لقاءُattainment of الأمانِيwishes فيin ضمانthe guarantee of القَواضِبِkeen swords
لقاءُ الأمانِي في ضمان القَواضِبِ
ونيلُand attaining المعاليhigh honors فيin ادِّراعِplunging through السَّبَاسِبِdesert plains
ونيلُ المعالي في ادِّراعِ السَّبَاسِبِ
The attainment of hopes lies in the surety of keen swords.
The fulfillment of wishes is guaranteed by keen swords,
And the attainment of high things in wearing the deserts as armor.
and attaining high honors lies in plunging through desert plains.
إِذاwhen ماever ارتمىcomes crashing بالمرءupon a man مَنْسِمُthe hoof of ذِلّةٍhumiliation
إِذا ما ارتمى بالمرء مَنْسِمُ ذِلّةٍ
فليسthen there is nothing لهfor him إِلّاexcept اقتعادُmounting الغَواربِcamel-humps
فليس له إِلّا اقتعادُ الغَواربِ
If humiliation’s hoof should strike a man,
Whenever humiliation's hoof comes crashing upon a man,
He has no recourse but to mount the camels’ humps.
he has no recourse but to mount the camel-humps.
وماand not قَذَفاتُthe lofty summits of المجدِglory إِلّاexcept لفاتكٍfor a daring fighter
وما قَذَفاتُ المجدِ إِلّا لفاتكٍ
إِذاwhen هَمَّhe resolves لمnot يستَقْرِexamines سُبْلَthe paths of العواقبِconsequences
إِذا هَمَّ لم يستَقْرِ سُبْلَ العواقبِ
None storms the far heights of glory but the daring man
Glory's lofty summits belong only to a daring fighter,
Whom consequences cannot check once he resolves.
who, once resolved, does not trace the paths of consequences.
إِذاwhen استافhe scents ضيماًan injustice عادهreturns to him خُنْزُوانةٌfierce pride
إِذا استاف ضيماً عاده خُنْزُوانةٌ
وشَمَّمَand makes sniff عِرنينَthe nose of الألَدّthe stubborn المحاربِwarrior
وشَمَّمَ عِرنينَ الألَدّ المحاربِ
If oppression drives him on, his fierce pride brings him back,
When he scents an injustice, fierce pride returns to him,
And the lofty nose of the stubborn warrior rises.
and he makes the stubborn warrior's nose smell it in turn.
وصَحبٍand companions كجُمَّاعِlike the cluster of الثُّرَيَّاthe Pleiades تأَلُّفَاًin close union
وصَحبٍ كجُمَّاعِ الثُّرَيَّا تأَلُّفَاً
مغاويرَintrepid raiders نُجْلِwide-gaping الطعنِspear-thrusts هُدْلِdeep-gashing الضرائبِsword-blows
مغاويرَ نُجْلِ الطعنِ هُدْلِ الضرائبِ
Your companions are a gathered host, bound close together—
And companions, united like the cluster of the Pleiades,
Bold raiders, sons of spear-thrusting, with low-hung blades.
intrepid raiders, with gaping thrusts and deep-gashing blows.
إِذاwhen نزلواthey descend upon البطحاءَthe gravel plain سدَّواthey fill طِلاعَهاits entire breadth
إِذا نزلوا البطحاءَ سدَّوا طِلاعَها
بسُمْرِwith brown shafts of القَنَاspears والمقرباتِand cherished steeds السَّلاهِبِtall and long-bodied
بسُمْرِ القَنَا والمقرباتِ السَّلاهِبِ
When they descend upon the gravel plain, they block its passes
Whenever they descend upon the gravel plain, they fill its breadth
With dusky lances and close-bred, lean-flanked steeds.
with brown lance-shafts and treasured, tall steeds.
مطاعينُmighty spear-thrusters حيثُwhere الرمحُa lance يزحَمُjostles مثلَهُits like
مطاعينُ حيثُ الرمحُ يزحَمُ مثلَهُ
علىagainst حَلَقِthe rings of الدِّرعmail ازدحامَthe jostling of الغرائبِstrange camels
على حَلَقِ الدِّرع ازدحامَ الغرائبِ
They thrust where spear crowds hard upon spear,
Mighty thrusters, where lance presses against lance,
Over rings of mail packed like throngs of strangers.
against the rings of mail, like the jostling of strange camels.
