كَرُّthe charge الخُطوبِof calamities علىagainst الفَوارِسْthe horsemen
كَرُّ الخُطوبِ على الفَوارِسْ
وطِلابُهاand their pursuit الصِّيدَthe proud الأشاوِسthe dauntless
وطِلابُها الصِّيدَ الأشاوِس
The charge of calamities against the horsemen,
The Knight faces adversities with valor,
and their pursuit of the proud and dauntless.
His seekers hunt the most vicious prey,
والدَّهرُand Time يطرُقُcomes by night بالفواwith grievous calamities (first part)
والدَّهرُ يطرُقُ بالفوا
دحِgrievous calamities (completion) أوor يُصَبِّحُcomes at dawn بالدَّهارِسwith crushing disasters
دحِ أو يُصَبِّحُ بالدَّهارِس
And Time comes by night with grievous
Time passes with ups and downs,
calamities, or brings crushing disasters at dawn.
Bringing mornings and evenings in disarray.
غازٍa raider يُظَفَّرُis granted victory بالنُّفوover lives (first part)
غازٍ يُظَفَّرُ بالنُّفو
سِlives (completion) وبالذَّخيراتِand over the treasures النَّفائِسْthe precious
سِ وبالذَّخيراتِ النَّفائِسْ
A raider granted victory over human
A conqueror granted spoils and treasures,
lives, and over precious treasures.
Triumphing over the proud knights of Persia,
أردَىslew مَقاوِلَthe chieftains of تُبَّعٍTubbaʿ
أردَى مَقاوِلَ تُبَّعٍ
وسَطَاand fell upon علىupon أحرارِthe nobles of فارسْPersia
وسَطَا على أحرارِ فارسْ
It slew the chieftains of Tubbaʿ
He slew the envoys of Tubba,
and fell upon the nobles of Persia.
Subjugating the free Arabs under duress.
غاداهُمُcame upon them at dawn مَتَنَمِّراًleopard-like; fierce
غاداهُمُ مَتَنَمِّراً
فغدَتْso became سُعودُهُمُtheir good fortunes مَناحِسْill fortunes
فغدَتْ سُعودُهُمُ مَناحِسْ
It came upon them at dawn, leopard-like,
He attacked them baring his fangs,
and their good fortunes turned to ill.
And so their fortune met distress,
وملوكَand the kings of كِنْدَةَKinda حَطَّcast down عنfrom
وملوكَ كِنْدَةَ حَطَّ عن
تلكthose الأسِرَّةِthrones والقَراِبسand saddle-bows
تلك الأسِرَّةِ والقَراِبس
And the kings of Kinda it cast down from
He dethroned the Kings of Kindah
those thrones and saddle-bows.
Severing their lineage and kinship ties.
ماnot زالَceased يَعملُinflicting فيهمُupon them
ما زالَ يَعملُ فيهمُ
طَعْنَthe thrusts of المُصالتِthe open challenger والمُخالِسand the stealthy attacker
طَعْنَ المُصالتِ والمُخالِس
It never ceased assailing them
He continued to deceive and betray them,
with the thrusts of the open challenger and the ambusher.
Stabbing with his poisoned daggers, so adept.
فابتزَّهُمْso it stripped them of مُحمرَّةَreddened التْthe crowns (first part)
فابتزَّهُمْ مُحمرَّةَ التْ
يِجَانِcrowns (completion) أوor شُهْبَgleaming gray القَوانِسhelmet-crests
يِجَانِ أو شُهْبَ القَوانِس
Then it stripped them of reddened
He snatched their gilded crowns,
crowns, or gleaming helmet-crests.
Or their fiery torches in one deft swoop.
وكذاكand likewise أطفأextinguished منfrom أبيAbu
وكذاك أطفأ من أبي
قابوسَQabus جَمرَةَthe ember of كلِّevery قابِسseeker of fire
قابوسَ جَمرَةَ كلِّ قابِس
And likewise it quenched, in Abu
He also extinguished the flame,
Qabus, the ember of every seeker of fire.
Of Abraha and his war elephants' steps,
منfrom بعدafter ماthat جابtraversed الفلاthe wilderness (first part)
من بعد ما جاب الفلا
ةwilderness (completion) بمكفهرwith a grim one النقعthe battle-dust عابسscowling
ة بمكفهر النقع عابس
After he had traversed the wilderness
After traversing the deserts in anger
with a grim, dust-darkened, scowling host.
With a gloomy and raging aspect.
