أَمَّاas for الرِّياحُthe winds بجوّin the air of عاصِمْAsim
أَمَّا الرِّياحُ بجوّ عاصِمْ
فحلَبْنَso they milked أَخْلافَthe udders of الغَمائِمْthe clouds
فحلَبْنَ أَخْلافَ الغَمائِمْ
As for the winds in Asim's air,
they milked the udders of the clouds.
سَهِرَkept vigil الحياthe rain برِياضِهاin its gardens
سَهِرَ الحيا برِياضِها
فأَسالَهاand made them flow والنَّوْرُwhile the blossoms نائِمْwere sleeping
فأَسالَها والنَّوْرُ نائِمْ
The rain kept vigil in its gardens
and made them flow while the blossoms slept,
حتَّىuntil اغْتَدتْbecame زهَراتُهاits flowers
حتَّى اغْتَدتْ زهَراتُها
كالغِيدِlike graceful women باللُّججِin deep waters العوائِمْswimming
كالغِيدِ باللُّججِ العوائِمْ
until its flowers became
like graceful women swimming in deep waters:
مِنamong ثَيِّباتٍnonvirgin women لمnot تُبلْcared
مِن ثَيِّباتٍ لم تُبلْ
كشْفَbaring الخُدُودِthe cheeks ولاnor المَعاصِمْthe wrists
كشْفَ الخُدُودِ ولا المَعاصِمْ
women no longer virgins, untroubled
by baring cheeks or wrists,
وَصِغارِand young أبكارٍvirgins شَكَتfelt
وَصِغارِ أبكارٍ شَكَت
خَجلاًshame فعاذَتْso sought refuge بالكَمائِمْin the bud-sheaths
خَجلاً فعاذَتْ بالكَمائِمْ
and young virgins who felt
shame and sought refuge in their bud-sheaths.
وَرْدٌroses كَماas خجِلَتْblushed خُدُوcheeks (start)
وَرْدٌ كَما خجِلَتْ خُدُو
دُcheeks (end) العِينِof wide-eyed beauties مِنat لَحظاتِglances of هائِمْa lovesick man
دُ العِينِ مِن لَحظاتِ هائِمْ
Roses, like the cheeks that blush
on wide-eyed beauties at a lovesick man's glances;
وشَقِيقُand anemones of نُعْمانٍNu'man شَكَتْcomplained
وشَقِيقُ نُعْمانٍ شَكَتْ
صَفَحاتُهtheir petals مِنof لَطْمِthe slapping of لاطِمْa slapper
صَفَحاتُه مِن لَطْمِ لاطِمْ
and Nu'man's anemones, whose
petals complained of a slapper's blows;
وغُصُونُand branches of أَشْجارٍtrees حَكَتْimitated
وغُصُونُ أَشْجارٍ حَكَتْ
رقْصthe dance of المآثِمِsins للمآثِمْfor sins
رقْص المآثِمِ للمآثِمْ
and branches of trees imitated
the dance of sins for sins.
حَييتْcame alive بطُوفانِin the flood of الحياrain
حَييتْ بطُوفانِ الحيا
فتَضاحكَتْso laughed together والجوُّwhile the sky واجِمْwas gloomy
فتَضاحكَتْ والجوُّ واجِمْ
They came alive in the flood of rain
and laughed together while the sky was gloomy.
أَصْنافُvarieties of زَهْرٍflowers طُوِّقَتْwere garlanded
أَصْنافُ زَهْرٍ طُوِّقَتْ
دُرراًwith pearls تذوبmelting بكَفِّin the palm of ناظِمْa stringer
دُرراً تذوب بكَفِّ ناظِمْ
Varieties of flowers were garlanded
with pearls melting in the stringer's palm.
مِنamong باسِمٍa smiling one باكa weeping one إلَيْtoward
مِن باسِمٍ باك إلَيْ
كَyou نَدdewy وباكٍand a weeping one وهوwhile he was باسِمْsmiling
كَ نَد وباكٍ وهو باسِمْ
Some smiled while weeping toward
you, dewy; others wept while smiling.
