وما دَرَتَا ولو

يَدْري غَداةَ المشهد المشهود

يَدْري غَداةَ المشهد المشهود

His two hands bled you, not knowing—and if only

So your hands missed it, though they knew not,

he had known, that morning of the witnessed spectacle!

If only it knew the next day after the witnessed event.

أجْرى مباضِعَهُ على عاداتها

أجْرى مباضِعَهُ على عاداتها

فجَرَتْ على نهجٍ من التّسديد

فجَرَتْ على نهجٍ من التّسديد

He moved his lancets in their accustomed ways,

It would have let its organs flow naturally,

so they followed a course of unerring direction.

Flowing correctly, smoothly.

واعْتاقَهُ عن مَلكِها الجزَعُ الذي

واعْتاقَهُ عن مَلكِها الجزَعُ الذي

يعتاقُ بطشةَ قِرنِكَ المِرّيد

يعتاقُ بطشةَ قِرنِكَ المِرّيد

And he was hindered from mastering them by the panic that

And desperation, which liberates from your conquering blow,

checks the assault of your defiant adversary.

Would have freed it from your obedient spear.

قد قلتُ للآسي حنانَك عائِداً

قد قلتُ للآسي حنانَك عائِداً

فلقَد قَرَعْتَ صَفاةَ كلِّ ودود

فلقَد قَرَعْتَ صَفاةَ كلِّ ودود

Visiting the sick, I said to the physician: Have mercy!

I said your mercy would return to the anguished,

For you have struck the rock of every loving soul.

For you have appealed to the heart of every loving soul.

أوَما اتَّقَيْتَ اللّه في العضْوِ الذي

أوَما اتَّقَيْتَ اللّه في العضْوِ الذي

يَفديه أجمعُ مُهجةِ الصِّنديد

يَفديه أجمعُ مُهجةِ الصِّنديد

Did you not fear God regarding the limb

Or did you not fear Allah regarding the member which

which all a valiant warrior's lifeblood would ransom?

All the resolute heroes would sacrifice themselves for?

أوَما خشيتَ من الصّوارمِ حولَه

أوَما خشيتَ من الصّوارمِ حولَه

تهتزُّ من حَنَقٍ عليك شديد

تهتزُّ من حَنَقٍ عليك شديد

And did you not fear the sharp swords around him,

Or were you not afraid of the blades around it

quivering with fierce rage against you?

Which shake with intense anger at you?

أوَلم تُهَلْ من ساعدِ الأسَدِ الذي

أوَلم تُهَلْ من ساعدِ الأسَدِ الذي

فيه خِضابٌ من دماءِ أُسود

فيه خِضابٌ من دماءِ أُسود

And were you not terrified by the lion's forearm,

Or were you not awed by the forearm of the lion

dyed with the blood of lions?

Dyed with the blood of lions?

ولمَا اجترأتَ على مَجَسَّة كفِّه

ولمَا اجترأتَ على مَجَسَّة كفِّه

إلاَّ وأنتَ من الكُماة الصِّيد

إلاَّ وأنتَ من الكُماة الصِّيد

Nor would you have dared feel his palm,

And when did you dare to touch its noble palm

unless you were one of the proud warriors.

Unless you were one of the brave hunters?

وعلامَ تفْصِدُ مَن جرَى من كفِّه

وعلامَ تفْصِدُ مَن جرَى من كفِّه

في الجود مثلُ البحرِ عامَ مُدود

في الجود مثلُ البحرِ عامَ مُدود

And why do you bleed one from whose palm has flowed,

And why would you hunt one whose hand flowed

in generosity, the like of the sea in a year of swelling tides?

Like the sea, generous for an extended time?

فبحسبه ممّا أرادوا بذلَهُ

فبحسبه ممّا أرادوا بذلَهُ

في المجدِ نفسُ المُتعَب المجهود

في المجدِ نفسُ المُتعَب المجهود

So enough for him, of what they wished to expend

It is enough what they wanted to spend

for glory, is his weary, exhausted soul.

In glory - the soul of the exhausted striver.

قالوا دَواءً نبتغي فأجبتُهُمْ

قالوا دَواءً نبتغي فأجبتُهُمْ

ليسَ السَّقامُ لمثلِهِ بعَقيدِ

ليسَ السَّقامُ لمثلِهِ بعَقيدِ

They said, 'We seek a remedy'; I answered them:

They said "We seek a cure" - so I told them:

Illness is no close companion to one like him.

