الآنَnow سَحَّpoured forth غَمامُthe cloud النَصرِof victory فَاِنهَمَلاand streamed down
الآنَ سَحَّ غَمامُ النَصرِ فَاِنهَمَلا
وَقامَand rose upright صَغوُthe leaning عَمودِof the pillar الدينِof faith فَاِعتَدَلاand so straightened
وَقامَ صَغوُ عَمودِ الدينِ فَاِعتَدَلا
Now victory's cloud has poured forth and streamed down.
Now the clouds of victory have dispersed, no longer gathered,
And the leaning pillar of faith has risen and stood straight.
And the young pillar of religion stands upright.
وَلاحَand shone لِلسَعدِfor good fortune نَجمٌa star قَدhad خَوىset فَهَوىthen fell
وَلاحَ لِلسَعدِ نَجمٌ قَد خَوى فَهَوى
وَكَرَّand returned لِلنَصرِfor victory عَصرٌan age قَدhad مَضىpassed فَخَلاthen was gone
وَكَرَّ لِلنَصرِ عَصرٌ قَد مَضى فَخَلا
And a star of fortune shone, once set and fallen.
A star of good fortune shone for Sa'd after being hidden,
And an age of victory returned, once passed away and gone.
And an era of victory returned after being lost.
وَباتَand spent the night يَطلُعُrising نَقعُthe dust الجَيشِof the army مُعتَكِراًthick and swirling
وَباتَ يَطلُعُ نَقعُ الجَيشِ مُعتَكِراً
بِحَيثُwhere يَطلُعُrises وَجهُthe face الفَتحِof conquest مُقتَبِلاfacing forward
بِحَيثُ يَطلُعُ وَجهُ الفَتحِ مُقتَبِلا
And the army's dust rose through the night, thick and swirling,
The army's encampment emerges at daybreak
Where the face of conquest rose, facing forward.
Where the face of conquest appears facing it,
مِنfrom عَسكَرٍan army رَجَفَتtrembled أَرضُthe land العَدوُّof the enemy بِهِbecause of it
مِن عَسكَرٍ رَجَفَت أَرضُ العَدوُّ بِهِ
حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّas though بِهاin it مِنfrom وَطئِهِits tread وَهَلاterror
حَتّى كَأَنَّ بِها مِن وَطئِهِ وَهَلا
From an army that made the enemy's land tremble,
From an army whose tread made the enemy's land quake,
Until the land seemed terrified by its tread.
As if it lost firmness under their trampling.
مابَينَbetween ريحِa wind طِرادٍof pursuit سُمِّيَتwas named فَرَساًa horse
مابَينَ ريحِ طِرادٍ سُمِّيَت فَرَساً
جَوراًunjustly وَلَيثِand a lion of شَرىًSharā يَدعونَهُthey call him بَطَلاa hero
جَوراً وَلَيثِ شَرىً يَدعونَهُ بَطَلا
Between a wind of pursuit, which was named a horse,
Between horses called "runners" and lions called "heroes,"
Unjustly, and a lion of Sharā whom they call a hero.
One dark green clad you'd think borrowed night's gown,
مِنamong أَدهَمٍa black steed أَخضَرِgreen الجِلبابِof cloak تَحسِبُهُyou would think it
مِن أَدهَمٍ أَخضَرِ الجِلبابِ تَحسِبُهُ
قَدِhad اِستَعارَborrowed رِداءَthe mantle اللَيلِof night وَاِشتَمَلاand wrapped itself in it
قَدِ اِستَعارَ رِداءَ اللَيلِ وَاِشتَمَلا
Among them a black steed, green-cloaked, which you would think
One gray-haired glistening armored as if he'd just washed
Had borrowed night's mantle and wrapped itself in it.
In the water of dawn and emerged bathed.
