أَبى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَن يَكونَ لَكَ السَّعدُ

أَبى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَن يَكونَ لَكَ السَّعدُ

فَلَيسَ لِما تَبغيهِ مَنعٌ وَلا رَدُّ

فَلَيسَ لِما تَبغيهِ مَنعٌ وَلا رَدُّ

God would have nothing but good fortune be yours.

God willed that you be blessed with good fortune,

So nothing you seek meets hindrance or refusal.

So none can deny what you seek nor turn it back.

إِذا أَبَتِ الأَقدارُ أَمراً قَسَرتَها

إِذا أَبَتِ الأَقدارُ أَمراً قَسَرتَها

عَلَيهِ فَعادَت وَهيَ في نَيلِهِ جُندُ

عَلَيهِ فَعادَت وَهيَ في نَيلِهِ جُندُ

If the fates refuse a thing, you compel them

When fate refuses something you force it upon her,

to it; then they become an army to attain it.

Then it returns being attainable to you.

قَضَت حَلَبٌ ميعادَها بَعدَ مَطلِهِ

قَضَت حَلَبٌ ميعادَها بَعدَ مَطلِهِ

وَأَطيَبُ وَصلٍ ما مَضى قَبلَهُ صَدُّ

وَأَطيَبُ وَصلٍ ما مَضى قَبلَهُ صَدُّ

Aleppo kept her tryst after delaying it;

Aleppo fulfilled its promise though after delay,

and sweetest union is one preceded by rejection.

And the best union is that after estrangement.

وَما كانَتِ الوَرهاء أَوَّلَ غادَةٍ

وَما كانَتِ الوَرهاء أَوَّلَ غادَةٍ

إِذا رَضِيَت لَم يَبقَ في قَلبِها حِقدُ

إِذا رَضِيَت لَم يَبقَ في قَلبِها حِقدُ

Nor was that foolish girl the first fair maiden

The crescent was never the first to appear

whose heart held no rancor once she was content.

When pleased, no rancour remained in its heart.

وَعَهدي بِها بَيضاء حَتّى وَرَدتَها

وَعَهدي بِها بَيضاء حَتّى وَرَدتَها

وَتُربُكَ مُحمَرّ وَجَوُّكَ مُسوَدُّ

وَتُربُكَ مُحمَرّ وَجَوُّكَ مُسوَدُّ

I had known her white, until you reached her,

My pact with it was white until you attained it,

with your dust reddened and your sky blackened.

Your lances reddened and faces darkened.

تَهُزُّ لِواءَ الحَمدِ حَولَكَ عُصبَةٌ

تَهُزُّ لِواءَ الحَمدِ حَولَكَ عُصبَةٌ

إِذا طَلَبوا نالوا وَإِن عَقَدوا شَدّوا

إِذا طَلَبوا نالوا وَإِن عَقَدوا شَدّوا

A band around you waves the banner of praise:

A group brandishing the banner of glory around you

when they seek, they attain; when they bind, they bind fast.

When they sought, they attained; when they tied, they pulled tight.

وَخَطيَّةٌ سُمرٌ وَبيضٌ صَوارِمٌ

وَخَطيَّةٌ سُمرٌ وَبيضٌ صَوارِمٌ

وَضافِيَة زَغفٌ وَصافِنَةٌ جُردُ

وَضافِيَة زَغفٌ وَصافِنَةٌ جُردُ

And tawny Khatti lances, and gleaming, keen swords,

Swords of brown steel and coats of mail like white eagles,

and full-length, fine-ringed mail, and sleek, poised steeds.

Quivers of bows and straight spears.

فَحارَت عيونُ النّاظِرينَ وَأَظلَمَت

فَحارَت عيونُ النّاظِرينَ وَأَظلَمَت

وُجوهُ رِجالٍ مِثلُ إِعراضِها رُبدُ

وُجوهُ رِجالٍ مِثلُ إِعراضِها رُبدُ

The onlookers' eyes were dazzled, and darkened

Eyes of onlookers were dazzled and faces of men

the faces of men, dusky like their disdain.

Darkened like its aversion - unbending.

رَأوكَ فَخافوا مِن ظُباكَ وَمِثلُهُم

رَأوكَ فَخافوا مِن ظُباكَ وَمِثلُهُم

يَعزُّ عَلَيها أَن يُذَلَّ بِها خَدُّ

يَعزُّ عَلَيها أَن يُذَلَّ بِها خَدُّ

They saw you and feared your blades; men such as they—

They saw you and feared your prowess, and the like of them

your blades disdain to humble their cheeks.