يَمُدّونَthey extend أطرافَthe tips of القَنَاspears بخوادِرٍwith lionlike hands
يَمُدّونَ أطرافَ القَنَا بخوادِرٍ
كأنّas though القَنَاthe spears فيهاin them خُطوطُlines on الرَّواجبِfinger-joints
كأنّ القَنَا فيها خُطوطُ الرَّواجبِ
They reach out the points of their lances with hidden force,
They stretch out their spear-tips with lionlike hands,
As though the shafts among them were lines traced on knuckles.
as though the spears in them were lines on finger-joints.
إِذاwhen أوردواthey bring to drink السمرthe brown spears اللِّدانَthe supple تحاجزواthey keep at bay
إِذا أوردوا السمر اللِّدانَ تحاجزوا
بهاwith them عنfrom دماءِthe blood of الأُسْدِlions حُمْرَred الثعالبِfoxes
بها عن دماءِ الأُسْدِ حُمْرَ الثعالبِ
When they bring the supple brown lances to their watering, they draw apart,
When they bring the supple brown spears to drink, they bar
Keeping red foxes from the blood of lions.
red foxes from lions' blood with them.
بهمthrough them أقتضيI exact دينَthe debt of اللياليthe nights إِذاwhen لوتthey delay payment
بهم أقتضي دينَ الليالي إِذا لوت
وأبلُغُand I attain آماليmy hopes وأقضيand I fulfill مآربيmy needs
وأبلُغُ آمالي وأقضي مآربي
With them I exact my debt from nights that twist against me,
Through them I exact the nights' debt when they delay payment,
Attain my hopes, and satisfy my needs.
and reach my hopes and fulfill my needs.
وانتهبُand I plunder الحَيَّthe tribe اللَّقاحَthe unsubjugated وأكتفِيand I content myself
وانتهبُ الحَيَّ اللَّقاحَ وأكتفِي
بريعانِwith the fresh vigor of عزميmy resolve عنwithout طِرادِpursuing التجاربِexperience
بريعانِ عزمي عن طِرادِ التجاربِ
I seize the tribe’s milk-rich herds and am content
And I plunder the unsubjugated tribe, and content myself
With the first vigor of resolve, without chasing after trials.
with my resolve's fresh vigor, without pursuing experience.
وهاجرةٍand a scorching noon سجراءَblazing تأكلُdevours ظِلَّهاits shadow
وهاجرةٍ سجراءَ تأكلُ ظِلَّها
ملوَّحَةِscorching المِعْزاءthe stony ground رمضَىsearing الجَنادبِthe grasshoppers
ملوَّحَةِ المِعْزاء رمضَى الجَنادبِ
Through a noon whose mirage devours its very shade,
And a blazing noontide that devours its own shadow,
Across a salt-white, stony waste where grasshoppers scorch,
scorching the stony ground, searing the grasshoppers:
ترىyou see الشمسَthe sun فيهاin it وهيwhile it تُرسِلُlets down خيطَهاits thread
ترى الشمسَ فيها وهي تُرسِلُ خيطَها
لتمتاحَto draw رِيَّاًa quenching draught منfrom نِطافِthe small pools of المذانبِwatercourses
لتمتاحَ رِيَّاً من نِطافِ المذانبِ
You see the sun letting down its slender thread
you see the sun there letting down its thread,
To draw a drink from droplets gathered in the gullies.
to draw a thirst-quenching draught from the pools of watercourses.
سَفَعْناwe struck بهاin it وجهَthe face of النهارthe day فراعَنَاand it startled us
سَفَعْنا بها وجهَ النهار فراعَنَا
بنُقْبَةِwith the complexion of مُسْوَدِّone blackened in الخياشيمthe nostrils شاحبِpallid
بنُقْبَةِ مُسْوَدِّ الخياشيم شاحبِ
We crossed it over the face of day, until we were startled
We struck the face of day in that heat, and it startled us
By a pale scout with blackened nostrils.
with a pallid face and blackened nostrils.