"The illness is not for its like with conviction."

لِمَ لا يُداوي نفسَه من جودهِ

لِمَ لا يُداوي نفسَه من جودهِ

مَن كان يمكنُه دواءُ الجود

مَن كان يمكنُه دواءُ الجود

Why does he not cure himself of his generosity,

"Why does he not cure himself with his generosity,

he for whom a cure for generosity is possible?

He who can cure with generosity?"

ما داؤهُ شيءٌ سوى السرف الذي

ما داؤهُ شيءٌ سوى السرف الذي

يُمضي وما الإسرافُ بالمحمودِ

يُمضي وما الإسرافُ بالمحمودِ

His ailment is nothing but the extravagance

"His illness is nothing but extravagance

he pursues; yet excess is not praiseworthy.

Which persists, and extravagance is not praiseworthy."

عَشِقَ السَّماحَ وذاك سيماهُ وما

عَشِقَ السَّماحَ وذاك سيماهُ وما

يَخفى دليلُ متَيَّمٍ معمود

يَخفى دليلُ متَيَّمٍ معمود

He loves generosity; that is his mark, and never

"He loved benevolence, and that is his sign, and the guide

is the sign of a lovesick, stricken lover hidden.

Of an adorer is not hidden."

إنَّ السقيمَ زمانُهُ لا جسمُهُ

إنَّ السقيمَ زمانُهُ لا جسمُهُ

إذ لا يجيءُ لمثله بنديد

إذ لا يجيءُ لمثله بنديد

It is his age that is ailing, not his body,

"Indeed it is his time that is sick, not his body,

for it brings forth no equal to one like him.

For the like of him is not afflicted."

قَعَدَ الزّمانُ عن المكارم والعُلى

قَعَدَ الزّمانُ عن المكارم والعُلى

إنَّ الزّمان السَّوءَ غيرُ رشيد

إنَّ الزّمان السَّوءَ غيرُ رشيد

Time has fallen short of noble deeds and lofty honor;

"The times fell short of virtues and loftiness,

indeed, this evil age is not rightly guided.

Indeed evil times are not rightly guided."

حسبي مدى الآمال يحيَى إنّهُ

حسبي مدى الآمال يحيَى إنّهُ

أمْنُ المَرُوعِ وعصْمةُ المنجود

أمْنُ المَرُوعِ وعصْمةُ المنجود

Yahya, the utmost reach of hope, suffices me: he is

"It is enough for me what hopes extend, O Yahya,

the terrified one's safety and the distressed one's protection.

For he is the safety of the frightened, and protection of the sought."

لقد اغتدَى والمجدُ فوق سريره

لقد اغتدَى والمجدُ فوق سريره

والغيثُ تحت رِواقِهِ الممدود

والغيثُ تحت رِواقِهِ الممدود

He has greeted morning with glory above his couch,

"Tyranny prevailed while glory was atop its throne

and rain beneath his outstretched canopy.

And rain was beneath its extended canopy."

أوحَشتَنا في صدرِ يوْمٍ واحِدٍ

أوحَشتَنا في صدرِ يوْمٍ واحِدٍ

وأطَلتَ شوقَ الصافناتِ القود

وأطَلتَ شوقَ الصافناتِ القود

You left us desolate in the first hours of a single day,

"You made us lonely in a single day

and prolonged the longing of the poised, long-necked steeds.

And prolonged the yearning of ardent lovers."

وأقلُّ منه ما يُضرِّمُ لوعتي

وأقلُّ منه ما يُضرِّمُ لوعتي

ويحولُ بين الصَّبرِ والمجلود

ويحولُ بين الصَّبرِ والمجلود

Even less than that would kindle my anguish

"Less than it is what makes my affliction blaze

and come between patience and the stout-hearted.

And comes between patience and endurance."

لِمَ لا وقد ألبَستَني النِّعَمَ التي

لِمَ لا وقد ألبَستَني النِّعَمَ التي

لم تُبقِ لي في الناس غيرَ حسود

لم تُبقِ لي في الناس غيرَ حسود

Why should it not, when you have clothed me in favors that

"Why not, when you clothed me in favors

have left me none among men but enviers?

