عليهاupon her ذِمامُthe pledged protection of اللهGod منagainst كُلِّevery ذاعِرٍfrightener
عليها ذِمامُ الله من كُلِّ ذاعِرٍ
غداةَon the morning when أبوAbu الفتْحِal-Fath الغياثُal-Ghiyath عِصامُهاher safeguard
غداةَ أبو الفتْحِ الغياثُ عِصامُها
God's pledged protection rests upon her against every frightener,
Protected by God from every slanderer,
on the morning when Abu al-Fath al-Ghiyath was her safeguard.
Dawned Abu al-Fath al-Ghiyath, its pillar.
منfrom الخوفfear تدْمىbleed بالذَّميلwith trotting خفافهاher footpads
من الخوف تدْمى بالذَّميل خفافها
وأذْواءand wasting ills of قفْرٍwilderness قدalready نضاهاhas wasted her سَقامُهاher sickness
وأذْواء قفْرٍ قد نضاها سَقامُها
From fear her footpads bleed as she trots,
Fear made its meadows bleed with dewdrops
and desert wasting ills—her sickness has worn her thin.
And the illness of a barren land emaciated it.
فنَجدةُthen the valor of سُلطانِthe sultan of الزمانِthe age وجُودُهand his generosity
فنَجدةُ سُلطانِ الزمانِ وجُودُه
أجاباboth answered فولَّىso fled ذُعْرُهاher terror وهُيامُهاand her raging thirst
أجابا فولَّى ذُعْرُها وهُيامُها
Then the valor and generosity of the age's sultan
So the generosity of the sultan of the age
answered, and her terror and raging thirst fled.
Answered its call, and its fear and panic disappeared.
تخطَّتshe passed beyond رياضthe meadows of الحزنal-Hazn وهيwhile they were أنيقةٌlovely
تخطَّت رياض الحزن وهي أنيقةٌ
وماand not سَرَّهاdelighted her أنthat يرْجحنَّshould sway heavily ثُمامُهاtheir thumam grass
وما سَرَّها أن يرْجحنَّ ثُمامُها
She passed beyond the meadows of al-Hazn, though they were lovely,
It leapt over the gardens of grief gracefully
nor did their heavily swaying thumam grass delight her,
And was not pleased that its price would be diminished.
لنخلfor the date palms of قُرىًvillages عندnear العراقِIraq بواسقٍtowering
لنخل قُرىً عند العراقِ بواسقٍ
شَهيٍّdelectable إِليهَاto her طلعُهاtheir flower clusters وكمُامهاand their sheaths
شَهيٍّ إِليهَا طلعُها وكمُامها
drawn to towering date palms in villages near Iraq,
It has date palms competing in height
whose flower clusters and sheaths she craved.
With the shade of the plains, their fruits and piths attractive.
تُباريshe races ظليمَthe male ostrich of القاعِthe plain شدَّاًat speed كأنهاas though she
تُباري ظليمَ القاعِ شدَّاً كأنها
بمخترقِin the open passage of البيداءthe wilderness فيهاwithin it نَعامُهاits ostriches
بمخترقِ البيداء فيها نَعامُها
She rivals the plain's male ostrich in speed, as though
As if its ostriches in the wilderness
in the wilderness's open passage she were its own ostriches.
Were its ships plowing through the desert.
إِذاwhen ذكرتshe remembers جيرانهاher neighbors فيat مُعَرَّسٍa night halt
إِذا ذكرت جيرانها في مُعَرَّسٍ
طوْتهُshe traverses it ولمand does not يشهدtestify بوجدٍto longing بُغامُهاher lowing
طوْتهُ ولم يشهد بوجدٍ بُغامُها
When she remembers her neighbors at a night halt,
When it remembers its neighbors in their dwellings
she leaves it behind; her lowing betrays no longing.
It folds them, and its spy does not witness their sorrow.
وكمand how many جاوزَتْshe passed أحياءclans of عذْرٍʿUdhr نواكثاًbreaking pledges
وكم جاوزَتْ أحياء عذْرٍ نواكثاً
يكاثرُvie in number with رمْلَthe sands of الأنْعمَيْنِal-Anʿamayn لِئامُهاtheir base men
يكاثرُ رمْلَ الأنْعمَيْنِ لِئامُها
How many faithless clans of ʿUdhr she passed,
And how many traces of love has it crossed,
whose base men rival the sands of al-Anʿamayn in number.
