1. حسنُ اِبتدائي بذكري جيرةَ الحرم

    له بَراعةُ شَوقٍ تستهلُّ دمي

    The beauty of my opening lies in recalling the Sanctuary's neighbors;

    it has the artistry of longing that makes my blood stream forth.

  2. دَعني وعُجبي وعُج بي بالرسوم ودَع

    مركَّب الجهل واِعقل مطلقَ الرُسُمِ

    Leave me with my self-admiration; turn with me to the traces, and leave

    compound ignorance, and comprehend the traces left unbound.

  3. بانوا فَهانَ دَمي عندي فَها نَدمي

    على ملفَّق صَبري بَعد بُعدهمِ

    They departed, and my blood became cheap to me; behold my regret

    for my patched-together patience after their departure.

  4. وَذيَّل الدمُ دَمعي يوم فرَّقهم

    وَراح حبّي بلبّي لاحقاً بهمِ

    Blood trailed after my tears on the day of their separation,

    and my love carried my reason away, following them.

  5. يا زَيدُ زَيدَ المنى مذ تمَّ طرَّفني

    وَقال هِم بهم تُسعد بقربهمِ

    O Zayd, the increase of my hopes, once complete, delighted me,

    and said, 'Be madly in love with them; their nearness will make you happy.'

  6. كَم عاذِلٍ عادِلٍ عنهم يصحِّف لي

    ما حرَّفته وشاةُ الظُلم والظُلَمِ

    How many a reproacher, turning away from them, misreads for me

    what the talebearers of injustice and darkness have distorted.

  7. ما زِلتُ في حرق منهم وفي حزَن

    مشوَّشَ الفكر من خَصمي ومن حكمي

    I have never ceased burning because of them, and grieving,

    my thoughts confused by my adversary and my judge.

  8. ظنّوا سلوّيَ إِذ ضنّوا فما لفظوا

    بذكر أُنسٍ مضى للقَلب في إِضمِ

    They imagined I had forgotten when they withheld themselves, and never uttered

    a mention of the heart's bygone intimacy in Idam.

  9. قدري أَبو حسنٍ يا معنويُّ بهم

    ووصفُ حال ابنِه حالٍ بحبِّهمِ

    My lot is Abu Hasan, O man of meaning, through them;

    and the description of his son's state is adorned by their love.

  10. أَجروا سوابقَ دَمعي في محبِّتهم

    واِستطردوها كخيلي يوم مزدحَمِ

    They set the foremost steeds of my tears racing in their love,

    and drew them onward like my horses on a crowded day.

  11. ذَوى وريقُ شبابي في الغَرام بهم

    من اِستعارة نار الشَوق والأَلَمِ

    The tender foliage of my youth withered in passion for them,

    from borrowing the fire of longing and pain.

  12. وَلّوا بسخطٍ وعُنف نازحين وقد

    قابلتُهم بالرِضا والرفق من أمَمِ

    They turned away in anger and harshness, departing, though

    I met them face-to-face with acceptance and gentleness.

  13. وإِن هُمُ اِستَخدموا عَيني لرَعيهم

    أَو حاولوا بذلَها فالسَعدُ من خَدمي

    If they employ my eye to watch over them,

    or seek its surrender, good fortune is among my servants.

  14. إِنَّ اِفتنانَهم في الحسن هيَّمني

    قدماً وقد وطِئت فرقَ السُهى قدمي

    Their varied artistry in beauty drove me mad with love

    long ago, though my foot had trodden Suha's crown.

  15. لفّي ونَشري اِنتهائي مبدئي شَغفي

    مَعهم لديهم إِليهم منهم بهمِ

    My folding, my unfolding, my ending, my beginning, my passion—

    with them, in their presence, toward them, from them, through them.

  16. ما أَسعدَ الظبي لو يَحكي لحاظَهم

    أَو كنتَ يا ظبيُ تُعزى لالتفاتِهمِ

    How fortunate the gazelle would be if it mirrored their glances,

    or if you, O gazelle, could be likened to their turning looks.

  17. أَمَّلت عَودَهم بعد العتاب وقد

    عادوا ولكن إِلى اِستدراكِ صدِّهمِ

    I hoped for their return after reproach; indeed,

    they returned, but to renew their rejection.

  18. قالوا وقد أبهموا إِنّا لنرغبُ أَن

    نَراكَ من إِضم لحماً على وَضمِ

    They said ambiguously, 'Indeed, we desire to

    see you, from Idam, as flesh upon a butcher's block.'

  19. إِن أَدنُ ينأوا وما قَلبي كقلبهم

    وَهَل يُطابَقُ مصدوعٌ بملتئِمِ

    If I draw near, they withdraw; my heart is unlike theirs.

