أيا ملكَ الأملاكِ قَد جاءني الّذي

أيا ملكَ الأملاكِ قَد جاءني الّذي

حبَوْتَ به من نعمةٍ وتعهّدِ

حبَوْتَ به من نعمةٍ وتعهّدِ

O king of kings, there has reached me what

O King of kings, He whom you have blessed me with grace and care,

you bestowed of favor and attentive care.

Has come to me and sent calling me to praise, my head is crowned, bracelets in hand,

وأرسلتَ تستدعِي المديحَ وإنّه

وأرسلتَ تستدعِي المديحَ وإنّه

لرأسِيَ تاجٌ والسّواران في يدِي

لرأسِيَ تاجٌ والسّواران في يدِي

And you sent requesting praise; indeed, it

And I have no adornment besides the rags of my clothes and the strings of beads around my neck.

is a crown for my head and the two bracelets on my hand.

No rhythm did I delay which you addressed between these people at every gathering,

ولم يكن التّشريفُ لِي دَرَّ درُّه

ولم يكن التّشريفُ لِي دَرَّ درُّه

سوى خزّ أثوابِي ودُرِّ مقلَّدي

سوى خزّ أثوابِي ودُرِّ مقلَّدي

Nor was the honor done me—blessed be his bounty—anything

Except illness which you protected me from, and I am content that I ransom myself for your sake.

but the silk of my robes and the pearls of my necklace.

My diction has been impaired by that which I complained of,

وما أخّرَ النَّظْمَ الّذي كنتَ خاطباً

وما أخّرَ النَّظْمَ الّذي كنتَ خاطباً

به بين هذا الخلق في كلِّ مشهدِ

به بين هذا الخلق في كلِّ مشهدِ

Nothing delayed the verse you were seeking

And I do not approve any saying about you that is not excellently crafted.

among these people, at every gathering,

The tongue has no speech to utter, nor can the fettered foot walk.

سوى مرضٍ حوشيتَ منه وإنّني

سوى مرضٍ حوشيتَ منه وإنّني

لراضٍ بأنّي للأذى عنك مُفتدِ

لراضٍ بأنّي للأذى عنك مُفتدِ

but an illness—may you be spared it—and I

How can I, in my feeble state, praise the one whose praise has been my days and nights of worship?

am content to bear affliction as your ransom.

I originate deeds through him above every doer,

وحال عن التّجويدِ ما قد شكوتُه

وحال عن التّجويدِ ما قد شكوتُه

ولم أرضَ قولاً فيكَ غيرَ مجوَّدِ

ولم أرضَ قولاً فيكَ غيرَ مجوَّدِ

And what I complained of stood in the way of refinement;

And with him I surpass in words every poet.

I accepted no verse about you unless finely wrought.

And how many eulogies of your loftiness excel,

وليس لمعقول اللّسانِ مقالةٌ

وليس لمعقول اللّسانِ مقالةٌ

تُقالُ ولا مَشْىٌ لرجلِ المقيَّدِ

تُقالُ ولا مَشْىٌ لرجلِ المقيَّدِ

A bound tongue has no utterance

Triumphing over the compositions of all other eulogists,

to speak, nor can a fettered man's foot walk.

Journeying east and west with ease,

وَكَيفَ اِطّراحِي مدحَ مَن كان مدحُه

وَكَيفَ اِطّراحِي مدحَ مَن كان مدحُه

به الدّهرَ تسبيحي وطولُ تهجّدِي

به الدّهرَ تسبيحي وطولُ تهجّدِي

And how could I abandon praising one whose praise

Traversing every land and wilderness,

has been for all time my glorification and my long night devotion?

And pleasing to the ears of those who listen,

أصولُ به فعلاً على كلِّ فاعلٍ

أصولُ به فعلاً على كلِّ فاعلٍ

وأزهى به قولاً على كلّ منشدِ

وأزهى به قولاً على كلّ منشدِ

Through it I triumph in deed over every doer,

As the tunes of the lutanist pleased the drinker of wine.

and through it I glory in speech above every reciter.

