دار الهوى بين اللوى وشراف — Sibt Ibn Altaawithy

دارَ الهَوى بَينَ اللِوى وَشَرافِ

مِن مَربَعٍ أَقوى وَمِن مُصطافِ

O abode of love between al-Liwa and Sharaf,

a spring dwelling left desolate, and a summer retreat:

صابَت ثَراكِ مِنَ الدُموعِ مَواطِرٌ

تُغنيكَ عَن صَوبِ الحَيا الوَكّافِ

showers of tears have rained upon your soil,

sparing you the downpour of ceaseless rain.

جَسَدي كَما بَلِيَت طُلولُكِ بَعدَهُم

بالٍ وَصَبري مِثلُ رَبعِكِ عافِ

My body, like your ruins worn away since they departed,

is worn; my patience, like your dwelling, is effaced.

وَلَقَد عَهِدتُكِ في الشَبيبَةِ مَألَفاً

نَغشاهُ قَبلَ تَفَرُّقِ الأُلّافِ

I knew you in my youth as a familiar haunt

we visited before the companions parted.

قِف وَقفَةً يا سَعدُ في آثارِهِم

إِن كُنتَ تُؤثِرُ في الهَوى إِسعافي

Pause a moment, Sa'd, among their traces,

if you would favor helping me in love.

وَأَكرِم مَحَلّاً خَفَّ عَنهُ قَطينُهُ

عَن أَن يُداسَ ثَراهُ بِالأَخفافِ

And honor a dwelling whose residents have departed

by keeping its soil from being trodden by camel hooves.

وَاِشفِ العَليلَ مِنَ الوُقوفِ بِمَنزِلٍ

في القَلبِ مِن ذِكراهُ وَخزُ أَشافِ

And heal the ailing man through a halt at a dwelling

whose memory pricks the heart like awls.

وَاِنشُد فُؤاداً بِاللِوى أَضلَلتُهُ

بَينَ الغُصونِ الهيفِ وَالأَحقافِ

And seek a heart I lost in al-Liwa,

among slender boughs and curving dunes.

لِلَّهِ عَهدُ هَوىً وَعَصرُ شَبيبَةٍ

فارَقتُهُ فَتَجَمَّعَت أَطرافي

How wondrous that time of love and season of youth!

I parted from it, and my limbs contracted.

أَيّامَ لا تَعصي الغَواني في الهَوى

حُكمي وَلا تَنوي الحِسانُ خِلافي

Days when fair women did not, in love, defy

my rule, nor beauties intend to oppose me;

إِذ لا ظَلومُ تُسِرُّ لي ظُلماً وَلا

ذاتُ النَصيفِ تَميلُ عَن إِنصافي

when Zalum harbored no injustice toward me, nor

did the veiled lady turn from treating me fairly.

وَعَلَيَّ مِن حِلَلِ الصِبى فَضفاضَةٌ

أَختالُ في حَبراتِها الأَفوافِ

I wore a loose robe from the garments of youth,

strutting in its striped, patterned cloths.

أَلهو بِمَعشوقِ الشَمائِلِ مُخطَفٍ

بَطَلِ اللِحاظِ مُحَنَّثِ الأَعطافِ

I dallied with a beloved of charming manners and slender waist,

a champion with his glances, softly swaying in his limbs.

شَكوى المُحِبِّ إِلَيهِ مِن ثِقلِ الهَوى

شَكوى الحُضورِ وَهَت إِلى الأَردافِ

The lover's complaint to him of love's burden

is the complaint of weakened waists [reading uncertain] to the hips.

لَدنِ المَعاطِفِ لا يَلينُ فُؤادُهُ ال

قاسي لِبَثِّ جَوىً وَلا اِستِعطافِ

Supple of limbs, yet his heart does not soften—

hard as it is—at outpoured anguish or pleas for compassion.

ضُرِبَت عَلينا لِلخَليفَةِ رَهبَةٌ

مَزَجَت لَنا شُهدَ الهَوى بِذُعافِ

Dread of the caliph has been laid upon us,

mixing for us the honey of love with deadly poison.

نَخشاهُ في الخَلَواتِ أَن نَرِدَ الخَنا

وَنَخافُهُ في اللَيلِ ذي الإِسدافِ

We fear him in solitude, lest we venture into lewdness,

and fear him in the night of enveloping darkness.