    Can something cracked be matched with something whole?

  20. أرسلتُ إِذ لذَّ لي حبِّهمُ مثلا

    وَقَد يَكون نَقيعُ السمِّ في الدَسمِ

    When their love grew sweet to me, I uttered a proverb:

    'An infusion of poison may lie in rich food.'

  21. تخييرُ قَلبيَ أَضناني بهم ومحا

    منّي الوجود وأَلجاني إلى النَدمِ

    My heart's choosing them wore me down and erased

    my existence, and drove me to regret.

  22. راموا النَزاهةَ عن هَجوٍ وقد فَعَلوا

    ما لَيسَ يَرضاه حفظُ العَهد والذِمَمِ

    They sought to remain above satire, though they had done

    what fidelity to covenants and obligations would not approve.

  23. هازلتُ بالجِدِّ عُذّالي فَقُلتُ لهم

    أَكثرتم العذلَ فاِخشوا كِظَّة البَشمِ

    I jested earnestly with my reproachers, saying to them,

    'You have reproached too much; beware the distress of surfeit.'

  24. تهكُّماً قُلتُ للواشين لي بهم

    لَقَد هُديتم لفصل القول والحِكمِ

    Mockingly I said to those who carried tales about me to them,

    'You have surely been guided to decisive speech and wisdom.'

  25. قالوا وقد زخرفوا قَولاً بموجبه

    فهِمتَ قُلتُ هيامَ الصبِّ ذي اللَممِ

    They said, having embellished words to suit their import,

    'You understood.' I replied, 'The frenzy of a love-stricken madman.'

  26. كَم اِدَّعوا صدقَهم يَوماً وما صدقوا

    سلَّمتُ ذاكَ فما أَرجو بصدقهمِ

    How often they claimed truthfulness, yet were not truthful.

    I conceded that; what can I hope for from their truthfulness?

  27. قالوا سَمعنا وهم لا يَسمعون وقد

    أَوروا بجنبيَّ ناراً باِقتباسِهمِ

    They said, 'We heard,' though they do not hear, and

    kindled a fire in both my sides with their borrowed sparks.

  28. عدلتُ قَصداً لأسلوب الحكيم وقد

    قالوا تَشا قلتُ ثَوبَ الصِدق والحكمِ

    I deliberately turned to the sage's manner, when

    they said, 'You wish...' I replied, 'The garment of truth and wisdom.'

  29. هديتَ يا لائمي فاِترك موارَبتي

    فَلَيسَ يحسنُ إِلّا ترك ودِّهمِ

    You are guided, O my reproacher; stop equivocating with me,

    for nothing is fitting but abandoning love for them.

  30. أحسِن أسئ ظُنَّ حقِّق أدنِ أقصِ أطل

    حُك وَشِّ فوِّف أبن أخفِ اِرتحل أَقمِ

    Do good, do ill; suppose, verify; bring near, send far; lengthen;

    weave, embroider, stripe; reveal, conceal; depart, remain.

  31. من رام رشدَ أَخي غيٍّ هَدى وأَتى

    كلامُه جامِعاً للصِدق لا التُهمِ

    Whoever seeks the guidance of a brother in error gives guidance, and

    his speech encompasses truth, not accusations.

  32. قالوا تُراجعُهم من بعد قُلتُ نعم

    قالوا أَتصدقُ قُلتُ الصِدق من شيمي

    They said, 'Will you return to them afterward?' I said, 'Yes.'

    They said, 'Are you truthful?' I said, 'Truthfulness is among my traits.'

  33. وإِنَّني سَوفَ أوليهم مناقضةً

    إِذا هرمتُ وشبَّ الشَيخُ بالهرمِ

    Indeed, I shall treat them with contradiction

    when I grow old and the old man grows young through old age.

  34. غايرت غيري في حبِّهم فأَنا

    أَهوى الوشاةَ لتقريبي لسَمعهمِ

    I differed from others in loving them, for I

    love the talebearers for bringing me to their hearing.

  35. هُم وشَّحوني بمنثور الدموع وقد

    توشَّحوا من لآليهم بمنتظمِ

    They draped me in scattered pearls of tears, while

    they draped themselves in strings of their own pearls.

  36. عدمتُ تذييلَ حظّي حين قصَّره

    طولُ التفرُّق والدُنيا إلى عَدمِ

    I was denied an extension of my fortune when it was curtailed by

    long separation; and the world tends toward nothingness.

  37. تشابَهَت فيهم أَطرافُ وصفِهمُ

    ووصفُهم لم يُطقه ناطقٌ بفمِ

    In them, the ends of their description resemble one another,

    yet no speaking mouth could encompass their description.

