كَأَنَّهاas though she حينَwhen تَناءىspread far apart خَطوُهاher stride
كَأَنَّها حينَ تَناءى خَطوُها
أَخْنَسُa snub-nosed bull مَوشِيُّdappled الشَّوىthe legs يَرْعىgrazes on القُلَلْthe hilltops
أَخْنَسُ مَوشِيُّ الشَّوى يَرْعى القُلَلْ
As her strides stretched far apart, she seemed
As if when her steps receded,
a snub-nosed bull, dappled-legged, grazing on the heights.
A mute goat herder of the hills grazed the hillocks.
باتَتpassed the night لَهُfor him مِنfrom شُرَطِيّthe Sharatayn stars لَيلَةٌa night
باتَت لَهُ مِن شُرَطِيّ لَيلَةٌ
جادَتْpoured generously عَلَيهِupon him سَبَلاa shower بَعدَafter سَبَلْa shower
جادَتْ عَلَيهِ سَبَلا بَعدَ سَبَلْ
A night of the Sharatayn stars came upon him,
One of my nights passed for him,
pouring over him shower after shower.
Ways upon ways led to him after ways.
أَلجَأَهُdrove him for shelter اللَّيْلُthe night إِلىto حِقْفِa curved mound of ثَرىdamp earth
أَلجَأَهُ اللَّيْلُ إِلى حِقْفِ ثَرى
وَفيهِand in it صِرُّbitter cold ذاتُbearing حَتفٍdeath وَوَجَلْand dread
وَفيهِ صِرُّ ذاتُ حَتفٍ وَوَجَلْ
Night drove him to a mound of damp earth,
The night forced him to the cavity of soil,
with bitter cold within it, bearing death and dread.
In it the clamor of one alarmed and fearful.
يَدعوdraws toward himself بِظلفَيهِwith his two hooves تُراباearth هايِلاًloose
يَدعو بِظلفَيهِ تُرابا هايِلاً
يَخلطُmingles رَيثاًslowness وَفُتوراًand languor بعَجَلْwith haste
يَخلطُ رَيثاً وَفُتوراً بعَجَلْ
He draws loose earth toward him with his two hooves,
With his palms he calls abundantly for soil,
mingling slowness and languor with haste.
Mixing collected and scattered.
يَسوفُsniffs أَعلاهُits surface وَطَوراand at times يَنتَحيmakes for
يَسوفُ أَعلاهُ وَطَورا يَنتَحي
لِلعِرْقِfor the root بِالسِّنِّwith his tooth فَماand whatever شاءَhe wishes فَعَلْhe does
لِلعِرْقِ بِالسِّنِّ فَما شاءَ فَعَلْ
He sniffs its surface and sometimes reaches
He ascends its highest and descends its lowest,
for a root with his tooth, doing whatever he wishes.
To the sweat, with his teeth he does what he wills.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اللَّيلُthe night تَفَرّىwas torn apart ثَوبهُits robe
حَتّى إِذا اللَّيلُ تَفَرّى ثَوبهُ
عَنهُaway from him غَداwent out at dawn ينفضshakes off عطفَيهِhis two flanks البَلَلْthe wetness
عَنهُ غَدا ينفض عطفَيهِ البَلَلْ
Until, when night's robe was torn
Until when the night removed its clothes from him,
from him, he went out at dawn, shaking wetness from his flanks.
In the morning he shakes off his moist shoulders.
كَأَنَّهُas though he مُدَّرِعُclad in قُبْطِيَّةًa Coptic linen robe
كَأَنَّهُ مُدَّرِعُ قُبْطِيَّةً
مُعتَجِرٌhead-wrapped بِفَضلِهاin its spare cloth أَوor مُشتَمِلْwrapped all around
مُعتَجِرٌ بِفَضلِها أَو مُشتَمِلْ
As though he wore a Coptic linen robe,
As if he is a Copt girded
its spare cloth wrapped about his head, or enfolding him.
