أُنظُرlook إِلىat الأَيّامِthe days كَّيفَhow تَعودُthey return
أُنظُر إِلى الأَيّامِ كَّيفَ تَعودُ
وَإِلىand at المَعاليhigh honors الغُرِّradiant كَيفَhow تَزيدُthey increase
وَإِلى المَعالي الغُرِّ كَيفَ تَزيدُ
Look at the days, how they return,
I look at the days, how they recur,
and at radiant honors, how they increase.
And at glory's peaks, how they increase,
وَإِلىand at الزَمانِTime نَباturned hostile وَعاوَدَand renewed عَطفَهُits favor
وَإِلى الزَمانِ نَبا وَعاوَدَ عَطفَهُ
فَاِرتاحَso rejoiced ظَمآنٌa thirsty one وَأَورَقَand put forth leaves عودُa branch
فَاِرتاحَ ظَمآنٌ وَأَورَقَ عودُ
And at Time: it turned hostile, then renewed its favor,
And at time smiling and repeating its affection,
so a thirsty soul rejoiced, and a branch put forth leaves.
So a thirsty man rests, and a dry branch greens.
نِعَمٌblessings طَلَعنَarose عَلىbefore العَدوِّthe enemy بِغَيظِهِto his vexation
نِعَمٌ طَلَعنَ عَلى العَدوِّ بِغَيظِهِ
فَتَرَكنَهُso they left him حَمِرَenraged الجِنانِat heart يَميدُreeling
فَتَرَكنَهُ حَمِرَ الجِنانِ يَميدُ
Blessings arose before the enemy, to his vexation,
Good fortune shone on the enemy in his rage,
leaving him enraged at heart and reeling.
Leaving him fuming in dark redness.
قَدindeed عاوَدَhas returned to الأَيّامَthe days ماءُthe water شَبابِهاof their youth
قَد عاوَدَ الأَيّامَ ماءُ شَبابِها
فَالعَيشُso life غَضٌّfresh وَاللَياليand the nights غيدُsoft and graceful
فَالعَيشُ غَضٌّ وَاللَيالي غيدُ
The water of their youth has returned to the days;
The days have brought back their waters of youth,
so life is fresh, and the nights are soft and graceful.
So life is tender, and the nights dewy.
إِقبالُan onrush عزٍّof might كَالأَسِنَّةِlike spearheads مُقبِلٌadvancing
إِقبالُ عزٍّ كَالأَسِنَّةِ مُقبِلٌ
يَمصيadvances (text uncertain) وَجَدُّand fortune فيin العَلاءِhigh honor جَديدُrenewed
يَمصي وَجَدُّ في العَلاءِ جَديدُ
An onrush of might advances like spearheads,
The fortune of glory comes inclining like spear points,
pressing onward, while fortune in high honor is renewed.
Sucking sweetness in the heights, ever new.
وَعُلىًand lofty honor لِأَبلَجَfor a radiant man مِنfrom ذُؤابَةِthe highest crest of هاشِمٍHashim
وَعُلىً لِأَبلَجَ مِن ذُؤابَةِ هاشِمٍ
يُثنىis draped عَليهِaround him السُؤدُدُnobility المَعقودُfirmly bound
يُثنى عَليهِ السُؤدُدُ المَعقودُ
And lofty honor belongs to a radiant man from Hashim's highest crest,
And a lofty Ulya for the most glorious Hashim,
around whom firmly bound nobility is draped.
Praised by plaits piled upon his head.
قَدindeed فاتَoutstripped مَطلوباًwhen pursued وَأَدرَكَand overtook طالِباًwhen pursuing
قَد فاتَ مَطلوباً وَأَدرَكَ طالِباً
وَمَقارِعوهُand his rivals عَلىbefore الأُمورِaffairs قُعودُsitting idle
وَمَقارِعوهُ عَلى الأُمورِ قُعودُ
Pursued, he outstripped; pursuing, he overtook,
He has missed what he sought and found what he wanted,
while his rivals sit idle before affairs.
While his opponents in affairs remain seated.
