سنتان طالَ مداهما والحرب ما

سنتان طالَ مداهما والحرب ما

فتئت تزيد تسعراً وتضرُّما

فتئت تزيد تسعراً وتضرُّما

Two years have stretched long, and the war has not

Two years have passed, prolonged is their span,

ceased to grow fiercer and more ablaze.

And the war continues to flare up and smoulder.

ونطاقها يمتدُّ في الدنيا على

ونطاقها يمتدُّ في الدنيا على

سكانها بدجى الشقاءِ مخيما

سكانها بدجى الشقاءِ مخيما

And its reach spreads throughout the world, over

Its range extends across the world's inhabitants,

its inhabitants, shrouding them in misery's darkness.

Cloaking them in the darkness of misery.

ما انفكَ محضئها يخاف خمودها

ما انفكَ محضئها يخاف خمودها

فيزيد مارجها وقيداً كلما

فيزيد مارجها وقيداً كلما

Its stoker has never ceased to fear its dying out,

Its instigator fears its dying out,

so he adds fuel to its flame, time after time.

So he adds fuel, tightening bonds whenever

أغرى بها الاتراك قبلاً ثم من

أغرى بها الاتراك قبلاً ثم من

سنةٍ بها البلغارَ زجَّ وأقحما

سنةٍ بها البلغارَ زجَّ وأقحما

He lured the Turks into it before; then, a

He goads the Turks, then a year later the Bulgars

year ago, he thrust the Bulgarians into it and forced them in.

He shoves and drags into it.

وعلى ارتكاب أشد ما يتصور ال

وعلى ارتكاب أشد ما يتصور ال

إِنسانُ من شرِ الفظائع أقدما

إِنسانُ من شرِ الفظائع أقدما

And to commit the worst that a

And he proceeds to commit the most heinous acts

human can imagine of vile atrocities, he ventured,

A human can conceive of evil atrocities.

للامهات وللقرائن مثكلاً

للامهات وللقرائن مثكلاً

وملامِلاً وصغارهن ميتِما

وملامِلاً وصغارهن ميتِما

bereaving mothers and wives,

Slaughtering mothers and relatives,

and [widowing], and orphaning their young.

Destroying and orphaning their little ones.

وأقلّ ما يجنيهِ قتل الابريا

وأقلّ ما يجنيهِ قتل الابريا

وأحلُّ شيءٍ عندهُ سفك الدما

وأحلُّ شيءٍ عندهُ سفك الدما

The least of his crimes is killing the innocent,

Killing innocents is the least he does,

and the most lawful thing to him is shedding blood.

To him shedding blood is most lawful.

كم داسَ عهداً واستهان كبيرةً

كم داسَ عهداً واستهان كبيرةً

واجتاسَ قدساً واستباح محرما

واجتاسَ قدساً واستباح محرما

How often he trampled a covenant and made light of grave sin,

How many pacts has he trampled, how many sacrosanct things

overran a sanctuary and violated the forbidden!

Violated, how many sanctuaries desecrated?

وأتى جرائمَ اجفلت من هولها ال

وأتى جرائمَ اجفلت من هولها ال

دُّنيا وضجت من فظائعها السما

دُّنيا وضجت من فظائعها السما

And he committed crimes whose horror made the

He has committed crimes so vile they horrified the world

world recoil, and heaven cry out at their atrocities.

And it cried out at their monstrous evil.

ونما الى رومانيا من وصفها

ونما الى رومانيا من وصفها

ما هاجَ ساكن غيظها فتحدما

ما هاجَ ساكن غيظها فتحدما

And reports of them reached Romania,

What he did in Romania provoked anger

stirring her dormant wrath until it flared.

In all who heard, fury and indignation arose.

وتحققت أنّ السلام تعمد ال

وتحققت أنّ السلام تعمد ال

جرمان نقضَ أساسهِ فهدما

جرمان نقضَ أساسهِ فهدما

And she knew for certain that peace had been deliberately

And it became clear he deliberately breached

undermined at its foundation and destroyed by the Germans.

Peace treaties and destroyed their foundations.

ورأت عليها فرضَ دفع بلائه

ورأت عليها فرضَ دفع بلائه

عنها كما عن غيرها متحتما

عنها كما عن غيرها متحتما

And she saw that the duty of repelling his scourge

And so Romania saw it imperative

from herself, as from others, was binding upon her.

To repel the scourge, as others did too.

والحظ أظفرها بأحسن فرصةٍ

والحظ أظفرها بأحسن فرصةٍ

سنحت لها لتنال منها المغنما

سنحت لها لتنال منها المغنما

And fortune granted her the finest opportunity

And she found the perfect chance,

that arose for her, to win its prize

To reap spoils and take what she coveted.

وتضم تحت لوائها من شعبها

وتضم تحت لوائها من شعبها

قوماً يجرعهم عداها العلقما

قوماً يجرعهم عداها العلقما

and gather beneath her banner, from her own people,

To bring under her banner people

those whom her enemies made swallow bitter colocynth.

