وَقَائِدُAnd the commander ofالْكَتِيبَةِthe dense battalionالْكَثِيفَةِ...
And the commander of the dense battalion...
... هَلْ... Wouldلَكَyou likeفِيinأُرْجُوزَةٍa wittyظَرِيفَةٍrajaz poem
... Would you like a witty rajaz poem?
أَظْرَفُWittierمِنْthanفِقْهِthe jurisprudence ofأَبِيAbuحَنِيفَةَHanifa
Wittier than the jurisprudence of Abu Hanifa?
لَاNoوَالَّذِيby the One whomأَنْتَyouلَهُareخَلِيفَةٌa caliph to
No, by the One of whom you are a caliph!
مَاNoظُلِمَتْchaste womanفِيwas wrongedأَرْضِنَاin our landعَفِيفَةٌ.
No chaste woman was wronged in our land,
أَمِيرُنَاour emirشَكَّتُهُwhose armorخَفِيفَةٌis light.
Our emir whose armor is light.
وَمَاAnd he did notاجْتَبَىchooseشَيْئاًanythingسِوَىexceptالْوَظِيفَةِthe duty.
And he chose nothing except the duty.
فَالذِّئْبُSo the wolfوَالنَّعْجَةُand the eweفِيare inسَقِيفَةٍa shed.
So the wolf and the ewe are in a shed,
وَاللِّصُّAnd the thiefوَالتَّاجِرُand the merchantفِيare inقَطِيفَةٍvelvet.
And the thief and the merchant are in velvet.
فَوَاللَّهِBy AllahمَاI had notأَتْمَمْتُfinishedإِنْشَادَهَاreciting itحَتَّىuntilجَاءَنِيthere came to me
By Allah, I had not finished reciting it until there came to me
زُهَاءَaboutعَشَرَةِtenآلَافِthousandفَارِسٍhorsemenقَدْwho hadسَدُّواblockedالْأُفُقَthe horizon
about ten thousand horsemen who had blocked the horizon
وَهُمْwhile theyيَقُولُونَwere sayingالسَّلَامُPeaceعَلَيْكَbe upon youيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithful.
while they were saying, "Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful."
فَأَخَذَنِيThen seized meالْقَلَقُanxietyوَنَظَرَand he lookedإِلَيَّat meبِتِلْكَin thatالْحَالِstate
Then anxiety seized me, and he looked at me in that state
وَشَمْلِيwhile my affairsقَدْhadتَبَدَّدَscatteredفَقَالَso he saidلَاNoبَأْسَharmعَلَيْكَupon you!
while my affairs had scattered, so he said, "No harm upon you!"
قُلْتُI saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulأَمُعْذِرِيare you excusing meأَنْتَyou?
I said, "O Commander of the Faithful, do you excuse me?"
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes.
He said, "Yes."
ثُمَّThenالْتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَىtoخَادِمٍa servantفِيatجَانِبِهِhis side
Then he turned to a servant at his side
وَقَالَand saidلَهُto himأَعْطِهِGive himمَاwhatمَعَكَis with you.
and said to him, "Give him what is with you."
فَأَخْرَجَSo he brought outلَهُfor himكَيْساًa purseفِيهِin which wasثَلَاثَةُthreeآلَافِthousandدِينَارٍdinars
So he brought out for him a purse containing three thousand dinars
وَقَالَand saidهَاكَTake thisسَلَامٌpeaceعَلَيْكَbe upon you.
and said, "Take this, peace be upon you."
فَكَانَAnd that wasآخِرَthe lastالْعَهْدِof the meetingبِهِwith him.
And that was the last of the meeting with him.
حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdالسَّلَامِal-Salam
Ibrahim ibn Abd al-Salam narrated to us
عَنِfromالْحُسَيْنِal-Husaynبْنِson ofالضَّحَّاكِal-Dahhakقَالَwho said
from al-Husayn ibn al-Dahhak who said:
دَخَلْتُI enteredأَنَاIوَمُحَمَّدُand Muhammadبْنُson ofعَمْرٍوAmrالرُّومِيُّthe Romanدَارَthe house ofالْمُعْتَصِمِal-Mu'tasimبِاللَّهِbillah.
