مَعَwith الدَهرِTime ظُلمٌinjustice لَيسَdoes not يُقلِعُcease راتِبُهits persistence
مَعَ الدَهرِ ظُلمٌ لَيسَ يُقلِعُ راتِبُه
وَحُكمٌand a judgment أَبَتrefused إِلّاanything but اِعوِجاجاًcrookedness جَوانِبُهits sides
وَحُكمٌ أَبَت إِلّا اِعوِجاجاً جَوانِبُه
With Time comes an injustice whose persistence never relents,
and a judgment whose sides admit nothing but crookedness.
أَبيتُI spend the night وَلَيليand my night فيin نَصيبينَNisibis ساهِرٌsleepless
أَبيتُ وَلَيلي في نَصيبينَ ساهِرٌ
لِهَمٍّbecause of a care عَنانيafflicted me فيin نَصيبينَNisibis ناصِبُهits torment
لِهَمٍّ عَناني في نَصيبينَ ناصِبُه
I pass the night, my night in Nisibis sleepless,
because of a care whose torment has beset me in Nisibis.
وَإِنَّand indeed اِغتِرابَliving abroad المَرءِa man فيfor غَيرِother than بُغيَةٍan aim
وَإِنَّ اِغتِرابَ المَرءِ في غَيرِ بُغيَةٍ
يُطالِبُهاhe pursues it مِنamong حَيفِthe injustice of دَهرٍTime يُطالِبُهpursuing him
يُطالِبُها مِن حَيفِ دَهرٍ يُطالِبُه
And indeed, a man's living abroad without an aim
he pursues is among the wrongs of Time that pursues him.
فَلَيسَso he is not بِمَعذورٍexcused إِذاwhen رَدَّturned back سِربَهُhis course
فَلَيسَ بِمَعذورٍ إِذا رَدَّ سِربَهُ
إِلَيهِto himself بِأَنbecause تَعياfail عَلَيهِfor him مَذاهِبُهhis paths
إِلَيهِ بِأَن تَعيا عَلَيهِ مَذاهِبُه
So he has no excuse when he turns his course
back to himself because his paths have failed him.
وَيُعطيهِand gives him مَرجُوَّthe hoped-for العَواقِبِoutcomes مُسرِعاًswiftly
وَيُعطيهِ مَرجُوَّ العَواقِبِ مُسرِعاً
إِلَيهِto him رُكوبُundertaking الأَمرِan affair تُخشىare feared عَواقِبُهits consequences
إِلَيهِ رُكوبُ الأَمرِ تُخشى عَواقِبُه
And the hoped-for outcomes are swiftly brought
to him by undertaking an affair whose consequences are feared.
وَماand never خِلتُنيI imagined myself وَالحادِثاتُand calamities مِنَof الحَصىpebbles
وَما خِلتُني وَالحادِثاتُ مِنَ الحَصى
أُخَيَّبُI am denied مِنof ماليmy wealth وَيَغنَمُand profits ناهِبُهits plunderer
أُخَيَّبُ مِن مالي وَيَغنَمُ ناهِبُه
Nor did I imagine myself, amid calamities numerous as pebbles,
denied my wealth while its plunderer profited.
فَلَوfor if أَنَّهُit were قِرنٌan adversary تُرادىis pelted صَفاتُهُhis rock
فَلَو أَنَّهُ قِرنٌ تُرادى صَفاتُهُ
لَأَحرَزتُI would surely secure حَظّيmy share أَوor كَفِيُّa match for me أُغالِبُهI contend with him
لَأَحرَزتُ حَظّي أَو كَفِيُّ أُغالِبُه
For if it were a rival whose rock could be battered,
or an equal I could fight, I would secure my share.
أُرَجّيI hope وَماbut what نَفعُuse الرَجاءِhope إِذاwhen اِلتَقَتmeet
أُرَجّي وَما نَفعُ الرَجاءِ إِذا اِلتَقَت
مَناحِسُill omens أَمرٍan affair مُجحِفٍruinous وَمَعاطِبُهand its deadly perils
مَناحِسُ أَمرٍ مُجحِفٍ وَمَعاطِبُه
I hope—but what use is hope when there meet
the ill omens of a ruinous affair and its deadly perils?