While the sand of al-Anamayn multiply its censurers.
شعارُthe watchword of الوغىbattle اِلباسُهاtheir garb وسِلاحُهاand their weapon
شعارُ الوغى اِلباسُها وسِلاحُها
إِذاwhen سمعتthey hear صوتthe sound of الصَّريخthe cry for help انهزامهاtheir flight
إِذا سمعت صوت الصَّريخ انهزامها
The war-cry is their garb, and their weapon,
Its motto is turmoil, its dress and weapon
when they hear the cry for aid, is flight.
When it hears the shouts of battle, it takes flight.
منof القومthe people لاnot يُسْتوكفcan be solicited النزرa scant gift منهمfrom them
من القوم لا يُسْتوكف النزر منهم
إِذاwhen السَّنَةthe year الخضراءُverdant أغنىhas brought plenty غمامهاits clouds
إِذا السَّنَة الخضراءُ أغنى غمامها
A people from whom not even a scant gift can be drawn,
It does not spare much from its people
even when a verdant year's clouds have brought plenty.
When the green banners enrich its clouds.
مقاديمُforemost ones فيin طَرْدdriving away الضيوفguests أذلَّةٌabject
مقاديمُ في طَرْد الضيوف أذلَّةٌ
إِذاwhen ماindeed الوغىwar بالطَّردthrough pursuit شبَّblazes ضِرامهاits fire
إِذا ما الوغى بالطَّرد شبَّ ضِرامها
Foremost in driving guests away, abject
Its chiefs are humiliated in chasing away guests
when pursuit kindles the blaze of war.
When turmoil excites its young lions.
ولماand when براهاwore her down الوخدswift striding منfrom دلجthe early-night marching of السُّرىthe night journey
ولما براها الوخد من دلج السُّرى
وهُدِّمand was worn down منby طولthe length of السِّفارjourneys سَنامُهاher hump
وهُدِّم من طول السِّفار سَنامُها
And when swift strides through the night had worn her thin,
And when the darkness of travel unveiled it
and her hump had been worn away by long journeys,
And the long journey demolished its idols,
وأضمرهاand wasted her التأويبُdaylong travel فيin كلevery مهْمهٍtrackless wilderness
وأضمرها التأويبُ في كل مهْمهٍ
بعيدfar-reaching المدىin extent حتىuntil حكاهاresembled her زِمامُهاher rein
بعيد المدى حتى حكاها زِمامُها
and daylong travel had wasted her in every trackless wilderness,
And the criticism made it hide in every ordeal,
far-stretching, until she was as slender as her rein,
Until its rein spoke of its far-reaching goal,
أناختshe knelt بربعin the abode of العزglory منon سيفthe bank of دجلةthe Tigris
أناخت بربع العز من سيف دجلة
إِلىat ذروةِa summit أعْياbaffled الملوكَkings مَرامُهاits attainment
إِلى ذروةِ أعْيا الملوكَ مَرامُها
she knelt in the abode of glory on the bank of the Tigris,
It settled in the land of might by the Tigris
at a summit whose attainment had baffled kings,
Until the peak of the kings' wish became its goal.
بحيثwhere الندىgenerosity والنجرand ancestry عِدٌّan unfailing spring فواضحٌand clear
بحيث الندى والنجر عِدٌّ فواضحٌ
صميمٌpure ووُطْفٌand laden clouds مستمرٌّunceasing سجامهاtheir downpour
صميمٌ ووُطْفٌ مستمرٌّ سجامها
where bounty is an unfailing spring, and lineage clear
Where there is dew, basil, a clear spring
and pure, with laden clouds whose rain flows ceaselessly.
With constant flow, braided with wristlets.
