فَخَلَعَThen bestowed a robe of honorعَلَيْهِupon himالرَّشِيدُal-Rashid
Then al-Rashid bestowed a robe of honor upon him
وَوَصَلَهُand rewarded himبِعَشَرَةِwith tenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
and rewarded him with ten thousand dirhams
وَالْفَضْلُand al-Fadlبِمِثْلِهَا،with the like thereof,
and al-Fadl with the like thereof,
فَنَظَرَso he lookedإِلَىatجَارِيَةٍa slave girlتَخْتَلِفُmoving aboutكَأَنَّهَاas if she wereلُؤْلُؤَةٌa pearlفَقَالَ:and said:
so he looked at a slave girl moving about as if she were a pearl and said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,
O Commander of the Faithful,
أَنَاI amمَيِّتٌdeadفِيinلَيْلَتِيthis night of mineهَذِهِthis,
I am to die this very night of mine,
فَإِذَاso whenمُتُّI dieفَمُرْthen commandأَنْthatأُدْفَنَI be buriedفِيinبَطْنِthe womb ofهَذِهِthisالْجَارِيَةِ.slave girl.
so when I die, command that I be buried in the womb of this slave girl.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالرَّشِيدُ:al-Rashid:
So al-Rashid said to him:
خُذْهَاTake her,لَاmayبَارَكَblessاللَّهُGodلَكَfor youفِيهَا!in her!
Take her, may God not bless you in her!
قَالَSaidأَبُوAbuنُوَاسٍ:Nawas:
Abu Nawas said:
فَأَخَذْتُهَاSo I took herوَانْصَرَفْتُand went awayبِمِثْلِlikeالشَّمْسِthe sunحُسْناًin beauty
So I took her and departed, she being like the sun in beauty,
وَفِيand inمَنْزِلِيmy houseغُلَامٌis a boyمِثْلُlikeالْقَمَرِ،the moon,
and in my house is a boy like the moon,
فَلَقِيَنِيso met meمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofيَسِيرٍYasirالشَّاعِرُthe poetفَقَالَ:and said:
and Muhammad ibn Yasir the poet met me and said:
أَتَيْتُكَI have come to youمُهَنِّئاًcongratulatingبِمَاon whatحَبَاكَbestowed upon youبِهِwith itأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
I have come to you congratulating you on what the Commander of the Faithful has bestowed upon you.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:نِعْمَةٌA blessingتَتْبَعُهَاfollowed byنِقْمَةٌ.a calamity.
So I said: A blessing followed by a calamity.
قَالَ:He said:وَلِمَAnd whyذَاكَ؟is that?
He said: And why is that?
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:عِنْدِيWith meغُلَامٌis a boyمِثْلُlikeالْقَمَرِthe moonوَهَذِهِand this girlمِثْلُis likeالشَّمْسِthe sun,
So I said: I have a boy like the moon and this girl is like the sun,
وَإِنْand ifجَمَعْتُهُمَاI gather them togetherأَتَخَوَّفُI fearمَاwhatتَعْلَمُyou know
and if I gather them together I fear what you know,
وَإِنْand ifأَفْرَدْتُI isolateالْجَارِيَةَthe slave girlلَمْI do notآمَنْfeel safeعَلَيْهَاregarding herوَغُلَامِيand my boyلَاnotبُدَّescapingمِنْهُ.from him.
and if I keep the slave girl apart I am not secure regarding her, and my boy is indispensable.
قُلْتَ:You said:اجْعَلْهَاPlace herعِنْدَwithبَعْضِsome ofإِخْوَانِكَyour brethrenإِلَىuntilوَقْتِthe time ofحَاجَتِكَyour needإِلَيْهَا.for her.
He said: Place her with some of your brethren until the time of your need for her.
قُلْتُ:I said:فَلَعَلَّPerhapsالْحَارِسَthe guardianهُوَisالْمُتَحَرَّسُthe one guardedمِنْهُ.against.
