بِسَيفِكَ يَعلو الحَقُّ وَالحَقُّ أَغلَبُ

بِسَيفِكَ يَعلو الحَقُّ وَالحَقُّ أَغلَبُ

وَيُنصَرُ دينُ اللَهِ أَيّانَ تَضرِبُ

وَيُنصَرُ دينُ اللَهِ أَيّانَ تَضرِبُ

By your sword truth rises, and truth is mightier.

With your sword, truth prevails and truth is victorious

God's religion is upheld whenever you strike.

And the religion of Allah is helped whenever you strike

وَما السَيفُ إِلّا آيَةُ المُلكِ في الوَرى

وَما السَيفُ إِلّا آيَةُ المُلكِ في الوَرى

وَلا الأَمرُ إِلّا لِلَّذي يَتَغَلَّبُ

وَلا الأَمرُ إِلّا لِلَّذي يَتَغَلَّبُ

The sword is but the sign of sovereignty among mankind;

The sword is but a sign of kingship in the land

Authority belongs only to whoever prevails.

And authority belongs only to the one who overcomes

فَأَدِّب بِهِ القَومَ الطُغاةَ فَإِنَّهُ

فَأَدِّب بِهِ القَومَ الطُغاةَ فَإِنَّهُ

لَنِعمَ المَرَبي لِلطُغاةِ المُؤَدِّبُ

لَنِعمَ المَرَبي لِلطُغاةِ المُؤَدِّبُ

Discipline the tyrannical people with it, for it

So discipline the tyrannical people with it, for it is

Is indeed an excellent trainer and chastiser of tyrants.

An excellent discipliner of the arrogant tyrants

وَداوِ بِهِ الدولاتِ مِن كُلِّ دائِها

وَداوِ بِهِ الدولاتِ مِن كُلِّ دائِها

فَنِعمَ الحُسامُ الطِبُّ وَالمُتَطَبِّبُ

فَنِعمَ الحُسامُ الطِبُّ وَالمُتَطَبِّبُ

Heal states with it of all their ailments;

And cure the states of all their ills with it

Excellent is the sword as medicine and physician.

For it is the best physician and healer

تَنامُ خُطوبُ المُلكِ إِن باتَ ساهِراً

تَنامُ خُطوبُ المُلكِ إِن باتَ ساهِراً

وَإِن هُوَ نامَ اِستَيقَظَت تَتَأَلَّبُ

وَإِن هُوَ نامَ اِستَيقَظَت تَتَأَلَّبُ

The kingdom's troubles sleep if it keeps vigil;

The concerns of kingship sleep when he stays up at night

If it sleeps, they awaken and band together.

And when he sleeps, they awake and stir

أَمِنّا اللَيالي أَن نُراعَ بِحادِثٍ

أَمِنّا اللَيالي أَن نُراعَ بِحادِثٍ

وَأَرمينيا ثَكلى وَحَورانَ أَشيَبُ

وَأَرمينيا ثَكلى وَحَورانَ أَشيَبُ

We felt safe through the nights from any alarming event,

Have we felt secure at night from any misfortune?

While Armenia was bereaved and Hauran gray-haired.

Armenia is bereaved, and Hauran turned white

وَمَملَكَةُ اليونانِ مَحلولَةُ العُرى

وَمَملَكَةُ اليونانِ مَحلولَةُ العُرى

رَجاؤُكَ يُعطيها وَخَوفُكَ يُسلَبُ

رَجاؤُكَ يُعطيها وَخَوفُكَ يُسلَبُ

And Greece's kingdom has its bonds undone;

The ties of the Greek kingdom are loosened

Hope in you gives it gifts; fear of you takes away.

Your hope gives it life, and your fear takes it away

هَدَدتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ كَيانَها

هَدَدتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ كَيانَها

بِأَسطَعَ مِثلِ الصُبحِ لا يَتَكَذَّبُ

بِأَسطَعَ مِثلِ الصُبحِ لا يَتَكَذَّبُ

Commander of the Faithful, you threatened its existence

You threatened the capital of the Commander of the Faithful

With something radiant as morning, which proves no lie.

With the radiant like the dawn, which cannot be denied

وَمازالَ فَجراً سَيفُ عُثمانَ صادِقاً

وَمازالَ فَجراً سَيفُ عُثمانَ صادِقاً

يُساريهِ مِن عالي ذَكائِكَ كَوكَبُ

يُساريهِ مِن عالي ذَكائِكَ كَوكَبُ

Uthman's sword has always been a truthful dawn,

The sword of Uthman has remained a truthful dawn

Accompanied through the night by a star of your lofty intelligence.

With a star from your wisdom rising alongside it

إِذا ما صَدَعتَ الحادِثاتِ بِحَدِّهِ

إِذا ما صَدَعتَ الحادِثاتِ بِحَدِّهِ

تَكَشَّفَ داجي الخَطبِ وَاِنجابَ غَيهَبُ

تَكَشَّفَ داجي الخَطبِ وَاِنجابَ غَيهَبُ

Whenever you cleave calamities with its edge,

Whenever you split open difficult events with its edge

The dark disaster clears and its gloom disperses.

The darkness of calamities is uncovered and the hidden becomes manifest

وَهابَ العِدا فيهِ خِلافَتَكَ الَّتي

وَهابَ العِدا فيهِ خِلافَتَكَ الَّتي

لَهُم مَأرَبٌ فيها وَلِلَّهِ مَأرَبُ

لَهُم مَأرَبٌ فيها وَلِلَّهِ مَأرَبُ

Through it the enemies feared your caliphate, in which

The enemies fear in it your caliphate

They have a purpose, and God has a purpose.

In which they have stakes, while Allah has stakes

سَما بِكَ يا عَبدَ الحَميدِ أُبُوَّةٌ

سَما بِكَ يا عَبدَ الحَميدِ أُبُوَّةٌ

ثَلاثونَ خُضّارُ الجَلالَةِ غُيَّبُ

ثَلاثونَ خُضّارُ الجَلالَةِ غُيَّبُ

An ancestry raised you high, O Abd al-Hamid:

Through you, oh Abdulhamid, has come a fatherhood

Thirty ancestors, verdant in majesty, now unseen.

Of thirty fresh faced caliphs gone by

قَياصِرُ أَحياناً خَلائِفُ تارَةً

قَياصِرُ أَحياناً خَلائِفُ تارَةً

خَواقينُ طَوراً وَالفَخارُ المُقَلَّبُ

خَواقينُ طَوراً وَالفَخارُ المُقَلَّبُ

Caesars sometimes, caliphs at another time,

At times caesars, at other times sovereigns

Khagans at others, with glory in its changing forms.

And princes, and the honorable ones brought low

نُجومُ سُعودِ المَلكِ أَقمارُ زُهرِهِ

نُجومُ سُعودِ المَلكِ أَقمارُ زُهرِهِ

لَوَ اَنَّ النُجومَ الزُهرَ يَجمَعُها أَبُ

لَوَ اَنَّ النُجومَ الزُهرَ يَجمَعُها أَبُ

Stars of royal good fortune, moons of its brilliance—

The stars of the sovereignty of Saud, the moons of its bloom

If only bright stars could share one father.

If only the stars and flowers could be brought together by a father!

تَواصَوا بِهِ عَصراً فَعَصراً فَزادَهُ

تَواصَوا بِهِ عَصراً فَعَصراً فَزادَهُ

مُعَمَّمُهُم مِن هَيبَةٍ وَالمُعَصَّبُ

مُعَمَّمُهُم مِن هَيبَةٍ وَالمُعَصَّبُ

They entrusted it to one another, age after age, increasing it

They have inherited it generation after generation

In awe, both their turbaned and their crowned rulers.

While their turban of reverence and wrap grew larger

هُمُ الشَمسُ لَم تَبرَح سَماواتِ عِزِّها

هُمُ الشَمسُ لَم تَبرَح سَماواتِ عِزِّها

وَفينا ضُحاها وَالشُعاعُ المُحَبَّبُ

وَفينا ضُحاها وَالشُعاعُ المُحَبَّبُ

They are the sun, never leaving the heavens of its glory;

They are the sun that has not abandoned its celestial orbit

Among us are its morning light and beloved rays.

And we have its morning glow and beloved rays

نَهَضتَ بِعَرشٍ يَنهَضُ الدَهرُ بِهِ

نَهَضتَ بِعَرشٍ يَنهَضُ الدَهرُ بِهِ

خُشوعاً وَتَخشاهُ اللَيالي وَتَرهَبُ

خُشوعاً وَتَخشاهُ اللَيالي وَتَرهَبُ

You upheld a throne before which time rises

You have ascended a throne the ages will rise with

Humbly, and which the nights fear and dread.

Humbly, and the nights will fear and shudder because of it

مَكينٍ عَلى مَتنِ الوُجودِ مُؤَيَّدٍ

مَكينٍ عَلى مَتنِ الوُجودِ مُؤَيَّدٍ

بِشَمسِ اِستِواءٍ مالَها الدَهرَ مَغرِبُ

بِشَمسِ اِستِواءٍ مالَها الدَهرَ مَغرِبُ

Firm upon existence's back, supported

Firmly established on the horizon of existence, supported

By a sun at its zenith that never sets through time.

By the sun of balance that has no setting for time

تَرَقَّت لَهُ الأَسواءُ حَتّى اِرتَقَيتَهُ

تَرَقَّت لَهُ الأَسواءُ حَتّى اِرتَقَيتَهُ

فَقُمتَ بِها في بَعضِ ما تَتَنَكَّبُ

فَقُمتَ بِها في بَعضِ ما تَتَنَكَّبُ

Evils mounted around it until you ascended it;

Hardships have submitted to it until you ascended them

Then you confronted them among the burdens you shoulder.

And so you stood at one of their summits

فَكُنتَ كَعَينٍ ذاتِ جَريٍ كَمينَةٍ

فَكُنتَ كَعَينٍ ذاتِ جَريٍ كَمينَةٍ

تَفيضُ عَلى مَرِّ الزَمانِ وَتَعذُبُ

تَفيضُ عَلى مَرِّ الزَمانِ وَتَعذُبُ

You became like a hidden, flowing spring

And so you were like an overflowing spring

That overflows through time and grows sweet.

Entrusted with the earth, streaming through the ground

مُوَكَّلَةٍ بِالأَرضِ تَنسابُ في الثَرى

مُوَكَّلَةٍ بِالأَرضِ تَنسابُ في الثَرى

فَيَحيا وَتَجري في البِلادِ فَتُخضِبُ

فَيَحيا وَتَجري في البِلادِ فَتُخضِبُ

Entrusted with the earth, it courses through the soil,

Bringing life, your flow running through the countries and irrigating them

Reviving it, and flows through lands, making them fertile.

And so you revived what was erased of principles, in ruins,

فَأَحيَيتَ مَيتاً دارِسَ الرَسمِ غابِراً

فَأَحيَيتَ مَيتاً دارِسَ الرَسمِ غابِراً

كَأَنَّكَ فيما جِئتَ عيسى المُقَرَّبُ

كَأَنَّكَ فيما جِئتَ عيسى المُقَرَّبُ

You revived something dead, ancient, its traces effaced,

As if you were Jesus the honored one, in what you came with

As though in your achievement you were Jesus, brought near to God.

And erected a minaret for the caliphate in the world

وَشِدتَ مَناراً لِلخِلافَةِ في الوَرى

وَشِدتَ مَناراً لِلخِلافَةِ في الوَرى

تُشَرِّقُ فيهِم شَمسُهُ وَتُغَرِّبُ

تُشَرِّقُ فيهِم شَمسُهُ وَتُغَرِّبُ

You raised a beacon for the caliphate among mankind;

In which its sun shines and sets

Its sun shines eastward and westward among them.

You stayed up while the Muslims slept contentedly

سَهِرتَ وَنامَ المُسلِمونَ بِغَبطَةٍ

سَهِرتَ وَنامَ المُسلِمونَ بِغَبطَةٍ

وَما يُزعِجُ النُوّامَ وَالساهِرُ الأَبُ

وَما يُزعِجُ النُوّامَ وَالساهِرُ الأَبُ

You kept vigil while Muslims slept contentedly;

And the wakeful and the sleeping father does not disturb

What disturbs sleepers when their father keeps watch?

So we were awakened by the dawn whose radiance

فَنَبَّهَنا الفَتحُ الَّذي ما بِفَجرِهِ

فَنَبَّهَنا الفَتحُ الَّذي ما بِفَجرِهِ

وَلا بِكَ يا فَجرَ السَلامِ مُكَذِّبُ

وَلا بِكَ يا فَجرَ السَلامِ مُكَذِّبُ

The victory awakened us, whose dawn

Cannot be denied, nor you, oh dawn of peace

None denies, nor you, O dawn of peace.

Your sword in wars is most eloquent

حُسامُكَ مِن سُقراطَ في الخَطبِ أَخطَبُ

حُسامُكَ مِن سُقراطَ في الخَطبِ أَخطَبُ

وَعودُكَ مِن عودِ المَنابِرِ أَصلَبُ

وَعودُكَ مِن عودِ المَنابِرِ أَصلَبُ

Your sword is more eloquent than Socrates in crisis;

And your principles from the pulpits most resolute

Your stock is stronger than the wood of pulpits.

And your determination from Homer is most clearly reasoned

وَعَزمُكَ مِن هوميرَ أَمضى بَديهَةً

وَعَزمُكَ مِن هوميرَ أَمضى بَديهَةً

وَأَجلى بَياناً في القُلوبِ وَأَعذَبُ

وَأَجلى بَياناً في القُلوبِ وَأَعذَبُ

Your resolve is readier in inspiration than Homer,

And most refined and sweet in hearts

Clearer in expression to hearts, and sweeter.

Whenever they mention Alexander and his conquests

وَإِن يَذكُروا إِسكَندَراً وَفُتوحَهُ

وَإِن يَذكُروا إِسكَندَراً وَفُتوحَهُ

فَعَهدُكَ بِالفَتحِ المُحَجَّلِ أَقرَبُ

فَعَهدُكَ بِالفَتحِ المُحَجَّلِ أَقرَبُ

If they mention Alexander and his conquests,

Your era of glorious opening is closer

Your experience of radiant conquest is more recent.

And your kingdom guided more perfectly by evidence

وَمُلكُكَ أَرقى بِالدَليلِ حُكومَةً

وَمُلكُكَ أَرقى بِالدَليلِ حُكومَةً

وَأَنفَذُ سَهماً في الأُمورِ وَأَصوَبُ

وَأَنفَذُ سَهماً في الأُمورِ وَأَصوَبُ

Your kingdom demonstrably excels in governance,

And surer in aiming arrows in matters and more precise

Its arrow more penetrating in affairs, and truer.

You manifested, oh Commander of the Faithful, over the enemies

ظَهَرتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عَلى العِدا

ظَهَرتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عَلى العِدا

ظُهوراً يَسوءُ الحاسِدينَ وَيُتعِبُ

ظُهوراً يَسوءُ الحاسِدينَ وَيُتعِبُ

You prevailed over enemies, Commander of the Faithful,

A manifestation that vexes the envious and tires them

With a triumph that troubles and wearies the envious.