بَكَرcame early الحِسانُthe beauties يرِدْنَهاapproaching them
بَكَر الحِسانُ يرِدْنَها
مِنfrom كُلِّevery واضِحةِradiant الملاغِمْmouth
مِن كُلِّ واضِحةِ الملاغِمْ
The beauties came early to them,
each with shining lips.
وضَحِكْنَand they laughed عُجْباًin delight فالتَقَتْthen met
وضَحِكْنَ عُجْباً فالتَقَتْ
فيهاthere المباسِمُsmiling mouths بالمباسِمْwith smiling mouths
فيها المباسِمُ بالمباسِمْ
They laughed in delight, and there
smiling mouths met smiling mouths.
ضَحِكَتْshe laughed وأَوْمضَand flashed بارِقٌlightning
ضَحِكَتْ وأَوْمضَ بارِقٌ
فظَلِلْتُso I kept on للبرْقَيْنِthe two flashes شائِمْwatching
فظَلِلْتُ للبرْقَيْنِ شائِمْ
She laughed, and lightning flashed,
so I kept watching both flashes.
وتَشَوَّفَتْand she peered out فتَطامنَتْthen bowed
وتَشَوَّفَتْ فتَطامنَتْ
أَجْيادُthe necks of أَظْبِيهاits gazelles الحوائِمْcircling
أَجْيادُ أَظْبِيها الحوائِمْ
She peered out; then bowed
the necks of its circling gazelles.
ورنَتْand she gazed فبادرthen hastened نَرْجِسٌa narcissus
ورنَتْ فبادر نَرْجِسٌ
يشْكُوcomplaining of عَماهُits blindness إِلىto حَمائِمْdoves
يشْكُو عَماهُ إِلى حَمائِمْ
She gazed, and a narcissus hastened
to complain of its blindness to doves.
طارَدْتهُنَّI pursued them بفِتْيةٍwith young men
طارَدْتهُنَّ بفِتْيةٍ
حُرْدٍangry علىbent on حرْبِwarring against المُسالِمْthe peaceful
حُرْدٍ على حرْبِ المُسالِمْ
I pursued them with young men
angrily bent on warring against the peaceful.
وكأَنَّنيand as though I were فِيهِمْamong them لَقِيLaqit (start)
وكأَنَّني فِيهِمْ لَقِي
طٌLaqit (end) قادhe led مِنfrom أَحْياءِthe clans of دارِمْDarim
طٌ قاد مِن أَحْياءِ دارِمْ
Among them I seemed like Laqit,
leading men from Darim's clans.
وتَكاوستْand crowded together فيهاthere الأَباthe ewers (start)
وتَكاوستْ فيها الأَبا
رِقُthe ewers (end) وهْيwhile they were فاهِقةُgaping wide الحلاقِمْin the throats
رِقُ وهْي فاهِقةُ الحلاقِمْ
The ewers crowded together there,
their throats gaping wide.
وكأَنَّهاand as though they were أَظْبٍgazelles رَعَفْnosebled (start)
وكأَنَّها أَظْبٍ رَعَفْ
نَthey (feminine plural ending) فثُرْنَthen sprang up دامِيَةَbloodied الخَياشِمْin the nostrils
نَ فثُرْنَ دامِيَةَ الخَياشِمْ
As though they were gazelles that nosebled,
then sprang up with bloodied nostrils.
وجَرىand coursed بهاwithin it فلَكَthe sphere of الصِّباyouth
وجَرى بها فلَكَ الصِّبا
باللَّهْوِwith revelry والقُضُبand the boughs اللَّواثِمْkissing
باللَّهْوِ والقُضُب اللَّواثِمْ
The sphere of youth coursed there,
with revelry and kissing boughs.
وكأَنَّناand as though we were فيهاthere العفاthe demons (start)
وكأَنَّنا فيها العفا
رِتُthe demons (end) والكُؤوسُand the cups مِنamong الرّواجِمْhurled missiles
رِتُ والكُؤوسُ مِن الرّواجِمْ
We seemed like demons there,
and the cups like hurled missiles.
