وفتِfulfilled السعودُthe auspicious stars بوَعدِهاto their promise المضمونِassured
وفتِ السعودُ بوَعدِها المضمونِ
وترادفتْand came in succession بالطائرwith the bird الميمونauspicious
وترادفتْ بالطائر الميمون
The auspicious stars fulfilled their assured promise,
The Saudi fulfilled their guaranteed promise,
and came in succession with the bird of good omen.
And good tidings came one after another.
وعلاand rose لواءُthe banner المسلمينَthe Muslims وشافَهواand they encountered directly
وعلا لواءُ المسلمينَ وشافَهوا
تحقيقَthe fulfillment of آمالٍhopes لهمfor them وظنونِand expectations
تحقيقَ آمالٍ لهم وظنونِ
The Muslims' banner rose, and they came face to face with
The banner of the Muslims was raised high, as they realized
the fulfillment of their hopes and expectations.
Hopes and wishes they had harbored.
وأضاءتِand shone الدنياthe world وسُلُّand was unsheathed صباحُهاits dawn
وأضاءتِ الدنيا وسُلُّ صباحُها
منfrom بينِbetween جانحتيthe two wings of دُجىًdarkness ودُجونand gloom
من بينِ جانحتي دُجىً ودُجون
The world shone, and its dawn was unsheathed
The world lit up, and the radiant dawn
from between the two wings of darkness and gloom.
Parted the dark gloom and obscurity.
واخضرَّand grew green مُغبرُّthe dust-covered part of الثرىthe earth فنسيمُهُso its breeze
واخضرَّ مُغبرُّ الثرى فنسيمُهُ
يُثنيpraises علىupon سُقياthe watering of أجشَّhoarse-thundering هَتونِrain-pouring
يُثني على سُقيا أجشَّ هَتونِ
The dusty earth grew green, and its breeze
The dusty earth turned green, as its breeze
praised the watering of a hoarse, rain-pouring cloud.
Swayed the lofty palm trees rhythmically.
بالفتحِwith victory فتّحَopened wide بابَهHis gate ذوpossessor of عزَّةٍmight
بالفتحِ فتّحَ بابَه ذو عزَّةٍ
وَعَدpromised الإِجابةan answer حينwhen قالHe said ادعونيcall upon Me
وَعَد الإِجابة حين قال ادعوني
With victory, the Mighty One opened His gate,
With the Opening, the All-Mighty opened His door,
who promised an answer when He said, 'Call upon Me.'
And promised to respond when called upon.
إنَّindeed الحديثَthe tale لذوis indeed possessed of شجونٍmany strands فاستمعْso listen
إنَّ الحديثَ لذو شجونٍ فاستمعْ
أحلىthe sweetest حديثٍtale بلrather ألذَّthe most delightful شُجونِstrands
أحلى حديثٍ بل ألذَّ شُجونِ
Indeed, this tale has many strands; so listen to
Indeed, the discourse is profoundly moving, so listen
the sweetest tale—rather, the most delightful strands.
To the sweetest and most delightful words.
أمّاas for الممالكُthe kingdoms فالسُّرورُthen joy مطنِّبٌencamped
أمّا الممالكُ فالسُّرورُ مطنِّبٌ
فيin مستقرِّthe resting-place of سريرِهاtheir throne الموْضُونِinterwoven
في مستقرِّ سريرِها الموْضُونِ
As for the kingdoms, joy has pitched its tent
Happiness has built its nest
where their interwoven throne stands.
In the established throne of each kingdom,
شقّتْparted عقيقَthe carnelian of شفاهِهاtheir lips مُفترَّةًsmiling
شقّتْ عقيقَ شفاهِها مُفترَّةً
عنrevealing مَبَسمٍa smiling mouth كاللؤلؤِlike pearls المكْنونِkept hidden
عن مَبَسمٍ كاللؤلؤِ المكْنونِ
They parted the carnelian of their lips, smiling,
Parting its ruby lips delightedly
to reveal a smiling mouth like hidden pearls.
To reveal a smile like pearls hidden away.
