كلٌّ يقولُ إلى العُلا أنا صابِ

كلٌّ يقولُ إلى العُلا أنا صابِ

والمَجْدُ مَجدي والنِّصابُ نِصابي

والمَجْدُ مَجدي والنِّصابُ نِصابي

Everyone says, "I aspire to the heights;

Everyone claims, "To glory I ascend!"

glory is my glory, and noble stock is my stock."

While glory is my glory, and success my prize,

يَهْوى تناولَها بغيرِ مَشقّةٍ

يَهْوى تناولَها بغيرِ مَشقّةٍ

ويُريدُ غايتَها بغيرِ طِلابِ

ويُريدُ غايتَها بغيرِ طِلابِ

He longs to attain them without hardship,

He craves to grasp it with no travail or pain,

and wants their summit without striving.

And reach its summit with no steps to rise.

ويجودُ للبيضِ الحِسانِ بقلبِهِ

ويجودُ للبيضِ الحِسانِ بقلبِهِ

والسّيفُ لا يَسخو له بإهابِ

والسّيفُ لا يَسخو له بإهابِ

He gives his heart freely to fair beauties,

To the noble soul my heart is liberal,

but will not freely offer the sword his skin.

While to it the sword is niggard of its blow.

لا يطمعُ الجبناءُ في إدراكِها

لا يطمعُ الجبناءُ في إدراكِها

فالدّهْرُ ليس يحوزُها فيُحابي

فالدّهْرُ ليس يحوزُها فيُحابي

Let cowards not hope to attain them,

The coward never seeks to attain it -

for Time does not own them, so cannot favor anyone with them.

For fate ne'er grants it to the servile low.

لو كانَ يملِكُها لخُصَّ بصفوِها

لو كانَ يملِكُها لخُصَّ بصفوِها

أهلَ السّفاهةِ منهِمُ والعابِ

أهلَ السّفاهةِ منهِمُ والعابِ

If it owned them, it would reserve their purest share

Had the vile possessed it, its purity

for the foolish and the flawed among them.

Would still be free of their pollution's stain,

أرثي لمُفني سَيفِهِ بفنائِها

أرثي لمُفني سَيفِهِ بفنائِها

أضعافَ ما أرثيهِ للقرضابِ

أضعافَ ما أرثيهِ للقرضابِ

I pity the man who wears out his sword in their courtyard

More would I mourn him who, falling, lost his sword

many times more than I pity the keen-edged blade.

Than weep o'er ten that fell by spearheads slain.

وأذودُ وفدَ الدّمعِ يَركَبُ شأنَهُ

وأذودُ وفدَ الدّمعِ يَركَبُ شأنَهُ

ووفودُ بابي يأمنونَ حِجابي

ووفودُ بابي يأمنونَ حِجابي

I repel the delegation of tears riding its channel,

My streaming tears I check, their wonted course forgetting,

while visitors at my door are safe from my barring them.

While to my gate accustomed throngs their safety get.

سُكّانَ هذا الجسمِ قبلَ فؤادِهِ

سُكّانَ هذا الجسمِ قبلَ فؤادِهِ

والقلبُ قبلَ نُهاهُ والآرابِ

والقلبُ قبلَ نُهاهُ والآرابِ

O dwellers in this body before its heart,

Before this body's dwellers, and before my heart,

and in the heart before its reason and desires,

And ere the end, and long before the start.

هلْ تذكرونَ إذِ الترحلُ دأْبكمْ

هلْ تذكرونَ إذِ الترحلُ دأْبكمْ

والصَّدُّ عمّا في الهَوادِجِ دابِي

والصَّدُّ عمّا في الهَوادِجِ دابِي

do you remember when departure was your habit,

Remember ye the time when your abode was the saddle,

and shunning those in the howdahs was mine?

And aloofness from the fair your habit and your rule?

وسُؤالكم بالبينِ طَرْفاً سِرْتُمُ

وسُؤالكم بالبينِ طَرْفاً سِرْتُمُ

لم تَظفَروا من دَمعِهِ بجَوابِ

لم تَظفَروا من دَمعِهِ بجَوابِ

And when, at parting, you questioned an eye and set out,

Ye questioned then the lightning glance of a fawn, and won

without receiving any answer from its tears?

No answer from those tear-drops beautiful.

