أأهجعُShall I sleep أمor آويretire إلىto لينِthe softness of مَرْقَدa bed
أأهجعُ أم آوي إلى لينِ مَرْقَد
ولمand has not يروdrunk its fill فيin كفيmy palm غرارُthe edge of مُهنَّديmy Indian-steel sword
ولم يرو في كفي غرارُ مُهنَّدي
Shall I sleep, or seek the softness of a bed,
Shall I lie down to rest or seek the softness of a couch,
while my Indian sword's edge has not drunk its fill in my hand?
When not a single spark gleams in my palm?
أدنْCome near فمقاميfor my station فيamong تميمTamim بنِson of خِندفٍKhindif
أدنْ فمقامي في تميم بنِ خِندفٍ
مُقامthe station of أخيone afflicted with عُرٍّmange بقفرٍin a wasteland مُعقَّدrugged
مُقام أخي عُرٍّ بقفرٍ مُعقَّد
Come near: my place among Tamim ibn Khindif
Come closer, my halt is at Tameem Ibn Khindif,
is that of a mange-stricken man in a rugged wasteland.
A halt like that of my brother Urr in a rugged wasteland.
سلAsk الهولterror عنيabout me هلwhether نبتhas faltered بيin me عزيمةresolve
سل الهول عني هل نبت بي عزيمة
وحمسand the fierce in الجلادsword combat هلwhether جبنتُI showed cowardice بمشهدon a battlefield
وحمس الجلاد هل جبنتُ بمشهد
Ask terror about me: has resolve ever failed me?
Ask dissolution about me, did I grow any resolve?
And the fierce in combat: have I ever quailed on a battlefield?
And the fury of the executioner, did I cower before a spectacle?
نمانيَgave me lineage صيْفيٌSayfi وسُفيانُand Sufyan والذيand he who
نمانيَ صيْفيٌ وسُفيانُ والذي
أباحshed freely دماًblood يومon the day of الكُلابِal-Kulab ولمand did not يَدِpay blood money
أباح دماً يوم الكُلابِ ولم يَدِ
I descend from Sayfi, Sufyan, and the man who
An-Numaniya, Sufyan, and the one
shed blood on the day of al-Kulab and paid no blood money.
Who legitimized blood on the Day of Dogs without pouring any.
مُلوكٌKings إذاwhen عُدَّis reckoned الفخارُglory تَساندواthey lean
مُلوكٌ إذا عُدَّ الفخارُ تَساندوا
إلىon حسبٍancestral honor بالمكرماتِby noble deeds مُوَطَّدِmade firm
إلى حسبٍ بالمكرماتِ مُوَطَّدِ
Kings who, when glories are reckoned, lean
Kings when ignobility is reckoned, they support each other
on ancestral honor buttressed by noble deeds.
Through favors firmly consolidated into lineage.
غنيونَself-sufficient بالبأسthrough valor الجريءdaring عنwithout needing القَناlances
غنيونَ بالبأس الجريء عن القَنا
وبالحمدand through praise عنwithout needing نُعْمىthe bounty of لُجينٍsilver وعسجدand gold
وبالحمد عن نُعْمى لُجينٍ وعسجد
Their daring valor leaves them needing no lances,
Rich through courageous might beyond foodstuffs,
and praise leaves them needing no bounty of silver or gold.
And praise beyond the bestowals of Lujain and censing.
إذاWhen أخمدَextinguishes النيرانَthe fires قُرٌcold مُراوحٌblowing in gusts
إذا أخمدَ النيرانَ قُرٌ مُراوحٌ
بأهدابwith the fringes of رجَّافa quivering cloud العشيَّةof evening مُرْعدِthundering
بأهداب رجَّاف العشيَّة مُرْعدِ
When gusting cold extinguishes the fires
If the fires have died down, the pot is set by
with the fringes of a quivering, thundering evening cloud,
The eye-lids of the sleepless quiverer at night.
ولمand did not يُطقmanage العجلانthe hasty man فيin قبسtaking a brand ضرمةٍof fire
ولم يُطق العجلان في قبس ضرمةٍ
حفاظاًsteadiness لماbecause of what يعروهseizes him منof رعشةِthe trembling of اليدthe hand
حفاظاً لما يعروه من رعشةِ اليد
and the hasty man cannot, when taking a firebrand,
The young camels are not prodded into the cinders
hold it steady, because his hand is seized with trembling;
To protect them from the tremor of exhaustion.
