بِالسَيفِwith the sword يُفتَحُis opened كُلُّevery بابٍdoor مُقفَلٍlocked
بِالسَيفِ يُفتَحُ كُلُّ بابٍ مُقفَلٍ
وَتُحَلُّand is untied عُقدَةُthe knot كُلِّof every خَطبٍhardship مُشكِلِbaffling
وَتُحَلُّ عُقدَةُ كُلِّ خَطبٍ مُشكِلِ
By the sword every locked door is opened,
With the sword every bolted door is opened,
And the knot of every baffling hardship is untied.
And every knotty affair is untied.
فَاِقرَعso knock إِذاwhen صادَفتَyou encounter باباًa door مُرتَجاًshut fast
فَاِقرَع إِذا صادَفتَ باباً مُرتَجاً
بِالسَيفِwith the sword حَلقَةَthe ring صَفقَتَيهِof its two leaves تَدخُلِyou will enter
بِالسَيفِ حَلقَةَ صَفقَتَيهِ تَدخُلِ
So, when you encounter a door shut fast, strike
So if you encounter a shaking door, knock
With the sword the ring on its two leaves, and enter.
With the sword, so its rings you enter.
وَإِذاand when بَدَتarises لَكَfor you حاجَةٌa need فَاِستَقضِهاthen have it fulfilled
وَإِذا بَدَت لَكَ حاجَةٌ فَاِستَقضِها
بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِwith Mashrafi swords وَالرِماحِand spears الذُبَّلِslender
بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِ وَالرِماحِ الذُبَّلِ
When a need arises for you, have it fulfilled
And if a need appears before you, obtain it
With Mashrafi swords and slender spears.
With lances and polished blades.
لاdo not تَسأَلَنَّever ask الناسَpeople فَضلَthe surplus نَوالِهِمof their gifts
لا تَسأَلَنَّ الناسَ فَضلَ نَوالِهِم
وَاللَهَand God وَالبِيضَand the white swords الصَوارِمَkeen-edged فَاِسأَلِthen ask
وَاللَهَ وَالبِيضَ الصَوارِمَ فَاِسأَلِ
Never ask people for the surplus of their gifts;
Do not ask people for their excess bounty,
Ask God and the white, cleaving swords.
But ask Allah and white swords instead.
فَالسَيفُfor the sword أَكرَمُis the noblest مُجتَدىًbenefactor يَمَّمتَهُyou have sought it
فَالسَيفُ أَكرَمُ مُجتَدىً يَمَّمتَهُ
فَإِذاand when تَلُوذُyou seek refuge بِهِin it فَأَمنَعُthen the strongest مَعقِلِstronghold
فَإِذا تَلُوذُ بِهِ فَأَمنَعُ مَعقِلِ
The sword is the noblest benefactor you have sought;
The sword is the most honorable resort taken,
When you seek refuge in it, it is the strongest stronghold.
So if you take refuge in it, it is the strongest refuge.
وَاِجعَلand make رَسُولَكَyour messenger إِنif بَعَثتَyou send إِلىto العِدىthe enemies
وَاِجعَل رَسُولَكَ إِن بَعَثتَ إِلى العِدى
زُرقَthe blue الأَسِنَّةِspearheads فَهيَfor they أَصدَقُare the truest مُرسَلِenvoy
زُرقَ الأَسِنَّةِ فَهيَ أَصدَقُ مُرسَلِ
Make your messenger, if you send to enemies,
And if you send a messenger to the enemy,
The blue spearheads: they are the truest envoy.
Of scorching tongues, they are the truest messengers.
وَاِعلَمand know هُدِيتَmay you be guided وَلاand not إِخالُكَI consider you جاهِلاignorant
وَاِعلَم هُدِيتَ وَلا إِخالُكَ جاهِلا
أَنَّthat الرَسولَthe messenger يُبينُreveals عَقلَthe mind المُرسِلِof the sender
أَنَّ الرَسولَ يُبينُ عَقلَ المُرسِلِ
Know—may you be guided; I do not think you ignorant—
And know, you are rightly guided and not ignorant,
That the messenger reveals the sender's mind.
That the messenger makes clear the mind of the sender.
وَاِقعُدand sit وَأَرضُكَand your earth ظَهرُthe back of أَجرَدَa sleek steed سابِحٍfleet
وَاِقعُد وَأَرضُكَ ظَهرُ أَجرَدَ سابِحٍ
وَسَماؤُكَand your sky الدُنياlowest غَيابَةُthe gloom قَسطَلِof a dust-cloud
وَسَماؤُكَ الدُنيا غَيابَةُ قَسطَلِ
Sit astride, with a sleek, fleet steed's back your earth,
And stay while your land is the plain of a swimming ostrich
And your lowest sky the gloom of a dust-cloud.
And your sky the disappearance of a kite.
