لِحاظُglances المَهىthe oryxes لاnot بابِلٌBabylon تَنفُثُbreathe السِحراsorcery
لِحاظُ المَهى لا بابِلٌ تَنفُثُ السِحرا
وَخَمرُand the wine اللَّمىdarkness of the lips يُنسيmakes one forget صَريفَينِSarifayn وَالخَمراand wine
وَخَمرُ اللَّمى يُنسي صَريفَينِ وَالخَمرا
The oryxes' glances, not Babylon, breathe sorcery.
The delighted glances are not sorceresses breathing magic,
And the wine of dark lips makes one forget Sarifayn and wine.
And the wine of bliss makes my two companions forgetful, not the wine.
رَنونَthey gazed فَلَوthen if أَلفَينَthey found هاروتَHarut نافِثاًbreathing spells
رَنونَ فَلَو أَلفَينَ هاروتَ نافِثاً
وَماروتَand Marut جاءاهاboth would come to her لِيقَتَبِساto acquire السِحراsorcery
وَماروتَ جاءاها لِيقَتَبِسا السِحرا
They gazed; had they found Harut breathing spells,
The turtledoves are cooing; even if Harut and Marut come,
and Marut, the two would have come to her to acquire sorcery.
Breathing magic, they will not snatch the magic from it.
وَدونَand below الكَثيبِthe sand dune الفَردِthe solitary مِنfrom أَيمنِthe right-hand side of الحِمىthe protected grounds
وَدونَ الكَثيبِ الفَردِ مِن أَيمنِ الحِمى
ظِباءٌgazelles لَهاfor them أُسدُlions of الشَرىShara فيin الهَوىlove أَسرىcaptives
ظِباءٌ لَها أُسدُ الشَرى في الهَوى أَسرى
Below the solitary dune, on the right of the protected grounds,
Below the solitary hill on the right side of the sanctuary,
are gazelles who hold Shara's lions captive in love.
There are gazelles, for which the lion of evil is a prisoner of love.
وَسَمراءُand a dusky maiden فيin فيهاher mouth يَنابيعُsprings of قَرقَفٍwine
وَسَمراءُ في فيها يَنابيعُ قَرقَفٍ
وَلَكِنَّهاbut they مِنfrom ثَغرِهاher mouth حُصِبتwere pebbled دُرّاpearls
وَلَكِنَّها مِن ثَغرِها حُصِبت دُرّا
And a dusky maiden, in whose mouth are springs of wine,
And a dark one among them, in whom are bubbling springs,
yet those springs are pebbled with pearls from her mouth.
But she is veiled with pearls from her mouth.
أُحلَّأُI am driven away عَنهاfrom her ظامِياًthirsty غَيرَexcept أَنَّنيthat I
أُحلَّأُ عَنها ظامِياً غَيرَ أَنَّني
وَإِنand even if لَمnot أَذُقهاI tasted her لَلصَريعُsurely the one felled بِهاby her سُكراin drunkenness
وَإِن لَم أَذُقها لَلصَريعُ بِها سُكرا
I am kept from her, thirsty, yet I,
I refrain from her, though I am her lover,
though I have not tasted her, am surely felled by her, drunk.
And even if I do not taste her, I will be drunk with longing for her.
رَمَتنيshe struck me بِوَجدٍwith longing ثِقلُهُits weight ثِقلُthe weight of رِدفِهاher hips
رَمَتني بِوَجدٍ ثِقلُهُ ثِقلُ رِدفِها
فَهاso here أَناI مِنهُfrom it ناحِلٌwasted أُشبِهُI resemble الخَصراthe waist
فَها أَنا مِنهُ ناحِلٌ أُشبِهُ الخَصرا
She struck me with longing whose weight is the weight of her hips;
She shot me with a passion whose weight is like the weight of her buttocks,
so here I am, wasted by it, resembling her waist.
So here I am, made thin by it, resembling a waist.
فَمِنso from رِدفِهاher hips وَالوَجهِand the face وَالقَدِّand the stature سافِراًunveiled
فَمِن رِدفِها وَالوَجهِ وَالقَدِّ سافِراً
رَأَيتُI saw اِرتِجاجَthe quivering of الحِقفِthe sand dune وَالخَوطand the slender bough وَالبَدراand the full moon
رَأَيتُ اِرتِجاجَ الحِقفِ وَالخَوط وَالبَدرا
In her hips, her face, and her form, unveiled,
By her buttocks and face and stature, I saw
I saw a dune's quivering, a slender bough, and the full moon.
The shaking of her braids and the swaying of her hair and full moon.
