سَرَتshe went by night تَستَجيرُseeking refuge in الدَمعَtears خَوفَfor fear of نَوىthe separation غَدِof tomorrow
سَرَت تَستَجيرُ الدَمعَ خَوفَ نَوى غَدِ
وَعادَand became قَتاداًa thornbush عِندَهاto her كُلُّevery مَرقَدِresting place
وَعادَ قَتاداً عِندَها كُلُّ مَرقَدِ
She went by night, seeking refuge in tears, fearing tomorrow's parting;
She went seeking refuge, her tears fearing the evils of fate tomorrow,
and every resting place became a thornbush to her.
And every resting place again became narrow for her.
وَأَنقَذَهاand saved her مِنfrom غَمرَةِthe engulfing flood of المَوتِdeath أَنَّهُthat it was
وَأَنقَذَها مِن غَمرَةِ المَوتِ أَنَّهُ
صُدودُthe turning away of فِراقٍseparation لاnot صُدودُthe turning away of تَعَمُّدِdeliberate intent
صُدودُ فِراقٍ لا صُدودُ تَعَمُّدِ
What saved her from death's engulfing flood was that it was
He saved her from the depths of death, for verily
the turning away of separation, not deliberate rejection.
It was the estrangement of parting, not intentional estrangement.
فَأَجرىso caused to flow لَهاfor her الإِشفاقُapprehension دَمعاًtears مُوَرَّداًrose-red
فَأَجرى لَها الإِشفاقُ دَمعاً مُوَرَّداً
مِنَof الدَمِblood يَجريflowing فَوقَover خَدٍّa cheek مُوَرَّدِrose-red
مِنَ الدَمِ يَجري فَوقَ خَدٍّ مُوَرَّدِ
So apprehension made her shed rose-red tears,
So compassion made the shedding tears flow for her
of blood, flowing over a rose-red cheek.
Bloody tears flowing down a cheek.
هِيَshe البَدرُthe full moon يُغنيهاsuffices her تَوَدُّدُthe loving charm of وَجهِهاher face
هِيَ البَدرُ يُغنيها تَوَدُّدُ وَجهِها
إِلىtoward كُلِّeveryone مَنwhom لاقَتshe met وَإِنeven if لَمdid not تَوَدَّدِshow affection
إِلى كُلِّ مَن لاقَت وَإِن لَم تَوَدَّدِ
She is the full moon; her face's loving charm suffices her
She is the full moon whom the intimacy of his face would suffice,
with everyone she meets, even when she makes no loving overture.
To every one she met even if she was not intimate.
وَلَكِنَّنيbut I لَمdid not أَحوِgather وَفراًwealth مُجَمَّعاًamassed
وَلَكِنَّني لَم أَحوِ وَفراً مُجَمَّعاً
فَفُزتُand so I won بِهِit إِلّاexcept بِشَملٍwith a company مُبَدَّدِscattered
فَفُزتُ بِهِ إِلّا بِشَملٍ مُبَدَّدِ
Yet I never amassed a gathered fortune
But I could not attain success which has all been assembled
and won it save with my company scattered.
Except through a disunited family.
وَلَمand did not تُعطِنيgive me الأَيّامُthe days نَوماًsleep مُسَكَّناًtranquil
وَلَم تُعطِني الأَيّامُ نَوماً مُسَكَّناً
أَلَذُّI delight بِهِin it إِلّاexcept بِنَومٍthrough sleep مُشَرَّدِrestless
أَلَذُّ بِهِ إِلّا بِنَومٍ مُشَرَّدِ
Nor did the days grant me tranquil sleep
And the days did not give me tranquilizing sleep
to savor, save at the price of restless sleep.
Except the sleep of a restless wanderer.
وَطولُand the length of مُقامِthe stay of المَرءِa person فيamong الحَيِّthe tribe مُخلِقٌwearing out
وَطولُ مُقامِ المَرءِ في الحَيِّ مُخلِقٌ
لِديباجَتَيهِhis two cheek-brocades فَاِغتَرِبso go abroad تَتَجَدَّدِbe renewed
لِديباجَتَيهِ فَاِغتَرِب تَتَجَدَّدِ
Long residence among one's people wears out
The length of one's stay in life breeds
the brocade of one's two cheeks; go abroad and be renewed.
