طيورُbirds المَعَاليlofty attainments فيin السماءِthe sky حَوائِمُhovering
طيورُ المَعَالي في السماءِ حَوائِمُ
وَأشْرَاكُهاand their snares سمرَbrown القَنَاspear-shafts والعَزَائِمُand firm resolves
وَأشْرَاكُها سمرَ القَنَا والعَزَائِمُ
The birds of high distinction hover in the sky,
The birds of glory circle high in the sky,
and their snares are brown lances and firm resolves.
Their feet tied with ropes of determination and will.
وَمَنْand whoever رَامَsought نَيْلَattainment of العِزّhonor لمdid not يطوِenfold قَلْبَهُhis heart
وَمَنْ رَامَ نَيْلَ العِزّ لم يطوِ قَلْبَهُ
علىupon وَجَلٍfear والدارعونَand armored warriors تَصَادَمُclash
على وَجَلٍ والدارعونَ تَصَادَمُ
And whoever seeks to win honor does not enfold his heart
He who aspires to glory cannot restrain his heart
in fear while armored warriors clash.
At the sight of valor, though foes clash with him.
وفيهِand in it تَظَلُّcontinue الخَيْلُthe horses تَسْبَحُswimming فيin الدِمَاblood
وفيهِ تَظَلُّ الخَيْلُ تَسْبَحُ في الدِمَا
كَسُفْنٍlike ships عَلَتْهاovertopped them أبْحُرٌseas تتَلاطَمُcrashing together
كَسُفْنٍ عَلَتْها أبْحُرٌ تتَلاطَمُ
And in that clash the horses keep swimming in blood,
There the horses splash in blood
like ships overtopped by seas crashing together.
Like ships on a stormy, surging sea.
يطولُextends far كماas طالَextended ابنُson of سلطانSultan باعَهُhis reach
يطولُ كما طالَ ابنُ سلطان باعَهُ
ويقصرand falls short عنهof him منwhoever علىtoward الحربwar قادمadvances
ويقصر عنه من على الحرب قادم
His reach stretches far, as Ibn Sultan's has stretched,
A hero lasts as long as the son of a sultan sold him,
and whoever advances to war falls short of him.
But falls short of one riding to battle.
سعيدٌSa'id علىover أملاكِهِhis domains العَدْلُjustice مُنْشَرٌspread
سعيدٌ على أملاكِهِ العَدْلُ مُنْشَرٌ
وأملاكُand the domains of أعداهhis enemies عليهاover them المظَالِمُinjustices
وأملاكُ أعداه عليها المظَالِمُ
Sa'id—justice is spread throughout his domains,
Joyful is Saeed in his just kingdom,
while wrongs lie over his enemies' domains.
While the oppressor’s realm is filled with injustice.
ترىyou see الخيلَthe horses والأسادَand the lions تحتَbeneath لوائِهِhis banner
ترى الخيلَ والأسادَ تحتَ لوائِهِ
عليهاupon them منof الفَتْحِvictory المُبينِmanifest عَلائِمُsigns
عليها من الفَتْحِ المُبينِ عَلائِمُ
You see the horses and lions beneath his banner,
You see the horses and lions under his flag
bearing the marks of manifest victory.
Bearing clear signs of conquest upon them.
تُجَاذِبُهمcontend with them تحتَbeneath الأعنةِthe reins والقَنَاand the spears
تُجَاذِبُهم تحتَ الأعنةِ والقَنَا
رماكmares المذاكيof mature steeds والذُكورُand the hard-steel blades الصَوَارِمُkeen-cutting
رماك المذاكي والذُكورُ الصَوَارِمُ
Beneath reins and spears, contending with them are
Archers and warriors with sharp swords
full-grown mares and keen steel swords.
Jostle with them under the spears and banners.
ولوand if وردَapproached the water التَيَّارَthe torrent بعضُpart of لُهَامِهِhis vast host
ولو وردَ التَيَّارَ بعضُ لُهَامِهِ
لماwould not هُوَit منfrom فَوْقِabove البسيطةِthe earth دائمُremain
لما هُوَ من فَوْقِ البسيطةِ دائمُ
Were even part of his vast host to reach the torrent,
And if a small part of his brave warriors approached,
it would not remain upon the face of the earth.
They would not cease pushing from above the plain.