أَبىrefused طَيفُهاher phantom الزَوّارُthe frequent visitor إِلّاanything but اِزوِرارَهُits turning aside
أَبى طَيفُها الزَوّارُ إِلّا اِزوِرارَهُ
فَهَلso did عَلمتهُyou teach it فيin الكَرىsleep الصَدَّrejection وَالهَجراand desertion
فَهَل عَلمتهُ في الكَرى الصَدَّ وَالهَجرا
Her oft-visiting phantom insisted on turning aside;
The visitors refused her shadow, desiring only her place of visitation.
did you teach it, in sleep, rejection and desertion?
So did you recognize separation and estrangement from her in the two worlds?
يَدوسُtreads on أَداحِيِّnesting hollows of النَعامِostriches اِعتِسافُهُits trackless wandering
يَدوسُ أَداحِيِّ النَعامِ اِعتِسافُهُ
وَيَخطوand steps over أَفاحيصَnesting scrapes of القَطاsandgrouse كُلَّماwhenever أَسرىit travels by night
وَيَخطو أَفاحيصَ القَطا كُلَّما أَسرى
Its trackless wandering treads on ostrich nesting hollows,
He walks upon the sand grouse of the ostriches submissively,
and steps over sandgrouse nests whenever it travels by night.
And he steps over the lynxes of the wildcats whenever he travels.
أَتىit came الشامَSyria مِنfrom أَكنافِthe outskirts of حاجِرHajir موهِناًlate at night
أَتى الشامَ مِن أَكنافِ حاجِر موهِناً
وَعادَand returned وَأسدافُand the veils of الدُجىdarkness تَكتُمُconceal الفَجراthe dawn
وَعادَ وَأسدافُ الدُجى تَكتُمُ الفَجرا
It came to Syria from Hajir's outskirts late at night,
He came to Syria from the valleys of Hajar submissively,
and returned while the veils of darkness concealed the dawn.
And returned while the darkness of night conceals the dawn.
فَقُلتُso I said لَهُto it أَهلاًwelcome وَسَهلاًand ease وَمَرحَباًand welcome
فَقُلتُ لَهُ أَهلاً وَسَهلاً وَمَرحَباً
بِطَيفِto the phantom of حَبيبٍa beloved طارِقٍa night visitor أَبعَدَit traveled far المَسرىthe night journey
بِطَيفِ حَبيبٍ طارِقٍ أَبعَدَ المَسرى
I said to it, 'Welcome, welcome, welcome
So I said to him, "Hello, welcome, greetings,
to a beloved's night-visiting phantom that has traveled far!'
To the beloved visitor who has lengthened the journey."
وَجابَand crossed المَواميthe wastes البيدَthe barren تَعزِفُmake music جِنُّهاtheir jinn
وَجابَ المَوامي البيدَ تَعزِفُ جِنُّها
وَفيهاand in them قُلوبُhearts of الرَّكبِthe caravan طائِرَةٌflying ذُعراin terror
وَفيها قُلوبُ الرَّكبِ طائِرَةٌ ذُعرا
It traversed the barren wastes whose jinn make music,
The tents were struck by the east wind, its jinn making music,
where the caravan's hearts fly with terror.
And the hearts of the caravan inside them were terrified.
فَماso not نِلتُI gained مِنهُfrom it غَيرanything but أَنthat صَدَّit turned away مُعرِضاًshunning
فَما نِلتُ مِنهُ غَير أَن صَدَّ مُعرِضاً
فَأَسمَعتُهُso I made it hear الشَكوىthe complaint فَأَوسَعَنيand it lavished on me هَجراdesertion
فَأَسمَعتُهُ الشَكوى فَأَوسَعَني هَجرا
Yet all I gained from it was that it turned away, shunning me;
I got nothing from him but aloofness and rejection,
I made it hear my complaint, and it lavished desertion on me.
So I heard his complaint, and it distanced me.
وَوَلّىand it turned away وَأَلقىand laid الوَجدَlonging بِالقَلبِon the heart بَركَهُits breast
وَوَلّى وَأَلقى الوَجدَ بِالقَلبِ بَركَهُ
فَأَذَرَتso poured out غُروبَtorrents of الدَمعِtears مُقلَتيmy eye الشَّكرىthe brimming
فَأَذَرَت غُروبَ الدَمعِ مُقلَتي الشَّكرى
It turned away, and longing laid its breast upon my heart;
He turned away and cast passion into my heart with his glance,
so my brimming eye poured out streams of tears.
So the setting of my tears shed the mucus of my eyes.