The ability to change and renew.
فَإِنّيfor I رَأَيتُhave seen الشَمسَthe sun زيدَتwas increased مَحَبَّةًin affection
فَإِنّي رَأَيتُ الشَمسَ زيدَت مَحَبَّةً
إِلىto الناسِpeople أَنbecause لَيسَتit is not عَلَيهِمabove them بِسَرمَدِperpetual
إِلى الناسِ أَن لَيسَت عَلَيهِم بِسَرمَدِ
For I have seen the sun become more beloved
For I saw the sun increase the love
to people because it is not forever above them.
Of the people since it is not eternal.
حَلَفتُI swore بِرَبِّby the Lord of البيضِthe bright swords تَدمىbleed مُتونُهاtheir broad sides
حَلَفتُ بِرَبِّ البيضِ تَدمى مُتونُها
وَرَبِّand the Lord of القَناlances المُنآدِbent وَالمُتَقَصَّدِand broken
وَرَبِّ القَنا المُنآدِ وَالمُتَقَصَّدِ
I swore by the Lord of bright swords whose broad sides bleed,
I swear by the Lord of the white domes whose bases leak
and by the Lord of lances, bent and broken:
And the Lord of the minaret of the called upon sought out refuge
لَقَدindeed كَفَّhas quelled سَيفُthe sword of الصامِتِّيِal-Samiti مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
لَقَد كَفَّ سَيفُ الصامِتِّيِ مُحَمَّدٍ
تَباريحَthe agonies of ثَأرِvengeance for الصامِتِيِّal-Samiti مُحَمَّدِMuhammad
تَباريحَ ثَأرِ الصامِتِيِّ مُحَمَّدِ
Muhammad al-Samiti's sword has indeed quelled
Indeed the sword of the silent one Muhammad
the agonies of vengeance for Muhammad al-Samiti.
Quenched the vengeance of the silent one Muhammad
رَمىstruck اللَهُGod مِنهُthrough him بابَكاًBabak وَوُلاتَهُand his governors
رَمى اللَهُ مِنهُ بابَكاً وَوُلاتَهُ
بِقاصِمَةِwith a calamity shattering الأَصلابِbacks فيin كُلِّevery مَشهَدِencounter
بِقاصِمَةِ الأَصلابِ في كُلِّ مَشهَدِ
Through him, God struck Babak and his governors
God cast with it the leaders and their authority
with a back-breaking calamity in every encounter:
With a cutting blade in every battle scene
بِأَسمَحَwith one more generous مِنthan غُرِّthe bright-white الغَمامِclouds سَماحَةًin generosity
بِأَسمَحَ مِن غُرِّ الغَمامِ سَماحَةً
وَأَشجَعَand braver مِنthan صَرفِthe reversals of الزَمانِtime وَأَنجَدِand more valiant
وَأَشجَعَ مِن صَرفِ الزَمانِ وَأَنجَدِ
one more generous in bounty than bright rain clouds,
More clement than the deluge of clouds in clemency
and braver than time's reversals, and more valiant.
And braver than the ebb of time and most supportive
إِذاwhen ماever دَعَوناهُwe called him بِأَجلَحَa receding-haired man أَيمَنٍauspicious
إِذا ما دَعَوناهُ بِأَجلَحَ أَيمَنٍ
دَعاهُhe called him وَلَمand did not يَظلِمwrong him بِأَصلَعَa bald man أَنكَدِill-omened
دَعاهُ وَلَم يَظلِم بِأَصلَعَ أَنكَدِ
When we called him the auspicious, receding-haired one,
When we call him, of good omen most fortunate,
he called him the bald, ill-omened one—and not unjustly.
He answers unlike the bald head most sinister
فَتىًa youth يَومَon the day of بَذِّBadhdh الخُرَّمِيَّةِthe Khurramiyya لَمnot يَكُنwas
فَتىً يَومَ بَذِّ الخُرَّمِيَّةِ لَم يَكُن
بِهَيّابَةٍa timid man نِكسٍa weakling وَلاnor بِمُعَرِّدِone who flees
بِهَيّابَةٍ نِكسٍ وَلا بِمُعَرِّدِ
A youth who, on the Khurramiyya's day at Badhdh, was not
A man, the day of Buzurjmihr he was not
a timid weakling, nor one who fled.