أيامَ تحكي الريحُ سرعةَ إبلِكُم

أيامَ تحكي الريحُ سرعةَ إبلِكُم

فكأنّها قُطِرَتْ إلى الأذْنابِ

فكأنّها قُطِرَتْ إلى الأذْنابِ

In days when the wind matched your camels' speed,

The winds recite the story of your swift-foot camels,

as though it were hitched to their tails.

As though the tale still echoed in their ears,

أخْفَيْتُ آيَةَ حُبِّكم فتوَهّمَتْ

أخْفَيْتُ آيَةَ حُبِّكم فتوَهّمَتْ

رُوحي بأنّ جَوارِحي أحْبابي

رُوحي بأنّ جَوارِحي أحْبابي

I hid the sign of my love for you, and so

I hid my love's dear secret, and my soul supposed

my soul imagined that my limbs were my beloveds.

My very limbs and vitals were its confidants;

وكذا توهمت الجوارح أنّكم

وكذا توهمت الجوارح أنّكم

روحي وكل ليس يعلم ما بِي

روحي وكل ليس يعلم ما بِي

And likewise my limbs imagined that you

And thus my frame supposed that ye were my spirit,

were my soul; none knows what is within me.

While neither knows what in my heart remains.

فالوجدُ لا تجِدُ الجوانحُ حَرَّهُ

فالوجدُ لا تجِدُ الجوانحُ حَرَّهُ

والسُقْمُ لا تَدري بهِ أثوابي

والسُقْمُ لا تَدري بهِ أثوابي

For my ribs do not feel the heat of longing,

So love can find no rest within my bosom,

nor do my clothes know of my sickness.

And sickness knows not what my raiment screens.

ما بالُ قَلبي يَستجيرُ ركائِبي

ما بالُ قَلبي يَستجيرُ ركائِبي

ويلومُني في فُرقةِ الأصحابِ

ويلومُني في فُرقةِ الأصحابِ

Why does my heart seek my riding-camels' protection

Why does my heart seek refuge in my loved ones,

and blame me for parting from my companions,

Then chide at me when I forsake my friends?

وهُمومُهُ أوحدنني من صُحْبَتي

وهُمومُهُ أوحدنني من صُحْبَتي

وضياؤُهُ أغشى عليّ رِكابي

وضياؤُهُ أغشى عليّ رِكابي

when its cares have left me alone, away from my company,

Its cares estranged me from their intimacy,

and its radiance has veiled my mounts from my sight?

Its gleams then wrapped my footsteps' very steps in gloom,

ألقى الظلامَ بحَلَّةٍ من مِثْلِهِ

ألقى الظلامَ بحَلَّةٍ من مِثْلِهِ

وكأنّ لونَ الشّمسِ لونُ ثِيابي

وكأنّ لونَ الشّمسِ لونُ ثِيابي

I meet the darkness in a robe of its own hue,

Darkness like itself I don when it is o'er me,

while the sun's color seems the color of my clothes.

As though the sun itself was but my vesture's hue.

فلَو اطّلعتُ وغبتُ ما شَكّ امرؤٌ

فلَو اطّلعتُ وغبتُ ما شَكّ امرؤٌ

أنّ الغَزالَةَ فيهِم جِلبابي

أنّ الغَزالَةَ فيهِم جِلبابي

Were I to rise and set, no one would doubt

Could I but companied awhile then departed,

that the sun among them was my mantle.

None would suspect the fawn her vesture left behind,

سيروا بَني الأملِ البَعيدِ وبيّضوا

سيروا بَني الأملِ البَعيدِ وبيّضوا

وجهَ المَطالِبِ بالعَجاجِ الكابِي

وجهَ المَطالِبِ بالعَجاجِ الكابِي

Travel on, sons of far-reaching hope, and whiten

Journey, my lords, the long, long road of hope, and whiten

the face of your quests with billowing dust.

The cheek of effort with the brush of hard essay,

قد باتَ يُطوى الدّهرُ من أعمارِكم

قد باتَ يُطوى الدّهرُ من أعمارِكم

ما ليس تُطوى البيدُ بالأنيابِ

ما ليس تُطوى البيدُ بالأنيابِ

Time is already being folded out of your lifetimes

Till in your lifespan there remains no moment

faster than aged she-camels can fold away the deserts.

Wherein the sword licks not the blood of mighty heroes.