وَأَتبَعتُهُand I followed it لَمّاwhen تَوَلّىit turned away التِفاتَةًa glance
وَأَتبَعتُهُ لَمّا تَوَلّى التِفاتَةً
وَأَنَّةَand a groan of مَصدوعِone shattered in الحشاthe heart تَصدَعُsplits الصَخراthe rock
وَأَنَّةَ مَصدوعِ الحشا تَصدَعُ الصَخرا
As it departed, I followed it with a glance,
I followed him when he turned, with a glance,
and a shattered heart's groan that could split rock,
Like the glance of a wounded gazelle that splits rocks.
وَأَنفاسَand breaths of صَبٍّa lovesick lover لَوif دَناcame near مِنto زَفيرِهِhis sighing
وَأَنفاسَ صَبٍّ لَو دَنا مِن زَفيرِهِ
لَظىthe blaze of الرُمحthe spear قَيدَthe length of الرُمحِthe spear أَحرَقَتِthey would scorch الجَمراthe embers
لَظى الرُمح قَيدَ الرُمحِ أَحرَقَتِ الجَمرا
and a lover's breaths—were there to approach his sighing
And the breaths of a raging lion - if he came near his breath,
the spear's blaze, within a spear-length, they would scorch the embers.
The spear would be burnt by the spear, kindling embers.
تَوَلّىit turned away وَلَمّاand not yet أَقضِI fulfilled مِنهُfrom it لُبانَةًa desire
تَوَلّى وَلَمّا أَقضِ مِنهُ لُبانَةً
أَكانَwas it عَلَيهِincumbent on it أَنthat يُعَذِّبَنيit torment me نَذراa vow
أَكانَ عَلَيهِ أَن يُعَذِّبَني نَذرا
It departed before I had fulfilled a single longing through it;
He turned away before I got any sweetness from him.
was it bound by a vow to torment me?
Was it for him to torture me with vows?
أَبىrefused الحُبُّlove إِلّاanything but أَنَّنيthat I بَعدَafter عِزَّةٍhonor
أَبى الحُبُّ إِلّا أَنَّني بَعدَ عِزَّةٍ
ذَليلٌhumbled لِمَنbefore one who بِالحُبِّthrough love يَستَعبِدُenslaves الحَرّاthe free man
ذَليلٌ لِمَن بِالحُبِّ يَستَعبِدُ الحَرّا
Love insisted that, after honor,
Love refused except that after pride,
I am humbled before one who enslaves the free through love.
I am now humiliated by the one who enslaves the free with love.
وَماand not عاشِقٌa lover مَنone who لَيسَis not يَخضَعُsubmits ذِلةًin humiliation
وَما عاشِقٌ مَن لَيسَ يَخضَعُ ذِلةً
لِمَعشوقِهِto his beloved إِذwhile يلزَمُclings to العِزَّdignity وَالكبراand pride
لِمَعشوقِهِ إِذ يلزَمُ العِزَّ وَالكبرا
No lover is one who will not submit humbly
No lover is one who does not submit with humiliation
to his beloved, but clings to dignity and pride.
To his beloved, when honor and glory are required.
إِذاwhen ماever اِمرُؤٌa man وَدَّloves الغَوانيbeautiful women صَرَمنَهُthey forsake him
إِذا ما اِمرُؤٌ وَدَّ الغَواني صَرَمنَهُ
وَأَضرَمنَand they kindle فيin مَكنونِهِنَّtheir hidden hearts لَهُagainst him الغدراtreachery
وَأَضرَمنَ في مَكنونِهِنَّ لَهُ الغدرا
Whenever a man loves beautiful women, they forsake him
When a man loves singing girls and draws near to them,
and kindle treachery against him in their hidden hearts.
Desiring lasting wealth and youth,
يُرِدنَthey want ثَراءًwealth دائِماًenduring وَشبيبَةًand youth
يُرِدنَ ثَراءً دائِماً وَشبيبَةً
فَأحسِنso how excellent بِقَدريis my standing عِندَهُنَّwith them إِذنthen قَدراin worth
فَأحسِن بِقَدري عِندَهُنَّ إِذن قَدرا
They want enduring wealth and youth;
Treat me well, in their eyes, with what I have,
how fine, then, is my standing in their eyes!
Since my youth perished, and I have no more youth or plenty.
هُريقَwas poured away شَبابيmy youth وَاِستُشِنَّand was shriveled لِشَقوَتيto my misery
هُريقَ شَبابي وَاِستُشِنَّ لِشَقوَتي
أَديميmy skin فَلَمso not أَملِكI possess شَباباًyouth وَلاnor وَفراwealth
أَديمي فَلَم أَملِك شَباباً وَلا وَفرا
My youth was poured away, and, to my misery, withered
How can a lover attain the white and the brown
was my skin; I possess neither youth nor wealth.
When he is seen bankrupt, without any white or yellow?