I said: Perhaps the guardian is the one to be guarded against.
قَالَ:He said:فَصَيِّرْهَاThen put herعِنْدَwithعَجُوزٍan old womanتَثِقُyou trustبِهَا،in her,
He said: Then put her with an old woman you trust,
قُلْتُ:I said:لَعَلِّيPerhapsأُسْتَرْعِيI am committing to pastureالذِّئْبَ!the wolf!
I said: Perchance I am setting the wolf to watch the flock!
قَالَ:He said:ثُمَّThenافْتَرَقْنَا،we parted,
He said: Then we parted ways,
فَالْتَقَىand metمَعَهُwith himأَبُوAbuنُوَاسٍNawasبَعْدَafterثَلَاثَةِthreeأَيَّامٍdaysفَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:
and Abu Nawas met him after three days and said to him:
يَاOمُحَمَّدَMuhammadبْنَson ofيَسِيرٍYasir,مَاwhatعَلَىonالْأَرْضِthe earthشَرٌّis evilمِنْكَ،more than you,
O Muhammad ibn Yasir, there is no one on earth more evil than you;
شَاوَرْتُكَI consulted youفِيinأَمْرٍa matterفَلَمْand you did notتَفْتَحْopen upعَلَيَّfor meفِيهِin itشَيْئاًanything
I consulted you in a matter and you opened up nothing for me therein,
فَلَمَّاand whenفَارَقْتُكَI parted from youازْدَحَمَcrowdedعَلَيَّupon meالرَّأْيُthe opinionالْمُصِيبُ.correct.
but when I parted from you, the correct opinion crowded upon me.
قَالَSaidمُحَمَّدٌ:Muhammad:فَمَاذَاSo whatصَنَعْتَ؟did you do?
Muhammad said: So what did you do?
قَالَ:He said:زَوَّجْتُI marriedالشَّمْسَthe sunمِنَtoالْقَمَرِthe moonفَحَصَّلْتُهُمَاso I brought them togetherلِأَقْضِيَthat I might fulfillبِهِمَاwith themوَطَرِي!my desire!
He said: I married the sun to the moon, gathering them together so that I might satisfy my desire with them!
قَالَ:He said:كَانَIt wasالشَّيْءُthe thingعَلَيْكَfor youحَلَالاًlawfulفَجَعَلْتَهُand you made itحَرَاماً.unlawful.
He said: The thing was lawful for you, yet you made it unlawful.
قَالَ:He said:يَاOأَحْمَقُfool,شَاوَرْتُكَI consulted youفِيaboutالْحَلَالِthe lawfulوَالْحَرَامِ!and unlawful!
He said: O fool, did I consult you about the lawful and unlawful?
إِنَّمَاI merelyقُلْتُsaidكَيْفَhowالرَّأْيُis the opinionفِيregardingتَحْصِيلِهِمَا!obtaining them!
I only asked what the best way was to obtain them!