لا نومَ حتّى يكتَحِلنَ بماجِدٍ

لا نومَ حتّى يكتَحِلنَ بماجِدٍ

يَضَعُ اللحاظَ مواضعَ الإسهابِ

يَضَعُ اللحاظَ مواضعَ الإسهابِ

No sleep until they line their eyes with a noble man

Follow the footsteps of my father, and gainsay

who sets glances in the place of lengthy speech.

His lifelong rectitude with slander's voice profane!

شيموا يمينَ أبي العَلاءِ وكذِّبوا

شيموا يمينَ أبي العَلاءِ وكذِّبوا

بحَياهُ بَرقَ العارضِ الكَذّابِ

بحَياهُ بَرقَ العارضِ الكَذّابِ

Watch Abu al-Ala's right hand, and expose as false,

By his close-fisted generosity, had he not been open-handed,

with his rain, the lightning of the lying cloud.

Dust for the throngs of suppliants had been but rare.

بمُبَخّلِ الأنواءِ لولا جُودُهُ

بمُبَخّلِ الأنواءِ لولا جُودُهُ

عزَّ الترابُ لكثرةِ الطُّلابِ

عزَّ الترابُ لكثرةِ الطُّلابِ

He makes the rain-stars seem miserly; but for his bounty,

Wide are his doorways for petitioners, but his largesse

dust would grow scarce, so numerous are the seekers.

From doors still wider overflows in streams.

رَحبُ المداخِلِ غيرَ أنّ عَطاءَهُ

رَحبُ المداخِلِ غيرَ أنّ عَطاءَهُ

أفضَى من الأبوابِ في الأبوابِ

أفضَى من الأبوابِ في الأبوابِ

His approaches are spacious, yet his bounty

Those who await his bounty deem he grants their wishes,

is broader, in all its avenues, than his doors.

So eager he to give, and hospitable of mien,

وتظنُّهُ لمؤمِليهِ مُؤَمِّلاً

وتظنُّهُ لمؤمِليهِ مُؤَمِّلاً

من شدةِ التّأهيلِ والترْحابِ

من شدةِ التّأهيلِ والترْحابِ

You would think him a petitioner to those who hope in him,

Yet almost he'll refuse the food he grants the needy,

so warm are his welcome and greeting.

Lest accepting it detract from their reward.

ويكادُ يبخَلُ باللها من ظنهِ

ويكادُ يبخَلُ باللها من ظنهِ

أنّ القبولَ لها أجَلُّ ثَوابِ

أنّ القبولَ لها أجَلُّ ثَوابِ

He almost withholds his gifts, believing

Suspicion of his bounty would restore the raven hair

that accepting them is the greatest recompense.

Of vanished youth to nights of joy and pleasure.

قَلِقُ الظَنونِ بجودِهِ لو سُمتَهُ

قَلِقُ الظَنونِ بجودِهِ لو سُمتَهُ

رَدّ الشّبابِ لياليَ الأطْرابِ

رَدّ الشّبابِ لياليَ الأطْرابِ

Anxious in his thoughts about his bounty—if you asked him

And hoary eld, because he lavished bounty's store,

to restore youth, those nights of delight,

Deemed that he thus regained his youthful years once more.

لتوَهّمَ الشّيْبُ الذي تَمضى بهِ

لتوَهّمَ الشّيْبُ الذي تَمضى بهِ

عوض النّوالِ فلم يَجدْ بشَبابِ

عوض النّوالِ فلم يَجدْ بشَبابِ

he would deem the gray hair you carry away

No fault in him but generosity alone,

payment for the gift, and would not bestow youth.

Which makes the hand of Allah to be poor.

لا عيبَ يُعرَفُ فيهِ إلاّ أنّهُ

لا عيبَ يُعرَفُ فيهِ إلاّ أنّهُ

يُقلي خَلاقَ الآخِذِ الوهّابِ

يُقلي خَلاقَ الآخِذِ الوهّابِ

No fault is known in him except that

He courts fame though she be a stranger, yet views not

he scorns the merit of a giver who also takes.

A father's honor as the height of fortunes proud.

يَستأنسُ المجدَ الغريبَ ولا يَرى

يَستأنسُ المجدَ الغريبَ ولا يَرى

شَرَفَ الأبُوّةِ أشْرَفَ الأحْسابِ

شَرَفَ الأبُوّةِ أشْرَفَ الأحْسابِ

He befriends unfamiliar glory, and does not deem

By his own hands he's wrought youth's noblest achievements,

ancestral honor the noblest pedigree.

