لِلجَدّ صورة هَزلٍ حليها الأَدَبُ

لِلجَدّ صورة هَزلٍ حليها الأَدَبُ

فَلَيسَ يُنكر فيها اللهو وَاللَعبُ

فَلَيسَ يُنكر فيها اللهو وَاللَعبُ

Seriousness has a form of jest, adorned by good breeding;

Seriousness has a form of jest whose adornment is refinement;

In it, amusement and play cannot be condemned.

so amusement and play within it are not disapproved of.

وَالعَقل كَالسَيف يَعرو متنه صَدأ

وَالعَقل كَالسَيف يَعرو متنه صَدأ

حيناً وَيَجلو صَداه الأنس وَالطَرَبُ

حيناً وَيَجلو صَداه الأنس وَالطَرَبُ

The mind is like a sword whose blade is overtaken by rust;

And the mind is like a sword: rust comes upon its surface

At times conviviality and delight polish that rust away.

at times, and companionship and delight polish its rust away.

وَلِلخَواطر في الإِحماض تَسليةٌ

وَلِلخَواطر في الإِحماض تَسليةٌ

وَلِلنَواظر في الآداب مُكتَسَبُ

وَلِلنَواظر في الآداب مُكتَسَبُ

A change of pasture brings thoughts relief,

And thoughts find diversion in lighthearted digression,

And from literature the eyes acquire a gain.

and eyes find enrichment in the literary arts.

وَالروح إِن لَم تَنَل بِالمَزح راحتها

وَالروح إِن لَم تَنَل بِالمَزح راحتها

يَوماً بَراها العَيا وَاِستَحوز الوَصبُ

يَوماً بَراها العَيا وَاِستَحوز الوَصبُ

If the spirit does not find its rest in jest,

And if the spirit does not gain its rest through jest

Weariness will wear it down one day, and sickness take possession.

one day, fatigue wears it away and sickness takes hold.

وَما رِياضة أَرباب العُقول سِوى

وَما رِياضة أَرباب العُقول سِوى

رَوض السَماع بِهِ الآلات تَضطَربُ

رَوض السَماع بِهِ الآلات تَضطَربُ

The exercise of men of intellect is nothing other than

And the recreation of men of intellect is nothing but

The garden of music, where instruments pulse and tremble.

the garden of music, where instruments resound.

إِنّ المَشاغل أَمراض القُلوب إِذا

إِنّ المَشاغل أَمراض القُلوب إِذا

لَم يَشفِها اللَهو باتَت وَهيَ تَلتَهبُ

لَم يَشفِها اللَهو باتَت وَهيَ تَلتَهبُ

Preoccupations are diseases of the heart; if

Indeed, cares are ailments of hearts; if

Diversion does not cure them, they remain aflame.

amusement does not heal them, they spend the night burning.

وَالنَفس تَرغَب في الأَمر النَفيس وَما

وَالنَفس تَرغَب في الأَمر النَفيس وَما

فَوقَ السُرور نَفيس فيهِ يُرتَغَبُ

فَوقَ السُرور نَفيس فيهِ يُرتَغَبُ

The soul desires whatever is precious, while

And the soul desires what is precious, and there is nothing

Nothing is more precious than joy, or worthier of desire.

more precious than joy to be desired.

وَما عَلى المَرء في دُنياه مِن حَرَج

وَما عَلى المَرء في دُنياه مِن حَرَج

إِذا تَسالَم مِنهُ الدين وَالحَسَبُ

إِذا تَسالَم مِنهُ الدين وَالحَسَبُ

No blame lies upon a person in this world

And a person incurs no blame in his worldly life

So long as his faith and honor remain unharmed.

if his faith and family honor suffer no harm from him.

وَإِنَّما شَرف الإِنسان هِمّته

وَإِنَّما شَرف الإِنسان هِمّته

وَإِنَّما يُستجاد الصارم الذَرِبُ

وَإِنَّما يُستجاد الصارم الذَرِبُ

A person’s distinction is only his high aspiration,

And a person's honor lies only in his resolve,

Just as only the keen-edged sword is prized.

and only a keen, cutting sword is esteemed.

وَالعَقل مِن واهب الإِحسان مُختَلف

وَالعَقل مِن واهب الإِحسان مُختَلف

في الخَلق مِنهُ غَريزيٌّ وَمُكتَسَبُ

في الخَلق مِنهُ غَريزيٌّ وَمُكتَسَبُ

Reason, bestowed by the Giver of beneficence, varies:

And intellect, from the Giver of goodness, varies

In humankind, some is innate and some acquired.

among creatures: some is innate, and some acquired.