ولاذتand sought refuge بفرثin the gut contents of المُودياتdead beasts معwith الدجىthe darkness
ولاذت بفرث المُوديات مع الدجى
منfrom القُرِّthe cold رُعيْانُthe herdsmen of الغريبthe stranger المُرددdriven from place to place
من القُرِّ رُعيْانُ الغريب المُردد
and at nightfall refuge is sought in dead beasts' gut contents
The she-camels resorted to spending the night with the darkness
from the cold, by the wandering stranger's herdsmen,
Among the livestock of the wanderer amidst the thicket.
رأيتَyou see ضيوفthe guests of الدارميينَthe Darimis هُجَّعاًasleep
رأيتَ ضيوف الدارميينَ هُجَّعاً
لدىat خيرthe finest مثوىًlodging منin respect of رجالٍmen وموقدand a hearth
لدى خير مثوىً من رجالٍ وموقد
you see the Darimis' guests asleep
You saw the guests of the Darim spending the night gathered
at the finest lodging, with the best of hosts and hearths.
By the best lodging of men with a fireplace.
إذاWhen ناصفاتthe serving women of الحيthe encampment آنَسْنَnotice طارقاًa night visitor
إذا ناصفات الحي آنَسْنَ طارقاً
مشينthey walk سراعاًswiftly بالسَّديفwith hump fat المنضَّدِpiled in layers
مشين سراعاً بالسَّديف المنضَّدِ
When the encampment's serving women notice a night visitor,
When the announcers of life sensed a visitor
they hurry forth with hump fat piled in layers.
Walking quickly with the evenly loaded mount.
وقدand indeed عَلمَknow الأقوامُthe peoples أنِّيَthat I مُدركٌshall attain
وقد عَلمَ الأقوامُ أنِّيَ مُدركٌ
مساعيthe achievements of قوميmy people غيرnot وانٍflagging مُعَرَّدِshrinking back
مساعي قومي غير وانٍ مُعَرَّدِ
The peoples know that I shall attain
And the people knew that I undertake
my people's achievements, neither flagging nor shrinking back.
The endeavors of my people without ever lagging.
نعشتُI revived بزوراءin al-Zawra of العراقIraq فَضيلةًa virtue
نعشتُ بزوراء العراق فَضيلةً
سرىtraveled ذكرهاits fame ماthe space بينbetween غورٍlowland وأنْجُدِand uplands
سرى ذكرها ما بين غورٍ وأنْجُدِ
In Iraq's al-Zawra I revived a virtue
I gained through Iraq, O Zawra', a virtue
whose fame traveled through lowlands and uplands.
Whose fame spread between every plain and peak.
سَفيتُI flung بهاwith it فيinto وجهthe face of كلevery مُجوِّدٍmaster
سَفيتُ بها في وجه كل مُجوِّدٍ
منamong الأوَلthe ancients الماضينbygone هَبْوةَa cloud of رِمْددashy dust
من الأوَل الماضين هَبْوةَ رِمْدد
Through it I flung into every master's face
Through it, I transcended, in the face of every boaster,
among the bygone ancients a cloud of ashen dust.
The prime ancestor with a sweeping assault.
وزدتُand I exceeded علىbeyond ماwhat أدركوهُthey attained it فصاحةًin eloquence
وزدتُ على ما أدركوهُ فصاحةً
وإنand if يزدincreases الرحمانُthe All-Merciful فيin العمرlifespan أزددI shall increase
وإن يزد الرحمانُ في العمر أزدد
And I surpassed what they attained in eloquence;
And exceeded what they attained in eloquence,
if the All-Merciful lengthens my life, I shall surpass them further.
And if the Merciful prolongs my life, I shall transcend even more.