And claims his fathers' glories, and ancestral days.

أهدى الفتى من سَعيِهِ نَوْبَ العِدى

أهدى الفتى من سَعيِهِ نَوْبَ العِدى

ومَناقِبَ الآباءِ والأعْقابِ

ومَناقِبَ الآباءِ والأعْقابِ

Through his striving, the young man gave his foes calamities,

In raiment dyed with life-blood from his breast,

and his forefathers and descendants noble deeds.

That o'er his steps flows like a crimson-tainted shroud.

في حُلّةٍ صُبِغَتْ لهُ من نَحْرِهِ

في حُلّةٍ صُبِغَتْ لهُ من نَحْرِهِ

تَهمي على عَقبَيْهِ كالهُدّابِ

تَهمي على عَقبَيْهِ كالهُدّابِ

In a robe dyed for him from his own throat,

Naught treasures he for his posterity

streaming down upon his heels like fringes.

Save praise; for praise the heritage of noble sons.

لم يَدّخِرْ غيرَ الثّناءِ لعَقْبِهِ

لم يَدّخِرْ غيرَ الثّناءِ لعَقْبِهِ

إنّ الثّناءَ موارثُ الأنْجابِ

إنّ الثّناءَ موارثُ الأنْجابِ

He stored up nothing but praise for his offspring;

Prepare your garb for action! Events heed not

praise is the inheritance of the noble.

Your noble rank, your line of highborn fathers gone!

شَمِّرْ ثِيابَكَ للخطوبِ فإنّهُ

شَمِّرْ ثِيابَكَ للخطوبِ فإنّهُ

ما تحفَلُ الأحداثُ بالأنسابِ

ما تحفَلُ الأحداثُ بالأنسابِ

Gird up your garments for calamities, for

Who mingles with the steeds of heroes, loftily disdains

misfortunes pay no heed to pedigrees.

The venom spit by worms of soul malign.

ومُعاقِرٍ بدَم الفَوارِسِ هَمَّهُ

ومُعاقِرٍ بدَم الفَوارِسِ هَمَّهُ

تعضيدُ كلِّ مُثقفٍ هَبْهابِ

تعضيدُ كلِّ مُثقفٍ هَبْهابِ

And a carouser on warriors' blood, whose concern

As though he sacks the goblets of his foes, and draws

is to lop every straightened, keen spear,

Wine from their skulls, not chalices or cups ornate.

فكأنّهُ يَبْرى أنابيبَ القَنا

فكأنّهُ يَبْرى أنابيبَ القَنا

بَدَلاً من الأقْداحِ والأكْوابِ

بَدَلاً من الأقْداحِ والأكْوابِ

as though he pared the joints of lances

Eloquence, though you seek her, still his hand will grasp,

instead of goblets and cups.

And answer well her questions, well her doubts resolve.

تِيهُ البلاغَةِ لا تزالُ يمينُهُ

تِيهُ البلاغَةِ لا تزالُ يمينُهُ

تَخدى بخَواضٍ لها جَوّابِ

تَخدى بخَواضٍ لها جَوّابِ

Across eloquence's trackless waste, his right hand never ceases

Despite the dark he's brighter yet than suns,

to stride swiftly with a wader that ranges through it.

And guides aright the ignorant through ways involved,

أعْمى من الظّلماءِ إلا أنّهُ

أعْمى من الظّلماءِ إلا أنّهُ

أهْدى البريةِ كلِّها لِصوابِ

أهْدى البريةِ كلِّها لِصوابِ

Blinder than darkness, except that it

Out from his pen's cleft fountain flows a tide

guides all creation most surely to what is right.

Like the exposed fangs of serpents swift to strike.

يَفْتَرُّ من بَطْنِ الدّواةِ بكفّهِ

يَفْتَرُّ من بَطْنِ الدّواةِ بكفّهِ

عن مثلِ نابِ الحيّةِ المُنْسابِ

عن مثلِ نابِ الحيّةِ المُنْسابِ

In his palm, from the inkwell's belly, it grins,

He soars to the ideas, heedless of the paper,

revealing something like a serpent's gliding fang.

Addressing it, though it reply to him is slack.

يَرنو إلى الأفكارِ غيرَ مُلاحظٍ

يَرنو إلى الأفكارِ غيرَ مُلاحظٍ

ويُخاطِبُ القِرطاسَ غيرَ مُجابِ

ويُخاطِبُ القِرطاسَ غيرَ مُجابِ

It gazes toward thoughts without looking,

He teaches men the ways of grace, while in his heart

and addresses the page without an answer.