وتفاوتتand differed أيامهhis days
وتفاوتت أيامه
فمفيدso one bestowing مسعدةgood fortune وناحسand one bringing ill fortune
فمفيد مسعدة وناحس
And his days differed:
His days varied,
one bestowing good fortune, another ill.
Some prosperous, some fraught with mishaps.
وأصابَand struck جبَّارَthe tyrant of المَداal-Mada'in (first part)
وأصابَ جبَّارَ المَدا
ئِنِal-Mada'in (completion) قائمَstanding الفئتينِthe two companies جالِسseated
ئِنِ قائمَ الفئتينِ جالِس
And it struck the tyrant of al-Mada'in,
And he reached the tyrant of factions,
seated while the two companies stood,
Sitting between the two disputing clans.
مُتَفَّيئاًtaking shelter ظِلَّin the shade of السيوthe swords (first part)
مُتَفَّيئاً ظِلَّ السيو
فِswords (completion) وتارةًand at times ظِلَّthe shade of الفَرادِسthe gardens
فِ وتارةً ظِلَّ الفَرادِس
Sheltering in the shade of swords,
At times shaded by his sword,
and at times in the shade of gardens.
At others by his coat of mail,
يَغدوgoes forth in the morning الخميسُthe army أمامَهbefore him
يَغدو الخميسُ أمامَه
جَمَّabundant in الغَماغمِmuffled cries والوَساوِسand whisperings
جَمَّ الغَماغمِ والوَساوِس
The army moves before him in the morning,
On Thursdays appearing before him,
full of muffled cries and whisperings.
Imaginations and doubts amass.
والنَّاسُand people أغراضُtargets of الحتوdeadly fates (first part)
والنَّاسُ أغراضُ الحتو
فِdeadly fates (completion) فمُطْلِقٌso one loosing سَهْماًan arrow وحَابِسand one withholding
فِ فمُطْلِقٌ سَهْماً وحَابِس
And people are the targets of deadly fates:
While people are the objects of his greed,
one looses an arrow, another withholds it.
He shoots arrows or holds them back.
تَرميcast القصورُthe palaces الواضحاthe gleaming (first part)
تَرمي القصورُ الواضحا
تُgleaming (completion) بهمwith them إلىinto الغُبرِthe dust-gray الدَّوارِسthe crumbling ruins
تُ بهم إلى الغُبرِ الدَّوارِس
The gleaming palaces cast them
The shining palaces,
into dust-gray, crumbling ruins.
Cast at them swarms of locusts circling.
إنيindeed I لَمِنْcertainly belong to قَوْمٍa people مَضَواwho passed away
إني لَمِنْ قَوْمٍ مَضَوا
شُمَّlofty المآثرِin noble deeds والمَعاطِسْand noses
شُمَّ المآثرِ والمَعاطِسْ
Indeed, I belong to a people who have passed,
I belong to a tribe,
lofty in noble deeds and high of nose.
Who perfected the traits of glory.
راعٍa shepherd يَسيرُmarch القومُthe people تحbeneath (first part)
راعٍ يَسيرُ القومُ تح
تَbeneath (completion) لواءِthe banner of مَنكبِهhis shoulder وَسايسand a ruler
تَ لواءِ مَنكبِه وَسايس
A shepherd—the people march beneath
A shepherd who leads his flock
his shoulder's banner—and a ruler.
Beneath his banner's shade and care.
وفتىًand a youth إذاif قِيسَwere compared الغَماthe rainclouds (first part)
وفتىً إذا قِيسَ الغَما
مُrainclouds (completion) بنَيْلِهagainst his bounty ظَلَمَwould wrong المُقايِسthe comparer
مُ بنَيْلِه ظَلَمَ المُقايِس
And a youth: if rainclouds were measured
A stalwart who, when tested for valor,
against his bounty, the comparer would wrong them.
Outshines even the scales of measure.
يُهدىare offered لهto him دُرَّpearls المَحاof praise (first part)
يُهدى له دُرَّ المَحا
مدِpraise (completion) حَشْوَfilling أصدافِthe shells of القَراطِسsheets of paper
مدِ حَشْوَ أصدافِ القَراطِس
To him are offered pearls of praise,
The pearls' adornments are gifted to him
filling the oyster-shells of paper.
Encased in oyster shells, delicate and fine.