ثُمَّThenأَنْشَأَ:he began to recite:
Then he began to recite:
زَوَّجْتُI marriedهَذَاكَthis oneبِهَذِهِto thisلِكَيْso that......أَنْكِحَI may marryثِنْتَيْنِtwoفَثِنْتَيْنِthen two
I married this one to this girl so that ... I might marry two and then two
أَنْكِحُI marryهَذِهِthis oneمَرَّةًonceثُمَّthenذَاthat......أُدِيرُI directرُمْحاًa spearبَيْنَbetweenصَفَّيْنِtwo ranks
I marry this one once then that ... I wield a spear between two ranks
مَتَّعْتُI have provided enjoyment forنَفْسِيmyselfبِهِمَاwith them bothلَذَّةًin delight......يَاOمَنْwhoرَأَىsawمَطْلَعَthe rising place ofشَمْسَيْنِtwo suns
I have indulged myself in delight with them both ... O you who have seen the rising of two suns
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofأَيُّوبَAyyubبْنِson ofجَعْفَرِJa'farبْنِson ofسُلَيْمَانَSulayman
And Muhammad ibn Ayyub ibn Ja'far ibn Sulayman narrated to us,
وَهُوَand he wasأَمِيرُthe governor ofالْبَصْرَةِBasra,قَالَ:and said:
and he was the governor of Basra, saying:
كَانَThere wasبِالْبَصْرَةِin Basraرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromبَنِيBanuتَمِيمٍTamim
There was in Basra a man from Banu Tamim
وَكَانَand he wasشَاعِراًa poetظَرِيفاًwittyوَكُنْتُand I used toآنَسُfind companyبِهِin him
who was a witty poet, and I used to enjoy his company,
فَأَرَدْتُso I wantedأَنْtoأَخْدَعَهُplay a trick on himفَقُلْتُ:and said:
so I wanted to play a trick on him and said:
يَاOأَبَاAbuنِزَارٍNizar,أَنْتَyou areشَاعِرٌa poetوَظَرِيفٌand witty
O Abu Nizar, you are a poet and a wit,
وَالْمَأْمُونُand al-Ma'munأَجْوَدُis more generous thanالسَّحَابِthe cloudالْحَافِلِheavy with rainوَالرِّيحِand the windالْعَاصِفِstormy,
and al-Ma'mun is more generous than the rain-laden cloud and the stormy wind,
فَمَاso whatيَمْنَعُكَprevents youمِنْهُ؟from him?
what prevents you from going to him?
قَالَ:He said:مَاI do notعِنْدِيhaveمَاwhatأَتَحَمَّلُI can mountبِهِ.upon for travel.
He said: I do not have what I need to travel upon.
قُلْتُ:I said:أَنَاIأُعْطِيكَwill give youنَجِيباًa fine riding camelفَارِهָاًspiritedوَنَفَقَةًand provisionsسَابِغَةًample
I said: I will give you a spirited, fine riding camel and ample provisions
تَخْرُجُso you can set outإِلَيْهِto himوَقَدِhavingامْتَدَحْتَهُpraised him,
to set out to him having composed a panegyric in his praise,
فَإِنَّكَfor indeedإِنْifحَظِيتَyou are blessedبِلِقَائِهِwith meeting himصِرْتَyou will attainإِلَىtoأُمْنِيَّتِكَ.your desire.
for if you are blessed with meeting him you will attain your heart's desire.
قَالَ:He said:وَاللَّهِBy God,أَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُPrince,إِنِّيIلَاdo notأَظُنُّكَthink youصَادِقاً.truthful.
He said: By God, O Prince, I do not think you are truthful.
قُلْتُ:I said:أَجَلْ،Indeed,فَدَعَوْتُso I called forبِنَجِيبَةٍa fine riding camelفَارِهَةٍ.spirited.
I said: Indeed [I am], so I called for a spirited riding camel.
فَقَالَ:He said:هَذِهِThis isإِحْدَىoneالْحُسْنَيَيْنِof the two best thingsفَمَاso whatبَالُaboutالْأُخْرَى؟the other?
He said: This is one of the two best things, but what about the other?
فَدَعَوْتُSo I calledلَهُfor himبِثَلَاثِمِائَةِwith three hundredدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
So I called for three hundred dirhams for him.
قَالَ:He said:وَهَذِهِAnd this isالثَّانِيَةُ،the second,قَالَ:he said:أَحْسَبُكَI reckon youأَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُPrinceقَصَّرْتَhave fallen shortفِيinالنَّفَقَةِ.the provisions.
He said: And this is the second. He said: I reckon, O Prince, that you have fallen short in the provision.
قَالَ:He said:هِيَItلَكَis for youكَافِيَةٌsufficientإِنْifقَبَضْتَyou withholdيَدَكَyour handعَنِfromالسَّرَفِ.extravagance.
He said: It is sufficient for you if you restrain your hand from extravagance.