بعدَafter اعتراضِthe intrusion of اليأسِdespair نالَreached مَحاقَهُits moonless phase
بعدَ اعتراضِ اليأسِ نالَ مَحاقَهُ
قمرُthe moon of الرَّجاءِhope فعادَthen returned كالعُرجونِlike the curved palm stalk
قمرُ الرَّجاءِ فعادَ كالعُرجونِ
After despair had intervened, it reached its dark phase—
After the obstruction of despair, the moon of hope
the moon of hope—then returned like a curved palm stalk.
Regained its full form after waning.
فضلٌa grace منfrom اللهِGod العزيزِthe Mighty ونعمةٌand a blessing
فضلٌ من اللهِ العزيزِ ونعمةٌ
كفّتْchecked فضولَthe excesses of البغيِrebellion منfrom فَضْلونFadlun
كفّتْ فضولَ البغيِ من فَضْلون
A grace from God, the Mighty, and a blessing
A blessing from the Almighty, and a favor
that checked Fadlun's excesses of rebellion.
That curbed the excess of the transgressors.
لمّاwhen اغتدىhe became جارَa neighbor of الغمامِthe clouds وغرهand deluded him
لمّا اغتدى جارَ الغمامِ وغره
بالومْضِwith flashing بارقُthe lightning of رأيِهِhis judgment المأفونِwitless
بالومْضِ بارقُ رأيِهِ المأفونِ
When he became the clouds' neighbor, and was deluded
When the neighbor of clouds rebelled, deceived
by the flashing lightning of his witless judgment,
By the illusion of his extinguished plan,
فيin شامخٍa lofty stronghold أيِستْdespaired وفودُthe delegations of الريحthe wind منof
في شامخٍ أيِستْ وفودُ الريح من
جرِّtrailing الذُّيولِthe skirts بصحنِهِacross its courtyard المسكونِinhabited
جرِّ الذُّيولِ بصحنِهِ المسكونِ
in a towering stronghold where the visiting winds despaired of
Against the towering and unyielding peak,
trailing their skirts across its inhabited courtyard.
Whose train the winds cannot haul in its courtyard.
لمdid not تفترعْهscale it الحادثاتُcalamities ولمand did not تطُفْcircle
لم تفترعْه الحادثاتُ ولم تطُفْ
إلاexcept بمحروسِaround a guarded place الجهاتِthe sides مَصونِinviolate
إلا بمحروسِ الجهاتِ مَصونِ
Calamities had never scaled it; they had only circled
The events did not weaken him, revolving
a place guarded on every side, inviolate.
Only around its protected sides, preserved.
يَلقىmeets برَوقَيْهِwith its two horns النجومَthe stars مُناطحاًbutting
يَلقى برَوقَيْهِ النجومَ مُناطحاً
ويحكُّand scrapes بالأظلافِwith cloven hooves ظهرَthe back of النونthe fish or whale
ويحكُّ بالأظلافِ ظهرَ النون
It met the stars with its two horns, butting them,
He encounters the stars with his lightning, jousting,
and scraped the whale's back with its hooves.
And scratches the back of the noon with his claws.
أَنْستْهُmade him forget بِطْنتُهhis surfeit أياديَthe favors of مُنعمٍa benefactor
أَنْستْهُ بِطْنتُه أياديَ مُنعمٍ
سَدِكٍdevoted بعادةِto the habit of لُطفِهِhis kindness مَفتونِenamored
سَدِكٍ بعادةِ لُطفِهِ مَفتونِ
His full belly made him forget a benefactor's favors,
His calm personality has made him accustomed
one steadfast in his habit of kindness, enthralled by it.
To the gentle manners of a generous host.
فيin ضِمنِthe inside of بُرديهِhis two cloaks مَهيبٌawe-inspiring مُتّقىًfeared
في ضِمنِ بُرديهِ مَهيبٌ مُتّقىً
وعليهِand upon him بِشرُthe cheer of مؤَّملٍa source of hope مأمونِtrusted
وعليهِ بِشرُ مؤَّملٍ مأمونِ
Within his two cloaks is one imposing and feared,
In his dignified appearance lies reverence and devotion,
yet he wears the cheer of one in whom hope and trust are placed.
While in him lies hopeful promise and security.