If the warbler trills sadly with them,

وكم لِيَ في مدحِي عُلاكَ قصائدٌ

وكم لِيَ في مدحِي عُلاكَ قصائدٌ

فَضَلْنَ اِفتِخاراً نَظْمَ كلِّ مُقصِّدِ

فَضَلْنَ اِفتِخاراً نَظْمَ كلِّ مُقصِّدِ

And how many odes I have in praise of your loftiness,

You forget the cooing of the love-lorn dove.

proudly surpassing the verse of every ode-maker!

I have served you as an old man for thirty pilgrimages,

يَسِرْن عَلى الأكوار شرقاً ومغرباً

يَسِرْن عَلى الأكوار شرقاً ومغرباً

وَيَقطعنَ فينا كلَّ بَرٍّ وفَدْفَدِ

وَيَقطعنَ فينا كلَّ بَرٍّ وفَدْفَدِ

They travel on camel-saddles east and west,

Going as you wish of me, content.

crossing among us every land and barren waste.

No slip have I relied on from you, so why should that come from a willful hand?

ويُطربن مَن أصغى لهنَّ بسمعِه

ويُطربن مَن أصغى لهنَّ بسمعِه

كما أطربتْ ذا الخمرِ ألحانُ مَعبدِ

كما أطربتْ ذا الخمرِ ألحانُ مَعبدِ

They enrapture whoever lends them his ear,

I have only rolled up my sleeves in your satisfaction,

as Maʿbad's melodies enraptured the wine-drinker.

And only stripped myself in your love.

فإنْ غرَّد الشادِي بهنَّ تنغُّماً

فإنْ غرَّد الشادِي بهنَّ تنغُّماً

تناسيتَ تغريد الحَمامِ المغرّدِ

تناسيتَ تغريد الحَمامِ المغرّدِ

And if the singer warbles them melodiously,

Night's veil falls from me as I traverse its expanse,

you forget the song of the warbling doves.

Supplicating with what you desire, eyes pressed in prayer.

خَدَمتُكَ كَهلاً مُذ ثلاثون حجّةً

خَدَمتُكَ كَهلاً مُذ ثلاثون حجّةً

أروح بما ترضاه مِنِّي وأغتدِي

أروح بما ترضاه مِنِّي وأغتدِي

I have served you in my maturity for thirty years,

I know my prayers are answered in truth of my loyalty and purity of my devotion.

going at evening and at dawn with what pleases you in me.

You held the halter on me long ago,

ولم تكُ منِّي هفوةٌ ما اِعتمدتُها

ولم تكُ منِّي هفوةٌ ما اِعتمدتُها

فكيف لما تأتي يدُ المتعمّدِ

فكيف لما تأتي يدُ المتعمّدِ

No unintended lapse has come from me,

So take my bridle now, pardoned with a renewed sovereignty.

much less what a deliberate offender's hand commits.

As for our lordship your sons, they have ascended

وَما كانَ إلّا في رضاك تشمّرِي

وَما كانَ إلّا في رضاك تشمّرِي

وَلا كانَ إلّا في هواك تجرّدِي

وَلا كانَ إلّا في هواك تجرّدِي

My striving has been for your pleasure alone,

To the heavens for ascent, above every glittering star.

and my undivided devotion for your wishes alone.

Swords of valor among us, and domination,

تَنامُ الدّجى عنِّي وأقطعُ عرضه

تَنامُ الدّجى عنِّي وأقطعُ عرضه

دعاءً بما تهوى بجَفْنٍ مُسهَّدِ

دعاءً بما تهوى بجَفْنٍ مُسهَّدِ

Darkness sleeps without me, while I traverse its breadth,

Shelters of repose among us, and smooth resting places.

praying for what you desire, with an eyelid kept awake.