تشيمshe sights منin السلطانthe sultan برْقَthe lightning of مكارمٍgenerous deeds
تشيم من السلطان برْقَ مكارمٍ
غزارٍabundant إِذاwhen الأنواءُthe rain-stars عَزَّis scarce جِمامُهاtheir replenishment
غزارٍ إِذا الأنواءُ عَزَّ جِمامُها
She sights in the sultan the lightning of generous deeds,
It smells the lightning of the Sultan's generosity
abundant when the rain-stars' stores are scarce.
Flooding when hopes make its clouds crowded.
رزينsteady حصاةthe discernment of الحلمforbearance مَغرىًdevoted برأفةٍto mercy
رزين حصاة الحلم مَغرىً برأفةٍ
إِذاwhen الجهلةُfolly الروعاءُterrifying جلَّgrows grave اجترامهاits wrongdoing
إِذا الجهلةُ الروعاءُ جلَّ اجترامها
Steady in discerning forbearance, devoted to mercy,
It walks surely on the path of wisdom and mercy
when terrifying folly's wrongdoing grows grave.
When the ignorant commoners exceed in their transgression.
يلذُّmakes sweet لهto him الصفحpardon الجميلُgracious اقتْدارُهhis power
يلذُّ له الصفح الجميلُ اقتْدارُه
إِذاwhen طابَis sweet فيin نفسthe soul of الدَّنيِّthe base man انتقامهاits revenge
إِذا طابَ في نفس الدَّنيِّ انتقامها
His power makes gracious pardon sweet to him,
He enjoys beautiful forgiveness when able
when revenge tastes sweet to the base man's soul.
If baseness creeps into a soul bent on revenge.
رأىhe saw زُخْرفthe glitter of الدنياthe world بعينٍwith an eye بصيرةٍdiscerning
رأى زُخْرف الدنيا بعينٍ بصيرةٍ
سواءٌequal عليهاto it تِبْرُهاits gold ورَغامُهاand its dust
سواءٌ عليها تِبْرُها ورَغامُها
He saw the world's glitter with a discerning eye,
He saw the ornaments of life with insight,
to which its gold and its dust are equal.
Alike whether adorned or worn out.
فلاso no مالَwealth اِلاexcept مِنحةٌa gift وابْتذالُهاand its free bestowal
فلا مالَ اِلا مِنحةٌ وابْتذالُها
ولاand no ذُخرtreasure اِلاexcept مِدْحةٌpraise ودوامُهاand its endurance
ولا ذُخر اِلا مِدْحةٌ ودوامُها
So wealth is only a gift and its lavish bestowal,
So neither wealth except as a gift and bestowed freely,
and treasure only praise and its endurance.
Nor treasure except praise and its eternity.
لهfor him فيin المعانيnoble qualities والمعاليand lofty honors كليْهماboth of them
له في المعاني والمعالي كليْهما
لَطائفُهاtheir fine achievements مأثورةٌrenowned وجِسامُهاand their great achievements
لَطائفُها مأثورةٌ وجِسامُها
For him, in noble qualities and lofty honors alike,
He has mastery in meanings and noble deeds,
their fine achievements and their great ones are renowned.
Its subtleties transmitted, its bodies complete.
كأنَّas though أتِيّاًa torrent ذاwith غُثاءٍflotsam إِذاwhen غَزاhe attacks
كأنَّ أتِيّاً ذا غُثاءٍ إِذا غَزا
دماءُthe blood of الأعاديenemies بالفلاةِin the wilderness وهامُهاand their heads
دماءُ الأعادي بالفلاةِ وهامُها
It is as though, when he attacks, a torrent bearing flotsam
As if a belligerent army, when raiding,
were the enemies' blood and heads across the waste.
Its enemies' blood flows in the wilderness and its zeal.
إِذاwhen مَدَّspreads دُفَّاعُthe surging outflow of الجِراحِwounds بقفرةٍthrough a wilderness
إِذا مَدَّ دُفَّاعُ الجِراحِ بقفرةٍ
فصوَّانُهاthen its flint مُغْروْرقٌis drenched وسِلامُهاand its hard stones
فصوَّانُها مُغْروْرقٌ وسِلامُها
When the surging outflow of wounds spreads through a wilderness,
When its striking blades are bared
its flint is drenched, and its hard stones too.
Its swords glistening and its arrows serene.