Find it hard to be disgraced by you.

وَقَد آمَنوا بِالمُعجِزاتِ الَّتي طَرَت

وَقَد آمَنوا بِالمُعجِزاتِ الَّتي طَرَت

عَلَيهِم وَلَكِن بَعدَ ما فُتِحَ السَدُّ

عَلَيهِم وَلَكِن بَعدَ ما فُتِحَ السَدُّ

They believed in the miracles that came

They believed in the miracles that descended upon them

upon them—but only after the barrier was opened.

But only after the barrier was opened.

لَحا اللَّهُ قَوماً أَسلَموا بَيتَ جارِهِم

لَحا اللَّهُ قَوماً أَسلَموا بَيتَ جارِهِم

وَقَد عَلِقَتهُ في مَخالِبها الأُسدُ

وَقَد عَلِقَتهُ في مَخالِبها الأُسدُ

May God curse those who abandoned their neighbor's house

God made succeed a people who yielded their neighbour's home

when lions had caught it in their claws.

While the lion clutched it in its claws.

رَموا حَلَباً مِن بَعدِ ما عَزَّ أَهلَها

رَموا حَلَباً مِن بَعدِ ما عَزَّ أَهلَها

عُهودُ أَكُفٍّ ما لَها بِالنَّدى عَهدُ

عُهودُ أَكُفٍّ ما لَها بِالنَّدى عَهدُ

They cast Aleppo aside after its people were overpowered

They shot Aleppo after its people became helpless,

by pledges from hands unacquainted with generosity.

Pacts of perfidious ones having no loyalty.

لِئامُ السَّجايا لا وَفاء وَلا قِرى

لِئامُ السَّجايا لا وَفاء وَلا قِرى

فَلا غَدرُهُم يَخفى وَلا نارُهُم تَبدو

فَلا غَدرُهُم يَخفى وَلا نارُهُم تَبدو

Base in nature, with neither loyalty nor hospitality:

Vile natures have no faithfulness or neighbourhood,

their treachery is not hidden, nor is their fire seen.

So their treachery is not hidden nor fire concealed.

مَضوا يَحمِدونَ البُعدَ في الذَّبِّ عَنهم

مَضوا يَحمِدونَ البُعدَ في الذَّبِّ عَنهم

وَما الذُّلُّ إِلَّا حَيثُ يَحميهِمُ البُعدُ

وَما الذُّلُّ إِلَّا حَيثُ يَحميهِمُ البُعدُ

They went away, praising distance for defending them;

They went away praising distance in avoidance of you,

yet humiliation lies just where distance shields them.

For humiliation is only where distance protects them.

وَقَد ثَبَتوا حَتّى طَلَعتَ عَلَيهِمُ

وَقَد ثَبَتوا حَتّى طَلَعتَ عَلَيهِمُ

كَما قابَلَت شَمسَ الضُّحى الأَعيُنُ الرُّمدُ

كَما قابَلَت شَمسَ الضُّحى الأَعيُنُ الرُّمدُ

They had stood firm until you rose upon them,

They remained steadfast till you rose over them

like inflamed eyes confronting the forenoon sun.

As the rays of morning met bleary eyes.

فَإِن تَفعَلِ المَعروفَ فيهِم فَقَد مَضَت

فَإِن تَفعَلِ المَعروفَ فيهِم فَقَد مَضَت

مَواهِبُ لا أَجرٌ عَلَيها وَلا حَمدُ

مَواهِبُ لا أَجرٌ عَلَيها وَلا حَمدُ

If you show them kindness, there have already been

If you show them goodwill it is a gift, no reward nor praise,

gifts that earned neither reward nor thanks.

And if blamed for excesses, the misguided oft rave at them, by them the right is made distinct.

وَإِن عُوتِبوا بِالمُرهَفاتِ فَطالَما

وَإِن عُوتِبوا بِالمُرهَفاتِ فَطالَما

أَصاخَ لَها الغاوي وَبانَ بِها الرُّشدُ

أَصاخَ لَها الغاوي وَبانَ بِها الرُّشدُ

And if keen blades rebuke them, how often

When their burdens could barely flee, and no mockery or zeal remained,

has the wayward man heeded them, and guidance appeared through them!

