قِيلَ:It was said:
It was said:
وَأَتَىAnd cameأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinعَبْدَto AbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنَTahirطَاهِرٍand said:فَقَالَ:O
And a Bedouin came to Abdullah bin Tahir and said:
أَيُّهَاPrince,الأَمِيرُlistenاسْمَعْto myمَدِيحَتِي.panegyric.
O Prince, listen to my panegyric.
فَقَالَ:He said:لَسْتُI am notأَنْحَاشُmovedلَهُ.by it.
He said: I am not moved by it.
قَالَ:He said:فَاسْمَعْThen listenشِعْرِيto my poetryفِيaboutنَفْسِي.myself.
He said: Then listen to my poetry about myself.
قَالَ:He said:هَاتِ،Bring it forth,فَقَالَ:so he said:
He said: Bring it forth, so he said:
لَيْسَIt is notمِنْdue toبُخْلِكَyour stinginessأَنِّيthat I
It is not due to your stinginess that I...
لَمْdid notأَجِدْfindعِنْدَكَwith youرِزْقاًany provision.
...did not find with you any provision.
ذاThat isلِجَدِّيdue to my bad luckوَلِشُؤْمِيand my misfortune
That is due to my bad luck and my misfortune...
وَلِحَرْفِيand to my remainingالمُبَقَّىdestiny.
...and to my remaining destiny.
فَجَزَاكَSo may Godاللَّهُreward youخَيْراًwell,
So may God reward you well,
ثُمَّthenبُعْداًremotenessلِيto meوَسَحْقاًand destruction.
then remoteness to me and destruction.
فَضَحِكَThen he laughedثُمَّandقَالَ:said:تَلَطَّفْتَYou have been subtleفِيinالطَّلَبِ،requesting,وَأَمَرَand orderedلَهُfor himبِأَلْفِone thousandدِينَارٍ.1dinars.
Then he laughed and said: You have been subtle in requesting, and ordered for him one thousand dinars.
مَحَاسِنُThe Virtuesالرِّجَالِof Men
The Virtues of Men
مَدَحَPraisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:فَتًىA youthآتَاهُwhom Godاللَّهُgaveالْخَيْرَgoodnessنَاشِئاًwhile growing up,فَأَحْسَنَso he beautifiedلِبْسَهُhis attireوَزَيَّنَand adornedنَفْسَهُ.himself.
A Bedouin praised a man and said: A youth whom God gave goodness while growing up, so he beautified his attire and adorned himself.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:كَانَHe wasوَاللَّهِby Godلِلْأَخِلَّاءِto friendsوُصُولاًconnecting,
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: He was, by God, closely connected to friends...
وَلِلْمَالِand with wealthبَذُولاً،generous,وَكَانَand keepingالْوَفَاءُfaithfulnessبِهِمَاin bothعَلَيْهِupon himكَفِيلاً،as a guarantor,
...and generous with wealth, and faithfulness in both was a guarantor for him,
فَمَنْso whoeverفَاضِلِهِsurpassed him in virtueكَانَwasمَفْضُولاً.outdone.
so whoever surpassed him in virtue was outdone.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:هُوَHe isأَكْسَبُهُمْthe most earning of themلِلْمَعْدُومِfor what is absent,وَآكَلُهُمْthe most consuming of themلِلْمَأْدُومِwith bread and condiment,وَأَعْطَاهُمْand the most giving of themلِلْمَحْرُومِ.to the deprived.
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: He is the most earning of them for what is absent, the most consuming of them with bread and condiment, and the most giving of them to the deprived.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:مَاI have notزِلْتُceasedلِأَحْسَنِto the bestمَاof whatيُرْجَىis hopedمِنَfromالإِخْوَانِbrothersمِنْكَfrom youرَاجِياًhoping,وَمَاand I have notزِلْتُceasedلِأَكْثَرِto the mostمَاof whatأَرْجُوI hopeمِنْكَfrom youمُصَدِّقاً.believing.
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: I have not ceased hoping from you for the best of what is hoped from brothers, and I have not ceased believing the most of what I hope from you.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:كَانَHe wasوَاللَّهِby Godتَعِباًindustriousفِيinطَلَبِseekingالْمَكَارِمِnoble traits,وَغَيْرَand notضَالٍّastrayفِيregardingمَصَالِحَthe interestsطَرَقَهَاhe pursued,وَلَاnorمُتَشَاغِلٍdistractedعَنْهَاfrom themبِغَيْرِهَا.by anything else.
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: He was, by God, industrious in seeking noble traits, not straying in the interests he pursued, nor distracted from them by anything else.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:لِسَانُهُHis tongueأَحْلَىis sweeterمِنَthanالشَّهْدِhoneyوَقَلْبُهُand his heartسِجْنٌis a prisonلِلْحِقْدِ.for grudge.