خَسَأَتrecoiled عُيونُهُمُtheir eyes وَقَدand already طَمَحَتhad strained upward لَهُtoward him
خَسَأَت عُيونُهُمُ وَقَد طَمَحَت لَهُ
عُدَدٌresources عِراضٌvast فيin العُلىhigh honor وَعَديدُand a numerous following
عُدَدٌ عِراضٌ في العُلى وَعَديدُ
Their eyes recoiled, though they had strained toward him;
Their eyes have grown dim, though they aspired high-
his resources in high honor are vast, his following numerous.
Many lofty, noble deeds, and more.
ماnot صالَhe charged إِلّاexcept that اِنجابَcleared away غَيٌّerror مُظلِمٌdark
ما صالَ إِلّا اِنجابَ غَيٌّ مُظلِمٌ
وَاِندَقَّand was shattered مِنamong عَمَدِthe pillars الضَلالِof delusion عَمودُa pillar
وَاِندَقَّ مِن عَمَدِ الضَلالِ عَمودُ
Whenever he charged, dark error cleared away,
No treaty but the obscuring of dark confusion
and a pillar among delusion's pillars was shattered.
And the pillars of misguidance tottering.
يَأَسوhe heals وَيَجرَحُand wounds فَالجِراحَةُso the wounding عَزمَةٌa stroke of resolve
يَأَسو وَيَجرَحُ فَالجِراحَةُ عَزمَةٌ
تُصمىstrikes mortally وَآسيهاand its healer النَدىbounty وَالجودُand generosity
تُصمى وَآسيها النَدى وَالجودُ
He heals and wounds; his wounding is a stroke of resolve
He despairs and is wounded, but wounding is resolve,
that strikes mortally, while bounty and generosity heal it.
Hardened, and its pain eased by dew and munificence.
سَطوٌassault وَصَفحٌand pardon يَطرُقانِboth visit عَدُوَّهُhis enemy
سَطوٌ وَصَفحٌ يَطرُقانِ عَدُوَّهُ
أَبَداًalways وَوَعدٌand a promise صادِقٌtrue وَوَعيدُand a threat
أَبَداً وَوَعدٌ صادِقٌ وَوَعيدُ
Assault and pardon visit his enemy
Power and pardon assail his enemy forever,
always, along with a true promise and a threat.
And a true promise and threat.
عَنfrom أَيِّwhat باعٍreach فيin العَلاءِhigh honor رَمَيتُمُyou shot at
عَن أَيِّ باعٍ في العَلاءِ رَمَيتُمُ
لَيثاًa lion تَقيهِprotect him مَقادِرٌdestinies وَجُدودُand good fortunes
لَيثاً تَقيهِ مَقادِرٌ وَجُدودُ
With what reach in high honor did you shoot at
For which treason have you shot at a lion
a lion guarded by destinies and good fortunes?
Whom destinies and virtues protect?
طاشَتwent astray سِهامُكُمُyour arrows وَفارَقَand departed from نَزعَهُhis bow-draw
طاشَت سِهامُكُمُ وَفارَقَ نَزعَهُ
سَهمٌan arrow إِلىtoward قَلبِthe heart العَدوِّof the enemy سَديدُtrue-aimed
سَهمٌ إِلى قَلبِ العَدوِّ سَديدُ
Your arrows missed, while from his drawn bow flew
Your arrows have gone astray and left their mark,
an arrow aimed true at the enemy's heart.
One to the heart of the enemy direct.
حَسَدوكَthey envied you لَمّاwhen فاتَsurpassed سَعيُكَyour striving سَعيَهُمtheir striving
حَسَدوكَ لَمّا فاتَ سَعيُكَ سَعيَهُم
صُعُداًupward فَماso not نَقعَquenched الغَليلَthe burning thirst حَسودُan envier
صُعُداً فَما نَقعَ الغَليلَ حَسودُ
They envied you when your striving surpassed theirs
They envied you when your endeavor passed their endeavor
in its ascent; no envier quenched his burning thirst.
Heights their rancor could not appease.
وَرَأواand they saw بَوايجَهاits calamities تَلوحُloom وَرَيحَهاand its wind
وَرَأوا بَوايجَها تَلوحُ وَرَيحَها
تَسريpasses through وَعارِضَهاand its raincloud الغَزيرَrain-laden يَجودُpours freely
تَسري وَعارِضَها الغَزيرَ يَجودُ
They saw its calamities loom, and its wind
And they saw its intimations gleaming and its wind
pass through, while its laden raincloud poured freely.
