حياةٌ أَسرَّ العَيش فيها مَذمَّم

حياةٌ أَسرَّ العَيش فيها مَذمَّم

وَناسٌ بِها قَلبُ الخليِّ متيَّمُ

وَناسٌ بِها قَلبُ الخليِّ متيَّمُ

A life in which the happiest living is blameworthy,

A life whose living is miserable,

And people by whom the carefree heart is enthralled.

And people in it whose hearts are sad.

سَقَت كُلَّ قَلبِ كُلّ يَومٍ مَشارِباً

سَقَت كُلَّ قَلبِ كُلّ يَومٍ مَشارِباً

توهَّمَ فيها لَذةً وَهِيَ عَلقَمُ

توهَّمَ فيها لَذةً وَهِيَ عَلقَمُ

It gave every heart, each day, draughts

Every day it gives each heart drinks

In which it imagined pleasure, though they were bitter colocynth.

In which it imagines pleasure, but they are bitter.

تَشاغَلَتِ الأَلبابُ فيها مِن الصِّبى

تَشاغَلَتِ الأَلبابُ فيها مِن الصِّبى

وَلَم تَكُ أَدنى صَبوةً حينَ تحلمُ

وَلَم تَكُ أَدنى صَبوةً حينَ تحلمُ

Minds were engrossed in it from childhood,

Hearts were busy with youthful passions

And were no less infatuated when they matured.

And were not chaste even for a moment when they came of age.

تَبطَّلَ كُلٌ بالأَماني وَلَم يَزَل

تَبطَّلَ كُلٌ بالأَماني وَلَم يَزَل

يَروحُ وَيَغدو وَهوَ لِلمَوتِ مَغنَمُ

يَروحُ وَيَغدو وَهوَ لِلمَوتِ مَغنَمُ

Everyone idled in wishful hopes, and never ceased

Everyone was heedless with wishes and never stopped

Going out evening and morning, a prize for death.

Going and coming while death was a gain for him.

وَما الأَرضُ إِلّا قَفرةٌ زَأَرَتْ بِها

وَما الأَرضُ إِلّا قَفرةٌ زَأَرَتْ بِها

أَسودُ المَنايا حَولنا وَهِيَ حوَّمُ

أَسودُ المَنايا حَولنا وَهِيَ حوَّمُ

And earth is only a wilderness in which roared

The earth is nothing but a howling wasteland

The lions of death around us, circling.

Where the black deaths prowl around us growling.

لَها كُلّ يَومِ بَيننا كُلّ مُنذِرٍ

لَها كُلّ يَومِ بَيننا كُلّ مُنذِرٍ

يُنادي عَلينا مُسمِعاً وَهوَ أَبكمُ

يُنادي عَلينا مُسمِعاً وَهوَ أَبكمُ

Each day among us, death has many a warning herald,

Each day it has among us every warner

Calling out to us, making us hear, though mute.

Calling out to us, hearing yet mute.

تَنَبِّهُنا بَعضاً بِبَعضٍ فَنَنثَني

تَنَبِّهُنا بَعضاً بِبَعضٍ فَنَنثَني

وَأَجفانُنا في غَفلةِ اللَهو نوَّمُ

وَأَجفانُنا في غَفلةِ اللَهو نوَّمُ

It rouses us, one through another, yet we turn back,

We awaken each other then slumber again

While our eyelids slumber in heedless amusement.

While our eyelids in the intoxication of frivolity doze.

خَلَت دونَها شُمُّ الحُصون فَلَم تَكُن

خَلَت دونَها شُمُّ الحُصون فَلَم تَكُن

لِساكِنها مِن غارةِ البينِ تعصمُ

لِساكِنها مِن غارةِ البينِ تعصمُ

Lofty fortresses lay empty before it; they could not

Impregnable fortresses crumbled before it

Shield their dwellers from separation's raid.

And could not protect their inhabitants from separation.

وَأَصبَحَ مَن قَد كانَ يُرهَبُ بَأسُهُ

وَأَصبَحَ مَن قَد كانَ يُرهَبُ بَأسُهُ

يُناحُ عَلَيهِ بَعدَ حينٍ وَيُرحَمُ

يُناحُ عَلَيهِ بَعدَ حينٍ وَيُرحَمُ

And he whose might had once been feared became

One whose might was feared became, after a time,

Mourned after a time, and pitied.

One wept for and pitied when he perished.