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: His tongue is sweeter than honey and his heart is a prison for grudge.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:ذَاكَThat oneصَحِيحُhas a soundالنَّسَبِlineage,مُسْتَحْكَمُfirmالأَدَبِ،manners;مِنْfromأَيِّanyأَقْطَارِهِof his sidesأَتَيْتَهُyou came to himقَابَلَكَhe met youبِكَرَمِwith nobleفِعَالٍactionsوَحُسْنِand goodمَقَالٍ.speech.
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: That one has a sound lineage, firm manners; from any of his sides you came to him he met you with noble actions and good speech.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:إِذَاWhenأَنْبَتَتِsproutالأُصُولُthe rootsفِيinالْقُلُوبِthe hearts,نَطَقَتِspeakالأَلْسُنُthe tonguesبِالْفُرُوعِ،with the branches;وَاللَّهُand Godيَعْلَمُknowsأَنِّيthat Iلَكَto youشَاكِرٌam gratefulوَلِسَانِيand my tongueبِثَنَائِكَwith your praiseذَاكِرٌ،is mindful,وَمَاand does notيُظْهِرُdisplayوُدَّthe affectionالسَّلِيمُsoundإِلَّاexceptمِنَfromالْقَلْبِthe heartالْمُسْتَقِيمِ.upright.
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: When the roots sprout in the hearts, the tongues speak with the branches; and God knows that I am grateful to you and my tongue is mindful with your praise, and the sound affection is only displayed from the upright heart.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:كَانَHe wasإِذَاwhenنَزَلَتْbefellبِهِhimالنَّوَائِبُcalamities,قَامَhe stood upإِلَيْهَاto meet themثُمَّandقَامَstoodبِهَاby themوَلَمْand they were notتُقْعِدْهُmaking him sitعِلَّاتُthe excusesالنُّفُوسِof soulsعَنْهَا.away from them.
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: When calamities befell him, he stood up to meet them and stood by them, and the excuses of souls did not make him sit away from them.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manوَفَرَسًاand a horseفَقَالَ:and said:كَانَHe wasوَاللَّهِby Godطَوِيلَlongالعِذَارِin cheek-strap,أَمِينَsafe inالعِثَارِ،stumbling;
And a Bedouin praised a man and a horse and said: He was, by God, long in cheek-strap, safe in stumbling;
إِذَاwhenرَأَيْتَyou sawصَاحِبَهُhis ownerعَلَيْهِupon itحَسِبْتَهُyou would think himبَازِيًاa falconعَلَىuponمَرْقَبٍa lookoutمَعَهُwith himرُمْحٌis a spearيَقْبِضُhe graspsبِهِwith itالآجَالَ.destinies.
when you saw his owner upon it you would think him a falcon upon a lookout with him is a spear he grasps destinies with it.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:لَاYou do notتَرَاهُsee himالدَّهْرَeverإِلَّاexceptكَأَنَّهُas ifلَاnoغِنَىwealth/independenceبِهِwith himعَنْكَfrom youوَإِنْeven thoughكُنْتَyou wereإِلَيْهِto himأَحْوَجَ،more in need,
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: You do not see him ever except as if he has no independence from you even though you were more in need to him,
وَإِذَاand ifأَذْنَبْتَyou sinnedغَفَرَhe forgaveوَكَأَنَّهُas if he wereالْمُذْنِبُ،the sinner,وَإِنْand ifاحْتَجْتَyou were in needإِلَيْهِof himأَحْسَنَhe did wellوَكَأَنَّهُas if he wereالْمُسِيءُ.the one who did wrong.
and if you sinned he forgave as if he were the sinner, and if you were in need of him he did well as if he were the one who did wrong.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinلِرَجُلٍ:to a man:أَمَّاIndeedوَاللَّهِby Godلَقَدْyou certainlyكُنْتَwereلِجَاماًa bridleلِأَعْدَائِكَto your enemiesمَاnotتَفُلُّbluntingشَكِيمَتَاهُits two bit-barsإِذَاwhenكَبَحَreined inبِهِwith itالْجَمُوحُthe restive oneأَقْعَىit sat backعَلَىonرِجْلَيْهِ.its two legs.
He said: And a Bedouin said to a man: Indeed by God you certainly were a bridle to your enemies, not blunting its two bit-bars when the restive one was reined in with it, it sat back on its two legs.
قَالَ:He said:وَلَقِيَand metأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinأَعْرَابِيّاًa Bedouinفَقَالَ:and said:كَيْفَHowوَجَدْتَdid you findفُلاناً؟so-and-so?
He said: And a Bedouin met a Bedouin and said: How did you find so-and-so?