وباتand spent the night علىupon الأكوارcamel-saddles أشلاءُbodies جُنَّحٍbent sideways
وبات على الأكوار أشلاءُ جُنَّحٍ
خوافقُswaying فوقabove العِيسpale camels ميلُaskew العصائبِheadbands
خوافقُ فوق العِيس ميلُ العصائبِ
Upon the camel-saddles the brands of pitch-black night remained,
At night, bent bodies lay upon the camel-saddles,
Fluttering above the white camels like headbands.
swaying above pale camels, their headbands askew.
فلماthen when اعتسفناwe forced our way through ظِلَّthe shade أخضرَdark-green غاسقٍdeepening in darkness
فلما اعتسفنا ظِلَّ أخضرَ غاسقٍ
علىover قِمَعthe crests of الآكامِhills جُونِblack المناكبِshoulders
على قِمَع الآكامِ جُونِ المناكبِ
When we blindly traversed its green, dark shade,
Then, when we forced our way through dark-green, deepening shade
Upon the hilltops, black across the shoulders,
over the crests of hills with blackened shoulders,
وردناwe reached water سُحيراًjust before dawn بينbetween يومٍday وليلةٍand night
وردنا سُحيراً بين يومٍ وليلةٍ
وقدwhile already عَلِقَتْclung بالغَربto the west أيديthe hands of الكواكبِthe stars
وقد عَلِقَتْ بالغَرب أيدي الكواكبِ
We reached our destination at dawn, between night and day,
we came to water just before dawn, between day and night,
While the hands of the stars still clung to the West—
while the hands of the stars clung to the west,
علىat حينَthe time when عرَّىbared منكِبُthe shoulder of الشرقِthe east جذبةًa drawn streak
على حينَ عرَّى منكِبُ الشرقِ جذبةً
منof الصبحdawn واسترخَىand slackened عِنانَthe reins of الغياهبِdeep darkness
من الصبح واسترخَى عِنانَ الغياهبِ
Just as a pull of dawn bared the East’s shoulder
just as the east's shoulder bared a streak
And the rein of the darkness slackened.
of dawn, and the reins of darkness slackened:
غديراًa pool كمرآةlike the mirror of الغريبةِa woman far from home تلتقيconverge
غديراً كمرآة الغريبةِ تلتقي
بصَوْحَيْهat its two banks أنفاسُthe breaths of الرياحِwinds اللَّواغبِweary
بصَوْحَيْه أنفاسُ الرياحِ اللَّواغبِ
A pool like the mirror of a woman far from home,
a pool like a foreign woman's mirror, where converge
Upon whose open face the breaths of weary winds converge.
at its two banks the breaths of weary winds.
إِذاwhen ماever نِبالُthe arrows of الفَقْرِwant تاحتْcame upon لهit اتَّقَىit shielded itself
إِذا ما نِبالُ الفَقْرِ تاحتْ له اتَّقَى
بموضُونةٍwith woven mail حَصْداءَclosely linked منon كلevery جانبِside
بموضُونةٍ حَصْداءَ من كل جانبِ
When the arrows of the rain descend beneath it, it takes shelter
When the arrows of want come upon it, it shields itself
Under close-woven, impenetrable mail on every side.
with tightly woven, close-linked mail on every side.
بمنعَرجٍat a bend منin رَيْدِthe flank of عيطاءَa lofty mountain لمnot تزلْhave ceased
بمنعَرجٍ من رَيْدِ عيطاءَ لم تزلْ
وقائعُهits rock-basins يرشفنَsip ظَلْمَthe glistening saliva of السحائبِthe clouds
وقائعُه يرشفنَ ظَلْمَ السحائبِ
At the turning of a lofty rain-cloud that has never ceased,
At a bend in a lofty mountain's flank, where ceaselessly
Whose downpours exude the dark burden of the clouds.
its rocky hollows sip the glistening saliva of the clouds.
يقبِّلُit kisses أفلاذَfragments of الحَياrain ويُكِنُّهاand shelters them
يقبِّلُ أفلاذَ الحَيا ويُكِنُّها
بطاميةِwithin a brimful basin الأرجاءat the sides خُضرgreen النَّصائبِboundary-stones
بطاميةِ الأرجاء خُضر النَّصائبِ
Broad-bellied flats embrace and shelter it
It kisses fragments of rain and shelters them
Within swelling reaches green along their banks.
within a brimful basin bordered by green stones.