With its excess or wrapped up.
فَجالَthen he roamed يَقْروsearching out أَخطَباًa dusky pasture أَطاعَهُfavored it
فَجالَ يَقْرو أَخطَباً أَطاعَهُ
نوءُthe star-season rain of السِّماكينَthe two Simak stars بِثَجَّاجِwith a downpour زَجِلْroaring
نوءُ السِّماكينَ بِثَجَّاجِ زَجِلْ
He roamed, seeking dusky pasture that was favored
So he walked high-headed, obeying
by the two Simak stars' rain, a roaring downpour.
The hump of the two firm mounts with the striking of music.
إِنif يَستَرِبْhe grows suspicious بِنبأةof a sound يَبعَثْhe sends لَهاtoward it
إِن يَستَرِبْ بِنبأة يَبعَثْ لَها
طَليعَةًa scout تَنفُضthat searches أَطرافَthe edges of السُّبُلْthe paths
طَليعَةً تَنفُض أَطرافَ السُّبُلْ
If he suspects a sound, he sends toward it
If he perceives any news he dispatches to it
a scout that searches the edges of the paths,
An advance party shaking the ends of the roads
مِنfrom أَذُنَينِtwo ears يَطَّبيdraws out سَمعهماtheir hearing
مِن أَذُنَينِ يَطَّبي سَمعهما
مِنَfrom السُّكونِstillness حَرَكاتٍmovements تَعتَمِلْstir within
مِنَ السُّكونِ حَرَكاتٍ تَعتَمِلْ
from his two ears, whose hearing draws forth
From two ears whose hearing he alerts
from stillness movements that stir.
From stillness—movements that build up.
فَاِرتاعَthen he took fright مِنat غُضْفٍfloppy-eared hounds يُراعينَkeep watch بِهِon him
فَاِرتاعَ مِن غُضْفٍ يُراعينَ بِهِ
شَوازِبٍgaunt مِثلlike قِداحِthe arrow shafts of المُنتَصِلْthe arrow-selector
شَوازِبٍ مِثل قِداحِ المُنتَصِلْ
He took fright at floppy-eared hounds watching him,
So he was startled by a forest preserving with it
gaunt as the arrow-selector's shafts.
Braids like the wicks of lamps.
يَسعىruns بِهاwith them أَطلَسdust-gray عارٍbare مُبتَذِلshabbily clad
يَسعى بِها أَطلَس عارٍ مُبتَذِل
لَيسَnot بِراعيa herder of غَنَمٍsheep وَلاnor إِبِلْcamels
لَيسَ بِراعي غَنَمٍ وَلا إِبِلْ
A dust-gray, bare, shabbily clad man runs with them,
With it he comes, a bare, disgraceful knight,
no herder of sheep or camels.
No shepherd of sheep nor camels.
يَرميsends بِهاwith them الغيطانَthe lowlands كَالسِّيدِlike a wolf المولswift-moving (uncertain reading)
يَرمي بِها الغيطانَ كَالسِّيدِ المول
يُشبِهُhe resembles ماwhat شَبَّهتهI likened him to غَيرexcept for الرجلْthe foot
يُشبِهُ ما شَبَّهته غَير الرجلْ
He sends them across the lowlands like a racing wolf;
He hurls at the shelters as a debauched master
he resembles what I likened him to, except for his feet.
Making similar what the man did not.
فَاِكتَنَفتْهُthen they surrounded him فَنَحاso he veered away يَقدُمُهاrunning ahead of them
فَاِكتَنَفتْهُ فَنَحا يَقدُمُها
فَاِحتَفَلَتْthen they exerted themselves فيin شَدِّهاtheir running ثُمَّthen اِحتَفَلْhe exerted himself
فَاِحتَفَلَتْ في شَدِّها ثُمَّ اِحتَفَلْ
They surrounded him, and he veered away, running ahead of them.
So they drew around him and he stepped forward leading them
They strained in their running; then he strained too.
