هذيthese عزائمresolves عتبيʿUtbī’s تفرقseparate ماwhat
هذي عزائم عتبي تفرق ما
بينbetween الجماجمthe skulls والأعناقand the necks إنif عتباhe takes offense
بين الجماجم والأعناق إن عتبا
These are ʿUtbī’s resolves, which sever
These are the resolves of my reproach that separate
skulls from necks, should he take offense.
The heads from the necks, if reproached
ذوpossessed of همةambition هيit ملءfilling الصدرthe breast إنif برزتit emerged
ذو همة هي ملء الصدر إن برزت
منfrom صدرهhis breast لمwould not تسعهاhave room for it الأرضthe earth مضطرباas a field of action
من صدره لم تسعها الأرض مضطربا
A man whose ambition fills his breast; were it to emerge
One with ambition, his chest filled
from his breast, the earth could not afford it room to move.
If it comes out from his chest, the earth can barely contain it, restless
إذاwhen انتضىhe unsheathes للندىfor bounty أوor للردىfor death قلماa pen
إذا انتضى للندى أو للردى قلما
أجرىhe sends forth بهwith it سحباclouds أوor جحفلاa great army لجباclamorous
أجرى به سحبا أو جحفلا لجبا
When he unsheathes a pen for bounty or death,
When he rises for generosity or meanness, rarely
with it he sends forth clouds or a clamorous host.
Does he run clouds or rocks up a mountain
يشجيhe makes choke الصعيدthe earth صعاداspears والندىand the dew ندىbounty
يشجي الصعيد صعادا والندى ندى
إذاwhen تهللhe beams للمعروفat doing good أوor قطباhe frowns
إذا تهلل للمعروف أو قطبا
He chokes the earth with spears, and the dew with bounty,
He rages the ground with sparks and dew with dew
when he beams at doing good or frowns.
If he smiles for kindness or frowns
Sol 6.1