  38. أَنا الَّذي جئتُ تتميماً لمدحهم

    نظماً بِقَولٍ يُباهي الدرَّ في القيمِ

    I am the one who came to complete their praise

    in verse whose words rival pearls in worth.

  39. هجوتُ في معرض المدح الحسودَ لهم

    فَقُلتُ إِنَّك ذو صَبرٍ على السَدَمِ

    Under the guise of praise, I satirized their envier,

    saying, 'You possess patience in sorrow.'

  40. لَم يَكتَفوا بي عميداً في محبّتهم

    بَل كُلُّ ذي نظر فيهم أَراه عَمي

    They were not content with my being love-stricken for them;

    rather, I see everyone who looks upon them become blind.

  41. زادَ اِحتباكُ غَرامي يا عَذولُ بهم

    فبرّئِ القلب من غيٍّ أَو اِتَّهمِ

    The interweaving of my passion for them has grown, O reproacher;

    so acquit the heart of error, or accuse it.

  42. نَتائجي اِتَّصلت والاتّصال بهم

    عزٌّ وعزّي بهم فَخرٌ على الأُمَمِ

    My conclusions are connected, and connection with them

    is glory; my glory through them is a boast above the nations.

  43. بهجرهم كم وَكَم فلَّ الهوى أمماً

    وردَّ صَدراً على عَجزٍ بهجرِهمِ

    Through their abandonment, how many peoples love has shattered,

    and turned a beginning back upon an ending through their abandonment.

  44. سَلَوتُ من بعدهم هيفَ القدود فَلَم

    أستثنِ إِلّا غصوناً شُبِّهت بهمِ

    After them I forgot slender figures, and

    excepted only branches likened to them.

  45. وقد قصدتُ مراعاةَ النظير لهم

    مِن جُلَّنار ومن وَردٍ ومن عَنَمِ

    I intended to observe their corresponding likenesses

    in pomegranate blossom, roses, and ‘anam.

  46. رَفَعتُ حالي إِليهم إِذ خفضت وقد

    نصبتُ طَرفي إلى تَوجيه رسلهمِ

    I raised my plea to them when I was brought low, and

    fixed my gaze upon the dispatch of their messengers.

  47. طربتُ في البُعد من تمثيل قربهمُ

    وَالمَرءُ قد تَزدَهيه لذَّةُ الحلمِ

    In separation I rejoiced at imagining their nearness;

    a person may be captivated by the pleasure of a dream.

  48. عاتبت نَفسي وَقُلتُ الشيبُ أَنذرني

    وأَنتِ يا نفسُ عنه اليوم في صَممِ

    I reproached my soul, saying, 'Gray hair has warned me,

    yet you, O soul, are deaf to it today.

  49. لا برَّ صدقي وعزمي في العُلى قسمي

    إِن لَم أَردَّكِ ردَّ الخيل باللُجمِ

    May my truthfulness and lofty resolve fail to fulfill my oath

    if I do not restrain you as horses are restrained with bridles.'

  50. وَقَد هُديتُ إلى حسن التخلُّص من

    غيّ النَسيب بمدحي سيِّد الأُمَمِ

    I have been guided to a graceful transition away from

    the folly of love-poetry, by praising the master of nations:

  51. مُحمَّدٌ أَحمَدُ الهادي البَشير بن عب

    د اللَّه فخر نِزارٍ باطِّرادِهمِ

    Muhammad, Ahmad, the Guide, the Bearer of Glad Tidings, son of ‘Abd—

    Allah, pride of Nizar through their ordered succession.

  52. عزُّ الذَليلِ ذَليلُ العزِّ مبغضُه

    فاِعجب لعكس أَعاديه وذلِّهمِ

    He is the lowly one's honor; his hater's honor is abased.

    Marvel at the reversal of his enemies and their humiliation.

  53. هو القسيمُ له أَوفى القسيمَ على

    نَفي القسيم ولا ترديد في القسمِ

    He is the fair one; an oath was fulfilled for him affirming

    the absence of an equal, with no wavering in the oath.

  54. زاكي النِجار علوُّ المجد ناسَبَه

    زاهي الفَخار كَريمُ الجَدِّ ذو شَمَمِ

    Pure of lineage, the height of glory befitted him;

    radiant in honor, noble of ancestry, possessed of lofty pride.

  55. أَفضالُه وَمَعاليه ورفعتُه

    جمعٌ من الفضل فيه غير مُنقسمِ

    His favors, his lofty qualities, and his elevation

    are an undivided union of excellence within him.

  56. أَوصافُه اِنسجمت للذاكرين لها

    في هل أَتى في سَبا في نون والقَلمِ

    His descriptions flow harmoniously for those recalling them

    in 'Has there come,' in Saba, in 'Nun, and the Pen.'