Depressed, dejected, or left uncertain
قِفاhalt, you two سَندَباياSandabaya وَالرِماحُwhile the lances مُشيحَةٌcharging
قِفا سَندَبايا وَالرِماحُ مُشيحَةٌ
تُهَدّىare guided إِلىtoward الروحِthe soul الخَفِيِّhidden فَتَهتَديand so find their way
تُهَدّى إِلى الروحِ الخَفِيِّ فَتَهتَدي
Halt, you two, at Sandabaya, as the lances charge,
Stand oh Sandabay while the spears are bare
guided toward the hidden soul, finding their way.
Directed at the hidden spirit so they are guided
عَداturned aside اللَيلُthe night فيهاthere عَنfrom مُعاوِيَةَMuawiya الرَدىdeath
عَدا اللَيلُ فيها عَن مُعاوِيَةَ الرَدى
وَماand did not شَكَّdoubt رَيبُthe perils of الدَهرِtime فيabout أَنَّهُthat he was رَديdoomed
وَما شَكَّ رَيبُ الدَهرِ في أَنَّهُ رَدي
Night turned death away from Muawiya there,
The night transgressed in it the transgression of Mu'awiyah
and time's perils had no doubt that he was doomed.
And no doubt did the vicissitudes of time have in that he transgressed
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed حَرَّرتَyou kindled heat يَومَon the day لَقيتَهُyou met him
لَعَمري لَقَد حَرَّرتَ يَومَ لَقيتَهُ
لَوَif اِنَّthat القَضاءَfate وَحدَهُalone لَمdid not يُبَرِّدِbring cooling
لَوَ اِنَّ القَضاءَ وَحدَهُ لَم يُبَرِّدِ
By my life, you would have scorched him the day you met him,
By my life you made it a free day when you met him
had fate alone not cooled the heat.
If only destiny alone had not chilled
فَإِنso if يَكُنِis المِقدارُdestiny فيهِin his case مُفَنِّداa refuter
فَإِن يَكُنِ المِقدارُ فيهِ مُفَنِّدا
فَماthen not هُوَit فيconcerning أَشياعِهِhis followers بِمُفَنِّدِa refuter
فَما هُوَ في أَشياعِهِ بِمُفَنِّدِ
If destiny contradicted you concerning him,
For if it was negated in it
it did not contradict you concerning his followers.
Then it was not negated in its parties
وَفيand at أَرشَقِArshaq الهَيجاءِbattle وَالخَيلُwhile the horses تَرتَميhurl themselves
وَفي أَرشَقِ الهَيجاءِ وَالخَيلُ تَرتَمي
بِأَبطالِهاwith their champions فيinto جاحِمٍan inferno مُتَوَقِّدِblazing
بِأَبطالِها في جاحِمٍ مُتَوَقِّدِ
And at Arshaq, amid battle, while the horses hurled themselves
In the midst of the awakened commotion and the horses prancing
with their champions into a blazing inferno,
With its heroes in ferocious heating zeal
عَطَطتَyou tore عَلىagainst رَغمِthe will of العِداthe foes عَزمَthe resolve of بابِكٍBabak
عَطَطتَ عَلى رَغمِ العِدا عَزمَ بابِكٍ
بِصَبرِكَwith your endurance عَطَّa rending of الأَتحَمِيِّAthami cloth المُعَضَّدِbordered
بِصَبرِكَ عَطَّ الأَتحَمِيِّ المُعَضَّدِ
you tore Babak's resolve, despite the foes,
You triumphed over the enemy’s will with your resolve and the support of Attahumayy
with your endurance, like rending bordered Athami cloth.
Unless he turned away with a weakened and impaired determination
فَإِلّاso if not يَكُنhe had وَلّىfled بِشِلوٍwith a body مُقَدَّدٍcut into strips
فَإِلّا يَكُن وَلّى بِشِلوٍ مُقَدَّدٍ
هُناكَthere فَقَدthen indeed وَلّىhe fled بِعَزمٍwith a resolve مُقَدَّدِcut into strips
هُناكَ فَقَد وَلّى بِعَزمٍ مُقَدَّدِ
So if he did not flee with his body cut to strips
Then he surely turned away with resolute determination
there, he fled with his resolve cut to strips.
