مِنْFromحُسْنِthe beautyوَجْهِكَof your faceتُضْحِيbecomesالْأَرْضُthe earthمُشْرِقَةًradiant
From the beauty of your face the earth becomes radiant...
وَمِنْAnd fromبَنَانِكَyour fingertipsيَجْرِيflowsالْمَاءُwaterفِيinالْعُودِthe dry branch
...And from your fingertips water flows in the dry branch.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالْمَهْدِيُّ:Al-Mahdi:كَذَبْتَ."You lied.
Al-Mahdi said to him: "You lied."
قَالَ:He said:وَلِمَ"And whyذَاكَis thatيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Faithful?"
He said: "And why is that, O Commander of the Faithful?"
قَالَ:He said:لِقَوْلِكَ"Because of your sayingفِيconcerningمَعْنِMa'nبْنِson ofزَائِدَةَ:Zai'dah:
He said: "Because of your saying concerning Ma'n ibn Za'idah:
أَلِمَّاAlightعَلَىatمَعْنٍMa'nوَقُولَاand sayلِقَبْرِهِto his grave
Alight at Ma'n's grave and say to it...
سَقَتْكَMay water youالْغَوَادِيthe early rain cloudsمَرْبَعاًin springثُمَّthenمَرْبَعَاspring
May early rain clouds water you in spring, then spring again.
فَيَاOقَبْرَgraveمَعْنٍof Ma'n,كَيْفَhowوَارَيْتَdid you hideجُودَهُhis generosity
O grave of Ma'n, how did you hide his generosity
وَقَدْwhileكَانَhe wasمِنْهُfrom itالْبَرُّthe landوَالْبَحْرُand the seaمُتْرَعَاfull to the brim
when both land and sea were full to the brim with it?
فَلَمَّاWhenمَضَىdepartedمَعْنٌMa'nمَضَىdepartedالْجُودُgenerosityوَانْقَضَىand ended
When Ma'n departed, generosity departed and ended,
وَأَصْبَحَand becameعُرُنِينُthe bridge of the noseالْمَكَارِمِof nobilityأَجْدَعَاcut off
and the bridge of nobility became maimed.
فَكُنْتَYou wereلِدَارِfor the abodeالْجُودِof generosityيَاOمَعْنُMa'nعَامِراًan inhabitant
You were an inhabitant for the abode of generosity, O Ma'n,
فَقَدْand nowأَصْبَحَتْit has becomeقَفْراًbarrenمِنَofالْجُودِgenerosityبَلْقَعَاdesolate
and now it has become barren and desolate of generosity.
أَبَىRefusedذِكْرُthe mentionمَعْنٍof Ma'nأَنْtoيُمِيتَmake dieفِعَالَهُhis deeds
The mention of Ma'n refused to let his deeds die,
وَإِنْeven thoughكَانَheقَدْhasلَاقَىencounteredحِمَاماًdeathوَمَصْرَعَاand a place of falling
even though he had encountered death and his mortal end.
فَتًىA youthعَاشَwho livedفِيinمَعْرُوفِهِhis kindnessبَعْدَafterمَوْتِهِhis death
A youth who lives through his kindness after his death,
كَمَاjust asكَانَwasبَعْدَafterالسَّيْلِthe torrentمَجْرَاهُits pathمَرْتَعَاa pasture
just as the path of the torrent remains a pasture after it passes.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَا"OأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنَّمَاverilyمَعْنٌMa'nحَسَنَةٌis a good deedمِنْamongحَسَنَاتِكَyour good deeds
He said: "O Commander of the Faithful, Ma'n is merely one of your good deeds
وَفِعْلَةٌand an actionمِنْamongفِعْلَاتِكَ،your actions."
and one of your achievements."
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلَهُfor himبِأَلْفِwith one thousandدِينَارٍdinars,ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:سَلْ"Askحَاجَتَكَ.for your need."
So he ordered one thousand dinars for him, then said: "Ask for what you need."