I and Muhammad ibn Amr al-Rumi entered the house of al-Mu'tasim billah.
فَخَرَجَThen came outعَلَيْنَاto usكَالِحاًfrowning.
He came out to us frowning.
فَجَاءَThen cameإِيتَاخُItakhوَقَالَand saidالْمَلَهُونَThe entertainersعَلَىatالْبَابِthe door
Then Itakh came and said, "The entertainers are at the door:
مُخَارِقٌMukhariqوَعَلَوَيْهِand Alawayhوَفُلَانٌand so-and-soوَفُلَانٌand so-and-so."
Mukhariq, Alawayh, so-and-so, and so-and-so."
فَقَالَHe saidاغْرُبْBegoneعَلَيْكَupon youوَعَلَيْهِمْand upon themلَعْنَةُbe the curse ofاللَّهِAllah!
He said, "Begone, upon you and them be the curse of Allah!"
قَالَHe saidفَتَبَسَّمْتُSo I smiledإِلَىatمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadوَتَبَسَّمَand smiledإِلَيَّat me.
He said, "So I smiled at Muhammad and he smiled at me."
فَقَالَThen saidالْمُعْتَصِمُal-Mu'tasimمِمَّAt whatتَبَسَّمْتَdid you smileيَاOحُسَيْنُHusayn?
Then al-Mu'tasim said, "At what did you smile, O Husayn?"
قُلْتُI saidمِنْAtشَيْءٍsomethingخَطَرَthat occurredلِيto me.
I said, "At something that occurred to me."
قَالَHe saidهَاتِهِBring it forth.
He said, "Bring it forth."
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُSo I recited to him
So I recited to him:
انْفِBanishعَنْfromقَلْبِكَyour heartالْحُزْنَgrief
Banish grief from your heart
بِدُنُوٍّby drawing nearمِنَtoالسَّكَنِthe companion.
by drawing near to the companion.
وَتَمَتَّعْAnd enjoyبِكَرِّthe turning ofطَرْفِكَyour glance
And enjoy the turning of your glance
فِيatوَجْهِهِhis beautifulالْحَسَنِface.
at his beautiful face.
فَدَعَاSo he calledبِأَلْفَيْfor two thousandدِينَارٍdinars
So he called for two thousand dinars,
أَلْفٌa thousandلِيfor meوَأَلْفٌand a thousandلِمُحَمَّدِfor Muhammadبْنِson ofعَمْرٍوAmr.
a thousand for me and a thousand for Muhammad ibn Amr.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithful
So I said, "O Commander of the Faithful,
الشِّعْرُthe poetryلِيis mineفَمَاso what isمَعْنَىthe meaning ofأَلْفٍa thousandلِمُحَمَّدٍfor Muhammad?"
the poetry is mine, so what is the meaning of a thousand for Muhammad?"
قَالَHe saidلِأَنَّهُBecause heجَاءَcameمَعَكَwith you.
He said, "Because he came with you."
وَأَمَرَAnd he commandedالْمَلَهِينَthe entertainersبِالدُّخُولِto enterفَأُدْخِلُواso they were brought in.
And he commanded the entertainers to enter, so they were brought in.
فَمَاAnd he ceased notزَالَtoيُنْشِدُreciteالشِّعْرَpoetry
And he continued to recite poetry,
وَلَقَدْand indeedقَامَhe stood upيُرِيدُintendingالْبَوْلَto urinateفَسَمِعْتُهُand I heard himيُرَدِّدُهُrepeating it.
and indeed he stood up intending to urinate and I heard him repeating it.