And though the spears could see his heart
وَقَدand already كانَتِhad الأَرماحُthe spears أَبصَرنَseen قَلبَهُhis heart
وَقَد كانَتِ الأَرماحُ أَبصَرنَ قَلبَهُ
فَأَرمَدَهاso made their eyes sore سِترُthe veil of القَضاءِfate المُمَدَّدِoutstretched
فَأَرمَدَها سِترُ القَضاءِ المُمَدَّدِ
The spears had already caught sight of his heart,
The cover of destiny made them blind
but fate's outstretched veil made their eyes sore.
Mawqan was his place of emigration so you descended upon it
وَموقانَand Muqan كانَتwas دارَthe home of هِجرَتِهِhis migration فَقَدand indeed
وَموقانَ كانَت دارَ هِجرَتِهِ فَقَد
تَوَرَّدتَهاyou entered it بِالخَيلِwith the cavalry أَيَّwhat an تَوَرُّدِentry
تَوَرَّدتَها بِالخَيلِ أَيَّ تَوَرُّدِ
Muqan had been the home of his migration; indeed,
With the horses - what descent!
you swept into it with cavalry—what an entry!
You eclipsed its glory the day you brought glory to Arabism
حَطَطتَyou lowered بِهاthere يَومَon the day of العَروبَةِAruba (Friday) عِزَّهُhis might
حَطَطتَ بِها يَومَ العَروبَةِ عِزَّهُ
وَكانَand he was مُقيماًdwelling بَينَbetween نَسرٍNasr (star) وَفَرقَدِand Farqad (star)
وَكانَ مُقيماً بَينَ نَسرٍ وَفَرقَدِ
There, on the day of Aruba, you brought his might low,
While he was staying between eagle and watchful
though he had dwelt between Nasr and Farqad.
He saw you shrewd in opinion and in spear-thrust amidst the fray
رَآكَhe saw you سَديدَtrue in الرَأيِcounsel وَالرُمحِand lance فيin الوَغىbattle
رَآكَ سَديدَ الرَأيِ وَالرُمحِ في الوَغى
تَأَزَّرُyou gird yourself بِالإِقدامِwith daring فيهِin it وَتَرتَديand wear it as a cloak
تَأَزَّرُ بِالإِقدامِ فيهِ وَتَرتَدي
He saw you with sound counsel and a straight lance in battle,
Girded with daring therein and wearing it
girding yourself there in daring, and wearing it as a cloak.
And a resolute opinion does not dispel worry
وَلَيسَand does not يُجَلّيdispel الكَربَdistress رَأيٌcounsel مُسَدَّدٌwell-directed
وَلَيسَ يُجَلّي الكَربَ رَأيٌ مُسَدَّدٌ
إِذاwhen هُوَit لَمnot يُؤنَسis accompanied بِرُمحٍby a lance مُسَدَّدِwell-aimed
إِذا هُوَ لَم يُؤنَس بِرُمحٍ مُسَدَّدِ
Sound counsel does not dispel distress
Unless accompanied by a resolute spear-thrust
when it is not accompanied by a well-aimed lance.
So he passed being obedient to lofty goals as was his custom
فَمَرَّso he went مُطيعاًobedient لِلعَواليto the spearheads مُعَوَّداًmade accustomed
فَمَرَّ مُطيعاً لِلعَوالي مُعَوَّداً
مِنَto الخَوفِfear وَالإِحجامِand retreat ماwhat لَمnot يُعَوَّدِhe had been accustomed to
مِنَ الخَوفِ وَالإِحجامِ ما لَم يُعَوَّدِ
So he fled, obedient to the spearheads, schooled
Of fear and restraint that which he was not accustomed
in fear and retreat such as he had never known.
