أَرَأيُكَ أَمضى أَم حُسامُكَ يَقطَعُ

أَرَأيُكَ أَمضى أَم حُسامُكَ يَقطَعُ

وَمرآكَ أَبهى أَم حَديثُكَ يُسمَعُ

وَمرآكَ أَبهى أَم حَديثُكَ يُسمَعُ

Is your judgment sharper, or your cutting sword?

Do I see your resolution or your sword cutting sharper,

And is your presence more splendid, or your speech when heard?

And your visage more splendid or your conversation more heard?

وَكُلٌّ لَهُ في جانِبِ المُلكِ مَسلَكٌ

وَكُلٌّ لَهُ في جانِبِ المُلكِ مَسلَكٌ

كَريمٌ وَمِن نَفسِ الإِمارَةِ مَوقِعُ

كَريمٌ وَمِن نَفسِ الإِمارَةِ مَوقِعُ

Each has, within the realm of kingship, a path

Each has its own path to rule’s portion,

Of honor, and a place at the heart of princely rule.

Noble and from the very emirate esteemed.

لَكَ الخَيرُ ما أَهداكَ وَالسَهمُ صائِبٌ

لَكَ الخَيرُ ما أَهداكَ وَالسَهمُ صائِبٌ

يَطيشُ وَما أَعداكَ وَالخَيلُ تُمزَعُ

يَطيشُ وَما أَعداكَ وَالخَيلُ تُمزَعُ

Blessings upon you! How unerring you are, when a true-aimed arrow

Good is what it gives you, and the arrow hits true,

Strays; and how swift you are, while horses gallop!

It goes astray, and what opposes you, while the horse is pulled apart.

وَلا غَيرَ أَطرافِ الأَسِنَّةِ مِقوَلٌ

وَلا غَيرَ أَطرافِ الأَسِنَّةِ مِقوَلٌ

يُبينُ وَلا غَيرَ الفَرائِصِ مِسمَعُ

يُبينُ وَلا غَيرَ الفَرائِصِ مِسمَعُ

No tongue but the tips of spearheads

And nothing but the tongues’ edges speaks,

Speaks clearly, and no ear but the quivering flanks.

And nothing but the precepts is heard.

وَما الوَشيُ حُسناً غَيرَ بيضِ مَحاسِنٍ

وَما الوَشيُ حُسناً غَيرَ بيضِ مَحاسِنٍ

لَبِستَ عَلى عِطفَي عُلاكَ وَتَخلَعُ

لَبِستَ عَلى عِطفَي عُلاكَ وَتَخلَعُ

And brocade's beauty is nothing but radiant virtues

Nor is the night beautiful but for white beautiful things

You wear upon your glory's shoulders and bestow as robes.

You wore on your shoulders, slipping off.

وَلا النَجمُ نَأياً غَيرَ ذُروَةِ مَعقِلٍ

وَلا النَجمُ نَأياً غَيرَ ذُروَةِ مَعقِلٍ

تَذودُ العِدى عَن جانِبَيهِ وَتَمنَعُ

تَذودُ العِدى عَن جانِبَيهِ وَتَمنَعُ

And no star is more remote than the summit of a fortress

Nor is the star lofty but for the peak of a fortress

That wards foes from its two flanks and keeps them out.

Repelling harm from its sides, refusing and preventing.

تَفوتُ رَجاءَ المُرتَجينَ وُعودُهُ

تَفوتُ رَجاءَ المُرتَجينَ وُعودُهُ

وَيَدنو بِهِ سَعدُ الأَميرِ فَيَطمَعُ

وَيَدنو بِهِ سَعدُ الأَميرِ فَيَطمَعُ

Its promises exceed the hopes of those who hope,

It misses the hope of the hopeful, while the fortune

Yet the prince's good fortune approaches it, and he grows hopeful.

Of the prince approaches it, so he aspires.

