دَرَجَتpassed عَلىover الكَنزِthe treasure القُرونthe centuries
دَرَجَت عَلى الكَنزِ القُرون
وَأَتَتand passed عَلىover الدَنِّthe wine jar السُنونthe years
وَأَتَت عَلى الدَنِّ السُنون
Centuries passed over the treasure,
and years passed over the wine jar.
خَيرُthe finest of السُيوفِthe swords مَضىpassed الزَماtime (continued)
خَيرُ السُيوفِ مَضى الزَما
نُcompletion of 'time' عَلَيهِover it فيin خَيرِthe finest of الجُفونthe scabbards
نُ عَلَيهِ في خَيرِ الجُفون
Over the finest of swords time passed,
within the finest of scabbards.
فيin مَنزِلٍa dwelling كَمُحَجَّبِlike something veiled الthe
في مَنزِلٍ كَمُحَجَّبِ ال
غَيبِunseen اِستَسَرَّhid itself عَنِfrom الظُنونconjectures
غَيبِ اِستَسَرَّ عَنِ الظُنون
In a dwelling, like the veiled
unseen, it lay hidden beyond conjecture.
حَتّىuntil أَتىcame العِلمُscience الجَسوdaring (continued)
حَتّى أَتى العِلمُ الجَسو
رُcompletion of 'daring' فَفَضَّso it broke خاتَمَهُits seal المَصونguarded
رُ فَفَضَّ خاتَمَهُ المَصون
Until daring science came
and broke its guarded seal.
وَالعِلمُand science بَدرِيٌّa warrior of Badr أُحِلwas permitted (continued)
وَالعِلمُ بَدرِيٌّ أُحِل
لَcompletion of 'was permitted' لِأَهلِهِto its followers ماwhatever يَصنَعونthey do
لَ لِأَهلِهِ ما يَصنَعون
Science is a warrior of Badr; permitted
to its followers is whatever they do.
هَتَكَtore away الحِجالَthe bridal curtains عَلىover الحَضاcivilization (continued)
هَتَكَ الحِجالَ عَلى الحَضا
رَةِcompletion of 'civilization' وَالخُدورَand the secluded chambers عَلىover الفُنونthe arts
رَةِ وَالخُدورَ عَلى الفُنون
It tore away civilization's curtains,
and the veils that sheltered the arts.
وَاِندَسَّand slipped in كَالمِصباحِlike a lamp فيinto
وَاِندَسَّ كَالمِصباحِ في
حُفَرٍpits مِنَamong الأَجداثِthe graves جونdark
حُفَرٍ مِنَ الأَجداثِ جون
It stole like a lamp into
dark pits among the graves.
حُجَرٌchambers مُمَرَّدَةُsmoothly faced المَعاthe bastions (continued)
حُجَرٌ مُمَرَّدَةُ المَعا
قِلِcompletion of 'the bastions' فيin الثَرىthe soil شُمُّlofty الحُصونthe fortresses
قِلِ في الثَرى شُمُّ الحُصون
Chambers with polished bastions,
lofty strongholds beneath the soil.
لاnot تَهتَديfinds its way الريحُthe wind الهَبوblowing (continued)
لا تَهتَدي الريحُ الهَبو
بُcompletion of 'blowing' لَهاto them وَلاnor الغَيثُthe rain الهَتونpouring
بُ لَها وَلا الغَيثُ الهَتون
The blowing wind cannot find
its way to them, nor the pouring rain.
خانَتbetrayed أَمانَةَthe trust of جارِهاtheir neighbor
خانَت أَمانَةَ جارِها
وَالقَبرُand the grave كَالدُنياlike the world يَخونbetrays
وَالقَبرُ كَالدُنيا يَخون
They betrayed their neighbor's trust,
and the grave, like the world, betrays.
ياO اِبنَson of الثَواقِبِthe piercing stars مِنfrom رَعٍRa
يا اِبنَ الثَواقِبِ مِن رَعٍ
وَاِبنَand son of الزَواهِرِthe radiant stars مِنfrom أَمونAmun
وَاِبنَ الزَواهِرِ مِن أَمون
O son of Ra's piercing stars,
and son of Amun's radiant stars:
نَسَبٌa lineage عَريقٌdeep-rooted فيin الضُحىthe morning light
نَسَبٌ عَريقٌ في الضُحى
بَذَّsurpassed القَبائِلَthe tribes وَالبُطونand the clans
بَذَّ القَبائِلَ وَالبُطون
a lineage deep-rooted in the morning light,
surpassing tribes and clans.