And he was of strong mettle so you dispossessed him
وَكانَand he was هُوَhe الجَلدَthe hardy one القُوىmighty فَسَلَبتَهُso you stripped him
وَكانَ هُوَ الجَلدَ القُوى فَسَلَبتَهُ
بِحُسنِthrough the excellence of الجِلادِswordplay المَحضِpure حُسنَthe excellence of التَجَلُّدِendurance
بِحُسنِ الجِلادِ المَحضِ حُسنَ التَجَلُّدِ
He had been the tough, mighty one; yet you stripped him,
With excellent dispossession, the excellence of admirable composure
with fine, pure swordplay, of his fine endurance.
By my life you left him being quenched
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed غادَرتَyou left حِسيَthe well of فُؤادِهِhis heart
لَعَمري لَقَد غادَرتَ حِسيَ فُؤادِهِ
قَريبَnear رِشاءٍa well-rope لِلقَناfor the lances سَهلَeasy مَورِدِaccess to water
قَريبَ رِشاءٍ لِلقَنا سَهلَ مَورِدِ
By my life, you left the well of his heart
Near a meadow easy to reach
within a short rope's reach of the lances, easy to draw from.
He was so very deep you left him being freely drunk
وَكانَand it was بَعيدَfar القَعرِin depth مِنfrom كُلِّevery ماتِحٍwater-drawer
وَكانَ بَعيدَ القَعرِ مِن كُلِّ ماتِحٍ
فَغادَرتَهُso you left it يُسقىdrawn from وَيُشرَبُand drunk بِاليَدِby hand
فَغادَرتَهُ يُسقى وَيُشرَبُ بِاليَدِ
Its depth had been beyond every water-drawer's reach,
With hands put in without need of rope
but you left it to be drawn from and drunk by hand.
And for high-aspiring stars, an ambition set forth
وَلِلكَذَجِand to Kadhaj العُلياUpper سَمَتrose بِكَwith you هِمَّةٌan ambition
وَلِلكَذَجِ العُليا سَمَت بِكَ هِمَّةٌ
طَموحٌsoaring يَروحُcomes at evening النَصرُvictory فيهاin it وَيَغتَديand comes at dawn
طَموحٌ يَروحُ النَصرُ فيها وَيَغتَدي
To Upper Kadhaj, ambition raised you,
Soaring in which the victory comes and goes
aspiring high, where victory comes at evening and dawn.
It squeezed the nose in humiliation of the son of Hazim
وَقَدand already خَزَمَتit pierced بِالذُلِّwith humiliation أَنفَthe nose of اِبنِthe son of خازِمٍKhazim
وَقَد خَزَمَت بِالذُلِّ أَنفَ اِبنِ خازِمٍ
وَأَعيَتand baffled صَياصيهاits strongholds يَزيدَYazid بنَson of مَزيَدِMazyad
وَأَعيَت صَياصيها يَزيدَ بنَ مَزيَدِ
It had pierced Ibn Khazim's nose with humiliation,
And exhausted his hosting, Yazid son of Mazid
and its strongholds had baffled Yazid ibn Mazyad.
You fettered their absolute violence with courage
فَقَيَّدتَso you fettered بِالإِقدامِwith daring مُطلَقَthe unfettered بَأسِهِمtheir might
فَقَيَّدتَ بِالإِقدامِ مُطلَقَ بَأسِهِم
وَأَطلَقتَand you loosed فيهِمupon them كُلَّevery حَتفٍdeath مُقَيَّدِfettered
وَأَطلَقتَ فيهِم كُلَّ حَتفٍ مُقَيَّدِ
So with daring you fettered their unfettered might,
And unleashed upon them every confined fate
and loosed upon them every fettered death.
In Abarshtawim and Darwaza with Hizb
وَبِالهَضبِand on the hills مِنof أَبرِشتَويمَAbrishtawim وَدَروَذٍand Darwadh
وَبِالهَضبِ مِن أَبرِشتَويمَ وَدَروَذٍ
عَلَتrose بِكَwith you أَطرافُthe points of القَناlances فَاِعلُso rise وَاِزدَدِand increase
عَلَت بِكَ أَطرافُ القَنا فَاِعلُ وَاِزدَدِ
And on the hills of Abrishtawim and Darwadh,
The peaks of Qanat rose up and multiplied through you
the lance points rose with you—rise higher, and gain still more!