Leaving none but the envious among people for me?"

حمّلتَني ما لا أنُوءُ بحَمْلِهِ

حمّلتَني ما لا أنُوءُ بحَمْلِهِ

إلاّ بعَوْنِ اللّهِ والتَّأييد

إلاّ بعَوْنِ اللّهِ والتَّأييد

You have burdened me with what I cannot bear,

"You burdened me with what I cannot bear to carry

save with God's help and support.

Except with Allah's help and support."

لولا حياتُكَ ما اغتبطتُ بعيشةٍ

لولا حياتُكَ ما اغتبطتُ بعيشةٍ

ولوَ انّني عُمِّرْتُ عُمْرَ لَبيد

ولوَ انّني عُمِّرْتُ عُمْرَ لَبيد

Were it not for your life, I would take no joy in living,

"If not for your life I would not delight in a livelihood

even if I were granted the lifetime of Labid.

Even if I lived as long as Labid."

أهدى السلامُ لك السلامَ وإنّما

أهدى السلامُ لك السلامَ وإنّما

عَيشُ الوَدود سلامَةُ المَودود

عَيشُ الوَدود سلامَةُ المَودود

Peace has bestowed peace upon you; for

"Greetings of peace to you, greetings, but

a lover's life is nothing but the beloved's well-being.

The life of a lover is the safety of the loved one."

أوَما ترى الأعمارَ لو قُسمتْ على

أوَما ترى الأعمارَ لو قُسمتْ على

قَدْرِ الكِرام لَفُزْتَ بالتَّخليد

قَدْرِ الكِرام لَفُزْتَ بالتَّخليد

Do you not see that, were lifespans apportioned according to

"Do you not see that if lives were distributed

the worth of noble men, you would win immortality?

According to virtues you would gain eternity?"

أنتَ الذي ما دام حيّاً لم يكُنْ

أنتَ الذي ما دام حيّاً لم يكُنْ

في المُلكِ من أمْتٍ ولا تأويد

في المُلكِ من أمْتٍ ولا تأويد

You are the one: so long as you live, there is no

"You are the one - as long as you live

crookedness or distortion in the kingdom.

Among the rulers there is no nation or support."

ما للسِّهامِ ولا الحِمامِ ولا لِمَا

ما للسِّهامِ ولا الحِمامِ ولا لِمَا

تُمضيه في العزَماتِ من مرْدود

تُمضيه في العزَماتِ من مرْدود

Neither arrows nor death, nor what

"There is nothing for arrows, nor pigeons, nor what

you carry through in firm resolve, can be turned back.

You spend on resolves that can be matched."

ولقد كفيتَ فكنتَ سيفاً ليس بال

ولقد كفيتَ فكنتَ سيفاً ليس بال

نابي ورُكْناً ليسَ بالمهدود

نابي ورُكْناً ليسَ بالمهدود

And indeed, you sufficed: you were a sword that never

"You have been sufficient, so you were a sword with no equal

fails to cut, and a pillar never shattered.

And a pillar not to be demolished."

وإذا نظرتَ إلى الأسنّة نظرةً

وإذا نظرتَ إلى الأسنّة نظرةً

ألقَتْ إليكَ الحرْبُ بالإقليد

ألقَتْ إليكَ الحرْبُ بالإقليد

And when you cast a glance at the spearheads,

"And if you looked at the tongues with a look

war casts its key to you.

War would be humbled before you."

وإذا ثنَيْتَ إلى الخلافة أصبعاً

وإذا ثنَيْتَ إلى الخلافة أصبعاً

وفّيتَ حقَّ النقض والتوكيد

وفّيتَ حقَّ النقض والتوكيد

And when you bend a finger toward the caliphate,

"And if you curled a finger toward the caliphate

you give revocation and confirmation their full due.

You would fulfill the truth of annulment and confirmation."

وإذا تصَفَّحتَ الأمورَ تَدَبُّراً

وإذا تصَفَّحتَ الأمورَ تَدَبُّراً

خُيّرْتَ في التوفيق والتسديد

خُيّرْتَ في التوفيق والتسديد

And when you survey affairs with careful thought,

"And if you examined affairs with deliberation

you are given your choice of success and sure guidance.