وَعلاand rose بناwithin us سُكْرٌintoxication أَبىrefusing
وَعلا بنا سُكْرٌ أَبى
إِلاanything but الإِنابةَdevotion لِلْمَحارِمْto forbidden things
إِلا الإِنابةَ لِلْمَحارِمْ
An intoxication rose within us, refusing
anything but devotion to forbidden things.
نَرْمِيwe throw قَلانِسنَاour caps لهfor it
نَرْمِي قَلانِسنَا له
ونَجُرُّand we drag مِنsome of عَذَبِthe trailing ends of العمائِمْthe turbans
ونَجُرُّ مِن عَذَبِ العمائِمْ
For it we flung away our caps
and dragged our turbans' trailing ends.
وتَرنَّمتْand sang melodiously فيهاthere القِياthe singing girls (start)
وتَرنَّمتْ فيها القِيا
نُthe singing girls (end) لناfor us ورجَّعتِand trilled البواغِمْthe soft-voiced singers
نُ لنا ورجَّعتِ البواغِمْ
The singing girls sang there
for us, and the soft-voiced singers trilled.
قُمْناwe rose نُصفِّقُwe clap بالأَكُفwith our palms (start)
قُمْنا نُصفِّقُ بالأَكُف
فِpalms (end) لهاfor her ونَرْقُصُand we dance بالجماجِمْwith skulls
فِ لها ونَرْقُصُ بالجماجِمْ
We rose to clap our hands
for her and dance with our skulls.
وأَغَنَّand a soft-voiced youth مِنfrom سَدنthe retinue of المُلُوkings (start)
وأَغَنَّ مِن سَدن المُلُو
كِkings (end) سَليلِa scion of أَقْيالٍchieftains خضارِمْgreat and generous
كِ سَليلِ أَقْيالٍ خضارِمْ
And a soft-voiced youth from the retinue of kings,
a scion of great and generous chieftains,
يَشْكُوhe complains of الرِّعاثthe earrings تَنَعُّماًin pampered ease
يَشْكُو الرِّعاث تَنَعُّماً
ويضِجُّand he protests مِنat حمْلِcarrying التَّمائِمْthe amulets
ويضِجُّ مِن حمْلِ التَّمائِمْ
complained of his earrings in pampered ease
and protested the weight of his amulets.
لاnot تَسْتَحِيهِfeel shy before him الرّاشِفاthe kiss-sippers (start)
لا تَسْتَحِيهِ الرّاشِفا
تُthe kiss-sippers (end) ولاnor تُبالِيهِheed him اللَّواثِمْthe women who kiss
تُ ولا تُبالِيهِ اللَّواثِمْ
Those who sip kisses feel no shame before him,
nor do those who kiss take heed of him.
يُجْنِينَهُthey let him gather ثَمرthe fruit of النُّحُوbosoms (start)
يُجْنِينَهُ ثَمر النُّحُو
رِbosoms (end) ويعْتَلِينَand they rise بهwith him المحازِمْto the girdled waists
رِ ويعْتَلِينَ به المحازِمْ
They let him gather the fruit of their bosoms
and bear him up to their girdled waists,
مُتَجاهِلاتٍpretending ignorance أَنَّهُthat he
مُتَجاهِلاتٍ أَنَّهُ
يَهْوىis in love وهُنَّwhile they بهabout him عَوالِمْare knowing
يَهْوى وهُنَّ به عَوالِمْ
pretending not to know that he
is in love, though they know it of him.