وفيهand in it منamong الجلاءthe illustrious (probable reading) قَوْمٌmen كأنَّهُمas though they were
وفيه من الجلاء قَوْمٌ كأنَّهُم
بدورُmoons تَمَامٍfullness للِنَزالِfor combat ضَبَارِمُfierce lions
بدورُ تَمَامٍ للِنَزالِ ضَبَارِمُ
Within it are illustrious men, as though they were
Among them are worthy men, as if
full moons, fierce lions in combat.
They are full moons emerging for combat.
وُجُوهُهُمْtheir faces تَحْكِيmirror شُعاعَthe gleam of سُيوفِهمtheir swords
وُجُوهُهُمْ تَحْكِي شُعاعَ سُيوفِهم
وَهُمْand they فيin حَواشيthe fringes of الرَّدْعِbloodstains أسْدٌlions ضَرَاغِمُmighty lions
وَهُمْ في حَواشي الرَّدْعِ أسْدٌ ضَرَاغِمُ
Their faces mirror the gleam of their swords,
Their faces reflect the brilliance of their swords,
and at bloodshed's edges they are mighty lions.
While they are like lions roaring on the battlefield.
ويَقْدَمَهُمand he leads them كالبَحْرِlike the sea إذwhen هُوَit مُزْبِدٌfoams
ويَقْدَمَهُم كالبَحْرِ إذ هُوَ مُزْبِدٌ
وَسُحْبٌand clouds يَدَاهُhis two hands بالنُّضَارِwith gold سَوَاجِمُpouring rain
وَسُحْبٌ يَدَاهُ بالنُّضَارِ سَوَاجِمُ
He leads them like a sea when it foams,
Leading them is an ocean swelling high,
and his two hands are clouds raining gold.
With clouds grasping sharp hailstones in their hands.
وَتَقْبِضُand grips يُمناهhis right hand قَناًspears وأعنَّةًand reins
وَتَقْبِضُ يُمناه قَناً وأعنَّةً
وتَبْسُطُهاand opens it wide عندat العَطَاءِgiving المَكَارِمُnoble virtues
وتَبْسُطُها عند العَطَاءِ المَكَارِمُ
His right hand grips spears and reins,
His right hand grasps a spear and banner,
and noble generosity opens it wide when he gives.
His left distributes gifts generously.
ولوand if أنَّهُhe فيin سالِفِthe bygone days of الدَّهْرِtime آتياًhad come
ولو أنَّهُ في سالِفِ الدَّهْرِ آتياً
لماwould not ذُكرِاhave both been mentioned بالجودِfor generosity مَعْنٌMa'n وحاتِمُand Hatim
لما ذُكرِا بالجودِ مَعْنٌ وحاتِمُ
Had he come in the ancient days,
If he had lived in ancient times,
Ma'n and Hatim would not have been remembered for generosity.
Ma'an and Hatem would not be famed for generosity.
أنَامِلُهhis fingertips يَوْمَon the day of الكِفاحِcombat مَنيَّةٌdeath
أنَامِلُه يَوْمَ الكِفاحِ مَنيَّةٌ
وإنْand if رُجيْتْlooked to يَوْمَon the day of السَّماحِgenerosity غَمَائمُclouds
وإنْ رُجيْتْ يَوْمَ السَّماحِ غَمَائمُ
His fingertips on the day of combat are death,
His fingers, though deadly in combat,
and, when looked to on the day of generosity, they are clouds.
Are, when appealed to in peace, rainclouds.
تُساعِدُهsupports him حُكْمَthe decree of المقاديرِdestinies والقَضَاand fate
تُساعِدُه حُكْمَ المقاديرِ والقَضَا
إذاwhen رامَhe desires أمراًa thing أمرُهُhis command فَهْوَthen it قَائِمُis in force
إذا رامَ أمراً أمرُهُ فَهْوَ قَائِمُ
The decree of destiny and fate supports him;
He is aided by the decisions of Fate and Destiny;
whenever he desires a thing, his command is carried out.
His will prevails if he decides on something.
إذاwhen اعتقلَhe couches السُّمْرَthe brown spears الطوالَlong لغارَةٍfor a raid
إذا اعتقلَ السُّمْرَ الطوالَ لغارَةٍ
غَدَتْbecome بهمُthrough them الأعْدَاءُthe enemies فَهْيَso they are بَهَائِمُbeasts
غَدَتْ بهمُ الأعْدَاءُ فَهْيَ بَهَائِمُ
When he couches the long brown spears for a raid,
When he imprisons tall horses for a raid,
the enemies are turned by them into mere beasts.