فَقَالَ:He said:
He said:
بَيْضَاءُA fair womanتَسْحَبُwho dragsمِنْwhileقِيَامٍstandingفَرْعَهَاher hair
A fair woman who drags her hair while standing,
وَتَغِيبُand disappearsفِيهِin itوَهُوَwhile it isجَعْدٌcurlyأَسْحَمُand jet-black
and she is lost within it while it is curly and jet-black.
فَكَأَنَّهَاSo it is as if sheفِيهِin itنَهَارٌis a bright dayمُشْرِقٌradiant
So it is as if she within it is a radiant day,
وَكَأَنَّهُand as if itلَيْلٌis a nightعَلَيْهَاupon herمُظْلِمُdark
and as if it is a dark night upon her.
قَالَ:He said:خُذْ"Takeبِيَدِهَا،by her hand,"لِجَارِيَةٍreferring to a slave girlكَانَتْwho wasعَلَىatرَأْسِهِ،his head,فَأَوْلَدَهَاand he had by herمُطَيْرَMutairبْنَson ofالْحُسَيْنِAl-Husainبْنِson ofمُطَيْرٍ.Mutair.
He said: "Take her by the hand," addressing a slave girl who was standing near his head; and he fathered Mutair ibn Al-Husain ibn Mutair by her.
قَالَ:He said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredمَرْوَانُMarwanبْنُson ofأَبِيAbuحَفْصَةَHafsahعَلَىuponجَعْفَرِJa'farبْنِson ofيَحْيَىYahyaيَسْأَلُهُasking himإِيصَالَهُto convey himإِلَىtoالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashid
He said: Marwan ibn Abi Hafsah entered upon Ja'far ibn Yahya, asking him to grant him access to Al-Rashid
وَأَنَّهُand that heقَدْhadمَدَحَهُpraised himبِقَصِيدَةٍwith an odeيُنْشِدُهَاto reciteإِيَّاهُto him
and stating that he had praised him with an ode to recite to him.
وَقَدْAndكَانَwasجَعْفَرٌJa'farوَصَلَهُrewarded himبِثَلَاثِينَwith thirtyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
Ja'far had previously rewarded him with thirty thousand dirhams
كَتَبَhe wroteلَهُfor himبِهَاthereforإِلَىtoصَالِحٍSalihالصَّيْرَفِيِّthe Bankerوَكَانَتْand there wereفِيهَاin itدَرَاهِمُdirhamsطَبَرِيَّةٌ،of Tabaristan,
for which he wrote an order to Salih the Banker, and the payment included Tabaristan dirhams.
فَقَالَ:So he said:
So he said:
ثَلَاثُونَThirtyأَلْفاًthousandكُلُّهَاall of themطَبَرِيَّةٌTabaristan dirhams
Thirty thousand, all of them Tabaristan dirhams,
دَعَاprayedلِيfor meبِهَاwith themلَمَّاwhenرَأَىhe sawالصَّكَّthe draftصَالِحُSalih
Salih prayed for me when he saw the draft.
دَعَاHe prayedبِالزُّيُوفِwith the debasedالنَّاقِصَاتِand deficient coinsوَإِنَّمَاwhile indeed
He prayed with debased, deficient coins, whereas
عَطَاءُthe giftأَبِيof AbuالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlالْجِيَادُis of excellentالرَّوَاجِحُand full-weight coins
the gift of Abu Al-Fadl consists of excellent, full-weight coins.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُto himلَمَّاwhenدَعَاhe paid outبِزُيُوفِهِwith his debased coins
So I said to him when he paid out his debased coins:
أَأَلْجِدُّ"Is this seriousهَذَاthisمِنْكَfrom youأَمْorأَنْتَare youمَازِحُjoking?"
"Is this serious from you, or are you joking?"