Blowing, and its abundant clouds raining down freely.
عَجِلَhastened الزَمانُTime بِهاwith it إِلَيكَto you وَحُطِّمَتand were shattered
عَجِلَ الزَمانُ بِها إِلَيكَ وَحُطِّمَت
بَينَbetween الضُلوعِthe ribs ضَغائِنٌgrudges وَحُقودُand hatreds
بَينَ الضُلوعِ ضَغائِنٌ وَحُقودُ
Time hastened with it to you, and shattered were
Time hurried them to you, and grudges
the grudges and hatreds between the ribs.
Were smashed in breasts, dark and brooding.
قَدindeed كُنتُI had been أَخشىّfearing أَنthat يَقولَmight say مُخَبِّرٌa teller
قَد كُنتُ أَخشىّ أَن يَقولَ مُخَبِّرٌ
كادواthey plotted وَماand not أُعطواthey were granted المُرادَthe desired end فَكيدواso they were plotted against
كادوا وَما أُعطوا المُرادَ فَكيدوا
I had feared that a teller might say:
And they came back, partisans, to you, and behind them
They plotted, but were denied their wish and were plotted against.
The violence of contention, leaving hearts dejected.
أَرor (text uncertain) أَنthat يُقالَit be said أَقارِبٌkinsmen نَزَعَتcarried away بِهِمwith them
أَر أَن يُقالَ أَقارِبٌ نَزَعَت بِهِم
ظِنَنٌsuspicions فَكُلٌّso each بِالعُقوقِthrough disloyalty بَعيدُestranged
ظِنَنٌ فَكُلٌّ بِالعُقوقِ بَعيدُ
Or that it be said: Kinsmen were drawn away by
So pardon, and some of them will attain your pardon,
suspicions, and each is estranged through disloyalty.
What wrath cannot attain, though it be iron.
سُئِلواthey were asked for العَوادَreturn فَجانَبوهُthen they shunned it فَعاودواthen they returned
سُئِلوا العَوادَ فَجانَبوهُ فَعاودوا
وَالآنَand now إِذwhen مَلَكَtook mastery الزَمانُTime وَقيدواand they were led
وَالآنَ إِذ مَلَكَ الزَمانُ وَقيدوا
They were asked to return, but shunned it; then they returned,
And beware the corruption of punishment, now
and now, with Time in command, they were led.
Its signals fill the eyes, lightning and thunder.
لَولاwere it not for الأَلِيَّةُthe oath مِنكَfrom you أَلّاnot to تَنتَضيdraw a sword
لَولا الأَلِيَّةُ مِنكَ أَلّا تَنتَضي
عَضباًa keen sword يَقومُtakes مَقامَهُits place التَفنيدُreproach
عَضباً يَقومُ مَقامَهُ التَفنيدُ
Were it not for your oath not to draw
And take advantage of an abounding amnesty
a keen sword, whose place reproach can take,
That approaches, and clemency that still returns.
لَسَنَنتَyou would surely have instituted فيamong الأَقوامِthe peoples غَيرَwithout being مُلَوَّمٍblamed
لَسَنَنتَ في الأَقوامِ غَيرَ مُلَوَّمٍ
ماwhat سَنَّinstituted يَومَon the day of اِبنِthe son of الزُبَيرِal-Zubayr يَزيدُYazid
ما سَنَّ يَومَ اِبنِ الزُبَيرِ يَزيدُ
you would have instituted among the peoples, without blame,
The lion's fury is finer in the youth
what Yazid instituted on the day of Ibn al-Zubayr.
Than the master being seen tyrannical.
اليَومَtoday أَصحَرَتِcame into the open الضَغائِنُthe grudges وَاِنجَلَتand were unveiled
اليَومَ أَصحَرَتِ الضَغائِنُ وَاِنجَلَت
تِلكَthose المَوارِنُsoft nose-tips وَالجِباهُand the brows السودُdark
تِلكَ المَوارِنُ وَالجِباهُ السودُ
Today grudges stand exposed, and unveiled are
The desired plaits are only less than
those noses and dark brows.
The plaits the newborn desires.