أَرَأَيتَhave you seen كَيفَhow يَثوبُreturn مِنfrom
أَرَأَيتَ كَيفَ يَثوبُ مِن
غَمرِthe engulfing depths of القَضاءِfate المُغرَقونthe drowned
غَمرِ القَضاءِ المُغرَقون
Have you seen how the drowned return
from the engulfing depths of fate?
وَتَدولُand revolve آثارُthe relics of القُروthe centuries (continued)
وَتَدولُ آثارُ القُرو
نِcompletion of 'the centuries' عَلىupon رَحىthe millstone of الزَمَنِtime الطَحونall-grinding
نِ عَلى رَحى الزَمَنِ الطَحون
And the relics of the centuries revolve
upon the millstone of grinding time.
حُبُّlove of الخُلودِimmortality بَنىbuilt لَكُمfor you
حُبُّ الخُلودِ بَنى لَكُم
خُلُقاًa character بِهِby which تَتَفَرَّدونyou stand apart
خُلُقاً بِهِ تَتَفَرَّدون
Love of immortality fashioned for you
a character by which you stand apart.
لَمnot يَأخُذِadopted المُتَقَدِّموthe predecessors (continued)
لَم يَأخُذِ المُتَقَدِّمو
نَcompletion of 'the predecessors' بِهِit, as a practice وَلاnor المُتَأَخِّرونthe later generations
نَ بِهِ وَلا المُتَأَخِّرون
The earlier generations never adopted
it, nor did the later ones.
حَتّىuntil تَسابَقتُمyou raced إِلىtoward الإِحexcellence (continued)
حَتّى تَسابَقتُم إِلى الإِح
سانِcompletion of 'excellence' فيماin whatever تَعمَلونyou do
سانِ فيما تَعمَلون
Until you raced toward excellence
in whatever you undertook.
لَمnot تَترُكوهُyou forsook it فيin الجَليthe great (continued)
لَم تَترُكوهُ في الجَلي
لِcompletion of 'the great' وَلاnor الحَقيرِthe humble مِنَamong الشُؤونthe affairs
لِ وَلا الحَقيرِ مِنَ الشُؤون
You never forsook it in great matters,
nor in the humblest of affairs.
هَذاthis القِيامُrising فَقُلso tell لناto us الthe
هَذا القِيامُ فَقُل لنا ال
يَومُday الأَخيرُlast مَتىwhen يَكونwill be
يَومُ الأَخيرُ مَتى يَكون
This is the rising—tell us, then:
when will the Last Day come?
البَعثُresurrection غايَةُthe goal of زائِلٍone passing away
البَعثُ غايَةُ زائِلٍ
فانٍperishing وَأَنتُمand you خالِدونimmortal
فانٍ وَأَنتُم خالِدون
Resurrection is the goal of one who passes,
who perishes—yet you are immortal.
السَبقُtaking the lead مِنamong عاداتِكُمyour customs
السَبقُ مِن عاداتِكُم
أَتُرىdo you think القِيامَةَthe Resurrection تَسبِقونyou will precede
أَتُرى القِيامَةَ تَسبِقون
Taking the lead is your custom;
will you perhaps precede the Resurrection?
أَنتُمyou أَساطينُthe pillars of الحَضاcivilization (continued)
أَنتُم أَساطينُ الحَضا
رَةِcompletion of 'civilization' وَالبُناةُand the builders المُحسِنونwho excel
رَةِ وَالبُناةُ المُحسِنون
You are the pillars of civilization,
the builders who excel,
المُتقِنونَthe master craftsmen وَإِنَّماand only
المُتقِنونَ وَإِنَّما
يُجزىare rewarded with الخُلودَimmortality المُتقِنونthe master craftsmen
يُجزى الخُلودَ المُتقِنون
the master craftsmen—and only
master craftsmen are rewarded with immortality.
أَنَزَلتَdid you descend into حُفرَةَthe pit of هالِكٍa dead person
أَنَزَلتَ حُفرَةَ هالِكٍ
أَمor حُجرَةَthe chamber of المَلِكِthe king المَكينfirmly established
أَم حُجرَةَ المَلِكِ المَكين
Did you descend into a dead man's pit,
or the chamber of a mighty king?