ماnot نيلَwas attained مجدُهُمُtheir glory وَأَنْand how (first part)
ما نيلَ مجدُهُمُ وَأَنْ
ىhow (completion) يَلمُسُtouches الجوزاءَal-Jawza لامِسone who touches
ى يَلمُسُ الجوزاءَ لامِس
Their glory was never attained; and how
Their glory cannot be attained,
could anyone touch al-Jawza?
Not even touched by the brilliant Capella.
قَصَدَتُهُمُsought them out رقَشُthe speckled ones الحواof misfortunes (first part)
قَصَدَتُهُمُ رقَشُ الحوا
دِثِmisfortunes (completion) بينَamong ناهسةٍa female biter وناهِسand a male biter
دِثِ بينَ ناهسةٍ وناهِس
The speckled serpents of misfortune sought them out,
The tales of epics sought them out
with biters, female and male alike.
Between the intrepid and the valiant souls.
وثَنَتْand turned إليهمtoward them أَوجُهthe faces of النْthe calamities (first part)
وثَنَتْ إليهم أَوجُه النْ
كَبَاتِcalamities (completion) باسلةًfierce عَوابِسْscowling
كَبَاتِ باسلةً عَوابِسْ
And calamities turned their faces toward them,
The gazes of the virtuous inclined towards them
fierce and scowling.
With steadfast and earnest miens.
وتنَبَّهَتْand awoke منهُمamong them لباto the remnant (first part)
وتنَبَّهَتْ منهُم لبا
قيremnant (completion) العِزِّof glory والشَّرفِand honor القُدامِسthe mighty
قي العِزِّ والشَّرفِ القُدامِس
And awoke to what remained among them
The remaining pillars of honor and nobility
of glory and towering honor.
Were awakened by their unwavering resolve.
فُجِعُواthey were bereaved بأحمدَof Ahmad مُستضاhumbled (first part)
فُجِعُوا بأحمدَ مُستضا
مَhumbled (completion) القِرْنِthe opponent مُختَرَمَcut down المُنافِسthe rival
مَ القِرْنِ مُختَرَمَ المُنافِس
They were bereaved of Ahmad, who humbled
They were aggrieved by the loss of Ahmed,
his opponent and cut down his rival,
The ornamented horn of the age was severed.
عَبِقَfragrant الحَمائِلin sword-belts والأَعِنْand the reins (first part)
عَبِقَ الحَمائِل والأَعِنْ
نَةِreins (completion) والقَوائمِand sword-hilts والمَعاجِسand bow-grips
نَةِ والقَوائمِ والمَعاجِس
Fragrant in his sword-belts and reins,
The resting place of the brave steeds and the spears
his sword-hilts and bow-grips.
And the arenas of skillful horsemanship now empty.
ماليwhy do I أرىsee الرَّبضَthe quarter اقشعَرْshuddered (first part)
مالي أرى الرَّبضَ اقشعَرْ
رَshuddered (completion) لِفَقْدِهِat his loss فتَراهُso you see it يَابِسْbarren
رَ لِفَقْدِهِ فتَراهُ يَابِسْ
Why do I see the quarter shudder
I see the pasture in mourning, parched and dry,
at his loss, so that you see it barren?
Green no more since he passed away.
وارتَدَّand turned مسوَدَّblackened النَّهاin daytime (first part)
وارتَدَّ مسوَدَّ النَّها
رِdaytime (completion) وكانَand it was مُبيَضِّbrightening الحَنادِسthe darkest nights
رِ وكانَ مُبيَضِّ الحَنادِس
And it has turned dark by day,
The brightened morn turned pitch black,
though once it brightened the blackest nights.
Once illuminating even the lanterns.
وغَدَتْand began تَجُرُّto drag بِساحَتْيthrough the two courtyards
وغَدَتْ تَجُرُّ بِساحَتْي
هِits ذيولَهاtheir trailing skirts النُّكْبُthe calamities الرَّوامِسthe effacing ones
هِ ذيولَها النُّكْبُ الرَّوامِس
And through its two courtyards now trail
The courtyard now drags its train
the skirts of effacing calamities.
Weighted by the falling stars of misfortune.
ولقدand indeed أراهI see it مُفوَّفُstriped الthe
ولقد أراه مُفوَّفُ ال
أبْرَادِmantles مُهتَزَّswaying المَغارِسthe plantings
أبْرَادِ مُهتَزَّ المَغارِس
And I once saw it in striped
I pictured it clad in luxurious garb
mantles, its plantings swaying,
Rustling with the swaying trellises’ breeze.