  57. فاِسمع تناسبَ أَطرافِ المديح له

    واِفهم معانيه إِن كنت ذا فَهَمِ

    Hear the correspondence between the ends of his praise,

    and understand its meanings, if you possess understanding.

  58. معظَّمٌ باِئتلاف المعنيين له

    من عفو مقتدرٍ أَو عزِّ منتَقِمِ

    He is exalted by the union of both meanings in him:

    the pardon of one powerful, or the might of an avenger.

  59. كلَّ البَليغُ وقد أطرى مبالغةً

    عَن حصرِ بعض الَّذي أولى من النِعمِ

    The eloquent man grew weary, though lavish in exaggerated praise,

    of encompassing even some of the favors he bestowed.

  60. لَو أَنَّه رام إِغراق العداة له

    لأَصبح البَرُّ بحراً غير مقتَحَمِ

    If he sought to drown his enemies,

    dry land would become a sea impossible to enter.

  61. ولا غلوَّ إذا ما قُلتُ عزمتُه

    تَكاد تَثني عهودَ الأَعصر القُدُمِ

    There is no exaggeration when I say his resolve

    almost bends back the eras of ancient ages.

  62. قاسوه بالبَحر وَالتَفريقُ متَّضحٌ

    أَينَ الأُجاجُ من المستَعذَب الشَبِمِ

    They compared him to the sea, though the distinction is plain:

    what is brine beside sweet, cool water?

  63. تَلميحُه كَم شَفى في الخلق من عِلَلٍ

    وَما لعيسى يَدٌ فيها فَلا تَهِمِ

    How many ailments among mankind his mere allusion has healed!

    Jesus had no hand in them, so do not be mistaken.

  64. وآدمٌ إذ بدا عنوانُ زلَّته

    به توسَّل عند اللَه في القِدَمِ

    When the sign of Adam's lapse became apparent,

    he sought God's favor through him in ancient times.

  65. به دعا إِذ دَعا فرعونُ شيعتَه

    موسى فأفلتَ من تَسهيم سحرهمِ

    Through him, when Pharaoh summoned his followers, prayed

    Moses, escaping the aimed shafts of their magic.

  66. لاح الهُدى فَهَدى تَشريع ملَّته

    لمّا بدا لسلوكِ المنهج الأَممِ

    Guidance shone, and the legislation of his creed gave guidance

    when it appeared for treading the straight path.

  67. وَاللَه لَولا هُداه ما اِهتدى أَحَدٌ

    لمذهبٍ من كلام اللَه ذي الحِكمِ

    By God, without his guidance no one would have been guided

    to a way through God's wisdom-filled speech.

  68. نَفى بإِيجابه عنّا وسنَّتِه

    جَهلاً نضلُّ به عن واضِح اللَقمِ

    By his commands and his practice he banished from us

    an ignorance that leads us astray from the clear highway.

  69. ولا رجوعَ لغاوي نهج ملَّته

    بَلى بإرشاده الكشّاف للغُمَمِ

    There is no return for one straying from his creed's path—

    yet there is, through his guidance that dispels gloom.

  70. ردَّت بمُعجزه من غير تَوريةٍ

    له الغَزالةُ تَعدو نحوَ أُفقهمِ

    By his miracle, without equivocation, there was brought back

    to him the sun, racing toward their horizon.

  71. تجاهلَ العارفُ الباغي فقال له

    أَمعجزٌ ما تَرى أَم سحرُ مُجتَرِمِ

    The knowledgeable aggressor feigned ignorance, saying to him,

    'Is what you see a miracle, or a criminal's magic?'

  72. وما عليه اِعتراضٌ في نبوَّته

    وهو الصَدوق فَثِق بالحقِّ واِلتزمِ

    No objection stands against his prophethood;

    he is truthful, so trust the truth and adhere to it.

  73. وَقصدُ إِحضاره في الذِهن لاح لنا

    لَمّا سَرى فيؤمُّ الرسلَ من أمَمِ

    The intent to bring him to mind became evident to us

    when he journeyed by night and led the messengers in prayer from the front.

  74. هُوَ العوالمُ عن حصرٍ بأَجمعِها

    وَملحق الجزءِ بالكلّي في العِظمِ

    He is all the worlds together, beyond all reckoning,

    and the part joined to the whole in greatness.

  75. تَهذيبُ فطرته أَغناهُ عَن أَدَبٍ

    في القول والفعل والأخلاق والشيَمِ

    The refinement of his nature made acquired cultivation unnecessary

    in speech, action, character, and disposition.

