وَعَنْAnd onالْمُبَرِّدِthe authority of al-Mubarrad,قَالَ:he said:
And on the authority of al-Mubarrad, he said:
حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meمَنْsomeone whomاعْتَمَدَreliedعَلَيْهِupon him
Narrated to me someone whom I rely upon
أَنَّthatمُسْلِمَMuslimبْنَibnالْوَلِيدِal-Walid
that Muslim ibn al-Walid
كَانَused toيَمْدَحُpraiseمَنْthose whoدُونَare belowالْخَلِيفَةِthe Caliph
used to praise those below the Caliph
وَكَانَand heيَقُولُ:used to say:
and he used to say:
إِنَّIndeedنَفْسِيmy soulتَذُوبُmeltsحَسَرَاتٍin anguish
Indeed, my soul melts in anguish
مِنْfromأَنَّهُthatيَحْوِيpossessesخَزَائِنَthe treasures ofالْخُلَفَاءِthe Caliphs
that the treasures of the Caliphs are held by
مَنْone whoلَاdoes notيُقَارِبُنِيapproach meفِيinأَدَبٍliterature
one who does not approach me in literature,
وَلَاnorيُوَازِينِيequals meفِيinنَسَبٍlineage
nor equals me in lineage,
وَلَاandيَصْلُحُis not fitأَنْthatيَكُونَbeشِعْرُهُhis poetryخَادِماًa servantلِشِعْرِيto my poetry
and whose poetry is not fit to be a servant to my poetry.
وَكَانَAnd heإِذَاwhenكَسَبَhe earnedجَمَعَgatheredأَصْحَابَهُhis companions
And whenever he earned [money], he gathered his companions
فَلَمْand he would notيَخْرُجْleaveمِنْfromمَنْزِلِهِhis houseحَتَّىuntilيَأْتِيَhe consumedعَلَىall ofجَمِيعِallمَاwhatمَعَهُhe had
and would not leave his house until he consumed everything he had,
فَلَاso heيَزَالُcontinuesفِيinأَكْلٍeatingوَشُرْبٍand drinkingوَقَصْفٍand merrymakingحَتَّىuntilيَفْنَىruns outمَاwhatمَعَهُhe had
so he would remain eating, drinking, and merrymaking until what he had was gone,
فَعُرِفَso he became knownبِذَلِكَfor that
so he became known for that.
وَكَانَتِAnd wereالْبَرَامِكَةُthe Barmakidsوَيَزِيدُand YazidبْنُibnمَزْيَدٍMazyadالشَّيْبَانِيُّal-Shaybaniوَمُحَمَّدُand MuhammadبْنُibnمَنْصُورِMansurبْنِibnزِيَادٍZiyadيَبَرُّونَهُtreating him kindlyوَيَعْطِفُونَand showing affectionعَلَيْهِto himوَيَتَفَقَّدُونَand inquiringمِنْaboutحَالِهِhis condition
The Barmakids, Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani, and Muhammad ibn Mansur ibn Ziyad used to treat him kindly, show affection to him, and inquire about his condition.
فَخَرَجَSo he went outذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayفَلَقِيَand metيَزِيدَYazidبْنَibnمَنْصُورٍMansurالْحِمْيَرِيَّal-Himyariبِبَابِat the gate ofالرَّشِيدِal-Rashid
So one day he went out and met Yazid ibn Mansur al-Himyari at the gate of al-Rashid,
فَسَلَّمَso he greetedعَلَيْهِhimفَرَدَّand returnedعَلَيْهِto himالسَّلَامَthe greetingوَرَحَّبَand welcomedبِهِhimوَسَأَلَهُand asked himعَنْaboutشَأْنِهِhis affair
so he greeted him, and [Yazid] returned the greeting, welcomed him, and asked him about his condition.
فَخَبَّرَهُSo he informed himوَسَأَلَهُand asked himأَنْthatيُقَرِّبَهُhe bring him closeمِنَtoالْخَلِيفَةِthe Caliph
So he informed him and asked him to bring him close to the Caliph
وَأَنْand thatيَحْتَالَhe devise a wayحَتَّىso thatيُعَدَّhe is countedفِيamongمُمَازَحَتِهِhis jestersوَمَنْand thoseيَجْرِيfor whom runعَلَيْهِupon himأَرْزَاقُهُhis provisions
and to devise a way so that he might be counted among his companions of jest and those for whom provisions are allocated.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالْحِمْيَرِيُّ:al-Himyari:سَأَتَأَتَّىI will striveلِوُصُولِكَfor your accessإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
Al-Himyari said to him: "I will strive for your access to the Commander of the Faithful."