أَمor فيin مَكانٍa place بَينَbetween ذَthat (continued)
أَم في مَكانٍ بَينَ ذَ
لِكَcompletion of 'that' يُدهِشُastonishes المُتَأَمِّلينthose who contemplate
لِكَ يُدهِشُ المُتَأَمِّلين
Or somewhere between the two,
astonishing those who contemplate?
هُوَit مِنamong قُبورِthe graves of المُتلَفيthe perished (continued)
هُوَ مِن قُبورِ المُتلَفي
نَcompletion of 'the perished' وَمِنand among قُصورِthe palaces of المُترَفينthe pampered
نَ وَمِن قُصورِ المُترَفين
It is among the tombs of the perished,
and among the palaces of the pampered.
لَمnot يَبقَremained غالٍa costly thing فيin الحَضاcivilization (continued)
لَم يَبقَ غالٍ في الحَضا
رَةِcompletion of 'civilization' لَمnot يَحُزهُhe possessed it وَلاnor ثَمينa precious thing
رَةِ لَم يَحُزهُ وَلا ثَمين
No costly thing in civilization remained
that he did not possess, nor anything precious.
مَيتٌa dead man تُحيطُsurrounds بِهِaround him الحَياlife (continued)
مَيتٌ تُحيطُ بِهِ الحَيا
ةُcompletion of 'life' زَمانُهُhis age مَعَهُwith him دَفينburied
ةُ زَمانُهُ مَعَهُ دَفين
A dead man, surrounded by life;
his age lies buried beside him.
وَذَخائِرٌand treasures مِنfrom أَعصُرٍages وَلpassed (continued)
وَذَخائِرٌ مِن أَعصُرٍ وَل
لَتcompletion of 'passed' وَمِنand from دُنياworldly life وَدينand religion
لَت وَمِن دُنيا وَدين
And treasures from ages gone by,
from worldly life and faith,
حَمَلَتimpelled عَلىto العَجَبِwonder الزَماthe age (continued)
حَمَلَت عَلى العَجَبِ الزَما
نَcompletion of 'the age' وَأَهلَهُand its people المُستَكبِرينthe arrogant
نَ وَأَهلَهُ المُستَكبِرين
filled the age with wonder,
and its arrogant people.
فَتَلَفَّتَتso she turned to look باريسُParis تَحimagining (continued)
فَتَلَفَّتَت باريسُ تَح
سَبُcompletion of 'imagining' أَنَّهاthat they were صُنعُthe work of البَنينthe sons
سَبُ أَنَّها صُنعُ البَنين
Then Paris turned to look, imagining
they were the work of her sons.
ذَهَبٌgold بِبَطنِin the belly of الأَرضِthe earth لَمnot
ذَهَبٌ بِبَطنِ الأَرضِ لَم
تَذهَبcarry away بِلَمحَتِهِits gleam القُرونthe centuries
تَذهَب بِلَمحَتِهِ القُرون
Gold in the earth's belly, whose gleam
the centuries have not carried away.
اِستَحدَثَتfashioned anew لَكَfor you جَندَلاًblocks
اِستَحدَثَت لَكَ جَندَلاً
وَصَفائِحاًand plates مِنهُfrom it القُيونthe smiths
وَصَفائِحاً مِنهُ القُيون
For you were newly fashioned blocks,
and plates of it, by the smiths,
وَنَواوِساًand sarcophagi وَهّاجَةًradiant
وَنَواوِساً وَهّاجَةً
لَمnot يَتَّخِذهاhad possessed them الهامِدونthe lifeless
لَم يَتَّخِذها الهامِدون
and radiant sarcophagi,
such as the lifeless had never possessed.
لَوif يَفطُنُperceive المَوتىthe dead لَهاthem
لَو يَفطُنُ المَوتى لَها
سَرَحواthey would free الأَنامِلَthe fingers يَنبِشونdigging
سَرَحوا الأَنامِلَ يَنبِشون
If the dead could perceive them,
they would set their fingers digging,
وَتَنازَعواand they would contend over الذَهَبَthe gold الَّذيwhich
وَتَنازَعوا الذَهَبَ الَّذي
كانواthey were لَهُfor it يَتَفاتَنونvying in fascination
كانوا لَهُ يَتَفاتَنون
and contend over the gold
for which they once vied, bewitched.
