أسَيْفٌis it a sword? سُلَّdrawn أمْor ذَرِبٌkeen-tongued نطوقeloquent
أسَيْفٌ سُلَّ أمْ ذَرِبٌ نطوق
ونارُand the fire أبيof Abu المُهَنَّدِal-Muhannad أمْor بُروقُlightning flashes
ونارُ أبي المُهَنَّدِ أمْ بُروقُ
Is it a drawn sword, or a keen-tongued speaker?
Is it a sword unsheathed or lightning flashing bright?
And is it Abu al-Muhannad’s fire, or flashes of lightning?
Or is it Abu Al-Muhannad's fire ablaze with light?
تألَّقَتِsparkled المَدائِحُthe praises والعَطاياand the gifts
تألَّقَتِ المَدائِحُ والعَطايا
فكلٌّso each فيin الفَخارِglory لهُfor it شُروقُa sunrise
فكلٌّ في الفَخارِ لهُ شُروقُ
Praises and gifts have sparkled,
Eulogies and gifts all gleam and shine,
so each has its own sunrise in glory.
Each like the dawn radiating from its niche.
نطْقتُI spoke فأفْحمَand silenced الفُصحاءَthe eloquent speakers شعريmy poetry
نطْقتُ فأفْحمَ الفُصحاءَ شعري
وجادَand he gave generously فَدونهُso beneath him الغْيثُthe rain الدَّفوقُpouring abundantly
وجادَ فَدونهُ الغْيثُ الدَّفوقُ
I spoke, and my poetry silenced the eloquent;
My poetry astounded eloquent men when recited,
he gave lavishly, and torrential rain fell short of him.
And freely flowed the plenteous, gushing rain.
لقدindeed سعدتْwas blessed زُهيْرٌZuhayr منْof تميمٍTamim
لقد سعدتْ زُهيْرٌ منْ تميمٍ
وخيرُand the best سَعادةٍblessing حَمْدٌpraise يَروقُthat delights
وخيرُ سَعادةٍ حَمْدٌ يَروقُ
Zuhayr of Tamim has indeed been blessed,
Zuheir was blessed, being of Tamim's line,
and the finest blessing is praise that delights.
And best of all blessings is praise men find fine.
بهنْديٍّthrough an Indian blade إِلىto مدْحيmy praise تَرقَّوْاthey ascended
بهنْديٍّ إِلى مدْحي تَرقَّوْا
وقدand indeed يُهْديfinds its way بخِرِّيتٍwith an expert guide فَريقُa company
وقد يُهْدي بخِرِّيتٍ فَريقُ
Through an Indian blade they rose to my praise;
With Indian blades to eulogize me they aspired,
a company may indeed find its way with an expert guide.
Though some may be gifted a sword of steel so fine.
بسهْلِthrough one gentle of الوجهcountenance صعْبfierce in البأسbattle جلْدٍsteadfast
بسهْلِ الوجه صعْب البأس جلْدٍ
علىagainst الحَدثانِfortune’s ordeals يحْمدهُpraises him الرَّفيقُthe companion
على الحَدثانِ يحْمدهُ الرَّفيقُ
Through one gentle of countenance, fierce in battle, steadfast
Gentle of mien, fierce of might, brave and bold,
against fortune’s ordeals, whom his companion praises.
Among comrades is he whom youths extol.
يُحاذرfears بأسَهُhis might ونَدىand the bounty of يديهِhis two hands
يُحاذر بأسَهُ ونَدى يديهِ
كَميُّthe armored warrior of الرَّوْعbattle والمَحْلُand the drought العَروقwasting
كَميُّ الرَّوْع والمَحْلُ العَروق
His might and the bounty of his hands are feared
They fear his might and the flash of his hands
by the armored warrior in battle and the wasting drought.
Like the steed's ferocity and the blade that makes men howl.
فيشْقىso suffer الدارِthe armored (word fragment) عُونَmen (word fragment) بهthrough him صباحاًin the morning
فيشْقى الدارِ عُونَ به صباحاً
وكومٌand high-humped camels تحتbeneath جُنْحِthe wing of الليلِnight روقُlong-toothed
وكومٌ تحت جُنْحِ الليلِ روقُ
So armored men suffer through him by morning,
To bring gladness to his abode at dawn
and high-humped, long-toothed camels beneath night’s wing.
Is a heap of straw gathered in night's dark shoal.
تيَقَّنَتِbecame certain of الفَناءَdestruction عِدىًenemies واِبْلٌand camels
تيَقَّنَتِ الفَناءَ عِدىً واِبْلٌ
اذاwhenever يبدوappears لصارمهِfrom his keen sword بُروقُlightning flashes
اذا يبدو لصارمهِ بُروقُ
Enemies and camels are certain of destruction
Certainty of death the foe realized
whenever lightning flashes from his keen sword.
When his keen blade for them would dawn and shine.