أٌقولُI say لركبٍto riders مُدلجينَtraveling by night تذارعواthey measured out
أٌقولُ لركبٍ مُدلجينَ تذارعوا
بُرودَthe mantles of الفيافيthe wastelands بالرَّسيمwith a brisk trot المُردَّدِrepeated
بُرودَ الفيافي بالرَّسيم المُردَّدِ
I say to riders traveling by night, who have measured
I say to the band of audacious campaigners take
the wastelands' robes with repeated, rhythmic trotting,
The necks of the mounts if you hurl booty
نشاوىdrunk منwith التَّهويمnodding slumber حتىuntil كأنماas though
نشاوى من التَّهويم حتى كأنما
سقاهمgave them to drink سُهادُthe sleeplessness of الليلthe night خمرةَthe wine of صرخدِSarkhad
سقاهم سُهادُ الليل خمرةَ صرخدِ
so drunk with nodding sleep that it seemed
To the man of open hands, Tughril son of Muhammad.
the night's sleeplessness had served them Sarkhad's wine—
So they came with eyes almost disappearing
إذاWhen ساورassails الإِعياءُweariness منهمamong them عزيمةًresolve
إذا ساور الإِعياءُ منهم عزيمةً
نفاهُdrives it away مقالٌan utterance منfrom فصيحٍan eloquent speaker مُغرِّدsinging
نفاهُ مقالٌ من فصيحٍ مُغرِّد
whenever exhaustion assails their resolve,
From exhaustion and the rubbing of camel litters into
an eloquent singer's words drive it away—
A king great of munificence when visiting and departing unreluctantly.
وقدand already لفظواthey cast off عنfrom عيسهمtheir pale camels كلevery مُثْقلٍburden
وقد لفظوا عن عيسهم كل مُثْقلٍ
منof الرَّحْلbaggage حتىeven بُلْغةَthe scant provisions of المُتزودa traveler
من الرَّحْل حتى بُلْغةَ المُتزود
and who have cast every burden from their pale camels,
Bountiful in efforts, successors and praise,
every piece of baggage, even a traveler's scant provisions:
Fierce in striking with the might of heroes.
خُذواTake hold برقابِof the necks of العيسthe pale camels أنْif رمتمyou seek الغنىwealth
خُذوا برقابِ العيس أنْ رمتم الغنى
إلىtoward ذيthe possessor of الأياديfavors طُغْرلِTughril بنson of محمدMuhammad
إلى ذي الأيادي طُغْرلِ بن محمد
Take your pale camels by the necks, if you seek wealth,
Spending the slender steeds in every straitened circumstance
toward the bountiful Tughril ibn Muhammad.
With water skins and watering places instead of every pasture.
فجاؤاso they came علىriding خوصnarrow العيونِeyes كأنَّهاas though they were
فجاؤا على خوص العيونِ كأنَّها
منfrom الشدswift running والارْقالand loping ظِلمانُmale ostriches of فدفدِa barren plain
من الشد والارْقال ظِلمانُ فدفدِ
So they came on narrow-eyed camels, which seemed,
And letting the sickly camels roam freely while driving
in their swift running and loping, like male ostriches on a barren plain,
To fresh herbage the choicest of noble beasts.
إلىto ملكِa king ضَخْمvast in الدَّسيعةmunificence جُودهُhis generosity
إلى ملكِ ضَخْم الدَّسيعة جُودهُ
لدىduring المحْلِdrought والَّلأواءand hardship غيرnot مصرَّدstinted
لدى المحْلِ والَّلأواء غير مصرَّد
to a king of vast largesse, whose generosity
He is censured at nightfall by the mouths of the weaklings
is never stinted in drought or hardship;
And praised by vultures at the rise of dawn.
كريمِnoble in المساعيdeeds والخلائفِand character والثَّناand praise
كريمِ المساعي والخلائفِ والثَّنا
شديدformidable in مراسthe practice of البأسwar طلاعa scaler of أنُجدِheights
شديد مراس البأس طلاع أنُجدِ
noble in deeds, character, and praise,
When the day of peace shone and his bedstead on the howdah
formidable in warfare, ever scaling the heights;
Became radiant,
مُعيضِone who gives in exchange الجيادthe swift horses الجردsleek فيin كلevery مأزقbattle's strait
مُعيضِ الجياد الجرد في كل مأزق
بماءwith the blood of الطُّلىthroats والهامand heads عنinstead of كلevery موردwatering place
بماء الطُّلى والهام عن كل مورد
who, for his sleek steeds in every battle's strait, substitutes
I saw the sphere of the sun in the brightness of the forenoon
the blood of throats and heads for every watering place.