قَالَSaidأَبُوAbuالْعَيْنَاءِal-Ayna'i:أَنْشَدَنِيRecited to meالْمُعْتَصِمُal-Mu'tasimبِعَقِبِfollowingمَدْحٍpraiseجَرَىmadeلِبَغْدَادَfor Baghdad:
Abu al-Ayna'i said: al-Mu'tasim recited to me following some praise made for Baghdad:
سَقَانِيHe gave me to drinkبِعَيْنَيْهِwith his eyesكَأْسَthe cup ofالْهَوَىpassion
He gave me to drink with his eyes the cup of passion
فَظَلْتُso I remainedوَبِيand upon me wasمِنْهُfrom itمِثْلُlikeاللَّمَمِfaintness.
so I remained and upon me was from it like faintness.
بِعَيْنَيْBy the eyes ofمَهَاةٍa wild cowشَقِيقَتُهُwhose sister
By the eyes of a wild cow whose sister
وَشَنَبٍand coolعَذَابٍsweet teethوَفَرْعٍand darkأَحَمَّhair.
and cool sweet teeth and dark hair.
قَالَSaidأَبُوAbuالْعَيْنَاءِal-Ayna'i:فَتَوَهَّمْتُSo I imaginedأَنَّهُthat heيَعْنِيmeantسُرَّSamarraمَنْmanرَأَىra'a
Abu al-Ayna'i said: So I imagined that he meant Samarra
وَيُكَنِّيand was alludingعَنْهَاto itبِذَلِكَwith thatالْكَلَامِspeech.
and was alluding to it with that speech.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithful
So I said, "O Commander of the Faithful,
قَالَsaidمَرْوَانُMarwanفِيconcerningجَدِّكَyour grandfatherقُرَيْشٍQuraysh:
Marwan said concerning your grandfather Quraysh:
الْأَبْلَجُThe bright-facedذُوpossessor ofالْبَهَاءِsplendorغَيْثُthe rain ofالْعُفَاةِthe petitionersغَدُthe tomorrow ofالْأَنْوَاءِrains
The bright-faced, possessor of splendor, rain of petitioners, morrow of rains,
وَهُمْand they areزِمَامُthe reins ofالدَّوْلَةِthe stateالزَّهْرَاءِradiant.
and they are the reins of the radiant state.
فَقَالَSo he saidقُلْSayيَاOأَبَاAbuعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllah
So he said, "Say, O Abu Abdullah,
فِيinمَدْحِpraise ofبَنِيthe sons ofهَاشِمٍHashimلَكَfor youوَلِغَيْرِكَand for others than you
in praise of the sons of Hashim, for you and for others than you,
فَلَقَدْfor indeedأَصَبْتَyou have hitمَقَالاًthe mark in speech."
for indeed you have hit the mark in speech."
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُSo I recited to himلِمَرْوَانَby Marwanبْنِson ofأَبِيAbuحَفْصَةَHafsa:
So I recited to him by Marwan ibn Abu Hafsa:
إِلَىToمَلِكٍa kingمِثْلِlikeبَدْرِthe full moon ofالدُّجَىdarkness
To a king like the full moon of darkness,
عَظِيمِmighty ofالْفِنَاءِcourtyardرَفِيعِhigh ofالدِّعَمْpillars.
mighty of courtyard, high of pillars.
قَرِيعِThe chieftain ofنِزَارٍNizarغَدَاةَon the morning ofالْفَخَارِboasting
The chieftain of Nizar on the morning of boasting,
وَلَوْand hadشِئْتُI willedقُلْتُI would have saidجَمِيعَallالْأُمَمْnations.
and had I willed I would have said all nations.
لَهُFor himكَفُّis a hand ofجُودٍgenerosityتُفِيدُgrantingالْغِنَىwealth
For him is a hand of generosity granting wealth,
وَكَفُّand a handتُبِيدُthat destroysبِسَيْفِwith the sword ofالنِّقَمْvengeance.
and a hand that destroys with the sword of vengeance.
فَقَالَSo he saidزِدْنِيGive me more.
So he said, "Give me more."
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُSo I recited to him:
So I recited to him:
انْتَجِعِيSeek outيَاOنَاقُshe-camelمَلِكَthe king ofغَالِبِGhalib
Seek out, O she-camel, the king of Ghalib,
قُرَيْشِQuraysh ofالْبَطْحَاءِthe valleyأُولِيthe possessors ofالْأَهَاضِبِhills.
