سَماrose high بِكَthrough you دَهرُكَyour age فَليَفتَخِرso let it boast
سَما بِكَ دَهرُكَ فَليَفتَخِر
عَلىover كُلِّevery دَهرٍage مَضىpassed أَوor غَبَرis yet to come
عَلى كُلِّ دَهرٍ مَضى أَو غَبَر
Your age has risen through you; let it boast
By you, your era can be proud,
over every age that has passed or is yet to come.
Prouder than any past or faded era.
فَلَوfor if أَنَّindeed أَيّامَهُits days أَوجُهٌfaces
فَلَو أَنَّ أَيّامَهُ أَوجُهٌ
لَكانَتwould be مَساعيكَyour achievements فيهاupon them غُرَرradiant forehead-marks
لَكانَت مَساعيكَ فيها غُرَر
For if its days were faces,
Had its days faces,
your achievements would be their radiant forehead-marks.
Your efforts in it would be bluffs.
وَكَمand how many جَدَّstrove hard مُجتَهِدٌa striving man فيin طِلابِseeking
وَكَم جَدَّ مُجتَهِدٌ في طِلابِ
عُلاكَyour heights فَلَمyet did not يَكتَحِلcatch sight بِالأَثَرof even a trace
عُلاكَ فَلَم يَكتَحِل بِالأَثَر
How many a striver labored in seeking
How much did an insistent striver strive
your heights, yet never caught sight of even their trace!
In seeking your heights, but gained no trace!
وَأَينَand where الثَمادُthe scant pools مِنَbeside الرافِدَينِthe Two Rivers
وَأَينَ الثَمادُ مِنَ الرافِدَينِ
وَأَينَand where مِنَbeside الفَرقَدَينِthe two Farqad stars السَمَرnight's shadow
وَأَينَ مِنَ الفَرقَدَينِ السَمَر
What are scant pools beside the Two Rivers?
Where is Thamud from the two Meads
And what is night's shadow beside the two Farqad stars?
Or the two 'Ad tribes from Samar?
كَأَنَّكَas though you أَحكَمتَmastered رَيبَthe vicissitudes of الزَمانِtime
كَأَنَّكَ أَحكَمتَ رَيبَ الزَمانِ
وَسُقتَand drove إِلىtoward ماwhat تَشاءُyou wish القَدَرdestiny
وَسُقتَ إِلى ما تَشاءُ القَدَر
It is as though you mastered time's vicissitudes
As if you had set time's course right
and drove destiny toward whatever you wished.
And led destiny wherever you wished.
بِصَرفِby the turning of اِعتِزامِكَyour resolve صَرفُthe averting of الخُطوبِcalamities
بِصَرفِ اِعتِزامِكَ صَرفُ الخُطوبِ
وَكَفِّand by the hand of اِنتِقامِكَyour vengeance كَفُّthe restraint of الغِيَرreversals of fortune
وَكَفِّ اِنتِقامِكَ كَفُّ الغِيَر
Your resolve's turning averts calamities;
By your resolve turning misfortunes
the hand of your vengeance checks reversals of fortune.
And your vengeance holding back the hostile.
وَطاوَعَكَand obeyed you الدَهرُtime فيمَنconcerning whomever تُريدُyou wish
وَطاوَعَكَ الدَهرُ فيمَن تُريدُ
فَمَنso whomever شِئتَyou wished ساءَit saddened وَمَنand whomever شِئتَyou wished سَرّit gladdened
فَمَن شِئتَ ساءَ وَمَن شِئتَ سَرّ
Time obeyed you concerning whomever you wished:
Time has obeyed you concerning whom you want:
whomever you wished it saddened, and whomever you wished it gladdened.
Whom you wished fared ill, whom well.
هَناكَmay it gladden you اِنفِرادُكَyour being unrivaled بِالمُعجِزاتِin wonders
هَناكَ اِنفِرادُكَ بِالمُعجِزاتِ
وَيَومُكَand your day ذاthis فَهوَindeed it يَومٌa day أَغَرّradiant
وَيَومُكَ ذا فَهوَ يَومٌ أَغَرّ
May your unrivaled wonders bring you joy,
There your miracles stand alone
and this day of yours: it is a radiant day.
And your day - yes, that day is most wondrous.
وَهَذاand this السِدِلّىthe Sidillā الَّذيwhich ماnot سَماrose
وَهَذا السِدِلّى الَّذي ما سَما
لَهُto it مَلِكٌa king فيin قَديمِthe ancient times of العُصُرages
لَهُ مَلِكٌ في قَديمِ العُصُر
And this Sidillā, whose height was never reached
And this Dilly man who never attained
by any king in the ages of old—
Kingship in ancient times,
رَفَعتَyou raised لَهُfor it قُبَّةًa dome أَصبَحَتthat became
رَفَعتَ لَهُ قُبَّةً أَصبَحَت
تَطولُtowers عَلىabove ماwhatever عَلاrose high وَاِشمَخَرّand towered
تَطولُ عَلى ما عَلا وَاِشمَخَرّ
you raised for it a dome that now
You raised a dome for him become
towers above whatever rises high and lofty.
Loftier than all lofty and towering things.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle بَدَتit appeared فيin الدُجىdarkness خِلتَهاyou imagined it
إِذا ما بَدَت في الدُجى خِلتَها
مُرَصَّعَةًstudded بِالنُجومِwith the stars الزُهُرbright
مُرَصَّعَةً بِالنُجومِ الزُهُر
When it appears in darkness, you imagine it
When it shows gleaming in the dark
studded with bright stars.