وماand never زالَceased وطءُthe trampling of الخيلhorses تحتbeneath لوائهhis banner
وما زالَ وطءُ الخيل تحت لوائه
متونthe backs of الرُّبىhills حتىuntil اطمأنتsank low اِكامُهاtheir knolls
متون الرُّبى حتى اطمأنت اِكامُها
His horses kept trampling beneath his banner
And the horses' steps beneath his banner
the backs of the hills, until their knolls sank low.
Did not stop treading the fields until they calmed.
تعافُdisdain زُلالَlimpid الماءwater أنفسُthe spirits of خَيْلهِhis horses
تعافُ زُلالَ الماء أنفسُ خَيْلهِ
فمنso from مطرa rain of الأرماحِlances يُشفىis quenched أوامُهاtheir burning thirst
فمن مطر الأرماحِ يُشفى أوامُها
His horses' spirits disdain limpid water;
The souls of his horses heal from the water of lances
their burning thirst is quenched by a rain of lances.
As their wounds are healed by the rain of spears.
إِذاwhen أعرضتthey turn away عنfrom جمَّةٍa pool ذاتwith عرمضٍwaterweed
إِذا أعرضت عن جمَّةٍ ذات عرمضٍ
سَقاهاgive them drink منfrom الأعْداءenemies رِيّاًto their fill كِلامُهاthe wounds they inflict
سَقاها من الأعْداء رِيّاً كِلامُها
When they turn away from a pool covered in waterweed,
When it turns away from a swollen multitude
the wounds they inflict give them their fill from the foe.
Its drink from the enemies is ample nourishment.
تبارىthey race إِذاwhen جدَّgrows urgent الصريخُthe cry for help إِلىtoward الردىdeath
تبارى إِذا جدَّ الصريخُ إِلى الردى
ويكثرُand increases منfrom حرصeagerness for الطعانِlance-fighting عِذامهاtheir biting
ويكثرُ من حرص الطعانِ عِذامها
They race toward death when the cry for help grows urgent,
It competes when the battle cry leads to havoc
and, eager for spearplay, they bite more and more.
And the spears' thirst increases their piercing.
كفيلٌa provider بعسَّالَيْfor the two swayers of فَلاةٍdesert وغابةٍand forest
كفيلٌ بعسَّالَيْ فَلاةٍ وغابةٍ
إِذاwhen حميتgrows hot حربٌwar وطالand lasts long احتدامُهاits fury
إِذا حميت حربٌ وطال احتدامُها
He provides for the desert's loper and the forest's swayer,
A guarantor in the desolate plains and thickets
when war grows hot and its fury is prolonged:
When war rages and its flames rise high.
فسُمْرٌthus brown spears ومنand from ماءthe fluid of النُّحورthroats شرابُهاtheir drink
فسُمْرٌ ومن ماء النُّحور شرابُها
وغبرٌand gray wolves وأشلاءُand the limbs of الملوكِkings طَعامهاtheir food
وغبرٌ وأشلاءُ الملوكِ طَعامها
thus brown spears drink the fluid of throats,
So its juice is vinegar and its drink from the cisterns,
and gray wolves feast on the limbs of kings.
And dust and the limbs of kings are its food.
لهhe has منfrom راحthe hands of الخطِّal-Khatt ماwhat تحْطمshatters الوغىwar
له من راح الخطِّ ما تحْطم الوغى
وأرْماحُand spears of عزمٍresolve لاnot يُخافis feared انحطامهاtheir shattering
وأرْماحُ عزمٍ لا يُخاف انحطامها
He has from the hands of al-Khatt what war may shatter,
He has a firmness of purpose that crushes turmoil
and spears of resolve whose breaking is never feared.
And spears of resolve safe from breaking.
عجبتُI marvel لهat him نقلthe carrying of السلاحweapons ماwhat تحْطمshatters الوغىwar
عجبتُ له نقل السلاح ما تحْطم الوغى
ومنand from خوفهfear of him طردُthe rout of العِدىfoes وحمامهاand their death
ومن خوفه طردُ العِدى وحمامها
I marvel at his carrying weapons that war may shatter,
I am amazed by his carrying arms that crush turmoil
and from fear of him come his foes' rout and death.
