هَلْIsهُوَitإِلَّاexceptبَاسِطٌstretchingكَفَّهُhis hand......يَسْتَطْعِمُseeking foodالْوَارِدَthe comerوَالصَّادِرَاand the goer
Is he not but stretching his hand... seeking food from the comer and the goer?
قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenقَالَsaidالْهُذَيْلُAl-HudhaylالْأَشْجَعِيُّAl-Ashja'iفِيaboutعَبْدِ'AbdالْمَلِكِAl-Malikبْنِibnمَرْوَانَ:Marwan:
He said: And when Al-Hudhayl Al-Ashja'i said about 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan:
إِذَاWhenذَاتُa woman ofدَلٍّcoquetryكَلَّمَتْهُaddressed himبِحَاجَةٍwith a need......فَهَمَّand he intendedبِأَنْthatتُقْضَىit be fulfilledتَنَحْنَحَhe cleared his throatأَوْorسَعَلَcoughed
When a woman of coquetry addressed him with a need... and he intended to fulfill it, he cleared his throat or coughed.
قَالَSaidعَبْدُ'Abdالْمَلِكِ:Al-Malik:أَخْزَاهُMay God disgraceاللَّهُ!him!فَلَرُبَّمَاFor oftenجَاءَتْنِيcomes to meالسَّعْلَةُthe coughوَالنَّحْنَحَةُand the throat-clearingوَأَنَاwhile I amوَحْدِيaloneفِيinالْمُتَوَضَّأِthe washroomفَأَذْكُرُand I rememberقَوْلَهُhis sayingفَأَرُدُّهَا.and I suppress it.
Abd al-Malik said: May God disgrace him! For often the cough and throat-clearing come to me while I am alone in the washroom, and I remember his saying and suppress it.
قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenقَالَsaidالشَّاعِرُthe poetفِيaboutشَهْرِShahrبْنِibnحَوْشَبٍ:Hawshab:
He said: And when the poet said about Shahr ibn Hawshab:
لَقَدْIndeedبَاعَsoldشَهْرٌShahrدِينَهُhis religionبِخَرِيطَةٍfor a pouch......فَمَنْso whoيَأْمَنُwill trustالْقُرَّاءَthe recitersبَعْدَكَafter youيَاOشَهْرُShahr
Shahr has indeed sold his religion for a pouch... so who will trust the reciters after you, O Shahr?
فَحَلَفَSo he sworeأَلَّاnotيَمَسَّto touchخَرِيطَةًa pouchحَتَّىuntilمَاتَ.he died.
So he swore never to touch a pouch until he died.
وَقَالَAnd saidكَعْبُKa'bبْنُibnجُعَيْلٍ:Ju'ayl:مَكَثْتُI remainedدَهْرًاfor an ageأَهْجُوsatirizingالنَّاسَpeopleوَلَاand I was notأُهْجَىsatirizedحَتَّىuntilانْبَرَىthere stood upلِيagainst meغُلَامٌa youthمِنْfromتَغْلِبَTaghlibفَقَالَ:and said:
Ka'b ibn Ju'ayl said: I remained for an age satirizing people and never being satirized, until a youth from Taghlib stood up against me and said:
تَسَمَّيْتَYou named yourselfكَعْبًاKa'bبِشَرِّwith the worstالْعِظَامِof bones......وَكَانَand wasأَبُوكَyour fatherيُسَمَّىnamedالْجَعْلَAl-Ja'l
You named yourself Ka'b after the worst of bones... and your father was called Al-Ja'l.
وَأَنْتَAnd youمَكَانُكَyour placeمِنْamongوَائِلٍWail......مَكَانُis the placeالْقُرَادِof the tickمِنْfromاستِthe anusالْجَمَلِof the camel
And your place among Wail... is the place of the tick from the camel's anus.
فَمَاSoرَفَعْتُI raisedرَأْسِيmy headحَتَّىuntilالسَّاعَةِ.this hour.
So I have not raised my head until this hour.