قَالَ:He said:وَمَتَىAnd whenرَأَيْتَhave you seenالسَّرَفَextravaganceفِيinأَكَابِرِthe elders ofبَنِيBanuسَعْدٍSa'dفَكَيْفَso how aboutفِيinأَصَاغِرِهَا؟its youngsters?
He said: And when have you seen extravagance in the elders of Banu Sa'd, let alone its youngsters?
فَأَخَذَSo he tookالنَّجِيبَةَthe riding camelوَالنَّفَقَةَand the provisionsثُمَّthenعَمِلَcomposedأُرْجُوزَةًa rajaz poemلَيْسَتْthat was notبِطَوِيلَةٍlongفَأَنْشَدَنِيهَاand recited it to meوَحَذَفَand omittedمِنْهَاfrom itذِكْرِي.mention of me.
So he took the riding camel and provisions, then composed a short rajaz poem and recited it to me, omitting any mention of me.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:مَاYou have notصَنَعْتَdoneشَيْئاً.anything.
So I said to him: You have accomplished nothing.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَيْفَAnd howذَلِكَ؟is that?
He said: And how is that?
قُلْتُ:I said:تَأْتِيYou comeالْخَلِيفَةَto the Caliphوَأَنْتَwhile you areوَافِدٌan emissaryفَلَاand you do notتُثْنِيpraiseعَلَىyourأَمِيرِكَ!prince!
I said: You come to the Caliph as a petitioner, yet you do not praise your own prince!
قَالَ:He said:أَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُPrince,أَرَدْتَyou wantedأَنْtoتَخْدَعَنِيtrick meفَوَجَدْتَنِيso you found meخَدَّاعاً.a trickster.
He said: O Prince, you wanted to trick me, but you found me to be a trickster.
أَمَاNowوَاللَّهِby God,مَاnotلِكَرَامَتِيfor my honorحَمَلْتَنيِdid you carry meوَجُدْتَand did you bestowلِيupon meبِمَالِكَwith your wealthالَّذِيwhichمَاno oneرَامَهُsoughtأَحَدٌanyoneإِلَّاexceptجَعَلَmadeاللَّهُGodخَدَّهُhis cheekالْأَسْفَلَthe lower oneوَلَكِنْbutلِأَذْكُرَكَ!that I might mention you!
By God, you did not mount me for my honor nor bestow your wealth upon me—which no one sought without God making his cheek the lowest—except that I might mention you!
قُلْتُ:I said:فَأَنْشِدْنِيThen recite to meمَاwhatقُلْتَ.you said.
I said: Then recite to me what you said.
فَأَنْشَدَنِي،So he recited to me,فَقُلْتُ:and I said:أُعِنْتَYou were helpedوَأَجَدْتَ.and you excelled.
So he recited it to me, and I said: You were aided and you excelled.
فَتَرَكَنِيThen he left meوَخَرَجَand went outحَتَّىuntilأَتَىhe cameالشَّأْمَto al-Shamوَالْمَأْمُونُwhile al-Ma'munبِسَلْغُوسَ،was at Salghus,
Then he left me and set out until he reached Greater Syria while al-Ma'mun was at Salghus,
فَأَخْبَرَنِيand he informed meقَالَ:saying:بَيْنَاWhileأَنَاIغُزَاةَon the military expedition ofقُرَّةَQurraقَدْandرَكِبْتُI had mountedنَجِيبَتِيmy riding camelوَلَبِسْتُand wornأَطْمَارِيmy ragged clothesوَأَنَاwhileأُرِيدُI desiredالْعَسْكَرَthe army camp,
and he informed me, saying: While I was on the expedition of Qurra, having mounted my riding camel and dressed in my ragged clothes, heading toward the army camp,
فَإِذَاlo and beholdأَنَاIبِكَهْلٍby an elderly manعَلَىuponبَغْلٍa muleفَارِهٍfineمَاthatيَقِرُّdoes not restقَرَارُهُits resting placeوَلَاnorيُدْرَكُis caught up withخُطَاهُ،its stride,
suddenly I came upon an elderly man upon a fine mule that would not stay still nor could its stride be matched,
فَتَلَقَّانِيso he met meمُكَافَحَةًface to faceوَمُوَاجَهَةًand head-onوَقَالَ:and said:السَّلَامُPeaceعَلَيْكُمْ،be upon you,بِكَلَامٍwith speechجَهْوَرِيٍّresoundingوَلِسَانٍand a tongueبَسِيطٍ.fluent.