  76. ما زالَ آباؤُهُ بالحمد مذ عُرفوا

    فَكانَ أَحمدهم وفق اِتِّفاقِهمِ

    His forefathers were ever praised since they became known,

    and he was their most praised, in accord with their concord.

  77. ضياؤُهُ الشَمسُ في تَفريق جمع دُجىً

    وقدره الشَمسُ لم تُدرك ولم تُرمِ

    His radiance is the sun, dispersing gathered darkness;

    his worth is the sun, neither reached nor aimed at.

  78. وَكَم غزا لِلعِدى جَمعاً فقسَّمه

    فالزَوجُ للأيمِ والمَولودُ لليُتمِ

    How many an enemy host he raided and split apart:

    the spouse to widowhood, the newborn to orphanhood.

  79. فمن يماثلُه أَو من يجانسُه

    أَو من يقاربُه في العِلم والعَلمِ

    Who resembles him, or is of his kind,

    or approaches him in knowledge and distinction?

  80. لَقَد تقمَّص بُرداً وشَّعته له

    فخراً يدُ الأَعظَمين البأسِ والكَرَمِ

    He donned a mantle woven for him

    in pride by the hand of the two greatest: courage and generosity.

  81. تَكميلُ قدرته بالحلم متَّصفٌ

    مَع المهابة في بشر وفي أَضمِ

    His perfected power is marked by forbearance,

    with majesty in cheerfulness and in wrath.

  82. شَيئان شِبههما شيئان منه لنا

    نداهُ في المحل مثلُ البُرء في السَقمِ

    Two things resemble two things from him toward us:

    his bounty in drought is like recovery in sickness.

  83. سامي الكِناية مهزولُ الفصيل إذا

    ما جاءَه الضَيف أَبدى بِشر مُبتسمِ

    Sublime in allusion, his camel's young is lean; when

    a guest comes, he shows a smiling welcome.

  84. لا يسلبُ القِرنَ إِيجاباً لرِفعته

    وَيسلبُ النقصَ من إِفضاله العممِ

    He does not despoil his opponent, affirming his loftiness;

    he strips all defect from his universal beneficence.

  85. يَجزي العداةَ بعدوانٍ مشاكلةً

    وَالفَضلُ بالفضل ضعفاً في جزائهمِ

    He repays enemies' aggression in kind,

    and favor with favor, doubled in their repayment.

  86. ساوت شجاعتُه فيهم فصاحته

    فردَّهم معجزاً بالكَلم والكَلِمِ

    His courage against them equaled his eloquence,

    so he repelled them helpless with wounds and words.

  87. ماضيه كالبرق والتَشبيه متَّضحٌ

    ينهلُّ في إِثره ما لاح صوبُ دمِ

    His keen blade is like lightning—the likeness is plain:

    whenever it flashes, a downpour of blood falls in its wake.

  88. إِذا فرائدُ جيشٍ عنده اِتَّسقت

    مَشى العُرَضنة والشعواءُ في ضَرمِ

    When the choice warriors of an army array themselves before him,

    he strides proudly while the furious battle blazes.

  89. كَفاهُ نصراً على تَصريع جيشهم

    رُعبٌ تُراعُ له الآساد في الأُجُمِ

    Sufficient for his victory in felling their army was

    a terror that frightens lions in their thickets.

  90. لم تبقِ بدرٌ لهم بدراً وفي أُحُدٍ

    لَم يَبقَ من أَحَدٍ عند اِشتقاقهمِ

    Badr left them no full moon, and at Uhud

    not one remained, in the derivation of their names.

  91. أَلَم يفد أَجرُ برٍّ جاد في ملأ

    لم يستحل باِنعكاسٍ عن عطائهمِ

    Did not the reward of a righteous man who gave before an assembly avail,

    unchanged by reversal, arising from their giving?

  92. إِن مدَّ كفّاً لتقسيم النَوال فهم

    ما بين مُعطىً وَمُستجدٍ ومُستَلمِ

    If he extends a hand to distribute gifts, they are

    among those given to, those asking anew, and those receiving.

  93. درى إِشارة من وافاه مُجتدياً

    فجادَ ما جادَ مرتاحاً بلا سأمِ

    He understood the gesture of whoever came seeking his bounty,

    and gave what he gave gladly, without weariness.

  94. شَمسٌ وبدرٌ ونجم يُستضاء به

    ترتيبُه اِزدانَ من فرعٍ إلى قدمِ

    A sun, a full moon, and a star by which light is sought:

    his ordering was adorned from crown to foot.

  95. جلَّت معاليه قَدراً عن مُشاركةٍ

    وهو الزَعيم زَعيمُ القادة البُهمِ

    His lofty qualities are too great in worth to be shared;

    he is the leader, the leader of intrepid commanders.