[ذِكْرُ[Mention ofمَنْthose whoكَرِهَdislikedالشِّعْرَ]poetry]
[Mention of those who disliked poetry]
قَالَSaidإِسْحَاقُIshaqبْنُibnسُلَيْمَانَSulaymanالْهَاشِمِيُّ:Al-Hashimi:دَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَىuponالْمَنْصُورِAl-Mansurيَوْمًاone dayوَالْإِيوانُwhile the porticoقَدْhadغَصَّoverflowedبِأَهْلِهِ،with its people,فَقَالَ:and he said:بَلَغَنِيIt has reached meأَنَّكَthat youتَقُولُsayالشِّعْرَ.poetry.
Ishaq ibn Sulayman Al-Hashimi said: I entered upon Al-Mansur one day while the portico was overflowing with people, and he said: It has reached me that you compose poetry.
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,قَالَ:he said:فَأَنْشِدْنِيThen recite to meشَيْئًاsomethingمِنْهُ.from it.
I said: Yes, O Commander of the Faithful. He said: Then recite something of it to me.
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُSo I recited to himقَصِيدَةًan odeطَوِيلَةًlongفِيهَاin which isمَدْحٌpraiseلَهُ.for him.فَلَمَّاSo whenفَرَغْتُI finishedقَالَ:he said:يَاOبُنَيَّmy sonمَالِكَwhat have you to doوَلِلْمَدِيحِwith praise?إِيَّاكَBewareوَإِيَّاهُof itوَاحْذَرِand bewareالْهِجَاءَof satireفَإِنَّهُمَاfor the two of themلَاdo notيُشْبِهَانِكَsuit youوَعَلَيْكَand upon youمِنَfromالشِّعْرِpoetryبِالْبَيْتَيْنِis the coupletوَالثَّلَاثَةِand the tripletتَقُولُyou say itتَطَرُّبًاout of delightوَتَذْكُرُand you mentionفِيهِin itفَضْلًاvirtueوَتَحَبُّبًا.and affection.
So I recited a long ode to him containing praise for him. When I finished, he said: O my son, what have you to do with praise? Beware of it and beware of satire, for they do not suit you, and as for poetry, stick to two or three verses which you say out of delight, mentioning virtue and affection therein.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidمُعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyahبْنُibnأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyanلِعَبْدِto 'Abdالرَّحْمَنِal-Rahmanبْنِibnالْحَكَمِ:Al-Hakam:يَاOابْنَsonأَخِيof my brotherإِنَّكَverily youقَدْhaveلَهِجْتَgrown fondبِالشِّعْرِof poetryفَإِيَّاكَso bewareوَالتَّشْبِيبَof love poetryفَتُهْجِنَlest you disgraceبِهِtherebyكَرِيمًاa noble personوَالْهِجَاءَand satireفَتُثِيرَlest you provokeبِهِtherebyلَئِيمًا،a base person,وَإِيَّاكَand bewareوَالْمَدْحَof praiseفَإِنَّهُfor it isكَسْبُthe earningالْخَسِيسِ،of the ignoble,وَلَكِنِbutافْخَرْboastبِمَآثِرِof the glorious deedsقَوْمِكَof your peopleوَقُلْand sayمِنَofالْأَمْثَالِproverbsمَاthat whichتُزَيِّنُadornsبِهِtherebyنَفْسَكَyourselfوَتُؤَدِّبُand disciplinesبِهِtherebyغَيْرَكَ،others,فَإِنْso ifلَمْyou do notتَجِدْfindبُدًّاany escapeمِنَfromالْمَدِيحِpraiseفَقُلْthen sayكَمَاasقَالَsaidالْأَوَّلُ:the first one:
He said: And Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan said to 'Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hakam: O son of my brother, you have grown fond of poetry, so beware of love poetry lest you disgrace a noble person thereby, and satire lest you provoke a base person thereby, and beware of praise for it is the earning of the ignoble. Instead, boast of the glorious deeds of your people and speak such proverbs as will adorn yourself and discipline others. If you cannot avoid praise, then say as the first one said:
أَحْلَلْتُI have settledرَحْلِيmy mountفِيamongبَنِيthe sons ofثَعْلٍTha'l......إِنَّIndeedالْكَرِيمَthe generous personلِلْكَرِيمِfor the generous personمَحَلُّis a lodging
I have settled my mount among the sons of Tha'l... indeed the generous person is a lodging for the generous.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَسُئِلَAnd a man was askedرَجُلٌa manعَنِaboutالشِّعْرِpoetryفَقَالَ:and he said:أَسْرَىIt is the captive ofمُرُوءَةِthe chivalry ofالدَّنِيِّthe base personوَأَدْنَىand the lowest ofمُرُوءَةِchivalry ofالسَّرِيِّ.the noble person.