أَحَطتَ بِهِ حَصرَ الإِحاطَةِ مُضعِفاً

أَحَطتَ بِهِ حَصرَ الإِحاطَةِ مُضعِفاً

تُزَلزِلُ مِن أَركانِهِ وَتُضَعضَعُ

تُزَلزِلُ مِن أَركانِهِ وَتُضَعضَعُ

You surrounded it in an all-enclosing siege, weakening it,

You have surrounded it with repeated encompassing,

Shaking its foundations and bringing them low.

Shaking its pillars so they tremble.

وَأَمطَرتَهُ غَيثاً مِنَ العَيثِ واكِفاً

وَأَمطَرتَهُ غَيثاً مِنَ العَيثِ واكِفاً

يُظاهِرُهُ وَبلٌ مِنَ النُبلِ يَهمَعُ

يُظاهِرُهُ وَبلٌ مِنَ النُبلِ يَهمَعُ

You rained upon it a pouring shower of destruction,

And you have rained on it copious, deadly rain,

Reinforced by a streaming torrent of arrows.

Assailing it while the arrows in multitude rush.

تَضُمُّ جَناحَ الجَيشِ حَولَيهِ ضَمَّةً

تَضُمُّ جَناحَ الجَيشِ حَولَيهِ ضَمَّةً

تَكادُ بِها أَضلاعُهُ تَتَقَعقَعُ

تَكادُ بِها أَضلاعُهُ تَتَقَعقَعُ

You clasp the army's wing around it in an embrace

You fold the wing of the army around it with a fold

That almost makes its ribs rattle.

By which its ribs almost crack.

فَكَم ضَربَةٍ فَوهاءَ ثَمَّ وَمُقلَةٍ

فَكَم ضَربَةٍ فَوهاءَ ثَمَّ وَمُقلَةٍ

جَرَت هَذِهِ تَدمى وَهاتيكَ تَدمَعُ

جَرَت هَذِهِ تَدمى وَهاتيكَ تَدمَعُ

How many a gaping wound was there, and how many an eye,

So how many a hollow blow, then a stroking one

Flowing—this one bleeding, that one shedding tears!

This runs red and that one bleeds!

وَلا بَأسَ إِلّا مِن سُيوفِكَ تُنتَضى

وَلا بَأسَ إِلّا مِن سُيوفِكَ تُنتَضى

وَلا سَعدَ إِلّا في رِماحِكَ تُشرَعُ

وَلا سَعدَ إِلّا في رِماحِكَ تُشرَعُ

No martial might but from your swords unsheathed,

And no harm but from your swords removed,

And no good fortune but in your spears leveled.

And no fortune but by your spears deployed.

وَهَل أَنتَ إِلا رَحمَةُ اللَهِ تَنكَفي

وَهَل أَنتَ إِلا رَحمَةُ اللَهِ تَنكَفي

عَذاباً عَلى أَهلِ المَعاصي فَتَقمَعُ

عَذاباً عَلى أَهلِ المَعاصي فَتَقمَعُ

Are you anything but God's mercy, turning

And are you not but God’s mercy holding back

To torment upon the sinful, whom you subdue?

Torment from the disobedient, so it is suppressed?

فَكَم حِرزِ عِزٍّ قَد غَشيتَ بِبَطشَةٍ

فَكَم حِرزِ عِزٍّ قَد غَشيتَ بِبَطشَةٍ

تُصِمُّ العِدى رَجّاتُها حينَ تُسمَعُ

تُصِمُّ العِدى رَجّاتُها حينَ تُسمَعُ

How many a stronghold of might have you assailed with an onslaught

So how many a fortress of glory you have covered with a blow

Whose shocks deafen foes when they are heard!

That deafens the foe when it is heard!

وَغادَرتَهُ مِن مَعقِلٍ وَهوَ مَعقَرٌ

وَغادَرتَهُ مِن مَعقِلٍ وَهوَ مَعقَرٌ

لِمُعتَقِديهِ مَصنَعاً وَهوَ مَصرَعُ

لِمُعتَقِديهِ مَصنَعاً وَهوَ مَصرَعُ

You left it a stronghold turned slaughter-ground,

And you have left it a refuge, while it is a death-trap

For those who trusted it, a fortress turned killing-ground.