كُنbe كَاِبنِlike the son of مَسعُودٍMas'ud حُسَينٍHusayn فيin النَدىgenerosity
كُن كَاِبنِ مَسعُودٍ حُسَينٍ في النَدى
وَالبَأسِand prowess أَوor فَعَنِthen from المَكارِمِnoble deeds فَاِعدِلِturn away
وَالبَأسِ أَو فَعَنِ المَكارِمِ فَاِعدِلِ
Be like Husayn, son of Mas'ud, in generosity
Be like the son of Masoud, Hussein, in help
And prowess—or else turn away from noble deeds.
Or the best traits, or be just.
الطاعِنِwho stabs الفُرسانَhorsemen كُلَّevery مُرِشَّةٍblood-spurting wound
الطاعِنِ الفُرسانَ كُلَّ مُرِشَّةٍ
جَيّاشَةٍgushing تَغليboiling كَغَليِlike the boiling of المِرجَلِa cauldron
جَيّاشَةٍ تَغلي كَغَليِ المِرجَلِ
He pierces horsemen with blood-spurting thrusts, each
Assailing horsemen, every stirring
Surging and boiling like a cauldron.
Army, boiling like the boil of a cooking pot.
وَالتارِكِand who leaves الأَبطالَheroes تَسجُدُprostrating هامُهاtheir heads
وَالتارِكِ الأَبطالَ تَسجُدُ هامُها
بِالسَيفِwith the sword غَيرَnot as عِبادَةٍworship لِلأَرجُلِof feet
بِالسَيفِ غَيرَ عِبادَةٍ لِلأَرجُلِ
He leaves heroes with their heads prostrate
And leaving heroes whose resolve bows down
By the sword, not in worship of feet.
With the sword, not worshipping legs.
وَالخائِضِand who plunges into الغَمَراتِperils لاnot مُتَقَهقِراًretreating
وَالخائِضِ الغَمَراتِ لا مُتَقَهقِراً
حَتّىuntil بِصارِمِهِby his sharp sword المُهَنَّدِIndian-forged تَنجَليthey clear
حَتّى بِصارِمِهِ المُهَنَّدِ تَنجَلي
He plunges into perils without retreating,
And plunging into battles, not retreating
Until they clear before his sharp, Indian-forged sword.
Until with its Indian blade it shines through.
وَالنازِلِand who occupies الثَغرَthe frontier الَّذيwhich لَوif يُبتَلىwere tested
وَالنازِلِ الثَغرَ الَّذي لَو يُبتَلى
بِنُزولِهِby occupying it رَبُّthe lord الحِمىof the preserve لَمwould not يَنزِلِsettle
بِنُزولِهِ رَبُّ الحِمى لَم يَنزِلِ
He holds the frontier where even, if challenged
And descending on the frontier which if
To settle there, the lord of the preserve would not settle.
The Lord of the sanctuary descended, he would not descend.
وَالحامِلِand who bears العِبءَthe burden الَّذيwhich لَوif حُمِّلَتwere loaded onto
وَالحامِلِ العِبءَ الَّذي لَو حُمِّلَت
هَضَباتُthe heights of سَلمىSalma بَعضَهُpart of it لَمwould not يَحمِلِbear it
هَضَباتُ سَلمى بَعضَهُ لَم يَحمِلِ
He bears the burden which, if loaded
And bearing the burden which if
In part upon Salma's heights, they could not bear.
The plateaus of Salma were loaded with part, they could not bear.
وَالواهِبِand who gives الكُومَthe high-humped camels الذُرىin their humps وَرعاتَهاand their herdsmen
وَالواهِبِ الكُومَ الذُرى وَرعاتَها
وَفِصالَهاand their calves عَفواًfreely ولَمّاand not yet تُفصَلِweaned
وَفِصالَها عَفواً ولَمّا تُفصَلِ
He gives away high-humped camels and their herdsmen,
And giving the sand dunes and their pastures freely
And their calves freely, before they are even weaned.
And their foals, freely though they are not given.
وَهُوَand he المُجيرُis the protector of الجارِياتِthe maidens مُرَوّعاًfrightening
وَهُوَ المُجيرُ الجارِياتِ مُرَوّعاً
مَنwhoever جارَهُwrongs him فِعلَwith the deeds of الهُمامِthe champion الأَطوَلِmost generous
مَن جارَهُ فِعلَ الهُمامِ الأَطوَلِ
He is the maidens' protector, striking terror
And he protects frightened refugee women,
Into whoever wrongs him, like a most generous champion.
Whose protector has done the longest of glories.
وَتَبيتُand spends the night جارَتُهُhis female neighbor وَلَمand has not يَرفَعhe raised لَهاfor her
وَتَبيتُ جارَتُهُ وَلَم يَرفَع لَها
كِسراًa tent-flap بِعِلَّةِon the pretext of قائِلٍa midday sleeper مُتَضَلِّلِgone astray
كِسراً بِعِلَّةِ قائِلٍ مُتَضَلِّلِ
His female neighbor passes the night without his raising
And his neighbor spends the night and he does not raise
A tent-flap, on the pretext of a lost man's midday rest.