And they struggled with intensity then struggled.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen كادَتthey nearly caught him ثَنَتturned صَولَتَهُhis rush
حَتّى إِذا كادَت ثَنَت صَولَتَهُ
عَزيمَةٌresolve مِنهُfrom him وَجدٌّand ardor لَمnot يَزَلْcease
عَزيمَةٌ مِنهُ وَجدٌّ لَم يَزَلْ
Until, when they nearly caught him, his rush was turned
Until when her zeal almost bent his determination,
by his own resolve and an ardor that never failed.
Resolution from him and permanence that did not cease.
فَجالَthen he wheeled فيهاamong them جَولَةًa sweep مُعتَرِضاًmoving crosswise
فَجالَ فيها جَولَةً مُعتَرِضاً
فَاِختَلَّthen he pierced بِالرَّوقينِwith both horns أَقرابthe flanks of الأوَلْthe foremost
فَاِختَلَّ بِالرَّوقينِ أَقراب الأوَلْ
He wheeled among them in a sideways sweep,
So he walked in it a walk, going sideways,
piercing the foremost dogs' flanks with his two horns.
Separate from the two mares, the closest of the first.
كَأَنَّهُas though he اِبنُthe son of فارِسِيّa Persian يَنتَحيaims
كَأَنَّهُ اِبنُ فارِسِيّ يَنتَحي
لِلقِرنِat an opponent طَعناًa thrust بِمهزٍّwith a quivering spear مُعتَدِلْstraight
لِلقِرنِ طَعناً بِمهزٍّ مُعتَدِلْ
As though he were a Persian's son, aiming
As if he is the son of a Persian, avoiding
a thrust at his opponent with a straight, quivering spear.
The spear, a moderate stab with a sharpened blade.
غادَرَهاhe left them تَكبوfalling forward عَلىonto أُنوفِهاtheir noses
غادَرَها تَكبو عَلى أُنوفِها
رَوادِياًdying وَاِنقَضَّand he darted away كَالنَّجمِlike a star الموَلْswift-moving (uncertain reading)
رَوادِياً وَاِنقَضَّ كَالنَّجمِ الموَلْ
He left them toppling onto their noses,
He left them overthrown on their muzzles
dying, and darted away like a streaking star.
Slipping away like a shooting star.
هاتيكَthat one بَعدَafter الأَينِweariness وَالأَينand weariness وَقَدand already
هاتيكَ بَعدَ الأَينِ وَالأَين وَقَد
طالَgrew long بِهاfor her الإِرقالُswift trotting لاnot البَولُurination المدَلْlingering (uncertain reading)
طالَ بِها الإِرقالُ لا البَولُ المدَلْ
Such was she, after weariness upon weariness, when already
There they are after oh where and oh where, and for long
her swift trotting had lasted long—not her lingering urination.
The stumbling, not the urine, flowed.
إِلىto الوَزيرِthe vizier الحَسَنal-Hasan اِستَنجَدْتُهاI sought her aid
إِلى الوَزيرِ الحَسَن اِستَنجَدْتُها
إِلىto مَناخِa halting place وَمَزارٍand a place to visit وَمَحَلْand an abode
إِلى مَناخِ وَمَزارٍ وَمَحَلْ
I sought her aid to reach the vizier al-Hasan,
To the Minister al-Hasan I appealed for help against them
to a halting place, a place to visit, and an abode.
For refuge, rest, and lodging.
أَيّwhat a مَزارٍplace to visit وَمَناخٍand halting place وَمَحَلّand abode
أَيّ مَزارٍ وَمَناخٍ وَمَحَلّ
لِخايِفِfor one afraid أَوor مُستَريشٍa seeker of prosperity ذيpossessing أَمَلْhope
لِخايِفِ أَو مُستَريشٍ ذي أَمَلْ
What a place to visit, to halt, and to abide
What refuge, rest, and lodging
for one afraid, or a hopeful seeker of prosperity!