لازَمْتُI stayed close to بابthe door of مَحلِّهِhis dwelling
لازَمْتُ باب مَحلِّهِ
والنُّجْحُand success مِنis among قَنَصِthe quarry of المُلازِمْthe persistent one
والنُّجْحُ مِن قَنَصِ المُلازِمْ
I kept to the door of his dwelling—
success is the persistent man's quarry—
حتىuntil إِذاwhen وثِقَتْtrusted بناus
حتى إِذا وثِقَتْ بنا
عُجُزُthe old women الحواضِنthe nurses والخَوادِمْand the serving women
عُجُزُ الحواضِن والخَوادِمْ
until, when they trusted us,
the old nurses and serving women,
أَيْقَنْتُI became certain منof أَخْذِيmy taking لهhim
أَيْقَنْتُ من أَخْذِي له
وتَلَوْتُand I recited مِنfrom سُورِchapters of العزائِمْincantations
وتَلَوْتُ مِن سُورِ العزائِمْ
I became certain I would win him
and recited chapters of incantations.
واقْتَدْتُهُand I led him بشَكائِمِيwith my bridle-bits
واقْتَدْتُهُ بشَكائِمِي
فانْقادso he yielded فيto تِلْكَthose الشَّكائِمْbridle-bits
فانْقاد في تِلْكَ الشَّكائِمْ
I led him with my bridle-bits,
and he yielded to those bits.
فوردْتُthen I reached جَمَّاتِbrimming pools المُنَىof wishes
فوردْتُ جَمَّاتِ المُنَى
وكَرُمْتُand I rose in nobility عنabove لُؤمِthe baseness of المآثِمْsins
وكَرُمْتُ عن لُؤمِ المآثِمْ
I reached the brimming pools of wishes
and rose above the baseness of sins.
وأَغَرَّand a white-blazed steed قدhad لَبِسput on الدُّجىthe darkness
وأَغَرَّ قد لَبِس الدُّجى
بُرْداًas a cloak فَرَاقَكَand pleased you وهْوthough he was فاحِمْcoal-black
بُرْداً فَرَاقَكَ وهْو فاحِمْ
And a white-blazed steed had donned the darkness
as a cloak: he charmed you, coal-black though he was.
يَحْكيhe resembles بغُرَّتِهِwith his forehead blaze هِلاa crescent (start)
يَحْكي بغُرَّتِهِ هِلا
لَa crescent (end) الفِطْرِof the breaking of the fast لاحَappeared لِعَيْنِto the eye of صائِمْa fasting man
لَ الفِطْرِ لاحَ لِعَيْنِ صائِمْ
His blaze resembled the crescent
of Eid al-Fitr, appearing to a fasting man's eye.
فكأَنَّماas though خاضَhe waded through الصباmorning (start)
فكأَنَّما خاضَ الصبا
حَmorning (end) فجاءَthen came مُبْيضَّwhitened القَوائِمْin the legs
حَ فجاءَ مُبْيضَّ القَوائِمْ
As though he had waded through morning
and emerged with whitened legs.
ويَسِيرُand he travels فيover يَبَسِthe dryness of الثَّرىthe earth
ويَسِيرُ في يَبَسِ الثَّرى
وكأَنَّهُand as though he were فيin البحْرِthe sea عائِمْswimming
وكأَنَّهُ في البحْرِ عائِمْ
He travels over dry earth
as though swimming in the sea.
أَرمِيI pursue بهwith him بَقَرwild cattle of الحِمىthe reserve
أَرمِي به بَقَر الحِمى
وَأَصُدُّand I turn away عنfrom عُصُمwhite-limbed gazelles of العواصِمْthe cities
وَأَصُدُّ عن عُصُم العواصِمْ
With him I pursue the wild cattle of the reserve
and turn from the cities' white-limbed gazelles.