Quraysh of the valley, possessors of the hills.
وَالرَّأْسُAnd the headمَمْدُودٌis stretchedعَلَىuponالْمَنَاكِبِthe shoulders
And the head is stretched upon the shoulders,
مَدَّlike the stretching ofالْقَبَاطِيِّCoptic garmentsعَلَىuponالْمَشَاجِبِthe racks.
like the stretching of Coptic garments upon the racks.
فَقَالَSo he saidزِدْنِيGive me more.
So he said, "Give me more."
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُSo I recited to him:
So I recited to him:
يَاOقُطْبَaxis ofرَجْرَاجَةِthe restlessالْمَلْحَاءِcrowd
O axis of the restless crowd,
وَمَنْزِلَand descender ofالْبَدْرِthe full moonمِنَfromالسَّمَاءِthe sky
and descender of the full moon from the sky,
وَالْمُجْتَدِيand the benefactorفِيinالسَّنَةِthe year ofالْعَجْفَاءِdrought.
and the benefactor in the year of drought.
فَقَالَSo he saidحَسْبُكَEnough for youيَاOأَبَاAbuعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllah.
So he said, "Enough for you, O Abu Abdullah."
ثُمَّThenالْتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَىtoجَارِيَةٍa slave girlبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْهِhis hands
Then he turned to a slave girl before him
فَقَالَand saidعِشْرَtenبُدُرٍfull moons of dinarsوَوَصِيفَةًand a female servantوَفَرَس（اً）and a horseوَمَمْلُوكاًand a male slaveوَخَمْسِينَand fiftyثَوْباًgarmentsالسَّاعَةَat once.
and said, "Ten full moons of dinars, a female servant, a horse, a male slave, and fifty garments at once!"
فَجِيءَSo was broughtبِذَلِكَthat allكُلِّهِof itفَأَعْطَاهُso he gave itإِيَّاهُto himوَانْصَرَفَand he departed.
So all of that was brought, and he gave it to him, and he departed.
فَقَالَSaidلَهُto himالنَّاسُthe peopleيَاOأَبَاAbuالْعَيْنَاءِal-Ayna'iمَاwhat isهَذَاthis?
The people said to him, "O Abu al-Ayna'i, what is this?"
قَالَHe saidمَالُThe wealth ofاللَّهِAllahعَلَىuponيَدِthe hand ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllah.
He said, "The wealth of Allah upon the hand of Abdullah."
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahوَالشُّكْرُand gratitudeلِأَمِيرِto the Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithful
Praise be to Allah and gratitude to the Commander of the Faithful,
مَاas long asدَامَتِenduresالسَّمَاءُthe skyوَمَاand as long asحَمَلَتْcarriedمُقْلَتَايَmy two eyesالْمَاءَwater.
as long as the sky endures and as long as my two eyes carry water.
قَالَSaidأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofأَبِيAbuطَاهِرٍTahir:
Ahmad ibn Abu Tahir said:
أَخْبَرَنِيInformed meمَرْوَانُMarwanبْنُson ofأَبِيAbuالْجَنُوبِal-Janubقَالَwho said
Marwan ibn Abu al-Janub informed me, saying:
لَمَّاWhenاسْتُخْلِفَwas made caliphالْمُتَوَكِّلُal-MutawakkilبَعَثْتُI sentإِلَيْهِto himبِقَصِيدَةٍan ode
When al-Mutawakkil was made caliph, I sent to him an ode
مَدَحْتُin which I praisedفِيهَاin itابْنَIbnأَبِيAbuدُؤَادَDhu'ad
in which I praised Ibn Abu Dhu'ad,
وَفِيand inآخِرِهَاits endبَيْتَانِwere two versesذَكَرْتُin which I mentionedفِيهِمَاin themابْنَIbnالزَّيَّاتِal-Zayyat
and at the end of it were two verses in which I mentioned Ibn al-Zayyat
بَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْthe hands ofابْنِIbnأَبِيAbuدُؤَادَDhu'adوَهُمَاand they are:
before Ibn Abu Dhu'ad, and they are:
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِيَto meالزَّيَّاتُal-Zayyatلَاقَىhas metحَمَامَهُhis death.