The spying out helped you attain glorious feats
أَفادَتكَwon you فيهاthere المُرهَفاتُthe keen blades مَآثِراًglorious deeds
أَفادَتكَ فيها المُرهَفاتُ مَآثِراً
تُعَمَّرُare long-lived عُمرَfor the lifespan of الدَهرِtime إِنif لَمnot تُخَلَّدِmade eternal
تُعَمَّرُ عُمرَ الدَهرِ إِن لَم تُخَلَّدِ
There the keen blades won you glorious deeds,
That make immortal the life of time if not immortalized
to live as long as time, if not forever.
On the night you tested the hero with an affliction
وَلَيلَةَand on the night أَبلَيتَyou met valiantly البَياتَthe night attack بَلاءَهُits due trial
وَلَيلَةَ أَبلَيتَ البَياتَ بَلاءَهُ
مِنَof الصَبرِendurance فيin وَقتٍa time مِنَof الصَبرِendurance مُجحِدِbereft
مِنَ الصَبرِ في وَقتٍ مِنَ الصَبرِ مُجحِدِ
And the night you met the night attack with its due measure
From patience at a time of frustrated patience
of endurance, in an hour bereft of endurance:
So what a charge that does not deny his dignity
فَياso O جَولَةًcharge لاdo not تَجحَديهِdeny him وَقارَهُhis composure
فَيا جَولَةً لا تَجحَديهِ وَقارَهُ
وَياand O سَيفُsword لاdo not تَكفُرbe ungrateful وَياand O ظُلمَةُdarkness اِشهَديbear witness
وَيا سَيفُ لا تَكفُر وَيا ظُلمَةُ اِشهَدي
O charge, do not deny him his composure;
And what a sword that does not deny and what darkness bears witness
O sword, be not ungrateful; O darkness, bear witness!
And what a night, if only I were in your place after it
وَياand O لَيلُnight لَوif أَنّيI were مَكانَكَin your place بَعدَهاafterward
وَيا لَيلُ لَو أَنّي مَكانَكَ بَعدَها
لَماthen not بِتُّwould I spend the night فيin الدُنياthe world بِنَومٍwith sleep مُسَهَّدِrestless
لَما بِتُّ في الدُنيا بِنَومٍ مُسَهَّدِ
O night, had I been in your place afterward,
I would not have slept in the world with eased sleep
I would never have passed a night in this world in broken sleep.
And the events are the origin and branch of victory in them
وَقائِعُbattles أَصلُthe root of النَصرِvictory فيهاin them وَفَرعُهُand its branch
وَقائِعُ أَصلُ النَصرِ فيها وَفَرعُهُ
إِذاif عُدِّدَis counted الإِحسانُexcellence أَوor لَمnot يُعَدَّدِis counted
إِذا عُدِّدَ الإِحسانُ أَو لَم يُعَدَّدِ
Battles bearing victory's root and branch,
Whether good is enumerated or not enumerated
whether excellence is counted or left uncounted.
So whatever subsequent event may occur, let it not be
فَمَهماso whatever تَكُنthere is مِنof وَقعَةٍa battle بَعدُhereafter لاnot تَكُنwill be
فَمَهما تَكُن مِن وَقعَةٍ بَعدُ لا تَكُن
سِوىother than حَسَنٍa fine deed مِمّاof what فَعَلتَyou did مُرَدَّدِrepeated
سِوى حَسَنٍ مِمّا فَعَلتَ مُرَدَّدِ
So whatever battle comes hereafter will be nothing
Other than good of what you have done over and over
but a fine deed of yours repeated.
The beauties of all sorts of singers are bland
مَحاسِنُthe merits of أَصنافِthe kinds of المُغَنّينَsingers جَمَّةٌmany
مَحاسِنُ أَصنافِ المُغَنّينَ جَمَّةٌ
وَماand not قَصَباتُthe reeds of السَبقِvictory إِلّاexcept لِمَعبَدِfor Ma'bad
وَما قَصَباتُ السَبقِ إِلّا لِمَعبَدِ
The merits of all kinds of singers are many,
And the crooks of concurring are only for purpose
yet the victory reeds are Ma'bad's alone.