وتجانبيand my avoiding فَتْقَthe rending of النُّفُوsouls (start)
وتجانبي فَتْقَ النُّفُو
سِsouls (end) مِنby المهارِيتِwide-mouthed ones الدَّلاقِمْhulking ones
سِ مِن المهارِيتِ الدَّلاقِمْ
And my shunning the rending of souls
by the wide-mouthed, hulking ones—
حتىuntil إِذاwhen عَلَمُthe banner of الصَّباmorning (start)
حتى إِذا عَلَمُ الصَّبا
حِmorning (end) أَشارsignaled مِنfrom تِلْكَthose المعالِمْlandmarks
حِ أَشار مِن تِلْكَ المعالِمْ
until, when the banner of morning
signaled from those landmarks,
وتَمايلَتْand swayed أَيْدِيthe hands of الثُّرَيْthe Pleiades (start)
وتَمايلَتْ أَيْدِي الثُّرَيْ
يَاthe Pleiades (end) وهيwhile they were مُذْهَبةُgilded الخَواتِمْin their rings
يَا وهي مُذْهَبةُ الخَواتِمْ
and the hands of the Pleiades swayed,
wearing golden rings,
ورنَتْand gazed ذُكاءُDhuka (the sun) بناظِرٍwith an eye
ورنَتْ ذُكاءُ بناظِرٍ
رمِدٍred-rimmed مِنfrom الأَقْذاءِspecks سالِمْfree
رمِدٍ مِن الأَقْذاءِ سالِمْ
and Dhuka, the sun, gazed with an eye
red-rimmed, yet free of specks,
طَلَعَappeared الصِّوارُthe wild-cattle herd لحِينِهِat its time
طَلَعَ الصِّوارُ لحِينِهِ
وكأَنَّهand as though it were الموْجُthe waves المُراكِمْpiling up
وكأَنَّه الموْجُ المُراكِمْ
the herd appeared just then,
like waves piling upon waves,
أَوْor عسْكَرٌan army ركِبُواthey rode الخُيُوthe horses (start)
أَوْ عسْكَرٌ ركِبُوا الخُيُو
لَthe horses (end) الشُّهْبَdapple-gray واحْتَقَرُواand scorned الأَداهِمْthe black ones
لَ الشُّهْبَ واحْتَقَرُوا الأَداهِمْ
or an army mounted on horses
dapple-gray, scorning the black ones.
فاشْتَدَّthen rushed سُبَّقناour swift hounds لهat it
فاشْتَدَّ سُبَّقنا له
يَكْشِرْنَthey bare their teeth عنrevealing مِثْلِthe like of اللَّهاذِمْsharp spearheads
يَكْشِرْنَ عن مِثْلِ اللَّهاذِمْ
Our swift hounds rushed at it,
baring teeth like sharp spearheads.
وكأَنَّناand as though we فيin رَمْيهاloosing them
وكأَنَّنا في رَمْيها
نَسْتَلُّdraw out مِنsome of بِيضِthe gleaming الصّوارِمْkeen swords
نَسْتَلُّ مِن بِيضِ الصّوارِمْ
In loosing them we seemed
to unsheathe bright, keen swords.
فحمىthen guarded أَواخِرَهُits rear أَغَرْa white-blazed one (start)
فحمى أَواخِرَهُ أَغَرْ
رُa white-blazed one (end) مُعاوِدٌexperienced in تِلْكَthose الملاحِمْbattles
رُ مُعاوِدٌ تِلْكَ الملاحِمْ
A white-blazed bull guarded its rear,
a veteran of those battles,
يَهْوِيhe lunges برَوْقَىwith the two horns of مِحْرَبٍa battle-hardened fighter
يَهْوِي برَوْقَى مِحْرَبٍ
طَبِنٍskilled بحَرْبِin fighting الغُضْفِfloppy-eared hounds حازِمْresolute
طَبِنٍ بحَرْبِ الغُضْفِ حازِمْ
lunging with two horns, a seasoned fighter,
skilled and resolute in fighting floppy-eared hounds.
وكأَنَّماand as though أَرْواقُهاtheir horns
وكأَنَّما أَرْواقُها
مُسْوَدّةًblackened أَقْلامُpens of عالِمْa scholar
مُسْوَدّةً أَقْلامُ عالِمْ
Their horns seemed,
blackened, like a scholar's pens.