Whose foe embittered them with woe and grief.

وهجوم برسيلوف شدَّد عزمها

وهجوم برسيلوف شدَّد عزمها

لتشقَّ منطقة الحيادِ وتهجما

لتشقَّ منطقة الحيادِ وتهجما

And Brusilov's assault strengthened her resolve

Brusilov's attack made her determined

to tear through neutrality's girdle and attack.

To breach neutrality's boundary and charge ahead.

والى ترنسلفانيا طمحت بها ال

والى ترنسلفانيا طمحت بها ال

آمالُ والدهر العبوسُ تبسما

آمالُ والدهر العبوسُ تبسما

And toward Transylvania she was borne by

To Transylvania her hopes aspired

her hopes, while grim-faced Time smiled.

And cruel fate finally smiled.

وبقرب إشراف عليها عللت

وبقرب إشراف عليها عللت

نفساً ولاسترجاعها فتحت فما

نفساً ولاسترجاعها فتحت فما

And with the prospect of soon gaining dominion over it, she comforted

To control it she made excuse

her soul, and opened her mouth to reclaim it.

And opened her mouth to reclaim it.

ووقوفها في جانب الحلفاءِ لم

ووقوفها في جانب الحلفاءِ لم

تلبث أنِ أتخذتهُ حكماً مبرما

تلبث أنِ أتخذتهُ حكماً مبرما

And her stand beside the Allies—she did not

Standing with the Allies she took

delay in making it an irrevocable decision.

That stance decisively, with firm resolve.

والحرب شبتها على النمسا ولل

والحرب شبتها على النمسا ولل

غرض الذي قصدتهُ راشت أسهما

غرض الذي قصدتهُ راشت أسهما

And she kindled war against Austria, and for the

She ignited war against Austria to achieve

aim she sought, she fletched arrows.

The goal she intended and launched her arrows.

وعلى ترنسلفانيا ما أبطأت

وعلى ترنسلفانيا ما أبطأت

أَن جرَّدت للزحف جيشاً خضرما

أَن جرَّدت للزحف جيشاً خضرما

And against Transylvania she did not delay

Against Transylvania she did not hesitate

in mustering a vast army for the advance.

To mobilize a seasoned army.

غشَّى مضايقها وجاز حزونها

غشَّى مضايقها وجاز حزونها

متوغلاً في فتحها متقدما

متوغلاً في فتحها متقدما

It swarmed over its passes and crossed its rugged ground,

That flooded its straits and crossed its passes

penetrating deep in conquest and pressing forward.

Advancing steadily in its conquest.

وأمامهُ الجيش المدافع لا يرى

وأمامهُ الجيش المدافع لا يرى

غير الفرار الى السلامة سُلما

غير الفرار الى السلامة سُلما

And before it, the defending army saw

Before it the defending army saw

no ladder to safety other than flight.

No salvation but fleeing to safety.

واسترسل الرومان في التدويخ وال

واسترسل الرومان في التدويخ وال

نمسا تُهيبُ بجيشها أن يحجما

نمسا تُهيبُ بجيشها أن يحجما

And the Romanians pressed on in conquest, while

The Romanians swept on in their rout

Austria called upon her army to hold back.

And Austria feared to send its army to stop them.

والى مدى خمسين ميلاً ما اكتفوا

والى مدى خمسين ميلاً ما اكتفوا

بالزحف بل صاح الجميع الى الاما

بالزحف بل صاح الجميع الى الاما

And they were not content with fifty miles

They advanced fifty miles without stopping,

of advance; instead, all cried, 'Forward!'

Everyone charging ahead undeterred.

وارتاعت النمسا ارتياعاً إذ رأت

وارتاعت النمسا ارتياعاً إذ رأت

هول المصاب أمامها متحمسا

هول المصاب أمامها متحمسا

And Austria was seized with terror when she saw

Austria was filled with shock and fear

the horror of calamity raging before her.

Seeing the enormity of its plight.

فشكت الى الالمان قائلةً لهم

فشكت الى الالمان قائلةً لهم

هيوا انظروا جرحي وهاتوا المرهما

هيوا انظروا جرحي وهاتوا المرهما

So she complained to the Germans, saying to them,

It complained to Germany saying

'Come, look at my wound, and bring the salve!'

"Come look at my wound and bring a balm!"

ولغوثها جمعوا الصفوف وعبأوا

ولغوثها جمعوا الصفوف وعبأوا

جيشاً لصدّ الهاجمين عرمرما

جيشاً لصدّ الهاجمين عرمرما

And to rescue her, they gathered their ranks and mustered

To save it they assembled troops

a mighty army to repel the attackers.

And armed a force, enormous and roaring.

منها ومنهم ألفوهُ وجرد ال

منها ومنهم ألفوهُ وجرد ال

أتراكُ والبلغار جيشاً منهما

أتراكُ والبلغار جيشاً منهما

They formed it of her forces and theirs; and the

Of their own and of Turkey's and Bulgaria's

Turks and Bulgarians fielded an army of their own.