Bejeweled with stars all a-flower,
وَفيand in الدَجنِcloudy weather تَحسِبُهاyou deem it كاعِباًa full-breasted maiden
وَفي الدَجنِ تَحسِبُها كاعِباً
عَلَيهاupon her السَحائِبُthe clouds مِثلُlike الأُزُرwaist-wraps
عَلَيها السَحائِبُ مِثلُ الأُزُر
In cloudy weather, you deem it a full-breasted maiden,
You'd think, in the black dark, clouds
with clouds upon her like waist-wraps.
Like mantles were upon it.
تُراعُis startled لَهاby it الشَمسُthe sun عِندَat الطُلوعِrising
تُراعُ لَها الشَمسُ عِندَ الطُلوعِ
فَلَوso if مَكَلَتcould control (reading unclear) نَفسَهاitself لَمnot تُنِرshine
فَلَو مَكَلَت نَفسَها لَم تُنِر
The sun is startled by it when rising;
The sun makes way for it at sunrise
if it could control itself, it would not shine.
Else, had it kept itself back, it wouldn't shine.
وَلَوand if راءَهاsaw it البَدرُthe full moon فيat تَمِّهِits fullness
وَلَو راءَها البَدرُ في تَمِّهِ
وَكانَتand were لَهُfor it قُدرَةٌpower لِاِستَتَرit would surely hide
وَكانَت لَهُ قُدرَةٌ لِاِستَتَر
If the full moon saw it at its fullest,
And if the moon spied it at its fullest
and had the power, it would surely hide.
And had the power, it would hide itself.
فَصارَso it became لَهاfor it عَلَماًa landmark فيin البِناءِarchitecture
فَصارَ لَها عَلَماً في البِناءِ
كَسيرَةِlike the life of صاحِبِهاits master فيamong السِيَرrecorded lives
كَسيرَةِ صاحِبِها في السِيَر
Thus it became its architectural landmark,
So it became a sign in building
like its master's life among recorded lives.
Like its lord's wayfaring in travels.
فَإيوانُfor the hall of كِسرىKisrā وَإِنeven if أَعجَزَbaffled الthe
فَإيوانُ كِسرى وَإِن أَعجَزَ ال
بَرِيَّةَhuman race فيat جَنبِهِits side مُحتَقَرinsignificant
بَرِيَّةَ في جَنبِهِ مُحتَقَر
For Kisrā's hall, though it baffled the
Khosrow's iwan - though it made
human race, is insignificant beside it;
The uncouth despair - is trivial by it.
وَكُلُّand every بِناءٍbuilding بَنَتهُbuilt it المُلوكُthe kings
وَكُلُّ بِناءٍ بَنَتهُ المُلوكُ
حَديثٌnew عَلاrose high وَقَديمٌand ancient دَثَرcrumbled
حَديثٌ عَلا وَقَديمٌ دَثَر
as is every building kings have built,
Every building the kings erected
whether newly risen or ancient and crumbled.
New, lofty; aged, crumbling.
وَقَلَّand proved too little مَقَرّاًas a dwelling عَلىdespite ذيthese الصِفاتِqualities
وَقَلَّ مَقَرّاً عَلى ذي الصِفاتِ
لِمَنfor one who نَصَرَaided الدينَthe faith لَمّاwhen اِنتَصَرtriumphed
لِمَن نَصَرَ الدينَ لَمّا اِنتَصَر
Despite these qualities, it proved too little as a dwelling
How few the dwelling places for the owner
for one who upheld the faith when he triumphed.
Of traits when he championed the true creed!
فَأَضحَتso became عُرىthe bonds of الحَقِّtruth فيin ظِلِّهِhis shade
فَأَضحَت عُرى الحَقِّ في ظِلِّهِ
بِرَغمِdespite العِدىthe foes مُحكَماتِfirmly secured المِرَرin their twists
بِرَغمِ العِدى مُحكَماتِ المِرَر
Thus the bonds of truth became, beneath his shade,
Thanks to him the ropes of truth beneath his shade
despite the foes, firmly secured in their twists.
Survived, despite the foes, unbreakable.
لِمُنتَجَبِfor Muntajab (the chosen of) الدَولَةِal-Dawla (the state) المُصطَفىthe chosen الthe
لِمُنتَجَبِ الدَولَةِ المُصطَفى ال
مُظَفَّرِvictorious سَيفِSword of إِمامِthe Imam of البَشَرhumankind
مُظَفَّرِ سَيفِ إِمامِ البَشَر
For Muntajab al-Dawla, the chosen, the
For the state's choice, the Triumphant,
victorious Sword of the Imam of humankind.
Victorious sword of the humans' imam.
مَآثِرُglorious deeds تُخبِرُtell عَنof أَصلِهِhis lineage
مَآثِرُ تُخبِرُ عَن أَصلِهِ
وَماand not نَسَبَrevealed the lineage of السَيفَthe sword مِثلُlike الأَثَرits markings
وَما نَسَبَ السَيفَ مِثلُ الأَثَر
Glorious deeds proclaim his lineage;
Whose feats tells of his origin
nothing reveals a sword's pedigree like its markings.
As the sword's notching tells of its blow.
وَكَمand how many قَدindeed بَغاهاsought them المُلوكُthe kings الأُلىwho
وَكَم قَد بَغاها المُلوكُ الأُلى
فَأَعيَتbut proved unattainable عَلىto بَدوِهِمtheir nomads وَالحَضَرand townsfolk
فَأَعيَت عَلى بَدوِهِم وَالحَضَر
How many kings were there who sought them,
How much the scowling kings craved it
yet they eluded their nomads and townsfolk!