تُرابٌ مِنَ الأَرض اِستوى تَحتَ صورةٍ

تُرابٌ مِنَ الأَرض اِستوى تَحتَ صورةٍ

تَلوحُ عَلَيها مُدةً ثُم تهدمُ

تَلوحُ عَلَيها مُدةً ثُم تهدمُ

Dust from the earth, taking shape beneath a form

He was dust made equal beneath an image

That appears upon it for a time, then is destroyed.

That shone for a while, then crumbled.

أَحبَّتَنا ما أَعذَبَ الهَجرَ بَينَنا

أَحبَّتَنا ما أَعذَبَ الهَجرَ بَينَنا

إِذا كانَ حَبلُ الوَصلِ لا بُدَّ يَفصمُ

إِذا كانَ حَبلُ الوَصلِ لا بُدَّ يَفصمُ

Our beloved ones, how sweet is estrangement between us,

Our loved ones, how sweet is separation between us

If the cord of union must inevitably snap.

When the cord of union must inevitably be severed!

أَنِسنا بِطيبِ الوَصلِ في الأَرضِ مُدةً

أَنِسنا بِطيبِ الوَصلِ في الأَرضِ مُدةً

وَما طيبُ وَصلٍ بِالتَفرُّقِ يَشؤمُ

وَما طيبُ وَصلٍ بِالتَفرُّقِ يَشؤمُ

For a time on earth, we took comfort in the sweetness of union,

We enjoyed the sweetness of union on earth for a time,

And what sweetness is there in union blighted by parting?

Yet nothing corrupts union like parting.

سَلامٌ عَلى قَبرٍ تَوسَّدَ تربَهُ

سَلامٌ عَلى قَبرٍ تَوسَّدَ تربَهُ

حَبيبٌ عَلَيهِ مِن بَعيدٍ أَسلِّمُ

حَبيبٌ عَلَيهِ مِن بَعيدٍ أَسلِّمُ

Peace upon a grave whose dust serves as a pillow

Greetings to a grave in whose soil rests

To a beloved whom I greet from afar.

A beloved, to whom from afar I bid peace.

وَما كانَ يُجدي لَو تَدانى وَدونَهُ

وَما كانَ يُجدي لَو تَدانى وَدونَهُ

مِن الرَمسِ قَد أَمسى حِجابٌ مُخيِّمُ

مِن الرَمسِ قَد أَمسى حِجابٌ مُخيِّمُ

Nor would it help if he were nearer, for between us

It would not have helped had he drawn near, with

An enveloping veil of the grave has settled.

An impenetrable barrier of burial soil covering him.

لَئن لَم تُصِب عَينِي ثَراهُ فَإِنَّ لي

لَئن لَم تُصِب عَينِي ثَراهُ فَإِنَّ لي

هُنالك قَلباً مِنهُ قَد قَطر الدَّمُ

هُنالك قَلباً مِنهُ قَد قَطر الدَّمُ

Though my eye has not reached his dust, I have

If my eyes do not behold his tomb, still

A heart there from which blood has dripped.

My heart there drops blood for him.

وَما جَفَّ دَمعي بَعدَهُ غَيرَ أَنَّهُ

وَما جَفَّ دَمعي بَعدَهُ غَيرَ أَنَّهُ

يُدبِّجُ خَضراءَ الرُبَى حينَ يَسجمُ

يُدبِّجُ خَضراءَ الرُبَى حينَ يَسجمُ

Nor have my tears dried since his passing, save that they

My tears have not dried since he left, though they

Embroider the green hills whenever they flow.

Adorn the green plants when they pour down.

نَعاهُ لَنا الناعِي فَفِي كُل مِسمَعٍ

نَعاهُ لَنا الناعِي فَفِي كُل مِسمَعٍ

كَلامٌ وَلَكن في الأَضالعِ أَسهُمُ

كَلامٌ وَلَكن في الأَضالعِ أَسهُمُ

The death-herald announced his death to us: in every ear

The announcer announced his death, so every ear

Words, but arrows within the ribs.

Hears words, but in the chests are arrows.

تَنوحُ عَلى فَقَدِ الأَميرِ مُحَمدٍ

تَنوحُ عَلى فَقَدِ الأَميرِ مُحَمدٍ

رِجالٌ عَلَيهِ بِالدِّما تَتَلَثَّمُ

رِجالٌ عَلَيهِ بِالدِّما تَتَلَثَّمُ

Lamenting the loss of Emir Muhammad are

Men weep for the loss of Prince Muhammad,

Men who veil their faces with blood for him.

Their beards dripping with blood as they mourn.

