واللَه ما ما ظلمت عيونُكِ مغرما

واللَه ما ما ظلمت عيونُكِ مغرما

لو لم أَصِر هدفاً للحظكِ ما رمى

لو لم أَصِر هدفاً للحظكِ ما رمى

By God, no—your eyes have not wronged a lover.

By God, your eyes have done no wrong in enslaving me,

Had I not become a target for your glance, it would not have shot.

Had I not become a target for your gaze, it would not have shot me.

ومن الذي ترك السيوف تنوشه

ومن الذي ترك السيوف تنوشه

ونجا ومن عاداتها سفك الدما

ونجا ومن عاداتها سفك الدما

And who has let swords strike at him

Who leaves the swords to pierce him,

and escaped, when spilling blood is their wont?

And survives, while their habit is shedding blood?

ردي جمالك أو رقاد نواظري

ردي جمالك أو رقاد نواظري

لأراك أو لأرى الخيال مسلما

لأراك أو لأرى الخيال مسلما

Give me back your beauty, or the slumber of my eyes,

Show me your beauty or let my eyes rest,

so I may see you, or see your phantom offering greetings.

So I can see you or the phantom peacefully.

حاشا لحبك أن يكون موقتاً

حاشا لحبك أن يكون موقتاً

ورضاب ثغرك أن يكون محرَّما

ورضاب ثغرك أن يكون محرَّما

Far be it that love for you should be temporary,

Far be it from your love to be fleeting,

and that the sweet moisture of your lips should be forbidden.

Or the kissing of your lips to be forbidden.

ويجل عهدك عن مقالة قائل

ويجل عهدك عن مقالة قائل

لا عهد للحور الحسان ولا حمى

لا عهد للحور الحسان ولا حمى

Your pledge is too exalted for a speaker's claim:

Your promise is too noble for the words of any speaker,

“The beautiful, dark-eyed women have neither pledge nor sanctuary.”

"No promise to the beautiful eyed gazelles, or sanctuary."

لا تحسبي أن البياض بعارضي

لا تحسبي أن البياض بعارضي

ولَهٌ ينسّيني اللمى والمبسما

ولَهٌ ينسّيني اللمى والمبسما

Do not think that the whiteness on my cheeks

Do not think the pallor in my cheeks is a defect,

is bewilderment that makes me forget dusky lips and the smiling mouth.

Forgetting makes me forget sorrow and smiles.

فأنا أنا السن الصدوح إذا دعا

فأنا أنا السن الصدوح إذا دعا

داعي الصبوح وغازلت غيد الحمى

داعي الصبوح وغازلت غيد الحمى

For I remain myself, a full-voiced singer at this age, whenever a call comes

When the caller to morn prayers calls,

from the summoner to morning wine, and the sanctuary's slender beauties flirt.

I am the cracked bell that flirts with tender sprigs.

وخطَ المشيب بلمتي فتغيرت

وخطَ المشيب بلمتي فتغيرت

أما هواك وهمتي فهما هما

أما هواك وهمتي فهما هما

Gray hair has speckled my locks, so they have changed;

And when old age streaked my temples gray,

but my love for you and my resolve remain what they were.

My passion and cares remain the same.

أنسيت عهد الربوتين وبيننا

أنسيت عهد الربوتين وبيننا

سرٌّ أحب إلي من راح اللمى

سرٌّ أحب إلي من راح اللمى

Have you forgotten the pledge of the two hills, while between us

I forgot the covenant of the cypresses, between us,

lay a secret dearer to me than the wine of dusky lips?

Is a secret I love more than the herd of gazelles.

والكاس من طوق الحباب كأنها

والكاس من طوق الحباب كأنها

جيدٌ تقلَّد أو توسد معصما

جيدٌ تقلَّد أو توسد معصما

And the cup, with its necklace of bubbles, seemed

The cup from the bending of the wine-skin is as if,

a neck wearing a necklace, or resting on a wrist.

A neck adorned or a wrist used as a pillow.

لو دام قلبك مثل كاسك صافياً

لو دام قلبك مثل كاسك صافياً

ما صار حظي مثل شعرك أسحما

ما صار حظي مثل شعرك أسحما

Had your heart remained as clear as your cup,

If your heart remained as pure as your goblet,

my fortune would not have turned as black as your hair.

My luck would not be like your hair, jet black.

يا صاحبيَّ قفا عليَّ بها عسى

يا صاحبيَّ قفا عليَّ بها عسى

أجد الطريق من العتاب إلى اللمى

أجد الطريق من العتاب إلى اللمى

My two friends, halt beside me with the cup; perhaps

My companion, stand over me, perhaps,

I may find the path from reproach to dusky lips,

I will find the path from blame to union.

وأنال من سلسال ياقوت الرضى

وأنال من سلسال ياقوت الرضى

قوتاً تجود به الشفاه مكرَّما

قوتاً تجود به الشفاه مكرَّما

and draw from the sweet-flowing ruby of favor

And gain from the necklace of red corundum,

precious sustenance that lips freely bestow.