A screen to her, with the excuse of a misleading speaker.
يُغضيhe lowers his gaze إِذاwhen بَرَزَتshe appears وَيَخفِضُand lowers صَوتَهُhis voice
يُغضي إِذا بَرَزَت وَيَخفِضُ صَوتَهُ
عَنهاtoward her فِعالَin the manner of الناسِكِthe ascetic المُتَبَتِّلِdevoted to worship
عَنها فِعالَ الناسِكِ المُتَبَتِّلِ
He lowers his gaze when she appears and lowers his voice
He looks away when she goes out and lowers his voice
Around her, like a devout, secluded worshipper.
From her, the deeds of an ascetic devotee.
لَمhe did not يَنطِقِutter العَوراءَa shameful word قَطُّever وَلاand did not اِصطَفىchoose
لَم يَنطِقِ العَوراءَ قَطُّ وَلا اِصطَفى
نَذلاًa base man وَلاnor أَصغىlisten لِقَولِto the words of مُضَلِّلِa misleader
نَذلاً وَلا أَصغى لِقَولِ مُضَلِّلِ
He has never uttered a shameful word, nor chosen
He never spoke improperly to a chaste woman,
A base man, nor listened to a misleader's words.
Or chose vileness, or listened to misleading words.
وَإِذاand when المُحُولُdroughts تَتابَعَتcome in succession أَلفَيتَهُyou find him
وَإِذا المُحُولُ تَتابَعَت أَلفَيتَهُ
مُتَبَجَّحَthe pride العافيof the supplicant وزادَand the provision المُرمِلِof the destitute
مُتَبَجَّحَ العافي وزادَ المُرمِلِ
When droughts come in succession, you find him
And when drunken camels follow each other,
The supplicant's pride and the destitute's sustenance.
The sober increase and the heavily indebted grow.
وَإِذاand when لَظىthe blaze الحَربِof war الزَّبونِfierce تَأَجَّجَتflares
وَإِذا لَظى الحَربِ الزَّبونِ تَأَجَّجَت
أَطفىhe quenches لَوافِحَهاits scorching blasts بِحَملَةِwith a charge of فَيصَلِa cleaving sword
أَطفى لَوافِحَها بِحَملَةِ فَيصَلِ
When the blaze of fierce war flares,
And when the clamor of war flares up,
He quenches its scorching blasts with a cleaving sword's charge.
He extinguishes its blazes with the strikes of his sword.
كَمhow many فارِسٍa horseman أَردىhe felled بِطَعنَةِwith the thrust of ثائِرٍan avenger
كَم فارِسٍ أَردى بِطَعنَةِ ثائِرٍ
تُدنيbringing near مِنَto الأَدبارِthe backs حَدَّthe edge المَقتلِof death
تُدني مِنَ الأَدبارِ حَدَّ المَقتلِ
How many a horseman he has felled with an avenger's thrust
How many horsemen has a raging stab
That brings death's edge close to the back!
Brought near to ruin and death!
وَعَميدِand a leader of قَومٍa people صَكَّhe struck مَفرِقَthe crown of رَأسِهِhis head
وَعَميدِ قَومٍ صَكَّ مَفرِقَ رَأسِهِ
بِالسَيفِwith the sword فيin لَيلِthe night of العَجاجِbattle-dust الأَليَلِdarkest
بِالسَيفِ في لَيلِ العَجاجِ الأَليَلِ
And how many a people's leader whose crown he struck
And the leader of a people whose head is cracked
With the sword in battle-dust's darkest night!
By the sword in the night of thick darkness.
يَلقىhe meets الكَتيبَةَthe battalion واحِداًalone فَكَأَنَّهاas though it
يَلقى الكَتيبَةَ واحِداً فَكَأَنَّها
فيin مِقنَبٍa small cavalry troop وَكَأَنَّهُand as though he فيin جَحفَلِa great army
في مِقنَبٍ وَكَأَنَّهُ في جَحفَلِ
He meets the battalion alone, as though it
He meets the battalion alone, and it is as though it
Were among a small cavalry troop, and he among a mighty host.
Is in a pass, and as though he is in a large group.
وَكأَنَّand as though جاحِمَthe blaze of كُلِّevery نارٍfire أُوقِدَتkindled
وَكأَنَّ جاحِمَ كُلِّ نارٍ أُوقِدَت
لِلحَربِfor war فيin عَينَيهِhis eyes نارُthe fire of مُهَوِّلِa frightener
لِلحَربِ في عَينَيهِ نارُ مُهَوِّلِ
And every blazing fire kindled
And as if the charger of every kindled fire
For war seems in his eyes a mere frightener's fire.