  96. للواصفين عُلاه كلَّ آونةٍ

    تَوليدُ معنىً به الأَلفاظُ لم تَقُمِ

    For those describing his exaltedness, at every moment,

    there arises a meaning that words have not expressed.

  97. إِبداع مدحي لمن لم يُبقِ من بِدعٍ

    أَفاد رِبحي فإن أَطنبتُ لم أُلَمِ

    My inventive praise of him who left no innovations

    brought me profit; if I speak at length, I am not blamed.

  98. ما أَوغلَ الفكرُ في قَولٍ لمدحته

    إِلّا وَجاء بعِقدٍ غير مُنفصمِ

    Whenever thought ventured deeply into words of praise for him,

    it brought forth a necklace that cannot break.

  99. فَهَل نوادرُ قَولي إِذ أَتت علمت

    بأنَّها مَدحُ خير العُرب والعَجمِ

    Did the rare gems of my speech, when they came, know

    that they praise the best of Arabs and non-Arabs?

  100. تطريز مدحيَ في عَلياهُ مُنتظمٌ

    في خير منتظم في خير منتظمِ

    The embroidery of my praise of his exaltedness is arranged

    in the finest arrangement, in the finest arrangement.

  101. تكرار قَولي حَلا في الباذخ العَلم

    اِبن الباذخ العَلم ابن الباذِخ العَلمِ

    My repeated words grew sweet about the lofty eminent one,

    son of the lofty eminent one, son of the lofty eminent one.

  102. وآله الطاهِرون المُجتَبون أَتى

    في هل أَتى ظاهِراً تنكيتُ فضلهمِ

    And his family, the pure, the chosen: there appeared

    in 'Has there come' an evident subtle indication of their excellence.

  103. هم عصمةٌ للوَرى تُرجى النجاةُ بهم

    يا فوز من زانَه حسنُ اِتِّباعهمِ

    They are a safeguard for creation; salvation is hoped for through them.

    How triumphant is he adorned by rightly following them!

  104. أَطعهمُ واِحذَر العِصيان تنجُ إِذا

    بيضُ الوجوه غدت في النار كالفَحمِ

    Obey them and beware disobedience; you will be saved when

    white faces become like charcoal in the Fire.

  105. بُسطُ الأَكفِّ يَرون الجودَ مغنمةً

    لا يعرفون لهم لفظاً سوى نَعمِ

    Open-handed, they consider generosity a gain;

    they know no utterance for themselves except 'Yes.'

  106. ما الروضُ غِبَّ النَدى فاحَت روائحُه

    يَوماً بأَضوَع من تَفريغ نعتِهمِ

    No garden, its fragrances wafting after dew,

    was ever more fragrant than pouring forth their description.

  107. بيضُ المَكارِم سودُ النقع حمرُ ظبىً

    خضرُ الديار فدبِّج وصفَ حالهمِ

    White in virtues, black in battle-dust, red in blade-edges,

    green in dwellings: paint the description of their state.

  108. تَفسيرُهم وَمَزاياهم وَفخرُهمُ

    بعِلمهم وَمَعاليهم وجودِهمِ

    Their exposition, their distinctions, and their pride

    lie in their knowledge, their lofty deeds, and their generosity.

  109. لا يَستَطيع الورى تعديدَ فضلهم

    في العلم والحلم والأَفضال والكَرَمِ

    Creation cannot enumerate their excellence

    in knowledge, forbearance, favors, and generosity.

  110. الحسنُ ناسقَ والإحسانُ وافقَ وال

    إِفضال طابقَ ما بين اِنتظامهمِ

    Beauty harmonized, goodness concurred, and

    beneficence corresponded within their ordered ranks.

  111. ما طابَ تَعليلُ نشرِ الريح إذ نسمت

    إلّا لإلمامها يوماً بأَرضِهمِ

    No explanation of the wind's fragrance as it softly blew was sweet

    save that it had once visited their land.

  112. من التعطُّف ما زالوا على خُلقٍ

    إِنَّ التعطّفَ معروفٌ لخلقهمِ

    In tenderness they have ever maintained a character;

    tenderness is well known in their nature.

  113. يعفونَ عَن كُلِّ ذنبٍ إذا قدروا

    مُستتبعين نداهم عند عَفوِهمِ

    They pardon every sin when they have power,

    following their pardon with their bounty.

  114. تمكينُ عَدلٍ لهم أَرسَوا قواعدَه

    يَرعى به الذئبُ في المَرعى مع الغنمِ

    They firmly established the foundations of their justice,

    under which the wolf grazes in the pasture with the sheep.

  115. وظنُّهم زادَ إيضاحاً وَبخلُهُم

    بعرضِهم وَنَداهم فاض كالديمِ

    Their conjecture grew clearer, and their miserliness

    guarded their honor, while their bounty poured like steady rains.