وَمِمّاand among what يُعَنّيwearies النَفسَthe soul كُلَّall عَنائِهاits suffering
وَمِمّا يُعَنّي النَفسَ كُلَّ عَنائِها
تَوَقُّعُهاits expectation الصُنعَfavor البَطيءَslow تَقارُبُهits approach
تَوَقُّعُها الصُنعَ البَطيءَ تَقارُبُه
Among the things that weary the soul to its utmost
is its expecting a favor slow to draw near.
إِذاwhen لاقَتِit meets الضَرّاءَadversity طالَgrows long عَذابُهاits torment
إِذا لاقَتِ الضَرّاءَ طالَ عَذابُها
لِمُنتَظِرِfor one awaiting السَرّاءِprosperity مِمّاamong what تُراقِبُهit watches for
لِمُنتَظِرِ السَرّاءِ مِمّا تُراقِبُه
When it meets adversity, its torment lasts long,
for one awaiting the prosperity it watches for.
وَماand no مَلِكٌking يُخشىis feared عَلىfor كَسبِthe earnings of شاعِرٍa poet
وَما مَلِكٌ يُخشى عَلى كَسبِ شاعِرٍ
بِمُرضِيَةٍpleasing عِندَamong المُلوكِkings مَكاسِبُهhis gains
بِمُرضِيَةٍ عِندَ المُلوكِ مَكاسِبُه
No king feared for a poet's earnings
has gains that find favor with kings.
لَعَلَّperhaps وَلِيَّthe heir to العَهدِthe succession يَأخُذُsecures قادِراًbeing able
لَعَلَّ وَلِيَّ العَهدِ يَأخُذُ قادِراً
بِحَقِّfor the right of مُعَنّاًan afflicted man مُكدَياتٍfruitless مَطالِبُهhis claims
بِحَقِّ مُعَنّاً مُكدَياتٍ مَطالِبُه
Perhaps the crown prince, with his power, will secure
the right of a harried man whose claims bear no fruit.
فَإِنَّfor indeed الَّذيthe one whose بَينَbetween المَدائِنِal-Mada'in قاطِعاًtraversing
فَإِنَّ الَّذي بَينَ المَدائِنِ قاطِعاً
إِلىto الصينِChina عَرضاًacross سَيبُهُhis bounty وَمَواهِبُهand his gifts
إِلى الصينِ عَرضاً سَيبُهُ وَمَواهِبُه
For he whose bounty traverses the distance from al-Mada'in
to China, stretching wide, together with his gifts—
فَلاso no أَرضَland إِلّاexcept ماwhat أَفاءَتwon back رِماحُهُhis spears
فَلا أَرضَ إِلّا ما أَفاءَت رِماحُهُ
وَلاand no غُنمَspoils إِلّاexcept ماwhat أَفافَتbrought in مَقانِبُهhis squadrons
وَلا غُنمَ إِلّا ما أَفافَت مَقانِبُه
has no land but what his spears have won back,
and no spoils but what his squadrons have brought in.
وَماand not كانَwas يَدريknowing صاحِبُthe lord of الزَنجِthe Zanj أَنَّهُthat he
وَما كانَ يَدري صاحِبُ الزَنجِ أَنَّهُ
إِذاwhen أَبطَرَتهُmade him arrogant غَفلَةُthe heedlessness of العَيشِliving صاحِبُهhis adversary
إِذا أَبطَرَتهُ غَفلَةُ العَيشِ صاحِبُه
The lord of the Zanj did not know that he
was his adversary when heedless living made him insolent.
أَقامَhe remained يُجاثيهِkneeling opposite him إِلىbefore اللَهِGod حِقبَةًfor a time
أَقامَ يُجاثيهِ إِلى اللَهِ حِقبَةً
وَكُلٌّand each تَوافىgathered لِلِّقاءِfor the encounter حَلائِبُهhis supporting forces
وَكُلٌّ تَوافى لِلِّقاءِ حَلائِبُه
He remained knee to knee with him before God for a time,
and each side's supporting forces gathered for the encounter.