Of war, in his eyes is a terrifying fire.
تَلقاهُyou find him أَثبَتَmost steadfast ماwhen يُكُونَis جَنانُهُhis heart
تَلقاهُ أَثبَتَ ما يُكُونَ جَنانُهُ
وَالبِيضُand the white swords تَختَطِفُsnatch الرُؤوسَheads وَتَجتَليand gleam
وَالبِيضُ تَختَطِفُ الرُؤوسَ وَتَجتَلي
You find his heart at its steadiest
They are met by him whose soul is most steadfast
As white swords snatch heads and flash.
And the white swords snatch heads and shine.
مُتَهاوِناًscorning بِالمَوتِdeath يَعلَمُknowing أَنَّهُthat it is the case
مُتَهاوِناً بِالمَوتِ يَعلَمُ أَنَّهُ
سَيَمُوتُwill die بِالأَدواءِof diseases مَنwhoever لَمis not يُقتَلِkilled
سَيَمُوتُ بِالأَدواءِ مَن لَم يُقتَلِ
Scorning death, he knows that
Disdaining death, knowing he will die
Whoever is not slain will die of disease.
Of diseases, whoever is not killed.
نَهدٌa sturdy man عَلىon نَهدِa stout steed المَراكِلِin the flanks سابِحٍfleet
نَهدٌ عَلى نَهدِ المَراكِلِ سابِحٍ
رَحبِbroad اللِبابِin the chest مُحَجَّلٍwhite-marked لِلأَرجُلِin the legs
رَحبِ اللِبابِ مُحَجَّلٍ لِلأَرجُلِ
A sturdy man upon a stout-flanked, fleet steed,
A delicacy upon delicacy of stewing pots bubbling,
Broad-chested, with white-marked legs,
Spacious and dressed in robes to the feet.
مُتَمَطِّرٍswift-running ساميhigh التَليلِin the neck مُقابلٍnobly bred
مُتَمَطِّرٍ سامي التَليلِ مُقابلٍ
بَينَbetween النَعامَةِal-Na'amah وَالحرُونِand al-Harun وَقُرزُلِand Qurzul
بَينَ النَعامَةِ وَالحرُونِ وَقُرزُلِ
Swift-running, high-necked, nobly bred
Sprinkling, towering, opposing
From al-Na'amah, al-Harun, and Qurzul.
Between ostrich and crane and stork.
كَالمَجدَلِlike the tower العادِيِّof 'Ad إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it
كَالمَجدَلِ العادِيِّ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
يُمرىis spurred فَيَنقَضُّthen swoops اِنقِضاضَwith the swoop of الأَجدَلِa falcon
يُمرى فَيَنقَضُّ اِنقِضاضَ الأَجدَلِ
Like a tower of 'Ad, except that it
Like the running ostrich except
Is spurred and swoops like a falcon.
He charges and pounces like a jumping deer.
طِرفٌa noble steed يُعَوِّذُهُinvokes protection for it الأَريبُthe discerning man مُجَلَّلاًblanketed
طِرفٌ يُعَوِّذُهُ الأَريبُ مُجَلَّلاً
مِنbecause of شَرقِthe brilliance طُرَّتِهِof its forelock وَغَيرَand not مُجَلَّلِblanketed
مِن شَرقِ طُرَّتِهِ وَغَيرَ مُجَلَّلِ
A noble steed the discerning man wards with prayer when blanketed,
A glance protected by the pleats of his turban
For its gleaming forelock, and when unblanketed too.
On one side but not the other.
وَبِكَفِّهِand in his palm ماضٍa keen sword يُخالُis thought عَقيقَةًa lightning-flash
وَبِكَفِّهِ ماضٍ يُخالُ عَقيقَةً
لَمَعَتthat flashed بِصَفحَةِalong the face of عارِضٍa cloud مُتَهَلِّلِradiant
لَمَعَت بِصَفحَةِ عارِضٍ مُتَهَلِّلِ
In his palm is a keen sword, seeming a lightning-flash
And in his passing hand is a carnelian
That gleamed along the face of a radiant cloud.
That shone on the wrist of a dangling sleeve.
عَودٌa veteran blade عَنِabout اليَومَينِthe Two Days يُخبِرُit tells صادِقاًtruthfully
عَودٌ عَنِ اليَومَينِ يُخبِرُ صادِقاً
وَعَنِand about الثَلاثَةِthe Three وَالكُلابِand al-Kulab الأَوَّلِthe First
وَعَنِ الثَلاثَةِ وَالكُلابِ الأَوَّلِ
A veteran blade that tells truly of the Two Days,
A stick telling truthfully of the next two days
And of the Three, and the first al-Kulab,
And the third, and the first dogs.
