أجَأٌAja وسلْمىand Salma أمْor بلادُthe lands of الزَّابِthe Zab
أجَأٌ وسلْمى أمْ بلادُ الزَّابِ
وأبوand Abu (father of) المُهَنَّدِal-Muhannad (Indian-steel sword) أمْor غضنْفرُa mighty lion غابِa forest
وأبو المُهَنَّدِ أمْ غضنْفرُ غابِ
Aja and Salma, or the lands of the Zab?
Is it Auga and Salma, or the country of Zaab,
And Abu al-Muhannad, or a lion of the forest?
Or Abu Al-Muhandid, or Ghaznafar who disappeared?
رفعَraised المَنارَthe beacon بنوthe sons of زُهيرٍZuhayr فيin العلُىthe heights of glory
رفعَ المَنارَ بنو زُهيرٍ في العلُى
بالفارسِthrough the knight المُتَغَطرفِthe noble one الوهَّابِthe lavish giver
بالفارسِ المُتَغَطرفِ الوهَّابِ
Banu Zuhayr raised the beacon in glory's heights,
The sons of Zuheir raised the minaret on high,
Through the noble, bountiful knight,
With the knight, the generous, prodigal donor.
بأغَرَّthrough a radiant man بَسَّامٍever-smiling كأنَّas though بَنانَهhis fingers
بأغَرَّ بَسَّامٍ كأنَّ بَنانَه
فيin كلِّevery مكْرُمةٍgenerous deed قطارُshowers of سَحابِclouds
في كلِّ مكْرُمةٍ قطارُ سَحابِ
Through a radiant, ever-smiling man whose fingers seem
With the whiteness of Passam's fingers, as though they were
In every generous deed, like showers from clouds.
Clusters of clouds at every honored assembly.
بالمانِعِthrough the protector البَذَّالِthe lavish giver غيرَnot مُدافَعٍrivaled
بالمانِعِ البَذَّالِ غيرَ مُدافَعٍ
فيin بذلِbestowing مروفٍkindness (likely معروف) وعِزِّand the honor of صِحابِcompanions
في بذلِ مروفٍ وعِزِّ صِحابِ
Through the protector, the lavish giver, unrivaled
With the Preventer, the Generous, who does not refuse
In bestowing kindness and honoring companions.
To be benevolent and honor his companions.
عمَّتْreached all فواضلُهhis bounties وعَمَّand spread widely ثَناؤهُpraise of him
عمَّتْ فواضلُه وعَمَّ ثَناؤهُ
فالحمدُso praise والاِحْسانand beneficence فيin اِطْنابِabundance
فالحمدُ والاِحْسان في اِطْنابِ
His bounties reached everyone, and his praise spread everywhere,
His transcendent virtues spread, and his praise
So praise and beneficence stretch far and wide.
Ascended, so praise and grace belong to the Most High.
وغَداand he advanced غُدُوَّwith the advance of السَّيْلthe torrent يفْعمُfilling to the brim وادياًa valley
وغَدا غُدُوَّ السَّيْل يفْعمُ وادياً
رحْباًwide ويشْرقُand chokes منهfrom it ضنْكُthe narrowness of شِعابravines
رحْباً ويشْرقُ منه ضنْكُ شِعاب
And he advanced like a torrent, filling a valley
And it flows in the morning like a torrent, flooding a
Wide, while narrow ravines choked on its flood.
Vast valley, as the narrow mountain paths shine.
فاغْربso be gone حُوَيْتِمُHuwaytim (little Hatim) اِنَّindeed ذكركyour renown خاملٌobscure
فاغْرب حُوَيْتِمُ اِنَّ ذكرك خاملٌ
مُذْsince جَالranged هنديٌّan Indian blade بمتْنِupon the back of ركابِriding mounts
مُذْ جَال هنديٌّ بمتْنِ ركابِ
So be gone, Huwaytim: your renown is dim,
Depart, my dear home, for the memory of you
Since an Indian blade ranged upon the backs of mounts.
Has faded since the Indian passed with his mounts.
نسفscattered الغُبارthe dust يوجهhe directs (likely intended: in the face of) فخركyour pride فارسٌa knight
نسف الغُبار يوجه فخرك فارسٌ
زيْنٌan adornment بيوميْon the two days of نائِلٍbounty وعِقابِand punishment
زيْنٌ بيوميْ نائِلٍ وعِقابِ
A knight has flung dust in the face of your pride,
The dust clouds cleared, revealing your glory, O knight
A glory alike on days of bounty and punishment.
Honored in both the present and future days.
كنتyou were الجوادthe generous one لدىduring زمانٍa time مُسْعِدٍfavorable
كنت الجواد لدى زمانٍ مُسْعِدٍ
وهوand he الجوادُthe generous one لدىduring زَمانٍa time نابِharsh
وهو الجوادُ لدى زَمانٍ نابِ
You were generous in a time that favored you,
You were the steed in times of good fortune,
While he is generous in a time grown harsh.
And he is the steed in times of hardship.