وَكَيفَand how يَنالُcan attain البيضَthe fair women وَالسُمرَand the dusky women عاشِقٌa lover
وَكَيفَ يَنالُ البيضَ وَالسُمرَ عاشِقٌ
يُرىis seen مُفلِساًpenniless لاnot يَملِكhe possesses البيضَsilver coins وَالصُفراand gold coins
يُرى مُفلِساً لا يَملِك البيضَ وَالصُفرا
How can a lover win fair women and dusky ones,
A shining thread of dawn became clear to me
when he is seen penniless, possessing neither silver nor gold?
Next to a gloomy thread - the parting line of hair.
تَبَيَّنَappeared ليto me خَيطٌa thread مِنَof الفَجرِthe dawn ناصِعٌbright
تَبَيَّنَ لي خَيطٌ مِنَ الفَجرِ ناصِعٌ
إِلىat جَنبِthe side of خَيطٍa thread حالِكٍpitch-black وَخَطstreaked with gray الشَعراthe hair
إِلى جَنبِ خَيطٍ حالِكٍ وَخَط الشَعرا
A shining thread of dawn appeared to me,
It warned me of my youth when I did not hope for return,
beside a pitch-black thread, streaking my hair with gray.
And it parted from me, its shade and greenness.
نَباturned away بيfrom me شَبابيmy youth حينَwhen لَمnot أَرجُI hoped for عَودَةًa return
نَبا بي شَبابي حينَ لَم أَرجُ عَودَةً
وَفارَقتand I left مِنهُfrom it الظِلَّthe shade وَالورقand the leaves الخُضراthe green
وَفارَقت مِنهُ الظِلَّ وَالورق الخُضرا
My youth deserted me when I had no hope of its return,
Oh how I yearn for the pleasures of youth and its prime!
and I left its shade and green leaves behind.
How good are its pleasures and how beautiful its prime!
أَلهفيalas for me عَلىfor لَهوِthe pleasures of الشَبابِyouth وَعَصرِهِand its season
أَلهفي عَلى لَهوِ الشَبابِ وَعَصرِهِ
فَياso how طيبَهُsweet it was لَهواًas pleasure وَياand how حُسنَهُlovely it was عَصراas a season
فَيا طيبَهُ لَهواً وَيا حُسنَهُ عَصرا
Alas for youth's pleasures and its season!
Expecting Salah al-Din to be virtuous lessened my despair
How sweet its pleasures, how lovely its season!
Over the return of my youth; may he grant me plenty!
وَهَوَّنَand eased عِنديfor me اليَأسَdespair مِنof عَودَةِthe return of الصِبىyouth
وَهَوَّنَ عِندي اليَأسَ مِن عَودَةِ الصِبى
رَجاءُthe hope of صَلاحِSalah الدينِal-Din أَنthat يَهَبَhe would bestow الوَفراabundance
رَجاءُ صَلاحِ الدينِ أَن يَهَبَ الوَفرا
What eased my despair of youth's return
Good fortune shouted for him through time, with wealth,
was the hope that Salah al-Din would bestow abundance.
But none complained of poverty except me.
لَقَدindeed هَتَفَتproclaimed يُمناهُhis right hand فيin الدَهرِtime بِالغِنىwith wealth
لَقَد هَتَفَت يُمناهُ في الدَهرِ بِالغِنى
فَماso not أَحَدٌanyone غَيريother than me بِهِin it يَشتَكيcomplains of الفَقراpoverty
فَما أَحَدٌ غَيري بِهِ يَشتَكي الفَقرا
His right hand has indeed proclaimed wealth throughout the age,
It sufficed to take his place during his absences,
so none but me in it complains of poverty.
His good fortune taking luck's place, and for ill-fortune, its counterpart.
فَكَفّاهُso his two palms كَفّاhave checked نائِباتcalamities of نُيوبِهِits fangs
فَكَفّاهُ كَفّا نائِبات نُيوبِهِ
وَلليُمنِand for good fortune يُمناهُhis right hand وَلِليُسُرِand for ease اليُسرىthe left hand
وَلليُمنِ يُمناهُ وَلِليُسُرِ اليُسرى
His two hands have checked the calamities of its fangs;
So welcome is the one who brings me eloquence!
his right hand brings good fortune, his left brings ease.
He will be like the one who gave dried dates to estrangement.
فَصيحٌeloquent فَمَنso whoever أَهدىoffers إِلَيهِto him فَصاحَةًeloquence
فَصيحٌ فَمَن أَهدى إِلَيهِ فَصاحَةً
يَكُنwill be مِثلَlike مَنone who أَهدىoffers إِلىto هَجَرHajar التمراdates
يَكُن مِثلَ مَن أَهدى إِلى هَجَر التمرا
He is eloquent; whoever offers eloquence to him
His swords and his spears have become like him,
is like one who offers dates to Hajar.