بعيسٍon pale camels كأطرافِlike the points of المَدارَىhair-picks نواحلٍslender
بعيسٍ كأطرافِ المَدارَى نواحلٍ
فَرَقْناwe cleft بهاwith them الظلماءَthe darkness وُحْفَthick الذوائبِtresses
فَرَقْنا بها الظلماءَ وُحْفَ الذوائبِ
Its slender branches droop like diviners’ rods;
On pale camels, slender as the points of hair-picks,
With them we cleaved the darkness and shook loose our forelocks.
we cleft the thick-tressed darkness upon them.
نشطنَthey drew up بهfrom it عذباًsweet نِقاخاpure water كأنّماas though
نشطنَ به عذباً نِقاخا كأنّما
مشافرُهاtheir lips يُغمِدْنwere sheathing بيضَbright blades of القواضبِkeen swords
مشافرُها يُغمِدْن بيضَ القواضبِ
There we drank sweet, pure, brimming water,
They drew from it sweet, pure water, as though
Its lips seeming to bite upon white swords.
their lips were sheathing bright swords.
رأينَthey saw جِمامَthe brimful pools of الماءwater زُرقاًblue ومثلَهاand like them
رأينَ جِمامَ الماء زُرقاً ومثلَها
سناthe radiance of الصبحِdawn فارتابتْand grew doubtful عيونُthe eyes of الركائبِriding-camels
سنا الصبحِ فارتابتْ عيونُ الركائبِ
The camels saw the water’s deep-blue abundance
They saw the brimful waters blue, and, like them,
And took it for dawn’s radiance; their eyes mistrusted it.
the dawn's radiance; the riding-camels' eyes grew uncertain.
فكمand how many قامحٍa head-raising camel عنaway from لُجَّةِthe depths of الماءwater طامحٍgazing upward
فكم قامحٍ عن لُجَّةِ الماء طامحٍ
إِلىtoward الفجرِdawn ظنَّthought الفجرَdawn بعضَone of المشاربِthe drinking-places
إِلى الفجرِ ظنَّ الفجرَ بعضَ المشاربِ
How many a neck stretched high above the watery depth,
How many a camel raised its head from the water's depths, gazing
Reaching toward dawn and thinking dawn another drinking-place,
toward dawn, thinking dawn one of the drinking-places,
إِلىuntil أنthat بداappeared قَرْنُthe horn of الغزالةِthe sun ماتِعاًrising high
إِلى أن بدا قَرْنُ الغزالةِ ماتِعاً
كوجهِlike the face of نظامNizam الملكal-Mulk بينَamid المواكبِprocessions
كوجهِ نظام الملك بينَ المواكبِ
Until the horn of the gazelle—the sun—rose high,
until the sun's horn appeared, rising high,
Like the face of Niẓām al-Mulk amid the processions.
like Nizam al-Mulk's face amid the processions.