مَلَأَت سِياسَتُهُ القُلوبَ مَهابَةً

أَلقَت سَكينَتَها عَلى الأَطرافِ

His governance has filled hearts with awe,

casting its stillness over the limbs.

سُلطانُ أَرضِ اللَهِ وَالحامي حِمى ال

إِسلامِ وَالظِلُّ المَديدُ الضافي

Sovereign of God's earth, guardian of the sanctuary of

Islam, the long-extending, ample shade;

طودُ الفِخارِ المُشرِفاتُ هِضابُهُ

وَقَرارُ سَيلِ العَدلِ وَالإِنصافِ

the mountain of glory, with towering heights,

and the basin for the flood of justice and fairness;

وَالعارِضُ الهَتفُ المُجَلجِلُ صَوبُهُ

وَالمورِدُ العَذبُ النَميرُ الصافي

the booming raincloud whose downpour thunders,

and the sweet water source, wholesome and clear.

أَعدى اللَيالي العادِياتِ وَفاؤُهُ

وَأَلانَ مِن خُلقِ الزَمانِ الجافي

His faithfulness has infected even the hostile nights,

and softened the harsh disposition of time.

وَسَقى غُروسَ المَكرُماتِ فَأَينَعَت

بَعدَ الذُبولِ وَآذَنَت بِقِطافِ

He watered the plantings of noble deeds, and they ripened

after withering, announcing their readiness for harvest.

فَاليَومَ رَوضُ الفَضلِ غَيرُ مُصَوَّحٍ

بِنَداهُ وَالآمالُ غَيرُ عِجافِ

Today the meadow of excellence is no longer withered

through his bounty, nor are hopes emaciated.

وَرَمى العِدى بِعَرَمرَمٍ مِن بَأسِهِ

مَجرٍ كَمَتنِ الزاخِرِ الرَجّافِ

He hurled against foes a vast host from his might,

an army like the surface of a surging, trembling sea,

مِن كُلِّ سَبّاقٍ إِلى الغاياتِ كَرّارٍ

عَلى أَقرانِها عَطّافِ

made up of racers to the goal, charging again and again,

wheeling against their rivals.

عُلبِ الرِقابِ إِذا دُعوا لِكَريهَةٍ

نَهَضوا طِوالَ حَمائِلِ الأَسيافِ

Sinewy-necked men, when summoned to a grim battle,

rise with long sword-belts,

بِسَوابِغٍ مِثلِ الخُدودِ صَقيلَةٍ

وَذَوابِلٍ مِثلِ القُدودِ نِحافِ

in full coats of mail polished like cheeks,

with slender spears, slim as graceful figures.

هَزّوا الرِماحَ رَواعِفَ الحِرصانِ مِن

عَلَقِ الكُماةِ دَوامِيَ الأَطرافِ

They shook spears whose heads dripped with

the champions' clotted blood, their tips bloodied.

وَتَقَلَّدوا قُضباً تَقادَمَ وَهدُها

بِالضَربِ وَهيَ حَديثَةُ الإِرهافِ

They girded on swords whose notches were old

from striking, though freshly sharpened.

وَاِستَوطَنوا الجُردَ السَوابِقَ ضُمَّراً

قُبَّ البُطونِ سَوامِيَ الأَعرافِ

They made their home on sleek racehorses, lean,

hollow-bellied, with lofty manes,

مِثلَ الأَجادِلِ فَوقَهُنَّ أَجادِلٌ

جالوا خِفافاً في مُتونِ خِفافِ

like falcons, with falcons riding above them,

ranging lightly upon fleet backs.

عَزَماتُ مَرهوبِ العَزائِمِ وَالسُطى

طَبٍّ بِتَدبيرِ الخِلافَةِ كافِ

Such are the resolves of one whose will and assaults are feared,

versed in governing the caliphate, fully capable,

جَمِّ المَواهِبِ لا يُغَضغِضُ بَحرَهُ

كَرُّ السُؤالِ وَكَثرَةُ الإِلحافِ

abundant in gifts, whose ocean is not diminished

by repeated asking and frequent insistence;

مُتَشَبِّهٍ بِاللَهِ لا تُعزى عَطا

ياهُ وَإِن كَثُرَت إِلى الإِسرافِ

emulating God, whose gifts are never ascribed

to extravagance, however abundant they may be.

يَبدو فَيُشرِقُ مِن أَسِرَّةِ وَجهِهِ

نورٌ كَبَرقِ المُزنَةِ الخَطّافِ

He appears, and from the lines of his face shines

a light like the raincloud's darting lightning.