For someone fearful or seeking safety, of hope?
دعامَةُthe pillar of الملكِkingship وَحَيثُand where اِعتَمَدَتْrested
دعامَةُ الملكِ وَحَيثُ اِعتَمَدَتْ
أَركانُهُits columns وَالحَرزand the refuge مِنfrom رتبِthe hardships of الدُّوَلْchanging fortunes
أَركانُهُ وَالحَرز مِن رتبِ الدُّوَلْ
The pillar of kingship, on whom rest
The pillar of the King and where his pillars leaned
its columns, and a refuge against the hardships of changing fortunes.
And his citadel, from the positions of sovereignty,
سَيفُthe sword of أَميرِthe commander of المُؤمِنينَthe faithful المُنتَضىdrawn
سَيفُ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ المُنتَضى
وَحِصنُand the stronghold of ذيthe holder of الرّياسَتَينِthe two leaderships المعتَقَلْsecure as a refuge
وَحِصنُ ذي الرّياسَتَينِ المعتَقَلْ
The drawn sword of the Commander of the Faithful,
The sword of the Commander of the Faithful, sought out
and the secure stronghold of Dhu al-Riyasatayn.
And fortress of the two exalted, impregnable authorities
مِنfrom عصبَةٍa band أَنْقَذَناdelivered us اللَّهُGod بِهاthrough it
مِن عصبَةٍ أَنْقَذَنا اللَّهُ بِها
وَثبتand became firm الإِسلامُIslam مِنfrom بَعدِafter الزَّلَلْstumbling
وَثبت الإِسلامُ مِن بَعدِ الزَّلَلْ
From a band through whom God delivered us,
From a clan through whom God delivered us
and Islam stood firm after stumbling.
And Islam was fixed after slips,
طَيِّبَةpure الأَصلِin root مَعَalong with الفَرعِthe branch لَهاit has
طَيِّبَة الأَصلِ مَعَ الفَرعِ لَها
غُصْنانtwo boughs يَهتَزَّانِswaying فيin رُكنِthe flank of جَبَلْa mountain
غُصْنان يَهتَزَّانِ في رُكنِ جَبَلْ
Pure in root and branch, it has
Of good origin, with branches for it
two boughs swaying on a mountain's flank.
Two branches shaking in the corner of a mountain,
حَفافيon both flanks of الملكkingship يَذودانٍthe two defend مَعاًtogether
حَفافي الملك يَذودانٍ مَعاً
عَنin defense of حُرمَةِthe sanctity of الدِّينِreligion وَمِيراثِand the inheritance of الرُّسُلْthe messengers
عَن حُرمَةِ الدِّينِ وَمِيراثِ الرُّسُلْ
On either flank of kingship, together they defend
Protectors of the kingdom who together ward off
religion's sanctity and the messengers' inheritance.
From the sanctity of religion and legacy of prophets,
أُقسِمُI swear بِاللَّهِby God يَميناًan oath بَرَّةtruthful
أُقسِمُ بِاللَّهِ يَميناً بَرَّة
وَالعيسُwhile the pale camels تَجتابُtraverse اليَبابَthe barren waste المُتَّصِلْunbroken
وَالعيسُ تَجتابُ اليَبابَ المُتَّصِلْ
I swear by God a truthful oath,
I swear by God the greatest oath
while pale camels traverse the unbroken waste:
By which the intense dark nights give way to the bright dawns,
لَقَولُكَsurely your speech القَولُthe speech الَّذيthat يشفيcures العَمىblindness
لَقَولُكَ القَولُ الَّذي يشفي العَمى
وَرأيُكَand your judgment الرَّأيُthe judgment بِهِthrough it قامَwas set straight المَيَلْcrookedness
وَرأيُكَ الرَّأيُ بِهِ قامَ المَيَلْ
surely your speech is the speech that cures blindness,
Your word is the word that heals the blind
and your judgment the judgment that straightens crookedness.