كأنَّas though ضيوفَthe guests of فخرFakhr الدينِal-Din وُلْدٌchildren
كأنَّ ضيوفَ فخر الدينِ وُلْدٌ
يَضمُّهُمُembraces them أبٌa father بَرٌّkind شَفيقُcompassionate
يَضمُّهُمُ أبٌ بَرٌّ شَفيقُ
Fakhr al-Din’s guests are like children
As if Fakhr Al-Din's guests were his sons,
embraced by a kind, compassionate father.
Whom a righteous father, benign, would enfold.
يجوعُhe goes hungry وزادُهمْwhile their provisions are بُرٌّwheat وضَأنٌand sheep
يجوعُ وزادُهمْ بُرٌّ وضَأنٌ
ويعْرَوْريand he goes bare ولِبْسُهمُwhile their clothing is الرَّقيقُfine cloth
ويعْرَوْري ولِبْسُهمُ الرَّقيقُ
He goes hungry while their provisions are wheat and mutton,
He hungers while food for them is righteousness and lamb,
and goes bare while their clothing is fine cloth.
And he lightly clad while their garb is fine.
اذاwhen الليلُthe night اكفَهرَّgrew grim بطارقيهِupon its night travelers
اذا الليلُ اكفَهرَّ بطارقيهِ
تَبلَّجَshone forth منهُfrom it بَسَّامٌever-smiling طَليقُcheerful
تَبلَّجَ منهُ بَسَّامٌ طَليقُ
When night scowls upon its travelers,
When night was pitch black with its sneaking thieves,
a smiling, welcoming countenance shines through it.
A cheerful dawn from it would shine.
يُروِّيrefreshes القَيْلُthe midday draught أعْظمهمtheir bones لديهِat his home
يُروِّي القَيْلُ أعْظمهم لديهِ
ويْرْغِدهمْand comforts them صَبوحٌa morning draught أوor غَبوقُan evening draught
ويْرْغِدهمْ صَبوحٌ أو غَبوقُ
The midday draught refreshes their bones in his home,
The sayl refreshes the greatest among them,
and a morning or evening cup gives them ease.
Or a plenteous sabuħ would them entwine.
ويزدحمونand they throng عندat ذَراthe shelter of حِماهُhis protected domain
ويزدحمون عند ذَرا حِماهُ
كأنَّas though حَريمَthe private precinct of مَنْزلهِhis home طَريقُa road
كأنَّ حَريمَ مَنْزلهِ طَريقُ
They throng at the shelter of his protected domain,
They crowd together where his protection lies
as though his home’s private precinct were a public road.
As if the harem's path they tread and align.
وجيَّاشand a surging host الغوارof raids ذيpossessing زَهاءٍgreat numbers
وجيَّاش الغوار ذي زَهاءٍ
يضيقُbecomes cramped بجيشهِby its troops المَرْتُthe barren waste السَّحيقُfar-stretching
يضيقُ بجيشهِ المَرْتُ السَّحيقُ
And a surging raiding host, vast in number—
A mounted band of the Ghiyath's attack
its troops crowd the far-stretching barren waste.
So crammed the wide field would confine.
عُبابيٌّlike a billowing sea لباسُthe garment of الموتِdeath فيهwithin it
عُبابيٌّ لباسُ الموتِ فيه
لدىamong أبْطالهِits champions لُجٌّan ocean عَميقُdeep
لدى أبْطالهِ لُجٌّ عَميقُ
A billowing sea: within it, death’s garment
On his heroes garb of death is glory,
is a deep ocean amid its champions.
To meeting him they rush with design.
سَوابحُهits swimming steeds سَوابقُهits racing steeds ومنهُand from it
سَوابحُه سَوابقُه ومنهُ
عيونُfountains of دَمٍblood مَنابعُهاwhose sources are العُروقُthe veins
عيونُ دَمٍ مَنابعُها العُروقُ
Its swimming steeds are its racers; from it
His chargers, his advance guard, and his blood
spring fountains of blood whose sources are veins.
From their springs flow out in a line.
يَضيقُbecomes cramped القاعُthe plain منْby صفَّيْهِits two battle lines حتىuntil
يَضيقُ القاعُ منْ صفَّيْهِ حتى
تَشكَّىcomplained of طَرْدهُits onrush رَعْنٌa mountain spur ونيقُand a peak
تَشكَّى طَرْدهُ رَعْنٌ ونيقُ
The plain is cramped by its two battle lines, until
So congested his two lines the field,
mountain spur and peak complain of its onrush.
That the thrusting and piercing made it confine.
تميسُsway علىupon مَذاكيهِits prime steeds كُماةٌarmored warriors
تميسُ على مَذاكيهِ كُماةٌ
كأنَّas though الضَّرْبَthe striking بينهمُbetween them حَريقُa blaze
كأنَّ الضَّرْبَ بينهمُ حَريقُ
Armored warriors sway upon its prime steeds,
Swords flash brightly upon his white steeds
as though the blows between them were a blaze.
As if the blows between them were fire divine.