واذاand when الفَلاةُthe desert تضايقتْgrew cramped أرجاؤهاits expanses
واذا الفَلاةُ تضايقتْ أرجاؤها
يومَon the day of الهياجِbattle بجحفلٍwith a great army غَلاَّبِoverwhelming
يومَ الهياجِ بجحفلٍ غَلاَّبِ
And when the desert's reaches grew cramped
And when the arid desert closed in around us
On battle's day, with an overwhelming host,
On a day of turmoil with hordes of warring tribes—
وتمطرتand galloped swiftly قُبُلُbefore العيونِthe eyes كأنهاas though they were
وتمطرت قُبُلُ العيونِ كأنها
بالقاعِon the plain تحتbeneath القومِthe riders مُعْطُhairless ذئابِwolves
بالقاعِ تحت القومِ مُعْطُ ذئابِ
And the steeds galloped before the eyes, as though they were
Eyes rained tears as though they were, in the battlefield,
On the plain beneath the riders—hairless wolves,
Wolves gnawing at the slain under the warriors—
ظمأىthirsty إِلىfor ماءٍthe water of الجِراحِthe wounds كأنماas though
ظمأى إِلى ماءٍ الجِراحِ كأنما
تجريflow مواردُهاtheir watering places بخَدْعwith the deceit of سَرابِa mirage
تجري مواردُها بخَدْع سَرابِ
Thirsting for the water of wounds, as though
Thirsty for the blood of wounds that seemed to flow
Their watering places flowed with a mirage's deceit,
Like the deceptive mirage of a shimmering brook—
تطويtraverse نصيَّdesert grass الثَّعْدِal-Thaʿd (unclear referent) وهيwhile they are سواغبٌhungry
تطوي نصيَّ الثَّعْدِ وهي سواغبٌ
طَلَباًseeking لرعْيto graze on جَماجمٍskulls ورِقابِand necks
طَلَباً لرعْي جَماجمٍ ورِقابِ
They pass over al-Thaʿd's desert grass, hungry,
Winding the turbans of death while they, still untamed,
Seeking to graze on skulls and necks.
Sought to feast on skulls and necks—
واحْلَوْلكَand grew pitch-dark اليومُthe day المُضيئةshining شمسهُits sun
واحْلَوْلكَ اليومُ المُضيئة شمسهُ
فالظُّهْرُso noon جُنْحٌnight-darkness غيرُnot ماemphatic particle مُنْجابِdispelled
فالظُّهْرُ جُنْحٌ غيرُ ما مُنْجابِ
And the day, whose sun was bright, grew pitch-dark,
Today your glittering sun rises
So noon became night-darkness that would not lift.
While yesterday's sun sinks away without glory—
فعلىso over الدُّورعthe armor غلائلٌthin tunics منof عِثْيَرٍdust
فعلى الدُّورع غلائلٌ من عِثْيَرٍ
وعلىand over مِجَنِّthe shield of الشمسthe sun فضلُa trailing fold of نِقابa veil
وعلى مِجَنِّ الشمس فضلُ نِقاب
So over the armor lay thin tunics of dust,
Over your coats of mail are locks of fresh perfume
And over the sun's shield, a veil's trailing fold.
While yesterday's sun leaves only its veil—
لاقيتَyou met فخرFakhr (glory) الدينal-Din (the faith) يكْشفُdispersing نقْعهاits battle-dust
لاقيتَ فخر الدين يكْشفُ نقْعها
كشفthe clearing of الغزالةِthe sun مُضْمحلَّfading ضبَابmist
كشف الغزالةِ مُضْمحلَّ ضبَاب
You would meet Fakhr al-Din dispersing its battle-dust,
You met Fakhr al-Din, who lifts aside its cover,
As the sun dispels a fading mist.
As the rising sun unveils the faded mist,
لاnot يرتضيhe is content with طعْنَpiercing النُّحورthe throats فَطعْنهُso his thrust
لا يرتضي طعْنَ النُّحور فَطعْنهُ
فيinto مقلةthe eyeball of الجبَّارِthe tyrant ذيpossessing الاعْجابِself-admiration
في مقلة الجبَّارِ ذي الاعْجابِ
He is not content to pierce throats; his thrust
Scornful of piercing chests, his own thrust
Is into the eyeball of the self-admiring tyrant.
Pierces the pupil of the arrogant despot.
ذِمْرٌa valiant warrior يُقَحِّمُhe plunges فيinto الغِمارthe thick of battle ومحجمand one who holds back
ذِمْرٌ يُقَحِّمُ في الغِمار ومحجم
عَفٌّscrupulously abstinent عنfrom الاُسَراءِthe captives والأسْلابِand the spoils
عَفٌّ عن الاُسَراءِ والأسْلابِ
A bold warrior, plunging into the fray, yet holding back,
A destroyer who plunges into the fray, yet gentle
Scrupulously refraining from captives and spoils.
To captives, sheathing his sword, leaving them unharmed.
فعليةso upon him (likely فعليه) عندduring الحربwar قسوةُthe hardness of جَلْمدٍa boulder
فعلية عند الحرب قسوةُ جَلْمدٍ
واذاand when انْتَدىhe joins an assembly فَلَطافةُthen the delicacy of الزِّرْيابِliquid gold
واذا انْتَدى فَلَطافةُ الزِّرْيابِ
So in war he wears a boulder's hardness,
In war he is hard as granite,
And in assembly, the delicacy of liquid gold.