And the lion of valor between a throne and pillow.
وتُعرضand they turn away عنfrom رعيgrazing الجميمlush grass خمائصاًhollow-bellied
وتُعرض عن رعي الجميم خمائصاً
إلىtoward ناضرٍfresh growth منfrom منبتthe soil of العزglory أغْيدsupple
إلى ناضرٍ من منبت العز أغْيد
And, hollow-bellied, they turn from grazing lush grass
Brave swords amidst the fray like the curved stripe of polished Indian swords
toward fresh, supple growth from the soil of glory.
And striking like the edge of the sharpened blade.
يُذمُّhe is reproached بأفْواهِby the mouths of العِشارheavily pregnant camels عَشيَّةًat evening
يُذمُّ بأفْواهِ العِشار عَشيَّةً
وتحمدهand praise him العقبانthe eagles عندat ضُحىmidmorning الغدthe following day
وتحمده العقبان عند ضُحى الغد
At evening he is reproached by heavily pregnant camels' mouths,
And bright white swords as if what they obtain
and the eagles praise him at the next day's midmorning.
Pours from the stream of mountains torrentially ebullient.
إذاWhen ماever انتدىhe holds court يومon the day of السلامpeace وأشرقتand shine
إذا ما انتدى يوم السلام وأشرقت
أسرَّتُهhis features فوقabove الحشيthe cushions المُعسْجدِgold-embroidered
أسرَّتُه فوق الحشي المُعسْجدِ
When he holds court in peacetime, and radiant are
Pleasant is his friendship without a favor in return
his features above the gold-embroidered cushions,
Or mingling bounty with a promised time.
رأيتyou see مجنthe shield of الشمسthe sun فيin وضحthe clear light of الضحىmidmorning
رأيت مجن الشمس في وضح الضحى
وليثand the lion of الشَّرىal-Shara ماin the space بينbetween تختٍa throne ومسندand a bolster
وليث الشَّرى ما بين تختٍ ومسند
you see the sun's shield in the clear light of midmorning,
And a snarled lip revealing canine on raids
and the lion of al-Shara between throne and bolster.
So narrowed on account of the places his raiding parties infiltrate.
سباطُgentle خِلالٍqualities كالدمقسlike silk للامسٍto the touch
سباطُ خِلالٍ كالدمقس للامسٍ
وبأسٌand valor كحدlike the edge of المَشْرفيِّa Mashrafi sword المُهنَّدof Indian steel
وبأسٌ كحد المَشْرفيِّ المُهنَّد
Gentle are his traits, like silk to the touch,
Severe is the clattering of his armored men as though
and his valor is like an Indian-steel Mashrafi blade's edge.
He is the edifice of Al-Qara Mountains in formation.
وأبْلَجُand radiant-faced مِتلافٌlavish in giving كأنَّas though نوالَهُhis bounty
وأبْلَجُ مِتلافٌ كأنَّ نوالَهُ
تحدرthe pouring of سيلa torrent منfrom ذرىthe peaks of الطَّودthe mountain مزبدfoaming
تحدر سيل من ذرى الطَّود مزبد
Radiant-faced and lavish, as though his bounty
Noble, bare of armor, brandishing his sword,
were a foaming torrent pouring from the mountain's peaks.
So no war but as a detachment fully armed.
هنيءُpleasant in النَّدىgenerosity لاnot واهبٌa giver بوسيلةٍthrough intercession
هنيءُ النَّدى لا واهبٌ بوسيلةٍ
ولاnor شائبone who taints المعروفkindness منهfrom him بموعدwith a promise
ولا شائب المعروف منه بموعد
His bounty is sweet; his gifts need no intercession,
I turned toward him beneath the howdah stealthily,
nor does he taint his kindness with promises of later giving.
Thus departing while he sat between a minister and pillow.