كالمَرْخِlike the markh tree يُبدٍيdisplay الاخْضرارَgreenness غصونُهits branches
كالمَرْخِ يُبدٍي الاخْضرارَ غصونُه
والنارُand fire فيin جنبيْهِits two flanks ذاتُpossessed of كُمونِconcealment
والنارُ في جنبيْهِ ذاتُ كُمونِ
Like the markh tree, whose branches display greenness,
Like a flower blossoming greenery on its branches,
while fire lies concealed in its two flanks.
Yet with latent fire in its flanks.
فبَغىso he rebelled وألسنةُand the tongues of القَناspears يُنْذرْنَهُthey warn him
فبَغى وألسنةُ القَنا يُنْذرْنَهُ
برحىًof a millstone لحِبّاتِfor the kernels of القلوبhearts طَحونِgrinding
برحىً لحِبّاتِ القلوب طَحونِ
He rebelled, while the tongues of spears warned him
So he rebelled, and the channels of spears warned him
of a millstone grinding the kernels of hearts.
Of a mill that grinds the seeds of hearts.
وطَغىand he transgressed ومنand whoever يَستغْنِbecomes wealthy يطغَtransgresses كماjust as الثّرىthe soil
وطَغى ومن يَستغْنِ يطغَ كما الثّرى
إنْif يرْوَit drinks its fill يوصَفْis described نَبتُهُits growth بجُنونِas mad
إنْ يرْوَ يوصَفْ نَبتُهُ بجُنونِ
He transgressed; whoever grows rich transgresses, just as soil,
He became tyrannical, and whoever becomes self-sufficient becomes so
when well watered, is said to sprout madly.
If he is irrigated his growth is deemed insane.
وافْتنَّand varied فيin آرائهِhis opinions مُتلوِّناًchanging colors
وافْتنَّ في آرائهِ مُتلوِّناً
كأبيlike Abu بَراقشَBaraqish أوor أبيAbu قَلَمونِQalamun
كأبي بَراقشَ أو أبي قَلَمونِ
He varied his opinions, changing colors,
His views fluctuated,
like Abu Baraqish or Abu Qalamun.
Like Abu Baraqish or Abu Qalamun.
طَوراًat times يجُرُّtugs فؤادُهُhis heart رسَنَthe halter of المُنىwishes
طَوراً يجُرُّ فؤادُهُ رسَنَ المُنى
أيْnamely كيفَhow أُلْحَقُam I overtaken والمجرَّةُwhile the Milky Way دونيis below me
أيْ كيفَ أُلْحَقُ والمجرَّةُ دوني
At times his heart tugged the halter of wishes:
At times his heart trails the course of wishes,
namely, 'How can I be overtaken, when the Milky Way lies below me?'
Oh how can I join when the Caravan is ahead of me?
ويقيسُand compares طَوراًat other times حصْنَهhis fortress بالسجنِto prison منfrom
ويقيسُ طَوراً حصْنَه بالسجنِ من
فَشِلٍcowardice وراءَbehind إهابِهِhis skin مَسجونِimprisoned
فَشِلٍ وراءَ إهابِهِ مَسجونِ
At other times he likened his fortress to a prison, from
At times he measures his fortress against prison,
cowardice imprisoned beneath his skin.
Due to failure, while incarcerated against his will.
والحربُand war تَنكِحُmarries والنفوسُand souls مهورُهاare her dowries
والحربُ تَنكِحُ والنفوسُ مهورُها
ماwhat is بينَbetween أبكارٍvirgin brides تُزَفُّled to marriage وعُونِand previously married women
ما بينَ أبكارٍ تُزَفُّ وعُونِ
War marries, and souls are her dowries,
War rapes while souls are its dowry,
between virgin brides led to marriage and women once wed.
Whether they be chaste or corrupt.
والبيضُand bright swords تَقمَرُshine like moons والغبارُand the dust كأنهas though it were
والبيضُ تَقمَرُ والغبارُ كأنه
خِرَقٌrags شُقِقْنَwere torn منfrom الدآديthe moonless nights الجُونِblack
خِرَقٌ شُقِقْنَ من الدآدي الجُونِ
Bright swords shine like moons, while the dust seems
Arrows shine while dust is like
like rags torn from the black, moonless nights.
Torn rags from the plots of darkness.