وَتَراجَعواand they returned عُصباًin bands إِلَيكَto you وَخَلفَهُمand behind them
وَتَراجَعوا عُصباً إِلَيكَ وَخَلفَهُم
عَنُفَgrew fierce السِباقُthe race وَلِلقُلوبِand for the hearts وَئيدُa pounding
عَنُفَ السِباقُ وَلِلقُلوبِ وَئيدُ
They returned to you in bands; behind them
So if the two coincide, the spears are broken,
the race grew fierce, and hearts were pounding.
If victor, and the deep-rooted shaken.
فَاِصفَحso pardon فَسَوفَfor soon يَنالُwill obtain صَفحَكَyour pardon مِنهُمfrom them
فَاِصفَح فَسَوفَ يَنالُ صَفحَكَ مِنهُم
ماwhat لاnot يَنالُobtains العَضبُthe keen sword وَهُوَand it is حَديدُsharp
ما لا يَنالُ العَضبُ وَهُوَ حَديدُ
So pardon: your pardon will obtain from them
The finest thing the men have tested with its limit
what the keen sword cannot, sharp though it is.
Is a towering, long-lasting glory.
وَحَذارِand beware مِنof وَبِلِthe downpour العِقابِof punishment وَقَدand already بَدَتhave appeared
وَحَذارِ مِن وَبِلِ العِقابِ وَقَد بَدَت
مِلءَfilling العُيونِthe eyes بَوارِقٌlightning flashes وَرُعودُand thunderclaps
مِلءَ العُيونِ بَوارِقٌ وَرُعودُ
And beware punishment's downpour: already there have appeared
Now the mounts are freed, and the hollow of futilities
lightning flashes and thunderclaps, filling the eyes.
Is opened for their path to burn.
وَتَغَنَّمواand seize عَفواًpardon يَفيضُoverflows وَفَيئةًand a return to goodwill
وَتَغَنَّموا عَفواً يَفيضُ وَفَيئةً
تَدنوdraws near وَحِلماًand forbearance لاnot يَزالُceases يَعودُreturns
تَدنو وَحِلماً لا يَزالُ يَعودُ
Seize overflowing pardon, and a return to goodwill
And the Sacred House glows with ease
drawing near, and forbearance that never ceases to return.
Since its perfection, they say, will return.
فَلَسَطوَةُfor surely the assault الضَرغامِof the lion أَجمَلُmore fitting بِالفَتىfor a man
فَلَسَطوَةُ الضَرغامِ أَجمَلُ بِالفَتى
مِنthan أَنthat يُرىhe be seen عالٍtowering عَليهِover him السيدُthe wolf
مِن أَن يُرى عالٍ عَليهِ السيدُ
For a lion's assault better befits a man
And there is wakeful resolve against wrongs and injustice,
than being seen with a wolf towering over him.
And the shade of an extended trust.
ماnot السُؤدُدُnobility المَطلوبُsought-after إِلّاexcept دونَbelow ماwhat
ما السُؤدُدُ المَطلوبُ إِلّا دونَ ما
يَرميaims إِلَيهِtoward it السُؤدُدُnobility المَولودُinborn
يَرمي إِلَيهِ السُؤدُدُ المَولودُ
Sought-for nobility falls short of what
Thanks for your great boons, which have never
inborn nobility aspires to.
Ceased to increase upon me what is increased.
فَإِذاso when هُماthe two اِتَفَقاunite تَكَسَّرَتِare shattered القَناthe spears
فَإِذا هُما اِتَفَقا تَكَسَّرَتِ القَنا
إِنif غالَباthe two contend وَتَضَعضَعَand crumbles الجُلمودُsolid rock
إِن غالَبا وَتَضَعضَعَ الجُلمودُ
When the two unite, spears are shattered
You have favored me until the enemies realized
if they contend, and solid rock crumbles.
That I cherish the heights and cling to them as creed.
وَأَجَلُّand the noblest ماthing that ضَرَبَstruck الرَجالُmen بِحَدِّهِwith its edge الthe (continued next line)
وَأَجَلُّ ما ضَرَبَ الرَجالُ بِحَدِّهِ ال
أَعداءَenemies مَجدٌglory طارِفٌnewly acquired وَتَليدُand inherited
أَعداءَ مَجدٌ طارِفٌ وَتَليدُ
And the noblest thing with whose edge men strike their
And you left my enviers with their twisted ribs,
enemies is glory, newly won and inherited.