Strength by which lips give generously.

واعتضت بالخد النقي عن النقا

واعتضت بالخد النقي عن النقا

ماذا علي أن اتخذتُ الأنعَما

ماذا علي أن اتخذتُ الأنعَما

I took the pure cheek in exchange for the sand dune;

I took refuge in the soft cheek from the sincere,

what blame is mine for choosing the softer?

What is upon me if I took favors?

قد ضاق بي واللَه صدر أحبتي

قد ضاق بي واللَه صدر أحبتي

فقصدت بعد اللَه صدراً أعظما

فقصدت بعد اللَه صدراً أعظما

By God, my loved ones' bosom grew too narrow for me,

By God, the hearts of my loved ones are too narrow for me,

so, after God, I sought a greater bosom.

So I headed, after God, to the Greatest Heart.

وعلمت أن المدح يرجع كاسداً

وعلمت أن المدح يرجع كاسداً

إن لم يجد بملاذ مدحت موسما

إن لم يجد بملاذ مدحت موسما

And I knew that praise returns unsold

And I knew praise comes back fruitless,

unless it finds a fair in Midhat's refuge.

If it does not find, in the one praised, a chance.

فحططت رحلي في فناء رحابه

فحططت رحلي في فناء رحابه

حتى غدوت على النجوم مخيما

حتى غدوت على النجوم مخيما

So I set down my saddle in the courtyard of his spacious grounds,

So I pitched my tent in the courtyard of His sanctum,

until I came to camp upon the stars.

Until I became, above the stars, an encampment.

فلتكسر الآفات قوس خطوبها

فلتكسر الآفات قوس خطوبها

وتَصُغ ليَ اللذات طوقاً مُعْلَما

وتَصُغ ليَ اللذات طوقاً مُعْلَما

Let calamities break the bow of their afflictions,

May troubles break the bow of their misfortunes,

and pleasures fashion me an ornamented necklace.

And joys listen to me, honoring me with a decorated collar.

ولتقبل الدنيا علي بخيرها

ولتقبل الدنيا علي بخيرها

وتحلَّني منه المحل الأكرما

وتحلَّني منه المحل الأكرما

Let the world turn toward me with its goodness,

And may the world treat me kindly,

and grant me the most honored station with him.

And make me the most generous of places.

فهو المؤيد والمسدد رأيه

فهو المؤيد والمسدد رأيه

فيما قضى ومضى وحل وأبرما

فيما قضى ومضى وحل وأبرما

For he is upheld, and his judgment is rightly guided

For He is the supporter and the guide of His judgment,

in what he decreed and carried through, unknotted and bound fast.

Regarding what He decreed, passed, settled and decided.

ويد السماح المنتقى يده التي

ويد السماح المنتقى يده التي

نفت الشقا وجلت علينا الأنعما

نفت الشقا وجلت علينا الأنعما

And the hand of choicest generosity is his hand, which

And the hand of the chosen generosity is His hand,

banished misery and unveiled blessings before us.

Which rid hardship and bestowed favors upon us.

وهو الذي منح الكنانة موسما

وهو الذي منح الكنانة موسما

وأقر في جوف اللجاة المأتما

وأقر في جوف اللجاة المأتما

He is the one who granted al-Kinanah a festive season

And He is the One who gave prosperity a chance,

and established mourning in the heart of al-Laja.

And settled in the heart of darkness, grief.

كالسيل يوجد سكَّراً في بقعةٍ

كالسيل يوجد سكَّراً في بقعةٍ

طابت ويوجد في الخبيثة علقما

طابت ويوجد في الخبيثة علقما

Like a torrent that produces sugar in a tract

Like a torrent that finds, in a good land, sweetness,

that is fertile, and bitter colocynth in the foul.

And finds, in the bad lands, only bitter colocynth.

شاهدت مدحت يا زمان فَعُد عن ال

شاهدت مدحت يا زمان فَعُد عن ال

عدوان وامتدح الهمام الأشهما

عدوان وامتدح الهمام الأشهما

You have seen Midhat, O Time; desist from

I saw your praise, O people of the time, so desist

aggression, and praise the valiant, most gallant man.

From wrongdoing, and praise the respected protector.

إن الثناء عليه فرضٌ واجبٌ

إن الثناء عليه فرضٌ واجبٌ

قد شارك الذميُّ فيه المسلما

قد شارك الذميُّ فيه المسلما

Praise of him is indeed a binding duty,

Praising him is an obligatory duty,

in which the protected non-Muslim has joined the Muslim.

In which the protected has shared with the Muslim.

أكرم به لسناً ظباه وفوه في

أكرم به لسناً ظباه وفوه في

فصل العواتق والخطاب تحكما

فصل العواتق والخطاب تحكما

How noble he is in eloquence! His blade-edges and mouth, in

Honor the one who was ennobled with ministry, and whose mouth

severing shoulders and delivering decisive speech, have ruled supreme.