فَلَمَّاWhenأَنْشَدَهُhe recited itذَلِكَtoجَعْفَراًJa'far,ضَحِكَhe laughedوَقَالَ:and said:
When he recited that to Ja'far, he laughed and said:
أَنْشِدْنِي"Recite to meمَرْثِيَتَكَyour elegyفِيforمَعْنِMa'nبْنِson ofزَائِدَةَ،Zai'dah,"فَأَنْشَدَهُ:and he recited to him:
"Recite to me your elegy for Ma'n ibn Zai'dah." So he recited to him:
كَأَنَّAs ifالشَّمْسَthe sunيَوْمَon the dayأُصِيبَwas struck downمَعْنٌMa'n
As if the sun on the day Ma'n was struck down
مِنَwithالظَّلْمَاءِdarknessمُلْبَسَةٌwas clothedجَدُولَاin a garment
was clothed in darkness like a cloak.
وَكَانَAnd wereالنَّاسُthe peopleكُلُّهُمْall of themلِمَعْنٍ،dependents of Ma'n,
And all the people were dependents of Ma'n,
إِلَىuntilأَنْheزَارَvisitedحُفْرَتَهُ،his grave,عِيَالَاas family
until he visited his grave, like dependents without a provider.
فَقَالَSo saidجَعْفَرٌ:Ja'far:هَلْ"Didأَثَابَكَreward youعَلَىforهَذِهِthisالْمَرْثِيَّةِelegyأَحَدٌanyoneمِنْfromوُلْدِهِhis childrenوَأَهْلِهِ؟and his family?"
Ja'far said: "Did anyone of his children and family reward you for this elegy?"
قَالَ:He said:لَا."No."
He said: "No."
قَالَ:He said:فَلَوْ"Hadكَانَhe beenحَيّاًaliveثُمَّthenسَمِعَهَاheard itمِنْكَfrom youبِكَمْhow muchكَانَwould he haveيُثِيبُكَ؟rewarded you?"
He said: "Had he been alive then heard it from you, how much would he have rewarded you?"
قَالَ:He said:بِأَرْبَعِ"With fourمِائَةِhundredدِينَارٍ.dinars."
He said: "With four hundred dinars."
قَالَ:He said:أَظُنُّ"I thinkأَنَّهُthat heكَانَwouldلَاnotيَرْضَاهَاbe satisfied with itلَكَ،for you,
He said: "I think that he would not have been satisfied with that for you,
قَدْwe haveأَمَرْنَاorderedلَكَfor youعَنْon behalf ofمَعْنٍMa'nبِأَرْبَعِمِائَةٍfour hundredكَمَاjust asظَنَنْتَyou thought
we have ordered for you on behalf of Ma'n four hundred just as you thought,
وَزَدْنَاكَand we have addedمِثْلَهَاlike itلِمَاfor whatظَنَنَاهُwe thoughtبِهِof himفِيكَregarding you
and we have added the like of it for what we thought of him regarding you,
فَاغْدُso go early in the morningعَلَىtoالْخَازِنِthe treasurerلِقَبْضِهَاto receive itمِنْهُ.from him."
so go early in the morning to the treasurer to receive it from him."
قَالَ:He said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredأَعْرَابِيٌّa BedouinعَلَىuponدَاوُدَDawudبْنِson ofيَزِيدَYazidبِالسِّنْدِin Sindفَقَالَ:and said:
He said: A Bedouin entered upon Dawud ibn Yazid in Sind and said:
أَيُّهَا"OالْأَمِيرُPrince,تَأَهَّبْprepare yourselfلِمَدِيحِي.for my panegyric."
"O Prince, prepare yourself for my panegyric."
فَتَأَهَّبَSo he prepared himselfثُمَّthenقَالَ:said:لَئِنْ"Ifأَحْسَنْتَyou do wellلَأُحْسَنَنَّI will surely do wellإِلَيْكَto youوَلَئِنْand ifأَسَأْتَyou do poorlyلَأَرُدَّنَّI will surely returnشِعْرَكَyour poetryعَلَيْكَ،to you,"
So he prepared himself, then said: "If you do well I will surely reward you, and if you do poorly I will surely return your poetry to you."