But their searching the towns and wastes wearied.
وَلَوand if يَظفَرونَthey attained لَعَمريby my life بِهاthem
وَلَو يَظفَرونَ لَعَمري بِها
لَكانَتthey would be لِتيجانِهِمfor their crowns كَالدُرَرlike pearls
لَكانَت لِتيجانِهِم كَالدُرَر
Had they attained them, by my life,
Had they won it, by my life,
they would have been like pearls upon their crowns.
It would have been the crowns on their brows.
شَآهُمoutstripped them إِلىtoward المَجدِglory ذوone possessed of هِمَّةٍambition
شَآهُم إِلى المَجدِ ذو هِمَّةٍ
بِباعِwith a span المَجَرَّةِof the Milky Way عَنهاshort of it قِصَرshortness
بِباعِ المَجَرَّةِ عَنها قِصَر
A man of high ambition outstripped them toward glory,
One of lofty resolve saw their vainglory
with a reach beside which the Milky Way's span falls short.
To be as the wind-borne spider web's.
تَضِلُّare lost مَناقِبُهُمtheir virtues فيin عُلاهُhis loftiness
تَضِلُّ مَناقِبُهُم في عُلاهُ
كَماjust as ضَلَّwas lost فيin الريحِthe wind سافيthe drifting العَفَرdust
كَما ضَلَّ في الريحِ سافي العَفَر
Their virtues are lost within his loftiness,
Their munifience sinks into his bounty
as drifting dust is lost in the wind.
As the slender into ample seas submerged.
وَيَغرَقُand is drowned جودُهُمُtheir generosity فيin نَداهُhis bounty
وَيَغرَقُ جودُهُمُ في نَداهُ
كَماjust as غَرِقَتwere drowned فيin الأَتِيِّthe rushing flood الغُدُرthe pools
كَما غَرِقَت في الأَتِيِّ الغُدُر
Their generosity is drowned in his bounty,
How can a cloud in the sky compete
as pools are swallowed by a rushing flood.
With his rain of gifts on people showering?
وَأَنّىand how يُساميcould rival سَحابَthe cloud of السَماheaven (continued)
وَأَنّى يُسامي سَحابَ السَما
ءِcompletion of 'heaven' فيon الأَرضِthe earth مِنهُfrom it الحَياthe rain المُنهَمِرpouring
ءِ في الأَرضِ مِنهُ الحَيا المُنهَمِر
How could the cloud of heaven be rivaled
How can lightning bolts vie with his glinting blade
by the rain pouring from it upon the earth?
Whose gleam foretells no rain will pour?
وَيُزجيand urges onward الظَعائِنَthe camel-litters صَوبُthe direction of البُروقِlightning
وَيُزجي الظَعائِنَ صَوبُ البُروقِ
وَبِشرُكَand your smiling face ذاthis بارِقٌa lightning flash لاnot يَغُرّdeceives
وَبِشرُكَ ذا بارِقٌ لا يَغُرّ
Lightning's direction urges the camel-litters onward;
Your contentment has held back the plea
this smiling face of yours is lightning that does not deceive.
Till the hoped-for came, as wished.
أَمَرَّtwisted tight اِرتِياحُكَyour generous eagerness حَبلَthe cord of الرَجاhope
أَمَرَّ اِرتِياحُكَ حَبلَ الرَجا
إِلىuntil أَنthat حَلاgrew sweet لِلمُنىto wishes ماwhat أَمَرّturned bitter
إِلى أَن حَلا لِلمُنى ما أَمَرّ
Your eager generosity twisted hope's cord tight,
In every land you passed
until what was bitter grew sweet to our wishes.
You left a trace - yes, some trace!
وَغادَرتَand you left فيin كُلِّevery أَرضٍland مَرَرتَyou passed
وَغادَرتَ في كُلِّ أَرضٍ مَرَرتَ
بِهاthrough it أَثَراًa trace ياoh لَهُfor it مِنof أَثَرa trace
بِها أَثَراً يا لَهُ مِن أَثَر
In every land you passed, you left
With the sword you exalted them
a trace—oh, what a trace!
Without you, not one stone had stood.
أَبانِيَbuildings بِالسَيفِby the sword أَعلَيتَهاyou raised them high
أَبانِيَ بِالسَيفِ أَعلَيتَها
وَلَولاكَand but for you ماnot قامَstood مِنهاof them حَجَرa stone
وَلَولاكَ ما قامَ مِنها حَجَر
Buildings you raised high by the sword:
You erased the corruptors' traces
but for you, not a stone of them would stand.
What is unforced cannot be forced.
مَحَوتَyou erased بِهاthrough them أَثَرَthe trace of المُفسِدينَevildoers
مَحَوتَ بِها أَثَرَ المُفسِدينَ
وَماand whatever لَيسَnot تَجبُرُyou mend لاnot يَنجَبِرis mended
وَما لَيسَ تَجبُرُ لا يَنجَبِر
Through them you erased the trace of evildoers;
Thus glory is reached by one who wants it
whatever you do not mend cannot be mended.
And homelands are settled by one who settles.