It was said: A man was asked about poetry and said: It is the captive of the base person's chivalry and the lowest of the noble person's chivalry.
[فِي[Inذَمِّblamingالشِّعْرِ]poetry]
[In blaming poetry]
قَالَSaidالْأَصْمَعِيُّ:Al-Asma'i:أَنْشَدَRecitedرَجُلٌa manلِبَشَّارٍto BashsharالْعُقَيْلِيِّAl-Uqayliبَيْتَthe verse ofالطِّرِمَّاحِ:Al-Tirimmah:
Al-Asma'i said: A man recited to Bashshar Al-Uqayli the verse of Al-Tirimmah:
فَمَاSo whatلِلنَّوَىis the matter with separationلَاmayبَارَكَGod not blessاللَّهُGodفِيinالنَّوَىseparation......وَهَمٌّand a concernلَنَاfor usمِنْهَاfrom itكَهَمِّis like the concern ofالْمُبَايِنِthe one departing
So what is the matter with separation—may God not bless separation... and a concern for us from it is like the concern of the one departing.
فَقَالَ:So he said:إِنَّIndeedهَذَاthisالْبَيْتَverseلَوْifوَثَبَتْjumpedعَلَيْهِupon itالشَّاةُa sheepلَأَكَلَتْهُ،it would have eaten it,يَعْنِيmeaningإِعَادَتَهُhis repeatingالنَّوَىthe word 'al-nawa'فِيinالْبَيْتِthe verseمَرَّتَيْنِ،twice,فَقُلْتُ:so I said:صَدَقَSpoke the truthبَشَّارٌ،Bashshar,إِعَادَةُrepeatingالْأَسْمَاءِnamesفِيinبَيْتٍa verseأَكْثَرَmoreمِنْthanمَرَّةٍonceعِيٌّ.is speech defectiveness.
So he said: If a sheep had jumped upon this verse, it would have eaten it—meaning his repeating the word 'al-nawa' in the verse twice. I said: Bashshar spoke the truth, repeating names in a verse more than once is a speech defectiveness.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُibnأَبِيAbiعَوْنٍAwnإِلَىtoمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِibnعَبْدِ'AbdاللَّهِAllahبْنِibnطَاهِرٍ:Tahir:
He said: Muhammad ibn Abi Awn wrote to Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Tahir:
قَدْWe haveبَعَثْنَاsentبِزَهْرَةِwith the blossom ofالْبُسْتَانِthe garden......بِكْرِthe virginمَاof whatقَدْhasأَتَىcomeمِنَofالرَّيْحَانِsweet basil
We have sent with the blossom of the garden... the earliest of what has come of sweet basil.
يَاسَمِينًاJasmineوَنَرْجِسًاand narcissusقَدْhave weبَعَثْنَاsent......وَبَعَثْنَاand we have sentبِسَوْسَنِwith the iris ofالْبُسْتَانِthe garden
Jasmine and narcissus have we sent... and we have sent with the garden's iris.
فَقَرَأَهُمَاSo Muhammad read themمُحَمَّدٌMuhammadوَقَالَ:and said:ثَلَاثَThreeمَرَّاتٍtimesقَدْ.'qad'.وَكَتَبَAnd he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:
Muhammad read them and said: Three times 'qad'. And he wrote to him:
عَوْنُO Awn,دَقَّmay crushالْإِلَهُGodمَنْwhoفِيكَin your mouthأَدْنَاهُbrought it nearهـ(ha)وَأَقْصَاهُand distanced itيَاOعِيَّdefectiveاللِّسَانِin tongue
O Awn, may God crush whoever brought it near your mouth and distanced it, O defective in tongue!