والنّبلُand arrows يُمطرُrain down وبْلَهُtheir downpour منfrom مُنْحنىa curve of
والنّبلُ يُمطرُ وبْلَهُ من مُنْحنى
نبعٍnabʿ-wood كمُرْتجِزِlike a thundering الغَمامcloud حَنونِresonant
نبعٍ كمُرْتجِزِ الغَمام حَنونِ
Arrows rain their downpour from a curve of
Arrows rain from the bent bow
nabʿ-wood, resonant as a rumbling cloud.
Like the downpour of affectionate clouds.
رَشْقاًa volley كألحاظِlike the glances of الحسانِbeautiful women رمىshot بهاwith them الthe (continued next line)
رَشْقاً كألحاظِ الحسانِ رمى بها ال
عُشّاقَlovers قوسَthe bow of الحاجبِthe eyebrow المقرونِjoined
عُشّاقَ قوسَ الحاجبِ المقرونِ
A volley like beauties' glances, with which the
A barrage, like the glances of beauties launched
bow of the joined brow shot lovers.
At the lovers by the bow of the conjoined eyebrow.
وتطيرُand fly أفلاذُfragments of الجبالِthe mountains كأنّهاas though they
وتطيرُ أفلاذُ الجبالِ كأنّها
منfrom كلِّevery ناحيةٍdirection تقولُsay خذُونيtake me
من كلِّ ناحيةٍ تقولُ خذُوني
Fragments of mountains fly, as though
The young mountains fly as if
from every direction they say, 'Take me!'
Saying, take me, from every direction.
صُمُّsolid رَواجعُrebounding إنْif تزِنْyou weigh رَضْوىRadwa بهاagainst them
صُمُّ رَواجعُ إنْ تزِنْ رَضْوى بها
تُخْبرْكَthey tell you عنabout كميِّةِthe quantity of الكمّونِcumin
تُخْبرْكَ عن كميِّةِ الكمّونِ
Solid, rebounding stones—if you weighed Radwa against them,
Deafening is the echo therein,
they would show it to weigh as little as a cumin seed.
If weighed, it tells of the amount of ammunition.
وترىand you see الدماءَthe blood علىupon الجراحِthe wounds طَوافياًfloating
وترى الدماءَ على الجراحِ طَوافياً
فكأنّهاas though it were رَمدٌeye inflammation بنُجْلِin wide عُيونِeyes
فكأنّها رَمدٌ بنُجْلِ عُيونِ
You see blood floating upon wounds,
You see blood circling the wounds
as though it were inflammation in wide eyes.
As if it were rheum in sleepy eyes.
حتىuntil إذاwhen نضِبَتْdried up بحارُthe seas of عُبابِهhis surging tide
حتى إذا نضِبَتْ بحارُ عُبابِه
عنهُaway from him سِوىexcept حَمَأٍblack mud بهاwithin them مَسْنونِputrid
عنهُ سِوى حَمَأٍ بها مَسْنونِ
Until, when the seas of his surging tide had drained
Until when the seas of his violence were drained,
away from him, save putrid black mud within them,
Only the despised remnants remained.
ركبَhe sailed البحارَthe seas سُحَيرَةًjust before dawn وتخايلَتْand shimmered
ركبَ البحارَ سُحَيرَةً وتخايلَتْ
صُورُimages of النجاةِdeliverance لوهْمِهِbefore his fancy المظْنونِconjectural
صُورُ النجاةِ لوهْمِهِ المظْنونِ
he took to the seas before dawn, and there shimmered
He mounted the seas bewildered, deceived
visions of deliverance before his conjecturing fancy.
By visions of salvation he imagined.
وتدبَّرتْand surveyed عُصْمُwhite-legged الوُعولِthe mountain goats مكانَهُhis place
وتدبَّرتْ عُصْمُ الوُعولِ مكانَهُ
وغَداand became كضَبٍّlike a lizard بالعَراءِin the open مَكونِegg-laden
وغَدا كضَبٍّ بالعَراءِ مَكونِ
The white-legged mountain goats surveyed his place,
The pillars of families turned to determine his place,
and he became like an egg-laden lizard in the open.
So he became like a hyena in the barren desert.