You would be given success and guidance."

وإذا تشاءُ بلغت بالتقريبِ ما

وإذا تشاءُ بلغت بالتقريبِ ما

لا يبْلُغُ الحكماءُ بالتبعيد

لا يبْلُغُ الحكماءُ بالتبعيد

And when you wish, by drawing near you attain what

"And if you desire, through approximation you attain what

the sages cannot attain by ranging far.

The wise cannot attain through abstraction."

وقبضتَ أرواحَ العِدى وبسَطْتَها

وقبضتَ أرواحَ العِدى وبسَطْتَها

ما بينَ تَلْيينٍ إلى تَشْديد

ما بينَ تَلْيينٍ إلى تَشْديد

And you have gripped your foes' souls and released them,

"You grasped the souls of enemies and spread them

ranging from leniency to severity.

Between softening and hardening."

ولقد بعُدْتَ عن الصِّفاتِ وكنهِها

ولقد بعُدْتَ عن الصِّفاتِ وكنهِها

ولقد قربتَ فكنتَ غيرَ بعيد

ولقد قربتَ فكنتَ غيرَ بعيد

Indeed, you are far beyond attributes and their essence,

"You were distant from attributes and their truth

yet you have drawn near, and are not remote.

Yet you were near, not far."

فكأنّكَ المقدارُ يعرفُه الورى

فكأنّكَ المقدارُ يعرفُه الورى

من غيرِ تكييفٍ ولا تحديد

من غيرِ تكييفٍ ولا تحديد

Thus you are like fate, which all mankind knows

"It is as if you are Predestination - the world knows you

without defining its form or setting its bounds.

Without qualification or definition."

كلُّ الشهادة ممكنٌ تكذيبُها

كلُّ الشهادة ممكنٌ تكذيبُها

إلاّ ببأسِكَ والعُلى والجُود

إلاّ ببأسِكَ والعُلى والجُود

Every testimony may be called false,

"All testimony can be denied

except that to your valor, lofty honor, and generosity.

Except by your might and highness and generosity."

كلُّ الرجاءِ ضلالةٌ ما لم يكن

كلُّ الرجاءِ ضلالةٌ ما لم يكن

في اللّهِ أو في رأيكَ المحمود

في اللّهِ أو في رأيكَ المحمود

All hope is delusion unless it rests

"Every hope is misguidance unless it is

in God or in your praiseworthy judgment.

In Allah or in your praised opinion."

لا حكمةٌ مأثورةٌ ما لم تكُنْ

لا حكمةٌ مأثورةٌ ما لم تكُنْ

في الوحي أو في مدحك المسرود

في الوحي أو في مدحك المسرود

No handed-down wisdom counts unless it is

"No transmitted wisdom unless it is

in revelation or in the praise of you that is recited.

In revelation or your flowing praise."

لم يَدَّخرْ عنك المديحَ الجَزْلَ مَن

لم يَدَّخرْ عنك المديحَ الجَزْلَ مَن

وَفّاكَ غايتَهُ من المجهود

وَفّاكَ غايتَهُ من المجهود

No rich praise has been withheld from you by one who

"He did not spare you grand praise, he who

has rendered you his utmost effort.

Fulfilled his goal with effort."

ولما مدحْتُكَ كي أزيدك سودداً

ولما مدحْتُكَ كي أزيدك سودداً

هل في كمالك موضعٌ لمزيد

هل في كمالك موضعٌ لمزيد

Nor have I praised you to increase your nobility:

"And when I praised you, to increase your joy,

is there room for increase in your perfection?

Is there room in your perfection for increase?"

ما لي وذلك والزّيادة عندهم

ما لي وذلك والزّيادة عندهم

في الحدِّ نقصانٌ من المحدود

في الحدِّ نقصانٌ من المحدود

What have I to do with that? In their view, addition

"What is this to me, while increase to them

to a definition is a diminution of the thing defined.

In the limit is a loss from the bounded."

أُثني عليك شهادةً لك بالعُلى

أُثني عليك شهادةً لك بالعُلى

كشهادتي للّه بالتّوحِيد

كشهادتي للّه بالتّوحِيد

I praise you as testimony to your lofty honor,

"I praise you as witness to your loftiness

just as I testify to the oneness of God.

As my witness to Allah's oneness."