And your view is the view by which the incline stood upright.
أَنتُمyou all يَدُthe hand of الملكِkingship الَّتيwhich صالَstruck بِهاwith it
أَنتُم يَدُ الملكِ الَّتي صالَ بِها
خَليفَةُthe caliph of اللَّهِGod عَلىat حينِa time of وَهِلْfear
خَليفَةُ اللَّهِ عَلى حينِ وَهِلْ
You are the hand of kingship with which struck
You are the hand of the King by which
God's caliph in an hour of fear;
The Caliph of God prospers at the time of wavering,
وَهَضْبَةُand the rocky height of الدِّينِreligion وَأَنصارُand champions of الهُدىguidance
وَهَضْبَةُ الدِّينِ وَأَنصارُ الهُدى
وَعِصْمَةُand the safeguard of الحَقِّtruth وَفُرسانُand the horsemen of الفُلَلْrouted ranks
وَعِصْمَةُ الحَقِّ وَفُرسانُ الفُلَلْ
and religion's rocky height, and guidance's champions,
And the plateau of religion, and helpers of guidance,
and truth's safeguard, and horsemen amid routed ranks.
And protector of truth, and steeds of separation.
وَباذلوand givers of الخَيرَbounty لماnot yet يُسْأَلواthey are asked
وَباذلو الخَيرَ لما يُسْأَلوا
وَباذلوand givers of الخَيرَbounty إِذاwhen الخَيرُbounty سئلْis requested
وَباذلو الخَيرَ إِذا الخَيرُ سئلْ
And givers of bounty before being asked,
Bestowers of good when asked,
and givers of bounty when bounty is requested;
Bestowers of good when good is asked.
وَموقِدوand kindlers of الحَربwar لَدىat the time of إِطفائِهاits extinguishing
وَموقِدو الحَرب لَدى إِطفائِها
وَمُطفِؤُهاand its quenchers وَهيَwhile it تَرميhurls بِالشُّعَلْwith flames
وَمُطفِؤُها وَهيَ تَرمي بِالشُّعَلْ
and kindlers of war as it is being quenched,
And kindlers of war at its extinction,
and its quenchers while it hurls flames.
And its extinguishers when it casts flames.
آباؤُكَyour forefathers الغُرُّillustrious الأُلىwho جدُّهُمtheir grandsire
آباؤُكَ الغُرُّ الأُلى جدُّهُم
كسرىKisra أَنوAnu- (name element) شروانُshirwan (name element) يَروونَslake الأَسَلْthe spears
كسرى أَنو شروانُ يَروونَ الأَسَلْ
Your illustrious forefathers, whose grandsire was
Your forefathers, the honorable ancients, their origin
Kisra Anushirwan, slake the spears' thirst
Khosrow Anu Shirwan who relate proverbs,
مِنfrom كُلِّevery ذيone bearing تاجٍa crown إِذاwhen همhe resolves مَضىhe proceeds
مِن كُلِّ ذي تاجٍ إِذا هم مَضى
قُدْماًforward لِماtoward what هَمَّhe resolved وَإِنْand if قالَhe speaks فَعَلْhe acts
قُدْماً لِما هَمَّ وَإِنْ قالَ فَعَلْ
from every crowned ruler who, when resolved, presses
From every crowned one when they step forward
forward toward his aim—and if he speaks, acts.
A step for what he desires, even if he says, “Act!”
فَأَينَwhere then لاnot أَينَwhere وَأَينَand where مِثلُكُمyour equal
فَأَينَ لا أَينَ وَأَينَ مِثلُكُم
وَأَنتُمwhile you الأَملاكُthe kings وَالنَّاسُand the people خَوَلْservants
وَأَنتُم الأَملاكُ وَالنَّاسُ خَوَلْ
Where, then—nowhere!—and where are your equals,
Where then not where, and where are ones like you,
when you are kings and the people servants?
While you are the sovereigns and men are abased?
Sol 6.1