The foe become like frightened animals.
فتىa young man سالflowed بالأقطارacross the lands منfrom حدِّthe edge of سَيْفِهِhis sword
فتى سال بالأقطار من حدِّ سَيْفِهِ
دماءٌblood ودَلَّتْand were humbled (probable reading) عُرْبُهاtheir Arabs والأعَاجِمُand the non-Arabs
دماءٌ ودَلَّتْ عُرْبُها والأعَاجِمُ
A youth—from his sword's edge across the lands there flowed
His sword spills blood in all regions,
blood, and their Arabs and non-Arabs were humbled.
Flowing from Arabs and non-Arabs alike.
وتَصْحَبُهand accompany him السِّيدَانُthe wolves إنif رامَhe intends غَزْوةًa raid
وتَصْحَبُه السِّيدَانُ إن رامَ غَزْوةً
لأكْلِto eat لُحُومٍflesh والنُّسُورُand the vultures القَشاعِمُaged
لأكْلِ لُحُومٍ والنُّسُورُ القَشاعِمُ
Wolves accompany him whenever he intends a raid,
The two masters accompany him when he heads for battle,
to feast on flesh, as do the aged vultures.
To eat meat while the vultures circle.
وَوُلّيand was entrusted with القَضَاjudgment يَوْمَon the day of الزِحامthe battle's crush حُسامُهhis sword
وَوُلّي القَضَا يَوْمَ الزِحام حُسامُه
يَقْضِيdecrees بِتَلْفِthe destruction of الخَصْمِthe foe إذْsince هُوَit حاكِمُis judge
يَقْضِي بِتَلْفِ الخَصْمِ إذْ هُوَ حاكِمُ
His sword is entrusted with judgment on the day of battle's crush,
On the day of battle, his sword executes justice,
decreeing the foe's destruction, for it is judge.
Destroying the adversary, for he is the judge.
يَجِزُّshears through دُرُوْعَthe armor of الخَصْمِthe foe والسيفَand the sword والقَنَاand the spears
يَجِزُّ دُرُوْعَ الخَصْمِ والسيفَ والقَنَا
ولاand not يَعْتَريِهِafflicts it بالضَرِيْبَةِat the stroke ثَالِمُa nicking flaw
ولا يَعْتَريِهِ بالضَرِيْبَةِ ثَالِمُ
It shears through the foe's armor, sword, and spears,
It penetrates armor, sword, and spear,
and no nick mars it when it strikes.
Without burdening him with debt.
ولوand if عَلِمknew الأعداءُthe enemies منهfrom him مذلّةًhumiliation
ولو عَلِم الأعداءُ منه مذلّةً
لماwould not بانَhave appeared مِنْهُمْfrom them فيin الزَمانِtime التَخاصُمُhostility
لما بانَ مِنْهُمْ في الزَمانِ التَخاصُمُ
Had his enemies known the humiliation he would bring,
If his enemies knew of his might,
they would never have shown hostility.
There would be no discord left between them.
وإنْand if هَمَّhe intends للأعْداءِagainst the enemies قِتَالاًcombat فتأتهthen they come to him
وإنْ هَمَّ للأعْداءِ قِتَالاً فتأته
تُصَالِحُهُmake peace with him فيin دَارِهِhis home وتُسَالِمُand seek peace
تُصَالِحُهُ في دَارِهِ وتُسَالِمُ
If he intends to fight his enemies, they come to him,
If he prepares to fight the foes, they come to make peace,
to make peace with him in his home and be reconciled.
Reconciling with him in his own land.
وإنْand if خَالفُوهُthey oppose him كَرَّhe charges فيهمamong them مُصَادمِاًclashing
وإنْ خَالفُوهُ كَرَّ فيهم مُصَادمِاً
وَيَرْجِعُand he returns عنهمfrom them تائهاًexultant وَهْوَwhile he باسِمُis smiling
وَيَرْجِعُ عنهم تائهاً وَهْوَ باسِمُ
If they oppose him, he charges in, clashing with them,
But if they oppose him, he attacks, routing them,
and returns from them exultant and smiling.