فإذاthen behold الطلائعthe advance parties كالدَّباlike young locusts مَبْثوثةٌscattered
فإذا الطلائع كالدَّبا مَبْثوثةٌ
لفُّواthey enfolded سهولاًplains خلْفَهُbehind him بحُزونِwith rugged hills
لفُّوا سهولاً خلْفَهُ بحُزونِ
Then there were the advance parties, scattered like young locusts;
Suddenly the vanguards arrived like scattered ants
they enfolded plains along with rugged hills behind him.
Who wrapped the plains behind him in mourning.
يَطَؤونَthey tread أعقابَthe heels of العُتاةِthe defiant tyrants كماas هَوىfell
يَطَؤونَ أعقابَ العُتاةِ كما هَوى
نجمٌa star لرجْمِto stone المارِدِthe rebel demon الملْعونِaccursed
نجمٌ لرجْمِ المارِدِ الملْعونِ
They trod the tyrants' heels, as there fell
Trampling the heels of the aggressors, as if
a star to stone the accursed, rebellious demon.
A star had fallen to pelt the accursed devil.
كانواthey were التُّيوسَhe-goats ولاand no قُرونَhorns فكَلّلتْso crowned
كانوا التُّيوسَ ولا قُرونَ فكَلّلتْ
سُمْرُthe brown shafts of الرماحِspears رؤوسَهمtheir heads بقُرونِwith horns
سُمْرُ الرماحِ رؤوسَهم بقُرونِ
They were he-goats without horns; then
They were the courageous heroes, though not horned,
brown spears crowned their heads with horns.
The swords crowned their heads with horns.
وأتَواand brought بفضْلونَFadlun الشّقيِّthe wretched كأنّهمas though they
وأتَوا بفضْلونَ الشّقيِّ كأنّهم
نَبَشواdug up بهwith him الغبراءَthe dust-gray earth عنuncovering مدْفونِa buried man
نَبَشوا به الغبراءَ عن مدْفونِ
They brought the wretched Fadlun, as though
They came with the wretched sinner, as if
they had dug him from the dusty earth like a buried man.
They had unearthed him from his grave.
فيin قدِّthe stature of رابيswelling الأحْدَبَيْنِthe two humps أبانَهُseparated him
في قدِّ رابي الأحْدَبَيْنِ أبانَهُ
عنfrom سَرْجِthe saddle of راسِيfirmly planted الوطْأتينِthe two feet حرونِstubborn
عن سَرْجِ راسِي الوطْأتينِ حرونِ
With the stature of a beast with two swelling humps, he was parted
On the mount of the one with crooked forelegs they exposed him,
from the saddle of a stubborn mount, firmly planted on both feet.
Removing him from the saddle of his settled abode.
أَعطىyielded المقادَthe reins بأرضin the land of فارسَFars راجلاًon foot
أَعطى المقادَ بأرض فارسَ راجلاً
يَفْديransoming الدّماءَblood or lives بمالهِwith his wealth المخزونِstored away
يَفْدي الدّماءَ بمالهِ المخزونِ
He yielded the reins in the land of Fars, on foot,
He gave up the reigns in the land of Persia on foot,
ransoming lives with his hoarded wealth.
Ransoming the blood with his hoarded money.
مُتدحْرجاُtumbling منfrom طَودِthe mountain of نخوتهِhis pride إلىto
مُتدحْرجاُ من طَودِ نخوتهِ إلى
سفْحٍa slope منof القدْرِrank الدَّنِّيbase الدُّونِlowly
سفْحٍ من القدْرِ الدَّنِّي الدُّونِ
Tumbling from the mountain of his pride down to
Rolling down from his pride into
a slope of base, lowly standing.
A lowly position and humble state.
لولاwere it not for عواطفُthe compassion of رايةٍa banner رَضَويّةRadawi
لولا عواطفُ رايةٍ رَضَويّة
عَقدتْfastened حُباهُhis girdles علىaround دمٍblood مَحْقونِspared
عَقدتْ حُباهُ على دمٍ مَحْقونِ
Were it not for the compassion of a Radawi banner,
Were it not for the sentiments of the pleasing banner
which fastened his girdles around blood kept unspilled,
That bound its ties to the cherished blood.
