عَتَادُكَyour war equipment أَنْto تَشُنَّlaunch بِهاwith them مُغَاراa raid
عَتَادُكَ أَنْ تَشُنَّ بِها مُغَارا
فَقُدْهاso lead them شُزَّباًlean قُبّاًhollow-bellied تَبَارىracing one another
فَقُدْها شُزَّباً قُبّاً تَبَارى
You are equipped to launch a raid with them;
Your habit is to wage war with it,
so lead them, lean and hollow-bellied, racing one another.
So aim it randomly, perfect in symmetry,
كَأَنَّas though أَهِلَّةًcrescent moons قَذَفَتْhurled نُجُوماًstars
كَأَنَّ أَهِلَّةً قَذَفَتْ نُجُوماً
إِذاwhen قَدَحَتْstruck سَنابِكُهاtheir hooves شَراراsparks
إِذا قَدَحَتْ سَنابِكُها شَرارا
As though crescent moons had hurled stars
As if a new moon has flung stars,
when their hooves struck sparks.
When its windows strike a spark.
وَهَلْand is مَنْone who ضَمَّرَconditioned الْجُرْدَthe sleek steeds المَذَاكيthe full-grown
وَهَلْ مَنْ ضَمَّرَ الْجُرْدَ المَذَاكي
كَمَنْlike one who جَعَلَmade الطِّرادَmounted combat لَهاfor them ضِماراconditioning
كَمَنْ جَعَلَ الطِّرادَ لَها ضِمارا
Is one who conditions the sleek, full-grown steeds
Is one who readies coats of mail,
like one who makes mounted combat their training?
Like one who makes the coats discard?
كَأَنَّas though اللَّيْلَthe night مَوْتُورٌbereaved and unavenged حَرِيبٌdespoiled
كَأَنَّ اللَّيْلَ مَوْتُورٌ حَرِيبٌ
يحاوِلُseeks عِنْدَat ضَوْءِthe light of الصُّبْحِdawn ثَاراvengeance
يحاوِلُ عِنْدَ ضَوْءِ الصُّبْحِ ثَارا
As though night were bereaved and despoiled,
As if the night in anguish limps
seeking vengeance at dawn's light.
And at the dawn's light vengeance keeps.
فَلَيْسَso it does not يَحِيدُturn aside عَنْهاfrom them مُسْتَجِيشاmustering an army
فَلَيْسَ يَحِيدُ عَنْها مُسْتَجِيشا
عَلَىagainst الإِصْباحِdaybreak عِثْيَرَهاtheir dust الْمُثاراstirred up
عَلَى الإِصْباحِ عِثْيَرَها الْمُثارا
It will not turn aside from them, mustering
So stirred, it cannot deviate
their stirred-up dust against daybreak.
From its wont when day does break.
أَخَذْنَthey took بِثَأْرِهِvengeance for it عَنَقاًat a swift pace وَرَكْضاًand at a gallop
أَخَذْنَ بِثَأْرِهِ عَنَقاً وَرَكْضاً
مَدَدْنَthey spread عَلَىover الصَّبَاحِthe morning بِهِwith it إِزاراa mantle
مَدَدْنَ عَلَى الصَّبَاحِ بِهِ إِزارا
They avenged it at a swift pace and a gallop;
Taking vengeance by throat and race
with it they spread a mantle over morning.
At dawn its skirt they pull and chase.
وَقَدْand indeed هَبَّتْsprang up سُيُوفُكَyour swords لامِعَاتٍflashing
وَقَدْ هَبَّتْ سُيُوفُكَ لامِعَاتٍ
تُفَرِّقُscatter فيthrough دُجُنَّتِهِits darkness نَهاراdaylight
تُفَرِّقُ في دُجُنَّتِهِ نَهارا
And your swords have sprung up, flashing,
Your shining swords do separate
scattering daylight through its darkness.
Its darkness to make day radiate.
أَمَاindeed وَالسَّابِقاتِby the foremost steeds لَقَدْcertainly أَبَاحَتْmade accessible
أَمَا وَالسَّابِقاتِ لَقَدْ أَبَاحَتْ
لَكَto you الشَّرَفَhonor الْمُمَنَّعَunassailable وَالْفَخَاراand glory
لَكَ الشَّرَفَ الْمُمَنَّعَ وَالْفَخَارا
Indeed, by the foremost steeds, they have laid open
By the early risers indeed allowed
to you unassailable honor and glory.