and he met me face to face and said: Peace be upon you, in a resounding voice and eloquent tongue.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:وَعَلَيْكُمُAnd upon youالسَّلَامُ.be peace.
So I said: And upon you be peace.
فَقَالَ:He said:قِفْStopإِنْifشِئْتَ.you wish.
He said: Stop if you wish.
فَوََقَفْتُ،So I stopped,فَتَضَوَّعَتْand there waftedمِنْهُfrom himرَائِحَةُthe scent ofالْمِسْكِmuskالْأَذْفَرِ.pure and potent.
So I stopped, and the scent of pure, potent musk wafted from him.
فَقَالَ:He said:مِمَّنْ؟From whom?
He said: From whom [are you]?
قُلْتُ:I said:رَجُلٌA manمِنْfromمُضَرَ.Mudar.
I said: A man from Mudar.
قَالَ:He said:وَنَحْنُAnd we areمِنْfromمُضَرَ،Mudar,ثُمَّthenمَاذَا؟what else?
He said: And we are from Mudar, then what else?
قُلْتُ:I said:مِنْFromبَنِيBanuتَمِيمٍ.Tamim.
I said: From Banu Tamim.
قَالَ:He said:وَمَاAnd whatبَعْدَهُمْ؟after them?
He said: And what branch after them?
قُلْتُ:I said:مِنْFromبَنِيBanuسَعْدٍ.Sa'd.
I said: From Banu Sa'd.
قَالَ:He said:هِيهْ،Ah,فَمَاso whatأَقْدَمَكَ؟brought you forward?
He said: Indeed, so what has brought you here?
قُلْتُ:I said:قَصَدْتُI made forهَذَاthisالْمَلِكَkingالَّذِيwhoمَاnotسَمِعْتُhave I heardبِمِثْلِهِof the like of himأَنْدَىin most generousرَاحَةًpalm
I said: I have made for this king the like of whose most generous palm
وَلَاnorأَوْسَعَwidestبَاحَةًcourtyardوَلَاnorأَطْوَلَlongestبَاعاًreachوَلَاnorأَمَدَّloftiestيَفَاعاًeminenceمِنْهُ.has never been heard.
nor widest courtyard, nor longest reach, nor loftiest eminence I have ever heard of.
قَالَ:He said:فَمَاThen whatالَّذِيis that whichقَصَدْتَهُyou intendedبِهِ؟with it?
He said: Then what is it that you intended with him?
قُلْتُ:I said:شِعْرٌPoetryطَيِّبٌfineيَلَذُّthat is deliciousعَلَىonأَفْوَاهِthe mouths ofالرُّوَاةِthe recitersوَيَحْلُوand sweetensفِيinأُذُنِthe ear ofالْمُسْتَمِعِينَ.the listeners.
I said: Fine poetry that is delicious on the mouths of reciters and sweet in the ears of listeners.
قَالَ:He said:فَأَنْشِدْنِيهِ.Then recite it to me.
He said: Then recite it to me.
فَمَضَيْتُSo I went onوَقُلْتُ:and said:يَاOرَكِيكُfoolish man,أُخْبِرُكَI inform youأَنِّيthat Iقَصَدْتُintendedالْخَلِيفَةَthe Caliphبِشِعْرٍwith poetryقُلْتُهُI composedوَمَدِيحٍand praiseحَبَّرْتُهُI embellishedفَتَقُولُand yet you sayأَنْشِدْنِيهِ؟recite it to me?