They came to you recounting the past, and had they kept

وَلَمّا اِستَقَلَت بِالفِرارِ حُمولُهُم

وَلَمّا اِستَقَلَت بِالفِرارِ حُمولُهُم

وَلَم يَبقَ هَزلٌ لِلطِّعانِ وَلا جِدُّ

وَلَم يَبقَ هَزلٌ لِلطِّعانِ وَلا جِدُّ

When their laden camels set off in flight,

Their pact it would be as they claimed,

and no lance-fighting remained, in jest or earnest,

But they coveted by deceit an unattainable goal,

أَتوكَ يَعُدُّونَ القَديمَ وَلَو وَفوا

أَتوكَ يَعُدُّونَ القَديمَ وَلَو وَفوا

بِعَهدِهِمُ فيهِ لَكانوا كَما عَدّوا

بِعَهدِهِمُ فيهِ لَكانوا كَما عَدّوا

they came to you recounting the past; had they kept

God willed that only your servant could limit it.

their pledge concerning it, they would have been as they claimed.

They never submitted with sincerity, and with them

وَلَكِنَّهُم راموا عَلى المَكرِ غايَةً

وَلَكِنَّهُم راموا عَلى المَكرِ غايَةً

أَبى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَن يُقَصِّرَها عَبدُ

أَبى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَن يُقَصِّرَها عَبدُ

But through deceit they sought a goal

Good fortune never aligned.

that God willed a servant should cut short.

Your brown swords helped you on the slope of the pass,

فَما سَلَّموا بِالمَسلَمِيَّةِ عِندَهُم

فَما سَلَّموا بِالمَسلَمِيَّةِ عِندَهُم

وَلا وافَقَ السَّعِديُّ عِندَهُمُ سَعدُ

وَلا وافَقَ السَّعِديُّ عِندَهُمُ سَعدُ

So they did not surrender at their al-Maslamiyya,

Loyal long swords, no perverse or malignant ones.

nor did good fortune favor al-Sa'di among them.

They gained no aid from Qais, and a mother has two steps:

أَفادَتكَ في سَفحِ المَضيقِ فَوارِسٌ

أَفادَتكَ في سَفحِ المَضيقِ فَوارِسٌ

طِوالُ الموالي لا لِئامٌ وَلا نُكدُ

طِوالُ الموالي لا لِئامٌ وَلا نُكدُ

At the foot of the pass, horsemen brought you gain,

A father, and one she attains herself.

with towering allies, neither base nor grudging.

Abu Hazim, how could Rabiah' yield you victory

وَلا ظفروا مِن عِندِ قَيسٍ بنصرة

وَلا ظفروا مِن عِندِ قَيسٍ بنصرة

والأم خطبان يَكونُ لَها عندُ

والأم خطبان يَكونُ لَها عندُ

Nor did they obtain help from Qays,

When between us is a pact and affection?

and the basest matter is that she should be obstinate [text unclear].

How could humiliation escape us and them

أَبا حازِمٍ ما أَسلَمتكَ رَبيعَة

أَبا حازِمٍ ما أَسلَمتكَ رَبيعَة

وَبَينكُم عَهد يُراعى وَلا وُدُّ

وَبَينكُم عَهد يُراعى وَلا وُدُّ

Abu Hazim, Rabi'a did not forsake you

When our swords are Indian steel and theirs are the same?

while an honored covenant or affection stood between you.

The day of Marj you did nothing unfamiliar,

وَكَيفَ يَفوتُ الذُّلُّ مِنَّا وَمِنهُمُ

وَكَيفَ يَفوتُ الذُّلُّ مِنَّا وَمِنهُمُ

وَسُمرُهُمُ لُدن وَالسُنُنا لُدُّ

وَسُمرُهُمُ لُدن وَالسُنُنا لُدُّ

How could humiliation escape us and them,

Nor can you be blamed for any act.

when their tawny lances are supple and our tongues contentious?

And a people who impugned my honour - had I wished

وَما كانَ يَومُ المَرجِ مِنكَ غَريبُهُ

وَما كانَ يَومُ المَرجِ مِنكَ غَريبُهُ

وَلا لَكَ مِن فِعل تُلامُ بِهِ بُدُّ

وَلا لَكَ مِن فِعل تُلامُ بِهِ بُدُّ

The day of al-Marj held nothing uncharacteristic of you,

I would have unleashed a torrent of dispraise,

nor could you avoid a deed for which you are blamed.