Ask the age, the days, and the people - has anything equaled

سَلِ العَصرَ وَالأَيّامَ وَالناسَ هَل نَبا

سَلِ العَصرَ وَالأَيّامَ وَالناسَ هَل نَبا

لِرَأيِكَ فيهِم أَو لِسَيفِكَ مَضرِبُ

لِرَأيِكَ فيهِم أَو لِسَيفِكَ مَضرِبُ

Ask the age, the days, and people: has any stroke

Your opinion of them or your striking sword?

Of your judgment among them, or your sword, missed?

They have filled the world with ignorance and blindness

هُمُ مَلَئوا الدُنيا جَهاماً وَراءَهُ

هُمُ مَلَئوا الدُنيا جَهاماً وَراءَهُ

جَهامٌ مِنَ الأَعوانِ أَهذى وَأَكذَبُ

جَهامٌ مِنَ الأَعوانِ أَهذى وَأَكذَبُ

They filled the world with rainless clouds, followed by

An ignorance from the helpers that is most wayward and false

Rainless clouds of allies, more delirious and deceitful.

But when you unsheathed the sword, the flash of their army faded away

فَلَمّا اِستَلَلتَ السَيفَ أَخلَبَ بَرقُهُم

فَلَمّا اِستَلَلتَ السَيفَ أَخلَبَ بَرقُهُم

وَما كُنتَ يا بَرقَ المَنِيَّةِ تُخلِبُ

وَما كُنتَ يا بَرقَ المَنِيَّةِ تُخلِبُ

When you drew the sword, their lightning proved empty;

And you, oh flash of death, do not fade away

You, O lightning of death, were never empty.

You seized them unable to control their own valley

أَخَذتَهُمُ لا مالِكينَ لِحَوضِهِم

أَخَذتَهُمُ لا مالِكينَ لِحَوضِهِم

مِنَ الذَودِ إِلّا ما أَطالوا وَأَسهَبوا

مِنَ الذَودِ إِلّا ما أَطالوا وَأَسهَبوا

You caught them unable to defend their own watering place

Save what they prolonged with pleas and lies

Except with the lengthy speeches they elaborated.

And your lion-like people did not burden themselves with preparation

وَلم يَتَكَلَّف قَومُكَ الأُسدُ أُهبَةً

وَلم يَتَكَلَّف قَومُكَ الأُسدُ أُهبَةً

وَلَكِنَّ خُلقاً في السِباعِ التَأَهُّبُ

وَلَكِنَّ خُلقاً في السِباعِ التَأَهُّبُ

Your lionlike people needed no labored preparation;

Rather it is in the nature of lions to prepare

Readiness is an instinct in beasts of prey.

And so it is with people - their righteousness remains

كَذا الناسُ بِالأَخلاقِ يَبقى صَلاحُهُم

كَذا الناسُ بِالأَخلاقِ يَبقى صَلاحُهُم

وَيَذهَبُ عَنهُم أَمرُهُم حينَ تَذهَبُ

وَيَذهَبُ عَنهُم أَمرُهُم حينَ تَذهَبُ

Thus people's righteousness endures through their virtues;

While their affairs depart when morals depart

Their power leaves them when those virtues leave.

And it is the pride of homelands that a honored sword

وَمِن شَرَفِ الأَوطانِ أَلّا يَفوتَها

وَمِن شَرَفِ الأَوطانِ أَلّا يَفوتَها

حُسامٌ مُعِزٌّ أَو يَراعٌ مُهَذَّبُ

حُسامٌ مُعِزٌّ أَو يَراعٌ مُهَذَّبُ

Among the honors of homelands is never to lack

Or refined poet not escape them

A sword that confers dignity or a cultivated pen.

You have taken control of their roads, so in the East a place

مَلَكتَ سَبيلَيهِم فَفي الشَرقِ مَضرِبٌ

مَلَكتَ سَبيلَيهِم فَفي الشَرقِ مَضرِبٌ

لِجَيشِكَ مَمدودٌ وَفي الغَربِ مَضرِبُ

لِجَيشِكَ مَمدودٌ وَفي الغَربِ مَضرِبُ

You mastered both their paths: in the east a field

For your army to strike, and in the West a place to strike

Lies open to your army, and another in the west.

Eighty thousand ferocious, roaring lions

ثَمانونَ أَلفاً أُسدُ غابٍ ضَراغِمٌ

ثَمانونَ أَلفاً أُسدُ غابٍ ضَراغِمٌ

لَها مِخلَبٌ فيهِم وَلِلمَوتِ مَخلِبُ

لَها مِخلَبٌ فيهِم وَلِلمَوتِ مَخلِبُ

Eighty thousand woodland lions, mighty beasts,

With claws in them and claws for death

Have claws against them, and death has a claw.

If they show restraint, evil still has the teeth of a biter

إِذا حَلِمَت فَالشَرُّ وَسنانُ حالِمٌ

إِذا حَلِمَت فَالشَرُّ وَسنانُ حالِمٌ

وَإِن غَضِبَت فَالشَرُّ يَقظانُ مُغضِبُ

وَإِن غَضِبَت فَالشَرُّ يَقظانُ مُغضِبُ

When they are forbearing, evil is drowsy and dreaming;

And if they get angry, evil awakens, stinging

When they rage, evil wakes and provokes anger.

A broad daylight more penetrating than the sun

فَيالِقُ أَفشى في البِلادِ مِنَ الضُحى

فَيالِقُ أَفشى في البِلادِ مِنَ الضُحى

وَأَبعَدُ مِن شَمسِ النَهارِ وَأَقرَبُ

وَأَبعَدُ مِن شَمسِ النَهارِ وَأَقرَبُ

Legions more widespread through the lands than morning light,

And farther than the sun's rays yet closer

Farther-reaching than the daytime sun, and nearer.

You face them at dawn and dusk

وَتُصبِحُ تَلقاهُم وَتُمسي تَصُدُّهُم

وَتُصبِحُ تَلقاهُم وَتُمسي تَصُدُّهُم

وَتَظهَرُ في جِدِّ القِتالِ وَتَلعَبُ

وَتَظهَرُ في جِدِّ القِتالِ وَتَلعَبُ

At morning they meet them; at evening they repel them;

Appearing at times and disappearing at others

They appear in earnest combat and maneuver playfully.

Emerging from every high place and settling

تَلوحُ لَهُم في كُلِّ أُفقٍ وَتَعتَلي

تَلوحُ لَهُم في كُلِّ أُفقٍ وَتَعتَلي

وَتَطلُعُ فيهِم مِن مَكانٍ وَتَغرُبُ

وَتَطلُعُ فيهِم مِن مَكانٍ وَتَغرُبُ

They loom before them on every horizon and rise high;

And entering from one direction then leaving from another

They rise among them from one place and set elsewhere.

Controlling the edges of the valleys and coming together

وَتُقدِمُ إِقدامَ اللُيوثِ وَتَنثَني

وَتُقدِمُ إِقدامَ اللُيوثِ وَتَنثَني

وَتُدبِرُ عِلماً بِالوَغى وَتُعَقِّبُ

وَتُدبِرُ عِلماً بِالوَغى وَتُعَقِّبُ

They advance with the boldness of lions, then turn;

And easily conquering every high and low place

They retreat with knowledge of warfare, then return to attack.

Encircling the strongholds and citadels

وَتَملِكُ أَطرافَ الشِعابِ وَتَلتَقي

وَتَملِكُ أَطرافَ الشِعابِ وَتَلتَقي

وَتَأخُذُ عَفواً كُلَّ عالٍ وَتَغصِبُ

وَتَأخُذُ عَفواً كُلَّ عالٍ وَتَغصِبُ

They command the ends of mountain passes and converge;

So the virgin and the deflowered switch roles

They take every height easily, or seize it by force.

The accurate observer of wars leads its regiments

وَتَغشى أَبِيّاتِ المَعاقِلِ وَالذُرا

وَتَغشى أَبِيّاتِ المَعاقِلِ وَالذُرا

فَثَيِّبُهُنَّ البِكرُ وَالبِكرُ ثَيِّبُ

فَثَيِّبُهُنَّ البِكرُ وَالبِكرُ ثَيِّبُ

They assail defiant fortresses and summits;

Tested in battles, attacking and withdrawing

Their deflowered one is virgin, and their virgin deflowered.

Bringing them at times then returning at others

يَقودُ سَراياها وَيَحمي لِواءَها

يَقودُ سَراياها وَيَحمي لِواءَها

سَديدُ المَرائي في الحُروبِ مُجَرِّبُ

سَديدُ المَرائي في الحُروبِ مُجَرِّبُ

Their detachments are led and their banner guarded

As the sea surge comes and goes, rising and falling

By a man of sound vision, experienced in war.

And hurling them from every side like the sea

يَجيءُ بِها حيناً وَيَرجِعُ مَرَّةً

يَجيءُ بِها حيناً وَيَرجِعُ مَرَّةً

كَما تَدفَعُ اللَجَّ البِحارُ وَتَجذِبُ

كَما تَدفَعُ اللَجَّ البِحارُ وَتَجذِبُ

He brings them forward at times and draws them back,

Each surge foaming and crashing into the next

As seas thrust their depths outward and draw them in.

And sending them out through every valley to meet up

وَيَرمي بِها كَالبَحرِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

وَيَرمي بِها كَالبَحرِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

فَكُلُّ خَميسٍ لُجَّةٌ تَتَضَرَّبُ

فَكُلُّ خَميسٍ لُجَّةٌ تَتَضَرَّبُ

He hurls them like the sea from every side;

As clouds meeting when branching out

Each army is a surging deep.

And timing their emergence to fight him

وَيُنفِذُها مِن كُلِّ شِعبٍ فَتَلتَقي

وَيُنفِذُها مِن كُلِّ شِعبٍ فَتَلتَقي

كَما يَتَلاقى العارِضُ المُتَشَعِّبُ

كَما يَتَلاقى العارِضُ المُتَشَعِّبُ

He sends them through every pass, and they converge

As the hour hand meets the minute hand

As the branching rain cloud comes together.

So the eyes of war were confused by what they saw

وَيَجعَلُ ميقاتاً لَها تَنبَري لَهُ

وَيَجعَلُ ميقاتاً لَها تَنبَري لَهُ

كَما دارَ يَلقى عَقرَبَ السَيرِ عَقرَبُ

كَما دارَ يَلقى عَقرَبَ السَيرِ عَقرَبُ

He appoints a time toward which they hasten,

Eyes incredulous at the lions' coming and going

As one turning clock hand meets another moving hand.

Marveling at the shooters and their shooting

فَظَلَّت عُيونُ الحَربِ حَيرى لِما تَرى

فَظَلَّت عُيونُ الحَربِ حَيرى لِما تَرى

نَواظِرَ ما تَأتي اللُيوثُ وَتُغرِبُ

نَواظِرَ ما تَأتي اللُيوثُ وَتُغرِبُ

The eyes of war remained bewildered by their sights,

Admiring the leaders and soldiers even more

Watching the lions' deeds and astonishing feats.

And praising the one who rallied the armies, Yildiz

تُبالِغُ بِالرامي وَتَزهو بِما رَمى

تُبالِغُ بِالرامي وَتَزهو بِما رَمى

وَتُعجَبُ بِالقُوّادِ وَالجُندُ أَعجَبُ

وَتُعجَبُ بِالقُوّادِ وَالجُندُ أَعجَبُ

They lavish praise on the archer and glory in his shot;

And the one who inspired them in their feats and gains

They admire the commanders, but the soldiers are more marvelous.

For kingship is but the army in status and appearance

وَتُثني عَلى مُزجي الجُيوشِ بِيَلدِزٍ

وَتُثني عَلى مُزجي الجُيوشِ بِيَلدِزٍ

وَمُلهِمِها فيما تَنالُ وَتَكسِبُ

وَمُلهِمِها فيما تَنالُ وَتَكسِبُ

They praise the dispatcher of armies at Yildiz,

And the army is but its Lord when attributed

Their inspirer in what they attain and gain.

Zainab warns me against her Turkish people

وَما المُلكُ إِلّا الجَيشُ شَأناً وَمَظهَراً

وَما المُلكُ إِلّا الجَيشُ شَأناً وَمَظهَراً

وَلا الجَيشُ إِلّا رَبُّهُ حينَ يُنسَبُ

وَلا الجَيشُ إِلّا رَبُّهُ حينَ يُنسَبُ

Sovereignty is but the army in standing and appearance;

And expresses the lions in Turkish then Arabic

The army is but its master when its lineage is traced.

She frequently mentions the heroic

تُحَذِّرُني مِن قَومِها التُركِ زَينَبُ

تُحَذِّرُني مِن قَومِها التُركِ زَينَبُ

وَتُعجِمُ في وَصفِ اللُيوثِ وَتُعرِبُ

وَتُعجِمُ في وَصفِ اللُيوثِ وَتُعرِبُ

Zaynab warns me against her people, the Turks;

With pride in beauty, herself marveling

She describes the lions now obscurely, now plainly.

She trails the train of arrogance - and so

وَتُكثِرُ ذِكرَ الباسِلينَ وَتَنثَني

وَتُكثِرُ ذِكرَ الباسِلينَ وَتَنثَني

بِعِزٍّ عَلى عِزِّ الجَمالِ وَتُعجَبُ

بِعِزٍّ عَلى عِزِّ الجَمالِ وَتُعجَبُ

She speaks often of the brave, and turns

The strong who dominates wanders confused

With pride added to beauty's pride, admiring herself.

If Zainab wandered or was boastful

وَتَسحَبُ ذَيلَ الكِبرِياءِ وَهَكَذا

وَتَسحَبُ ذَيلَ الكِبرِياءِ وَهَكَذا

يَتيهُ وَيَختالُ القَوِيُّ المُغَلِّبُ

يَتيهُ وَيَختالُ القَوِيُّ المُغَلِّبُ

She trails the hem of grandeur; thus

Still, her people are the beloved clan

The strong conqueror exults and struts.

The tribulations of events have brought about affinity between us

وَزَينَبُ إِن تاهَت وَإِن هِيَ فاخَرَت

وَزَينَبُ إِن تاهَت وَإِن هِيَ فاخَرَت

فَما قَومُها إِلّا العَشيرُ المُحَبَّبُ

فَما قَومُها إِلّا العَشيرُ المُحَبَّبُ

If Zaynab exults and boasts,

And united us in religion and creed

Her people are only our beloved companions.

Love nestled until it paved the way for passion

يُؤَلِّفُ إيلامُ الحَوادِثِ بَينَنا

يُؤَلِّفُ إيلامُ الحَوادِثِ بَينَنا

وَيَجمَعُنا في اللَهِ دينٌ وَمَذهَبُ

وَيَجمَعُنا في اللَهِ دينٌ وَمَذهَبُ

The pain of calamities binds us together;

And nothing remains between us but earth, and earth comes together

Religion and belief unite us in God.

I crossed the sea for her, though it is a trap

نَما الوُدُّ حَتّى مَهَّدَ السُبلَ لِلهَوى

نَما الوُدُّ حَتّى مَهَّدَ السُبلَ لِلهَوى

فَما في سَبيلِ الوَصلِ ما يُتَصَعَّبُ

فَما في سَبيلِ الوَصلِ ما يُتَصَعَّبُ

Affection grew until it paved love's paths;

In which steel ships are ensnared and rigged

Nothing on the road to union is difficult.

Deaths roam the blue therein, prowling,

وَدانى الهَوى ما شاءَ بَيني وَبَينَها

وَدانى الهَوى ما شاءَ بَيني وَبَينَها

فَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا الأَرضُ وَالأَرضُ تَقرُبُ

فَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا الأَرضُ وَالأَرضُ تَقرُبُ

Love brought us as close as it wished;

Though it is but a wave, coming and going

Only the land remained between us, and land draws near.