You removed the darkness from Azerbaijan after it had turned
جَلَوتَyou cleared الدُجىthe darkness عَنfrom أَذرَبيجانَAzerbaijan بَعدَماafter
جَلَوتَ الدُجى عَن أَذرَبيجانَ بَعدَما
تَرَدَّتit cloaked itself بِلَونٍin a hue كَالغَمامَةِlike a cloud أَربَدِdusky
تَرَدَّت بِلَونٍ كَالغَمامَةِ أَربَدِ
You cleared the darkness from Azerbaijan after it
With a complexion like gloomy clouds more cold
had cloaked itself in a dusky hue, like a cloud.
It had been dark and the dawn therein not white
وَكانَتand it was وَلَيسَand not الصُبحُdawn فيهاthere بِأَبيَضٍwhite
وَكانَت وَلَيسَ الصُبحُ فيها بِأَبيَضٍ
فَأَمسَتso it became وَلَيسَand not اللَيلُnight فيهاthere بِأَسوَدِblack
فَأَمسَت وَلَيسَ اللَيلُ فيها بِأَسوَدِ
Once, dawn there was not white,
Then it became eve and the night therein not black
but now night there is not black.
Babak saw from you that which arose for him
رَأىsaw بابَكٌBabak مِنكَfrom you الَّتيthat which طَلَعَتrose لَهُfor him
رَأى بابَكٌ مِنكَ الَّتي طَلَعَت لَهُ
بِنَحسٍwith ill fortune وَلِلدينِand for the faith الحَنيفِupright بِأَسعُدِwith auspicious omens
بِنَحسٍ وَلِلدينِ الحَنيفِ بِأَسعُدِ
Babak saw from you what had risen upon him
With ill omen and for the Hanif religion most fortunate
with ill fortune, but with good omens for the upright faith.
You brandished for him a sword of deceit which only
هَزَزتَyou brandished لَهُagainst him سَيفاًa sword مِنَof الكَيدِguile إِنَّماonly
هَزَزتَ لَهُ سَيفاً مِنَ الكَيدِ إِنَّما
تُجَذُّare severed بِهِwith it الأَعناقُnecks ماas long as لَمnot يُجَرَّدِit is drawn
تُجَذُّ بِهِ الأَعناقُ ما لَم يُجَرَّدِ
You brandished against him a sword of guile; only
Severs necks when not sheathed
while it stays undrawn are necks severed by it.
He who imposes with it sheathed feels at ease
يَسُرُّdelights الَّذيthe one who يَسطوstrikes بِهِwith it وَهُوَwhile it is مُغمَدٌsheathed
يَسُرُّ الَّذي يَسطو بِهِ وَهُوَ مُغمَدٌ
وَيَفضَحُand disgraces مَنwhoever يَسطوstrikes بِهِwith it غَيرَnot مُغمَدِsheathed
وَيَفضَحُ مَن يَسطو بِهِ غَيرَ مُغمَدِ
It delights the one who strikes with it while it is sheathed,
And he is exposed who imposes without sheath
and disgraces whoever strikes with it unsheathed.
And I do hope you adorn his neck
وَإِنّيand I لَأَرجوindeed hope أَنthat تُقَلِّدَyou adorn with a necklace جيدَهُhis neck
وَإِنّي لَأَرجو أَن تُقَلِّدَ جيدَهُ
قِلادَةَa necklace of مَصقولِpolished الذُبابِat the tip مُهَنَّدِan Indian-steel sword
قِلادَةَ مَصقولِ الذُبابِ مُهَنَّدِ
And I indeed hope you will hang around his neck
With a necklace of polished steel most honored
a necklace of an Indian blade with a polished tip,
Adorned with death - its wearer is privileged
مُنَظَّمَةًstrung بِالمَوتِwith death يَحظىbenefits بِحَليِهاfrom its ornaments
مُنَظَّمَةً بِالمَوتِ يَحظى بِحَليِها
مُقَلِّدُهاits bestower فيamong الناسِpeople دونَrather than المُقَلَّدِthe recipient
مُقَلِّدُها في الناسِ دونَ المُقَلَّدِ
strung with death, its ornaments benefiting
Amongst the people over the adorned
its bestower among men, rather than its wearer.