وَكانَand was صَريعَfelled by الحَينِdoom جِبسٌa base wretch مُلَعَّنٌaccursed
وَكانَ صَريعَ الحَينِ جِبسٌ مُلَعَّنٌ
مَتىwhenever شاءَhe wished يَوماًone day قالَsaid ماwhatever شاءَhe wished عائِبُهhis detractor
مَتى شاءَ يَوماً قالَ ما شاءَ عائِبُه
And the man felled by doom was a base, accursed wretch,
whose detractor could say whatever he wished on any day he chose.
تَباعَدَhe grew distant مِنfrom شَكلِthe likeness of الأَنيسِhumankind بِقَسوَةٍthrough cruelty
تَباعَدَ مِن شَكلِ الأَنيسِ بِقَسوَةٍ
مُوَهَّمَةٍmaking one imagine أَنَّthat السِباعَwild beasts تُناسِبُهare his kin
مُوَهَّمَةٍ أَنَّ السِباعَ تُناسِبُه
He grew far removed from human likeness through a cruelty
that made one imagine the wild beasts were his kin.
وَماand not كادَتِundermined الأَيّامُthe days عُمراًa lifespan يُريثُهُkeeping him lingering
وَما كادَتِ الأَيّامُ عُمراً يُريثُهُ
وَلاnor الدَهرُTime يُبليwears out ماwhat أَجَدَّتrenewed عَجائِبُهits wonders
وَلا الدَهرُ يُبلي ما أَجَدَّت عَجائِبُه
The days did not undermine the lifespan that kept him lingering,
nor did Time wear away what its wonders had renewed.
وَلَمand never أَرَI saw كَالمَلعونِlike the accursed one أَقوىstronger ذَخيرَةًin reserves
وَلَم أَرَ كَالمَلعونِ أَقوى ذَخيرَةً
وَأَبقىand more enduring دَماًin blood وَالحادِثاتُand calamities تُجانِبُهavoid him
وَأَبقى دَماً وَالحادِثاتُ تُجانِبُه
I never saw anyone with stronger reserves than the accursed man,
or more enduring blood, while calamities avoided him.
إِذاwhenever قُلتُI said بيضُthe bright blades of المَشرَفِيَّةِthe Mashrafi swords أَهمَدَتextinguished
إِذا قُلتُ بيضُ المَشرَفِيَّةِ أَهمَدَت
حُشاشَتَهُhis last spark of life كَرَّتreturned تَثوبُcoming back ثَوائِبُهhis resurgent forces
حُشاشَتَهُ كَرَّت تَثوبُ ثَوائِبُه
Whenever I said, 'The bright Mashrafi blades have extinguished
his last spark of life,' his resurgent forces came back again.
يَبُثُّhe spreads المَناياdeaths وَالمَناياand deaths يَحُزنَهُsurround him
يَبُثُّ المَنايا وَالمَنايا يَحُزنَهُ
وَيَكرَبُand draws near مِنهُto him الحَتفُdeath وَالحَتفُand death كارِبُهclosing in on him
وَيَكرَبُ مِنهُ الحَتفُ وَالحَتفُ كارِبُه
He spreads death, while deaths surround him,
and death draws near him; death is closing in on him.
إِذاwhen اِزدادَhe increased شَغباًin turbulence كانَwas واليthe one charged with قِراعِهِfighting him
إِذا اِزدادَ شَغباً كانَ والي قِراعِهِ
مَلِيّاًfully capable لَهُagainst him بِالفَضلِwith superiority حينَwhen يُشاغِبُهhe challenges him
مَلِيّاً لَهُ بِالفَضلِ حينَ يُشاغِبُه
Whenever he grew more turbulent, the one charged with fighting him
was fully able to surpass him whenever he challenged him.