Ships appear on it diverse, as if they are

رَكِبتُ إِلَيها البَحرَ وَهوَ مَصيدَةٌ

رَكِبتُ إِلَيها البَحرَ وَهوَ مَصيدَةٌ

تُمَدُّ بِها سُفنُ الحَديدِ وَتُنصَبُ

تُمَدُّ بِها سُفنُ الحَديدِ وَتُنصَبُ

I crossed the sea toward her, though it was a trap

Gazelles viewed from afar, led on by a young one

Where iron ships are spread out and set.

Vessels bearing the banners of caesars, sovereigns

تَروحُ المَنايا الزُرقُ فيهِ وَتَغتَدي

تَروحُ المَنايا الزُرقُ فيهِ وَتَغتَدي

وَما هِيَ إِلّا المَوجُ يَأتي وَيَذهَبُ

وَما هِيَ إِلّا المَوجُ يَأتي وَيَذهَبُ

Blue deaths travel through it morning and evening;

Of the land mounted upon them, gone by

They are only waves that come and go.

Racing against events, pursing them

وَتَبدو عَلَيهِ الفُلكُ شَتّى كَأَنَّها

وَتَبدو عَلَيهِ الفُلكُ شَتّى كَأَنَّها

بُؤوزٌ تُراعيها عَلى البُعدِ أَعقُبُ

بُؤوزٌ تُراعيها عَلى البُعدِ أَعقُبُ

Ships of many kinds appear upon it, as though

While troubles circle them, settling

They were falcons watched from afar by eagles.

Until the water beneath them nearly turns to blood

حَوامِلُ أَعلامِ القَياصِرِ حُضرٌ

حَوامِلُ أَعلامِ القَياصِرِ حُضرٌ

عَلَيها سَلاطينُ البَرِيَّةِ غُيَّبُ

عَلَيها سَلاطينُ البَرِيَّةِ غُيَّبُ

Bearers of Caesars' flags are present;

When their burdens join, lying in wait

Upon them the sovereigns of mankind are absent.

I said, “Are these signs of judgement day I see?

تُجاري خُطاها الحادِثاتِ وَتَقتَفي

تُجاري خُطاها الحادِثاتِ وَتَقتَفي

وَتَطفو حَوالَيها الخُطوبُ وَتَرسُبُ

وَتَطفو حَوالَيها الخُطوبُ وَتَرسُبُ

Calamities keep pace with their steps and follow;

Or is war closer than a vein and nearer?”

Disasters float around them and sink.

Peace, peace to the ark of Rome in the world

وَيوشِكُ يَجري الماءُ مِن تَحتِها دَماً

وَيوشِكُ يَجري الماءُ مِن تَحتِها دَماً

إِذا جَمَعَت أَثقالَها تَتَرَقَّبُ

إِذا جَمَعَت أَثقالَها تَتَرَقَّبُ

The water beneath them nearly runs as blood

If only peace could be sought from oppressors

When they gather their burdens and lie in wait.

It is as if I see the tribulations of time

فَقُلتُ أَأَشراطُ القِيامَةِ ما أَرى

فَقُلتُ أَأَشراطُ القِيامَةِ ما أَرى

أَمِ الحَربُ أَدنى مِن وَريدٍ وَأَقرَبُ

أَمِ الحَربُ أَدنى مِن وَريدٍ وَأَقرَبُ

I said: Are these signs of the Resurrection that I see,

Overflowing your basin which strikes again and again

Or is war nearer than a jugular vein, and closer?

So one living comfortably was disturbed

أَماناً أَماناً لُجَّةَ الرومِ لِلوَرى

أَماناً أَماناً لُجَّةَ الرومِ لِلوَرى

لَوَ اَنَّ أَماناً عِندَ دَأماءَ يُطلَبُ

لَوَ اَنَّ أَماناً عِندَ دَأماءَ يُطلَبُ

Safety, safety for mankind, O sea of the Greeks—

And one safe now fears the zealotry

If safety could ever be sought from a vast sea.

A refuge that prolonged the worries of people said

كَأَنّي بِأَحداثِ الزَمانِ مُلِمَّةً

كَأَنّي بِأَحداثِ الزَمانِ مُلِمَّةً

وَقَد فاضَ مِنها حَوضُكِ المُتَضَرِّبُ

وَقَد فاضَ مِنها حَوضُكِ المُتَضَرِّبُ

I seem to see the age's calamities descending,

Kinder to them than any kindness, more bending

Your surging basin already overflowing with them.

The peace of innocents in the care of the tireless

فَأُزعِجَ مَغبوطٌ وَرُوِّعَ آمِنٌ

فَأُزعِجَ مَغبوطٌ وَرُوِّعَ آمِنٌ

وَغالَ سَلامَ العالَمينَ التَعَصُّبُ

وَغالَ سَلامَ العالَمينَ التَعَصُّبُ

The fortunate are disturbed, the secure terrified;

Yildiz who does not sleep or disappear

Fanaticism destroys the peace of all peoples.

The Commander of the Faithful is a downpour

فَقالَت أَطَلتَ الهَمَّ لِلخَلقِ مَلجَأٌ

فَقالَت أَطَلتَ الهَمَّ لِلخَلقِ مَلجَأٌ

أَبَرُّ بِهِم مِن كُلِّ بَرٍّ وَأَحدَبُ

أَبَرُّ بِهِم مِن كُلِّ بَرٍّ وَأَحدَبُ

She said: You have worried too long; creation has a refuge

Of aid, a spring pouring upon the people

Kinder and more solicitous than every kindly protector.

He saw the great tribulation and confronted its onslaught

سَلامُ البَرايا في كَلاءَةِ فَرقَدٍ

سَلامُ البَرايا في كَلاءَةِ فَرقَدٍ

بِيَلدِزَ لا يَغفو وَلا يَتَغَيَّبُ

بِيَلدِزَ لا يَغفو وَلا يَتَغَيَّبُ

The peace of creatures is guarded by a pole star

And it faded, becoming embers kindling

At Yildiz, which neither dozes nor disappears.

I did not stop facing terrors until I plunged into them

وَإِنَّ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لَوابِلٌ

وَإِنَّ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لَوابِلٌ

مِنَ الغَوثِ مُنهَلٌ عَلى الخَلقِ صَيِّبُ

مِنَ الغَوثِ مُنهَلٌ عَلى الخَلقِ صَيِّبُ

The Commander of the Faithful is indeed a downpour

And necessities can make one mount what cannot be mounted

Of succor, pouring abundantly upon creation.

I traverse the nights amid perils and gloom

رَأى الفِتنَةَ الكُبرى فَوالى اِنهِمالَهُ

رَأى الفِتنَةَ الكُبرى فَوالى اِنهِمالَهُ

فَبادَت وَكانَت جَمرَةً تَتَلَهَّبُ

فَبادَت وَكانَت جَمرَةً تَتَلَهَّبُ

He saw the great turmoil and continued his rainfall;

To a horizon where the caliph is a star

It perished, though it had been a blazing coal.

To the kingdom of Uthman, around whose basin

فَما زِلتُ بِالأَهوالِ حَتّى اِقتَحَمتُها

فَما زِلتُ بِالأَهوالِ حَتّى اِقتَحَمتُها

وَقَد تُركِبُ الحاجاتُ ما لَيسَ يُركَبُ

وَقَد تُركِبُ الحاجاتُ ما لَيسَ يُركَبُ

I persisted amid terrors until I plunged through them;

Stands towering, interwoven architecture, arched

Necessities can make one ride what cannot be ridden.

A palace challenging the stars, perforated

أَخوضُ اللَيالي مِن عُبابٍ وَمِن دُجىً

أَخوضُ اللَيالي مِن عُبابٍ وَمِن دُجىً

إِلى أُفقٍ فيهِ الخَليفَةُ كَوكَبُ

إِلى أُفقٍ فيهِ الخَليفَةُ كَوكَبُ

I traverse nights of surging water and darkness

Over the water, next to it a perforated palace

Toward a horizon where the caliph is a star.

Towers whose eyes are lent by Manoun

إِلى مُلكِ عُثمانَ الَّذي دونَ حَوضِهِ

إِلى مُلكِ عُثمانَ الَّذي دونَ حَوضِهِ

بِناءُ العَوالي المُشمَخِرُّ المُطَنَّبُ

بِناءُ العَوالي المُشمَخِرُّ المُطَنَّبُ

Toward Uthman's kingdom, before whose watering place

With a glance at the maidens that does not disappoint

Stands the towering, far-spreading structure of spears.

Pillars of innovation upon natural pillars

فَلاحَ يُناغي النَجمَ صَرحٌ مُثَقَّبٌ

فَلاحَ يُناغي النَجمَ صَرحٌ مُثَقَّبٌ

عَلى الماءِ قَد حاذاهُ صَرحٌ مُثقَبُ

عَلى الماءِ قَد حاذاهُ صَرحٌ مُثقَبُ

A pierced edifice appeared, conversing with the stars;

Whose homes in the clouds are nearly hidden

Upon the water another pierced edifice faced it.

I stood confounded, glancing around, saying

بُروجٌ أَعارَتها المَنونُ عُيونَها

بُروجٌ أَعارَتها المَنونُ عُيونَها

لَها في الجَواري نَظرَةٌ لا تُخَيَّبُ

لَها في الجَواري نَظرَةٌ لا تُخَيَّبُ

Towers to which death had lent its eyes,

“Is this an illusion of the Turkish borders, or do I imagine so?”

Whose gaze at ships never misses.

Never has an orient built the like

رَواسي اِبتِداعٍ في رَواسي طَبيعَةٍ

رَواسي اِبتِداعٍ في رَواسي طَبيعَةٍ

تَكادُ ذُراها في السَحابِ تُغَيَّبُ

تَكادُ ذُراها في السَحابِ تُغَيَّبُ

Man-made mountains set among natural mountains,

Nor has an occident built the like of the Turkish edifice

Their summits nearly hidden in the clouds.

In its shadow are the formidable battleships

فَقُمتُ أُجيلُ الطَرفَ حَيرانَ قائِلاً

فَقُمتُ أُجيلُ الطَرفَ حَيرانَ قائِلاً

أَهَذى ثُغورُ التُركِ أَم أَنا أَحسَبُ

أَهَذى ثُغورُ التُركِ أَم أَنا أَحسَبُ

I stood turning my gaze, bewildered, and said:

Ruins whose purpose they do not know, which they will destroy

Are these the Turks' frontier forts, or am I imagining?

When its arrow is launched between sea and rock

فَمِثلَ بِناءِ التُركِ لَم يَبنِ مُشرِقٌ

فَمِثلَ بِناءِ التُركِ لَم يَبنِ مُشرِقٌ

وَمِثلَ بِناءِ التُركِ لَم يَبنِ مَغرِبُ

وَمِثلَ بِناءِ التُركِ لَم يَبنِ مَغرِبُ

No easterner has built like the Turks' structures;

It is brought iron that does not veer and is balanced

No westerner has built like the Turks' structures.

Azrael aims it in the garb of a shooter

تَظَلُّ مَهولاتُ البَوارِجِ دونَهُ

تَظَلُّ مَهولاتُ البَوارِجِ دونَهُ

حَوائِرَ ما يَدرينَ ماذا تُخَرِّبُ

حَوائِرَ ما يَدرينَ ماذا تُخَرِّبُ

The terrifying battleships remain before them,

While the hands of demise and fate trained

Bewildered, not knowing what to destroy.

Cannonballs whose essence the heat of the sun fears

إِذا طاشَ بَينَ الماءِ وَالصَخرِ سَهمُها

إِذا طاشَ بَينَ الماءِ وَالصَخرِ سَهمُها

أَتاها حَديدٌ ما يَطيشُ وَأَسرَبُ

أَتاها حَديدٌ ما يَطيشُ وَأَسرَبُ

If their projectile strays between water and rock,

Whenever they climb the slopes, thinking it will not align

Iron comes at them that never strays, more piercing.

When its flames are poured upon the ships

يُسَدِّدُهُ عِزريلُ في زِيِّ قاذِفٍ

يُسَدِّدُهُ عِزريلُ في زِيِّ قاذِفٍ

وَأَيدي المَنايا وَالقَضاءُ المُدَرَّبُ

وَأَيدي المَنايا وَالقَضاءُ المُدَرَّبُ

Azrael aims it in a gunner's guise,

The surviving victors - so how about the losers?

With death's hands and well-trained destiny.

Ask the Romans, do they have a trick for the ships?

قَذائِفُ تَخشى مُهجَةُ الشَمسِ كُلَّما

قَذائِفُ تَخشى مُهجَةُ الشَمسِ كُلَّما

عَلَت مُصعِداتٍ أَنَّها لا تُصَوَّبُ

عَلَت مُصعِداتٍ أَنَّها لا تُصَوَّبُ

Projectiles whose upward flight makes the sun's heart fear

Is there a protector among them but veering away?

That they will not be directed downward.

Their flotillas wavered so the fires guided them

إِذا صُبَّ حاميها عَلى السُفنِ اِنثَنَت

إِذا صُبَّ حاميها عَلى السُفنِ اِنثَنَت

وَغانِمُها الناجي فَكَيفَ المُخَيَّبُ

وَغانِمُها الناجي فَكَيفَ المُخَيَّبُ

When their burning fire pours upon ships, they turn back;

To sanity, then no more wavering

Their winner merely survives—what then of the loser?

Neither the East in its flotilla feels safe

سَلِ الرومَ هَل فيهِنَّ لِلفُلكِ حيلَةٌ

سَلِ الرومَ هَل فيهِنَّ لِلفُلكِ حيلَةٌ

وَهَل عاصِمٌ مِنهُنَّ إِلّا التَنَكُّبُ

وَهَل عاصِمٌ مِنهُنَّ إِلّا التَنَكُّبُ

Ask the Greeks: have ships any stratagem against them?

Nor the West in its flotilla reassured

Is there protection against them except keeping away?

I saw nothing but a bloodstained banner

تَذَبذَبَ أُسطولاهُمُ فَدَعَتهُما

تَذَبذَبَ أُسطولاهُمُ فَدَعَتهُما

إِلى الرُشدِ نارٌ ثَمَّ لا تَتَذَبذَبُ

إِلى الرُشدِ نارٌ ثَمَّ لا تَتَذَبذَبُ

Their two fleets wavered, and were summoned

There, protected by bloodstained youth

To prudence by a fire there that never wavers.

So I said, who is the protector - a fierce Turk

فَلا الشَرقُ في أُسطولِهِ مُتقى الحِمى

فَلا الشَرقُ في أُسطولِهِ مُتقى الحِمى

وَلا الغَربُ في أُسطولِهِ مُتَهَيَّبُ

وَلا الغَربُ في أُسطولِهِ مُتَهَيَّبُ

Neither the East's fleet has an inviolable domain,

Or a tender gazelle groomed?

Nor is the West's fleet held in dread.

Or is it the conquering, struggling king who appeared?

وَما راعَني إِلّا لِواءٌ مُخَضَّبٌ

وَما راعَني إِلّا لِواءٌ مُخَضَّبٌ

هُنالِكَ يَحميهِ بَنانٌ مُخَضَّبُ

هُنالِكَ يَحميهِ بَنانٌ مُخَضَّبُ

Nothing startled me but a dyed banner,

Or the star over the Romans? Or you, Zainab?