فَتَبَادَرَthen hurried الفِتْيَانُthe young men مِنfrom
فَتَبَادَرَ الفِتْيَانُ مِن
جَنَبَاتِهِits flanks أَشْهَىthe choicest المَطَاعِمْfoods
جَنَبَاتِهِ أَشْهَى المَطَاعِمْ
The youths hastened to take from
its flanks the choicest foods,
شَيّاًroasted ومُطَّبَخاًand cooked علىover
شَيّاً ومُطَّبَخاً على
جَمْرٍcoals زَهَتْهُfanned them الرِّيحُthe wind جاحِمْblazing
جَمْرٍ زَهَتْهُ الرِّيحُ جاحِمْ
roasted and cooked over
blazing coals fanned by the wind.
وبَعِيدةِand one far-reaching الأَرْجَاءِin its expanses ناremote (start)
وبَعِيدةِ الأَرْجَاءِ نا
زِحَةٍremote (end) علىbeyond أَيْديthe reach of الرَّواسِمswift-striding mounts
زِحَةٍ على أَيْدي الرَّواسِم
And an expanse of distant reaches, far
beyond the reach of swift-striding mounts,
لاnot تَدَّعِيclaims جَوْباًa crossing لهاof it
لا تَدَّعِي جَوْباً لها
ذاتُa creature possessing الخَوافِيsecondary flight-feathers والقَوادِمْand primary flight-feathers
ذاتُ الخَوافِي والقَوادِمْ
which no winged creature claims to traverse,
with its inner and outer flight-feathers:
مِنْof فِتْنَةٍcivil strife قدhad أُسْبِلَتْbeen drawn down
مِنْ فِتْنَةٍ قد أُسْبِلَتْ
ظُلُماتُهاits darknesses بيَدِby the hand of المَظَالِمْinjustices
ظُلُماتُها بيَدِ المَظَالِمْ
a strife whose darkness had been drawn down
by the hand of injustices.
عَمَهَتْwandered blindly لهاbefore it أَحْلامُنَاour minds
عَمَهَتْ لها أَحْلامُنَا
وكأَنَّهَاand as though they were أَضْغَاثُtangled dreams of حالِمْa dreamer
وكأَنَّهَا أَضْغَاثُ حالِمْ
Our minds wandered blindly before it,
as though they were a dreamer's tangled visions.
وتَضَاءَلَتْand dwindled أَجْرامُناour bodies
وتَضَاءَلَتْ أَجْرامُنا
فيهاwithin it بمُوبِقةِthrough ruinous الجَرائِمْcrimes
فيها بمُوبِقةِ الجَرائِمْ
Our bodies dwindled
within it through ruinous crimes.
وتَحَوَّلَتْand became فيناamong us الذُّناthe tail (start)
وتَحَوَّلَتْ فينا الذُّنا
بَىthe tail (end) الرأْسَthe head وابْنُwhile the son of المَجْدِglory راغِمْwas abased
بَى الرأْسَ وابْنُ المَجْدِ راغِمْ
Among us the tail became
the head, while the son of glory was abased.
وأَدارَand set turning كُلُّevery صَغِيرِsmall قَدْin worth (start)
وأَدارَ كُلُّ صَغِيرِ قَدْ
رِworth (end) المُنْتَهَىat the utmost أَرْحىmillstones of العَظَائِمْgreat calamities
رِ المُنْتَهَى أَرْحى العَظَائِمْ
Every man of meager ultimate worth turned
the millstones of mighty calamities.
فكأَنَّنَاso as though we were عُمْيٌblind people نُساbeing driven (start)
فكأَنَّنَا عُمْيٌ نُسا
قُbeing driven (end) علىin العَمَىblindness فيin ظِلِّa shade عاتِمْdark
قُ على العَمَى في ظِلِّ عاتِمْ
We were like blind men being driven
blindly beneath a darkening shade,
حتَّىuntil انْتَضَىunsheathed عَبْدُAbd العَزِيal-Aziz (start)
حتَّى انْتَضَى عَبْدُ العَزِي
زِal-Aziz (end) عَزِيمَةًa resolve مِنfrom صَدْرِthe breast of عازِمْa resolute man
زِ عَزِيمَةً مِن صَدْرِ عازِمْ
until Abd al-Aziz unsheathed
a resolve from a resolute breast.
