تمنَّاها بجهلِ الظنِّ سعدُ

تمنَّاها بجهلِ الظنِّ سعدُ

وما هي من مطايا الظنِّ بعدُ

وما هي من مطايا الظنِّ بعدُ

Sa'd coveted them in the ignorance of conjecture;

Saad wished for it in ignorant hope

yet they are still not mounts for conjecture.

Yet it was not of the steeds of hope afterwards

وخالَ ظهورَها قُعُداً لياناً

وخالَ ظهورَها قُعُداً لياناً

فرحَّلَ وهي مُزلِقةٌ تكُدُّ

فرحَّلَ وهي مُزلِقةٌ تكُدُّ

He thought their backs were gentle riding mounts,

And he left its appearance sitting wearily

so he saddled them, though they were slippery and wore him out.

So he rode it while it was slipping and stumbling

وراوحَها القِعابَ ليعتشيها

وراوحَها القِعابَ ليعتشيها

فضرعٌ زلَّ أو خِلفٌ يَنِدُّ

فضرعٌ زلَّ أو خِلفٌ يَنِدُّ

He alternated milking bowls at them, to milk them at evening;

And the hyena howled at it to feed on it

but an udder slipped away, or a teat shied off.

So a young camel slipped or a latter one stumbled

براثنُ أَوْسَقَتْهُ دماً صبيباً

براثنُ أَوْسَقَتْهُ دماً صبيباً

وفي قومٍ لها أَقِطٌ وزُبدُ

وفي قومٍ لها أَقِطٌ وزُبدُ

Claws loaded him with streaming blood,

Its knees oozed oozing blood

while among some folk they yield dried curds and butter.

And it had in its people a mangy camel and scum

لعلّك سعدُ غرَّك أن تراها

لعلّك سعدُ غرَّك أن تراها

على الجرّاتِ تأكلُ أو تَرُدُّ

على الجرّاتِ تأكلُ أو تَرُدُّ

Perhaps, Sa'd, what deceived you was seeing them

Perhaps Saad, desire deluded you to see it

feeding by the snares or drawing back,

Eating Al-Jarrat or returning

وأنّ العام أخلَفها فجاءتْ

وأنّ العام أخلَفها فجاءتْ

حبائلَ في حبائلها تُمَدُّ

حبائلَ في حبائلها تُمَدُّ

and that the year had failed them, so they came

And that the year disappointed it, so it came

as snares stretched out among their snares.

Pregnant in its pregnancies extended

مفلَّلةً على الأعطانِ فوضَى

مفلَّلةً على الأعطانِ فوضَى

هببتَ تظنُّ أنّ الفَلَّ طردُ

هببتَ تظنُّ أنّ الفَلَّ طردُ

Scattered at the watering pens, in disarray,

Adorned with the headstalls confusedly

you sprang up, thinking the scattered remnant was quarry.

You reckoned it the excellent riding beast

وما يُدريكَ من يَحمِي حماها

وما يُدريكَ من يَحمِي حماها

ويحضُرُ ذائداً عنها ويَبدو

ويحضُرُ ذائداً عنها ويَبدو

What do you know of who guards their sanctuary,

And you don’t know who protects its protector

and defends them in town and out in the desert?

And attends, protecting it and becomes manifest

وإِنَّ وراءها لَقناً تَلظَّى

وإِنَّ وراءها لَقناً تَلظَّى

وأسيافاً وأَلسنةً تُحَدُّ

وأسيافاً وأَلسنةً تُحَدُّ

Indeed, behind them stands a quick-witted man ablaze,

And that behind it there is a burning anger

and swords and tongues being sharpened;

And swords and tongues that wound

ومنتقصَ الطبائع إن أخيفت

ومنتقصَ الطبائع إن أخيفت

لَشَدُّ الأُسْدِ أهونُ ما يَشُدُّ

لَشَدُّ الأُسْدِ أهونُ ما يَشُدُّ

and one who saps native mettle when it is frightened—

And the fainthearted if frightened

indeed, the lions' charge is the mildest charge he makes.

Is firmer than the lion's firmness

إذا صاح الإباءُ به تنزَّى

إذا صاح الإباءُ به تنزَّى

يُطيع الغيظَ أغلبُ مستبِدُّ

يُطيع الغيظَ أغلبُ مستبِدُّ

When proud refusal cries to him, he leaps up,

When the father roars at it gloriously

obeying rage, mighty and self-willed;

Most of the enraged obey the enraged

ومشحوذاً من الكَلِم المصفَّى

ومشحوذاً من الكَلِم المصفَّى

به الأعراضُ تُفرَى أو تُقَدُّ

به الأعراضُ تُفرَى أو تُقَدُّ

and a sharpened weapon of refined speech,

And sharpened from the refined utterance

with which reputations are ripped apart or slit.