To you we surrendered the wings of a night as though
إِلَيكَtoward you هَتكَناwe rent جُنحِthe dark mantle of لَيلٍnight كَأَنَّهُas though
إِلَيكَ هَتكَنا جُنحِ لَيلٍ كَأَنَّهُ
قَدِhad اِكتَحَلَتkohled their eyes مِنهُfrom it البِلادُthe lands بِإِثمِدِwith antimony
قَدِ اِكتَحَلَت مِنهُ البِلادُ بِإِثمِدِ
Toward you we tore night's dark mantle, as though
Through it the lands were lined with kohl
the lands had kohled their eyes with antimony from it.
The red leather of skilled riders and their brands shake me
تَقَلقَلُjolt بيwith me أُدمُthe pale ones of المَهارىthe Mahri camels وَشومُهاand their dark ones
تَقَلقَلُ بي أُدمُ المَهارى وَشومُها
عَلىover كُلِّevery نَشزٍridge مُتلَئِبٍّstraight-extending وَفَدفَدِand broad plain
عَلى كُلِّ نَشزٍ مُتلَئِبٍّ وَفَدفَدِ
The pale Mahri camels and their dark ones jolt me
Upon every startled terrified and weakened
over every long, straight ridge and broad plain.
Turning in the horizons spears as though
تُقَلِّبُtoss about فيthrough الآفاقِthe horizons صِلاًa serpent كَأَنَّماas though
تُقَلِّبُ في الآفاقِ صِلاً كَأَنَّما
يُقَلِّبُhe turns فيbetween فَكَّيهِhis two jaws شِقَّةَa strip مِبرَدِof a file
يُقَلِّبُ في فَكَّيهِ شِقَّةَ مِبرَدِ
They toss a serpent across the horizons, as though
Turning in its jaws a piece of ice
he were turning a strip of a file between his jaws.
Missing your strong temple they became
تَلافىrescued جَداكَyour bounty المُجتَدينَthe gift-seekers فَأَصبَحواand so they awoke
تَلافى جَداكَ المُجتَدينَ فَأَصبَحوا
وَلَمand not يَبقَremained مَذخورٌheld in reserve عَلىagainst كُلِّevery مَوعِدِpromise
وَلَم يَبقَ مَذخورٌ عَلى كُلِّ مَوعِدِ
Your bounty rescued those seeking gifts, and they awoke
When no treasure remained upon any appointment
with no promised gift left withheld.
When the mill turned you showed clemency
إِذاwhen ماever رَحىًa mill دارَتturned أَدَرتَyou set turning سَماحَةًin generosity
إِذا ما رَحىً دارَت أَدَرتَ سَماحَةً
رَحىthe mill of كُلِّevery إِنجازٍfulfillment عَلىfor كُلِّevery مَوعِدِpromise
رَحى كُلِّ إِنجازٍ عَلى كُلِّ مَوعِدِ
Whenever a mill turns, you generously set turning
A mill of all fulfillment upon every appointment
the mill of every fulfillment for every promise.
I came to you, not seeking refuge to other than the refuge
أَتَيتُكَI came to you لَمdid not أَفزَعseek refuge إِلىin غَيرِother than مَفزَعٍa refuge
أَتَيتُكَ لَم أَفزَع إِلى غَيرِ مَفزَعٍ
وَلَمand did not أَنشُدِseek الحاجاتِneeds فيin غَيرِother than مَنشَدِa place to seek
وَلَم أَنشُدِ الحاجاتِ في غَيرِ مَنشَدِ
I came to you; I sought no refuge where there was none,
And not seeking needs from other than the sought
nor sought my needs where they could not be found.
And whoever hopes for the absent favor then verily
وَمَنand whoever يَرجُhopes for مَعروفَthe kindness of البَعيدِthe distant one فَإِنَّماbut only
وَمَن يَرجُ مَعروفَ البَعيدِ فَإِنَّما
يَديmy hand عَوَّلَتrelied فيamid النائِباتِcalamities عَلىon يَديmy hand
يَدي عَوَّلَت في النائِباتِ عَلى يَدي
Others may hope for a distant man's kindness, but
My hands have depended in calamities upon my hands
my hand, amid calamities, has relied only on my own hand.
Partial English translation: 109 of 110 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1