كَماjust as اللَيلُnight إِنif تَزدَدgrow لِعَينِكَto your eye ظُلمَةًin darkness
كَما اللَيلُ إِن تَزدَد لِعَينِكَ ظُلمَةً
حَنادِسُهُits pitch-black depths تَزدَدgrow ضِياءًin brightness كَواكِبُهits stars
حَنادِسُهُ تَزدَد ضِياءً كَواكِبُه
As with night: when darkness deepens to your eye
in its pitch-black depths, its stars grow brighter.
يَلوذُhe takes refuge بِهَورِin the lagoon of البَحرِthe sea فَالفَوزُso success عِندَهُfor him
يَلوذُ بِهَورِ البَحرِ فَالفَوزُ عِندَهُ
مِنَof الدَهرِTime يَومٌa day تَستَقِلُّmove off جَنائِبُهhis spare mounts
مِنَ الدَهرِ يَومٌ تَستَقِلُّ جَنائِبُه
He shelters in the sea's lagoon; for him, success
is a day in Time when his spare mounts can move off.
إِذاwhen اِنحازَhe withdraws يَنويintending البُعدَdistance حُثَّتare urged on وَراءَهُbehind him
إِذا اِنحازَ يَنوي البُعدَ حُثَّت وَراءَهُ
عِتاقُswift and fine الشَذاwar-boats بِالمُرهِفاتِwith sharpened blades تُصاقِبُهclose in on him
عِتاقُ الشَذا بِالمُرهِفاتِ تُصاقِبُه
When he withdraws, intent on distance, behind him are urged
swift war-boats, closing on him with sharpened blades.
إِذاwhen ماever (emphatic) تَلاقواthey meet حَضرَةَin the presence of المَوتِdeath لَمdo not تَرمِbudge
إِذا ما تَلاقوا حَضرَةَ المَوتِ لَم تَرمِ
كَتائِبُناour battalions حَتّىuntil تَطيحَfall كَتائِبُهhis battalions
كَتائِبُنا حَتّى تَطيحَ كَتائِبُه
When they meet in death's presence, they do not budge—
our battalions—until his battalions fall.
تَرىyou see واشِجَthe interwoven mass of الخِرصانِspears يَهتِكُtearing through بَينَهُمamong them
تَرى واشِجَ الخِرصانِ يَهتِكُ بَينَهُم
نُحورَthe throats of الأُسودِlions أَوor تُرَوّىare drenched ثَعالِبُهits spear-tangs ('foxes')
نُحورَ الأُسودِ أَو تُرَوّى ثَعالِبُه
You see the interwoven spears tearing among them
the lions' throats, or their 'foxes' being drenched.
فَإِنso if لاnot تَشِفَّbe visible العَينُthe eye لِلعَينِto the eye أَكثَبَتdraw near
فَإِن لا تَشِفَّ العَينُ لِلعَينِ أَكثَبَت
مَسامِعُthe ears of مَدعوٍّone summoned لِداعٍto a caller يُجاوِبُهhe answers him
مَسامِعُ مَدعوٍّ لِداعٍ يُجاوِبُه
If one eye cannot be seen by another, close enough come
the ears of one summoned to the caller he answers.
تَنَزّىleap قَلوبُthe hearts of السامِعينَthe listeners تَطَلُّعاًwith eagerness
تَنَزّى قَلوبُ السامِعينَ تَطَلُّعاً
إِلىfor خَبَرٍnews مُستَوقَفاتٍmade to stop رَكائِبُهits mounts
إِلى خَبَرٍ مُستَوقَفاتٍ رَكائِبُه
The listeners' hearts leap with eagerness
for news whose mounts are made to halt.
يُغالِبُoverpowers طَعمَthe taste of الماءِwater فيat مُلتَقاهُمُtheir meeting-place
يُغالِبُ طَعمَ الماءِ في مُلتَقاهُمُ
حُسىdraughts of الدَمِblood حَتّىuntil يَلفِظَspits out الماءَthe water شارِبُهits drinker
حُسى الدَمِ حَتّى يَلفِظَ الماءَ شارِبُه
The taste of water where they meet is overpowered
by draughts of blood, until the drinker spits the water out.