فماso no روضةٌmeadow بالحَزْنِon rugged uplands شعشَعَbrightened نَوْرَهاits blossoms
فما روضةٌ بالحَزْنِ شعشَعَ نَوْرَها
طليقُfreely flowing العزالىcloud-spouts مستهلُّpouring الهواضبِheavy rain-clouds
طليقُ العزالى مستهلُّ الهواضبِ
No garden in the uplands, its blossoms radiant,
No meadow on rugged uplands, whose blossoms are brightened
Its reaches open and its hillocks streaming with rain—
by clouds with freely flowing spouts and copious showers,
جرتْit ran فيunder عنانِthe reins of المُرزَمِينَthe two Mirzams وأوطِئَتْand were trodden
جرتْ في عنانِ المُرزَمِينَ وأوطِئَتْ
مضاميرَهاits racecourses خيلُthe steeds of الصَّبَاthe east wind والجَنائبِand south winds
مضاميرَها خيلُ الصَّبَا والجَنائبِ
Where the two rain-stars race across the sky
which has run under the two Mirzams' reins, and has had
And the east wind’s horses and led mounts tread their courses;
its racecourses trodden by the steeds of east and south winds;
كأنas though البروقَlightning flashes استودعتهاentrusted it with مشاعلاًtorches
كأن البروقَ استودعتها مشاعلاً
تباهيrival مصابيحَthe lamps of النجومِstars الثواقبِpiercingly bright
تباهي مصابيحَ النجومِ الثواقبِ
As though lightning had entrusted torches to it
as though lightning had entrusted it with torches
To vie with the piercing lamps of the stars;
rivaling the lamps of piercing stars;
كأنas though القَطارَshowers استخزنتهاmade it a storehouse for لآلِئاًpearls
كأن القَطارَ استخزنتها لآلِئاً
فمنsome being جامدٍcongealed فيupon صفحتيهاits two sides وذائبِand melting
فمن جامدٍ في صفحتيها وذائبِ
As though the rain-cloud had stored pearls within it,
as though showers had made it a storehouse for pearls,
Some fixed upon its surface and some dissolved;
some congealed upon its two sides, and others melting;
يُريكَit shows you مُجاجَthe spittle of القَطْرِrain فيalong جَنَباتِهاits sides
يُريكَ مُجاجَ القَطْرِ في جَنَباتِها
دموعَthe tears of التشاكِيshared lament فيupon خُدودِthe cheeks of الكواعبِyoung maidens
دموعَ التشاكِي في خُدودِ الكواعبِ
While the rain’s outpouring traced along its sides
it shows you the rain's spittle along its sides
The tears of complaint upon maidens’ cheeks—
as tears of shared lament upon young maidens' cheeks—
بأعبقَmore fragrant منthan أخلاقهِhis virtues الغُرِّthe radiant إنهاthey indeed are
بأعبقَ من أخلاقهِ الغُرِّ إنها
لطائِمُperfume-laden caravans فضَّتْهاbroke them open أكفُّthe hands of النواهبِplunderers
لطائِمُ فضَّتْها أكفُّ النواهبِ
Could be more wondrous than his radiant virtues: they are
is more fragrant than his radiant virtues; they are
Spice-laden caravans whose perfume fills the plunderers’ hands.
perfume-laden caravans broken open by plunderers' hands.
إِذاwhen عُدَّis counted منamong صُيَّابةِthe choicest of الفُرْسِthe Persians رهطُهhis clan
إِذا عُدَّ من صُيَّابةِ الفُرْسِ رهطُه
أقرَّتْacknowledged لعلياهُhis lofty rank لُؤَيُّLu'ayy بنُibn غالبِGhalib
أقرَّتْ لعلياهُ لُؤَيُّ بنُ غالبِ
If his kinsmen are numbered among the pure stock of Persia,
When his clan is counted among Persia's choicest men,
Luʾayy ibn Ghālib concedes the height of his glory.
Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib acknowledges his lofty rank.
وأبيضَand a gleaming blade لولاwere it not for الماءُthe water فيwithin جَنَباتِهits sides
وأبيضَ لولا الماءُ في جَنَباتِه
تَلَسَّنُflares in tongues فيupon خدَّيهits two cheeks نارthe fire of الحَباحِبِflint-sparks
تَلَسَّنُ في خدَّيه نار الحَباحِبِ
And a white blade—were it not for the water along its flanks,
And a gleaming sword—were it not for the water within its sides,
Firefly flames would speak in tongues upon its cheeks.
spark-fire would flare in tongues upon its cheeks.
أضرَّwore down بهit حُبُّlove of الجَماجمِskulls والطُّلَىand necks
أضرَّ به حُبُّ الجَماجمِ والطُّلَى
فغادَرهُand left it نِضواًwasted نحيلَthin المضاربِat the striking edges
فغادَرهُ نِضواً نحيلَ المضاربِ
The domes of skulls and the edges of swords have worn it down,
Love of skulls and necks has worn it down,
Leaving it emaciated, slender at its striking edges.
leaving it wasted, thin along its striking edges.