وَأَشهَبٍand a gray steed ناصِعِpure white القِرطاسِof parchment مُؤتَلِقٍgleaming
وَأَشهَبٍ ناصِعِ القِرطاسِ مُؤتَلِقٍ
كَأَنَّماas though خاضَit waded into ماءَthe water الصُبحِof dawn فَاِغتَسَلاthen bathed
كَأَنَّما خاضَ ماءَ الصُبحِ فَاِغتَسَلا
And a gray steed, parchment-white and gleaming,
You see the water of the swords' blades spilling over,
As though it had waded into dawn's water and bathed.
Flowing, raging fire of battle flaming,
تَرىyou see بِهِin it ماءَthe water نَصلِof the blade السَيفِof the sword مُنسَكِباًpouring out
تَرى بِهِ ماءَ نَصلِ السَيفِ مُنسَكِباً
يَجريflowing وَجاحِمَand the blaze نارِof the fire البَأسِof battle مُشتَعِلاaflame
يَجري وَجاحِمَ نارِ البَأسِ مُشتَعِلا
There you see the sword blade's water pouring out,
So the thrusts spare the eyelids of wounds,
Flowing, and the blaze of battle's fire aflame.
And make the spear-tips riddled fragments.
فَغادَرَso left الطَعنُspear-thrusting أَجفانَthe eyelids الجِراحِof the wounds بِهِin it
فَغادَرَ الطَعنُ أَجفانَ الجِراحِ بِهِ
رَمدىinflamed وَصَيَّرَand made أَطرافَthe tips القَناof the lances فُتُلاtwisted
رَمدى وَصَيَّرَ أَطرافَ القَنا فُتُلا
So spear-thrusts left the wounds' eyelids there
Blood shone on the cheek of earth bashfully,
Inflamed, and made the lance-tips twisted.
While darkness shaded the eye of turmoil as kohl.
وَأَشرَقَand shone الدَمُthe blood فيon خَدِّthe cheek الثَرىof the earth خَجَلاًin shame
وَأَشرَقَ الدَمُ في خَدِّ الثَرى خَجَلاً
وَأَظلَمَand darkened النَقعُthe dust فيin جَفنِthe eyelid الوَغىof battle كَحَلاas kohl
وَأَظلَمَ النَقعُ في جَفنِ الوَغى كَحَلا
And blood shone on the earth's cheek in a blush of shame,
Unbelief was stripped by force from Valencia,
And dust darkened battle's eyelid as kohl.
As a veil covering it was removed.
وَأَقشَعَand cleared away الكُفرُunbelief قَسراًby force عَنfrom بَلَنسِيَةٍValencia
وَأَقشَعَ الكُفرُ قَسراً عَن بَلَنسِيَةٍ
فَاِنجابَso was lifted عَنهاfrom her حِجابٌa veil كانَhad been مُنسَدِلاhanging down
فَاِنجابَ عَنها حِجابٌ كانَ مُنسَدِلا
And unbelief was forcibly cleared from Valencia,
The sword purified a virgin land from it,
So a veil that had hung down was lifted from her.
That accepted no purification but by sword's washing.
وَطَهَّرَand purified السَيفُthe sword مِنهاof her بَلدَةًa town جُنُباًritually impure
وَطَهَّرَ السَيفُ مِنها بَلدَةً جُنُباً
لَمdid not يَجزِهاsuffice her غَيرَanything but ماءِthe water السَيفِof the sword مُغتَسَلاas a bath
لَم يَجزِها غَيرَ ماءِ السَيفِ مُغتَسَلا
And the sword purified her, a town in ritual impurity,
It seemed to me I saw the citadels of Rome
For which only the sword's water could serve as a bath.
With the pillar of unbelief shaken and toppled.
كَأَنَّنيas though I بِعُلوجِwith the barbarians of الرومِthe Rūm سادِرَةًbewildered
كَأَنَّني بِعُلوجِ الرومِ سادِرَةً
وَقَدand already تَضَعضَعَtottered رُكنُthe pillar الكُفرِof unbelief فَاِستَفَلاand sank low
وَقَد تَضَعضَعَ رُكنُ الكُفرِ فَاِستَفَلا
I seem to see the barbarians of the Rūm, bewildered,
They seek protection with Islam from their blood being shed,
While the pillar of unbelief has tottered and sunk low.