For those believing it a manufactory, and it is their grave.

فَأَنجَزَ فيهِ مَوعِدَ السَيفِ فاتِكٌ

فَأَنجَزَ فيهِ مَوعِدَ السَيفِ فاتِكٌ

يَهونُ عَلَيهِ الجانِبُ المُتَمَنِّعُ

يَهونُ عَلَيهِ الجانِبُ المُتَمَنِّعُ

There a daring warrior fulfilled the sword's promise,

So the promise of the sword was fulfilled by a conqueror in it

For whom the impregnable flank is no obstacle.

The side resisting submission seems slight to him.

وَأَهوى بِهِ طيبُ الحَديثِ فَنَشرُهُ

وَأَهوى بِهِ طيبُ الحَديثِ فَنَشرُهُ

يَخُبُّ بِهِ رَكبُ الثَناءِ وَيوضَعُ

يَخُبُّ بِهِ رَكبُ الثَناءِ وَيوضَعُ

And sweet report swept him along; its fragrance

And the aroma of praise captured it, so its renown spreads

Is borne by praise's caravan at trot and gallop.

Dispelling the mount of praise and casting it down.

إِذا هَزَّ أَعطافَ المَعالي حَسِبتَهُ

إِذا هَزَّ أَعطافَ المَعالي حَسِبتَهُ

يُديرُ بِها كَأساً عَلَيهِ تُشَعشَعُ

يُديرُ بِها كَأساً عَلَيهِ تُشَعشَعُ

When he sways the shoulders of high honors, you would think

When the summits of glory shake, you deem them

He passes a cup among them, its wine mixed for him.

Turning a cup on high, trembling.

وَحَسبُكَ مِن فَلجٍ لِأَبيَضَ واضِحٌ

وَحَسبُكَ مِن فَلجٍ لِأَبيَضَ واضِحٌ

يُعيدُ وَيُبدي في المَعالي فَيُبدِعُ

يُعيدُ وَيُبدي في المَعالي فَيُبدِعُ

And a radiant hero's manifest triumph is enough for you,

And your white, shining swords suffice against Abīyad,

As he renews and originates lofty deeds, excelling in them.

Repeating, displaying glories, excelling.

وَيا رُبَّ جَيشٍ لِلعَدُوِّ كَأَنَّهُ

وَيا رُبَّ جَيشٍ لِلعَدُوِّ كَأَنَّهُ

عُبابُ خِضَمٍّ قاد طَمى يَتَدَفَّعُ

عُبابُ خِضَمٍّ قاد طَمى يَتَدَفَّعُ

And oh, how many an enemy army seemed

And O Lord of an army to the foe as though it were

The surge of a vast sea, leading on, swelling and rushing forward!

Throngs of a flood the darkness led, seething.

عَرَضَت لَهُ وَاللَيثُ دونَكَ جُرأَةً

عَرَضَت لَهُ وَاللَيثُ دونَكَ جُرأَةً

فَأَجفَلَ إِجفالَ النَعامَةِ يَجزَعُ

فَأَجفَلَ إِجفالَ النَعامَةِ يَجزَعُ

You stood in its path, the lion less daring than you,

It showed him boldness, while you are its lion,

And it bolted like an ostrich, panicking.

So he recoiled, startled like an ostrich, frightened.

وَلَقَّيتَهُ ريحَ المَهابَةِ بارِحاً

وَلَقَّيتَهُ ريحَ المَهابَةِ بارِحاً

فَأَقلَعَ إِقلاعَ الغَمامَةِ تَقشَعُ

فَأَقلَعَ إِقلاعَ الغَمامَةِ تَقشَعُ

You exposed it to the scorching wind of awe,

And you met him with the wind of awe last night

And it withdrew like a cloud retreating and dispersing.

So he fled the fleeing of a cloud dispersing.