Bent, full of spite, and blind.
الآنَnow أُطلِقَتِare unleashed النُصولُthe blades وَرُشِّحَتand are made ready
الآنَ أُطلِقَتِ النُصولُ وَرُشِّحَت
لِسَبيلِهاfor their course قُبٌّslender الأَياطِلِof flank قودُlong-necked steeds
لِسَبيلِها قُبٌّ الأَياطِلِ قودُ
Now the blades are unleashed, and made ready are
So I will thank you as long as my words still
long-necked, slender-flanked steeds for their course.
vie—
وَتَبَلَّجَand shone brightly البَيتُthe House الحَرامُsacred طَلاقَةًin gladness
وَتَبَلَّجَ البَيتُ الحَرامُ طَلاقَةً
مُذsince قيلَit was said إِنَّthat جَمالَهُits beauty مَردودُrestored
مُذ قيلَ إِنَّ جَمالَهُ مَردودُ
And the Sacred House beamed with gladness
Scattered lines, hard for enemies and poems.
since it was said that its beauty was restored.
Gratitude is the most precious thing I have found,
وَعَلىand over المَظالِمِgrievance-redress وَالنَقابَةِand the naqib's office هِمَّةٌresolve
وَعَلى المَظالِمِ وَالنَقابَةِ هِمَّةٌ
يَقظىwakeful وَظِلُّand a shade أَمانَةٍof integrity مَمدودُoutstretched
يَقظى وَظِلُّ أَمانَةٍ مَمدودُ
Over grievance-redress and the naqib's office stands resolve,
And the youth's only hope is the acceptance of what is offered.
ever wakeful, and an outstretched shade of integrity.
حَمداًthanks لِأَنعُمِكَfor your favors الجِسامُimmense فَلَمfor it has not يَزَلceased
حَمداً لِأَنعُمِكَ الجِسامُ فَلَم يَزَل
أَبداًever يَزيدُgrows لَهاof them عَليَّupon me مَزيدُfurther bounty
أَبداً يَزيدُ لَها عَليَّ مَزيدُ
Thanks for your immense favors; unceasingly,
their further bounty upon me keeps growing.
عَلَّيتَنيyou raised me high حَتّىuntil تَحَقَّقَتِbecame certain العِدىthe foes
عَلَّيتَني حَتّى تَحَقَّقَتِ العِدى
أَنّيthat I حَميمٌan intimate لِّلعُلىof greatness وَعَقيدُand a sworn ally
أَنّي حَميمٌ لِّلعُلى وَعَقيدُ
You raised me high until the foes knew for certain
that I am greatness's intimate and sworn ally.
وَتَرَكتَand you left حُسّاديmy enviers عَلىamid زَفَراتِهِمtheir sighs
وَتَرَكتَ حُسّادي عَلى زَفَراتِهِم
عوجَcrooked الضُلوعِof rib فواجِدٌthus resentful وَعَميدُand heartsick
عوجَ الضُلوعِ فواجِدٌ وَعَميدُ
And you left my enviers amid their sighs,
crooked of rib, resentful and heartsick.
فَلأَشكُرَنَّكَso I shall surely thank you ماas long as تَجاذَبَtugged at مِقوَليmy tongue
فَلأَشكُرَنَّكَ ما تَجاذَبَ مِقوَلي
نَثرٌprose يَشُقُّweighs heavily عَلىon العِدىthe foes وَقَصيدُand verse
نَثرٌ يَشُقُّ عَلى العِدى وَقَصيدُ
So I shall surely thank you as long as my tongue is drawn between
prose that weighs upon the foes and verse.
وَالشِكرُand gratitude أَنفَسُthe most precious ماwhat وَجَدتُI have found وَإِنَّماand only
وَالشِكرُ أَنفَسُ ما وَجَدتُ وَإِنَّما
أَمَلُthe hope الفَتىof a man أَنthat يُقبَلَbe accepted المَوجودُwhat is available
أَمَلُ الفَتى أَن يُقبَلَ المَوجودُ
Gratitude is the most precious thing I have found; and all
a man hopes for is that what he has be accepted.
Partial English translation: 65 of 76 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1