But dishonour is only that between their homes

وَقَومٌ رَموا عِرضِيَ وَلَو شِئتُ كانَ لي

وَقَومٌ رَموا عِرضِيَ وَلَو شِئتُ كانَ لي

مِنَ الذَّمِّ حاد في جِمائِلِهِم يَحدو

مِنَ الذَّمِّ حاد في جِمائِلِهِم يَحدو

Some people assailed my honor; had I wished, I would have

Are talks containing no dispute or denial.

a driver of satire chanting among their camel herds.

The sword erased what they said, and many a pedigree

وَما العارُ إِلَّا أَنّ بَين بُيوتِهِم

وَما العارُ إِلَّا أَنّ بَين بُيوتِهِم

أَحاديثُ ما فيها نِزاعٌ وَلا جَحدُ

أَحاديثُ ما فيها نِزاعٌ وَلا جَحدُ

The shame is only that among their houses

Did your biting blades refine.

are tales admitting neither dispute nor denial.

When discourse grew intricate I had marvels at hand,

مَحا السَّيفُ ما قالوا وَرُبَّ نَسيبَةٍ

مَحا السَّيفُ ما قالوا وَرُبَّ نَسيبَةٍ

مِنَ القَولِ وَفّاها طِعانَكُمُ النَّقدُ

مِنَ القَولِ وَفّاها طِعانَكُمُ النَّقدُ

The sword erased their words; many a noble utterance [reading uncertain]

Deemed nonsense by listeners, or knots.

in speech was paid in ready coin by your lance-thrusts.

And plotting against enemies whose quivers

وَعِندي إِذا عَزَّ الكَلامُ غَرائِبٌ

وَعِندي إِذا عَزَّ الكَلامُ غَرائِبٌ

هيَ الغُلُّ عِندَ السّامِعينَ أَوِ العِقدُ

هيَ الغُلُّ عِندَ السّامِعينَ أَوِ العِقدُ

When speech grows difficult, I have marvels

Launch no salvos of peace or coolness.

that are a neck-shackle to their hearers, or a necklace.

Abu Sabiq, God sends His victory against no faction

وَكَيد عَلى الأَعداءِ يَرمي زَنادُهُ

وَكَيد عَلى الأَعداءِ يَرمي زَنادُهُ

لواذِعَ ما فيها سَلامٌ وَلا بَردُ

لواذِعَ ما فيها سَلامٌ وَلا بَردُ

And a stratagem against foes whose flint casts

Except you are its counter.

scorching sparks with neither safety nor coolness.

Congratulations on the kingdom you attained by right,

أَبا سابِقٍ ما أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ نَصرَهُ

أَبا سابِقٍ ما أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ نَصرَهُ

عَلى فِئَةٍ إِلَّا وَأَنتَ لَها رَدُّ

عَلى فِئَةٍ إِلَّا وَأَنتَ لَها رَدُّ

Abu Sabiq, God never sent down His aid

With the swords of nobles, no inheritance or aid.

upon a band unless you were its defender.

You have the lofty lineage above any rank,

هَنيئاً لَكَ المُلكُ الَّذي نِلتَ حَقَّهُ

هَنيئاً لَكَ المُلكُ الَّذي نِلتَ حَقَّهُ

بِسُمرِ العَوالي لا تُراثٌ وَلا رِفدُ

بِسُمرِ العَوالي لا تُراثٌ وَلا رِفدُ

Joy to you in the kingship whose rightful claim you won

Your prestige is higher than Nuza' or Ad.

with tawny lance-shafts, not inheritance or a gift.

God made people comply to an idea

لَكَ النَّسَبُ السّامي عَلى كُلِّ مَنصِبٍ

لَكَ النَّسَبُ السّامي عَلى كُلِّ مَنصِبٍ

وَقَدرُكَ أَعلى مِن نِزار وَمِن أَدُّ

وَقَدرُكَ أَعلى مِن نِزار وَمِن أَدُّ

Yours is a lineage rising above every rank,

In which they were certain that you are the sword and the support.

and your station is higher than Nizar's and Add's.