وَالناس ضَربان لَم تبرح مَشاربهم

وَالناس ضَربان لَم تبرح مَشاربهم

عَلى اِضطِراب فَمِنها الصابُ وَالضَربُ

عَلى اِضطِراب فَمِنها الصابُ وَالضَربُ

People are of two kinds, and their tastes have never ceased

And people are of two kinds; their tastes never cease

To differ: some choose bitter aloe, others honey.

to differ: among them are bitter sap and honey.

وَنيّة المَرء في الأَعمال غامِضَة

وَنيّة المَرء في الأَعمال غامِضَة

فَليحذر الطَعن فيها الجاهل الوَربُ

فَليحذر الطَعن فيها الجاهل الوَربُ

A person’s intention in his deeds lies hidden;

And a person's intention in his deeds is hidden,

Let the ignorant and suspicious beware of impugning it.

so let the ignorant, crooked man beware of impugning it.

لا يَسلم المَرء مِن ضدّ يُعانده

لا يَسلم المَرء مِن ضدّ يُعانده

وَلَو نَبَت عَن سَجايا طَبعهِ الريبُ

وَلَو نَبَت عَن سَجايا طَبعهِ الريبُ

No one is spared an adversary who opposes him,

No person is safe from an adversary who opposes him,

Even when suspicion lies far from his natural character.

even if suspicions recoil from his inborn traits.

كَالماء يَعروه أَقذاءٌ مُكَدّرة

كَالماء يَعروه أَقذاءٌ مُكَدّرة

وَالخَمر يَطفو عَلى أَكوابِها حببُ

وَالخَمر يَطفو عَلى أَكوابِها حببُ

Water itself is overtaken by clouding specks,

Like water beset by clouding impurities,

And bubbles float upon the cups of wine.

and wine, with bubbles floating over its cups.

وَما عَسى تبلغ الحسّاد غايتها

وَما عَسى تبلغ الحسّاد غايتها

وَالنار لَيسَ بِمَضرور بِها الذَهَبُ

وَالنار لَيسَ بِمَضرور بِها الذَهَبُ

What can the envious attain, even at their utmost?

What goal could the envious possibly reach,

Fire does no harm to gold.

when gold is not harmed by fire?

نَحنُ الأُلى عَن سَبيل الرُشد ما اِنحَرَفوا

نَحنُ الأُلى عَن سَبيل الرُشد ما اِنحَرَفوا

يَوماً وَعَن سنّة المُختار ما رَغِبُوا

يَوماً وَعَن سنّة المُختار ما رَغِبُوا

We are those who never strayed from the path of right guidance,

We are those who never strayed from the path of right guidance

Not for a day, nor turned from the Chosen One’s tradition.

even for a day, nor turned away from the Chosen One's practice.

قُل للجَهول الَّذي أَضحى يُعارضنا

قُل للجَهول الَّذي أَضحى يُعارضنا

ذَببتَ وَيحك مَهلا فاتَكَ العنبُ

ذَببتَ وَيحك مَهلا فاتَكَ العنبُ

Tell the ignorant man who has taken to opposing us:

Say to the ignorant man who has begun opposing us:

Enough of your buzzing—easy, man! The grapes have passed you by.

'You swatted flies—woe to you! Easy now: you missed the grapes.'

عَفا المُهيمن عَن قَوم سَماجتهم

عَفا المُهيمن عَن قَوم سَماجتهم

لَدى السَماحة عَنها يرفَع الغَضَبُ

لَدى السَماحة عَنها يرفَع الغَضَبُ

May the Protector pardon a people whose generosity

May the All-Watchful pardon a people whose boorishness

Dispels anger whenever liberality is shown.

is met with magnanimity, anger against it set aside.

وَشَرَّفَ اللَه قَوماً شَرَّفُوا كَرَماً

وَشَرَّفَ اللَه قَوماً شَرَّفُوا كَرَماً

ملاعِباً لَهُمُ الأَفراحُ تجتَلبُ

ملاعِباً لَهُمُ الأَفراحُ تجتَلبُ

God ennobled a people who, in their generosity, graced

And may God honor a people who generously honored

Their festive grounds, where joys are gathered.

playhouses where joys are brought to them.

وَآنسوا ربعَها الباهي فَكانَ بِهم

وَآنسوا ربعَها الباهي فَكانَ بِهم

رَبيع أُنسٍ زَها تنفى بِهِ الكربُ

رَبيع أُنسٍ زَها تنفى بِهِ الكربُ

They enlivened that splendid quarter, and through them it became

And they enlivened its splendid abode, so through them arose

A flourishing spring of fellowship that drove sorrows away.

a blossoming spring of fellowship, by which cares are banished.