فَبَدَتْthen appeared لناto us سُبُلُthe paths of الهُدَىguidance
فَبَدَتْ لنا سُبُلُ الهُدَى
بنَوَاجِمٍwith rising stars غَيْرِnot الهَواجِمْonrushing assailants
بنَوَاجِمٍ غَيْرِ الهَواجِمْ
Then paths of guidance appeared to us
with rising stars, not onrushing assailants.
ضَرَبَhe struck الأَعاجِمَthe non-Arabs سُودَهاtheir black ones
ضَرَبَ الأَعاجِمَ سُودَها
بالسَّدِّwith a bulwark مِنof بيضِwhite ones الأَعاجِمْthe non-Arabs
بالسَّدِّ مِن بيضِ الأَعاجِمْ
He struck the non-Arabs, their black ones,
with a bulwark of white non-Arabs.
فاسْتَجْفَلواso they scattered in alarm فكأَنَّمَاas though
فاسْتَجْفَلوا فكأَنَّمَا
ضَرَبَhe struck الثَّعَالِبَthe foxes بِالضَّرَاغِمْwith lions
ضَرَبَ الثَّعَالِبَ بِالضَّرَاغِمْ
They scattered in fright, as though
he had struck foxes with lions:
أَبْنَاءُsons of مَلْكٍa king حِمْيَرِيHimyarite (start)
أَبْنَاءُ مَلْكٍ حِمْيَرِي
يٍHimyarite (end) قامَrose بالغُرِّwith illustrious القَمَاقِمْgreat lords
يٍ قامَ بالغُرِّ القَمَاقِمْ
sons of a Himyarite king
who rose with illustrious, mighty lords,
مِنfrom عامِرٍAmir أَهْلِpeople of المصَاgrand buildings (start)
مِن عامِرٍ أَهْلِ المصَا
نِعِgrand buildings (end) وَالصَّنَائِعِand benefactions والكَرَائِمْand noble deeds
نِعِ وَالصَّنَائِعِ والكَرَائِمْ
from Amir, people of grand buildings,
benefactions, and noble deeds.
الكُفْرُunbelief عنهُمaway from them قاعِدٌremaining seated
الكُفْرُ عنهُم قاعِدٌ
قِدْماًsince olden times ودِينُwhile the faith of اللَّهGod قائِمْstands firm
قِدْماً ودِينُ اللَّه قائِمْ
Unbelief has stayed away from them
since olden times, while God's faith stands firm.
حَكَمَdecreed الزَّمَانُtime بظُلْمِهِمْthat they be wronged
حَكَمَ الزَّمَانُ بظُلْمِهِمْ
دَهْراًfor an age وصَرْفُand the vicissitudes of الدَّهْرِtime ظالِمْare unjust
دَهْراً وصَرْفُ الدَّهْرِ ظالِمْ
Time decreed they should be wronged
for an age; time's vicissitudes are unjust.
فارْتَدَّthen restored بَهْجةَthe splendor of مُلْكِهِمْtheir kingship
فارْتَدَّ بَهْجةَ مُلْكِهِمْ
كَرُّthe charge of الخُبَعْثِنةِthe massive lion الضُّبَارِمُthe mighty
كَرُّ الخُبَعْثِنةِ الضُّبَارِمُ
Then the splendor of their kingship was restored
by the charge of the burly, mighty lion.
واشْتَدَّand rushed يَنْظِمُmarshalling حَزْمَهُمْtheir resolve
واشْتَدَّ يَنْظِمُ حَزْمَهُمْ
شَيْحَانُa bold warrior طَلاعa climber of المخارِمْmountain passes
شَيْحَانُ طَلاع المخارِمْ
And rushing to marshal their resolve came
a bold warrior, climber of mountain passes:
ذكَرٌa male علىupon ذَكَرٍa male steed يَصُوhe charges (start)
ذكَرٌ على ذَكَرٍ يَصُو
لُhe charges (end) وصارِمٌand a keen blade يَسْطُوstrikes بصارِمْwith a keen blade
لُ وصارِمٌ يَسْطُو بصارِمْ
a man upon a stallion, charging,
a keen blade striking with a keen blade.