While the sword's gift outpaces reproach.
تَظَلُّthey keep تَدرَأُwarding off harm بِالإِسلامِthrough Islam عَنfrom دَمِهاtheir blood
تَظَلُّ تَدرَأُ بِالإِسلامِ عَن دَمِها
وَهَبَّةُand the rush السَيفِof the sword مِنهاfrom them تَسبِقُprecedes العَذَلاreproach
وَهَبَّةُ السَيفِ مِنها تَسبِقُ العَذَلا
They keep shielding their blood through Islam,
In a stand that amazes the devoted friend,
Yet the sword's rush upon them comes before reproach.
Distracts the lover from singing amorously,
فيin مَوقِفٍa scene يَذهَلُis distracted الخِلُّthe friend الصَفِيُّthe faithful بِهِin it
في مَوقِفٍ يَذهَلُ الخِلُّ الصَفِيُّ بِهِ
عَنِfrom الخَليلِhis companion وَيَنسىand forgets العاشِقُthe lover الغَزَلاlove poetry
عَنِ الخَليلِ وَيَنسى العاشِقُ الغَزَلا
In a scene where the true friend is distracted
You see the pale, white-faced Byzantines there
From his companion, and the lover forgets his love poetry.
Terrified by the sword into pallor and dread.
تَرىyou see بَنيthe sons of الأَصفَرِal-Aṣfar (the Yellow One) البيضَwhite الوُجوهِof face بِهِin it
تَرى بَني الأَصفَرِ البيضَ الوُجوهِ بِهِ
قَدalready راعَهاterrified them السَيفُthe sword فَاِصفَرَّتso they turned yellow بِهِbecause of it وَجَلاin fear
قَد راعَها السَيفُ فَاِصفَرَّت بِهِ وَجَلا
There you see the white-faced sons of al-Aṣfar,
Many a dark-lipped one the reddened swords penetrated,
The sword has terrified them, so they turned yellow with dread of it.
Their tongues loosed into eloquent deliberation.
فَكَمand how many هُنالِكَthere مِنof ضَرغامَةٍa lion سَفَرَتjourneyed
فَكَم هُنالِكَ مِن ضَرغامَةٍ سَفَرَت
سُمرُbrown العَواليthe lances إِلىto أَحشائِهِhis entrails رُسَلاas envoys
سُمرُ العَوالي إِلى أَحشائِهِ رُسَلا
And how many a lion there was visited
It wrestled with death until its raiment was torn,
By brown lances, envoys to his entrails.
Collapsing over the sword blade as if over a full river.
يُرىhe is seen عَلىupon جَمرَةِthe ember المِرّيخِof Mars مُلتَهِباًblazing
يُرى عَلى جَمرَةِ المِرّيخِ مُلتَهِباً
تَحتَbeneath القَتامِthe dust cloud وَيَعلوand surpasses هِمَّةًin ambition زُحَلاSaturn
تَحتَ القَتامِ وَيَعلو هِمَّةً زُحَلا
He is seen blazing upon the ember of Mars,
How many a shredded garment of one distraught
Beneath the dust, yet surpassing Saturn in ambition.
It further shredded after him, streaming tatters,
قَدhad كَرَّcharged فيin لَأمَةٍarmor حَصداءَclose-meshed تَحسِبُهاyou would think it
قَد كَرَّ في لَأمَةٍ حَصداءَ تَحسِبُها
بَحراًa sea يُلاطِمُbeating against مِنfrom أَعطافِهِits flanks جَبَلاa mountain
بَحراً يُلاطِمُ مِن أَعطافِهِ جَبَلا
He had charged in close-meshed armor, which you would think
While tears flowed on their lids like eyeliner,
A sea whose flanks beat against a mountain.