كَأَنَّas though الرَدىdeath يُسقىis given to drink المُضَلَّلُthe misguided man صِرفَهُits unmixed draught
كَأَنَّ الرَدى يُسقى المُضَلَّلُ صِرفَهُ
مِنَfrom السَيفِthe sword دَينٌa debt أَرهَقَmade urgent الوَقتُthe time واجِبُهits due payment
مِنَ السَيفِ دَينٌ أَرهَقَ الوَقتُ واجِبُه
As though death, which the misguided man is served unmixed
from the sword, were a debt whose payment the hour had made urgent.
إِذاwhen أَتبَعَfollowed الرُمحُthe spear المُرَكَّبُmounted رَأسَهُhis head
إِذا أَتبَعَ الرُمحُ المُرَكَّبُ رَأسَهُ
عَلَيهِupon it بِلَعنٍwith a curse قُلتَyou said إِنَّyes وَراكِبُهand its rider
عَلَيهِ بِلَعنٍ قُلتَ إِنَّ وَراكِبُه
When a curse follows the spear with his head mounted
upon it, you say, 'Yes—and its rider too!'
وَلَمand not يُلفَwas found عُضوٌa limb مِنهُof his إِلّاexcept ضَريبَةًa target
وَلَم يُلفَ عُضوٌ مِنهُ إِلّا ضَريبَةً
لِأَبيَضَfor a bright sword ماثورٍpatterned تُهابُare feared مَضارِبُهits strokes
لِأَبيَضَ ماثورٍ تُهابُ مَضارِبُه
No limb of his was found except as a target
for a bright, patterned sword whose strokes are feared.
وَكانَand would be شِفاءًa cure صَلبُهُhis gibbeting لَوif تَأَلَّفَتcame together
وَكانَ شِفاءً صَلبُهُ لَو تَأَلَّفَت
لَهُfor him جِثَّةٌa body يُرضيpleases بِهاwith it العَينَthe eye صالِبُهthe man who gibbets him
لَهُ جِثَّةٌ يُرضي بِها العَينَ صالِبُه
His gibbeting would have been a cure, had there been assembled
a body for him with which the man gibbeting him could please the eye.
تَعَجَّلَhurried away عَنهُfrom him رَأسُهُhis head وَتَخَلَّفَتand remained behind
تَعَجَّلَ عَنهُ رَأسُهُ وَتَخَلَّفَت
لِطَيَّتِهاfor their destination أَوصالُهُhis limbs وَمَناكِبُهand his shoulders
لِطَيَّتِها أَوصالُهُ وَمَناكِبُه
His head hurried away from him, while behind remained
his limbs and shoulders, left to their own destination.
فَأَصبَحَso he became مَنصوباًraised on display عَلىabove الناسِthe people يُفتَدىis ransomed
فَأَصبَحَ مَنصوباً عَلى الناسِ يُفتَدى
بِآباءِwith the fathers of مَنthose whom أَوفىtowered عَلىover الناسِthe people ناصِبُهthe man who raised him
بِآباءِ مَن أَوفى عَلى الناسِ ناصِبُه
Thus he stood displayed above the people, his raiser being ransomed
with the fathers of those over whom he towered.
يُجاهِمُhe scowls at رائيهِthose who see him بِإِطراقِwith the downcast look of عابِسٍone scowling
يُجاهِمُ رائيهِ بِإِطراقِ عابِسٍ
شَهِيِّpleasing إِلَيهِمto them سُخطُهُhis displeasure وَتَغاضُبُهand his feigned anger
شَهِيِّ إِلَيهِم سُخطُهُ وَتَغاضُبُه
He meets his viewers with a downcast, scowling face,
his displeasure and show of anger delightful to them.
يُنَكِّبُhe turns aside فيin إِشرافِهِhis elevation وَهوَwhile he is آزِمٌclenching his jaws
يُنَكِّبُ في إِشرافِهِ وَهوَ آزِمٌ
أُزومَwith the jaw-clenching of الخَليعِthe profligate اِزوَرَّturned away عَمَّنfrom whoever يُعاتِبُهreproaches him
أُزومَ الخَليعِ اِزوَرَّ عَمَّن يُعاتِبُه
He turns aside upon his height, clenching his jaws,
as a profligate does, turning from the man who reproves him.