حَشْوُThe padding ofبَيْتَيْكَyour two versesفِيهِin itقَدٌّis 'qad'وَقَدٌّand 'qad'......قَدَّكَMay God strike youاللَّهُGodبِالْحُسَامِwith the sharpالْيَمَانِيYemeni sword
The padding of your two verses contains 'qad' and 'qad'... may God strike you with the sharp Yemeni sword!
[وَمِنْهُ[And from itمِضَاحِيكُare the jests ofالشِّعْرِ]poetry]
[And from it are the jests of poetry]
قِيلَ:It was said:دَخَلَEnteredرَجُلٌa manعَلَىuponالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashidفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulإِنِّيverily Iهَجَوْتُhave satirizedالرَّوَافِضَ.the Rawafid.
It was said: A man entered upon Al-Rashid and said: O Commander of the Faithful, I have satirized the Rawafid.
قَالَ:He said:هَاتِ،Bring it forth,فَقَالَ:so he said:
He said: Bring it forth. So he said:
شَمْسًاA sunوَرُغْمًاand spitefullyوَزَيْتُونًاand olivesوَمَظْلَمَةًand an injustice......مِنْfromأَنْthatيَنَالُواthey reachمِنَatالشَّيْخَيْنِthe two Sheikhsطُغْيَانَاtransgression
A sun and spitefully and olives and an injustice... from their reaching any transgression against the two Sheikhs.
فَقَالَ:He said:فَسِّرْ.Explain.قَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْتَyouفِيamongمِائَةِa hundredأَلْفٍthousandأَنْتَyou areفِيamongمِائَةِa hundredأَلْفٍthousandلَاdo notتَفْهَمُunderstandهَذَاthisأَفَأُفَهِّمُهُso shall I make it understoodوَأَنَاwhile I amوَحْدِي!alone!فَضَحِكَSo he laughedوَأَمَرَand orderedلَهُfor himبِصِلَةٍ.a gift.
He said: Explain. He said: O Commander of the Faithful, you are among a hundred thousand, you are among a hundred thousand and do not understand this—shall I make it understood while I am alone! So he laughed and ordered a gift for him.
الْحَمْدُونِيُّAl-Hamduniقَالَ:said:أَتَانِيCame to meرَجُلٌa manفَقَالَ:and said:قُلْتُI have composedشِعْرًاpoetryأُحِبُّand I would loveأَنْthatأَعْرِضَهُI present itعَلَيْكَ،to you,فَقُلْتُ:so I said:هَاتِ.Bring it.فَقَالَ:So he said:
Al-Hamduni said: A man came to me and said: I have composed poetry and I would love to present it to you. I said: Bring it. So he said:
إِنَّIndeedلِيfor meحُبًّاis a loveشَدِيدًاintense......لَيْسَit is notيُنَحِّيِهِremoving itالْفِرَارُfleeing
Indeed for me is an intense love... fleeing does not remove it.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:نَعَمْYesهُوَit isشِعْرٌ.poetry.فَقَالَ:Then he said:
So I said: Yes, it is poetry. Then he said:
إِنَّIndeedمَنْwhoeverأَفْلَتَescapesمِنْهُfrom it......لَابِسٌis wearingثَوْبَthe garment ofالْمَخَازِيdisgraces
Indeed whoever escapes from it... is wearing the garment of disgraces.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:ذَاكَThat isرَاءٌan rوَهَذَاand thisزَايٌ!is a z!قَالَ:He said:لَاDo notتُنْقِطْهُ.dot it.فَقُلْتُ:So I said:فَهَبْنِيThen suppose meلَمْnotأُنْقِطْهُdotting itذَاكَthat isمَرْفُوعٌnominativeوَهَذَاand this isمَخْفُوضٌ!genitive!قَالَ:He said:يَاOأَحْمَقُfoolأَنَاIأَقُولُsayلَاdo notتُنْقِطْهُdot itوَأَنْتَand youتُعْجِمُهُ.are dotting it.