أَكفانُshrouds of وَشيٍbrocade فُصِّلَتwere tailored
أَكفانُ وَشيٍ فُصِّلَت
بِرَقائِقِwith thin sheets of الذَهَبِgold الفَتينenchanting
بِرَقائِقِ الذَهَبِ الفَتين
Shrouds of brocade, tailored
with thin sheets of enchanting gold,
قَدindeed لَفَّهاhe wrapped them لَفَّthe wrapping of الضِماthe bandage (continued)
قَد لَفَّها لَفَّ الضِما
دِcompletion of 'the bandage' مُحَنِّطٌan embalmer آسٍa physician رَزينcomposed
دِ مُحَنِّطٌ آسٍ رَزين
wrapped as bandages are wrapped
by an embalmer, a composed physician.
وَكَأَنَّهُنَّand as though they were كَمائِمٌcalyxes
وَكَأَنَّهُنَّ كَمائِمٌ
وَكَأَنَّكَand as though you were الوَردُthe rose الجَنينin bud
وَكَأَنَّكَ الوَردُ الجَنين
They seem like calyxes,
and you like the rose in bud.
وَبِكُلِّand in every رُكنٍcorner صورَةٌa picture
وَبِكُلِّ رُكنٍ صورَةٌ
وَبِكُلِّand in every زاوِيَةٍnook رَقينan ornamented design
وَبِكُلِّ زاوِيَةٍ رَقين
And in every corner a picture,
and in every nook an ornamented design.
وَتَرىand you see الدُمىthe figures فَتَخالُهاso you imagine them اِنscattered (continued)
وَتَرى الدُمى فَتَخالُها اِن
تَثَرَتcompletion of 'scattered' عَلىalong جَنَباتِthe sides of زونan idol-shrine
تَثَرَت عَلى جَنَباتِ زون
You see the figures and imagine them
scattered along an idol-shrine's sides.
صُوَرٌimages تُريكَshow you تَحَرُّكاًmovement
صُوَرٌ تُريكَ تَحَرُّكاً
وَالأَصلُand the natural state فيin الصُوَرِimages السُكونstillness
وَالأَصلُ في الصُوَرِ السُكون
Images that show you movement,
though stillness is the nature of images.
وَيَمُرُّand passes رائِعُthe wonder of صَمتِهاtheir silence
وَيَمُرُّ رائِعُ صَمتِها
بِالحِسِّthrough the senses كَالنُطقِlike speech المُبينlucid
بِالحِسِّ كَالنُطقِ المُبين
Their wondrous silence passes
through the senses like lucid speech.
صَحِبَaccompanied الزَمانَtime دِهانُهاtheir paint
صَحِبَ الزَمانَ دِهانُها
حيناًa span عَهيداًage-old بَعدَafter حينa span
حيناً عَهيداً بَعدَ حين
Their paint has kept time company,
age-old span after span,
غَضٌّfresh عَلىdespite طولِthe length of البِلىdecay
غَضٌّ عَلى طولِ البِلى
حَيٌّalive عَلىdespite طولِthe length of المَنونdeath
حَيٌّ عَلى طولِ المَنون
fresh despite long decay,
alive despite long death.
خَدَعَdeceived العُيونَthe eyes وَلَمand did not يَزَلcease
خَدَعَ العُيونَ وَلَم يَزَل
حَتّىuntil تَحَدّىchallenged اللامِسينthose who touched
حَتّى تَحَدّى اللامِسين
It deceived the eyes, and did not cease
until it challenged those who touched it.
غِلمانُthe pages of قَصرِكyour palace فيin الرِكاthe retinue (continued)
غِلمانُ قَصرِك في الرِكا
بِcompletion of 'the retinue' يُناوِلونَthey hand things over وَيَطرَدونand they pursue
بِ يُناوِلونَ وَيَطرَدون
Your palace pages are in the retinue,
handing things over and pursuing.
وَالبوقُand the trumpet يَهتِفُcalls وَالسِهاand the arrows (continued)
وَالبوقُ يَهتِفُ وَالسِها
مُcompletion of 'and the arrows' تَرِنُّring وَالقَوسُand the bow الحَنونplaintively resonant
مُ تَرِنُّ وَالقَوسُ الحَنون
The trumpet calls, and the arrows
ring, as does the plaintive bow.