يُسيغونَthey readily swallow المَنيَّةَdeath منْout of إباءٍdefiance
يُسيغونَ المَنيَّةَ منْ إباءٍ
كأنَّas though شَرابَthe draught of موتهمُtheir death رَحيقُpure wine
كأنَّ شَرابَ موتهمُ رَحيقُ
In their defiance, they readily swallow death,
They accept death with proud disdain
as though their death’s draught were pure wine.
As if the death-drink for them is fine wine.
دِلاصٌpolished mail سابغٌfully covering وظُبيَand blade edges حِدادٌsharp
دِلاصٌ سابغٌ وظُبيَ حِدادٌ
وخَيْلٌand horses سُبَّقٌswift-racing وقَناًand spears لُحوقُovertaking
وخَيْلٌ سُبَّقٌ وقَناً لُحوقُ
Ample, polished mail and sharp blades,
Valiant heroes, mourning-clad, Arab steeds raced,
and racing horses and spears that overtake.
And sturdy bows with taut strings align.
هزمْتهمُyou routed them بحملةِwith the charge of شَمَّريٍّa resolute warrior
هزمْتهمُ بحملةِ شَمَّريٍّ
فهانَso became easier الخطُبُthe peril واتَّسعَand widened المَضيقُthe narrow way
فهانَ الخطُبُ واتَّسعَ المَضيقُ
You routed them with a resolute warrior’s charge,
I routed them with the Shammary's brave attack,
so the peril eased and the narrow way grew broad.
So tribulations diminished and straits did decline.
وأقسمُand I swear لوif نزلْتَyou settled بجدْبٍon a barren قاعٍplain
وأقسمُ لو نزلْتَ بجدْبٍ قاعٍ
تَفرَّعَput forth branches عندهُthere العودُthe woody stem الوَريقُleafy
تَفرَّعَ عندهُ العودُ الوَريقُ
I swear: if you settled on a barren plain,
I swear, if you descended on arid sands,
a leafy stem would put forth branches there.
The fresh boughs would manifold twine.
ولوand if لمَسَتْtouched بداكَyour hands (probable reading) صُخورَthe rocks of طوْدٍa mountain
ولو لمَسَتْ بداكَ صُخورَ طوْدٍ
لَطاحَwould tumble down الرِّيمُthe gazelle والوَعَلُand the ibex الفريقُtimorous
لَطاحَ الرِّيمُ والوَعَلُ الفريقُ
And if your hands touched a mountain’s rocks,
If the boulders of Tud touched your hands,
the gazelle and the timorous ibex would tumble down.
The remnants and fragments apart would recline.
كأنَّكَas though you بالمكارِمِfor noble deeds والمَعاليand lofty honors
كأنَّكَ بالمكارِمِ والمَعالي
وكسبِand the winning of المجدِglory مشعوفٌsmitten with love مَشوقُyearning
وكسبِ المجدِ مشعوفٌ مَشوقُ
It is as though you, for noble deeds and lofty honors,
As if you, by your noble deeds,
and the winning of glory, are smitten and longing.
Are urged and inspired glory to gain and shine.
يعودكَreturns to you منْfrom هَواهاlove of them عيدُa festival of مَدْحٍpraise
يعودكَ منْ هَواها عيدُ مَدْحٍ
كماas يعتادُكَvisits you repeatedly الضَّيْفُthe guest الطَّروقُarriving at night
كما يعتادُكَ الضَّيْفُ الطَّروقُ
From love of them, a festival of praise returns to you,
Your praise's feast returns your lover,
as the night-arriving guest visits you again.
As the guest accustomed returns to dine.
تَسَلَّىfound consolation العاشقونَthe lovers وأنتَwhile you are صَبٌّlovesick
تَسَلَّى العاشقونَ وأنتَ صَبٌّ
بطيبِfor the sweetness of الذكْرِrenown وجْدُكَyour passion ماnot يُفيقُcomes to its senses
بطيبِ الذكْرِ وجْدُكَ ما يُفيقُ
Lovers have found consolation, while you remain lovesick;
Those who love are gladdened, as you are a joyous youth,
your passion for fair renown never comes to its senses.
By your sweet mention - nothing more fine!
لقدindeed حُكِّمْتَyou were made judge فيof شعريmy poetry فأضْحىso it became
لقد حُكِّمْتَ في شعري فأضْحى
لكَyours الماثورُthe transmitted verse منهof it والزَّنيقُand the finely wrought verse
لكَ الماثورُ منه والزَّنيقُ
You have indeed been made judge of my poetry, so now
You have judged my poetry, so its choice parts
its transmitted verse and its finely wrought verse are yours.
And its rubbish to you I assign.
وأعْرضَand it turned away عنْfrom رجالٍmen أهْلِpossessing عِزٍّhigh standing
وأعْرضَ عنْ رجالٍ أهْلِ عِزٍّ
سَماit rose عنهمْabove them فُبخْلُهمُfor their miserliness نَتوقُrepellent
سَما عنهمْ فُبخْلُهمُ نَتوقُ
And it turned away from men of high standing,
And I care not for men, though great in lineage -
rising above them, for their miserliness is repellent.
If stingy their souls, I decline!
Sol 6.1