فَقَالَ:He said:
He said:
أَمِنْتُI became secureبِدَاوُدَthrough Dawudوَجُودِand the generosityيَمِينِهِof his right hand
I became secure through Dawud and the generosity of his right hand
مِنَfromالْحَدَثِthe calamityالْمَخْشِيِّdreadedوَالْبُؤْسِand destitutionوَالْفَقْرِand poverty.
from dreaded calamities, destitution, and poverty.
وَأَصْبَحْتُAnd I have becomeلَاnotأَخْشَىfearingبِدَاوُدَthrough Dawudنَبْوَةًa rejection
And I have come to fear no rejection through Dawud,
وَلَاnorحَدَثاناًany misfortuneإِذْsinceشَدَدْتُI tightenedبِهِby himأَزْرِيmy back
nor any misfortune, since I have strengthened my back with him.
فَمَاFor neitherطَلْحَةُTalhahالطُّلَحَاءِof the Talhahsسَاوَاهُequaled himفِيinالنَّدَىgenerosity
Neither Talhah of the Talhahs equaled him in generosity,
وَلَاnorحَاتِمُHatimالطَّائِيِّAl-Ta'iوَلَاnorخَالِدٌKhalidالْقَسْرِيُّAl-Qasri.
nor Hatim Al-Ta'i, nor Khalid Al-Qasri.
لَهُHe hasحُكْمُthe wisdomلُقْمَانَof Luqmanوَصُورَةُand the formيُوسُفَof Joseph
He has the wisdom of Luqman, the form of Joseph,
وَمُلْكُand the kingdomسُلَيْمَانَof Solomonوَصِدْقُand the truthfulnessأَبِيof AbuبَكْرٍBakr.
the kingdom of Solomon, and the truthfulness of Abu Bakr.
فَتًىA youthتَهْرُبُfleeالْأَمْوَالُwealthمِنْfromطَلِّّthe drizzleكَفِّهِof his palm
A youth from the drizzle of whose palm wealth flees
كَمَاjust asيَهْرُبُfleesالشَّيْطَانُSatanمِنْfromلَيْلَةِthe Nightالْقَدْرِof Decree.
just as Satan flees from the Night of Decree.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَا"OأَعْرَابِيُّBedouin,أَحْسَنْتَyou have done wellفَاحْتَكِمْso name your rewardوَإِنْand ifشِئْتَyou wishفَارْدُدِreferالْحُكْمَthe judgmentإِلَيَّ.to me."
He said: "O Bedouin, you have done well, so name your reward, or if you wish, refer the judgment to me."
فَقَالَ:He said:مَا"Whatعِنْدَhasالْأَمِيرِthe Princeمَاthat whichيَسَعُهُcan encompassحُكْمُهُ.his judgment?"
He said: "Does the Prince possess that which can encompass his judgment?"
فَقَالَ:He said:أَنْتَ"You areفِيinهَذَاthisأَشْعَرُ.more poetical."
He said: "In this you are even more poetical."
وَأَمَرَAnd he orderedلَهُfor himبِعَشَرَةِwith tenآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
And he ordered ten thousand dirhams for him.
قَالَ:He said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofالْجَهْمِAl-JahmعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munفَقَالَ:and said:
He said: Muhammad ibn Al-Jahm entered upon Al-Ma'mun and said:
أَنْشِدْنِي"Recite to meأَحْسَنَthe bestمَاof whatسَمِعْتُهُI have heardفِيinالْمَدِيحِ.panegyric."
"Recite to me the best of what you have heard in panegyric."
فَقَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ"Yes,يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,قَوْلُهُ:his saying:
He said: "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, his saying:
يَجُودُHe is generousبِالنَّفْسِwith his lifeإِذْwhenضَنَّis miserlyالْبَخِيلُthe miserبِهَاwith it
He is generous with his life when the miser is miserly with it,
وَالْجُودُand generosityبِالنَّفْسِwith lifeأَقْصَىis the utmostغَايَةِlimitالْجُودِof generosity.
and generosity with life is the utmost limit of generosity.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَنْشِدْنِي"Recite to meأَخْبَثَthe most maliciousمَاwhatسَمِعْتُهُI heardفِيinالهَجْوِ،satire,"فَقَالَso he saidقَوْلَهُ:his saying:
He said: "Recite to me the most malicious what you heard in satire," so he said his saying:
قُبْحَتْFoul wereمَنَاظِرُهُhis outward appearancesفَحِينَso whenخَبِرْتَهُyou tested him
Foul were his outward appearances, so when you tested him,
حَسُنَتْgood becameمَنَاظِرُهُhis outward appearancesلِقُبْحِdue to the uglinessالْمَخْبَرِof his inner nature.
his outward appearances seemed good due to the ugliness of his inner nature.