They inherited that honesty, as you desired it

وَأَعلمُ أنّي مُستجابٌ دعاؤُه

وَأَعلمُ أنّي مُستجابٌ دعاؤُه

لصادقِ إِخلاصِي ومحضِ تودُّدِي

لصادقِ إِخلاصِي ومحضِ تودُّدِي

And I know that I am one whose prayer is answered,

Passed from lord to lord.

for my true sincerity and unalloyed affection.

You were envied when their perfection was accomplished,

وَكنتَ ملكتَ الرِّقَ مِنِّيَ سالفاً

وَكنتَ ملكتَ الرِّقَ مِنِّيَ سالفاً

فخذْ رِبْقتِي عفواً بملكٍ مجدّدِ

فخذْ رِبْقتِي عفواً بملكٍ مجدّدِ

You had already made me your bondsman long ago;

And what good is he who lives without being envied?

so take my tether freely, with your ownership renewed.

And how much nobility they have in the kingdom,

فَأَمّا مَوالينا بَنوك فإنّهمْ

فَأَمّا مَوالينا بَنوك فإنّهمْ

علَوْا في سماءٍ للعُلا كلَّ فرقدِ

علَوْا في سماءٍ للعُلا كلَّ فرقدِ

As for our lords, your sons, they

And lofty, well-built heights,

have surpassed, in the sky of loftiness, every Farqad star.

Your attributes that dazzled with glory and pillars

سُيوفُ غِوارٍ بَيننا وتسلّطٍ

سُيوفُ غِوارٍ بَيننا وتسلّطٍ

كهوفُ قرارٍ بيننا وتمهّدِ

كهوفُ قرارٍ بيننا وتمهّدِ

Swords of raiding and dominion among us,

Are known in them.

caverns of security and repose among us.

You did not miss when you shot them as arrows to glory,

هُمُ ورِثوا تلك النّجابةَ فيهمُ

هُمُ ورِثوا تلك النّجابةَ فيهمُ

كَما شِئتَها عَن سيّدٍ بعد سيّدِ

كَما شِئتَها عَن سيّدٍ بعد سيّدِ

They inherited that nobility within them,

Except with an arrow straight and true.

as you wished it, from lord after lord.

You continue to protect us from every doubt through them,

حُسدتَ بهمْ لمّا تناهى كمالُهمْ

حُسدتَ بهمْ لمّا تناهى كمالُهمْ

ولا خيرَ فيمن عاش غيرَ محسَّدِ

ولا خيرَ فيمن عاش غيرَ محسَّدِ

You were envied for them when their perfection reached its height;

And achieve every purpose through them.

there is no good in anyone who lives unenvied.

And you are of a people, if they witness the fray

وكم لهمُ في الملكِ من عَبَقٍ به

وكم لهمُ في الملكِ من عَبَقٍ به

ومن مرتقىً عالي البناءِ مشيّدِ

ومن مرتقىً عالي البناءِ مشيّدِ

How much attachment to kingship is theirs,

You choose from them helper and gallant knight.

and how many a lofty, firmly built ascent!

Some white-skinned in striking, and some dark-skinned in thrusting spearheads.

وتُعرَف فيهمْ من شَمائلك التِي

وتُعرَف فيهمْ من شَمائلك التِي

بهرتَ بها آثار مجدٍ وسؤدُدِ

بهرتَ بها آثار مجدٍ وسؤدُدِ

In them are seen, from those traits of yours

They refused to fall short of immense bravery,

with which you dazzled, traces of glory and lordship.

Or refrain from fierce burning.

ولم ترمِ لمّا أن رميت إلى المنى

ولم ترمِ لمّا أن رميت إلى المنى

بهمْ أسهماً إلّا بسهمٍ مسدَّدِ

بهمْ أسهماً إلّا بسهمٍ مسدَّدِ

Nor, when you shot toward your wishes,

They would not return except with gathered band,

did you loose them as arrows save as shafts aimed true.

Salvation brought together from scattered parts.

فَلا زلتَ مكفيّاً بهمْ كلَّ ريبةٍ

فَلا زلتَ مكفيّاً بهمْ كلَّ ريبةٍ

ولا زلتَ فيهمْ بالغاً كلَّ مقصدِ

ولا زلتَ فيهمْ بالغاً كلَّ مقصدِ

May you always be shielded by them from every fear,

No coward among them when dangers massed,

and may you always attain through them every aim.