So I proceeded and said: O foolish man, I inform you that I have come to the Caliph with poetry I composed and panegyric I embellished, and you say 'Recite it to me'?
فَقَالَ:He said:وَمَاAnd whatالَّذِيis that whichتَأْمُلُyou hopeفِيهِ؟for in it?
He said: And what do you hope to get for it?
قُلْتُ:I said:إِنْIfكَانَit isعَلَىasمَاwhatذُكِرَwas mentionedلِيto meفَأَلْفُthen a thousandدِينَارٍ.dinars.
I said: If it is as I was told, then a thousand dinars.
قَالَ:He said:أَنَاIأُعْطِيكَwill give youأَلْفَa thousandدِينَارٍdinarsإِنْifرَأَيْتُI seeالشِّعْرَthe poetryجَيِّداًgoodوَالْكَلَامَand the speechعَذْباًsweetوَأَضَعُand I will liftعَنْكَfrom youالْعَنَاءَthe hardshipوَطُولَand the length ofالتَّرْدَادِ،going back and forth,
He said: I will give you a thousand dinars if I find the poetry to be good and the speech sweet, and I will spare you the hardship and the long traveling back and forth;
مَتَىwhenتَصِلُwill you reachأَنْتَyouإِلَىtoالْخَلِيفَةِ؟the Caliph?
when will you ever reach the Caliph?
بَيْنَكَBetween youوَبَيْنَهُand himعَشَرَةُare tenآلافِthousandرَامِحٍspearmenوَنَابِلٍ.and archers.
Between you and him stand ten thousand spearmen and archers.
قُلْتُ:I said:فَلَيْSo is thereعَلَيْكَupon youاللَّهُan oath by Godأَنْthatتَفْعَلَ؟you will do it?
I said: Is there upon you an oath by God that you will do so?
قَالَ:He said:لَكَYou haveاللَّهُGod's pledgeعَلَيَّupon meأَنْthatأَفْعَلَ.I will do it.
He said: You have my pledge by God that I will do so.
قُلْتُ:I said:وَمَعَكَAnd do you haveمَالٌ؟wealth with you?
I said: And do you have wealth with you?
قَالَ:He said:بَغْلِيMy muleهَذَاthisخَيْرٌis betterمِنْthanأَلْفِa thousandدِينَارٍdinarsأُنْزِلُI will dismountلَكَfor youعَنْfromظَهْرِهِ.its back.
He said: This mule of mine is better than a thousand dinars; I will dismount from its back for you.
قَالَ:He said:فَغَضِبْتُSo I became angryوَعَارَضَتْنِيand overcame meمِرَّةُthe temper ofبَنِيBanuسَعْدٍSa'dوَخِفَّةُand the impulsiveness ofأَحْلَامِهَاits minds
He said: So I grew angry, and the temper of Banu Sa'd and the hotheadedness of its minds came over me,
وَقُلْتُ:and I said:مَاWhatيُسَاوِيdoes equalهَذَاthisالْبَغْلُ،mule,هَذَاthisالنَّجِيبُ!fine riding camel!
and I said: What does this mule equal compared to this fine camel!
قَالَ:He said:فَدَعْSo leaveعَنْكَasideهَذَاthisوَلَكَand you haveاللَّهُGod's pledgeأَنْthatأُعْطِيَكَI will give youأَلْفَa thousandدِينَارٍ،dinars,
He said: Drop this matter, and I swear by God to give you a thousand dinars,
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُso I recited to himالْأُرْجُوزَةَthe rajaz poemوَقُلْتُ:and said:
so I recited the rajaz poem to him and said:
مَأْمُونُMa'munيَاOذَاpossessor ofالْمِنَنِfavorsالشَّرِيفَةِnoble
O Ma'mun, possessor of noble favors
وَصَاحِبِand master ofالْمَرْتَبَةِthe rankالْمَنِيفَةِlofty
and master of the lofty rank