بَدوا كَواكِبَ سَعدٍ في مَطالعها

بَدوا كَواكِبَ سَعدٍ في مَطالعها

قَد أقشعَت عَنهُم الظَلماء وَالسُحُبُ

قَد أقشعَت عَنهُم الظَلماء وَالسُحُبُ

They appeared like auspicious stars at their rising;

They appeared as stars of good fortune in their rising places,

Darkness and clouds cleared away before them.

with darkness and clouds already cleared away from them.

أَكرم بِدارِ كِرامٍ لا يحلّ بِها

أَكرم بِدارِ كِرامٍ لا يحلّ بِها

إِلّا كِرام لَها العَلياء تنتَسبُ

إِلّا كِرام لَها العَلياء تنتَسبُ

How noble a dwelling of noble men, inhabited

How noble the house of noble men! None lodges there

Only by nobles to whom loftiness lays claim.

but noble men; high glory claims kinship with it.

بَنو أَبيهم هُمُ في كُلِّ منقبةٍ

بَنو أَبيهم هُمُ في كُلِّ منقبةٍ

لَها المَكارم أمٌّ وَالكَمال أَبُ

لَها المَكارم أمٌّ وَالكَمال أَبُ

Sons of one father, in every virtue

They are their father's sons in every virtue,

Noble deeds are their mother and perfection their father.

whose mother is noble deeds and whose father is perfection.

قاموا بِها حَول عَبد اللَهِ في فَرح

قاموا بِها حَول عَبد اللَهِ في فَرح

كَأَنَّهُ البَدر ضاءت حَولَهُ الشُهُبُ

كَأَنَّهُ البَدر ضاءت حَولَهُ الشُهُبُ

They gathered there around ʿAbd Allāh in rejoicing,

They stood there around Abd Allah in joy,

As though he were the moon and the stars shone around him.

as though he were the full moon, with bright stars shining around him.

قَومٌ أَقاموا عَلى تَقوى الإله كَما

قَومٌ أَقاموا عَلى تَقوى الإله كَما

قاموا بِما فِعلهُ أَو تَركهُ يَجبُ

قاموا بِما فِعلهُ أَو تَركهُ يَجبُ

A people steadfast in reverence for God, just as

A people who held fast to reverence for God, just as

They perform what must be done and forsake what must be left.

they observed what must be done or left undone.

غرُّ الوُجوه تَكاد الشَمس تَجذبهم

غرُّ الوُجوه تَكاد الشَمس تَجذبهم

لِمَجدِها وَشَبيه الشَكل مُنجَذِبُ

لِمَجدِها وَشَبيه الشَكل مُنجَذِبُ

Radiant of face—the sun almost draws them

Radiant of face, the sun almost draws them

Toward its glory, for like is drawn to like.

to its glory; a kindred form is drawn to its like.

مَحاسن زانَها فَضل الحسين كَما

مَحاسن زانَها فَضل الحسين كَما

بِفَضلِهِ اِزدانَت الأَقلام وَالكُتُبُ

بِفَضلِهِ اِزدانَت الأَقلام وَالكُتُبُ

Beauties adorned by al-Ḥusayn’s excellence, just as

Beauties adorned by al-Husayn's excellence, just as

Through his excellence pens and books were adorned.

pens and books have been adorned by his excellence.

مَولىً شَمائله الحُسنى سَمَت شَرَفاً

مَولىً شَمائله الحُسنى سَمَت شَرَفاً

عَن أَن تُحيط بِها الأَشعار وَالخطبُ

عَن أَن تُحيط بِها الأَشعار وَالخطبُ

A lord whose gracious qualities rose so high in honor

A lord whose fairest qualities have risen in honor

That neither poetry nor oratory could encompass them.

beyond what poems and orations can encompass.

مَولىً لِنَفع بَني الأَوطان مُنتَدب

مَولىً لِنَفع بَني الأَوطان مُنتَدب

لِلمَجد مُكتَسب لِلّه مُحتَسبُ

لِلمَجد مُكتَسب لِلّه مُحتَسبُ

A lord devoted to the benefit of his countrymen,

A lord dedicated to serving the sons of the homelands,

Earning glory while seeking his reward from God.

winning glory and seeking his reward from God.