So I said: That is an 'r' and this is a 'z'! He said: Do not dot it. So I said: Then suppose I do not dot it, that one is nominative and this one is genitive! He said: O fool, I say do not dot it and you are dotting it.
قَالَ:He said:وَجَاءَAnd cameرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoحَاجِبِthe chamberlain ofإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimبْنِibnإِسْمَاعِيلَIsma'ilعَامِلِthe governor ofالْمَدِينَةِMedinaفَقَالَ:and said:أَدْخِلْنِيAdmit meعَلَيْهِto himفَإِنِّيfor verily Iقَدْhaveمَدَحْتُهُpraised himوَلَكَand for you isنِصْفُhalf ofمَاwhatيَصِلُنِيreaches meمِنْهُ.from him.فَقَالَ:So he said:أَنْشِدْنِيRecite to meمَاwhatقُلْتَyou saidفِيهِ.about him.فَقَالَ:So he said:لَاI will notأَفْعَلُ.do so.قَالَ:He said:لَاI will notأُدْخِلُكَ.admit you.قَالَ:He said:فَإِنِّيThen indeed Iأَنْشُدُكَ.will recite to you.قَالَ:He said:هَاتِ.Bring it.قَالَHe saidقُلْتُ:I said:
He said: A man came to the chamberlain of Ibrahim ibn Isma'il, the governor of Medina, and said: Admit me to him, for I have praised him and half of what reaches me from him is yours. He said: Recite to me what you said about him. He said: I will not do so. He said: I will not admit you. He said: Then I will recite to you. He said: Bring it. He said, I said:
كَادَWas aboutالْأَمِيرُthe emirعَلَىdespiteتَكَرُّمِهِhis generosity......أَنْtoلَاnotيَكُونَbeلِأُمِّهِfor his motherبَظَرُa clitoris
The emir, despite his generosity... was almost such that his mother had no clitoris.
فَقَالَSo saidالْحَاجِبُ:the chamberlain:يَاOعَاضَbiter ofبَظَرِthe clitoris ofأُمِّهِhis motherكَانَwould haveيُعْطِيكَgiven youسِتَّمِائَةِsix hundredسَوْطٍlashesلِيfor meمِنْهَاfrom themثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ!are three hundred!امْضِGoإِلَىtoحَرْقِthe burning ofاللَّهِGodوَنَارِهِ.and His fire.
So the chamberlain said: O biter of his mother's clitoris, he would have given you six hundred lashes, three hundred of which would be for me! Go to the burning of God and His fire.
[مَحَاسِنُ[The beauties ofالْمُخَاطَبَاتِ]conversations]
[The beauties of conversations]
قَالَ:He said:ذَكَرُواThey mentionedأَنَّthatابْنَIbnالْقَرْيَةِAl-Qaryahدَخَلَenteredعَلَىuponعَبْدِ'AbdالْمَلِكِAl-Malikبْنِibnمَرْوَانَ،Marwan,فَبَيْنَمَاand whileهُوَheعِنْدَهُwas with himإِذْwhenدَخَلَenteredبَنُوthe sons ofعَبْدِ'AbdالْمَلِكِAl-Malikعَلَيْهِ،upon him,فَقَالَ:and he said:مَنْWhoهَؤُلَاءِare theseالْفِتْيَةُyouthsيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Faithful?قَالَ:He said:وَلَدُThe children ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
He said: They mentioned that Ibn Al-Qaryah entered upon 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, and while he was with him, the sons of 'Abd al-Malik entered upon him, and he said: Who are these youths, O Commander of the Faithful? He said: The children of the Commander of the Faithful.
قَالَ:He said:بَارَكَMay God blessاللَّهُGodلَكَfor youفِيهِمْin themكَمَاjust asبُورِكَwas blessedلِأَبِيكَfor your fatherفِيكَin youوَبَارَكَand blessedلَهُمْfor themفِيكَin youكَمَاjust asبُورِكَwas blessedلَكَfor youفِيinأَبِيكَ.your father.فَحَشَاSo he filledفَاهُhis mouthدَرًّا.with pearls.
He said: May God bless you in them just as your father was blessed in you, and bless them in you just as you were blessed in your father. So he filled his mouth with pearls.