وَالشَيِّطَينِand al-Shayyitayn وَلَعلَعٍand La'la' وأُوارَةٍand Uwarah
وَالشَيِّطَينِ وَلَعلَعٍ وأُوارَةٍ
وَحِمىand the preserve of ضَرِيَّةَDariyyah وَالنِباجِand al-Nibaj وَثَيتَلِand Thaytal
وَحِمى ضَرِيَّةَ وَالنِباجِ وَثَيتَلِ
And al-Shayyitayn, La'la', and Uwarah,
And demons, and barking, and howling,
And Dariyyah's preserve, al-Nibaj, and Thaytal.
And the protected lands of Dhariyah, and barking, and wolves.
أَبَداًalways يَقُولُit says لِمُنتَضيهِto whoever unsheathes it فيin الوَغىbattle
أَبَداً يَقُولُ لِمُنتَضيهِ في الوَغى
اِعلُstrike الطُلاthe necks وَالهامَand heads بيwith me وَتَوَكَّلِand put your trust
اِعلُ الطُلا وَالهامَ بي وَتَوَكَّلِ
It always says to whoever unsheathes it in battle:
Saying forever to its prospering owner,
Strike necks and heads with me, and put your trust.
“Rise to glory and power and put your trust in me.”
كَمhow many هامَةٍa skull شُقَّتwas split بِهِwith it وَدَعامَةٍand a pillar
كَم هامَةٍ شُقَّت بِهِ وَدَعامَةٍ
دُقَّتwas crushed فَخَرَّتand fell لِلحَضيضِto the depths الأَسفَلِlowest
دُقَّت فَخَرَّت لِلحَضيضِ الأَسفَلِ
How many a skull was split with it, and a pillar
How many humps split by it! And pillars
Crushed, then fallen to the lowest depths!
Knocked down, fallen to the lowest valley.
وَعَلَيهِand upon him مُحكَمَةُa coat firmly fastened القَتيرِin its rivets تَخالُهاyou imagine it
وَعَلَيهِ مُحكَمَةُ القَتيرِ تَخالُها
بَعضَone of الإِضاءِthe pools بِصَحصَحانٍon a bare plain أَنجَلِspacious
بَعضَ الإِضاءِ بِصَحصَحانٍ أَنجَلِ
Upon him is closely riveted mail, which you would take
And over it is the tight grip, seeming
For one of the pools upon a broad, bare plain.
Some brightness with the ringing of chains.
وَقعُthe impact الصَفيحَةِof the sword وَالقَناةِand the spear بِمَتنِهاon its surface
وَقعُ الصَفيحَةِ وَالقَناةِ بِمَتنِها
وَقعُthe footfall الحُفاةِof the barefoot وَريشَةٍand a feather مِنfrom أَجدَلِa falcon
وَقعُ الحُفاةِ وَريشَةٍ مِن أَجدَلِ
The impact of sword and spear upon its surface
The fall of shields and the rattle with their composition
Is like barefoot steps and a falcon's feather.
Is the fall of bare feet and a feather of eagle.
لَوif رُدَّcould be repelled مَحتُومُthe inevitable القَضاءِdecree لَقابَلَتit would confront
لَو رُدَّ مَحتُومُ القَضاءِ لَقابَلَت
بِالرَدِّby repelling مَحتُومَthe inevitable القَضاءِdecree المُنزَلِsent down
بِالرَدِّ مَحتُومَ القَضاءِ المُنزَلِ
If inevitable fate could be repelled, it would confront
If the destined judgment were reversed,
And repel the inevitable decree sent down.
The destined judgment would be met with reversal.
ماضيkeen المُهَنَّدِin Indian steel وَالسِنانِand the spearpoint وَعَزمُهُand his resolve
ماضي المُهَنَّدِ وَالسِنانِ وَعَزمُهُ
أَمضىkeener وَغَيرُand without كَهامَةٍdullness فيin المِقوَلِthe tongue
أَمضى وَغَيرُ كَهامَةٍ في المِقوَلِ
His Indian blade and spearpoint are keen, and his resolve
Going forth with sword and lance, his resolve
Is keener still, with no dullness in his tongue.
More decisive than any mere resolve in words.
زاكيnoble العُمُومَةِin paternal kin وَالخُؤولَةِand maternal kin غَيرُwithout ذيany
زاكي العُمُومَةِ وَالخُؤولَةِ غَيرُ ذي
أَشَبٍmixed lineage فَبُورِكَso blessed be he مِنas مُعِمٍّof noble paternal uncles مُخوِلِof noble maternal uncles
أَشَبٍ فَبُورِكَ مِن مُعِمٍّ مُخوِلِ
Noble in paternal and maternal kin, without
Pure of loftiness and intuition, not of
Tangled descent—blessed in his uncles on both sides.
Consultation, so blessed is he who is delegated authority.