وقَضيّةٌand a judgment منfrom سيرةٍa way of life عُمريّةٍUmari
وقَضيّةٌ من سيرةٍ عُمريّةٍ
حكمتْdecreed بفكِّthe release of لسانهِhis tongue المَرْهونِheld in pledge
حكمتْ بفكِّ لسانهِ المَرْهونِ
and a judgment drawn from an Umari way of life,
And a mission from an Umar-esque biography,
which decreed the release of his tongue held in pledge,
That ruled to untie his restricted tongue.
لتَضلّعتْwould have gorged themselves طيرُthe birds of الفلاthe desert وسباعُهاand its beasts
لتَضلّعتْ طيرُ الفلا وسباعُها
منon شِلْوِهhis carcass المُلْقىcast down بدارِin the abode of الهُونِhumiliation
من شِلْوِه المُلْقى بدارِ الهُونِ
the desert birds and its beasts would have gorged themselves
Else the birds and beasts of prey would have feasted
on his carcass flung into the abode of disgrace.
On his carcass, thrown in the house of humiliation.
نَسبواthey ascribed إلىto الشيخِthe shaykh الأجلِّmost exalted إباقَهُhis absconding
نَسبوا إلى الشيخِ الأجلِّ إباقَهُ
عنتاًmaliciously وعُونيَand he was made to suffer فيهِover it ماwhat قدindeed عُونيhe was made to suffer
عنتاً وعُونيَ فيهِ ما قد عُوني
They ascribed his flight to the most exalted shaykh,
They attributed his rebellion against the supreme Sheikh
maliciously; over it he was made to suffer what he suffered.
To animosity and enmity, but I was not hostile.
فالذنْبُso the sin ذنبُthe sin of السامريِّal-Samiri وعجْلِهِand his calf
فالذنْبُ ذنبُ السامريِّ وعجْلِهِ
والعَتْبُand the reproach منfrom موسىMoses علىupon هارونِAaron
والعَتْبُ من موسى على هارونِ
The sin belonged to al-Samiri and his calf,
The sin belongs to the Samaritan and his calf,
yet the reproach came from Moses upon Aaron.
While the blame is upon Moses for Aaron.
ولذاكand for that أَرسىhe planted firmly كَلْكَلاًa breast خشعتْbowed humbly لهُbefore it
ولذاك أَرسى كَلْكَلاً خشعتْ لهُ
شُمُّthe lofty الحصونِfortresses فسُوِّيتْso were leveled بصُحونِinto flat courts
شُمُّ الحصونِ فسُوِّيتْ بصُحونِ
And so he planted his breast, before which bowed
For that he anchored shackles that humbled
the lofty fortresses, leveled into open courts.
The spines of fortresses, leveling them to plates.
ليثٌa lion تواضعَhumbled himself فيin الفريسةِhis prey فاجْتَرىthen made bold
ليثٌ تواضعَ في الفريسةِ فاجْتَرى
بالتّيسِagainst the he-goat ذيpossessing القرنينِthe two horns والعُثْنونِand the beard
بالتّيسِ ذي القرنينِ والعُثْنونِ
A lion who stooped in his choice of prey, then ventured
A lion humbled itself before its prey, so it dragged
against a he-goat with two horns and a beard.
The stubborn billy goat with the two horns.
أهلاًwelcome بأخلاقِto the virtues of الوزيرِthe minister كأنهاas though they
أهلاً بأخلاقِ الوزيرِ كأنها
دَمَثُthe softness of الحُزونِrugged ground وفَرحةُand the joy of المحزونِthe sorrowful
دَمَثُ الحُزونِ وفَرحةُ المحزونِ
Welcome to the minister's virtues, as though they were
Greetings to the minister’s morals, as if they are
the softness of rugged ground and the joy of the sorrowful.
The solace of the grieved, and delight of the grieved.
قدindeed شالَlifted عبءَthe burden of الملكsovereignty منهfrom him بازلٌa mature camel
قد شالَ عبءَ الملك منه بازلٌ
لاnot يستطيعُcan withstand صيالَهُhis charge ابنُa son of لَبونa milk-giving she-camel
لا يستطيعُ صيالَهُ ابنُ لَبون
A mature camel has lifted from him the burden of sovereignty,
He carried the burden of the kingdom, while an easy load
whose charge no two-year-old camel can withstand.