Guarded there by dyed fingers.

You raised the daughters of the Turks, so she said

فَقُلتُ مَنِ الحامي أَلَيثٌ غَضَنفَرٌ

فَقُلتُ مَنِ الحامي أَلَيثٌ غَضَنفَرٌ

مِنَ التُركِ ضارٍ أَم غَزالٌ مُرَبَّبُ

مِنَ التُركِ ضارٍ أَم غَزالٌ مُرَبَّبُ

I said: Who is its guardian—a mighty lion

Do the daughters of beasts have the ferocity that amazes?

Of the Turks, ferocious, or a cherished gazelle?

When homelands cry for help, the noble among us rush out

أَمِ المَلِكُ الغازي المُجاهِدُ قَد بَدا

أَمِ المَلِكُ الغازي المُجاهِدُ قَد بَدا

أَمِ النَجمُ في الآرامِ أَم أَنتِ زَينَبُ

أَمِ النَجمُ في الآرامِ أَم أَنتِ زَينَبُ

Has the conquering, striving king appeared,

Bringing their husbands or themselves if no husband

Or a star among gazelles—or is it you, Zaynab?

The wives of the married unsheathe their swords

رَفَعتِ بَناتَ التُركِ قالَت وَهَل بِنا

رَفَعتِ بَناتَ التُركِ قالَت وَهَل بِنا

بَناتِ الضَواري أَن نَصولَ تَعَجُّبُ

بَناتِ الضَواري أَن نَصولَ تَعَجُّبُ

You have exalted Turkish daughters! She said: Is it strange

And the childless fight, defending their homeland

For us, daughters of fierce beasts, to charge?

You witnessed war, oh gallant refined one

إِذا ما الدِيارُ اِستَصرَخَت بَدَرَت لَها

إِذا ما الدِيارُ اِستَصرَخَت بَدَرَت لَها

كَرائِمُ مِنّا بِالقَنا تَتَنَقَّبُ

كَرائِمُ مِنّا بِالقَنا تَتَنَقَّبُ

Whenever the homeland cries for help, there hasten to it

Describe it to us, for you are brave and cultured

Noble women of ours, veiling themselves with spears.

She called, so the horses responded from all sides

تُقَرِّبُ رَبّاتُ البُعولِ بُعولَها

تُقَرِّبُ رَبّاتُ البُعولِ بُعولَها

فَإِن لَم يَكُن بَعلٌ فَنَفساً تُقَرِّبُ

فَإِن لَم يَكُن بَعلٌ فَنَفساً تُقَرِّبُ

Married women offer up their husbands;

And the steeds were alert, on guard

If there is no husband, a woman offers herself.

To the caller, quickly, as if a caller

وَلاحَت بِآفاقِ العَدُوِّ سَرِيَّةٌ

وَلاحَت بِآفاقِ العَدُوِّ سَرِيَّةٌ

فَوارِسُ تَبدو تارَةً وَتُحَجَّبُ

فَوارِسُ تَبدو تارَةً وَتُحَجَّبُ

A detachment appeared on the enemy's horizons:

To prayer, earning reward, from war

Horsemen now visible, now concealed.

Circling the banner, as if it

نَواهِضُ في حُزنٍ كَما تَنهَضُ القَطا

نَواهِضُ في حُزنٍ كَما تَنهَضُ القَطا

رَواكِضُ في سَهلٍ كَما اِنسابَ ثَعلَبُ

رَواكِضُ في سَهلٍ كَما اِنسابَ ثَعلَبُ

Rising over rough ground as sandgrouse rise,

Has over the banners a stronger refuge

Galloping over plains as a fox glides.

Just a call and response

قَليلونَ مِن بُعدٍ كَثيرونَ إِن دَنَوا

قَليلونَ مِن بُعدٍ كَثيرونَ إِن دَنَوا

لَهُم سَكَنٌ آناً وَآناً تَهَيُّبُ

لَهُم سَكَنٌ آناً وَآناً تَهَيُّبُ

Few from afar, many when they draw near;

And war collided with the untouched

They have moments of stillness and moments of menace.

I saw what you both did not see of scenes

فَقالَت شَهِدتَ الحَربَ أَو أَنتَ موشِكٌ

فَقالَت شَهِدتَ الحَربَ أَو أَنتَ موشِكٌ

فَصِفنا فَأَنتَ الباسِلُ المُتَأَدِّبُ

فَصِفنا فَأَنتَ الباسِلُ المُتَأَدِّبُ

She said: You have witnessed war, or soon will;

Nor did a Bedouin or Arab ever witness

Describe us, for you are brave and learned.

Colored mountains that do not shiver or panic

وَنادَت فَلَبّى الخَيلُ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

وَنادَت فَلَبّى الخَيلُ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

وَلَبّى عَلَيها القَسوَرُ المُتَرَقِّبُ

وَلَبّى عَلَيها القَسوَرُ المُتَرَقِّبُ

She called, and horses answered from every side;

When a head falls or shoulder slumps

Upon them the watchful lion answered.

You were but the sword and fire mounted

خِفافاً إِلى الداعي سِراعاً كَأَنَّما

خِفافاً إِلى الداعي سِراعاً كَأَنَّما

مِنَ الحَربِ داعٍ لِلصَلاةِ مُثَوِّبُ

مِنَ الحَربِ داعٍ لِلصَلاةِ مُثَوِّبُ

Light-footed toward the caller, swift, as though

And nothing the Turks found too heavy to mount

A caller amid war were summoning them to prayer.

You ascended above the height of the enemies, and below

مُنيفينَ مِن حَولِ اللِواءِ كَأَنَّهُم

مُنيفينَ مِن حَولِ اللِواءِ كَأَنَّهُم

لَهُ مَعقِلٌ فَوقَ المَعاقِلِ أَغلَبُ

لَهُ مَعقِلٌ فَوقَ المَعاقِلِ أَغلَبُ

Towering around the banner, as though they

A narrow path like the throat of a lion, or more difficult

Were its fortress, stronger than all fortresses.

So it was like the Bridge of Judgement, no doubt

وَما هِيَ إِلّا دَعوَةٌ وَإِجابَةٌ

وَما هِيَ إِلّا دَعوَةٌ وَإِجابَةٌ

أَنِ اِلتَحَمَت وَالحَربُ بَكرٌ وَتَغلِبُ

أَنِ اِلتَحَمَت وَالحَربُ بَكرٌ وَتَغلِبُ

It was but a summons and an answer

While they were the party of God, no sinners

Before they clashed, with war as Bakr and Taghlib.

They passed swiftly beneath the darkness

فَأَبصَرتُ ما لَم تُبصِرا مِن مَشاهِدٍ

فَأَبصَرتُ ما لَم تُبصِرا مِن مَشاهِدٍ

وَلا شَهِدَت يَوماً مَعَدٌّ وَيَعرُبُ

وَلا شَهِدَت يَوماً مَعَدٌّ وَيَعرُبُ

Then I saw scenes neither of you two had seen,

Smoke through which their specters danced

Nor had Ma'add and Ya'rub ever witnessed.

Bustling atop and below the mountains

جِبالَ مَلونا لا تَخوري وَتَجزَعي

جِبالَ مَلونا لا تَخوري وَتَجزَعي

إِذا مالَ رَأسٌ أَو تَضَعضَعَ مَنكِبُ

إِذا مالَ رَأسٌ أَو تَضَعضَعَ مَنكِبُ

Mountains of Melouna, do not falter or despair

As a torrent poured or a comet rushed

If a head inclines or a shoulder crumbles.

Your cannons empower them with fire

فَما كُنتِ إِلّا السَيفَ وَالنارَ مَركَباً

فَما كُنتِ إِلّا السَيفَ وَالنارَ مَركَباً

وَما كانَ يَستَعصي عَلى التُركِ مَركَبُ

وَما كانَ يَستَعصي عَلى التُركِ مَركَبُ

You were only a mount of sword and fire;

Like the fires of volcanoes, toiling away

No mount was ever unmanageable for the Turks.

It showers the essence of souls when ascending

عَلَوا فَوقَ عَلياءِ العَدُوِّ وَدونَهُ

عَلَوا فَوقَ عَلياءِ العَدُوِّ وَدونَهُ

مَضيقٌ كَحَلقِ اللَيثِ أَو هُوَ أَصعَبُ

مَضيقٌ كَحَلقِ اللَيثِ أَو هُوَ أَصعَبُ

They climbed above the enemy's heights, before which

And its slopes overflow when it descends

Lay a strait like a lion's throat, or harder.

Its bullets embed in the heads of fortresses

فَكانَ صِراطُ الحَشرِ ما ثَمَّ ريبَةٌ

فَكانَ صِراطُ الحَشرِ ما ثَمَّ ريبَةٌ

وَكانوا فَريقَ اللَهِ ما ثَمَّ مُذنِبُ

وَكانوا فَريقَ اللَهِ ما ثَمَّ مُذنِبُ

It was the bridge of Judgment, without a doubt;

And the tails of citadels, comet-like, calm down

They were God's company, with no sinner among them.

When darkness obscured the helpers, victory emerged

يَمُرّونَ مَرَّ البَرقِ تَحتَ دُجُنَّةٍ

يَمُرّونَ مَرَّ البَرقِ تَحتَ دُجُنَّةٍ

دُخاناً بِهِ أَشباحُهُم تَتَجَلبَبُ

دُخاناً بِهِ أَشباحُهُم تَتَجَلبَبُ

They passed like lightning beneath a darkness

Crescent-like, veiled, and clear

Of smoke in which their forms were cloaked.

The Romans retreated after their army

حَثيثينَ مِن فَوقِ الجِبالِ وَتَحتِها

حَثيثينَ مِن فَوقِ الجِبالِ وَتَحتِها

كَما اِنهارَ طَودٌ أَو كَما اِنهالَ مِذنَبُ

كَما اِنهارَ طَودٌ أَو كَما اِنهالَ مِذنَبُ

Hurrying above the mountains and below them,

Scattered, nearly vanishing

As a mountain collapses or a comet showers down.

Two wings like the shape of scissors, and a heart

تُمِدُّهُمُ قُذّافُهُم وَرُماتُهُم

تُمِدُّهُمُ قُذّافُهُم وَرُماتُهُم

بِنارٍ كَنيرانِ البَراكينِ تَدأَبُ

بِنارٍ كَنيرانِ البَراكينِ تَدأَبُ

Their artillerymen and marksmen supported them

Spinning in war's heat, tossing and turning

With ceaseless fire like the fires of volcanoes.

Atop mountain peaks their groups wandered, lost

تُذَرّى بِها شُمُّ الذُرا حينَ تَعتَلي

تُذَرّى بِها شُمُّ الذُرا حينَ تَعتَلي

وَيَسفَحُ مِنها السَفحُ إِذ تَتَصَبَّبُ

وَيَسفَحُ مِنها السَفحُ إِذ تَتَصَبَّبُ

Lofty summits are scattered by it when it rises;

Climbing, not knowing where they're heading

The mountainside pours from it when it streams down.

Whether ascending, met by the white sword that seizes

تُسَمَّرُ في رَأسِ القِلاعِ كُراتُها

تُسَمَّرُ في رَأسِ القِلاعِ كُراتُها

وَيَسكُنُ أَعجازَ الحُصونِ المُذَنَّبُ

وَيَسكُنُ أَعجازَ الحُصونِ المُذَنَّبُ

Its balls are nailed into the heads of citadels;

Or descending, the red fire kindles

Its tailed projectile lodges in the backs of forts.

Of fear, nearly their homes flee

فَلَمّا دَجى داجي العَوانِ وَأَطبَقَت

فَلَمّا دَجى داجي العَوانِ وَأَطبَقَت

تَبَلَّجَ وَالنَصرَ الهِلالُ المُحَجَّبُ

تَبَلَّجَ وَالنَصرَ الهِلالُ المُحَجَّبُ

When the darkness of renewed battle deepened and closed in,

And the foundations are spared if a valley shelters them

The veiled crescent shone forth with victory.

The ground beneath them nearly swallows the ground

وَرُدَّت عَلى أَعقابِها الرومُ بَعدَما

وَرُدَّت عَلى أَعقابِها الرومُ بَعدَما

تَناثَرَ مِنها الجَيشُ أَو كادَ يَذهَبُ

تَناثَرَ مِنها الجَيشُ أَو كادَ يَذهَبُ

The Greeks were driven back upon their heels after

And some of the land bites and chews the rest

Their army scattered, or nearly vanished:

Their steps nearly outpace lightning in speed

جَناحَينِ في شِبهِ الشِباكَينِ مِن قَنا

جَناحَينِ في شِبهِ الشِباكَينِ مِن قَنا

وَقَلباً عَلى حُرِّ الوَغى يَتَقَلَّبُ

وَقَلباً عَلى حُرِّ الوَغى يَتَقَلَّبُ

Two wings caught in what seemed two nets of spears,

And dazzle sights wherever they go

And a center turning upon the heat of battle.

Their strides nearly sever the horizon from sights

عَلى قُلَلِ الأَجبالِ حَيرى جُموعُهُم

عَلى قُلَلِ الأَجبالِ حَيرى جُموعُهُم

شَواخِصُ ما إِن تَهتَدي أَينَ تَذهَبُ

شَواخِصُ ما إِن تَهتَدي أَينَ تَذهَبُ

Their bewildered masses stand on mountain peaks,

And penetrate the furthest range, obscuring

Staring, not knowing where to go.

Their slippers nearly touch the ground,

إِذا صَعَدَت فَالسَيفُ أَبيَضُ خاطِفٌ

إِذا صَعَدَت فَالسَيفُ أَبيَضُ خاطِفٌ

وَإِن نَزَلَت فَالنارُ حَمراءُ تَلهَبُ

وَإِن نَزَلَت فَالنارُ حَمراءُ تَلهَبُ

If they climb, the sword flashes white;

And if they found a way to the sky, they would climb

If they descend, red fire blazes.

A rout without a router to spur them

تَطَوَّعَ أَسراً مِنهُمُ ذَلِكَ الَّذي

تَطَوَّعَ أَسراً مِنهُمُ ذَلِكَ الَّذي

تَطَوَّعَ حَرباً وَالزَمانُ تَقَلُّبُ

تَطَوَّعَ حَرباً وَالزَمانُ تَقَلُّبُ

The man among them who volunteered for captivity

Or a chaser calling them to it, obligating it

Had volunteered for war—time is change.

We stayed put, and no Roman youth missed finding

وَتَمَّ لَنا النَصرُ المُبينُ عَلى العِدا

وَتَمَّ لَنا النَصرُ المُبينُ عَلى العِدا

وَفَتحُ المَعالي وَالنَهارُ المُذَهَّبُ

وَفَتحُ المَعالي وَالنَهارُ المُذَهَّبُ

Clear victory over the enemy was ours,

Fright to raid him, and another to loot him

The conquest of lofty honors and the gilded day.

We gained victory but did not gloat,

فَجِئتُ فَتاةَ التُركِ أَجزي دِفاعَها

فَجِئتُ فَتاةَ التُركِ أَجزي دِفاعَها

عَنِ المُلكِ وَالأَوطانِ ما الحَقُّ يوجِبُ

عَنِ المُلكِ وَالأَوطانِ ما الحَقُّ يوجِبُ

I came to the Turkish maiden to repay her defense

As what would further victors' gloating?