With it honors are ransomed or burnt

إذا عصَبَ اللَّهاةَ الريقُ فاضت

إذا عصَبَ اللَّهاةَ الريقُ فاضت

دوافقُ منه واديها مُمَدُّ

دوافقُ منه واديها مُمَدُّ

When saliva binds the uvula, there overflow

If the licentious were enraged, their outpour

gushing torrents from him, their valley replenished.

And their valleys overflowed extended

تَحاشَدُ يَعْرُبٌ إن قال نصراً

تَحاشَدُ يَعْرُبٌ إن قال نصراً

وتغضَبُ بالطباع له مَعَدُّ

وتغضَبُ بالطباع له مَعَدُّ

Ya'rub rallies if he cries, 'Aid!'

The Arabs gather if he said victory

and Ma'add, by nature, grows angry on his behalf.

And they get angry with their nature for him, prepared

فما لك لا أبا لك تتَّقيها

فما لك لا أبا لك تتَّقيها

وفيها السيفُ والخصمُ الألدُّ

وفيها السيفُ والخصمُ الألدُّ

Why do you guard against them—may you have no father?

So why, no father for you, do you fear it

And within them are the sword and the most implacable foe.

While in it the sword and the hostile most hostile

طغَى بك أنْ وَنتْ عنك القوافي

طغَى بك أنْ وَنتْ عنك القوافي

وخلفَ فُتورِها دأبٌ ووخْدُ

وخلفَ فُتورِها دأبٌ ووخْدُ

The rhymes' slackening against you made you overbold;

You were deluded when the rhymes refused you

behind their slackness lie persistent toil and a swift gait.

And after its languor, habit and ardour

لئن دَرِدَتْ فلا يَغررْك منها

لئن دَرِدَتْ فلا يَغررْك منها

أراقمُ يزدرِدنَ وهنَّ دُرْدُ

أراقمُ يزدرِدنَ وهنَّ دُرْدُ

If they have lost their teeth, do not be deceived:

If it neighs, then its neighing does not deceive you

speckled serpents swallow whole even when toothless.

Racaam, it neighs and becomes gentle, Dard

وإن نأت البلادُ برافديها

وإن نأت البلادُ برافديها

فقومٌ آخرون لها ورِفْدُ

فقومٌ آخرون لها ورِفْدُ

Though the lands have carried their benefactors far away,

And if the lands bring it with their tributaries

they have other people and further support.

Another people for it and provision

ولم يَقعُدْ عن المعروف جُندٌ

ولم يَقعُدْ عن المعروف جُندٌ

من الكرماء إلا قام جُندُ

من الكرماء إلا قام جُندُ

No band ever held back from doing good

And the generous did not refrain from good

among the generous, but another band arose.

Except a troop stood up, and a troop

وكم من حاضرٍ دانٍ كفاني

وكم من حاضرٍ دانٍ كفاني

رجالاً لَفَّهُمْ سَفَرٌ وبُعدُ

رجالاً لَفَّهُمْ سَفَرٌ وبُعدُ

How many a man present and near has sufficed me in place of

And how many present, close whom remote

men whom travel and distance have enfolded.

Made sufficient men wrapped by travel and remoteness

ولم أعدَمْ نوالَهُمُ ولكن

ولم أعدَمْ نوالَهُمُ ولكن

وجوهٌ بعدَها ألمٌ ووجدُ

وجوهٌ بعدَها ألمٌ ووجدُ

I have not lacked their gifts, but

And I did not lack their intimacy but

faces, once absent, leave pain and yearning.

Faces after them are pain and passion

سقى اللّه ابنَ أيّوبٍ سماءً

سقى اللّه ابنَ أيّوبٍ سماءً

تروح سحابُها ملأَى وتغدو

تروح سحابُها ملأَى وتغدو

May God water Ibn Ayyub with a rain-bearing sky,

May Allah water the son of Ayyub with a sky

whose clouds pass full at evening and at dawn;

Whose clouds go filled and return

وإلا ماءُ خديه حياءً

وإلا ماءُ خديه حياءً

وإلا خلَّةٌ منه وودُّ

وإلا خلَّةٌ منه وودُّ

if not, with the moisture of his cheeks in modesty;

Otherwise the water of his cheeks in shyness

if not, with friendship and affection from him.