فَدَخَلَSo enteredالْحِمْيَرِيُّal-Himyariفَأَصَابَand foundأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulلَقِسَgloomyالنَّفْسِin soul
So al-Himyari entered and found the Commander of the Faithful gloomy in soul,
قَدِhavingاشْتَمَلَenvelopedعَلَيْهِhimالْفِكْرُthoughtفِيconcerningسُرْعَةِthe swiftnessتَقَضِّيof passing awayأُمُورِof the affairsالدُّنْيَاof the world
enveloped by thought concerning the swift passing of worldly affairs
وَأَنَّهُand thatلَاnotيَتَشَبَّثُone clingsمِنْهَاto anything of itبِشَيْءٍwith somethingإِلَّاexceptكَانَit wasكَظِّلِّlike the shadowالزَّائِلِvanishingوَالسَّرَابِand the mirageالْخَادِعِdeceiving
and that nothing of it is clung to except that it is like a vanishing shadow and a deceiving mirage.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himجَعْفَرُJa'farبْنُibnيَحْيَى:Yahya:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,
Ja'far ibn Yahya said to him: "O Commander of the Faithful,
أَفَتَظُنُّdo you thinkأَنَّthatهَذَاthisالْفِكْرَthoughtيَحْبِسُholds backعَلَيْكَfor youالْأَيَّامَthe days
do you think that this thought holds back the days for you
وَيَمْنَعُكَor prevents youمِمَّاfrom whatلَاyou do notتَسْتَمْتِعُenjoyبِهِ؟it?
or prevents you from what you do not enjoy?
إِنَّمَاIndeedهَذَاthisالَّذِيwhichأَنْتَyouفِيهِare in itعَارِضٌis a passing afflictionعَرَضَthat occurredلَكَto you
This state you are in is merely a passing affliction that came upon you.
وَقَدْAndكَانَthere wasمَلِكٌa kingمِنَofالْمُلُوكِthe kingsيُقَالُwho was calledلَهُto himبَهْمَانُBahman
There was once a king called Bahman,
وَكَانَand he wasمِنْamongأَجَلِّthe greatestمُلُوكِkingsالْعَجَمِof the Persians
and he was one of the greatest Persian kings
وَكَانَand he wasحَكِيماًa wise manيَقُولُ:who used to say:
and he was wise, saying:
الْهَمُّWorryمَفْسَدَةٌis a corruptionلِلنَّفْسِfor the soulوَمَضِلَّةٌand a misguidanceلِلْفَهْمِfor the understandingوَمُشْدِهَةٌand a stupefactionلِلْقَلْبِfor the heart
"Worry is a corruption of the soul, a misguidance of understanding, and a stupefaction of the heart.
وَمِنْAnd ofأَعْظَمِthe greatestالْخَطَإِmistakesالتَّشَاغُلُis occupying oneselfبِمَاwith whatلَاcannotيُمْكِنُis possibleدَفْعُهُits warding off
And among the greatest mistakes is occupying oneself with what cannot be warded off.
وَقَدْAndقَالَتِhave saidالْحُكَمَاءُ:the wise:بِالسُّرُورِWith joyيَطِيبُis pleasantالْعَيْشُlifeوَمَعَand withالْهَمِّworryيُتَمَنَّىis wishedالْمَوْتُdeath
The wise have said: 'With joy life is pleasant, and with worry death is wished for.'
وَقَالَAnd saidلَهُto himسُلَيْمَانُSulaymanبْنُibnأَبِيAbiجَعْفَرٍ:Ja'far:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,
Sulayman ibn Abi Ja'far said to him: "O Commander of the Faithful,
يُرْوَىit is narratedعَنْfromلُقْمَانَLuqmanالْحَكِيمِthe Wiseأَنَّهُthat heقَالَ:said:
it is narrated from Luqman the Wise that he said:
مَنْWhoeverيَمْلِكُpossesses [power]يَسْتَأْثِرْ،acts selfishly,وَمَنْand whoeverلَاdoes notيَسْتَشِرْconsultيَنْدَمْ،repents,وَالْهَمُّand worryنِصْفُis halfالْهَرَمِ،of old age,وَالْفَقْرُand povertyالْمَوْتُis the deathالْأَكْبَرُgreater.