يَوَدُّwish سِباعُthe predators among الوحشwild beasts والطيرِand birds أنّهthat it
يَوَدُّ سِباعُ الوحش والطيرِ أنّه
يُفَدَّىbe ransomed بأنيابٍwith fangs لهاof theirs ومخالبِand talons
يُفَدَّى بأنيابٍ لها ومخالبِ
Beasts of prey and birds alike wish
The beasts and birds of prey wish that it
They could ransom it with their fangs and claws.
could be ransomed with their fangs and talons.
ينافسُit vies with فيin يُمنَىthe right one of يديهhis two hands يراعةًa reed-pen
ينافسُ في يُمنَى يديه يراعةً
مُرَوَّضةَdisciplined الآثارstrokes ريَّاwell-watered المساحبِtrails
مُرَوَّضةَ الآثار ريَّا المساحبِ
The reed pen in his right hand vies with it,
It vies in his right hand with a reed-pen,
Trained in its traces, rain-filled in its flowing strokes.
with disciplined strokes and well-watered trails.
إِذاwhen التفعتْwraps itself بالليلin night غرَّةُthe white blaze of صُبْحِهhis dawn
إِذا التفعتْ بالليل غرَّةُ صُبْحِه
جرىfollowed سنُّهُhis sharp point مجراهُماthe course of both بالعجائبِwith wonders
جرى سنُّهُ مجراهُما بالعجائبِ
When night wraps itself around the brightness of his dawn,
When the white blaze of his dawn wraps itself in night,
Its point follows their two courses, working wonders.
his sharp point follows the course of both, working wonders.
عزائمهُhis resolves فيin الخَطْبِcrisis عُقْلُhobbles for شواردٍstrays
عزائمهُ في الخَطْبِ عُقْلُ شواردٍ
وآراؤهand his counsels فيin الحربwar خُطمُhalters for مصاعبِunruly mounts
وآراؤه في الحرب خُطمُ مصاعبِ
In crises his resolves are reason itself, driving all before it;
His resolves in crisis are hobbles for strays,
In war his foresight bridles the hardest trials.
and his counsels in war are halters for unruly mounts.
إِذاwhen صالَhe charges روَّىhe slakes السُّمْرَthe brown spears غيرَwithout مراقبٍfearful caution
إِذا صالَ روَّى السُّمْرَ غيرَ مراقبٍ
وإنْand if قالhe speaks أمضَىhe enforces الحُكْمَjudgment غيرَwithout مُواربِevasion
وإنْ قال أمضَى الحُكْمَ غيرَ مُواربِ
When he charges, he waters the brown lances without heed;
When he charges, he slakes the brown spears, fearing no one,
When he speaks, he executes judgment without evasion.
and when he speaks, he enforces judgment without evasion.
ملقّيone who brings against صدورthe breasts of الخيلِhorses كلَّevery مرشَّةٍspraying torrent
ملقّي صدور الخيلِ كلَّ مرشَّةٍ
مهوَّرةِcrumbling الجُرْفينِon both banks شَهْقَىtowering الحوالبِtributaries
مهوَّرةِ الجُرْفينِ شَهْقَى الحوالبِ
He hurls the breasts of his horses into every seething danger,
He brings horses' breasts against every spraying torrent,
Into deep-banked chasms where the pale steeds cry aloud.
with crumbling banks and towering tributaries;
وقائدهاand their leader جُرداًsleek-coated عناجيجَnoble steeds طوَّحتْthey flung
وقائدها جُرداً عناجيجَ طوَّحتْ
أعنَّتَهاtheir reins مستهلكاتِwasted الحَقائبِin the haunches
أعنَّتَها مستهلكاتِ الحَقائبِ
Its vanguard is a bare, gaunt mare that flings away
and leads them, sleek, noble steeds that fling
Her reins, while the saddlebags are consumed behind her.
their reins abroad, their haunches worn lean.
إِذاwhen ضاقَnarrows ماthe space بينbetween الحسامينِthe two keen blades لمnot يزلْceases
إِذا ضاقَ ما بين الحسامينِ لم يزلْ
يجولُhe wheels مجالَwith the movement of العِقْدِa necklace فوقَabove الترائبِthe breastbones
يجولُ مجالَ العِقْدِ فوقَ الترائبِ
When the space between two swords grows narrow, he never ceases
When the space between two keen blades narrows, he keeps
To range like a high-flying hawk above men’s breasts.
wheeling as a necklace swings above the breastbones.
