أبَا حَسنٍ وافى كتابُكَ شَاهِراً

أبَا حَسنٍ وافى كتابُكَ شَاهِراً

صَوارِمَ عَتْبٍ كُلُّ صَفحٍ لها حَدُّ

صَوارِمَ عَتْبٍ كُلُّ صَفحٍ لها حَدُّ

O Abu Hasan, your letter arrived brandishing

Dear Abu Hasan, your letter has arrived

sharp swords of reproach, each page with an edge.

With swords of reproach, each page sharp and keen

فقابلتُ بالعُتَبى مَضِيضَ عِتَابهِ

فقابلتُ بالعُتَبى مَضِيضَ عِتَابهِ

ولم يَتَجَهَّمْهُ الحِجاجُ ولا الجَحْدُ

ولم يَتَجَهَّمْهُ الحِجاجُ ولا الجَحْدُ

I met the sting of its reproach with contrition,

I met your blame with apology

and neither argument nor denial greeted it with a scowl.

Unruffled by argument or denial

وأعجَبني عيٌّ لديهِ ولَم أزَلْ

وأعجَبني عيٌّ لديهِ ولَم أزَلْ

إذا لم تكُن خَصمِي لِيَ الحججُ اللدّ

إذا لم تكُن خَصمِي لِيَ الحججُ اللدّ

I welcomed being tongue-tied before it, though I have always,

Yet I was glad to see in you no guile

when you are not my opponent, had unyielding arguments.

When you are not my opponent, what need of proof?

فيا حَبّذَا ذَنبٌ إليَّ نَسَبتَهُ

فيا حَبّذَا ذَنبٌ إليَّ نَسَبتَهُ

وما خطأٌ منّي أتَاه ولا عَمدُ

وما خطأٌ منّي أتَاه ولا عَمدُ

How welcome, then, the offense you attributed to me,

Blessed the fault you ascribe, blessed the deed

though I committed it neither inadvertently nor deliberately.

Whether erring or willful, the bond endures

ولو كانَ ما بُلِّغْتَهُ فظنَنْتَهُ

ولو كانَ ما بُلِّغْتَهُ فظنَنْتَهُ

لكفَّرَهُ حقُّ الأخُوَّةِ والوُدُّ

لكفَّرَهُ حقُّ الأخُوَّةِ والوُدُّ

Even had what you were told and believed been true,

Had I thought your report cause for anger

the claims of brotherhood and affection would have atoned for it.

Our brotherhood and affection would make amends

فأهلاً بعتْبٍ تَستريحُ بِبَثّهِ

فأهلاً بعتْبٍ تَستريحُ بِبَثّهِ

ويُؤْمِنُني أن يستَمرَّ بك الحِقدُ

ويُؤْمِنُني أن يستَمرَّ بك الحِقدُ

So welcome the reproach whose outpouring brings you relief,

So welcome your reproach, airing a grievance

and assures me that resentment will not linger in you.

Reassuring me of an end to rancor

لقَد رَاقَ في قلبي وَلَذّ سماعُهُ

لقَد رَاقَ في قلبي وَلَذّ سماعُهُ

بِسمْعِي فزِدنِيْ من حديثِك يا سَعْدُ

بِسمْعِي فزِدنِيْ من حديثِك يا سَعْدُ

It truly delighted my heart, and hearing it was sweet

It was sweet in my heart, pleasant to hear

to my ears; so give me more of your words, O Sa'd.

More of your words, my friend, I long to hear