'Whoever has power acts selfishly, whoever does not consult repents, worry is half of old age, and poverty is the greater death.'
قَالَ:He said:فَكَأَنَّso it was as ifالرَّشِيدَal-Rashidنَشِطَrevivedوَانْدَفَعَand dispersedعَنْهُfrom himمَاwhatكَانَwasاعْتَرَاهُafflicting himمِنْofذَلِكَthatالْفِكْرِthought.
He said: So it was as if al-Rashid revived, and that thought which had afflicted him dispersed.
فَتَقَدَّمَSo stepped forwardإِلَيْهِto himالْحِمْيَرِيُّal-Himyariوَقَالَ:and said:
Then al-Himyari stepped forward to him and said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,خَلَّفْتُI have leftبِالْبَابِat the doorآنِفاًjust now
"O Commander of the Faithful, I have just left at the door
رَجُلاًa manمِنْfromأَخْوَالِكَyour maternal unclesالْأَنْصَارِthe Ansar,
a man from your maternal uncles, the Ansar,
مُتَقَدِّماًpreeminentفِيinشِعْرِهِhis poetryوَأَدَبِهِand his literatureوَظَرْفِهِ،and his refinement,
preeminent in his poetry, literature, and refinement,
أَنْشَدَنِيhe recited to meقَصِيدَةًa poemيَذْكُرُin which he mentionsفِيهَاitأُنْسَهُhis companionshipوَلَهْوَهُand his diversionوَلَعِبَهُand his playوَمُحَادَثَتَهُand his conversationإِخْوَانَهُwith his brothers
who recited to me a poem in which he mentions his companionship, diversion, play, and conversation with his brothers,
وَيَذْكُرُand mentionsمَجَالِسَgatheringsاتَّصَلَتْthat continuedلَهُfor himبِأَبْلَغِwith the most eloquentقَوْلٍspeechوَأَحْسَنِand the bestوَصْفٍdescriptionوَأَقْرَبِand the closestرَصْفٍ،composition,
and mentions gatherings that continued for him with the most eloquent speech, the best description, and the closest composition,
يَبْعَثُthat arousesوَاللَّهِby Allahعَلَىtoالصَّبَابَةِlongingوَالْفَرَحِand joyوَيُبَاعِدُand distancesعَنِfromالْهَمِّworryوَالتَّرَحِ،and grief,
arousing, by Allah, longing and joy, and distancing one from worry and grief.
وَكَأَنَّهُAnd it is as ifقَدْheوُفِّقَwas granted successبِيُمْنِby the blessingأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَسَعَادَةِand the good fortuneجَدِّهِof his grandfather
And it is as though he was granted success, by the blessing of the Commander of the Faithful and the good fortune of his grandfather,
لِأَنْtoيَكُونَbeمُبَرِّئاًa cureمِنْfromهَذِهِthisالشَّكْوَىcomplaintزَائِداًincreasingفِيinسُرُورِthe joyأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
to be a cure for this complaint, adding to the joy of the Commander of the Faithful,
مُسْتَدْعِياًsummoningلَهُfor himصِلَةَthe maintainingرَحِمِهِof his kinshipوَالتَّشَرُّفَand the honoringبِخِدْمَتِهِwith his service.
summoning for him the maintenance of his kinship and the honor of his service.
قَالَ:He said:فَاسْتَفَزَّهُSo provoked himالسُّرُورُjoyوَالْقَلَقُand eagernessإِلَىtoدُخُولِهِhis entryعَلَيْهِto himوَاسْتِمَاعِand listening toقَصِيدَتِهِhis poem.
He said: Joy and eagerness provoked him to allow his entry and listen to his poem.
وَجَعَلَAnd he beganيُتَابِعُto sendالرُّسُلَthe messengersبَعْضَهُمْsome of themفِيinإِثْرِthe track ofبَعْضٍanotherحَتَّىuntilدَخَلَhe entered.
And he began sending messengers one after another until he entered.
