إِنif كانَwas ذاكَthat الطَودُthe towering mountain خَfell (first part)
إِن كانَ ذاكَ الطَودُ خَ
رَّfell (last part) فَبَعدَthen after ماthat اِستَعلىrose high طَويلاfor long
رَّ فَبَعدَ ما اِستَعلى طَويلا
If that mountain has fallen,
If that towering mountain was once small,
it was after towering high so long.
After rising high for so long,
موفٍoverlooking عَلىabove القُلَلِthe peaks الذَواthe soaring (first part)
موفٍ عَلى القُلَلِ الذَوا
هِبِsoaring (last part) فيin العُلىloftiness عَرضاًin breadth وَطولاand in height
هِبِ في العُلى عَرضاً وَطولا
Overlooking the peaks that soar
Folding over the lofty peaks,
in loftiness, in breadth and height.
Towering mightily in the heights.
قَرمٌa noble sire يُسَدِّدُdirects لَحظَهُhis gaze
قَرمٌ يُسَدِّدُ لَحظَهُ
فَتَرىso you see القُرومَthe noble sires لَهُbefore him مُثولاstanding
فَتَرى القُرومَ لَهُ مُثولا
A noble sire who directs his gaze,
A fortification focusing its gaze,
so you see the sires standing before him.
You see the fortresses humbled before it.
وَيُرىand is seen عَزيزاًmighty حَيثُwherever حَلdwelt (first part)
وَيُرى عَزيزاً حَيثُ حَل
لَdwelt (last part) وَلاand not يَرىhe sees إِلّاexcept ذَليلاone abased
لَ وَلا يَرى إِلّا ذَليلا
And he is seen as mighty wherever he
It seems mighty wherever it settles,
dwells, and sees none but the abased.
Not seeing anything but the lowly.
كَاللَيثِlike the lion إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat he اِتadopted (first part)
كَاللَيثِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ اِت
تَخِذَadopted (last part) العُلىloftiness وَالمَجدَand glory غيلاa thicket
تَخِذَ العُلى وَالمَجدَ غيلا
Like a lion, except that he has
Like a lion but for the fact that it has made
made loftiness and glory his thicket.
Glory and honor its booty.
وَعَلاand rose عَلىabove الأَقرانِthe peers لاnot
وَعَلا عَلى الأَقرانِ لا
مِثلاًa like يُعَدُّhe is reckoned وَلاnor عَديلاan equal
مِثلاً يُعَدُّ وَلا عَديلا
He rose above his peers, deemed neither
It rose above its peers,
their like nor their equal.
With no equal or match.
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa people رَكِبواthey mounted العُلىthe heights
مِن مَعشَرٍ رَكِبوا العُلى
وَأَبَواand they refused عَنِfrom الكَرَمِnobility النُزولاto descend
وَأَبَوا عَنِ الكَرَمِ النُزولا
From a people who mounted the heights
From a people who mounted the heights
and refused to descend from nobility.
And refused to descend from generosity.
غُرٌّradiant men إِذاwhen نَسَبواthey ascribed لَناto us الthe
غُرٌّ إِذا نَسَبوا لَنا ال
غُرَرَforehead blazes اللَوامِعَthe gleaming وَالحُجولاand the white fetlocks
غُرَرَ اللَوامِعَ وَالحُجولا
Radiant men, when they ascribe to us
They are strange when they attribute to us
the gleaming forehead-blazes and white fetlocks.
The outstanding heroes and the brave youth.
كَرُمواthey were noble فُروعاًas branches بَعدَماafter
كَرُموا فُروعاً بَعدَما
طابواthey were sound وَقَدand already عُجِمواthey were tested أُصولاas roots
طابوا وَقَد عُجِموا أُصولا
They were noble as branches, after
They valued branches after
proving sound as roots when put to the test.
Their roots had flourished and grown.
نَسَبٌa lineage غَداbecame روّادُهُits scouts
نَسَبٌ غَدا روّادُهُ
يَستَنجِبونَchoose noble stock لَناfor us الفُحولاthe sires
يَستَنجِبونَ لَنا الفُحولا
A lineage whose scouts have come
A lineage whose seekers
to choose noble sires for us.
Come to us for the gallant men.
ياO ناظِرَeye الدينِthe faith الَّذيwho
يا ناظِرَ الدينِ الَّذي
رَجَعَreturned الزَمانُTime بِهِthrough him كَليلاblunted
رَجَعَ الزَمانُ بِهِ كَليلا
O eye of the faith, through whom
O beholder of the faith which
Time returned, its edge blunted.
Time has been brought back lowly through it.
ياO صارِمَkeen blade المَجدِglory الَّذيwhich
يا صارِمَ المَجدِ الَّذي
مُلِئَتwere filled مَضارِبُهُits striking edges فُلولاnotches
مُلِئَت مَضارِبُهُ فُلولا
O keen blade of glory, whose
O honor’s sword which
striking edges were filled with notches.
Its battlefields were filled with remnants.