Then withdraws from them confused and resigned.
لِكَيْلاso that not يرومونَthey seek القِراعcombat فيأتهمthen he comes upon them
لِكَيْلا يرومونَ القِراع فيأتهم
كماas انْقَضَّplunged down نَجْمٌa star للشياطينِagainst the devils رَاجِمُpelting
كما انْقَضَّ نَجْمٌ للشياطينِ رَاجِمُ
So they will not seek combat, lest he come upon them
So they do not dare to fight, for he comes upon them
like a star plunging down to pelt the devils.
Like a shooting star pelting the devils.
إذاwhen ماan emphatic particle استوىhe settled فيon صَهْوةِthe back of الطِرْفِthe noble steed حاسراًunarmored
إذا ما استوى في صَهْوةِ الطِرْفِ حاسراً
تَهَزْهَزَتِquaked الدُّنياءُthe world ثمthen الأقالِمُthe regions
تَهَزْهَزَتِ الدُّنياءُ ثم الأقالِمُ
When he sits unarmored upon his noble steed's back,
When he draws himself up, mounted and ready,
the world quakes, and then the regions.
The world and even the pens tremble.
تُدَرِّعُهُarmor him عُفْرُtawny dust العَجَاجَةِof the dust-cloud والقَنَاand the spears
تُدَرِّعُهُ عُفْرُ العَجَاجَةِ والقَنَا
إذاwhen تَبَّبتْperished يومَon the day of الضِرابblows الغَلاصِمُthe throats
إذا تَبَّبتْ يومَ الضِراب الغَلاصِمُ
Tawny dust-clouds and the spears armor him,
His coat of mail and spear protect him
when throats perish on the day of blows.
When the weapons clash on the day of battle.
يُضاحِكُexchanges smiles with منfrom تحتِbeneath العَجاجِthe dust-cloud حسامُهُhis sword
يُضاحِكُ من تحتِ العَجاجِ حسامُهُ
ثغورَthe mouths of العُلاglory والهامُand the heads فيin الأفقِthe horizon حائِمُhovering
ثغورَ العُلا والهامُ في الأفقِ حائِمُ
From beneath the dust his sword exchanges smiles
From beneath his coat of mail, his sword smiles
with glory's mouths, while heads hover on the horizon.
At the throats of the noble, while the horizon is devoid of refuge.
إذاwhen هزَّهُhe brandishes it يومَon the day of العِراكِcombat تَغَلَّقَتْclosed tight
إذا هزَّهُ يومَ العِراكِ تَغَلَّقَتْ
صُدُورُthe chests of الأعاديthe enemies خَشْيَةًin fear والجمَاجِمُand the skulls
صُدُورُ الأعادي خَشْيَةً والجمَاجِمُ
When he brandishes it on the day of combat, they close tight—
When he charges on the day of mêlée,
the enemies' breasts and skulls, in fear.
The enemies' breasts are shaken with fear, even the skulls.
سِنَانُكَyour spearhead فيin الهَيْجاءِbattle كالبَرْقِlike lightning لامعٌgleaming
سِنَانُكَ في الهَيْجاءِ كالبَرْقِ لامعٌ
علىover رَهَجٍdust بالأفْقِon the horizon والأفْقُand the horizon قاتِمُdark
على رَهَجٍ بالأفْقِ والأفْقُ قاتِمُ
Your spearhead gleams like lightning in battle,
Your teeth flash in the darkness like lightning
above dust on the horizon, though the horizon is dark.
Above a vast plain with a dark horizon.
فتىًa young man أنْفَقَspent الأموالَwealth فيin طَلَبِpursuit of العُلاglory
فتىً أنْفَقَ الأموالَ في طَلَبِ العُلا
بِبِشْرٍwith cheerfulness ولوand even if أنَّthat النجومَthe stars دَرَاهِمُdirhams
بِبِشْرٍ ولو أنَّ النجومَ دَرَاهِمُ
A youth who spent his riches in pursuit of glory,
A knight who spent his wealth pursuing glory
cheerfully—even had the stars been dirhams.
With good tidings, even if the stars were dinars.