عَزيزٌ لَهُ في كُلِّ عَينٍ مَدامِعٌ

عَزيزٌ لَهُ في كُلِّ عَينٍ مَدامِعٌ

وَفي كُلِّ قَلبٍ جَمرةٌ تَتَضَرَّمُ

وَفي كُلِّ قَلبٍ جَمرةٌ تَتَضَرَّمُ

A cherished one, with tears for him in every eye,

Dear to every eye are tears for him,

And in every heart an ember that blazes.

And in each heart an ember smoldering.

وَكَم مِن جُيوبٍ بَل قُلوبٌ تَشَقَّقَت

وَكَم مِن جُيوبٍ بَل قُلوبٌ تَشَقَّقَت

عَلَيهِ وَكَم مِن أَوجُهٍ فيهِ تُلطَمُ

عَلَيهِ وَكَم مِن أَوجُهٍ فيهِ تُلطَمُ

How many collars—nay, hearts—were rent

How many breasts, nay hearts, split open for him,

For him, and how many faces are slapped for his sake.

How many faces are wounded for him!

وَلمَّا نَعى في أَرضِ لُبنانَ أَوشَكَت

وَلمَّا نَعى في أَرضِ لُبنانَ أَوشَكَت

جَنادِلُهُ مِن حَسرةٍ تَتَألَّمُ

جَنادِلُهُ مِن حَسرةٍ تَتَألَّمُ

And when his death was announced in the land of Lebanon, it almost made

When he died in the land of Lebanon, his troops

Its boulders ache with grief.

Nearly perished from anguish and pain.

كَريمٌ لَهُ مِن آلِ رَسلانَ مَحتِدٌ

كَريمٌ لَهُ مِن آلِ رَسلانَ مَحتِدٌ

وَمِن نَفسِهِ مَجدٌ سَنيٌّ مُعَظَّمُ

وَمِن نَفسِهِ مَجدٌ سَنيٌّ مُعَظَّمُ

A noble man, with lineage from the house of Raslan,

Noble, with a lineage from the House of Raslan

And from himself, radiant, exalted glory.

And from himself an elevated, venerated glory.

وَمِن ذكرِهِ ما يَعجَزُ الدَهرُ سَلبَهُ

وَمِن ذكرِهِ ما يَعجَزُ الدَهرُ سَلبَهُ

وَمِن شُكرهِ في كُلِّ ذي مَنطقٍ فَمُ

وَمِن شُكرهِ في كُلِّ ذي مَنطقٍ فَمُ

And in his memory, what time cannot strip away,

Of his mention time cannot rob him,

And to praise him, a mouth in every being who speaks.

And gratitude for him is on every eloquent tongue.

أَيا مَن قَضى في غَربةِ الدارِ نازِحاً

أَيا مَن قَضى في غَربةِ الدارِ نازِحاً

فَكُلُّ فُؤادٍ نازحٍ مُتَصَرِّمُ

فَكُلُّ فُؤادٍ نازحٍ مُتَصَرِّمُ

O you who died in a foreign land, far from home,

O you who passed away in exile from your homeland,

So every distant heart is torn apart.

Every exiled heart is desolate and bereaved.

رُوَيدَكَ ما لِلصَبر بَعدَك مِن يَدٍ

رُوَيدَكَ ما لِلصَبر بَعدَك مِن يَدٍ

إِذا ما اِقتَضى الصَبرَ المُصابُ العرمَرَمُ

إِذا ما اِقتَضى الصَبرَ المُصابُ العرمَرَمُ

Wait a little! Patience has no strength after you,

Gently, my friend! Without you, patience has no power

When overwhelming calamity demands patience.

When calamity makes even patience collapse.

تَرَحَّلتَ في شَرخِ الشَبابِ مُغادِراً

تَرَحَّلتَ في شَرخِ الشَبابِ مُغادِراً

مِنَ الحُزنِ ما يُودي الشَبابَ وَيَهرمُ

مِنَ الحُزنِ ما يُودي الشَبابَ وَيَهرمُ

You departed in the prime of youth, leaving

You journeyed away in the prime of youth,

A sorrow that destroys youth and brings old age.

Leaving behind sorrow that destroys youth and makes it decay.

وَمِثلَكَ مَن حُقَّ التَأسُّفُ بَعدَهُ

وَمِثلَكَ مَن حُقَّ التَأسُّفُ بَعدَهُ

وَغَيركَ مَخلوفٌ وَمِثلكَ يُعدمُ

وَغَيركَ مَخلوفٌ وَمِثلكَ يُعدمُ

And one like you is rightly mourned after his passing;

And the like of you—who deserves to be mourned after—

Others are replaceable, but your like cannot be found.