Grieving at the calamities of war - victory and triumph!
غَدَتhave become مِثلهُlike him أَسيافُهُhis swords وَرِماحُهُand his spears
غَدَت مِثلهُ أَسيافُهُ وَرِماحُهُ
يَحُزنَthey gain بِحَوماتِin the thick of الوَغىbattle الفَتحconquest وَالنَصراand victory
يَحُزنَ بِحَوماتِ الوَغى الفَتح وَالنَصرا
His swords and spears have become like him:
Damascus is paradise, good in its scent,
they win conquest and victory in the thick of battle.
He is the sun; none has made for it besides him a veil.
دِمَشقُDamascus هِيَit الفِردَوسُparadise طيباًin sweetness وَعَدلُهُand his justice
دِمَشقُ هِيَ الفِردَوسُ طيباً وَعَدلُهُ
هُوَit الشَمسُthe sun لَمnot يَجعَلhe has placed لَهاfor it دونَهُbefore it سِتراa veil
هُوَ الشَمسُ لَم يَجعَل لَها دونَهُ سِترا
Damascus is paradise in its sweetness, and his justice
O king of Islam, you have remained in the world
is the sun, before which he has placed no veil.
For ages, with good remembrance - oh, what a remembrance!
فَياso O مَلِكَking of الإِسلامِIslam أَبقَيتَyou have left فيamong الوَرىhumankind
فَيا مَلِكَ الإِسلامِ أَبقَيتَ في الوَرى
لَكَfor you الدَهرَthrough all time ذِكراًa remembrance طيباًsweet ياO لَهُfor it ذِكراa remembrance
لَكَ الدَهرَ ذِكراً طيباً يا لَهُ ذِكرا
O king of Islam, you have left among humankind
You attained what was beyond the hopes of wishes in your worldly life,
a sweet remembrance of yourself for all time—what a remembrance!
And reasoning was absorbed in thought of your kingdom.
لَنِلتَyou have indeed attained الَّذيthat which فاتَsurpassed الأَمانِيَّwishes شَأوُهُits reach
لَنِلتَ الَّذي فاتَ الأَمانِيَّ شَأوُهُ
مِنَof الملكِdominion فيin دُنياكَyour earthly life وَاِستَغرَقَand exhausted الفِكراthought
مِنَ الملكِ في دُنياكَ وَاِستَغرَقَ الفِكرا
You have indeed attained what lies beyond the reach of wishes,
Your generosity covered all people and singled them out,
of dominion in your earthly life, exhausting all thought.
And we have not seen before it generosity that filled the ages.
فَجودُكَso your generosity عَمَّencompassed العالَمينَall people وَخَصَّهُمand singled them out
فَجودُكَ عَمَّ العالَمينَ وَخَصَّهُم
وَلَمand not نَرَwe have seen جوداًgenerosity قَبلَهُbefore it مَلأَfilled الدَّهراtime
وَلَم نَرَ جوداً قَبلَهُ مَلأَ الدَّهرا
Your bounty has embraced all people and each in particular;
The brown refused that you should own it completely
we have never seen a generosity before it fill all time.
And the drinking of the mouths of the white refused your conquest.
أَبىdenied لَكَto you لَثمُkissing السُمرِthe dusky women إِعمالَكَyour wielding السُّمراthe dusky spears
أَبى لَكَ لَثمُ السُمرِ إِعمالَكَ السُّمرا
وَرَشفُand sipping ثُغورِlips of البيضِthe fair women أَنthat تَملِكَyou hold الثَغراthe frontier
وَرَشفُ ثُغورِ البيضِ أَن تَملِكَ الثَغرا
Wielding dusky spears has denied you kisses from dusky women,
The she-camel foal ran with your galloping in battle,
and holding the frontier, sips from fair women's mouths;
A virgin she-camel upon which you wreak havoc with the virginity of war.
وَضمand embracing الحِصانthe chaste woman البكرthe virgin رَكضَكَyour galloping فيin الوَغىbattle
وَضم الحِصان البكر رَكضَكَ في الوَغى
حِصاناًa stallion عَلَيهِon it تَفتِكُyou strike الفَتكَةَthe deadly blow البِكراthe unprecedented
حِصاناً عَلَيهِ تَفتِكُ الفَتكَةَ البِكرا
galloping into battle has denied you a chaste virgin's embrace—
Your love, demolishing the tents of your enemies,
on a stallion, dealing a stroke of slaughter never dealt before.