كَذاthus يَبلُغُattains العِزَّglory مَنwhoever رامَهُsought it
كَذا يَبلُغُ العِزَّ مَن رامَهُ
وَيَعمُرُand makes prosper أَوطانَهُhis homelands مَنwhoever عَمَرbuilt
وَيَعمُرُ أَوطانَهُ مَن عَمَر
Thus whoever seeks glory attains it,
Though the wicked bore sin therein
and whoever builds makes his homelands prosper.
You were exempted from that burden.
لَئِنeven if حَمَلَbore الوِزرَthe burden of sin فيهاthere العِدىthe foes
لَئِن حَمَلَ الوِزرَ فيها العِدى
فَإِنَّكَthen indeed you مِمّاagainst what جَنَوهُthey wrought الوَزَرthe refuge
فَإِنَّكَ مِمّا جَنَوهُ الوَزَر
If the foes bore the burden of sin there,
They made lawful forbidden things
you are the refuge against what they wrought.
Nearly rending the heavens apart.
أَحَلّواthey made lawful مَحارِمَforbidden things مِنfor دونِهاless than them
أَحَلّوا مَحارِمَ مِن دونِها
تَكادُnearly السَمَواتُthe heavens أَنto تَنفَطِرsplit apart
تَكادُ السَمَواتُ أَن تَنفَطِر
They violated sanctities, for less than which
Into war's deep well they drove you -
the heavens would almost split apart.
How many drivers were undriven!
وَقَدand indeed وارَدوكَthey joined you at بِحارَthe seas of الرَدىdeath
وَقَد وارَدوكَ بِحارَ الرَدى
وَكَمand how many وارِدٍan entrant مِنهُمُof them ماnot صَدَرcame back
وَكَم وارِدٍ مِنهُمُ ما صَدَر
They joined you at the seas of death;
Content with escaping, fearing harm
how many of them entered and never returned!
Though had you wished none could escape.
رَضواthey accepted بِالفَرارِflight حِذارَfor fear of البَوارِdestruction
رَضوا بِالفَرارِ حِذارَ البَوارِ
وَلَوand had شِئتَyou wished لَمnot يُنجِwould save مِنهاfrom it المَفَرّescape
وَلَو شِئتَ لَم يُنجِ مِنها المَفَرّ
They accepted flight for fear of destruction;
So you bewildered them from seeking heritage
had you wished, escape would not have saved them from it.
How much blood of theirs flowed wasted!
فَأَذهَلتَهُمso you stunned them عَنaway from طِلابِseeking التِراثِinheritance
فَأَذهَلتَهُم عَن طِلابِ التِراثِ
فَكَمso how much مِنof دَمٍblood مَرَّflowed مِنهُمfrom them هَدَرunavenged
فَكَم مِن دَمٍ مَرَّ مِنهُم هَدَر
You stunned them out of seeking their inheritance;
They will never pay you those debts
how much of their blood flowed unavenged!
Even were they the Forest's trees.
وَماand not يَقتَضونَكَdo they demand from you تِلكَthose الدُيونَdebts
وَما يَقتَضونَكَ تِلكَ الدُيونَ
وَلَوeven if أَنَّهُمthey فيin عِدادِthe number of الشَجَرtrees
وَلَو أَنَّهُم في عِدادِ الشَجَر
They do not demand those debts from you,
Their Mania beside the Cross
even were they as numerous as trees.
And whom you did not plunder went unplundered.
مَنِيَّتُهُمtheir doom بِجِوارِbeside الصَليبِthe Cross
مَنِيَّتُهُم بِجِوارِ الصَليبِ
وَمَنand whoever لَمnot تُجِرyou sheltered مِنهُمُof them لَمnot يُجَرwas sheltered
وَمَن لَم تُجِر مِنهُمُ لَم يُجَر
Their doom lies beside the Cross;
Everyone who tried to help it failed
whoever among them you did not shelter found no shelter.
So how can who conquers it be abased?
وَقَدand indeed ذَلَّwas humbled مَنthe one whom حاوَلواthey tried نَصرَهُto aid him
وَقَد ذَلَّ مَن حاوَلوا نَصرَهُ
فَكَيفَso how يَعِزُّgains strength بِهِthrough him المُنتَصِرone seeking aid
فَكَيفَ يَعِزُّ بِهِ المُنتَصِر
The one they tried to aid has been humbled;
Too hard for Romans was protecting
how can anyone seeking aid through him gain strength?
Religion's forts - to stab the forts!
وَعَزَّand proved hard عَلىfor الرومِthe Rūm ماwhat كُلِّفواthey were charged with
وَعَزَّ عَلى الرومِ ما كُلِّفوا
حَمىguarded ثُغَرَthe frontiers of الدينِthe faith طَعنُpiercing الثُغَرthroats
حَمى ثُغَرَ الدينِ طَعنُ الثُغَر
What they were charged with proved hard for the Rūm;
Concerning what your hounds did
thrusts at throats guarded the faith's frontiers.
To their king, for them it's a lesson.
وَفيماand in what جَرىoccurred مِنfrom طَريدَيthe two fugitives of ظُباكَyour blades
وَفيما جَرى مِن طَريدَي ظُباكَ
عَلىupon مَلكِهِمtheir king لَهُمُfor them مُعتَبَرa lesson
عَلى مَلكِهِم لَهُمُ مُعتَبَر
In what came from the two fugitives of your blades
Some dogs, while others some of those
upon their king, there is a lesson for them.
You smashed with a single blow.