Of kingdom and homelands with what justice requires.

He fled, and the system of his soldiers did not

فَقَبَّلتُ كَفّاً كانَ بِالسَيفِ ضارِباً

فَقَبَّلتُ كَفّاً كانَ بِالسَيفِ ضارِباً

وَقَبَّلتُ سَيفاً كانَ بِالكَفِّ يَضرِبُ

وَقَبَّلتُ سَيفاً كانَ بِالكَفِّ يَضرِبُ

I kissed a hand that had struck with a sword;

Alas, a wretched army conditioned for fleeing

I kissed a sword that had struck in that hand.

Taking and driving regiments as an entourage

وَقُلتُ أَفي الدُنيا لِقَومِكِ غالِبٌ

وَقُلتُ أَفي الدُنيا لِقَومِكِ غالِبٌ

وَفي مِثلِ هَذا الحِجرِ رُبّوا وَهُذِّبوا

وَفي مِثلِ هَذا الحِجرِ رُبّوا وَهُذِّبوا

I said: Can anyone in the world defeat your people,

One for it, and one for shame, processioning

Raised and refined in a lap like this?

Organized around him, yet wishing

رُوَيداً بَني عُثمانَ في طَلَبِ العُلا

رُوَيداً بَني عُثمانَ في طَلَبِ العُلا

وَهَيهاتَ لَم يُستَبقَ شَيءٌ فَيُطلَبُ

وَهَيهاتَ لَم يُستَبقَ شَيءٌ فَيُطلَبُ

Gently, sons of Uthman, in seeking eminence—

The earth would split to hide them

But alas, nothing remains to be sought.

Clad with fear, bitten by it

أَفي كُلِّ آنٍ تَغرِسونَ وَنَجتَني

أَفي كُلِّ آنٍ تَغرِسونَ وَنَجتَني

وَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ تَفتَحونَ وَنَكتُبُ

وَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ تَفتَحونَ وَنَكتُبُ

Do you plant every moment while we harvest,

So in each robe a scorpion stings them

And conquer every day while we write?

Imagining horses from every direction

وَما زِلتُمُ يَسقيكُمُ النَصرُ حُمرَهُ

وَما زِلتُمُ يَسقيكُمُ النَصرُ حُمرَهُ

وَتَسقونَهُ وَالكُلُّ نَشوانَ مُصأَبُ

وَتَسقونَهُ وَالكُلُّ نَشوانَ مُصأَبُ

Victory has kept giving you its red wine,

So delusion seizes them with dread

And you giving it yours, all intoxicated and wine-struck,

Behind them one moment, before them another

إِلى أَن أَحَلَّ السُكرَ مَن لا يُحِلُّهُ

إِلى أَن أَحَلَّ السُكرَ مَن لا يُحِلُّهُ

وَمَدَّ بِساطَ الشُربِ مَن لَيسَ يَشرَبُ

وَمَدَّ بِساطَ الشُربِ مَن لَيسَ يَشرَبُ

Until one who forbids drunkenness permitted it,

And for a time on every horizon, awakening

And one who never drinks spread the drinking carpet.

Horsemen in the mountains, length and breadth

وَأَشمَطَ سَوّاسِ الفَوارِسِ أَشيَبُ

وَأَشمَطَ سَوّاسِ الفَوارِسِ أَشيَبُ

يَسيرُ بِهِ في الشَعبِ أَشمَطُ أَشيَبُ

يَسيرُ بِهِ في الشَعبِ أَشمَطُ أَشيَبُ

A hoary man, most grizzled among the horsemen's handlers,

If one peak hides, another appears

Is carried through the pass by a grizzled, white-haired steed.

Wherever they stray, one with a lance comes out

رَفيقاً ذَهابٍ في الحُروبِ وَجيئَةٍ

رَفيقاً ذَهابٍ في الحُروبِ وَجيئَةٍ

قَدِ اِصطَحَبا وَالحُرُّ لِلحُرِّ يَصحَبُ

قَدِ اِصطَحَبا وَالحُرُّ لِلحُرِّ يَصحَبُ

Two companions in going to wars and returning,

And one from the belly of earth, battled

They kept company: the noble accompanies the noble.

Descending upon them from its imagined sky

إِذا شَهِداها جَدَّدا هِزَّةَ الصِبا

إِذا شَهِداها جَدَّدا هِزَّةَ الصِبا

كَما يَتَصابى ذو ثَمانينَ يَطرُبُ

كَما يَتَصابى ذو ثَمانينَ يَطرُبُ

When they enter battle, they renew youth's thrill,

Lightning, in which devastation melts

As an eighty-year-old plays the youth in delight.

Visions which, if true, behind them are

فَيَهتَزُّ هَذا كَالحُسامِ وَيَنثَني

فَيَهتَزُّ هَذا كَالحُسامِ وَيَنثَني

وَيَنفُرُ هَذا كَالغَزالِ وَيَلعَبُ

وَيَنفُرُ هَذا كَالغَزالِ وَيَلعَبُ

This one sways like a sword and bends;

God's angels who cannot be overcome

That one springs like a gazelle and plays.

When Yildiz and we slept as enemies

تَوالى رَصاصُ المُطلِقينَ عَلَيهِما

تَوالى رَصاصُ المُطلِقينَ عَلَيهِما

يُخَضِّلُ مِن شَيبِهِما وَيُخَضِّبُ

يُخَضِّلُ مِن شَيبِهِما وَيُخَضِّبُ

The shooters' bullets followed one another upon them,

In the plains, ears pricked, listening and guarding

Drenching and dyeing their gray hair.

And their young man stayed up while our young manned stayed up

فَقيلَ أَنِل أَقدامَكَ الأَرضَ إِنَّها

فَقيلَ أَنِل أَقدامَكَ الأَرضَ إِنَّها

أَبَرُّ جَواداً إِن فَعَلتَ وَأَنجَبُ

أَبَرُّ جَواداً إِن فَعَلتَ وَأَنجَبُ

He was told: Let your feet reach the earth, for it

One using the sword as a pillow, cautious

Is a kinder and nobler mount, if you do.

The other lost in his dreams, fancying

فَقالَ أَيَرضى واهِبُ النَصرِ أَنَّنا

فَقالَ أَيَرضى واهِبُ النَصرِ أَنَّنا

نَموتُ كَمَوتِ الغانِياتِ وَنُعطَبُ

نَموتُ كَمَوتِ الغانِياتِ وَنُعطَبُ

He said: Would the giver of victory accept that we

Are the two warriors equal - one comfortable

Die like sheltered beauties and perish?

And naive, the other full of experience, tested?

ذَروني وَشَأني وَالوَغى لا مُبالِياً

ذَروني وَشَأني وَالوَغى لا مُبالِياً

إِلى المَوتِ أَمشي أَم إِلى المَوتِ أَركَبُ

إِلى المَوتِ أَمشي أَم إِلى المَوتِ أَركَبُ

Leave me to my business and battle, unconcerned

We both protected Firsal's land and sky

Whether I walk toward death or ride toward death.

And every path between was obstructed

أَيَحمِلُني عُمراً وَيَحمي شَبيبَتي

أَيَحمِلُني عُمراً وَيَحمي شَبيبَتي

وَأَخذُلُهُ في وَهنِهِ وَأُخَيِّبُ

وَأَخذُلُهُ في وَهنِهِ وَأُخَيِّبُ

Would he carry me a lifetime and protect my youth,

Horsemen of God, not retreating or wavering

And I abandon him in weakness and disappoint him?

The finest earth where they are buried, perfumed

إِذا نَحنُ مِتنا فَاِدفِنونا بِبُقعَةٍ

إِذا نَحنُ مِتنا فَاِدفِنونا بِبُقعَةٍ

يَظَلُّ بِذِكرانا ثَراها يُطَيِّبُ

يَظَلُّ بِذِكرانا ثَراها يُطَيِّبُ

When we die, bury us in a patch of ground

Greetings of security and preservation

Whose soil remains fragrant with our remembrance.

To one who spends his nights content, turning

وَلا تَعجَبوا أَن تَبسُلَ الخَيلُ إِنَّها

وَلا تَعجَبوا أَن تَبسُلَ الخَيلُ إِنَّها

لَها مِثلُ ما لِلناسِ في المَوتِ مَشرَبُ

لَها مِثلُ ما لِلناسِ في المَوتِ مَشرَبُ

Do not marvel that horses are brave: they

And bury me in a revered, honored grave

Have, like people, their own way of meeting death.

Brought near by the Merciful in what He brings near

فَماتا أَمامَ اللَهِ مَوتَ بَسالَةٍ

فَماتا أَمامَ اللَهِ مَوتَ بَسالَةٍ

كَأَنَّهُما فيهِ مِثالٌ مُنَصَّبُ

كَأَنَّهُما فيهِ مِثالٌ مُنَصَّبُ

They died before God a death of valor,

When panic took hold of their army in Tirnova

As though in it they were a monument erected.

And chaos swept the streets, doctrines vanishing

وَما شُهَداءُ الحَربِ إِلّا عِمادُها

وَما شُهَداءُ الحَربِ إِلّا عِمادُها

وَإِن شَيَّدَ الأَحياءُ فيها وَطَنَّبوا

وَإِن شَيَّدَ الأَحياءُ فيها وَطَنَّبوا

War's martyrs are its supporting pillars,

Its land and sky narrowed on that evening

Though the living build high and spread wide within it.

And the spacious horizon narrowed between them

مِدادُ سِجِلِّ النَصرِ فيها دِماؤُهُم

مِدادُ سِجِلِّ النَصرِ فيها دِماؤُهُم

وَبِالتِبرِ مِن غالي ثَراهُم يُتَرَّبُ

وَبِالتِبرِ مِن غالي ثَراهُم يُتَرَّبُ

Their blood is the ink of its record of victory;

The citadels emptied of the soldiers

Gold from their precious dust is sprinkled upon it.

And the homes of its people, ruins spreading

فَهَل مِن مَلونا مَوقِفٌ وَمَسامِعٌ

فَهَل مِن مَلونا مَوقِفٌ وَمَسامِعٌ

وَمِن جَبَلَيها مِنبَرٌ لي فَأَخطُبُ

وَمِن جَبَلَيها مِنبَرٌ لي فَأَخطُبُ

Is there in Melouna a place to stand and listening ears,

A caller called out defeat in the provinces

And from its two mountains a pulpit for my speech?

And the call of the Turks came near and approached

فَأَسأَلُ حِصنَيها العَجيبَينِ في الوَرى

فَأَسأَلُ حِصنَيها العَجيبَينِ في الوَرى

وَمَدخَلُها الأَعصى الَّذي هُوَ أَعجَبُ

وَمَدخَلُها الأَعصى الَّذي هُوَ أَعجَبُ

Then I shall question its two wondrous fortresses,

The soldiers turned away from their leaders, lost

And its most resistant entrance, more wondrous still.

And their leaders taught them how to flee

وَأَستَشهِدُ الأَطوادَ شَمّاءَ وَالذُرا

وَأَستَشهِدُ الأَطوادَ شَمّاءَ وَالذُرا

بَواذِخَ تُلوي بِالنُجومِ وَتُجذَبُ

بَواذِخَ تُلوي بِالنُجومِ وَتُجذَبُ

I call the lofty mountains and summits to witness,

The townspeople fled to the wilderness in droves

Soaring, tugging at the stars and drawn toward them.

By the thousands, wandering and dispersing

هَلِ البَأسُ إِلّا بَأسُهُم وَثَباتُهُم

هَلِ البَأسُ إِلّا بَأسُهُم وَثَباتُهُم

أَوِ العَزمُ إِلّا عَزمُهُم وَالتَلَبُّبُ

أَوِ العَزمُ إِلّا عَزمُهُم وَالتَلَبُّبُ

Is courage anything but their courage and steadfastness?

A few saved souls, with nothing but

Or resolve anything but their resolve and readiness?

One empty hand and another tossing and turning

أَوِ الدينُ إِلّا ما رَأَت مِن جِهادِهِم

أَوِ الدينُ إِلّا ما رَأَت مِن جِهادِهِم

أَوِ المُلكُ إِلّا ما أَعَزّوا وَهَيَّبوا

أَوِ المُلكُ إِلّا ما أَعَزّوا وَهَيَّبوا

Or religion anything but the striving it saw from them?

A hand reaching in the crowds to loot

Or sovereignty anything but what they honored and made feared?

And to plunder what no foreigner plunders

وَأَيُّ فَضاءٍ في الوَغى لَم يُضَيِّقوا

وَأَيُّ فَضاءٍ في الوَغى لَم يُضَيِّقوا

وَأَيُّ مَضيقٍ في الوَرى لَم يُرَحِّبوا

وَأَيُّ مَضيقٍ في الوَرى لَم يُرَحِّبوا

What open battlefield did they not constrict?

The youth walking over his father's limbs

What narrow passage in the world did they not widen?

Forgetting there the nursing mother and father

وَهَل قَبلَهُم مَن عانَقَ النارَ راغِباً

وَهَل قَبلَهُم مَن عانَقَ النارَ راغِباً

وَلَو أَنَّهُ عُبّادُها المُتَرَهِّبُ

وَلَو أَنَّهُ عُبّادُها المُتَرَهِّبُ

Before them, did anyone willingly embrace fire,

The regiments passed straight through, ridden by

Even its ascetic worshipper?

Widowed or childless women mourning

وَهَل نالَ ما نالوا مِنَ الفَخرِ حاضِرٌ

وَهَل نالَ ما نالوا مِنَ الفَخرِ حاضِرٌ

وَهَل حُبِيَ الخالونَ مِنهُ الَّذي حُبوا

وَهَل حُبِيَ الخالونَ مِنهُ الَّذي حُبوا

Has anyone living gained the glory they gained?

The horse plods with the years weighing on its leg

Were those departed granted what they were granted?

And the rider a woman carried by the horse

سَلاماً مَلونا وَاِحتِفاظاً وَعِصمَةً

سَلاماً مَلونا وَاِحتِفاظاً وَعِصمَةً

لِمَن باتَ في عالي الرِضى يَتَقَلَّبُ

لِمَن باتَ في عالي الرِضى يَتَقَلَّبُ

Peace, Melouna, and preservation and protection

Advancing through blood one says is theirs

For whoever lies basking in the heights of divine favor.

Others say is their enemies', doubting

وَضِنّي بِعَظمٍ في ثَراكِ مُعَظَّمٍ

وَضِنّي بِعَظمٍ في ثَراكِ مُعَظَّمٍ

يُقَرِبُهُ الرَحمَنُ فيما يُقَرِّبُ

يُقَرِبُهُ الرَحمَنُ فيما يُقَرِّبُ

Guard jealously the honored bone within your soil,

A rider with riches that abandoned him

Which the Merciful draws near among those He favors.

