ماnot إِنemphasizes the negation رَأَيتُI have seen كَمَعشَرٍlike a company of people صَبَرواthey endured
ما إِن رَأَيتُ كَمَعشَرٍ صَبَروا
لِقَوارِعِunder the blows of اللَزَباتِcalamities وَالأَزمِand hardship
لِقَوارِعِ اللَزَباتِ وَالأَزمِ
Never have I seen the like of a people who endured
the crushing blows of calamities and hardship.
بَسَطواthey brightened الوُجوهَthe faces وَفيwhile within ضُلوعِهِمُtheir ribs
بَسَطوا الوُجوهَ وَفي ضُلوعِهِمُ
حُرَقُburning pangs الجَوىgrief وَمَآلِمُand the aches of الكَلمِwounds
حُرَقُ الجَوى وَمَآلِمُ الكَلمِ
They wore cheerful faces, while within their ribs
were grief's burning pangs and the aches of wounds.
جَمَحَتbolted بِهِمwith them خَيلُthe steeds of الأَسىsorrow فَثَنواso they bent
جَمَحَت بِهِم خَيلُ الأَسى فَثَنوا
أَعناقَهاtheir necks بِأَعِنَّةِwith the reins of الحَزمِresolve
أَعناقَها بِأَعِنَّةِ الحَزمِ
The steeds of sorrow bolted with them, so they bent
their necks with the reins of resolve.
Sol 6.1