قَالَ:He said:وَجَدْتُهُI found himوَاللَّهِby Godرَزِينَgrave inالْحِلْمِforbearance,وَاسِعَvast inالْعِلْمِknowledge,خَصِيبَabundant inالْجَفْنَةِ،bowl (hospitality);
He said: I found him, by God, grave in forbearance, vast in knowledge, abundant in hospitality,
إِنْifفَاخَرْتَهُyou vied with him in prideلَمْhe did notيَكْذِبْlieوَإِنْand ifمَازَحْتَهُyou joked with himلَمْhe did notيَحْفَظْ.take offense.
if you vied with him in pride he did not lie and if you joked with him he did not take offense.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:كَانَHe used toيَفْتَحُopenمِنَfromالرَّأْيِopinionأَبْوَاباًdoorsمَنْسَدَةًblockedوَيَغْسِلُand washمِنَfromالعَارِdisgraceوُجُوهًاfacesمُسَوَّدَةً.blackened.
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: He used to open from opinion blocked doors and wash from disgrace blackened faces.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinقَوْماًa peopleفَقَالَ:and said:أُولَئِكَThose areغُيُوثُrainsجَدْبٍof droughtوَلُيُوثُand lionsحَرْبٍ،of war;إِنْifقَاتَلُواthey foughtأَبْلَوْاthey showed enduranceوَإِنْand ifأَعْطَوْاthey gaveأَغْنَوْا.they enriched.
And a Bedouin praised a people and said: Those are rains of drought and lions of war; if they fought they showed endurance and if they gave they enriched.
وَمَدَحَAnd praisedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:ذَاكَThat isمِنْfromشَجَرٍa treeلَاnotيَجِفُّdrying upثَمَرُهُits fruitوَمَاءٍand waterلَاnotيُخَافُfearedكَدَرُهُ.2its turbidity.
And a Bedouin praised a man and said: That is from a tree whose fruit does not dry up and water whose turbidity is not feared.
مَسَاوِئُThe Vicesالرِّجَالِof Men
The Vices of Men
ذَمَّCondemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOنُطْفَةَdropالْحِمَارِof a donkey,وَنَزِيعَand offshootالظُّؤُورَةِof wet-nurses,وَشَبِيهَand similarالأَخْوَالِ.to maternal uncles.
A Bedouin condemned a man and said: O drop of a donkey, and offshoot of wet-nurses, and similar to maternal uncles.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedقَوْماًa peopleفَقَالَ:and said:إِنَّIndeedآلَthe familyفُلَانٍof so-and-soقَوْمٌare a peopleغُدُرٌtreacherous,شُرَّابُونَdrinkersلِلْخَمْرِ،of wine;
And he condemned a people and said: Indeed the family of so-and-so are a people treacherous, drinkers of wine;
ثُمَّthenهَذَاthis oneفِيinنَفْسِهِhimselfنُطْفَةُis the dropخَمَّارٍof a winemakerفِيinرَحِمِthe wombصَنَّاجَةٍ.of a female lute player.
then this one in himself is the drop of a winemaker in the womb of a female lute player.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:يَقْطَعُHe cutsنَهَارَهُhis dayبِالْمُنَىwith wishesوَيَتَوَسَّدُand rests his head onذِرَاعَthe forearmالْهَمِّof worryإِذَاwhenأَمْسَى.he enters the evening.
And a Bedouin condemned a man and said: He cuts his day with wishes and rests his head on the forearm of worry when he enters the evening.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:مَاHe did notقَنَىacquireكَمِيّاًa warriorسَيْفاًor a swordوَلَاnorقَرَىentertainيَوْماًone dayضَيْفاًa guest,وَلَاandحَمِدْنَاwe praisedلَهُfor himشِتَاءًa winterوَلَاorصَيْفاً.a summer.
And a Bedouin condemned a man and said: He did not acquire a warrior or a sword nor entertain one day a guest, and we did not praise for him a winter or a summer.
وَقَالَAnd saidأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinلِامْرَأَتِهِ:to his wife:أَقَامَMay God causeاللَّهُto standنَاعِيكَthe announcer of your deathوَأَشْمَتَand make rejoiceعَادِيكَ.your enemy.
And a Bedouin said to his wife: May God cause to stand the announcer of your death and make rejoice your enemy.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:عَلَيْهِUpon himكُلَّeveryيَوْمٍdayقَسَامَةٌis an oathمِنْfromفِعْلِهِhis deedتَشْهَدُtestifyingعَلَيْهِagainst himبِفِسْقِهِ،to his wickedness;وَشَهَادَاتُand the testimoniesالأَفْعَالِof deedsأَعْدَلُare fairerمِنْthanشَهَادَاتِthe testimoniesالرِّجَالِ.of men.