وَبَعضُand some of كِلابٍKilāb وَهُمand they بَعضُsome of مَنthose whom
وَبَعضُ كِلابٍ وَهُم بَعضُ مَن
قَهَرتَyou subdued رَماهُمstruck them بِإِحدىwith one of الكُبَرgreat calamities
قَهَرتَ رَماهُم بِإِحدى الكُبَر
Some of Kilāb—who are among those
They thronged unto Damascus in their pride,
you subdued—struck them with a mighty calamity.
At which mountains bow down.
وَقَدand indeed يَمَّمواheaded toward الشامَSyria فيin قُوَّةٍa force
وَقَد يَمَّموا الشامَ في قُوَّةٍ
يَخِرُّfalls لَهاbefore it الجَبَلُthe mountain المُشمَخِرّtowering
يَخِرُّ لَها الجَبَلُ المُشمَخِرّ
They had headed for Syria in a force
Two hundred thousand invaders in two hundreds.
before which the towering mountain would fall.
But they scarcely lasted a blink of the eye.
مِئينَhundreds of أُلوفٍthousands غَزَواthey attacked فيwith مِئينَhundreds
مِئينَ أُلوفٍ غَزَوا في مِئينَ
فَلَمso not يَلبَثواthey lingered غَيرَbeyond لَمحِa glance of البَصَرthe eye
فَلَم يَلبَثوا غَيرَ لَمحِ البَصَر
They attacked hundreds of thousands while numbering hundreds;
Then they fled routed, fearing evil -
and they lingered no longer than an eye's glance.
But what fear can protect from fate?
وَوَلّواand turned away هَزيماًrouted حِذارَfor fear of الرَدىdeath
وَوَلّوا هَزيماً حِذارَ الرَدى
وَهَلand can حَذَرٌcaution عاصِمٌbe a protection مِنfrom قَدَرfate
وَهَل حَذَرٌ عاصِمٌ مِن قَدَر
They turned away, routed, for fear of death;
On a day when dogs exulted,
but can caution protect anyone from fate?
Bristling at all noble Murris.
بِيَومٍon a day تَكَنَّتclaimed a proud name كِلابٌKilāb بِهِthrough it
بِيَومٍ تَكَنَّت كِلابٌ بِهِ
عَلىover كُلِّevery ذيone possessed of نَخوَةٍpride مِنof مُضَرMudar
عَلى كُلِّ ذي نَخوَةٍ مِن مُضَر
On a day through which Kilāb claimed distinction
But no! You turned them toward Kosayr
over every proud man of Mudar.
And your resolve sent those raiders.
فَأَلّاso why not ثَنَوهاrepeat it حِيالَbefore القُصَيرِal-Quṣayr
فَأَلّا ثَنَوها حِيالَ القُصَيرِ
وَعَزمُكَand your resolve يَقدُمُleads تِلكَthose الزُمَرbands
وَعَزمُكَ يَقدُمُ تِلكَ الزُمَر
Why, then, did they not repeat it before al-Quṣayr,
Their prowess failed, their iron melted in fear
when your resolve was leading those bands?
Of the rending lion there.
وَقَدand indeed كَلَّgrew blunt بَأسُهُمُtheir might وَالحَديand the iron (continued)
وَقَد كَلَّ بَأسُهُمُ وَالحَدي
دُcompletion of 'iron' خَوفاًfor fear مِنَof الأَسَدِthe lion المُهتَصِرcrushing its prey
دُ خَوفاً مِنَ الأَسَدِ المُهتَصِر
Their might and their iron had grown blunt
Better staves' knock than war pounding
for fear of the lion that crushes its prey.
And needles' pricks than lances' stabbing.
وَوَقعُand the impact of الظُبىblades دونَless than قَرعِthe tapping of العَصاa stick
وَوَقعُ الظُبى دونَ قَرعِ العَصا
وَوَخزُand the prick of القَناspears دونَless than نَخسِthe pricking of الإِبَرneedles
وَوَخزُ القَنا دونَ نَخسِ الإِبَر
The blows of blades were less than taps of a stick,
Naught protects folk from destiny
and spear-pricks less than the pricking of needles.
When narrow is the house of spears.
وَماand what يَدفَعُwards off الكَرُّcharging عَنfrom أَهلِهِits men
وَما يَدفَعُ الكَرُّ عَن أَهلِهِ
إِذاwhen ضاقَwas cramped بِالدارِعينَwith armored warriors المَكَرّthe charging-ground
إِذا ضاقَ بِالدارِعينَ المَكَرّ
What can charging ward off from its men
Terror tore the war-makers from them
when the charging-ground is cramped with armored warriors?
As it tore the zebras from the donkeys.
ذَعَرتَyou terrified حُماةَthe champions of الوَغىbattle مِنهُمُamong them
ذَعَرتَ حُماةَ الوَغى مِنهُمُ
كَماas اِنذَعَرَتwere terrified لِلهِزَبرِby the lion الحُمُرthe wild asses
كَما اِنذَعَرَت لِلهِزَبرِ الحُمُر
You terrified their champions of battle,
On what day did you see the fray
as wild asses are terrified by the lion.
And not keep pulling victory's train?
وَفيand on أَيِّwhich يَومٍday شَهِدتَyou witnessed الوَغىbattle
وَفي أَيِّ يَومٍ شَهِدتَ الوَغى
وَماand not عُدتَyou returned تَسحَبُtrailing ذَيلَthe hem of الظَفَرvictory
وَما عُدتَ تَسحَبُ ذَيلَ الظَفَر
On what day have you entered battle
The seasoned avoided this fight
and not returned trailing the hem of victory?
And news the amateur found dire.