Is rare, while the like of you is nonexistent.

تَنوحُ القَوافي بَعد يَومِكَ حَسرةً

تَنوحُ القَوافي بَعد يَومِكَ حَسرةً

فنُوشِكُ نَخشى نَثرَها حينَ تُنظَمُ

فنُوشِكُ نَخشى نَثرَها حينَ تُنظَمُ

The rhymes lament in grief after your final day,

The rhymes weep in sorrow after your day,

So we almost fear their scattering as they are strung.

So we fear their scattering when they are composed.

وَتَندُبكَ الأَقلامُ مِن حَيثُ رَدَّدَت

وَتَندُبكَ الأَقلامُ مِن حَيثُ رَدَّدَت

حَنيناً وَأَجرَت عَبرةً حينَ ترقمُ

حَنيناً وَأَجرَت عَبرةً حينَ ترقمُ

And pens mourn you wherever they echo

The pens eulogize you wherever they flowing

A yearning cry, and shed a tear as they write.

With yearning and shedding copious tears as they write.

وَبَينَ المَذاكي وَالسُيوفِ مَناحةٌ

وَبَينَ المَذاكي وَالسُيوفِ مَناحةٌ

وَبَينَ الحِجى وَالعلمِ وَالمَجدِ مَأتَمُ

وَبَينَ الحِجى وَالعلمِ وَالمَجدِ مَأتَمُ

Among steeds in their prime and swords is lamentation,

Between swords and bookcases, anguish,

And among intellect, learning, and glory, a mourning assembly.

Between dignity, knowledge, and glory, bereavement.

إِلا يا بَني رَسلانَ صَبراً لِفَقدِهِ

إِلا يا بَني رَسلانَ صَبراً لِفَقدِهِ

فَذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَقتَضيهِ التَكَرُّمُ

فَذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَقتَضيهِ التَكَرُّمُ

Take heed, O sons of Raslan: patience in his loss!

Except—O House of Raslan—show patience for his loss.

For that is what nobility requires.

That is what nobility requires.

إِذا ما دَفَعنا لِلبَليَّةِ مَرةً

إِذا ما دَفَعنا لِلبَليَّةِ مَرةً

وَلَم نَنتَفع بِالحُزنِ فَالصَبرُ أَحزمُ

وَلَم نَنتَفع بِالحُزنِ فَالصَبرُ أَحزمُ

When once we are thrust into calamity,

When we hand misfortune over once,

And gain nothing from grief, patience is more prudent.

And do not benefit from grief, patience is wiser.

جَرى قَدرُ المَولَى بِما شاءَ وَاِستَوى

جَرى قَدرُ المَولَى بِما شاءَ وَاِستَوى

لَدَيهِ جَزوعٌ في الأَسى وَمُسلِّمُ

لَدَيهِ جَزوعٌ في الأَسى وَمُسلِّمُ

The Lord's decree took its course as He willed; equal are

The decree of the Master has run its course as He willed,

Before Him, the distraught in grief and the resigned.

Resignation in sorrow is equal before Him.

وَلَيسَ لَنا مِن مَطمَعٍ فاتَ نَيلُهُ

وَلَيسَ لَنا مِن مَطمَعٍ فاتَ نَيلُهُ

إِذا كانَ ما نَبغيهِ ما لَيسَ يَغنَمُ

إِذا كانَ ما نَبغيهِ ما لَيسَ يَغنَمُ

Nor has the fulfillment of any hope escaped us,

We have no hope of attaining what is gone;

If what we seek is something that cannot be won.

What we desire is what does not profit.

وَما كانَ ما لا بُدَّ مِنهُ مُؤخَّراً

وَما كانَ ما لا بُدَّ مِنهُ مُؤخَّراً

يَهونُ لَدَيهِ الرزءُ وَهوَ مُقدَّمُ

يَهونُ لَدَيهِ الرزءُ وَهوَ مُقدَّمُ

Nor does what is inevitable, though deferred,

What cannot be avoided if deferred

Make an earlier bereavement lighter by comparison.

Is easier for him, while it is brought forward.

وَما الفَرقُ في الحالَينِ إِلا هُنَيهَةٌ

وَما الفَرقُ في الحالَينِ إِلا هُنَيهَةٌ

تَمرّ سَريعاً وَالقَضا مُتَحَتَّمُ

تَمرّ سَريعاً وَالقَضا مُتَحَتَّمُ

And the difference between the two cases is only a moment

The difference in the two cases is but a fleeting

That passes swiftly, while fate is inevitable.

Moment, while the decree is inescapable.