Trickling at daybreak like kohl on its edges,
وَلِلقَناand the lances have أَعيُنٌeyes قَدalready حَدَّقَتstared fixedly حَنَقاًin rage
وَلِلقَنا أَعيُنٌ قَد حَدَّقَت حَنَقاً
وَلِلظُبىand the sword-edges have أَلسُنٌtongues قَدalready أَفصَحَتspoken eloquently جَدَلاin debate
وَلِلظُبى أَلسُنٌ قَد أَفصَحَت جَدَلا
And the lances have eyes that glare with rage,
An unspoiled girl moistened its throat with weeping,
And the sword-edges have tongues that speak eloquently in debate.
Wiping the sluggishness from its sides,
فَزاحَمَso he jostled النَقعَthe dust حَتّىuntil شَقَّtore بُردَتَهُits cloak
فَزاحَمَ النَقعَ حَتّى شَقَّ بُردَتَهُ
وَناطَحَand locked horns with المَوتَdeath حَتّىuntil خَرَّhe fell مُنجَدِلاlaid low
وَناطَحَ المَوتَ حَتّى خَرَّ مُنجَدِلا
So he jostled the dust until he rent its cloak,
Sobbing over its owner's strung pearls—you'd see them
And locked horns with death until he fell, laid low.
Dissolved over his throat, and him bereft.
مُوَسِّداًpillowing his head فَوقَupon نَصلِthe blade السَيفِof the sword تَحسِبُهُyou would think him
مُوَسِّداً فَوقَ نَصلِ السَيفِ تَحسِبُهُ
مُستَلقِياًlying on his back فَوقَupon شاطيthe bank of جَدوَلٍa stream ثَمِلاdrunk
مُستَلقِياً فَوقَ شاطي جَدوَلٍ ثَمِلا
With his head pillowed on the sword's blade, you would think him
Lying drunk upon a stream's bank.
فَكَمand how many مُمَزَّقَةٍa woman with torn clothing مِنat جَيبِهاher neckline طَرَباًin delight
فَكَم مُمَزَّقَةٍ مِن جَيبِها طَرَباً
قَدindeed مَزَّقَتtore بَعدَهُafter him مِنat جَيبِهاher neckline ثَكَلاin bereavement
قَد مَزَّقَت بَعدَهُ مِن جَيبِها ثَكَلا
And how many a woman, her neckline torn in delight,
Has torn her neckline after his death in bereavement.
وَرَقرَقَand made shimmer الدَمعَtears فيin أَجفانِهاher eyelids رَشَأٌa young gazelle
وَرَقرَقَ الدَمعَ في أَجفانِها رَشَأٌ
تَرَقرَقَshimmered السِحرُenchantment فيin أَجفانِهِhis eyelids كَحَلاas kohl
تَرَقرَقَ السِحرُ في أَجفانِهِ كَحَلا
And a young gazelle made tears shimmer in her eyelids,
In whose eyelids enchantment shimmered as kohl.
قَدalready بَلَّلَتmoistened نَحرَهُhis throat بِالدَمعِwith tears جارِيَةٌa young woman
قَد بَلَّلَت نَحرَهُ بِالدَمعِ جارِيَةٌ
بِكرٌa virgin تُمَسِّحُstroking away مِنfrom أَعطافِهِhis flanks الكَسَلاlanguor
بِكرٌ تُمَسِّحُ مِن أَعطافِهِ الكَسَلا
A young woman has moistened his throat with tears,
A virgin, stroking the languor from his flanks.
تَغُصُّshe chokes عِقدَthe necklace of لَآليهِhis pearls وَأَدمُعُهُand his tears
تَغُصُّ عِقدَ لَآليهِ وَأَدمُعُهُ
فيon نَحرِهِhis throat فَتَراهُso you see him حالِياًadorned عُطُلاunadorned
في نَحرِهِ فَتَراهُ حالِياً عُطُلا
She chokes his necklace of pearls, while his tears
On his throat make him seem adorned, though unadorned.
Partial English translation: 42 of 52 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1