تَجَنَّبَshunned ذوone possessed of الخُبرِexperience هَذاthis النِزالَcombat
تَجَنَّبَ ذو الخُبرِ هَذا النِزالَ
وَرَوَّعَand terrified غَيرَone other than الخَبيرِthe experienced man الخَبَرthe report
وَرَوَّعَ غَيرَ الخَبيرِ الخَبَر
The experienced man shunned this combat;
Had the riffraff disputed with you out of error
the report terrified the inexperienced.
It would have rubbed the experience from the expert.
وَلَوand if شاجَروكَcrossed with you القَناspears ضَلَّةًin folly
وَلَو شاجَروكَ القَنا ضَلَّةً
لَطَمَّwould overwhelm عَلىbeyond الخَبَرِthe report المُختَبَرactual experience
لَطَمَّ عَلى الخَبَرِ المُختَبَر
Had they crossed spears with you in folly,
The lion of earth concedes your might
actual experience would have overwhelmed the report.
When death gapes its mouth in a grin.
يُقِرُّacknowledge بِبَأسِكَyour might أُسدُthe lions of الثَرىthe earth
يُقِرُّ بِبَأسِكَ أُسدُ الثَرى
إِذاwhen المَوتُdeath عَنto expose ناجِذَيهِits two fangs فَغَرgaped
إِذا المَوتُ عَن ناجِذَيهِ فَغَر
The lions of the earth acknowledge your might
Distant people now fight shy of you,
when death gapes, baring its two fangs.
Wastelanders and settled folk.
فَقَدfor indeed أَحجَمَdrew back الناسُpeople عَنكَfrom you الغَداthis morning (continued)
فَقَد أَحجَمَ الناسُ عَنكَ الغَدا
ةَcompletion of 'this morning' أَهلُthe people of الفَيافيthe deserts وَأَهلُand the people of المَدَرclay-built settlements
ةَ أَهلُ الفَيافي وَأَهلُ المَدَر
People have drawn back from you this morning—
Events made bare their white blades.
the people of the wastes and of clay-built settlements.
First your fathers, then the famed sword.
وَقائِعُbattles جَلّىdispelled دَياجيرَهاtheir darkness
وَقائِعُ جَلّى دَياجيرَها
إِباؤُكَyour proud refusal ثُمَّthen الحُسامُthe sword الذَكَرhard-tempered
إِباؤُكَ ثُمَّ الحُسامُ الذَكَر
Battles whose darkness was dispelled
Through it your superiority to all was clear.
by your proud refusal, then the hard-tempered sword:
By night the moon's superiority.
بِهاthrough them بانَbecame clear فَضلُكَyour excellence لِلعالَمينَto all peoples
بِها بانَ فَضلُكَ لِلعالَمينَ
وَبِاللَيلِand at night يُعرَفُis known فَضلُthe excellence of القَمَرthe moon
وَبِاللَيلِ يُعرَفُ فَضلُ القَمَر
through them your excellence became clear to all peoples,
Our days passed under your protection,
and at night the moon's excellence is known.
Safe, yes, forever from bitterness.
صَفَتgrew clear فيin جَنابِكَyour presence أَيّامُناour days
صَفَت في جَنابِكَ أَيّامُنا
فَحاشىso far be it لَهاfrom them أَبَداًever مِنfrom كَدَرcloudiness
فَحاشى لَها أَبَداً مِن كَدَر
Our days have grown clear in your presence;
You bettered our homelands through justice
may they never know any clouding!
Without you, no settled place had been improved.
وَحَسَّنتَand you beautified بِالعَدلِthrough justice أَوطانَناour homelands
وَحَسَّنتَ بِالعَدلِ أَوطانَنا
وَلَولاكَand but for you ماnot حَسُنَتthey were pleasant مُستَقَرّas a dwelling
وَلَولاكَ ما حَسُنَت مُستَقَرّ
Through justice you made our homelands beautiful;
So the Lord on High built what you built
but for you, they would not be pleasant dwellings.
And did not deprive Syria of this oversight.
فَشَيَّدَso may strengthen رَبُّthe Lord of العُلىloftiness ماwhat بَنَيتَyou built
فَشَيَّدَ رَبُّ العُلى ما بَنَيتَ
وَلاand not أَعدَمَmay He deprive الشامَSyria هَذاthis النَظَرcare
وَلا أَعدَمَ الشامَ هَذا النَظَر
May the Lord of loftiness strengthen what you built,
How many a sanctuary, had you neglected it,
and never deprive Syria of this watchful care.
Would have been despoiled! How many a frontier,
وَكَمand how many حَرَمٍa sanctuary لَوif نَأَيتَyou withdrew اِستُبيحَwould be violated
وَكَم حَرَمٍ لَو نَأَيتَ اِستُبيحَ
وَكَمand how many ثَغَرٍa frontier لَوif بَعُدتَyou went far away اِنثَغَرwould be breached
وَكَم ثَغَرٍ لَو بَعُدتَ اِنثَغَر
How many sanctuaries would be violated if you withdrew,
Had you been far, would have been breached!
and frontiers breached if you went far away!
Without your battles and favors
وَلَولاand but for قِراعُكَyour combat وَالمَكرُماتُand generous deeds
وَلَولا قِراعُكَ وَالمَكرُماتُ
لَماتَwould die بِهِin it الناسُthe people خَوفاًfrom fear وَضُرّand harm
لَماتَ بِهِ الناسُ خَوفاً وَضُرّ
But for your combat and generous deeds,
People would have died from fear and woes.
its people would die of fear and harm.