And a Bedouin condemned a man and said: Upon him every day is an oath from his deed testifying against him to his wickedness; and the testimonies of deeds are fairer than the testimonies of men.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:تَسْهَرُStays awakeزَوْجَتُهُhis wifeجُوعاًin hungerإِذَاwhenنَامَhe sleepsشَبَعاً،full;وَلَاand he does not fearيَخَافُthe immediateعَاجِلَdisgraceعَارٍor the delayedوَلَاfire;آجِلَlikeنَارٍ،the beastكَالْبَهِيمَةِit ateأَكَلَتْwhatمَاit gatheredجَمَعَتْand copulated withوَنَكَحَتْwhatمَاit found.وَجَدَتْ.found.
And a Bedouin condemned a man and said: His wife stays awake in hunger when he sleeps full; and he does not fear the immediate disgrace or the delayed fire; like the beast, it ate what it gathered and copulated with what it found.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:ذَاكَThat oneأَعْيَاis most helplessمَاwhatيَكُونُhe can beعِنْدَbeforeالنَّاسِpeople,أَبْلَغُmost eloquentمَاwhatيَكُونُhe can beعِنْدَbeforeنَفْسِهِ.himself.
And a Bedouin condemned a man and said: That one is most helpless what he can be before people, most eloquent what he can be before himself.
وَلَامَAnd blamedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:تَقْطَعُYou cut offأَخَاكَyour brotherلِأَبِيكَof your fatherوَأُمِّكَ!and mother!
And a Bedouin blamed a man and said: You cut off your brother of your father and mother!
فَقَالَ:He said:إِنِّيIndeed Iلَأَقْطَعُverily cut offالفَاسِدَthe corruptمِنْfromجَسَدِيmy bodyوَهُوَwhile it isأَقْرَبُcloserإِلَيَّto meمِنْthanأَخِيmy brotherوَأَعَزُّand more preciousفَقْداًin lossمِنْهُ.than him.
He said: Indeed I verily cut off the corrupt from my body while it is closer to me than my brother and more precious in loss than him.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinقَوْماًa peopleفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOقَوْمِmy people,لَاdo notتَسْكُنُواdwellإِلَىuponحَلَاوَةِthe sweetnessمَاof whatيَجْرِيflowsمِنَfromالْقَوْلِspeechعَلَىuponأَلْسِنَةِthe tonguesبَنِيof the sonsفُلَانٍ،of so-and-so,
And a Bedouin condemned a people and said: O my people, do not dwell upon the sweetness of what flows from speech upon the tongues of the sons of so-and-so,
وَأَنْتُمْwhile youتَرَوْنَseeالدِّمَاءَthe bloodتَسِيلُflowingمِنْfromأَفْعَالِهِمْ،their deeds;قَدْthey haveجَعَلُواmadeالْمَعَاذِيرَexcusesسُتُوراًveilsوَالْعِلَلَand reasonsحُجُباً.barriers.
while you see the blood flowing from their deeds; they have made excuses veils and reasons barriers.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:إِذَاIfسَأَلَhe askedأَلْحَفَhe importunedوَإِذَاand ifسُئِلَhe was askedسَوَّفَ،he procrastinated;يَحْسُدُhe enviesأَنْthatيُفَضَّلَhe be preferredوَيَزْهَدُand abstainsأَنْthatيُفَضِّلَ.he prefer others.
And a Bedouin condemned a man and said: If he asked he importuned and if he was asked he procrastinated; he envies that he be preferred and abstains that he prefer others.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:يَكَادُHe is aboutأَنْtoيُعْدِيَinfectبِلُؤْمِهِwith his meannessمَنْwhoeverتَسَمَّىis namedبِاسْمِهِ.by his name.
And a Bedouin condemned a man and said: He is about to infect with his meanness whoever is named by his name.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:تَعْدُوRunإِلَيْهِtoward himمَوَاكِبُthe processionsالضَّلَالَةِof strayingوَتَرْجِعُand returnمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceبِهَلَاكِwith the destructionالأَنَامِ،of creatures;مَعْدِمٌdestituteمِمَّاof whatيُحِبُّhe lovesمُثْرٍaboundingمِمَّاin whatيَكْرَهُ.he hates.
And a Bedouin condemned a man and said: Run toward him the processions of straying and return from his presence with the destruction of creatures; destitute of what he loves abounding in what he hates.
وَقَالَAnd saidأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinلِرَجُلٍ:to a man:وَاللَّهِBy Godمَاare your bowlsجِفَانُكُمْnotبِعِظَامٍgreatوَلَاnorأَجْسَامُكُمْare your bodiesبِوِسَامٍstatelyوَلَاnorبَدَتْhas appearedلَكُمْfor youنَارٌa fireوَلَاnorطَلَبْتُمْhave you soughtبِثَارٍ.vengeance.
And a Bedouin said to a man: By God, are your bowls not great nor are your bodies stately nor has appeared for you a fire nor have you sought vengeance.