وَكِلابُand the dogs of صَيدِكَyour hunt لُهَّثٌpanting
وَكِلابُ صَيدِكَ لُهَّثٌ
وَالخَيلُand the horses جُنَّran mad لَهاfor them جُنونfrenzy
وَالخَيلُ جُنَّ لَها جُنون
Your hunting dogs are panting,
and the horses are wild with frenzy.
وَالوَحشُand the wild beasts تَنفُرُflee فيin السُهوthe plains (continued)
وَالوَحشُ تَنفُرُ في السُهو
لِcompletion of 'the plains' وَتارَةًand sometimes تَثِبُleap across الحُزونthe rugged heights
لِ وَتارَةً تَثِبُ الحُزون
The wild beasts flee across the plains,
and sometimes leap through rugged heights.
وَالطَيرُand the birds تَرسُفُhobble فيin الجِراthe wounds (continued)
وَالطَيرُ تَرسُفُ في الجِرا
حِcompletion of 'the wounds' وَفيand in مَناقِرِهاtheir beaks أَنينgroaning
حِ وَفي مَناقِرِها أَنين
The birds hobble in their wounds,
and groans are in their beaks.
وَكَأَنَّand as though آباءَthe forefathers of البَرِيhumankind (continued)
وَكَأَنَّ آباءَ البَرِي
يَةِcompletion of 'humankind' فيin المَدائِنِthe cities مُحضَرونsummoned
يَةِ في المَدائِنِ مُحضَرون
As though the forefathers of humankind
had been summoned into the cities,
وَكَأَنَّand as though دَولَةَthe realm of آلِthe house of شَمthe Sun (continued)
وَكَأَنَّ دَولَةَ آلِ شَم
سٍcompletion of 'the Sun' عَنon شِمالِكَyour left وَاليَمينand the right
سٍ عَن شِمالِكَ وَاليَمين
and the realm of the House of the Sun
stood on your left and right.
مَلِكَO king of المُلوكِkings تَحِيَّةًa greeting
مَلِكَ المُلوكِ تَحِيَّةً
وَوَلاءَand allegiance مُحتَفِظٍone preserving loyalty أَمينfaithful
وَوَلاءَ مُحتَفِظٍ أَمين
King of kings, a greeting,
and the loyalty of one steadfast and true.
هَذاthis المُقامُplace عَرَفتُهُI knew it
هَذا المُقامُ عَرَفتُهُ
وَسَبَقتُand I preceded فيهِin it القائِلينthose who spoke
وَسَبَقتُ فيهِ القائِلين
This place I have known,
and I preceded others in speaking of it.
وَوَقَفتُand I stood فيamong آثارِكُمyour monuments
وَوَقَفتُ في آثارِكُم
أَزِنُI weigh الجَلالَgrandeur وَأَستَبينand I seek clarity
أَزِنُ الجَلالَ وَأَستَبين
I stood among your monuments,
weighing their grandeur and seeking clarity.
وَبَنَيتُand I built فيat العِشرينَtwenty مِنfrom
وَبَنَيتُ في العِشرينَ مِن
أَحجارِهاtheir stones شِعريmy poetry الرَصينsolid
أَحجارِها شِعري الرَصين
And at twenty I built, from
their stones, my solid verse.
سالَتflowed عُيونُthe springs of قَصائِديmy poems
سالَت عُيونُ قَصائِدي
وَجَرىand flowed مِنَfrom الحَجَرِthe stone المَعينspringwater
وَجَرى مِنَ الحَجَرِ المَعين
The springs of my poems flowed,
and from the stone ran springwater.
أَقعَدتُI seated جيلاًa generation لِلهَوىfor love
أَقعَدتُ جيلاً لِلهَوى
وَأَقَمتُand I raised جيلاًa generation آخَرينothers
وَأَقَمتُ جيلاً آخَرين
I seated a generation for love,
and brought another generation to its feet.
كُنتُمyou were خَيالَa vision of المَجدِglory يُرis raised (continued)
كُنتُم خَيالَ المَجدِ يُر
فَعُcompletion of 'is raised' لِلشَبابِfor the youths الطامِحينthe ambitious
فَعُ لِلشَبابِ الطامِحين
You were a vision of glory, raised
for ambitious youth.
وَكَمand how often اِستَعَرتَyou borrowed جَلالَكُمyour grandeur
وَكَم اِستَعَرتَ جَلالَكُم
لِمُحَمَّدٍfor Muhammad وَالمالِكينand the rulers
لِمُحَمَّدٍ وَالمالِكين
And how often you borrowed your grandeur
for Muhammad and the rulers!