ياO كَوكَبَstar الأَحسابِnoble lineages أَعhastened (first part)
يا كَوكَبَ الأَحسابِ أَع
جَلَكَhastened you (last part) الدُجىdarkness عَنّاaway from us أُفولاsetting
جَلَكَ الدُجى عَنّا أُفولا
O star of noble lineages, hastened
O star of the dynasties, your
by darkness to set and leave us.
Brilliance made the darkness clear for us.
ياO غارِبَcrest النِعَمِthe blessings العِظاthe mighty (first part)
يا غارِبَ النِعَمِ العِظا
مِmighty (last part) غَدَوتَyou became مَعموراًflourishing جَزيلاabundant
مِ غَدَوتَ مَعموراً جَزيلا
O crest of mighty blessings,
O vanishing of great bounties,
you became flourishing and abundant.
You have become settled with much.
ياO مُصعَبَuntamed mount العَلياءِeminence قاled (first part)
يا مُصعَبَ العَلياءِ قا
دَتكَled you (last part) العِداthe enemies نِقضاًa worn-out mount ذَلولاdocile
دَتكَ العِدا نِقضاً ذَلولا
O untamed mount of eminence, led
O climber of high places, your
by enemies, worn-out and docile.
Enemies walk humbly before you.
لَهفيmy grief عَلىfor ماضٍone departed قَضىdecreed
لَهفي عَلى ماضٍ قَضى
أَلّاthat not تَرىyou see مِنهُfrom him بَديلاa replacement
أَلّا تَرى مِنهُ بَديلا
My grief for one departed, whose passing decreed
I yearn for a past which is gone,
that you would see no replacement for him;
If only I could find a substitute for it!
وَزَوالُand the loss مُلكٍa realm لَمnot يَكُنwas
وَزَوالُ مُلكٍ لَم يَكُن
يَوماًone day يُقَدَّرُis expected أَنto يَزولاpass away
يَوماً يُقَدَّرُ أَن يَزولا
and for the loss of a realm never
The passing of a kingdom which
expected, on any day, to pass away;
Was never expected to decline.
وَمَنازِلٍand dwellings سَطَرَinscribed الزَماTime (first part)
وَمَنازِلٍ سَطَرَ الزَما
نُTime (last part) عَلىupon مَعالِمِهاtheir landmarks الحُؤولاchange
نُ عَلى مَعالِمِها الحُؤولا
and for dwellings where Time has written
And dwellings whose features
change upon their landmarks,
Time has marked for destruction.
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat كانَتthey were عَلىagainst الthe
مِن بَعدِ ما كانَت عَلى ال
أَيّامِdays مَربَأَةًa high lookout زَلولاslippery
أَيّامِ مَربَأَةً زَلولا
after they had stood against
After they were smooth-floored
the days as a lookout, too slippery to scale,
For the days, and steady.
وَالأُسدُand the lions تَرتَكِزُplant upright القَناthe spears
وَالأُسدُ تَرتَكِزُ القَنا
فيهاin them وَتَرتَبِطُand tether الخُيولاthe horses
فيها وَتَرتَبِطُ الخُيولا
and lions planted their spears
The lions prowled in them
there, and tethered their horses.
And the horses were tethered.
مَنwho يُسبِغُlavishes النِعَمَthe blessings الجِساthe mighty (first part)
مَن يُسبِغُ النِعَمَ الجِسا
مَmighty (last part) وَيَصطَفيand chooses المَجدَglory الجَزيلاabundant
مَ وَيَصطَفي المَجدَ الجَزيلا
Who lavishes mighty blessings
Who bestows bounty on the bodies
and chooses abundant glory?
And selects abundant honor?
مَنwho يُنتِجُmakes give birth الآمالَthe hopes يَوday (first part)
مَن يُنتِجُ الآمالَ يَو
مَday (last part) تَعودُthey return بِاللَيّانِthrough delay حولاbarren
مَ تَعودُ بِاللَيّانِ حولا
Who makes hopes give birth on the day
Who brings hopes the day
they come back barren through delay?
They return with gleamings?
مَنwho يورِدُbrings to water السُمرَthe brown lances الطِواthe long (first part)
مَن يورِدُ السُمرَ الطِوا
لَlong (last part) وَيُطعِمُand feeds البيضَthe helmets النُصولاthe spearheads
لَ وَيُطعِمُ البيضَ النُصولا
Who brings the long brown lances to water
Who supplies the darting light
and feeds the helmets spearheads?
And feeds the hissing sparks?
مَنwho يَزجُرُrebukes الدَهرَTime الغَشوthe ruthless (first part)
مَن يَزجُرُ الدَهرَ الغَشو
مَruthless (last part) وَيَكشِفُand dispels الخَطبَthe calamity الجَليلاthe mighty
مَ وَيَكشِفُ الخَطبَ الجَليلا
Who rebukes ruthless Time
Who rebukes the sly days
and dispels the mighty calamity?
And reveals the great perils?
وَتَراهُand you see him يَمنَعُholds back دونَناin our defense
وَتَراهُ يَمنَعُ دونَنا
واديvalley النَوائِبِthe calamities أَنthat يَسيلاit flows
وادي النَوائِبِ أَن يَسيلا
And you see him holding back, to shield us,
You see him holding back from us
the valley of calamities from flooding.