Reconciled the tents of hostility to live in the palaces.
وَحُبُّكَand your love of تَطنيبَpitching الخِيامthe tents مُقَوِّضاًdismantling
وَحُبُّكَ تَطنيبَ الخِيام مُقَوِّضاً
خِيامَthe tents of العِداthe enemy بِالقَسرِby force أَنthat تَألَفَyou frequent القَصراthe palace
خِيامَ العِدا بِالقَسرِ أَن تَألَفَ القَصرا
And your love of pitching tents, as you pull down
Your entering the banners as yellow lions
the enemy's tents by force, bars you from dwelling in the palace;
And sending them out as banners saturating with red blood.
وَإيرادُكَand your bringing to water الراياتِthe banners صُفراًyellow صَوادِياًthirsty
وَإيرادُكَ الراياتِ صُفراً صَوادِياً
وَإِصدارُهاand bringing them back رَيّاquenched تَمُجُّspewing دِماًblood حُمراred
وَإِصدارُها رَيّا تَمُجُّ دِماً حُمرا
and your bringing the banners to water, yellow and thirsty,
Your horses covering fearful cowardice with dishevelment,
then bringing them back quenched, spewing crimson blood.
Accustomed by you to victory and triumph.
فَخَيلُكَso your horses تَغشىplunge into الرَّوعَterror شُعثاًshaggy ضَوامِراًlean
فَخَيلُكَ تَغشى الرَّوعَ شُعثاً ضَوامِراً
شَوازِبَgaunt قَدalready عَوَّدتهاyou have accustomed them to الفَتحَconquest وَالنَصراand victory
شَوازِبَ قَد عَوَّدتها الفَتحَ وَالنَصرا
Your horses plunge into terror, shaggy and lean,
You see war as a meadow, and the coats of mail upon it as meadows,
gaunt, trained by you to conquest and victory.
And the spearheads as blossoms and their poles as flowers.
تَرىthey see الحَربَwar رَوضاًa meadow وَالدُروعَand the armor بِهاin it أَضىًpools
تَرى الحَربَ رَوضاً وَالدُروعَ بِها أَضىً
وَسُمرَand the brown القَناspear-shafts دَوحاًgreat trees وَخِرصانَهاand their spearheads زَهراflowers
وَسُمرَ القَنا دَوحاً وَخِرصانَها زَهرا
They see war as a meadow, and armor there as pools,
Their blades glorified by your humiliating the enemies,
brown spear-shafts as great trees, and their spearheads as flowers.
So they trampled cheeks that were terrible in their glory.
سَنابِكُهاtheir hooves عَزَّتgained glory بِإِذلالِكَthrough your humbling of العِداthe enemy
سَنابِكُها عَزَّت بِإِذلالِكَ العِدا
فَداسَتso they trampled خُدوداًcheeks كُنَّthat were مِنfrom عِزِّهاtheir pride صُعراhaughtily averted
فَداسَت خُدوداً كُنَّ مِن عِزِّها صُعرا
Their hooves gained glory through your humbling of the enemy,
And how many an invincible fortress you married by surrendering,
and trampled cheeks once turned aside in pride.
Then divorced from it after its chastity of disbelief!
وَكَمand how many قَلعَةٍa fortress أَنكَحتَهاyou married it to السِلمَpeace عاصِماًas protector
وَكَم قَلعَةٍ أَنكَحتَها السِلمَ عاصِماً
وَطَلَّقتَand you divorced مِنهاfrom it بَعدَafter عِصمَتِهاits marriage bond الكُفراunbelief
وَطَلَّقتَ مِنها بَعدَ عِصمَتِها الكُفرا
How many a fortress you have married to peace, as its protector,
Islam then sang of it, raising its voice,
and divorced unbelief from it once its bond was secure!
Singing, while the enemies looked upon it with dismay.
فَغَنّىso sang بِهاin it الإِسلامُIslam رافِعَraising صَوتِهِits voice
فَغَنّى بِها الإِسلامُ رافِعَ صَوتِهِ
يُغَرِّدُwarbling وَالأَعداءُand the enemies تَنظُرُهاeye it شَزراaskance
يُغَرِّدُ وَالأَعداءُ تَنظُرُها شَزرا
There Islam sang, raising its voice,
We did not willingly marry their brides,
warbling as enemies eyed it askance:
Rather, we married them by force of our swords.
وَماand not أَنكَحوناthey wed us to طائِعينَwillingly فَتاتَهُمtheir maiden
وَما أَنكَحونا طائِعينَ فَتاتَهُم
وَلَكِنbut نَكَحناهاwe married her بِأَسيافِناwith our swords قَسراby force
وَلَكِن نَكَحناها بِأَسيافِنا قَسرا
'They did not willingly give us their maiden in marriage,
The armies of polytheism rushed to seek vengeance,
but we married her by force, with our swords.'