Some summoned the Turks so calamity befell them -

وَقَد وَفَّقَ اللَّهُ الأَنامَ لِفِكرَةٍ

وَقَد وَفَّقَ اللَّهُ الأَنامَ لِفِكرَةٍ

تَيَقَّنَ فيها أَنَّكَ السَّيفُ وَالعُضدُّ

تَيَقَّنَ فيها أَنَّكَ السَّيفُ وَالعُضدُّ

God guided mankind to a thought

But God knows what the diligent man has done.

through which they knew you to be the sword and the supporting arm.

Had they united you would altogether be against wrongdoing,

دَعا التركَ أَقوامٌ فَكانَ عَلَيهِمُ

دَعا التركَ أَقوامٌ فَكانَ عَلَيهِمُ

نَكالاً أَلا لِلَّهِ ما صَنَعَ الجدُّ

نَكالاً أَلا لِلَّهِ ما صَنَعَ الجدُّ

Some people summoned the Turks, and it became for them

The gentle lion would ward off harm from the tender.

a punishment. Behold, God's is what fortune wrought!

But they listened to the words of a slanderer

وَلَو وُفِّقوا كُنتُم جَميعاً عَلى العِدى

وَلَو وُفِّقوا كُنتُم جَميعاً عَلى العِدى

وَدافَعَ دونَ الغيلِ ذا الأَسَدُ الوِردُ

وَدافَعَ دونَ الغيلِ ذا الأَسَدُ الوِردُ

Had they been rightly guided, you would all have faced the foes,

Who visits them with gossip or rises early.

and this tawny lion would have defended the thicket.

So if the fruits of his view become evident in them

وَلَكِنَّهُم أَصغوا إِلى قَول كاشِحٍ

وَلَكِنَّهُم أَصغوا إِلى قَول كاشِحٍ

يَروحُ عَلَيهِم بِالنَّميمَةِ أَو يَغدو

يَروحُ عَلَيهِم بِالنَّميمَةِ أَو يَغدو

But they listened to the words of a malicious foe

The master may be taken to account for the acts of a servant.

who comes to them with slander at evening or at morning.

And if they opt for peace you would heed in them

فَإِن ظَهَرَت فيهِم عَواقِبُ رَأيِهِ

فَإِن ظَهَرَت فيهِم عَواقِبُ رَأيِهِ

فَقَد يُؤخَذُ المَولى بِما صَنَعَ العَبدُ

فَقَد يُؤخَذُ المَولى بِما صَنَعَ العَبدُ

If the consequences of his counsel appear among them,

Bonds that glory refuses to neglect.

a master may indeed be held accountable for what his slave has done.

Peace is but an opportunity for a fighter

وَإِن جَنَحوا لِلسِّلمِ راعَيتَ فيهمُ

وَإِن جَنَحوا لِلسِّلمِ راعَيتَ فيهمُ

أَواصِرَ يَأبى أَن يُضَيِّعَها المَجدُ

أَواصِرَ يَأبى أَن يُضَيِّعَها المَجدُ

If they incline to peace, you will honor among them

From you gaining some loot or captives each day.

bonds that nobility refuses to let perish.

You remained an asset to me - excellence of your wisdom

وَما السِّلمُ إِلَّا فُرصَةٌ لِمُحارِبٍ

وَما السِّلمُ إِلَّا فُرصَةٌ لِمُحارِبٍ

لَهُ كُلُّ يَومٍ شلة مِنكَ أَو طَردُ

لَهُ كُلُّ يَومٍ شلة مِنكَ أَو طَردُ

Peace is only a respite for a warrior

Is glorious, carefree life and plenty.

whose daily lot from you is a rout or a chase.

With you is victory - swords you tested

بَقِيتَ فَلي مِن حُسنِ رَأيِكَ نِعمَةٌ

بَقِيتَ فَلي مِن حُسنِ رَأيِكَ نِعمَةٌ

هِيَ العِزَّةُ القَعساءُ وَالعيشَةُ الرَّغدُ

هِيَ العِزَّةُ القَعساءُ وَالعيشَةُ الرَّغدُ

May you live on: your kindly regard grants me a blessing—

So the worthy became distinct when unsheathed.

unassailable honor and a life of plenty.

وَدونَكَ مِن نَصرٍ حُسامٌ بَلَوتَهُ

وَدونَكَ مِن نَصرٍ حُسامٌ بَلَوتَهُ

فَبانَ شَباهُ حينَ فارَقَهُ الغِمدُ

فَبانَ شَباهُ حينَ فارَقَهُ الغِمدُ

And take, in support, a keen sword you have tested;

its edge was revealed when the sheath parted from it.