Are you glory denied, and merit endowed.
فَزُرْso visit حَلَباًAleppo بِكُلِّwith every أَقَبَّlean-bellied نَهْدٍpowerfully built steed
فَزُرْ حَلَباً بِكُلِّ أَقَبَّ نَهْدٍ
فَقَدْfor perhaps تُدْنِيbring nearer لَكَfor you الْخَيْلُthe horses الْمَزَارthe destination
فَقَدْ تُدْنِي لَكَ الْخَيْلُ الْمَزَار
So visit Aleppo with every lean-flanked, powerful steed;
Visit Aleppo, every hill's bent breast,
for horses may bring your destination nearer.
The steeds do bring it nearer to your rest.
وَكَلِّفْand entrust رَدَّهاits recovery إِنْif شِئْتَyou wish قَسْراًby force
وَكَلِّفْ رَدَّها إِنْ شِئْتَ قَسْراً
عَزائِمَfirm resolves تَسْتَرِدُّreclaim الْمُسْتَعاراwhat was borrowed
عَزائِمَ تَسْتَرِدُّ الْمُسْتَعارا
And entrust its recovery, by force if you wish,
And if you wish, take it back by force,
to firm resolves that reclaim what was borrowed.
Resolves take back what was coerced.
فَأَجْدِرْhow fitting بِالْممَالِكِfor the kingdoms أَنْthat تَراهاyou see them
فَأَجْدِرْ بِالْممَالِكِ أَنْ تَراها
لِمَنْto one who كانَتْwere مَمَالِكَهُhis kingdoms مِراراtime and again
لِمَنْ كانَتْ مَمَالِكَهُ مِرارا
How fitting that you should see the kingdoms
More deserving for the kingdoms' sight,
belonging to him whose kingdoms they have often been!
Are those whose kingdoms were once plight.
وَإِنْand if وَلَدَتْgave birth لَكَfor you الآمالُthe hopes حَظَّاًgood fortune
وَإِنْ وَلَدَتْ لَكَ الآمالُ حَظَّاً
فَماfor never زالَتْceased مَواعِدُهاtheir promises عِشَاراshe-camels ten months pregnant
فَما زالَتْ مَواعِدُها عِشَارا
And if hopes have borne you good fortune,
If hopes bear fortune as their child,
their promises have always been she-camels heavy with young.
Their trysts are always reconciled.
إِذاif عَايَنْتَyou see مِنْfrom عُودٍa piece of wood دُخاناًsmoke
إِذا عَايَنْتَ مِنْ عُودٍ دُخاناً
فَأَوْشِكْthen expect soon أَنْto تُعايِنَsee مِنْهُfrom it ناراfire
فَأَوْشِكْ أَنْ تُعايِنَ مِنْهُ نارا
If you see smoke from a piece of wood,
If from a rod you see a smoke,
expect soon to see fire from it.
Be sure to see from it fire invoke.
وَيَأْبىand refuses اللهُGod إِنْeven if أَبَتِrefuse الأَعاديthe enemies
وَيَأْبى اللهُ إِنْ أَبَتِ الأَعادي
لِنَاصِرِfor the defender of دينِهِHis faith إِلاَّexcept انْتِصاراvictory
لِنَاصِرِ دينِهِ إِلاَّ انْتِصارا
And God, though the enemies refuse, will allow
God refuses, if enemies decline,
the defender of His faith nothing but victory.
But victory for faith's champion to design.
وَمَاand not كَبُرَتْbecame too great عَلَيْكَfor you أُمُورُundertakings of مَجْدٍglory
وَمَا كَبُرَتْ عَلَيْكَ أُمُورُ مَجْدٍ
إِذاif أَصْدَقْتَهاyou give them earnestly الْهِمَمَresolves الْكِباراgreat
إِذا أَصْدَقْتَها الْهِمَمَ الْكِبارا
And no deeds of glory are too great for you,
No great glory is too hard for you,
if you bring great resolve to them in earnest.