And another mingling goods before his eyes, looted

وَطِرناوُ إِذ طارَ الذُهولُ بِجَيشِها

وَطِرناوُ إِذ طارَ الذُهولُ بِجَيشِها

وَبِالشَعبِ فَوضى في المَذاهِبِ يَذهَبُ

وَبِالشَعبِ فَوضى في المَذاهِبِ يَذهَبُ

And Tyrnavo, when bewilderment carried away its army,

Nearly, from panic, their homes flee

And its people wandered chaotically in all directions,

And the foundations are saved if a valley swallows them

عَشِيَّةَ ضاقَت أَرضُها وَسَماؤُها

عَشِيَّةَ ضاقَت أَرضُها وَسَماؤُها

وَضاقَ فَضاءٌ بَينَ ذاكَ مُرَحِّبُ

وَضاقَ فَضاءٌ بَينَ ذاكَ مُرَحِّبُ

On the evening when its earth and sky grew narrow,

Almost the ground beneath them swallows the ground

And the broad expanse between them narrowed:

And some of the earth chews and bites the rest

خَلَت مِن بَني الجَيشِ الحُصونُ وَأَقفَرَت

خَلَت مِن بَني الجَيشِ الحُصونُ وَأَقفَرَت

مَساكِنُ أَهليها وَعَمَّ التَخَرُّبُ

مَساكِنُ أَهليها وَعَمَّ التَخَرُّبُ

The fortresses emptied of soldiers, and deserted were

You'd think their steps outsped lightning

The inhabitants' homes; devastation spread everywhere.

And if they found a way to the sky, they would climb

وَنادى مُنادٍ لِلهَزيمَةِ في المَلا

وَنادى مُنادٍ لِلهَزيمَةِ في المَلا

وَإِنَّ مُنادي التُركِ يَدنو وَيَقرُبُ

وَإِنَّ مُنادي التُركِ يَدنو وَيَقرُبُ

A herald cried defeat before the multitude,

Rout without a routed, spurring them

While the Turks' herald drew nearer and nearer.

No chaser, obligating them to this

فَأَعرَضَ عَن قُوّادِهِ الجُندُ شارِداً

فَأَعرَضَ عَن قُوّادِهِ الجُندُ شارِداً

وَعَلَّمَهُ قُوّادُهُ كَيفَ يَهرُبُ

وَعَلَّمَهُ قُوّادُهُ كَيفَ يَهرُبُ

The soldiers turned from their commanders and scattered;

We stayed put, and no Roman youth missed

Their commanders taught them how to flee.

Encountering a fright to raid him, or another to loot

وَطارَ الأَهالي نافِرينَ إِلى الفَلا

وَطارَ الأَهالي نافِرينَ إِلى الفَلا

مِئينَ وَآلافاً تَهيمُ وَتَسرُبُ

مِئينَ وَآلافاً تَهيمُ وَتَسرُبُ

The inhabitants flew, panic-stricken, into the wilderness,

We gained victory over him, but no gloating

Hundreds and thousands wandering and streaming away.

For what more does victory give the victor?

نَجَوا بِالنُفوسِ الذاهِلاتِ وَما نَجَوا

نَجَوا بِالنُفوسِ الذاهِلاتِ وَما نَجَوا

بِغَيرِ يَدٍ صِفرٍ وَأُخرى تُقَلِّبُ

بِغَيرِ يَدٍ صِفرٍ وَأُخرى تُقَلِّبُ

They escaped with bewildered lives, but escaped

A citadel towered over Dumoqova as if

With only one empty hand and another turning.

It were the nest of an eagle, or named such

وَطالَت يَدٌ لِلجَمعِ في الجَمعِ بِالخَنا

وَطالَت يَدٌ لِلجَمعِ في الجَمعِ بِالخَنا

وَبِالسَلبِ لَم يَمدُد بِها فيهِ أَجنَبُ

وَبِالسَلبِ لَم يَمدُد بِها فيهِ أَجنَبُ

A hand of the crowd reached into the crowd with outrage

I sensed upon a hill another sensing

And plunder—no foreigner had stretched it among them.

The news of the sudden, and the welcoming dove

يَسيرُ عَلى أَشلاءِ والِدِهِ الفَتى

يَسيرُ عَلى أَشلاءِ والِدِهِ الفَتى

وَيَنسى هُناكَ المُرضَعَ الأُمُّ وَالأَبُ

وَيَنسى هُناكَ المُرضَعَ الأُمُّ وَالأَبُ

A youth walks over his father's remains;

You'd think it complained to its Lord when traveling

Mother and father forget their suckling child there.

And the winds submit as it rides

وَتَمضي السَرايا واطِئاتٍ بِخَيلِها

وَتَمضي السَرايا واطِئاتٍ بِخَيلِها

أَرامِلَ تَبكي أَو ثَواكِلَ تَندُبُ

أَرامِلَ تَبكي أَو ثَواكِلَ تَندُبُ

Detachments pass, trampling with their horses

It carried lions of iron stationed

Weeping widows or bereaved mothers lamenting.

Upon a wheel, gathering, lying in wait

فَمِن راجِلٍ تَهوي السِنونُ بِرِجلِهِ

فَمِن راجِلٍ تَهوي السِنونُ بِرِجلِهِ

وَمِن فارِسٍ تَمشي النِساءُ وَيَركَبُ

وَمِن فارِسٍ تَمشي النِساءُ وَيَركَبُ

One goes on foot, years dragging down his leg;

It rages and calms, veers and nears

Another rides while the women walk.

Going wherever it goes, shooting, kindling

وَماضٍ بِمالٍ قَد مَضى عَنهُ وَألُهُ

وَماضٍ بِمالٍ قَد مَضى عَنهُ وَألُهُ

وَمُزجٍ أَثاثاً بَينَ عَينَيهِ يُنهَبُ

وَمُزجٍ أَثاثاً بَينَ عَينَيهِ يُنهَبُ

One carries wealth whose refuge is already lost;

It refuses so the learned see impossibility

Another drives belongings onward, plundered before his eyes.

And their imaginations tire, drifting

يَكادونَ مِن ذُعرٍ تَفُرُّ دِيارُهُم

يَكادونَ مِن ذُعرٍ تَفُرُّ دِيارُهُم

وَتَنجو الرَواسي لَو حَواهُنَّ مَشعَبُ

وَتَنجو الرَواسي لَو حَواهُنَّ مَشعَبُ

Their homes nearly flee from terror;

Is it beyond power for the heavens to be climbed

The mountains would escape if a passage could contain them.

By an army, and for the stars to be covered, eclipsing?

يَكادُ الثَرى مِن تَحتِهِم يَلِجُ الثَرى

يَكادُ الثَرى مِن تَحتِهِم يَلِجُ الثَرى

وَيَقضِمُ بَعضُ الأَرضِ بَعضاً وَيُقضِبُ

وَيَقضِمُ بَعضُ الأَرضِ بَعضاً وَيُقضِبُ

The soil beneath them nearly enters the soil;

You ascended to it when cannons were below it

One part of earth gnaws another and cuts it away.

And the bullets of demise, aligned and aimed

تَكادُ خُطاهُم تَسبِقُ البَرقَ سُرعَةً

تَكادُ خُطاهُم تَسبِقُ البَرقَ سُرعَةً

وَتَذهَبُ بِالأَبصارِ أَيّانَ تَذهَبُ

وَتَذهَبُ بِالأَبصارِ أَيّانَ تَذهَبُ

Their steps nearly outstrip lightning in speed

The learned of the world despaired, seeing you

And carry away sight wherever they go.

And failed in their notions, becoming senile

تَكادُ عَلى أَبصارِهِم تَقطَعُ المَدى

تَكادُ عَلى أَبصارِهِم تَقطَعُ المَدى

وَتَنفُذُ مَرماها البَعيدَ وَتَحجُبُ

وَتَنفُذُ مَرماها البَعيدَ وَتَحجُبُ

Before their eyes they nearly cross the entire distance,

You kept ascending until you descended upon its towers

Pierce their farthest goal, and vanish from view.

And the sun of day had not yet gone, setting

تَكادُ تَمُسُّ الأَرضَ مَسّاً نِعالُهُم

تَكادُ تَمُسُّ الأَرضَ مَسّاً نِعالُهُم

وَلَو وَجَدوا سُبلاً إِلى الجَوِّ نَكَّبوا

وَلَو وَجَدوا سُبلاً إِلى الجَوِّ نَكَّبوا

Their sandals barely touch the earth;

There the East lavished praise, the West reaching limits

Had they found paths into the air, they would have turned there.

And the House of Uthman hyperbolized

هَزيمَةُ مَن لا هازِمٌ يَستَحِثُّهُ

هَزيمَةُ مَن لا هازِمٌ يَستَحِثُّهُ

وَلا طارِدٌ يَدعو لِذاكَ وَيوجِبُ

وَلا طارِدٌ يَدعو لِذاكَ وَيوجِبُ

The flight of one whom no conqueror presses,

The defenses of Islam increased in glory and impregnability

And no pursuer calls or compels to flee.

And the age's ambitions were reined in, revering

قَعَدنا فَلَم يَعدَم فَتى الرومِ فَيلَقاً

قَعَدنا فَلَم يَعدَم فَتى الرومِ فَيلَقاً

مِنَ الرُعبِ يَغزوهُ وَآخَرَ يَسلُبُ

مِنَ الرُعبِ يَغزوهُ وَآخَرَ يَسلُبُ

We stayed still, yet the Greek warrior lacked no legion

We raised heads to the stars by your victory

Of terror invading him, and another plundering him.

And by the events we were aligning and directing

ظَفِرنا بِهِ وَجهاً فَظَنَّ تَعَقُّباً

ظَفِرنا بِهِ وَجهاً فَظَنَّ تَعَقُّباً

وَماذا يَزيدُ الظافِرينَ التَعَقُّبُ

وَماذا يَزيدُ الظافِرينَ التَعَقُّبُ

We defeated him face to face; he imagined pursuit.

Whoever is descended from the state of cannons

What does pursuit add to the victors?

Is descended from nothing but power and honor

فَوَلّى وَما وَلّى نِظامُ جُنودِهِ

فَوَلّى وَما وَلّى نِظامُ جُنودِهِ

وَيا شُؤمَ جَيشٍ لِلفَرارِ يُرَتِّبُ

وَيا شُؤمَ جَيشٍ لِلفَرارِ يُرَتِّبُ

He fled, but his soldiers' order did not depart;

Oh my people, where is the army you claimed?

How ill-omened an army arranged for flight!

And the maidens, and the solid, mounted defense?

يَسوقُ وَيَحدو لِلنَجاةِ كَتائِباً

يَسوقُ وَيَحدو لِلنَجاةِ كَتائِباً

لَهُ مَوكِبٌ مِنها وَلِلعارِ مَوكِبُ

لَهُ مَوكِبٌ مِنها وَلِلعارِ مَوكِبُ

He drives and urges battalions toward escape;

Where is the commander of might, resolve, and refuge?

From them he has a procession, and disgrace has a procession.

Where is a hope in the commander that disappoints?

مُنَظَّمَةٌ مِن حَولِهِ بَيدَ أَنَّها

مُنَظَّمَةٌ مِن حَولِهِ بَيدَ أَنَّها

تَوَدُّ لَوِ اِنشَقَّ الثَرى فَتُغَيَّبُ

تَوَدُّ لَوِ اِنشَقَّ الثَرى فَتُغَيَّبُ

Ordered around him, yet they

Where are the far-reaching lands you loot?

Wish the earth would split and conceal them.

Where are the gangs for you that leap?

مُؤَزَّرَةٌ بِالرُعبِ مَلدوغَةٌ بِهِ

مُؤَزَّرَةٌ بِالرُعبِ مَلدوغَةٌ بِهِ

فَفي كُلِّ ثَوبٍ عَقرَبٌ مِنهُ تَلسِبُ

فَفي كُلِّ ثَوبٍ عَقرَبٌ مِنهُ تَلسِبُ

Girded with terror, stung by it,

Where is what the papers told us about you?

In every garment a scorpion of it stings.

And what its masters conveyed to you, exaggerating?

تَرى الخَيلَ مِن كُلِّ الجِهاتِ تَخَيُّلاً

تَرى الخَيلَ مِن كُلِّ الجِهاتِ تَخَيُّلاً

فَيَأخُذُ مِنها وَهمُها وَالتَهَيُّبُ

فَيَأخُذُ مِنها وَهمُها وَالتَهَيُّبُ

They imagine cavalry in every direction;

No lightning has relayed

Their delusion and dread seize them.

فَمِن خَلفِها طَوراً وَحيناً أَمامَها

فَمِن خَلفِها طَوراً وَحيناً أَمامَها

وَآوِنَةً مِن كُلِّ أَوبٍ تَأَلَّبُ

وَآوِنَةً مِن كُلِّ أَوبٍ تَأَلَّبُ

Now behind them, now before them,

And at times gathering from every quarter:

فَوارِسُ في طولِ الجِبالِ وَعَرضِها

فَوارِسُ في طولِ الجِبالِ وَعَرضِها

إِذا غابَ مِنهُم مِقنَبٌ لاحَ مِقنَبُ

إِذا غابَ مِنهُم مِقنَبٌ لاحَ مِقنَبُ

Horsemen along the mountains' length and breadth;

When one troop disappears, another appears.

فَمَهما تَهِم يَسنَح لَها ذو مُهَنَّدٍ

فَمَهما تَهِم يَسنَح لَها ذو مُهَنَّدٍ

وَيَخرُج لَها مِن باطِنِ الأَرضِ مِحرَبُ

وَيَخرُج لَها مِن باطِنِ الأَرضِ مِحرَبُ

Wherever they intend to go, a swordsman appears;

A warrior emerges for them from the earth's depths.

وَتَنزِل عَلَيها مِن سَماءِ خَيالِها

وَتَنزِل عَلَيها مِن سَماءِ خَيالِها

صَواعِقٌ فيهِنَّ الرَدى المُتَصَبِّبُ

صَواعِقٌ فيهِنَّ الرَدى المُتَصَبِّبُ

From the sky of their imagination descend upon them

Thunderbolts streaming with death.

رُؤىً إِن تَكُن حَقّاً يَكُن مِن وَرائِها

رُؤىً إِن تَكُن حَقّاً يَكُن مِن وَرائِها

مَلائِكَةُ اللَهِ الَّذي لَيسَ يُغلَبُ

مَلائِكَةُ اللَهِ الَّذي لَيسَ يُغلَبُ

Visions which, if true, would have behind them

The angels of God, who cannot be defeated.

وَفِرسالُ إِذ باتوا وَبِتنا أَعادِياً

وَفِرسالُ إِذ باتوا وَبِتنا أَعادِياً

عَلى السَهلِ لُدّاً يَرقُبونَ وَنَرقُبُ

عَلى السَهلِ لُدّاً يَرقُبونَ وَنَرقُبُ

And Pharsala, when they and we spent the night as enemies

Upon the plain, bitter foes, watching one another:

وَقامَ فَتانا اللَيلَ يَحمي لِواءَهُ

وَقامَ فَتانا اللَيلَ يَحمي لِواءَهُ

وَقامَ فَتاهُم لَيلَهُ يَتَلَعَّبُ

وَقامَ فَتاهُم لَيلَهُ يَتَلَعَّبُ

Our warrior stood through the night guarding his banner;

Their warrior spent his night amusing himself.

تَوَسَّدَ هَذا قائِمَ السَيفِ يَتَّقي

تَوَسَّدَ هَذا قائِمَ السَيفِ يَتَّقي

وَهَذا عَلى أَحلامِهِ يَتَحَسَّبُ

وَهَذا عَلى أَحلامِهِ يَتَحَسَّبُ

This one pillowed his head on his sword's hilt, guarding himself;

That one anxiously reckoned with his dreams.