Otherwise a mixture of it and love

وأيّ خلالهِ كرماً سقاه

وأيّ خلالهِ كرماً سقاه

كَفَى وسقَى نميرٌ منه عِدُّ

كَفَى وسقَى نميرٌ منه عِدُّ

Whichever of his qualities waters him with bounty

And which of its meadows in generosity he watered

suffices; a sweet, perennial spring from him gives drink.

It suffices and it watered an abundant number of it

أخوك فلا تغيِّره الليالي

أخوك فلا تغيِّره الليالي

إذا لم يُرعَ عند أخيك عهدُ

إذا لم يُرعَ عند أخيك عهدُ

He is your brother; the nights do not change him,

Your brother so nights do not change him

when a covenant goes unhonored by your brother.

If the covenant was not kept with your brother

ومولاك الذي لا الغلُّ يسرِي

ومولاك الذي لا الغلُّ يسرِي

به ظَهْراً ولا الأضغانُ تحدو

به ظَهْراً ولا الأضغانُ تحدو

And your patron, whom no rancor rides by night

And your Master whom neither error spreads

as a mount, and whom no grudges goad.

Therewith a back nor enmities wound

تَضَيَّفْهُ وأنت طريدُ ليلٍ

تَضَيَّفْهُ وأنت طريدُ ليلٍ

رمى بك فيه إِقتارٌ وجهدُ

رمى بك فيه إِقتارٌ وجهدُ

Seek his hospitality when you are an outcast of the night,

Make him your guest while you are prey to night

into which poverty and hardship have cast you;

Which threw at you scarcity and effort

وقد ألقت بكلكلها جُمادَى

وقد ألقت بكلكلها جُمادَى

لخيط سمائها حلٌّ وعَقْدُ

لخيط سمائها حلٌّ وعَقْدُ

when Jumada has laid her chest upon you,

And February has knitted its celestial thread

the thread of her sky now untied, now knotted;

For a strand of its sky a solution and a knot

وهبَّتْ من رياح الشامِ صِرٌّ

وهبَّتْ من رياح الشامِ صِرٌّ

عسوفٌ لم تَرضها قطّ نجدُ

عسوفٌ لم تَرضها قطّ نجدُ

and an icy wind has blown from the winds of al-Sham,

And there blew from the winds of the Levant, cold

harsh, never yet tamed by Najd;

‘Asuf not satisfied with it ever Najd

وأبوابُ البيوت مقرّناتٌ

وأبوابُ البيوت مقرّناتٌ

فلا نارٌ ولا زادٌ مُعَدُّ

فلا نارٌ ولا زادٌ مُعَدُّ

and the doors of houses are fastened shut,

And the doors of houses shut off

with no fire and no provisions prepared—

So no fire and no provision prepared

تجِدْ وجهاً يضيء لك الدياجي

تجِدْ وجهاً يضيء لك الدياجي

كأَنَّ جبينَه في الليل زَندُ

كأَنَّ جبينَه في الليل زَندُ

you will find a face that lights the dark nights for you,

You find a face that illuminates the darkness for you

as though his brow were a fire-stick in the night;

As if its forehead in the night is tinder

وكَفّاً تهرُبُ الأزَماتُ منها

وكَفّاً تهرُبُ الأزَماتُ منها

تَرقرَقُ سَبْطةً والعامُ جَعدُ

تَرقرَقُ سَبْطةً والعامُ جَعدُ

and a hand from which hardships flee,

And a palm by which troubles escape

flowing, smooth and open, though the year is crimped tight.

Flowing gentleness while the year is arid

وبِتْ وقِراك مَيسَرةٌ وبِشرٌ

وبِتْ وقِراك مَيسَرةٌ وبِشرٌ

وزادُك نُخبَةٌ وثراك مَهدُ

وزادُك نُخبَةٌ وثراك مَهدُ

Spend the night, your hospitality ease and glad welcome,

You passed the night secured with good omen, and glad tidings

your provisions the choicest, your earth a cradle,

And your provision is blessing, and your bed luxury

تمامَ الليلِ واغْدُ بصالحاتٍ

تمامَ الليلِ واغْدُ بصالحاتٍ

من الأخلاق إن تَرَكتْك تغدو

من الأخلاق إن تَرَكتْك تغدو

all night long; then leave at dawn with fine

The end of night and leave with good traits

virtues—if they let you leave:

Of morals if they let you leave

شمائلُ أصلُها حَسَبٌ وخِيرٌ

شمائلُ أصلُها حَسَبٌ وخِيرٌ

وزهرةُ فعلِها كرمٌ ومجدُ

وزهرةُ فعلِها كرمٌ ومجدُ

qualities rooted in noble lineage and goodness,

Attributes whose origin is pedigree and goodness

whose deeds flower in generosity and glory.