أَمضىkeener إِذاwhen ماindeed هَمَّhe resolves مِنthan ذِيone possessing رَونَقٍbrilliance
أَمضى إِذا ما هَمَّ مِن ذِي رَونَقٍ
صافيpure الحَديدَةِin steel ذيpossessing فِرِندٍa watered pattern مُنصلِa sword
صافي الحَديدَةِ ذي فِرِندٍ مُنصلِ
Keener, when he resolves, than a gleaming
Most decisive when he intends
Sword of pure steel with a watered pattern.
A finely sharpened Indian scimitar.
نَدَّhe outstripped الوَرىmankind طِفلاًas a child وَبرَّزَand excelled يافِعاًas a youth
نَدَّ الوَرى طِفلاً وَبرَّزَ يافِعاً
وَبَنىand built العُلىlofty glory وَعِذارُهُwhile his cheek-hair لَمhad not يَبقُلِsprouted
وَبَنى العُلى وَعِذارُهُ لَم يَبقُلِ
He outstripped mankind as a child and excelled as a youth,
He nursed the land as a boy, and showed as a youth,
And built lofty glory before his cheek-hair sprouted.
And built high, while his goat-hair tent was not yet worn out.
إِغضاءُthe forbearance of قَيسٍQays فيwith شَجاعَةِthe courage of وائِلٍWa'il
إِغضاءُ قَيسٍ في شَجاعَةِ وائِلٍ
وَسَخاءُand the generosity of مَعنٍMa'n فيwith وَفاءِthe loyalty of سَمَوأَلِSamaw'al
وَسَخاءُ مَعنٍ في وَفاءِ سَمَوأَلِ
Qays's forbearance joined to Wa'il's courage,
The jealousy of Qais in the valor of Waeel,
And Ma'n's generosity joined to Samaw'al's loyalty.
And the generosity of Ma’n in the loyalty of Samawal.
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa people بِيضِwhite الوُجوهِof face أَعِزَّةٍmighty
مِن مَعشَرٍ بِيضِ الوُجوهِ أَعِزَّةٍ
جُرact unjustly يامُجاوِرهُمO their neighbor بِهِمwith their backing أَوor فَاِعدِلِthen be just
جُر يامُجاوِرهُم بِهِم أَو فَاِعدِلِ
From a people bright of face and mighty:
From a company of bright faced nobles,
Act unjustly, O their neighbor, with their backing—or be just.
Either mix with them, neighbor, or be impartial.
فَضلٌFadl أَبُوهُمis their father وَالمَعَظَّمُand the exalted عَبدَلٌ'Abdal
فَضلٌ أَبُوهُم وَالمَعَظَّمُ عَبدَلٌ
مَنwho مِثلُis like فَضلٍFadl فيin الفَخارِglory وَعَبدَلِand 'Abdal
مَن مِثلُ فَضلٍ في الفَخارِ وَعَبدَلِ
Their father is Fadl, and their exalted one is 'Abdal;
Superior is their father and the most revered Abdal,
Who matches Fadl and 'Abdal in glory?
Who is like Fadal in merit and Abdal?
وِإِذاand if عَدَدتَyou count أَباAbu سِنانٍSinan وَاِبنَهُand his son
وِإِذا عَدَدتَ أَبا سِنانٍ وَاِبنَهُ
وَاِبنَand the son of اِبنِهِhis son فَاِشرَبthen drink down خَصيمَكَyour rival أَوor كُلِeat him
وَاِبنَ اِبنِهِ فَاِشرَب خَصيمَكَ أَو كُلِ
If you count Abu Sinan and his son,
And when you count the father of Sinan and his son
And his grandson, then drink down your rival, or eat him.
And his son’s son, then make peace with your adversary or leave him.
غُرٌّillustrious men بَنىbuilt لَهُمُfor them الأَغَرُّthe illustrious أَبُوهُمُtheir father
غُرٌّ بَنى لَهُمُ الأَغَرُّ أَبُوهُمُ
بَيتاًa house أَنافَthat towered عَلىabove السِماكِal-Simak الأَعزلِthe Unarmed
بَيتاً أَنافَ عَلى السِماكِ الأَعزلِ
Illustrious men, for whom their illustrious father built
Gharr built the highest house for them,
A house towering above al-Simak the Unarmed.
On the tallest plateau bare of trees.
إِنif قالَspeaks قائِلُهُمtheir spokesman أَصابَhe hits the mark وَإِنand if رَمىhe shoots
إِن قالَ قائِلُهُم أَصابَ وَإِن رَمى
أَصمىhe kills outright وَإِنand if سُئِلَhe is asked النَدىfor generosity لَمhe does not يَبخَلِwithhold
أَصمى وَإِن سُئِلَ النَدى لَم يَبخَلِ
If their spokesman speaks, he hits the mark; if he shoots,
If their sayer says, he is correct, and if he aims,
He kills outright; if asked for generosity, he does not withhold.
He hits his mark, and if asked for help, he does not refuse.