If honest is the great intent you pursue.
وَمَاand not هِمَمُthe ambitions of الْفَتىthe young man إِلاَّexcept غُصُونٌbranches
وَمَا هِمَمُ الْفَتى إِلاَّ غُصُونٌ
تَكُونُare لَهاfor them مَطالِبُهُhis goals ثِماراfruits
تَكُونُ لَها مَطالِبُهُ ثِمارا
A man's ambitions are nothing but branches
A young man's resolve is but branches,
whose fruits are his goals.
Whose requests become results and avenges.
أَلَسْتَare you not ابْنَthe son of الَّذيhim who هَطَلَتْrained down يَداهُhis two hands
أَلَسْتَ ابْنَ الَّذي هَطَلَتْ يَداهُ
نَدىًbounty سَرَفاًprofusely لِمَنْfor one who نَطَقَspoke اخْتِصاراbriefly
نَدىً سَرَفاً لِمَنْ نَطَقَ اخْتِصارا
Are you not the son of him whose hands rained down
Are you not son of one whose hand did pour,
lavish bounty on one who spoke briefly?
Free rain to those speech curtails and deplores?
وَأَعْطىand gave الأَلْفَthe thousand لَمْnot تُعْقَرْbe maimed بِنَقْصٍby a deduction
وَأَعْطى الأَلْفَ لَمْ تُعْقَرْ بِنَقْصٍ
وَماand not غُنِّيwas sung to وَلاnor شَرِبَdrank الْعُقاراwine
وَما غُنِّي وَلا شَرِبَ الْعُقارا
And he gave a thousand, undiminished by any deduction,
Who gave thousands without any dearth,
though no one sang to him and he drank no wine.
Nor sang while sober, nor drank liquor's mirth.
وَأَشْبَعَand sated جُودُهُhis generosity غَرْثىthe hungry الأَمَانِيhopes
وَأَشْبَعَ جُودُهُ غَرْثى الأَمَانِي
وَرَوَّىand quenched بَأُسُهُhis might الأَسَلَthe spears الْحِراراthirst-parched
وَرَوَّى بَأُسُهُ الأَسَلَ الْحِرارا
And his generosity sated hungry hopes,
Whose bounty sated hopes of wish and want,
and his might slaked the thirst of parched spears.
His might quenched heated swords that taunt.
وَقَادَand led إِلىto الأَعَادِيthe enemies كُلَّevery جَيْشٍarmy
وَقَادَ إِلى الأَعَادِي كُلَّ جَيْشٍ
تَقُودُdrives إِلَيْهِtoward him رَهْبَتُهُits terror الدِّياراthe lands
تَقُودُ إِلَيْهِ رَهْبَتُهُ الدِّيارا
And he led against the enemies every army
Who marched against the enemies each troop,
whose terror drove lands toward him.
His awe leads their lands with fear to stoop.
وَلَوْand if قُلْتُI said ابْنُson of مَحْمُودٍMahmud كَفَتْنِيwould suffice me
وَلَوْ قُلْتُ ابْنُ مَحْمُودٍ كَفَتْنِي
صِفَاتُthe qualities of عُلاَكَyour eminence فَضْلاًin excellence وَاشْتِهارand renown
صِفَاتُ عُلاَكَ فَضْلاً وَاشْتِهار
And were I to say, 'Son of Mahmud,' enough for me would be
If I said, son of Mahmoud, it would suffice -
your lofty qualities, in excellence and renown.
Your virtues, glorious and apprised.
وَهَلْand can يَخْفَىbe hidden عَلَىfrom السَّارِينَnight travelers نَهْجٌa path
وَهَلْ يَخْفَى عَلَى السَّارِينَ نَهْجٌ
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الْبَدْرُthe full moon فيon الأُفُقِthe horizon اسْتَناراshone
إِذا ما الْبَدْرُ في الأُفُقِ اسْتَنارا
Can a path be hidden from travelers by night
Can the path be obscure to those who walk,
when the full moon shines on the horizon?
When the moon in horizon does dawn and talk?