And the blossom of its deed is generosity and glory

تقلَّبها أباً فأباً مؤدٍّ

تقلَّبها أباً فأباً مؤدٍّ

كما أخَذَ العلا إرثاً يُرَدُّ

كما أخَذَ العلا إرثاً يُرَدُّ

A faithful transmitter passed them down, father after father,

Circulating from father to father fulfilling

as he received eminence, an inheritance handed onward.

As the sublime took inheritance recurring

تَتِمُّ به إذا حُسِبَ المساعي

تَتِمُّ به إذا حُسِبَ المساعي

عن الآباءِ عِدَّةُ ما يُعَدُّ

عن الآباءِ عِدَّةُ ما يُعَدُّ

Through him is completed, when achievements are reckoned

With it you perfect when the efforts are counted

from the forefathers, the tally of all that is counted.

From the forefathers the number that is counted

تفرَّدَ بالمحاسن في زمانٍ

تفرَّدَ بالمحاسن في زمانٍ

تنكَّرَ أن يقالَ البدرُ فردُ

تنكَّرَ أن يقالَ البدرُ فردُ

He stood alone in excellences in an age

He monopolized the virtues in a time

that balked at the saying, 'The full moon is peerless.'

That refused to say the full moon is unmatched

وجاراه على غَرَرٍ رجالٌ

وجاراه على غَرَرٍ رجالٌ

لهم شدٌّ وليس لهم أشُدُّ

لهم شدٌّ وليس لهم أشُدُّ

Men tried to match his pace, taking a risk;

And his peers wrongly are men

they had a burst of speed, but no mature strength.

Who have firmness but have no greater firmness

فقصَّر كلُّ منتفخٍ هجينٍ

فقصَّر كلُّ منتفخٍ هجينٍ

ومرَّ أقبُّ يطوِي الشوطَ نهدُ

ومرَّ أقبُّ يطوِي الشوطَ نهدُ

Every puffed-up, crossbred beast fell short,

So every pretentious hybrid fell short

while a lean-flanked, sturdy steed swept past, folding up the course.

And passed the dented that folds the distance, courageous

ثقيلٌ والحلومُ مشعشَعاتٌ

ثقيلٌ والحلومُ مشعشَعاتٌ

نصيعُ العِرض والأعراضُ رُبْدُ

نصيعُ العِرض والأعراضُ رُبْدُ

Weighty, while other minds are watered down;

Heavy while the necks are terrified

his honor pure white, while other reputations are ash-gray.

The weak honor and honor filth

ملكتُ به المنى وعلى الليالي

ملكتُ به المنى وعلى الليالي

ديونٌ بعدُ لي فيه ووعدُ

ديونٌ بعدُ لي فيه ووعدُ

Through him I won my wishes, and against the nights

I possessed wishes therewith and nights

I still have debts to claim concerning him, and a promise.

Afterwards have debts in it and promise

وكان نوالُ أقوامٍ ضماناً

وكان نوالُ أقوامٍ ضماناً

أسوَّفه وجودُ يديه نَقْدُ

أسوَّفه وجودُ يديه نَقْدُ

The gifts of other people were pledges

And the attainment of some people was a guarantor

I kept postponing; the bounty of his two hands is ready cash.

I procrastinated and its generosity was cash

أحدَّ بنصره نابَيَّ حتّى

أحدَّ بنصره نابَيَّ حتّى

فَرَسْتُ به الخطوبَ وهنُّ أُسْدُ

فَرَسْتُ به الخطوبَ وهنُّ أُسْدُ

With his support he sharpened my two fangs, until

It encouraged a companion until

through him I mauled calamities, though they were lions.