فَاِروِ المَكارم عَنهُ واِروِ عَنهُ لَهُم

فَاِروِ المَكارم عَنهُ واِروِ عَنهُ لَهُم

رِوايَةً زانَها التَهذيب وَالأَدَبُ

رِوايَةً زانَها التَهذيب وَالأَدَبُ

Relate his noble deeds, and recount of him for them

So recount his noble deeds, and relate to them from him

A narrative adorned by refinement and good breeding—

a play adorned with refinement and good manners.

رِواية كُلّها فَضل وَمَعرِفة

رِواية كُلّها فَضل وَمَعرِفة

وَحكمة وَمَعان كُلّها نخبُ

وَحكمة وَمَعان كُلّها نخبُ

A narrative filled entirely with excellence and knowledge,

A play that is all excellence and knowledge,

With wisdom and choice meanings throughout.

and wisdom, and meanings all of the finest kind.

جَميلة ينسب الوَضع الجَميل لَها

جَميلة ينسب الوَضع الجَميل لَها

فَلَيسَ يَطرأُ إِطراءٌ وَلا كَذبُ

فَلَيسَ يَطرأُ إِطراءٌ وَلا كَذبُ

Beautiful: fair composition itself is attributed to it,

Beautiful, to which fine composition is ascribed,

And neither flattery nor falsehood enters it.

so neither flattery nor falsehood enters in.

باهَت بِتَشخيص أَحوال فَكَم شَخصت

باهَت بِتَشخيص أَحوال فَكَم شَخصت

لَها عُيون مَحا مِن عُجبها العَجَبُ

لَها عُيون مَحا مِن عُجبها العَجَبُ

It vied in its portrayal of human conditions—how many

It gloried in portraying human conditions; how many

Gazelle-like eyes stared at it, till wonder itself stood amazed!

eyes stared at it, their conceit erased by wonder!

وَكَم جَلَت شَمس خَدر حَولها قَمَر

وَكَم جَلَت شَمس خَدر حَولها قَمَر

تَبدو إِذا ترفعُ الأَستارُ وَالحجبُ

تَبدو إِذا ترفعُ الأَستارُ وَالحجبُ

How many a secluded sun it unveiled, with a moon beside her,

And how often it unveiled a sun of the secluded chamber, with a moon around her,

Appearing when the curtains and veils were raised.

appearing when curtains and veils are lifted.

وَشادن شادَ أَركان الغِنى بِغنىً

وَشادن شادَ أَركان الغِنى بِغنىً

إِلَيهِ مِن طَرَبٍ أَحشايَ تَضطَربُ

إِلَيهِ مِن طَرَبٍ أَحشايَ تَضطَربُ

And a gazelle-like singer built the pillars of music with his song;

And a fawn-like youth raised the pillars of song with his singing,

In rapture for him, the very entrails trembled.

to which my very insides tremble with rapture.

يصبي حمام الحِمى شَدواً فأنشدها

يصبي حمام الحِمى شَدواً فأنشدها

بَيني وَبَينَكِ يا ورق الحِمى نَسبُ

بَيني وَبَينَكِ يا ورق الحِمى نَسبُ

His melody captivates the doves of al-Ḥimā, making one sing:

He enchants the sanctuary's doves with song, then sings to them:

“Between me and you, O dove of al-Ḥimā, is kinship.”

'Between me and you, O gray doves of the sanctuary, there is kinship.'

فَقُل لِمَن رامَ يَحكيها معارضةً

فَقُل لِمَن رامَ يَحكيها معارضةً

لَقَد حَكَت وَلَكن فاتَكَ الشَنَبُ

لَقَد حَكَت وَلَكن فاتَكَ الشَنَبُ

Tell whoever seeks to imitate it in rivalry:

So tell whoever sought to imitate it in rivalry:

You may resemble it, but its pearly charm has eluded you.

'It has imitated, but you missed the teeth's cool sweetness.'

وَرَبّ أَصيد تَحتَ التاج قامَ بِها

وَرَبّ أَصيد تَحتَ التاج قامَ بِها

كَأَنَّهُ تُبّعٌ باهت بِهِ العَرَبُ

كَأَنَّهُ تُبّعٌ باهت بِهِ العَرَبُ

And many a proud man beneath the crown rose to perform it,

And a proud-necked lord stood there beneath the crown,

As though he were a Tubbaʿ in whom the Arabs took pride.

as though he were Tubbaʿ, in whom the Arabs took pride.

وَحَولَهُ مِن رِجال الملك كُلّ فَتىً

وَحَولَهُ مِن رِجال الملك كُلّ فَتىً

لَهُ الشَهامة بَيت وَالسَخا طنبُ

لَهُ الشَهامة بَيت وَالسَخا طنبُ

Around him stood the king’s men, every one a youth

Around him, among the men of the realm, was every youth

Whose valor was a house and whose generosity its tent rope.

whose tent was gallantry and whose rope was generosity.