But relaxed as a cloak when his blade rests.
خِرْقٌa magnanimous man اذاwhen بخلwere miserly الملوكُthe kings بِثَلَّةٍwith a flock
خِرْقٌ اذا بخل الملوكُ بِثَلَّةٍ
وهَبَhe bestowed الجيادَthe noble steeds كريمةَnoble الأنْسابِthe pedigrees
وهَبَ الجيادَ كريمةَ الأنْسابِ
A magnanimous man: when kings begrudged a flock,
A breach when kings are stingy with bounty,
He gave away steeds of noble pedigree.
Yet freely gives his noble steeds.
فجيادُهso his steeds فيin جيشthe army of كلevery مُسَوَّدٍchieftain
فجيادُه في جيش كل مُسَوَّدٍ
كلُّthe whole الخميسِarmy بعُدَّةin equipment ولِبابِand choicest stock
كلُّ الخميسِ بعُدَّة ولِبابِ
So his steeds, in the army of every chieftain,
His steeds amidst the blackened armies
Are a whole host in equipment and choicest stock.
Are Thursday's full moons shining in the gloom.
بالحُسْنby beauty تُعْرفthey are recognized لاnot السماتthe brands لأنهbecause he
بالحُسْن تُعْرف لا السمات لأنه
لمdid not يُعْطِgive غيرanything except لواحقِdrawn-in الأقْرابِthe flanks
لم يُعْطِ غير لواحقِ الأقْرابِ
They are known by beauty, not brands, since he
Recognized by their beauty, not their brands,
Has given none but steeds with slender flanks.
For he gave them no marks but his seal.
ياO باAbu (father of) المُهنَّدal-Muhannad (Indian-steel sword) والنَّداءُand the call لأِصْمَعٍto a keen-witted man
يا با المُهنَّد والنَّداءُ لأِصْمَعٍ
ندْبٍa valiant man كحدِّlike the edge of الصَّارمِthe sharp sword القِرْضابِthe cleaving one
ندْبٍ كحدِّ الصَّارمِ القِرْضابِ
O Abu al-Muhannad—the call is to a keen-witted man,
O Abu Al-Muhandid, though the call is to Asma'i,
Valiant, like the edge of a sharp, cleaving sword.
It is a lament, like the bite of a cutting sword.
أناI منْthe one whom عَلِمْتَyou knew أبِيَّةًproud independence وتَرَفُّعاًand lofty aloofness
أنا منْ عَلِمْتَ أبِيَّةً وتَرَفُّعاً
عنabove كلِّevery جَيْئةِcoming مَطْلبٍa request وذَهابِand going
عن كلِّ جَيْئةِ مَطْلبٍ وذَهابِ
I am the man you know for proud independence and disdain
You knew me to be too proud
For every coming and going in pursuit of a favor.
To beg from any that would come and go.
لاnot أرتضيI accept نيلَattaining الغِنىwealth بمذَلَّةٍthrough humiliation
لا أرتضي نيلَ الغِنى بمذَلَّةٍ
والعِزُّand honor أكرمُthe noblest مَطْعميmy food وشَرابيand my drink
والعِزُّ أكرمُ مَطْعمي وشَرابي
I do not accept gaining wealth through humiliation,
I scorn to gain wealth by degradation,
And honor is my noblest food and drink.
Honor is my choicer food and drink.
وأرىand I consider المَديحَpraise لغيرِfor anyone other than قَيْلٍa sovereign سُبَّةًa disgrace
وأرى المَديحَ لغيرِ قَيْلٍ سُبَّةً
تبْقىremain مَعائبُهاits blemishes علىthroughout الأحْقابِthe ages
تبْقى مَعائبُها على الأحْقابِ
And I consider praise of anyone but a sovereign a disgrace,
And I see praising one undeserving as disgrace,
Whose blemishes endure through the ages.
Its shame enduring through the ages.
ولقدand indeed حَبَستُI withheld قلائديmy necklaces (poems) وكتمْتُهاand I concealed them
ولقد حَبَستُ قلائدي وكتمْتُها
كيْso that لاnot تُذالthey are debased َ بمِنْحَةٍby a gift وثَوابِand a reward
كيْ لا تُذال َ بمِنْحَةٍ وثَوابِ
And I have indeed withheld my necklaces and kept them hidden,
Long have I held back my necklaces of verse and hid them,
Lest they be debased by a gift and a reward.
Lest I shame them by bestowing them as gifts and rewards.
واقْتادنيand drove me حَرَجٌhardship فسرتso I journeyed إِلىto الذيthe one whom
واقْتادني حَرَجٌ فسرت إِلى الذي
مدحيmy praise لهfor him فخْرٌan honor بغيرِwithout مَعابِreproach
مدحي له فخْرٌ بغيرِ مَعابِ
And hardship drove me, so I journeyed to the one
But need drove me to him whose praise
Whom it is my honor to praise, without reproach.
Is a glory free of any blemish.
Sol 6.1