Facing you, so they were the sacrifice, awaiting slaughter.
وَجاشَتand surged جُيوشُarmies of الشِركِpolytheism تَطلُبُseeking ثَأرَهاtheir revenge
وَجاشَت جُيوشُ الشِركِ تَطلُبُ ثَأرَها
لَدَيكَbefore you فَكانواso they became الهَديَthe sacrificial beasts يَنتَظِرُawaiting النَّحراslaughter
لَدَيكَ فَكانوا الهَديَ يَنتَظِرُ النَّحرا
The armies of polytheism surged, seeking their revenge
They came to you, and the mouths of death were gaping
before you, only to become sacrificial beasts awaiting slaughter.
To stab them and strike them a violent blow.
أَتَوكَthey came to you وَأَفواهُand the mouths of المَناياdeaths فَواغِرٌgaping
أَتَوكَ وَأَفواهُ المَنايا فَواغِرٌ
لِتَطعَنَهُمfor you to stab them شَزراًobliquely وَتَضرِبَهُمand strike them هَبراin cleaving blows
لِتَطعَنَهُم شَزراً وَتَضرِبَهُم هَبرا
They came to you while death's mouths gaped,
You struck winter in its sinuses, striving,
for you to thrust at them sideways and strike them with cleaving blows.
Then you left an easy plain from what did not cease to be difficult.
ضَرَبتَyou struck الشِتاwinter فيin أَخدَعَيهِits two neck-veins مُجاهِداًstriving in battle
ضَرَبتَ الشِتا في أَخدَعَيهِ مُجاهِداً
فَغادَرتَso you left سَهلاًsmooth مِنكَthrough you ماwhat لَمnot يَزَلceased to be وَعراrugged
فَغادَرتَ سَهلاً مِنكَ ما لَم يَزَل وَعرا
You struck winter's two neck-veins as you fought,
Your army is not turned back from the enemies by heat,
and through you left smooth what had always been rugged.
Nor did it fear a rugged mountain or dread a boulder.
فَجَيشُكَso your army ماnot يُثنيهِdeters it قَيظٌsummer heat عَنِfrom العِداthe enemy
فَجَيشُكَ ما يُثنيهِ قَيظٌ عَنِ العِدا
وَلاnor خافَfeared مِنfrom صِنٍّbitter cold وَلاnor هابَdreaded صِنبراfreezing cold
وَلا خافَ مِن صِنٍّ وَلا هابَ صِنبرا
No summer heat turns your army from the enemy,
It is patient, as if patience were its companion that preoccupies it,
nor has it feared bitter cold or dreaded freezing weather.
Whenever your enemies see patience, it sees patience.
صَبورٌpatient كَأَنَّas though الصَّبرَendurance أَريٌhoney يَشورُهُit harvests
صَبورٌ كَأَنَّ الصَّبرَ أَريٌ يَشورُهُ
إِذاwhen ماever رَأَتsee أَعداؤُكَyour enemies الصَّبِرَbitter aloe الصَّبراendurance
إِذا ما رَأَت أَعداؤُكَ الصَّبِرَ الصَّبرا
Patient, as though endurance were honey it harvests,
The hearts of the Franks, all of them, are behind their rear,
whenever your enemies see endurance as bitter aloe.
While you in the land of Syria have terrified hearts.
قُلوبُhearts of الأولىthose who خَلفَare behind الفَرَنجَةِthe Franks كُلِّهِمall of them
قُلوبُ الأولى خَلفَ الفَرَنجَةِ كُلِّهِم
وَأَنتَwhile you بِأَرضِin the land of الشامِSyria طائِرَةٌflying ذُعراin terror
وَأَنتَ بِأَرضِ الشامِ طائِرَةٌ ذُعرا
The hearts of those behind all the Franks,
May the God of mankind reward you with the best of His rewards
while you are in Syria, fly with terror.
And make you succeed in the world and grant you gratitude.
جَزاكَmay He reward you إِلَهُthe God of الناسِmankind خَيرَthe best of جَزائِهِHis reward
جَزاكَ إِلَهُ الناسِ خَيرَ جَزائِهِ
وَخَوَّلَكَand grant you الدُنياthe world وَأَوزَعَكَand inspire you to الشُكراgratitude
وَخَوَّلَكَ الدُنيا وَأَوزَعَكَ الشُكرا
May the God of mankind grant you His best reward,
Every day you bring a renewed victory,
give you the world, and inspire you to gratitude.