هُمُ شُموس المَعالي كَيفَما طَلعوا

هُمُ شُموس المَعالي كَيفَما طَلعوا

وَهُم بُدور اللَيالي حيثما غَربوا

وَهُم بُدور اللَيالي حيثما غَربوا

They are the suns of lofty glory wherever they rise,

They are suns of high distinction however they rise,

And the full moons of night wherever they set.

and full moons of the nights wherever they set.

ما أَسبل الستر إِلّا بِتُّ أنشدهم

ما أَسبل الستر إِلّا بِتُّ أنشدهم

لِلّه قَوم بجرعاء الحِمى غُيَبُ

لِلّه قَوم بجرعاء الحِمى غُيَبُ

No sooner did the curtain fall than I spent the night reciting of them:

No sooner was the curtain lowered than I spent the night reciting to them:

“By God, what a people—absent at the sandy tract of al-Ḥimā!”

'How wondrous the people absent on the sanctuary's sandy plain!'

يا مُسبلَ الستر يا رَبَّ العِبادِ وَيا

يا مُسبلَ الستر يا رَبَّ العِبادِ وَيا

مَن جوده الجود وَالإِحسان ما يهبُ

مَن جوده الجود وَالإِحسان ما يهبُ

O You who draw the veil, O Lord of humankind, O You

O You who lower the veil, O Lord of all servants, and O

Whose bounty is generosity itself, and whose beneficence is all You give:

You whose bounty is bounty itself, whose gifts are kindness,

أَدم عَلى جَمعِنا الأَفراح لا كدر

أَدم عَلى جَمعِنا الأَفراح لا كدر

يَشوبُ منهلها الصافي وَلا أَشبُ

يَشوبُ منهلها الصافي وَلا أَشبُ

Keep our gathering joyful, untouched by any cloudiness

Preserve the joys of our gathering, with no murk

That might taint its limpid spring, or any admixture.

to taint their clear spring, and no discord.

وَهَب لَنا مِنكَ تَوفيقاً نَقوم بِهِ

وَهَب لَنا مِنكَ تَوفيقاً نَقوم بِهِ

بِشُكر نَعمائك الحسنى كَما يَجبُ

بِشُكر نَعمائك الحسنى كَما يَجبُ

Grant us success from You, that through it we may

And grant us from Yourself the grace through which we may render

Give thanks for Your gracious blessings and fulfill what duty requires.

thanks for Your fairest blessings as is due.

وَجد لِسُلطانِنا عَبد العَزيز بِما

وَجد لِسُلطانِنا عَبد العَزيز بِما

فيهِ لَنا العزّ وَالإِقبال وَالأَرَبُ

فيهِ لَنا العزّ وَالإِقبال وَالأَرَبُ

And be bountiful to our Sultan ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz with that

And be generous to our Sultan Abd al-Aziz with that

Which brings us honor, good fortune, and our heart’s desire.

which brings us glory, good fortune, and what we desire.

وَاِمنَح لِأَعوانه الإِسعاف ما نَصحوا

وَاِمنَح لِأَعوانه الإِسعاف ما نَصحوا

لَهُ وَما تَرَكوا الإِجحاف وَاِجتَنبوا

لَهُ وَما تَرَكوا الإِجحاف وَاِجتَنبوا

Grant his helpers aid so long as they act sincerely

And grant his aides succor as long as they are loyal

Toward him, forsaking injustice and keeping clear of it.

to him, and as long as they forsake injustice and shun it.

وَزِد إلهيَ والي الأَمر راشده

وَزِد إلهيَ والي الأَمر راشده

رُشداً بِهِ يَتَباهى المَجد وَالرتبُ

رُشداً بِهِ يَتَباهى المَجد وَالرتبُ

My God, increase the ruler in right guidance;

And, my God, grant Rashid, the governor of affairs, more

Guidance through which glory and rank may boast.

right guidance, in which glory and ranks take pride.

وَكامِلاً هبه حَظّاً كامِلاً فيهِ

وَكامِلاً هبه حَظّاً كامِلاً فيهِ

لَقَد تَكامل مِن أَفراحِنا الطَلَبُ

لَقَد تَكامل مِن أَفراحِنا الطَلَبُ

Grant him, in perfection, a full and perfect share of it;

And grant Kamil a complete share therein;

Then the utmost aim of all our joys will be complete.

indeed, our petition for our joys is now complete.