مِنَof الْقَوْمِthe people الأُولىwho جَادُواgave generously سِراراin secret
مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الأُولى جَادُوا سِرارا
وَعَادَوْاand opposed كُلَّall مَنْwhom عَادَوْاthey opposed جِهاراopenly
وَعَادَوْا كُلَّ مَنْ عَادَوْا جِهارا
You are of the people who gave generously in secret,
The foremost people were generous at heart,
and were openly hostile to all whom they opposed.
And hostile to those hostile in their part.
وَمَاand not كَتَمُواthey concealed النَّدىthe bounty إِلاَّexcept لِيَخْفَىso it might be hidden
وَمَا كَتَمُوا النَّدى إِلاَّ لِيَخْفَى
وَيَأْبىand refuses الْغيْثُthe rain أَنْto يَخْفىbe hidden انْهِماراin pouring down
وَيَأْبى الْغيْثُ أَنْ يَخْفى انْهِمارا
They concealed their bounty only so it might be hidden,
They hid not their bounty but to hide,
yet rain will not stay hidden as it pours.
As rain refuses its downpour be denied.
بُدُورُfull moons of الأَرْضِthe earth ضَاحِيَةًshining openly عَلَيْهاupon it
بُدُورُ الأَرْضِ ضَاحِيَةً عَلَيْها
وَأَطْيَبُand the finest of مَنْthose who ثَوىdwelt فِيهاin it نُجِاراin lineage
وَأَطْيَبُ مَنْ ثَوى فِيها نُجِارا
The earth's full moons, shining openly upon it,
The lands' expanse smiling activity they bless,
and the finest in lineage of all who dwell there.
And most fragrant are those who in it progress.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle زُلْزِلتْit was shaken كانواthey were جِبالاًmountains
إِذا ما زُلْزِلتْ كانوا جِبالاً
وَإِنْand if هِيَit أَمْحَلَتْsuffered drought كانواthey were بِحاراseas
وَإِنْ هِيَ أَمْحَلَتْ كانوا بِحارا
When it was shaken, they were mountains,
When shaken they are mountains indeed,
and if it suffered drought, they were seas.
If emptied, they are oceans that recede.
وَأَنْتَand you أَشَدُّهُمْthe strongest of them بَأْساًin might وَأَنْدَاand the most generous of
وَأَنْتَ أَشَدُّهُمْ بَأْساً وَأَنْدَا
هُمُthem كَفّاًin hand وَأَكْثَرُهُمْand the greatest of them فَخاراin glory
هُمُ كَفّاً وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فَخارا
And you are the fiercest of them in might, and the most generous
You are the fiercest, most forceful in might,
of hand among them, and the greatest of them in glory;
They fists, and most their glory is blight.
وَأَوْفَاهُمْand the most faithful of them إِذاwhen عَقَدُواthey pledged ذِماماًa covenant
وَأَوْفَاهُمْ إِذا عَقَدُوا ذِماماً
وَأَحْمَاهُمْand the most protective of them إِذاwhen حَامَوْاthey defended ذِماراhonor and charges
وَأَحْمَاهُمْ إِذا حَامَوْا ذِمارا
and the most faithful of them when they pledge a covenant,
Truest when they ties of pact engage,
and the staunchest of them when they defend their honor;
Most zealous when battles them enrage.
وَأَمْرَعُهُمْand the most fertile of them لِمُرْتَادٍfor a pasture-seeker جَنَاباًin grounds
وَأَمْرَعُهُمْ لِمُرْتَادٍ جَنَاباً
وَأَمْنعُهُمْand the strongest of them لِمَطْلُوبٍfor one pursued جِوَاراin giving refuge
وَأَمْنعُهُمْ لِمَطْلُوبٍ جِوَارا
and the lushest of them in grounds for one seeking pasture,
Quickest they to give haven from raids,
and the strongest of them in giving refuge to one pursued.
Strongest to deny haven when evade.
لَقَدْindeed لَبِسَتْhas clothed itself بِكَthrough you الدُّنْيَاthe world جَمالاًin beauty
لَقَدْ لَبِسَتْ بِكَ الدُّنْيَا جَمالاً
فَلَوْso if كَانَتْit were يَداًa hand كنْتَyou would be السِّوَاراthe bracelet
فَلَوْ كَانَتْ يَداً كنْتَ السِّوَارا
The world has indeed clothed itself in beauty through you;
The world with you has worn a charm,
were it a hand, you would be its bracelet.