قَالَ:He said:فَأَنْشِدْنِي"Recite to meأَحْسَنَthe bestمَاwhatسَمِعْتُهُI heardفِيinالْمَرَاثِي،elegies,"فَقَالَso he saidقَوْلَهُ:his saying:
He said: "Recite to me the best what you heard in elegies," so he said his saying:
أَرَادُواThey wantedلِيُخْفُواto hideقَبْرَهُhis graveعَنْfromعَدُوِّهِhis enemy
They wanted to hide his grave from his enemy,
فَطِيبُso the fragranceتُرَابِof the soilالْقَبْرِof the graveدَلَّguidedعَلَىtoالْقَبْرِthe grave.
so the fragrance of the grave's soil guided to the grave.
وَمِثْلُهُ:And like it:
And like it:
عَلَىOverقَبْرِهِhis graveبُنِيَwere builtالْقُبُورُgravesمَهَابَةًout of reverence
Over his grave graves were built out of reverence,
كَمَاjust asقَبْلَهُbefore himكَانَتْthey wereعَلَىoverسَاكِنِthe occupantالْقَبْرِof the grave.
just as they were before him over the occupant of the grave.
قَالَ:He said:فَأَنْشِدْنِي"Recite to meأَحْسَنَthe bestمَاwhatسَمِعْتُهُI heardفِيinالْغَزَلِ،love poetry,"قَالَhe saidقَوْلَهُ:his saying:
He said: "Recite to me the best what you heard in love poetry," he said his saying:
حُبٌّLoveمُجِدٌّis earnestوَحَبِيبٌand a belovedيَلْعَبُplays
Love is earnest while the beloved plays,
وَأَنْتَand youمُلْقًىcastبَيْنَهُمْbetween themمُعَذَّبُbeing tormented.
and you are cast between them, being tormented.
فَاسْتَحْسَنَSo he found goodالْأَبْيَاتِthe versesثُمَّthenأَمَرَhe orderedبِتَقْلِيدِيgranting me the governorship ofالصَّيْمَرَةَSaimarahوَالسَّيْرَوَانَand Sairawanوَمِهْرَجَانِقِذْقَand Mihrajanqidhqوَالدِّينَارَand Dinawarوَنَهَاوَنْدَ،and Nahavand,
He found the verses good, then he ordered that I be appointed over Saimarah, Sairawan, Mihrajanqidhq, Dinawar, and Nahavand,
فَانْصَرَفْتُso I departedمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceبِوِلَايَةِwith the governorshipالْجَبَلِ.1of Al-Jabal.
so I departed from his presence with the governorship of Al-Jabal.
مَسَاوِئُThe evilsمَنْعِof withholdingالشُّعَرَاءِfrom poetsوَالْبُخْلِand stinginess
The evils of withholding from poets and stinginess
قِيلَ:It was said:كَانَwasأَبُوAbuعَطَاءٍAtaالسِّنْدِيُّAl-Sindiبِبَابِat the doorأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulأَبِيAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbas
It was said: Abu Ata Al-Sindi was at the door of the Commander of the Faithful Abu Al-Abbas,
وَبَنُوwhile the BanuهَاشِمٍHashimيَدْخُلُونَwere enteringوَيَخْرُجُونَ،and leaving,فَقَالَ:so he said:
while the Banu Hashim were entering and leaving, so he said:
Footnotes
- 1.مساوئ منع الشعراء والبخل
The evils of withholding from poets and stinginess