And it was said to me, "Al-Zayyat has met his death."
فَقُلْتُSo I saidأَتَانِيhas brought meاللَّهُAllahبِالْفَتْحِvictoryوَالنَّصْرِand triumph.
So I said, "Allah has brought me victory and triumph."
لَقَدْIndeedحَفَرَhas dugالزَّيَّاتُal-Zayyatبِالْغَدْرِwith treacheryحُفْرَةًa pit
Indeed al-Zayyat has dug with treachery a pit,
فَأُلْقِيَso he was castفِيهَاin itبِالْخِيَانَةِwith betrayalوَالْغَدْرِand treachery.
so he was cast in it with betrayal and treachery.
فَلَمَّاSo whenصَارَتِcameالْقَصِيدَةُthe odeفِيintoيَدَيْthe hands ofابْنِIbnأَبِيAbuدُؤَادَDhu'ad
So when the ode came into the hands of Ibn Abu Dhu'ad,
ذَكَرَهَاhe mentioned itلِلْمُتَوَكِِّلِto al-Mutawakkilوَأَنْشَدَهُand recited to himالْبَيْتَيْنِthe two verses.
he mentioned it to al-Mutawakkil and recited to him the two verses.
فَقَالَSo he saidاحْضُرْنِيهِBring him to me.
So he said, "Bring him to me."
قَالَHe saidهُوَHeبِالْيَمَامَةِis in al-Yamama.
He said, "He is in al-Yamama."
قَالَHe saidيُحْمَلُLet him be carried.
He said, "Let him be carried."
قُلْتُI saidعَلَيْهِUpon him isدَيْنٌa debt.
I said, "Upon him is a debt."
قَالَHe saidكَمْHow much?
He said, "How much?"
قُلْتُI saidسِتَّةُsixآلَافِthousandدِينَارٍdinars.
I said, "Six thousand dinars."
قَالَHe saidيُعْطَاهَاLet it be given to him.
He said, "Let it be given to him."
فَأُعْطِيتُSo it was givenذَلِكَto meوَحُمِلْتُand I was carriedوَصِرْتُand I cameإِلَىtoسُرَّSamarraمَنْmanرَأَىra'a
So it was given to me, and I was carried, and I came to Samarra
وَامْتَدَحْتُand I praisedالْمُتَوَكِّلَal-Mutawakkilبِقَصِيدَةٍwith an odeأَقُولُin which I sayفِيهَاin it:
and I praised al-Mutawakkil with an ode in which I say in it:
رَحَلَDepartedالشَّبَابُyouthوَلَيْتَهُand would that itلَمْdid notيَرْحَلْdepart
Departed youth, and would that it did not depart,
وَالشَّيْبُand gray hairحَلَّsettledوَلَيْتَهُand would that itلَمْdid notيَحْلُلْsettle.
and gray hair settled, and would that it did not settle.
فَلَمَّاSo whenصِرْتُI reachedمِنَofالْقَصِيدَةِthe odeإِلَىtoهَذَاthisالْبَيْتِverse:
So when I reached of the ode to this verse:
كَانَتْWasخِلَافَةُthe caliphate ofجَعْفَرٍJa'farكَنُبُوَّةٍlike a prophethood
The caliphate of Ja'far was like a prophethood
جَاءَتْthat cameبِلَاwithoutطَلَبٍseekingوَلَاand withoutتَبَخُّلِstinting.
that came without seeking and without stinting.
وَهَبَBestowedالْإِلَهُthe Deityلَهُupon himالْخِلَافَةَthe caliphateمِثْلَمَاjust as
The Deity bestowed upon him the caliphate just as
وَهَبَHe bestowedالنُّبُوَّةَprophethoodلِلنَّبِيِّupon the prophetالْمُرْسَلِsent.
He bestowed prophethood upon the sent prophet.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلِيfor meبِخَمْسِينَfiftyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams.
So he ordered for me fifty thousand dirhams.