No grace abides, nor any noble trait held back.

ويُعَلِّمُ الآدابَ أفْهامَ الوَرى

ويُعَلِّمُ الآدابَ أفْهامَ الوَرى

وفؤادُهُ صَفِرٌ من الآدابِ

وفؤادُهُ صَفِرٌ من الآدابِ

It imparts learning to human minds,

Small difference 'twixt him and the Sammauri in merit,

though its heart is empty of learning.

Which subtle minds can readily perceive intact.

الفرقُ بينَ السّمهريِّ وبينَهُ

الفرقُ بينَ السّمهريِّ وبينَهُ

في الفَضلِ لا يَخفى على الألْبابِ

في الفَضلِ لا يَخفى على الألْبابِ

The difference between the Samhari spear and it

One reconciles each rift which discord made,

in excellence is plain to discerning minds.

The other splits the rope which joins each separate pact.

هذا يُوصِّلُ كلَّ ما قَطَعَ الرّدى

هذا يُوصِّلُ كلَّ ما قَطَعَ الرّدى

عفواً وذاكَ مُقَطِّعُ الأسْبابِ

عفواً وذاكَ مُقَطِّعُ الأسْبابِ

This one joins all that death has severed,

This one's tongue flatters not, though he travel far and wide, While that one's tongue despoils and ruins every land.

effortlessly; that one severs the bonds.

In generosity and kindliness distinguished,

ولسانُ هذا لا يُغاوِلُ مُهْجَةً

ولسانُ هذا لا يُغاوِلُ مُهْجَةً

ولسانُ ذلكَ أخربُ الخُرّابِ

ولسانُ ذلكَ أخربُ الخُرّابِ

This one's tongue takes no life by stealth,

In sport of youth and pleasures light, they're matched alike.

while that one's tongue is the most ruinous destroyer.

If his pre-eminence is revealed by your grace,

يَتبايَنانِ لَدى السّماحةِ والنّدى

يَتبايَنانِ لَدى السّماحةِ والنّدى

كَرماً ويشتركانِ في الأعْطابِ

كَرماً ويشتركانِ في الأعْطابِ

They differ in openhandedness and bounty,

A lofty Peak unveiled, Obscurity's dark veil ripped back,

in generosity, but share in bringing destruction.

A flood of skill like Heaven's downpour from its clouds,

إنْ كانَ بانَ لنا بفضلِكَ فضلُهُ

إنْ كانَ بانَ لنا بفضلِكَ فضلُهُ

يا فارِسَ الأُدباءِ والكتّابِ

يا فارِسَ الأُدباءِ والكتّابِ

If its merit has become clear to us through your merit,

Has clothed the robe of honor in a brocade new.

O knight of men of letters and scribes,

A stalwart band, whose hooves have trampled the heights of many a land Leaving their depths upturned, and toppled to the ground.

فَعَجاجَةٌ مثلُ السّماءِ سَمَتْ بِها

فَعَجاجَةٌ مثلُ السّماءِ سَمَتْ بِها

تُسْدى رِداءَ القَسْطَلِ المُنْجابِ

تُسْدى رِداءَ القَسْطَلِ المُنْجابِ

then a dust-cloud like the sky is raised aloft,

Against them the vain arrows fall back shattered,

given a mantle of dispersing battle-dust,

As prey caught fast in the claws of swooping kites.

خيلٌ إذا وطِئَتْ أعالي بلدةٍ

خيلٌ إذا وطِئَتْ أعالي بلدةٍ

تركتْ أسافِلَها بغيرِ تُرابِ

تركتْ أسافِلَها بغيرِ تُرابِ

by horses that, when they tread a town's heights,

A towering tree, the sandgrouse wagers on its strength,

leave its lower reaches without dust.

And would its boughs as feathered shafts try.

تَرِدُ السِّهامُ بها العَوامِلَ شُرَّعاً

تَرِدُ السِّهامُ بها العَوامِلَ شُرَّعاً

فيصيدها شركٌ من الأنْدابِ

فيصيدها شركٌ من الأنْدابِ

Arrows there come upon leveled spearheads,

The archer shrouds himself while taking aim, and yet

and a snare of scars catches them.

About you he entwines as bindweed weak entwined.