فَلَمso no longer يَبقَremained فيin الآفاقِthe horizons خالِعُone casting off رِبقَةٍa bond
فَلَم يَبقَ في الآفاقِ خالِعُ رِبقَةٍ
مِنَof الدينِreligion إِلّاexcept فادِحاتٌcrushing مَصائِبُهhis calamities
مِنَ الدينِ إِلّا فادِحاتٌ مَصائِبُه
No one remained throughout the world who had cast off the bond
of religion without crushing calamities befalling him.
جَبابِرَةُthe tyrants of الأَرضِthe earth اِستَكانَتsubmitted لِضَربَةِto a blow
جَبابِرَةُ الأَرضِ اِستَكانَت لِضَربَةِ
أَرَتshowed قَيِّمَthe guardian of النَهجِthe path الَّذيwhat ذاقَtasted ناكِبُهthe one straying from it
أَرَت قَيِّمَ النَهجِ الَّذي ذاقَ ناكِبُه
The tyrants of the earth submitted to a blow
that showed the path's guardian what the one who strayed from it had tasted.
وَكانَand there was عَلىupon أَشرافِthe heights of كُلِّevery ثَنِيَّةٍmountain pass
وَكانَ عَلى أَشرافِ كُلِّ ثَنِيَّةٍ
سَناthe blaze of فِتنَةٍsedition يَدعوcalling إِلىto الغَيِّerror ثاقِبُهits piercing light
سَنا فِتنَةٍ يَدعو إِلى الغَيِّ ثاقِبُه
At the heights of every mountain pass there had been
the blaze of sedition, its piercing light calling to error.
فَعادَso returned بَنوthe sons of العَبّاسِal-Abbas عَمِّthe uncle of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
فَعادَ بَنو العَبّاسِ عَمِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَشاهِدُand the visible part of عِزِّthe glory of الناسِpeople فيهِمamong them وَغائِبُهand its hidden part
وَشاهِدُ عِزِّ الناسِ فيهِم وَغائِبُه
Thus the sons of al-Abbas, Muhammad's uncle, returned,
with people's glory, seen and unseen, gathered among them,
يَبيتونَthey spend the night وَالسُلطانُand sovereign power شاكٍfully armed سِلاحُهُits weapons
يَبيتونَ وَالسُلطانُ شاكٍ سِلاحُهُ
بِعَقوَتِهِمwithin their precinct وَالمَوتُand Death سودٌblack ذَوائِبُهits forelocks
بِعَقوَتِهِم وَالمَوتُ سودٌ ذَوائِبُه
to passing their nights with sovereign power fully armed
within their precinct, and Death's forelocks black.
فَياso O ناصِرَdefender of الإِسلامِIslam لَوif only أَنَّthat ناصِراًa defender
فَيا ناصِرَ الإِسلامِ لَو أَنَّ ناصِراً
يُرافِدُهُwould assist him فيin حِفظِهِguarding it وَيُناوِبُهand take turns with him
يُرافِدُهُ في حِفظِهِ وَيُناوِبُه
So, O defender of Islam, if only there were another defender
to help him safeguard it and relieve him in turn!
كَفَيتَyou sufficed for أَميرَthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful وَقَبلَهاand before that
كَفَيتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَقَبلَها
كَفَيتَyou spared أَخاهُhis brother الصَدعَthe rift يُعوِزُis lacking شاعِبُهits mender
كَفَيتَ أَخاهُ الصَدعَ يُعوِزُ شاعِبُه
You relieved the Commander of the Faithful, and before that
relieved his brother of a breach whose mender could not be found.
وَماand never زِلتَyou ceased مَندوباًsummoned لِرَأسِagainst a leader of ضَلالَةٍerror
وَما زِلتَ مَندوباً لِرَأسِ ضَلالَةٍ
تُناصيهِyou grapple with him أَوor مَنحولِfalsely credited with مُلكٍkingship تُحارِبُهyou fight him
تُناصيهِ أَو مَنحولِ مُلكٍ تُحارِبُه
You have always been summoned against a leader of error
whose forelock you seize, or a falsely styled king whom you fight.