لا يَطمَعُ الأَعداءُ في إِطفائِهِ

أَبَداً وَنورُ اللَهِ لَيسَ بِطافِ

Enemies have no hope of extinguishing it,

ever; the light of God cannot be quenched.

عَمَّت مَواطِرُ جودِهِ حَتّى اِستَوَت

في الرِيِّ كُلُّ قَرارَةٍ وَنِيافِ

The showers of his generosity spread until equal

in their soaking were every hollow and height.

في كُلِّ حَيٍّ مِن صَنائِعِ بِرِّهِ

أَثَرٌ مِنَ الإِحسانِ لَيسَ بِخافِ

In every tribe, from the benefactions of his kindness,

there is a mark of charity none can miss.

سِر حَيثُ شِئتَ مِنَ البِلادِ فَأَينَما

عَرَّستَ كُنتَ لَهُ مِنَ الأَضيافِ

Travel wherever you wish among the lands: wherever

you halt for the night, you are one of his guests.

شِيَمٌ تَنَزَّهَ عَن ضَريبٍ قَدسُها

وَمَناقِبٌ جَلَّت عَنِ الأَوصافِ

Traits whose holiness admits no peer,

and virtues too exalted for description;

وَخَلائِقٌ مِثلُ النُجومِ تِخالُها

مَخلوقَةً مِن جَوهَرٍ شَفّافِ

and dispositions like stars, which you would think

created from a transparent substance;

وَمَآثِرٌ نَبَوِيَّةٌ حيزَت وِرا

ثَتُها عَنِ الأَجدادِ وَالأَسلافِ

and prophetic glories, whose inheritance was secured

from grandfathers and forebears.

آلُ النَبِيِّ وَناصِروهُ وَرَهطُهُ

وَالوارِثونَ لَهُ بِغَيرِ خِلافِ

The Prophet's family, his helpers, and his kin,

and his heirs, beyond all dispute;

سُفُنُ النَجا وَالعُروَةُ الوُثقى وَحَب

لُ اللَهِ ذو الإِمرارِ وَالإِحصافِ

ships of salvation, the firmest handhold, and the rope

of God, firmly twisted and tightly plaited.

وَمُحَجَّبونَ عَنِ النَواظِرِ عِزَّةً

كَاللُؤلُؤِ المَكنونِ في الأَصدافِ

And screened from gazing eyes by their dignity,

like pearls concealed within their shells.

يَجزونَ بِالحَسَنِ الجَميلِ مُسيئَهُم

وَكَذا تَكونُ خَلائِقُ الأَشرافِ

They repay those who wrong them with graceful kindness;

such are the natures of the noble.

أَودَوا بِتُبَّعِ حِميَرٍ وَاِستَنزَلوا

عَن مُلكِهِ سابورَ ذا الأَكتافِ

They brought Tubba' of Himyar to ruin and deposed

Sapur, Lord of the Shoulders, from his kingship.

فَهُم إِذا ما اُستُصرِخوا لِمُلِمَّةٍ

مالُ الفَقيرِ وَهُم مالُ العافي

When called for help against a sudden calamity,

they are the poor man's wealth, and the supplicant's wealth.

تَغشاهُمُ وَالعامُ مُغبَرُّ الثَرى

وَرُبوعُهُم مُخضَرَّةُ الأَكنافِ

You visit them when the year's earth is dust-grey,

yet their dwellings are green all around.

رَفَعوا لَنا نارَ الهُدى وَتَرَفَّعوا

أَن يَفخَروا بِمَواقِدٍ وَأَثافِ

They raised for us the fire of guidance, and disdained

to boast of hearths and cooking-pot stones.

وَغَدَت صَحائِفُهُم بِهِم مُبيَضَّةً

وَسِواهُمُ لِمَوائِدٍ وَصِحافِ

Their records became white through their own deeds,

while others owe theirs to tables and platters.

يَمِّمهُمُ وَاِسرَح رِكابَكَ تَستَرِح

مِن خَوضِ أَهوالٍ وَقَطعِ فَيافِ

Make for them and turn your riding camels out to graze; you will rest

from braving terrors and crossing deserts.

فَالقَومُ أَكرَمُ أَهلِ بَيتٍ عَرَّسَت

بِهِمُ الوَفودُ وَخَيرُ أَهلِ طِرافِ

For they are the noblest household where there have camped

delegations, and the finest people of leather tents.