إِيهonward! هَياcome! عَبْدَAbd العَزِيal-Aziz (start)
إِيه هَيا عَبْدَ العَزِي
زِal-Aziz (end) وأَنْتَand you رَجّامُa hurler of المَرَاجِمْmissiles
زِ وأَنْتَ رَجّامُ المَرَاجِمْ
Onward! Come, Abd al-Aziz,
you hurler of missiles!
قَمَرٌa moon تُضِيءُshine لهfor him الخُطُوcalamities (start)
قَمَرٌ تُضِيءُ له الخُطُو
بُcalamities (end) علىdespite دَآدِيهاtheir moonless nights الفَواحِمْpitch-black
بُ على دَآدِيها الفَواحِمْ
A moon for whom calamities grow bright
through their pitch-black, moonless nights.
تَسْرِيtravel by night الرِّياحُthe winds بمَجْدِهِwith his glory
تَسْرِي الرِّياحُ بمَجْدِهِ
فنَسِيمُهاso their breeze بالغَوْرِin the lowlands فاغِمْis fragrant
فنَسِيمُها بالغَوْرِ فاغِمْ
The winds carry his glory,
and their breeze is fragrant in the lowlands.
لمnot يَرْوَdrink his fill مِنof ماءِthe water of الشَّباyouth (start)
لم يَرْوَ مِن ماءِ الشَّبا
بِyouth (end) وكُلُّwhile every أَشْيَبَgray-haired man عنهfrom it خائِمْshrinks back
بِ وكُلُّ أَشْيَبَ عنه خائِمْ
He has not drunk his fill of youth's water,
while every gray-haired man shrinks from it.
رَعْياًmay he be protected لمُؤْتَمَنٍa trusted guardian رَعَىwho tended
رَعْياً لمُؤْتَمَنٍ رَعَى
فينَاamong us الحَدايِثَnew things والقَدايِمْand old things
فينَا الحَدايِثَ والقَدايِمْ
May the trusted guardian be cherished, who tended
among us the new things and the old.
بَدَأَتْbegan أَوائِلُهhis earliest deeds وعاand returned (start)
بَدَأَتْ أَوائِلُه وعا
دَreturned (end) لكَشْفِto lift غاشِيَةِthe shroud of الغَيَاهِمْmurky darknesses
دَ لكَشْفِ غاشِيَةِ الغَيَاهِمْ
His earliest deeds began, and he returned
to lift the shroud of murky darkness.
لاdo not تَتْرُكَنْleave صرمthe cutting of الزمَاtime (start)
لا تَتْرُكَنْ صرم الزمَا
نِtime (end) علىto ظُبَىthe edges of تِلْكَthose الصَّوارِمْkeen swords
نِ على ظُبَى تِلْكَ الصَّوارِمْ
Do not leave time's cutting work
to the edges of those keen swords.
وارْمِand hurl at الخُطُوبَcalamities بمِثْلِهَاwith their like
وارْمِ الخُطُوبَ بمِثْلِهَا
عَزْماًin resolve فأَنْتَfor you لهاwith them مُسَاهِمare a contender
عَزْماً فأَنْتَ لها مُسَاهِم
Meet calamities with their equal
in resolve: you contend with them.
وإِلَيْكَهاand here it is for you منfrom نَاطِقٍone who speaks
وإِلَيْكَها من نَاطِقٍ
يَدْعُوكَcalling you إِذْwhen صَمَتَfell silent البَهَائِمْthe beasts
يَدْعُوكَ إِذْ صَمَتَ البَهَائِمْ
And here it is for you, from one who speaks,
calling to you when the beasts fall silent.
Sol 6.1