وَأَدبَرَ لا يَلوي عَلى مُتَعَذِّرٍ

وَأَدبَرَ لا يَلوي عَلى مُتَعَذِّرٍ

حِذارَ فَتىً يَسري إِلَيهِ فَيُسرِعُ

حِذارَ فَتىً يَسري إِلَيهِ فَيُسرِعُ

It fled, not pausing for anyone unable to proceed,

And he turned his back, not turning to one retreating,

For fear of a young warrior marching swiftly toward it by night.

Fearing a stalwart approaching him, hastening.

وَقَد جالَ دَمعُ القَطرِ في مُقلَةِ الدُجى

وَقَد جالَ دَمعُ القَطرِ في مُقلَةِ الدُجى

وَلَفَّت نَواصي الخَيلِ نَكباءُ زَعزَعُ

وَلَفَّت نَواصي الخَيلِ نَكباءُ زَعزَعُ

While rain's tears coursed in the eye of darkness,

And the tear of the Pleiades flowed in the darkness of night,

And a violent crosswind tangled the horses' forelocks.

And the mane of the horses tossed in stamping tumult.

لَهُ مِن صُدورِ الأَعوَجِيَّةِ وَالقَنا

لَهُ مِن صُدورِ الأَعوَجِيَّةِ وَالقَنا

شَفيعٌ إِلى نَيلِ الأَماني مُشَفَّعُ

شَفيعٌ إِلى نَيلِ الأَماني مُشَفَّعُ

From the breasts of Awaj-bred steeds and from spears he has

He has from the breasts of the crooked ones and Qana

An intercessor for attaining wishes whose plea is granted.

An intercessor for attaining hopes, pleading.

وَظَفَّرَهُ في مُلتَقى الخَيلِ ساعِدٌ

وَظَفَّرَهُ في مُلتَقى الخَيلِ ساعِدٌ

أَلَفُّ وَقَلبٌ بَينَ جَنبَيهِ أَصمَعُ

أَلَفُّ وَقَلبٌ بَينَ جَنبَيهِ أَصمَعُ

And in the clash of horses, a forearm won him victory,

And the left hand aided him when the horses met,

Thick and strong, and a resolute heart between his flanks.

A thousand, while stout hearts filled his sides.

وَأَبيَضُ يَتلو سورَةَ الفَتحِ يُنتَضى

وَأَبيَضُ يَتلو سورَةَ الفَتحِ يُنتَضى

وَيَستَقبِلُ الفَرق الكَريمَ فَيَركَعُ

وَيَستَقبِلُ الفَرق الكَريمَ فَيَركَعُ

And a white blade, drawn, reciting the Sura of Victory,

And Abīyad reciting Sūrat al-Fatḥ unsheathed,

Facing a noble head's hair-parting, then bowing.

And the noble squadrons bowed down kneeling.

وَمُنجَرِدٌ ضَخمُ الجُزارَةِ أَوحَدٌ

وَمُنجَرِدٌ ضَخمُ الجُزارَةِ أَوحَدٌ

يَطيرُ بِهِ تَحتَ العَجاجَةِ أَربَعُ

يَطيرُ بِهِ تَحتَ العَجاجَةِ أَربَعُ

And a sleek, great-limbed, peerless steed:

And Munjarrid, huge, alone, peerless,

Four legs fly with him beneath the cloud of dust.

Flying beneath the cloud-like pinions four.

وَحَصداءُ تَزري بِالسِنانِ حَصينَةً

وَحَصداءُ تَزري بِالسِنانِ حَصينَةً

وَوَجهٌ وَقّاحٌ بِالحَديدِ مُقَنَّعُ

وَوَجهٌ وَقّاحٌ بِالحَديدِ مُقَنَّعُ

And impregnable, close-linked mail that scorns the spearhead,

And Ḥaṣdā’ clad with spears, impregnable,

And a dauntless face masked in iron.

And a shameless face masked in iron.