You rewarded equally the repentant and obstinate:
جَزَيتَyou requited المُنيبينَthe repentant وَالمارِقيand the renegades (continued)
جَزَيتَ المُنيبينَ وَالمارِقي
نَcompletion of 'renegades' بِالخَيرِfor good خَيراًgood وَبِالشَرِّand for evil شَرّevil
نَ بِالخَيرِ خَيراً وَبِالشَرِّ شَرّ
You have requited the repentant and the renegades
Good for good and ill for ill.
with good for good, and evil for evil.
We don't recall past troubles -
فَلَسناso we do not نُفَكِّرُworry بِالحادِثاتِabout calamities
فَلَسنا نُفَكِّرُ بِالحادِثاتِ
طَوىfolded away جَورَهاtheir tyranny عَدلُكَyour justice المُنتَشِرwidespread
طَوى جَورَها عَدلُكَ المُنتَشِر
We do not worry about calamities;
Your spreading justice folded up their wrong.
your widespread justice has folded away their tyranny.
You are the most generous possessor of might
وَإِنَّكَand indeed you أَكرَمُthe noblest ذيone possessed of قُدرَةٍpower
وَإِنَّكَ أَكرَمُ ذي قُدرَةٍ
عَفاpardoned وَتَجاوَزَand overlooked لَمّاwhen قَدَرhad power
عَفا وَتَجاوَزَ لَمّا قَدَر
You are the noblest possessor of power
Who pardoned and overlooked when able.
who pardoned and overlooked when he had the power.
For you excuse has ample scope
وَلِلعُذرِand for an excuse عِندَكَwith you إيساعُهُits ample accommodation
وَلِلعُذرِ عِندَكَ إيساعُهُ
قَبولاًin acceptance وَلِلذَنبِand for a sin أَنto يُغتَفَرbe forgiven
قَبولاً وَلِلذَنبِ أَن يُغتَفَر
With you, an excuse finds ample room
For acceptance, and sin to be forgiven.
for acceptance, and a sin is forgiven.
I openly boast of gaining such traits -
فَفَخراًso take pride بِنَيلِكِin your attaining هَذيthese الخِلالَqualities
فَفَخراً بِنَيلِكِ هَذي الخِلالَ
فَفيfor in عُشرِa tenth of مِعشارِهاtheir tenth مُفتَخَرcause for pride
فَفي عُشرِ مِعشارِها مُفتَخَر
So take pride in attaining these qualities:
Yes, of a tenth of their tenth I am proud.
even a tenth of their tenth gives cause for pride.
Virtues never gathered in one person
فَضائِلُvirtues لَمnot تَجتَمِعcame together فيamong الوَرىhumankind
فَضائِلُ لَم تَجتَمِع في الوَرى
فَسُبحانَso glory be to جامِعِهاtheir gatherer فيin بَشَرa human being
فَسُبحانَ جامِعِها في بَشَر
Virtues never united among humankind:
So Glory to the One Who gathered them in a mortal!
glory be to Him who gathered them in a human being!
Had they been created ere Revelation descended
وَلَوand if خُلِقَتthey were created قَبلَbefore أَنthat يَنزِلَdescended الthe
وَلَو خُلِقَت قَبلَ أَن يَنزِلَ ال
كِتابُBook أَتىwould have come ذِكرُهاtheir mention فيin السُوَرthe surahs
كِتابُ أَتى ذِكرُها في السُوَر
Had they been created before the descent of the
Their mention would have been in the surahs.
Book, they would have been mentioned in the surahs.
None of noble lineage should seek to gain them -
فَلاso not يَرجُlet aspire ذوone possessed of شَرَفٍnobility نَيلَهاattaining them
فَلا يَرجُ ذو شَرَفٍ نَيلَها
فَإِنَّfor indeed الطَريقَthe road إِلَيهاto them خَطِرperilous
فَإِنَّ الطَريقَ إِلَيها خَطِر
Let no noble man hope to attain them:
That path to them is dangerous.
the road to them is perilous.
None dares ride the deathly precipice
وَماand not يَركَبُventures into الخَطَرَdanger المُستَهالَterrifying
وَما يَركَبُ الخَطَرَ المُستَهالَ
مِنَamong القَومِthe people إِلّاexcept العَظيمُgreat in الخَطَرworth
مِنَ القَومِ إِلّا العَظيمُ الخَطَر
None ventures upon fearsome peril
Save the greatly perilous.
among men except one of mighty worth.
None perfects himself until he is
وَماand not يَكمُلُbecomes complete المَرءُa person حَتّىuntil يَكونَhe is
وَما يَكمُلُ المَرءُ حَتّى يَكونَ
لَدىin السِلمِpeace حُلواًsweet وَفيand in الحَربِwar مُرّbitter
لَدى السِلمِ حُلواً وَفي الحَربِ مُرّ
A person is not complete until he is
Gentle when at peace and harsh in war.
sweet in peace and bitter in war.
A virtuous woman whom women birth
وَعَذراءَand a virgin لَمّاnot yet تَلِدهاborne her النِساءُwomen
وَعَذراءَ لَمّا تَلِدها النِساءُ
وَلَكِنَّهاbut she مِنof بَناتِthe daughters of الفِكَرthoughts
وَلَكِنَّها مِن بَناتِ الفِكَر
And a virgin whom women have not borne,
Comes not from wombs but minds.
but who is one of thought's daughters:
When singers lift their voices,
إِذاif رَفَعَelevates الخَفَرُmodesty الغانِياتِbeautiful women
إِذا رَفَعَ الخَفَرُ الغانِياتِ
سَمَتshe rises بِالتَبَرُّجِthrough display لاnot بِالخَفَرthrough modesty
سَمَت بِالتَبَرُّجِ لا بِالخَفَر
if modesty raises beautiful women high,
The chaste rise above singers.
she rises through display, not modesty.