Cannot be carried by the colt of Labun.
لمdid not يرعَgraze أكنافَthe precincts of الهُوَيْنىease مُمْرِجاًletting graze
لم يرعَ أكنافَ الهُوَيْنى مُمْرِجاً
نعمَthe herds of الرَّفاهةَcomfort فيin رياضthe meadows of هُدونtruces
نعمَ الرَّفاهةَ في رياض هُدون
He did not graze the precincts of ease, letting loose
He did not graze the edges of vanity, indulging
the herds of comfort in the meadows of truces.
In the luxuries of the gardens of Hedon.
ولهُand for him وحُقَّand rightly لهُfor him لدىbefore السطانِthe sultan إحْpraise (first fragment)
ولهُ وحُقَّ لهُ لدى السطانِ إحْ
مادٌpraise (final fragment) وأجرٌand a reward ليسnot بالمنونcut off
مادٌ وأجرٌ ليس بالمنون
And his—and rightfully so—before the sultan are
He has the right to the Sultan’s praise and reward,
praise and a recompense never cut off.
Which will not diminish or perish.
خِلعٌrobes of honor كماas ارتدتwore الفرندَthe watered pattern صفيحةٌa sword-blade
خِلعٌ كما ارتدت الفرندَ صفيحةٌ
أَهدىbestowed الصقالَpolish لهاupon it أكفُّthe hands of قُيونِsmiths
أَهدى الصقالَ لها أكفُّ قُيونِ
Robes of honor—as a sword-blade dons its watered pattern,
A robe like the coat of mail the Franks wore,
with smiths' hands bestowing polish upon it.
Polished by the palms of the best blacksmiths.
واسْمٌand a name طوتْtraversed ذكراهُits renown كلَّevery مسافةٍdistance
واسْمٌ طوتْ ذكراهُ كلَّ مسافةٍ
فيon الأرضِthe earth نائيةِfar off المزارِin destination شَطونِremote
في الأرضِ نائيةِ المزارِ شَطونِ
And a name whose renown has traversed every distance
A name that has spanned every distant region
on earth, however far and remote the destination.
On the earth’s remote roads of Shuttun.
يفْشيspreads ثَناهُhis praise كاتبٌa writer أوor راكبٌa rider
يفْشي ثَناهُ كاتبٌ أو راكبٌ
منfrom بطنِthe belly of قرطاسٍa sheet of paper وظهرِand the back of أَمونِa trusty she-camel
من بطنِ قرطاسٍ وظهرِ أَمونِ
A writer or a rider spreads his praise,
Spreading its fame whether written or rode,
from a sheet's belly and a trusty she-camel's back.
On the page of a parchment or the back of Anmun.
ولعلَّand perhaps كرْمانَKerman المَرُوعةَterror-stricken ترتديwill clothe itself
ولعلَّ كرْمانَ المَرُوعةَ ترتدي
منهُthrough him بأمنٍin safety شاملٍall-embracing وسكونِand repose
منهُ بأمنٍ شاملٍ وسكونِ
Perhaps terror-stricken Kerman will clothe itself
Perhaps Kerman the feared will wear it
through him in all-embracing safety and repose.
With comprehensive safety and tranquility.
فقدِfor indeed اغْتَدىbecame كالزِّيرِlike a treble string نضْواًwasted بَمُّهاits Bam; its bass string
فقدِ اغْتَدى كالزِّيرِ نضْواً بَمُّها
وأحسَّand felt أهلوهاits people برَيبthe vicissitudes of مَنونِdeath
وأحسَّ أهلوها برَيب مَنونِ
For its Bam—its bass string—has grown thin as a treble string,
For it has become like a balsam for its sore,
and its people have felt death's vicissitudes.
And its people have felt the danger of grief.
نكبتهمُafflicted them الأيامُthe days حتىuntil إنَّهمindeed they
نكبتهمُ الأيامُ حتى إنَّهم
مَرِنُواthey grew accustomed علىto النكباتِcalamities أيَّwhat an مرُونِaccustoming
مَرِنُوا على النكباتِ أيَّ مرُونِ
The days have afflicted them until
Time has inflicted them until they
they have grown thoroughly accustomed to calamities.