رَتَعَت عَلى حُكمِ السَماحِ بِرَبعِهِ

رَتَعَت عَلى حُكمِ السَماحِ بِرَبعِهِ

وَمَربَعُ أَبناءِ السَماحَةِ مَرتَعُ

وَمَربَعُ أَبناءِ السَماحَةِ مَرتَعُ

I grazed freely at his dwelling, under generosity's rule,

They grazed in the judgment of generosity on its plains,

And the dwelling of generosity's sons is a pasture.

And meadows for the generous sons to graze.

وَعُجتَ عَلَيهِ عَوجَةَ الصَبِّ شاقَهُ

وَعُجتَ عَلَيهِ عَوجَةَ الصَبِّ شاقَهُ

بَريقٌ تَراءى آخِرَ اللَيلِ يَلمَعُ

بَريقٌ تَراءى آخِرَ اللَيلِ يَلمَعُ

I turned toward him as a lover turns, his longing stirred

And you roamed its wandering with the zeal of youth,

By a glimmer appearing at night's end, flashing.

A lightning glimpsed late in the night, flashing.

وَلَم أَرِدِ الأَوشالَ أَنقَعُ غُلَّةً

وَلَم أَرِدِ الأَوشالَ أَنقَعُ غُلَّةً

وَيُمنى أَبي إِسحاقَ لِلبَحرِ مَنبَعُ

وَيُمنى أَبي إِسحاقَ لِلبَحرِ مَنبَعُ

I did not seek trickling waters to quench a burning thirst,

I did not want the steeds’ trappings richly adorned

While Abu Ishaq's right hand is a source for the sea.

While the sea is a fountain for my father Isaac.

وَهَضبَتُهُ أَحمى جَناباً لِخائِفٍ

وَهَضبَتُهُ أَحمى جَناباً لِخائِفٍ

وَأَبطَحُهُ أَندى مُراداً وَأَمرَعُ

وَأَبطَحُهُ أَندى مُراداً وَأَمرَعُ

His hill offers the safest precinct for the fearful,

And its ridge hotter to the fearful side,

And his valley is the dewiest resort, the richest in pasture.

And its plain pleasanter for the seeker swifter.

فَمَن مِثلُ إِبراهيمَ وَالصُبحُ أَبلَجٌ

فَمَن مِثلُ إِبراهيمَ وَالصُبحُ أَبلَجٌ

وَمَن مِثلُ إِبراهيمَ وَالحَقُّ أَصدَعُ

وَمَن مِثلُ إِبراهيمَ وَالحَقُّ أَصدَعُ

Who is like Ibrahim, with dawn shining clear?

So who is like Isaac, and the dawn whitest,

And who is like Ibrahim, with truth so manifest?

And who like Isaac, and the truth most plain?

إِمامٌ تَدانى رَأفَةً وَسَما بِهِ

إِمامٌ تَدانى رَأفَةً وَسَما بِهِ

إِلى المَجدِ بَيتٌ طاوَلَ النَجمَ أَروَعُ

إِلى المَجدِ بَيتٌ طاوَلَ النَجمَ أَروَعُ

A leader, drawing near in compassion, yet borne aloft

A leader brought near in kindness, and a house led him

To glory by a majestic house that rivaled the stars.

To glory, towering above the stars, most splendid.

تَجَلّى وَمِن بَطحاءِ مَكَّةَ حَنَّةٌ

تَجَلّى وَمِن بَطحاءِ مَكَّةَ حَنَّةٌ

إِلَيهِ وَلِلبَيتِ الحَرامِ تَطَلَّعُ

إِلَيهِ وَلِلبَيتِ الحَرامِ تَطَلَّعُ

He shone forth, and from Mecca's plain came a yearning cry

It manifested, and from Mecca’s plain a warmth

Toward him, while the Sacred House gazed expectantly.

To it, and the Sacred House it longs for.