And his fear expels the enemies and makes them flee.
وللطِّرْفِand at the noble steed أنَّىhow يستقلُّcan it bear its load إِذاwhen مشىit walks
وللطِّرْفِ أنَّى يستقلُّ إِذا مشى
بهwith him وهوwhile he is رضْوىRadwa أرضناof our land وشمامُهاand its Shamam
به وهو رضْوى أرضنا وشمامُها
And at the noble steed—how can it bear its load when it walks
That his gaze turns freely when he walks
with him, who is our land's Radwa and Shamam?
Leading us, honored in our land, its pillar.
وكيفand how يقودdoes he lead المجْرَthe great army وهوwhile he بنفسهِin himself
وكيف يقود المجْرَ وهو بنفسهِ
إِذاwhen ماindeed غزاhe attacks مَجْرُthe great army of الوغىwar ولُهامهاand its vast host
إِذا ما غزا مَجْرُ الوغى ولُهامها
And how does he lead the army, when he himself,
And how he leads the flood when he himself
whenever he attacks, is war's great army and vast host?
Is the torrent of battle and its surf.
بداappeared الجوْنُthe dark cloud تحدوهdrives it onward الجنوبthe south wind كأنهas though it
بدا الجوْنُ تحدوه الجنوب كأنه
عِشارُnear-term she-camels مخاضٍof a pregnant herd حانَhas come منهاfor them تمامُهاtheir full term
عِشارُ مخاضٍ حانَ منها تمامُها
The dark cloud appeared, driven by the south wind, as though
Youth appeared smiling though the southern winds challenged him
it were pregnant she-camels whose full term had come.
As if the pangs of labor had completed their course.
يضيءُit shines بعُلْويٍّwith lofty الوميضِflashes كأنماas though
يضيءُ بعُلْويٍّ الوميضِ كأنما
تألَّقَflashed فيin أيديthe hands of القُيونِsmiths حُسامهاtheir keen sword
تألَّقَ في أيدي القُيونِ حُسامها
It shines with lofty flashes, as though
He illuminates the gloom's glimmer as if
the smiths' keen sword glittered in their hands.
Swords shone in warriors hands unsheathed.
أعادturned ضياءthe brightness of الصُّبحmorning غِرْبيبthe pitch-blackness of ليلةٍa night
أعاد ضياء الصُّبح غِرْبيب ليلةٍ
فلولاbut were it not for التماعُthe flashing of البرقِlightning دامَwould endure ظلامُهاits darkness
فلولا التماعُ البرقِ دامَ ظلامُها
It turned the morning's brightness into a pitch-black night;
He brought back the dawn's radiance after a night
but for the lightning's flashes, its darkness would have endured.
Otherwise the lightning's flashes would have kept its darkness.
صوارخshrieks of رعْدٍthunder ماnever يكفُّceases قَؤولُهاits clamorous voice
صوارخ رعْدٍ ما يكفُّ قَؤولُها
وظِلْمانُand ostriches of جوْنٍdark cloud ماnever يخفgrows light ركامهاits piled masses
وظِلْمانُ جوْنٍ ما يخف ركامها
Shrieks of thunder, whose clamorous voice never ceases,
The roaring clouds do not cease their shouting
and dark-cloud ostriches, whose masses never grow light,
And the darkness of youth does not diminish its deposits.
كماas اصطرختclamored والحربwhile war شوهاءwas hideous بالردىwith death
كما اصطرخت والحرب شوهاء بالردى
طُبولُthe drums of ملوكٍkings بالعراءon open ground خِصامُهاtheir battle
طُبولُ ملوكٍ بالعراء خِصامُها
as, while war was hideous with death, there clamored
As the war shrieked, disfigured by havoc,
the drums of kings whose battle lay on open ground.
The drums of kings quarreled in the wilderness.