يشُنُّpours عليهاupon them الركضُgalloping وبلَa downpour of حميمهاtheir hot sweat
يشُنُّ عليها الركضُ وبلَ حميمها
إذاwhen غيَّمتْthey form clouds بالعِثْيَرِwith dust المتراكبِlayered
إذا غيَّمتْ بالعِثْيَرِ المتراكبِ
He showers the foe with the charge, its feverish downpour falling
Galloping rains their hot sweat upon them
Whenever the piled dust-cloud darkens overhead.
when they cloud the air with layered dust.
يقرِّطُهاgives them earrings مثنَىdoubled الأعنَّةreins حازمٌa resolute man
يقرِّطُها مثنَى الأعنَّة حازمٌ
ألَدُّunyielding جميعُcollected الرأيin judgment شتَّىdiverse المذاهبِin approaches
ألَدُّ جميعُ الرأي شتَّى المذاهبِ
Resolutely he adorns it with doubled reins,
A resolute man gives them doubled reins for earrings,
Relishing every counsel, however diverse its paths.
unyielding, collected in judgment, many-sided in strategy.
يقدِّمُهاhe leads them forward والجدُّand fortune يَضمنُguarantees أنهthat he
يقدِّمُها والجدُّ يَضمنُ أنه
متىwhenever ماever التقَىmeet الزحفانِthe two armies أوّلُthe first غالبِvictor
متى ما التقَى الزحفانِ أوّلُ غالبِ
He drives it onward while Fortune guarantees
He leads them forward, and fortune guarantees that he,
That whenever two armies meet, he will be first to conquer.
whenever the two armies meet, is the first to prevail.
رمىhe cast بنواصِيهاtheir forelocks into الفراتَthe Euphrates فأقبلتْand they advanced
رمى بنواصِيها الفراتَ فأقبلتْ
مُغَيَّبَةَsubmerged الأعطافِflanks تُلعَraised high المناكِبِshoulders
مُغَيَّبَةَ الأعطافِ تُلعَ المناكِبِ
He cast its forelocks into the Euphrates, and it advanced,
He cast their forelocks into the Euphrates, and they advanced,
Proud in its carriage, towering at the shoulders.
their flanks submerged, their shoulders raised high.
وخاضَand he crossed بهاwith them جيحانَJayhan يلطمslapping مَوْجَهُits waves
وخاضَ بها جيحانَ يلطم مَوْجَهُ
ملاطمةَtrading blows with الخصمthe foe الألدِّthe obstinate المشاغبِthe quarrelsome
ملاطمةَ الخصم الألدِّ المشاغبِ
He drove it through Jayḥān, whose waves struck at it
He crossed Jayhan with them, slapping its waves
Like a stubborn and contentious adversary.
as one trades blows with an obstinate, quarrelsome foe.
خميسٌan army أقاصيthe farthest reaches of الشرقِthe east تُرزمgroan تحتهbeneath it
خميسٌ أقاصي الشرقِ تُرزم تحته
وترتَجُّand tremble منهfrom it أُخرياتُthe remotest reaches of المغاربِthe western lands
وترتَجُّ منه أُخرياتُ المغاربِ
An army beneath which the farthest East resounds,
An army beneath which the farthest East groans,
And from which the distant regions of the West tremble.
and from which the remotest West trembles.
إِذاwhen خاضَit wades بحراًa sea لمnot يُبقِّleave صدورُهُits front ranks
إِذا خاضَ بحراً لم يُبقِّ صدورُهُ
لإعجازهِfor its rear ranks فيin البحرthe sea نُغْبَةَa mouthful for شاربِa drinker
لإعجازهِ في البحر نُغْبَةَ شاربِ
If it wades into a sea, its foremost ranks leave nothing
When it wades a sea, its front ranks leave not
For those behind except a drinker’s mouthful.
a drinker's mouthful in that sea for its rear ranks.
