رَحِمَmay have mercy on اللَهُGod جَعفَراًJaʿfar فَلَقَدfor indeed كاfirst part of 'was' (كان)
رَحِمَ اللَهُ جَعفَراً فَلَقَد كا
نَcompletion of 'was' (كان) أَبِيّاًproud-spirited شَهماًgallant وَكانَand he was رَحيماmerciful
نَ أَبِيّاً شَهماً وَكانَ رَحيما
May God have mercy on Jaʿfar, for he was
God have mercy on Ja'far, for he was a brave and generous man.
proud-spirited, gallant, and merciful.
Death stared him in the eyes, as did disgrace,
مُثِّلَwas pictured المَوتُdeath بَينَbetween عَينَيهِhis two eyes وَالذُلُّand humiliation
مُثِّلَ المَوتُ بَينَ عَينَيهِ وَالذُلُّ
فَكُلّاًso each رَآهُhe saw it خَطباًa calamity عَظيماgreat
فَكُلّاً رَآهُ خَطباً عَظيما
Death and humiliation were pictured before his eyes,
Yet each he saw as a monumental mishap.
and he saw each as a great calamity.
Valiant instinct then carried him forth
ثُمَّthen سارَتadvanced بِهِwith him الحَمِيَّةُzeal for honor قُدماًforward
ثُمَّ سارَت بِهِ الحَمِيَّةُ قُدماً
فَأَماتَso he killed العِدىthe foes وَماتَand he died كَريماnobly
فَأَماتَ العِدى وَماتَ كَريما
Then his sense of honor carried him onward,
To slay the foe, and die with honor.
so he slew the foes and died nobly.
Partial English translation: 5 of 6 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1