تاجٌa crown تَنَقَّلَwandered فيin الخَياthe imagination (continued)
تاجٌ تَنَقَّلَ في الخَيا
لِcompletion of 'the imagination' فَماand did not اِستَقَرَّsettle عَلىupon جَبينa brow
لِ فَما اِستَقَرَّ عَلى جَبين
A crown that wandered in the imagination,
never settling upon a brow.
خَرَزاتُهُits beads السَيفُthe sword الصَقيpolished (continued)
خَرَزاتُهُ السَيفُ الصَقي
لُcompletion of 'polished' يَشُدُّهُbinds it الرُمحُthe spear السَنينsharpened
لُ يَشُدُّهُ الرُمحُ السَنين
Its beads are the polished sword;
the sharpened spear binds it together.
قُلtell ليto me أَحينَwas it when بَداappeared الثَرىthe earth
قُل لي أَحينَ بَدا الثَرى
لَكَto you هَلdid جَزِعتَyou grieve عَلىfor العَرينthe lion's den
لَكَ هَل جَزِعتَ عَلى العَرين
Tell me: when the earth appeared
to you, did you grieve for the lion's den?
آنَستَyou beheld مُلكاًa kingdom لَيسَnot بِالشاarmed (continued)
آنَستَ مُلكاً لَيسَ بِالشا
كيcompletion of 'armed' السِلاحِweapons وَلاnor الحَصينwell fortified
كي السِلاحِ وَلا الحَصين
You beheld a kingdom neither armed
with weapons nor well fortified.
البَرُّthe land مَغلوبُdefeated القَناthe spears
البَرُّ مَغلوبُ القَنا
وَالبَحرُand the sea مَسلوبُrobbed of السَفينships
وَالبَحرُ مَسلوبُ السَفين
The land's spears have been defeated,
and the sea robbed of ships.
لَمّاwhen نَظَرتَyou looked إِلىat الدِياthe homeland (continued)
لَمّا نَظَرتَ إِلى الدِيا
رِcompletion of 'the homeland' صَدَفتَyou turned away بِالقَلبِwith a heart الحَزينsorrowful
رِ صَدَفتَ بِالقَلبِ الحَزين
When you looked upon the homeland,
you turned away with a sorrowful heart.
لَمnot تَلقَyou found حَولَكَaround you غَيرَother than كَرCarter (continued)
لَم تَلقَ حَولَكَ غَيرَ كَر
تَرَcompletion of 'Carter' وَالنِطاسِيِّand the expert physician المُعينhelpful
تَرَ وَالنِطاسِيِّ المُعين
You found no one around you but Carter
and the assisting expert physician.
أَقبَلتَyou came forth مِنfrom حُجُبِthe veils of الجَلاmajesty (continued)
أَقبَلتَ مِن حُجُبِ الجَلا
لِcompletion of 'majesty' عَلىto قَبيلٍa people مُعرِضينturning away
لِ عَلى قَبيلٍ مُعرِضين
You came from behind the veils of majesty
to a people who turned away.
تاجُthe crown of الحَضارَةِcivilization حينَwhen أَشshone (continued)
تاجُ الحَضارَةِ حينَ أَش
رَقَcompletion of 'shone' لَمnot يَجِدهُمit found them حافِلينattentive
رَقَ لَم يَجِدهُم حافِلين
When civilization's crown shone forth,
it found them indifferent.
وَاللَهُand God يَعلَمُknows لَمnot يَرَوthey saw (continued)
وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ لَم يَرَو
هُit مِنfor قُرونٍcenturies أَربَعينforty
هُ مِن قُرونٍ أَربَعين
And God knows they had not seen it
for forty centuries.