شَجَرٌ بَراهُنّ الحِمامُ لكَفِّهِ

شَجَرٌ بَراهُنّ الحِمامُ لكَفِّهِ

حُلّينَ أغصاناً من النُشّابِ

حُلّينَ أغصاناً من النُشّابِ

Trees that Death has carved for his hand,

Though, did you tread his breast, you'd pierce it through

adorned with boughs of arrows.

Without a joint, as piercing reed unfurled.

يتَلَفّفُ الخَطّي وهو مُسَدّدٌ

يتَلَفّفُ الخَطّي وهو مُسَدّدٌ

فيها عليكَ تلفُّفَ اللّبلابِ

فيها عليكَ تلفُّفَ اللّبلابِ

The Khatti lance twists, though aimed straight,

When then will mighty monarchs test your mettle?

there against you, as ivy twines,

For you count days of might, and days of combat.

علماً بأنّكَ لو سلكتَ صُدورَهُ

علماً بأنّكَ لو سلكتَ صُدورَهُ

لنَثَلتَهُ قَصَباً بغيرِ كَعابِ

لنَثَلتَهُ قَصَباً بغيرِ كَعابِ

knowing that if you passed through its foreparts,

While they, assenting, weigh your words, your silence

you would strip it into reeds without joints.

Concludes the converse, seals th' appeal at end.

فمَتى تُساجلُكَ الملوكُ وإنّما

فمَتى تُساجلُكَ الملوكُ وإنّما

يوماكَ يومُ نَدىً ويومُ ضِرابِ

يوماكَ يومُ نَدىً ويومُ ضِرابِ

When, then, can kings rival you, since

Yet when for them the swords' keen points suffice,

your two days are a day of bounty and a day of battle?

Your hand excels, in its sharp harvests reaped.

وهُمُ إذا وزَنوا الكلامَ بمجمعٍ

وهُمُ إذا وزَنوا الكلامَ بمجمعٍ

وصمَتَّ كانَ الصّمْتُ فصلَ خِطابِ

وصمَتَّ كانَ الصّمْتُ فصلَ خِطابِ

When they weigh words in an assembly

Against their foes when they ride forth, their breasts

and you remain silent, your silence is the final word.

Are armor for their kinsmen's charges at their rear.

وإذا هُمُ جعَلوا الصّوارِمَ غايةً

وإذا هُمُ جعَلوا الصّوارِمَ غايةً

فضَلَتْ يمينُكَ بالكَهامِ النّابي

فضَلَتْ يمينُكَ بالكَهامِ النّابي

And when they make sharp swords their utmost aim,

You entertained the steeds with wine, and leapt

your right hand excels with a blunt blade that glances off.

The leap of heroes who press on toward their spear.

وهُمُ إذا ركبوا إلى أعدائِهم

وهُمُ إذا ركبوا إلى أعدائِهم

قُبَّ البُطونِ لَواحِقَ الأقْرابِ

قُبَّ البُطونِ لَواحِقَ الأقْرابِ

When they ride against their enemies

The virtues of your sires you have inherited,

on hollow-bellied steeds with drawn-in flanks,

Those noble lords' estates, from your forefathers gaining.

أمتَعتَ أطرافَ الأسنّةِ بالقَنا

أمتَعتَ أطرافَ الأسنّةِ بالقَنا

ووثبتَ وثبةَ ماجدٍ ركّابِ

ووثبتَ وثبةَ ماجدٍ ركّابِ

you let the spearheads' tips enjoy their shafts,

A folk who, when they share the spoils of fate and time,

and leap the leap of a noble, seasoned rider.

Find glory but a residue of what is gained.

شِيَمٌ ورِثْتَ حُظوظَها وجُدودَها

شِيَمٌ ورِثْتَ حُظوظَها وجُدودَها

في المجدِ عن آبائِكَ الأرْبابِ

في المجدِ عن آبائِكَ الأرْبابِ

Traits whose portions and good fortunes you inherited

And if to end their eulogy's your wish,

in glory from your lordly forefathers:

Then brand them with disgrace, and titles foul.

قومٌ إذا اقتسموا مغانمَ دهرِهم

قومٌ إذا اقتسموا مغانمَ دهرِهم

وجدوا المَعالي فضلةَ الأسْلابِ

وجدوا المَعالي فضلةَ الأسْلابِ

a people who, when they divide the spoils of their age,

When I approached you, joy about to overcome me,

find lofty honors merely the leftovers of the plunder.