Nor any giving up weapons and armor.

وَإِنّك مِن قَومٍ إِذا شَهِدوا الوغى

وَإِنّك مِن قَومٍ إِذا شَهِدوا الوغى

فما شئتَ من عانٍ بها وفتىً رَدِ

فما شئتَ من عانٍ بها وفتىً رَدِ

You belong to a people who, when they enter battle,

They were not sated except by what poured from the veins

show captives there in plenty, and young men slain,

As the thirsty are sated by water.

وَمِن أَبيضٍ عندَ الضّراب مثلَّمٍ

وَمِن أَبيضٍ عندَ الضّراب مثلَّمٍ

وَمِن أَسمرٍ عندَ الطّعان مقصّدِ

وَمِن أَسمرٍ عندَ الطّعان مقصّدِ

and white blades notched in the striking,

Forever glory and praise and dew float

and tawny spears splintered in the thrusting.

Immersed in enduring existence.

أَبَوْا أَن يَسدّوا عَن عَظيمِ أناتِهِ

أَبَوْا أَن يَسدّوا عَن عَظيمِ أناتِهِ

وَأَن يُحجموا عن جاحمٍ متوَقّدِ

وَأَن يُحجموا عن جاحمٍ متوَقّدِ

They refused to turn aside from his great forbearance [wording unclear],

If fate sought to wrong you in its turning,

or recoil from a blazing inferno,

It heard only creaking gibbets and gnashing teeth.

وَأَن يَرجعوا إلّا بِشملٍ مجمّعٍ

وَأَن يَرجعوا إلّا بِشملٍ مجمّعٍ

جنَوْه لهمْ من كفِّ شملٍ مبَدَّدِ

جنَوْه لهمْ من كفِّ شملٍ مبَدَّدِ

or return except with their ranks united,

Never did a day dawn upon a state where we heard of it,

won for themselves from the hand of scattered ranks.

Except stars of great fortune.

ولم يُرَ فيهمْ والمخاوفُ جمّةٌ

ولم يُرَ فيهمْ والمخاوفُ جمّةٌ

مُوَلٍّ إلى أمنٍ ولا من معرّدِ

مُوَلٍّ إلى أمنٍ ولا من معرّدِ

Among them, though fears were many, none was seen

turning toward safety, nor any fleeing.

وَلَم يَرتووا إلّا بِما سال بالقنا

وَلَم يَرتووا إلّا بِما سال بالقنا

كما يرتوي بالماءِ من عطشٍ صَدِ

كما يرتوي بالماءِ من عطشٍ صَدِ

They slaked their thirst only with what flowed along the spears,

as one parched with thirst drinks his fill of water.

وَدمْ أَبداً لِلمَجدِ وَالحمدِ والنّدى

وَدمْ أَبداً لِلمَجدِ وَالحمدِ والنّدى

تَعومُ اِنغِماساً في بقاء مخلَّدِ

تَعومُ اِنغِماساً في بقاء مخلَّدِ

And live forever for glory, praise, and generosity,

swimming immersed in everlasting life.

وَإِن رامَ دَهرٌ أَن يسوءَك صرفُه

وَإِن رامَ دَهرٌ أَن يسوءَك صرفُه

فأصغى بمصلومٍ وعضّ بأدْرَدِ

فأصغى بمصلومٍ وعضّ بأدْرَدِ

And if Time should seek to harm you through its vicissitudes,

may it listen with a severed ear and bite with a toothless mouth.

وَلا طَلعتْ يوماً على دولةٍ بها

وَلا طَلعتْ يوماً على دولةٍ بها

بَلغنا بها إلّا كَواكبُ أسعُدِ

بَلغنا بها إلّا كَواكبُ أسعُدِ

May nothing ever rise over the dynasty through which

we have risen, save stars of good fortune.