  116. ان شئتَ في معرِض الذمِّ المديح فقل

    لا عَيبَ فيهم سوى إِكثارِ نيلهمِ

    If you wish for praise under the guise of blame, say:

    'They have no fault except giving abundantly.'

  117. محقِّقون لتوهيم العِدى أَبَداً

    كأَنَّهم يعشقون البيض في القِمَمِ

    They ever bring certainty to their enemies' bewilderment,

    as though enamored of white blades upon crowns.

  118. من كُلِّ كاسرِ جَفنٍ لا هدوَّ له

    من الغِرار فخذ أَلغاز وصفهمِ

    From every scabbard-breaker that knows no repose,

    among sharp blades—grasp the riddles of their description.

  119. هم أَردَفوا عَذَب الخَطّي جائلةً

    حيث الوشاحُ بضرب الصَارم الخذمِ

    They followed the swaying tips of Khatti spears

    at the sash-line with blows of the sharp-cutting sword.

  120. قُل في عليٍّ أَمير النَحل غُرَّتهم

    ما شئتَ وفق اِتِّساعِ المدح واِحتكمِ

    Say of Ali, prince of the bees, their radiant chief,

    whatever you wish within praise's ample scope, and judge.

  121. لا تعرضنَّ لتعريضي بمدحتِه

    فإِنّني في وِلادي غيرُ متَّهمِ

    Do not impugn my allusive praise of him,

    for in my birth I am beyond suspicion.

  122. همُ همُ اِئتلفوا جمعاً وما اِختلفوا

    لَولا الأبوَّة قلنا باِستوائهمِ

    They, they are the ones: they united together and did not differ;

    but for fatherhood, we would affirm their equality.

  123. إِيداع قَلبي هواهم شاد لي بهم

    من العناية رُكناً غير منهدِمِ

    Depositing love for them in my heart built for me, through them,

    a pillar of care that cannot collapse.

  124. الحَمدُ لِلَّه حَمداً دائماً أَبَداً

    على مواردَتي قَومي بحبِّهمِ

    Praise be to God, praise enduring forever,

    for my sharing with my people the wellspring of their love.

  125. إِنَّ اِلتزاميَ في ديني بجدِّهم

    ما زالَ يفعم قَلبي صدقُ ودِّهمِ

    Indeed, in my religion I adhere to their grandfather;

    sincere love for them has always filled my heart.

  126. إِذا تزواج إِثمي فاِقتضى نقمي

    حقّقتُ فيهم رَجائي فاِقتَضى نعمي

    When my sin compounds and entails my punishment,

    I make firm my hope in them, and it entails my blessings.

  127. هم المجاز إِلى باب الجنان غداً

    فَلَستُ أَخشى وهم لي زلَّةَ القَدمِ

    They are the passage to Paradise's gate tomorrow;

    with them on my side, I do not fear a slipping foot.

  128. جرَّدتُ منهم لأعناق العدى قُضباً

    تبري الرقابَ بحدٍّ غير منثَلمِ

    From them I unsheathed swords for the enemies' necks,

    cutting necks with an edge that is not nicked.

  129. حقَّقتُ إِيهام توكيدي لحبِّهم

    ولم أَزَل مغرياً وجدي بهم بهمِ

    I made certain the seeming ambiguity of my avowal of their love,

    and kept urging my yearning toward them, toward them.

  130. بهم ترصَّع نظمي واِنجلى أَلَمي

    وكم توسَّع علمي واِعتلى عَلَمي

    Through them my verse was jeweled and my pain dispelled;

    how greatly my knowledge expanded and my banner rose!

  131. طَويتُ عَن كُلِّ أَمر يُستَلذُّ به

    كشحاً وقد لذَّ لي تفصيل مدحهمِ

    From everything in which pleasure is found, I turned

    my flank away, delighted instead by detailing their praise.

  132. إِذا أَتَيتُ بِتَرشيحٍ لمدحتهم

    حلّى لِساني وجيدي فضلُ ذكرهمِ

    When I add an embellishment to their praise,

    the excellence of mentioning them adorns my tongue and neck.

  133. حذفتُ ودَّ سِوى آل الرَسول ولم

    أَمدح سِواهم ولم أَحمَد ولَم أَرُمِ

    I removed love for all but the Messenger's family, and did not

    praise, commend, or seek any others.

  134. تَقييدُ قَلبي بمدحي فيهم شَرفي

    في النشأتين ففخري في مديحهمِ

    Binding my heart to praising them is my honor

    in both lives; my pride lies in their praise.