They combined it, an army of the three.

وهجومُ برسيلوف أوقف رافعاً

وهجومُ برسيلوف أوقف رافعاً

عن عاتق النمسا العناءَ الاعظما

عن عاتق النمسا العناءَ الاعظما

And Brusilov's assault was halted, lifting

Brusilov's attack, by stopping,

from Austria's shoulder the greatest burden.

Relieved Austria of the greater predicament.

فتمكنت من نقل معظم جيشها

فتمكنت من نقل معظم جيشها

دراءًا لعادية الهجوم على الحمى

دراءًا لعادية الهجوم على الحمى

So she could transfer most of her army

It enabled it to move most of its army

to ward off the ravaging assault upon her domain.

Away from the danger of attack on its hive.

وبه وبالمدد الذي نالته من

وبه وبالمدد الذي نالته من

حلفائها حدُّ الهجوم تثلما

حلفائها حدُّ الهجوم تثلما

And with it, and the reinforcements she received from

With their help the attack was halted

her allies, the assault's edge was blunted.

And the Romanians' gains reversed.

واضطرت الرومانَ ان يخلوا لها

واضطرت الرومانَ ان يخلوا لها

ما اعتمَّ فيه نصرهم وتختما

ما اعتمَّ فيه نصرهم وتختما

And she forced the Romanians to yield to her

They were forced to evacuate

the ground where their victory had donned turban and ring.

The places their victory gripped and kept hold of.

فتراجعوا عنهُ وأكره جيشهم

فتراجعوا عنهُ وأكره جيشهم

بدلَ الهجوم على الدفاع وأرغما

بدلَ الهجوم على الدفاع وأرغما

So they retreated from it, and their army was compelled

Their army went over to defense instead of attack

to defend instead of attacking, forced against its will.

Compelled and made to withdraw.

ولهم من النمسا تصدَّى هاجماً

ولهم من النمسا تصدَّى هاجماً

جيش لفلكنهين قائدهِ انتمى

جيش لفلكنهين قائدهِ انتمى

And against them, from Austria, advanced in attack

The Austrians counterattacked

an army under Falkenhayn, its commander.

Led by General von Falkenhayn.

ومن الجنوب أتى مكنزن قائداً

ومن الجنوب أتى مكنزن قائداً

جيشاً فأنجد في الهجوم وأتهما

جيشاً فأنجد في الهجوم وأتهما

And from the south came Mackensen, commanding

From the south Mackensen came, leading

an army, ranging over highland and lowland in the assault.

An army, aiding the assault and joining it.

وعليهم الجيشان حالاً أطبقا

وعليهم الجيشان حالاً أطبقا

وخطى مكنزن في الهجوم ترسما

وخطى مكنزن في الهجوم ترسما

And the two armies at once closed in upon them,

The two armies closed in around them

following Mackensen's footsteps in the attack.

And Mackensen boldly pressed on.

عبرَ المضايق ذاك منقضا وذا ال

عبرَ المضايق ذاك منقضا وذا ال

دانوبَ شقَّ وجازهُ متقدما

دانوبَ شقَّ وجازهُ متقدما

That one swooped across the passes; this one

He crossed the straits while von Falkenhayn

cleft the Danube and crossed it, pressing forward.

Crossed the Danube, both forces advancing.

سدا على الروما باب الغوث من

سدا على الروما باب الغوث من

حلفائهم في الغرب سداً محكما

حلفائهم في الغرب سداً محكما

They shut the Romanians' door to aid from

Cutting off the Romanians from aid

their allies in the west, sealing it fast.

From their western allies, decisively.

لم يستطعهُ قط الا روسيا

لم يستطعهُ قط الا روسيا

وهي التي وعدت به لكنما

وهي التي وعدت به لكنما

No one could ever provide it but Russia,

None could achieve this but Russia,

and she had promised it—but...

Though it had promised, it clearly reneged.

ويقال لو كانت بما وعدت وفت

ويقال لو كانت بما وعدت وفت

صدُّوا الهجوم ولم يصبهم منه ما

صدُّوا الهجوم ولم يصبهم منه ما

And it is said: had she fulfilled her promise,

Reportedly, had it kept its promise,

they would have repelled the assault and suffered no harm from it.

The attack would have been stopped and thwarted.

ويقال بل رومانيا أولى بأن

ويقال بل رومانيا أولى بأن

يقضى عليها بالملام ويحكما

يقضى عليها بالملام ويحكما

And it is said, rather, that Romania better deserves

But, they say, it's Romania more deserving

to have blame pronounced against her and judgment passed.

Of blame and condemnation for all of this.

أما أنا فأعدهُ سراً ومن

أما أنا فأعدهُ سراً ومن

لي ان يبوح به اليَّ فأعلما

لي ان يبوح به اليَّ فأعلما

As for me, I deem it a secret—and who

As for me, I consider it a secret

will reveal it to me, so that I may know?

For me to divulge it, unless I know more.