You turned it back, bleeding, upon its heels.

فإذا أردتَ بها نَهايةَ مَدحِهِمْ

فإذا أردتَ بها نَهايةَ مَدحِهِمْ

لقّبتَهم بقَبائِحِ الألْقابِ

لقّبتَهم بقَبائِحِ الألْقابِ

If you sought through those honors to praise them to the utmost,

The realm of time was checked by your command and ended,

you would be calling them by ugly titles.

While I submitted to your words so sweet.

لمّا أتيتُكَ والُطوبُ تنوشني

لمّا أتيتُكَ والُطوبُ تنوشني

فرددتَها تدمى على الأعْقابِ

فرددتَها تدمى على الأعْقابِ

When I came to you, with [calamities] assailing me,

Abashed is time, whose ways familiarized me,

you sent them bleeding back on their heels.

And to me turns, uncertain, hesitatingly.

ونهيتَ صرفَ الدّهرِ عنّي فانتهى

ونهيتَ صرفَ الدّهرِ عنّي فانتهى

وكرَعْتُ ودَّكَ في ألذِّ خِطابِ

وكرَعْتُ ودَّكَ في ألذِّ خِطابِ

You bade Time's misfortune leave me, and it desisted,

While youthful throngs, whom apathy made dull,

and I drank deep of your affection in the sweetest speech.

Now praise me in their songs, their rhymed eulogies.

خجِلَ الزّمانُ فعُرْفُهُ يَعْتادُني

خجِلَ الزّمانُ فعُرْفُهُ يَعْتادُني

ولهُ إليَّ تَلَفُّتُ المُرْتابِ

ولهُ إليَّ تَلَفُّتُ المُرْتابِ

Time grew ashamed, and its kindness now revisits me,

They said, "You've dwelt upon our land," and I replied,

while it looks back toward me like one in doubt.

"Great souls expect my leaving, and my swift return."

وعصابةٍ يفحيي الجاءُ خُمولَها

وعصابةٍ يفحيي الجاءُ خُمولَها

خَطَبَتْ إليّ المدحَ في الخُطّابِ

خَطَبَتْ إليّ المدحَ في الخُطّابِ

And a band whose obscurity [satire would bring to life],

If the she-camels long-necked, freed, have perished

wooed praise from me among the suitors.

After the pulling of their reins made them leave all behind,

قالوا أقَمتَ بأرضِنا فأجبتُهم

قالوا أقَمتَ بأرضِنا فأجبتُهم

إنّ المكارمَ ينتظرنَ إيابي

إنّ المكارمَ ينتظرنَ إيابي

They said, "You have stayed in our land." I answered them:

And they bestowed on me their young, with sharp cries,

"Indeed, noble deeds await my return."

I freely granted health and life unto the unsound.

إنْ تطلح الإبلُ العِتاقُ فبَعْدَما

إنْ تطلح الإبلُ العِتاقُ فبَعْدَما

أفنَى الكَلالُ جِذابَها وجِذابي

أفنَى الكَلالُ جِذابَها وجِذابي

If the noble-bred camels grow exhausted, it is only after

My frequent roaming the land complains of, while I complain

weariness has spent their pulling strength and mine.

Of lack of change, and paucity of movement.

ووهبن لي أخفافَهُنّ مع الذُرى

ووهبن لي أخفافَهُنّ مع الذُرى

فوهبتُ صِحَّتَهُنّ للأوصابِ

فوهبتُ صِحَّتَهُنّ للأوصابِ

They gave me their hoof-pads along with their humps,

The freshest draughts I pour for a friend in praise,

so I gave their health over to ailments.

And from a foe's honor veil abuse and slights.

تشكو تنقليَ البلدُ وأشتكي

تشكو تنقليَ البلدُ وأشتكي

عدَمَ الشُّكول وقلّةَ الأضرابِ

عدَمَ الشُّكول وقلّةَ الأضرابِ

The lands complain of my wandering, and I complain

of the lack of equals and the scarcity of peers.

طَيّانَ أبذُلُ للصّديقِ مَدائِحي

طَيّانَ أبذُلُ للصّديقِ مَدائِحي

وأصونُ عن عِرضِ العدوِّ سِبابي

وأصونُ عن عِرضِ العدوِّ سِبابي

Famished, I offer my praises to a friend,

and keep my insults from the enemy's honor.