وَهَل يَستَوي القِرنانُ هَذا مُنَعَّمٌ

وَهَل يَستَوي القِرنانُ هَذا مُنَعَّمٌ

غَريرٌ وَهَذا ذو تَجاريبَ قُلَّبُ

غَريرٌ وَهَذا ذو تَجاريبَ قُلَّبُ

Are the two adversaries equal? This one is pampered

And inexperienced; that one seasoned and resourceful.

حَمَينا كِلانا أَرضَ فِرسالَ وَالسَما

حَمَينا كِلانا أَرضَ فِرسالَ وَالسَما

فَكُلُّ سَبيلٍ بَينَ ذَلِكَ مَعطَبُ

فَكُلُّ سَبيلٍ بَينَ ذَلِكَ مَعطَبُ

Both of us guarded Pharsala's earth and sky;

Every path between them was a place of destruction.

وَرُحنا يَهُبُّ الشَرُّ فينا وَفيهِمُ

وَرُحنا يَهُبُّ الشَرُّ فينا وَفيهِمُ

وَتَشمُلُ أَرواحُ القِتالِ وَتَجنُبُ

وَتَشمُلُ أَرواحُ القِتالِ وَتَجنُبُ

We passed the evening with evil blowing among us and them;

The spirits of combat swept northward and southward.

كَأَنّا أُسودٌ رابِضاتٌ كَأَنَّهُم

كَأَنّا أُسودٌ رابِضاتٌ كَأَنَّهُم

قَطيعٌ بِأَقصى السَهلِ حَيرانَ مُذئِبُ

قَطيعٌ بِأَقصى السَهلِ حَيرانَ مُذئِبُ

We seemed crouching lions; they seemed

A bewildered flock at the plain's edge, beset by wolves.

كَأَنَّ خِيامَ الجَيشِ في السَهلِ أَينَقُ

كَأَنَّ خِيامَ الجَيشِ في السَهلِ أَينَقُ

نَواشِزُ فَوضى في دُجى اللَيلِ شُزَّبُ

نَواشِزُ فَوضى في دُجى اللَيلِ شُزَّبُ

The army's tents upon the plain seemed she-camels,

Standing scattered and lean in the night's darkness.

كَأَنَّ السَرايا ساكِناتٍ مَوائِجاً

كَأَنَّ السَرايا ساكِناتٍ مَوائِجاً

قَطائِعُ تُعطى الأَمنَ طَوراً وَتُسلَبُ

قَطائِعُ تُعطى الأَمنَ طَوراً وَتُسلَبُ

The detachments, still and surging, seemed

Herds granted safety for a time, then robbed of it.

كَأَنَّ القَنا دونَ الخِيامِ نَوازِلاً

كَأَنَّ القَنا دونَ الخِيامِ نَوازِلاً

جَداوِلُ يُجريها الظَلامُ وَيُسكَبُ

جَداوِلُ يُجريها الظَلامُ وَيُسكَبُ

The spears descending before the tents seemed

Streams that darkness made flow, itself poured out.

كَأَنَّ الدُجى بَحرٌ إِلى النَجمِ صاعِدٌ

كَأَنَّ الدُجى بَحرٌ إِلى النَجمِ صاعِدٌ

كَأَنَّ السَرايا مَوجُهُ المُتَضَرِّبُ

كَأَنَّ السَرايا مَوجُهُ المُتَضَرِّبُ

Darkness seemed a sea rising to the stars;

The detachments seemed its surging waves.

كَأَنَّ المَنايا في ضَميرِ ظَلامِهِ

كَأَنَّ المَنايا في ضَميرِ ظَلامِهِ

هُمومٌ بِها فاضَ الضَميرُ المُحَجَّبُ

هُمومٌ بِها فاضَ الضَميرُ المُحَجَّبُ

Deaths within its darkness's hidden heart seemed

Sorrows overflowing that veiled heart.

كَأَنَّ صَهيلَ الخَيلِ ناعٍ مُبَشِّرٌ

كَأَنَّ صَهيلَ الخَيلِ ناعٍ مُبَشِّرٌ

تَراهُنَّ فيها ضُحَّكاً وَهيَ نُحَّبُ

تَراهُنَّ فيها ضُحَّكاً وَهيَ نُحَّبُ

The horses' neighing seemed a mourner and a herald;

You see them laughing in it, though they are weeping.

كَأَنَّ وُجوهَ الخَيلِ غُرّاً وَسيمَةً

كَأَنَّ وُجوهَ الخَيلِ غُرّاً وَسيمَةً

دَرارِيُّ لَيلٍ طُلَّعٌ فيهِ ثُقَّبُ

دَرارِيُّ لَيلٍ طُلَّعٌ فيهِ ثُقَّبُ

The horses' handsome, white-marked faces seemed

Bright stars rising in the night, piercing it.

كَأَنَّ أُنوفَ الخَيلِ حَرّى مِنَ الوَغى

كَأَنَّ أُنوفَ الخَيلِ حَرّى مِنَ الوَغى

مَجامِرُ في الظَلماءِ تَهدا وَتَلهُبُ

مَجامِرُ في الظَلماءِ تَهدا وَتَلهُبُ

The horses' nostrils, hot from battle, seemed

Braziers in the darkness, subsiding and blazing.

كَأَنَّ صُدورَ الخَيلِ غُدرٌ عَلى الدُجى

كَأَنَّ صُدورَ الخَيلِ غُدرٌ عَلى الدُجى

كَأَنَّ بَقايا النَضحِ فيهِنَّ طُحلُبُ

كَأَنَّ بَقايا النَضحِ فيهِنَّ طُحلُبُ

The horses' breasts seemed pools against the darkness;

The remnants of sweat upon them seemed algae.

كَأَنَّ سَنى الأَبواقِ في اللَيلِ بَرقُهُ

كَأَنَّ سَنى الأَبواقِ في اللَيلِ بَرقُهُ

كَأَنَّ صَداها الرَعدُ لِلبَرقِ يَصحَبُ

كَأَنَّ صَداها الرَعدُ لِلبَرقِ يَصحَبُ

The bugles' gleam at night seemed its lightning;

Their echo seemed thunder accompanying lightning.

كَأَنَّ نِداءَ الجَيشِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

كَأَنَّ نِداءَ الجَيشِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

دَوِيُّ رِياحٍ في الدُجى تَتَذَأَّبُ

دَوِيُّ رِياحٍ في الدُجى تَتَذَأَّبُ

The army's calls from every side seemed

The roar of winds shifting through the darkness.

كَأَنَّ عُيونَ الجَيشِ مِن كُلِّ مَذهَبٍ

كَأَنَّ عُيونَ الجَيشِ مِن كُلِّ مَذهَبٍ

مِنَ السَهلِ جُنَّ جُوَّلٌ فيهِ جُوَّبُ

مِنَ السَهلِ جُنَّ جُوَّلٌ فيهِ جُوَّبُ

The army's scouts along every path

Of the plain seemed jinn roaming and ranging through it.

كَأَنَّ الوَغى نارٌ كَأَنَّ جُنودَنا

كَأَنَّ الوَغى نارٌ كَأَنَّ جُنودَنا

مَجوسٌ إِذا ما يَمَّموا النارَ قَرَّبوا

مَجوسٌ إِذا ما يَمَّموا النارَ قَرَّبوا

Battle seemed fire, and our soldiers seemed

Magians who offered sacrifice whenever they approached the fire.

كَأَنَّ الوَغى نارٌ كَأَنَّ الرَدى قِرىً

كَأَنَّ الوَغى نارٌ كَأَنَّ الرَدى قِرىً

كَأَنَّ وَراءَ النارِ حاتِمَ يَأدِبُ

كَأَنَّ وَراءَ النارِ حاتِمَ يَأدِبُ

Battle seemed fire, and death a feast;

Behind the fire Hatim seemed to be hosting.

كَأَنَّ الوَغى نارٌ كَأَنَّ بَني الوَغى

كَأَنَّ الوَغى نارٌ كَأَنَّ بَني الوَغى

فَراشٌ لَهُ مَلمَسُ النارِ مَأرَبُ

فَراشٌ لَهُ مَلمَسُ النارِ مَأرَبُ

Battle seemed fire, and battle's sons seemed

Moths whose desire was to touch the fire.

وَثَبنا يَضيقُ السَهلُ عَن وَثَباتِنا

وَثَبنا يَضيقُ السَهلُ عَن وَثَباتِنا

وَتَقدُمُنا نارٌ إِلى الرومِ أَوثَبُ

وَتَقدُمُنا نارٌ إِلى الرومِ أَوثَبُ

We sprang, the plain too narrow for our leaps;

Fire leapt still farther before us toward the Greeks.

مَشَت في سَراياهُم فَحَلَّت نِظامَها

مَشَت في سَراياهُم فَحَلَّت نِظامَها

فَلَمّا مَشَينا أَدبَرَت لا تُعَقِّبُ

فَلَمّا مَشَينا أَدبَرَت لا تُعَقِّبُ

It moved through their detachments, undoing their order;

When we advanced, they retreated without returning.

رَأى السَهلُ مِنهُم ما رَأى الوَعرُ قَبلَهُ

رَأى السَهلُ مِنهُم ما رَأى الوَعرُ قَبلَهُ

فَيا قَومُ حَتّى السَهلُ في الحَربِ يَصعُبُ

فَيا قَومُ حَتّى السَهلُ في الحَربِ يَصعُبُ

The plain saw from them what rough ground had seen before;

O people, even the plain grows difficult in war!

وَحِصنٌ تَسامى مِن دُموقو كَأَنَّهُ

وَحِصنٌ تَسامى مِن دُموقو كَأَنَّهُ

مُعَشِّشُ نَسرٍ أَو بِهَذا يُلَقَّبُ

مُعَشِّشُ نَسرٍ أَو بِهَذا يُلَقَّبُ

A fortress towered from Domokos, as though

An eagle's nesting place—or so it is named.

أَشُمُّ عَلى طَودٍ أَشَمَّ كِلاهُما

أَشُمُّ عَلى طَودٍ أَشَمَّ كِلاهُما

مَنونُ المُفاجي وَالحِمامُ المُرَحِّبُ

مَنونُ المُفاجي وَالحِمامُ المُرَحِّبُ

Lofty upon a lofty mountain, both

Death to the unexpected visitor, and welcoming doom.

تَكادُ تَقادُ الغادِياتُ لِرَبِّهِ

تَكادُ تَقادُ الغادِياتُ لِرَبِّهِ

فَيُزجي وَتَنزُمُّ الرِياحُ فَيَركَبُ

فَيُزجي وَتَنزُمُّ الرِياحُ فَيَركَبُ

Rain clouds could nearly be led to its master;

He could drive them, and harness the winds to ride.

حَمَتهُ لُيوثٌ مِن حَديدٍ تَرَكَّزَت

حَمَتهُ لُيوثٌ مِن حَديدٍ تَرَكَّزَت

عَلى عَجَلٍ وَاِستَجمَعَت تَتَرَقَّبُ

عَلى عَجَلٍ وَاِستَجمَعَت تَتَرَقَّبُ

Iron lions protected it, positioned

On wheels and gathered together in watchfulness.

تَثورُ وَتَستَأني وَتَنأى وَتَدَّني

تَثورُ وَتَستَأني وَتَنأى وَتَدَّني

وَتَغدو بِما تَغدي وَتَرمي وَتَنشُبُ

وَتَغدو بِما تَغدي وَتَرمي وَتَنشُبُ

They rise and pause, move far and draw near;

They go forth with what they feed, shoot, and sink their claws.

تَأبّى فَظَنَّ العالِمونَ اِستَحالَةً

تَأبّى فَظَنَّ العالِمونَ اِستَحالَةً

وَأَعيا عَلى أَوهامِهِم فَتَرَيَّبوا

وَأَعيا عَلى أَوهامِهِم فَتَرَيَّبوا

It resisted, and the knowledgeable thought it impossible;

It baffled their imaginations, and they doubted.

فَما في القِوى أَنَّ السَماواتِ تُرتَقى

فَما في القِوى أَنَّ السَماواتِ تُرتَقى

بِجَيشٍ وَأَنَّ النَجمَ يُغشى فَيُغضِبُ

بِجَيشٍ وَأَنَّ النَجمَ يُغشى فَيُغضِبُ

It is not within one's power to ascend the heavens

With an army, or approach a star and anger it.

سَمَوتُم إِلَيهِ وَالقَنابِلُ دونَهُ

سَمَوتُم إِلَيهِ وَالقَنابِلُ دونَهُ

وَشُهبُ المَنايا وَالرَصاصُ المُصَوَّبُ

وَشُهبُ المَنايا وَالرَصاصُ المُصَوَّبُ

You climbed toward it, with bombs barring the way,

Death's meteors and aimed bullets.

فَكُنتُم يَواقيتَ الحُروبِ كَرامَةً

فَكُنتُم يَواقيتَ الحُروبِ كَرامَةً

عَلى النارِ أَو أَنتُم أَشَدُّ وَأَصلَبُ

عَلى النارِ أَو أَنتُم أَشَدُّ وَأَصلَبُ

You were the rubies of war in your nobility,

Superior to fire—or tougher and harder still.

صَعَدتُم وَما غَيرُ القَنا ثَمَّ مَصعَدٌ

صَعَدتُم وَما غَيرُ القَنا ثَمَّ مَصعَدٌ

وَلا سُلَّمٌ إِلّا الحَديدُ المُذَرَّبُ

وَلا سُلَّمٌ إِلّا الحَديدُ المُذَرَّبُ

You climbed where there was no ascent but spears,

And no ladder but sharpened iron.

كَما اِزدَحَمَت بَيزانُ جَوٍّ بِمَورِدٍ

كَما اِزدَحَمَت بَيزانُ جَوٍّ بِمَورِدٍ

أَوِ اِرتَفَعَت تَلقى الفَريسَةَ أَعقَبُ

أَوِ اِرتَفَعَت تَلقى الفَريسَةَ أَعقَبُ

As hawks of the air crowd at a watering place,

Or eagles rise to meet their prey.

فَما زِلتُمُ حَتّى نَزَلتُم بُروجَهُ

فَما زِلتُمُ حَتّى نَزَلتُم بُروجَهُ

وَلَم تَحتَضِر شَمسُ النَهارِ فَتَغرُبُ

وَلَم تَحتَضِر شَمسُ النَهارِ فَتَغرُبُ

You persisted until you occupied its towers,

Before the daytime sun lay dying and set.

هُنالِكَ غالى في الأَماديحِ مَشرِقٌ

هُنالِكَ غالى في الأَماديحِ مَشرِقٌ

وَبالَغَ فيكُم آلَ عُثمانَ مَغرِبُ

وَبالَغَ فيكُم آلَ عُثمانَ مَغرِبُ

There the East exceeded all bounds in praise;

The West lavished praise upon you, House of Uthman.

وَزَيدَ حَمى الإِسلامَ عِزّاً وَمَنعَةً

وَزَيدَ حَمى الإِسلامَ عِزّاً وَمَنعَةً

وَرُدَّ جِماحُ العَصرِ فَالعَصرُ هَيِّبُ

وَرُدَّ جِماحُ العَصرِ فَالعَصرُ هَيِّبُ

Islam's sanctuary gained honor and strength;

The age's unruliness was checked, and the age grew fearful.