Have become flexible to any flexibility.
أَهوِنْhow bearable بحرِّthe heat of وطيسهاits furnace لوif أَنّهُhe
أَهوِنْ بحرِّ وطيسها لو أَنّهُ
نادىcalled بهاwithin it ياO نارُfire برداًcool كونيbe
نادى بها يا نارُ برداً كوني
How bearable its furnace's heat would be, if he
The raging sea is easier than it, as if
called out within it, 'O fire, be cool!'
It called “O fire become cool” to the blaze.
فلينتظرْso let him await غَدَهُhis tomorrow لأنّbecause نصيبَهُhis share
فلينتظرْ غَدَهُ لأنّ نصيبَهُ
منfrom يَومِهhis day كعُجالةِlike a hurried advance العُربونِthe earnest money
من يَومِه كعُجالةِ العُربونِ
Let him await his tomorrow, for his share
So let him await his tomorrow, for his share
of today is like an earnest payment given in haste.
Of his day is like the early payment.
ولْيسْترحْand let him rest منfrom طعنِpiercing لَبّاتِthe throat-hollows of العداthe enemies
ولْيسْترحْ من طعنِ لَبّاتِ العدا
بمُجاجِwith the spittle of لبَّةِthe throat of دَنِّهِhis wine-jar المطْعونِpierced
بمُجاجِ لبَّةِ دَنِّهِ المطْعونِ
Let him rest from piercing his enemies' throat-hollows,
And relax from the stab of slanderers’ tongues
with the spittle from his pierced wine-jar's throat,
With the coagulant from his base blood.
منfrom كفِّthe hand of أغيدَa graceful youth ماwhat لكفّيْfor the two hands of ربِّهِhis master
من كفِّ أغيدَ ما لكفّيْ ربِّهِ
إذwhen يشتريهhe buys him وصفقةُand the bargain of المغْبونِthe cheated buyer
إذ يشتريه وصفقةُ المغْبونِ
from a graceful youth's hand—what have his master's two hands,
From the grip of one who prepares, what can my Lord’s grip do
when buying him, to do with a cheated buyer's bargain?
When He buys him, a deal of loss.
وليسمحَنَّand let him surely give بصَبْرةٍwith a heap منof عجدٍgold
وليسمحَنَّ بصَبْرةٍ من عجدٍ
مُكتالةٍmeasured out لكلاميَfor my words الموْزونmetrical
مُكتالةٍ لكلاميَ الموْزون
Let him surely give generously a heap of gold,
He should pardon with some tolerance
measured out for my metrical words.
For my measured, rhyming words.
فقدِfor indeed اسْتذلَّنيَhas humbled me الزمانُtime وقبلَand before ذاthis
فقدِ اسْتذلَّنيَ الزمانُ وقبلَ ذا
ماnot كانَwas يَسمحُyielding للزَّمانِto time قُرونِيmy horns
ما كانَ يَسمحُ للزَّمانِ قُرونِي
For time has humbled me; before this,
For time has humiliated me, and before that
my horns would never yield to time.
It would not for centuries be humble.
وليملكنَّand may he surely possess كنوزَthe treasures of قارونٍQarun كماjust as
وليملكنَّ كنوزَ قارونٍ كما
ورثتْinherited عداهُhis enemies الخسفَthe earth's engulfing منfrom قارونِQarun
ورثتْ عداهُ الخسفَ من قارونِ
May he surely possess Qarun's treasures, just as
Let him possess the treasures of Korah, as
his foes have inherited Qarun's engulfment by the earth.
His enemy inherited the engulfment from Korah.
ولتَبقَand may remain دَوحةُthe great tree of عزِّهِhis glory مُلتفّةًthickly entwined
ولتَبقَ دَوحةُ عزِّهِ مُلتفّةً
فيin خُضرِgreen أوراقٍleaves ومُلدِand supple غُصونِbranches
في خُضرِ أوراقٍ ومُلدِ غُصونِ
May the great tree of his glory remain thickly entwined
And let the bouquet of his honor remain wrapped
in green leaves and supple branches.
In the green of leaves and soft branches.
Sol 6.1