I judged the afflictions by it and they are gentle lions

وعاد أشلَّ كفُّ الدهر عنّي

وعاد أشلَّ كفُّ الدهر عنّي

بأنك لي به سيفٌ وزندُ

بأنك لي به سيفٌ وزندُ

And Time's hand became palsied, held off from me,

And the palm of time weakened from me

for against it you are my sword and fire-stick.

That for me by it a sword and flint

فلا يعدَمْك معتمِرٌ غريبٌ

فلا يعدَمْك معتمِرٌ غريبٌ

له بك أسوة صَبْرٌ وحَشْدُ

له بك أسوة صَبْرٌ وحَشْدُ

May a foreign visitor never be deprived of you,

So a strange pilgrim may not miss you

for whom in you are solace, patience, and mustered aid.

Who by you has example, patience, and resolve

ولايَفْقِدك منّي مستضيءٌ

ولايَفْقِدك منّي مستضيءٌ

بهَدْيِك في الظلام وأنتَ رُشْدُ

بهَدْيِك في الظلام وأنتَ رُشْدُ

Nor may the seeker of light in me ever lose you,

And a seeker of light by your guidance in the darkness, while you are uprightness

lit by your guidance in darkness, for you are the right path.

May it return to you the scent of my praise

وردَّ عليك رائحةً ثنائي

وردَّ عليك رائحةً ثنائي

عزائبَ مثلُها لك يُسترَدُّ

عزائبَ مثلُها لك يُسترَدُّ

My praise brought back to you, returning at dusk,

Wonders the like of which to you are regained

straying she-camels, whose like is reclaimed for you;

The specialties of it or he finds in you pasture

خمائصَ أو يَجِدنَ إليك مرعىً

خمائصَ أو يَجِدنَ إليك مرعىً

خوامسَ أو لهنَّ نداك وِرْدُ

خوامسَ أو لهنَّ نداك وِرْدُ

hungry, unless they find pasture with you,

The unique or for them your company and sweet basil

thirsting for their fifth-day drink, unless your bounty is their watering-place;

The pregnant from the produce of generosity filling

حواملَ من نتاج الجود ملء ال

حواملَ من نتاج الجود ملء ال

جيوب فمالُها شكرٌ وحمدُ

جيوب فمالُها شكرٌ وحمدُ

pregnant with generosity's offspring, filling the

Pockets so their gratitude and praise full

pockets; thus their wealth is gratitude and praise.

Of the words which if there is a limit

من الكلم الذي إن كان حدٌّ

من الكلم الذي إن كان حدٌّ

لغاياتِ الفصاحة فهو حدُّ

لغاياتِ الفصاحة فهو حدُّ

Of speech which, if there is a limit

To the goals of eloquence it is the limit

to eloquence's furthest reaches, is that limit.

I surpassed the speech makers comfortably therewith

سبقتُ به المَقاولَ مستريحاً

سبقتُ به المَقاولَ مستريحاً

ففتُّهُمُ وقد نَصِبوا وكدُّوا

ففتُّهُمُ وقد نَصِبوا وكدُّوا

With it I outstripped the orators at my ease,

So I cleaved them while they stood up and labored

and surpassed them, though they grew weary and toiled.

The singular and the dual attack you thereby

تكُرُّ عليك واحدةً ومَثنَىً

تكُرُّ عليك واحدةً ومَثنَىً

بهنّ وفودُها ما قام أُحْدُ

بهنّ وفودُها ما قام أُحْدُ

They return to you, singly and in pairs—

With them and their delegations the unique did not stand

their delegations with them—as long as Uhud stands.

For the festival day while it was leisure

ليوم المهرجان وكان عُطْلاً

ليوم المهرجان وكان عُطْلاً

وشاحٌ من فرائدها وعِقْدُ

وشاحٌ من فرائدها وعِقْدُ

For the day of Mihrjan, once unadorned,

And a thread from its gems and knot

a sash and necklace made from their choice pearls.

I robbed the people of its adornment stingily

سلبتُ الناس زينتَها ضنيناً

سلبتُ الناس زينتَها ضنيناً

بها وبرودُها لك تَستحدُّ

بها وبرودُها لك تَستحدُّ

I stripped people of their adornment, jealously guarding

Therewith and its coolness to you sought

them; their striped mantles are made anew for you.

My contentment with what you bestow freed me

عتقَني من الحِرص اقتناعي

عتقَني من الحِرص اقتناعي

بما تُولِي ومولى الحرِ

بما تُولِي ومولى الحرِ

My contentment freed me from greed

From greed, and the Master of the free

with what you bestow—and the free man's patron...