Wishing by it good tidings, and you give us glad tidings,
فَلاso no يَومَday إِلاexcept فيهِin it فَتحٌa conquest مُجَدَّدٌrenewed
فَلا يَومَ إِلا فيهِ فَتحٌ مُجَدَّدٌ
تُريدُyou seek بِهِthrough it بِشراًjoy وَتُهديand bring لَناto us بُشرىglad tidings
تُريدُ بِهِ بِشراً وَتُهدي لَنا بُشرى
No day passes without a fresh conquest,
With al-Malik al-Nasir, support increased,
through which you seek joy and bring us glad tidings.
We subdue the tyrants of time by force.
بِالمَلِكِthrough the king الناصِرِal-Nasir زادَmay he increase نَصراin victory
بِالمَلِكِ الناصِرِ زادَ نَصرا
نَقهَرُwe subdue لَزباتِhardships of الزَمانِtime قَهراutterly
نَقهَرُ لَزباتِ الزَمانِ قَهرا
Through al-Malik al-Nasir—may his victory increase—
It suffices to take his place when his might grows intense,
we utterly subdue the hardships of time.
His good fortune giving luck, and misfortune its counterpart.
كَفّاهُhis two hands كَفّاhave checked نابَthe fang of بَأسائِهِits afflictions
كَفّاهُ كَفّا نابَ بَأسائِهِ
يُمناهُhis right hand يُمنٌgood fortune وَاليَسارُand the left hand اليُسرىease
يُمناهُ يُمنٌ وَاليَسارُ اليُسرى
His two hands have checked the fang of its afflictions;
He pursued humiliation with more humiliation,
his right hand is blessing, his left is ease.
And Caesar by force of swords - defeat.
أَتبَعَhe made follow ذُلّاًhumiliation تُبَّعاًTubba وَقَيصَراand Caesar
أَتبَعَ ذُلّاً تُبَّعاً وَقَيصَرا
قَسراًby force وَكِسرىand Kisra بِالسُيوفِwith swords كَسراshattering
قَسراً وَكِسرى بِالسُيوفِ كَسرا
He subjected Tubba and Caesar to humiliation,
And I have companions who lavished favors on me and them
by force, and shattered Kisra with swords.
With gifts that do not cease to be seen.
وَليand I have صِحابٌcompanions عَمَّنيhe favored me وَعَمَّهُمand favored them
وَلي صِحابٌ عَمَّني وَعَمَّهُم
بِمَكرُماتٍwith noble gifts ماnot تَزالُcease تَترىcoming in succession
بِمَكرُماتٍ ما تَزالُ تَترى
I have companions whom, like me, he has embraced
But I have less fortune than them
with noble gifts that come in ceaseless succession.
In what comes to me from his gifts.
لَكِنَّنيbut I أَنقَصُless favored حَظّاًin share مِنهُمُthan them
لَكِنَّني أَنقَصُ حَظّاً مِنهُمُ
فيماin what أَتانيcame to me مِنfrom نَداهُhis bounty بِرّاas kindness
فيما أَتاني مِن نَداهُ بِرّا
Yet my share is smaller than theirs
And so my banners have become, in merit,
in the kindness his bounty has brought me.
Yellow, while the hands of the people from it are yellow.
هَذاthis وَراياتِيَand my banners فيin الفَضلِexcellence غَدَتhave become
هَذا وَراياتِيَ في الفَضلِ غَدَت
صُفراًyellow وَأَيديand the hands of القَومِthe others مِنهُof it صِفراempty
صُفراً وَأَيدي القَومِ مِنهُ صِفرا
And this, though my banners of excellence have become
The utmost ingratitude is to make those
yellow, while the others' hands are empty of it.
Five good deeds, in my view, ten.
وَغايَةُand the utmost البُغيَةِthe wish أَنthat تُجعَلَbe made تِلthose (first part)
وَغايَةُ البُغيَةِ أَن تُجعَلَ تِل
كَ(completes 'those') الحَسَناتُthe favors الخَمسُthe five عِنديfor me عَشراten
كَ الحَسَناتُ الخَمسُ عِندي عَشرا
My utmost wish is that those
Or to see them resembling his swords,
five favors be made ten for me,
Wanting white but returning red.
أَوor أَنthat أَراهاI see them أَشبَهَتhave resembled سُيوفَهُhis swords
أَو أَن أَراها أَشبَهَت سُيوفَهُ
يَرِدنَthey arrive بيضاًwhite وَيَعُدنَand they return حُمراred
يَرِدنَ بيضاً وَيَعُدنَ حُمرا
or that I see them resemble his swords:
they arrive white and return red.
Partial English translation: 120 of 122 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1