عُقَدُthe knots of الجَبابِرِtyrants عِندَهُمat their hands مَحلُولَةٌare untied
عُقَدُ الجَبابِرِ عِندَهُم مَحلُولَةٌ
وَإِذاand if أَمَرّواthey tighten عُقدَةًa knot لَمit is not تُحلَلِuntied
وَإِذا أَمَرّوا عُقدَةً لَم تُحلَلِ
The tyrants' knots are untied at their hands,
The knots of tyrants by them are untied,
But when they tighten a knot, it is not untied.
And when they command to untie a knot, it will not be untied.
نَسلُthe offspring of العُيُونِيِّal-Uyuni الَّذينَwhom أَحَلَّهُمhe placed them
نَسلُ العُيُونِيِّ الَّذينَ أَحَلَّهُم
بِفِعالِهِthrough his deeds فيin المَجدِglory أَشرَفَin the noblest مَنزِلِstation
بِفِعالِهِ في المَجدِ أَشرَفَ مَنزِلِ
The offspring of al-Uyuni, whom he placed
The progeny of ‘Uyoon who has ennobled them
Through his deeds in glory's noblest station.
With his deeds in glory to the highest rank.
بِرِماحِهِمwith their spears وَصِفاحِهِمand their sword-blades وَسَماحِهِمand their generosity
بِرِماحِهِم وَصِفاحِهِم وَسَماحِهِم
وَرِثُواthey inherited السِيادَةَlordship آخِراًthe later عَنfrom أَوَّلِthe earlier
وَرِثُوا السِيادَةَ آخِراً عَن أَوَّلِ
With their spears, their sword-blades, and their generosity,
With their spears, swords, and generosity
They inherited lordship, the later from the earlier.
They inherited leadership lastly from the first.
لاmay not غالَهُمdestroy them صَرفُthe vicissitudes of الزَمانِtime فَكَمfor how many لَهُمare theirs
لا غالَهُم صَرفُ الزَمانِ فَكَم لَهُم
فيin الدَهرِthe ages مِنof يَومٍa day أَغَرَّwhite-blazed مُحَجَّلِwhite-footed
في الدَهرِ مِن يَومٍ أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلِ
May time's vicissitudes not destroy them! How many theirs
Time’s turning did not tempt them, for how many days
A white-blazed, white-footed day throughout the ages!
Were most honourable for them in fate!
ياO مَنyou who يَقيسُcompare بِآلِwith the house of فَضلٍFadl غَيرَهُمothers than them
يا مَن يَقيسُ بِآلِ فَضلٍ غَيرَهُم
لاdo not تُوهِمَنَّconfuse الدَوحَthe great trees غَيرَother than القَرمَلِthe qarmal shrub
لا تُوهِمَنَّ الدَوحَ غَيرَ القَرمَلِ
O you who compare others with the house of Fadl,
O you who compare others to the family of Fadal,
Do not confuse great trees with qarmal shrubs.
Do not imagine glory except for the moons.
ماnot كُلُّevery نَبتٍplant راقَpleased طَرفَكَyour eye لَونُهُits color
ما كُلُّ نَبتٍ راقَ طَرفَكَ لَونُهُ
مَرعىًis pasture وَلاnor كُلُّevery المِياهِbody of water بِمَنهَلِis a drinking-place
مَرعىً وَلا كُلُّ المِياهِ بِمَنهَلِ
Not every plant whose color delights your eye
Not every sprout whose color delights you
Is pasture; nor is every water a drinking-place.
Is a pasture, nor is every water a spring.
ياO آلَhouse of فَضلٍFadl دَعوَةًa call مِنfrom مُخلِصٍone sincere
يا آلَ فَضلٍ دَعوَةً مِن مُخلِصٍ
لَكُمُtoward you المَوَدَّةَin affection لَيسَnot بِالمُتَجَمّلِmerely putting on a show
لَكُمُ المَوَدَّةَ لَيسَ بِالمُتَجَمّلِ
O house of Fadl, a call from one sincere
O family of Fadal, a prayer from a sincere soul
In his affection for you, not merely putting on a show.
For you, sincere affection, not pretentious.
لَمwhy يَرتَقيascend to القَومُthe people الجَميمَthe lush growth وَماwhile nothing لَناis ours
لَم يَرتَقي القَومُ الجَميمَ وَما لَنا
غَيرexcept الأَلاءَةِthe alā' shrub مَرتَعاًas pasture وَالحَرمَلِand harmal
غَير الأَلاءَةِ مَرتَعاً وَالحَرمَلِ
Why do others climb to lush pasture, while we have
The vile people have not attained our lofty place,
Only the alā' shrub and harmal to graze?
And we have no pasture but the heights and sacred lands.