She donned eloquence's intricacies
تَحَلَّتshe adorned herself بَدائِعَwith marvels of حُرِّnoble الكَلامِspeech
تَحَلَّت بَدائِعَ حُرِّ الكَلامِ
كَماas يَتَحَلّىadorns itself القَضيبُthe bough الزَهَرwith blossoms
كَما يَتَحَلّى القَضيبُ الزَهَر
She adorned herself with marvels of noble speech,
As a twig dons its blossoms.
as a bough adorns itself with blossoms.
And she came to praise you for what you attained,
وَجاءَتكَand she came to you تُثنيpraising بِماwhat قَدindeed أَنَلتَyou bestowed
وَجاءَتكَ تُثني بِما قَد أَنَلتَ
وَلِلغارِسينَand for the planters اِجتِناءُgathering الثَمَرthe fruit
وَلِلغارِسينَ اِجتِناءُ الثَمَر
She came to you praising what you bestowed;
While planters reap what they planted.
those who plant have the gathering of the fruit.
I did not flag, as you can see,
وَلَمand not آلُI spared جُهداًeffort كَماas قَدindeed تَرىyou see
وَلَم آلُ جُهداً كَما قَد تَرى
وَإِنّيand indeed I بِتَقصيرِregarding the shortfall of جَرييmy running مُقِرّacknowledging
وَإِنّي بِتَقصيرِ جَريي مُقِرّ
I spared no effort, as you can see,
Though I admit my falling short.
yet I admit how short my running falls.
Flattery of other than you
وَماand not أَناI مُثنٍone praising عَلىconcerning مَنone who عَداكَis other than you
وَما أَنا مُثنٍ عَلى مَن عَداكَ
رَجاءًin hope لَهُof him ماas long as تَمادىendures العُمُرlife
رَجاءً لَهُ ما تَمادى العُمُر
I praise no one other than you
Seeking favor, however long my life drags on.
in hope of him, as long as life endures.
My truthfulness forbade sophistry
نَهانيkept me عَنِfrom الضَيحِwatered milk قُربُthe nearness of الصَريحِpure milk
نَهاني عَنِ الضَيحِ قُربُ الصَريحِ
وَأَنسانِيَand made me forget الغَمرُthe abundant flood شُربَdrinking الغُمَرfrom a small cup
وَأَنسانِيَ الغَمرُ شُربَ الغُمَر
The nearness of pure milk kept me from watered milk;
While the wine made me forget all but wine.
the flood made me forget drinking from a little cup.
My wishes overflowed from your repose
وَجادَتand rained down أَمانِيَّmy wishes مِنfrom راحَتَيكَyour two palms
وَجادَت أَمانِيَّ مِن راحَتَيكَ
فَلَمso not يَبقَremained ليfor me عِندَwith خَلقٍany creature وَطَرa need
فَلَم يَبقَ لي عِندَ خَلقٍ وَطَر
My wishes rained down from your two palms,
Leaving me no need from any creation.
leaving me no need with any other creature.
With hands whose bounty overwhelms me
أَيادِيَfavors يَغمِرُنيoverwhelms me جودُهاtheir bounty
أَيادِيَ يَغمِرُني جودُها
كَماas غَمَرَflooded الأَرضَthe earth جَودُthe copious fall of المَطَرrain
كَما غَمَرَ الأَرضَ جَودُ المَطَر
Favors whose bounty overwhelms me,
As rain overwhelms the land with bounty.
as copious rain floods the earth:
With it time desisted from its tyranny
بِهاthrough them أَقلَعَdesisted الدَهرُtime عَنfrom جُرمِهِits offense
بِها أَقلَعَ الدَهرُ عَن جُرمِهِ
وَلَوand if لَمnot أَصِرI came فيinto حِماهاtheir protection أَصَرّit would have persisted
وَلَو لَم أَصِر في حِماها أَصَرّ
through them, time desisted from its offense;
Else had I not kept my pact, I would have snapped.
had I not entered their protection, it would have persisted.
So for the favor you conferred on me
فَليso I have بِالجَميلِfor the kindness الَّذيwhich خَوَّلَتthey bestowed
فَلي بِالجَميلِ الَّذي خَوَّلَت
لِسانٌa tongue يُقِرُّacknowledges وَعَينٌand an eye تَقَرّis gladdened
لِسانٌ يُقِرُّ وَعَينٌ تَقَرّ
For the kindness they bestowed, I have
I've a tongue admitting, an eye joyously beholding.
a tongue that acknowledges it and an eye gladdened.
Yes, your action toward me
لَقَدindeed سارَcarried abroad فِعلُكَyour deeds بيme فيamong الأَنامِhumankind
لَقَد سارَ فِعلُكَ بي في الأَنامِ
وَلاand no عُذرَexcuse لِلحَمدِfor praise إِنif لَمnot يَسِرit travels
وَلا عُذرَ لِلحَمدِ إِن لَم يَسِر
Your deeds have carried my name among humankind;
Circulated among people - I've no excuse not to praise.
praise has no excuse if it does not travel.
Then praise spread among the people, and I have no excuse not to join in praise.
Sol 6.1