وأرْعَنand many a massive host خفَّاقfluttering with البنودbanners مُزمْجرٍroaring
وأرْعَن خفَّاق البنود مُزمْجرٍ
تضيقis too narrow بهfor it بيداؤهits desert حينwhen يغْتديit marches at dawn
تضيق به بيداؤه حين يغْتدي
And many a vast, roaring host with fluttering banners,
The horses carried you only to raid
whose desert is too narrow for it when it marches at dawn,
The quarters of Fattak and the expedition of Sayyid.
شديدintense in ارتصافthe close packing of الدارعينthe armored men كأنهas though it were
شديد ارتصاف الدارعين كأنه
علىalong جنباتthe sides of القاعthe plain بُنْيَةُa structure of قَرْمدِfired bricks
على جنبات القاع بُنْيَةُ قَرْمدِ
its armored men so tightly packed that it seems
No shining dawn whose whiteness you did not marshalin
a brick-built structure along the edges of the plain,
Structures of glory between encampment and couch.
مفارطfar-thrusting ملفوظprojecting القناlances مشهرِbrandished الظُّبىsword-edges
مفارط ملفوظ القنا مشهرِ الظُّبى
فلاso no حربَwar إلاbut هبَّةٌa sudden rush منfrom مُجرَّدِan unsheathed blade
فلا حربَ إلا هبَّةٌ من مُجرَّدِ
with far-projecting lances and brandished sword-edges—
Whenever a land betrays, surrendering its soil
where war is but a sudden rush of naked steel—
To the hands of transgressors and rising tyranny,
دلَفْتyou advanced لهagainst it تحتbeneath العجاجةthe dust-cloud دَلْفَةًone advance
دلَفْت له تحت العجاجة دَلْفَةً
فغادرتهso you left it منfrom بينamong ثاوٍone lying dead ومُسندِand one propped up
فغادرته من بين ثاوٍ ومُسندِ
you made one advance against it beneath the dust-cloud,
Good fortune and felicity will march against it
and left its men lying dead or propped up wounded.
With birds above it, most inauspicious and malignant.
وماand never حملتْكhave carried you الخيلُthe horses إلاexcept مُغيرةًraiding
وما حملتْك الخيلُ إلا مُغيرةً
علىagainst حيِّa clan of فُتَّاكٍdeadly fighters وغزْوةand a campaign of سيدa chieftain
على حيِّ فُتَّاكٍ وغزْوة سيد
Your horses have carried you only on raids
And how many a weighty sin whose danger you forgave
against a clan of deadly fighters, on a chieftain's campaign.
With beautiful clemency, vast forbearance.
ولاnor ابيضَّbrightened صبحٌa dawn لمnot تشدyou raised فيin بياضِهits whiteness
ولا ابيضَّ صبحٌ لم تشد في بياضِه
بناءَthe edifice of المعاليglory بينamid مُرْدٍone who strikes dead ومُرْقدِand one who puts to sleep
بناءَ المعالي بين مُرْدٍ ومُرْقدِ
Nor has a dawn brightened without your raising in its whiteness
You are indeed from a people whose favors transcended
the edifice of glory, amid dealing death and laying foes to sleep.
Enumeration into phrases prose or verse.
إذاWhen غدرتْbetrays دارٌa land وهبْتyou give تُرابهاits soil
إذا غدرتْ دارٌ وهبْت تُرابها
لأيديto the forefeet of المذاكيseasoned steeds والعجاجِand the dust المُصعِّدrising aloft
لأيدي المذاكي والعجاجِ المُصعِّد
When a land betrays you, you give its soil
When showing sympathy, their stance was one of servitude
to the forefeet of seasoned steeds and the rising dust.
Before the throne of supreme kingship and honor.
تسيرُyou march إليهاtoward it أيمنَmost blessed in الحظfortune والسُّرىand night travel
تسيرُ إليها أيمنَ الحظ والسُّرى
بطيرٍwith birds عليهاagainst it أشأمmost ill-omened in الزجرaugury أنْكدِmost baleful
بطيرٍ عليها أشأم الزجر أنْكدِ
You march toward it, blessed in fortune and night travel,
Through you the crowns shine in every council
with birds whose auguries for it are most baleful and malign.
And the bright swords flash in every scene.