حاليadorned الرِّياضِin its gardens مُصقَّلِpolished الthe
حالي الرِّياضِ مُصقَّلِ ال
غُدرانِpools رَقراقَshimmering المَجالِسthe gathering-places
غُدرانِ رَقراقَ المَجالِس
Its gardens adorned, and mirror-bright
In the garden, the smooth pebbles
its pools, its gathering-places shimmering.
Were like pearls in their elegance and sheen.
فكأنَّماso, as though انتثَرَتْwere scattered عليupon
فكأنَّما انتثَرَتْ علي
هِit عُقودُthe necklaces of لَبَّاتِthe throats of العَرائِسthe brides
هِ عُقودُ لَبَّاتِ العَرائِس
As though over it had been scattered
As though strings of luminous pearls
the necklaces from brides' throats.
Adorned it like a bride's necklace.
وكأنَّماand as though اتَّشَحَتْdonned رُباhills
وكأنَّما اتَّشَحَتْ رُبا
هits مَجاسِدَrobes worn next to the body الغِيدِthe graceful maidens الأوانِسthe winsome
ه مَجاسِدَ الغِيدِ الأوانِس
And as though its hills had donned
As if the plush meadows wore
the robes of graceful, winsome maidens.
Cloaks of brocade and damask cloth.
وكأنand as though راحةthe palm of ريحهits breeze
وكأن راحة ريحه
عبثتplayed ببساتينwith gardens البسابسof the wastelands
عبثت ببساتين البسابس
And as though the palm of its breeze
As though the gardens' fragrances
had played with the gardens of the wastes.
Toyed with the pine groves' scented airs.
وكأنَّand as though يَومَthe day of الدَّجْنِthick cloud منof
وكأنَّ يَومَ الدَّجْنِ من
هُit لِغُرَّةِbecause of the radiant brow of المَفقودِthe lost one شامِسsunny
هُ لِغُرَّةِ المَفقودِ شامِس
And as though its cloud-darkened day
As if the loss clouded even
were sunlit by the lost one's radiant brow.
The radiant day in perpetual gloom.
ياO ابْنَson of السَّرِيِّal-Sari سَرَىmay journey by night الغَماthe rainclouds (first part)
يا ابْنَ السَّرِيِّ سَرَى الغَما
مُrainclouds (completion) إليكَto you بالغُرِّwith the bright white ones الرَّواجِسthe thundering ones
مُ إليكَ بالغُرِّ الرَّواجِس
O son of al-Sari, may rainclouds travel by night
O son of glory, sorrows charged at you
to you, bright and thundering,
With pounding anxieties and distress.
حتىuntil يعودَbecomes again ثَراكَyour soil غَضْtender (first part)
حتى يعودَ ثَراكَ غَضْ
ضَtender (completion) العُودِin its shoots مُخضَرَّgreen الَملابِسin its garments
ضَ العُودِ مُخضَرَّ الَملابِس
Until your soil bears tender
Till your ashes return renewed
shoots and wears green garments.
In verdant attire, youthful in their tender green.
ولَئِنْand even if رحَلْتَyou have departed عنfrom الأنيthe companion (first part)
ولَئِنْ رحَلْتَ عن الأني
سِcompanion (completion) إلىto مَحَلٍّa dwelling غيرِnot آنِسwelcoming
سِ إلى مَحَلٍّ غيرِ آنِس
And though you have left companionship
If you left the loved ones for an abode
for an unwelcoming abode,
Unlike your familiar comforting home,
فالدَّهْرُfor Time ليسَdoes not يَفوتُoutrun; escape ركthe gallop (first part)
فالدَّهْرُ ليسَ يَفوتُ رك
ضُgallop (completion) خُطوبِهof its calamities رَكضَthe gallop of الفَوارِسthe horsemen
ضُ خُطوبِه رَكضَ الفَوارِس
For Time—the gallop of its calamities
Still, Time does not fail to restore
cannot be outrun by the gallop of horsemen.
The gallops of its eager steeds.
أوَand have ...? ماnot رأيتَyou seen ضَراغِمَthe lions of الدْthe world (first part)
أوَ ما رأيتَ ضَراغِمَ الدْ
ندُياworld (completion) لِوَثْبَتِهِto its pounce فَرائِسprey
ندُيا لِوَثْبَتِهِ فَرائِس
And have you not seen the world's lions
Have you not seen the world,
made prey to its pounce?
Continuously renewed like the rising phoenix?
Sol 6.1