وَلِمَand why الشَقائِقُthe fertile valleys وَالتِلاعُand watercourses لِغَيرِناfor others than us
وَلِمَ الشَقائِقُ وَالتِلاعُ لِغَيرِنا
وَلناand for us الخَطائِطُthe dry patches قسمُthe allotment of مَنone who لَمdid not يَعدِلِdeal justly
وَلنا الخَطائِطُ قسمُ مَن لَم يَعدِلِ
And why are the fertile valleys and watercourses for others,
Why the anemones and choice plants for others
While ours are dry patches—the allotment of an unjust divider?
While only the worst plants are our portion?
وَالبارِدُand the cool العَذبُsweet الزُلالُclear water لِغَيرِناfor others than us
وَالبارِدُ العَذبُ الزُلالُ لِغَيرِنا
وَنُخَصَّand we are singled out بِالمِلحِfor the salty الأُجاجِbitter water الأَشكَلِdiscolored
وَنُخَصَّ بِالمِلحِ الأُجاجِ الأَشكَلِ
And cool, sweet, clear water is for others,
And the fresh cool water for others
While we alone receive bitter, salty, discolored water?
While we are reserved bitter saline water?
أَرحامُناour kinship bonds مِنsince يَومِthe day غُيِّبَwas buried جَدُّكُمyour grandfather
أَرحامُنا مِن يَومِ غُيِّبَ جَدُّكُم
فيin رَمسِهِhis grave مَقطُوعَةٌsevered لَمhave not been تُوصَلِrestored
في رَمسِهِ مَقطُوعَةٌ لَم تُوصَلِ
Our kinship bonds, since the day your grandfather was laid
Since the day your grandfather was buried
In his grave, have been severed and not restored,
In his grave, our ties are severed, not joined.
حَتّىuntil كَأَنّاit is as though we مِنfrom جُهَينَةَJuhaynah أَصلُناour origin
حَتّى كَأَنّا مِن جُهَينَةَ أَصلُنا
لاnot وُلدَoffspring of عَبدِ'Abd اللَهِAllah نَحنُare we وَلاnor عَلِي'Ali
لا وُلدَ عَبدِ اللَهِ نَحنُ وَلا عَلِي
Until it is as though our origin were from Juhaynah,
It is as if we are originally from Johainah
And we were not offspring of 'Abd Allah or 'Ali.
Not the sons of Abdullah, nor Ali!
وَلِمَand why العَدُوُّthe enemy يَرُوحُgoes home قِردَas the monkey of زُبَيدَةٍZubaydah
وَلِمَ العَدُوُّ يَرُوحُ قِردَ زُبَيدَةٍ
شَبَعاًsated وَمُصفِيwhile one sincere in الوُدّaffection كَلبَةَis the bitch of حَومَلِHawmal
شَبَعاً وَمُصفِي الوُدّ كَلبَةَ حَومَلِ
And why does the enemy go home like Zubaydah's monkey,
Why is the enemy gorged as the ape of Zubaidah
Sated, while the sincere friend is like Hawmal's bitch?
While the tender of affection is the starving dog?
لَولاكَwere it not for you قُلتُI would have spoken وَقُلتُand spoken لَكِنّيbut I اِمرُؤٌam a man
لَولاكَ قُلتُ وَقُلتُ لَكِنّي اِمرُؤٌ
أَبَداًalways أَصُونُI guard عَنagainst الشِّكايَةِcomplaint مِقوَليmy tongue
أَبَداً أَصُونُ عَن الشِّكايَةِ مِقوَلي
Were it not for you, I would have spoken and spoken; but I am a man
Were it not for you I would have said and said,
Who always guards his tongue against complaint.
But I am a man who always protects his words.
بَيتُthe house of الرِئاسَةِleadership لِيis mine وَحِكمَةُand the wisdom of دَغفَلٍDaghfal
بَيتُ الرِئاسَةِ لِي وَحِكمَةُ دَغفَلٍ
وَبَيانُand the eloquence of سَحبانٍSahban وَشِعرُand the poetry of الأَخطَلِal-Akhtal
وَبَيانُ سَحبانٍ وَشِعرُ الأَخطَلِ
The house of leadership is mine, and Daghfal's wisdom,
The house of leadership is mine and the wisdom of Daghfal,
And Sahban's eloquence, and al-Akhtal's poetry.
And the eloquence of Sahbaan and the poetry of Al-Akhṭal.
فَبَقِيتُمُso may you endure لِلمكرُماتِfor noble deeds وَلِلعُلىand for exalted rank
فَبَقِيتُمُ لِلمكرُماتِ وَلِلعُلى
أَبَداًforever بَقاءَfor the duration of عَمايَتَينِ'Amayatayn وَيَذبلِand Yadhbul
أَبَداً بَقاءَ عَمايَتَينِ وَيَذبلِ
So may you endure for noble deeds and exalted rank,
Yet you remain for favors and the heights,
Forever, as long as 'Amayatayn and Yadhbul endure.
Remaining forever like two veils that fade.
Sol 6.1