  135. سمَّطتُ من فَرحي في وصفهم مِدَحي

    ولَم أَنَل منحي إلّا بجاهِهِمِ

    From joy in describing them, I strung my praises into garlands;

    I obtained my gifts only through their standing.

  136. جزّيتُ في كلمي أَغليتُ في حكمي

    أَبديتُ من هممي أَرويتُ كلَّ ظمي

    I divided my words; I made my maxims precious;

    I displayed my aspirations; I slaked every thirst of mine.

  137. نلتُ السَلامةَ من بحر القريض وقد

    سلكتُه لاِختراعي درَّ وصفهمِ

    I won safety from the sea of poetry, having

    traversed it to invent the pearls of their description.

  138. وَصحبُه الأوفياءُ الأَصفياء أَتى

    تضمينُ مزدوجٍ مدحي لجمعهمِ

    And his loyal, pure companions: there came

    a paired inclusion of my praise for their company.

  139. لَفظي وَمَعنايَ قد صحَّ اِئتلافُهما

    بمدح أَروعَ ماضي السَيف والقَلَمِ

    My wording and meaning achieved true harmony

    in praising a magnificent man, incisive of sword and pen:

  140. موازنٍ مازنٍ مستحسنٍ حَسَنٍ

    معاونٍ صائنٍ مستمكنٍ شهمِ

    balanced, radiant, admired, handsome,

    helpful, protective, capable, noble-hearted.

  141. تأَلَّف اللفظُ والوَزنُ البسيط له

    فاِطرَب له من بديع النظم منسجمِ

    The wording and the Basit meter joined in his praise;

    rejoice in its harmonious, wondrous verse.

  142. وأَلَّف الوَزنُ والمعنى له لسني

    بِمقوَلٍ غير ذي عيٍّ ولا وجمِ

    My eloquence joined meter and meaning for him

    with speech free of stumbling or mute bewilderment.

  143. وَجاء باللَفظ فيه وهو مؤتلفٌ

    باللَفظ يحدو به الحادون بالنَغمِ

    It brought wording therein, harmoniously joined

    to wording the camel-drivers chant in melody.

  144. لا ترض إِيجازَ مدحي فيه واِصغ إلى

    مَدحي الَّذي شاعَ بين الحلِّ والحرمِ

    Do not settle for brevity in my praise of him; listen to

    my praise that spread outside and within the Sanctuary.

  145. تسجيع منتظمي والغرُّ من حكمي

    ألفاظها بِفَمي دُرٌّ من الحكمِ

    The rhyming of my ordered verse and the radiant gems of my maxims—

    their words in my mouth are pearls of wisdom.

  146. وأَنتَ يا سيِّدَ الكَونين معتَمدي

    في أَن تُسهِّل ما أَرجو ومعتَصمي

    You, O master of both worlds, are my support

    in easing what I hope for, and my refuge.

  147. أَدمجتُ مدحك والأيّام عابسةٌ

    وأَنتَ أَكرمُ من يُرجى لدى الأزمِ

    I blended your praise while the days were frowning;

    you are the noblest one hoped for in hardship.

  148. وَكَم مننتَ بلا منٍّ على وَجلٍ

    من اِحتراس حلول الخطبِ لم يَنَمِ

    How often you bestowed favors without reminders upon an anxious man

    who could not sleep for guarding against approaching calamity!

  149. حسنُ البيان أَرانا منك معجزةً

    أَضحت تقرُّ لديها الفصحُ بالبكمِ

    Beautiful eloquence showed us a miracle from you

    before which eloquent men came to confess themselves mute.

  150. نُصِرتَ بالرُعب والأَقدارُ كافيةٌ

    وَعَقد نصركَ لم يحلُله ذو أَضمِ

    You were aided by terror, and destiny's decrees suffice;

    no wrathful man untied the knot of your victory.

  151. كَم ماردٍ حردٍ شَطرته بيدٍ

    تَشطيرَ منتقمٍ باللَه مُلتَزمِ

    How many a raging rebel you split with your hand,

    as an avenger committed to God splits his foe!

  152. فمن يُساويكَ في فضلٍ ومكرمةٍ

    وأَنتَ أَفضَلُ خلق اللَه كلِّهمِ

    Who equals you in excellence and noble deeds,

    when you are the best of all God's creation?

  153. براعتي أَبت التَصريح في طلبي

    لما رأَت من غوادي جودِك السَجمِ

    My artistry refused to make my request explicit

    when it saw the pouring morning clouds of your generosity.

  154. أَلحِق بحسن اِبتدائي ما أَنالُ به

    حسنَ التخلُّص يَتلو حُسنَ مُختَتَمِ

    Join to the beauty of my opening that by which I may attain

    a graceful deliverance, following a beautiful close.