وَكَانَAnd he wasحُلْوَsweetالشَّمَائِلِ،in disposition,فَوَصَلَso he arrivedإِلَيْهِto himفِيatوَقْتٍa timeقَدْwhenكَانَhe hadخَرَجَdepartedفِيهِin itمِنْfromرَسْمِthe stateالشَّبَابِof youthوَشَرَّتِهِand its vigor,
And he was sweet in disposition, and he reached him at a time when he had passed the state of youth and its vigor,
وَلَمْand he was notيَكُنْamongفِيinعِدَادِthe count ofمَنْthose whoقَدْhadاضْطَرَبَadvancedسِنّاً،in age,
and was not yet counted among those advanced in age,
وَكَانَand he wasنَاهِيكَenough for youمِنْofرَجُلٍa manمَعَهُwho possessedفَهْمٌunderstandingوَتَجْرِبَةٌand experienceوَتَمْيِيزٌand discernmentوَمَعْرِفَةٌ،and knowledge.
and he was a man possessing understanding, experience, discernment, and knowledge.
فَأُمُهِلَSo he was given respiteحَتَّىuntilسَكَنَhe calmed downثُمَّthenأُذِنَhe was permittedلَهُfor himفِيinالْجُلُوسِsittingوَالِانْبِسَاطِand relaxing,
So he was given respite until he calmed down, then he was permitted to sit and relax,
وَاسْتُدْعِيَand it was requestedمِنْهُfrom himأَنْthatيَزِيدَhe addفِيtoالْأُنْسِ،the cheerfulness.
and he was asked to add to the cheerfulness.
فَانْبَرَىSo set forthمُسْلِمٌMuslimيُنْشِدُrecitingقَصِيدَتَهُ،his poem,
So Muslim set forth, reciting his poem,
فَجَعَلَand beganالرَّشِيدُal-Rashidيَتَطَاوَلُstretching forwardلَهَاto itوَيَسْتَحْسِنُand finding pleasingمَاwhatحَكَاهُhe narratedمِنْofوَصْفِdescriptionشَرَابٍof wineوَلَهْوٍand diversionوَدَمَاثَةٍand gentlenessوَغَزَلٍand flirtingوَسُهُولَةِand easeأَلْفَاظٍ،of wording,
and al-Rashid began stretching forward to listen to it, finding pleasing what he narrated of the description of wine, diversion, gentleness, flirting, and ease of wording.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلَهُfor himبِمَالٍwealthوَأَمَرَand orderedأَنْthatيُتَّخَذَbe madeلَهُfor himمَجْلِسٌa gathering placeيَتَحَوَّلُhe movesإِلَيْهِ،to it,
So he ordered wealth for him and ordered that a gathering place be made for him to move into.
وَجَعَلَAnd beganالرَّشِيدُal-Rashidوَأَصْحَابُهُand his companionsيَتَنَاشَدُونَreciting to each otherقَصِيدَتَهُ،his poem,
And al-Rashid and his companions began reciting his poem to each other.
فَسَمَّاهُSo he named himيَوْمَئِذٍthat dayبِآخِرِby the lastبَيْتٍverseمِنْofقَصِيدَتِهِhis poemصَرِيعَSari'الْغَوَانِي،al-Ghawani,
So that day he named him by the last verse of his poem: Sari' al-Ghawani (The Prostrate of Maidens).
وَالرَّشِيدُAnd al-Rashidالَّذِيwhoسَمَّاهُnamed himبِهَذَاby thisالِاسْمِ،name,
And al-Rashid is the one who named him by this name.
وَالْقَصِيدَةُAnd the poemهِيَisهَذِهِ:this:
And the poem is this:
Pass the cup around to me, do not drink before me... and do not seek blood revenge from my slayer.
For my grief is not that I am dying of longing... but rather over one for whom it is not lawful to kill me.
I love the one who turned away and said to her companion: ... "Leave him, the Pleiades are closer to him than my union."
Yes, perhaps I have entrusted my eye with a look... at her, which increases the heart in madness upon madness.
I concealed the pangs of longing from my blamer... so he did not know what ailed me, and I rested from the blame.
And a giver of kingship to her drinkers, a wine... whose in-laws are Jewish and whose husband is Muslim.
Nurtured by the sun, its roots were not degraded by fire... nor were the fronds of the palm tree gathered for it.
We sent a suitor from us for her hand... and he came back with her, walking sideways at a leisurely pace.
She had entrusted a cask for her, and it stood... with her, fearful among the vineyards on one leg.
A virgin was brought by a generous friend... abundant in gifts, neither cowardly nor mean.
Aged, not complaining of the blood of a presser... fiery, inside its belly its blood boils.
It raided the hand of the cup-bearer with its color... so his fingertips became from it like tortoise-shell.