As if your hand, you would be its palm.
يُضِيءُshines جَبِينُكَyour brow الْوَضَّاحُradiant فيهاin it
يُضِيءُ جَبِينُكَ الْوَضَّاحُ فيها
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الرَّكْبُthe caravan فيin الظُّلْمآءِthe darkness حَاراlost its way
إِذا ما الرَّكْبُ في الظُّلْمآءِ حَارا
Your radiant brow shines within it
Your brilliant forehead in it does ignite,
when the caravan loses its way in darkness.
When travelers in darkness lose their sight.
فَماso not يدْرِيit knows أَنَارُwhether the fire of قِراكَyour hospitality لاَحَتْappeared
فَما يدْرِي أَنَارُ قِراكَ لاَحَتْ
لَهُto it أَمْor بَرْقٌthe lightning of غَيْثِكَyour rain قَدْindeed أَنَاراshone
لَهُ أَمْ بَرْقٌ غَيْثِكَ قَدْ أَنَارا
It cannot tell whether the fire of your hospitality has appeared
They know not your abode's light appears,
before it, or the lightning of your rain has shone.
Or your rains' lightning the veil tears.
تَمَلَّenjoy أَباO Abu الْقِوامِal-Qiwam شَرِيفَnoble حَمْدٍpraise
تَمَلَّ أَبا الْقِوامِ شَرِيفَ حَمْدٍ
رَفَعْتُI raised بِهِwith it عَلَىabove الدُّنْياthe world مَناراa beacon
رَفَعْتُ بِهِ عَلَى الدُّنْيا مَنارا
Enjoy, Abu al-Qiwam, this noble praise,
I am weary of praising the high estate,
with which I have raised a beacon above the world.
Of Abu'l Qiwam, noble deed and trait.
ثَناءُpraise ماnot حَدَاهُurged it onward with song الْفِكْرُthought إِلاَّexcept
ثَناءُ ما حَدَاهُ الْفِكْرُ إِلاَّ
أَقَامَit stayed بِكُلِّat every مَنْزِلَةٍstopping-place وَسَاراand traveled on
أَقَامَ بِكُلِّ مَنْزِلَةٍ وَسَارا
Praise that, whenever thought sings it onward,
What my thoughts limit, praise but provides
abides at every stopping-place and travels on.
Every rank a place, and there resides.
إِذاwhen أُثْنِيI extol بِحَمْدِكَwith praise of you قَالَsay قَوْمٌsome people
إِذا أُثْنِي بِحَمْدِكَ قَالَ قَوْمٌ
بِحَقِّrightfully الرَّوْضِthe meadow أَنْthat حَمِدَit praised الْقُطاراthe rainfall
بِحَقِّ الرَّوْضِ أَنْ حَمِدَ الْقُطارا
When I extol you in praise, some people say,
When I your praise acclaim some say verily,
'The meadow rightly praises the rain.'
As true the garden, it praises greenery.
غَفَرْتُI forgave ذُنُوبَthe sins of هذاthis الدَّهْرِage لَمّاwhen
غَفَرْتُ ذُنُوبَ هذا الدَّهْرِ لَمّا
أَصارَit brought إِلَيَّto me رُؤْيَتَكَthe sight of you اعْتِذَاراas an apology
أَصارَ إِلَيَّ رُؤْيَتَكَ اعْتِذَارا
I forgave the sins of this age when
I forgave this era's sins completely, only
it brought me the sight of you as an apology,
When seeing you became its apology.
وَرَدَّand restored لِيَto me الصِّباyouth بِنَداكَthrough your bounty حَتّىuntil
وَرَدَّ لِيَ الصِّبا بِنَداكَ حَتّى
خَلَعْتُI cast off لَدَيْهِin its presence فيin اللَّهْوِrevelry الْعِذاراthe bridle
خَلَعْتُ لَدَيْهِ في اللَّهْوِ الْعِذارا
and restored my youth through your bounty, until
Youth returned your call until I shed,
I cast off the bridle in revelry before it.
Before it my playing and amusement dead.
Sol 6.1