تَرى لِقُرَيشٍ فيهِ بَرقَ مَخيلَةٍ

تَرى لِقُرَيشٍ فيهِ بَرقَ مَخيلَةٍ

يَلوحُ وَعِرقاً لِلخِلافَةِ يَنزَعُ

يَلوحُ وَعِرقاً لِلخِلافَةِ يَنزَعُ

In him you see Quraysh's lightning from a rain-bearing cloud

You see for Quraysh in it the flash of an idea

Flashing, and a bloodline inclining toward the caliphate.

Beaming, and a lineage for the caliphate contending.

أَما وَأَيادٍ أَنطَقَتني بِحَمدِهِ

أَما وَأَيادٍ أَنطَقَتني بِحَمدِهِ

وَقَد طَوَّقَتني وَالحَمامَةُ تَسجَعُ

وَقَد طَوَّقَتني وَالحَمامَةُ تَسجَعُ

Indeed, by favors that made me speak his praise,

Verily, by hands that spoke my praise of him

And have collared me, while the dove coos—

While the dove encircled me, moaning.

لَئِن هُزَّ مِن أَرجاءِ حِمصَ مَسَرَّةً

لَئِن هُزَّ مِن أَرجاءِ حِمصَ مَسَرَّةً

حَديثٌ بِمَلقاهُ إِلَيها يُرَجَّعُ

حَديثٌ بِمَلقاهُ إِلَيها يُرَجَّعُ

If the quarters of Hims are stirred with delight

If a joyful event shakes Homs’ environs,

By news of meeting him, echoed back to the city,

A tale with its encounter to it turns.

لَقَد نابَ مِنّا وَالخُطوبُ مُمِضَّةٌ

لَقَد نابَ مِنّا وَالخُطوبُ مُمِضَّةٌ

وَشيكُ نَواهُ وَالحَوادِثُ توجِعُ

وَشيكُ نَواهُ وَالحَوادِثُ توجِعُ

We have indeed been stricken—calamities sting—

He has turned from us, and calamities persist,

By his imminent departure, while misfortunes hurt.

His doom is nigh, and sorrows wound.

وَفارَقَني صَبري لِذِكرى فِراقِهِ

وَفارَقَني صَبري لِذِكرى فِراقِهِ

وَشافَهَني قَبلَ الوَداعِ تَوَدُّعُ

وَشافَهَني قَبلَ الوَداعِ تَوَدُّعُ

My patience deserted me at the thought of parting from him,

My patience at his parting’s memory left me,

And leave-taking met me face to face before farewell.

And saying farewell, he bade me farewell before departure.

وَكُنتُ جَمادَ العَينِ أَجهَلُ ما البُكى

وَكُنتُ جَمادَ العَينِ أَجهَلُ ما البُكى

فَعَلَّمَني داعي النَوى كَيفَ تَدمَعُ

فَعَلَّمَني داعي النَوى كَيفَ تَدمَعُ

I had been dry-eyed, ignorant of what weeping was,

I was tear-ducts’ stones, ignorant of weeping,

So separation's summons taught me how the eye sheds tears.

Until the call of passion taught me how tears flow.

فَأَستَودِعُ اللَهَ الأَميرَ وَمُهجَةً

فَأَستَودِعُ اللَهَ الأَميرَ وَمُهجَةً

أُشَيِّعُها في مَن هُناكَ أُشَيِّعُ

أُشَيِّعُها في مَن هُناكَ أُشَيِّعُ

I entrust to God the prince, and a heart

So in God I trust the commander, and a love

That I send off within the one I send off yonder.

I bid farewell, and those yonder I bid farewell.

وَهُنِّئتَها مِن دارِ مُلكٍ وَهُنِّئَت

وَهُنِّئتَها مِن دارِ مُلكٍ وَهُنِّئَت

بِهِ مَلِكاً وَاللَهُ يُعطي وَيَمنَعُ

بِهِ مَلِكاً وَاللَهُ يُعطي وَيَمنَعُ

May you be congratulated on that royal abode, and may it be congratulated

And it congratulated a home of rule, and was congratulated

On him as king; God gives and withholds.

By a king, as God gives and forbids.