شادَ الإِمامُ المُستَضيءُ لَهُم بِنا

مَجدٍ إِلى المَجدِ القَديمِ مُضافِ

Imam al-Mustadi built for them an edifice

of glory, added to their ancient glory:

شَرَفاً أَنافَ عَلى الكَواكِبِ فَاِعتَلَت

شُرَفاتُهُ أَبناءَ عَبدِ مَنافِ

an honor towering above the stars, whose battlements rose

above the sons of Abd Manaf.

يا مَن لَهُ مِدَحٌ يُقَصِّرُ ناطِقاً

عَنها لِسانُ المادِحِ الوَصّافِ

O you whose praises cannot adequately be spoken

by the tongue of the eloquent, descriptive panegyrist:

نَطَقَت بِها آيُ الكِتابِ فَكَيفَ

نَبلُغُها بِنَظمِ قَلائِدٍ وَقَوافِ

the verses of the Book have spoken them—how then

can we reach them by stringing necklaces and rhymes?

يا مُنهِضي وَقَوادِمي مَحصوصَةٌ

بِقَوادِمٍ مِن جودِهِ وَخَوافِ

O you who lifted me when my primary feathers were plucked,

with primary and secondary feathers from his bounty;

وَمُعيدَ أَيّامي الجُفاةَ حَوانِياً

بِالبِرِّ مِن جَدواهُ وَالإِلطافِ

and turned my unkind days back into tender ones

through beneficence from his bounty and kindly favor.

أَصلَحتَ دُنيانا وَإِن مَرِضَت لَنا

حالٌ فَأَنتَ لَها الطَبيبُ الشافي

You have set our world aright; should there fall ill for us

a condition, you are its healing physician.

وَأَخفَتَ سَربَ الحادِثاتِ وَثَقَّفَت

سَطواتُكَ الأَيّامَ أَيَّ ثِقافِ

You frightened the flock of calamities, and straightened

the days through your onslaughts, straightening them utterly.

ما ضَرَّنا إِخلافُ ميعادِ الحَيا

وَسَحابُ جودِكَ حافِلُ الأَخلافِ

The rain's broken promise has done us no harm,

while your bounty's cloud has brimming udders.

فَاِستَجلِها عيدِيَّةً لَم يَبتَعِد

ما بَينَ ميلادٍ لَها وَزَفافِ

So unveil her, a feast-day offering; there is little distance

between her birth and her wedding.

بِكراً مُحَصَّنَةً تَرَفَّعَ قَدرُها

بِنَداكَ عَن طَمَعٍ وَعَن إِسفافِ

A chaste virgin, whose worth has risen

through your bounty above greed and baseness;

بَدَوِيَّةً حَضَرِيَّةً كَرُمَت مَنا

سِبُها إِذا اِنتَسَبَت عَنِ الإِقرافِ

Bedouin and urbane, noble are her lineages

when she traces them, free of tainted descent.

سَيَّرتُها تَطوي البِلادَ شَوارِداً

ما بَينَ إيضاعٍ إِلى إيجافِ

I sent her forth in wandering verses, traversing the lands,

from brisk trotting to galloping.

وَجَعَلتُها عُوَذاً لَكُم وَتَمائِماً

وَلِمَن يُعاديكُم حَصاةَ قَذافِ

I made her charms of protection and amulets for you,

and for whoever opposes you, a stone from a sling;

تُحَفاً تَهاداها المُلوكُ أَصونُها

عَن بِذلَةٍ بِنَزاهَتي وَعَفافي

treasures kings have exchanged as gifts, which I safeguard

from cheapening through my integrity and chastity.

لَكِنَّها خِدَمٌ لَكُم وَعَلى أَميرِ المُؤ

مِنينَ تَجِلُّ عَن إِتحافي

Yet they are services to you; the eminence [reading uncertain] of the Commander of

the Faithful is beyond the gifts I can offer.

فَاِستَأنِفِ العُمرَ المَديدَ بِدَولَةٍ

أَيّامُها كَالرَوضَةِ المينافِ

So begin anew a long life with a reign

whose days are like a garden of lofty growth.

وَتَمَلَّ عيداً في بَقائِكَ عيدُهُ

وَاِسعَد بِهِ وَبِمِثلِهِ آلافِ

Enjoy a feast made festive by your continued life,

and rejoice in it, and in thousands like it.