The valley of calamities lest it overflow.
عَقّادُbinder أَلوِيَةِbanners المُلوthe kings (first part)
عَقّادُ أَلوِيَةِ المُلو
كِkings (last part) عَلىon العُلىthe heights جيلاًa generation فَجيلاthen a generation
كِ عَلى العُلى جيلاً فَجيلا
Binder of the banners of kings
The knotter of the banners of kings
on the heights, generation after generation.
Upon the heights, for generations.
هَذاthis one وَكَمand how many حَربٍa war تَبُزstrips (first part)
هَذا وَكَم حَربٍ تَبُز
زُstrips (last part) الأُسدَthe lions سَطوَتُهاits onslaught الغَليلاburning thirst
زُ الأُسدَ سَطوَتُها الغَليلا
Such was he—and many a war whose
Many a war claws with its
onslaught robs lions of their burning thirst,
Might but it bites on granite.
صَمّاءُdeaf تُخرِسُsilences آلَهاits people
صَمّاءُ تُخرِسُ آلَها
إِلّاexcept for قِراعاًclashing arms أَوor صَهيلاneighing
إِلّا قِراعاً أَو صَهيلا
deaf, it strikes its people dumb
Growling, silencing its squeaks
save for clashing arms or neighing;
Save clashing or neighing.
وَالخَيلُand the horses عابِسَةٌgrim-faced تَجُرdrag (first part)
وَالخَيلُ عابِسَةٌ تَجُر
رُdrag (last part) مِنَof العَجاجِthe swirling dust بِهاthrough it ذُيولاtails
رُ مِنَ العَجاجِ بِها ذُيولا
and the horses, grim-faced, drag
The horses frown, dragging
tails of swirling dust through it—
Their tails harshly.
أَجتابُI traverse عارِضَهاits storm-cloud وَقَدand already
أَجتابُ عارِضَها وَقَد
رَحَلَsaddled المَنونُDeath بِهِwithin it هَمولاan untended camel
رَحَلَ المَنونُ بِهِ هَمولا
I traverse its storm-cloud, while
Their saddle-girths displaced, and
Death has saddled an untended camel within it.
Death has loaded them with burdens.
كَالثائِرِlike the enraged الضِرغامِthe lion إِنif
كَالثائِرِ الضِرغامِ إِن
لَبِسَdonned الوَغىbattle دَقَّcrushed الرَعيلاthe vanguard
لَبِسَ الوَغى دَقَّ الرَعيلا
Like a raging lion, if
Like the enraged stallion when
he dons battle, he crushes the vanguard.
It dons war's armor and pounds the ground.
صانَعتُI coaxed يَومَon the day فِراقِهِhis parting
صانَعتُ يَومَ فِراقِهِ
قَلباًa heart قَدِalready اِعتَنَقَembraced الغَليلاburning anguish
قَلباً قَدِ اِعتَنَقَ الغَليلا
On the day of his parting, I coaxed
On the day we parted I made
a heart that had embraced burning anguish.
A heart that embraced anguish.
ظَعَنَdeparted الغِنىprosperity عَنّيfrom me وَحَوand moved (first part)
ظَعَنَ الغِنى عَنّي وَحَو
وَلَmoved (last part) رَحلَهُits baggage إِلّاexcept قَليلاa little
وَلَ رَحلَهُ إِلّا قَليلا
Prosperity departed from me and moved
Wealth turned away from me and
its baggage, leaving only a little.
Its belongings left me little.
إِنif عادَhe returned يَوماًone day عادَreturned وَجface (first part)
إِن عادَ يَوماً عادَ وَج
هُface (last part) الدَهرِTime مُقتَبِلاًyouthful جَميلاfair
هُ الدَهرِ مُقتَبِلاً جَميلا
If he returns one day, the face
If it returns one day it will return
of Time returns youthful and fair.
With the world's face made beautiful.
وَلَئِنand even if مَضىhe went طَوعَobedient to المَنونِDeath
وَلَئِن مَضى طَوعَ المَنونِ
مُؤَمِّماًheading toward تِلكَthat السَبيلاpath
مُؤَمِّماً تِلكَ السَبيلا
And even if he went obedient to Death,
But if it passed willingly to death
making for that path,
Taking that road,
فَلَقَدthen indeed تَخَلَّفَremained behind مَجدُهُhis glory
فَلَقَد تَخَلَّفَ مَجدُهُ
عِبأًa burden عَلىupon الدُنياthe world ثَقيلاheavy
عِبأً عَلى الدُنيا ثَقيلا
his glory has indeed remained behind,
Then its glory remains
a heavy burden upon the world;
A burden heavy on the world.
وَاِستَذرَتِand sought shelter الأَيّامُthe days مِنfrom
وَاِستَذرَتِ الأَيّامُ مِن
نَفَحاتِهِhis bounteous breezes ظِلّاًa shade ظَليلاdeeply sheltering
نَفَحاتِهِ ظِلّاً ظَليلا
and the days have sought, from
And time has gained from
his bounteous breezes, a deep sheltering shade.
Its influences a lasting shade.
Sol 6.1