قَسَماًan oath بِمَنby Him who يُحييrevives العِظاthe bones (continued)
قَسَماً بِمَن يُحيي العِظا
مَcompletion of 'the bones' وَلاand not أَزيدُكَI offer you more مِنof يَمينan oath
مَ وَلا أَزيدُكَ مِن يَمين
I swear by Him who gives the bones life,
and offer you no further oath:
لَوif كانَwas مِنfrom سَفَرٍa journey إِياreturn (continued)
لَو كانَ مِن سَفَرٍ إِيا
بُكَyour (completes 'your return') أَمسِyesterday أَوor فَتحٍa conquest مُبينmanifest
بُكَ أَمسِ أَو فَتحٍ مُبين
had your return yesterday been from a journey
or from a manifest conquest,
أَوor كانَwas بَعثُكَyour resurrection مِنfrom دَبيthe stirring (continued)
أَو كانَ بَعثُكَ مِن دَبي
بِcompletion of 'the stirring' الروحِthe spirit أَوor نَبضِthe pulse of الوَتينthe aorta
بِ الروحِ أَو نَبضِ الوَتين
or had your rising come from the stirring
of the spirit, or the aorta's pulse,
وَطَلَعتَand you emerged مِنfrom واديthe valley of المُلوthe kings (continued)
وَطَلَعتَ مِن وادي المُلو
كِcompletion of 'the kings' عَلَيكَupon you غارُthe laurel of الفاتِحينthe conquerors
كِ عَلَيكَ غارُ الفاتِحين
and had you emerged from the Valley of the Kings,
wearing the conquerors' laurel,
الخَيلُthe horses حَولَكَaround you فيin الجِلاthe caparisons (continued)
الخَيلُ حَولَكَ في الجِلا
لِcompletion of 'the caparisons' العَسجَدِيَّةِgolden يَنثَنينthey wheel
لِ العَسجَدِيَّةِ يَنثَنين
horses around you in caparisons
of gold, wheeling about,
وَعَلىand upon نِجادِكَyour baldric هالَتاtwo halos (continued)
وَعَلى نِجادِكَ هالَتا
نِcompletion of 'two halos' مِنَof القَناspears وَالدارِعينand armored men
نِ مِنَ القَنا وَالدارِعين
and upon your baldric two halos
of spears and armored men,
وَالجُندُand the troops يَدفَعُdrives فيin رِكاthe retinue (continued)
وَالجُندُ يَدفَعُ في رِكا
بِكَyour (completes 'your retinue') بِالمُلوكِwith the kings مُصَفَّدينbound in chains
بِكَ بِالمُلوكِ مُصَفَّدين
and troops driving along in your train
kings bound in chains—
لَرَأَيتَyou would have seen جيلاًa generation غَيرَunlike جيgeneration (continued)
لَرَأَيتَ جيلاً غَيرَ جي
لِكَyour (completes 'your generation') بِالجَبابِرِto tyrants لاnot يَدينsubmits
لِكَ بِالجَبابِرِ لا يَدين
you would have seen a generation unlike
your own, that submits to no tyrants,
وَرَأَيتَand you would have seen مَحكومينَthe governed قَدalready
وَرَأَيتَ مَحكومينَ قَد
نَصَبواthey appointed وَرَدّواand dismissed الحاكِمينthe rulers
نَصَبوا وَرَدّوا الحاكِمين
and seen the governed who had
appointed and dismissed their rulers.
روحُthe spirit of الزَمانِthe age وَنَظمُهُand its order
روحُ الزَمانِ وَنَظمُهُ
وَسَبيلُهُand its way فيamong الآخَرينthe later generations
وَسَبيلُهُ في الآخَرين
Such is the spirit of the age and its order,
and its way among later generations.
إِنَّindeed الزَمانَthe age وَأَهلَهُand its people
إِنَّ الزَمانَ وَأَهلَهُ
فَرَغاboth are done مِنَwith الفَردِthe lone ruler اللَعينaccursed
فَرَغا مِنَ الفَردِ اللَعين
Indeed, the age and its people
are done with the accursed lone ruler.
فَإِذاso if رَأَيتَyou see مَشايِخاًelders
فَإِذا رَأَيتَ مَشايِخاً
أَوor فِتيَةًyoung men لَكَbefore you ساجِدينprostrating
أَو فِتيَةً لَكَ ساجِدين
So if you see elders
or youths prostrating themselves before you,
لاقِmeet الزَمانَthe age تَجِدهُموyou will find them
لاقِ الزَمانَ تَجِدهُمو
عَنbehind رَكبِهِits caravan مُتَخَلِّفينlagging
عَن رَكبِهِ مُتَخَلِّفين
meet the age: you will find them
lagging behind its caravan.
هُمthey فيamong الأَواخِرِthe later generations مَولِداًby birth
هُم في الأَواخِرِ مَولِداً
وَعُقولُهُمand their minds فيamong الأَوَّلينthe earlier generations
وَعُقولُهُم في الأَوَّلين
They belong to later generations by birth,
but their minds to the earlier ones.
Sol 6.1