وماand never زالceased تمْريهِmilking it الصِّباthe east wind وتُدِرُّهُand drawing out its flow
وما زال تمْريهِ الصِّبا وتُدِرُّهُ
إِلىuntil أنthat هَمىit poured والأرضُwhile the earth بادٍwas visible قَتامهاits dust
إِلى أن هَمى والأرضُ بادٍ قَتامها
The east wind kept milking it and drawing forth its flow,
East wind kept aggravating it until it raged
until it poured down, with the earth's dust lying bare.
And the earth was desolate, its surface dark.
ومَدُّand the surge of أتيٍّa torrent ذوwith زُهاءٍgreat volume كأنَّهُas though it
ومَدُّ أتيٍّ ذو زُهاءٍ كأنَّهُ
طرائدُdriven bands of أذْوادٍsmall camel herds يجيشُseethes لُغامُهاtheir mouth-foam
طرائدُ أذْوادٍ يجيشُ لُغامُها
And a torrent's surge, vast in volume, seemed
The swell of a magnificent army, as if
like driven camel herds, their mouth-foam seething.
It were prey stirred, its clamor deafening.
فقلتَthen you said لأنْدىindeed more bountiful منهthan it فيin كلِّevery أزْمةٍhardship
فقلتَ لأنْدى منه في كلِّ أزْمةٍ
بنانُكyour fingertips يُغنيenriches المُعْتفينَthose seeking gifts انْثجامُهاtheir outpouring
بنانُك يُغني المُعْتفينَ انْثجامُها
Then you said: 'Truly more bountiful than it in every hardship
So I said to the most gentle among them in every crisis:
are your fingertips; their pouring enriches those who seek gifts.'
Your spears suffice the weak when their knots are tightened.
أبىrefused لكfor you وجدthe passion for المجدglory اِحداثto bring about سلوةٍforgetfulness
أبى لك وجد المجد اِحداث سلوةٍ
إِذاwhen ماindeed صباباتٌloves تقضَّىhas ended غَرامُهاtheir ardor
إِذا ما صباباتٌ تقضَّى غَرامُها
Your passion for glory refused to grant you forgetfulness,
Glory's passion refused you a life of ease
even when loves had spent their ardor.
When anxieties take their course unto death.
وزادكand increased you in أقوالُthe words of العواذلreprovers فيconcerning النَّدىgenerosity
وزادك أقوالُ العواذل في النَّدى
سخاءًgenerosity وقدand indeed كفَّrestrained الكِرامَthe noble مَلامُهاtheir reproach
سخاءً وقد كفَّ الكِرامَ مَلامُها
And the reprovers' words against generosity increased your
And the words of maidens increased your generosity in friendship
liberality, though their blame had checked the noble.
When the generous restrained blame.
فمنكso from you الْتِئامُthe mending of الشعبthe rift أعيْاdefied repair شتيتُهits scattered parts
فمنك الْتِئامُ الشعب أعيْا شتيتُه
ومنكَand from you صلاحthe improvement of الحالaffairs عَزَّwas hard to restore نِظامهاtheir order
ومنكَ صلاح الحال عَزَّ نِظامها
From you comes the mending of a rift whose scattered parts defied repair,
From you is the people's unity when dispersed
and from you, the setting right of affairs whose order was hard to restore.
And the wellbeing of the state when order was weakened.
نقيُّpure أديمِthe skin of العِرْضhonor عنfrom قولthe words of عائبٍa faultfinder
نقيُّ أديمِ العِرْض عن قول عائبٍ
إِذاwhen شانmarred أعراضَthe honor of العشائرِclans ذامُهاreproach against them
إِذا شان أعراضَ العشائرِ ذامُها
Your honor's skin is pure, untouched by any faultfinder's words,
Pure of the blemish of one who criticizes
when slander stains the honor of clans.
When the honor of tribes incites their blame.
فانْso if ذُكرتis mentioned نُعمىa favor فأنتthen you are جَوادهاits generous giver
فانْ ذُكرت نُعمى فأنت جَوادها
واِنْand if لقحتconceives حربٌwar فأنتthen you are هُمامُهاits valiant champion
واِنْ لقحت حربٌ فأنت هُمامُها
If a favor is mentioned, you are its generous giver;
If my blessings are mentioned, you are their source,
and if war conceives, you are its valiant champion.
And if war is ignited, you are its pillar.
Sol 6.1