وكمand how often جلَّwas grave جرمٌan offense فاغتفرتَyet you forgave خطيرهُits enormity
وكم جلَّ جرمٌ فاغتفرتَ خطيرهُ
بحلمwith forbearance جميلgracious in الصَّفحpardon رحبbroad in التَّغمدoverlooking faults
بحلم جميل الصَّفح رحب التَّغمد
How often an offense was grave, yet you forgave its enormity
And the pillar of the faith realized the endeavor of his people
with forbearance, gracious in pardon and boundless in indulgence.
Through the perceptive opinion in the vitality of a matter green.
فإنكَfor you منare of قومٍa people علتْhave risen مكرماتُهمtheir noble deeds
فإنكَ من قومٍ علتْ مكرماتُهم
عنbeyond الحصرreckoning فيwithin ألفاظthe words of مُثْنa praiser ومنشدand a verse-reciter
عن الحصر في ألفاظ مُثْن ومنشد
For you are of a people whose noble deeds have risen
Many hands were implanted by a numerous people
beyond all reckoning in the words of praiser or reciter.
But none like the white hand of the son of Muzaif.
إذاWhen ارتفقواthey recline كانbecomes القيامُstanding تخادماًin service
إذا ارتفقوا كان القيامُ تخادماً
أمامbefore سريرthe throne of المُلْكkingship فخرthe pride of المُسوَّدِa chieftain
أمام سرير المُلْك فخر المُسوَّدِ
When they recline, standing in service
With a king whose might is not disgraced
before the royal throne is a chieftain's pride.
Nor his origin on the Day of the Potsherds debased.
بكمthrough you تشرقshine التيجانthe crowns فيin كلevery مجلسٍassembly
بكم تشرق التيجان في كل مجلسٍ
ويبرقand flash بيضُbright اللأمsuits of armor فيin كلevery مشهدbattlefield
ويبرق بيضُ اللأم في كل مشهد
Through you, crowns shine in every assembly,
O Abu Talib you gave your brother - and he did not become,
and gleaming armor flashes on every battlefield.
With what he generously imparted, sparing or tightfisted.
وأدركand has attained ركنُPillar of الدينthe Faith مسعاةَthe achievements of قومهِhis people
وأدرك ركنُ الدين مسعاةَ قومهِ
برأيwith the judgment of شميطٍa gray-haired man فيin نضارةِthe freshness of أمردa beardless youth
برأي شميطٍ في نضارةِ أمرد
And Rukn al-Din has attained his people's achievements,
I came wandering from distant lands,
with a gray-haired man's judgment in a beardless youth's freshness.
So be generous to me with what I deserve of wealth or even more.
غرستyou planted الأياديfavors عندamong قومٍpeople كثيرةًmany
غرست الأيادي عند قومٍ كثيرةً
ولاbut none كاليدlike the hand البيضاءwhite عندwith ابنthe son of مزْيَدِMazyad
ولا كاليد البيضاء عند ابن مزْيَدِ
You have planted many favors among people,
but none like the shining favor shown to Ibn Mazyad,
لدىbefore مَلكٍa king لاnot بأسُهُhis valor بمذلَّلِhumbled
لدى مَلكٍ لا بأسُهُ بمذلَّلِ
ولاnor أصلهُhis lineage يومon the day of الفخارboasting بمُسندfalsely attributed
ولا أصلهُ يوم الفخار بمُسند
before a king whose valor is never subdued,
nor is his ancestry falsely claimed on a day of boasting.
أباO Abu طالبٍTalib أعطىgave أخوكَyour brother فلمand did not يكُنprove to be
أبا طالبٍ أعطى أخوكَ فلم يكُن
بماfor what جادhe gave generously منَّاناًone who reminds of favors ولاnor باخلَstingy اليدof hand
بما جاد منَّاناً ولا باخلَ اليد
Abu Talib, your brother gave, and he was not
one to hold his gifts over others, nor was he tightfisted.
وجئتُكand I came to you أسْريtraveling by night منfrom بلادٍlands بعيدةٍdistant
وجئتُك أسْري من بلادٍ بعيدةٍ
فجُدْso give generously ليto me بماwith what أوليhe bestowed منof المالwealth أوor زِدadd more
فجُدْ لي بما أولي من المال أو زِد
I have come to you, traveling by night from distant lands;
so give me as much wealth as he bestowed, or more.
Partial English translation: 88 of 96 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1