وإنand if رامَit seeks بَرَّاًdry land لمnot يدعْleave سَرَعانُهits swift vanguard
وإن رامَ بَرَّاً لم يدعْ سَرَعانُه
لساقتهِfor its rearguard فيon البَّرِdry land موقفَa standing-place for راكبِa rider
لساقتهِ في البَّرِ موقفَ راكبِ
If it takes to land, its racing vanguard leaves
And when it seeks dry land, its swift vanguard leaves no
For its rearguard only the space where a rider stood.
standing-place for a rider on that land for its rearguard.
أرادتْsought وفودُthe delegations of الريحِwind والقَطْرِand rain حصرَهُto reckon it
أرادتْ وفودُ الريحِ والقَطْرِ حصرَهُ
فمنsome being ذارعٍa measurer لاnot يستطيعُable وحاسبِand a counter
فمن ذارعٍ لا يستطيعُ وحاسبِ
The delegations of wind and rain sought to encompass it,
The wind's and rain's delegations sought to reckon it,
But neither measurer nor reckoner could contain it.
some measuring, unable to finish, and others counting.
فماso not حسبتهcounted it القَطرُthe rains غيرَexcept while غوالبٍoverwhelming
فما حسبته القَطرُ غيرَ غوالبٍ
ولاand not ذرعتهُmeasured it الهُوجُheadlong winds غيرَexcept while لواغبِweary
ولا ذرعتهُ الهُوجُ غيرَ لواغبِ
The rain could count it only among things beyond its reckoning,
The rains counted it only in overwhelming torrents,
And the raging winds could measure it only by growing weary.
and headlong winds measured it only in exhaustion.
يروعُterrifies بهwith it الأعداءَthe foes أروعُan awe-inspiring man سيفُهُhis sword
يروعُ به الأعداءَ أروعُ سيفُهُ
يُراوحُalternates ماwhat lies بينَbetween الطُّلَىnecks والعَراقبِand hamstrings
يُراوحُ ما بينَ الطُّلَى والعَراقبِ
With it he terrifies the enemy—the splendid man whose sword
With it, an awe-inspiring man terrifies his foes; his sword
Moves back and forth between necks and heels.
alternates between necks and hamstrings.
يفُلُّهُمُhe breaks them بالرَّوْعِwith dread قبلَbefore طِرادِهمْcharging them
يفُلُّهُمُ بالرَّوْعِ قبلَ طِرادِهمْ
ويَهزِمهُمْand routs them بالكُتْبِwith letters قبلَbefore الكتائبِbattalions
ويَهزِمهُمْ بالكُتْبِ قبلَ الكتائبِ
He burdens them with terror before the pursuit begins,
He breaks them with dread before charging them,
And defeats them with written commands before the battalions.
and routs them with letters before battalions.
رآنِيَhe saw me والأيامُwhile the days تَحرِقُgnash نابَهاtheir fang
رآنِيَ والأيامُ تَحرِقُ نابَها
فأنقذَand saved شِلْوِيmy torn body منfrom نُيُوبِthe fangs of النوائبِcalamities
فأنقذَ شِلْوِي من نُيُوبِ النوائبِ
He saw me while the days were baring their burning fang,
He saw me while the days were gnashing their fang,
And rescued one grown frail beneath the downpour of calamities.
and saved my torn body from calamities' fangs.
وأعلقَنِيand made me cling to الحبلَthe rope المتينَthe firm وطالماthough often
وأعلقَنِي الحبلَ المتينَ وطالما
تقطَّعَhad snapped حَبْليmy rope فيin أكُفِّthe hands of الجواذِبِthose pulling
تقطَّعَ حَبْلي في أكُفِّ الجواذِبِ
He fastened me to the strong, unbreakable rope, though long
And he gave me the firm rope to cling to, though often
Had all my cords been severed in the hands of adversity.
my rope had snapped in the hands that pulled it.
وأبصرand he saw ماwhat فَوَّتْنَthey had cost نفسيme myself وأُسرتِيand my family
وأبصر ما فَوَّتْنَ نفسي وأُسرتِي
فغرَّمَهاthen made them repay حتىeven دهورthe years of الشبائبِyouth
فغرَّمَها حتى دهور الشبائبِ
He perceived what I had lost—myself and my family—
And he saw what they had cost me and my family,
And made amends for it, even for long ages of affliction.
then made them repay it—even the years of youth.
Sol 6.1