Was eloquent in the seasons of youth and discourse.

بطل يريك من العجاب وسيفه

بطل يريك من العجاب وسيفه

في كفه ناراً تصافح خضرما

في كفه ناراً تصافح خضرما

A hero who shows you wonders: his sword,

A hero who shows you wonders, while his sword

in his palm, a fire shaking hands with a vast sea.

In his grip is a fire that kisses the green of the sword.

قد عطلت بئر الضلال بعزمه

قد عطلت بئر الضلال بعزمه

وبحزمه قصر الجلال تدعما

وبحزمه قصر الجلال تدعما

By his resolve, the well of error has been left idle,

He has impeded the well of misguidance with his determination,

and by his firmness the palace of majesty has been buttressed.

And with his composure, the palace of glory is supported.

لا ينتهي في المكرمات صعوده

لا ينتهي في المكرمات صعوده

وله استمر الدهر يصعد معلما

وله استمر الدهر يصعد معلما

His ascent in noble deeds has no end,

His ascent in generous deeds does not cease,

and Time keeps ascending for him, marked with distinction.

And the time continues to rise with him as a landmark.

فقد اصطفى التقوى سراجاً نيراً

فقد اصطفى التقوى سراجاً نيراً

واختار أفلاك الفضائل سلما

واختار أفلاك الفضائل سلما

For he has chosen piety as a shining lamp,

For he chose consciousness as a shining lamp,

and chosen the spheres of virtue as a ladder.

And selected the orbits of virtues as a ladder.

فاكرم بنسر وزارة منه ارتقى

فاكرم بنسر وزارة منه ارتقى

درج التقى فسما على نسر السما

درج التقى فسما على نسر السما

How noble the eagle of ministry that, through him, has climbed

Honored by him is the ministry by which he ascended,

the steps of piety, soaring above the eagle of the sky!

The ranks of piety, and soared like the eagle of the sky.

كادت تميت الموت شدة بأسه

كادت تميت الموت شدة بأسه

وتكاد رحمته تسد جهنما

وتكاد رحمته تسد جهنما

The force of his valor nearly puts Death to death,

The intensity of his might almost killed death,

and his mercy nearly blocks up Hell.

And his mercy almost fills Hell.

يا خير من ركب المطهم وانتمى

يا خير من ركب المطهم وانتمى

واجل من سامي واعظم من سما

واجل من سامي واعظم من سما

O best of those who have ridden the fine steed and traced their lineage,

O best of those who rode to battle and belonged,

and noblest of those who vie for eminence, and greatest of those who rise!

And highest of those exalted and most lofty.

لو شاء ذمَّك حاسدٌ أو جاحدٌ

لو شاء ذمَّك حاسدٌ أو جاحدٌ

ما قال إلّا أنت يا حامي الحمى

ما قال إلّا أنت يا حامي الحمى

If an envious man or a denier wished to disparage you,

If an envious or spiteful person wished to blame you,

he would only say: “You, O guardian of the sanctuary,

He would say nothing but, “It is you, O protector of the sanctuary!”

كالغيث جوداً والرياض بشاشةً

كالغيث جوداً والرياض بشاشةً

والليث بأساً والمنية مخذما

والليث بأساً والمنية مخذما

are like rain in bounty and gardens in cheerfulness,

Generous like rain, cheerful like meadows,

a lion in valor, and Death as a cleaving blade.”

Fierce like a lion, and deadly like fate.

فلقد رأيت الغيث يمنح عابساً

فلقد رأيت الغيث يمنح عابساً

وأراك تسمح ضاحكاً متبسما

وأراك تسمح ضاحكاً متبسما

For I have seen rain bestow gifts while frowning,

For I have seen the rain give grimly,

but I see you give with laughter and a smile.

While you give generously, smiling and cheerful.

والروض يذبل وابتهاجك دائم

والروض يذبل وابتهاجك دائم

والليث ليس يصول مثلك معلما

والليث ليس يصول مثلك معلما

The garden withers, but your joy endures,

The meadow withers while your joy remains,

and the lion does not charge like you, bearing a battle-mark.

And the lion does not rage like you, as a landmark.

والموت خادم سيفك الفصّال إن

والموت خادم سيفك الفصّال إن

أمسكت أمسك أو هممت تقدما

أمسكت أمسك أو هممت تقدما

And Death is the servant of your cleaving sword: if

And death serves the separating sword of yours,

you hold back, it holds back; or if you resolve, it advances.

If you withhold, you withhold, or if you advance, you advance.

اللَه يوليك الأمور جميعها

اللَه يوليك الأمور جميعها

بمحمدٍ صلَّى عليه وسلما

بمحمدٍ صلَّى عليه وسلما

May God entrust you with all affairs,

May God grant you power over all affairs,

for Muhammad's sake—may He bless him and grant him peace.

Through Muhammad, may prayers and peace be upon him.