وأغنىand he enriched الورىmankind منwhoever كانwas حَيّاًalive علىupon الثرىthe earth
وأغنى الورى من كان حَيّاً على الثرى
ولمand did not يبْقَremain فيin دنياهhis world بالناسِamong the people عادِمُa destitute person
ولم يبْقَ في دنياه بالناسِ عادِمُ
He enriched mankind, whoever lived upon the earth,
He enriched the world when he was alive upon the earth
and in his world no one among the people remained destitute.
And left no one in his world deprived.
وَيُخفيِand he conceals عطاياهhis gifts ويُظْهِرُهاand reveals them الثَناpraise
وَيُخفيِ عطاياه ويُظْهِرُها الثَنا
وهلand have? كَتَمَتْconcealed نَشْرَthe fragrance of الربيعspring الكَمائِمُthe bud-sheaths
وهل كَتَمَتْ نَشْرَ الربيع الكَمائِمُ
He conceals his gifts, but praise reveals them;
He hides his gifts but fame reveals them,
have the bud-sheaths ever concealed spring's fragrance?
For can the blooming of spring conceal the buds?
وكُلُّand every فتىًyoung man يأتيcomes لنادِيهِto his assembly قاصداًpurposefully
وكُلُّ فتىً يأتي لنادِيهِ قاصداً
يرىsees نفْسَهhimself فيin لُجّةِthe depths of البَحْرِthe sea عائمُswimming
يرى نفْسَه في لُجّةِ البَحْرِ عائمُ
Every youth who comes purposefully to his assembly
Every youth who comes to his abode
finds himself swimming in the sea's depths.
Sees himself floating in the midst of the sea.
لسانيmy tongue علىbeyond باعيmy arm's reach بِمَدْحِكَin praising you طائِلٌreaches far
لساني على باعي بِمَدْحِكَ طائِلٌ
لأنَّكَbecause you ياO مولايmy lord للخلقِtoward creation رَاحِمُare merciful
لأنَّكَ يا مولاي للخلقِ رَاحِمُ
My tongue outstrips my arm's reach in praising you,
My tongue falters in praising you,
for you, my lord, are merciful to creation.
For you, my master, are most merciful to all.
إذاwhen صُغْتُI fashioned فيكَabout you الشعرَverse خِلْتُI imagined كأنَّنيas though I were
إذا صُغْتُ فيكَ الشعرَ خِلْتُ كأنَّني
بأعلىat the height of الثُّرياthe Pleiades للبدورِto the full moons مُنَادِمُa boon companion
بأعلى الثُّريا للبدورِ مُنَادِمُ
When I fashion verse about you, I imagine myself
When I compose poetry in your honor
atop the Pleiades, a boon companion to the full moons.
I feel as if I am conversing with the stars.
مَدَحْتُI praised ولمand did not أترُكْleave لقوسيfor my bow مَنْزَعاًroom to draw
مَدَحْتُ ولم أترُكْ لقوسي مَنْزَعاً
وهلand is there? منamong بَنِيْthe sons of دُنيايmy world بالنَّظْمِin verse عالمُone skilled
وهل من بَنِيْ دُنياي بالنَّظْمِ عالمُ
I have praised you, leaving my bow no further room to draw;
I have praised without leaving room for my bow,
is any son of my world skilled in verse?
And who in my world is skilled in verse?
فلاso not نالattained مجداًglory قَطُّever مِثْلُكone like you فيamong الورىmankind
فلا نال مجداً قَطُّ مِثْلُك في الورى
ولاand not فاهuttered نَظْماًverse قَطُّever مثليone like me ناظِمُa poet
ولا فاه نَظْماً قَطُّ مثلي ناظِمُ
No one among mankind has ever won glory like you,
None gained such glory as you in all the world,
nor has any poet ever uttered verse as I have.
Nor spoke such verse as I, the composer.
فَروْضُكَso your garden مَطْلُولٌdew-moistened وأمرُكَand your command نافِذٌeffective
فَروْضُكَ مَطْلُولٌ وأمرُكَ نافِذٌ
وعَدْلُكَand your justice مَبْسُوطٌspread wide وعِزُّكَand your glory دائِمُenduring
وعَدْلُكَ مَبْسُوطٌ وعِزُّكَ دائِمُ
So your garden is bedewed, and your command prevails,
Your judgment is anticipated, your word enforced,
and your justice is spread wide, and your glory endures.
Your justice manifest, and your dominion eternal.
Sol 6.1