رَفَعنا إِلى النَجمِ الرُؤوسِ بِنَصرِكُم

رَفَعنا إِلى النَجمِ الرُؤوسِ بِنَصرِكُم

وَكُنّا بِحُكمِ الحادِثاتِ نُصَوِّبُ

وَكُنّا بِحُكمِ الحادِثاتِ نُصَوِّبُ

Through your victory we raised our heads to the stars,

Though events had forced us to lower them.

وَمَن كانَ مَنسوباً إِلى دَولَةِ القَنا

وَمَن كانَ مَنسوباً إِلى دَولَةِ القَنا

فَلَيسَ إِلى شَيءٍ سِوى العِزِّ يُنسَبُ

فَلَيسَ إِلى شَيءٍ سِوى العِزِّ يُنسَبُ

Whoever belongs to the realm of spears

Belongs to nothing but honor.

فَيا قَومُ أَينَ الجَيشُ فيما زَعَمتُمُ

فَيا قَومُ أَينَ الجَيشُ فيما زَعَمتُمُ

وَأَينَ الجَواري وَالدِفاعُ المُرَكَّبُ

وَأَينَ الجَواري وَالدِفاعُ المُرَكَّبُ

O people, where is the army you claimed?

Where are the ships and combined defenses?

وَأَينَ أَميرُ البَأسِ وَالعَزمِ وَالحِجى

وَأَينَ أَميرُ البَأسِ وَالعَزمِ وَالحِجى

وَأَينَ رَجاءٌ في الأَميرِ مُخَيَّبُ

وَأَينَ رَجاءٌ في الأَميرِ مُخَيَّبُ

Where is the prince of courage, resolve, and wisdom?

Where is a hope in the prince that proved false?

وَأَينَ تُخومٌ تَستَبيحونَ دَوسَها

وَأَينَ تُخومٌ تَستَبيحونَ دَوسَها

وَأَينَ عِصاباتٌ لَكُم تَتَوَثَّبُ

وَأَينَ عِصاباتٌ لَكُم تَتَوَثَّبُ

Where are the borders you claimed the right to trample?

Where are your bands ready to spring?

وَأَينَ الَّذي قالَت لَنا الصُحفُ عَنكُمُ

وَأَينَ الَّذي قالَت لَنا الصُحفُ عَنكُمُ

وَأَسنَدَ أَهلوها إِلَيكُم فَأَطنَبوا

وَأَسنَدَ أَهلوها إِلَيكُم فَأَطنَبوا

Where is what the newspapers told us about you,

And their writers attributed to you at such length?

وَما قَد رَوى بَرقٌ مِنَ القَولِ كاذِبٌ

وَما قَد رَوى بَرقٌ مِنَ القَولِ كاذِبٌ

وَآخَرُ مِن فِعلِ المُحِبّينَ أَكذَبُ

وَآخَرُ مِن فِعلِ المُحِبّينَ أَكذَبُ

And what one lying telegraph reported in words,

And another, still more falsely, of your friends' deeds?

وَما شِدتُمُ مِن دَولَةٍ عَرضُها الثَرى

وَما شِدتُمُ مِن دَولَةٍ عَرضُها الثَرى

يَدينُ لَها الجِنسانِ تُركٌ وَصَقلَبُ

يَدينُ لَها الجِنسانِ تُركٌ وَصَقلَبُ

And the state you built, as broad as the earth,

To which both peoples, Turks and Slavs, submit?

لَها عَلَمٌ فَوقَ الهِلالِ وَسُدَّةٌ

لَها عَلَمٌ فَوقَ الهِلالِ وَسُدَّةٌ

تُنَصُّ عَلى هامِ النُجومِ وَتُنصَبُ

تُنَصُّ عَلى هامِ النُجومِ وَتُنصَبُ

It has a flag above the crescent and a throne

Raised and set upon the stars' heads.

أَهَذا هُوَ الذَودُ الَّذي تَدَّعونَهُ

أَهَذا هُوَ الذَودُ الَّذي تَدَّعونَهُ

وَنَصرُ كَريدٍ وَالوَلا وَالتَحَبُّبُ

وَنَصرُ كَريدٍ وَالوَلا وَالتَحَبُّبُ

Is this the defense you claim,

Your aid to Crete, your loyalty and affection?

أَهَذا الَّذي لِلمُلكِ وَالعِرضِ عِندَكُم

أَهَذا الَّذي لِلمُلكِ وَالعِرضِ عِندَكُم

وَلِلجارِ إِن أَعيا عَلى الجارِ مَطلَبُ

وَلِلجارِ إِن أَعيا عَلى الجارِ مَطلَبُ

Is this what you offer for kingdom and honor,

And for a neighbor when his quest proves difficult?

أَهَذا سِلاحُ الفَتحِ وَالنَصرِ وَالعُلا

أَهَذا سِلاحُ الفَتحِ وَالنَصرِ وَالعُلا

أَهَذا مَطايا مَن إِلى المَجدِ يَركَبُ

أَهَذا مَطايا مَن إِلى المَجدِ يَركَبُ

Is this the weapon of conquest, victory, and eminence?

Are these the mounts of one riding toward glory?

أَهَذا الَّذي لِلذِكرِ خُلَّبُ مَعشَرٌ

أَهَذا الَّذي لِلذِكرِ خُلَّبُ مَعشَرٌ

عَلى ذِكرِهِم يَأتي الزَمانُ وَيَذهَبُ

عَلى ذِكرِهِم يَأتي الزَمانُ وَيَذهَبُ

Is this the renown that enthralled a people

Whose remembrance endures as time comes and goes?

أَسَأتُم وَكانَ السوءُ مِنكُم إِلَيكُمُ

أَسَأتُم وَكانَ السوءُ مِنكُم إِلَيكُمُ

إِلى خَيرِ جارٍ عِندَهُ الخَيرُ يُطلَبُ

إِلى خَيرِ جارٍ عِندَهُ الخَيرُ يُطلَبُ

You did wrong, and the wrong returned from you to you,

Against the best neighbor, from whom goodness is sought,

إِلى ذي اِنتِقامٍ لا يَنامُ غَريمُهُ

إِلى ذي اِنتِقامٍ لا يَنامُ غَريمُهُ

وَلَو أَنَّهُ شَخصُ المَنامِ المُحَجَّبُ

وَلَو أَنَّهُ شَخصُ المَنامِ المُحَجَّبُ

Against an avenger whose adversary cannot sleep,

Even were he the veiled figure of sleep itself.

شَقيتُم بِها مِن حيلَةٍ مُستَحيلَةٍ

شَقيتُم بِها مِن حيلَةٍ مُستَحيلَةٍ

وَأَينَ مِنَ المُحتالِ عَنقاءُ مُغرِبُ

وَأَينَ مِنَ المُحتالِ عَنقاءُ مُغرِبُ

You suffered through an impossible stratagem;

How could a schemer reach the wondrous phoenix?

فَلَولا سُيوفُ التُركِ جَرَّبَ غَيرُكُم

فَلَولا سُيوفُ التُركِ جَرَّبَ غَيرُكُم

وَلَكِن مِنَ الأَشياءِ ما لا يُجَرَّبُ

وَلَكِن مِنَ الأَشياءِ ما لا يُجَرَّبُ

Were it not for Turkish swords, others would have tried;

But some things must not be tried.

فَعَفواً أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِأُمَّةٍ

فَعَفواً أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِأُمَّةٍ

دَعَت قادِراً مازالَ في العَفوِ يَرغَبُ

دَعَت قادِراً مازالَ في العَفوِ يَرغَبُ

Then pardon, Commander of the Faithful, for a nation

That called upon a powerful man ever inclined to pardon.

ضَرَبتَ عَلى آمالِها وَمَآلِها

ضَرَبتَ عَلى آمالِها وَمَآلِها

وَأَنتَ عَلى اِستِقلالِها اليَومَ تَضرِبُ

وَأَنتَ عَلى اِستِقلالِها اليَومَ تَضرِبُ

You struck at its hopes and its destiny;

Today you strike at its independence.

إِذا خانَ عَبدُ السوءِ مَولاهُ مُعتَقاً

إِذا خانَ عَبدُ السوءِ مَولاهُ مُعتَقاً

فَما يَفعَلُ الكَريمُ المُهَذَّبُ

فَما يَفعَلُ الكَريمُ المُهَذَّبُ

If a wicked slave betrays his master after being freed,

What would a noble, refined man do?

وَلا تَضرِبَن بِالرَأيِ مُنحَلَّ مُلكِهِم

وَلا تَضرِبَن بِالرَأيِ مُنحَلَّ مُلكِهِم

فَما يَفعَلُ المَولى الكَريمُ المُهَذَّبُ

فَما يَفعَلُ المَولى الكَريمُ المُهَذَّبُ

Do not strike their disintegrating kingdom by your judgment;

What would a noble, refined master do?

لَقَد فَنِيَت أَرزاقُهُم وَرِجالُهُم

لَقَد فَنِيَت أَرزاقُهُم وَرِجالُهُم

وَليسَ بِفانٍ طَيشُهُم وَالتَقَلُّبُ

وَليسَ بِفانٍ طَيشُهُم وَالتَقَلُّبُ

Their provisions and their men have perished;

Their recklessness and fickleness have not perished.

فَإِن يَجِدوا لِلنَفسِ بِالعَودِ راحَةً

فَإِن يَجِدوا لِلنَفسِ بِالعَودِ راحَةً

فَقَد يَشتَهي المَوتَ المَريضُ المُعَذَّبُ

فَقَد يَشتَهي المَوتَ المَريضُ المُعَذَّبُ

If they find relief for themselves in returning to war,

A tortured sick man may indeed desire death.

وَإِن هَمَّ بِالعَفوِ الكَريمِ رَجاؤُهُم

وَإِن هَمَّ بِالعَفوِ الكَريمِ رَجاؤُهُم

فَمِن كَرَمِ الأَخلاقِ أَن لا يُخَيَّبوا

فَمِن كَرَمِ الأَخلاقِ أَن لا يُخَيَّبوا

If their hope aspires to generous pardon,

Nobility of character requires that they not be disappointed.

فَما زِلتَ جارَ البِرِّ وَالسَيِّدَ الَّذي

فَما زِلتَ جارَ البِرِّ وَالسَيِّدَ الَّذي

إِلى فَضلِهِ مِن عَدلِهِ الجارُ يَهرُبُ

إِلى فَضلِهِ مِن عَدلِهِ الجارُ يَهرُبُ

You have always been goodness's neighbor and the lord

To whose bounty a neighbor flees from his justice.

يُلاقي بَعيدُ الأَهلِ عِندَكَ أَهلَهُ

يُلاقي بَعيدُ الأَهلِ عِندَكَ أَهلَهُ

وَيَمرَحُ في أَوطانِهِ المُتَغَرِّبُ

وَيَمرَحُ في أَوطانِهِ المُتَغَرِّبُ

One far from his family finds his family with you;

The exile rejoices as though in his homelands.

أَمَولايَ غَنَّتكَ السُيوفُ فَأَطرَبَت

أَمَولايَ غَنَّتكَ السُيوفُ فَأَطرَبَت

فَهَل لِيَراعي أَن يُغَنّي فَيُطرِبُ

فَهَل لِيَراعي أَن يُغَنّي فَيُطرِبُ

My lord, swords sang to you and delighted you;

May my pen sing and give delight?

فَعِندي كَما عِندَ الظُبا لَكَ نَغمَةٌ

فَعِندي كَما عِندَ الظُبا لَكَ نَغمَةٌ

وَمُختَلِفُ الأَنغامِ لِلأُنسِ أَجلَبُ

وَمُختَلِفُ الأَنغامِ لِلأُنسِ أَجلَبُ

I have a melody for you, as sword edges do;

Varied melodies bring greater companionship.

أُعَرِّبُ ما تُنشي عُلاكَ وَإِنَّهُ

أُعَرِّبُ ما تُنشي عُلاكَ وَإِنَّهُ

لَفي لُطفِهِ ما لا يَنالُ المُعَرِّبُ

لَفي لُطفِهِ ما لا يَنالُ المُعَرِّبُ

I render into Arabic what your glory composes;

Its subtlety contains what no translator can attain.

مَدَحتُكَ وَالدُنيا لِسانٌ وَأَهلُها

مَدَحتُكَ وَالدُنيا لِسانٌ وَأَهلُها

جَميعاً لِسانٌ يُملِيانِ وَأَكتُبُ

جَميعاً لِسانٌ يُملِيانِ وَأَكتُبُ

I praised you while the world was a tongue, and its people

Together another tongue: both dictate, and I write.

أُناوِلُ مِن شِعرِ الخِلافَةِ رَبَّها

أُناوِلُ مِن شِعرِ الخِلافَةِ رَبَّها

وَأَكسو القَوافي ما يَدومُ فَيُقشِبُ

وَأَكسو القَوافي ما يَدومُ فَيُقشِبُ

I offer the master of the caliphate its poetry;

I clothe rhymes in what endures and renews them.

وَهَل أَنتَ إِلّا الشَمسُ في كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ

وَهَل أَنتَ إِلّا الشَمسُ في كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ

فَكُلُّ لِسانٍ في مَديحِكَ طَيِّبُ

فَكُلُّ لِسانٍ في مَديحِكَ طَيِّبُ

Are you not the sun in every nation?

Every tongue is sweet in praising you.

فَإِن لَم يَلِق شِعري لِبابِكَ مِدحَةً

فَإِن لَم يَلِق شِعري لِبابِكَ مِدحَةً

فَمُر يَنفَتِح بابٌ مِنَ العُذرِ أَرحَبُ

فَمُر يَنفَتِح بابٌ مِنَ العُذرِ أَرحَبُ

If my poetry is unfit as praise at your gate,

Command that a wider gate of excuse be opened.

وَإِنّي لَطَيرُ النيلِ لا طَيرَ غَيرُهُ

وَإِنّي لَطَيرُ النيلِ لا طَيرَ غَيرُهُ

وَما النيلُ إِلّا مِن رِياضِكَ يُحسَبُ

وَما النيلُ إِلّا مِن رِياضِكَ يُحسَبُ

I am indeed a bird of the Nile, of no other river;

The Nile is counted only among your gardens.

إِذا قُلتُ شِعراً فَالقَوافي حَواضِرٌ

إِذا قُلتُ شِعراً فَالقَوافي حَواضِرٌ

وَبَغدادُ بَغدادٌ وَيَثرِبُ يَثرِبُ

وَبَغدادُ بَغدادٌ وَيَثرِبُ يَثرِبُ

When I speak poetry, the rhymes are cities;

Baghdad is Baghdad, and Yathrib is Yathrib.

وَلَم أَعدَمِ الظِلَّ الخَصيبَ وَإِنَّما

وَلَم أَعدَمِ الظِلَّ الخَصيبَ وَإِنَّما

أُجاذِبُكَ الظِلَّ الَّذي هُوَ أَخصَبُ

أُجاذِبُكَ الظِلَّ الَّذي هُوَ أَخصَبُ

I have not lacked fertile shade; rather,

I seek to share with you the shade that is more fertile.

فَلا زِلتَ كَهفَ الدينِ وَالهادِيَ الَّذي

فَلا زِلتَ كَهفَ الدينِ وَالهادِيَ الَّذي

إِلى اللَهِ بِالزُلفى لَهُ نَتَقَرَّبُ

إِلى اللَهِ بِالزُلفى لَهُ نَتَقَرَّبُ

May you remain religion's refuge and the guide

Through closeness to whom we draw near to God.