أَخَذتَyou exacted بِوِترِvengeance for الدينِreligion مَثنىtwice وَظُفِّرَتand were made victorious
أَخَذتَ بِوِترِ الدينِ مَثنى وَظُفِّرَت
يَداكَyour two hands فَلَمand did not يُفلِتescape عَدُوٌّan enemy تُطالِبُهyou pursue him
يَداكَ فَلَم يُفلِت عَدُوٌّ تُطالِبُه
You twice avenged religion's wrongs, and victory was granted
to your hands; no enemy you pursued escaped.
وَقَدand sometimes يُحرَمُis denied المَوتورُthe wronged man إِمّاeither تَعَزَّزَتgrew strong
وَقَد يُحرَمُ المَوتورُ إِمّا تَعَزَّزَت
عِداهُhis foes وَإِمّاor else فاتَescaped فيacross الأَرضِthe land هارِبُهhis fugitive
عِداهُ وَإِمّا فاتَ في الأَرضِ هارِبُه
A wronged man may be denied vengeance, either through the strength
of his foes, or because his fugitive escapes across the land.
مَشارِقُthe eastern reaches of مُلكٍa kingdom صَحَّbecame sound بِالسَيفِby the sword قُطرُهاtheir territory
مَشارِقُ مُلكٍ صَحَّ بِالسَيفِ قُطرُها
فَلَمso did not يَبقَremain إِلّاexcept أَنthat تَصِحَّbe made sound مَغارِبُهits western reaches
فَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا أَن تَصِحَّ مَغارِبُه
A kingdom's eastern reaches have been set right by the sword;
nothing remains but for its western reaches to be set right.
وَإِنَّand indeed أَباAbu العَبّاسِal-Abbas مَنone whose تَمَّwas perfected رَأيُهُhis judgment
وَإِنَّ أَبا العَبّاسِ مَن تَمَّ رَأيُهُ
وَمَنand one whose شُهِرَتbecame renowned أَيّامُهُhis days وَمَناقِبُهand his virtues
وَمَن شُهِرَت أَيّامُهُ وَمَناقِبُه
And indeed Abu al-Abbas is one whose judgment is mature,
and whose days and virtues are renowned.
يُريناكَhe shows you to us لاnot نَرتابُwe doubt فيكَabout you إِذاwhen بَداhe appears
يُريناكَ لا نَرتابُ فيكَ إِذا بَدا
يُؤَدّيكَreproduces you نَصّاًexactly نَجرُهُhis lineage وَضَرائِبُهand his dispositions
يُؤَدّيكَ نَصّاً نَجرُهُ وَضَرائِبُه
He shows us you; when he appears, we cannot doubt it is you;
his lineage and dispositions reproduce you to the letter.
وَقَدand indeed شَحَذَتhoned مِنهُin him حَداثَةَthe youthfulness of سِنِّهِhis age
وَقَد شَحَذَت مِنهُ حَداثَةَ سِنِّهِ
شَهامَةُthe mettle of غِطريفٍa noble young lord حِدادٍsharp مَخالِبُهhis talons
شَهامَةُ غِطريفٍ حِدادٍ مَخالِبُه
The youthfulness of his years has been honed
by the mettle of a noble young lord whose talons are sharp.
إِذاif المَرءُa man لَمdoes not تَبدَهكَmeet you at once بِالحَزمِwith resolve كُلِّهِall of it
إِذا المَرءُ لَم تَبدَهكَ بِالحَزمِ كُلِّهِ
قَريحَتُهُhis native wit لَمdo not تُغنِavail عَنكَfor you تَجارِبُهhis experiences
قَريحَتُهُ لَم تُغنِ عَنكَ تَجارِبُه
If a man does not respond to you at once with complete resolve
through his native wit, his experience will do you no good.
Sol 6.1